Written Answers of 17 April 2000

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Local Authority Newspapers
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what monitoring his Department undertakes of the content of local authority newspapers; and if he will make a statement. [118782]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  My Department does not monitor the content of local authority newspapers.

  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make it his policy that newspapers published by local authorities should be subject to the complaints procedure of the Press Complaints Commission; and if he will make a statement. [118781]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Press Complaints Commission is part of a self-regulatory regime for the newspaper industry. All local authority publicity, including newspapers published by local authorities, is subject to the statutory regulatory regime provided by the Local Government Act 1986 and the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity issued by the Secretary of State thereunder.

  Telecommunications Masts
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make it his policy not to grant permission for the siting of telecommunication masts in residential areas until the Independent Expert Group on mobile phones has reported; and if he will make a statement. [119185]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones, set up at the instigation of the Government and chaired by Sir William Stewart FRS FRSE, is currently considering the possible health effects of the use of mobile phones, base stations and transmitters and is conducting a comprehensive assessment of existing research. The Group is expected to finalise its report shortly. The Government will consider the Group's recommendations and issue a response.

  Planning (Flood Alleviation)
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will issue planning policy guidelines to planning authorities indicating how they should handle planning applications for development in areas known to be at risk of flooding but in which the necessary flood alleviation works have not been undertaken. [119474]
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  Ms Beverley Hughes
  My hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning announced on 13 April 2000,Official Report, columns 249-50W, the publication of a consultation draft of a new Planning Policy Guidance Note 25, "Development and flood risk". This sets out all the considerations to which planning authorities should have regard when handling applications for development in flood risk areas. Copies are available in the Library.

  We will consider the responses to this consultation with a view to issuing the new PPG in its final form later this year.

  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what powers planning authorities have to(a) defer and (b) reject planning applications for development in areas known to be at risk of flooding pending the completion of flood alleviation works. [119473]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Local planning authorities have powers under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to impose conditions on a grant of planning permission requiring the carrying out of necessary flood alleviation works as part of a development where such works would form part of the development. Where the necessary flood alleviation works would be required elsewhere than the development site, local planning authorities may impose a condition requiring that the development should not proceed until those works have been carried out, whether by the developer or by any other body. In addition, a developer and local planning authority may enter into an agreement under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to ensure that the necessary works are carried out as part of the development.

  Flooding issues are important considerations in the determination of applications for development in areas known to be at risk of flooding. Local planning authorities have powers under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to refuse applications where that risk outweighs other material considerations in the absence of flood alleviation works. Where such works are planned, local planning authorities may refuse an application for development on the grounds of prematurity pending the completion of such works.

  Second Homes (Council Tax)
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions by what mechanism and to what value his Department compensates for loss of council tax income to local authorities resulting from the 50 per cent. discount on second homes. [119181]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 14 April 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 15 February 2000, Official Report, column 469W.

  Online Services
  Mr. Robert Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the services which(a) his Department and (b) the executive agencies responsible to his Department (i) provide on-line and (ii) expect to be deliverable on-line by 2002. [119443]
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  Ms Beverley Hughes
  So that the Cabinet Office can publish the spring 2000 report monitoring progress towards delivery of all Government services electronically by 2005 we are currently collecting data which will include our progress on delivering 25 per cent. of Government services electronically by 2002. I do not want to pre-empt that report but I can say that we currently provide a range of services electronically that include:

  Service

  Currently on-line

  On-line by 2002

  (a) DETR(C)

  Local Government Grant Settlement

  Yes

  —

  Dissemination of Hourly Air Pollution

  Yes

  —

  Port Traffic Statistics Collection

  Yes

  —

  Supply of International Haulage Permits

  —

  Yes

  Electronic Procurement Programme

  —

  Yes

  Applications to Import/Export Wildlife

  —

  Yes

  Bird Registration

  —

  Yes

  Touring Caravan Exemption Certificates

  —

  Yes

  HGV/PSV Operator Licensing

  —

  Yes

  Local Bus Registration Yes

  —

  Yes

  (b) Executive Agencies

  Highways Agency—Consultation

  Yes

  —

  Highways Agency—Information Line

  Yes

  —

  Highways Agency—Website

  Yes

  —

  DVLA: Registration of a First Vehicle

  Yes

  —

  DVLA: Duplicate Driver Licences

  Yes

  —

  DVLA: Exchange of Driver Licences

  —

  Yes

  DVLA: Duplication Vehicle Registration Documents

  —

  Yes

  DVLA: Re-Licensing Vehicles Subject to Vehicle Test

  —

  Yes

  VI: Submission of Vehicle Model Details

  —

  Yes

  VI: Issue of HGV/PSV Certificates

  —

  Yes

  HSE: Health and Safety Notifications

  —

  Yes

  MCA: Ship Registration

  —

  Yes

  Regeneration Programmes
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what plans his Department has for merging the New Deal for Communities into the Government's regeneration scheme; [119027]

  (2) what plans he has to fund the Single Regeneration Budget beyond Round 7. [119029]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 14 April 2000]: The level of funding for regeneration programmes beyond March 2002 and the respective future role for each
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  programme, including the Single Regeneration Budget and New Deal for Communities, is being considered in the current Spending Review. The outcome of the Review and the Government's new expenditure plans for the period to March 2004 should be announced in July.

  Dr. Stoate
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much money from the Single Regeneration Budget 5 Programme, "Gateways to Community Success",(a) has been and (b) is due to be, provided to fund skills development and training in the Dartford area. [118843]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  "Gateways to Community Success" was approved last year under the Single Regeneration Budget 5 Programme. The scheme aims to develop the capacity of organisations to equip local residents with personal and vocational skills relevant to the needs of the local labour market. Total SRB funding of £4.3 million will be made available to the scheme over a seven year period from 1999 to 2006. In the first year, £200,000 (mainly for set-up costs) was provided by the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), which is now responsible for Government SRB fundings.

  Most of the specific projects supported under this scheme will benefit residents across the whole of the Thames Gateway area in North Kent. It is difficult therefore to break down how much funding will be targeted specifically at Dartford. However, one project under this scheme (Making Connections) is aimed at residents in and around the Temple Hill area of Dartford. Within the overall scheme, this specific project will receive total SRB funding of £809,000. In the first year, £30,000 (again mainly for set-up costs) was provided by SEEDA.

  Regional Development Agencies
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what factors determine the budget allocation formula for regional development agencies. [119028]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 14 April 2000]: The allocation methods vary for the RDAs eight main programmes and for their administration. Many factors are taken into account. These include: levels of deprivation; existing legal commitments; opportunities; value for money; Structural Fund responsibilities; regional population totals; and likely receipt income. There are also some allocations for common costs and account is taken of the RDAs' corporate plans and of other relevant information supplied.

  Local Government Bill
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place in the Library the opinion on which he based his decision that he was unable to make a statement, under the provisions of section 19 of the Human Rights Act 1998, that the provisions of the Local Government Bill [Lords] are human rights compliant. [119160]

  Ms Armstrong
  [holding answer 14 April 2000]: The Government do not normally publish their legal advice. However, I can clarify that there are doubts as to whether section 2A of the Local Government Act 1986 is compatible with Article 10 (freedom of expression) of the

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  European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), and with Article 14 (freedom from discrimination) when read with Article 8 (respect for private and family life) and Article 10.

  The Bill on introduction to the Lords was, in our opinion, compatible with the ECHR. However, clause 91 of the Local Government Bill amends, and thereby reaffirms, the provisions of section 2A. By extension, this amendment casts doubt on whether the Bill is now compatible with the ECHR. On this basis, the Secretary of State made a statement under section 19(1)(b) of the Human Rights Act 1998.

  The Government have already said that they intend to remove clause 91 of the Bill and, in its place, provide for the repeal of section 2A of the 1986 Act. In our view, the Bill will then be compatible with the ECHR.

  Rail Franchises
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when a rail franchise passes to the successful company in the event of an existing train operating company failing to secure the renewal of its franchise; and what extra monitoring of service standards will be put in place during the transitional period. [119483]

  Mr. Hill
  The shadow Strategic Rail Authority will agree a date with interested parties. Normal monitoring standards that are contained within the terms of the franchise agreements will apply.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much his Department spent directly or indirectly on asylum seekers in(a) 1995, (b) 1996, (c) 1997, (d) 1998 and (e) 1999; and what estimate has been made of expenditure in the year 2000. [119484]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Home Office will be responding to this Question on behalf of Government as a whole, using information that we have provided to them.

  Cycling (Mileage Rate)
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will provide funding for local councils to pay a mileage rate on cycle use by their employees. [119337]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Government do not provide funding specifically for this purpose. It is for individual local authorities to decide whether to pay cycling mileage allowances to their employees, and to meet the cost from their general budgets. We would certainly encourage all councils and other employers to promote the use of cycles; mileage allowances are one way of doing this. The Government have already increased the taxable allowance on business travel by bicycle to 12p per mile.

  If cycles are used on official journeys by employees instead of their cars, councils stand to make a considerable saving on mileage payments.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is his Department's energy efficiency performance target, expressed as a percentage change in comparison with 1990–91, for each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement. [118991]

  Janet Anderson
  The Department's target is to reduce energy consumption by 8 per cent. from a base year of 1994–95 to 1999–2000 and 1 per cent. per annum thereafter. This later base year reflects the fact that the Department was not created until 1993.

  My Department is investigating further measures to reduce energy but opportunities are limited as we already occupy energy efficient buildings which are air conditioned and have intensive IT usage.

  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what has been the percentage change compared with 1990–91 in his Department's energy efficiency in each year since 1990–91; and if he will make a statement. [118990]

  Janet Anderson
  The percentage change compared with the base year of 1994–95 is as follows:

  Year

  Percentage change

  1995–96

  0

  1996–97

  3

  1997–98

  7

  1998–99

  -7

  These are provisional data as recording errors mean that the consumption figures have been recalculated back to the base year. The latest data have still to be confirmed by DETR.

  My Department is investigating further measures to reduce energy but opportunities are limited as we already occupy energy efficient buildings which are air conditioned and have intensive IT usage.

  Museums (North-west)
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funds museums in the north-west of England will receive from the amounts which his Department has allocated to cut museum entry fees; and which museums will receive the money. [119101]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  In 1999–2000 to enable free admission for children at the two museums funded by my Department in the north-west which are affected, the National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside (NMGM) received £719,000 and the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester (MSIM) £188,000. In 2000–01, to enable free admission for children and people over 60, NMGM has been allocated £188,000. The allocation of funds to cut museum entry fees at the museums and galleries funded by my Department in 2001–02 is still under consideration and no detailed figures are available yet. An announcement will be made in due course.

  SIMA TV
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what monitoring the Independent Television Commission carries out of programmes on SIMA TV; if SIMA TV broadcasts the statements of Mojahedin Khalq Organisation of Iran and the National Council of Resistances of Iran; when SIMA TV was last fined by the ITC; and if he will make a statement about the future licensing of SIMA TV. [118942]

  Janet Anderson
  Monitoring is regularly undertaken by the ITC on the broadcasts of all its licence holders. For broadcasters, like SIMA, who have breached the ITC's Programme Codes, this monitoring would be more intense.

  Broadcasting statements by groups such as Mojahedin Khalq Organisation or the National Council of Resistances of Iran are not in themselves a problem, provided they carry no incitement to crime, and that they form part of a wider range of views. SIMA was fined £20,000 in November 1999 for not adhering to these points. SIMA may retain its licence as long as it complies with the ITC's Programmes and other Codes.

  Turf Football Pitches
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will take action to ensure that there is public access to artificial turf pitches for football in each parliamentary constituency; and if he will make a statement. [118956]

  Kate Hoey
  There are 577 sites in England providing full size, synthetic turf pitches for community or club use. A further 12 sites have, in principle, been awarded funding from the Lottery Sports Fund. Sport England will shortly be carrying out a detailed analysis of the provision of synthetic turf pitches. Any gaps in existing provision will be assessed on the basis of the size of the population served, rather than by parliamentary constituency. The adequacy of the provision of pitches in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is assessed in the same way.

  Canoeing
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action he is taking to(a) encourage increased public participation in canoeing and (b) assist Britain's elite canoeists to prepare for the Olympic Games. [118957]

  Kate Hoey
  The Sports Councils, through which public funding for sport is channelled, are providing a total of £5.5 million to encourage participation in canoeing and to assist elite canoeists. Sport England has made 31 awards worth £4,071,474 from the Lottery Sports Fund to canoeing projects. It is also providing £220,000 in 2000–01 towards the English development programme of the British Canoe Union (BCU). This will help fund: a network of development officers whose key objective is to generate greater youth participation in the sport; the development of a network of Access Officers whose role will be to open up additional waterways for canoeing; and the delivery of the BCU' s equity programme for England which targets the recruitment of more disabled and women participants into the sport. For the period April 2000—March 2001 the BCU will receive 322W
  from UK Sport World Class Performance Programme Lottery funding of £1,221,471, which includes support for British Canoeists preparing fro the Olympic Games.

  I will be meeting my hon. Friend the Minister for Water and Coastal Policy soon to discuss how to improve provision for water-based recreation, including canoeing. In addition, my officials will be discussing these issues with the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, the Countryside Agency, the Environment Agency and British Waterways.

  UK Sports Institute
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer of 14 March 2000,Official Report, column 155W, on the UK Sports Institute, when he will make a decision on the venue for the London Institute of Sport Network Centre. [119041]

  Kate Hoey
  [holding answer 14 April 2000]: It is hoped that the decision will be taken by the end of June.

  European Athletics Championships
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is his policy towards the proposed bid by Gateshead to stage the 2006 European Athletics Championships. [119043]

  Kate Hoey
  [holding answer 14 April 2000]: The responsibility for preparing and lodging a bid for a major event rests with the appropriate national governing body, in this case UK Athletics. UK Sport is meeting UK Athletics on 18 May to reassess the athletics major event strategy in light of the International Amateur Athletics Federation's decision to award the UK the 2003 World Indoor Championships and the 2005 World Championships. The Gateshead bid is one of the items to be discussed.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Regional Selective Assistance
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) when he plans to submit a new map for regional selective assistance to the European Commission; [118087]

  (2) what changes he plans to make to the regional selective assistance map. [118089]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 7 April 2000]: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Walton (Mr. Kilfoyle) on 10 April 2000, Official Report, columns 38–39W.

  UK/USA Meetings
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what meetings have been held between United States Government officials and his Department in(a) the USA and (b) the UK in the last 12 months, indicating the dates and locations of the meetings and the subjects discussed. [118625]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 11 April 2000]: There have been a large number of meetings between United States Government officials and officials of the Department of Trade and Industry over the last 12 months.

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  These meetings have been at many levels and have covered a great range of subjects including multilateral and bilateral trade issues.

  Competitiveness Development Fund
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to review the DTI's provision of Competitiveness Development Fund resources to the North-west. [119026]

  Mr. Caborn
  [holding answer 14 April 2000]: For the financial year 2000–01 the DTI is making available £440,000 of funding under the Competitiveness Development Fund (CDF) to the North West Development Agency. This represents an increase in funding of over 75 per cent. compared to the previous financial year.

  In addition, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced on 27 March 2000 details of further measures to encourage innovation and enterprise by businesses, including a new £50 million fund for promoting the development of clusters and business incubation in the English regions. The £50 million will go to the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) in England over this and next financial year (2000–01 and 2001–02). £15 million is to be made available in this financial year split equally between the eight current RDAs and the London Development Agency when it is established. This, together with CDF funds, will provide a combined allocation of over £2 million of funding for each RDA in 2000–01 for work on competitiveness and enterprise.

  Motor Industry (State Aid)
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the dates of(a) explanatory memoranda presented to Parliament by the Government and (b) agreements in the Council of Ministers concerning the Community Framework for state aid to the motor vehicle industry, OJ No. C279, 1997; and what application has been made within the specification of the Framework to the Commission by Her Majesty's Government in respect of the Longbridge plant. [118922]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  Neither an explanatory memorandum or Council agreement exist for the motor vehicles framework. Frameworks are produced by the Commission without reference to the Council, as they (the Commission) have sole competence on the state aid rules and their interpretation.

  Conforming to the requirements of the Community Framework for state aid to the motor vehicle industry, HMG formally notified the £152 million Longbridge package to the European Commission 20 August 1999. The clearance process by the Commission was still on-going at the time of BMW's decision to divest itself of elements of the Rover Group (including Longbridge).

  New Deal (Job Creation)
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many jobs the New Deal has created; and at what cost. [117328]

  Ms Jowell
  I have been asked to reply.
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  The New Deal is not a job creation programme. The strong economy means that 800,000 people are in work compared with May 1997. 191,600 young people who had faced unemployment of at least six months have been helped by the New Deal move from benefits to work.

  Pension and Benefit Payment Methods
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if pensioners in receipt of state pension paid via automated credit transfer will be protected from(a) bank charges and (b) withdrawal charges if they choose to draw their pensions in cash from a post office from 2003. [119419]

  Mr. Rooker
  I have been asked to reply.

  I refer the right hon. Member to the written answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Benn), and the hon. Member for South-East Cambridgeshire (Mr. Paice) on 7 March 2000, Official Report, columns 613-14W.

  Mr. Truswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what methods of cash payment benefits he is considering following the introduction of automated credit transfer in post offices and against what criteria they will be evaluated. [119204]

  Mr. Rooker
  I have been asked to reply.

  We have made it clear that people will still be able to collect their cash from post offices if they wish to do so, both before and after the move to ACT in 2003.

  We are currently working with the banks and the Post Office on the detailed arrangements. The Post Office already offers banking services on an agency basis for a number of banks. The new Horizon technology currently being installed will give the Post Office the opportunity to offer banking services on an agency basis for a wider range of banks and building societies; and the Post Office have already said that they intend to install 3,000 cash machines.

  We are also inviting banks to work with the Post Office to offer a basic banking service to people currently without bank accounts.

  However, we recognise that there will be some people who will be unable to pay by ACT. For these, we are considering what alternative simple electronic money transmission system, which could also be accessed at post offices, may be commercially available.

HEALTH

  Community Hospital, Sheppey
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much public money has been spent by Thames Gateway NHS Trust on consultants' and lawyers' fees in respect of the PFI contract for the hospital for the Isle of Sheppey. [105196]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 17 January 2000]: Since 1996–97 the amount spent by Thames Gateway National Health Service Trust on advisers costs for the proposed private finance initiative scheme for a new community hospital for Sheppey are:
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  £

  Expenditure type

  Amount

  Legal advice

  379,000

  Financial advice

  198,000

  Other advice

  122,000

  Total

  699,000

  Of these costs, £87,000 were incurred prior to April 1997.

  Health Professions Council
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when he plans to start consultation on a draft order to establish a health professions council; [118313]

  (2) when he expects new professions to be able to register with the health professions council; [118314]

  (3) what plans he has to repeal the Professions Supplementary to Medicine Act 1960; and if he will make a statement; [118315]

  (4) what plans he has to implement a regulatory framework to enable further professions to obtain state registration; and if he will make a statement. [118312]

  Mr. Denham
  We are currently considering the proposals for consultation on legislation to replace the Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine. We hope to be able to publish these shortly.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on introducing a statutory registration scheme for operating department practitioners; and if he will make a statement. [118854]

  Health authority

  2000–01 allocation including additional £660 million (£000)

  2000–01 recurrent weighted capitation target (£000)

  Distance from target (£000)

  Distance from target (Percentage)

  Avon

  641,970

  649,321

  -7,351

  -1.13

  Barking and Havering

  281,533

  278,960

  2,573

  0.92

  Barnet

  228,234

  227,788

  447

  0.20

  Barnsley

  171,018

  176,397

  -5,379

  -3.05

  Bedfordshire

  344,490

  358,470

  -13,980

  -3.90

  Berkshire

  484,623

  500,470

  -15,847

  -3.17

  Bexley and Greenwich

  318,047

  299,950

  18,097

  6.03

  Birmingham

  749,780

  745,390

  4,390

  0.59

  Bradford

  343,313

  347,166

  -3,853

  -1.11

  Brent and Harrow

  341,633

  334,582

  7,051

  2.11

  Bromley

  201,306

  201,092

  214

  0.11

  Buckinghamshire

  407,599

  419,598

  -11,999

  -2.86

  Bury and Rochdale

  275,877

  276,925

  -1,049

  -0.38

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  402,907

  403,578

  -671

  -0.17

  Cambridgeshire

  442,411

  453,098

  -10,687

  -2.36

  Camden and Islington

  356,225

  349,524

  6,701

  1.92

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  344,828

  339,322

  5,506

  1.62

  County Durham

  452,736

  461,460

  -8,724

  -1.89

  Coventry

  221,753

  227,926

  -6,172

  -2.71

  Croydon

  223,107

  225,624

  -2,517

  -1.12

  Doncaster

  216,207

  216,634

  -427

  -0.20

  Dorset

  487,298

  478,263

  9,035

  1.89

  Dudley

  200,507

  203,550

  -3,044

  -1.50

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  524,548

  524,681

  -133

  -0.03

  East and North Hertfordshire

  318,662

  322,721

  -4,059

  -1.26

  East Kent

  431,841

  420,809

  11,031

  2.62

  East Lancashire

  384,249

  387,072

  -2,822

  -0.73

  East London and the City

  545,950

  566,894

  -20,945

  -3.69

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  Ms Stuart
  Section 60 of the Health Act 1999 provides power to regulate new health professions. This is one of the subjects for consultation on proposals to create a new Health Professions Council.

  Biomedical Scientists (Trainees)
  Mr. Hesford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many trainee biomedical scientists there are in the NHS. [118588]

  Mr. Denham
  Trainee biomedical scientists are graduates. The length of their vocational training varies depending on the entry route and the ability of the individual. Accurate figures for the number of trainee biomedical scientists employed by the National Health Service are not available as the information is not collected centrally.

  Health Authority Budgets
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each health authority in England and Wales,(a) its total allocation for 2000–01, including its share of the expenditure announced on 28 March, (b) its total allocation if the allocations for 2000–01 had been made on the basis of full weighted capitation and (c) the amount by which its total allocation differs from weighted capitation. [118932]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 13 April 2000]: On 28 March my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health announced details of extra allocations to health authorities for 2000–01. This additional £660 million has brought health authority average increases to 8.9 per cent. in cash terms (6.2 per cent. in real terms). The information is given in the table.

  Information on allocations for Welsh health authorities is available from the National Assembly for Wales.
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  Health authority

  2000–01 allocation including additional £660 million (£000)

  2000–01 recurrent weighted capitation target (£000)

  Distance from target (£000)

  Distance from target (Percentage)

  East Riding

  394,083

  394,242

  -159

  -0.04

  East Surrey

  267,914

  262,137

  5,777

  2.20

  East Sussex, Brighton and Hove

  551,376

  538,304

  13,072

  2.43

  Enfield and Haringey

  356,859

  355,395

  1,464

  0.41

  Gateshead and South Tyneside

  277,321

  280,211

  -2,889

  -1.03

  Gloucestershire

  364,311

  353,746

  10,564

  2.99

  Herefordshire

  108,512

  108,830

  -319

  -0.29

  Hillingdon

  169,434

  170,397

  -963

  -0.56

  Isle of Wight

  100,622

  94,019

  6,603

  7.02

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  321,111

  348,987

  -27,876

  -7.99

  Kingston and Richmond

  237,277

  231,483

  5,795

  2.50

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  636,437

  624,184

  12,253

  1.96

  Leeds

  515,080

  511,966

  3,114

  0.61

  Leicestershire

  570,114

  586,393

  -16,280

  -2.78

  Lincolnshire

  429,691

  433,424

  -3,733

  -0.86

  Liverpool

  378,330

  371,727

  6,603

  1.78

  Manchester

  378,849

  371,351

  7,498

  2.02

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  455,914

  447,669

  8,245

  1.84

  Morecambe Bay

  224,098

  216,807

  7,291

  3.36

  Newcastle and North Tyneside

  364,236

  361,030

  3,206

  0.89

  Norfolk

  504,549

  504,363

  186

  0.04

  North and East Devon

  328,698

  324,303

  4,395

  1.36

  North and Mid Hampshire

  320,050

  318,438

  1,612

  0.51

  North Cheshire

  217,660

  215,460

  2,200

  1.02

  North Cumbria

  217,218

  216,784

  434

  0.20

  North Derbyshire

  249,371

  250,461

  -1,090

  -0.44

  North Essex

  555,679

  556,115

  -436

  -0.08

  North Nottinghamshire

  260,428

  266,191

  -5,763

  -2.16

  North Staffordshire

  334,233

  340,030

  -5,796

  -1.70

  North West Lancashire

  352,074

  352,020

  54

  0.02

  North Yorkshire

  474,576

  477,038

  -2,462

  -0.52

  Northamptonshire

  356,996

  353,917

  3,079

  0.87

  Northumberland

  214,665

  215,326

  -661

  -0.31

  Nottingham

  427,441

  437,686

  -10,245

  -2.34

  Oxfordshire

  364,378

  372,544

  -8,166

  -2.19

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  364,591

  364,531

  60

  0.02

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  323,694

  311,792

  11,902

  3.82

  Rotherham

  173,727

  175,697

  -1,970

  -1.12

  Salford and Trafford

  339,047

  333,322

  5,725

  1.72

  Sandwell

  223,644

  225,704

  -2,060

  -0.91

  Sefton

  211,212

  205,523

  5,688

  2.77

  Sheffield

  398,432

  393,746

  4,686

  1.19

  Shropshire

  270,975

  274,590

  -3,616

  -1.32

  Solihull

  133,724

  133,228

  496

  0.37

  Somerset

  318,840

  316,997

  1,843

  0.58

  South and West Devon

  419,315

  413,317

  5,998

  1.45

  South Cheshire

  443,804

  439,798

  4,007

  0.91

  South Derbyshire

  375,652

  381,611

  -5,958

  -1.56

  South Essex

  463,389

  470,629

  -7,240

  -1.54

  South Humber

  216,561

  212,381

  4,180

  1.97

  South Lancashire

  206,248

  201,999

  4,249

  2.10

  South Staffordshire

  352,315

  352,822

  -508

  -0.14

  Southampton and South West Hamptonshire

  359,457

  359,279

  178

  0.05

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  257,406

  259,579

  -2,173

  -0.84

  Stockport

  193,464

  192,538

  926

  0.48

  Suffolk

  434,142

  430,192

  3,950

  0.92

  Sunderland

  218,745

  221,000

  -2,255

  -1.02

  Tees

  404,069

  408,692

  -4,624

  -1.13

  Wakefield

  231,631

  230,600

  1,031

  0.45

  Walsall

  179,022

  181,848

  -2,826

  -1.55

  Warwickshire

  320,497

  315,320

  5,177

  1.64

  West Hertfordshire

  346,924

  345,135

  1,788

  0.52

  West Kent

  618,824

  612,850

  5,974

  0.97

  West Pennine

  325,991

  331,585

  -5,594

  -1.69

  West Surrey

  401,226

  391,077

  10,150

  2.60

  West Sussex

  513,306

  515,915

  -2,609

  -0.51

  Wigan and Bolton

  410,052

  422,403

  -12,351

  -2.92

  Wiltshire

  380,058

  372,333

  7,725

  2.07

  Wirral

  247,545

  240,159

  7,386

  3.08

  Wolverhampton

  175,452

  178,762

  -3,311

  -1.85

  Worcestershire

  329,672

  327,690

  1,981

  0.60

  328W

  Day Centres
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many local authorities levy a charge for day centres. [119482]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information on the number of local authorities levying a charge for day centres in England is not collected centrally. However information on the recoupment of fees and charges by each local authority is available at the Department of Health website at www.doh.gov.uk/public/pss—stat.htm.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations his Department has received on the introduction of charges by social services departments for the use of day centres. [119481]

  Mr. Hutton
  During the six-month period to April 2000 the Department received an average of two representations per month on the introduction of charges by social services departments for the use of day centres.

  Glenthorne Youth Treatment Centre
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has reached a decision on the future of Glenthorne Youth Treatment Centre; and if he will make a statement. [119424]

  Mr. Hutton
  In my reply to my hon. Friend on 15 December 1999,Official Report, column 223W, I announced that I would be consulting on the future of Glenthorne Youth Treatment Centre, including its possible closure.

  That consultation has now been completed and I have considered the representations made to me by the staff of the Centre and their representatives, by Members of Parliament; by local authorities; and by others, especially those representing young people accommodated in the Centre. The Centre has made a valuable and important contribution to the treatment and care of some of the most difficult and disturbed young people in the past, and these representations have paid fitting tribute to that contribution.

  When the Youth Treatment Centres were first developed over 20 years ago, there were no comparable facilities for accommodating and treating such difficult and disturbed young people. Things have moved on considerably since then. Local councils have developed their own secure accommodation and have become skilled and experienced at dealing with young people requiring secure care, including young people like those accommodated in Glenthorne. In recent years, the Department of Health has undertaken a major expansion of local authority secure accommodation by providing an additional 170 places for young people. Providers in the voluntary and private sectors have also established their worth. In these circumstances, I have concluded that it is no longer appropriate for the Department to run such a child care facility and that we should therefore withdraw from providing such a service.
  330W
  We have looked carefully at the option of someone taking over the Centre as a going concern, but, unfortunately, no suitable proposals have been put forward, and 18 of the 30 young people who were in the Centre at the time of my announcement in December have been moved by their placing authorities to alternative facilities. The whole question of the financial viability of the Centre is affecting the morale and welfare of both the staff and the children. It is, therefore, time to bring to an end the uncertainty which has inevitably existed over recent months.

  However, the welfare of the children currently placed in Glenthorne is of paramount importance and no decision will be taken on when the Centre will finally close until suitable alternative placements have been found for them. The Department will be working closely with the local authorities and the Prison Service to identify the most appropriate places. Once that transition has been achieved, the Centre will close.

  The Department will also be working closely with the Department Trade Union Side to identify posts elsewhere in the civil service to which some of the staff of the Centre could be re-deployed. However, given the specialist nature of some of the posts in the Centre, re-deployment may not be possible in all cases. In those instances, redundancy terms will apply.

  This has been a difficult time for the staff of the Centre and I am grateful for the professional manner in which they have continued to conduct themselves.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Accumulated Service Medal
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many members of the Royal Irish Regiment whose claims for the Accumulated Service Medal were reviewed because of insufficient evidence were(a) successful and (b) unsuccessful in claiming the medal. [119345]

  Mr. Spellar
  I have been asked to reply.

  A total of 273 such cases have been considered by the Army Medal Board to date. Of these, 226 have been successful, 30 proved to have no entitlement and were rejected, and 17 have been returned to the Regimental Headquarters of the Royal Irish Regiment for further investigation. An additional 624 applications have still to be prepared for Army Medal Board consideration.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Farm Aid Package
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the value of the farm aid package announced on 30 March, and if he will publish a breakdown of the components of the farm aid package,
  331W
  listing for each component (a) its value, (b) its funding source, (c) eligible recipients, (d) conditions of eligibility, (e) time of availability, (f) budgetary year, (g) whether it has previously been announced by (i) the Government and (ii) the European Commission and (h) if it has been approved by the European Commission and, if not, when he expects such approval to be given. [117970]

  Action plan for farming (13 April 2000)

  Measure

  Value (£ million)

  Funding source

  Eligible recipients and conditions of eligibility

  Time of availability

  Previously announced

  EC approval

  Introduce a scheme to encourage the restructuring of the pig industry in order to improve its long term viability

  126

  UK

  To be announced

  To be announced

  No

  An aid notification has been submitted to the EC

  Pay to dairy farmers all the agrimonetary aid that EU rules permit this year only

  122

  UK (£ 11 million) and EU3

  Aid will be allocated in proportion to milk quota held on 31 March 2000

  To be announced

  No

  An aid notification will be submitted to the EC this month

  Pay agrimonetary compensation to beef farmers of £22 million this year only. Payments will be made in connection with Beef Special Premium, Suckler Cow Premium and Extensification Payments for the 2000 scheme year

  1,222

  EU3

  Payments will be made in connection with Beef Special Premium, Suckler Cow Premium and Extensification Payments for the 2000 scheme year

  The majority will be payable in November, and the remainder in the second quarter of 2001

  No

  An aid notification will be submitted to the EU this month

  Agrimonetary compensation to sheep farmers of £22 million this year in respect of 1999 scheme year claims

  122

  EU3

  Paid to Sheep Annual Premium claimants in respect of the 1999 scheme year

  Payments will be made with the first advances of Sheep Annual Premium in Jul y/August

  No

  An aid notification will be submitted to the EC this month

  Increase support for hill farmers beyond the level specified in the Rural Development Plans submitted to the Commission

  160

  UK

  The majority of the moneys will be added to the budgets for the LFA compensatory allowances, which will be modified to assist restructuring so as to strengthen the industry and to make it better able to deliver the social and environmental benefits provided by extensive sheep and beef grazing. The remainder will finance a consultancy programme to improve hill farmers' access to business skills

  LFA support payments are made in the early months of each year.

  No

  The scheme has been submitted to the EC for approval under the Rural Development Regulation; the changes will need to be discussed with the EC

  Seek from the Commission an increase in the maximum weight per animal on which compensation is payable under the Over Thirty Months Scheme

  420

  UK

  Payable in respect of cattle slaughtered under the Over Thirty Months Scheme

  To be determined

  No

  The Over Thirty Months Scheme for cattle is an EU scheme and thus changes to its rules require the EC to make a proposal to be adopted by the Beef Management Committee on which all member states are represented. A formal request to that effect has been made to the EC

  332W
  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 6 April 2000]: The Action Plan for Farming discussed at the Farming Summit on 30 March outlined a programme of measures to help provide a proper, structured plan for the future. The aid measures amounting to over £200 million are listed. Many of the other measures within the Action Plan will also have considerable benefit to the farming industry, though it is not as yet possible to quantify these.
  333W

  Action plan for farming (13 April 2000)

  Measure

  Value (£ million)

  Funding source

  Eligible recipients and conditions of eligibility

  Time of availability

  Previously announced

  EC approval

  Remove charges for dairy hygiene inspections in England as soon as the necessary legislation can be put in place

  11

  UK

  All dairy production holdings in England

  To remove the charge, the Dairy Products (Hygiene) (Charges) Regulations 1995 will need to be amended, which we estimate will take three months

  No

  EC approval not needed

  Hold the increase in meat inspection charges for 2000–01 to the rate of inflation

  14.5

  UK

  All operators of licensed meat plants in GB

  2001–01

  Confirmation that the increase in Meat Hygiene charges will be kept to the level of inflation and announcement that this is equivalent to £4.5 million in 2000–01

  EC approval not required

  Increase the rate of grant under MAFF's Farm Waste Grant Scheme from 25 per cent, of eligible expenditure (under which uptake has been low) to 40 per cent.

  23.5

  UK

  Payable to farmers in Nitrate Vulnerable Zones installing improved manure storage and handling facilities to comply with regulatory measures

  As soon as EC approval is obtained

  No

  Existing scheme is an approved State Aid. Approval is being sought for an increase in rate

  The Government will double the Regional Development Agencies' Redundant Building Grant Programme, which operates in Rural Priority Areas, to £8 million in 2000–01

  14

  UK

  Redundant farm building owners

  To be announced

  No

  Existing scheme is an approved State Aid

  The Government will allocate £2.3 million to create in England a European Centre for organic fruit and nursery stock

  52.3

  UK

  UK Capital Modernisation Fund

  The European Centre will be located at Horticulture Research International in East Mailing, Kent

  No

  EC approval not required

  A single charge for authorisation to dispose of used sheep dip, equivalent to the current application charge of £85, should cover the full four-year period of the initial authorisation. This means that the current annual charge of £107 will not be payable during the first four-year period

  64.7

  UK

  Small dischargers including farmers who dip sheep and need to dispose of sheep dip to land

  For first authorisation

  No

  EC approval not required

  Business Restructuring in England:

  The Government will pump-prime the drive to improve the competitiveness of farmers by providing funding for business improvement, on a challenge basis, following the model of the Agricultural Development Scheme 1999

  11

  UK

  Industry, organisation and partnerships

  Scheme will be launched in the next few weeks

  No

  Existing scheme is an approved State Aid. Approval will be sought for changes to the scheme

  The Government will provide funding of £1.2 million to Lantra (National Training Organisation for the Landbased Sector) to promote the economic benefits of training and to analyse the training needs of 20,000 farm businesses

  11.2

  UK

  Farmers in England

  July 2000

  No

  Existing scheme is an approved State Aid. Approval will be sought for changes to the scheme

  334W

  335W

  Action plan for forming (13 April 2000)

  Measure

  Value (£ million)

  Funding source

  Eligible recipients and conditions of eligibility

  Time of availability

  Previously announced

  EC approval

  The Government will help farmers develop better business practices through tailored business advice. As farmers increasingly diversify their businesses, they will be able to draw on the wider expertise and services of the Small Business Service

  16.5

  UK

  Farmers in England

  The new service is being planned to start on 1 September 2000

  No

  Need for EC approval to be confirmed

  The Government will continue to support the Rural Stress Information Network by extending for at least a further year the secondment of a MAFF official to that organisation. MAFF will also increase the provision of free advice to those farmers referred to it by certain organisations. The Government will increase its support to voluntary bodies dealing with rural stress on the basis of an action plan it will draw up with them by June

  10.5

  UK

  Farmers in England

  Funds for rural stress support groups will be available in the summer

  No

  Need for EC approval to be confirmed

  Launch an electronic portal for farming

  10.4

  UK

  The whole industry will stand to benefit

  The first phase is planned to go live by December 2000

  No

  EC approval not needed

  Business restructuring aid for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

  12

  UK

  Details are to be announced in due course by the devolved Administrations and Northern Ireland

  Details are to be announced in due course by the devolved Administrations and Northern Ireland

  No

  Will depend on measures to be announced

  Total

  203.5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Note:

  In addition the Government will pay this year agrimonetary aid to arable farmers (£57 million, to be paid from mid-October 2000), sheep farmers (£10 million, being paid now) and beef farmers (£21 million, to be paid from mid-October 2000) which was previously announced by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 22 September 1999.

  1 In 2000–01

  2 In 2001–02

  3 7 1 per cent, of the EU funding is borne by the UK because of the application of the Fontainebleau abatement

  4 Estimate in 2000–01

  5 Over 2 years: £0.3 million in 2000–01 and £1.961in 2001–02

  6 Over 4 years

  Organic Food
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of the food consumed in the UK is organically produced; and what estimate he has made of the amount that will be so produced in 2006. [118573]

  Mr. Morley
  Precise information is not available. We estimate the share of organic food in the overall UK market as in the order of 5 per cent.

  We have made no estimate for future years.

  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total amount of money paid under the Common Agricultural Policy to organic farmers in the EU; and what percentage this represents of the total CAP spend. [118577]

  Ms Quin
  The information requested is not available in the format required.
  336W
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what targets other EU member states have set for organic farming. [118574]

  Mr. Morley
  The information available is not complete but we understand that Austria, Denmark, Finland, France and Sweden have set targets for the conversion of agricultural land to organic farming. In addition several of the German Bundesländer have set such targets. These targets range from 3 per cent. to 10 per cent. of agricultural land.

  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much money his Department has spent on research into(a) organic farming, (b) biotechnology and genetic modification and (c) all areas of agriculture, in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [118568]
  337W
  Ms Quin
  MAFF spending in these areas over the last five years, is shown in the tables. The figures for 1999–2000 are provisional.

  (a) Organic farming

  Year

  £ million

  1995–96

  0.931

  1996–97

  1.116

  1997–98

  0.908

  1998–99

  1.481

  1999–2000

  (2.027)

  The organic farming sector also benefits from much of the other research the Ministry undertakes: for example, its planned spend of over £8 million in 1999–2000 on biological control techniques, plant health, animal welfare and wildlife conservation on farms.

  (b) Biotechnology and genetic modification

  Year

  £ million

  1995–96

  20.09

  199–97

  22.94

  1997–98

  25.22

  1998–99

  28.91

  1999–2000

  (ca. 26)

  (c) All areas of agriculture including organic farming, biotechnology and genetic modification

  Year

  £ million

  1995–96

  88.94

  1996–97

  87.14

  1997–98

  89.74

  1998–99

  90.58

  1999–2000

  (90.78)

  West Dorset
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will classify West Dorset as an area qualifying for hill farming compensation. [118623]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 17 April 2000]: To qualify for hill livestock compensatory allowances, West Dorset would have to be designated as a Less Favoured Area (LFA).

  LFAs in the UK were first designated under Council Directive 75/276/EEC, and last amended by Commission Decision 91/25/EEC. For any additional area to be designated as LFA it would need to meet the general criteria set out in Council Regulation (EC) No. 1257/99 (Articles 17-21) and the specific criteria set out in Council Directive 75/268/EEC (Articles 3 (4) and 5) as adopted by Council Directive 84/169/EEC.

  Proposals for any extension of the LFA area in England would need to be submitted to the European Commission for approval as part of the England Rural Development Plan. No such proposals have been included.

  Lindane
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the approvals for products containing Lindane which have been suspended, withdrawn or revoked from market authorisation in the 338W
  last five years, indicating the crops for which use of the products had been approved, including off-label approvals. [118804]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 12 April 2000]: Those products containing Lindane which have been suspended withdrawn or revoked from the market since 1 November 1995, and the crops for which they held approval, are:

  Product name

  MAFF No.

  Crops

  Atlas Steward

  03062

  Apple

  Barley (spring)

  Barley (winter)

  Beetroot

  Blackberry

  Broad bean

  Broccoli (seed crop)

  Brussels sprout (seed crop)

  Cabbage (seed crop)

  Calabrese (seed crop)

  Cauliflower (seed crop)

  Grassland

  Kale (seed crop)

  Lettuce (protected)

  Loganberry

  Maize (spring)

  Maize (winter)

  Mustard (seed crop)

  Oilseed rape

  Ornamental (including bulb and corm)

  Ornamental shrub

  Ornamental tree

  Pea

  Pear

  Raspberry

  Spinach

  Strawberry

  Sugar beet

  Swede (seed crop)

  Tomato (protected)

  Turnip (seed crop)

  Wheat (spring)

  Wheat (winter)

  CDA Castaway Plus

  04758

  Turf

  Gamma-Col

  00964

  Apple

  Blackberry

  Brassica

  Cereal

  Christmas tree

  Chrysanthemum

  Cucumber

  Elm

  Grass

  Loganberry

  Maize

  Oilseed rape

  Ornamental

  Pear

  Plum

  Raspberry

  Strawberry

  Sugar beet

  Vegetable

  Gamma-Col Turf

  05450

  Turf

  Gamma-Col Turf

  06826

  Turf

  Gamma-Col Turf

  07868

  Turf

  Gammalex

  00965

  Oilseed rape (seed)

  Gammalex

  06396

  Oilseed rape

  339W

  Product name

  MAFF No.

  Crops

  Gammasan 30

  00969

  Barley (seed)

  Oat (seed)

  Wheat (seed)

  Gammasan 30

  06671

  Barley (spring)

  Barley (winter)

  Oats (spring)

  Oats (winter)

  Wheat (spring)

  Wheat (winter)

  Hydraguard

  03278

  Brussels sprout

  Cabbage

  Kale

  Oilseed rape

  Swede

  Turnip

  Hydraguard

  08877

  Brussels sprout

  Cabbage

  Kale

  Oilseed rape

  Swede

  Turnip

  Hysede FL

  02863

  Brassica seed (including broccoli, brussels sprout, cabbage, oilseed rape, swede)

  Broccoli

  Brussels sprout

  Cabbage

  Oilseed rape

  Swede

  Turnip

  Kotol FS

  06968

  Barley

  Barley (seed)

  Oats

  Oats (seed)

  Rye (seed)

  Wheat

  Wheat (seed)

  Lindane 20

  01553

  Apple

  Artichoke (Jerusalem, globe)

  Aubergine

  Bean (broad, navy, runner, soya, dwarf, French)

  Beetroot

  Brassica (named)

  Broccoli

  Brussels sprout

  Bulb

  Cabbage

  Chinese cabbage

  Cauliflower

  Collard

  Fennel

  Forestry

  Kale

  Kohlrabi

  Oilseed rape

  Ornamental

  Pea (mange-tout)

  Pear

  Pepper

  Plum

  Pot plant

  Raspberry

  Sugar beet

  Tomato

  Lindex-Plus FS Seed Treatment

  03934

  Chinese cabbage

  Oilseed rape (seed)

  Lindex-Plus FS Seed Treatment

  08212

  Oilseed rape (seed)

  Murfume Grainstore Smoke

  05575

  Food storage practice (fumigation of empty bins, chutes, conveyors, ducts and buildings used for storage of raw grain pulses and oilseeds)

  340W

  Product name

  MAFF No.

  Crops

  Murfume Lindane Smoke

  05576

  Glasshouse crop (edible + ornamental)

  Food storage practice (grain store, silo)

  Mushroom

  New Kotol

  05081

  Barley (seed)

  Oats (seed)

  Rye (seed)

  Wheat (seed)

  New Kotol

  06212

  Barley (seed

  Oats (seed)

  Rye (seed)

  Wheat (seed)

  Sentry

  06209

  Sugar beet

  Unicrop Leather Jacket Pellets

  02272

  Barley (spring)

  Barley (winter)

  Grassland

  Oats

  Rye

  Sugar beet

  Triticale

  Wheat (spring)

  Wheat (winter)

  Vitavax RS

  02310

  Oilseed rape (seed)

  Vitavax RS

  06029

  Oilseed rape

  Oilseed rape (seed)

  Vitavax RS

  08040

  Flax

  Linseed

  Oilseed rape

  Wireworm FS Seed Treatment

  05640

  Barley

  Oats

  Wheat

  Wireworm Liquid Seed Treatment

  05641

  Barley

  Oats

  Wheat

  Pesticides
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for what reason, in the 1998 survey of the working party on pesticides residues, aldicarburas was not among the pesticides actively sought in retail samples of speciality potatoes. [118803]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 12 April 2000]: This was the first time speciality potatoes had been analysed as part of the Government's annual residues monitoring programme. The potatoes were therefore tested against a standard multiple residue screen to give an indication of the residues present. Aldicarb is not part of this general screen. However, processed potato products were also surveyed in 1998, and aldicarb was included in this analytical suite. The results of this survey are due to be published later this year. A special survey on the variability of aldicarb residues in potatoes (including new potatoes) was published in August last year, the results of which are available on the Pesticide Safety Directorate's (PSD's) internet website (http://maffweb/aboutmaf/agency/psd/psdhome.htm), or direct from PSD. The full document is also available to all Members in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what criteria were used in the 1998 survey of the Working Party on Pesticide Residues to select the countries of origin from which samples of imported speciality potatoes would be tested. [118807]
  341W
  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 12 April 2000]: The surveys of the Working Party on Pesticide Residues (WPPR) are not, except in certain circumstances, directed towards produce of particular countries. The samples of speciality potatoes purchased as part of the 1998 survey were representative of what was available on the UK market at the time of purchase.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Third World Debt
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what progress has been made with the launch of a joint IMF and World bank fund to focus on alleviating the debts of the heavily indebted poor countries by the end of 2000; [119049]

  (2) what progress has been made with proposals to speed up the HIPC II debt cancellation programme. [119336]

  Clare Short
  So far, five countries have qualified for relief under the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative. This is disappointing because the target was for 11 countries to have qualified by the Spring Meetings of the World bank and the IMF. The Government remain strongly committed to the G7 target of three-quarters of eligible countries getting to Decision Point by the end of 2000. We are pressing the bank and Fund to speed up the process.

  Discussions are also continuing to agree the financing arrangements for the multilateral development banks' participation in the Initiative. Further contributions to the HIPC Trust Fund will be required. UK has made the largest commitment to date—over $350 million. This includes our share of European Community contributions to the Trust Fund.

  Primary Education
  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her answer of 2 February 2000,Official Report, column 619W, on primary education, how much each heavily indebted poor country received from the UK's bilateral aid budget for the provision of primary education for each of the last three years. [118350]

  Clare Short
  The following table indicates UK bilateral development assistance expenditure on primary education in heavily indebted poor countries over the last three financial years for which data are available. These data refer only to projects and programmes aimed solely at primary education. There is also expenditure on this area included in wider projects and programmes, or funded through NGOs, which cannot be separately identified.

  £ actuals

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Ethiopia

  114,930

  10,283

  405,152

  Ghana

  0

  42,373

  4,833,831

  Kenya

  1,154,093

  2,004,629

  2,721,644

  Malawi

  2,571,480

  2,420,122

  3,924,906

  342W

  £ actuals

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Mozambique

  0

  136.018

  77,679

  Tanzania

  46,168

  41,382

  70,095

  Uganda

  0

  0

  11,000,000

  Zambia

  6,688

  10,429

  32,505

  Total

  3,893,359

  4,665,236

  13,065,812

  1 Initial expenditure against DFID's commitment of £67 million to Uganda's Education Strategic Investment Programme (1998–2003), one of the prime objectives of which is to achieve universal primary education by 2003.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Departmental Properties
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list those properties held by his Department and agencies responsible to him which are(a) wholly and (b) mainly unoccupied at present, giving locations and when they became so unoccupied in each case. [105308]

  Mr. Wills
  [holding answer 19 January 2000]: A list of those properties which are wholly, or have been mainly, unoccupied that are held by my Department and agencies has been placed in the Library.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many claims under the special payments category of the Jobseeker's Allowance were made in 1999; and how many of these were refused on the grounds of inadequate contribution payments. [108450]

  Ms Jowell
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Leigh Lewis to Dr. Brian Mawhinney, dated 17 April 2000:
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning special payments relating to Jobseeker's Allowance in 1999. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  The Employment Service has arrangements to consider claims for compensation from jobseekers who claim to have suffered a financial loss or severe worry and distress, gross inconvenience or embarrassment as a result of errors by our staff, under the terms of a Department of Social Security compensation scheme.
  In the period 1 January 1999 to 31 December 1999, we received 391 claims for special payments as a result of alleged error in connection with Employment Service administration of Jobseeker's Allowance. Of these claims for compensation, 16 were in connection with advice concerning the National Insurance Contribution conditions for Jobseeker's Allowance, of which two were refused.
  I should add that the Benefits Agency also make special payments as a result of alleged errors with their administration of Jobseeker's Allowance. Therefore, I have asked for the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency to reply to you direct on the number of special payments they have made in relation to Jobseeker's Allowance.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Lawyers
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many lawyers are employed by his Department; and how many were employed in 1995. [117814]

  Mr. Wills
  The Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) does not directly employ lawyers but obtains them from Treasury Solicitor's Department (TSD). The lawyers are employed by TSD and allocated to DfEE. The figures given represent the number of lawyers allocated as at 31 March for the years in question.

  As at 31 March 2000, 24 lawyers were allocated by TSD to DfEE.

  DfEE came into existence following Machinery of Government changes in July 1995. The figures given for 1995 are for the number of lawyers allocated by TSD to its two predecessor Departments: the Employment Department Group (EDG) and Department for Education (DfE).

  As at 31 March 1995, 13 lawyers were allocated to the former EDG and 10 to the former DfE, making a total of 23.

  Meaningful comparisons between the numbers for 1995 and 2000 will be difficult to establish as DfEE's responsibilities do not precisely equate with those of its predecessor Departments.

  For example, the Health and Safety Executive and the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service were both part of EDG in March 1995 but transferred to the Department of Environment and the Department of Trade and Industry respectively as part of the Machinery of Government changes later that year.

  Pilot area

  Communities covered

  Numbers of personal advisers per pilot area

  Caseload

  Average caseload per PA per pilot area

  Lanarkshire: Clyde Valley and Coatbridge

  Hamilton, Motherwell, Coatbridge and Bellshill

  11.6

  284

  24.5

  Eastern Valleys

  Aberdare, Blackwood, Caerphilly, Ebbw Vale,Merthyr Tydfil

  10.7

  408

  38.1

  Sandwell

  Smethwick, West Bromwich

  7

  224

  32

  Bolton

  Bolton

  7.6

  285

  37.5

  Central Sussex

  Brighton, Hove

  9.3

  184

  19.8

  Bristol East and Bath

  Bristol East and Bath

  8

  262

  32.8

  Newham

  Plaistow, Stratford, Canning Town

  9

  243

  27

  South Tyneside

  Gateshead, South Shields

  12

  661

  55.1

  Mercia East

  Boston, King's Lynn, Skegness

  8

  281

  35.1

  South Devon

  Plymouth, Saltash, Torbay, Tavistock, Totnes,Kingsbridge

  10

  349

  34.9

  Bedfordshire

  Bedford, Luton

  8

  117

  14.6

  North Yorkshire

  Harrogate, Scarborough, York, Northallerton

  10

  343

  34.3

  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much the personal adviser section of the New Deal for the Disabled has cost in each month since the start of the scheme. [118608]

  Ms Hodge
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  Vulnerable Adults
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to introduce police checks on employees in education working with vulnerable adults. [118739]

  Ms Hodge
  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has announced his intention to implement part V of the Police Act 1997. As a result, criminal records information will become more readily available to employers recruiting people to work with children or vulnerable adults. Details of how this is to work in education are being developed currently and announcements will be made at a later date.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he will make an announcement about the national implementation of the personal adviser service part of his New Deal for the Disabled. [118599]

  Ms Hodge
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Daventry (Mr. Boswell) on 12 April 2000,Official Report, column 186W.

  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many personal advisers work for the personal adviser section of the New Deal for the Disabled; and what the average care load is in each(a) constituency, (b) local authority area and (c) county. [118609]

  Ms Hodge
  The information is not available in the precise form requested. Personal advisers are not allocated to specific constituencies, local authorities or counties. The table sets out the coverage and average caseload per personal adviser (as at 25 February) for each pilot area.

  £000

  September 1998

  31

  October

  45

  November

  80

  December

  103

  January 1999

  90

  345W

  £000

  February

  138

  March

  788

  April

  32

  May

  513

  June

  603

  July

  567

  August

  918

  September

  932

  October

  626

  November

  765

  December

  842

  January 2000

  921

  February

  1,008

  New Deal (Advertising)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what has been the total cost to date of publications on, and advertising of, New Deal programmes for the unemployed. [118512]

  Ms Jowell
  [holding answer 10 April 2000]: A sum of £1,849,405 has been spent on publications and a sum of £9,697,576 has been spent on advertising New Deal. These figures exclude the cost of VAT but include amounts incurred for New Deal for Young People, New Deal 25 plus, New Deal 50 plus, New Deal for Partners of Unemployed People and New Deal for Disabled People.

  The sums do not include expenditure on the promotion of New Deal for Lone Parents, as the Department of Social Security takes the lead on this programme.

  Deputations
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many requests for meetings with deputations of hon. Members and groups from their constituencies, his Department has received in each year since 1997, on issues relating to(a) further and (b) adult education; how many have (i) he and (ii) other Ministers in his Department (1) seen and (2) refused to see; and if he will make a statement. [118924]

  Mr. Wicks
  This information is not centrally available and could be collected only at a disproportionate cost.

  Pre-school Sector
  Dr. Stoate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many pre-schools and playgroups in Dartford(a) have benefited and (b) are expected to benefit from the special Government grants made available to relieve financial pressure on the pre-school sector. [118821]

  Ms Hodge
  Our records for the 1998 and 1999 schemes to assist pre-schools and playgroups facing financial difficulty show that no applications for grant were received from pre-schools and playgroups in Dartford.

  Arrangements for the administration of the new scheme, which I announced on 29 March 2000, will be discussed with the voluntary pre-school and playgroup support organisations. Among the main issues to be taken into account in deciding applications for grant will be the
  346W
  financial position of the group, quality issues, longer term viability and any comments received from the local Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership.

  Ofsted Inspections
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what has been the total cost of Ofsted inspections since their inception for(a) the county of Cheshire, (b) the constituency of Crewe and Nantwich and (c) the town of Crewe. [119013]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 13 April 2000]: This is a matter for Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools, Chris Woodhead. I have asked him to write to my hon. Friend and to place a copy of his letter in the Library.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is his Department's energy efficiency performance target, expressed as a percentage change in comparison with 1990–91, for each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement. [118999]

  Mr. Wills
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment on 22 March 2000,Official Report, columns 548-49W. It was explained then that a new target had been set across the Government estate, to apply from 2000–01, of a one per cent. per annum reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The base year will be 1999–2000 as it was the final year to which the previous target applied. My Department will aim to meet this target. It represents a change against the previous cross-Government Target to 31 March 2000 which was expressed in terms of reductions in energy expenditure. Measurement in greenhouse gas emissions provides a much better fit with the current climate change programme and the UK's Kyoto targets.

  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what has been the percentage change compared with 1990–91 in his Department's energy efficiency in each year since 1990–91; and if he will make a statement. [118998]

  Mr. Wills
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Mansfield (Mr. Meale) on 22 July 1999,Official Report, columns 580-84W, which reported progress for all central government departments to 31 March 1998. The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions expect to publish results for the period up to March 1999 shortly.

  School Milk
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health regarding the reintroduction of free milk for school children; and if he will make a statement; [119009]

  (2) what recent representations he has received regarding the reintroduction of free milk for school children; [119011]
  347W
  (3) what assessment he has made of the feasibility of reintroducing free milk for school children. [119012]

  Jacqui Smith
  The law already requires that those local education authorities and schools that choose to provide milk must make it available, without charge, to pupils whose parents receive Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance. My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Education and Employment and the Secretary of State for Health have not had any recent discussions about extending eligibility for free school milk. In the last six months we have received only three letters from members of the public pressing for the re-introduction of compulsory free school milk for all school children.

  The Government have no plans to extend eligibility for free school milk or to make the serving of free milk compulsory. We have not therefore assessed the feasibility of doing so. We have however legislated to allow free drinking milk to be served at any time during the day, rather than only at lunchtime.

  Milk is one of many foods that play an important part in a balanced diet. Milk and dairy foods are part of our proposals for minimum nutritional standards for school lunches, which will come into operation next year. We will be recommending in our guidance to school caterers that drinking milk should be made available every day. We also encourage schools to claim existing subsidies for school milk, such as those available through the European Community School Milk Subsidy Scheme.

  Early-years Education
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what additional resources were allocated to maintained nursery schools as part of the Chancellor's Budget; in which Government publication reference to these additional resources is to be found; and by what means the information was communicated to maintained nursery school headteachers and governors; [119193]

  (2) what additional resources have been allocated to those early years educational providers that form part of local education authorities' Early Years Childcare and Education Development Partnerships to provide early years places for all four year olds, as a result of the recent Budget announcements. [119195]

  Mr. Blunkett
  [holding answer 14 April 2000]: I have written to the headteachers of all schools in England who will benefit from the extra £290 million we are making available following the Budget. This includes maintained nursery and primary schools. The money is part of a real terms increase of over 10 per cent. this year. Copies of the letters, including those sent to nursery schools, are being placed in the Library. The final allocations are subject to approval of a special grant report which was laid before Parliament on 6 April and is being debated on 17 April. No additional resources have been allocated directly to Early Years, Childcare and Education Development Partnerships. I have, however, made an additional £0.5 million available for pre-schools' groups and playgroups facing financial difficulties. This follows a similar scheme last year, and will give groups time in which to consider their longer term plans.
  348W
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what definition of nursery places is used by his Department in providing funding for nursery places for four-year-olds. [119492]

  Ms Hodge
  A nursery education place consists of five 2½ hour sessions per week over three terms of 11 weeks each.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many Early Excellence centres have been set up in the last three years; and at what cost. [119493]

  Ms Hodge
  We have designated 29 Early Excellence Centres in the last three years. Specific DfEE funding of £6 million has been made available during that period.

  Leeds LEA
  Mr. Truswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many times his Department's officials have met the team of consultants appointed to evaluate Leeds Local Education Authority; and what future meetings will take place and for what purpose [119249]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  DfEE officials and Leeds officers met with PricewaterhouseCoopers' Leeds LEA team when interviewing them for the work in Leeds, and meet them at the regular steering group meetings which check on progress. Three such meetings have taken place and two further steering group meetings are planned for May. Individuals from the team will also continue to meet officials from the Department for the range of purposes set out in the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend on 11 April 2000,Official Report, columns 89-90W.

  Maintained Nursery Schools
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the maintained nursery schools that have closed in(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999–2000. [119198]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 14 April 2000]: The maintained nursery schools that have closed in the academic years 1997–98, 1998–99 and 1999–2000 are listed in the following table. There are no proposals for nursery school closure currently under consideration as far as the Department is aware. All the nursery school closures were linked to the establishment of alternative nursery units at other schools except one where the nursery school was closed as there were surplus nursery places in the area. Since 1997, four new nursery schools have been established.

  Nursery school closures for years 1997–98,1998–99,1999–2000

  LEA name

  School name

  September 1997-August 1998

  Cheshire

  Hilary Howarth County Nursery School1

  Kirklees

  Saville Town Nursery School2

  Leeds

  Hunslett Nursery School2

  North Tyneside

  North Shields Nursery School2

  Northumberland

  Ashington Hirst North Nursery2

  Salford

  Dorning Street Nursery School2

  Salford

  High Bank Nursery2

  Salford

  London Street Nursery School2

  Salford

  The Lakes Nursery School2

  Sandwell

  Cradley Heath Nursery School2

  349W

  Nursery school closures for years 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000

  LEA name

  School name

  Staffordshire

  Dragon Square Nursery School2

  Stockton on Tees

  Billingham Nursery School2

  Stoke on Trent

  Meir Nursery School2

  Stoke on Trent

  Abbey Hulton Nursery School2

  Sunderland

  St. Colomba's Nursery School2

  September 1998-August 1999

  Durham

  Clarence Nursery School2

  Manchester

  Mayfair Nursery School22

  Manchester

  Barnes Green Nursery School2

  Manchester

  Gresty Nursery School2

  Manchester

  Shakespeare Nursery School2

  Slough

  William Penn Nursery School22

  Southampton

  Aldermoor Early Years Centre2

  South Tyneside

  Elizabeth Diamond Nursery2

  September 1999 onwards

  Derby City

  Beechwood Nursery School2, 3

  Nursery schools established since September 1997

  Croydon

  Thornton Heath Early Years Centre

  Croydon

  Selhurst Day Care Centre

  Wolverhampton

  Bilston Nursery

  Wakefield

  Sandal Agbrigg Pre-5 Centre

  1 Nursery school closed as there were surplus places in the nearby nursery unit at Lache Primary School

  2 Closures linked to establishment of nursery units at neighbouring schools

  3 Proposals in italics have yet to be implemented

  Capital Modernisation Fund
  Dr. Naysmith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to make further allocations from the Capital Modernisation Fund which will benefit disadvantaged communities. [119655]

  Mr. Wills
  We are pleased to announce that £10 million is being allocated from the Capital Modernisation Fund to help bridge the digital divide in the most disadvantaged communities. The initiative will do this by wiring up communities to enable people living in them to use the new information and communications technologies to access jobs, learning opportunities, Government and other services, and to help individuals and their communities fulfil their potential.

  School Funding
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment by what means each school will receive the additional direct funding announced in the Budget; and what conditions will be applied as to how the resources are to be spent. [119199]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 14 April 2000]: My right hon. Friend laid a special report, under section 88B of the Local Government Act 1988, before the House on 6 April. Once it has been approved, it will empower him to make payments to local authorities on condition that they pass those payments to schools, within a specified time period. The additional funding will be part of schools' delegated budgets, so they will be free to decide what to spend it on. It will give extra support to secondary schools in raising standards as part of the new Key Stage 3 programme, which will include: the setting of challenging school-level targets, and development of strategies to meet them, by all secondary schools with Key Stage 3 pupils for performance in the Key stage 3
  350W
  tests in 2002; and new Year 7 tests for pupils who have not yet achieved level 4 in English and maths. The tests will be available free in 2001 so that all secondary and middle schools can test all eligible pupils. The additional funding will help primary schools to meet the challenging literacy and numeracy targets they have set for both 2001 and 2002.

  Community Learning
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the future of community learning, its funding and the bodies that will be responsible for determining the provision of community learning in each local education authority area. [119494]

  Mr. Wicks
  In our Prospectus for the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) we made it clear that adult and community learning is a vital part of the Government's plans to drive up achievement, widen participation in learning, and strengthen community confidence and capacity.

  Our first consultation document on the funding of post 16 learning, published in January, confirmed the strategic contribution that local authorities, together with local Learning and Skills Councils, can make. The Learning and Skills Bill (Lords) now before Parliament includes the necessary provisions to allow this. The Secretary of State has already recognised the importance of local education authorities in adult and community learning by guaranteeing them a minimum level of funding in the first two years of the LSC, provided they maintain their spend in this area and effectively implement their lifelong learning plans.

  Our second funding consultation document, to be published in May, will set out the roles of all those concerned in post 16 learning and invite comments on our proposals for funding, including the funding of adult and community learning.

  ConneXions Service
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many staff will be employed by his Department, additional to the current establishment, as a result of the introduction of ConneXions. [119497]

  Mr. Wicks
  The ConneXions service will largely be staffed by existing civil servants, but will draw as necessary on secondees from other Government Departments, the voluntary, youth and private sectors where appropriate. We do not anticipate any significant increase in the current establishment.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the funding of the ConneXions service and its impact on local education authority budgets. [119496]

  Mr. Wicks
  The funding for the ConneXions service will come from the bringing together of existing resources devoted to youth support and guidance. We are also considering what additional resources will be needed and can be made available as part of the Government's Year 2000 Spending Review.
  351W
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much time on average he estimates that a personal adviser will spend with each young person under the ConneXions service. [119500]

  Mr. Wicks
  This will depend on the needs of each individual young person.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how he plans to screen mentors in the ConneXions Service for their suitability to work with young people. [119144]

  Mr. Wicks
  The ConneXions service is responsible for the physical and emotional safety of all young people coming into contact with mentors. ConneXions partnerships will have responsibility for ensuring that personal checks have been completed on mentors working with young people.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many personal advisers will be employed in the ConneXions service. [119499]

  Mr. Wicks
  The ConneXions service will ensure that every young person, whatever their needs, has local access to appropriate high quality guidance and support during their teenage years. A key factor in achieving this will be to ensure that all young people have access to a personal adviser. It is too early at this stage to give precise information on the numbers of personal advisers to be employed by the ConneXions service. The service will be phased in from April 2001 and the ConneXions partnerships will be responsible for deciding how best to deliver the service in their area, in the light of local circumstances.

  Piloting of the service which is due to start shortly will provide helpful information on the number of personal advisers needed.

  Contracted-out Services
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many youth workers, careers officers and education welfare officers are employed by(a) local education authorities, (b) careers services and (c) other contracted-out services. [119498]

  Mr. Wicks
  There are just under 8,000 full-time equivalents employed on work delivering careers service contracts. This includes careers officers, assistant careers officers and staff employed in management and support functions. The number of careers staff employed outside careers services is unknown.

  Numbers of youth workers are not collated centrally but the audit of youth services in local authorities in England based on 1996–97 data indicates that the number of full-time professional youth workers employed by local education authorities is about 3,200. In addition there are about 7,900 professionally qualified working part-time and about 16,000 not professionally qualified working part-time. The number of youth workers outside local education authorities is unknown but there are likely to be significant numbers in the voluntary sector.
  352W
  The precise number of education welfare officers employed by local education authorities is not collated centrally but for England is estimated to be around 3,000.

  School Sixth Forms
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how capital funding for sixth forms will be allocated under the new funding arrangements for post-16 years education. [119495]

  Mr. Wicks
  Arrangements for capital funding for school sixth forms will be unaffected by the new post-16 funding arrangements. Central capital funding by the Department for Education and Employment will continue to go directly to local education authorities and to schools.

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what was the average size of sixth form classes taught by one teacher in maintained secondary schools in each of the last five years; [119409]

  (2) how many pupils were taught at Key Stage 4 in classes with 30 or more pupils in maintained secondary schools in each of the last five years; [119412]

  (3) how many sixth form classes taught by one teacher in maintained secondary schools had (a) 25 or more and (b) 30 or more pupils in each of the last five years.[119418]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The information requested is shown in the tables.

  Provisional national estimates of class sizes in maintained secondary schools, which were published on 12 April, found reductions between January 1999 and 2000 in the numbers of pupils in classes of 35 or more taught by one teacher. Overall, only 0.2 per cent. of pupils in maintained secondary schools in England were in classes of over 35 pupils. For 14 and 15-year-old pupils, only 0.1 per cent. of pupils are in classes of over 35, representing a fall of nearly one half between January 1999 and 2000. Similarly, within the same time period, the number of pupils aged 16 or more in classes over 35 also fell to only 775 pupils, a reduction in the number of pupils of about one third. These figures were published in a Statistical First Release, "Class sizes in maintained schools in England: January 2000 (15/2000)".

  Number of classes in maintained secondary schools for pupils aged 161 and over taught by one teacher, by size of class in England: 1996–2000

  Position as at January each year

  Year

  Number of classes with 25 or more pupils

  Number of classes with 30 or more pupils

  20002

  287

  86

  1999

  238

  73

  1998

  260

  86

  1997

  251

  72

  1996

  262

  80

  1 Ages as 31 August (start of the academic year)

  2 Provisional

  353W

  Average size of classes for pupils aged 16 or more1 taught by one teacher in maintained secondary schools in England: 1996–2000

  Position as at January

  Year

  20002

  10.7

  1999

  10.5

  1998

  10.7

  1997

  10.8

  1996

  10.6

  1 Ages as at 31 August (start of the academic year)

  2 Provisional

  Number of pupils in classes of 30 or more for pupils aged 14 and 151 taught by one teacher in maintained secondary schools in England: 1996–2000

  Position as at January each year

  Year

  20002

  133,717

  1999

  125,077

  1998

  116,325

  1997

  105,038

  1996

  106,350

  1 Ages as at 31 August (start of the academic year)

  2 Provisional

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many classes taught by one teacher in maintained secondary schools had more than 30 pupils in each of the last five years. [119416]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  Number of classes with more than 30 pupils taught by one teacher in maintained secondary schools in England: 1996–2000—position as at January each year

  Year

  30 pupils

  All classes

  20001

  10,466

  134,457

  1999

  9,790

  132,283

  1998

  8,842

  130,859

  1997

  7,695

  129,663

  1996

  7,351

  127,719

  1 Provisional

  In respect of classes with more than 35 pupils taught by one teacher in maintained secondary schools, provisional national estimates (published on 12 April) found reductions between January 1999 and January 2000 in the numbers of pupils in such classes. Overall, only 0.2 per cent. of pupils in maintained secondary schools in England were in classes of over 35 pupils. For 14 and 15-year-old pupils, only 0.1 per cent. of pupils are in classes over 35, representing a fall of nearly one half between January 1999 and 2000. Similarly, within the same time period, the number of pupils aged 16 or more in classes over 35 also fell to only 775 pupils, a reduction in the number of pupils of about one third. These figures were published in a Statistical First Release "Class sizes in maintained schools in England: January 2000 (15/2000)".

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the average size of classes taught by one teacher in former grant-maintained secondary schools in each of the last five years. [119417]
  354W
  Ms Estelle Morris
  The information requested is shown in the table. Class sizes in former grant-maintained secondary schools are generally smaller than those in local education authority maintained secondary schools.

  Average size of classes taught by one teacher in maintained secondary schools in England: 1996–2000—position as at January

  Local education authority (LEA) maintained secondary schools

  Grant maintained (GM) secondary schools

  Overall secondary

  20001, 2

  22.2

  21.4

  22.0

  1999

  22.1

  21.1

  21.9

  1998

  22.0

  20.9

  21.7

  1997

  21.9

  20.9

  21.7

  1996

  21.8

  20.9

  21.7

  1 Provisional

  2 Includes schools who, under the new framework, were redefined as Community or Voluntary-Aided schools

  Provisional national estimates of class sizes in maintained secondary schools were recently published in Statistical First Release "Class sizes in maintained schools in England: January 2000 (15/2000)" on 12 April 2000.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what recent research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effect of large class sizes, including in sixth forms, on secondary schools; [119413]

  (2) what recent representations he has received on class sizes in secondary schools; [119414]

  (3) what plans he has to reduce class sizes in secondary schools; and if he will make a statement; [119415]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State receives representations from time to time on various issues related to class sizes. The evidence, including from Ofsted, indicates that class size is most important at Key Stage 1. That is why we pledged to reduce the size of infant classes to 30 or below, ensuring that all children benefit, and helping to give young pupils the important start they need. We are well on track to deliver our pledge by September 2001 at the latest.

  The average number of pupils in secondary classes is 22—about five fewer than in primary schools. The pupil/teacher ratio in secondary schools is 17.1—more than six lower than in primary schools. Class sizes in secondary schools have been rising steadily since 1998, when the figure was 19.9.

  In the recent budget, secondary headteachers each received between £30,000 and £50,000. It remains for headteachers to decide how to use this money but, spent on teachers, the secondary pupil/teacher ratio could be reduced by 0.4. More generally, between 1997–98 and 2000–01, overall funding per secondary school pupil has increased in cash terms by some £580—an increase of around 20 per cent.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many pupils were taught(a) English, (b) maths and (c) science in classes with 30 or more pupils taught by one teacher in maintained secondary schools in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [119411]
  355W
  Ms Estelle Morris
  Information on the size of classes by subject area in maintained secondary schools in England is not collected by the Department.

  Provisional national estimates of class size in maintained secondary schools were published in a Statistical First Release, "Class sizes in maintained schools in England: January 2000 (15/2000)", on 12 April 2000. This release is available from the Library.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list each local authority with pupils in classes of 36 or more taught by one teacher in maintained secondary schools, indicating the number of such pupils in each such local authority. [119410]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Information on classes of size 36 or more for secondary schools by local education authority area has been placed in the Library.

  Provisional national estimates of class sizes in maintained secondary schools, which were published on 12 April, found reductions between January 1999 and 2000 in the numbers of pupils in classes of 36 or more taught by one teacher. Overall, only 0.2 per cent. of pupils in maintained secondary schools in England were in classes of over 35 pupils. For 14 and 15-year-old pupils, as few as 0.1 per cent. of pupils are in classes over 35, representing a fall of nearly one half between January 1999 and 2000. Similarly, within the same time period, the number of pupils aged 16 or more in classes over 35 fell to only 775 pupils, a reduction in the number of pupils of about one third. These figures were published in a Statistical First Release, "Class sizes in maintained schools in England: January 2000 (15/2000)".

  Special Educational Needs
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many children had statements of special educational needs by age in each year since 1995; and what percentage of the total school under 18 years population this represented. [119536]

  Jacqui Smith
  Information on the number of children with statements of special educational need (SEN) by age has been published centrally since 1997. The latest information available is as follows:

  Age

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  Under 5

  8,440

  8,999

  8,631

  9,167

  5-15

  208,204

  215,909

  —

  —

  5-10

  —

  —

  94,826

  97,150

  11-15

  —

  —

  126,508

  134,162

  16-19

  12,545

  13,650

  14,763

  15,105

  These figures relate to all children for whom LEAs maintain a statement including children not placed in schools. The table reflects the years in which the information was collected and a change in the age bands used to collect it from 1998.
  356W
  The percentage of the total under 18 school population with statements of SEN in each of the years 1995 to 1999 is 2.6 per cent., 2.8 per cent., 2.9 per cent. and 3.0 per cent. respectively.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many children with statements of special educational needs were in designated special units within(a) primary schools up to and including year six and (b) secondary schools from year seven onwards in each year since 1995. [119537]

  Jacqui Smith
  Information on the number of children with statements of SEN in designated special units within primary schools and secondary schools is not collected centrally.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which local authorities in England and Wales have(a) adopted and (b) implemented the form of assessment recommended in the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority document "Supporting the Target Setting Process-Guidance for effective target setting for pupils with special educational needs". [119535]

  Jacqui Smith
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) commissioned Durham University to undertake a monitoring exercise last summer to ascertain the extent to which the P scales, the assessment framework proposed in the publication 'Supporting the Target Setting Process—Guidance for effective target setting for pupils with special educational needs', are being used in schools. 313 schools, including 116 mainstream and 197 special schools, took part in the survey. The exercise was supported by the 63 local education authorities (LEAs) in which the schools are situated.

  A further monitoring survey on the P scales planned for next summer will specifically examine the use made by LEAs of the P scales, as well as school take up and use.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what percentage of the primary schools in England and Wales have been placed on special measures in each year since 1995; [119540]

  (2) what percentage of primary schools with local education authorities designated special needs units have been placed on special measures in each year since 1995 in England and Wales. [119534]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The percentage of primary and maintained and non-maintained special schools which have been placed in special measures since 1995 is contained in the table. While there are some special schools which cater for pupils wholly of primary school age, or wholly of secondary school age, there are many others which cover age ranges bridging part or the whole of the primary and secondary phases. The attached table does not distinguish between special schools covering the wide number of possible different age ranges. The figures in the table represent the proportion of all primary and maintained and non-maintained special schools which were inspected by Ofsted during that academic year and deemed to be in need of special measures.
  357W

  Percentage

  Academic Year

  Primary

  Specials

  1994–95

  0.20

  0.50

  1995–96

  0.40

  2

  1996–97

  0.80

  3

  1997–98

  1

  3

  1998–99

  0.80

  1

  Higher Education
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what information he has collated on admission to higher education institutions broken down by the nature of the educational establishment previously attended in each of the last five years. [119145]

  Mr. Wicks
  The information is given in the table, based on students gaining places on full-time and sandwich undergraduate courses through UCAS. Equivalent data for admissions to part-time undergraduate courses are not available.

  UCAS UK-domiciled acceptances to higher education institutions by previous educational establishment

  Year of entry1

  Accepted applicants

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  Grammar School

  16,935

  17,048

  18,643

  18,954

  19,285

  Sixth Form Centre

  3,574

  3,800

  2,720

  2,732

  2,913

  Comprehensive

  68,322

  71,803

  77,241

  79,584

  81,050

  Other Secondary School

  1,243

  1,398

  1,622

  1,729

  1,782

  Independent School

  29,441

  30,006

  31,342

  30,602

  30,910

  Sixth Form College

  23,787

  25,182

  29,978

  29,548

  29,829

  Other FE/HE

  72,466

  68,871

  81,809

  75,561

  73,019

  Other

  9,092

  10,073

  9,066

  7,639

  7,480

  Not known

  40,676

  40,108

  50,897

  51,871

  56,797

  Total

  265,536

  268,289

  303,318

  298,220

  303,065

  1 Figures for 1997 and later years include students applying for Art and Design courses which were included in the UCAS scheme for the first time in 1997.

  Learning and Skills (Humberside)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what provision has been made for representatives of the Humber colleges to be members of the Humber Task Force overseeing the transition from TECs to learning and skills councils. [117832]

  Mr. Wicks
  The role of the Humber task group is not to oversee the transition of the TEC into the Learning and Skills Council but rather to collect information from current funding bodies (such as TECs, FEFC, and Local Education Authorities) on the range and volume of provision currently being funded in each area. The aim is to ensure that sufficient funds will be available in each area to at least maintain current levels of provision and to avoid disruption for learners resulting from the introduction of the new arrangements.

  Since they are not funding bodies there is no requirement for a direct representative of Humber colleges on the Humber task group, although a college principal who is a chair of one of the four Local Learning Partnerships has been invited to join the task group.
  358W
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment in how many TEC areas in Yorkshire and Humberside local further education colleges are not directly represented on task forces overseeing the transition from TECs to learning and skills councils. [117833]

  Mr. Wicks
  There are nine TEC areas in Yorkshire and the Humber region. Four Learning and Skills Councils are planned for the region and there are, therefore, four task groups in the region. The role of these task groups is not to oversee the transition of the TECs to the Learning and Skills Council but rather to collect information from current funding bodies (such as TEC, FEFC, and Local Education Authorities) on the range and volume of provision currently being funded in each area. The aim is to ensure that sufficient funds will be available in each area to at least maintain current levels of provision and to avoid disruption for learners resulting from the introduction of the new arrangements.

  Since they are not funding bodies there are no representatives of local colleges on any of the task groups in each region, although a college principal does sit on the South Yorkshire task group because of the wider remit that the group has identified to link LSC development with objective 1 status for South Yorkshire.

  Waltham Forest LEA
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what publication date has been set for the Ofsted report on the London Borough of Waltham Forest local education authority; and if HM Chief Inspector of Schools has power to publish Ofsted local education authority reports without consulting the local education authority concerned as to the publication date. [119408]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  This is a matter for HM Chief Inspector of Schools and I have therefore asked Chris Woodhead to write to the hon. Member and to place a copy of his letter in the Library.

  Basic Skills Agency
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on(a) his quinquennial assessment of the Basic Skills Agency, (b) his plans for its continued public funding and (c) its relationship with work to improve adult literacy standards being conducted within his own Department. [119146]

  Mr. Wicks
  The Department's quinquennial review of the Basic Skills Agency is now in its final stages; the resulting report will be placed in the Library of the House. We anticipate that the Agency will continue in its present role at the forefront of innovation and development in basic skills and will continue to receive public funding to support that role.

  Work has already begun on a number of new measures to tackle the problem of poor basic skills among adults, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State plans to announce a full national strategy for the longer term later this year. To manage the implementation of this national strategy we are setting up a new Adult Basic Skills Strategy Unit at the Department for Education and Employment. The new Unit and the Basic Skills Agency

  359W
  will need to work closely together in carrying out their separate but complementary roles in support of the national strategy.

  LEA Funding Bids
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list for each local education authority in Hampshire the(a) number and (b) value of funding bids made to his Department in (i) the financial year 1979–80, (ii) the financial year 1990–91 and (iii) each financial year from 1992–93 to 1998–99 for the repair of school buildings. [116021]

  Jacqui Smith
  The three tables answer the hon. Gentleman's question for the financial years from 1995–96 to 1998–99. We have no access to records for any years before then.

  £

  Year

  Number of bids

  Value of bids

  Hampshire

  1995–961

  17

  4,600

  1996–971

  12

  5,893

  1997–98

  40

  12,949

  1998–99

  171

  23,970

  Southampton2

  1997–98

  12

  3,946,000

  1998–99

  86

  4,421,205

  Portsmouth2

  1997–98

  9

  2,776,000

  1998–99

  125

  2,864,862

  1 Figures for 1995–96 and 1996–97 do not include bids made under the Schools Renewal Challenge Fund.

  1 Before 1997–98, all Portsmouth and Southampton schools were maintained by Hampshire LEA.

  Student Loans Company
  Liz Blackman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what guarantees of minimum service he has set for the Student Loans Company; [119039]

  (2) what monitoring procedures he has put in place to measure the efficiency of the Student Loans Company; and if he will make a statement on performance to date. [119040]

  Mr. Wicks
  We set the Student Loans Company challenging performance targets each financial and academic year, which are detailed and reported on in the Company's Annual Report. Targets for the financial year 1999–2000 and academic year 1999–2000 cover lending, tuition fees, collections, customer services, managing the sold loans portfolio, and the Company's operating costs.

  The latest published performance against our targets is set out in the Company's 1999 Annual Report, copies of which are available in the House Libraries.

  Education Maintenance Allowances
  Mr. Lepper
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proposals he has to extend Education Maintenance allowances beyond the pilot schemes currently in operation; when he will announce a timetable for extending the scheme; and what 360W
  criteria local education authorities must satisfy to qualify for inclusion in the Education Maintenance Allowance scheme. [119037]

  Mr. Wicks
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 29 March 2000 that an additional £50 million will be allocated from September 2000 to expand the education maintenance allowance (EMA) pilots. The new money will allow us to expand some of the original pilots and to introduce EMAs in 40 new areas (which were set out in the Secretary of State's announcement). We will shortly announce the model that each new area will be testing.

  We have chosen a selection of new areas where we believe the EMA has the potential to make the most difference. They have relatively low post-16 participation, low GCSE attainment and high deprivation. The choice of areas also includes some additional rural areas where we will be concentrating on transports costs.

  The new pilots will mean that EMAs will be available in almost a third of the country. We will be monitoring the new pilots carefully to inform future decisions about EMAs, including whether to expand further.

PRIME MINISTER

  New Zealand Honours List
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the Government of New Zealand concerning the possible discontinuance by New Zealand of the practice of making nominations for knighthoods and damehoods. [119032]

  The Prime Minister
  None. This is a matter between the Government of New Zealand and its Head of State.

  Pig Farmers
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will visit Parliament Square to meet the protesters there; and if he will ensure that the state aid available to pig farmers is processed and paid as a matter of urgency. [119447]

  The Prime Minister
  Under state aid rules, the European Commission must approve a scheme before it can be introduced. The scheme we announced at the farming summit on 30 March has already been formally notified to the Commission, which has two months to respond. The scheme will be introduced as soon as possible following Commission approval.

  WWI Executed Soldiers (Pardons)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to discuss pardons for soldiers executed in the First World War when he next meets the Prime Minister of New Zealand. [119159]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 14 April 2000]: There are no such plans. The Government's position was outlined by the then Minister for the Armed Forces, my right hon. Friend the Member for Hamilton, North and Bellshill (Dr. Reid), in a statement on 24 July 1998, Official Report, columns 1372-75.

  Ministerial Meetings
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions in the past two years he has met representatives of(a) farming unions, (b) the Country Landowners Association, (c) the Country Sports Organisation and (d) the Old Age Pensioners Association. [118888]

  The Prime Minister
  Over the past two years I have met farmers, countryside representatives and pensioners at a number of events. Specific examples include meetings with farmers representatives at the farming summit on 30 March 2000, countryside representatives on 11 November 1999 and pensioners at a reception for older people held on 14 June 1999. In addition, during the course of my visits throughout the country I meet and talk to a wide range of people, including pensioners and people from rural communities on a regular basis.

  Colombia
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) if Her Majesty's Government will discuss with other donor countries the Plan Colombia mechanisms for monitoring progress on human rights, including contact with Colombian non-governmental human rights organisations; [119450]

  (2) if he raised human rights improvement during discussions on Plan Colombia with President Pastrana. [119449]

  The Prime Minister
  Following his talks with President Pastrana on 13 April, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs announced that the United Kingdom would be willing to convene a gathering of interested countries at official level to study the proposals in Plan Colombia in advance of the donors conference planned for July in Spain. Monitoring progress on human rights will be one of the areas discussed. During the talks on 13 April, President Pastrana reaffirmed his commitment to ensure respect for human rights.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had with the President of Colombia concerning British assistance for Plan Colombia. [119050]

  The Prime Minister
  I met President Pastrana on 13 April. We exchanged views on a number of issues, including how the international community might help President Pastrana take forward the peace process in his country. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs announced that the United Kingdom was willing to convene a gathering of interested countries at official level to study the proposals in Plan Colombia in advance of the donors conference planned for July in Spain.

DEFENCE

  Weapons of Mass Destruction
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment has been made by his Department of the threat to the United Kingdom from(a) nuclear, (b) biological and (c) chemical weapon attack. [117880]
  362W
  Mr. Hoon
  As of today, our assessment is that there is no current significant threat to the UK from weapons of mass destruction. Obviously, however, we continue to monitor developments closely in conjunction with our Allies.

  Royal Navy Ship Orders
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met management and trade union representatives from the shipbuilding industry to discuss the placing of contracts for the construction of vessels required by the Royal Navy. [117904]

  Dr. Moonie
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence and my noble Friend the Minister of State for Defence Procurement have met both management and trade union representatives from the shipbuilding industry within the last two weeks.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will announce the next round of orders of ships for the Royal Navy. [117899]

  Mr. Hoon
  We hope to be in a position to announce a preferred bidder to meet our long-term strategic sealift requirement later this year. We also expect to place contracts for Survey Vessels during the summer, for Demonstration and First of Class Manufacture of the new Type 45 Anti-Air Warfare Destroyer in the autumn, and for the Alternative Landing Ship Logistic (ALSL) in late 2000. Over the longer term, our plans call for the manufacture of over 30 new major warships with contracts being placed at the appropriate time.

  Kosovo
  Mr. Bradshaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the security situation in Kosovo. [117906]

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the military situation in Kosovo. [117909]

  Ms Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the security situation in Kosovo. [117897]

  Mr. Spellar
  KFOR and UNMIK face a challenging security situation in Kosovo. Ethnic intimidation and violence continues, often orchestrated by a small number of extremists. British forces are making a major contribution to addressing these problems. We will ensure that British forces committed to KFOR are at the right strength, and have the necessary equipment to do their job.

  We decided recently to deploy additional helicopters and unmanned aerial reconnaissance vehicles to improve KFOR's intelligence gathering capability. We are also deploying 60 members of the Ministry of Defence police to reinforce the UNMIK police, joining some 100 United Kingdom police officers already serving in Kosovo.

  European Defence Co-operation
  Mr. Plaskitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made since the Helsinki summit in improving European defence co-operation. [117907]
  363W
  Mr. Hoon
  We continue to make excellent progress on the European defence initiative. At the recent informal European Council in Lisbon, EU member states agreed the process for taking forward the commitment to improving capabilities made at Helsinki. The interim bodies necessary for the EU to decide on military matters were established in March.

  MOD Employees (North-east)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of his uniformed and civil employees are based in the North-east region; and what percentage of his uniformed employees were recruited in the North-east region. [117910]

  Mr. Spellar
  As at 1 October 1999 the Ministry of Defence had one per cent. of its uniformed and civilian employees based in the North-East region. These are the latest figures that are available.

  The three Services recruited the following numbers of uniformed personnel in the North-east region in the financial year 1999–2000:

  Royal Navy Rating Entrants 8 per cent.

  Army Officers and Other Ranks 8.36 per cent.

  RAF, Officers and Airmen 15.39 per cent.

  There are no statistics available for Naval Officer entrants for the region as these were calculated on a different basis.

  The figures represent entrants who joined through recruiting offices in the North-east region and do not necessarily mean that they are from the region.

  Child Support Agency
  Caroline Flint
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress is being made on reforming the service restrictions affecting deductions from service personnel pay to ensure that Child Support Agency deduction of earnings orders can be fully implemented. [117911]

  Mr. Spellar
  The purpose of Minimum Rates of Pay is to protect Service personnel and their families from hardship. Of the Child Support Agency maintenance awards made against Service parents, 99 per cent. are met in full. In only one in a hundred Service cases is less than the full amount of a maintenance award being paid. This contrasts with the current Child Support Agency average of only 40 per cent. of parents paying in full, with 30 per cent. paying nothing at all. Nevertheless, consideration is being given to reforming minimum Service pay regulations.

  Defence Medical Services
  Mr. David Heath
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on recruitment and retention of staff in Defence Medical Services. [117912]

  Dr. Moonie
  As we have previously acknowledged, there are serious shortages of manpower in the regular Defence Medical Services. Manning levels over the last year have been fairly stable although the numbers leaving on premature voluntary retirement continue at higher levels than we would wish. Recruitment into training is 364W
  generally satisfactory, with nurse training places and medical cadetships having been increased. Direct entry recruitment of qualified personnel is difficult, particularly of qualified doctors. Measures to improve both retention and direct entry recruitment are under consideration.

  Bulgaria and Turkey
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contact his Department has had with(a) the headquarters of the South-East Europe Brigade at Plovdiv in Bulgaria and (b) the Partnership for Peace study centre at Ankara, Turkey. [117913]

  Mr. Spellar
  The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence has had limited informal contacts with the Headquarters South-East Europe Brigade, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, and the Partnership for Peace study centre in Ankara, Turkey. In the case of the Headquarters, a visit was made on 21 March by a group of Staff and Students from the Joint Services Command and Staff College during a regional tour, accompanied by the British Defence Attaché, Sofia. There has been contact between the Commander and Staff of the Partnership for Peace study centre, Ankara, and the UK Officer attached to the Regional Training Centre, Bucharest, which also has recognition as a Partnership for Peace training centre.

  Representatives from the UK Armed Forces are due to attend two events at the Ankara centre later this year.

  Air Transport
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to procure new transport aircraft to meet his Department's short-term strategic airlift requirement. [117914]

  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the RAF's air transport capabilities. [117916]

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to procure heavy-lift aircraft in the short and medium term. [117878]

  Mr. Hoon
  We are continuing to assess the proposals for both our short-term and longer term airlift requirements and hope to be in a position to make a decision in the next few weeks.

  RAF Scampton
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what units, apart from the Red Arrows, will be based at RAF Scampton. [117915]

  Mr. Spellar
  Currently, there are no plans to base other RAF units at RAF Scampton. However, following my recent announcement that the Red Arrows will be based at Scampton, (subject to TU consultation), we will consider ways of maximising MOD use of the retained estate. In addition, we have agreed that the firm of Bombardier can use one of the surplus hangars for aircraft maintenance, which will create job opportunities in the local area. There should also be scope to market surplus hangar capacity on the airfield site.

  Recruitment
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if each armed service has fulfilled its recruiting targets for 1999–2000. [117917]

  Mr. Spellar
  The latest available figures for recruits against the 1999–2000 intake targets for each of the Armed Services are:

  Intake

  Percentage of target

  Naval Service

  4,954

  99

  Army

  15,671

  95

  RAF

  4,130

  96

  Total Services

  24,755

  96

  Defence Logistics Organisation
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress in establishing the Defence Logistics Organisation. [117883]

  Mr. Spellar
  We have met the Strategic Defence Review commitment to create a single unified Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO) on time, on 3 April this year. The DLO is committed to reducing its costs by 20 per cent. by the year 2005, and these savings will go towards our continuing programme of modernisation for the UK's Armed Forces. DLO key initiatives include a lean support programme; a reduction in non-explosive stocks; about 20 per cent. reduction in current storage capacity; the introduction of the Government Purchasing Card and the development of a Defence Electronic Commerce Service.

  Balkans
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role of the reserve forces in supporting the regular Army in Bosnia and Kosovo. [117891]

  Mr. Spellar
  We continue to value the significant contribution which the reserve forces make to operations in the Balkans.

  The reserves have consistently provided between 10 and 14 per cent. of the manpower for the UK's contribution to NATO operations in the former Yugoslavia since operations commenced in 1995. Currently, reservists represent some 13 per cent. of the UK force in Bosnia and some 10 per cent. in Kosovo; indeed, 18 personnel from the Royal Monmouthshire Militia based in my hon. Friend's constituency have volunteered for service in the Balkans since July 1998.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel have been(a) injured and (b) killed, in (i) Kosovo and (ii) Bosnia since NATO land forces have been involved; how many have left the UK armed services as a result of injuries sustained while there; and if he will make a statement. [119151]

  Mr. Spellar
  Since NATO land forces have been involved, four personnel have been killed in the Kosovo theatre of operations and 26 in the Bosnia theatre of operations to date. Injuries have been reported in respect of nine personnel in the Kosovo theatre of operations and 366W
  261 in the Bosnia theatre of operations in the period up to the end of 1999. All figures are in respect of regular armed forces personnel.

  Information in respect of the number of personnel who have left the armed forces as a result of injuries sustained in Kosovo and Bosnia is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Military Equipment Contracts
  Mr. St. Aubyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate(a) the number of contracts for the (i) repair and (ii) modification of military equipment and (b) their cumulative value which in 1998–99 were subject to (a) an open and (b) a restrictive tender. [117895]

  Dr. Moonie
  In 1998–99 there were 2,307 contracts awarded for repair activities. Of these, 1,211 with a cumulative value of around £278 million were awarded as a result of competition, and the remaining 1,096 (valued at around £676 million) were non-competitive.

  In the same year, 224 contracts for modification of equipment were awarded. Of these, 120 contracts with a cumulative value of around £14 million were awarded as a result of competition. The remaining 104 contracts (valued at around £66 million) were non-competitive.

  De-mining
  Mr. Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance his Department is giving in the clearing of land mines. [117898]

  Mr. Michael Jabez Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to assist those involved in humanitarian de-mining. [117892]

  Mr. Spellar
  I refer my hon. Friends to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Warrington, North (Helen Jones) today,Official Report, column 688.

  US National Missile Defence System
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what co-operation his Department is having with the US Department of Defense concerning the National Missile Defence system. [117908]

  Mr. Hoon
  We have dialogue with the US Administration on their possible deployment of a National Missile Defence system. The US has not asked for UK assistance in the deployment of the system, nor would we expect them to do so until after a US decision has been made on whether or not to proceed with its deployment.

  DERA
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to ensure that the effectiveness of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency will be maintained if the proposals for its part-privatisation are implemented. [118987]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Government concluded in the Strategic Defence Review that, in order to guarantee the ability of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) to continue to conduct world-class research, we would harness the opportunities offered by a Public Private
  367W
  Partnership. Last year's consultation exercise on a potential PPP proposal produced a wide range of useful comments from stakeholders.

  As a result of this process, I announced in October that we would be widening the scope of our discussion to take these comments into account. That work is now complete and has led to the development of two revised models for potential PPP structures, known as "Core Competence" and the "Public Sector Option". A detailed evaluation of these options indicates that Core Competence best meets the PPP objectives while also responding to the views of stakeholders. Both models are described in a consultation document which has been placed in the Library of the House and which is also available on the internet at www.mod.uk/commercial/ppp/dera/.

  The essence of Core Competence is a clear separation of those functions which are best developed within a PPP, and those which are best performed wholly within Government. Around three quarters of DERA would be turned into a company, which we would hope to float on the stock market as soon as its potential is judged to be suitably developed. A core of staff would be retained wholly within the MOD to provide a high level overview of defence science and technology. This ensures that MOD would retain access to in-house impartial advice and allows management of the defence research programme and international research collaboration. Specific very sensitive areas and programmes would also be retained.

  I believe that this approach would create two vibrant sustainable organisations. The new company would have the freedom to flourish, to grow its business and to diversify the wealth of knowledge it has built up over the years to the benefit of the wider UK economy while still providing the MOD with the essential services we will continue to need long into the future. The retained organisation will be a small but also world-class organisation offering rewarding careers within MOD and the wider civil service.

  This approach is good for DERA, good for MOD and good for the wider UK economy. It will provide the UK technology sector with added impetus and ensure we are well placed to take on the challenges and opportunities offered by the 21st century.

  All stakeholders are now being invited to submit their views on the revised proposals. As the exercise has proved, we are willing to listen and to respond to comments before taking a final decision.

  Army (Drugs Offences)
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if it is the practice that soldiers convicted of serious charges relating to drugs offences and who(a) are facing or (b) have served custodial sentences are dismissed from the Army; and if he will make a statement. [118879]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 14 April 2000]: All soldiers, wherever they are serving, are liable for Compulsory Drug Testing (CDT). CDT is primarily an administrative, not a disciplinary matter. Following a positive test result or the refusal to provide a specimen, an Army officer would be required to resign, and a soldier
  368W
  will normally be administratively discharged. A commanding officer does, however, have the discretion to retain soldiers of the rank of Lance Corporal or below if:

  (a) It was the first occasion on which drug misuse had been detected, or the first occasion on which he or she had refused to undergo testing, and

  (b) In the case of a positive test result, no trace of Class A drugs was detected and,

  (c) In all other respects the individual is considered a good serviceman or woman whose retention would be in the interest of the service.

  To serve a custodial sentence a soldier would need to be found guilty of a disciplinary offence following which the rules contained in Queen's Regulations 9.404 would come into effect. The rules state that a soldier is to be discharged if he has been sentenced by a civil court or by court-martial to imprisonment or to detention or to any other form of custodial sentence. If in the opinion of the commanding officer there are exceptional reasons that make retention of the soldier desirable then the case is to be submitted with valid and explicit reasons to the Director of Manning (Army) for a decision.

  Defence Estate Review
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will publish the conclusions of his Department's review of the Defence Estate in Greater London. [119317]

  Dr. Moonie
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the then Under-Secretary of State gave the hon. Member for Salisbury (Mr. Key) on 18 January 2000,Official Report, columns 405-06W.

  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the Lime Grove site owned by his Department in Eastcote, Middlesex. [119319]

  Dr. Moonie
  The Eastcote site was formally transferred to my Department by the Department of Trade and Industry on 31 March 2000. Its future is being considered as part of our wider review of the Department's estate holdings in London. If it is determined that the Eastcote site is surplus to defence needs, the property will be disposed of.

  Married Quarters
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military married quarters were sold in the UK during 1999; and how much revenue was raised by the sales. [118833]

  Dr. Moonie
  The majority of Service Families Accommodation (SFA) in England and Wales was sold to Annington Homes Limited (AHL) on 5 September 1996, on a 999-year lease. The Ministry of Defence leases back those properties it requires to house Service families on a 200-year lease. Those properties not required for Service use are released to AHL, as they become available. 1,472 properties were disposed of in this way in 1999 calendar year. The amount raised from these sales is a matter for AHL.

  In addition, Defence Estates remains responsible for a small number of SFA's in England and Wales and all of those in Scotland. Of these, 478 have been disposed of in the period providing revenue of £10,437,516.

  RAF Neatishead
  Mr. Prior
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of RAF Neatishead. [119283]

  Mr. Spellar
  As I explained in my letter of 5 April to the hon. Member, work in relation to the future of RAF Neatishead is ongoing. It is hoped that this work will be completed by late spring, when I will write to the hon. Member again. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  US-licensed Anthrax Vaccine
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his letter of 19 March, Ref. D/Min/(AF)JS/0906/00/P, what conclusions he has drawn from his scrutiny of the report of the Congressional Committee on National Security which reviewed the US Department of Defense's policy on the use of US-licensed anthrax vaccine and the way in which that policy had been implemented. [117973]

  Mr. Spellar
  We have studied the Committee's report and a response by the US Department of Defense refuting the Committee's findings. These concerned both the safety and efficacy of the US anthrax vaccine and the scope of the US Department of Defense's mandatory immunisation programme. The anthrax vaccine produced in the UK differs from the US product and is administered in a different way. Independent advice in both the UK and the US has confirmed that vaccination against anthrax is safe and effective. Against this background, it remains our policy that vaccination against anthrax has an important part to play as one of a range of measures to provide protection against biological weapons for our armed forces.

  RAF Bruggen
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the expenditure on(a) runway resurfacing, (b) hardened bunkers and (c) other capital expenditure at RAF Bruggen over the past five years. [119182]

  Mr. Spellar
  No expenditure at RAF Bruggen has been incurred on the provision of runway resurfacing or hardened bunkers over the past five years. Other capital expenditure on facilities at Bruggen over this period amounts to £9.295 million, including VAT. These facilities will be used by the Army, who will be transferring units there when the RAF withdraw.

TREASURY

  Minimum Wage and Working Families Tax Credit
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when definitive estimates on the number of people who have benefited from(a) the national minimum wage and (b) the working families tax credit by parliamentary constituency will be available; and if he will make a statement. [114569]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The information requested on the national minimum wage falls within the responsibility of the Office for National Statistics (ONS). I understand from ONS that definitive estimates by constituency of the 370W
  number of people that have benefited from the national minimum wage are not yet available. Up to the end of March 2000, there had been 1.03 million awards made of the Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) in the United Kingdom. Available figures by constituency are given in the tables which have been deposited in the Library.

  C154 Certificates
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many C154 certificates have been issued since the start of the scheme; and how many requests for C154 certificates have been rejected. [118605]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Inland Revenue has issued 781,742 registration cards. This includes not only permanent cards but also temporary cards and replacement cards. The Inland Revenue does not keep a record of applications where registration cards are refused.

  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what checks on eligibility are made in respect of an applicant before a C154 certificate is issued. [118604]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Where a person works as a subcontractor on a contract to which the Construction Industry Scheme applies they must register with the Inland Revenue if the contractor is to comply with the rules of the scheme when paying them for the work they do. If the contractor does not comply with the rules of the scheme they may incur a penalty.

  Subcontractors who are not eligible to receive a certificate entitling them to receive payment gross will be issued with a registration card. This card must be presented, in person, to the contractor before payment can be made. Payments to registration card holders are made after deduction of 18 per cent. on account of tax and Class 4 National Insurance. Under the old scheme, only those who wished to receive payment gross needed to apply to the Inland Revenue for a card. The registration card has been successful in ensuring that 50,000 subcontractors, who were previously unknown to the Inland Revenue, have now registered with a tax office.

  In order to register for the scheme an individual must take a completed application form, together with a recent passport size photograph and two proofs of identify, one of which must carry a photograph and one must show their current address, to a tax office.

  An individual who also has proof of their National Insurance number, which can be validated by the Inland Revenue through the NIRS system, will be issued with a permanent registration card—CIS4(P). An individual who is unable to provide proof of their National Insurance number, or whose number cannot be validated, is issued with a temporary registration card—CIS4(T) which is only valid for up to three months. The temporary registration card is replaced once the Inland Revenue has validated the individual's National Insurance number.

  To date the Inland Revenue have issued approximately 61,000 temporary registration cards, of which over 54,000 have now expired.

  Working Families Tax Credit
  Mr. Stevenson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people will receive the Working
  371W
  Families Tax Credit from 18 April (a) in the Stoke-on-Trent, South constituency and (b) in Stoke-on-Trent as a whole. [118591]

  Dawn Primarolo
  For the Stoke-on-Trent, South constituency, I refer my hon. Friend to my answer today,Official Report, column 370W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Shrewsbury and Atcham (Mr. Marsden). It is estimated that 6,200 families in Stoke-on-Trent have been awarded the Working Families Tax Credit by the end of March 2000.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families are in receipt of the working families tax credit in the Crosby constituency; and what percentage they constitute of the total number of families in the constituency. [118685]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 11 April 2000]: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer today, Official Report, column 370W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Shrewsbury and Atcham (Mr. Marsden) for the number of Working Families Tax Credit awards in Crosby. Estimates of the number of families at constituency level are not available.

  Dr. Stoate
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families in Dartford will benefit from the increase in the under-16 child credit in the working families tax credit. [118823]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer my hon. Friend to my answer today,Official Report, column 370W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Shrewsbury and Atcham (Mr. Marsden). Almost all families having new awards, or renewing awards, from June 2000 will benefit from the increase in the under 16 child credit.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families are in receipt of the working families tax credit in(a) Warrington and (b) Warrington North constituency. [118856]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The information is contained in the table relating to the answer I have today given my hon. Friend the Member for Shrewsbury and Atcham (Mr. Marsden),Official Report, column 370W.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his Department's energy efficiency performance target expressed as a percentage change in comparison to 1990–91 for each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement. [118993]

  Mr. Timms
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment on 22 March 2000,Official Report, columns 548-49W. It was explained then that a new target had been set across the Government estate to apply from 2000–01, of a 1 per cent. per annum reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. My Department will aim to meet this target. It represents a change against the previous cross Government target to 31 March 2000 which was expressed in terms of reductions in energy expenditure. Measurement in greenhouse gas emissions provides a much better fit with the current climate change programme and the UK's Kyoto targets. The base year will be 1999–2000 as it was the final year to which the previous target applied. Figures
  372W
  will be released when they are available on performance in 1999–2000 against the target to 31 March 2000 with 1990–91 as the base year.

  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the percentage change compared to 1990–91 in his Department's energy efficiency in each year since 1990–91; and if he will make a statement. [118992]

  Mr. Timms
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Mansfield (Mr. Meale), on 22 July 1999,Official Report, column 582W which reports progress for all central government departments by 31 March 1998. I hope to publish shortly results for the period up to March 1999.

  Exports
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 15 March 2000,Official Report, columns 187-88W, what assessment he has made of the recent trends in export volumes; and if he will make a statement. [118849]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 14 April 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to Chapter B (The Economy) of the Financial Statement and Budget Report published on 21 March 2000.

  Tobacco Duties
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the hypothecated expenditure in the current financial year for the NHS resulting from the increase in tobacco duties announced in the Budget. [119214]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  [holding answer 14 April 2000]: The extra £2 billion in 2000–01 allocated for the National Health Service by the Chancellor in the Budget is inclusive of £235 million, which is the anticipated yield for the 5 per cent. real terms increase in tobacco duty in that year.

  Anti-depressants
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on death caused by(a) Dothiepin and (b) other anti-depressant drugs. [118889]

  Mr. Timms
  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 Kidgell to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 17 April 2000:
  The Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), has been asked to reply to your recent question on the causes of death from Dothiepin and other anti-depressant drugs. I am replying in the Director's absence.
  Information on the underlying causes of drug-related deaths where Dothiepin or other antidepressants are mentioned is given in the attached table. The data has been extracted from the ONS drug-related deaths database.
  373W

  Number of drug-related deaths with a mention of Dothiepin or other anti-depressants by underlying cause, England and Wales usual residents, 1993–97

  Underlying cause of death1

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Dothiepin2

  Drug dependence/abuse

  3

  1

  4

  5

  2

  Accident

  40

  38

  34

  44

  37

  Suicide and Undetermined

  155

  207

  190

  218

  261

  Drug Psychoses/assault

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Total

  198

  246

  228

  267

  255

  Other Anti-depressants3

  Drug Dependence/abuse

  3

  5

  5

  5

  6

  Accident

  59

  37

  47

  68

  52

  Suicide and Undetermined

  194

  183

  206

  197

  221

  Drug Psychoses/assault

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Total

  256

  225

  258

  270

  279

  1 The underlying cause of death are categorised as follows:

  Deaths with the underlying cause codes 304, 305.2-9, using ICD9 where the named substance was mentioned on the death certificate Deaths with the underlying cause codes E850-E858, using ICD9 where the named substance was mentioned on the death certificate Deaths with the underlying cause codes E950.0-5, E980.0-5, using ICD9 where the named substance was mentioned on the death certificate

  Deaths with the underlying cause codes 292, E962.0. using ICD9 where the named substance was mentioned on the death certificate

  2 These figures for Dothiepin include all deaths where drugs containing Dothiepin Hydrochloride were mentioned (including any mention of the brand name Prothiaden)

  3 Death with a mention of antidepressants but with no mention of drugs containing dothiepin hydrochloride

  Office for National Statistics
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out the reasons for the time taken to outsource Office for National Statistics projects as recommended by the Treasury Taskforce; and if he will make a statement on the current policy in respect of outsourcing work at the Office for National Statistics. [118885]

  Mr. Timms
  In February 1999, the then Economic Secretary announced a programme of efficiencies for the Office for National Statistics (ONS) which was expected to release £20 million through a combination of internal efficiency and outsourcing. These savings would be reinvested in the ONS to improve the range and quality of the statistical information it produces.

  The programme of internal efficiency has proceeded and is releasing savings. The outsourcing of the facilities management services is also nearing completion, according to the original timetable, and should offer the ONS considerable savings.

  However, before any outsourcing of other activities, we have asked the ONS to review their business strategies and to consider to what extent the private sector can contribute to their achievement. Government policy remains to draw on the best of the public and private sector to deliver modern, high quality, public services.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to improve the efficiency of the Office for National Statistics, with particular reference to the in-sourcing of work that can be undertaken cost-effectively there. [118886]
  374W
  Mr. Timms
  The Office for National Statistics is currently undertaking an Efficiency Programme which aims, through a combination of internal efficiencies and outsourcing of central services, to release £20 million to improve the quality and range of its statistics.

  The internal efficiencies achieved, since the beginning of the Programme in February 1999 are summarised as follows:

  Amount in 2000–01

  IS development

  205,000

  IS consolidation

  750,000

  Accounts processing

  100,000

  Merge Marketing/Press

  100.000

  Merge Personnel/HRD

  100,000

  Reduce property holdings

  300,000

  Total

  1,555,000

  The ONS is also reviewing a range of other areas to achieve more internal efficiency savings. Examples of the activities involved include finance and planning, general administration and document output. In addition, business areas such as Business and Prices and the Registration service are undergoing major efficiency reviews which will consider the most cost effective approach to these areas of work. All of these internal efficiencies, together with the rest of the ONS Efficiency Programme, will help ensure that resources are focused towards the delivery of a high quality statistical service.

  Environmental Taxes
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the losses to the National Insurance Fund from the reductions of employers' contributions resulting from the introduction of the landfill tax, the climate change levy and the aggregates levy(a) separately and (b) in total, for each year from their introduction to 2010–11; and what proposals he has to compensate the Fund for that loss. [118934]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Budget 2000 confirmed that the climate change levy will be introduced from April 2001 and the aggregates levy from April 2002. The revenues from these levies will be recycled to business through cuts in employer NICS of 0.3 and 0.1 percentage points respectively. This is consistent with the Government's approach to shifting the burden of taxation from "goods" such as labour to "bads" such as environmental pollution.

  The estimated costs of the reduction in employer NICS for each year until 2010–11 are shown in the table. This represents the costs of a 0.3 percentage point reduction in employer NICS from April 2001 and a 0.4 percentage point reduction from April 2002.

  £ billion

  Year

  Exchequer cost of reduction in employer NICS

  2001–02

  1.0

  2002–03

  1.4

  2003–04

  1.5

  2004–05

  1.6

  2005–06

  1.7

  2006–07

  1.7

  375W

  £ billion

  Year

  Exchequer cost of reduction in employer NICS

  2007–08

  1.8

  2008–09

  1.9

  2009–10

  2.0

  2010–11

  2.1

  The Treasury Grant provides a mechanism for the balances on the fund to be maintained at the level recommended by the Government Actuary as the appropriate minimum balance.

  Betting Duty
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the actual and estimated yield from betting duty for the years 1996 to 2001. [119452]

  Mr. Timms
  Information on the actual yield from betting duty can be found in "HM Customs and Excise Annual Report", Table L2 "Betting, Gaming and Lottery: Receipts". The estimated yield from betting and gaming duties in 1999–2000 and in 2000–01 can be found in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report March 2000", Table C9 "Public Sector Current Receipts".

  National Insurance Records
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is taking to deal with delays in processing national insurance records in the Newcastle centre; and if he will make a statement. [117967]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Inland Revenue National Insurance Contributions Office process information onto National Insurance accounts, and although it is recognised that there have been delays in finalising this work in the Newcastle centre, they are implementing a programme of recovery to clear the work items on hand caused by earlier difficulties.

  Constant monitoring ensures delays are kept to a minimum.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Electronic Tagging
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his oral statements of 29 November 1999,Official Report, columns 26-27 and 28 March 2000, Official Report, column 234, and to his answer to the right hon. Member for Maidstone and the Weald of 29 March 2000, Official Report, column 145W, what types of offender serving sentences of four or more years he estimates will be released earlier than at present as the result of the availability of electronic monitoring as a condition of release on licence, under the provisions of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill, with particular reference to offenders convicted of (a) homicide, (b) drugs offences, (c) robbery, (d) assaults, (e) firearms offences, (f) burglary and (g) terrorist offences; if he will define the term serious offenders, used in his oral statement of 29 November; if it is his policy that the timing of the release of (i) serious, (ii) high-risk
  376W
  and (iii) sex offenders should not be influenced by the electronic monitoring provisions of the Bill; and if he will make a statement. [118307]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 7 April 2000]: The electronic monitoring measures in the Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill will not change the timing of any prisoner's eligibility for release. The basis of any discretionary release decision will continue to be careful risk assessment. The use of the new licence conditions will be subject to piloting before full implementation. Evaluation of the pilots will include consideration of the impact of the new licence conditions on discretionary release decisions taken by the Parole Board and by the Prison Service, on behalf of the Secretary of State.

  In the vast majority of cases, we anticipate that the availability of electronic monitoring as a licence condition will have no impact on release decisions.

  Prison Service Orders will make clear there are no circumstances in which the availability of the new electronic monitoring provisions in the Bill should influence decisions on release made by the Prison Service, on behalf of the Secretary of State.

  In addition, using the powers available to him under section 32(6) of the Criminal Justice Act 1991, the Home Secretary will direct the Parole Board that in considering certain types of case, decisions on release should not be influenced by the availability of the new powers of electronic monitoring in the Bill. The Home Secretary's Directions to the Parole Board will cover any sex offender required to register under the Sex Offenders Act 1997, and any sexual or violent offender who is serving an "extended sentence" as provided for in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. The Directions will also apply to all prisoners serving a licence sentence, to other prisoners serving a determinate sentence for homicide or attempted homicide, terrorism, arson, robbery or assault and to any other prisoner whose offending or other behaviour suggests that he poses a clear risk of violence to the public. This definition could include prisoners convicted of drugs offences, firearms offences or burglary, depending on the circumstances of the cases.

  The types of case where the use of electronic monitoring may provide sufficient extra reassurance to influence a decision in favour of release are expected to be those where the Parole Board is considering prisoners who are at the lower end of the offending scale (within the category of prisoners eligible for parole), and who pose no obvious risk of violence to the public.

  It is, therefore clear that the Home Secretary's policy is that the timing of the release of serious, high risk and sex offenders, as defined above, should not be influenced by the electronic monitoring provisions of the Bill.

  The term "serious offenders" has different legal definitions in different contexts. In the context of my oral statement of 29 November, the term "serious offenders" was a reference to those prisoners serving sentences of four years or more who will be covered by the planned Directions to the Parole Board.

  Immigration Checks (Young People)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what immigration checks are made on
  377W
  (a) young children and (b) young people allowed into the UK; how such checks are followed up; and if he will make a statement. [118390]

  Mrs. Roche
  The normal requirements of the Immigration Rules apply to persons under the age of 18. For a British Citizen or other European Economic Area national the immigration officer establishes nationality and identity to confirm exemption from the immigration control. For other nationalities, the immigration officer must be satisfied that the individual is eligible for entry for the purpose requested.

  Every effort is made to try to ensure that inquiries or an interview are conducted in the presence of a responsible adult either accompanying or meeting a child.

  Once granted entry, the normal requirements apply in respect of those seeking an extension of stay, or with failure to observe the time limit which render the child's or young person's stay unlawful.

  Metropolitan Police (Ethnic Minorities)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women from ethnic minority backgrounds are officers of the Metropolitan Police Force; and what ranks are held by these officers. [118502]

  Mr. Straw
  The information requested is given in the table, provided by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, and represents the position as at 31 March 2000.

  Total

  Rank

  Male

  Female

  Commander and above

  2

  0

  Chief Superintendent

  2

  0

  Detective Chief Superintendent

  0

  0

  Superintendent

  3

  0

  Detective Superintendent

  0

  0

  Chief Inspector

  4

  0

  Detective Chief Inspector

  3

  1

  Inspector

  16

  1

  Detective Inspector

  5

  0

  Sergeant

  70

  6.69

  Detective Sergeant

  18

  1

  Constable

  615.6

  180.16

  Detective Constable

  75

  12

  Vulnerable Adults
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce legislation to make police checks on people working with vulnerable adults compulsory; and if he will make a statement. [118738]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Criminal Records Bureau, which is being established under Part V of the Police Act 1997, will provide information from police and criminal records to employers, voluntary organisations and others in positions of responsibility for vulnerable adults. The 1997 Act does not make such checks compulsory. It is for those organisations and others, including departments and authorities with responsibility for employing people in positions of trust, to lay down their particular vetting 378W
  requirements and procedures. This might include legislating for particular sectors where this is considered appropriate.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure that asylum seekers in receipt of food vouchers are able to purchase food required for dietary or religious reasons, including halal meat. [118869]

  Mrs. Roche
  Our voucher provider, Sodexho Pass, is required to ensure that vouchers can be exchanged in a wide variety of retail outlets. A number of major retail stores accept the vouchers. In addition, Sodexho Pass have contracted with a large number of independent retailers, including stores supplying specialist dietary or religious needs.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 3 April 2000,Official Report, columns 366-68W, concerning applications for asylum, what grounds are required for admission of persons seeking asylum from each applicant state; what grounds have been regarded as acceptable in respect of those granted asylum; when he expects to publish complete figures for 1999; and what representations the Government have made to applicant Governments about such claims. [118865]

  Mrs. Roche
  All asylum applications, regardless of the applicant's nationality, are considered in accordance with the criteria set out in the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. To qualify for asylum a person must be outside his/her country of nationality and have a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion. Those who meet these criteria are granted asylum; those who do not meet the requirements of the 1951 Convention may nevertheless be granted exceptional leave to remain in the United Kingdom if there are exceptional compelling humanitarian reasons why they should not be required to leave. Asylum statistics for 1999 are expected to be published in June 2000.

  Ministers and officials regularly take the opportunity to discuss the question of migration to the United Kingdom with the Governments of applicant nations. These discussions include measures which may be taken to prevent the possible abuse of the United Kingdom's immigration legislation and asylum process.

  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which cities have been judged appropriate for the housing of asylum seekers with HIV infection under the new dispersal arrangements. [118948]

  Mrs. Roche
  We have not selected particular areas for those with HIV infection. Instead, when asylum seekers make an application for asylum they are invited to indicate whether they have any special needs. Consideration is given on a case-by-case basis to those needs both in terms of the accommodation and support package and the proximity to any medical treatment which may be required.
  379W
  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost is to his Department as of the week commencing 9 April of placing(a) unaccompanied minors, (b) single asylum seekers and (c) asylum seekers' families with children in the cities of (i) Glasgow, (ii) Edinburgh, (iii) Liverpool, (iv) Sheffield and (v) Newcastle; and if he will make a statement. [118967]

  Mrs. Roche
  The information is not available.

  The National Asylum Support Service has contracts with a number of private sector contractors. The information on contract price is commercially confidential. In any event, this information is not disaggregated by area of location.

  The Home Office is not responsible for the costs of unaccompanied minors.

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the Government spent on research and development in relation to methods of conducting(a) animal experiments and (b) non-animal alternatives to vivisection in 1999; and if he will make a statement. [118826]

  Mr.Mike O'Brien
  Most work done on alternatives is neither done by the Government nor with Government money. Nonetheless, each year, the Home Office makes available to the Animal Procedures Committee (APC) a budget for the research into the development and promotion of alternatives which replace animal use, reduce the number of animals used or refine the procedures involved to minimise suffering. Work aimed at improving the environmental conditions in which laboratory animals are kept and transported has also been sponsored. Through national advertising, the APC Research and Alternatives Sub-Committee invites applications for funding of suitable projects. It then selects the most appropriate and monitors progress. Details of completed research for 1998 is published in the Report of the Animal Procedures Committee for 1998.

  The budget available to the Committee in 1998–99 for this purpose was £259,000 (an increase of 42 per cent. from £182,000 the previous year). However, this is not the only money spent by the Government on alternatives: other Departments also fund such work; estimates of spending reach approximately £2 million each year. Industry, too, spends millions of pounds each year on the search for and development of alternatives.

  On an international level, the United Kingdom Government will continue to support the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (now known as the Unit for the Validation of Biological Testing Methods) through contributions to the European Union. It is the unit's task to monitor and co-ordinate research into alternatives and to develop the processes of validation—that is, the assessment of alternative methods to see whether they are reliable and whether they produce a level of information similar to the animal based tests they are to replace. The lack of progress in some areas is more often due to the limitations of science than to inadequate funding.
  380W
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what representations have been made to him on the LD50 tests in the last six months; and if he will make a statement; [118900]

  (2) what representations have been made to him this year on licences for the LD50 tests; if his Department examines alternative methods before granting such licences; and if he will make a statement. [118902]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I refer to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Halton (Mr. Twigg) on 21 October 1999,Official Report, column 624W and to the replies I gave the hon. Gentleman on 4 april 2000, Official Report, column 437W and on 10 April 2000, Official Report, column 72W.

  No new licences authorising the LD50 test (Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development Guide 401) have been issued since 21 October 1999. Representations made on two licences under section 12 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 were both withdrawn recently and the licence holders have agreed to submit the licences for removal of authority for the LD50 test.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations have been made to him on reducing the number of dogs used in regulatory toxicology; and if he will make a statement. [118901]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Government recognise the particular concern about the use of dogs in scientific procedures. Under the terms of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, animals may only be used where there are no alternatives and where the benefits of the programme outweigh any suffering caused to the animals concerned. In addition, certain species (such as dogs, cats and primates) can only be used where animals of no other species are suitable. Special conditions, tailored to each project, control and minimise any pain or suffering caused.

  I receive correspondence from members of the public who find it particularly difficult to accept that species that are kept as domestic pets or companion animals are also used in procedures. Such animals must be purpose-bred and supplied only by designated establishments. Dogs are only used in about 0.25 per cent. of all procedures. (The results of this work have produced medicines which have cured illness, saved human lives and indeed added to veterinary science which have assisted animal care.)

  I have not received representations direct, but I am aware of recent campaign material on the subject from the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection.

  Animal Procedures Committee
  Dr. Ladyman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what advice(a) he and (b) his officials gave to the Chairman of the Animal Procedures Committee about the resignation of Dr. David Christopher from the Animal Procedures Committee in 1997; and what advice he has given to the Chairman about Gill Langley's membership of the Committee; [118907]

  (2) when he was informed that Gill Langley was the author of the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection report on Harlan UK; [118905]
  381W
  (3) following the report from Home Office officials on the credibility of the BUAV report on Harlan UK, what assessment he has made of the extent to which Gill Langley met the requirement for members of the Animal Procedures Committee to act in good faith and to the highest standards of impartiality, integrity and objectivity. [118906]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The authorship of the report of the findings of the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection investigation at Harlan UK Hillcrest (published in June 1999) was not formally notified to the Secretary of State until 29 March 2000. I understand that a member of the Animal Procedures Committee declared an interest when the subject was raised at the Committee's meeting on 9 February. I have no assessment to offer on her role as Committee member: nor has advice about her membership (which is an appointment made by the Secretary of State) been given to the Chairman.

  Dr. Christopher resigned from the Animal Procedures Committee in 1997, after the establishment with which he was associated was investigated by the Home Office. Again, no direction was given by the Secretary of State nor officials to the then Chairman or to that member. As was proper, the Secretariat to the Committee advised the Chairman only on how to handle discussion of the investigation at the relevant meetings of the Committee.

  Immigration Appeals
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the reasons are for the delay in the forwarding of appeals papers by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate to the Appellate Authority, relating to the case of Immigration Reference No. GAN75908, Home Office Reference Number IMP01009547/2(S), P023042/99, in accordance with assurances given to the hon. Member for Wakefield on 23 December 1999; and if he will make a statement. [118839]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Immigration Service sent the appropriate appeals papers for this case to the Appellate Authorities on 22 January 2000. Unfortunately there is no record of receipt. To avoid further delay, duplicate papers were then sent by facsimile on 10 March but, in this form, they were not acceptable to the Appellant Authority. The Immigration and Nationality Directorate will now forward a full bundle to the Authority as a matter of urgency.

  Lord Archer
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many person-hours the Metropolitan police have committed to date to investigating the allegations that Lord Archer of Weston-Super-Mare had sought to persuade a potential witness to commit perjury in the Daily Star libel case. [118928]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has informed me that up to 12 April, members of the Organised Crime Group have spent approximately 720 hours on the investigation of allegations of perjury made against Lord Archer.

  Crime Fighting Fund (Dartford)
  Dr. Stoate
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the 5,000 additional police officers which funding from the Crime Fighting Fund will create will be allocated to the Dartford area. [118825]

  Mr. Straw
  I refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made on 9 February 2000,Official Report, columns 172-74W, which set out details of the share of the 5,000 recruits under the Crime Fighting Fund for all forces in England and Wales. My reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, South (Mr. Cunningham) on 27 March 2000, Official Report, columns 1-3W gave details of additional money for fighting crime and that the three year Crime Fighting Fund would be brought forward with the aim of delivering the recruitment scheme over two years.

  It is for the Chief Constable of Kent to decide how to deploy the additional officers he has been allocated under the Crime Fighting Fund. Power to set establishment levels for each force was removed by the previous Government in 1994, under the Police and Magistrates' Courts Act 1994. It is for chief officers to determine staffing requirements within the overall resources available.

  Police Vehicle Accidents
  Ms Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were(a) killed and (b) injured in each of the last five years in accidents involving police vehicles while answering emergency calls. [119206]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Figures dealing with responses to emergency calls are not available centrally as statistics collate them together with accidents arising from pursuits. Information has been provided by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, to whom forces submit statistical returns.

  Police vehicle accidents arising from responses to emergency calls and pursuits: England and Wales

  Year

  Injuries

  Fatalities

  1994–95

  1,8301

  211

  1995–96

  2,1691

  211

  1996–97

  1,9302

  152

  1997–98

  2,123

  15

  1998–99

  1,8632

  112

  1 Figures from three forces missing from the total

  2 Figures from one force missing from the total

  Crime (Alcohol and Drugs)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of crimes committed by those under the influence of(a) alcohol and (b) heroin in each of the last three years. [118890]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Statistical data are collected on offences involving alcohol or illegal drugs only, not on offences which may have been committed under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs. A report published in 1998 on research carried out during 1996 and 1997 on behalf of the Home Office by the University of
  383W
  Cambridge sheds light on the links between alcohol, drugs and crime, Further data collected during 1998 and 1999 are currently being analysed as part of the NEW-ADAM programme for interviewing and drug testing arrestees. It is hoped to publish the next set of full results in the first half of this year.

  The research undertaken so far on drug testing of arrestees, based in five locations, indicates that three-quarters (74 per cent.) of arrestees had recently taken at least one illegal drug and/or alcohol prior to arrest. The proportion of arrestees testing positive for alcohol average 25 per cent., while that for heroin/opiates was 18 per cent. These findings confirm the supposition that offenders tend to be heavy consumers of drugs.

  While this study considerably advances knowledge of drugs-crime links, it will always be difficult to calculate a single percentage figure reflecting precisely what proportion of all crime is alcohol- or drug-related.

  Figures on drug offences in 1998 were published in February 2000 in Home Office Statistical Bulletin Number 3/00 "Drug seizure and offender statistics, United Kingdom, 1998". Some alcohol-related statistics are also published. Figures on breath tests were published in Statistical Bulletin 16/99 "Breath Test Statistics, England and Wales, 1998", motoring offences in Statistical Bulletin 12/99 "Motoring Offences, England and Wales, 1997"; other offences involving alcohol are included in "Criminal Statistics England and Wales 1998" published in March 2000. Copies of all these publications are in the Library.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent in the past three years in prisons to deal with misuse of(a) illegal drugs and (b) alcohol. [118887]

  Mr. Boateng
  Information is readily available only about spending on elements of the drug strategy which are co-ordinated centrally. The figures are:

  1997–98: £9 million

  1998–99: £9 million and, following the Comprehensive Spending Review,

  1999–2000: £31.5 million.

  In addition, establishments will have funded locally driven drugs and alcohol initiatives, details of which are not collected centrally.

  Probation Service
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his Department will continue with the second phase of the Probation Information Technology programme called Copernicus; and if he will make a statement [119333]

  Mr. Boateng
  Yes. Phase 2 of the Copernicus project is under way.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many probation properties have clear legal titles in England and Wales; [119330]

  (2) what is the current value of the Probation Estate in England and Wales. [119328]
  384W
  Mr. Boateng
  The current value of the probation non-hostel estate in England and Wales is estimated to be in the region of £52 million. Further work will be undertaken to verify the legal titles of all premises used by probation services in England and Wales, and until then it is not possible to quantify property holdings that do not have clear titles.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) who he commissioned to develop a Probation Estate Transitional Strategy; what were the principal conclusions of that strategy; and if he will make a statement; [119327]

  (2) what consultations he has had with probation organisations prior to the decision to accept the recommendations in the Probation Estate Transitional Strategy; and if he will make a statement; [119297]

  (3) what representations he has received concerning the Probation Estate Transitional Strategy; and if he will make a statement; [119296]

  (4) if he will publish the cost/benefit analysis for the options contained in the Probation Estate Transitional Strategy; and if he will make a statement; [119295]

  (5) if he will publish the business case for the Probation Estate Transitional Strategy; and if he will make a statement; [119294]

  (6) if he will make a statement on the implications of the Audit Commission studies of the management of the police estate and local authority estate for the Probation Estate Transitional Strategy; and if he will make a statement. [119298]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Probation Estate Transitional Strategy was an internal document produced by officials in the Home Office. It drew on the advice provided by a consultants' report, but was not dependent upon that report. Prior to and during the formulation of the Probation Estate Transitional Strategy, Home Office officials consulted with the principal probation management organisations, Central Probation Council (CPC) and Association of Chief Officers of Probation (ACOP), who are represented through the Probation Estate Advisory Committee. Some 10 representations concerning the Probation Estate Transitional Strategy have been received, from probation committees/boards and from the probation organisations, CPC and ACOP. Forty six probation services also responded to a request for comments on the consultants' area survey reports.

  A business case and cost/benefit analysis are contained in the consultant's report which will be published in due course and a copy placed in the Library.

  In 1999, the Audit Commission published "Action Stations—a management handbook on improving the management of the police estate". Management of the much smaller national probation estate presents a very different set of issues, but as much of the good practice guidance has generic application to all property management, it provides a useful reference source/guide.
  385W
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what claims he expects for compensation from companies who are unsuccessful in bidding for the Case Recording and Management System for Probation Service in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [119301]

  Mr. Boateng
  Any procurement for Information Technology for a new case recording and management system for probation services in England and Wales will be conducted in accordance with regulations and, therefore, there would be no grounds for compensation.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will authorise a further version of the Case Recording and Management System for the Probation Service in England and Wales to take into account the changes contained in the Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill; and if he will make a statement. [119300]

  Mr. Boateng
  Work is currently under way to consider the implications of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill for Probation Service Information Technology systems.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library the assessment conducted by Amey Vecta Ltd. on the effectiveness of probation information technology in Merseyside; and if he will make a statement. [119299]

  Mr. Boateng
  This is an independent report commissioned by and prepared for Merseyside Probation Service. Publication is a matter for that Service.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if existing contracts to install and maintain probation information technology will be renewed; and if he will make a statement. [119430]

  Mr. Boateng
  The existing contracts for supply and maintenance run until the end of 2001. A new procurement will be undertaken for contracts thereafter.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to use the Private Finance Initiative in relation to the probation estate; and if he will make a statement. [119331]

  Mr. Boateng
  No decisions have been taken about the future financing of the probation estate in England and Wales as a whole and a range of options, including Private Finance Initiative (PET), will be considered in due course. Local PFI initiatives are already being considered for probation services in Mid Glamorgan and Avon and Somerset.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what implications the Probation Estate Transitional Strategy has for staff levels; and if he will make a statement. [119332]

  Mr. Boateng
  The matter is under consideration at present. It will, however, be a matter for the new probation boards to determine their staffing needs.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the management of the Probation Estate will be the subject of external tenders in line with existing procurement rules; and if he will make a statement. [119329]
  386W
  Mr. Boateng
  It is proposed that management of the probation estate be carried out by a dedicated central team. However, should any external specialised property management services be procured by this management team, then these will of course follow the procurement rules then in force.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Libel Awards
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department on how many occasions since 1986 the(a) damages and (b) costs awarded to a successful litigant in a libel action against a national newspaper have exceeded £499,000 in the case of (a) and £699,000 in the case of (b). [118909]

  Jane Kennedy
  This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

  Community Legal Service (Dartford)
  Dr. Stoate
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when a community legal service partnership is due to be created to cover the Dartford area. [118842]

  Mr. Lock
  The South Eastern Legal Services Committee will shortly be consulting on their plan for developing CLS Partnerships in the region. The plan proposes that CLS Partnerships should be rolled out in four phases. Dartford has been listed as one of the areas in the fourth phase. We hope that Dartford will form a CLS Partnership by spring 2001. If it proves possible to form a CLS Partnership in this area earlier, the Lord Chancellor will give serious consideration to supporting any such proposal.

CABINET OFFICE

  Mr. Peter Wyman
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office in what(a) paid and (b) unpaid capacity Mr. Peter Wyman of PricewaterhouseCoopers has assisted Her Majesty's Government during the period 1987 to 2000. [117039]

  Mr. Stringer
  The names of the contract firms who carry out work for the Government would appear in official records, but the names of the officials from that firm would not necessarily be recorded. Mr. Wyman may, therefore, have carried out work for the Government on behalf of PricewaterhouseCoopers. There is no way of identifying the details without incurring disproportionate cost.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will publish the latest figures showing the volume of correspondence received by Ministers and agency chief executives from hon. Members in 1999, the targets set for the replies and the replies sent within target times. [119663]
  387W
  Marjorie Mowlam
  The 1999 correspondence figures are set out in the table. The table also sets out comparative figures for 1998, first published on 11 June 1999,Official Report, columns 403-05W. Members' attention is drawn

  Correspondence from MPs to Ministers and Agency Chief Executives

  1998

  1999

  Department or Agency

  Target set for reply (working days)

  Number of letters received

  Percentage of replies within target

  Target set for reply (working days)

  Number of letters received

  Percentage of replies within target

  Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  15

  8,058

  57

  15

  17,021

  60

  Cabinet Office

  15

  292

  96

  15

  552

  2685

  Crown Prosecution Service

  15

  66

  88

  15

  230

  93

  Department for Culture, Media and Sport

  18

  3,387

  86

  18

  5,502

  90

  HM Customs and Excise

  18

  4,439

  16

  18

  33,009

  38

  Ministry of Defence

  15

  5,619

  53

  15

  45,488

  66

  Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency

  —

  —

  —

  15

  17

  59

  Army Personnel Centre

  15

  43

  96

  15

  42

  84

  Army Training and Recruiting Agency

  —

  —

  —

  15

  11

  82

  Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency

  —

  —

  —

  15

  15

  100

  DERA and Defence Diversification Agency

  15

  42

  79

  15

  35

  89

  Meteorological Office

  —

  —

  —

  15

  12

  83

  RAF Personnel Management Agency

  —

  —

  —

  15

  13

  100

  Department for International Development

  15

  2,613

  91

  15

  2,750

  93

  Department for Education and Employment

  15

  19,766

  70

  15

  21,196

  75

  Employment Service

  15

  630

  92

  15

  635

  98

  Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

  15

  38,059

  51

  15

  515,768

  45

  Driving Standards Agency

  15

  108

  85

  15

  124

  68

  DVLA

  7

  453

  99

  7

  855

  98

  Highways Agency

  15

  480

  83

  15

  357

  79

  Marine and Coastguard Agency

  15

  21

  100

  15

  22

  91

  Planning Inspectorate

  8

  286

  87

  8

  6204

  92

  Vehicle Inspectorate

  15

  20

  100

  15

  18

  94

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  7

  10,040

  85

  5

  711,921

  74

  15

  9,453

  47

  15

  89,482

  37

  Department of Health

  20

  10,648

  61

  20

  18,346

  47

  NHS Pensions Agency

  15

  42

  74

  15

  51

  84

  Medicines Control Agency

  10

  37

  73

  10

  70

  68

  Home Office

  15

  17,875

  32

  15

  916,826

  1145

  20

  875

  52

  20

  10877

  79

  Fire Service College

  —

  —

  —

  7

  10

  100

  HM Prison Service

  20

  2,400

  69

  20

  2,514

  73

  UK Passport Agency

  10

  181

  96

  10

  703

  35

  Inland Revenue

  18

  6,305

  20

  18

  3,125,872

  49

  23

  193

  100

  23

  13368

  60

  Valuation Office

  23

  47

  36

  23

  24

  81

  Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers

  15

  291

  80

  15

  14223

  95

  Lord Chancellor's Department

  20

  2,672

  78

  20

  152,038

  82

  Court Service

  20

  1,230

  99

  20

  16898

  79

  HM Land Registry

  20

  36

  100

  20

  1653

  91

  Public Trust Office

  15

  63

  98

  15

  1642

  95

  Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments17

  10

  2,001

  70

  10

  171,897

  78

  Child Support Agency

  10

  104

  87

  10

  1887

  49

  Compensation Agency

  7

  25

  100

  7

  23

  100

  Environment and Heritage Service

  —

  —

  —

  10

  14

  100

  Northern Ireland Prison Service

  10

  35

  66

  10

  37

  92

  Planning Service

  10

  62

  74

  10

  64

  75

  Rate Collection Agency

  5

  10

  90

  10

  20

  90

  Rivers Agency

  15

  32

  97

  15

  31

  84

  Road Service

  10

  35

  97

  10

  26

  69

  Social Security Agency

  10

  70

  93

  10

  116

  97

  388W
  to the footnotes which accompany the table and which provide general background information on how the figures are compiled.
  389W

  Correspondence from MPs to Ministers and Agency Chief Executives

  1998

  1999

  Department or Agency

  Target set for reply (working days)

  Number of letters received

  Percentage of replies within target

  Target set for reply (working days)

  Number of letters received

  Percentage of replies within target

  Water Service

  10

  48

  85

  10

  36

  97

  Office for National Statistics

  10

  679

  88

  10

  19275

  98

  President of the Council's Office

  15

  230

  88

  15

  151

  81

  The Scotland Office20

  —

  —

  —

  15

  20105

  72

  Department of Social Security

  20

  19,330

  31

  20

  16,555

  66

  Benefits Agency

  20

  2,797

  56

  20

  2,033

  70

  Child Support Agency

  20

  8,365

  100

  18

  5,661

  98

  War Pensions Agency

  20

  529

  98

  20

  477

  100

  Department of Trade and Industry

  10

  22,193

  50

  10

  320,889

  50

  Companies House

  10

  38

  100

  10

  19

  100

  Insolvency Service

  10

  19

  100

  10

  22

  86

  Patent Office

  —

  —

  —

  10

  21308

  88

  Radio Communications Agency

  10

  15

  100

  15

  2239

  97

  HM Treasury

  15

  7,086

  37

  15

  35,322

  44

  Treasury Solicitor's Department

  15

  44

  98

  2310

  2440

  100

  Wales Office25

  —

  —

  —

  15

  2561

  64

  Notes on 1999 figures27

  1 Includes correspondence on the Intervention Board.

  2 Letters addressed to the Law Officers but subsequently replied to by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). In addition, the DPP received 228 letters direct from MPs in 1999 of which 94 per cent. were replied to within 15 working days.

  3 Includes all Ministerial replies, not only replied to letters from MPs.

  4 Includes letters from Peers and MEPs. Also includes 387 letters where Agency Chief Executives replied on Ministers' behalf.

  5 This figure includes only correspondence received between 1 April 1999 and 31 December 1999. 1998 and 1999 figures are not directly comparable, as a new data system now provides figures relating to letters received from MPs only.

  6 Includes 49 cases relating to Wales.

  7 General correspondence (excluding correspondence on migration and visa matters).

  8 Correspondence on migration and visa matters only.

  9 15 working days is the target for all correspondence other than correspondence on Prison Service issues.

  10 20 working days is the target for correspondence on Prison Service issues and takes account of particular geographical circumstances. The target is the same whether replies are sent by Ministers or the Director General.

  11 The Home Office's overall performance was badly affected by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate's operational difficulties. Encouragingly, the rest of the Home Office achieved 72 per cent. of replies within target.

  12 Head Office figures.

  13 Local Office and "delegated" figures (where local officials have replied direct to MPs).

  14 This figure excludes letters which were subsequently replied to by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

  15 Excludes letters from MPs to Ministers where Agency Chief Executives have replied on Ministers' behalf.

  16 Includes letters from MPs to Ministers where the Agency Chief Executive has replied on Ministers' behalf.

  17 Figures for Northern Ireland Departments relate to the period 1 January 1999 to 2 December 1999, the date of devolution.

  18 In addition, the Child Support Agency received 308 letters on GB cases direct from MPs in 1999 of which 49 per cent. were replied to within the 20 working day target.

  19 Includes 214 letters where the Chief Executive replied on Ministers' behalf.

  20 The Scotland Office came into existence on 1 July 1999. Figures relate to the period 1 July 1999–31 December 1999. Figures do not include interim replies.

  21 Includes 301 letters where the Chief Executive replied on Ministers' behalf.

  22 Includes 16 letters where the Chief Executive replied on Ministers' behalf.

  23 The Treasury Solicitor's Department reduced its target in May 1999 from 15 working days to 10 working days.

  24 Includes 20 letters where the Chief Executive replied on Ministers' behalf.

  25 The Wales Office came into existence on 1 July 1999. Figures relate only to the period 1 October 1999–31 December 1999.

  26 The Cabinet Office performance was badly affected by the need for wide consultation on correspondence concerning "external" issues. On issues relating to Cabinet Office domestic issues, the Cabinet Office replied to 97 per cent. of letters within target.

  27 The 1998 figures are taken from the 11 June 1999, Official Report, columns 403-05W. Please also refer to the notes given with that reply. Departments and Agencies which received a total of between one and ten letters from MPs during 1999 are not shown in this table.

  Public Sector Regulation
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps she has taken to improve public sector regulation. [119662]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The Government are concerned about the amount of red tape and bureaucratic procedures that are affecting the delivery of public services to the
  390W
  citizen. I recently established a team within the Regulatory Impact Unit in the Cabinet Office to examine and review the red tape and bureaucracy that exists within the Public Sector and to recommend ways of reducing them. I asked the Public Sector Team to produce an initial report on police paperwork, in conjunction with the Government Departments with responsibility for the criminal justice system.
  391W
  I am delighted to publish today their report called "Making a difference: Reducing Police Paperwork", copies of which I have placed in the Libraries of the House. The report recommends a number of deregulation measures on police paperwork, which my ministerial colleagues and I hope will free up police time, enabling them to deliver their front line services more effectively.

  The Public Sector Team will continue to work towards making regulation in the criminal justice system more efficient and effective, and will, in due course, also turn their attention to regulation affecting health, schools and local authority issues.

WALES

  National Lottery
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much money was spent in Wales by the National Lottery on each of the sectors of activity which it supported during 1999. [118341]

  Kate Hoey
  I have been asked to reply.

  According to the distributing bodies the amount of National Lottery money awarded to grant recipients based in Wales during 1999 was:

  £

  Good cause

  Amount

  The Arts

  14,260,264

  Charities

  26,611,341

  Heritage

  17,767,408

  Millennium projects

  97,712

  Sport

  7,329,822

  Education, Health and the Environment

  632,158

  Total

  66,698,705

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  European Defence
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what recent discussions he has had with his European Union counterparts regarding(a) the missile threat to Europe, (b) the US Government preparations to pursue National Missile Defence, (c) US-Russian discussions on ABM treaty modifications and (d) continuing NATO discussions on theatre missile defence; [119169]

  (2) what recent representations he has made to his European Union counterparts regarding the threat to Europe from weapons of mass destruction. [119172]

  Mr. Vaz
  These issues are the subject of regular discussions in NATO. European Union partners which are also members of the Alliance take part in the discussions. These issues also arise frequently in our bilateral contacts with EU partners. Proliferation issues are regularly discussed in the appropriate European Union Common Foreign and Security Policy forum.
  392W
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the progress made in setting up modalities for full consultation, co-operation and transparency between the EU and NATO. [119174]

  Mr. Vaz
  The United Kingdom is fully involved in the continuing discussions to ensure the best means of ensuring full mutual consultation, co-operation and transparency between the EU and NATO.

  The Presidency will report on progress to the European Council at Feira on 19-20 June.

  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what recent representations he has made to the US administration on further development of the European Union's Common Security and Defence Policy; [119175]

  (2) what recent representations he has received from the US administration on the development of the European Union's Common Security and Defence Policy. [119177]

  Mr. Vaz
  The Secretary of State visited Washington in February, and discussed European Defence with Mrs. Albright. The Defence Secretary discussed European Defence with his US opposite number in January. There are other frequent Ministerial and official contacts.

  The US Administration remains supportive of the initiative: in recent Senate testimony, Assistant Secretary of State Marc Grossman commented that:
  ESDI will be good for the Alliance, good for US interests and good for the US-European relationship.

  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make a statement on the progress made by the EU in setting up consultation and co-operation links between the EU and(a) NATO's non-EU members, (b) other countries who are candidates for accession to the EU and (c) other prospective partners in EU-led crisis management; [119178]

  (2) what recent discussions the EU has had with (a) non-EU European NATO members and (b) other countries who are candidates to the EU on establishing appropriate structures for dialogue and information on issues related to security and defence policy and crisis management. [119173]

  Mr. Vaz
  The UK, other EU members and the Presidency have regular bilateral and multilateral discussions with the non-EU European NATO members and EU candidates on this subject.

  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with other Government Departments on(a) the missile threat to Europe and (b) the US Government preparations to pursue National Missile Defence. [119171]

  Mr. Vaz
  We are in continuous contact with all other Government Departments with an interest in these issues.

  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received from(a) the Czech Republic, (b) Hungary and (c) Poland on the development of the European Union's Common Security and Defence Policy. [119176]
  393W
  Mr. Vaz
  The Secretary of State met the Foreign Minister6/21/2006s of Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic on 29 February. I met their deputies on 31 March-1 April. The future role of the non-EU Allies in EU crisis management operations was discussed in detail on both occasions.

  Gibraltar
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date the European Court of Human Rights issued its decision on the right of the people of Gibraltar to vote in European Parliament elections; how he plans to comply with the decision of the court; and if he will make a statement. [119018]

  Mr. Vaz
  The judgment was given on 18 February 1999. Within a month the Government tabled an amendment to the 1976 EC Act on Direct Elections in order to extend the European franchise to Gibraltar. We have continued to press for that, and will spare no effort to secure Gibraltar's enfranchisement.

  US National Missile Defence System
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received from the US Administration on the US Government's preparations to pursue National Missile Defence. [119170]

  Mr. Vaz
  I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Milton Keynes South-West (Dr. Starkey) and the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell (Mr. Taylor) on 4 April 2000,Official Report, columns 408-09W. We remain in regular dialogue with the United States Administration.

  EU Charter of Fundamental Rights
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on incorporating the Charter of Fundamental Rights into the Treaty. [119306]

  Mr. Vaz
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the right hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood) on 10 April 2000,Official Report, column 78W.

  Bosnia
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many suspected war criminals have been apprehended by British forces in Bosnia. [117902]

  Mr. Hain
  British SFOR troops have successfully detained nine war crimes suspects indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. They have also been involved in the arrest of a further two suspects with other SFOR forces. An indictee was also shot dead by British SFOR personnel acting in self-defence during a detention operation.

  International Criminal Court
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to place 394W
  the ratification of the International Criminal Court on the agenda at the Copenhagen Plus Five Conference in June. [118970]

  Mr. Hain
  The UK regularly encourages support for the International Criminal Court (ICC) at appropriate multilateral fora. The Copenhagen Plus Five Conference will review implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action which resulted from the World Summit for Social Development in 1995, and consider further initiatives. As ratification of the ICC falls outside the issues covered at Copenhagen, it is not expected to feature on the Conference agenda.

  Colombia
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his US counterparts concerning financial assistance for Plan Colombia. [118973]

  Mr. Battle
  UK officials keep in close contact with their US counterparts on all aspects of foreign affairs, including the peace process in Colombia. During President Pastrana's visit to the UK on 13 April, we discussed ways in which the international community might assist. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs suggested the UK could take the lead in hosting an international gathering of officials and technical experts, including those from North America and Europe, to discuss the details of Plan Colombia in the next two months.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Colombian Government concerning UK assistance for(a) social and economic aspects of Plan Colombia and (b) military assistance for Plan Colombia. [118972]

  Mr. Battle
  We had a friendly and productive discussion with President Pastrana on 13 April about all aspects of Plan Colombia. We discussed the ways in which the international community could be of assistance, and focused in particular on the need for alternative development, the fight against drugs, and institution building.

  Joint Environmental Markets Unit
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 6 December 1999,Official Report, column 539W, on the Joint Environmental Markets Unit, when he will implement his commitment to second staff from his Department to work for the Unit. [116069]

  Mr. Hain
  The joint FCO/DTI British Trade International has identified the environment sector as a priority area of its trade promotion work, and has close links with the DTI/DETR Joint Environmental Markets Unit (JEMU).

  In addition, the FCO is in the process of enhancing its interchange programme with other Government departments. As part of this, we hope to institute regular secondments to JEMU in due course.

  Abdullah Ocalan
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Turkish Government regarding the death sentence imposed on Abdullah Ocalan. [118831]

  Mr. Vaz
  I met the Turkish Foreign Minister during his visit to the UK in September 1999 and expressed our opposition to capital punishment under any circumstances. The Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Neath (Mr. Hain), repeated this message to the Turkish Ambassador in December 1999. In the regular meetings between British and Turkish officials, we consistently make clear to the Turkish authorities our opposition to the death penalty as a matter of principle.

  The UK also supported the statements by the EU Presidency on 29 June and 25 November 1999, which confirmed our opposition to the death penalty imposed upon Mr. Ocalan. Our general position on capital punishment was most recently restated at the EU-Turkey Association Council on 11 April by the EU Presidency.

  We welcome the Turkish Government's decision in January to await the outcome of Mr. Ocalan's appeal to the ECHR before taking further action and have urged them to maintain the moratorium on capital punishment which has been in place for 15 years.

  Visa Applicants (Islamabad)
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to provide shade and water for visa applicants queuing at the British High Commission in Islamabad; and if he will extend the system used in respect of visa applicants at the Deputy High Commission in Karachi to Islamabad. [118915]

  Mr. Vaz
  Covered accommodation for some 400 visa applicants, with drinking water and toilet facilities, is already provided inside the British High Commission at Islamabad. Similar accommodation and facilities are provided in Karachi, in a more modern building.

  The land outside the compound at Islamabad belongs to the Pakistani authorities. The High Commission has repeatedly asked their permission to construct facilities which would provide shade for visa applicants. No response has been received.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British passport holders are resident in Zimbabwe; and how many other residents of Zimbabwe could claim a right of abode in the UK. [118895]

  Mr. Hain
  We cannot provide exact figures of the number of British passport holders resident in Zimbabwe because British nationals are not obliged to register with our High Commission in Harare. As of 12 April there are 9,000 British nationals and some 5,500 dual British/Zimbabwe nationals registered with the High Commission. Actual numbers will be higher.
  396W
  Any Commonwealth citizen with a UK born parent or married to a British citizen may qualify for right of abode in the UK. For the reasons given above it is not possible to put a figure on how many residents of Zimbabwe may be eligible to claim.

  Algeria
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he was first informed of the MI5 report about the involvement of the Algerian Government, or part of it, in serious human rights violations committed in Algeria. [118926]

  Mr. Hain
  It has been the policy of successive Governments not to comment on the operations of the security and intelligence agencies. In line with this policy the Government do not reveal what information is held by the Security Service.

  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Algerian Government, and when, concerning their obligations under international law to undertake full and open investigations of human rights abuses. [118927]

  Mr. Hain
  I raised this issue personally with the Algerian Prime Minister during my visit to Algiers on 12 April.

  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will ask the Algerian Government to invite the UN Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearance to visit Algeria, with particular reference to the treatment of women relatives of the disappeared in Algeria during recent demonstrations. [118937]

  Mr. Hain
  I welcome the recent announcement by the Algerian authorities that international NGOs, including Amnesty International, have been given dates to visit. We continue to press the Algerian government to allow access to UN experts. I raised this issue personally with the Algerian Prime Minister during my visit to Algiers on 12 April.

  Iran
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs further to the oral answer to the hon. Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore) of 11 April 2000,Official Report, column 178, what steps the Government plan to take to monitor the trial and other legal proceedings in respect of the 13 members of the Jewish community from Shiraz; and if he will make a statement. [118986]

  Mr. Hain
  Since my answer to the House on 11 April we are concerned at reports that trial Judge has decided to hold the trial in camera, and have made our concerns known to the Iranian authorities. The pattern of developments is not entirely clear, but our Embassy is following events closely. We note that defendants have now had the opportunity to appoint their own counsel, and that all those detained have done so.

  The first session of the trial took place on 13 April. We understand that the trial has been adjourned until 1 May at the request of the defence lawyers to allow them to prepare their defence. We and our EU partners will

  397W
  continue to monitor events carefully. We will be paying especially close attention to defence counsel's view of proceedings.

  Iraq
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received from Iraqi opposition groups concerning sanctions against Iraq. [118944]

  Mr. Hain
  During my regular meetings with representatives of the Iraqi opposition, I receive strong support for the Government's policy on Iraq and sanctions. The Iraqi National Congress, perhaps the most significant opposition grouping outside Iraq, has made quite clear that, like us, it holds the Iraqi regime responsible for the suffering of the people, and wishes to ensure that Saddam Hussein can never again attack his own people or his neighbours with weapons of mass destruction.

  Peru
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise the issue of alleged electoral fraud in Peru with the Peruvian Government. [118945]

  Mr. Battle
  The UK has played a leading role in calling for higher standards in the electoral process in Peru. We have financed two reports this year which have highlighted the deficiencies, and copies of these reports have been sent to the Peruvian Government as well as being circulated widely internationally. We were instrumental in organising a critical EU statement on 7 April in advance of the vote. On 12 April, after the vote, I issued a statement which was delivered through our Embassy in Lima to the Peruvian President, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. In it I suggested a second round was both desirable and sensible in the light of widespread concerns, including that of the two British observers, my right hon. Friend the Member for Coatbridge and Chryston (Mr. Clarke) and the hon. Member for East Londonderry (Mr. Ross).

  Since the declaration of a second round, I have issued a further statement (on 13 April) expressing the hope that the next round will be held in conditions that are free, fair and transparent. We shall be working with our EU colleagues to impress on the Peruvian authorities the need for them to conform to international standards.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of reports of alleged malpractice during the first-round ballot of the Peruvian Presidential election; and if he will make a statement. [119428]

  Mr. Battle
  Further to the answer I gave above to my hon. Friend the Member for Cynon Valley (Ann Clwyd) (UIN 118945), I remain concerned at allegations of irregularities during the Peruvian election campaign and on polling day itself on 9 April. I issued a statement on 13 April calling for the second round of voting to be held under conditions that were democratic, transparent and free from the irregularities of the first round. We shall be working with our EU colleagues to impress on the Peruvian authorities the need for them to conform to international standards in their electoral process.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Minimum Income Guarantee
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his latest estimate of the number of pensioners with incomes below the minimum income guarantee who are not entitled to the minimum income guarantee because of savings in excess of the upper capital limit. [108451]

  Mr. Bayley
  [holding answer 4 February 2000]: The last take-up estimates, covering 1997–98, were published in September 1999. Estimates of numbers of pensioners with incomes below the minimum income guarantee who are excluded for reasons of excess capital are not yet available.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much higher the income of(a) a single pensioner and (b) a pensioner couple not receiving income support would be in the year 2000–01 if the basic retirement pension had been uprated in (i) 1998, (ii) 1999 and (iii) 2000 in line with average earnings. [117589]

  Mr. Rooker
  The information is in the table.

  While our priority is to target help to those pensioners in greatest need through the Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG), we have provided significant help to all pensioners. During this Parliament, we will have spent nearly £1.9 billion more on Winter Fuel Payments and the MIG than on earnings uprating the basic State Pension. Clearly, given constraints on resources, if we had uprated the basic pension in line with earnings, we would not have been able to provide the level of help we have, particularly to the poorest pensioners. Also earnings uprating the basic State Pension does not help them as the increase would be offset by a pound-for-pound reduction in the MIG they received. All these aspects need to be taken into account when using figures in the table.

  £.p.

  (a)

  (b)

  ((a)-(b))

  Pensioner status

  Year

  Actual rate payable

  Rate payable if uprated in line with average earnings

  Weekly difference

  Single Pensioner

  1998

  64.70

  65.00

  0.30

  1999

  66.75

  68.20

  1.45

  2000

  67.50

  71.25

  3.75

  Pensioner Couple

  1998

  103.40

  103.90

  0.50

  1999

  106.70

  109.00

  2.30

  2000

  107.90

  113.90

  6.00

  Notes:

  1. Average Earnings Index Whole Economy (Non-seasonally adjusted), as published by the Office for National Statistics.

  2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5 pence at each uprating.

  Dr. Stoate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners in Dartford will benefit from the recent increase in the minimum income guarantee. [118824]

  Mr. Bayley
  Around 2,000 pensioners in the parliamentary constituency of Dartford are receiving their minimum income guarantee paid through Income Support, and have benefited from the recent increase in benefit rates.

  SERPS
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost of(a) 5 to 10 per cent., (b) 10 to 15 per cent., (c) 15 to 20 per cent., (d) 20 to 25 per cent., (e) 25 to 30 per cent., (f) 30 to 35 per cent., (g) 35 to 40 per cent., (h) 40 to 45 per cent., (i) 45 to 50 per cent., (j) 50 to 55 per cent., (k) 55 to 60 per cent. and (l) 60 to 65 per cent. of those currently in SERPS producing satisfactory evidence that they have been misled over surviving spouses' entitlement. [117538]

  Mr. Rooker
  The cost of any given percentage of people currently in SERPS producing satisfactory evidence that they have been misled over surviving spouses entitlement will depend on which individuals are included and how much SERPS they have accrued.

  Fraud (Brentwood)
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the procedures of the Borough of Brentwood District Council in preventing and detecting fraud. [118601]

  Angela Eagle
  We are aware that Brentwood Borough Council is operating the Royal Mail "do not redirect" scheme, is using the Housing Benefit Matching Service and has a Remote Access Terminal installed. It has also applied to this Department for Electronic Transfer of Data which will be installed during the summer.

  The authority exceeded its weekly benefit savings threshold by 82 per cent. in 1998–99 resulting in additional subsidy of around £16,000.

  However, the Borough has expressed no interest in implementing the Verification Framework and we have no record that they prosecuted or referred any cases of fraud for prosecution between April 1996 and April 1999.

  Housing Benefit (Brentwood)
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will make a statement on the level of co-operation between the Borough of Brentwood District Council and the Benefits Agency in relation to housing benefit; [118600]

  (2) how many complaints in the last 12 months the Benefits Agency has made to the Borough of Brentwood District Council about lack of co-operation on housing benefit. [118602]

  Angela Eagle
  This is a matter for Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Eric Pickles, dated 14 April 2000:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking, if he will make a statement on the level of co-operation between the Borough of Brentwood District Council and the Benefits Agency (BA), in relation to housing benefit, and how many complaints in the last 12 months the BA has made to the Borough of Brentwood District Council about lack of co-operation on housing benefit.
  The BA and Brentwood Borough Council have a joint Service Level Agreement which covers the service and performance requirements expected of both parties in connection with Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. Standards are measured and reviewed as necessary.
  400W
  We have quarterly benefit liaison meetings to discuss any initiatives and issues that arise. Both the Local Authority and BA are satisfied with the level of co-operation.
  In the last 12 months there have not been any direct complaints from the BA to Brentwood Council with regard to lack of co-operation on housing benefit.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Benefits (Crosby)
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people under the age of 65 received an Attendance Allowance in Crosby constituency in each of the years from 1994 to 1999. [118680]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 11 April 2000]: The administration of Attendance Allowance is a matter for Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mrs. Claire Curtis-Thomas, dated 14 April 2000:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking, how many people under the age of 65 received an Attendance Allowance (AA) in Crosby constituency in each of the years from 1994 to 1999.
  Since the introduction of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) on 1st April 1992, persons under the age of 65 have not been able to claim AA. Customers who were under the age of 65 and in receipt of AA had their benefit converted to DLA.
  Details of DLA for 1998 and 1999 are set out in the table below. Prior to 1998 figures were based on a 5% sample and the numbers for Crosby constituency are too small to be statistically reliable. Since 1998 the figures are based on a 100% sample.

  Year

  DLA recipients

  1998

  2,172

  1999

  2,158

  I hope this is helpful.

  Asbestos-related Diseases
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 28 February 2000,Official Report, column 173W, how many CT scans Medical Services has commissioned in the case of asbestos-related diseases in the past three years. [119005]

  Mr. Bayley
  Medical Services have commissioned no CT scans in the past three years in the case of claims for an Industrial Injuries Scheme Benefit for an asbestos-related disease.

  Benefit Review Interviews
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the Department or its Agencies record whether claimants refuse to be interviewed for area benefit review interviews. [119211]

  Mr. Rooker
  There are no formal records for the information requested. However, the records that are available show that only a very small number of people refuse to be interviewed.

  Benefit Payments
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what arrangements he will put in place to allow benefit recipients without bank accounts to be paid in cash over the counter at post offices once automated credit transfer is introduced. [119707]

  Mr. Rooker
  The vast majority of benefit recipients, over 80 per cent., already have access to a bank account.

  The Post Office is working with banks and the Department to make a range of bank and other simple accounts available to everyone, and to make sure that getting cash from these accounts will he available to customers from local post offices.

  However, we recognise that there will be some people who we will be unable to pay by automated credit transfer, and some urgent payments that cannot be made this way. For these, we are considering what alternative simple electronic money transmission system, which could also be accessed at post offices, may be commercially available.

  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost of paying all relevant pensions, currently paid via automated credit transfer four weeks in arrears, on a weekly basis in the year the transition was made. [119422]

  Mr. Rooker
  There would be no overall increase in benefit expenditure in moving to weekly payments.

  However, there could be a one-off cash flow effect, with expenditure up to the value of £555 million1 being brought forward to an earlier tax year because of more frequent payments.

  The Department would also incur some small additional banking costs as a result of more frequent payments.
  1 This figure assumes that all pensioners and widows, whose pensions are currently paid into a UK bank account, take up the option and that the transition was made in a single year, neither of which may necessarily be the case.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much of his Department's expenditure was on people of retirement age and above; and what proportion of GDP this represented, in each year from 1992 to 2000. [118920]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 14 April 2000]: The information is in the table.

  Expenditure on people over 60 as a percentage of all Social Security benefit expenditure and as a percentage of GDP

  Expenditure as a percentage of:

  Year

  Expenditure (cash £ million)

  All expenditure

  GDP

  1991–92

  31,772

  47.85

  5.39

  1992–93

  34,145

  45.34

  5.57

  1993–94

  36.443

  44.21

  5.63

  1994–95

  37,269

  43.92

  5.43

  1995–96

  38,681

  43.61

  5.36

  1996–97

  40,808

  44.25

  5.33

  402W

  Expenditure on people over 60 as a percentage of all Social Security benefit expenditure and as a percentage of GDP

  Expenditure as a percentage of:

  Year

  Expenditure (cash £ million)

  All expenditure

  GDP

  1997–98

  42,577

  45.61

  5.23

  1998–99

  44,502

  46.56

  5.19

  1999–2000

  47,640

  47.97

  5.29

  2000–01

  49,962

  49.27

  5.28

  Notes:

  1. Expenditure figures are consistent with Table 3 of the 2000 Departmental Report (Cm4614) and earlier equivalents.

  2. Social Security benefit expenditure includes non-DSS funded expenditure on Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the cost of the recent research and pilot projects carried out to ascertain the reasons for pensioners not claiming Income Support and the most effective ways of promoting take-up. [118884]

  Mr. Bayley
  The Department carried out an extensive programme of research including surveys and qualitative work.

  The cost of the research to ascertain the reasons for pensioners not claiming Income Support, and to identify possible ways to increase take-up was £325,000.

  The costs of running the pilots both at District Office level and centrally were absorbed within existing work loads and no separate costs for this activity have been identified. The evaluation of the pilots, which included analysis of administrative data and a follow-up survey cost £278,063.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much his Department spent (i) directly and (ii) indirectly on asylum seekers in(a) 1995, (b) 1996, (c) 1997, (d) 1998 and (e) 1999; and what estimate has been made of expenditure in the year 2000. [119489]

  Mr. Bayley
  The Home Office will be responding to this question on behalf of Government as a whole.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost of extending the entitlement for new claims to Disability Living Allowance to all those aged below 70 years. [119246]

  Mr. Bayley
  The estimated programme cost would be £300 million in 2001–02, rising to £350 million in 2002–03 and £400 million in 2003–04.

  Invalid Care Allowance
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to conclude his review of Invalid Care Allowance. [119480]
  403W
  Mr. Bayley
  We are committed to keeping financial support for carers under review and we are continuing to do this. This issue is being considered in the context of the follow-up work to the National Carers' Strategy, and our response to The Royal Commission on Long Term Care, and the nature and timing of any conclusions will depend on progress on these wider activities.

  Inter-Ministerial Group for Older People
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the members of the Inter-Ministerial Group for Older People; when it was established; how often it has met and when; what its terms of reference are; what subjects have been considered by it; what reports it has produced; what third parties it has consulted; and what the outcome was of those discussions. [119533]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Inter-Ministerial Group for Older People, established in June 1998, has met eight times on the following dates:

  2 July 1998

  24 March 1999

  14 July 1999

  27 October 1999

  7 December 1999

  26 January 2000

  8 March 2000

  11 April 2000.

  The Group's terms of reference are:
  to ensure that Government strategy and policy affecting older people is effectively co-ordinated, avoids duplication, and takes account of the needs of older people;
  to develop a better understanding of the lives and aspirations of older people and how they are affected by Government policy; and
  to co-ordinate the presentation and promotion of Government policy affecting older people.

  The Group has considered a wide range of subjects including active aging, care issues, consultation and involvement, transport, volunteering and improving services for older people. A consultation document, "Building a Better Britain for Older People", was published in November 1998. The Group has also sponsored research into attitudes and aspirations of older people which was published last year1.

  The Group has consulted widely with organisations representing older people and has undertaken a significant programme of consultation with older people themselves. Members of the Group attended a series of listening to older people events across the UK during 1999, which provided older people with a further opportunity to discuss issues that are important to them. The programme will conclude with a National Listening Event on 17 May in London. This will build on and respond to the consultation that has taken place over the past year.
  404W
  This extensive programme of consultation has proved valuable in helping the Inter Ministerial Group plan its work programme.

  The current membership of the Group is as follows:
  The Inter-Ministerial Group for Older People
  Right hon. Jeff Rooker MP (Chair): Minister of State, Department of Social Security
  Right hon. Paul Boateng MP: Minister of State, Home Office
  David Hanson MP: Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Welsh Office
  Keith Hill MP: Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions
  Margaret Hodge MP: Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Employment
  Alan Howarth MP: Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport
  George Howarth MP: Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office
  Dr. Kim Howells MP: Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry
  John Hutton MP: Minister of State, Department of Health
  Right hon. Baroness Jay of Paddington: Minister for Women
  Melanie Johnson MP: Economic Secretary, Her Majesty's Treasury
  Jane Kennedy MP: Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department
  Lewis Moonie MP: Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence
  Right hon. Ian McCartney MP: Minister of State, Cabinet Office
  Nick Raynsford MP: Minister of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions
  Brian Wilson MP: Minister of State, Scotland Office

  The Welsh Assembly and the Scottish Executive also have responsibilities for policies that affect older people. The Inter-Ministerial group is therefore working closely with Jane Hutt and Iain Gray, both of whom have attended meetings.

  Note:

  1. Attitudes and Aspirations of Older People—a review of the literature by Annette Boaz, Carol Hayden and Miriam Bernard, was published on 18 October 1999 in the Department of Social Security's Research Report Series (Report No. 101, ISBN 1 84123 144 4).

  Attitudes and Aspirations of Older People—a qualitative study by Carol Hayden, Annette Boaz and Francesca Taylor was published on 18 October 1999 in the Department of Social Security's Research Report Series (Report No. 102, ISBN 1 84123 158 4).

  ONE Pilot Areas
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what period of time has been devoted to training start-up officers and personal advisers in the ONE pilot areas to enable them to identify entitlement to income support, housing benefit, disability living allowance and incapacity benefit; and what period of time has been devoted to training to enable them to identify entitlement to working families tax credit and disabled persons' tax credit; [119338]

  (2) what training advisers in the ONE pilot areas have received in understanding and applying the principle of good cause. [119343]

  Angela Eagle
  ONE training for all advisers is individually tailored through the use of the learning assessment framework which matches training provision to training need. A copy of this framework can be found in the Library.
  405W
  There is extensive benefits training available to advisers on the entitlement to ONE benefits. Advisers receive a three-week benefit entitlement training course, which includes Income Support, Housing Benefit, Disability Living Allowance, Incapacity Benefit, Working Families Tax Credit and Disabled Persons Tax Credit.
  406W
  Advisers also receive training in relation to good cause. However, it should be noted that most already understand and know how to apply the principles of good cause. Good cause provisions exist elsewhere in the benefit system and were, for example, included in the training for the New Decision Making and Appeals procedures which were implemented in the Autumn of 1999.

  Global Poverty and Aid Levels
  Global Poverty and Aid Levels
  Previously Developed Land
  Previously Developed Land
  Traffic Calming in Villages
  Traffic Calming in Villages
  M.6 Extension to M.74
  M.6 Extension to M.74
  M.6 and M.40: Fatalities
  M.6 and M.40: Fatalities
  Motorway Fencing
  Motorway Fencing
  Minimum Income Guarantee: Publicity
  Minimum Income Guarantee: Publicity
  Agrimonetary Compensation
  Agrimonetary Compensation
  Glenthorne Youth Treatment Centre
  Glenthorne Youth Treatment Centre
  Channel Islands: Business Taxation
  Channel Islands: Business Taxation
  Northern Ireland Health and Social Services Trusts: Working Time Regulation 16
  Northern Ireland Health and Social Services Trusts: Working Time Regulation 16
  Northern Ireland: Extra NHS Funding
  Northern Ireland: Extra NHS Funding