Written Answers of 18 April 2000

CABINET OFFICE

  Regulatory Reform Bill
  Kali Mountford
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress has been made with the proposed Regulatory Reform Bill. [119824]

  Mr. Stringer
  The Regulatory Reform Bill has today been published in draft, in order to allow the two Parliamentary Deregulation Committees to report on it prior to its formal introduction to Parliament. The House of Commons Deregulation Committee and its counterpart in the House of Lords have great expertise on the existing deregulation order-making power under the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994. Their views on the proposed extension of this power will clearly be of great interest to the House when it comes to consider the Bill. 'Publication of the draft Regulatory Reform Bill' (Cm 4713) contains the draft Bill, Explanatory Notes and other supporting material, and I have placed copies in the Libraries of the House, the Vote Office and the Printed Paper Office.

  In addition to the changes to the deregulation order-making power, the draft Bill includes provisions to replace section 5 of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994, which deals with enforcement of regulations. This policy was the subject of a public consultation exercise in Autumn 1999. The majority of those responding to the consultation document were supportive of the Government's proposals. I am today placing copies of the Government's response to that consultation exercise in the Libraries of the House, the Vote Office and the Printed Paper Office. Copies of the Government's response to the earlier consultation exercise on the proposed changes to the deregulation order-making power, published in September 1999, are already in the Libraries.

  Departmental Properties
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what(a) number and (b) percentage of properties in her charge are empty; and what steps are being taken by her Department to reduce the number of such properties. [116909]

  Mr. Stringer
  The Cabinet Office had 168 properties in its charge on 1 April 1999, of which 30.4 per cent. were empty on 1 April 2000. The majority of the empty properties were office buildings held by the Property Advisers to the Civil Estate (PACE), a key responsibility of which has been to dispose of surplus occupied and empty office accommodation on the Government Estate. In many cases tenants have been found for previously empty properties to reduce the burden on the Exchequer and to make them more attractive for disposal to investors. The principal determinant for disposal is value for money 408W
  to the Exchequer. PACE and another two of the Cabinet Office's agencies transferred to HM Treasury on 1 April 2000. The figures include three office buildings on the Cabinet Office estate undergoing refurbishment.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Gibraltar
  Mr. Donald Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the result of the Government's latest discussions with the Spanish Government on the subject of Gibraltar. [117396]

  Mr. Vaz
  Discussions between Spain and the United Kingdom, in consultation with the Government of Gibraltar, to overcome difficulties which have arisen on a number of issues within the European Union concerning Gibraltar have been continuing for several months. I hope that it will be possible to bring them to a successful conclusion.

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to consult the Gibraltar Government before making decisions on matters affecting the people of Gibraltar. [119610]

  Mr. Vaz
  We regularly consult the Government of Gibraltar on a wide range of matters affecting the people of Gibraltar. We do this routinely via the office of the Governor of Gibraltar and through meetings with Ministers and officials when the Chief Minister is in London.

  Works of Art
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been spent on(a) the upkeep and (b) the purchase of works of art in his Department for each financial year since 1992. [117481]

  Mr. Battle
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for the Arts, 4 April 2000,Official Report, columns 392-93W.

  Most of the works of art on display in our missions abroad are on loan from the Government Art Collection. Some are purchased, as part of large capital projects, such as new Embassies. A comprehensive breakdown of expenditure on artwork purchased could be provided only at disproportionate cost as it has been recorded only as part of the overall capital project cost.

  We have no readily available information on the years prior to 1994. The best figures we have for the years 1994–95 to 1998–99 indicate that under £1 million was spent on artwork over that period, less than 0.5 per cent. of the overall programme of capital expenditure on the estate of £215.7 million for the same period.

  Upkeep costs are low, and not separately recorded. Expenditure on artworks will be separately identified in future under Resource Accounting and Budgeting.

  General Affairs Council, Luxembourg
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the outcome was of the General Affairs Council held in Luxembourg on 10 and 11 April; and if he will make a statement. [118898]
  409W
  Mr. Vaz
  The information is as follows:

  1. The General Affairs Council (GAC) in Luxembourg on 10 April adopted the A points listed in document No. 7592/00 and noted the resolutions, decisions and opinions adopted by the European Parliament in its session of 13-17 March in Strasbourg listed in document No. 6496/00. Copies of these documents will be placed in the House Libraries as soon as they become available.

  Council Formations

  2. The GAC reached agreement on a reduction in the number of Council Formations to 16 (General Affairs; Agriculture; Economic and Financial Affairs; Environment; Transport and Telecommunications; Employment and Social Policy; Fisheries; Industry and Energy; Justice, Home Affairs and Civil Protection; Internal Market, Consumer Affairs and Tourism; Research; Budget; Culture; Development; Education and Youth Affairs; and Health); and agreed to review this decision in 2002.

  Lisbon Follow-up

  3. The GAC heard a report from the President of the European Commission on the planned extensive follow-up to the Lisbon Special Council. The Presidency noted that it would also issue plans for follow-up. The GAC agreed that the Feira Council should adopt an e-Europe action plan, a small business charter, and plans for benchmarking the performance of EU economies.

  Conflict in Africa

  4. EU presidency Representative Senator Serri briefed the GAC on the negotiations in the Eritrea/Ethiopia Peace Process. The GAC expressed its deep concern at the humanitarian situation in the region and reaffirmed its strong support for the efforts of the OAU Presidency to end the conflict. It expressed concern at the level of arms sales to the region.

  5. The Commission briefed the GAC on the EU response to requests for humanitarian assistance. The GAC emphasised the need for a co-ordinated approach with the UN to ensure the efficient and speedy delivery of international aid. The GAC called on Ethiopia and Eritrea to facilitate such deliveries and to ensure the security of food and humanitarian assistance.

  Zimbabwe

  6. The GAC discussed the situation in Zimbabwe. Member states underlined their concern at the farm invasions and appealed to the Government of Zimbabwe to enforce law and order. The GAC also urged the Government of Zimbabwe to create the conditions for the holding of free and fair elections. Under such conditions, the Council agreed that the EU would be willing to support and monitor the elections provided a request for such support was made by the Government of Zimbabwe.

  China/WTO

  7. The GAC gave its full support to Commissioner Lamy's approach to the latest round of bilateral negotiations on China's accession to the WTO. The GAC noted that the EU had already shown flexibility in its few remaining requests, and that a similar attitude from China would pave the way for an agreement.
  410W
  IGC

  8. Foreign Ministers reviewed progress to date in the Government Representatives group and considered prospects for the second half of the Portuguese Presidency. Discussion focused on a Presidency paper on the extension of qualified majority voting.

  Burma

  9. In renewing its Common Position on Burma for another six months, the GAC agreed to the most substantial strengthening of the measures against the Burmese regime since the Common Position was first adopted in 1996. It will now incorporate a published list of those regime members and supporters subject to visa restrictions; a freeze on their funds held abroad; and a ban on the supply of equipment which could be used for internal repression or terrorism.

  10. The Council also agreed to send a second Troika mission to Rangoon to promote the EU's policy towards Burma; to consider the possibilities for increased humanitarian aid; to resume EU-ASEAN ministerial dialogue, in Asia, later in the year.

  Turkey

  11. The GAC agreed a Common Position for the following day's EC/Turkey Association Council and three-year funding regulation for Turkey worth 15 meuro.

  12. The Association Council agreed to start negotiations on the liberalisation of services and mutual opening of procurement markets. It also agreed to set up eight sectoral sub-committees of the Association Committee to promote harmonisation of Turkey's legislation with the EU acquis.

  Russia

  13. The GAC again deplored the suffering of the civilian population in Chechnya. It noted the recent decision by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to suspend the voting rights of the Russian Delegation and its recommendation to the Council of Ministers to move towards suspension of Russia's membership of the Council of Europe. The GAC observed that this reflected the deep concern of European public opinion about the continuing conflict in Chechnya. The GAC expressed its support for the Council of Europe's continuing co-operation with, and assistance to, Russia, provided Russia abides by its commitments. At the same time, the GAC acknowledged Russian co-operation in establishing a Council of Europe presence in the region and in agreeing to make public a report on Chechnya prepared by the Council of European Committee for the Prevention of Torture.

  14. The GAC supported the call by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for Russia to establish, according to international standards, a national broad-based and independent commission of inquiry into allegations of human rights violations.

  UNCHR/China

  15. The GAC discussed its approach to China at the current session of the UN Commission on Human Rights. It decided that EU member states would not co-sponsor the US resolution in China, but would oppose any "no-action motion" tabled by China.
  411W
  Western Balkans

  16. The GAC welcomed the intention of Secretary General/High Representative Solana and Commissioner Patten to visit the Balkans more frequently, following the mandate from the Lisbon European Council. It welcomed their intention to advance the dialogue with Serbian civil society and to make further proposals on trade and assistance, notably for Montenegro.

  17. The GAC heard a presentation by the EU Special Representative for the Stability Pact on the successful outcome of the regional funding conference.

  18. The GAC noted the holding of municipal elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 8 April. The GAC urged the relevant authorities to implement the election results speedily as a contribution to the full implementation of the Dayton and Paris Agreements and the New York Declaration.

  19. The GAC welcomed the decision by the Serb National Council to appoint representatives to the Interim Administrative Council and the Transitional Council of Kosovo.

  20. The GAC underlined the importance it attached to a strong coherent effort by the EU, the US and the Russian Federation on the Western Balkans.

  AOB: IRELA (Europe/Latin America Institute)

  21. The GAC discussed the funding of IRELA. Ministers urged the Commission to resolve its problems over the financial management of IRELA. The Commission indicated that results of an audit of IRELA's finances for 1997 had led to the recovery of 1 million euro and an audit for 1998 would be available in the autumn.

  Job Losses
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 4 April 2000,Official Report, column 407W, on employment in Grimsby, if he will set out the methodology used in the calculation of aggregate job losses for all constituencies in the United Kingdom. [118867]

  Mr. Vaz
  Britain in Europe commissioned this survey from South Bank University. My hon. Friend should approach the organisations concerned for details of their research methodology.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. [118988]

  Mr. Hain
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the then Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, my hon. Friend the Member for Mansfield (Mr. Meale), to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, South-East (Dr. Iddon) on 22 July 1999,Official Report, columns 580-84W, which reported progress for all central Government Departments by 31 March 1998. We hope that results for the period up to March 1999 will be published shortly.
  412W
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. [118989]

  Mr. Hain
  The FCO's energy efficiency performance target from April 2000 is the target set across the Government estate of an annual 1 per cent. reduction in greenhouse gas emissions against 1999–2000 levels.

  Middle East
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of the construction of the planned bypass roads in the West Bank on the future economic viability of a Palestinian state. [118949]

  Mr. Hain
  Territory, and other issues which may have an impact on the viability of any future Palestinian state, should be determined in negotiation between the two parties, rather than predetermined by the unilateral acts of either.

  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli Government in response to their announcement of the re-activation of the building programme of bypass roads in the West Bank. [118985]

  Mr. Hain
  We consider all settlement activity in the West Bank to be illegal and unhelpful to the peace process. We frequently make this view clear to the Israeli Government, and will continue to do so.

  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what safeguards are included in the second phase of the European Union's assistance programme to the Palestinian Authority in support of counter-terrorism to ensure that human rights are protected. [118968]

  Mr. Battle
  EU member states recognise the importance of human rights in their Counter-Terrorism Assistance Programme with the Palestinian Authority. Under Phase I of the programme, there was a dedicated human rights project run by the Wallenberg Institute of Sweden. This will continue under Phase II, although the EU member state(s) has/have not yet been chosen.

  The UK, along with all EU member states, regards human rights as an important and integral part of the programme and takes every opportunity to convey this message to the Palestinian Authority. Human rights aspects of all projects under the programme are carefully monitored.

  Geneva Conventions 1949
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries have accepted the competence, without special agreement, of the International Fact-Finding Commission authorised under Article 90 of Additional Protocol I of 1977 to the Geneva Conventions of 1949. [119476]
  413W
  Mr. Hain
  The following countries have accepted the competence of the International Fact-Finding Commission in accordance with the provisions of Article 90 of Additional Protocol I:

  Algeria

  Argentina

  Australia

  Austria

  Belgium

  Bolivia

  Bosnia-Herzegovina

  Brazil

  Bulgaria

  Belarus

  Canada

  Cape Verde

  Chile

  Colombia

  Costa Rica

  Croatia

  Czech Republic

  Denmark

  Finland

  Germany

  Greece

  Guinea

  Hungary

  Iceland

  Ireland

  Italy

  Laos

  Liechenstein

  Luxembourg

  Macedonia

  Madagascar

  Malta

  Mongolia

  Namibia

  Netherlands

  New Zealand

  Norway

  Panama

  Paraguay

  Poland

  Portugal

  Qatar

  Romania

  Russia

  Rwanda

  Seychelles

  Slovakia

  Slovenia

  Spain

  Sweden

  Switzerland

  Tajikistan

  Togo

  Ukraine

  United Arab Emirates

  United Kingdom; and

  Uruguay.

  Ministerial Visits (Turkey and Malta)
  Mr. McCabe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what(a) Turkish and (b) Maltese Ministers are scheduled to visit the UK during the next 12 months; when the visits will take place; and if he will make a statement. [119290]

  Mr. Vaz
  We expect our close relations with both Turkey and Malta to be supplemented by visits to the UK from Turkish and Maltese Ministers over the next 12 months. However, at present, no dates have been fixed for any visits.

  A number of senior Turkish Ministers have recently visited the UK. The Turkish Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, Minister for Agriculture and Minister for Privatisation visited in 1999; the Labour and Social Security Minister and the Interior Minister have already visited this year.

  Both the Maltese Foreign Minister and Finance Minister visited the UK in 1999.

  Mr. McCabe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what ministerial visits are being planned to Turkey and Malta over the next 12 months; for what purposes; and if he will make a statement. [119291]

  Mr. Vaz
  We expect our close relations with both Turkey and Malta to be supplemented by visits from UK Ministers over the next 12 months. I hope to visit both countries during the next 12 months.

  A number of British Ministers have recently visited Turkey. My hon. Friend the Member for Cunninghame, North (Mr. Wilson), formerly the Minister for Trade, my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, North (Mr. Henderson), formerly the Minister for the Armed Forces, and my right hon. Friend the Member for Gateshead, East and Washington, West (Ms Quin), formerly Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, visited in 1999.

  In the same capacity, my right hon. Friend also visited Malta in 1999.

  Entry Waiting Times (Sub-continent)
  Mr. Ian Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the waiting times in each queue for entry to the United Kingdom in(a) Bombay, (b) New Delhi, (c) Islamabad and (d) Dhaka; and by how much each has (a) increased and (b) decreased in the last 12 months. [119243]

  Mr. Vaz
  The statistics requested are as follows:

  Days

  Weeks

  Tier 3

  Q1

  Q2

  Q3

  Q4

  Bombay

  31 March 2000

  0

  0

  6

  6

  6

  31 March 1999

  0

  0

  8

  8

  8

  Islamabad

  31 March 2000

  6

  9

  26.5

  35.5

  42

  31 March 1999

  17

  12

  33

  36

  40

  415W

  Days

  Weeks

  Tier 3

  Q1

  Q2

  Q3

  Q4

  Dhaka

  31 March 2000

  6

  14

  26

  15

  40

  31 March 1999

  2

  12

  18

  11

  37

  New Delhi

  31 March 2000

  0

  0

  8

  8

  8

  31 March 1999

  0

  0

  14

  22

  28

  Notes:

  Tier 3: Non-settlement (visit) applications

  Q1-Q4: Settlement applications

  Ql: Right of Abode cases and Dependent Relatives over 65

  Q2: Spouses and children under 18

  Q3: Fiance(e)s and other First Time Applicants

  Q4: Re-applicants

  Chechnya
  Mr. McCabe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 30 March 2000,Official Report, column 267W, if he will ensure that United Kingdom and Russian efforts to work together to combat terrorism do not include assistance for the activities of the Russian security forces in Chechnya. [119591]

  Mr. Vaz
  Yes.

  Terrorism
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received concerning the proposed(a) International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism and (b) International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings; what plans he has to seek the views of the Northern Ireland Commission on Human Rights; and what plans he has made to open the consultation process concerning the conventions to non-governmental organisations. [118974]

  Mr. Battle
  We have received no recent representations concerning these Conventions, both of which the UK signed on the day they were opened for signature in January 2000 and January 1998 respectively.

  The Government have no plans to seek the views of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission or re-open a consultation process to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) at this stage. The Terrorism Bill, which provides the vehicle for the implementation of both these conventions in UK domestic law, was subject to a long and comprehensive consultation process which included the views of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and all interested NGOs. The Government have stated their intention to ratify both these Conventions. If organisations would like to comment on any aspect of the ratification process they are welcome to do so.

  European Court of Human Rights
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those cases against the United Kingdom that have been lodged and are awaiting consideration by the European Court of Human Rights, indicating(a) which Articles of the
  416W
  Convention are cited as having been breached in the application and (b) those cases which have been ruled admissible. [118975]

  Mr. Hain
  In 1999, 429 applications involving the United Kingdom were registered before the European Court of Human Rights. Of these, 32 have been declared admissible. To list the situation regarding each of these cases would be too detailed for the Official Report. I shall write to my hon. Friend with further details and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how long it took to process each stage in each case brought against the United Kingdom in the last four years before the European Court of Human Rights; and what estimate he has made of when it will be possible to form an assessment of the impact of structural changes to the European Court mechanisms upon the length of proceedings. [118976]

  Mr. Hain
  Several hundred cases involving the United Kingdom have been brought before the European Court of Human Rights in the last four years. It would not be feasible to list how long each stage of the proceedings took in each of these cases. The procedure for each case is determined individually by the Court taking into account the particular facts and circumstances of the case. A proper assessment of the impact of the new procedures in Strasbourg will not be possible until a sufficient number of cases have been determined exclusively by the new Court. The European Commission on Human Rights ceased to consider cases only on 31 October 1999. It is still too early, therefore, to attempt such an assessment.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  New Deal (Disabled People)
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people on Incapacity Benefit have, under the personal adviser section of the New Deal for the Disabled,(a) been contacted by a Personal Adviser, (b) attended an initial interview, (c) had a complete employability assessment, (d) had an agreed individual action plan, (e) found part-time employment as a result of the programme and (f) found full-time employment as a result of the programme. [118611]

  Ms Hodge
  We have been piloting the New Deal for Disabled People since autumn 1998. The latest available figures are those for the period up to 25 February 2000 covering the 12 personal adviser pilot areas.

  10,070 people have contacted and met a Personal Adviser to discuss their employment prospects. Some 6,650 people have developed an employment-focused action plan following a full assessment of their employment prospects.

  Our experience shows that for many in the client group the journey back to work will be lengthy. I am pleased therefore to be able to say that some 1,843 people had found work, representing 56 per cent. of those who had completed their action plans. Of these 1,081 were in full-time work and 551 in part-time work. A further 211 had become self-employed, entered supported employment or had been helped to retain their current jobs.
  417W
  In addition, 607 people had started work as a result of participating in innovative schemes.

  Value-added League Tables
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to publish the research by Professor Jenson of York University into value-added league tables. [119253]

  Jacqui Smith
  The publication of research is a matter for the author.

  Special Schools
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if he will list those LEAs which make specific provision for special schools for voice output communication aids for children with speech problems; how many aids are supplied in each LEA(a) at present and (b) in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement; [119225]

  (2) if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on the provision of voice output communication aids in special schools for children with learning disabilities and lack of verbal communication skills; and what his policy is in respect of allowing the use of such aids at home. [119229]

  Jacqui Smith
  Information on specific provision that local education authorities (LEAs) make to special schools in relation to communication aids is not collected centrally.

  The Education Act 1996, associated regulations, and guidance in the 'Code of Practice on the identification and Assessment of Special Educational Needs' places a statutory duty on LEAs to identify and assess children with special educational needs (SEN) for whom they are responsible. Where this leads to the issuing of a statement of SEN, the LEA has to ensure the child receives the special educational provision identified in the statement and the support required to ensure this provision fully meets the needs of the child. In cases where provision includes the use of communication aids many LEAs allow children to take such equipment home where it is appropriate, and we fully support that course of action.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what steps his Department is taking to evaluate and analyse the benefits of voice output communication aids for children with communication difficulties in special schools; and if he will make a statement; [119226]

  (2) what steps his Department is taking to help special schools and LEAs to improve the provision of communication aids for children with speech and communication problems. [119228]

  Jacqui Smith
  The Department is not, at present, undertaking any evaluation or analysis of the benefits of voice output communication aids for children with communication difficulties in special schools.
  418W
  Local education authorities (LEAs) are responsible for identifying and making a statutory assessment of children with special educational needs (SEN) for whom they are responsible. Where this leads to the issuing of a statement of SEN, the LEA has a duty to ensure the child receives the special educational provision identified in the statement and the support required to ensure this provision fully meets the needs of the child. This includes support required by children with communication difficulties. We would expect LEAs to monitor and evaluate locally the provision and support they make available to meet fully children's SEN.

  The Department supports, through the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (Becta), two national assessment centres for pupils with communication difficulties.

  These centres provide specialist assessments to identify where technology, in particular communication aids and computers with assistive technology, (such as speech output, switch and keyboard alternatives), can provide access to the curriculum. They provide a focus of information and experience that can be accessed by anyone who has an involvement with children who have communication difficulties, including special schools.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received from local education authorities requesting central government ring-fenced financing for voice output communication aids, in special schools for pupils with communication difficulties; and if he will make a statement. [119227]

  Jacqui Smith
  There have been no representations from local education authorities (LEAs) requesting central government ring-fenced financing for voice output communication aids for pupils in special schools with communication difficulties.

  Recycling
  Mr. Dobbin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is his policy on the recycling of materials produced by his Department. [107858]

  Mr. Wills
  The Department's policy is in line with the Government-wide waste minimisation strategy which promotes reduction, re-use and recovery through recycling. All of the Department's buildings have recycling schemes in place for paper, toner cartridges and fluorescent tubes. We also recycle computer equipment to schools.

  Capital Modernisation Fund
  Mr. Benton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what further plans he has for using Capital Modernisation Fund allocations in schools. [119722]

  Jacqui Smith
  We are pleased to announce that £60 million is being allocated from the Capital Modernisation Fund to tackle deficiencies in secondary school science over the next two years. The initiative will do this by funding the construction of imaginative and effective 21st century laboratories at those schools most in need.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Commission for Racial Equality
  Mr. Rammed
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will announce further appointments to the Commission for Racial Equality. [119912]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I am pleased to announce that I have appointed Beverley Bernard as Deputy Chair for the Commission for Racial Equality. The appointment is initially for three years on a part-time basis.

  Community Safety and Partnership Report
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the report by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary on Community Safety and Partnership. [119913]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Yes. I have today placed in the Library a note of the recommendations from the report, together with the Commissioner's responses and the police authority responses, which take into account the advice that my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and I have received from the Metropolitan Police Committee.

  Motorcycle Theft
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what motorcycle theft reduction targets he has recently set. [119602]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  No targets have been set specifically for the reduction of motorcycle theft. Motorcycle theft, which is estimated to account for about 6 per cent. of all thefts of vehicles, is included within the national target to reduce vehicle crime by 30 per cent. by 2004.

  Terrorism
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to seek external legal advice on the definitions of terrorism and terrorist act in proposed(a) domestic legislation and (b) the International Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism. [118977]

  Mr. Straw
  In developing proposals for the definition of terrorism and a terrorist act in the Terrorism Bill, the Government took account of the responses to its consultation paper "Legislation Against Terrorism", including those which provided legal advice. Since the introduction of the Terrorism Bill, the Government have received a number of submissions from bodies on the definition, including some which specifically provided legal advice on the matter. These have been carefully considered.

  The Government have no plans to seek further legal advice on the terms of the International Convention on the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism or the International Convention on the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings.

  European Committee for the Prevention of Torture
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which organisations he has consulted concerning his proposed response to the 29 March 1998 420W
  communication from the President of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture; if he will place a copy of the response in the Library; and what is the reason for the delay in responding to this communication. [118978]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Outside Government, we have consulted the Metropolitan police, the Crown Prosecution Service, and the Government of the Isle of Man.

  The Government responded to the communication to which the Question refers on 16 October 1998. Delays in publication of the report are largely due to what appears to be a bureaucratic oversight by the Committee and then to its initial unwillingness to remove passages subject to legal professional privilege. It was published on 13 January 2000.

  We hope to send the Government's response to the Committee on 19 April, and that the Committee will publish it within two or three weeks. This delay has enabled us to respond more fully to the Committee's recommendations in the context of the Government's consideration of an independent police complaints system. I will place a copy of the response in the Library when it has been published.

  Fires
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deaths from fire there were in(a) residential and (b) non-residential property where a sprinkler system was fitted in each of the last 10 years. [119110]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The information is given in the table.

  Number of deaths from fire in dwellings1 and non-residential properties where a sprinkler system2 was fitted, 1988–98, United Kingdom

  Year

  Dwellings

  Non-resindential properties

  1989

  —

  3

  1990

  —

  —

  1991

  —

  —

  1992

  —

  2

  1993

  —

  —

  1994

  —

  2

  1995

  —

  —

  1996

  —

  —

  1997

  —

  —

  19983

  —

  —

  1Includes caravans, boats and other non-building structures used solely as a permanent dwelling

  2 Includes drencher systems from 1988 to 1993

  3 Provisional

  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deaths from fire in residential property there were where a freestanding smoke detector was(a) fitted and working and (b) fitted but not working in each of the last 10 years. [119111]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The information for 1994 to 1998 only is given in the table. Figures for smoke alarm operation were not collected nationally for years prior to
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  1994. The table has been split to show both numbers of deaths from fire where a smoke alarm was present, operated and raised the alarm, and deaths where smoke

  Number of deaths from fire in dwellings1 by presence and operation of smoke detectors, United Kingdom, 19942–984

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  19984

  Smoke alarm presence and operation:

  Present, operated and raised alarm

  47

  58

  57

  45

  48

  Present, operated, but did not raise alarm3

  35

  28

  26

  27

  28

  Smoke alarm present but did not operate

  46

  71

  82

  84

  80

  Smoke alarm present (all)

  128

  157

  165

  156

  156

  Smoke alarm absent

  360

  389

  399

  406

  350

  Unspecified

  —

  13

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  488

  559

  564

  562

  5506(496)

  1Includes caravans, boats and other non-building structures used solely as a permanent dwelling.

  2 Prior to 1994 data was not collected.

  3Category includes instances where alarm was raised by people before smoke alarm operated; no-one was in earshot; alarm incorrectly installed etc.

  4Figures for 1998 are provisional.

  5Figures for 1998 are estimated to take account of revisions as later information is received.

  Police Vehicle Accidents
  Ms Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent arrangements he has made to ensure that emergency services adopt safe driving procedures. [119207]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  This is an operational matter for the police service, the ambulance service and the fire service. The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) reviewed training arrangements in their Police Pursuit Driving Training report of September 1998. The report has been accepted in principle by all of the 43 police forces in England and Wales and its recommendations are being taken forward on a national basis.

  Under the Fire Services Act 1947, it is the duty of each fire authority to provide the efficient training of the members of the fire brigade taking account of Home Office guidance and local circumstances.

  I understand that drivers of emergency ambulances are required to undertake a two-week practical and theoretical training course. This arrangement has been in place since the 1970s and driving standards are assessed by specially trained driving instructors.

  Female Circumcision
  Ms McCafferty
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training is given to(a) police officers and (b) other law enforcement groups for the policing of the Prohibition of Female Circumcision Act 1985. [119187]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The training of police officers is ultimately the responsibility of individual chief constables who have discretion to provide training on any subject for which there is a local need.

  We are not aware of any other law enforcement groups which might be involved in policing the Act.

  Sentencing
  Ms McCafferty
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures the Government will 422W
  alarms were present, operated, but did not raise the alarm (ie although the alarm sounded the fire brigade was not called).

  put in place to respond to the findings of the Sentencing Advisory Panel on fairness and consistency in sentencing for environmental offences. [119209]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The role of the Sentencing Advisory Panel is to provide views to the Court of Appeal on particular offences or categories of offence to assist the Court in framing or revising guidelines. The Court of Appeal has discretion as to how it chooses to use those views. It would not be appropriate for the Government to interfere in this.

  Ms McCafferty
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action the Government will take to implement the Sentencing Advisory Panel's recommendations that a higher level of compensation than £5,000 for environmental offences should be allowed in magistrates courts. [119191]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  On 21 January 2000, the Chairman of the Sentencing Advisory Panel wrote to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary suggesting an increase in the level of compensation available in magistrates courts for environmental offences. The Government are currently considering how to respond.

  Online Services
  Mr. Robert Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the services which(a) his Department and (b) the executive agencies responsible to his Department (i) provide online and (ii) expect to be deliverable online by 2002. [119439]

  Mr. Straw
  The Cabinet Office will shortly be publishing the spring 2000 report summarising progress towards the delivery of all Government services electronically by 2005. We are currently collecting data to contribute to that report. This will include our progress
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  towards delivering 25 per cent. of Government services electronically by 2002. We currently provide a range of services electronically which include the following:
  a 24 hour, seven day a week call centre within the United Kingdom Passport Agency, established in January this year, which is able to give members of the public responses to a wide range of inquiries, including progress of their passport applications;
  the online provision of Home Office research and statistical publications. This includes the Digest of Criminal Justice Statistics, enabling criminal justice practitioners, academics and other members of the public to carry out their own analysis of criminal justice statistics; and
  a comprehensive online information service, provided by the Home Office website, for all aspects of my Department's work.

  Extradition Powers
  Mr. McCabe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers he has to seek the extradition of persons suspected of murdering British citizens abroad. [119289]

  Mr. Straw
  I have no powers to seek the return of persons suspected of murdering British subjects abroad unless the suspect is also a British subject. Under section 9 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, the extraterritorial jurisdiction of courts in England and Wales extends only to cases where a British subject is accused of committing murder or manslaughter abroad and not to those where the victim is a British subject.

  Dr. Harold Shipman
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if inquests will be held into the deaths of the 23 further alleged victims of Dr. Harold Shipman in connection with which the Director of Public Prosecutions has decided he should not be charged. [119723]

  Mr. Straw
  I understand that the relevant coroner is considering whether inquests ought to be held. Since the bodies have all been cremated in these cases, the coroner cannot proceed without my authority. If such consent is sought, I will consider very carefully whether inquests are desirable and whether to direct the coroner accordingly.

  Fire Service
  Kali Mountford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has received the recommendations of the inquiry into the machinery for determining firefighters' conditions of service. [119127]

  Mr. Straw
  [pursuant to his reply, 12 April 2000, c. 226W]: The word "employees" was inadvertently substituted for the word "employers" in the first paragraph. The final sentence of the first paragraph should, therefore, have read:
  These include proposals which would involve the acceptance by the employers and the union of conciliation and arbitration, in the event of disputes, a clarification of procedures, a streamlining of the negotiation arrangements, and an independent Chair for the National Joint Council.

PRIME MINISTER

  Synchrotron
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the dates on which meetings were held between Her Majesty's Government and the French Government on the Synchrotron project; and if he will make a statement on the nature of the French Government's representations on the siting of the Synchrotron. [117103]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 3 April 2000]: I am advised that officials from the UK Government and the French Government met on 15 September 1999, 4 November 1999 and 13 December 1999 to discuss the new synchrotron project. On 14 October 1999 my noble Friend the Minister for Science had a private discussion with the French Minister for Research and Education who stated that it would be more acceptable for the French if the synchrotron were to be located at the Rutherford Laboratory. My noble Friend had a further conversation with the French Minister on 9 March 2000, during which the French Minister said they would withdraw their support from the synchrotron project if the Wellcome Trust withdrew.

  Both partners expressed the view that the favoured the Rutherford site. The French Education Ministry state publicly that
  This site was strongly supported by the French partners in the project and we are delighted with this choice.
  The Wellcome Trust stated that they would withdraw from the partnership if the decision was taken to locate the project at Daresbury.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Prime Minister when he will reply to the question tabled on 28 March by the right hon. Member for Birkenhead on Government meetings in connection with the relocation of the synchrotron (reference 117103). [119693]

  The Prime Minister
  I have done so today.

  Personal Envoys
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to ensure that all persons carrying out duties abroad on his behalf can be questioned in Parliament. [118425]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 10 April 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Neath (Mr. Hain) to the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude) on 12 April 2000, Official Report, column 180W.

  Pig Farmers
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received from pig farmers on the compensation sought for the BSE-equivalent costs. [119448]

  The Prime Minister
  I have received a number of representations. But, as has been made clear by Agriculture Commissioner Fischler, payment of aid to pig producers linked to BSE is not possible under EU state aid rules. Helping the industry to meet the challenges it
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  faces is the way forward and this is the prime objective of the Pig Industry Aid Scheme I announced at my meeting with industry leaders on 30 March 2000.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will reply to the letters of 5 and 13 April from the hon. Member for Tunbridge Wells. [119682]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 4 April 2000,Official Report, column 390W.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Accumulated Service Medals
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what procedure was followed by the Honours and Distinction Committee to ascertain the eligibility of members of the Royal Irish Regiment claiming accumulated service medals, but for whom the necessary records were not available. [119344]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 17 April 2000]: I have been asked to reply.

  The Royal Warrant for the Accumulated Campaign Service Medal specifies that the award to Royal Irish Regiment personnel is dependent upon completion of 1,080 operational duties for full-time members, and 1,000 operational duties for part-time members. In the absence of contemporary local records, the Ministry of Defence has introduced a protocol to assist applicants in providing evidence of their operational service. Dedicated teams have been established to help applicants with their cases and each applicant is allocated his/her own case officer. As the qualifying criteria for the medal remain unchanged, there has been no need for my Department to consult the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals (known as the HD Committee).

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Action 2000
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the President of the Council what assessment she has made of the work of Action 2000 and the Government's Year 2000 programme. [118177]

  Mrs. Beckett
  The Government's year 2000 programme has been an outstanding success, with the UK almost untouched by the Bug. This is due to the hard work of many across the public and private sectors who worked in partnership with Government and Action 2000.

  The work done has also delivered far-reaching benefits. These are drawn out in a Command Paper entitled "Modernising Government in Action: Realising the Benefits of Y2K" that I am publishing today. The Paper explains how the lessons and benefits of tackling the Bug are being captured across government.

  Mr. White
  To ask the President of the Council what assessment she has made of the work of Action 2000 in tackling the year 2000 problem. [118182]
  426W
  Mrs. Beckett
  Action 2000's contribution in helping to tackle the Millennium Bug has been significant. The National Infrastructure Forum (NIF) alone was a remarkable achievement. The links which were forged in the NIF, and the work done to map the key processes of the national infrastructure, will be of lasting benefit.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Modernisation
  Kali Mountford
  To ask the President of the Council how many recommendations have been made by the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons; and how many have been implemented. [118176]

  Mrs. Beckett
  The Modernisation Committee reported at the beginning of this Session that of the 56 recommendations we have made, 47 have been approved by the House and implemented either in whole or in part. Since then, another one has been implemented by the use of a second Reading Committee for the Royal Parks (Trading) Bill.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the President of the Council if she will bring forward proposals to the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons to increase the amount of time available for oral questions. [118179]

  Mr. Tipping
  No. But any Member of the House may put proposals to the Modernisation Committee.

  Parliamentary Adjournments and Recesses
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the President of the Council if she will make it her policy that hon. Members should be able(a) to have written questions answered and (b) to table and have published early-day motions during parliamentary adjournments; and if she will make a statement. [118178]

  Mr. Tipping
  The Modernisation Committee is currently looking at questions in the recess; until now, no Member has raised the matter of EDMs.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the President of the Council if she will make a statement on the factors that she takes into account in determining parliamentary recesses. [118185]

  Mr. Tipping
  My right hon. Friend takes many factors into account in determining Parliamentary recesses, including the progress of business, Members' needs to have time for constituency business, and the desirability of arrangements which allow Members and staff to spend time with their families.

  Visitor Facilities
  Angela Smith
  To ask the President of the Council to ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what recent discussions the Commission has had on the provision of refreshment facilities for visitors to the House. [118180]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  This is primarily a matter for the Catering Committee, as my hon. Friend knows. In my reply to her on 26 July 1999,Official Report, columns 17-18, I indicated that provision of the Visitor Centre depended

  427W
  upon acquisition and conversion of Westminster Hall cafeteria once Portcullis House was functioning. Work towards establishing the Visitor Centre is accordingly expected to begin in 2001.

  Human Rights Committee
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the President of the Council what plans she has to propose the establishment of a human rights committee. [118181]

  Mr. Tipping
  Draft Standing Orders for a Joint Committee on Human Rights are in preparation. The Government propose that the Committee should have a wide remit to study human rights in the United Kingdom. It remains the expectation that the Joint Committee will start its work before implementation of the Human Rights Act.

  Electronic Voting
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the President of the Council what representations she has received on electronic voting. [118183]

  Mr. Tipping
  I have received no written representations.

  Portcullis House
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee when Portcullis House will be opened. [118820]

  Sir Sydney Chapman
  Hon. Members and their staff will start to be moved into the building in September.

DEFENCE

  Crossmaglen Gaelic Athletic Association
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what amount of public funds was paid as compensation to Crossmaglen Gaelic Athletic Association for use of a portion of their playing fields; and if he will make a statement. [119019]

  Mr. Ingram
  I have been asked to reply.

  Responsibility for the matter in question has been delegated to the Compensation Agency under its Chief Executive, Mr. Denis Stanley. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Denis Stanley to Mr. John D. Taylor, dated 18 April 2000:
  The Secretary of State has asked me, as Chief Executive of the Compensation Agency in Northern Ireland, to reply to your recent Question about compensation paid to Crossmaglen Gaelic Athletic Association in respect of use of part of their land by the security forces.
  Land belonging to the Association was first requisitioned by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland under the Emergency Provisions Act in 1974. In 1985 a sum of £150,000 was paid by way of compensation in respect of the period 1974 to February 1985. This compensation was a composite amount and covered both physical damage to the property and the requisitioning of land. For
  428W
  the period subsequent to February 1985 the amount of compensation payable in respect of requisitioned land has been the subject of an appeal to the County Court which is still on-going.
  I hope this explains the position.

  AWE Aldermaston
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 5 April 2000,Official Report, columns 486-87W, on AWE Aldermaston, against what criteria the parent companies were judged to ensure that they achieved full compliance on safety performance. [118561]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 10 April 2000]: The assessments of the competing consortiums' bids were made on the basis of a safety criterion with 28 components of which 20 were classed as critical. Compliance was required against each of the critical components in order for the bid to be processed further. The components are as shown—(C=Critical; NC=Non-critical):

  Policy, Strategy and General

  To maintain, and where appropriate improve, an effective policy and strategy for ensuring high health safety and environmental performance (c).

  Achievement of applicable standards and maintenance of company standards (c).

  Track Record (c).

  Co-operation with Authority's safety bodies (c).

  Safety QA and documentation (c).

  Provision of safety services (c).

  Measuring Safety Performance

  An effective safety performance measurement system to cover all significant and appropriate Environment Safety and Health matters on and off site (c).

  Effective accident and incident investigation, analysis and reporting (c).

  Planning, Implementing and Maintaining Safety

  Five year plan (c).

  Maintenance and improvement of an effective safety management system and improvement of performance as appropriate (c).

  Provision of management prospectus (c).

  Maintenance of site as safe place to be, safe working, justification of operations and facilities, peer review (c).

  Control of hazardous materials, including criticality safety and explosives, and control of all wastes (c).

  Nuclear weapon safety (c).

  Provision of emergency response (c).

  Restriction of access to designated premises (c).

  Effective planning and implementation (NC).

  Organisation for implementing Policy

  Senior personnel (c).

  The maintenance of effective communications on safety matters and provision of information (c).

  Competence (c).

  Safety culture (NC).

  Management Control (NC).

  Employee involvement (in Environment Safety and Health activity) (NC).

  Regulatory interface (NC).

  429W
  Audit, Review, Action tracking, Verification and Essential Services

  Effective corrective action including planning and verification of close out (c).

  An effective audit system with benchmarking (NC).

  Collective review of safety performance information and analysis for trends and causes (NC).

  Measures to maintain essential services (NC).

  Munitions
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress with long-range precision munitions; and if he will make a statement. [117487]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 3 April 2000]: The Strategic Defence Review identified precision weapons as an increasingly important military capability. The value of long-range all-weather precision weapons was confirmed during Kosovo and they are a key capability in the NATO Defence Capabilities Initiative. Long-range weapons allow the UK armed forces to strike with less risk to UK personnel and equipment, and precision guidance reduces the risk of civilian casualties.

  Our current long-range precision strike capability is provided by the submarine-launched Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) which entered service in 1998 and proved effective during Kosovo. From 2002 this capability will be complemented by the introduction of the air-launched Storm Shadow missile.

  Ministry of Defence Police
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the Royal Ordnance sites from which Ministry of Defence Police cover will be withdrawn; on what date this will take effect; and if he will make a statement. [117665]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 5 April 2000]: Ministry of Defence Police are currently deployed at the Royal Ordnance sites in Bridgwater, Chorley, Glascoed, Nottingham and Radway Green. Royal Ordnance has requested that they be withdrawn as a cost saving measure and replaced by alternative arrangements. We have concluded that there is not sufficient reason to insist on their retention and are commencing consultation on the withdrawal of MDP from the sites in question subject to certain physical security enhancements required by the licensing authorities.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Ministry of Defence Police will be deployed to Kosovo in support of the UN International Police Force; what will be the length of their tour; what training they will receive; and if he will make a statement. [117667]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 5 April 2000]: Up to 60 Ministry of Defence Police officers are to be deployed to Kosovo in support of the UN International Police for a 12-month tour of duty. All officers are currently undergoing a four-week training course including advanced firearms tactics, explosives and weapon searches, conflict resolution, personal safety and conditions in Kosovo.
  430W
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will bring forward legislation to extend the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defence Police to give them the same constabulary powers as Home Office police; and if he will make a statement. [117669]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 5 April 2000]: The Ministry of Defence Police already have constabulary powers in the places defined in Section 2 of the Ministry of Defence Police Act 1987. The adequacy of these powers is currently being reviewed.

  Procurement Projects
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the procurement projects worth £300 million or more for which, since 1996,(a) delivery dates, (b) stage payment dates and (c) in-service dates have been varied from those specified in the original contracts. [118264]

  Dr. Moonie
  The information requested is not readily available; however, I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Helsinki European Council
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence following the decisions made at the Helsinki European Council relating to a Common Defence and Security capability of the European Union, which tasks within the remit of armed forces acting on the authority of the Council are additional to those capable of being conducted by agreement of all members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation; and who is responsible for liaison between the Political and Military Committee of the European Council and the decision-making authority of NATO. [118866]

  Mr. Hoon
  At Helsinki, EU member states made a commitment to be able, by 2003, to deploy rapidly and sustain up to 60,000 troops capable of undertaking the full range of Petersberg tasks. The Petersberg tasks are defined as humanitarian intervention, rescue operations, peacekeeping, and crisis management (including peacemaking). NATO is capable of conducting all of these tasks.

  The mechanisms for liaison between the EU Political and Security Committee and the NATO North Atlantic Council are being developed in accordance with the conclusions of the Helsinki European Council and the NATO Washington Summit.

  Balkans (Equipment)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total cost to his Department of equipment lost, damaged, and no longer available for MOD use in(a) Bosnia and (b) Kosovo; and if he will make a statement. [119167]

  Mr. Spellar
  The estimated total cost of stock written off to date, in relation to operations in the Balkans, is:

  (a) Bosnia: £11.0 million (including £1.303 million for one Hercules aircraft)

  (b) Kosovo: £1.4 million.

  Northern Ireland Regiments
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidelines govern the involvement of part-time and serving members of the armed forces in political activities; if members of the(a) Ulster Defence Regiment and (b) Royal Irish Regiment are subject to separate guidelines for Northern Ireland; and how many soldiers have been dismissed for political activities in each year since the UDR was created. [118980]

  Mr. Spellar
  Guidelines on political activity for members of the armed forces, including full-time and part-time members of the Royal Irish Regiment, are contained in Queens Regulations for each service.

  The Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) used to have a separate set of Regulations with guidelines on political activities, and these clearly stated that Queens Regulations also applied to UDR personnel.

  We have no records of the number of soldiers dismissed for engaging in political activities.

  Meteorological Stations
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the social and economic impact on remote and island communities of the automation of meteorological stations; and if he will make a statement. [118969]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 14 April 2000]: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Meteorological Office. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Ewins to Mrs. Ray Michie, dated 18 April 2000:
  I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the social and economic impact on remote and island communities of the automation of meteorological stations. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of The Met Office.
  The Met Office is looking to improve efficiency and reduce costs in the delivery of weather services. The automation of meteorological stations is not a new initiative but an important part of this strategy.
  Trials are to commence shortly to assess the feasibility of extending the automation process into areas where, up to now, manual observations have been seen as necessary for our operations. Assuming a satisfactory outcome from the trials, we plan to automate the observing functions at several locations around the United Kingdom, including Tiree Airport.
  We recognise that the withdrawal of Met Office observers from Tiree, should this be the outcome, could have an adverse impact on the local community, and this I would very much regret. In particular, the services delivered by the Highlands and Islands Airport Ltd are likely to be affected. We are, therefore, discussing options with them to examine how they could continue to provide the Aerodrome Meteorological reports which are necessary for airport operations, in the absence of our observers.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Post Offices
  Mrs. Fiona Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has defined what is a reasonable distance when determining access to a post office. [119757]
  432W
  Mr. Alan Johnson
  Decisions on access criteria will be made in the light of the Performance and Innovation Unit's report on the post office network and subsequent consultations with interested parties.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what agreement he has with the Post Office about the(a) number and (b) percentage of existing Crown post offices that should be maintained. [119002]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  As set out in the White Paper "Post Office Reform: A World Class Service for the 21" Century", the Government agreed a strategy, reflecting proposals put by the Post Office to the trade unions, of retaining a core of directly owned and managed Crown offices. For the foreseeable future, the Post Office intends that at least 15 per cent. of the total business transacted by the counters' network is done at Crown offices.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if changes have taken place since May 1997 in the restrictions on the activities of Crown post offices. [119003]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  No.

  Mr. Truswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he will promote to maximise the income of sub-postmasters from(a) benefit transactions and (b) other transactions following the introduction of automated credit transfers in post offices. [119205]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The Government have given a commitment that all benefit recipients who wish to access their benefits in cash at post offices will continue to be able to do so, both before and after the migration of benefit payments to automated credit transfer from 2003. By equipping the whole of the post office network with Horizon, a modern, automated IT platform towards the capital costs of which the Government are contributing £480 million, from spring 2001 the Post office will be able to improve its services to existing clients and take advantage of new business opportunities. In particular, Horizon offers the potential to move into automated network banking on an agency basis and to use the post office network as a delivery channel for electronic Government services.

  Companies House
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what targets he has set Companies House for 2000–01. [119987]

  Mr. Byers
  I have set Companies House the following targets for the year 2000–01.

  Operational Targets

  To process 99 per cent. of statutory documents within five days of receipt at Companies House.

  To achieve, on average, a monthly compliance rate for accounts submitted of 95 per cent.

  To ensure that there is a minimum of 98 per cent. error-free work in current processing.

  To ensure that 96 per cent. of all forms submitted to Companies House are captured error-free.

  To answer 90 per cent. of all incoming telephone calls within 20 seconds.

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  Questions delegated to the Chief Executive
  The Chief Executive to reply within 10 days to all letters from Members of Parliament delegated to him for reply.

  Complaints Handling
  To clear up 90 per cent. of complaints within five days.

  Financial Targets

  To maintain a unit cost reduction of 3 per cent. in real terms on document registration.

  To achieve, taking one year with another, a 6 per cent. average rate of return based on the operating surplus expressed as a percentage of average net assets.

  To pay bills due within 30 days, or other agreed credit terms, on receipt of goods or services or a valid invoice, whichever is later.

  I have placed copies of the Corporate Plan in the Libraries of the House.

  Council for Science and Technology
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if new appointments have been made to the Council for Science and Technology. [119985]

  Mr. Byers
  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has recently decided to increase the number of independent members to 16 and to appoint the following as new members:

  Mr. Javaid Aziz, CEO, Aspective

  Mr. Euan Baird, Chairman, Schlumberger Ltd.

  Professor Vicki Bruce, Deputy Principal of Research, University of Stirling

  Professor Sir Paul Nurse, Director General, Imperial Cancer Research Fund

  Professor Peter Schuddeboom, Vice President, Nortel Networks

  Professor David VandeLinde, Vice-Chancellor, University of Bath

  Mr. John Weston, Chief Executive, BAE Systems.

  These new members replace five previous members, namely:

  Dame Bridget Ogilvie, Chairman, COPUS

  Sir Robin Nicholson, Chairman, Rolls Royce plc

  Professor Sir Stewart Sutherland, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, University of Edinburgh

  Mr. J. Martin Taylor, Chairman, W. H. Smith Group

  Professor Sir Keith O'Nions, Chief Scientific Adviser to the Ministry of Defence (from January 2000).

  The Prime Minister also decided to re-appoint:

  Sir Richard Sykes, Chairman, Glaxo Wellcome plc (until March 2003)

  Professor Sir Aaron Klug, President of the Royal Society (until the end of his Presidency of the Royal Society later this year)

  Professor Kumar Bhattacharyya, Director, Warwick Manufacturing Group, University of Warwick (until March 2003).

  I am most grateful for the support and advice we have received from Council members so far and very much look forward to working with the new Council.

  Collum Report
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he plans to take on the Collum report on BNFL; and if he will make a statement. [118798]
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  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 14 April 2000]: I have now received an outline of the proposed changes from the BNFL Chairman and Chief Executive, following their initial review of BNFL management. It will be for the company to implement the proposed changes, which will be achieved over a period of time. Where relevant, these will need to be fully consistent with the company's site licence obligations and agreed by the Government as shareholder. More detailed announcements related to the Review will be made in due course.

  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish the Collum report on BNFL. [118790]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 12 April 2000]: I understand that Hugh Collum, the BNFL Chairman, intends shortly to make an announcement about the conclusions of his review.

  Online Services
  Mr. Robert Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the services which(a) his Department and (b) the executive agencies responsible to his Department (i) provide online and (ii) expect to be deliverable online by 2002. [119435]

  Ms Hewitt
  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 wish to pre-empt that report but I can say that we currently provide a range of services electronically which includes information and advice to small and medium enterprises via the Small Business Service Internet 'gateway', and other websites covering science and technology, information on 1.4 million companies (and facilities to register changes to company status), plus the award winning consumer gateway. By 2002, we shall be providing and contributing to more services in these areas and others such as trade promotion, company formations, oil well consents and applications for research grants.

  Enterprise Fund
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he sought clearance from the EU Commission for the Enterprise Fund; and when he expects to reach agreement with the EU Commission on it. [119311]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 17 April 2000]: The Enterprise Fund consists of a number of elements.

  The existing Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme element of the Enterprise Fund continues to operate under "de minimis" arrangements, apart from in the agriculture and fisheries/aquaculture sectors, which have been separately notified and cleared. The "de minimis" arrangements allow for schemes that contain aid falling below a minimum threshold level to be accepted without State Aid notification.

  With regard to the venture capital elements of the fund, my Department's officials are working with Commission officials to assist them in their development of a

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  framework for dealing with venture capital schemes on a community-wide basis. We expect this framework to be in place by summer 2000.

  We expect the full amounts previously announced to be committed within this spending round.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he announced the establishment of the Enterprise Fund; and when the first payments will be made from it. [119310]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 17 April 2000]: The Enterprise Fund was announced in the December 1998 Competitiveness White Paper (Cm 4176). Payments are already being made under the fund.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what changes the EU has asked for to his Department's scheme for an Enterprise Fund. [119312]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 17 April 2000]: The EU has not asked for any changes to be made to my Department's scheme for the Enterprise Fund.

  KONVER
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the answer of 16 March 2000,Official Report, column 274W, on KONVER, for what reason the KONVER Programme II Initiative was not renewed. [119051]

  Mr. Caborn
  [holding answer 17 April 2000]: The European Commission proposed to reduce the number of Community Initiative programmes from 13 to three as part of the Agenda 2000 package. There is no proposal to continue with the KONVER initiative.

  Member

  Occupation

  Alex Stephenson

  Task Force Chair and Chairman of Advantage West Midlands

  Sue Battle

  Chief Executive Officer of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

  Colin Beardwood

  Councillor. Worcestershire County Council and Chair of the Regional Chamber of the Local Government Association

  Kumar Bhattacharyya

  Director, Warwick Manufacturing Group, Warwick University

  Albert Bore

  Leader of Birmingham City Council and university lecturer

  Gerard Coyne

  TGWU Regional Industrial Organiser and Birmingham City councillor

  David Cragg

  Chief Executive of Birmingham and Solihull TEC

  Tom Watson

  Policy Adviser to the AEEU

  Nick Paul

  Chair of CBI and also Deputy Chief Executive of IMI PLC

  Mike Wright

  Vice Chancellor of Aston University

  David Ritchie

  Regional Director, Government Office for the West Midlands

  Rosemary Thew

  Regional Director, West Midlands Employment Service

  Mr. Graham Broome

  Chief Executive Officer, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders

  Richard Burden MP

  MP, Northfield constituency in Birmingham

  Rt. Revd Mark Santer

  Bishop of Birmingham

  David Botterill

  Chief Executive, Engineering Employers Federation

  Ian Pearson MP

  MP, Dudley South constituency

  Sir Norman Fowler MP

  MP, Sutton Coldfield constituency

  Bill Holmes

  Midlands Secretary of Manufacturing, Science and Finance Trades Union and regional Chair of the TUC

  David Nicholas

  Managing Director, Unipart

  Keith Hirst

  Chief Executive of Metsec PLC and Chair of Black Country Consortium

  Nuclear Energy
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has received a copy of the report by ERM Ltd. for the European Commission on the
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  Although Community Initiatives provided benefits in many areas of the country it was often the case that effort involved by all concerned in implementing their relatively small programmes was out of all proportion to the amount of money involved.

  Mobile Phone Networks
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to include the recommendations of the Stewart report in the contract requirements for the new mobile phone network contracts. [119689]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government regulate mobile phone networks via licences granted under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1998 and the Telecommunications Act 1984.

  The Report of the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones chaired by Sir William Stewart is expected to be published in May. It would not be appropriate for the Government to comment on it until that time.

  Longbridge Task Force
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the names and occupations are of the members of the Longbridge Task Force. [119016]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The members of the Rover Task Force have been drawn from a wide range of organisations and between them represent the regional key partners in the West Midlands region.

  The original membership has expanded to 20 under the chairmanship of Alex Stephenson, who also chairs the Regional Development Agency, Advantage West Midlands.

  The current members and their occupations are:

  prospective future demand for nuclear energy and the commitment by the member states of the European Unionto the Kyoto Climate Change agreement. [119137]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 13 April 2000]: The Department has not yet received a copy of this report.

  Hawk Exports (Zimbabwe)
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his written answer of 17 February 2000,Official Report, column 629W, if Zimbabwe has repaid the full cost of the Hawk aircraft. [118633]

  Mr. Caborn
  [holding answer 11 April 2000]: Yes.

  Patent Office
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what targets he has set the Patent Office for 2000–01. [119986]

  Mr. Byers
  I have set the Patent Office the following targets for 2000–01.

  Patents
  1. To issue 14,500 patent search reports or combined search and examination reports on average within three months from the date of request, with 90 per cent. of those within four months from the date of request.
  2. To grant 8,500 valid patents on average within two years from the date of filing of the request for substantive examination, with 90 per cent. of those within three years from the date of request.

  Designs
  3. To register 7,700 designs on average within five months from the date of filing of the application, with 90 per cent. of those within 12 months.

  Trade Marks
  4. To process 70,000 trade mark class applications with a target to register within nine months, 90 per cent. of those to which no substantive objections are raised or oppositions filed.

  Finance
  5. To pay 100 per cent. of bills within 30 days of receipt of goods or services or a valid invoice, whichever is the later.

  Questions designated to the Chief Executive
  6. The Chief Executive will reply within 10 working days to all letters from Members of Parliament delegated to her for reply.

  Efficiency Targets
  7. To increase output in relation to current expenditure by an average of at least 2 per cent. per annum over the period 1998–99 to 2002–03.
  8. I have placed copies of the Corporate Plan in the Libraries of the House.

TREASURY

  Tax Law Rewrite Project
  Mrs. Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been achieved by the Tax Law Rewrite project in the last year; and what plans it has for the coming year. [119823]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I am pleased to announce that the Tax Law Rewrite project is making excellent progress and continues to enjoy wide support. The Inland Revenue have today published a report which reviews the recent progress of the project and outlines its work programmes for 2000–01.

  The rewritten legislation produced by the project has been very well received by the main users in the tax community and they are enthusiastic that the project
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  should continue. I am very pleased to tell the House that the project plans to have its first rewrite Bill ready for introduction in Parliament later this year.

  Budget Calculations
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when it became his policy to base increases in fuel duty on a forecast of the likely rate of inflation in the following September. [118747]

  Mr. Timms
  The increase in fuel duties has been based on a forecast of inflation since July 1997. The methodology for calculating the inflation indexed basis for changes in excise duties was set out in that Budget and in all subsequent Budgets.

  Insurance
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has(a) to review the regulatory and core structure of low contribution home service endowment insurance policies and (b) to propose amendments to the Industrial Assurance Act 1923. [119215]

  Mr. Timms
  The Government announced plans in June 1999 to amend the Industrial Assurance Acts 1923 and 1948. There has been useful recent consultation with the Association of British Insurers and the Association of Friendly Societies on the extent of the amendments. Following the amendments the FSA will regulate all home service business using its powers under the Financial Services and Markets Bill.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensions
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners in the UK(a) received their pension every four weeks, (b) received 12 pension payments and (c) received 13 pension payments in 1999–2000. [118834]

  Mr. Rooker
  The administration of retirement pension 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 Jackie Ballard, dated 17 April 2000:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many pensioners in the UK (a) received their pension every four weeks, (b) received 12 pension payments and (c) received 13 pension payments in 1999–2000.
  At March 2000, a total of 3,873,606 pensioners were receiving their retirement pension by four weekly payments. The payments were made four weeks in arrears and paid by Automated Credit Transfer (ACT) direct into the pensioners bank or building society accounts. All customers who were paid retirement pension by four weekly payments throughout the year would receive 13 four weekly pension payments.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by what percentage the basic retirement pension could be increased in April without reducing the expected balance of the National Insurance Fund at the end of the year 2001–02 below the minimum level recommended by the Government Actuary. [117588]
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  Mr. Rooker
  The information is in the table.

  The basic pension and linked benefits could be increased by 11.8 per cent. in April 2000 without reducing the National Insurance Fund below the minimum level recommended by the Government Actuary in 2001–02. However, funding this level of increase even in that year only and with a return to uprating in line with prices thereafter would lead to a large shortfall in the next year and in subsequent years. This would lead to an increase in rates of National Insurance Contributions. Thus it can be seen that allocation of a surplus to an immediate increase has consequences for future years by wiping out this surplus.

  Effects on national insurance fund if basic retirement pension and linked benefits are increased by 11.8 per cent. above April 2000 rate

  £ billion

  NI fund balance at end of year

  Minimum recommended

  Excess/shortfall

  1999–2000

  13.8

  7.7

  6.1

  2000–01

  12.1

  8.6

  3.5

  2001–02

  9.0

  9.0

  0.0

  2002–03

  4.6

  9.4

  -4.8

  2003–04

  -1.3

  9.8

  -11.1

  Source:

  Government Actuary's Department

  Minimum Income Guarantee
  Shona McIsaac
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners will benefit from the minimum income guarantee in the(a) Cleethorpes, (b) Great Grimsby, (c) Scunthorpe and (d) Brigg and Goole constituencies. [118653]

  Mr. Bayley
  The information is in the table.

  Minimum income guarantee recipients by parliamentary constituency

  Constituencies

  Number of pensioners

  Cleethorpes

  2,800

  Great Grimsby

  3,300

  Scunthorpe

  2,200

  Brigg and Goole

  2,500

  Notes:

  1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred.

  2. MIG pensioners include those in residential care or nursing homes.

  3. Numbers have been allocated by parliamentary constituency using the ONS postcode directory version 2.

  Source:

  Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, November 1999

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners in(a) Warrington and (b) Warrington, North constituency are in receipt of the minimum income guarantee. [118851]

  Mr. Bayley
  This 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 Helen Jones, dated 17 April 2000:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many pensioners in (a) Warrington and (b) Warrington North Constituency are in receipt of the minimum income guarantee.
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  The minimum income guarantee relates to Income Support pensioners aged 60 and over. The information is given in the table.

  Thousand

  Area

  Minimum income guarantee recipients

  Warrington North parliamentary constituency

  2.3

  Warrington local authority

  4.7

  These figures are from the Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry of November 1999. Please note the sample size of 5% and therefore, subject to sampling error. They have been rounded to the nearest hundred.
  I hope this reply is helpful.

  SEMA Medical Services
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to the recent survey conducted by his Department into SEMA Medical Services' doctors, concerning the following of scrutiny guidelines by doctors, how many doctors(a) were subject to the survey and (b) have been identified as needing any remedial training. [119140]

  Mr. Bayley
  Medical Policy Group audited 200 scrutiny decisions of 23 doctors from one medical centre. Twelve doctors were found to have given advice below the standard required by the Medical Services Scrutiny Guidelines and appropriate remedial training will be given.

  It is important to recognise that this survey was not based on a representative sample and we shall therefore be carrying out further audit of the scrutiny process to check whether or not a wider problem exists.

  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to the survey conducted by his Department into SEMA Medical Services' doctors, concerning incorrect awards of Incapacity Benefit, how many awards have been(a) disallowed and (b) increased. [119141]

  Mr. Bayley
  The Department's Medical Policy Group recently conducted a survey of a sample of 200 claims for Incapacity Benefit which had been subjected to scrutiny by SEMA Medical Services' doctors to determine whether medical examination of claimants should be undertaken. The survey revealed that some Medical Services doctors had not followed the new scrutiny guidelines introduced in February 1999. Had the guidelines been followed claimants in the sample who may have continued in receipt of Incapacity Benefit would have been further assessed by medical examination. It is not possible to predict the outcome of the Benefits Agency's decision-maker's determination of eligibility for Incapacity Benefit in an individual case if evidence provided in the form of an examining doctor's report had been made available.

  A report of a medical examination by a Medical Services doctor is but one piece of evidence alongside other information provided by the claimant and from other sources, which may include other medical evidence from the claimant's General Practitioner, that the decision-maker will consider in determining eligibility for an award of benefit.
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  As part of normal claims processing, those claimants in the sample upon whom advice was given by Medical Services' doctors to award benefit without medical examination will have their claims reassessed by strict adherence to the scrutiny guidelines and, where applicable, further evidence will be gathered.

  No award from the survey sample was disallowed, although some may have been approved on insufficient evidence.

  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to the recent survey by his Department into SEMA Medical Services' doctors, if he will list the principal failures in relation to doctors who were found not to be following scrutiny guidelines. [119138]

  Mr. Bayley
  The Department's Medical Policy Group's audit of the 200 Incapacity Benefit cases subjected to scrutiny by SEMA Medical Services' doctors highlighted three areas where Medical Services' doctors had not followed scrutiny guidance:Acceptance of the claimed level of disability with insufficient medical evidence.
  Inappropriate requests for further medical evidence when the case is re-referred.
  Inappropriate advice given on the period in time following which the claim should be reassessed.

  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will deposit in the Library a copy of the letter from the Benefits Agency to SEMA Group's Director of Medical Services instructing Medical Services to ensure compliance with the medical quality standards specified by his Department. [119102]

  Mr. Bayley
  A copy of the letter from the Benefits Agency to Sema Group's Director of Medical Services will not be deposited in the Library in accordance with paragraph 7 of "The Code of Practice on Access to Government Information". However, I am able to tell the hon. Member that the letter sought assurances that Medical Services would ensure compliance with the medical quality standards in the contract and take corrective action where appropriate.

  Benefits (Mortgage Rate)
  Miss Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how the mortgage rate for benefit payments is calculated. [119743]

  Mr. Bayley
  Mortgage payments for benefit claimants are based on a Standard Interest Rate, which is calculated by the Building Societies Commission and is based on the weighted average of basic rates charged by the main building societies.

  Child Support (Mortgages)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what his policy is on the termination of pre-existing endowment mortgages in order to establish a right to include payments towards the purchase of a new home in assessments of child support. [119321]

  Angela Eagle
  Housing costs, including those from repayment and endowment mortgages, are currently taken into account in the calculation of child support maintenance liability. However, if they are considered to 442W
  be excessive, the amount allowed in the assessment may be restricted. Where a non-resident parent moves house, his new housing costs will be taken into account, although the existing assessment will be changed only if the effect of the new housing costs is to increase or reduce the liability by more than a fixed minimum amount.

  Pensioners (Benefit Entitlement)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Knowsley, South (Mr. O'Hara) of 13 January 2000,Official Report, column 232W, what change there has been to the estimate that between 530,000 and 870,000 pensioner benefit units are entitled to but not receiving Income Support; and what are the reasons for the change. [118883]

  Mr. Bayley
  [holding answer 17 April 2000]: The take-up statistics are published annually; the last edition, covering the period 1997–98, was published on 24 September 1999 and showed that there were between 530,000 and 870,000 pensioner entitled non-recipients (ENRs) of Income Support. The statistics are drawn from around 8,500 pensioner benefit units interviewed in the annual Family Resources Survey (FRS), which collects information on incomes and benefit receipt, and details of all income and savings.

  As part of the programme of poorer pensioner research a sample of pensioners who appeared to be ENRs in the FRS were visited with a view to asking about barriers to claiming Income Support and about ways of encouraging them to claim. Respondents were first asked about changes in their financial circumstances since their original FRS interview. This suggests that the allowance for misreporting, made by the Department's statisticians when producing take-up statistics, merits review. Statisticians are reviewing this evidence and will incorporate it in the next set of statistics on take-up of income related benefits which are due to be published in the summer.

  Industrial Injury Benefit (Asbestosis)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people receive industrial injury benefit as a result of having contracted asbestosis. [119244]

  Mr. Bayley
  The information is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available is in the tables. It should be noted that prescribed disease D1 is referred to as pneumoconiosis, but that this term covers a range of lung diseases caused by dust, including coal-workers' pneumoconiosis and silicosis, as well as asbestosis.

  The number of current assessments for pneumoconiosis (D1)

  Thousand

  IIDB current assessments for pneumoconiosis (D1)1

  Total

  Year ending 4 April 1998

  11.4

  Year ending 5 April 1997

  11.9

  Year ending 30 March 1996

  12.0

  Year ending 1 April 1995

  12.9

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  The number of first diagnosed assessments attracting benefit, for pneumoconiosis (D1) associated with the asbestos agent, in each of the last five years

  IIDB first diagnosed assessments for pneumoconiosis2(DI with the asbestos agent)

  Number

  January to September 19993

  303

  Year ending December 1998

  305

  Year ending December 1997

  344

  Year ending December 1996

  479

  Year ending December 1995

  427

  1Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit current assessments are based on a 10 per cent. clerical sample. An adjustment has been made for late statistical returns (except for 1996–97), but figures may still be subject to a small degree of undercount due to non-response.

  2 Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit first diagnosed assessments is based on a 100 per cent. count.

  3Figures for 1999 are for nine months only. December 1999 quarterly figures are not yet available.

  Source:

  Information Centre.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Rail Services
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his estimate of the amount of money earmarked for refurbishment of the(a) Holyhead-Chester-Crewe and (b) Wrexham to Bidston rail routes; and if he will make a statement. [118192]

  Mr. Hill
  The Department understands from Railtrack that:(a) around £3 million is committed for renewals on the Holyhead-Chester-Crewe rail route, principally to increase the line speed from 75mph to 90mph where practical and install Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS). Additionally, it is expected that around half of the £62m of new rolling stock being delivered to First North Western Trains over the next few months will be running in and around this area.
  (b) around £1 million is committed for renewals on the Wrexham to Bidston rail route, principally to install TPWS and improve stations and track.

  Species Legislation
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to implement the recommendations of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee on species legislation; and if he will make a statement. [118426]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 10 April 2000]: In autumn 1998, my Department requested the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) to review the effectiveness of the species protection Schedules to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The JNCC has recently concluded its review and advises that the Schedules have been generally effective in deterring persecution of the species listed, that they should be retained to give legal protection to appropriate animals and plants, and also makes a number of recommendations.

  I am already actively considering all of the issues raised in the JNCC's recommendations. Some, like the recommendation concerning enforcement of wildlife
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  legislation, are already being addressed through the Countryside and Rights of Way Bill. With other aspects, I recognise that improvements to protection for threatened species in the wider countryside beyond the provisions of this Bill may be warranted and am considering what might be appropriate. Some measures may not necessarily require primary legislation, including JNCC's recommendation concerning the Quinquennial Review of the Schedules. I look forward to receiving JNCC's advice at the next Quinquennial Review in due course.

  I also agree the problem caused by invasive alien species does need to be addressed and we plan to review the effectiveness of policy concerning non-native species which can present an ecological threat to the United Kingdom's indigenous wildlife.

  Departmental Inquiries
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 3 April 2000,Official Report, column 311W, on departmental inquiries, what was the cost of each of his Department's commissioned reviews listed in his answer; what reports have been published to date; and what subsequent recommendations have been acted on. [118754]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 11 April 2000]: Information for reports and recommendations from the reviews listed in the Answer of 3 April have been placed in the Libraries of the House. Information on the cost of each review is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  UK/USA Meetings
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions 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. [118626]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 11 April 2000]: Ministers and officials of the Department are in regular contact with officials of the United States Government and discuss a wide range of subjects. In addition to bilateral contracts, we often meet them in the margins of other international meetings.

  Detailed information of meetings is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Greater London Authority
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish the staffing structure of the units established to prepare for the establishment of the Greater London Authority. [118836]

  Mr. Hill
  The Government announced on 31 March 1999 the appointment of a Head of Transition for the Greater London Authority (GLA) and on 27 July 1999, the issuing of a consultation paper—"The Shape of Things to Come"—on the initial organisation of the GLA. Following the consultation period, I announced, in response to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Poplar and Canning Town (Mr. Fitzpatrick) on 7 December 1999,Official Report, column 482W, the publication of a

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  response document to the consultation—"Shaping up for the Mayor and Assembly". This highlighted some minor changes to the organisational structure originally proposed. Copies of both documents were placed in the House Library.

  Work has since proceeded to put in place an initial staffing structure, along the broad lines set out in the consultation paper. The future structure of the GLA, including permanent appointments for senior posts, will, of course, be a matter for the GLA itself, once it is established.

  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will list the staff posts which have been created to prepare for the establishment of the Greater London Authority, indicating the salaries of those posts and the length of their contracts; [118837]

  (2) how many staff have been (a) appointed and (b) seconded by the Government to prepare for the establishment of the Greater London Authority. [118838]

  Mr. Hill
  The Government announced in response to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Eltham (Mr. Efford) on 31 March 1999,Official Report, column 76W, the setting up of a Transition Team to make the arrangements for the establishment of the Greater London Authority (GLA) and to enable the Mayor and Assembly to operate effectively from 8 May 2000. The Transition Team currently comprises 52 temporary staff, of whom 17 are on secondment from local government, the Civil Service and other organisations, 15 have been appointed on short-term contracts and 20 are agency staff.

  To date, 55 new permanent GLA staff have been appointed. These comprise secretarial, administrative, receptionist, human resources, legal, financial and best value staff, on salaries ranging from £18,800 to £49,000. In addition, 135 staff from the former London Research Centre, London Ecology Committee and London Planning Advisory Committee are reporting to the Secretary of State from 1 April and will transfer to the GLA on 8 May 2000 (or, in the case of a small group of London Research Centre staff, to Transport for London on 8 July 2000).

  As well as the Transition Team, some 50 civil servants in the Government Office for London are currently working on aspects of the establishment of the GLA and its functional bodies, including the drafting of secondary legislation and transfer orders and schemes, support to the Greater London Returning Officer, and arrangements for the payment of grant.

  Mr. Geraint Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance he intends to issue to the Greater London Authority on ethical standards under section 66 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999. [119825]

  Mr. Hill
  I have today placed copies of the Secretary of State guidance to the Greater London Authority on ethical standards in the Library of the House.

  Lorry Weights
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 4 April 2000,Official Report, column 427W, on 44 tonne lorries, what studies he has (a) carried out
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  and (b) commissioned on the effect on (i) rail freight and (ii) the environment of allowing the use of 44 tonne lorries; if he will publish data on the expected level of direct transfers between road and rail freight following the introduction of such lorries; and if he will list the measures the shadow Strategic Rail Authority is planning to support rail freight. [118841]

  Mr. Hill
  In its interim report "Permitting 44 tonne lorries for general use in the UK", the Commission for Integrated Transport considered carefully the impact of 44 tonne lorries on the rail freight market.

  The Government accept the Commission's view that the overall environmental advantage lies in allowing 44 tonne lorries to operate generally. Not only will the efficiency savings result in a substantial reduction in lorry mileage but the use of 6-axle lorries, with a lower drive axle weight, will cause less wear to roads and bridges than existing 40 tonne, 5-axle vehicles already on our roads. This is based on research carried out by the US Highways Research Board, and confirmed by the UK Transport Research Laboratory and by work carried out in Germany.

  The Commission concluded that further work to estimate the precise effect on rail freight's market share would be unlikely to produce reliable results in the light of the Rail Regulator's forthcoming review of track access charges and other factors.

  The Government set up the shadow Strategic Rail Authority (sSRA) with a remit to develop detailed recommendations on measures to promote the growth of rail freight. That work will help inform our 10-year plan for transport, due to be published in the summer, and the Commission's final report on 44 tonne lorries, expected in the autumn.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Commission for Integrated Transport will make its final report on the case for allowing 44 tonne vehicles on to UK roads; and what assessment his Department has made of the impact of permitting 44 tonne lorries on the carriage of goods by rail. [119157]

  Mr. Hill
  I understand that the Commission for Integrated Transport (CfIT) hope to produce their final report on 44 tonne lorries and the development of rail freight in late autumn this year. I also understand that the report will concentrate on options for rail freight and will not revisit the case for 44 tonne lorries.

  My Department relied on CfIT's very thorough analysis of the effects on rail freight of the introduction of 44 tonne lorries, and has not carried out separate studies.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when his Department's announcement on raising the maximum general lorry weight limit to 44 tonnes was made to the House. [119279]

  Mr. Hill
  My noble Friend the Minister for Transport wrote to my hon. Friend on 11 April explaining that this announcement was included in the Budget Red Book.

  Airport Slots
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his
  447W
  answer of 4 April 2000, Official Report, columns 427-28W, concerning airport slots, which airports other than Heathrow are within the jurisdiction of ACL Ltd; to whom ACL is accountable for its operation of the EC Regulation; who pays the company; and if details of (a) ACL's contract and (b) the fees paid are available for public inspection. [118868]

  Mr. Mullin
  In addition to Heathrow, ACL has been appointed as co-ordinator under the EC Regulation for Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester airports. The company also acts on a non-statutory basis for Aberdeen, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Jersey, London City, London Luton, and Newcastle airports.

  ACL's contract is with the airport operators; it is therefore in the first instance accountable to the airport. At the four fully co-ordinated airports, grievances could also be taken to the airport co-ordination committee, on which the airport operators, air carriers and air traffic control providers are represented. In addition, the Airport Slots Allocation Regulations 1993 place a statutory duty on airport co-ordinators to operate in accordance with the EC Regulation; their actions are challengeable in court. The Secretary of State has the power to withdraw his approval of the appointment of a co-ordinator if satisfied that the co-ordinator has acted other than in an independent manner.

  75 per cent. of ACL's income comes from the fees that it charges to the airports where it acts as co-ordinator. About 21 per cent. comes from the 11 UK airlines that own the company, and the remainder from data sales, training and consultancy, and similar activity.

  ACL's contracts are commercially sensitive and not available for public inspection. Its Annual Report and Accounts are available for inspection at Companies House.

  London Underground
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will conduct the test involving the public sector comparator for London Underground funding in public; [119020]

  (2) if he will (a) place the report by his financial advisers on the funding of London Underground in the Library and (b) ensure that the public sector comparator is published before any contracts are signed. [119021]

  Mr. Hill
  I refer to the answers given to my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Pound) on 21 December 1999,Official Report, columns 525-26W, and to the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington (Mr. Brake) on 20 December 1999, Official Report, column 337W.

  We have already placed in the Library of the House a detailed note describing the methodology London Transport has used to construct the public sector comparator against which bids for infrastructure improvement and maintenance contracts under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) will be tested. This methodology has been reviewed by KPMG as London Underground's independent, external auditors. They have confirmed that it accords with the relevant Treasury guidance and is appropriate to the circumstances of the PPP.
  448W
  We will release the actual values produced by the comparator only once negotiations with bidders have been completed. To publish these any earlier would expose the taxpayer's negotiating position, and thus jeopardise our chances of securing best value.

  Similarly, when Pricewaterhouse submitted their report on the options for London Underground, we produced a summary of the facts and analysis that underpinned the decision to proceed with the PPP. This was published and placed in the Library of the House in March 1998. To release the Pricewaterhouse report in full would have compromised our negotiating position.

  Rail Freight
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what extra grants he plans to offer to rail freight companies to enable them to increase the carriage of goods by rail. [119184]

  Mr. Hill
  This financial year we have set a Freight Grants budget of £50 million for companies who choose to move goods by rail rather than road.

  Under the Transport Bill, administration of the grants will pass to the Strategic Rail Authority. The shadow SRA is looking at whether the existing schemes fit its objectives and strategies. It will be able to develop the existing schemes and to introduce new ones.

  Budget (Transport Schemes)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the breakdown is of the £280 million for transport schemes announced in the press notices from his Department after the Budget; and how many of those schemes are for(a) road and (b) rail improvements. [119014]

  Mr. Hill
  Details of the allocation of £250 million additional resources for transport in England were set out in a reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, South (Mr. Marshall) on 24 March 2000,Official Report, columns 702-03W.

  Ribble Estuary
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the effect on wildfowl in the Ribble Estuary, Lancashire of global warming. [119100]

  Mr. Mullin
  My Department supports the UK Climate Impacts Programme at the University of Oxford to help organisations assess vulnerability to climate change. Three national projects concerning climate change impacts on biodiversity are currently in progress within the Programme, two of which are supported by my Department and MAFF. The first study is a general review of implications of climate change for nature conservation policies in the UK. The second is a project involving integrated assessments in two regions, NW England and East Anglia. The third is a modelling assessment of impacts on species and habitats in Britain and Ireland, including wildfowl in river estuaries. All three projects are in progress and the results have not yet been assessed. This is wider than, and would be applicable to, the Ribble Estuary, but no specific assessment has been made in the Ribble Estuary.
  449W
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans his Department has to increase monitoring of wildfowl in the Ribble Estuary, Lancashire. [119099]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Ribble Estuary has been monitored since 1970 through the Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS). The WeBS is a joint scheme of the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT), the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) to monitor the non-breeding birds in the United Kingdom. Counts are made annually at around 2,000 wetland sites in the United Kingdom; estuaries and large still waters predominate. The Department believes the current monitoring of the Ribble Estuary to be sufficient.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what advice his Department has received from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and other wildlife organisations concerning the Ribble Estuary and global warming. [119098]

  Mr. Mullin
  Research contractors working for the Department, MAFF and the UK Water Industry have held consultations with a large number of stakeholders in NW England in connection with an on-going study of climate change impacts in NW England. However, the Department is not aware of any specific concerns raised about the Ribble Estuary.

  Biosafety Protocol
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the United Kingdom plans to ratify the Biosafety Protocol agreed in Montreal. [118939]

  Mr. Meacher
  The United Kingdom intends to sign and ratify the Biosafety Protocol to the Convention on Biological Diversity at the earliest opportunity consistent with our European Community obligations. The Protocol will be open for signature at the United Nations Office at Nairobi, Kenya, by states and regional economic integration organisations from 15-26 May, and at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 5 June 2000 to 4 June 2001. The implications of the Protocol on the overall EU legislative framework must be fully assessed before ratification can be completed. As made clear in the Environment Council conclusions agreed on 30 March, we will be working with our European partners to ensure ratification as early as possible to ensure entry into force of the Protocol at an early stage.

  Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what resources are available to the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee to commission independent scientific, technical and other support studies from institutes and academic establishments; and what powers the Chairman of the Committee has to second relevant experts to assist the committee or its sub-committees. [119135]
  450W
  Mr. Meacher
  The Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee generally spends very little on supporting studies for its work. When it has, the sums involved have typically been of the order of £10,000 to £20,000 per annum. Under the Committee's agreed operational arrangements, the Chairman can, as appropriate, co-opt members with expertise relevant to particular work items.

  Waste Dumping
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what action he is taking to ensure that waste is not illegally dumped; and what assessment he has made of the impact of the landfill tax on the illegal dumping of waste; [119242]

  (2) what recent assessment he has made of the danger to the public posed by illegally dumped waste. [119241]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Government have put strict controls in place to ensure that waste is disposed of without danger to the public. The Environment Agency is responsible for their enforcement. It is a criminal offence to contravene these controls and there are severe penalties for anyone convicted of doing so. We have asked the Environment Agency to continue a vigorous policy of prosecuting, where it has the evidence, anyone who illegally disposes of waste on sites which have neither a waste management licence nor a licensing exemption registered with the Agency.

  We have also commissioned research into the effects of the landfill tax and a copy of the research report "Effects Of Landfill Tax—Reduced Disposal Of Inert Waste To Landfill" has been placed in the Library of the House. One of the aims of the research was to establish whether there is evidence of illegal waste disposal by abuse of licensing exemptions. The allegations of abuse centre on two of the current licensing exemptions and we are reviewing these exemptions in the light of the report's findings.

  Land and Property Budget
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent representations he has received concerning the Land and Property Budget from regional development agencies in England. [119025]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 14 April 2000]: None.

  Electric Goods
  Mr. Gummer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with the UK's EU partners about altering the potentially misleading energy use measurement for domestic refrigerators. [119292]

  Mr. Meacher
  The European Commission and member states have held discussions with manufacturers' representatives about methods for more consistent reporting of the efficiency performance of several product types covered by the EU energy label regime, including domestic refrigerators, and this has resulted in a protocol applied by the industry since the end of 1998. In the particular case of domestic refrigerators, a further
  451W
  important development has been the introduction of minimum standards requiring the removal of less efficient appliances (with an energy label rating of "D" or below) from the EU market from September last year.

  Road Safety
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the measures which he is taking to reduce the number of road accidents; what is his evaluation of the impact of these measures; if it is his policy to increase the maximum penalties for drivers who cause death and injury to others; and what further measures he proposes to take to promote road safety. [119695]

  Mr. Hill
  The new road safety strategy "Tomorrow's roads—safer for everyone" sets out the measures the Government are taking to improve road safety. The strategy was published on 1 March 2000 and copies are available in the House Library.

  In terms of the expected impact of the strategy, new casualty reduction targets have been set. By 2010, we are aiming to reduce the overall number of people killed or seriously injured in road accidents by 40 per cent; to reduce the number of children killed or seriously injured by 50 per cent. and to reduce the rate of slight injuries by 10 per cent, compared with the average for 1994–98.

  As the strategy document explains, the Government are undertaking an urgent review, led by the Home Office, of penalties for a wide range of road traffic offences, including those involving the death and injury of other road users. In the light of this review, we will decide whether penalties need to be changed to provide a greater deterrent against bad driving.

  Hedges
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will report on responses to the consultation paper on high hedges; and if he will make a statement. [119708]

  Mr. Mullin
  We are currently analysing the responses to this consultation. We hope to make a statement, setting out our decisions on the way forward on this issue and the reasons for them, by the summer.

  EU Structural Fund
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made with programme agreement for those areas that have lost Objective 2 status but have entitlement to transitional funding; and if he will make a statement. [119560]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Following the formal approval of the UK Objective 2 map on 30 March, the UK can now submit draft Objective 2 programmes to the European Commission. We formally lodged with the Commission on 14 April the Objective 2 programme documents for Yorkshire and the Humber; North East; West Midlands; East Midlands; North West; London; East of England and South East. (The programme for the South West will be lodged at a slightly later date.) This should ensure that 452W
  these programmes will be eligible for funding to be backdated to 1 January 2000, and will help in meeting financial commitments in the first year of the programme.

  These programmes documents include details of plans for transitional areas in each region. We fully anticipate that, subject to negotiations with the European Commission, all the English Objective 2 programmes will be approved before the end of the year.

  Mobile Homes
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the maximum amount of commission which can be claimed by the site owner on the sale of mobile homes; and if he will make a statement. [119659]

  Mr. Mullin
  The maximum amount of commission payable to the site owner on the sale of a mobile home is currently 10 per cent. of the sale price. I expect to receive shortly a report by the Park Homes Working Party covering the statutory framework of controls over the park homes industry.

  Deprivation (London)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many applications he has received for funding from London borough councils to tackle local deprivation within their borough in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [119588]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The following applications have been received from the London boroughs for funding from the Single Regeneration Budget, which tackles local deprivation, in the last 12 months.Single Regeneration Budget Round 5-18 local authority-led final bids received in April 1999.
  Single Regeneration Budget Round 6-18 local authority-led Expressions of Interest received in March 2000.

  Other bids may have contained local authorities as partners in the schemes, but not formally leading those bids.

  Zoo Licensing Act 1981
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will take steps to exempt farm attractions from the provisions of the Zoo Licensing Act 1981. [119699]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Zoo Licensing Act 1981 requires any establishment where wild animals are kept for exhibition (other than a circus or pet shop) to which members of the public have access, with or without charge for admission, on more than seven days in any period of 12 consecutive months, to be licensed.

  Farm attractions which keep wild animals would qualify as zoos under the Act. There are no plans to exempt them from its provisions.

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what initiatives
  453W
  are being taken by the Health and Safety Executive and his Department to increase health and safety awareness among young workers. [119596]

  Mr. Meacher
  My Department fully supports the current programme of the Health and Safety Commission and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to make young people aware of health and safety risks in preparation for work from an early age. HSE is collaborating with the Department for Education and Employment in embedding health and safety throughout the education system and has recently published guidance for organisers of work experience. Research is planned into the particular problems of young people new to work and the most effective means of communicating with them. HSE continues to work with organisations such as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and the TUC in initiatives to get messages across to young people at, or about to start, work.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people under the age of 25 years have been killed or seriously injured at work in the last year for which figures are available. [119595]

  Mr. Meacher
  Provisional data for 1998–991 as reported to all enforcing authorities are set out in the table. This excludes 86 fatalities and 5,329 major injuries where the age of the injured person was not recorded.

  Fatal injuries

  Non-fatal or major injuries2

  Employees

  20

  3,845

  Self employed

  1

  42

  Members of the public3

  80

  13,067

  Total

  101

  16,954

  1Data are for 1 April 1998 to 31 March 1999

  2As defined by the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995, according to the employment status of the injured person

  3Included suicides and trespassers on railways

  Cornish
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to complete his Department's assessment of the status of the Cornish language before ratification of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in November this year. [119348]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  We will consider carefully the Government's position on Cornish, taking account of the findings of an independent academic study commissioned by the Government Office for the South West and in consultation with other Departments. The Government expect to be in a position to ratify the Charter later this year. The timing of ratification does not depend on the outcome of our consideration of the issue of Cornish.

  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to publish the recently completed study report into the status and usage of the Cornish language in Cornwall. [119347]
  454W
  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Copies of the report of the independent academic study on Cornish, commissioned by the Government Office for the South West, will be published shortly and copies will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The report will be available on the Government Office's website www.gosw.gov.uk and on request.

  Ministerial Statements
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Department's letter of 5 April to the right hon. Member for Fylde, signed by the Private Secretary to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary, if it is the policy of his Department not to provide explanations of ministerial statements if the source for the facts contained therein is party political briefings. [119594]

  Mr. Hill
  I understand that this question arises from an exchange during oral questions on 13 April 1999,Official Report, column 13. I assume that my hon. Friend the Member for Hampstead and Highgate (Ms Jackson) was making reference to Sir Horace Cutler's internal report for the Tory Group on the GLC, which found that the only way the Tube could be privatised would be to reduce off-peak services to no more than two trains an hour.

  Motorcycles
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will assess the benefits of reducing vehicle excise duty to zero for motorcycles under 125cc. [119598]

  Mr. Hill
  In November 1998, the Government consulted on a range of options for the environmental reform of Vehicle Excise Duty, including the creation of a new low VED band for motorcycles with engines up to 125cc. The benefits of motorcycle use are currently being examined in support of the work of the DETR's Advisory Group on Motorcycles. The outcome of those considerations will inform future decisions on Vehicle Excise Duty, which are a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make it his policy to encourage more commuters to travel into London by motorcycle. [119597]

  Mr. Hill
  As London is shortly to have a Mayor, this issue will be for his or her consideration in drawing up an integrated transport strategy. Section 142 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 makes it clear that the Mayor's integrated transport strategy should encompass all forms of transport.

  The Government's policy on transport was set in the White Paper "A New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone" which, among other things, included a commitment to establish an advisory group on motorcycling. My noble Friend the Minister of State set up this group in May 1999.

  The Government have also published guidance, which encourages local authorities to take account of motorcyclists when preparing their local transport plans.
  455W
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will issue guidance to local authorities on developing their own motorcycle strategy. [119600]

  Mr. Hill
  Local authorities are due to submit five-year local transport plans (LTPs) to Government by 31 July 2000. LTPs will give local authorities the discretion to devise integrated transport strategies at the local level in partnership with the local community. Last month my Department issued local authorities with guidance on producing LTPs. This encouraged local authorities to take account of the contribution that powered two-wheelers can make in delivering integrated transport—for example their use in congested traffic conditions or as an alternative to the car in remote areas—and the needs of motorcyclists, including parking, interchange facilities and appropriate road maintenance. A copy of the guidance—"Guidance on Full Local Transport Plans"—has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many road accidents(a) involving motorcyclists and (b) in total were caused by spilled diesel fuel in each of the last three years; and if he will revise construction and use Regulations for goods vehicles and PSVs to ensure that spillage from diesel fuel tanks is prevented by tamper-proof physical measures within the tank itself. [119599]

  Mr. Hill
  In 1999 information on the presence of oil or diesel on the road surface at the site of road accidents was collected for the first time and the data are not yet available. However, early indications are that accidents involving oil or diesel are 0.2 per cent. of all accidents; of which, 30 per cent. involved motorcycles (less than 1 per cent. of motorcycle accidents). Vehicle construction standards are agreed at a European level. A recently agreed amendment to the European fuel tank Directive includes measures to minimise fuel spillage due to missing or insecure fuel caps. We will be implementing all the mandatory provisions of the Directive, and will be considering whether the optional provisions are likely to strengthen our current construction and use requirements.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will encourage local authorities to exempt motorcycles from road user and workplace levy charging schemes. [119601]

  Mr. Hill
  Our response to our consultation paper, "Breaking the Logjam", which we published on 22 February, set out our policy on exemptions for motorcycles from road user charges and the workplace parking levy.

  We intend to leave decisions on exemptions from road user charges to local discretion. Including motorcycles in a road user charging scheme would require practical difficulties to be overcome. We will explore these further with those local authorities that are actively considering a charging scheme as part of our Charging Development Partnership.

  As to workplace parking levies, we propose that motorcycles should generally be exempt from counting towards a workplace parking licence total, but we will consider proposals from local authorities on their merits.

  North Wales Main Line
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what assessment he has made of the reliability of the private commercial study produced by Virgin trains on the electrification of the North Wales main line; [119612]

  (2) if he will commission an independent public study on the viability of the electrification of the North Wales main line. [119611]

  Mr. Hill
  There are no plans to commission an independent public study as the former Office of Passenger Rail Franchising, now the shadow Strategic Rail Authority, had no reason to doubt the reliability of the study produced by Virgin Trains in March 1999.

  Road Schemes
  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will list the(a) deferred road schemes by authority featured in the Local Transport Settlement for 2000–01 and (b) road schemes contained in the provisional local transport plans for 2001–02 to 2004–05; [119716]

  (2) if he will ensure that road schemes costing more than £5 million contained in full local transport plans will not be accepted by the Government unless there is clear evidence that alternative solutions to traffic problems have been considered first, along with a statement of why such solutions have been rejected. [119717]

  Mr. Hill
  A decision to defer consideration of the following major road schemes until the Full Local Transport Plans are received this year was announced last December in the Provisional Local Transport Settlement for 2000–01:

  Area

  Scheme

  Barnsley

  Cudworth Bypass

  Birmingham

  Northfield Regeneration

  Birmingham

  Selly Oak Access Road

  Bristol

  A4 Bath Road to Callington Road Link

  Cheshire

  A34 Alderley Edge Environmental Bypass

  Cumbria

  Carlisle Northern Development Route

  Darlington

  Darlington Cross Town Route Eastern Section

  Derby

  Derby Spur Extension

  Derbyshire

  Markham Employment Growth Zone

  Devon

  Barnstaple Western Bypass

  Dorset

  Weymouth Transportation and Regeneration Project

  East Sussex

  Newhaven Port Access Road

  Kent

  East Kent Access (Phase 1)

  Kent

  East Kent Access (Phase 2)

  Leeds

  East Leeds Link Road

  Leeds

  Leeds Inner Ring Road (Stage 7)

  Lincolnshire

  Future Major Economic Regeneration Scheme

  Liverpool

  Hall Lane Area Improvement

  Medway

  A228 Chattenden to Ropers Lane

  Middlesbrough

  East Middlesbrough Transport Corridor

  North East Lincolnshire

  South Humber Bank Link Road (Stage 2)

  Rotherham

  West Bawtry Road Improvement

  Rutland

  Oakham/(Langham) Bypass

  Sandwell

  Cradley Heath Town Centre Strategy (A4100)

  Sheffield

  Inner Relief Road—Stages II and III

  Staffordshire

  Biddulph Bypass

  Staffordshire

  Rugeley Eastern Bypass Stage 2

  Stoke-on-Trent

  Hanley Bentilee Link

  Suffolk

  South Lowestoft Relief Road

  Surrey

  A244 Cross Thames Transport Corridor

  Wiltshire

  Western Wiltshire Regeneration Corridor

  Wirral

  Birkenhead Town Link Division

  Worcestershire

  Wyre Piddle Bypass

  457W
  The following decisions were reached on the remaining major road schemes contained in the Provisional Local Transport Plans:

  Area

  Scheme

  Accepted:

  Essex

  A131 Great Leighs Bypass

  Leicestershire

  Ashby Bypass Stage 2

  Norfolk

  Broome and Ellingham Bypass

  Nottingham (G.N.)

  A6002/A6007 Coventry Lane Improvement

  Shropshire

  A53 Hodnet Bypass

  Somerset

  Bridgewater Northern Distributor

  Staffordshire

  Burntwood Bypass

  Stockton-on-Tees

  South Stockton Link

  Provisionally accepted:

  Barnsley

  Coalfields Link Road Phases 2 and 3

  Bedfordshire

  A507 Ridgmont Bypass and Woburn Link

  Bedfordshire

  Bedford Western Bypass

  Buckinghamshire

  A4146 Stoke Hammond and Linsdale Western Bypass

  Cambridgeshire

  A142 Fordham Bypass

  Doncaster

  A6023 Denaby Main Division

  Hertfordshire

  Baldock Bypass

  Manchester, Salford

  Manchester/Salford Inner Relief Road (Regent Road/Gore Street)

  North Yorkshire

  Scarborough Integrated Transport Scheme

  Nottinghamshire

  A617 Mansfield Ashfield Regeneration Route

  Suffolk

  Stowmarket BI115 Relief Road

  Rejected:

  Birmingham

  Dudley Road Traffic Management Phase 2

  Cornwall

  Grampound Bypass

  East Sussex

  Bexhill and Hastings Link Road

  Norfolk

  Great Yarmouth A47/A149 Link Road

  Reading

  Cow Lane Bridges/Oxford Road Relief Road

  Rotherham

  A57(T) Todwick Crossroads to M1 J31

  Stoke-on-Trent

  Tunstall Northern Bypass

  Stoke-on-Trent

  City Centre Link

  Warwickshire

  Barford Bypass

  West Sussex

  Angmering Bypass

  The "Guidance on Full Local Transport Plans" which was published in March of this year makes it clear that before major road schemes can be accepted for funding if bid for in the Full Local Transport Plans, local authorities will need to demonstrate that there is a problem that needs addressing and that they have looked for alternative solutions, in accordance with the principles of New Approach to Appraisal.

  Shadow Strategic Rail Authority
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects the shadow Strategic Rail Authority to reach a decision on the plans sent to them by Railtrack. [118691]

  Mr. Hill
  The shadow Strategic Rail Authority is consulted frequently about Railtrack's plans. Regulation of Railtrack is, however, the responsibility of the Rail Regulator.

  Climate Change Levy
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects the European Commission to approve the UK's state aid notification in respect of proposed reductions to the climate change levy for companies which agree with energy efficiency arrangements. [119156]

  Mr. Timms
  I have been asked to reply.
  458W
  Officials have had helpful discussions with the Commission about the UK's state aids notification. We expect further useful progress to be made over the summer.

  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the proposed climate change levy rebates and exclusions for a 10-year period with the latest draft of the European Commission's guidelines on state aid. [119154]

  Mr. Timms
  I have been asked to reply.

  The UK regards the revised draft Community guidelines on state aid for environmental protection as a helpful step forward. However, the UK and other member states have made suggestions for improvement. As such, any assessment of their application in particular instances would be premature.

HEALTH

  Dental Services
  Mr. Beard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children(a) under five and (b) under 10 years old have been treated for dental decay in the NHS in each of the last 10 years. [117946]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information is available for the number of fillings and extractions for which General Dental Service dentists make a payment claim. This is shown in the table for the age groups 0 to four years and five to nine years for England and Wales in 1998–99.

  Data on the number of children receiving treatment for fillings and extractions are not available. Some children may have more than one treatment within the year.

  Thousand

  Aged 0-4 years

  Aged 5-9 years

  Fillings

  104

  1,059

  Extractions

  27

  225

  Comparable figures for earlier years are not available.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the relative cost of the use in dentistry of(a) mercury-based amalgams and (b) non-metal-based amalgams; and if he will make a statement. [118403]

  Mr. Hutton
  The table provides the number and cost of general dental services treatments using different restorative materials in England in 1998–99. Dental amalgam is more durable and easier to insert than the other materials.

  Treatment

  Number(Million)

  Cost (£ million)

  Amalgam fillings

  8.3

  91.6

  Composite resin fillings

  4.9

  52.2

  Glass ionomer fillings

  1.9

  20.0

  Total

  15.0

  163.8

  Modernisation Action Teams
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many members of the NHS Modernisation Action Teams are(a) Ministers, (b) civil servants, (c) representatives of professional or staff bodies, (d) front-line NHS staff and (e) representatives of patients' organisations. [118694]

  Mr. Hutton
  We set out full membership details in press notice 2000/208 on 4 April. This indicated that the National Health Service Modernisation Action teams have 134 members. The membership was chosen to ensure wide representation from interested parties and individuals have been selected from a variety of backgrounds. There are five Ministers; 19 civil servants; 15 representatives of professional or staff bodies; thirty nine front-line NHS staff; and 16 representatives of patients' organisations. Additionally there are 40 members who, while not fitting into these precise categories, include leading commentators and senior managers.

  Vulnerable Adults
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to institute police checks on employees in the National Health Service working with vulnerable adults. [118740]

  Mr. Hutton
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by the Minister of State, Home Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, South (Mr. Clarke) on 17 April 2000,Official Report, column 377W, and his response in relation to police checks.

  The Care Standards Bill will establish a new scheme to identify health and care workers who have harmed vulnerable adults and ban them from such work in the future.

  Under the Protection of Vulnerable Adults scheme, providers of prescribed services within the National Health Service and in independent healthcare settings will be required to refer individuals for inclusion in the list. There will be a duty of providers of these services to check that prospective employees are not on the list and to refuse employment in that field to any person found to be on the list.

  Initially the list will be operated by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health. Once the Criminal Records Bureau is established, the Bureau will be able to supply an individual with a criminal record certificate or enhanced criminal record certificate which would indicate whether they were included in the Protection of Vulnerable Adults list.

  While police checks can identify individuals who have come to the attention of the police, clearly there is no substitute for employers undertaking thorough checks into the background and employment history of applicants for all vacancies.

  Treatment Out of Area
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the percentage of treatments carried out in hospitals in(a) health authority areas and (b) health regions other than that in which the patient was resident in each year from 1980 to date. [118829]
  460W
  Ms Stuart
  The information requested is shown in the table for the years 1990–91 to 1998–99. Data for previous years are unavailable centrally.

  Percentage of treatments carried out in National Health Service hospitals in health areas other than that in which the patient was resident, by health authority and region, England 1990–91 to 1998–991

  Health authority

  NHS region

  1990–91

  25.4

  9.0

  1991–92

  24.7

  7.9

  1992–93

  23.3

  7.4

  1993–94

  22.1

  7.7

  1994–95

  21.5

  7.1

  1995–96

  21.6

  7.4

  1996–97

  22.7

  6.4

  1997–98

  24.7

  8.9

  1998–99

  22.6

  6.8

  1Includes overseas residents

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health 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. [118995]

  Ms Stuart
  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.

  The Department will aim to meet this target which 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 United Kingdom's Kyoto targets. The base year will be 1999–2000 as it was the final year to which the previous target applied. Figures 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 Secretary of State for Health 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. [118994]

  Ms Stuart
  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 reported progress for all central government departments by 31 March 1988. It is hoped that results for the period up to March 1999 will be published shortly.

  Patient Records
  Mr. Sawford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he is taking to phase out the use of Lloyd George envelopes and promote the use of A4 folders as the standard means of storing patient records; [118954]
  461W
  (2) what steps he is taking to harmonise paper-based records within the National Health Service; and if he will instigate a review of current systems. [118953]

  Ms Stuart
  National Health Service paper record-keeping systems have previously been submitted to extensive review, and there are no current plans to instigate further examinations. The replacement of Lloyd George envelopes with A4 folders as the standard means of holding paper records is not under consideration.

  Future developments in record-keeping will be driven by the information strategy "Information for Health", which is committed to the vision of electronic record-keeping, as befits the modern NHS.

  Mr. Sawford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many different computer-based records systems are in use by general practitioners; and if they are compatible. [118952]

  Ms Stuart
  There are 18 companies with clinical computer systems in use by general practitioners. In general there is little direct compatibility between the products of these companies. However, current policy, which is supported by the system suppliers, is to migrate these products to industry standard software which will create open and inter-operable systems which in turn will facilitate more automated sharing of information.

  Mr. Sawford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure the compatibility of computer systems used in hospitals with those used by general practitioners. [118951]

  Ms Stuart
  The information strategy for the Modern National Health Service 1998–2005 "Information for Health" is aimed at focusing the development of information technology systems to facilitate the delivery of integrated care. A number of specific initiatives are taking place to ensure compatibility of computer systems used in hospitals with those used by general practitioners:The establishment of a national clinical information standards board with responsibility to deliver agreed standards for communicating clinical information between clinicians in primary and secondary care;
  The development of an agreed framework for helping to structure the thousands of clinical communications which are sent and received every day. A multi-professional group of clinicians have developed a draft framework of headings and accompanying definitions that are being evaluated for this purpose;
  The Electronic Record Development and Implementation Programme is currently agreeing a comprehensive programme of work which will address the national requirement for standards to ensure the compatibility of clinical computer systems used in hospitals and primary care;
  Work over the next 12 months to support the development of clinical messages to support GP to GP record transfer, referral and discharge.

  Insomnia
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) specialist sleep clinics and (b) specialist consultants in sleep deprivation there are in the NHS; and what is their geographical distribution. [119031]

  Mr. Hutton
  Specialist sleep clinics may fall under the remit of several different specialties including General Medicine, Chest/Respiratory Medicine and 462W
  Otolaryngology. Information is not collected centrally on either the number of specialist sleep clinics nor those clinicians who sub-specialise in sleep problems.

  Genetic Data
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce legislation to protect anonymous genetic data obtained in confidence from being exploited by commercial companies without the consent of the patient; and if he will make a statement concerning the Source Informatics judgment. [119524]

  Ms Stuart
  Genetic data provided in confidence should not normally be disclosed to third parties without the consent of the individual to whom they relate. However, the Court of Appeal ruled in December 1999—the Source Informatics judgment—that once data have been effectively anonymised they are no longer confidential. Although we have no plans to introduce legislation in this area at the present time, the Department is considering whether patient interests and the broader public interest are adequately protected.

  We remain concerned about the use of anonymised health data for commercial purposes that may not be in the public interest and have directed the Department to seek leave from the House of Lords to appeal against the Court of Appeal judgment.

  Social Services Departments
  Mr. Ian Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many social services departments remain under special monitoring by the Social Services Inspectorate. [119282]

  Mr. Hutton
  There are 12 councils with social services responsibilities subject to special measures by the Social Services Inspectorate.

  Bed Availability
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 10 April 2000,Official Report, column 12W, on bed availabilities, how soon after 15 May he will announce targets; and if the base line will be set at 1998–99. [119302]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 17 April 2000]: We shall issue planning guidance for the National Health Service when we publish our response to the National Beds Inquiry consultation. This is likely to be during the summer. The consultation continues until 15 May. No decision has yet been taken about whether to set specific targets for beds as part of the planning guidance.

  Prescribed Drugs
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of children aged(a) under 10 and (b) under 16 years who have been prescribed (i) Ritalin and (ii) Prozac in the past 12 months. [118891]

  Ms Stuart
  Information on the number of children prescribed Ritalin and Prozac is not collected. Ritalin should be used only in cases where there is a clear diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder following comprehensive assessment by a specialist in childhood behavioural disorders. Given some concern
  463W
  over the clinical evidence and current levels of prescribing, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence is to consider Ritalin later this year and will issue authoritative advice on its use in routine practice.

  Prozac is not licensed for use in children as the safety and efficacy has not been established. Doctors may prescribe medicines outside their licensed indications if they consider that this is in the patient's best interests.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to report on Ritalin; and if his Department has given evidence to its inquiry into Ritalin. [118921]

  Ms Stuart
  The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), a Special Health Authority independent of the Department of Health, is expected to disseminate its guidance on Ritalin to the NHS in October 2000. The Department has not submitted evidence to inform NICE's appraisal, although in accordance with usual practice it has commissioned an independent systematic review of the research evidence on behalf of NICE. The Department of Health will be consulted along with other stakeholders on NICE's draft recommendations.

  GM Salmon
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what recent reports he has received on the safety of genetically modified salmon; and what his policy is on the sale of genetically modified salmon in the UK; [119420]

  (2) what information has been received concerning genetically modified salmon bred by A/F Protein Inc.; what European marketing consent exists for such salmon; and what his policy is on licensing the import of genetically modified salmon eggs to the UK. [119421]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 17 April 2000]: No information has been received concerning genetically modified salmon bred by A/F Protein Inc. nor has any application been made to import these salmon or their eggs.

  Neither the salmon or their eggs could be imported into the European Community without approval having first been given under either the EC contained use Directive (90/219), the EC deliberate release Directive (90/220) or the EC novel food regulation (258/97).

  Cleft Lip and Palate Patients
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provisions he has made for the integration into the reorganised treatment facilities of current cleft lip and palate patients. [119318]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 17 April 2000]: Changes in the delivery of services for cleft lip and/or palate patients will need to take place in a managed way. All surgery will be carried out in the new designated centres when they are established and staff have been appointed. A number of existing units may become "spokes" or "outreach" centres and continue to provide some cleft services in discussion with designated centres.

  Meat Hygiene Service
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he last met the Chief Executive of the Meat Hygiene Service; and if he will make a statement. [117724]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 13 April 2000]: The Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) transferred from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to become a next steps agency of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) when the FSA was established on 1 April. I have not met the chief executive and have no current plans to do so. I am advised by the FSA however, that the MHS Chief Executive has regular meetings with the Chairman of the FSA (Sir John Krebs).

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  St. Helena
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if the people of St. Helena will be consulted in the decision-making process on the viability of an airstrip on St. Helena. [119607]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The St. Helena Government, Councillors, civil society organisations and other stakeholders on the island will be consulted during the comparative study of air and sea access that is expected to start in the middle of this year. The study will identify the most cost-efficient permanent solution to the island's international passenger and cargo transportation needs.

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the cost will be of the airstrip feasibility study on St. Helena; who will undertake it; and how long it will take to complete. [119608]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The comparative study of air and sea access, which will identify the most cost-efficient permanent solution to the island's international passenger and cargo transportation needs, is expected to cost some £150,000. Consultants to undertake the study will be appointed following a competitive tendering exercise. Completion of the study is expected to take an elapsed time of some 14 weeks following mobilisation of the consultants.

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when a decision will be reached on the viability of an airstrip on St. Helena. [119609]

  Mr. Foulkes
  Discussions with the St. Helena Government on the findings of the comparative study of air and sea access will begin once a final report has been produced. Draft Terms of Reference for the study are currently being considered by the St. Helena Government and it is expected that the study, which will have an elapsed time of some 14 weeks, will start in July or August.

  Asbestos
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will encourage UK firms engaged in overseas construction projects to prohibit the use of asbestos or materials containing it in their current and future schemes. [119606]
  465W
  Mr. Foulkes
  The prohibition of dangerous substances such as asbestos is a matter for Governments rather than private firms. We are committed to working with our partner countries in their efforts to improve standards of environmental regulation and reverse trends in environmental degradation. This may include advice on the prohibition, use and handling of asbestos.

  We also support a proposal from the EC to bring asbestos fibres within the scope of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade. At present only blue asbestos is covered by the Convention.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will take steps to ensure that no asbestos or materials containing it are used in(a) current and (b) future projects funded by her Department; and if she will make a statement. [119605]

  Mr. Foulkes
  Construction standards for buildings built with the Department's assistance in developing countries do not permit the use of asbestos. Occasionally we have assisted with projects involving the modification of buildings which are found to contain asbestos. One such case occurred with the Zimbabwe Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) in the upgrading of air traffic control systems. We introduced specialist technical assistance for DCA staff and contractors to deal with this problem in the short term and be aware of it for the future.

  We have also funded research to develop alternatives to asbestos sheets as roofing materials.

  Period

  Agency

  Area

  Food (MT)

  Non-food

  Total cost(£)

  June 1999-June 2000(Extension for capacity building and rubbhall erection)

  SCF-UK

  Belg producing areas of North and South Wollo,Amhara region

  6,000 cereal, 486 famix

  6 rubbhalls (mobile storage),4 nutritional monitoring teams, training

  1,498,482

  October 1999-February 2000

  SOS Sahel

  Kindo Koisha Woreda,North Omo Zone, SNNPR

  3,000 cereal, 1,000 cereal

  No

  1789,403

  January-August 2000

  Interaide France

  Kindo Koisha Woreda SNNPR

  150 famix

  Nutritional assessment Capacity building, nutritional training.

  92,405

  March-August 2000

  SCF-UK

  Gubaiafto and Wadla Wored as, North Wollo,Amhara region

  6,240 cereal

  Emergency seed provision

  1,482,240

  January-July 2000

  FARM Africa

  Konso Special Woreda, SNNPR

  3,700 cereal

  Emergency seed provision Woreda and regional level emergency response capacity building

  1,098,621

  April-September

  SOS Sahel

  Borana Zone (Yabello, Liben, Arero)

  2,500 cereal, 300 pulses, 200,000 litresoil

  Emergency water tankering. Set up temporary water storage facilities. Emergency seed provision

  1,134,525

  April-December 2000

  SOS Sahel

  Kindo Koisha Woreda, SNNPR

  2,900 cereal

  Emergency distribution of seeds and planting materials

  927,086

  April-October 2000

  Action Contre La Faim (ACF)

  Korahai Zone, SNRS

  128.7 supplementary food

  —

  389,179

  2 months April-May 2000

  WFP

  Bale Zone, Oromiya State

  —

  To provide truck maintenance and to contribute to road clearance

  12,500

  2 months April-May 2000

  WFP

  Beyada Woreda, Amharastate

  —

  Construction of a road bridge and to improve access for relief supplies

  11,250+

  1Purchased from funds remaining from 1999 allocation

  Ethiopia
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent estimate she has made of the length of time it takes for food aid from Britain to reach those in need in Ethiopia. [118812]

  Mr. Foulkes
  Food aid for Britain is provided through NGOs and the World Food Programme. The length of time between purchase and delivery depends considerably on where the food is sourced (much is purchased locally and some comes from the in-country Food Security Reserve) and the accessibility of those in need. The advantages of local produce are mostly in the speed of delivery and the low transport costs.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent representations she has received from the United Nations concerning the drought in Ethiopia. [118819]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The United Nations launched an appeal on 28 January 2000 for US$190 million, requesting relief assistance for some 8 million Ethiopians and 250,000 refugees. This included the provision of approximately 250,000 metric tonnes of food aid to assist 2.3 million beneficiaries. Catherine Bertini, the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy on Drought in the Horn of Africa, is visiting Ethiopia from 11-19 April. We await her report.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid agencies operating in Ethiopia are funded by her Department. [118817]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The following table shows DFID Emergency Funded Interventions through Non Governmental Organisations and international organisations since April 1999.

  Ethiopia and Mozambique (Aid)
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what factors underlay her decision to reduce aid for(a) Ethiopia and (b) Mozambique. [118815]

  Mr. Foulkes
  Ethiopia's military expenditure has steadily increased since war broke out with Eritrea in May 1998. This has led to macro-economic strains and a breakdown in relations with the IFIs. In common with other donors, we are meeting existing commitments under our bilateral development programme, but not taking on any new activities, with the exception of food security. Humanitarian assistance is not affected.

  We have not decided to reduce aid to Mozambique. This year's Departmental Report estimates spending on the country programme at £21.41 million in 1999–2000. This does not include £15 million provided to help Mozambique to reach Heavily Indebted Poor Countries completion point, or humanitarian aid in response to the floods, for which £20 million has been committed. We expect to increase our spending on the country programme in the current financial year.

  Background

  Ethiopia
  Britain's bilateral development programme is currently running at about £4 million-£5 million a year. We are supporting activities in food security; the roads sector; revenue-raising; preparation of the interim PRSP; and the police. Before the war with Eritrea, we had been ready to deepen our development partnership with the Government of Ethiopia because of their commitment to poverty eradication. Our aim was to provide direct budgetary support to the Government to implement their own plans in the social sectors. We intended to start this with a new contribution of £25 million to help the improvement and extension of primary education throughout the country.
  However, since May 1998 when the hostilities broke out and military expenditure increased we have, in common with other donors, not taken on any new activities, with the exception of work on food security. Our planning figures have been adjusted to reflect this: £6 million in each of 2000–01 and 2001–02. Actual expenditure will vary in line with Ethiopia's capacity to end the war and return to the reform agenda it has pursued so strongly in the past. Humanitarian assistance is not affected by this decision. It is provided in response to need and reflects the opportunity to reach those in need and to monitor interventions.

  Natural Disasters
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what procedures have been put in place after 1 March to improve the British Government's response to natural disasters abroad. [118814]

  Mr. Foulkes
  We already have well established and effective procedures to deal with disasters overseas. These are kept under review. We do not consider that any changes are necessary at present.

  Online Services
  Mr. Robert Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the services which(a) her Department and (b) the executive agencies responsible to her Department (i) provide online and (ii) expect to be deliverable online by 2002. [119438]
  468W
  Mr. Foulkes
  We are collecting data which will include our progress on delivering 25 per cent. of Government services electronically by 2002. We currently provide a range of services electronically that include: a website containing information on Departmental publications, research data, contract opportunities and vacancies; a Public Inquiry Point staffed by a dedicated team able to provide a direct response or route the inquiry to the most appropriate respondent; all press releases and speeches, publications and publicly available research data issued by the Department which may be ordered electronically or downloaded directly from the website; guidelines and application forms for several DFID funding programmes.

  In the public arena we use electronic means to support payment of pensions to ex-colonial pensioners and dependants. Future plans include the introduction of electronic invoices and e-tendering, subject to a successful trial by the Office of Government Commerce. These initiatives are planned to be introduced by 2002 and progress will be monitored as part of the Department's Public Service Agreement. We do not have responsibility for any external agencies.

  AIDS 2000 Conference, Durban
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if members of her Department will be attending the AIDS 2000 conference in Durban in July. [119048]

  Mr. Foulkes
  We attach great importance to the first World AIDS conference to be held in Africa. Officials from the Health and Population Department and advisers based in our Southern Africa office will be attending the conference.

  Multilateral Debt Relief
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the countries she expects to qualify for multilateral debt relief at the end of April, indicating the amount of bilateral debt they each owe to the Exchequer. [118098]

  Mr. Timms
  I have been asked to reply.

  The countries that have already qualified for relief under the enhanced HIPC initiative are: Bolivia, who owes approximately £17.5 million to the UK's Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD); Mauritania, (who owes approximately £7 million to ECGD); Mozambique, (who owes approximately £91 million to ECGD); Tanzania, (who owes approximately £115 million to ECGD); and Uganda (who owes approximately £5.5 million to ECGD).

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  European Court of Human Rights
  Mr. David Heath
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the implications of recent judgments in the European Court of Human Rights for the role of the Lord Chancellor. [118162]

  Mr. Lock
  The position of the Lord Chancellor is unaffected by the McGonnell judgment. It is confined to the special position of the bailiff of Guernsey and to his
  469W
  role in that particular case. The Lord Chancellor has always maintained that the question in every case is whether Article 6 is complied with on the facts. The European Court confirmed this saying:
  The question is whether, in a given case, the requirements of the Convention are met.

  Also, the court accepted the Government's submission that neither Article 6 nor any other provision of the Convention required
  states to comply with any theoretical concepts as such.

  Safe Cells
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many safe cells were installed in courts in the last financial year; and how many will be installed in the current financial year. [118163]

  Jane Kennedy
  Custody areas in courts are not designed for holding individuals overnight. They do not reflect, therefore, the design requirements of HM Prison Service's improved standard cell. No cells to the improved standard cell design were installed in courts in 1999–2000 or are planned to be installed in 2000–01.

  Public Trust Office
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations he has received concerning the investments made on behalf of individuals by the Public Trust Office. [118164]

  Jane Kennedy
  My officials have consulted widely on all aspects of potential change in the Public Trust Office, including the changes to be made to the investment function. Representations have been received from the Public Trust Office's major stakeholders, the Law Society, the judiciary, members of the public, the trade unions and staff. My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor made a statement on the future of the Public Trust Office on 11 April.

  Magistrates
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps he is taking to ensure that magistrates are drawn from all social and economic classes. [118165]

  Jane Kennedy
  My hon. Friend will know from previous answers I have given her that the local Advisory Committees are requested by my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor actively to encourage applications from people from all backgrounds, and his officials to monitor with care their success in doing so. A considerable amount of effort in particular is directed towards encouraging people from those sections of the community who historically have not applied. My noble and learned Friend is resolved to ensure that local benches reflect the communities they serve.

  Judges
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department on how many occasions since May 1997 the Lord Chancellor has had cause to reprimand members of the judiciary for inappropriate comments made in court. [118166]
  470W
  Jane Kennedy
  The Lord Chancellor, as Head of the Judiciary, is responsible for dealing with all matters of judicial conduct. He takes a firm line with any Judge whose behaviour falls short of what both he and the public expects. Since May 1997 there have been five instances where he has had cause to reprimand a Judge for comments made in court.

  Ms McCafferty
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans the Government have to institute a complaints procedure against Judges. [119192]

  Jane Kennedy
  Procedures for investigating complaints about the personal conduct of Judges are well established. The Lord Chancellor will ask the Judge to comment on the complaint and will study those comments very carefully before sending a full reply. He may also obtain the tape recording or transcript of proceedings or seek the views of others who were present. The Lord Chancellor expects all Judges to uphold the standards of courtesy and consideration which generally exist in British public life. He therefore takes the handling of complaints very seriously.

  Given the independence of the judiciary the Lord Chancellor cannot investigate complaints about judicial decisions. If a litigant is dissatisfied with the outcome of a hearing, the remedy is to take legal advice and appeal to a superior court if so advised.

  Social Security Commissioners
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what progress has been made in publishing decisions of the social security commissioners. [118167]

  Jane Kennedy
  A meeting between representatives from the DSS, Appeals Service and the Court Service Agency took place on 28 March 2000. At the meeting it was agreed that the DSS publications team in Leeds would arrange for publication and distribution of decisions in loose-leaf format with storage binders. Thereafter all decisions will be published and distributed as a package on a quarterly basis with an updated table of contents.

  Community Legal Service
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on progress with the establishment of the Community Legal Service. [118168]

  Mr. Lock
  The Lord Chancellor officially launched the Community Legal Service (CLS) on 3 April, and it marked:the unveiling of the CLS Quality Mark, which is the public symbol of quality assured legal service providers, and has already been awarded to over 6,000 providers;
  the publication of the CLS Directory of legal services, which provides details of 15,000 service providers;
  the launch of the new CLS website "Just Ask", which carries the CLS Directory of legal services, and has links to several hundred advice sites;

  471W
  the start of the CLS telephone helpline for those seeking details of local providers;
  the announcement that there are now 70 CLS Partnerships covering a third of the population of England and Wales;
  the publication of the "Guidance for CLS Partnerships" in draft form for consultation
  the publication of the consultation paper "Performance Indicators for CLS partnerships"; and
  the announcement that a further £46 million will be spent on legal help, including £23 million of new funding. The extra funds will mean that the Legal Services Commission will expand contracting to enable providers to help more clients.

  Criminal Trials
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the use of the dock in criminal trials. [118169]

  Jane Kennedy
  Docks provide security for those in the courtroom as well as adding a degree of formality to the hearing. They provide a practical system that has worked over the years. There are no plans to make any changes to the existing arrangements for adult cases. In the youth court a more informal style may be appropriate such as that in the Inner London Youth Courts where there is no dock. The defendant normally sits with his parent or youth justice worker and lawyer. All parties are at the same level. This can help communication and engage the defendant in the proceedings. That is why my Department and the Home Office have sponsored the youth demonstration projects in Leicestershire with Rutland and in Rotherham. They are independently evaluated programmes that investigate ways in which young offenders, and those responsible for them—parents and family—can be engaged more effectively in the court process. The programmes are also exploring the potential benefits of greater transparency in the youth justice process, physical and environmental changes, and more feedback to justices on the effect of their sentencing. The projects are being evaluated by Sheffield University, and the findings will be used to inform good practice advice for all youth courts later this year.

  Trial by Jury
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the impact of proposed reforms of trial by jury on the operation of magistrates courts. [118170]

  Jane Kennedy
  We estimate that there will be an additional 12,000 cases to be handled in the magistrates courts as a result of the Criminal Justice (Mode of Trial) No. 2 Bill.

SCOTLAND

  Drug Deaths
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action his Department is taking in relation to the increase in the number of drug deaths in Scotland. [118132]

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures his Department is undertaking to combat the increase in drug deaths in Scotland. [118138]
  472W
  Mr. Wilson
  Responsibility for action to prevent drug-related deaths lies with the Scottish Executive, working within the common UK-wide statutory framework.

  Reduction of drug-related deaths is a key objective of Scotland's drug strategy.

  Shipbuilding (Apprenticeships)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the number of apprenticeships in the shipbuilding industry(a) currently, (b) in April 1990 and (c) in April 1980. [118133]

  Dr. Reid
  Information from the Engineering and Marine Training Authority indicates that there are currently 134 Modem Apprentices training in the shipbuilding industry in Scotland compared with approximately 200 in 1990 and a similar number in 1980.

  Responsibility for the development of training programmes in Scotland, including the Modern Apprenticeship scheme, is a matter for the Scottish Executive.

  Minimum Wage
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many enforcement actions have been taken in Scotland to ensure that employers pay the national minimum wage. [118134]

  Dr. Reid
  Since the introduction of the national minimum wage on 1 April 1999, National Minimum Wage inspectors in Scotland have received 279 complaints and issued 12 enforcement notices.

  Ms Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the enforcement of the minimum wage. [118137]

  Dr. Reid
  Enforcement of the national minimum wage has been a success. Since the introduction of the national minimum wage on 1 April last year, minimum wage inspectors in Scotland have received 279 complaints and issued 12 enforcement notices. The Inland Revenue's national minimum wage inspectors have recovered some £1.25 million of underpayments for low-paid workers across the UK. The message is getting across that inspectors will use their powers to pursue non-complying employers. However, I am pleased that the majority of employers have responded well to the introduction of the minimum wage which benefits some 100,000 workers in Scotland.

  Employment
  Mr. Tynan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on employment levels in Scotland. [118135]

  Dr. Reid
  Latest data show that employment in Scotland stood at 2,324,000 as at November 1999 to January 2000, around its highest level since 1966.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the prospects for employment in Scotland. [118143]

  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the prospects for employment in Scotland. [118150]
  473W
  Dr. Reid
  The prospects for employment in Scotland are good. The three main independent forecasters (Fraser of Allander Institute, Business Strategies Ltd. and Cambridge Econometrics) expect employment in Scotland, which is currently at around its highest level since 1966, to rise in each year between 2000 and 2002.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department regarding the dispersal of refugees and asylum seekers throughout the United Kingdom. [118136]

  Dr. Reid
  I have regular discussions with my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to discuss various matters.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the current number of asylum seekers and refugees placed in Scotland. [118146]

  Dr. Reid
  As at 28 January 2000, the most recent date for which figures are available, 610 asylum seekers were being supported by local authorities in Scotland.

  In addition, about 250 of the refugees from Kosovo who came to Scotland in 1999 under the Kosovo Humanitarian Evacuation Programme currently remain in Scotland.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many asylum seekers have registered with each local authority in Scotland at the most recent date for which figures are available. [117658]

  Dr. Reid
  [holding answer 4 April 2000]: As at 28 January 2000, the most recent date for which figures are available (from claim forms submitted by local authorities), the number of asylum seekers being supported by local authorities in Scotland were as follows:

  Local authority

  Number of asylum seekers

  Aberdeen City

  18

  Aberdeenshire

  2

  Argyll and Bute

  1

  Dumfries and Galloway

  2

  Dundee City

  8

  East Renfrewshire

  6

  Edinburgh, City of

  308

  Fife

  11

  Glasgow City

  225

  Midlothian

  2

  North Lanarkshire

  15

  Renfrewshire

  3

  South Ayrshire

  1

  South Lanarkshire

  2

  Stirling

  4

  West Dunbartonshire

  1

  West Lothian

  1

  East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, Falkirk and Highland also assisted asylum seekers during the year, but were not doing so at 28 January.

  Student Finances
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received about student finances and tuition fees. [118139]
  474W
  Mr. Wilson
  I have received representations on a wide range of issues including student finance and tuition fees.

  Winter Fuel Payments
  Mr. Savidge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Scottish pensioners will benefit from the new rates for winter fuel payments. [118140]

  Dr. Reid
  Over 900,000 Scottish pensioners will benefit from the increase in the Winter Fuel Payment from £100 to £150. In addition the age of eligibility for payments is being equalised at 60. We estimate that in Scotland up to an extra 150,000 people will be eligible for the payments from next winter.

  Coalfields
  Mr. Eric Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he is taking to regenerate coalfield communities in Scotland. [118141]

  Dr. Reid
  The Coalfields Regeneration Trust was established following the recommendations of the Coalfields Task Force Report, commissioned by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister.

  Implementation of the Task Force's recommendations in Scotland is a matter for the Scottish Executive. The Scottish Executive Deputy Minister for Communities announced an allocation of £4.5 million funding over three years for Scotland last month.

  Postal Services
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are being taken to improve postal services in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [118142]

  Mr. Wilson
  This Government remain determined to ensure that the Post Office is better equipped to serve all its customers in every part of the country, as signalled in the Postal Services Bill.

  The Government are also committed to helping the Post Office to meet the changing needs of its customers. All post offices, including those in Scotland, will benefit from the £480 million computerisation programme due to be completed by 2001.

  Harris Tweed Industry
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his recent discussions with other Departments about assistance for the Harris Tweed industry. [118144]

  Mr. Wilson
  I am in regular discussion with the Scottish Executive and British Trade International about assisting the Harris Tweed industry in promoting and marketing its product, particularly overseas. We are also planning a major PR event for the industry to be held at Dover House later this year.
  475W
  In the meantime, the consultants retained by Western Isles Enterprise on duty rates have spent the last few months lobbying influential US business organisations to enlist support for the Harris Tweed Authority's bid to amend their preferential tariff to encompass double-width cloth. They have encountered no objections to this move.

  Student Support
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations he has had with colleagues in England concerning student support following the publication of the Quigley report. [118145]

  Mr. Wilson
  I have regular contact with colleagues in other Departments about a wide range of issues.

  Representation
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will bring forward plans to change the system of representation on the added members list. [118147]

  Dr. Reid
  We have no plans to change the system of representation on the added members list. The purpose of the additional members is to ensure that the number of seats won by each party in the Parliament more accurately reflect the votes cast for those parties. That can only be done when both constituency and regional votes are cast on the same day.

  NHS Computer Records
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures he has taken to ensure that computer records held by the NHS in Scotland are compatible with records held throughout the United Kingdom. [118148]

  Dr. Reid
  The administration of the NHS in Scotland is a devolved matter for the Scottish Executive. My role is to ensure that, where necessary, good and effective liaison takes place between the Executive and the Department of Health.

  Economy
  Mr. Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of the trade unions and the business community to discuss the Scottish economy; and if he will make a statement. [118149]

  Dr. Reid
  I meet regularly with representatives of the trade unions and the business community to discuss a wide range of issues. I had the pleasure of attending and addressing the Annual Congress of the STUC in Edinburgh yesterday.

  Forth Railway Bridge
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list his Department's responsibilities in relation to the care and maintenance of the Forth railway bridge. [118131]

  Mr. Wilson
  Responsibility for care and maintenance of the Forth Railway Bridge rests with Railtrack. The Rail Regulator is responsible for ensuring that Railtrack complies with its obligations under the Railways (Safety Cases) Regulations 1994 and with other legal obligations in relation to the safety of the bridge and its operations.

ADVOCATE-GENERAL FOR SCOTLAND

  Devolution
  Miss Begg
  To ask the Advocate-General how many devolution-related issues have been raised with her in the last month; and what subjects they have been concerned with. [118153]

  The Advocate-General for Scotland
  During the month from 11 March to 11 April there were 102 devolution notices intimated to me. Broadly the notices can be divided into nine subjects—delays in trials, lack of access to a solicitor, legal aid questions, temporary sheriffs, cases under the Road Traffic Act, hearsay evidence, covert police operations, confiscation proceedings and civil cases.

  European Convention on Human Rights
  Mr. Savidge
  To ask the Advocate-General what steps she is taking to inform UK Government Departments of Scottish experience in applying the European convention on human rights since devolution. [118154]

  The Advocate-General for Scotland
  I have already visited a number of Government Departments to discuss matters, including the Scottish experience of Convention rights, with their legal advisers; and intend to continue to do so. Lawyers in my Department also have frequent discussions at official level with their counterparts in UK Departments on these issues.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Advocate-General if she will visit The Hague to discuss the operation of the European convention on human rights. [118155]

  The Advocate-General for Scotland
  At present I have no plans to do so.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  GM Materials
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent research his Department has carried out into the effects on the food chain of animals eating foods containing genetically modified materials. [119015]

  Ms Stuart
  I have been asked to reply.

  I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that there is no evidence to suggest that animals digest feed containing modified genetic material any differently from animal feed containing non-modified genetic material. Relevant work has considered the effects of the processing of materials used in animal feed to determine the extent to which genetic material is disrupted. One such project is due to be reported to the Food Standards Agency in the next few weeks. We also understand that the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is considering a proposed project to establish the pathways of DNA from genetically modified material.

  Pork (Labelling)
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken since March
  477W
  1999 to ensure that British pork is labelled so that it can be distinguished from imported pork packaged in the United Kingdom. [117397]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 3 April 2000]: I have been asked to reply.

  On 1 February the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food issued tough new guidance to industry and enforcement authorities emphasising the need to ensure that country of origin markings on food labels are unambiguous. The guidelines make it clear that, under current legislation which protects consumers from misleading presentation of foods, imported pork packaged in Great Britain should not be labelled as "British".

  Fishing
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what rules he has set Financial Fisheries Guidance grant and European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund applicants from Objective 1 regions. [119346]

  Mr. Morley
  The European Commission has yet to agree the Single Programming Document for the Cornwall and the Scilly Isles Objective 1 area, including the proposed priorities and measures funded through the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund 478W
  (Guidance). Rules for applicants will be finalised following Commission approval and consistently with the relevant European Regulations.

  Personal Documentation
  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for what purposes his Department and its executive agencies require a birth certificate to be furnished by(a) employees, (b) contractors, (c) those applying for employment or contracts and (b) other persons. [118773]

  Mr. Morley
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the right hon. Member for Ross, Skye and Inverness, West (Mr. Kennedy) on 8 June 1999,Official Report, columns 252-53W.

  Organic Food
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the annual turnover of the organic food sector was in the last financial year for which figures are available and what percentage this represented of(a) the turnover of the agricultural sector and (b) GDP. [118567]

  Mr. Morley
  The farmgate value of organic food production in the UK in the period April 1998 to April 1999 is estimated to have been around £51 million. This represented 0.3 per cent. of the UK agricultural gross output and 0.003 per cent. of GDP.

  Defence Evaluation and Research Agency
  Defence Evaluation and Research Agency
  Postage Stamp Themes
  Postage Stamp Themes
  Sheltered Accommodation: Free Television Licences
  Sheltered Accommodation: Free Television Licences
  Driving Licence Applications: Processing Period
  Driving Licence Applications: Processing Period
  Horse Enterprises on Farms: Rate Relief
  Horse Enterprises on Farms: Rate Relief
  Belfast International Airport: International Services
  Belfast International Airport: International Services
  London-Aberdeen Rail Route: Improvement
  London-Aberdeen Rail Route: Improvement
  Minister for Transport: Meetings
  Minister for Transport: Meetings
  Northern Ireland: Integrated Education
  Northern Ireland: Integrated Education
  Sure Start Programme
  Sure Start Programme
  Northern Ireland Railway System
  Northern Ireland Railway System
  Belfast City Airport: Flight Limits
  Belfast City Airport: Flight Limits
  European Community: History of UK Entry Negotiations
  European Community: History of UK Entry Negotiations
  EU: Bilateral Relationship with Austria
  EU: Bilateral Relationship with Austria
  Min Ko Naing
  Min Ko Naing
  Zimbabwe
  Zimbabwe
  Zimbabwe and DRC: Defence Equipment
  Zimbabwe and DRC: Defence Equipment
  Nagorno-Karabakh
  Nagorno-Karabakh
  Yugoslavia: Financial Sanctions
  Yugoslavia: Financial Sanctions
  Community Safety and Partnership: Report
  Community Safety and Partnership: Report
  Commission for Racial Equality
  Commission for Racial Equality
  BSE: Progress Report
  BSE: Progress Report
  Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Regulatory Reform Bill
  Regulatory Reform Bill
  Prime Minister's Website
  Prime Minister's Website
  Ministerial Code: Compliance
  Ministerial Code: Compliance
  Government Expenditure on Advertising
  Government Expenditure on Advertising
  Electoral Reform Ballot Services Ltd
  Electoral Reform Ballot Services Ltd