Written Answers of 7 December 2000

HEALTH

  Human Fertilisation and Embryology
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the annual report of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. [141301]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has published its ninth Annual Report today. The Report has been laid before the House in accordance with the requirements of section 7(3) of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to implement the provisions of the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000. [141300]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Children (Leaving Care) Act received Royal Assent on 30 November. Local authorities will need sufficient time to prepare thoroughly for implementation once the regulations and guidance are published. Following representations from local government, the Action on Aftercare Consortium (AOAC), Association of Directors of Social Services (ADSS), Local Government Association and others, we have therefore decided that the legislation will take effect from October 2001, to allow sufficient time for these processes. In the meantime, we shall continue to use the Quality Protects programme and the Quality Protects Special Grant to encourage and finance local authorities' work to bring their local policies into line with the Act and to put systems in place to be ready for full implementation. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister will shortly be announcing revised details of Revenue Support Grant allocations for 2001–02.

TREASURY

  Financial Services and Markets Act 2000
  Barbara Follett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about recent developments in the preparation of secondary legislation under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. [142033]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Treasury today issued consultation documents on six pieces of secondary legislation under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 comprising: redress for contravention of an FSA requirement or rule; certain disclosures of information under the Act; service of notices under the Act; recognition requirements for investment exchanges and clearing houses; investments and markets prescribed for market abuse; and transitional provisions.
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  Copies of all six consultation documents have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Further copies are available from the Treasury, and can also be accessed via the Treasury's website: www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/pub/html/reg/index.html.

  These consultation documents are in addition to two issued on 26 October on secondary legislation to be made under the Financial Services and Markets Act concerning the scope of FSA regulation and the promotion of financial services.

  Fiscal Intervention
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost to the UK of the intervention to purchase euros and the additional purchase of euros by his instruction to the Bank of England to sell gold. [135984]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [pursuant to her reply, 9 November 2000, c. 339W]: The total proceeds from the gold auctions held to date is $2 billion, not $2.1 billion.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Maternity Pay and Parental Leave
  Mrs. Fitzsimons
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress there has been on the review of maternity pay and parental leave. [141937]

  Mr. Byers
  I am pleased to announce the publication today of the Green Paper "Work and Parents: Competitiveness and Choice". I have placed a copy of the Green Paper in the Libraries of the House.

  This Green Paper is the result of extensive discussions with parents, employers and their representatives. It marks an important stage in the most comprehensive review of work and parents ever undertaken by a Government in Britain.

  The Green Paper sets out a number of options on the key issues and invites people to indicate which options are of greatest priority to them and will best balance the needs of working parents and business. The Government will then decide how best to proceed.

  This is the first step towards a future where being a good parent and a good employee are not in conflict. Supporting parents to balance family life and work commitments enable parents to make a full contribution to the competitiveness and productivity of our economy. It also helps to ensure that British business is able to recruit and retain skilled employees while maintaining the flexibility essential to compete globally.

  This document looks at how choice for both parents and employers might be achieved. This is an opportunity to shape a new deal to support parents and business. The closing date for comments is 7 March 2001.

  Measurement Research
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to improve the value of investment in Measurement Research to the economy. [141938]
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  Ms Hewitt
  The National Measurement System (NMS) has a critical role in the UK's national industrial competitiveness. The NMS is underpinned by research programmes funded by my Department. We commissioned an independent review which concluded that the NMS research programme directly affects some 0.8 per cent. (£5 billion a year) of UK Gross Domestic Product by supporting the introduction of new measurement standards and methods. In the light of the conclusions of that review we have decided that the purpose of my Department's investment in measurement standards should be:To meet the needs of users in industry and the community by driving up measurement standards while continuing to work at the leading edge of measurement research.

  There is however, more we can do to ensure that we get the best value from public expenditure in this area and we are implementing a plan of action to improve the value that investment in NMS delivers to the economy. The principal features of the action plan are to:
  introduce new NMS research programmes to meet the needs of emerging technologies like Biotechnology and technological developments such as internet Calibration. There will also be a new programme to improve the dissemination and exploitation of NMS results;
  improve the diffusion of NMS results by direct involvement of industry when NMS programmes are being drawn up and by pursuing more industrial partnership;
  increase the level of competitive tendering for NMS research programmes;
  expand the membership of the Government's existing advisory body (the Measurement Advisory Committee) to give more emphasis to the future needs of industry and to include stronger representation from new technology areas;
  introduce a new programme to enhance international trade and UK competitiveness overseas by improving co-ordination of our measurement system with those of other countries.

  Detailed preparation of the new programmes is now under way. Technical work is scheduled to start in April 2001. In addition my Department has recently awarded contracts worth a total of £38 million for research programmes on Analytical Measurement, Time & Frequency and Electrical Measurement.

  I have today placed a copy of the consultant's report in the Library of the House. The text of the report is also available on the DTI website at www.dti.gov.uk/nmd.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Local Authority Housing
  Ms Rosie Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to make an announcement about the distribution to local authorities of housing capital resources for 2001–02. [141391]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Housing capital allocations for 2001–02 have now been finalised and sent to local authorities. The total of these allocations and the resources for capital works on the council housing stock to be distributed through the new Major Repairs Allowance amount to around £2.6 billion, an increase of about a quarter on the current year. I am arranging for a table giving details of authorities' allocations to be placed in 4W
  the Libraries of the House. The table also shows the performance band in which each authority has been placed.

  Local Authority Guidance
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to issue statutory guidance to local authorities on community strategies. [141513]

  Ms Armstrong
  Section 4 of the Local Government Act 2000 requires local authorities to prepare a community strategy to improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of their area and contribute to the achievement of sustainable development in the UK. The Government issued draft guidance for English local authorities for consultation in June and received nearly 350 responses from a wide range of local authorities, public sector organisations, voluntary and community sector groups, businesses and private individuals. We are publishing today statutory guidance on preparing community strategies, updated in the light of this consultation and recent policy developments; copies are being sent to all local authorities in England.

  The guidance makes clear that community strategies should be prepared and implemented in partnership with other local stakeholders, and that partnerships should actively engage the participation of local people in the process. This guidance is supported by all the main policy departments who sponsor or regulate other organisations that we hope will work with councils in local strategic partnerships to prepare community strategies.

  At the same time, we are issuing for consultation draft guidance for local authorities in England on their new power in section 2 of the 2000 Act to promote or improve economic, social and environmental well-being. The consultation period will last until 9 February 2001. Copies of these documents have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament. Electronic copies, together with a document setting out the Government's analysis of the consultation on the community strategies guidance and our response to the key points made, will also be available on my Department's website.

  Dog Identification
  Ms Southworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how he intends to carry forward the recommendations of the Dog Identification Group on the permanent identification of dogs. [141619]

  Mr. Hill
  The Dog Identification Group Report was submitted to me in September. After careful consideration, and discussions with my colleagues in the devolved Administrations, and in other Government Departments which also have responsibilities for dogs, I have decided to put the DIG recommendations out to consultation so that all those with an interest in dogs can make their views known. The Group has recommended a voluntary scheme for the permanent identification of dogs by either microchip or tattoo. The Report will be published tomorrow and copies will be laid in the Libraries of both Houses. The Report will also be put on the DETR website. The consultation will run until 31 March 2001.

  Disability Rights
  Mr. Kemp
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made in response to the transport recommendations of the Disability Rights Task Force report "From Exclusion to Inclusion". [141620]

  Mr. Hill
  As my hon. Friend the Minister for Employment and Equal Opportunities announced on 20 November 2000,Official Report, column 39W, the Government hope to be in a position to publish a formal response to the DRTF report as a whole around the end of February 2001. My Department has been considering the proposals as they relate to transport.

  The Government have already made significant progress in implementing the transport provisions of the DDA. This has been achieved largely as a result of wide discussions with the transport industries and disability organisations. This process of consultation has resulted in regulations setting standards of access for rail vehicles and regulations applying similar standards to buses and coaches. I also recently laid before the House regulations which will place taxi drivers under a duty to carry guide, hearing and other assistance dogs.

  I have asked my officials, building on the work that has already been undertaken, to discuss the DRTF recommendations widely with industry and with disability organisations. Our goal will be to find ways in which we can take forward the recommendations to deliver further improvements in access and mobility to disabled people without compromising the viability of industry.

  Class 460 Trains
  Mr. Quinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what amendment has been made to the exemption order for the fleet of new Class 460 trains introduced into service by Gatwick Express in respect of any of the provisions of the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 1998; and if he will make a statement. [141621]

  Mr. Hill
  We have received a further application from Gatwick Express relating to their Class 460 trains. This seeks to amend the original Order by extending existing exemptions. The exemptions have been discussed with our statutory advisers the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee. An exemption Order relating to the exemption of these trains has been laid in Parliament.

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

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Iraq (Exports)
  Mr. Leslie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what goods, subject to strategic export controls, have recently been approved for export to Iraq. [141390]
  6W
  Mr. Hain
  Following consultation with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Trade and Industry recently approved a licence to export 12 electronic exploders, controlled under the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, as amended, to the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) for use in demining activities in Iraq under the UN Oil for Food Programme. The export of these goods to Iraq has been approved by the UN Sanctions Committee.

PRIME MINISTER

  Performance and Innovation Unit
  Dr. George Turner
  To ask the Prime Minister what additional projects are planned for the Performance and Innovation Unit; and if he will make a statement. [141302]

  The Prime Minister
  I have asked the Performance and Innovation Unit, in close collaboration with the Treasury, to undertake a project on the future role of Government in making loans to individuals and businesses. The project will develop a framework for assessing future initiatives involving loans, and will also examine the scope for improving the administration of loans. The Chief Secretary to the Treasury will be the Sponsor Minister for this project, which will report by autumn 2001.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Pig Industry
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the pig industry restructuring scheme will open for applications; and if he will make a statement. [141512]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  On 4 December, I was able to announce that the Outgoers element of the Pig Industry Restructuring Scheme was open for applications. This announcement delivers a further component of the Government's Agricultural Strategy. It was particularly pleasing to announce the opening of phase one of a scheme that will make a significant amount of money available to the UK pig industry; a sector that has suffered terribly over the past two years. While market conditions have improved recently, the scale of the debt incurred over those difficult times continues to be a major restraint on the industry's ability to prepare itself for the future. The Government's restructuring scheme will go some way towards remedying that situation.

  The European Commission has confirmed that it is content with the Outgoers part of the restructuring scheme. As promised, this first phase was opened as soon as possible after receiving that confirmation. I am confident that formal clearance from the Commission for both phases of the Pig Industry Restructuring Scheme will be obtained later this month.

  The aim of Outgoers is to reduce pig breeding capacity in the UK by 16 per cent. compared to what was available in June 1998 in order to allow the British pig industry to begin its necessary restructuring. Discussions with the UK

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  pig industry are continuing on Ongoers and we hope to be in a position to open this second phase of the restructuring scheme early in the new year.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Acceptance of Pleas
  Mr. Anthony D. Wright
  To ask the Solicitor-General 8W
  when the Attorney General's guidelines on the Acceptance of Pleas by the prosecution in criminal proceedings will be published. [141514]

  The Solicitor-General
  The Attorney-General is publishing his Guidelines on the Acceptance of Pleas by the prosecution in criminal proceedings today. A copy of the Guidelines is being placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament. These documents can also be found on the website for the Legal Secretariat to the Law Offices at www.lslo.gov.uk.

  Pig Industry Restructuring Scheme
  Pig Industry Restructuring Scheme