Written Answers of 13 December 2000

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Placement Panel
  Mr. űpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many boys who have been assessed by the Placement Panel were recommended as suitable for transfer from Lisnevin to another juvenile justice centre; and if he will make a statement; [142166]

  (2) if children can be legally represented at the Placement Panel; and if he will make a statement; [142170]

  (3) who is responsible for deciding whether to implement the decisions of the Placement Panel; on what criteria this decision is made; and if he will make a statement; [142168]

  (4) how many boys assessed to be suitable for transfer by the Placement Panel were transferred to (a) St. Patrick's and (b) Rathgael; and if he will make a statement; [142167]

  (5) if there is an appeals process against the decisions of the Placement Panel; and if he will make a statement; [142171]

  (6) what the current membership of the Placement Panel is; and if he will make a statement; [142169]

  (7) how many boys in Lisnevin have been assessed by the Placement Panel for suitability for transfer to another juvenile justice centre since the introduction of the Criminal Justice (Children) (NI) (1998); and if he will make a statement. [142165]

  Mr. Ingram
  In the period 1 February 1999, when the provisions of the Criminal Justice (Children) (NI) Order 1998 came into effect, to 4 December 2000, a total of 537 cases of boys in custody in Lisnevin were assessed by the Placement Panel for suitability for transfer to a different juvenile justice centre. A number of boys would have been remanded several times in the period and accordingly their cases would have been reviewed on a number of occasions.

  In the same period, 93 recommendations for transfer to another less secure juvenile justice centre were made. Of these recommendations 59 transferred to St. Patrick's and 13 to Rathgael. Rathgael Juvenile Justice Centre is largely reserved for girls but will also accommodate a small number of especially vulnerable boys whereas St. Patrick's accepted boys only.

  It is the duty of the Secretary of State [under para 1(1) of Schedule 2 of the Criminal Justice (Children' s)(NI) Order 1998] to determine the placement of children sent to custody by the courts. Routinely boys, who are either remanded or committed, go directly to Lisnevin and the Secretary of State obtains advice from the non-statutory
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  Placement Panel. The Panel comprises representatives from the three Juvenile Justice Centres, Probation and Juvenile Justice Branch of the Northern Ireland Office. Other specialists' input is called upon as required, for example from a psychologist who specialises in the treatment of children in custody.

  The function of the Panel is to advise the Secretary of State and his officials on placements. The Secretary of State's responsibility when deciding on placement has to balance the need of the child in terms of custodial surroundings and the child's own best interests with the wider need to protect the public and prevent the children from reoffending. As the legislation is intended to restrict custody to the most serious and persistent offenders, who present the most challenging behaviour, secure accommodation is more appropriate to their needs in most cases.

  Children's views of placement are made known to the Panel through the normal assessment process. The issue of placement came before the courts by way of a judicial review challenging a decision of the Secretary of State to place a boy in Lisnevin rather than St. Patrick's. In his judgment, the Lord Chief Justice for NI found that the Secretary of State's decision was not in breach of the standard international rules on the treatment of children, no abuse of power had occurred and there was no evidence that the applicant had suffered any disadvantage arising from the Secretary of State's placement decision. There is no appeals procedure as such; however children are advised of the Secretary of State's decision and during the course of the period when the child is in custody his or her case is kept under review. In the case referred to above, the Lord Chief Justice also found that this element of the procedure also fulfilled human rights obligations.

  With the consolidation of all juvenile justice custodial services onto a single site, the placement process will become obsolescent in its present form.

  Official Publications
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list each new publication issued by his Department since 1997; and what the total cost is to the Department of each publication. [141471]

  Mr. Mandelson
  Details of Northern Ireland Office publications from 1997 to the end of March 1999 can be found in the "Northern Ireland, Expenditure Plans and Priorities" reports published by the Department of Finance and Personnel/HM Treasury; CMs 3616, 3916 and 4217 refer. For the period 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000, this information can be found in the Northern Ireland Office 2000 Departmental Report (Cm 4621). Copies of all four reports can be found in the Library. The information for the current year is being collated and will be published in the spring in the Northern Ireland Office's 2001 Departmental Report.

  Information on the total cost of each publication is not available centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Sponsored Immigrants
  Mr. Singh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how the Social Security (Immigration and Asylum) Consequential Amendments Regulations 2000 affect access to benefits for sponsored immigrants whose sponsors have died. [142858]

  Mr. Bayley
  There is no change to the policy that access to benefits should be available to a sponsored person where the person who undertook to support him has died. A technical defect in the amendments made by the Social Security (Immigration and Asylum) Consequential Amendments Regulations 2000 places an unintended restriction of six weeks on the period for which Income Support is available. We intend to bring forward amending regulations to correct the defect. In the meantime, extra-statutory payments will be made to any affected cases that do arise to ensure that the policy intention is met.

  Benefits
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many applications for Attendance Allowance have(a) been subject to reconsideration and (b) successful at reconsideration; and what was the average number of days taken to process appeals in each quarter of the last three years; [141493]

  (2) how many (a) claims, (b) reviews, (c) reconsiderations and (d) appeals there were on which a decision had not been reached at the end of each quarter of the last three years. [141494]

  Mr. Bayley
  The information is not available in the format requested as it is not possible, from overall statistics, to track individual claims through subsequent stages. The figures therefore show the total number or reconsiderations. All figures relate to Attendance Allowance.

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  Reconsiderations and Reviews

  June

  9,038

  8,766

  2,267

  September

  8,437

  8,671

  2,177

  December

  6,851

  2,589

  —

  March

  10,398

  1,954

  —

  Success rate of Reconsideration and Review decisions made in this period

  June (percentage)

  43

  39

  34

  September (percentage)

  38

  37

  43

  December (percentage)

  43

  33

  —

  March (percentage)

  40

  40

  —

  Average Clearance time for Appeals (working days)

  June

  28.7

  46.1

  70.8

  September

  33.8

  50.4

  76.7

  December

  28.6

  1—

  —

  March

  36.1

  65

  —

  Claims outstanding

  June

  26,220

  34,757

  47,726

  September

  29,614

  32,026

  30,362

  December

  30,569

  42,183

  —

  March

  35,501

  47,927

  —

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  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  Reviews and Reconsiderations outstanding

  June

  14,606

  19,205

  4,438

  September

  15,489

  19,229

  4,110

  December

  15,493

  14,977

  —

  March

  17,310

  6,337

  —

  Appeals outstanding

  June

  475

  765

  4,378

  September

  507

  701

  4,237

  December

  397

  1,905

  —

  March

  518

  3,542

  —

  1 Statistics are not available for this quarter due to a technical difficulty

  Note

  From October 1999, considerations replaced reviews as the mechanism for looking again at decisions

  I refer the hon. Member to my written answers on 22 November 2000, Official Report, columns 229–30W, and 7 November 2000, Official Report, columns 162–63W in which I stated that new procedures for assessing claims for Disability Living Allowance (DLA)/Attendance Allowance (AA) were introduced last year to improve the accuracy of decisions on entitlement.

  As with any major change to the processing of benefit, there was a lengthy period of adjustment both in the preceding months and immediately after the new procedures became effective. As a result, significant backlogs of work built up in DLA/AA operations. This has been tackled as a priority and work in most areas of the business has now returned to acceptable levels. However, as claims have been processed, this has led to increases in the levels of appeals outstanding as cases work through the system. Achieving a reduction in the level of appeals outstanding has been our highest priority and the numbers outstanding have reduced steadily in recent months.

  SERPS
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many outstanding claims for payment of SERPs to newly retired pensioners there were in January and June of each year since 1997; and if he will he make a statement; [141515]

  (2) what amounts of arrears of SERPs have been paid to newly retired pensioners in each month since 1997; and how many pensioners have benefited in each case. [141516]

  Mr. Rooker
  Figures are kept of the number of outstanding Retirement Pension claims of which SERPS is a component of the overall pension. The table provides details of the claims outstanding for the requested months.

  Date

  Claims outstanding

  January 1997

  50,978

  June 1997

  31,382

  January 1998

  43,703

  June 1998

  32,064

  January 1999

  33,441

  June 1999

  34,930

  January 2000

  33,849

  June 2000

  31,136

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  The fact that claims are outstanding does not signify that payment of pension is overdue. This is because claims can be made up to four months in advance of the entitlement date.

  SERPS is a component of the overall Retirement Pension and details of the arrears of SERPS paid to newly retired pensioners since 1997 are not available. Details of arrears of pension paid were not maintained prior to April 1999 when the Benefits Agency began its recovery from the problems caused by the late delivery of the NIRS2 computer. Since that recovery began, and up to 30 November 2000, arrears of Retirement Pension to 137,000 pensioners totalling£47 million have been paid.

  Benefits Agency
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many staff vacancies there were in the Benefits Agency in 1999 and 2000 in(a) England and Wales and (b) Greater London. [141941]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is in the table.

  Benefits Agency vacancies

  April 1999

  April 2000

  Greater London

  218

  61

  England and Wales

  1,220

  1,424

  Total

  1,438

  1,485

  Note

  A snapshot of the vacancy position has been taken at the start of each financial year, 1 April 1999 and 2000.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Commission Minutes
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what is his policy in respect of the publication of records of meetings of the Commission. [142132]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon (Angela Smith) on 14 November 2000,Official Report, column 588W.

  Catering
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee what is the policy of the Refreshment Department towards the supply to customers of shark-fin soup. [142120]

  Mr. Dennis Turner
  The Refreshment Department has no formal policy about the service of shark-fin soup, but the Director of Catering Services informs me that it has never been served in the nine years that she has worked here.

  Accommodation and Works Committee
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee on what date the Committee authorised expenditure on fig trees for the atrium of Portcullis House; and what budget was allocated for this purpose. [142134]
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  Sir Sydney Chapman
  The proposal to build Portcullis House, which was approved by the House in 1993, from the outset included a covered courtyard with large scale planting. The design for the courtyard subsequently evolved in consultation with The Speaker's Advisory Committee on Works of Art, whose recommendation for the current scheme my Committee accepted. The budget was£183,000.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what his policy is in respect of the publication of records of meetings of the Committee. [142135]

  Sir Sydney Chapman
  The policy is that laid down by the House as regards proceedings of Select Committees—that is, the Committee's formal Minutes are published at the end of each Session of Parliament.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Speeding Prosecutions
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Solicitor-General how many occasions in the last 12 months the CPS decided not to prosecute drivers suspected of driving in excess of 100 mph. [142108]

  The Solicitor-General
  The Crown Prosecution Service holds no central records on the outcome of particular offences. The information is held on individual case files, and could be recovered only by examining every relevant file in each CPS office. The costs of such an exercise would be prohibitive.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Kosovan Albanians
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much money the Government have made available to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees for emergency relief to the Kosovan Albanians to date. [142160]

  Clare Short
  The United Kingdom contributed resources worth over£9.4 million to UNHCR's programmes in Kosovo and neighbouring countries during and after the refugee crisis in 1999–2000. We have not contributed additional resources to UNHCR for its work in Kosovo in 2000–01 in reflection of our changing priorities in Kosovo and the increased involvement of other donors, but will continue to monitor the situation in case new needs arise. UNHCR's Kosovo programme provides assistance to Kosovar Albanians, as well as Serbs, Roma and other minority groups.

  Technical Assistance
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much the British Government have donated to the WTO technical assistance fund. [142194]

  Clare Short
  The UK has committed a total of£1.5 million to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Technical Assistance fund, through extra-budgetary
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  contributions. This is in addition to the UK's assessed contributions to the WTO' s regular budget, a proportion of which is allocated to technical assistance.

  St. Helena
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on progress towards the construction of an airfield on St. Helena. [142507]

  Clare Short
  A comparative study of the options for sea and air access to St. Helena is currently under way. The team undertaking the work visited the island in mid-October. We expect their draft report by the end of this month. We will then need to discuss the report and its recommendations with the St. Helena Government. The results of the study cannot be prejudged and no presumption can be made that it will lead to support being offered for the provision of an airfield. We hope decisions will be reached in early 2001.

  East Timor
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what projects her Department are funding to improve women's rights in East Timor. [142216]

  Clare Short
  The bulk of my Department's assistance for East Timor is channelled through trust funds established by the United Nations, for the Transitional Administration in East Timor, and the World bank, for reconstruction and rehabilitation programmes. UNTAET has a special gender unit and has set a target of 30 per cent. for the recruitment of women into the East Timorese public service.

  In addition we fund a small Human Resource Development programme implemented by Oxfam. Through this programme we have funded research by East Timorese women's groups into the obstacles preventing their participation decision making processes; Oxfam are also implementing a small project which aims to improve women's literacy.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Intellectual Property
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions his officials have had with the TRIPS Council regarding the compliance of the United Kingdom's intellectual property laws with Article 2 of the TRIPS Agreement relating to the obligation of the United Kingdom to comply with Article 10 of the Paris Convention. [142124]

  Dr. Howells
  Having notified its main dedicated intellectual property laws and regulations to the WTO, the United Kingdom participated in reviews of developed country WTO Members' TRIPS implementing legislation carried out by the TRIPS Council throughout 1996 and 997. Records of introductory statements made by the United Kingdom delegation, questions put to the United Kingdom delegation and the responses given were published by the WTO in four documents with references IP/Q/GBR/1, IP/Q2/GBR/1, IP/Q3/GBR/1 and IP/Q4/GBR/1. All of these documents are available to the public on the WTO 134W
  website, www.wto.org. None of these discussions touched explicitly on the question of Article 10 of the Paris Convention.

  Mobile Phone Radiation
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent assessment he has made of the health risks posed by(a) mobile phones held next to the ear and (b) mobile phones used where there is a connection provided between phone and ear. [142121]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Department of Health published a leaflet on 8 December providing information about the health risks from mobile phones. The Department of Trade and Industry has not commissioned any specific measurements of mobile phones held next to the ear. Mobile phones in use in the UK should comply with the exposure guidelines of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation. The Department commissioned tests of hands-free kit, and the results of this work were published in August and are available on the DTI website http://www.dti.gov.uk/cii/.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the work his Department is undertaking, in conjunction with the Consumers' Association, into the dangers posed to consumers by mobile phone radiation. [142126]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Department has held discussions with the Consumers Association and the scientific community about the different results obtained from measurement tests of mobile phones hands-free kit. We have also discussed what further work could be undertaken. We are all agreed that even with the difference in measurement, the phones that were measured with the hands-free kit attached were still inside the exposure guidelines of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection.

  Cat and Dog Fur
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the quantity of(a) cat and (b) dog fur imported into the United Kingdom in each year for the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [142131]

  Mr. Caborn
  The information requested is not available because the system of classification used to record trade does not separately identify cat and dog skins.

  Hope FM
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what reason Hope FM has been required to reduce its broadcasting power to 15 watts; and if he will make a statement. [142162]

  Ms Hewitt
  The decision to grant a temporary Restricted Service broadcasting licence to Hope FM and the conditions attached to it (such as the transmitter power) was made, independently of the Government, by the Radio Authority using their powers under the Broadcasting Acts.

  The scope for licensing Restricted Services, within the arrangements for licensing long-term Independent Radio licences, is very limited and the Radio Authority has to balance the heavy demand for such licences with a finite

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  supply of spectrum. Similarly, in considering the terms attached to such licences (for example, the power, the population coverage and duration), the Authority seeks to ensure, as far as possible, that all Restricted Service licensees are treated equally and fairly, and that no interference is caused to other broadcasters by such services. This allows the limited amount of spectrum to be used and re-used by as many different operators as possible in an area and over a period of time.

  Broadband Fixed Wireless
  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when further licences for the provision of broadband fixed wireless access at 40 GHz will be awarded by auction. [141662]

  Ms Hewitt
  We will be consulting industry on a range of options for awarding broadband fixed wireless access licences at 40 GHz. We have not yet decided what method should be used for awarding licences.

  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what reasons underlay the decision to award by auction licences for the provision of broadband fixed wireless access at 28 GHz. [141660]

  Ms Hewitt
  In choosing an auction the overriding consideration was that well designed auctions place spectrum in the hands of those who value it most and are likely to develop it most effectively, generating the greatest long-term benefit for UK consumers and the national economy.

  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the reasons for the outcome of the auction for licences for broadband fixed wireless access at 28 GHz; what contingency plans were in place for such an outcome; and how he intends to award the remaining licences. [141661]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have asked the Radiocommunications Agency for a report on the outcome of the auction and they will be reporting back to me shortly. It is a feature of spectrum auctions that some licences may remain unsold. I will be reviewing whether unsold licences should be awarded at a later date in the light of the Agency's report, which will explore ways of awarding licences in those regions where licences remained unsold.

  Gas-fired Power Stations
  Mr. Michael J. Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will announce his decision on Veridian Cogeneration's proposal to build a gas-fired power station at the Rugby Cement works at Barton-on-Humber, North Lincolnshire. [142976]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I have today given clearance under section 14(1) of the Energy Act 1976 to Veridian Cogeneration to build a 14 megawatt gas-fired combined heat and power station at the Rugby Cement works at South Ferriby, Barton-on-Humber, North Lincolnshire. Combined heat and power plants are designed to produce both electricity and usable heat. They have environmental benefits due to their high levels of energy efficiency. The decision demonstrates the Government's continuing commitment to promote CHP, wherever practicable, and our commitment to reducing emissions of carbon to fulfil 136W
  the promises we gave at Kyoto. Copies of the Press Notice and decision letter are being placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Michael J. Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will announce his decision on Montell UK Ltd.'s proposal to build a gas-fired power station at the Montell UK Ltd. works at Carrington, Greater Manchester. [142978]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I have today given clearance under section 14(1) of the Energy Act 1976 to Montell UK Ltd. to build a 60 megawatt gas-fired combined heat and power station at the Montell Polyolefins works at Carrington, Greater Manchester. Combined heat and power plants are designed to produce both electricity and usable heat. They have environmental benefits due to their high levels of efficiency.

  The decision demonstrates the Government's continuing commitment to promote CHP, wherever practicable, and our commitment to reducing emissions of carbon to fulfil the promises we gave at Kyoto.

  The decision to give clearance to the proposal on energy policy grounds is without prejudice to any determination under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989.

  Copies of the Press Notice and decision letter are being placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Michael J. Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will announce his decision on Scottish and Southern Energy plc's proposal to build a gas-fired power station at the Kimberly-Clark paper mill at Northfleet, Kent. [142975]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I have today given clearance under section 14(1) of the Energy Act 1976 to Scottish and Southern Energy plc to build a 110 megawatt gas-fired combined heat and power station at the Kimberly-Clark paper mill at Northfleet in Kent. Combined heat and power plants are designed to produce both electricity and usable heat. They have environmental benefits due to their high levels of efficiency.

  The decision demonstrates the Government's continuing commitment to promote CHP, wherever practicable, and our commitment to reducing emissions of carbon to fulfil the promises we gave at Kyoto. The decision to give clearance to the proposal on energy policy grounds is without prejudice to any determination under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989.

  Copies of the Press Notice and decision letter are being placed in the Library of the House.

  Batteries and Accumulators Regulations
  Mr. Michael J. Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Government will introduce regulations to amend the Batteries and Accumulators (Containing Dangerous Substances) Regulations 1994. [142977]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Batteries and Accumulators (Containing Dangerous Substances) (Amendment) Regulations 2000 were made on 20 November and laid in the House on 22 November 2000. The Regulations will be available from the Stationary Office.
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  The Regulations implement Commission Directive 98/101/EC of 22 December 1998, which adapts to technical progress the Batteries and Accumulators Containing Certain Dangerous Substances Directive (91/157/EEC).

  The Regulations come into force in Britain on 18 December 2000 and ban the marketing of consumer batteries and accumulators which contain more than 0.0005 per cent. of mercury by weight and mercuric-oxide button cells batteries which contain more than 2 per cent. of mercury by weight. The level of fine will be increased from 1 on the standard scale, to level 5, which currently stands at£5,000. This is to bring the Regulations into line with other recent environmental legislation.

  A consultation paper on these Regulations was issued by the Department on 18 September this year.

  Sub-post Offices
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the names and addresses of the sub-post offices which have closed since May 1997. [142465]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 12 December 2000]I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given on 16 November 2000,Official Report, column 718W.

  Departmental Policies (Blackpool, South)
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effect on the Blackpool, South constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [142223]

  Mr. Caborn
  My Department does not maintain statistical information down to constituency level.

  Constituents in Blackpool, South will have benefited from my Department's Employment Rights policies, which include the National Minimum Wage, the Working Time Directive, Part-Time Working Regulations and improved Maternity Leave. In addition, Blackpool, South is eligible for the Enterprise Grant Scheme.

  In the north-west we are also promoting regional innovation including the use of new technology, supporting small business, and developing Manufacturing Centres of Excellence.

  Digital Television
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to require manufacturers of television sets to indicate on the sets that they are capable of receiving digital television. [141623]

  Ms Hewitt
  Consumers should be able to make an informed choice between purchasing an integrated digital television set and an analogue television set that requires a set top box to receive and decode digital signals. The Trade Descriptions Act 1968 prohibits the false or misleading descriptions of products, whether by means of a label or any other means, such as an oral statement.
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  Therefore, it would be an offence to describe a television set falsely, and if there are occasions when traders are misleading consumers by describing analogue TVs as digital, I would urge consumers to take the matter up with their local trading standards office. My Department has contacted the Local Authorities Co-ordinating Body on Food and Trading Standards (LACOTS) to establish the nature and extent of any problem in this area.

  Exports (Israel)
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which Open General Export Licences covering the export of goods on the Military List do not include Israel as a permitted destination. [142238]

  Dr. Howells
  Open General Export Licences (OGELs) allow the export of specified controlled goods by any company, removing the need for exporters to apply for an individual licence, provided the shipment and destinations are eligible and the conditions are met.

  At present, Israel is not a permitted destination on the following two OGELs covering the export of goods on the Military List:

  (i) Military components, and,

  (ii) Accompanied personal effects: sporting guns.

  Copies of all OGELs are placed in the Library of the House.

  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of the outstanding applications for Standard Individual Export Licence and Open Individual Export Licence outstanding at 16 November covering the export to Government or commercial consignees or end-users in Israel have been waiting for longer than six months for determination. [142237]

  Dr. Howells
  On 16 November, 77 applications for a Standard Individual Export Licence (SIEL) covering the export of goods on the military list to Government or commercial consignees or end-users in Israel were awaiting a decision. Of these 77 applications, three had been outstanding for more than six months.

  On the same date, 27 applications for an Open Individual Export Licence (OIEL) covering the export of specified goods to a number of specified destinations, including Israel, were awaiting a decision. Of these 27 applications, 14 had been outstanding for more than six months. It should be noted that because of the potentially wide variation in the goods and country coverage of OIELs it is to be expected that these cases will take longer to process than SIELs.

  Competitive Tendering
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many contracts have been underwritten by the ECGD via competitive tendering in each of the last 10 years. [142215]

  Mr. Caborn
  ECGD does not maintain information on the tender process as part of its business records and as such cannot quantify the number of contracts which it has supported over the last 10 years which have been won via competitive tendering.
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  The total number of contracts supported by ECGD in each of the last 10 years is set out in the following table.

  Years

  Number

  1991–92

  78

  1992–93

  139

  1993–94

  138

  1994–95

  225

  1995–96

  170

  1996–97

  185

  1997–98

  117

  1998–99

  107

  1999–2000

  110

  2000–011

  68

  1 To 30 November

  HIV/AIDS
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, at the World Trade Organisation under the terms of the TRIPS, he will support the use of compulsory licences to reduce the price of drugs to treat HIV/AIDS and related infections. [141744]

  Mr. Caborn
  This Government support the inclusion of compulsory licensing provisions in TRIPs as a safeguard against abuses of intellectual property rights and as an incentive for pharmaceutical research and development. Access to medicines depends on more than intellectual property rights and drug pricing; a range of other factors, including adequate health care infrastructure, are at least as important.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has made to the South African Government about their proposals to allow the generic substitution of drugs to reduce the cost of treatment for HIV/AIDS and other diseases. [141747]

  Mr. Caborn
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and I have had contacts with the South African Government aimed at supporting a partnership approach with the pharmaceutical industry to provide greater access to effective treatment for HIV/AIDS and other diseases. The South African Government has underlined its commitment to improve health care provision for all its people, while respecting its international obligations on intellectual property.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has made to Glaxo-Wellcome and Smith-Kline on the generic substitution of drugs for the treatment of HIV/AIDS and other diseases in South Africa. [141745]

  January 1999

  January 2000

  Local authority

  Nursery/primary

  Secondary

  Total

  Nursery/primary

  Secondary

  Total

  City of London

  1

  0

  1

  0

  1

  1

  Camden

  21

  8

  29

  17

  13

  30

  Greenwich

  52

  9

  61

  16

  14

  30

  Hackney

  38

  30

  68

  47

  22

  69

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  15

  8

  23

  14

  8

  22

  Islington

  10

  3

  13

  20

  11

  31

  Kensington and Chelsea

  3

  6

  9

  3

  2

  5

  Lambeth

  46

  12

  58

  36

  12

  48

  140W
  Mr. Caborn
  I have discussed a wide range of issues with the pharmaceutical industry. I visited Glaxo Wellcome before my recent visit to South Africa. I welcome their commitment to work with the South African Government to improve access to medicines in general and treatments for HIV/AIDS in particular.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received supporting the right of Southern African countries to use parallel importing and compulsory licensing to widen access to HIV/AIDS medicines. [141746]

  Mr. Caborn
  I have received letters from UK organisations and members of the public expressing concern about access to affordable medicines in Southern Africa. I believe that the best means of enabling this is through partnerships such as the UNAIDS Accelerating Access Initiative which involves the pharmaceutical companies working together with African Governments to provide therapies at substantially reduced cost.

  Local Loop Unbundling
  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what provisions he is putting in place to ensure the benefits of local loop unbundling are extended to all areas. [141665]

  Ms Hewitt
  Local loop unbundling will allow operators to apply for space in any of BT's exchanges. The obligation to allow access to its local loop and to provide co-location at its exchanges applies also to Kingston Communications.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  School Funds
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many schools made requests to parents for additional financial support towards school funds in 1999; and if he will make a statement. [141942]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The information is not held centrally.

  Teachers
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many(a) primary and (b) secondary school teaching vacancies there were in (i) 1998–99 and (ii) 1999–2000, by (A) constituency and (B) education authority. [141944]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Vacancy data for parliamentary constituencies are not held centrally. The number of vacancies for qualified teachers is as follows:
  141W

  January 1999

  January 2000

  Local authority

  Nursery/primary

  Secondary

  Total

  Nursery/primary

  Secondary

  Total

  Lewisham

  21

  8

  29

  18

  20

  38

  Southwark

  47

  14

  61

  42

  30

  72

  Tower Hamlets

  80

  12

  92

  71

  26

  97

  Wandsworth

  17

  12

  29

  13

  10

  23

  City of Westminster

  14

  11

  25

  15

  14

  29

  Barking and Dagenham

  12

  3

  15

  8

  9

  17

  Barnet

  11

  21

  32

  29

  20

  49

  Bexley

  0

  7

  7

  13

  16

  29

  Brent

  13

  17

  30

  5

  5

  10

  Bromley

  6

  7

  13

  9

  3

  12

  Croydon

  25

  11

  36

  8

  28

  36

  Ealing

  32

  22

  54

  14

  18

  32

  Enfield

  19

  9

  28

  13

  15

  28

  Haringey

  20

  13

  33

  19

  14

  33

  Harrow

  12

  5

  17

  24

  14

  38

  Havering

  3

  10

  13

  1

  17

  18

  Hillingdon

  8

  19

  27

  9

  14

  23

  Hounslow

  5

  10

  15

  3

  5

  8

  Kingston

  6

  3

  9

  1

  7

  8

  Merton

  5

  6

  11

  3

  13

  16

  Newham

  34

  3

  37

  40

  14

  54

  Redbridge

  7

  7

  14

  6

  1

  7

  Richmond upon Thames

  2

  2

  4

  3

  12

  15

  Sutton

  2

  5

  7

  0

  1

  1

  Waltham Forest

  2

  5

  7

  0

  4

  4

  Birmingham

  59

  12

  71

  39

  21

  60

  Coventry

  2

  10

  12

  8

  15

  23

  Dudley

  2

  5

  7

  7

  9

  16

  Sandwell

  17

  11

  28

  7

  8

  15

  Solihull

  2

  0

  2

  5

  6

  11

  Walsall

  5

  7

  12

  2

  6

  8

  Wolverhampton

  14

  19

  33

  5

  5

  10

  Knowsley

  3

  1

  4

  5

  6

  11

  Liverpool

  4

  1

  5

  0

  2

  2

  St. Helens

  4

  1

  5

  1

  0

  1

  Sefton

  0

  1

  1

  3

  5

  8

  Wirral

  13

  4

  17

  2

  8

  10

  Bolton

  0

  2

  2

  0

  1

  1

  Bury

  0

  1

  1

  1

  0

  1

  Manchester

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Oldham

  6

  3

  9

  7

  4

  11

  Rochdale

  4

  2

  6

  2

  2

  4

  Salford

  0

  1

  1

  1

  2

  3

  Stockport

  3

  2

  5

  0

  6

  6

  Tameside

  0

  5

  5

  1

  0

  1

  Trafford

  0

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Wigan

  5

  10

  15

  3

  10

  13

  Barnsley

  1

  1

  2

  0

  2

  2

  Doncaster

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  2

  Rotherham

  0

  1

  1

  0

  1

  1

  Sheffield

  2

  0

  2

  6

  0

  6

  Bradford

  15

  3

  18

  14

  28

  42

  Calderdale

  4

  1

  5

  3

  0

  3

  Kirklees

  2

  1

  3

  0

  3

  3

  Leeds

  6

  1

  7

  8

  10

  18

  Wakefield

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  2

  Gateshead

  9

  0

  9

  5

  0

  5

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  7

  10

  17

  4

  5

  9

  North Tyneside

  10

  16

  26

  1

  14

  15

  South Tyneside

  0

  1

  1

  0

  1

  1

  Sunderland

  6

  5

  11

  9

  4

  13

  Isles of Scilly

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Bath and North East Somerset

  3

  1

  4

  3

  1

  4

  City of Bristol

  6

  6

  12

  9

  4

  13

  North Somerset

  3

  7

  10

  8

  6

  14

  South Gloucestershire

  3

  1

  4

  2

  1

  3

  Hartlepool

  6

  3

  9

  2

  1

  3

  Middlesbrough

  4

  2

  6

  2

  2

  4

  Redcar and Cleveland

  2

  4

  6

  0

  5

  5

  Stockton on Tees

  2

  5

  7

  1

  5

  6

  City of Kingston-upon-Hull

  0

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  4

  0

  4

  2

  0

  2

  142W 143W

  January 1999

  January 2000

  Local authority

  Nursery/primary

  Secondary

  Total

  Nursery/primary

  Secondary

  Total

  North East Lincolnshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  North Lincolnshire

  4

  3

  7

  8

  2

  10

  North Yorkshire

  3

  5

  8

  4

  5

  9

  York

  1

  6

  7

  1

  5

  6

  Bedfordshire

  5

  19

  24

  20

  19

  39

  Luton

  7

  17

  24

  5

  9

  14

  Buckinghamshire

  18

  15

  33

  36

  16

  52

  Milton Keynes

  8

  2

  10

  6

  1

  7

  Derbyshire

  11

  13

  24

  25

  11

  36

  Derby

  13

  6

  19

  8

  11

  19

  Dorset

  1

  1

  2

  9

  10

  19

  Poole

  2

  3

  5

  2

  0

  2

  Bournemouth

  0

  1

  1

  0

  2

  2

  Durham

  2

  0

  2

  2

  0

  2

  Darlington

  0

  0

  0

  3

  0

  3

  East Sussex

  10

  12

  22

  9

  14

  23

  Brighton and Hove

  2

  2

  4

  5

  6

  11

  Hampshire

  36

  57

  93

  89

  53

  142

  Portsmouth

  10

  3

  13

  6

  13

  19

  Southampton

  6

  9

  15

  8

  17

  25

  Leicester

  5

  8

  13

  7

  6

  13

  Leicester City

  8

  3

  11

  11

  9

  20

  Rutland

  0

  1

  1

  2

  0

  2

  Staffordshire

  15

  6

  21

  17

  10

  27

  Stoke

  2

  1

  3

  8

  14

  22

  Wiltshire

  17

  4

  21

  10

  4

  14

  Swindon

  8

  2

  10

  5

  5

  10

  Bracknell Forest

  0

  0

  0

  4

  5

  9

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  3

  6

  9

  4

  5

  9

  West Berkshire

  2

  0

  2

  4

  0

  4

  Reading

  0

  2

  2

  10

  4

  14

  Slough

  8

  10

  18

  3

  10

  13

  Wokingham

  9

  5

  14

  5

  9

  14

  Cambridgeshire

  1

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Peterborough

  0

  2

  2

  0

  0

  0

  Cheshire

  10

  4

  14

  12

  11

  23

  Halton

  2

  2

  4

  1

  5

  6

  Warrington

  7

  0

  7

  9

  2

  11

  Devon

  6

  2

  8

  18

  10

  28

  Plymouth

  0

  5

  5

  4

  19

  23

  Torbay

  2

  1

  3

  2

  5

  7

  Essex

  48

  34

  82

  83

  73

  156

  Southend

  6

  3

  9

  5

  16

  21

  Thurrock

  9

  12

  21

  19

  9

  28

  Hereford

  2

  4

  6

  8

  3

  11

  Worcester

  6

  5

  11

  3

  3

  6

  Kent

  52

  37

  89

  32

  48

  80

  Medway

  10

  6

  16

  4

  9

  13

  Lancashire

  18

  12

  30

  17

  4

  21

  Blackburn with Darwen

  11

  3

  14

  7

  6

  13

  Blackpool

  2

  1

  3

  3

  6

  9

  Nottinghamshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  City of Nottingham

  0

  0

  0

  18

  6

  24

  Shropshire

  0

  1

  1

  1

  1

  2

  Telford and Wrekin

  0

  0

  0

  7

  4

  11

  Cornwall

  6

  0

  6

  8

  3

  11

  Cumbria

  0

  2

  2

  0

  0

  0

  Gloucestershire

  5

  4

  9

  20

  5

  25

  Hertfordshire

  12

  19

  31

  10

  7

  17

  Isle of Wight

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  Lincolnshire

  11

  11

  22

  11

  8

  19

  Norfolk

  45

  10

  55

  15

  15

  30

  Northamptonshire

  3

  3

  6

  1

  9

  10

  Northumberland

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Oxfordshire

  7

  4

  11

  4

  4

  8

  Somerset

  7

  4

  11

  6

  4

  10

  Suffolk

  14

  17

  31

  8

  11

  19

  Surrey

  11

  9

  20

  13

  24

  37

  Warwickshire

  9

  5

  14

  7

  6

  13

  West Sussex

  9

  8

  17

  27

  11

  38

  England

  1,374

  939

  2,313

  1,420

  1,246

  2,666

  144W 145W
  The number of regular teachers in maintained schools increased by 6,900 between January 1998 and January 2000.

  A DfEE survey of maintained secondary schools in England in the first week of September 2000 indicated that there were about 1,000 secondary teacher vacancies. There was a growth of 2,000 in the number of people training to be teachers between 1999–2000 and 2000–01, the first such increase since 1992–93.

  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many new teachers he expects will qualify in 2000. [141946]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Since 1 January 2000, 22,900 people have been awarded Qualified Teacher Status in England.

  New Deal
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many extra staff have been employed in the further education sector to deal with the New Deal. [142283]

  Mr. Wills
  [holding answer 12 December 2000]This information is not collected centrally. Staff deployment is a matter for colleges as independent employers.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  British Overseas Territories
  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what issues were discussed at the last meeting of the British Overseas Territories Consultative Council; and if he will make a statement. [142471]

  Mr. Battle
  At the meeting of the Overseas Territories Consultative Council held in October this year, a full exchange of views took place on the relationship between the UK and the territories, and on international financial initiatives, immigration and nationality matters, internal security including police and prison services, accessible justice and sustainable development.

  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress on the implementation of the policies set out in the White Paper, Partnership for Progress and Prosperity. [142470]

  Mr. Battle
  Considerable progress has been made in key areas covered by the White Paper. Partnership between the political leaders of the territories and the Government has been strengthened by two meetings of the annual Consultative Council and visits by Baroness Scotland, Minister with responsibility for the Overseas Territories, to several territories; constitutional modernisation has been promoted in several territories with amendments already agreed for both the British Virgin Islands and Montserrat; a number of programmes to support good governance in such areas as police and prison services, disaster preparedness, and public service management have been supported, and a number of strategic environmental projects funded in all territories; capital punishment for murder and judicial corporal punishment have been abolished in all territories;146W
  an Order in Council to de-criminalise homosexual acts between consenting adults in private is before the Privy Council; and an independent review of the regulation of financial sectors in the Overseas Territories was published in October. Preparations for an Overseas Territories Bill granting British citizenship have reached an advanced stage.

  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to introduce legislation offering British citizenship to citizens of the British Overseas Territories; and if he will make a statement. [142469]

  Mr. Battle
  We are fully committed to introducing legislation to give British citizenship to the people of the Overseas Territories. We will make Parliamentary time available to introduce the legislation for this measure as soon as practicable. Preparatory work has been done to agree the principles of such a Bill along with drafting instructions for Parliamentary Counsel.

  Ilois People
  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements he is making to allow the return of the Ibis islanders to the British Indian Ocean Territory; and if he will make a statement. [142473]

  Mr. Battle
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith) on 13 November 2000,Official Report, column 511W.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will discuss(a) with the Government of Mauritius and (b) with the Government of the Seychelles the environmental and ecological situation in those atolls of the Chagos Archipelago and Diego Garcia before facilitating the return of Ibis to lands of ancestral graves; [142393]

  (2) if he will discuss with President Clinton the carrying out of an environmental and ecological assessment of the areas of the Chagos Archipelago and Diego Garcia, which have been uninhabited for 30 years before facilitating the return of Ilois people to lands of their ancestral graves. [142392]

  Mr. Battle
  Environmental and ecological assessments are an integral part of the studies being undertaken into the feasibility of resettlement on the uninhabited islands of the Archipelago. We will take these factors into account most carefully before any decision is taken by the Government over resettlement by the Ilois.

  Human Rights (China)
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what position he adopted in discussions with EU colleagues at the General Affairs Council on Tuesday 4 December on the criteria for evaluation of the bilateral dialogue with China on human rights to be made public and for there to be a timetable for achieving objectives. [142136]

  Mr. Battle
  Following a UK initiative, the EU has been engaged in a review of its human rights dialogue with China. This process includes the setting of objectives for
  147W
  the dialogue. The 4 December General Affairs Council did not discuss the review. We expect the General Affairs Council on 29 January to do so.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to obtain copies of the photographs that the Chinese authorities have shown to UK and EU officials, which the Chinese authorities maintain are of the Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima. [142138]

  Mr. Battle
  The British Embassy in Beijing made a formal request for the photographs on 27 October. The Chinese responded on 10 November that such a request was "unreasonable".

  Subsequently, I summoned the Chinese Ambassador Ma Zhengang on 29 November to express our disappointment at the reply and to repeat our request. The Ambassador agreed to convey my concerns to the authorities in Beijing.

  We will again press the Chinese during the next round of the UK/China human rights dialogue to release their photographs.

  Iran
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit Iran. [141450]

  Mr. Hain
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary last met his Iranian counterpart, Dr. Kharrazi, in New York in September. He welcomed Dr. Kharrazi's invitation that the Foreign Secretary visit Iran in 2001, in the context of Iran's celebration of the Year of the Dialogue of Civilisations. No date has yet been set.

  Coca Fields (Ecuador)
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received concerning the fumigation of coca fields in Ecuador with the Fusarium Oxysporum fungus. [142197]

  Mr. Battle
  We have received no representations.

  There are some small coca plantations on Ecuador's northern border with Colombia, but the country remains principally a transit route for cocaine destined (predominantly) for the US. We are not aware of the use of Fusarium Oxysporum as a bio-control agent.

  Tibet
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent UK and China human rights dialogue, with special reference to Tibet. [142210]

  Mr. Battle
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Stevenson) on 7 November 2000,Official Report, column 186W.

  East Timorese Refugees
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had 148W
  with his UN counterparts concerning the remaining East Timorese refugees in West Timor; and if he will make a statement. [142217]

  Mr. Battle
  We take every opportunity to discuss the situation in West Timor with the UN counterparts. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed this issue with the Indonesian Foreign Minister Shihab in the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York in September. I discussed the subject most recently with the Indonesian Foreign Minister on 12 December, in the margins of the EU-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meeting.

  We are, of course, concerned about the situation in the camps in West Timor and urge the Government of Indonesia to comply fully with the terms of the UN Security Council Resolution 1319 to disarm and disband the militia and facilitate the repatriation of those refugees who wish to return to East Timor and resettle those who wish to remain in Indonesia.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Terminal Five Inquiry
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to investigate premature press leaks of confidential and market-sensitive material relating to the findings of the Terminal Five Planning Inspector's report. [142060]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  While there has been some speculative media comment about the findings of the Heathrow Terminal Five Inquiry Inspector's report there is nothing to suggest that the report or its contents has been leaked. The Inspector has not yet delivered his report to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will set out his timetable for ministerial review and decisions on the Heathrow Terminal Five planning inquiry and for reporting to Parliament on the inquiry. [142061]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Public Inquiry into the proposed fifth terminal at Heathrow closed in March 1999. The Inquiry Inspector said he intended to deliver his report within two years of the end of the Inquiry but he hoped to improve on that. The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions recognises the need to bring this matter to a conclusion but the report will require full and careful consideration when it is received. It is not yet possible to say when the decision will be issued.

  Allotments
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many unused allotment plots there were in each local authority in 1999. [142067]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The information requested is not currently held centrally. However, the "English Allotments Survey—1997", which was commissioned by
  149W
  my Department, provides information on the number of vacant statutory allotments in each of the following areas:

  Area

  Number of vacant statutory plots

  Inner London

  57

  Outer London

  4,189

  Greater Manchester

  496

  Merseyside

  452

  South Yorkshire

  874

  Tyne and Wear

  190

  West Midlands

  2,449

  West Yorkshire

  463

  Avon

  1,469

  Bedfordshire

  502

  Berkshire

  904

  Buckinghamshire

  716

  Cambridgeshire

  759

  Cheshire

  396

  Cleveland

  365

  Cornwall

  103

  Cumbria

  292

  Derbyshire

  390

  Devon

  273

  Dorset

  276

  Durham

  316

  East Sussex

  642

  Essex

  2,018

  Gloucestershire

  558

  Hampshire

  1,527

  Hereford and Worcester

  301

  Hertfordshire

  1,044

  Humberside

  1,284

  Isle of Wight

  87

  Kent

  963

  Lancashire '

  66

  Leicestershire

  1,313

  Lincolnshire

  516

  Norfolk

  405

  Northamptonshire

  529

  Northumberland

  74

  North Yorkshire

  368

  Nottinghamshire

  721

  Oxfordshire

  832

  Shropshire

  52

  Somerset

  274

  Staffordshire

  532

  Suffolk

  1,015

  Surrey

  892

  Warwickshire

  348

  West Sussex

  315

  Wiltshire

  439

  Total

  33,047

  Park and Ride Schemes
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assistance his Department intends to give to local authorities wishing to initiate permanent park and ride schemes. [142064]

  Mr. Hill
  Park and ride schemes developed by local authorities as part of their Local Transport Plans can help reduce congestion while maintaining accessibility to town and city centres. Outside London my Department provides funding to local authorities for transport infrastructure through the Local Transport Plan system. This can be used for park and ride schemes but it is for local 150W
  authorities to determine priorities within their programmes. Inside London the allocation of funds in response to Boroughs' Interim Transport Plans is a matter for the Mayor and Transport for London.

  Our revised planning guidance note PPG13 on Transport, which is due to be published soon, will give further guidance on planning aspects of park and ride proposals. Advice on other aspects of setting up and operating bus-based park and ride schemes is given a Good Practice Guide published earlier this year by the English Historic Towns Forum with the support of the Department.

  The Secretary of State has already made clear that he will give priority to well designed and well conceived park and ride schemes. The Department's 10-year plan "Transport 2010" published in July shows that we expect up to 100 new park and ride schemes to be implemented during the next 10 years.

  Local Government Functions
  Caroline Flint
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent advice his Department has offered to local authorities with respect to clear separation of the cabinet and scrutiny functions in local government. [142051]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  As my right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and the Regions announced to the House on 26 October 2000,Official Report, columns 173–74W, we have now published guidance on new council constitutions for English local authorities, which includes guidance on setting up executive arrangements involving separate cabinets and overview and scrutiny committees.

  National School Bus Strategy
  Caroline Flint
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent representations he has received in favour of a national school bus strategy. [142049]

  Mr. Hill
  None.

  Regeneration Funding (Doncaster)
  Caroline Flint
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the total sum of public funds secured for regeneration purposes for the Borough of Doncaster since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [142050]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Doncaster has secured the following resources for regeneration activities since 1997:

  Single Regeneration Budget (SRB)

  A total of £47.9 million for a wide range of projects. The total includes a notional allocation of resources for the South Yorkshire Coalfields scheme and the Dearne Valley scheme, both of which go wider than Doncaster. The total also includes the Round 3 Scheme (£14.2 million) that was approved in 1996–97 but began the following year.

  Land and Property

  A total of£50.1 million for a range of Yorkshire Forward (RDA) and English Partnerships reclamation/development projects.
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  New Deal for Communities (NDC)

  Doncaster has secured£200,000 under Phase 2 of the NDC programme, which facilitates delivery plan development, up to March 2001. A further£90,000 has also been paid for early win projects and there are others in the pipeline, but not yet approved. If Doncaster wins resources following submission of its delivery plan in March, we expect funding to be around£50 million over 10 years, starting in 2001–02.

  Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF)

  Doncaster has been allocated£17.5 million over the next three years through NRF to help it improve services in its poorest communities. This funding is dependent on Doncaster having a satisfactory Best Value Performance plan, making a commitment to setting up a Local Strategic Partnership and a commitment to a local Neighbourhood Renewal strategy.

  European Funding

  A total of£25.6 million was secured under Objective 2, Konver 2 and RECHAR 2 for a wide range of projects, including some operating on sub-regional basis.

  Doncaster also stands to benefit from the£700 million of structural funds that will be spent in South Yorkshire under the Objective 1 programme over the next seven years.

  The following resources, although not primarily concerned with regeneration, are also likely to bring wider regeneration benefits.

  Housing

  Since 1997 a total of£32.9 million has been allocated under the Housing Investment Programme (HIP), which included funds allocated through the Capital Receipts Initiative from 1997–98 up to and including 1999–2000, for all housing purposes. A breakdown of how much Doncaster used to support specific regeneration activity is not available, but the council has used housing investment to underpin neighbourhood renewal activity within priority areas.

  Transport

  Funding has been approved for the following major transport schemes that are likely to bring wider regeneration benefits. Denaby Main Diversion (near Conisborough)—£9 million over the next three years. Doncaster North Bridge—£18 million 2000–01, further£30 million over the next three years.

  London Transport (Investment)
  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discretion the Mayor of London will have as to where the money allocated to London Transport in the 10-Year plan is spent. [141670]

  Mr. Hill
  The remaining responsibilities of London Transport will in due course be transferred to Transport for London (TfL) under the control of the Mayor of London. The Mayor is free to decide priorities for spending the money we have allocated to London in the 10-Year Plan subject to certain constraints. The Government will determine the precise level of the GLA Transport Grant each year following consultation with the Mayor. The Mayor must consult the London Assembly about his budget for TfL and the Assembly can amend it by a two-thirds majority. TfL must meet all its contractual 152W
  commitments and the requirements of the Best Value regime. The Mayor must prepare a Transport Strategy which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State may direct the Mayor to revise if he considers it (or any part of it) inconsistent with national policies and detrimental to any area outside Greater London. The Mayor must obtain my right hon. Friend's approval to a general plan for applying the net proceeds from any road user charging or workplace parking levy scheme.

  Bypasses
  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans for bypasses have been(a) cancelled and (b) proposed since May 1997. [141485]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 11 December 2000]: Twenty of the 40 schemes in our Targeted Programme of trunk road improvements are bypasses. This does not include any bypasses approved under the Local Transport Plan process. On trunk roads we cancelled two projects in 1997—Hereford and Salisbury—because of their serious impact on environmentally sensitive sites.

  Traffic (South Gloucestershire)
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will set out the basis on which he has calculated changes in traffic levels in South Gloucestershire between 1998 and 1999; and if he will make a statement on the differences between the results produced by his methodology and the results arising from the council's automatic traffic counts. [141434]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 11 December 2000]: We have not attempted to calculate changes in traffic levels between years. Improvements to the way traffic flows are calculated at a local level means that the overall estimated traffic flow for South Gloucestershire has decreased, however the previous estimates are not on a comparable basis. This does not imply there has been an actual decrease in traffic levels, indeed the change is consistent with increased traffic counts at individual census points; rather it implies that previous estimates of overall traffic flow for South Gloucestershire were overstated.

  In previous years traffic flow on road links that crossed a local authority boundary were attributed to the authority in which the traffic count took place. With the advantage of computer based mapping software my statisticians have been able to more accurately attribute traffic flow on such road links to the relevant authorities taking account of the length of road within each authority's boundary. It is clearly fairer and more accurate to end links at an authority boundary so that one authority does not artificially benefit from traffic on a length of road that falls within another authority.

  Unfortunately for South Gloucestershire it previously benefited from several high flow links where part of the link lay in a neighbouring authority but the count site was in South Gloucestershire. It further benefited from a number of low flow links where the count was in a neighbouring authority and therefore previously did not affect the estimate for South Gloucestershire.

  The traffic flow estimates recorded by the authority are in broad agreement with the traffic flow estimates from my Department's counts. Rather it is the more equitable

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  split of cross boundary links that has led to an estimate for 1999 that is lower than that for 1998. This does not imply that traffic in South Gloucestershire has gone down but that previous estimates are likely to have been too high.

  Cross-sectoral Bodies
  Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the local, sub-regional and regional partnerships, boards of zones and other cross-sectoral bodies supported by his Department; and the funding streams with which they are associated. [142185]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  This information is not held centrally. Recent reports point to a wide range of formal, informal, statutory and non-statutory partnerships covering a wide range of interests. As a result, the Government are trying to encourage greater rationalisation. The recently issued draft guidance on local strategic partnerships is intended to encourage the development of a single co-ordinated framework for partnership arrangements at the local level. We have also set up the Regional Co-ordination Unit. The unit has recently published an action plan which sets out how the Government intend to modernise the way they work at regional and local level and improve the way services are delivered on the ground.

  Crime and Disorder Act
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what resources he allocated to local authorities in(a) 1999–2000 and (b) 2000–01 to enable them to carry out the new duties imposed on them by section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. [142448]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 12 December 2000]: It is not possible to specify a particular figure. In the Comprehensive Spending Review, the Government took into account the pressures on local government, including this one, as well as the scope for efficiencies. Spending plans from 1999–2000 onwards represent our view of the appropriate level of local government funding in the round. The Government increased general block grant to local authorities by£1.5 billion in each of the years 1999–2000 and 2000–01. General grant is not hypothecated, and it is not possible to identify how much has been included to meet individual burdens and pressures.

  Housing Green Paper
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to implement the proposals in the Housing Green Paper, "Quality and Choice: A Decent Home for All?". [142561]

  Mr. Prescott
  Our Housing Green Paper was widely acknowledged as the most comprehensive Government review of housing for 23 years. We are tody publishing a policy statement, "Quality and Choice: A decent home for all—the way forward for housing". This sets out our plans for taking forward the proposals in the Green Paper, taking account of the views expressed during consultation. New legislation is a key part of those plans, and they are backed by the significant increase in resources for housing announced in July.
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  There was widespread support for our proposals. Only seven out of more than 1,000 respondents disagreed fundamentally with our aims and principles.

  Broadly, we are taking forward the proposals in the way we set out in the Green Paper. In a number of cases we have modified proposals to reflect suggestions or concerns raised in the consultation process.

  Decent homes are an essential requirement for all. They improve health and educational achievement. They have a major impact on the quality of our lives and on the strength of our communities.

  In taking forward the proposals in the Green Paper, we are implementing a comprehensive policy that will help us to meet our aim to offer everyone the opportunity of a decent home.

  Housing policies are an integral part of our broader agenda to tackle poverty and social exclusion and to regenerate the most deprived areas. Our Housing Green Paper and today's policy statement complement the National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal and our Urban and Rural White Papers, which together establish a framework for improving the quality of life and promoting sustainable communities.

  Our policies will deliver improvements in quality and choice for everyone, regardless of their circumstances.

  For the majority of people in this country who already own their own homes, or who aspire to home ownership, we are:
  introducing legislation to improve the home buying and selling process to make it easier and more reliable, and to help tackle gazumping and other problems;
  overhauling local authority powers to allow better targeted help to renovate and improve homes owned by poorer households and in deprived areas;
  launching a Starter Home Initiative to help nurses, teachers, police and other key workers to buy homes in areas where high housing costs might otherwise have priced them out of the communities they serve;
  reforming leasehold law and introducing a new tenure, commonhold, for the joint ownership of blocks of flats; and
  improving benefit help for unemployed home-owners moving back into work.

  For people who rent in the private sector, we are:
  spreading good practice among private landlords through voluntary accreditation schemes and through the further development of the National Approved Lettings Scheme and a pilot Tenancy Deposit Scheme;
  introducing, as soon as parliamentary time allows, legislation for a national licensing scheme to raise standards for Houses in Multiple Occupation;
  developing for further consultation proposals to take action to tackle problems associated with bad landlords in low demand areas, through selective licensing and benefit measures.

  The Green Paper set out our policies for the future of social housing, provided at affordable rents by local authorities and registered social landlords. We see a continuing role for social housing in providing decent homes for individuals and families who cannot afford the costs of buying their own home or renting in the private sector in the short or long term. Our strategy will

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  modernise social housing, turning it into a tenure which offers quality and choice and promotes sustainable communities by:
  bringing all social housing up to a decent standard by 2010;
  promoting diversity and a wider range of landlords through stock transfer and new investment and ownership options for council housing;
  improving the supply of new social housing through an increase in investment, more effective use of planning powers for affordable housing, and better integration of social and private housing;
  increasing choice through lettings policies that treat tenants as customers and promote sustainable communities;
  examining new tenure options to improve social landlords' use of housing to meet the needs of local communities;
  ensuring high standards of service through the rigorous application of Best Value; and
  empowering tenants in the management of their homes through Tenant Participation Compacts.

  We are also implementing a 10-year plan to move to a fairer, more coherent system for setting rents in the social housing sector, complementing our drive to improve the quality and supply of affordable housing and to give tenants more choice. We have modified the proposals in the Green Paper in the light of respondents' views. The key elements are:
  keeping rents at affordable levels, well below those in the private sector, and based on size, relative property values and local earnings;
  achieving greater coherence between the rents charged by local authorities and registered social landlords, removing arbitrary differences;
  ensuring that reforms do not impose annual rent increases for any tenant of more than£2 per week above normal inflation-linked increases;
  phasing reforms over 10 years and allowing social landlords some flexibility over detailed implementation; and
  ensuring the continuation of a healthy and diverse social rented sector.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security has also announced action to improve the delivery of Housing Benefit. We are:
  setting up an expert team to work with struggling local authorities to turn things round;
  developing a new national Performance Framework to raise standards of administration across the board;
  taking forward work to simplify Housing Benefit to make it easier for local authorities to administer and easier for pensioners and working people to claim; and
  reducing disincentives to work, helping young people in particular through changes to the Single Room Rent rules.

  Our strategy also incudes action to tackle social exclusion and protect vulnerable people, including:
  legislation to strengthen the protection available for people who are homeless through no fault of their own;
  tackling rough-sleeping, fuel poverty and anti-social behaviour; and
  ensuring the effective implementation of a new Supporting People programme to provide more effective support to elderly and other vulnerable people who need it.

  All of our measures are backed up where necessary by our spending plans for the next three years, which we announced in July. They build on the additional investment which has already been released through our Capital Receipts Initiative and the 1998 Comprehensive Spending Review.
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  In 1997, we inherited capital spending plans for housing of just£1.5 billion. We increased investment in 1997–98 and have increased it year-on-year since then. This year (2000–01) capital investment is already double the level we inherited in 1997. It will continue to rise to over£4 billion by 2003–04 including, over the next three years:
  further increases in local authority capital investment to tackle the backlog of repairs and modernisation work in council housing, including additional resources for new arms-length management arrangements, on which we are issuing separate, detailed consultation today;
  a doubling of the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme for new affordable housing;
  £250 million for the Starter Home Initiative;
  £138 million over three years to ensure the effective implementation of support services for the vulnerable through our Supporting People programme;
  £137 million for a new Safer Communities Supported Housing Fund;
  £11 million to fund pilot lettings schemes that promote customer choice for tenants in social housing;
  £17 million for the improvement of Gypsy sites; and
  increases in funding for disabled facilities grants and home improvements.

  Our housing strategy sets a national framework. It promotes local implementation, recognising diversity and varying conditions. Local authorities have a key role to play as strategic housing bodies serving their communities and delivering the policies that ensure the social, economic and environmental well-being of their areas.

  We have set out in our statement a comprehensive approach to housing policy. We must now move forward to implement these policies. I look forward to working with our partners in the public, private and voluntary sectors to ensure that everyone has the opportunity of a decent home.

  Endangered Species
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the percentage change in UK populations of species now deemed to be endangered of(a) mammals, (b) birds, (c) amphibians, (d) reptiles and (e) fish over the last 20 years; and if he will make a statement. [142119]

  Mr. Mullin
  The UK Biodiversity Action Plan identifies 575 priority species for conservation action. The available evidence indicates that focused initiatives for endangered species, like the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, are being effective in halting the declines of endangered species through targeted conservation action, although the evidence suggests that there remains a general decline in UK biodiversity.

  Monitoring of UK flora and fauna is not comprehensive and precise figures for percentage change of populations of particular species are not always available. Comprehensive monitoring programmes are often put in place only when a species decline is significant enough to warrant conservation action to preserve that species. The National Biodiversity Network, for which my Department has provided financial support, will provide the mechanism to enable such ecological information to become more accessible.
  157W
  (a)Mammals

  Few detailed data on population change are available for mammals, although my Department, with its scientific advisers the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, is currently undertaking work to develop an integrated monitoring system for mammals. By way of illustration, successive surveys of England indicate a partial recovery of the otter population, although in contrast the water vole has undergone a severe population crash.

  (b)Birds

  The UK's endangered birds species have experienced mixed fortunes in recent decades. A recently calculated index of the populations of rare breeding birds has more than doubled since 1970, reflecting the success of targeted conservation action on species such as the red kite, cirl bunting and stone curlew, taken by both statutory and non-government organisations. By contrast, an index composed of the populations trends of 20 farmland bird species has declined by 40 per cent. since the mid-1970s. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has recently adopted a target to reverse the decline in farmland birds within its Public Service Agreement.

  (c) Amphibians and(d)reptiles

  Evidence indicates varying levels of decline among all the UK's amphibians and reptiles, although precise figures for declines for widespread species are not available. The main causes have been the loss of, damage to and fragmentation of habitats. For scarce species with restricted ranges, more detailed data are available where positive conservation measures have been put in place and these data indicate that these measures are being effective in halting decline. English Nature is currently engaged in projects with partner organisations to address the need for monitoring schemes so that a more quantitative assessment of status can be undertaken.

  (e)Fish

  Freshwater fish populations are under threat from a wide range of sources, although few species have good national records of population status. As an example, the white-clawed crayfish has suffered heavily from the particular problem of crayfish plague, a disease introduced by non-native crayfish species used in aquaculture.

  Incinerator Emissions
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what nano-particle analysis has been carried out on incinerator emissions; and if he will make a statement. [142125]

  Mr. Hill
  None. Nano-particles have only recently been identified as a possible problem and are in their early stages of research.

  Traffic Accidents
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many(a) fatal and (b) other road traffic accidents were caused in the last year for which figures are available by vehicles travelling in excess of 100 mph; and how many individuals died as a result. [142106]

  Mr. Hill
  At the scene of a road accident it is very difficult to determine the speeds at which each of the vehicles involved were travelling. In addition to this, drivers or riders of vehicles involved in accidents are 158W
  unlikely to be honest about how fast they were actually travelling, especially if they were travelling at speeds in excess of 100 mph.

  For this reason, the data requested are unavailable.

  Railways
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many(a) derailments, (b) signals passed at danger and (c) tunnel collapses were reported in each month from September to December for (i) 1998, (ii) 1999 and (iii) 2000. [141499]

  Mr. Hill
  The figures requested are shown in the tables based on information supplied to the Health and Safety Executive's HM Railway Inspectorate (HMRI) by railway operators. The figures relate to the national railway network whose infrastructure is controlled by Rai1track. The figures relating to tunnel collapses are based on HMRI classification of failures of tunnels:

  (a) Derailments

  1998

  1999

  2000

  September

  5

  8

  10

  October

  4

  8

  8

  November

  7

  4

  4

  December

  6

  3

  1—

  Total

  22

  23

  22

  (b) Signals passed at danger

  1998

  1999

  2000

  September

  61

  54

  46

  October

  78

  70

  53

  November

  76

  54

  1—

  December

  35

  23

  1—

  Total

  250

  201

  99

  1 Figures currently under compilation

  (c) Tunnel failures

  1998

  1999

  2000

  September

  0

  2

  1

  October

  0

  2

  0

  November

  0

  1

  0

  December

  1

  2

  1—

  Total

  1

  7

  1

  Flood Prevention
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans his Department has for assisting local authorities with flood prevention; and if he will make a statement. [142065]

  Mr. Morley
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Land Drainage Act 1991 gives local authorities permissive powers to undertake flood defence works on ordinary watercourses that are not within the district of an internal drainage board. Under these powers local authorities may build and maintain flood defences and their expenditure on such works is recognised in Standard Spending Assessments. The Ministry offer grant aid to capital flood defence works which satisfy engineering,

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  environmental and economic criteria, and achieve the appropriate priority score. Local authorities will also be able to apply for grant aid for accelerated river flood defence works.

  Local authorities have separate responsibilities for dealing with flooding emergencies. For this work they may be eligible for re-imbursement under the Bellwin rules that are administered by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

DEFENCE

  Navy
  Mr. Ivan Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on personnel management in the naval service. [142859]

  Mr. Spellar
  We are considering improved approaches to the current arrangements for the management of people in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. The aim of these changes, which have been instigated by the Navy Board, is to alleviate overstretch by lessening the impact on the individual of a high operational tempo and to reduce the turbulence which existing arrangements may produce. The benefits should include greater stability for members of the Naval Service and their families, both in geographical terms and in the predictability of their employment, and hence enable them to plan their lives with greater certainty.

  The Project is known as TOPMAST (Tomorrow's Personnel Management System). A basic concept has been outlined and will now be further developed. The concept is designed to provide the individual with quality sea time and properly managed time ashore, determined by reference to the individual rather than to the ship or unit, as under present arrangements.

  TOPMAST will apply to all members of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines and is designed to enhance their quality of life while bringing greater flexibility to their employment. It is planned that these improvements will be implemented in phases, beginning to take effect from as early as late 2001, subject to the outcome of the next phase of development.

  Ex-service Personnel
  Ms Kelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance his Department offers to current service personnel to assist their reintegration into civilian life; what assessment has been undertaken on the impact of this assistance; and what is the annual cost of providing this assistance. [142034]

  Mr. Spellar
  Resettlement and career transition services for those leaving the regular armed forces are core elements of the Armed Forces Overarching Personnel Strategy.

  The range of services which currently exist to assist service personnel with the process of re-entering civilian life includes housing and finance briefings, workshops, seminars, relevant training and job finding. The range of activities and the amount of time available to individuals to undertake them depends on length of time served in the regular armed forces. The most comprehensive assistance
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  is available to those with at least five years reckonable service, although those who are medically discharged at any time after the completion of basic training are also eligible for the full service. This assistance is provided in the form of a partnership between my Department and Coutts Consulting Group, and is known as the Career Transition Partnership (CTP). The CTP also offers a job-finding service for those who have at least three years of reckonable service. A lesser level of support is available to those who have served less than three years in the armed forces. The CTP, which commenced operations on 12 October 1998, has its own dedicated website, www.ctp.org.uk.

  A Veterans Advice Unit also exists and provides a single point of contact for ex-service personnel seeking advice on where to obtain expert help on individual issues.

  The main assessment of the impact of resettlement assistance has been carried out against the CTP contract. Over the period from contract inception to March 2000, the CTP achieved a success rate of 54 per cent. of service leavers achieving employment immediately on discharge, with 93 per cent. achieving employment within six months of discharge. From the 15,000 or so discharged service leavers over the same period, complaints about the quality of service were running at a rate of less than 1 per cent.

  The total cost of MOD's resettlement support includes staff costs of personnel involved in resettlement matters; the cost of allowing service personnel to attend resettlement related events, including their Individual Resettlement Training Grants and associated travel and subsistence costs; the cost of the CTP contract with Coutts Consulting Group; the costs of running the MOD establishments where CTP services are offered; and the costs of providing the contractor, under Government Owned, Contractor Operated arrangements, with equipment to enable him to run certain types of training course.

  Much of this cost is not held centrally and could be provided only at • disproportionate cost. The largest element of the cost, that of the CTP contract with Coutts Consulting Group, has cost in the region of£13 million (VAT inclusive), over the period from October 1998 to November 2000, but this does not represent the true cost to the Department of its resettlement activities.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements exist to monitor the Career Transition Partnership; and if he will make a statement on its performance in securing civilian employment. [142151]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Career Transition Partnership (CTP) is a partnership between the Ministry of Defence and Coutts Consulting Group, a commercial company with considerable expertise in Resettlement and Outplacement matters. The purpose of the CTP is to assist those leaving the armed forces to make a successful transition to civilian employment when their careers have come to an end. Resettlement and career transition services for those leaving the regular armed forces are core elements of the Armed Forces Overarching Personnel Strategy.

  To monitor the performance of the partnership, MOD established a dedicated team at the outset of the contract in October 1998. The team has the express purpose of

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  monitoring the activities of the contractor, to ensure that he meets the performance criteria laid down in the contract.

  Over the period from contract inception to March 2000, the CTP has achieved a success rate of 54 per cent. of service leavers achieving employment immediately on discharge, with 93 per cent. achieving employment within six months of discharge.

  University Hospital Birmingham
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much investment his Department proposes to make at University Hospital Birmingham; and what facilities of his Department are planned to be developed there. [141381]

  Dr. Moonie
  We are currently in the process of establishing the new Centre for Defence Medicine (CDM), which will have important academic, teaching, and clinical functions, in partnership with University Hospital Birmingham (UHB) NHS Trust and others. Some£1 million is being spent on the refurbishment of a building at UHB's Selly Oak Hospital to provide headquarters accommodation for the CDM, but apart from this the centre will use existing facilities belonging to the trust and its academic and clinical partner. In the long-term it is intended that it will also use infrastructure constructed as part of UHB's planned Private Finance Initiative hospital development. This will involve no direct investment by the Ministry of Defence.

  It is possible, but not yet certain, that the MOD will need to invest in new domestic accommodation for personnel at the CDM, but this would not involve UHB. As it might be the subject of contractual negotiations, I am withholding our internal estimate of costs under exemption 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Selly Oak Hospital
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's medical staff are working at Selly Oak Hospital; and for what reason. [141380]

  Dr. Moonie
  As at 7 December 2000, the numbers of Defence Medical Services personnel serving at the Selly Oak Hospital and their roles are as follows:Centre for Defence Medicine (CDM)

  Head of CDM Implementation Team

  CDM Project Manager1

  Assistant Director Nursing and Services

  Officer Commanding Support Unit1

  Patient Services Officer

  1 Medical secretarial/administrative personnel

  Clinical Staff

  Consultant Ophthalmologist

  7 x A&E Nurses.

  In addition, a member of the Adjutant General's Corps is serving as Chief Clerk at the CDM. A Specialist Registrar in Anaesthetics is also serving at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (which is part of the University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust) on a routine placement not directly connected with the CDM.

  Official Publications
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list each new publication issued by his Department since 1997 and the total cost to the Department of each publication. [141472]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 11 December 2000]: My Department produces a huge range of publications for both internal and external purposes. No central record is kept of these and it would not be possible to list each new publication, and the total costs to the Department, without incurring disproportionate costs.

  However, we do have central records of the publications produced by our central corporate communications division and its predecessors, which is responsible for most corporate and policy publications. From the information available, the following main publications have been produced since financial year 1997–98.

  Publication

  £

  Financial year 1997–98

  Britain's Defence Booklet

  728,000

  Focus Internal Newspaper

  204,930

  Sanctuary Conservation Booklet

  22,297

  Permanent Joint HQ Publication

  7,955

  MOD Organisational Booklet

  4,000

  Conservation Brochure

  11,258

  Departmental Performance Report

  1—

  Financial year 1998–99

  Strategic Defence Review (CMD 999)

  1—

  Departmental Performance Report

  1—

  Defence Booklets

  55,988

  Defence Annual Report

  19,051

  Sanctuary Conservation Booklet

  24,194

  Defence Factsheets

  11,991

  Focus Internal Newspaper

  167,791

  Financial year 1999–2000

  Defence White Paper (CMD 4446)

  1—

  Defence Annual Report and Mission Booklets

  17,514

  Defence Booklets

  25,373

  Defence Factsheets (series of 28)

  47,868

  Factsheets (Welsh Language)

  8,439

  Large text/Braille/audio material

  24,475

  Sanctuary

  21,920

  Focus Internal Newspaper

  174,329

  Departmental Performance Report

  1—

  Financial year 2000–01

  MOD Factsheets (series of 33)

  22,782

  Factsheets (Welsh Language)

  10,480

  Corporate Booklets

  32,364

  Kosovo Lessons From the Crisis (CMD 4724)

  1—

  Departmental Performance Report

  1—

  Focus Internal Newspaper

  103,918

  Sanctuary

  19,092

  1 Costs borne by Stationery Office

  Kursk
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department's civilian Salvage and Mooring Organisation has the experience, resources, and training to carry out the Kursk operation; what expertise RN personnel have regarding the deep-water intervention activity necessary for this operation; and if he will make a statement. [142163]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Ministry of Defence's Salvage and Mooring Organisation would not have the lead on a rescue attempt similar to that undertaken for the Kursk. Instead
  163W
  such an attempt would fall to our Submarine and Rescue Service based on the LR5 manned submersible and the Scorpio remotely operated vehicle. As I explained to the hon. Member in written correspondence, our Submarine and Rescue System has the capability to deal with rescue from depths of 400m and to angles of up to 60 degrees. I also refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave him on 20 November 2000, Official Report, columns 7–8W and on 24 November 2000, Official Report, columns 336–37W.

  Dog Training
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on the use of electric shock-collars in dog training. [142122]

  Dr. Moonie
  No use is made of electric shock-collars in any dog training carried out by the Ministry of Defence.

  Medical Staff
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many doctors, nurses and other medical staff have been posted away from the Royal Hospital Haslar to take up overseas posts in the last three months; and what proportion this represents of all such medical overseas postings in the period. [141382]

  Dr. Moonie
  In the three months ended 30 November 2000, 56 Defence Medical Services personnel from the Royal Hospital Haslar and the four Ministry of Defence Hospital Units were deployed overseas on military operations. Of the 56 personnel, 27 were deployed from the Royal Hospital Haslar. In addition, 18 Regular personnel from other units and volunteer Reservists were similarly deployed.

  In the same period, 14 Service medical personnel from Haslar and the four Ministry of Defence Hospital Units took up long term postings overseas, six of whom were from the Royal Hospital Haslar.

  Chemical Weapons
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he plans to subject the report of the zinc cadmium sulphide trials by Professor Peter Lachmann published in March this year to peer review by other scientists. [142412]

  Dr. Moonie
  I understand that Professor Lachmann and his colleagues plan to arrange publication and peer review of a scientific paper based on their report.

  Porton Down Volunteers
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if the advice from the Medical Research Council on an independent epidemiological study of Porton Down volunteers will be made public once that advice has been received; [142419]

  (2) if he will place in the Library a copy of the letter from the Ministry of Defence to the Medical Research Council seeking advice on an independent epidemiological study on Porton Down volunteers. [142418]

  Dr. Moonie
  I have placed a copy of my Department's letter to the Medical Research Council (MRC) in the Library of the House. Some text has been removed under the Code of Practice on Access to Government
  164W
  Information, Exemptions 11, 12 and 14. The MRC's advice, which is still awaited, will form the basis for decisions which my Department will make public in due course.

  Staffordshire Regiment
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Strategic Defence Review Learning Forces initiative and the Staffordshire Regiment. [142150]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) included a commitment to develop a learning culture in the armed forces through the Learning Forces Initiative (LFI). This initiative encourages learning and aims to furnish all Service personnel with the skills they need to make the best possible contribution during their Service careers and equip them to return to civilian life in due course. Soldiers of the Staffordshire Regiment, like all other Service personnel, are able to take advantage of these improved opportunities for learning. The Staffordshire Regiment is based in Tidworth which houses one of the four pilot Army Learning Centres where soldiers will have on-line access to a wide range of learning opportunities.

CABINET OFFICE

  Drugs
  Caroline Flint
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recommendations she has made about developing drug detoxification strategies at regional level. [142068]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  As a result of the Government's forward expenditure plans spending on treatment services, including those providing detoxification, will rise from£234 million this year to£401 million in 2003–04. The National Treatment Agency, which will be established from April 2001, will be responsible for a pooled budget to expand drug treatment provision and for ensuring the delivery of high quality services across the country. It will ensure that those requiring treatment are able to access services regardless of their route of referral.

  The Government are committed to reducing long waiting times for drug treatment services and to bringing the standards of all up to the standards of the best.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Girls in Sport
  Caroline Flint
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what targets he has for increasing participation of girls in sport. [142058]

  Kate Hoey
  My Department's Public Service Agreement includes a target to raise significantly, year on year, the average time spent on sport and physical activity of all those aged six to 16. Sport England has agreed to include in its Funding Agreement with the Department a target to increase women's regular participation in sport from 24 per cent. in 1996 to 30 per cent. in 2002.

  Conference League Football Clubs
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assistance his Department(a) has given to Conference League football clubs to establish youth development programmes and (b) plans to give to Conference League football clubs to establish full-time youth academies. [141950]

  Kate Hoey
  Nationwide clubs are eligible to apply to the Football Foundation for funding for community/education initiatives and grass roots projects which may benefit the wider community.

  I have met with the Nationwide Conference to discuss this issue and fully support their wish to establish youth development programmes and youth academies.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Judges (Car Hire)
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will give a breakdown of the costs of car hire for each of the last three years for each judges' lodgings; and if he will make a statement. [142112]

  Jane Kennedy
  The information requested is contained in the table.

  Cost of car hire

  £

  No

  Lodgings name

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  1

  Birmingham

  49,973

  47,597

  50,641

  2

  Bristol

  37,230

  36,952

  32,632

  3

  Caernarfon

  4,350

  1,689

  1,468

  4

  Cardiff

  35,385

  32,642

  33,151

  5

  Carlisle

  8,128

  4,058

  7,545

  6

  Chelmsford

  2,013

  774

  2,474

  7

  Chester

  22,373

  20,587

  23,249

  8

  Exeter

  10,521

  12,245

  6,436

  9

  Leeds

  37,870

  30,806

  40,208

  10

  Leicester

  7,720

  3,820

  4,468

  11

  Lewes

  13,417

  21,360

  12,037

  12

  Lincoln

  4,890

  4,755

  3,467

  13

  Liverpool

  26,747

  34,774

  38,430

  14

  Maidstone

  14,111

  13,141

  9,420

  15

  Manchester

  52,134

  45,762

  43,110

  16

  Mold

  607

  779

  635

  17

  Northampton

  1,687

  3,320

  2,300

  18

  Norwich

  8,636

  8,358

  4,515

  19

  Nottingham

  31,288

  42,776

  33,860

  20

  Oxford

  3,518

  7,864

  5,305

  21

  Plawsworth

  37,093

  29,821

  41,644

  22

  Plymouth

  2,505

  1,269

  1,989

  23

  Preston

  30,886

  25,333

  24,561

  24

  Reading

  16,939

  15,738

  17,295

  25

  Sheffield

  26,382

  23,374

  21,292

  26

  St. Albans

  13,882

  14,109

  20,729

  27

  Stafford

  3,385

  6,266

  22,469

  28

  Swansea

  17,646

  12,645

  22,605

  29

  Truro

  1,930

  2,304

  4,005

  30

  Warwick

  194

  264

  860

  31

  Winchester

  22,023

  18,993

  20,849

  32

  Winchester

  4,922

  2,902

  3,417

  Total

  550,385

  527,077

  557,066

  Divorce (Religious Marriages) Bill
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to reintroduce the Divorce (Religious Marriages) Bill; and if he will make a statement. [141330]

  Jane Kennedy
  The Government have no plans to introduce such a Bill at present.

  Royal Records
  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to release the remaining records relating to King Edward VIII. [141634]

  Mr. Lock
  The public records relating to King Edward VIII that have not been released are closed for up to 100 years but this closure period is kept under constant review.

  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to decrease the length of time royal records remain closed to the public. [141635]

  Mr. Lock
  The Open Government White Paper (July 1993), under which access to public records relating to the royal family is determined, provides that such records are treated in the same way as all other records and only closed for longer than 30 years if they fall into one of the three criteria governing closure (Para. 9.2). Guidance on the length of time that royal records remain closed to the public is under review in the light of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the procedures for challenging abuse of public funds through the maladministration of legal aid. [141641]

  Mr. Lock
  If a litigant believes that their opponent should not have been granted public funding, they can make representations to the Legal Services Commission. If the Commission agrees that, in the light of new information, the case no longer meets the qualifying criteria, it will move to discharge or revoke the certificate. The funded client has an opportunity to argue against the withdrawal of funding, and a formal right of appeal, after which the Commission's decision is final.

  If, after this, the unassisted party still believes that funding should not have been granted and that the Commission's decision was wrong, they can make a complaint to the Commission and ask for compensation. They can also (as with all public bodies) ask their MP to refer a complaint to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration. If the Commission or the Parliamentary Commissioner finds that there was maladministration, the Commission will offer compensation for any losses that are attributable to it.

  Auld Report
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he expects Lord Justice Auld to submit his report on the criminal justice system. [141953]
  167W
  Jane Kennedy
  Lord Justice Auld is now drafting his final conclusions and hopes to bring the Review to a conclusion early in the new year.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Pre-1983 Maps
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food where his Department's pre-1983 maps of less favoured areas are held; and if they are accessible for examination by members of the public. [141303]

  Mr. Morley
  Prior to 1983, less-favoured areas were designated as those areas falling within or partly within the parishes listed in the annexe to Council Directive 75/268/EEC, as amended by Commission Decisions 76/685/EEC and 82/656/EEC. Copies of European legislation are available from local libraries.

  Seals
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence his Department has procured on the possible correlation between seal populations and the decline in fish stocks. [142123]

  Mr. Morley
  Previous research funded by this Department and undertaken by the Sea Mammal Research Unit indicates that the bulk of seals' diet consists of juvenile fish. Given the high rates of natural mortality for these species, there is no evidence to indicate that seals are having a significant impact on particular stocks or the catches available to commercial fishermen.

  However, in view of renewed concerns, I have asked the SMRU to update this research. They are currently undertaking a project ending in September 2003, which focuses on grey seal diet in the North Sea. In addition, the Department is supporting a project to develop a computer model that will predict the impact of grey seals on fish stocks in the future. This work has just entered its final phase: results are expected in October 2002.

WALES

  Sea Fishing Industry
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Agriculture Secretary of the National Assembly on the future of the Welsh sea fishing industry. [142009]

  Mr. Hanson
  I meet the Agriculture Secretary on a regular basis and discuss a range of issues.

  Severn Bridge (Tolls)
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary with regard to making representations to the European Commission on the charging of VAT on Severn bridge tolls. [142012]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Representations to the European Commission have not been raised during my discussion of this subject with my right hon. Friend the First Secretary.
  168W
  However, the hon. Gentleman will wish to be aware that Her Majesty's Customs and Excise is exploring options for a Government-supported scheme to offset the cost of VAT to motorist and business motorists.

  New Deal
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the cost-effectiveness of the New Deal for young people in Wales. [142013]

  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the cost-effectiveness of the New Deal for young people in Wales. [142016]

  Mr. Hanson
  The New Deal is working, performing better than most independent economists would have expected of an active labour market policy. We now have the lowest youth unemployment since July 1975 and the lowest unemployment for twenty years.

  The percentage fall in youth unemployment since May 1997 was 31 per cent. with a fall of 81 per cent. in long-term youth unemployment till September 2000. Figures show that there has been a 22 per cent. fall in youth unemployment with a fall of 73 per cent. since April 1998, attributable largely to the New Deal.

  Meat Labelling
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Welsh Agriculture Secretary about the labelling of meat which is imported from Europe but processed in Wales. [142014]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales meets regularly with the Welsh Agriculture Secretary to discuss a range of issues. The Assembly subscribes to the new compulsory system for the labelling of beef and beef products, recently agreed by the EC. This came into force on 1 September 2000 and states that labels must indicate the location where slaughter and cutting took place. As from 1 January 2002, it will also be compulsory to include the location where birth and rearing took place.

  Knowledge Economy
  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to support the knowledge economy in Wales. [142015]

  Mr. Hanson
  The Government have three overarching goals for the knowledge economy:

  To make the UK the best place in the world for e-commerce by 2002;

  To achieve universal access to the internet by 2005;

  To put all Government services online by 2005.

  This year, through the Budget, the Spending Review, and UK Online, the Government have already put in place a number of initiatives, in addition to existing measures, aimed at meeting these overarching goals. These measures will help to support the knowledge economy in Wales as well as the rest of the UK.

  Steel Industry
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the future of the steel industry in Wales. [142017]
  169W
  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The Government continue to work very closely with the Assembly, senior representatives of the steel industry and the Unions about the future of steel in the UK.

  Violent Crime
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives he is taking to reduce violence in Wales. [142018]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  None. It is for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to take initiatives to reduce violence. The Government's legislative programme for the coming session contains proposals, which will assist in the fight against violent crime.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the current level is of violent crimes in(a) Welsh urban areas and (b) Welsh rural areas. [141912]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Notifiable offences of violence against the person recorded in the 12 months ending March 2000, given by police force area, are in the table.

  Area

  Number

  Dyfed Powys

  5,519

  Gwent

  13,774

  South Wales

  12,890

  North Wales

  5,739

  Recorded crime in Wales fell by 2.5 per cent. overall in the same period, against a 3.8 per cent. increase in England and Wales as a whole.

  Pensioners (Security)
  Mr. Donald Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has held with relevant Cabinet colleagues about the implications of the Gracious Speech for the personal security of pensioners in Wales. [142019]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I meet with Cabinet colleagues regularly to discuss a wide range of issues.

  The Finance Bill will give effect to Budget measures. The pre-Budget Report announced an increase of£5 a week for single pensioners and£8 for married couple pensioners allowance from April 2001, and a further£3 for single pensioners and£4.80 for married couple pensioners from April 2002. It also announced that the Minimum Income Guarantee would increase to£92 a week in 2001–02 and£100 a week in 2002–03. The Winter Fuel Allowance has also been increased to£200. This is good news for all of Wales's 630,000 pensioners.

  The Criminal Justice and Police Bill will help to achieve one of the Government's main objectives—to reduce crime and to reduce the fear of crime. Fear of crime is particularly high among pensioners and they will benefit greatly from measures in the Bill which are designed to combat disorder, nuisance and intimidating or antisocial behaviour on our streets. Such measures include extra police powers to tackle disorder in public places and raising the upper age limit of child curfew schemes to 15 years.

  Gross Domestic Product
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on recent trends in the level of the gross domestic product of Wales. [142020]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Recent figures show that there is a rising trend in the figures for gross domestic product (GDP) in Wales. GDP at basic prices is estimated to have risen from£25,860 million in 1995 to£29,027 million in 1998, an increase of 12 per cent. over the period.

  Police
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Home Secretary about extending police powers and increasing recruitment of police officers in Wales. [142022]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I meet the Home Secretary regularly to discuss a range of issues.

  The Criminal Justice and Police Bill, announced recently in the Queen's speech, will improve and modernise police powers and procedures. For example, the Bill will help police to combat disorder through the introduction of fixed penalty notices, it will give legal support to police removing material from premises for searching and it will give powers of arrest to police in cases of kerb-crawling and hit-and-run driving.

  The Home Secretary has announced that Welsh police forces will receive funding for an additional 286 police officers to be recruited in 2000–01 and 2001–02. Funding for additional recruitment will also be provided in 2002–03. In addition to payments direct to forces, National Police Training will receive funding to train new recruits to provincial forces.

  DARA (RAF St. Athan)
  Mr. John Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has made to the Secretary of State for Defence concerning the future of DARA at RAF St. Athan; and if he will make a statement. [142023]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I recently met my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces to discuss this issue. We will be issuing a joint statement shortly.

  Family Farms
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary on the impact of Government policies on small family farms in Wales. [142024]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I regularly discuss many aspects of agriculture in Wales with my right hon Friend the First Secretary. In recognition of the problems faced by Welsh farmers, the Action Plan for Farming package announced in March promised Wales£14.7 million to less favoured areas;£10.6 million agrimonetary compensation to dairy, beef and sheep farmers and£2 million to be spent on business advice throughout Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. This was in addition to HLCA budget increases in 1998–99 and 1999–2000 and several tranches of agrimonetary compensation for high value of pound, paid to beef and sheep sectors since the start of 1998, worth£227 million across the UK. These initiatives are in addition to those being pursued by the Assembly. The
  171W
  First Secretary has stressed that family farming needs to adapt in order to survive, grasping new opportunities underpinned by, for example, the Rural Development Plan, agrifood strategies and expansion of the Tir Gofal scheme.

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the First Secretary concerning the prospects for manufacturing industry in Wales for 2001. [141913]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I regularly discuss a wide range of issues with the First Secretary including prospects for Manufacturing in Wales.

  This Government will continue to maintain the long-term economic stability Britain enjoys today, which will, in turn, allow businesses to invest and plan ahead with confidence.

  Special Educational Needs
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary about addressing the needs of children with special educational needs in Wales. [141914]

  Mr. Hanson
  There has been close co-operation between Whitehall colleagues and the National Assembly on addressing the needs of children in Wales with special educational needs. My right hon. Friend and I welcome the introduction of the Special Education Needs and Disability Bill, which will strengthen the rights of children with special educational needs and provide greater choice for their educational future.

  Census
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent representations he has received about the census in Wales. [141915]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I have received very few representations about this matter, with only around 10 letters in all, including those from Members of the House. The representations that I receive shows that people are more concerned with those issues which really matter: cutting crime, supporting pensioners and improving health care and education.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what further steps he has taken to enable people to indicate their national identity by way of a Welsh tick-box in the forthcoming census. [142006]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  There are a variety of opportunities for those of us who are Welsh to express our national identity in the forthcoming census. Anyone who writes in the ethnic group question that they are Welsh will be counted as such. Unlike a simple tick-box on the census form this will identify those Welsh people who are from black, Asian or other backgrounds. We are explicitly recognising the diversity of those who regard themselves as Welsh and who have other ethnic backgrounds.

  A question on the country of birth will enable people to indicate that they were born in Wales and respondents will be asked whether they can understand, speak, read or write in the Welsh language.

  Hunting
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the impact of a ban on hunting with dogs on rural areas in Wales. [142005]

  Mr. Hanson
  I have made no specific assessment of the impact of a ban on hunting with dogs in rural areas. However, the hon. Gentleman knows that the Burns commission looked at this issue in some detail. We appreciate that there may be repercussions on rural areas and these will be taken into account during the passage of the Bill.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  GM Crops
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough (Mr. Bell), representing the Church Commissioners, what research has been analysed to inform the policy of the Church Commissioners in respect of genetically modified crops. [141640]

  Mr. Stuart Bell
  The hon. Gentleman will know that the Church of England's Ethical Investment Advisory Group (EIAG) undertook an extensive inquiry earlier this year on behalf of the Church's central investing bodies, including the Church Commissioners, into the use of genetically modified organisms in agriculture. In doing so it consulted extensively with scientists and academics, including visits to research establishments. It studied papers prepared by English Nature, the RSPB and the Soil Association and a briefing issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Submissions from environmental groups, the Nuffield Council on Bioethics among others, were also considered. Full details of the research and consultation process are included in the EIAG's report "Genetically Modified Organisms: a Perspective and Reflection", published in April. A copy has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

  The EIAG has recommended to the Church Commissioners that while there is no theological objection to the genetic modification of seeds for use in agriculture crops, a precautionary principle should for the present be adopted over the use of land for this purpose, and the Commissioners have accepted that advice. The EIAG has called for a clear ethical framework for the practical application of the science, and tight and comprehensive regulation of research and testing that leads to a full evaluation of the benefits and risks. It will continue to monitor developments, working closely with regulators, industry and conservationists.

TREASURY

  Fuel Tax
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on discussions between his Department and the European Commission on greater harmonisation of indirect taxes on(a) petrol and (b) diesel within the EU. [141368]

  Mr. Timms
  Discussion of the draft Energy Products Directive is on-going.

  Aviation Fuel
  Caroline Flint
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received in favour of taxation on aviation fuel. [142055]

  Mr. Timms
  At present, the taxation of aviation fuel is not permitted under EU law and long-standing international agreements. I have received a number of representations commenting on this situation, including a number querying the rationale for the exemption.

  Flexible Retirement
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in the joint review by his Department and the Inland Revenue of flexible retirement; when he expects it to report; and if he will make a statement. [141320]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Discussions are currently taking place with representatives of pension schemes about this issue.

  Official Meetings
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place his official diary for the month of July in the Library. [142487]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 30 November 2000,Official Report, column 934W.

  Bereavement Allowance
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of beneficiaries and cost of extending the coverage of the Widow's Bereavement Allowance to men. [141496]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Argyll and Bute (Mrs. Michie) on 16 November 2000,Official Report, column 762W.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claims the Inland Revenue has received from men for the Widow's Bereavement Allowance since November 1999; and how many have received payment. [141495]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Inland Revenue does not maintain records for the number of claims it has received from men for the Widow's Bereavement Allowance. There is no entitlement in law for widowers to claim this allowance.

  Climate Change Levy
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will publish agreements with business, including agreements with individual companies, groups of companies and sectors, relating to the climate change levy. [141467]

  Mr. Timms
  Energy intensive sectors exposed to international competition—as defined by the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations—will be entitled to 80 per cent. rebate on the climate change levy in return for entering into Negotiated Agreements which will deliver 174W
  demanding reductions in their energy use. These agreements are entered into with the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

  Sickness Absence
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library centrally collated incidences of sickness absence reported by managers in his Department for each month since they became available. [142509]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The latest published statistics on sickness absence were given in the report "Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service 1998" prepared by BMI Health Services Ltd.

  Business Case Studies (Euro)
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many businesses have requested copies of the free business case studies issued by the Euro Preparations Unit; [142270]

  (2) if he will place in the Library a copy of the free business case studies being offered to businesses by the Euro Preparations Unit; [142271]

  (3) how many unsolicited letters have been sent out by the Euro Preparations Unit offering free business case studies. [142272]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I refer the hon. Member to the "Fourth report on Euro Preparations", copies of which have been deposited in the Library of the House.

  Banks (Financial Exclusion)
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sanctions will apply to banks who do not meet the marketing, accessibility and availability tests of their financial exclusion responsibility. [142248]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Government welcome banks' positive response to the challenge to set up basic bank accounts, and their constructive discussions with the Post Office to make them widely available.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Wild Mammals Protection Act
  Mr. Peter Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been since the enactment of the Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996. [141633]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Available information, taken from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database, on the number of prosecutions there have been under the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996, is given in the table.

  Number of persons prosecuted for offences under the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 England and Wales 1997–99

  Year

  Prosecutions

  1997

  7

  1998

  8

  1999

  1—

  1 Nil return

  National Asylum Seekers Support Scheme
  Ms Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many voucher-only applicants to the National Asylum Seekers Support Scheme are from(a) families with children under 18, (b) adults aged 18 to 24 and (c) adults aged 25 and over. [141644]

  Mrs. Roche
  As at the end of November 2000, 7401 families and 5,950 singles had applied for voucher-only support from the National Asylum Support Service.

  Information on the age of dependants and principal applicants is not available.

  1Figures are rounded to the nearest 10

  Child Asylum Seekers
  Ms Kelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the treatment of child asylum seekers with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. [142045]

  Mrs. Roche
  In ratifying the Convention the United Kingdom entered a reservation in respect of immigration law. Decisions on the entry and stay of children are made on the basis of our domestic law and our international obligations to refugees. We take the view that our treatment of child asylum seekers is entirely consistent with the broad thrust of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. In particular, we are satisfied that the comprehensive provision in United Kingdom law for the care and protection of children applies in full to children who have been recognised as refugees in this country and to those who have sought asylum here but whose claims have not yet been determined.

  Anti-social Behaviour Orders
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many anti-social behaviour orders have been issued since 1999 in(a) England and Wales, (b) the Greater London area and (c) the Royal Borough of Kingston. [141629]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Over 140 orders have now been granted in England and Wales. At least 10 of these have been made in the Greater London area. I understand that no orders have been granted in the Royal Borough of Kingston.

  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average cost of issuing an anti-social behaviour order. [141630]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  As I said in my reply to the hon. Member on 13 November 2000,Official Report, column 531W, I cannot yet say what the average cost of issuing an order is. We will be undertaking a review into the operation and effectiveness of anti-social behaviour orders in the new year. Once the results of the review have been published, we should have a clearer picture of the cost of seeking an order.

  Holocaust Memorial Day
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress of the preparations for Holocaust Memorial Day 2001. [141327]
  176W
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Preparations are well in hand.

  A Home Office-led Steering Group has been developing guidance and plans since January when my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, announced the establishment of Holocaust Memorial day. The Steering Group includes representatives from a wide range of Government Departments and non-government departments (NGOs).

  On 23 October the Local Government Association sent guidance to local authorities on ways they can mark the day, encouraging them to involve local communities and groups. This guidance was produced by a working group chaired by the Acting Chief Executive of the London Borough of Barnet and involved a number of representatives of NGOs with experience and expertise in Holocaust education and remembrance. These included the Board of Deputies of British jews, Beth Shalom Memorial Centre, Anne Frank Educational Trust, Holocaust Educational Trust and Pink Triangle Coalition. The guidance has also been distributed to a wide range of voluntary and community groups through the Commission for Race Equality, the National Association of Councils for Voluntary Service, Stonewall, the Board of Deputies of British Jews, and the Interfaith Network. This effort is being reinforced by seminars for local authority chief officers being run jointly by the Local Government Association and Beth Shalom Memorial Centre. Local authorities have been asked to put details of activities in their areas onto the dedicated website www.holocaustmemorialday.gov.uk.

  On 9 November 2000, the Minister for Schools, the Under-Secretary of State for Education and Employment, the hon. Member for Redditch (Jacqui Smith), launched a new Holocaust education resource pack for use by schools and others in the week leading up to Holocaust Memorial Day. An editorial team from NGOs with experience and expertise in Holocaust education, research and remembrance produced the education Pack, which was quality assured by Department for Education and Employment. These were the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Holocaust Educational Trust, Pink Triangle Coalition, Anne Frank Educational Trust, London Jewish Cultural Centre, the Wiener Library, Southampton University and Ben Helfgott, himself a Holocaust survivor, from the Yad Vashem Committee. Nearly 30,000 packs have already been issued.

  A national ceremony will be held in London on the evening of Saturday 27 January and will be attended by a wide audience including senior public figures, community representatives and students. The event is being produced and televised live by the BBC guided by the Steering Group.

  I would like to encourage all Members of Parliament to support and encourage activities in their constituencies to mark the first United Kingdom Holocaust Memorial Day. The day is relevant to all of us. Its focus is on learning the lessons of the Holocaust and other more recent atrocities that raise similar issues.

  A key aim of the day is to promote a democratic and tolerant society that respects and celebrates diversity and is free of the evils of prejudice. This is reflected in all of the related guidance and plans to mark Holocaust Memorial Day on 27 January.

  Dog Breed Bans (Germany)
  Jane Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the action of the German Government in respect of banning certain breeds of dog. [141324]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Government's view is that action by the authorities of other countries, concerning dogs within their own borders, is entirely a matter for them. We have therefore made no assessment of steps taken in Germany as regards certain breeds of dogs.

  The German Government has pressed for European Union (EU) legislation on the subject of dangerous dogs, but following related discussion at a meeting last September of the European Union's Judicial Home Affairs Council, it seems unlikely that the matter will progress.

  The United Kingdom Government are opposed to European Union legislation on this subject. We also consider that current United Kingdom law, in the form of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (as amended in 1997), is adequate for present and future control needs in this country.

  Criminal Records Bureau
  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what would be the cost of waiving the charges of the Criminal Records Bureau for checks requested by voluntary sector organisations. [141522]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Altrincham and Sale, West (Mr. Brady) on 11 December 2000,Official Report, column 60W.

  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he has made in carrying out a regulatory impact assessment in respect of the fees to be charged by the Criminal Records Bureau, with particular reference to the voluntary sector. [141523]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Altrincham and Sale, West (Mr. Brady) on 11 December 2000,Official Report, column 60W.

  Ex-servicemen (Convictions)
  Ms Kelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans his Department has to identify the number of ex-servicemen who have been convicted of a criminal offence. [142140]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  There are no plans to identify the number of ex-servicemen who have been convicted of a criminal offence.

  Metropolitan Police (Thames Division)
  Mr. Pond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) powered patrol and supervisory craft, (b) personnel broken down by rank, (c) other staff, (d) operational marine stations and (e) specialist divers of the Thames Division of the Metropolitan police there were in each of the years 1980, 1989 and 2000. [141365]
  178W
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has provided the information. The force's records for 1980 are incomplete and therefore the information provided is for 1989 and 2000.

  (i)1989

  There were 21 patrol boats and two supervision launches. The staffing in 1989 was as follows:

  Number

  Police officers

  Superintendent

  1

  Chief Inspector

  1

  Inspectors

  8

  Sergeants

  22

  Constables

  114

  Civilian staff and other staff

  Civilian support staff

  6

  Garage staff (including boatyard)

  12

  Special constables

  29

  In 1989, Thames Division operated from the following locations: Barnes, Hampton, Moorings and Shepperton, Wapping and Waterloo Pier.Metropolitan police service records in 1989 did not differentiate between divers and other specially employed officers. However, force duty records suggest there were nine officers employed as divers.

  (ii)2000

  There were 11 patrol boats and three supervision launches. The staffing in 2000 was as follows:

  Number

  Police officers

  Chief Inspector

  1

  Inspectors

  5

  Sergeants

  14

  Constables

  67

  Civilian staff and other staff

  Civilian support staff

  6

  Special constables

  11

  In 2000, the Marine Support Unit operated from Wapping with satellite unstaffed bases at Waterloo Pier and Richmond.

  There were nine divers (one sergeant and eight constables).

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department spent on support for asylum seekers, including unaccompanied minors, in(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99, (d) 1999–2000 and (e) the period since 1 April. [142445]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 12 December 2000]: The Home Department assumed responsibility for asylum support costs on 1 April 1999 as a result of the comprehensive spending review. These costs were previously the responsibility of the Department of Social Security and Department of Health. Their combined direct expenditure for supporting asylum seekers in 1996–97

  179W
  was£413 million, in 1997–98 was£375 million and in 1998–99 was£475 million. These figures include costs for supporting unaccompanied asylum seeking children.

  The comparable costs in 1999–2000 to the Home Office budget of supporting asylum seekers in the United Kingdom was£537 million. The Department of Health incurred an additional cost of£52 million for supporting unaccompanied asylum seeking children, bringing the total costs in 1999–2000 for supporting asylum seekers to£590 million.

  Expenditure by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate for asylum support from 1 April 2000 to 30 November 2000 was£463 million. This figure does not include costs for supporting unaccompanied asylum seeking children as the grant exercise for 2000–01 will be conducted later in the year.

  Electoral Commissioners
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Electoral Commissioners are to be appointed; and if he will make a statement. [141388]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  We intend to table a motion for an Address to be presented to Her Majesty, as required by section 3(1) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, soon.

  Hare Coursing
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce a closed season for(a) hare coursing and (b) shooting; and if he will make a statement. [141748]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Hunting Bill, which received its First Reading on 7 December 2000, contains three options dealing with the issue of hunting with dogs in England and Wales. The option at schedule 3 of the Bill would provide for a ban on hare coursing.

  There are no current plans for a close season for hare coursing should Parliament not introduce a ban, though the activity as regulated by the National Coursing Club should not take place for most of the period between March and August each year.

  The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) inform me that a Biodiversity Action Plan for the Brown Hare was set up with the objective of maintaining and expanding existing populations. It does not, however, recommend introducing a close season for shooting hares (though there are restrictions on that under the Ground Game Act 1880), and there are currently no plans to bring in such a measure.

  Close seasons for shooting a number of other species of wildlife already exist in the Game Act 1831 and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. These are for conservation purposes, to allow numbers to recover and to ensure, in accordance with the European Community Wild Birds Directive, that hunting does not occur during rearing seasons.

  Vehicle-related Crime
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vehicle-related crimes occurred in Sussex in each year since 1979. [142137]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The number of thefts of vehicles and thefts from vehicles are given in the table.

  Recorded crimes—Sussex

  Year

  Theft of vehicle

  Theft from vehicle

  1979

  3,685

  4,144

  1980

  3,864

  4,302

  1981

  3,717

  5,162

  1982

  4,157

  7,278

  1983

  3,729

  7,363

  1984

  4,686

  7,716

  1985

  5,009

  8,238

  1986

  5,290

  8,870

  1987

  5,262

  9,167

  1988

  5,497

  10,065

  1989

  6,226

  11,051

  1990

  7,210

  15,465

  1991

  9,251

  21,020

  1992

  9,006

  22,981

  1993

  7,664

  20,703

  1994

  6,701

  18,286

  1995

  6,763

  19,263

  1996

  7,424

  20,217

  1997

  6,979

  19,188

  1998–991

  7,076

  18,258

  1999–20001

  7,721

  17,419

  1 Year ending March

  Firearms and Knives
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences involving(a) firearms and (b) knives there were in Sussex in each year since 1979. [142110]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The number of offences involving knives is not collected centrally. The number of firearms offences in Sussex for the years requested is given as follows, and is the total for all firearms, including air weapons.

  Year

  Number

  1979

  74

  1980

  63

  1981

  91

  1982

  63

  1983

  42

  1984

  65

  1985

  74

  1986

  74

  1987

  92

  1988

  103

  1989

  165

  1990

  193

  1991

  184

  1992

  198

  1993

  208

  1994

  195

  1995

  189

  1996

  177

  1997

  218

  1998–991

  315

  1999–20001

  377

  1 Year ending March. There was a change in counting rules for recorded crime on 1 April 1998, which increased the overall number of offences recorded, of which firearms offences are a subset

  181W
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to hold(a) a firearms and (b) a knife amnesty. [142111]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  We are in favour in principle of periodic firearms amnesties, although the details and timing would need to be considered carefully in consultation with the police service and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). A formal amnesty would raise a number of legal and practical issues which would need to be resolved in advance.

  As regards an amnesty for knives, we are aware of the existence of some schemes which have apparently been successful locally in reducing the incidence of knife crime. However, knives are not subject to licensing or similar controls, and there are no current plans to introduce a national knives amnesty in this country. It will be for individual police forces and other interested parties to decide whether to have a knives amnesty scheme or not in their location.

  Speeding Penalties
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to alter the penalties applicable to drivers driving at speeds in excess of 100 mph. [142107]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The penalties for speeding and other road traffic offences are currently under review. The Government hope to publish a consultation document, setting out the proposals of the review, very shortly.

  Replica Guns
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the use of replica guns in perpetrating criminal activity; what plans he has to introduce measures requiring replica guns to be obviously different from real guns; and if he will make a statement. [142109]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  In the light of police concern about the use of replica firearms in robbery and other crimes, we have recently accepted in principle the recommendations of the Home Affairs Select Committee and the Firearms Consultative Committee that there should be restrictions on the ready availability of imitation weapons and their possession in a public place. We will wish to explore carefully what further steps might be taken to control these items.

  HGVs
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions for tampering with speed limiters on heavy goods vehicles there have been in the last year for which figures are available. [142506]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Information obtained from the Vehicle Inspectorate (an executive agency of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions) shows that there were 46 convictions for interfering with speed limiters on heavy goods vehicles in England and Wales in the financial year 1999–2000.

  Drug Treatment
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people have successfully 182W
  completed treatment under a drug treatment and testing order in each of the last 10 years; and what is the estimated cost of each successful participant; [142213]

  (2) how many people have undergone a drug treatment and testing order in each of the last 10 years; and how many have refused to comply in each of the last 10 years. [142214]

  Mr. Boateng
  The drug treatment and testing order was only rolled out to all courts in England and Wales from 1 October. It had previously been piloted between 1 October 1998 and 31 March 2000 in three areas: Croydon, Gloucestershire and Liverpool. By the end of the pilots 31 offenders had successfully completed their orders or were nearing completion.

  It is estimated that on average an order costs approximately£6,000.

  Statistics on orders made, breach and revocation in each of the pilot areas are given in the table.

  DTTO pilot scheme1

  Area

  Orders made

  Orders breached

  Orders revoked

  Percentage of orders revoked

  Croydon

  42

  28

  17

  40

  Gloucestershire

  100

  63

  60

  60

  Liverpool

  68

  29

  19

  28

  Total

  210

  120

  96

  46

  1 Enforcement process: figures until 31 March 2000 (from Final Evaluation Report)

  Note

  In all cases, the orders revoked have also been the subject of breach and are included in both figures

  Electoral Register
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the standard data format for the supply of copies of the electoral register to(a) those entitled to receive them free of charge in electronic form and (b) others is to be; and if he will make a statement. [141475]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Regulations C22 to C24 of the draft Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2000 (which were published for consultation on 8 November) provide for the supply of copies of the electoral register to specified persons, or the sale of such copies, either in printed or data form. Regulation C25 of the draft Regulations specifies that, subject to any direction of the Secretary of State under section 52(1) of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (directions as to discharge of registration duties), any duty on the registration officer to supply data under regulations C22 to C24 imposes only a duty to supply such data recorded in the form in which he holds it.

  The exercise of the powers in section 52(1) is subject to new section 52(1A), as inserted by paragraph 6 of Schedule 21 to the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. New section 52(1A) enables the Secretary of State to give directions requiring a registration officer to maintain his registers in a specified electronic form. By virtue of section 8(1) of the 2000 Act the exercise of the powers in section 52 of the 1983 Act, as amended, is exercisable only on, and in accordance with, a recommendation of the Electoral Commission.

  183W
  Subject to consultation with the Commission we propose to bring section 8 of and paragraph 6 of Schedule 21 to the 2000 Act into force on 16 February 2001. Thereafter it will be a matter for the Commission to consider whether to recommend to the Secretary of State that registers of electors should be maintained in a common data format and, if so, what format should be prescribed.

  Licensing Applications
  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps he is taking to assure applicants under the proposed licensing procedures that they will receive a fair judicial hearing if trained magistrates are removed from the licensing awards procedures; and if he will make a statement; [142183]

  (2) what steps he is taking to avoid a conflict of interests if the magistrates licensing authority is transferred to local councillors; and if he will make a statement. [142179]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Under the proposals for reform of the licensing laws in our White Paper, "Time for Reform", my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary would be responsible for making statutory rules to govern the procedures under which local authorities acting as licensing authorities would deal with applications for the issue, renewal, variation or termination of personal and premises licences.

  The aim of such rules would be to ensure that these matters, which will be subject to appeal, are dealt with in a fair, timely and impartial way. Local authorities would also be expected to take account of their own legal advice as necessary and to ensure that those dealing with licensing matters received proper training in the new law and their responsibilities under it.

  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what role local magistrates will play under his proposals to transfer all licensing matters to local government; and if he will make a statement. [142182]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Under proposals for reform of the licensing laws set out in our White Paper, "Time for Reform", it would be the responsibility of magistrates courts to try cases involving alleged offences against licensing law, including breaches of licence conditions, and punish the offenders. The White Paper also proposed that magistrates sitting with a judge in the Crown court should deal with appeals against licensing decisions made by local authorities. We have been considering comments on these and the other White Paper proposal, and will announce our conclusions shortly.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Primary Legislation
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the President of the Council when primary legislation will be printed in the new format agreed by both Houses in 1999. [142856]

  Mrs. Beckett
  The new format is being introduced this Session, using new computer software which has had to be developed. The change will be staged, to allow 184W
  everyone involved to become accustomed to working in the new format and to minimise the risk of disruption should there turn out to be flaws in the software.

  For the time being, Bills will continue to be introduced in the old format apart from any Bill originating from the Tax Law Rewrite. Each Bill will be published in the new format in the second House, once it has completed its passage through the first.

  So, Bills introduced in this House will be in the old format during their stages in this House; but Bills brought from the other place will be in the new format throughout our consideration of them. Similarly, the other place will deal with Bills introduced there in the old format, but deal with Bills brought from this House in the new format.

  All Acts passed after 1 January 2001 will be in the new format.

  When we are fully confident that the new format and software are problem-free, it will be used for all Bills at all stages.

HEALTH

  Hospital-acquired Infections
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of beds are occupied by patients suffering from infections acquired in hospital in each NHS health authority and hospital trust. [141321]

  Mr. Denham
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 21 November 2000,Official Report, columns 163–64W.

  A compulsory national surveillance scheme of hospital-acquired infection is being developed and will be launched in April 2001. Data will be published from April 2002.

  MRSA
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of MRSA have been detected in NHS hospitals; what steps including ward closures have been taken to prevent the spread of the infection; and what has been the resulting loss of medical facilities which would otherwise have been available. [141379]

  Mr. Denham
  The Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) compiles aggregate data on numbers of incidents of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) which are voluntarily submitted by trusts for specialist microbiological tests. These are given in the table.

  Data on Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemias (blood infections) showing the proportion resistant to methicillin in England and Wales are published quarterly by the PHLS in their Communicable Disease Report, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. More comprehensive information about bacteraemias, including MRSA, will be collected from all acute trusts from 1 April 2001 and data will be published from 1 April 2002.
  185W
  The other information requested is not held centrally.

  incidents of MRSA 1996–1998

  1996

  1997

  1998

  Anglia and Oxford

  237

  297

  223

  North Thames

  539

  544

  289

  North West

  176

  259

  215

  Northern and Yorkshire

  150

  224

  202

  South and West

  206

  254

  101

  South Thames

  421

  385

  220

  Trent

  99

  123

  109

  West Midlands

  121

  102

  69

  Wales

  158

  176

  169

  Total

  2,107

  2,364

  1,597

  Incidents of MRSA 1999–2000

  1999

  2000

  Eastern

  80

  30

  London

  290

  100

  Northern and Yorkshire

  170

  40

  North West

  180

  50

  South East

  170

  60

  South West

  40

  10

  Trent

  100

  30

  West Midlands

  30

  30

  Wales

  130

  30

  Total

  1,190

  380

  Notes:

  1. For 1996 and the first half of 1997 data have been amalgamated to the approximate boundaries of the new Regional Office areas. This allows for comparison with subsequent years.

  2. An incident is three or more patients infected or colonised by the same strain of MRSA in the same month from the same hospital.

  3. The criteria for submission of isolates of MRSA (and other isolates of staphylococcus aureus) to the PHLS for specialist tests have been revised twice since 1996 (in January 1998 and in January 2000).

  4. These revised criteria have led to a fall in the number of incidents of MRSA that were reported to the PHLS.

  Hormone Replacement Therapy
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to provide for the reclassification of hormone replacement therapy so that it qualifies for medical exemption certificate. [141367]

  Mr. Denham
  We reviewed the prescription charging arrangements as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review and concluded that the present arrangements should remain for the rest of this Parliament. Our policy is that, with the exception of contraceptives, exemption applies to the individual's medical condition rather than the type of medication prescribed. Charging arrangements in Wales are a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.

  Child Asylum Seekers
  Ms Kelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many separated children seeking asylum were accommodated in bed and breakfast hostels and hotel annexes in each of the last three years in(a) Britain, (b) each region and (c) Bolton; and how many of these were under the age of 16. [142042]
  186W
  Mr. Hutton
  Statistics on the number of unaccompanied asylum seeking children accommodated in bed and breakfast hostels and hotel annexes are not held centrally.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much grant was(a) claimed by and (b) awarded to each local authority in England and Wales for the cost of supporting unaccompanied children who were asylum seekers in (i) 1996–97, (ii) 1997–98, (iii) 1998–99, (iv) 1999–2000 and (v) the period since 1 April. [142446]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 12 December 2000]: The amount of grant (a) claimed by and (b) awarded to each local authority in England for the cost of supporting unaccompanied asylum seeking children in the grant years 1996–97,1997–98,1998–99 and 1999–2000 is set out in the tables. Claims covering the period since 1 April 2000 have not yet been submitted by local authorities. Comparable figures for Wales are not available.

  1996–97

  A cash limited grant of£3 million was allocated on a pro-rata basis to qualifying authorities. In 1996–97, local authorities who qualified for payment of the special grant were those whose eligible expenditure on unaccompanied asylum seeking children exceeded 5 per cent. of the 1996–97 standard spending assessment for children's personal social services.

  £

  Local authority

  Amount claimed

  Amount paid

  Hillingdon

  3,050,711

  2,224,300

  Kensington

  1,137,495

  425,986

  Westminster

  1,235,490

  347,699

  City of London

  12,909

  2,044

  1997–98

  The same grant conditions applied as in 1996–97.

  £

  Local authority

  Amount claimed

  Amount paid

  Croydon

  1,584,569

  741,596

  Hillingdon

  1,303,470

  115,600

  Westminster

  897,163

  441,179

  Kensington

  805,731

  255,613

  City of London

  29,254

  32,616

  Notes:

  1. Hillingdon was overpaid by £749,810 in 1996–97 due to (a) a much higher estimated than actual expenditure (b) disallowance of no eligible spending.

  2. Westminster was underpaid by £400,016 in 1996–97 due to a lower estimated than actual expenditure.

  3. Kensington was underpaid by £103,882 in 1996–97 due to a lower estimated than actual expenditure.

  4. City of London was underpaid by £14,362 in 1996–97 due to a lower estimated than actual expenditure.

  1998–99

  The grant was allocated to local authorities on the basis of actual expenditure incurred between 1 April 1998 and 29 January 1999, and estimated expenditure for the period 30 January 1999 to 31 March 1999, up to a maximum of £400 per week for each child aged 15 years or under, and£200 per week for each child aged 16 or 17.
  187W

  £

  Local authority

  Amount claimed

  Amount paid to local authority

  Barking and Dagenham LB

  957,377.00

  957,377.00

  Barnet LB

  344,416.03

  344,416.03

  Bexley LB

  147,434.00

  147,200.00

  Birmingham CC

  29,629.98

  29,629.98

  Brent LB

  647,154.59

  647,154.59

  Bristol CC

  10,651.65

  10,651.65

  Bromley LB

  254,000.00

  254,000.00

  Buckinghamshire CC

  17,000.00

  17,000.00

  Cambridgeshire CC

  19,200.00

  19,200.00

  Camden LB

  964,803.00

  964,803.00

  Cheshire CC

  800.00

  800.00

  Croydon LB

  1,695,619.00

  954,050.00

  Dudley MB

  12,136.66

  12,136.66

  Ealing LB

  478,771.00

  444,800.00

  East Sussex CC

  8,255.24

  8,255.24

  Enfield LB

  144,600.00

  144,600.00

  Essex CC

  168,338.03

  168,338.03

  Gloucestershire CC

  9,475.00

  9,475.00

  Greenwich LB

  147,629.01

  147,629.01

  Hackney LB

  375,668.36

  375,668.36

  Hammersmith and Fulham LB

  1,412,000.00

  1,412,000.00

  Haringey LB

  1,695,278.68

  1,355,200.00

  Harrow LB

  98,503.00

  98,503.00

  Havering LB

  47,600.00

  47,600.00

  Hillingdon LB

  1,928,200.00

  1,843,352.00

  Hounslow LB

  101,955.00

  101,955.00

  Islington LB

  1,405,400.00

  1,405,400.00

  Kensington and Chelsea

  646,924.00

  704,613.00

  Kent CC

  1,502,095.00

  1,425,200.00

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  15,456.59

  15,456.59

  Kingston upon Hull CC

  36,127.00

  36,127.00

  Lambeth LB

  140,457.00

  140,457.00

  Lancashire CC

  4,200.00

  4,200.00

  Leicester CC

  3,135.12

  3,135.12

  Leicestershire CC

  733.45

  733.45

  Lewisham LB

  357,233.00

  357,233.00

  Lincolnshire CC

  47,876.76

  47,876.76

  Liverpool CC

  2,844.32

  2,844.32

  Luton BC

  12,793.20

  12,793.20

  Medway CC

  68,671.16

  68,671.16

  Merton LB

  119,878.95

  119,878.95

  North East Lincolnshire CC

  9,460.00

  9,460.00

  Newham LB

  211,055.39

  211,055.39

  Norfolk CC

  18,388.00

  18,388.00

  North Somerset CC

  9,804.66

  9,804.66

  Nottingham CC

  12,342.79

  12,342.79

  Nottinghamshire CC

  17,504.95

  17,504.95

  Oxfordshire CC

  44,417.95

  44,417.95

  Portsmouth CC

  1,095.00

  1,095.00

  Redbridge LB

  195,277.00

  195,277.00

  Redcar and Cleveland CC

  17,156.81

  17,156.81

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  483,162.06

  483,162.06

  Rutland CC

  12,460.00

  12,460.00

  Salford CC

  3,404.00

  3,404.00

  Sandwell CC

  24,000.00

  24,000.00

  Sefton CC

  55,315.80

  28,600.00

  Sheffield CC

  24,296.00

  24,296.00

  Solihull MBC

  533.00

  533.00

  South Gloucestershire CC

  5,800.00

  5,800.00

  Southend on Sea BC

  12,136.00

  12,136.00

  Southwark LB

  501,000.00

  501,000.00

  Staffordshire CC

  102,744.45

  102,744.45

  Surrey CC

  41,000.00

  41,000.00

  Sutton LB

  82,471.55

  82,471.55

  Swindon BC

  26,974.00

  26,974.00

  Thurrock CC

  51,758.74

  51,758.74

  Tower Hamlets LB

  77,800.00

  77,800.00

  Wakefield MDC

  11,868.05

  11,868.05

  Waltham Forest LB

  193,209.00

  193,209.00

  Wandsworth LB

  625,600.00

  625,600.00

  Warrington BC

  1,680.00

  1,680.00

  188W

  £

  Local authority

  Amount claimed

  Amount paid to local authority

  Warwickshire CC

  21,500.00

  21,500.00

  West Sussex CC

  587,000.00

  587.000.00

  Westminster CC

  1,879,200.00

  1,844,178.00

  Wiltshire CC

  6,581.00

  6,581.00

  York City Council

  460.00

  400.00

  1999–2000

  The same grant conditions applied as in 1998–99 but the f400/£200 rate for each child was increased to£500/£300 for those local authorities with the highest numbers of unaccompanied children (Barking and Dagenham, Croydon, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Hillingdon, Islington, Kent, Lambeth, Redbridge, Richmond-upon-Thames, Southwark, Westminster).

  Payments for 1999–2000 were made in February 2000, based on actual expenditure from 1 April 1999 to 28 January 2000 and estimated expenditure from 29 January 2000 to 31 March 2000. Therefore, the figures in the following table are provisional and subject to final audit and adjustment in January 2001.

  £

  Local authority

  Amount claimed

  Amount paid to local authority1

  Barking and Dagenham LB

  1,642,392.00

  11,672,523.13

  Barnet LB

  587,000.00

  1552,383.97

  Bath and North East Somerset CC

  3,939.20

  3,939.20

  Bedfordshire CC

  98,400.00

  98,400.00

  Bexley LB

  600,435.00

  1601,908.00

  Birmingham CC

  168,367.85

  1164,619.97

  Brent LB

  380,460.19

  1350,092.07

  Brighton and Hove

  27,493.72

  27,493.72

  Bristol CC

  116,600.00

  1117,310.03

  Bromley LB

  380,000.00

  1370,366.00

  Buckinghamshire CC

  17,352.31

  114,518.41

  Bury

  848.60

  848.60

  Cambridgeshire

  0

  112,200.00

  Camden LB

  1,046,400.00

  1900,561.00

  Cheshire CC

  2,141.83

  2,141.83

  Cornwall

  2,505.14

  2,505.14

  Corporation of London

  11,000.00

  11,000.00

  Croydon LB

  1,657,745.00

  11,633,838.00

  Darlington BC

  2,600.00

  11,703.20

  Derby City C

  3,518.00

  1-1,153.56

  Dorset CC

  2,413.00

  2,413.00

  Dudley MB

  19,718.73

  110,406.84

  Ealing LB

  1,027,000.00

  11,027,800.00

  East Sussex CC

  13,263.00

  116,304.19

  Enfield LB

  513,900.00

  1538,327.00

  Essex CC

  333,200.00

  1352,729.53

  Gateshead MBC

  1,241.29

  1,241.29

  Gloucestershire CC

  40,830.00

  140,774.00

  Greenwich LB

  279,923.00

  1255,877.75

  Hackney LB

  589,733.93

  1526,400.00

  Hammersmith and Fulham LB

  1,764,600.00

  12,465,500.00

  Hampshire CC

  40,584.65

  40,584.65

  Haringey LB

  3,102,200.00

  12,919,800.00

  Harrow LB

  474,800.00

  1466,392.00

  Havering LB

  544,400.00

  1507,670.00

  Herefordshire

  1,920.04

  1,920.04

  Hertfordshire

  515,788.44

  515,788.44

  Hillingdon LB

  4,232,061.00

  15,811,933.71

  Hounslow LB

  141,334.87

  1141,334.87

  Islington LB

  3,821,140.00

  14,137,079.00

  Kensington and Chelsea RB

  1,496,800.00

  11,813,409.00

  Kent CC

  5,163,600.00

  17,102,853.00

  Kirklees MBC

  6,628.60

  15,970.36

  Kingston upon Hull CC

  13,326.42

  114,366.42

  189W

  £

  Local authority

  Amount claimed

  Amount paid to local authority1

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  135,600.00

  17,756.34

  Lambeth LB

  2,281,400.00

  12,454,965.00

  Lancashire CC

  1,967.00

  12,167.00

  Leeds CC

  5,025.53

  5,025.53

  Leicester CC

  57,969.47

  57,969.47

  Leicestershire CC

  37,164.36

  138,072.41

  Lewisham LB

  952,921.00

  1902,130.00

  Lincolnshire CC

  67,593.33

  159,335.68

  Liverpool CC

  18,630.65

  120,309.65

  Luton BC

  0

  1-12,793.20

  Medway CC

  83,951.56

  182,853.73

  Merton LB

  274,288.88

  1275,905.88

  Middlesbrough

  1,424.25

  11,418.42

  Milton Keynes MBC

  3,942.27

  3,942.27

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  39,200.00

  135,959.50

  Newham LB

  276,878.97

  276,878.97

  Norfolk CC

  44,143.92

  148,129.92

  Northamptonshire CC

  255,891.16

  1259,456.16

  North Lincolnshire

  223.45

  1-375.85

  North East Lincolnshire CC

  73,589.58

  173,689.67

  North Somerset CC

  9,804.66

  9,804.66

  Nottingham CC

  59,200.00

  156,272.96

  Nottinghamshire CC

  33,851.30

  133,724.87

  Oxfordshire CC

  210,465.90

  1211,827.90

  Peterborough

  4,302.00

  4,302.00

  Portsmouth CC

  16,400.00

  114,619.00

  Redbridge LB

  1,359,072.00

  11,204,239.00

  Redcar and Cleveland CC

  18,731.66

  118,275.21

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  1,348,108.33

  11,381,285.32

  Rutland CC

  1,969.95

  12,905.95

  Salford CC

  0

  1-136.00

  Sandwell CC

  18,000.00

  138,800.00

  Sefton MBC

  0

  1-1,880,00

  Sheffield CC

  67,140.00

  142,744.00

  Shropshire CC

  986.00

  19,141.00

  Slough BC

  64,200.00

  1-14,001.00

  Solihull CC

  10,605.00

  110,925.00

  Somerset CC

  12,184.95

  12,184.95

  South Gloucestershire CC

  23,496.35

  123,113.35

  Southampton CC

  19,504.03

  19,504,03

  Southend on Sea BC

  49,115.05

  152,867.05

  Southwark LB

  1,893,200.00

  11,784,700.00

  Staffordshire CC

  128,182.47

  1123,430.88

  Suffolk CC

  90,319.35

  188,902.24

  Sunderland

  2,000.00

  2,000.00

  Surrey CC

  107,385.00

  1109,585.00

  Sutton LB

  482,000.00

  1361,706.00

  Swindon BC

  84,949.00

  190,417.00

  Thurrock CC

  161,817.11

  1168,057.16

  Tower Hamlets LB

  186,200.00

  1191,000.00

  Trafford MBC

  930.00

  930.00

  Wakefield MDC

  53,560.40

  145,566.08

  Walsall MBC

  9,996.00

  9,916.00

  Waltham Forest LB

  725,025.00

  1725,025.00

  Wandsworth LB

  407,190.30

  1485,134.30

  Warrington BC

  28,500.00

  127,121.40

  Warwickshire CC

  101,726.17

  181,050.17

  West Sussex CC

  958,642.00

  1968,242.00

  Westminster CC

  1,932,800.00

  12,529,900.00

  Wiltshire CC

  7,400.00

  15,963.00

  Wolverhampton MBC

  907.59

  1-4,494.59

  Worcestershire CC

  40,714.96

  40,714.96

  1 Amounts of grant paid reflects adjustments for credit/debit for UASC Grant 1998–99 and Families and Adult grants for 1998–99

  Welfare Food Scheme
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children under the age of five years in(a) day care, (b) local authority infant classes, (c) local authority nursery schools or classes, (d) private or voluntary nursery schools or classes and (e) pre-school playgroups benefit
  190W
  from the Welfare Food Scheme; and what is the total cost of providing free milk to children in England under the age of five years through the Welfare Food Scheme in (i) schools and (ii) day care. [142113]

  Yvette Cooper
  The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The total annual cost of the nursery milk element of the welfare food scheme was£13,924,000 in England in 1999–2000. This reimburses day care providers who claim under the scheme with the cost of one third of a pint of milk per day. The table shows the percentage of money paid in November 2000 to establishment types as recorded.

  Establishment type

  Percentage of total cost to welfare food scheme in November 2000

  Registered day care

  49.52

  Local education authority school

  41.46

  Registered childminder

  4.34

  Local education authority nursery

  1.75

  Grant maintained school

  1.49

  Independent non-maintained school

  0.52

  Other

  0.92

  Total

  100

  In addition, children under the age of five in families in receipt of Income Support or income-based Job Seekers Allowance receive a token which is exchangeable for a pint of milk a day.

  Non-residential Community Care Services
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many appeals by individuals receiving nonresidential community care services have been brought on grounds of excessive levels of charges set by local authorities; and what proportion of these appeals were successfully upheld. [141509]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research his Department has commissioned into the impact of local authority charging policies on the take-up of non-residential community care services. [141510]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Department has not commissioned any recent research on this issue.

  Accident and Emergency Departments
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the turnaround time was for the Ambulance Service admitting patients to accident and emergency for each quarter in the last 12 months in each NHS Trust in London Region with an accident and emergency department. [141505]

  Ms Stuart
  The information requested is not held centrally by the Department. The hon. Member may wish to contact the Chairman of London Ambulance Service National Health Service Trust direct for this information.

  Social Services Charges
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much each local authority recouped from social services charges in each of the last four years. [141511]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information is available at http://www.doh.gov.uk/public/pss—stat.htm showing a breakdown by local authority and service of income from fees and charges in 1996–97 and 1997–98 and income from sales, fees and charges in 1998–99 (fees and charges is not available separately for 1998–99). Corresponding information for 1999–2000 will be made available at the same address when it is published in spring 2001.

  Hardship Policy
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has(a) to modify Social Services Inspectorate advice in respect of changing policies and (b) to take other steps in relation to the prevention of hardship prior to the introduction of statutory guidance. [141497]

  Mr. Hutton
  We plan to consult on draft statutory guidance on charges for non-residential social services shortly. When issued as statutory guidance, this will supersede the 1994 Advice Note to the Department's social services inspectorate.

  The guidance will make clear that it is not acceptable for charges to cause hardship to individual service users. The Audit Commission study, 'Charging with Care', published in May, contains detailed advice to help councils prevent this.

  Nurse Training
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many places are available at nursing schools for nurse training; and how many of these places are currently taken up. [142505]

  Mr. Denham
  The forecast number of nurse training places to be commissioned in 2000–01 is 20,325. Confirmation of the number of places taken up will not be available until after the end of the financial year.

  Source

  Non-Medical Education and Training Levy Quarterly Monitoring Report Q2 2000–01

  London Ambulance Service
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to reorganise the basis from which the London Ambulance Service operates. [142205]

  Ms Stuart
  There are currently no plans to reorganise the basis from which the London Ambulance Service operates. The LAS will continue to serve the London area.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to encourage retention of staff in the London Ambulance Service. [142203]

  Ms Stuart
  We are committed to encourage the retention of staff within the National Health Service. We launched the improving working lives (IWL) campaign last year, which encourages employers to enable staff to create a balance between their work, and home lives. This can vary from trust to trust but may include self rostering,192W
  annualised hours, flexi-time and child care provisions. We have issued tools to employers to help them implement such initiatives.

  The IWL standard was launched on 4 October and summarises the commitment Ministers expect from NHS employers to create well-managed, flexible working environments that support staff, and respect their need to manage a healthy and productive balance between their work and their life outside work. It sets a model of good human resource practice against which NHS employers and their staff can measure the organisations's human resource management, and against which NHS employers will be kite-marked. By April 2003 all NHS employers are expected to be accredited as putting the IWL standard into practice. IWL is not exclusive to doctors and nurses and all staff should therefore benefit from it.

  The London Ambulance Service NHS Trust has developed a four-year performance implementation programme (PIP) which identifies the need for additional funding. This will be agreed with the health authority commissioners and the NHS Executive London Regional Office how funding for the PIP can be phased.

  The PIP includes a number of measures aimed at encouraging staff retention, such as enhanced rates of pay over the winter period, commitment to working with trade union representatives to see how pay can be improved next year and looking at feedback from front line staff. The London Ambulance Service Chief Executive has written to all frontline staff outlining plans for action on pay, crew safety and staff facilities.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to address shortages of ambulance staff in London. [142209]

  Ms Stuart
  The London Ambulance Service and commissioners have agreed to 122 more staff on the establishment at the end of this year compared with last year. Sixty-five staff are already in post and a further 70 in training. The remainder will be recruited during the rest of the year 2000–01.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to invest in more ambulance vehicles for the London Ambulance Service. [142204]

  Ms Stuart
  This year the London Ambulance Service will have an additional 25 vehicles compared to last year. These will be targeted towards Category A calls. Eleven are already staffed and operational.

  Helicopter Ambulance Services
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to expand helicopter ambulance services in London. [142207]

  Ms Stuart
  There are no current plans to expand helicopter ambulance services in London.

  Hepatitis
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many intravenous(a) drug users and (b) insulin users are infected with hepatitis. [142211]
  193W
  Yvette Cooper
  Routine surveillance of hepatitis B infection is based on laboratory diagnoses. Data on injecting drug users from 1995 to 1999 are given in the table. These data are subject to under-reporting as about 60 per cent. of adult infections are asymptomatic and information about risk factors that may be relevant to the acquisition of infection is not available for about 40 per cent. of reports.

  Acute hepatitis B infection laboratory reports in injecting drug users England and Wales, 1995 to 1999

  Injecting drug users

  Total

  1995

  147

  614

  1996

  166

  569

  1997

  192

  652

  1998

  251

  843

  19991

  230

  719

  1 Provisional data

  Source

  Public Health Laboratory Service

  Routine surveillance of hepatitis C infection is based on laboratory reports of antibodies to hepatitis C. Data on injecting drug users from 1995 to 1999 are given in the table. These data do not distinguish between resolved and chronic infections and are subject to under reporting as most infections will be asymptomatic. Information about the acquisition of risk factors that may be relevant to the acquisition of infection is available only for about 50 per cent. of reports.

  Laboratory reports of antibodies to hepatitis C in injecting drug users England and Wales, 1995 to 1999

  Injecting drug users

  Total

  1995

  815

  1,662

  19961

  1,220

  2,544

  19971

  1,432

  3,059

  19981, 2

  1,761

  4,466

  19991, 2

  1,961

  5,554

  1 Provisional data

  2 Includes child injecting drug users

  Source

  Public Health Laboratory Service

  There have been 14 laboratory reports of acute hepatitis B infections in diabetics in the period 1990 to 1999. However in only three of these was the diabetic needle considered a possible source of infection.

  Ambulance Staff (Pay)
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish pay scales for ambulance staff; and what plans he has for incremental payments for trained paramedics wishing to remain in clinical service. [142208]
  194W
  Mr. Denham
  The current pay scales for ambulance staff employed on national conditions of service are set out in Advance Letter (AMB) 1/2000 for ambulance men and in AL (AC) 2/2000 for ambulance officers.

  Negotiations are ongoing with representatives of National Health Service employers and trade unions on a modernised pay system for the National Health Service based on the principles set out in "Agenda for Change" which was published in February 1999.

  Copies of these documents are available in the Library.

  Rofecoxib (Vioxx)
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the National Institute for Clinical Excellence appraisal of Rofecoxib (Vioxx) will be published. [142268]

  Mr. Denham
  The timing of appraisals is a matter for the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) itself, which is an independent special health authority. However, I understand that NICE is due to complete appraisals of COX II selective inhibitors, including Rofecoxib, in January 2001. Further information on the Institute's work programme can be found on its website at www.nice.org.uk.

  Official Publications
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list each new publication issued by his Department since 1997; and what the total cost was to the Department of each publication; [141463]

  (2) what his Department's spending on official publications was for (a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99, (d) 1999–2000 and (e) 2000–01; and what the planned expenditure is for 2001–02. [141448]

  Ms Stuart
  The information requested is not collected centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Patients' Forums
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will provide further guidance on the constitution and powers of the proposed patients' forums; and if he will make a statement. [141529]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 11 December 2000]: A series of national stakeholder seminars has been held to develop the details of the policy. This is based on the best practice from voluntary organisations and community health councils.

  We will disseminate the results at a national event in the new year.

  Eritrea: Diplomatic Representation
  Eritrea: Diplomatic Representation
  Race Relations (Amendment) Act
  Race Relations (Amendment) Act
  Continence Pads: VAT
  Continence Pads: VAT
  Primary Legislation: New Format
  Primary Legislation: New Format