Written Answers of 19 December 2000

DEFENCE

  Sierra Leone
  Mr. Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the training being provided for the Sierra Leone Army. [143683]

  Mr. Hoon
  The training is going well, and trainees completed the fourth short-term training team course on 15 December. Soldiers from 2 Royal Gurkha Rifles have now deployed to run the next course, taking over from 1st Prince of Wales Own Regiment. They will be deploying with additional trainers to conduct the continuation and refresher training that we announced in October.

  In addition, we are making preparations for the short-term deployment of a surgical team to Sierra Leone to cover the possibility of a gap in medical cover due to the roulement of UN troops. We would hope to be able to continue to draw on the medical facilities provided by UNAMSIL, for whose support we are most grateful, but it is essential to ensure that emergency cover is in place. The team will be withdrawn as soon as possible once alternative arrangements are available.

  Together, these deployments will mean an increase in UK forces on the ground in Sierra Leone to between 550 and 600.

  Nuclear Submarines
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason four Upholder class nuclear-powered submarines were removed from active service between 1994 and 1995; what plans he has for these submarines; and if he will make a statement. [142172]

  Dr. Moonie
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer Lord Robertson, the then Secretary of State for Defence, gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Wentworth (Mr. Healey) on 6 April 1998,Official Report, column 56W, and to my answers to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) on 23 October 2000, Official Report,

  Date

  Type/registration

  Operator

  Origin

  Destination

  Number of PAX

  Customs

  Immigration

  Airport (£)

  Airport

  23/12/1999

  Gessna Citation G-

  West Jets Ltd.

  Staverton

  Inverness

  —

  1—

  1—

  124.44

  1—

  06/01/2000

  Gulfstream 4 G-HARF

  Fayair Jersey

  Stansted

  Manston

  —

  1—

  1—

  604.44

  1—

  03/03/2000

  HS125 G-OMGD

  Lynton Aviation

  Bristol

  Luton

  —

  1—

  1—

  231.11

  1—

  06/03/2000

  Cessna Citation G-

  Chauffair Farnborough

  Harwarden

  Harwarden

  1

  1—

  1—

  106.66

  1—

  27/03/2000

  Cessna Citation G-

  London Executive

  Harwarden

  Harwarden

  1

  1—

  1—

  134.92

  1—

  30/03/2000

  Beech 200 G-BPPM

  Gamma Aviation

  Glasgow

  Aberdeen

  —

  1—

  1—

  106.66

  1—

  30/03/2000

  Cessna Citation G-

  London Executive

  Harwarden

  Harwarden

  1

  1—

  1—

  134.92

  1—

  30/03/2000

  Cessna Citation G-

  London Executive

  Harwarden

  Harwarden

  1

  1—

  1—

  134.92

  1—

  02/05/2000

  Cessna 550 G-JCFR

  Chauffair Farnborough

  Harwarden

  Harwarden

  1

  1—

  1—

  84.83

  1—

  03/05/2000

  Antonov 124 RA

  Heavylift Stansted

  St. Louis

  Shannon

  —

  2—

  2—

  7,693.31

  1—

  12/05/2000

  Piper PA 31 G-MAXI

  Centreline Air Charter

  Inverness

  Bristol Fitton

  —

  1—

  1—

  63.74

  1—

  02/06/2000

  Cessna 550 G-JCFR

  Chauffair Farnborough

  Northolt

  Blackpool

  1

  1—

  1—

  84.83

  1—

  05/06/2000

  Gulfstream 4 G-HARF

  Hatfiad Aviation

  Stansted

  Stansted

  0

  1—

  1—

  604.44

  1—

  06/06/2000

  Cessna 500 EC-HFY

  Premier Aviation

  Bournemouth

  Bale (France)

  1

  2—

  1—

  109.34

  1—

  12/06/2000

  Jet Provost G-UNNY

  Plane Pictures

  Hatfield

  Hatfield

  0

  1—

  1—

  109.34

  1—

  90W
  column 30W, and the hon. Member for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis) on 31 October 2000, Official Report, column 341W. The decision to dispose of the four Upholder class conventionally powered (diesel-electric) submarines was taken in 1993, following a reassessment of strategic requirements after the end of the cold war.

  After an extensive marketing campaign an agreement was reached with Canada in the form of an eight-year lease with an option of outright purchase. The submarines will be refurbished (reactivated) prior to handover to Canada.

  The first of the submarines was handed over to Canada on 6 October 2000 and the remaining submarines will follow over the next 18 months.

  DERA
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list in each of the past 12 months to 30 November the movements of private commercial aircraft at the DERA Boscombe Down airfield by(a) date, (b) type of aircraft, (c) owner, (d) operator, (e) origin of flight, (f) destination of flight, (g) number of passengers, (h) attendance of HM Customs and Excise, (i) attendance of Home Office Immigration and Nationality officials, (j) airport charges levied and (k) national airport taxes levied. [141361]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 12 December 2000]: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Robert Key, dated 19 December 2000:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary question about the movements of private commercial aircraft at the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) airfield at Boscombe Down.
  The information that you requested, such that we are able to provide, is detailed in the attachment to this letter. We have not included civil aircraft using the airfield on MOD business since charges are not levied on these. Neither have private aircraft using the airfield for leisure or sporting purposes, such as those of the Boscombe Down based flying club, been included. We do not have information on the owners of aircraft, only their operators. The information on numbers of passengers is somewhat incomplete since we are only required to keep this information for six months. Customs and immigration tasks are undertaken on behalf of the authorities by designated DERA Boscombe Down staff on the understanding that the appropriate authorities are notified in advance of air movements. Airport charges are levied in accordance with Ministry of Defence instructions. There is no requirement to levy a national airport tax.
  I hope the above explains the situation.
  91W

  Date

  Type/registration

  Operator

  Origin

  Destination

  Number of PAX

  Customs

  Immigration

  Airport (£)

  Airport

  15/06/2000

  Beech Kingair F-

  Premier Aviation

  Paris

  Paris

  1

  2—

  1—

  109.34

  1—

  07/07/2000

  Piper PA 34 G-WIZO

  Centreline Air Charter

  Bristol

  Inverness

  2

  1—

  1—

  36.35

  1—

  10/07/2000

  Beechcraft G-SBAS

  Gamma Aviation

  Aberdeen

  Aberdeen

  Medeyac

  1—

  1—

  72.89

  1—

  03/08/2000

  HS125 G/NCFR

  Chauffair Farnborough

  Hawarden

  Madrid

  1

  2—

  1—

  254.50

  1—

  10/08/2000

  Cessna 550 G-JCFR

  Chauffair Farnborough

  Blackpool

  Blackpool

  1

  1—

  1—

  84.83

  1—

  17/08/2000

  Cessna 550 G-JCFR

  Chauffair Farnborough

  Blackpool

  Blackpool

  1

  1—

  1—

  84.83

  1—

  24/08/2000

  Cessna 560 G-CZAR

  Chauffair Farnborough

  Blackpool

  Blackpool

  1

  1—

  1—

  127.25

  1—

  12/09/2000

  Cessna 501 G-FLVU

  AD Aviation Ltd.

  Harwarden

  Harwarden

  1

  1—

  1—

  117.84

  1—

  27/09/2000

  Piper PA 30 G-AVUD

  FA Aviation

  Biggin Hill

  Biggin Hill

  1

  1—

  1—

  44.94

  1—

  24/11/2000

  Falcon CSDNP

  NET Jets Portugal

  Luton

  Isle of Man

  2

  2—

  1—

  273.36

  1—

  1 Not required

  2 Informed

  Lynx Helicopters
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Lynx helicopters have had their rotor heads rectified and are now available for operational deployment. [143335]

  Mr. Spellar
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Chingford and Woodford (Mr. Duncan Smith) on 28 November 2000,Official Report, column 492W.

  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department has now decided whether to convert the remaining Mark 3 Lynx helicopters to Mark 4 standard; and if he will make a statement. [143349]

  Mr. Spellar
  No decisions on the remaining conversions have yet been made.

  Merlin Helicopter
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the consequences for the coming into service of the Merlin helicopter of the recent loss of a Merlin aircraft. [143332]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Merlin HM Mk1 achieved its defined In-Service Date in March 1999 on delivery of the twelfth aircraft. Production continues and deliveries are scheduled until March 2002 when aircraft number 44 is due.

  Following the recent accident involving a Royal Navy Merlin Mk 1, military flying of Merlin was suspended pending the results of the accident investigation and Board of Inquiry (BOI).

  A combined Ministry of Defence and industry review team has completed a thorough analysis of airworthiness and recommended an early resumption of flying, subject to the successful completion of the current programme of checks and inspections. A phased resumption of flying is expected to commence this week once individual aircraft are cleared for flight through a process of physical and documentary checks.

  The temporary suspension of flying activities has delayed the achievement of the required training flying rate and introduced a six week delay to the aircraft clearances issued by the Defence Evaluation Research Agency (Boscombe Down). Both delays are at present manageable.

  The Merlin Mk 3 met its In-Service Date in June 2000 on delivery of the sixth aircraft and is currently undergoing a programme of Military Aircraft Release trials. As a result of the accident involving the Merlin
  92W
  Mk 1, the official handover ceremony at RAF Benson that was planned for November 2000 has been postponed and will not rescheduled until the resumption of military flying. However, it is currently assessed that the Merlin Mk 3 will enter operational service with a basic military capability in June 2002, as planned.

  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Merlin helicopter can provide sufficient sea-to-land lift capability for future amphibious operations. [143333]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Royal Navy's Merlin Mk1 aircraft is primarily an organic Anti-Submarine Warfare variant of the Anglo-Italian EH101 helicopter. Although it offers some lift capability, it is unlikely to be tasked for amphibious operations. The Mk 3 aircraft, designed to carry troops or a range of vehicles or underslung loads, will provide a major element of the Joint Helicopter Command's support helicopter capability. However, it is designed for use in battlefield, and not amphibious, operations. The UK's current amphibious lift capability is provided by the Sea King Mk 4, with occasional support from the RAF Chinook Mks 2 and 2A, while a small-scale lift capability is provided by the maritime Lynx Mks 3 and 8.

  It is currently planned that the Support, Amphibious and Battlefield Rotorcraft (SABR) programme will provide the UK's future medium and heavy amphibious and battlefield lift capability from 2009. A Merlin variant is one of a number of possible solutions to this programme.

  Aircraft Fuel
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the RAF has spent on aircraft fuel in each of the past five years; and what the RAF fuel budget is for(a) this year and (b) next year. [143051]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 15 December 2000]: The amount that the RAF has spent on aircraft fuel in each of the past five years is shown in the following table:

  Year

  £ million

  1995–96

  130.98

  1996–97

  142.86

  1997–98

  119.81

  1998–99

  101.06

  1999–2000

  132.55

  93W
  The RAF fuel budget for (a) this year and the interim fuel budget (b) for next year is:

  million

  (a) 2000–01

  132.69

  (b) 2001–02

  111.71

  The amount spent on fuel varies from year to year depending on the level of flying activity, particularly on out of area (OOA) operations, changes in the numbers of aircraft, the unit price of fuel and variations in the level of stock held on stations and in the Government Pipeline and Storage System (GPSS).

  HMS Fearless
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when he plans to withdraw HMS Fearless from service; [143072]

  (2) what the estimated cost is of the repair work to HMS Fearless; and when he expects her to return to service. [143044]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 15 December 2000]: The cost of the repair work to HMS Fearless, needed as a result of the fire damage to her after machinery space, is under negotiation with Fleet Support Ltd. (FSL), the company that will undertake the work. I am therefore withholding this information in accordance with Exemption 7a(1) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which relates to the competitive position of a Department. HMS Fearless is expected to return to service in the first half of 2001. The exact date will not be known until a more accurate assessment of the work is completed by FSL by the new year.

  On current plans, HMS Fearless is due to be withdrawn from service in 2003.

  Precision-guided Munition (RAF)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost is of the contract for his Department's Staff Requirement 1248 programme for a precision-guided munition for the RAF, when the contract is due to be awarded; what time scale has been set for development and production of the precision-guided munition; and if he will make a statement. [142173]

  Dr. Moonie
  The Staff Target (Air) 1248 Precision Guided Bomb project is currently in the Concept Phase and it is not possible as yet to give reliable estimates of the total programme cost. Contract award is expected to be towards the end of financial year 2000–03, or shortly thereafter. Development and Production is likely to last some three to four years depending upon the complexity of the chosen solution.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidelines his Department have set Raytheon for the integration of satellite-based global positioning system guidance into the RAF's Paveway II laser-guided bomb system; and if he will make a statement. [142174]

  Dr. Moonie
  Enhanced Paveway II bombs from Raytheon company have been selected to meet the all-weather precision guided bombing capability which 94W
  was announced in the House on 24 July as one of the immediate enhancements being made in the light of our analysis of operations in Kosovo. The company has been set accuracy requirements that the systems must achieve in all weathers, as well as a delivery schedule for the supply of equipment. The company has also been asked to demonstrate basic compatibility with the host aircraft in advance of contract signature.

  Air Defence Systems
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research he has(a) undertaken and (b) promoted into the integration of radar, electro-optic and acoustic seismic sensors into an air defence system; and if he will make a statement. [143340]

  Dr. Moonie
  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  HMS Intrepid
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the state of readiness is of HMS Intrepid; and how long it will take for her to be returned to operational service. [143050]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 15 December 2000]: HMS Intrepid is being held at a low readiness state commensurate with force levels endorsed within the Strategic Defence Review (SDR). She could, if necessary, be returned to operational service within the timeframe similarly agreed through the SDR process.

  Tornado F3
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the whole fleet of the RAF's Tornado F3s to be equipped with AMRAAM; and how many aircraft will be so equipped. [143028]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 15 December 2000]: 100 Tornado F3 aircraft are being modified to carry AMRAAM. So far 60 aircraft have been modified. The modification programme will be completed by May 2002.

  Nuclear Fleet Submarines
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if all nuclear fleet submarines currently withdrawn from service will be returned to full operational duties. [143045]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 15 December 2000]: We plan to repair all Swiftsure and Trafalgar class submarines currently withdrawn from service and return them to full operational duties.

  Commercial Airlines (Recruitment)
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what meetings he has had with the commercial airlines in the past year to discuss recruitment of former RAF and Fleet Air Arm pilots. [143026]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 15 December 2000]: My colleagues and I have had no such meetings this year. However, there is on-going contact with the airlines under the Royal Air Force Civil Airline Recruitment Scheme. In

  95W
  the light of the continuing shortage of pilots, the Government are considering a range of options to address the problem.

  Parachute Battalions
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the(a) manpower establishments and

  1 Para

  2 Para

  3 Para

  Establishment

  Str

  Establishment

  Str

  Establishment

  Str

  Infantry:

  558

  499

  615

  575

  615

  590

  Other Infantry Cap Badges

  —

  4

  —

  8

  —

  1

  Royal Logistic Corps

  23

  19

  23

  18

  23

  18

  Royal Army Medical Corps

  4

  2

  4

  2

  4

  3

  Queen Alexandra Royal Auxiliary Nursing Corps

  1

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

  11

  11

  21

  21

  21

  20

  Adjutant General Corps (Staff and Personnel Support)

  22

  21

  22

  25

  22

  21

  Adjutant General Corps (PRO)

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Army Physical Training Corps

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Total UK Trained Army Personnel (UKTAP)

  620

  557

  687

  651

  687

  654

  GURTAM (Gurkha Reinforcement Company)

  —

  —

  —

  117

  —

  —

  Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS)

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Total whole Army

  620

  557

  687

  769

  687

  654

  HMS Sheffield
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list HMS Sheffield's deployments over the past 12 months and the planned deployments for the next 12 months. [143031]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 15 December 2000]: HMS Sheffield only had one main overseas deployment during 2000. This was to the Baltic region between 26 May to 26 July in order to participate in Exercise BALTOPS and to conduct a series of port visits in the region to support UK's Outreach and NATO's Partnership for Peace Programmes.

  During the next 12 months, HMS Sheffield is scheduled to deploy between February and August as the Atlantic Patrol Task (North) ship. Her programme after August is still under consideration.

  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
  [pursuant to his reply, 13 December 2000, c. 163–64W]: The cost of producing Britain's Defence Booklet in Financial Year 1997–98 is £728 and not £728,000, as previously stated.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what action his Department is taking to improve access to Disability Living Allowance for those with a history of mental illness. [143180]
  96W
  (b) actual manning levels are for each of the three regular parachute battalions. [143030]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 15 December 2000]: The establishments and actual staffing levels for each of the three Regular Parachute battalions, as at 1 November 2000, are shown in the table. The figures exclude Locally Employed Personnel and Royal Irish (Home Service).

  Mr. Bayley
  We recognise that it can be difficult accurately to asses the needs of people with mental health problems, and that for some of these people the process of claiming itself can be difficult to understand and stressful. That is why people claiming Disability Living Allowance (DLA) are given six weeks to return the claim form to the Benefits Agency. Claimants with mental health problems are also encouraged to ask others, for example their carer or Community Psychiatric Nurse, for help in completing the claim form or to add comments on their behalf. In DLA/Attendance Allowance (AA), as with all benefits, claimants who are not able to manage their own affairs can have someone appointed to act on their behalf.

  When gathering information to assess a claim for DLA, decision-making staff are encouraged to contact Community Psychiatric Nurses or other healthcare professionals who may have a good understanding of an individual's personal care and support arising from their mental health problems. As part of the Disability Benefits Modernisation programme we are always considering improvements in the taking of DLA/AA claims to provide all claimants, including those with mental health problems, with the necessary support to ensure they receive their correct entitlement.

  Following recommendations from the Social Security Select Committee, we are looking at the possibility of assessing entitlement to DLA and AA in a different way—using a set of daily activities undertaken by disabled people in managing their lives as a means of assessing need. We are looking for an approach which would be more transparent, easier for disabled people to understand and could be administered with greater consistency. Clearly, we would not wish to make such a major change without clear evidence that it would lead to better assessments. Any changes would be made only after their impact on disabled people, including those with mental disabilities, had been thoroughly tested and

  97W
  discussed with the representative organisations. The new system is being developed in consultation with disability organisations.

  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what the average cost in administration is of(a) reviewing life awards for Disability Living Allowance and (b) appeals against the outcome of reviews of Disability Living Allowance; [142998]

  (2) how many reviews of life awards for Disability Living Allowance have been conducted in (a) Scotland and (b) the UK in each year since 1993. [142997]

  Mr. Bayley
  The information is not available.

  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in(a) Scotland and (b) the UK are in possession of a life award of Disability Living Allowance, broken down by rate. [142996]

  Mr. Bayley
  The information is:

  People in receipt of an indefinite award of disability living allowance in Scotland and Great Britain1

  Great Britain

  Scotland

  All awards

  1,564,100

  181,600

  Care component2

  Higher rate

  286,800

  34,500

  Middle rate

  394,400

  48,100

  Lower rate

  375,500

  41,100

  Mobility component3

  Higher rate

  1,147,500

  136,400

  Lower rate

  264,800

  30,600

  1 Figures relate to 31 May 2000. A clarification, introduced by the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999, means that awards are now made "for an indefinite period" instead of "for life".

  2 Includes people who also receive the mobility component.

  3 Includes people who also receive the care component.

  Source:

  DSS Information Centre: 5 per cent. data.

  Social Security in Northern Ireland is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Benefit Fraud
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will publish the inspection report of the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate in respect of the London Borough of Waltham Forest. [143662]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Benefit Fraud Inspectorate report was published today in respect of the London Borough of Waltham Forest and copies of the report have been placed in the Library.

  The report provides recommendations aimed at helping the council address weaknesses and to improve the administration of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, as well as its counter fraud activities.

  Inspectors found that Waltham Forest had clear aims to provide high quality benefit service, but this aim is not always being met. Waltham Forest had contracted out benefits administration in 1999. Since then, a backlog of work had developed on a number of occasions which meant that the requirement to process benefit claims within 14 days is not now being met and there are frequent breaks in payment.
  98W
  Weaknesses were also found in the verification of information and the testing of the accuracy and quality of the work being done. The report notes that while there were some good counter fraud practices in place, this good work is undermined by a failure properly to establish fraud, resulting in weekly benefit savings being incorrectly claimed. Inspectors consider Waltham Forest also needs to do some work to increase the levels of deterrence offered to those committing fraud.

  The report notes a number of positive aspects to Waltham Forest's performance. It provides good services for new claimants, has a good claim form and makes sure claimants make further claims at the right time.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is now considering the report and will be asking the council for its proposals in response to the findings and recommendations of the BFI.

  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will publish the inspection report of the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate in respect of the London Borough of Newham. [143660]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Benefit Fraud Inspectorate (BFI) report was published today in respect of the London Borough of Newham and copies of the report have been placed in the Library.

  The report provides recommendations aimed at helping the council address weaknesses and to improve the administration of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, as well as its counter fraud activities.

  Inspectors found that Newham had some good working practices, but the efficiency, responsiveness and security of the benefits system was compromised by a substantial backlog of work and lengthy delays. The report notes that after Newham contracted out the benefits administration in 1999, customer dissatisfaction increased sharply, remedial expenditure outweighed any savings that might have been made, and benefits work fell badly into arrears. These arrears caused further deterioration of Newham's service and prompted it to defer the introduction of the Verification Framework, leaving it at greater risk of making incorrect benefit payments.

  Inspectors found the lack of a counter fraud manager in the past and an ineffective prosecution policy have limited Newham's counter fraud work. BFI notes Newham's fraud investigations were poor and needed considerable improvement in the preparation and quality of work undertaken.

  The report notes that Newham is keenly aware of the deficiencies in the current benefits operation and has recently introduced significant improvement programmes. It has had some success working with the contractor to clear backlogs and address inefficiencies and has developed an action plan to tackle the weaknesses in countering fraud.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is now considering the report and will be asking the council for its proposals in response to the findings and recommendations of the BFI.
  99W
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will publish the inspection report of the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate in respect of Leeds City Council. [143659]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Benefit Fraud Inspectorate (BFI) report was published today in respect of the Leeds City Council and copies of the report have been placed in the Library.

  The report provides recommendations aimed at helping the council address weaknesses and to improve the administration of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, as well as its counter fraud activities.

  Inspectors report that there is no doubting Leeds' desire to provide a good service to benefit claimants and at the time of the inspection the council was processing new claims quickly, an important component of the quality of service available to claimants. The council has, to its credit, implemented the Verification Framework; however, inspectors found that there were weaknesses in verification and consider that the council could strike a better balance between clearance rates and the need to verify claims.

  Although Leeds has implemented the Verification Framework (VF), Inspectors found there were weaknesses in verification. At the time of inspection, Leeds processed new claims quickly, which contributed significantly to the quality of service offered to claimants. Nonetheless, inspectors considered that the council could strike a better balance between clearance rates and the need to verify claims.

  Inspectors found that Leeds makes effective use of management information to manage the workload, resulting in no significant arrears of new claims. However, the report notes that the council did not renew any claims for most of 1999 as it was changing its IT system to support the implementation of VF. This created significant backlogs, contravened regulations and has potential subsidy implications for the authority.

  The BFI notes the council's commitment to tackling fraud but reports that the standard of fraud investigations is inadequate, with most investigations only scratching the surface. The report recommends that Leeds should improve the quality of its investigative work and develop a corporate counter fraud policy and strategy.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is now considering the report and will be asking the council for its proposals in response to the findings and recommendations of the BFI.

  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish the responses to the consultation document 'Safeguarding Social Security: Getting the information we need'. [143661]

  Mr. Rooker
  We have placed a summary of the responses in the Library and have arranged for copies to be sent to all those who replied.

  Pension Entitlement
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what discussions he has had with organizations 100W
  concerned with pension reforms on the subject of widows and divorcees who in remarrying are disadvantaged in terms of their pension entitlement; [143570]

  (2) what plans he has to review the system whereby widows and divorcees can be disadvantaged in terms of pension entitlement by remarrying. [143569]

  Mr. Rooker
  Pension entitlement is determined when a claim is made at state pension age. An individual's contributions do not constitute a personal fund either for themselves or a spouse. The rules on remarriage do not, therefore, cause disadvantage.

  Minimum Income Guarantee
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many(a) women over the age of 60 years and (b) men over the age of 65 years were in receipt of Income Support in each month since May 1997; [143391]

  (2) how many (a) women over the age of 60 years and (b) men over the age of 65 years were in receipt of the Minimum Income Guarantee in each month since its introduction. [143392]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 18 December 2000]: The information is in the table.

  Income Support/Minimum Income Guarantee recipients by age and gender, May 1997 to August 2000

  Quarter

  Men aged 65 and over

  Women aged 60 and over

  May 1997

  358.7

  1,173.9

  August 1997

  357.9

  1,168.7

  November 1997

  354.2

  1,159.5

  February 1998

  350.7

  1,146.3

  May 1998

  341.5

  1,131.5

  August 1998

  338.7

  1,125.9

  November 1998

  336.4

  1,118.2

  February 1999

  331.3

  1,101.7

  May 1999

  334.6

  1,102.2

  August 1999

  337.7

  1,101.1

  November 1999

  338.0

  1,098.4

  February 2000

  333.5

  1,082.2

  May 2000

  338.3

  1,087.0

  August 2000

  346.0

  1,100.6

  Notes:

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

  2. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.

  3. Pensioner figures refer to male claimants aged 65 and over, and female claimants aged 60 and over.

  4. Minimum Income Guarantee commenced in April 1999.

  Source:

  Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiries, May 1997 to August 2000

  The table shows a downward trend until May 1999 due to pensioners receiving higher average retirement incomes. The down yard trend was halted at this point due to the introduction of the Minimum Income Guarantee and its more generous uprating formula.

  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners have applied
  101W
  (a) successfully and (b) unsuccessfully for the Minimum Income Guarantee since the start of the take-up campaign in each Benefits Agency area. [143524]

  Mr. Rooker
  The effect of the Minimum Income Guarantee take-up campaign will not be known until it comes to a conclusion. There are thousands more claims in the pipeline, and the effects of the last stage of the campaign will impact on claims processed up to January next year.

  Winter Fuel Payments
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many calls have been received by the Winter Fuel Payment Helpline since the Chancellor's pre-Budget statement; and if he will estimate the maximum number of people who were on hold during such calls at any one time. [143093]

  Mr. Rooker
  The administration of benefits is a matter for Alexis Cleveland, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 18 December 2000:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to respond to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many calls have been received by the Winter Fuel Payment Helpline since the Chancellor's pre-budget statement, and to estimate the maximum number of people who were on hold during such calls at any one time.
  As of 13 December, 179,050 calls have been received where the customer has spoken to an adviser. A recorded message and extended opening hours were introduced from 8 December.
  Numbers of callers on hold fluctuate from second to second, it is not possible to give an estimate of the number of people on hold at any one time.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have contacted the Benefits Agency this year regarding(a) overpayment and (b) underpayment of winter fuel payments; and of these, how many were from widows who have received only half of their entitlement. [143092]

  Angela Eagle
  The administration of benefits is a matter for Alexis Cleveland, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 18 December 2000:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to respond to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people have contacted the Benefits Agency this year regarding (a) overpayment and (b) underpayment of winter fuel payments; and of these, how many were from widows who have received only half of their entitlement.
  The information requested is not available, as detailed information on the types of queries received is not recorded.
  I am sorry I cannot be more helpful.

  Social Security Conferences
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how frequently senior civil servants in national departments of social security in English-speaking countries meet together in conference; when and where the last three such meetings were held; which of his officials attended those meetings; and at what cost to 102W
  public funds; what subjects were discussed; and if he will place a copy of the minutes of those meetings in the Library. [141341]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 11 December 2000]: Meetings between the heads of social security departments in the UK, New Zealand, Canada, Australia, the United States of America and Ireland take place every 18 months. The last three meetings took place in the UK (September 2000), New Zealand (March 1999) and Ireland (September 1997).

  The Department's Permanent Secretary generally attends the meetings outside the UK, together with two senior officials who hold responsibility for the areas of work to be discussed. The UK hosted this year's meeting and additional officials attended relevant discussions. The subjects discussed vary but are generally wide-ranging.

  The cost of hosting the UK meeting was just under £60,000, which is broadly in line with the costs incurred by other countries for these meetings.

  Due to the informal nature of the meetings, and to promote frankness and candour during discussions, formal minutes are not published. This falls within Exception 2 of the Code of Practice of Access to Government Information.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Student Finances
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) when he will publish the triennial survey of student finances; [143183]

  (2) what independent academic studies his Department has commissioned into sources of student financing and student response to changes in the public student funding support package since the introduction of changes and abolition of grants following the 1997 Dearing report; what studies of this nature have been received by his Department; and when they will be published. [143184]

  Mr. Wicks
  "Changing student finances: income, expenditure and the take-up of student loans among full and part-time higher education students in 1998–99" by Claire Callender and Martin Kemp of South Bank University is due to be published on 20 December. This is the fourth in a series of roughly triennial reports on students' income and expenditure, and the first since the Dearing report. A copy will be placed in the House of Commons Library.

  The Department has also published "Students in the labour market—nature, extent and implications of term-time employment among University of Northumbria undergraduates" by Dr. Mike Barke, Paul Braidford et al of University of Northumbria in July 2000. In addition, two studies are currently under way and are expected to be completed in early 2001—"Participation in higher education by mature students" (together with Universities UK, Higher Education Funding Council for England, Higher Statistics Agency and Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) and "Participation in higher education by students from lower socio-economic groups".
  103W
  The Department is currently developing its research programme for 2001–02 which may include further research on students in higher education.

  Education (Voluntary Provision)
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many voluntary sector providers of education there are. [142827]

  Jacqui Smith
  The responsibility for educating pupils who are unable to attend school rests with local education authorities. They are increasingly working with a range of both national and local voluntary sector partners in order to ensure that pupils unable to attend school receive a suitable education. We welcome this partnership approach and see it as an important element in meeting the target for providing a full-time education for all pupils excluded from school by 2002. We do not collect information centrally on the number of voluntary providers.

  School Transport
  Caroline Flint
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the cost of implementing a school bus transport service applicable to all children living more than one mile from their school. [143140]

  Jacqui Smith
  My Department has made no estimate of the cost of providing transport for all children who live more than one mile from their school.

  Official Publications
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the cost per issue is of the magazines(a) "Catalyst", (b) "Voices", (c) "Teachers" and (d) "Parents and Schools"; how many issues there have been; how many civil servants are employed full-time or part-time in work on each of them; what the circulation of each is; and what is total cost to date of each. [141430]

  Mr. Wills
  [holding answer 11 December 2000]: Details of cost per issue, number of issues, number of civil servants employed full-time, circulation, and total cost to date of each of the four magazines are as follows:

  (a) "Catalyst"

  A magazine for employers who have shown interest in or signed up to New Deal.

  Average production cost per issue: £33,606

  Number of issues: three (English, and Welsh bi-lingual versions)

  Number of Staff: one part-time

  Circulation: 80,000

  Total cost to date: £100,820.

  (b) "Voices"

  A magazine for women giving details of the support available to them from Government, commissioned by the Women's Unit at the Cabinet Office, not by DfEE.

  Average cost per issue: £87,208

  Number of issues: 2

  Number of Staff: 2 part-time

  Circulation: 30,000 for first edition, 190,000 for the second edition

  Total cost to date: £174,416.

  104W
  (c)"Teachers"

  A magazine for teachers containing examples of good practice from schools across the country.

  Average production cost per issue: £50,400 (including receipts for advertising)

  Number of issues: 12

  Number of Staff: 1 part-time

  Circulation: 360,000

  Total cost to date: £1,231,000 (including production, distribution and receipts for advertising).

  (c) "Parents and Schools"

  A magazine for parents, to enable them to have a clearer understanding of what is being taught in schools and how to deal with every day problems. It is distributed on request, and through schools, supermarkets and other retailers.

  Average production cost per issue: £41,000 (regional trial), £209,900 (national issue)

  Number of issues: two (one regional trial, one national issue)

  Number of Staff: one part-time

  Circulation: 270,000 (regional trial); 2,000,000 (national issue)

  Total cost to date: £2,312,000 (covering the regional trial and the national issue and including advertising, production, distribution, research and website).

  Wandsworth
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what funding has been provided by his Department to the London Borough of Wandsworth in each of the last three years. [143147]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I sent on 18 December.

  Class Sizes (Secondary Schools)
  Paddy Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of average secondary school class sizes in Yeovil constituency for each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [143314]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The available information for the parliamentary constituency of Yeovil on average class sizes collected it January is shown in the table. Information on average class sizes by parliamentary constituency is not available prior to 1997.

  Average class sizes1 in maintained secondary schools in Yeovil parliamentary constituency

  January each year

  Maintained secondary

  2000

  24.8

  1999

  24.1

  1998

  24.2

  1997

  23.2

  1 Classes taught by one teacher

  The size of the average secondary class nationally, at 22, is still five below the average primary class. Secondary headteachers are receiving on average £50,000 this year in direct grant to spend as they choose. If this were spent on recruiting teachers, the average secondary class size could be reduced by up to 0.8.
  105W
  In the meantime, we have secured early delivery of our infant class size pledge in Yeovil. The most recent figures show that in September this year there were no infant classes in the constituency with more than 30 pupils.

  Tuition Fees
  Paddy Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what his policy is on the level of tuition fees over the next five years; and if he will make a statement. [143315]

  Mr. Wicks
  Tuition fees for students at publicly funded institutions are uprated each year to take account of inflation.

  Correspondence
  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) when the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire will receive a reply to his letter of 20 September on behalf of his constituent, Reverend Matthews; [143576]

  (2) when the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire will receive a reply to his letter of 2 October on behalf of Mr. G. Mitchell. [143577]

  Mr. Wills
  The Department has no record of receiving the original correspondence from the right hon. Member, but has now been made aware of the outstanding reply and the content requested and will be supplying a substantive response by the end of the week.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Departmental Policies (Blackpool, South)
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Solicitor-General 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. [142227]

  The Solicitor-General
  My hon. Friend's constituency falls within the geographical area covered by Fylde and Lancaster Branch of the Crown Prosecution Service. At the beginning of November 1999, in line with national policy, and in liaison with the police and Lancashire Magistrates' Court Service, the Crown Prosecution Service implemented the Narey recommendations. All defendants charged with a criminal offence now make their first appearance before Blackpool Magistrates' Court within 48 hours.

  In the coming year 2001, the structure of the Crown Prosecution Service in Lancashire will be altered in line with the recommendations in the Glidewell Review. This will include the establishment of a Trials Unit for the Crown Court currently dealt with by Fylde and Lancaster casework. It will enable the Crown Prosecution Service to place greater emphasis on the conduct of more serious cases.

  The Crown Prosecution Service, together with other agencies, has also helped to draw up an action plan and associated procedures to speed up youth justice, particularly in relation to persistent young offenders. The latest published figure for Lancashire, as a whole shows
  106W
  an average of 74 days from arrest to charge for persistent young offenders. This compares with 91 at the same time in 1999 and the national target of 71 days. The most recent indications are that the figure is further improving.

  Neither the Treasury Solicitor's Department nor the Serious Fraud Office has policies which directly affect the hon. Member's constituency.

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Dr. Whitehead
  To ask the Solicitor-General what plans he has to review the working of the Crown Prosecution Service. [141602]

  The Solicitor-General
  I meet regularly with the Director of Public Prosecutions and the CPS's chief executive to discuss current issues, the working of the CPS and its performance.

  The Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate conducts regular inspections of CPS areas. The CPS Inspectorate works on a two-year cycle so that each area will be inspected once every two years. Additionally, there will be thematic reviews of aspects of area performance such as advocacy and case presentation.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  St. Helena
  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions she has had regarding the provision of an airport on St Helena; and if she will make a statement. [142472]

  Clare Short
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Wrexham (Dr. Marek) on 13 December 2000,Official Report, column 135W.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial help has been given during the last 12 months to assist towards helping young people from St. Helena to study in the United Kingdom. [143149]

  Clare Short
  In 1999–2000 (the last financial year for which complete figures are available) £65,000 was provided to support the Student Scholarship Programme. This provides support for St. Helenian students who have completed their A-level studies to undertake higher education in the UK.

  In addition, £267,000 was provided in 1999–2000 through (i) the Technical Co-operation Training Scheme, (ii) a teacher training programme and (iii) a nurse education programme to support St. Helenians studying in the UK. These schemes are not disaggregated by age.

  Female Education
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development in what ways her Department supports the education of girls in poorer countries; and if she will make a statement. [143124]

  Clare Short
  Education of girls is probably the single most effective investment in development that any country can make. We are strongly committed to the international development targets of achieving universal
  107W
  primary education by 2015 and gender equity in primary and secondary schooling by 2005. Our three-fold strategy involves (i) contributing to the development and co-ordination of international policies and programmes designed to achieve education for all; (ii) strong, well-targeted country programmes—with priority to sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia—which will provide assistance to Governments and civil societies committed to universal primary education and gender equality; and (iii) research strategies that will contribute to the ability of the international community, to share experience and monitor progress. Over the last three and a half years, we have committed over £400 million to support primary education programmes, all with a strong focus on gender equality. We will do more.

  Kenya
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action the Government have taken to assist Government and non-Governmental organisations in Kenya to tackle the environmental and economic problems resulting from the drought in that country. [143384]

  Clare Short
  This financial year, we are spending a total of £15.5 million on drought relief in Kenya. Of this, £12 million has been contributed to the World Food Programme's Emergency Operation for the purchase of food and nutritional supplements for distribution by NGOs to the worst-affected communities. The balance is being given to the Food and Agricultural Organisation, UNICEF and NGOs to distribute agricultural inputs including seeds; for emergency water supplies and environmentally friendly borehole and waterpoint rehabilitation; for further child nutritional support, and for livestock vaccination and other assistance to pastoralists affected by the drought.

  Fluconazole
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the South African Government's policy on authorising the generic version of fluconazole in the treatment of Aids related infections. [142196]

  Clare Short
  Fluconazole is a useful drug in the treatment of certain opportunistic infections associated with HIV/AIDS. The Government of South Africa has given permission for the generic version of fluconazole to be administered in exceptional circumstances on a named patient, named condition based. This limited use will be reviewed once its brand name version, Diflucan, donated to the Government of South Africa by Pfizer, is available to the public health sector. Its registration and availability in the public health sector in South Africa is a matter for the Government of South Africa and its licensing authority.

  Education Facilities
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her policy is on the provision of education facilities in the United Kingdom for talented young people from Third World countries. [143148]
  108W
  Clare Short
  Our educational priorities are universal primary education and support for key skills for the development of poorer countries including building local capacity for skills training. Our focus is the development of, and better access to, education and skill training facilities in developing countries. We support training in the UK when it helps take forward these priorities.

  Conflict Resolution
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for International a Development what consultations her Department has undertaken with non-Governmental organisations on the development of the Government's cross-departmental initiative on conflict resolution. [143370]

  Clare Short
  A formal consultation on conflict in sub-Saharan Africa was held in November 1999. We have maintained regular contacts with NGOs and academic institutions and envisage publishing a paper outlining our thinking in Spring 2001.

  Departmental Advertising
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list for(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99, (d) 1999–2000 and (e) 2000–01, (i) her Department's total spending on advertising campaigns, (ii) the cost of each individual advertising campaign and (iii) the criteria that were established to gauge the effectiveness of each campaign; and what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of each campaign based on these criteria. [142718]

  Clare Short
  The Department for International Development has not carried out any advertising campaigns since 1996–97.

PRIME MINISTER

  Cabinet Committees
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Prime Minister what the membership of each Cabinet Committee is. [143837]

  The Prime Minister
  I have placed a copy of the current list of Cabinet Committees, their membership and terms of reference in the Library of the House. Details will also be updated on the Cabinet Office website.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Prime Minister when he will reply to the letter of the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam of 19 October concerning the internet. [143434]

  The Prime Minister
  I did so on 15 December.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Official Publications
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what his Department's spending on official publications was for
  109W
  (a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99, (d) 1999–2000 and (e) 2000–01 and the planned expenditure for 2001–02. [141456]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 11 December 2000]: The following figures for spending on official publications include the costs incurred by the Department in publishing, preparation, production and purchase of copies for official use. Where the Department makes use of a private sector publisher the publishing, printing and design costs are generally met by the publisher as part of their acceptance of the risks of publication.

  (a) The former Department of the Environment spent £1,178,754 in 1996–97; no figures are available for the former Department of Transport, which had no central management of publications production.

  (b) to (d) Expenditure for subsequent years was:

  1997–98: £2,007,506

  1998–99: £2,280,993

  1999–2000: £3,449,439.

  (e) Expenditure from 1 April to 12 December 2000 was £2,794,622.

  DETR does not make specific plans for future expenditure on publications, as this is only one of the media used in public information work. The balance among media is decided on a case-by-case basis for each information project.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list each new publication issued by his Department since 1997 and what the total cost to the Department is of each publication. [141459]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding at answer 11 December 2000]: DETR has a very wide range of policy responsibilities and therefore publishes a large number of publications. The cost of tracing and listing the total costs of each individual publication would thus be disproportionate. A list of the titles of the main publications produced through DETR's Directorate of Communication between February 1997 and November 2000 has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Departmental Policies (Blackpool, South)
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the, Regions 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. [142233]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The constituency of Blackpool, South has benefited from a range of Government initiatives since 2 May 1997 including:

  Capital allocations for housing

  Year

  £million

  1997–98

  2.880

  1998–991

  4.803

  1999–2000

  4.946

  2000–01

  7.204

  2001–02

  8.314

  1 Including Capital Receipts Initiative

  110W
  The resources made available from Government to support the authority's housing capital investment programme will have nearly trebled by next year since the Government came to power.

  Neighbourhood Renewal Fund

  Blackpool will receive about £6.016 million over the next three years as part of the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund announced in October. The fund will help local authorities meet their Public Service Agreement targets in areas such as raising schools standards, and reducing unemployment—reducing burglary, narrowing the health gap between deprived areas and the rest of the country and improving the standard of social housing.

  Single Regeneration Budget

  SRB Round 2—Blackpool Challenge Partnership

  This is a seven-year strategy to halt decline of an area of need in the town centre behind the promenade. This scheme is linked to the opportunity to create employment parks. SRB total is £19.4 million.

  SRB Round 6—Blackpool Challenge Partnership

  This seven-year scheme was approved on 2 August 2000 and the programme will start in April 2001. This scheme links support for growth of the tourist industry and improving the quality of life for Blackpool's most deprived communities. It was allocated £20 million SRB funding.

  This schemes covers the wider Blackpool, South area.

  Blackpool Foyer

  Non-delegated project (ie SRB Grant request over £250k). This fits in with Blackpool Challenge Partnership SRB by way of and linked allied to the First Step Centre (vocational guidance). This project is part of the National network of Foyers in the UK and Europe and is a full member of the National Foyer Federation for Youth.

  Project costs—£3,488 million total costs over six years. SRB Support of £0.45 million (13 per cent.) over five years—1997–2003. Contribution of £1.038 million (30 per cent.) Housing Corporation, £0.77 million Manchester Methodist Housing Association (contracting organisation), £0.65 million private and £0.586 million revenue (rental income).

  Local Transport Plans

  Year

  £million

  1997–981

  9.5

  1998–99

  0.383

  1999–2000

  0.862

  2000–01

  2.168

  2001–02

  2—

  1 This figure is for Lancashire County Council before Blackpool became an Unitary Authority. Of the £9.5 million, £240k was allocated specifically for the Blackpool tramway, although other money would have gone into Blackpool.

  2 Figure not yet available

  Note:

  All other figures are for the whole of Blackpool.

  Local Government Finance Settlement

  The following figures show the Government Grant to Blackpool as part of the Local Government Finance Settlement.
  111W

  Total external support (Revenue Support Grant, National non-Domestic Rates and damping grants)

  Year

  £ million

  1997–98

  15.646

  1998–99

  93.226

  1999–2000

  97.219

  2000–01

  102.542

  2001–021

  105.307

  1 Provisional settlement under "floor" and "ceiling" option.

  Note:

  Again the difference in figures of 1997–98 is due to the unitary authority in 1999.

  Bus Tokens
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will announce the allocation of funds for the free bus token scheme. [141347]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 11 December 2000]: As I announced in the House on 15 November 2000, Official Report, column 1029, we have allocated an annual injection of £54 million to cover the additional cost of the guaranteed half-fare concessionary travel scheme under the Transport Act 2000. I confirm that that amount was included within the lower tier of the Environmental Protection & Cultural Services block in the Standard Spending Assessment, and has been taken into account in the calculation of Revenue Support Grant to individual local authorities in the settlement announced on 27 November 2000, Official Report, columns 648–62.

  Capital Project Loans
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to make available interest-free money for loan by local authorities and regeneration agencies for major capital projects. [142295]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 13 December 2000]: The Department currently has no plans to make such loans.

  South West of England Regional Development Agency
  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the regeneration targets to be met by the South West Regional Development Agency. [142693]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The information the right hon. Gentleman requested is contained in section 5 of the South West of England Regional Development Agency Business Plan 2000–01. I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Libraries of the House. The Business Plan sets out the range of Agency's key targets, many of which are cross-cutting and involve regeneration objectives.

  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the projects(a) being undertaken and (b) completed by the South West of England Regional Development Agency. [142688]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The South West of England Regional Development Agency has undertaken and completed many projects. Their Annual Review 1999–2000 112W
  gives details of those projects undertaken and completed up to March 2000. I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Libraries of the House. I am also listing the main projects that have been given Board approval since March 2000 to date.

  Principal Approvals (over 25k) since February Board Meeting Eden Project, St Austell, Restormel
  Application for additional funding of £1 million to cover additional works.
  Funding: £3,960,000
  Total project cost: £79,626,000
  Bradford On Avon Gasworks, West Wiltshire
  Reclamation of a contaminated former town gasworks site, owned by the LA, for future hard end development.
  Funding: £141,915
  Total project cost: £141,915
  Treleigh Industrial Estate to Extension, Redruth, Kerrier
  Acquisition and servicing of 5.26 hectares of industrial development land adjacent to existing estate.
  Funding: £1,005,000
  Total project cost: £1,005,000
  Avon Valley Greenway, Bristol
  Reclamation of an overgrown and derelict riverside site, in the centre of Bristol, to create a 2 km cycleway/footpath.
  Funding: £126,540
  Total project cost: £504,844
  Cornish Way: Section 2—Newlyn to Mousehole, Penzance, Penwith
  Reclamation of a redundant Quay and slipway, formerly used for loading granite from Penlee Quarry, to create a cycleway/footpath.
  Funding: £69,000
  Total project cost: £69,000
  Polmarth Park, St Austell, Restormel
  Reclamation of a derelict former tin-streaming site, situated between two housing estates, to create recreational areas and a cycleway/footpath.
  Funding: £221,625
  Total project cost: £246,625
  Tavistock Cycleway, Tavistock, West Devon
  Reclamation of a former railway line, along the edge of a steep sided valley, to create a cycleway/footpath.
  Funding: £92,385
  Total project cost: £126,813
  Bristol Harbourside—Additional Public Realm Works, Bristol
  Excavation and disposal of existing surfacing and provision of new paving, lighting, street furniture and planting on three areas at Harbourside.
  Funding: £632,585
  Total project cost: £175,361
  St Agnes Park Lodge, Bristol
  Refurbishment and extension of a former park keepers house to provide a community building offering training and employment facilities.
  Funding: £101,000
  Total project cost: £160,092
  Contact Centre, Southmead, Bristol
  Refurbishment and extension of a derelict building to provide an additional training facility and seven small community business units.
  Funding: £100,000
  Total project cost: £224,424

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  Bensons Lot, Stroud

  Refurbishment of a derelict warehouse to provide seven young persons flats and three workshops.
  Funding: £100,000
  Total project cost: £131,299
  Tolvaddon Business Park, Camborne, Kerrier
  Acquisition and servicing of 6.07 hectares of industrial development land and construction of 2,787 sq m of quality office units of 70 to 465 sq m in size.
  Funding: £2,998,818
  Total project cost: £2,998,818
  Penrose Farm, Indian Queens, St Columb, Restormel
  Acquisition of 4.84 hectares of industrial development land, demolition of derelict farm buildings, site servicing and infrastructure.
  Funding: £1,439,696
  Total project cost: £1,439,696
  Cornish Way: Section 4 Bude Phase 2, North Cornwall
  Reclamation of a section of disused railway, between Bude and Helebridge, to create a cycleway/footpath.
  Funding: £83,500
  Total project cost: £115,500
  Yeo Bridge, Barnstaple, North Devon
  Reclamation of a section of disused railway to create a cycleway/footpath including the constriction of a new swing bridge over the river Yeo.
  Funding: £172,723
  Total project cost: £718,665
  Lower Pengegon, Camborne, Kerrier
  Additional phase of reclamation works, to a former mining site, including knotweed eradication, building consolidation and landscaping.
  Funding: £125,713
  Total project cost: £125,713
  Marine Projects, Stonehouse, Plymouth
  Reclamation of an area of mudflats to create hard standing and construction of a 3,716 sq m factory for the manufacture of very large powerboats.
  Funding: £696,252
  Total project cost: £2,321,325
  Saltash Parkway Site F, Saltash, Caradon
  Construction of a 1,490 sq m employment unit on a serviced site.
  Funding: £370,142
  Total project cost: £812,309
  Combined University for Cornwall, Penryn, Kerrier
  Development of the first phase proposed at Tremough to include demolition works, construction of new access road, servicing of the whole site and construction of new digital media centre.
  Funding: £1,500,000
  Total project cost: £5,200,000
  Old Town Quarry, Weston Super Mare, North Somerset
  Conversion of a derelict building to provide eight managed workshop units and two training and exhibition spaces.
  Funding: £100,000
  Total project cost: £124,500
  Devon Coast to Coast Cycleway—Derriton viaduct, Nr Holsworthy, Torridge
  Reclamation of a section of former Ilfraeombe to Bude railway line to create a cycleway/footpath.
  Funding: £174,164
  Total project cost: £520,700
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  Cabot Community Sports Centre, Bristol
  Construction of a multi-purpose sports complex within the boundaries of a Primary School in the inner city area of St Pauls.
  Funding: £260,000
  Total project cost: £2,784,000
  Safe and Warm Phase 2, Bristol
  Housing improvement project on three Local Authority estates on the northern fringe of the city, covering heating, insulation and security measures.
  Funding: £615,346
  Total project cost: £1,578,304
  Theatre Royal Production and Education Centre, Plymouth
  Development of a new centre to cater for the simultaneous production of in-house drama productions and large-scale music theatre.
  Funding: £453,500
  Total project cost: £6,618,004
  Plymouth Job to Job Wage Subsidy, Plymouth
  Project to support Intermediate Labour Market initiatives for two years through the provision of a wage subsidy for the long-term unemployed.
  Funding: £174,700 Total
  Total project cost: £707,038
  Youth Link, Penwith and Kerrier
  Three-year project to provide advice and support for young people not participating or making progress through established programmes.
  Funding: £330,100
  Total project cost: £825,198
  Rural Counselling Programme, Devon Priority Areas
  Provision of a comprehensive rural business support service in rural Devon prior to the introduction of the Small Business Service.
  Funding: £57,234
  Total project cost: £124,969
  Devon & West Somerset Key Fund
  Provision of a block capital grant to provide accessible funding support to small-scale community projects.
  Funding: £213,575
  Total project cost: £1,041,400
  Bream Community Centre, Bream, Forest of Dean
  Acquisition and refurbishment of former community building to provide enhanced facilities and improved access to additional facilities.
  Funding: £116,000
  Total project cost: £277,325
  Kimmeridge Marine Education Centre, Purbeck
  Provision of an education resource for the community to learn about the marine environment and promote coast-related tourism.
  Funding: £35,349
  Total project cost: £230,029
  Ladock Parish Hall, Ladock, Carrick
  Construction of a new hall to replace the existing dilapidated timber building used by various community groups.
  Funding: £41,450
  Total project cost: £205,450

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  Spanning the Century, Camel Trail, North Cornwall
  Improvements to ten miles of the trail by widening at the iron bridge near Padstow and enhancements to the Guineaport and Padstow entrances.
  Funding: £32,750
  Total project cost: £846,925
  Business Information Service (Enterprise Edge), Cornwall
  To provide up-to-date business information to Cornish SMEs for one year via a gateway website and 0800 helpline.
  Funding: £30,000
  Total project cost: £268,991
  Chacewater Village Hall, Chacewater, Carrick
  Demolition of existing premises and construction of a new building to serve the local community.
  Funding: £40,339
  Total project cost: £323,022
  Cornwall Objective One Technical Assistance
  Contribution towards the costs of establishing and operating the Objective One partnership office and implementation of the Team's work programme, including setting up and managing Task Forces and Priority Management Groups.
  Funding:£175,000
  Total project cost: £1,797,358.

  Telephony Masts
  Mrs. Organ
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many outstanding planning applications there are in England and Wales for base station masts for mobile telephony; how many are in(a) areas of outstanding natural beauty, (b) national parks and (c) national forests; and how many applications have been given consent in the last (1) three months and (2) six months. [142728]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Department does not hold such information.

  Mrs. Organ
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received from health and other academic experts about the distance between(a) settlements and (b) dwellings and the location of a base station mast for mobile telephony. [142563]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  In response to public concern about the possibility of health effects from mobile phone base stations, the Government set up the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones (chaired by Sir William Stewart). The Group considered health effects from the use of mobile phones, base stations and transmitters. In carrying out the review, the Group gathered a wide range of views and a call for evidence was placed in the national daily newspapers and the scientific press. A comprehensive review of relevant research was carried out as part of the review and this helped to inform the Group's conclusions and recommendations. The Group published its report on mobile phones and health on 11 May 2000.

  The Group's report, which took into account evidence from health and other academic experts, recommended the establishment of clearly defined physical exclusion zones around base station antennas, which delineate areas within which exposure guidelines may be exceeded. Operators have a duty under the Health and Safety legislation to ensure that their work activities, which includes the
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  operation of their apparatus, do not present a risk to employees and the general public. The Health and Safety Executive would therefore expect operators to have measures in place to prevent access by members of the public to areas where they might exceed exposure guidelines. The report did not recommend the introduction of a minimum distance between masts and settlements or dwellings.

  Mrs. Organ
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on planning and safety guidelines for the siting of base station masts for mobile telephony. [142568]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Telecommunications operators have a duty under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 and the Management of the Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 to ensure that so far as is reasonably practicable, their work activities—which would include the installation and operation of their equipment—do not expose people to risks to their health and safety.

  The Government's statutory adviser, the National Radiological Protection Board, has published guidelines on limiting exposure to electromagnetic radiation. All mobile phone transmission equipment should meet these guidelines. Following publication of the Stewart report on mobile phones and health in May 2000, the Government accepted that, as a precautionary measure, the emissions from mobile phone base stations should meet the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines for public exposure as expressed in the EU Council Recommendation of 12 July 1999 on the limitation of exposure of the general public to electromagnetic fields (0 Hz to 300GHz). Most base stations already meet the ICNIRP guidelines and all new base stations will do so.

  Health considerations and public concern can in principle be material considerations in determining applications for planning permission and prior approval. Whether such matters are material in a particular case is ultimately a muter for the courts. It is for the decision-maker (usually the local planning authority) to determine what weight to attach to such considerations in any particular case. However, it is the Government's view that if a proposed development meets the ICNIRP guidelines it should not be necessary for an authority, in processing an application, to consider health effects further.

  Railways
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects commuter rail services in the London area to return to the timetables in operation before the Hatfield crash. [142697]

  Mr. Hill
  The industry is working hard to achieve a steady improvement in rail services across all parts of the country. Railtrack estimate that nationally by the end of January 85 per cent. of journeys will be back to normal, with a tail end of work through to Easter by when all services should be, fully back to normal. The Rail Recovery Action Group, chaired by the Minister for Transport, has been formed to help to get services back to normal as soon as possible.

  Heathrow
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the decision was taken to hold an inquiry into the fifth terminal at Heathrow Airport. [142703]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  On 15 March 1993, when the main application for the development of a fifth terminal complex and associated facilities was called in by the Secretary of State for the Environment for joint decision by the then Secretaries of State for Environment and Transport. Related applications were similarly called in on various dates between 20 May 1993 and 5 May 1998 for consideration by the Terminal 5 public inquiry.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what has been the cost to date of the inquiry is into the Fifth Terminal at Heathrow Airport; [142706]

  (2) what his latest estimate is of the cost of the inquiry into the building of the Fifth Terminal at Heathrow Airport. [142704]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and its Agencies has spent approximately £11.8 million on the Terminal 5 (T5) Inquiry to date. The total costs of the T5 Inquiry to all participants is estimated at over £83 million of which the private sector is estimated to have spent some £64 million with the rest borne by central and local government.

  Waste Disposal
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of landfill waste has been diverted to unlicensed sites in the last 12 months; and what action the Government are taking to address this. [142526]

  Mr. Mullin
  Data on the percentage of waste diverted from licensed landfill sites and disposed of unlawfully are not held centrally. However, the issue is the subject of a research report which the Government commissioned—"The Effects of Landfill Tax—Reduced Disposal of Inert Waste to Landfill." A copy of the report has been placed in the Library of the House.

  The action being taken by the Government on unlawful waste disposal was set out most recently in our response to the Environment, Transport and. Regional Affairs Committee's Report on the Environment Agency (Cm 4832—paragraphs 55–60).

  Unlicensed Vehicles
  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the average cost was for a prosecution brought against the owners of unlicensed vehicles in each of the last three years. [142542]

  Mr. Hill
  The average cost for a prosecution against VED offenders in 1997–98 and 1908–99 was £30 per case. This was recalculated in 1999–2000 and is now estimated to be £45. Costs are always sought by DVLA in all court cases.
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  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action his Department is taking to improve the arrangements for receiving revenue lost as a result of road vehicles not displaying road tax licences. [142543]

  Mr. Hill
  DVLA will take action against VED evaders in increasing numbers. In addition to offering out of court settlements and prosecutions the Agency will induce increasing numbers of evaders to relicense voluntarily through publicity campaigns.

  Recent initiatives include the introduction of a scheme to wheelclamp and impound unlicensed vehicles. Over the past three years the scheme has encouraged over 325,000 motorists voluntarily to relicense bringing in some £38 million in additional revenue.

  Motorists are now required to notify DVLA if their vehicle is taken off the road unlicensed under the statutory off road notification scheme. Dispensing with a 'do nothing' option when a vehicle licence expires dissuades evasion and also helps to create a more accurate vehicle record.

  DVLA is shortly to trial the use of digital camera technology to detect and deter VED evaders, and a nationwide roll out of automatic number plate readers is planned for the early summer of 2001. In addition, the Agency is working closely with police forces to make use of police cameras in the same way.

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people were sent notification of intended prosecution for failure to display a road vehicle tax disc; and how much revenue was recovered as a result, in each of the last three years. [142541]

  Mr. Hill
  The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency takes enforcement action against vehicle keepers for VED evasion. Most are offered the opportunity to pay an out of court settlement (OCS) while more serious cases, and those who fail to pay an OCS, result in prosecution. Figures for the past three years, including total revenue collected from all enforcement action, are as follows:

  OCS

  Prosecution

  Total Revenue (£ million)

  1997–1998

  268,163

  233,036

  72

  1998–1999

  218,786

  256,332

  79

  1999–2000

  209,678

  239,291

  86

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of unlicensed vehicles being used on UK roads; and what estimate he has made of the revenue lost as a result in the current financial year. [142540]

  Mr. Hill
  A roadside survey conducted by departmental statisticians in June 1999 estimated that 1.5 million vehicles were evading vehicle duty (VED) in GB. The level of evasion was calculated at 3.9 per cent. of revenue due, equivalent to a loss of £183 million in the current financial year. The 1999 survey indicated a drop in the VED evasion level for the first time and represents a saving of £17 million a year from the previous estimate of 4.1 per cent.

  Planning Powers
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he proposes to take in the light of the High Court decision on his planning powers and their relationship to the Human Rights Act 1998; and if he will make a statement. [143432]

  Mr. Raynsford
  On Wednesday 13 December the Divisional Court gave judgment on four test cases brought in relation to the compatibility of certain aspects of domestic legislation with Article 6(1) of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) concerning the right to a fair hearing before an independent and impartial tribunal. The Convention right was incorporated into UK legislation in the Human Rights Act 1998, which became operative in England and Wales on 2 October this year.

  The legal challenges related to cases involving the Secretary of State's ability under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to call in and determine applications for planning permission and to recover and determine appeals, the confirmation by him of Compulsory Purchase Orders and related Orders under the Highways Act 1980 made by one of his departmental agencies and the making of orders under the Transport and Works Act 1992.

  The Court concluded that the processes involved in each of the cases were not compatible with Article 6(1) of the ECHR. In particular, the Court concluded that:
  The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions is not 'an independent and impartial tribunal' for the purposes of Article 6(1), but is a judge in his own cause as both policy maker and decision taker;
  Judicial Review is not sufficient to remedy the defects in the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions' decision-making role—the scope of Judicial Review is not sufficiently wide and the Court is not prepared to enlarge its power of review.

  However, the Court held that the Secretary of State could not have acted in any other manner and will not act unlawfully in processing the cases that are the subject of the proceedings, because section 6(2) of the Human Rights Act applies.

  Application was made, and the Court granted, leave for appeal to the Court of Appeal. The question whether an application can be made for the cases to be referred direct to the House of Lords is still under consideration by the Court. If the cases can be referred direct to the Lords, an application will be made for expedition.

  The Court will make a "declaration of incompatibility" under section 4 of the Human Rights Act that the provisions of the relevant primary legislation are not compatible with a Convention right. However, such a declaration does not affect the validity, continuing operation or enforcement of the provision in respect of which it was given (section 4 (6) HRA). If the decision of the High Court is upheld on appeal, the Government will have to decide how to deal with this incompatibility. In the meantime, the existing primary legislation continues to apply and the Secretary of State has a duty to continue determining cases which have been called-in and appeals that have been recovered, and to fulfil his statutory functions in relation to orders made, for example, under the Transport and Works and Highways Acts and under Compulsory Purchase legislation. He will
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  continue to exercise his discretion—for example, as to whether to call in planning applications—as before. In all cases, he will proceed in accordance with his usual practice. Pending final decisions on the appeals, in deciding whether to call-in or recover cases for his own decision, he will take account of the fact that call-in and recovery, although lawful, have been declared incompatible with the Convention by the Divisional Court.

  Concessionary Bus Fares
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions from what date his Department will require local authorities to provide older people with a free bus pass allowing them to purchase bus tickets for no more than half-price; and if he will make a statement. [142762]

  Mr. Hill
  The requirement to offer at least half-fares on buses to pensioners and disabled people will come into effect from 1 April 2001 (London) or 1 June 2001 (rest of England). The appropriate Commencement Order was made on 7 December. We are in touch with local authorities and the bus industry about the implementation of the mandatory scheme, and are at present consulting about the terms of Guidance.

  A46/A36
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what further studies he intends to commission on the problems experienced in Bath by North-South A46/A36 traffic, and their wider implications, before determining whether to de-trunk the A46 and A36. [143574]

  Mr. Hill
  The Secretary of State announced on 14 December 2000 that the A36/A46 should remain part of the non-core network. We recognise that there remain traffic problems within Bath and we will work with Bath and North East Somerset to identify appropriate measures which we will urge them to progress through their Local Transport Plans. He has no plans for further studies on the problems experienced in Bath.

  Local Transport Plan
  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions following the announcement of the Local Transport Plan capital settlement on 14 December, what money has been unallocated and kept in the LTP Reserve Fund for(a) 2001–02, (b) 2002–03, (c) 2003–04, (d) 2004–05 and (e) 2005–06. [143437]

  Mr. Hill
  As announced by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister on 14 December 2000,Official Report, column 202W, £8.43 billion has been made available for local transport over the five years from April 2001.

  Amounts have been held back for each of the five years covered by the settlement. A large portion of these reserves are made up of resources that will be made available to authorities in respect of:

  (a) the integrated transport block—for which 10 per cent. of the total available for each of the years between 2002–03 and 2005–06 has been held back;

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  (b) highway maintenance—for which for the three years from 2003–04 to 2005–06 the indicative allocations made to authorities are currently only 75 per cent. of their 2002–03 allocations. The unallocated provision will allow the distribution of highway maintenance funding from 2003–04 onwards to reflect improved condition data.

  In addition, resources have set aside for major local transport schemes which are defined as those with a gross cost of over £5 million. The resource; will be used to fund fully accepted schemes. We have given a total allocation for these schemes but precise annual allocations depend on progress with each scheme and cannot be accurately forecast at this stage; provisionally accepted schemes, for which we have in some cases earmarked resources which will he made available once outstanding issues, such as completion of appropriate statutory Procedures have been addressed; and possible additional major schemes on which we do not yet have sufficient information to make a decision since authorities have not yet completed full appraisals or which may become necessary, for example arising from the reports of Multi-Modal Studies.

  Each year, as part of the annual settlement, the indicative allocations will be confirmed or revised, reflecting the use to be made of the reserve and decisions made on funding for major schemes.

  In addition, for 2001–02 small amounts have been held back to fund capital works necessary to prepare for charging schemes in cases where authorities have endorsed a decision to introduce congestion charging and put forward a set of costed proposals; emergency works, particularly given the damage caused by this winter's flooding; and schemes under the Industrial Development Act 1982.

  Taking all of these elements into account the total sums yet to be allocated are:

  £ million

  2001–02

  125

  2002–03

  482

  2003–04

  754

  2004–05

  1,013

  2005–06

  993

  Byelaws (Railways)
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the Government's proposals are regarding the byelaws submitted by the railway companies, London Underground and other light rail operators. [143836]

  Mr. Hill
  The national railway operators, London Underground, the Docklands Light Railway and Nexus Metro have submitted byelaws to the Secretary of State for confirmation. These byelaws, and the formal representations received from person affected by these byelaws, have all been considered by the Secretary of State. I can announce that the byelaws, with a number of modifications, have now been confirmed, and 18 February 2001 has been set as the date that the new byelaws will come into force.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Victim Support
  Mr. Hesford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about Government programmes for the support of victims in Northern Ireland. [142810]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Government have put in place a number of programmes of support in line with the recommendations in Sir Kenneth Bloomfield's report "We Will Remember Them", which considered ways of recognising and acknowledging the suffering of those who have become victims of events in Northern Ireland during the last 30 years. To date over £6.25 million has been allocated to programmes and further significant funding will be made available from April 2001, which in total will represent a substantial package aimed at alleviating the financial hardships and suffering inflicted on many by violence during the Troubles.

  Initiatives that have been put in place include:
  The establishment of a Family Trauma Centre for young people, and their families, affected by the Troubles. The Centre provides a comprehensive therapeutic service to families experiencing trauma and aims to meet the psychological needs of families and individuals who have been affected by the Troubles;
  A £225,000 Victim Support Grant Scheme for groups and organisations with proposals to take forward recommendations in the Bloomfield Report. This fund was administered by the Community Relations Council and closed on 31 March 2000;
  The establishment of the Northern Ireland Memorial Fund, which is an independent charitable fund that provides assistance to victims and their families through practical means. The fund which is chaired by Professor George Bain, Vice Chancellor of the Queen's University of Belfast, has received £2 million from the Government. To date it has launched three schemes—a Small Grants Scheme, a Respite Break Pilot Scheme and a Chronic Pain Management Scheme;
  An educational Bursary Pilot Scheme for individuals whose education was directly affected by the Troubles. Over 500 applications were received with 352 individuals who met the criteria being offered bursaries totalling just over £300,000;
  The independent review of Criminal Injuries Compensation for Northern Ireland. The Government accepted the majority of the recommendations made by the review team and in addition, but outside the remit of the new compensation theme, will make a significant amount of funding available from April 2001 for the implementation of the Bloomfield Report "We Will Remember Them", and payments of up to £10,000 for the families of the disappeared;
  The establishment of the Core Funding for Victims/Survivors Groups Grant Scheme providing £3 million for core funding to victims groups for an initial period of two years from 2000–01. This fund is administered by the Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust and to date over £2.1 million has been allocated to groups;
  A capacity building programme for those working with victims of the Troubles has also been developed. The programme will help to train those who work with victims so that they are able to deal effectively with the issues which arise for victims and victims groups. The programme is co-sponsored by the Victims Liaison Unit, the Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust and the Community Relations Council.
  Research. The Government have supported research including financial support of up to £40,000 to the Community Conflict Impact on Children Project.

  Equality Commission
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions his Department has had
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  with the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on the inclusion of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. [142318]

  Mr. Ingram
  There are currently no plans to designate the FCO under section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. However, the issue of designation of Government Departments is kept under review. In the course of these deliberations we will consider whether it is appropriate to designate the FCO as a public authority for the purposes of the Act. My officials keep the Equality Commission informed of our thinking on this and other matters.

  Saville Inquiry
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average daily cost of a sitting of the Saville inquiry has been; and what have been the(a) maximum and (b) minimum daily costs to date. [143355]

  Mr. Ingram
  This information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Kosovo
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he plans to visit the officers of the Royal Ulster Constabulary in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement. [143354]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Secretary of State has no immediate plans to visit Kosovo. In my role as Security Minister, I visited Pristina in December 1999 with the Chief Constable to meet 60 officers from the Royal Ulster Constabulary working with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo. It was evident then that the RUC contingent would play a key part in the executive policing role pending the establishment of a new Kosovan police service. The RUC has currently 62 officers in Kosovo where they continue to provide outstanding support.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Sexual Offences
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will commence the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2000 and Part II of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000. [143685]

  Mr. Straw
  We are implementing both these important measures as quickly as possible because of the important equality and child protection measures they contain.

  The Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2000 will be commenced in England and Wales, and Northern Ireland, on 8 January 2001. Commencement in Scotland is a matter for the Scottish Executive.

  Part II of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act will be commenced in England and Wales, and Northern Ireland, on 11 January 2001.

  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of convicted sex offenders have been treated with cognitive behaviour therapies over the past 10 years; and what proportion of those(a) treated and (b) not treated have re-offended subsequently. [142938]
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  Mr. Boateng
  Information is available on the number of sex offenders in prison in England and Wales who have completed a cognitive behavioural Sex Offender Treatment Programme since 1992. This is shown in the table. It is not possible to calculate what percentage this is of all convicted s offenders but for comparison the population of sentenced sex offenders in prison each year is shown.

  All Sex Offender Treatment Programmes in English and Welsh prisons are evaluated by the Prison Service's Offender Behaviour. Programme Unit (OBPU) with additional input from independent external researchers.

  OBPU has made an analysis of all sexual offenders released from prism, between 1992 and March 1996. The results showed that treated offenders had slightly better reconviction rates after two years than untreated offenders except for the very highest risk category. The number of reconvictions were small however, which made it difficult to attach significance levels to the results.

  More detailed evaluations of Prison Service's later prison treatment programmes are now being carried out by a team of independent researchers—but it is still too early for reliable reconviction studies.

  Numbers completing Sex Offender Treatment Programmes (SOTP) and population of sentenced sex offenders in prison since 1992–93 England and Wales

  Year

  Numbers completing SOTP

  Sentenced sex offenders in custody (30 June each year)

  1992–93

  284

  3,156

  1993–94

  439

  3,180

  1994–95

  554

  3,279

  1995–96

  439

  3,668

  1996–97

  680

  3,951

  1997–98

  736

  4,077

  1998–99

  664

  4,795

  1999–2000

  669

  4,946

  Note:

  This information is also available in "Prison Statistics England & Wales" 1999 CM 4405 (tables 1.7 and 7.2), a copy of which is in the Library.

  Road Traffic Offences
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when tie will publish the consultation paper following the recent review of penalties for road traffic offences. [143684]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I am pleased to announce that the consultation paper to which my hon. Friend refers has been published today. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter of the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam of 27 November concerning the internet. [143435]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The hon. Member's letter raises a number of issues which are currently being investigated. A reply will be sent shortly.

  Beer Smuggling
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact of illegally imported beer on levels of crime and disorder. [142830]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  We do not know precisely the extent to which illegally imported beer is a factor in other crime, but we do know that alcohol misuse generally is often associated with crime and disorder. It is likely that illegally imported alcohol, including; beer, will play a part in some cases, particularly where the alcohol ends up in the hands of under-age drinkers. The illegal importation of beer and other alcohol is primarily a matter for Her Majesty's Customs and Excise. It is an issue that will be addressed further within the overall context of the Home Department action plan on alcohol-related crime. This set out a forward programme to address all aspects of alcohol-related crime and disorder, including the problems associated with under-age drinking.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to prevent the sale of illegally imported beer to children. [142864]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Tackling under-age drinking is a priority for this Government. It is one of the key objectives of the Home Department action plan on alcohol-related crime. In taking forward the programme set out in that action plan, we shall in consultation with Her Majesty's Customs and Excise and the police, look at whether more can be done to address the availability of illegally imported beer and other alcohol, in particular to young people. In addition, to go further in tackling under-age drinking more generally we shall be asking Parliament to approve measures which will strengthen the requirements on licensees and their staff to satisfy themselves that customers are at least 18 before selling alcohol to them, and to establish clearly the ability of the police and local authorities to arrange for the test purchasing of alcohol by children under this age.

  Custody Deaths
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what response his Department has made to the report of the Police Complaints Authority on deaths in custody; and if he will make a statement. [142796]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Home Department welcomed the report of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) and the statistics which show a decline in the number of deaths in police custody. The fall in deaths occurring at police stations is particularly encouraging. These reductions reflect the efforts of police forces implementing good practice, much of it identified through work done by the PCA. Key initiatives include safer custody facilities, improved training, Closed Circuit Television observation and an emphasis on better care, assessment and monitoring of detainees.

  The Home Department published its bulletin containing statistics on deaths in police custody during 1999–2000 on 15 December. This will also show a decline in the number of people dying in police stations. The bulletin will also set out a range of current action aimed at achieving further reductions.

  Prisoners' Mail
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to amend the provisions of the Prisoners Act 1952 relating to the opening and examination of letters to and from prisoners to search for enclosures. [143152]

  Mr. Boateng
  Powers to examine prisoners' communications are set out in the Prison Rules 1999 (SI 728 as amended), which are made under section 47 of the Prison Act 1952. The rules were amended on 23 September 2000 (SI 2641) among other things to specify more clearly the grounds on which interception could take place. We have no further plans to amend the Rules in this respect.

  Drug Referral Schemes
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to extend drug referral schemes to include referral for alcohol abuse; and if he will make a statement. [142609]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The drug arrest referral schemes, promoted and supported by the Home Department, with £20 million from the Crime Reduction Programme, encourage the referral worker to assess the needs of those who have been arrested. While the focus is on drugs, the assessment will identify alcohol and other issues with which the individual has problems. The arrestee is referred to appropriate services, including those which can respond to alcohol abuse where they exist.

  The Home Department is committing some £140 million over the next three years to help meet the treatment needs of drug misusers. This will include those referred through arrest referral schemes.

  Public Disorder
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many public disorder incidents and how many such incidents per 1,000 of population have been recorded since 31 March. [143009]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 15 December 2000]: Information for this year is not yet available but will be published in due course.

  Powers of Arrest
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers a constable in England and Wales has to arrest, without warrant, a person on the grounds that he is about to commit a criminal offence; and in respect of which criminal offences such powers exist. [143016]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Under section 24 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) a constable in England and Wales has the power to arrest, without warrant, a person whom he has reasonable grounds for suspecting to be about to commit an arrestable offence. Arrestable offences are defined in sub-sections 24 (1) and (2) of PACE. I am aware that there may be other offences outside the PACE definition which attract the relevant power and I will write to the hon. Member once that aspect has been researched.

  Pensioners Gatherings
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the policing of the recent Pensioners' Rally at Central Hall, Westminster, with particular reference to the(a) clothing worn by the police and (b) use of surveillance cameras. [143159]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I am advised by the Metropolitan police that the 'National Pensioners Convention' held on 7 November at Westminster Central Hall was policed by 14 officers wearing normal uniform. No surveillance cameras were used.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable of Sussex on the policing of the pensioners' meeting held at Hove on 24 September and subsequent march to the Labour Party Conference, with particular reference to(a) the clothing worn by the police and (b) the use of surveillance cameras. [143158]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Sussex Police are not aware of a pensioners' meeting and rally on 24 September. On that date, a meeting and march were held in Hove under the banner of the "Alternative Conference". As some people within this march were found to have items that could be used to cause injury, some officers were available fully equipped with public order equipment and protective clothing.

  On 25 September, some pensioners joined in the marches organised by the Countryside Alliance and the East and West Farmers and these demonstrations were policed by officers in protective order jackets and trousers but wearing ordinary headgear.

  Surveillance cameras were used during the party conference and facilitated the gathering of intelligence which may have later supported the investigation of offences.

  Political Parties (Regulation)
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans there are for the European Union to regulate(a) pan-European political parties and (b) national political parties; how the regulations will be justiciable; if it is the Government's policy that such regulation should be subject to qualified majority voting; and if he will make a statement. [141476]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  [holding answer 11 December 2000]: The InterGovernmental Conference (IGC) at Nice agreed that Article 191 of the Treaty establishing the European Community shall be amended so as to require the Council to lay down regulations governing political parties at European level, and in particular the rules regarding their funding. Such regulations will be subject to qualified majority voting under Article 251 of the Treaty. The IGC in addition, issued a declaration reaffirming that the provisions of Article 191 do not imply any transfer of competence to the European Community and do not affect the application of the relevant national constitutional rules. The declaration further stated that the funding for political parties at European level provided out of the Community budget may not be used to fund, either directly or indirectly, political parties at national level.
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  This Treaty amendment will ensure transparency in the status of, and funding arrangements for, federations of political parties operating at European level. In accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, the regulation of national political parties, including controls on their funding am expenditure, properly remains a matter for member states.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Prince of Brunei
  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what communications were made to(a) Magdalen College and (b) Oxford University by Government officials in relation to the application of the Prince of Brunei to Oxford University. [142518]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 15 December 2000]: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office received from the British Council an application from Brunei and forwarded it to Oxford University. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials were in touch by telephone with the University, and were informed that the application would be considered by Oxford as any other application.

  Universities
  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department's policy is on facilitating applications to British universities by foreign nationals. [142520]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 15 December 2000]: As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made clear in his speech at the London School of Economics on 18 June last year, we wish to encourage more students from overseas to study in he UK. The FCO, other Government Departments, devolved Administrations and the British Council have introduced a package of measures to this end. We are increasing the number of Chevening Scholarships available.

  We are working with the Home Office to ensure that bona fide students obtain visas with minimum delay and on first arrival are normally granted permission to stay in the UK for the whole duration of their course. With the help of the Home Office and DfEE, restrictions on international students taking work during their time in the UK have been eased. A new UK Education Brand has been created, and underpins a marketing campaign overseas. All decisions on applications and admissions to British universities are taken by the universities themselves.

  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications from overseas citizens to British universities his Department has forwarded in the last 12 months. [142988]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 15 December 2000]: On behalf of the FCO, the British Council and the Association of Commonwealth Universities forward or place approximately 1,850 applications per year to British Universities under the Chevening and Marshall Scholarship Programmes.
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  The FCO does not keep a central record of other applications it forwards direct to British Universities.

  British Council
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the offices closed by the British Council in the past year. [143291]

  Mr. Hain
  [holding answer 18 December 2000]: The British Council has closed the following offices since December 1999: Cali and Medellin in Colombia, Minsk in Belarus and Las Palmas in Spain.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff will be relocated as a result of the new strategy of the British Council. [143294]

  Mr. Hain
  [holding answer 18 December 2000]: Figures are not yet available. The British Council expects the new strategy to have some effect on the timings of the regular moves of the UK-appointed staff; locally appointed staff do not in general relocate.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the contribution to his Department's objectives made by the regional offices of the British Council in Germany. [143299]

  Mr. Hain
  [holding answer 18 December 2000]: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office considers that the regional offices of the British Council in Germany have made a useful contribution to its objectives over the years. However, we agree with the Council's assessment that infrastructure costs, running at some 80 per cent., are unacceptably high and that, given the potential of IT services, our mutual objectives would be furthered more effectively by redirecting funding into programmes for the Laender.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many in-country staff the British Council plans to make redundant as a result of its new strategy; [143292]

  (2) how many staff in each country the British Council plans to make redundant as a result of its new strategy; and what percentage this represents of total British Council staff. [143293]

  Mr. Hain
  [holding answer 18 December 2000]: Plans for staff changes as a result of the new strategy are not yet finalised. The British Council's decisions on redundancies will be taken year by year and country by country after discussion with locally appointed staff. Current planning assumptions are that 800 posts for locally appointed staff will be cut (equivalent to about 20 per cent. of locally appointed posts) though some of the staff involved may be transferred to new posts.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what sums in grant in aid will be allocated to each British Council operation in spoke countries for each of the next five years under its new strategy. [143290]

  Mr. Hain
  [holding answer 18 December 2000]: The figures requested, supplied by the British Council, are given in the table.
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  Grant in aid (real terms)

  £000

  Namibia

  Malawi

  Zambia

  2001–02

  117

  366

  374

  2002–03

  96

  310

  343

  2003–04

  96

  246

  290

  2004–05

  96

  213

  260

  2005–06

  73

  200

  250

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much the British Council plans to spend on redundancy payments for staff made redundant as a result of the new strategy. [143295]

  Mr. Hain
  [holding answer 18 December 2000]: Over the next five years, the British Council plans to spend a total of £18.6 million, equivalent to 1 per cent. of its expected turnover over the period, on staff restructuring in the United Kingdom and overseas. This amount incorporates all payments to staff whose posts may be affected by the new strategy, including redundancy, contributions to pension arrangements, career counselling and retraining.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what studies have been undertaken by(a) his Department and (b) the British Council to evaluate the effectiveness of information technology for cultural diplomacy; and what the findings of such studies were. [143300]

  Mr. Hain
  [holding answer 18 December 2000]: The British Council commissioned MORI to research attitudes towards the United Kingdom among young people overseas in 1999 and 2000. In 2000, the percentage of respondents saying they had been influenced by the internet was 21 per cent. as against 4 per cent. in 1999. These figures reflect the increased use made of the Council's own internet services, which now supply two million pages of information each month.

  Ad hoc research undertaken by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in a range of countries also confirms the popularity of the internet as a source of information. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, like the British Council, monitors the usage and feedback on its sites on an on-going basis.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the planned annual grant in aid allocation is under the new strategy for British Council country directorates in France, Germany and Italy for each of the next five years in real terms. [143298]

  Mr. Hain
  [holding answer 18 December 2000]: The figures requested, supplied by the British Council, are given in the table:

  Grant in aid (real terms)

  £000

  France

  Germany

  Italy

  2001–02

  1,711

  3,109

  2,392

  2002–03

  1,515

  2,646

  1,871

  2003–04

  1,379

  2,054

  1,584

  2004–05

  1,379

  2,054

  1,451

  2005–06

  1,379

  1,952

  1,389

  Europe Houses
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Europe Houses there are in the United Kingdom; and what is their purpose and their cost. [142968]

  Mr. Vaz
  [holding answer 18 December 2000]: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 24 January 2000, Official Report, column 34W. There are no Europe Houses in the United Kingdom.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Osborne House Convalescent Home
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he plans to legislate for the closure of Osborne House convalescent home. [141536]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 11 December 2000]: The Culture and Recreation Bill, which received its First Reading in the other place on 14 December 2000, includes a provision to end my obligation to use parts of Osborne House and grounds for the benefit of members of the armed forces and the civil service. In practice, this obligation has been met, until recently, through the provision of the King Edward VII Convalescent Home for Officers which closed on 31 October 2000. The exterior of the accommodation is currently being repaired and refurbished, which excludes an immediate alternative use.

  Athletics Events
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the United Kingdom's capacity to stage major athletics events. [141889]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 11 December 2000]: The United Kingdom has a number of venues capable of staging major athletics events. Our past success in hosting major events is one of the reasons why, in April this year, the International Amateur Athletics Association (IAAF) awarded the 2005 World Athletics Championships to London and the 2003 World Indoor Championships to Birmingham.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport who the Lottery Commissioners met on their visit to the USA; if he will instruct the Lottery Commissioners to request a Standard and Poor analysis of all of the respective partners of(a) Camelot and (b) The People's Lottery bids for the National Lottery. [142567]

  Kate Hoey
  I have asked the National Lottery Commission to write to my hon. Friend, setting out who the Commissioners met on their visit to the USA, and to place a copy of its letter in the Libraries of both Houses.

  The National Lottery Commission has carried out extensive checks on both applicants for the National Lottery licence. The Government will not direct the Commission to carry out specific checks: we believe that the Commission is best placed to determine what checks
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  are necessary, in line with its statutory duties to protect the interests of players, to ensure the Lottery is operated with all due propriety, and, subject to meeting those two criteria, to maximise the returns to good causes.

  Digital Terrestrial Television
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he will make a statement on his conclusions concerning his review of the statutory requirements for the provision of subtitling, signing and audio description services on digital terrestrial television. [142807]

  Janet Anderson
  "A New Future for Communications" (Cm 5010), published on 12 December, stated that the Government's aim was to extend and improve provision for subtitling, signing and audio description. We are considering the detailed responses to the consultation paper about these services, issued in July, and we expect to announce our full conclusions shortly.

  Leisure and Recreation Facilities
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to review the adequacy and availability of leisure and recreation facilities to young people in all areas of the United Kingdom. [142832]

  Kate Hoey
  Sport England assists local authorities in assessing the need for facilities via its Facilities Planning Model and its statutory role in the planning system in relation to disposals of playing fields. Discussions are continuing between my officials, Sport England and the Local Government Association on the most appropriate means of drawing together information on sports facilities.

  The provision of sport and recreation facilities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is a matter for the devolved Administrations.

  EU Declaration on Sport
  Ms Dari Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport for what reasons he requested that the scrutiny reserve be lifted on the EU Declaration on Sport. [143663]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  The European Scrutiny Committee have recommended that the Declaration on Sport be debated with the Helsinki Report on sport, and the Community Support Plan to combat doping in sport. It is planned that the debate be held in the new year. I believe that it was important for the Prime Minister to be able to agree the Declaration at the Nice European Council Meeting, particularly as it would have been viewed as a reversal of our position should the UK not have been in a position to support it. We have argued long and hard to secure the changes which meet the Government's objectives.

  The declaration fully acknowledges the prerogatives of sports organisations; it underlines that while commercial sport should be subject to EU regulations, those regulations must be applied in a way that recognises the special nature of sport; and it does not envisage any expansion of the role of the Commission in relation to

  133W
  sport. The declaration creates no new obligations for the UK and in essence reinforces the message of previous statements at Helsinki and Feira.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  BSE
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will identify the procedure for the retention and identification of carcases of bovines while post-mortem BSE tests are carried out in other EU countries. [141721]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 11 December 2000]: Post-mortem tests for BSE on bovine carcases aged more than thirty months and entering the food chain will be a Community requirement from January 2001.

  We are not yet aware of the details of the arrangements for retention and identification of carcases which the member states will introduce when they implement the Community requirement for testing.

  Live Calf Exports
  Mr. Prosser
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to persuade(a) the European Commission and (b) European Union member states to lift the BSE-related ban on the export of live calves from the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [142948]

  Ms Quin
  The proposed European Union Council Regulation on Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies, currently under discussion in Brussels, holds out the prospect of a return to live exports of bovine animals once BSE incident in the UK has reduced to a lower level. We believe this is the best route to achieving a return to live exports, but progress will take some time.

  Pig Industry
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will lay the statutory instrument to implement the proposed pig welfare levy; and when he expects the first payment to be made to producers affected by classical swine fever. [142891]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 18 December 2000]: The Government have already paid out over £3.7 million under the Pig Welfare (Disposal) Scheme to producers caught by movement controls brought in to prevent the spread of classical swine fever. As matters stand currently, over £8.5 million will be paid to producers under this scheme. The only vehicle available to introduce a producer levy to provide funding for an industry top-up to these Government payments is a development scheme under the 1967 Agriculture Act. The formal consultation period on a development scheme began on 24 November and will end on 23 January 2001. If, after examining any objections, the industry decides to ask Agriculture Ministers to proceed with a scheme, we would aim to lay the statutory instrument before this House very quickly after receiving the request.
  134W
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much will be available for payment in the Pig Farmers Outgoers Scheme in financial years(a) 2000–01, (b) 2001–02 and (c) 2002–03. [142892]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 18 December 2000]: While it may be possible for some payments under the Pig Industry Restructuring Scheme 2000—Outgoers to be made in the financial year 2000–01, we expect all payments to be completed in financial year 2001–02; at least £20 million will be available for this purpose.

  Fisheries Council
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Fisheries Council held in Brussels on 14 December. [143617]

  Mr. Morley
  I represented the United Kingdom at a meeting of the EU Fisheries Council in Brussels on 14–15 December, together with Rhona Brankin, Deputy Minister for Rural Affairs in the Scottish Executive, and Mrs. Brid Rodgers, the Northern Ireland Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development.

  The Council agreed by qualified majority, with Belgium and Greece voting against and Italy abstaining, on total allowable catches (TACS) and quotas to apply in 2001 EU Waters and for EU vessels fishing in waters where catch limitations apply. Details of the agreed TACs will be made available in the Libraries of the House.

  Following from the advice of fisheries scientists in the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), the Commission proposed severe cuts in many TACs, notably for cod and hake, reflecting the poor state of stocks and the need to hold fishing effort at a level which will assist the recovery of depleted stocks. In addition, the Commission proposed cuts of 20 per cent. for a large range of stocks which may be caught with cod and hake, including prawns (nephrops) and flat fish.

  I successfully argued that these cuts went beyond the science and would be excessive in their application. Taking measures to enable cod stocks to recover was a key priority, but this should be done by carefully targeted measures to reduce fishing effort, protect spawning and juvenile cod and improve the selectivity of fishing gear. I am pleased to report that such measures will be developed in close consultation with fishermen and scientists under the Cod Recovery Plan, which the Council agreed would be adopted early next year. There is also to be a corresponding Hake Recovery Plan.

  By acting to protect the cod and hake stocks through recovery plans, it was possible to secure smaller cuts than the Commission had proposed, while still respecting the scientific advice. This particularly applies to flat fish and nephrops. For these, the agreed cuts are now generally 10 per cent. or less. Also, it will be possible to increase nephrops and other TACs if it can be shown that the cod or hake bycatch in these fisheries is low. Improvements were also secured in megrim, haddock and monkfish TACs and the cut in hake TACs was reduced from 74 per cent. to 41 per cent. Our quotas were also improved because Hague Preference was applied on all those stocks

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  on which I judged that it was in our national interest to seek it. As a result of these changes the total UK quotas agreed were some 4,000 tonnes higher in cod equivalent tonnes than in the Commission's proposals. This means that the estimated loss of quota value to the industry in 2001 is reduced by £35 million to £72 million.

  There is an urgent need for action to protect stocks of deepwater species and the Commission had made proposals for the introduction of TACs and Quotas on nine such species. However, the impact of the proposals would have been of limited value because the stocks are fished by non-EU states whose activities would have been unaffected. Also, the scientific advice suggests that other management measures may be appropriate. Accordingly, the proposals were not adopted, but the Council committed itself to address the question of how protection for these vulnerable and over-exploited stocks could most effectively be improved in early 2001.

  The Commission also presented a communication on the possibility of setting TACs on a multi-annual rather than annual basis under precautionary management strategies. This approach will apply first to cod and hake. The Council agreed that the Commission will continue its work in this area.

  The Council reached agreement in principle on the funding of fisheries control activities and on the consolidation of technical measures for highly migratory species like tuna and swordfish. The Council adopted a decision provisionally applying from 1 January 2001, the recently negotiated Fourth Protocol to the EU-Greenland Agreement; Portugal abstained. The Commission reported that negotiations were continuing on a new EU-Morocco Fisheries Agreement, though with little progress so far.

  In bilateral discussions with Denmark I agreed that we would have joint discussions in early 2001 on the North Sea sandeel fishery. These will cover possible reductions in the size of the TAC and adjustments to the bycatch arrangements which would reduce the allowance for bycatches of fish for human consumption.

  The outcome of the Council represents a balance between the need to conserve fish stocks for the future and the avoidance of disproportionate cuts in fishing opportunities in 2001. I recognise that the fishing industry faces a difficult period in responding to the poor state of stocks and we will be having discussions with them early in the new year to evaluate the situation.

  Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the 1999–2000 Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee annual report will be published. [143682]

  Ms Quin
  The 1999–2000 SEAC annual report was published today, and will be available in the Libraries of the House. The report will also be released on the MAFF website www.maff.gov.uk.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Access to Information
  Mr. Cawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he intends to publish regulations on access to information under local authority executive constitutions. [143688]

  Ms Armstrong
  I have been asked to reply.

  I have today laid before the House the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2000. These regulations govern meetings of the executive under new local authority constitutions, recording of executive decisions and access to papers relating to executive decision making.

  The regulations introduce a rigorous new regime of accountability. For the first time, the public will have a right to more than three days' notice of key decisions which will affect the local community. For the first time, key officer decisions will be notified to the public in advance and be open to public scrutiny afterwards. In addition, the regulations are clear that where these key decisions are to be decided collectively by the executive or its committees, the public has a right to see those decisions being taken or discussed in advance with officers.

  I have also today published the revised chapter of the statutory guidance under Part II of the Act, which deals with access to information. This reinforces the intention of the regulations to ensure that there is a proper culture of transparency and accountability around executive decision making.

  Modular constitutions for local authorities are also published today. These are designed to assist local authorities who are drawing up proposals for new constitutions. Councils who follow the proposals in this document will be able to design a constitution which meets the aims of efficiency, transparency and accountability of decision making which underpin Part II of the Local Government Act.

  I am also publishing a direction under s37 of the Act today. This sets out what a council's new constitution must contain and a revised chapter of the guidance has been issued to accompany the direction.

  Copies of all these documents are available in the Library of the House.

  Employment Regulations
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those organisations that(a) have replied to his Department's consultation on the Employment Agency Regulations and (b) he has met to discuss the regulation of 'temp to perm' contracts and the regulation of employment agencies; and if he will place all responses to this consultation in the Library. [143173]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 18 December 2000]: I will write to the hon. Member listing the organisations and place a copy of that letter in the Libraries of the House. In the last 12 months I have met the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, Manpower, Adecco, Blue Arrow, Brook Street and Hewett Recruitment to discuss the regulations. Copies of

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  e-mailed or written representations received will be made available on request except where the correspondent has indicated they wish their representation to remain confidential.

  Arms Sales
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what procedures the ECGD follows in order to ensure that commission payments on arms sales covered by ECGD guarantees to United Kingdom companies are declared to it. [142808]

  Mr. Caborn
  When completing applications for ECGD cover exporters are obliged to declare any commission payments. In addition to existing procedures for identifying and controlling agents commissions, ECGD has recently introduced provisions in all its facilities aimed specifically at combating bribery. These provisions, among other things, enable insurance policies to be avoided in bribery situations and allow ECGD to seek to recover any loss it may suffer under its facilities following the conviction of either the exporter or the bank for corruption in connection with a contract or its financing.

  Miners
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much of the extra £100 million announced in October for miners suffering from chronic bronchitis and emphysema has been paid to former miners residing in(a) South Shields constituency, (b) the North East of England and (c) nationally. [142633]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 18 December 2000]: £100 million was an estimate of the offers that might be made once spirometry results had been reviewed.

  As at 13 December the Department had made in excess of 11,000 revised and new expedited offers totalling £54 million, further offers continue to be made. Of these, the value of payments made, following acceptance by the claimant, are as follows:

  (a) South Shields—£62,366;

  (b) North East—£1,053,659; and

  (c) Nationally—£9,548,233.

  Many thousands of new offers will be made before Christmas. However, payments will depend on how quickly claimants and their solicitors respond. Once an offer has been accepted, payment is usually made within 10 days.

  Petrol Prices
  Caroline Flint
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations his Department has received about anti-competitive pricing practices in the petrol supply sector. [143151]

  Dr. Howells
  My Department has received a number of representations from petrol retailers.

  The Director General of Fair Trading is responsible for monitoring markets. He completed a review of differential pricing within this market in November. He concluded that differential pricing has not resulted from anti-competitive behaviour by the major oil companies.

  Postal Services
  Dr. Stoate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has issued consultation documents in relation to implementation of the Postal Services Act 2000; and if he will make a statement. [143686]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  Under the Postal Services Act 2000, the Secretary of State has today published consultation documents on the definition of turnover for the purposes of financial penalties (section 30), free postal services for blind and partially sighted persons (section 41), and social and environmental guidelines (section 43). These consultation documents are available on the DTI website and hard copies are available from the Postal Services Directorate at the Department of Trade and Industry. Responses should be submitted by 31 January. Hard copies are also available in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.

  Royal Mail
  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from(a) individuals and (b) organisations on the Royal Mail services in London NW1. [142952]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 15 December 2000]: In the last six months, my Department has received representations about Royal Mail services in London NW1 from five individuals, one Member of Parliament and one business.

  Compensation (Industrial Injuries)
  Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if solicitors are entitled to take part of the compensation awards to claimants under the Vibration White Finger and the Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema litigation schemes. [142187]

  Mrs. Liddell
  This is a complex area. The Department's position is set out in a letter dated 26 July to hon. Members with direct coal mining interests, including my hon. Friend. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House for all hon. Members, and I am sending a copy of the letter to my hon. Friend. The Department believes that it is inappropriate for solicitors to take a proportion of a claimant's compensation.

HEALTH

  Child Asylum Seekers
  Ms Kelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children seeking asylum were placed in the care of local authorities in each of the last three years; and how many children seeking asylum are accommodated in care homes in(a) Britain, (b) each region and (c) Bolton. [142041]

  Mr. Hutton
  Figures on the number of unaccompanied children seeking asylum (UASC) who were placed in the care of local authorities are not available for the year 1997–98. Only those local authorities spending in excess of 5 per cent. of their children's personal social services standard spending assessment were eligible to claim grant in this period. Figures for weeks commencing 2 April
  139W
  1999 and 31 March 2000 are set out in the table. Comparable figures for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are not available.

  Claims for payment of the 1999–2000 UASC special grant were submitted by local authorities 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. The numbers of unaccompanied children for week commencing 31 March 2000 are estimated and subject to final audit and adjustment. Figures are only available for local authorities that submitted claims for the 1999–2000 special grant.

  In 1999–2000 there are no records of any unaccompanied children seeking asylum in Bolton and no claim for special grant was made by Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council for this period.

  Statistics showing the number of unaccompanied children seeking asylum accommodated in care homes are not held centrally.

  Local authority

  Total number of unaccompanied children at week commencing 2 April 1999

  Total estimated number of unaccompanied children at week commencing 31 March 2000

  Barking and Dagenham LB

  170

  166

  Barnet LB

  54

  48

  Bath and North East Somerset CC

  0

  1

  Bedfordshire CC

  1

  35

  Bexley LB

  24

  81

  Birmingham CC

  11

  40

  Brent LB

  117

  79

  Brighton and Hove

  0

  7

  Bristol CC

  4

  15

  Bromley LB

  33

  31

  Buckinghamshire CC

  2

  5

  Bury

  0

  2

  Camden LB

  94

  55

  Cheshire CC

  0

  1

  Cornwall

  0

  1

  Corporation of London

  0

  1

  Croydon LB

  134

  144

  Darlington BC

  0

  1

  Derby City C

  0

  1

  Dorset CC

  0

  1

  Dudley MB

  3

  2

  Ealing LB

  44

  112

  East Sussex CC

  1

  2

  Enfield LB

  15

  62

  Essex CC

  19

  25

  Gateshead MBC

  0

  1

  Gloucestershire CC

  3

  19

  Greenwich LB

  24

  68

  Hackney LB

  35

  55

  Hammersmith and Fulham LB

  123

  157

  Hampshire CC

  1

  6

  Haringey LB

  184

  353

  Harrow LB

  24

  49

  Havering LB

  3

  60

  Hertfordshire

  8

  65

  Hillingdon LB

  196

  412

  Hounslow LB

  14

  32

  Islington LB

  191

  398

  Kensington and Chelsea RB

  74

  113

  Kent CC

  112

  712

  Kirklees MBC

  2

  0

  Kingston upon Hull CC

  2

  2

  Kingston upon Thames RB

  7

  11

  Lambeth LB

  163

  176

  Lancashire CC

  1

  1

  Leeds CC

  1

  3

  Leicester CC

  6

  6

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  Local authority

  Total number of unaccompanied children at week commencing 2 April 1999

  Total estimated number of unaccompanied children at week commencing 31 March 2000

  Leicestershire CC

  1

  12

  Lewisham LB

  69

  118

  Lincolnshire CC

  7

  15

  Liverpool CC

  2

  10

  Medway CC

  3

  8

  Merton LB

  23

  47

  Milton Keynes MBC

  0

  2

  Newcastle Upon Tyne

  2

  5

  Newham LB

  16

  25

  Norfolk CC

  4

  7

  Northamptonshire CC

  3

  79

  North East Lincolnshire

  2

  13

  North Somerset CC

  0

  3

  Nottingham CC

  2

  10

  Nottinghamshire CC

  2

  6

  Oxfordshire CC

  20

  40

  Peterborough

  0

  2

  Portsmouth CC

  0

  2

  Redbridge LB

  20

  194

  Redcar and Cleveland CC

  2

  4

  Richmond Upon Thames

  73

  204

  Rutland CC

  0

  1

  Sandwell CC

  4

  4

  Sheffield CC

  5

  13

  Shropshire CC

  2

  0

  Slough Borough C

  2

  5

  Solihull CC

  0

  2

  Somerset CC

  0

  2

  South Gloucestershire

  1

  3

  Southampton CC

  0

  5

  Southend on Sea BC

  4

  14

  Southwark LB

  89

  198

  Staffordshire CC

  18

  15

  Suffolk CC

  1

  18

  Sunderland

  0

  1

  Surrey CC

  9

  14

  Sutton LB

  15

  58

  Swindon BC

  4

  16

  Thurrock CC

  11

  41

  Tower Hamlets LB

  8

  13

  Trafford MBC

  0

  1

  Wakefield MDC

  3

  13

  Walsall MBC

  0

  2

  Waltham Forest LB

  12

  32

  Wandsworth LB

  38

  33

  Warrington BC

  0

  3

  Warwickshire CC

  14

  20

  West Sussex CC

  39

  77

  Westminster CC

  167

  156

  Wiltshire CC

  0

  3

  Wolverhampton MBC

  0

  1

  Worcestershire CC

  0

  6

  Total

  2,597

  5,193

  Dentistry
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the annual cost of providing free dentistry for people aged 75 years and over. [142387]

  Mr. Hutton
  Providing free dental treatment for people aged 75 and over would result in an annual reduction in patient charge revenue of about £30 million within the General Dental Service, in England.

  The total cost of making the change would exceed the reduction in patient charge revenue, as some additional demand would be stimulated for dental treatment.

  Detained Patients (Deaths)
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to receive the report of the Mental Health Act Commission into deaths of detained patients. [142495]

  Mr. Hutton
  The report into deaths of detained patients will be published by the Mental Health Act Commission early in the new year.

  Restraint Procedures
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the dangers of prone restraint and the possibility of positional asphyxia. [142497]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Department is working with key organisations including the Royal College of Psychiatry and the Royal College of Nursing on a consultative document making recommendations in this area. The document will be published in the spring. In the meantime National Health Service trusts are expected to ensure safe systems of care in line with established good practice and provide adequate training on the recognition, prevention and management of aggression and how to assess and respond to respiratory distress.

  Deaths (Police Investigations)
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines he issues on the timescale of completion of expert medical reports in relation to deaths being investigated by the police and for coroner's inquests. [142496]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Department does not issue guidelines on these questions; they are matters for the police and coroners courts.

  Hospital Appointments
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he issues on best practice to encourage patients to keep their appointments with hospital consultants; and what steps NHS trusts take to ensure that patients attend such appointments. [142527]

  Mr. Denham
  The Department has issued three publications giving advice on reducing "do not attend" (DNA) rates.

  "Getting Patients Treated: The Waiting List Action Team Handbook" was published by the Waiting List Action Team in August 1999. This can be found at www.doh.gov.uk/wtactionteam.htm. It proposed the use of a "fail safe appointment system" to improve communication with patients before their appointment was due.

  "Variations in NHS Outpatient Performance" was published in November 1999. "A step by step guide to improving outpatient services" was published in July 2000. Both can be found at www.doh.gov.uk/pspp. These publications advised National Health Service trusts, health authorities and primary care groups/trusts to implement outpatient partial booking systems. These systems have been shown to reduce the number of DNAs. They enable patients and NHS trusts to agree a mutually convenient date and time for appointments. All NHS trusts have been asked to introduce partial booking systems in outpatient clinics with waiting times in excess of 13 weeks.
  142W
  NHS trusts are implementing this guidance. Individual NHS trusts also take additional steps, such as writing to remind patients of their appointments and providing patients with a central telephone number for changing or cancelling appointments.

  In addition, as part of the national booked admissions programme, every acute NHS trust will offer booked appointments to at least some patients by the end of March 2001. Development of the national booked admissions programme is being supported at individual project level by the National Patients Access Team.

  The NHS plan target is that by the end of 2005 all patients will be able to pre-book their appointments and hospital admission dates.

  Secure Accommodation
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many places in local authority secure accommodation have been(a) provided and (b) planned for since 1 May 1997. [142623]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 14 December 2000]: At 31 March 1997 there were 328 approved places in local authority secure accommodation in England. A further 113 approved places have since been provided. Of these 113 places, five were planned since 1 May 1997 and a further eight more places are due to become operational in the new year.

  Child Migrants (Zimbabwe)
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what representations he has received regarding former child migrants in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement; [142821]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the situation of former child migrants in Zimbabwe. [142820]

  Mr. Hutton
  We are not aware of any particular issues regarding former child migrants in Zimbabwe and have received no representations on this subject.

  Social Services Expenditure (Cambridgeshire)
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent per head of population by social services in Cambridgeshire in each year since 1990–91 at current prices. [142868]

  Mr. Hutton
  The gross amounts spent per head of population on social services in Cambridgeshire in each year from 1990–91 to 1999–2000, at 1999–2000 prices, are given in the table.

  Gross amount spent per head of population per year on social services in Cambridgeshire at 1999–2000 prices1

  Year

  £

  1990–91

  105.19

  1991–92

  109.01

  1992–93

  111.56

  1993–94

  122.71

  1994–95

  145.20

  1995–96

  150.59

  1996–97

  149.86

  1997–98

  157.42

  1998–99

  172.22

  143W

  Gross amount spent per head of population per year on social services in Cambridgeshire at 1999–2000 prices1

  Year

  £

  1998–992

  181.34

  1999–20001

  178.78

  1999–20001,2

  194.20

  Notes:

  1Source of population data is the Office of National zStatistics. Finance data is derived from revenue outturn figures supplied by local authorities on form RO3 (1999–2000 finance data is derived from the Key Statistics return made to the Department by local authorities and must be regarded as provisional until confirmed by revenue outturn figures).

  2Including Peterborough. Peterborough became a separate unitary local authority from April 1998. Therefore, the amounts shown for 1998–99 and 1999–2000 which include Peterborough are those directly comparable with the previous years.

  Primary Care Centres
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the one-stop primary care centres in rural areas will open; and where they will be located. [143262]

  Mr. Denham
  We are committed to developing 500 one stop primary care centres in England by 2004. As part of this development, over 100 primary care centres or mobile service units will provide better access to services for the majority of rural people. The final location of the centres/units will be determined by local service planning with national guidance and support.

  Relenza and Lysovir
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the costs to the NHS of(a) Relenza and (b) Lysovir are; and if he will make a statement. [142812]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 15 December 2000]: The latest available figures on the costs of National Health Service prescription items for Relenza and Lysovir dispensed in the community in England are shown in the table. Information is not available for prescriptions dispensed in National Health Service hospitals.

  The net ingredient cost of prescription items for Relenza and Lysovir dispensed in the community for the period January 2000 to June 2000, England

  £000

  Drug

  Net ingredient cost

  Relenza

  4.0

  Lysovir

  0.4

  Notes:

  1. The data are from the Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) systems and are based on a full analysis of all prescriptions dispensed in the community, i.e. by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors, and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered in England. Total prescriptions include not only prescriptions originating from general practices in England but also from nurses, hospital doctors and dentists provided they were dispensed in the community. Also included are prescriptions written in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man but dispensed in England. The data do not cover drugs dispensed in hospitals or private prescriptions.

  2. The net ingredient cost (NIC) is the basic cost of a drug and does not take account of discounts, dispensing costs, fees or prescription charges income.

  Patient Advocate and Liaison Service
  Mr. Laxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what will be the cost under the National Health Service Plan of establishing the Patient Advocate and Liaison Service structure; [143131]

  (2) what the additional cost, over the costs for Community Health Councils, will be of establishing the Patient Advocate and Liaison Service structure. [143269]

  Ms Stuart
  An additional £10 million has been included in the NHS plan to fund patient advocate and liaison services and the related forums.

  Community Health Councils
  Mr. Laxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the change in the funding of community health councils from 1997 to 2000. [143128]

  Ms Stuart
  The information requested is as follows:

  £ million

  1997–98

  21.659

  1998–99

  22.55

  1999–2000

  22.561

  2000–01

  23.324

  Mr. Laxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the consultation period on the future of community health councils(a) commenced and (b) will end. [143130]

  Ms Stuart
  Chapter 10 of the NHS plan proposed that community health councils be abolished and new structures set in place to increase patient and citizen empowerment across all sectors of the health service. Following the launch of the NHS plan in July a public undertaking was given to involve national and local stakeholder groups in developing the detail of the new structures. A series of seminars through November and December have been held. These seminars focused on the various elements of the new arrangements and involved key representative groups. A clear statement of the outcome of the exercise will be given in the new year.

  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on his proposals to abolish community health councils. [143386]

  Ms Stuart
  Chapter 10 of the NHS plan proposed that community health councils be abolished and that new structures set in place to increase patient and citizen empowerment across all sectors of the health service. A number of representations have been received about the future of CHCs and the new structures.

  A series of national and regional seminars focusing on the various elements of the new arrangements and involving key national and local representative groups have been held in November and December. A clear statement of the outcome of the exercise will be given early in the new year.

  Autism
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will detail the services and provision made available by his Department in England to those diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder. [142846]
  145W
  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 18 December 2000]: It is the responsibility of local statutory authorities to determine the pattern of services in their area in the light of their knowledge of local needs and priorities.

  The Department has issued guidance to encourage the development, at a local level, of a range of well co-ordinated health and social services for people with learning disabilities and autism and their carers.

  Meat Inspection Charges
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of state for Health what assessment he has made of the effect on abattoir numbers of increased meat inspection charges scheduled for introduction in April 2001. [143178]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 18 December 2000]: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that it has not made any official assessment of the impact on abattoir numbers of any increase in overall inspection charges arising from the planned introduction of full veterinary inspection supervision in full throughout abattoirs from April 2001. However, the Meat Inspection Charges Task Force, which reported to the FSA in June this year, concluded that this, in conjunction with the existing meat inspection charging arrangements, would lead to the
  serious decimation of the small and medium sized abattoir and cutting plant sector.
  The Task Force also considered that in some cases this would result in
  a near doubling of inspection charges for certain individual plants, particularly those in the small and medium sized sector, removing a substantial proportion of their profit and threatening many businesses.

  Against that background, on 28 November, we announced in the Rural White Paper that it would be providing £8.7 million in additional new aid in 2001–02 to offset meat inspection costs in order to secure the future of small and medium abattoirs.

  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish his response to the report of the meat inspection charges task force. [143177]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 18 December 2000]: Our response to the report of the Meat Inspection Charges Task Force was made on 28 November when, in the context of the publication of the Rural White Paper, it announced new additional aid worth £8.7 million in 2001–02 to offset meat inspection costs in order to secure the future of small and medium sized abattoirs.

  I am advised that, as a consequence, the Food Standards Agency will consult early in the new year on the secondary legislation necessary and on how it proposes to implement with effect from April 2001 the Task Force's main recommendation to change the basis of the meat inspection charges system.

  Special Hospitals
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women patients are awaiting transfer from special hospitals. [142636]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 18 December 2000]: There are currently 20 women patients awaiting transfer from the special hospitals. These are patients for whom
  146W
  potential receiving clinicians have agreed that transfer is appropriate and in respect of whom my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has, where necessary, consented to transfer.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in developing a national strategy for women in need of secure hospital accommodation; and if he will make a statement. [142637]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 18 December 2000]: Work is under way on the development of a strategy aimed at providing safe, appropriate and secure services that meet the needs of women patients. The strategy should be completed by October 2001 at the latest.

  Abattoirs
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact on the future of small and medium sized abattoirs of(a) the resources announced in the Rural White Paper and (b) the proposals of the Maclean Committee. [142889]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 18 December 2000]: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that the Meat Inspection Charges Task Force (the Maclean Committee) concluded that the Government should provide some degree of financial support in order to prevent the closure of large numbers of small and medium sized abattoirs and cutting plants. It therefore recommended that the current method of charging for meat inspections on an hourly rate basis should be changed and that, instead, all abattoirs and cutting plants should be charged the lower of either the standard (headage/throughput) fees laid down in the EU Charges Directive or their actual inspection costs (subject to the minimum charge of 45 per cent. of the standard headage/throughput charges, as required by the Directive).

  We have accepted this recommendation. The additional aid announced on 28 November in the context of the publication of the Rural White Paper (£8.7 million in 2001–02) together with the existing subsidy on meat inspection charges (£9 million in 2001–02) will help to fund implementation of the new method of charging. Any shortfall in the funding will be met from within Food Standards Agency resources.

  The Task Force considered that acceptance of this recommendation by the Government would ensure that Meat Hygiene Service inspection charges were not the main reason for plants going out of business, which appeared to the Task Force to be the case under the existing charging system. However, the Task Force also considered that implementing its recommendation would not in itself keep uncompetitive meat plants in existence.

  Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme
  Mrs. Gilroy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to publish the Fourth report to Parliament on the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme. [143751]

  Ms Stuart
  The Fourth Report to Parliament on the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS) was published today. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  The PPRS: Fourth Report to Parliament covers both the conclusion of the 1993 scheme and the operation of the first year of the new scheme from October 1999. It provides an insight into the running of the PPRS; reports

  147W
  on the Government's broad objectives for the 1999 scheme; and describes the principal features of the new scheme, including the benefits for the National Health Service and the British pharmaceutical industry.

  Mid-Essex Hospital Service NHS Trust
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the most recent figures for the number of people waiting for in patient treatment in the Mid-Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust Area. [143110]

  Mr. Denham
  In October 2000, there were 9,375 patients waiting for inpatient treatment at Mid-Essex Hospital Services National Health Service Trust.

  Source:

  Monthly waiting list returns

  Overseas Nurses
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide a support package to help overseas nurses taking up positions in the NHS; and if he will estimate the cost(a) in total and (b) per overseas nurse of such a package. [143575]

  Mr. Denham
  The National Health Service Executive issued guidance on international recruitment to the service in November last year. The guidance gives NHS employers clear and authoritative policy on the pursuit of international recruitment, including the provision of support for new recruits. Copies are available in the Library.

  NHS Continuing Care
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans his Department has to ensure that health authorities whose eligibility criteria for NHS continuing care fail to meet the requirements of Health Service Circular HSC 1999/180 (or as amended) act to comply with these requirements; [143358]

  (2) if he will list by region the dates at which health authorities whose eligibility criteria for NHS continuing care had failed to meet the requirements set out in Health Service Circular HSC 1999/180 (or as amended) acted to comply with these requirements; [143360]

  (3) if he will list by region those health authorities whose eligibility criteria for NHS continuing care fail to meet the requirements set out in Health Service Circular HSC 1999/180 (or as amended); [143361]

  (4) if he will list by region, the health authorities whose eligibility criteria for NHS continuing care failed to meet the requirements set out in HSC 1999/180. [143364]

  Mr. Hutton
  Health authorities were instructed to satisfy themselves that their eligibility criteria were in line with the Court of Appeal judgment in the case of R.v. North and East Devon Health authority ex parte Coughlan and other guidance, taking legal advice as necessary. Where health authorities revised their criteria, they were requested to consider what action needed to be taken to reassess service users against the revised criteria. The regional office of the National Health Service Executive contacted health authorities to confirm they had taken this action.
  148W
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Regional Authority of the NHS Executive last discussed the compliance of the eligibility criteria of the Southampton and South West Hampshire Health Authority for NHS continuing care with the requirements of Health Service Circular HSC 1999/180 (or as amended); and if he will make a statement. [143359]

  Mr. Hutton
  The South East Regional Office of the National Health Service Executive is in regular contact with Southampton and South West Hampshire health authority about NHS continuing care. The health authority assessed their eligibility criteria in light of the Coughlan judgment and was satisfied these were in keeping with the advice in the circular issued following the judgment. The health authority and social services are working together to deliver effective continuing care services.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when Health Service Circular HSC 1999/180 was last updated; and what changes have been made to it since 11 August 1999. [143362]

  Mr. Hutton
  This circular has not been updated or changed since 11 August 1999.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when health authorities were last contacted by the Regional Officer of the NHS Executive to confirm that they had taken action as required by Health Service Circular HSC 1999/180 (as amended). [143363]

  Mr. Hutton
  This activity is part of the regular performance management of health authorities by the eight regional offices of the National Health Service Executive.

  Locum Allowance
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide the analysis of general medical service non-cash limited expenditure for locum allowance in England 1999–2000. [143182]

  Mr. Denham
  The general medical services non-cash limited expenditure for directly reimbursed locum allowances for 1999–2000 for England is shown in the table.

  For 2001–02 we have accepted the Doctors and Dentists Review Body's recommendation, which means the maximum weekly directly reimbursed locum allowance should increase by 67 per cent.

  General medical services non-discretionary expenditure for locum costs for 1999–2000

  £

  Locum allowance

  England total

  Single handed rural Gps attending training courses

  831,539

  Sickness

  4,057,199

  Confinement

  2,737,848

  Prolonged study leave (including educational allowance)

  1,845,548

  Note:

  The data provided in this table are provisional tin-audited accounts data for 1999–2000

  Nurses
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses have(a) joined and (b) left the nursing profession in the NHS in each of the last 10 years. [143565]

  NHS hospital and community health service nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff by qualification (excluding agency staff and project 2000 students) in England as at 30 September each year

  Whole-time equivalents

  Numbers (headcount)

  Total staff

  Qualified

  GMS practice nurses

  Total staff

  Qualified

  GMS practice nurses

  1990

  250,000

  242,340

  7,740

  298,970

  285,360

  13,610

  1991

  252,030

  243,250

  8,780

  309,780

  293,770

  16,010

  1992

  255,690

  246,570

  9,120

  313,980

  297,350

  16,640

  1993

  251,450

  241,850

  9,600

  310,900

  293,380

  17,520

  1994

  247,880

  238,780

  9,100

  305,780

  289,280

  16,500

  1995

  256,560

  246,820

  9,740

  316,890

  298,650

  18,240

  1996

  257,890

  248,070

  9,820

  319,150

  301,250

  17,900

  1997

  256,090

  246,010

  10,080

  318,860

  300,470

  18,390

  1998

  257,600

  247,240

  10,360

  323,450

  304,560

  18,890

  1999

  261,340

  250,650

  10,690

  329,390

  310,140

  19,250

  Notes:

  1. 1990–94: based on payscale estimates.

  2. 1995–99: based on new occupation codes.

  3. A new classification of the non-medical workforce was introduced in 1995.

  4. Information based on this classification is not directly comparable with earlier years.

  5. All figures are rounded to the nearest ten.

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

  7. Figures exclude learners and agency staff.

  8. GMS Practice nurse data as at 1 October each year.

  Sources:

  Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census

  General Medical Practitioners Census

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Family Friendly Policies
  Caroline Flint
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what support he plans to give to improve family friendly policies and facilities in the House. [141612]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  Much has already been done. The recent changes to sitting hours will help those hon. Members who are also parents.

  I understand that the Administration Committee is considering ways of helping hon. Members with their child care responsibilities.

  Nursery Provision
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what plans he has to make provision for an on-site nursery in the Palace of Westminster. [141615]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  None at present. Evidence to the Commission suggests that staff for whom it is responsible are very satisfied with the existing childcare voucher scheme.

  Security
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what plans he has to review the security arrangements in the Palace of Westminster. [141618]
  150W
  Mr. Denham
  The Department does not collect data on the number of nurses leaving the NHS. The table gives net changes in the number of nurses employed in the NHS over the last 10 years.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  It has been the long-standing practice not to comment on matters of security within the Palace of Westminster. I can assure the hon. Member that security matters are regularly reviewed.

  Portcullis House
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, when he expects to place in the Library a copy of the report by Sir Thomas Legg on Portcullis House. [141609]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  The Commission has no plans to place the report of Sir Thomas Legg in the Library since it dealt with matters of commercial and personnel confidentiality.

  House of Commons Commission
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will place in the Library a detailed account of the Commission's approach to the defence case pursued in the Harmon v. House of Commons Corporate Officer case. [142133]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  [holding answer 13 December 2000]Throughout the case of Harmon v. The House of Commons Corporate Officer, the Commission has defended the House's position vigorously, guided in its decision taking by high level legal advice. When it became clear that even if finally successful the House would recover nothing in the damages action because of Harmon' s insolvency, and in the face of mounting legal costs, the Commission settled out of court as I indicated in my reply to the hon. Member for Broxbourne (Mrs. Roe) on 2 November 2000, Official Report, column 575W.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  People's Peerage
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Council if the applications from those seeking a people's peerage will be lodged in the Library. [141613]

  Mr. Tipping
  No. The Appointments Commission made it clear in its material that it would treat all nominations and supporting information in confidence.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. David Heath
  To ask the President of the Council what guidance is given to Ministers on transferring questions tabled to them which lie(a) wholly and (b) partly within their area of responsibility. [141614]

  Mrs. Beckett
  No central guidance is issued as such, beyond that in 'Erskine May', questions fall to the Minister who is primarily responsible. Departmental parliamentary branches are expected to take account of the list of ministerial responsibilities issued by the Cabinet Office and rulings from the Chair, such as that given by the Chairman of Ways and Means on 18 July.

  Parliamentary Year
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the President of the Council if she will make a statement on her plans for earlier public announcements of forward planning of the parliamentary year. [141616]

  Mrs. Beckett
  I am happy to have been able to give the House early notification of the Christmas Adjournment and the February half-term break. I hope to continue such early announcements.

  Electronic Voting
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the President of the Council if she will make a statement on her proposals for electronic voting in the House. [141617]

  Mrs. Beckett
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) and the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 19 December 2000,Official Report, column 201.

SCOTLAND

  Voting Rights
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the President of the Council on changes to the rights of Scottish hon. Members to vote on purely English legislation. [141567]

  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the President of the Council on the rights of Scottish hon. Members to vote on purely English legislation. [141579]

  Mr. Wilson
  None. The Government do not support the suggestion that there should be different classes of MP in Parliament with different voting rights.

  Country Sports
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received on the pursuit of country sports in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [141568]

  Mr. Wilson
  None. This subject is devolved and is a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

  Fishing Industry
  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of the fishing industry; and what matters were discussed. [141569]

  Dr. Reid
  I met representatives of the Scottish fishing industry on 24 June 1999 to hear their concerns about the Scottish Adjacent Waters Boundaries Order 1999.

  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive's fisheries Minister on the future of the Scottish sea fishing industry. [141582]

  Dr. Reid
  I meet Ministers of the Scottish Executive on a regular basis to discuss a wide range of matters of importance to Scotland.

  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the procedures for representing the interests of the Scottish fishing industry in discussions within the EU. [141562]

  Dr. Reid
  Relations with the European Union are the responsibility of the UK Government and the UK Parliament. The procedures for representing the interests of the devolved Administrations in relation to devolved matters, such as fisheries, are set out in the join Memorandum of Understanding and the relevant Concordats on Co-ordination of European Union Policy Issues. Scottish Executive Ministers attend Fisheries Councils as part of the UK team.

  Military Bases
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the gross financial benefit for the Scottish economy of having UK armed forces based in Scotland. [141570]

  Dr. Reid
  On the basis of the most recent figures available, defence expenditure in Scotland is estimated at approximately £1.8 billion and supports, directly and indirectly, approximately 60,000 jobs. Clearly, defence expenditure is both substantial and important to the Scottish economy.

  Job Action Teams
  Mr. Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of job action team pilots in Scotland. [141571]

  Mr. Wilson
  Early indications are that action teams are proving a success in helping unemployed people back to work. By finding local solutions to local problems action teams in East Ayrshire, West Dunbartonshire, Glasgow and the Highlands and Islands have helped an additional 222 long-term unemployed people find work.

  Dounreay
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the progress of discussions on the Dounreay site restoration plan. [141572]

  Dr. Reid
  The Nuclear Industries Inspectorate, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry are continuing their assessment of the UK Atomic Energy Authority's Site Restoration Plan for Dounreay, which was published on 9 October.

  Fuel Prices
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the impact of the current level of fuel prices on the economy of the highlands and islands. [141573]

  Mr. Wilson
  The Government view the economic impact of fuel prices within the context of their pursuit of fiscal and economic policies, which are leading to economic stability and steady growth.

  The measures announced by the Chancellor in his pre-Budget Report to raise the limit for the lower rate of Vehicle Excise Duty for cars up to 1500cc will benefit over 40,000 motorists in the Highlands and Islands. Hauliers will benefit from the reform of the Vehicle Excise Duty and farmers will benefit from the freeze in duty on red diesel and the abolition of Vehicle Excise Duty on tractors and other agricultural vehicles.

  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the impact of the current level of fuel prices on the Scottish economy. [141581]

  Mr. Wilson
  The Government view the economic impact of fuel prices within the context of their pursuit of fiscal and economic policies, which are leading to economic stability and steady growth.

  The measures announced by the Chancellor in his pre-Budget Report to raise the limit for the lower rate of Vehicle Excise Duty for cars of up to 1500cc will benefit over 750,000 Scottish motorists, over 40 per cent. of the total. All Scottish motorists will benefit from the freeze in duties on road fuels in Budget 2001 and from the cuts in duty for ultra low-sulphur petrol and diesel.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding fuel prices in Scotland. [141583]

  Mr. Wilson
  My right hon. Friend has regular discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on a wide range of issues affecting Scotland.

  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor and I agree that the price of fuel is only one factor in any consideration of motoring costs. Independent research commissioned by my Department has shown that the taxation costs of private motoring are lower in Scotland than in European countries such as the Netherlands, Finland, Ireland and even Portugal. The average Scottish driver pays £1,000 a year less than in Denmark.

  Al (Dualling)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the Transport Minister of the Scottish Executive on the dualling of the A1. [141574]

  Mr. Wilson
  I have regular discussions with the Minister on a wide range of transport issues. I understand that the Scottish Executive also have frequent contact with the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in order to discuss issues of common interest, including improvements to the A1.

  Trade Unions
  Mr. Tynan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of Scottish trade unions; and what matters were discussed. [141575]

  Dr. Reid
  I meet representatives of Scottish trade unions regularly to discuss a wide range of matters of importance to the Scottish economy.

  New Deal
  Mrs. Irene Adams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many employers in Scotland have signed up to the new deal. [141576]

  Dr. Reid
  Employers have made an important contribution to the success of the new deal in Scotland, which has helped 29,200 young people into work since April 1998. As at November 2000, 12,530 employers in Scotland had signed up to the new deal.

  Winter Fuel Payment
  Miss Begg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received about this year's winter fuel payment to pensioners in Scotland. [141577]

  Mr. Wilson
  The amount of the winter fuel payment has been increased to £200 for households that qualify—double the amount that was paid last winter. This is excellent news for the majority of people aged 60 and over in Scotland. Latest information shows that around 1 million people in Scotland will benefit from payments totalling almost £150 million, including over £2.2 million in Aberdeen, South constituency.

  Mr. Savidge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Scottish pensioners will benefit this year from the increased winter fuel payment. [141580]

  Mr. Wilson
  Around 1 million people in Scotland aged 60 or more will benefit from the increased winter fuel payment this winter. Latest information shows that almost £150 million will be paid out in Scotland, including over £1.7 million in the Aberdeen, North constituency. This is part of our work to help Scottish pensioners. Other areas are the minimum income guarantee, free TV licences for pensioners aged 75 or over, and the increase in the state pension.

  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received about the winter fuel payment for households in Scotland. [141584]

  Mr. Wilson
  The winter fuel payment has been increased to £200 for households that qualify—double what was paid last winter. This is excellent news for the
  155W
  majority of people in Scotland aged 60 or over. Latest information shows that payments totalling almost £150 million will be made to over 700,000 households in Scotland, including over £2.2 million in Dundee, West constituency. All automatic payments have already been issued and should be received before Christmas—as should payments in respect of claims determined before 9 November.

  Rural Post Offices
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the future of rural post offices in Scotland. [141578]

  Mr. Wilson
  This Government recognise that post offices form a vital part of the rural community, and are fully committed to maintaining the existing size and shape of the rural network. We have asked the Post Office to ensure that it prevents any avoidable closures of rural post offices. This obligation will be written into the social and environmental guidelines under the Postal Services Act 2000. Where necessary, there will be funds available to back it up.

  Rural Economy
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the First Minister about the future of the rural economy in Scotland. [141585]

  Dr. Reid
  I have regular discussions with the First Minister on a wide range of issues.

  The Government are committed to the sustainable development of the rural economy and rural communities. Overall development of the rural economy in Scotland is a matter for the Scottish Executive. However, recent announcements made by the Chancellor in the Pre-Budget Report to abolish Vehicle Excise Duty for tractors, extension of reduced VED for cars under 1500 cc and hauliers, and proposed reductions in duty on low sulphur diesel and petrol will help to address the issue of high transport costs in rural areas. This Government also recognise that post offices form a vital part of the rural community, and are fully committed to maintaining the existing size and shape of the rural network.

  McDermott Employees (Pension Plan)
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from former McDermott employees at the Ardiersier oil fabrication yard on the winding up of their pension plan. [141586]

  Dr. Reid
  I refer my hon. Friend to my written answer of 18 December 2000,Official Report, column 39W.

ADVOCATE-GENERAL

  Human Rights Convention
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Advocate-General in how many cases her advice has been sought on the implementation of the Human Rights convention; and if she will make a statement. [141589]
  156W
  The Advocate-General for Scotland
  I am frequently asked for, and give advice on, matters relating to the application in the UK of the European Convention on Human Rights.

  Human Rights Act 1998
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Advocate-General what discussions she has had with the Home Secretary about the impact of the Human Rights Act 1998 on Scottish law. [141590]

  The Advocate-General for Scotland
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Buckingham, (Mr. Bercow) on 19 December 2000,Official Report, column 195.

CABINET OFFICE

  Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will list the members of the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission and the names of the environment organisations to which they belong. [143122]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  A full list of the members of the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission and a copy of the register of interests has been placed in the Library of the House. Members are appointed on a personal basis and not as representatives of environmental or other organisations.

  Ministerial Correspondence
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what her assessment is of the progress of ministers in replying to letters from hon. Members more promptly. [141611]

  Mr. Stringer
  The prompt and efficient handling of Members' correspondence is an issue to which I and ministerial colleagues attach the greatest importance. I know that Departments are working hard to improve their response times, and I hope that the forthcoming annual report on Departments handling of Members correspondence (which is due to be presented to Parliament in the Spring) will show that real progress has been made.

  Official Publications
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will list each new publication issued by her Department since 1997 and the total cost to the Department of each publication. [141474]

  Mr. Stringer
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided on 1 November 1999,Official Report, column 51W. A list of official publications issued by the Cabinet Office since May 1997 was placed in the Library. This list will be updated in the new year with information for 2000–01. I will write to the hon. Member with this information when it has been provided.
  157W
  Spending plans for Cabinet Office management units in 2001–02 are currently being discussed and are not available in the format requested.

  Official Correspondence
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what her policy is on authorising ministers and officials to reply to letters from(a) privy councillors, (b) hon. Members and (c) members of the House of Lords; what distinction she makes between members of the opposition and Government supporters; and which categories of correspondents the Prime Minister replies to himself. [142980]

  Mr. Stringer
  There are long-established conventions governing the handling of correspondence from Privy Councillors and Members of both Houses. These are set out in various guidance documents issued by the Cabinet Office. The most recent guidance document, "Handing Correspondence from Members of Parliament: Guidance for Departments", was published in July 2000. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

TREASURY

  Prostate Cancer
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many men died from prostate cancer in each health authority in the last year for which figures are available. [142837]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 15 December 2000]The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Len Cook to Dr. Ashok Kumar, dated 19 December 2000:
  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question on deaths from prostate cancer in each health authority in the last year for which figures are available.
  The information requested is provided in the attached table.

  Number of deaths from Prostate cancer1 by Health Authority, men, England and Wales, 1999

  Health Authority

  Number of deaths

  Avon

  174

  Barking and Havering

  63

  Barnet

  40

  Barnsley

  36

  Bedfordshire

  74

  Berkshire

  114

  Bexley and Greenwich

  54

  Birmingham

  135

  Bradford

  67

  Brent and Harrow

  47

  Bromley

  51

  Buckinghamshire

  123

  Bury and Rochdale

  66

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  90

  Cambridgeshire

  103

  Camden and Islington

  33

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  112

  County Durham

  99

  Coventry

  46

  Croydon

  54

  Doncaster

  48

  Dorset

  167

  Dudley

  60

  158W

  Number of deaths from Prostate cancer1 by Health Authority, men, England and Wales, 1999

  Health Authority

  Number of deaths

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  65

  East and North Hertfordshire

  59

  East Kent

  142

  East Lancashire

  88

  East London and The City

  72

  East Riding

  106

  East Surrey

  67

  East Sussex, Brighton and Hove

  163

  Enfield and Haringey

  68

  Gateshead and South Tyneside

  47

  Gloucestershire

  91

  Herefordshire

  46

  Hillingdon

  38

  Isle of Wight

  28

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  50

  Kingston and Richmond

  44

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  77

  Leeds

  105

  Leicestershire

  143

  Lincolnshire

  124

  Liverpool

  53

  Manchester

  49

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  92

  Morecambe Bay

  64

  Newcastle and North Tyneside

  62

  Norfolk

  173

  North and East Devon

  134

  North and Mid Hampshire

  91

  North Cheshire

  41

  North Cumbria

  59

  North Derbyshire

  65

  North Essex

  180

  North Nottinghamshire

  71

  North Staffordshire

  68

  North West Lancashire

  93

  North Yorkshire

  131

  Northamptonshire

  98

  Northumberland

  42

  Nottingham

  104

  Oxfordshire

  86

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  89

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  62

  Rotherham

  41

  Salford and Trafford

  77

  Sandwell

  47

  Sefton

  64

  Shefield

  73

  Shropshire

  82

  Solihull

  29

  Somerset

  94

  South and West Devon

  118

  South Cheshire

  106

  South Derbyshire

  64

  South Essex

  107

  South Humber

  60

  South Lancashire

  43

  South Staffordshire

  82

  Southampton and South West Hampshire

  99

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  42

  Stockport

  39

  Suffolk

  135

  Sunderland

  38

  Tees

  87

  Wakefield

  38

  Walsall

  55

  Warwickshire

  84

  West Hertfordshire

  82

  West Kent

  160

  West Pennine

  66

  West Surrey

  118

  West Sussex

  187

  Wigan and Bolton

  62

  Wiltshire

  104

  Wirral

  42

  Wolverhampton

  38

  Worcestershire

  99

  England

  8,048

  159W

  Number of deaths from Prostate cancer1 by Health Authority, men, England and Wales, 1999

  Health Authority

  Number of deaths

  Bro Taf

  113

  Gwent

  69

  Dyfed Powys

  90

  North Wales

  112

  Morgannwg

  85

  Wales

  479

  1 Prostate cancer deaths are classificated according to the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Edition and are selected using ICD9 code 185

  Company Cars
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will assess the benefits of charging the benefit in kind taxation paid by an employee in receipt of a company-provided car on the cost of purchasing the car by the employer; [142740]

  (2) for what reason the benefit-in-kind taxation paid by an employee in receipt of a company-provided car is calculated on the retail price of the car; and if he will make a statement. [143566]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 14 December 2000]The company car tax charge is based on the car's list price at first registration as this is easily obtainable and is the fairest figure on which to base the charge. Introduced from April 1994, this was the preferred option of the majority of those who responded to the 1992 consultation on the reform of company car taxation. It ensures that employees driving identical cars of the same age pay the same tax. List price will therefore continue to be used when the company car tax system is reformed from April 2002.

  Basing the tax charge on the cost to the employer of providing the company car would create inequities between employees driving identical cars. However, in recent weeks most car manufacturers have reduced their list prices. This means company car drivers will accordingly pay less tax as their cars are replaced.

  Scotch Whisky Industry
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of energy used by the Scotch whisky industry he estimates will be exempt from the climate change levy. [143455]

  Mr. Timms
  In common with other sectors, the proportion of energy used by the Scottish whisky industry which is exempt from the climate change levy will depend upon the extent to which the sector chooses to make use of renewable energy or combined heat and power.

  Greenhouse Gas Emissions
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the total reduction in greenhouse gas emissions as a result of agreements concluded with(a) business sectors and (b) individual firms in connection with the introduction of the climate change levy. [143456]
  160W
  Mr. Timms
  Table 6.2 of the November 2000 pre-Budget Report provides estimates of the environmental impact of the elements of the climate change levy package.

  Euro
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost for 2000–01 of the network of regional forums to help firms prepare for the euro. [142466]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 12 December 2000]Regional Euro Forums budgets are published in the Government's Expenditure Plans for the Department of Trade and Industry.

  Climate Change Levy
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many enterprises in the United Kingdom horticulture industry have benefited from capital allowances in respect of thermal screens for glasshouses as a result of the extension of the list of investments qualifying for capital allowances following the introduction of the climate change levy; and what is the value of the allowances made. [142622]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 14 December 2000]None. As announced in Spending Review 2000, energy efficiency funding from the climate change levy will be administered by a business-led, not-for-profit, limited company, the Carbon Trust, which is currently being set up through the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of(a) the number of businesses which will engage in self-certification for the purpose of claiming relief from the climate change levy and (b) the compliance costs for the businesses concerned. [143454]

  Mr. Timms
  The number of businesses taking part in self-certification is not expected to exceed 30,000.

  Compliance costs will vary from company to company depending on the complexity of their activities and the extent to which the climate change levy relief can be claimed.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his most recent estimate of the cost of the climate change levy expressed in terms of cost per tonne of carbon emissions saved. [142421]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 12 December 2000]The climate change levy package will be revenue neutral for the private sector. Estimated emissions savings are shown in Table 6.2 of the pre-Budget report 2000.

  Official Publications
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [141469]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 11 December 2000]HM Treasury's Public Enquiry Unit maintains the 'HM Treasury—Publications in Print', which is a list of
  161W
  the Department's publications and also gives the dates of publication. It is extensive and includes publications produced before 1997. I am today placing copies of this document in the Library of the House.

  Non-departmental Public Bodies
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what directions overriding a note of dissent by an accounting officer have been given by the boards of non-departmental public bodies within his Department's remit since May 1997; and if he will place details of such directions in the Library. [143542]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  There were no such directions in respect of Treasury non-departmental public bodies.

  Official Meetings
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the organisations which he met in his official capacity during November, indicating the number of occasions on which he met each organisation. [142538]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer had a number of meetings with representatives from a range of organisations.

  Equitable Life
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the performance of the FSA in regulating the insurance sector, with particular reference to Equitable Life. [143169]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 18 December 2000]The Government have noted the statements from the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and Equitable Life on 8 December that Equitable Life would close to new business with immediate effect. We welcome the fact that the FSA and the Society are working closely together to protect the interests of policyholders.

  The FSA intends to prepare a report on the events leading to the closure of Equitable Life to new business. The report will cover both the FSA's role as prudential regulator and its exercise of its functions under the Financial Services Act 1986. The report is likely to take some months to complete and will be published.

  Office of Government Commerce
  Mrs. Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the review of the Office of Government Commerce, including the quinquennial reviews of the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency and Property Advisers to the Civil Estate, has been completed; and if he will make a statement. [143687]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The review of OGC which I announced on 12 July 2000,Official Report, column 595W, which also encompassed the quinquennial reviews of CCTA and PACE due by the end of this year, has now been completed, and its recommendations have been agreed by Ministers after endorsement by the OGC's Supervisory Board.

  The objective of the review was to recommend an organisational structure which would best align the resources of OGC and its three executive agencies—
  162W
  CCTA, PACE and The Buying Agency (TBA)—to deliver successfully its vision and strategies. It involved an extensive consultation with Departments and other customers, as well as with suppliers and other stakeholders including staff and trade unions. The review proposes a more cohesive organisation, with a greater focus and capability for working with Departments to achieve substantial value for money improvements in the Government's procurement budget.

  From 1 April 2001, OGC will incorporate PACE and a number of CCTA functions, to provide a more unified organisation, working to a common purpose. In addition, there will be a single trading fund, and executive agency of OGC, based on TBA together with the catalogue and managed services activities in CCTA. This will mean ending the executive agency status of CCTA and PACE, and incorporating some CCTA functions within TBA. To reflect this, subject to the laying of the necessary resolutions before this House, TBA's name will be changed to "OGC buying.solutions" from 1 April 2001.

  The result will be a more efficient and effective organisation which, while building on current strengths, will add and support new capabilities to meet Ministers' and Departments' requirements. It will also have the flexibility to respond to new requirements. This more unified organisation will improve OGC's ability to lead and support the procurement community.

  TBA's financial year, which currently runs from 1 January until 31 December, is being brought into line with OGC. For this year only, TBA will operate an extended 15 month accounting period ending on 31 March 2001. Thereafter, they will operate on an April to March financial year. The Agency's financial target has been extended to cover the 15 month period, and it will be expected to achieve a return on capital employed at an annual rate of 8 per cent. over the full 15 month period.

  I have arranged for copies of the review to be placed in the Library of the House, and the review is also available on the OGC website www.ogc.gov.uk.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Trial by Jury
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the change in the work load of(a) magistrates and (b) judges as a result of the proposal to restrict trial by jury. [141595]

  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the effect on the administration of the court system of restricting trial by jury. [141596]

  Mr. Lock
  The proposal to restrict trial by jury will increase the magistrates' current work load of nearly 2 million criminal proceedings a year by about 14,000. The work load of the Crown court will consequently decrease significantly, even if account is taken of a number of appeals on mode of trial and an increase in appeals against conviction from defendants previously electing for trial in the Crown court.

  Enforcement Procedures Review
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations he has received regarding the report on the first phases of the Enforcement Procedures Review. [141597]

  Mr. Lock
  I have had representations from the debt advice sector and some Members regarding charging orders. The proposal was, of course, subject to public consultation, but now some new points have been raised. Following these representations, I will be looking at this proposal in more detail and will be consulting further before any changes come into effect.

  Commonhold
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department for what reason his Department's proposals for the introduction of commonhold do not make commonhold the default tenure for all new-build apartments. [141598]

  Mr. Lock
  Commonhold will be a new way of owning property in England and Wales. We believe it would be irresponsible to force buyers into commonhold before the new market has had a chance to develop and prove itself.

  Access to Justice
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on access to justice in Worcestershire. [141599]

  Mr. Lock
  The Lord Chancellor's aim is to provide a fair, swift and effective system of justice. There are five magistrates' courts in Worcestershire, four county courts and one Crown court.

  The Department is currently supporting Private Finance Initiative schemes to provide new magistrates courts at Worcester and Kidderminster and to refurbish the courthouse at Redditch.

  At Worcester combined court £1.1 million has been spent over the last four years, the majority of this expenditure on roof repairs.

  The Community Legal Service Partnership has been formed in Worcestershire and there are now 104 firms of solicitors and advice agencies in the latest Community Legal Service Directory.

  Proscribed Drugs
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what guidance she has issued on sentencing policy for those dealing with intent in proscribed drugs. [141600]

  Jane Kennedy
  I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave him on 25 July 2000,Official Report, column 538W.

  Sentencing is a matter for the courts. Parliament lays down the parameters within which sentencers must work. It is then for the courts to decide on the sentence in the light of the facts of the case and after taking into consideration the circumstances of the offence and the offender. The Government cannot issue guidance to sentencers as it is a fundamental principle that the Executive does not interfere with judicial discretion.

  Magistrates Courts
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations she has received about her proposals to change the funding regime for magistrates courts. [141601]

  Jane Kennedy
  In response to the consultation document outlining proposed changes, the Lord Chancellor's Department received responses from 39 Magistrates courts committees (of the 42 Committees which will exist from 1 April 2001) and from 21 of the local paying authorities. Comments were also received from the magistrates courts representative bodies and Local Government Association.

  Judges' Lodgings
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if she will make a statement on the cost and usage of judges' lodgings. [141603]

  Jane Kennedy
  As my hon. Friend is aware, an internal review of judges lodgings is currently taking place which encompasses both cost and usage. It will:

  1. review the current location of lodgings, bearing in mind their degree of use and the maximum acceptable travelling times to the Court Centres they serve;

  2. compare the value for money provided by lodgings (including past and future capital, running, incidental and opportunity costs) with alternative forms of accommodation providing appropriate standards of security, privacy and comfort (including necessary provision for out-of-court work);

  3. make recommendations concerning the most cost-effective means of managing and staffing lodgings.

  The Lord Chancellor has already begun consultation with the Judiciary on the review. When he makes his decisions, which will be as soon as possible, he will publish them along with the review.

  Magistrates Court Closure (Lewes)
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what criteria she will apply in deciding an appeal against closure of the magistrates court in Lewes. [141604]

  Jane Kennedy
  My only role is in deciding appeals. There are no set criteria. Every appeal is dealt with on its merits and much depends on the grounds of the particular appeal lodged.

  Common themes to many appeals are: accessibility for all court users; the facilities available, costs of necessary renovations to bring the court up to standard. The provision of courtrooms and work load, extra travelling distances, additional costs and overall efficiency.

  Departmental Advertising
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list for(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99, (d) 1999–2000 and (e) 2000–01, (i) his Department's total spending on advertising campaigns, (ii) the cost of each individual advertising campaign and (iii) the criteria that were established to gauge the effectiveness of each campaign; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of each campaign based on these criteria. [142720]
  165W
  Mr. Lock
  There have been two advertising campaigns since 1996 and a third is planned for January 2001.

  In 1998–99, total spending was £333,253 on a national campaign to develop awareness of the magistracy. Effectiveness was gauged by the number of requests for further information about the magistracy: 15,000 people responded. (This figure cannot be related directly to eventual recruiting of magistrates which is on a regional basis and is also supported by ad hoc locally arranged advertising and publicity.)

  In 2000–01, the total cost of advertising campaigns and associated publicity will be £4.2 million.

  A total of £3.45 million will be spent on a rolling campaign of regional and local advertising and other publicity work including door-drop leaflets to raise awareness of the Community Legal Service (CLS) in those areas where CLS Partnerships have been formed.
  166W
  The campaign began when the CLS was launched on 3 April 2000 and is continuing. Effectiveness is gauged by public awareness of the CLS. Market research linked with the campaign indicated that by mid-September 2000 general public awareness had reached 23 per cent. A further £0.5 million is committed to national newspaper advertising for the CLS in February 2001.

  In January and February 2001, a national newspaper advertising campaign is planned to raise awareness of mediation services in connection with family disputes. This is also linked with the CLS. The cost will be £0.25 million. The effectiveness of the campaign and evaluation of its results will be gauged by the number of requests which result for new information leaflets on family mediation.

  All figures include VAT, Central Office of Information fees and all associated research, production and distribution charges.

  EU: Duty Free and Quota Free Access
  EU: Duty Free and Quota Free Access
  EU: "Everything But Arms" and Sugar Regime Proposals
  EU: "Everything But Arms" and Sugar Regime Proposals
  Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands: Judicial Corporal Punishment
  Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands: Judicial Corporal Punishment
  Bermuda: Abolition of Capital Punishment for Murder
  Bermuda: Abolition of Capital Punishment for Murder
  Overseas Territories: Abolition of Capital Punishment for Treason and Piracy
  Overseas Territories: Abolition of Capital Punishment for Treason and Piracy
  NymIP Project
  NymIP Project
  Complaints against the Police
  Complaints against the Police
  Sexual Offences (Amendment) and Criminal Justice and Court Services Acts
  Sexual Offences (Amendment) and Criminal Justice and Court Services Acts
  Road Traffic Offences: Penalties
  Road Traffic Offences: Penalties
  Government Departments: Software
  Government Departments: Software
  Personal Incomes: Top Rate of Direct Tax
  Personal Incomes: Top Rate of Direct Tax
  Task Forces, ad hoc Advisory Groups and Reviews
  Task Forces, ad hoc Advisory Groups and Reviews
  Defence Spending in Europe
  Defence Spending in Europe
  EU Defence Force: United States Reaction
  EU Defence Force: United States Reaction
  Coal-miners: Compensation Claims
  Coal-miners: Compensation Claims
  Portsmouth Hospitals: Delayed Operations
  Portsmouth Hospitals: Delayed Operations
  Passive Smoking: Departmental Policies
  Passive Smoking: Departmental Policies
  Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme
  Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme
  Special Areas of Conservation
  Special Areas of Conservation
  Local Authorities: Executive Arrangements
  Local Authorities: Executive Arrangements
  Light Rail Operators: By-laws
  Light Rail Operators: By-laws
  SEAC Annual Report
  SEAC Annual Report
  Millennium City Status Competition
  Millennium City Status Competition
  House of Lords: Public Gallery
  House of Lords: Public Gallery
  Cabinet Committees
  Cabinet Committees