Written Answers of 3 February 2000

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Senior Salaries Review Body
  Mr. Geraint Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the report and recommendations of the Review Body on Senior Salaries on the Greater London Authority. [107864]

  Mr. Prescott
  The Review Body on Senior Salaries report on the initial pay, expenses, pensions and severance arrangements for the Mayor of London and members of the London Assembly is published today. Copies are available in the Libraries of the House. The Prime Minister and I are grateful to the Chairman and Members of the Review Body for their work.

  The main recommendations of the Review Body with regard to pay are:

  Salary

  £

  Mayor

  84,385

  Deputy Mayor

  51,743

  Assembly member

  34,438

  The Review Body recommended that pay levels should be uprated annually beginning on 1 April 2000 by the same percentage as the average of the movements in the mid-points of the nine senior civil service pay bands below permanent secretary and that an independent review of pay levels should take place in 2002 and then at intervals of three years.

  The Review Body also recommended that a Mayor of London, Deputy Mayor or an Assembly member who is also an MP, an MEP or a salaried Office-Holder in the House of Lords should receive an abated salary in respect of his or her GLA role equal to one third of the relevant GLA salary; the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Assembly members' pension arrangements should be provided through the Local Government Pension Scheme; and that severance payments should be made only to the Deputy Mayor, and only if he or she loses that role other than at an election. The Review Body also expressed the view that members of the Authority should receive travel and subsistence payments similar to those available to staff of the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

  The Government have decided to accept the Review Body's recommendations on pay, expenses, pensions and severance arrangements in full. We recognise that it has been extremely difficult to evaluate the weight of responsibilities for unique positions which do not yet exist. In particular, the Review Body concluded that there was currently insufficient evidence about additional
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  responsibilities of the Chair of the Assembly and of membership of a functional body to reach a view on whether there should be additional remuneration for these roles.

  The Government acknowledge the uncertainties, and have therefore decided to invite the Review Body to carry out an early review of remuneration and pensions. This review would begin nine months after the new Authority became fully operational. It would therefore progress on a basis of fact and experience rather than on the inevitable current basis of anticipation of roles and responsibilities. The statutory guidance on ethical standards, issued under section 66 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999, will require the Authority to have due regard to the SSRB's recommendations in deciding future salaries.

  Game Managers and Pigeon Fanciers
  Ms Ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he is taking to address the concerns of game managers and pigeon fanciers with respect to predation of game birds and racing pigeons by birds of prey; and if he will make a statement. [108604]

  Mr. Mullin
  The issues arising from the recovery of some bird of prey populations and their impact on game bird and moorland management and on racing pigeons have been addressed by the UK Raptor Working Group.

  This group, jointly chaired by my Department and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, and comprising experts from the fields of bird conservation, game management and pigeon racing, has funded significant research and considered information from a wide range of sources including leading authorities and relevant specialists. The group has now agreed a package of recommendations and submitted its final report to UK Ministers. Copies are available in the House Libraries.

  I welcome the publication of these recommendations and hope they will help provide an integrated solution to the problems presented by birds of prey to game bird managers and pigeon fanciers. Implementation of these recommendations will of course be a matter for the devolved administrations and I will be asking English Nature for advice with respect to implementation in England.

  Water Industry Act 1999
  Mr. Burgon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about the use of his powers under the Water Industry Act 1999. [108816]

  Mr. Meacher
  We have today published "Water Industry Act 1999: Delivering the Government's Objectives", which will be available in the Library of the House, or from the Department's website (www.environment.detr.gov.uk).
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  This document is the final part of a series of publications associated with the Water Industry Act 1999. It comprises:
  guidance to the Director General of Water Services on matters he is required to take into account when approving water company's annual charges schemes
  Regulations, protecting vulnerable groups, and prescribing conditions where metering is permitted, which were laid on 22 December.
  responses to consultation on both the guidance and the regulations, and regulatory appraisals for each set of regulations.

  The proposals in this document deliver the Government's key water charging objectives: fair and affordable water charges—particularly for vulnerable customers—and the sustainable use of water supplies and protection of the aquatic environment.

  The guidance sets out the Government's approach to key water charging issues. It encourages water companies to develop charging systems that are fair and affordable, and take account of environmental considerations. Customers should expect stable and predictable bills, and charges should be transparent and closely related to services provided.

  The Water Industry (Charges) (Vulnerable Groups) Regulations 1999 offer new, additional protection to customers who might face hardship affording their bills because they use large amounts of water for essential purposes and pay on a measured basis. Customers will qualify for assistance if they are in receipt of income related benefits or tax credits (Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Working Families Tax Credit, Disabled Person's Tax Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit) and either

  (a) they have three dependent children under the age of 16; or

  (b) they have a medical condition requiring significant extra water use (these are defined as kidney failure requiring home dialysis, abdominal stomas, desquamation, weeping skin disease and incontinence).

  Customers in these circumstances will be entitled to pay the average charge for the company that supplies them, rather than their actual measured charge. This represents a significant new step to tackle water poverty.

  The Water Industry Act 1999 restricts water companies' powers to impose meters on customers. However, the Government accept that metering may be acceptable in some circumstances, such as when a customer is using a large volume of water for discretionary purposes. The Water Industry (Prescribed Conditions) Regulations 1999 therefore set out conditions when companies will continue to be permitted to require customers to have water meters. These include circumstances such as automatic garden watering, automatic replenishment of a large pond or swimming pool, very large baths, high consumption showers and certain types of water softening unit. These Regulations also give the Secretary of State power to permit metering in designated areas of water scarcity. No such areas are designated at present. Any application for designation would need to be considered by the Secretary of State, consulting the Director General of Water Services, the Environment Agency and bodies representing customers in the relevant area.

  Trunk Roads
  Mr. Leslie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many schemes in the targeted programme of trunk road improvements will start in 2000–01. [108704]

  Mr. Hill
  A start will be made in 2000–01 on 13 of the 37 schemes in the targeted programme of improvements announced in "A New Deal for Trunk Roads in England"—six more than previously planned. The acceleration of six schemes by bringing their starts forward from 2001–02 reflects our commitment to modernising the country's transport system. All the schemes in the targeted programme were assessed using the New Approach to Appraisal against our criteria of safety, environmental impact, economy, accessibility and integration.

  The full list of starts now planned for 2000–01 is as follows:

  A1: Willowburn-Denwick Improvement, Northumberland

  A6: Great Glen Bypass, Leicestershire

  A6: Clapham Bypass, Bedfordshire1

  A11: Roudham Heath-Attleborough, Dualling, Norfolk1

  A27: Polegate Bypass, East Sussex

  A41: Aston Clinton Bypass, Buckinghamshire

  A43: Whitfield Turn, Brackley Hatch Improvement, Northants

  A43: Silverstone Bypass, Northants

  A43: M40-B4031 Dualling, Oxon/Northants1

  A66: Stainburn and Great Clifton Bypass, Cumbria1

  A500: Basford, Hough, Shavington Bypass, Cheshire1

  A650: Bingley Relief Road, Bradford1

  A1033: Hedon Road Improvement, Hull.

  1 Start previously planned for 2001–02.

  In addition to these 13 schemes work is planned to start later this year on the privately financed Birmingham Northern Relief Road and we are at the final stages of letting the design, build finance and operate contract for improvements to the A13 in East London. Work will also start soon on widening the M2 between the A2 at Cobham and junction 4 at Rochester.

  Greater London Authority
  Mr. Fitzpatrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made with the secondary legislation setting out detailed arrangements for the Greater London Authority elections. [108703]

  Mr. Hill
  I intend to lay a number of orders and the elections rules to give effect to the following decisions.

  Early voting

  I shall shortly be laying the necessary secondary legislation to allow voters who wish to vote in person, but cannot do so on 4 May, to vote early. The order will provide for voting in one or two locations in each borough on 27, 28 and 29 April 2000, between 7 am and 9 pm daily. The precise locations of early voting polling stations will be publicised locally and voters will complete ballot papers in the normal way. This will be a new option, and is in addition to postal and proxy voting, which will also be available.
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  Elections rules

  Consultation on the detailed elections rules is now complete and these will be laid shortly. As well as providing for all aspects of the running of the elections these will provide for the hours of polling to be between 7 am and 9 pm. They will also provide for the following levels of deposits and signatures for candidates.

  Each Mayoral candidate will be required to gather 330 signatures—ten from each London borough and the City of London—in support of his or her candidacy. They will also be required to pay a deposit of £10,000, which would be forfeited if a candidate fails to obtain 5 per cent. of the vote.

  Assembly candidates will not be required to collect signatures in support of their candidacies. In respect of deposits, there will be different arrangements for the different categories of candidate. Parties with a list of candidates, and independent candidates contesting London-wide list seats, will be required to pay a deposit of £5,000, which will be forfeited if they fail to obtain 2.5 per cent. of the vote.

  Candidates contesting Assembly constituencies will pay a deposit of £1,000 which will be forfeited if they fail to obtain 5 per cent. of the vote.

  Election expenses

  Following consultation on the proposed limits for candidates' and third parties' election expenditure, I will lay a draft order shortly setting out the following maximum spending limits for the GLA elections:

  £420,000 per mayoral candidate;

  £35,000 per candidate contesting an assembly constituency;

  £330,000 per party or independent candidate contesting the London-wide list.

  £25,000 per third party supporting or opposing mayoral candidates;

  £25,000 per third party supporting or opposing London-wide list candidates, including independent candidates; and

  £1,800 per third party supporting or opposing assembly constituency candidates.

  These limits will enable candidates and parties to fight effective campaigns, at either the London-wide or the constituency level.

  Some political parties have expressed concern that candidates in GLA elections, in common with local elections generally, are not entitled to a free mailshot. We believe that a free London-wide mailing would be particularly vulnerable to abuse by unscrupulous candidates seeking to gain advertising at the tax payers expense for the cost of a deposit. Following the consultation exercise we have lowered the proposed limits to provide a more level playing field for less well resourced parties and independent candidates, and will allow parties with both a Mayoral candidate and a London-wide list to pay for a single election mailshot to every London household should they wish to.

  The order is subject to affirmative resolution in each House of Parliament. If approved, the limits will come into force on the day after the day on which the order is made. Candidates' limits will cover any expenditure as defined in section 76 of the Representation of the People Act 1983.
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  Disqualification

  An order will be laid in draft before each House of Parliament specifying the offices and appointments, the holders of which will be disqualified from being elected or being the Mayor or an Assembly member. This order supplements the disqualification arrangements already contained in section 21 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 and other legislation.

  We intend the GLA to be an inclusive authority, which works in partnership with other organisations on London's behalf. We are therefore keeping to a minimum those offices and appointments which a person will not be able to combine with membership of the GLA. The order will specify only those offices which are required to be or seen to be politically impartial; are with a body which will scrutinise the GLA or one of the functional bodies; or are with a body which may exercise a quasi-judicial role over the GLA or a functional body. I have today placed in the Library of the House a list of offices and appointments which will be designated in the order. Conflicts with public offices, whether of interest or of time pressures, will also be covered in the statutory guidance on ethical standards to which the Authority will be required to have regard. I intend to publish this guidance shortly.

  Staff Bonuses
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much his Department, its agencies and associated public bodies spent in total on extra bonuses above usual payments for staff working over the New Year period; what were the(a) maximum and (b) minimum bonuses paid; how many people received the (i) maximum and (ii) minimum payments; and if he will make a statement. [104666]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The total spent in DETR(Central), its agencies and associated bodies is not yet known as some payments have still to be processed. The figures in the table are provisional and are based on the additional costs incurred above the usual overtime and on call payments over the New Year period (31 December to 3 January):

  £

  DETR(Central)

  3,513.35

  MCA

  429.45

  HSE

  15,727.00

  Total

  19,669.80

  About half of this relates to on call payments for staff on standby at home. Those staff who attended worked, in general, in emergency planning rooms, IT divisions, Press Office, Private Office and building maintenance and security divisions.

  In addition to this, in DETR(C) some special bonuses will be paid to staff who made a particular contribution at this time. As at 31 January, four payments have been made totalling £1,400. The following agencies did not have any staff working over the New Year period: the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, the Rent Service, and the Vehicle Certification Agency.
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  The information in respect of the following agencies could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost: the Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency, the Planning Inspectorate, Government Office, the Vehicle Inspectorate and the Highways Agency.

  Bathing Water
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what measurements have been taken of discharges of materials harmful to bathing water quality from the River Ribble into the Irish sea over the last(a) 12 months, (b) 24 months and (c) 36 months; [106365]

  (2) at what points along the River Ribble water quality has been tested; and what the results of these tests have been, for (a) the last 12 months, (b) the last 24 months and (c) the last 36 months. [106362]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 24 January 2000]: Water quality has been extensively tested at many points and at various times along the River Ribble and elsewhere as part of the comprehensive programme of studies into problems with compliance with the EC Bathing Water Directive along the Fylde coast. The main purpose of the programme has been to determine the inputs of faecal contamination to the area, and their patterns of dispersion and impacts on bathing waters, in order to establish the need for further improvements to the sewerage infrastructure. Measurements have also been taken to develop a water quality model of the River Ribble and its estuary. I will arrange for the Environment Agency, North West Region to send my hon. Friend a copy of their report on these issues.

  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent measures the European Union authorities have requested to ensure compliance with mandatory EU bathing water standards along the Fylde coast. [106367]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 24 January 2000]: The EC Commission has not requested any measures additional to those under way by the Environment Agency and North West Water.

  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the reasons for the failure of North West Water's recent bathing water improvement schemes to raise the level of compliance with mandatory EU standards along the Fylde coast. [106364]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 24 January 2000]: Recently completed investment schemes have improved water quality in the Ribble Estuary, although these have not yet brought compliance with the EC Bathing Water Directive along the Fylde coast. The Environment Agency considers that further improvements are required to treatment and storm water management at Wigan/Skelmersdale and to stormwater management at Southport and combined sewer overflows in Preston to ensure compliance at Southport and Lytham with the EC Bathing Water Directive. The Agency is currently investigating the possibility that compliance problems in the Blackpool area are caused by contaminated groundwater from beneath the town.
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  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions have taken place with businesses in the North West about monitoring discharges into(a) the River Ribble and (b) the Irish sea. [106361]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 24 January 2000]: The Environment Agency has monitored each of the significant discharges in the area thought to impact on bathing water quality along the Fylde coast. The main focus of discussion has been on steps to reduce sewage discharges operated by North West Water but the Agency has been in contact with other dischargers where it appears that they may be implicated in the problems of compliance with the EC Bathing Water Directive.

  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assurances he has received from North West Water and the Environment Agency that the latest investment programme to improve bathing water quality along the Fylde coast will result in compliance with EU directive standards. [106368]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 24 January 2000]: The completed improvement schemes and further planned improvements are considered necessary to ensure compliance with the EC Bathing Water Directive along the Fylde coast. Whether these works will be sufficient to ensure compliance or whether additional measures will be required will be clearer as the results of current investigations into the causes of failure become available and are assessed.

  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent assessment he has made of the possible contribution of animal and avian waste to bathing water quality along the Fylde coast. [106363]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 24 January 2000]: The Environment Agency's current assessment is that animal and avian waste is unlikely to make a significant contribution to the overall bacterial load, in terms of compliance with the EC Bathing Water Directive. However, the Agency is undertaking further studies to refine this assessment.

  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent measures have been required of North West Water to ensure compliance with mandatory EU bathing water standards along the Fylde coast. [106366]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 24 January 2000]: Recent measures required of North West Water and completed in 1999 were the provision of ultra-violet disinfection in Southport, Hesketh Bank, Preesall and Preston sewage treatment works; a substantial increase in the stormwater storage associated with the Fylde tunnel; improved stormwater arrangements at Fairhaven/Lytham, Hesketh Bank, Harrowside and Preston works; and closure of the works at Hambledon with transfer of flows to Fleetwood.

  Further works required as soon as possible include treatment enhancement and stormwater management at Southport and combined sewage overflows in Preston. All these measures are considered necessary to ensure bathing water compliance in the area.
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  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions his Department has had with the relevant EU authorities about water quality and beach pollution in the last 12 months. [106360]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 24 January 2000]: My Department has regular and frequent contact with the EC Commission to discuss bathing water quality including progress on improving compliance along the Fylde coast with the EC Bathing Water Directive.

  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent assessment has been made of the possible impact on bathing water quality along the Fylde coast of(a) agricultural runoff and (b) discharges by businesses other than North West Water into the River Ribble. [106355]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 24 January 2000]: The Environment Agency estimate that the contamination load of agricultural runoff and other non-water company discharges into the River Ribble is small, in terms of compliance with the EC Bathing Water Directive, compared to discharges by North West Water. But to determine whether contamination from animals can be significant in some circumstances, studies are being undertaken to discover the geographical origin of animal faeces, including the forensic examination of washed-up material to determine the diet of the producer animal; and bacterial "fingerprinting" to determine whether there are any types characteristic of particular animal species.

  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures of bathing water quality have been taken at(a) Blackpool, (b) Fleetwood and (c) Thornton Cleveleys in (i) the last 12 months, (ii) the last 24 months and (iii) the last 36 months. [106358]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 24 January 2000]: All bathing waters are measured 20 times between May and September each year against the quality requirements of the EC Bathing Water Directive. Results for the bathing waters at Blackpool, Fleetwood and Cleveleys over the past three years are as follows:

  Number of samples passing the mandatory coliform bacteria standards (19 or more is a pass)

  1997

  1998

  1999

  Blackpool South

  11

  15

  16

  Blackpool Central

  16

  14

  15

  Blackpool North

  18

  18

  16

  Fleetwood

  16

  20

  20

  Cleveleys

  18

  20

  19

  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what initial assessment he has made of the impact on bathing water quality on the Fylde coast of the treatment plant at Fleetwood. [106359]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 24 January 2000]: The plant at Fleetwood, which treats sewage which was previously discharged untreated at several points close to the Fylde coast, was a necessary first stage of the bathing water quality improvement programme. Water quality
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  monitoring studies by the Environment Agency show that the treated discharges from Fleetwood into the Lune Deeps have a negligible adverse impact on Fylde coast bathing waters.

  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent discussions his Department has had with North West Water and the Environment Agency on enforcement of bathing water quality by the European Commission. [106356]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 24 January 2000]: The Department has regular and frequent contact with North West Water and the Environment Agency on measures to ensure bathing waters in the area achieve the required EU standards.

  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the results are of the QSR for the Irish sea. [106357]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 24 January 2000]: The Quality Status Report for the Celtic Seas (which covers the Irish Sea) is being prepared by the OSPAR Commission for the protection of the marine environment of the North East Atlantic. The Commission plans to publish it in June, along with the other four regional Quality Status Reports (on the Arctic, the North Sea and English Channel, the Bay of Biscay and the deep Atlantic) and the holistic Quality Status Report on the North East Atlantic as a whole.

  Construction Industry
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many deaths were recorded in the United Kingdom construction industry in the last 12 months. [107291]

  Mr. Meacher
  The table shows the provisional figures for fatalities in the construction industry for 1998–99. Final figures, which should be available in May 2000, may be slightly higher because fatalities include deaths up to a year after the date of an accident.

  HSE is working with the construction industry, trade unions, clients and other stakeholders to reduce the toll of accidents and ill-health through a wide range of initiatives, in particular the "Working Well Together" Campaign.

  Fatalities in construction as reported to HSE and Local Authorities, 1998–99 1

  Number

  Employees2

  48

  Self-employed

  18

  Members of the public

  4

  Total

  70

  1 Provisional

  2Including trainees

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the effect of Government policies on the long-term performance and profitability of the construction industry since May 1997; and if he will make a statement. [107847]
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  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Steadier growth in the economy and the introduction of expenditure plans that cover a full three years will free the construction industry from the damaging stop-go cycle that has so constrained its performance in the past. It will also provide a more secure base for innovation and improved profitability in the future. The Government are also encouraging the industry to radically improve its performance through implementing the recommendations of the Construction Task Force as set out in "Rethinking Construction".

  It is too soon to assess what impact these initiatives are having on the long term performance and profitability of the industry. However, as a part of our drive to encourage radical change, we published last April the first set of standard, industry wide, key performance indicators (KPIs). If, as we intend, these are widely adopted by the industry they will provide an effective means of measuring progress in future.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what gross construction output as a proportion of gross domestic product was during 1998–99; and what the average was for European Union member states. [107849]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  In England in 1996 (the latest year available for England), gross construction output was about 8 per cent. of gross domestic product. Comparable figures for the EU as a whole show that construction made up about 12 per cent. of gross domestic product in that year.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what has been the annual growth of the construction industry in each of the last 10 years. [107850]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Annual growth of the construction industry in England in each of the last 10 years has been as follows:

  Percentage

  1988

  21.5

  1989

  17.5

  1990

  5.0

  1991

  -8.6

  1992

  -9.3

  1993

  -2.1

  1994

  7.3

  1995

  6.1

  1996

  6.8

  1997

  6.4

  1998

  7.5

  Source:

  Housing and Construction Statistics, DETR

  A40 (Cheltenham)
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his decision to refuse Gloucestershire County Council's bid for funding for a route to bypass the A40 through Cheltenham. [107563]

  Mr. Hill
  The Government Office for the South West wrote to Gloucestershire County Council on 16 December 1999 explaining why my Department was unable to accept the A463 Shipton Solers to Air Balloon scheme for support in the 2000–01 Local Transport Capital 658W
  Settlement. The County Council has been advised to consider alternative solutions including looking at the feasibility of dealing with the safety issues by a combination of smaller scale schemes.

  Alba Proteins
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will announce the decision in the appeal by Alba Proteins against conditions imposed on their plans by Eden District Council. [107578]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Department published on 13 January this year a revised version of the statutory guidance relating to air pollution control from animal rendering processes: Process Guidance Note PG6/1(00)— The Processing of Animal Remains and By-Products. The parties to the Alba Proteins appeal will shortly be invited to comment on how any changes in policy, outlined in this revised guidance note, may affect the appeal. Following consideration of their comments, the Secretary of State should then be in a position to announce a decision.

  Credit Ratings
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the credit rating of companies seeking to tender for services provided by his Department is checked before the contract is awarded. [107740]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Decisions on a bidding company's financial standing take account of latest available audited and interim accounts and any other relevant published information, which may include credit and debt rating. These checks are undertaken on contracts where the risk of early termination would place a financial and operational risk on my Department.

  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how often the credit rating of companies supplying services to his Department is checked. [107751]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  During the period of a contract my Department will generally carry out checks into a company's financial standing if it has reason to believe that any of its contractors may be in financial trouble.

  En Route Centre, Swanwick
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if there are sufficient air controllers trained and ready to operate the new En Route Centre at Swanwick from the date of opening. [108029]

  Mr. Mullin
  NATS has carried out detailed planning of its requirements for air traffic controllers and the transitional arrangements for training controllers on the new system. NATS is confident that it will have sufficient appropriately trained and validated controllers to operate the new centre from the date of its opening.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the exact date on which the National Air Traffic Services facility at Swanwick will open. [108024]
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  Mr. Mullin
  NATS continues to work towards the introduction into operational service of the New En-Route Centre in the winter of 2001–02.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the National Air Traffic Services at Swanwick will be fully operational at the time of its opening. [108028]

  Mr. Mullin
  Yes, the New En-Route Centre will be fully operational at the time of its opening.

  Air Accidents Investigation Branch
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many recommendations of the Air Accidents Investigation Branch have been implemented in the last 10 years. [108033]

  Mr. Mullin
  The recommendations of the Air Accidents Investigation Branch are in a variety of formats, including suggestions that reviews or research be carried out: for this reason there is no standard definition of whether a recommendation has been implemented or not. The Civil Aviation Authority has recorded its responses to those recommendations addressed to the Authority in terms of "fully accepted", "partially accepted" and "not accepted". Since 1 January 1990, 473 recommendations to the Authority have been fully or partially accepted and 66 not accepted.

  It is not possible to give comparable information in respect of those safety recommendations addressed over the last 10 years to other organisations, such as foreign aviation authorities, as they may respond in a variety of ways. The CAA has agreed that, in future, its annual Progress Report on safety recommendations addressed to the Authority should include such information as is available on actions taken by other bodies in response to safety recommendations, in order to provide the public with a more complete picture of progress on all AAIB safety recommendations.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many recommendations made by the Air Accident Investigation Branch relate to the Manchester 737 accident. [108034]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Air Accidents Investigation Branch's report on the accident to the Boeing 737, G-BEJL, at Manchester Airport on 22 August 1985 was published as Aircraft Accident Report 8/88 on 13 March 1989; it contained 31 safety recommendations.

  Aircraft Inspections
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many 737 aircraft have been inspected by independent inspectors. [108027]

  Mr. Mullin
  Civil Aviation Authority Surveyors inspect selected aircraft each year in accordance with a policy, and associated programme, published in Airworthiness Notice No. 30(CAA Aircraft Survey Programme—All United Kingdom Registered Aircraft). This survey programme is independent of the operators' inspections carried out as part of the scheduled maintenance programme.
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  In the year ending 1999, 77 Boeing 737 aircraft were surveyed by CAA.

  Air Safety
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many aircraft, operating on behalf of United Kingdom airlines, flying for hire and reward and not on the United Kingdom register flew into and out of British airspace in 1999. [108079]

  Mr. Mullin
  During 1999 UK airlines leased 48 foreign registered aircraft for planned periods, varying in length from less than one week up to 12 months. Of these, 43 were leased with crew. In the same year, foreign registered aircraft carried out 249 unplanned substitution flights on behalf of UK carriers whose own aircraft became temporarily unavailable.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Safety Regulation Group of the CAA will publish guidelines on wiring and flight fire. [108025]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Civil Aviation Authority and other accredited UK and international bodies have published requirements and guidelines concerning aircraft wiring and the prevention of in-flight fire and smoke for many years.

  The UK airworthiness codes already prescribe mandatory requirements for electrical wiring design and installation which are intended to prevent the aircraft as whole being put at risk in the event of wiring faults or serious malfunction of the electrical system or any connected equipment. In particular, there is a requirement that wiring must not be able to create a fire or smoke hazard under temporary or continuous fault conditions. Demonstration of compliance with these requirements is required for all aircraft. Also, British Standards Institute and European aeronautical cable specifications and standards define flammability and toxicity requirements for aircraft wiring, as well as defining standardised methods of testing aircraft wire.

  In addition to the mandatory requirements, CAA have also published guidelines on electrical wiring and electrical protection. For example, the CAA Civil Aircraft Airworthiness Information and Procedures (CAP562) contain instructions on inspection and testing of electrical circuits, installation and maintenance of electrical cables, protection against electrostatic discharge, care and maintenance of electrical power supplies, electrical cable failure and procedures for resetting thermal circuit breakers.

  These requirements and guidelines are well established and well known throughout the UK aviation industry. In addition, the CAA proposes to submit to the Joint Aviation Authorities by September 2000 a consolidated version of its established guidelines concerning aircraft wiring and the prevention of in-flight fire and smoke, for promulgation throughout the JAA member states.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many instances of pressure on commercial pilots to lower safety standards have been registered in the confidential reporting system in the last 12 months. [108031]
  661W
  Mr. Mullin
  The UK Confidential Human Factors Incident Reporting Programme (CHIRP) is run by the CHIRP Charitable Trust. The January 2000 edition of CHIRP's publication "Feedback" contains a "Key Word analysis" of reports received in 1999, which indicates that the key words 'commercial pressure' appeared in 7 per cent. of the 141 reports received that year in the flight deck category. The analysis notes that in view of the voluntary nature of the reporting process, the results have no statistical significance.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps the Government are taking to ensure that rudders of UK-registered 737 aircraft are fault free. [108026]

  Mr. Mullin
  The United States' Federal Aviation Administration is the regulatory authority responsible for overseeing the safe design of Boeing aircraft and for issuing information necessary to maintain their continued airworthiness. The Federal Aviation Administration has issued Airworthiness Directives covering both inspections of the Boeing 737 rudder system as well as revisions to flight crew operating procedures. These directives are intended to reduce the likelihood of possible rudder system faults compromising the aircraft's safety.

  The United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority requires that any Federal Aviation Administration directives applicable to Boeing 737 aircraft are complied with by UK operators and carries out regular surveys to monitor, and if necessary, enforce compliance. Although the Authority reserves the right to vary Federal Aviation Administration directives for the UK fleet, it has had no cause, to date, to impose additional requirements with respect to the Boeing 737 rudder system.

  Helicopter Inspections
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if it is a requirement for helicopter inspections to be carried out by operations inspectors who are trained helicopter pilots; how many operations inspectors are trained helicopter pilots; and if he will make a statement. [108032]

  Mr. Mullin
  There are no international standards governing the qualifications of civil aviation authority inspectors, but the International Civil Aviation Organisation "Manual of Procedures for Operations Inspection, Certification and Continued Surveillance" recommends that to carry out a flight inspection of an aircraft, an inspector should be qualified in that type of aircraft.

  In the United Kingdom, all helicopter flight inspections, together with technical evaluations of the helicopter, equipment, and operation are undertaken by Civil Aviation Authority Flight Operations Inspectors who possess a current Airline Transport Pilots Licence (Helicopters), and have had considerable commercial operating experience often including management or training duties. Not only are proficiency checks undertaken, but regular line flying duties in a variety of roles are carried out by all helicopter Flight Operations Inspectors.

  The CAA has 13 specialist helicopter Flight Operations Inspectors.
  662W
  There are some aspects of helicopter operations which can be audited or checked by suitably trained Inspecting Staff, who nevertheless do not hold a professional helicopter pilots licence. For example examination of pilots duty hours and training records would not necessarily require professional piloting expertise in order to evaluate their validity and integrity.

  Regional Development Agencies
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what has been the expenditure on(a) staff and (b) office accommodation of each of the regional development agencies. [107942]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The planned expenditure for 1999–2000 for each of the Regional Development Agencies on staff and on accommodation are as follows:

  £

  Regional Development Agency

  Staff

  Accommodation

  North West Development Agency

  4,400,000

  500,000

  One North East

  4,388,000

  649,000

  Yorkshire Forward

  5,629,000

  929,000

  Advantage West Midlands

  2,979,000

  813,000

  East Midlands Development Agency

  3,396,000

  1,135,000

  East of England Development Agency

  2,975,000

  285,000

  South West of England Regional Development Agency

  4,147,000

  2,321,000

  South of England Development Agency

  2,846,000

  1,269,000

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what budget is available to the regional development agencies for implementing their sustainable development programmes. [107944]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) have not been given specific budgets to implement sustainable development policies. The RDAs have a statutory duty to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development in the UK, and it is integral to their Regional Strategies and action plans. The RDAs' contribution to sustainable development will be delivered through the implementation of these plans, and of their programmes and projects.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what timetable he has given the regional development agencies for their contributions to an integrated transport system in the regions. [107940]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) have a keen interest in integrated transport issues in their regions. They are providing an important input into the regional transport strategies which are being prepared as part of the Regional Planning Guidance (RPG). The timetable for the preparation of RPG varies by region.

  The regional planning bodies are also considering the transport implications of RDAs' regional strategies. Similarly, the regional transport strategies should inform and assist the RDAs in the implementation of their own Strategies.
  663W
  RDAs have also been invited to feed their ideas on integrated transport into the 10-year plan for investment in transport, currently being developed by my Department.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to ensure that the regional development agencies deliver their plans for sustainable development on time. [107943]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) were not required to develop specific sustainable development plans. The RDAs' contribution to sustainable development is integral to their regional strategies and action plans, and will be delivered through the implementation of these plans, and of their programmes and projects.

  The Government will shortly be issuing guidance on Regional Development Sustainable Development Frameworks which will be high level vision statements for sustainable development in the regions. The RDAs will play a key role in producing the frameworks but will not take the lead.

  Local Government
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 25 January 2000,Official Report, column 145W, on local government, what meetings he and his ministerial colleagues have had with the New Local government Network on the Government's modernisation agenda. [108380]

  Ms Armstrong
  Ministers have met the New Local Government Network on a number of occasions. A range of topics on the Government's modernisation agenda have been discussed.

  Home Improvement Agencies
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the awarding of section 169 grant for home improvement agencies. [108219]

  Mr. Mullin
  Grant is payable to local authorities under section 169 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 to support the running costs of home improvement agencies operating in their areas. My Department is currently considering authorities' applications for the renewal of grant in 2000–01, and will announce the allocations as soon as possible.

  Bournemouth International Airport
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how long the Government Office of the South West took to decide whether or not to call in the planning application submitted by Bournemouth International Airport for a new passenger terminal; and if he will make a statement. [108340]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The planning application which Bournemouth International Airport submitted to Christchurch Borough Council on 28 November 1997 was referred to the Government Office for the South West on 664W
  21 July 1999. The application was called in for the Secretary of State's own determination, after careful consideration of all the issues, on 20 December 1999.

  Planning Applications
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the performance of the Government Office of the South West against the target of reaching 80 per cent. of decisions on whether or not to call in planning applications within three weeks and 100 per cent. of cases within seven weeks in the last 12 months. [108339]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  During 1999 the Government Office for the South West issued 85 per cent. of decisions on whether or not to call in such applications within three weeks, and 88 per cent. within the secondary target of seven weeks.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many decisions on whether or not to call in planning applications were reached after more than seven weeks since May 1997. [108338]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The total number of decisions for 1998 and 1999 is 294. Prior to 1998, the information was not collated on computer and, as a result, the figure for 1997 is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Rough Sleepers
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his latest estimate of the number of people sleeping rough in England. [108341]

  Ms Armstrong
  On 15 December 1999 the Government published their latest estimate of the number of people sleeping rough in England. This estimate showed that, as at June 1999, there were 1,633 people sleeping rough in England on any one night, of which 635 were in Greater London. Copies are available from the House Libraries. We will be publishing shortly updated figures for Central London, following recent single night street counts.

  Oath of Allegiance
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many letters he has received since 1 May 1997 on(a) constituency matters and (b) other matters of Government policy from each of those Members of the House who have not taken the oath of allegiance. [108402]

  Ms Armstrong
  I am not able to provide this information to my right hon. Friend as correspondence between Members and Departments is treated in confidence unless the originating Member chooses to make such issues public.

  PM10 Emissions
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will introduce a new target for PM10 emissions; and if he will make a statement. [108334]
  665W
  Mr. Meacher
  I announced the publication of the Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on 19 January. When launching the Strategy, I explained that work is already in hand which will allow us to consider a new objective for particles towards the end of this year. This work includes consideration of particles' health effects: the costs and benefits of reducing levels of particles in air; and the effects of recent policy developments on particle levels.

  Recycling
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the percentage of municipal waste that will be recycled by(a) 31 December 2001, (b) 31 December 2005 and (c) 31 December 2010. [108337]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Government have set a goal of at least 30 per cent. of household waste to be recycled or composted by 2010. The Government are also committed to achieving 25 per cent. as soon as possible, and hope to do this by 2005.

  The latest municipal waste recycling and composting figure for England and Wales is 8 per cent. (based on 1997–98 data).

  Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many prosecutions have been made under section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 for the illegal release of Schedule 9 plants. [108300]

  Mr. Mullin
  Prosecutions under section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 are brought by the police, and it is not a requirement for them to notify this Department of any such prosecutions. The Department has no record of any section 14 prosecutions in respect of plants.

  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many licences have been issued under section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 for release of Schedule 9 plants. [108299]

  Mr. Mullin
  In the last five years one licence has been issued under section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 for the release of Schedule 9 plants. This was for an experimental release of Japanese knotweed, "Fallopia japonica", at a single site in Cheshire to assess the plant's competitive abilities against native weed species.

  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what his estimate is of the cost of controlling invasive plants which are(a) scheduled and (b) unscheduled under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. [108301]

  Mr. Mullin
  Information about the cost of controlling invasive plants, whether scheduled or not, is not co-ordinated centrally and therefore is not available.

  PPG23
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to announce changes to PPG23. [108336]
  666W
  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The waste planning elements of PPG23 have already been dealt with and published under PPG10—Planning and Waste Management (September 1999). We propose to revise the remainder of PPG23 in two stages: the first dealing with contaminated land, and the second dealing with the planning aspects of pollution control, including air quality and water quality. We aim to issue a draft for consultation on contaminated land and planning issues to coincide with the entry into force of regulations and guidance on the new regime for the management of contaminated land under Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, expected in April 2000. Preparation of a consultative draft on planning and pollution control will follow the implementation of Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) under new Pollution, Prevention and Control Regulations, expected in May 2000.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Competition Commission (Media)
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will refer the proposed merger of United Newspapers and Carlton to the Competition Commission. [108182]

  Dr. Howells
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will decide whether or not to refer this case to the Competition Commission in the light of advice he has received from the Director General of Fair Trading. He will announce his decision as soon as is practicable.

  Car Dealership Exemptions
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if it is his policy that the exemption which allows exclusive car distribution and dealership arrangements will end in October 2002. [108177]

  Dr. Howells
  The provision permitting car manufacturers to operate selective and exclusive distribution networks on certain conditions, commonly known as the cars block exemption, is a European Commission Regulation (Regulation (EC) 1475/95). The European Commission is currently reviewing its operation in order to draw up an evaluation report by the end of this year. This report will in turn provide a basis for discussions involving the Commission and the member states on what, if anything, should replace the block exemption when it expires on 30 September 2002. We wish to ensure that the review is undertaken in as thorough and transparent a way as possible.

  The UK Government's policy towards the block exemption will be informed by the findings of the Competition Commission about its effects upon the market for new cars in the UK.

  Government Chemist
  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has received the 1999 report of the Government Chemist. [108814]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  I have just received the third annual report of the Government Chemist and copies will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Post Office Reform
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has appointed advisers to support the implementation of the reforms described in the White Paper on Post Office Reform. [108811]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  I have appointed Deloitte & Touche to provide support for the implementation of the financial provisions set out in the Post Office White Paper (CM 4340) and Herbert Smith to provide legal advice on any commercial issues arising from implementation of the reform package. Both appointments were made after competitive tenders.

  Telecommunications Act
  Mr. Andy King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will publish proposals for reform of the Telecommunications Act 1984; and if he will make a statement. [108815]

  Mr. Byers
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and I propose to publish a White Paper later this year setting out the Government's proposals for reform of the framework of communications legislation. This will include proposals for changing both the Telecommunications and Broadcasting Acts as a basis for legislation when parliamentary time allows. The White Paper will accordingly be broad in its scope, covering both infrastructure and content issues. It will draw on responses to the options for reform of the broadcasting and telecommunications framework set out in the Government's June 1999 statement, "Regulating Communications: The Way Ahead" and will take full account of emerging conclusions from the current review of the European Union regulatory framework for communications. The work will be taken forward by a joint DTI/DCMS team to ensure a coherent and consistent approach to the regulation of the converging communications industries.

  Oil and Gas Licensing
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will announce the 9th Round of Landward oil and gas licensing. [108813]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I am inviting applications for Petroleum Exploration and Development licences over unlicensed areas in Great Britain in the 9th Round of Landward Licensing.

  The closing date for applications has been set as 5 May. I hope to be able to make an announcement about licence awards as soon as possible after that once all applications have been thoroughly considered and assessed.

  While much smaller than its offshore counterpart, there is an active oil and gas industry searching for and exploiting Britain's onshore petroleum resources. The award of licences will enable companies to explore for and exploit the petroleum resources of Great Britain, which include conventional oil and gas, mine vent gas and coal bed methane trapped in coal seams.
  668W
  I hope this current invitation to apply for petroleum licences will sustain the momentum created by its predecessors and allow further discoveries to be made.

  Cabling
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many licences for the laying of cable routes through the boroughs of Maidstone and Swale he has granted since May 1997; and how many applications for licences are under consideration. [107605]

  Ms Hewitt
  Since May 1997, 53 licences have been granted conferring statutory rights to lay cable routes in the public highway anywhere in the United Kingdom. Eight further national licence applications are under consideration.

  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many representations he has received from(a) individuals and (b) representative bodies since May 1997 relating to the laying of cable routes through (i) Kent and (ii) Maidstone and Swale Borough Council areas. [107606]

  Ms Hewitt
  Since May 1997, the Department has received a total of 13 representations about telecoms cabling in Kent: 11 from individuals and two from representative bodies, one of which referred to cable laying in Swale.

  Departmental Expenditure and Running Costs Limits
  Mr. Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what changes will be made to the departmental expenditure limit and running costs limit for his Department and the Office of Fair Trading in the current financial year. [108982]

  Mr. Byers
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the voted element of the Departmental Expenditure Limit for the Department of Trade and Industry will be increased by £61,879,000 from £3,181,682,000 to £3,243,561,000. The net provision of Class IX Vote 1 will be increased by £43,696,000, which results from:

  (i) an increase of £59,700,000 in the net provision for Coal Health liabilities, which has arisen exclusively from a forecast shortfall in Coal Pension Fund Surpluses which are appropriated in aid;

  (ii) a reduction of £5,970,000 in the provision for the Coal Authority grant in aid;

  (iii) an increase of £14,000,000 in the gross expenditure provision for the Aerospace budget in order to facilitate the repayment to Rolls Royce plc of certain amounts that have been overpaid by that company, which is offset by an increase of £14,000,000 in the appropriations in aid provision;

  (iv) the transfer of £10,000,000 from the Local Competitiveness budget to the Inland Revenue (Class XVI Vote 4) for providing payroll support for new employers;

  (v) the transfer of £34,000 from the Coal Health Liabilities budget to the Department of Social Security (Class XII Vote 3) to facilitate access to miners' medical records held by the Benefits Agency.

  669W
  The opportunity of a Supplementary Estimate is also being taken to switch resources between certain lines of the Vote and to accommodate an increase of £300,000 in the appropriations in aid provision for the Departmental Capital budget as a result of the sale of a property, together with an equivalent increase in the gross expenditure provision for that budget.

  The net provision of Class IX Vote 2 will be increased by £18,183,000, of which £16,183,000 represents the take up of End Year Flexibility entitlements as announced by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 27 July 1999, Official Report, column 393W, and £2,000,000 represents a transfer of provision in respect of work commissioned of the British Antarctic Survey, which is part of the Natural Environment Research Council, by the Ministry of Defence. This is offset by an equivalent reduction in the provision for Class VI Vote 1 (Defence: operational and support costs, logistics services, and systems procurement and research). The opportunity of a Supplementary Estimate is also being taken to switch resources between certain lines of the Vote and to accommodate an increase in the amount of recovered VAT, together with an equivalent increase in costs incurred on the Vote.

  The overall increase of £61,879,000 for Class IX Votes 1 and 2 will be charged to the Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  In addition, subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the voted element of the Departmental Expenditure Limit of Class IX Vote 7—the Office of Fair Trading—will be increased by £725,000 from £30,722,000 to £31,447,000 and the gross running costs limit will be reduced by £400,000 from £24,184,000 to £23,784,000. The increase in the Departmental Expenditure Limit results from the take up of End Year Flexibility entitlement of £725,000, as announced by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 27 July 1999, Official Report, column 393W. The reduction in the gross running costs limit is offset by an increase of £400,000 in the provision for "Direct Expenditure: Other current". The increase in net provision will be charged to the Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Fireworks
  Mr. Woolas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to review the sale of fireworks. [108373]

  Dr. Howells
  The Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997 introduced comprehensive controls on the types and sizes of fireworks which can be sold to the public. I have no plans to introduce further controls on fireworks or to review the existing Regulations.

  World Trade Organisation
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from the Scottish Executive on the impact of the Seattle round 670W
  of negotiations of the World Trade Organisation on Scotland; and what consultation he has undertaken with bodies in Scotland in relation to the WTO. [107466]

  Mr. Caborn
  [holding answer 2 February 2000]: There was no agreement in Seattle among WTO member governments on the terms for the launch of a new Round of trade negotiations. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State stated that the Government's position following the Seattle Conferences in the debate in the House on 9 December 1999, Official Report, columns 1022–94. As the Government remain committed to the launch of a new comprehensive Round of trade negotiations, the existing consultation processes it has in place remains valid. This includes a consultation exercise launched last year covering all of the UK. We will continue to hold meetings with people from across the UK including business, NGOs and trade unions at both official and ministerial level. While we have received no formal representations from the Scottish Executive in relation to Seattle, we will be keeping in touch with the First Minister and DTI officials will continue to have contacts with Scottish Executive officials on the range of issues.

  Lomé Convention
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent assessment he has made of the impact of WTO rules on the workings of the Lomé Convention. [107468]

  Mr. Caborn
  [holding answer 2 February 2000]: The Government are aware that the tariff preferences available under the Lomé Convention are incompatible with the rules of the WTO in so far as they discriminate between developing countries and thus require a waiver from GATT Article I. The current waiver expires in February 2000 along with the Convention itself and will have to be renewed by agreement with other WTO member governments for the preferences to continue. We strongly support the WTO, which is why we argued for a new, WTO-compatible approach to EU trade relations with Lomé countries after the current Convention expires.

  Both the EU and our Lomé partners have agreed in principle with this approach, which will enter into force after a transitional period of eight years, during which time the current trade arrangements will be rolled over, and a new WTO waiver sought for this rollover period. The Government believe that this approach will give Lomé countries the best chance of integrating more fully into the multilateral trading system, thereby promoting their sustainable development and contributing to poverty eradication.

  Meat Imports
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the volume of imports of(a) beef and beef products and (b) lamb and lamb products in each year since 1995. [107134]

  Ms Quin
  I have been asked to reply.

  Official Overseas Trade Statistics show that the volume of imports of (a) beef and beef products and (b) lamb and lamb products during 1995–98 and January to October 1999 were as shown in the table.
  671W

  UK imports of beef and sheep meat 1995–98 and January to October 1999

  Tonnes 1

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  January-October 1999

  UK imports beef

  254,892

  210,362

  250,156

  208,818

  192,450

  of which:

  Carcase meat

  130,710

  123,117

  154,943

  123,099

  114,353

  Meat and offal preparations

  101,508

  73,117

  79,752

  73,502

  67,655

  Offal

  22,674

  14,128

  15,461

  12,217

  10,443

  UK imports of mutton and lamb:

  142,823

  146,627

  137,936

  128,238

  104,040

  of which:

  Carcase meat

  128,681

  132,754

  127,352

  116,946

  93,376

  Meat and offal preparations

  287

  546

  359

  829

  456

  Offal

  13,856

  13,326

  10,225

  10,463

  10,207

  1 Product weight

  Mozmbique
  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much coal was imported from Mozambique in the past three years; what the transport arrangements are for coal supplied by Mozambique; and if he will make a statement. [107920]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Figures for 1999 as a whole are not yet available, but in the first three quarters of 1999 it is estimated that 19,000 tonnes of coal were imported into the United Kingdom from Mozambique. Prior to 1999, this information was not disclosed because the data were commercially sensitive. Customs and Excise has a duty not to disclose details relating specifically to an individual trader's activity. Information is not collected on the mode of transport used for imported coal.

  Hollis Industries plc
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 25 January 2000,Official Report, column 208W, if he will list the reasons for the timing of his written answer informing the House of the outcome of the Hollis Inquiry. [108392]

  Mr. Byers
  It was a written question which I replied to as soon as possible.

  TransTec
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those companies which are under investigation by officials into allegations of misuse of Government grants which were subsidiaries of(a) TransTec plc and (b) Hollis Industries. [108390]

  Mr. Byers
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to her on 25 January 2000,Official Report, column 206W.

  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if inspectors investigating TransTec plc will issue an interim report. [108388]

  Mr. Byers
  These are independent inspectors. They can issue an interim report if they wish.

  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will revise the guidance he has given to inspectors investigating TransTec plc to include allegations of misuse of his Department's grants awarded to TransTec and its subsidiary companies. [108386]
  672W
  Mr. Byers
  There is no need to do to so as they already have such a power.

  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the procedures being followed by his officials investigating allegations of misuse of Government grants awarded to TransTec plc and its subsidiaries. [108389]

  Mr. Byers
  The Department's inquiries are aimed at establishing the nature and extent of the allegations and the further action that should be taken in relation to those allegations.

  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 25 January 2000,Official Report, column 205W, what action he plans to take as a result of departmental interviews with Mr. Ayriss and Mr. Dickinson. [108394]

  Mr. Byers
  The Department's inquiries are still in progress.

  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will revise the guidance he has given to inspectors investigating TransTec plc to include the reorganisation of the company in 1991. [108387]

  Mr. Byers
  As I have already stated on 25 January 2000,Official Report, column 208W, if the independent inspectors conclude that there are matters earlier in the company's history which merit investigation then they have the power to do so.

  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 25 January 2000,Official Report, column 206W, if he will list the minuted meetings held by his Department and representatives of TransTec plc in (a) 1995, (b) 1996, (c) 1997, (d) 1998 and (e) 1999. [108393]

  Mr. Byers
  The Company Law and Investigations Directorate has had no minuted meetings with representatives of TransTec.

  Press Releases
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many Government Press releases his Department issued in each year from 1995 to 1999. [106561]
  673W
  Mr. Byers
  The number of Press releases issued by the DTI were:

  1995: 908

  1996: 973

  1997: 877

  1998: 1,064

  1999: 1,063

  Construction Industry Scheme
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will refer the Construction Industry Scheme arrangements and their impact on the construction plant hire industry to the Director General of Fair Trading. [104891]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Inland Revenue is aware of the concerns of the construction plant hire industry about the Construction Industry Scheme. The Office of Fair Trading has brought

  £

  Take up of end of year flexibility in respect of an underspend against EC attributed aid

  105,878,000

  Increase in respect of humanitarian assistance to Kosovo

  58,000,000

  Increase in respect of humanitarian assistance to East Timor

  3,250,000

  Increase in respect of payments under the Gibraltar Social Insurance Fund

  13,100,000

  Increase in respect of contributions to the IMF trust fund for HIPC countries

  33,300,000

  The increase will be a charge on the Departmental Expenditure Limit reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

PRIME MINISTER

  Council of Europe
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Prime Minister what derogations Her Majesty's Government have applied for in respect of the United Kingdom's membership of the Council of Europe and its hosting of appeal courts empowered to uphold the death penalty in other countries; and if he will make a statement. [107625]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 31 January 2000]: The United Kingdom has no derogations in respect of its membership of the Council of Europe. In cases where the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council acts as an appeal court for an independent state, including states which impose the death penalty, it does so as an integral part of the judicial structure of that state rather than of the United Kingdom. It is for these states to decide whether they wish to continue to use the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council as their final court of appeal. Her Majesty's Government cannot interfere in the judicial processes of another state. But this in no way implies that the United Kingdom condones the death penalty: the United Kingdom regularly raises these issues, bilaterally and with European Union partners, with such states pressing their Governments to abolish the death penalty.
  674W
  the issue of alleged unfairness to the attention of the Inland Revenue. The Inland Revenue is continuing to consult with representative bodies about areas of the scheme which are causing difficulties. The Office has advised the Revenue that they will not be investigating the matter further.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Departmental Expenditure Limit
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what changes will be made to the departmental expenditure limit running costs limit for her Department in 1999–2000. [108706]

  Mr. Foulkes
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, for Class VIII, Vote 1: Department for International Development, the Departmental Expenditure Limit for 1999–2000 will be increased by £213,528,000 from £2,297,090,000 to £2,510,618,000. This increase is the net effect of:

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Departmental Expenditure Limit
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Solicitor-General what proposals there are to amend the Attorney-General's Department's Departmental Expenditure Limit and Running Costs Limit for 1999–2000. [108702]

  The Solicitor-General
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimates for Class V, Vote 4 (The Crown Prosecution Service) and Class V, Vote 6 (HM Procurator General and Treasury Solicitor), the Attorney-General's Department's Departmental Expenditure Limit for 1999–2000 will be increased by £6,596,000 from £335,295,000 to £341,891,000.

  The Crown Prosecution Service's Running Costs Limit will be increased by £496,000 from £227,625,000 to £228,121,000. This increase is required to fund preparatory work to modernise the Crown Prosecution Service information technology infrastructure.

  HM Procurator General and Treasury Solicitor's Running Costs Limit will be increased by £5,600,000 from £4,735,000 to £10,335,000. Appropriations in aid will also be reduced by £3,400,000. This will fund expenditure arising from the closure of the Government Property Lawyers Agency on 30 September 1999, which was announced to the House by answer to a Parliamentary Question on 11 November 1998, Official Report, column 187W.

  The increases will be offset by the surrender of £589,000 of the Attorney General's Department's End Year Flexibility of £612,000 as announced by the Chief

  675W
  Secretary to the Treasury on 27 July 1999, Official Report, column 393W. £93,000 of this will be transferred to the Home Office in respect of the CPS contribution towards the cost of Integrating Business and Information Systems in the Criminal Justice System (IBIS).

  The remainder of the expenditure will be charged to the Reserve and will not, therefore, add to the planned total of public expenditure.

DEFENCE

  Asset Sales
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the items in the National Assets Register sold by his Department, its agencies and associated public bodies since 11 February 1999, stating in each case the amount of money realised; if he will estimate the total amount raised from such sales to date; and if he will make a statement. [104483]

  Dr. Moonie
  This information is currently not held in the format to link assets as shown in the National Asset Register with those assets subsequently declared as surplus to requirements and sold by the Disposal Sales Agency (DSA), and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Information on surplus sales of equipment and stores is contained in the DSA's 1998–99 Annual Report and Accounts held in the Library of the House. The 1999–2000 Annual Report and Accounts will be made available to the Library of the House before the summer Recess this year.

  Information on the sale of Defence Estates Buildings and Lands is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Synthetic Aperture Radar
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the ultra-wide band synthetic aperture radar programme; what has been the cost of the system to date; and if he will make a statement. [106158]

  Dr. Moonie
  I assume that the question refers to the Remote Minefield Detection System (REMIDS) Technology Demonstrator Programme, which is investigating the development of a sensor to detect minefields and mined areas for military purposes. It is using Ultra-Wide Band Synthetic Aperture Radar (UWB SAR) as a preferred technology.

  Tests carried out in 1998 at short range from a ground vehicle proved the potential effectiveness of a UWB SAR in the detection role, and successfully detected plastic and metal targets representative of mine-like anti-tank ordnance. The equipment is currently in an early prototype stage and the tests did not represent a realistic environment. However, sufficient information has been generated to proceed with confidence with work on a more powerful airborne system.

  Approximately £390,000 has been spent to date.

  East Timor
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what factors underlay the decision to deploy the Gurkha Regiment to East Timor; and if he will make a statement. [107851]

  Mr. Spellar
  We decided to participate in the operation in East Timor in support of the decisions of the international community and our long standing ally and friend Australia. The decision to deploy the Gurkhas to East Timor was taken principally because they were based in Brunei and therefore already acclimatised and able to deploy quickly. Moreover, some Gurkhas also speak Malay, which is closely related to the Indonesian language and was of considerable use during the operation. The deployment of Brunei based Gurkhas also minimised potential overstretch implications.

  Departmental Fees
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which fees his Department, its agencies and associated public bodies collect; how much has been raised and will be raised from each of these fees from 1989–90 to 2004–05; and which of these fees count as negative expenditure. [107979]

  Dr. Moonie
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer my predecessor, my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Walton (Mr. Kilfoyle), gave him on 24 January 2000,Official Report, column 63W.

  Walk-on Equipment (Chinook)
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the value of walk-on equipment. [108054]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 2 February 2000]: I assume that the question relates to walk-on equipment which may be carried on the Chinook Mk2, such as binoculars, cameras and computers. The presence of such equipment would depend on the purpose of a particular flight and no general statement of value would be meaningful.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recommendations in the Chinook Mk2 test were made on the use of in-flight UHF transmitters and walk-on equipment; and if they were written into the CIA release. [108053]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 2 February 2000]: It was recommended that, because of the vulnerability of the automatic flight system to the Ultra High Frequency band, particular care should be taken when introducing UHF on-board transmitters to the Chinook as Special Trial Fits or walk-on equipment. The Controller Aircraft Release for the Chinook Mk2 in January 1994 stipulated that no canyon-board equipment was cleared for use. No electronic equipment had been introduced to the aircraft by Special Trial Fit.

  WRVS
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department has undertaken with the AWS and WRVS regarding the line management
  677W
  accountability of WRVS employees; what advice he has received; what decisions have been taken; and if he will make a statement. [107840]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 2 February 2000]: The Ministry of Defence is currently engaged with the Womens' Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS) in negotiating the renewal of their contractual relationship. The WRVS, like the Service Sound and Vision Corporation, the Navy, Army and Air Force Institute and the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (Forces Help), is a charitable-based organisation working in partnership with the Services. WRVS employees, working with the Army are line managed and appraised annually by their National Director and the Commanding Officer of the Unit to which they are assigned. The WRVS maintains a regular dialogue with the Directorate of Personal Services (Army). This process ensures that the WRVS is apprised of developments in Welfare Policy and practices in the Army.

  Welfare is a function of the Chain of Command within the Army. The Army Welfare Service (AWS) fulfils only one part, albeit an important part, of the overall delivery of welfare support within the Army. They are an in-house organisation providing specialist support and advice to Army individuals, their dependent families and the Chain of Command. Their activity is focused on the LAND Command component of the Army, although they can provide a point of contact for the Army based elsewhere. Where the AWS operate alongside the WRVS, they do so in partnership, each bringing particular and complementary skills to the overall welfare delivery. There is no direct line management relationship between the AWS and the WRVS.

  Departmental Expenditure Limit
  Ms Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes will be made to his Department's budget, departmental expenditure and Operating Cost limits for 1999–2000. [108701]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Government have decided that, subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate for Class VI Vote 1 Defence for 1999–2000, the following changes should apply:

  (a) The overall limit will increase by £584.282 million from £22,283.085 million to £22,867.367 million.

  (b) The Ministry of Defence Departmental Expenditure Limit will be increased by £582.9 million from £22,280.341 million to £22,863.241 million.

  (c) The Ministry of Defence Operating Cost Limit will be increased by £778.972 million from £15,918.341 million to £16,697.313 million.

  This will cover the additional expenditure incurred by UK forces on operations in Kosovo and Bosnia during the current financial year which are estimated at just under £400 million and £112 million respectively. The figure also includes full take-up of the Ministry of Defence's entitlement to End Year Flexibility of £74 million.

  The Supplementary Estimates will also provide for changes in the general pattern of expenditure, including adjustments between the Defence Procurement Agency's equipment programme and the operating costs programmes.
  678W
  As the increase in the Defence Expenditure Limit will be met from the Reserve, which is part of the Government's overall spending plan, it will not add to the planned total of public expenditure in the current year.

  Oath of Allegiance
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many letters he has received since 1 May 1997 on(a) constituency matters and (b) other matters of Government policy from each of those Members of the House who have not taken the oath of allegiance. [108409]

  Dr. Moonie
  The information requested cannot be provided as correspondence between MPs and the Department is treated in confidence unless the originating MP chooses to make such issues public.

  Services Recruits
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of recruits to the(a) Royal Navy and (b) armed forces passed the initial physical fitness tests in (a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99. [107965]

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

TREASURY

  Health Spending
  Mr. Bradshaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much spending on health has increased since 1 May 1997; and by what proportion of GDP health spending will increase by 2002. [106882]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Since we took office the Government have increased spending on the NHS by 10.4 per cent. in real terms. We estimate that by 2002 health spending will be around 7 per cent. of GDP.

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the prospects for convergence between United Kingdom and European interest rates in the medium term. [106898]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Our policy is as set out in the Chancellor's October 1997 statement, including five economic tests which will have to be met before any decision to join can be taken.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what account he has taken of the impact of the level of interest rates on the economy of the north east of England in deciding the level of public expenditure in the region. [106912]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The north east of England, along with the rest of the United Kingdom, is benefiting from the long-term action we have taken to create a platform of economic stability and secure high and stable levels of growth and employment.

  Pesticides Tax
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue he estimates he will raise from his proposed tax on the use of pesticides. [106899]

  Mr. Timms
  On 1 February, the Government welcomed the voluntary proposals on reducing the environmental impacts of pesticide use brought forward by the British Agrochemical Association and announced that, subject to further detailed discussions on these proposals, the Chancellor will not proceed with the introduction of a pesticides tax in the Budget.

  Stamp Duty
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of people who will pay extra stamp duty in 2000–01 as a result of the 1999 Budget. [106900]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  About 95,000 transactions will be affected as a result of the 1999 Budget measures on stamp duty on land and property.

  VAT (Building and Maintenance)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the rate of VAT levied on building, renovation and maintenance work. [106901]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Treasury Ministers have received a number of letters about the rate of VAT on building, renovation and maintenance work.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the building industry on VAT on house repairs, renovation and extension work. [106920]

  Dawn Primarolo
  None.

  Football Clubs
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce a tax redistribution arrangement based on turnover for professional football clubs. [106902]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 16 December 1999,Official Report, column 297W.

  Single Currency
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on future British membership of the single European currency. [106903]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer regularly discusses the Government's economic policy with Cabinet colleagues. The Government's position on the single currency remains as set by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his statement to the House of Commons on 27 October 1997,Official Report, columns 583–88.

  Exchange Rate
  Mr. Geraint Davies
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of the value of sterling on trends in manufacturing output in the past 12 months. [106904]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  There is strong evidence to suggest that manufacturers on the whole are coping well with the strength of sterling. Manufacturing output rose by 1.1 per cent. in the three months to November, compared to the previous three months, while export volumes have risen significantly through 1999.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much additional expenditure has been directed exclusively to pensioners since May 1997. [106905]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  From May 1997 until the financial year 2001–02, the Government have made available an additional £4 billion in real terms exclusively for pensioners. We have introduced the Minimum Income Guarantee which will be uprated by earnings growth through the remainder of this Parliament and Winter Fuel Payments of £100 per year per pensioner household. This year, we will introduce free TV licences for pensioners aged 75 and over and pensioners will receive free access to National museums in England where there are currently charges. The Government's Transport Bill contains proposals to guarantee pensioners at least half-price fares on buses in return for passes costing no more than five pounds.

  NHS (Hypothecated Funding)
  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the benefits of applying hypothecated funding to the NHS. [106906]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The Chancellor announced in his Pre-Budget Report that there was a strong, ongoing health case for year-on-year real terms increases in the price of cigarettes to support the Government's objectives to reduce smoking and tackle cancer and coronary heart disease, and that any additional revenue raised from real increases in tobacco duties would in future be spent on improved healthcare.

  Savings Tax (EU Directive)
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if there are any circumstances in which it would be his policy to agree to the European Commission's Draft directive on the Taxation of Savings. [106907]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Government have made clear that there can be no agreement to any draft directive on the taxation of savings as long as it risks damaging European Union financial markets.

  IR35
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the progress he is making in the introduction of IR35 changes. [106908]
  681W
  Dawn Primarolo
  The proposed legislation will take effect from this April. It will ensure that workers in service companies pay tax and NICs on a basis which is fair in comparison with other employees.

  Debt Relief
  Mr. Browne
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the summit he held on 21 December with the churches and charities on debt relief for the world's poorest countries. [106909]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Chancellor and Secretary of State for International Development met with representatives of religious faiths and non-governmental organisations at 11 Downing Street on 21 December to discuss the latest progress under the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative and to share views on how to move the campaign for debt relief forward.

  The Chancellor also reported that the UK would be providing 100 per cent. relief on the debts owed by the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries to the UK's Export Credit Guarantee Department.

  Manufacturing
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make an assessment of the impact which United Kingdom interest rates have had on economic activity in the manufacturing industry of the United Kingdom in the past 12 months. [106910]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Manufacturing output rose 1.1 per cent. in the three months to November compared to the previous three months, and has been on an upward trend since spring last year. Performance has been much better than expected.

  Departmental Expenditure Targets
  Mr. David Heath
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to change the individual departmental expenditure limits targets for the second and third years of the comprehensive spending review period. [106911]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The Government's plans for departmental expenditure limits for 2000–01 and 2001–02 are set out in "Modern Public Services for Britain: Investing in Reform" (Cm 40411).

  Taxation
  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much extra tax will be paid in the four years from May 1997 as a result of the three Budgets since July 1997. [106913]

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the extra tax that will be paid in the period up to May 2002 as a result of his Budget measures since May 1997. [106918]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The effects of the last three Budgets on Government tax revenues and expenditure were published in table 2.2 of the July 1997 Financial Statement and Budget Report, and table 1.3 of the March 1998 and March 1999 Financial Statement and Budget Reports.

  Road Fuel Duty
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to discuss the levels of road fuel duty on diesel with finance ministers of other EU member states; and if he will make a statement. [106915]

  Mr. Timms
  None.

  Scotland
  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the impact in Scotland of the working families tax credit and the minimum income guarantee. [106916]

  Dawn Primarolo
  It is estimated that in 2000–01, the first full year of the Working Families Tax Credit, about 130,000 families in Scotland will be in receipt of the credit. Currently a family with someone in full-time work and with one child has a minimum income guarantee of £200 a week.

  Economic Growth (South-East)
  Mr. White
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the prospects for economic growth in the south-east. [106919]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Government's latest economic forecast for the UK economy was published on 9 November 1999 as part of the Pre-Budget Report. The South East, along with the rest of the United Kingdom, is expected to continue to benefit from the long-term action we have taken to lock in economic stability and secure high and stable levels of growth and employment.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the expected change in after-tax income by earners who earn(a) 50 per cent., (b) 75 per cent., (c) 150 per cent., (d) 200 per cent. and (e) 300 per cent. of median incomes as a result of the 1p reduction in income tax to be implemented in April. [106886]

  Dawn Primarolo
  A great many factors can affect an individual's after-tax income—and this Government have introduced measures designed to boost take-home pay and increase the net incomes of families with children. The cut in the basic rate is one of those measures. Families with children will on average be £740 per year better off as a result of the last two budgets.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 24 January 2000,Official Report, column 113W, (1) on what is his estimate of the number of people whose taxable incomes will exceed £100,000 per year in (a) 2000–01, (b) 2001–02 and (c) 2002–03; [107799]

  (2) on what is his estimate of the numbers of people who had taxable incomes of over £100,000 in each year from 1979–80 to 1999–2000; and if he will estimate for each year from 1990–91 onwards the additional revenue which would have accrued from a basic income tax rate of 50% on taxable income over £100,000 per year. [107800]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The number of people with taxable incomes over £100,000 is estimated to be around 204,000 in 2000–01, 227,000 in 2001–02 and 243,000 in 2002–03.
  683W
  These estimates are based on the 1997–98 Survey of Personal incomes and are consistent with the November 1999 Pre-Budget Report forecast.

  I regret that it would be possible to provide reliable estimates for the number of taxpayers with taxable incomes above £100,000 and the tax yield from charging a rate of 50 per cent. for taxable incomes above £100,000 only at disproportionate cost.

  However, the number of people with total incomes above 100,000 are set out in the table (for years between 1979–80 and 1999–2000).

  Financial year

  Number of taxpayers 1 with total income above £100,000

  Numbers based on survey of personal incomes

  1979–80

  2,000

  1979–80

  1980–81

  4,000

  1980–81

  1981–82

  5,000

  1981–82

  1982–83

  7,000

  1982–83

  1983–84

  8,000

  1983–84

  1984–85

  10,000

  1984–85

  1985–86

  17,000

  1985–86

  1986–87

  25,000

  1986–87

  1987–88

  33,000

  1987–88

  1988–89

  55,000

  1988–89

  1989–90

  78,000

  1989–90

  1990–91

  81,000

  1990–91

  1991–92

  104,000

  1991–92

  1992–93

  95,000

  1992–93

  1993–94

  103,000

  1993–94

  1994–95

  118,000

  1994–95

  1995–96

  126,000

  1995–96

  1996–97

  154,000

  1996–97

  1997–98

  186,000

  1997–98

  1998–99

  207,000

  1997–98

  1999–2000

  227,000

  1997–98

  Prior to 1990–91 most married couples were counted as one taxpayer

  Unemployment (East Midlands)
  Mr. Sawford
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the impact of his economic policies on levels of unemployment in the east midlands. [106893]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  In the East Midlands region, as in the rest of the UK, we have created a sound platform of economic stability that will help us attain our objective of stable levels of growth and employment. Since the general election, employment in the East Midlands is up, unemployment is down, long-term unemployment is down by two-thirds and youth unemployment by three-quarters.

  Construction Industry
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect the new Construction Industry Scheme arrangements will have on the construction plant hire industry. [104892]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The purpose of the new Construction Industry Scheme, which took effect on 1 August 1999, is to tackle tax fraud and evasion across the industry as a whole. The Inland Revenue are continuing to consult with representative bodies about areas of the scheme which are causing difficulties.
  684W
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the Construction Plant Hire Association. [104893]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Inland Revenue are continuing to consult with representative bodies about the new scheme and the areas of difficulty which have been brought to their attention. They are considering all the points which have been made to them.

  Transport Spending
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if any real terms increases in spending on public transport and the road network that result from real terms increases in revenues from fuel duties will be in addition to the planned increases in real terms spending on transport that were announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review. [107980]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Yes, within the total of managed expenditure determined by the Comprehensive Spending Review.

  Comprehensive Spending Review
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if any real terms spending on the NHS that results from real terms increases in revenues from tobacco will be in addition to the planned increases in real terms spending on the NHS that were announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review; [107982]

  (2) if spending on public transport and the road network during the period of the second Comprehensive Spending Review, excluding any increases in spending that result from real terms increases in revenues from fuel duties, will not be cut in real terms. [107981]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave him on 20 January 2000,Official Report, column 569W.

  Climate Change Levy
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what help is being given to those wood fibre particleboard and wood fibreboard producers who will be adversely affected by the climate change levy. [107938]

  Mr. Timms
  Sites in these sectors which are covered by the Integrated Pollution Prevention Control Directive, as defined by reference to Part A of the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations, will be eligible for an 80 per cent. discount from the levy if they sign up to a negotiated agreement to improve energy efficiency that meets the Government's criteria.

  More generally, all firms in these sectors will benefit from the other modifications to the design of the climate change levy announced by the Chancellor in the Pre-Budget Report, including the lower overall rates of the levy; the exemptions for electricity generated from 'new' forms of renewable energy and 'good quality' combined heat and power plants; and the trebling of support for energy efficiency measures under the levy package.

  ECOFIN Council
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the outcome of the ECOFIN Council held in Brussels on 31 January; and if he will make a statement. [108322]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer attended the Economic and Finance Council of Ministers.

  The Portuguese Presidency presented their work programme. The main emphasis will be on preparation for the Special European Council at Lisbon, which will set a new agenda for economic policy reform. Other key themes of the Presidency are continuing work on economic policy co-ordination, including the Broad Economic Policy Guidelines, promoting the single market, particularly in financial services, improving financial management, and tackling money laundering.

  The Presidency also undertook to continue work on the tax package. The Chancellor emphasised the importance of continuing to take measures that genuinely combat harmful tax competition, through the work of the Code of Conduct Group, as work is taken forward on the conclusions of the Helsinki European Council, which established the very clear principle that all citizens resident in the EU should pay the tax due on all their savings income.

  As part of Stage III of EMU, member states are obliged to submit stability (for the Outs) and convergence (for the Ins) programmes annually, as updates to their original programmes submitted in March 1999. The deadline was end December 1999, and the programmes are now being examined by ECOFIN Ministers over three meetings. The programmes for Sweden, Greece, Finland, Ireland and the Netherlands were discussed and agreed.

  Bank Accounts
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the percentage of adults who have bank accounts. [108213]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Various surveys indicate that the percentage of adults who have either a current account or a savings account is in the range 91 to 94 per cent.

  Euro
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what studies his Department has carried out to quantify(a) the trade and competition effects of the United Kingdom entering the euro and (b) the impact of the euro on trade and competition in the Euro Zone. [108374]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Government have set out five economic tests which define whether an economic case can be made for membership of EMU. The Chancellor of the Exchequer has said we will make another assessment of the five economic tests early in the next Parliament.

  Employment Statistics
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of working age people were in employment in the spring quarter of(a) 1998 and (b) 1999. [108355]
  686W
  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Frank Field, dated 3 February 2000:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question on proportions of working age people in employment.
  Estimates from the Labour Force Survey (LFS), the main source of labour market data on individuals, give the proportion of working age people in employment for spring 1998 as 73.4 per cent, and for spring 1999 as 73.9 per cent. These estimates are seasonally adjusted and are taken from Table 2a of the ONS Labour Force Survey Quarterly Supplement Vol. 6, which is held in the House of Commons Library.
  Employment rates express the total of working age in employment as a percentage of all of working age. Working age is defined as men aged 16–64 and women aged 16–59.
  People aged 16 or over are classed as in employment by the LFS if they have done at least one hour of paid work (as an employee or self-employed) in the week prior to their LFS interview or if they have a job that they are temporarily away from. People who do unpaid work in a family business and people on Government-supported training and employment programmes are also included according to the International Labour Organisation convention.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what proportion of working-age people lived in a household where no adult worked in(a) 1998 and (b) 1999; [108354]

  (2) what proportion of children aged under 16 years lived in workless households in 1998 and 1999. [108351]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Frank Field, dated 3 February 2000:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary questions on working age people in workless households and children aged under 16 in workless households.
  In August 1998 the ONS introduced Labour Force Survey (LFS) databases especially designed for analyses of labour market data on households. Workless households in the LFS are defined as households with no-one in employment. People aged 16 or over are classed as in employment by the LFS if they have done at least one hour of paid work (as an employee or self-employed) in the week prior to their LFS interview or if they have a job that they are temporarily away from. People who do unpaid work in a family business and people on Government-supported training and employment programmes are also included according to the International Labour Organisation convention.
  The estimates below have been restricted to working-age households, which are defined as households including at least one person of working age, i.e. a man aged 16 to 64 and a woman aged 16 to 59.
  For spring 1998, the estimate of the proportion of working-age people living in workless households was 13.0 per cent. For spring 1999 it was 12.6 per cent. For spring 1998, the estimate of the proportion of children aged under 16 living in workless households was 18.2 per cent. In spring 1999 it was 17.6 per cent. Both sets of figures were published in an article in the January 2000 issue of Labour Market Trends(pp 25–34) which is held in the House of Commons Library.

  Life Expectancy
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the healthy life expectancy of people aged 65 years. [108356]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Frank Field, dated 3 February 2000:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question on the healthy life expectancy of people aged 65 years.
  Healthy life expectancy combines mortality and morbidity into a single index. Using the General Household Survey question on self-reported general health, ONS has calculated that in England in 19951 a woman aged 65 could expect to live a further 13.2 years in good or fairly good health, and a man aged 65 could expect to live a further 11.4 years in good or fairly good health. This compares with total life expectancy figures at age 65 of 18.4 and 14.8 years for women and men respectively.
  The full set of results from this analysis and the methodology used will be published in the ONS journal, Health Statistics Quarterly, later this year.
  1 Using data for 1994–96

  Conceptions
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the rate of conceptions to women aged under 18 years of age per 1,000 women aged 15 to 17 years of age in 1998. [108353]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Frank Field, dated 3 February 2000:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question on the rate of conceptions to women aged under 18 years in 1998.
  Figures for 1998 are not yet available. The conception rates for women aged under 18 in England and Wales for 1990–1997 are shown in the table:

  Year

  Conceptions to women under 18 per 1,000 women aged 15–17

  1990

  47.7

  1991

  44.6

  1992

  43.6

  1993

  42.5

  1994

  42.0

  1995

  42.0

  1996

  46.4

  1997

  45.9

  Amusement Machine Licensing Duty
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been received in revenue from Amusement Machine Licensing Duty in each of the last five years. [108312]

  Mr. Timms
  The figures for receipts in the last five calendar years from Amusement Machine Licence Duty are as follows.
  688W

  £000

  Year

  Receipts

  1995

  113,014

  1996

  129,719

  1997

  132,943

  1998

  142,127

  1999

  162,157

  Fiscal Policy
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make reducing inequality a central feature of his fiscal policy. [106894]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Government are committed to building a fairer and more inclusive society in which everyone can contribute to and benefit from economic prosperity. In the Pre-Budget Report, the Chancellor set out the long-term ambition for the next decade to halve child poverty as a step on the way to abolishing child poverty within a generation. Measures in the last two Budgets will lift around 800,000 children out of poverty.

  Pensioners should also share fairly in the nation's increasing prosperity. The Pre-Budget Report announced Winter Allowance for every pensioner household for the rest of the Parliament, free TV licence for older pensioners who are most likely to be poor, and will uprate minimum income guarantee in line with earnings for the rest of the Parliament.

  Oath of Allegiance
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many letters he has received since 1 May 1997 on(a) constituency matters and (b) other matters of Government policy from each of those Members of the House who have not taken the oath of allegiance. [108412]

  Mr. Timms
  Correspondence between MPs and Departments is treated in confidence and is not a matter of public record.

  Knitted Goods Sales
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the timetable for the publication of the Office for National Statistics 1998 figures for manufacturers' sales of hosiery and other knitted goods to the public. [106914]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Detailed product data from the 1998 quarterly Products of the European Community (PRODCOM) survey of manufacturers' sales of knitted and crocheted articles were published on 28 September 1999.

  Provisional results of the 1998 Annual Business Inquiry (ABI) will be published on 11 February 2000. This News Release will contain values for turnover, purchases and gross value added for the textile and textile products industry. More detailed industry results, including those for the manufacture of knitted and crocheted articles, will be published around August 2000.

  Contingencies Fund (Kosovo)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what drawings have been made from the Contingencies Fund in relation to events in Kosovo in the past 12 months. [106896]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  No advances from the Contingency Fund have been made to Departments involved in the peacekeeping, humanitarian and refugee programmes for Kosovo in the last 12 months. There was though in June an allocation from the Reserve for £10 million additional humanitarian assistance, and the Spring Supplementary Estimates which will be the subject of separate written answers providing a further £536 million for Kosovo-related spending from the Reserve.

  VAT (Energy-saving Materials)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what studies the Treasury has undertaken on the(a) cost and (b) financial, social, economic and legal effects of reducing VAT on energy-saving materials and technologies. [108302]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Customs carried out just such a review in 1997. They published "Helping the Less Well-off Save Energy, The Scope for a Reduced Rate of VAT' in November 1997, a copy of which is available from the Library of the House. It can also be seen on the Customs and Excise website at:http://www.hmce.gov.uk/bus/vat/green.htm

  We introduced a 5 per cent. VAT rate for grant funded installations of energy-saving materials as a direct result of this report.

  Customs and Excise
  Mrs. Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes are proposed to HM Customs and Excise departmental expenditure limit and running costs limit for 1999–2000. [108698]

  Dawn Primarolo
  There are currently no plans to change the overall departmental expenditure limit of HM Customs and Excise. However, subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate for Class XVI, Vote 3 (HM Customs and Excise: administration), the running costs limit will be increased by £9,001,000 from £792,115,000 to £801,116,000. The increase is required to cover the effect of accounting classification changes on the department's IT current expenditure.

  The increase will be entirely offset by a reduction in capital provision. It will not therefore add to either the departmental expenditure limit or the planned total of public expenditure.

  Inland Revenue
  Mrs. Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes are proposed to the Inland Revenue's departmental expenditure limit and running costs limit for 1999–2000. [108697]
  690W
  Dawn Primarolo
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the Supplementary Estimate for Class XVI, Vote 4 the Inland Revenue Departmental Expenditure Limit for 1999–2000 will be increased by £10,053,000 from £2,168,461,000 to £2,178,514,000. The Inland Revenue running cost limit will also be increased by £5,663,000 from £2,168,840,000 to £2,174,503,000.

  The increase is mainly due to the transfer of £5,610,000 running costs and £4,390,000 capital from the Department of Trade and Industry, Class 9, Vote 1 for the provision of payroll support to new employers.

  The increase will be offset by transfers or charged to the DEL reserve and will not add therefore to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Public Sector Pensions
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employees(a) opted-out of or (b) did not take the option to join contributory public sector pension schemes in the period 1988 to 1994 inclusive. [108002]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Complete data are not held centrally and could be collected only at disproportionate cost. In the review of mis-selling of personal pensions it was estimated that around 300,000 employees may have opted out of the main public service pension schemes in this period. This figure excluded the Local Government Pension Scheme and the schemes for police and fire brigades which are administered on a decentralised basis by local authorities.

  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many employees were reinstated to non-contributory public sector pension schemes in the financial years 1996–97 to 1998–99 inclusive; [107999]

  (2) how many employees were reinstated to contributory public sector pension schemes in the financial years 1996–97 to 1998–99 inclusive. [108003]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Complete data are not held centrally and could be collected only at disproportionate cost. The numbers for the main public service schemes excluding those administered on a decentralised basis by local authorities are shown in the table. Information is not available on pension schemes in the wider public sector. The Armed Forces Pension Scheme is the only non-contributory public service pension scheme. Very few reinstatements were completed prior to 1997–98.

  Mis-selling review—number of reinstatements into public service pensions schemes

  1997–98 1

  1998–99

  Non-contributory scheme

  —

  —

  Armed Forces

  2

  8

  Contributory schemes

  —

  —

  Teachers

  1,626

  4,078

  National Health Service

  3,290

  22,448

  Northern Ireland Teachers, NHS etc.

  290

  801

  Civil Service2

  16

  66

  Scottish Teachers and NHS

  757

  1,832

  Total

  5,981

  29,233

  1 Includes small number of reinstatements made in 1996–97

  2 Employee contributions to the PCSPS are refundable in certain circumstances.

  691W
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employees(a) opted-out of or (b) did not take up the option to join non-contributory public sector pension schemes in the period 1988 to 1994 inclusive. [107998]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The Armed Forces Pension Scheme is the only non-contributory public service pension scheme. Entry to the scheme is automatic on employment. 83 employees opted out of the scheme in the period 1988 to 1994.

  Press Releases
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many press releases his Department issued from 1995 to 1999. [108183]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 2 February 2000,Official Report, column 636W.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Child Care
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the impact of planned Ofsted inspections of child minders on the provision of child minding services. [105988]

  Ms Hodge
  Transferring the responsibility for child minding and day care regulation to the new and distinct Early Years Directorate in Ofsted will enable the best of the present regulatory system for child care to be brought together with that for nursery education inspections. This will help create greater coherence and integration and will lead to improvements in the quality of child care and early years education services. The new Directorate will deliver its services through a national and regional structure supported by a local presence.

  Establishing new national standards will ensure consistency across the country. The present system has led to widely varying interpretations; a national framework delivered at a local level will ensure greater clarity and consistency for providers, including child minders. In addition, local authorities will continue to provide training, guidance and advice to child minders and prospective child minders to encourage them to meet the relevant standards for registration.

  Parents will have access to open information from Ofsted reports and this will enable them to make better informed choices. This will ensure that parents have greater trust and confidence in the quality of the child care services available locally.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he will reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed dated 12 October 1999, relating to a constituent living in Shilbottle, Northumberland, on the subject of a student loan. [107286]
  692W
  Mr. Blunkett
  A reply was sent on 1 February 2000. I am sorry for the delay in replying to the right hon. Member.

  Seed Challenge Capital (Essex)
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the total allocation of Seed Challenge Capital for schools within Essex County Council in the next financial year; and how many schools within Essex County Council are eligible to bid for funds under the scheme. [107758]

  Jacqui Smith
  The total allocation of Seed Challenge Capital for schools within Essex County Council in the next financial year is £650,909. All maintained schools are eligible to bid for funds under the scheme. The next financial year, 2000–01, is a pilot year for Seed Challenge. If it is successful in building partnerships and raising additional funding, we will consider expanding the scheme in future years.

  Computers
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on how many occasions in each of the past five years computer systems in his Department have been illegally accessed by computer hackers(a) within and (b) outside his Department. [106223]

  Mr. Wills
  There have been no successful attempts to gain illegal access to DfEE systems in the past five years from either within or outside my Department.

  Degree Courses
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many students enrolled for degree courses in each year since 1995. [108009]

  Mr. Wicks
  The available information is given in the table. 1997 entrant numbers may have been inflated because entrants who might otherwise have taken a gap year decided not to as they were influenced by the knowledge that fees would be introduced with effect from 1998. Comparable data for 1999–2000 will be published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency in April.

  Entrants to first degree courses in higher education institutions in the UK 1

  Year of entry

  Entrants

  1995

  348,211

  1996

  349,130

  1997

  358,560

  1998

  350,321

  1 Full-time and part-time courses, excluding the Open University and HE students in FE colleges

  UCAS figures covering full-time and sandwich undergraduate courses only, show that the number of UK domiciled applicants accepted for entry increased by 1.6 per cent. between autumn 1998 and autumn 1999.

  Foreign Seamen
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many foreign seamen have received work permits in the last 12 months. [108022]

  Ms Hodge
  No foreign seamen have received work permits during the last 12 months.

  Playing Fields
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many inner-city schools have access to playing fields for sport. [108134]

  Jacqui Smith
  The Department does not collect this information.

  Destinations of first degree graduates from higher education institutions in the United Kingdom six months after graduation

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  Number

  Percentage1

  Number

  Percentage1

  Number

  Percentage1

  Number

  Percentage1

  Full-time employment

  78,940

  44.5

  93,561

  49.2

  97,163

  50.2

  99,982

  51.0

  Part-time employment

  8,099

  4.6

  8,297

  4.4

  8,167

  4.2

  8,317

  4.2

  Further training

  36,848

  20.8

  37,612

  19.8

  36,858

  19.1

  37,338

  19.1

  Unemployed

  15,194

  8.6

  14,381

  7.6

  12,354

  6.4

  10,440

  5.3

  Other2

  38,443

  21.7

  36,405

  19.1

  38,928

  20.1

  39,833

  20.3

  Total number of graduates with known destination

  177,524

  100.0

  190,256

  100.0

  193,470

  100.0

  195,910

  100.0

  1 Constituent parts may not sum to total because of rounding

  2 Includes overseas students returning overseas and graduates not available for employment

  Montserrat
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what discussions he has had with the British Council regarding the higher education awards to students from Montserrat studying in the United Kingdom. [108139]

  Mr. Wicks
  Officials from my Department meet from time to time with the British Council, who administer the Montserrat Emergency Award Scheme, to discuss the scheme's effectiveness, guidance on eligibility criteria, numbers of Montserrat students involved and the associated funding required. The scheme began in 1997, following volcanic activity on Montserrat, and provides students with bursaries to help meet the costs of their higher education tuition in England and Wales. My Department is providing £1.322 million to support 198 students in the current financial year.

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many(a) primary school and (b) secondary school pupils are estimated to be in classes of 30 or more pupils for each year from 1990–91 to 2000–01; and if he will make a statement. [107790]

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

  Information on class sizes in January is currently being collected for the year 1999–2000 and provisional estimates will be published in a Statistical First Release in April 2000. Figures for the year 2000–01 will not be collected until the next Annual census exercise is undertaken in January 2001.

  Graduates
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of graduates in the UK gained full-time employment within two years of graduating in each year since 1995. [108008]

  Mr. Wicks
  Information on the destinations of graduates is collected annually by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), and shows the employment position of students six months after graduation. This information is given in the table.

  Recent research undertaken by the Institute for Employment Research which tracked the longer term career paths of graduates was published in "Moving On-Graduate Careers Three Years after Graduation" and showed that approximately 90 per cent. of students graduating in July 1995 were in employment in December 1998.

  Number of pupils in maintained primary and secondary schools in classes of size 30 or more taught by one teacher—199I to 1999—position as at January—England

  Classes of 30 or more

  All classes

  Primary

  1999

  1,827,600

  4,051,806

  1998

  1,927,842

  4,054,801

  1997

  1,842,141

  4,025,162

  1996

  1,750,781

  3,966,235

  1995

  1,625,305

  3,908,390

  1994

  1,519,753

  3,813,285

  1993

  1,412,153

  3,719,076

  1992

  1,320,492

  3,625,346

  1991

  1,306,768

  3,577,523

  Secondary

  1999

  571,634

  2,890,610

  1998

  519,363

  2,845,146

  1997

  461,780

  2,808,509

  1996

  437,576

  2,766,832

  1995

  399,990

  2,735,880

  1994

  387,807

  2,666,538

  1993

  355,731

  2,572,728

  1992

  328,578

  2,509,381

  1991

  308,747

  2,466,025

  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will publish the available information on(a) primary and (b) secondary school class sizes in Somerset for each of the years 1995–96 to 1999–2000. [107791]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  A summary of class size information in maintained Primary and Secondary schools in the Somerset local education authority area for
  695W
  the academic years 1995–96 to 1998–99 is shown in the tables. Similar information about classes in Somerset for the academic year 1999–2000 is currently being collected and will be available from September.

  Number of classes and pupils taught by one teacher in maintained primary schools in the Somerset local education authority area—1996 to 1999—position as at January—England

  Size of class

  1999

  1998

  1997

  1996

  1–20

  Number of classes

  113

  129

  134

  137

  Number of pupils

  1,716

  2,018

  2,156

  2,120

  21–30

  Number of classes

  793

  759

  787

  786

  Number of pupils

  21,221

  20,223

  21,004

  20,818

  31 to 35

  Number of classes

  412

  417

  385

  396

  Number of pupils

  13,431

  13,574

  12,443

  12,840

  36 to 40

  Number of classes

  53

  45

  45

  21

  Number of pupils

  1,941

  1,651

  1,653

  768

  41 and over

  Number of classes

  0

  2

  0

  1

  Number of pupils

  0

  83

  0

  41

  All classes

  Number of classes

  1,371

  1,352

  1,351

  1,341

  Number of pupils

  38,309

  37,549

  37,256

  36,587

  Number of classes and pupils taught by one teacher in maintained secondary schools in the Somerset local education authority area Position as at January—England

  Size of class

  1999

  1998

  1997

  1996

  1–20

  Number of classes

  313

  297

  366

  352

  Number of pupils

  4,431

  4,296

  5,324

  5,128

  21–30

  Number of classes

  731

  737

  718

  712

  Number of pupils

  19,172

  19,230

  18,722

  18,572

  31–35

  Number of classes

  150

  136

  118

  110

  Number of pupils

  4,855

  4,340

  3,803

  3,504

  36–40

  Number of classes

  3

  4

  1

  2

  Number of pupils

  108

  145

  37

  74

  41 and over

  Number of classes

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Number of pupils

  0

  0

  0

  41

  All classes

  Number of classes

  1,197

  1,174

  1,203

  1,177

  Number of pupils

  28,566

  28,011

  27,886

  27,319

  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will estimate the number of pupils in(a) primary school classes and (b) secondary school classes with over 30 pupils for each English county from 1991–92 to 1999–2000; and what percentage these numbers represent of the total (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools population for each such county. [107792]
  696W
  Ms Estelle Morris
  The available information is shown in the tables, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

  Information on classes as taught in England in January 2000 is currently being collected and provisional national figures will be published in a Statistical First Release in April.

  Teacher Competencies
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 28 January 2000,Official Report, columns 386–87W, on teacher competencies, (a) how the proposed standards for teachers wishing to cross the proposed new performance threshold will be determined and (b) when the Hay McBer report will be considered. [108423]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The standards for the performance threshold will be determined by the Secretary of State in the light of comments from School Teachers' Review Body consultees. A draft was proposed in the technical consultation document on pay and performance management, published in February 1999. It is being further developed in the light of responses received during the consultation on the technical consultation document and in the light of research by Hay McBer into the characteristics of effective teaching. Recommendations about the performance threshold standards were an early output of that research.

  DfEE expects to receive the final report from Hay McBer on the characteristics of effective teaching at the end of February 2000. The full report will look at the characteristics of effective teaching at different stages of the profession, including post-induction and Advanced Skills Teacher. DfEE will want to consider, with the profession, how this framework might be used to support teachers' continuing professional development.

  Standard Spending Assessments
  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is his estimate of(a) primary school per pupil standard spending assessments and (b) secondary school per pupil standard spending assessments for each English county for each of the years 1990–91 to 2000–01 in real terms using 1998–99 prices; and if in each case he will rank these from highest to lowest per pupil expenditure. [107787]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  I will place tables in the Library that give the figures requested for the 34 Upper Tier Authorities1 based on the final Standard Spending Assessment allocations for 1990–91 to 2000–01. These have not been adjusted for any changes in local authority function over the years and may not be directly comparable due to the effects of local government reorganisation.
  1 Upper Tier Authority is a DETR term used to define county/shire councils.

  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what plans he has to review the levels of(a) primary school and (b) secondary school standard spending assessments across English counties; and if he will make a statement; [107788]
  697W
  (2) if he will make a statement on his assessment of whether funding of (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Somerset on the basis of standard spending assessments is presently fair and equitable in relation to such funding levels across the rest of English education authorities. [107793]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Government are well aware that there is widespread concern about the fairness of the current formula for funding local authorities. The Government announced in November 1998 a review in partnership with local government to look for a way of distributing revenue support grant which is simpler, more stable, more robust and fairer than the present arrangements for Standard Spending Assessments. The Government will be issuing a Green Paper on options for change by the Summer.

  School Funding (Somerset)
  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many bids have been received from schools in Somerset since 1 May 1997 for all centrally allocated spending, classified as(a) capital funding, (b) Standards Fund funding and (c) other funding; how many of such bids have been (i) successful and (ii) unsuccessful; and if he will make a statement. [107789]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Centrally allocated funds, including the Standards Fund and funding for capital work, are usually distributed on a formula basis or as a result of bids from Local Education Authorities, not via bids from individual maintained schools. Non-maintained special schools can bid directly for capital grant, but there are no such schools in Somerset. Until March 1999 grant maintained schools bid to the Funding Agency for Schools (FAS) for capital grants on a rolling programme. Between May 1997 and March 1999, 13 bids from grant maintained schools located in Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset were successful. The FAS maintained no record of the number of unsuccessful bids. Schools in Somerset have also led two successful bids for setting up Education Action Zones.

  Teacher Redundancies
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many teacher redundancies in maintained schools there were(a) during the academic year 1999–2000 and (b) in the previous five academic years. [108314]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The number of teacher premature retirements on the grounds of redundancy1 from the maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special sector in England and Wales by financial year2 is in the table:

  Year

  Number

  1994–95

  2,400

  1995–96

  3,300

  1996–97

  2,900

  1997–98

  2,300

  1 Data on teachers taking severance on the grounds of redundancy are not held centrally.

  2 Data for 1998–99 and 1999–2000 are not available.

  Educational Achievement
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of the working-age population had a qualification in(a) 1998 and (b) 1999. [108350]

  Mr. Wicks
  The proportion of the working age population in the United Kingdom to have any qualification, as measured by the Labour Force Survey, was 82.1 per cent. in 1998 and 82.9 per cent. in 1999.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Immigration
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the number of children(a) from the Indian sub-continent and (b) from the rest of the world wrongly refused settlement by his Department on the basis of not being related as claimed, who are now able to prove their relationship through DNA testing. [107293]

  Mrs. Roche
  I regret that there is no reliable way of assessing the numbers of such children, who were refused entry clearance in good faith on the evidence available at the time.

  Mr. Rouea Gargan
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will conduct an investigation into his Department's loss of Mr. Rouea Gargan's passport, ref. G1008833. [107053]

  Mrs. Roche
  I am very sorry that Mr. Gargan's passport appears to have been lost. Several searches have been conducted by the Integrated Casework Directorate (ICD) in an effort to locate Mr. Gargan's passport and documents. The ICD will continue to search for them and if they are recovered in the short term, his passport will be endorsed and returned to him. The issue of compensation in connection with his replacement documents will be addressed as soon as possible.

  In the meantime, Mr. Gargan has now been issued with a letter facilitating his readmission to the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the correspondence of 18 August 1999 and 22 November 1999 from the hon. Member for Torbay regarding Mr. Rouea Gargan, a constituent; and if he will make a statement. [107055]

  Mrs. Roche
  I wrote to the hon. Member today. I am sorry for the delay.

  Credit Ratings
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the credit rating of companies seeking to tender for services provided by his Department is checked before the contract is awarded. [107742]

  Mr. Straw
  In assessing a company's capability for providing services to the Department over the period of a contract, its financial status and background will be checked using information which will include latest
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  audited accounts and other relevant published details such as credit and debt rating. These checks are undertaken on contracts where early termination would place a financial and operational risk on the Department.

  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how often the credit rating of companies supplying services to his Department is checked. [107748]

  Mr. Straw
  Once a contract has been let, the Department will carry out checks only if it has reason to believe that any of its contractors may be in financial difficulty.

  Freedom of Information
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the proportion of freedom of information requests for information which will be turned down because of the cost; and if he will make a statement. [108085]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Under the Freedom of Information Bill, a fee may be charged by a public authority, in accordance with regulations made by the Secretary of State. The regulations will set an 'appropriate limit', whereby if the cost of complying with the request exceeds that limit they would be exempt from that obligation under clause 11 of the Bill. These regulations are currently being prepared and it is intended that they will be circulated in draft as soon as possible. However, without pre-empting the regulations the Government's view have been that the 'appropriate limit' should be the same as the £500 threshold for disproportionate costs which currently applies to parliamentary questions. It is not possible to make accurate projections of the number of requests that will fall outside this limit at this stage. However, I am confident that the percentage of cases where the exemption is claimed and the applicant refused will be very small.

  It is, of course, possible that this threshold would be exceeded on occasions where, for example, an application required a significant amount of work on the part of the authority in drawing the information together. In such circumstances, the authority would still be required to consider the disclosure of the information, under clause 13 of the Bill, if to do so would be in the public interest. Therefore, even if the 'appropriate limit' is exceeded, it is still possible, because of the nature of the information, that it will be disclosed.

  Wormwood Scrubs
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will make an announcement on the future of HMP Wormwood Scrubs; and if he will make a statement. [108080]

  Mr. Straw
  Following the publication of the Chief Inspector of Prisons report on Wormwood Scrubs in June I asked him to undertake a six month follow-up inspection to check on progress. The Chief Inspector is expected to commence this follow-up inspection shortly. I will make an announcement after I have received the Chief Inspector's report and given due consideration to his recommendations.

  War Crimes
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people residing in the UK have been investigated for war crimes; and if he will make a statement. [108082]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  376 individuals were investigated by the former War Crimes Unit at New Scotland Yard after the introduction of the War Crimes Act 1991. In addition, one person (Konrad Kalejs) temporarily present in the country was investigated by the Metropolitan police earlier this year. I am not aware of any other such investigations.

  Electoral Register
  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to introduce the provisions of the Representation of the People Bill relating to the rolling electoral register. [107918]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I would like to bring this change into force in time for the next annual registration canvass in the autumn, together with those relating to the sale of the register and other registration changes. But the timetable will depend on the progress of the Representation of the People Bill through Parliament; agreement on the content of the subsequent regulations and their precise drafting; and parliamentary approval of those regulations under the affirmative resolution procedures.

  British Citizenship Applications
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current waiting time for case workers to commence to process applications for British citizenship. [108108]

  Mrs. Roche
  The average waiting time for applications decided in December 1999 was 19 months.

  Oath of Allegiance
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many letters he has received since 1 May 1997 on(a) constituency matters and (b) other matters of Government policy from each of those Members of the House who have not taken the Oath of Allegiance. [108408]

  Mr. Straw
  Correspondence between Members and Departments is treated in confidence unless the Member concerned chooses to make such issues public. I am therefore unable to provide the information requested.

  Immigration and Asylum
  Mr. Hope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he has made on consultation with regard to implementation of the provisions of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 relating to(a) civil penalty, (b) flexibility and passenger information, (c) facilities to be provided by port operators and (d) charging for additional immigration services. [108705]

  Mrs. Roche
  Constructive and detailed discussions are proceeding with representative organisations. As part of that process, consultation papers relating to each of these provisions have been circulated to those representatives and others in the industry. I have placed copies of the documents in the Library.

  Police Officer Numbers
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to place the announcement of twice-yearly police officer number figures for England and Wales on a regular timescale; if the latest figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [108081]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  There are no plans to announce changes to police numbers within a specific timescale. The figures are published as soon as all police forces have submitted the relevant information and it has been validated. Police numbers as at 30 September 1999 will be issued shortly.

  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many extra police officers there will be in Somerset in each of the next three years as a result of his recent statement of intent to increase national police officer numbers by 5,000; and if he will make a statement. [107796]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  We are currently assessing the bids which all forces have made under the recruitment scheme of the Crime Fighting Fund to determine whether they meet the criteria laid down in the bidding guidelines which were issued to forces and a copy placed in the Library on 2 December 1999. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary will be announcing the results shortly.

  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the(a) establishment and (b) actual available officer numbers for (i) each English police force and (ii) each Avon and Somerset divisional force for the latest period for which statistics are available; and if he will make a statement. [107841]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  It is for chief constables to determine the number of officers in each force, within the resources available. The latest available information on the number of officers in each English police force is set out in the table.

  Figures showing the authorised strength and actual strength of the eight territorial divisions in the Avon and Somerset Constabulary are are also shown. This information has been provided by the chief constable.

  Police numbers—England for 31 March 1999

  Force

  Strength as at 31 March 1999 1

  Avon and Somerset

  2,999.3

  Bedfordshire

  1,041.3

  Cambridgeshire

  1,274.4

  Cheshire

  2,070.6

  City of London

  778.1

  Cleveland

  1,415.6

  Cumbria

  1,126

  Derbyshire

  1,758.6

  Devon and Cornwall

  2,887

  Dorset

  1,279.1

  Durham

  1,567.9

  Essex

  2.890.5

  Gloucestershire

  1,104.1

  Greater Manchester

  6,809.9

  Hampshire

  3,473.4

  Hertfordshire

  1,723.7

  Humberside

  1,974.4

  Kent

  3,200.8

  Lancashire

  3,244.8

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  Police numbers—England for 31 March 1999

  Force

  Strength as at 31 March 1999 1

  Leicestershire

  1,993.2

  Lincolnshire

  1,139.6

  Merseyside

  4,211

  Metropolitan Police

  26,073.1

  Norfolk

  1,381.4

  Northamptonshire

  1,137.5

  Northumbria

  3,840.2

  North Yorkshire

  1,336.5

  Nottinghamshire

  2,224.6

  South Yorkshire

  3,168

  Staffordshire

  2,237.6

  Suffolk

  1,190,2

  Surrey

  1,661.9

  Sussex

  2,846.8

  Thames Valley

  3,748.1

  Warwickshire

  907.7

  West Mercia

  2,024.7

  West Midlands

  7,320.8

  West Yorkshire

  4,982

  Wiltshire

  1,151

  1 Full-time equivalents

  Avon and Somerset Constabulary—police numbers by divisions as at 30 September 1999

  Force division

  Authorised strength

  Actual strength for 30 September 1999

  Central Bristol

  348

  341

  South Bristol

  243

  238

  North Bristol

  247

  245

  South Gloucestershire

  253

  254

  Bath and North East Somerset

  209

  209

  East Somerset

  238

  239

  West Somerset

  282

  280

  North Somerset

  197

  196

  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the total number of police officers in England and Wales on 31 January. [108292]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Information on police numbers is collected twice a year (March and September). Police strength figures as at 31 March 1999 were 126,096; figures as at 30 September will be published shortly.

  Police Officers (Sick Leave)
  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers are on long-term sick leave in(a) each English police force and (b) each Avon and Somerset divisional force for the latest period for which such statistics are available; if he will restate these figures to show them as a proportion of total establishment officer strength in each case; and if he will make a statement. [107842]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Information about the number of police officers on long-term sick leave is not held centrally. The table shows: the total number of police days lost in 1998–99 due to long-term sick leave for all forces in England and Wales; and the percentage of working days in that year lost as a result of long-term sick leave.

  The same information is not held centrally for each division of Avon and Somerset Constabulary.
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  Police days lost due to long-term sick leave—1998–99

  Average police strength

  Total working days assuming 228 per officer based on average strength

  Police days lost due to long-term sick leave

  Percentage of working days lost to long-term sick leave

  Avon and Somerset

  3,012

  686,736

  15,813

  2.3

  Bedfordshire

  1,041

  237,407

  9,563

  3.6

  Cambridgeshire

  1,295

  295,260

  9,117

  3.1

  Cheshire

  2,111

  481,308

  16,958

  3.6

  City of London

  790

  180,120

  6,021

  3.4

  Cleveland

  1,471

  335,388

  10,703

  3.3

  Cumbria

  1,160

  264,480

  5,726

  2.2

  Derbyshire

  1,777

  405,224

  13,268

  3.3

  Devon and Cornwall

  2,946

  671,592

  17,236

  2.6

  Dorset

  1,303

  297,084

  7,055

  2.4

  Durham

  1,552

  353,856

  8,871

  2.5

  Dyfed-Powys

  1,044

  238,032

  5,950

  2.5

  Essex

  2,936

  669,408

  21,124

  3.2

  Gloucestershire

  1,113

  253,764

  7,721

  3.1

  Greater Manchester

  6,913

  1,576,164

  64,372

  4.1

  Gwent

  1,250

  285,000

  9,300

  3.3

  Hampshire

  3,470

  791,160

  19,763

  2.5

  Hertfordshire

  1,752

  399,456

  9,312

  2.4

  Humberside

  2,021

  460,788

  8,609

  1.9

  Kent

  3,269

  745,332

  18,668

  2.6

  Lancashire

  3,331

  759,468

  22,601

  3.1

  Leicestershire

  2,037

  464,436

  12,626

  2.8

  Lincolnshire

  1,171

  266,988

  8,140

  3.1

  Merseyside

  4,373

  996,930

  42,234

  4.4

  Metropolitan police

  26,566

  6,057,048

  188,602

  3.2

  Norfolk

  1,426

  325,128

  7,654

  2.4

  North Wales

  1,416

  322,848

  9,561

  3

  North Yorkshire

  1,360

  310,080

  9,761

  3.2

  Northamptonshire

  1,167

  266,094

  6,261

  2.4

  Northumbria

  3,854

  878,598

  32,218

  3.7

  Nottinghamshire

  2,248

  512,544

  20,725

  4.1

  South Wales

  2,989

  681,492

  33,385

  4.9

  South Yorkshire

  3,165

  721,506

  18,966

  2.6

  Staffordshire

  2,279

  519,498

  20,291

  4

  Suffolk

  1,195

  272,460

  5,688

  2.1

  Surrey

  1,680

  383,136

  9,496

  2.5

  Sussex

  2,962

  675,336

  16,794

  2.6

  Thames Valley

  3,822

  871,491

  33,478

  3.9

  Warwickshire

  925

  210,786

  7,066

  3.4

  West Mercia

  2,033

  463,524

  9,273

  2

  West Midlands

  7,250

  1,653,000

  55,721

  3.3

  West Yorkshire

  5,053

  1,152,084

  36,821

  3.2

  Wiltshire

  1,169

  266,532

  5,612

  2.3

  England and Wales Total

  125,695

  28,658,567

  897,125

  3.2

  Young Offenders (Avon and Somerset)
  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his estimate is of the number of young offenders within the Avon and Somerset area who have committed(a) five offences or more, (b) 10 offences of more, (c) 20 offences or more and (d) 50 offences or more; and if he will make a statement. [107844]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The exact information requested is not held centrally. However, information is available on the number of recordable offences for which a 1998 sample of persistent young offenders had been convicted.

  This indicates that a total of 173 individual persistent young offenders were sentenced on one or more occasions during 1998 following apprehension by the Avon and Somerset police. Of these 33 had been sentenced for a total of between five and nine recordable offences, 64 had been sentenced for between 10 and 19 recordable offences, 65 had been sentenced for between 20 and
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  49 recordable offences, and 10 had been sentenced for 50 or more recordable offences. The remaining individual had been sentenced for four recordable offences.

  We define persistent young offenders as having at least three previous convictions and being apprehended for a further offence within three years of their most recent previous sentence.

  Avon and Somerset Police
  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers in the Avon and Somerset force are(a) allocated to policing within the Bristol area and (b) on standby for policing within the Bristol area; and if he will make a statement. [107843]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I understand from the Chief Constable that three territorial divisions police the Bristol area. At the end of January, there were 831 police officers in these divisions.
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  Police officers are not held on standby for policing a particular division. Avon and Somerset Constabulary's resources are managed to provide flexibility of response to major incidents, whether planned or spontaneous. A number of specialist units are also available to provide specialised operational policing capabilities on a forcewide basis.

  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) civilians and (b) special constables have been employed by the Avon and Somerset Police for each of the last five years. [107845]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The strength of the civilians and special constables employed by Avon and Somerset Constabulary for each of the last five years is recorded in the table:

  Year 1

  Civilians 2

  Special Constables

  1995

  1,204

  651

  1996

  1,213

  688

  1997

  1,438

  759

  1998

  1,393

  621

  1999

  1,424

  547

  1 As at 31 March

  2 The civilian figures are full time equivalents, and do not include traffic wardens

  Source:

  Research, Development and Statistics Directorate, Home Office

  Police Calls
  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the number of(a) calls and (b) completed call cards for each English police force for the latest available year; and if he will give the ratio of police officers to calls and call cards for each force. [107798]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Data are not collected in the form requested. Information held by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary for the year 1998–99 in respect of all calls to the police for services requiring further action by the police is given in the table:

  Forces

  Police strength 1

  Total calls for service 2

  Calls for service per 100 police officers

  Avon and Somerset

  2,999

  403,579

  13,456

  Bedfordshire

  1,041

  142,369

  13,673

  Cambridgeshire

  1,283

  214,617

  16,729

  Cheshire

  2,071

  271,785

  13,126

  City of London

  798

  38,134

  4,778

  Cleveland

  1,430

  213,864

  14,957

  Cumbria

  1,133

  208,378

  18,400

  Derbyshire

  1,761

  273,251

  15,519

  Devon and Cornwall

  2,924

  488,432

  16,704

  Dorset

  1,292

  160,122

  12,393

  Durham

  1,541

  191,538

  12,427

  Dyfed-Powys

  1,014

  126,536

  12,475

  Essex

  2,844

  372,538

  13,099

  Gloucestershire

  1,048

  200,547

  19,145

  Greater Manchester

  6,754

  1,186,696

  17,569

  Gwent

  1,252

  193,197

  15,435

  Hampshire

  3,488

  536,129

  15,371

  Hertfordshire

  1,734

  324,260

  18,702

  Humberside

  1,998

  402,262

  20,135

  Kent

  3,208

  393,175

  12,257

  Lancashire

  3,245

  641,498

  19,770

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  Forces

  Police strength 1

  Total calls for service 2

  Calls for service per 100 police officers

  Leicestershire

  1,988

  277,683

  13,967

  Lincolnshire

  1,140

  135,623

  11,901

  Merseyside

  4,214

  514,127

  12,201

  Metropolitan Police

  24,447

  3,336,173

  13,646

  Norfolk

  1,401

  179,319

  12,799

  North Wales

  1,415

  161,879

  11,440

  North Yorkshire

  1,352

  225,125

  16,653

  Northamptonshire

  1,166

  179,783

  15,425

  Northumbria

  3,840

  601,251

  15,657

  Nottinghamshire

  2,283

  350,989

  15,377

  South Wales

  2,981

  544,026

  18,247

  South Yorkshire

  3,168

  423,145

  13,357

  Staffordshire

  2,265

  386,913

  17,084

  Suffolk

  1,189

  134,051

  11,276

  Surrey

  1,635

  202,727

  12,398

  Sussex

  2,718

  515,537

  18,970

  Thames Valley

  3,649

  479,065

  13,127

  Warwickshire

  916

  118,666

  12,949

  West Mercia

  2,005

  373,206

  18,614

  West Midlands

  7,182

  840,539

  11,704

  West Yorkshire

  5,022

  693,661

  13,813

  Wiltshire

  1,186

  185,292

  15,623

  Provincial Total

  97,570

  14,505,514

  14,867

  England and Wales Total

  122,018

  17,841,687

  14,622

  1 Figures as 31 March 1999 are used for performance indicator purposes. This is total strength excluding operational officers on secondment and assigned to protection duties.

  2 Defined as any request for assistance that requires any further action, not necessarily immediately.

  Police Overtime
  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the number of hours of(a) paid and (b) unpaid overtime by police officers for each of the last five years, broken down by each English police force. [107797]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Information is not held centrally on the number of hours of paid and unpaid overtime worked by police officers, and cannot be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost.

  Exotic Animals
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to introduce tighter controls to limit the sale of exotic animals; and if he will make a statement; [108179]

  (2) what his policy is in respect of the animal welfare implications of the sale of reptiles in DIY stores; and if he will make a statement. [108178]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Our policy is to ensure that law is in place to safeguard the welfare of animals offered for sale as pets. This applies as much to reptiles in do-it-yourself stores, as it does to animals sold through other outlets. We intend that the law should be effectively enforced.

  We believe that the Pet Animals Act 1951 (as amended), together with the Protection of Animals Act 1911 (as amended), meet that objective. Although there is

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  no plan to introduce tighter controls at present, we will keep the situation under review to ensure the law is able to address the issues.

  Under the 1951 Act, persons in the business of selling pet animals must be licensed by local authorities. The licence conditions have to cover the suitability and cleanliness of the animals' accommodation, feeding arrangements, and protection from disease and fire. The local authority may inspect licensed premises at all reasonable times, and a breach of licence conditions may result in a fine of £500 and/or three months imprisonment for the offender, as well as his or her disqualification from keeping a pet shop in future.

  Under the 1911 Act, it is an offence, punishable by a fine of up to £5,000 and/or six months imprisonment, to cause unnecessary suffering to any domestic or captive animal, and this includes animals kept as stock by persons trading in pets, both before and after their sale.

  In addition, some species of reptile may be lawfully kept, after purchase from a pet supplier, only by someone suitably licensed under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976. Others may be threatened species controlled under the Convention on the Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), under which welfare requirements must be satisfied before the animals concerned are allowed to enter the country. There is control over their subsequent movements.

  Burns Inquiry
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons he rejected the proposal to appoint(a) AJF Webster, (b) Piran White, (c) Donald Broom, (d) Stephen Harris and (e) Baroness Young to the Burns Inquiry into hunting; and if he will make a statement. [108181]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  It would be invidious to give details of the merits of any person not appointed to the Committee of Inquiry into Hunting.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he made of the personal views of the members appointed to serve on the Burns Inquiry; and if he will make a statement. [108227]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I set out any association which each member of the Inquiry Team has had with hunting in the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, North (Dr. Gibson) on 1 February 2000,Official Report, columns 504–06W.

  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is satisfied that any personal and private views, one way or the other, will not prevent any of them from providing an informative view on the issues before the Committee.

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to meet the target set in the EU 5th Environmental Action Programme of halving the number of animals used in experiments by 2000; and if he will make a statement. [108180]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The 5th Environment Action Programme did not set a baseline against which progress could be monitored. Nor did it set a plan for implementing
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  the proposal. Most member states did not produce accurate statistics in 1993. Fundamental questions, such as whether it was a country-by-country or a Europe wide target, were not addressed. There is no mechanism for a year-on-year reduction.

  A European conference was held in April 1997 to discuss the 50 per cent. target. The United Kingdom was represented by Home Office officials, a member of the Animal Procedures Committee, and interest groups. It was generally agreed that the 50 per cent. target was unrealistic, unhelpful and over-simplistic. The reduction target was recognised as ignoring the importance of refining experiments to minimise suffering. It was suggested that specific types of animal use (for example, the use of primates and aspects of regulatory testing) should be targeted.

  Neither Directive 86/609/European Economic Community, nor the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, make provision for controlling the overall number of procedures. The Act requires that project licences be granted only if the benefits have been weighed against the costs and the purpose of the work cannot be achieved by other means. We cannot dictate how many applications for new project licences will be submitted, nor how many proposed programmes will satisfy the requirements of the Act, particularly the cost/benefit assessment. We are, however, ensuring that animals are used in scientific procedures only where this is fully justified and that the overall numbers of animals used is minimised as far as possible. We are also pressing for advances in the 3Rs of reduction, refinement and replacement.

  Violent Offences
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking to reduce the number of violent offences committed in England and Wales. [108287]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, 375 local partnerships have been established in every area across the country to develop local crime reduction strategies to address local demands. Over time these will provide a measure of crime more relevant to people's everyday experience. The Crime Reduction Strategy, launched by the Government last November, sets out how we are working with partnerships and the steps we are taking to reduce crime. The Government have a range of measures and initiatives to deal with violent crime in particular. They include the following:We have asked police and local authorities to set targets from April 2000 to reduce violent crime under the regime of Best Value performance indicators;
  Tougher sentences are now in place including automatic life sentences for those convicted for the second time of serious violent or sexual offences (legislation passed under the last Government);
  New sex offender orders to protect children and the public (introduced December 1998) and new powers for the court to order extended supervision of sex offenders for up to ten years following their release from prison;
  New resources to tackle domestic violence including £6 million from the crime reduction programme;
  New targeted policing projects to test out the best way of tackling racial violence (four London boroughs) and alcohol related assaults (Cardiff);
  A ban on private ownership of all handguns was introduced within months of the general election;

  709W
  The Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 includes new measures to help vulnerable witnesses such as rape victims (eg banning their cross-examination by a defendant). One of the reasons for the increase in sexual offences is the greater likelihood that victims will report the offence because of improved handling by the police;
  In the new Crime Bill we are looking to expand the use of electronic monitoring of dangerous and violent offenders;
  We are consulting on measures to deal with dangerous people with severe personality disorder including an indefinite sentence to ensure the public are protected from those who pose the greatest risk;
  We are also investing £226 million in offending behaviour programmes in prison including sex offender treatment programmes to reduce the likelihood of reoffending on release; and
  Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) contributes to a safer environment which can reduce levels of violence and disorder. Part of the Government's £400 million evidence based Crime Reduction Programme includes £150 million for CCTV schemes. 180 schemes were announced on Monday 17 January.

  Crime Fighting Fund
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications to the Crime Fighting Fund for police recruits have been received. [108290]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  All 43 police forces in England and Wales have submitted applications for funding for police recruits under the Crime Fighting Fund. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary will be announcing the results shortly.

  Asylum Applications
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current size of the backlog of asylum applications. [108289]

  Mrs. Roche
  The current estimate for the backlog of asylum claims which were awaiting an initial decision at 31 December 1999 was 102,870.

  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking to reduce the backlog of asylum applications. [108288]

  Mrs. Roche
  A dedicated team has been set up to deal with pre-July 1993 applications and those between July 1993 and December 1995, in accordance with the criteria set out in the White Paper. We have nearly cleared the backlog of pre-1993 cases and expect to clear the backlog of 1993–95 cases by the summer of this year at the latest.

  We have developed new processes to speed up the consideration of asylum applications and recruited numerous additional decision makers to process both new applications and those in the backlog dating from 1996 onwards. Output of asylum decisions has recently increased to record levels.

HEALTH

  Cystic Fibrosis
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to provide free prescriptions to sufferers of cystic fibrosis; and if he will make a statement. [103651]
  710W
  Ms Stuart
  We reviewed the prescription charging arrangements as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review and concluded that the present arrangements should remain for the rest of this Parliament.

  Aricept
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the NHS's prescribing policies in relation to Aricept of(a) West Kent Health Authority, (b) Thames Gateway NHS Trust and (c) general practitioners in the Sittingbourne and Sheppey constituency. [106050]

  Ms Stuart
  Information about local policies on the treatment of Alzheimer's disease is not routinely collected and assessed centrally, but I understand that West Kent Health Authority is funding the prescribing of Aricept by consultants to patients with uncomplicated Alzheimer's disease. In developing its policy, the health authority took into account the evidence on clinical and cost effectiveness of Aricept, and did not consider it sufficiently convincing to support more widespread prescribing.

  Aricept and other pharmaceutical treatment for Alzheimer's disease will be reviewed by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence as part of its first work programme. This work is expected to be completed by December 2000.

  Influenza Immunisation
  Mr. Pollard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for health professionals and ancillary staff to be offered influenza immunisation at no cost to themselves from this year onwards. [106133]

  Yvette Cooper
  Influenza immunisation is not routinely recommended for healthcare workers. Last year, as an exception in view of possible staffing problems should flu occur at the time of the long millennium break, National Health Service trusts were advised that they could include immunising healthcare staff as part of their winter planning. United Kingdom Health Ministers are advised on immunisation policy by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The JCVI reviews its recommendations, including immunisation of healthcare workers, annually.

  False Teeth
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the population of(a) Pendle and (b) England had an entire set of false teeth by the age of (i) 40 years, (ii) 50 years, (iii) 60 years and (iv) 70 years (a) in 1990 and (b) for the latest year for which figures are available. [107616]

  Mr. Denham
  The Adult Dental Health Survey is a detailed survey carried out every 10 years into the nation's dental health. First release results for the 1998 survey are given for the percentages of the population with no natural teeth by age group for Northern England and England. Also shown are the equivalent percentages of the 1988 survey. Data for Pendle are not available.
  711W

  Table 1: Percentage of population with no natural teeth by age group, 1988 and 1998

  Percentage

  Northern England

  England

  Age group

  1988

  1998

  1988

  1998

  16–24

  —

  —

  —

  —

  25–34

  2

  1

  1

  —

  35–44

  4

  —

  3

  1

  45–54

  22

  6

  15

  5

  55–64

  53

  25

  35

  18

  65–74

  74

  44

  56

  34

  75 and over

  90

  59

  80

  56

  Source:

  Adult Dental Health Survey

  Further information for 1988 is contained in the detailed report of the Adult Dental Health Survey 1988, published by HMSO, a copy of which is available in the Library. Chapter 15 gives information on: the time since loss of natural teeth, Table 15.1; and age of current upper and lower dentures, Table 15.4. The detailed ADHS report for 1998 is due to be published in March this year.

  Therapeutic Medicines
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will assess the benefits of the prescribing, supply and administration of therapeutic medicines by suitably trained optometrists; [107996]

  (2) if he will take steps to enable registered optometrists to prescribe, supply and administer therapeutic medicines. [108097]

  Mr. Hutton
  Optometrists may already administer a limited number of therapeutic medicines in an emergency; for example, by treating conjunctivitis with anti-biotics. The final report of the Review of Prescribing, Supply and Administration of Medicines recommended that arrangements be made to consider applications from organisations seeking authority to prescribe on behalf of specified groups of health professionals, which could include optometrists. We are carefully considering how best to take forward the report's recommendations in the light of all the views expressed.

  Crown Review
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he intends to implement all the recommendations of the Crown Review at the same time; [107994]

  (2) when he will implement the recommendations of the Crown Review on the prescribing, supply and administration of therapeutic medicines by non-medical clinicians. [107995]

  Ms Stuart
  We are carefully considering how best to take forward the report's many recommendations in the light of all the views expressed.

  Cardiac Operations
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate of the increased workload on(a) haemotology, (b) blood transfusion and (c) clinical chemistry services he has made arising from his target for cardiac operations. [107458]
  712W
  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 1 February 2000]: £50 million has been allocated to deliver the additional revascularisation procedures announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 18 October. This includes £30 million revenue over two years to meet the staffing costs associated with this extra clinical activity. The detailed application of these funds is currently being determined.

  Oath of Allegiance
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many letters he has received since 1 May 1997 on(a) constituency matters and (b) other matters of Government policy from each of those Members of the House who have not taken the oath of allegiance. [108400]

  Mr. Hutton
  Correspondence between hon. Members and Departments is treated in confidence unless the originating hon. Member chooses to make such issues public.

WALES

  Oath of Allegiance
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many letters he has received since 1 May 1997 on(a) constituency matters and (b) other matters of Government policy from each of those Members of the House who have not taken the oath of allegiance. [108413]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Correspondence between Members of Parliament and Departments is treated in confidence unless the originating MP chooses to make such issues public.

  National Minimum Wage
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what his estimate is of the number of(a) males and (b) females benefiting from the minimum wage in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [107418]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Barry Jones, dated 3 February 2000:
  As the Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question regarding the number of males and females who have benefited from the national minimum wage in Wales.
  Definitive estimates on the number of people that have benefited from the national minimum wage are not yet available. Currently available estimates for assessing the effect take data from both the New Earnings Survey and the Labour Force Survey and adjust them for known limitations in each. However, the latest adjusted estimates are based on data for the spring (March-May) 1999 Labour Force Survey and this period spans the introduction date for the national minimum wage legislation. As a result, the adjusted estimates may be giving a misleading picture of the effect of the minimum wage legislation since employees might legitimately have been earning below the minimum wage rates in March 1999.
  The currently available estimates were published in an ONS First Release on 14 October and show that the number of people earning below the minimum wage rates fell significantly between 1998 and 1999. A copy of this first release is available in the House of Commons Library.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Oath of Allegiance
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many letters he has received since 1 May 1997 on(a) constituency matters and (b) other matters of Government policy from each of those Members of the House who have not taken the Oath of Allegiance. [108411]

  Mr. Rooker
  Correspondence between Members of the House and this Department is treated as confidential.

  Income Support
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many adults aged under 60 years were receiving(a) income support and (b) jobseeker's allowance for two years or more in (i) May 1998 and (ii) May 1999. [108358]

  Mr. Bayley
  The information is in the tables.

  Income support claimants aged less than 60, with duration of two years or more in May 1998 and May 1999

  Year

  Number of claimants

  May 1998

  1,364,000

  May 1999

  1,330,000

  Notes:

  1. Based on claimants aged less than 60 years.

  2. Figures are based on claimants with a current claim of two years or more duration.

  3. Figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

  4. 5 per cent. sample, therefore subject to sampling error.

  Source:

  Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiries, May 1998 and May 1999

  Jobseeker's allowance claimants aged less than 60, with duration of two years or more in May 1998 and May 1999

  Year

  Number of claimants

  May 1998

  213,000

  May 1999

  182,000

  Notes:

  1. Based on claimants aged less than 60 years.

  2. Figures are based on claimants with a current claim of two years or more duration.

  3. Figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

  4. 5 per cent. sample, therefore subject to sampling error.

  5. Figures exclude cases which may sign for national insurance credits only.

  Source:

  Jobseeker's Allowance Statistics Quarterly Enquiries, May 1998 and May 1999

  Low Incomes
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of children aged under 16 years lived in households with incomes that remained(a) below 70 per cent. of average households income and (b) below 60 per cent. of median household income in at least three out of four years between 1995 and 1998. [108352]

  Mr. Bayley
  Estimates from the British Household Panel Survey suggest that between 1994 and 1997, the latest years for which information is available, 26 per cent. of dependant children lived in households with income below 714W
  70 per cent. of median income, and 17 per cent. lived in households with income below 60 per cent. of median income, in at least three years out of four.

  Notes:

  1. The British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) is based on interviews of a sample of households, and estimates may be subject to sampling error.

  2. The BHPS is a longitudinal survey, tracking the same households over time, and estimates may be subject to attrition bias if particular households are more likely to leave the survey.

  3. Dependant children are those aged under 16, and those 16–18 in full time education, in 1994.

  4. The technical paper accompanying "Opportunity for all: Tackling poverty and social exclusion" [Cm 4445] provided an estimate of 28 per cent. of children living in households below 70 per cent. of average income for the period 1991–94. This should have read below 70 per cent. of median income. The weighting regime employed here differs slightly from that used in the estimates quoted in "Opportunity for all".

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of working-age people had incomes that remained(a) below 70 per cent. of half average income and (b) below 60 per cent. of median income in at least three out of four years between 1995 and 1998. [108348]

  Mr. Bayley
  Estimates from the British Household Panel Survey suggest that between 1994 and 1997, the latest years for which information is available, 13 per cent. of working age people lived in households with income below 70 per cent. of median income, and 8 per cent. lived in households with income below 60 per cent. of median income, in at least three years out of four.

  Notes:

  1. The British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) is based on interviews of a sample of households, and estimates may be subject to sampling error.

  2. The BHPS is a longitudinal survey, tracking the same households over time, and estimates may be subject to attrition bias if particular households are more likely to leave the survey.

  3. The technical paper accompanying "Opportunity for all: Tackling poverty and social exclusion" [Cm 4445] provided estimates of 13 per cent. of working age people living in households below" 70 per cent. of half average income" for the period 1991–94. This should have read below 70 per cent. of median income. The weighting regime employed here differs slightly from that used in the estimates quoted in "Opportunity for all".

  Non-state Pensions
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total monetary value of non-state pensions contributions in 1998. [108344]

  Mr. Rooker
  The total monetary value of non-state pensions contributions (employer, employee and self-employed) in 1998 is estimated at £62.0 billion.

  Source:

  Office for National Statistics, MQ5 publications.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of(a) employees and (b) the self-employed had a non-state pension in 1998. [108343]

  Mr. Rooker
  The percentages for 1997–98, the most recent available, are estimated at 61 per cent. for employees and 50 per cent. for the self-employed.

  Source:

  Family Resources Survey 1997–98.
  715W
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of working age people have contributed to a non-state pension in at least three years out of the four between 1995 and 1998. [108345]

  Mr. Rooker
  48 per cent. of working age people are estimated to have paid contributions into a non-state scheme during the period 1994 to 1997, the latest available. The figure is based on people aged from 20 years to State pension age.

  Source:

  British Household Panel Survey.

  Benefits (Pensioners)
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what measures he is taking to encourage pensioners to take up their entitlement to state benefits. [106888]

  Mr. Rooker
  We are committed to taking action to find more effective ways of encouraging eligible pensioners to claim their entitlement to the minimum income guarantee. We will announce details of a national programme shortly.

  Minimum Income Guarantee
  Ms Perham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by how much he plans to raise the minimum income guarantee for the poorest pensioners this year. [106917]

  Table 1: Costs of State Second Pension with different accrual rate options 1999–2000 prices

  £ billion

  Percentage

  2005

  2010

  2015

  2025

  2047

  Pension expenditure costs

  Accrual rate for years 2002–09

  80

  0.1

  1.0

  2.0

  3.7

  5.8

  70

  0.1

  0.7

  1.5

  2.8

  4.4

  60

  0.1

  0.5

  1.0

  1.9

  2.9

  50

  0.0

  0.2

  0.5

  1.0

  1.4

  Accrual rate for years 2002–10

  80

  0.1

  1.0

  2.1

  4.1

  6.5

  70

  0.1

  0.7

  1.5

  3.1

  4.9

  60

  0.1

  0.5

  1.0

  2.0

  3.3

  50

  0.0

  0.2

  0.5

  1.0

  1.6

  Accrual rate for years 2002–15

  80

  0.1

  1.0

  2.2

  5.6

  10.2

  70

  0.1

  0.7

  1.7

  4.2

  7.6

  60

  0.1

  0.5

  1.1

  2.8

  5.1

  50

  0.0

  0.2

  0.6

  1.4

  2.5

  Rebate costs

  Accrual rate for years 2002–09

  80

  3.2

  5.5

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  70

  2.4

  4.1

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  60

  1.6

  2.7

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  50

  0.8

  1.4

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  Accrual rate for years 2002–10

  80

  3.2

  5.5

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  70

  2.4

  4.1

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  60

  1.6

  2.7

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  50

  0.8

  1.4

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  Accrual rate for years 2002–15

  80

  3.2

  5.5

  6.6

  0.0

  0.0

  70

  2.4

  4.1

  4.9

  0.0

  0.0

  60

  1.6

  2.7

  3.3

  0.0

  0.0

  50

  0.8

  1.4

  1.6

  0.0

  0.0

  Notes:

  1. The figures are in £ billion and have been rounded to the nearest 0.1 billion.

  2. The figures are gross figures. Offsetting Income-Related Benefits would reduce the pension expenditure costs by around 30 per cent. There would be no offset against the increased rebate costs.

  3. The figures have been supplied by Government Actuary's Department.
  716W
  Mr. Rooker
  From this April, the minimum income guarantee will be increased in line with earnings, providing a single pensioner with at least £78.45 a week and pensioner couples with £121.95.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will establish an awareness campaign to ensure the take up of the minimum income guarantee by eligible pensioners in North Staffordshire. [108006]

  Mr. Rooker
  We are committed to taking action to find more effective ways of encouraging eligible pensioners to claim their entitlement to the minimum income guarantee. We will announce details of a national programme shortly.

  State Pension
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost and amount of state second pension payable on retirement in(a) 2005, (b) 2010, (c) 2015, (d) 2025, and (e) 2047 on the assumption that the accruals rate for band one is set at (a) 80 per cent., (b) 70 per cent., (c) 60 per cent. or (d) 50 per cent. in year one of the State Second Pension and reduced to 40 per cent. in (i) nine years, (ii) 10 years and (iii) 15 years. [106851]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 26 January 2000]: The information is in the tables.

  Table 1 shows the extra cost of the various options specified in the years requested the costs for State Second Pension based on the proposals contained in the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Bill.
  717W
  Table 2 shows the weekly amount of SERPS and State Second Pension in payment at retirement for the years requested based on the accrual options specified in the question. The figures are given in 1999–2000 earnings

  Table 2: Weekly amount of SERPS and State Second Pension payable based on different accrual rate options in 1999–2000 earnings terms

  £ at 1999–2000 earnings terms

  Accrual rate (%)

  2005

  2010

  2015

  2025

  2047

  Current proposals

  40

  28

  30

  32

  37

  51

  Accrual rate for 2002–09

  80

  34

  42

  43

  45

  59

  70

  32

  39

  40

  43

  57

  60

  31

  36

  38

  41

  55

  50

  29

  33

  35

  39

  53

  Accrual rate for 2002–10

  80

  34

  42

  44

  46

  60

  70

  32

  39

  41

  44

  58

  60

  31

  36

  38

  41

  56

  50

  29

  33

  35

  39

  53

  Accrual rate for 2002–15

  80

  34

  42

  50

  52

  65

  70

  32

  39

  45

  48

  62

  60

  31

  36

  41

  44

  58

  50

  29

  33

  37

  40

  55

  Notes:

  1. Figures are in 1999–2000 earnings terms, ie expressed at a constant level of prices and real earnings. This makes it easier to compare the figures across different years of retirement.

  2. All estimated State Second Pension payments include SERPS payments on SERPS accrued before 2002 and are rounded to the nearest whole pound. The State Second Pension is assumed to be introduced in 2002.

  3. All calculations are based on a full working life of 49 years. Earnings at the lower earnings threshold (£9,500 a year) have been assumed in every year of the working life.

  Maternity Pay
  Ms Kelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the cost of extending maternity pay, paid at 90 per cent. of earnings to(a) 18 weeks, (b) 26 weeks, (c) 39 weeks and (d) 52 weeks. [107403]

  Mr. Bayley
  The information is in the table.

  The additional full year cost in 2000–01 of extending statutory maternity pay (SMP) beyond six weeks at 90 per cent. of earnings

  £ million

  Option

  Cost increase

  Extension of this rate to 18 weeks

  560

  Extension of this rate to 26 weeks

  1,080

  Extension of this rate to 39 weeks

  1,920

  Extension of this rate to 52 weeks

  2,750

  Note:

  These costs are the overall costs based on the Government Actuary's Department projection of the average number of people on SMP during 2000–01 at any one time of 100,000, and assume 100 per cent. take-up.

SCOTLAND

  Oath of Allegiance
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many letters he has received since 1 May 1997 on(a) constituency matters and (b) other matters of Government policy from each of those Members of the House who have not taken the oath of allegiance. [108398]

  Dr. Reid
  In accordance with convention, correspondence received by Departments from hon. Members is treated in confidence.
  718W
  terms and rounded to the nearest whole pound. The figures are shown net of any basic state retirement pension.

CABINET OFFICE

  Regulation
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which Minister within each Government Department has been tasked with overseeing regulation reform. [107003]

  Mr. Stringer
  The Prime Minister has asked each of the key regulatory Departments to appoint a Minister for Regulatory Reform to oversee a programme of measures to reduce regulatory burdens. The Ministers for Regulatory Reform are:HM Treasury—Paymaster General (Dawn Primarolo MP)
  Department of Trade and Industry—Minister of State (Patricia Hewitt MP)
  Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions—Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Lord Whitty)
  Department of Health—Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Gisela Stuart MP)
  Home Office—Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Mike O'Brien MP)
  Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food—Minister of State (the right hon. Joyce Quin MP), and
  Department for Education and Employment—Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Margaret Hodge MP).

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what meetings she has had with the Fair Regulation Campaign; what was discussed; what decisions were taken; and what plans she has for future meetings. [107005]

  Mr. Stringer
  My right hon. Friend the Member for Copeland (Dr. Cunningham), the former Minister for the Cabinet Office, met the Fair Regulation Campaign in July 1999 to discuss their objectives for improving regulatory impact assessments by Government Departments and the
  719W
  EU. On Friday 28 January, the Minister for the Cabinet Office was due to follow up with the Fair Regulation Campaign their round of discussions with Government Departments and parallel work in Brussels on reducing regulatory burdens. The Minister for the Cabinet Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for Redcar (Marjorie Mowlam) welcomed the Campaign's offer of assistance and asked them to work alongside the Government to make improvements to the regulatory systems. There are no plans at present for a further meeting.

  British-Irish Council
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to her answer of 12 January 2000,Official Report, columns 200–01W, if she will list those categories of matter to be discussed by the British-Irish Council under the remit, Approaches to EU Issues. [108281]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The Belfast Agreement recognised "Approaches to EU affairs" as being one of the topics which the British Irish Council could consider.

  The summit meeting of the Council in December 1999 confirmed a general list of subjects which the Council could consider. It also identified as initial priorities the environment, drugs, social inclusion, transport and the knowledge economy. No discussion took place on which EU issues might, in future, be the subject of work within the framework of the Council.

  Oath of Allegiance
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many letters she has received since 1 May 1997 on(a) constituency matters and (b) other matters of Government policy from each of those Members of the House who have not taken the oath of allegiance. [108407]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  In accordance with convention, correspondence received by Departments from hon. Members is treated in confidence.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Millennium Bug
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the President of the Council what reports she has received on the extent of damage done to the economies and businesses of those countries which took few or no precautions to deal with the millennium bug. [107509]
  720W
  Mr. Battle
  I have been asked to reply.

  Each country and business had different levels of vulnerability to damage from failures of computerised systems. Many of the countries which are erroneously assumed to have done little benefited from the work of countries like the UK which started earlier.

  We have received no reports of serious failures in key infrastructure sectors across the globe, although there have been multiple minor failures in systems. Failures which have come to light so far have been fixed quickly and have not materially affected business as usual.

  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the President of the Council if she will estimate the total cost to(a) the Government and (b) private industry of the steps taken to guard against the millennium bug. [107507]

  Mrs. Beckett
  Central Government Departments and agencies spent an estimated £380 million on tackling the millennium bug in their own systems.

  It is impossible to say how much it cost private industry to deal with the millennium bug. Many of the cost figures quoted so far have been conjured out of the air—nobody knows for certain how much has been spent by private industry in the United Kingdom, or indeed any other country.

  Departmental Expenditure Limit
  Ms Perham
  To ask the President of the Council what proposals she has to amend the Privy Council Office Departmental Expenditure Limit and running costs limit for 1999–2000. [108490]

  Mrs. Beckett
  Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate for Class XVII, Vote 5, the Privy Council Office Departmental Expenditure Limit for 1999–2000 will be increased by £109,000 from £2,166,000 to £2,275,000 and the running costs limit will be increased by £109,000 from £2,206,000 to £2,315,000. The increase is the effect of transfers from Cabinet Office Class XVII, Vote 1, £89,000 in respect of expenditure as a result of the Privy Council Office move to new premises, and from Scottish Executive Vote 6, £10,000, and Northern Ireland Executive Programme II DFP, £10,000 in respect of purchases for the Library of the Judicial Committee, Privy Council, following devolution.

  The increase will be offset by transfers from the Cabinet Office, the Scottish Executive and the Northern Ireland Executive programme and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Regional Development Agencies
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he has taken to ensure that each of the regional development agencies includes agriculture in its development programme. [108378]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  I have been asked to reply.

  Section 4 of the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998 charged the RDAs specifically with furthering economic development, investment and employment in rural areas. Subsequent guidance issued by the Government to the RDAs required them to take account of the key role of agriculture in the preparation of their Regional Strategies.

  The RDAs' Strategies, which have been broadly welcomed by the Government, include a range of proposals for diversifying the agricultural and rural economies. We are now awaiting the RDAs' detailed Action Plans for implementing their Strategies and we will pay close attention to their priorities for addressing agricultural and rural issues.

  Day-old Chicks
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what health checks are carried out on day-old chicks imported into the UK from(a) within and (b) outside the EU. [98591]

  Ms Quin
  In accordance with European law:

  (a) day-old chicks originating in another member state of the EU imported into Great Britain are subject to random post-import documentary, identity and physical veterinary checks at the place of destination, in Great Britain;

  (b) day-old chicks originating in a third country may be imported into Great Britain only through an approved Border Inspection Post, where the day-old chicks are subject to documentary and identity checks and, in most cases, to a physical examination.

  Poultry Imports
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what rules govern the importing of dead poultry into the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [102220]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 13 December 1999]: Poultry carcases may be imported only in accordance with a licence issued under the Importation of Animal Products and Poultry Products Order 1980. The conditions laid down in such licences are designed to protect animal health in Great Britain and vary according to the country of origin and the purposes for which the carcases are imported.

  French Beef Ban (Soap)
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the implications for the British soap and detergent industry of the French ban on British beef derivatives. [103649]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 21 December 1999]: There is no reason why the French ban on Date Based Export Scheme beef should affect the British soap and detergent industry. European Union BSE-related rules, which have
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  been in place since March 1996, currently prevent the export of cosmetic soap made from tallow produced from bovine animals slaughtered in the UK. UK manufacturers may use imported and non-bovine tallow to produce cosmetic soap for export. No BSE-related restrictions apply to exports of non-cosmetic soap and detergent.

  Farming Subsidies
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers receive total annual subsidies of more than(a) £1,000, (b) £5,000, (c) £10,000, (d) £20,000 and (e) £25,000. [103664]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 21 December 1999]: Figures for the number of farmers receiving annual subsidies are unavailable. However figures held by MAFF for the number of UK agricultural holdings which received payments under the Schemes covered by the Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS)1 in the 1997–98 EAGGF year are as follows:

  Figures for the EAGGF2 year 16 October 1997 to 15 October 1998—number of holdings receiving subsidies under IACS schemes

  Financial bonds

  England

  Scotland

  Wales

  Northern Ireland

  £1,000+3

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  £5,000+

  158,285

  23,794

  19,457

  28,634

  £10,000+

  36,530

  8,891

  2,846

  4,697

  £20,000+

  19,817

  5,356

  777

  1,358

  £30,000+3

  12,689

  3,299

  262

  488

  1 The Arable Area Payments, Beef Special Premium, Suckler Cow Premium and Sheep Annual Premium Schemes and Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances.

  2 Payments are for the European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund year 16 October 1997–15 October 1998.

  3 The figures for the number of agricultural holdings receiving annual subsidies of over £1,000 and £25,000 are not available without incurring disproportionate costs to provide the information requested.

  4 Unavailable.

  Milk
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how long the intervention milk price equivalent has been set in euros rather than ecu; what assessment he has made of the effect of the decline of the euro against the pound on UK milk support prices for each 1 per cent. fall in the euro; and if he will estimate the differential in UK milk prices if the IMPE had continued to be set in ecu. [105479]

  Ms Quin
  The Intervention Milk Price Equivalent (IMPE) is a derived value for the price of the milk which goes into the manufacture of intervention products in the dairy sector. It has no formal basis either in the CAP regime or in UK law and is used only as a commercial negotiating mechanism between milk sellers and purchasers. The Government make no calculation, therefore, of its value. For each 1 per cent. decline in the euro against sterling, EU milk support prices in the UK also fall by 1 per cent.

  Pig Sector
  Mr. Cawsey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assistance the Government have given the pig sector since 1 January 1999; and what further assistance his Department plans to give. [105434]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 17 January 2000]: The pig sector was eligible for marketing grants under the Agriculture Development Scheme 1999. The scheme closed for applications on 30 November 1999 and successful applications were announced recently. Pig industry projects benefited significantly from the scheme, receiving over 35 per cent. of the total grants made. £3 million of marketing/promotional money was also earmarked exclusively for the pig sector. Discussions with the industry have resulted in the Government part funding a £4.6 million industry-led welfare-linked promotion campaign. This will begin in February and continue through to October.

  The "verification officer" appointed by my right hon. Friend the Minister, will continue his work with industry bodies to identify cases where product is being sold at retail or catering level which misleads the consumer into believing it contains pork of British origin when in fact it is imported. He will also continue to check progress on the commitment given some time ago by major retailers that all their own label fresh pork and certain processed products such as bacon would come from stall and tether and Meat and Bone Meal free production systems. Meetings between Ministers and retailers and caterers on all these issues have taken place. The Minister has also written to public authorities encouraging them to purchase their pork supplies to British standards.

  EU Flax Regime
  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he will take to ensure that UK farmers, producing short fibre flax, are not discriminated against under the EU flax regime proposals for processing aid. [105611]

  Ms Quin
  The Commission proposals to bring reform to the flax and hemp sector are broadly welcome, particularly on budgetary grounds.

  However, some aspects of the proposals discriminate against UK production and in the negotiating process we shall seek to ensure a more equitable outcome.

  GM Maize
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will specify the official procedures to which the GM AgrEvo T25 Maize, covered by Commission Decision 98/293/EC dated 22 April 1998,(a) was subjected and (b) will be subjected for the purpose of assessing its safety for (i) human and (ii) animal consumption. [107266]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 27 January 2000]: The application to market AgrEvo's T25 GM maize was submitted to France in accordance with procedures in Directive 90/220/EEC. The application was subsequently assessed by all Member States, including the UK.

  In the UK the application was assessed by the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment and the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes. The
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  marketing consent permitting importation and cultivation in the EU for use as food and feed ingredients was issued by France in August 1998.

  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he received a copy of the notification under Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No. 258/97 of AgrEvo T25 modified maize; and if he will place a copy of the notification in the Library. [107541]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 28 January 2000]: Ingredients derived from AgrEvo T25 modified maize were approved for food use in the UK in February 1997 following a full safety assessment by the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP). Details of the Committee's assessment can be found in its 1996 Annual Report, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  The notification, by AgrEvo under Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No. 258/97, containing the ACNFP's assessment report, was transmitted to all Member States on 6 February 1998. No one objected to the notification.

  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place in the Library a copy of the report of the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes submitted to the European Commission under Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No. 258/97 in respect of AgrEvo's T25 genetically modified maize. [107784]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 31 January 2000]: The Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes' report on food ingredients derived from AgrEvo's T25 genetically modified maize is contained in their 1996 annual report, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Genetically Modified Organisms
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the notifications of which he has received copies from the EC under Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No. 258/97 since 1 January 1999. [107783]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 31 January 2000]: Since 1 January 1999 three notifications under Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No. 258/97 have been received. These relate to the placing on the market of processed oil from the following three varieties of genetically modified oilseed rape:

  1. Falcon GS 40/90—AgrEvo

  2. Male sterile MS8, fertility restorer RF3, all conventional crosses from these and the hybrid combination (MS8xRF3)— Plant Genetic Systems

  3. Liberator L62—AgrEvo.

  These notifications are based on an assessment by the German competent authority.

  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what specific scientific factors he or his advisers apply in determining whether a particular food or food ingredient contains or consists of genetically modified organisms, for the purposes of Regulation (EC) No. 258/97 or otherwise. [107837]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 31 January 2000]: For the purposes of Regulation (EC) No. 258/97 food or food ingredients containing or consisting of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) refers to products where

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  GMOs, as defined in article 2(2) of Directive 90/220/EEC, are present. In this definition, an organism is a biological entity capable of replication or of transferring genetic material.

  Tallow (Support Fuel)
  Mr. John Cryer
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much tallow produced as a by-product of rendering under the over-30 month scheme contracts is used as support fuel. [107932]

  Ms Quin
  As at 31 December 1999 some 86,165 tonnes of tallow produced from the rendering of animals under the over-30-month scheme had been burnt in rendering plants as replacement fuel.

  Organic Farming
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total(a) number and (b) value of grants made under the organic farming scheme since its introduction. [107561]

  Mr. Morley
  Since the introduction of the Organic Farming Scheme in April 1999, 693 applications have been approved with a grant value of £7.9 million for the current financial year and a forecast value of £9.4 million for the remaining years of the Scheme. A further 483 grant applications are being processed.

  Tom Lang's Craft Butchers, Ashburton
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will grant a square stamp licence to Henry Lang of Tom Lang's Craft Butchers and Abattoir in Ashburton for a throughput of 50 units per week. [106057]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 31 January 2000]: This abattoir is licensed as a low throughput slaughterhouse, which allows a maximum throughput of 20 livestock units per week. It has sought licensing as a full throughput slaughterhouse to allow a higher weekly throughput, but recently contacted MAFF officials and advised them that it no longer wishes to seek this status. The abattoir is instead pursuing, in close consultation with MAFF officials, an option under the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995 (as amended) which allows low throughput slaughterhouses to deal with up to 30 livestock units per week, provided certain conditions are met.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Departmental Expenditure Limit
  Mr. Michael J. Foster
  To ask the President of the Council what proposals she has to amend the House of Commons Departmental Expenditure Limit for 1999–2000. [108471]

  Mrs. Beckett
  Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate for Class XVIII, Vote 4 (House of Commons: Members Salaries etc) the House of Commons Departmental Expenditure Limit for 1999–200 will be increased by £3,311,000 from 726W
  £273,236,000. The increase is the net effect of increases in financial assistance to Opposition parties and other current expenditure.

  The increase will be a charge on the DEL Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Second Chamber
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Council if she will place in the Library the instructions and terms of reference of the contract placed with PricewaterhouseCoopers to advise on persons suitable for membership of the second chamber. [107620]

  Mrs. Beckett
  PricewaterhouseCoopers Executive Search and Selection have not been employed to advise on persons suitable for membership of the second chamber. They have been employed to assist in the recruitment of the Chairman and three independent members of the House of Lords Appointments Commission.

  The invitation to tender document sent to PricewaterhouseCoopers by the Cabinet Office included relevant passages from the White paper 'Modernising Parliament Reforming the House of Lords', a draft remit of the Appointments Commission and a draft job and person specification. PricewaterhouseCoopers used this document as the starting point of their work.

  I have placed a copy of the 'invitation to tender' document and the standard terms and conditions of the Cabinet Office in the Library.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Crown Courts
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department in relation to criminal cases that can be tried either way in the magistrates or Crown courts, if he will say, for each of the last three years(a) how many cases in which the defendant elected for trial in the Crown court resulted in a plea of guilty at the Crown court, (b) in relation to the cases, identified at (a), how many defendants were on legal aid, (c) what was (i) the total, (ii) the highest and (iii) the medium cost to the legal aid budget of the cases identified at (b), and (d) what he estimates the cost to the legal aid system would have been, for the statistics identified at (c), if the cases identified at (a) had been tried on a guilty plea in the magistrates court. [107846]

  Mr. Lock
  The information required is not held centrally by the Department and could, therefore, be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

  Oath of Allegiance
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many letters he has received since 1 May 1997 on(a) constituency matters and (b) other matters of Government policy from each of those Members of the House who have not taken the oath of allegiance. [108399]
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  Mr. Lock
  Information in respect of correspondence between hon. Members and Departments is treated in confidence unless the originating hon. Member chooses to make this public. It is not therefore possible to provide the information requested.

  Departmental Expenditure Limit
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proposals he has to amend the Lord Chancellor's Department's departmental expenditure limit and running costs limit for 1999–2000. [108980]

  Mr. Lock
  Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate for Class V, Votes 1, 2 and 3 the Lord Chancellor's Department Departmental Expenditure Limit for 1999–2000 will be increased by £26,934,000 from £2,421,244,000 to £2,448,178,000. The increase is the net effect of a transfer for £505,000 from the Department of Social Security relating to the costs of recruiting and re-appointing panel members for Unified Appeals Tribunals; a transfer from the Reserve for £25,000,000 in respect of the additional legal aid costs following implementation of the Narey reforms; a transfer to the Home Office for £200,000 in respect of a contribution towards the costs of the IBIS (Integrating Business and Information Systems) Criminal Justice System Unit; and take up of End Year Flexibility entitlement in the sum of £1,629,000.

  The running cost limit for Lord Chancellor's Department Class V, Vote 1 will be increased by £23,167,000 from £502,203,000 to £525,370,000. The increase is in respect of a £380,000 transfer from the Department of Social Security relating to costs in respect of recruiting and re-appointing panel members for the Unified Appeals Tribunals; a £200,000 transfer to the Home Office in respect of a contribution towards the cost of the IBIS Unit; an increase of £695,000 to meet additional costs of the ARAMIS PFI project, an increase of £19,550,000 following reclassification of expenditure as a result of the impact of the changes in ESA 95; and an increase of £2,742,000 following a transfer from other current expenditure to meet the additional costs in respect of Asylum and Immigration.

  The running cost limit for Northern Ireland Court Service, Class V, Vote 2 will be increased by £679,000 from £29,960,000 to £30,636,000. The increase is as a result of take up of End Year Flexibility entitlement.

  The running cost limit for Public Records Office, Class V, Vote 3 will be increased by £2,908,000 from £25,842,000 to £28,750,000. This increase is as a result of a £900,000 increase funded by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, in respect of a project to microfilm World War One Soldier's documents; a £200,000 increase relating to expenditure on wholesale publishing and book purchases, which is funded by additional wider market receipts generated by retail sales; a £950,000 increase in respect of End Year Flexibility entitlement; a £2,558,000 increase to meet additional costs in respect of Capital Charges on the Civil Estate, and a £1,700,000 reduction following virement into capital expenditure relating to developments in online services.
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  The increases will be offset by a transfer from the Department of Social Security Departmental Expenditure Limit, a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, and charges on the DEL Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Broadcasting Act 1996
  Mr. Cawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he will publish proposals for reform of the Broadcasting Act; and if he will make a statement. [108981]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and I propose to publish a White Paper later this year setting out the Government's proposals for reform of the framework of communications legislation. This will include proposals for changing both the Telecommunications and Broadcasting Acts as a basis for legislation when parliamentary time allows. The White Paper will accordingly be broad in its scope, covering both infrastructure and content issues. It will draw on responses to the options for reform of the broadcasting and telecommunications framework set out in the Government's June 1999 statement "Regulating Communications: The Way Ahead" and will take full account of emerging conclusions from the current review of the European Union regulatory framework for communications. The work will be taken forward by a joint DTI/DCMS team to ensure a coherent and consistent approach to the regulation of the converging communications industries.

  Consultants
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies have spent on external consultants and advisers since May 1997. [102075]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 13 December 1999]: The table provides the latest available information provided by my Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies. It includes expenditure (for example, professional fees) connected with lottery projects.

  £

  Arts Council

  5,678,000

  British Film Institute

  1,027,000

  British Library

  5,682,264

  British Museum

  15,733,000

  British Tourist Authority

  1,164,658

  Broadcasting Standards Commission

  20,101

  CABE

  10,575

  Crafts Council

  141,754

  English Tourist Council

  334,000

  Film Council

  47,825

  Geffrye Museum

  435,587

  English Heritage

  2,226,329

  Historic Royal Palaces

  1,727,000

  Horniman Museum

  1,478,394

  Imperial War Museum

  3,857,000

  Library and Information Commission

  305,622

  Millennium Commission

  11,932,000

  Museum of London

  621,117

  729W

  £

  Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester

  810,625

  Museums and Galleries Commission

  577,907

  National Film and TV School

  670,831

  National Gallery

  153,000

  National Heritage Memorial Fund/Heritage Lottery Fund

  2,590,288

  National Lottery Charities Board

  1,300,000

  National Lottery Commission

  567,000

  National Maritime Museum

  1,406,000

  National Museum of Science and Industry

  11,124,285

  National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside

  290,288

  National Portrait Gallery

  2,853,305

  Natural History Museum

  197,968

  Public Lending Right

  124,198

  Royal Armouries

  403,667

  Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts

  15,600

  Royal Fine Art Commission

  34,163

  Royal Parks Agency

  1,711,528

  Sir John Soane's Museum

  30,950

  Sport England

  1,281,000

  Tate Gallery

  2,775,396

  UK Sport

  565,000

  Victoria and Albert Museum

  521,267

  Wallace Collection

  2,163,000

  Asset Sales
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the items in the National Asset Register sold by his Department, its agencies and associated public bodies since 1 March 1999, stating in each case the amount of money realised; if he will estimate the total amount raised from such sales to date; and if he will make a statement. [104501]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  The Department itself has realised £6,000 from the sale of printers and servers since March 1999 and its agency, the Royal Parks Agency, has sold a building and computer equipment which generated proceeds of £120,281. The information available for the Department's associated public bodies is as listed by asset category which is in the format shown in the National Asset Register. The total proceeds from asset sales by associated public bodies amounts to £1,624,670.

  Associated Public Bodies
  (i) Arts Council of England
  Equipment, fixtures and fittings—proceeds £4,000
  Vehicles—proceeds £13,000
  (ii) British Library
  Motor vehicles—proceeds £2,150
  (iii) British Tourist Authority
  Motor vehicles—proceeds £23,000
  Fixtures and fittings—proceeds £5,000
  (iv) Crafts Council
  Furniture, fittings and equipment—proceeds £242
  (v) English Heritage
  Land and buildings—proceeds £241,500
  Equipment—proceeds £7,000
  (vi) Independent Television Commission
  Vehicles—proceeds £13,355
  (vii) Science Museum
  Plant and machinery—proceeds £12,000
  Fixtures and fittings—proceeds £2,000
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  (viii) Sianel Pedwar Cymru (S4C)
  Plant and equipment—proceeds £1,500
  (ix) Sport England
  Equipment and vehicles—proceeds £14,000
  (x) Tate Gallery
  Land and buildings—proceeds £1,200,000
  (xi) Victoria and Albert Museum
  Equipment—proceeds £85,923.

  Departmental Consultation
  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the public consultation exercises on policy matters carried out by his Department and its agencies in each of the last five years; who was consulted and by what means; how responses were analysed; how and in what form the results were transmitted to those responsible for the consultation; how the results of the consultation were published; and what analysis has been carried out of the extent and nature of policy changes resulting from the consultation. [106304]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  Public consultation is a routine element of policy formulation in the Department and its sponsored bodies. We do not, however, keep a central systematic record of the many and various consultation exercises we have conducted. This information requested by my hon. Friend could therefore be assembled only at disproportionate cost.

  Premier League
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he last met the Chairman of the Premier League; where the meeting took place; and what subjects were discussed. [106555]

  Kate Hoey
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State last met the Chairman of the FA Premier League on 16 September 1999 at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. I was also present at that meeting, at which a range of football issues were discussed.

  Wembley Monitoring Committee
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on what dates the Wembley Monitoring Committee has met; if he will list those present at each meeting; and if he will publish the minutes of the meetings. [106556]

  Kate Hoey
  The dates and attendees at meetings of the National Stadium Monitoring Committee meetings are as listed. The minutes of these meetings cover the views of representatives of non-governmental organisations who took part in those meetings on the understanding that discussions were in confidence, and it would not, therefore, be appropriate for them to be published.

  17 February 1999

  Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

  Minister for Sport, Tony Banks MP

  James Purnell, No. 10 Policy Unit

  Simon Broadley, DCMS

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  Graham Bond, DCMS

  Chris Carr, DCMS

  Andy Burnham, DCMS Special Adviser

  Derek Casey, Sport England

  Ian Fytche, Sport England

  Ralph Ward, Government Office for London

  Ken Bates, Wembley National Stadium Limited

  Bob Stubbs, Wembley National Stadium Limited

  Nic Coward, Football Association

  20 May 1999

  Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

  Minister for Sport, Tony Banks MP

  Simon Broadley, DCMS

  Colin Jones, DCMS

  Chris Carr, DCMS

  Derek Casey, Sport England

  Ian Fytche, Sport England

  John Sienkiewicz, Government Office for London

  Ken Bates, Wembley National Stadium Limited

  Bob Stubbs, Wembley National Stadium Limited

  Nic Coward, Football Association

  Sir Alan Cockshaw, English Partnerships

  15 July 1999

  Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

  Minister for Sport, Tony Banks MP

  Philippa Drew, DCMS

  Harry Reeves, DCMS

  Colin Jones, DCMS

  Graham Bond, DCMS

  Philip Townsend, DCMS

  Chris Can, DCMS

  Andy Burnham, DCMS Special Adviser

  Derek Casey, Sport England

  Ian Fytche, Sport England

  John Sienkiewicz, Government Office for London

  Ken Bates, Wembley National Stadium Limited

  Bob Stubbs, Wembley National Stadium Limited

  Louise Green, Wembley National Stadium Limited

  Gary Hunt, Wembley National Stadium Limited

  Hugh Thomas, World Design Team

  Nic Coward, Football Association

  Sir Alan Cockshaw, English partnerships

  Paula Hay-Plumb, English Partnerships

  Tony Winterbottom, English Partnerships

  Sir Nigel Mobbs, Wembley Task Force.

  Wembley Stadium
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what advice he has received from the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment concerning the design of the new Wembley Stadium. [107135]

  Kate Hoey
  [holding answer 27 January 2000]: The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) forwarded to the Secretary of State a copy of its letter of 16 December to Lord Foster of Thames Bank. This letter strongly supported the design which would
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  meet the primary function of a football stadium, and noted how it could be converted for an athletics event but that it was essential that this provision should not compromise the stadium when used for football. CABE further stressed the importance of the work of the Wembley Task Force in ensuring the surrounding area provides a fitting environment.

  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) on what date the Ellerbe Beckett report into Wembley Stadium was first received by his Department; [107136]

  (2) on what date the Ellerbe Beckett report into Wembley Stadium was first made available to (a) Sport England, (b) UK Athletics, (c) the British Olympic Association and (d) Wembley National Stadium Ltd. [107137]

  Kate Hoey
  [holding answer 27 January 2000]: We received the DLA: Ellerbe Beckett report on Monday 29 November 1999.

  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Brent, North (Mr. Gardiner) of 18 January 2000,Official Report, column 384W, on Wembley Stadium, if he will list the interested parties with which his Department held discussions; on what date those discussions were held; and if he will make a statement. [107182]

  Kate Hoey
  [holding answer 27 January 2000]: Between the statement in the House by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 1 December 1999, Official Report, columns 305–06 and the announcement on 22 December, discussions were held with Sport England, UK Sport, UK Athletics, the British Olympic Association, Wembley National Stadium Ltd. and the Football Association.

  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his oral statement of 1 December 1999,Official Report, column 306, which bodies advised him that it seemed unlikely that Wembley could provide an appropriate venue for the World Athletics Championships. [107299]

  Kate Hoey
  [holding answer 28 January 2000]: The conclusions were drawn from the Ellerbe Beckett report. While Wembley National Stadium Ltd. subsequently addressed many of the issues outlined in a statement on 1 December 1999, the proposed solution was not the ideal for athletics as it required substantial investment without a lasting athletics legacy and would not have been suitable as the centrepiece for any future Olympic bid.

  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Brent, North (Mr. Gardiner) of 25 January 2000,Official Report, column 163W, when (i) he and (ii) ministers in his Department first discussed the ideal focal point for the new Wembley Stadium in athletics mode with (a) Sport England, (b) Wembley National Stadium Ltd and (c) UK Athletics. [107838]

  Kate Hoey
  [holding answer 31 January 2000]: Stadium Australia, which I understand has minimum C60 sightlines based on a focal point on the outside edge of the outside line around the whole track, has set the

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  current benchmark for quality of sightlines required for the Olympics. This was acknowledged by the Wembley design team at the recent Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee inquiry into Wembley. We were assured throughout the project that the new Wembley would be capable of being upgraded for Olympics. However, it became clear once we had seen the detailed proposals for Olympic configuration in early October last year, that Wembley did not meet this benchmark and brought into question the possibility of Wembley being the centrepiece of a future Olympic bid.

  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Brent, North (Mr. Gardiner) of 25 January 2000,Official Report, column 163W, what assessment he has made of the extent to which the standards for the focal point and sight lines in the new Wembley Stadium with 80,000 seats in athletics mode are matched or exceeded by the other stadia in Europe with capacities in excess of 75,000. [107839]

  Kate Hoey
  [holding answer 31 January 2000]: My Department has made no specific assessment of the Wembley proposals against other stadia in Europe. In respect of the Wembley proposals we were concerned to ensure that we did not rule out the possibility of a future Olympic bid. The report from Ellerbe Beckett along with evidence from the BOA and my officials who attended the Wembley National Stadium Ltd. mock up of the proposed seating, confirmed the inadequacy of the sightlines in 80,000 athletics mode.

  National Lottery
  Siobhain McDonagh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many grant applications to the National Lottery have been received from organisations within the Mitcham and Morden constituency; and how many have been successful. [107946]

  Kate Hoey
  The following table shows the number of applications and awards for each of the National Lottery distributing bodies to organisations in the Mitcham and Morden constituency, based on information provided by the National Lottery distributing bodies. The figure for applications received includes applications that have not yet been processed.

  Distributing body

  Number of applications received

  Number of awards made

  Arts Council of England

  6

  4

  Heritage Lottery Fund

  6

  Film Council

  0

  0

  Millennium Commission

  Not known

  2

  National Lottery Charities Board

  115

  27

  New Opportunities Fund

  1

  0

  Sport England

  4

  1

  UK Sport

  0

  0

  Sport England
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brent, North (Mr. Gardiner), of 24 January 734W
  2000, Official Report, column 87W, on what date the Football Association proposed that £20 million be returned to Sport England; what form this proposal took; and where the proposal was made. [107296]

  Kate Hoey
  [holding answer 28 January 2000]: An informal proposal was made by David Richards, Chairman of the FA Premier League on 16 December 1999 in the margins of a meeting at No. 10 to discuss the proposed Football Foundation. This was relayed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State by DCMS officials and followed up by more formal discussions between my Department and the Football Association. These concluded with the meeting between my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and Mr. Ken Bates on 22 December 1999 at which it was agreed that £20 million would be returned over the next five years, with best endeavours to repay the money more quickly if possible. The precise details of the repayment are matters for Sport England and the Football Association.

  Irish Culture
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action his Department is taking to promote Irish(a) culture, (b) arts and (c) sports in Britain. [107587]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  It is my Department's job to promote all cultural and sporting activities in the UK. Irish culture is just one of the many diverse cultures that are promoted by, for example, the Arts Council of England and the Regional Arts Boards. My Department is also in close touch with its counterpart in Dublin on a number of issues. Gaelic games such as football, hurling and camogie are all recognised by Sport England and are eligible for lottery funding. Recently St. Albans' Irish Association received a grant of £51,617 towards improving their facilities to benefit Gaelic football.

  Playing Fields
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had with the Department for Education and Employment about increasing the provision of sports playing fields available to schools. [108132]

  Kate Hoey
  My right hon. Friend and I are in regular contact with ministerial colleagues in the Department for Education and Employment on a wide range of issues of mutual interest including the important issue of increasing the provision of playing fields available to schools.

  Athletics
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received on the level of public subsidy required if Britain hosts the International Amateur Athletics Federation World Championships in 2005. [108073]

  Kate Hoey
  The Chief Executive of Manchester City Council has written to my officials enclosing a copy of a paper written by a firm of Canadian consultants dated 23 January 2000, which suggests that the net event costs of staging the World Athletics Championships would be
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  in the region of £15 million. UK Athletics have in principle agreement from Sport England of £15 million Lottery funding towards event costs for the 2005 World Athletics Championships and this is the figure included in the UK Athletics outline bid submitted to the International Amateur Athletics Federation on 31 January 2000.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the necessary additional spending required by his Department in order for Britain to host the International Amateur Athletics Federation World Championship in 2005. [108074]

  Kate Hoey
  Following the decision to remove athletics from Wembley, my Department is now co-ordinating urgent work between the Government Office for London, Sport England, UK Sport, UK Athletics and the British Olympic Association on further developing the bid for the 2005 World Athletics Championships which takes account of a possible future Olympic bid, including the level of public or Lottery funding that may be required.

  School

  Local authority

  Amount awarded (£)

  Scheme

  Newquay Tretherras School

  Restormel

  136,073

  Artificial hockey pitch

  Fowey Community School

  Restormel

  1,190,339

  Sport and leisure complex

  Callington School and Community College

  Caradon

  75,000

  Phase 11 of college sports facilities project

  Liskeard School and Community College

  Caradon

  259,624

  Artificial hockey pitch

  Cape Cornwall Community

  Penwith

  578,473

  Sports hall and car park

  A further six schools located in areas where Sport Action Zones have been set up have also received awards. However, in these areas the boundaries of the

  School

  Local authority

  Amount awarded (£)

  Scheme

  Rossington High School Boat Club

  Doncaster

  18,640

  Purchase of boats

  Thomas Rotherham College

  Rotherham

  491,941

  Construction of new sports hall

  St. Bernard's RC School

  Rotherham

  13,800

  All weather cricket pitch and practice nets

  Small Heath GM School

  Birmingham

  1,605,083

  All weather playing surfaces

  Arthur Terry School

  Birmingham

  732,965

  Sports hall refurbishment

  Baverstock Grant Maintained School

  Birmingham

  14,124

  Table tennis development project to include disabled people

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Lebanon
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent talks he has had with the Israeli Government concerning the withdrawal of Israeli troops from South Lebanon. [108065]

  Mr. Hain
  We have regular high-level contact with the Israeli Government. We discuss all aspects of the peace process. The Government support the implementation of UNSCR 425. There is now a real prospect of Israeli withdrawal from South Lebanon. It is the responsibility of all those involved to ensure that any Israeli withdrawal is orderly and carried out within a framework that ensures stability.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has

  World Class Programme
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement about funding the World Class Programme from National Lottery funds. [107967]

  Kate Hoey
  To date approximately £90 million of National Lottery funds has been committed by Sport England and UK Sport to over 40 sporting activities, helping over 2,200 elite athletes under the World Class Programme.

  School Sports
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many schools in the Government's action zones have received National Lottery funds to develop sporting opportunities. [107969]

  Kate Hoey
  Five schools located within the recently announced Sport Action Zones have received National Lottery awards from Sport England. The details are as follows:

  Zones have not been finalised and some of those schools may not be in the eventually designated Zone. Details are as follows:

  made concerning the welfare of the Christian population of South Lebanon in the event of an Israeli withdrawal from the region. [108064]

  Mr. Hain
  Stability will be crucial to ensuring that the rights of all communities in Lebanon are safeguarded. It is the responsibility of all those involved to ensure that any Israeli withdrawal from South Lebanon is orderly and carried out within a framework which ensures stability.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his international colleagues concerning(a) the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon and (b) the protection of a Christian enclave until that has occurred. [108063]

  Mr. Hain
  I discuss the Middle East Peace Process regularly with EU and other colleagues. The Government support United Nations Security Council Resolutions 520 and 425. We look forward to the Lebanese Government's
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  full exercise of its authority throughout the country. We monitor the human rights situation in Lebanon, as in the rest of the Middle East and elsewhere.

  Egypt
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has held with the Egyptian Government regarding the political representation of Christians. [108062]

  Mr. Hain
  When my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary visited Cairo in January this year, he met the Sheikh of A1 Azar and Bishop Daniel as well as members of the Government, including the President. Interfaith issues were part of the discussions.

  Congo
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the UK has to provide troops to a peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of Congo. [108058]

  Mr. Hain
  The UK is providing six military liaison officers to the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC). The Security Council is considering the Secretary General's recommendations for a large UN observer force to monitor the ceasefire. We are ready, in principle, to support this force and are keeping under review what more we may be able to provide.

  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what notifications from the Joint Military Committee and MONUC of breaches of the Lusaka ceasefire in the Democratic Republic of Congo since its signing he has received; and how many of these ceasefire breaches involved Zimbabwean troops. [108057]

  Mr. Hain
  Since the signing of the Lusaka Agreement there have been allegations of ceasefire violations by both sides in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We strongly condemn all such violations.

  We continue to urge the parties to report any ceasefire violations to the Joint Military Committee, which is mandated under the Lusaka Agreement to monitor compliance and resolve disputes.

  At the open meeting of the Security Council on DRC in New York last week all parties reaffirmed their support for Lusaka and its principles and their commitment to its implementation.

  Iran
  Mr. McCabe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 20 January 2000,Official Report, column 580W, what sources of information, other than Iranian press reports, concerning the affiliations and roles of Globad Mansour-Beigi, Reza Molai and Ali-Hosseini, he has evaluated. [107954]

  Mr. Hain
  The Iranian media reports referred to in my previous answer described the three people killed in the Mujaheddin-e-Khalq Organisation's attack on the town of Ilam as civilians. Whatever their affiliation, this was an act of terrorism, which I strongly condemn.
  738W
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Iranian Government on the position of women in Iran in relation to the report by the UN Rapporteur on Human Rights. [108148]

  Mr. Hain
  We and our EU partners regularly raise with the Iranian authorities our concerns over a number of their human rights policies, including the situation of women in Iran. The EU sponsored UN General Assembly Resolution on human rights in Iran, adopted on 17 December, called for further action by the Iranian Government to ensure the full and equal enjoyment by women of their human rights.

  The Special Rapporteur's report of September 1999 expressed concern over certain women's rights issues and also highlighted a number of improvements. He particularly welcomed the efforts of the Iranian President and other senior figures in the executive to press for a change in attitude towards women and women's issues. He also welcomed the greater participation of Iranian women in politics and higher education.

  Pakistan
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on persecution of Christians in Pakistan in each of the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [107948]

  Mr. Hain
  We have received a number of reports about the position of Christians in Pakistan and have raised our concerns with the Pakistani authorities. Our High Commission in Islamabad maintains a regular dialogue with Christian and human rights groups and the Pakistani authorities on this issue. Since the coup on 12 October 1999, General Musharraf has promised Pakistan's minorities that their rights would be respected and that they would be treated as equal citizens. We shall continue to monitor the situation closely and raise our concerns.

  Sudan
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to his Egyptian counterpart on the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development peace initiative for Sudan. [108129]

  Mr. Hain
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has discussed the Sudan with his Egyptian counterpart on a number of occasions, most recently in Cairo on 20 January. Our objective is to see a comprehensive negotiated settlement in the interests of all Sudanese. We continue to support the LOAD initiative as the best vehicle for actioning this.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received concerning the displacement of Nuer from the area surrounding the oil fields in Southern Sudan. [108145]

  Mr. Hain
  We are aware of reports of displacement of people in Upper Nile to places such as Bentiu and Yirol as a result of factional fighting. We expect to see further reports on this issue from a Canadian study which we understand may be published in the near future.

  Taiwan
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Taiwan on the economic consequences of the earthquake that took place last year in Taiwan. [108173]

  Mr. Battle
  None. The British Trade and Cultural Office in Taipei reports regularly on economic developments. The economic consequences of last September's earthquake have been comprehensively covered in the course of that reporting.

  The human cost of the earthquake was severe and tragic. The United Kingdom joined many other members of the international community in contributing to the relief effort.

  Economic dislocation proved to be less grave than the Taiwan authorities initially feared. Considering the magnitude of the tremor, infrastructural damage to industrial premises was relatively light, the bulk of lost industrial output being caused by disruption in power supplies. Economic indicators show that Taiwan's economic performance has now returned to at or near its pre-September level.

  Departmental Expenditure Limit
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals there are to amend his Department's expenditure and running costs limit for 1999–2000. [108810]

  Mr. Hain
  Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate for Class VII Vote 1 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Departmental Expenditure limit for 1999–2000 will be increased by £5,157,000 from £1,171,240,000 to £1,176,397,000 and the running cost limit has been decreased by £32,614,000 from £530,968,000 to £498,354,000. The increase is the net effect of:

  (i) a decrease of £5,326,000 in respect of an adjustment for Overseas Price Movements;

  (ii) a decrease in the running cost limit of £1,011,000, in respect of the cash limit breach for financial year 1998–99;

  (iii) an increase of £2,000,000 in both capital expenditure and appropriations in-aid for FCO Estates Rationalisation;

  (iv) a net decrease in the running costs limit of £5,238,000 and an increase in capital of £5,238,000, in respect of reclassification of certain items of current and capital expenditure in line with FCO's Resource Accounting policies;

  740W

  (v) a transfer of £600,000 from the Home Office (Class 4, Vote 1), in respect of certain overseas drugs assistance programmes;

  (vi) a transfer of £56,000 to the Home Office (Class IV, Vote 2), in respect of the Human Rights Project Fund;

  (vii) a transfer of £100,000 from the Ministry of Defence (Class VI, Vote 1), in respect of their contribution to the grant-in-aid to the Atlantic Council of the UK;

  (viii) a transfer of £750,000 to the Cabinet Office (Class XVII, Vote 2) for capital expenditure;

  (ix) an increase in both running cost limit and in appropriations-in-aid of £25,000, in respect of Sales into Wider Markets;

  (x) an increase in running cost receipts of £24,675,000 and an increase in running cost expenditure of £500,000, in respect of increased receipts from other Government Departments;

  (xi) The Supplementary Estimate is also sought for additional provision of £40,070,000 on Section B for UK contributions to United Nations Missions in the former Yugoslavia (includes) UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo) and the former Soviet Union, United Nations Special Commission on Iraq, United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observer Mission, United Nations Mission for the Referendum on Western Sahara, United Nations Police Mission in Haiti, United Nations Mission in East Timor, United Nations Observer Mission in Angola, United Nations Peacekeeping Operation in Central African Republic, United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone, United Nations Observer Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the United Nations International Criminal Tribunals for Yugoslavia and Rwanda, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the European Community Monitoring Mission and Western European Union Police Mission in Albania. This is partially offset by an increase of £4,800,000 in appropriations-in-aid in respect of non-baseline peacekeeping;

  (xii) The Supplementary Estimate is also required to note an increase of £505,000 in Section D, in respect of an adjustment for Overseas Price Movements for the British Council.

  The increase will be offset by a transfer from another Departmental Expenditure Limit (Df1D) and a charge on the DEL Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Oath of Allegiance
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many letters he has received since 1 May 1997 on(a) constituency matters and (b) other matters of Government policy from each of those Members of the House who have not taken the oath of allegiance. [108401]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  Correspondence between hon. Members and Departments is treated in confidence unless the originating Member chooses to make such issues public. I am therefore unable to provide the information requested.

  Firearms National Register
  Firearms National Register
  Immigration and Asylum Act Provisions: Consultations
  Immigration and Asylum Act Provisions: Consultations
  Police Numbers
  Police Numbers
  Criminal Justice System and Race
  Criminal Justice System and Race
  Probation Officer Numbers
  Probation Officer Numbers
  Influenza
  Influenza
  Primary Care Groups: Midwife Representation
  Primary Care Groups: Midwife Representation
  Cardiac Operations, Great Ormond Street Hospital
  Cardiac Operations, Great Ormond Street Hospital
  "Living Wills"
  "Living Wills"
  International Action on Humanitarian Crises
  International Action on Humanitarian Crises
  Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar (Eriskay Causeway) Order Confirmation Bill
  Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar (Eriskay Causeway) Order Confirmation Bill
  Public Buildings: Fine Art
  Public Buildings: Fine Art
  Royal Parks Agency
  Royal Parks Agency
  New Opportunities Fund and Non-maintained Special Schools
  New Opportunities Fund and Non-maintained Special Schools
  Tourism Industry Training for Disabled People
  Tourism Industry Training for Disabled People
  Legislation: Compatibility with EU Law
  Legislation: Compatibility with EU Law