Written Answers of 9 February 2000

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Energy Conservation
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what average saving in energy consumption he estimates would be made if new houses were constructed using best available techniques for energy conservation in place of the requirements of current building regulations. [108019]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  New dwellings might have an annual energy consumption for space heating and hot water around half that of dwellings built in compliance with current building regulations if built using best available techniques that take account of factors such as capital and running costs, buildability and environmental costs.

  A36(T) Wiltshire
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what representations he received(a) from Wiltshire County Council and (b) from named councillors in support of the provision of a pedestrian crossing on the A36(T) at South Newton, Wiltshire; [107640]

  (2) for what reason he decided to construct a pedestrian crossing on the A36(T) at South Newton, Wiltshire; what type of crossing will be built; when it will be operating; and how much it will cost. [107641]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 1 February 2000]: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Peter Nutt, to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Nutt to Mr. Robert Key, dated 9 February 2000:
  I have been asked by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the provision of a pedestrian crossing on the A36 trunk road at South Newton as these are operational matters for the Highways Agency.
  A written representation was received from Wiltshire County Council last December asking the Agency seriously to consider a pedestrian crossing at South Newton. In addition, Mr. West, a County Councillor for the area, has also asked orally for a pedestrian crossing to be provided there.
  The reason for providing a crossing is that a large part of the village is cut of from the village shop by a heavy traffic flow, and there have been personal injury accidents involving pedestrians crossing the A36 at this point. When taken together, these factors support the case for the provision of a crossing.
  A signal controlled crossing is to be provided and detail design work is programmed to commence in Spring of this year. We expect the crossing to be operational by Winter 2000. The estimated cost of this scheme is £30,000.
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  If you require any further information, the Route Manager, Mr. Nigel Dovell, telephone 0117 987554, who is based in the Highways Agency's Bristol office, will be pleased to help you.

  Airline Accidents
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 24 January 2000,Official Report, columns 131–32W, on airline accidents, if new boundaries for public safety zones at airports were defined following the receipt of the advice from NATS Ltd. [108215]

  Mr. Mullin
  We have accepted NATS' advice that it is feasible to base public safety zone boundaries on risk contours around airports, and NATS are well advanced with the detailed work to redefine the boundaries for us on this basis. We hope to bring the new boundaries into effect, together with guidance to local planning authorities, in the spring.

  Open Skies
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had concerning the Open Skies policy in relation to regional airports in England and Wales during(a) this parliamentary session and (b) the last parliamentary session. [108634]

  Mr. Mullin
  In June 1998 we offered to bilateral partners with whom we did not already have liberal agreements unrestricted third/fourth freedom access to all UK regional airports, as long as UK airlines were also allowed to operate on the same routes. Some 17 countries have accepted the offer and it has been discussed in virtually all air services negotiations held since June 1998.

  Whaling
  Mr. Lepper
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the proposals to be put forward by(a) Japan, (b) Norway and (c) other states on whales and whaling to the forthcoming meeting of the parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, indicating the position of Her Majesty's Government in relation to these proposals. [108492]

  Mr. Meacher
  Japan and Norway have put forward four proposals to downlist whale populations to Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). These are the North-east Atlantic and North Atlantic Central, the West Pacific and Southern Hemisphere stocks of Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) and the Eastern North Pacific stocks of Grey whales (Eshrichtuis robustus.) We have already made clear to both countries our opposition to these proposals on the grounds that they would undermine the moratorium on commercial whaling under the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW). This position was endorsed by the majority of EU member states at a recent informal meeting of EU experts.

  The meeting of experts, which acts as a precursor to the formation of a common EU position through the Council of Ministers, also considered three resolutions concerning the relationship between CITES and the International Whaling Commission (IWC). There are two

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  competing resolutions: one from Japan, that seeks to weaken the primacy of the IWC in the field of managing and conserving whale stocks; and one from the United States, which underscores existing arrangements. In addition there is a simple consolidation of all extant CITES resolutions on whaling proposed by the CITES Secretariat. The majority of member states agreed that the EU should seek the withdrawal of the US and Japanese proposals in favour of the simple consolidation of resolutions which will preserve the existing arrangements between the two Conventions.

  School Crossing Patrols
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the latest available figures are for the number of designated school crossing patrols in(a) England and Wales in total and (b) each London borough; and how many of these designated school crossing patrols have vacant positions in (i) England and Wales and (ii) each London borough. [108676]

  Mr. Hill
  The figures requested are not collected.

  Major Road Schemes
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many major road schemes were(a) accepted, (b) provisionally accepted, (c) deferred and (d) rejected in each English region in the local transport settlement 2000–01. [108721]

  Mr. Hill
  The information is given in the following table:

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  (d)

  Region

  Accepted

  Provisionally accepted

  Deferred

  Rejected

  Total

  South East

  0

  1

  5

  3

  9

  South West

  1

  0

  2

  2

  5

  West Midlands

  2

  0

  6

  3

  11

  North West

  0

  1

  4

  0

  5

  North East

  1

  0

  2

  0

  3

  Yorks and Humber

  0

  2

  6

  1

  9

  East Midlands

  2

  1

  4

  1

  8

  East of England

  2

  5

  1

  1

  9

  The table refers to the 59 bids which are either being funded as major road schemes or were identified as being wholly roads-based. A further 14 major schemes put forward contain significant road schemes as part of an integrated strategy including public transport and related works.

  Housing (Domestic Violence)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will issue guidance to local authorities on allowing housing in cases where a woman has left the area in which she was living as a result of domestic violence and has moved to a different authority area; and if he will make a statement. [108727]

  Mr. Mullin
  People who are fleeing domestic violence are regarded as homeless by virtue of sections 175 and 177 of the Housing Act 1996. Authorities should consider whether applicants are vulnerable as a result of having suffered violence or abuse from a person with whom they 154W
  are associated. If so, they will have a priority need for accommodation. When discharging their duties under the homelessness provisions of the Housing Act 1996, authorities must have regard to how suitable the location of that accommodation is. Threats of violence would clearly be a factor in their decision making.

  The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions revised draft Code of Guidance on the Allocation of Accommodation and Homelessness, due to be published in the Spring, gives clear messages to local authorities about the approach they might take where women need to leave their home because of domestic violence. It also encourages authorities to refer to the voluntary Inter-Borough Agreement on out-of-area-placements of homeless households in the private rented sector, which has been agreed between member authorities of the Association of London Government. This sets out a framework for co-operation and consultation between member authorities. Although this addresses the particular context of London, the principle and policies advocated apply equally across all areas where there is a need for out-of-area placement.

  Health and Safety Laboratory
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will decide the future location of the Health and Safety Laboratory. [108789]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Health and Safety Laboratory is currently in negotiations with a preferred bidder under PFI to rationalise its estate. This involves locating the Laboratory on a single site at Buxton. If Ministers are satisfied that the final proposals represent value for money, approval will be given. A decision on the project is due in Summer 2000.

  Reprocessing (Road Surfaces)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for the latest 12 months for which figures are available how many miles of resurfaced highway contained reprocessed waste tyres; and if he will make a statement. [108983]

  Mr. Hill
  Road surfacing products containing waste tyres are currently undergoing trials as part of their development process. No central records are kept concerning the use of these materials. A trial just under one mile long was laid on the A244 Hersham bypass in June 1999 for Surrey County Council, and is being monitored jointly with the Highways Agency.

  Rent Acts Judgment
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the need for primary legislation following the judgment of the Court of Appeal in R vs Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions ex parte Spath Holme Limited that the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 (SI 1999 No. 6) was ultra vires. [108787]

  Mr. Mullin
  We will consider whether any further action is appropriate once the outcome of the petition to another place is known.
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  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact on the stock of affordable homes of the judgment of the Court of Appeal in R v. Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions ex parte Spath Holme Limited that the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 (SI 1999 No. 6) was ultra vires. [108783]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Court of Appeal's judgment does not affect the supply of affordable homes. However, it is likely to affect the ability of some tenants to afford rent increases which would have been capped under the Order.

  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he plans to take following the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Rv. Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions ex parte Spath Holme Limited that the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 (SI 1999 No. 6) was ultra vires. [108785]

  Mr. Mullin
  We intend to petition another place seeking permission to appeal the Court's decision.

  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact on rents of the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Rv. Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions ex parte Spath Holme Limited that the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 (SI 1999 No. 6) was ultra vires. [108784]

  Mr. Mullin
  The judgment is likely to lead to significant increases in fair rents that would have been capped under the Order. The impact will vary between regions. However, provisional analysis of rents registered by rent officers in England and Wales shows an average difference between the amount capped under the Order and the uncapped amount of £5.61 per week.

  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions by what means he will prevent disproportionate increases in rent following the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Rvs Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions ex parte Spath Holme Limited that the Rent Acts (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 (SI 1999 No. 6) was ultra vires. [108786]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Secretary of State has no powers to intervene to prevent disproportionate increases in rent. It is for rent officers and rent assessment committees to decide whether and by how much to increase the rent for tenancies registered under Part IV and Part VI of the Rent Act 1977. They must follow the rules set out in Section 70 of the Act and have regard to leading court judgments on the assessment of a fair rent.

  Minicabs
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to introduce legislation to control the use of minicabs in the Greater London area. [108731]

  Mr. Hill
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Richmond Park (Dr. Tonge) on 21 December 1999,Official Report, column 537W.

  Deregulation
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the potential impact on business associated with each of the following planned deregulation proposals(a) the disposal of houses by local authorities in England, (b) amending section 7 of the Building Act 1984 and (c) eligibility to drive a private hire vehicle outside London. [108776]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 7 February 2000]: A consultation exercise was carried out last year on the proposal concerning the disposal of houses by local authorities in England. Following this, an assessment of the potential impact on business has been produced, and is currently under consideration.

  The proposals to amend Section 7 of the Building Act 1984 arose from proposals made by the Better Regulation Task Force. A forthcoming consultation will seek to identify the impact of amending Section 7, and this will be fully assessed by means of a Regulatory Impact Assessment prior to making a deregulation order.

  The issues surrounding the eligibility to drive a private hire vehicle outside London are being considered in the light of consultation responses from business and other interested parties. If these result in a deregulation order, Cabinet Office guidance on making such an order will be followed. This guidance requires that a Regulatory Impact Assessment be produced.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the economic impact associated with each of the following deregulation orders and contracting out orders on business(a) the Deregulation (Parking Equipment) Order 1996, (b) the Deregulation (Motor Vehicles Tests) Order 1996, (c) the Deregulation (Building) (Initial Notices and Final Certificates) Order 1996, (d) the Deregulation (Exchangeable Driving Licences) Order 1998 and (e) the Deregulation (Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles) Order 1998. [108775]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 7 February 2000]: The five listed orders were laid prior to the requirement, introduced in August 1998, to produce Regulatory Impact Assessments looking at all economic impacts of proposals. At that time, Compliance Cost Assessments were required, but only for proposals expected to impose costs. Since, under the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994, deregulation orders are not allowed to impose burdens, no such assessments were prepared in these cases.

  Raptor Working Group
  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will publish the main report of the Raptor Working Group. [109089]

  Mr. Mullin
  The report of the UK Raptor Working Group was launched at the Raptor Forum meeting hosted by my Department on 3 February. The full report is published as a priced publication entitled "Report of the
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  UK Raptor Working Group" available from Scottish Natural Heritage at the address below. Copies are also available in the House Libraries.

  Fiona MacTaggart

  Scottish Natural Heritage

  Barrington Bond

  1,2 Anderson Place

  Edinburgh EH6 5NP

  Tel: 0131 4462453

  E-mail: Fiona.MacTaggart@snh.gov.uk

  Thameslink
  Mr. Pollard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what options for additional capacity on the Thameslink rail route have been proposed since June 1999; and what is the timetable for such options. [109108]

  Mr. Hill
  The loan of four class 317 units from WAGN and two class 319 units from Connex has resulted in longer trains on Thameslink services, providing 3,900 extra seats per week, and an extra train path from 26 September 1999. The SSRA are currently evaluating proposals for new rolling stock and further additional train paths on the Bedford to London section of the route. They are also investigating other options for additional capacity on this section. The earliest any further additional capacity could be provided by the acquisition of new rolling stock is September 2001.

  Public Transport (Accessibility)
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to increase accessibility to bus and rail services for the (a) elderly and (b) disabled elderly. [109248]

  Mr. Hill
  The regulations we are introducing under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 will ensure that in future all land-based public transport vehicles are fully accessible.

  Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations have been introduced which apply to all new types of passenger rail rolling stock first introduced into service from 1 January 1999. Similar regulations dealing with new buses and coaches used on local and scheduled services will be introduced this year. The regulations cover a wide range of features which will improve access for older people as well as for disabled people: for example, improved handrails which will benefit those with poor dexterity and the use of colour and tonal contrasts to assist those with low vision.

  PPG3
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions whether the target in draft PPG3 of 60 per cent. of homes on brownfield sites is a target for (a) each planning authority, (b) each planning region and (c) the country as a whole; and how he intends to ensure that authority and regional targets will achieve the national target. [109013]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 8 February 2000]: The Government's target is that by 2008, 60 per cent. of additional housing in England should be provided on previously developed land or by re-using existing buildings.
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  Forthcoming guidance on Planning for Housing (PPG3) will advise Regional Planning Bodies to set appropriate regional and sub-regional targets taking account of the national target, the amount of land available for recycling and their assessment of the capacity of their areas to accommodate additional dwellings. Local planning authorities will wish to set targets consistent with the regional targets as confirmed by the Secretary of State in Regional Planning Guidance.

  Departmental Secondees
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many staff were seconded from the private sector to his Department from (a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999 and (c) May 1999 to the latest date for which figures are available, stating in each case the companies from which staff have been seconded. [109071]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 8 February 2000]: Secondments and attachments are part of the Interchange Initiative, which promotes the exchange of people and good practice between the Civil Service and other organisations. All sectors of the economy are involved: Voluntary, Education, Health, Public and Private. Interchange is a key component of the reform agenda. The Modernising Government White Paper committed us to increasing interchange, in particular by bringing in more people on secondment and seconding more of our people out.

  From May 1997 to April 1998, there were 19 secondees to the Department. Four of these secondees were from the private sector, and came from the following companies:

  CRE Group Ltd.

  Bank of Scotland

  Unilever

  District Audit.

  Between May 1998 to April 1999, there were 40 secondees to the Department. 21 of these secondees were from the private sector, and came from the following organisations:

  Kvaerner Construction

  OVE Arup

  Crown House Engineering

  British Gas

  Bovis Construction

  Kvaener Cementation Foundations

  Geoffrey Reid Associates

  Marks and Spencer

  Bellway Urban Renewal

  KPMG

  Buildings Research Establishment

  IPPR

  ABROS

  Boots the Chemist Ltd.

  College of North East London

  D. A. Dawson and Associates

  National Grid

  Hider

  Waters Ltd.

  OPM

  Institute for Fiscal Studies.

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  From May 1999 to December 1999, there were 20 secondees to the Department. Five of these secondees were from the private sector, and came from the following companies:

  Buro—Happold

  Christiani and Nielsen

  Development Trust Association

  Building Research Establishment

  Homeless Network.

  Biosafety Protocol
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Montreal conference on the Biosafety Protocol. [109081]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Montreal conference, at which I represented the United Kingdom Government, was a success. Countries throughout the world agreed by consensus on 29 January to adopt the Biosafety Protocol to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. We achieved our goal of securing a Protocol that is robust in protecting biodiversity, and effective and workable for those who have obligations under it.

  The Protocol will ensure that developing and developed countries alike will be able to take informed decisions, on the basis of scientific information including a risk assessment, about whether to import certain living (genetically) modified organisms (LMOs) that may have adverse effects on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. In the absence of scientific certainty, due to insufficient scientific information and knowledge, and consistent with Principle 15 of the Rio Declaration, countries will be able to take such decisions on import on a precautionary basis in order to avoid or minimise any potential adverse effects, and to take into account the impact of LMOs on the value of biodiversity to indigenous and local communities.

  Where importing countries lack a domestic regulatory framework for taking decisions on the import of LMOs, they will be able to do so under the Protocol. In the case of LMOs intended for intentional introduction into the environment, this will be on the basis of information provided in advance by the exporter. In the case of LMOs intended for direct use as food or feed, or for processing, importing countries without domestic legislation will be able to take decisions on the basis of information provided through a clearing-house mechanism established under the Protocol.

  Further provisions in the Protocol lay down minimum documentation requirements for LMOs moving between countries. These requirements are categorised according to whether the LMO is intended for intentional introduction into the environment, for contained use, for direct use as food or feed, or for processing, or for other purposes. The Protocol also requires work to be undertaken on the options for a regime for liability and redress to be completed within four years of its entry into force.

  The effectiveness of the Protocol in achieving its objective of contributing to biosafety is strengthened by specific recognition that trade and environment agreements should be mutually supportive with a view to achieving sustainable development.
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  The Protocol is a significant step forward in ensuring proper evaluation of any risk to biodiversity from the transboundary movement of LMOs that may have adverse effects on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health. It will complement national and regional law in many parts of the world and enable other countries to benefit from experience elsewhere, including the United Kingdom and Europe, and to protect their biological diversity.

  Suburban Housing Estates
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if draft PPG3 contains a presumption against approval of large suburban housing estates, predominantly of high-priced housing. [109297]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The consultation draft of PPG3 states that any substantial new development should be planned as a community with mixed land uses, including adequate shops and services. It also advises that local planning authorities should adopt policies to secure an appropriate mix of dwelling size, type and affordability in new developments to meet the changing composition of households in their areas. The final version of PPG3 will be issued shortly.

  School Grants
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions under what circumstances schools may receive grants for environmental projects from the proceeds of the landfill tax; and if he will make a statement. [108781]

  Mr. Timms
  I have been asked to reply.

  Operators of landfill sites who are registered for landfill tax may claim for tax credits for contributions that they make to support environmental projects. These may include research and education for the purpose of encouraging the use of more sustainable waste management and the provision and maintenance of public amenities in the vicinity of landfill sites. Landfill site operators may choose to support schools as part of such projects.

  Further information regarding the scheme can be obtained from the regulatory body, ENTRUST Ltd., at the following address:

  ENTRUST

  Acre House

  2 Town Square

  Sale

  Cheshire

  M33 7WZ.

DEFENCE

  Digitisation Systems
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost of fitting the British Army units in Kosovo with platform level digitisation systems; and how many units will be refitted. [99414]

  Mr. Spellar
  We have no immediate plans to fit British Army platforms in Kosovo with digitised systems.

  Cluster Bombs
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research his Department has carried out into the failure rate of cluster bomb sub-munitions used by Her Majesty's armed forces. [107427]

  Mr. Spellar
  Information on the failure rate of cluster bomb sub-munitions used by UK armed forces is collected during regular in-service trials and from field data. Recent statistics show a failure rate of approximately 5 per cent. in line with expectations.

  Service Men (Telephone Calls)
  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the costs per minute of telephone calls to the United Kingdom by service men based in(a) Belize, (b) the Falklands and (c) Cyprus; and what assessment he has made of the impact of such costs on recruitment and retention in the armed forces. [107862]

  Mr. Spellar
  We recognise the importance to personnel serving overseas of keeping in touch with family and friends by being able to telephone home. The standard cost of telephone calls per minute to the United Kingdom is:

  Belize: £2

  Cyprus: Peak 33p Off-peak 28p

  Falkland Islands: Peak 99p Off-peak 80p.

  Falkland Islands costs can be reduced by 15 per cent. by purchasing telephone cards from Service sources on the island.

  The call-back services provided by a number of telecommunications companies can reduce these charges substantially. Typical rates are 41p per minute for Belize, 17p for Cyprus and 59p for Falklands (although the latter is a limited service). The availability of these reduced cost services is widely publicised at each location and personnel are encouraged to use them.

  Personnel in these overseas locations are in receipt of Local Overseas Allowance (LOA), which contains an element for telephone calls.

  UK/VSC 501 System
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost of installing the UK/VSC 501 system on the 18 Land Rovers and the Hagglunds BV206 vehicles currently being delivered to the Royal Marines. [108591]

  Dr. Moonie
  This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter front Sir Robert Walmsley to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 9 February 2000.
  I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the cost to the Ministry of Defence of installing the UK/VSC 501 satellite system on the 18 Land Rovers and the Hagglunds BV206 vehicles being delivered to the Royal Marines. This matter falls to me for answer within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.
  This procurement provided for the upgrade of 18 MOD-owned Land Rover-mounted VSC 501 terminals together with the development and production of two new terminals on MOD-owned
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  Hagglunds BV206 vehicles. The total cost of the work was £11M and the vehicles were delivered between March and September 1999.
  This cost includes the procurement of spares, training, equipment documentation and supporting infrastructure to provide the users with full terminal functionality and connectivity.

  Racism (Armed Forces)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department has taken to improve racial equality in the armed forces in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [108744]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Armed Forces continue to work hard to develop an organisational culture that welcomes racial diversity and places the highest priority on tackling racism within the Services. Within the framework of the Partnership Agreement with the Commission for Racial Equality, the cornerstone for Service racial equality policies, the Armed Forces are committed to reflecting more closely the rich ethnic balance of our society, and to be a beacon for others in the promotion of racial equality.

  During the last 12 months the Armed Forces Equal Opportunities goal was published on 22 March 1999, Official Report, column 10W, and seeks to achieve universal acceptance and application of a working environment free from harassment, intimidation and unlawful discrimination, in which all have equal opportunity, consistent with our legal obligations, to realise their full potential in contributing to the maintenance and enhancement of operational effectiveness. The Armed Forces respect and value every individual's unique contribution, irrespective of their race, ethnic origin, religion or gender and without reference to social background or sexual orientation.

  The Service Heads of Chaplaincy are currently working with the Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh Religious Advisers to the Armed Forces to establish a network of "Chaplains" from minority faiths in order to ensure that the spiritual and moral needs of Service personnel from minority faiths are provided for. Additionally, as part of the Armed Forces' aim to cater for all special religious dietary requirements, Vegetarian, Halal and Kosher Operational Ration Packs have been introduced.

  Education and awareness of equality issues is central in the drive to eradicate unacceptable behaviour in the Armed Forces. Comprehensive equal opportunity training is undertaken widely across the Services in addition to the specialist training provided by the Tri-Service Equal Opportunities Training Centre at Shrivenham.

  The Armed Forces continue to stress their policy of zero tolerance towards all forms of racial discrimination and harassment.

  Shorts Missile Systems Contract
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the value of that part of the contract between his Department and Shorts Missile Systems that will be spent in the United Kingdom; [108749]

  (2) how many high-velocity missiles are to be supplied by Shorts Missile Systems under their contract with his Department. [108748]
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  Dr. Moonie
  This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Sir Robert Walmsley to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 9 February 2000:
  I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the value of that part of the contract between the Ministry of Defence and Shorts Missile Systems that will be spent in the United Kingdom. You also asked how many high velocity missiles are to be supplied by Shorts Missile Systems under their contract with the Department. These matters falls within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.
  I presume both questions refer to the High Velocity Missile contract placed on 6 December 1999. The value of that part of this contract that will be spent in the United Kingdom is 98% of the overall contract cost which as stated in the press release is around £200M. I am afraid that I am unable to let you know how many missiles have been ordered as it is considered that the release of this information would be harmful to our national security interests and would also be in breach of a third party's commercial confidences. I am therefore withholding this information under Exemption 1 (Defence, security and international relations) and Exemption 13 (Third party's commercial confidences) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Sarin
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what study he is making of the long-term effects of Sarin. [108464]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 7 February 2000]: The Department is at present undertaking no specific study into any possible long-term effects of exposure to the nerve agent Sarin. There is, however, both on-going and completed MOD funded research which will inform, in general terms, our understanding of the effects of nerve agents. The results from two earlier studies on the effects of low levels of exposure to Sarin have been published: the first appeared in the "Journal of Human and Experimental Toxicology" in 1996 (Vol 15, pages 369–375); and the second in the "Journal of Psychopharmacology" in 1999 (Vol 13, pages 128–135).

  Fylingdales
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he and his officials have held with the United States Government about the future of Fylingdales in Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement. [108664]

  Mr. Hoon
  [holding answer 7 February 2000]: I have discussed with the US Defense Secretary, William Cohen, the possible US requirement for facilities in the UK to support the US National Missile Defence (NMD) programme. We have received no formal request from the US Administration regarding Fylingdales, nor would we expect any until after a US decision on whether or not to proceed towards deployment of the NMD system.

  Chinook Accident (Mull of Kintyre)
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what evidence was used by his investigators to determine the weather conditions affecting the coastline on the Mull of Kintyre in the last 40 seconds before impact of RAF Chinook ZD 576. [109119]
  164W
  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 8 February 2000]: The RAF Board of Inquiry obtained evidence relating to weather conditions from the Meteorological Office, as well as from several witnesses who were in the area at the time of the accident.

  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received about whether the Mull of Kintyre was covered or only partly covered in cloud as RAF Chinook ZD 576 made its final approach on 2 June 1994. [109121]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 8 February 2000]: The RAF Board of Inquiry found that the weather was very poor, with cloud and hill fog extending from below the lighthouse level (300 ft) to at least the summit of Beinn na Lice (1,400 ft), the highest point on the southern tip of the Mull.

  Thiepval Barracks
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what feasibility study was undertaken in respect of the land at Thiepval barracks; if he will make a statement on the options contained in the report; which option was chosen; and if he will place a copy of the report in the Library. [109082]

  Dr. Moonie
  The land at Thiepval barracks was last subject to a major review in 1997. The resulting report contained classified information regarding the layout of the barracks and proposed development. I am therefore withholding information on the content of that report under Exemption la of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Balkans (Army Communications)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement concerning army communications in the Balkans. [109582]

  Mr. Spellar
  As part of my Department's on-going efforts to reduce overstretch in the Army, I am pleased to announce that a contract has been let to provide for less manpower-intensive and more modern communications equipment in the Balkans. The contract, with BAe Systems, will provide for wide area communications in support of the UK' s contribution to the NATO Multi National Divisions in Bosnia and Kosovo. While maintaining the UK's responsibility to NATO's peacekeeping forces, it will enable us to bring home some 150 Royal Signals personnel by the end of the year. It is also an excellent example of the SMART Procurement Initiative by demonstrating the advantages of working closely together with industry to deliver the equipment our front-line troops need. The contract is specific to the Balkans theatre of operations and does not affect the Army's wider communications requirements. The cost of this equipment will be met from the Contingency Reserve.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Departmental Research Projects
  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 20 December 1999,Official Report, column 373W, what restrictions were

  165W
  placed on contractors carrying out research projects funded by his Department in 1999 in respect of them discussing their findings with journalists (a) before and (b) after publication. [108197]

  Mr. Straw
  The terms and conditions with regard to publicity about research projects undertaken by contractors on behalf of the Home Office vary depending upon the detailed circumstances of the contract. As a rule, research contracts with the Home Office require contractors not to make public statements concerning the work without the prior consent of the Department. In practice, this usually means that contractors do not discuss findings of research before publication but are free to do so afterwards. I am committed to ensuring that any research commissioned by my Department is published once it has been properly validated (save in subject areas where the protection of national security or the prevention of serious crime require that the research can only be used for internal purposes). I have agreed a protocol with my Director of Research governing the publication of the Home Office research reports. I have placed a copy in the Library.

  Body Armour (Female Officers)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance is given by his Department to police forces on the provision of suitably designed body armour for female officers. [109000]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Suitable body armour for female officers, designed and approved to standards set by the Home Office Police Scientific Development Branch

  Table showing the number of asylum seekers being supported by London boroughs1 at 7 January 2000

  Borough

  Total number of asylum seekers

  Unaccompanied minors2

  Single adults

  Number of families3

  Number of people in families

  Barking and Dagenham

  2,440

  140

  800

  530

  1,500

  Barnet

  1,420

  40

  270

  330

  1,100

  Bexley

  400

  80

  100

  60

  220

  Brent

  1,890

  50

  570

  430

  1,270

  Bromley

  530

  40

  170

  90

  310

  Camden

  1,820

  80

  510

  370

  1,230

  Corporation of London

  170

  —

  90

  20

  70

  Croydon

  940

  150

  180

  180

  610

  Ealing4

  1,280

  —

  390

  260

  900

  Enfield4

  1,970

  60

  420

  550

  1,490

  Greenwich

  1,850

  70

  820

  330

  960

  Hackney

  2,440

  —

  920

  490

  1,520

  Hammersmith and Fulham4

  2,400

  180

  670

  470

  1,550

  Haringey4

  4,680

  320

  1,330

  910

  3,040

  Harrow

  750

  40

  170

  150

  540

  Havering4

  310

  —

  220

  30

  90

  Hillingdon

  1,880

  400

  760

  230

  710

  Hounslow4

  920

  30

  210

  270

  690

  Islington4

  2,360

  220

  1,280

  460

  860

  Kensington and Chelsea

  1,790

  130

  810

  260

  850

  Kingston-upon-Thames4

  330

  10

  90

  70

  230

  Lambeth

  2,900

  150

  1,050

  580

  1,710

  Lewisham4

  2,390

  90

  1,000

  410

  1,300

  Merton4

  910

  —

  260

  190

  660

  Newham

  6,120

  70

  1,240

  1,420

  4,810

  Redbridge

  1,860

  200

  540

  340

  1,120

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  1,650

  210

  710

  2107

  30

  Southwark

  2,850

  190

  1,010

  550

  1,660

  Sutton

  550

  50

  250

  90

  260

  Tower Hamlets

  660

  10

  230

  130

  420

  166W
  (PSDB) and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), has been available since May 1999. The new PSDB Stab Resistance Standard for Body Armour 1999 also includes provision for testing female armour.

  The results of all body armour tested to PSDB standards are published in the "Manual of Ballistic and Stab Resistant Body Armour", a joint PSDB/ACPO publication. The manual is available to all police forces and contains information on how to select appropriate body armour from among almost 200 commercially available armours. PSDB also gives presentations on female body armour to individual forces.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers who are(a) single adults, (b) families with children and (c) unaccompanied children in each London borough were being supplied through (i) the Social Services departments and (ii) other housing departments on 31 January. [108797]

  Mrs. Roche
  Central Government do not collect information in the form requested. I understand that the Association of London Government collates data on the numbers of single adults, families and unaccompanied minors being supported by London boroughs each week. A breakdown between those persons supported by social services departments or other housing departments is not available.

  The latest figures available from the Association of London Government, for the week ending 7 January 2000, are set out in the table.
  167W

  Table showing the number of asylum seekers being supported by London boroughs1 at 7 January 2000

  Borough

  Total number of asylum seekers

  Unaccompanied minors2

  Single adults

  Number of families3

  Number of people in families

  Waltham Forest

  2,250

  —

  1,150

  490

  1,100

  Wandsworth

  970

  10

  210

  220

  750

  Westminster

  2,260

  160

  740

  410

  1,360

  Total

  57,940

  3,170

  19,170

  11,520

  36,600

  1 A significant proportion of the single adults live in other areas of the country but the accommodation is organised by London local authorities.

  2 Unaccompanied children under 17.

  3 Families include cases with only dependant adults.

  4 Updated figures not yet reported, figures taken from previous report.

  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has taken to ensure that current overstayers will not lose the right to a suspensive appeal against a decision to remove them taken after 1 October. [109544]

  Mrs. Roche
  Section 9 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 provides for a minimum three month period during which overstayers can apply to regularise their immigration status. If they do so, and the application is refused after the new removal procedures are implemented, the old procedures will apply to their case after 1 October and a suspensive right of appeal will be retained.

  The Immigration (Regularisation Period for Overstayers) Regulations 2000 came into force on Tuesday 8 February. The period runs from now until 1 October 2000, which is the day before the Human Rights Act 1998 is expected to come into force, and thus lasts for a minimum of almost eight months.

  I shall shortly write to all Members, giving details of the scheme and how an application should be made under it. I shall place copies of the information leaflet we have produced in the Library. We shall be discussing further publicity with relevant interest groups, but as a first step the leaflets are being distributed to local community groups through the Citizens Advice Bureaux and the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants.

  The scheme is solely intended to retain a suspensive right of appeal to the Immigration Appellate Authority for those overstayers who make a specific application to us during the period. It is by no means an amnesty: the same considerations apply whether an application under the scheme is made or not. All overstayers should be aware that a decision to remove them from the United Kingdom is, and will, remain the normal response to their unlawful behaviour. Only when the compassionate circumstances outweigh the public interest in maintaining an effective immigration control will we allow them to remain.

  Women's Refuges (London)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women's refuges there are in each Greater London borough. [108729]

  Mr. Boateng
  Refuges operate independently of Government, and such data are not collected centrally. The most comprehensive and up-to-date information available is contained in "The Gold Book: the Women's Aid Directory of Domestic Violence Research and Helpline 168W
  Services 1999", published last year by the Women's Aid Federation (England). Information is also available on the Women's Aid website, http://www.womensaid.org.uk.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding has been made available to(a) open and (b) support women's refuge projects in the Greater London area in each of the last three years. [108723]

  Mr. Boateng
  Refuges are funded by a range of sources, rather than directly by central Government. In some cases, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, through the Housing Corporation, provides capital and revenue funding. Other income comes from the rents paid by users (who may be relying on Housing Benefit support), local authorities, charities, trusts, private donations and their own fund-raising activities. Some refuge projects work in partnership with Housing Associations. Because of this the information requested is not available.

  The paper "Supporting People" outlined plans to introduce a new policy and funding framework for the provision of supported accommodation for all who need it, including the survivors of domestic violence, from April 2003.

  Firearms
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many days it takes to process the grant and renewal of a shotgun and firearm certificate in each police constabulary area. [108823]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what monitoring and evaluation of the firearms licensing regime has been carried out in respect of the level set for firearm fees. [108822]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  As with other aspects of police administration, firearms licensing is subject to monitoring by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) as part of their inspection process.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representatives of shooting user groups have been invited to participate in Home Office discussions on firearms fees. [108821]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Firearms Consultative Committee (FCC), the independent statutory authority that advises the Government on firearms matters, considered initial proposals for reviewing firearms
  169W
  licensing fees last year. The Home Office has since received detailed information from the Association of Chief Police Officers as to the basis on which the fees might be set. Ultimately, it is for the Home Secretary to lay an Order before Parliament setting out any changes, but before doing so we shall wish to consult the British Shooting Sports Council for their views.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to improve the efficiency of police firearms licensing departments in respect of the criticisms made in Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary report in 1993. [108820]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  In the years immediately following the publication of their 1993 Report on Firearms Licensing, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) paid particular attention to firearms licensing departments during their inspection of individual forces, having regard to the shortcomings identified in the report. In general, HMIC was satisfied that most forces had taken those steps identified by the Inspectorate to improve their efficiency and effectiveness in this area.

  Since the publication of the 1993 Inspection Report, there has been considerable change in the field of firearms licensing following the tragic events at Dunblane and the subsequent legislation. There have also been wider changes, for example in the role and effectiveness of computer systems. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary is, therefore, drawing up new inspection protocols for firearms licensing departments.

  British Summer Time
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 24 November 1999,Official Report, column 124W, what are the respective responsibilities of his Department and the Scottish Executive in relation to British summer time in Scotland. [108818]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Scotland Act 1998 reserves powers relating to summer time to Westminster and responsibility, therefore, remains with the Home Office.

  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consult road safety groups and others on abandoning British summer time in England and Wales. [108819]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  We have no plans to promote changes to the present summer time arrangements, but we will continue to listen to all sides of the argument.

  Human Rights Act 1998
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much he has spent on counsel's opinion in respect of securing statements of compatibility of public bills with the requirements of the Human Rights Act 1998. [108757]

  Mr. Straw
  Statements under section 19 express the Minister's view as to whether the provisions of a Bill are compatible with the Convention. Each Department is responsible for seeking its own advice before making a170W
  section 19 statement. No money has been spent by the Home Office on counsel's fees for the immediate purpose of making such statements. But in forming a view as to a Bill's compatibility, the Minister will take into account all the legal advice available to the Department, including any advice from outside Counsel, where appropriate. Such advice may be obtained in relation to a specific issue or have been given, for example, in the context of relevant litigation.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library copies of the paper setting out the basis for statements of compatibility of Public Bills with the Human Rights Act 1998. [108756]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Copies of the revised guidance to Departments have been placed in the Library.

  Lawrence Inquiry
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library the document relating to the Lawrence Inquiry, entitled, "Summary of Progress on Key Action Points". [108718]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Yes; but I shall shortly be publishing a much fuller account of the progress made in implementing the action plan published in March 1999 in response to the report of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry.

  Crown Court Appeals
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Miss Widdecombe) of 2 February 2000,Official Report, column 599W, on his proposals to restrict the right to elect trial by jury, (a) if it is his intention to allow (i) either the prosecution or defence, or both, to petition the Crown court for an oral hearing of an appeal against the determination of mode of trial by magistrates, where an oral hearing is not requested by the judge and (ii) only circuit judges to hear appeals in the Crown court against the determination of mode of trial by magistrates, and (b) if the prosecution and defence will be able to adduce additional evidence, over and above that presented to the magistrates, during the course of an appeal to the Crown court against the determination of mode of trial by magistrates, and if they will be able to call witnesses and expert witnesses to give oral testimony. [109208]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 8 February 2000]: The appeal would be a re-hearing by a circuit judge of the magistrates decision. It would be open to either of the parties to seek an oral hearing in the notice of appeal, and it would be for the discretion of the judge whether to allow an oral hearing to take place. It would also be for his discretion whether to allow the parties to adduce further evidence (including, in the unlikely event that it would be necessary, evidence from expert or other witnesses) in support of their representations.
  171W
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 2 February 2000,Official Report, column 599W, what parts of criminal proceedings in the Crown Court may at present be heard in chambers by a single judge; what estimate he has made of the number of Crown Court sitting days that would be taken up by the hearing of appeals against the determination of mode of trial by magistrates, what items are included in the cost of (i) a written and (ii) an oral appeals; and on what basis he reached his estimate of the number of defendants who would appeal against magistrates' decisions on mode of trial. [109209]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 8 February 2000]: Business which may be heard in chambers by a single judge (pursuant to Crown Court Rule 27) includes applications for bail and for the extension of time-limits, and appeals against the decision of magistrates on those issues. In estimating the cost of appeals against mode of trial, the generous assumptions have been made that in 25 per cent. of cases the defendant might appeal, and that 17.5 per cent. of cases will require an oral hearing. In total, less than 650 judicial hours would be spent on these appeals per year. The costs have been based on court time, prosecution costs and legal aid standard fee rates. The reply I gave to the right hon. Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Miss Widdecombe), on 2 February 2000, Official Report, column 599W, contained a typographical error: it is estimated the number of defendants who would appeal is 3,000, and not 3,900 as stated.

  Organised Crime (Hungary)
  Mr. Fabian Hamilton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to encourage a further strengthening of co-operation with Hungary to combat organised crime. [109668]

  Mr. Straw
  I have today signed with the Minister of the Interior of Hungary, Dr. Sandor Pinter, a Memorandum of Understanding on Co-operation in Combating Illicit Drug Trafficking, Organised Crime, International Terrorism and Illegal Immigration. The agreement provides a framework within which law enforcement agencies and prosecuting authorities in our two countries can develop their close working relations in preventing, detecting and investigating all forms of serious and organised national and international crime. It is an important step forward in combating the common threat from criminal activity both within and beyond Europe.

  Immigration
  Mr. Burgon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he has made to ensure that immigration officers exercising the new powers of search, entry and seizure in Part VII of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 will have regard to the codes of practice issued under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. [109669]

  Mrs. Roche
  The new powers of entry, search and seizure will come into force on 14 February 2000. In accordance with section 145 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, a Direction has been made which will ensure that immigration officers exercising these powers, and their existing powers of arrest under Schedule 2 of the Immigration Act 1971, must have regard to the relevant 172W
  provisions of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 Codes of Practice. A copy of the Direction is being placed in the Library. It is also being sent to members of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) User Panel and will be made available more widely via the IND website.

  The use of the new powers will be restricted initially to a team of immigration officers involved in a joint pilot scheme with the Metropolitan police. This pilot scheme will enable the powers to be tested in the operational arena before more widespread use of the powers is considered.

  Immigration and Nationality Directorate
  Ms Ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on changes in the membership of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate Complaints Audit Committee. [109671]

  Mrs. Roche
  Ms Ros Gardner has been appointed as a new Member of the Complaints Audit Committee to replace Janet Whitaker, who resigned on being made a Life Peer. Ms Gardner runs a consultancy specialising in customer care and complaint handling. She was formerly Manager of the Customer Services Department of Marks and Spencer and was a member of the Cabinet Office's Citizens Charter Complaints Task Force.

  Police Officer Recruitment
  Mr. Burgon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the results of police forces' bids for funding from the Crime Fighting Fund to recruit police officers. [109672]

  Mr. Straw
  All 43 police forces in England and Wales bid for a share of the Crime Fighting Fund to recruit 5,000 police officers over and above the number they had otherwise planned to recruit over the next three years commencing April 2000.

  The total number of officers which forces bid for came to 8,220. As all forces meet the gateway criteria set out in the Bidding Guidelines, I have, in allocating funding for the 5,000 officers between forces, taken into account the information which they provided in support of their bids.

  The table shows the number of police recruits each force has bid for, the number they have been allocated in each year of the scheme and in total, and the funding each will receive in year one of the scheme.

  The numbers of officers in years two and three are provisional at this stage. They are dependent on forces meeting the continuation criteria for benefiting from the Fund in those years.

  Forces tell us that, without the additional resources from the fund, they are planning to recruit a total of 12,478 police officers (new recruits to the service) in the three years commencing in April 2000. Their estimates reflect the decisions they and their police authorities have made about the way in which they will use the resources available to them next year, and the assumptions they have made about funding and budget levels in the two following years which have yet to be settled. The money from the Crime Fighting Fund will be used to recruit 5,000 officers over and above the number forces plan to recruit over the three-year period.

  173W

  Crime Fighting Fund: Recruits

  Allocation

  Year 1 costs (£)

  Forces

  3 Year total bid

  2000–01 Year 1

  2001–02 Year 2

  2002–03 Year 3

  Total

  Total to force

  Training1

  Total Year 1

  Avon and Somerset

  165

  20

  40

  41

  101

  510,000

  140,000

  650,000

  Bedfordshire

  102

  11

  22

  22

  55

  280,500

  77,000

  357,500

  Cambridgeshire

  69

  16

  14

  12

  42

  408,000

  112,000

  520,000

  Cheshire

  115

  17

  34

  35

  86

  433,500

  119,000

  552,500

  City of London

  16

  8

  0

  0

  8

  225,040

  56,000

  281,040

  Cleveland

  57

  5

  23

  0

  28

  127,500

  35,000

  162,500

  Cumbria

  60

  8

  16

  16

  40

  204,000

  56,000

  260,000

  Derbyshire

  250

  20

  40

  41

  101

  510,000

  140,000

  650,000

  Devon and Cornwall

  200

  28

  55

  55

  138

  714,000

  196,000

  910,000

  Dorset

  90

  9

  18

  19

  46

  229,500

  63,000

  292,500

  Durham

  60

  13

  18

  20

  51

  331,500

  91,000

  422,500

  Dyfed Powys

  100

  10

  20

  20

  50

  255,000

  70,000

  325,000

  Essex

  124

  23

  40

  40

  103

  586,500

  161,000

  747,500

  Gloucestershire

  70

  12

  20

  20

  52

  306,000

  84,000

  390,000

  Greater Manchester

  1,000

  78

  145

  155

  378

  1,989,000

  546,000

  2,535,000

  Gwent

  65

  12

  20

  11

  43

  306,000

  84,000

  390,000

  Hampshire

  150

  27

  53

  53

  133

  688,500

  189,000

  877,500

  Hertfordshire

  48

  13

  16

  16

  45

  331,500

  91,000

  422,500

  Humberside

  251

  15

  29

  30

  74

  382,500

  105,000

  487,500

  Kent

  180

  30

  58

  58

  146

  765,000

  210,000

  975,000

  Lancashire

  152

  25

  51

  50

  126

  637,500

  175,000

  812,500

  Leicestershire

  150

  17

  26

  40

  83

  433,500

  119,000

  552,500

  Lincolnshire

  50

  11

  20

  10

  41

  280,500

  77,000

  357,500

  Merseyside

  360

  40

  80

  81

  201

  1,020,000

  280,000

  1,300,000

  Metropolitan Police

  1,800

  242

  424

  447

  1,113

  6,807,460

  1,694,000

  8,501,460

  Norfolk

  90

  11

  30

  25

  66

  280,500

  77,000

  357,500

  North Wales

  75

  12

  25

  25

  62

  306,000

  84,000

  390,000

  North Yorkshire

  39

  5

  20

  0

  25

  127,500

  35,000

  162,500

  Northamptonshire

  105

  14

  25

  14

  53

  357,000

  98,000

  455,000

  Northumbria

  172

  27

  57

  52

  136

  688,500

  189,000

  877,500

  Nottinghamshire

  120

  17

  35

  35

  87

  433,500

  119,000

  552,500

  South Wales

  90

  14

  27

  27

  68

  357,000

  98,000

  455,000

  South Yorkshire

  150

  20

  40

  41

  101

  510,000

  140,000

  650,000

  Staffordshire

  102

  17

  33

  33

  83

  433,500

  119,000

  552,500

  Suffolk

  73

  11

  24

  10

  45

  280,500

  77,000

  357,500

  Surrey

  120

  18

  30

  30

  78

  459,000

  126,000

  585,000

  Sussex

  135

  22

  45

  45

  112

  561,000

  154,000

  715,000

  Thames Valley

  379

  40

  80

  80

  200

  1,020,000

  280,000

  1,300,000

  Warwickshire

  68

  6

  24

  0

  30

  153,000

  42,000

  195,000

  West Mercia

  108

  18

  35

  36

  89

  459,000

  126,000

  585,000

  West Midlands

  480

  64

  120

  126

  310

  1,632,000

  448,000

  2,080,000

  West Yorkshire

  180

  26

  52

  53

  131

  663,000

  182,000

  845,000

  Wiltshire

  50

  8

  16

  16

  40

  204,000

  56,000

  260,000

  Total

  8,220

  1,060

  2,000

  1,940

  5,000

  27,687,500

  7,420,000

  35,107,500

  1 The £7,000 per recruit to forces other than the Metropolitan Police Service for training will be paid to National Police Training

  Police Statistics
  Mr. Ivan Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the number of police officers in each police force area in England and Wales, and in total, for the latest available date; and, if he will list the total number of(a) police officers and (b) civilian support staff in England and Wales for each year from 1990. [109673]

  Mr. Straw
  The information is set out in the tables. At the end of September 1999, the total number of police officers in England and Wales was 125,464. The number of officers in the 43 forces (excluding officers seconded to the National Crime Squad, the National Criminal Intelligence Service and central service) was 123,050. At the end of September 1999 there were 53,254 civilian support staff in the police service.

  I have also accepted the recommendations of a Working Group chaired by Her Majesty's Inspector of
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  Constabulary and including representatives of the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Association of Police Authorities on the re-classification of police service personnel. The Working Group recommended that greater recognition should be given to the important contribution that civilian support staff make to operational policing. Civilian staff now account for 30 per cent. of total police service personnel.

  From March 2000, police service staff will be categorised within three bands as (a) operational, (b) operational support, or (c) organisational support. The new information, to be collected annually by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, will provide a more accurate reflection of the deployment of all police service personnel.

  We shall continue to publish information on police officer numbers in the usual way.

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  Police numbers—change between March 1999 and September 1999

  Force

  Strength as at 30 September 1999

  Change since 31 March 1999

  Avon and Somerset

  2,988.7

  -11

  Bedfordshire

  1,048.4

  +7

  Cambridgeshire

  1,272.2

  -2

  Cheshire

  2,043.6

  -27

  City of London

  744.6

  -33

  Cleveland

  1,372.6

  -43

  Cumbria

  1,092.9

  -33

  Derbyshire

  1,763.6

  +5

  Devon and Cornwall

  2,861.1

  -26

  Dorset

  1,276.1

  -3

  Durham

  1,554.6

  -13

  Dyfed-Powys

  1,048.6

  +22

  Essex

  2,834.7

  -56

  Gloucestershire

  1,098

  -6

  Greater Manchester

  6,810.3

  No change

  Gwent

  1,261.3

  +14

  Hampshire

  3,410.8

  -63

  Hertfordshire

  1,760

  +36

  Humberside

  1,926.2

  -48

  Kent

  3,256.7

  +56

  Lancashire

  3,221.4

  -23

  Leicestershire

  1,997.5

  +4

  Lincolnshire

  1,110.8

  -29

  Merseyside

  4,070.8

  -140

  Metropolitan police

  25,884.5

  -188

  Norfolk

  1,381.5

  No change

  Northamptonshire

  1,130

  -7

  Northumbria

  3,800.1

  -40

  North Wales

  1,399

  +8

  North Yorkshire

  1,293.7

  -43

  Nottinghamshire

  2,227

  +2

  South Wales

  2,983

  +2

  South Yorkshire

  3,165

  -3

  Staffordshire

  2,206

  -32

  Suffolk

  1,160

  -30

  Surrey

  1,721.1

  +59

  Sussex

  2,909.3

  +63

  Thames Valley

  3,749.5

  +1

  Warwickshire

  915.7

  +8

  West Mercia

  1,979.4

  -45

  West Midlands

  7,296.4

  -24

  West Yorkshire

  4,873

  -109

  Wiltshire

  1,150.2

  -1

  Force total strength

  123,050

  -791

  Seconded police officers

  2,414

  +159

  Total police service strength

  125,464

  -632

  1 Includes officers seconded to NCS, NCIS and central service such as National Police Training.

  Total police service personnel—1990–99

  Year

  Total police officers

  Total civilian support staff

  31 March 1990

  126,777

  44,525

  31 March 1991

  127,495

  46,373

  31 March 1992

  127,627

  47,320

  31 March 1993

  128,290

  49,503

  31 March 1994

  127,897

  50,229

  31 March 1995

  127,222

  51,096

  31 March 1996

  126,901

  52,933

  31 March 1997

  127,158

  53,011

  31 March 1998

  126,814

  52,974

  31 March 1999

  126,096

  53,031

  30 September 1999

  125,464

  53,254

  Nuclear Bunker (Soar)
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will order the sale of the former nuclear bunker at Soar, Devon; and if he will make a statement on outstanding issues in relation to the National Trust. [108994]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The outstanding issues in relation to the National Trust are on the point of being resolved. The first stage in the process of offering this property for sale will begin on 24 February, with the first of a number of open days, when prospective purchasers will have an opportunity to view the property prior to submitting sealed bids.

  Crime (Banbury and Abingdon)
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide statistics on incidents of crime in Banbury and Abingdon(a) in the 12 month period before and (b) after the installation of closed circuit television surveillance. [109123]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  This information is not available centrally. The British Crime Survey and other centrally collated crime statistics are not sufficiently detailed to provide the comparative before and after information requested.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  European Charter on Human Rights
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Council, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for South Ribble (Mr. Borrow), of 8 December 1999,Official Report, column 532W, on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, what parliamentary procedures preceded the appointment of my hon. Friend the Member for Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths) as the delegate of the House to the Charter drafting body; and what documents set out his instructions as a delegate. [108736]

  Mrs. Beckett
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 7 February 2000,Official Report, column 24W.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Departmental Fees
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. [107977]

  Mr. Hain
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the previous question on 8 February 2000,Official Report, column 134W.

  Helsinki Council
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of the Secretary of State for Defence of 20 January 2000,Official Report, columns 536–37W, on the three new

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  military committees to be established in the European Council, what Parliamentary proceedings will be initiated by a Minister of the Crown prior to negotiations and decision-making concerning their respective terms of reference. [108735]

  Mr. Vaz
  Draft Council Decisions establishing the three interim structures (the Interim Political and Security Committee, the Interim Body of Military Representatives, the secondment of Military Experts to the General Secretariat of the Council) are being submitted for Parliamentary Scrutiny. Future Decisions and other instruments concerning these bodies will be similarly submitted for Parliamentary Scrutiny, in line with the Government's 1998 White Paper on the Parliamentary Scrutiny of EU business.

  Diplomatic Staff
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 2 February 2000,Official Report, column 622W, on diplomatic staff what instructions he has given UK diplomatic staff not to meet particular UK nationals. [108958]

  Mr. Hain
  No instructions have been issued to members of the Diplomatic Service not to meet particular UK nationals.

  Gibraltar
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the appointment of the next Governor of Gibraltar and the timing of the appointment. [109183]

  Mr. Vaz
  The present Governor, Sir Richard Luce, is due to leave Gibraltar towards the end of March. An announcement on his successor will be made in the near future.

  Sharia Law
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Sharia law continues to be imposed in parts of(a) Chechnya and (b) Dagestan; and what representations he has made concerning this. [109092]

  Mr. Vaz
  Sharia law, as imposed in parts of Chechnya and Dagestan, has included, among other punishments, public executions. These are in contravention of the European Convention on Human Rights and the human rights standards of the OSCE. The Government have made repeated representations to the Russian Government to urge them to seek a political solution to the situation in Chechnya, with the aim of restoring normal European standards throughout the territory of the Russian Federation. We have urged Russia to use the good offices of the OSCE and the Council of Europe in this task.

  Burma
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of ethnic cleansing by the SPDC of minority groups in areas of Burma closed to monitors for security reasons. [109095]
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  Mr. Battle
  We continue to receive disturbing reports of human rights violations against ethnic minorities from many parts of Burma. These violations include arbitrary killings, rape, torture, mass arrests, forced labour and forced relocations. We take every opportunity to condemn these violations: for example, the UK co-sponsored the UN General Assembly resolution adopted last November which contains strong condemnation of the appalling catalogue of human rights violations in Burma, including against ethnic minorities. We continue to make regular representations to the regime on this issue.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he will take to promote the long-term safety of the(a) Karen, (b) Chin, (c) Kavenni and (d) other minority tribes in their homelands in Burma. [109096]

  Mr. Battle
  We take every opportunity to raise with the Burmese authorities our concerns about the violations of human rights of ethnic minorities, including the Karen people. We support the work of the UN agencies. such as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees' work on Burma's Western border and UN Development Programme's projects in ethnic minority areas all over Burma. We also support the international non-governmental organisations working under difficult conditions in many of the ethnic minority areas. In Thailand, we provide humanitarian assistance through the Burma Border Consortium (£270,000 this calendar year). We continue to encourage political dialogue between the Burmese regime and democratic leaders, including ethnic minorities.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the SPDC calling for it to open up all areas of Burma to human rights monitors and humanitarian aid workers. [109097]

  Mr. Battle
  The SPDC have persistently refused any visit to Burma by Judge Lallah, the present UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights. We have co-sponsored resolutions both at the UN Commission on Human Rights and at the UN General Assembly expressing concern at this lack of co-operation. Several UN agencies and international non-governmental organisations, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, are in Burma doing excellent work, but some parts of Burma are not accessible to them, largely because of civil unrest due to the regime's continued oppression of ethnic minorities. We deplore this oppression and call on the regime to enter into a dialogue with democratic groups, including ethnic minorities, to resolve Burma's political impasse.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking to ensure that the minority tribes in Burma are not subjected to forced labour. [109098]

  Mr. Battle
  Forced labour is one of the key areas of concern in Burma. We condemn it wherever it occurs. A report by the International Labour Organisation in 1998 highlighted the use of forced labour in Burma and made three recommendations for the regime to implement: to stop forced labour; to penalise those who exact it; and to amend Burmese legislation. So far, these
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  recommendations have not been adopted. Until they are, we will continue to maintain pressure in the ILO, and will raise this subject again at the March Governing Body.

  Indonesia
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures the Government have taken(a) alone and (b) in collaboration with the United Nations, to ensure that instability within the borders of Indonesia does not spread throughout the region; and if he will make a statement. [109110]

  Mr. Battle
  We believe that President Wahid's democratic government is committed to finding a fair and lasting solution to the regional troubles in Indonesia. We and the international community stand ready to offer practical help to President Wahid and shall continue to support him in his efforts to create a democratic and united Indonesia, which will be a force for stability in South East Asia.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assurances he has received from the newly elected President of Indonesia that his Government will stop the persecution of Christians within its borders; and if he will make a statement. [109111]

  Mr. Battle
  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I all discussed the situation in Maluku with President Wahid when he as in London last week. President Wahid reaffirmed his commitment to secure lasting peace between the conflicting Muslim and Christian communities in the province.

  Moldova
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent support the Government have given to Moldova; and if he will make a statement. [109038]

  Mr. Vaz
  We fully support the work of the OSCE Mission to Moldova in their efforts to reach a political settlement in the Moldova/Transdniestria conflict. We will continue to press for complete withdrawal of Russian forces from Moldovan territory by the end of 2002, as agreed at the OSCE Istanbul Summit in November 1999. We have provided funding for several projects in support of reaching a settlement including, for example, part-funding a constitutional workshop, attended by members of the Moldovan and Transdniestrian experts groups, in December 1999; and funding a seminar "Living with Conflict—the Role of Local Authorities" in September 1999. We are also funding training of six Moldovan journalists at the BBC, to enhance their reporting skills and to promote balanced media coverage.

  The Department for International Development's programme of assistance to Moldova stands at £1 million for 1999–2000. The main focus of the programme is the rural livelihoods sector, to which DFID have recently extended work. To complement this, DFID have also recently started work to facilitate further the effective development of savings and credit associations.

  Guatemala
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government have taken to persuade the Government of Guatemala(a) to prosecute the murderers of street youths, with particular reference to murders in which the police are believed to have been involved, and (b) to give better general care and protection to Guatemala's street children. [109039]

  Mr. Battle
  We regularly raise human rights concerns generally, and those of street children specifically, with the Government of Guatemala. For example, we have lobbied the Guatemalan Government to enact its Child Code legislation, which would offer greater legal protection to children.

  Our Embassy in Guatemala has made a number of inquiries about the state of investigations into the murders or abuse of street children. NGOs working in this area suggest that abuse of street children by state agencies has decreased in the past few years. Street children are more frequently incidental victims of the prevalent violent street crime in Guatemala. There is also an increasing incidence of serious violence between the street children themselves, mostly as a result of an increase in drug trafficking and addiction by and among these children.

  The European Union is providing 200 million euros in 1997–2000 towards projects supporting the Peace Programme in Guatemala. The UK's contribution amounts to about £24 million. About a third of the EU funding is dedicated to establishing a National Civil Police Force and strengthening the administration of justice. We expect one consequence of the reform of the police and judiciary to be better treatment of street children. We also indirectly promote human rights and challenge impunity through our support for the UN Verification Mission in Guatemala (MINUGUA).

  In addition to working with the Guatemalan Government to protect and care for street children, we also provide support directly. In 1999 we gave £13,500 to an NGO, Toybox (known locally as El Castillo), to finance building a hostel for rehabilitating street children outside Guatemala City. In 1998 we gave £75,000 to Toybox for a similar project.

  We shall continue to convey to the Guatemalan authorities our concern for the well-being of street children in Guatemala.

  Departmental Staff
  Ms Christine Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what child care provision was made available in the financial year 1998–99 for use by (i) his departmental staff and (ii) employees of executive agencies under the control of his Department; what was the cost to parents of this child care; and how many parents used the facilities. [109189]

  Mr. Hain
  The Department's site at Hanslope Park has an on-site nursery and creche facility used by 22 parents in 1998–99. The Department also had access to 16 places at a central London nursery, all of which are subsidised. It participated in the Whitehall holiday playscheme to a total of 240 days. The cost to parents of child care provision varied according to the site, the age of the child
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  and the particular scheme. Allowances for UK-based staff overseas include provision of 390 hours of child care a year for staff with children accompanying them. The value of the provision varies according to the Post. Representational allowances cover the cost of child care overseas incurred as a result of official representational duties. The Wilton Park Executive Agency has no child care facilities.

  Ms Christine Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what provisions are made available to (i) departmental staff and (ii) employees of executive agencies under the control of his Department, for(a) maternity leave, (b) maternity pay, (c) paternity leave, (d) parental leave, (e) flexible working hours, (f) part-time work, (g) job sharing, (h) leave to care for sick children, (i) home-working, (j) term-time contracts, (k) annual hours contracts, (l) child care allowances, (m) careers leave and (n) career break schemes; and what criteria are used to judge eligibility in each case. [109190]

  Mr. Hain
  I shall write to my hon. Friend shortly with the details she has requested

  British Council
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to increase his Department's contribution to the British Council budget. [109230]

  Mr. Hain
  In the current CSR period, starting in 1999–2000, this Government have already provided the British Council with an uplift of some 2 per cent. in real terms over 1998–99, in line with the settlement for the FCO as a whole. We shall seek to ensure that the Council continues to share whatever gain we obtain as a result of the current spending round, covering 2001–02 to 2003–04.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Teachers' Pay
  Mr. Hurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the responses of teachers to the consultation on those aspects of the Green Paper, "Teachers: meeting the challenge", dealing with performance-related pay; and if he will make a statement. [107262]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The consultation on the Teacher's Green Paper ran from December 1998 until March 1999. The results of the consultation exercise on the Green Paper were published on 8 July 1999. A leaflet, "Teachers: taking forward the challenge of change", was delivered to all schools, summarising the outcomes and explaining how the proposal would be taken forward. Copies of more detailed analysis of the consultation responses were placed in the Libraries of the Houses of Parliament.

  Although the formal consultation period on the Green Paper has closed, discussions have been on-going with key stakeholders. The proposals to reform teachers' pay were outlined in further detail in the written evidence which the DFEE submitted to the School Teachers' Review Body (STRB) last autumn. The STRB's report,
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  published 1 February 2000, backed the Government's proposals. The Secretary of State will consult on its recommendations and announce arrangements for the new pay structure during spring 2000, for introduction in September 2000.

  Sex and Relationships Education
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidance his Department has issued to schools and education authorities about the use of the video, "Beyond a Phase". [108216]

  Jacqui Smith
  The Department is in the process of consulting on the shape and content of revised sex and relationships education guidance. This will make it clear that it is for the governing body, in consultation with parents, to develop a policy on sex and relationships education, and to determine whether material used in schools is appropriate to the age of the pupils and in accordance with the PSHE framework, and the law which states that materials produced by health authorities often have a specific purpose of treating or preventing the spread of disease and schools need specifically to address the appropriateness of such material within a school context, again consulting with parents on its use.

  School Sports
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what research his Department has undertaken into the number of hours per week spent on physical education in schools since 1 May 1997; [108294]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the amount of competitive sport played in schools; and if he will make a statement; [108295]

  (3) what figures he requires from local education authorities on the amount of sport and PE taking place in schools. [108296]

  Jacqui Smith
  OFSTED collects information about the percentage of taught time for each subject when inspecting schools. The number of school hours spent on physical education varies from school to school. Evidence from OFSTED inspections during 1998 of the average number of hours per week primary and secondary schools currently spend teaching National Curriculum PE is given below.

  Average hours of PE per week (approximately)

  Key Stage 1 (ages 5–7)

  1 hour 20 minutes

  Key Stage 2 (ages 7–11)

  1 hour 35 minutes

  Key Stage 3 (ages 11–14)

  2 hours

  Key Stage 4 (ages 14–16)

  1 hour 15 minutes

  We have set an aspiration that all schools should provide two hours of curricular or extra curricular activities a week, and my officials are meeting regularly with DCMS and representatives of PE and sports organisations to discuss ways of promoting this aspiration in schools.

  External Examiners
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidance is given to(a) universities and (b) university departments on choosing external examiners. [109025]

  Mr. Wicks
  The Quality Assurance Agency published a section of its Code of Practice that deals with External Examining in January 2000. This contains advice on the appointment of external examiners.

  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what instructions his Department gives to universities in respect of payment of fees to external examiners. [109026]

  Mr. Wicks
  Payment of fees to external examiners is a matter for individual institutions.

  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what issues are included in the reviews undertaken by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education relating to external examiners. [109024]

  Mr. Wicks
  The Quality Assurance Agency considers, in relation to assessment and quality management, the use made by an institution of its external examiners and of their reports. It also considers, in relation to the way an institution discharges its responsibilities for the academic standards of all its awards, the selection, appointment and briefing procedures used and the approaches adopted to the follow-up of external examiners' comments.

  Departmental Responsibility
  Mr. Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on what date his Department assumed responsibility for educating children with learning disabilities from the Department of Health and Social Security. [109172]

  Jacqui Smith
  The Education (Handicapped Children) Act 1970 removed the power of health authorities to provide training for children with learning disabilities and transferred responsibility for the education of these children to Local Education Authorities.

  The Government's education policy includes a clear strategy for children with special educational needs. A cornerstone of that strategy is to develop and promote the inclusion of children with special educational needs in mainstream schools, where parents want this and appropriate support is available.

  Mr. Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when his Department assumed responsibility for pensions of nurses and ancillary staff working in education establishments who had previously been the responsibility of the Department of Health and Social Security. [109173]

  Mr. Wicks
  Academic staff in the former Colleges of Health, which have transferred to the higher education sector, have been eligible for membership of the Teachers' Pension Scheme since 1992.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Montserrat
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with the Government of Montserrat regarding conditions on the Island of Montserrat and the need for some residents to relocate to the United Kingdom. [108758]

  Clare Short
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State last met with the Montserrat Chief Minister during the October 1999 Consultative Council meetings in London. Senior officials visit the island regularly.

  In October 1997, my Department approved £1.6 million for the Assisted Passage Scheme, which met the cost of flights and onward travel costs of those people who chose to relocate to the UK. DFID also finances an Evacuee Return Air Fare Scheme for those wishing to return to Montserrat.

  Globalisation
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what procedures she is establishing to consult(a) NGOs and (b) other interested parties before she publishes her proposed White Paper on globalisation. [108979]

  Clare Short
  We will invite widespread consultations as part of the preparation of the White Paper. This will include establishing a White Paper website on which we will place a brief outline of the paper, and inviting submissions from the public, non-governmental organisations and other interested parties. The consultation process will in particular include developing countries, and international organisations.

  Aid Misappropriation
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the percentage of United Kingdom Government aid and development funding which is misappropriated by the recipient country. [109103]

  Clare Short
  No instances have been identified where UK Development assistance has been misappropriated by the recipient country.

PRIME MINISTER

  Arms Exports (Zimbabwe)
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Prime Minister what is the Government's policy on the export of spare parts for British Hawk Jets to Zimbabwe. [107090]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 27 January 2000]: Following an interdepartmental review, the Government's policy on export licences for countries intervening in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been tightened.

  We will not grant export licences for new military or dual-use equipment where there is a clear risk that it would be used in the DRC.
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  We will remove intervening countries from the coverage of open licences for any equipment that might be deployed in the DRC and will not issue new Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs) for such equipment to any of these countries.

  We will continue to implement rigorously our national criteria and the EU Code of Conduct for all applications for Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs), examining each on a case-by-case basis.

  This will include applications to provide spares for UK equipment already supplied under pre-existing contracts. In reaching decisions on such individual applications, we will take into account the wider implications of forcing UK companies to break existing obligations.

  This policy applies to those countries who have signed the Lusaka peace agreement, ie Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Uganda and the DRC itself, plus Burundi which has acknowledged that it has troops in the DRC. Details will be included in the "Summary of Additional UK Restrictions on the Export of Strategic Goods", an annexe to the "List of Sanctions Regimes implemented by the UK", which are available on the FCO website at www.fco.gov.uk/news/newstext.asp?2163. Copies are also in the Libraries of the House.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Prime Minister how many replies to letters he sent to members of the public in 1999; and how many letters were answered on his behalf by his office rather than by Ministers in other Government Departments. [109031]

  The Prime Minister
  My office received 465,432 letters and cards from members of the public—an increase of 84 per cent. over the previous year. How this correspondence can best be replied to is considered on an individual basis. It is not possible for me to deal personally with all of the letters I receive and I must refer a large majority of letters from members of the public to the Minister and the Department that has responsibility for policy or the matter in question.

  Bulgaria
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received from the Bulgarian Government concerning(a) the consequences for Bulgaria of sanctions against Yugoslavia and (b) the situation in Kosovo, with particular reference to its multi-ethnic composition. [108231]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 7 February 2000]: The Bulgarian Government have been consistent in their support for NATO policy towards Yugoslavia ever since the breakdown of the Rambouillet talks in March last year. The Bulgarian Government has expressed understandable concern about the impact to their economy of the Kosovo crisis, including sanctions against Yugoslavia and the closure of the Danube—in particular on their transport links through Serbia to Western European markets. The latest World bank figures indicate that the cost to the Bulgarian economy of the crisis since last March has been some US$100 million. HM Government are seeking to address these concerns through the Stability Pact and other multilateral and
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  bilateral assistance projects, including the Know How Fund. Bulgaria supports a multi-ethnic Kosovo with wide-ranging autonomy within Yugoslavia.

  Robert Schuman Project
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on Government policy towards the Robert Schuman Project to improve awareness of community law within the legal profession; and which EU budget line funds the project. [108333]

  The Prime Minister
  An appropriate level of knowledge of Community law among judges and lawyers is vital for the proper functioning of the single market; that in turn is in the clear interests of the United Kingdom. However, a survey carried out in 1995 suggested that there could be substantial benefits in training in and use of Community law among lawyers and judges throughout the European Union. The Government therefore support the aims of this project, to offer financial assistance to national training schemes in Community law.

  The Schuman project is financed from budget line B5–3001, entitled "Implementation and development of the internal market". Additional expenditure to finance administrative costs may come from budget line BA5–3001, entitled "Implementation and development of the internal market—administrative-management expenditure". The project falls within the ministerial responsibility of my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor.

  Performance and Innovation Unit
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) what consultations the Performance and Innovation Unit has undertaken as part of the study on accountability and incentives for joined-up Government; [108370]

  (2) what consultations the Performance and Innovation Unit has undertaken as part of the study on the use of analysis and modelling in central Government. [108372]

  The Prime Minister
  The Performance and Innovation Unit carried out extensive consultation for both reports. Those consulted include representatives from Government Departments, international institutions, overseas governments and the National Audit Office. In the case of the report on accountability and incentives, local authorities and the Audit Commission were also consulted.

  Paragraphs 2.9 and 2.10 of the report on Whitehall's management of cross-cutting policies and services, "Wiring It Up", summarises the consultations carried out for the project. Annexe 5 of the report on the use of analysis and modelling in central government, "Adding It Up", lists those consulted by the project team.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Human Rights
  Mr. Bradshaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in the training of RUC officers in human rights issues. [107679]
  187W
  Mr. Rammell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent progress has been made in the training of RUC officers in human rights issues. [107680]

  Mr. Ingram
  The RUC has embarked upon a new, comprehensive programme of training for all officers and support staff with human rights training being an important element in that programme.

  The Chief Constable has set up a committee of senior officers to organise and develop this programme and this committee is in contact with the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and with other police training colleges in the development of that programme.

  Violent Crime
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress he is making on tackling crimes of violence in Northern Ireland. [107683]

  Mr. Ingram
  Provisional figures on violent crime for the period April to October 1999 and the final comparable figures for the same period in 1998 show some positive trends. Although the number of offences recorded has increased by 10.18 per cent., the clearance rate is even higher than that proportion with a 13.9 per cent. improvement. As a result, clearance rates for violent crime compare favourably at 53.4 per cent. with the previous year's figure of 46.9 per cent.

  Patten Report
  Jean Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Chief Constable of the RUC on the implementation of the Patten commission recommendations on policing in Northern Ireland. [107684]

  Mr. Ingram
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and the Chief Constable have frequent meetings during which they discuss a range of issues—including the implementation of the recommendations in the Patten report. The last such meeting was on 17 January 2000.

  Anti-drugs Strategy
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Assembly Ministers responsible for the delivery of anti-drugs strategies. [107685]

  Mr. Ingram
  I have not had any specific discussions with Northern Ireland assembly Ministers about drug misuse policy since devolution on 2 December 1999, although I am keen to do so. In the meantime, my officials have had regular contact with colleagues in Assembly Departments.

  Domestic Violence
  Mrs. Irene Adams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he is taking to reduce crimes of domestic violence in Northern Ireland. [107686]

  Ms Moran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action is being taken to reduce crimes of domestic violence in Northern Ireland. [107701]
  188W
  Mr. Ingram
  Domestic violence is an abuse of human rights and cannot be tolerated in a civilised society. Our policy in this area aspires to the eradication of domestic violence in all its forms. The Northern Ireland Regional Forum on Domestic Violence was established in 1995 to bring together Government Departments, other public bodies and voluntary organisations to promote cooperation and liaison in this area. The forum has four main policy aims: to heighten awareness of domestic violence, highlighting domestic assault as a crime, to improve services to victims to challenge perpetrators' attitudes and behaviour and to improve the information base.

  Decommissioning
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in decommissioning illegally held weapons. [107687]

  Shona McIsaac
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the decommissioning of illegally held terrorist weapons. [107689]

  Mr. Donaldson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress there has been on the decommissioning of illegal terrorist weapons. [107697]

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the latest report he has received from the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning. [107699]

  Mr. Mandelson
  I refer the hon. Members and my hon. Friend to the oral answer I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Ruffley), at column 236.

  Northern Ireland Executive (Redundancy Payments)
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements exist in respect of redundancy payments for members of the Northern Ireland Executive who resign or are removed from office. [107691]

  Mr. Mandelson
  Responsibility for this matter currently rests with the devolved Administration.

  Terrorist and Paramilitary Violence
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with the Office of First and Deputy First Minister relating to victims of terrorist and paramilitary violence. [107692]

  Mr. Ingram
  I refer my hon. Friend to the oral answer I gave earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for Warrington, North (Helen Jones), at column 234.

  Victim Support
  Mr. White
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent support his Department has provided for victims of the troubles. [107693]

  Mr. Ingram
  Building on previous initiatives in this field I recently announced a £3 million core funding scheme to sustain the work of groups providing quality
  189W
  services to those most directly affected by the Troubles. In addition, an extra £1 million has been given to the Northern Ireland Memorial Fund.

  Part-time Working
  Mr. Savidge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met the Irish Congress of Trade Unions to discuss Government policy on part-time working. [107694]

  Mr. Mandelson
  Responsibility for this matter currently rests with the devolved Administration.

  Belfast Agreement
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has recently made to and received from Sinn Fein on the implementation of the Belfast agreement. [107700]

  Mr. Mandelson
  I have met Sinn Fein representatives on a number of occasions in recent weeks. Those discussions have focused on the need to ensure that the Good Friday agreement is fully implemented including the complete decommissioning of all paramilitary arms by May 2000.

  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the implementation of the Belfast agreement. [107702]

  Mr. Mandelson
  Both Governments are working intensively to try to secure further progress on decommissioning as an essential part of the peace process. An enabling power to put the various institutions on hold is being considered in another place. I hope this legislation will not be required but the process of decommissioning intentions must be clear if further confidence in the present arrangements is to be sustained.

  Departmental Secondees
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staff were seconded from the private sector to his Department in(a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999 and (c) May 1999 to the latest date for which figures are available, stating in each case the companies from which staff have been seconded. [109295]

  Mr. Mandelson
  None.

HEALTH

  Pigmeat
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what checks are carried out by local authority environmental health officers on pigmeat which is processed and sold in pre-packed form. [107108]

  Ms Quin
  I have been asked to reply.
  190W
  The processing of pigmeat for human consumption is covered by the Meat Products (Hygiene) Regulations 1994, as amended, which implements Council Directives 77/99/EC and 95/68EC. The Regulations lay down the supervisory checks that local authority environmental health departments are required to carry out. Guidance to enforcement authorities on the approach to inspection is given in the Food Safety Act 1990 Code of Practice No. 17: Enforcement of the Meat Products (Hygiene) Regulations 1994, and on the frequency and nature of these supervisory checks in Code of Practice No. 9: Food Hygiene Inspections.

  Intensive Care Beds
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) intensive and (b) critical care beds there are planned to be for the three years of the Comprehensive Spending Review. [108168]

  Mr. Denham
  This year there are 1,591 adult intensive care beds within a total of 2,362 critical care beds, according to fast track management information collected on 17 January 2000. As the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health, my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham Edgbaston (Ms Stuart) announced on 1 February 2000,Official Report, column 903; this represents an increase of 122 on the number at 31 March 1999. Numbers for 2000–01 and 2001–02 will be determined following the outcome of the thoroughgoing review of critical care services and in the light of local planning.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) critical care and (b) intensive care beds there were in NHS hospitals in each of the last 10 years. [108224]

  Mr. Denham
  Information on the average daily number of beds by ward type for each National Health Service trust is published annually in "Bed Availability and Occupancy, England" and is available in the Library. As wards classified as "intensive care" can also contain other types of beds we have introduced a new census focusing specifically on adult intensive care and high-dependency care beds. National and regional information from the first census taken in March 1999 is in the Library. The full results will be published in due course.

  Nurses
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of each category of nurse were employed by the NHS in each of the last 10 years. [108223]

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested is shown in the tables. Over the past 10 years there have been three methods for collecting this data. Therefore, data for 1989, 1990 to 1994 and 1995 onwards are shown in separate tables and are not directly comparable.
  191W

  NHS Hospital and Community Health Service (HCHS): Nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff, by category, in England, as at 30 September each year

  Whole time equivalents

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  Total nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff

  330,440

  332,660

  330,620

  332,200

  Acute elderly and general

  171,560

  171,020

  170,850

  172,110

  Paediatric nursing

  13,730

  14,980

  15,060

  15,740

  Maternity services

  26,410

  26,530

  25,960

  26,310

  Community psychiatry

  9,540

  10,530

  10,720

  11,330

  Other psychiatry

  42,120

  42,050

  41,980

  40,240

  Community learning difficulties

  4,790

  5,550

  6,350

  7,010

  Other learning difficulties

  20,900

  19,830

  18,030

  17,010

  Community services

  38,920

  40,480

  40,480

  41,430

  Education staff

  1,760

  750

  600

  580

  Other

  710

  940

  590

  440

  Notes:

  1. "Other" are other staff not allocated to a specific occupation code and includes staff employed by SHAs, OSAs and other centrally based services.

  2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

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

  4. Figures exclude learners and agency staff.

  5. A new classification of the non-medical workforce was introduced in 1995. Information based on this classification is not directly comparable with earlier years.

  Source:

  Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census.

  NHS Hospital and Community Health Service (HCHS): Nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff, by category, in England, as at 30 September each year

  Whole time equivalent

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  All nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff

  395,360

  392,200

  378,780

  361,460

  348,690

  General nursing

  199,150

  192,640

  186,380

  176,660

  169,100

  Paediatrics

  10,660

  11,070

  11,770

  11,950

  12,300

  Mental health (hospital)

  55,560

  54,730

  52,850

  48,790

  47,320

  Community psychiatric nursing (CPNs)

  3,610

  3,760

  4,230

  4,340

  4,780

  Learning disabilities (hospital)

  31,360

  29,720

  28,290

  26,970

  26,110

  Community learning disabilities (CLDNs)

  1,600

  1,880

  1,930

  1,870

  2,030

  Midwifery-seniors

  140

  120

  90

  100

  80

  Midwifery-qualified (hospital)

  15,640

  15,540

  16,090

  15,520

  15,200

  Midwifery-qualified (community)

  4,200

  4,100

  4,160

  4,010

  4,050

  Midwifery-learners

  3,810

  3,220

  2,560

  2,020

  1,500

  Maternity

  8,470

  8,540

  8,540

  9,000

  8,670

  District nurses

  10,390

  9,900

  9,650

  9,460

  8,680

  District nurses trainees

  610

  520

  400

  340

  290

  Health visitors

  10,580

  10,380

  10,250

  10,190

  9,670

  Health visitor students

  810

  720

  600

  490

  400

  School nurses

  2,540

  2,460

  2,440

  2,470

  2,350

  Other community

  14,010

  14,110

  14,530

  15,000

  15,160

  Others

  22,230

  28,790

  24,030

  22,290

  20,970

  Notes:

  1. Figures from 1990 to 1994 include learners and bank staff.

  2. "Other" are other staff not allocated to a specific occupation code and includes staff employed by SHAs, OSAs and other centrally based services.

  3. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

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

  5. Figures exclude agency staff.

  6. 1989 figures collected using different categories of nurses therefore not directly comparable with 1990–1995.

  Source:

  Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census.
  192W 193W

  NHS Hospital and Community Health Service (HCHS): Nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff, by category, in England, as at 30 September 1989

  Whole time equivalents

  Number

  All nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff

  398,660

  General administration

  1,190

  General nursing

  110,700

  Younger chronic disabled

  1,160

  Geriatrics

  23,090

  Y.C.D/Geriatrics

  15,740

  Paediatrics

  9,670

  Gen/Geri/Paed Bank

  4,580

  Mental illness

  51,340

  Mental handicap

  29,780

  Midwifery

  23,170

  Maternity

  8,100

  Community health

  34,670

  School health

  2,790

  Centrally based

  3,180

  Education

  64,090

  Other

  15,400

  NHS funded pre-registration nursing and midwifery training commissions

  Nursing diploma

  Degree1

  Total pre-reg.

  Midwifery degree2

  Diploma

  Total pre-reg.

  Other3

  Total pre-reg. N&M

  Adjusted pre-reg. total 4

  1992–93

  14,883

  190

  15,073

  42

  206

  248

  1,292

  15,321

  16,338

  1993–94

  12,439

  199

  12,638

  92

  450

  542

  1,215

  13,180

  14,197

  1994–95

  10,594

  255

  10,849

  92

  522

  614

  1,044

  11,463

  12,480

  1995–96

  11,495

  256

  11,751

  128

  485

  613

  1,030

  12,364

  13,381

  1996–97

  13,011

  297

  13,308

  161

  498

  659

  993

  13,967

  14,984

  1997–98

  14,429

  297

  14,726

  224

  572

  796

  908

  15,522

  16,539

  1998–995

  15,155

  1,201

  16,356

  254

  611

  865

  892

  17,221

  17,221

  1 The step change in degree commissions in 1998–99 is a result of the transfer of funding from DfEE to DH following Dearing.

  2 Midwifery data for 1992–93 are incomplete. Some degree data missing (possibly 60 places) for 1993–94, 1994–95—possibly 24 places in 1995–96, 1996–97 onwards is complete.

  3 Post-registration students, who are already qualified nurses, undertaking a full-time shortened diploma or degree course or part-time equivalent leading to a second registration as a midwife.

  4 Adjusted to take account of the Dearing report transfer 1,017 places 1992–93 to 1997–98 inclusive.

  5 Unvalidated 1998–99 outturn.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses are planned to be in training for each year of the Comprehensive Spending Review. [108162]

  Mr. Denham
  We recognise that we need to train more nurses, which is why we committed ourselves to delivering 6,000 new nurse training places during the Comprehensive Spending Review period.

  Precise data on the number of places each year are not available. However, the target was based upon delivering 1,000 of the new places in each year, and we are now planning to deliver around 1,600 in the current year.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses who joined the NHS in each of the last 10 years were at some stage previously employed as nurses in the NHS. [108166]
  194W
  Notes:

  1. "Other" includes staff employed by SHAs, OSAs and other centrally based services.

  2. Figures include qualified and unqualified nurses, learners and bank staff.

  3. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

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

  5. Figures exclude agency staff.

  6. A new classification of the non-medical workforce was introduced in 1995. This was based on occupation code rather than payscale. Information using the new classification is therefore not directly comparable with earlier years.

  Source:

  Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census for 1989.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses were in training in each of the last 10 years. [108167]

  Mr. Denham
  Information about numbers of nurses in training is not available for 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92. Data for 1998–99 are unvalidated. Available information for nurses in training is shown in the table:

  Mr. Denham
  Information is available which shows that, as a result of the 1999 recruitment campaign, by 31 December 1999 almost 2,600 former nurses and midwives had already returned to work in the NHS and a further 2,400 are preparing to join them.

  Information on previous years is not held centrally.

  Patient Transfers
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patient transfers there were from(a) the private sector to the NHS and (b) the NHS to the private sector in each year for the last 20 years. [108164]

  Ms Stuart
  The information in the table covers the period 1989–90 until 1997–98. Figures were not collected for earlier years.
  195W

  Admission from non-NHS institution1

  Discharge destination to non-NHS institution

  Admission from non-NHS run hospital2

  Discharge destination to non-NHS run hospital

  1989–90

  37,873

  42,048

  —

  —

  1990–91

  38,102

  56,466

  —

  —

  1991–92

  35,375

  63,439

  —

  —

  1992–93

  31,207

  64,785

  —

  —

  1993–94

  29,141

  61,851

  —

  —

  1994–95

  24,575

  59,703

  —

  —

  1995–96

  21,160

  42,229

  —

  —

  1996–97

  —

  —

  5,153

  6,978

  1997–983

  —

  —

  20,096

  24,867

  1 Up to 1995–96 the code for "non-NHS institution" included non-NHS hospitals, nursing homes, health care and residential institutions. In 1996–97 the category was sub-divided so that admissions from non-NHS hospitals formed a single classification.

  2 The definition of "non-NHS run hospital" includes hospices. We cannot disaggregate these data, but it seems probable that a high proportion of the discharges are to hospices.

  3 Figures for 1997–98 are provisional and no adjustments have been made for shortfalls in data.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the Government's commitments on changes in out-patient and in-patient waiting list numbers and waiting times. [108160]

  Mr. Denham
  We are determined to reduce in-patient and out-patient waiting lists and times. The waiting list is now 87,000 below the level inherited. We remain on track to achieve our manifesto commitment to reduce waiting lists by 100,000 from the level inherited. As waiting lists have fallen, so have waiting times. The average waiting time of those on the list was 12 weeks at the end of November 1999—three weeks less than at June 1998.

  We are taking action to reduce out-patient waiting times. Patients referred urgently with suspected breast cancer can now be reassured they will not wait longer than two weeks for an out-patient appointment. We are also determined to cut the number of patients waiting over 13 weeks for a first out-patient appointment.

  Steroids
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the National Institute for Clinical Excellence is investigating the inappropriate prescribing on a long-term basis of steroidal drugs. [108609]

  Mr. Denham
  This topic is not included in the current work programme for the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.

  Birmingham Heath Authority area

  West midlands

  England

  Patients waiting for cardiothoracic surgery at September 1999.

  468

  1,948

  14,889

  Total finished consultant episodes where an operation was recorded and main specialty was cardiothoracic surgery in 1997–98.

  3,730

  6,497

  52,358

  Average waiting time of patients admitted for cardiothoracic surgery in the quarter July to September 1999 (days)

  81.5

  89.6

  118.1

  There has been major investment to provide additional cardiac surgery capacity in Birmingham and the West Midlands.

  Shipman Inquiry
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will ask the public inquiry into the Shipman case to look at the practicalities of tracking controlled drugs, from all points of purchase to all points of use, including use(a) in hospitals and hospices and (b) in the community; [108615]

  (2) if he will investigate ways of recovering unused controlled drugs from a patient's home when it is known that the patient is no longer in need of them. [108613]

  Mr. Denham
  The terms of reference for the inquiry into the issues raised by the case of Dr. Shipman are broad. The inquiry is invited to examine the role and conduct of the statutory bodies and authorities concerned, and to consider the appropriateness of the response of these organisations to the information available about Harold Shipman's clinical practice. They are further invited to make recommendations for safeguarding patients and on any related matter which the public interest may require.

  Copies of the terms of reference of the inquiry are available in the Library.

  Cardiothoracic Surgery
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients are waiting for cardiothoracic surgery in(a) Birmingham, (b) the West Midlands, (c) England and Wales and (d) the United Kingdom; what are the average numbers of operations carried out; what are the average waiting times for such surgery in each of these areas; and if he will make a statement on action being taken to increase capacity in each area. [108863]

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested is given in the table.

  On 18 October 1999, the Secretary of State announced that £50 million will be made available nationally to increase heart operations by 10 per cent. over the next

  197W
  two years. The extra money will pay for additional bypass graft procedures and angioplasties by March 2002. This investment will enable more patients with heart disease to get easier and faster access to treatment.

  The National Service Framework on Coronary Heart Disease is due to be published shortly. This will be the first comprehensive plan to deal with all aspects of CHD and will set out an ambitious 10-year strategy to provide a modern service with fair and fast access to high quality services.

  Matters for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are for their respective administrations.

  Primary Care Groups
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the circumstances surrounding the establishment by Southend Primary Care Group of a Primary Care Trust with special reference to the recent ballot of general practitioners in the area. [108871]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 7 February 2000]: As indicated in national guidance, the application to establish a Primary Care Trust (PCT) in Southend was considered against national criteria. Local consultation was carried out by South Essex Health Authority in accordance with the requirements set out in the Primary Care Trusts (Consultation on Establishment, Dissolution and Transfer of Staff) Regulations 1999 (SI 1999–2337). The resulting consultation report indicated that broad local support was evident for the Southend PCT application.

  A recent letter, which approves the establishment of Southend PCT, clearly sets out an expectation that the PCT will be able to demonstrate an increased level of support and commitment from local general practitioners before becoming operational this April. In addition, all PCTs are expected to ensure that GPs, nurses and other front-line staff are fully engaged and committed to delivering the service improvements that PCT status will attain for their communities.

  Royal Marsden and Christie Hospitals
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 2 February 2000,Official Report, column 629W, concerning funding of the Christie Hospital and the Royal Marsden Hospital, if he will provide a breakdown of the other sources mentioned in his answer. [109219]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 8 February 2000]: The breakdown of the "other sources" is as follows:

  Christie Hospital

  Private patients—£3.711 million

  North West Medical Physics Services to Non NHS bodies—£367,000

  Commercially Sponsored clinical Trials—£1.434 million

  Residential Accommodation—£98,000

  Catering Income—£399,000

  Car Parking—£84,000

  Day Nursery—£226,000

  Gift Shop—£155,000

  Bank Interest—£108,000

  Other Various—£14,000

  Total—£6.596 million

  198W
  Royal Marsden Hospital

  Private patients—£15.542 million

  Hire of Conference Centre and course fees—£300,000

  Provision of occupational Health Service to other NHS Trusts and associated institutes—£360,000

  Accommodation (staff)—£500,000

  Accommodation (patients relatives)—£100,000

  Catering (staff and visitors)—£550,000

  Car parking (staff and visitors)—£130,000

  Staff Day Nursery—£210,000

  Photography and Printing Services—£130,000

  Pharmacy Income—£150,000

  Distinction Awards Funding—£860,000

  Diagnostic Services for other NHS Trusts—£400,000

  Funding for flexible trainees and NMET—£200,000

  Collections of Private Income Fees—£110,000

  Tx from donation reserve (depreciation on donated assets)—£1.063 million

  Other Various—£247,000

  Total—£20.852 million.

  NHS Staff
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the average pay rise for NHS nurses in each of the years 1985–86 to 1999–2000; and what has been the average pay rise for the same years for NHS ancillary staff, including(a) hospital porters, (b) catering staff, (c) cleaning staff, (d) finance staff and (e) other ancillary staff; and if he will make a statement. [108900]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 8 February 2000]: It is not possible to identify separately hospital porters, catering and cleaning staff and finance staff. The table sets out across the board increases for nurses and ancillary workers for the years requested. Information is not yet available for ancillary staff for 1999–2000 as the staff side is still consulting its membership on the pay offer.

  Percentage

  Nurses

  Ancillary staff

  1985–86

  12.1

  4.7

  1986–87

  8.2

  6

  1987–88

  9.1

  5

  1988–89

  8.8

  5.4

  1989–90

  7.7

  6.5

  1990–91

  10.1

  7.8

  1991–92

  10.8

  10.4

  1992–93

  6.3

  4.93

  1993–94

  1.5

  1.5

  1994–95

  3

  2.39

  1995–96

  3

  —

  1996–97

  2.8

  2.8

  1997–98

  3.3

  3.3

  1998–99

  3.8

  3.8

  1999–2000

  4.7

  —

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people work for the NHS, broken down by (a) doctors, (b) nurses, (c) managers, (d) porters, (e) catering staff, (f) finance staff, (g) cleaning staff, (h) maintenance staff and (i) others. [108902]
  199W
  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 8 February 2000]: The information requested is shown in the table.

  NHS Hospital and community health services (HCHS): All staff within the NHS broken down by specific groups in England, as at 30 September 1998

  Numbers (headcount)

  Whole time equivalents

  Non-medical staff Total

  878,750

  707,200

  Administration and estates staff total

  198,540

  167,700

  of which:

  Managers

  22,690

  21,850

  Clerical and Administrative1

  162,520

  —

  Maintenance and works

  13,100

  12,720

  Nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff total

  421,750

  332,200

  of which:

  Managers

  4,960

  4,720

  Support staff2 Total

  91,160

  65,300

  All Other non medical staff total

  167,300

  142,000

  of which:

  Managers

  2,210

  2,090

  Doctors total3,4

  91,840

  —

  Total practice staff5,6

  —

  101,000

  of which:

  Practice Nurse

  —

  10,360

  Direct Patient Care

  —

  1,740

  Administrative and Clerical

  —

  48,880

  Other

  —

  340

  1 Clerical and administrative staff include all finance staff.

  2 Support staff include all porters, catering and cleaning staff.

  3 Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Service Staff, excludes medical staff working as Hospital Practitioners or Clinical Assistants most of whom also work in General Practice.

  4 All practitioners includes Unrestricted Principles, PMS Contacted GPs, PMS Salaried GPs, Restricted Principles, Assistants, GP Registrars, Salaried Doctors (para 52 SFA) and PMS Other.

  5 Total Practice Staff (numbers) is rounded to the nearest hundred.

  6 WTE Practice Staff total does not include 62 WTE Community Nurses who are seconded.

  Notes:

  1. PMS Pilots. These are however included in Total Practice Staff (number).

  2. "Other" includes staff employed by SHAs, OSAs and other centrally based services.

  3. Figures are rounded to the nearest ten.

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

  Sources:

  1. Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census.

  2. Department of Health Medical and Dental Workforce Census.

  3. Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.

  Insulin Pens
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will announce his decision on whether insulin pen needles and reusable insulin injection pens can be prescribed on the NHS. [109667]

  Mr. Denham
  We have agreed that, with effect from 1 March, insulin pen needles and certain reusable insulin pens should be prescribable by general practitioners on the National Health Service.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Chicken Imports
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the control of chicken imports into the UK from outside the European Union in relation to(a) animal welfare and (b) human health. [103291]

  Ms Quin
  In relation to public health, all consignments of fresh meat and poultry meat imported into the UK, whether from other EU member states or third countries, must have been produced in accordance with harmonised Community rules. These rules include the licensing, structural and veterinary supervision requirements to be applied in abattoirs, cutting plants and cold stores. Slaughterhouses in third countries have to comply with hygiene standards at least equivalent to those which apply in the EU before imports can be permitted.

  Ensuring that third countries supplying the EU market comply with Community requirements is the responsibility of the European Commission. The Commission's Food and Veterinary Office is responsible for arranging and carrying out inspections in those countries, but national officials can and do report to the Commission on investigations they may have carried out. All consignments of fresh meat and poultry meat imported from third countries are subject to veterinary checks, including checks on accompanying veterinary health certification, on entering the EU to ensure that conditions of import have been complied with and that they have remained in a satisfactory condition during transport.

  It would not be compatible with World Trade Organisation rules to ban imports of meat because of the animal welfare standards under which it had been produced. The Government are considering how to promote wider international consensus on farm animal welfare. The EU, with UK support, is seeking greater recognition of farm animal welfare considerations in WTO rules.

  Beef on the Bone Ban
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the cost of the ban on beef on the bone to(a) the beef industry, (b) local government and (c) central Government from the date the ban came in to force until the date the Minister announced the lifting of the ban. [101736]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 7 December 1999]: No estimate has been made of the actual costs incurred by the beef industry. This would involve a multifactorial analysis which would depend on many untestable assumptions. It is doubtful if authoritative estimates could be made.

  Nor is it possible to identify reliably the costs of the controls to local or central government.

  Memorandum of Understanding
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the surveillance project in the Memorandum of Understanding with the French Government, indicating(a) how the identification of animals related to those born

  201W
  after 1 January 1996 will be achieved, (b) if the animals so identified are removed from the food chain on what basis the owner will be compensated and (c) in the case of animals so identified which are still in useful production if they will be prematurely slaughtered as part of the project. [101073]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 2 December 1999]: Under the surveillance proposed, State Veterinary Service (SVS) officials will identify the farms on which BSE cases born after 1 January 1996 were born. They will then investigate on those farms both the potential source of the infection and which other animals born around the same time might have been exposed to it.

  Animals over 30 months are not eligible for entry into the food chain but can be slaughtered with compensation under the over thirty months scheme. The occasions when animals born around the same time as a BSE case are themselves under 30 months are expected to be very rare, but they will be restricted and monitored.

  In these respects, the Memorandum of Understanding records action which HMG was in any case proposing to undertake.

  Beef (School Menus)
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which local authorities in England are serving British beef on their school menus. [106038]

  Ms Quin
  This information is not available centrally. However, the Minister wrote to all local authorities on 27 October 1999 encouraging them to serve British beef.

  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many local authorities(a) have and (b) have not lifted the ban on beef in school meals. [106864]

  Ms Quin
  This information is not available centrally. However, the Minister wrote to all local authorities on 27 October 1999 encouraging them to serve British beef. According to Meat and Livestock Commission figures:(a) 108 out of 150 local authorities in England do not have a ban on beef;

  Table 2: Subsidy paymets to UK Farmers 1992–1997

  £ million

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Arable Area Payments Scheme

  0

  653

  816

  1,087

  1,116

  1,114

  Other crop subsidies (incl. set aside)

  184

  423

  240

  224

  182

  109

  Beef Special Premium

  45

  159

  193

  232

  295

  271

  Suckler Cow Premium

  99

  144

  178

  228

  286

  374

  Sheep Annual Premium

  437

  433

  391

  481

  329

  300

  Other Livestock subsidies

  6

  11

  7

  7

  626

  432

  Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances

  154

  130

  111

  108

  166

  109

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas

  13

  21

  22

  33

  38

  46

  Other agri-environmental schemes

  10

  16

  34

  46

  49

  59

  Other subsidies1

  10

  8

  8

  8

  9

  9

  Total2

  957

  1,998

  2,002

  2,456

  3,095

  2,820

  1 Includes CAP, non-CAP and national payments.

  2 Excludes levies.

  Notes:

  1. Numbers may not add up due to rounding.

  2. Agriculture in the United Kingdom.
  202W
  (b) 42 out of 150 local authorities in England are continuing with some form of beef ban on school meals. Of these 22 have a total ban and 20 have primary school bans only.

  Agenda 2000
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many responses he has received to the consultation document, Agenda 2000: A New Direction for Agriculture; and if he will make a statement. [108015]

  Ms Quin
  We received 169 written responses. We also held 14 well-attended regional consultation meetings when attendees were able to make their points in person. Copies of the consultation responses have been placed in the main Ministry of Agriculture Library.

  These responses were taken into consideration in the final choices we made for the implementation of the discretionary areas of Agenda 2000.

  Farm Subsidies
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 25 January 2000,Official Report, column 192W, if he will publish a breakdown of subsidy payments to farmers in (a) Shropshire and (b) the United Kingdom for each year from 1992 to 1997; and if he will make a statement. [107917]

  Ms Quin
  The breakdown of subsidy payments in Shropshire in the years 1994 to 1997, and the United Kingdom in the years 1992 to 1997, is set out in the tables as follows.

  Table 1: Subsidy payments to farmers in Shropshire 1994–1997

  £ million

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  Arable Area Payments Scheme

  18.6

  16.7

  28.7

  23.2

  Beef Special Premium

  3.6

  4.7

  5.0

  5.7

  Suckler Cow Premium

  3.1

  2.5

  4.8

  4.0

  Sheep Annual Premium

  8.2

  8.8

  9.3

  5.1

  Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances

  1.3

  1.3

  1.2

  2.2

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas

  0.8

  1.1

  1.3

  1.6

  Other agri-environmental schemes

  0.7

  0.3

  0.3

  1—

  Other subsidies2

  —

  0.2

  2.8

  1.4

  Total

  36.3

  35.5

  53.4

  43.2

  1 Less than 0.1

  2 Includes CAP, non-CAP and national payments.

  203W
  Mr. Sawford
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average subsidy paid to each British fanner in the last year for which figures are available. [105991]

  Ms Quin
  The total amount of subsidies (less levies) paid to UK farmers in 1998 (the last year for which figures are available) was estimated to be £2,673 million. The total number of farm holdings (excluding minor holdings) in 1998 was 237,900. The average subsidy per farm holding was therefore just over £11,200. Information is held on a holding by holding basis, rather than farmer by farmer.

  This average includes those holdings upon which no subsidies were received.

  Farming (Berkshire)
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many people in total were employed in agriculture in Berkshire for the years(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98 and (c) 1998–99. [108420]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 3 February 2000]: The information requested is provided in the table.

  Labour force on main agricultural holdings: Berkshire

  Year

  Total labour force

  1996

  2,229

  1997

  2,162

  1998

  2,254

  1999

  2,107

  Source:

  Agricultural and Horticultural Census

  In 1998 fundamental changes were introduced to the labour questions of the census. It appears that this change may have led to the recording of additional labour that were not previously included in the returns. Caution is therefore advised when comparing the 1998 and 1999 results with previous years.

  Research and Development
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was Government spending on research and development relating to(a) organic farming, (b) agricultural genetic engineering and (c) agricultural biotechnology, at 1999 prices, from 1 April 1999 to the latest available date. [108638]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 4 February 2000]: Planned MAFF spending in 1999–2000 in these areas is as follows:

  £ million

  (a) Organic farming

  2.017

  (b) Agricultural genetic engineering (including risk
  assessment and relevant veterinary research)

  3.572

  (c) Agricultural biotechnology

  ca 24.0

  Notes:

  1. Organic farming benefits also from much of the research the Ministry undertakes on aspects of conventional farming. In 1999–2000, MAFF plans to spend some £8 million on biological control techniques, plant health, animal welfare and wildlife conservation on farms.

  2. Funding is also provided by the research councils and other Government Departments for these topics.
  204W
  In the time available, it is not possible to provide figures for actual in-year spending to date from 1 April 1999. These would, in any event, reflect the particular phasing of payments for individual projects, and the invoicing arrangements across a substantial number of contractors, and thus be potentially misleading.

  Media Releases
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average cost of issuing a media release from his Department in the last 12 months. [108890]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 8 February 2000]: The average cost of issuing a media release, using latest figures available, is £244. Of which, £76 is the cost of production and £168 the cost of distribution.

  Ministerial Meetings
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will list the dates since 1 August 1999 on which he (i) met and (ii) spoke by telephone with the (a) Spanish Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, (b) the Irish Minister for Agriculture and Food, (c) the Italian Minister for Agricultural Policies, (d) the Luxembourg Minister for Agriculture, Viticulture and Rural Development and (e) the Dutch Minister for Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries; [108425]

  (2) if he will list the dates since 1 August 1999 on which he (i) met and (ii) spoke by telephone with the (a) Austrian Federal Minister for Agriculture and Forestry, (b) the Portuguese Minister for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries, (c) the Finnish Minister for Agriculture, (d) the Swedish Minister for Agriculture, (e) the Agriculture Commissioner of the European Union and (0 the American Secretary of Agriculture; [108428]

  (3) if he will list the dates since 1 August 1999 on which he (i) met and (ii) spoke by telephone with (a) the Belgian Minister for Agriculture and Small and Medium Sized Businesses, (b) the Danish Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, (c) the German Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries and (d) the Greek Minister for Agriculture. [108427]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 3 February 2000]: There are regular contacts between EU agriculture Ministers and the agriculture Commissioner within the margins of agriculture councils and at other times by telephone. In addition, there are regular contacts between officials acting on behalf of Ministers and the Commissioner.

  I plan to meet the American Secretary of Agriculture later this month.

  West Devon Meats
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the reasons behind the decision to withdraw from West Devon Meats the contract to slaughter cattle under the over-thirty-months scheme. [101913]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 13 December 1999]: Contracts have been awarded to abattoir to slaughter over-thirty-months scheme (OTMS) animals, effective

  205W
  from 4 January 2000. Decisions were reached following a competitive tender under which bids were evaluated against objective criteria, including quality of service, price, ability to offer a dedicated service, ease of supervision, throughput and locations.

  While West Devon Meats scored reasonably well on most criteria, the abattoirs awarded contracts for the throughput and area for which West Devon Meats were considered will provide the service at significantly lower price than that tendered by West Devon Meats.

  Food Safety
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what responsibility his Department has for enforcement of food safety pending the establishment of the Food Standards Agency. [106066]

  Ms Quin
  Most food law enforcement is carried out by local authorities, and will continue to be after the Food Standards Agency is established. MAFF is responsible for the enforcement in England and Wales of fresh meat legislation. This is carried out in licensed premises by the Meat Hygiene Service, an executive agency of MAFF that will transfer to the Food Standards Agency. MAFF also enforces dairy hygiene controls at production holdings in England and Wales, and responsibility for this will also transfer to the Agency. MAFF's ongoing responsibilities after the establishment of the Food Standards Agency will continue to include the enforcement of some functions relevant to food safety, in particular on residues of pesticides and veterinary medicines and on animal health, in addition to some enforced by local authorities.

  Abattoirs
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last placed an item on the agenda of the European Union Agricultural Minister's meetings relating to study of the hygiene and operating conditions of abattoirs in each of the member states. [107120]

  Ms Quin
  We supported the request by the Danish and Dutch delegations, at the June 1999 Agriculture Council, that the Commission review the operation of the meat inspection system established by the EU Fresh Meat Directive with the aim of basing inspection methods more on risk assessment principles. In response, the Commission undertook to carry out a wide-ranging review of the current meat inspection system. Encouragingly, discussions between my officials and Commission representatives on the ongoing exercise to consolidate and simplify existing EU food and veterinary legislation, including the meat hygiene Directives, have also indicated that the Commission sees risk-based inspection systems as the way forward.

  We have also drawn to the Commission's attention the concerns of the farming and meat sectors about over-regulation of the meat slaughtering and processing industries and about the apparent lack of uniformity in individual member states' application of Community rules on charging for meat inspections. We will continue to take every opportunity to press the Commission to modernise meat hygiene controls and to ensure that trade in the EU is carried out on a level playing field.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Export Licences
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on how many occasions export licence application 6078 was put before the Interdepartmental Committee; and what were the dates of the first and last such occasions. [108477]

  Dr. Howells
  Export licence application 6078 was put before the interdepartmental committee on one occasion, the meeting of 18 October 1999.

  HIPC Debt
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much(a) by value and (b) by percentage of the debt owed to the UK by HIPC countries is for defence-related business. [108708]

  Mr. Caborn
  Debt owed by Heavily Indebted Poor Countries to ECGD under Paris Club rescheduling arrangements amounts to £1.6 billion. In addition, non-rescheduled debt in arrears and current exposure is some £300 million. Much of the rescheduled debt relates to contracts entered into the 1970s and 1980s, when ECGD did not record exposure by the nature of the goods exported. However, recent researches indicate that the amount of debt, all rescheduled, currently owed by HIPCs and which resulted from military sales is only £12.7 million or 0.67 per cent. of the total.

  Ilisu Dam
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when Balfour Beatty applied for export credit support in respect of the Ilisu Dam in Turkey; under what statutory provision the application(a) was made and (b) is being considered; and if he will place a copy of the application, together with all supporting documents, in the Library. [109004]

  Mr. Caborn
  Balfour Beatty's application was made under, and is being considered under, Section 1 of the Export and Investment Guarantees Act 1991.

  Under Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, the application and its supporting documents are classified as "Third Party's Commercial Confidence" and therefore cannot be placed in the Library of the House.

  Deregulation
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 25 January 2000,Official Report, column 196W, on deregulation, what assessment he has made of the economic impact on business associated with the deregulation and contracting out orders listed. [108809]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 7 February 2000]: It is not possible to give an assessment of the cumulative impact of all the deregulation orders as prior to August 1998 there was no requirement to carry out a full regulatory impact assessment on regulations expected to reduce costs to business.
  207W
  As far as the orders made since that date are concerned, the Deregulation (Weights and Measures) Order 1999 is expected to save businesses involved in the manufacture, installation and repair of weighing and measuring equipment up to £5 million a year. The Deregulation (Pipelines) Order 1999 is expected to save oil and gas companies involved in laying pipelines up to £10,000 for each application for planning permission in respect of short pipes.

  ECGD
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact on the ECGD of the recent decision to extend the number of countries which will be given ECGD cover only for productive expenditure; what contracts have been cancelled as a result of this decision; what plans he has to seek to extend this restriction to all low income countries; and what assessment he has made of the impact on the ECGD of such an extension. [108770]

  Mr. Caborn
  [holding answer 7 February 2000]: In view of the volume and nature of business previously supported by ECGD in the affected countries, the recent decision to extend the range of countries for which ECGD cover is available only for productive expenditure is likely to have only a limited impact on ECGD and its customers. No contracts have been cancelled and, as there are no plans at present to extend this restriction to other countries, no assessment of the impact on ECGD of such an extension has been made.

  Enterprise Grants
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if guidelines have been issued for Enterprise grants and the revised form of regional selective assistance which came into operation on 1 January. [108505]

  Mr. Caborn
  [holding answer 7 February 2000]: The Government Offices and Business Links are currently distributing copies of the Enterprise Grant brochure (with application form) which provides applicants with details of the scheme's qualifying criteria, levels of grant and areas in which grant is available. Copies of the brochure have also been placed in the Libraries of the Houses. Regarding Regional Selective Assistance (RSA), new criteria will be issued when the Assisted Areas map is approved. Where interim arrangements for RSA applications are concerned, I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave to the right hon. Member for Caernarfon (Mr. Wigley) on 27 January 2000, Official Report, column 290W.

  Link Network
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the effect on competition in the banking service sector of the break-up of the Link network. [108780]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 8 February 2000]: In the first instance, it is a matter for the Director General of Fair Trading (DGFT) to consider the competition effects of changes to the LINK agreement. After 1 March, any changes can be considered by the DGFT under the prohibitions of the Competition Act 1998.
  208W
  In addition, the Cruickshank Review is looking into competition in the banking sector.

  TransTec
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the serious issues mentioned in his press release of 20 January regarding the collapse of TransTec which the public interest requires to be investigated by independent inspectors. [109218]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 8 February 2000]: The criteria for appointing inspectors are listed under Section 432(2) of the Companies Act 1985.

  Civil Servants (Courses)
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library the criteria by which civil servants are financed by his Department for courses and related expenses that are not connected with their departmental employment. [109216]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 8 February 2000]: The Department's present policy is to delegate the majority of its budget for training and development to local management units which are accountable for the use to which their resources are put.

  I have recently instigated a review of the guidance to managers to ensure value for money and that the training budget meets Departmental needs.

  Media Releases
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the average cost of issuing a media release from his Department in the last 12 months. [108891]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 8 February 2000]: The average cost of issuing media release in 1999 was £194.

  Minimum Wage (Northern Ireland)
  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the application of the minimum wage in Northern Ireland. [107696]

  Mr. Michael J. Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the impact of the minimum wage in Northern Ireland. [107681]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The national minimum wage helps eradicate in-work poverty, in Northern Ireland as in the rest of the United Kingdom. Latest Office for National Statistics figures indicate that some 20,000 low-paid workers in Northern Ireland had already benefited from the introduction of the national minimum wage at the time of implementation (March-May 1999). We asked the independent Low Pay Commission to report on the impact of the introduction of the minimum wage and the Commission's report, with the Government's response, will be published shortly.

  EU Structural Funds (Northern Ireland)
  Judy Mallaber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultation he has held relating to the future of EU structural funds allocated to Northern Ireland. [107682]
  209W
  Dr. Howells
  Throughout the negotiations on the new European Structural Funds Regulation my Department consulted with Ministers and officials of the Department of Finance and Personnel, Northern Ireland.

  Following the special deal agreed for Northern Ireland at the Berlin European Council, the Department of Finance and Personnel consulted my officials on their Structural Funds Plan, which was lodged with the Commission on 15 November 1999. Negotiations with the Commission on a new Community Support Framework are expected to begin soon.

  A public consultation was held to determine the United Kingdom's new eligible areas for Objective 2 European Funding. The consultation document was issued jointly on behalf of several Government Departments, one of which was the Department of Finance and Personnel, Northern Ireland.

  Low Pay (Northern Ireland)
  Mr. Pound
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on low pay in Northern Ireland. [107698]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  We introduced the national minimum wage and the Working Families Tax Credit to help eradicate low pay and lift workers out of in-work poverty, in Northern Ireland as in the rest of the United Kingdom. Latest Office for National Statistics figures indicate that some 20,000 low-paid workers in Northern Ireland had already benefited from the introduction of the national minimum wage at the time of implementation (March-May 1999). We estimate that some 50,000 working families in Northern Ireland have benefited from the Working Families Tax Credit. Latest Office for National Statistics figures indicate that some 20,000 low-paid workers in Northern Ireland had already benefited from the introduction of the national minimum wage at the time of implementation (March-May 1999).

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Income Support
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of people moving from income support to(a) family credit and (b) working families tax credit who face combined marginal rates of taxation and benefit withdrawal of more than 100 per cent. as a result of the loss of income support for mortgage costs. [108762]

  Mr. Bayley
  The information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  SERPS
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have paid both Class 1 and Class 2 National Insurance contributions towards SERPS in the last full year for which figures are available. [108004]

  Mr. Rooker
  Around 275,000 people accrued entitlement to additional pension under SERPS as a result of paying a combination of Class 1 and Class 2 contributions in 1996–97, the latest year for which figures are available.1
  210W
  Assuming a similar number for the current year, we estimate that some 68,000 of these individuals may be affected by our proposals to base entitlement to the State Second Pension solely on Class 1 contributions. While we have no information about the level of their earnings from self-employment, we estimate that 18,000 of these will have Class 1 earnings in excess of £18,000.

  Source:

  1 Lifetime Labour Market Database

  Departmental Research Contracts
  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 21 December 1999,Official Report, columns 541–42W, what restrictions were placed on contractors carrying out research projects funded by his Department in 1999 in respect of them discussing their findings with journalists (a) before and (b) after publication. [108202]

  Mr. Rooker
  Dissemination of social research findings commissioned as part of the Department's research programme is governed by the standard conditions for research grants. These state:"Any publication of research material … is subject to the prior consent of the Secretary of State which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld" (para 12.2).

  Publication refers not only to reports but also includes any oral presentation (para 1—Interpretation). Once published, the Department actively promotes the dissemination of its research.

  The Department's Communications Directorate contracts its research work through the Central Office of Information (COI). The COI contract specifically states that
  "the Contractor shall not reproduce, publish or supply any such material to any party other than COI without the prior written approval of COT".

  COI would not give that permission without first consulting us. We would not normally give that permission before the results had been published. After publication, in most cases we would ask researchers if they are contacted by journalists to refer them to the Department's Press Office.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what changes to Housing Benefit have been proposed by the Housing Benefit Simplification and Improvement Project; and what plans he has to implement them; [108614]

  (2) on what date he will publish the report of the Housing Benefit Simplification and Improvement Project. [108605]

  Angela Eagle
  The Housing Benefit Simplification and Improvement Project was set up with local authority representatives to look at ways of simplifying and improving the delivery of Housing Benefit. The work of the project is being carried forward in a number of ways, including initiatives in this year's spending review. The planned Housing Green Paper will also address issues highlighted by the project work. There are no plans to publish a report of the project.
  211W
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what comparative research his Department has undertaken into the performance standards of local authority housing benefit administration and that provided by private sector contractors; [108987]

  (2) what advice is offered by his Department to local authorities on dealing with private sector providers of housing benefit administration services which fail to achieve agreed performance standards. [108986]

  Angela Eagle
  The Department has not undertaken comparative studies of the performance standards of local authorities' administration of Housing Benefit and that provided by private sector contractors.

  The Benefit Fraud Inspectorate will collect information on standards of administration across all authorities in the course of its inspection cycle. No advice has been offered to authorities specifically on how to deal with private providers who fail to achieve agreed performance standards as these are matters for local decision in the light of available evidence. However, in August 1998, the Department issued to all local authorities good practice guidance on the preparation of Housing Benefit administration for competitive tendering.

  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will assess the benefits of removing scrutiny of the effectiveness of housing benefit administration from the remit of the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate and setting up a separate agency to focus on aspects other than fraud. [108985]

  Angela Eagle
  We attach great importance to there being a comprehensive end-to-end review of local authorities' Housing Benefit operations in which the effectiveness of both benefit administration and counter-fraud work are complementary factors in the assessment of overall performance.

  The responsibility of the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate is to report on the administration of Social Security across both central government agencies and local authorities, with a particular emphasis on standards of counter-fraud and security performance. The Inspectorate's reports on Housing Benefit will continue to reflect the fact that both security and accuracy are at the heart of effective benefit administration.

  CSA and Benefits Agency Staff
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many employees in(a) the CSA and (b) the Benefits Agency in each of the past five years have received (i) sick pay at pension rate and (ii) early retirement on ill health grounds; and what proportion of staff these figures represent. [108862]

  Angela Eagle
  The information requested is not available. Such information as is available is in the tables.

  Total number of staff in the Child Support Agency and Benefits Agency receiving sick pay at nil rate

  Number of staff

  Year

  Child Support Agency

  Benefits Agency

  1998

  277

  7,670

  1999

  236

  9,083

  212W

  Total number of staff retiring from the Child Support Agency and Benefits Agency on medical grounds and the percentage of workforce

  Child Support Agency

  Benefits Agency

  Year

  Number of staff

  Percentage of the workforce

  Number of staff

  Percentage of the workforce

  1996

  52

  0.59

  450

  0.55

  1997

  31

  0.33

  347

  0.45

  1998

  29

  0.32

  311

  0.41

  1999

  22

  0.23

  228

  0.29

  Notes:

  1. The system is unable to specifically identify staff who are in receipt of sick pay at pension rate. It is, however, able to give the number of staff who are on sick leave at nil pay rate which includes those getting sick pay at pension rate.

  2. All information about the components of salary from before 1996 has now been archived.

  Source:

  Financial and Management Information System (FAMIS)

  Rents
  Miss Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the 10 local authority areas with the lowest single room rent payable authorised by rent officers. [109186]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is not available. However, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions publication "Rent Officers Statistics" provides figures of the average weekly Single Room Rent for each London Borough, and for the counties of England and Wales. Summary statistics are also available at Government Office Region and national level. The publication of these statistics is quarterly, and a copy is placed in the Library. The latest publication covers the first quarter of 1999.

  Benefits
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what benefits are available to persons in full-time employment but on term-time only contracts for the periods between terms; [109180]

  (2) if Jobseeker's allowance is available to people on full-time but term-time only employment contracts for periods between terms. [109179]

  Angela Eagle
  Both Jobseeker's Allowance and Income Support are available during school holiday periods to people whose employment contracts are formally terminated at the end of the school term.

  Neither Jobseeker's Allowance nor Income Support are normally paid to those who have ongoing employment contracts which only require them to work during term-time if they work for 16 hours or more a week on average. The Court of Appeal has recently confirmed that school ancillary workers who are not entitled to Jobseeker' s Allowance (or Income Support) during term-time because of the hours they work are also not entitled to those benefits during school holiday periods.

  Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, which are intended to help people with their rent and council tax, can be paid to people on full-time, ongoing, term-time-only employment contracts during term-time as

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  well as during the school holiday periods. Working Families Tax Credit, payable through the tax system for working people with children, is also available.

  Pensioners Income
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will complete his review of savings limits, and the savings tariff income schedule, that govern entitlement to the minimum pensioners income guarantee. [109014]

  Mr. Rooker
  We made a commitment in the pensions Green Paper, "Partnership in Pensions", to give "greater rewards" to those individuals who have made provision for their retirement. We will bring forward our proposals during this Parliament.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the number of claims of family credit that were agreed to in the two months prior to the introduction of the Working Families Tax Credit. [109015]

  Angela Eagle
  In the two months prior to the introduction of Working Families Tax Credit in October 1999, there were 248,000 awards of Family Credit.

  Notes:

  1. Based on claims with a start date between I August 1999 and 30 September 1999.

  2. Figure has been rounded to the nearest thousand.

  3. 5 per cent. sample, therefore subject to sampling error.

  Source:

  Family Credit 5 per cent. sample.

  Departmental Secondees
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many staff were seconded from the private sector to his Department in(a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999 and (c) May 1999 to the latest date for which figures are available, stating in each case the companies from which staff have been seconded. [109293]

  Mr. Rooker
  Secondments and attachments are part of the Interchange Initiative, which promotes the exchange of people and good practice between the Civil Service and other organisations. All sectors of the economy are involved: Voluntary, Education, Health, Public and Private. Interchange is a key component of the reform agenda. The Modernising Government White Paper committed us to increasing interchange, in particular by bringing in more people on secondment and sending more of our people out.

  For the periods in question, three private sector staff are recorded as having been seconded to the Department. One was from the Guardian Media Group plc between September 1997 and December 1997, one from Sacker and Partners between October 1997 and February 1998, and the third from CSL Managed Services between August 1999 and February 2000. Other inward secondments of three months or more recorded centrally in the above periods were mainly from local government and other parts of the public sector outside the civil service.

  State Second Pension
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the state second pension will allow for credits of qualifying contributions for periods of(a) contributory jobseeker's allowance, (b) income-related jobseeker's allowance and (c) low income, including non-state pension income, in the five years before the statutory retirement age. [109016]

  Mr. Rooker
  The State Second Pension is designed for those who are employed, particularly low earners, and those who are unable to work regularly due to caring responsibilities or long-term disability. Individuals will not be able to accrue entitlement to the State Second Pension by virtue of receiving contributory or income-related Jobseeker's Allowance. As with people in other age groups, those in the five years before the statutory retirement age will be able to build up entitlement to the State Second Pension if they have a low income from employed earnings at or above the Lower Earnings Limit, through qualifying caring responsibilities or long-term disability.

TREASURY

  Working Families Tax Credit
  Ms Kelly
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the additional cost to the Exchequer of providing the working families tax credit to couples with children if couples split their total earnings in half and the credit is calculated on each half. [104867]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The estimated expenditure on the Working Families Tax Credit for 2000–01, the first full year of the credit, is £4.7 billion. If each partner in a couple received the full amount of credits, and each had an award based on half the couple's earnings, the expenditure would increase to over three times this figure. Lone parents would be unaffected.

  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the numbers of families who will be(a) eligible to receive, (b) in receipt of and (c) receiving working families tax credit via their pay packet by October 2000. [107260]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Estimates for 2000–01, the first full year of the Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC), consistent with the Pre-Budget Report, are given:Number of families in receipt of the Working Families Tax Credit—1.4 million
  Number of families receiving the Working Families Tax Credit through the wage packet—840,000

  No estimate has been made of the total number of families eligible to receive WFTC through the wage packet.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the impact on the total payments of Working Families Tax Credit of a national minimum wage of(a) £3.80 and (b) £4.00. [108371]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The estimated reductions in expenditure on the Working Families Tax Credit in 2000–01, the first full year of the credit, are given in the table.
  215W

  National minimum wage

  Reduction in expenditure (£ million)

  £3.80 per hour

  15

  £4 per hour

  30

  These estimates do not take account of any consequential labour market behavioural effects and are on the basis of current national minimum wage rates.

  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer under what circumstances working families tax credit is available to people on full-time but term-time only employment contracts for the periods between terms. [109178]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) may be available to people during the periods between terms either if they apply during term time and the 26-week period of the award spans the period between terms, or if they apply for the tax credit during the holiday period and they have on-going, "term-time only" contracts. WFTC is not available to people who apply for the tax credit during the period between terms, but whose contracts formally terminated at the end of the previous term.

  Mr. Burgon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the Government are taking to publicise the working families tax credit in Northern Ireland. [107690]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The WFTC TV and press publicity campaign was launched in early September throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and ran until the end of November. In Northern Ireland, television advertisements ran on Ulster TV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and a number of 'satellite' channels. Press advertisements ran in the Northern Irish press, the national newspapers and women's magazines.

  In addition, I led a conference in Belfast for information providers to explain WFTC and DPTC, and provided a forum for questions and answers.

  Local publicity included mailshots to relevant advisory bodies, followed up by presentations to voluntary and community groups.

  National Insurance Contributions (Benefits in Kind)
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has under Part IV of the Child Support, Pension and Social Security Bill to extend national insurance contribution to benefits in kind which include (a) vaccination against influenza, (b) educational scholarships, to children of employees, (c) taxis provided for the security of late working employees, (d) worker children's nurseries, (e) personal safety alarms, (f) private medical insurance, (g) staff Christmas parties where the amount exceeds £75 per head, (h) membership of a sporting facility and (i) membership of the employer's sporting facilities, where these are open to the general public paid for by the employer. [107114]

  Dawn Primarolo
  A preliminary guidance leaflet, "Class 1A National Insurance Contributions on Benefits in Kind" CWG5, containing a table setting out the tax and proposed national insurance treatment of the majority of 216W
  benefits in kind has been sent to all employers in the new annual pack. A copy is available in the Library of the House.

  Departmental Research Contracts
  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 16 December 1999, Official Report, column 300W, what restrictions were placed on contractors carrying out research projects funded by his Department in 1999 in respect of them discussing their findings with journalists (a) before and (b) after publication. [108194]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 16 December 1999,Official Report, column 300W.

  Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the Export Credits Guarantee Department's share of the future debt write-offs, announced by him, will be financed; and where the money will come from. [108717]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The costs of providing the extra bilateral relief over and above the amounts due to the UK's participation in the HIPC initiative will be met by the Department for International Development from resources additional to the existing aid budget.

  Arms Exports
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the debt owed to the United Kingdom by highly indebted poor countries relates to defence-related business expressed in (a) cash terms and (b) as a proportion of total debt. [108767]

  Mr. Caborn
  I have been asked to reply.

  Debt owed by Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPCs) to ECGD under Paris Club rescheduling arrangements amounts to £1.6 billion. In addition non-rescheduled debt in arrears and current exposure is some £300 million. Much of the rescheduled debt relates to contracts entered into during the 1970s and 1980s, when ECGD did not record exposure by the nature of the goods exported. However recent researches indicate that the amount of debt, all rescheduled, currently owed by HIPCs in respect of defence-related business is £12.7 million or 0.67 per cent. of the total owed.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what criteria were used for selecting the countries that will no longer be supplied with military equipment under the guarantee of the Export Credits Guarantee Department. [109201]

  Mr. Caborn
  I have been asked to reply.

  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on 11 January 2000 an extension to the UK's unilateral ban on export credits in respect of "unproductive expenditure" to include a further 22 countries. The additional countries are those which are allowed to borrow on highly concessional terms from the World Bank—the so called "IDA only" countries. These

  217W
  countries, while they do not have an historically large debut burden, can ill afford to take on new burdens of commercial loans for unproductive expenditure.

  This built on the earlier initiative announced at the 1997 Commonwealth Finance Ministers' meeting in Mauritius, which applied to the so called Heavily Indebted Poor Countries. The ban now applies to 63 countries: a full list is below.

  Applications for ECGD cover of projects in these countries will be measured against whether they meet the following indicative criteria:

  assist social and economic development; or

  be of maximum benefit to areas most affected by poverty; or

  tackle problem areas where private investment is not available; or

  wherever possible, earn foreign exchange; or encourage viable self-financing projects.

  These principles need not necessarily preclude ECGD support for the sale of defence or dual use equipment, provided that such equipment is, for example, deemed essential for national security, or required to combat the drugs trade, piracy, smuggling etc. Support for projects must be cleared with the Department for International Development, who must be satisfied that the expenditure is consistent with the above.

  1. Afghanistan

  2. Albania

  3. Angola

  4. Bangladesh

  5. Benin

  6. Bhutan

  7. Bolivia

  8. Burkina Faso

  9. Burundi

  10. Cambodia

  11. Cameroon

  12. Cape Verde

  13. Central African Republic

  14. Chad

  15. Comoros

  16. Cote d'Ivoire

  17. Democratic Republic of Congo

  18. Djibouti

  19. Equatorial Guinea

  20. Eritrea

  21. Ethiopia

  22. Ghana

  23. Guinea

  24. Guinea-Bissau

  25. Guyana

  26. Haiti

  27. Honduras

  28. Kenya

  29. Kiribati

  30. Lao People's Democratic Republic

  31. Lesotho

  32. Liberia

  33. Madagascar

  34. Malawi

  35. Maldives

  218W

  36. Mali

  37. Mauritania

  38. Mongolia

  39. Mozambique

  40. Myanmar

  41. Nepal

  42. Nicaragua

  43. Niger

  44. Republic of Congo

  45. Republic of Yemen

  46. Rwanda

  47. Samoa

  48. Sao Tome and Principe

  49. Senegal

  50. Sierra Leone

  51. Solomon Islands

  52. Somalia

  53. Sri Lanka

  54. Sudan

  55. Tajikistan

  56. Tanzania

  57. The Gambia

  58. Togo

  59. Tonga

  60. Uganda

  61. Vanuatu

  62. Vietnam

  63. Zambia

  EU Appropriation Orders
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 6 December 1999, Official Report, column 448W, concerning Transfer of Appropriation Orders approved by or awaiting approval by the Council of Ministers, if he will list for each application from 1 July (a) the reference and original purpose and amount, (b) the reasons for non-implementation of the 1999 Budget line, (c) the purpose for which the application was made and (d) the total sum likely to be transferred by this means for the financial year 1999. [108738]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Details of all transfers of appropriations dated up to 30 September 1999, plus the "Notenboom" ("omnibus") transfer of 11 October 1999, have been deposited and are available in the House of Commons Library. Transfers since that date will be deposited shortly in compliance with the usual procedures, when all the relevant documents have been received.

  Gardening Leave
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many officials in (a) Her Majesty's Treasury, (b) Her Majesty's Customs and Excise and (c) the Inland Revenue are currently on gardening leave. [108737]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  None.

  Cigarettes (Taxation)
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the proportion of the average retail price taken
  219W
  in tax for each of the last 10 years for a pack of 20 cigarettes in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) Belgium and
  (c) Luxembourg. [109099]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The table shows the proportion of the price taken in tax (excise duty and VAT) for a pack of 20 cigarettes in United Kingdom, Belgium and Luxembourg in the most popular price category. The figures relate to January each year. It is not possible to provide the figures for earlier than January 1993.

  Percentage

  Year

  United Kingdom

  Belgium

  Luxembourg

  1993

  75

  73

  67

  1994

  76

  75

  69

  1995

  78

  75

  69

  1996

  78

  75

  69

  1997

  79

  74

  69

  1998

  79

  74

  69

  1999

  79

  75

  69

  Source:

  European Commission excise duty tables for data on Belgium and Luxembourg.

  Minimum Wage
  Judy Mallaber
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) women and (b) men in Amber Valley are in receipt of the national minimum wage. [109040]

  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 Judy Mallaber, dated 9 February 2000:
  As the Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question regarding the number of males and females who are in receipt of the national minimum wage in Amber Valley.
  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.

  Deregulation
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the economic impact associated with each of the following deregulation orders and contracting out orders on business (a) the Deregulation (Building Societies) Order 1995 (S.I., 1995, No. 3233), (b) the Deregulation (Friendly Societies Act 1992) Order 1996 (S.I., 1996, No. 1188), (c) the Deregulation (Credit Unions) Order 1996 (S.I.,1996, No. 1189) and (d) the Deregulation (Industrial and Provident Societies) Order 1996 (S.I., 1996, No. 1738). [108779]
  220W
  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 7 February 2000]: None.

  Government Spending
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is his policy to adhere to the existing planning total for overall Government spending in 2001–02; and if he will make a statement. [108976]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  [holding answer 8 February 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 11 November 1999, Official Report, column 781W.

  Earnings Statistics
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the number of people earning (a) over £100,000 per annum, (b) over £500,000 per annum and (c) over £1 million per annum, for each year from 1979–80 to 1999–2000; and if he will make a statement. [108978]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 8 February 2000]: 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. Matthew Taylor, dated 9 February 2000:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question regarding the number of people earning over £100,000 per annum, over £500,000 per annum and over £1 million per annum, for each year from 1979–80 to 1999–2000.
  The new Earnings Survey (NES), carried out in April of each year, is a 1 per cent. sample of all employees who are members of pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) schemes. It does not capture information relating to the self-employed. However, I am only able to provide estimates of the percentage of employees whose earnings lie within specified ranges, rather than numbers, because appropriate factors to gross the survey results to accommodate this sample frame are not currently available. Additionally, I am unable to provide data for financial years prior to 1997–98 since estimates of annual earnings are not available. Data for the 1999–2000 financial year will be available when the NES 2000 is published in November of this year.
  The available information, from the 1998 and 1999 New Earnings Survey, is presented in the attached table.

  Employees on adult rates, who have been in the same job for at least 12 months

  Percentage with annual earnings in excess of

  £100,000

  £500,000

  £1 million

  1997–98

  Full-time employees

  0.4

  0.0

  0.0

  Part-time employees

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  All employees

  0.3

  0.0

  0.0

  1998–99

  Full-time employees

  0.6

  0.0

  0.0

  Part-time employees

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  All employees

  0.4

  0.0

  0.0

  Source:

  New Earnings Survey (GB)

  Climate Change Levy
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish details of the calculations which determined the present indicated rates for the Climate Change Levy. [108468]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 8 February 2000]: The rates of the climate change levy that were published in the 1999 Pre-Budget Report are consistent with a levy raising around £1 billion in 2001–02. They are based on energy use data consistent with the DTI's Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics.

  All the revenues raised from the levy will be recycled to business through a 0.3 percentage point cut in employer's National Insurance Contributions and increased support for energy efficiency measures.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he intends to reply to the letters to him dated 16 September, 4 November and 9 December 1999 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr. D Sammons. [109250]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  I wrote to the right hon. Member on 20 December 1999.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Football Task Force
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will publish the Football Task Force report as a Command Paper. [106942]

  Kate Hoey
  The Football Task Force's final report was published on 22 December. I have sent a copy to every Member and copies are also available on the Department's website or direct from the Football Trust. I have no plans to commit public funds to publish the report as a Command Paper.

  Motspur Park (Fulham Football Club)
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received concerning the availability of Fulham Football Club's Motspur Park training ground to local amateur and school football teams. [108285]

  Kate Hoey
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have received no representations on this subject.

  EU Structural Funds
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer of 31 January 2000,Official Report, column 478W, if he will list those seaside resort wards on the Objective 2 European funding map that would not have qualified for inclusion had they not been in seaside resorts. [108635]

  Mr. Caborn
  I have been asked to reply.
  222W
  All areas including seaside resorts proposed for new Objective 2 area status met the criteria set out in Article 4 of the Council Regulation (EC) No. 1260–1999 for European Structural Funds. Eligible areas qualified under the industrial, rural, urban or fisheries strand.

  Being a seaside resort was not a criterion for selection. The criteria were linked to unemployment, urban deprivation, and structural problems in industry, agriculture or fishing.

  The criteria were applied on an objective and consistent basis nationally. We made every effort to include regional priority wards where we could do so within the constraints of the legislation and the population ceiling.

  Sports Strategy
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what consultations he has had directly with the professional players' associations in respect of the Government's sports strategy. [107970]

  Kate Hoey
  [holding answer 3 February 2000]: I have not consulted formally with professional players associations in respect of the sports strategy. I have, however, met a wide range of sporting organisations to discuss the issues which surround the development of sport. These discussions have informed the development of the strategy.

  Cultural Property
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if Her Majesty's Government will now ratify(a) the UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property 1970 and (b) the UNIDROIT Convention on Stolen and Illegally Exported Cultural Objects 1995. [108999]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  Her Majesty's Government has decided not to sign the 1970 UNESCO Convention because significant practical difficulties remain in implementing its provisions into UK law. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 7 February 2000,Official Report, columns 8–9W, regarding the Government's decision about the 1995 UNIDROIT Convention.

  Gardening Leave
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many officials in his Department are currently on gardening leave. [108959]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  There are no officials in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport currently on gardening leave.

  St. Anne's Further Education College
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the Lytham St. Anne's Civic Society will receive an answer to their request that part of the St. Anne's Further Education College be declared a grade II listed building. [109241]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  English Heritage, our statutory adviser on the historic environment, inspected this building on 8 February, and will submit its advice within
  223W
  the next few days. My right hon. Friend the secretary of State will then make his decision on whether to add the College to the Statutory List. I will write to the right hon. Member about the decision as soon as possible.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Court Service (Fee Income)
  Mr. Burnett
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the method employed by the Court Service to calculate the estimated reduction of litigation and consequential short-fall of fee income in the financial year 2000–01. [108826]

  Jane Kennedy
  To calculate the estimated reduction in litigation, the number of claims issued over two period of six months were compared. These were May to October 1998 and May to October 1999. This comparison showed that the total of originating proceedings (excluding family and insolvency) commenced in total declined by 23 per cent. The calculation of the estimated shortfall in fee income was based on a combination of actual income from April to December 1999 and three months of forecast income to March 2000. Income for 2000–01 is expected to be £308 million. The calculated level of new income from the changed fees in a full year has been downgraded by 9 per cent. for 2000–01 to allow for the fact that the higher fees will not apply for the whole of the financial year and a small decline in workload.

  Court Closures
  Mr. Burnett
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the number of court closures in England and Wales in the past three years. [108860]

  Jane Kennedy
  Magistrates courts are locally managed by magistrates courts committees under the provisions of the Justices of the Peace Act 1997. Decisions concerning the future of magistrates courts are for the relevant magistrates courts committee to determine.

  My Department surveys the number of courthouses and courtrooms in April each year. The number of closures as reported by MCC's is as follows:

  1997

  1998

  1999

  Courtroom closures

  48

  46

  14

  Courthouse closures

  22

  22

  8

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Burnett
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the expenditure on legal aid for personal injury cases in (a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95, (c) 1995–96, (d) 1996–97, (e) 1997–98 and (f) 1998–99 and for the same years in relation to legal aid for personal injury cases; (i) what amount of contributions to the Legal Aid Fund was paid or repaid by legally aided litigants, (ii) how much of this expenditure on legal aid for personal injury cases in the 224W
  above years was value added tax and (iii) what is his Department's estimate of the benefits, recovery and savings by virtue of cases won by litigants in personal injury cases who had the benefit of legal aid for the years requested. [108791]

  Mr. Lock
  Excluding advice and assistance expenditure on cases completed in each year was as follows:

  £ million

  Net

  Gross

  Contributions from legally aided litigants

  (a) 1993–94

  38.0

  155.3

  1.3

  (b) 1994–95

  44.4

  190.1

  1.5

  (c) 1995–96

  55.2

  239.6

  1.7

  (d) 1996–97

  61.8

  274.2

  1.9

  (e) 1997–98

  65.6

  1307.7

  12.3

  (f) 1998–99

  2—

  335.2

  1 CIS was installed during 1997–98 in the Board's Nottingham and Chester offices. Because of this the figures for 1997–98 are incomplete and do not include data for five months (Nottingham) and six weeks (Chester)

  2 I am unable, at present, to provide net figures for 1998–99 due to the differences in data collection between the Legal Aid Board's former computer system and its current Corporate Information System (CIS)

  I am also unable to provide details of VAT because not all the Board's payment systems record it as a separate item. Some disbursements are registered for VAT and others are unregistered.

  It is not possible to estimate the benefits, recovery and savings to litigants by virtue of cases won in personal injury cases. Neither is it possible to estimate the benefit to public funds. Although the Compensation Recovery Unit of the Department of Social Security (CRU) will seek to recover any state benefit from the amount of damages paid, the CRU does not record whether monies recovered were in relation to a case supported by legal aid throughout, partially supported by legal aid or financed in another manner, eg with the support of a trade union.

  Public Trust Office
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations he has received on the proposed reform of the Public Trust Office; and if he will consider extending the period for consultation. [108828]

  Jane Kennedy
  I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer I gave her on 8 February 2000, Official Report, column 132W on the consultation period. Representations from a number of organisations and groups have been received on the Quinquennial Review of the Public Trust Office including Members of Parliament, the judiciary, the Law Society and other professional bodies, voluntary organisations and groups representing the interests of PTO clients and staff.

  Court Cases (Press Activity)
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps he proposes to take to implement the recommendations made by the
  225W
  National Heritage Committee in its report on press activity affecting court cases (HC 292, Session 1996–97). [109573]

  Mr. Lock
  The Government announced on 27 February 1998 that it accepted in principle the recommendations of the National Heritage Committee. As my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor said in another place on 22 November 1999,Official Report, House of Lords, column 169, legislation will be brought forward when Parliamentary time allows. The Lord Chancellor is setting up an interdepartmental working group of officials to review the law relating to the payments to witnesses in criminal proceedings and the publication of information in advance of criminal trials. The review will inform the Government's decisions about the form of legislation required to implement the National Heritage Committee's recommendations. The review will consider how the requirements of the European Convention of Human Rights affect the law of contempt.

CABINET OFFICE

  Departmental Contracts
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will list for the financial year 1998–99(a) the number and (b) the total value of contracts let by her Department with external consultants and advisers that (i) were put out to competitive tender, (ii) were not put out to competitive tender and (iii) were let on a non-commercial basis, stating in each case the names of the individuals or organisations that have carried out the work. [109269]

  Mr. Stringer
  The information requested is not held centrally and is available only at disproportionate cost. It is departmental policy to purchase all goods, services and works by means of competition unless there are convincing reasons to the contrary.

  Performance-related Pay
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent assessment she has made of the effect of performance-related payments in Government Departments. [107470]

  Mr. Stringer
  The Cabinet Office began a review of pay and grading delegation within the Civil Service in September 1998. The interim report was published in April 1999 and the findings contributed to the Report on Performance Management, published on 15 December, in support of Sir Richard Wilson's Report to the Prime Minister on Civil Service Reform. The Civil Service will now implement the reform programme and, in particular, the modernisation of its performance management and pay systems.

  Copies of all these reports have been placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Civil Servants (Counselling)
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what is her policy with regard to granting civil servants time off work for counselling. [107575]
  226W
  Mr. Stringer
  Individual Departments and agencies have delegated authority to determine the circumstances when staff may have time off work. Within this framework, Departments and agencies have been consistently encouraged to be sympathetic towards requests for special leave in appropriate circumstances. Last year the Cabinet Office published a resource pack "Managing Attendance in the Public Sector: Putting Best Practice to Work" to help public sector bodies manage attendance in a fair, consistent and supportive way. One of the recommendations was that the public sector organisations should provide or arrange access to welfare and counselling services, and that staff should be encouraged to make full and effective use of those services.

  Quangos
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when she will respond to the Sixth report of the Select Committee on Public Administration on Quangos (Session 1998–99, HC 209). [106729]

  Mr. Stringer
  The Government will respond shortly to the Sixth Report of the Select Committee on Public Administration on Quangos.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what percentage of her Department's staff were(a) registered disabled, (b) women, (c) from ethnic minorities and (d) from (i) independent, (ii) grammar and (iii) other schools in (1) 1970, (2) 1979, (3) 1989 and (4) 1999. [106759]

  Mr. Stringer
  The first year for which there are records containing statistical information about ethnic minorities and staff with disabilities is 1989. Prior to this date surveys of the ethnic origin of staff or those with disabilities were not carried out in a comprehensive way. Information about the educational background of staff could be obtained only by searching individual records of staff.

  Table for 1970, 1979, 1989 and 1999 are as follows:

  Percentage

  Disabled

  Women1

  Ethnic minorities

  1970

  2—

  25

  2—

  1979

  2—

  40

  2—

  19893

  0.82

  55

  6.2

  19994

  1.26

  48.39

  9.02

  1 Figures for 1979 are full-time equivalent, other figures are based on head count

  2 Not available

  3 Includes Office of Minister of the Civil Service

  4 Voluntary self-classification based on the definition contained in the Disability Discrimination Act 1995

  Recycling
  Mr. Dobbin
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what policy she has on the recycling of materials produced by her Department. [108472]
  227W
  Mr. Stringer
  My Department's policy on recycling materials reflects our overall approach for waste management to reduce, reuse, recycle and recover.

  We are currently preparing a sustainable development strategy for greening the Cabinet Office's and its Agencies' operations taking account of Government policies and best practice. This strategy will include waste reduction targets taking account of the Government target
  228W
  for all Departments to recover a minimum of 40 per cent. of total office waste, with at least 25 per cent. of that recovery coming from recycling or composting in 2000–01. We are undertaking a waste audit and will use the results of the audit to establish baselines, against which the targets can be set and performance measured. The Cabinet Office agencies are similarly working towards the Green Ministers target. We currently recycle paper, cardboard, bottles and cans.

  Immigration Officers: New Powers
  Immigration Officers: New Powers
  British Citizenship: Full Capacity Requirement
  British Citizenship: Full Capacity Requirement
  Racism and Children's Resources
  Racism and Children's Resources
  Sexual Offenders Serving Custodial Sentences
  Sexual Offenders Serving Custodial Sentences
  Sexual Offences: Convictions in 1998
  Sexual Offences: Convictions in 1998
  Press Activity and Court Cases
  Press Activity and Court Cases
  Statistics: Concordat
  Statistics: Concordat
  2001 Census
  2001 Census
  UK/EU Balance of Contributions
  UK/EU Balance of Contributions
  Britain in Europe
  Britain in Europe
  House of Lords: Political Balance
  House of Lords: Political Balance
  Human Rights Joint Committee: Impartiality
  Human Rights Joint Committee: Impartiality
  Millennium Dome: Costs
  Millennium Dome: Costs
  Task Forces and Review Groups: External Members
  Task Forces and Review Groups: External Members
  Millennium Dome: Web Poll
  Millennium Dome: Web Poll
  China: Falun Gong
  China: Falun Gong
  "Your Britain, Your Europe" Roadshow
  "Your Britain, Your Europe" Roadshow
  British Council, Italy
  British Council, Italy
  Insulin Pen Needles on NHS Prescription
  Insulin Pen Needles on NHS Prescription
  Gene Therapy
  Gene Therapy
  Professor P G Blain
  Professor P G Blain
  Arable Area Payments Scheme: Field Margin Measurement
  Arable Area Payments Scheme: Field Margin Measurement
  Hedgerows
  Hedgerows
  GM Crops: Separation Distances
  GM Crops: Separation Distances
  Over Thirty Month Scheme Abattoirs
  Over Thirty Month Scheme Abattoirs
  GM Plants and UK National List of Varieties
  GM Plants and UK National List of Varieties
  Pet Travel Scheme
  Pet Travel Scheme
  Agricultural Community: EU Obligations
  Agricultural Community: EU Obligations
  Cattle TB: Report
  Cattle TB: Report
  Floods: Environment Agency Action Plan
  Floods: Environment Agency Action Plan
  Agriculture Development Scheme Grants
  Agriculture Development Scheme Grants