Written Answers of 13 January 2000

DEFENCE

  Falklands Conflict
  Jane Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel who served in the Falklands conflict originated from Northern Ireland; and in which(a) regiments and (b) other parts of the services they served. [104394]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Ministry of Defence does not hold a centrally collated record of the origins of servicemen and their individual deployments that contains the information requested for all three Services. Full details could be provided only at disproportionate cost, following detailed examination of individual records.

  However I can advise that available data show that some 95 Army and 29 RAF individuals who served in the Falklands operations are recorded as having originated from Northern Ireland and I will write with further details concerning regiments and units in which they served.

  Defence Vetting Agency
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 21 December 1999,Official Report, column 468W, concerning the move of the Defence Vetting Agency to York, if he will estimate the number of people living within 50 miles of York who will be working at the Defence Vetting Agency. [104667]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Agency is in the early stages of forming up at York. It will be taking on staff (mainly from HQ 2nd Division but also through local recruitment) at various points between now and early 2001, when the Agency will reach its full strength at York of 181. Many posts are still unfilled.

  It is expected that all permanent staff working for the Agency at Imphal Barracks in the eventual workforce will live locally and commute daily. It is not our normal practice to check on the distance that individuals commute, but a random survey suggests that the overwhelming majority of our York-based workforce will live within 50 miles of York.

  In my earlier answer I explained that, in addition to the 181 DVA staff who will be based at Imphal Barracks, the Agency would employ 130 Investigating Officers who would work from their homes. The location of these Officers is tied to the major areas of MOD employment across the UK. The Officers are tasked from, and report to the Agency at York, but will very rarely travel there.

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the outcome of the feasibility study into compulsory mobilisation of the Territorial Army to sustain peace support operations in the Balkans. [105415]
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  Mr. Spellar
  The Feasibility Study has concluded that compulsory mobilisation is feasible in both legal and practical terms. This will enable the TA to make a major contribution to front-line operations and reflects and supports the intent of the Strategic Defence Review that the Territorial Army should be usable. At the same time, as a result of the reduction in UK force levels in the Balkans, we judge that compulsory mobilisation is not operationally necessary at this time. We will keep the possibility of compulsory mobilisation under constant review in the light of the prevailing operational conditions.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Regional Aid
  Mr. Ashton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what reasons underlie the policy of referring applications to his Department for regional aid or assistance to the Minister of Agriculture. [104173]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Department asks the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for advice on all Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) applications with an agriculture element to ensure that there are no EC restrictions on projects being eligible for assistance in this respect. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is responsible for decisions taken on awards of RSA.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed of 9 August to the Minister of State about the inclusion of postcodes in telephone directories. [104094]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 10 January 2000]: I replied to the right hon. Member yesterday.

  IPPC Charges
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the level of IPPC charges in other EU member states; and if he will make a statement. [104101]

  Ms Hewitt
  The system of IPPC charges, which is still under consideration, is the responsibility of the Environment Agency. The Agency consulted on an interim charging regime last autumn, and is considering the outcome of that consultation. The Agency will be monitoring the implementation of IPPC in other member states including their charging policies.

  Minimum Wage
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects the review of the current minimum wage to be completed. [104688]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The Government received the Low Pay Commission's Report on the impact of implementation of the national minimum wage at the end of December. Once Ministers have had an opportunity to consider the Report's findings, both the Report and the Government's response to it will be published.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Philippines
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to put contracts for the Government of the Philippines Bridge Replacement Project under the existing offer of aid and trade provision out to tender in the United Kingdom. [104034]

  Clare Short
  The first component of the Philippines Bridge Replacement Programme, for emergency steel panel bridging, was negotiated with the Mabey Group and is due to be completed shortly. The second component is for various types of steel bridging and a range of design and advisory services. This is being negotiated with a consortium of Balfour Kilpatrick and Cleveland Bridge.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Old Vehicles
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many(a) cars and (b) motor-cycles which are more than 25 years old are in use in the United Kingdom. [103155]

  Mr. Hill
  The number of vehicles more than 25 years old at the end of 1998 in Great Britain was as follows:Cars: 256,392 (1.1 per cent. of licensed stock)
  Motor Cycles: 91,173 (11.2 per cent. of licensed stock)
  At present, we do not have this information for Northern Ireland.

  Concessionary Travel
  Mr. Martin Bell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what account he will take of the European Court of Justice judgment on 15 December, in amending his policy on permitting local authorities to grant local travel concessions to men aged over 60 years. [104150]

  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to equalise at the age of 60 the eligibility for the minimum half price local bus concession for older people following the judgment in the case of John Taylor and Liberty v. HM Government. [104057]

  Mr. Hill
  Legal advice is that this judgment does not have implications for concessionary fares on local transport.

  Road Accidents
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the accident rates including fatalities for(a) single and (b) dual carriageway roads. [104116]
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  Mr. Hill
  Accident rates on single and dual carriageway roads are given in the table.

  Accident rates for single and dual carriageway roads in Great Britain: 1998

  Accident rate per hundred million vehicle kms

  Single carriageway

  Dual carriageway1

  All roads2

  Fatal

  0.8

  0.4

  0.7

  Fatal and Serious Accidents

  9.9

  4.0

  8.2

  All Personal Injury Accidents

  59

  27

  52

  1 Includes motorways

  2 Includes accidents at roundabouts and those where carriageway type is unknown

  Driving Licences
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what published standards are set for the Driver and Vehicle Licence Agency on the time taken to process driving licence applications that include reference to a medical condition; and what standards in respect of such applications the Agency has achieved in the last three quarters of 1999. [104056]

  Mr. Hill
  The service standards for applications involving a medical investigation are published in the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's Service Guide. This states that the Agency's Medical Unit aims to complete its investigations:

  (a) within five weeks of receiving an application for a car or motorcycle licence;

  (b) within seven weeks of receiving an application for a large goods/passenger carrying vehicle licence.

  When medical investigations take longer than this, applicants are advised on an individual basis.

  Excluding December, where final figures have yet to be available, in the last three-quarters of 1999 the Agency achieved an average performance of 44 per cent. of car and motorcycle applications and 66 per cent. of large goods and passenger carrying vehicles being processed within the published standard.

  Action is being taken to bring this service up to standard and the position is steadily improving.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the average time between applying for and receiving(a) a driving licence and (b) a driving licence that includes reference to a medical condition. [104055]

  Mr. Hill
  The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency undertakes to issue driving licences and return original documents to customers within three weeks (15 working days) of the date of receipt of their applications. This three-week standard has been met or bettered consistently throughout the year.
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  In cases where a driver declares a medical condition— amounting to some 1,100 applications a day—because of the increased complexities of the service the standard is five weeks for a car licence and seven weeks for a bus or lorry licence. Some current cases in these categories are taking longer. Action is being taken to bring this service up to standard and the position is steadily improving.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what published standards are set for the Driver and Vehicle Licence Agency on the time taken to process driving licence applications; and what standards in processing applications the Agency has achieved in the last three quarters of 1999. [104054]

  Mr. Hill
  Where there are no medical considerations, DVLA undertakes to issue driving licences (and return original identity documents) to customers within three weeks (15 working days) of the date of receipt of their applications. This standard is set out in the Agency's Customer Service Guide. This three-week standard has been met or bettered consistently throughout the last three-quarters of 1999.

  Trunk Roads (West Sussex)
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will next announce approval for trunk road improvement schemes or new by-passes in West Sussex. [104275]

  Mr. Hill
  "A New Deal for Trunk Roads in England" set out our investment priorities and a programme of studies to consider problems on the trunk road network. Among the studies is one on the problems of congestion between Worthing and Lancing on the A27. It is considering specific local problems within the area to be covered by the wider study, to commence later this year, looking at congestion, safety and environmental problems between Southampton and Folkestone. In the light of the findings of these studies, it will be for the Regional Planning Body to consider whether to recommend to the Secretary of State any trunk road improvement schemes as part of their regional transport strategy.

  Airport Traffic
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list in order of air traffic movements over the last five years the airport traffic at(a) Heathrow, (b) Gatwick, (c) Luton, (d) Exeter and (e) Guernsey. [104595]

  Mr. Mullin
  The last five full years for which air traffic movements data are available are 1994 to 1998 inclusive. The air traffic movements over these years at Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Exeter and Guernsey are listed in the table.

  1998

  1997

  1996

  1995

  1994

  Heathrow

  442,412

  430,706

  428,342

  421,289

  411,608

  Gatwick

  242,547

  229,665

  211,686

  192,806

  181,879

  Luton

  47,748

  40,287

  31,029

  21,716

  17,161

  Guernsey

  40,085

  39,625

  40,632

  40,902

  39,850

  Exeter

  8,608

  7,877

  7,870

  8,844

  10,198

  Millennium Dome
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about the future use of the Dome site. [104438]

  Ms Armstrong
  The Government launched a competition last year for the long-term use of the Dome after the Millennium Experience. The short list of bidders will be announced shortly.

  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the financial value of the Dome site. [104437]

  Ms Armstrong
  The Dome site is on offer as part of the assets available in the Government competition to find a long-term, financially viable and sustainable use for the Millennium Dome. The Government estimate of the financial value of the Dome site is restricted as commercial-in-confidence.

  Lindane
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps his Department takes to monitor the effects of lindane. [104610]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Department funds the monitoring of chemicals, including lindane, in air and the marine environment and the Environment Agency also monitors for lindane in marine and fresh waters. The effects of pesticides on wildlife and companion animals are monitored by MAFF's Wildlife Incidents Investigation Scheme.

  Newly Qualified Drivers
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans the Government have to introduce regulations to compel newly qualified drivers to display warnings on the vehicle they are driving that they are newly qualified. [104448]

  Mr. Hill
  A number of safety improvements for learners and new drivers, including this one, are being considered as part of the Road Safety Strategy which is to be announced shortly.

  GM Crops
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to authorise further field-scale trials of genetically modified crops. [103775]

  Mr. Meacher
  I announced a renewed voluntary agreement with industry on the conduct of the farm scale evaluation programme on 5 November 1999. Under the agreement, plantings for the farm scale GM crop evaluations are limited to 20–25 fields per crop per year, subject to the advice and requirements of the independent Scientific Steering Committee overseeing the programme. This covers the plantings through to 2002 for the crops in the programme—GM fodder maize, and spring and winter oilseed rape, all modified to be tolerant to a herbicide. Subject to the advice of the Scientific Steering Committee, a fourth crop, beet modified to be tolerant to
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  a herbicide, may be included in the programme for the same three years. Proposals for any other field scale plantings of these crops during the farm scale evaluation period will be decided by the Scientific Steering Committee, taking into account the relevance of the proposals to biodiversity.

  Countryside (Access)
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the progress of the Government's Access to the Countryside proposals. [103779]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Government's proposals to improve public access to the countryside will be included in the Countryside Bill, announced in last year's Queen's Speech. The Bill will also include measures for improving rights of way. The access provisions of the Bill (which we expect to be introduced into Parliament shortly) will build on the proposals set out in "The Government's Framework for Action, Access to the Countryside in England and Wales", issued in March last year.

  Planning Regulations
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the impact on farming of local planning regulations in(a) Gloucestershire and (b) the South West. [103790]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Development control policies, and their impact upon any particular sectoral interest, are matters for the local planning authorities concerned, as set down in their development plans and having regard to national and regional planning policy guidance.

  Driving Agencies
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the report prepared by the Audit Commission on the DVLA and DSA; and what action he intends to take as a result of this report. [104645]

  Mr. Hill
  I understand that the Public Services Productivity Panel intend to publish this report shortly.

  Home Improvement Agencies
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to appoint a national co-ordinating body for home improvement agencies in England to serve from 1 April 2000. [105137]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I have invited Collective Enterprises Limited to enter into post-tender negotiations with the Department. Subject to the satisfactory completion of these negotiations, I expect to award them a contract to act as the national co-ordinating body for Home Improvement Agencies in England for four years from 1 April 2000.

  The Department invited Care and Repair England Limited (the current national co-ordinating body) and Collective Enterprises Limited to submit tenders. Both offered a comprehensive range of services. However, Care and Repair England's tender was substantially more expensive and I believe that Collective Enterprises
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  Limited offer significantly better value for money. I look forward to working with them to build on the foundations which have been laid.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Public Safety Radio Communications Service
  Mr. Hope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made towards the agreement of a contract for the Public Safety Radio Communications Service; and if he will make a statement. [105317]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Chief Executive of the Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO) issued a letter of instruction to proceed to British Telecom plc before Christmas, authorising them to invest in the project infrastructure. Negotiations on the Framework Arrangement and the model service contract are continuing and I hope they will be concluded by the end of January. PITO will be asking individual police authorities to sign service contracts by the end of February.

  CCTV Tenders
  Mr. Hope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for announcing the results of the current round of CCTV bids. [105319]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I am planning to make an announcement on Monday 17 January.

  Departmental Productivity
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to increase the productivity and reduce the running costs of his Department. [103850]

  Mr. Straw
  The Home Office has a Public Service Agreement commitment to deliver 3 per cent. per annum running cost productivity gains, and is currently on target to deliver this for 1999–2000.

  A joint Home Office and Her Majesty's Treasury ministerial review of productivity is to be led by both the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, my noble Friend, Lord Bassam of Brighton and the Financial Secretary to Her Majesty's Treasury and is intended to focus on four key areas:

  Personnel Management;

  Information Technology;

  The Home Office Estate; and

  Procurement Planning.

  Asylum Seekers (Algeria)
  Ms Kingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many asylum applications, made by Algerians, have been decided by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in each of the last three months; [104371]

  (2) how many asylum applications, made by Algerians, have been decided by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in each of the last three months, where the applicant has been in detention; [104372]
  215W
  (3) how many asylum applications have been made by Algerians in the last three months. [104374]

  Mrs. Roche
  The available information is that in September 1999, 135 nationals of Algeria, excluding dependants, applied for asylum in the United Kingdom. This figure fell slightly to 115 in October and 90 in November.

  Information on how many asylum applications, made by Algerians, have been decided by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in each of the last three months is not currently available.

  Information on Algerian asylum seekers who have had a decision and who had been detained at some point could be obtained only at disproportionate cost through the examination of individual case records.

  Ms Kingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Algerians have been(a) removed and (b) deported in each of the last three months; and what proportion of these had previously claimed asylum. [104373]

  Mrs. Roche
  The latest available information relates to arriving passengers during the period April-June 1999. Thirty-eight Algerian passengers were refused leave to enter and removed from the United Kingdom in April 1999, 28 in May 1999 and 21 in June 1999. Those data are provisional and do not show whether or not the person concerned had claimed asylum. This additional information could be obtained only by examining the individual case files.

  Data for Algerian nationals removed or departing voluntarily under illegal entry or deportation procedures during this period are not yet available.

  Konrad Kalejs
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assistance will be given to the Australian law enforcement authorities in their inquiries into the case of Konrad Kalejs. [104514]

  Mr. Straw
  We have made it clear to the Australian authorities that any relevant details they sought would be made available to them, including those details held by the Metropolitan Police.

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the case of Konrad Kalejs. [104513]

  Mr. Straw
  I issued a full statement on 6 January. I have placed copies of the statement in the Library and am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

  Electoral Register
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the Direct Marketing Association on commercial and charity use of the electoral register; and what response he has given. [104646]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Since the publication of the summary of recommendations of the Working Party on Electoral Procedures on 13 July 1999, Home Office Ministers have received two written representations from the Direct Marketing Association, dated 23 September 216W
  and 22 November. In response to the first of these, I held a meeting with representatives of the Association on 9 November for a full discussion of the issues that concerned them. Following consideration of the second letter, I wrote to the Association on 12 January 2000.

  Probation Service
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce the Private Finance Initiative into the future development of the Probation Estate in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [104742]

  Mr. Boateng
  No decisions have been taken about the future financing of the Probation Estate in England and Wales as a whole and a range of options, including the Private Finance Initiative (PFI), will be considered in due course. Local PFI initiatives are currently being considered for probation services in Mid Glamorgan, Avon and Essex.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to centralise the Probation Estate; and if he will make a statement. [104741]

  Mr. Boateng
  The plan to centralise the Probation Estate will be developed as part of the arrangements to modernise the Probation Service in England and Wales. Details are not yet available.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to out-source clerical and administrative support for the Probation Service in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [104740]

  Mr. Boateng
  I have no current plans for out-sourcing this work.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the report commissioned by his Department into the case for the centralisation of the Probation Service estate in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [104744]

  Mr. Boateng
  The decision to centralise ownership and management of the Probation Service estate was not dependent on the survey of the Probation Service estate, a copy of the report on which will be placed in the Library in due course.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce a revised case recording and management system for the Probation Service in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [104743]

  Mr. Boateng
  A project is currently under way to redevelop the current case recording and management system for the Probation Services for England and Wales, involving representatives of these Services. A project board has been established; a user requirement has been produced and a specialist Information Technology project manager has been recruited.

  Involuntary Manslaughter
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations his Department
  217W
  has received on his plans to propose legislation on the Law Commission's recommendation of an offence of involuntary manslaughter. [103801]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  We have received written representations from hon. Members, interested groups and members of the public about the Government's response to the Law Commission's report "Legislating the Criminal Code: Involuntary Manslaughter". The issue has also been raised in a number of parliamentary Questions.

  We are currently considering the recommendations of the interdepartmental working group which has been considering the Law Commission's report and will consult our colleagues shortly.

  Access Arrangements
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many court welfare officers in England and Wales received training in(a) 1997 and (b) 1998 to deal with access arrangements for children following separation and divorce; [104396]

  (2) what training courses exist for court welfare officers to deal with the problem of parental alienation. [104397]

  Mr. Boateng
  The comprehensive induction programme for family court welfare officers includes modules on working with children and separating families. Available records indicate that 75 people completed the whole programme in the period April 1997 to March 1998, and 50 in the period April 1998 to March 1999. The need for any additional training is assessed by individual probation services and provided by either the service itself or an external agent. No information is collected centrally on this additional training.

  Sudbury Prison
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate(a) the percentage of prisoners who were serving a life sentence and (b) the number of prisoners in Sudbury Prison at six-monthly intervals over the last 10 years. [104644]

  Mr. Boateng
  The latest available provisional information for life sentence prisoners is for 30 November 1999. On that date, 7 per cent. of the prison population in England and Wales were life sentence prisoners. Information on the population of Sudbury prison over the last 10 years is given in the table.

  Population in Her Majesty's Prison Sudbury 1989–99

  Date

  Number

  1989

  30 June

  537

  31 December

  518

  1990

  30 June

  524

  31 December

  464

  1991

  30 June

  534

  31 December

  436

  1992

  30 June

  450

  31 December

  402

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  Population in Her Majesty's Prison Sudbury 1989–99

  Date

  Number

  1993

  30 June

  455

  31 December

  406

  1994

  30 June

  441

  31 December

  401

  1995

  30 June

  387

  31 December

  377

  1996

  30 June

  474

  31 December

  456

  1997

  30 June

  504

  31 December

  462

  1998

  30 June

  493

  31 December

  488

  1999

  30 June

  499

  30 November1

  505

  1 Latest available

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  CPS
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Solicitor-General what recent assessment he has made of the record of the Crown Prosecution Service in bringing persistent young offenders to trial in Merseyside. [103806]

  The Solicitor-General
  During my visit to CPS Merseyside in September last year, I was able to see at first hand the efforts made by the CPS and other local agencies to reduce the time it took to prosecute persistent young offenders. The average time taken from arrest to sentence is steadily decreasing, and the Area anticipates further significant reductions as a result of fast tracking arrangements that are being adopted throughout Merseyside.

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Solicitor-General if he will make a statement on the Commission for Racial Equality's investigation into the Crown Prosecution Service. [103808]

  The Solicitor-General
  The Crown Prosecution Service is in discussion with the CRE regarding the proposed investigation and hopes to find an agreed way forward. The CRE will reach a conclusion and notify the CPS before the end of January 2000.

  Dr. George Turner
  To ask the Solicitor-General what progress he has made in ensuring greater effectiveness in the application of information technology within the Crown Prosecution Service. [103809]

  The Solicitor-General
  I am pleased to report that significant progress has been made in developing effective IT in CPS.
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  The Review of the CPS led by Sir Iain Glidewell reported in June 1998. It recommended the creation of a new post, Director of Business and Information Systems. That post has been filled and an Information Systems Strategic Plan developed. This plan provides a two-step approach to delivering effective IT support to lawyers and caseworkers, as well as that needed for effective administration and control.

  In July 1999, the CPS was awarded £12 million from the Government's Capital Modernisation Fund. This money together with existing CPS resources will fund Step 1, the Connect 42 project. This will provide access for lawyers and caseworkers to networked PCs across the 42 CPS Areas. It will also enable secure electronic mail connections with its partners in the Criminal Justice System.

  Step 2 of the Modernisation Programme, the Compass project, is procuring a Managed Service through a PFI contract. This will use the IT infrastructure of Step 1, and complement it with a case management system designed to meet the needs of front line CPS staff. It will provide the ability to work with electronic case files and allow information to be exchanged much more easily with other organisations in the criminal justice system through speedier electronic communications between computer systems.

  Piloting of the Connect 42 project is planned for March 2000, with national rollout following over the subsequent 18 months.

  The CPS plans to advertise its requirement for the Compass project in the Official Journal for the European Communities in second quarter of 2000.

  Dr. Palmer
  To ask the Solicitor-General if he will make a statement on the rights of audience exercised by Crown Prosecution Service lawyers in the higher courts. [103810]

  The Solicitor-General
  In February 1997 limited rights of audience were granted to employed solicitors, allowing them to appear alone in appeals and uncontested cases in the Crown Court or to act as juniors in cases in which leading counsel are instructed. CPS higher court advocates began to exercise those rights in August 1998, since then the volume of work undertaken by them has gradually increased.

  The impression that the Attorney-General and I have gained from our visits to various parts of the country is that the higher court advocates have been well received by judges and the Bar.

  By mid-2000 nearly 200 CPS solicitor higher court advocates will have been trained. The CPS is now considering its future strategy for deploying its lawyers in the Crown Court in the light of the Access to Justice Act 1999, which grants full rights of audience to all lawyers.

  Serious Fraud Office
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Solicitor-General if he will make a statement on the recent performance of the Serious Fraud Office. [103807]
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  The Solicitor-General
  In 1998–99, the Serious Fraud Office obtained 34 convictions from the 42 defendants tried. The SFO continues to be an effective deterrent against serious and complex fraud.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Football Task Force
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which members of the Football Task Force supported the majority report on commercial issues. [104444]

  Kate Hoey
  The Football Task Force did not vote on any issue during its deliberations and all members of the Task Force signed up to the report in its published form. The particular views of individual members of the Task Force on particular parts of the report on commercial issues are therefore not known.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Libya
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the British Ambassador's discussions with the Libyan authorities concerning the alleged discovery of parts for Scud missiles at a British airport. [104450]

  Mr. Hain
  The British Ambassador in Tripoli called on the Libyan Foreign Ministry on 10 January to protest about the Libyans' attempt to import missile parts via the UK. The Libyans took note of our serious concerns.

  Iraq
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what grounds the UN Sanctions Committee banned the import of bulls to Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [104421]

  Mr. Hain
  An application to import 15 bulls to Iraq was made to the UN Sanctions Committee in late November. The Committee had no objection to the import of the bulls. However, the application also included the supply of a number of vaccines which were of potential dual use concern. Additional information on these vaccines has therefore been requested.

  Iran
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Iranian Foreign Minister concerning the position of the 13 Jews in Iran detained without trial, during the Iranian Foreign Minister's visit to London; and if he will make a statement. [104515]

  Mr. Hain
  My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary raised the cases of those detained on espionage charges, including 13 members of the Iranian Jewish community, with Foreign Minister Kharrazi during his visit from 10–12 January. Dr. Kharrazi assured them both that those detained would receive a fair trial including access to families and legal representation.
  221W
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has further to pursue with Iran the case of the 13 Iranian Jews detained without trial. [104516]

  Mr. Hain
  My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary raised the cases of those detained on espionage charges, including 13 members of the Iranian Jewish community, with the Iranian Foreign Minister Dr. Kharrazi during his visit to London from 10–12 January. We and our EU partners will continue to raise this issue with the Iranian authorities at every possible opportunity.

  British Overseas Territories
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 20 December 1999,Official Report, column 318W, on overseas territories, what plans his Department has to introduce an Order in Council to ensure that the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands change their existing legislation on homosexual acts. [104706]

  Mr. Battle
  The White Paper on the Overseas Territories (OTs) states that it is HMG's intention that OT legislation should comply with the international obligations to which the UK is subject. We pressed the OTs to announce before 31 December 1999 their intention to introduce legislation to decriminalise homosexual acts between consenting adults in private. That date having passed, we will shortly be reviewing the situation.

PRIME MINISTER

  Joined-up Government
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Prime Minister when the Performance and Innovation Unit will publish reports on its studies into Accountability and Incentives for Joined-up Government and Analysis and Modelling in Central Government. [104852]

  The Prime Minister
  The Performance and Innovation Unit reports of these studies entitled "Wiring it Up: Whitehall's Management of Cross-cutting Policies and Services" and "Adding it Up: Improving Analysis and Modelling in Central Government" have been published today.

  The two reports are key elements of the Modernising Government agenda for better policies and better services. They set out a blueprint for joined-up policy making and service delivery supported by evidence-based analysis.

  Copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House and are also available from the Vote Office.

  Intelligence and Security Committee
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to make an appointment to the Intelligence and Security Committee. [105234]

  The Prime Minister
  I have appointed my hon. Friend the Member for Doncaster, Central (Ms Winterton), to be member of the Intelligence and Security Committee in 222W
  place of my hon. Friend the Member for Pontefract and Castleford (Yvette Cooper), who left the Committee following her appointment as a Minister.

  United Kingdom European Delegations
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will announce the full composition of the United Kingdom delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and Assembly of the Western European Union. [105233]

  The Prime Minister
  The United Kingdom Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and Western European Union is as follows:

  Leader

  The right hon. Terry Davis MP

  Full representatives

  Substitute Members

  David Atkinson MP

  Malcolm Bruce MP

  Sir Sydney Chapman MP

  The right hon. The Lord Clinton-Davis

  Michael Colvin MP

  Mrs. Ann Cryer MP

  Tom Cox MP

  Mike Hancock CBE, MP

  Lawrence Cunliffe MP

  Robert Jackson MP

  Bill Etherington MP

  Ms Jenny Jones MP

  Paul Flynn MP

  The Lord Judd

  Mrs. Maria Fyfe MP

  The Baroness Knight of Collingtree DBE

  The Lord Kirkhill

  The Lord Lucas of Crudwell

  Keven McNamara MP

  Ms Chris McCafferty MP

  Jim Marshall MP

  Gwyn Prosser MP

  Edward O'Hara MP

  Syd Rapson MP

  The Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede

  Miss Geraldine Smith MP

  The Lord Russell-Johnston

  David Taylor MP

  John D. Taylor MP

  Dr. Rudi Vis MP

  John Townend MP

  John Wilkinson MP

  James Wray MP

  David Wilshire MP

  Anthony D. Wright MP

SCOTLAND

  Hughes Report (Dunblane)
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland for what reasons the report on Thomas Hamilton by Sergeant Hughes is subject to a 100-year closure. [104520]

  Dr. Reid
  As the report contains sensitive information about children and alleged offences against them, it was considered appropriate that it should remain closed for 100 years. This closure is in accordance with current Government guidelines published in the White Paper "Open Government" (Cm 2290 (1993)). The Crown Office will deal with any requests for access meantime.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Land Register
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if a decision has been made on the proposal to restore price paid to the Land Register; and if he will make a statement. [105318]
  223W
  Jane Kennedy
  After extensive consultation, the Lord Chancellor has decided to restore "price paid" to the Land Register. This is consistent with the Government's policy to improve the house buying process by making important information more readily available, particularly at an early stage of the process. Information included in the Land Register should be as comprehensive as is practical and proper—property value is of great interest to people and there is no good reason why it should not be available.

  The information will not be inserted retrospectively. All applications received by the Land Registry on or after 1 April 2000 will have the price paid entered on the Land Register where it is practicable to do so. As with other data, the Land Register will provide the current information. Hence, on a subsequent change of ownership, the original price paid will be removed from the register.

  This change in practice will bring the Land Register for England and Wales into line with many other jurisdictions where the price paid for property is a matter of public record. This includes most of Europe and, notably, Scotland where this information has been publicly available since 1617 without appearing to cause any problems.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Drugs Education
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what level of support is being made available by his Department to primary and secondary schools for the delivery of drugs education in the financial year 1999–2000; and how much will be available in the following two years. [102794]

  Jacqui Smith
  Specific support to schools for drug education is available through the Standards Fund, via Local Education Authorities.

  During 1999–2000, £7.5 million has been made available through the Standards Fund Drug Prevention Grant. For the financial year 2000–01 the Drug Prevention Grant will be incorporated into the larger Social Inclusion: Pupil Support, Drug Prevention and Youth Service (SIPS) Grant. A total of £140 million will be available through the SIPS grant and minimum of £7.5 million is available for Drug Education; however, LEAs may opt to spend more.

  In line with the Anti-Drugs Strategy, the Department is seeking to deliver drug education within the wider context of Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) and the Healthy Schools Programme. We are supporting the development of PSHE through Standards Fund moneys, £12 million will be made available during 2000–01 for the development of PSHE and Citizenship in schools.

  Levels of funding for 2001–02 and beyond fall into the coming CSR period and are yet to be agreed.

  Teaching English as a Foreign Language
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he 224W
  has received from industry concerning the role of higher and further education colleges in the teaching of English as a foreign language. [104440]

  Mr. Wicks
  We have received representations from private training providers.

  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what discussions he has had regarding the role of further and higher education colleges in the teaching of English as a foreign language. [104441]

  Mr. Wicks
  My Department holds discussions as appropriate on this issue. For example, we have been closely involved with the Further Education Funding Council's review of English as a Foreign Language courses.

  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to involve institutions engaged in the teaching of English as a foreign language in reforms of higher and further education. [104443]

  Mr. Wicks
  In any reforms of further and higher education, we always welcome the views of institutions engaged in teaching English as a foreign language.

  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what discussions he has had with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office regarding the role of the British Council in the teaching of English as a foreign language. [104442]

  Mr. Wicks
  The Department holds discussions periodically with the British Council about its role in promoting the learning of English as a foreign language.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  CSA Computer System
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out the time scale for(a) the tendering process and (b) the production of the new computer system for the Child Support Agency; and if he will estimate the likely total cost of this project. [104705]

  Angela Eagle
  Discussions are currently in progress with the Department's private sector partner, the Affinity consortium, on the overall scope of the IT solution, a contract to develop and operate a new computer system, and the time scales for delivery. Costs are subject to negotiation.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the existing computer system operated by the Child Support Agency could support the calculations of maintenance liabilities under the new formula proposed in the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Bill. [104704]

  Angela Eagle
  It might be possible to amend the Child Support Computer System to support a certain amount of work under the new system, but not without some difficulty.

  Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Bill
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if it is his policy under the provisions of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Bill that benefits will be suspended for offenders immediately following the Probation Service issuing breach proceedings on individual cases; and if he will make a statement. [104745]

  Angela Eagle
  The Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Bill, which is currently being considered by Parliament, will reinforce the link between rights to benefits and responsibilities to society. Offenders aged 18 to 59, who are referred to Court for breaching a specified community sentence, will be subject to a benefit sanction from the first practicable benefit payday after the relevant benefits office receives a notification from the Probation Service that court proceedings have been initiated.

  In the case of Jobseeker's Allowance and certain Training Allowances, benefit will be withdrawn. Hardship payments will be available for vulnerable groups and others at risk of hardship. Income Support recipients will have their benefit reduced by 40 per cent. or 20 per cent. of the single person's adult rate, subject to their circumstances.

  This measure will initially be piloted. During the pilots the sanction period will be four weeks.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people he estimates will have their benefits suspended per annum following a breach of a community sentence under the terms of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Bill; and if he will make a statement. [104747]

  Angela Eagle
  It is not possible to provide an estimate of the number of people who will have their benefit withdrawn or reduced following a breach of a community sentence. Data collected by the Home Office indicate that, in England and Wales, around 25,000 people a year are currently referred to Court for breach proceedings. No information is held about how many of these are in receipt of Social Security benefits. After this measure is introduced, there is expected to be some behavioural effect which will reduce the number who breach their sentences.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security under the provisions of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Bill, how much money will be set aside for the Hardship Fund to be used in the case of withdrawal of benefits for the first financial year for which the provisions are implemented; and if he will make a statement. [104746]

  Angela Eagle
  There will be no "Hardship Fund". Hardship payments will be made, where appropriate, from general benefit expenditure. Similar arrangements already exist for making hardship payments where Jobseeker's Allowance is withdrawn as a result of labour market employment sanctions.

  Pension Arrears
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what estimate he has made of the numbers of 226W
  (a) widows and (b) pensioners awaiting payment of arrears of pensions in the Norwich, North constituency; [104519]

  (2) what steps he is taking to rectify the problems associated with payment through the National Insurance Computer System; [104518]

  (3) what estimate he has made of the number of staff hours of work necessary to distribute back-payments of pensions to (a) pensioners and (b) widows in the Norwich, North constituency. [104517]

  Mr. Rooker
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.

  I refer my hon. Friend to the answers given on 2 December 1999, Official Report, columns 294–95W, to the hon. Members for Northavon (Mr. Webb) and for Havant (Mr. Willetts).

  Ministers have taken a personal interest in addressing the system problems and have been actively involved in NIRS2 development, stabilisation and recovery.

  The system problems affecting payments are our top priority. These payments relate to individuals who claim contributory benefits (Retirement Pension, Widows Benefits, Incapacity Benefit and Jobseeker's Allowance); and individuals who have contracted-out of the State Earnings-Related Pension Scheme and rebate payments are made to the Personal and Occupational Pension Provider who maintain their pension scheme.

  The Inland Revenue, Benefits Agency and Andersen Consulting, through joint working, have made significant progress in clearing these problems. The vast majority of problems have been resolved and most of the functionality is in place and working. A plan has been agreed with Andersen Consulting for the delivery of the remaining functionality by 31 March 2000.

  For the Norwich offices, of the outputs received relating to Widows, 79 remain to be cleared. For Retirement Pension, of the outputs received, 746 remain to be processed. However, until all claims have been reviewed it is not known in how many cases arrears will have been due.

  The Benefits Agency has put in place contingency procedures to deal with back-payments to Pensioners and Widows utilising existing staff, which includes overtime working where appropriate. Up to 31 December 1999, the Norwich offices have worked 313 hours in dealing with claims to Widows Benefits and 2,823 hours on Retirement Pensions. Not all the cases dealt with have had arrears of benefits due.

  All Work Test
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the exemption or otherwise from the all work test of those who were incapable of work between 1 December 1993 and 12 April 1995 under the transitional award of Incapacity Benefit. [104423]

  Mr. Bayley
  The all work test was introduced as the means of determining incapacity for work for benefit purposes from 13 April 1995. Under transitional arrangements, people who were entitled to the former
  227W
  invalidity benefit between 1 December 1993 and 12 April 1995 (ignoring breaks of eight weeks or less) and who were aged 58 or over on 13 April 1995 are treated as satisfying the test as long as they continue to provide a doctor's statement as evidence of incapacity. In effect, the all work test is not applied to them.

  Similar arrangements were made for people who at the time of the change were entitled to an income-related benefit (Income Support, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit) on the grounds of incapacity for work.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will take measures to ensure that Jobseeker's Allowance is paid to workers who are temporarily unemployed and not receiving wages during school holidays at(a) Christmas and (b) other holiday periods. [104369]

  Angela Eagle
  The Court of Appeal has confirmed that ancillary workers who are not entitled to receive Jobseeker's Allowance during term-time because of the hours they work are also not entitled to Jobseeker's Allowance during the school holidays.

  We understand that the appellant in that case has applied for leave to appeal to the House of Lords. We are awaiting the outcome of that application.

  Ancillary Workers
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many ancillary workers affected by the Social Security Commissioner's decision CIS/14661/1996 of December 1997 have(a) inquired about ex-gratia payments and (b) been given ex-gratia payments; and for what average amounts. [104104]

  Angela Eagle
  A total of 1,950 requests for ex-gratia payments have been received from ancillary workers affected by CIS/14661/1996. Of these, one ex-gratia payment of £337.03 has been made and 206 cases remain outstanding.

  Ex-gratia payments can be considered only where there has been a loss of statutory entitlement to benefit. Since subsequent legal decisions reversed the effect of CIS/14661/1996, the current position is that there was never any statutory entitlement to JSA during school holiday periods for this group. Further ex-gratia payments cannot therefore be made under the law as it currently stands.

  Winter Fuel Payments
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what factors underlay his decision not to pay the Winter Fuel Payment for 1999 to 2000 to people who reach the age of 60 after September 1999 but before 31 March 2000; and if he will reconsider his policy. [104082]

  Angela Eagle
  In order to issue Winter Fuel Payments automatically, without incurring disproportionate administration costs, most eligible people aged 60 and over are identified through official departmental computer records. These records hold the key information needed 228W
  to establish entitlement. The records are used to decide whether people are entitled for at least a day during a specified qualifying week.

  The current process for identifying those who are entitled and determining the amount payable takes around 10 weeks. Therefore, to ensure people receive the payments in good time to help with their winter fuel bills, the qualifying week must precede the onset of winter. This winter the qualifying week began on 20 September. Making the payments as early as possible in the winter ensures that the very elderly, who will include the vast majority of those who are most frail, have their payment when they need it.

  There are currently no plans to change the method of determining eligibility.

  Ms Atherton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the extension of Winter Fuel Payments to men aged 60 to 65 years will include(a) the £10 Christmas bonus and (b) previous winter fuel subsidy schemes. [104378]

  Angela Eagle
  The extension of Winter Fuel Payments to everyone aged 60 and over who is resident in Great Britain applies to the Winter Fuel Payments scheme only. Payments will be backdated to the start of the scheme.

  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how men aged 60 to 64 will claim the winter fuel payment for 1999 to 2000 and previous years; and what is his estimate of the cost for 1999 to 2000 and previous years. [104061]

  Angela Eagle
  It will be necessary to determine the names and addresses of people who are newly eligible for Winter Fuel Payments. As the information we hold may not be up to date, we will need to introduce a claims process for Winter Fuel Payments. This process will need to be developed carefully and appropriate IT systems built to deal with claims. The Benefits Agency are currently working on the operational issues for delivery.

  There is no need for people newly eligible for Winter Fuel Payments to contact the Benefits Agency now. An announcement will be made, and an advertising campaign will begin in a matter of months.

  Equalising the age of entitlement for Winter Fuel Payments at 60 for men and women will mean annual expenditure may increase by an estimated £85 million. Backdating the payments to the start of the scheme for up to 1.9 million people will have an estimated one-off programme cost of £115 million.

  Secondary Education
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make benefits available to support 19-year-old students who wish to remain in full-time secondary education. [104276]

  Angela Eagle
  Responsibility for financial support of 19-year-old students who are in full-time education rests primarily with the student support system. Benefits are available only to full-time students who fall within certain vulnerable groups, such as lone parents and the disabled. We have no plans to change this.

  Attendance and Disability Living Allowances
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what number and proportion of people aged over 60 years or over are entitled to, but are not receiving,(a) Attendance Allowance and (b) Disability Living Allowance. [104058]

  Mr. Bayley
  There are no reliable estimates of the number of people aged 60 years or over who might be entitled to these benefits if they were to make a claim.

  However, provisional take-up estimates covering all ages and based on the disability follow-up to the Family Resources Survey are 40 per cent. to 60 per cent. for Attendance Allowance, 30 per cent. to 50 per cent. for the care component of Disability Living Allowance and 50 per cent. to 70 per cent. for the mobility component.

  Nursing Home Residents (Income Support)
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many residents of residential or nursing homes(a) in total, (b) aged 65 years or over and (c) aged under 65 years who are entitled to preserved rights to Income Support are being charged more than the level of their preserved rights to Income Support. [104060]

  Mr. Bayley
  At August 1999, we estimate that 36,000 people resident in residential care or nursing homes who have preserved rights to Income Support and are being charged more than the level of their preserved rights to Income Support, 16,000 of these are aged under 65 years, and 20,000 are aged over 65 years.

  Notes:

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

  2. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

  3. Cases where charges exceed the IS limits are based on the Income Support limit amount for the type of care provided for the claimant, and the actual charge made for the claimant. No account is taken of the amount paid to the claimant in respect of personal expenses.

  Source:

  Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry, August 1999.

  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many residents of residential or nursing homes(a) in total, (b) aged 65 years or over and (c) aged under 65 years have preserved rights to Income Support. [104062]

  Mr. Bayley
  At August 1999, 84,000 people had preserved rights to Income Support. 36,000 are aged under 65 years. 48,000 are aged over 65 years.

  Notes:

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

  2. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

  Source:

  Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry, August 1999.

  Residential Care
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what discussions he has had with local 230W
  authorities in England and Wales in the last year as to the provision of long-term residential care within that authority's area. [104049]

  Mr. Bayley
  None.

  Pneumoconiosis
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many claimants are in receipt of awards for pneumoconiosis, broken down by(a) disease category, (b) age and (c) coalfield; [104253]

  (2) how many claimants in receipt of an award for category two pneumoconiosis or more were first diagnosed with category one, broken down by (a) age and (b) coalfield. [104254]

  Mr. Bayley
  The information requested is not available. Such information as is available is set out in the tables.

  The number of awards of industrial injuries disablement benefit in payment for pneumoconiosis (prescribed disease D1) by industry, and, within the coal industry, by age, and by government office region

  Industries1,2

  Number of Pneumoconiosis currently in payment

  All industries

  12,100

  Mining (and agglomeration) of hard coal

  7,800

  Other mining and quarrying

  300

  Manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products

  500

  Manufacture of basic metals

  300

  Manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi trailers and other transport equipment

  900

  Construction

  1,200

  Other industries

  1,200

  1 Industries are based on the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) of economic activities 1992.

  2 Figures are rounded and may not sum. For a 10 per cent. sample, figures are statistically reliable where there are 200 or more in the sample.

  Source:

  DSS (Analytical Services Division) 10 per cent. sample data, including an adjustment for late statistical returns. Figures are for April 1998—the most recent data available.

  Ages1

  Number of pneumoconiosis currently in payment in the coal industry

  All ages

  7,800

  Under 60

  400

  60–64

  400

  65–69

  900

  70–74

  2,200

  75–79

  1,800

  80–84

  1,300

  85 and over

  700

  1 Figures are rounded and may not sum. For a 10 per cent. sample, figures are statistically reliable where there are 200 or more in the sample.

  Source:

  DSS (Analytical Services Division) 10 per cent. sample data, including an adjustment for late statistical returns. Figures are for April 1998—the most recent data available.
  231W

  Government office region1

  Number of Pneumoconiosis currently in payment in the coal industry

  Great Britain

  7,800

  North East

  800

  Yorks and Humber

  1,700

  East Midlands

  1,000

  East

  —

  London

  —

  South East

  —

  South West

  —

  West Midlands

  700

  North West

  500

  Wales

  2,500

  Scotland

  200

  1 Figures are rounded and may not sum. For a 10 per cent. sample, figures are statistically reliable where there are 200 or more in the sample.

  Take-up of income related benefits by pensioner benefit units 1997–98

  Income Support

  Housing Benefit

  Council Tax Benefit

  Total

  Average number of recipients1

  1,470

  1,830

  2,600

  5,870

  Numbers entitled but not receiving benefit1

  530–870

  0–250

  640–1,190

  1,170–2,310

  Percentage take-up rate

  63–73

  88–100

  69–80

  72–83

  1 Thousands

  Notes:

  1. Estimates are based on the 1997-98 Family Resources Survey.

  2. Estimated numbers entitled to but not receiving benefit have been rounded to the nearest 10,000 cases. The sum of the components (the individual benefits) may not add up to the total due to rounding.

  3. A pensioner benefit unit is defined as a single person aged 60 or over or a couple (not necessarily married) at least one of whom is aged 60 or over.

  4. The estimates under "Total" in the table refer to the total of Income Support, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. They should be regarded as rough estimates only because they count recipients of more than one benefit more than once and count those entitled to but not receiving more than one benefit more than once.

  Stakeholder Pensions
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what research he has undertaken, and what assessment he has made, of the level and pattern of debt among the target group for stakeholder pensions. [104143]

  Mr. Rooker
  Some information is available from departmental and other surveys on levels of debt generally, although no specific assessment has been attempted which would link such data to information about pension provision and the stakeholder pensions target group. Stakeholder pension schemes will give up to 5 million people on moderate earnings the option of a secure, flexible and value-for-money funded pension. We believe that those who can afford to save for their retirement should do so, but the affordability of pension contributions in relation to other commitments is a matter for individual decision.

TREASURY

  Air Passenger Duty
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of Air Passenger Duty revenues derive from flights within the United Kingdom; and what was the value of such revenues in the last financial year. [104439]
  232W
  Source:

  DSS (Analytical Services Division) 10 per cent. sample data, including an adjustment for late statistical returns. Figures are for April 1998—the most recent data available.

  Pensioners (Benefit Entitlement)
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of pensioners entitled to but not receiving benefits, excluding the double counting of those entitled to but receiving more than one credit. [104079]

  Mr. Rooker
  Information on numbers of pensioners entitled to but not receiving benefit was previously provided as follows. It is not possible to break down the total number any further so as to avoid all double counting, as we do not have the information available in this format.

  Mr. Timms
  It is estimated that Air Passenger Duty (APD) payable on domestic UK flights accounts for some 8–9 per cent. of total APD revenue, amounting to approximately £70 million for the financial year 1998–99.

  Mutual Societies
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will issue information to the public on the rights and entitlements of policy holders and borrowers from mutual societies in relation to the disposal and ownership of these organisations. [104521]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Mutuals can take a variety of legal forms. Entitlements to distributions on a winding-up, merger, or conversion are matters for each mutual to determine.

  Developing Country Debt
  Ms Drown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what basis his Department has calculated that the recently agreed $100 billion debt relief package represents cancellation of two thirds of developing country debt. [104370]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The total debt stock of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries likely to qualify for relief under the enhanced HIPC initiative as having an unsustainable debt burden after traditional debt relief mechanisms is $143 billion. The enhanced HIPC initiative will reduce the debts owed by these countries by $100 billion, or two thirds.
  233W
  We want the enhanced HIPC initiative to start a new virtuous cycle of debt relief, poverty alleviation and economic development. The transformation of the IMF's structural adjustment facility into the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility means that, for the first time, the IMF and World Bank have agreed to stand back and let countries develop their own poverty reduction strategies in partnership with the population and civil society.

  Having helped to secure multilateral funding for the initiative, the Government have decided that the time is right to take the extra step of eliminating all the bilateral debts owned to us by the poorest countries. Our pledge of 100 per cent. debt relief for countries qualifying under the HIPC initiative will cover all debts (both pre cut-off date debt and post cut-off date debt) owed to ECGD by these countries.

  Drug Trafficking
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent measures have been taken to tighten control of UK borders in order to prevent drug trafficking; and if he will make a statement. [104360]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Customs continually review the deployment of their anti-smuggling and investigation staff both nationally and locally to ensure they remain in line with priorities and changing patterns of smuggling risk.

  Customs maintains agreements with private companies and border agencies to ensure close co-operation.

  Customs have recently installed an Automatic Number Plate Reader at Dover in a joint project with Kent Constabulary and are in the process of installing similar systems at other ports.

  Asset Sales
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the items in the National Assets Register sold by his Department, its agencies and associated public bodies since 22 March 1999, stating in each case the amount of money realised; if he will estimate the total amount raised from such sales to date; and if he will make a statement. [104476]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude) on 8 November 1999,Official Report, column 438W.

HEALTH

  Health Expenditure (Essex)
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimates he has made of the expected deficit in the Mid Essex Hospital Trust area for health care in the financial year 1999–2000; [98555]

  (2) what estimates he has made of the expected deficit in the North Essex Health Authority area for health care in the financial year 1999–2000. [98556]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 24 November 1999]: The income and expenditure positions of the Mid Essex Hospital Trust area and North Essex Health Authority area are forecast at Quarter 2 (September 1999) as given.
  234W
  These forecasts were prepared before the announcement by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 21 December 1999 of an extra £134 million for the health service; £90 million relating to the costs of generic drugs has been allocated to health authorities. North Essex Health Authority has been allocated £1.5 million of this. The remaining £44 million will be allocated, as required, to meet the cost of clinical negligence claims.

  The income and expenditure position of North Essex Health Authority in financial year 1999–2000 is forecast at Quarter 2 (September 1999) to be a surplus of £970,000.

  The income and expenditure position of Mid Essex Community and Mental Health in financial year 1999–2000 is forecast at Quarter 2 (September 1999) to be a deficit of £149,000.

  The income and expenditure position of Mid Essex Hospital Services in financial year 1999–2000 is forecast at Quarter 2 (September 1999) to be a deficit of £4.2 million.

  Mid Essex Hospital Trust
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the Mid Essex Hospital Trust area have been waiting 12 months or more for treatment. [104445]

  Mr. Denham
  The most recent published inpatient waiting list figures are those for October 1999. These figures show that, at Mid Essex Hospital National Health Service Trust, a total of 1,024 patients were waiting 12 months and over for treatment at the end of October 1999.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people had been waiting more than 18 months for treatment in the Mid Essex Hospital Trust area between 1 November 1999 and the latest date for which figures are available; and how long each patient waited or was waiting for treatment over 18 months. [104446]

  Mr. Denham
  The last published figures for waiting times are those for October 1999. These show that at the end of October 1999, no patients waited over 18 months for treatment at Mid Essex Hospital Services National Health Services Trust.

  The next published figures will be those for November 1999, due to be published in the week commencing 10 January 2000. Until these figures are published, no centrally collected and validated figures are available.

  Mammograms
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what target his Department sets NHS trusts and health authorities for the maximum period for a patient to be notified of the results of a mammogram X-ray; and what is the actual maximum period for patients served by Essex Rivers Healthcare Trust in the most recent period for which figures are available. [101364]

  Yvette Cooper
  The National Health Service breast screening programme sets standards to ensure that the performance of all breast screening programmes is monitored on a consistent national basis. One of these is that at least 90 per cent. of women should receive the
  235W
  results of their mammogram within two weeks. This is to minimise the anxiety for women who are awaiting their results. This standard is monitored by local screening programmes and regional quality assurance teams.

  Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust (Colchester and Chelmsford breast screening unit) screened 11,147 women between 1 April 1999 and 31 August 1999. 78.3 per cent. of women were sent their results within two weeks. 93.6 per cent. of women were sent their results within three weeks. 0.3 per cent. (41 women) waited over five weeks for their results. The trust is looking to appoint a further radiologist to help reach the minimum standard of 90 per cent. of women receiving their results within two weeks.

  NHS Pension Scheme
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assumptions the actuary made at the time of the last report on the NHS pension scheme about the proportion of(a) contributing members (b) deferred members and (c) pensioners on their death who would have qualifying partner survivors; and what assumptions he makes currently. [104268]

  Mr. Denham
  The National Health Service Pension Scheme only pays survivor benefits to legal spouses or dependent children. The Government Actuary assumed that the proportion of members married at death varies by age. The proportion increased with age up to retirement, and then reduced with increasing age thereafter, allowing for the likelihood that the spouse may have predeceased the member.

  The actuarial assumptions are based on an analysis of the experience within the scheme. For the last report, it was assumed that on average 66 per cent. of contributing and deferred members would have an entitlement to a survivor's benefit, if death occurred in the following year. The assumption for pensioners was 50 per cent. These assumptions will be reviewed as part of the next report, which is expected to be available around mid-2001.

  Transplant Surgeons
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the number of serving transplant surgeons in the NHS. [104312]

  Mr. Denham
  At national level we do not plan centrally the numbers of consultants who specialise in transplant surgery. We plan the numbers of consultants in general surgery and related specialities, taking into account information gathered from a range of sources, including the medical Royal Colleges, Regional Postgraduate Medical Deans and National Health Service management, which includes information about consultants specialising in transplant surgery.

  At local level, it is NHS trusts and health authorities who are accountable for the quality of the services they provide, to determine how their services are configured and delivered, in the light of local circumstances, in order to provide quality services to patients. This includes deciding on the number and grades of posts in their locality.
  236W
  At national level, The Speciality Workforce Advisory Group (SWAG) advises on the numbers of higher specialist trainees needed to meet future requirements for consultants. SWAG has advised previously that general surgery has been a speciality with shortages of consultants. Over the past four years, it has recommended increases in the numbers of higher specialist training opportunities. We are now satisfied that there are enough training opportunities in general surgery for there to be sufficient candidates qualifying for consultant posts over the next few years.

  Representations have been made to the Department about shortages of transplant surgeons in the NHS. We will continue to engage in discussions with the Royal College of Surgeons and the Regional Postgraduate Medical Deans and others responsible for training and career prospects, with the aim of ensuring that all the organ transplant services are fully supported.

  Christie Hospital NHS Trust
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what occasions since 1 May 1997 a Minister in his Department has visited the Christie Hospital NHS Trust. [104606]

  Mr. Denham
  It has so far not been possible for any of the Ministers at this Department to visit the Christie Hospital.

  Cancer Patients
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the Government's target is for the maximum length of time cancer patients will have to wait(a) to see a consultant after a GP has referred them and (b) to be treated once a consultant has seen the patient.[104447]

  Mr. Denham
  From April 1999, patients with suspected breast cancer have been able to see a specialist within two weeks of their general practitioner referring them urgently for investigation. We will roll out this approach to other cancer sites so that by the end of 2000 we will make this high quality standard of care available for all suspected cancer requiring an urgent specialist appointment. We will also tackle patient uncertainty about the timing of their treatment through the cancer services collaborative, part of the booked admissions programme, which will improve patient access to diagnosis, treatment and care. The cancer services collaborative currently covers a population of 14 million. Lessons learned from the collaborative will be shared with the wider National Health Service from 2001.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will provide a substantive reply to the Question tabled by the hon. Member for Chipping Barnet on 24 November 1999 for answer on 29 November relating to health spending in Barnet (ref. 100215). [104603]

  Mr. Denham
  I replied to the hon. Member on 11 January.

  Hip Operations
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of his reply to the letter of 1 December from Professor William Bonfield concerning statistics on hip operations. [104510]

  Mr. Hutton
  A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

  Organic Produce
  Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to inform the public of the benefits to health of organically grown produce. [103788]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Government have not published specific advice on the health benefits of organically grown produce. This is because at present there is little information available on which to make meaningful comparisons between nutrient contents or organic and conventional produce.

  A study commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on the nutritional composition of organically grown fruit and vegetables found only small differences in levels of some nutrients between organically grown and conventionally grown fruit and vegetables. However, it did note that confounding variables, such as differences in the variety grown and the age of samples, made it difficult to draw comparisons. A handful of similar studies have been published in the mainstream scientific literature since. In general, these have found no consistent or significant differences in nutrient content between organic and conventional produce.

  The Government stress the importance of a balanced diet for good health based on evidence based studies. We have funded, through the Health Education Authority, a variety of projects aimed at improving access to, and availability of, healthy eating choices and at encouraging people to eat less fat and more cereals, fruit and vegetables.

  Leicester NHS Trust
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when he will appoint a Chairman for the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust; [104607]

  (2) when he expects the Chief Executive of the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust to be appointed. [104608]

  Mr. Denham
  On 11 January Philip Hammersley CBE was appointed to serve as Chairman of the University Hospitals of Leicester National Health Service Trust for the period 17 January 2000 to 31 October 2002.

  Following Mr. Hammersley's appointment, I expect the task of appointing a new chief executive for the trust to be addressed as a matter of urgency.

  Continence Services
  Ms Drown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the NHS guidance on continence services. [104357]
  238W
  Mr. Hutton
  We have recently received the report from the Working Group which was set up to advise the Department on guidance for continence services. We are now considering the report and hope to publish guidance shortly.

  Audiology Services
  Mrs. Betty Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will receive the report of the working group into hearing aids and audiology services. [104730]

  Mr. Hutton
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave her on 6 December 1999,Official Report, column 444W.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Farmers (Early Retirement)
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he made of the projected costs of an early retirement scheme for farmers. [103782]

  Ms Quin
  Any assessment of the cost of an early retirement scheme would depend on a number of variables including grant rates, eligibility criteria, number of applications and administrative costs. However, given the potential sums involved and the mixed reactions to the proposals, we firmly believe that a much better use of the funds to help the agricultural sector is provided for in the rural development measures we have announced.

  Pig Industry
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures he proposes to take to support the British pig industry. [103783]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  Within the constraints imposed by the light nature of the EU pigmeat regime and the need to respect the law, I will continue to do all I can to help.

  Sir Robert Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on compensation for the pig industry in relation to the costs of complying with regulations to deal with BSE. [103795]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  I have had no formal discussions with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on this matter.

  Energy Crops
  Mr. Olner
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to increase support for energy crops; and if he will make a statement. [103784]

  Ms Quin
  On 7 December 1999,Official Report, columns 701–02W, my right hon. Friend the Minister announced plans for implementation of the EU Rural Development Regulation, which included support of around £30 million for energy crops. This will help the Government achieve their targets for greenhouse gas emissions and renewable energy generation.

  Countryside Stewardship Scheme
  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to expand the countryside stewardship scheme. [103785]

  Mr. Morley
  I have already announced plans for a major expansion of the Countryside Stewardship Scheme. Over the next seven years, spending on agri-environment schemes will double. Of the £1 billion to be allocated during this period to these schemes, £500 million will be for the Countryside Stewardship Scheme. We will be discussing with farming and conservation organisations how the extra funding should be used to achieve the best environmental value for money.

  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the value of the countryside stewardship scheme to rural conservation. [103798]

  Mr. Morley
  We believe, as do most environmental organisations, that the Countryside Stewardship is of considerable value to rural conservation, and I recently announced a very significant expansion of the Scheme. We are currently funding an independent study to assess the environmental benefits of the Scheme in more detail.

  Bovine TB
  Dr. Naysmith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the incidence of bovine TB in the west of England. [103786]

  Ms Quin
  Provisional figures for the first nine months of 1999 show that there were 648 confirmed new cases of TB in cattle in Great Britain, mostly in the west and south-west of England, compared with 565 in the same period in 1998. That is why the Government are pressing ahead with their TB control strategy, based on independent scientific advice.

  Dairy Farming
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the prospects for dairy farmers over the next two years. [103787]

  Ms Quin
  All dairy farmers face challenging times as a result of reduced milk prices, increased liberalisation of world markets and progress on CAP reform. But the dairy fanning sector's ability to respond positively to these challenges will be helped by the high level of producer expertise and commitment, favourable farm structure and ideal climate for milk production.

  Farmers (Marketing)
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps his Department is taking to help farmers in marketing and product development. [103789]

  Ms Quin
  Many. For instance, £2 million was made available at the end of last year to support projects designed to help farmers improve their marketing. Over the next seven years I am providing £44 million for marketing and processing grants and additional expenditure for the marketing of quality agricultural products under the new Rural Enterprise Scheme.

  Food Labelling
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to improve the labelling of food to enable consumers to make better-informed choices. [103791]

  Ms Quin
  We are committed to promoting informed consumer choice. Because of the key importance of good labelling, the Government will shortly be announcing an initiative aimed at stimulating public debate and identifying the needs and priorities of ordinary consumers.

  Fisheries Council
  Dr. Ladyman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the outcome of the December Fisheries Council. [103792]

  Mr. Morley
  The outcome respected the scientific advice while maximising catching opportunities for the UK industry. Cuts in UK quotas worth £30 million were avoided. The Council and Commission also committed themselves to introduce a recovery programme for Irish Sea cod.

  Organic Farming
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent assessment he has made of the environmental advantages of organic farming. [103793]

  Mr. Morley
  Evaluation of the environmental impact of organic farming is one of the three objectives of the Ministry's organic R&D programme, for which £2.1 million has been allocated for 1999–2000. Field studies on biodiversity and soil fertility on organic farms, following up earlier desk studies, and a study of nutrient recycling are in progress. Work on nitrates and ammonia emissions has recently been completed.

  Jean Corston
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers entered into organic conversion in 1999. [103796]

  Mr. Morley
  Around 1,100 farmers applied for aid under the Organic Farming Scheme in 1999.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further plans he has to support organic farming. [103774]

  Mr. Morley
  On 7 December 1999,Official Report, columns 701–02W, my right hon. Friend the Minister announced the Government's plans for spending on the Rural Development Programme for England. Under these plans, £140 million will be available over the life of the Programme for aid for conversion to organic farming.

  CAP
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the annual cost for the typical family of the common agricultural policy. [103794]

  Ms Quin
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary gave to my hon. Friend the Member for South Ribble (Mr. Borrow) on 25 November 1999,Official Report, column 748W.

  Beef Ban
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive relating to the current French ban on British beef. [103797]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  My ministerial colleagues, my officials and I have been in regular contact with our counterparts in the Scottish Executive on the French import ban on UK beef.

  Organophosphates
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research he plans to carry out on the effects of organophosphates. [103799]

  Ms Quin
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply on 20 December 1999,Official Report, column 446W.

  Compensation
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the availability of monetary compensation to British fanners for the value of sterling. [103800]

  Ms Quin
  Up to £88 million in compulsory agrimonetary compensation will be paid to livestock and arable farmers this year, and a further £44 million next year. Optional compensation is available this year; figures are not yet confirmed. No decision has been taken on whether to pay any of this.

  Forestry Commission Land
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will name the areas of Forestry Commission land which he has approved for sale since May 1997 and give the acreage of each area. [102633]

  Mr. Morley
  The subject of the question relates to matters undertaken by Forest Enterprise. I have asked its Chief Executive, Dr. Bob Mclntosh, to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Bob McIntosh to Mr. Huw Edwards, dated 13 January 2000:
  I have been asked to reply to your question to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food asking for the names of areas of Forestry Commission land approved for sale since May 1997.
  Firstly, I should explain that the Forestry Commission is responsible for deciding which areas to sell, in accordance with the policy and guidance laid down by Ministers. The Minister, therefore, does not approve individual areas for sale.
  242W
  I enclose a list of the woods in England which have been offered for sale since May 1997, including the area and Grid Reference.

  Forestry commission woods in England offered for sale since 1 May 1997

  Wood

  Area (Hectares)

  NGR

  Land at Dryderdale

  6.0

  SE 655 719

  Gravel Pit and Broomhill Woods

  6.0

  SE 703 458

  Dalby Bush

  36.0

  SE 640 715

  Mill Wood, Terrington (pt)

  24.0

  SE 644 735

  Foulshaw Moss

  220.0

  SD 458 825

  Ulpha Park

  29.0

  SD 191 912

  Simpsons Wood

  6.0

  NY 179 337

  Foulshaw and Wilderness

  57.0

  SD 458 825

  Barthorps Folly

  6.0

  TM 348 459

  Top Clump and West Belt

  4.5

  TG 145 211

  Oakhill Wood

  33.3

  SP 813 357

  College Wood

  51.0

  SP 791 331

  Gatten Plantation

  34.0

  SO 372 986

  Land at Oversley Wood

  0.6

  SJ 110 567

  Bishops Wood

  2.5

  SX 001 697

  Penny Wood

  1.0

  ST 985 442

  Staple Hill

  11.0

  SX 836 740

  Greens Wood

  1.5

  TL 277 170

  Friston Forest

  10.2

  TQ 535 018

  Channers Wood

  15.0

  SU 818 814

  Beech and Howlets Wood

  7.0

  SP 958 005

  Hoo Wood

  18.0

  TL 033 125

  Shabbington Wood

  2.6

  SP 632 106

  Deershill Wood

  11.0

  SS 520 172

  Priest Wood

  28.0

  TL 301 160

  Pt Fleming Estate

  20.8

  SU 420 175

  Stanley Cottages Wood

  31.0

  SZ 168 390

  Worsall Gill and Fox Covert

  30.0

  NZ 381 070

  Hugset Wood

  34.0

  SE 305 068

  Seaton Old Wood

  30.5

  SE 785 389

  Goss Hall

  4.2

  SK 344 620

  Black and New Plantation

  14.0

  SE 793 367

  Brandon Wood

  72.0

  SP 395 765

  Bedpark

  8.0

  SX 584 538

  Challock Benacre Wood

  25.0

  TQ 945 440

  Redcap/Catham etc.

  14.0

  SU 785 421

  Kennel Wood

  6.0

  SK 322 533

  Millerhill and Wigfield

  5.0

  SE 341 021

  Blackbrooks, Park Wood (Exchange)

  76.7

  SO 660 220

  Chilworth Common North

  12.0

  SU 410 182

  The Wilton Estate (Exchange)

  51.0

  SU 045 346

  Knowle Wood

  8.0

  SX 533 641

  Widow Bushes

  11.0

  TL 305 176

  Samgarth Woods

  71.0

  SD 132 945

  Intake Wood

  20.0

  SK 594 638

  Sawptt Copse

  9.6

  SU 527 103

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