Written Answers of 19 January 2000

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Further and Higher Education
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what measures he is taking to improve the pay and conditions of teaching staff in(a) colleges of further education and (b) universities. [105143]

  Mr. Wicks
  The pay and conditions of staff in further education colleges and higher education institutions are matters for employers and staff. The Government are investing heavily in both sectors and announced in November 1999 increases of £365 million for further education and £295 million for higher education for 2001–02.

  Ms Atherton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will appoint an ombudsman for further and higher education. [105480]

  Mr. Wicks
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to establish an Ombudsman for further and higher education.

  School Standards
  Mr. White
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how standards are being raised in areas not in education action zones. [105601]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Government are committed to creating a world-class education service. We have made it clear that raising standards is our top priority and are taking practical steps to help schools, teachers and Local Education Authorities (LEAs) to improve. To back up this pledge, the Government have provided an additional £19 billion for education over the three years 1999–2000 to 2001–02.

  New initiatives are being put in place to raise standards in schools and LEAs all across the country. The literacy and numeracy strategies and their stretching targets for 2002 are at the forefront of the nationwide drive to improve standards. Other initiatives include Sure Start for early years, Education Development Plans (EDPs) for LEAs, Excellence in Cities, and the expansion of the number of Specialist and Beacon schools. Both Schools and LEAs are also subject to regular inspections by OFSTED. Success is now being rewarded and failure tackled. We also recognise that teachers are of central importance in the drive to raise standards. We have committed up to a billion pounds over the next two years in modernisation measures aimed at increasing teacher professionalism and morale.
  434W
  Standards are beginning to rise. In 1997, 57 per cent. of 11-year-olds achieved the standard for their age in English and 54 per cent. the standard for maths. In 1999, this rose to 70 per cent. in English and 69 per cent. in maths. We are well on track to meet the 2002 targets of 80 per cent. in English and 75 per cent. in maths.

  Local Education Authority Administration Costs
  Mr. White
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 11 January 2000,Official Report, column 148W, on local education authority administration costs, if he will update his reply for the financial year 1998–99. [105671]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The information requested is not yet available. I will write to my hon. Friend when I am able to reply, and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library.

  Departmental Smoking Policy
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what action he is taking to reduce smoking in his Department. [105804]

  Mr. Wills
  The Department for Education and Employment has smoking policies in place which provide a non-smoking working environment. Smoking is restricted to specially designated areas, such as smoking rooms. Literature on giving up smoking is available in our training centres, and DfEE HQ sites have in the past offered further support for staff wishing to give up smoking through a number of health promotion events.

  School Governors
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many school governor vacancies there are in each local education authority area; and if he will make a statement. [105530]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Department does not routinely collect information about school governor vacancies, but is aware from recent and current research that the level of vacancies is higher than desirable.

  School governors have a valuable part to play in raising standards in our schools. The new framework for schools has increased the number of governors to approximately 360,000 (compared with 300,000) previously. Finding governors is a local matter, for schools, local education authorities and other appointing bodies. The Department recognises the need to recruit more school governors and is active in supporting local efforts. In particular, the School Governors' One Stop Shop, supported by the Department, is now recruiting governors with business and management skills in the inner city areas covered by the Government's Excellence in Cities initiative. In addition, the Department has produced general recruitment materials, developed with local education authority (LEA) advice, as well as a leaflet produced jointly with the National Governors Council (NGC) which encourages people from ethnic minorities to become governors. The Department is also following up recommendations of the Education and Employment Committee report on the role of school governors,

  435W
  including guidance to encourage LEAs to fill their governor vacancies according to the contribution people can make rather than their political affiliation and to collect information about governor vacancies and make it available.

  New Deal (North-West)
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will give the destination of those who have left the New Deal for 18–24 year olds(a) at the time at which they left the New Deal, (b) 13 weeks after leaving the New Deal and (c) 26 weeks after leaving the New Deal, for each parliamentary constituency in the (i) City of Liverpool and (ii) Wirral. [104615]

  Immediate destination on leaving New Deal: cumulative to end October 1999

  Sustained unsubsidised jobs

  Other benefits

  Other known destination

  Unknown destination

  Liverpool Garston

  254

  92

  97

  141

  Liverpool Riverside

  429

  232

  258

  410

  Liverpool Walton

  430

  166

  173

  330

  Liverpool Wavertree

  343

  119

  226

  277

  Liverpool West Derby

  400

  147

  182

  279

  Southport

  168

  22

  40

  70

  Crosby

  165

  32

  67

  80

  Bootle

  424

  142

  142

  224

  Knowsley North and Sefton East

  386

  171

  135

  236

  St. Helens North

  228

  81

  93

  120

  St. Helens South

  278

  118

  89

  150

  Knowsley South

  418

  183

  170

  264

  Birkenhead

  457

  157

  261

  324

  Wallasey

  328

  120

  196

  203

  Wirral South

  194

  35

  57

  143

  Wirral West

  223

  31

  99

  127

  LEA Administrative Costs
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 11 January 2000 to the hon. Member for Rotherham (Mr. MacShane),Official Report, columns 148–52W, concerning local education authority administrative costs, if he will publish on a cost per pupil basis the expenditure on administration for each local education authority listed. [105300]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The following table gives for each local education authority in England information on administration expenditure, encompassing central management and administration, and service, strategy and regulation costs, in the form of costs per pupil for the financial year 1997–98.

  Expenditure on administration by LEAs in England for financial year 1997—98

  LEA name

  Expenditure on central management administration and service strategy and regulation costs per pupil

  Total education expenditure cost per pupil

  London, City of

  3,168

  15,074

  Camden

  304

  4,296

  Greenwich

  237

  3,406

  Hackney

  319

  4,347

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  246

  4,507

  Islington

  217

  4,025

  Kensington and Chelsea

  271

  5,722

  Lambeth

  40

  5,243

  436W
  Ms Jowell
  [holding answer 17 January 2000]: The following table summarises the immediate destinations of young people who leave the New Deal in each of the constituencies named. In addition to those recorded as leaving for unsubsidised employment, we know that many of those recorded as leaving for unknown destinations will have found work without notifying the Employment Service. A recent survey found that of those leaving for unknown destinations from the Gateway stage of New Deal, 57 per cent. entered paid employment.

  We do not hold information on the destinations of young people 13 and 26 weeks after leaving New Deal. Our figures for sustained jobs cover those who leave for a job and do not return to claim JSA within 13 weeks.

  Expenditure on administration by LEAs in England for financial year 1997—98

  LEA name

  Expenditure on central management administration and service strategy and regulation costs per pupil

  Total education expenditure cost per pupil

  Lewisham

  166

  3,828

  Southwark

  233

  4,145

  Tower Hamlets

  253

  3,936

  Wandsworth

  207

  4,402

  Westminster, City of

  297

  4,576

  Barking and Dagenham

  138

  3,002

  Barnet

  117

  3,450

  Bexley

  145

  2,551

  Brent

  131

  4,051

  Bromley

  200

  3,144

  Croydon

  99

  3,218

  Ealing

  202

  3,434

  Enfield

  179

  3,125

  Haringey

  109

  3,678

  Harrow

  126

  3,308

  Havering

  82

  2,619

  Hillingdon

  188

  3,142

  Hounslow

  121

  3,129

  Kingston upon Thames

  125

  3,024

  Merton

  171

  3,142

  Newham

  99

  3,160

  Redbridge

  69

  2,999

  Richmond upon Thames

  120

  3,189

  Sutton

  206

  3,181

  Waltham Forest

  249

  3,419

  Birmingham

  83

  2,988

  Coventry

  5O

  2,974

  437W

  Expenditure on administration by LEAs in England for financial year 1997–98

  LEA name

  Expenditure on central management administration and service strategy and regulation costs per pupil

  Total education expenditure cost per pupil

  Dudley

  70

  2,501

  Sandwell

  86

  2,716

  Solihull

  84

  2,485

  Walsall

  58

  2,726

  Wolverhampton

  90

  2,909

  Knowsley

  126

  2,607

  Liverpool

  111

  2,836

  St. Helens

  85

  2,659

  Sefton

  77

  2,742

  Wirral

  104

  2,680

  Bolton

  77

  2,592

  Bury

  76

  2,537

  Manchester

  104

  2,917

  Oldham

  57

  2,577

  Rochdale

  97

  2,704

  Salford

  188

  2,777

  Stockport

  80

  2,489

  Tameside

  84

  2,461

  Trafford

  68

  2,649

  Wigan

  81

  2,532

  Barnsley

  75

  2,495

  Doncaster

  70

  2,663

  Rotherham

  81

  2,446

  Sheffield

  93

  2,678

  Bradford

  82

  2,724

  Calderdale

  125

  2,747

  Kirklees

  104

  2,611

  Leeds

  84

  2,673

  Wakefield

  96

  2,403

  Gateshead

  146

  2,877

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  130

  3,115

  North Tyneside

  40

  2,592

  South Tyneside

  125

  2,612

  Sunderland

  45

  2,477

  Isles of Scilly

  184

  5,038

  Bath and North East Somerset

  117

  2,847

  Bristol, City of

  145

  2,945

  North Somerset

  130

  2,787

  South Gloucestershire

  136

  2,542

  Hartlepool

  116

  2,431

  Middlesbrough

  116

  2,576

  Redcar and Cleveland

  74

  2,546

  Stockton on Tees

  80

  2,429

  Kingston upon Hull, City of

  82

  2,574

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  85

  2,636

  North East Lincolnshire

  92

  2,476

  North Lincolnshire

  208

  2,734

  North Yorkshire

  81

  2,661

  York, City of

  56

  2,668

  Bedfordshire

  88

  2,698

  Luton

  94

  2,971

  Buckinghamshire

  160

  2,885

  Milton Keynes

  191

  2,661

  Derbyshire

  49

  2,601

  Derby City

  84

  2,656

  Dorset

  63

  2,742

  Poole

  114

  2,379

  Bournemouth

  147

  2,790

  Durham

  95

  2,621

  Darlington

  105

  2,447

  East Sussex

  123

  2,751

  Brighton and Hove

  140

  2,925

  Hampshire

  87

  2,728

  Portsmouth

  85

  2,818

  Southampton

  37

  2,812

  Leicestershire

  90

  2,652

  Leicester City

  343

  2,984

  Rutland

  153

  3,418

  Staffordshire

  18

  2,387

  Stoke-on-Trent

  90

  2,471

  438W

  Expenditure on administration by LEAs in England for financial year 1997—98

  LEA name

  Expenditure on central management administration and service strategy and regulation costs per pupil

  Total education expenditure cost per pupil

  Wiltshire

  134

  2,844

  Swindon

  64

  2,442

  Berkshire

  83

  2,652

  Cambridgeshire

  101

  2,834

  Cheshire

  57

  2,637

  Cornwall

  68

  2,704

  Cumbria

  60

  2,873

  Devon

  63

  2,640

  Essex

  42

  3,006

  Gloucestershire

  123

  2,901

  Hereford and Worcester

  49

  2,606

  Hertfordshire

  87

  2,810

  Isle of Wight

  172

  2,830

  Kent

  159

  2,797

  Lancashire

  92

  2,775

  Lincolnshire

  120

  2,910

  Norfolk

  56

  2,758

  Northamptonshire

  67

  2,514

  Northumberland

  98

  2,533

  Nottinghamshire

  106

  2,662

  Oxfordshire

  104

  2,756

  Shropshire

  61

  2,748

  Somerset

  97

  2,735

  Suffolk

  55

  2,651

  Surrey

  109

  2,922

  Warwickshire

  103

  2,621

  West Sussex

  87

  2,741

  Total/Average

  101

  2,814

  Further Education Colleges (Agency Staff)
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what recent guidance he has issued to further education colleges on the use of agency staff; and what plans he has to evaluate the impact of the use of agency staff on(a) the quality, reliability and professional development of staff and (b) on student retention and achievement. [104848]

  Mr. Wicks
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to evaluate the use of agency staff in the further education sector. Further education colleges are independent and consequently the teaching, internal organisation and management are the responsibility of the college management.

  Medical Students
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many applicants for medical schools, in each of the last three years for which figures are available, were(a) accepted and (b) rejected; how many qualified; and how many took up positions in NHS hospitals. [104577]

  Mr. Wicks
  The available data for applicants in the three most recent years are given in the table. Not all those applicants who failed to obtain a place will necessarily have been rejected; some may have declined their offers, withdrawn from the scheme or opted for a year out.
  439W

  Students applying for undergraduate medical courses in the UK via UCAS

  Year of entry

  Number of applicants

  Number of applicants who were accepted

  1997

  12,025

  4,894

  1998

  12,078

  5,029

  1999

  11,807

  5,119

  Information showing the number of students who completed first degrees in medicine is given in the table. Data on the number of students taking up employment in NHS hospitals are not held centrally.

  Students obtaining first degrees in medicine in the UK

  Year

  Number

  1995–96

  4,888

  1996–97

  5,072

  1997–98

  5,137

  Employment Statistics
  Mrs. Ann Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many(a) men and (b) women in each of the standard age groups were employed (i) in his predecessor Departments in 1979 and (ii) in his Department in 1999. [104016]

  Mr. Wills
  The number of men and women employed by the Department in each of the standard age groups is:

  Age band

  Male

  Female

  Total

  60+

  43

  20

  63

  55–59

  105

  113

  218

  50–54

  279

  233

  512

  Percentage

  Key Stage 2

  Key Stage 3

  Percentage of pupils who achieved at least Level 5 in all three of 1999 Key Stage tests:

  English, mathematics and science

  11

  43

  Percentage of pupils who achieved at least Level 5 in only two of the three 1999 Key Stage tests:

  English and mathematics

  3

  7

  English and science

  3

  3

  Mathematics and science

  5

  5

  Percentage of pupils who achieved at least Level 5 in only one of the three 1999 Key Stage tests:

  English

  4

  8

  Mathematics

  4

  4

  Science

  7

  2

  The percentage of pupils who achieved at least Level 6 in 1999 Key Stage tests:

  English

  1—

  28

  Mathematics

  1—

  38

  Science

  1—

  24

  1> Indicates a figure below 0.5 per cent.

CABINET OFFICE

  Investors in People
  Ms Rosie Winterton
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress the Civil Service has made towards the target that all civil servants will be working in organisations recognised as Investors in People by the year 2000. [106129]
  440W

  Age band

  Male

  Female

  Total

  45–49

  367

  313

  680

  40–44

  344

  362

  706

  35–39

  305

  459

  764

  30–34

  282

  464

  746

  25–29

  178

  273

  451

  20–24

  80

  102

  182

  Under 20

  6

  16

  22

  Total

  1989

  2,355

  4,344

  There are no corresponding data available for 1979.

  New Deal (Greater London)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the number of jobs that have been created in the Greater London area as a result of the New Deal. [104794]

  Ms Jowell
  New Deal is not a job creation scheme; rather it is designed to help unemployed people improve their skills and compete effectively for vacancies. The latest figures to the end of October 1999 show that this policy is working; over 21,000 young people, and 5,800 long term unemployed people aged 25 and over, have gained jobs through the New Deal in the Greater London area.

  SATs
  Dr. Vis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many children achieved one, two or three level 5s in last year's SATs; and how many achieved level 6 in each subject. [105561]

  Mr. Wicks
  The information requested is given in the following table. The answers were derived from a provisional matching of the 1999 National Curriculum Assessments at Key Stages 2 and 3.

  Mr. Stringer
  Some 88 per cent. of Civil Servants now work in organisations recognised as Investors in People. This is a significant achievement by all concerned and Departments and Agencies should be congratulated on their progress. The Investors in People Standard is an important element of the Civil Service reform agenda and this achievement demonstrates the commitment of the Service. I would refer hon. Members to the report
  441W
  "Investors in People in Government Departments and Agencies" which I have placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what is the number and value of contracts let by her Department since May 1997 to external consultants and advisers for the management of competitive tendering processes. [103607]

  Mr. Stringer
  Since May 1997, my Department has let 15 contracts with external consultants and advisers for the management of competitive tendering processes. The total value of those contracts is £601,694.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Clerks
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many House of Commons Clerks have been appointed in the last five years, indicating the number and percentage broken down by(a) gender and (b) ethnic origin. [104532]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  [holding answer 13 January 2000]: Since the beginning of 1995, there have been 17 external recruits to the grade of Assistant Clerk and Senior Clerk, including faststream entrants, in the Department of the Clerk of the House. The table sets out the breakdown.

  Year

  Number of Assistant and Senior Clerks recruited

  Male

  Female

  1995

  2

  0

  2

  1996

  3

  2

  1

  1997

  4

  2

  2

  1998

  6

  4

  2

  1999

  2

  1

  1

  Total

  17

  19

  28

  1 53 per cent.

  2 47 per cent.

  Approximately 80 per cent. of these recruits have declared their ethnic origin. All of those who did so are white.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Royal Ulster Constabulary
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reason the figures for compensation paid by the Police Authority indicated at the foot of claims against the Chief Constable were omitted from this year's Annual report; and if he will instruct the Police Authority to provide this information to all recipients of their annual report. [103822]

  Mr. Ingram
  A graph showing the amounts of compensation paid during 1998–99 was mistakenly omitted from the 1998–99 Police Authority Annual Report and not detected at final proof reading. This 442W
  information will be provided to anyone requesting it and will be displayed on the Police Authority website at http://www.pani.org.uk.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the(a) cost of compensation and (b) legal costs incurred as a result of claims against the Chief Constable, including the costs of the Crown Solicitor's Office, in each year from 1985 to date. [103823]

  Mr. Ingram
  The information requested is not readily available prior to April 1997. The following table shows the compensation paid and the costs incurred from April 1997 to March 1999. Figures for the current financial year are not yet available.

  £

  April 1997 to March 1998

  April 1998 to March 1999

  Damages paid

  720,297

  1,046,115

  Plaintiffs Solicitors costs

  529,829

  619,885

  Crown Solicitors costs

  840,362

  735,637

  Crown Solicitors outlay

  560,975

  408,159

  Human Rights
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what written guidance on the Human Rights Act 1998 has been prepared by the Northern Ireland Office; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [103826]

  Mr. George Howarth
  No specific written guidance on the Human Rights Act has been prepared by the Northern Ireland Office. The various forms of guidance that have been produced by the Home Office and the Cabinet Office are adequate for staff in the Northern Ireland Office and its associated public bodies.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which individual in the Northern Ireland Office has been tasked with responsibility for implementing the Human Rights Act 1998. [103827]

  Mr. George Howarth
  It is not appropriate for me to name individual officers. The Human Rights Unit in the Northern Ireland Office is responsible for co-ordinating the Department's preparations for the implementation of the Act, under the direction of senior officials.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements have been made to prepare non-departmental public bodies for the impact of the Human Rights Act 1998. [103833]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The public authorities for which the Northern Ireland Office is responsible have been alerted to the requirements of the Act, and will be provided with appropriate training. An inter-departmental working group has been established to monitor progress being made by individual public bodies in preparing for the Act and to identify any issues on which a joint approach would be most effective.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what additional resources have been made available to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission for consultation on a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. [103835]
  443W
  Mr. George Howarth
  The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is defined as a non departmental public body and is funded by means of a grant in aid. The Commission's grant in aid for each of its first three years is £750,000. This figure represents the Government's considered judgment as to the amount of funding that would be needed in order to allow the Commission to discharge its functions effectively.

  No additional resources have been made available to the Commission for its consultation exercise on the scope for defining a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. The Bill of Rights exercise has always been part of the Commission's remit as set out in statute. It was taken into account when the original grant in aid was determined and the Government therefore expect it to be funded within the allocated resources.

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will lay the designation order specifying which additional public bodies are to be obliged to develop equality schemes in order to comply with section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998; and which bodies external to the public service he consulted when determining which organisations to designate under the proposed designation order. [103813]

  Mr. George Howarth
  [holding answer 17 January 2000]: In compiling the designation order, the Secretary of State consulted with the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. This consultation raised a number of queries that are still receiving attention. When these have been resolved, the Secretary of State will be in a position to lay the designation order before Parliament.

  Judges and Lawyers
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he took in response to the report of the United Nations' Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, presented to the United Nations in 1998. [103819]

  Mr. George Howarth
  [holding answer 17 January 2000]: My right hon. Friend the Member for Redcar (Marjorie Mowlam), then Secretary of State, met Mr. Param Cumaraswamy, UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers on 14 April 1999 to discuss the issues which he raised in his report presented to the United Nations in 1998. A copy of the statement that she issued afterwards is available in the Library.

  Property centre

  Property

  Location

  Wholly unoccupied

  Mainly unoccupied

  Date unoccupied from

  DETR(C)

  Concord House

  Paignton

  Yes

  —

  February 1999

  Mullberry House

  Edinburgh

  Yes

  —

  March 1999

  Westpoint

  Manchester

  Yes

  —

  June 1999

  Highwood Pavilions

  Bristol

  Yes

  —

  April 1999

  Seymour House

  Hemel Hempstead

  Yes

  —

  July 1999

  Ogle Road

  Southampton

  Yes

  —

  May 1997

  St. Clare House

  Ipswich

  Yes

  —

  July 1997

  Caradog House

  Cardiff

  Yes

  —

  April 1997

  Valuation Tribunals

  Lynton House

  Woking

  Yes

  —

  November 1999

  34 St. Leonards Road

  Eastbourne

  Yes

  —

  November 1999

  100–102 Winchcombe Street

  Cheltenham

  Yes

  —

  December 1999

  Hamilton House

  Chester

  Yes

  —

  May 1999

  444W
  The report called for an independent inquiry into the murder of Patrick Finucane. In February 1999 the Government took receipt of alleged new evidence into the murder. We undertook to consider this very carefully before deciding whether any further action was necessary. The DPP(NI) decided to ask the Chief Constable to look into the allegations and a further police inquiry was announced on 28 April into the murder and related issues. A person has been charged with Mr. Finucane's murder. We will be in a better position to decide what, if any, further action is needed when the police investigation and criminal proceedings have been completed.

  Mr. Cumaraswamy refers in his report to the introduction of the new Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. On 11 October 1999, the Government announced the appointment of Mrs. Nuala O'Loan as Police Ombudsman Designate for Northern Ireland. The Ombudsman will have complete control over the Police Complaints system. She will be required to carry out independent investigations into serious complaints against the police. The Police Ombudsman has been appointed on a designate basis until the new office is established. This interim period will enable the Ombudsman Designate to have a direct say in the structure, staff and ethos of the office. This highlights the independence of the office.

  The report also comments on audio/video recording in the holding centres. The police have a statutory Code of Practice which governs video recording and the detention, treatment, questioning and identification of terrorist suspects. A statutory Code of Practice on audio recording became mandatory on 24 May 1999. It is a disciplinary offence for a police officer to breach either of the Codes of Practice. Full audio recording and video recording of all interviews of persons in custody now takes place. The Chief Constable of the RUC has invited the Law Society to be involved in the training of Detective Officers who are involved in such interviews.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Departmental Properties
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list those properties held by his Department and agencies responsible to him which are(a) wholly and (b) mainly unoccupied at present, giving locations and when they became so unoccupied in each case. [105312]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The information is as follows:
  445W

  Property centre

  Property

  Location

  Wholly unoccupied

  Mainly unoccupied

  Date unoccupied from

  Driving Standards

  Agency Test Centres

  Derby

  Yes

  —

  1996

  Bilston

  Yes

  —

  1996

  Kidderminster

  —

  Yes

  1995

  Oswestry

  —

  Yes

  1996

  Cardiff

  —

  Yes

  1996

  Skipton

  —

  Yes

  1996

  Harrogate

  —

  Yes

  1996

  Sunderland

  —

  Yes

  1996

  Note:

  The above refers to those areas solely the responsibility of the DETR or its agencies in the buildings referred to.

  Powered Water Craft
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the Government's policy in regulating the use of(a) jet-skis and (b) other powered water craft. [103179]

  Mr. Meacher
  The responsibility for the management of jet-skis and other powered watercraft is primarily for local authorities. Local byelaws, either inland or on the coast, give authorities the power to regulate such craft, for instance by imposing strict speed limits which result in the exclusion of many watercraft from specific areas. Speed limits already apply in some areas, such as parts of the Broads.

  The Review of Byelaw Powers for the Coast recommended, among other things, that local authorities should be given a new power to create exclusive bathing zones and more general powers to regulate activities on the coast which affect the wider environment, such as the use of personal watercraft. We shall be looking for an opportunity to introduce legislation where it is needed to implement the Review's recommendations. In the meantime, we have published a voluntary code of best and safe practice for leisure craft users, and we are exploring options for a voluntary boat registration and identification scheme, which would include jet-skis.

  Transport Supplementary Grant
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is offered as the level of transport supplementary grant for local authorities for 2000–01. [104229]

  Mr. Prescott
  £13.519 million in transport supplementary grant (TSG) has been allocated in the 2000–01 local transport capital settlement. This funding is given for a number of existing local authority major road scheme commitments.

  In previous years TSG was used for the capital maintenance of bridges and principal road carriageways. From 2000–01 onwards this will now be funded exclusively in the form of borrowing approvals, for which local authorities receive revenue support grant (RSG) each year to meet the cost of repayment. The total allocation within the 2000–01 settlement for capital bridge and carriageway maintenance is £301 million, representing a 24 per cent. increase over 1999–2000.

  Aircraft Crashes
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the latest 446W
  estimate by the Civil Aviation Authority of the statistical probability in a year of a ground fatality occurring as a result of aircraft crashing on take-off or landing at (a) Heathrow, (b) Gatwick and (c) Stansted. [104634]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Civil Aviation Authority has identified two landing or take-off accidents within the United Kingdom during the last 40 years in which there were fatalities on the ground. These took place at Gatwick and Dunsfold and involved, respectively, two and six such fatalities. The Authority estimates that some 18.2 million aircraft movements took place at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted over the same period. Because of the very small number of accidents involving ground fatalities it is not possible to produce a statistically meaningful estimate for individual airports.

  Gleneagles Hotel
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much was realised by the sale of Gleneagles Hotel. [104830]

  Mr. Hill
  The Gleneagles Hotel, the Caledonian Hotel (Edinburgh) and the North British Hotel (Edinburgh) were sold together by the British Railways Board in 1981 by means of a company sale. Two thirds of the shares were sold for £13.5 million and the rest were sold later for £6.1 million.

  Railways (Nottingham)
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent discussions he has had with(a) Railtrack and (b) Midland Mainline regarding the upgrading of the track between Nottingham and London. [104894]

  Mr. Hill
  My right hon. Friend has had no discussions with Railtrack or Midland Main Line. However, I understand that Railtrack and Midland Main Line are currently discussing plans to improve the Midland Main Line.

  Environment Agency
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to make a decision on the new charging regime proposed by the Environment Agency. [105079]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Environment Agency is currently consulting on its charging proposals for 2000–01. I expect to receive formal proposals from the Agency next month and to take decisions on them before the start of the new financial year.

  Ports
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has for changes in the law relating to ports. [105185]

  Mr. Hill
  We are considering options for legislation in respect of ports, including matters arising from both the Review of the Pilotage Act, published in July 1998 and from our Review of Trust Ports which has now produced the Guide to Good Governance that I launched earlier this month.

  New Deal for Communities
  Mr. Efford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what factors were taken into account, other than indices for local deprivation, when deciding which London authorities would be invited to submit delivery plans for Round 2 of the New Deal for Communities. [105166]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  In addition to information drawn from the Index of Local Deprivation, we applied a regional quota. That quota was used to balance our twin goals of spreading the impact of the new approach we are piloting under the New Deal for Communities as widely as possible, and focusing help and support on the areas of greatest need. On that basis, six of the 22 local authority districts eligible to participate in Round 2 are in London. The only other criteria we applied was that local authority areas in London eligible to participate in Round 1 of the programme, should not be eligible under Round 2.

  Mr. Efford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what factors will be taken into account when choosing which local authorities will be invited to submit delivery plans for Round 3 of the New Deal for Communities. [105165]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The targeting of regeneration funds, including those of the New Deal for Communities, will be considered in our cross cutting review of Government interventions in deprived areas and the forthcoming spending review.

  Railways
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will set minimum standards of facility provision at town centre railway stations in relation to(a) CCTV and (b) park and ride. [105547]

  Mr. Hill
  I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 17 January 2000,Official Report, column 251W.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will investigate the extent of the availability of special offer tickets offered by rail companies. [105548]

  Mr. Hill
  APEX fares and other concessionary fares are not regulated by the Franchise Director and are offered by train companies at their discretion. We do not maintain records of unregulated fares which are on offer, but I understand that some train operators have reduced the number of concessions offered because of increased demand for services.

  Crowe Report
  Mr. Hurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to respond to the Crowe report; and if he will make a statement. [105329]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  I refer my hon. Friend to the letter my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning, sent on 23 November about the South East Regional Planning Guidance Panel Report. The principles that will underpin our consideration of the Panel's recommendations are set out in that letter. We hope to announce the changes we propose to the draft RPG, as put forward by SERPLAN, soon. Parliament will, of course, be informed.

  Countryside Traffic Measures Group
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many times the Countryside Traffic Measures Group has met since July 1998. [105279]

  Mr. Hill
  I understand that the Countryside Agency's Countryside Traffic Measures Group has met on three occasions since 1998.

  Eurostar
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the consultant's study into the viability of Eurostar services north of London; if he will publish the consultant's report; and when he will make a statement on the report. [105486]

  Mr. Hill
  The consultants' report is currently being considered by my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Transport, who will make a statement soon. The report will be published at the same time.

  Transport Expenditure
  Ms Perham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the level of public expenditure, in each of the last 10 years, in each EU member state, on(a) railways and (b) roads. [105188]

  Mr. Hill
  Details of public investment in British railways and roads in each of the 10 years 1988–89 to 1997–98 are shown in Table 1.16 of the Government Statistical Office's publication Transport Statistics Great Britain 1999 Edition. We do not have the requested information in relation to other EU member states.

  Cruise Ships
  Ms Perham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what regulations govern the practice of placing passengers' luggage in corridors outside cabins on cruise ships; and if he will make a statement. [105186]

  Mr. Hill
  In the case of a UK flag ship, there are general provisions in the Merchant, Shipping and Fishing (Health and Safety at Work) Regulations 1997 (SI 1997 No. 2962) about providing and maintaining a safe environment for persons aboard ship. There are also relevant provisions in the Merchant Shipping (Safe
  449W
  Movement on Board Ship) Regulations 1988 (SI 1988 No. 1641); for example regulation 4 provides that "the employer and master shall ensure that safe means of access is provided and maintained to any place on the ship to which a person may be expected to go". Such provisions are enforceable on UK ships wherever they may be and could cover matters such as a safety hazard caused by luggage in corridors. In the case of a non-UK ship, the requirements will depend on the provisions in the regulations of the state where the ship is registered. As the UK requirements implement provisions contained in the International Labour Organisation Convention 147, they may also be enforced on a non-UK ship while in a UK port.

  Railway Fatalities
  Ms Perham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many railway passenger fatalities there were in each EU member state in the last 10 years. [105189]

  Mr. Hill
  Information about railway passenger fatalities is published by the European Commission in "Transport in Figures". The latest readily available information is as follows:

  Number of passenger fatalities

  Persons killed in accidents involving railways

  1990

  1995

  1996

  Belgium

  0

  3

  6

  Denmark

  1

  0

  0

  Germany

  50

  34

  35

  Greece

  0

  3

  0

  Spain

  4

  0

  0

  France

  30

  22

  14

  Ireland

  1

  0

  0

  Italy

  9

  4

  1

  Luxembourg

  0

  0

  0

  Netherlands

  2

  0

  1

  Austria

  6

  7

  3

  Portugal

  22

  12

  10

  Finland

  0

  1

  3

  Sweden

  3

  2

  0

  Great Britain1

  37

  10

  17

  1 Described as UK in 'Transport in Figures'

  Source:

  UIC (GB from national statistics)

  These statistics are not necessarily based on common definitions and there is thus uncertainty about their comparability. The GB figures cover accidents on National Rail, London Underground and other urban railways, and included all passenger fatalities, both on trains and railway premises.

  Street Lighting
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what statutory obligations local authorities have to provide street lighting. [105341]

  Mr. Hill
  Highway Authorities provide lighting under powers given by the Highways Act 1980. There are no statutory obligations for local authorities to provide street lighting.

  Railtrack
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the(a) budgeted and (b) outturn investment by Railtrack in each year since its creation. [105703]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 18 January 2000]: Railtrack's budgets for investment are a commercial matter for the company.

  The table provides details of Railtrack's outturn infrastructure expenditure in each financial year since 1996–97, when it was privatised.

  Analysis of Railtrack infrastructure expenditure, 1996–97 to 1998–99

  £ million cash prices

  1996–97

  1997–981

  1998–99

  Infrastructure maintenance

  732

  702

  694

  Expenditure on renewals

  821

  1,073

  1,098

  Backlog expenditure

  28

  63

  92

  Enhancement investment

  170

  208

  294

  Total infrastructure expenditure

  1,751

  2,046

  2,178

  1 As restated in Railtrack's Annual Report and Accounts 1998–99

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Asylum Seekers
  Ms Southworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will announce which company has been chosen to operate the new voucher scheme for asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement. [106372]

  Mrs. Roche
  On 7 January, the Home Office awarded a contract for the operation of the new voucher scheme to Sodexho Pass International.

  The voucher scheme will form an essential part of the new arrangements for supporting asylum seekers which were included in the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 and will come into operation on 1 April 2000. The provision of vouchers supplemented by a small weekly cash allowance will enable asylum seekers to meet their essential living needs while reducing the incentive to economic migration inherent in a fully cash based system of support.

  Data Protection
  Ms Christine Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to lay the subordinate legislation to be made under the Data Protection Act 1998. [106373]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I intend to lay in draft next week the subordinate legislation subject to the affirmative resolution procedure. I shall publish on Thursday 20 January a draft of the Data Protection (Notification and Notification Fees) Regulations on the Internet at www.homeoffice.gov.uk and place copies in the Library. I intend to lay these Regulations and the other subordinate legislation subject to the negative resolution procedure in good time before the Data Protection Act 1998 comes into force on 1 March.

  Contraband Tobacco
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many retailers were(a) arrested, (b) prosecuted and (c) convicted for selling contraband tobacco in each year since 1996. [104632]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Data on arrests are not collected centrally by individual offence.

  The Home Office Court Proceedings Database does not hold information on the employment status of individuals or the characteristics of defendants who are not individuals. Nor does it hold information about the characteristics of individual cases apart from those that are evident from the description of the offence with which the defendant has been charged.

  Retailers selling contraband tobacco can be prosecuted under section 170 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 (either subsection (1) or (2); Common Law (cheating the revenue) and section 1 of the Criminal Law Act 1977 (conspiracy to evade excise duty). Such cases cannot be identified separately from the many other offences prosecuted under this legislation, which will include beer, wine and spirits, for example, as well as tobacco.

  London Prisons
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visitors to each of the London prisons were(a) charged with and (b) convicted of seeking to take illegal drugs into a prison in 1999. [104459]

  Mr. Boateng
  Figures for the number of visitors to London prisons who were charged with, or convicted of seeking to take illegal drugs into a prison in 1999 are not recorded by the Prison Service.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inmates at each of the London prisons were put on a governor's report in 1999. [104463]

  Mr. Boateng
  Adjudication statistics refer to charges rather than individuals and the available information, for January to November 1999, is given in the table.

  Number of adjudications (governor's reports) on offences against prison discipline, January to November 1999

  Prison establishments in Greater London

  Number

  Belmarsh

  1,430

  Brixton

  1,055

  Downview

  114

  Feltham

  1,832

  High Down

  1,081

  Holloway

  1,279

  Latchmere House

  93

  Pentonville

  1,220

  Wandsworth

  1,060

  Wormwood Scrubs

  744

  Total

  9,908

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many strip-searches of inmates took place in each of the London prisons in each of the last 12 months. [104462]
  452W
  Mr. Boateng
  Prisons are not required to maintain statistics of the number of strip searches carried out. Strip searching is an essential element in maintaining security and good order in prisons. It is not possible to record every occasion on which it takes place, as at present this would have to be done manually. This would pose an unacceptable administrative burden, achievable only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women were being held in London prisons for alleged immigration offences on 1 January. [104461]

  Mr. Boateng
  The available information is for 30 November 1999 and relates to the number of persons held in London prisons under the Immigration Act 1971. On that date, there were 59 males and 25 females held in London prisons under the Immigration Act 1971.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inmates held in London prisons attempted(a) to commit suicide and (b) to cause self-inflicted injuries in 1999. [104460]

  Mr. Boateng
  The information requested is given in the table, which covers the period 1 April 1998 to 31 March 1999.

  Establishment

  Incidents of self-harm financial year 1998–99

  Belmarsh

  61

  Brixton

  186

  Downview

  1

  Feltham

  292

  High Down

  61

  Holloway

  250

  Latchmere House

  0

  Pentonville

  94

  Wandsworth

  305

  Wormwood Scrubs

  185

  Notes:

  1. These data are derived from information provided by establishments to the Directorate of Health Care.

  2. Incidents do not equate to numbers of prisoners as an individual prisoner may self-harm more than once.

  3. Statistics on self-harm are collected on a financial year basis.

  4. The establishments listed are those in the Greater London area.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inmates at each of the London prisons were charged with being in possession of illegal drugs while in prison in 1999. [104458]

  Mr. Boateng
  The number of offences of possession considered at adjudication is given in the table.

  Number of adjudications on offences of possession of a controlled drug, January to November 1999

  Prison establishments in Greater London

  Number of offences1

  Belmarsh

  2

  Brixton

  18

  Downview

  1

  Feltham

  60

  High Down

  26

  Holloway

  4

  Latchmere House

  1

  Pentonville

  59

  Wandsworth

  6

  Wormwood Scrubs

  21

  1 Individual prisoners may be charged with more than one offence

  Long-service Medals
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to equalise the length of service required to qualify for a police long-service medal with periods which apply in respect of the fire and ambulance services. [104502]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The respective qualifying periods for the long-service award—Police (22 years), Fire Service (20 years) and Ambulance Service (20 years) are directly related to conditions of employment. I am not aware of any suggestion by the Police Service that there should be any change to the qualifying period for their long-service medal. I have, therefore, no plans at present to make any such change.

  Holocaust Denial Legislation
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce Holocaust denial legislation; and if he will make a statement. [104504]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Holocaust denial is a very difficult area in which to legislate. It is not easy to strike a balance between outlawing such offensive statements while ensuring that freedom of speech is not unduly restricted.

  Therefore, while the Government are following carefully the current debates on this issue within the Jewish community and elsewhere, we have no immediate plan to introduce legislation.

  Corporate Manslaughter
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he has held on the question of legislation relating to corporate manslaughter; and how soon he will introduce such legislation. [104598]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  We are currently considering the conclusions of the inter-departmental working group of officials which has been examining the recommendations made in the Law Commission's report no. 237 "Legislating the Criminal Code: Involuntary Manslaughter". The Law Commission's report included a recommendation that there should be a new offence of corporate killing.

  We will be consulting our colleagues shortly and then expect to publish our conclusions for consultation. We will also be considering the prospects for future legislation.

  Police Officers
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if validated figures for the total number of police officers per police force and in total at the end of October 1999 are available; and if he will make a statement. [104728]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 14 December 1999,Official Report, column 145W.

  We collect police strength information only on a six monthly basis in order to reduce administrative burdens on the police. Police strength figures as at October 1999 will not therefore be requested from forces.
  454W
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many serving police officers there were on 30 June and 31 December in each of the years 1992 to 1999 for which figures are available. [104465]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Information on police numbers is set out in the table. From 1995, this information has been collected only twice yearly, in March and September.

  Police numbers 1992 to 1999

  Number

  June

  1992

  127,626

  1993

  128,031

  1994

  127,328

  December

  1992

  128,045

  1993

  127,658

  1994

  127,358

  March

  1995

  127,222

  1996

  126,901

  1997

  127,158

  1998

  126,814

  1999

  126,096

  September

  1995

  126,808

  1996

  127,123

  1997

  126,862

  1998

  126,504

  1999

  1—

  1 Not yet available

  Prison Service
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if the former Prison Service Director of Security has had access to the criteria for the competition for the operation of HMP Manchester and HMP Blakenhurst; and if he will make a statement; [104737]

  (2) if members of the Prison Service Management Board have had access to the criteria for the competition for the design, construction, management and financing of HMP Peterborough and HMP Ashford; and if he will make a statement. [104738]

  Mr. Boateng
  The competitions for Blakenhurst, Manchester, Peterborough and Ashford prisons have not yet started and the evaluation criteria for those competitions have not yet been developed.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what rules govern senior employees of the Prison Service taking new employment with private companies which have contracts with or are seeking contracts with the Prison Service; how the rules have operated in relation to the former Director of Security; and if he will make a statement. [104739]

  Mr. Boateng
  The rules governing business appointments were last revised by the Cabinet Office in 1996 in the light of recommendations made by the Nolan Committee. The rules require senior civil servants in certain categories or other civil servants who have had
  455W
  official dealings with their prospective employer to report offers of appointment. Approval is required for the initial appointment and any further appointment within two years of leaving Crown employment. These rules have been applied in relation to the former Prison Service Director of Security who made an application on 7 January 2000. In compliance with these rules, the advice of the Cabinet Office is being obtained before her application can be responded to.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Home Office business appointment rules apply to members of the Prison Service Management Board; and if he will make a statement. [104735]

  Mr. Boateng
  All members of the Prison Service Management Board are subject to the rules on business appointments which have been issued by the Cabinet Office.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if members of the Prison Service Management Board had access to the deliberations of the evaluation panel reports of the bids for HMP Doncaster; and if he will make a statement. [104736]

  Mr. Boateng
  The members of the Prison Service Management Board received copies of the evaluation report of the bids for Doncaster prison in October 1999.

  Jury Trial
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in each of the last five years for which figures are available, in how many and what percentage of either-way cases in which(a) magistrates declined jurisdiction and (b) defendants elected to go to the higher court, defendants pleaded (i) guilty and (ii) not guilty; and if he will make a statement. [104731]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  No regular statistics are collected on this. However, there is some information available from the baseline data collected by the Home Office in 1998 for the evaluation of the pilot schemes to reduce delay in the criminal justice system. In a sample of nearly 1,000 triable either way cases dealt with in the Crown

  Number and proportion of defendants tried at the Crown Court for indictable-only offences final plea, 19951—98

  Type of plea

  Guilty

  Not guilty

  Not known

  Year

  Total tried [=100 per cent.]

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  19951

  6,899

  3,550

  51

  3,319

  48

  30

  0

  1996

  15,565

  8,327

  53

  7,203

  46

  35

  0

  1997

  15,710

  8,300

  53

  7,368

  47

  42

  0

  1998

  16,740

  8,644

  52

  8,046

  48

  50

  0

  1 Plea data collected as from July 1995.

  Metropolitan Police
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of(a) police officers and (b) police civilian staff (i) per Metropolitan police division and (ii) in total at the end of each of the last eight years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [104729]
  456W
  Court, guilty pleas were entered by 80 per cent. defendants in cases in which the magistrates declined jurisdiction and by 59 per cent. of defendants who elected to go to the higher court. In 11 per cent. of cases in which magistrates declined jurisdiction and 30 per cent. of those where defendants elected Crown Court trial, the defendant entered a not guilty plea and there was a contested trial. In the remainder—most of which were dropped—no information is available as to plea.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in each of the last five years for which figures are available, in what percentage of all either-way cases defendants elected for jury trial; and if he will make a statement. [104734]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Figures provided by the Attorney General's Department, which relate to prosecutions by the Crown Prosecution Service, are given in the table.

  Percentage of either way cases committed for trial on election of defendant

  Year on year change

  1995

  33

  —

  1996

  32

  -1

  1997

  28

  -4

  1998

  28

  0

  19991

  32

  +4

  1 January-Septembera

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in each of the last five years for which figures are available, in how many and what percentage of summary-only cases defendants pleaded (i) guilty and (ii) not guilty. [104733]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The information is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in each of the last five years for which figures are available, in how many and what percentage of indictable-only cases defendants pleaded (i) guilty and (ii) not guilty. [104732]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The information is contained in the table:

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Commissioner of the Metropolitan police informs me that the total number of police officers per Metropolitan police division as at 31 December for each of the last eight years is provided in the tables. Figures may not be strictly comparable year on year as a result of boundary and organisational changes. A comparable breakdown of police civilian staff figures is not available. The figures for civilians in the table refer to Area totals.
  457W

  Police strengths at the end of December of year shown

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  Kensington and Chelsea Borough

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  563.7

  Notting Hill

  229

  238

  245

  229

  250.6

  243.6

  230

  —

  Brompton

  —

  —

  371.83

  375.4

  391.8

  365.5

  341.58

  —

  Chelsea

  187

  199

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Kensington

  216

  218.1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Westminster

  Belgravia

  339.8

  341.5

  324.55

  308.15

  306.26

  308.71

  306.3

  286.8

  West End Central

  373

  339

  328

  316

  308

  309

  298

  304.6

  Charing Cross

  419.4

  446.3

  411.9

  398.1

  403.7

  398.6

  395.2

  394.38

  Marylebone

  265.65

  267.8

  268.9

  335.7

  332.7

  329.1

  307.3

  292.1

  Paddington

  —

  —

  466.2

  356.6

  350

  352

  324.2

  345.11

  Paddington Green

  284

  282.6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Harrow Road

  224

  224

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Hammersmith and Fulham Borough

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  532.12

  Fulham

  197

  298

  217

  216.73

  225.73

  230.76

  217.16

  —

  Hammersmith

  344

  340.33

  328.2

  316.4

  335.52

  311.02

  300.82

  —

  Area sub-total

  3,078.85

  3,104.63

  2,961.58

  2,852.08

  2,904.31

  2,848.29

  2,720.56

  2,718.81

  Camden Borough

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  676.36

  Hampstead

  249

  230

  220

  211

  208.15

  213.35

  186.5

  —

  Kentish Town

  263

  260

  269.7

  276.86

  274

  285.46

  291.66

  —

  Holborn

  209.7

  201.7

  214.2

  210.9

  199.8

  197.7

  186.9

  —

  Islington Borough

  Holloway

  260

  272.6

  270.6

  269.9

  255.9

  250.5

  245.01

  226.4

  Islington

  287

  295.5

  297.3

  292.1

  313.7

  298.9

  284.4

  284.2

  Harrow Borough

  272.2

  277.2

  272.2

  293.8

  283.4

  289.05

  281.45

  291

  Brent Borough

  Brent

  240.91

  253.7

  266.7

  258.6

  272.6

  266.48

  257.48

  246.01

  Kilburn

  383

  366.4

  385.28

  359.14

  367.26

  346.75

  336.18

  313.88

  Barnet Borough

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  680.73

  Barnet

  306

  316.4

  323

  300.3

  285.26

  277.26

  225.55

  —

  Colindale

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  428.73

  427.79

  —

  Golders Green

  213.3

  215.6

  211.1

  208.9

  215.15

  —

  —

  —

  West Hendon

  240

  248.6

  256.75

  243.35

  235.65

  —

  —

  —

  Ealing Borough

  Ealing

  338.58

  361.23

  355.93

  363.68

  354.28

  338.35

  312.8

  324.77

  Southall

  281.7

  291.78

  287.93

  296.96

  291.19

  288.16

  281.99

  269.9

  Haringey Borough

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  511.75

  Hornsey

  270.6

  276.6

  284.95

  273.6

  263.3

  261.4

  245.4

  —

  Tottenham

  291

  285

  295

  271

  271.7

  265.1

  273.1

  —

  Hillingdon Borough

  453.9

  443.98

  439.5

  437

  418.7

  398.2

  395.5

  409.3

  Area sub-total

  4,559.89

  4,596.29

  4,650.14

  4,567.09

  4,510.04

  4,405.39

  4,231.71

  4,234.3

  Hackney Borough

  Shoreditch and Hackney

  333

  324

  336.68

  324.6

  326.8

  330.4

  329.32

  313.12

  Stoke Newington

  278

  309

  356.5

  334.94

  349.24

  346.24

  338.1

  325.25

  Tower Hamlets Borough

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  539.3

  Limehouse

  285

  305

  292

  279

  267

  267.09

  259.8

  —

  Whitechapel

  —

  —

  341.7

  334.7

  329.4

  300.4

  301.3

  —

  Bethnal Green

  187

  184

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Leman Street

  197

  201

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Redbridge Borough

  Barkingside

  270

  279.4

  296.4

  291.1

  292.4

  268

  260.98

  255.88

  Ilford

  250

  257

  257.49

  254

  259.6

  228.95

  231.65

  232.25

  Waltham Forest Borough

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  467.81

  Chingford

  234.4

  242.4

  243.8

  237.3

  238.3

  238.7

  241.9

  —

  Leyton

  227.4

  231.4

  243.4

  226

  238.92

  224.8

  220.2

  —

  458W 459W

  Police strengths at the end of December of year shown

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  Havering Borough

  366

  375.01

  377.17

  363.49

  351.05

  334.33

  326.38

  326.54

  Barking Borough

  Dagenham

  286

  287

  304.6

  303.2

  299.85

  299.8

  279.12

  276.72

  Newham Borough

  Forest Gate

  285

  269.68

  306.28

  316.68

  314.48

  303.48

  295.48

  280.2

  Plaistow

  285

  307.8

  316.8

  310

  311.4

  286.88

  286.88

  290.88

  Enfield Borough

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  533.57

  Edmonton

  258

  259.46

  270.2

  265.38

  261.78

  268.3

  267.68

  —

  Enfield

  274

  290

  273.4

  280.1

  292.1

  282

  277

  —

  Area sub-total

  4,015.8

  4,122.15

  4,216.42

  4,120.49

  4,132.32

  3,979.37

  3,915.79

  3,841.52

  Southwark Borough

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  851.8

  Southwark

  283

  293.53

  289.12

  306.08

  308.88

  289.18

  296.87

  —

  Peckham

  294.65

  308.25

  307.35

  316.38

  303.78

  302.63

  296.76

  —

  Walworth

  239

  248

  275

  280.4

  265.5

  268.7

  282.8

  —

  Lewisham Borough

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  533.57

  Catford

  280

  257.6

  260.7

  294.8

  297.7

  290.85

  287.9

  —

  Lewisham

  313.6

  330.8

  337.6

  347.8

  328.6

  319.38

  307.56

  —

  Bromley Borough

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  432.47

  Bromley and Orpington

  —

  —

  500.43

  490.44

  471.44

  464.1

  442.66

  —

  Orpington

  211.44

  217.58

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Bromley

  262

  263

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Greenwich Borough

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  626.33

  Plumstead

  284

  271

  308.5

  336.95

  320.35

  313.49

  303.04

  —

  Greenwich

  261

  246.8

  264.7

  286.36

  302.5

  298.4

  292.45

  —

  Bexley Borough

  Bexley Heath

  277.5

  273

  285

  295.5

  287.3

  282

  274.4

  281

  Croydon Borough

  Croydon

  285

  277

  296.5

  291.3

  297.36

  272.84

  265.38

  246.73

  South Norwood

  312.6

  302.69

  327.3

  342.58

  327.98

  327.77

  324.34

  321.83

  Epsom and Ewell

  373.9

  390

  428.9

  431.38

  405.23

  404.5

  392.81

  387.12

  Area sub-total

  3,677.69

  3,679.25

  3,881.1

  4,019.97

  3,916.62

  3,833.84

  3,766.97

  3,700.95

  Heathrow division

  441.55

  423.94

  414.39

  396.19

  366.99

  362.06

  340.73

  297.23

  Lambeth Borough

  Brixton

  302

  309

  322.5

  316.85

  322.65

  299.08

  290.58

  269.58

  Streatham

  266

  262.8

  273.9

  280.01

  272.71

  251.3

  253.3

  242.65

  Vauxhall

  —

  —

  406.65

  372.95

  371.94

  366.51

  350.11

  335.96

  Kennington

  182

  175.1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Clapham

  230.5

  200.5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Hounslow Borough

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  416.48

  Chiswick

  190.4

  210.7

  202.7

  206.5

  197.2

  186.3

  171.71

  —

  Hounslow

  261

  272.2

  263.6

  277.7

  272.7

  270.26

  266.3

  —

  Spelthorne

  189.4

  208.2

  199.2

  199.8

  198.2

  178.4

  180.8

  155.05

  Richmond Borough

  Twickenham

  298

  321.35

  297.45

  319.85

  295.85

  283.15

  267

  279.14

  Kingston Borough

  375.4

  395.7

  373.14

  393.34

  362.24

  366.89

  329.89

  325.89

  Merton Borough

  291.4

  312

  354.45

  334.85

  325.25

  292.48

  294.83

  310.1

  Wandsworth Borough

  Battersea

  222

  229.8

  298.8

  288.8

  306.9

  268.7

  263.4

  252

  Wandsworth

  217

  217.6

  348.98

  349.38

  355.38

  327.18

  312.58

  320.03

  Tooting

  232.6

  245.9

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Area sub-total

  3,699.25

  3,784.79

  3,755.76

  3,736.22

  3,648.01

  3,452.31

  3,321.53

  3,204.11

  Area total

  19,031.48

  19,287.11

  19,465.00

  19,295.85

  19,111.30

  18,519.20

  17,956.56

  17,699.69

  MPS total

  28,229.66

  28,045.31

  28,070.59

  27,719.35

  27,420.41

  26,960.45

  26,523.36

  26,164.42

  460W 461W

  Civil strengths as at the end of December of year shown

  Area

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  Area

  Divisional strength totals by area

  1. Central

  713.22

  752.35

  743.2

  683.68

  618.25

  595.65

  Central

  2. North West

  945.55

  999.19

  1,055.55

  999.77

  966.72

  1,951.18

  North

  3. North East

  1,018.21

  1,078.99

  1,108.07

  1,033.81

  950.17

  —

  4. South East

  886.92

  1,021.32

  1,081.65

  985.77

  945.56

  1,723.23

  South

  5. South West

  999.64

  1,106.49

  1,139.94

  1,037.12

  1,010.2

  —

  Total

  4,653.54

  4,958.34

  5,128.41

  4,740.15

  4,490.9

  4,270.06

  MPS Total

  14,271.23

  14,303.09

  13,725.1

  12,856.22

  11,457.3

  10,795.94

  Notes:

  1. Totals for Area 5 South West (1994 to 1998) and South Area (1999) include Heathrow division.

  2. All figures exclude traffic wardens and school crossing patrols.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letters dated 26 August, 16 September and 19 November from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr. A. Richards. [104457]

  Mr. Straw
  I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 13 January in response to his letters of 26 August, 16 September and 19 November on behalf of Mr. Richards. I am extremely sorry that I was unable to do so sooner, and would like, through my right hon. Friend, to extend my apology to Mr. Richards for the delay.

  Fire Fatalities
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fatalities in domestic premises were caused by fire in(a) 1998, (b) 1993, (c) 1988, (d) 1983 and (e) 1999. [104507]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The information provided relates to the number of deaths occurring in dwelling fires attended by United Kingdom local authority fire brigades.

  Deaths in dwelling fires attended by local authority fire brigades, United Kingdom are given in the table:

  Year

  Deaths

  1983

  710

  1988

  731

  1993

  524

  19981,2

  489

  1999

  3—

  1 1998 data are estimated to account for revisions expected due to further information becoming available.

  2 Includes late calls. Heat and smoke incidents not recorded prior to 1994.

  3 Data not yet available.

  Asset Sales
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the items in the National Assets Register sold by his Department, its agencies and associated public bodies since 11 February 1999, stating in each case the amount of money realised; if he will estimate the total amount raised from such sales to date; and if he will make a statement. [104472]
  462W
  Mr. Straw
  A review by my Department of sales of fixed assets previously listed in Chapter seven of the National Assets Register, is being undertaken. To date, it has revealed the following information for the Home Office, including the Prison Service:
  Since 11 February 1999, land and buildings have been sold generating revenue of approximately £10,914,000; revenue from sales of vehicles was approximately £188,000; and sales of plant, machinery and Information Technology equipment produced £76,000.

  Therefore, the total estimated revenue from such sales to date is £11,179,000 (rounded).

  I regret that it is not possible to give an itemised list of such sales because of the large numbers involved and the disproportionate cost of compiling this information.

  As soon as the remaining Home Office entities and the executive Non Departmental Bodies have completed their review, I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

  Stalking
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to his written answer of 10 January 2000,Official Report, column 20W, on stalking, when he expects to receive the research report he has commissioned into the effectiveness of the Protection of Harassment Act 1997; and who is undertaking the research. [104843]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The research is currently being undertaken by my Research, Development and Statistics Directorate. I expect to receive the report by July.

  British Greyhound Racing Funds
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the implications for animal welfare of the operation of the British Greyhound Racing Fund; and if he will make a statement. [104839]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  We have received a number of letters suggesting that not enough of the contributions made by bookmakers to the British Greyhound Racing Fund is devoted to the aftercare of greyhounds on retirement from racing. The distribution of Fund income
  463W
  is not a matter for the Government. We are, however, pleased that the Fund and the National Greyhound Racing Club are both financially supporting the work of the Retired Greyhound Trust, which has had some success in increasing the number of dogs re-homed at the end of their racing careers.

  CS Spray
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis indicating, in each year since 1997, the amount of CS spray which the Commissioner(a) purchased, (b) distributed, (c) returned to storage, (d) wrote off as no longer safe for operational purposes, indicating how such unsafe stocks are disposed of and (e) has not otherwise accounted for. [105075]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police tells me that in 1997, approximately 29,500 canisters of CS spray were purchased and distributed among Operational Command Units (OCUs). An annual breakdown of purchases since 1997 is not readily available, but since then, a total of approximately 1,000 canisters have been purchased by individual OCUs throughout the Metropolitan Police District. As of 13 January, approximately 1,500 used and 15 damaged canisters had been returned to storage at local OCUs for ultimate destruction by the Army. I understand that no canisters are unaccounted for.

  LD50 Animal Test
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in encouraging the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development to rescind guideline 401 concerning the LD50 animal test; what is Her Majesty's Government's policy toward this test; and if he will make a statement. [105072]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Section 5(5) of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, as amended in September 1998, does not allow licensing of the LD50 (Guideline 401) test for the purpose of meeting international regulatory requirements. The general principle is that a test will be licensed only where there is not a scientifically valid and reasonably practicable and accepted alternative. There may be cases where no exact alternative is available and Guideline 401 (the LD50 test) can lawfully be licensed.

  With the support of the United Kingdom Government, the European Commission has invited the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development to delete test 401 from its guidelines.

  West Mercia Police
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many notifiable offences there were in West Mercia in each year from 1992 to date; and if he will make a statement; [105070]

  (2) if he will list the clear-up rates for reported crime for West Mercia Police for each year from 1992 to date; and if he will make a statement. [105068]
  464W
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The figures are given in the table.

  Notifiable offences

  Clear-up rate (%)

  1992

  79,175

  34

  1993

  82,832

  29

  1994

  83,949

  29

  1995

  80,013

  28

  1996

  82,254

  26

  1997

  76,762

  28

  1998–991

  81,782

  34

  1 Year ending 31 March. The counting rules for notifiable offences changed on 1 April 1998. The figures given for this year are based on the new counting rules, which are not directly comparable to the previous figures. The clear-up rate is likewise not directly comparable.

  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers West Mercia Police Authority had in each year from 1992 to date; and if he will make a statement. [105069]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The information requested is set out in the table.

  West Mercia constabulary: Police numbers between 1992 and 1999

  Year1

  Police numbers

  1992

  2,034

  1993

  2,054

  1994

  2,059

  1995

  2,046

  1996

  2,017

  1997

  2,040

  1998

  2,010

  1999

  2,025

  1 As at 31 March

  Handguns
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many handguns have been surrendered under the provisions of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997; and of these how many have been(a) destroyed, (b) retained for training purposes, (c) retained for museum and display purposes, (d) sold for (i) export and (ii) re-use and (e) earmarked for other uses. [104802]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  A total of 162,198 handguns were surrendered to the police under the terms of the Firearms (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1997. The vast majority of these handguns will have been, or will be, destroyed when the associated compensation claims have been resolved. There are now less than 800 claims outstanding. A small number of surrendered handguns will be retained by the police, Her Majesty's Customs and the Forensic Science Service for training purposes. No central records are held of the number of handguns retained for this purpose. Examples of particular note or historic interest will be made available to suitably authorised museums. The National Museums Consortium, which represented museums in England and Wales for the purposes of the surrender exercise, has selected approximately 4,600 handguns for consideration for retention by museums. No surrendered handguns have been sold, either here or abroad, and none are earmarked for other purposes.

  Rehabilitation
  Mr. White
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to extend the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 to those sentenced to longer than 30 months. [104842]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Following the recommendation of the Better Regulation Task Force's Review of Fit Persons Criteria, we plan to review all the rehabilitation periods currently established by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

  Tharcisse Muvunyi
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the immigration status of Lt Col Tharcisse Muvunyi; when he was admitted to the UK; and what representations his Department has received concerning allegations made against him in respect of crimes against humanity. [104512]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 13 January 2000]: Lieutenant Colonel Muvunyi has limited leave to remain in the United Kingdom until 12 May 2002, having been admitted on 29 March 1998. The Home Office has received a number of representations concerning Lieutenant Colonel Muvunyi's alleged involvement in the genocide which took place in Rwanda in 1994. The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda has jurisdiction to prosecute persons responsible for this crime and for other serious violations of international humanitarian law committed in the territory of Rwanda in the period in question, and was indeed established by the United Nations to do so. The Tribunal which is located in Arusha, Tanzania, has extensive powers to request assistance from states. We have assisted the Tribunal in the past by helping it to approach Lieutenant Colonel Muvunyi for an interview and have made it clear that if the Tribunal requests the future assistance of the United Kingdom, we will act appropriately.

  Primates
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the import of primates from South-East Asia for onward export abroad for the purpose of experiment. [104280]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food authorises the transportation of animals, including primates, to the United Kingdom. Import licences for primates are issued under the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and other Mammals) Order 1974 (as amended). These specify the intended use and require the animals to be transported immediately after landing by an authorised carrying agent to an authorised quarantine premises. They must remain there for six calendar months. Licences are not required in the case of animals which land at a port or airport for onward export from the same place within 48 hours. If an animal is exported from the United Kingdom before the period of quarantine is completed, their movement to the port of departure must be licensed.

  As such animals are not for use in regulated procedures in the United Kingdom, the Home Office has no involvement with them except where they are held in a supplying establishment designated under the Animals
  466W
  (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. The establishment will be expected to meet the standards published in the Home Office Codes of Practice for the Housing and Care of Animals. All establishments are regularly inspected, often without prior notice, to assess compliance with the 1986 Act, the terms and conditions of the certificate of designation, and the standards set out in the Codes of Practice.

  Police
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by Police Authority for each of the last four years the number of(a) civilian and (b) non-civilian employees who have retired early on the grounds of ill health and the cost of such retirements. [105343]

  Mr. Straw
  Tables containing the information requested on the number of ill health retirements for civilian and non-civilian employees from each Police Authority during the past four years have been placed in the Library.

  The Police Pension Scheme is administered locally by individual police authorities. The costs of ill health retirements are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Departmental Properties
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those properties held by his Department and agencies responsible to him which are(a) wholly and (b) mainly unoccupied at present, giving locations and when they became so unoccupied in each case. [105301]

  Mr. Straw
  The requested information on unoccupied properties held by my Department and its agencies is set out in the table entitled "Wholly or mainly vacant properties on the Home Office non-prison estate".

  In addition, the Home Office is in the process of acquiring/fitting out leasehold offices in London, Croydon and Merseyside to accommodate staff for new initiatives. It is anticipated that these properties will be occupied within a few weeks of acquisition.

  Prison Estate

  A strategic plan is currently being implemented to sell surplus Prison Service-owned land by 31 March 2002. This mainly involves plots of land near existing prison establishments; however, it does include three whole sites. These are two former stores sites at Branston, Staffordshire and Steventon, Oxfordshire, which are partially unoccupied and a site at Finnamore Wood near Marlow, Buckinghamshire, which is wholly unoccupied. The Service has also recently purchased sites for development at Ashworth—Merseyside, Belmarsh—South London, Peterborough and adjacent to Birmingham prison.

  The following residential properties have been notified to the centre as being vacant. The Prison Service's Estate Section does not hold information on the length of time properties have been unoccupied and could only obtain this from the local Governors at disproportionate cost. However, the majority of the properties currently being marketed have been vacant for six months or less.
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  Wholly or mainly vacant properties on the Home Office non-prison estate

  Property

  Unoccupied from

  Reason

  Poltimore near Exeter, Devon (bunker/land)

  December 1993

  Sale with solicitors

  Hope Cove, near Salcombe, Devon (bunker/land)

  November 1992

  Three separate sales imminent

  Southwoods sub-station Southwoods, Yeovil (bunker/land)

  November 1992 but used for automatic equipment until recently

  Property to be sold

  STC Gringley, Nottinghamshire (land)

  March 1995

  Intended as a Secure Training Centre. Planning consent refused and site is being prepared for sale

  Lunar House, Croydon (offices)

  July 1999

  Property currently being refurbished for re-use

  Bridge House, London (offices)

  Acquired by HO December 1999

  To be refurbished as new UK Passport Agency HQ

  RAF Oakington, Cambridge (ex-military camp)

  Acquired by HO January 2000

  Being refurbished as an Immigration Reception Centre

  HMP Aldington, Near Ashford, Kent (ex-prison)

  August 1999

  Ex-prison estate. To be demolished and site used as an Immigration Detention Centre

  2 Marsham Street, London (offices)

  Leased by HO April 1999 (mainly unoccupied)

  Required for central London accommodation strategy. Bids expected 6 March 2000

  16 vacant staff houses at the Fire Service College, Moreton-in-Marsh

  1999 (varies, some have been vacant for a year, some have just become available)

  To be let short-term pending outcome of College review

  Vacant residential properties owned by HMPS in England and Wales listed by establishment as at 17 January 2000

  Establishment

  Property type

  Number

  Schedule A—vacant properties currently being disposed of

  Birmingham

  House

  1

  Blantyre House, Goudhurst, Kent

  House

  1

  Blundeston, Lowestoft, Sussex

  House

  1

  Deerbolt, Barnard Castle, Co. Durham

  House

  1

  Dover

  House

  1

  Everthorpe, Brough Yorkshire

  House

  2

  Exeter

  House

  1

  Feltham, Middlesex

  House

  1

  Foston Hall, Foston, Derby

  House

  1

  Guys Marsh, Shaftsbury, Dorset

  House

  1

  Haverigg, Millow, Cumbria

  House

  1

  Kirkham, Preston

  House

  3

  Vacant properties owned by HMPS in England and Wales listed by establishment as at 17 January 2000

  Establishment

  Property type

  Number

  Retention

  Schedule B—vacant properties retained on security/operational grounds (including chaplains) or for future development

  Acklington, Morpeth Northumberland

  House

  1

  Chaplain

  Askham Grange, Askham Richard York

  Flat

  3

  Operational/Security

  Belmarsh, London SE28

  House

  1

  Chaplain

  Brixton, London SW2

  Flat

  1

  Chaplain

  Brixton

  House

  1

  Chaplain

  Buckley Hall, Rochdale Lancs

  House

  2

  Operational/Security

  Cookham Wood, Rochester Kent

  House

  1

  Development

  Durham

  Flat

  4

  Chaplain

  Gartree, Market Harborough Leics

  House

  1

  Chaplain

  Hollesley Bay, Woodbridge Suffolk

  House

  1

  Operational/Security

  Holloway, London N7

  Flat

  12

  Development

  Holloway

  House

  1

  Operational/Security

  Hull

  House

  1

  Chaplain

  Huntercombe, Nuffield Oxford

  House

  1

  Chaplain

  Kirkham, Preston Lanes

  House

  1

  Chaplain

  Latchmere House, Richmond Surrey

  House

  1

  Development

  Leeds

  House

  1

  Chaplain

  Leyhill, Wotton-Under-Edge, Glos

  House

  2

  Chaplain (1)

  Lindholme, Hatfield Doncaster

  House

  2

  Chaplains

  Long Lartin, Evesham Worcs

  House

  1

  Chaplain

  Low Newton, Durham

  House

  5

  Development

  Moorland, Hatfield Doncaster

  House

  2

  Operational/Security

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  Vacant properties owned by HMPS in England and Wales listed by establishment as at 17 January 2000

  Establishment

  Property type

  Number

  Lindholme, Hatfield Doncaster

  House

  11

  Long Lartin, Evesham, Worc.

  House

  2

  Manchester

  Flat

  1

  Mount, Hemel Hempstead

  House

  1

  Parkhurst, Isle of Wight

  House

  1

  Pentonville, London N7

  House

  1

  Stockten, Stretton Leics.

  House

  13

  Wandsworth, London SW 18

  Flat

  1

  Wayland, Griston Norfolk

  House

  1

  Winchester

  House

  1

  Wormwood Scrubs, London W12

  House

  4

  Wymott, Leyland Preston

  House

  1

  469W

  Vacant properties owned by HMPS in England and Wales listed by establishment as at 17 January 2000

  Establishment

  Property type

  Number

  Retention

  Moreton Hall, Swinderby Lincoln

  House

  4

  Development

  North Sea Camp, Boston Lincolnshire

  House

  11

  Development

  Parkhurst, Isle of Wight

  House

  1

  Development

  Pentonville, London N7

  House

  1

  Operational/Security

  Portland

  House

  1

  Operational/Security

  Rochester

  House

  1

  Operational/Security

  Standford Hill, Isle of Sheppy Kent

  House

  1

  Operational/Security

  Stocken, Stretton Leics

  House

  5

  Operational/Security

  Styal, Wilmslow Cheshire

  House

  4

  Operational/Security

  Swinfen Hall, Lichfield Staffs

  House

  1

  Operational/Security

  Wandsworth, London SW18

  Flat

  1

  Defective1

  Wandsworth

  House

  1

  Chaplain

  Wormwood Scrubs, London W12

  Flat

  3

  Leasehold2

  Wormwood Scrubs

  Flats

  17

  Development

  98

  1 But plan to sell if possible

  2 Can be sold if freehold obtained

  Refugee Accommodation
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what investigations he has carried out into(a) the quality of accommodation and (b) the value for money offered by accommodation for refugees in the United Kingdom. [105575]

  Mrs. Roche
  Recognised refugees have freedom of movement within the United Kingdom and access to housing in the same way as other British residents. There is, therefore, no intention to make investigations into the quality of accommodation which they occupy.

  A procurement exercise is currently underway for accommodation for destitute asylum seekers under new arrangements for their support by the Home Office. All tenders received are commercially confidential. As part of the process of procurement, checks will be carried out to ensure the quality, suitability and value-for-money of accommodation offered in tenders. We expect these to be carried out in a number of ways, including: scrutiny of financial and other information; visits to some properties; and specified consultation with relevant local authorities.

  Seconded Staff
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff were seconded from the private sector to his Department in(a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999 and (c) May 1999 to the latest date for which figures are available, stating in each case the companies from which staff have been seconded. [103606]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 21 December 1999]: Secondments and attachments are part of the Interchange Initiative which promotes the exchange of people and good practice between the Civil Service and other organisations. All sectors of the economy are involved: Voluntary, Education, Health, Public and Private. Interchange is a key component of the reform agenda. The Modernising Government White Paper committed us to increasing interchange, in particular by bringing in more people on secondment and sending more of our people out.
  470W
  For the periods in question, two private sector staff are recorded as having been seconded to my Department. One was from Barclay's Bank between January 1997 to January 1999 and the other is from PriceWaterhouseCoopers for 12 months from 4 August 1999. Other inward secondments of three months or more recorded centrally in the above periods, were predominantly from local government, the health service, and the European Union.

PRIME MINISTER

  Ayrshire
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Prime Minister when he next plans to visit Ayrshire. [103528]

  The Prime Minister
  I have no immediate plans to do so.

  Committee on Standards in Public Life
  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about the vacancy on the Committee on Standards in Public Life. [106130]

  The Prime Minister
  I am pleased to announce that Ann Abraham has accepted my invitation to serve as a member of the Committee on Standards in Public Life in succession to Baroness Warwick of Undercliffe who stood down at the end of last year.

  I should like to take this opportunity to thank Baroness Warwick for her valuable contribution to the work of the Committee over the past five years.

  British-Irish Council
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the names of those who attended the inaugural meeting of the British-Irish Council, together with the names of their parliaments or assemblies; when and where the Council will next meet; and if he will make a statement. [105572]

  The Prime Minister
  The British-Irish Council, which was established under the Belfast Agreement, held its inaugural summit meeting in London on 17 December. The membership of the Council comprises the UK and Irish
  471W
  Governments, the devolved administrations in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales and the administrations in the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey.

  I led the UK delegation and, as host, chaired the meeting. The remainder of the UK delegation consisted of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  The other delegations were as follows:
  Ireland

  the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern TD

  the Tánaiste, Mary Harney TD

  Minister for Foreign Affairs, David Andrews TD

  Minister for Justice, John O'Donoghue

  Northern Ireland

  First Minister, the right hon. David Trimble MLA MP

  Deputy First Minister, Seamus Mallon MLA MP

  Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Sir Reg Empey MLA

  Minister for Finance and Personnel, Mark Durkan MLA

  Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Bairbre de Brún MLA

  Scotland

  First Minister, the right hon. Donald Dewar MSP MP

  Deputy First Minister, Jim Wallace MSP MP

  Permanent Secretary at the Scottish executive, Muir Russell

  Wales

  First Secretary, the right hon. Alun Michael JP AM MP

  Assembly Business Secretary, Andrew Davies AM

  Finance Secretary, Edwina Hart AM

  Isle of Man

  Chief Minister, hon. Donald Gelling MHK

  Chief Secretary, Fred Kissack

  Jersey

  President, Policy and Resources Committee, Senator Pierre Horsfall

  Chief Executive, Policy and Resources Committee, John Mills

  Guernsey

  President, Advisory and Finance Committee, Conseiller Laurie Morgan

  Chief Executive, Advisory and Finance Committee, Mike Brown.

  The Council agreed that its next summit meeting should take place in Dublin at the end of June 2000.

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Wednesday, 19 January. [105232]

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I will have further such meetings later today.

  Joint Cabinet Consultative Committee
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) how many recent papers considered by the Joint Cabinet Consultative Committee have been drafted by Liberal Democrat hon. Members; [105668]
  472W
  (2) what plans he has to establish joint working groups between Government and Liberal Democrat hon. Members with a brief to report back to the Joint Cabinet Consultative Committee. [105667]

  The Prime Minister
  As a Cabinet Committee the Joint Consultative Committee's proceedings are exempt from disclosure under the exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, dealing with internal discussion and advice.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Digital Television
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer of 13 December 1999,Official Report, column 37W, if he will list the organisations and individuals who made representations in favour of the suggested supplement to the licence fee for digital television purposes. [104113]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 10 January 2000]: We will publish details of the responses to the Davies report when we announce the outcome of the review, shortly. This will include a summary of them. Subject to obtaining the permission of the organisations concerned, we will also make available the responses themselves. Pending our obtaining that permission, the responses must be regarded as having been given in confidence.

  World Cup
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the progress of the campaign to host the 2006 football World Cup in the United Kingdom. [104793]

  Kate Hoey
  FIFA will make its final decision as to the host country for the 2006 FIFA World Cup on 6 July and so that FA's bid is entering its final critical stage of campaigning. During their visit in October last year, the FIFA Inspection Team made clear their view that England has a very strong technical bid. Efforts to convey its strengths, together with the many proposed legacy benefit associated with hosting a World Cup in England, will be maximised by the FA bid team in the coming months. The government's Envoy to the bid team will play a full part in this work.

  An integral part of recent activity by the bid team has been the stepping up of lobbying of the 24 FIFA voters, involving both receiving visitors in England and the co-ordination of overseas visits. Recent events have included attendance by members of the bid team at the 2002 FIFA World Cup Preliminary Draw in Tokyo, the FIFA Under 17 Championships in New Zealand and the World Club Championship in Brazil involving Manchester United. In the coming months the bid team will make important presentations to each of FIFA's six Confederations across the world. The timetable for these presentations is as follows:

  20 January: CAF, Ghana

  5 February: CONMEBOL, Paraguay

  12–13 May: CONCACAF, Bahamas

  18 May: AFC, Malaysia

  Week commencing 22 May: OFC, New Zealand

  30 June: UEFA, Luxembourg.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Iran
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of stockpiled(a) chemical weapons with blister, blood and choking agents and (b) bombs and artillery shells for the agents' delivery being held by Iran. [104783]

  Mr. Hain
  In conjunction with other Government Departments we regularly assess the status of a number of countries' stockpiles of chemical weapons and the equipment associated with its delivery. Such assessments draw heavily on intelligence sources and we are therefore unable to comment further.

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the long-range ballistic missile capability of Iran and its effect on the balance of power in the region. [104997]

  Mr. Hain
  We regularly discuss proliferation issues with Iran and have frequently expressed our concern about Iranian attempts to develop ballistic missile systems. We remain particularly concerned by Iran's development of the Shahab-3 ballistic missile. Such a system could pose a threat to stability in the region.

  Iran is not the only country in the region to possess such technology, and we understand Iran's legitimate security concerns. Despite this we continue to urge Iran to refrain from the development of ballistic missiles.

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the progress made by Iran towards the acquisition of non-conventional weapons. [104996]

  Mr. Hain
  In conjunction with other Government Departments, we regularly assess the status of efforts by a number of countries to develop or acquire weapons of mass destruction and the means to deliver them. Such assessments draw heavily on intelligence sources and we are therefore unable to comment further.

  Iran is a Non-Nuclear-Weapon State Party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and a State Party to the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention. We continue to encourage Iran to respect these treaties and to comply fully with its obligations under them.

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what assessment he has made of the extent to which the Iranian President is in control of Iran's Ministry of Intelligence; [105000]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the extent to which the Iranian President is in control of Iran's security services. [104999]
  474W
  Mr. Hain
  The internal workings of the Iranian Government are a matter for the Iranian people. As far as our dealings with Iran are concerned, President Khatami is the head of the Iranian Government, with responsibility for all Ministries within that Government.

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the role of(a) the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and (b) the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security in acts of terror. [105001]

  Mr. Battle
  This Government condemn terrorism in all its forms. Any such specific assessments could only come from intelligence sources and would, therefore, be exempted from disclosure under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on access to Government Information.

  Ukraine
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to Annexe 5, Paragraph 3 of the Common Strategy for the Ukraine agreed at the Helsinki European Council, when and where the Partnership Agreement with the Ukraine was negotiated; when it came or will come into effect; who were its signatories; and to what parliamentary procedures it has been or will be subject. [105082]

  Mr. Vaz
  The EU Partnership and Co-operation Agreement with Ukraine was negotiated in Brussels during 1993–94 and signed on 14 June 1994. It came into force on 1 March 1998 after ratification by all parties to the PCA: Ukraine, the 15 EU members states, the European Community, the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Atomic Energy Community.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the role of Her Majesty's Ambassador in Kiev in implementing Her Majesty's Government's policy on relations between the United Kingdom and Ukraine. [105127]

  Mr. Vaz
  Her Majesty's Ambassador in Kiev is charged with promoting the interests of the United Kingdom in Ukraine. The Ambassador plays a central role in pursuing Her Majesty's Government's policy, explaining that policy to the Government of Ukraine, and advising Her Majesty's Government on developments in Ukraine.

  International Court of Justice
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 13 December 1999,Official Report, column 19W, on the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice, if he will make a statement on the application of the Court's jurisdiction to those Member States which had not been party to any decision of the European Council taken under article 23 of the consolidated Treaty on European Union. [105133]

  Mr. Vaz
  Article 23 of the consolidated Treaty on European Union is not relevant to the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice, which is governed by Article 36 of the Statute of the Court.

  European Councils
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requirements are placed on applicants for membership of the European Union as regards accepting all the currently applicable decisions and conclusions of European Councils; and what the basis is for such requirements. [105128]

  Mr. Vaz
  In order to become members of the EU, applicants must meet the criteria agreed at the Copenhagen European Council in 1993 (annexed).

  At the opening of the accession negotiations with Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland and Slovenia on 31 March 1998, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, representing the Presidency, laid down the principles for negotiation, emphasising the necessity of
  "full acceptance of the actual and potential rights and obligations attaching to the Union system and its institutional framework, known as the 'acquis' of the Union".

  This includes the decisions and conclusions of European Councils. The applicant's acceptance of the 'acquis' may give rise to technical adjustments, and exceptionally to non-permanent transitional measures. The same principles will govern the accession negotiations with Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Romania and Slovakia, which will begin in February 2000.

  Ilisu Dam
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 10 January 2000,Official Report, column 31W, on the Ilisu Dam, what specific issues were raised by the Syrian Ambassador about the Ilisu Dam at his meeting with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 23 December. [R] [104853]

  Mr. Hain
  The Syrian Ambassador asked the FCO to take full account of the impact of the Ilisu Dam project on the Syrian economy and people, on relations between Syria and Turkey, and on legal obligations.

  These issues are reflected in the statement by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 21 December, which outlined the UK's four key concerns, including the need for an assurance that adequate downstream water flows be maintained at all times.

  Counter-terrorism (USA)
  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has received a copy of the testimony of the Co-ordinator for Counter-terrorism in the US State Department before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on 2 November 1999; and if he will make a statement. [105002]

  Mr. Battle
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has received a copy of the State Department's testimony. We liaise closely with the United States on counter-terrorism issues both bilaterally and in international fora, such as the G8.

  Iraq
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what goods on the UK Military List have recently been approved for export to Iraq. [106111]

  Mr. Hain
  Following consultation with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Trade and Industry recently approved a licence to export 160 protective vests to Iraq for use by UN personnel in a humanitarian demining programme. The export of the equipment to Iraq was approved under the oil for Food Programme by the UN Sanctions Committee.

  Departmental Properties
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those properties held by his Department and agencies responsible to him which are(a) wholly and (b) mainly unoccupied at present, giving locations and when they became so unoccupied in each case. [105302]

  Mr. Battle
  The following properties are wholly unoccupied:

  Frankfurt former Residence—vacant since 1998

  Jakarta former Residence—vacant since 1996

  PlymouthformerResidence—vacant since 1995(owned by Government of Montserrat)

  St. Johns former Residence—vacant since 1999

  Tripoli Offices—vacant since 1984.

  The following properties are mainly unoccupied:

  Baghdad Offices—since 1991

  Ho Chi Minh City former Residence—since 1993

  Kabul Offices—since 1992

  Old Admiralty Building, London—since 1999.

  India
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received concerning the Vishwa Hindu Parishad Organisation's attack on a Christian meeting in India; and if he will make a statement. [105576]

  Mr. Hain
  We are aware of reports of attacks on Christians in India and have received many letters on this subject. We have made clear our concern about attacks on religious minorities to the Indian authorities on a number of occasions. I raised this most recently with my Indian interlocutors, including the Indian Minister of State for External Affairs, during my visit there in November.

  Indonesia
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy on extending the arms embargo on Indonesia; and if he will make a statement. [105578]

  Mr. Hain
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Pound) on 17 January 2000,Official Report, column 325W.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Debt Relief
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is the role of her Department in monitoring and measuring the bilateral debt relief programme. [105681]

  Mr. Foulkes
  Our Department has no direct role in monitoring and measuring the use of the bilateral debt relief which is provided as part of an international agreement, including that given under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative. We strongly welcome the sharpened poverty focus of the HIPC Initiative agreed in September 1999. In order to benefit under the enhanced Initiative, HIPC countries will have to produce a poverty reduction strategy (PRS), based around the achievement of the international development targets. Our Department is closely engaged in the international discussions on the development of these strategies, including how they will be monitored. We place great importance on both civil society and the international community being able to monitor their implementation, and we recognise that increased international efforts will be required in this area. In November 1999, the Partnership in Statistics for Development in the 21st Century was launched. Its aims are to provide statistical assistance to HIPC countries in producing their poverty reduction strategies and to develop sustainable statistical capacity in the longer term, to inform and support pro-poor policy making, and programme design. DFID is devoting additional resources to achieve these aims, both bilaterally and multilaterally.

  Bilateral debt relief provided on aid loans owed to our Department is given in the context of our development partnership, and monitored in the same way as all other programmes and projects. The Government have recently announced that they will provide 100 per cent. relief on all the bilateral debt owed to the Export Credit Guarantee Department by qualifying HIPC countries. No additional conditionality will be attached to the provision of this relief nor will special efforts be made to monitor its use. We are confident that the conditions of the revised HIPC Initiative are sufficient to guarantee that monies freed up will be spent on poverty reduction.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if the British Council will be involved in monitoring the outcome of debt relief measures. [105683]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The British Council will not be involved in monitoring the outcome of debt relief measures.

  Mr. Dobbin
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the countries that will benefit from debt relief, stating(a) by how much in each case and (b) their order of priority. [105235]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The following 41 countries are classified as Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC):Angola, Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Kenya, Lao PDR, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique,
  478W
  Myanmar, Nicaragua, Niger, Rwanda, Sao Tome, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Vietnam, Yemen, and Zambia.

  To date, debt relief has been provided (in net present value terms) under the HIPC Initiative as follows:

  Countries

  Date

  $ million

  Uganda

  April 1998

  347

  Bolivia

  September 1998

  448

  Guyana

  May 1999

  256

  Mozambique

  July 1999

  1,716

  No other country has received debt relief under HIPC to date, and it is not possible to provide figures on what each will receive in the future. Following the revisions agreed last September, the HIPC Initiative will provide faster, deeper and wider debt relief. This will amount to around $50 billion (in nominal terms), which is more than twice as much as under the original framework. The countries listed will receive additional debt relief, and those countries yet to receive relief will be assessed against the new debt sustainability ratios.

  Countries not classified as HIPC may nevertheless receive assistance with their debt from the Paris Club of official bilateral creditors. There are a variety of terms which may be offered to a debtor country, in the form of debt reduction for the poorest countries and debt rescheduling.

  The Government are pressing for the speedy implementation of the revised HIPC framework. Our target, which was agreed by the international community last year, is for three-quarters of eligible HIPC countries to be receiving relief on their debts by the end of 2000.

  Kosovo
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to visit Kosovo. [105688]

  Clare Short
  I have no plans to do so.

  Departmental Casual Staff
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the number of casual staff employed by her Department for every quarter since 1 May 1997. [105682]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The information is provided in the table:

  Date

  Number of casual staff in post1

  1 October

  30

  1 July 1999

  40

  1 April 1999

  32

  1 January 1999

  29

  1 October 1998

  32

  1 July 1998

  40

  1 April 1998

  39

  1 January 1998

  39

  1 October 1997

  40

  1 July 1997

  43

  1 Data is available only for the total number of casual staff in post as at the beginning of each quarter. The figures are provided on this basis

  Departmental Website
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what was the cost of(a) setting up and (b) updating her Department's website; and how often it is updated. [105692]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The Department for International Development's (DFID) website was set up in 1997 at an initial cost of £10,000. The annual maintenance cost is £12,000 and development costs for 1998–99 were £3,500. The website is updated regularly, usually on a daily basis.

  Poverty Reduction
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the role of the IMF in poverty reduction. [105236]

  Mr. Foulkes
  At the Annual Meetings of the World bank and IMF in September 1999, as part of the discussion on revision of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative it was agreed that all low-income countries would produce poverty reduction strategies (PRS). The process of developing these strategies will be led by national Governments, and involve discussion with civil society and the international community, including the IMF. They will integrate macro-economic objectives, structural reforms and social policies and programmes, and centre on the achievement of the international development targets. The IMF have committed themselves to providing their assistance to the poorest countries within the framework of these poverty reduction strategies; as a sign of this new focus, the Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility (ESAF) has been redesignated as the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF).

  This commitment to the poverty reduction strategy approach is consistent with the recommendations of the 1998 Review of ESAF, which proposed that the IMF should take more account of the social impact of their programmes, consider the quality of Government expenditure and protect budgets in high priority areas such as health and education. It encouraged greater joint working with the World bank, and emphasised the need to build broad-based support for reform programmes, to ensure their success. Following proposals put forward by the UK, the World bank, in consultation with the IMF and the UN, has developed principles of good practices in social policy. We envisage that these principles will be drawn upon in the design of poverty reduction strategies and supporting donor programmes.

  Departmental Smoking Policy
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action she is taking to reduce smoking in her Department. [105798]

  Mr. Foulkes
  Smoking is not permitted in the workplace. However, separate accommodation is available for staff and visitors who wish to smoke occasionally. In addition, we provide staff with information on the health implications of smoking and offer counselling and support to those who want to give up smoking.

  Staff Bonuses
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much her Department, its agencies and associated public bodies spent in total on extra bonuses above usual payments for staff working over the new year period; what were the(a) maximum and (b) minimum bonuses paid; how many people received the (i) maximum and (ii) minimum payments; and if she will make a statement. [104469]

  Clare Short
  The total spent on extra bonuses to civil servants in my Department was £16,900. Twenty-nine people received the maximum payment of £500. Fifteen people received the minimum bonus of £100.

  This was mainly to ensure that the Department for International Development's (DFID) information systems world wide were functioning properly and to correct any problems before the resumption of normal business on 4 January.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Small Business Service
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Government will publish its response to the consultation document on the Small Business Service. [105978]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have today placed in the Library of both Houses a document which gives a summary of the replies to the consultation and sets out the Government's response.

  We had an excellent response to the consultation to shape the remit of the Small Business Service. We received 700 replies from a wide range of individuals and organisations, including many small businesses. The vast majority warmly welcomed our proposals.

  I look forward to the launch of the Small Business Service this April under its Chief Executive, David Irwin.

  Household Products (Pesticides)
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set out the labelling requirements which apply to the presence of(a) Lindane and (b) other pesticides in household products. [104652]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 13 January 2000]: All non-agricultural pesticides supplied to consumers must be approved under the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 (as amended), which require, among other things, that manufacturers must name on the product label the active ingredient(s), such as Lindane, present in the product. Under the regulations, a scientific assessment by the relevant Registration Authority (MAFF or HSE) of each individual product is carried out. This evaluation indicates what other labelling information is required, such as the safe use of the product and warnings about precautions that should be taken. Following approval, products are subject to an on-going review programme which ensures that the data on which the product approvals are based meets current safety standards.

  Developing Countries
  Mr. Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his statement to the House on 9 December 1999,Official Report, column 1024, on the World Trade Organisation, what steps the Director General of the World Trade Organisation has taken to achieve the objective of a five-fold increase in the budget for technical assistance and capacity building for developing countries. [104588]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Director General made a plea to all WTO members to increase regular budget funding for technical assistance to which he hoped to secure agreement in Seattle in the context of wider agreement on the launch of the new Round. In the absence of the wider agreement, there is as yet no consensus for enhanced regular budget funding of technical assistance. The UK will pursue this further in the WTO Budget Committee in Geneva and in discussions with EU and other partners.

  Arms Exports
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will provide details of the licences granted(a) for the export of weapons silencers to Turkey since 2 May 1997 and (b) to Law Enforcement International Ltd. for the export of weapons silencers since 2 May 1997. [104156]

  Dr. Howells
  The entry in the legislation under which the export of goods is controlled is known as their rating and most ratings cover a range of goods. Weapons silencers are controlled under entries ML1, ML2, ML6 and PL5018 in Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, as amended, commonly known as the Military List.

  As regards export licences granted for the export of weapons silencers to Turkey between 2 May 1997 and 31 December 1998, details of export licensing decisions in this period were set out in the Government's Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls, published by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; copies are in the Library of the House. As regards licences granted since 1 January 1999, the Export Control Organisation's computer databases have been interrogated. Between 1 January 1999 and 3 January 2000, 21 Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) and no Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs) were issued for the export of goods with a relevant rating to consignees or end users in Turkey. The paper records of the 21 SIELs have been examined and none covered the export of weapons silencers.

  As regards export licences granted to Law Enforcement International Limited for the export of weapons silencers, inquiries are being made under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Where confidential information is involved, the parties concerned may be asked if they object to disclosure, and this can take some time. I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible and place a copy of that letter in the Library of the House.

  This information should be considered in light of the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Kingswood (Mr. Berry) on 27 July 1999, Official Report, columns 307–08W.

  Insolvency Practices Council
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the salary is of the newly-appointed chairman of the Insolvency Practices Council. [104889]

  Dr. Howells
  The Insolvency Practices Council is an independent body which is to be funded by IPR Services Ltd., a company limited by guarantee set up by the insolvency recognised professional bodies. Questions concerning the salary of Mr. Graham Kentfield, the recently appointed chairman of the Council, are a matter for that company.

  British Business Promotion
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what initiatives his Department is taking to promote British business abroad. [105268]

  Mr. Caborn
  British Trade International brings together DTI and FCO responsibilities for trade development and promotion in a new unified operation. The goals of British Trade International are set out in a National Strategy, which was published on 29 October 1999.

  Copies of the Strategy have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Truck Manufacturing (North-West)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assistance he is giving to truck manufacturing in the north-west. [105263]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  While truck manufacturers based in the north-west of England have received no direct financial assistance from my Department in recent years, officials in London and the Government Office for the north-west in Manchester provide help and advice on a number of issues. In addition, north-west truck manufacturers benefit from wider automotive industry competitiveness and technology initiatives. These include the SMMT Industry Forum, to which the DTI has contributed £6.5 million, and the DTI-led Foresight Vehicle programme, to which the Government are contributing £12 million.

  Car Pricing
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on car pricing in the UK. [105276]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The Competition Commission is currently investigating the supply of new cars in the United Kingdom. I have no doubt the Commission is looking at car prices as part of its investigation.

  The Commission is due to deliver its report to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 31 January. The report will be published as soon as practicable.

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the effect of the strong pound on UK manufacturing industry in the last 12 months. [105271]
  483W
  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The Government understand the concerns of businesses, and particularly manufacturers trading with Europe, about the value of the pound. However, there are increasing signs that companies are adjusting to the high value of sterling. In the third quarter the volume of exports of goods and services grew at the fastest rate for 20 years. Manufacturing output also increased over the same period by 1.2 per cent., the fastest quarterly rate of growth since 1994, and the CBI's business confidence indicator is also at its highest level since April 1995.

  Electricity Meters
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many properties in(a) Tamworth and (b) the United Kingdom have electric card meters; what proportion this represents of all properties; and how much is paid for electricity by a customer using (i) an electric card meter and (ii) standard payment methods. [105146]

  Mrs. Liddell
  There are no electric card pre-payment meters in Tamworth but there are 5,329 token meters. In the United Kingdom there are 3.6 million pre-payment meters (including card and token meters). This represents around 15 per cent. of the number of domestic customers in the United Kingdom (as at March 1998). An average annual bill for an East Midlands Electricity customer on a pre-payment meter tariff would be £263.15 as opposed to £241.95 for a standard payment tariff (both based on a consumption of 3,300 kWh).

  Post Offices
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry by what means individuals will be able to exercise their proposed right of access to a post office in circumstances where an existing postmaster or postmistress is retiring and no other person is willing to continue the business. [105150]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  For the first time the Government will be setting criteria for access to postal services, and there will be a requirement in law for the new Postal Services Commission to monitor these criteria to ensure that they are being met, and to advise my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State of any concerns about access to postal services in local areas. Particular attention will be paid to rural and socially deprived areas. Following work by the Performance and Innovation Unit (PIU), access criteria for Post Office services will be announced within the next few months.

  Sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses own their businesses and any decision to sell or retire is a matter for them. But our proposals will ensure that the effects of their decision on the provision of services in local areas can be considered. Under our proposals, where an individual sub-post office closes, individuals will be able to appeal to the Post Office Users' Council about the provision of post offices in their area if they do not receive a satisfactory response from the Post Office. Using the access criteria as a benchmark, the Users' Council, through the Commission, will take up specific cases with the Post Office to ensure the access criteria are met.

  Coal Industry
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will formulate plans for state aid to the UK coal industry which are compliant with article 2(1) of Commission Decision 3632/93/ECSC. [104902]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 17 January 2000]: Article 2 (1) of Commission Decision 3632/93/ECSC sets out the three objectives for which aid to the coal industry might be considered compatible with the ECSC Treaty.

  The Judgment of the Court of First Instance of 9 September 1999 in respect of case T-220/98 made it clear that the three objectives listed correspond individually to particular categories of aid.

  The first category refers to operating aid under Article 3 of the Decision, which must cause no distortion of competition or discrimination between UK coal producers or users, requires a plan showing a significant reduction in operating costs over the period to July 2002 with the prospect of viability thereafter. There is also a requirement for degression of aid.

  The second category is in respect of aid to solve the social and regional problems created by total or partial reduction in the activity of production units. Aid for the Reduction of Activity under Article 4 requires a closure date to be set, which must normally be before expiry of the Decision in 2002. There is no provision for investment aid within the ECSC state aid code set out in the Decision. The Government have Commission approval under Article 5 of Decision 3632/93/ECSC to pay state aid up to £891 million over the period to July 2002 in respect of residual environmental and ex-employee liabilities inherited from British Coal.

  The third category covers objectives to help the coal industry adjust to the introduction of new environmental protection standards which require the modification of existing installations.

  We are continuing to work constructively with the industry to promote a level playing field for coal both in the UK and in Europe, and to identify undue regulatory burdens.

  Departmental Smoking Policy
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he is taking to reduce smoking in his Department. [105792]

  Dr. Howells
  In buildings occupied and controlled by my Department, smoking is permitted only in a small number of designated rooms or areas. Advice and guidance is available to staff who wish to give up, cut down, or control their smoking.

  Holbeck Holdings
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the date is of the most recent documents received by Companies House concerning the financial standing of Holbeck Holdings of Kilmarnock. [105295]

  Dr. Howells
  Holbeck Holdings Ltd., Company number 0609393, has its registered office in Horncastle, Lincolnshire. It has a wholly owned subsidiary, Buitelaar (Kilmarnock) Ltd., Company number2190181, with
  485W
  the same registered office address. Accounts for both companies for the year to 30 April 1998 were received on 14 January 1999 and subsequently registered by Companies House.

  Export Credits Guarantee Scheme
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the savings from the recently announced changes to the export credits guarantee scheme in the(a) current and (b) next four financial years. [105839]

  Mr. Caborn
  [holding answer 18 January 2000]: ECGD's new Fixed Rate Export Finance (FREF) scheme, which became effective on 1 December, is designed to achieve an improved balance between the interests of the UK exporter and the taxpayer. Financial outturn under the scheme will depend on a number of factors, including the future mix and level of business, which is uncertain. But if the recent business mix is maintained over the coming period, taxpayer savings of around £1 million per annum should accrue for every £1 billion of new loan outstanding supported under the scheme.

  Synchrotron Project
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the ADD Report the synchrotron project will be made available to the public. [105625]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 18 January 2000]: The full ADD Report will not be made available to the public. Its release is exempt under Part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (Exemption 2— Internal discussions and advice; Exemption 7—Effective management of operations of the public service). The key conclusions of the report together with a summary will be published following the site announcement.

  Minimum Wage
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact of the minimum wage on the(a) level of employment and (b) profitability of businesses. [104882]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The Government asked the independent Low Pay Commission to report on the implementation of the national minimum wage, particularly its impact on employment and competitiveness. We received the Commission's Report in December and will publish the Report and the Government's response as soon as Ministers have had an opportunity to consider its findings and recommendations.

  Nuclear Materials (Safeguards)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on how many occasions nuclear materials have been withdrawn from safeguards under the provisions of the Tripartite Agreement between the UK, Euratom and IAEA since May 1997; and if he will list the nuclear establishments involved and respective reasons for withdrawal. [104701]

  Dr. Howells
  Between May 1997 and the end of 1999 there were 20 advance notifications of the withdrawal of nuclear material from safeguards pursuant to Article 14 of the UK/AEA/Euratom Safeguards Agreement. The 486W
  withdrawals comprised small quantities of material for use in instrument calibration or radiation detectors, or as analytical tracers or radiological shielding. The organisations from which the withdrawals took place were UKAEA Harwell, the National Physical Laboratory, Nycomed Amersham, Centronics Ltd., and RSL Equipment Ltd. The establishments to which the material concerned was transferred were AWE Aldermaston, HM Naval Base Devonport, DERA Gosport and NRTE Vulcan, Dounreay.

  As indicated by the previous Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle), in his answer of 19 October 1998, Official Report, column 1046W, a study of data on withdrawals from safeguards which took place prior to announcement of the outcome of the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) is being conducted, the outcome of which will be made public later this year.

DEFENCE

  Nancekuke Base, Cornwall
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence further to his answer to the hon. Member for Salisbury of 11 November 1999,Official Report, columns 707–08W, on work at Nancekuke, if any additional information has come to light. [104505]

  Mr. Spellar
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answers given to my hon. Friend the Member for Falmouth and Camborne (Ms Atherton) on 11 January 2000,Official Report, columns 125–26W.

  Ms Atherton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on substances buried at the Nancekuke base in Cornwall. [105606]

  Mr. Spellar
  A Land Quality Assessment is currently under way at RAF Portreath, formerly Nancekuke, in line with the Ministry of Defence's policy of undertaking such assessments over a 10 year period from 1996. As part of this work, surface soil and water samples have been taken for laboratory analysis. This analysis has revealed no signs of contamination from toxic agents.

  Common Foreign and Security Policy
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answers of 6 December 1999,Official Report, columns 343–44W, on the common foreign and security policy, if he will make a statement on developments in the issues referred to in his answers following the European Council in Helsinki in December 1999. [105657]

  Mr. Hoon
  At the Helsinki European Council, EU member states committed themselves to improving their military capabilities so that they will be better able to assemble, deploy rapidly and sustain effective forces for NATO or EU-led operations. In particular, they agreed a headline goal, specifying that by 2003 they should be able to deploy within 60 days, and sustain for at least one year, military forces of up to 50,000–60,000 persons capable of undertaking the full range of Petersberg tasks.
  487W
  The Helsinki European Council also confirmed the political and military structures that will be necessary for the EU to decide and act in response to crises, where NATO as a whole is not engaged. To this end, EU member states agreed to establish a permanent EU Political and Security Committee, an EU Military Committee, and an EU Military Staff, with interim bodies to be established by March 2000.

  This work will be taken forward under the Portuguese Presidency of the EU.

  Training Exercises (Ration Packs)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the level of availability of ration packs for training exercises in the field; and what orders have been issued to limit distribution of such items. [105590]

  Mr. Spellar
  A food war reserve of Operational Ration Packs (ORP) is maintained to support operational deployments. ORP is a lifed product and stock is turned over accordingly. The ORP that is turned over is made available for training and exercises and its distribution is agreed annually with the Services in line with availability. Reductions in the amount of stock carried as a war reserve have reduced the amount of ORP turned over. The implications for the training programme are currently being evaluated, including the option to procure additional ration packs specifically for training.

  Kosovo
  Dr. Brand
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of the British contribution to the intervention in Kosovo to the end of 1999; and what are the projected costs for 2000. [105503]

  Mr. Hoon
  As at the end of October, the Ministry of Defence had incurred net additional expenditure of £125 million on Kosovo operations this financial year. The figure is expected to rise to just below £400 million by the end of 1999–2000.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the costs of the Kosovo deployment for the current financial year. [105618]

  Mr. Hoon
  [holding answer 18 January 2000]: The net additional expenditure incurred this financial year on Kosovo operations is expected to be just below £400 million. I have agreed with my Treasury colleagues that these costs will be covered by the Reserve and I am currently discussing the details in the context of my Department's Spring Supplementary Estimates.

  Departmental Land (Access Rights)
  Mr. Michael J. Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what rights of access currently exist for hunting wild mammals with dogs on his Department's land. [105496]

  Mr. Spellar
  There are 35 licensed fox hunts and beagle packs that have access to areas of Ministry of Defence land. The areas into which access is permitted are agreed, with each individual hunt or pack, at the time the annual licence is issued. Entry into these areas is 488W
  determined throughout the licence period against the military training requirement, which will always take priority.

  HMS Westminster
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 10 January 2000,Official Report, columns 97–98W, concerning HMS Westminster and the In Year Budget Management Measure, what were the sums allocated for fuel for the Fleet in the current year and in the two previous years; and what provision is made in the budget for increases in fuel prices. [105148]

  Mr. Spellar
  The sums allocated for fuel for the Fleet (HM Warships and RFAs) in the current year and the two previous years were as follows:

  £ million

  1997–98

  34.572

  1998–99

  40.283

  1999–2000

  137.924

  1 The allocation for the current year includes £9.5 million over and above the original allocation.

  No specific provision is made in the budget for increases in fuel prices, however my Department uses normal in year management flexibility to cope with the effects of short-term changes such as this.

  Departmental Properties
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those properties held by his Department and agencies responsible to him which are(a) wholly and (b) mainly unoccupied at present, giving locations and when they became so unoccupied in each case. [105306]

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

  Meteor Missiles
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what safeguards have been offered to ensure that the UK maintains control over the sale of Meteor missiles as part of the package with Eurofighter Typhoons to third countries. [105648]

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

  Armed Forces Discipline Bill
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Special Investigation Bureau investigators are currently employed and at what locations; and by how many he will expand the service following the enactment of the Armed Forces Discipline Bill. [105649]

  Mr. Spellar
  The information requested is as follows:

  The Naval Service
  The Royal Naval Special Investigation Branch comprises a total of 20 investigators, all of whom are based at Portsmouth, but who have a Fleet and world-wide remit. It is not intended to expand their numbers following the enactment of the Armed Forces Discipline Bill.
  489W
  The Army

  Location

  Number

  Upavon

  5

  Colchester

  6

  Aldershot

  13

  Shorncliffe

  2

  Bulford

  11

  Plymouth

  1

  Bulford (HQ)

  15

  York

  5

  Catterick

  6

  Hounslow

  8

  Edinburgh

  7

  Donnington

  7

  Preston

  1

  Chichester (Trg)

  9

  Hohne

  7

  Osnabruck

  7

  Bielefeld

  3

  Gutersloh

  6

  Rheindahlen (Inc)

  16

  Sennelager

  7

  Northern Ireland

  20

  Cyprus

  4

  Canada (BATUS)

  11

  Total

  167

  The table shows the number of Special Investigation Branch investigators by their permanent location. Eleven of the 167 are currently on overseas short detachments (five to Kosovo, five to Bosnia, and one to East Timor).
  There are no plans to increase specific SIB numbers due to the enactment of the Armed Forces Discipline Bill. However, planning for the implementation of the likely provisions of the Act once it has passed into law is under way, and current plans provide for an increase in the overall number of Royal Military Police (other than SIB). As that work progresses over the coming months, that number will be refined and confirmed.

  The RAF
  The following table shows the number of RAF personnel employed in the criminal investigation element of the RAF's Provost and Security Services (P&SS).

  Location

  Number

  RAF Henlow (HQ)

  34

  RAF Cranwell

  10

  RAF Linton-on-Ouse

  11

  RAF Buchan

  7

  RAF Halton

  11

  RAF Innsworth

  14

  Rheindahlen

  7

  Cyprus

  5

  Gibraltar

  1

  Falkland Islands

  1

  Total

  101

  The RAF has no plans to expand the P&SS organisation following the enactment of the Armed Forces Discipline Bill.

  Courts Martial Centres
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the locations of courts martial centres. [105650]

  Mr. Spellar
  The information requested is as follows.
  490W
  Naval Service

  Portsmouth

  Plymouth

  Faslane

  Yeovilton

  Army

  Aldershot

  Bulford

  Catterick

  Colchester

  Long Kesh, Northern Ireland

  Hohne

  Osnabruck

  Gutersloh

  RAF
  The RAF does not have dedicated courts-martial centres. Individual courts-martial are normally held at the defendant's unit.

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the change in the size of the Territorial Army was in each of the last six months. [103926]

  Mr. Spellar
  The change in size of the Territorial Army in each of the last six months for which figures are available was as follows:

  Number

  1 December 1999

  -314

  1 November 1999

  876

  1 October 1999

  -505

  1 September 1999

  -521

  1 August 1999

  -1,177

  1 July 1999

  -1,867

  Note:

  The above figures do not include non-regular permanent staff (NRPS).

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total intake of new recruits to the Territorial Army was in each of the last six months. [103927]

  Mr. Spellar
  The total intake of new recruits to the Territorial Army in each of the last six months for which figures are available was as follows:

  Number

  June 1999

  517

  July 1999

  395

  August 1999

  471

  September 1999

  531

  October 1999

  1,779

  November 1999

  712

  Note:

  The above figures do not include non-regular permanent staff (NRPS).

  MOD Hospital Units
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of(a) the value for money provided by Ministry of Defence hospital units and (b) their ability to meet future demands. [104416]
  491W
  Mr. Spellar
  A detailed study of the size and shape of the future operational requirements for medical support was carried out in 1995. This study endorsed the strategy of greater integration with the NHS mainly through the creation of Ministry of Defence Hospital Units. This integration has been shown to be more effective than previous arrangements, particularly in ensuring military medical staff receive the required training. A recent further review has endorsed the continuation of this policy to meet current and future demands for the delivery of secondary care.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Chesterfield (Mr. Benn) of 14 December 1999,Official Report, column 93W, if he will publish those data on sub-critical nuclear test experiments and the exchange of details between the United States and the United Kingdom, which have been made publicly available in the United States of America. [104727]

  Mr. Hoon
  We are not aware that US authorities have made public either the precise data obtained as a result of their sub-critical nuclear test experiments or details of any exchanges with the UK on the subject which are withheld here under the terms of Exemption Category 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. However, details of the intention to conduct such tests and a general description of their purpose have been published in the USA and on the Internet, for example at the US Department of Energy website http://www.doe.gov.

  Operational Areas
  Mr. Healey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the areas in which British armed forces have been(a) deployed and (b) stationed since 1970 which (i) have and (ii) have not been designated as an operational area. [104812]

  Mr. Spellar
  Information on the many areas throughout the world in which elements of the British Armed Forces have been deployed and stationed since 1970 is available in the annual Statements on the Defence Estimates publications. However there is no centrally collated list covering all these locations or which of those were at the time designated as an operational area, and such a list could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

  Cluster Bombs
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cluster bombs were used by United Kingdom forces during the Kosovo campaign; and what is his estimate of the number of(a) sub-munitions within the cluster bombs that did not detonate on impact and (b) locations where there are undetonated sub-munitions. [104863]

  Mr. Hoon
  During Operation Allied Force, some 500 RBL 755 Cluster Bombs were dropped by the RAF against specific, identified, military targets.

  The bomblets (sub-munitions) within cluster bombs are designed to detonate on impact, but as with any other similar munitions, a small percentage may fail to do so.
  492W
  The manufacturer's estimated failure rate for the RBL 755 cluster bombs used by the UK during the Kosovo campaign is approximately 5 per cent.

  KFOR has now cleared over 7,400 cluster bomb munitions throughout Kosovo, in addition to some 6,100 Serbian anti-personnel mines and 3,400 anti-tank mines. All unexploded ordnance sites in the UK sector of Kosovo have now been marked and 90 per cent. of unexploded cluster bomb munitions cleared.

  RAF Chilmark
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost since the closure of RAF Chilmark of(a) annual maintenance and (b) cleaning and preparing the site for disposal. [104801]

  Mr. Spellar
  The total cost of annual maintenance at RAF Chilmark since closure of the site in 1995 is in the order of £490,000. The cost of cleaning and preparing the site for sale in accordance with MOD policy has amounted to £371,460.

WALES

  Farming
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met the First Secretary to discuss farming in Wales. [103494]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I meet the First Secretary on a weekly basis and we discuss a range of issues, including farming in Wales.

  Countryside (Access)
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received on the Government's proposals for greater access to the countryside. [103495]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I have received letters on this issue and I met the Country Landowners Association in October and the Countryside Council for Wales in December to discuss this and other issues.

  Livestock Industry
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales on prospects for the Welsh livestock industry and their implications for the economy of cross-border areas. [103496]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I meet the First Secretary on a weekly basis and we discuss a range of issues, including the Welsh livestock industry. I am acutely aware of the long-term problems facing Welsh agriculture, which is heavily dependent on livestock, and the current difficulties.

  A number of steps have been taken to address the difficulties faced by the farming community such as the package announced last September by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and measures introduced by the Assembly. However our priority must be to restructure the industry

  493W
  to produce a stable, sustainable and prosperous future for Welsh farming and I know that this is something which the Assembly is working towards.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the opportunities through national lottery funding for promoting cultural exchanges between Wales and Ireland, Scotland, Cornwall, Brittany and the Isle of Man. [103499]

  Mr. Hanson
  The Secretary of State for Wales meets the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on a regular basis to discuss a number of issues, including cultural exchanges and the broad priorities for future distribution of lottery funding in Wales through the New Opportunities Fund.

  He would welcome the development of cultural exchanges between Wales and Ireland, Scotland, Cornwall, Brittany and the Isle of Man, but it would be for the promoters of those exchanges to explore appropriate sources of funding.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales to discuss the impact on pensioners in Wales of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's pre-Budget Statement. [103500]

  Mr. Hanson
  The Secretary of State meets the First Secretary regularly, and was pleased to be able to inform him that the Chancellor's pre-Budget Statement guarantees the £100 fuel allowance every year for 585,000 Welsh pensioners, that the 230,000 Welsh pensioners who are over 75 will get free television licences, and that the Minimum Pension Guarantee will be up-rated in line with earnings instead of inflation.

  Care Provision
  Ms Julie Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has met the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales to discuss the Government's legislative programme and its impact on care provision in Wales. [103502]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has met the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales to discuss the impact on care provision of the Government's legislative programme. [103511]

  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has met the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales to discuss the Government's legislative programme and its impact on care provision in Wales. [103498]

  Mr. Hanson
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have both had discussions with the First Secretary and Assembly members about the Government's legislative programme. The Bills that will impact on care provision in Wales have, of course, been included in these discussions.

  National Assembly for Wales
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on how many occasions he has attended and participated in the proceedings of the Assembly. [103503]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I have attended and participated in one plenary session of the Assembly, the debate on the Government's legislative programme.

  Transport
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has met the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales to discuss the Government's legislative programme and its impact on transport in Wales. [103504]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I have regular meetings with the First Secretary to discuss a wide range of issues including transport and its impact in Wales.

  The introduction of the Transport Bill on 1 December 1999 shows the Government's continued commitment to provide an integrated transport policy for both England and Wales.

  I am keen to ensure that the interests of Wales are fully met and will maintain dialogue with Cabinet colleagues and the Assembly.

  European Union
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what occasions a Minister of the Welsh Executive has(a) accompanied a United Kingdom Minister for discussions with the European Union and (b) led on behalf of the UK at discussions with the European Union. [103505]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding and Concordat on Co-ordination of European Union Policy Issues between the United Kingdom Government, Scottish Ministers and the Cabinet of the National Assembly for Wales, Assembly Secretaries are eligible to form part of UK delegations to the Council of Ministers, by agreement. Decisions on Ministerial attendance, and on whether Ministers from the devolved administrations could speak on behalf of the UK in Council, are taken on a case by case basis by the lead Minister.

  To date, no Assembly Secretary has done so. However, I understand that Assembly Secretaries are actively considering which Councils they will be seeking to attend in future.

  Worldwide Web
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what new proposals he has to increase the use of the worldwide web by his Department. [103506]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I have no immediate plans to increase the use of the Web by my Department.

  Unitary Authorities
  Mr. Geraint Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the adequacy
  495W
  of the size of individual unitary authorities in relation to (a) financial viability and (b) maintaining consistent standards of service delivery. [103507]

  Mr. Hanson
  I meet the Assembly Cabinet's Secretary for Local Government on a regular basis to ensure that I am well informed on local government in Wales. However, the adequacy of the size of individual unitary authorities in Wales is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales, to which responsibility for local government has been devolved.

  SMEs
  Mrs. Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has met the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales to discuss the impact on small and medium-sized enterprises in Wales of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's pre-Budget Statement and the Government's legislative programme. [103508]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I regularly meet the First Secretary to discuss a variety of issues including SMEs. The First Secretary, the Government and I recognise the importance of SMEs to the Welsh economy and the UK as a whole. The Chancellor of the Exchequer's pre-Budget Statement unveiled plans for £45 million of enterprise grants to foster the growth of SMEs throughout the UK and represents the Government's continuing commitment to stimulate an already established enterprise culture.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary about United Kingdom assistance to small and medium-sized businesses. [103509]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I meet the First Secretary regularly and discuss a variety of issues, including assistance to small and medium-sized businesses. Measures giving assistance to small and medium-size businesses were announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer's last pre-budget statement. The introduction of funds for the UK is expected to be worth at least £125 million. These funds will provide welcome but necessary development and support to new and already established ventures.

  Regulation
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the regulatory burden on businesses in Wales arising from primary legislation. [103510]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The Government will introduce the Regulatory Reform Bill this Session. This Bill will make provision to widen the deregulation order making power currently available under the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994.

  The National Assembly for Wales is being consulted on this and the Wales Office are working to ensure that burdens on business in Wales, as well as in England, stemming from inappropriate or excessive regulation can be tackled under the proposed new order-making power.

  Information about the impact of all regulations—which is not held separately for primary and secondary legislation—is held centrally by the Cabinet Office Regulatory Impact Unit. It is not broken down for different areas of the UK but relates to the UK as a whole.

  Students (Funding)
  Mr. St. Aubyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received on the funding of students at Welsh universities. [103512]

  Mr. Hanson
  None.

  Health Resources
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the outcome of his recent discussions with the First Minister on the allocation of health resources in Wales. [103513]

  Mr. Hanson
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I have regular discussions about the NHS in Wales with the First Secretary. These discussions often cover health resources, but it is for the Assembly to decide on the allocation of the resources in Wales.

  Theatre
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to discuss with the First Secretary issues relating to the theatre in education in Wales. [103514]

  Mr. Hanson
  Following the Adjournment debate on 1 December 1999,Official Report, columns 93–100WH, I have written to Tom Middlehurst, Assembly Secretary responsible for post-16 education and training, on this issue. The Secretary of State and I will decide whether further discussions with the First Secretary are required when we have had an opportunity to consider Mr. Middlehurst's reply.

  Swansea Medical School
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will discuss with the First Secretary the proposal to establish a Swansea Medical School in collaboration with the University of Wales College of Medicine. [103515]

  Mr. Hanson
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I have regular discussions with the First Secretary about health and education issues in Wales. Future discussions may include the proposals to establish a Swansea Medical School in collaboration with the University of Wales College of Medicine. I understand that, at this point, the Assembly, along with the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, is still considering how the collaboration will work.

  Deeside Industrial Park
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the problems surrounding the proposed extension to the Deeside industrial park. [103516]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I understand that a public and local inquiry by the Planning Inspectorate into the proposed extension to the Deeside Industrial Park will be undertaken shortly. The inquiry's findings and conclusions will be reported to the National Assembly for Wales, which will then determine this application.

  Departmental Properties
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those properties held by his Department and agencies responsible to him which are(a) wholly and (b) mainly unoccupied at present, giving locations and when they became so unoccupied in each case. [105304]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  My Department holds only one property, and it is fully occupied.

  Working Families Tax Credit
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has discussed with Treasury Ministers the introduction of the Working Families Tax Credit in Wales. [103497]

  Mr. Hanson
  My right hon. Friend and I regularly meet with colleagues in Whitehall and discuss a wide range of issues. I fully support the introduction of the Working Families Tax Credit.

  Post Offices
  Mr. Walter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the Department of Trade and Industry on the potential effect of the proposed payment of benefits into bank accounts and the effect this may have on rural post offices in Wales. [105571]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I speak regularly with colleagues in Whitehall and we discuss a number of issues. My officials have had a number of discussions with their counterparts in the Department of Trade and Industry. I am fully aware of the planned move to an Automated Credit Transfer system that will assure a safer, modern and efficient way of paying benefits. In addition, the Prime Minister announced on 21 October 1999 that the Performance and Innovation Unit (PIU) in the Cabinet Office is to carry out a study on the Post Office network which will seek to identify the contribution made by post offices to the viability of local communities. Close independent monitoring of the post office network will ensure that proposed closures which would create significant problems of access to post office counter services, including in rural areas, are taken up with the Post Office, which will then be able to investigate how access needs can best be met.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  State Second Pension
  Gillian Merron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he plans to publish the Government Actuary's report on the financial effects for the National Insurance Fund of the proposed state second pension. [106278]

  Mr. Rooker
  The report is being laid before Parliament today (Cm 4573).

  Asbestos-related Diseases
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will ask the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council to consider whether lung cancer should be classified as a prescribed industrial disease 498W
  in cases where significant asbestos-related work history is combined with unprotected exposure to asbestos dust; [104778]

  (2) what advice he has received from the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council on the relationship between lung cancer and significant asbestos exposure in the absence of asbestosis; [104779]

  (3) what reports he has received on the reliability and sensitivity of CT scans and Chest X-rays in indicating the presence of asbestos-related disease. [104826]

  Mr. Bayley
  The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council provide us with independent expert advice on the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit scheme. In their report "Asbestos Related Diseases" (Cm 3467 published in November 1996) the Council investigated thoroughly the prescription of asbestos-related diseases, including the relationship between lung cancer and asbestos exposure, and whether CT scans would be appropriate within this benefit scheme. The Council recommended certain changes that were beneficial to claimants, which were brought into effect from April 1997. The Council continues to carefully monitor research, studies, publications and scientific developments in relation to asbestos-related lung disease, as they do for the other prescribed diseases. The Council have made no recommendations to me about asbestos-related diseases since 1996, and we are confident that the Council would re-examine any issue if new scientific evidence emerged. They would then make recommendations, which we would consider carefully.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what support his Department offers to victims of(a) pneumoconiosis and (b) an asbestos-related disease. [104828]

  Mr. Bayley
  The Department provides financial support through the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit scheme, which gives no-fault compensation for disablement resulting from work as an employed earner, either as a result of an accident at work or through contracting certain prescribed occupational diseases. Pneumoconiosis (including asbestosis) and three other asbestos-related diseases are prescribed for this purpose. Other Social Security benefits, as appropriate in individual cases, would also be available depending on the person's circumstances.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals he has to improve the diagnosis of asbestos-related diseases, especially in areas with a high prevalence of such disease. [104827]

  Mr. Bayley
  We do not propose to change the method of diagnosis of asbestos-related disease for the purposes of the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit scheme. Diagnosis methods are the same throughout Great Britain, and we are advised by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council on appropriate criteria.

  Departmental Properties
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list those properties held by his Department and agencies responsible to him which are(a) wholly and (b) mainly unoccupied at present, giving locations and when they became so unoccupied in each case. [105311]

  Angela Eagle
  In early 1998, all of the Department's properties were transferred to the private sector under two separate Private Finance Initiative contracts. We now no longer own nor hold any property. Instead, serviced office accommodation is purchased from our two private sector partners, Trillium and the Newcastle Estate Partnership.

  The deal which we negotiated with Trillium, the PRIME contract allowed us to hand back all of our "surplus" space, in both wholly and partly unoccupied buildings, to Trillium so that there is now no continuing cost to the Department. The Department also has the flexibility to vacate and hand back further space over the life of the contract, at nil cost, so it is extremely unlikely that we will have any surplus accommodation in the future. The only unoccupied space that is maintained is held for strategic reasons.

  Benefit Payments (Post Offices)
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received concerning the Government's plans to switch payments from benefits and pension books to bank transfers and the impact of this change on local post offices; and if he will make a statement. [106041]

  Mr. Rooker
  I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Vale of Glamorgan (Mr. Smith) on 6 December 1999,Official Report, column 374W.

  Property

  Melbourne Place, Topcliffe Road, Sowerby, North Yorkshire

  Not yet offered for sale. Awaiting issue of Certificate of Lawfulness of Proposed Use or Development by the local planning authority. The site will be marketed thereafter

  The former RAF Station at Strubby, Alford, Lincolnshire

  First offered for sale in February 1995. Little interest from potential purchasers. The site was finally sold in July 1999

  4 Almondbank Perth

  First offered for sale in July 1996. Little interest from potential purchasers. Investigations are under way into the potential for redevelopment and discussions are taking place with the local planning authority

  5 Almondbank Perth

  Not yet offered for sale although part of the site was sold back to a former owner in 1996. Agents have advised that marketing of the site should be delayed until the position with regard to 4 Almondbank is clarified

  The Experimental Horticultural Station at Efford, Lymington, Hampshire

  Not offered for sale on the open market. Until recently this site was fully occupied by Horticulture Research International under the terms of a lease. They have recently surrendered the northern sector of the site to the Ministry. Part of this was sold in October 1999 to the successor of the former owner under the terms of the Crichel Down Rules. Contracts have been exchanged for the sale of the remainder to the same person on the same basis

  Barnhall, Wickford, Essex

  Not yet offered for sale. The Ministry is collaborating with the local authority which owns some adjacent land with a view to selling the MAFF land for development in due course

  Basic State Pension
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the cost of restoring the link between the basic state pension and average earnings in the UK. [105250]

  Mr. Rooker
  The information is in the table.

  Estimated cost of uprating retirement pension by earnings from April 2000

  £ million

  Gross Costs

  Net Costs

  With linked benefits

  2000–01

  1,300

  1,000

  2010–11

  8,500

  7,500

  Without linked benefits

  2000–01

  1,100

  850

  2010–11

  7,500

  6,500

  Notes:

  1. Gross costs have been calculated by GAD. Net costs have been calculated using the 1999–2000 Policy Simulation and PENSIM models to take account of means-tested benefit offsets.

  2. Estimates for the year 2000–01 have been rounded to the nearest 50 million, and for 2010–11 to the nearest 100 million. Estimates are in 1999 prices.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Property Sales
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what dates(a) Melbourne Place, Topcliffe Road, Sowerby, North Yorkshire, (b) the former RAF station at Strubby, Alford, Lincolnshire, (c) 4 Almondbank, Perth, (d) 5 Almondbank, Perth, (e) the Experimental Horticultural Station at Efford, Lymington, Hampshire and (f) Barnhall, Wickford, Essex, were offered for sale; and what is the current position with regard to the disposal of each property. [104682]

  Mr. Morley
  The information requested is as follows:
  501W
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what dates(a) the former Central Science Laboratory at London Road, Slough, (b) Greythorpe Road and 168 Sinclair Road, Aberdeen, (c) Tangley Place, Worplesdon, Guildford, (d) Pocklington Industrial Estate, East Yorkshire, (e) 130 Hyndford

  Property

  Central Science Laboratory, London Road, Slough

  First offered for sale in November 1998. The property was sold in July 1999

  Greythorpe Road and 168 Sinclair Road, Aberdeen

  First offered for sale in August 1998. Missives will shortly be concluded, after which the purchaser will apply for detailed planning consent

  Tangley Place, Worplesdon, Guildford

  First offered for sale in January 1997. This property was sold in January 1999

  Pocklington Industrial Estate, East Yorkshire

  First offered for sale in June 1997. This property was sold in June 1998

  130 Hyndford Road, Lanark

  First offered for sale in January 1995. This property was sold in February 1998

  Gravel Pit, Hertford Road, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire

  First offered for sale in January 1995. Sale delayed while appropriate planning consents were sought and access problems resolved. This property was sold in October 1999

  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what dates the properties at(a) Tattenhall Road, Tattenhall, Chester, (b) Little Glen Road, Glen Parva, Leicester, (c) Kendal Road, Harlescott, Shrewsbury, (d) Trentside, Gunthorpe, Nottingham, (e) Caton Road, Claughton, Lancaster and (f) Nant Alyn Road,

  Property

  Tattenhall Road, Tattenhall, Chester

  First offered for sale in August 1995. Planning difficulties resulted in the sale being postponed. Currently let on short term lease pending re-assessment of development potential

  Little Glen Road, Glen Parva, Leicester

  First offered for sale in July 1995. First prospective purchaser unwilling to agree detailed terms. Contract for sale with new purchaser about to be exchanged

  Kendal Road, Harlescott, Shrewsbury

  First offered for sale in January 1997. Currently awaiting outcome of appeal against refusal to grant planning consent. When this is known the site will be re-marketed

  Trentside, Gunthorpe, Nottingham

  Not offered for sale on the open market. Negotiations under way for a sale to the successors of the former owners under the terms of the Crichel Down Rules

  Caton Road, Claughton, Lancaster

  First offered for sale in February 1996. Little realistic interest from potential purchasers. Offer to purchase has recently been accepted and legal documentation is now being prepared

  Nant Alyn Road, Rhydymwyn, Mold, Flint

  Not yet offered for sale. The site is believed to be contaminated as a result of the use made of it during the last war. The need for decontamination is being assessed

  Chlormequat
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the use of chlormequat in the United Kingdom(a) over the last five years and (b) at present. [103292]

  Ms Quin
  Chlormequat is approved for use in the UK on various cereal and oilseed crops, beans, peas and ornamental plants. Data on pesticide usage in the UK are collected by the Pesticide Usage Survey Group (PUSG), within the Government's Central Science Laboratory.

  The PUSG's data for 1995 to 1998 show that around 98 per cent. of chlormequat use in the UK is on cereal crops. This is equivalent to approximately 2.7 million hectares treated per year. The detailed figures for cereals and the other crops on which use is approved are given
  502W
  Road, Lanark and (f) Gravel Pit, Hertford Road, Hoddesdon, Hampshire, were offered for sale; and what is the current position with regard to the disposal of each property. [104683]

  Mr. Morley
  The information requested is as follows:

  Rhydymwyn, Mold, Flint, were offered for sale; and what is the current position with regard to the disposal of each property. [104684]

  Mr. Morley
  The information requested is as follows:

  in PUSG reports numbers 136, 141, 151–153 and 159, copies of which have been placed in the Libraries of the House. Results for 1999 are still being gathered and processed.

  Government surveys of pesticide residues in food, conducted under the guidance of the Working Party on Pesticides Residues (WPPR), have suggested that there has been some unproved use of chlormequat on fruiting pear trees in the UK by a minority of growers. An enforcement programme has been put into place. Results from surveys in 1995, 1997 and 1998 can be found in the WPPR reports for those years. Results from the first six months of 1999 were published in November via a pesticides residues monitoring information sheet. A copy of this and the WPPR reports for 1995 to 1998 are available in the Libraries of the House.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Human Rights
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what written material on the Human Rights Act 1998 has been prepared for judges; and if he will place copies in the Library. [103830]

  Mr. Lock
  The Judicial Studies board for Northern Ireland has held five lectures on several European Conventions on Human Rights topics since February 1998. The following material was provided:

  Incorporation of the ECHR—The right hon. Lord Irvine of Lairg.

  The Human Rights Bill: Its effect on Criminal Proceedings— Ben Emmerson

  The European Convention on Human Rights (as amended by Protocol No. 11) booklet—European Treaty Series, No. 5.

  The Human Rights Act and Commercial Law—Michael Smyth.

  ECHR and Judicial Review, Briefing Public Policy— Incorporation of the ECHR—The Implications for Business— Murray Hunt.

  The Board's programme for 1999–2000 includes a series of three case study events covering civil law, family law and criminal law. A comprehensive pack of reading materials (including case studies, publications and other reading materials) have been issued, in order that the judiciary may prepare for the seminars. The materials included in the pack are as follows:
  The Margin of Appreciation, The 'Horizontal' Application of Human Rights and Proportionality—the right hon. Lord Justice Sedley.
  The Human Rights Act and the Civil Courts—Richard Plender QC.
  Human Rights Act 1998 (Blackstone's)—John Wadham and Helen Mountfield.
  Human Rights Law and Practice—Chapters 1 & 2 of Lester and Pannick (Butterworths).
  Family Law and the Human Rights Act 1998—Michael Horowitz QC, Michael Nicholls and Geoffrey Kingcote.
  Archbold Chapter 16—Ben Emmerson.
  Civil Law, Family Law and Criminal Law case studies and Notes of Cases relevant to the Syndicate Exercises.

  In addition, steps are being taken to ensure the availability of European Convention on Human Rights case law and textbooks in all court offices before the Act is commenced and the Northern Ireland Court Service intranet will have a Human Rights section which will permit the judiciary access to Northern Ireland judgments, judgments from England and Wales and Scotland and access to Human Rights websites. The purchase of subscription based Human Rights internet products is also being considered.

  A complete set of the material issued to date by the Judicial Studies Board for Northern Ireland has been placed in the Library.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the budget is for judicial training in Northern Ireland on the Human Rights Act 1998. [103829]

  Mr. Lock
  Following the Comprehensive Spending Review allocation, the Northern Ireland Court Service received (in the 1999–2000 financial year) £100,000 to fund judicial training on the Human Rights Act 1998. The 504W
  allocation was in addition to the Judicial Studies Board annual budget of £30,000, a substantial proportion of which has been used during the years 1998–99 and 1999–2000 to fund the Board's programme of Human Rights Act training.

  Consolidated Legislation
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department in each year since 1991 how many(a) Parliamentary Counsel, (b) senior draftsmen and (c) other draftsmen have been engaged at the Law Commission on consolidation work. [105646]

  Mr. Lock
  The numbers of Parliamentary Counsel on secondment to the Law Commission, other senior draftsmen employed at the Commission and other draftsmen seconded to, or employed at, the Commission engaged on consolidation in each complete year since 1991 are as follows:

  Parliamentary counsel

  Other senior draftsmen

  Other draftsmen

  1992

  4

  1

  2

  1993

  3

  1

  2

  1994

  2

  1

  4

  1995

  1

  1

  5

  1996

  2

  1

  5

  1997

  1

  0

  4

  1998

  1

  0

  4

  1999

  0

  0

  3

  Service Discipline Acts
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what progress has been made in the consolidation of the three Service Discipline Acts commenced in July 1991; and when he expects the work to be completed. [105645]

  Mr. Lock
  I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given to him on 8 June 1999,Official Report, column 318W. Consideration is now being given to the approach to the consolidation of the Acts, in the light of changes to them envisaged in the current Armed Forces Discipline Bill and the probability of further change in the next Armed Forces Bill, and in the light of plans for a tri-Service Act.

  Magistrates
  Mr. Ennis
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the average age of the magistrates who sit on the(a) Barnsley and (b) Doncaster bench. [105168]

  Jane Kennedy
  The average age of the magistrates who sit on the Barnsley and Doncaster benches is 55 for each.

  Mr. Ennis
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many(a) women and (b) disabled magistrates sit on the (i) Barnsley and (ii) Doncaster bench. [105167]

  Jane Kennedy
  There are currently 66 women on the Barnsley bench and 89 on the Doncaster bench. No formal records are kept of those who are disabled on either the Barnsley or the Doncaster benches.

  Judges (Conduct)
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list for the period since May 1997 the cases he has investigated involving the conduct of individual Judges and the action taken as a result. [105335]

  Jane Kennedy
  The principle of judicial independence, which is central to our constitutional arrangements, means that it is not open to the Lord Chancellor or his Department to consider complaints about judicial decisions. However, as Head of the Judiciary the Lord Chancellor does consider complaints about the personal conduct of individual Judges and other judicial office holders. The names of the complainant and the Judge are confidential. However, in the period between August 1998 (when new internal arrangements for handling such complaints came into force) and December 1999, the Lord Chancellor received a total of 3,903 complaints about members of the judiciary. The majority of these related to judicial decisions. Of the remainder, 367 related to personal conduct and were taken forward for investigation by seeking the complainants's consent for the complaint to be copied to the Judge. In 282 cases, consent was received and the Lord Chancellor then approached the Judge concerned for his or her response to the allegations and relayed these to the complainant. On 13 occasions, he saw fit to take further action, either by writing to the Judge or by arranging for him or her to be seen by officials. Comparable figures for the period before August 1998 are unavailable.

  Departmental Consultation
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what bodies his Department has consulted on each of its programmes since May 1997. [105242]

  Jane Kennedy
  The Lord Chancellor's Department consult widely on proposals across the diverse range of policies for which it is responsible. There is no central record of consultees, and one could be assembled only at disproportionate expense.

  Northern Ireland Court Service
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many people have

  Religious breakdown by Standard Occupational Classification (SOC)

  1999

  1997

  1995

  1992

  NO

  ORG (%)

  SOC (%)

  NO

  ORG (%)

  SOC (%)

  NO

  ORG (%)

  SOC (%)

  NO

  ORG (%)

  SOC (%)

  SOC1—Managers and Administrators

  Protestant

  182

  27

  69

  191

  29

  69

  198

  29

  70

  192

  28

  72

  Roman Catholic

  78

  12

  30

  78

  12

  28

  79

  11

  28

  66

  9.5

  25

  Non Determined

  4

  6

  1

  6

  9

  2

  7

  1

  2

  9

  1.3

  3

  SOC2—Professional Staff

  Protestant

  4

  6

  57

  2

  3

  50

  1

  1

  50

  —

  —

  —

  Roman Catholic

  3

  4

  43

  2

  3

  50

  1

  1

  50

  —

  —

  —

  Non Determined

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  SOC3—Associated Professional

  Protestant

  1

  15

  100

  1

  1

  100

  2

  0.3

  100

  —

  —

  —

  Roman Catholic

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Non Determined

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  506W
  been promoted within the Northern Ireland Court Service in each of the last three years; and what is the religious breakdown of such promotions. [105345]

  Mr. Lock
  I refer the hon. Member to the following table:

  Number of promotions

  Protestant

  Roman Catholic

  1997

  11

  9

  2

  1998

  0

  0

  0

  1999

  6

  4

  2

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many people are employed in the Northern Ireland Court Service. [105324]

  Mr. Lock
  There are 668 people employed in the Northern Ireland Court Service.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the current religious breakdown at all levels of staff in the Northern Ireland Court Service; what were the figures for(a) 1992, (b) 1995 and (c) 1997; and if he will make a statement. [105344]

  Mr. Lock
  For the purposes of consistency and fair comparison the Equality Commission requires all organisations to present their data in Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Groups.

  The table represents the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Groups used by the Northern Ireland Court Service and shows the religious breakdown for each SOC Group within the Northern Ireland Court Service for 1999, 1997, 1995 and 1992.

  The Community Background information is presented in terms of Numbers within the Organisation (NO).

  These numbers are then shown both as a percentage within the Organisation as a whole (% Org) and as a percentage within each SOC Group (% SOC).

  The following notable trends are apparent from the table:
  The representation of Roman Catholics in SOC 1 has increased from 25 per cent. to 30 per cent. since 1992.
  The representation of Roman Catholics has also increased in the Recruitment Grad (SOC 4) by 5 per cent. since 1997.
  SOC 6 and 9 are mainly representative of our Security Grades and we continue to work with the Equality Commission towards fair participation.
  507W

  Religious breakdown by Standard Occupational Classification (SOC)

  1999

  1997

  1995

  1992

  NO

  ORG (%)

  SOC (%)

  NO

  ORG (%)

  SOC (%)

  NO

  ORG (%)

  SOC (%)

  NO

  ORG (%)

  SOC (%)

  SOC 4—Clerical and Secretarial

  Protestant

  192

  29

  62

  186

  28

  64

  193

  28

  66

  155

  22

  61

  Roman Catholic

  105

  16

  34

  84

  13

  29

  88

  13

  30

  74

  11

  29

  Non Determined

  13

  2

  4

  21

  3

  7

  13

  1.9

  4

  27

  3.9

  10

  SOC6—Personal and Protective

  Protestant

  18

  2.7

  75

  21

  3

  75

  25

  3.6

  78

  26

  3.7

  72

  Roman Catholic

  4

  6

  16

  3

  4

  11

  2

  3

  6

  3

  0.4

  8

  Non Determined

  2

  3

  8

  4

  6

  14

  5

  7

  16

  7

  1

  19

  SOC9—Others

  Protestant

  49

  7.3

  79

  52

  7.8

  75

  54

  7.8

  74

  85

  12

  64

  Roman Catholic

  8

  1.2

  13

  8

  1.2

  12

  10

  1.4

  14

  18

  2.6

  14

  Non Determined

  5

  0.7

  8

  9

  1.3

  13

  9

  1.3

  12

  29

  4.2

  22

HEALTH

  Haloperidol
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if Haloperidol is available for prescription on the NHS; what steps he has taken to ensure adequate supplies of Haloperidol; and if he will make a statement. [104625]

  Ms Stuart
  Haloperidol is available for prescription on the National Health Service. We have received no reports of supplies being inadequate.

  Health Call Service
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) who assesses the quality control of the out-of-hours Health Call service for Medway-Swale; [104692]

  (2) what was the average call-out time for the Health Call service for Sittingbourne and Sheppey in the last year for which figures are available; [104694]

  (3) how many on-call doctors there are for Sittingbourne and Sheppey in the out-of-hours Health Call service. [104693]

  Ms Stuart
  Seventeen doctors are registered with Health Call, which covers the out-of-hours service for Sheppey. The average call out time is just under one hour and everyone is seen within two hours.

  All 28 General Practitioners in the Sittingbourne area are registered with Medway Doctors On Call (MedDoc). Call-outs are assessed by a nurse triage and are prioritised according to clinical need.

  The patient's GP is responsible for ensuring the quality of care for the patient. Complaints can be made about out-of-hours either directly to the out-of-hours service or via the patients GP. GPs have a contract with the out-of-hours service to provide a certain quality of care. Any complaints are managed through the National Health Service complaints procedure. Where the complainants are not happy with the response they receive through local resolution they will be given the opportunity to write to the local health authority for an independent review.

  Isle of Sheppey Hospital
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will extend the minor injuries clinic hours at the hospital on the Isle of Sheppey to 9 pm. [104691]
  508W
  Ms Stuart
  The plans to extend the opening hours of the minor injuries clinic at the hospital on the Isle of Sheppey are currently a matter for discussion between the West Kent Health Authority and Thames Gateway National Health Service Trust.

  Jehovah's Witnesses
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many Jehovah's Witnesses died as a result of refusing medically advised blood transfusions in each of the last five years. [104764]

  Mr. Denham
  We do not hold this information centrally. Clinicians are required by law to respect the beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses who do not wish to receive blood transfusions. In some cases, there are acceptable alternative medical interventions. For instance, for surgical operations, we asked NHS Trusts to consider the introduction of perioperative cell salvage by March 2000. This process retrieves the patient's own blood cells during surgery, which may be acceptable to some Jehovah's Witnesses.

  West Sussex Waiting Lists
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were on the NHS waiting list for treatment in the West Sussex Health Authority area on(a) 1 November 1999 and (b) 1 December 1999. [104888]

  Mr. Denham
  The latest figures available show that as at the end of November there were 19,783 people on the National Health Service waiting list for treatment in the West Sussex Health Authority area.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people had been waiting for 13 weeks or more for a first appointment with a consultant in the West Sussex Health Authority area on(a) 1 November 1999 and (b) 1 December 1999. [104887]

  Mr. Denham
  The number of people waiting for 13 weeks or more for an outpatient appointment by health authority area is monitored on a quarterly basis. The last available figures for West Sussex are as at 30 September. At that date, there were 8,350 people waiting 13 weeks or more for a first outpatient appointment.

  Flu
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact on hospital waiting list targets of the recent influenza outbreak. [104898]

  Mr. Denham
  During the winter, and particularly over the extended Millennium holiday, the National Health Service has quite rightly focused its attention on the high numbers of emergency cases, including those resulting from the current influenza outbreak. At this time of year, the NHS plans to treat fewer waiting list cases because of expected pressures, and the waiting list normally increases slightly. A seasonal rise in waiting lists is expected over the next couple of months, reflecting the planned priority the NHS has given to winter emergency admissions. This will not affect the achievement of the waiting list target.

  Dyspraxia
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children have been diagnosed as dyspraxic since May 1997. [104860]

  Mr. Denham
  There were 62 admissions for dyspraxia by age (0–16 years) in National Health Service hospitals in England for the financial year 1997–98.

  Primary Care Groups
  Mr. Dobbin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many primary care groups have applied to become primary care trusts. [105506]

  Mr. Denham
  Primary care trust applications are locally driven. We have received 63 applications (covering 68 primary care groups) to move to PCT status in April and October 2000. A further 140 PCGs have expressed interest in moving to PCT status from April.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Barrow and Furness (Mr. Hutton), will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Harborough of 22 November 1999, on behalf of Mr. L. W. Bennett of Oadby, Leicestershire. [105789]

  Mr. Hutton
  I replied to the hon. Member on 17 January.

  Dentistry (Waiting Times)
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the(a) average and (b) maximum waiting times have been for treatment for patients using each of the first two dental access centres. [104776]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 17 January 2000]: The information is not available in the form requested. However, at the Cornwall dentist access centre, protocol is that people presenting with a dental emergency are seen on the same day or the following day. At the Shropshire dental access centre, protocol in both cases is that a patient with a swollen face will be seen the same day and that patients presenting with pains, considering themselves to be in need of urgent treatment, are seen within 24 hours. Patients with minor ailments and suffering no pain will be seen within a week.

  Departmental Property
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those properties held by his Department and agencies responsible to him which are(a) wholly and (b) mainly unoccupied at present, giving locations and when they became so unoccupied in each case. [105313]

  Ms Stuart
  The Department, including its agencies, has no properties which are wholly or mainly unoccupied.

TREASURY

  Departmental Properties
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those properties held by his Department and agencies responsible to him which are(a) wholly and (b) mainly unoccupied at present, giving locations and when they became so unoccupied in each case. [105309]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information is given in the table.

  Location

  Date unoccupied

  Buildings wholly unoccupied:

  Inland Revenue

  Bradford

  7 July 1997

  Glasgow

  1 June 1999

  Southampton

  29 September 1999

  HM Customs and Excise

  Hull

  1 August 1996

  Lisburn

  28 February 1997

  Newcastle

  14 August 1998

  St. Albans

  31 August 1996

  Southend-on-Sea

  4 October 1999

  Weymouth

  1 March 1997

  Valuation Office Agency

  Eastbourne

  May 1999

  Office for National Statistics

  Fareham

  August 1999

  Building mainly unoccupied:

  Inland Revenue

  Poole

  1 April 1996

  Valuation Office Agency

  Doncaster

  November 1998

  Leamington Spa

  April 1999

  Company Voluntary Arrangement
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the implications of a company becoming the subject of a company voluntary arrangement under the Insolvency Act for that company's ability to compete for public contracts. [105296]

  Mr. Timms
  Companies which become the subject of a company voluntary arrangement under the Insolvency Act 1986 would not automatically be barred from bidding for public contracts. The objective in public procurement is to secure value for money, having due regard to propriety and regularity. To achieve this, purchasers need to assess the financial and economic standing of potential bidders and to satisfy themselves that they meet the
  511W
  requirements for the particular contract. Where the EC rules apply there is specific provision which allows purchasers to exclude potential bidders who have an arrangement of this type. It is for the purchasing authority to decide whether to rely upon this provision in any competition.

  Child Care Tax Credit
  Ms Kelly
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of(a) the uptake of the child care tax credit by parents with children below the age of one year in a steady state and (b) the cost of providing that credit. [104864]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  It is estimated that in 2000–01, the first full year of the Working Families Tax Credit, about 11,000 families with children aged under one will have eligible child care costs for at least one child and will hence be in receipt of the child care tax credit. It is not possible to identify the cost of child care for children aged under one but, if these families no longer received the child care tax credit for any of their children, the cost of the Working Families Tax Credit would reduce by about £35 million.

  Working Families Tax Credit
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list by constituency the(a) number and (b) proportion of households with at least one member in work and qualifying for Working Families Tax Credit which are receiving Working Families Tax Credit in the UK, ranked in descending order of the proportion of households. [104917]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I regret that the information requested is not available.

  LSVTs
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been raised annually from stamp duty on large-scale voluntary transfers in each of the last five years. [104795]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Transfers of properties to charities are exempt from stamp duty. About three-quarters of registered social landlords are charities, but figures are not readily available on the amount of stamp duty paid on large-scale voluntary transfers from local authorities to non-charitable registered social landlords.

  Employment Statistics
  Mrs. Ann Cryer
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many(a) men and (b) women in each of the standard age groups were employed in his Department in (i) 1979 and (ii) 1999. [104017]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Details of staff in post in the Treasury on 1 April 1999, broken down by gender and standard age group, are provided in the table. Information on this basis for 1979 is not available. The annual publication "Civil Service Statistics" provides a departmental breakdown of staff by gender for the year in question and service-wide information by age.512W
  Information on average age by responsibility level and gender is also provided in the "Equal Opportunities Data Summary 1998".

  HM Treasury staff by gender and age as at 1 April 1999

  Age group

  Men

  Women

  15–19

  2

  1

  20–24

  45

  28

  25–29

  95

  77

  30–34

  119

  64

  35–39

  85

  52

  40–44

  77

  50

  45–49

  63

  34

  50+

  84

  69

  Total

  570

  375

  EU Fraud
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the level of fraud and irregularities reported by the United Kingdom in 1998 under Regulations 1681/94 and 1831/94, set out in Official Journal C350, 3 December 1999, page 97, with reference to the increase in sums involved. [105670]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The increase in the level of Structural Funds fraud and irregularities reported by the United Kingdom in 1998 is primarily the result of specific efforts to improve detection and reporting systems during this period, and the detection of two substantial fraud cases.

  It is essential that Structural Fund moneys are spent properly and efficiently, and that frauds and irregularities are detected and dealt with appropriately. We are continuing to improve financial control and management systems towards this end.

  EU Tax Harmonisation
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 2 December 1999,Official Report, column 318W, if he will list those elements of tax harmonisation which have been identified by member states. [105613]

  Dawn Primarolo
  My answer of 2 December 1999,Official Report, column 318W, concerned Council discussions on tackling harmful tax competition.

  Charitable Giving
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the extent of charitable giving is calculated; how much charitable giving there was in(a) 1998, (b) 1978 and (c) 1988; and how the age, gender, race and occupational profile of charitable giving has changed over this period. [105476]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Information on the full extent of charitable giving is not available from administrative sources. The Charities Aid Foundation estimates overall income donated by individuals to be around £5 billion to £6 billion per year. Research on donations to charities by individuals or households has been carried out by the Institute for Fiscal Studies
  513W
  (using the Family Expenditure Survey), and the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, from which further details are available.

  Economic and Monetary Union
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the level of preparedness for the introduction of the Euro among(a) small and medium-sized enterprises and (b) other enterprises on (i) 30 June 1999 and (ii) 31 December 1999. [105814]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Treasury has commissioned a number of surveys of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to measure the level of euro preparations across the UK. The most recent survey, carried out in April 1999, shows 27 per cent, of SMEs with European Union trading links had prepared for the euro.

  The Treasury does not carry out euro preparations surveys of larger companies. The surveys focus on SMEs because they are the prime target of the Treasury's euro preparations information campaign to help businesses prepare for the euro.

  Taxpayers (Shropshire)
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many taxpayers there are in(a) Shrewsbury and Atcham and (b) Shropshire. [105524]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The latest estimates for the number of income tax payers in Shrewsbury and Atcham and in Shropshire are 47,000 and 204,000 respectively. The estimate for Shrewsbury and Atcham is uncertain because of the small survey sample size.

  These estimates are for 1996–97 and are based on the Inland Revenue Survey of Personal Incomes.

  Government Debt
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the(a) nominal and (b) market value of central Government gross debt was on the latest date for which information is available. [105838]

  Excess winter deaths by underlying cause of death, England and Wales, winter 1993–94 to winter 1997–98

  1997–98

  1996–97

  1995–96

  1994–95

  1993–94

  Number of deaths

  All causes

  22,900

  47,680

  40,190

  27,290

  25,900

  Influenza

  30

  370

  250

  50

  110

  Pneumonia

  5,800

  15,290

  11,080

  6,260

  6,550

  Acute respiratory infections

  80

  180

  150

  100

  110

  Other respiratory diseases

  3,850

  7,640

  6,320

  3,950

  3,830

  Other causes

  13,150

  24,200

  22,400

  16,930

  15,300

  Percentage of total deaths

  All causes

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  Influenza

  0

  1

  1

  0

  0

  Pneumonia

  25

  32

  28

  23

  25

  Acute respiratory infections

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Other respiratory diseases

  17

  16

  16

  14

  15

  Other causes

  57

  51

  56

  62

  59

  514W
  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Matthew Taylor, dated 19 January 2000:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question on central government gross debt.
  Monthly data for the nominal value of central government gross debt are published in Table 18 of the Bank of England publication Monetary and Financial Statistics (the December 1999 edition providing data up to end-November 1999). At end-November 1999, it was £388.7 billion.
  The market value of central government gross debt can be estimated from Quarterly balance sheet data published as part of the National Accounts dataset (in Financial Statistics and United Kingdom Economic Accounts). Market value of central government gross debt at end-1999 Q3 was £427.1 billion (nominal value at that date was £395 billion).

  Winter Deaths
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 20 December 1999,Official Report, column 436W, on winter deaths, if he will assess the contribution of influenza and related conditions to the statistics for excess winter deaths. [105432]

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

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 19 January 2000:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question, pursuant to my answer of 20th December, Official Report, column 436W, on winter deaths, to assess the contribution of influenza and related conditions to the statistics for excess winter deaths.
  A breakdown of deaths by influenza, and other selected causes, is given in the attached table for the last five winters for which final figures are available. Influenza activity is known to lead to an increase in respiratory deaths generally, and not just influenza deaths.
  The figures presented are for all deaths occurring in England and Wales. These include deaths of non-residents, which were not included in the regional figures provided in the previous response.
  Excess winter deaths are defined by ONS as the difference between the number of deaths during the four winter months (December to March) and the average number of deaths during the preceding autumn (August to November) and the following summer (April to July).
  515W
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 20 December 1999,Official Report, column 436W, on excess winter deaths, if he will provide a breakdown by age for each year of data. [105431]

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

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 19 January 2000:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question, pursuant to my answer of 20 December 1999, Official Report, column 436W, on excess winter deaths, to provide a breakdown by age for each year of data.
  The information requested is provided in the attached table for all deaths occurring in England and Wales. These figures include deaths of non-residents, which were not included in the regional figures provided in the previous response.
  516W
  Excess winter deaths are defined by ONS as the difference between the number of deaths during the four winter months (December to March) and the average number of deaths during the preceding autumn (August to November) and the following summer (April to July).

  Excess winter mortality, winter 1988–89 to winter 1997–98, England and Wales

  Year

  0–64

  65–74

  75–84

  85+

  All ages

  1988–89

  1,720

  4,260

  8,090

  7,100

  21,160

  1989–90

  3,930

  8,580

  18,510

  16,180

  47,200

  1990–91

  2,960

  7,070

  14,660

  13,250

  37,940

  1991–92

  2,740

  6,360

  13,500

  12,250

  34,850

  1992–93

  2,120

  4,720

  9,330

  9,490

  25,650

  1993–94

  2,120

  4,160

  9,290

  10,330

  25,900

  1994–95

  2,200

  5,490

  9,700

  9,910

  27,290

  1995–96

  2,900

  7,070

  14,370

  15,850

  40,190

  1996–97

  3,040

  6,970

  17,540

  20,140

  47,680

  1997–98

  1,700

  4,200

  7,870

  9,130

  22,900

  Indonesia: Arms Embargo
  Indonesia: Arms Embargo
  Western Sahara
  Western Sahara
  Yugoslavian Anti-Milosevic Refugees
  Yugoslavian Anti-Milosevic Refugees
  Sierra Leone: UN Mission
  Sierra Leone: UN Mission
  Asylum Seekers: Voucher Scheme
  Asylum Seekers: Voucher Scheme
  Data Protection Act 1998: Subordinate Legislation
  Data Protection Act 1998: Subordinate Legislation