Written Answers of 20 January 2000

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Horizon Working Group
  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish the report of the Horizon Working Group on post office business issues submitted to the Cabinet Office in December 1999; and if he will make a statement. [104724]

  Mr. Byers
  The document concerned represents work in progress and contains commercially sensitive information.

  Post Offices
  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices there were in(a) Somerset and (b) the Yeovil constituency in each year from 1980 to 1999; and if he will make a statement. [104748]

  Mr. Byers
  I understand from the Post Office that they do not hold historic information on the numbers of post offices in each parliamentary constituency or local administrative area and that such information cannot readily be compiled.

  The Post Office advise that in October 1999 the number of post offices in Somerset was 234 and in the Yeovil constituency was 42.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals are being considered by his Department to help sustain and develop the viability of rural and urban sub-post offices. [105859]

  UK imports of soya from the USA

  £000

  SITC/CN/Description

  1996

  1997

  1998

  19991

  08131 Oil cake and residues of soya beans

  15,635

  34,487

  28,836

  12,645

  22220 Soya beans

  77,892

  86,232

  71,054

  20,329

  120810000 Flours and meals of soya beans

  32

  21

  16

  19

  42111 Crude soya bean oil

  1

  0

  47

  96

  42119 Refined soya bean oil

  25

  32

  22

  1

  Total

  93,585

  120,772

  99,975

  33,090

  1 January-November

  Source:

  Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom, HM Customs and Excise

  National Assembly for Wales
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what training staff in his Department have received on the implications of the establishment of the National Assembly for Wales on their work in giving advice in response to inquiries. [106070]
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  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The Government are making a substantial contribution to the costs of automating the entire post office counters network to strengthen the viability of the network as a whole. Automation will enable Post Office Counters Ltd. to offer substantial enhancements to the services it is able to offer to clients and customers which in turn will increase the attractiveness of post offices compared with other service delivery channels. In addition, the Performance and Innovation Unit in the Cabinet Office is carrying out an urgent study on the post office network.

  Lord Archer
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry under which section of the Companies Act 1985 he asked officials to investigate Lord Archer of Weston-super-Mare in 1999. [106005]

  Mr. Byers
  I have never asked my officials to investigate Lord Archer of Weston-super-Mare.

  Newspapers
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will prevent recent proposed changes in the ownership of newspapers circulating in Wales. [105423]

  Dr. Howells
  I understand that the question refers to the proposal by Trinity Mirror plc ("Trinity Mirror") to acquire the newspapers and related assets of News Communications & Media plc. Under section 58 of the Fair Trading Act 1973, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's prior written consent is required before such an acquisition is made. I announced on 21 December that I was referring Trinity Mirror's application for consent to the Competition Commission. The reference, which was mandatory under the terms of the Act, does not prejudge the issues involved. The Competition Commission will investigate and report their findings to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State by 13 March 2000.

  Soya Imports
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much soya was imported from the USA to the UK in(a) 1996, (b) 1997, (c) 1998 and (d) 1999. [106092]

  Mr. Caborn
  The available information is as follows:

  Mr. Caborn
  Information and guidance on the implications of devolution on the work of the Department, including handling of correspondence and inquiries, has been promulgated to staff throughout the Department and placed on the Department's intranet. In addition, a number of seminars have been held to provide information to staff
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  and to encourage discussion on the effect of devolution on their responsibilities. I have also written to all senior officials in DTI to remind them of the need to work with the devolved administrations in accordance with the arrangements set out in the Memorandum of Understanding and concordats (Command Paper Cm 4444, published on 1 October 1999) and in a bilateral concordat between DTI and the National Assembly for Wales which I expect to be published shortly.

  Regional Assistance
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects the new EU regional assistance map for the UK to be agreed. [106078]

  Mr. Caborn
  Discussions with the Commission on the proposals for new Assisted Areas are continuing. We will announce the new map as soon as possible.

  Coal Miners (Compensation)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the payment of compensation to ex-coalminers and their widows in respect of emphysema and chronic bronchitis includes an element of compensation for pain and suffering; and if he will make a statement. [106074]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Compensation for successful claims in respect of chronic bronchitis and emphysema includes general damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenity.

  Departmental Properties
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 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. [105307]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 19 January 2000]: The information is as follows:

  (a) None.

  (b) Three.

  (i) Lime Grove, Eastcote, Middlesex

  My Department vacated this site in late 1998. Part of the site, however, continues to be occupied by US Forces personnel and my officials are therefore exploring a transfer of site responsibility to the Ministry of Defence.

  (ii) Dee Hills Park, Chester

  (iii) Gordon House, Rochester

  These freehold properties were vacated on 6 December 1999 and 9 January 2000 respectively. Sales of both are expected to be completed shortly.

  Glassmaking
  Mr. Rammell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the Manufacturing capacity of glass making in the UK, expressed in tonnes per day. [104766]
  520W
  Mr. Alan Johnson
  This Department has responsibility only for the lead crystal, container, scientific/technical and automotive glassware sectors. No such assessment of the manufacturing capacity in these industries has been undertaken.

  Mr. Rammell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the medium-term demand for manufactured glass in Britain. [104765]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  This Department has responsibility only for the lead crystal, container, scientific/technical and automotive glassware sectors. No such assessment of the medium-term demand for manufactured glass in Britain has been undertaken. However, independent reports suggest that the UK glassware market is being increasingly influenced by fashion and design as part of the general trend towards casual dining which has increased the demand for glassware products.

  Gas-fired Power Stations
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the economic impact of the moratorium on gas-fired power stations, including the direct and indirect impact on employment. [105160]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I am monitoring carefully the economic impact of the Government's policy of stricter consents for gas-fired power stations. In particular, I have received representations about the impact of the policy on proposals for industrial regeneration in local economies and the impact on employment in the oil and gas, power generation equipment and other sectors. However, the policy is necessary, as a temporary measure, to protect security and diversity of supply while the electricity market is reformed. It will be relaxed as soon as the reform programme has been undertaken and the distortions in the market have been removed.

  Business Rates (North-West)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions have taken place between his Department and the DETR about reducing business rates in the North-West. [105272]

  Mr. Caborn
  There have not been any discussions between the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions specifically about a reduction in business rates in the North-West. However, my Department has been involved in discussions about the arrangements for transitional relief and is also involved in the Government review of the system of revaluation of non-domestic rates in England.

  BSkyB and Cable
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the Office of Fair Trading's investigation into BSkyB and cable. [105261]

  Dr. Howells
  The decision to undertake a competition review of BSkyB's position in pay television is a matter for the Director General of Fair Trading.

  Petrol Sales
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will investigate the prospects for independent petrol retailers. [105269]

  Dr. Howells
  DTI Ministers have no plans to investigate this particular market sector. In so far as there are any possible competition issues, it would be for the Director General of Fair Trading to investigate.

  The Director General last looked at the petrol market in 1998. He found that independent petrol retailers had suffered as a result of strong competition between the oil companies and the supermarkets, but overall the market was competitive and consumers were benefiting.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he investigates regional monopolies of the sale of petrol by oil companies. [105270]

  Dr. Howells
  Under UK competition legislation, responsibility for investigating allegations of anti-competitive practices, abuse of monopoly position and restrictive trade practices lies with the Director General of Fair Trading.

  Any evidence of abuse of monopoly position, on a regional or national basis, should be passed to the Director General of Fair Trading.

  Agency Banking Services
  Mr. Hurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to encourage the major clearing banks to agree agency banking services with Post Office Counters. [105330]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The Government have taken steps to put back on track the Horizon project to automate the post office network thereby establishing a platform for provision of on-line agency banking services at all post offices. However the extension of the provision of agency banking services at post offices is primarily a matter for commercial negotiation between the clearing banks and Post Office Counters Ltd.

  Coal Industry
  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what were the total tonnages of coal delivered to power stations in Great Britain in 1999, giving the breakdown between(a) collieries in England, Scotland and Wales and (b) deep mines and opencast. [105513]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Figures for 1999 as a whole are not yet available, but in the first three quarters of 1999 it is estimated that of the 24 million tonnes of coal delivered from collieries and opencast sites in Great Britain to UK power stations, about 15 million tonnes came from England, four million tonnes came from Scotland and less than one million tonnes from Wales with a further four million tonnes from small producers that cannot be readily allocated geographically. Of the 24 million tonnes about 13 million tonnes was deep mined and about 11 million tonnes opencast and recovered coal.
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  A further five million tonnes of imported coal were reported by power stations in the first three quarters of 1999.

  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much coal was imported into the United Kingdom in 1999(a) in total and (b) from each country supplying coal to the United Kingdom. [105514]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Figures for 1999 as a whole are not yet available, but in the first three quarters of 1999, it is estimated that 14.6 million tonnes of coal were imported into the UK.

  Coal imported1 into UK, January to September 1999

  Country

  Thousand tones

  Belgium/Luxembourg

  41

  France

  2

  Germany

  12

  Irish Republic

  39

  Netherlands

  136

  Total EU2

  230

  Australia

  4,336

  Canada

  1,331

  China

  219

  Colombia

  2,603

  Indonesia

  50

  Mozambique

  19

  Norway

  21

  Poland

  975

  Russia

  83

  South Africa

  2,101

  USA

  2,107

  Venezuela

  435

  Vietnam

  114

  Total Non EU

  14,392

  Total all countries

  14,622

  1 Country of origin basis.

  2 Imports from EU countries include coal from outside the EC routed through these countries.

  Electricity Cabling
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of electricity supply cabling in urban areas of England is over(a) 25 years, (b) 35 years and (c) 50 years old. [105665]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Separate figures are not available for England. Percentages for Great Britain are as follows:

  Age

  Percentage

  Over 25 years old

  75

  Over 35 years old

  52

  Over 50 years old

  26

  Source:

  OFGEM 1999 review of Distribution Price Controls

  Electricity Market
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of the electricity market had been opened up to competition as at July 1999 by each of the member states of the EU. [104886]
  523W
  Mrs. Liddell
  The latest information available from the Commission gives the position as follows:

  Member state

  Percentage of market opening by May 1999

  Germany

  100

  Sweden

  100

  Finland

  100

  UK

  100

  Denmark

  90

  Netherlands

  33

  Spain

  30

  Italy

  30

  Portugal

  26

  Austria

  27

  Source:

  Vol. 1 of the Second Report from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the State of Liberalisation of the Energy Markets (May 1999)

  France and Luxembourg have not yet implemented the Directive and the Commission has initiated infraction proceedings. Their draft laws, however, provide for market opening of 26 per cent. and 45 per cent. respectively. Belgium, Ireland and Greece have been allowed to delay the implementation of the Electricity Directive, Belgium and Ireland until February 2000, Greece until February 2001.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry by what date he intends to reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Wells concerning the business dealings of the hon. Member for Coventry, North-West (Mr. Robinson) and his Department's inquiries into those dealings. [104673]

  Mr. Byers
  I replied to the right hon. Member's letter today.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry by what date he intends to reply in full to the letters from the right hon. Member for Wells dated 15 July 1998, 23 November 1998, 26 November 1998 and 11 December 1998 concerning the activities of Hollis Industries plc, TransTec plc and AGB International plc. [104675]

  Mr. Byers
  My predecessor replied to the right hon. Gentleman's letters as follows:

  Letter

  Reply

  15 July 1998

  23 September 1998

  23 November 1998

  11 December 1998

  26 November 1998

  11 December 1998

  11 December 1998

  21 December 1998

  Hollis Industries plc
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish the report arising from his Department's investigations into Hollis Industries plc and the hon. Member for Coventry, North-West (Mr. Robinson). [104670]
  524W
  Mr. Byers
  These were confidential inquiries and in accordance with established practice and legal constraints I have no proposals to publish the findings of the investigation.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Parades Commission
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the religious and political affiliations of each member of the Parades Commission. [106109]

  Mr. Ingram
  Three members of the Parades Commission are from the Protestant community, three are from the Roman Catholic community and one is non-denominational. None has any active involvement with any political party.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many facilitators have been employed by the Parades Commission; how much has been paid(a) in total and (b) to each; and to what religious denominations they belong. [106108]

  Mr. Ingram
  A team of 12 Authorised Officers, representing a balance in gender and religion, has been employed by the Parades Commission, through Mediation Network NI, since April 1998.

  The remuneration for 1998–99 was £7,000 per annum, based on a minimum of 80 days commitment per year. The remuneration for 1999–2000 was £7,200. The Commission has recently decided to extend the remit of the Authorised Officers to include education and community development and, accordingly, the days have been increased to a minimum of 100 days per annum with a commensurate increase in remuneration to £9,000 per annum. Since April 1998 to end December 1999 the total remuneration was £151,000.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what are the religious affiliations of the applicants for the post of Chairman of the Parades Commission; [106107]

  (2) how many applications have been received for the post of Chairman of the Parades Commission. [106110]

  Mr. Ingram
  Of the 45 applicants who recently applied for the post of Chairman of the Parades Commission. 18 were Protestant, 11 were Roman Catholic and 16 were from other denominations or did not specify.

  This information was obtained for the purposes of equal opportunities monitoring. It was not made available to the interviewing panel.

  Mr. Richard Jameson
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made as to whether(a) the murder of Mr. Richard Jameson was carried out by a terrorist organisation and (b) that murder indicates that the ceasefire has been broken. [106102]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Secretary of State keeps his judgment about the ceasefires under continual review, taking account of all the information he receives from his
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  security advisers. It is the Government's view that the main ceasefires on balance are holding. If there is evidence that an organisation is not maintaining its ceasefire he will not hesitate to act.

  Decommissioning
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the cost to date of the International Independent Commission on Decommissioning. [106081]

  Mr. Ingram
  Updated costs are currently available only to 30 September 1999. The total expenditure shared by the British and Irish Governments from September 1997 to that date was IR£2,528,047. The British Government's share of that was STG£1,005,029.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the dates of the meetings held between the International Independent Commission on Decommissioning and the representatives of each political party and terrorist organisation since the creation of the Commission. [106080]

  Mr. Ingram
  That is a matter for the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Solicitors (Age Discrimination)
  Mr. White
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps he is taking to prevent age discrimination in the training of solicitors. [105598]

  Mr. Lock
  The solicitor's profession is independent and self-regulating. It is for the Law Society, in the first place, to set and to apply any requirements in respect of the training of solicitors.

  Meanwhile, the Government are committed to tackling age discrimination across the board. On 14 June 1999, the then Minister of State for Employment and Disability Rights launched the Code of Practice for Age Diversity in Employment, with supporting guidance for employers. It is aimed at all employers, including solicitors' firms. Although it is non-statutory, the Code sets the standard for non-ageist approaches to recruitment, training and development, promotion, redundancy and retirement.

  Departmental Smoking Policy
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what action he is taking to reduce smoking in his Department. [105797]

  Jane Kennedy
  My Department has a well established "Smoking Policy" designed to provide smoke-free working conditions for those staff who want them, while offering limited, designated, smoking facilities for smokers and help for those who wish to stop smoking.

  Recent Health Awareness events held in various areas of the Department were designed to encourage staff to consider the effect of their life styles on their health, including exercise, diet, smoking and drinking habits. Further such events are currently being considered.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  M60
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will list, for each of contracts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 for the M60 motorway between Denton and Middleton(a) the original price, (b) the cost of the completed contracts and (c) the estimated final cost of the remaining contracts; [104425]

  (2) when he expects the M60 between Denton and Middleton to be completed; and if it will be opened in phases or in its entirety. [104426]

  Mr. Hill
  I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Peter Nutt, to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Peter Nutt to Mr. Andrew Bennett, dated 20 January 2000:
  The Transport Minister, Keith Hill, has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the costs and programme for the M60 Manchester Outer Ring Road.
  The scheme is split into four main contracts. The tender prices for each contract were: Contract 1, £101.9M; Contract 2, £48.9M; Contract 3, £50.1M and Contract 4, £18.2M.
  Contracts 1 and 3 are still under construction so it will be some while before we know the final cost and although work on Contract 2 is complete, the final account has not been settled. In the circumstances, I am afraid I cannot let you have an estimate of the final outturn cost for these contracts. To do so would prejudice our position with the contractors in the event of disputes over claims or the settlement of accounts.
  The final cost of Contract 4 was £30M.
  The contract was let under the Institute of Civil Engineers 5th Edition form of contract which allows the contractor to be paid for the actual, rather than the estimated, work done and the risks that occur.
  It is not always possible to identify in advance all the necessary work nor the precise nature of the ground and the contract allows for extensions of time for certain risks. In this case, the contract was extended by 37 weeks to allow for unforeseen ground conditions, including contaminated ground. Work was also severely delayed by exceptionally bad weather.
  It is this additional work which caused costs to rise.
  The disadvantage of this form of contract was the uncertainty of cost and time and the Agency addressed these issues in a review which led to an announcement in 1997 of new procurement initiatives. We are now using other forms of contract which share risk more equitably and encourage a partnering approach to get away from the adversarial way which has marked some of our contracts in the past.
  We expect the remaining contracts to be completed and opened in their entirety by Summer this year. There are no plans for phased openings.

  Cycle Routes
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the mileage in the Greater London area that has been constructed for use as cycle routes. [104792]

  Mr. Hill
  The total length of the London Cycle Network routes implemented at 1 April 1999 is some 755 miles.

  Sustainable Development Commission
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) when the first meeting of the Sustainable Development Commission will take place; and how often the Commission will meet; [104786]

  (2) how many permanent staff the Sustainable Development Commission will employ; [104787]

  (3) if he will list the membership of the Sustainable Development Commission; [104788]

  (4) what is the proposed budget of the Sustainable Development Commission; and how much of it will come from public funds. [104789]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Sustainable Development Commission, which will replace the existing UK Round Table and British Government Panel on Sustainable Development, is expected to begin work in the spring. It will be for the Commission to decide the frequency and timing of its meetings along with its other working arrangements. The DETR will provide funds for administrative support for the Commission which will have about 15 members, and a Secretariat that permits an increase on current staffing for the two existing advisory bodies, which currently have six permanent staff. A proposed budget of £492,000 has been allocated for the Commission for 2000–01. It will be open to the Commission to encourage others to contribute support, for example, by providing staff on secondment. The process of appointing members is under way in accordance with the guidance laid down by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

  No-car Days
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will introduce pilot no-car days in the UK. [104837]

  Mr. Hill
  No. Our view is that it is for local authorities to decide whether they want to introduce no-car days, taking into account local circumstances.

  London Cabs (Blind Passengers)
  Mr. Efford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many complaints have been received by the Public Carriage Office regarding London taxi drivers who have refused to carry blind passengers with guide dogs in the last year; [105203]

  (2) if he will estimate how many passengers with guide dogs are carried by London taxi drivers per year. [105204]

  Mr. Hill
  The Public Carriage Office has no recorded complaints of London licensed taxi drivers refusing to carry guide dogs in the last year.

  Neither the Public Carriage Office nor the Department monitors the number or proportion of taxi journeys in London involving passengers with guide dogs.

  Road Gritting
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidelines his Department has issued for the gritting of roads in icy conditions. [105056]
  528W
  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 17 January 2000]: The Highways Agency aims to provide a winter maintenance service of de-icing and snow clearing which, as far as possible, allows the safe movement of traffic on motorways and all purpose trunk roads in England, and keeps delays and accidents caused by adverse weather to a minimum. Their maintenance agents undertake the operational management of this service following the guidelines in the Highways Agency Trunk Road Maintenance Manual: Volume 2, Routine and Winter Maintenance Code.

  For local authority roads, the Code of Good Practice for Highway Maintenance produced by the local government associations in England and Scotland in 1989 provides advice on systems to predict freezing conditions at Appendix 4.7. A partnership project between DETR, the Local Government Association, the Welsh Assembly, and DOE(NI) is currently considering the revision of this code.

  London Elections
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to announce the outcome of his consultation on the proposed spending limits for London Mayoral and Greater London Assembly candidates and his decision on whether candidates will have free mailshots; and if he will make a statement. [105282]

  Mr. Hill
  We are considering the comments we received on our proposed limits to the spending of Mayoral and Assembly candidates in GLA elections. We will announce our conclusions in a written answer shortly. The limits will be set in an order subject to affirmative resolution.

  Road Maintenance
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was his Department's budget for road maintenance in each of the last 10 years. [105704]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 18 January 2000]: Motorway and trunk road maintenance is the responsibility of the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions. The Highways Agency (an executive agency of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions) carries out this function on the Secretary of State's behalf.

  The responsibility for maintenance of local roads rests with local highway authorities. Central Government funding for routine maintenance of local authority roads is provided through the highways maintenance element of the Revenue Support Grant (RSG). This is distributed by the Highways Maintenance Standard Spending Assessment (HMSSA).

  Funding for structural maintenance of local authority principal roads and bridges has been provided through

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  Transport Supplementary Grant (TSG) until 1999–2000. In the future it will be provided by the Local Transport Plan capital settlement.

  The provisions for the last 10 years were:

  Year

  £ million

  Highway maintenance standard spending assessment

  1990–91

  1,578

  1991–92

  1,786

  1992–93

  1,806

  1993–94

  1,736

  1994–95

  1,759

  1995–96

  1,759

  1996–97

  1,759

  1997–98

  1,759

  1998–99

  1,767

  1999–2000

  11,813

  Transport supplementary grant

  1992–93

  47.64

  1993–94

  86.5

  1994–95

  75.5

  1995–96

  70.52

  1996–97

  43.9

  1997–98

  46

  1998–99

  40

  1999–2000

  56.75

  Maintenance provision for motorways and trunk roads

  1990–91

  2408

  1991–92

  2430

  1992–93

  2478

  1993–94

  726

  1994–95

  690

  1995–96

  675

  1996–97

  547

  Table B: Orders being considered

  Topic

  Timing

  The disposal of houses by local authorities in England

  Expected to be made in late April/early May

  Amending Section 7 of the Building Act 1984

  Expected to be laid before Parliament before the summer recess

  Eligibility to drive a private hire vehicle outside London

  Under consideration in the light of responses to consultation

  Correspondence
  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire will receive a reply to his letter of 1 December on behalf of his constituent, Mr. Hall. [105922]

  Mr. Raynsford
  This letter was sent to the Highways Agency for advice. They transferred the papers to the Government Office for the East of England for reply. Because of a clerical error this transfer was not completed. However the papers are now receiving urgent attention and my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Transport will reply shortly.

  Tyneside Metro
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has for public investment in the Tyneside Metro. [104829]
  530W

  Year

  £ million

  1997–98

  531

  1998–99

  651

  1999–2000

  765

  1 Provisional figure

  2 Outturn figures

  Note:

  No separate TSG allocation was made for road maintenance before 1992–93

  Deregulation
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what orders his Department has made under the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994 in each year since 1994; and what plans it has to introduce such orders. [106087]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The five orders my Department has made under the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994 are listed in table A. We continue to look for opportunities to use such orders to remove legislation where we can. Three areas where we expect to take action are listed in table B.

  Table A: Orders already made

  Year

  Title

  1996

  The Deregulation (Parking Equipment) Order 1996

  The Deregulation (Motor Vehicles Tests) Order 1996

  The Deregulation (Building) (Initial Notices and Final Certificates) Order 1996

  1998

  The Deregulation (Exchangeable Driving Licences) Order 1998

  The Deregulation (Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles) Order 1998

  Mr. Hill
  The Deputy Prime Minister announced the go-ahead for the extension of the Tyne and Wear Metro to Sunderland and South Hylton on 13 December last year. In addition to ERDF funding we expect to support at least £35 million of expenditure on the scheme.

  Building Regulations (Fire Safety)
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to publish the revised guidance to support Part B (Fire Safety) of the Building Regulations; and if he will make a statement. [106529]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  I have today published the 2000 edition of the Approved Document to Part B of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations 1991. The Building Regulations (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 1999, which amended Part B, were laid before Parliament on 21 December 1999. The 2000 edition of the Approved Document offers ways of meeting these revised
  531W
  requirements of the Building Regulations. The amendment Regulations and the 2000 edition of the Approved Document will both come into force on 1 July 2000.

  There are a number of changes in this guidance, which was last published in 1992. Many of them have been to address areas where the guidance has become outdated, or where the guidance has needed clarification. In addition the guidance now contains information specifically relating to schools and gives guidance on sandwich panel construction.

  Some new issues have also been introduced in the 2000 edition of the Approved Document. The revised Approved Document includes guidance on fire alarm and fire detection systems within all relevant buildings and not just dwellings, as was the case in the 1992 edition of the Approved Document. The revised Approved Document now suggests that within a dwelling all habitable rooms within storeys not more than 4.5 metres above ground level should be provided with an emergency egress window. Guidance has also been added to deal with means of escape from storeys within buildings other than dwellings which are also used for the consumption of food and/or drink by customers. This follows two fatal fires in department stores where it has been shown that people in a cafe are not so quick to respond to a fire alarm compared to the other general shoppers.

  As announced on 14 December 1999 by my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning, the revised Approved Document now includes a provision for compartmentation or sprinkler protection in single storey retail buildings with a floor area exceeding 2000m2.

  In some areas where it has become evident in the light of experience that the guidance in the 1992 edition of the Approved Document was too onerous, the guidance has been relaxed. An example of this is the provision for firefighting shafts (a protected stair core incorporating a stair, lobby, dry riser and in the case of taller buildings a lift for use by the fire brigade). The guidance on these, which was introduced in the 1992 edition of the Approved Document, was found to be unreasonably onerous in certain low rise (between 7.5 metres and 18 metres higher) buildings which have a floor area of 600m2 or more. The 2000 edition of the Approved Document relaxes the provision for certain buildings of this type and gives advice that recommends their use only in the shop and commercial, industrial and storage purpose groups.

DEFENCE

  Gulf War
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the recommendations in the report of the external audit of the Gulf Veterans' Medical Assessment Programme have been implemented. [106501]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Ministry of Defence response to the recommendations in the report of the audit of the Gulf Veterans' Medical Assessment Programme (GVMAP) has now been completed. A very small number of issues remain outstanding but the response explains why this is so and what action is being taken.
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  The staff of the GVMAP have welcomed this opportunity to review their working practices and take action where necessary. The implementation of the audit recommendations will provide an improved service for Gulf veterans.

  I am placing a copy of the response to the audit report in the Library of the House and it is also being published on the Ministry of Defence Gulf Veterans' Illnesses website.

  Mrs. Gilroy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement regarding the implementation of the immunisation programme against biological warfare agents for United Kingdom forces during the Gulf conflict 1990–91. [106493]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Government's "New Beginning" policy statement set out the way forward for addressing the health concerns of Gulf veterans and included a commitment to establish a Fact Finding Team to look into the implementation of the anti-biological warfare immunisation programme during the Gulf conflict. Their work has now been completed and I am today publishing a paper entitled "Implementation of the immunisation programme against biological warfare agents for UK forces during the Gulf conflict 1990–91". Copies of the report have been placed in the Library of the House.

  The publication of this paper reaffirms the Government's commitment to ensuring that Gulf veterans should have access to whatever information the Ministry of Defence possesses which might be relevant to their illnesses.

  The deficiencies in the implementation of the 1990–91 anti-biological warfare immunisation programme have been, and continue to be, addressed in improvements to our current arrangements. When we again deployed to the Gulf in 1998 our immunisation programme was unclassified, all troops were fully briefed using standard material, the nature of the threat and the vaccine were described in detail and all records were updated, showing that the lessons of 1990–91 have been learned.

  The report found that the voluntary nature of the immunisation programme operated as intended in the majority of units and locations. It confirms that no unusual or previously undisclosed immunisations were given during the Gulf conflict and also explains the codewords which were sometimes used for the vaccines.

  Uptake of the anti-biological warfare immunisations in the early stages of the programme was high. Over 75 per cent. of all personnel deployed to the Gulf region are likely to have had anthrax and pertussis immunisations, and in many units this approached 100 per cent. Uptake of the second anthrax and pertussis immunisations and the first plague was less and varied between and within formations. Uptake of the third anthrax and the second plague immunisation was rare.

  Mr. John Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the suggested exposure of United Kingdom troops to chemical warfare agents in A1 Jubayl on 19 January 1991. [106495]

  Mr. Spellar
  The 1997 "A New Beginning" policy statement set out a number of commitments to help address the health concerns of Gulf Veterans. One of these commitments was to review specific incidents of
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  suggested biological or chemical warfare exposures. As part of this commitment I am today publishing a paper entitled "A Review of the Suggested Exposure of UK Forces to Chemical Warfare Agents in A1 Jubayl on 19 January 1991". A copy will be placed in the Library.

  As a result of our review of the available information we assess that UK troops were not subject to attack or exposed to chemical warfare agents at A1 Jubayl on 19 January 1991. Although it is not possible to give a single comprehensive explanation for all the events that took place on the morning of 19 January we conclude from the available information that the indications of the presence of Chemical Warfare agents were false alarms.

  Mr. John Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the relationship between organophosphate pesticides and the illnesses suffered by some veterans of the 1990–91 Gulf conflict following recent reports from the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment and the Institute of Occupational Medicine. [106496]

  Mr. Spellar
  The COT report, published in November, concluded that neuropsychological abnormalities can occur as a long term complication following acute organophosphate (OP) poisoning, particularly if the poisoning is severe. Persistent peripheral neuropathy (disorders of the peripheral nerves) may occur, but not generally at a level which would give rise to symptoms. The body of evidence gives little support to the hypothesis that low-level exposure to OPs can cause chronic disease of the nervous system. However, the report notes that there remains a question over whether a small proportion of subjects may be at increased risk of clinically significant disease following low level exposure and recommends further research in this area.

  The Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) report on the relationship between OP sheep dips and illness in exposed sheep farmers and dippers found the critical exposure factor to be contact with concentrate dip: much higher rates of symptoms, predominantly of a sensory nature, were reported among those who had been principal concentrate handlers. There is a very limited evidence that long term low-level exposure to organophosphates leads to long term neurotoxic effects.

  The conclusions from these reports are in line with the findings of the Defence Scientific Advisory Council's (DSAC) Working Party report, the publication of which I announced on 20 October 1999 and which reviewed existing literature on the long term neurotoxicity of anticholinesterases. It concluded that high doses of organophosphates may have long term effects on the peripheral nervous system, but that there is limited evidence about long term toxic effects following low doses.

  During the Gulf conflict very few UK service personnel would have handled concentrated OPs. Those that did would have been Environmental Health Officers or technicians, or individual regimental hygiene duties personnel who were appropriately trained in procedures and the use of equipment. There was no evidence of acute organophosphate poisoning or of subsequent unusual ill health arising in this small group.
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  Neither the IOM nor the COT report provides evidence which would cause us to reassess our view of the possible role of OPs in relation to Gulf Veterans' illnesses. The case for ill-health effects resulting from long term low level exposure to OPs remains unproven and there is currently no reason to believe that Gulf veterans who might have been in casual contact with dilute pesticide (e.g. from the treatment of tents and equipment) or with the malathion dust used to de-louse Iraqi prisoners of war, are at increased risk of long term ill-health.

  Although it remains the case that there is limited evidence of a link between low level exposure to OPs and adverse health effects, MOD will continue to monitor the debate about the safety of OPs. We will continue to review scientific evidence in the light of potential exposures which may have occurred in the Gulf and follow future research, including that recommended by the COT report, very closely.

  Duke of York Royal Military School
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Duke of York Royal Military School for the financial year 1999–2000. [106545]

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  The Chief Executive of The Duke of York's Royal Military School has been set the following key targets for 1999–2000:

  To achieve 100 per cent. of GCSE passes at grades A* to G.

  To achieve five or more GCSE passes at grades A* to C; 1999–2000 target is 86 per cent.

  To achieve 88 per cent. of A level passes at grades A to E.

  To achieve three or more A level passes at grades A to E; 1999–2000 target is 80 per cent.

  To achieve 34 per cent. of A level passes at Grades A and B.

  To achieve 100 per cent. award rate for GNVQ Advances and BTEC National Diploma courses.

  To achieve places in higher education for at least 80 per cent. of sixth form leavers.

  To achieve a pupil per capita cost of no more than £12,922.

  To generate income of at least £475,000.

  To achieve at least 270 applications for September 2000 intake.

  Helsinki Council
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Annex to the Presidency Conclusions of the European Council held in Helsinki relating to three new military committees under that Council,(a) what is the specific purpose of each and how it relates to the others, (b) what instructions have been sent by the Council to the Secretary General or High Representative of each in respect of his function and duties and (c) what the lines of accountability are. [105131]

  Mr. Vaz
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Helsinki European Council set the framework for the political and military structures that will be necessary for the EU to decide and act on security and defence matters. These bodies are a standing Political and Security Committee (which will handle the full range of Common Foreign and Security Policy issues), the Military Committee and the Military Staff. The incoming Portuguese Presidency was tasked, together with the EU Secretary General/High Representative, to

  535W
  carry this work forward. The terms of reference, guidance and accountability for each body will thus be developed in due course.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Concessionary Television Licences
  Mr. Dobbin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many retirement pensioners in Heywood and Middleton aged 75 or over(a) will benefit and (b) will not benefit from free TV licences. [105198]

  Janet Anderson
  Figures are not available for the number of people aged 75 or over in Heywood and Middleton. However, as my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his pre-Budget statement on 9 November 1999,Official Report, columns 883–91, everyone aged 75 or over will receive their television licence free of charge from this autumn. We shall announce full details of the scheme shortly.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will take steps to ensure that all pensioners receive free TV licences. [105414]

  Kate Hoey
  As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on 9 November 1999,Official Report, columns 883–91, from this autumn, everyone aged 75 or over will receive their television licence free of charge. The Government are introducing this concession for older pensioners because, as a group, they are more likely to rely on television as their window on the world and to be on low incomes. We have no plans to extend the concession to all pensioners, but we are considering the Davies report's recommendations on the existing concessionary television licence scheme in the light of responses to the public consultation and will announce our conclusions shortly.

PRIME MINISTER

  Media Policy
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Prime Minister if those dealing with the media in(a) his Office and (b) other ministerial offices, (i) ever, (ii) routinely and (iii) always record conversations with journalists; and for what period (1) unofficial and (2) official recordings are preserved. [106036]

  The Prime Minister
  It is now standard practice to tape press briefings given by the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman and other Downing street Spokesmen and a written record is circulated around Whitehall Departments, an innovation introduced by this Government. A record is kept on file.

  European Defence
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the answer from the Secretary of State for Defence to the hon. Member for Craydon, South of 10 January 2000,Official Report, column 97W, if he will place in the Library the speech given by his Policy Unit adviser on Europe and
  536W
  Defence, Mr. Liddle, to the French-German-UK Seminar at the Institut de Haute Education de la Defense Nationale, Paris in November 1999. [104803]

  The Prime Minister
  I am advised that Mr. Liddle's talk was not transcribed. I am therefore unable to consider the hon. Member's request.

  Ilisu Dam
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Prime Minister what discussions took place between EU Commission officials and the Prime Minister of Turkey on the Ilisu Dam Project during the 48 hours prior to his attendance at the Helsinki Summit. [105592]

  The Prime Minister
  I have no responsibility for any discussions which the European Commission officials may enter into. However, I am advised that officials of the Export Credits Guarantee Department and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are not aware of any discussions on the Ilisu Dam project taking place between European Commission officials and the Prime Minister of Turkey during the 48 hours prior to his attendance at the Helsinki Summit.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Higher Education
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the Government's plans are in respect of salaries and conditions in higher education. [103688]

  Mr. McWalter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on university staff salaries. [103706]

  Mr. Wicks
  The pay and conditions of staff in higher education are a matter for the employers not the Government. The Bett Report into higher education pay and conditions, published in June 1999, made a number of recommendations for restructuring the sector's terms and conditions. It will be for the higher education employers to consider how these recommendations can be implemented.

  Exclusions
  Mr.Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what measures the Government have taken to support schools in reducing he number of exclusions. [103690]

  Jacqui Smith
  Last July we issued new guidance on 'Social Inclusion: Pupil Support' which includes practical preventive strategies, based on good practice, to help schools deal with behaviour problems. This is backed up with nearly £500 million over three years for projects to prevent exclusions.

  Learning and Skills Council
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what role will be played by business on the Learning and Skills Council. [103691]
  537W
  Mr. Wicks
  As the LSC Prospectus published before Christmas says, business will have a key role in the new Learning and Skills Council. We intend that at least 40 per cent. of the new Council's members will come from the private sector, and we will be looking to people with business experience to chair the national and most local Councils. In addition, the LSC's local arms will work closely with the new Small Business Service on workforce development.

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on his plans for the Learning and Skills Council. [103713]

  Mr. Wicks
  On December 14 my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment published a detailed Prospectus for the LSC. Subject to the passage of the Learning and Skills Bill, we expect the Learning and Skills Council to be in full operation from April 2001.

  Secondary Schools
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to improve the quality of education for secondary school pupils. [103692]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  An agenda for raising educational standards for secondary school pupils was laid out by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment at the North of England conference on 6 January.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what structures exist to facilitate communication between his Department and small businesses. [103693]

  Ms Jowell
  My Department communicates with small business primarily through small business representative bodies, and through intermediary organisations like Training and Enterprise Councils, Business Links, National Training Organisations and enterprise agencies.

  Rural Areas
  Dr. George Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to address pockets of low expectations and low skills in rural constituencies. [103694]

  Mr. Wicks
  We are committed to addressing low expectations and low skills wherever they are found. That is why we are setting targets at school and LEA level and creating a new system of post-16 learning that is responsive to local needs.

  Labour Market
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps his Department is taking to broaden participation in the labour market. [103695]

  Ms Jowell
  The Government's Welfare to Work programme is the biggest ever initiative to help more people participate in the labour market and get back into work.

  Age Discrimination
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps are being taken to promote the code of practice on age discrimination in the workplace. [103696]

  Ms Hodge
  The Code has been well received, with over 40,000 copies being issued since its launch in June. Copies of the Code of Practice were sent to Chambers of Commerce; Training and Enterprise Councils; Local Authorities; National Training Organisations; Trade Associations and 5000 businesses. Advertisements about the Code have appeared in Citizens Advice Bureaux; Jobcentres; local libraries and in a calendar sent to 120,000 small firms. Advertisements have also appeared in a range of publications aimed at management and personnel professionals.

  I will be making an announcement next month on further plans for promoting its key messages.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to propose legislation to guarantee legal rights of access for the disabled to education and training. [103697]

  Ms Hodge
  We announced our intention on 13 December to bring forward legislation to give people with disabilities equal access to schools and further, higher and adult education. The provision of training is generally already covered by Part 11 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) where it concerns employees, or Part III of the DDA where it constitutes a service to the public, depending on the particular circumstances of the disabled person and the provider.

  Job Mobility
  Mr. Best
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment his Department has made of the role of mobility within city boundaries in matching jobseekers to vacancies. [103699]

  Ms Jowell
  My Department recognises that increasing the mobility of jobseekers is critically important in helping people to find jobs, and employers to find people. The Employment Service has developed a comprehensive strategy to address mobility issues.

  Attendance Rates
  Mr. Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what support and advice has been given to schools to improve the rate of attendance by pupils. [103700]

  Jacqui Smith
  We are investing £500 million over three years on projects tackling truancy and school exclusion and other initiatives to get children back into school and learning. To support this major investment, we issued new guidance to schools in July 1999 entitled "Social Inclusion: Pupil Support", which includes evidence on what works in increasing attendance rates at school.

  On 1 November 1999 we also issued our strategy document "Tackling Truancy Together" which sets out our further proposals for helping to reduce unauthorised absence from school. We are currently considering the

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  many responses we received to the proposals in that document, and will make an announcement soon on what further action we want to take to help reduce unauthorised absence from school.

  Further Education
  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on his plans for funding the further education sector. [103701]

  Mr. Wicks
  In November 1999 1 announced an additional £365 million for further education in 2001–02, bringing funding to nearly £3.9 billion, a 7.7 per cent. rise in real terms over 2000–01. A consultation document which we published on 11 January sets out how the Learning and Skills Council will fund post-16 education and training from April 2001. Further Education will continue to play its key role in improving the skills base of the country.

  Mrs. Betty Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to raise standards in the further education sector. [103710]

  Mr. Wicks
  Higher standards in further education colleges are being promoted through the Further Education Standards Fund which comprises £275 million over the three years from 1999–2002. The Government will also continue to promote high standards in Further Education through new legislation in the Learning and Skills Bill, which includes provision for improved post-16 inspection arrangements.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many 16 to 19-year-olds are receiving full-time education in(a) school sixth forms, (b) sixth form colleges and (c) general further education colleges. [106014]

  Mr. Wicks
  The latest provisional figures for 16 to 18-year-olds in full-time education in England are for end of calendar year 1998. They are shown in the table:

  Thousand

  Schools1

  394

  Sixth form college

  112

  Other FE college

  380

  Total

  886

  1 Includes independent and special schools

  Source:

  Statistical First Release13/99: Participation in education and training by 16 to 18-year-olds in England, 1988 to 1998

  Families
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to encourage changes in employment practices to facilitate the combination of employment with family responsibilities. [103703]

  Caroline Flint
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress is being made 540W
  in developing a campaign to encourage changes in employment practices to bring about a better balance in people's lives between work and home. [103712]

  Ms Hodge
  Our campaign will be delivered in partnership with leading employers and others. It will promote good practice that both benefits the business and enables employees to balance work and home better. Details are currently being finalised.

  Higher Education (External Examiners)
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to assess the independence of external examiners in the higher education degree process. [103705]

  Mr. Wicks
  My right hon. Friend has no such plans. External examiners are contracted by, and answerable to, the autonomous higher education institutions who appoint them. The institutional reviews undertaken by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education look at a range of issues relating to external examiners.

  Employment Service
  Mr. Healey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to make it easier for firms to notify vacancies to the Employment Service and to obtain information on vacancies posted. [103707]

  Ms Jowell
  From Autumn 2000 the Employment Service will be introducing a new set of IT-based gateways to give its customers convenient, user friendly access to its services. Employers will benefit from having their vacancies displayed to a much wider range of jobseekers through touchscreen kiosks in Jobcentres and elsewhere, and on an Internet Jobsbank. Notifying Jobcentres will be made easier for employers by providing them with a single national telephone number and internet-based links.

  New Deal (Young People)
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on progress made under the new deal for young people in meeting the target of moving 250,000 young people into jobs. [103708]

  Ms Jowell
  With over 169,000 young people having found jobs to the end of October 1999, the trend indicates that we will meet the manifesto commitment to move 250,000 young people into work under the New Deal for Young People. The success of the New Deal so far will be built on by extending further help with basic skills and personal presentation to young people who will benefit, particularly the most disadvantaged. The 60 per cent. cut in long-term youth unemployment since May 1997 is good news for our young people and for the prosperity of the country.

  Standard Spending Assessments
  Mr. David Heath
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to
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  reform the standard spending assessment distribution per pupil to reduce disparities between local education authorities. [103709]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Government announced in November 1998 a three year review in partnership with local government to look for a way of distributing revenue support grant which is simpler, more stable, more robust and fairer than the present arrangements for SSAs.

  Drug Use
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the impact of anti-smoking and anti-illegal drugs education programmes on reducing drug use. [103711]

  Jacqui Smith
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 21 December 1999,Official Report, column 555W, in which I announced plans for a long-term study on the effectiveness of drug education.

  Curriculum 2000
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of the funds allocated to schools for the implementation of Curriculum 2000 will be allocated to sixth forms with fewer than(a) 50, (b) 100, (c) 150 and (d) 200 pupils; and what will be the method of allocation. [104849]

  Mr. Wicks
  The Education Standard Spending Assessment for 2000–01 takes into account the estimated additional recurrent costs of successfully implementing the forthcoming reforms to post-16 qualifications in LEA maintained schools. It is for individual local education authorities to decide how to allocate resources to the schools they maintain.

  New Deal (Over-50s)
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the progress to date of the New Deal for those aged over 50 years. [103702]

  Ms Jowell
  New Deal 50plus has made an excellent start in nine selected areas of the country. People aged over 50 who have received one of a number of benefits for six months or more are eligible for a package of advice and other support including a cash employment credit to help them back into work. By early January over 350 people had found work with the support of New Deal 50plus. Many of those finding work so far through this New Deal have been out of work and on benefits for a long time. We will launch New Deal 50plus across the whole country in April.

  Ofsted Inspections
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make it his policy that Ofsted inspectors will, as a matter of course, meet the trade union representatives during an inspection. [103704]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  This is a matter for Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools, Chris Woodhead. I have asked him to write to my hon. Friend and to place a copy of his letter in the Library.

CABINET OFFICE

  On-line Services
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps she has taken to benchmark the extent of on-line Government services in the United Kingdom against other countries, with particular reference to the US and Australia. [105187]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Government are very keen to learn from good examples of international electronic service delivery. There are a number of very interesting examples of developments in this area not just in the USA and Australia, but in other countries. We intend to publish a report in the summer that will set out the results of our research and indicate what lessons we can learn from exemplars of international best practice.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps Her Majesty's Government have taken to introduce the use of the Internet for(a) VAT payment, (b) passport renewal, (c) renewal of television licenses, (d) renewal of vehicle licences and (e) Government procurement contracts; and what targets exist for Internet based transactions in these areas. [105249]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  As part of our Modernising Government programme we announced in our Action Plan, published in July 1999, that we would provide six-monthly reports on our progress in delivering Government services electronically. The second of these reports was recently published on the Central Information Technology Unit (CITU) website (http://www.citu.gov.uk). Copies of these reports are available in the Libraries of the House.

  I refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Warrington, North (Helen Jones), on 17 January 2000, Official Report, column 276W.

  Health Appointments
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what representations she has made to the Commissioner for Public Appointments regarding the date of publication of her report on appointments to NHS trusts and health authorities. [106018]

  Mr. Stringer
  None.

  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when she expects the Commissioner for Public Appointments to publish her report on public appointments to NHS trusts and health authorities. [106019]

  Mr. Stringer
  The publication of the report is entirely a matter for the Commissioner. However, I understand that a press release issued by the Commissioner's office on 17 January 2000 stated that the Commissioner will announce her findings and recommendations in early March.

  Drug Misuse (Gloucestershire)
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what were the numbers of registered drug misusers in Gloucestershire(a) 1997 and (b) 1999. [105552]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Addicts Index was discontinued by the Home Office in 1997. The following table shows the number of drug misusers presenting to
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  treatment agencies in the Gloucestershire Health Authority area. Figures for the six month period ending September 1999 are not yet available.

  Six month period ending

  Agency episodes reported in Gloucestershire Health Authority area1

  March 1997

  28

  September 1997

  33

  March 1998

  63

  September 1998

  71

  March 1999

  96

  1 The number of agency episodes is generally higher than the number of users as a person may start an episode during the period at more than one agency

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what measures she is taking to counter the increase in numbers of people registered as drug misusers in Gloucestershire. [105551]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Government's strategy for tackling drug misuse was set out in the White Paper "Tackling Drugs to Build a Better Britain" in 1998. The Government backed this ten-year strategy by allocating an extra £217 million for anti-drugs work as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review. This includes an additional £70.5 million for health and local authorities over the next three years for drug treatment services and £18 million to support drug prevention activities, particularly among young people. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has also announced a further £20 million for the expansion of Arrest Referral Schemes to help drug-misusing offenders obtain treatment. The Gloucestershire Drug Action Team is responsible for co-ordinating local implementation of the strategy.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Departmental Smoking Policy
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Solicitor-General what action he is taking to reduce smoking in his Department. [105793]

  The Solicitor-General
  The Law Officers' Departments have different policies on smoking in offices, reflecting the different buildings and the results of locally based decisions. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has a general no smoking policy. Staff may not smoke in their own rooms. The provision of a separate smoking room is a matter for managers to decide locally, taking into account the interest of staff. CPS HQ is in two buildings. In the London office, the number of smoking rooms has been reduced to one and in the York office, there is no separate smoking room. Information about the provision of separate smoking rooms in the CPS's 42 Areas is not available centrally.

  The Counselling and Support Service of the CPS advertises the now annual National No Smoking Day (in their in-house publication "Inform") and offer literature to assist anyone wishing to give up smoking.

  The Treasury Solicitor's Department has a policy of restricting and confining smoking to clearly defined areas.
  544W
  The Department's Health and Safety Advisory Committee is currently reviewing the policy and will in due course be making recommendations.

  The Serious Fraud Office accommodation is non-smoking although a small smoking room is provided. Free health screening checks have recently been made available to all staff and these will make staff more aware of the dangers of smoking.

  In the Law Officers' Legal Secretariat smoking is not permitted in any of the meeting rooms or the shared offices. Smoking is restricted to a smoking room. Staff are encouraged and supported in giving up smoking.

  William Beausire
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Solicitor-General what reports he has received concerning the disappearance of William Beausire in Santiago in 1974; and what requests he has received for a private prosecution. [106029]

  The Solicitor-General
  Solicitors acting for a number of individuals applied for Law Officer consent to prosecute Senator Pinochet for offences of torture and hostage taking. The papers included reference to William Beausire. On 11 February 1999, the then Attorney-General considered the application and took advice from Treasury Counsel. The solicitors were advised that consent to prosecute was declined. The basis of that decision is that the relevant legislation is not retrospective and the material supplied by the solicitors in support of the application provided insufficient admissible evidence to justify a prosecution.

SCOTLAND

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the number of asylum seekers and refugees seeking places in Scotland. [104808]

  Dr. Reid
  At present, local authorities in Scotland give support to between about 150 and 200 new asylum seekers each year.

  In addition, in 1999, 349 refugees from Kosovo came to Scotland under the Kosovo Humanitarian Evacuation Programme.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Switchboard
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee when the delays in connecting hon. Members to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and other Government Departments via the House switchboard will be remedied; what the cause is of the delays; and when the House authorities became aware of the problem. [106053]

  Mr. Allan
  This is an operational matter falling within the remit of the Head of Telecommunications. I have therefore asked him to reply directly to the hon. Member.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Correspondence
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 25 November 1999,Official Report, column 179W, for what reason he has failed to fulfil the undertaking to reply shortly to the letters dated 4 August, 10 September and 14 October, from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr. Cleveland Savory. [104466]

  Mr. Straw
  I am sorry for the delay in replying to my right hon. Friend. I am looking into the matter and will write to him this week.

  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letters dated 21 September, 27 October and 2 December 1999 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Ahmed Said Mohammed Aderi. [104455]

  Mrs. Roche
  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary wrote to my right hon. Friend on 17 January 2000. I am sorry for the delay in replying.

  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letters to him dated 21 September, 27 October and 2 December 1999 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr. Muhidin Abdul Rahman. [104454]

  Mrs. Roche
  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary wrote to my right hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Gorton on 19 January 2000. I am sorry for the delay in replying.

  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letters dated 21 September, 27 October and 2 December 1999 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr. N. Askander. [104456]

  Mrs. Roche
  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary wrote to my right hon. Friend on 17 January 2000. I am sorry for the delay in replying.

  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire will receive a reply to his letter of 30 November on behalf of his constituent, Mrs. Djukic. [105921]

  Mrs. Roche
  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary wrote to the right hon. Member on 18 January 2000.

  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire will receive a reply to his letter of 25 November on behalf of his constituent, Mr. Reeves. [105924]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary replied to the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire's letter of 25 November 1999 on 14 January 2000.

  Fathers
  Ms Kelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment the Government have made of the impact of fathers' involvement in childrearing on the behaviour and attainment of their sons and daughters; and if he will make a statement. [104876]

  Mr. Boateng
  There is strong evidence that fathers play a critical role in bringing up children. Boys who have no contact with their fathers are more likely to underachieve at school. Supporting fathers is an important part of the Government's family policy. We have also provided fathers with the right to parental leave, and those in receipt of Working Families Tax Credit and some other benefits will receive income support while taking the leave to make it a viable prospect for all parents. Under the Family Support Grants programme, a number of voluntary organisations have been funded to develop work specifically with fathers.

  Police
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each police authority in England the percentage of net expenditure in(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98 and (c) 1998–99 which was funded by (i) council tax, (ii) police grant and (iii) other grants. [105258]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The information requested on council tax and police grant, which has been compiled from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy's Police Statistics, is set out in the table. Information on the percentage of net expenditure funded by other grants is not readily available.

  Percentage of English police force net expenditure met by council tax, Home Office police specific grant and other sources, 1996–97 to 1998–99

  Council tax

  Home Office police specific grant

  Other sources

  1996–97

  Avon and Somerset

  14.8

  50.8

  34.4

  Bedfordshire

  14.9

  50.9

  34.2

  Cambridgeshire

  15.7

  51.3

  33.0

  Cheshire

  16.0

  52.6

  31.4

  City of London

  n/a

  48.6

  n/a

  Cleveland

  9.9

  50.3

  39.7

  Cumbria

  14.4

  50.5

  35.2

  Derbyshire

  14.7

  51.3

  34.0

  Devon and Cornwall

  16.1

  51.2

  32.7

  Dorset

  22.1

  47.9

  30.0

  Durham

  11.4

  52.7

  35.9

  Essex

  17.4

  50.3

  32.3

  Gloucestershire

  15.2

  50.2

  34.6

  Greater Manchester

  10.0

  50.4

  39.6

  Hampshire

  16.3

  51.0

  32.8

  Hertfordshire

  17.8

  51.0

  31.2

  Humberside

  11.7

  51.9

  36.4

  Kent

  15.8

  51.1

  33.1

  Lancashire

  12.1

  50.6

  37.2

  Leicestershire

  13.6

  51.0

  35.3

  Lincolnshire

  21.1

  48.5

  30.3

  Merseyside

  10.6

  50.9

  38.5

  Metropolitan Police

  8.3

  50.3

  41.4

  Norfolk

  15.4

  50.6

  34.0

  Northamptonshire

  20.7

  49.5

  29.8

  Northumbria

  10.0

  50.5

  39.5

  547W

  Percentage of English police force net expenditure met by council tax, Home Office police specific grant and other sources, 1996–97 to 1998–99

  Council tax

  Home Office police specific grant

  Other sources

  North Yorkshire

  17.7

  52.1

  30.1

  Nottinghamshire

  12.1

  50.9

  37.0

  South Yorkshire

  10.8

  51.7

  37.5

  Staffordshire

  14.5

  50.6

  34.8

  Suffolk

  16.2

  50.9

  32.9

  Surrey

  17.0

  49.3

  33.7

  Sussex

  17.2

  50.3

  32.5

  Thames Valley

  17.9

  50.5

  31.6

  Warwickshire

  17.0

  51.8

  31.1

  West Mercia

  17.0

  50.6

  32.4

  West Midlands

  10.1

  51.0

  38.9

  West Yorkshire

  10.4

  49.2

  40.5

  Wiltshire

  17.4

  50.7

  31.9

  Total

  12.3

  50.6

  37.1

  Council tax

  Home Office police specific grant

  Other sources

  1997–98

  Avon and Somerset

  16.9

  52.1

  31.0

  Bedfordshire

  16.5

  51.4

  32.1

  Cambridgeshire

  17.2

  50.3

  32.6

  Cheshire

  16.7

  49.1

  34.2

  City of London

  n/a

  47.5

  n/a

  Cleveland

  11.4

  49.7

  38.9

  Cumbria

  15.2

  48.7

  36.1

  Derbyshire

  16.0

  50.3

  33.7

  Devon and Cornwall

  17.1

  50.9

  32.0

  Dorset

  23.9

  48.5

  27.6

  Durham

  12.1

  48.6

  39.3

  Essex

  18.9

  50.6

  30.5

  Gloucestershire

  17.4

  51.8

  30.8

  Greater Manchester

  11.4

  49.8

  38.7

  Hampshire

  17.8

  50.1

  32.1

  Hertfordshire

  19.3

  51.0

  29.6

  Humberside

  12.8

  49.9

  37.2

  Kent

  16.6

  48.6

  34.8

  Lancashire

  13.6

  49.5

  36.9

  Leicestershire

  14.8

  49.9

  35.2

  Lincolnshire

  20.5

  46.5

  33.0

  Merseyside

  12.2

  50.7

  37.1

  Metropolitan Police

  9.4

  53.7

  36.9

  Norfolk

  16.7

  48.7

  34.7

  Northamptonshire

  21.2

  46.8

  32.1

  Northumbria

  11.1

  49.0

  39.9

  North Yorkshire

  18.4

  49.8

  31.8

  Nottinghamshire

  12.4

  49.0

  38.6

  South Yorkshire

  11.6

  47.8

  40.6

  Staffordshire

  16.3

  51.9

  31.8

  Suffolk

  17.8

  50.0

  32.2

  Surrey

  16.6

  49.3

  34.1

  Sussex

  18.7

  49.7

  31.6

  Police force net expenditure, and percentage met by council tax, Home Office police specific grant and other sources, 1996–97 to 1998–99

  £000

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Council tax

  Home Office police specific grant

  Other

  Net expenditure

  Council tax

  Home Office police specific grant

  Other

  Net expenditure

  Avon and Somerset

  22,443

  77,279

  52,365

  152,087

  25,839

  79,564

  47,270

  152,673

  Bedfordshire

  8,433

  28,811

  19,383

  56,627

  9,643

  30,102

  18,825

  58,570

  Cambridgeshire

  10,236

  33,356

  21,432

  65,024

  11,800

  n/a

  n/a

  68,681

  Cheshire

  15,072

  49,500

  29,605

  94,177

  17,322

  51,103

  35,580

  104,005

  City of London

  n/a

  27,832

  n/a

  57,317

  n/a

  27,476

  n/a

  57,893

  Cleveland

  7,250

  36,801

  29,057

  73,108

  8,587

  37,523

  29,316

  75,426

  Cumbria

  8,168

  28,689

  19,999

  56,856

  9,365

  30,038

  22,306

  61,709

  548W

  Council tax

  Home Office police specific grant

  Other sources

  Thames Valley

  19.5

  49.7

  30.8

  Warwickshire

  18.2

  50.4

  31.4

  West Mercia

  18.5

  49.5

  32.0

  West Midlands

  11.1

  48.7

  40.3

  West Yorkshire

  11.5

  47.0

  41.4

  Wiltshire

  20.1

  53.0

  26.8

  Total

  13.5

  50.6

  35.8

  Council tax

  Home Office police specific grant

  Other sources

  1998–99

  Avon and Somerset

  17.0

  51.6

  31.4

  Bedfordshire

  16.9

  50.6

  32.6

  Cambridgeshire

  15.4

  50.4

  34.3

  Cheshire

  17.3

  50.3

  32.4

  City of London

  n/a

  42.9

  n/a

  Cleveland

  9.5

  51.3

  39.2

  Cumbria

  18.8

  47.0

  34.3

  Derbyshire

  17.2

  50.0

  32.8

  Devon and Cornwall

  15.8

  51.7

  32.4

  Dorset

  25.8

  47.6

  26.6

  Durham

  11.3

  53.6

  35.1

  Essex

  22.1

  50.1

  27.8

  Gloucestershire

  18.5

  48.6

  33.0

  Greater Manchester

  12.0

  52.8

  35.2

  Hampshire

  16.9

  52.1

  31.0

  Hertfordshire

  21.4

  49.2

  29.4

  Humberside

  12.2

  50.3

  37.5

  Kent

  15.6

  52.3

  32.1

  Lancashire

  13.2

  50.6

  36.2

  Leicestershire

  16.9

  49.3

  33.7

  Lincolnshire

  23.5

  45.7

  30.8

  Merseyside

  12.2

  49.6

  38.2

  Metropolitan Police

  11.9

  54.3

  33.8

  Norfolk

  17.7

  51.5

  30.8

  Northamptonshire

  20.7

  48.1

  31.2

  Northumbria

  9.8

  51.0

  39.2

  North Yorkshire

  17.3

  51.4

  31.3

  Nottinghamshire

  13.1

  49.4

  37.4

  South Yorkshire

  11.8

  50.6

  37.6

  Staffordshire

  20.5

  49,0.

  30.5

  Suffolk

  17.8

  51.4

  30.8

  Surrey

  24.7

  44.5

  30.8

  Sussex

  18.2

  51.5

  30.3

  Thames Valley

  19.0

  53.6

  27.4

  Warwickshire

  21.3

  50.4

  28.3

  West Mercia

  18.8

  47.8

  33.4

  West Midlands

  10.1

  51.6

  38.3

  West Yorkshire

  11.7

  51.4

  36.9

  Wiltshire

  20.0

  47.2

  32.8

  Total

  13.7

  49.0

  37.3

  Source:

  1996/97–1998/99: CIPFA Police Statistics Actuals
  549W

  Police force net expenditure, and percentage met by council tax, Home Office police specific grant and other sources, 1996–97 to 1998–99

  £000

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Council tax

  Home Office police specific grant

  Other

  Net expenditure

  Council tax

  Home Office police specific grant

  Other

  Net expenditure

  Derbyshire

  13,333

  46,356

  30,731

  90,420

  15,276

  48,090

  32,275

  95,641

  Devon and Cornwall

  24,192

  77,025

  49,175

  150,392

  26,602

  79,047

  49,786

  155,435

  Dorset

  14,983

  32,474

  20,374

  67,831

  16,684

  33,804

  19,239

  69,727

  Durham

  7,778

  35,828

  24,429

  68,035

  9,087

  36,513

  29,566

  75,166

  Dyfed-Powys

  7,901

  24,241

  15,727

  47,869

  8,244

  25,198

  17,510

  50,952

  Essex

  26,275

  76,161

  48,976

  151,412

  29,817

  79,694

  47,976

  157,487

  Gloucestershire

  8,874

  29,316

  20,230

  58,420

  10,223

  30,371

  18,039

  58,633

  Greater Manchester

  34,075

  171,881

  135,214

  341,170

  40,354

  176,078

  136,887

  353,319

  Gwent

  8,193

  31,334

  18,215

  57,742

  8,667

  32,423

  23,508

  64,598

  Hampshire

  28,134

  88,069

  56,642

  172,845

  32,134

  90,616

  58,041

  180,791

  Hertfordshire

  15,792

  45,305

  27,766

  88,863

  17,971

  47,465

  27,575

  93,011

  Humberside

  11,653

  51,746

  36,320

  99,719

  13,622

  53,034

  39,564

  106,220

  Kent

  25,477

  82,584

  53,564

  161,625

  28,909

  84,673

  60,629

  174,211

  Lancashire

  19,638

  81,984

  60,243

  161,865

  22,982

  83,768

  62,525

  169,275

  Leicestershire

  12,649

  47,390

  32,814

  92,853

  14,652

  49,336

  34,801

  98,789

  Lincolnshire

  12,999

  29,848

  18,661

  61,508

  13,544

  30,788

  21,852

  66,184

  Merseyside

  23,345

  112,589

  85,238

  221,172

  27,390

  113,660

  83,277

  224,327

  Metropolitan Police

  139,075

  846,762

  697,344

  1,683,181

  157,930

  900,345

  618,342

  1,676,617

  Norfolk

  11,666

  38,204

  25,677

  75,547

  13,363

  39,053

  27,806

  80,222

  Northamptonshire

  12,257

  29,321

  17,674

  59,252

  13,672

  30,218

  20,715

  64,605

  Northumbria

  18,644

  94,046

  73,720

  186,410

  21,630

  95,656

  77,806

  195,092

  North Wales

  10,695

  34,681

  22,890

  68,266

  11,240

  35,696

  23,984

  70,920

  North Yorkshire

  11,885

  34,961

  20,196

  67,042

  13,200

  35,796

  22,844

  71,840

  Nottinghamshire

  13,775

  57,777

  42,039

  113,591

  14,953

  59,070

  46,533

  120,556

  South Wales

  18,362

  75,247

  53,849

  147,458

  19,491

  77,732

  62,188

  159,411

  South Yorkshire

  16,366

  78,009

  56,574

  150,949

  19,214

  79,346

  67,467

  166,027

  Staffordshire

  15,658

  54,611

  37,563

  107,832

  18,003

  57,200

  35,061

  110,264

  Suffolk

  9,892

  31,033

  20,038

  60,963

  11,327

  31,858

  20,491

  63,676

  Surrey

  14,528

  42,090

  28,727

  85,345

  15,126

  44,808

  31,042

  90,976

  Sussex

  25,870

  75,764

  48,992

  150,626

  29,400

  78,415

  49,816

  157,631

  Thames Valley

  36,051

  101,658

  63,688

  201,397

  41,006

  104,631

  64,696

  210,333

  Warwickshire

  8,111

  24,725

  14,850

  47,686

  9,270

  25,725

  16,008

  51,003

  West Mercia

  17,397

  51,632

  33,049

  102,078

  19,958

  53,342

  34,488

  107,788

  West Midlands

  34,210

  172,343

  131,439

  337,992

  39,829

  175,339

  144,961

  360,129

  West Yorkshire

  27,479

  130,447

  107,307

  265,233

  32,458

  132,526

  116,761

  281,745

  Wiltshire

  10,442

  30,428

  19,123

  59,993

  11,778

  31,043

  15,714

  58,535

  Total

  819,256

  3,350,138

  2,420,899

  6,619,778

  931,562

  3,438,163

  2,413,070

  6,870,093

  £000

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  Council tax

  Home Office police specific grant

  Other

  Net expenditure

  Net expenditure

  Avon and Somerset

  27,680

  83,927

  51,119

  162,726

  174,424

  Bedfordshire

  10,416

  31,236

  20,126

  61,778

  64,027

  Cambridgeshire

  11,286

  36,974

  25,172

  73,432

  75,363

  Cheshire

  18,573

  53,821

  34,699

  107,093

  111,094

  City of London

  n/a

  25,909

  n/a

  60,350

  58,719

  Cleveland

  7,734

  41,731

  31,830

  81,295

  85,397

  Cumbria

  11,730

  29,360

  21,442

  62,532

  64,693

  Derbyshire

  17,238

  50,026

  32,800

  100,064

  107,035

  Devon and Cornwall

  26,352

  86,035

  53,943

  166,330

  173,649

  Dorset

  18,838

  34,838

  19,441

  73,117

  77,749

  Durham

  8,427

  40,023

  26,223

  74,673

  80,712

  Dyfed-Powys

  10,212

  26,041

  13,787

  50,040

  56,143

  Essex

  34,676

  78,591

  43,555

  156,822

  171,590

  Gloucestershire

  11,604

  30,537

  20,721

  62,862

  65,933

  Greater Manchester

  42,558

  186,858

  124,755

  354,171

  387,256

  Gwent

  9,683

  34,265

  23,707

  67,655

  71,414

  Hampshire

  31,481

  97,239

  57,941

  186,661

  196,955

  Hertfordshire

  20,331

  46,771

  27,966

  95,068

  102,361

  Humberside

  13,762

  56,629

  42,180

  112,571

  114,306

  Kent

  27,473

  91,742

  56,362

  175,577

  186,225

  Lancashire

  23,370

  89,725

  64,215

  177,310

  182,679

  Leicestershire

  17,419

  50,708

  34,663

  102,790

  106,279

  Lincolnshire

  15,645

  30,484

  20,535

  66,664

  69,970

  550W 551W

  £000

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  Council tax

  Home Office police specific grant

  Other

  Net expenditure

  Net expenditure

  Merseyside

  29,259

  119,156

  91,852

  240,267

  249,522

  Metropolitan Police

  204,132

  931,431

  580,862

  1,716,425

  1,840,245

  Norfolk

  14,236

  41,512

  24,795

  80,543

  86,870

  Northamptonshire

  13,859

  32,266

  20,932

  67,057

  70,432

  Northumbria

  20,187

  104,638

  80,445

  205,270

  213,010

  North Wales

  13,612

  37,434

  21,435

  72,481

  80,505

  North Yorkshire

  13,020

  38,764

  23,560

  75,344

  78,085

  Nottinghamshire

  16,680

  62,799

  47,539

  127,018

  130,173

  South Wales

  22,394

  82,243

  56,301

  160,938

  169,968

  South Yorkshire

  19,726

  84,510

  62,923

  167,159

  173,933

  Staffordshire

  23,861

  56,924

  35,446

  116,231

  127,472

  Suffolk

  11,786

  33,943

  20,367

  66,096

  70,538

  Surrey

  22,612

  40,650

  28,163

  91,425

  100,375

  Sussex

  29,406

  83,399

  49,042

  161,847

  165,804

  Thames Valley

  39,878

  112,357

  57,440

  209,675

  232,729

  Warwickshire

  11,080

  26,196

  14,739

  52,015

  56,157

  West Mercia

  21,382

  54,354

  38,019

  113,755

  116,490

  West Midlands

  37,194

  190,208

  141,206

  368,608

  380,971

  West Yorkshire

  32,569

  142,946

  102,479

  277,994

  288,865

  Wiltshire

  13,792

  32,481

  22,538

  68,811

  69,715

  Total

  1,027,153

  3,641,681

  2,367,265

  7,070,687

  7,485,832

  Source:

  1996–97 and 1998–99—CIPFA Police Statistics Actuals

  Departmental Smoking Policy
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to reduce smoking in his Department. [105799]

  Mr. Straw
  Since 1997, smoking has not been allowed in the main central London Home Office buildings, except in designated smoking rooms. National "No Smoking" campaigns are regularly promoted by poster displays, leaflets and other publicity material. "Stop Smoking" courses and displays (organised in conjunction with QUIT) have been held to help staff who wish to give up smoking. A similar programme of events will be run this year.

  Drug-related Crimes
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes were committed(a) in the last 12 months and (b) in the last three years in the UK that were drug-related. [105321]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Statistical data are collected on drug offences only, not on offences which may have been committed due to drug taking. A report published in 1998 on research carried out on behalf of the Home Office by the University of Cambridge sheds light on the links between drugs and crime. Further data are currently being analysed as part of the NEW-ADAM programme for interviewing and drug testing arrestees. It is hoped to publish the next set of full results in the first half of this year.

  The research undertaken so far on drug testing of arrestees, based in five locations, indicates that over 60 per cent. of arrestees had recently taken at least one illegal drug prior to arrest. Cannabis was found most often (46 per cent. of cases); heroin/opiates (18 per cent.) and
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  cocaine/crack (10 per cent.) featured quite prominently. These findings confirm the supposition that offenders tend to be heavy consumers of drugs.

  Nearly half the arrestees who reported taking drugs within the last year said that their drug misuse was connected with their offending. Among various factors, they emphasised the need for the money to buy drugs. The illegal income of arrestees who said that they had taken heroin and/or crack during the last three days was particularly high—within a range of £10,000 to £20,000 annually. This compared with £4,000 for other arrestees. Illegal income mainly resulted from acquisitive crimes against property. An estimated 32 per cent. of all illegal income was spent on purchasing heroin and/or crack cocaine.

  While this study considerably advances knowledge of drugs-crime links, it will always be difficult to calculate a single percentage figure reflecting precisely what proportion of all crimes is drug-related.

  Figures on drug offences in 1997 were published in April 1999 in Home Office Statistical Bulletin No. 8/99 "Drug seizure and offender statistics, United Kingdom, 1997". Figures for 1998 will be published in February 2000, copies of which will be placed in the Library.

  Drug Seizures
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many(a) heroin, (b) cocaine and (c) synthetic drug seizures have been made in the (i) last and (ii) preceding 12 months; [105322]

  (2) what was the average weight of (a) heroin, (b) cocaine, (c) cannabis, (d) synthetic drugs and (e) all controlled drugs in seizures (i) in the last and (ii) in the preceding 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [105323]
  553W
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  In 1997, the last year for which published figures are available, the number and average weights of selected drugs seized by police and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise were as given in the table. It is not meaningful to calculate the average weight of all drug seizures. Further figures on drug seizures in 1997 were published in April 1999 in Home Office Statistical Bulletin No 8–99 "Drug seizure and offender statistics, United Kingdom, 1997". Figures for 1998 will be published in February 2000, copies of which will be placed in the Library.

  Number and average weight of seizures by police and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise of selected drugs in 1997

  Number of seizures

  Average quantity seized

  Drug

  Police

  Customs

  Police

  Customs

  Heroin

  12,311

  163

  40 grams

  10,719 grams

  Cocaine

  3,068

  684

  91 grams

  3,038 grams

  LSD

  831

  20

  195 doses

  86 doses

  Ecstasy-type

  4,996

  91

  93 doses

  16,056 doses

  Cannabis (herbal)

  25,703

  3,684

  323 grams

  6,197 grams

  Cannabis (resin)

  77,111

  2,135

  841 grams

  25,304 grams

  Cannabis (plants)

  3,783

  1

  30 plants

  40 plants

  Amphetamine

  18,429

  146

  128 grams

  6,405 grams

  Note:

  "Synthetic drug" has been taken to mean the following— Amphetamine, LSD, and Ecstasy-type drugs

  Source:

  Home Office Drugs Research and Statistics Section

  Drug Prices
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the average street prices of(a) heroin and (b) cocaine per gram in London and Glasgow in the (i) last and (ii) preceding 12 months. [105320]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The National Criminal Intelligence Service collects information on street level prices of drugs. The average prices for heroin and cocaine at the end of 1997 and at the end of 1998 were as given in the table.

  Average street prices of heroin and cocaine per gram in London and Glasgow, 1997 and 1998

  £

  London

  Glasgow

  Period

  Heroin

  Cocaine

  Heroin

  Cocaine

  December 1997

  60–100

  60–120

  60–80

  50–80

  December 1998

  80

  60–120

  60–80

  50–80

  Note:

  These prices are based on average purity levels and do not reflect the fluctuations in price which may occur within an area as the result of law enforcement action, other interruption of supply, or even over-supply. The ranges quoted for the above areas are indicative of the most typical prices paid for a one gram wrap of the drug(s). It is not possible to give wholly accurate ranges as a large number of factors come in to play. However, the prices quoted represent a reasonable average price in the areas. Drugs are frequently sold for prices outside these ranges, and prices can be inflated by cutting drugs, and by selling under measures. Prices increase when small amounts such as £10 or £20 deals are sold.

  Source:

  National Criminal Intelligence Service

  Car Theft
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking to combat car theft. [105155]
  554W
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Government have announced a target to reduce vehicle crime by 30 per cent. over five years and set up a Vehicle Crime Reduction Action Team to develop a strategy for achieving it. The Action Team published a report in September 1999 which set out a comprehensive strategy for achieving the target.

  The main measure the Government have taken to date to tackle vehicle crime is to make available £150 million over three years for Closed Circuit Television. Improving car park security (where the 1998 British crime Survey suggests 22 per cent, of vehicle crime takes place) was a priority in Round 1.

  Heathrow (CS Gas)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will request a report from the Commissioner for Police for the Metropolis on the incident in which a CS gas canister was discharged at Heathrow Airport on 18 October 1999. [105594]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Commissioner for Police for the Metropolis informs me that at 3.50 pm on 18 October, complaints were received from passengers in Terminal 1 Departures about irritation to their eyes, nose and throat. Emergency services attended and found a CS spray canister in a rubbish bin. It appears that fumes from the canister entered the air conditioning system. Nineteen people were affected by the fumes, 14 of whom were taken to Hillingdon Hospital for treatment but discharged within two hours.

  The Commissioner tells me that the canister was manufactured in the United States of America, of a type commonly used there for personal safety, and that it was probably discarded by a passenger prior to being scanned before departure. The canister was taken by the police, for disposal.

  Anti-social Behaviour
  Mr. Mudie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was his Department's estimate of the average cost of making and enforcing an anti-social behaviour order at the time of the passage of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998; [105557]

  (2) how many anti-social behaviour orders have been enforced since the passing of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 in (a) Birmingham, (b) Leeds, (c) Manchester, (d) Newcastle, (e) Liverpool and (f) Sheffield; [105558]

  (3) what is the cost per order of making and enforcing an anti-social behaviour order in (a) Birmingham, (b) Leeds, (c) Manchester, (d) Newcastle, (e) Liverpool and (f) Sheffield. [105556]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The costs quoted in the Financial and Explanatory Memorandum for the Bill assumed an average additional cost of £600 per anti-social behaviour order. This took account of offsetting savings.

  Records of the numbers of orders granted and their cost are not held centrally. At this stage, it is too early to say with any accuracy how much it will cost on average to make and enforce orders in these local authority areas.
  555W
  After an order is made, any breach of it will be subject to criminal proceedings. Enforcement in the form of criminal prosecution for a breach has, as far as we are aware, taken place in respect of one order, in Newcastle.

  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent on programmes to combat anti-social behaviour in each of the last 10 years. [105708]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 18 January 2000]: The Government provided specific powers to the police and local authorities to tackle anti-social behaviour in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. Since 1999, agencies and partnerships have been able to bid for funding to help them tackle crime and disorder including anti-social behaviour under the Government's three year Crime Reduction Programme. An example of one which has done so is the Humberside police which has received £406,000 for a targeted policing project to reduce anti-social behaviour and low level criminal behaviour on five beats in Kingston upon Hull. The South Wales police have also received funding of almost £1 million for several targeted policing projects which aim to reduce crime and disorder by young people and public disorder.

  The Social Exclusion Unit has chaired a Policy Action Team on Anti-Social Behaviour (PAT 8) to inform the preparation of a national strategy for neighbourhood renewal. The PAT 8 report is expected to be published in March. The Home Office, in consultation with the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, will be expected to issue guidance on tackling anti-social behaviour in accordance with the report's recommendations.

  Euro 2000
  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the likelihood of English football hooligans obtaining tickets for Euro 2000 via the UEFA website; and what guidance he plans to issue to English fans intending to travel on the possibility of violence resulting from such sales. [105248]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Euro 2000 organisers are satisfied that their ticketing arrangements and controls will provide spectators with a safe and secure environment in the stadia and limit the potential for a significant black market in tickets. Experience suggests that the sale of tickets to individuals is easier to control, and poses less risk than a flourishing black market. Arrangements are in place for ensuring that tickets are not sold to people who are banned from attending football matches in their home country. This includes English hooligans who are subject to a Domestic or International Football Banning Order (or Exclusion or Restriction Order prior to enactment of the Football (Offences and Disorder) Act 1999).

  The Government, police and Football Association are co-ordinating their preparations and are working closely with the host countries to minimise the risk of some English fans misbehaving during Euro 2000. Guidance will be issued to all fans prior to the tournament, but the
  556W
  message from the Dutch and Belgian authorities is clear: "fans who behave themselves will be made welcome, those who do not will be dealt with very firmly".

  DOE Building, Marsham Street
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the reasons are for the length of time taken by the Home Office to decide whether to use the former Department of the Environment buildings at Marsham Street, London SW1. [105499]

  Mr. Straw
  The reason is the overriding need to examine the options carefully on the basis of which provides the best value for money.

  The future of the Marsham Street site rests on the outcome of a public private partnership project to provide modern offices for Home Office and Prison Service staff. The procurement competition was restarted last October after a strategic review of overall Government Office accommodation in the Westminster area.

  Proposals from the private sector, including demolition of Marsham Street, are expected shortly. Subject to their evaluation, and the continuing demonstration of value for money, I expect to be in a position to select a Preferred Bidder by mid-year. After a period of negotiations, award of contract would follow towards the end of this year.

  As the Minister of State for the Cabinet Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for Makerfield (Mr. McCartney), informed the hon. Member in his reply of 6 December 1999, Official Report, column 395W, the Home Office has assumed management responsibility for Marsham Street pending final decisions on the future of the site.

  Young Offenders
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress his Department has made in implementing those parts of sections 97 and 98 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 giving magistrates the power to remand juveniles to local authority secure accommodation; and what assessment he has made of the financial implications of implementation for local authorities. [105851]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The secure remand provisions in sections 97 and 98 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 were implemented on 1 June 1999. Magistrates can remand direct to local authority secure accommodation 12 to 16-year-old girls; 12 to 14-year-old boys; and 15 and 16-year-old boys who are assessed as vulnerable and for whom a place is identified in advance.

  The Home Office refunds the estimated net costs to local authorities. These were agreed with the Local Government Association last year as between £1,745 and £2,148 per placement per week depending on area.

  EU Mutual Assistance Convention
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy towards liability under the Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters. [106398]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Government consider in principle that, when operating legitimately within the United Kingdom, officials from another member state
  557W
  should have the same liability for offences committed by them as United Kingdom officers. Officials from another member state would have no immunity from arrest and prosecution for an offence committed in the United Kingdom. Officials from outside the European Union or from a multi-national organisation would have the same liability for offences committed by them as a member of the public.

  The Government consider in principle that it is the responsibility of officers causing civil damage to repair that damage. Any damage would be repaired as soon as possible, in general by the member state on which the incident took place. A claim would then be made against the law enforcement authority whose officials caused the damage.

  Justice and Home Affairs Council
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the 229th Justice and Home Affairs Council, with regard to the implications for the United Kingdom of the draft provisions concerning the establishment of joint investigation teams for cross-border criminal investigations. [106386]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The draft provisions concerning the establishment of joint investigation teams for cross-border criminal investigations do not have any specific implications for the United Kingdom. The provisions are designed to provide a framework within the European Union for future joint investigation teams. The provision states explicitly that it is without prejudice to existing arrangements concerning joint investigations teams such as those currently used on a regular basis by United Kingdom law enforcement authorities such as the police service and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.

  UN Convention on Torture
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been under the United Nations Convention on Torture since it was incorporated into United Kingdom law. [106013]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Data on court proceedings collected centrally show that, to date, one defendant was proceeded against under section 134 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988. This was in 1994.

  General Pinochet
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what dates, and from which countries, applications for General Pinochet's extradition have been received. [106016]

  Mr. Straw
  The Spanish request for Senator Pinochet's provisional arrest was received from the Central Court of Criminal Proceedings No. 5 in Madrid on 16 October 1998. Two requests for his extradition have been received from France, on 13 November 1998 and 4 February 1999. A request for extradition was received from Switzerland on 11 November 1998, and renewed on 7 October 1999. A request for extradition was received from Belgium on 15 December 1998 and renewed in amplified form on 12 October 1999.
  558W
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent requests he has received, other than from the Government of Chile, for a medical examination to be carried out on General Pinochet. [106011]

  Mr. Straw
  In the past few days I have received a number of requests for a medical examination of Senator Pinochet, in the context of representations made in response to my indication on 11 January that I was minded to take a decision that I will not extradite Senator Pinochet to Spain.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he received the medical report on the state of General Pinochet's health; and to whom he has sent copies. [106008]

  Mr. Straw
  My officials received the report on 6 January, and I received it in my weekend box on 8 January. It was sent to Senator Pinochet's legal representatives, and the Law Officers and Director of Public Prosecutions, on 11 January.

  Working Partnerships (Merseyside)
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the working of local partnerships in Merseyside. [106075]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  There is a strong tradition of good partnership working in Merseyside. We have not made any specific local assessment of it. The strategy document 'The Government's Crime Reduction Strategy', published in November, sets out plans to encourage more effective performance by local crime reduction partnerships.

  Drugs
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is able to publish the statistics for 1998 concerning drugs in Merseyside referred to in his answer of 21 October 1999,Official Report, columns 618–20W. [106105]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The information on drugs referred to in my answer of 21 October to my hon. Friend will be published during February in the Home Office bulletin on Drug Seizure and Offenders Statistics. A copy of the bulletin and its associated Area and Supplementary Tables volumes will be placed in the Library in the usual way. A set of these publications will be sent to my hon. Friend on the day of publication.

  Operation Care
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 24 November 1999,Official Report, column 119W, concerning multiple allegations covered by the Operation Care investigation, if he is in a position to provide the information requested. [106104]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  In the time available, research has been completed in respect of one scene of investigation as part of the prosecution process. The results are shown in the table which include allegations of sexual and/or physical abuse. Although the table is produced as an illustration, it should not be regarded as representative of the entire database. In most of the other
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  scenes of investigation, the incidence of multiple allegations is significantly lower. I am advised that it is not the intention to produce further separate tabulations as this would divert resources from the continuing inquiries.

  Complainants with multiple allegations

  Percentage of total complainants

  Allegations against 1 person

  27.67

  Allegations against 2 persons

  27.67

  Allegations against 3 persons

  20.53

  Allegations against 4 persons

  12.5

  Allegations against 5 persons

  8.03

  Allegations against 6 persons

  1.7

  Allegations against 7 persons

  0.89

  Allegations against 8 persons

  0.89

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals have been(a) charged and (b) arrested in connection with Operation Care; and how many individuals have claimed to have been abused and over what period of time. [106103]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  A total of(a) 41 individuals have been charged and (b) 72 arrested in connection with Operation Care. I am advised that the information on the number of complainants is not readily retrievable from the database.

  Charity Commission
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to extend the Charity Commission's role in advising charities on issues relating to corporate governance; and if he will make a statement. [105918]

  Mr. Boateng
  I have no plans to extend the Charity Commission's advisory role. The Commission has a statutory role to give trustees"information and advice on any matter affecting the charity".

  It gives such advice in response to trustees' requests and on its own initiative.

  If there is misconduct or mismanagement by trustees, the Commission can intervene directly in the running of the charity. It has statutory powers to remove those responsible for misconduct and to protect the charity's assets from misuse.

  Trustees who run their charity in accordance with its constitution and the law have full discretion over the charity's policies and activities, and are accountable for their decisions. The Commission may give advice and information, but it is statutorily debarred from acting in the administration of a charity.

  Criminal Justice (Mode of Trial) Bill
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the annual number of convicted offenders who would receive a shorter custodial sentence than at present if the Criminal Justice (Mode of Trial) Bill [Lords] became law. [106091]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  It is estimated that about 4,300 convicted offenders would receive shorter custodial sentences because their cases would be dealt with in the magistrates' courts, as would be more appropriate.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Debt Relief
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what budget is available from her Department to monitor and measure the bilateral debt relief initiative. [105680]

  Mr. Foulkes
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 19 January 2000,Official Report, column 479W. No attempt is made to disaggregate the resources which the Department for International Development (DFID) spends on monitoring and assessment of its bilateral programme.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she expects each of the heavily indebted poor countries to qualify for bilateral debt relief; and what assessment has been made of the amount of extra money each country will have to spend on poverty eradication in the financial years(a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (c) 2001–02. [105744]

  Mr. Foulkes
  Decisions have not yet been taken on the amount and timing of each country's debt relief under the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative. The policy announced by the Government on 21 December is to provide complete relief on the remaining debt owed to the UK, after HIPC debt relief has been granted. The specific amount of extra relief that each country will receive in any one year cannot be known until decisions have been taken on their HIPC debt relief. The Government are working with the World bank and the IMF to ensure that countries come forward for HIPC relief as soon as possible; our target is that three quarters of countries receive relief before the end of 2000.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development in which of the countries qualifying for bilateral debt relief her Department has a representative. [105827]

  Mr. Foulkes
  Countries that could be eligible for bilateral debt relief, if their governments are committed to poverty reduction, are Angola, Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Vietnam, Yemen and Zambia. The UK Government have representatives accredited to all these countries. DFID has offices in Kenya and Tanzania and is due to open one shortly in Uganda.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent representations she has made to HM Treasury regarding debt relief; and if she will place a copy of the documents in the Library. [105828]

  Mr. Foulkes
  My right hon. Friend has made no representations to the Treasury on debt relief. She and my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer share the strong conviction that the purpose of debt relief is to allow countries to invest in poverty reduction programmes and achieve the international development targets. They work closely on the Government's debt relief policy, and this partnership enabled us to deliver our ambitious debt relief objectives last year. In particular, they jointly and
  561W
  successfully pressed for the substantial improvement in the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative agreed at the Annual Meetings of the World Bank and IMF in September 1999. The revised HIPC framework not only provides faster, wider and deeper debt relief, it also increases the impact which this relief has on poverty, through the development and implementation of national poverty reduction strategies. A number of joint DFID and HM Treasury papers on debt, produced for the HIPC Review, have already been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department takes in co-operation with other national Governments to measure the outcome of debt relief measures. [105830]

  Mr. Foulkes
  We have consistently stressed that debt relief should only be given to countries who would use it to benefit the poor. We therefore welcome the decision at the Annual Meetings of the World Bank and IMF in September 1999 to tie the debt relief provided under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative to the development of national poverty reduction strategies. In this way, HIPC debt relief provides an opportunity to renew and refocus all development efforts, including resources, on making the greatest possible impact on poverty.

  To allow these strategies to be developed, and for their implementation to be monitored, it is essential that greater international efforts are made to improve the availability of good quality information in HIPC countries. 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 and monitoring 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. Our Department is devoting additional resources to achieve these aims, both bilaterally and multilaterally, working particularly with the World Bank, the UN and the IMF.

  Our Department is also looking at what assistance we can provide to civil society to enable them to participate effectively in the discussions on poverty reduction strategies, and monitor their impact, for example to better understand government budgets.

  Overseas Visits
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which countries she has visited in the past six months. [105690]

  Mr. Foulkes
  My right hon. Friend has visited the following six countries or cities in the last six months:

  Countries

  Dates

  Bolivia—Bilateral country visit

  28 August to 3 September

  Washington—Annual Meetings of IMF/World bank

  25 September to 28 September

  New York—Speech on UN Reform

  26 October

  Brussels—Development Council

  10 to 11 November

  Brussels—General Affairs Council

  15 November

  Seattle—(WTO)

  28 to 30 November

  Indonesia
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what response her Department has made to the situation of refugees from the Maluka Islands in Indonesia. [105591]

  Mr. Foulkes
  Our Department is monitoring the humanitarian situation in the Maluka Islands in Indonesia, and in particular the plight of those who have been internally displaced by the conflict (estimated at 280,000 by the Government of Indonesia). We have not yet been formally approached for assistance, but will consider any appeals put to us following the UN and Government of Indonesia's forthcoming joint humanitarian needs assessment mission to Maluka.

  EU Aid
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to review the efficiency of the EU aid budget. [105691]

  Mr. Foulkes
  We published a strategy paper for our collaboration with the European Union in December 1998 with 18 specific objectives for improving the effectiveness of the European Community's development programmes. Several of these objectives have been achieved and we continue to review the strategy regularly. We welcome the commitment of the new European Commission to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of European Community assistance but will continue to press them to establish a coherent overall development policy, to increase the proportion of European Community development assistance directed at low income and least developed countries, and to improve the management of European Community programmes.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the recent changes to the European aid programme. [105728]

  Mr. Foulkes
  We welcome the commitments made by the new European Commission to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the European Community's development programmes. Many of these commitments reflect positions in the strategy paper on working with the European Union published by our Department in December 1998. In particular, the Development Commissioner, Poul Nielson, and the External Relations Commissioner, Chris Patten, both called for a clearer poverty focus and for a considerable improvement in the Commission's management of its programmes. In addition, negotiations on a successor to the Lomé Convention governing the EU's relation with 71 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries due to conclude next month should adopt significant improvements in the development focus of the European Development Fund.

  However, as evaluations in recent years have shown, the impact of EC programmes has been poor and major changes are needed to improve this. We are therefore continuing to press the Commission to follow through on their commitments, and notably to adopt an overall

  563W
  development policy, to increase the proportion of European Community development assistance directed at low-income and least developed countries, and to improve the management of European Community programmes.

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the effectiveness of partnerships in developing countries to improve access to renewable sources of energy. [105164]

  Mr. Foulkes
  As we said in the White Paper, we believe that genuine partnerships between developing countries and the donor community are needed if poverty is to be addressed in an effective and coherent way.

  With our partners in developing countries we are developing access to renewable sources of energy through our Knowledge and Research programme. As part of this process we have recently produced a guidance note on "Energy for the Rural Poor". A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

  French Speaking Countries
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on progress made in advancing co-operation with French speaking countries. [105660]

  Mr. Foulkes
  My right hon. Friend and I, and officials in our Department, maintain close links with French speaking countries and with our French counterparts and meet regularly. As a result of a series of meetings over the last few months we are working together on a variety of development issues, including co-operation on joint evaluations of selected UK and French activities. Last year we agreed with the French and Germans a Joint Declaration on improving the efficiency and effectiveness of EU development assistance. We will continue to build on these initiatives.

  Non-governmental Organisations
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the total number of non-governmental organisations supported by her Department in each year since 1 May 1997 and the amount each has received. [105729]

  Mr. Foulkes
  Two hundred and twenty three UN NGOs received a total of £172.34 million in the financial year 1997–98 from our Department and 209 UK NGOs received a total of £181.58 million in 1998–99.

  Information on spending through overseas NGOs is not held separately, but is included in our bilateral country programme expenditure. Full details appear in "Statistics on International Development", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Information on spending through individual NGOs is not held centrally in the format requested. A full answer to the question in that format could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Export Credits
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the impact that the end of export credits for military expenditure will have on developing countries. [105826]

  Mr. Foulkes
  We welcome the Chancellor's announcement of 11 January of a unilateral UK ban on export credits in respect of "unproductive expenditure" to 63 of the world's poorest countries. This extends the UK's unilateral 2-year ban on export credits for unproductive expenditure to Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPCs) announced in September 1997. This is now being extended indefinitely and widened to cover all countries which are eligible to borrow from the World Bank only on highly concessional terms.

  Many of these countries are currently not on cover to receive export credits from the UK. We believe that export credit should only be granted to the poorest countries only where they are used for productive purposes which enable countries to benefit from faster economic growth and increased spending on social services. There is, therefore, a positive role for export credits in these countries. ECGD support for projects in these countries will be cleared by our Department to ensure they are not "unproductive".

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what percentage of her departmental budget was channelled directly to Governments in the developing world in the last three years; [105730]

  (2) what percentage of her departmental budget was spent through the private sector in the last 12 months; [105731]

  (3) what proportion of her departmental budget was spent through non-Governmental organisations in the last 12 months. [105732]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The latest available figures are for the 1998–99 financial year. In that year, we estimate that bilateral aid expenditure was as follows:

  Channel

  Percentage of 1998–99 bilateral expenditure

  Governments

  37

  Private sector

  47

  NGOs

  16

  Departmental Employees
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what changes there have been in full-time staff numbers in her Department in the UK and abroad in each quarter between 1 May 1997 and 13 January 1999; [105684]

  (2) what changes there have been in Civil Service staff numbers in her Department for each quarter between 1 May 1997 and 13 January 1999. [105685]
  565W
  Mr. Foulkes
  Changes in numbers of full-time posts financed from DFID' s running costs budget during the period May 1997 to January 1999 were as follows:

  Calendar year/Quarter

  Increase/decrease from the previous quarter

  1997 Q3

  -10

  1997 Q4

  +23

  1998 Q1

  +42

  1998 Q2

  +5

  1998 Q3

  +36

  1998 Q4

  +34

  1999 Q1

  -21

  Total cumulative increase/decrease over the period

  +109

  Figures are based on full time equivalents and take account of UK staff only. They exclude staff appointed in country and those contracted and paid from Programme budgets. Figures for the latter could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of her officials are registered disabled. [105741]

  Mr. Foulkes
  Since the introduction of the Disability Discrimination Act in 1995 people formerly registered as disabled are no longer registered as such. However, 2 per cent. of my officials have declared themselves to have a disability.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of her officials are women and how many are senior civil servants. [105740]

  Mr. Foulkes
  Forty four per cent. of the officials in our Department are women, of who 11 are in the Senior Civil Service.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of her officials are from ethnic minorities. [105743]

  Mr. Foulkes
  Six per cent. of the officials in our Department are from an ethnic minority background.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many(a) Muslims and (b) Sikhs are employed by her Department. [105742]

  Mr. Foulkes
  We do not collect information on the religious affiliations of staff.

  British Council
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many of her Department's contracts has the British Council applied for since 1 May 1997; and in each case who was successful in securing the contract. [105734]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The exact number of our Department's contracts for which the British Council have bid is not readily available and could only be secured at disproportionate cost. Since 1 May 1997 the British Council have been awarded 28 contracts after a competition with other bidders.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her policy towards the British Council. [105739]
  566W
  Mr. Foulkes
  The British Council is a key provider of services to the UK's effort to eliminate poverty and promote sustainable development. Our Department recognises its many strengths and breadth of experience and, as with other major suppliers, works through its commercial relationship with the Council to secure value for money.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development on what date the responsibility for the British Council reverted to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. [105733]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) assumed full responsibility for the British Council from the start of the financial year 1998–99. From this point, the resources previously set aside in the Department for International Development's (DFID) budget for the Council's Grant-in-aid (£30 million in 1989–99) were transferred to FCO.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many contracts her Department has awarded to the British Council since 1 May 1997. [105735]

  Mr. Foulkes
  Since 1 May 1997 our Department has awarded 131 contracts to the British Council.

TREASURY

  Childcare Tax Credits
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures the Government are taking to encourage the take-up of childcare tax credits by low income families in work. [103674]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The childcare tax credit can be received only as part of an award of the Working Families or Disabled Persons Tax Credits.

  A public information campaign to raise awareness of the new tax credits was launched on 7 September using television and press advertising, leaflets, factsheets and posters in post offices, tax and Benefits Agency offices and in Jobcentres. Also, over 21,000 adviser organisations such as Citizens Advice Bureaux, disability groups and local authorities have been provided with their own free supply of information literature.

  In addition, 9,000 community based groups were invited to nine regional roadshows in the UK, or two national roadshows in Scotland and Wales, each attended by a Minister and policy experts providing more information on WFTC and DPTC.

  Correspondence
  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire will receive a reply to his letter of 1 December on behalf of his constituent, Mrs. White, forwarded to him by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. [105926]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I replied on 13 January.

  Tobacco Revenue
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if real terms increases in spending on the NHS that result from real terms increases in revenues from tobacco will be in addition to the planned increases in real terms spending on the NHS that were announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review. [105465]

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

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if spending on the NHS during the period of the second Comprehensive Spending Review, excluding any increases in spending that result from real terms increases in revenues from tobacco, will not be reduced in real terms. [105466]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The Government are committed to real terms increases in spending on the National Health Service.

  Transport Spending
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what real terms increases in spending on public transport and the road network that result from real terms increases in revenues from fuel duties will be in addition to the planned increases in spending on transport announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review. [105467]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The Pre-Budget Report stated that decisions on road fuel duties will be on a Budget-by-Budget basis and that if there are any real terms rises in road fuel duties, the revenues will go straight into a ring-fenced fund for the modernisation of roads and public transport. I cannot pre-judge my right hon. Friend's Budget decisions.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if spending on public transport and the road network during the period of the second Comprehensive Spending Review will be reduced in real terms excluding increases in spending that result from real terms increases in revenues from fuel duties. [105468]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  No decision has been taken on the level of spending on transport over the next expenditure planning period. Allocations to 2003–04 will be announced in July 2000. Further improvement of the UK's transport system will be an important consideration for the Spending Review.

  DTI Investigations
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what role his Department played in the 1998 decision to appoint DTI inspectors to investigate Hollis Industries plc; [105833]

  (2) what role his Department has played in discussions with the DTI on the cost of the current investigation into Mirror Group Newspapers plc. [105834]

  Mr. Timms
  None.

  Self-assessment
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to ensure that no low-income and elderly pensioners are sent inappropriate self-assessment forms by the Inland Revenue in April. [105495]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  In July last year, the Paymaster General announced a change to the Self Assessment system designed to take around 200,000 pensioners—up to a quarter of those sent tax returns—out of Self Assessment. The Inland Revenue continue to monitor the Self Assessment system and are committed to keeping under review the criteria for issuing tax returns.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pension Funds (Robert Maxwell)
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he has taken to recover money paid by the Exchequer to pension funds of companies connected with the late Robert Maxwell; and what assessment he has made of whether the assets of those companies have been utilised so as to yield the maximum return to those pension funds and other creditors. [104672]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Department regularly reviews the ability of the Maxwell pension scheme trustees to repay the £ 2.5 million emergency funding made available in 1992. Emergency funding is only repayable once the position of all members of the pension scheme concerned has been secured and other scheme liabilities met. To date £223,660 has been repaid. We would expect further substantial repayments of emergency funding to be made in the course of the current calendar year. The realisation of assets in Maxwell companies that have gone into liquidation is a matter for the insolvency practitioners concerned.

  Maternity Pay
  Ms Kelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the cost of extending maternity pay from 18 weeks to(a) 26 weeks, (b) 39 weeks and (c) 52 weeks. [104866]

  Mr. Bayley
  The information is in the table.

  The additional full year cost in 2000–01 of extending statutory maternity pay at the flat rate

  £million

  Option

  Cost Increase

  Extending statutory maternity pay to 26 weeks

  140

  Extending statutory maternity pay to 39 weeks

  370

  Extending statutory maternity pay to 52 weeks

  590

  Note:

  These estimates are the overall costs based on the Government Actuary's Department projection of the average number of people on SMP during 2000–01 at any one time of 100,000, assume 100 per cent. take-up and the payment of £ 59.55 a week.

  Carers Allowances
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people aged between 55 and 65 years acting as carers for relatives under the age of 50 years
  569W
  received (a) invalid care allowance and (b) carers premium in (i) 1998, (ii) 1988 and 9 (iii) 1978; and what is the projected figure for 2008. [105177]

  Mr. Bayley
  The information is not available.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of pensioners in(a) Somerset and (b) Yeovil constituency who are entitled to, but not receiving, (i) income support, (ii) housing benefit and (iii) council tax benefit; how much money in each case is unclaimed; and if he will make a statement. [104711]

  Mr. Rooker
  The information is not available. It is not possible to produce reliable estimates of numbers not claiming their entitlement at constituency level.

  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners there are in(a) Somerset, (b) South Somerset and (c) Yeovil constituency; and what is the age distribution of such pensioners, indicating the total number aged 80 years or over in each of those areas. [104719]

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

  Mid-1998 estimates of the number of people of pensionable age

  Age

  Somerset

  South Somerset

  60–64 (women)

  13,000

  3,900

  65–69

  25,100

  7,700

  70–74

  23,600

  7,400

  75–79

  20,700

  6,600

  80–84

  12,800

  4,100

  85 plus

  12,400

  3,800

  Total

  107,700

  33,400

  1991 Census information of the number of people of pensionable age

  Age

  Yeovil

  Pensionable age to 74

  12,200

  75–84

  6,200

  85 and over

  1,600

  Total

  20,000

  Notes:

  1. Mid-1998 population estimates of the number of people of pensionable age in Somerset and South Somerset are the latest available.

  2. Mid-year population estimates are not compiled by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) for parliamentary constituencies. The lowest level at which population estimates are available is the local authority level. 1991 Census information has therefore been used to answer part (c).

  3. The number of people of pensionable age is not necessarily the same as the number of pensioners.

  4. 'Pensionable age' represents males aged 65 and over and females aged 60 and over.

  5. Population estimates are rounded to the nearest hundred persons throughout. Age groups have been rounded independently and may not sum to the totals shown.
  570W
  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what action he is taking to improve the take-up by pensioners of(a) income support, (b) housing benefit and (c) council tax benefit; and if he will make a statement. [104712]

  Mr. Rooker
  An announcement of our plans to encourage pensioners to take-up their entitlement to benefits will be made shortly.

  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of developing a pensioner prices index; and if he will make a statement. [104713]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Office for National Statistics publish a Pensioner Price Index which reflects the spending patterns of pensioners in the lowest three income deciles. The Index shows that over the last 20 years the rate of price inflation for this group of pensioners is significantly below that of other groups and, if used as a basis for uprating, basic Retirement Pension would be £12.30 lower than it is now. Therefore we have no plans to adopt the Pensioner Price Index as part of the annual review of benefit levels.

  Benefit Payment Methods
  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what estimate he has made of the savings to the Exchequer from the proposed payment of benefits into bank accounts rather than through post offices from 2003 onwards; what is the estimated saving in each year from 2003–04 to 2008–09; what assumptions about the amount of business which will be transferred from post offices to banks underlie these figures; and if he will make a statement; [104715]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the timescale over which it is proposed to move towards paying benefits directly into bank accounts rather than through post offices; and if he will make a statement; [104750]

  (3) if he will make it his policy to delay beyond the planned date of 2003 the proposed payment of benefits directly into bank accounts rather than through post offices; and if he will make a statement. [104714]

  Mr. Rooker
  We have decided to change the way people are paid benefit, from the current paper based methods to automated credit transfer (ACT). This reflects the fact that customers increasingly choose to be paid this way. The move is expected to generate £640 million savings per year from 2005.

  Those benefit recipients who wish to collect their benefit in cash at post offices will continue to be able to do so.

  It is planned to move to ACT as the normal method of payment for all benefit customers. The move will begin in 2003 and end in 2005.

  Pensioners (Income Support)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 11 November 1999,Official Report, column 801W, what level of take-up of income support for pensioners is assumed in current forecasts of expenditure. [105316]
  571W
  Mr. Rooker
  Current forecasts assume that expenditure as a result of increased take-up by pensioners will increase by £43 million over the period 1999–00 to 2001–02. This estimate will need to be reviewed in the light of our plans for a national programme to increase pensioner take-up.

  Correspondence
  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the right hon. Member for North West Cambridgeshire will receive a reply to his letter of 2 December on behalf of his constituent, Mrs. Wilson. [105925]

  Mr. Darling
  I replied to the right hon. Member on 19 January 2000.

  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the right hon. Member for North West Cambridgeshire will receive a reply to his letter of 30 November on behalf of his constituent, Mr. Hausell. [105923]

  Mr. Darling
  A reply will be sent to the right hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Deregulation
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what orders his Department has made under the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994 in each year since 1994; and what plans it has to introduce such orders. [106083]

  Mr. Bayley
  This Department has made no orders to date to remove regulatory legislation but we will continue to look for opportunities to use such orders where we can.

  We do, however, plan to bring forward an order shortly which will enable our private and voluntary sector partners to play a full role in the delivery of the new ONE service which is currently being piloted.

  We have brought forward a range of deregulatory measures on pensions in the Welfare Reform Act 1999 and the current Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Bill.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Departmental Productivity
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to increase the productivity and reduce the running costs of his Department. [103843]

  Mr. Morley
  Delivering efficient and modern public services is a key part of the Government's agenda for improving productivity. Greater efficiency is being sought therefore within the public sector to ensure that the most effective results are obtained from available resources. The Ministry's Public Service Agreement (PSA) includes a range of measures for taking this forward, both within the Ministry itself and in other public sector bodies.
  572W
  Those measures which will help raise the Ministry's own productivity are as follows:

  (a) Better Quality Services

  The Ministry will regularly and systematically review services and activities over a five year period in line with Government policy as set out in the handbook "Better Quality Services". A review programme has been developed, setting out those services that will be reviewed each year with the intention to review at least 60 per cent. of services by March 2003.

  (b) Fraud

  The Ministry will continue to apply controls to detect and prevent fraud and other irregularities under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) farm-based schemes. The Ministry has designated a fraud contact officer to promulgate ministry policy and to give specific advice to managers.

  (c) Sickness Absence

  In line with the central initiative to improve attendance, an internal audit of the sickness absence recording and monitoring systems has been completed and targets set for reducing absence.

  (d) Electronic Government

  The Ministry will exploit opportunities for electronic communications and will increase the proportion of business undertaken electronically to contribute to the Government's commitment to a target of at least 25 per cent. for electronic dealings with the public by 2002.

  (e) Procurement

  The Ministry will combine central responsibility for the management of procurement with devolution of operational procurement where appropriate; develop strategies for delivering best whole life cost solution, optimising operational savings and minimising the administrative costs of procurement; improve information and procedures, and education and training; and undertake benchmarking using maturity profile analysis techniques.

  (f) Asset Sales

  The Ministry will dispose of most of its surplus land and buildings by April 2000.

  (g) CAP Administration

  The Ministry aims to increase the productivity of CAP administration by developing, testing and implementing an integrated IT system for administering CAP schemes by March 2002.

  (h) Efficiency

  The Ministry will also pursue efficiency gains, and will continue to develop better measures of efficiency and extend these to cover a wide range of departmental activities and also the activities of its executive agencies.

  The Ministry's running costs provision for 1999–2000 to 2001–02 is set out in its PSA. The productivity measures listed above will enable the Ministry to increase the quantity and quality of its outputs delivered by its running costs expenditure over this period.

  Property Sales
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what dates the properties at(a) Towy Avenue, Llandovery, Dyfed, (b) Station Road, Honeybourne Avenue, Evesham, Worcestershire, (c) New

  Property

  Current position

  Towy Avenue, Llandovery, Dyfed

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

  Station Road, Honeybourne, Evesham, Worcestershire

  First offered for sale in August 1997. This property was sold in December 1997.

  New Street, Earl Shilton, Hinckley, Leicestershire

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

  Station Road, South Leigh, Oxfordshire

  First offered for sale in November 1994. The property was sold in January 1998.

  Fisheries
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what date the six and 12 mile derogations will expire. [105540]

  Mr. Morley
  Article 6 (1) of Council Regulation (EC) 3760/92 authorises member states to retain restrictions on access by foreign fishing vessels within six and twelve mile limits until 31 December 2002.

  The Commission is due to report to the Council by 31 December 2001 on the operation of the Common Fisheries Policy. The Council, acting by Qualified Majority, will then take any necessary decisions, including on the future of the Article 6 provisions, by 31 December 2002. There is clear support for the maintenance of restrictions on access within the six and twelve mile limits. I expect those restrictions to continue after 2002.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his policy towards the encouragement of development of INFOMAR Systems Fishcast and Fishtrade, with particular reference to a possible pilot study on the United Kingdom. [105666]

  Mr. Morley
  The INFOMAR systems were developed through an EU funded research project. The work led to the development of a software package which facilitates the dissemination of information and provides an ability to trade while at sea. The Government welcome the development of methods of improving communications and the trade in fish. The use of electronic information systems is one area which is being considered for funding under the Agenda 2000 fisheries aid programme.

  Rats
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of dwellings in England with rat infestations were(a) not being treated and (b) had not been reported to the local authority on the most recent date for which figures are available. [105484]

  Mr. Morley
  Details of the treatment of rat infestations are in the recent MAFF report "Rodent infestations in domestic properties in England", a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. The figures 574W
  Street, East Shilton, Hinckley, Leicestershire and (d) 357 Station Road, South Leigh, Oxfordshire, were offered for sale; and what is the current position with regard to the disposal of each property. [104685]

  Mr. Morley
  The information requested is set out as follows:

  reflect the situation at a specific point in time and would not include cases where treatment was planned but had not yet started.

  Information was not collected on the proportion of rat infestations which had not been reported to the local authority.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the findings of the(a) 1996 English House Condition Survey and (b) commensal rodent survey undertaken by his Department and the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health in 1993, on the number and proportion of dwellings in England affected by rat infestations. [105481]

  Mr. Morley
  The results of the 1996 survey show that the general level of rodent infestations in England is low. The figures are lower for both rats and mice compared to the 1993 survey, although the results are not directly comparable due to different sampling methods. Full results of the 1996 survey are in the recent MAFF report "Rodent infestations in domestic properties in England", a copy of which together with the Ministry's News Release, has been placed in the Library of the House.

  The Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 requires local authorities to take such steps as may be necessary to keep, so far as is practicable, their district free of rodents and empowers them to require occupiers of land to take the necessary action to remove rodents from their land.

  Pig Sector
  Mr. Cawsey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the additional costs to the pig sector as a result of the Welfare of Animals at Slaughter Act 1991 and the Welfare of Livestock Regulations 1994 since they came into force on 1 January 1999. [105435]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 17 January 2000]: The cost to the pig sector of the prohibition on sow stalls and tethers introduced through the 1994 Regulations will have included capital costs prior to the prohibition's entry into force on 1 January 1999 as well as ongoing management costs since. These were all covered in a Compliance Cost Assessment which was placed in the Library of the House at the time the Regulations were made: we have not assessed the costs since 1 January 1999.
  575W
  The Welfare of Animals at Slaughter Act 1991 does not contain provisions imposing costs on the pig sector.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek the introduction of a European ban on stall and tether rearing of pigs and the introduction of standard animal welfare regulations in the European Union. [105029]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 17 January 2000]: We shall continue to press the EU Commission to bring forward their overdue proposals for updating the existing rules on pig welfare. The Commission's expert Scientific Veterinary Committee—on whose report the Commission's proposals must be based—was published in October 1997 and confirms our view that stalls and tethers for sows are unacceptable.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ban the import from the EU of pork reared in stalls and tethers. [105028]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 17 January 2000]: Under the Treaty of Rome it is illegal to ban imports of meat on animal welfare grounds. We are actively seeking to improve welfare standards at EU and Council of Europe level.

  Sugar
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if it is his policy that reforms of the Sugar Protocol and Lomé Convention should include measures to provide support for traditional suppliers of cane; and if he will make a statement. [105493]

  Mr. Foulkes
  I have been asked to reply.

  Negotiations on a successor to the Lomé Convention between the European Union and the 71 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries are due to conclude next month. We expect the present trade arrangements to be extended during a transition period from 2000 to 2008. After that date, new trade arrangements will enter into force. The Sugar Protocol will roll forward unchanged but will be reviewed before the end of the transition period. We would assess the need for support measures at the time of, and within the context of, the Review of the Sugar Protocol. We recognise the importance of the sugar trade to the economies of many ACP States, and our Department has commissioned research work to consider the consequences of possible reforms of the Sugar Protocol. The work is at an early stage, but it clearly indicates that some countries will face adjustment problems. In the time up to the Review it remains vitally important that the ACP continue their own efforts to improve their competitiveness.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Transport Costs (EU)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress made by the European Commission's Committee of Experts on transport costs. [105608]

  Mr. Hill
  I have been asked to reply.
  576W
  As envisaged in the Commission's White Paper on fair payment for infrastructure use, a committee of Government experts on charging for the use of transport infrastructure was set up to advise the Commission. The committee has been supported by a group of independent experts. The experts have produced two reports, one on estimating transport costs, and one on options for charging users directly for transport infrastructure operating costs. These reports cover, among other things, methods of calculating and charging for transport infrastructure costs, congestion and scarcity costs, accident costs and environmental costs. The committee has also acted as a forum for the exchange between member states of research and other information on infrastructure charging issues.

  Burma
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current situation in Burma. [105278]

  Mr. Battle
  There has been no improvement in the political and human rights situation in Burma. The UK remains committed to pressing for change and for dialogue between the regime and democratic leaders, including ethnic minorities. We take every opportunity to do so: for example, we support the EU Common Position on Burma (a package of measures against the regime) and have co-sponsored UN resolutions—most recently at the UN General Assembly in November—critical of the regime.

  Pakistan
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy toward arms sales to Pakistan. [105184]

  Mr. Hain
  There has been no change to our policy of considering export licence applications for Pakistan on a case-by-case basis against our national criteria and those in the EU Code of Conduct for Arms Exports, and in the light of the statement on 10 July 1999, made to the House by my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd) following the Pakistani and Indian Nuclear tests.

  Child Labour
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the International Labour Organisation on child labour; and which issues were discussed during 1999. [105511]

  Mr. Hain
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary had talks with the Director General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Juan Somavia, in London last September. They discussed a range of issues including: measures to address child labour, modernisation of the ILO, and co-operation between the ILO, the World Trade Organisation and the International Financial Institutions.

  Mr. Somavia also had talks with my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and the then Minister for Employment, Welfare to Work and Equal Opportunities, who confirmed the Government's intention to ratify ILO Conventions 138 and 182, both relating to child labour.

  Sri Lanka
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what Ministers from his Department have visited Sri Lanka since 1 May 1997. [105597]

  Mr. Hain
  The late Minister of State, Derek Fatchett, visited Sri Lanka from 10–11 November 1998. I am planning to visit Sri Lanka later this year.

  Subcontinent (UK Entry Applications)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the average waiting time for interview at British High Commission offices in Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka for a person seeking(a) permanent settlement in the United Kingdom, (b) to attend further and higher education courses and (c) visits to members of their family living in the UK in the last 12 months. [105510]

  Mr. Vaz
  Waiting times for settlement and non-settlement interviews fluctuate over the year in response to seasonal pressures. The following figures were the waiting times for settlement interviews at the end of December 1999 in the countries concerned:

  Weeks

  Post

  Q1

  Q2

  Q3

  Q4

  India

  Bombay

  0

  5

  5

  5

  New Delhi

  0

  7

  20

  25

  Pakistan

  Islamabad

  9

  39

  44

  50

  See explanation of Q1-Q4 system below

  The visa sections at Calcutta, Colombo, Karachi and Madras have a standard single queue for all settlement applications. Their current waiting times are:

  Calcutta: currently no queue

  Colombo: 8 weeks

  Karachi: 14 weeks

  Madras: 5 weeks

  Queue 1–4 system:

  Queue 1—Right of Abode cases and Dependant Relatives over 65;

  Queue 2—Spouses and Children under 18;

  Queue 3—Fiance(e)s and other First Time Applicants; and

  Queue 4—Re-applicants.

  The statistics held centrally on applicants visiting the United Kingdom, either as family visitors or as students, are not held in such a way as to provide figures for parts (b) and (c) of my hon. Friend's question. A comprehensive reply could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Most visit visa applications are straightforward and are normally processed within 24 hours. Many student applications are also processed without delay. However, where a more detailed examination of the application is required, the applicant (student or visitor) will be asked to return at a later date for interview. The waiting times
  578W
  for such interviews (known as Tier 3 interviews) in the countries in question at the end of December 1999 were as follows:

  India

  Bombay: No queue

  Calcutta: No queue

  Madras: 2 days

  New Delhi: No queue

  Pakistan

  Islamabad: 5 days

  Karachi: 22 days

  Sri Lanka
  Colombo: 22 days.

  I shall be visiting the Sub-Continent shortly to view these arrangements. I have asked the Entry Clearance Manager in Islamabad to see me within the next two weeks.

  Cyprus
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps he has taken to encourage(a) the Greek Government, (b) the Turkish Government and (c) the Government of Cyprus to resolve the issue of Northern Cyprus. [105159]

  Mr. Vaz
  The UK is playing a leading role in support of UN efforts towards a settlement in Cyprus. We warmly welcomed the launch of UN proximity talks in New York on 3 December preparing for the negotiation of a comprehensive settlement. We strongly endorse the UN Secretary-General's intention to continue these talks early this year. We are in frequent contact with the Cypriot parties and with the Governments of Greece and Turkey and are encouraging them to co-operate with the Secretary-General constructively and flexibly.

  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the timetable for the accession of Cyprus to the European Union. [105158]

  Mr. Vaz
  Cyprus is making good progress in its EU accession negotiations, which we welcome. Twenty-three of the 31 chapters of the EU's legislation and practice have been discussed to date and 11 provisionally closed—the most of any candidate. The remaining chapters should be opened this year. It is not yet possible to predict when any of the candidates will join the EU. The faster Cyprus implements EU legislation the sooner it will be in a position to join.

  The Helsinki European Council stated that a political settlement would facilitate, but not be a precondition for, Cyprus' accession. We warmly welcomed the launch of UN proximity talks in New York in December, preparing for the negotiation of a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus, and strongly endorse the UN Secretary-General's intention to continue these talks early this year.

  Iran
  Mr. McCabe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the affiliations and roles of Ghobad Mansour-Beigi, Reza Molai and Alireza Ali-Hosseini; and what assessment he has made of these reports. [105238]
  579W
  Mr. Hain
  According to Iranian press reports, the three people named in my hon. Friend's question were killed during a terrorist attack by the Mujaheddin-e-Khalq Organisation in the border town of Ilam on 9 January. I condemn this latest act of terrorism by the Mujaheddin-e-Khalq Organisation.

  Mr. McCabe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he discussed events in the province of Ilam in Iran when he met the Iranian Foreign Minister. [105237]

  Mr. Hain
  During his recent visit Foreign Minister Kharrazi mentioned an attack by the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq Organisation (MKO) in which several people were killed. Our Embassy in Tehran reported separately that the city of Ilam had been hit by a mortar attack on 8 January which killed three people and injured five. The MKO were reported locally as having claimed responsibility. The UK Government condemn this terrorist attack as we condemn all acts of terrorism, wherever they occur.

  Indonesia (Arms Embargo)
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the current EU arms embargo on Indonesia covers(a) all arms licences and (b) all military items still awaiting delivery to Indonesia. [105899]

  Mr. Battle
  As my hon. Friend the Minister of State, the Member for Neath (Mr. Hain) told the House on 17 January 2000,Official Report, column 325W, the EU arms embargo is no longer in effect and, we will therefore consider any future applications strictly according to an agreed criteria, bearing in mind the current and future situation in Indonesia.

  General Pinochet
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library(a) notes of meetings and (b) copies of correspondence with the Government of Chile concerning the (i) proposed extradition and (ii) medical condition of General Pinochet. [106009]

  Mr. Battle
  It is not our practice to make publicly available the contents of either notes of meetings or copies of correspondence with other Governments. The details of contacts of this nature are confidential to the Governments concerned.

  Chile
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests have been made to the United Nations Secretary General since September 1973 for an international judicial process on human rights in Chile; and if he will make a statement. [106012]

  Mr. Battle
  We cannot answer for other Governments, NGOs or individuals, and we are not aware of any requests from HMG. The information required to provide an accurate answer is not centrally held, and to do so would incur disproportionate costs.

  Honorary Consuls
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the serving honorary consuls who are British citizens giving(a) the posts in which they serve, (b) the date of their appointment and (c) the honours that have been awarded to them since they took up their appointments. [105895]

  Mr. Hain
  I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

  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 [pursuant to his reply, 19 January 2000, c. 478W]: An administrative error led to an omission in my answer of 19 January to the hon. Member. The correct answer should read as follows:

  FCO policy is that no property should be left vacant unless this is unavoidable in the short-term or there are good reasons for retention (such as a break in diplomatic relations, as in Tripoli, Baghdad and Kabul). Properties which are surplus to our requirements are disposed of at an appropriate time (we had the former Residence in Jakarta on the market, but withdrew it when the market collapsed).

HEALTH

  Prostate Cancer
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to publish guidelines for the treatment of prostate cancer in the NHS. [101494]

  Yvette Cooper
  We are determined to improve the prevention, detection and treatment of prostate cancer. The work programme for the National Institute for Clinical Excellence was announced on 4 November and includes the development of clinical guidelines on urological cancers—which will incorporate prostate cancer. This will be the first in the series of guidelines on cancers to look at cancers which affect mostly men. It is expected that the detailed work on this cancer guideline will take until at least the end of 2000.

  "The Widening Gap"
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the recent publication, "The Widening Gap", by Bristol University, on inequalities in health provision. [101689]

  Yvette Cooper
  I was interested to see this report which suggests that there are a number of key determinants which impact on health and health inequalities.

  The former Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson), appointed Sir Donald Acheson to carry out an inquiry into health inequalities. Sir Donald's report, published in November 1998, described the socio-economic determinants of health inequalities and made

  581W
  recommendations which contributed to the development of our health strategy, "Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation". A key aim of our strategy is to reduce health inequalities and narrow the health gap.

  In "Reducing Health Inequalities: An action report" published with "Saving Lives" we identified some of the key actions we are taking across Government to tackle health inequalities.

  Power Lines
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of recent evidence linking radiation from power lines and cancer. [101690]

  Yvette Cooper
  The results of the first part of the United Kingdom Childhood Cancer Study were published in The Lancet in December. This is the largest UK study on childhood cancer to date. It started in 1992 and has examined a number of factors which might be implicated in childhood cancer. The present study provides no evidence that exposure to magnetic fields associated with the electricity supply in the UK increases risks for childhood leukaemia, cancers of the central nervous system, or any other childhood cancer. Also published in December were two studies in the International Journal of Radiation Biology. In these studies, scientists from Bristol University report observations of increased deposition of natural radionuclides near power lines. From these measurements it is inferred that other pollutants in the environment, such as car exhaust fumes, will behave similarly and this may be a cause of childhood leukaemia. The National Radiological Protection Board Advisory Group on Non Ionising Radiation have been reviewing the research in this area and will be reporting soon.

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations the Government have received on Professor Henshaw's report on High Voltage Power Lines and Public Health; and if he will make a statement. [101622]

  Yvette Cooper
  Professor Henshaw's two reports on "High Voltage Power Lines and Public Health" were published in The International Journal of Radiation Biology on 2 December 1999. The Department has received a number of telephone inquiries from members of the public about the report since its publication.

  We are aware of concerns about possible health effects from electromagnetic fields and are supporting some of Professor Henshaw's research among a number of projects within the Department's Radiation Protection Research Programme.

  The Department will consider the results of this study in the context of other work in this area and has asked for views from the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB), and its Advisory Group.

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of(a) Professor Henshaw's report and (b) that of the Electricity Association about the health aspects of overhead line transmissions; and if he will make a statement. [102134]

  Yvette Cooper
  Two reports from Professor Henshaw were published in December in the International Journal of Radiation Biology. These studies reported observations of increased deposition of natural radionuclides near 582W
  power lines. From these measurements it is inferred that other pollutants in the environment, such as car exhaust fumes, will behave similarly and this may be a cause of childhood leukaemia. Also published in December were the results of the first part of the United Kingdom Childhood Cancer Study in The Lancet. The costs of this study were met by leukaemia charities, Government and the electricity supply industry. It is the largest UK study on childhood cancer to date. The study provides no evidence that exposure to magnetic fields associated with the electricity supply in the UK increases risks for childhood leukaemia, cancers of the central nervous system, or any other childhood cancer. The National Radiological Protection Board Advisory Group on Non Ionising Radiation have been reviewing the research in this area and will be reporting soon.

  Artificial Sweeteners
  Dr. Brand
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received in relation to(a) Aspartame and (b) other artificial sweeteners; and if he will make a statement. [102309]

  Yvette Cooper
  In the last 12 months the Department has received 32 representations in relation to Aspartame and six representations in relation to other artificial sweeteners. These raised issues about possible health effects of artificial sweeteners. The Department receives advice on these matters from the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment.

  Fluoridation
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his policy on fluoridation of drinking water. [102351]

  Yvette Cooper
  In our White Paper, "Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation", which was published on 6 July we announced that we have commissioned an up-to-date expert scientific review of fluoride and health. If the review confirms that there are benefits to dental health from fluoridation and that there are no significant risks, we intend to introduce an obligation on water companies to fluoridate where there is strong local support for doing so.

  NHS Direct
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of NHS Direct calls received each day between 27 December and 12 January were from people complaining of influenza symptoms; and what percentage of these callers were instructed to go to hospital. [105679]

  Ms Stuart
  NHS Direct received in total 194,521 calls between 27 December and 12 January. Indications are that between 30 per cent. and 40 per cent. of calls during this period related to influenza symptoms. During this period the overall proportion of callers who were advised to attend their accident and emergency department was 6 per cent. and 2 per cent. of callers were diverted to the 999 service.

  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if a person who has been instructed to go to hospital by NHS Direct and is found to have influenza is included in the official influenza figures. [105678]
  583W
  Ms Stuart
  Influenza activity in England is monitored through the Royal College of General Practitioners sentinel surveillance scheme. This records the number of first visits to a general practitioner with influenza-like illness. Other respiratory illnesses prevalent at this time of year are recorded separately.

  This system cannot measure the real incidence of influenza since it is restricted to those people who visit their general practitioner. Patients of the type referred to are therefore not included. This year a major campaign was run to encourage people to choose their own remedy, to consult a pharmacist and to use NHS Direct, as alternative sources of advice.

  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses working for NHS Direct were, in their previous employment, working full-time in the NHS. [105672]

  Ms Stuart
  NHS Direct accounts nationally for 600 (whole-time equivalent) nurses, a small number against the overall size of the nursing workforce, which is 332,000 (whole-time equivalent) in England (as of 30 September 1998). Specific information, such as the previous employment of NHS Direct nurses is not collected centrally. NHS Direct has deliberately recruited nurses from a wide range of different backgrounds: hospitals, primary care, outside the NHS. Some will be from a hospital background but others will be from primary care or will have been working outside the NHS. NHS Direct has also provided opportunities for the disabled and those who had to stop working in the ward\hospital because of other injuries. Many staff who work for NHS Direct do so on a part time basis allowing them to combine working for NHS Direct with other clinical duties.

  Accident and Emergency Units
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many major accident and emergency units have their full complement of consultants; and how many of these units have consultants on duty 24 hours a day. [105518]

  Ms Stuart
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Influenza Vaccination
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assess the benefits of introducing a programme of systematic vaccination of those health care workers working with the elderly. [105637]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 18 January 2000]: United Kingdom Health Ministers are advised on immunisation policy by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). JCVI reviews its recommendations, including immunisation of healthcare workers, annually.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons NHS trusts were advised to vaccinate staff on the grounds of reducing absenteeism over the Millennium holiday. [105632]
  584W
  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 18 January 2000]: Decisions on whether to offer routine vaccinations to staff and, if so, to which groups of staff, were taken at local level by National Health Service trusts as a part of their winter planning arrangements.

  Trusts were advised through a Health Service Circular issued on 24 September 1999 to consider the possible impact of staff absence through illness at a time of exceptional pressure over the extended Millennium holiday period.

  In reaching their decisions, trusts were also reminded of the possible risks associated with immunisations.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the uptake of influenza vaccine has been among(a) the over 75s, (b) the over 65s, (c) the under 5s and (d) medically vulnerable groups in the last twelve months. [105634]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 18 January 2000]: The most recent estimates of vaccine uptake were published in Health Trends (1998; 30: 51–55). Copies are available in the Library.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason an age limit of 75 years was chosen for a pro-active campaign of influenza vaccination among the elderly. [105639]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 18 January 2000]: People aged 75 and over without underlying risk conditions and not living in residential care were added to the individuals recommended for flu immunisation in 1998. This followed advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. The rationale was set out in a letter from the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Nursing Officer (PL/CNO/98/4, PL/CNO/98/6), copies of which are available in the Library.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what measures he will take to increase the levels of influenza vaccination among(a) those aged over 75 years, (b) those aged under 5 years and (c) those with medical conditions making them particularly susceptible to influenza; [105640]

  (2) what plans he has to increase the public awareness about the uptake of the influenza vaccine. [105633]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 18 January 2000]: Influenza immunisation aims to reduce the morbidity and mortality due to flu by immunising those people most likely to have a severe or complicated illness due to flu. Immunisation is, therefore recommended for all those in whom the disease is more likely to be a serious illness, that is people:
  with chronic respiratory or heart disease or renal disease, diabetes and those who are immunocompromised
  living in long stay residential accommodation
  aged 75 and over.

  In advance of this year's winter season the Department was involved in a range of activities to publicise the need for flu immunisation. GPs were reminded of the importance of flu immunisation in last August's CMG Update and about ordering Department of Health leaflets and posters on influenza and influenza immunisation.

  585W
  Research has shown that the single most important factor affecting whether an individual is immunised or not is whether the doctor or nurse recommended it.

  The Chief Medical Officer launched Flu Awareness Week at a press conference in October 1999. This annual event results in widespread media coverage and gives a useful opportunity to get key messages across to the general public. Flu Awareness Week is organised by the Association for Influenza Monitoring and Surveillance (aims) who organise media based awareness work each autumn. Other organisations, such as Help the Aged, support this activity as well as producing their own leaflets for the public.

  Those in the risk groups were encouraged to come forward for immunisation through placed articles in the general and women's press and through relevant representative groups. This year's "Keep Warm, Keep Well" campaign encourages older people to keep healthy this winter and included information on influenza and immunisation. Help The Aged' s "Senior Line" was briefed on the importance of influenza immunisation. As part of the work on Flu Awareness Week, (aims) worked with various representative groups such as the British Lung Foundation, the British Heart Foundation, to promote awareness.

  The Department will review how well these activities worked to increase awareness of influenza immunisation and will plan next winter's activities to increase uptake of vaccine on the basis of the lessons learned from this winter's activity.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doses of the vaccine for the flu are currently available. [105629]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 18 January 2000]: Manufacturers advise that they had over half a million doses of flu vaccine available during the week ending 16 January 2000.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what alternatives to the current influenza vaccine are available to those with an egg allergy. [105638]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 18 January 2000]: Flu vaccine should not be given to individuals with known anaphylactic hypersensitivity to egg products—simple allergy to egg is not a contraindication. For these small number of individuals who are also in high risk groups amantadine hydrochloride may be prescribed prophylactically by the person's doctor where it is clinically necessary.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the extent of regional variations in the availability of the influenza vaccine. [105630]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 18 January 2000]: None. Influenza immunisation is primarily delivered through general practice. General practitioners order vaccine direct from the manufacturers according to their requirements.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase the funding available for an influenza vaccination programme. [105631]
  586W
  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 20 January 2000]: The Department will be reviewing this winter's influenza immunisation programme before planning next winter's activity. We will consider any implications for funding the programme in the light of this review.

  NHS Dentistry
  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when he expects to announce the Government's plans to improve the availability of NHS dentistry in(a) Somerset and (b) England as a whole; [104720]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the availability of NHS dentistry in the Yeovil constituency; [104721]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the areas of England where it is most difficult to register as an adult with an NHS dentist; and if he will make a statement. [104718]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Government are aware of the current problems experienced in accessing dental services, which we inherited from the previous Government. Access problems for adults are most acute in the south and west of the country, including the Yeovil constituency. We have taken positive steps to address these problems. The Investing in Dentistry initiative saw a £10 million investment in dentistry, including eight approved bids in Somerset, one of which was in Yeovil, while the personal dental services pilots have allowed for local flexibility in service provision. £203,000 has been awarded in grants in Somerset which will allow for 18,750 additional registrations.

  We are also piloting dental access centres, providing fast and convenient access to dentistry in areas with acute access problems. Two dental access centres opened last year, and a further six will come on line this winter. On 5 January my noble Friend Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, the Under-Secretary of State, announced 34 successful expressions of interest for a third wave of dental access centre pilots. A proposal from Somerset has been successful at this stage. These potential centres must now submit a full business case, and if successful, will be operational by the end of the year.

  More will be done to address problems of access in the NHS dental strategy. The strategy, to be published shortly, will set the future pace and direction of development of dentistry in England.

  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what percentage of(a) adults and (b) children were registered with an NHS dentist in each English county in (i) 1985–86, (ii) 1990–91, (iii) 1995–96, (iv) 1996–97, (v) 1997–98, (vi) 1998–99 and (vii) 1999–2000; and if he will make a statement; [104716]

  (2) what was the total number of (a) adults and (b) children registered with an NHS dentist in each year since 1985 in (i) Somerset and (ii) Yeovil constitutency; and if he will make a statement. [104717]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information requested has been placed in the Library.

  NHS Car Parks
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS hospital trusts levy charges for visitor car parking; what is the annual income raised by such
  587W
  charges; and if he has circulated advice to trusts on the waiving of charges, including penalties, in cases of emergency or on compassionate grounds. [106015]

  Ms Stuart
  The number of National Health Service trusts charging for visitor car parking is not collected centrally. The amount raised from car park charges is not separately identified within trust financial returns. Advice issued to trusts in 1996 on car parking charges suggested that special consideration needed to be given to the needs of some categories of visitors and staff.

WALES

  EU Structural Funds (Alyn and Deeside)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with other Departments concerning the award of EU Objective 2 status to the constituency of Alyn and Deeside; and if he will make a statement. [105553]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  My Department worked closely with other Government Departments and with the National Assembly for Wales on the UK's proposed Objective 2 map for the period 2000–06. This was approved last month by the European Commission. The Welsh map was unchanged from the UK Government's proposals of 8 October, a copy of which I sent to all Welsh MPs and MEPs.

  Objective 1
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the(a) European Commission and (b) UK representative office in Brussels on spending on the Objective 1 programme in 2000 and the criteria for Wales taking up its full entitlement of such funding; and if he will make a statement. [106062]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I visited Brussels last month and met officials from the UK Permanent Representation to the European Union and from the European Commission to discuss a range of issues. However, the negotiations with the European Commission on the content of the Objective 1 plan, including the spending profile, are a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if funding for expenditure on Objective 1 in Wales in the financial year 2000–01 is additional to the budget provided for the National Assembly for Wales. [106082]
  588W
  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Funding for the European Union grant element of Objective 1 expenditure in Wales will be from within the National Assembly's budget. For the financial year 2000–01 the Assembly estimates Objective 1 expenditure of around £25 million, which I am assured can be met from within the Welsh Block.

  Wales Office Staff
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list(a) the number of staff and (b) their grades in the Wales Office in London. [106068]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The Wales Office in London currently has the following staff:

  Grade

  Number

  Senior Civil Service

  2

  Band F

  4

  Band E

  1

  Band D

  5

  Band C

  7

  Band B

  7

  Band A

  6

  Drivers

  2

  Special Adviser

  1

  The Wales Office also employs the following staff who are based in Cardiff:

  Grade

  Number

  Special Adviser

  1

  Band G

  1

  Engagements
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the official engagements of the Under-Secretary of State in the Wales Office for the period 10 to 23 January. [106067]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  During this period, my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State attended four Cabinet Committee meetings; various meetings with officials in Cardiff and officials in London and attended to other ministerial business. On 18 January he wound up the opposition debate on the Health Service, on 19 January he answered questions on the Floor of the House; and on 21 January he will meet with local councils to discuss the Local Government Bill and will meet with National Power at Deeside.

  Iraq: Military List Equipment Exports
  Iraq: Military List Equipment Exports
  River Danube: Clearance
  River Danube: Clearance
  10 Downing Street: Staff Numbers and Costs
  10 Downing Street: Staff Numbers and Costs
  Political Honours Scrutiny Committee
  Political Honours Scrutiny Committee
  Media Monitoring Unit
  Media Monitoring Unit
  House of Lords Reform: Royal Commission Report
  House of Lords Reform: Royal Commission Report
  Residential Care Home Standards: Consultation
  Residential Care Home Standards: Consultation
  Mentally-ill Prisoners: Hospital Secure Beds
  Mentally-ill Prisoners: Hospital Secure Beds
  NHS Trusts: Waiting List Reduction Incentives
  NHS Trusts: Waiting List Reduction Incentives
  Road Traffic Reduction Measures
  Road Traffic Reduction Measures
  Wembley Stadium
  Wembley Stadium
  Young People without Visible Means of Support
  Young People without Visible Means of Support
  Mothers Disentitled to Benefit
  Mothers Disentitled to Benefit
  Child Support Legislation: Interaction
  Child Support Legislation: Interaction
  Young People Living Independently and Claiming Benefit
  Young People Living Independently and Claiming Benefit
  People Disentitled to Benefit
  People Disentitled to Benefit
  Income Support
  Income Support