Written Answers of 3 July 2000

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Distress for Rent
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to review the practice of distress for rent. [128323]

  Mr. Lock
  The practice of distress for rent is currently being reviewed. I am aware that there are some concerns over this practice and, in particular, its compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights. We are investigating these concerns urgently and any problems identified will be addressed promptly.

  Name

  Grade

  Job title

  Section

  Work

  Mr. J. C. Barrett

  Grade 6

  Natural Resources Research Programme Manager

  Systems Management Office

  Management of the Natural Resources Systems Programme

  Dr. R. G. Poulter

  Grade 6

  Senior Natural Resources Adviser (Research)

  Natural Resources Research Department

  Advice on Research Policy issues, Liaison with the UK science base

  Ms F. J. Proctor

  Grade 6

  Senior Natural Resources Adviser

  West and North Africa Department

  Natural resources advice on bilateral and regional programmes to Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and Chad

  Ms S. Moorehead

  Band A2 (Grade 7 equivalent)

  Research Manager

  Economic Policy and Research Department

  Management of research commissioned by the DFID Advisory Committee on Economic and Social Research (ESCOR)

  Moluccas
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funds Her Majesty's Government have allocated to provide humanitarian aid to those suffering in the conflict in the Moluccas. [128813]

  Clare Short
  My Department is not currently funding relief operations in the Moluccas, but is willing to do so if safe access is obtained to make the necessary needs assessments. The rise in violence is preventing effective and impartial humanitarian access and has forced most relief agencies to evacuate and suspend their operations. We will continue to monitor the situation through our contacts in the few remaining operational agencies and will reassess our inputs once the security situation stabilises and humanitarian access is once again guaranteed.

  A DFID team has just returned from Indonesia where they were advising the United Nations on possible options for engagement in conflict reduction activities. We have also seconded a humanitarian specialist to the United Nations in Jakarta. He is assisting with the co-operation of relief efforts throughout Indonesia, whether resulting from natural disasters or conflicts as in the Moluccas.

  UN Social Summit
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her Department's representation at the UN Social Summit in Geneva. [128714]

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Staff Secondments
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Harrogate and Knaresborough (Mr. Willis) of 8 February 2000,Official Report, column 89W, on secondments, if she will give the names, grades and job titles of the staff seconded into her Department from each organisation mentioned, stating in each case the name of the section they were seconded to and a summary of the work that they were involved with. [128252]

  Clare Short
  The figures given in the reply of 8 February referred to four individuals, all of whom were seconded for periods of more than 12 months and thus figured in the statistics for more than one of the years dealt with in the reply. The information required is as follows:

  Clare Short
  My Department's delegation to the United Nations General Assembly Special Session in Geneva last week, which followed up the Copenhagen Social Summit five years ago, was led by my Chief Social Development Adviser, supported by other senior DFID social development professionals and officials.

  China Western Poverty Reduction Project
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the status of the China Western Poverty Reduction Project. [128477]

  Clare Short
  Britain supported this project in the Bank Board meeting in June 1999 because it would bring significant benefits to 1.7 million of the poorest people in China. We also supported the Board conclusion that no funds would be disbursed on the Qinghai component of the project until an independent Inspection Panel had conducted an investigation, and pending further environmental and social assessments.

  The report by the Independent Inspection Panel, and Bank Management's response to it, will be discussed at a World Bank Board meeting on 6 July 2000. We are looking very carefully at the conclusions of the Inspection Panel Report, and Management's response to it, in preparation for the Bank Board meeting.
  3W
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent representations she has received concerning the status of the China Western Poverty Reduction Project. [128478]

  Clare Short
  I have received representations on the issue of the China Western Poverty Reduction Project from members of the public, from hon. Members and from organisations which concern themselves with the welfare of Tibetans.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Sudan
  Dr. Stoate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the recent SPLA violations of the ceasefire in Bahr al-Ghazal, Sudan. [129074]

  Mr. Hain
  We have been following with grave concern reports of violations by the SPLA of the humanitarian ceasefire in Bahr al-Ghazal and in particular the attack on the town of Gogrial. We call on the SPLA and the Sudanese Government to exercise restraint, to respect humanitarian principles and the agreed ceasefire in that region and to work to negotiate a comprehensive, permanent, effectively monitored ceasefire throughout Sudan. We reaffirm our support for the peace efforts being made under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and firmly believe that only a negotiated settlement can bring all the people of Sudan the peace and stability they deserve.

  Indian Sub-continent (Nuclear Weapons)
  Dr. Stoate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what circumstances a licence is required to export strategic goods or technology to India or Pakistan; and what the Government's policy is regarding exports to nuclear or nuclear-related end-users in India and Pakistan. [129016]

  Mr. Hain
  A licence is required to export to India or Pakistan any goods or technology that are listed as subject to control in the legislation under which strategic export controls are implemented or any goods or technology subject to the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) end-use controls set out in Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) 3381/94 and Regulations 4(1) and 4(2) (b) and (c) of the Dual-Use and Related Goods (Export Control) Regulations 1996.

  Where a licence is required then, as my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd), the then Minister of State, said in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for South Thanet (Dr. Ladyman) on 10 July 1998, Official Report, columns 687–88W, we will not allow the export of items listed in the Nuclear Suppliers Group Dual-Use List to nuclear or nuclear-related end-users in India or Pakistan, nor any other goods to these end-users which could contribute to the Indian and Pakistani nuclear programmes. The exception is equipment which would not normally require an export licence but is deemed licensable under the WMD end-use controls and where the initial concerns about WMD end-use are not subsequently substantiated.

  New Deal
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many employees of his Department and its agencies have been recruited from the New Deal; and what percentage this represents of total staff. [129091]

  Mr. Hain
  Four New Dealers have been recruited. This represents 1 per cent. of Band A1 staff (which is the grade at which we recruit New Dealers), and .07 per cent. of total staff.

  Sierra Leone
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what initiatives the Government have(a) taken and (b) propose to take on modifying the UN Security Council resolutions governing the presence of United Nations forces in Sierra Leone. [127997]

  Mr. Hain
  We have actively supported the UN Secretary-General's initiatives to adapt UNAMSIL to meet changing circumstances; most recently leading the Security Council in adoption of resolution 1299 of 11 May 2000 to expand UNAMSIL from 11,100 to 13,000. We have been leading discussions on a further resolution on UNAMSIL in the Security Council, in the light of the Secretary-General's most recent report of 19 May 2000.

  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what factors he took into account in assessing the need for UK action in response to Security Council resolution 1289 concerning the increase in manpower of the UNAMSIL force in Sierra Leone. [127998]

  Mr. Hain
  We strongly support the UN's effort to help bring peace and stability to Sierra Leone. Since the adoption of Security Council resolution 1289 on 7 February 2000, we have provided an MOD team to help on the ground with UNAMSIL force deployment as well as our 15 UN military observers. We are also continuing to provide technical advice and support to UNAMSIL both in Freetown and New York.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what representations he has made to those countries which agreed to make a contribution to Sierra Leone through the Lomé Peace Accord but have(a) not or (b) only partly met the commitment they entered into; [128573]

  (2) if he will list the countries which agreed to make a contribution to Sierra Leone through the Lomé Peace Accord, but which did not make the contribution agreed or any contribution; and if he will make a statement; [128572]

  (3) if he will list those countries which have made contributions to Sierra Leone through the Lomé Peace Accord, indicating the amount of each contribution; and if he will make a statement; [128522]

  (4) if he will list those countries which agreed to make contributions to Sierra Leone through the Lomé Peace Accord, indicating the amount of money each country agreed to give; and if he will make a statement. [128521]
  5W
  Mr. Hain
  Following signature of the Lomé Peace Agreement, a number of countries and donor institutions pledged and provided political and financial support to help re-build Sierra Leone after eight years of brutal conflict.

  Around US$65 million was pledged at the international donor's conference, chaired by the Secretary of State for International Development in London on 27 March.

  Practical support from the international donor community will continue to be needed if lasting peace and stability is to be achieved in Sierra Leone.

  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many(a) British and (b) other western nationals have been evacuated from Sierra Leone since 8 May. [127688]

  Mr. Hain
  125 British nationals and 49 other western nationals were evacuated by British forces from Sierra Leone since 8 May (the figure for other western nationals includes EU, US and Canadian nationals).

  Child Labour
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made on the implementation of ILO Convention No. 182 on the prohibition of child labour; and if he will make a statement. [127917]

  Mr. Hain
  The UK ratified ILO Convention 182 on the worst forms of child labour on 23 March 2000. The provisions of the Convention are met in the UK. The Government are committed to eradicating the exploitation of children. ILO Convention 182 represents an important step towards achieving this goal. The UK strongly supports the ILO in its campaign to encourage all ILO member states to ratify and implement the Convention as soon as possible. The UK is now considering how best to take bilateral action in support of the ILO campaign.

  European Social Charter
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on how many EU member states have ratified, and accepted as legally binding, the European Social Charter in whole or in part. [127913]

  Mr. Vaz
  The Community Charter of the Fundamental Social Rights of Workers was adopted by 11 of the then 12 EU member states in December 1998, with the UK dissenting. The Charter was declaratory and is not legally binding.

  Article 136 of the EC Treaty (Title XI), as amended by the Amsterdam Treaty 1997, mentions the Community Charter, alongside the European Social Charter 1961, within the context of the objectives of the social chapter of the Treaty. All 15 member states have ratified the Amsterdam Treaty.

  Human Rights and Biomedicine Convention
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the number of EU member states which have ratified the Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine. [127914]
  6W
  Mr. Hain
  The Convention came into force on 1 December 1999. Three EU member states have ratified the Convention: Denmark, Greece and Spain. Seven have signed the Convention: Finland, France, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden.

  The Convention contains a mixture of devolved and reserved matters. The Government are considering the most appropriate way forward in the light of devolution.

  European Convention on Human Rights
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the European Convention on Human Rights and its protocols, with special reference to those parts which some EU member states have not agreed to ratify. [127995]

  Mr. Hain
  This year is the 50th Anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights. The Convention has now been ratified by all 41 member states of the Council of Europe. It has become the Europe-wide standard for fundamental rights and freedoms providing, as its founders hoped, cohesive values and a bulwark against tyranny. In the UK, the Human Rights Act 1998, which comes into force on 2 October 2000, will enshrine in UK law the guarantees provided by the Convention.

  Since the Convention's entry into force, a series of additional protocols have been adopted. Where these elaborate the rights set out in the Convention or add new rights, they are optional. Like other EU and Council of Europe states, the UK keeps under review its position with regard to those protocols it has not already ratified.

  Gibraltar
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 7 June 2000,Official Report, column 295W, how many people are in the United Kingdom Government/Gibraltar Liaison Unit for EU Affairs which has been established in his Department. [128487]

  Mr. Vaz
  The United Kingdom Government/Gibraltar Liaison Unit for EU Affairs was established on 1 June, within the Southern European Department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Initially, three members of this Department have been allocated responsibility for running the Unit alongside their other duties. We will keep the resources of the Unit under review.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the actions of ZANU(PF) during the election campaign and on polling day in Zimbabwe. [128716]

  Mr. Hain
  We fully agree with the statement issued by Pierre Schori, the Head of the EU Observer Mission, in which he indicated that ZANU(PF) was responsible for the bulk of political violence
  during the election campaign. The two days of polling were peaceful and orderly.

  Serbia/Iraq Trade
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on financial and trade links between(a) Serbia and Iraq and (b) the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Iraq. [126626]

  Mr. Vaz
  [holding answer 19 June 2000]: There are no reliable figures for FRY/Iraq trade but according to official FRY figures it does not appear to be a significant element in the FRY balance of payments. The FRY has participated in the UN's oil for food programme, bartering grain exports for oil.

  EU Political and Security Committee
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what items have been on the agenda of the EU Political and Security Committee since 1 January; and what decisions it has taken. [128505]

  Mr. Vaz
  The Interim Political and Security Committee started work on 1 March 2000. Since its establishment, the Committee's principal task has been to contribute to the preparation of the Council's decisions on the new European defence and security arrangements and in particular the Report and Annexes on European defence and security adopted by the European Council at Feira on 19–20 June. The Committee has also started to contribute to the Council's work on current CFSP issues, such as Zimbabwe and Sierra Leone.

  Moluccas
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Indonesian authorities to ensure that those responsible for the sectarian violence in the Moluccas are brought to trial. [128786]

  Mr. Battle
  EU representatives called on the Indonesian Government on 12 June to remind them of their responsibility to maintain law and order, and to request an investigation and immediate steps to bring the perpetrators to justice. I issued a statement on 23 June, and saw the Indonesian Ambassador on 3 July. In the light of the alarming escalation of the violence, we and others are urging the Indonesian authorities to redouble efforts to take effective action.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Organophosphates
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of recent research on the effect on the nervous system of exposure to organophosphates. [126036]

  Ms Quin
  A Working Group of the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) undertook an in-depth study in 1998 and 1999 of whether exposure to low doses of organophosphorus compounds can cause long-term adverse health effects. The Working Group considered the most recent research in this area. The COT' s Report to Ministers was published on 26 November 1999 and copies were placed in the Library of the House. Presentations from researchers working on OPs were made to a8W
  Scientific Workshop on 28 March 2000 which was organised by the Government. We hope shortly to call for proposals for further research in this important area.

  Lindane
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations he has received about the health implications of Lindane. [127817]

  Ms Quin
  MAFF has received numerous representations from individuals and organisations concerning the pesticide Lindane. Most of these have expressed concern over the possible environmental or human health effects of the use of Lindane in this country.

  The Government act whenever necessary on pesticides in order to safeguard health and protect the environment. In the case of Lindane, using a precautionary assessment, independent scientific advice is that the currently approved agricultural uses of lindane do not pose any unacceptable risk to people. Ministers are currently considering the advice from the independent Advisory Committee on Pesticides on the home garden and non-agricultural uses of Lindane and will announce their conclusions as soon as possible.

  Pesticides and Fertilisers
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which discussions he has had with his counterparts in other EU member states on establishing reciprocal recognition arrangements on the use of pesticides and fertilisers. [127663]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 26 June 2000]: All EU countries regulate the safety and efficacy of agricultural pesticides on the basis of scientific data under their respective national legislation. However, a gradual transition is already underway to an EC system of regulation which in addition to safeguarding people and the environment is also aimed at freeing the market in agricultural pesticides by achieving consistent standards between member states.

  As such it provides for the mutual recognition of pesticide product approvals and uses granted in other member states.

  Officials from the various member states are frequently in contact with each other to discuss the issues relating to harmonisation of the authorisation procedures and the regulation of agricultural pesticides.

  The EU has established procedures whereby fertiliser companies can seek to have products designated as "EC Fertilisers" thereby enabling those products to be sold in all member states. Non-EC designated fertiliser products may be sold to another member state only where they comply with that country's domestic legislation.

  Organic Farming
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 10 April 2000,Official Report, column 56W, on organic farming, what plans he has to undertake research into the balance of trade in organic produce in the last 12 months for

  9W
  which figures are available; and what representations have been made to him regarding the balance of trade in this respect. [126474]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 27 June 2000]: We have no plans at present to undertake such research.

  We have received a number of representations concerning the proportion of organic food which is imported, usually coupled with requests that support for organic conversion be increased. The Government have substantially increased funding for conversion: £12 million has been committed in the current financial year and we plan to spend £140 million on conversion aid over the life of the Rural Development Plan for England.

  Sheep Farmers
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will press for additional compensation for sheep farmers affected by cuts in the sheep annual premium. [128058]

  Ms Quin
  There have been no recent changes in the way the sheep annual premium is calculated. As part of the Action Plan for Farming, the Prime Minister announced on 30 March that this year sheep farmers will receive £22 million to compensate for the effects of exchange rate fluctuations during 1999.

  Fishing (Russian Vessels)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the appearance of Russian blue water vessels off Rockall; and if he has assessed the consequences for UK haddock fishing. [128158]

  Mr. Morley
  This spring there was evidence of increased activity by Russian vessels fishing for haddock and other demersal stocks in international waters to the west of Rockall. Unregulated fishing of this kind risks undermining EU management measures aimed at conserving stocks. At the Fisheries Council in June we called upon the European Commission to press for the adoption of specific management measures by the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) to constrain fishing in the area. We are supported by a number of other member states. The European Commission has undertaken to pursue the necessary action in NEAFC.

  Staff Secondments
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer to the hon.

  1999–2000 (Outturn)

  Population(1998 Census)

  Exchequer funding (£)

  Lottery draw-down (£)1

  Total (£)

  Per capita expenditure (£)

  England/Sport England

  49,495,000

  37,900,000

  250,686,000

  288,586,000

  5.83

  Scotland/Sport Scotland

  5,120,000

  10,100,000

  25,645,000

  35,745,000

  6.98

  Wales/Sports Council for Wales

  2,933,000

  6,799,000

  14,677,000

  21,476,000

  7.32

  Northern Ireland/Sports Council for Northern Ireland

  1,689,000

  2,380,000

  10,323,000

  12,703,000

  7.52

  UK Sport3

  —

  12,600,000

  15,357,000

  27,957,000

  —

  Football Licensing Authority

  —

  900,000

  —

  900,000

  —

  Total4

  59,237,000

  70,679,000

  316,688,000

  387,367,000

  6.54

  10W
  Member for Harrogate and Knaresborough (Mr. Willis), of 10 February 2000, Official Report, column 292W, on secondments, if he will give the names, grades and job titles of the staff seconded into his Department from each organisation mentioned, stating in each case the name of the section they were seconded to and a summary of the work that they were involved with. [128246]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 29 June 2000]: Secondments and attachments are part of the Interchange Initiative, which promotes the exchange of people and good practice between the Civil Service and other organisations. Before an Interchange can occur all parties must be satisfied that no conflict of interest arises.

  Further to my earlier reply to the hon. Member for Harrogate and Knaresborough (Mr. Willis), the secondee from the Royal Bank of Scotland worked in the Finance Unit at the Central Science Laboratory in York on the production of a report on operating procedures for contracts. The secondee from Manor Bakeries undertook a programme of visits within the Department.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Sport Funding
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much the Government spent per head of population on supporting sport in(a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland in the last financial year; what the planned figure is for 2000–01; and what assessment he has made of such spending in other EU member states. [127127]

  Kate Hoey
  The information requested by the hon. Member is included in the table.

  Exchequer and Lottery funding for sport is channelled primarily through the four home nation sports councils (Sport England, SportScotland, Sports Council for Wales, Sports Council for Northern Ireland) and the UK Sports Council (UK Sport). Funding is also provided to the Football Licensing Authority, which is charged with ensuring the implementation of Government policy regarding grounds at which designated football matches are played. Support for sport and recreation is also provided by local Government expenditure.

  No direct comparison of expenditure on sport by EU member states has been made by my Department or the Sports Councils. Meaningful comparisons are difficult because of the way in which sport is structured and financed from country to country.
  11W

  2000–01 (Plans)

  Population(1998 Census)

  Exchequer funding (£)

  Lottery draw-down forecasts (£)2

  Total forecast (£)

  Per capita expenditure forecast (£)

  England/Sport England

  49,495,000

  37,973,000

  355,500,000

  393,473,000

  7.95

  Scotland/Sports Scotland

  5,120,000

  10,309,000

  30,600,000

  40,909,000

  7.99

  Wales/Sports Council for Wales

  2,933,000

  7,417,000

  14,281,000

  21,698,000

  7.40

  Northern Ireland/Sports Council for Northern Ireland

  1,689,000

  2,322,000

  10,230,000

  12,552,000

  7.43

  UK Sport3

  —

  12,600,000

  23,060,000

  35,660,000

  —

  Football Licensing Authority

  —

  900,000

  —

  900,000

  —

  Total4

  59,237,000

  71,521,000

  433,671,000

  505,192,000

  8.53

  1 The figures are taken from the National Lottery Awards database which uses information supplied by the distributing bodies.

  2 Data are based on information provided by the distributing bodies.

  3 UK Sport provides support to those sporting programmes and policies that are of benefit for the United Kingdom as a whole. It is not possible to determine the amount of benefit provided by UK Sport to sport in individual home countries.

  4 In addition, Local Authority estimated outturn on current and capital expenditure on sport and recreation activities in 1999–2000 totalled £767 million in England and £55 million in Wales. Expenditure details for 1999–2000 for Scotland and Northern Ireland and Planning figures for 2000–01 are not available.

  Spoliation Panel
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if the Spoliation Panel inquiry into works of art looted by the Nazis has met; and if he will make a statement. [128118]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  [holding answer 29 June 2000]: The first meeting of the Spoliation Advisory Panel was held on Thursday 8 June. To date, the Panel is aware of only one claim—that of Jan Griffier the Elder's View of Hampton Court Palace—which was acquired by the Tate in 1961. On 12 June, the Panel issued a news release inviting both the claimants and the Tate to submit their case as soon as possible. The Panel desires to complete its proceedings on this claim as rapidly as possible consistent with proper consideration of the evidence.

  Royal Palaces
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what, at constant prices, has been the cost of maintenance projects in each year since 1991–92 at the occupied Royal Palaces after deducting the costs of the exceptional rewiring programme in hand at the time of the Windsor fire, and the costs relating to the restoration after that fire. [128461]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The costs are as follows:

  £0001

  1991–92

  14,999

  1992–93

  10,768

  1993–94

  9,105

  1994–95

  10,637

  1995–96

  12,547

  1996–97

  11,630

  1997–98

  7,437

  1998–99

  7,392

  1999–2000

  6,788

  1 Excluding minor maintenance costing less than £2,500

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in each year since 1993–94, what has been the(a) gross income and (b) net income from charges to visit Buckingham Palace; and to which Department the income was paid. [128460]
  12W
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The gross income and net income from charges to visit Buckingham Palace in each year since 1993–94 are as follows:

  £000

  Net income

  Gross income

  WCFR1

  RCT2

  1993–94

  2,277

  1,391

  0

  1994–95

  2,662

  1,398

  0

  1995–96

  2,948

  1,667

  0

  1996–97

  2,812

  1,686

  0

  1997–98

  2,353

  1,080

  0

  1998–99

  2,505

  1,066

  0

  1999–2000

  2,349

  0

  907

  1 Windsor Castle Fire Restoration Project

  2 Royal Collection Trust

  The net income accrues to the Royal Collection Trust rather than to any Government Department. Just under £8.3 million has been contributed toward the cost of the Windsor Castle Fire Restoration Project. Having completed the Fire Restoration Project, the net income has been retained by the Royal Collection Trust to fund ongoing conservation of the Royal Collection and the project to re-develop the Queen's Gallery.

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in each year since 1993–94 what has been the(a) gross income and (b) net surplus from charges to visit Windsor Castle precincts. [128459]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  No gross income is attributable to the Windsor Castle precincts as visitors buy one ticket which covers the State Apartments, Queen Mary's Dolls House, St. George's Chapel, the exhibition and the precincts. The net surplus from charges to visit Windsor Castle precincts in each year since 1993–94 is as follows:

  £000

  1993–94

  1100

  1994–95

  1,616

  1995–96

  1,908

  1996–97

  2,257

  1997–98

  2,381

  1998–99

  3,416

  1999–2000

  2,400

  1 Charges for entry to the Windsor Castle precincts introduced on 4 January 1994

  Hollywood Films
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has(a) received and (b) made regarding allegations of anti-British bias in Hollywood films; and if he will make a statement. [128815]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  I have received a number of letters from members of the public about historical misrepresentation in Hollywood films, and while it is not for the Government formally to intervene in the creative process of film-making, I have made my personal views on the subject clear and will do so again when appropriate occasions arise.

  Tourist Industry (Crime)
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the effect of a rise in the crime rate on the tourist industry. [128814]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  The vast majority of tourists to Britain have a safe and enjoyable visit. Misleading comparisons of crime in Britain with that in the United States are of course unhelpful; but we expect to welcome many overseas visitors to Britain this year, four million of whom are expected to come from the United States alone. The Government are, of course, determined to tackle violent crime and are providing resources to address the issue.

  United Kingdom Sports Institute
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many contracts have been let by the United Kingdom Sports Institute; for what purposes; and if he will make a statement. [128812]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  My Department has asked both Sport England and UK Sport to provide the information requested, and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as it is available, placing copies of my letter in the Library of the House.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Benefits (Foreign Countries)
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the foreign countries where people claiming social security benefits currently reside; and how many customers of his Department reside in each such country. [127351]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 22 June 2000]: Such information as is available has been placed in Library.

  Child Support
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 22 June 2000,Official Report, column 256W, on child support, if the new criminal offences for providing false information will apply retrospectively; and if he will make a statement. [128153]
  14W
  Angela Eagle
  It would not be appropriate under the terms of the European Convention on Human Rights for such provisions to have retrospective effect, allowing prosecution for an act or omission which was not a criminal offence at the time it was committed.

  Ancillary Employees
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the latest position regarding the payment of Jobseeker's Allowances to school ancillary employees during the school holidays. [128293]

  Angela Eagle
  The current legal position, confirmed by the Court of Appeal in October 1999, is that ancillary workers with an on-going contract of employment, who are not entitled to Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) or Income Support (IS) during term-time because of the hours they work, are also not entitled to JSA or IS during the school holidays. We understand that leave to appeal to the House of Lords against the Court of Appeal decision was granted on 11 April.

  Where any doubts exist over entitlement to JSA or Income Support, school ancillary workers may make a claim, which will be decided on an individual basis. School ancillary workers with low incomes may still claim in-work benefits such as Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. Those with children may also be eligible for the Working Families Tax Credit.

  Winter Fuel Payments
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects men aged between 60 and 64 years in the West Chelmsford Constituency to receive their Winter Fuel Allowance; and if he will make a statement on the delays in paying it to them. [128320]

  Angela Eagle
  Retrospective payments for previous years winter fuel payments started to be paid in the week commencing 26 June 2000 in line with our targets. The payments will be issued as claims are processed and are not defined into postcoded areas. Some customers in West Chelmsford may have already received their payment and the remainder will receive them over the coming months as claims are received and processed.

  Mr. John Ward
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will investigate the treatment by SEMA and by the Benefits Agency of Mr. John Ward, a constituent whose address has been supplied to him; and if he will make a statement. [124877]

  Mr. Bayley
  [holding answer 12 June 2000]: This matter has now been fully investigated. Due to the Data Protection Act 1998 I have written to my hon. Friend privately.

  State Pension
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 27 June 2000,Official Report, column 480W, on the state pension, if he will estimate the cost of Option (b), an increase of £5 in the rate of the basic state pension and the introduction of age additions of £5 for pensioners aged 75 to 79 and £10 for

  15W
  pensioners aged 80 years or over, on the basis that the age additions for those aged 75 to 79 or 80 years and over are paid in full, regardless of contribution record. [128605]

  Mr. Rooker
  The information is in the table.

  £ billion

  Gross

  Net of means-tested benefits and income tax

  2001–02

  4.6

  3.1

  2002–03

  4.7

  3.2

  2003–04

  4.7

  3.2

  2004–05

  4.8

  —

  2005–06

  4.8

  —

  Notes:

  1. Figures include the cost of benefits whose rates are linked to the rate of basic Retirement Pension.

  2. Figures are rounded to the nearest £0.1 billion and are in 2000–01 price terms.

  3. Gross costs estimated by the Government Actuary's Department. Costs net of income-related benefit savings are estimated using the Policy Simulation Model. Income tax revenues estimated by the Inland Revenue.

  4. Estimates of income tax revenues not available beyond 2003–04.

  5. Age related increase uprated in line with RPI, as in previous reply.

  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the annual cost would have been in respect of pensioners in Scotland if the level of the state pension for(a) single pensioners and (b) couples had been uprated in line with earnings from May 1997. [128064]

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

  Gross cost of uprating the basic state pension in line with earnings for pensioners in Scotland from April 1998

  £ million

  Gross cost

  1998–99

  20

  1999–2000

  70

  2000–01

  200

  Notes:

  1. Costs estimated by the Government Actuary's Department are in 2000–01 price terms. Estimates are rounded to the nearest £10 million.

  2. Costs include those benefits whose rates are linked to the rate of basic retirement pension.

  3. Assumed rates of earnings growth are based on the seasonally adjusted average earnings index for the three months to July of the previous year, as originally published.

  4. Separate estimates for singles and couples are not available.

  5. Costs net of means-tested benefit savings are not available.

  Staff Secondments
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 9 February 2000,Official Report, column 213W, concerning secondments, which of the secondees listed were appointed for a period of 12 months or less. [124820]

  Mr. Rooker
  [pursuant to his reply, 7 June 2000, c. 290W]: All four of the secondees listed were appointed for a period of 12 months or less.
  16W
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many staff were seconded from the private sector to his Department in(a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999 and (c) May 1999 to the latest date for which figures are available, stating in each case the companies from which staff have been seconded. [109293]

  Mr. Rooker
  [pursuant to his reply, 9 February 2000, c. 213W]: Secondments and attachments are part of the Interchange Initiative which promotes the exchange of people and good practice between the Civil Service and other organisations. All Sectors of the economy are involved: Voluntary, Education, Health, Public and Private. Interchange is a key component of the reform agenda. The Modernising Government White Paper committed us to increasing interchange, in particular by bringing in more people on secondment and sending more of our people out.

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

  Heating Fuel (VAT)
  Mr. Hurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what analysis he has made of the annual financial benefit in respect of pensioners resulting from the reduction of the rate of VAT on heating fuel; and if he will make a statement. [127586]

  Mr. Timms
  I have been asked to reply.

  Customs and Excise estimate that households in which the head is of State Pension Age and economically inactive will benefit on average by around £13 in 2000–01 due to the reduced rate of VAT on fuel and power.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Corruption and Bribery
  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 26 June 2000,Official Report, column 351W, on corruption and bribery, if he will list the number of cases in the last five years where the ECGD judged (a) the level of commission to be excessive and (b) the payment procedures unusual, indicating the companies concerned and the reasons why cover was refused. [128571]

  Mr. Caborn
  In the last five years there have been no cases where the levels of commission were deemed to be excessive or where there were unusual payment procedures.

  Our customers understand and abide by our procedures in this regard.

  Deer Management Qualifications Ltd.
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when his Department was informed that Deer Management Qualifications Ltd., Registration Number 3449049, was continuing to trade from a new registered office at Wrexham. [128568]

  Dr. Howells
  Deer Management Qualifications Ltd. has not informed Companies House of any change of address of their registered office, and remained at 381 Kingsway, Hove, East Sussex, the original address, until struck off and dissolved in September 1999.

  A representative of the former company subsequently wrote from Wrexham on 28 December 1999 claiming that the organisation of that name was still trading. Information on restoration was sent in January 2000, but no application for restoration has been received to date.

  In the interim, a new company, Deer Management Communications Ltd., Registration Number 4019145, has been incorporated.

  MCI WorldCom Sprint Merger
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations his Department has received regarding the proposed merger of MCI WorldCom and Sprint. [128493]

  Dr. Howells
  This case fell to the consideration of the EC competition authorities under the EC Merger Regulation (ECMR) and the Commission prohibited the proposed deal on 28 June.

  It is not our policy to disclose the identity or content of representations on cases so that interested parties may comment freely without any concern that their comments might then be disclosed.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations the Government have made to the European Commission regarding the MCI WorldCom Sprint merger. [128494]

  Dr. Howells
  This case fell to the consideration of the EC competition authorities under the EC Merger Regulation (ECMR) and the Commission prohibited the proposed deal on 28 June.

  Company names

  Grade

  Section

  1 May 1997–30 April 1998

  The Export Association

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  North Cape (Scotland) Ltd.

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  Bank of Ireland

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  Rover Group Ltd.

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  Reyrolle Projects Ltd.

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  Grant Thornton

  PR 7

  Small and Medium Enterprise Policy

  Drinks Marketing Consortium

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  European Gas Turbines-GEC Alstrom

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  Ericsson Ltd.

  PR 11

  Communication and Information Ind Dir

  Prince Associates

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  British Telecom plc

  SCS

  Communication and Information Ind Dir

  Littlejon Frazer

  PR 9

  Company Law and Investigations

  The Institute of Export

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  Arthur Andersen

  PR 8

  Insurance Directorate

  18W
  Member states have a formal role in the ECMR process. However, in order to protect the integrity of the ECMR process, member states do not disclose the line they took on individual cases.

  Malaysia
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will make a statement on the licensed production agreement between Pains Wessex (Schermuly) and SME Ordnance in Malaysia for the production of(a) low enforcement pyrotechnics, (b) CS irritant cartridges and (c) CS canisters; [128281]

  (2) if he will list the licensed production agreements between British and Malaysian defence companies. [128280]

  Dr. Howells
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Cynon Valley (Ann Clwyd) on 22 March 1999,Official Report, column 117W.

  However, I would also refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the then Under-Secretary of State for Small Firms, Trade and Industry, on 12 January 1999, Official Report, columns 149–50W. The response to the Committee, referred to in this answer, was published on 23 February 1999, HC270.

  Staff Secondments
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Harrogate and Knaresborough (Mr. Willis), of 11 February 2000,Official Report, column 313W, on secondments, if he will give the names, grades and job titles of the staff seconded into his Department from each organisation mentioned, stating in each case the name of the section they were seconded to and a summary of the work that they were involved with. [128244]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 29 June 2000]: Giving the information in the format as set out in my answer of 11 February, details of the DTI grades of the posts filled and the Directorate in which the secondees were placed are given in the table.

  For data protection and privacy reasons it is not possible to give names of individuals.

  The Department has a long-standing programme of interchange with the private sector to promote the exchange of people and good practice between the Civil Service and other organisations. Before a secondment can occur, all parties must be satisfied that no conflict of interest arises.
  19W

  Company names

  Grade

  Section

  Deloitte and Touche

  PR 10

  Regional Assistance

  NHS Supplies

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  British Nuclear Fuels plc

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  Herbert Smith

  PR 10

  Consumer Affair Competition Policy

  Mobil

  PR 10

  Oil and Gas

  Hyder plc

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  EPSRC

  PR 7

  Chemicals and Biotechnology

  PricewaterhouseCoopers

  PR 9

  Company Law and Investigations

  ERTL Europe Ltd.

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  British Telecom plc

  PR 10

  Invest in Britain Bureau

  BT International Business

  PR 10

  Invest in Britain Bureau

  Nuclear Electric plc

  PR 10

  Nuclear Industries Directorate

  Frank Roberts and Sons Ltd.

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  Barclays Bank plc

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  Silver Altman

  PR 9

  Company Law and Investigations

  Guinness Brewing Worldwide Ltd.

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  PricewaterhouseCoopers

  PR 10

  Insurance Directorate

  Anglian Water International UK

  PR 10

  Infrastructure and Energy Projects

  Hambros Bank Ltd.

  SCS

  Regional Assistance

  General Accident/CGU Insurance

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  Beaumont Colson Ltd.

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  AWE plc

  PR 10

  Nuclear Industries Directorate

  Epinet Communications plc

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  Matra Marconi Space

  PR 10

  British National Space Centre

  Barclays Bank plc

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  PricewaterhouseCoopers

  PR 10

  Regional Assistance

  Reuters Ltd.

  PR 10

  Communication and Information Ind Dir

  Lee and Allen Consulting plc

  PR 9

  Company Law and Investigations

  CERN

  SCS

  Simpler Trade Procedures

  HSBC Holdings plc

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  University of Greenwich

  PR 10

  Low Pay

  Toyoboshi UK Ltd.

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  Institute of Exports

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  Westcountry Development Corporation

  PR 10

  Government Office South West

  Hydro Technologies Ltd.

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  Crown Agents Overseas Government and Administration

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  ICI Chemicals and Polymers Ltd.

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  Cable and Wireless plc

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  GEC Marconi Avionics Ltd.

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  Cookstown Enterprise Centre Ltd.

  PR 11

  Export Promotion

  Sonic Communications

  PR 11

  Export Promotion

  Unipart International

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  Natural Animal Feeds Ltd.

  PR 11

  Export Promotion

  Russo-British Chamber of Commerce

  PR 11

  Export Promotion

  Eschmann Bros and Walsh Ltd.

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  Arthur Andersen

  PR 10

  Invest in Britain Bureau

  The Hosiery Manufacturing Co. Ltd.

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  Delamore Associates Ltd.

  PR 11

  Export Promotion

  Lockstair Ltd.

  PR 10

  Engineering Industries Directorate

  1 May 1998–30 April 1999

  The British Petroleum Company plc

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  British-Israel Chamber of Commerce

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  Matheson and Co Ltd.

  PR 11

  Export Promotion

  Lloyds TSB Group plc

  PR 10

  Small and Medium Enterprise Policy

  The Hosiery Manufacturing Co. Ltd.

  PR 11

  Export Promotion

  The British Petroleum Company plc

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  ICL

  PR 10

  Communication and Information Ind Dir

  East European Trade Council

  PR 11

  Export Promotion

  British Aerospace plc

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  British Telecom plc

  PR 10

  Invest in Britain Bureau

  British Marine Equipment Council Ltd.

  PR 11

  Export Promotion

  E A Technology Ltd.

  PR 11

  Export Promotion

  AEA Technology

  PR 10

  Office of Science and Technology

  Slaughter and May

  PR 7

  Communication and Information Ind Dir

  Glaxo Wellcome Research and Development

  PR 10

  Office of Science and Technology

  Knight Piesold Ltd.

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  AEA Technology plc

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  Knight Piesold Ltd.

  PR 11

  Export Promotion

  EPSRC

  PR 7

  Chemicals and Biotechnology

  PWR (Electrical Services) Ltd.

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  British Nuclear Fuels plc

  PR 10

  Nuclear Industries Directorate

  Hewlett-Packard Ltd.

  SCS

  Office of Science and Technology

  East Europe Trade Council

  PR 11

  Export Promotion

  20W 21W

  Company names

  Grade

  Section

  Enterprise Ayrshire

  PR 10

  Infrastructure and Energy Projects

  British Telecom

  PR 7

  Communication and Information Ind Dir

  Herbert Smith

  PR 10

  Utilities Review Team

  British Consulate General Osaka

  PR 10

  Invest in Britain Bureau

  Polish Social and Cultural Association Ltd.

  PR 11

  Export Promotion

  Moody Cashmere Ltd.

  PR 11

  Export Promotion

  Abercairn of Scotland Ltd.

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  Grant Thornton

  PR 9

  Small and Medium Enterprise Policy

  Financial Service Authority

  PR 6

  Insurance Directorate

  GK Communications Group Ltd.

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  AEA Technology plc

  PR 10

  Office of Science and Technology

  British American Tobacco Company

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  Aspen Waite Chartered Accountants

  PR 11

  Export Promotion

  ICI Group

  PR 9

  Office of Science and Technology

  Masters International (UK) Ltd.

  PR 11

  Export Promotion

  GKN Westland Helicopters

  PR 10

  Engineering Industries Directorate

  Gardenex

  PR 11

  Export Promotion

  British Aerospace Aviation

  PR 10

  Infrastructure and Energy Projects

  Trade Development Ltd.

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  ACO Technologies plc

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  Independent Power Corporation plc

  PR 11

  Export Promotion

  Freeman Rich Chartered Accountants

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  SMMT Ltd.

  PR 11

  Export Promotion

  Ernst and Young Services Ltd.

  PR 10

  Regional Assistance

  Reuters Ltd.

  PR 10

  Communication and Information Ind Dir

  Elizabeth Emanuel Enterprises Ltd.

  PR 10

  European Policy

  East European Trade Council

  PR 11

  Export Promotion

  Simmons and Simmons

  PR 6

  Communication and Information Ind Dir

  ICL

  PR 10

  Futures Unit

  Oracle Corporation UK Ltd.

  SCS

  Communication and Information Ind Dir

  Brown and Root AOC

  PR 11

  Infrastructure and Energy Projects

  LGC Ltd.

  PR 8

  Chemicals and Biotechnology

  1 May 1999–8 February 2000

  Rover Group Ltd.

  SCS

  Export Promotion

  Moy Park Ltd.

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  Robson Rhodes

  PR 10

  Regional Assistance

  The Building Centre Ltd.

  PR 11

  Export Promotion

  Newbrook Engineering Co. Ltd.

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  Medical Research Council

  PR 6

  Ministerial Parliamentary Support

  Mott MacDonald Group Ltd.

  PR 11

  Export Promotion

  Darwin Instruments Ltd.

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  MacAlister Elliott and Partners Ltd.

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  The Beaver Housing Society Ltd.

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  GKN plc

  PR 11

  Export Promotion

  William Santus and Co. Ltd.

  PR 11

  Export Promotion

  The Wellcome Trust

  PR 7

  Office of Science and Technology

  Knight Peisold Ltd.

  PR 11

  Export Promotion

  PricewaterhouseCoopers

  PR 9

  Company Law and Investigations

  The Export Association

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  Proactive Associates Ltd.

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  British Telecom

  PR 7

  Communication and Information Ind Dir

  Reuters Ltd.

  PR 10

  Joint Export Promotion

  West India Committee

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  David Stanley Associates Ltd.

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  Mivan Ltd.

  PR 11

  Export Promotion

  Natwest Group

  SCS

  Regional Policy

  Shaw Trust Ltd.

  PR 11

  Export Promotion

  British Telecom

  PR 10

  Invest in Britain Bureau

  AstraZeneca

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  British Nuclear Fuels plc

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  Black Isle Consultants Ltd.

  PR 11

  Export Promotion

  Unipath Ltd.

  PR 8

  Office of Science and Technology

  The Symphony Group plc

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  Binnie Black and Veatch Ltd.

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  John Laing International Ltd.

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  Simmons and Simmons

  PR 6

  Communication and Information Ind Dir

  Shell UK Exploration and Production

  PR 10

  Oil and Gas

  AstraZeneca

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  Grant Thornton

  PR 10

  Small and Medium Enterprise Policy

  ONE North East

  PR 6

  Invest in Britain Bureau

  BHP Petroleum Ltd.

  PR 10

  Futures Unit

  Phoenix Timber Group plc

  PR 11

  Export Promotion

  Biwater International Ltd.

  PR 11

  Export Promotion

  22W 23W

  Company names

  Grade

  Section

  Gardenex

  PR 11

  Export Promotion

  Linklaters and Alliance

  PR 10

  Competition Policy

  Middle East Association

  PR 10

  Export Promotion

  Science Systems (Space) Ltd.

  PR 10

  British National Space Centre

  Trades Union Congress

  PR 11

  Employment Relations

  KCA Drilling Ltd.

  PR 8

  Oil and Gas

  Imperial Chemical Industries Plc

  PR 10

  Chemicals and Biotechnology

  Wind Energy
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assistance his Department is giving to support offshore wind generator research, development and manufacturing; and if he will make a statement. [128145]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Government recognise the potential of the offshore wind energy industry both in the UK and internationally. Accordingly, offshore wind energy is a priority area within my Department's research and development programme for new and renewable energy.

  The programme has so far committed £790,000 in two projects. One will monitor and evaluate the installation and performance of the UK's first offshore installation of two 2 MW turbines being installed off Blyth Harbour this summer. The other is supporting the development of a new rotor hub, aimed at the offshore market, being assembled in the UK using UK components. In addition, the programme also has several high-value research proposals currently under consideration to develop and evaluate installation systems and techniques for offshore wind farms with prospects for reducing costs.

  A further aim of our programme is to establish the environmental effects of offshore wind farms. A project providing an initial assessment of all the potential effects has been completed and is being followed up by scoping studies focusing on the effects on sea wild life, birds and coastal processes such as erosion and deposition.

  The Government are also considering the scope for additional support for offshore wind in the context of the new renewables obligation.

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the potential contribution of offshore wind energy to electricity production; and if he will make a statement. [128146]

  Mrs. Liddell
  An analysis of the potential contribution of offshore wind energy and other renewable energy technologies was produced for my Department in March 1999 by the Energy Technical Support Unit (ETSU) and formed the Supporting Analysis to the Consultation Document on Renewable Energy then published. A copy of the Supporting Analysis is in the Library of the House.

  The UK's wind resources are potentially much greater offshore than onshore. They are limited only by practicable working water depths, the use of maritime areas for other activities, and the costs of achieving linkage with the onshore electrical network. Moving from onshore to offshore need not require major changes in the technology, but additional technical problems arise because of the more hostile environment. Offshore installations could increase the contribution from wind power substantially.

  Hyperlinking
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what interest the Government hold in a patent on hyperlinking; and if he will make a statement. [128322]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government hold no interest in any patents on hyperlinks.

  Magnox Fuel
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the technical papers on the dry storage of previously wet stored magnox fuel that he has commissioned; and if he will place copies of all such papers in the Library. [127962]

  Mrs. Liddell
  My Department has commissioned no such technical papers. Government policy is that the owners of spent fuel are responsible for its management subject to meeting regulatory requirements.

  Export Credit Guarantees
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate the net savings to the Exchequer in each of the next 10 years from restricting export credit guarantees to non-military exports; and if he will make a statement. [127502]

  Mr. Caborn
  [holding answer 27 June 2000]: If the hon. Gentleman's question is intended to ascertain the effect of a general restriction on export credit guarantees to non-military exports, the answer is that I do not envisage any net savings given that ECGD supported business caught by it would have been priced and managed with a view to at least breaking even. Additionally, while such a restriction would tend to reduce ECGD's exposure to interest make-up risk, it cannot be predicted at the outset whether this would generate net savings or expenditure for the Exchequer.

  Indeed there would be a cost to the Exchequer from such a general restriction arising not only from forgone tax revenues which would arise otherwise from business thwarted by the restriction but also from any consequent reduction in employment.

  If however the question is intended simply to elucidate the effect of the Chancellor's announcement of 11 January, extending the UK's unilateral ban on export credits in respect of "unproductive expenditure" to include a further 22 countries, then assuming recent trading patterns continue I would not envisage any costs or savings to the Exchequer given that, from information readily available, the £775 million business with these countries supported by ECGD guarantees over the last five years falls within the productive expenditure criteria against which future export credit business will be assessed.

  Electricity Consumers Committees
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the future of the regional electricity consumers committees. [128024]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The new Gas and Electricity Consumers Council (GECC), being established under the Utilities Bill, will replace the Gas Consumers Council and the electricity consumers committees. An announcement was made in both Houses on 23 June on GECC's future organisation. It will have a head office based in London, an office in Glasgow serving Scotland, one in Cardiff serving Wales and further offices in Manchester, Birmingham, London, Newcastle and Bournemouth serving England.

  Engineering
  Jane Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which organisations were represented at the meeting on 23 May to discuss the work of the Hawley Review Group; and what was the outcome of the meeting. [127736]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  [pursuant to the reply, 27 June 2000, c. 456W]: Unfortunately the list of organisations shown in the answer was incomplete. Following is the full list:

  AEA Technology

  BAE Systems

  BioIndustry Association

  British Computer Society

  Committee of Vice-Chancellors & Principals of the Universities of the UK

  Department for Education and Employment

  Department of Trade and Industry

  Engineering and Marine Training Authority

  Engineering Council

  Engineering Employers' Federation

  Federation of Electronics Industries

  Forum for the Future

  Institution of Chemical Engineers

  Institution of Civil Engineers

  Institution of Electrical Engineers

  Institution of Incorporated Engineers

  Institution of Mechanical Engineers

  Marconi plc

  Nortel Networks

  Rolls-Royce plc

  Royal Academy of Engineering

  Scottish Executive

  Transport & General.

  After discussing a report from the Chairman of the Engineering Council, Dr. Robert Hawley, those present expressed their support for the work to date of the Hawley Group and confirmed their support for the future direction of the project.

PRIME MINISTER

  New Deal
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answers of 7 June 2000,Official Report, column 288, and 14 June 2000, Official Report, column 934, if he will reconcile the figures given in the two answers for the number of jobs created under the New Deal; and if he will make a statement. [127588]

  The Prime Minister
  Over 250,000 people have found jobs as a result of the New Deal, 210,000 of whom have been young people.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Prime Minister how many parliamentary questions were tabled to his Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April which requested information, pursuant to his previous answers. [128009]

  The Prime Minister
  Of the 454 written answers I provided within the specified period, 41 were in answer to questions pursuant to previous answers.

SCOTLAND

  Tall Ships Race
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the economic impact of the Tall Ships Race in Scotland. [127714]

  Dr. Reid
  I understand that Inverclyde Council and Renfrewshire Enterprise commissioned an economic impact evaluation of the visit of the Cutty Sark Tall Ships Race to Greenock in summer 1999. This showed that new expenditure of £8.5 million was generated in the Inverclyde Council area. It was estimated that this level of expenditure would support a notional 248 jobs for one year in Inverclyde.

  Assisted Areas
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he has received from(a) hon. Members, (b) MSPs, (c) local councils and (d) local enterprise companies in connection with the definition of assisted area status submitted to the Commission on 10 April. [128561]

  Dr. Reid
  I have received the following representations in connection with the definition of assisted area status submitted to the Commission on 10 April:

  (a) 12 from hon. Members (six of these hon. Members are also MSPs but they have not been included in the number at (b))

  (b) Eight from MSPs

  (c) 19 from local councils

  (d) Five from local enterprise companies.

  Skye Bridge
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of tolls paid at the Skye Bridge tollbooth, after discounts, goes towards paying back the money owed on the project. [128286]
  27W
  Dr. Reid
  Responsibility for tolls paid on the Skye Bridge is a matter for the Scottish Executive.

  Fisheries
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the number of angler-caught(a) salmon, (b) grilse and (c) sea trout caught in Scotland in each of the last five years; and what is his estimate of the number of each of these three categories of fish taken by seals in Scottish waters in each of these years. [128854]

  Dr. Reid
  Information on catches up to 1998, the latest year for which statistics have been published, are contained in the Statistical Bulletin, Fisheries Series published by the Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department. A copy is available in the House of Commons Library. Information on the number of salmon, grilse and sea trout taken by seals is not available.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Robert Hamill
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the decision of the Greater Belfast Coroner not to hold an inquest into the murder of Robert Hamill. [127719]

  Mr. Ingram
  The decision of whether or not an inquest is held is entirely a matter for HM Coroner.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I are concerned that an inquest will not be held in Mr. Hamill's case and have asked for all the facts to be made available to us.

  Fisheries
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the number of(a) salmon, (b) grilse and (c) sea trout caught by anglers in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and what is his estimate of the number of each of these three categories of fish taken by seals in Northern Ireland waters in each of these years. [128853]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Responsibility for this subject has been devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly and is therefore no longer a matter for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

HEALTH

  Influenza
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many influenza vaccinations were given in the run-up to the winter of(a) 1998–99 and (b) 1999–2000; what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the flu vaccination programme in each of these periods; and what assessment he has made of the incidence of flu in the (i) immunised and (ii) non-immunised groups in each of those periods. [127302]
  28W
  Yvette Cooper
  Manufacturers' data show that 7.6 million doses of influenza vaccine were distributed for winter 1998–99 and 7.8 million for 1999–2000.

  Data on the incidence of flu in immunised and non-immunised groups are not routinely collected. Efficacy data are based on published studies, some of which have spanned several years, showing that current available influenza vaccine gives 70–80 per cent. protection against infection with influenza virus strains related to those in the vaccine. In the elderly, protection against infection may be less, but immunisation has been shown to reduce the incidence of pneumonia, hospital admissions and deaths.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the total NHS trust extra contractual referrals for 1997–98(a) from GP fundholding practices and (b) from health authorities, excluding GP fundholding practices; [124380]

  (2) if he will publish, for each trust completing table 1 on pages 17 to 19 of "The New NHS Guidance on Out of Area Treatment Consultation Paper", the total trust adjustment for columns B, C and D. [124379]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 5 June 2000]: The consultation on "The New NHS: Guidance on Out of Area Treatment Consultation Paper" took place between May and July 1998. In the light of this the information requirements for the out-of-area treatment (OAT) data collection exercise were modified.

  The exercise to establish the 1999–2000 OAT adjustments was led by National Health Service trusts. It was carried out in two stages.

  At stage 1, NHS trusts identified their 1997–98 extra contractual referral (ECR) income from health authorities and cost per case income from general practitioner fundholders. They then reduced these amounts to take account of activity that had already been put into contracts or service agreements. The data were validated by health authorities and submitted to regional offices. These data are shown in columns A and B of the table that has been placed in the Library.

  At stage 2, the amounts established at stage 1 were analysed by NHS trusts. In agreement with health authorities the amounts were further reduced to take account of the activity which would be covered by new or expanded service agreements in 1999–2000. The amounts not covered by service agreements formed the base for the 1999–2000 OAT adjustment. This is shown in column C of the table. These figures, uplifted by 8.5 per cent., comprise the 1999–2000 OATs adjustment.

  The information collected to establish the 1999–2000 OAT adjustment was provided by NHS trusts. The figures were derived from NHS trust ECRs but do not represent the totality of NHS trust ECRs.

  The amounts in column C of table 1 formed the basis of the OAT adjustments made to health authorities.
  29W
  Table 2, a copy of which has been placed in the Library, shows NHS trusts' 1997–98 forecast ECR and cost per case income. This information was collected as part of the in-year financial monitoring returns.

  The figures in tables 1 and 2 are not comparable.

  TV Advertisements
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 26 June 2000,Official Report, column 356W, on television advertisements, if he will list the advertisements which were not provided with closed caption subtitling. [128518]

  Ms Stuart
  Further to the answer given on 26 June, I regret the information given the hon. Member was incorrect and the total number provided with closed caption subtitling was 32.

  The three advertisements commissioned without closed caption subtitling were:

  Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)

  Nurse Recruitment 2000—"Joe" (60 seconds version)

  Nurse Recruitment 2000—"Joe" (30 seconds version).

  Meat Inspection Charges Task Force
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish his response to the report of the Meat Inspection Charges Task Force. [R] [128735]

  Ms Stuart
  We are grateful to the Task Force and its chairman for the thorough and comprehensive investigation they have carried out into this complex issue. We are now urgently considering the Task Force's recommendations and will announce its conclusions once that consideration is complete.

  Health Action Zones
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what role health action zones will play in addressing the decline in children's activity levels and the increase in the number of overweight children; and if he will make a statement. [128385]

  Mr. Hutton
  All health action zones are working towards the key aims of reducing health inequalities and modernising services in the most deprived parts of England. HAZ programmes include a number of projects that focus on exercise and diet for children.

  Care Leavers
  Ms Julie Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children have left local authority care since the implementation of the Children Act 1989 in(a) England and (b) Wales. [128776]

  Mr. Hutton
  The estimated number of children who have ceased to be looked after in England between the implementation of the Children Act 1989 (14 October 1991) and 31 March 1999 is 190,000.

  The provision of data for Wales is a matter for the Welsh Assembly.
  30W
  Ms Julie Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the average size of the grant made by local authorities to care leavers going into(a) further education and (b) higher education; [128775]

  (2) how many young people who were in local authority care have been awarded a university degree during the past year in England and during the previous two years in (a) England and (b) Wales. [128777]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information relating to England is not available centrally.

  The information relating to Wales is a matter for the devolved Administration.

  Hospitals (Adverse Incident Report)
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent advice he has issued to hospitals on the circumstances in which they must produce an adverse incident report. [128479]

  Ms Stuart
  In November 1999, the Minister of State for Health, my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Denham), launched a series of standards underpinning the National Health Service Executive's "controls assurance" project. One of the standards outlines a number of key components of an effective system of risk management that all NHS hospitals must subscribe to, including incident reporting. A key criterion contained in the "risk management system" standard requires NHS hospitals to ensure that Incidents, including ill health, are systematically identified, recorded and reported to management in accordance with an agreed policy of positive, non-punitive reporting.
  Guidance supporting this criterion elaborates on certain circumstances requiring an adverse incident to be reported, and to whom. Further specific guidance is planned based around a more comprehensive "incident recording and reporting" standard which is currently being developed by the NHS Executive to augment the guidance contained in the Controls Assurance risk management system standard, and to underpin incident reporting requirements forming part of a new national incident reporting system planned in response to the Chief Medical Officer's recently issued report "An Organisation with a Memory".

  GM Foods
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes has given to research into the long-term effects on human health of eating GM foods. [128294]

  Ms Stuart
  The Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP) has considered the practicality of post-market health surveillance for all novel foods, including genetically modified foods. Based on their advice, a feasibility study is due to start in July to test the robustness of data collection procedures. The results of this study will then be assessed by the ACNFP.

  MS Patients
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for nurses to be employed by health authorities specifically to advise and help MS patients. [128773]
  31W
  Mr. Denham
  It is for individual National Health Service trusts and health authorities to determine the number, grade and mix of staff they will require to deliver services.

  A partnership arrangement between The Multiple Sclerosis Society and the NHS has been set up to contribute to the development of MS specialist nurses. The funding arrangements include a formal evaluation of the nurses' roles that are being developed through this interesting partnership arrangement. There are currently around 70 of these specialist nurses. The further development of specialist nursing posts, however, is a matter for NHS commissioners and providers to determine as an integral part of neurological services.

  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if UK trials to validate myelin as a drug for MS patients have begun; and if he will make a statement. [128321]

  Ms Stuart
  No clinical trials have been authorised in the United Kingdom.

  Cannabis
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects Government research into the use of cannabis for medical purposes to be completed; and if he will make a statement. [128765]

  Mr. Denham
  There are currently two trials underway. The first, a three-year study to attempt to measure the therapeutic efforts of cannabis extract in people with multiple sclerosis, is due to report early in 2004. This study has received £950,000 from the Medical Research Council.

  The second trial is being managed by GW Pharmaceuticals Ltd. with the aim of developing a cannabis-based medicine. Initial findings from this trial are expected later this year.

  Electronically Powered Wheelchairs
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent guidance he has given to(a) health authorities and (b) NHS trusts regarding the provision of electronically powered wheelchairs. [128713]

  Mr. Hutton
  Comprehensive guidance on the introduction of electrically powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs (with phased funding between 1996–97/1999–2000) was issued to the National Health Service in May 1996 (Health Service Guidance (96)34).

  On 31 May this year, all health authorities were notified of their recurring allocations from 1 April 2000 for the continuation of the powered wheelchair and voucher scheme initiatives. This letter advised health authorities of our decision that allocations should:
  be free of distinctions between what should be spent on powered wheelchairs or vouchers schemes, and that health authorities and provider services should consult with service users and take a flexible approach to ensuring this money meets local needs and priorities in wheelchair services, and
  that all services should continue to operate a voucher scheme which offers users a choice in having a wheelchair which meets their needs.

  Bovine Materials
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date the Committee on Dental Surgical Materials required that no materials containing United Kingdom bovine material be used. [111895]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 1 March 2000]: The Committee on Dental and Surgical Materials (CDSM) did not impose a ban on the use of bovine materials in the production of surgical materials. Licensable dental and surgical materials were subject to the guidelines on the sourcing and processing of bovine materials for use in medicinal products that were issued by the Committee on Safety of Medicines as a precautionary measure in March 1989. The effect of the guidelines was to require all United Kingdom licence holders to source bovine material from outside the UK. Existing supplies of dental or surgical products that used UK sourced bovine materials were not withdrawn and it is therefore not possible to confirm when those products ceased to be used.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department made of the risk of transmission of BSE from the use of bovine material in(a) surgical catgut and (b) cosmetic products in deciding whether or not to prohibit the use of such material. [111896]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 1 March 2000]: The use of bovine material in the production of surgical catgut was considered by the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM), the Committee on Dental and Surgical Materials (CDSM) and the bovine spongiform encephalopathy working party, set up to advise the CSM and CDSM on the implications of BSE for licensable products in the light of the Southwood Report conclusion that any potential risk of transmission of transferable spongiform encephalopathies associated with medicinal products was remote. They advised that, as a precautionary measure, surgical catgut should be subject to the CSM guidelines issued in March 1989 on the sourcing and processing of bovine material for use in medicinal products. The effect of the guidelines was to require all United Kingdom licence holders to source bovine material from outside the UK.

  Cosmetic products are controlled by the Cosmetic Products (Safety) Regulations 1996, which implement in the UK the European Union Cosmetics Directive (76/768/EEC). The Department of Trade and Industry has responsibility for these Regulations.

  No independent risk assessments were carried out on use of bovine material in cosmetics prior to the opinion of the EU Scientific Committee on Cosmetology (SCC) given in 1996. However, in 1990 the Department of Trade and Industry considered that, although risks were likely to be very low, it would be prudent to take similar action to that taken in the food area on use of UK sourced bovine material. In 1992 guidance was issued by the UK trade associations on the use of bovine and ovine extracts, based primarily on sourcing material from outside the UK or with extracts that conformed with World Health Organisation advice on infectivity.

  The National CJD Surveillance Unit monitors the incidence of CJD and undertakes a detailed examination of cases of variant CJD (vCJD) for any evidence of

  33W
  common risk factors. Investigation of the cases to date has found no evidence of an association with the use of surgical catgut or cosmetic products.

  Vaccines
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many yellow card reports have been received by the Medicines Control Agency of suspected adverse reactions to each routine vaccine in each year since 1990. [122910]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 19 May 2000]: The yellow card reports to the Medicines Control Agency of suspected adverse reactions to a routine vaccine are

  Number of reports by year

  Vaccine

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  Measles

  504

  249

  183

  131

  1,289

  245

  148

  214

  155

  96

  52

  Rubella

  504

  255

  475

  140

  1,291

  248

  156

  216

  160

  237

  52

  Mumps

  493

  247

  183

  131

  140

  133

  142

  211

  155

  96

  52

  Diphtheria

  311

  312

  357

  487

  453

  417

  545

  431

  500

  699

  148

  Tetanus

  522

  434

  475

  564

  567

  465

  595

  475

  545

  733

  117

  Whooping cough

  246

  199

  231

  343

  301

  209

  298

  250

  237

  595

  75

  Polio

  13

  43

  100

  124

  99

  83

  91

  92

  131

  111

  45

  BCG

  246

  27

  30

  33

  29

  63

  91

  40

  38

  47

  3

  Haemophilus influenzae type B

  0

  0

  543

  1,132

  293

  125

  217

  226

  187

  339

  72

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if vaccines are produced using human serum for individuals who would suffer an allergic reaction to the presence of bovine material in the vaccine. [124087]

  Yvette Cooper
  No. No bovine material is used as an ingredient in vaccines. Where bovine material is used in manufacture, purification processes are designed to remove material from the finished product.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 23 May 2000,Official Report, column 424W, on human vaccines, what was the first date of the use of bovine material in the early stages of the manufacture of vaccines. [124372]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 5 June 2000]: Vaccines were in use many years before there were controls on safety, quality and efficacy of medicinal products as introduced by the Medicines Act 1968 and have traditionally used bovine materials in their production since the 19th century.

  Since 1968 there have been increasing controls on the manufacture of medicines, including vaccines, such that today we require manufacturers to supply very detailed information about materials and processes used in manufacture and we have a well-developed system of routine inspection against those standards.

  As a result it is not possible to specify the first date of the use of bovine material in the early stages of vaccine manufacture.

  Donaldson Report
  Dr. Stoate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish the Donaldson report on amending the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990; and if he will make a statement. [124083]
  34W
  presented in the table. A report of a particular suspected reaction does not necessarily mean that it was caused by the vaccine; other factors may have contributed.

  Because multiple antigens can be included within a single vaccine, such as the combined diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough vaccine, single reports may be listed more than once, against each different antigen involved. Children often receive more than one vaccine at a time and therefore a single report can be linked with all of those vaccines and similarly appear more than once in the list.

  Over 150 million doses of vaccines have been distributed in the United Kingdom in the last 10 years.

  Yvette Cooper
  The Chief Medical Officer's Expert Group on Therapeutic Cloning has completed its work on the potential benefits, risks and the ethical issues raised by developments in stem cell research and cell nuclear replacement. The report is expected to be considered by Ministers shortly.

  Pain Management
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he is taking to ensure that a full cost-benefit analysis, including financial savings accruing to all Government Departments is available to support Department of Health decisions about guidance on investment in pain management; [124327]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the budgetary benefits accruing to other Departments from NHS investment in pain management programmes. [124360]

  Mr. Denham
  The Department recognises the importance of improving pain services as highlighted by the recent Clinical Standards Advisory Group report. We have supported a number of studies on pain, particularly low back pain—a major cause of morbidity and absence from work. While we have not commissioned a specific analysis of the benefits accruing to other Government Departments from National Health Service investment in pain management, we would, where appropriate, make all studies commissioned by the Department available to other Government Departments to support their policies.

  Disease Cases
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of(a) measles, (b) mumps, (c) rubella, (d) diphtheria, (e) tetanus, (f) whooping cough and (g) polio there were in each of the last 10 years. [124211]
  35W
  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 5 June 2000]: The data in the table, which is for England and Wales, have been provided by the Public Health Laboratory Service, Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre. For measles, mumps and rubella, data are collected as both notifications of disease and as laboratory-confirmed cases. Laboratory-confirmed cases give a more reliable guide to the true incidence of a disease, and in recent years a low proportion of suspected cases of measles, mumps and rubella have been confirmed as true cases.

  Year

  Measles notified

  Measles tested

  Measles confirmed

  Mumps notified

  Mumps tested

  Mumps confirmed

  1989

  26,222

  n/a

  100

  20,713

  n/a

  265

  1990

  13,302

  n/a

  78

  4,277

  n/a

  94

  1991

  9,680

  n/a

  49

  2,922

  n/a

  52

  1992

  10,268

  n/a

  106

  2,412

  n/a

  49

  1993

  9,611

  n/a

  96

  2,153

  n/a

  34

  1994

  16,374

  n/a

  1406

  2,494

  n/a

  148

  1995

  7,445

  4,622

  160

  1,933

  962

  168

  1996

  5,613

  3,320

  1115

  1,747

  966

  194

  1997

  3,962

  2,596

  1199

  1,914

  1,102

  1181

  1998

  3,728

  2,309

  157

  1,587

  1,000

  1119

  1999

  2,438

  1,412

  1101

  1,691

  1,131

  1335

  Year

  Rubella notified

  Rubella tested

  Rubella confirmed

  Diphtheria

  Tetanus

  Whooping cough

  Poliomyelitis

  1989

  24,570

  n/a

  760

  6

  10

  11,646

  2

  1990

  11,491

  n/a

  705

  4

  11

  15,286

  4

  1991

  7,174

  n/a

  249

  1

  11

  5,201

  2

  1992

  6,212

  n/a

  197

  3

  10

  2,309

  5

  1993

  9,724

  n/a

  1,489

  5

  11

  4,091

  4

  1994

  6,326

  n/a

  309

  4

  3

  3,964

  2

  1995

  6,196

  2,847

  971

  1

  6

  1,869

  2

  1996

  9,081

  4,217

  2,776

  3

  6

  2,387

  1

  1997

  3,260

  2,032

  99

  5

  6

  2,989

  2

  1998

  3,208

  2,207

  1118

  3

  9

  1,577

  1

  1999

  1,954

  1,285

  1181

  0

  3

  1,139

  0

  1Includes cases confirmed by salivary antibody testing in addition to those confirmed by blood testing

  Note:

  The 1999 data are provisional

  Lung Cancer (Radon)
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of recent evidence on the correlation between rates of lung cancer and long-term exposure to radon gas. [126042]

  Yvette Cooper
  We obtain advice from the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) on matters of radiological protection. NRPB reviewed the evidence on the risks of exposure to radon in the 1993 "Board Statement on Diagnostic Medical Exposures to Ionising Radiation During Pregnancy and Estimates of Late Radiation Risks to the UK Population" (Documents of the NRPB Vol 4, No 4). Copies are available in the Library.

  The NRPB's Advisory Group on Ionising Radiation has recently started a new review which will be completed in about two years. Although some new evidence, including a case control study in South-West England—"Risk of lung cancer associated with residential radon exposure in
  36W
  Data prior to 1995 on how many notifications of measles, mumps and rubella were tested and confirmed are incomplete and are incomparable with that for 1995 onwards from which date more accessible salivary antibody testing was introduced. Prior to 1995 confirmation required a blood test; these data are not collated but it was likely to be few. The number of cases of pertussis (whooping cough) is based on notifications; only hospitalised cases are tested and the test is only positive in severe disease and very early in infection. The data for diphtheria are for laboratory-confirmed toxigenic diphtheria isolates. The figures for tetanus and polio are for cases ascertained by all methods.

  South West England: a case-control study" S.C. Darby et al British Journal of Cancer (1998), 78(3), 394–408 (copies are available in the Library)—has become available in the interim, the NRPB advise it is unlikely to alter the broad assessment of risk which is that living for a lifetime in a house at the United Kingdom action level for radon (200 Bequerels per cubic metre of air) carries a 3–5 per cent. risk of lung cancer.

  HIV/AIDS
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of HIV infection in 1995 was spread through(a) homosexual contact, (b) heterosexual contact, (c) drug use and (d) other specified means; and what are the most recent figures for transmission in these categories. [126830]

  Yvette Cooper
  The table provides the information requested, with the proportions expressed as percentages.
  37W

  1995

  19991

  Probable route of HIV infection

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  (a) Homosexual contact

  1,458

  56

  1,198

  42

  (b) Heterosexual contact

  844

  32

  1,277

  45

  (c) Injecting drug use

  180

  7

  91

  3

  (d) Other specified means

  79

  3

  57

  2

  Undetermined2

  55

  2

  224

  8

  1Data to end March 2000; proportions may change over time as more information is obtained.

  2Includes mother to child and blood/tissue transfer or blood factor.

  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on(a) drugs, (b) care, (c) other treatment and (d) research in relation to AIDS in (i) 1985, (ii) 1990 and (iii) 1999. [126828]

  Yvette Cooper
  Spending on HIV/AIDS research in each of the three years is given in the table (in £ millions). Information is not available for the other categories in the form requested. The table shows allocations for 1985–86 and 1990–91 for HIV/AIDS treatment and care made to the National Health Service (which includes drug costs), support to local authorities through the AIDS Support Grant (which will include a contribution towards community-based support) and grants made to voluntary organisations for support and counselling. Actual spend is shown for these budgets for 1999–2000.

  Year

  NHS

  Local authority

  Voluntary sector

  Research

  1985–86

  0

  0

  0.01

  0.667

  1990–91

  70.1

  7

  1.6

  18.4

  1999–2000

  162.9

  15.5

  1.6

  120.4

  1This is now the outturn figure rather than an estimate.

  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate how many of those with(a) AIDS and (b) HIV come from broken families. [126800]

  Yvette Cooper
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people with AIDS and HIV there were in the UK in(a) 1985, (b) 1990 and (c) 1999. [126748]

  Yvette Cooper
  The numbers of people alive with diagnosed HIV or AIDS at the end of 1985 and 1990 are estimated to have been about 4,500 and 14,000, respectively. Data are not yet available to answer this question for 1999, but for 1998 the estimated number is 20,000.

  Drug Addicts
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total cost of running drug dependency units and treatments for drug addicts broken down between(a) in-patient and (b) out-patient care, separately identifying the costs for (i) methadone prescribing and (ii) prevention schemes in (1) 1970, (2) 1980, (3) 1990 and (4) 1999. [126747]

  Yvette Cooper
  The requested information is not collected centrally. Data are available for methadone used in the treatment of substance dependence, covering prescriptions dispensed in the community only. The table shows the number of prescriptions, the actual net ingredient cost, and the net ingredient cost at 1999 prices 38W
  for the period 1980 to 1998, and the first nine months of 1999. Data before 1980 are not available and full data for 1999 are not yet available.

  The regional drug misuse databases are the main source of information on persons presenting to drug treatment services with a drug misuse problem. Copies of the six-monthly statistical bulletin are available in the statistics resource unit of the Library.

  Number and net ingredient cost of prescriptions dispensed in the community for methadone hydrochloride used in substance dependence, 1980–1998, and 1999 (January to September), England

  Prescriptions (Thousand)

  Net ingredient cost (£000)

  Net ingredient cost at 1999 prices (£000)

  1980

  17.3

  13.2

  31.7

  1981

  25.9

  28.5

  62.5

  1982

  24.6

  23.3

  47.8

  1983

  35.4

  40.7

  79.8

  1984

  38.5

  50.5

  94.0

  1985

  65.3

  117.7

  208.3

  1986

  112.0

  192.5

  330.4

  1987

  171.7

  363.0

  591.3

  1988

  196.5

  337.3

  514.6

  1989

  249.8

  471.1

  670.7

  1990

  341.2

  800.7

  1,057.3

  1991

  403.3

  1,912.3

  2,377.6

  1992

  495.0

  2,659.3

  3,200.5

  1993

  598.2

  3,626.2

  4,251.0

  1994

  682.4

  4,444.7

  5,137.0

  1995

  787.0

  5,328.0

  5,984.9

  1996

  891.0

  6,117.8

  6,657.7

  1997

  981.7

  6,852.3

  7,254.6

  1998

  1,022.8

  7,067.7

  7,244.4

  19991

  1,081.7

  7,360.1

  7,360.1

  1January to September

  Notes:

  1. The methadone hydrochloride drugs used in substance dependence are shown in the British National Formulary (BNF) section 4.10, "Drugs used in substance dependence".

  2. The data up to 1990 are not strictly consistent with data from 1991 onwards. Figures for 1980–90 are based on fees and on a sample of 1 in 200 prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors only. Figures for 1991 onwards are based on items and cover all prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists, appliance contractors, dispensing doctors and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered. The data do not cover drugs dispensed in hospital or private prescriptions.

  3. The net ingredient cost (NIC) is the basic cost of a drug and does not take account of discounts, dispensing costs, fees or prescription charges income.

  4. Figures at 1999 prices are calculated using the GDP Deflator.

  Genito-Urinary Services
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people visited a genito-urinary clinic in
  39W
  (a) 1970, (b) 1980, (c) 1990 and (d) 1999; and what was the cost of drugs prescribed to deal with sexually transmitted diseases in each of these years. [126798]

  Yvette Cooper
  The available information is as follows.

  Diagnoses1 of sexually transmitted diseases in genito-urinary medicine clinics in England

  Year

  Number of diagnoses

  1970

  251,256

  1980

  288,315

  1990

  308,211

  19982

  507,655

  1Provide an indication of patient numbers but individuals may have more than one diagnosis

  2Data for 1999 are not available yet

  Information on overall drugs expenditure to treat sexually transmitted diseases is not available.

  Sterilisation
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) sterilisations and (b) reversals of sterilisation were carried out by the NHS in (i) 1970, (ii) 1980, (iii) 1990 and (iv) 1999; how many were requested as a result of people getting married or acquiring new partners; and what the total cost to the NHS was in each of those years. [126838]

  Yvette Cooper
  The following table shows Hospital In-Patient figures for 1980, 1990–91 and 1998–99. Data are not available for 1970 and are not collected on reasons why procedures were performed.

  Information is also not available on the total costs to the NHS.

  Procedure

  19801

  1990–91

  1998–99

  Female sterilisation

  16,954

  44,904

  48,194

  Female sterilisation reversal

  6,831

  1,556

  699

  Male sterilisation

  651

  36,670

  35,609

  Male sterilisation reversal

  652

  1,745

  896

  11980 data were collected via the Hospital In-Patient Enquiry which was based on a one in 10 sample of discharges and deaths from non-Psychiatric and non-Maternity NHS Hospitals in England

  Royal Shrewsbury Hospital
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) hip operations, (b) knee replacements, (c) hernia operations and (d) cataract operations were carried out at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in the last available year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [126590]

  Yvette Cooper
  The table shows the information requested for the period 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000.

  Number of operations

  Hip operations

  80

  Knee replacements

  5

  Hernia operations

  717

  Cataract operations

  1,546

  Action is being taken specifically on both reducing waiting times for patients needing orthopaedic procedures
  40W
  and on improving services to them. We are also improving access to cataract services. In doing so, it will improve the volume of surgery and reduce waiting lists. A capital modernisation fund of £20 million over two years from 2000–01 will allow local services to modernise.

  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital have benefited from the two week wait for treatment for cancer; and if he will make a statement. [126591]

  Yvette Cooper
  The National Health Service White Paper sets a cancer standard of two weeks from general practitioner referral to first outpatient appointment. This arrangement has been in place since April 1999 for breast cancer and a rolling programme is in place to achieve the same standard of care for all cancers during 2000.

  The table shows the number of women seen at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital NHS Trust within two weeks of urgent referral for breast cancer since the standard was introduced.

  Waiting times for breast cancer treatment

  Q1 April to June 1999

  Q2 July to September 1999

  Q3 October to December 1999

  Q4 January to March 2000

  Urgent referrals received within 24 hours:

  Seen within 14 days

  1

  13

  28

  30

  Not seen within 14 days

  0

  0

  0

  8

  Urgent referrals not received within 24 hours:

  Seen within 14 days

  14

  11

  0

  3

  Not seen within 14 days

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Fluoride
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to monitor the levels of fluoride added to toothpaste, mouthwashes and dental floss by manufacturers of dental products; and if he will make a statement; [127234]

  (2) what powers are available to him to require manufacturers to include the fluoride contents of (a) toothpaste, (b) mouth washes and (c) dental floss on product labels. [127233]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Cosmetic Products (Safety) Regulations 1996 controls the safety of cosmetic products in the United Kingdom. Toothpaste and mouthwashes can be classified as oral hygiene products and are controlled under these regulations. Oral hygiene products containing fluoride can contain a maximum of 0.15 per cent. The product must also be marked "contains…fluoride". Regulations require all cosmetic products to be marked with a list of ingredients. Ingredients in concentrations of less than 1 per cent. may be listed in any order after those in concentrations of more than 1 per cent.

  Some toothpaste and mouthwashes containing fluoride are classified as medicinal products if claims are made for the products in accordance with the definition in section 130 of the Medicines Act 1968 and the relevant definition in Directive 65/65/EEC. Manufacturers of licensed medicines have a statutory obligation to list all the product's ingredients on the label and patient information

  41W
  leaflet. Active ingredients (those with therapeutic effect), including fluoride in toothpaste and mouthwashes, must be expressed in terms of their concentration.

  The General Product Safety Regulations 1994 apply to dental floss. Under these Regulations manufacturers must provide relevant information to enable consumers to use the product safely and to warn about hazards that are not immediately obvious.

  There is no evidence that these arrangements are causing public concern and we have no plans for any further monitoring of levels of fluoride added to toothpaste, mouthwashes or dental floss.

  Immunisation
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of children have received the BCG immunisation in(a) London, (b) Brent and Harrow Health Authority area and (c) England and Wales; and what target the Government have set for such immunisation. [127348]

  Yvette Cooper
  The information available about the number of children who have been immunised with BCG vaccine is contained in the Statistical Bulletin "NHS Immunisation Statistics, England 1998–99". Copies of the bulletin are in the Library and it can also be found on the Department of Health website www.doh.gov.uk/public/ab9928.htm. Because the immunisation programme is two-pronged, some are given the vaccine shortly after birth neo-natal and others at 10–14 years as long as they are tuberculin skin test negative, reliable estimates of coverage are not readily available. As a result targets are not set for BCG immunisation.

  Our BCG policy is that it should be offered first and foremost to all those considered to be at a higher risk of exposure to tuberculosis such as certain neo-nates and those whose occupation may put them at increased risk (eg. health service and veterinary staff). In addition the policy includes those classed at "normal" risk such as school children between the age of 10 and 14 years.

  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of children have been immunised against measles, mumps and rubella in(a) London, (b) Brent and Harrow Health Authority area and (c) England and Wales; and what target the Government have set for such immunisation. [127349]

  Yvette Cooper
  The information available about the percentage of children immunised against measles, mumps and rubella nationally and by health authority is contained in the Statistical Bulletin "NHS Immunisation Statistics, England: 1998–99", copies of which are available in the Library and can also be found on the Department of Health website www.doh.gov.uk/public/sb9928.htm. The target set for immunisation coverage is 95 per cent. for all vaccines by age two.

  Alcohol Misuse
  Mr. Bradshaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the timetable is for publication and implementation of the Government's national strategy on alcohol misuse. [127412]

  Yvette Cooper
  We plan to publish a consultation paper later this year, which will allow a period for comment, prior to the publication of the strategy.

  Huntington's Disease
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he is undertaking to recategorise Huntington's disease; and if he will make a statement; [127410]

  (2) what representations he has received (a) requesting that the present categorisation of Huntington's disease be reassessed and (b) opposing any recategorisation; [127409]

  (3) when Huntington's disease was declassified as a mental condition. [127411]

  Mr. Denham
  Huntington's disease is regarded as a neurological condition, although in its end stages it does lead to dementia. Patients need to receive care appropriate to the stage of the disease they have reached, and this may include management by nursing staff who have experience of treating patients with challenging behaviour.

  There are no plans to recategorise Huntington's disease at present, and no representations have been received by the Department asking for recategorisation.

  CFS/ME Working Group
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the work carried out to date by the CFS/ME Working Group. [127701]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Chief Medical Officer's Working Group on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) has just completed a year-long scoping exercise, which included a children's sounding board event held in October last year and an adult sounding board event held on 7 June 2000. These events were designed to gather patients' views of service. The Group will now begin to move into the second phase of work which will include a consensus-building exercise, to assist with the development of clinical guidance as well as the drafting of the final report.

  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to receive the final report of the CFS/ME Working Group. [127702]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Chief Medical Officer expects to receive and consider the final report from his working group on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis in 2001.

  Cancer Care
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the national standards for access to cancer care services; and if he will make a statement. [127656]

  Yvette Cooper
  We are determined to improve access to cancer care services and have set the standard that, by the end of the year 2000, patients referred urgently by their general practitioners will be seen by a specialist within 14 days. This standard has been in place for breast cancer since April 1999 and in the first year, 86,000 patients have benefited. We are rolling out this high standard of care for all other cancers so that by December 2000 all suspected cancer referred urgently for investigation will be seen by a specialist within two weeks.

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received with regard to Government policies which affect general practitioners in the NHS. [127717]

  Mr. Denham
  Ministers and officials regularly receive representations on a wide range of National Health Service matters, including those affecting general practitioners.

  We have, in addition, just undertaken the most comprehensive and ambitious consultation exercise in the history of the NHS in England. This has given every member of the general public and all NHS staff an opportunity to have their say on what they think would make the NHS better. Some of the responses have commented on or made suggestions about the role of general practitioners.

  Lindane
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received about the incidence of breast cancer associated with the use of Lindane. [127815]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Department has received a number of representations from hon. Members which have been noted. The Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment reviewed all the available published literature and recent research on the association between exposure to Lindane and breast cancer in 1999. The Committee concluded that Overall the available data do not suggest that environmental exposure to Lindane is a cause for concern as a risk factor for human breast cancer.

  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what(a) recent research and (b) evaluation of research his Department has undertaken into the possible health risks associated with the use of Lindane. [127818]

  Yvette Cooper
  None.

  The Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment reviewed all the available published literature and recent research on the association between environmental exposure to Lindane and breast cancer in 1999. The Committee concluded that
  Overall the available data do not suggest that environmental exposure to Lindane is a cause for concern as a risk factor for human breast cancer.

  Continence Services
  Dr. Naysmith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what procedures he has set in place to monitor whether targets for the implementation of the new guidelines for NHS continence services have been met; [127966]

  (2) what procedures and funding he has set in place for the NHS at the local level to provide support for national continence awareness campaigns. [127964]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Department issued "Good Practice guidance for continence services" in April. This guidance suggests that continence awareness activities should be initiated locally as part of the responsibilities of local 44W
  integrated continence services. The Department has no plans to provide further support for national continence awareness campaigns.

  The guidance also includes appropriate references to the National Health Service performance assessment framework, which is used by the NHS in its planning and monitoring of the delivery of services. The Department has no plans to develop separate procedures to monitor the implementation of the guidance on continence services.

  Antidepressants
  Dr. Naysmith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will issue a warning to doctors about the danger of suicidality in certain patients through the prescribing of Prozac and Sertraline; and if he will make a statement. [127960]

  Ms Stuart
  It is well known that suicidal ideation is associated with depression. Features of depression, including suicidal behaviour, can worsen after introduction of any antidepressant prior to its beneficial effects being apparent. The British National Formulary, issued to all general practitioners, pharmacists and other health professionals, advises that patients treated for depression should be assessed frequently for suicidal tendencies. The summaries of Product Characteristics (SPCs) for Prozac (fluoxetine) and Lustral (sertraline), in common with those for other antidepressants in the class, warn that the possibility of a suicide attempt may persist until significant remission of depression occurs and that patients should be closely supervised in the early stages of treatment.

  Child Deaths
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many children aged under 16 have died non-accidental deaths while receiving treatment from a paediatric toxicologist in each of the last five years. [128047]

  (2) how many children aged under 16 have died non-accidental deaths in each of the last five years while receiving treatment from (a) general practitioners and (b) paediatricians. [128048]

  Ms Stuart
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Surgical Instruments
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS operations in England have been cancelled in the last 12 months for which records are available due to delays in procuring surgical instruments; and if he will make a statement. [128021]

  Mr. Denham
  Quarterly reports of figures for all cancelled operations in England, which arise on the day a patient was due to come into hospital, or after they have been admitted, are available in the Library. We do not collect data on the reasons for the cancellation of operations but we have no information to suggest that delays in the procurement of surgical instruments have caused cancellations.

  Residential Homes
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that older people
  45W
  living in residential homes have sufficient opportunities for leisure and recreational activities; and if he will make a statement. [128144]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Care Standards Bill makes provision for a new independent regulator for care homes, as well as a range of other care services. The National Care Standards Commission will register and inspect care homes against national minimum standards. Statements of these standards will be developed which will be based upon the regulations made under clause 21 of the Bill. We intend to publish the finalised standards for care homes before the end of the summer, and we will be aiming to ensure that residents in care homes have their social, cultural, religious and recreational needs satisfied.

  PFI Hospitals
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average period is between completion of the Full Business Case and signing of the Final Contract for PFI hospitals; and what delays have been experienced in the delivery of services under those contracts. [128102]

  Mr. Denham
  The length of time between the approval of the full business case and signing of the final contract for the major private finance initiative hospital schemes (capital value greater than £25 million) which have reached this stage is shown in the table. All these schemes are in the construction phase, for which they are either on or ahead of schedule, except Carlisle, which became operational in April 2000, 34 days ahead of schedule.

  Period between FBC approval and contract signature

  Scheme

  Less than 7 days

  Calderdale Healthcare NHS Trust

  North Durham Healthcare NHS Trust

  Leeds Community and Mental Health

  Services NHS Trust

  Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust

  Greenwich Healthcare NHS Trust

  King's Healthcare NHS Trust

  St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust

  Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust

  Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust

  Less than one month

  South Durham Healthcare NHS Trust

  Barnet and Chase Farm NHS Trust

  South Buckinghamshire NHS Trust

  Worcester Royal Infirmary NHS Trust

  Hereford Hospitals NHS Trust

  Greater than one month

  52 days

  Carlisle Hospitals NHS Trust

  65 days

  South Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust

  640 days

  Norfolk and Norwich NHS Trust

  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms are in place to monitor the(a) service provided by hospitals delivered under the Private Finance Initiative and (b) performance of PFI contracts for hospitals. [128100]

  Mr. Denham
  National Health Service guidance requires NHS trusts to establish arrangements to monitor the implementation and performance of the private finance initiative contract in both the period up to 46W
  completion and commissioning of the new facility and during the operational phase of the contract during which services are provided to the NHS trust.

  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what penalty clauses there are in the standard PFI contract for hospitals; and how often these have been invoked. [128101]

  Mr. Denham
  The payment mechanism in a private finance initiative contract, which includes mechanisms for the withholding or deduction of payments to private sector partners for their failure to perform to time or to standard, is negotiated individually for each scheme within guidelines set out by the National Health Service Executive.

  There has only been one instance to date of a penalty clause being invoked at the new major PFI hospital schemes.

  NHS Consultation Process
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in the recent NHS consultation process(a) how many leaflets were issued, (b) how many leaflets were returned by 5 June, (c) how the leaflets were distributed and (d) what conclusions he has drawn; and if he will make a statement. [127901]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 28 June 2000]: Over 12 million leaflets were produced and made available to the public and National Health Service staff through hospitals, general practitioners, surgeries, supermarkets and other retail outlets asking for an outline of the top three things that would make the NHS better.

  The Department has received 219,943 responses. The top three priorities for the public were more capacity (doctors, nurses and pay), less waiting and doing things differently.

  Health Services (North Yorkshire)
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) intensive care, (b) acute, (c) recuperative, and (d) intermediate beds are maintained by Harrogate District Hospital. [128085]

  Mr. Hutton
  The number of intensive care beds for Harrogate Health Care National Health Service Trust as at 15 January 2000 was three intensive care and five high dependency beds in a combined unit.

  The average daily number of available acute beds during 1998–99 was 310. Data on recuperative and intermediate beds are not collected as a separate ward classification.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) nursing and (b) residential beds are paid for by North Yorkshire Health Authority. [128084]

  Mr. Hutton
  Central information on bed numbers is only available on a National Health Service trust basis. The total number of available beds in trusts bounded by the North Yorkshire Health Authority is 2,641. General and acute beds make up 1,937 of this total. Data on nursing beds are not collected as a separate ward classification.

  Data on residential beds are not available centrally.
  47W
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent consultation has taken place on reorganisation of the health services in North Yorkshire. [128079]

  Mr. Hutton
  The North Yorkshire Health Authority has recently consulted on proposals by York Health Services National Health Service Trust for the development of services for older people with mental health problems in Easingwold. The consultation ended in January 2000.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many vacancies for(a) junior doctors, (b) consultants, (c) nurses, and (d) locum staff there are at Harrogate District Hospital. [128086]

  Mr. Denham
  The information is given in the table.

  Staffing description

  Whole-time equivalents

  Junior Doctors

  12.0

  Consultants

  11.0

  Nurses

  218

  1Locum staff and agency staff are currently employed by the trust to cover these posts. There is also one locum employed covering annual leave and one locum covering sickness.

  2Where nursing vacancies exist, bank and agency staff are used.

  Source:

  Harrogate Health Care National Health Service Trust

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will hold a public consultation on the future configuration of health services in North Yorkshire. [128077]

  Mr. Hutton
  The development of primary care trusts requires all local health communities to consider the implications for the configuration of National Health Service organisations. The North Yorkshire health authority has been working with a wide range of local stakeholders, including National Health Service trusts, primary care groups and local authorities, on future organisational configuration issues. Local Members of Parliament have been kept informed about these discussions.

  Should these discussions result in formal proposals for the reconfiguration of National Health Service trusts, these would be subject to a full public consultation.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures his Department has taken to help ensure people in North Yorkshire health authority have access to drugs and other treatment for Alzheimer's disease. [128088]

  Mr. Hutton
  It is the responsibility of individual health authorities to have policies in place for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Drugs for Alzheimer's disease will be reviewed by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence and guidance should be issued to the National Health Service by December 2000.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the(a) accident and emergency, (b) cardiac, (c) orthopaedic and (d) cancer care at the (i) Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and (ii) York and Scarborough NHS Health Trust. [128080]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Department has made no formal assessment of these services. Such work would normally be undertaken by the relevant National Health Service trusts and health authorities.
  48W
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) junior doctors, (b) consultants, (c) nurses, and (d) locum staff are contracted (i) full-time and (ii) part-time to Harrogate District Hospital. [128087]

  Mr. Denham
  The information is shown in the table.

  Data on hospital and community health services medical and dental staff holding either directly employed or agency locum appointments have not been collected centrally since 1996.

  NHS Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS): Nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff by Nature of Contract, in Harrogate Health Care NHS Trust, as at 30 September 1999

  Whole-tune equivalents

  Nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff

  Consultant1

  Junior doctors

  Total

  780

  40

  50

  Full-time

  470

  40

  50

  Part-time

  280

  2—

  2—

  Bank

  40

  3—

  3—

  1Consultants with maximum part-time contracts are included with full-time staff to reflect their substantially full-time commitment to the NHS

  2Five or less and greater than zero

  3Not applicable

  Notes:

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest ten

  2. Figures exclude learners and agency staff

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

  Sources:

  Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census

  Department of Health Medical and Dental Workforce Census

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future of Harrogate District Hospital. [128078]

  Mr. Denham
  Harrogate District Hospital will remain a general hospital serving the local community. Achieving this will require development of clinical partnerships with neighbouring general hospitals, and work to achieve this is under way across North Yorkshire. It has benefited from a major capital development of £37 million. The main phases have been completed and final construction work will be completed in November 2000.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many instances of MRSA have been reported in the past five years in(a) Harrogate District Hospital and (b) North Yorkshire Health Authority; and what measures his Department has taken to eliminate instances of MRSA. [128089]

  Mr. Denham
  The data requested are not held centrally. Tackling hospital acquired infection, including MRSA, has been set as a "must do" for the NHS. We have developed and issued national standards for infection control that places responsibility on chief executives of NHS trusts to deliver locally. Progress on compliance with these standards will be independently reviewed and monitored by both the Audit Commission and the Commission for Health Improvement.

  Staff Secondments
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Harrogate and Knaresborough (Mr. Willis) of 8 February 2000,Official Report, column 119W, on secondments, if he will give the names, grades and job titles of the staff seconded into his Department from each organisation mentioned, stating in each case the name of the section they were seconded to and a summary of the work that they were involved with. [128253]

  May 1997–April 1998

  Companies seconded from:

  Civil service grade

  Business unit seconded to:

  Summary of work undertaken

  Rawlings Ophthalmic Opticians

  IP4

  Health Services Directorate

  Developing policy on general ophthalmic services

  Private Finance Panel Executive (2)

  IP4

  Finance and Performance Directorate

  Advising NHS trusts on legal and financial aspects of PFI contracts

  Tarmac Plc

  SCS

  Finance and Performance Directorate

  Nabarro Nathanson

  IP4

  Finance and Performance Directorate

  Pinsent Curtis

  IP4

  Finance and Performance Directorate

  May 1998–April 1999

  Companies seconded from:

  Civil service grade

  Section seconded to:

  Summary of work undertaken

  Hempsons

  IP4

  Finance and Performance Directorate

  Advising NHS trusts on legal and financial aspects of PFI contracts

  PriceWaterhouseCoopers

  IP4

  Finance and Performance Directorate

  Ward Hadaway

  IP4

  Finance and Performance Directorate

  Beachcroft Stanleys

  IP4

  Finance and Performance Directorate

  Dickinson Dees

  IP4

  Finance and Performance Directorate

  Lloyds Bank

  IP4

  Finance and Performance Directorate

  May 1999–April 2000

  Companies seconded from:

  Civil service grade

  Business unit seconded to:

  Summary of work undertaken

  British Airways

  SCS

  Corporate Management Directorate

  Developing the Department's capacity to change in order to deliver Minister's priorities.

  Addleshaw Booth & Co.

  IP4

  Finance and Performance Directorate

  Advising NHS trusts on legal and financial aspects of PFI contracts

  Berwin Leighton

  IP4

  Finance and Performance Directorate

  Taylor Woodrow

  IP4

  Finance and Performance Directorate

  Deloitte & Touche

  IP4

  Finance and Performance Directorate

  Herbert Smith

  IP4

  Finance and Performance Directorate

  GM Feed
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to fund research into the health effects of GM animal feeds. [127052]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 29 June 2000]: I am informed by the Food Standards Agency that all genetically modified animal feed has been rigorously assessed by United Kingdom and European Union experts for possible effects on the health of consumers of the resulting animal products. Research to date has concentrated on the effects of processing on animal feed materials and the ability of DNA to survive processing and passage through an animal's gut. No incidental ill-effects have been detected in countries where GM crops have been grown and they and their by-products have been fed to animals for a number of years.
  50W
  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 29 June 2000]: Secondments and attachments are part of the interchange initiative which promotes the exchange of people and good practice between the Civil Service and other organisations. Before an interchange can occur all parties must be satisfied that no conflict of interest arises.

  Details of secondments from the private sector commencing in the years shown are set out in the tables.

  The agency is funding a study to investigate whether, and under what circumstances, antibiotic resistance marker genes from GM feed materials might transfer into the genomes of gut bacteria in the buccal cavities and gastro-intestinal tracts of ruminant animals.

  Mileage Allowances
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to increase the Whitley Council mileage allowance for NHS staff using their own transport. [128282]

  Mr. Denham
  Mileage and travelling entitlements for National Health Service staff on national contracts are determined by an agreement of the General Whitley Council. A working group of the Council which includes representatives from trade unions and employers is reviewing existing provisions with the aim of
  51W
  recommending new arrangements which are fair to staff, meet service needs and reflect our wider environmental policies. We are aiming to complete these negotiations shortly.

  Teenage Pregnancies
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the link between personal, social and health education and targets to reduce teenage pregnancy rates. [126110]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 20 June 2000]: I have been asked to reply.

  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 27 June 2000, Official Report, columns 473–74W.

DEFENCE

  Procurement
  Mr. St. Aubyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of the Government's defence procurement policies. [127269]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Government's procurement policy is based on delivering value for money through competition and prime contracting. Our Smart Procurement reforms focus on improving procurement effectiveness by introducing commercial best practice and working more closely with all our suppliers, at both project and policy level.

  The benefits of smart procurement are beginning to work through, and I am confident that this forward-looking approach will lack the legacy of cost overruns and slippage that have bedevilled equipment procurement in the past.

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what meetings he has had with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to discuss defence procurement; and if he will make a statement. [127279]

  Mr. Hoon
  I have had frequent meetings with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury where we have discussed a wide range of issues, including defence procurement.

  UN Operations
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British armed forces personnel are allocated to UN operations; and in how many places. [127270]

  Mr. Spellar
  The UK currently contributes 356 military personnel to six UN-commanded operations. These operations are in Cyprus, Georgia, Sierra Leone, East Timor, the Democratic Republic of Congo and on the Iraq/Kuwait border. Some 6,000 further troops are deployed with NATO on UN mandated operations mostly in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo. Fifty-six MOD police personnel are deployed with UNMIK in Kosovo.

  Eurofighter
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with what weaponry the Eurofighter will be armed when it first enters service with the RAF. [127271]
  52W
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with what weaponry the Eurofighter will be armed when it first enters squadron service with the RAF. [127280]

  Mr. Spellar
  Eurofighter will be armed with the Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM) and the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) when it first enters service.

  SA80
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make an announcement on the SA80 modification programme. [127272]

  Mr. Hoon
  My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State announced on Friday 23 June that we intend to award a contract to Heckler and Koch, a subsidiary of Royal Ordnance, to modify some 200,000 SA80 weapons, including both the Individual Weapon and the Light Support Weapon. The SA80 is a generally effective weapon system. But we now know that it can be improved. Our Service men and women deserve a reliable weapon in which they have confidence. The modification programme will make the SA80 among the best in the world. And it demonstrates our willingness to take quick and decisive procurement action when required.

  Iraq
  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what operations Her Majesty's armed forces have been engaged in over Iraq in the last month; and if he will make a statement. [127273]

  Mr. Hoon
  In the month to 30 June, coalition aircraft have continued to patrol the no-fly zones over Iraq in support of UN Security Council Resolution 688, which demanded an immediate end to Saddam' s brutal repression of his people. During that time, the Iraqi air defence system attacked or threatened coalition aircraft carrying out their legitimate duties on 18 occasions. Acting entirely in self-defence, RAF aircraft took part in eight operations against those military facilities threatening or attacking our aircraft.

  Computer Failures
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made concerning the level of computer failures in his Department, its agencies and the armed forces. [127275]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Ministry of Defence does not keep central records of non-critical computer systems as it would be uneconomic to do so. However, no operation has been curtailed due to a computer system failure in the last year.

  The Ministry of Defence regularly assesses the criticality of all its computer systems. Based on these assessments there are contingency plans in place to ensure vital functions are provided with an alternate means of processing the data in the event of a computer failure.

  Submarines
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy submarines are operationally available. [127277]
  53W
  Mr. Hoon
  There are currently nine Royal Navy submarines operational or engaged in preparing for service, trials or training.

  Homosexuals (Armed Services)
  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received calling for improved support for homosexual service men and women; and if he will make a statement. [127278]

  Mr. Spellar
  My right hon. Friend the Defence Secretary announced our renewed policy on homosexuals in the Armed Forces in January this year. Since then, we have not received any representations for improved support for homosexual servicemen and women. Sexual orientation is now viewed as an entirely private matter. All Service personnel, regardless of their sexual orientation, have full access to the entire range of Service welfare agencies, including confidential helplines.

  European Security and Defence Identity
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent meetings he has had with his opposite numbers in EU member states to discuss European security and defence identity issues; and if he will make a statement. [127281]

  Mr. Hoon
  I last discussed European security and defence issues with my EU counterparts at the General Affairs Council on 13 June.

  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the armed forces of the United Kingdom's continental European allies in the context of the European security and defence identity. [127283]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Kosovo crisis has shown that European nations need to be better able to deploy rapidly and sustain the right mix of armed forces for NATO or EU-led operations.

  To this end, EU member states made a commitment to improving their military capabilities by signing up to a collective target—known as the Headline Goal—at the Helsinki Summit in December 1999. This goal is complementary to NATO's Defence Capabilities Initiative.

  In line with the measures endorsed at the recent Feira European Council, we expect EU member states to nominate their voluntary contributions to this goal at the Capabilities Commitment Conference later this year.

  Recruitment (Ethnic Minorities)
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made by each of the three armed services in meeting their targets for recruitment among Britain's ethnic minorities. [127284]

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made by each of the three armed services in meeting their targets for recruitment among Britain's ethnic minorities. [127293]

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made by each of the three armed services in meeting their targets for recruitment among Britain's ethnic minorities. [127257]
  54W
  Mr. Spellar
  In 1990–2000, 1.9 per cent. of the total Armed Forces intake were from the British ethnic minority communities. Single Service achievement levels were:

  Naval Service: 1.7 per cent.

  Army: 2.1 per cent., and

  RAF: 1.5 per cent.

  Although we are disappointed that this is short of our own 3 per cent. tri-Service goal, all three Services have continued to improve on the previous year's performance. The figures are in the right direction. We are committed to meeting these goals and working hard to meet them in the future.

  Ro-ro Vessels
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will make an announcement on the award of a contract for roll-on, roll-off vessels. [127285]

  Mr. Hoon
  The competition for the Strategic Sealift (RORO) service is very close and more than one bidder has made improved offers which cannot be taken into account under the existing procedures. Moreover, circumstances have changed significantly since the original bids were submitted on 14 January; not least as a consequence of the British Aerospace merger with Marconi Electronic Systems. We have therefore decided that, to ensure the best value for money to the taxpayer, we should conduct a further round of bidding.

  This will allow UK shipyards the opportunity to show that they can be competitive, but we have not changed the specification for the competition. The decision will still be taken on best value for money grounds, and all bidders will be treated fairly under the European public procurement rules which still apply to the competition.

  After consulting the bidders and explaining the reasons for this further round, the Ministry of Defence has invited the four competing consortiums to "Revise and Confirm" their bids by 6 July 2000. It remains the MOD's intention to place a contract later this year.

  Bullying
  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about progress in combating bullying in the Army. [127286]

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to address the issue of bullying in the armed forces. [127276]

  Mr. Spellar
  All three Services have a clear policy, which is promulgated to all personnel, that no form of harassment, victimisation or other unacceptable social conduct will be tolerated and all allegations of ill treatment are thoroughly investigated. It is the duty of all those in a position of responsibility to protect others from physical and mental bullying and to report any incident promptly. Appropriate action is taken against the perpetrators. Potential recruits are made fully aware of this policy. The policy of zero tolerance towards ill treatment was re-emphasised when the new code of social conduct was issued to all Service personnel in January. In the last two years, all three Services have set up Confidential Helplines which can be used by any member of the Armed Forces or their families, if necessary anonymously, who believe they are being ill-treated.

  Missile Defence System
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has made to the USA and NATO on the proposed new missile defence system. [127287]

  Mr. Hoon
  We have a continuing dialogue with the US Administration on their proposed National Missile Defence system. It also continues to be the subject of collective discussion by NATO Allies.

  Defence Medical Services
  Laura Moffatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many extra personnel the Government aim to recruit to the Defence Medical Services in the next three years. [127288]

  Mr. Spellar
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, South-East (Dr. Iddon) earlier today,Official Report, column 15.

  Troop Deployments
  Charlotte Atkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the Army is(a) committed to (b) preparing for and (c) recovering from military operations. [127289]

  Mr. Spellar
  Some 27 per cent. of the trained Army is committed to Operations. This figure includes units preparing for, deployed on, and recovering from, operations. Of these, 20 per cent. of the trained Army is currently deployed on operations. The total is down from a peak of 47 per cent. committed at the height of the Kosovo campaign in July 1999 and below that inherited from the previous administration.

  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel are serving overseas. [127290]

  Mr. Spellar
  As at 1 April 2000, 42,710 Armed Forces personnel were serving overseas.

  Army Recruitment
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on Army recruitment. [127291]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Army achieved 15,026 soldier enlistments during the last financial year. This was lower than the numbers enlisted in 1998–99 (15,609), but output to the Field Army in 1999–2000, which is the more important figure, was up by over 1,000 on the previous year. This is partly as a result of changes made to the selection criteria for new entrants and other changes introduced in the initial training regime. In respect of Officer recruiting, the numbers entering Sandhurst last year were 646 and output from the College was 534 against targets of 777 and 620 respectively. However, this year, the Army expects that numbers entering Sandhurst will be on target. Also the numbers of inquiries for officer careers are up on previous periods, as is the number of successful candidates at the Regular Commissions Board, which is a precursor to Sandhurst entry. Advertising for Army careers, for both soldier and officer candidates, is being more specifically targeted this year.

  Aircraft Carriers
  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the value is of the contracts awarded so far for the design of the future generation of aircraft carriers. [127292]

  Mr. Hoon
  Two contracts, each worth up to £30 million, for work to investigate options for the design of the future aircraft carrier have been awarded to BAE Systems and Thomson-CSF Naval Systems.

  Potential Recruits (Fitness)
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to help young unemployed people who want to join the armed forces attain the necessary fitness levels. [127294]

  Mr. Spellar
  Fitness levels found in the average young person have been in decline for some time. On the other hand, the fitness standards required of armed forces' recruits by the end of their training have not been reduced. Consequently, in addition to tailored fitness training programmes during recruit training, the Services recognise the need to give guidance to initial applicants, who may include the young unemployed, on the issue of physical fitness to enable them to attain the high level of fitness required to pass recruit training. The Naval Service issues a pre-joining fitness programme booklet to all potential recruits. The length of the programme lasts four weeks for officers and ratings, and eight weeks for Royal Marine other ranks applicants. If an Army recruiter believes that a potential applicant should take action to improve his/her fitness, he/she is given a video and a pamphlet which describe the training that should be undertaken. Similarly, all RAF recruits are given a booklet on physical fitness training prior to commencement of Recruit Training.

  Territorial Army (Balkans)
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the contribution of Territorial Army soldiers serving in the Balkans. [127274]

  Mr. Spellar
  Members of the TA have provided a vital contribution to operations in the Balkans. A total of 3,983 Territorial Army soldiers have been mobilised for duty in the Balkans since December 1995. Their role has been to provide individual reinforcements with a variety of skills to Regular Units on operational tours, and fill a number of staff appointments in the various headquarters in the Balkans.

  Kosovo
  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department plans to spend on operations in Kosovo this year. [127282]

  Mr. Spellar
  The 2000–01 estimate of additional expenditure likely to be incurred on operations in Kosovo is approximately £220 million.

  Fuel Costs
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the Royal Navy's budgeted fuel allocation for 2000–01 is; and what the figure was for each of the previous five years. [127996]
  57W
  Mr. Spellar
  The Commander-in-Chief Fleet's total fuel allocation for 2000–01, including fuel for ships, submarines, aircraft, the Royal Marines and domestic purposes, is £57 million.

  The actual spend for the previous five years, again giving a total of all fuel used, was as follows:

  Financial Year

  £ million

  1995–96

  48.5

  1996–97

  44.5

  1997–98

  40

  1998–99

  31.5

  1999–2000

  43

  Year on year variations are largely attributable to fluctuating fuel prices. In 1998–99 prices dropped very steeply, followed by sharp rises since then.

  Flying Hours
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many flying hours were flown in(a) Tornado GR 1 or 4, (b) Tornado F3, (c) Jaguar and (d) RAF Harrier aircraft in each of the past five years; and what the planning assumption is for 2000–01. [127999]

  Mr. Spellar
  The information requested is in the tables.

  Flying hours (Aircraft flying hours)

  Year

  Tornado GR1/4

  Tornado F3

  Jaguar

  RAF Harrier GR7

  1995–96

  34,273

  28,375

  13,065

  15,525

  1996–97

  31,511

  25,634

  11,916

  16,003

  1997–98

  31,275

  27,076

  12,346

  15,307

  1998–99

  28,780

  22,769

  12,417

  15,246

  1999–2000

  24,934

  20,870

  12,388

  13,811

  Tasked hours planned for 2000–01

  Hours

  Tornado GR1/4

  28,970

  Tornado F3

  26,136

  Jaguar

  12,437

  RAF Harrier GR7

  15,378

  Note:

  Figures include OCU, OEU and 1435 Flt

  Western European Union
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will assess the speech of the French Deputy Defence Minister to the Parliamentary Assembly of Western European Union on 8 June as part of his formulation of Her Majesty's Government's policy on the future of this body. [127473]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Government will take all relevant information, including the views of the other WEU member countries and associate countries into account in formulating its policy on the future of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Western European Union.

  Service Personnel (Compensation)
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in the review of arrangements 58W
  for compensating service personnel and their dependants, killed or injured while on service announced on 7 December 1997; and when he will publish a consultation document. [107439]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 28 January 2000]: My right hon. Friend has been considering draft proposals from the Joint Compensation Review. He believes, however, that it will be possible to reach final conclusions about attributable benefits only in the context of proposals about the future of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme as a whole, which will emerge from the parallel Review of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS). That Review is still in progress. My right hon. Friend will therefore make an announcement once he has considered the draft recommendations of the AFPS Review. The announcement will be followed by a period of public consultation.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Home Detention Curfew Scheme
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for the period between the commencement of the home detention curfew scheme and 31 May(a) the number of prisoners who were released on the scheme, with a breakdown of the specific offences which they committed, (b) the average sentence (i) received and (ii) served, and the average period spent on the scheme, in respect of each specific offence, (c) the number of prisoners released on the scheme, with a breakdown of the offences committed, who (1) breached the conditions of the curfew, (2) disappeared and were recaptured, (3) disappeared and remain unlawfully at large, and (4) had their licences revoked, and for what reasons, (d) the specific offences committed by prisoners released on the scheme while on the scheme, including all offences committed by prisoners who committed more than one offence and (e) a breakdown of the specific offences committed by prisoners released on the scheme who committed a further offence while on the scheme that was similar in character to that for which they were originally convicted, including all offences committed by prisoners who committed more than one offence; and if he will make a statement. [126536]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 19 June 2000]: As of 31 May 2000, a total of 21,798 prisoners had been released on Home Detention Curfew since the scheme commenced on 28 January 1999.

  The original offences committed by prisoners released under the scheme during the period, the number of prisoners convicted of each specific offence, the average sentence received and served for those offences, and the average period spent on the scheme in respect of the prisoners convicted of each specific offence are shown in Table 1. The data are taken from the Prison Service's inmate information system based on the data recorded by each prison. The table provides as detailed a breakdown of offences as is possible from central records.

  A total of 764 prisoners released on the scheme during the period breached the conditions of their curfew. A breakdown of this number showing the original offences committed in shown in Table 2.
  59W
  Information on curfewees whose licences are revoked and who disappear before being recaptured is included within the information held on the number of curfewees unlawfully at large at any one time. On 31 May there were 36 curfewees who remained unlawfully at large. This represents fewer than four per cent. of the total number of revocations. In the vast majority of cases, when a curfewee's licence is revoked, he or she can expect to be apprehended quickly and returned to custody. While the priority to be given to pursuing individual cases will be an operational matter for local police forces, Home Office Circular 1/1999 made clear that Home Detention Curfew recalls should be regarded as "urgent" cases. In addition, the National Identification Service at New Scotland Yard issues "The Police Gazette" weekly to all police forces, including details of curfewees who are unlawfully at large. When curfewees are apprehended following a period unlawfully at large, they are required to serve the period of time outstanding at the point their licence was revoked.

  Details of the offences originally committed by those 36 curfewees who remained unlawfully at large on 31 May 2000 can be found in Table 3.

  As of 31 May 2000, 1,028 curfewees had their licences revoked, using the powers available to the Secretary of State under Sections 38A(1) and 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991. The reasons for revocation were as follows:
  for breach of the curfew (Section 38A(1)a of the Criminal Justice Act 1991);
  because the curfewee's whereabouts could no longer be electronically monitored (Section 38A(1)b of the Criminal Justice Act 1991);
  because it was necessary to protect the public from serious harm (Section 38A(1)c of the Criminal Justice Act 1991); and
  because the curfewee had committed an offence or breached any requirement of probation supervision (Section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991). Curfewees who are charged with new offences may also be recalled on any preceding grounds depending on the circumstances of the case.

  A breakdown of the original offences the 1,028 recalled curfewees committed together with a breakdown of the reasons for recall is at Table 4.

  Table 5 gives a breakdown of all offences committed by prisoners placed on Home Detention Curfew while on the scheme. Where a curfewee has been charged with more than one offence, these have been shown separately.

  Table 6 gives a breakdown of the specific offences committed by prisoners placed on the scheme who committed a further offence while on the scheme which was similar in character to the most serious offence for which they were originally convicted.

  The scheme is designed to ensure a better transition for short-term offenders between custody and the community. Prisoners are only placed on Home Detention Curfew after a careful risk assessment, and the safety of the public is paramount at all times.

  Tables 1–6 have been placed in the Library.

  Communities Act 2000
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those(a) businesses,
  60W
  (b) individuals and (c) organisations he (i) has consulted and (ii) plans to consult over Communities Act 2000/c124/01, of OJ C124, vol. 43, 3 May 2000. [128104]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Prior to the adoption by the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 23 March 2000 of the document, "The Prevention and Control of Organised Crime: A European Strategy for the Beginning of the New Millennium", it was cleared by the European Communities Committee of the House of Lords on 14 March and the European Scrutiny Committee of the House of Commons on 15 March. Throughout negotiations on the document, we regularly consulted Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, the National Criminal Intelligence Service the National Crime Squad and the Association of Chief Police Officers. There are no plans for further consultations.

  Europol
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy concerning the extension of the(a) competetencies and (b) resources of Europol; and if it is his policy that Europol should have the authority to ask member states to initiate investigations (i) singly and (ii) co-jointly on its behalf. [128107]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The European Council, in its special meeting at Tampere on 15–16 October 1999, invited the Council of the European Union to extend the competence of Europol to money laundering in general, regardless of the type of offence from which the laundered proceeds originate. A draft amendment to the Europol Convention which would give effect to the Tampere proposal is currently under consideration by member states. We support the purposes of the amendment which would enable Europol to provide member states with more effective support in fighting money laundering which is at the heart of much organised crime. We take the view, in negotiating the budget for Europol, that it must demonstrate that it is using its resources efficiently and cost effectively in discharging its mandate. Any proposed increase to Europol's budget is subjected to detailed scrutiny, including by the United Kingdom's representative on the Europol Management Board.

  The European Council at Tampere also attached importance to allowing Europol to ask member states to initiate, conduct or co-ordinate investigations, each involving a single member state, or joint investigation teams involving two or more member states, while respecting national systems of judicial control. A draft recommendation reflecting this Tampere conclusion is also under consideration by the member states. We support the purposes of the recommendation on the basis that any participation by Europol in investigations or joint investigation teams would, as also envisaged at Tampere, be in a support capacity.

  EU Court Judgments
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on discussions at EU level concerning the recognition of court judgments passed in one member state being automatically recognised in other member states. [128137]
  61W
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Tampere European Council strongly endorsed the concept of mutual recognition of judicial decisions, and asked the Council and Commission to adopt a programme of measures to implement the principle of mutual recognition, by the end of this year.

  The possible contents of the programme of measures have been discussed in the European Union's Article 36 Committee and in other European Union working groups in the third pillar, on the basis of the United Kingdom's proposals. The European Commission has also held consultations on enforcement of foreign sentences. The incoming French Presidency is preparing to table a draft of the programme very shortly. A copy of this document will be deposited for Scrutiny. The programme is likely to include mutual recognition of decisions concerning the freezing of assets, arrest for purposes of extradition and execution of fines, imprisonment and other sentences imposed in another member state.

  The Government intend to support further work on this issue, based on the conclusions of the Tampere European Council.

  European Police College
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the planned activities of the European Police College; how many and what types of police it will cater for; and what its overall purpose is. [128109]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Government are committed to the establishment of a European Police College Network to encourage greater co-ordination and sharing of good practice between European States. We have contributed fully to discussions on the role and organisation of such a network. I refer the hon. Member to the draft Council decision which we have recently submitted for Parliamentary scrutiny. This provides details on the specific functions and responsibilities the Network is proposing to undertake.

  Eurojust
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy towards Eurojust. [128257]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 23 March 2000,Official Report, columns 682–83W.

  Global Cultural Diversity Congress
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the fee was for attendance at the proposed Global Cultural Diversity Congress; and if Ministers were exempted. [128116]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I understand from the Gurbux Singh Report that various categories of delegate attendance fees were set by Global Cultural Diversity Congress (GCDC) 2000 Ltd. and that the suggested standard delegate fee was £595. All decisions about who to exempt from fees were for GCDC 2000 Ltd.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which Ministers had planned(a) to attend and (b) to contribute to the Global Cultural Diversity Congress. [128115]
  62W
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Invitations to attend and contribute to the congress were a matter for Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd.

  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary was proposing to Chair a Think Tank at the Congress and I had agreed to chair a panel debate.

  Defendants
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in respect of the last 12 months for which information is available, what proportion of persons appearing before(a) magistrates courts and (b) Crown courts had no previous convictions. [128023]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Information on previous convictions for persons appearing before magistrates courts or the Crown court is not available centrally. However, previous conviction data are available for persons who appeared and were subsequently convicted.

  Based on a sample of over 38,000 persons convicted of a standard list offence during 1998, 40 per cent. of persons convicted at magistrates courts and 32 per cent. of persons convicted at the Crown court had no previous convictions.

  Police Recruitment
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will extend the principle of London weighting to Hampshire to help police authorities recruit officers in areas of high property prices. [128160]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Police Act 1996 provides that the Police Negotiating Board (PNB) shall make recommendations to the Home Secretary on matters including the pay and allowances of police officers, which include London Allowance and London Weighting. The Home Secretary shall take into consideration any such recommendation before making regulations.

  A Working Party of the PNB is meeting on 11 July to discuss the impact on other forces of the increase in London Allowance which will take effect from 1 July.

  Police (Colchester)
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the established strength was of the Colchester Division of the Essex police force; and what was the actual number in post at(a) May 1995, (b) May 1996, (c) May 1997, (d) May 1998, (e) May 1999 and (f) May 2000. [128141]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Chief Constable of Essex is only able to provide figures for 1997 onwards and these are set out in the table.

  Colchester division budgeted strength and actual strength 1997–2000

  As at 31 May

  Budgeted strength1

  Actual strength1

  1997

  190

  188.2

  1998

  185

  186.8

  1999

  180

  180.6

  2000

  163

  158

  1Full-time equivalents

  The reduction in the budgeted strength of the Colchester Division since 1997 is a consequence of the

  63W
  force's civilianisation programme, the transfer of some posts from Divisional strength to Headquarters strength, although the officers concerned remained based in Colchester, and the formation on 1 April 2000 of Major Investigation Teams. The changes are intended to make Essex police more efficient, effective, responsive to demands and to enable better targeting of resources on crime reduction.

  The Colchester Division receives additional policing support from centrally provided road policing, dogs section, air support and Crime Division officers. The number of specialist department officers deployed in Colchester will vary according to demands for their services in Colchester and elsewhere in the Essex police.

  Prison Industries
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total(a) expenditure of and (b) income from prison industries involved in commercial contracts was in the last five years. [128300]

  Mr. Boateng
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the right hon. Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Miss Widdecombe) on 8 May 2000,Official Report, column 302W.

  It is not possible to break down expenditure between commercial contracts and that used for products for internal consumption.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the contracts held by the Prison Service for commercial work from prison industries; and if he will make a statement. [128299]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Prison Service has commercial contracts to supply goods and services to the organisations listed. Contracts with commercial companies to supply work for prisoners may be sourced centrally by the Prison Service's Enterprise and Supply Services, but many are entered into locally by individual establishments. Information on contracts for commercial work is not collected centrally and a comprehensive list could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Ministry of Defence—woodwork and clothing

  Atomic Weapons Establishment—protective clothing

  Komplete Safety—clothing

  Royal Air Force Staff College—laundries

  South West London Community NHS Trust—laundries

  Tower Hamlets Healthcare—laundries

  Rank Holiday Division—laundries

  North Middlesex Hospital—laundries

  Axis—milk supply

  Zenith—milk supply

  Milk Link—milk supply

  Defence Evaluation and Research Agency—data transcription

  Graphic Data—photographing data.

  Prison Wages
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the level is of prison wages; under what circumstances higher wages can be paid; and if he will make a statement. [128301]
  64W
  Mr. Boateng
  A Prison Service national framework sets the minimum level of pay for employed prisoners at £4.00. The minimum for those in training is set at £2.50. Above the prescribed minimum rates, levels of pay are set at the discretion of the Governor, and will vary depending upon the regime in place, the type of work available and links with other relevant schemes, for example incentives and earned privileges.

  Remand Prisoners
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average(a) number of remand prisoners and (b) proportion of the prison population consisting of remand prisoners in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [128168]

  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 29 June 2000]: The information requested is given in the table. This information (up to 1998) is also published in "Prison Statistics England and Wales", a copy of which is in the Library.

  Average population of remand prisoners 1989–99

  Year

  Average remand population

  Total average population

  Remands as a percentage of total average population

  1989

  10,499

  48,610

  21.6

  1990

  9,904

  45,636

  21.7

  1991

  10,157

  45,897

  22.1

  1992

  10,090

  45,817

  22.0

  1993

  10,660

  44,566

  23.9

  1994

  12,357

  48,794

  25.3

  1995

  11,375

  51,047

  22.3

  1996

  11,613

  55,281

  21.0

  1997

  12,131

  61,114

  19.8

  1998

  12,567

  65,298

  19.2

  1999

  12,520

  64,771

  19.3

  Prisons (Purposeful Activity)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total amount was of public expenditure on purposeful activity in prison in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [128298]

  Mr. Boateng
  It is not possible to isolate accurately and calculate the total cost of the wide range of disparate activities which comprise purposeful activity. Although the level of such activity is comprehensively monitored, many of the costs cannot be meaningfully separated from the overall budget of running an establishment, for example staff costs.

  An indication of the investment in purposeful activity is provided by the following central allocation for specific elements of purposeful activity.

  Expenditure on education1

  £

  1995–96

  36,956,087

  1996–97

  34,507,378

  1997–98

  36,174,320

  1998–99

  39,049,875

  1999–2000

  47,445,945

  1Covers payments to education providers, payments for libraries and for education materials

  65W

  Expenditure on industries and farms1

  £

  1995–96

  24,680,000

  1996–97

  27,080,000

  1997–98

  28,442,000

  1998–99

  28,889,000

  1999–2000

  26,695,000

  1Covers expenditure on raw materials and small tools and maintenance, but not staff costs or overheads

  Prisoners (Suicides)
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners committed suicide in 1998; and of these suicides how many were caused by hanging. [128517]

  Mr. Boateng
  There were 83 self-inflicted deaths in prison custody in 1998. Of these, 80 were caused by hanging.

  Asylum applications1 received in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, and initial decisions2 on applications, June 1999 to May 2000 by month, nationals of Sierra Leone

  Principal applicants

  Applications

  Decisions

  Total

  Port

  In country

  Total decisions

  Grants of asylum

  Grants of ELR

  Total refusals

  Grants of ELR under backlog criteria.3,4

  Non compliance refusals under backlog criteria3,5

  June 1999

  95

  40

  55

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  July

  140

  85

  60

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  August

  80

  50

  30

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  September

  130

  60

  65

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  October

  95

  45

  50

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  November

  85

  50

  35

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  December

  100

  75

  30

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  January 2000

  75

  50

  30

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  February

  105

  45

  65

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  March

  105

  40

  60

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  6—

  April

  75

  25

  45

  120

  *

  30

  10

  80

  —

  May

  105

  25

  80

  155

  20

  60

  30

  35

  10

  Total to date

  1,190

  585

  605

  275

  25

  90

  40

  115

  10

  1Figures rounded to nearest 5 with * = 1 or 2.

  2Information is of initial determination decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.

  3Cases decided under pragmatic measures aimed at reducing the pre '96 act asylum backlog.

  4May include a small number of cases where asylum has been granted.

  5May include a small number of cases where the application has been refused on substantive grounds.

  6Not applicable

  Speed Cameras
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent on speed cameras per police force and in total in each of the last 10 years; and what the planned expenditure is in future years for which figures are available. [128388]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The information requested is not available centrally. It is the responsibility of each police force to determine how much to spend on speed cameras and other road safety measures.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the use of speed cameras with special reference to the European Convention on Human Rights; and if he will make a statement. [128394]

  Police Response Times
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if police response times are calculated on the same basis in each police force area in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [122284]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 15 May 2000]: No. Each police area has a different method for measuring response times. Details for 1998–99 are contained in the Audit Commission Report "Police and Fire Services Local Authority Performance Indicators 98/99".

  Asylum Seekers (Sierra Leone)
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons from Sierra Leone have applied for asylum in the last 12 months; and how many of these applications have been granted. [128738]

  Mrs. Roche
  The available information is given in the table.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Government do not expect the use of speed cameras to alter after the Human Rights Act 1998 comes into force in England and Wales on 2 October.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many areas the fines from speed cameras are kept by(a) local authorities and (b) police services; and if he will make a statement. [128391]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  In December 1998, Her Majesty's Treasury announced that, subject to certain criteria, some fine income might be reinvested in law enforcement activity. With Her Majesty's Treasury agreement, pilot schemes involving the use of speed cameras were launched on 1 April this year. The pilots are taking place in eight police force areas: Cleveland.
  67W
  Essex, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, South Wales, Strathclyde and Thames Valley.

  Local partnerships have been formed to run each of the pilots. These consist of the police, local authorities and the courts. Fine revenue from fixed penalties is being invested into the purchase of additional speed cameras and/or the increased use of existing cameras all to an agreed programme. Surplus fine income will be returned to Her Majesty's Treasury. The success of the pilots will be judged on their road safety benefits, particularly their ability to reduce deaths and injuries.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average cost was of a new speed camera in the last 12 months. [128390]

  Average level of fines given at all courts by type of offence, England and Wales, 1994–98

  £

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  Type of offence

  Average fine

  Average fine where fine only penalty

  Average fine

  Average fine where fine only penalty

  Average fine

  Average fine where fine only penalty

  Average fine

  Average fine where fine only penalty

  Average fine

  Average fine where fine only penalty

  Indictable offences

  Violence against the person

  170

  187

  176

  166

  173

  163

  173

  164

  170

  156

  Sexual offences

  206

  201

  216

  202

  308

  238

  223

  209

  310

  258

  Burglary

  145

  148

  140

  142

  138

  138

  142

  143

  150

  150

  Robbery

  101

  90

  63

  60

  127

  122

  76

  110

  152

  98

  Theft and handling stolen goods

  114

  114

  114

  114

  109

  107

  106

  105

  99

  97

  Fraud and forgery

  209

  233

  183

  198

  266

  277

  202

  195

  212

  232

  Criminal damage

  102

  105

  103

  108

  109

  110

  111

  111

  105

  104

  Drug offences

  102

  104

  102

  102

  104

  102

  103

  102

  96

  94

  Other (non-motoring)

  229

  223

  264

  256

  375

  367

  415

  414

  404

  402

  Motoring (indictable)

  165

  165

  177

  176

  175

  174

  177

  175

  190

  189

  Total indictable offences

  150

  153

  158

  163

  188

  197

  195

  209

  186

  202

  Summary non-motoring offences

  99

  98

  103

  103

  103

  103

  104

  104

  105

  105

  Summary motoring offences

  160

  161

  166

  166

  161

  161

  163

  164

  162

  162

  Total all offences

  137

  138

  145

  145

  141

  142

  147

  148

  145

  146

  Drug Testing and Treatment Orders
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to extend the range of offenders who could be subject to a drug testing and treatment order; and if he will make a statement. [128397]

  Mr. Boateng
  None: all offenders aged 16 or over convicted of an offence for which a community sentence is appropriate may be made subject to a Drug Treatment and Testing Order provided that the court is satisfied that the offender is dependent on or has a propensity to misuse drugs, that treatment may be helpful and the offender has expressed his willingness to comply with the requirements of the order.

  Neighbourhood Wardens
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total central Government expenditure is on neighbourhood wardens; and if he will make a statement. [128387]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Government have allocated £13.5 million over the three years for a fund to pump-prime and evaluate new and existing neighbourhood
  68W
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Home Office type approved speed cameras vary considerably in their technology and application. An average cost is not available.

  Fines
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average level of fine was(a) issued for each category of offence in each of the last five years and (b) where a fine was the only penalty; and if he will make a statement. [128392]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Available information for 1994 to 1998 taken from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database is given in the table.

  warden schemes, starting in 2000–01 and jointly funded by the Home Office and the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR). Additionally, the Home Office and DETR are jointly funding a new inter-departmental unit, the Neighbourhood Wardens Unit, to take forward work on neighbourhood wardens including administering the fund.

  Casualties
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total number was of(a) injuries and (b) deaths (i) per police force area and (ii) in total arising from (A) traffic accidents and (B) assaults and other violent crimes; and if he will make a statement. [128395]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The requested details on injuries and deaths resulting from assaults and other violent crimes are not collected centrally. Recorded crime data in relation to certain offences of violence against the person are given in the table. Please note that the offences given as wounding and assault may represent attempts, conspiring, inciting, aiding, abetting, causing or permitting, and not result in an actual injury.
  69W
  The British Crime Survey has estimated that, in 1997, there were 714,000 assaults with more than trivial injury ('wounding'), and 2,276,000 common assaults, ie physical assaults or attempted assault with at most slight bruising. These categories do not necessarily coincide with those from the recorded crime figures.

  Notifiable offences recorded by the police by police force year ending September 1999

  Police force

  Homicide

  Attempted murder and wounding or other act endangering life

  Other wounding (including racially aggravated other wounding)

  Assault on a constable and common assault (including racially aggravated common assault)

  Avon and Somerset

  19

  284

  3,856

  6,139

  Bedfordshire

  4

  223

  1,917

  2,138

  Cambridgeshire

  7

  238

  2,244

  1,875

  Cheshire

  9

  262

  2,815

  1,364

  Cleveland

  8

  108

  1,461

  1,047

  Cumbria

  3

  95

  2,627

  991

  Derbyshire

  12

  197

  3,306

  4,033

  Devon and Cornwall

  18

  376

  3,101

  5,444

  Dorset

  4

  96

  1,005

  1,379

  Durham

  8

  123

  1,393

  1,812

  Essex

  17

  92

  3,666

  2,832

  Gloucestershire

  9

  151

  1,552

  1,253

  Greater Manchester

  60

  2,318

  18,223

  10,247

  Hampshire

  18

  191

  5,339

  4,837

  Hertfordshire

  1

  135

  1,533

  920

  Humberside

  13

  296

  4,116

  2,535

  Kent

  16

  402

  5,679

  3,778

  Lancashire

  24

  438

  3,005

  2,965

  Leicestershire

  16

  313

  4,633

  3,636

  Lincolnshire

  7

  89

  1,654

  1,306

  London City of

  —

  7

  202

  118

  Merseyside

  31

  694

  7,631

  2,384

  Metropolitan Police

  188

  2,162

  39,960

  72,780

  Norfolk

  8

  193

  2,213

  1,771

  Northamptonshire

  7

  140

  1,116

  2,352

  Northumbria

  15

  448

  4,538

  3,442

  North Yorkshire

  3

  69

  1,491

  1,996

  Nottinghamshire

  18

  239

  6,775

  2,955

  South Yorkshire

  13

  421

  3,043

  1,930

  Staffordshire

  16

  40

  6,422

  1,697

  Suffolk

  4

  94

  1,881

  1,255

  Surrey

  1

  101

  2,344

  1,284

  Sussex

  19

  154

  5,955

  7,786

  Thames Valley

  21

  195

  5,672

  3,846

  Warwickshire

  4

  63

  893

  736

  West Mercia

  7

  187

  2,045

  3,449

  West Midlands

  50

  1,563

  11,114

  17,114

  West Yorkshire

  29

  876

  7,990

  4,000

  Wiltshire

  5

  50

  1,744

  2,088

  Dyfed-Powys

  4

  104

  1,841

  1,180

  Gwent

  1

  289

  3,113

  4,773

  North Wales

  6

  102

  1,952

  2,118

  South Wales

  26

  783

  4,891

  2,222

  England and Wales

  749

  15,401

  197,951

  203,807

  Road Fuels
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each(a) police authority and (b) fire authority, the amount of money spent on road fuels in the last financial year. [128380]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  70W
  The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions has recently published the transport statistical bulletin 'Road Casualties in Great Britain: Main Results 1999', which includes the requested details in table 6. This is available in the Library.

  Women Prisoners
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) undertaken on the effect on children of the imposition of custodial sentences on their mothers. [128122]

  Mr. Boateng
  The most recently published study of imprisoned mothers was 'Imprisoned Women and Mothers' by Caddle and Crisp. It was commissioned by the Prison Service and published in 1997 (Home Office
  71W
  Research Study 162). The entire female prisoner population at the end of 1994, comprising 1,766 women, were surveyed. In-depth interviews were conducted with the 61 per cent. of that population who were either pregnant or mothers of children under 18.

  In the report of a 'Review of Principles, Policies and Procedures on Mothers and Babies/Children in Prison' (Her Majesty's Prison Service July 1999) and the Prison Service's Response and Action Plan (December 1999), a number of areas of research concerning the children of women prisoners was recommended. The Prison Service is giving consideration to these recommendations. Copies of both documents were placed in the Library.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had on the establishment of family visiting areas in prisons; and if he will make a statement. [128124]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Prison Service places enormous importance on encouraging prisoners to maintain close family ties and to making family visits to prisoners as comfortable and productive as possible. This relates not only to the specific establishment of family visiting areas but also to a range of facilities such as the provision of visitors' centres and play areas. Moreover, there is increasing emphasis on delivering initiatives to fully maximise the potential for allowing prisoners to have extended contact with families through longer visits and temporary release; and facilitating the visits of families from long distances through the provision of financial support and assistance with accommodation.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to enable women who receive custodial sentences to make arrangements for the care of their dependent children prior to the start of their sentence. [128121]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Government have no immediate plans to make new arrangements for women or men with parental responsibilities to arrange child care prior to starting a custodial sentence. There may be opportunities while pre-sentence reports are being prepared for child care arrangements to be considered.

  However, the Government do take seriously the needs of women offenders in the criminal justice system, and a working group has been established to consider a strategy on women offenders, including the range of sentences available. Also, the team undertaking the Review of the Sentencing Framework, which was announced on 16 May, will bear the needs of women offenders in mind in formulating its recommendations.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of women prisoners who suffer from(a) drug and (b) alcohol addiction; and what proportion of these women are involved in detoxification programmes while in prison. [128123]

  Mr. Boateng
  The report of a study of Psychiatric Morbidity Amongst Prisoners in England and Wales, undertaken in 1997 for the Department of Health by the Office for National Statistics, indicated that in the year before entering prison, 36 per cent. of women on remand and 39 per cent. of sentenced women reported engaging 72W
  in hazardous drinking. Fifty four per cent. of women on remand and 41 per cent. of sentenced women reported some degree of drug dependence.

  The information sought in the second part of the question is not available in the form requested. Returns from Prison Service establishments show that in 1998–99, when almost 16,000 women were screened on reception into prison by healthcare staff, 3,091 completed drugs detoxification programmes and 413 completed alcohol detoxification programmes.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the working group established to develop a strategy for the treatment of women in prison to report. [128127]

  Mr. Boateng
  The report of the working group and the timing of any publication is under consideration.

  Anti-social Behaviour Orders
  Dr. Kumar

  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the conclusions reached by the action group on Anti-social Behaviour Orders led by the Chair of the Youth Justice Board; and if he will make a statement. [128801]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Anti-social Behaviour Order Action Group concluded that, in order to give increased impetus to the take-up of applications for Anti-social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs), there was a need to spread the good practice that already existed in certain areas of the country. To achieve this, the Action Group drew up practical guidance on considering and applying for ASBOs, and also set up a series of seminars as a means of consulting on the draft guidance and of providing an opportunity to hear about, and discuss, the experiences of those who had successfully obtained such orders.

  Ten seminars were held in all, in each of the Government Regions in England and Wales, between early March and Easter this year. Following the successful conclusion of the seminars, the Action Group held their final meeting in May to complete their work on the draft guidance. I launched the booklet, "Anti-social Behaviour Orders: Guidance on drawing up Local ASBO Protocols", on 28 June. A copy has been placed in the Library.

  I am grateful to my noble Friend Lord Warner and the Action Group for all their work. I hope that the new guidance, which complements the guidance on ASBOs issued in March 1999, will enable the police and local authorities to make effective use of this important tool for dealing with anti-social behaviour.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Women's Unit Consultation
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when the policy discussion on the No. 10 website on issues raised by the consultation conducted by the Women's Unit will be launched; how long it will run; and how the information will be treated once the consultation is over. [127249]
  73W
  Ms Jowell
  The No. 10 website will host a policy discussion, on the issues arising from the Listening to Women Consultation, which will open on 3 July and will last between four and five weeks. It will cover issues such as work-life balance; support from Government for women's life choices; business start-ups; access to Information and Communications Technology; and the forthcoming Parental Leave and Maternity Review. A summary of the comments will be posted on the No. 10 website, along with a response statement from the Ministers for Women when the discussion period is over. The website address is www.number-10.gov.uk.

  Medical Schools
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many funded places were made available for the training of doctors at medical schools in(a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) the UK in each of the last five years; and what provision has been made for places in future years. [128319]

  Mr. Wicks
  The number of funded places made available for the training of doctors at medical schools in the past five years are:

  England

  Scotland

  Wales

  Northern Ireland

  UK total

  1995–96

  3,486

  874

  169

  170

  4,699

  1996–97

  3,594

  888

  185

  166

  4,833

  1997–98

  3,749

  934

  200

  179

  5,062

  1998–99

  3,735

  956

  200

  178

  5,069

  1999–2000

  3,980

  923

  226

  177

  5,306

  The Government announced in July 1998 that the annual intake of medical students in the UK would be increased over the period to 2005 by about 1,000 places. In England the Higher Education Funding Council for England has announced the allocation of a total of 1,126 additional places. The funding to the Council takes these new places into account. A further increase in the number of medical students is being considered in recognition of the rapid development of services to underpin modernisation of the National Health Service. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland these matters are for the devolved Administrations.

  Primary School Teachers
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what steps he has taken to increase the number of male primary school teachers; [128291]

  (2) what steps he has taken to increase the recruitment of male undergraduates to primary school teacher training. [128292]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Government recognise that men are currently under-represented in primary schools and would therefore like to see more qualifying as primary teachers. The trial introduction of £6,000 training salaries for postgraduate primary training may well encourage more applications from men for 2000–01. This 74W
  will be evaluated. Under-represented groups, including men in the primary sector, will also be a priority target for the new £13,000 grants to schools who accept a trainee on the employment-based Graduate Teacher Programme.

  The Teacher Training Agency has asked all providers of initial teacher training to set targets and draw up Action Plans for increasing the numbers of men entering undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Over 90 per cent. have now done so. In addition, more than a quarter of the taster courses funded by the Teacher Training Agency in the period June 2000–August 2001, which are designed to give prospective trainee teachers an insight into what teaching is like, are specifically focused on recruiting men.

  School-based Learning Assistants
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what funding is available to supply the training needs of primary school-based learning assistants; and if he will make a statement. [128746]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Between 1999–2002, we are making available to local education authorities in England a total of £350 million to meet the cost of recruiting and training the equivalent of 20,000 new teaching assistants and to support the training of more experienced teaching assistants, so that they may develop their skills and further their careers. Of the allocation which they devolve to schools, local education authorities should pass at least 80 per cent. to primary schools.

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the average primary class size in Cumbria was in each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement. [128285]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The requested information is shown in the following table.

  In the Cumbria local education authority area, the number of pupils in key stage 1 classes of 31 or more pupils was 854 in January 2000, compared with 2,572 a year earlier. This means that as few as 5.3 per cent. of these pupils remain in classes of over 30 pupils. Allocations of funding in Cumbria to support reductions in infant class sizes have so far amounted to £3.7 million. This funding has helped reduce the average size of key stage 1 classes in the Parliamentary constituency of Carlisle from 27.6 in January 1997, to 25 in January 2000. Over the same time period, the average size of key stage 2 classes in the constituency has fallen from 27.4 to 26.3; and the size of the average primary class from 27.4 to 25.7.

  The Government are well on target to deliver their infant class size pledge in England with some £620 million made available to support the pledge. The number of pupils in infant classes of over 30 pupils has already fallen by 300,000.
  75W

  Size of classes taught by one teacher in maintained primary schools in Cumbria local education authority 1979 to 2000

  Position as at January each year

  Key stage 1

  Key stage 2

  Overall primary1

  Average class size

  Number of pupils in classes of 31 or more

  Average class size

  Average class size

  20002

  23.7

  854

  26.4

  25.2

  1999

  24.9

  2,572

  26.8

  25.9

  1998

  25.7

  3,978

  26.7

  26.2

  1997

  25.9

  3,788

  26.9

  26.3

  1996

  26.3

  4,476

  26.2

  26.0

  1995

  3—

  3—

  3—

  26.2

  1994

  3—

  3—

  3—

  26.3

  1993

  3—

  3—

  3—

  25.5

  1992

  3—

  3—

  3—

  25.4

  1991

  3—

  3—

  3—

  25.2

  1990

  3—

  3—

  3—

  24.8

  1989

  3—

  3—

  3—

  24.4

  1988

  3—

  3—

  3—

  24.1

  1987

  3—

  3—

  3—

  23.7

  1986

  3—

  3—

  3—

  23.8

  1985

  3—

  3—

  3—

  23.2

  1984

  3—

  3—

  3—

  23.0

  1983

  3—

  3—

  3—

  23.4

  1982

  3—

  3—

  3—

  23.9

  1981

  3—

  3—

  3—

  24.1

  1980

  3—

  3—

  3—

  24.7

  1979

  3—

  3—

  3—

  25.2

  1Includes nursery, classes and mixed key stage classes.

  2Provisional

  3Not available (information not collected by specific key stages)

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of classes of five, six and seven-year-olds in the Crosby constituency have been reduced since 1997. [127173]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Information is not available in the form requested. The Department does not identify or monitor individual classes or registration groups.

  The Government are well on target to deliver their pledge to limit infant classes to 30 pupils. In Crosby parliamentary constituency, the average size of key stage 1 classes taught by one teacher in maintained primary schools went down from 28.3 pupils per class in January 1997 to 26.2 pupils per class in January 2000. Since January 1997, there were 830 fewer pupils in Crosby schools being educated in key stage 1 classes of 31 or more, which represents a reduction by two-thirds of the number of pupils being educated in such classes.

  Inner-city Schools
  Mr. Hesford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what recent steps his Department has taken to improve standards in inner city schools. [128262]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  In order to improve standards in inner city schools, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment has introduced Excellence in Cities (EiC). This is building on the measures already introduced to raise standards in all schools such as the literacy and numeracy strategies. The programme was launched in March 1999, and initially covered secondary schools in 25 authorities. It expanded in March this year to include a further 22 authorities and 76W
  a primary pilot in the original EiC authority areas. Total spending for Excellence in Cities will be some £400 million over the first three years of the programme.

  As a direct result of the first phase of the programme, there are already:

  Some 800 learning mentors appointed and working in schools;

  49 City Learning Centres identified—the first to open in the autumn;

  Over 200 learning support units established;

  Some 100 clusters of schools working together to enhance opportunities for gifted and talented pupils;

  42 small Education Action Zones planned, with some already on stream; and

  82 Beacon Schools and 25 specialist schools approved.

  Phase 2 will see comparable developments in the new EiC partnership areas.

  School Places (St. Albans)
  Mr. Pollard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps his Department has taken to help ensure that Hertfordshire Local Education Authority is able to increase the provision of school places in St. Albans to match(a) current needs and (b) future requirements generated by new housing developments; and if he will make a statement. [128143]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  It is the Local Education Authority's responsibility to ensure that there are sufficient school places within its area. It is under a duty to plan and keep under review the supply of school places, in the light of such issues as proposed housing development, so as to ensure that there is sufficient provision to meet demand.

  The Department has supported bids for capital funding from Hertfordshire which met the published criteria for basic need. The Local Education Authority can make further bids for capital funding if need continues to grow. Such bids will be sought from Local Education Authorities in September through the Annual Capital Guideline process.

  Teacher Training
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the schools which have been granted funding for teacher training, indicating in each case their(a) phase and (b) location. [128105]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Schools that have received grant from the Teacher Training Agency through their involvement in School Centred Initial Teacher Training consortiums are set out in table A. Table B lists the additional schools that will receive grant from September 2000. Many other schools receive funding through various initial teacher training partnership arrangements. The allocation of funds in such cases is decided locally.

  Table A

  School

  Primary

  Secondary

  Challney High School for Boys, Luton

  No

  Yes

  Clacton County High School, Clacton-on-Sea

  No

  Yes

  Charles Darwin School, Biggin Hill, Kent

  No

  Yes

  Mill Hill County High School, London

  No

  Yes

  Buttsbury Infant School, Billericay

  Yes

  No

  Woodrow First School, Redditch

  Yes

  No

  77W

  Table A

  School

  Primary

  Secondary

  Leigh City Technical College, Dartford, Kent

  No

  Yes

  Sharnbrook Upper School and Community College, Bedfordshire

  No

  Yes

  West Oxford County Primary School, Oxford

  Yes

  No

  Swaffield Primary School, London

  Yes

  No

  All Hallows RC High School, Preston

  No

  Yes

  St. Peter's High School, Gloucester

  No

  Yes

  Thomas Telford School, Shropshire

  No

  Yes

  Chelmer Valley High School, Chelmsford, Essex

  No

  Yes

  Wigmore Primary School, Luton

  Yes

  No

  South East Essex College, Southend-on-Sea

  No

  Yes

  St. Thomas High School, Exeter

  No

  Yes

  Sponne School, Northampton

  No

  Yes

  Dartford Grammar School, Kent

  No

  Yes

  Weymouth College, Dorset

  No

  Yes

  Table B

  School

  Primary

  Secondary

  Copnor Junior School, Portsmouth

  Yes

  No

  Penair School, Truro, Cornwall

  No

  Yes

  Chestnut Grove School, Balham, London

  No

  Yes

  South Benfleet Primary School, Chelmsford

  Yes

  No

  Holy Family Catholic Primary School, Southampton

  Yes

  No

  Northampton School for Boys, Northampton

  No

  Yes

  Wells Park Primary School and Training Centre, Chigwell, Essex

  Yes

  No

  Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College, London

  No

  Yes

  St. Brendan's Sixth Form College, Bristol

  No

  Yes

  Michael Sobell Sinai Primary, Middlesex

  Yes

  No

  Early-years Education
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the additional costs of making early-years education freely available to all three-year-olds; and if he will make a statement. [127505]

  Ms Hodge
  [holding answer 27 June 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 1 March 2000, Official Report, column 314W.

  Disabled Access
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of SCOPE's report on disability access entitled "Left Out"; and what action he is taking to encourage employers(a) to comply with the requirements of Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and (b) to accept the business case for disabled access. [127597]

  Ms Hodge
  [holding answer 27 June 2000]: The Government have seen a draft copy of the report on SCOPE's Left Out campaign and we will consider it after it is launched on 3 July.

  The Government are taking a number of steps to encourage service providers to comply with the requirements of Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) and accept the business case for disabled access. On 29 June 1999, we published a Code of Practice
  78W
  which explains the duties under Part III and gives practical guidance on implementation. On 1 October last year, to coincide with further rights under Part III coming into force, we published an information booklet called "An Introduction for Small and Medium-sized Businesses". This explains the duties businesses and organisations have under Part III.

  On 1 October 2004, the final stage of rights under Part III of the DDA will come into force. From then, in addition to their current duties, service providers will have to take reasonable steps to tackle physical features which make it impossible or unreasonably difficult for disabled people to use a service. On 8 May 2000 the Government and the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) launched a joint consultation exercise on a revised version of the Part III Code, a Practical Guide for service providers and the Government's proposals for a small number of Regulations under the Act. The consultation documents have been sent to a wide range of businesses and organisations. The exercise will last for three months. The DRC will consider the views expressed in the consultation before preparing final versions of the Code and Guide.

  The DRC also has a part in encouraging employers to accept the business case for disabled people. Part of the DRC's remit is to be a central source of information and advice on the DDA. Employers and service providers are a key target audience and the DRC's Helpline is currently being promoted to business via advertisements in the regional and trade press. An interactive service is available between 8.00 and 20.00, and a range of leaflets and factsheets on all parts of the DDA is available free of charge. An ordering facility is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

  Standards Fund
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 22 June 2000,Official Report, column 269W, on the Standards Fund, if he will break down the way in which sums surrendered for the Standards Fund were used. [128065]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The sums surrendered for the Standards Fund 2000–01 were mainly used to provide further support for LEAs and schools to achieve the objectives of the specific grants in the programme, in particular Special Educational Needs, National Grid for Learning, and Protecting and Expanding Music Services. In addition, £9 million of the surrendered amount is being used to fund the new Pupil Allowance Scheme, announced on 27 April, for secondary schools in Excellence in Cities areas who accept difficult pupils outside the normal school admission round.

  Lone Parents
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many families(a) in Coventry, South, (b) in the West Midlands Region and (c) nationally will benefit from Government measures aimed at helping lone parents balance work and family life. [127245]
  79W
  Ms Hodge
  [holding answer 26 June 2000]: We do not yet have information about how many families will benefit as a result of the Work-Life Balance Campaign. This is a general campaign from which everybody stands to benefit: the economy; businesses; society; families, including those headed by lone parents; and individuals.

  The New Deal for Lone Parents is a specific measure designed to help those lone parents on Income Support into work. Between October 1998 when the programme was rolled out nationally and the end of March 2000, NDLP has helped 94 lone parents in the Coventry, South constituency into jobs. The figure for the West Midlands Employment Service Region is 4,021 and the figure nationally is 44,640. Taking into account the earlier phases of NDLP the figure is 50,911. The Government have recently announced an expansion to this programme to allow support to be given to more lone parents.

  School Funding (Warrington, North)
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the primary schools in Warrington, North constituency which have received additional money to reduce class sizes. [127319]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 26 June 2000]: The schools in Warrington, North which have received additional funding as part of the Government's initiative to limit infant classes to 30 pupils are as set out. £620 million is available to support the initiative, and allocations so far to Warrington LEA amount to £2.8 million. This has helped to reduce the size of the average Key Stage 1 class in Warrington, North to 25.9. The figure in January 1997 was 27.5. The number of children in infant classes of 31 or more pupils in the constituency has fallen from 1,450 in January 1997, to 710 in January 2000.

  Brook Acre Community Primary

  Callands Primary

  Croft Primary

  Culcheth Community Primary

  St. Andrew's CE Primary

  St. Elphin's Fairfield CE VA Primary

  St. Margaret's CE VA Primary

  St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Primary

  Twiss Green Community Primary

  Westbrook Old Hall Primary

  Winwick CE Primary

  Woolston Community Primary.

  Special Schools (Closures)
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many special schools were approved for closure in each year since 1992. [122229]

  Jacqui Smith
  This information is not held centrally. While the date on which a school actually closes is a matter of public record, the date on which approval to close it was given is much less easy to identify and it has not been possible to obtain consistent information, despite every effort having been made to do so over the past few weeks.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Energy Use
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what mechanisms he uses for monitoring energy use in different sectors of the economy. [127454]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 26 June 2000]: I have been asked to reply.

  The Government collect information on energy use in different sectors from a variety of sources, including returns from energy companies themselves. Further information on energy use in different sectors of the economy, including data sources, may be found in the annual Digest of UK Energy Statistics. A copy of the 1999 edition has been placed in the Library. The 2000 edition will be published on 27 July.

  Figures showing energy consumption by broad sectors of the economy, on a quarterly basis, are routinely published in the Department's monthly statistical bulletin, "Energy Trends".

  Fuel Poverty
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on progress made in partnership with Transco on implementing the affordable warmth programme in advance of next winter. [127573]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have been asked to reply.

  There has been significant progress on Affordable Warmth since my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry trailed the scheme in a speech last October. The Government have worked closely with Transco in developing the scheme, and, in particular, have amended the rules on capital allowances to encourage the use of lease financing for domestic central heating equipment which is central to the scheme's operation.

  The scheme was formally launched to MPs, local authorities, and the fuel poverty lobby by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 8 June. Transco subsequently presented the scheme to Welsh housing providers in Cardiff on 26 June.

  There are two separate aspects to the scheme—the installation of central heating and insulation in the homes of the fuel poor, and the development of training opportunities for those employed through the scheme. On the first of these, Transco have given 175 presentations about the scheme to social housing providers, and planned installations so far include Inverclyde Council (3,500 homes) and Derby City Council (600 homes). Discussions are proceeding with Leicester City Council (3,000 homes). Many more housing providers—including Blaenau Gwent—have expressed interest.

  Transco estimate that at least 3,000 homes will be treated by the end of the calendar year 2000, and perhaps many more than that as the scheme gathers momentum. We expect a million homes to be improved under the scheme over the next five years. This will significantly reduce the incidence of fuel poverty.
  81W
  On the training front, there are already three live projects:
  in Leicester, the first Environ Energy Advocates Project course began at the end of May, with six people trained so far and 40 projected by the beginning of December:
  the Fenland District Council Central Heating in Partnership Scheme (CHIPS) begins on I July, for completion by 1 December, with 50 people to be trained:
  the Affordable Warmth team is working in conjunction with the Gas Industry Training Organisation (GINTO) on the competition to create a training framework for adults coming into the gas installation and maintenance business.

  Other projects currently under discussion include:
  a partnership being developed between Transco and Braunstone's New Deal Task Force, to train 200 members of the community in Affordable Warmth-related skills (10 per cent. through New Deal, 50 Gas Installation Engineers) over a three-year period;
  a bid to establish a consortium capable of delivering demand-led gas industry training in the London area (as part of the GINTO adult framework competition), to which Affordable Warmth have been invited to provide some funding.

  Further regeneration areas being targeted include Hull and Luton. Transco expect that the scheme will create 10,000 training opportunities, with 3,000 of those becoming fully-qualified gas fitters. It is also expected that 3,000 opportunities will be made available for people under the New Deal.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what work he is carrying out in collaboration with National Energy Action to relieve conditions of fuel poverty in the United Kingdom. [127576]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Department has supported the work of National Energy Action (NEA) for many years. This year it will be providing grant funding of £736,000 towards NEA's work in England, concentrating on: support to local authorities in developing affordable warmth strategies for their area; identifying how to reach fuel poor households in rural areas; and development of referral networks among ethnic minority communities.

  Drink Driving
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of media campaigns in reducing the incidence of drink driving. [124053]

  Mr. Hill
  Our drink drive media campaigns have aimed to stimulate media and public awareness of the message not to drink and drive. They have also provided a focus for co-ordinated complementary activity by police forces, local authorities and many others in the public and private sectors. Effectiveness is measured on an ongoing basis by:market research which tracks, each month, advertising recall and changes in attitudes across a range of road safety issues,
  behaviour change indicators such as proportions failing breath tests and, over the longer term,
  casualty statistics.

  The tables show the reduction in casualties and in the percentage of positive breath tests over recent years.
  82W

  Fatalities and serious injuries in drink drive accidents 1979 and 1998

  Year

  1979

  1998

  Percentage difference

  Fatalities

  1,640

  460

  -72

  Serious injuries

  8,300

  2520

  -70

  Percentage of breath tests which were positive/refused 1988–1998

  Year

  Percentage positive/refused

  1988

  25

  1989

  20

  1990

  17

  1991

  16

  1992

  17

  1993

  15

  1994

  14

  1995

  13

  1996

  13

  1997

  13

  19981

  12

  1Provisional

  GM Crops
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he has(a) been and (b) asked to be provided with information on whether any of the conventional rapeseed grown in the farm-scale evaluations contains genetically modified rapeseed; and if he will place copies of the written information in his possession in that regard in the Library. [126098]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 15 June 2000]: I have been advised that none of the Farm Scale Evaluation sites in England have been planted with the affected batches of Advanta Hyola rapeseeds, but I understand that the evaluation site in Scotland has been.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to the statement on 18 May 2000,Official Report, column 475, when the seed purity checks were put in place; how many consignments of GM seeds have been checked to date; to what degree of purity the seeds were tested; and what were the results of the tests. [126855]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 19 June 2000]: My Department has asked the Central Science Laboratory (CSL) to check for GM contamination of imports of oilseed rape and maize, as part of CSL's wider responsibilities for inspection and enforcement relating to GM releases and marketing. CSL are currently compiling data from which an appropriate inspection programme is being developed.

  The programme will be in place in good time for the sowing of winter oilseed rape, which CSL will consider as its first priority.

  Departmental Cars
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the(a) make, (b) model and (c) number of each make and model of car (i) owned and (ii) leased by his Department; and what is the (1) purchase price and (2) annual cost of the lease of each car. [127396]
  83W
  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Information about the make and model of cars owned or leased by my Department has been placed in the Library of the House. Information about purchase price and lease costs is not held centrally.

  Interactive Voice Response Systems
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many of his Department's telephone lines used by the general public are responded to by interactive voice response systems. [127390]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  None of the telephone lines of DETR(c) currently use an Interactive Voice Recognition (IVR) system.

  Pursuant to my answer of 22 June 2000, Official Report, column 245W, I have been informed that two of the Department's Agencies—the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and the Driving Standards Agency (DSA)—make limited IVR facilities available to callers not using touch-tone telephones. DVLA has 345 telephone lines and DSA has up to 380 lines that have this facility.

  I apologise for the error in my previous answer.

  Regional Planning Guidance (South East)
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much funding was allocated for distributing copies of the draft regional planning guidance for the South East. [127798]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The costs to date met by Government of distributing copies of draft regional planning guidance for the South East have been approximately £3,500 by my Department, and approximately £12,300 incurred by the Government Office for the South East.

  Gas Safety Review
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many responses were received to the consultation on the "Gas Safety Review: Options for Change" document; [127972]

  (2) if he will list (a) the organisations and (b) the individuals responding. [127982]

  Mr. Meacher
  In total 664 replies to the Options for Change discussion exercise were received by HSE. These comprise 290 responses to questions raised by the main discussion document, and the associated document Key Issues for Consumers; and 374 responses to questionnaires from consumers in Glasgow and Lambeth, arising from related consultative exercises arranged jointly with local authorities.

  A list of the organisations and individuals who responded has been placed in the House of Commons Library, and in HSE's Information Centres in London, Sheffield and Bootle.

  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to make an announcement concerning changes to be implemented following the "Gas Safety Review: Options for Change" document. [127983]
  84W
  Mr. Meacher
  The Health and Safety Commission plans to report to Ministers with findings and recommendations during the summer. In the light of that we will make an announcement.

  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects the HSE to reach conclusions on the "Gas Safety Review: Options for Change" document. [127984]

  Mr. Meacher
  The review is being carried out on behalf of the Health and Safety Commission. HSC is likely to reach conclusions in the summer, before reporting to Ministers.

  London Boroughs Central Support Protection Grant
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to increase the central support protection grant for London boroughs in order to implement the Government's priorities. [127850]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  We announced during the debate on this year's Local Government Finance Settlement, on 3 February 2000,Official Report, column 1271, that we intend to use the same central support protection grant arrangements for 2001–02 that we used for this year. These arrangements ensure an increase of at least 1.5 per cent. in grant for London boroughs and other local authorities with education and social service responsibilities.

  London Underground
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the performance of driverless trains on the London Underground in relation to attributable delays, with special reference to peak hour traffic; and for what reason not all new rolling stock is equipped for driverless operation. [128041]

  Mr. Hill
  All London Underground trains have drivers. However, it is true that Automatic Train Operation (ATO) gives improved consistency of performance. ATO is already used on the Victoria line and on parts of the Central line. The driver, however, can always override the system if necessary. There are plans to extend its use on the Central line later this year and ATO for other lines will be considered at times of major upgrade.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the performance of the London Underground Central Line in 1999 in relation to attributable delays, with special reference to the age of rolling stock involved. [128040]

  Mr. Hill
  New rolling stock was introduced on the Central Line in 1993 and 1994, which incorporated a number of revolutionary new train system developments from which passengers are already benefiting. London Underground are working to remedy particular problems with the final trainborne element of the Automatic Train Operation (ATO) signalling system.

  Climate Change
  Mr. Pollard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment
  85W
  he has made of the impact of the Draft Programme on Climate Change on the additional costs which would fall on (a) air conditioning manufacturers and (b) consumers in the United Kingdom from a ban on the use of HFCs; and if he will make a statement on the draft programme's impact on the international competitiveness of UK air conditioning manufacturing. [128039]

  Mr. Meacher
  No assessment has been made of the additional costs that would fall on air conditioning manufacturers and consumers from a ban on the use of HFCs because the Government have not proposed such a ban.

  The draft climate change programme includes a policy statement on HFCs that sends a clear signal to industry and users not to use HFCs where more environmentally acceptable, safe, technically feasible and cost-effective alternatives exist. At the same time we recognise that HFCs are necessary to replace ozone-depleting substances in some applications, and that HFC emissions reduction strategies should not undermine commitments to phase out ozone-depleting substances under the Montreal Protocol.

  The Government have made it clear that they aim to put in place a climate change programme that safeguards and enhances UK competitiveness. We recognise the concern business has expressed about the implications of action on climate change for the UK's international competitiveness, but believe that the measures in the draft programme are consistent with that aim.

  West Coast Mainline Upgrade
  Mr. Pollard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action his Department is taking to ensure that Railtrack provide the signalling infrastructure, as part of the West Coast Mainline Upgrade, to give the train operating company holding the franchise for the St. Albans Abbey to Watford Junction line the ability to operate through services to London from St. Albans Abbey station. [128142]

  Mr. Hill
  Trains from St. Albans Abbey can operate at present onto the main line at Watford Junction with special permission, although not for regular services. As part of the current plans for the West Coast Main Line Upgrade a new island platform, which can take eight car trains, will be constructed at Watford Junction to replace platform 11 currently used by St. Albans Abbey trains. The associated new signalling will allow trains to pass to and from the London Euston lines on a regular basis. It would then be a matter for the franchise operator to discuss with interested local stakeholders the need for and viability of through services between London Euston and St. Albans Abbey via Watford Junction.

  Seat Belts
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 2 May 2000,Official Report, columns 3–4W, on seat belts, if he will list the Scottish local authorities participating in the public consultation exercise on draft regulations regarding the fitting of seat belts; and if he will make a statement. [127912]
  86W
  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 29 June 2000]: As the proposals concerned the national implementation of European Directive vehicle construction provisions, only those local authorities which had previously expressed a specific interest in the issue were consulted, which included no Scottish authorities.

  Housing
  Ms Moran
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he intends to take to increase housing supply on(a) brownfield and (b) urban sites. [128314]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Planning Policy Guidance note 3: Housing, issued in March, provides guidance on planning for housing. One of its main objectives is to ensure that better use is made of previously developed land and buildings for additional housing, particularly within urban areas. PPG3 has introduced a sequential approach which requires previously developed land and buildings in urban areas to be considered for development in preference to greenfield sites.

  Incinerators
  Sir Paul Beresford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what account he takes of local objections when deciding on planning applications for building incinerators. [128811]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  When my right hon. Friend decides any planning application he does so after having looked carefully at all the relevant considerations, including all representations made to him, whether in favour of the proposed development or against it.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance he gives on the desirability of siting waste incinerators near to principal sources of waste where the proposed site is(a) rural and (b) urban; and if he will make a statement. [128810]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Guidance to local authorities is given in Planning Policy Guidance Note 10 (Planning and Waste Management), published in September 1999. This states that the "proximity principle" is one of the key principles on which waste management decisions should be based, namely that waste should generally be managed as near as possible to its place of production, because transporting waste itself has an environmental impact. This holds good equally for rural and urban locations.

  The other key principles to be followed in decisions on the siting of waste incinerators are:
  consideration of the Best Practicable Environmental Option (BPEO)—the option that provides the most benefits or the least damage to the environment as a whole, at acceptable cost, in the long term as well as the short term;
  regional self-sufficiency—that most waste should be treated or disposed of in the region in which it is produced;
  the waste hierarchy—a theoretical framework which acts as a guide to assessing the BPEO in selecting waste management options.

  A130
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to integrate the A130 into a second London orbital road; and if he will make a statement. [128617]

  Mr. Hill
  The A130 forms a major North-South route through Essex linking the towns of Great Dunmow and Chelmsford with South East Essex and Basildon. It carries a substantial volume of traffic, passing through communities with consequent environmental and safety problems for the residents.

  The A130 Improvement, South of Chelmsford, is being constructed as a local bypass for some of these communities and to relieve them of the effects of the traffic. It is not intended that this or any length of the A130 should become part of a second London orbital road.

  Montreal Convention
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has made in relation to the Montreal Convention to ensure UK passengers will be able to claim compensation for psychiatric injury caused by air accidents; and if he will make a statement. [128317]

  Mr. Hill
  Damages for mental injury caused by air accidents are already recoverable in the UK when associated with physical injury. In preparation for the Diplomatic Conference held in Montreal in May 1999, at which the Convention was signed, the UK supported a proposal by Sweden for a separate head of claim for mental injury. Prior to the Conference, however, that proposal was withdrawn from the draft text of the Convention. Our position was that a separate claim for mental injury could be advocated only if there was sufficient support to gain global agreement. There was not

  Property and violent crime on whole railway network 1994–99

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Property crime

  Criminal damage

  9,892

  10,502

  9,127

  7,261

  6,543

  Theft passenger property/goods

  20,766

  21,206

  18,625

  19,381

  19,099

  Vehicle crime

  19,817

  20,811

  18,011

  15,220

  14,337

  Theft railway property/burglary

  8,472

  7,986

  7,138

  6,098

  6,619

  Total

  49,055

  50,003

  43,774

  40,699

  40,055

  Violent crime

  Notifiable violent offences

  1,735

  1,571

  1,547

  1,639

  1,751

  Notifiable sexual offences

  578

  603

  675

  756

  680

  Robberies

  1,846

  2,431

  2,273

  1,836

  1,874

  Total

  4,159

  4,605

  4,495

  4,231

  4,305

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many and what proportion of railway stations have become accredited as secure stations; what standards have to be met to achieve the accreditation; what measures he is taking to ensure more stations are so accredited; and if he will make a statement. [128302]

  Mr. Hill
  There are currently 61 stations accredited under the Secure Stations Scheme (out of approximately 2,800 stations in Great Britain). The Secure Stations Scheme, which was launched in April 1998, is designed 88W
  sufficient support so, in the interest of securing the best deal for the UK, it was decided to support the text of the Convention without a separate reference to mental injury. The Conference "travaux préparatoires", nevertheless, indicate that damages for mental injury can be recovered in certain states and that jurisprudence in this area is developing.

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on progress towards ratification of the Montreal Convention. [128316]

  Mr. Hill
  Primary legislation in the form of a new Carriage by Air Act is required before the UK can ratify the Montreal Convention. We aim to introduce that legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows. The Convention requires ratification by 30 states before it can come into force. To date, three states have deposited instruments of ratification.

  Stations (Crime)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many(a) property and (b) violent crimes were recorded by the British Transport Police at (i) railway stations and (ii) coach and bus stations in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [128303]

  Mr. Hill
  The British Transport Police (BTP) are responsible for policing the national railway, London Underground and a number of light rail systems. They do not police coach or bus facilities.

  The BTP's crime database does not allow the figures for crime locations to be extracted easily and providing the figures for railway stations alone could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The tables include figures for property and violent crime over the last five years on the whole railway network.

  to improve and standardise good security practices at all overground and underground stations. To become an accredited Secure Station, each station operator needs to work with their local British Transport Police Crime Prevention Operator to ensure that their station meets the national standards on design and management to cut down crime. The standards relate to such measures as staff training, Help Points, CCTV, lighting and information. Operators also have to conduct an independent passenger survey to see whether passengers feel safe at the station and provide evidence that crime rates are low.
  89W
  We are aware that a number of stations are currently working towards accreditation and we are hopeful of having around 100 stations accredited by the end of the year. We will continue to work with the rail industry to encourage further accreditations.

  Powershift Programme
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will announce a decision about Safeway's application for grant funding from the Powershift programme for assistance towards the acquisition of 40 gas powered trucks; and if he will make a statement. [128374]

  Mr. Meacher
  Safeway's application for grant funding exceeds the £250,000 discretionary cap that may generally be offered by the Powershift programme to a single company. This cap was introduced to ensure that many organisations could benefit from Powershift grants rather than all of the programme's budget being used to support a large order for vehicles from a single company. The cap is discretionary, however, and there will be cases where larger grants can be justified because they will make a significant impact on the market for alternative fuels.

  Powershift's advisory panel, comprising officials from my Department, DTI and the Energy Saving Trust, is meeting today to agree the level of grant funding to be offered to Safeway's. The Trust will announce the decision of the panel immediately following this meeting.

  Rail Freight Competition
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what assessment was made by the consultants for the sSRA's recent rail freight competition of the viability of the mechanical engineering performance claims and their costs for the three projects that made the final of the competition; and if the consultants highlighted any limitations of use or cost-effectiveness of the winning products; [128373]

  (2) which consultancy firm was retained by the shadow Strategic Rail Authority for its recent rail freight competition; and what were the headings of its remit. [128381]

  Mr. Hill
  The consultants appointed to review the proposals for the sSRA's railfreight competition were Ove Amp and Partners. Their remit was to review the five shortlisted proposals submitted by applicants for the competition and to provide an independent assessment of each proposal using the criteria published by the sSRA.

  The consultant's remit did not include any requirement to make an assessment of the viability of the mechanical engineering performance claims for the five shortlisted entries. There was a requirement to review the costs proposed and whether they were realistic and robust for each project. There was also a requirement to examine the applicability of the proposed project to other supply chains. The sSRA subsequently made its own assessment and judged the proposals on value for money criteria.

  Cycling
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will list 90W
  the funding made available in each year since 1984–85 to each local authority for spending on schemes to encourage cycling; [128378]

  (2) how much the Government spent in each year since 1984–85 on schemes to encourage cycling. [128379]

  Mr. Hill
  This information is not available in the form requested.

  As far as local authority schemes are concerned no separate funding is made available to encourage cycling. It is for individual authorities to decide the amount spent on cycling from their overall total allocation of funding.

  Between 1991–92 and 1999–2000, local highway authorities received funding for integrated transport packages and minor works, including cycling, as part of the annual local transport capital settlement. From 2000–01 onwards, authorities will receive an integrated capital block allocation each year for all local transport and maintenance purposes except schemes costing more than £5 million, which are funded separately.

  The following table gives details of allocations from 1991–92 to 2000–01, from which spending on schemes to encourage cycling could be made.

  £ million

  Year

  Amount available

  1991–92

  120

  1992–93

  109

  1993–94

  125

  1994–95

  70

  1995–96

  128

  1996–97

  118

  1997–98

  79

  1998–99

  85

  1999–2000

  160

  2000–01

  250

  As to other expenditure the Department funds research into promoting cycling and making it safer. We issue guidance based on the results of research through our Local Transport Notes and Traffic Advisory Leaflets. In addition we are funding the marketing of the National Cycling Strategy and in 1996–97 around £2 million were provided by the Department to fund schemes in the Cycle Challenge project.

  M4 Bus Lane
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the total cost of producing the video of the M4 bus lane entitled, "The First Three Months"; how many copies of the video were made; and how many have been distributed. [128377]

  Mr. Hill
  The only publication entitled "The First Three Months" was a leaflet. 10,000 were printed at a cost of £1,419.40 (including VAT). About 9,600 have been distributed since it was first made available at the Earls Court Motor Show held in October 1999.

  Air Traffic Control (Software Failure)
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the flight
  91W
  data software that failed at West Drayton on Saturday 17 June is no longer in use; and if he will make a statement. [128376]

  Mr. Hill
  The software version that was withdrawn on 17 June was subjected to analysis and the fault identified. A suitable software remedy was devised and, following thorough testing, the version was restored to the Flight Data Processing System during the quiet hours overnight on 26 to 27 June.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about the software failure at West Drayton air traffic control centre on 26 June. [128372]

  Mr. Hill
  The software failure that occurred at 14.49 hours GMT at the London Area and Terminal Control Centre at West Drayton on 26 June was caused by a flight plan that could not be processed. The system was out of service for only three minutes. NATS has identified the software fault and is in the process of identifying and testing a suitable software remedy. This fault is totally unrelated to the failure on 17 June which was caused by a latent design fault in the flight strip printing system.

  Signals Passed at Danger
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on recent incidents of signals passed at danger by trains on lines on the approaches to Paddington Station. [128375]

  Mr. Hill
  The Health and Safety Executive independently investigates all serious incidents of signals passed at danger (SPADs). They are investigating a number of recent incidents in the Paddington area, and in particular an incident on 16 June when a Thames Trains Turbo passed a signal at danger at Royal Oak. HSE has ensured that the computer tapes from the signal box and from the train's on-board data recorders have been secured as evidence. HSE has also been seeking further assurances from Railtrack regarding the safe working of trains between Slough and Paddington. Following the completion of HSE's inquiries, the results of their investigations will be included in HSE's monthly "signals passed at danger" report to Ministers, copies of which are placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans London Underground has developed to cope with the increase in traffic at King's Cross-St. Pancras underground station once Phase II of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link is completed with King's Cross-St. Pancras as its terminus; and if he will place a copy of these plans in the Library. [128371]

  Mr. Hill
  Improvements to King's Cross-St. Pancras underground station have always been envisaged as part of the works for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. In January 1999 my predecessor, my hon. Friend the Member for Hampstead and Highgate (Ms Jackson), announced that these improvements were to go ahead and be financed by Government as part of their contribution to the link.
  92W
  The improvements include two new ticket halls and new passageways at the station which will double its existing capacity and allow it to cope with the expected influx of passengers using Eurostar when the high speed link to the Channel Tunnel opens. They will also meet the requirements of the Fennel report into the King's Cross underground station fire. Construction is due to start later this year and be completed in time for the opening of the full link (currently expected in 2007).

  I will arrange for a copy of an outline plan for the new ticket halls to placed in the Library of the House.

  Coulsdon Inner Relief Road
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) when construction of the A23 Coulsdon Inner Relief Road will commence; [128382]

  (2) if he will make a statement on his Department's powers in respect of the construction of the Coulsdon Inner Relief Road in 2001. [128295]

  Mr. Hill
  As from today (3 July), Transport for London is the highway and traffic authority for the A23 which is part of the GLA Road Network. The question of progressing schemes related to GLA roads is a matter for the Mayor and Transport for London.

  Rail Safety
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will call for a report from Railtrack on the near head-on crash on the London-Liverpool Street line to Colchester on Sunday 25 June; and if he will make a statement. [128523]

  Mr. Hill
  Both Railtrack and the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE)'s Railway Inspectorate are carrying out investigations. The results of HSE's investigation will be included in the monthly "signals passed at danger" report to Ministers, copies of which are placed in the House of Commons Library.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  House of Lords Reform
  Ann Keen
  To ask the President of the Council if she will make a statement on her plans for a joint committee of both Houses to consider the parliamentary aspects of reform of the House of Lords, as set out in the White Paper "Modernising Parliament: Reforming the House of Lords" (Cm 4183). [129008]

  Mrs. Beckett
  As I confirmed on 19 June, we aim to establish a Joint Committee of both Houses to consider the Parliamentary implications of the Royal Commission on Reform of the House of Lords' proposals for the composition of the second chamber, which the Government have broadly accepted. We intend that it should begin work as soon as possible after the summer recess. We are opening discussions through the usual channels in both Houses on the membership and precise terms of reference.

CABINET OFFICE

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to "The Government's Measures of Success: Output and Performance Analyses", published by HM Treasury on 31 March 1999, pages 116 and 117, if she will state the targets she has set(a) for the percentage of all named day parliamentary questions to be answered substantially by the date specified by the hon. Member and (b) for answering ordinary written parliamentary questions within five days of the date specified by the hon. Member. [127664]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  We aim to answer all parliamentary questions on time and we will continue to look at ways to improve our performance.

  Interactive Voice Response Systems
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many agencies of her Department use interactive voice response systems when dealing with telephone inquiries from the general public. [127115]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Government Car and Despatch Agency, which is the only agency of the Cabinet Office, does not normally deal with members of the general public and does not use interactive voice response systems.

  The Central Office of Information is a department and executive agency that reports to my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office. It does not itself use interactive voice response systems when dealing with inquires that it receives directly from the general public. However, as part of its Direct Marketing services it employs agents, on behalf of Government clients, who use interactive voice response systems as a backup to live handling of calls.

TREASURY

  Internet Purchasing
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he is making to accommodate the increased quantities of letters and parcels containing goods from overseas likely to result from internet purchasing while such letters and parcels are being assessed for VAT and import duties. [126095]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  I have been asked to reply.

  These are matters for the Post Office and other companies handling such packets to determine in liaison with HM Customs and Excise.

  British Telecom
  Barbara Follett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Treasury's residual holding of British Telecom plc shares. [129190]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  On 27 June 2000, the Treasury sold 11,096,309 ordinary shares in British Telecom plc which it had held following earlier share sales. The shares were sold, via a competitive auction conducted by ABN AMRO Rothschild on the Treasury's behalf, to Schroder 94W
  Salomon Smith Barney at a price of £9.25¼ per share, generating total proceeds of £102.7 million. The Treasury now retains only a very small number of shares to meet any future appeals for bonus shares arising from the BT2 and BT3 flotations.

  Foreign Taxation
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assistance the UK authorities give to(a) French and (b) Belgian tax authorities in the recovery of tax owed by UK citizens to those authorities. [128606]

  Dawn Primarolo
  There are arrangements for the UK to assist the recovery of tax claims of other countries' tax authorities under EC Directive 76/308 on mutual assistance.

  Working Families Tax Credit
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many advisers, dealing with the working families tax credit system, have been trained specifically to deal with employees who as part of their contract receive bonuses in the course of their employment; in what circumstances such bonuses are included for assessment purposes; and how this applies to military personnel. [128520]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Staff on processing sections and on helplines in the Tax Credits Offices in Great Britain and Northern Ireland are all trained to deal with questions about the income relevant to an application for the Working Families Tax Credit, or to refer such questions to the relevant specialists for advice. Bonuses which are paid as part of normal remuneration, and bonuses which are paid separately from normal remuneration, for example, for periods longer than the normal pay period are included for assessment purposes. This applies equally to bonuses paid to military personnel.

  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families have benefited from the working families tax credit and by how much(a) nationally, (b) in Teesside and (c) in the constituency of Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East; and if he will make a statement. [128510]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The number of families in receipt of the Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) at the end of April 2000 is provisionally estimated at 1,053,000. 17,100 of these were in Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redar and Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees unitary authorities. I refer my hon. Friend to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Crosby (Mrs. Curtis-Thomas) on 28 June 2000,Official Report, column 537W, for the number of WFTC awards in the Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East constituency.

  The national average value of awards current at April 2000 is estimated at £73 per week. For the North East region it is estimated at £71 per week. There are too few cases in the 5 per cent. sample of awards used for these analyses to provide reliable estimates of average awards at the local authority or constituency level.

  Comprehensive Spending Review
  Mr. Portillo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will publish the Comprehensive Spending Review. [128556]
  95W
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  A date for the 2000 Spending Review is not yet fixed, but it will be in July.

  Road Fuel
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the revenue lost in each of the last five years due to road vehicles registered and kept in Northern Ireland purchasing their fuel in the Irish Republic. [128612]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) on 20 March 2000,Official Report, column 442W.

  PFI Contracts
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the PFI contracts entered into by his Department, indicating(a) their dates of commencement, (b) their value, (c) if they have been subject to refinancing and (d) if his Department has a claw-back entitlement to share in savings arising from refinancing. [129059]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  There is one Treasury PFI contract for the refurbishment of its main building. The answer to the specific questions are:

  (a) Financial close was on 5 May 2000.

  (b) Estimated capital spending by the private sector partner is £118 million.

  (c) No.

  (d) Yes.

  Climate Change Levy
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those industry sectors and businesses given(a) full and (b) partial exemption from the climate change levy. [128631]

  Mr. Timms
  The Government's aim in designing the climate change levy has been to maximise its environmental effectiveness while safeguarding the competitiveness of UK business.

  The Government have recognised the case for giving special treatment to energy intensive sectors because of their high energy costs and their exposure to international competition. Those eligible energy intensive sectors which enter into agreements to implement all cost-effective energy saving measures and achieve carbon or emissions targets which meet the Government's criteria will qualify for an 80 per cent. discount from the levy rates.

  Sectors which have already agreed indicative energy efficiency targets are Cement; Food and Drink (as represented by the Food and Drink Federation); Glass; Non-ferrous metals; Aluminium; Paper; Chemicals; Foundries; Steel and Ceramics. A number of smaller energy intensive sectors are also involved in negotiations for a sector agreement. Details of the final agreements will be published later in the year.

  The Government have also recognised the unique position of horticulture as an energy intensive sector, exposed to international competition but not eligible for a negotiated agreement and benefiting from special treatment in other EU states. Budget 2000 announced a
  96W
  special package of measures for the horticulture sector: targeted support from the climate change levy energy efficiency fund; extending the list of investments qualifying for enhanced capital allowances to include thermal screens; and a temporary 50 per cent. discount on the levy for a period of up to five years while energy efficiency measures take effect.

  The Government believe, in line with the view expressed by Lord Marshall, that all businesses should have the incentive to save energy at the margin. For this reason there are no total sectoral exemptions from the levy.

  National Insurance
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to inform women who have retained the right to pay the reduced rate of National Insurance contributions of the effect this will have on their future benefit entitlement. [128598]

  Dawn Primarolo
  A publicity exercise will be undertaken later this year. It will be aimed at all women who hold a valid election to pay National Insurance contributions at the reduced rate.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if women who have not revoked their right to pay reduced rate National Insurance contributions(a) are entitled to receive credits on submission of medical certificates if they are too ill to work and (b) can pay voluntary Class 3 contributions for retirement pension for recent gaps in their national contribution record. [128600]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Women with a valid election to pay National Insurance contributions at the married womens' reduced rate are not entitled to receive National Insurance credits and they cannot pay voluntary Class 3 contributions.

  Married Couple's Allowance
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost of administering the married couple's allowance per recipient married couple in financial year 1999–2000; what estimate he has made of administering the married couple's allowance per recipient married couple for those born before 6 April 1935 in financial year 2000–01; what estimate he has made of administering the married couple's allowance per recipient married couple for those aged over 75 in financial year 2000–01; and if he will make a statement. [128601]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The administration of the married couple's allowance is part of the Inland Revenue's routine work and is not separately identified in running costs.

  Children's Tax Credit
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many taxpayers he estimates will receive less than the full amount of Children's Tax Credit due to having a taxable income less than the maximum amount of Children's Tax Credit in the next three years; and if he will make a statement. [128602]
  97W
  Dawn Primarolo
  The Children's Tax Credit (CTC) will benefit about 5 million families and will take out about half a million of them out of tax altogether. CTC is one of a range of measures to focus resources on families with children and reduce child poverty. We have also increased child benefit to record levels and have introduced the Working Families Tax Credit, which has already benefited over 1 million low income families.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of taxpayers who will receive Children's Tax Credit at less than the full rate in the next three years; and if he will make a statement. [128603]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Children's Tax Credit (CTC) will benefit about 5 million families. So that it is focused on low to middle income families, if there is higher rate taxpayer in the family, the credit (£442) is gradually withdrawn at the rate of £1 of credit for each £15 of income. CTC is one of a range of measures to focus resources on families with children and reduce child poverty. We have also increased child benefit to record levels and have introduced the Working Families Tax Credit, which has already benefited over 1 million low income families.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost of administering the taper element to the Children's Tax Credit in the financial year 2000–01; and if he will make a statement. [128604]

  £

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  For those aged 65–74

  Personal allowance

  4,910

  5,220

  5,410

  5,720

  Married couple's allowance3

  13,115

  13,185

  13,305

  25,125

  For those aged 75 and over

  Personal allowance

  5,090

  5,400

  5,600

  5,980

  Married couple's allowance4

  13,155

  13,225

  13,345

  25,195

  Income limit

  15,200

  15,600

  16,200

  16,800

  1Relief available at 15 per cent.

  2Relief available at 10 per cent.

  3This allowance is given if one of the spouses is aged 65–74 for the year in question.

  4This allowance is given if one of the spouses is aged 75 or over for the year in question.

  Note:

  The age-related element of the personal allowance is reduced by £1 for every £2 of income over the income limit until the personal allowance for someone under 65 is reached. The age-related element of the married couple's allowance is reduced in the same way until the allowance for those aged under 65 is reached.

  Sanitary Protection Products
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with retailers on the rates of VAT charged on(a) sanitary protection products and (b) incontinence pads. [128492]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The VAT rate on sanitary protection products is being reduced to 5 per cent. from 1 January 2001. Customs are consulting a number of retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers and their representatives, many of which sell both products, about the implementation of this change. There is also open consultation via the internet.
  98W
  Dawn Primarolo
  The administration of the taper element of the Children's Tax Credit is part of the Inland Revenue's routine work and is not separately identified in running costs.

  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff in the Inland Revenue were employed in administering the(a) married couple's allowance and (b) additional personal allowance in each of the last five years; and how many he expects will be employed in administering the Children's Tax Credit in (i) the current year and (ii) each of the following three years. [128610]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The administration of the married couple's allowance, additional personal allowance and Children's Tax Credit is part of the Inland Revenue's routine work and is not separately identified in running costs. Staff are not exclusively employed on administering any of these allowances.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer at what level of income(a) single pensioners and (b) pensioner couples started paying income tax in financial years (i) 1996–97, (ii) 1997–98, (iii) 1998–99 and (iv) 1999–2000. [128359]

  Dawn Primarolo
  An individual's income tax liability depends on the levels of income of different types that he or she receives and the tax reliefs due. A husband and wife are each taxed on their individual income.

  The personal and married couple's allowances available to individuals aged 65 and over in each of those years are set out in the table:

  Tobacco
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total revenue to the Exchequer was from all tobacco products for the last five year period for which figures are available; and what estimate he has made of the tax take from these sources over the next three years. [R] [128496]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The receipts from all tobacco products for the last five years are published in the National Statistics publication "Financial Statistics".
  99W
  A forecast of receipts from all tobacco products was published in "The Financial Statement and Budget Report" in March 2000.

  Savings (Taxation)
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects an agreement to be reached by the Council of Ministers on the substantive content of the Directive on the taxation of savings. [128445]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The European Council has endorsed the report on the tax package by the ECOFIN Council and agreed on its principles and guidelines. This is an excellent agreement for Britain and for Europe, and it shows once again how the strategy of positive engagement in Europe both protects and indeed enhances the country's national interest. ECOFIN's report of 20 June on the Tax Package has been deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Environment
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the annual amount of public subsidies which encourage the use of environmentally damaging goods and services, as defined by the 3 report of the British Government Panel on Sustainable Development 1997. [128097]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  At present there is too much uncertainty as to the values appropriate in many specific instances for any meaningful calculation of the total of such implicit subsidies to be possible.

  Single Currency
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money has been spent by the European Union on the changeover to the euro to date; and what has been the cost of the information campaign. [128112]
  100W
  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Information on changeover planning in the first wave is contained in the Second Outline National Changeover Plan, published on 9 March 2000.

  Public Service Agreements
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if public service agreement targets will be set for each indicator in the publication "Quality of Life Counts". [128099]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The indicators in "Quality of Life Counts" will be an important benchmark against which progress in key areas of sustainable development can be assessed. The Government will publish new Public Service Agreements as part of the outcome of the 2000 Spending Review in July. These PSAs will include targets for improvement in many of the areas contributing to progress against the indicators in "Quality of Life Counts". Some of the wider indicators may be more appropriately related to departmental aims and objectives.

  Pensioners (Taxation)
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate(a) the pre-tax income and (b) the taxable income needed by a married couple aged 65 with full basic state retirement pension and extra pension paid to one person (i) with and (ii) without an individual's tax allowance of dividend income, which would be required to incur an income tax liability of £5,000 in (A) this financial year, (B) 2001–02 and (C) in each of the last four financial years. [128114]

  Dawn Primarolo
  An individual's income tax liability depends on the levels of income of different types that he or she receives and the tax reliefs due. A husband and wife are each taxed on their individual income.

  Dividends paid on or after 6 April 1999 are taxed at 10 per cent. below the basic rate limit and carry a tax credit of 10 per cent. which meets that liability. From 1996–97 to that date, they were taxed at the lower rate of 20 per cent., with a 20 per cent. tax credit.

  EU External Aid Programme: Audit
  EU External Aid Programme: Audit
  British Council: Primary and Secondary Education in Developing Countries
  British Council: Primary and Secondary Education in Developing Countries
  Lorries: Weight and Dimension Limits
  Lorries: Weight and Dimension Limits
  Special Vehicles: Excise Duty
  Special Vehicles: Excise Duty
  Vehicle Excise Duty: Advice
  Vehicle Excise Duty: Advice
  Minister for Transport: Travel on London Underground
  Minister for Transport: Travel on London Underground
  Merrywood School, Bristol
  Merrywood School, Bristol
  Tunisia: Human Rights
  Tunisia: Human Rights
  Kuwaiti Prisoners in Iraq
  Kuwaiti Prisoners in Iraq
  Sierra Leone: Liberian Support for Rebels
  Sierra Leone: Liberian Support for Rebels
  Holders of Diplomatic Immunity: Serious Offences
  Holders of Diplomatic Immunity: Serious Offences
  Council of the European Union: Forthcoming Business
  Council of the European Union: Forthcoming Business
  Iran: Foreign Secretary's Proposed Visit
  Iran: Foreign Secretary's Proposed Visit
  Human Rights Act 1998: Commencement Orders
  Human Rights Act 1998: Commencement Orders
  Violent and Sexual Offences: Sentences
  Violent and Sexual Offences: Sentences
  Rehabilitation of Offenders: Review
  Rehabilitation of Offenders: Review
  Multiple Sclerosis
  Multiple Sclerosis
  "Do Not Resuscitate" Instructions
  "Do Not Resuscitate" Instructions
  Women's Issues: 10 Downing Street Website Policy Discussions
  Women's Issues: 10 Downing Street Website Policy Discussions
  House of Lords Reform: Joint Committee
  House of Lords Reform: Joint Committee
  OSCE Parliamentary Assembly: UK Delegation
  OSCE Parliamentary Assembly: UK Delegation
  GM Seed: Exclusion of Crops from Food Chain
  GM Seed: Exclusion of Crops from Food Chain
  Under 10 Metre Fishing Fleet
  Under 10 Metre Fishing Fleet
  Red Tape and Bureaucracy Review: Implementation of Recommendations
  Red Tape and Bureaucracy Review: Implementation of Recommendations