Written Answers of 7 July 2000

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Advertising
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much has been spent by his Department on advertising in each year since May 1997. [125689]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 12 June 2000]: The Department's financial year starts 1 April and the advertising spend from April to March for each financial year from 1994 is as follows:

  Year

  £

  1994–95

  8,988,000

  1995–96

  9,293,000

  1996–97

  7,219,000

  1997–98

  6,500,000

  1998–99

  6,000,000

  1999–2000

  12,000,000

  Note:

  Figures exclude VAT

  The figures for 1994–95 to 1996–97 show the combined spends of the then Departments of Transport and of the Environment.

  Expenditure in 1999–2000 includes £3 million for the campaign to encourage voting in the GLA election and £4.6 million for the "Are You Doing Your Bit" campaign.

  Liquid Petroleum Gas
  Ms Atherton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to promote the use of liquid petroleum gas in cars. [128276]

  Mr. Hill
  The Government have introduced a number of measures to promote the wider use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in recognition of the fuel's environmental benefits. The Energy Saving Trust's Powershift programme, which is funded by my Department, provides grants towards the additional cost of vehicles fuelled by LPG. Funding for this programme was increased to £10 million following the last Budget. LPG and other road gas fuels also benefit from a relatively low rate of fuel duty compared to petrol and diesel. From 1 March 2001, Vehicle Excise Duty for new cars will be graduated on the basis of CO2 emissions. Under the new scheme, LPG cars will benefit both from a modest discount and from generally having lower CO2 emissions than equivalent petrol cars. The Government are currently consulting on further tax discounts under the new company car tax regime, which comes into effect from 6 April 2002, for gas and electric cars.

  Exchange Flags Building (Liverpool)
  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress he has made in recovering the regeneration grant awarded to the Walton Group in respect of Exchange Flags Liverpool; and if he will make a statement. [128635]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Under section 175 of the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993, the Secretary of State appointed the Urban Regeneration Agency ("English Partnerships") to act as his agent in respect of the agreement to pay a City Grant to the Walton Group for the refurbishment of the Exchange Flags building, Liverpool. In that capacity English Partnerships carried out a review of the project and are pressing for repayment of the grant.

  Inquiries are in progress, and therefore it would be inappropriate for me to make any further statement at this time.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what plans he has to introduce common arrangements for monitoring homelessness throughout the UK; [128896]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of current arrangements for monitoring homelessness in England. [128895]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Local housing authorities in England make quarterly and annual returns to the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions of data concerning their activities under the homelessness legislation. They also provide annually an estimate of the number of people sleeping rough in their area on any one night in June. The extent of the rough sleeping problem in England is monitored through single-night street counts, co-ordinated by local authorities and carried out in partnership with the local voluntary sector and volunteers. We are satisfied that these arrangements provide an effective means of monitoring homelessness in England. The Government currently have no plans to introduce common arrangements for monitoring homelessness throughout the UK.

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the arrangements for reviewing homelessness decisions made by local authorities under sections 202 and 203 of the Housing Act 1996; and if he will make a statement; [128905]

  (2) how many reviews were undertaken by authorities of decisions taken under section 202 of the Housing Act 1996 in (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999–2000 in each local authority area. [128906]

  Mr. Raynsford
  We will consider the effectiveness of the current arrangements for local housing authorities' review of homelessness decisions when we take forward the proposals for reform of the homelessness legislation set out in the Housing Green Paper, "Quality and Choice: A decent home for all". Information about the number of reviews undertaken by local authorities is not held centrally.
  311W
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to seek amendments to the provisions of Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 relating to intentional homelessness; and if he will make a statement. [128904]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Housing Green Paper, "Quality and Choice: A decent home for all", sets out the Governments proposals for introducing more choice for existing and prospective tenants of social housing and for strengthening the protection available to homeless people. The Paper suggests that it may be possible to modify the rules of intentional homelessness if these proposals were adopted. The Government will consider responses to the Green Paper before deciding whether to take this forward, and would wish to discuss any proposals with representatives of local government, Shelter and others before introducing amending legislation.

  Planning (South-east)
  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what proportion of the potential growth areas and long-term potential growth areas in the draft regional planning guidance for the south-east are at risk or likely to be at risk in the future from potential flooding; [129072]

  (2) what area of land in the south-east planning area (a) consists of flood plains and (b) is liable to tidal or coastal flooding according to the Environment Agency's indicative maps; [129071]

  (3) what proportion of brownfield land available for development in the south-east planning area is at risk or likely to be at risk in the future from flooding. [129070]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Information about areas at risk from fluvial and other tidal or coastal flooding is based on best estimates and information about recorded events. It is provided in the form of maps held by the Environment Agency regional offices and supplied to local authorities.

  Ministerial Code
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) on how many occasions since May 1997 Ministers in his Department have made a declaration of interest to their colleagues under circumstances envisaged in Paragraph 110 of the Ministerial Code; [129161]

  (2) if he will list the occasions since May 1997 on which Ministers in his Department have sought the advice of the permanent secretary under the circumstances envisaged in Paragraphs 118, 121 or 123 of the Ministerial Code. [129181]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Information relating to internal advice and consultation is not disclosed under Exemption II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  West Coast Main Line
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make improved timekeeping and extended boarding times on the Euston to Liverpool Lime Street line a condition for renewal of the West Coast main line franchise. [129601]
  312W
  Mr. Hill
  The present franchise for the West Coast main line is not due to be replaced until 9 March 2012. When replacing franchises, the Franchising Director will be seeking to improve services to passengers and improvements in performance. Boarding times at stations are an operational matter for Train Operating Companies and it is not envisaged that they will be the subject of specific franchise requirements.

  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received about making the level of on-board service a condition of franchise renewal for the West Coast main line. [129600]

  Mr. Hill
  The Secretary of State has not received any representations about making the level of on-board service a condition of franchise renewal for the West Coast Main Line. The present franchise for the West Coast Main Line is not due to be replaced until 9 March 2012. This franchise, in common with all the other passenger rail franchises, does not contain any provisions stipulating which on-board services must be provided. It is not envisaged that there will be any such provisions in any of the replacement franchises.

  Rail Franchises
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will ensure that, where a new franchise is awarded by the Strategic Rail Authority, the performance standards in the new franchise agreement are applied during the unexpired period of the old franchise agreement; [129687]

  (2) what powers the Strategic Rail Authority has to ensure a smooth and rapid transfer when it awards a new franchise to a company different from the one currently providing the service and the existing company decides to continue until its contract expires. [129705]

  Mr. Hill
  This would be a matter for negotiation between the Franchising Director and the existing and potential franchisees. In the event of failure to agree transfer arrangements in advance of expiry of the existing franchise, the existing franchisee would be obliged to continue to honour its contractual commitments.

  Atomic Energy
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what changes he plans to make to the location of intermediate and high level nuclear waste by the United Kingdom Government in the returns to the International Atomic Energy Agency for 2000; and what requests for environmental sampling have been received by the Government from the Agency since 15 May 1997. [129135]

  Mr. Meacher
  I am not aware of any requests from the International Atomic Energy Agency for returns about the location of intermediate and high-level nuclear waste, or on environmental sampling.

  New Trains
  Ms Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the further exemption order for the fleet of new trains to be introduced into service by Anglia
  313W
  Railways Ltd. and ScotRail Railways Ltd. in respect of provisions of the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 1998. [130052]

  Mr. Hill
  We have received further applications from Anglia Railways Ltd. relating to their Class 170/2 trains and ScotRail Railways Ltd. relating to their Class 170/4 trains. These seek to revoke the original Orders and replace them with new Orders. These have been discussed with our statutory advisers the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee.

  Exemption Orders relating to the exemption of the Class 170/2 and 170/4 trains have been laid in Parliament today. Copies are available from the Library.

  Abandoned Vehicles
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if his Department will commission research into possible links between abandoned vehicles, vandalism and other crime; and if he will make a statement. [128490]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I have been asked to reply.

  While we have no current plans for research into links between abandoned vehicles, vandalism and other forms of crime, we will consider this area when we next review the forward work programme. We are mindful that abandoned vehicles can be an indicator of problems affecting a neighbourhood, and the local Crime and Disorder Partnerships do take into account action to address such issues when devising the local strategy.

WALES

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary on the release of additional council house sales receipts; and if he will make a statement. [129501]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I refer my right hon. Friend to the reply I gave to him on 13 June 2000,Official Report, column 571W.

  Lords Lieutenant
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much money his Department has spent in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available on(a) Lords Lieutenant and (b) their deputies in Wales. [129680]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  My Department holds information on Lords Lieutenant's expenditure for the financial years 1996–97 onwards. The total expenditure for each of these years is as follows:

  £

  Expenditure

  1996–97

  20,277.19

  1997–98

  21,120.85

  1998–99

  18,500.45

  1999–2000

  119,566.55

  2000–01

  24,539.00

  1This figure includes payments made by the Welsh Office to 30 June and by the Wales Office from 1 July.

  2To date.

  314W
  Information on expenditure prior to 1996 could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

PRIME MINISTER

  Adoption
  Ms Buck
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement concerning his review of adoption of children from care. [130095]

  The Prime Minister
  I have today published a study from the Performance and Innovation Unit (PIU), which forms the first part of my review of adoption. Copies of the study have been placed in the Vote Office and the Libraries. I asked the PIU to provide an initial assessment of the main problem areas, identify options and make recommendations to the Government on the use of adoption for children in the care of local authorities. The report contains a range of options for promoting greater use of adoption, and for making it faster and more straightforward. To ensure that there is the fullest possible debate on this issue, the report is published for consultation. In the light of views expressed in consultation we will then publish a White Paper before the end of the year setting out the Government's new approach to adoption, and including proposals for new legislation, to be introduced next year.

  Ministerial Code
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) on how many occasions since May 1997 Ministers in the Cabinet Office have made a declaration of interest to their colleagues under circumstances envisaged in Paragraph 110 of the Ministerial Code; [129149]

  (2) how many times he has been consulted by Ministers under the procedures outlined in paragraph 109 of the Ministerial Code; on what occasions any such consultations took place; and if he will make a statement; [129182]

  (3) what discussions he has had with the Deputy Prime Minister on Paragraph 109 of the Ministerial Code (a) with respect to his tenancy of a flat in Clapham and (b) other matters. [129236]

  The Prime Minister
  Information relating to internal advice and consultation is not disclosed under Exemption 2, Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Internet Broadcasts
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister how many weekly prime ministerial internet broadcasts he has given; on which dates each was available on the No. 10 website; how many hits each broadcast experienced during the week following its posting on the website; and for what reason he has discontinued his weekly internet broadcasts. [129223]
  315W
  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 5 July 2000]There have been 14 broadcasts, all of which are still available on the website. They are:

  30 June 2000—Economic Policy

  19 May 2000—Sierra Leone

  2 May 2000—Strategic Direction of Government

  21 April 2000—Northern Ireland

  14 April 2000—Russia

  7 April 2000—New Deal for over-50s

  31 March 2000—Health

  24 March 2000—The Budget

  17 March—Streamlining Public Services

  10 March—Drugs

  3 March—Mozambique

  25 February—Health

  18 February—Drugs

  11 February—Education.

  The broadcasts can be accessed in a number of different ways—either as a streamed file, a downloadable MP3 version or as a transcript. The streamed versions of the broadcasts have been requested nearly 37,000 times, an average of 254 requests per day, since the first one was posted on the site on 11 February. Downloads of the MP3 version and hits on the transcript page will be in addition to this figure, but the site statistics do not show how often these have been accessed. The site as a whole received over 37 million hits in the three months since it was re-launched on 11 February.

  I will continue to regularly record broadcasts for the website. The latest broadcast, on economic policy, was published on the website on 30 June.

  Lord Levy
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to increase the accountability to Parliament of Lord Levy. [129707]

  The Prime Minister
  I have nothing further to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 5 July 2000,Official Report, column 218W.

  Engagements
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 16 May 1998. [129738]

  The Prime Minister
  I was hosting the G8 Summit in Birmingham.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Former Civil Servants (Pensions)
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on outstanding pension commitments to former Rhodesian civil servants agreed at the time Zimbabwe became independent. [129136]

  Mr. Foulkes
  At Independence, the pension rights of both retired and serving public servants were preserved under the Zimbabwe Constitution, determined during the Lancaster House negotiations. The Government of Zimbabwe are responsible for the payment of pensions to 316W
  former Rhodesian civil servants. That constitution guarantees the continued payment of pensions to former Zimbabwe public servants, wherever they reside. Occasionally, there have been delays in pension payments being made as a result of shortages in foreign exchange, but, these apart, the Government of Zimbabwe have consistently honoured their obligations. There is no provision in the Constitution to protect the value of externally paid pensions against the effects of fluctuating exchange rates.

  EU Aid
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with European commissioners about the EU's delivery of aid to developing countries; and if she will make a statement. [129515]

  Clare Short
  I have frequent exchanges with Commissioners Nielson and Patten about EC aid to developing countries. It is in sore need of reform. We are working for full implementation of our detailed strategy (a copy of which is in the Library of the House) which requires the European Commission and other EU member states radically to improve the poverty focus and effectiveness of EC development assistance. There is a growing commitment to reform. The reduced number of Commissioners responsible for development, the improvements incorporated in the renegotiation of the Lomé convention and the recently published strategy for development are significant advances, but implementation of the promised reform remains to be achieved.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions she has had with her European counterparts regarding the provision of EU development aid to countries in conflict. [128712]

  Clare Short
  The general issue of the role of development assistance in countries in conflict has been discussed frequently, most recently at the informal meeting of European Community Development Ministers in Lisbon in January, which the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State attended. Further discussion was also held during part of a seminar held in Paris, jointly hosted by the French and Portuguese Development Ministers, on 30 June. The position in a number of specific countries, notably Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ethiopia and Eritrea, was discussed at the meeting of the Development Council on 18 May.

  All development programmes, including the European Community's, need to develop more effective methods for targeting development assistance to countries in conflict. The UK and other member states have urged the Commission to undertake work in this area. Provisions on the issue of peace-building and conflict prevention and resolution were included in the new EU-ACP Cotonou Agreement. The Commission are currently developing guidelines to help officials design programmes that address potential sources of conflict.

CABINET OFFICE

  Civil Service Recruitment
  Ms Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when she will publish the Fifth Annual Civil Service Fast Stream Recruitment report. [129927]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The annual Civil Service Fast Stream Report was placed in the Libraries of the House earlier today. It covers the year from 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000, and reports the results of Fast Stream competitions completed during that period and action undertaken for future competitions.

  The report shows that there has been progress in broadening the diversity of Fast Stream recruits. In particular, for the first time the Civil Service has reached parity in the numbers of successful men and women applicants to open Fast Stream schemes. The standard of entry to the Fast Stream Development Programme has remained consistently high. In line with the experience of other major employers, the Civil Service did not fill all its Fast Stream vacancies in 1999, with specialist areas a particular source of concern.

  Constituency Statistics
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Southwark, North and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) of 28 June 2000,Official Report, column 564W, how many requests her Department has received from hon. Members for statistics compiled at constituency level since 1 May 1997; if she will state in each case (a) the name and party allegiance of the hon. Member, (b) the date the request was received, (c) the date the information was provided and (d) the subject matter; and what has been the total cost since 1 May 1997 of meeting such requests. [129723]

  Mr. Stringer
  The information is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

TREASURY

  Stamp Duty
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward the stamp duty relief for transfers of local authority housing stock, which was announced in the Budget, to include all such transfers made since the announcement. [130094]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  I am pleased to say that measures will be brought forward in Report Stage of the Finance Bill to ensure that transfers of housing from local authorities to registered social landlords taking place after 21 March will benefit from the new exemption. This will apply whether or not the social landlords concerned are constituted as charities.

  Transfers under the large-scale voluntary transfer programme offer benefits for tenants and the programme reflects the Government's commitment to generate private finance to repair and improve the condition of social housing. Bringing forward the extension of the Stamp Duty relief to the earliest possible date following the
  318W
  Budget announcement will help local authorities making transfers between 22 March and Royal Assent to the Finance Bill.

  Local authorities who have made relevant transfers upon which Stamp Duty has been paid will be able to make claims to the Stamp Office for repayments as soon as Finance Act 2000 becomes law.

  Spectrum Auction
  Mr. St. Aubyn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if the receipts from the third generation mobile spectrum auction which have already been received are to be treated under resource accounting rules as capital receipts; [128068]

  (2) if the future receipts from the third generation mobile spectrum auction are to be treated as capital receipts; [128069]

  (3) if the future receipts from the third generation mobile spectrum auction are to be treated under resource accounting rules as an accrual at the time the obligation was secured. [128070]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  [holding answer 28 June 2000]: The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has provisionally decided to classify the receipts from the auction of licences for the third generation mobile spectrum as current receipts (rents) in the UK national accounts, and to accrue the receipts over the period of the licences, according to the treatment it sees as best fitting the principles of the European System of Accounts 1995 (ESA95). ONS are consulting Eurostat about the classification. The treatment of the proceeds under resource accounting will require an accruals, rather than a cash, basis of accounting for the receipts.

  Fuel Duty
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with his European partners with regard to revenue loss as a result of differential road fuel duty rates between member states; and if he will make a statement. [128181]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 5 July 2000]: EU member states are free to set excise duty levels in accordance with an agreed structure and current UK policy on the taxation of road fuel is fully in accordance with the provisions of the relevant EC Directives.

  Euro
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which foreign target group in the UK is to receive material as part of the Euro 2002 Information Campaign of the European Central Bank. [128136]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  We understand from the European Central Bank that there are no plans at present to distribute Euro 2002 information campaign material within the UK.

  Ministerial Code
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) on how many occasions since May 1997
  319W
  Ministers in his Department have made a declaration of interest to their colleagues under circumstances envisaged in Paragraph 110 of the Ministerial Code; [129152]

  (2) how many times Ministers in his Department have sought the advice of the Permanent Secretary under the circumstances envisaged in Paragraphs 118, 121 and 123 of the Ministerial Code; and on which occasions such advice was sought. [129173]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Information relating to internal advice and consultation is not disclosed under Exemption II of the "Code of Practice on Access to Government Information".

  Disabled Drivers
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce a tax allowance on petrol for disabled drivers who are dependent on their cars. [128873]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Chancellor keeps all tax issues under review as part of the Budget process. Drivers who receive the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance can already get help leasing or buying a car from the Motability scheme. They also qualify for the Blue Badge scheme (formerly Orange Badge scheme) of parking concessions and are exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  SMEs
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assistance his Department gives to help develop small and medium-sized business organisations in the Greater London area. [127866]

  Ms Hewitt
  The nine Business Links in London receive financial support from the DTI's Business Link core services budget to deliver a range of help to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the Greater London area.

  From next April, one New Business Link operation covering the whole of London will take over as the primary source of help to SMEs. My Department will be providing substantial funding for the new business support arrangements.

  Lesotho
  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 22 June 2000,Official Report, column 236W, on Lesotho, if he will list the payments by Her Majesty's Government in respect of loans underwritten through the ECGD to the companies listed. [128569]

  Mr. Caborn
  No claims payments have been made direct to the companies concerned as they are not the beneficiaries of the ECGD cover. ECGD's guarantee is given to the lending bank for any defaults arising under any loan agreement.

  Only one of the loans listed has so far given rise to claims payments, namely the loan made by HSBC to finance the Cairo Waste Water project in Egypt. On a closer examination of records, it is regretted that the value
  320W
  of this loan was incorrectly shown as £32.0 million in the answer provided to my hon Friend's earlier question on 22 June 2000, Official Report, column 236W. The total value of this loan was, in fact, £142.8 million. Claims including interest of the value of £190.8 million have been paid to the lending bank following a series of defaults under this loan of which some £43 million has been recovered to date. The balance of the debt has been rescheduled under debt rescheduling arrangements with Egypt.

  Post Office Counters
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will allow Post Office Counters to contract with parcel companies in the private sector. [129672]

  Mr. Byers
  This is a commercial matter for the Post Office.

  Royal Mail
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the acquisitions made by Royal Mail in(a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) 2000. [129674]

  Mr. Byers
  None.

  Departmental Vehicles
  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list for his Department and its agencies the approved list of manufacturers of(a) cars and (b) commercial vehicles; and if he will make a statement on his Department's leasing and purchasing policy. [128981]

  Dr. Howells
  The Department does not purchase vehicles. The primary purpose of the Department's policy on leased vehicles is to achieve value for money on official travel. There is no restriction on the make of(a) cars and (b) commercial vehicles that can be obtained through the Department's leasing arrangements.

  Regional Aid Map
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects the EU to approve a regional aid map for the United Kingdom. [129218]

  Mr. Byers
  In the near future.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the policy since 1989 on writing annually to those of his Department's staff who are paying reduced rates of National Insurance contributions, reminding them of the rules governing the payment of reduced rates, as recommended in the Inland Revenue guidance note on reduced rate National Insurance contributions for married women. [129479]

  Dr. Howells
  The Department has not previously issued annual reminders to staff paying reduced rates of National Insurance contributions but this policy is currently under review.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Police Authority
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Secretary and Chief Executive of the Police Authority for Northern Ireland was appointed; what the term of his appointment is; how many official visits he made outside Northern Ireland in each year since his appointment; what expenses were reimbursed to him for(a) entertainment, (b) subsistence, (c) travel and (d) car mileage or the use of a vehicle; and what vehicle allowance was paid to him in each year since his appointment. [128360]

  Mr. Ingram
  The current Secretary and Chief Executive of the Police Authority for Northern Ireland was appointed on 1 July 1995 on a 4-year contract. This contract was renewed on 1 July 1999 for a further 4 years.

  The first table shows the number of official journeys made each year by the Secretary and Chief executive outside Northern Ireland since his appointment in July 1995 until 30 June 2000. The second table details expenses reimbursed to the Secretary over each financial year.

  Year

  Journeys

  1995

  8

  1996

  14

  1997

  9

  1998

  11

  1999

  14

  2000

  4

  £

  Financial year

  Travel

  Mileage

  Subsistence

  Hospitality

  1995–96

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1996–97

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1997–98

  549

  622

  158

  41

  1998–99

  492

  1,192

  169

  79

  1999–2000

  0

  578

  79

  357

  2000–30 June 2000

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1Total £669

  Note:

  All figures rounded to the nearest £

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the Secretary and Chief Executive of the Police Authority for Northern Ireland is authorised to use fuel charge cards issued for the use of the(a) RUC and (b) Police Authority. [128362]

  Mr. Ingram
  Use of fuel charge cards issued to the Royal Ulster Constabulary is at the discretion of the RUC's Chief Engineer and the Head of Transport. The Police Authority is not in possession of fuel charge cards.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the terms of employment of the Secretary and Chief Executive of the Police Authority for Northern Ireland provide for(a) use of official vehicles (i) on and (ii) off duty, or (b) reimbursement for mileage or the use of a vehicle and (c) a vehicle allowance. [128361]
  322W
  Mr. Ingram
  The Secretary and Chief Executive of the Police Authority for Northern Ireland has access to official vehicles when on duty. The Secretary and Chief Executive is entitled to claim mileage allowance for the use of a private vehicle on official business in accordance with the Northern Ireland Civil Service Code.

  Firearms
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many firearms certificates have been withdrawn in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years and the current year; and how many(a) shotguns, (b) .22 rifles, (c) fullbore rifles and (d) handguns were affected by the withdrawal of certificates. [128613]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Chief Constable has advised that the information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Readily available information is set out in the table.

  Revocations of and refusals to renew firearm certificates under the Firearms (NI) Order 1981

  year

  Revocations

  Refusals to renew

  Partial refusals1

  Total

  1999

  133

  57

  10

  200

  20002

  74

  37

  7

  188

  1When only one, or more than one, of a number of firearms on a firearm certificate has been refused to be renewed.

  2January to June

  Drugs Offences
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have been arrested and charged with drugs offences in Northern Ireland since 1 January; and what is his estimate of the street value of each type of illegal substance seized. [128614]

  Mr. Ingram
  The table shows the number of persons arrested and charged with drugs offences during the period 1 January to 31 May 2000, together with the type of drugs seized and the estimated street value.

  Street values of drugs seized (January to May 2000)

  Drug

  Form

  (£)

  Class A

  Cocaine

  Powder

  5,600

  Wraps

  —

  'Crack' Cocaine

  Powder

  4,900

  Ecstasy

  Tablets

  5,448,988

  Powder

  22,176

  Capsules

  —

  LSD

  Tablets

  1,280

  Opiates (inc. Heroin)

  Powder

  2,800

  Tablets

  240

  Ampoules

  —

  Wraps

  —

  Class B

  Cannabis

  Resin

  1,407,560

  Herbal

  24,489

  Plants

  35,400

  Joints

  126

  Oil

  —

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  Street values of drugs seized (January to May 2000)

  Drug

  Form

  £

  Amphetamines

  Powder

  9,530

  Tablets

  555

  Wraps

  70

  Total value of drugs seized (January to May 2000)

  6,963,714

  Note:

  April to May 2000 figures are provisional and may be subject to change

  Arrested 539

  Charged 228

  Security situation statistics: armed robberies, 1 January 2000–28 June 2000

  January

  February

  March

  Sub-division

  Number

  Amount stolen

  Number

  Amount stolen

  Number

  Amount stolen

  Musgrave Street

  2

  103,000

  3

  283

  2

  121

  Mountpottinger

  6

  1,700

  2

  203

  2

  480

  Donegall Pass

  2

  1,945

  3

  100

  1

  —

  Dunmurry

  4

  6,641

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Grosvenor Road

  —

  —

  2

  470

  2

  30,000

  Lisburn

  1

  2,000

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Woodbourne

  1

  4,000

  1

  1

  3

  242

  North Queen Street

  1

  4,000

  1

  200

  1

  61

  Antrim Road

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  6,000

  Antrim

  2

  250

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Newtownabbey

  2

  13,700

  1

  150

  7

  4,042

  Carrickfergus

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Tennent Street

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Bangor

  —

  —

  2

  425

  2

  51

  Strandtown

  6

  2,834

  2

  3,500

  2

  210

  Castlereagh

  5

  4,792

  1

  5,000

  2

  2

  Newtownards

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1,706

  Downpatrick

  3

  1,000

  —

  —

  1

  800

  Newcastle

  —

  —

  1

  2,098

  —

  —

  Armagh

  3

  5,401

  1

  —

  4

  7,651

  Newry

  2

  1,300

  —

  —

  2

  100

  Portadown

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Lurgan

  2

  5,000

  1

  2,600

  2

  80

  Banbridge

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cookstown

  1

  25,460

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Dungannon

  —

  —

  1

  250

  —

  —

  Enniskillen

  1

  100,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Lisnaskea

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Omagh

  —

  —

  1

  4,500

  —

  —

  Strand Road

  2

  270

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Strabane

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1,062

  Waterside

  —

  —

  1

  260

  —

  —

  Coleraine

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  305

  Limavady

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Magherafelt

  2

  1,570

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Ballymena

  2

  6,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Ballymoney

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Larne

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Total

  51

  290,863

  29

  20,041

  40

  52,914

  April

  May

  June (to 28)

  Sub-division

  Number

  Amount stolen

  Number

  Amount stolen

  Number

  Amount stolen

  Musgrave Street

  2

  820

  2

  81,930

  1

  2,200

  Mountpottinger

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  300

  Donegall Pass

  2

  9

  3

  38,895

  —

  —

  Dunmurry

  —

  —

  2

  1

  2

  5,001

  Grosvenor Road

  1

  600

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Lisburn

  —

  —

  1

  434

  2

  34,313

  Woodbourne

  3

  20,330

  1

  200

  3

  20,357

  Armed Robberies
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list for each week in each RUC sub division in Northern Ireland since 1 January the number of armed robberies which have taken place and his estimate of the total sums of money and the value of goods stolen. [128615]

  Mr. Ingram
  The table shows the number of armed robberies recorded in Northern Ireland each month during the period 1 January to 28 June 2000 together with the estimated value of goods or money stolen. This information could be further broken down into weekly statistics only at a disproportionate cost.
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  April

  May

  June (to 28)

  Sub-division

  Number

  Amount stolen

  Number

  Amount stolen

  Number

  Amount stolen

  North Queen Street

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Antrim Road

  1

  50

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Antrim

  1

  23,024

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Newtownabbey

  2

  90,919

  1

  260

  3

  17,123

  Carrickfergus

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Tennent Street

  1

  751

  3

  269

  —

  —

  Bangor

  2

  3,402

  1

  2,900

  1

  12,000

  Strandtown

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Castlereagh

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  5,177

  Newtownards

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Downpatrick

  —

  —

  1

  2,100

  —

  —

  Newcastle

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  10,000

  Armagh

  2

  940

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Newry

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Portadown

  —

  —

  1

  3,500

  —

  —

  Lurgan

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Banbridge

  1

  3,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cookstown

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Dungannon

  1

  10,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Enniskillen

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Lisnaskea

  1

  5,420

  —

  —

  1

  180

  Omagh

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Strand Road

  —

  —

  1

  3,500

  1

  3,000

  Strabane

  1

  170

  1

  6,500

  —

  —

  Waterside

  —

  —

  1

  33,979

  —

  —

  Coleraine

  1

  2,061

  1

  6,500

  —

  —

  Limavady

  —

  —

  2

  16,700

  1

  14,300

  Magherafelt

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Ballymena

  2

  1,500

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Ballymoney

  —

  —

  1

  400

  —

  —

  Larne

  1

  150

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  27

  163,146

  25

  198,069

  19

  123,951

  RUC (Vehicle Accident)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the circumstances of the road traffic accident involving an RUC vehicle driven by the Secretary and Chief Executive of the Police Authority for Northern Ireland; what arrangements were made for the repair of the vehicle; and if he will make a statement. [129215]

  Mr. Ingram
  No official report has been received of any RUC vehicle being used by the Secretary and Chief Executive of the Police Authority being involved in a road traffic accident.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many of the written parliamentary questions tabled to his Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April have not received substantive answers, excluding those not answered for reasons of(a) disproportionate cost, (b) information not available, not held centrally, or not held in the form requested and (c) commercial or other confidentiality. [127677]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 26 June 2000]: I assume the right hon. Member is referring to parliamentary questions where Ministers indicate in their response that they will write to hon. Members. If so, there have been 44 such cases out of a total of 1,044
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  parliamentary questions answered by my Department in the period in question. In 13 of these cases, I undertook to write to the hon. Member in my capacity as Chairman of the Millennium Commission.

  National Lottery
  Miss Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money is currently held in the National Lottery distribution fund which is not committed to projects. [128348]

  Kate Hoey
  As at March 2000, just under £200 million of the money held in the National Lottery Distribution Fund was not committed to specific projects. Nearly three-quarters of uncommitted funds are for the New Opportunities Fund (NOF), but NOF anticipate that all its funds will be committed during the course of this financial year.

  Free Television Licences
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) how many households have been sent an application form concerning the availability, to people aged 75 and over, of free television licences; and at what total cost to the public purse; [128817]

  (2) what has been the cost to the public purse of (a) printing expenses and (b) postage, of sending out communications publicising the availability of free television licences for people aged 75 and over. [128816]
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  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 3 July 2000]: The BBC is responsible for administering this scheme and has advised that the information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost and by diverting resources which would otherwise be devoted to the successful implementation of the scheme.

  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the administrative cost is, including postage, of informing people aged over 75 years about their entitlement to concessionary television licences; and if he will make a statement. [129035]

  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many households have been sent letters regarding the concessionary TV licence scheme for people aged over 75 years; how much the total cost was of printing and posting the letters; and how many replies have been received. [128531]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 4 July 2000]: The BBC is responsible for administering this scheme and has advised that the information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost and by diverting resources which would otherwise be devoted to the successful implementation of the scheme.

  Junior Sport
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what support and assistance he will give to local cricket clubs in promoting junior cricket. [128832]

  Kate Hoey
  Junior cricket is eligible for funding from Sportsmatch, the Government's sports sponsorship incentive scheme. Since its inception in 1992, Sportsmatch has made 336 awards worth a total of over £2.08 million to grass roots and junior cricket applications in England, attracting a similar amount in commercial sponsorship.

  Funding is also available to cricket through the Lottery Sports fund which has made 523 awards to cricket projects, worth a total of over £60 million, towards total project costs of over £106 million. One of the priorities of the Lottery Sports Fund is that projects should attempt to target young people.

  Cricket is a sport selected by Sport England for a five year sports development programme aimed at young people. The programme is England-wide, delivered at local level and involves local clubs, local authorities, education services, schools and the England and Wales Cricket Board (EWCB) all working in partnership.

  The England and Wales Cricket Board spends approximately 11 per cent. of the £26 million per annum it receives from broadcasting revenue for the development of cricket.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what support and assistance he gives to local tennis clubs in order to promote junior tennis. [128834]

  Kate Hoey
  Junior tennis is eligible for funding from Sportsmatch, the Government's sports sponsorship incentive scheme. Since its inception in 1992 Sportsmatch has made 194 awards worth a total of over £1.15 million to grass roots and junior tennis applications in England, attracting a similar amount in commercial sponsorship.
  328W
  Funding is also available to tennis through the Lottery Sports fund which has made 473 awards to tennis projects, worth a total of over £54 million, towards total project costs of over £92 million. One of the priorities of the Lottery Sports fund is that projects should attempt to target young people.

  Tennis is also one of the nine sports selected by Sport England for a five-year sports development programme aimed at young people. The programme is England-wide, delivered at local level and involves local clubs, local authorities, education services, schools and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) working in partnership.

  King Edward VII Convalescent Home
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if the Edward VII convalescent home at Osborne will accept further patients after 31 October. [129233]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  No. The King Edward VII convalescent home is due to close on 31 October 2000.

  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps are taken to publicise the widening of eligibility for admission to Edward VII convalescent home at Osborne to include non-commissioned ranks of the armed services under the Osborne Estate Order 1998. [129234]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  No steps are currently being taken to publicise the widening of eligibility for admission because the convalescent home is due to close on 31 October 2000. Following the granting of the Osborne Estate Order 1998, the Civil Service Benevolent Fund, who have been managing the convalescent home on behalf of the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, advertised the widening of eligibility to use the facilities at the home in a variety of publications. Additionally, they brought it to the attention of the Chief Welfare Officers of the armed forces and a number of Government Departments.

  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many of the convalescents at Edward VII convalescent home at Osborne were from(a) commissioned and (b) other ranks of the armed services in (i) 1998 and (ii) 1999. [129235]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The information for the years requested is as follows:

  1998

  1999

  Commissioned Officers

  82

  76

  Other Ranks

  0

  15

HEALTH

  London Health Expenditure
  Ms Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the expenditure per head of population in each health authority area in London for each year from 1996–97 to 2000–01. [127010]
  329W
  Mr. Denham
  Expenditure per weighted head of population for 1996–97 to 1998–99 is shown for each health authority area in London in the table.

  These figures are not comparable between years or between health authorities as a result of changes in accounting practice and other technical accounting differences.

  Expenditure by health authority area for later years is not available.

  London-expenditure by weighted head of population

  £

  Health authority

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Barking and Havering

  565.45

  562.37

  647.90

  Barnet

  600.88

  643.58

  658.78

  Bexley and Greenwich

  579.39

  622.77

  671.51

  Brent and Harrow

  608.69

  641.56

  703.11

  Bromley

  524.58

  580.83

  751.02

  Camden and Islington

  673.66

  647.73

  791.10

  Croydon

  542.71

  575.61

  646.81

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  615.88

  626.99

  678.25

  East London and the City

  614.61

  611.16

  658.96

  Enfield and Haringey

  561.91

  584.89

  626.57

  Hillingdon

  585.23

  594.37

  648.70

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  697.38

  670.40

  752.56

  Kingston and Richmond

  644.27

  677.07

  748.79

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  593.35

  611.17

  650.40

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  612.03

  635.97

  691.65

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  584.88

  621.48

  684.47

  London

  603.11

  620.28

  684.53

  Note:

  1. Expenditure is taken from HA Annual Accounts which are prepared on a resource basis and therefore differ from cash allocations in each year. (These are not the total amounts spent on healthcare. General Dental Services expenditure is separately accounted for and cannot be analysed by health authority over the three years). Also, since 1997–98 drugs expenditure has been mainly accounted for by the Prescription Pricing Authority. For consistency, figures have been reduced by the amount of non-cash limited prescribing expenditure accounted for by the health authority in each year.

  2. However, there are a number of other reasons why the figures shown cannot be directly compared between years and between health authorities. These will include:

  (a) Non medical education and training expenditure (NMET); some authorities account for NMET on behalf of local consortia, and those HAs will have different levels of NMET funding over different years;

  (b) The levels of non-recurrent allocations (such as strategic assistance) will have varied between years and authorities;

  (c) The differential impact of cash limited prescribing, eg as a result of differential levels of general practitioner fundholding;

  (d) Services (eg HIV/AIDS) that are accounted for on a district of treatment basis will distort the expenditure per capita figures which are based on resident populations;

  (e) Changes in accounting policy over the years;

  (f) There could also be different interpretations by auditors which may affect direct comparison; and

  (g) Changes in the weighted population figures between years.

  3. The expenditure per weighted head figures in the answer do not therefore reflect real changes in the resources available for spend on healthcare locally over the period or provide robust comparisons between HAs.

  Sources:

  The accounts of health authorities in London for 1996–97, 1997–98 and 1998–99.

  Weighted population estimates for 1996–97, 1997–98 and 1998–99.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the written parliamentary questions 330W
  tabled to his Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April have not received substantive answers, excluding those not answered (a) citing disproportionate cost, (b) stating that the information is not available, not held centrally, or not held in the form requested and (c) citing commercial or other confidentiality. [128020]

  Ms Stuart
  Two written questions remain substantively unanswered for the period specified.

  Guillain-Barre Syndrome
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the mortality rate for patients suffering from Guillain-Barre Syndrome admitted to National Health Service hospitals for treatment in(a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) 2000; [122625]

  (2) what proportion of patients suffering from Guillain-Barre Syndrome and being treated in National Health Service hospitals were admitted to intensive care units in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) 2000; [122629]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the adequacy of data collection in relation to the number of patients suffering from Guillain-Barre Syndrome who have been treated in National Health Service hospitals. [122630]

  Mr. Denham
  The table shows a mortality rate for patients with a primary diagnosis of Guillain-Barre Syndrome in National Health Service hospitals in England for the financial years 1996–97 to 1998–99. Data for 1999–2000 are not yet available. Information on admissions to intensive care units is not available.

  In terms of data adequacy the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are compiled from data sent by over 300 NHS trusts in England. Every effort is made to minimise inaccuracies.

  Mortality rate derived from number of people diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome; NHS hospitals England 1996–97 to 1998–99

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Primary diagnoses

  1,489

  1,650

  1,875

  Deaths

  29

  36

  35

  Proportion of deaths/diagnoses (per cent.)

  1.9

  2.2

  1.9

  Note:

  The figures for 1998–99 and 1997–98 are provisional, no adjustment have as yet been made for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed) but for 1996–97 figures are grossed for both coverage and unknown/invalid clinical data.

  Source:

  Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health

  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to encourage clinical governance subcommittees of National Health Service trusts to raise awareness of Guillain-Barre Syndrome; [122626]

  (2) what plans he has to encourage clinical governance groups within primary care groups to raise awareness of Guillain-Barre Syndrome, particularly among general practitioners. [122627]

  Mr. Denham
  Clinical governance sub-committees have been put in place to co-ordinate National Health Service organisations' clinical governance activity. They are accountable for ensuring that clinical services across
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  the whole organisation are effectively managed and that the quality of all clinical services improves. There are no plans at this stage to encourage committees to focus on any particular condition.

  Eye Tests
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the frequency with which eye tests should be taken. [128726]

  Mr. Denham
  This is a matter of clinical judgment for optometrists and ophthalmic medical practitioners. In order to ensure probity, we have proposed that a requirement be introduced for a practitioner to give a reason when claiming for a National Health Service sight test at an interval of less than two years since the previous test. Officials will be meeting with representatives of the professions to discuss this proposal on 12 July.

  Epilepsy
  Mr. Mudie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to implement the Clinical Standards Advisory Group's report on epilepsy. [128807]

  Mr. Hutton
  Departmental officials have recently met with representatives from the Joint Epilepsy Council (JEC) to discuss the findings of the Clinical Standards Advisory Group report and take stock of recent service developments and medical research. As a result of this meeting, officials will be working with the JEC to establish the best way forward.

  New Hospitals
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new hospitals were opened in each year since 1979. [129036]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 4 July 2000]: Eighty-seven major hospital developments (over £25 million at current prices) have taken place and become operational since 1980. Details are set out in the table. The low figure for 1999 is a consequence of the small number of major hospital developments which started during 1996 and 1997. This was due to all major developments having to test for private funding during this time.

  Since 1 May 1997, 38 major hospital developments worth over £3.1 billion have been given the go ahead. The introduction of the private finance initiative into the National Health Service capital building programme will result in a dramatic increase in the number of major hospital developments in future years. The first of these developments, the new hospital at Carlisle, was officially opened on 16 June 2000.

  Information collection began in 1980 and we therefore do not hold information for 1979.

  Year

  Number of major hospital developments completed

  1980

  0

  1981

  0

  1982

  0

  1983

  3

  1984

  4

  1985

  4

  1986

  6

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  Year

  Number of major hospital developments completed

  1987

  6

  1988

  9

  1989

  4

  1990

  6

  1991

  9

  1992

  8

  1993

  6

  1994

  1

  1995

  6

  1996

  6

  1997

  5

  1998

  4

  1999

  0

  Total

  87

  NHS Pay Review Body
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when biomedical scientists will form part of the NHS Pay Review Body; and if he will make a statement. [129237]

  Mr. Denham
  Our proposals for modernising National Health Service pay, which were published in February 1999 in "Agenda for Change", include bringing some groups of highly qualified staff within the scope of the Nursing Pay Review Body (NRPB), without changing its fundamentally professional character.

  Initial discussions with NHS trade unions on pay modernisation resulted in a Joint Framework of Principles and Agreed Statement on the Way Forward, which was published on 8 October 1999. This sets out the following starting point for more detailed discussions with trade unions on the qualifying criteria for groups to come within the scope of the NRPB:
  Professions with a minimum entry requirement of three years educational study (or equivalent) to diploma level or higher, in a health specific area (other than medicine or dentistry) and which are state registered and have a substantial majority of members employed in health care.
  Exceptions might be agreed for staff groups which met the majority but not all of these conditions.
  Staff groups which support professions added to the NRPB remit, and who have a direct connection with the transferred groups similar to that between nursing auxiliaries and registered nurses would also need to be considered for transfer.

  The widening of the membership of the Review Body is conditional upon an agreement being reached in the current talks about pay modernisation.

  Fluoridation
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the cost was of the report his Department commissioned the National Health Service Centre for Reviews and Dissemination at the University of York to prepare, into the safety and efficacy of fluoride in drinking water; if the work being undertaken is(a) new research or (b) a review of existing research; and if animal testing forms a part of this research; [129659]

  (2) when he expects (a) to receive and (b) to publish the report which his Department commissioned the National

  333W
  Health Service Centre for Reviews and Dissemination at the University of York to prepare, into the safety and efficacy of fluoride in drinking water; and if he will make a statement on his policy regarding the fluoridation of drinking water. [129684]

  Yvette Cooper
  The contract for the review was for £79,648. The review has been considering existing research rather than undertaking new research. To structure its approach the centre has concentrated on primary research on the effect of fluoride on populations which have been exposed to fluoridated water. The report is due to reach the Department later this month and should be published shortly afterwards. We will take decisions on the way forward after having considered the report.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his Department's policy towards the British Fluoridation Society; and what contributions were made to the Society by the Government in each year since 1975–76. [129658]

  Yvette Cooper
  The main role the Department funds the British Fluoridation Society to fulfil, is to collect and maintain evidence on the effects of fluoridation. Our support for the British Fluoridation Society since 1975–76 has been:

  £

  Year

  Amount

  1975–76

  4,500

  1976–77

  5,500

  1977–78

  5,500

  1978–79

  5,500

  1979–80

  5,500

  1980–81

  11,000

  1981–82

  14,000

  1982–83

  15,000

  1983–84

  15,000

  1984–85

  15,000

  1985–86

  30,000

  1986–87

  20,000

  1987–88

  20,000

  1988–89

  30,000

  1989–90

  31,000

  1990–91

  45,784

  1991–92

  51,491

  1992–93

  56,000

  1993–94

  62,247

  1994–95

  63,000

  1995–96

  74,000

  1996–97

  117,609

  1997–98

  90,000

  1998–99

  76,000

  1999–2000

  78,000

  Single European Currency
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what budget he has set for expenditure under the national changeover plan in anticipation of joining the single European currency; and how much has been spent to date; [129739]

  (2) by whom the decision was taken to incur expenditure in NHS hospitals in anticipation of joining the single European currency; and on what date. [129740]
  334W
  Ms Stuart
  In his statement to the House in October 1997, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer said that the Government would begin to prepare ourselves so that, should we meet the economic tests, we can make a decision to join a successful single currency early in the next Parliament.

  The National Health Service is carrying out a measure of pre-planning for the possible introduction of the euro as set out in the second Outline National Changeover Plan published on 9 March 2000. The costs of this ongoing exercise are contained within normal running costs and cannot be separately identified.

  Children's Commissioner
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will appoint a commissioner for children; and if he will make a statement. [129441]

  Mr. Hutton
  We have no plans to appoint a children's commission for England, although as our response to the Waterhouse Report made clear, we are keeping this matter under review. In the meantime, we have already embarked on a major programme to improve children's services and strengthen the safeguards protecting children from abuse.

  We consider that this ambitious legislative and policy programme which includes the Care Standards Bill, the Children (Leaving Care) Bill, the Protection of Children Act 1978, the £375 million Quality Protects programme and the new Children's Rights Director post within the National Care Standards Commission together amount to a step-change in the provision of safeguards for children.

  Overdoses (Deaths)
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have died from overdoses of prescribed medication in the Northumberland health authority area in each of the last three years. [129011]

  Ms Stuart
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  New Deal
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many employees of his Department and its agencies have been recruited from the New Deal; and what percentage this represents of total staff. [129103]

  Ms Stuart
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 6 July 2000,Official Report, column 286W.

  The number of New Dealers within the Department and its executive agencies as at 1 April 2000 represents 0.52 per cent. of total staff.

  Cochlear Implants (Essex)
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cochlear implants for children were undertaken in each of the last five years in(a) North Essex health authority and (b) Essex Rivers Healthcare Trust; and how many children were waiting for more than a year in each case. [125433]
  335W
  Mr. Hutton
  There were no cochlear implants for children treated in North Essex health authority or Essex Rivers Healthcare National Health Service Trust in the last five years. However, there have been seven cochlear implant operations for children resident in the North Essex health authority in the last five years carried out outside the area. Of these, no children waited over three months.

DEFENCE

  Armoured Vehicles
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the Army's current inventory is of(a) Challenger I, (b) Challenger II and (c) Warrior vehicles; and how many are operationally available. [129132]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 6 July 2000]: The current inventories for these vehicles are (a) 414, (b) 250 and (c) 786. Information on availability is collated separately in respect of vehicles held by front-line Units and vehicles deployed on operations. The former category excludes certain training vehicles, vehicles in deep repair, vehicles used as reference vehicles and vehicles in storage (e.g. some 300 tanks being stored at Ashchurch as part of the withdrawal from service programme).

  Vehicles held by front line units on operations (measured against an immediate availability target only)

  Vehicle type

  Percentage operationally available

  Warrior

  96

  Challenger I

  No CRIs deployed on operations

  Challenger II

  87

  Vehicles held by front line units (other than on operations)

  Vehicle type

  Percentage which could be fully operational within 24 hours

  Warrior

  88

  Challenger I

  98

  Challenger II

  89

  Submarines
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the operational availability is of each of the Royal Navy's Fleet submarines. [129670]

  Mr. Hoon
  Of the Royal Navy's 12 Fleet (hunter-killer) submarines, six are operationally available and six are in refit, extended maintenance or repair.
  Operational or engaged in preparing for service, trials or training

  Sovereign

  Superb

  Splendid

  Trafalgar

  Turbulent

  Triumph

  336W Undergoing refit maintenance or repair

  Sceptre

  Spartan

  Talent

  Tireless

  Torbay

  Trenchant.

  The specific operational readiness of each submarine is classified for security reasons and is being withheld under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Otterburn Ranges
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the impact on army training of the delay in making improvements to the Otterburn ranges; and if he will make a statement. [129134]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 6 July 2000]: In 1995 my Department submitted a Notice of Proposed Development (NOPD) to the Northumberland National Park Association for the redevelopment of infrastructure at Otterburn Training Area (OTA). This redevelopment is essential to enable training of AS90 and MLRS units at regimental level. This remains an absolute requirement that cannot occur anywhere else in the UK. Since the NOPD was submitted our proposals have been thoroughly examined by two Public Inquiries (PI) and we are still awaiting the outcome.

  As a result of our inability to develop OTA, AS90 and MLRS units have not been able to conduct the full range of special-to-arm training that is a necessary precursor to deploying with other formations on combined arms training. As a result, individual Brigades will not be trained sufficiently in all aspects of combined arms war fighting that would enable them to react to short notice operational deployments world wide, as envisaged under the Strategic Defence Review. This has direct consequence for our ability to meet readiness liabilities for the Joint Rapid Reaction Force (JRRF).

  The results of the Public Inquiries are currently being considered by the Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions and I am hopeful that a decision will be forthcoming later this year. If our application is successful and allowing time for the necessary construction work on the training area, we expect that AS90 and MLRS units will be able to commence manoeuvre training at Otterburn in 2004.

  RAF Feltwell
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 20 June 2000,Official Report, column 135W, regarding RAF Feltwell, when an official of his Department last visited RAF Feltwell. [129719]

  Mr. Spellar
  Officials from my Department visit daily.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 19 June 2000,Official Report, column 37W, regarding RAF Feltwell, how much notice it is necessary for RAF Commander Lakenheath to give prior to access to RAF Feltwell being granted by the US forces at the base. [129716]

  Mr. Spellar
  None.
  337W
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 19 June 2000,Official Report, column 37W, regarding RAF Feltwell, if there are areas of RAF Feltwell from which RAF Commander Lakenheath is excluded; and on how many days in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available RAF personnel other than RAF Commander Lakenheath visited RAF Feltwell. [129717]

  Mr. Spellar
  The RAF Commander Lakenheath is not excluded from any area of RAF Feltwell. Records are not maintained in such a way as to identify separately all visits by RAF Personnel to RAF Feltwell.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 12 May 2000,Official Report, column 513W, regarding RAF Feltwell, if he will make a statement on the support function afforded to RAF Lakenheath by RAF Feltwell. [129718]

  Mr. Spellar
  RAF Feltwell provides support facilities such as accommodation, schooling and warehousing to RAF Lakenheath.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 20 June 2000,Official Report, column 135W, regarding RAF Feltwell, what plans Ministers from his Department have to visit RAF Feltwell. [129720]

  Mr. Spellar
  None.

  RAF Lakenheath
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the operational purpose of RAF Lakenheath is; and how many(a) United Kingdom and (b) United States personnel are stationed there. [129682]

  Mr. Spellar
  RAF Lakenheath is a United States administered main operating base and hosts the United States Air Force's 48th Fighter Wing. 589 UK and 5,343 US personnel are stationed there.

  Eurofighter
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department will derate, or otherwise downgrade, the performance specifications of the Eurofighter EJ200 power plants; and if he will make a statement. [128480]

  Mr. Hoon
  We are not planning any change in the performance specification of the EJ200 engine. However, for training purposes only, we are investigating the effect of limiting the thrust of the EJ200 engine fitted to Eurofighter. This, if implemented, should extend the engine life and reduce support costs. The change would be practically invisible to the pilot and have no effect on tactical training. During all operational flying full thrust levels will be available.

  HMS Tireless
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he anticipates that the repairs to HMS Tireless will be complete. [129671]

  Mr. Spellar
  We anticipate that the repair to HMS Tireless will be completed in the autumn.
  338W
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what work will be carried out on HMS Tireless; when it is due to be completed; and if he will make a statement. [129510]

  Mr. Spellar
  The repair work on HMS Tireless is a standard repair following a contained leak of coolant water in her reactor compartment. This work will be carried out in Gibraltar and completed in the autumn.

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received on the repair of HMS Tireless in Gibraltar; and if he will make a statement. [129512]

  Mr. Spellar
  No representations concerning the repair to HMS Tireless have been made. However, the Chief Minister of Gibraltar continues to be fully briefed on this issue. He understands the reasons for carrying out the repair in Gibraltar and will continue to take a close interest in the safety aspects to ensure that no risk is posed to civilian or service personnel.

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what additional safety guidelines have been issued to staff at HM Naval Base in Gibraltar in relation to the repair of HMS Tireless; and if he will make a statement. [129511]

  Mr. Spellar
  Stringent safety guidelines relating to nuclear safety and nuclear propelled warships are in place at all HM Naval Bases. Additional guidance relating to this repair has been issued to HM Naval Base Gibraltar.

  Export Licences
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what export licences have recently been issued in respect of L3A1 CS irritant cartridges by SME industries in Malaysia. [128900]

  Dr. Howells
  I have been asked to reply.

  The control of exports from Malaysia is a matter for the Malaysian Government. Any export of licensable goods from the UK to Malaysia would be subject to UK export controls. In addition, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 6 July 2000, Official Report, columns 246–49W.

  Budget Allocations
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the budget allocation for the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency is for the financial year 2000–01; and when the agency received its budget allocation. [125093]

  Mr. Spellar
  [pursuant to his reply, 8 June 2000, c. 344–35W]: I can now advise that the budget allocation for the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency for the financial year 2000–01 is £163.541 million. This was agreed on 26 June 2000.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Disability Benefits (Medical Reports)
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of applicants for(a) Disability

  339W
  Living Allowance and (b) Attendance Allowance were refused allowances following an examining medical practitioner's report in each of the last five years. [129306]

  Mr. Bayley
  The information is in the table.

  Decisions to refuse Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance following an examining medical practitioner's report expressed as percentages of all decisions on those benefits

  Percentage

  Disability Living Allowance

  Attendance Allowance

  1995

  10

  6

  1996

  17

  8

  1997

  20

  8

  1998

  20

  7

  1999

  23

  9

  Source:

  DSS Information Centre: 100 per cent. data

  Housing Benefit
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the occasions when he has used his powers under the Social Security Act 1992(a) to require local authorities to improve administration of housing benefit and (b) to impose financial penalties on local authorities for failing to comply with a direction from him to improve housing benefit administration. [129468]

  Angela Eagle
  The Secretary of State has the power to require a local authority to achieve and to maintain specified standards of performance if, following a report by the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate (BFI), the authority fails to propose adequate remedies for any deficiencies identified by BFI.

  Of the 64 reports published by the BFI, none have yet required the issue of a direction. My right hon. Friend remains ready to use his powers if appropriate.

  State Pension
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his oral answer of 15 May 2000,Official Report, column 4, if he will set out the basis for his estimate that the Government are spending £2.5 billion more on pensioners than would have been spent by restoring the earnings link; and what the reasons are for the difference between this estimate and that given in his answer of 11 April, Official Report, column 144W. [129741]

  Mr. Rooker
  The assumptions underlying the estimate my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave in his written answer on 11 April 2000,Official Report, columns 143–44W, are given in my written answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 11 May 2000, Official Report, column 479W. The assumptions underlying the estimate given in my right hon. Friend's oral answer on 15 May 2000, Official Report, column 4, are the same.

  The difference between the figures is due to the inclusion of estimated expenditure on free TV licences for those aged 75 and over in the latter estimate.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 27 June 2000,Official Report, column 480–81W, on the state pension, if he will
  340W
  estimate the cost of Option (a), linking the basic pension to earnings and introducing an age addition of £5 for pensioners aged 75 to 79 years and £10 for pensioners aged 80 years and above, on the basis that real earnings grow in line with the Government Actuary's Department's central assumption for long-term growth rates of real earnings. [129516]

  Mr. Rooker
  The information is in the table.

  £ billion

  Gross

  Net of means-tested benefits and income tax

  2001–02

  2.3

  1.5

  2002–03

  2.9

  1.9

  2003–04

  3.5

  2.2

  2004–05

  4.2

  —

  2005–06

  4.8

  —

  Notes:

  1. Annual real earnings growth of 1.5 per cent. is assumed throughout the period in line with the Government Actuary's central assumption for long-term growth of real earnings.

  2. It is assumed that the age addition is paid in full to basic State pension recipients and is not uprated. Figures include the cost of benefits whose rates are linked to the rate of basic Retirement Pension.

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

  4. 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.

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

  Minimum Income Guarantee
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if, for each of the last 12 months, in respect of the Minimum Income Guarantee, he will estimate(a) the number of applications, (b) the number of successful applications and (c) the average value of payments made. [129744]

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

  Minimum Income Guarantee pensioners and average weekly amounts, Great Britain May 1999 to February 2000

  Quarter

  Number of claimants (thousand)

  Average weekly payment

  May 1999

  1,624

  45.30

  August 1999

  1,628

  45.16

  November 1999

  1,626

  45.03

  February 2000

  1,604

  44.88

  Notes:

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

  2. Pensioners are defined as where the claimant, and/or partner are aged 60 or over.

  3. Figure are rounded to the nearest thousand.

  4. Figures include claimants who may be in Residential Care/Nursing Homes.

  Source:

  Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiries, May 1999–February 2000.
  341W
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if, for the Minimum Income Guarantee take-up campaign, he will estimate(a) the total administrative costs to date, (b) the administrative costs for the project team and teleclaims service, (c) the cost of the televised advertising campaign, (d) the total number of calls to the MIG claimline and (e) the number of claim packs issued, and of that number (i) the number of completed claim forms so far returned, (ii) the number of successful applications, (iii) the number of those successful claims that have so far been paid and (iv) the value of those claims so far paid. [129745]

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

  The total administrative costs, to the end of June, for the project team and teleclaims service is £2,639,236. The cost of the televised advertising campaign is estimated at £3,427,000 in total. To date the Minimum Income Guarantee claimline has received over 75,000 calls and from these calls over 35,000 claim packs have been issued.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  European Council Political Committee
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the terms of reference of the Political Committee of the European Council established under Article 25 of the Treaty on European Union; what is its membership; what opinions from it(a) have been requested by the European Council and (b) have been produced under its own initiative; and where each has been published. [128849]

  Mr. Vaz
  The Political Committee monitors the international situation in the areas covered by the common foreign and security policy and contributes to the definition of policies by delivering opinions to the Council at the request of the Council or on its own initiative. It also monitors the implementation of agreed policies. It consists of representatives of member states (usually the Political Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and of the Commission.

  The Political Committee submits advice to the Council on all areas covered by the common foreign and security policy. It does not submit advice to the European Council.

  Decisions taken by the Council on the basis of advice submitted by the Political Committee are published in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

  Iranian Jews
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding the conviction of members of the Jewish community in Shiraz, Iran. [129270]

  Mr. Hain
  [holding answer 6 July 2000]: We are deeply concerned at the news of the sentences imposed on 1 July on 10 Jewish and two Muslim defendants tried for espionage in Shiraz. We and our EU partners have consistently raised our concerns about the conduct of the trial, in particular at its closed nature, despite earlier
  342W
  assurances to the contrary. We note that provision is made for appeal to the Shiraz Revolutionary Court within 20 days of sentencing, and if need be, to the Supreme Court. We will continue to follow proceedings closely and will register our concerns with the Iranian authorities.

  Mobile Telephones
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many(a) mobile telephones and (b) pagers are used by (i) the Minister for Europe and (ii) his officials; and what the cost was of (a) the mobile telephones and pagers and (b) calls made on the mobile telephones during the last year for which figures are available, identifying separately the figure for calls to non-UK telephone numbers. [129251]

  Mr. Battle
  It is imperative for the Minister for Europe to remain in close contact both at home and overseas. The Minister is provided with one mobile telephone. His officials have three. There is also a mobile telephone in the ministerial car. FCO mobile telephone line rental and call costs are at competitive commercial rates.

  To provide details of the costs incurred would be in breach of commercial confidentiality.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many(a) mobile telephones and (b) pagers are used by his Department; and what the cost was of (i) the mobile telephones and pagers and (ii) calls made on mobile telephones during the last year for which figures are available, identifying separately the cost for calls to non-UK telephone numbers and the persons to whom the facility is made available. [129252]

  Mr. Battle
  It is imperative for the FCO's staff to remain in close contact both at home and overseas. In the UK the FCO has 900 mobile telephones and 253 pagers. FCO mobile telephone line rental and call costs are at competitive commercial rates.

  To provide details of the costs incurred would be in breach of commercial confidentiality.

  Japanese Investment
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) which other Departments were sent copies of Sir Stephen Gomersall's telegram on Japanese investment in the UK; [129756]

  (2) if he has ordered a inquiry into the leaking of Sir Stephen Gomersall's telegram on Japanese investment in the UK; [129742]

  (3) if he will list the people in his Department who had access to the telegram on Japanese investment in the UK by Sir Stephen Gomersall; [129746]

  (4) when his Department received Sir Stephen Gomersall's telegram on Japanese investment in the UK; and what action was taken after it was received. [129743]

  Mr. Battle
  I deplore the leaking of Sir Stephen Gomersall's telegram on Japanese investment in the UK.

  Reports of this kind are routinely circulated to all Government Departments with an interest in the subject. This includes the Treasury, the Cabinet Office, the Department for Trade and Industry, the Invest in Britain

  343W
  Bureau (now Invest UK), British Trade International, the Ministry of Defence, the Department for International Development, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Scotland Office, the Northern Ireland Office and the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales. On the same basis, such reports are also widely circulated within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

  Sir Stephen Gomersall's telegram was received in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 22 June 2000. It was then distributed in the normal way, through a mix of paper and electronic copies.

  An inquiry into the leak has been launched.

  EU Food Agency
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress in establishing an EU food agency. [128508]

  Ms Stuart
  I have been asked to reply.

  We have responded to the European Commission's White Paper on Food Safety which contains proposals to establish a European food authority. The submission of our response was announced via a Food Standards Agency press release of 1 June. The response has been placed in the Library of the House and is also available on the Food Standards Agency website at www.foodstandards.gov.uk/pdf—files/response.pdf.

  The Commission is now considering all the comments it has received from member states and is awaiting the opinion of the European Parliament. The Commission has indicated its intention to come forward with firm proposals by late October.

SCOTLAND

  Drugs Misuse
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the application of the Government's national policy on drugs in Scotland. [128584]

  Dr. Reid
  Action in Scotland against drugs misuse is being taken forward by the Scottish Executive within the common UK framework established by the 1998 White Paper, "Tackling Drugs to Build a Better Britain" (Cm 3945). Scotland's drug strategy is set out in "Tackling Drugs in Scotland: Action in Partnership" which was launched in March 1999. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Flax and Hemp
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on progress made to date in the negotiations to reform European support arrangements for flax and hemp. [125072]

  Ms Quin
  There have been lengthy discussions of the flax and hemp reform proposals at official level, but no discussion as yet at ministerial level.
  344W
  The proposals were due to be discussed at the May Agriculture Council—and then the June Agriculture Council—but on both occasions they were removed from the agenda because the European Parliament had not provided its opinion. The Parliament's opinion was finally delivered on 6 July, clearing the way for discussion at the forthcoming Agriculture Council to be held on 17–18 July.

  GM Crops
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the number and nature is of the responses he has received as a result of his paper of 8 June on Review of Separation Distances for GM Crops; and if he will place copies of the responses in the Library. [126087]

  Ms Quin
  At the time of writing 36 responses to the consultation letter have been received expressing a range of views. Copies of the responses will be placed in the House Libraries after the end of the consultation period, unless respondents specifically ask for their comments not to be made public.

  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the parties consulted regarding the review of separation distances for GM crops announced on 8 June. [126096]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 15 June 2000]: The review consultation document has been sent to the following organisations.
  Review of separation distances for GM crops: list of consulted organisations

  ACRE members

  Advanced Technologies (Cambridge) Ltd.

  Advanta Seeds Ltd.

  Agra-Europe

  Agrevo UK

  Agrevo UK Crop Protection

  Agricultural Risk Management Ltd.

  AGROW World Crop Protection News

  Apple and Pear Research Council

  Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty

  ASDA Stores Ltd.

  Association of Independent Crop Consultants

  BASF plc—Agriculture Division

  BBSRC

  BCCA (Biscuit, Cake, Chocolate and Confectionary Alliance)

  Bee Farmers Association

  Bio-Dynamic Agricultural Association

  Bioindustry Association—Amersham International

  BOCM Pauls Ltd.

  British Agrochemicals Association

  British Association for Bio Fuels and Oils

  British Association of Agricultural Consultants

  British Beekeeping Association

  British Confectioners Association

  British Crop Protection Council

  British Honey Packers and Importers Association of the UK

  345W

  British Institute of Agricultural Consultants

  British Potato Council

  British Retail Consortium

  British Society of Plant Breeders

  British Sugar Beet Producers Association

  British Sugar plc

  Burson-Marsteller

  Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants Ltd.

  Cameron McKenna

  Campden and Chorleywood

  CCC—Technology

  Centre for Food Policy

  Chemical Industries Association

  Coceral, Belgium

  Consumers Association

  Consumers in Europe Group

  Council for the Protection of Rural England

  Council of the National Beekeeping Associations of the UK

  Country Landowners Association

  CSL National Bee Unit

  CWS Corporate Affairs

  Cyanamid Agriculture UK

  Dairy Industry Federation

  Daiwa Institute of Research Europe Ltd.

  Dalgety Agriculture Ltd.

  DANI Plant Testing Station

  Dawes and Moore

  Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  ECOTEC

  ENDS

  English Nature

  Euro PA Associates

  European Commission

  European Public Policy Advisers

  Farm and Food Society

  Farmers Union of Wales

  Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group

  Federation of Oils, Seeds, and Fats Association

  Fertiliser Manufacturers Association

  Food and Drink Federation

  Food Certification (Scotland) Ltd.

  Food From Britain

  Forestry Commission

  Friends of the Earth

  Game Conservancy Trust

  GEN

  Genewatch

  Genetics Forum

  Government and Public Affairs—Europe

  Grain and Feed Trade Association

  Green Alliance

  Green Network

  Greenpeace

  Hoescht UK Ltd.—Agriculture Division

  Home Grown Cereals Authority

  Horticultural Research International

  Iceland Stores

  Institute of Arable Crop Research

  Institute of Environmental Science and Research

  346W

  Institute of Food Research

  Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research

  Institute of Terrestrial Ecology

  International Bee Research Association

  Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association

  ITE

  Jetro London

  John Innes Centre

  Joint Nature Conservation Committee

  Lion Seed Ltd.

  Marks and Spencer plc

  May and Dawson Ltd.

  McBain Associates Ltd.

  Milk Development Council

  Monsanto UK

  Moorland Association

  Morely Research Centre

  Naish Jones Ltd.

  National Agriculture Centre

  National Farmers Union

  National Farmers Union (Wales)

  National Federation of Consumer Groups

  National Institute for Agricultural Botany

  National Trust

  Nestle UK Ltd.

  NFU

  NFU Scotland

  Nickerson Seeds Ltd.

  North of England Assembly of Local Authority

  Northern Ireland Horticulture and Plant Breeding Station

  Novartis Crop Protection UK Ltd.

  Novartis Nutrition UK Ltd.

  Novartis Seeds Ltd.

  Organic Farmers and Growers Ltd.

  Organic Food Federation

  Pendragon Innovations Ltd.

  Pioneer Overseas Corporation

  Plant Breeding International Cambridge Ltd.

  Proctor and Gamble Technical Centres Ltd.

  Public Interest Consultants

  RBG Kew

  Rhone Polnec Agriculture Ltd.

  Richard Gard Associates

  Rikilt-Dlo

  Royal Agricultural Society of England

  Royal and Sun Alliance

  Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution

  Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)

  RURAL

  SAC

  SAFE Alliance

  Safeway Stores plc

  SAGE (Scarborough Against Genetic Engineering)

  Sainsbury's Supermarkets

  Schuttelaar and Partners

  Scottish Agricultural College

  Scottish Agriculture Science Agency

  Scottish Beekeepers Association

  Scottish Crop Research Institute

  347W

  Scottish Natural Heritage

  Scottish Organic Producers Association

  Seed Crushers' and Oil Processors' Association

  SERAD

  Sharps International Seeds

  Silsoe College

  Silsoe Research Institute

  Soft Drinks Association

  Soil Association

  Soil Association Certification Ltd.

  South West Industrial Crops Ltd.

  Teagasc, Rural Economy Research Centre

  Tesco Technical Centre

  The Apiary

  The Countryside Agency

  The Family Farmers' Association

  The Institute of Agricultural Management

  The National Trust

  The Pesticides Trust

  The Royal Society

  The Tenant Farmers' Association

  Tim Brigstocke Associates

  Trading Standards Department

  Trading Standards Department, Quality Food and Agricultural Division, Warwick

  Trowers and Hamlin

  Twickenham and Thames Valley Beekeepers' Association

  UK Agricultural Supply Trade Association

  UK Register of Organic Food Standards

  UKREP

  Ulster Beekeepers Association

  Uniroyal Chemicals Ltd.

  United Kingdom Register of Organic Food Standards

  United Kingdom Sunflower Association

  United Oilseeds

  University of East Anglia

  University of Newcastle

  University of Portsmouth

  University of Reading

  University of Surrey

  University of the West of England

  Vegetarians International Voice for Animals

  Welsh Beekeepers Association

  West Country Co-op

  Wildlife Trust

  Wine Standards Board

  Womens Farmers Union

  World Wildlife Fund for Nature

  Zeneca Agrochemicals

  Zeneca Crop Protection

  Zeneca Plant Science.

  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received concerning the proposal to add GM maize Chiodon LL to the NIAB approved list; and what plans he has to hold further consultations on this proposal. [127796]
  348W
  Ms Quin
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, Deptford, (Joan Ruddock) on 22 May 2000,Official Report, columns 383–84W.

  As required by the Seeds (National Lists of Varieties) Regulations 1982 (as amended), each of the 227 parties who have submitted formal written representations under regulation 21(2) have been supplied with copies of all of the written representations made. In view of the wide interest in the proposed decision, Ministers have agreed that all the parties who submitted such representations should be given an opportunity to comment, by 31 July, on the other representations made. No fees will be charged for making such further representations.

  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to review the fee for challenging the addition of a variety to the National Institute for Agricultural Botany approved list. [127795]

  Ms Quin
  The National Institution for Agricultural Bottany's recommended list is funded by industry and is not part of the statutory process of considering varieties for addition to the National List.

  Fees for all National List services, including fees for making written representations and requesting a hearing, are reviewed at least once a year. The next review will start this autumn.

  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his inquiries have established the separation distance used between GM and non-GM crops in the production of the recently contaminated Advanta seeds from Canada. [127219]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 27 June 2000]: The separation distances used between GM and non-GM crops in the production of the recently contaminated Advanta seeds are still under investigation by the Canadian Authorities. The results of these investigations are not yet available.

  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the contracts between his Department and the Central Science Laboratory that are connected with GMOs. [127220]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 27 June 2000]: At present CSL are contracted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to undertake two GM-related research projects. One is a desk modelling study to assess the risks to the agricultural environment from the release of GM crops. The other is a review of the consequences for agriculture of the introduction of GM crops.

  CSL are also contracted to provide advice on the plant health and agronomic aspects of GMOs.

  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will publish the findings of the inquiry into the causes of the Advanta seeds contamination incident. [127217]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 27 June 2000]: The possible causes of the Advanta seeds contamination continue to be investigated by the Canadian authorities. The results of their investigations are not yet available the Department.
  349W
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 8 June 2000,Official Report, column 357W, on what occasions in the last 12 months the Government have received information on GM seed contamination incidents from EU member states; and what information was received. [126818]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 19 June 2000]: At the meeting of EU and EEA/EFTA seed certification agencies, on 2–5 May this year, Greece reported an incident involving the suspected adventitious presence of GM seed in conventional cotton seed.

  Information on the recent discovery of GM rapeseed in conventional rapeseed has been shared between the affected member states.

  Following reports in the French press last week that the French authorities have discovered low levels of GM presence in conventional maize seed imported into France, we contacted the French authorities, who confirmed on 30 June that they had indeed found some GM seed in conventional maize seed, which has been sown in South West France. Further information now indicates that they have found three different modifications in a number of varieties of forage maize imported into France by the company Golden Harvest. The French authorities have not yet confirmed which varieties of maize seed are involved, but have confirmed that sweetcorn varieties are not affected by their current investigations. We are seeking further information from them on the varieties concerned. However, as the varieties concerned are cultivated in Southern France, it is possible that they would be unsuitable for cultivation in UK conditions.

  The GMs found in maize samples by the French authorities are BT 176 and BT 11, and one further, as yet unidentified, modification. BT 176 is insect resistant and has Part C consent within the EU under Directive 90/220 for import, food and feed use, and for cultivation. BT 11 is insect resistant and has Part C consent for import and use in animal feed. Pending further information from the French authorities, my Department, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, and the Food Standards Agency are considering what the implications would be should further investigations indicate that affected seed might have been sown in the UK.

  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when his Ministry was informed of the contamination of seed by GM seed in crops planted before this calendar year. [126630]

  Ms Quin
  I refer the hon. Member to the information given by my right hon. Friend the Minister in the debate on 8 June 2000,Official Report, column 493.

  Milk
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent discussions he has had with the main supermarkets on the price of milk; and if he will make a statement. [126956]

  Ms Quin
  My right hon. Friend the Minister and his fellow Ministers have regular meetings with various organisations concerned with the dairy industry, including the main supermarkets. The price of milk has been one of a number of issues discussed.

  Pig Farmers
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the number of pig farmers that(a) are eligible and (b) will participate in an outgoers scheme. [129399]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 6 July 2000]: In general terms, all pig producers who can show they were involved in commercial pig breeding in June 1998 are eligible to take part in the outgoers element of the Pig Industry Restructuring Scheme. There may, however, be further conditions applied as a result of the recently concluded consultation exercise on this part of the scheme and by the terms of the European Commission's clearance document. No formal estimate on the number of pig farmers likely to take part has been made.

  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what criteria he has established for eligibility for a pig farmers' outgoers scheme; and when these will be announced. [129397]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 6 July 2000]: As things stand, the eligibility criteria for the outgoers element of the Pig Industry Restructuring Scheme is that applicant must be able to show they were involved in commercial pig breeding in June 1998, that they have pig breeding facilities to destroy or dismantle and that they are prepared to enter into binding undertakings to cease pig production for a minimum of 10 years. These criteria may, however, change as a result of the recently concluded consultation exercise on this part of the scheme or to comply with the views of the European Commission. The final terms of the scheme will be announced following European Commission clearance.

  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations he has received regarding an outgoers scheme for pig farmers; and if he will make a statement. [129400]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 6 July 2000]: We have received a number of representations from hon. Members of this House and others regarding the outgoers element of the Pig Industry Restructuring Scheme (PIRS). This part of PIRS has also just completed its consultation period and responses to that consultation are being assessed, pending clearance of the scheme by the Commission.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Football Hooligans
  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list those football hooligans who(a) are Category C hooligans and (b) have (i) restriction and (ii) banning orders against them; [128149]

  (2) how many football hooligans have been added to the Category C list in each year; [128148]

  (3) how many Category C football hooligans there are in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland. [128150]

  Mr. Straw
  The National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) maintains lists of convicted or suspected hooligans, but does not apply the term "Category C" to individuals on
  351W
  those lists. The individuals currently subject to Restriction Orders or other category of football banning orders have been placed in the Library.

  Metropolitan Police
  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes remained unsolved in the Metropolitan police area on Monday 26 June; and if he will make a statement. [128275]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I understand from the Metropolitan police that the information requested is not yet available for Monday 26 June; but that on the latest Monday for which the information is available, 32,303 crimes of all types were classified as unsolved.

  Asylum Seeker Vouchers
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to allow shops which accept asylum seeker vouchers to give change. [128882]

  Mrs. Roche
  We remain of the opinion that the "no change" policy is an essential part of our strategy. It is designed to be a disincentive to those who intend using the asylum process for economic migration. We are giving further consideration to increasing the flexibility of the present voucher scheme by providing more low denomination vouchers given to asylum seekers.

  Criminal Cases Review Commission
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been waiting(a) six to 12 months, (b) 13 to 18 months and (c) more than one and a half years, for the Criminal Cases Review Commission to allocate their case to a case review manager; and if he will make a statement. [128608]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I understand that, at the end of May, the total number of eligible cases awaiting allocation to a case review manager was 899. The kind of breakdown requested is not readily available from the Criminal Cases Review Commission's current management information system, though it will be from a new system that is expected to be in use by the end of August.

  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what effect the recent increase of case review managers for the Criminal Cases Review Commission has had on the waiting time for allocation to a case review manager; and if he will make a statement. [128607]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  It is not yet possible to say. The Commission was notified at the end of March that it would be given additional funding for 2000–01, and allowed to increase its complement of case review managers from 40 to 50. I understand that the Commission has recently completed a recruitment exercise, but that the successful applicants have not yet all taken up post, and further recruitment will anyway be necessary to bring the number of case review managers up to complement. The impact of 352W
  these additional staff on the waiting time for the allocation of cases will also depend on the nature of the cases to be allocated to them, and the rate of receipt of applications.

  Asylum Seekers
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applicants whose cases fall to be considered under concessions announced in the White Paper on Asylum and Immigration, published in 1998, have not received a decision on their case. [128763]

  Mrs. Roche
  As at 30 June, outstanding cases are 1,250 (plus 50 pre-1993 cases).

  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if those asylum applicants whose cases fall to be considered under concessions announced in the White Paper on Asylum and Immigration, published in 1998, will be notified of a decision by the end of July. [128762]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Integrated Casework Directorate aims to clear such cases by the end of July, subject to timely receipt of requested information and the case being clearly identified as falling for consideration under the White Paper criteria. Any cases which come to light beyond that date will be given priority criteria in Liverpool.

  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason the remaining cases held in Croydon of asylum applicants whose claim falls to be considered under the concession announced in the White Paper, have been transferred to the Asylum Arrears Group at the Nationality Directorate in Liverpool; and what effect this has had on the time taken to make decisions on those claims. [128730]

  Mrs. Roche
  Sharing the load of such cases among a greater number of caseworkers was seen as the best means of ensuring prompt resolution. There was also an operational requirement to provide appropriate work for a growing casework unit in Liverpool.

  Ministerial Code
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions since May 1997 Ministers in his Department have made a declaration of interest to their colleagues under circumstances envisaged in Paragraph 110 of the Ministerial Code. [129163]

  Mr. Straw
  Information relating to internal advice and consultation is not disclosed under Exemption II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Custody
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women have been given a sentence of immediate custody by the courts in the Greater London area in each of the last three years. [129193]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Available information, taken from the Home Office Court Proceedings Databases, is given in the table.
  353W

  Number of persons given a sentence of immediate custody for all offences at all courts within the Greater London area1 by sex, 1996–98

  1996

  1997

  1998

  Males

  14,074

  15,613

  16,237

  Females

  1,060

  1,339

  1,459

  1Courts within areas policed by the Metropolitan Police Service and the City of London Police.

  CS Sprays
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police forces in England and Wales do not hold stocks of CS sprays; how many make it their policy not to use CS sprays; and if he will make a statement. [129248]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Three police forces in England and Wales do not use CS spray: Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Sussex. The remaining 40 forces will hold stocks of CS spray for issue to their officers.

  Firearms
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the number of unlicensed shotguns held in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [129454]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  So far as I am aware, no reliable estimate exists of the number of unlicensed shotguns in the United Kingdom.

  Young Offenders (Barnet)
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of time was from arrest to sentence of persistent young offenders at the magistrates courts in Barnet in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [129278]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 6 July 2000]: The average time from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders sentenced at Barnet magistrates court is estimated to have been 100 days in the period April 1999 to March 2000. This estimate is based on data collated by the Lord Chancellor's Department. It is calculated from the average time from charge to sentence for persistent young offenders sentenced at Barnet magistrates court between April 1999 and March 2000 and on the police force level results of a survey on the average time between arrest and charge for persistent young offenders dealt with in 1999. The figure excludes any cases that were dealt with at Barnet magistrates court but were committed to the Crown Court for trial or sentence. It is based on only 19 sentencing occasions and therefore should be interpreted cautiously.

  Lords Lieutenant
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money his Department has spent in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available on(a) Lords Lieutenant and (b) their deputies in England. [129678]
  354W
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Expenditure incurred by the Home Office in support of Lords Lieutenant in each of the last 10 years was:

  Year

  £

  1990–91

  249,529

  1991–92

  302,793

  1992–93

  369,522

  1993–94

  475,504

  1994–95

  568,509

  1995–96

  731,830

  1996–97

  670,307

  1997–98

  781,063

  1998–99

  660,066

  1999–2000

  686,173

  No expenditure is incurred on Deputy Lieutenants.

  Policing (Cleveland)
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were employed by Cleveland Constabulary in each of the last five years. [129519]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The information requested is as follows:

  Officers available for ordinary duty, Cleveland Constabulary, 1995–99 (as at 30 September)

  Year

  Number

  1995

  1,430

  1996

  1,444

  1997

  1,481

  1998

  1,453

  1999

  1,373

  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many criminal offences were recorded in the Cleveland Constabulary area by category in(a) 1999 and (b) 1986. [129518]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The requested information is given in the table. The data are not comparable because of changes to the counting rules for recorded crime which came into effect on 1 April 1998.

  Notifiable offences recorded by the police, Cleveland

  Offence category

  Year ending September 1999

  Calendar year 1986

  Violence against the person

  3,016

  1,959

  Sexual offences

  372

  284

  Robbery

  836

  121

  Burglary

  16,476

  15,089

  Theft and handling

  30,668

  29,640

  Fraud and forgery

  2,606

  2,097

  Criminal damage

  10,956

  8,876

  Drug and other offences

  1,532

  67

  Total

  66,462

  58,133

  Youth Justice Board
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library an
  355W
  analysis of how the Youth Justice Board plans to spend the budget and Development Fund set out on page 77 of the Home Office Annual report 1999–2000. [129523]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  An analysis will be placed in the Library on Wednesday 12 July.

  Research and Statistics
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of his Department's expenditure on the Research and Statistics Service supports(a) the preparation and publication of statistics and (b) research. [129530]

  Mr. Straw
  My Department's Research, Development and Statistics Directorate (RDS) conducts a wide range of social research, development and statistics work, often using multidisciplinary teams working on a range of statistical and research outputs and for this reason details of expenditure cannot be broken down in the way requested. The available information on RDS expenditure as a whole for the 1999–2000 financial year is shown in the table:

  Research, development and statistics expenditure: 1999–2000 financial year

  Category

  Total (£)

  Percentage of total expenditure

  Staff running costs1

  7,827,877

  43.9

  Costs of RDS publications

  495,230

  2.8

  Other non-pay running costs

  3,184,347

  17.9

  Total running costs

  11,507,454

  64.5

  External research and grants

  6,356,819

  35.5

  Total expenditure2

  17,828,772

  100

  1RDS staff running costs includes £206,985 on communications and publications staff.

  2RDS received a total of £454,021 in receipts in 1999–2000, which is excluded from this total.

  In addition, a number of other areas of the Department undertake research, including the Fire Research and Development Group, which spent £542,998 (including £42,456 VAT recovered) on fire research in 1999–2000 in addition to pay-running costs of £761,787 in support of fire research. The Animal Procedures Committee plan to spend £295,000 on research and the Committee of Inquiry into Hunting with Dogs has spent £225,000 (35 per cent. of the total inquiry expenditure).

  Refugees
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library an analysis for(a) 1999–2000 and (b) 2000–01 of the main items of expenditure included under reception and resettlement of refugees referred to on page 80 of the Home Office Annual report 1999–2000. [129529]

  Mr. Straw
  The main items of expenditure included under reception and resettlement of refugees referred to on page 80 of the Home Office Annual report 1999–2000 are as follows:

  £

  1999–2000—grants to:

  Refugee Council

  2,500,000

  Refugee Arrivals Project

  2,400,000

  Refugee Action

  850,000

  Other

  2,449,000

  356W

  £

  2000–01—grants to:

  Migrant Helpline

  2,200,000

  Refugee Arrivals Project

  2,900,000

  Refugee Action

  2,500,000

  Refugee Council

  7,700,000

  Other

  2,091,000

  Other expenditure

  Section 4 Support

  7,000,000

  Grants
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the beneficiaries in(a) 1999–2000 and (b) 2000–01 of grants to assist organisations or projects working to reduce racial disadvantage, giving the sums of money paid in each such grant. [129524]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The following organisations have received funding under the Reduction of Racial Disadvantage grant programme:

  £

  Financial year

  Organisation

  1999–20001

  2000–012

  Account Finance Forum

  6,707

  —

  Account 3—PMN

  52,920

  78,698

  Alert in WF

  7.500

  —

  An-Nisa Society

  3,450

  —

  Arachne

  15,000

  —

  ASHA Foundation

  210,000

  —

  Association of British Hujjaj

  20,650

  —

  Blackliners

  1,500

  —

  CEMVO

  —

  60,000

  Community Self-Build

  50,000

  50,000

  Council Disabled Warwickshire

  6,000

  —

  Council Education World Citizenship

  5,000

  —

  Council of Europe

  10,000

  —

  Euro Internet ICARE

  5,000

  —

  Global Cultural Diversity Congress

  50,000

  —

  Greenwich REC

  5,500

  —

  Heartstone

  177,012

  —

  Joseph Rowntree Trust

  20,000

  —

  KENTE

  89,830

  —

  Knights Foyer

  230,000

  —

  Limehouse Project

  21,335

  63,160

  Maternity Alliance

  60,000

  —

  Montserrat Community Support Project

  250,000

  —

  Muslim News

  34,000

  —

  Powys Victim Support

  5,500

  —

  PRIAE Bradford University

  80,000

  —

  Reproductive Health

  400

  —

  Runnymede Trust

  16,778

  —

  Serious Music Ltd.

  —

  2,500

  Southall Black Sisters

  990

  —

  Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust

  100,000

  100,000

  Theatre Museum (Paul Robeston)

  38,000

  —

  Windsor Fellowship

  123,500

  6,500

  Worcestershire REC

  8,250

  —

  Total

  1,644,342

  374,858

  1Paid

  2Budget

  Crime Reduction Programme
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what grants and items of expenditure were included in the Crime Reduction Programme in(a) 1999–2000 and (b) 2000–01. [129522]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Around £7.5 million was spent on grants and evaluation under the Crime Reduction 358W
  Programme in 1999–2000. Planned expenditure for 2000–01 is £160 million. The programme covers a variety of crime reduction initiatives, including Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) in public areas, Reducing Burglary and Targeted Policing Initiatives and schemes to cut vehicle and property crime, youth crime, offender reconviction rates and violence against women.

  GM Trial Crops: Effects on Bees, Honey and Fruit
  GM Trial Crops: Effects on Bees, Honey and Fruit
  Dartford River Crossings: Tolls
  Dartford River Crossings: Tolls
  Migration and Climate Change
  Migration and Climate Change
  London Underground: Performance Targets
  London Underground: Performance Targets
  The Lord Chancellor: Participation in Lords Debates and Appeals
  The Lord Chancellor: Participation in Lords Debates and Appeals
  NMEC: Accounts to 31 December 1999
  NMEC: Accounts to 31 December 1999
  Northern Ireland: Designation of Public Authorities
  Northern Ireland: Designation of Public Authorities
  IRA Arms Dumps
  IRA Arms Dumps
  Departmental Cars
  Departmental Cars
  Business Closures
  Business Closures
  Emergency Calls: Police Response Times
  Emergency Calls: Police Response Times