Written Answers of 19 July 2000

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Official Visits
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the visits outside Britain made by his Department's permanent secretary on official business since 1 January 1999, indicating the date and purpose of the visit in each case. [130491]

  Mr. Morley
  The MAFF permanent secretary has made 12 visits outside Britain since 1 January 1999. The date and purpose of each visit are set out in the following table.

  Date

  Destination

  Purpose

  18–19 January 1999

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  16 February 1999

  Brussels

  Bilateral with German Presidency

  22–26 February 1999

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  5 March 1999

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  9–11 March 1999

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  17 May 1999

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  30 May-1 June 1999

  Dresden

  Informal Agriculture Council

  27–28 September 1999

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  15 November 1999

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  14–15 December 1999

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  24–25 January 2000

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  6 March 2000

  Brussels

  Bilateral with Commissioner Byrne

  Non-food Crops
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the response was to the consultation on non-food crops launched by his Department on 7 April. [132014]

  Ms Quin
  Thirty-seven replies were received to this consultation, and I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Libraries of the House, and also to be made available for public inspection in the Ministry library at Whitehall Place. The proposal for a Government-industry forum on non-food crops was widely welcomed. My Department is now studying the responses in detail and considering how to put the proposals into effect.

  Pesticides Safety Directorate
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will publish the 1999–2000 Annual report of the Pesticides Safety Directorate. the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, [132015]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  The 1999–2000 Annual Report and Accounts for the Pesticide Safety Directorate were laid before Parliament today. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

  European Food Authority
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent discussions he has had with his European counterparts and the European Commission in respect of plans to establish a European Food Authority. [130926]

  Ms Stuart
  I have been asked to reply.

  The proposal to establish a European Food Authority and associated work has been discussed in various Councils this year. Department of Health Ministers and the Chairman of the Food Standards Agency have also had informal meetings with the Commission.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  CPS (Essex)
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Solicitor-General if he will order an inquiry into the handling by the Essex Crown Prosecution Service of a case of alleged careless driving in respect of a fatal accident at Colchester on 6 May 1999; and if he will make a statement. [131076]

  The Solicitor-General
  I shall be speaking to the Chief Crown Prosecutor for Essex to discuss the circumstances of this case and will be seeing the hon. Member within a week.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Inventors
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what specific grants are available to help inventors start up businesses. [130974]

  Ms Hewitt
  Last year the Government introduced the Smart Micro Project grant, worth up to £10,000, specifically to help lone inventors—including those starting up in business—and micro firms develop simple, low-cost prototypes of new products or processes which involve technological advance or novelty. Investors may also apply for other elements of the Small Business Service Smart scheme, which offer grants of up to £45,000 for technical and commercial feasibility studies into innovative technology or up to £5,000 for technology consultation.

  Departmental Initiatives
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list each departmental initiative since May 1997 requiring bids for funding together with the total resources available, the number of successful bids and the proportion this represents of total bids received; and what data he collects on the average expenditure of organisations bidding for funding through each initiative. [131084]

  Dr. Howells
  I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 18 July 2000,Official Report, columns 219–29.

  Universal Bank
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the proposed universal bank will be expected to operate on an arm's-length commercial basis without subsidy. [130648]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 17 July 2000]: Until a business case has been completed and approved, it is too early to say what, if any. Government contribution may be required.

  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the proposed universal bank operating through sub-post offices will be competing with the Alliance and Leicester Girobank in the provision of certain services. [130649]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 17 July 2000]: A major strength of the Post Office is the extensive reach of the post office network and its ability to provide access to a wide range of banking products on behalf of its clients. The extent to which the universal bank may compete with certain services offered by Alliance and Leicester Girobank or other banks will depend on the range of basic banking services these banks wish to make available through the post office network.

  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultations have taken place between his Department, the Post Office and Alliance and Leicester Girobank about the establishment of a universal bank operating through sub-post offices. [130695]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 17 July 2000]: Consultations are in progress between the Post Office and a wide range of banks including Alliance and Leicester Girobank, about the establishment of a universal bank operating through the post office network.

  Electricity Pylons
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 4 July 2000,Official Report, column 136W, on electricity pylons, if the replacement of trees felled as a result of the proposed construction of the Lackenby to Shipton overhead transmission line is intended (a) to mitigate the impact of consented development or (b) as an environmental measure. [131344]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The replacement tree planting scheme is intended to serve both purposes.

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 4 July 2000,Official Report, column 136W, on electricity pylons, who is responsible for the payment of compensation to farmers and landowners affected by the tree planting scheme. [131343]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Compensation for actions which the National Grid Company carries out on other people's land is a matter for the company.

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements his Department has made to purchase the electricity supply from renewable 176W
  energy sources for its main headquarters building; and what percentage of its electricity is supplied from such sources. [131403]

  Dr. Howells
  As part of the annual tendering exercise for electricity supply, energy from renewable sources was procured for one of our buildings on the London HQ estate. This supply amounts to 26 per cent. of the electricity purchased for the London HQ buildings.

  Computer Disasters
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the time it would take to get new computers running in the wake of a major computer disaster in his Department. [130970]

  Dr. Howells
  The Department and our Agencies have a range of computer systems in use to support our day-to-day work. The responsibility for support of these is in the main outsourced to the private sector. For each of them disaster arrangements are in place to enable recovery of each system appropriate to the criticality of the business it supports. This includes the basic IT infrastructure on which each of these systems operates. The arrangements include built-in resilience, aimed at minimising loss of service generally. In the event of a major disaster impacting DTI's building, priority users have also been identified so that vital services can be restored first to these key personnel in the event of such a disaster.

  The Department's disaster recovery programme covers appropriate testing of arrangements and any lessons learned are applied to strengthen the supporting processes and procedures.

  Postal Workers Dispute
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the current postal workers dispute in London. [131422]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  This is an operational matter for the Post Office.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the size of the backlog of delayed post caused by the current postal workers dispute in London. [131423]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  None. This is an operational matter for the Post Office.

  Insolvency Service
  Mr. Salter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what targets he has set his Department's Insolvency Service Executive Agency for 2000–01. [131887]

  Dr. Howells
  The Insolvency Service's planning assumption is that compulsory insolvencies will total 26,500 in the year to 31 March 2001. On that basis and with the resources allocated to it, I have set the following performance targets:To complete sufficient bankruptcy and compulsory liquidation case administrations so that the number of open current cases at 31 March 2001 are no more than 17,225 cases—that is, equivalent

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  to no more than eight months of new case input; with no more than 5 per cent. of those cases being more than 36 months old;
  To maintain in real terms the unit cost of administering bankruptcy and compulsory liquidation cases over the period 1999–2002 at the level of 1998–99, taking account of the additional shorter-term costs of its new IT infrastructure and the delivery of improvements in its services to users;
  To reduce in real terms the unit cost of its investigation of bankruptcy and liquidation cases by 10 per cent. over the period 1999–2002, also taking account of the additional shorter-term costs of its new IT;
  To continue to achieve the level of disqualification proceedings and orders against unfit directors as in 1999–2000;
  To continue to submit reports of criminal misconduct at a level consistent with the Service's investigative caseload and resources;
  To report to creditors on assets and liabilities within eight weeks in at least 97 per cent. of all cases: and within 12 weeks in 98 per cent. of all cases;
  To hold the initial meetings of creditors within 12 weeks in 96 per cent. of all appropriate cases, and within four months in 98 per cent. of all appropriate cases;
  To submit reports within 10 months in at least 90 per cent. of bankruptcy cases and at least 80 per cent. of compulsory liquidation cases where there is evidence of criminality;
  To submit disqualification reports within 12 months in at least 65 per cent. of cases and within 15 months in at least 80 per cent. of cases where there is evidence of unfit conduct by directors; and
  To check and action at least 97 per cent. of Insolvency Services Account payment requisitions within four days or by the due date.

  Service is expected to action 100 per cent. of invoices for payment within 30 days of receipt and the Agency Chief Executive is expected to reply within 10 days to all Members of Parliament delegated to him for reply.

  I have asked the Agency Chief Executive to develop for 2001–02 and beyond one or more outcome-based targets for the Service's activities; and to review its quality of service performance in the light of its experience of its new IT infrastructure and the views of its users.

  Sunbeds
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to ensure that the regulations relating to sunbeds and their use are reviewed; and if he will make a statement. [128334]

  Yvette Cooper
  I have been asked to reply.

  There are no current plans to amend legislation as it applies to sunbeds and their use but the situation is kept under review.

  The use of sunbeds is a matter of personal choice. However, people should be aware that their use entails exposure to ultraviolet radiation and that there is strong evidence that this is a cause of skin cancer.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Multi-agency Helpline
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will assess the benefits of the Audit Commission proposal for the creation of a178W
  multi-agency helpline to relieve pressure on the existing 999 emergency number; and if he will make a statement. [128533]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  [holding answer 5 July 2000]: I have asked officials, in consultation with the Association of Chief Police Officers, to develop proposals for a new call handling strategy. Relieving pressure on the 999 service and using new technology to receive from and provide information to the public will be considered as part of that strategy.

  Police Numbers
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total number of police officers and police civilian staff was(a) in England and Wales and (b) in each force on (i) 31 March 2000, (ii) 30 September 1999 and (iii) 31 March 1997; and if he will make a statement. [130027]

  Mr. Straw
  The information is set out in tables. At the end of March 2000, the total number of police officers in England and Wales was 124,418 and there were 53,227 civilian support staff in the police service. Table VI additionally compares the percentage change in police numbers over the 12 month period 31 March 1999 to 31 March 2000, against the percentage increase in police budgets for 1999–2000 in both cash and real terms.

  A reduction in police numbers for March 2000 was forecast in the projections on police numbers in the reply my hon. Friend the Minister of State gave to the hon. Member on 15 March 2000, Official Report, columns 177–79W.

  I have already announced my plans to reverse the decline in police numbers. The Crime Fighting Fund was intended to provide funding for the recruitment of 5,000 more officers—3,000 this year and 2,000 next, over and above the number that forces would have planned to recruit over the three years from April 2000. As a result of the Spending Review, we will be making funding available for the recruitment of a further 4,000 officers—making 9,000 in all. The additional 4,000 will come on stream in 2001–02 and 2002–03. So forces will be able to recruit up to a maximum of 3,000 this year, 3,000 next year and 3,000 in 2002–03.

  Though numbers are important, tackling crime is more than a matter of police numbers. I am announcing today a major increase in resources for policing to boost police effectiveness. By 2003–04, annual funding will have increased by over 20 per cent.—£1.6 billion of which £1.3 billion is newly announced.

  In my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for The Wrekin (Mr. Bradley) on 15 June 2000, Official Report, column 714W, I announced that £15 million had been earmarked from the Police Modernisation Fund this year to enhance the policing of rural areas. Allocation of this new money will be announced very shortly. This extra funding should contribute to a further increase in police numbers in the rural forces.

  I am also stepping up efforts to tackle robbery with a cash boost this year from the Police Modernisation Fund. £20 million will be shared between the Metropolitan Police (£9.1 million), West Midlands Police (£3.3 million), Greater Manchester Police (£3.2 million), West Yorkshire

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  Police (£2.6 million) and Merseyside Police (£1.8 million). This additional funding will help these forces fund and develop additional initiatives to tackle robbery in their areas.

  The Government's £400 million Crime Reduction Programme, too, has expanded rapidly. The Programme includes:

  £153 million under the Closed Circuit Television Initiative;

  £62 million targeted on two million homes in 500 neighbourhoods in England and Wales with high burglary rates;

  £31 million for the long-term initiative "On Track" aimed at children aged between 4–12 at risk of getting involved in crime;

  £30 million has been earmarked for problem-oriented or intelligence-led policing projects; and

  £13 million to enable 70 Youth Inclusion schemes to be set up to prevent youth offending and the associated risk factors.

  The various initiatives we have put in place will help the police and local communities work more effectively towards the reduction of crime and make our country a safer place in which to live.

  The relevant tables have been placed in the Library.

  Elderly Prisoners
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are aged over 60 years; and what arrangements are made to meet their needs. [130642]

  Mr. Boateng
  On 30 June 2000, there were 1,266 prisoners who were aged 60 and over. There are no separate arrangements for this group of prisoners. The Prison Service aims to assess each prisoner in order to identify their individual needs.

  Integrate Services (Warrington)
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Charity Commission will publish the report of its investigation into Integrate Services in Warrington; and if he will ensure that a copy of the full report is placed in the Library. [130704]

  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 18 July 2000]: I understand that the Charity Commissioners expect to complete their Inquiry into Integrate Services and publish a report in September. A copy of the report will be placed in the Library.

  Tagging and Curfews
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the basis is for the statement on page 35 of the Government's Annual report 1999–2000, that tagging and curfews are more effective ways of punishing offenders; to what Government initiatives this statement refers; and if he will make a statement. [131379]

  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 18 July 2000]: The introduction of curfew orders enforced by electronic monitoring as a sentence to all courts in England and Wales on 1 December 1999 built on four years of successful trials. Home Office research has shown that the successful completion rate of 82 per cent. during the first two years of the trials of the sentence compared
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  favourably with other community sentences (the completion rate for probation orders was also 82 per cent., while that for community service was 71 per cent.).

  The evaluation of the trials found that curfew orders were more strictly enforced than other community sentences, a fact that places greater value on rate of completion. The primary reason for this is the fact that the electronic monitoring contracts leave little discretion in the enforcement of breaches. The monitoring equipment ensures that violations of curfew are detected immediately, and offenders in breach of their order are very quickly returned to court by the contractors.

  Curfew orders enforced by electronic monitoring provide the courts with a flexible sentencing option for use in respect of those offences for which the sentence is not fixed by law. Firstly, as a stand-alone sentence, it provides the punitive element of restricting an offender's liberty during the period of the curfew, while enabling those who have families to support to continue to do so. A curfew order can also be used in conjunction with another community sentence to help structure the times of attendance at, for example, probation or drug rehabilitation appointments. The trials of the sentence demonstrated that in this way, electronic monitoring could help to address the chaotic lifestyle of some offenders.

  Given the operational effectiveness of curfew orders enforced by electronic monitoring, the sentence can also be shown to provide a cost-effective alternative to a custodial sentence.

  The operation of the sentence in England and Wales is the subject of an evaluation by the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate. The findings of the evaluation of the first two years of the trials of curfew orders enforced by electronic monitoring are published in Home Office Research Study 163 and 177.

  Human Rights
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what assessment he had made of the compatibility of Government legislation enacted in the 1997–98 parliamentary session with the Human Rights Act 1998; and if he will make a statement; [131383]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the number of declarations of incompatibility that will be made by the courts under the Human Rights Act 1998 (a) in the year from 2 October and (b) subsequently in each year; and if he will make a statement. [131385]

  Mr. Straw
  The Human Rights Act 1998 gives further effect in United Kingdom law to rights and freedoms in the European Convention on Human Rights. Successive Governments have sought to comply with the provisions of the Convention since 1951. Therefore we should not expect major changes to have to be made once the Human Rights Act is fully in force. Following its enactment, Departments have reviewed their legislation and procedures in the light of the Human Rights Act. Where changes have been judged appropriate, these have been made or are in hand.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he had made of the impact of the Human Rights Act 1998 on(a) total Government and (b) individual department's spending in (i) 2000–01, (ii) 2001–02 and (iii) 2002–03. [131384]
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  Mr. Straw
  I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary to the hon. Member for New Forest, West (Mr. Swayne) on 23 May 2000,Official Report, column 401W.

  Fire Extinguishing Sprinklers
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what assessment he has made of the potential hazards to disabled people of having domestic fire extinguishing sprinklers installed in their homes; [129023]

  (2) what proposals he has to fund the installation of domestic fire extinguishing sprinklers in the homes of disabled people. [129024]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 4 July 2000]: I have been asked to reply.

  Local housing and social services authorities have responsibilities for funding housing adaptations for disabled people under the Housing Grants, Construction and Redevelopment Act 1996 and the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970. These responsibilities include making housing safe for disabled people. Decisions about the funding of adaptations in individual cases are taken at local level following an assessment of need. We have no plans to change these arrangements in respect of domestic fire extinguishing sprinklers. No specific research by either the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions or the Home Office has been conducted into the potential hazards to disabled people of having domestic fire extinguishing sprinklers in their homes.

DEFENCE

  Presentation of Information
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes he intends to make to the presentation of information on the strength of the armed forces. [131788]

  Mr. Spellar
  In order to provide a more accurate and relevant picture of the overall full-time manpower available to the Armed Forces, we plan to include in the definition of the strength of the Services all full-time personnel including Full-Time Reserve Service personnel and, in the case of the Army, Gurkhas. In view of their discrete and specialised task in a particular location the Royal Irish (Home Service) will be reported separately. This change will take effect from September 2000.

  The inclusion of Full-Time Reserve Service personnel is in line with our aim to make reserve forces more relevant and usable and is a natural consequence of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 which provides for the employment of reservists in place of full-time regular personnel.

  Royal Ordnance Factory, Nottingham
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what discussions he plans to have with British Aerospace and the trade unions about the future of the Royal Ordnance factory in Nottingham; and if he will make a statement; [130508]
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  (2) he has had with British Aerospace and the trade unions about the future of the Royal Ordnance factory in Nottingham; and if he will make a statement. [130507]

  Mr. Hoon
  [holding answer 17 July 2000]: My ministerial colleagues and I meet representatives of BAe Systems regularly to discuss a wide range of business. Most recently I met Mr. John Weston of BAe Systems on 25 May, when he briefed me on a number of matters arising from the recent acquisition of the defence business of GEC Marconi. Mr. Weston confirmed then that the future of the site at RO Nottingham was under review and I understand that work on the review continues. My noble Friend Baroness Symons, the Minister of State for Defence Procurement, met Trade Union representatives on 6 July to hear their views on the future prospects for RO Nottingham and expects to meet Trade Union representatives again shortly.

  Departmental Initiatives
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list each departmental initiative since May 1997 requiring bids for funding together with the total resources available, the number of successful bids and the proportion this represents of total bids received; and what data he collects on the average expenditure of organisations bidding for funding through each initiative. [131078]

  Dr. Moonie
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to her by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 17 July 2000,Official Report, column 93W.

  Arms Sales
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, pursuant to the reply given to the hon. Member for Leyton and Wanstead (Mr. Cohen) of 10 July 2000,Official Report, columns 375–76W, on arms sales, memoranda of understanding of the type described apply to any arms sales in the Middle East; and if Memoranda of Understanding restrict the availability to third parties for training purposes of defence material exported from Government to Government. [130803]

  Mr. Hoon
  [holding answer 17 July 2000]: Not all sales of defence material to the Middle East are subject to Government to Government Memorandum of Understanding arrangements.

  Where there are MOUs, restrictions on transfer would typically include transfers for training purposes.

  Parliamentary Answers
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many parliamentary answers from his Department have been amended following publication using the mechanism of a pursuant answer in the past month. [131033]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 17 July 2000]: The Ministry of Defence has used the mechanism of a pursuant answer on three occasions from 13 June to 17 July 2000.

  Golf Courses
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the locations of possible golf
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  courses which have been provisionally selected to be sited on military land; which sites will be (a) leased and (b) sold to private operators; how many other sites (i) within the Colchester Garrison estate and (ii) elsewhere were investigated but will not be proceeded with; and if all revenue obtained from leasing or selling land for such golf courses will be retained by his Department. [131074]

  Dr. Moonie
  The information requested is not held centrally. I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Flight Data Recorders
  Mr. Martin Bell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress is being made in fitting flight data recorders to Lynx, Puma and Sea King helicopters. [130472]

  Dr. Moonie
  Both the Royal Navy and Army Lynx aircraft are to undergo major upgrades: for the Royal Navy aircraft this will be through the Mark 8 Enhancement package, and for the Army aircraft through the Future Lynx programme. In both of these programmes, the aircraft will be fitted with a Health and Usage Monitoring System which includes Cockpit Voice and Flight Data Recorders (CVFDR). Work has been taking place to assess how to fit the equipment to the aircraft, and we aim to place a contract in the spring of 2001.

  A proposal to fit CVFDRs to our Sea King and Puma fleets is under consideration.

TREASURY

  Computer Disasters
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with financial institutions regarding disaster contingency measures. [131069]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Treasury Ministers frequently discuss a wide range of issues with representatives of financial institutions. The Financial Services Authority, as financial regulator, works closely with the institutions it supervises to ensure that their risk management processes follow good practice.

  Fuel Duty
  Mr. Russell Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will investigate the feasibility of introducing different fuel duties in rural and urban areas. [130407]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 13 July 2000]: The Government have no plans to do so.

  Differential fuel duties would be difficult and expensive to administer. No new arrangements for differential rates of road fuel duty have been sanctioned by the European Commission since the completion of the single market.

  Endowment Mortgages
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many, and what percentage of, 25 year endowment contracts(a) with profits and (b) unit linked
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  purchased (i) one year ago, (ii) five years ago, (iii) 10 years ago, (iv) 15 years ago and (v) 20 years ago are still in force today; [129952]

  (2) what research has been conducted in the last 10 years by (a) the Treasury and (b) the Financial Services Authority and its antecedent bodies, into long-term persistency rates on endowments, particularly linked to mortgages; and if he will publish figures for overall persistency for that period. [129953]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Personal Investment Authority collects and publishes information on the persistency of endowment contracts, but only for terms of up to four years after the contract is effected. The latest figures were published in October 1999 in the Personal Investment Authority's "Fifth Survey Of The Persistency of Life And Pensions Policies", a copy of which has been placed in the House of Commons Library. Persistency data are collected on endowments generically without distinguishing endowments used to repay mortgages from endowments used for savings purposes and without distinguishing with-profits endowments from unit linked endowments. There has been no specific research commissioned into the persistency of mortgage endowments.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Sierra Leone
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on(a) the Indian peacekeepers detained by the RUF in Sierra Leone and (b) the UN personnel surrounded by the RUF in the south east of Sierra Leone; and what the conditions for their release are. [127657]

  Mr. Hain
  The 21 Indian peacekeepers detained by RUF at Pendembu in Sierra Leone were released unconditionally during the last week in June. We are pleased that the 233 UN personnel surrounded by RUF in the south east of Sierra Leone at Kailahun are now safe following the successful action by UNAMSIL forces on 14–15 July.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the nature of the support offered by British officials observing the Lomé peace negotiations. [130788]

  Mr. Hain
  British officials were present in Lomé in order to observe the peace negotiations. They were in close touch throughout with the negotiators and other observers helping to facilitate the negotiations.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the application of Article XVIII of the Lomé Peace Agreement to the Government of Sierra Leone's helicopter support. [130831]

  Mr. Hain
  The application of Article XVIII of the Lomé Peace Agreement to the Government of Sierra Leone's helicopter support is a matter for the Government of Sierra Leone.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 23 June 2000,Official Report, column 318W, if the

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  Commonwealth Secretariat was used as a medium to transmit the views of Her Majesty's Government on the best method to reach a settlement in the Lomé Peace Accord; and if he will make a statement. [130853]

  Mr. Hain
  We remained in close touch with the Commonwealth Secretariat throughout the Lomé peace negotiations, as well as with other observers and the negotiators themselves. The decision on reaching a settlement rested with the Government of Sierra Leone and the Revolutionary United Front.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 26 June 2000,Official Report, column 400W, on Sierra Leone, if he will identify the (a) Cabinet positions and (b) Deputy ministerial positions occupied by RUF members; and what their present positions are. [130839]

  Mr. Hain
  The Cabinet positions occupied by members of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) were the Ministry of Trade and Industry; the Ministry of Energy and Power; and the Ministry of Lands, Housing, Country Planning and the Environment. The Deputy ministerial positions occupied by members of the RUF were in the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government; the Ministry of Transport and Communications; and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Marine Resources.

  None of these positions is now occupied by members of the RUF. We have made clear our view that, after the attacks by the RUF on United Nations peacekeepers and the RUF's clear violation of the Lomé Peace Agreement, there can be no role for members of the RUF in the present Government of Sierra Leone.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 26 June 2000,Official Report, column 400W, on Sierra Leone, if the Government persuaded negotiators in the Lomé Accords to modify their negotiating position to (a) take account of the Government's position, and (b) to facilitate the reaching of a peace agreement. [130837]

  Sir John Kerr, permanent under Secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has made the following official visits since 1 January 1999

  Date

  France

  For the Franco-British Colloque in Versailles

  14–16 January 1999

  Nigeria

  For talks in Lagos and Abuja with senior Nigerian officials

  10–13 February 1999

  Korea

  For talks with the Korean Government in Seoul

  9–11 March 1999

  France

  To attend Club of Three conference in Paris, and for talks at the Quai D'Orsay

  5–6 March 1999

  Germany

  To attend the Konigswinter Conference in Cologne

  18–20 March 1999

  Japan and China

  Talks with senior Japanese and Chinese officials in Tokyo and Beijing

  23–27 May 1999

  Austria

  To attend a meeting of other EU Secretaries-General in Vienna

  10–12 June 1999

  Germany

  For talks with senior German officials in Bonn

  16–17 May 1999

  Hungary and Slovakia

  For talks with the Governments in Budapest and Bratislava

  12–14 September 1999

  Norway and Sweden

  For talks with senior officials in Oslo and Stockholm

  16–20 September 1999

  Romania and Ukraine

  To deliver the opening address at a Wilton park Conference in Romania, and for talks with the Governments in Bucharest and Kiev

  26–29 September 1999

  186W
  Mr. Hain
  The Lomé Peace Agreement was negotiated and entered into by the Government of Sierra Leone and the Revolutionary United Front. Negotiating positions were a matter for the parties concerned.

  Observers in Lomé, including Britain, remained in close touch with the negotiators throughout, and were able to offer advice in order to help facilitate the negotiations where requested.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 26 June 2000,Official Report, column 401W, on Sierra Leone, for what reason the Commission for the Management for Strategic Resources, National Reconstruction and Development was not fully established by the end of April; and if all the Commission's funds are accounted for. [130838]

  Mr. Hain
  A number of factors hampered the establishment of the commission for the Management of Strategic Resources, National Reconstruction and Development. The United Nations Secretary-General's report dated 19 May states that the Commission, chaired by Foday Sankoh, had not produced a plan of action, and that there appeared to be a lack of political consensus on the role of the Commission vis-a-vis existing Government Ministries.

  As far as we are aware, the Commission had received no direct funding, although at least one donor had indicated a willingness to provide funds to help it to become established.

  Official Visits
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the visits outside Britain made by his Department's Permanent Secretary on official business since 1 January 1999, indicating the date and purpose of the visit in each case. [130492]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  The information is as follows:
  187W

  Sir John Kerr, permanent under Secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has made the following official visits since 1 January 1999

  Date

  South Africa

  To attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Durban

  9–16 November 1999

  Iran

  For talks with the Iranian Government in Tehran

  27–29 November 1999

  Italy

  To attend a meeting of EU Secretaries—General in Venice

  17–19 December 1999

  Finland

  To attend the European Council meeting in Helsinki

  9–11 December 1999

  Ireland

  For talks with the Irish Government in Dublin

  18–20 February 2000

  Turkey

  For talks with the Turkish Government in Ankara

  18–21 March 2000

  Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan

  To Tashkent, Almaty and Astana for talks with the Uzbek and Kazakh Governments

  28 March-1 April 2000

  Libya

  For talks with the Libyan Government in Tripoli

  15–16 April 2000

  Russia

  For talks with senior Russian officials in Moscow

  29–31 May 2000

  South America

  To Santiago, Sao Paulo, Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro for talks with senior officials

  1–6 May 2000

  Slovenia

  To deliver the opening address of the Wilton Park Conference in Slovenia, and for talks with the Government in Ljubljana

  7–9 May 2000

  Portugal

  To attend the European Council at Feira

  18–20 June 2000

  South East Asia

  For talks with the Government in Bangkok, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore

  3–8 July 2000

  UN Resolution 520
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on UN Resolution 520. [131171]

  Mr. Hain
  We welcome the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon, in compliance with UNSCRs 425 and 426, as demanded by UNSCR 520. We look forward to the Lebanese Government taking measures to assert its authority throughout its territory. We support UNSCR 520's call for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity and political independence of Lebanon to be respected. We also support the Resolution's reaffirmation of support for the rights of the civilian population of Lebanon.

  Departmental Initiatives
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list each departmental initiative since May 1997 requiring bids for funding together with the total resources available, the number of successful bids and the proportion this represents of total bids received; and what data he collects on the average expenditure of organisations bidding for funding through each initiative. [131086]

  Mr. Hain
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 17 July 2000,Official Report, column 93W.

  Israel
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the(a) costs and (b) benefits to Israel of acceding to its agreement with the European Communities, 2000/384/EC
  188W
  (L147, volume 43, 21.6.2000); what benefits are denied to accedants of such an agreement which are granted to EU member states; and if he will make a statement. [130782]

  Mr. Vaz
  It is primarily for Israel or any other third country to estimate the costs and benefits to their country of entering into agreements with the EU. The EU-Israel Association Agreement is a reciprocal agreement which confers specific benefits on both parties. It is in no way comparable to EU membership.

  EU Enlargement
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice has been given to the countries most recently given EU candidacy status about the need to have on their statute book a process providing for(a) restoration of property rights and (b) a compensation regime which is subject to both arbitration and judicial review, in relation to property arbitrarily seized during the period of totalitarian rule, after 1945. [130662]

  Mr. Vaz
  [holding answer 18 July 2000]: The EU monitors applicants' progress in meeting the political and economic criteria for membership of the EU, including issues related to the restitution of property, in the Commission's annual progress reports and the EU's regular dialogue with the applicant countries concerned. However, property restitution is a bilateral issue for the states concerned and does not fall within the scope of the accession negotiations.

  We have not bilaterally offered advice to those countries recently given EU candidacy status but we have taken a particular interest in the situation in Poland, which affects a number of British nationals of Polish origin. We have continually made clear to the Polish authorities the

  189W
  need for a speedy resolution of the problem. At the end of last year the Polish Government presented its proposals to Parliament, which is still discussing them.

  Human Rights
  Mr. Russell Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his Department will publish its Annual report on Human Rights. [131789]

  Mr. Hain
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office annual report on human rights will be published as a Command Paper at 2.30pm on 20 July. Copies will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses and distributed throughout Parliament in the usual way. The report will be placed on the FCO websites www.fco.gov.uk and hrpd.fco.gov.uk and will be available through The Stationery Office.

  UNITA (Sanctions)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the UN Secretary-General's recent appointment of experts to look into breaches of UN sanctions against UNITA. [131486]

  Mr. Hain
  The UK has given full support to the ground-breaking work of Ambassador Robert Fowler, Chairman of the Angola Sanctions Committee, to ensure that UN sanctions against UNITA are made to bite. We financially supported the Angola Expert Panel to the tune of 200,000 US Dollars. The Panel investigated reports of sanctions breaking and reported to the UN Security Council on 15 March. The Security Council welcomed the Panel's report in UN Security Council resolution 1295, adopted on 18 April 2000.

  The report gave a detailed analysis of the problem of sanctions breaking. It reports the alleged involvement of a number of individuals. For example, it states that the central figure in UNITA's external procurement and diamond trade operations is Marcelo Moises Dachala, known as "Karrica", based in Ougadougou and that Imad Kabir
  has been purchasing weapons for Savimbi which were being delivered to Kinshasa. From 1995–96 until the fall of Andulo in October 1999, Kabir is said to have served as UNITA's primary broker for importing arms and military equipment.

  Security Council resolution 1295 (2000) requested the UN Secretary-General to establish a monitoring mechanism to collect further information and investigate relevant leads relating to allegations of violations of UN sanctions against UNITA and report to the Security Council by 18 October 2000. That mechanism has now been established. On 11 July the Secretary-General appointed five experts to serve on it.

  We greatly welcome the fact that Ms Christine Gordon, a British national and independent writer, consultant and researcher, has been appointed to the monitoring mechanism, and wish her well in her important task.

  Sanctions breaking must be stopped. The Expert Panel's report, the adoption of Security Council resolution 1295 (2000) and the establishment of the monitoring mechanism show that the international community will no longer tolerate sanctions breaking.

  Fiji
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on(a) the political settlement of the recent crisis in Fiji, including its racial aspects, and (b) Fiji's future membership of the Commonwealth. [131413]

  Mr. Battle
  We are relieved that all the hostages have now been released, but dismayed that George Speight and his supporters have been allowed to overthrow Fiji's democratically elected Government at the point of a gun, and that the 1997 Constitution has been abrogated. We continue to call for the restoration of a democratic and constitutional Government which respects the rights of all Fijians. Unless Fiji's new interim administration can demonstrate a clear road map for returning Fiji to democracy, the Commonwealth may wish to consider further measures at the next meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) in September.

  Uganda
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the fairness of the Ugandan referendum on the Movement System of 29 June; what discussions he has had with the Government of Uganda(a) during and (b) since the campaign; and if he will make a statement. [131414]

  Mr. Hain
  In its statement of 1 July, the International Donor Referendum Group, which includes the UK, concluded that although the voting had been peaceful and orderly, the Referendum campaign as a whole had not been conducted on a level playing field. While noting that it was not clear that these shortcomings were on a scale significantly to influence the result of the Referendum, the Group expressed its hope that the presidential elections scheduled for 2001 would resume momentum towards more inclusive Government.

  The Group has since met with President Museveni to discuss progress towards greater pluralism, good governance and democratic accountability.

  East Timor
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made with his plans to help train members of East Timor's civil and foreign service. [131467]

  Mr. Battle
  We are preparing to bring a group of East Timorese diplomats to the United Kingdom later this year for an intensive four-week tailor-made training course. These students will form the nucleus of East Timor's Diplomatic Service. We are also exploring other projects for East Timor's fledgling civil services, to be funded through our Support for Democracy Programme.

CABINET OFFICE

  COI Trading Fund
  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when she will publish the accounts of the Central Office of Information Trading Fund. [131672]
  191W
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  I have arranged for the accounts of the Central Office of Information Trading Fund to be laid before the House today.

  Rural Issues
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what work is being carried out on rural issues by(a) the Social Exclusion Unit, (b) the Performance and Innovation Unit, (c) the Women's Unit and (d) the Regulatory Impact Unit. [128046]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  These units often carry out work on issues that are relevant to both rural and urban areas. Their recent work specifically on rural issues, or with a rural theme, includes:

  (a) the Social Exclusion Unit's recent consultation framework document on a National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal;

  (b) the Performance and Innovation Unit's reports on Rural Economies (published December 1999) and the Post Office network (published June 2000); and

  (c) the work of the Women's Unit in ensuring that the preparation of the Rural White Paper takes account of issues of importance for rural women.

  Departmental Vehicles
  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will list for her Department and its agencies the approved list of manufacturers of(a) cars and (b) commercial vehicles; and if she will make a statement on her Department's leasing and purchasing policy. [128983]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The make and model of car which the Government Car Service (GCS) can offer to Ministers, senior officials and other approved customers are set out in the Prime Minister's guidance on ministerial travel. Currently, GCS can offer the following cars:

  Make

  Model

  Ford

  Mondeo

  Jaguar

  Sovereign, Daimler

  Nissan

  Primera

  Rover

  R45

  Vauxhall

  Omega, Vectra

  Other than for the GCS, my Department does not operate approved lists of cars or commercial vehicles. Purchase, or leasing, decisions are taken on the basis of best value for money based on while life costs.

  Pesticides Tax
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will list(a) the representations her Department has received and (b) meetings it has held on the proposed pesticides tax with the (i) UKASTA, (ii) NOAH, (iii) the National Farmers Union, (iv) the Country Landowners Association, and (v) agrochemical companies, indicating which companies; and what was the date and duration of each of the meetings. [131102]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary on 18 July 2000,Official Report, column 110W.

  Disaster Contingency Measures
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) what representations she has received from consumer and pensioner groups about the need to have in place effective disaster contingency measures; [130965]

  (2) what recommendations she has made to the principal Departments of state about disaster contingency measures. [130966]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I have been asked to reply.

  I refer the hon. Member to a reply I gave to the hon. Member for Mid-Bedfordshire (Mr. Sayeed) on 5 July 2000, Official Report, column 219W.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Pakistan and Bangladesh
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her Department's programmes in Pakistan and Bangladesh. [130961]

  Clare Short
  The main goal of our programmes in Pakistan and Bangladesh is systematic reduction of the unacceptably high levels of poverty which prevail in both countries. In Bangladesh, Pakistan and elsewhere we work to help them move towards the achievement of the International Development Targets. Our plans for addressing this in Bangladesh are described in our relevant Country Strategy Paper, a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library. In Pakistan, where our work was disrupted by last year's military coup, we are providing technical assistance to the Pakistani administration to support action to reduce poverty and corruption and support the development of genuine democracy.

  Ilisu Dam
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has held with the UK Executive Director of the World Bank since the findings of the Independent Inspection Panel's report on the Ilisu Dam became available. [131314]

  Clare Short
  I have had no discussions with our Executive Director about the findings of the Independent Inspection Panels on Ilisu Dam as neither my Department nor the World Bank is involved in the project.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Decommissioning
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on recent developments regarding the inspection of paramilitary weapons dumps. [129863]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with General de Chastelain regarding decommissioning. [129865]
  193W
  Mr. Mandelson
  Mr. Ramaphosa and Mr. Ahtisaari have reported that they have completed their first inspection of several IRA arms dumps. We welcome this development—it represents substantial progress and an honouring of commitments given at the beginning of May I am confident the inspectors will report any further progress that has been made when they deem it appropriate to do so.

  Equally significant is the renewal of contact by the IRA's representative with General de Chastelain's Decommissioning Body, and they will resume their discussions so that IRA arms are ultimately put completely and verifiably beyond use.

  Mrs. Betty Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with General de Chastelain about progress to date in decommissioning. [129875]

  Sir David Madel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made on the decommissioning of illegal arms and explosives in Northern Ireland. [129876]

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent representations he has received on progress towards decommissioning; and if he will make a statement. [129882]

  Mr. Ingram
  Under the Good Friday Agreement, the Decommissioning Commission operates as an independent body to resolve the decommissioning issue. The Commission has provided written reports on progress on a number of occasions.

  Mr. Grieve
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects the decommissioning of illegal arms and explosives to begin. [129879]

  Mr. Ingram
  We hope decommissioning will start as soon as possible.

  Oversight Commissioner
  Mr. Temple-Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met the Oversight Commissioner. [129867]

  Mr. McWalter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met the Oversight Commissioner. [129883]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The Secretary of State last met with Mr. Tom Constantine, the Oversight Commissioner, on 31 May 2000.

  Parades
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on recent violence at parades. [129868]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The Government condemn the violence which occurred during the past week. The behaviour we witnessed on occasions was nothing less than pure vandalism and thuggery. We should, however, congratulate the security forces for their efforts to maintain order and uphold the lawful ruling of the Parades Commission.
  194W
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with the Parades Commission concerning the criteria it uses to determine parade routes. [129878]

  Mr. Ingram
  The criteria used for making decisions are set out in legislation and in the guidelines and Code of Conduct produced under this legislation. It is for the Parades Commission to determine the appropriate factors to be taken into account, and to take the final decision.

  Security Situation
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the security situation in Northern Ireland. [129869]

  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the security situation in Northern Ireland. [129870]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The Government believe the main paramilitary groups are maintaining their ceasefires. There remains, however, a threat from dissident paramilitaries on both sides who are opposed to the Good Friday Agreement.

  Devolved Government
  Dr. Palmer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on progress in respect of devolved Government in Northern Ireland. [129871]

  Mr. Mandelson
  Assembly Members resumed their positions quickly and Assembly procedures are operating efficiently. Two Bills—Appropriation and Members' Allowances—have already been passed by the Assembly and more legislation is expected to follow soon after the summer recess. The Executive Committee is now preparing its programme for Government. I have every confidence in the Assembly's continuing success and wish it well.

  Young Offenders
  Mr. Fitzpatrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the range of schemes available to deal with young offenders. [129872]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The Criminal Justice Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 was introduced in January 1999 and brought in a new juvenile justice centre order of between six months and two years, half of which is spent in custody and half under close supervision in the community. The Community element of the sentence is delivered by the Probation Board for Northern Ireland.

  A range of programmes for young people, both in custody and in the community, has been developed. Programmes such as cognitive behaviour training to tackle offending and the associated causes and problems such as drugs and alcohol misuse, car crime, aggressive behaviour and sex offending, have been developed on a multi-agency basis.

  EU Structural Funds
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consultation he has had relating to the future of EU structural funds allocated to Northern Ireland. [129873]

  Mr. Mandelson
  I met Commissioner Barnier on 18 May during the suspension of devolution in Northern Ireland. The allocation of EU structural funds is now a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive.

  Peace Process
  Mr. Salter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met the Irish Prime Minister to discuss progress towards peace. [129874]

  Mr. Mandelson
  I last met with the Taoiseach on 31 May in the course of a visit to Dublin to hold discussions with the Irish Foreign Minister.

  Prisoners (Early Release)
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the early release of terrorist prisoners. [129877]

  Mr. Ingram
  The early release of prisoners is dependent on the continuation of the current ceasefires. The Secretary of State is in constant touch with his security advisers and keeps the security situation continually under review.

  Crime Statistics
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the current levels of recorded crime in Northern Ireland. [129880]

  Mr. Ingram
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today to the hon. Member for Epping Forest (Mrs. Laing),Official Report, column 363.

  School Links
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to encourage links between schools in Northern Ireland, the rest of the United Kingdom and the Irish Republic; and if he will make a statement. [129881]

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

  Police Ombudsman
  Mr. Quinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met the police ombudsman. [129884]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Ombudsman met with the Secretary of State on 1 November 1999.

  Good Friday Agreement
  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress is being made on implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. [129885]
  196W
  Mr. Mandelson
  The Government are committed to the full implementation of the Belfast Agreement. The provisions for policing, criminal justice, equality and rights, prisoners and security are progressing with all due speed. The prospects for decommissioning are good. I am confident we will fulfil our commitment to implement the Agreement in full by June 2001.

  Crimes of Violence
  Ms Southworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress he is making on tackling crimes of violence in Northern Ireland. [129886]

  Mr. Ingram
  Figures on violent crime for the period April 1999 to March 2000 show an increase of 12.6 per cent. on the number of offences recorded for the same period during 1998–99. The total number of violent crimes cleared during 1999–2000 increased by 25.3 per cent. compared with the previous year. Overall the clearance rate for violent crime rose from 55.7 per cent. in 1998–99 to 62 per cent. during 1999–2000. The ongoing progress being made by the RUC towards moving to `intelligence-led policing' will, it is believed, assist in tackling the problem of violent crime.

  Abortion and Contraceptive Services
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on access to abortion and contraceptive services for women in Northern Ireland. [129887]

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

  Royal Ulster Constabulary
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with former members of the RUC concerning the Patten report on the future of the RUC. [129888]

  Mr. Ingram
  During the three-month period of formal consultation on the Patten Report, and in discussions since then, Ministers have met a wide range of police representative groups to discuss the Patten Report and the future of the RUC. These have included retired officers, disabled officers, police widows and their families. Ministers have also received, and replied to, many letters from former RUC officers.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  New Deal
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people aged over 50 years are eligible for guaranteed minimum take-home pay under the New Deal for the over 50s in Shrewsbury and Atcham; and if he will make a statement. [131147]

  Ms Jowell
  New Deal 50 plus is a major new programme of personal advice, support and financial help for people over 50 who are looking for work. The programme is aimed at unemployed and economically inactive people in receipt of benefit for six months or
  197W
  more and their dependent partners. The following table shows the number of people who are directly eligible for New Deal 50 plus. However, in addition, dependent partners of these benefit recipients may also be eligible, as will be men aged 60–65 receiving National Insurance credits automatically.

  The £170 minimum income guarantee applies to those people going into full-time work and additionally receiving the Employment Credit of £60 per week. It is not possible to say how many people will be eligible for the Employment Credit, but our assumption is that about 90 per cent. of those who apply will be eligible for this important new support for people aged 50 or over.

  Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance, Incapacity Benefit and Severe Disablement Allowance recipients aged 50 or over with a current claim duration of six months or more, as at February 2000

  Thousand

  Shrewsbury and Atcham

  Income Support

  2.8

  Jobseekers Allowance

  0.1

  Incapacity Benefit

  1.4

  Severe Disablement Allowance

  10.2

  1 Numbers are based on very few sample cases and are subject to a high degree of sampling error. These figures should be used as a guide to the current situation only.

  Notes:

  1. Income Support figures exclude claimants who also receive IB/SDA

  2. IB figures exclude those persons receiving National Insurance Credits only

  3. Jobseekers Allowance figure for June 2000

  Ms Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the impact of the New Deals for(a) 18 to 24-year-olds and (b) lone parents in (i) Westminster and (ii) Kensington. [130230]

  Ms Jowell
  The New Deal for Young people is aimed at people aged 18–24 who have been claiming unemployment benefits for six months or more. Claimant unemployment among this group has fallen by 56 per cent. since April 1998 when the New Deal was introduced. Part of this is due to the delivery of a strong and stable economy, but the New Deal for Young People has helped unemployment to fall even faster. The 56 per cent. fall in youth long-term unemployment compares with a fall of 18 per cent. in total unemployment, 23 per cent. in total youth (18–24) unemployment and 26 per cent. in the total number unemployed for six months or more. The effect of the New Deal is confirmed by independent research from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research.

  It is not possible to measure the New Deal effect exactly in each area of the country. However, in Westminster and Kensington the falls in unemployment among the New Deal client group have also been substantially faster than for other groups. In Westminster in the two years since April 1998 claimant unemployment amongst those aged 18–24, unemployed for six months or more, has fallen by 43 per cent. from 418 to 238. This compares with a fall of 16 per cent. in total unemployment, 25 per cent. in total youth (18–24) unemployment, and 18 per cent. in the total number unemployed for six months or more.
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  In Kensington and Chelsea, over the same period, claimant unemployment among those aged 18–24, unemployed for six months or more, has fallen by 41 per cent. from 280 to 165. This compares with a fall of 23 per cent. in total unemployment, 23 per cent. in total youth (18–24) unemployment, and 28 per cent. in the total number unemployed for six months or more.

  New Deal for Lone Parents aims to help lone parents in receipt of Income Support to improve their job readiness and help them take up paid work. Independent evaluation by the Institute for Employment Research suggests it has attracted substantial numbers of participants and secured very positive feedback from them. Analysis has also shown that after 18 months more people had left IS in NDLP prototype areas than in comparison areas.

  It is also not possible to measure the effect of New Deal for Lone Parents exactly in each area of the country. Local information on NDLP performance is produced for parliamentary constituencies. Up to the end of April 2000, in the Cities of London and Westminster constituency, 95 lone parents had started on NDLP, of which 18 had moved into work, while in the Regent's Park and North Kensington and Kensington and Chelsea constituencies, 388 had started on the programme and 80 had moved into a job.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many(a) men and (b) women aged between 18–24 years have entered the New Deal within the Greater London Authority area to date. [130770]

  Ms Jowell
  The latest figures to April 2000 show that 47,850 young men and 24,200 young women have entered the New Deal in the Greater London area. 27,470 of these young people have gained jobs which is a significant contribution to our being on target to meet the manifesto commitment to help 250,000 young people into jobs through the New Deal. At the end of April we had reached a total of 216,200.

  Youth Unemployment (Cumbria)
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on youth unemployment in(a) Cumbria and (b) Carlisle. [131409]

  Ms Jowell
  There are currently (June 2000) 2,037 claimant unemployed people aged 18–24 in Cumbria and 447 in Carlisle. In the three years to June 2000 unemployment among young people has fallen by 36 per cent. in Cumbria and by 37 per cent. in Carlisle. The equivalent fall in the UK as a whole over this period is 36 per cent.

  Part of this improvement is due to the delivery of a strong and stable economy, but the New Deal for Young People has helped youth unemployment to fall even faster. The New Deal for young people is aimed at people aged 18–24 who have been claiming unemployment benefits for six months or more.

  In both Cumbria and Carlisle the fall in unemployment among the New Deal client group has been substantially faster than for other groups. In Cumbria, in the three years to June 2000, claimant unemployment among those aged 18–24, unemployed for six months or more, has fallen by

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  71 per cent., from 1,397 to 402. This compares with a fall of 31 per cent. in total unemployment and 51 per cent. in the total number unemployed for six months or more.

  In Carlisle, in the three years to June 2000, claimant unemployment among those aged 18–24, unemployed for six months or more, has fallen by 70 per cent., from 274 to 81. This compares with a fall of 31 per cent. in total unemployment and 46 per cent. in the total number unemployed for six months or more.

  The impact of the New Deal is confirmed by independent research from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, though it is not possible to measure the New Deal effect exactly in each area of the country.

  Pre-school Places (Middlesbrough)
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many new pre-school places have been created in the constituency of Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East since May 1997; and if he will make a statement. [131205]

  Ms Hodge
  [holding answer 18 July 2000]: Since this Government came to office, 120,000 new, free, early education places have been created for three and four-year-olds nationally. Data on early years education places are not available by constituency, but we have provided sufficient funding to ensure that all four-year-olds and the majority of three-year-olds in Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland receive a free, part time, early education place.

  Sex and Relationship Education
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the meaning is of the word(a) inappropriate, as used in (i) paragraph 8 of the introduction, (ii) paragraph 1.8 of and (iii) paragraph 1.14 of and (b) research, as used in paragraph 1.7 of, the Sex and Relationship Education Guidance issued in July 2000. [131195]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 19 July 2000]: We have made it clear that head teachers and governors must not use teaching and materials which are inappropriate with regard to the age and the religious and the cultural background of the pupils concerned. In making their judgments, head teachers and governors should have regard to the Personal, Social and Health Education framework, which sets out what is expected at each Key Stage in education, and to the law.

  There is a variety of research that shows that effective sex and relationship education does not encourage early sexual experimentation. These are summarised in the Social Exclusion Unit's Report on Teenage Pregnancy. Copies are available in the Library.

  School Science Laboratories (Middlesbrough)
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he has taken to update school science laboratories in the constituency of Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East; and if he will make a statement. [131206]
  200W
  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 18 July 2000]: Under the initiative "School laboratories for the 21st Century", £60 million is being allocated from the Capital Modernisation fund to tackle deficiencies in secondary school science accommodation over the next two years. This will enable around 400 improvement projects to be carried out at those schools most in need.

  In line with the Department's policy of reducing bureaucracy and paperwork, grants are being allocated to local education authorities (LEAs) by formulae. LEAs will then distribute funding to schools according to need. Middlesbrough LEA is to receive £115,109 this year and a further £115,109 in 2001–02.

  Additionally, LEAs have been able to apply for funding from the New Deal for Schools (NDS) programme to improve the condition of school laboratories. So far, 151 such projects have been funded, at a cost of just under £37 million. They may also have incorporated improvements to science accommodation within larger schemes of school expansion or rationalisation.

  Computer Disasters
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the time it would take to get new computers running in the wake of a major computer disaster in his Department. [130969]

  Mr. Wills
  Contingency plans exist for all of the major computer systems in the Department and they should be operational again within three working days.

  Departmental Initiatives
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list each departmental initiative since May 1997 requiring bids for funding together with the total resources available, the number of successful bids and the proportion this represents of total bids received; and what data he collects on the average expenditure of organisations bidding for funding through each initiative. [131080]

  Mr. Wills
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 17 July 2000,Official Report, column 93W.

  Health and Sex Education
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what rights parents have to withdraw their children from the health and sex education element of National Curriculum Science at Key Stage 2 for religious reasons. [130976]

  Jacqui Smith
  Section 405 of the Education Act 1996 gives parents the right to withdraw their children from any or all parts of a school's programme of sex education, but not those elements of health and sex education which are required by the National Curriculum Science Order. We encourage schools and governors to consult parents over their Sex and Relationship Education policy.

  Learning Support Units
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many Learning Support Units will be established in Nottinghamshire; [131068]

  (2) what the timetable is for setting up the new Learning Support Units for disruptive pupils; and if he will make a statement. [130979]

  Jacqui Smith
  The 223 Learning Support Units (LSUs) in the 24 Local Education Authorities (LEAs) in Phase 1 of the 'Excellence in Cities' (EiC) programme have been established progressively over the current academic year and are now operating. The LSUs in the 22 LEAs in Phase 2 of the EiC programme, which includes the City of Nottingham, will start to be set up from September 2000. Most should be operating from January 2001. We are currently assessing these LEAs' final plans. The LSUs in LEAs outside EiC areas, which includes Nottinghamshire, will be established progressively from September 2000. Most should come into operation between January and March 2001.

  The City of Nottingham is planning for all of its 21 secondary schools to have an LSU. Information about Nottinghamshire LEA' s plans is not yet available. The Authority was notified on 30 June of its allocation—a total of some £671,000 to cover both capital and recurrent expenditure over the financial years 2000–01 and 2001–02. It is now for the LEA in consultation with its schools to decide how many LSUs to establish within those resources and in which schools.

  Learning Support Units are a proven strategy for improving behaviour and reducing exclusions, and they are cost effective. They enable schools to get disruptive pupils out of the classroom quickly while not excluding them. We aim to have over 1,000 established by 2002.

  Grammar School Ballots
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which grammar schools have not provided to Electoral Reform Ballot Services the information required to determine the number of signatures needed for a trigger ballot within the time limit provided by the relevant regulations; and if he will make a statement. [130942]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  One grammar school has not provided to Electoral Reform Services (ERS), within the time limit, all the information required to determine the number of signatures needed to trigger a ballot. This is the Latymer School in Enfield. The school raised queries before providing a list of feeder schools. ERS have written to the feeder schools and are processing replies.

  School Organisation Committees
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to carry out an assessment of the effectiveness of schools' organisation committees; and if he will take steps to give their role greater clarity. [131246]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  We shall be reviewing the issues which arise for School Organisation Committees as they increasingly become involved in complex school 202W
  organisation decisions. This review will help us determine whether further guidance or changes in the procedures governing the conduct of Committees would be helpful.

  School Playing Fields
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to the answer of 22 June 2000,Official Report, columns 269–70W, how many sales of school grass areas smaller than a sports pitch he has (a) approved and (b) rejected in each month since October 1998; what the acreage is of the school grass areas smaller than a sports pitch whose disposal he has (i) approved and (ii) rejected in each month since October 1998; and what has been the total sale value of such areas whose disposal he has (A) approved and (B) rejected in each month since October 1998. [131214]

  Jacqui Smith
  The Department has approved the sale of 18 school grass areas smaller than a sports pitch of 2000m2 between October 1998 and June this year. The following table shows the information requested.

  Sale of grass areas smaller than a school sports pitch approved under section 77 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 since 1 October 1998

  Number of sales approved

  Number of sales rejected

  Area (m2)

  Total sale value (£)

  1998

  October

  1

  —

  300

  5,000

  November

  —

  —

  —

  —

  December

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1999

  January

  1

  —

  1,250

  72,000

  February

  —

  —

  —

  —

  March

  1

  —

  600

  115,000

  April

  —

  —

  —

  —

  May

  2

  —

  1,680

  3,300

  June

  3

  —

  2,100

  241,000

  July

  —

  —

  —

  —

  August

  2

  —

  1,870

  97,250

  September

  —

  —

  —

  —

  October

  1

  —

  640

  50,000

  November

  —

  —

  —

  —

  December

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2000

  January

  1

  —

  50

  3,000

  February

  —

  —

  —

  —

  March

  —

  —

  —

  —

  April

  1

  —

  530

  20,000

  May

  3

  —

  2,985

  305,000

  June

  2

  —

  910

  37,500

  Notes

  1. In this table a sports pitch is regarded as being an area of open grassed land equal to, or greater than, 2000m2.

  2. All sale proceeds are used to provide new or improved education or sports facilities at maintained schools.

  Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School, Sunningdale
  Mr. Trend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many children applying for places at the Holy Trinity Church of England primary school in Sunningdale have been refused on the ground that admission would breach the maximum class size of 30; how many of these have siblings in the school; and how many of those referred were new to the area. [131304]
  203W
  Ms Estelle Morris
  I understand from my officials, who have contacted the school, that no applications were refused on the ground that admission would breach the class size limit. Thirteen children were refused admission because there were forty-three applications for only thirty available places. The school's standard number of thirty, which indicates its capacity, pre-dates our class size legislation.

  The thirty places were allocated to Sunningdale residents, thirteen of whom had siblings in the school. Of those applicants refused, four were non residents of Sunningdale with siblings in the school. The school gives priority for admission to children resident in the ecclesiastical parish of Sunningdale. A further four applications from the Sunningdale area were received after places had been allocated, and were refused.

  Ministerial Code
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (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; [129146]

  (2) if he will list the occasions on which 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. [129180]

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

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Early-day Motions
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the President of the Council what the total cost of early-day motions was in(a) 1999 and (b) 1998. [130028]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  I have been asked to reply.

  The printing and publication costs associated with early-day motions was (a) approximately £597,000 in 1999 and (b) approximately £750,000 in 1998. Other costs associated with early-day motions, such as editorial preparation and control and electronic publication, are not separately identifiable. I am informed that costs arising in Government Departments could be provided only at disproportionate costs.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Incineration
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the Government's assessment of the relationship between rates of death and projected increases in incineration of waste. [126470]
  204W
  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 20 June 2000]: A methodology for assessing the health impacts of air pollution (particles, sulphur dioxide and ozone) from industrial sources, including waste incinerators, is being considered by the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollution (COMEAP), which advises the Department of Health, and a full statement from COMEAP is expected in due course.

  Emissions from incineration are already tightly controlled, and incinerators can now be designed to meet the standards in the forthcoming Waste Incineration Directive, which will further reduce emissions, for example reducing emissions of total dust by 67 per cent. and of dioxins by 99 per cent. An assessment of the health benefits of the tighter standards in the Waste Incineration Directive has been made by my Department for the regulatory and environmental impact assessment of the proposed Directive. The relevant consultants' reports are available in the House Library.

  Public Water Supply
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the chemical compounds added to the public water supply in England and Wales, indicating which is used for(a) water treatment, (b) ingestion and (c) other purposes; and if he will give details of the most recent safety tests carried out by his Department on each such compound. [130203]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989 provide for the approval of products, substances and processes used in the provision of public water supplies. The Secretary of State is advised on approvals issues by the Committee on Chemicals and Materials for Use in Public Water Supply. The Secretary of State's List of Approved Products, which includes all chemicals approved for use in public water supplies, is published annually by the Drinking Water Inspectorate. The list is installed on the Inspectorate's website www.dwi.detr.gov.uk

  Approved chemicals are classified according to whether they are used for water treatment or other purposes. Where residues of the chemical are likely to be ingested, a condition of approval imposes a maximum dosing concentration as a public health protection measure.

  Household Waste Collection
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidelines he has given local authorities about the frequency with which they should collect household waste; and if he will make a statement. [130527]

  Mr. Meacher
  Under section 45 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, local authorities have a duty to collect household refuse, but the Act does not stipulate the frequency with which local authorities should collect it. We have not provided any guidance on the frequency with which collections should take place.

  A30
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the A30 Honiton to Exeter road will be resurfaced. [130540]
  205W
  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 17 July 2000]: Our 10-year Transport Strategy, which will be published shortly, will include further proposals for dealing with road noise. Those roads with the worst noise problem will be dealt with first.

  Aggregates
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on what grounds the Quarry Products Association's proposed preferential purchasing scheme for aggregates was considered incompatible with the green purchasing commitments set out in his Department's publication entitled "Building a better quality of life—a strategy for more sustainable construction". [131094]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The proposals in the Quarry Products Association's Q-mark scheme were carefully considered by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor in preparing his Budget Statement. However, the proposed conditions of entry to the Q-mark scheme, which would qualify suppliers for preferential purchasing of aggregate by the public sector were, on the basis of the information provided, felt to be incompatible with UK competition law and EU procurement law. The burden of meeting the Q-mark entry conditions would have borne differentially on different sizes of operators, and in particular could have been harder for the small and medium-sized enterprises in the industry, including those not in QPA membership, to meet.

  Home Energy Efficiency Scheme
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many contractors he expects to use under the New Home Energy Efficiency Scheme; [131310]

  (2) how many contractors used by the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme in the period up to April 2000 are not eligible for the New Home Energy Efficiency Scheme; [131311]

  (3) what guidance he has issued to determine which contractors are eligible to be considered under the New Home Energy Efficiency Scheme; and if he will make a statement. [131312]

  Mr. Meacher
  Some 100 insulation and heating installation contractors are currently appointed to the New Home Energy Efficiency Scheme, which started in June. The two Scheme Managers for New HEES expect to appoint up to a further 45 contractors. The New HEES scheme, which started in June, provides vulnerable householders with a comprehensive package of insulation, together with efficient central heating for householders over 60 in age, through grants of up to £2,000. The previous scheme provided householders with one insulation measure per household, mainly draughtproofing, with a maximum grant of £315. Funding for the scheme has been increased from about £76 million last year to around £122 million this year and around £153 million next year.

  Some 130 insulation contractors were involved in the previous scheme.

  The Scheme Managers for New HEES, Eastern Energy and the EAGA Partnership Ltd., were appointed by my Department following UK Public Procurement Rules and
  206W
  Regulations. They are contractually required to appoint installers using the same competitive tendering process and following the same Regulations. All existing installers were eligible to tender for appointment to the new scheme. Installers have been chosen on the basis of their technical abilities to deal with the wider range of measures provided through New HEES, their ability to meet the quality standard, and the price tendered.

  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many council homes in Shrewsbury and Atcham will benefit from home energy efficiency measures by the end of this year; and if he will make a statement; [131157]

  (2) how many households will be helped out of fuel poverty by 2002 through energy-efficiency schemes in Shrewsbury and Atcham. [131137]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Government have introduced a wide range of programmes to tackle poor energy efficiency, one of the main causes of fuel poverty. These are as follows.

  From 1 June, the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme provides grants of up to £2,000 for comprehensive packages of insulation and heating improvements. The scheme is aimed at those households which are most vulnerable to cold-related ill health: older people and families on low incomes, and the disabled and chronically sick. HEES has a budget of £275 million for the first two years, which is expected to help some 460,000 households. The scheme is focused on the private sector, where nearly 70 per cent. of the fuel poor in England are found. However, limited funds will still be available for social housing in the first two years.

  We have released substantial additional funds to help improve our housing stock; in total some £5 billion is being made available over the lifetime of this Parliament for investment in housing. Most of the additional resources are going to local authorities and will be spent according to the needs and priorities identified in their housing strategy. We estimate that around one third of the money is likely to lead directly or indirectly to improvements in energy efficiency.

  Government-funded programmes operated by the Energy Saving Trust improve the energy efficiency of both fuel poor households and others. In addition, some of the Government funded regeneration schemes will help to improve home energy efficiency in specific areas.

  To support the installation of energy efficiency measures, from 1 July 1998 the Government have reduced VAT from 17.5 per cent. to 5 per cent. for the installation of energy efficiency materials through Government-funded grant schemes such as HEES. The Spring 2000 budget extended the reduced rate of VAT of 5 per cent. to include the installation of energy saving material in "all" homes and the installation of heating measures through Government funded grant schemes.

  The Government are also introducing provisions to enable lessors to claim capital allowances on their investment in boilers, radiators and controls installed in residential properties under the Affordable Warmth Programme. The Programme will operate from 2000 to

  207W
  2007, with the aim of helping up to 1 million low income households, primarily in the social sector, benefit from improved energy efficiency.

  In addition to Government energy efficiency programmes, since 1994, public electricity suppliers have, under the Energy Efficiency Standards of Performance, been required to encourage and assist customers with energy efficiency measures. The new Director General of the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets has, from this year extended these to also include public gas suppliers and the overall size of the programme has been doubled to £50 million a year. 65 per cent. of this expenditure will be allocated to low income households.

  Under the Home Energy Conservation Act (HECA) 1995, local authorities with housing responsibilities were required to prepare, publish and submit to the Secretary of State an energy conservation report identifying energy conservation measures considered to be practicable, cost-effective and likely to result in a significant improvement in the energy efficiency of all residential accommodation in their area.

  Date

  Court

  Offence

  Fine (£)

  Cost (£)

  16 October 1991

  Whitehaven magistrates court

  On 19 May 1991 caused trade effluent, namely chlorinated water, to be discharged into Ben Ghyll, a tributary of the River Ehen from Ennerdale Water Treatment Plant. Contrary to Sections 107(i)(c) and 107(6) of the Water Act 1989

  5,000

  435

  29 January 1992

  Darwen magistrates court

  On 28 May 1991 caused sewage effluent to be discharged into Eagley Brook from Belmont Waste Water Treatment Plant. Contrary to Sections 107(l)(c) and 106(6) of the Water Act 1989

  9,000

  4,815

  20 May 1992

  Chorley magistrates court

  On 4 October 1991 caused sewage effluent to be discharged into Brook Lane Stream, Charnock Richard from Brook Lane Pumping Station. Contrary to Sections 107(i)(c) and 107(6) of the Water Act 1989

  6,000

  400

  1 October 1991

  Huyton magistrates court

  On 28 January 1992 caused sewage effluent to be discharged into Court Hey Brook from surface water outfalls at Court Hey Road. Contrary to Sections 85(3)(a) and 85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991

  10,000

  420

  3 February 1993

  Ashton Under Lyne magistrates court

  On 21 September 1992 caused trade effluent to be discharged from Lumb Lane Pumping Station, Droylsden. Contrary to Sections 85(3)(a) and 85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991

  10,000

  510

  2 March 1993

  Ormskirk magistrates court

  On 23 April 1992 caused sewage effluent to be discharged into Hurlston Brook from Smithy Lane Pumping Station, Hurlston Green. Contrary to Sections 85(3)(a) and 85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991

  3,000

  250

  2 March 1993

  Ormskirk magistrates court

  On 13 August 1992 caused sewage effluent to be discharged into Hurlston Brook from Smithy Lane Pumping Station, Hurlston Green. Contrary to Sections 85(3)(a) and 85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991

  5,000

  250

  28 July 1993

  Reedley magistrates court

  On 21 May 1992 caused a discharge from the storm sewage overflow at Burnley Waste Water Treatment Works, Burnley to Walverden Water. Contrary to Sections 85(3)(a) and 85 (6) of the Water Resources Act 1991

  2,000

  989

  14 September 1993

  Leyland magistrates court

  On 27 April 1992 caused sewage effluent to be discharged into the River Lostock at Lostock Hall, Bamber Bridge, Preston. Contrary to Sections 85(3)(a) and 85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991

  9,000

  860

  3 November 1993

  Oldham magistrates court

  On 5 February 1993 caused trade effluent to be discharged into the River Medlock at Waterhead, Oldham. Contrary to Sections 85(3)(a) and 85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991

  3,000

  515

  208W
  In England, authorities are now reporting annually on the progress being made in implementing the measures identified. Furthermore, we have now asked local authorities to report on their policies and achievements specifically in combating fuel poverty, at the same time as they submit their HECA progress reports. The next HECA progress report from local authorities is due by 31 July 2000.

  The energy conservation report prepared by Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council, and their most recent progress report, should be available from the Council.

  North West Water
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many successful prosecutions the Environment Agency has undertaken against North West Water; and what level of fines have been imposed. [131404]

  Mr. Mullin
  Listed in the table are details of the successful prosecutions carried out against North West Water by the Environment Agency since October 1991 and the fines imposed:
  209W

  Date

  Court

  Offence

  Fine (£)

  Cost (£)

  9 November 1993

  Leigh magistrates court

  On 9 August 1992 caused sewage effluent to be discharged into a tributary of the River Glaze from Latley Common Pumping Station at Leigh. Contrary to Sections 85(3)(a) and 85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991

  1,000

  719

  25 January 1994

  Ellesmere Port magistrates court

  On 11 May 1993 caused trade effluent to be discharged into Mill Brook. Contrary to Sections 85(3)(a) and 85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991

  2,000

  700

  25 January 1994

  Ellesmere Port magistrates court

  On 17 August 1993 caused trade effluent, namely reactivated sewage sludge, to be discharged into Mill Brook from Ellesmere Port Sewage Treatment Works. Contrary to Sections 85(3)(a) and 85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991

  4,000

  686

  3 February 1994

  Preston magistrates court

  On 3 July 1993 caused sewage effluent to be discharged into Savick Brook, Fulwood. Contrary to Sections 85(3)(a) and 85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991

  3,000

  453

  28 March 1994

  Barrow in Furness magistrates court

  On 19 September 1993 caused sewage effluent to be discharged into the River Leven Estuary from Ulverston Waste Water Treatment Works. Contrary to Section 85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991

  6,000

  764

  7 April 1994

  Chorley magistrates court

  On 31 August 1993 caused trade effluent, namely surface water containing Chlorine, to be discharged into the River Douglas from Rivington Water Treatment Plant, Bolton Road, Horwich. Contrary to Sections 85(3)(a) and 85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991

  5,000

  898

  25 May 1994

  Chorley magistrates court

  On 21 September 1993 caused sewage effluent to be discharged into the River Chor diversion from Outlet 3A at Chorley Waste Water Treatment Works. Contrary to Sections 85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991

  2,000

  596

  7 June 1994

  Leyland magistrates court

  On 11 January 1994 caused sewage effluent to be discharged to the River Darwen from premises known as Blackburn Waste Water Treatment Works. Contrary to Sections 85(3)(a) and 85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991

  4,000

  736

  26 August 1994

  Lytham magistrates court

  On 30 November 1993 caused polluting matter to enter Main Dyke from Western Waste Water Treatment Works. Contrary to Sections 85(3)(a) and 85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991

  4,000

  744

  13 September 1994

  Ellesmere Port magistrates court

  On 31 January 1994 caused sewage effluent to be discharged into Thornton Brook at Ellesmere Port which did not comply with a Condition of the Company's Consent to Discharge. Contrary to Sections 85(3)(a) and 85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991

  3,000

  319

  21 September 1994

  Liverpool magistrates court

  On 23 September 1993 caused sewage effluent to enter Courtney Brook. Contrary to Sections 85(3)(a) and 85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991

  10,000

  495

  21 September 1994

  Liverpool magistrates court

  On 8 July 1993 caused sewage effluent to enter Courthey Brook. Contrary to Sections 85(3)(a) and 85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991

  10,000

  484

  3 October 1994

  Huyton magistrates court

  On 9 March 1994 failed to take reasonable steps to ensure water discharge as a result of aeration tank cleaning into Knowsley Brook from Knowsley Water Treatment Works was free as reasonable possible from solids and polluting substances. Contrary to Section 165(3)(b) of the Water Industry Act 1991

  500

  903

  18 November 1994

  Penrith magistrates court

  On 1 July 1994 caused sewage effluent to be discharged into Shap Beck from premises at Shap Waste Water Treatment Works. Contrary to Sections 85(3)(a) and 85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991

  3,000

  1,292

  7 February 1995

  Leyland magistrates court

  On 28 May 1994 caused sewage effluent to be discharged into Black Brook at Hoghton near Blackburn. Contrary to Sections 85(3)(a) and 85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991

  2,500

  922

  15 February 1995

  Preston magistrates court

  Between 8 August 1994 and 15 August 1994 caused sewage effluent to be discharged into Eaves Brook from Victoria Road CSO, Preston. Contrary to Sections 85(3)(a) and 85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991

  5,000

  721

  210W 211W

  Date

  Court

  Offence

  Fine (£)

  Cost (£)

  18 March 1995

  Oldham magistrates court

  On 23 November 1994 caused sewage effluent to be discharged into Wince Brook from Brookside Business Park, Chadderton. Contrary to Sections 85(3)(a) and 85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991

  5,000

  699

  10 November 1995

  Barrow in Furness magistrates court

  In the one year period from 27 July 1994 to 26 July 1995 caused sewage effluent to be discharges into Blea Beck from Askam Waste Water Treatment Works contrary to Condition C1 of Consent. Contrary to 85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991

  7,500

  490

  18 January 1996

  Blackburn magistrates court

  On 30 April 1995 caused sewage effluent to be discharged into Sheet Bridge Brook from Morris Brow Pumping Station, Tock Holes Road, Blackburn. Contrary to Sections 85(3)(a) and 85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991

  5,000

  1,889

  7 March 1996

  Windermere magistrates court

  On 6 May 1995 caused sewage effluent to be discharged into the River Rothay from Ambleside Waste Water Treatment Works. Contrary to Sections 85(3)(a) and 85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991

  4,000

  1,931

  21 January 1998

  Stockport magistrates court

  On or about 17 July 1997 caused polluting matter namely sewage sludge to enter Torkington Brook from land at Lower Barnfold Farm, Hawk Green near Marple. Contrary to Sections 85(1) and 85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991

  5,000

  560

  21 January 1998

  Stockport magistrates court

  On 4 August 1997 caused polluting matter namely sewage sludge run-off to enter Norbury Brook. Contrary to Section 85(1) of the Water Resources Act 1991

  6,000

  531

  2 March 1998

  Preston magistrates court

  On 4 February 1997 caused sewage effluent to be discharged into the River Ribble from land at Riversway Docks. Contrary to Sections 85(3)(a) and 85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991

  3,000

  834

  16 March 1998

  Preston magistrates court

  On 18 April 1997 caused polluting matter namely silt to enter Eaves Brook and Savick Brook from a water supply main at Deepdale, Fulwood. Contrary to Sections 85(3)(a) and 85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991

  1,500

  1,183

  1 July 1999

  Leyland magistrates court

  On 8 July 1998 caused polluting matter to enter Holes Brook from Blackburn Waste Water Treatment Works. Contrary to Section 85(1) of the Water Resources Act 1991

  5,000

  793

  28 October 1999

  Bury magistrates court

  On 7 December 1998 caused sewage effluent to be discharges into the River Irwell. Contrary to Sections 85(3)(a) of the Water Resources Act 1991

  5,000

  810

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Opinion Research
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer of 25 May 2000,Official Report, column 581W, if he will place copies of all unpublished results of market and opinion research relating to the work of the Millennium Commission and the operation of the Dome in the Library. [124905]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 8 June 2000]: The main focus of the Millennium Commission is the distribution of grants through its funding programmes. A small amount of market research has been carried out in relation to the way in which the Millennium Commission is viewed rather than the work that it has funded. The results have only internal relevance and are used by the Commission's Communications Department to assess the impact of their communications strategy. For this reason it would not be appropriate to publish or release this research. However, the Commission did undertake
  212W
  opinion research which looked at how MPs regard the work of the Commission. A summary of the results of this work will be placed in the Library.

  The majority of market research relating to those projects funded by the Millennium Commission is undertaken by the projects themselves. As part of the application process and subsequent development and operation of projects, market research is often carried out. However, this research is the property of the projects and is provided to the Commission on a confidential basis.

  Osborne Convalescent Home
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what legislative process is required to(a) repeal the Osborne Estates Act 1902 and (b) close the Osborne convalescent home. [127308]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 22 June 2000]: An Act of Parliament is required to repeal the Osborne Estate Act 1902. Closure of the King Edward VII Convalescent Home does not require legislation. My responsibility under the 1902 Act is to devote part of Osborne house to

  213W
  the benefit of members of the Armed Forces and Civil Service, but the running of a convalescent home is not a specific requirement.

  Dome (Loans)
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had with interested parties concerning the loaning of public money to the Dome; and if he will make a statement. [129280]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 6 July 2000]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had no discussions with interested parties concerning the loaning of public money to the Dome.

  New Millennium Experience Company
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport for what reason the signed-off accounts of the NMEC relating to the period ended 31 December 1999 have not been placed in the Library. [130395]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 13 July 2000]: The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) will publish its Annual Report and Financial Statement before the start of the Parliamentary recess as planned. Copies of the Report will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Annual Reports
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the cost of producing the annual report of(a) the Arts Council of England and (b) the National Lottery was in each of the two most recent years in which they were published. [131121]

  Kate Hoey
  [holding answer 18 July 2000]: I have asked the Arts Council of England to provide the separate costs of producing their grant-in-aid and National Lottery reports for 1998 and 1999. When this information is available, I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy in the Library of the House.

  World Cup 2006
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the value for money obtained by the England bid to host the 2006 World Cup. [130844]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 17 July 2000]: The Football Association's funding agreement with Sport England set out in detail how Lottery money could be used to support the 2006 World Cup bid—primarily the costs of staff, administration, events, exhibitions and technical studies. Sport England is fully satisfied with its monitoring arrangements for ensuring that the Lottery funding allocated to supporting the bid has been used with the maximum of economy.

  The uses to which the bid's other sources of funding have been put are entirely matters for the FA, the Premier League and the bid's commercial sponsors.

  World War II Commemoration
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will implement the recommendation 214W
  of Sir John Mortimer's Advisory Group that there should be in an open space a statue commemorating Women in World War II; and if he will make a statement. [130814]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Sir John Mortimer's advisory group considered that, rather than being placed on the vacant plinth in Trafalgar Square, the proposed memorial to Women in World War II should be located in a park or an open space where it could be more easily enjoyed. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State agrees with the Mortimer group's recommendations. Finding an appropriate location for the memorial is a matter for the Women in World War II campaign charity. My Department is, however, currently exploring the possibility of a site in Whitehall which might be used for the proposed memorial.

  Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Cultural Consortium
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what has been the total cost to public funds from its inception to the most recent date for which figures are available of administering the Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Cultural Consortium. [131243]

  Janet Anderson
  At 11 July 2000, the Regional Cultural Consortium for Yorkshire and the Humber had spent £15,000 from the budget allocated to it by my Department. Within that total, £12,000 has been spent on work in connection with the preparation of a regional cultural strategy, including the publication of a consultation paper "Towards a Cultural Strategy for the Yorkshire Region", while £3,000 has been spent on what might be deemed administration, for example organising and facilitating meetings and the travel and subsistence costs of Consortium members. It is not possible to cost staff time associated with the work of the Consortium for either the one staff member from my Department in the region, or for other help received from staff of the regional cultural agencies, regional partners and local authorities.

  Note:

  Figures have been rounded to the nearest £1,000.

  ITV Nightly News
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will call for a report from the Independent Television Commission stating the deadline for compliance by ITV with the ITC's requirement to bring forward the timing of the nightly news. [130857]

  Janet Anderson
  I understand that the Independent Television Commission will consider the matter at their meeting on 20 July.

  Hotel and Restaurant Regulation
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the Better Regulation Task Force report entitled "Tackling the Impact of Increasing Regulation—A Case Study of Hotels and Restaurants"; and if he will make a statement. [130539]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 17 July 2000]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I welcome the Better Regulation Task Force's report. It recognises the key importance of hotels and restaurants to the national

  215W
  economy, and the industry's concern about the possible impact of regulation on its successful development. This is something we are already addressing by improving the machinery for considering the effects of policies on hotels and restaurants—one of the outcomes of the first Tourism Summit of Ministers held earlier this year. My Department, as lead sponsor for the tourism industry, will be co-ordinating the Government's formal response to the report over the next three months. The response will be reported to the House.

PRIME MINISTER

  Electronic Test Facility (Capenhurst)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received from the Irish Government with regard to the Ministry of Defence's Electronic Test Facility formerly sited at the British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. site at Capenhurst, Cheshire, since 26 July 1999; when they were received; and from which Irish Government Departments. [130494]

  The Prime Minister
  The Irish Foreign Minister spoke to my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 24 January about the allegations raised last year in a Channel 4 television programme about the Ministry of Defence's former Electronic Test Facility at Capenhurst.

  I understand that the Irish Ambassador also raised these allegations at meetings with FCO officials on 12 October 1999 and 10 January 2000.

  Kosovo
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of how long the presence of(a) the British Army and (b) KFOR will be required in Kosovo. [131063]

  The Prime Minister
  UNSCR 1244 did not set a fixed end-point for the deployment of the international security presence in Kosovo. The Government are doing all they can to encourage progress in Kosovo, but it is not possible at this stage to say when KFOR, including the British contribution to it, will be able to leave.

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 19 July. [130795]

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

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Public Records
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 16 May 2000,Official Report, column 114W, about public records, if he will list the correspondence between Mr. Denis McCready and the Chairman or Secretary of the Advisory Council on Public Records
  216W
  during the period from 18 June 1997 to March 2000; and if he will publish the correspondence dated 14 and 17 June 1997. [130929]

  Mr. Lock
  There was no direct correspondence between Mr. Denis McCready and the Chairman or Secretary of the Advisory Council on Public Records during the period from 18 June 1997 to 31 March 2000. The correspondence dated 14 and 17 June was summarised in the answer given by my predecessor on 8 July 1999,Official Report, column 622W. It would not be appropriate to publish the correspondence in full as the letters were between the Advisory Council and a private citizen.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what action the Lord Chancellor will need to take in the next decade, under the provisions of the Public Records Act 1958, to release the Registrar General from his statutory duty to transfer the 1921 to 1971 census returns to the Public Record Office; and in which years that action will need to be taken. [130930]

  Mr. Lock
  Census returns are subject to 100 year closure, in line with section 1(3) of the Census Confidentiality Act 1991 and with the Government policy set out in the White Paper "Open Government" (Cm 2290, 1993). This is on the grounds that they consist of documents supplied in confidence, the disclosure of which would constitute a breach of good faith.

  At present the census returns for 1921 to 1961 are retained by the Office for National Statistics under section 3(4) of the Public Records Act 1958. The following Lord Chancellor's Instruments (LCI) are current:
  LCI (Retention of Public Records) No 23, 1992: retention of 1961 returns for 10 years (which gives authority for retention until 2003)
  LCI (Retention of Public Records) No 38, 1996: retention of 1921 and 1951 returns for 10 years (which gives authority for retention until 2007).

  The 1971 returns are not yet 30 years old and are therefore not due for transfer to the Public Record Office. In the next decade I would expect the Office for National Statistics to apply for further retention of these records under the Public Records Act 1958.

  The Registrar General remains subject to the Public Records Act 1958 and under that legislation will continue to transfer census returns to the Public Record Office at the appropriate time.

  Departmental Initiatives
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list each departmental initiative since May 1997 requiring bids for funding together with the total resources available, the number of successful bids and the proportion this represents of total bids received; and what data he collects on the average expenditure of organisations bidding for funding through each initiative. [131090]

  Mr. Lock
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to her by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 17 July 2000,Official Report, column 93W, and to the Statement on the Spending Review made by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 18 July 2000, Official Report, columns 219–44.

HEALTH

  Residential Homes
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health further to his written answer of 19 April 2000,Official Report, column 512W, when he expects to make an announcement on research into the impact on life expectancy of the closure of residential homes for the elderly. [130223]

  Mr. Hutton
  We are aware that when residential homes close, elderly residents may be affected. However, when such a decision is made, it is essential that there should be proper arrangements for the safe and satisfactory transfer of all residents to other suitable homes in a way which creates the minimum possible discomfort to all concerned.

  We take research into life expectancy seriously. This is an issue that the Office for National Statistics tracks carefully and we are considering investing in a longitudinal study to give us information on life expectancy. However, we have concluded that research into life expectancy that focuses narrowly on the closure of residential homes cannot be a priority for public funding. It would be unlikely to have an impact on the life of elderly people or decisions about the closure of homes.

  Parkinson's Disease
  Jane Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the efficacy of therapeutic cloning in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. [128877]

  Yvette Cooper
  The application of therapeutic cloning to human healthcare was considered by the Chief Medical Officer's Expert Group on Therapeutic Cloning. The group's report is currently being considered by Ministers.

  Emergency Contraception
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will examine the feasibility of making the morning-after pill available on a non-prescription basis; and what recent representations he has received on making the morning-after pill available through specific certified outlets without prescription. [128764]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Medicines Control Agency is presently consulting on an application to reclassify levonorgestrel 0.75 milligramme for emergency contraception from prescription only to pharmacy availability for women aged 16 years and over. The consultation period ended on 29 June 2000. The responses will then be considered by the Medicines Commission and their recommendations presented to Ministers for a decision. If we decide to go ahead, an Order would be laid before the House later in the year.

  Whatever is decided, emergency hormonal contraception, the morning after pill, will continue to be available, free of charge under existing National Health Service arrangements, from general practitioners, family planning clinics and some hospital accident and emergency departments.
  218W
  Shona McIsaac
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the availability of emergency contraception; [129944]

  (2) what plans he has to make emergency contraception available over the counter at pharmacists. [129943]

  Yvette Cooper
  Emergency hormonal contraception is currently available on prescription through general practitioners, family planning clinics, youth services, walk in centres, and some accident and emergency departments. The Sexual Health/HIV Strategy is looking at improving access to National Health Service contraception services including emergency contraception products.

  The Medicines Control Agency is presently consulting on an application to reclassify levonorgestrel 0.75 milligramme for emergency contraception from prescription only to pharmacy availability for women aged 16 years and over. The consultation period ended on 29 June 2000. The responses are to be considered by the Medicines Commission and their recommendations presented to Ministers for a decision. If it were decided to proceed, an Order would be laid before the House later in the year.

  Shona McIsaac
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the recent trials of over-the-counter prescribing of emergency contraception; [129942]

  (2) what assessment he has made on the impact on levels of abortion in the trial areas for emergency contraception; and if he will make a statement. [129941]

  Yvette Cooper
  There are currently two pilot schemes run by health action zones (HAZs) in Manchester, Salford and Trafford and Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham where emergency contraception is supplied by pharmacists, under a patient group direction. Both pilots form part of the HAZs' overall strategy to reduce the rate of unwanted pregnancies locally. Both pilots are to be fully evaluated and the results will be published.

  Abortion data by health authority are published annually and provisional data for 2000 will not be available until May 2001. It is therefore too early to make any assessment on the impact on levels of abortion in the pilot areas. Fluctuations in the abortion rate may be subject to a number of different factors and it is therefore difficult to attribute any changes to one intervention or event. There have been no studies which have been able to predict the effect the availability of emergency contraception through pharmacies may have on unwanted pregnancy rates.

  Mr. Gummer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) for what reasons his Department encourages increased use of the morning-after pill as part of its National Sexual Health Strategy; and if he will make a statement; [130693]

  (2) for what reasons his Department promotes the morning-after pill as a way to reduce the rate of teenage pregnancies; and if he will make a statement. [130692]

  Yvette Cooper
  Emergency contraception is a safe and effective method of preventing pregnancy when a woman has had unprotected sex or when she knows something
  219W
  has gone wrong with her usual method. We therefore want to ensure the best possible access to emergency contraception for those who need it. The sexual health/ HIV strategy is looking at improving access to the full range of National Health Service contraception services, including emergency contraception products. One of the aims of the strategy is to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies in all age groups, and reducing the rate of teenage pregnancy is one of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's key priorities.

  Emergency contraception should not be seen as a replacement for regular contraception, as it is not as effective as regular hormonal contraception such as the pill and therefore should he used only as an occasional measure.

  Mr. Gummer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what measures are in place to ensure that a woman's medical history is known before she is issued with the morning-after pill; and if he will make a statement; [130683]

  (2) what follow-up care is available to women prescribed the morning-after pill; and if he will make a statement. [130684]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Faculty of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists have researched the available evidence and published updated Recommendations for Clinical Practice regarding emergency contraception in April of this year1.

  The Faculty recommendations advise that established pregnancy is the sole contraindication for use of hormonal emergency contraception (HEC). The Faculty considers that for all other women the benefits of HEC, particularly the progestogen-only method, generally outweigh the risks.

  Regarding follow up action, the recommendations suggest that future contraception should be discussed sympathetically and, preferably arranged. Advice should be given as to when the woman can expect her next period and an appointment offered and/or arrangements made to discuss any problems including on-going contraception information/supply.
  1 Recommendations for clinical practice: emergency contraception. Faculty of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care. April 2000 update.

  Mr. Gummer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prescriptions of the morning after pill there were in the last 10 years for which figures are available; and if he will provide a breakdown by age. [130727]

  Yvette Cooper
  The information requested is in the tables.

  Table 1 shows the number of prescriptions dispensed in the community in England. A breakdown by age of the patient receiving these prescriptions is not available. Table 2 shows the number of prescriptions for hormonal emergency contraceptives prescribed at National Health Service family planning clinics in England from 1989 to 1998. Table 3 shows the number of prescriptions for hormonal emergency contraceptives prescribed at NHS family planning clinics in 1998–99, by age.
  220W

  Table 1: Number of prescriptions dispensed in the community for Schering PC4 ('morning after pill'), 1989 to 1999

  England

  Thousand

  Year

  Number of prescriptions

  1989

  122.7

  1990

  189.6

  1991

  232.8

  1992

  272.2

  1993

  313.3

  1994

  363.8

  1995

  475.4

  1996

  565.6

  1997

  552.8

  1998

  559.8

  1999

  536.8

  Notes:

  1. The data for 1989 and 1990 are not strictly consistent with data from 1991 onwards.

  2. Figures for 1989 and 1990 are based on fees and on a sample of 1 in 200 prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors only.

  3. Figures for 1991 onwards are based on items and cover all prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists, appliance contractors dispensing doctors and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered.

  Table 2: Number of prescriptions for hormonal emergency contraceptives prescribed at NHS Family Planning Clinics in England from 1989 to 1998

  Thousand

  Year

  Number of prescriptions

  1989

  36.9

  1990

  45.5

  1991

  63.0

  1992

  76.7

  1993

  92.2

  1994

  112.1

  1995

  157.6

  1996

  193.7

  1997

  205.1

  1998

  209.9

  Source:

  Department of Health Statistics Division SD2B

  KT31

  Table 3: Number of prescriptions for hormonal emergency contraceptives prescribed at NHS Family Planning Clinics in 1998–99, by age

  Thousand

  Age group

  Number of prescriptions

  All ages

  209.9

  Under 16

  21.5

  16–19

  83.4

  20–24

  55.0

  25–34

  40.0

  35 and over

  10.0

  Source:

  Department of Health Statistics Division SD2B

  KT31

  Information about NHS Family Planning Clinic activity is derived from the Department of Health annual return KT31 and is published each year. The latest information is contained in the Statistical Bulletin "NHS Contraceptive Services, England: 1998–99". A copy of the bulletin is in the Library and can also be found on the Department of Health website www.gov.uk/public/sb9930.htm.
  221W
  Mr. Gummer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has held with the All-Party Pharmacy Group on the morning-after pill; and if he will make a statement. [130688]

  Yvette Cooper
  There have been no discussions between Health Ministers and the All-Party Pharmacy Group on the issue of emergency contraception. However there has been correspondence between my hon. Friend the Member for Dartford (Dr. Stoate), chair of the group, and myself following the group's report on extending access to emergency contraception through community pharmacies.

  Mr. Gummer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he defines the morning-after pill as an abortifacient; and if he will make a statement. [130691]

  Yvette Cooper
  The accepted legal and medical view is that emergency contraception is not a method of abortion. Emergency contraception pills work before implantation and so before a pregnancy has been established. Emergency contraceptive pills will not cause an abortion if taken after implantation.

  My right hon. Friend the Attorney-General, in answering a parliamentary question in 1983, stated that medical practitioners would not be prosecuted for illegal abortion if they sought to prevent implantation by the use of the 'morning-after pill' or an inter-uterine device.

  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he has issued to general practitioners on prescribing of the morning-after pill; and if he will make a statement. [131381]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 18 July 2000]: None. Prescribing of emergency contraception is a matter for the clinical judgment of the practitioner concerned. The Faculty of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists recently researched the available evidence and published updated recommendations for clinical practice for emergency contraception in April this year.

  Smoking Policy
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the role of Zyban in the development of the Government's policy on smoking. [128718]

  Name

  Proprietor

  Abortion 20–24 weeks gestation

  Abbey Gisburne Park Hospital, Clitheroe

  Abbey Hospitals Ltd.

  —

  BMI Alexandra Hospital, Cheadle

  BMI Healthcare

  —

  BMI Bath Clinic

  BMI Healthcare

  —

  BMI The Blackheath Hospital, London

  BMI Healthcare

  —

  BMI The Chaucer Hospital, Canterbury

  BMI Healthcare

  —

  BMI The Clementine Churchill Hospital, Harrow

  BMI Healthcare

  —

  BMI The Droitwich Spa Hospital, Worcester

  BMI Healthcare

  —

  BMI The Harbour Hospital, Poole

  BMI Healthcare

  —

  BMI The Highfield Hospital, Rochdale

  BMI Healthcare

  —

  BMI The Nuneaton Private Hospital

  BMI Healthcare

  —

  BMI The Park Hospital, Nottingham

  BMI Healthcare

  —

  BMI The Sandringham Hospital, King's Lynn

  BMI Healthcare

  —

  BMI The Somerfield Hospital, Maidstone

  BMI Healthcare

  —

  BMI The Winterbourne Hospital, Dorchester

  BMI Healthcare

  —

  BPAS Blackdown Clinic, Leamington Spa

  BPAS

  Yes

  BPAS Central London Clinic, London

  BPAS

  —

  BPAS Danum Lodge Clinic, Doncaster

  BPAS

  Yes

  222W
  Yvette Cooper
  Zyban is now available on National Health Service prescription. Zyban is a non-nicotine based treatment which has been shown to be effective in helping smokers to quit in combination with motivational support. This drug is an entirely new approach to treating nicotine dependence and NHS availability will give general practitioners an effective way to help smokers.

  Abortion
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what requirements abortion clinics must meet to be licensed by his Department. [129412]

  Yvette Cooper
  Any independent sector place wishing to carry out termination of pregnancy must first of all be registered with the local health authority under the Registered Homes Act 1984. All units are inspected and must undertake to comply with the Department's Required Standard Operating Principles (RSOP), which cover a variety of topics. The RSOPs can be found in the "Procedures For The Approval Of Independent Sector Places For The Termination Of Pregnancy". Copies are available in the Library.

  Approved clinics are subject to regular unannounced inspections. Failure to comply with the RSOPs, or to maintain the standards required by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State may lead to withdrawal of approval.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the private sector clinics and hospitals providing abortions, indicating(a) the number of approved beds they contain and (b) whether they are approved for (i) surgical day care abortions with or without general anaesthetic and (ii) late abortions, indicating the name of the proprietor in each case. [129413]

  Yvette Cooper
  The number of approved beds is controlled by local health authorities under the Registered Homes Act 1984 and this information is not collated centrally. The independent sector places approved to carry out termination of pregnancy are shown in the table. All of them are approved to undertake surgical day care abortions, subject to their conditions of registration under the above Act. Clinics approved to perform abortions from 20 weeks up to 24 weeks gestation are identified in the table. No independent sector place is approved to carry out termination of pregnancy after 24 weeks gestation.
  223W

  Name

  Proprietor

  Abortion 20–24 weeks gestation

  BPAS Dean Park Clinic, Bournemouth

  BPAS

  —

  BPAS Leigham Clinic, London

  BPAS

  Yes

  BPAS Merseyside Clinic, Liverpool

  BPAS

  —

  BPAS Robert Clinic, Birmingham

  BPAS

  —

  BPAS Rosslyn Clinic, East Twickenham

  BPAS

  Yes

  BPAS Wistons Clinic, Brighton

  BPAS

  —

  Bromhead Hospital, Lincoln

  Bromhead Hospital Trust Ltd.

  —

  BUPA Alexandra Hospital, Walderslade

  BUPA Hospitals Ltd.

  —

  BUPA Belvedere Hospital, Scarborough

  BUPA Hospitals Ltd.

  —

  BUPA Chalybeate Hospital, Southampton

  BUPA Hospitals Ltd.

  —

  BUPA Hospital Bristol

  BUPA Hospitals Ltd.

  —

  BUPA Hospital Bushey, Watford

  BUPA Hospitals Ltd.

  —

  BUPA Hospital Clare Park, Farnham

  BUPA Hospitals Ltd.

  —

  BUPA Hospital Leicester

  BUPA Hospitals Ltd.

  —

  BUPA Hospital Norwich

  BUPA Hospitals Ltd.

  —

  BUPA Hospital Washington

  BUPA Hospitals Ltd.

  —

  BUPA Hull and East Riding Hospital

  BUPA Hospitals Ltd.

  —

  BUPA Murrayfield Hospital, Wirral

  BUPA Hospitals Ltd.

  —

  BUPA North Cheshire Hospital, Warrington

  BUPA Hospitals Ltd.

  —

  BUPA South Bank Hospital, Worcester

  BUPA Hospitals Ltd.

  —

  Duchy Hospital, Truro

  Community Hospitals Ltd.

  —

  Duchy Nuffield Hospital, Harrogate

  Nuffield Nursing Homes Trust

  —

  Fitzwilliam Hospital, Peterborough

  Community Hospitals Ltd.

  —

  Foscote Private Hospital, Banbury

  Foscote Court (Banbury) Trust Ltd.

  —

  Marie Stopes Bristol Centre

  Marie Stopes International

  —

  Marie Stopes Ealing Centre

  Marie Stopes International

  Yes

  Marie Stopes Essex Centre

  Marie Stopes International

  —

  Marie Stopes House

  Marie Stopes International

  —

  Marie Stopes Leeds Centre

  Marie Stopes International

  —

  Marie Stopes Manchester Centre

  Marie Stopes International

  —

  Marie Stopes South London Centre

  Marie Stopes International

  Yes

  New Hall Hospital, Salisbury

  Community Hospitals Ltd.

  —

  New Victoria Hospital, Kingston upon Thames

  Trustees of Hospital

  —

  Newcastle Nuffield Hospital

  Nuffield Nursing Homes Trust

  —

  North London Nuffield Hospital, Enfield

  Nuffield Nursing Homes Trust

  —

  Park Hill Hospital, Doncaster

  Community Hospitals Group

  —

  Parkview Private Clinic Ltd, Wanstead

  Parkview Private Clinic Ltd.

  —

  South Manchester Private Clinic, Stockport

  Fraterdrive Ltd.

  —

  The Acland Nuffield Hospital, Oxford

  Nuffield Nursing Homes Trust

  —

  The Calthorpe Clinic, Birmingham

  The Calthorpe Clinic Ltd.

  —

  The Chesterfield Nuffield Hospital, Bristol

  Nuffield Nursing Homes Trust

  —

  The Evelyn Hospital, Cambridge

  Trustees of Hospital

  —

  The Exeter Nuffield Hospital

  Nuffield Nursing Homes Trust

  —

  The Garden Hospital, Hendon

  BMI Healthcare

  —

  The Hampshire Clinic, Basingstoke

  BMI Healthcare

  —

  The Leicester Nuffield Hospital

  Nuffield Nursing Homes Trust

  —

  The London Bridge Hospital, London

  St. Martins Healthcare Ltd.

  —

  The North Staffordshire Nuffield Hospital, Newcastle under Lyme

  Nuffield Nursing Homes Trust

  —

  The Plymouth Nuffield Hospital

  Nuffield Nursing Homes Trust

  —

  The Portland Hospital, London

  PPP/Columbia Healthcare Ltd.

  Yes

  The Rivers Hospital, Sawbridgeworth

  Community Hospitals Ltd.

  —

  The Shropshire Nuffield Hospital, Shrewsbury

  Nuffield Nursing Homes Trust

  —

  The Somerset Nuffield Hospital, Taunton

  Nuffield Nursing Homes Trust

  —

  The Suffolk Nuffield Hospital at Christchurch Park, Ipswich

  Nuffield Nursing Homes Trust

  —

  The Wellington Hospital, London

  PPP/Columbia Healthcare Ltd.

  —

  The Woodland Hospital, Kettering

  Community Hospitals Ltd.

  —

  The Wye Valley Nuffield, Hereford

  Nuffield Nursing Homes Trust

  —

  The Yorkshire Clinic, Bingley

  Community Hospitals Ltd.

  —

  Winfield Hospital, Gloucester

  Community Hospitals Ltd.

  —

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many consent forms were signed by women in the years 1995 to 2000 permitting the use of fetal tissue from their aborted babies to be used in(a) research and (b) other purposes. [129411]

  Yvette Cooper
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Pregnancy Advice Bureaux
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the registered pregnancy advice bureaux. [129414]

  Yvette Cooper
  The following pregnancy advice bureaux are registered with the Department of Health.
  225W

  BPAS Basingstoke Branch

  BPAS Bath Branch

  BPAS Birmingham Branch

  BPAS Bournemouth Branch

  BPAS Brighton Branch

  BPAS Bristol Branch

  BPAS Cannock Branch

  BPAS Central London Branch

  BPAS Chester Branch

  BPAS Coventry Branch

  BPAS Doncaster Branch

  BPAS Finsbury Park Branch

  BPAS High Wycombe Branch

  BPAS Leeds Branch

  BPAS Leigham Lodge, London

  BPAS Liverpool Branch

  BPAS Luton Branch

  BPAS Manchester Branch

  BPAS Milton Keynes Branch

  BPAS Newcastle Branch

  BPAS Peterborough Branch

  BPAS Preston Branch

  BPAS Richmond Branch

  BPAS Sheffield Branch

  BPAS Swindon Branch

  BPAS Telford Branch

  BPAS Torquay Branch

  Choice Pregnancy Advisory Service, Bolton

  Choice Pregnancy Advisory Service, Warrington

  East Midlands Pregnancy Advisory Service, Nottingham

  Marie Stopes Basildon Centre

  Marie Stopes Bolton Centre

  Marie Stopes Bradford Centre

  Marie Stopes Brighton Centre

  Marie Stopes Bristol Centre

  Marie Stopes Canterbury Centre

  Marie Stopes Chatham Centre

  Marie Stopes Colchester Centre

  Marie Stopes Crawley Centre

  Marie Stopes Darlington Centre

  Marie Stopes Ealing Centre

  Marie Stopes Essex Centre

  Marie Stopes Golders Green Centre

  Marie Stopes House, London

  Marie Stopes Leeds Centre

  Marie Stopes Maidstone Centre

  Marie Stopes Manchester Centre

  Marie Stopes Milton Keynes Centre

  Marie Stopes Newcastle Centre

  Marie Stopes North London Centre

  Marie Stopes Reading Centre 1

  Marie Stopes Reading Centre 2

  Marie Stopes Sittingbourne Centre

  Marie Stopes South London Centre

  Marie Stopes Staines Centre

  Marie Stopes Tottenham Centre

  Marie Stopes Watford Centre

  Marie Stopes Woking Centre

  Pregnancy Advisory Service, Blackpool

  Pregnancy Advisory Service, Manchester

  226W

  Pregnancy Advisory Service, Stoke

  Pregnancy Advisory Service, Wolverhampton

  Regents Park Clinic, London

  South Manchester Pregnancy Advice Services, Stockport

  The Calthorpe Clinic, Birmingham.

  Bone Marrow Donors
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps have been taken to increase the proportion of bone marrow donors of Asian ethnic origin. [129268]

  Mr. Denham
  The National Blood Service recruits bone marrow donors from existing blood donors and ran a campaign last year to recruit more Asian blood donors. The NBS do not collect data on the ethnic origin of donors, but estimate that 2 per cent. of donors on the British Bone Marrow Donor Registry (which covers England, Scotland and Northern Ireland) are of ethnic origin compared with the United Kingdom ethnic minority population of roughly 7 per cent. Cord blood donation is an alternative to bone marrow donation in the treatment of some illnesses, and information from the NBS's cord blood donation programme indicates that over 40 per cent. of donations are from ethnic minority groups. I have asked the National Blood Service to explore what further steps can be taken to recruit more blood and bone marrow donors from the Asian community.

  Community Nurses
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the percentage change in the real value, adjusted for costs, of the mileage allowance awarded to community nurses since 1994; and what plans he has to grade the allowance. [129462]

  Mr. Denham
  Mileage allowances for staff on national contracts is determined by an agreement of the General Whitley Council. Rates have been set under an agreed formula linked to the Automobile Association schedule of motoring costs which has been reviewed annually by the Council. No increases have been made to these allowances since 1993.

  Increases in mileage allowances which take account of higher fuel costs were offered to Staff Side representatives on 17 July. Trade unions are now considering this offer.

  Hospital Waiting Times
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting times are for NHS(a) cancer treatments, (b) cardiology and (c) transplant therapy in (i) the UK, (ii) England and (iii) Devon. [129662]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 7 July 2000]: The information given relates to England only. Waiting time data for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are a matter for the individual Assemblies.

  Waiting times for cancer treatment are recorded under the relevant specialities and are not identifiable separately. Average waiting times for cardiology and first graft transplants are given in the tables.
  227W

  Average (median) waiting times for cardiology

  1999–2000/Quarter

  Months

  England

  1

  2.5

  2

  2.6

  3

  2.6

  4

  2.7

  South and West Devon

  1

  7.2

  2

  6.4

  3

  6.3

  4

  5.2

  North and East Devon

  1

  3.5

  2

  2.3

  3

  3.0

  4

  4.2

  Source:

  QF01 quarterly return (health authority based figures)

  Average (median) waiting times for first graft transplants since 1996—England

  Transplant

  Days

  Kidney1

  245

  Liver2

  46

  Heart

  81

  Lung

  179

  Heart/Lung

  200

  1 Kidney transplants since 1990

  2 Excludes "super urgent"

  Note:

  Figures for Devon are not provided as the local unit only deals with kidney cases

  Source:

  United Kingdom Transplant Support Service Authority

  Coronary Deaths
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health by how much deaths from heart disease and strokes have been reduced since May 1997; if Government targets for reducing the number of such deaths are being met in these areas; and if he will make a statement. [130384]

  Yvette Cooper
  Tackling heart disease and stroke is a top Government priority. Our target for reducing deaths in this area was set out in the White Paper "Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation" published in July 1999. It is to reduce the death rate from heart disease, stroke and related conditions in those aged under 75 years by at least two fifths (40 per cent.) by the year 2010, from a three-year average baseline at 1995/96/97.

  The target was set for the year 2010 because it will take time for interventions in this area to translate into outcomes in terms of mortality rates. Latest available data still pre-date the start of the "Our Healthier Nation" strategy, but show that the three-year average age standardised death rate from circulatory diseases in people aged under 75 fell from 139.6 per 100,000 population in 1995/96/97 to 133.8 per 100,000 population in 1996/97/98—a 4 per cent. fall.

  The downward trend in death rates and the Government's "Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation" strategy should be reinforced by the National Service Framework on Coronary Heart Disease. The Framework, which we published in March this year, sets out our plans
  228W
  for the development of services for the prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease over the next ten years. It will be a key strand in our strategy to reduce both mortality and morbidity from heart disease.

  Cystic Fibrosis
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice his Department gives to doctors on the process of screening for cystic fibrosis. [130389]

  Mr. Denham
  The United Kingdom National Screening Committee (NSC) advises the Government on all aspects of screening policy. The NSC does not currently recommend antenatal screening for cystic fibrosis as there are too many gene mutations associated with early cystic fibrosis identification and too little information on their clinical severity to enable counsellors to facilitate informed choice. The UK National Screening Committee will review this approach in the light of any new evidence. As yet, there is insufficient evidence of benefit to recommend national neonatal screening. The NSC is considering how to make progress on this issue.

  Prostate Cancer
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on health campaigns aimed at promoting greater awareness of prostate cancer in each of the past 10 years. [130387]

  Yvette Cooper
  It is not possible to provide information in the form requested. A number of campaigns have covered both prostate cancer awareness and other issues and the sums spent on prostate cancer cannot be disaggregated from the total.

  The Department provides information for the public, in leaflets and through health education campaigns. These encourage people to report to their general practitioner or other health professional any persistent or unusual symptoms which may indicate cancer or other disease.

  We encourage early detection of prostate cancer and have announced that, by December 2000, all urgent general practitioner referrals of suspected cases should be seen by a consultant within two weeks of referral.

  Little research has been carried out worldwide into prevention of prostate cancer and detection. In June, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced an extra £1 million to fund two new research projects. The first of these will be examining the acceptability of the treatment and diagnosis options to men who are randomly offered testing. The second project is looking at innovative new detection and treatment techniques.

  We have also invested £200,000 from the Public Health Development Fund to develop, pilot and evaluate an education programme on prostate cancer especially the risks associated with screening and testing. This money will also go towards developing other materials aimed at changing attitudes among men to facilitate early detection and prevention of cancer.

  We are in the early stages of developing a prostate cancer action plan which we will consult on. The plan will set out the current position on research, diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer and will propose recommendations for future action.

  Respiratory Diseases
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to produce a national service framework for lung and respiratory diseases. [130729]

  Mr. Denham
  We are taking forward the National Service Framework (NSF) programme with the development of one new NSF per year. We will consider the proposed service area or care group for the next NSF against the criteria set out in "A First Class Service", as well as the priorities and targets identified in the National Plan.

  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will exempt patients suffering from respiratory diseases from charges for on-going prescriptions for inhalers, steroids and water tablets. [130730]

  Ms Stuart
  We reviewed the prescription charging arrangements as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review and concluded that the present arrangements should remain for the rest of this Parliament.

  HIV
  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the proportion of the total number of HIV transmissions which occurred in the UK through sex between men in the last 12 months. [130474]

  Yvette Cooper
  Figures are not yet available for the whole of the last 12 months. 42 per cent. of HIV infections diagnosed in the United Kingdom in 1999 and reported to the end of March 2000 were probably acquired through sex between men. When diagnoses of infections probably acquired abroad are excluded, the estimated proportion of infections occurring in the UK through sex between men rises to approximately 70 per cent.

  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of HIV prevention budgets(a) spent by his Department and (b) spent through health authorities are targeted at men who have sex with men. [130473]

  Yvette Cooper
  In 1999–2000, of the £3 million allocated to national HIV health promotion and prevention, £1.1 million was spent on work targeting men who have sex with men. Health authorities received £53.4 million for local HIV prevention work, of which they were required to spend at least 50 per cent. on groups at increased risk of HIV, including men who have sex with men.

  Pharmacies
  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations his Department has received on the regulations governing the provision of pharmacies; and if he will make a statement. [130641]

  Ms Stuart
  The Department regularly receives representations and suggestions from individuals and organisations about the regulations which govern the provision of National Health Service pharmaceutical services.

  Asthma
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of the 230W
  Government's target of reducing admissions to hospitals of people suffering from asthma on the health of asthma sufferers; and if he will make a statement. [130480]

  Mr. Denham
  The total number of hospital admissions where asthma was the cause has declined over the last seven years. In 1993–94 a total of 92,820 episodes were recorded for asthma, compared with 69,824 admissions in 1998–99. This reduction has taken place during a period when the total number of emergency admissions for other conditions has continued to increase.

  Health Care (Suffolk)
  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the surplus or deficit in the(a) Suffolk health authority and (b) West Suffolk NHS Trust for health care in each of the financial years (i) 1997–98, (ii) 1998–99 and (iii) 1999–2000. [130742]

  Mr. Denham
  The surplus and deficit positions for Suffolk health authority and West Suffolk Hospitals National Health Service Trust are shown in the table.

  £

  Financial year

  Suffolk health authority

  West Suffolk Hospitals National Health Service Trust

  1997–98

  178,000 (deficit)

  32,000 (deficit)

  1998–99

  964,000 (deficit)

  28,000 (surplus)

  1999–2000

  Information will be available when the audited annual accounts are received in the autumn

  Sources

  Suffolk Health Authority Accounts 1997–98 and 1998–99

  West Suffolk Hospitals National Health Service trust summarisation schedules 1997–98 and 1998–99

  Clozapine
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which district health authorities prescribe clozapine for schizophrenia; and how many schizophrenics receive the drug, broken down by health authority, in the United Kingdom. [130944]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 17 July 2000]: The list shows the health authorities in England where clozapine was prescribed by general practitioners and dispensed in the community in 1999. We do not hold equivalent information for hospitals.

  The number of schizophrenic patients receiving clozapine is not available.

  Health authorities in England where clozapine was prescribed by general practitioners and dispensed in the community in 1999

  Avon

  Barking and Havering

  Barnet

  Bedfordshire

  Berkshire

  Bexley and Greenwich

  Birmingham

  Bradford

  Brent and Harrow

  Bromley

  Buckinghamshire

  Bury and Rochdale

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  231W

  Cambridgeshire

  Camden and Islington

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  County Durham and Darlington

  Coventry

  Croydon

  Dorset

  East and North Hertfordshire

  East Kent

  East Lancashire

  East London and The City

  East Riding and Hull

  East Surrey

  East Sussex, Brighton and Hove

  Enfield and Haringey

  Herefordshire

  Hillingdon

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  Leeds

  Leicestershire

  Liverpool

  Manchester

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  Norfolk

  North and East Devon

  North and Mid Hampshire

  North Cheshire

  North Cumbria

  North Derbyshire

  North Essex

  North Nottinghamshire

  North Staffordshire

  North West Lancashire

  North Yorkshire

  Northamptonshire

  Nottingham

  Oxfordshire

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  Salford and Trafford

  Shropshire

  Somerset

  South and West Devon

  South Cheshire

  South Humber

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  Stockport

  Suffolk

  Walsall

  Warwickshire

  West Hertfordshire

  West Kent

  West Pennine

  West Surrey

  West Sussex

  Wiltshire

  Wirral

  Worcestershire.

  Newcastle Hospitals Trust
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has agreed to the release of conventionally financed capital expenditure to prepare the way for the Newcastle Hospitals Trust Private Finance Initiative scheme. [130829]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 17 July 2000]: The consultation draft of a business case relating to the enabling works was received by the National Health Service Executive on 3 July 2000 and is now under assessment alongside the business cases for the later private finance initiative schemes. The National Health Service Executive needs to undertake a full and proper review of the documents in accordance with established procedure to ensure that appropriate approval standards are met. I cannot of course pre-determine the outcome of that review.

  The National Health Service Executive has consistently reported its strong support for this scheme, most notably during the approval of the original strategic outline case during 1998, and when the strategic outline case needed approval reconfirmed in 1999 following the increase in the capital cost of the scheme. The National Health Service Executive is well aware of the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals National Health Service Trust's recommendation publicly to fund elements of this scheme, and its justification for that approach. However, final confirmation of public funding will be determined following the assessment of the business cases, and taking into consideration the relative priority of all bids upon the capital programme.

  The National Health Service Executive is in dialogue with the trust and the Newcastle and North Tyneside health authority on this scheme, and a great deal of work is being undertaken to bring this phase of the process to a conclusion as soon as possible.

  Allergies
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the average waiting time was for children requiring tests to determine whether they suffer from nut allergies in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement; [130999]

  (2) how many of those children tested for allergies, expressed in each case as a figure and a percentage of total tested, were referred by (a) GPs, (b) hospitals and (c) parents; and if he will make a statement; [130997]

  (3) how many children are waiting to be tested to determine whether they suffer from nut allergies; and if he will make a statement. [131000]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 17 July 2000]: Patients who are suspected of having a nut allergy are normally referred to a clinical immunology and allergy clinic. The outpatient waiting times data do not differentiate between reasons for referral nor between adults and children. During the year 1999–2000 there were 4,304 referrals from general practitioners and 965 from other sources. At the time of their first outpatient attendance 1,923 patients had waited less than 13 weeks; 1,069 patients waited between 13 and 25 weeks; and 508 patients waited more than 26 weeks.
  233W
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many children were diagnosed with(a) asthma, (b) nut allergies and (c) other allergies in (i) the UK, (ii) Teesside Region and (iii) the constituency of Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East in each year from 1990 to 2000; and if he will make a statement; [131008]

  (2) how many children were tested for allergies in (a) the UK, (b) Teesside Region and (c) the constituency of Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East in each year between 1990 to 2000; and if he will make a statement. [130998]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 17 July 2000]: Data are not collected centrally to show the number of people who are tested and diagnosed with an allergy. Patients with suspected allergies are often referred to clinical immunology and allergy outpatient clinics where they are tested for allergy. The figures indicate the number of patients attending a clinic in England for the first time.

  Year

  Number

  1992–93

  44

  1993–94

  1,486

  1994–95

  2,293

  1995–96

  1,379

  1996–97

  2,382

  1997–98

  3,355

  1998–99

  3,655

  Source

  DH form KHO9

  These figures do not show all allergy testing as some takes place in other specialities or in primary care. Age groups are not specified. Clinical Immunology and Allergy was only recognised as a medical speciality in June last year. Consequently, detailed statistical information for allergy is only now being collated and is not yet available.Key health statistics for general practice database published in 1996, demonstrated the incidence of diagnosed asthma in children aged 0–15 years per 10,000 population.

  Year

  Number

  1994

  1,010

  1995

  1,023

  1996

  1,012

  Coronary Bypasses
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many coronary bypass graft operations have been carried out on the National Health Service in each of the last five years. [130505]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 17 July 2000]: The numbers of coronary artery bypass graft operations carried out in National Health Service trusts in England for the past five years for which figures are available are as follows.
  234W

  Year

  Number

  1994–95

  22,433

  1995–96

  21,599

  1996–97

  21,462

  1997–98

  21,110

  1998–99

  22,494

  Last October, we announced an investment of £50 million, which will enable a further 3,000 bypass operations to be carried out by April 2002. In March this year we also published the National Service Framework for coronary heart disease, a 10-year plan for improving the prevention, treatment and diagnosis of heart disease.

  Hip Replacements
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many total hip replacements have been carried out on the National Health Service in each of the last five years; and how many of these were primary hip replacements. [130506]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 17 July 2000]: The information requested is in the table.

  Total hip replacement operations—finished consultant episodes (FCE)1 by selected operation in NHS hospitals, England, 1994–95 to 1998–99

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Primary operation

  36,506

  39,387

  34,256

  33,843

  37,189

  Revision operation

  3,330

  3,693

  3,691

  3,683

  4,013

  Total

  39,836

  43,080

  37,947

  37,526

  41,202

  1 An FCE is defined as a period of patient care under one consultant in one health care provider. The figures therefore represent the number of operations done rather than numbers treated.

  Source

  Hospital Episodes Statistics (HES)—Department of Health

  Training Places
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) training places available for physiotherapists and (b) applicants for places there were in each of the past 10 years. [130671]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 18 July 2000]: These data are not collected centrally.

  Data on the number of training places and the total number of applicants for places are matters for University and Colleges Admissions Service.

  The number of training places funded by the National Health Service through the Non-medical Education and Training (NMET) levy is set out in the table.

  Total NMET commissioned training places

  Year

  Physiotherapy

  1992–93

  830

  1993–94

  923

  1994–95

  915

  1995–96

  981

  1996–97

  1,093

  1997–98

  1,204

  1998–99

  1,344

  1999–2000

  1,586

  Notes:

  Data for 1998–99 and 1999–2000 are planned and may be subject to change.

  These data are for each year since 1992–93. Figures are not available for years preceding 1992–93.
  235W
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) training places available for occupational therapists and (b) applicants for places there were in each of the past 10 years. [130667]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 18 July 2000]: These data are not collected centrally.

  Data on the number of training places and the total number of applicants for places are a matter for the University and Colleges Admissions Service.

  The number of training places funded by the National Health Service through the Non-medical Education and Training (NMET) levy is set out in the table.

  Total NMET commissioned training places

  Year

  Occupational Therapy

  1992–93

  831

  1993–94

  806

  1994–95

  871

  1995–96

  939

  1996–97

  958

  1997–98

  1,107

  1998–99

  1,135

  1999–2000

  1,349

  National Health Service Hospital and Community Health Services: Qualified Chiropodists, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Speech and Language Therapists, in community trusts, and rate per 100,000 population in the North West region as at 30 September 1999

  Whole-time equivalents

  Occupational Therapists

  Physiotherapists

  Language Therapists

  Chiropodists

  All staff

  460

  330

  380

  340

  Rate1

  6.93

  5.03

  5.82

  5.15

  Bay Community NHS Trust

  40

  30

  30

  20

  Blackpool Wyre and Fylde Community Healthcare

  80

  40

  30

  30

  Cheshire Community Healthcare NHS Trust

  10

  30

  20

  20

  Chester and Halton Community NHS Trust

  20

  30

  30

  20

  Communicare NHS Trust

  20

  0

  30

  20

  Comm. Healthcare Bolton NHS Trust

  20

  20

  30

  30

  Guild Community Healthcare NHS Trust

  40

  20

  20

  10

  Mancunian Community Health NHS Trust

  40

  40

  60

  50

  North Mersey Community NHS Trust

  40

  10

  40

  30

  North Sefton and West Lancashire Community NHS Trust

  30

  20

  20

  20

  Salford Community Healthcare NHS Trust

  10

  20

  20

  20

  St. Helens and Knowsley Community NHS Trust

  0

  0

  20

  30

  Tameside and Glossop Community NHS Trust

  30

  20

  10

  20

  Warrington Community Healthcare NHS Trust

  30

  20

  20

  10

  Wirral and West Cheshire Community NHS Trust

  60

  40

  20

  20

  1 Number of qualified staff per 100,000 population based on 1999 projected figures

  Notes:

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10

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

  Sources:

  Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census

  Office for National Statistics (ONS)

  Family Planning
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the Family Planning Association regarding the contents of its information booklet on abortion; and if he will make a statement. [131354]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 18 July 2000]: The FPA (formerly the Family Planning Association) did not
  236W
  Notes:

  Data for 1998–99 and 1999–2000 are planned and may be subject to change.

  These data are for each year since 1992–93. Figures are not available for years preceding 1992093.

  Section 64 Grants
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list, for each year since 1991, those health authorities that have underwritten liabilities stemming from contracts entered into by another party in receipt of a section 64 grant, indicating in each case the total cost to the NHS. [130511]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 18 July 2000]: The information requested is not available centrally.

  Staffing Levels
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many whole-time equivalent staff per head of the population in each of the categories(a) Occupational Therapists, (h) Physiotherapists, (c) Speech and Language Therapists and (d) Chiropodists and Podiatrists there were in each community trust in the North West region. [130666]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 18 July 2000]: The available information is in the table.

  discuss with the Department the contents of their booklet "Abortion—Just so you know". The FPA invited the Department's comments on the final draft to ensure that legal and medical information was accurate.

  The booklet should help young people to have a better understanding of abortion. However, any young woman facing an unwanted pregnancy should seek advice from her general practitioner or family planning clinic, in order to explore all options available to her.

  Severalls Hospital
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the sale of the former Severalls Hospital at Colchester to be completed. [131115]

  Mr. Denham
  The Severalls Hospital site is not currently being marketed. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is currently seeking planning consent for the site, which is dependent on adjoining land and road access to be discussed with Colchester borough council. Subject to this, it is anticipated that the Severalls Hospital site will be put on the market between autumn 2001 and spring 2002.

  Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the ALAMA guidelines for Occupational Medicine of 1996 regarding ill-health retirement for people suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome; and if he will make a statement. [124472]

  Yvette Cooper
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health does not have the power to review the "Ill Health Retirement Guidelines for Occupational Physicians". The guidelines were produced by a working party of the Association of Local Authority Medical Advisers (ALAMA) to help doctors arrive at equitable decisions when assessing applications for ill health retirement.

  Diabetes
  Mr. Singh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for increasing diabetes risk awareness among the Asian and African-Caribbean population. [125956]

  Yvette Cooper
  We recognise the importance of raising awareness about the risk factors and symptoms of diabetes among both the public and health care professionals, including the Asian and African-Caribbean populations. We announced last year the development of a National Service Framework (NSF) for diabetes in England, to be published in 2001. The aims of the diabetes NSF are to improve health outcomes for people with diabetes by raising the quality of services and reducing variations between them. The scope of the NSF is broad and covers prevention, identification and management of diabetes and its complications, including rehabilitation and continuing care. The diabetes NSF will pay particular heed to the needs of those who are disproportionately affected by diabetes, such as people from minority ethnic groups.

  Cancer Treatment Centres
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the cancer treatment centres available in NHS hospitals in the Greater London area. [127157]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Calman/Hine Report, "A Policy Framework for Commissioning Cancer Services", recommended that networks of care should be developed encompassing primary care, cancer units and cancer centres. The Report provided a broad service model framework for the development of cancer units and cancer centres, but did not set national standards. The first stage of Calman/Hine has reflected early implementation of the Cal man/Hine recommendations, reflected the different 238W
  starting points across the county, and allowed an evaluation of services by health authorities and regional offices, based on general Calman/Hine principles, to fit local needs.

  The London Regional Office has identified five cancer networks in London and the Cancer centres in each network as follows:

  South East London
  Joint Cancer Centre: Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospital NHS Trust
  King's Healthcare NHS Trust (known as GKT)

  South West London
  Joint Cancer Centre: Royal Marsden NHS Trust (Sutton/Fulham)
  St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust

  North West London
  Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust
  (Charing Cross and Hammersmith sites)

  North Central London
  Joint Cancer Centre: University College London Hospitals NHS Trust
  Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust
  Linked with North Middlesex Hospital NHS Trust as a radiotherapy provider

  North East London
  Joint Cancer Centre: St. Bartholomew's and The London NHS Trust
  Havering Hospitals NHS Trust (Oldchurch).

  In addition, the cancer centre at West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, located in the Eastern Region provides cancer centre services to some of the population of the London Region especially Hillingdon Health Authority, Brent and Harrow Health Authority and Barnet Health Authority.

  Health and Social Care (Rural Areas)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to address health and social care problems of rural areas in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [127299]

  Mr. Denham
  The National Plan for the National Health Service, due to be published later this month, will address the issue of how to improve partnership between health and social care throughout the country. Our plans to improve services across the board in rural areas will be addressed in the forthcoming Rural White Paper.

  Children's Services
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of local councils' plans to improve children's services; and if he will make a statement. [131790]

  Mr. Hutton
  I have today placed in the Library a copy of the report "Tracking Progress in Children's Services: An Evaluation of Local Responses to the Quality Protects Programme Year 2".

  When we launched the Quality Protects programme in September 1998, we required local authorities to submit annual Management Action Plans to show how they were intending to improve the management and delivery of children's social services. This report presents the key

  239W
  messages and findings from the second round of Management Actions Plans (MAPs) which were received in January 2000.

  Councils have made a good start over the past year in implementing the Quality Protects programme. For example we have seen:
  more corporate working across councils and more partnership working with voluntary organisations
  an increase in the proportion of children looked after in foster care or placed for adoption
  a reduction in re-registrations on the child protection register
  more support being given to care leavers
  an increase in education support being given to looked after children
  more councils listening to children and young people in their care
  improvements in the collecting and using of management information.

  But if there are to be real and lasting gains for children, these early improvements must be built on and further substantial progress made in 2000–01. The Government's determination to support this change is demonstrated by the significant increase in special grant available for funding this year (from £75 million to £120 million). We will expect progress in 2000–01 to be commensurate with this increase in funding.

  Ambulance Services
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in the consultation on the delivery of modern ambulance services in the South East Region of the NHS, what

  Health action zone funding: 1998–99 to 2000–01

  £000

  HAZ

  1998–99

  1999–00

  2000–01

  Total

  1st wave

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  1,206

  6,137

  7,415

  14,758

  East London

  777

  5,535

  6,339

  12,661

  Plymouth

  410

  2,043

  2,258

  4,711

  Luton

  309

  1,300

  2,622

  3,871

  Sandwell

  501

  2,302

  2,794

  5,597

  South Yorkshire Coalfields

  820

  5,539

  6,484

  12,843

  Manchester, Salford and Trafford

  992

  7,050

  8,496

  16,538

  Bradford

  502

  3,822

  4,705

  9,029

  Tyne and Wear

  906

  8,709

  9,815

  19,500

  Northumberland

  292

  2,395

  2,773

  5,460

  North Cumbria

  447

  2,298

  2,515

  5,260

  1st wave total

  7,162

  47,141

  55,856

  110,228

  2nd Wave

  Tees

  20

  3,232

  5,381

  8,633

  Wakefield

  20

  1,666

  2,620

  4.306

  Leeds

  20

  3,610

  5,863

  9,492

  Hull and East Riding

  20

  2,824

  4,727

  7,571

  Merseyside

  20

  7,445

  12,246

  19,711

  Bury and Rochdale

  20

  2,004

  3,263

  5,287

  Nottingham

  20

  3,105

  5,047

  8,172

  Sheffield

  20

  2,923

  4,599

  7,542

  Leicester City

  20

  1,502

  2,510

  4,032

  Wolverhampton

  20

  1,388

  2,320

  3,728

  Walsall

  20

  1,376

  2,345

  5,741

  North Staffordshire

  20

  2,056

  3,189

  5,265

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  20

  2,288

  3,641

  5,949

  Camden and Islington

  20

  2,372

  3,734

  6,126

  Brent

  20

  1,294

  1,996

  3,310

  2nd wave total

  300

  39,085

  63,480

  101,064

  Central and other innovations

  364

  1,700

  1,517

  3,581

  Total

  7,826

  87,926

  120,853

  216,673

  240W
  assessment he has made of the cost to fundholders of reorganisation (a) in total and (b) for each of the eight ambulance service trusts; what provision he has made to meet these costs through additional funding; when the allocations made to these trusts to help reach new standards will be dispensed to them in full from the £21 million allocated for this purpose by his Department; what measures he is proposing to ensure that adequate resources are safeguarded for rural services; and if he will make a statement. [131215]

  Ms Stuart
  We have invested an extra £21 million to help ambulance services speed up response times. Of this, the South East Region received a total of £4.2 million.

  All eight ambulance services in the south east have developed and agreed a vision to ensure that the region's population have speedy access to high quality, modern and dependable ambulance services which are integrated with care provided by local National Health Service partners and other agencies.

  Further work is currently being undertaken before final proposals are subject to full public consultation.

  Health Action Zones
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the budget allocation for each health action zone in each year since their introduction and for next year. [130512]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information requested for 1998–99 to 2000–01 is given in the table. Decisions on funding for 2001–02 have not yet been made.
  241W
  Notes:

  HAZ funding comes from a number of sources:

  1. The HAZ central budget comprising three elements:
  programme funding for joint projects with other agencies (1998–99 to 2000–01);
  innovations funding (1999–2000 and 2000–01);
  central and other innovations (1998–99 to 2000–01).
  In 1998–99 a small part of the purchaser development budget was used to provide some start up costs for HAZs;

  2. Funding for smoking cessation for 1999–2000 and 2000–01.

  3. Funding for drugs prevention services in 1998–99 and 1999–2000. In 1998–99 and 1999–2000 1st wave HAZs received the allocation and in 2000–01 2nd wave HAZs receive the money.

  4. Targeted funds for deprived areas. This is allocated to health authorities which include HAZs within their boundaries.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Postal Service (Benefits)
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many claims process errors have been identified by local authorities using the "do not re-direct" postal service for benefit-related envelopes; [131355]

  (2) how many local authorities using the "do not re-direct" postal service for benefit-related envelopes have received (a) no returned mail and (b) returned mail, indicating the volume returned in each case; [131386]

  (3) how many cases of benefit fraud have been discovered by local authorities as a result of the "do not re-direct" postal service for benefit-related envelopes. [131356]

  Angela Eagle
  The information requested is not available. However, from 2000–01, local authorities are asked to provide details of the number of cases where fraud has been established as a result of using the "do not re-direct" service.

  The recent Local Authority Omnibus Survey, published in April 2000, showed that of those authorities surveyed and operating "do not re-direct", around three-quarters said that it had enhanced their ability to protect the system against fraud, and more than half believed that it led to the identification of fraudulent activity. The deterrent effect of the scheme is less easy to quantify.

  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which local authorities have yet to implement fully the "do not re-direct" postal service for benefit-related envelopes; and what reasons they have given for the delays. [131357]

  Angela Eagle
  According to information we have received from the Royal Mail, there are currently 57 local authorities who have not joined the "do not re-direct" postal service.

  The following list shows the authorities that have not joined, or contacted their local Royal Mail sales centre to join, the scheme to date. The Royal Mail, in turn, depends on their local sales centres to keep them informed as authorities join up.
  242W
  Some of these authorities have in place arrangements with their local sorting office which fall outside of the national scheme. Others are proposing to join.

  Argyll and Bute

  Blaenau Gwent

  Bolsover

  Bromley

  Broxbourne

  Caradon

  Charnwood

  Chelmsford

  Dartford

  Daventry

  Derby

  Dumfries and Galloway

  East Ayrshire

  East Dorset

  East Dunbartonshire

  East Hertfordshire

  Easington

  Ellesmere Port and Neston

  Enfield

  Exeter

  Falkirk

  Fenland

  Flintshire

  Gateshead

  Great Yarmouth

  Harborough

  Inverclyde

  Isles of Scilly

  Kettering

  Maidstone

  Malvern

  Mid Devon

  Mid Suffolk

  Milton Keynes

  North Norfolk

  North Somerset

  North Warwickshire

  Newport

  Norwich

  North West Leicestershire

  Perth and Kinross

  South Gloucestershire

  South Holland

  South Kesteven

  Scottish Homes

  Southwark

  Sutton

  Swindon

  Torfaen

  West Dorset

  West Dunbartonshire

  West Somerset

  Wandsworth

  Wansbeck

  Watford

  Westem Isles

  Weymouth and Portland.

  NIRS2
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners from Dorset are suffering a loss of income as a result of the NIRS2 computer problems. [130835]

  Mr. Rooker
  It is not possible to give an accurate answer to this question. I can, however, confirm that the maximum number of pensioners in Dorset whose Retirement Pension will be subject to review is 1,041. We expect to make benefit adjustments to around 600 of these cases. We expect to complete work on these cases by October 2000.

  Lone Parents
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have moved to sustained unsubsidised employment from the New Deal for Lone Parents; and what percentage he estimates would have found employment without the New Deal for Lone Parents. [130682]

  Angela Eagle
  Up to the end of April, 54,241 lone parents had obtained jobs following participation in the New Deal for Lone Parents programme. All NDLP jobs are unsubsidised.

  The evaluation of the programme's prototype phase, which ran from July 1997 to October 1998, estimates how many jobs gained were additional to those that would have occurred without the programme. Copies of the evaluation reports are available in the Library. This estimated that NDLP virtually paid for itself.

  Comprehensive evaluation of the national phase of the NDLP programme is being conducted and will report in 2002.

  Pensioner Benefits
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the administration cost of processing applications for(a) winter fuel allowance and (b) concessionary television licences in the (i) last and (ii) current financial year. [130434]

  Angela Eagle
  In the last financial year (1999–2000), Winter Fuel Payments accounted for around 0.35 per cent. of the total departmental running costs. There were no costs paid in respect of concessionary TV licences for people over 75.

  In the current financial year, administering these two important initiatives to improve the income of older people will account for around 1.7 per cent. of the total departmental running costs (0.93 per cent. in respect of the Winter Fuel Payment scheme and 0.75 per cent. for the concessionary television licence scheme).

  Notes:

  Winter Fuel Payments
  For 1999–2000 (as well as the first two years of the scheme) two of the main conditions of entitlement to Winter Fuel Payments were both age and receipt of a qualifying benefit; those who were entitled were identified through the relevant computer benefit systems and paid automatically. Following a ruling by the European Court of Justice in December 1999, the Winter Fuel Payment scheme was extended to men as well as women from age 60 from the beginning of the scheme (1997–98). The majority of people who are now eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment because of the changes to the scheme are not receiving a Social Security benefit and will have to make a claim.
  The current year's estimates include the one-off costs of developing a claims process and IT systems to enable the correct amount of payment made to the right person for both future and past winters, as well as the continuation of the automatic payment process.

  Concessionary TV licences
  The concessionary television licence scheme for over 75s was announced in this year's Budget and will take effect from 1 November 2000. Estimated set-up costs are included in the costs for this financial year.

UNHCR: Administrative Expenditure
  UNHCR: Administrative Expenditure
  UNHCR: Administrative Expenditure
Sudan
  Sudan
  Sudan
Mr Mohamed Omer Haji
  Mr Mohamed Omer Haji
  Mr Mohamed Omer Haji
Belize: Border Dispute
  Belize: Border Dispute
  Belize: Border Dispute
Afghanistan: Export of Demining Equipment
  Afghanistan: Export of Demining Equipment
  Afghanistan: Export of Demining Equipment
British Indian Ocean Territory
  British Indian Ocean Territory
  British Indian Ocean Territory
Merrywood School, Bristol
  Merrywood School, Bristol
  Merrywood School, Bristol
Non-food Crops: Consultation
  Non-food Crops: Consultation
  Non-food Crops: Consultation
Pesticides Safety Directorate: Annual Report
  Pesticides Safety Directorate: Annual Report
  Pesticides Safety Directorate: Annual Report
Defence Evaluation and Research Agency: Key Targets
  Defence Evaluation and Research Agency: Key Targets
  Defence Evaluation and Research Agency: Key Targets
Armed Forces: Manpower Figures
  Armed Forces: Manpower Figures
  Armed Forces: Manpower Figures
Millennium Dome: Mr Ben Evans
  Millennium Dome: Mr Ben Evans
  Millennium Dome: Mr Ben Evans
NMEC: Replacement of Chairman
  NMEC: Replacement of Chairman
  NMEC: Replacement of Chairman
NMEC: Weekly Trading Performance Reports
  NMEC: Weekly Trading Performance Reports
  NMEC: Weekly Trading Performance Reports
Smoking in Government Buildings
  Smoking in Government Buildings
  Smoking in Government Buildings
Special Advisers
  Special Advisers
  Special Advisers
Departmental Publications: Grammar and Punctuation
  Departmental Publications: Grammar and Punctuation
  Departmental Publications: Grammar and Punctuation
Finance Bill: Human Rights Act 1998 Compatibility
  Finance Bill: Human Rights Act 1998 Compatibility
  Finance Bill: Human Rights Act 1998 Compatibility
Countryside Agency
  Countryside Agency
  Countryside Agency
Wind Farms: Bird Deaths
  Wind Farms: Bird Deaths
  Wind Farms: Bird Deaths