Written Answers of 21 July 2000

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many of the written parliamentary questions tabled to his Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April have not received substantive answers, excluding those not answered citing disproportionate cost, stating that the information is(a) not available, (b) not held centrally, (c) not held in the form requested and (d) citing commercial or other confidentiality. [131234]

  Mr. Wills
  [holding answer 20 July 2000]: Of replies to parliamentary questions tabled to the Department during the period citing commercial or other confidentiality, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 29 June 2000, Official Report, column 575W.

  In addition, five replies stated that the information was not available, 27 replies stated that information was not held centrally and 20 replies stated that the information was not held in the form requested.

  Holiday Absences
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what discussions he has had with travel companies about the differential costs of holidays that encourage holiday absences in schools. [131468]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 20 July 2000]: We are engaged in on-going discussions with the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) to see what we can do together to reduce the number of family holidays taken during term time.

  As a result of earlier discussions, ABTA wrote to all its members on 15 December 1999, asking them to remind parents of the implications of taking holidays in term time. ABTA members were also requested to remind parents of the importance of discussing their plans with the school before making any firm commitment.

  Our recent guidance to all schools, "Social Inclusion: Pupil Support" underlines this approach. The guidance makes clear that while parents should not normally take children out of school for holidays, each request for absence should be considered individually, taking into account factors such as the time of the year proposed for the holiday and the overall attendance pattern of the pupil.

  We will continue to talk to ABTA about the issue of family holidays during school term time, and to get the message across to parents that they must consider the impact of absence from school during term time on children's education.

  Public-Private Partnership Initiatives
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what money has been provided for Public-Private Partnership initiatives to all South West local education authorities in each of the last two years. [131581]

  Jacqui Smith
  In 1998–99, local education authorities in the South West bid successfully for a total of £4.12 million New Deal for Schools funding to support Public-Private Partnerships. In 1999–2000, South West local education authorities received £3.28 million from the same source for Public-Private Partnerships, plus £14.2 million in PFI credits for a schools Private Finance Initiative scheme.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list those schools that have received money for Public-Private Partnership initiatives in each of the last two years. [131606]

  Jacqui Smith
  120 and twenty schools in 1998–99, and 230 schools in 1999–2000, are benefiting from projects supported by the Private Finance Initiative. In addition, we are supporting a number of Public-Private Partnership schemes through the New Deal for Schools, in which the following schools are benefiting:

  1998–99

  Canterbury High School

  Foxton Primary School, Cambridgeshire

  Hartsbourne JMI School, Hertfordshire

  Homelands Primary School, Torquay

  Weald of Kent Girl's Grammar School

  Westlands Bilateral School, Torquay

  1999–2000

  Brays Grove School, Harlow

  Collegiate High School, Blackpool

  Cooper Perry Primary School, Staffordshire

  Culloden Primary School, Tower Hamlets

  Downview Primary School, West Sussex

  East Wittering Primary School, West Sussex

  Ferndown School, Dorset

  Highweek Primary School, Newton Abbot

  Hreod Parkway Schools, Swindon

  Littlehampton Community School

  Mark Hall School, Harlow

  Passmores School, Harlow

  Sir Graham Balfour Secondary School, Staffordshire

  Stewards School, Harlow

  Whitehall Junior School, Hillingdon

  William Beaumont High School, Warrington.

  Teachers' PRP
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will set out the terms of contract for external assessors under the teachers' performance-related pay scheme, with particular reference to the length of term of such contracts; and what additional costs will be incurred as a result of the High Court judgment of 14 July. [131752]
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  Ms Estelle Morris
  Cambridge Education Associates (CEA) have been contracted by DfEE to recruit, deploy and quality assure external assessors. In turn CEA contract with individuals to work as threshold assessors. The terms of this contract are a matter between the individual and CEA. The length of the contract depends on the individual assessor's availability to work for CEA. It is not yet clear what, if any, additional costs will be incurred as a result of the High Court Judgment of the 14 July.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the costs which will be incurred if the School Teachers' Pay Review Body recommends changes to the standards set for teachers to meet the threshold requirements under performance-related pay and all applications have to be re-submitted. [131753]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Department has asked the School Teacher Review Body to start the process of consulting formally on the threshold standards. At this time it is not possible to say whether the Review Body will recommend any changes. Therefore the Department cannot estimate the costs that will be incurred at this stage.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what advice he received prior to the recent court ruling on teachers' performance-related pay concerning how the(a) determination and (b) imposition of threshold standards under the teachers' performance-related pay scheme should be dealt with, with particular reference to his statutory powers. [131974]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  My right hon. Friend receives advice as appropriate before he takes decisions.

  Sheffield Education Action Zone
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will publish the HMI report on the Sheffield Education Action Zone. [131754]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Ofsted intends to publish reports on those Education Action Zones which are formally inspected. A report on the Education Action Zones in Sheffield will be published if these zones are selected for inspection.

  Employment Service
  Ms Ryan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what customer service level for employers target will be set for the Employment Service in 2000–01. [132477]

  Mr. Blunkett
  In a first for executive agencies, I have set the Employment Service a customer service target for employers. ES is committed to working closely with employers to help them to fill their vacancies and in doing so encourage them to open up more opportunities to disadvantaged jobseekers. The setting of such a target reinforces the ES's commitment to achieving the highest standards of customer service. In addition to the challenging goals that I have already announced, the setting of a stretching but realistic target level for employer service will help the ES to achieve the high level of performance that I expect of it in 2000–01.
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  I am today announcing the target level that I have set the Employment Service for 2000–01 which relates to customer service for employers.

  The new target is contained in Objective C of the annual performance agreement text which follows.

  PA Text

  Vision and Purpose
  "The Employment Service aims to make a major contributions to an efficient and flexible labour market and to the Government's objectives of high and stable employment and growth, equality of opportunity and social inclusion. ES works closely with employers and with its private, voluntary and public sector partners to provide a quality service for all people without a job and to promote employment opportunities for all who can work. It aims to attract a diverse range of vacancies and to fill those vacancies quickly by matching the right people and skills with the right jobs. Its chief priority is to help individuals facing particular difficulty in the labour market to move from welfare and economic inactivity into sustainable employment. It does this through correct application of the JSA regime, delivery of the New Deals and the pilot ONE service, and provision of appropriate information, advice, training and support. The Agency has achieved much over the past three years. The challenge and opportunity now facing it is to sustain continuous improvement in its services to jobseekers and employers and to make those services more accessible and relevant to customer needs, through effective use of modern technology and close working with a wide range of partners".

  Aim
  To help people without jobs to find work and employers to fill their vacancies.

  Objective A
  To help all people without jobs, and particularly those on welfare and at a disadvantage in the labour market, to find and keep work by providing appropriate information, advice, training and support and by encouraging employers to open more opportunities to them.

  Targets

  1. To help 178,000 participants in the New Deals and all Employment Zones into work, directly or in partnership with others.

  2. To help 100,000 people with disabilities into work, directly or in partnership with others.

  3. To help 295,000 disadvantaged jobseekers into work, directly or in partnership with others.

  4. To help 735,000 people from welfare into work, directly or in partnership with others.

  5. To help 1,325,000 jobless people into work, directly or in partnership with others.

  Objective B
  To ensure that the rights and relevant labour market responsibilities of people on JSA and other benefits are fulfilled, while helping to combat fraud and abuse of the benefit system.

  Target
  To ensure that the relevant labour market responsibilities of people on JSA are fulfilled in 90 per cent. of cases checked.

  Objective C
  To harness new technology, the pursuit of excellence and continuous improvement to deliver effective, efficient and accessible services to all people without jobs and to employers in Jobcentres and, increasingly through other locations and means of communication.

  Targets

  1. To achieve a 90 per cent. customer service level for jobseekers.

  2. To achieve an 80 per cent. customer service level for employers.

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  Milestone Targets

  1. To introduce the Learning and Work Bank, new Labour Market System, touch-screen kiosks and a single national telephone number for employers by March 2001.

  2. To achieve a successful transfer of Work Based Learning for Adults to ES in England by April 2001.

  Objective D
  To deliver services to all ES customers in a way which respects individual differences, helps to overcome disadvantages due to ethnicity, gender, age or disability and achieves the best possible outcome for each of them.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  South and West Asia Drought
  Ms Kingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the humanitarian impact is of the drought affecting south and west Asia; and how the Government are responding. [132627]

  Clare Short
  The drought is part of a regional system affecting a belt of countries across west and south Asia. Its effect on the population is particularly acute in southern Afghanistan, western India, southern and central Pakistan, and to a lesser extent parts of Iran and Iraq. Water shortages have been exacerbated in many areas by poor management of limited sources. The principal effects of the drought include reduced crop production, sharp drops in household income, death of livestock and weakening of remaining herds, and health problems associated with reduced food intake and scarcity of water.

  We have committed over £3.2 million for relief projects in response to the drought regionally. This support has been channelled through the World Food Programme for food distribution and food for work programmes; and through NGOs for schemes that target the more remote and vulnerable communities unlikely to be benefiting from Government schemes. We have also seconded a five-person team of specialists to support the UN in their assessment of the drought in Pakistan. We are monitoring the situation carefully and currently considering what further assistance to provide.

  Zimbabwe
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what reports she has received of delays in the payment of pensions to former civil servants in Zimbabwe; if she will make representations to the Government of Zimbabwe calling for the timely payment of such pensions; and if she will make a statement. [131971]

  Mr. Hain
  I have been asked to reply.

  We are well aware of the delays in the payment of pensions by the Zimbabwe Government. We believe that the main cause for this has been a lack of foreign exchange. The British High Commission in Harare has lobbied the Pensions Department and the Reserve Bank. We will continue to press for timely payment.

DEFENCE

  Combat Gloves
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what complaints have been made by the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency to Feuchter in relation to the fitness for purpose of the Mark II combat gloves they have delivered; [129727]

  (2) what experience Feuchter had in the manufacture of gloves prior to being awarded the contract for manufacture of the Mark II combat glove in 1998; [129726]

  (3) how many Mark III combat gloves were manufactured in the UK by Feuchter; and how many Mark II combat gloves manufactured (a) by Feuchter and (b) by other companies have been (i) held to be unusable and (ii) rejected as unfit for their purpose; [129728]

  (4) how many gloves were manufactured by Zova before expert glove cutting training was given to its staff; [129730]

  (5) pursuant to his answer of 19 June 2000, Official Report, column 30W, on visits to Zova, what capabilities for glove making, as distinct from other leather working, this company demonstrated. [129729]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 7 July 2000]: The pre-production sample of Mark II Combat Gloves provided by Feuchter was found to be unacceptable. Feuchter took the necessary action to improve their production process and, as a result, all gloves subsequently delivered under the terms of the contract proved to be acceptable. No gloves manufactured by Feuchter were therefore formally rejected under the terms of the contract. Following inspection by DCTA staff, a total of 3,260 pairs of Mark II Combat Gloves manufactured by other companies were, however, rejected as being unfit for purpose.

  Feuchter held five other DCTA contracts for the manufacture of mittens (extreme cold weather—inners, outers and liners), prior to the award of the contact for the manufacture of Mark II Combat Gloves in 1998. For the duration of the contract for the manufacture of the Mark II Combat Gloves, Feuchter sub-contracted the manufacturing operation to Zova in Poland; no gloves were manufactured in the UK by Feuchter. During their visits to view the manufacturing operation, DCTA staff were satisfied that Zova possessed the necessary capabilities for the manufacture of leather gloves, although a requirement for some additional training on the table cutting operation was identified. Some 47,000 pairs of gloves had been manufactured by Zova before this additional training was provided. No other leather working was being undertaken at the time of the visits, as Zova's manufacturing capacity was fully committed to fulfilling DCTA contracts.

  Army (Clothing Orders)
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his oral answer of 3 July 2000,Official Report, column 11, concerning the proportion of

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  the Army's clothing orders which go to British firms, what percentage of these orders was made up by clothing manufactured in the United Kingdom. [130441]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 13 July 2000]: The Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency (DCTA) procures clothing for all three Armed Services, with many items common to all three. To separate the cost of clothing destined specifically for the Army could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, during the financial year 1999–2000, of the 83 per cent. of clothing contracts placed by the DCTA with British-based companies, and referred to in my answer of 3 July 2000, Official Report, column 11, 48.9 per cent. by value will be manufactured in the United Kingdom.

  Signed deals (up to 10 July 2000)

  Start date

  Value (£ million)

  Clawback

  Support vehicles for the RAF

  February 1996

  35

  No

  Support vehicles in Germany

  February 1996

  52

  No

  Logistics Information Systems Army

  March 1996

  30

  No

  Provision of storage facilities

  April 1996

  30

  No

  TAFMIS (Army Training Management IS)

  August 1996

  14

  No

  Materials Handling Services

  September 1996

  8

  No

  Defence Helicopter Flying School

  November 1996

  118

  No

  Hazardous Stores Information Systems

  February 1997

  1

  No

  Armymail

  April 1997

  11

  No

  Defence Fixed Telecommunications Service

  July 1997

  70

  No

  Medium Support Helicopter Training Facility

  October 1997

  100

  Yes

  Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency IT Systems

  November 1997

  150

  No

  Hawk Aircraft Simulator Training Facility

  December 1997

  10

  Yes

  Tidworth Garrison Water and Sewerage

  February 1998

  6

  No

  Joint Services Command and Staff College

  June 1998

  68

  No

  RAF Lossiemouth Family Quarters

  June 1998

  24

  No

  Attack Helicopter Training Service

  July 1998

  165

  Yes

  Yeovilton Family Quarters

  July 1998

  8

  No

  RAF Lyneham Sewage Treatment

  August 1998

  5

  No

  RAF Mail

  November 1998

  12

  No

  Fylingdales Power Supply

  December 1998

  7

  No

  Fire Fighting Training at NRTA

  December 1998

  35

  Yes

  Light Aircraft Flying Task

  January 1999

  30

  No

  RAF Cosford/Shawbury Family Quarters

  March 1999

  13

  Yes

  Tornado GR4 Training Service

  June 1999

  65

  Yes

  Central Scotland Family Quarters

  August 1999

  13

  No

  Army Foundation College

  February 2000

  33

  Yes

  Main Building Refurbishment

  May 2000

  350

  Yes

  Tri-Service Materials Handling

  May 2000

  32

  No

  Naval Communications

  June 2000

  55

  Yes

  Note:

  Capital value based on the public sector option (Public Sector Comparator)

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average period of time is between the completion of a full business case and signing of the final contracts for private finance initiative contracts in his Department; and if he will make a statement. [130276]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 13 July 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 18 July 2000, Official Report, column 101W.

  Foreign Military Personnel
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many foreign military personnel and from which countries have been involved in military training in the UK during the last 12 months. [131251]

  PFI Contracts
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the PFI contracts entered into by his Department, indicating(a) their dates of commencement, (b) their value, (c) if they have been subject to refinancing and (d) if his Department has a clawback entitlement to share in savings arising from refinancing. [129046]

  Mr. Spellar
  Details of the PFI deals signed by the Ministry of Defence up to 10 July 2000 are shown. To date one of these has involved refinancing. Nine of the contracts have provision for sharing benefits shown in the form of clawback. In other contracts, alternative means of protecting the Department's interests are available.

  Mr. Spellar
  The numbers of foreign military personnel who have been involved in military training in the UK in the year to 31 March 2000 are listed. This is the latest period for which statistics are available. They include all overseas military personnel trained by UK military personnel, or contracted civilian instructors, on UK military establishments or ships (or Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships). They also include some overseas military personnel studying at academic institutions in the UK.

  Country

  Total

  Albania

  7

  Algeria

  11

  Antigua

  2

  Argentina

  7

  Armenia

  1

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  Country

  Total

  Australia

  79

  Austria

  5

  Bahamas

  5

  Bahrain

  21

  Bangladesh

  5

  Barbados

  4

  Belgium

  101

  Belize

  23

  Bermuda

  13

  Bosnia

  30

  Botswana

  8

  Brazil

  27

  Brunei

  168

  Bulgaria

  10

  Canada

  361

  Cayman Islands

  1

  Chile

  2

  China

  5

  Czech Republic

  38

  Denmark

  28

  Egypt

  13

  El Salvador

  3

  Estonia

  13

  Fiji

  6

  Finland

  6

  France

  154

  Georgia

  6

  Germany

  99

  Ghana

  3

  Greece

  34

  Guatemala

  4

  Guyana

  6

  Honduras

  1

  Hong Kong

  2

  Hungary

  22

  Iceland

  2

  India

  9

  Indonesia

  2

  Ireland

  68

  Israel

  49

  Italy

  78

  Jamaica

  26

  Japan

  4

  Jordan

  81

  Kenya

  4

  Korea

  16

  Kuwait

  480

  Latvia

  11

  Lebanon

  5

  Lithuania

  13

  Macedonia

  8

  Malawi

  4

  Malaysia

  337

  Maldives

  2

  Malta

  6

  Mauritius

  4

  Moldova

  2

  Morocco

  5

  Namibia

  2

  Nepal

  25

  Netherlands

  302

  New Zealand

  54

  Nicaragua

  1

  Nigeria

  12

  Norway

  205

  Oman

  183

  Pakistan

  30

  Papua New Guinea

  2

  Paraguay

  2

  Philippines

  4

  Poland

  31

  Portugal

  34

  Qatar

  47

  Romania

  27

  340W

  country

  Total

  Russia

  6

  Saudi Arabia

  229

  Senegal

  7

  Sierra Leone

  2

  Singapore

  69

  Slovakia

  22

  Slovenia

  11

  South Africa

  19

  Spain

  17

  Sri Lanka

  64

  St. Christopher/Nevis

  2

  St. Lucia

  2

  St. Vincent

  1

  Sweden

  19

  Switzerland

  2

  Syria

  1

  Tanzania

  2

  Thailand

  26

  Trinidad and Tobago

  1

  Turkey

  52

  Uganda

  5

  Ukraine

  27

  United Arab Emirates

  177

  Uruguay

  6

  USA

  154

  Venezuela

  1

  Yemen

  3

  Zambia

  2

  Zimbabwe

  6

  Total

  4,446

  Defence Evaluation and Research Agency
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 29 June 2000,Official Report, column 593W, on the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency Base, West Freugh, if he will specify the employees included under the item 16 others. [131461]

  Mr. Hoon
  This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Alasdair Morgan, dated 21 July 2000:
  As Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA), I am replying to your further parliamentary question about staff at our site at West Freugh.
  In addition to DERA, MOD and SERCO staff, there are 16 contractors employed by SDS Thorn involved in the operation of DERA's satellite reception and control station located at West Freugh. This facility is part of our space department and is not related to the test and evaluation activities conducted on the range.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Former Yugoslavia
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many reservists in total have served in Former Yugoslavia since 1992. [129933]

  Mr. Spellar
  The number of Royal Navy and Royal Marines reservists who have served in the Former Yugoslavia since 1992 is 49. In addition, seven officers have served in support of operations in the Former Yugoslavia. They have been employed in the UK, elsewhere in Europe, and at sea.
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  At least 5,581 Territorial Army and Army Reserve personnel have served in the Former Yugoslavia since 1992. I will write to the hon. Member once the complete data become available and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  The Royal Air Force no longer holds any records relating to reserve personnel called out prior to 1997–98. Since 1997–98, 308 members of the Reserve Air Forces have been mobilised. This figure includes those called out in support of operations in the Former Yugoslavia as well as those who have served in country.

  Service Personnel
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) men and (b) women who are serving in the armed forces are under the age of 18 years. [130774]

  Mr. Spellar
  As at 1 June 2000, there were 5,228 men and 569 women under the age of 18 in the armed forces.

  Troop Deployment
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British troops are serving in(a) Kosovo and (b) Sierra Leone; how many of these are from the Teesside region; and if he will make a statement. [130497]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 17 July 2000]: We currently have some 3,300 troops committed to operations in Kosovo and around 500 committed to operations in Sierra Leone. Information on the geographical origin of individual troops involved in these operations is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  RAF Boards of Inquiry
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the occasions in the last 10 years when the conclusions of the president of an RAF board of inquiry have been over-ruled by reviewing officers. [131256]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 18 July 2000]: I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Chinook
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will preserve all files and papers relating to the procurement and introduction of the FADEC system for the Chinook Mk2. [131257]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 18 July 2000]: We are not aware that any files or papers relating to the procurement and introduction of the FADEC system for the Chinook Mk2 have been destroyed and have no intention of destroying them while public interest in this matter continues. However work on the FADEC system for the Chinook Mk2 began in 1988 and it is possible that some of the earlier papers have been destroyed.

  RAF Pilots
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the establishment of pilots is in the RAF; how many are in post; and if he will make a statement. [131408]
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  Mr. Spellar
  The position on 1 June 2000 was as follows:

  Requirement1

  Trained strength

  Surplus/deficit

  Pilots-All Ranks

  2,338

  2,210

  -128

  Junior Officer Pilot2

  1,496

  1,404

  -92

  1 The requirement figure is the usual baseline against which the RAF measures shortfalls or surpluses and includes non-flying posts for which aircrew experience and knowledge are required. The majority of these non-flying posts require senior officers.

  2 Flight Lieutenant (and Squadron Leader specialist aircrew) and below, included in the all ranks total. Junior Officer Pilot is the RAF's most critical manning category.

  MOD Police
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to review the age of retirement for MOD police. [131406]

  Mr. Spellar
  My officials are currently reviewing age retirement policy for all departmental employees including the Ministry of Defence Police.

  RAF Fairford
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on proposed future uses for RAF Fairford. [131532]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 20 July 2000]: There are no plans to change the current status of RAF Fairford.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the proposal to introduce US airforce stealth bombers to RAF Fairford. [131561]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 20 July 2000]: The US are examining an operational concept in which in a crisis aircraft would be deployed to forward operating locations. This concept would not involve any permanent stationing of aircraft at these locations, but some equipment would be pre-positioned. However, the concept is still being studied and no request to use RAF Fairford, or any other UK base, has yet been made. RAF Fairford has of course been used as a standby operating location in the past, most recently during the Kosovo campaign.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Communications White Paper
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress is being made towards preparation of the Communications White Paper. [132481]

  Mr. Byers
  As announced on 17 May 2000,Official Report, columns 130–31W, we invited a number of experts to prepare papers which they have now presented at a seminar held on 3 July. We asked them to examine a range of policy issues against some guiding objectives for the Communications White Paper. These are:

  (i) The creation of the most dynamic market possible for communications services, especially in the light of the growth of the e-economy;

  (ii) Ensuring universal access to diverse services of the highest quality;

  (iii) Guarding consumer interests—protection, choice and value for money.

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  A report on the seminar has been prepared by the chair of the event, Sir Quentin Thomas. Copies of all the papers, which represent the personal views of the authors, have been placed in the Library and also on the Communications White Paper website http://www.communicationswhitepaper.gov.uk. They offer an important contribution to the debate.

  We have also received 139 submissions, which are also being placed on the website, and are currently analysing those alongside the issues discussed at the seminar, with a view to publication of the White Paper later this year.

  Action Plan for Farming
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will make a statement on the tendering process for consultants supplying business information to farmers under the Action Plan for Farming; [131806]

  (2) if he will estimate how many farmers will benefit from the business advice announced in the Action Plan for Farming; and if he will make a statement; [131804]

  (3) if he will estimate the cost per consultant of supplying advice to farmers through the Small Business Service; [131807]

  (4) how many consultants will be employed by the Small Business Service to provide advice specifically to farmers as a result of the announcement in the Action Plan for Farming. [131805]

  Ms Hewitt
  MAFF's budget for the Farm Business Advice Service in 2000–01 should enable up to 5,000 farmers and growers in England to be helped. It will be for Business Links, which will deliver the service, to decide in the light of local circumstances how many consultants to engage, at what rates and by what tendering process.

  Small Business Service
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many rural businesses have received advice from the Small Business Service in the last 12 months. [131902]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Small Business Service (SBS) provides advice to all SMEs but data collected on users do not differentiate between rural and urban location.

  Personal Computers
  Dr. Palmer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Office of Fair Trading will publish its

  Name

  Company

  Industry

  Brownell, Norman

  Commercial Director, Swan Hunter (Tyneside) Ltd.

  Bunney, Andrew

  Managing Director Shipbuilding, Vosper Thorneycroft (UK) Ltd.

  Cameron, Sam

  Vice President, SSA/Marketing Director BAE Systems

  Dickinson, Alan

  Chairman, Pallion Engineering

  Dunnett, Alan

  Chief Executive & Managing Director Ferguson Marine Plc

  Granger, Nick

  Director, SSA

  Harrison, Terry

  President Shipbuilders and Shiprepairers Association

  Jeffrey, David

  Director BMEC

  Kroese, Jaap

  Chairman Swan Hunter Shipyards Ltd.

  Leggetter, Rod

  Group Managing Director (Operations) BAE Systems

  MacPherson, Allan

  Director of Nuclear Safety BESD International

  Martin, Brett

  Deputy Chief Executive, Cammell Laird Plc

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  research, undertaken last year, into the retail market for home personal computers. [131682]

  Dr. Howells
  The Office of Fair Trading is currently considering with the providers of the research data the copyright and confidentiality implications of disclosure of some or all of the information to a complainant.

  Dr. Palmer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans the Office of Fair Trading has to meet representatives of Dixons, Compaq and Packard Bell in the next three months in relation to the market for home personal computers. [131683]

  Dr. Howells
  The Office of Fair Trading will meet representatives of Dixons, Compaq and Packard Bell in relation to the market for home personal computers, if and when necessary.

  Dr. Palmer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Office of Fair Trading has met representatives of Dixons, Compaq and Packard Bell in the last three months in relation to the market for home personal computers. [131681]

  Dr. Howells
  The Office of Fair Trading has not met representatives of Dixons, Compaq or Packard Bell in the last three months in relation to the market for home personal computers, but has had correspondence with some of these companies.

  Dr. Palmer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Office of Fair Trading will reopen its inquiry into the competitiveness of the retail market for home personal computers. [131684]

  Dr. Howells
  The Office of Fair Trading is actively considering a complaint in this area.

  Coal Industry
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date he expects to start paying the recently announced grants to the coal industry. [131821]

  Mr. Byers
  As I indicated to the House on 17 April 2000,Official Report, columns 697–712, we expect funds to be made available during the course of this financial year.

  Shipbuilding
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those who attended the meeting he held on 13 July to discuss shipbuilding. [131192]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 18 July 2000]: Those attending the Shipbuilding Meeting on 13 July were:
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  Name

  Company

  Mugaas, Brynjulv

  Chief Executive Office Harland & Wolff Holdings Plc

  Rigby, Dr. Rob

  Managing Director BAE Systems Marine, Barrow

  Ring, David

  Chief Executive A&P Holdings Ltd.

  Slade, Brian

  A&P, Director

  Stafford, John

  Chief Executive Cammell Laird Plc

  Walton, Jonathan

  Director Government Programmes Naval, BAE Systems Marine

  Wilson, Jim

  Managing Director Appledore Shipbuilders Ltd.

  Trade Unions

  Booth, Peter

  National Organiser for Manufacturing Transport & General Workers' Union

  Cooper, Tony

  General Secretary Engineers' & Managers' Association

  Curran, Kevin

  Regional Secretary GMB, Northern Region

  Edmonds, John

  General Secretary, GMB

  MacGregor, Donald

  Chairman of the Shipyards Negotiating Committee, CSEU

  Quigley, John

  National Secretary Amalgamated Engineering and Electricians Union

  Robson, Alan

  General Secretary Confederation of Shipbuilding & Engineering Unions

  Wall, John

  National Secretary for Shipbuilding, MSF

  Government Ministers

  Byers, Stephen

  Secretary of State for Trade and Industry

  Empey, Sir Reg MLA

  Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Northern Ireland

  Hoon, Geoff

  Secretary of State for Defence

  Johnson, Alan

  Minister for Competitiveness, DTI

  Prescott, John

  Deputy Prime Minister

  Stephen, Nicol

  Deputy Minister Enterprise and Life Long Learning Scottish Executive

  Symons, Baroness

  Minister of State for Defence Procurement

  Wilson, Brian

  Minister of State, Scotland Office

  Officials from the respective Departments also attended.

TREASURY

  Personal Data
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 19 April 2000,Official Report, column 582W, how many licence applicants, grant applicants and other data subjects described in his answer the Revenue had obtained personal data about from the London Borough of Waltham Forest; what steps his Department has taken to inform applicants for licences and grants and recipients of payments of this disclosure to the Revenue; and if the arrangements for the London Borough of Waltham Forest apply to all local authorities within London. [129188]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The personal data supplied by the London Borough of Waltham Forest to the Inland Revenue are supplied under legal obligations. These obligations arise from the issue of statutory notices which require the Borough to make returns. The Inland Revenue does not normally disclose information about the returns made by a person or a body. Whether the London Borough of Waltham Forest is prepared to make this information public in response to a direct request is a matter for the Borough.

  The Inland Revenues does not inform data subjects individually about any disclosure of their personal data. It complies with its obligations under the Data Protection Act 1998 to process personal data fairly and lawfully by publishing a Data Protection Act statement which is widely reproduced on its forms and guidance notes.

  All London Boroughs are required to produce similar information.

  Employment Tax Credit
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 19 April 2000,Official Report, column 588W, what estimate he has made of total expenditure on the Employment Tax Credit under the illustrative system outlined in the Treasury paper, Supporting Work Through an Employment Tax Credit, including that part which is currently included in the Working Families Tax Credit; and if he will make a statement. [130647]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The illustrative employment tax credit outlined in the Treasury paper "Tackling Poverty and Making Work Pay—Tax Credits for the 21st Century" includes an estimate of around £300 million a year as the cost of extending support to people without children. This is based on extending the adult credit in the Working Families Tax Credit under certain specified assumptions. These assumptions, and the modelling involved, apply only to people without children.

  As noted in paragraph 3.22 of the paper, details of eligibility and the relative size of the credits for singles and couples do not have to be the same for parents and non-parents. The precise design parameters are under consideration and will not be finalised until nearer the time of the introduction of the new credits.

  Children's Tax Credit
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will outline the measures taken by his Department to publicise the new Children's Tax Credit in(a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom. [130957]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The campaign to publicise the new Children's Tax Credit began on 19 June 2000 and ran throughout both(a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom

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  for a total of four weeks. The measures taken comprised national, ethnic and women's press, local radio, and direct mail.

  Working Families Tax Credit
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to improve the method by which the Working Families Tax Credit is calculated. [130958]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The findings from the current evaluation of the Working Families Tax Credit and the Disabled Person's Tax Credit will inform the design of the employment tax credit and the integrated child credit which will be introduced from 2003.

  Land Settlement Association
  Mr. Gummer
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when(a) he and (b) his Ministers consulted with the Board of Inland Revenue on the Land Settlement Association's compensation arrangements. [131474]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Treasury Ministers have received representations about the raising of tax changes by the Inland Revenue in respect of out of court compensation paid by MAFF to a number of former tenants of the Land Settlement Association. However, Ministers do not intervene in individual cases. The Inland Revenue's independence from Treasury Ministers in the handling of individuals' tax affairs and the application of the tax law must be scrupulously observed.

  Capital Allocations
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he intends to take to monitor the spending by Departments of their capital allocations. [130145]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  [holding answer 20 July 2000]: Capital spending is monitored by monthly returns from Departments to the Treasury. In addition, as part of the 2000 Spending Review, each Department has been asked to prepare Departmental Investment Strategies setting out their plans for allocating and managing future investment. These will be published in the autumn.

PRIME MINISTER

  Office Costs
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister what has been the cost of his Office for each year from 1997 to date; and what is the estimated expenditure for 2000–01. [126504]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 20 June 2000]: Before coming to office the Government clearly set out its aim to have a strong strategic centre of government.

  Since May 1997, some of the administrative burdens on my office have greatly increased. For example, extra staff have had to be employed to deal with over 500,000 items of correspondence received by my office in the last year—an 84 per cent. increase over the previous year. This compares with an estimated 25,000 items received annually five years ago.

  The actual costs of my office were £6.9 million from 1 May 1997 to 31 March 1998; £8.7 million in 1998–99 and £10.4 million in 1999–2000.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensions Ombudsman
  Mr. Paul Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has undertaken a quinquennial review of the Pensions Ombudsman. [132478]

  Mr. Rooker
  The quinquennial review of the Pensions Ombudsman has been undertaken in accordance with the Government's modernising agenda. Copies of the report have been placed in the Library.

  Social Security Leaflets
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what omissions and ambiguities were found during the systematic review of the social security leaflets conducted between 1996 and 1999; and what changes were made to the leaflets in consequence. [131903]

  Angela Eagle
  We have carried out more than one systematic review of Social Security leaflets since 1996.

  Between 1996–99, the Benefits Agency undertook a wholesale review of its customer information leaflets with the aim of making them much more customer focused. This piece of work involved primary research and continuous product testing, as well as consultation with key stakeholders. The leaflets were redesigned and the information within them laid out differently, but the core information was not altered.

  In June 1999 a further review was commissioned to identify any erroneous information that needed to be removed or any information which was missing from our leaflets.

  This exercise was completed in August 1999 and no major amendments were identified. There were a few minor changes made due to a combination of minor omissions and lack of cross-referencing. Revisions and future changes were also identified around JSA leaflets. These future changes being incorporated later in the year.

  The Benefits Agency review resulted in the roll-out of a new suite of leaflets; fewer in number by a third, better targeted to client groups and easier for customers to negotiate their way around. Full evaluation of these new leaflets is in progress; all the early indications are positive.

  Insurance Policies (Redemption)
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the circumstances in which his Department requires insurance companies to divulge redemption values of policies held by claimants. [132022]

  Mr. Bayley
  A person claiming an income-related benefit may be asked to provide evidence of the value of any capital asset. Depending on the type of asset this may be the face value, the market value or the surrender value. However, evidence would not normally be sought if it was clear that the value would be disregarded. For example, the surrender value of life insurance policies is fully disregarded. No evidence of surrender value would be needed in this case.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  West Coast Main Line
  Mr. Pollard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action his Department is taking to ensure that Railtrack's plans for the West Coast Mainline upgrade provide sufficient train paths to make possible an expansion of existing commuter and freight services; and if he will make a statement. [130232]

  Mr. Hill
  The Rail Regulator and the Franchising Director are ensuring that the needs of all train operators using the West Coast Main Line (WCML) are met by Railtrack's plans for the provision of train paths. The Rail Regulator has issued an order requiring Railtrack to produce final plans and options for the WCML upgrade. In particular, he is seeking information about the extent to which these plans would meet the capacity commitments which Railtrack gave to the Rail Regulator in April 1998. The Rail Regulator also issued a consultation document on 20 June about reviewing the increased costs associated with the WCML upgrade as part of his periodic review of Railtrack's access charges. He is consulting widely on these costs, which have risen from the original estimate of £2.3 billion to a new figure in the region of £5.85 billion. These figures will be subjected to considerable scrutiny and discussion with the Franchising Director before the Rail Regulator announces his draft conclusions later this month.

  Housing Investment
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what projection he has made of the level of housing investment in 2001–02; what the figure was in 1996–97; and if he will make a statement. [130484]

  Mr. Mullin
  Capital resources for housing investment in 1996–97 were £2.1 billion. Following the 1998 Comprehensive Spending Review, plans for 2001–02 were £3.1 billion and my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on Tuesday that housing investment in 2003–04 will be £1.6 billion higher than now. Full details of the new spending plans for housing in 2001–02 to 2003–04 will be announced in the next few days.

  Fuel Taxation
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the environmental impact of the relative costs of and levels of taxation on fuel products transported by(a) pipeline, (b) rail and (c) road; and if he will make a statement. [130716]

  Mr. Hill
  The Government have not undertaken a specific assessment of the environmental impacts or cost implications of the transportation of fuel products by different modes of transport. All fuel products are distributed from the refinery to the final consumer in the UK through a combination of pipeline, rail, road or ship, although the exact modes of transport used vary depending on where the fuel is refined and consumed.
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  Lifecycle environmental analysis indicates that, regardless of the mode of transportation, the distribution of fuel products is only a small element of the overall lifecycle environmental impacts from fuel products, and the extraction, production and especially consumption of the fuel causes far greater environmental damage. The cost of distributing fuel products is also relatively low in comparison with underlying fuel prices, although the cost of distribution increases the further the consumer if away from a major fuel terminal which can be supplied by ship or pipeline.

  London Underground
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 3 July 2000,Official Report, column 84W, if he will specify the problems with the final trainborne element of the Automatic Train Operation signalling system; and if he will make a statement. [131366]

  Mr. Hill
  There are two faults which have developed: stopping inaccuracy and overrunning platforms. Almost all station stops are now to specification. Minor stopping inaccuracy no longer causes significant service delay.

  The problems with ATO arise from the train failing to register the station properly and overrunning the station platform. Although this creates no safety risk, it causes disruption for customers and the timetable.

  The Central Line should be fully ATO operational by the end of the year subject to HMRI approval.

  Departmental Initiatives
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions 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. [131082]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary's reply of 17 July 2000,Official Report, column 93W.

  Roadworks
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will introduce legislation to make provision for compensation for loss of business caused by roadworks carried out by highway authorities. [131250]

  Mr. Hill
  Highway works ultimately benefit the whole community. Occupies of premises may be entitled to compensation if something is done improperly (for example, the blocking of access without authority) but not otherwise. Businesses have no right in law to any given level of passing trade, and may suffer temporary loss owing to disruption of traffic flows. Trade may fluctuate for a variety of reasons, and accurately assessing the losses directly attributable to works in the highway can be difficult. There is, too, an element of 'windfall' profit and loss: often when one trader suffers a rival business in the neighbourhood stands to gain custom as a direct result of the same works. There are therefore no plans to
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  introduce legislation to create legal liability to compensate anyone for loss of trade when a highway authority properly executes road works under its statutory powers.

  Roads (PFI Contracts)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the estimated rate of return on capital is to the contractors under the PFI contracts for roads. [131351]

  Mr. Hill
  The internal rates of return for the eight trunk road DBFO projects in England were estimated at the time of contract award to lie between 9.5 and 13.9 per cent.

  Departmental Press Office
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment. Transport and the Regions, pursuant to the Cabinet Office memorandum of 16 June 1998 to the Select Committee on Public Administration, published in its report on the Government Information and Communication Service, Session 1997–98, HC 770, and using the same methodology, if he will calculate(a) the total cost of his Department's press office, including salary and running costs, in (i) 1998–99, (ii) 1999–2000 and (iii) 2000–01 and the estimated cost for 2001–02 and (b) the total number of people employed in the press office (excluding staff providing general administrative support) in 1999–2000, and the projected estimates for (1) 2000–01 and (2) 2001–02. [130802]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 17 July 20001: The costs of the Department's media centre (formerly press office) from 1995–96 are as shown in the table:

  Staff numbers

  Total running costs (£ million)

  1995–96

  36.0

  1—

  1996–97

  26.1

  1.09

  1997–98

  26.3

  1.04

  1998–99

  30.2

  1.29

  1999–2000

  38.3

  1.55

  2000–01

  38.2

  1.61

  2001–02

  37.0

  21.61

  1 Costs are not available

  2 Estimate

  The costs (staff salaries only) are consistent with those for 1996–97 and 1997–98 given for the Department, and former Departments of Environment and Transport, in the memorandum dated 16 June 1998 to the Select Committee on Public Administration and published in its report on the Government Information and Communication Service (HC 770) in July 1998.

  The figures are based on the average staff in post (up to and including 1999–2000) and projected average staff in post for the subsequent years.

  The increase in staff from 1998–99 to 1999–2000 reflects the filling of vacancies at that time and the need to respond to the recommendations of the Mountfield report on the Government Information and Communication Service (1997).

  Rail Investment
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on how the planned increase in rail investment will benefit Shrewsbury and Atcham. [131159]

  Mr. Hill
  The planned increase in rail investment, provided for in the 10-year Plan for Transport, will enable progress to be made on a number of initiatives of benefit to Shrewsbury and Atcham, for example, modernisation of the West Coast Main Line and the Midland Capacity Study of congestion blackspots in the West Midlands. Improvements in local service patterns will result from changes in franchise boundaries in line with the indicative map of likely franchises published by the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority on 20 June. Improvements in journey quality will result from investment in new rolling stock by Virgin Trains and by operators of local train services. The planned increase in rail investment also involves a continuation of the Rail Passenger Partnership scheme, which provides funding for worthwhile projects put forward by local stakeholders.

  Port Waste Reception Facilities
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received concerning the indirect fee proposal regarding the EU Draft Directive on port waste reception facilities; if he intends to support the proposal; and if he will make a statement. [130557]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 17 July 2000]: The UK has been involved at every stage of the Directive on port waste reception facilities and strongly supports the principles which it embodies. The European Parliament and the Council, meeting at the Conciliation Committee, agreed the Directive on 28 June.

  During the negotiation of the Directive, my Department consulted closely with a range of bodies—including those representing the UK shipping, ports and waste industries and environmental non-governmental organisations—on the practicalities of the proposal that ships calling into a port of an EC member state contribute to the costs of waste reception facilities, irrespective of actual use of the facilities. The consensus was that ease of use and meeting the operational needs of the ships regularly using the ports were the key factors. Latterly, I have received representations from the Kommunenes Internasjonale Miljøorganisasjon (KIMO) supporting the principle of a charge being levied irrespective of use. I have also received representations from the North Sea Commission and the Wadden Sea Cooperation which have focused on the manner in which the charge should be calculated.

  The Directive substantially mirrors current UK port waste management legislation and practice (the merits of which have also been recognised by the International Maritime Organization, which agreed guidelines, earlier this year, which are based on the UK model).

  M6
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to invite tenders for the construction of the M6 between Carlisle and the Scottish border. [131410]
  353W
  Mr. Hill
  As this is an operational matter for the Highways Agency I have asked Peter Nutt, the Acting Chief Executive, to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Peter Nutt to Mr. Eric Martlew, dated 22 July 2000:
  The Transport Minister, Keith Hill, has asked me to reply to your recent question about the timing of the tender invitations for the construction of the M6 extension to the M74.
  We are in the process of appointing design agents with the aim of holding public consultation next year. Progress thereafter will depend on how quickly we can complete the statutory procedures. As with all schemes in the Targeted Programme of Improvements announced in 1998, the aim is to start work within seven years, although we will better that if we can.

  Cross-ticketing
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with the Strategic Rail Authority to ensure that, following the new rail franchises affecting services between Cambridge and London, steps will be taken to ensure the facility exists for cross ticketing across the two train operating companies. [131520]

  Mr. Hill
  At least one type of ticket between any two points on the network is regulated by the Franchising Director. Regulated tickets must be inter-available, that is for use on the trains of any operator. This does not and will not necessarily apply to unregulated ticket types. Operators may choose to restrict the availability of these tickets in order to offer the passenger the option of a lower fare in return for giving up some flexibility. Where restrictions apply to the use of any tickets, this has to be made clear at the point of sale.

  Kelda Group
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received concerning the proposal by Kelda Group to mutualise the assets of the former Yorkshire Water company. [131464]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 19 July 2000]: My Department has received several written representations on this proposal from customers and others.

  The Director General of Water Services issued a public consultation document on the issues raised, inviting comments by 17 July. The Director General has received written representations in response. The proposals were also discussed at a meeting in Leeds on 6 July, arranged by the Yorkshire Customer Service Committee, to which the public were invited, addressed by representatives of Kelda, the proposed Yorkshire Water Mutual, the Drinking Water Inspectorate, the Environment Agency and Ofwat.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what powers he has to stop the Kelda Group from selling the assets of Yorkshire Water. [131466]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 19 July 20001: Under the Water Industry Act 1991 the Director General of Water Services has a duty to act in the manner he considers best calculated to secure that the interests of customers are protected. The Director General has powers to modify the conditions of appointment of Yorkshire
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  Water Services as a statutory undertaker by agreement with the company. If agreement cannot be reached between the Director General and the company he can refer the case to the Competition Commission. The Secretary of State can also require the case to be referred to the Competition Commission, which would consider whether modification of the licence were needed in the public interest.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to order Kelda Group to extend the period of consultation over its plans to mutualise the assets of the former Yorkshire Water. [131465]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 19 July 2000]: The Director General of Water Services has said that he considers that more consultation with customers is necessary before the proposal by Kelda could go ahead. Following receipt of responses to his earlier consultation paper, he intends to publish a position paper on the issues raised by Kelda's proposal before 31 July, including how best such further consultation should be conducted.

  Federation of Master Builders
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with the Federation of Master Builders in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [131574]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  My Department has regular discussions with the Federation of Master Builders, as with other construction trade associations, on a range of policy issues.

  Freightliners
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 11 July 2000,Official Report, column 505W, if the Government are considering applications for grant aid for track access charges from Freightliner's competitors. [132017]

  Mr. Hill
  The Department's Freight Grants Unit is currently considering applications for track access grant from English Welsh and Scottish Railway, and Mendip Rail.

  Inter-tidal Wetlands
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he has taken to improve the protection of inter-tidal wetlands. [131991]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Countryside and Rights of Way Bill, currently before Parliament, contains provisions to enhance the protection given to Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), including those designated for wetland interests in the inter-tidal area. The Bill will provide for, among other things, for a more structured approach to management advice and a new power to refuse consent for damaging activities, the development of management schemes to help combat neglect, the introduction of management notices, increased penalties for deliberate damage, a new court power to order restoration of the damaged special interest, where this is practicable; and a new general offence to apply to damage by any person.
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  In addition, public bodies will be under a statutory duty to further the conservation and enhancement of SSSIs, both in carrying out their operations and exercising their decision-making functions.

  My Department has also set up a review to evaluate the success of previous statutory and voluntary marine nature conservation measures and to put forward proposals for improving marine nature conservation in England. Among other things, this involves looking at the protection currently afforded to inter-tidal areas. The Review may also inform separate proposals for marine conservation in Wales.

  Farmers' Markets
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to relax the planning regulations with regard to the establishment of farmers' markets. [131811]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Part 4 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (GPDO) SI 1995 No. 418 grants a general planning permission for the temporary use of land for up to 28 days in any calendar year, subject to a number of restrictions and conditions. In the case of markets, the permitted use is limited to a total of 14 days in recognition of the parking, litter and noise problems that often arise from such uses. We have no current plans to relax these provisions.

  Air Agreements
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 9 May 2000,Official Report, column 360W, concerning fifth freedom rights, for what reason the UK Government have rejected applications from Singapore for fifth freedom transatlantic rights. [131907]

  Mr. Mullin
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs. Gillan) on 13 June 2000,Official Report, column 557W.

  Planning (South-east)
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 3 July 2000,Official Report, column 83W, if he will provide a breakdown of the cost to date met by his Department and the Government Office for the South-east of distributing copies of draft regional planning guidance for the South-east; and if he will make a statement. [131972]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The costs to date met by my Department were for the initial despatch of draft regional planning guidance for the South-east, from the Department's distribution contractor. The cost incurred by the Government Office for the South-east, covered postal distribution from the Government Office and included a small amount for courier distribution.

  Joint Nature Conservative Committee
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if a quinquennial review of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee is due; and if he will make a statement. [132373]
  356W
  Mr. Meacher
  A review of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) will begin shortly. In accordance with standard practice, the review will begin by examining the functions and structure of JNCC before moving on, if appropriate, to look at performance issues. Detailed terms of reference are being drawn up. I expect the review to be completed by the early summer of 2001.

  Queries or comments about the review may be made to Roger Pritchard, head of the European Wildlife Division in DETR at Room 907, Tollgate House, Houlton Street, Bristol, BS2 9DJ.

  A339 (Newbury)
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the detrunking of the A339 through Newbury will be completed. [131904]

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

  Letter from Peter Nutt to Mr. David Rendel, dated 21 July 2000:
  The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has asked me to reply to your recent question about when the detrunking of the A339 through Newbury will be completed.
  It is not possible to say when detrunking of the A339 through Newbury will be completed but I can assure you that we intend to do this as soon as we can. It is, of course, dependent upon the satisfactory completion of legislative procedures and we are continuing our discussions with West Berkshire Council. We will need to carry out some work to the road prior to detrunking and that work will have to be co-ordinated with other planned work on the local road network to minimise inconvenience to motorists and local residents.
  If you would like to discuss this matter further, John Timms, the Highways Agency's Route Manager for the A339 (telephone 01306 878208), would be happy to talk to you.

  EU Structural Funds
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assistance will be provided to local councils in England which have had areas classified as having Objective 2 status following the spending review. [131913]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  When the guidelines for the Objective 2 programmes were drawn up, it was agreed that any funds provided by the EU would have to be "matched" by corresponding funds drawn from the public and private sector of the member state.

  In England it was decided that to emphasise the fact that the drawing up and implementing of these programmes rested with the local partnerships, they should be responsible for securing the match funding.

  This approach to match funding is designed to ensure that there is local commitment to pursue the projects that are to be funded and that an innovative approach is taken to securing the funding.

  The role of the central Government in the framework of the structural funds is to provide advice, guidance and monitoring. In terms of match funding, its role is to guide partnerships toward the many sources of potential funding, both private and public.
  357W
  While the Government make no guarantee of direct match funding, the spending review has increased funding available in the regions for those programmes which local partners can look to for match funding. This is obviously good news for those areas with EU Structural Funds.

  National Bus Company Pensioners
  Ms Rosie Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on progress on the distribution to National Bus Company pensioners of the settlement sum paid over last July. [132479]

  Mr. Hill
  Distribution of the settlement is the responsibility of the National Bus Company pension trustees. We recognise this is a complex and substantial task but we have made clear to the trustees that we expect it to be completed as quickly as possible.

  I am pleased to note that interim payments were made in April to 8,000 pensioners who began receiving their Standard Life pension before April 1986 and that there will be interim payments from 1 August for post-1986 Standard Life pensioners who were members of the NBPF or who are widows of BEST or NBPF members.

  I understand that there will be a court hearing next week which the trustees hope will clear the way for further interim payments to be made as soon as possible.

  The Government hope that all concerned will do their utmost to remove any remaining obstacles to completion of the distribution without any unnecessary delay. We will remain in close touch with the trustees.

  Rent Assessment Panels
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to publish the report on the Financial Management and Policy Review of Rent Assessment Panels in England. [132557]

  Mr. Mullin
  I have today published a report on a review of Rent Assessment Panels in England, recommending a range of measures for improving the quality and effectiveness of the Panel service.

  We want to retain the Rent Assessment Panels as independent and expert bodies to deal with fair rent appeals and resolve disputes between leaseholders and landlords. However, there are a number of areas where the Panels, and the committees and tribunals drawn from them, need to improve their performance and make themselves more accessible to parties who use them.

  The report lays the foundation for raising standards of expertise and ensuring best practice across the Panels. A flexible, more simplified process for all parties and changes to the way in which the Panels are managed and organised will reduce the time taken for decisions to be reached by committees and tribunals. We are looking to implement the report recommendations as soon as possible.

  Copies of the report have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Local Government
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what responses he has received to the consultation papers, "The Local Government Bill 2 Consultative Draft of Proposed Guidance and Regulations on New Constitutions for Councils", and "The Local Government Bill; The Conduct of Referendums and Elections for Directly-Elected Mayors". [132626]

  Ms Armstrong
  To date we have received 122 written responses to "The Local Government Bill 2nd Consultative Draft of Proposed Guidance and Regulations on New Constitutions for Councils" and 28 responses to "The Local Government Bill; The Conduct of Referendums and Elections for Directly Elected Mayors". The responses, which we are now considering carefully, contain a wide range of helpful comments and suggestions, with clear support for many of the amendments made after the first consultation round.

  A list of all the responses has today been placed in the Library of the House and full copies of the responses are available from my Department's library.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Welsh Soccer
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has made to the BBC calling for increased coverage of Welsh soccer and Welsh soccer league results; and if he will make a statement. [130927]

  Janet Anderson
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has made no such representations to the BBC.

  It is a well established principle of the Government's approach to broadcasting that we do not seek to intervene or comment on detailed issues of programming content or scheduling. These matters are properly for broadcasters' editorial judgment subject to independent regulation.

  Millennium Dome
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to allocate the revenue from the sale of the Millennium Dome(a) towards the running costs of the NMEC Exhibition at the Dome and (b) to English Partnerships for regeneration programmes. [130848]

  Janet Anderson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 11 July 2000,Official Report, columns 481–82W, to the hon. Member for East Surrey (Mr. Ainsworth).

  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if stamp duty will be payable on the disposal of the Dome. [131372]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 18 July 2000]: As in all acquisitions of assets, stamp duty will become payable in accordance with the Stamp Acts.

  New Millennium Experience Company
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what the value is of net
  359W
  VAT payments made by the New Millennium Experience Company (a) prior to and (b) since 31 December 1999; and if he will make a statement; [131375]

  (2) what estimate he has made of net VAT (a) payments by and (b) receipts from the New Millennium Experience Company in (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000 and (d) 2000–01; [131374]

  (3) what VAT liability applies to payments and receipt of sponsorship funds to the New Millennium Experience Company; [131370]

  (4) if he will list by category, the sources of income and expenditure of the New Millennium Experience Company to which VAT applies. [131371]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 18 July 2000]: We have contacted the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) to request the information required, and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as it is available, placing copies of my letters in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Casale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he will make available to the House the Annual report and financial statement for the period ended 31 December 1999 of the New Millennium Experience Company. [132564]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  I have today placed copies of the New Millennium Experience Company's Annual Report and Financial Statements for the period ending 31 December 1999 in the Libraries of the House.

  Osborne Estate
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he will reply to the question tabled by the hon. Member for East Surrey on 19 June concerning the Osborne Estate (reference 127308). [131973]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  I answered the hon. Member's question on 19 July 2000,Official Report, columns 212–13W.

  Grace and Favour Accommodation
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what self-contained accommodation in the occupied Royal Palaces is occupied by employees of the Royal Collection Department; what rental is paid; and how the rentable values are calculated; [132021]

  (2) if he will update the information provided by the Department of National Heritage to the Committee of Public Accounts in Annexe 1 of its report on Property Services in the English Occupied Royal Palaces, Session 1994–95; which of the officials referred to pay rent; and on what basis rent is calculated. [132023]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  We have contacted the Royal Household to request the information required. I shall write to my right hon. Friend as soon as it is available, placing copies of my letter in the Library of the House.

  Hospitality
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what sporting occasions his Permanent 360W
  Secretary has been invited to this year; how many such invitations he has accepted; and at what cost to the public purse. [131759]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  My Permanent Secretary has been invited to three sporting occasions which have taken place this year: the London Marathon, the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis championships and the Davis Cup match against Ecuador. He accepted and attended the second only. There was no cost to the public purse.

  Communications White Paper
  Mr. Woolas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress is being made towards preparation of the Communications White Paper. [132563]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  As announced on 17 May 2000,Official Report, columns 130–31W, we invited a number of experts to prepare papers which they have now presented at a seminar held on 3 July. We asked them to examine a range of policy issues against some guiding objectives for the Communications White Paper.

  These are:

  (i) The creation of the most dynamic market possible for communications services, especially in the light of the growth of the e-economy;

  (ii) Ensuring universal access to diverse services of the highest quality;

  (iii) Guarding consumer interests—protection, choice and value for money.

  A report on the seminar has been prepared by the chair of the event, Sir Quentin Thomas. Copies of all the papers, which represent the personal views of the authors, have been placed in the Library and also on the Communications White Paper website http://www.communicationswhitepaper.gov.uk. They offer an important contribution to the debate.

  We have also received 139 submissions, which are also being placed on the website, and are currently analysing those alongside the issues discussed at the seminar, with a view to publication of the White Paper later this year.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Hope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the current arrangements for asylum claims to be made by post. [132556]

  Mrs. Roche
  We are at present receiving about 700 postal applications for asylum a month and estimate that about half come from applicants living in London. We take the view that asylum applications should normally be made in person so that the proper checks, including fingerprinting, can be made to establish identity and prevent fraudulent or multiple applications. From 31 July, postal applications received from persons living in any of the London boroughs will be required to attend for screening at Croydon before their claim is recorded and processed. We will be seeking to extend similar arrangements to other parts of the country as soon as possible.

  Road Safety (Cyclists)
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many pedestrians have been(a) killed and (b) injured as a result of being hit by cyclists riding on the pavement in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [131107]

  Mr. Hill
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information requested is shown in the table:

  Pedestrian casualties from accidents between pedal cycles and pedestrians on a footway or verge1: Great Britain 1996–98

  Severity of casualty

  1996

  1997

  1998

  Fatal

  —

  1

  1

  Injured

  89

  111

  76

  Total

  89

  112

  77

  1 Footway or verge comprises footways for use by pedestrians only, which form part of the highway but are separate from the main carriageway, including grass verges

  Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the length of time is within which the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority is under an obligation to(a) respond to and (b) settle claims inquiries; and if he will make a statement. [131476]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Authority's key performance indicator for dealing with applications is to issue a first decision in 90 per cent. of cases within 12 months of receipt of the application. This target recognises that, because of their complexity, a substantial proportion of cases will unavoidably take longer to settle.

  The Authority's service aims include responding within two weeks to any written inquiry about an application and to respond to any formal complaint within one month.

  Police Stations
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what guidance he gives to police forces regarding(a) the provision of services from and (b) the location of, police stations; [130072]

  (2) what guidance he gives to police forces on the management of fixed assets (a) generally and (b) relating to police stations. [130071]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Government are committed to ensuring the police have the resources they need to tackle crime and disorder, but the disposition of police force resources is a matter for each police authority and chief constable.

  Welsh Assembly
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to introduce legislation to enable the Welsh Assembly to implement the recommendations of the Neill Committee; and if he will make a statement. [131421]
  362W
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Bill, which was introduced in the House of Commons on 20 December 1999 and in the House of Lords on 16 March 2000, will implement the recommendations of the Neill Committee's fifth report on the funding of political parties. The funding of political parties is a reserved matter and the controls on political parties' income and expenditure set out in the Bill will apply throughout the United Kingdom. The Bill, however, contains a number of provisions which relate specifically to the National Assembly. In particular, the Bill enables the Electoral Commission, at the request of the Assembly, to prepare a report on the administration of a poll held under section 36 of the Government of Wales Act 1998 (clause 4(3)); empowers the Assembly to transfer the functions of the Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales to the Electoral Commission (clause 18); and amends the Government of Wales Act so as to enable the Assembly to make payments to groups of Assembly members to assist them in performing their functions as Assembly members (Paragraph 10(4) of schedule 20). The Government are giving consideration to a request from the First Minister to expedite the commencement of the last of these provisions once the Bill receives Royal Assent.

  Alcohol
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to increase the supervision of off-licences and other alcohol retailers, with particular reference to marketing and shop displays which promote the sale of high percentage volume beers, lagers and ciders; [131897]

  (2) what plans he has to encourage the brewing industry, off-licence trade and other alcohol retailers to reduce the attractiveness of high percentage volume beers, lagers and ciders to under-age drinkers. [131934]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  In May 1997, a Ministerial Group, working closely with the Portman Group, was set up to examine problems surrounding the marketing of "alcopops" and other alcoholic drinks to people under 18. A statement of the Group's conclusions was published in July 1997, and placed in the Library. A range of new controls were added to the industry's Code of Practice, and these have had a significant impact on the merchandising and packaging of alcoholic drinks. The additional controls included:

  appropriate names, packaging and promotion of alcoholic products;

  avoiding artificially bright colours in either the product or the packaging;

  ensuring that the taste and texture of products do not mislead about their true alcoholic nature;

  ensuring that steps are taken to remind sales staff of their responsibilities;

  ensuring that alcohol is made less accessible to children in shops;

  ensuring proper staff training;

  including suitable sanctions for breaches of the Code;

  arranging pre-launch clearance of relevant products;

  ensuring swift compliance with decisions of the independent panel; and

  requiring compliance with the spirit as well as the letter of the Code.

  363W
  We have monitored progress on the industry's approach to protecting young people. The number of complaints made under the new Code has continued to reduce. Where complaints have been made and upheld, swift compliance with the independent panel's decisions has become the norm. We shall continue to monitor progress both in respect of all alcoholic drinks, including those of high strength.

  In addition, the White Paper "Time for Reform: Proposals for the Modernisation of Our Licensing Laws" published on 10 April this year, set out proposals for a new positive duty on licensees not to sell to minors, arrangements for test purchasing and tougher sanctions against those who breach these laws.

  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures(a) are currently in place and (b) his Department is evaluating to prevent adults purchasing alcoholic drinks for consumption by under-18s. [131936]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  It is an offence under section 169(3) of the Licensing Act 1964 for any person to buy, or attempt to buy, intoxicating liquor for consumption in a bar in licensed premises by a person under 18. This offence does not extend to purchases made by adults in off-licences on behalf of minors. The Private Member's Bill introduced by my hon. Friend the Member for Pudsey (Mr. Truswell), the Licensing (Young Persons) Bill, which was successful at Second Reading in the House of Lords on 14 July, would create a new offence of buying alcohol in off-licences on behalf of minors. The Government have given their full support to this Bill. In the White Paper, "Time for Reform: Proposals for the Modernisation of our Licensing Laws" published on 10 April this year, we have made clear that if my hon. Friend's Bill is not successful, we shall introduce this measure in a Bill reforming licensing law generally.

  Schengen Agreement
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 4 July 2000,Official Report, column 166W, on the Schengen Agreement, if it his practice to assess the requirement to modify legislation resulting from accession to agreements with other countries prior to negotiating such agreements; what timescale is envisaged in the case of the Schengen acquis; and if he will make a statement. [130834]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Government's approach to agreements is taken on a case-by-case basis. In the case of partial participation in the Schengen acquis, the Government's objective was to benefit as far as possible from European Union co-operation on policing and judicial matters, commensurate with our Frontiers Protocol. We therefore accepted that legislation might be necessary and would be justified if better European Union co-operation was achieved as a result. As indicated in my reply to the hon. Member on 4 July 2000,Official Report, column 166W, the need to legislate was already implicit in the United Kingdom's agreement to a number of European Union instruments providing for judicial co-operation. Work on Schengen implementation has only recently begun and the timescale will be dependent in part on the Government's legislative timetable, in addition
  364W
  to the time which will be required for the practical implementation of other items, such as the Schengen Information System.

  Visas (Overseas Teachers)
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to amend the working holiday visa scheme to allow greater flexibility in respect of the employment of overseas teachers; and if he will make a statement. [130778]

  Mrs. Roche
  We have no plans to relax the working holidaymakers rules. Flexibility already exists for working holidaymakers in the teaching profession in that they are not precluded from continuing their career in the United Kingdom and may work as supply teachers.

  The purpose of the working holidaymaker scheme is not to enable overseas teachers to secure employment. As the title implies, any work is to be incidental to an extended holiday here and participants are not expected to work for the whole of their time. There are already a number of existing mechanisms under the Immigration Rules to facilitate the employment of overseas teachers, including the work permit scheme and the approved exchange scheme for teachers and language assistants.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many working holidaymaker visas were issued to overseas teachers in the last three years for which figures are available; [130779]

  (2) how many working holidaymaker visas have been issued to overseas teachers and have not yet expired; and how many such teachers are known to be in (a) London and (b) the rest of the United Kingdom [130780]

  Mrs. Roche
  I regret that the available information—on working holidaymakers admitted to the United Kingdom—does not separately identify those who are teachers nor their place of residence in this country.

HEALTH

  Angiograms
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and which hospitals in the NHS provide angiogram facilities; and how long the waiting times are in each of them. [129191]

  Mr. Denham
  92 National Health Service trusts performed at least one coronary angiogram during 1998–99. The table lists these trusts and gives their related average waiting times.

  We recognise that some patients may have to wait some time for this diagnostic procedure and that there is unacceptable variation in access to this service. This is why we have made the prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease one of this Government's priorities.

  The National Service Framework for coronary heart disease will address these inequalities over the 10-year period of the strategy. It sets clear long-term targets for waiting times at every stage of the patient journey, including waits for angiography, and progress towards

  365W
  these targets will be monitored by the NHS Executive through performance management and by the Commission for Health Improvement.

  Number of admissions for selected operations (ordinary admissions and day cases combined). Waiting list and booked admissions method only, by trust in NHS hospitals, England 1998–99

  Days

  Median waiting time

  K63 Contrast radiology of heart

  RA2 Royal Surrey County Hospital

  36

  RA4 East Somerset NHS Trust

  122

  RA5 East Gloucestershire NHS Trust

  5

  RA7 The United Bristol Healthcare

  105

  RA9 South Devon Healthcare NHS Trust

  75

  RAE Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust

  43

  RAF Northern General Hospital NHS

  126

  RAG Doncaster Royal Infirmary

  183

  RAJ Southend Hospital NHS Trust

  136

  RAL The Royal Free Hampstead

  34

  RAP North Middlesex Hospital NHS Trust

  62

  RBA Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust

  102

  RBK Walsall Hospitals NHS Trust

  89

  RBL Wirral Hospital NHS Trust

  99

  RBQ The Cardiothoracic Centre

  37

  RBS Royal Liverpool Childrens NHS Trust

  49

  RBU Central Manchester Healthcare

  100

  RC3 Ealing Hospital NHS Trust

  3

  RCB York Health Services NHS Trust

  1—

  RCF Airedale NHS Trust

  1—

  RCJ South Tees Acute Hospitals NHS

  35

  RCS Nottingham City Hospital NHS Trust

  58

  RDD Basildon and Thurrock General Hospital

  125

  RDL Eastbourne Hospitals NHS Trust

  27

  RDM Hastings and Rother NHS Trust

  13

  RDU Frimley Park Hospital NHS Trust

  6

  RDZ Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch

  67

  RE7 West Cumbria Health Care NHS Trust

  180

  REF Royal Cornwall Hospitals

  117

  REZ Rochdale Healthcare NHS Trust

  35

  RF2 Royal Hull Hospitals NHS Trust

  91

  RF3 East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust

  83

  RF6 North East Lincolnshire NHS Trust

  1—

  RFK Nottingham University Hospital

  28

  RFL Glenfield Hospital NHS Trust

  25

  RFZ Northwick Park and St. Marks NHS Trust

  45

  RG2 Greenwich Healthcare NHS Trust

  15

  RGA Calderdale Healthcare NHS Trust

  63

  RGB Huddersfield NHS Trust

  47

  RGM Papworth Hospital NHS Trust

  122

  RGU Brighton Health Care NHS Trust

  40

  RGZ Queen Mary's Sidcup NHS Trust

  11

  RG6 Gloucestershire Royal NHS Trust

  30

  RH8 Royal Devon and Exeter Healthcare Trust

  109

  RHE Crawley Horsham NHS Trust

  46

  RHH East Surrey Hospital and Community Trust

  1—

  RHM Southampton University Hospital

  88

  RHU Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust

  155

  RHW Royal Berkshire and Battle Hospital

  1—

  RJ1 Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Trust

  79

  RJ5 St. Mary's Hospital NHS Trust

  54

  RJ6 Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust

  118

  RJ7 St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust

  76

  RJE North Staffordshire Hospital

  79

  RJZ King's Healthcare NHS Trust

  24

  RK9 Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust

  149

  RKB Walsgrave Hospitals NHS Trust

  76

  RKF The Princess Royal Hospital

  1

  RL4 The Royal Wolverhampton Hospital

  1

  RLG Carlisle Hospitals NHS Trust

  215

  RLN City Hospitals Sunderland

  4

  RLQ Hereford Hospitals NHS Trust

  83

  366W

  Number of admissions for selected operations (ordinary admissions and day cases combined). Waiting list and booked admissions method only, by trust in NHS hospitals, England 1998–99

  Days

  Median waiting time

  RLW City Hospital NHS Trust

  60

  RLZ Royal Shrewsbury Hospitals

  9

  RM1 Norfolk and Norwich Healthcare

  40

  RM2 South Manchester University Hospital

  45

  RMR Blackpool Victoria Hospital

  106

  RMW Dewsbury Health Care NHS Trust

  217

  RN3 Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust

  85

  RN5 North Hampshire Hospitals NHS Trust

  1—

  RNA Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust

  74

  RNE Sandwell Healthcare NHS Trust

  61

  RNJ The Royal Hospitals NHS Trust

  89

  RNS Northampton General Hospital

  7

  RP4 The Great Ormond Street Hospital

  28

  RPF South Kent Hospitals NHS Trust

  1—

  RQ3 Birmingham Children's Hospital

  85

  RQ6 Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen

  163

  RQ7 The Manchester Children's Hospital

  93

  RQM Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare

  1—

  RQN The Hammersmith Hospitals

  97

  RR1 Birmingham Heartlands and Solihul

  48

  RR4 Pinderfields and Pontefract Hospital

  106

  RR7 Gateshead Health NHS Trust

  59

  RR8 Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

  57

  RRK University Hospital Birmingham

  76

  RRV University College London Hospital

  16

  RT3 Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust

  58

  RTD The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospital

  70

  RTF Northumbria Health Care NHS Trust

  7

  RTG Southern Derbyshire Acute Hospital

  28

  RTH Oxford Radcliffe Hospital NHS Trust

  42

  England

  63

  1 Data quality insufficient to calculate median waiting time

  Notes:

  1. This table is derived from ungrossed HES data.

  2. Waiting time statistics from HES are not the same as the published waiting list statistics. HES provides counts and waiting times for all patients admitted to hospital within a given period whereas the published waiting list statistics count those waiting for treatment at a given point in time and how long they have been on the waiting list. Also, HES calculates the waiting time as the difference between the admission and decision to admit dates. Unlike published waiting list statistics, this is not adjusted for self-deferrals or periods of medical/social suspension.

  Source:

  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES)—Department of Health

  Royal Shrewsbury Hospital
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses were employed at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in each year since 1992; and if he will make a statement. [131136]

  Mr. Denham
  The table illustrates that the number of nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff employed by the Royal Shrewsbury Hospitals National Health Service Trust declined between the years 1994 and 1997. However, numbers remain constant for 1998, and have increased in 1999, demonstrating our commitment to increase the number of nurses working within the NHS. It should be noted that inflated figures for nursing staff in 1994 are not comparable with later years, due to a new classification system introduced in 1995 (see notes).
  367W

  NHS Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS): Nursing, Midwifery and hospital visiting staff, employed by Royal Shrewsbury Hospital NHS Trust, as at 30 September of each year

  Whole time equivalents

  Number (headcount)

  1994

  850

  1,130

  1995

  750

  950

  1996

  730

  940

  1997

  710

  900

  1998

  720

  900

  1999

  730

  920

  Notes:

  1. The Royal Shrewsbury NHS Trust came into being on 1 April 1994. Data from earlier years cannot be disaggregated from health authority returns.

  2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

  3. 1994 figures include agency staff and exclude learners, 1995 to 1999 figures exclude agency staff and learners.

  4. A new classification of the non-medical work force was introduced in 1995, therefore information based on this classification is not comparable with earlier years.

  Source:

  Department of Health Non Medical Workforce Census.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact on waiting lists if consultants were contractually required to see NHS patients on three days a week as a minimum. [131462]

  Mr. Denham
  We are determined to reduce waiting lists and times for all patients. As part of the National Plan for the National Health Service, the Patient Care: Speed of Access Modernisation Action Team has been looking at improving patients' access to NHS services, including the reduction of waiting lists and times.

  Any NHS consultant who carries out private work is expected to devote substantially the whole of their professional time to their NHS work. It is for employers and employees to agree the balance between private and NHS work and for employers to take appropriate action if individual consultants do not meet their contractual commitments. Their responsibilities for the clinical care of their NHS patients must come first.

  Children Act 1989
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish updated statistics to fulfil the undertaking given in the Children Act report 1995 to 1999. [132558]

  Mr. Hutton
  I have today published on the Department of Health internet website a supplementary report entitled "Children Act Report—1999 Supplement" and copies have been placed in the Library.

  Long-term Care
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in how many cases financial responsibility for existing patients(a) in nursing homes and (b) being supported in their own homes, has been assumed by the National Health Service since the appeal decision in R. v. North and East Devon health authority ex parte Coughlan; and if he will make a statement. [131750]
  368W
  Mr. Hutton
  Information is not available in the format requested. Information on numbers of people newly meeting eligibility criteria for continuing National Health Service in-patient care is collected on a quarterly basis. From 1 July 1999 to 31 March 2000, 17,639 people newly met eligibility criteria for continuing in-patient care funded by the NHS. This figure includes an element of forecast data.

  Hammersmith Hospital/Imperial College Imaging Department
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the report on the Hammersmith Hospital/Imperial College Imaging Department commissioned by the former Secretary of State for Health, the right hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson); what plans he has to implement the recommendations contained in this report; and if he will make a statement. [131970]

  Mr. Denham
  Professor Cameron's report was prepared on the basis that it would be confidential to Ministers. He has, however, provided a comprehensive summary of his findings, conclusions and recommendations and this has been made public.

  I announced on 29 June that I had accepted Professor Cameron's recommendations and was instructing the National Health Service Executive to implement them.

  Professor Cameron's report draws a line under these events: no further ministerial statement is planned.

  Hospital Waiting Times (Norfolk)
  Mr. Prior
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the area covered by the Norfolk Health Authority had been waiting over 12 months for elective admission in(a) March 1997, (b) March 1998, (c) March 1999 and (d) March 2000. [132031]

  Mr. Denham
  Norfolk Health Authority was established on 1 April 1999. Prior to its establishment, the area was covered by East Norfolk Health Authority and by part of North West Anglia Health Authority.

  Figures from the period prior to the establishment of Norfolk Health Authority are not directly comparable with those following its establishment.

  The number of patients waiting more than 12 months for elective admission in East Norfolk Health Authority, North West Anglia Health Authority and Norfolk Health Authority are shown in the table.

  Health authority

  East Norfolk

  North West Anglia

  Norfolk

  March

  1997

  146

  122

  —

  1998

  592

  481

  —

  1999

  575

  511

  —

  2000

  —

  —

  1,133

  Source:

  Inpatient waiting lists England by health authority
  369W
  Mr. Prior
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the area covering the Norfolk Health Authority had been waiting more than 12 months for orthopaedic surgery in(a) March 1997, (b) March 1998, (c) March 1999 and (d) March 2000. [132030]

  Mr. Denham
  Norfolk Health Authority was established on 1 April 1999. Prior to its establishment, the area was covered by East Norfolk Health Authority and by part of North West Anglia Health Authority.

  Figures from the period prior to the establishment of Norfolk Health Authority are not directly comparable with those following its establishment.

  The number of patients waiting more than 12 months for trauma and orthopaedic treatment in East Norfolk Health Authority, North West Anglia Health Authority and Norfolk Health Authority are shown in the table.

  Health authority

  East Norfolk

  North West Anglia

  Norfolk

  March

  1997

  66

  36

  —

  1998

  272

  234

  —

  1999

  372

  254

  —

  2000

  —

  —

  687

  Source:

  Inpatient waiting lists England by health authority. (The figures shown are for trauma and orthopaedic cases).

  Hospital Waiting Times (Chase Farm and North Middlesex Hospital)
  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how long the current waiting lists are at(a) Chase Farm and (b) North Middlesex Hospital. [132256]

  Mr. Denham
  Information is collected by trust and is provided in the table.

  Patients waiting for elective admission at end May 2000

  Number

  Barnet and Chase Farm NHS Trust

  7,407

  North Middlesex Hospital NHS Trust

  3,053

  Source:

  Department of Health monthly monitoring

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Forensic Science Northern Ireland
  Mr. Leslie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what key targets were set for Forensic Science Northern Ireland in 2000–01; what further plans have been prepared by Forensic Science Northern Ireland; and what arrangements have been made for the publication of this year's plans. [132555]

  Mr. Mandelson
  The following key targets were set for Forensic Science Northern Ireland in 2000–01:

  Quality of Service
  To turnaround 85 per cent. of cases in which a file is required to be submitted to the DPP within the notified scale.
  To turnaround 90 per cent. of all reports within the timescale notified to the investigating officer in cases where there is no DPP file.
  370W
  Quality of Science
  Maintain the UKAS accreditation of those scientific processes identified by the Ministerial Advisory Board.

  Service Provision
  To have obtained the agreement of the RUC User Board that FSNI is effectively meeting the needs of the RUC as defined in the Service Level Agreement for the year ending 31 March 2001.

  Financial Performance
  Recover from customers the full cash cost of the services delivered to them.
  Reduce the Unit Cost by 2 per cent.

  Achievement against these key targets will be recorded in the Agency's Annual Report for 2000–01 which will be published in July 2001.

  FSNI has published a summary of its Corporate plan 2000–03 and annual Business Plan 2000–01 which explain its business and organisation, describe its key targets for 2000–01 and set out the assumptions about work loads and resources which support its planned activities. Copies of the summary plans have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament. Copies will be available to the public from FSNI.

CABINET OFFICE

  Disaster Contingency Measures
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what research she has undertaken into the effects of a major computer failure in central Government; and what contingency measures have been taken to reduce the impact of such an event. [128868]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  Individual Government Departments are responsible for research into, and contingency planning against, the risk of a major failure in the computer systems they operate. Government as a whole learnt valuable lessons about business continuity planning from handling the Millennium bug.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Child Labour
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the action taken by the Government to tackle child labour abroad. [130952]

  Mr. Hain
  We are engaged in a range of activities—at the bilateral and international level—to tackle child labour. In March 2000, the UK ratified the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention No. 182. The aim of this important new standard is to prohibit and eliminate the worst forms of child labour. We strongly support the ILO's campaign to encourage the widest possible ratification of ILO 182, and is looking at how best to take action in support of this campaign. In June 2000, the UK also ratified ILO Convention No. 138—one of the core ILO conventions—on the minimum age for entry into employment.

  The Government, through the Department for International Development, is supporting practical programmes in a number of countries in South Asia and

  371W
  Africa. Our aim is to reduce child labour, especially the worst forms of child labour. In doing this, we aim to ensure children's protection and survival; to meet children's development needs, particularly in health and education; and to allow them to participate in decisions which affect their lives.

  Pakistan
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is his policy to support the suspension of Pakistan from the Commonwealth. [131518]

  Mr. Hain
  The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Durban in November 1999 endorsed the decision of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) to suspend Pakistan from the councils of the Commonwealth and called for the restoration of civilian democratic rule. CMAG was tasked with keeping the situation in Pakistan under review and to recommend further measures to be taken by the Commonwealth if progress to democracy was not made speedily. Commonwealth members will consider further action at future meetings of CMAG and CHOGM in the light of developments in Pakistan.

  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what factors led him to lift the arms embargo on Pakistan. [131517]

  Mr. Hain
  There has been no arms embargo on Pakistan. As stated on 10 July 1998,Official Report, columns 687–88W, we continue to assess export licence applications on a case-by-case basis against our national criteria and those in the EU Code of Conduct for Arms Exports, and in light of the statement made after the Pakistani and Indian nuclear tests.

  Last October's coup created many uncertainties. The Government have taken time to consider the situation in Pakistan and the wider region before deciding on outstanding export licence applications. The Government have now reached decisions on a number of these. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury, South (Mr. Lewis) on 5 July 2000, Official Report, columns 221–22W, which explains this in more detail.

  Entry Clearance Refusals
  Mr. Hope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to publish the 1999 report by Dame Elizabeth Anson, the Independent Monitor, relating to the refusal of entry clearance where there is no right of appeal. [132480]

  Mr. Vaz
  I have arranged for copies of Dame Elizabeth's Report of 1999 to be placed in the Libraries of the House today. I welcome the report and note Dame Elizabeth's comments and suggestions, which will receive careful consideration.

  Strategic Export Controls
  Mr. Leslie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Government will publish its 1999 Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls. [132554]
  372W
  Mr. Hain
  The Annual Report will be published today. Copies will be available in the Libraries of the House and in the Vote Office from 12.00 noon.

  The Report is also available on the FCO's website at www.fco.gov.uk/directory/dynpage.asp?Page=355.

  EU Flag
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 10 July 2000,Official Report, column 402W, what guidance he will give regarding the flying of the EU flag in terms of its precedence in relation to national flags. [132028]

  Mr. Vaz
  The European flag, where flown, should not take precedence over the Union flag. When the European flag is flown from Government buildings, for example on Europe Day 9 May, it is always displayed alongside, not instead of, the Union flag.

  Yemen
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Yemeni authorities regarding the case of Mohamed Haji; and if he will make a statement. [132006]

  Mr. Hain
  Our Ambassador in Sana'a raised the case of Mohamed Omar Haji with the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdullah al-Sayedi on 9 July and made clear our concerns. I raised Mohamed Haji's plight again on 19 July with the visiting Minister of Health, Dr. Abdullah Nasher. We understand that Mohamed Haji has not been sentenced and that his case has been referred back from the court to the Attorney General who will decide what further action to take. Mohamed Haji has been transferred from the Central Prison to a detention centre for immigrants.

  We will keep Mohamed Haji's case under close review and stand ready to raise the matter again with the Yemeni Government.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Decommissioning Scheme
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to introduce a decommissioning scheme for fishing vessels. [132560]

  Mr. Morley
  We had envisaged that a limited fishing vessel decommissioning scheme might have been needed to meet our EU obligations to reduce capacity of fixed gear vessels. However, capacity in the lines and nets segment of the fleet is already within the MAGP IV objectives for end 2001, and the tonnage of shellfish fixed gear vessels is close to the 2001 objectives. We do not therefore plan to hold a decommissioning scheme in present circumstances.

  Agriculture Council
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the outcome was of the Agriculture Council held in Brussels on 18 July; and if he will make a statement. [131935]
  373W
  Mr. Nick Brown
  I represented the UK at the Agriculture Council held in Brussels on 17 July, accompanied by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State and by Christine Gwyther, Agriculture Secretary in the National Assembly for Wales.

  The council unanimously agreed Commission proposals on CAP prices and aids for the 2000–01 marketing year, reform of the flax and hemp regime and changes to the EU school milk scheme. The flax and hemp reforms will increase the market-orientation of this sector and, following pressure from the UK and others, the agreement includes significantly higher processing aid for the types of flax and hemp produced in this country.

  The Council's changes to the school milk scheme represent a major improvement over the Commission's proposal. Following rejection of their proposals originally to abandon this scheme and subsequently for 50 per cent. co-financing, the Council has limited the changed to a reduction of aid from 95 per cent. to 75 per cent. of the milk target price and provision for the dairy sector to contribute to the scheme. Local authorities which wish to do so will thus continue to have the facility to apply the scheme.

  The Council also unanimously adopted amendments made by the European Parliament to its common position on Beef Labelling. This will enable the Regulation to come into force on 1 September as planned.

  I particularly welcomed the European Parliament's amendments removing the obligation to label beef by category of animal which I know had given rise to considerable concern to our industry.

  Under other business I supported other colleagues pressing Commissioner Fischler to reopen access to export refunds for processed foodstuffs provided this could be achieved without breaching budget discipline.

  Animal Welfare
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his statement of 14 December 1999,Official Report, columns 250–54, if he will make a statement on the progress that has been made in the establishment of an Interdepartmental Ministerial Group on Animal Welfare. [131756]

  Mr. Morley
  The Interdepartmental Ministerial Group on Animal Welfare met formally for the first time today. Ministers with animal welfare responsibilities from the 374W
  Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, the Home Office and the Department for Agriculture and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland joined me for the discussion. Officials from the other devolved Administrations also attended.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he intends to reply to the letters to him dated 20 March, 12 May and 12 June from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr. S. Pennells. [130856]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  My noble Friend the Minister of State replied to the letters from my right hon. Friend on 19 June 2000.

WALES

  Police
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of(a) new police recruits and (b) police retirements in Wales between (i) May 1997 and May 1998, (ii) May 1998 and May 1999 and (iii) May 1999 and May 2000. [130982]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 17 July 2000]: I have been asked to reply.

  Data on the numbers of police officers were not collected for the particular periods requested. The figures for the years ending March 1998, 1999 and 2000 are as follows, and are based on numbers of officers rather than full-rtime equivalents.

  Welsh police forces

  Number of officers

  Year ending

  Police recruits

  Police retirements

  March 1998

  297

  239

  March 1999

  353

  249

  March 2000

  339

  234

  In order to claim the Crime Fighting Fund grant forces have provided profiles of recruitment for 2000–01. According to those profiles, the following numbers were recruited in April and May 2000 by police forces in Wales.

  April 2000–49

  May 2000–24