Written Answers of 24 July 2000

DEFENCE

  Welsh Guards
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if the 1 Battalion Welsh Guards has REME support for their Saxon vehicles; and how many of them are(a) operational and (b) unserviceable; [128475]

  (2) what radio communications below platoon level are available to 1 Battalion Welsh Guards; how many mobile telephones have been purchased to supplement radios; and if he will make a statement. [128476]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 3 July 2000]1 Battalion Welsh Guards has Reme support for its Saxon vehicle holdings. As at 18 July, 23 vehicles were operational and 12 waiting to be repaired. The Regiment is issued with the Clansman combat net radio and although three mobile telephones are held for duty personnel, there is no intention to supplement Clansman holdings with mobile telephones.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will reply to the questions of the hon. Member for Ludlow tabled on 12 June (refs 126192, 126190, and 126191). [129404]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 6 July 2000]I replied to the hon. Member on 17 July 2000,Official Report, column 10W.

  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions he deposited papers in the Library in response to parliamentary questions tabled to his Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April. [131231]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 20 July 2000]The Ministry of Defence deposited papers in the Library in response to parliamentary questions on 160 occasions between 19 October 1999 and 20 April 2000.

  Departmental Payments
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of correctly presented bills were paid by his Department in(a) 1998–99 and (b) 1999–2000 within 30 days of receipt of (i) goods and services, (ii) a valid invoice and (iii) other agreed payment terms. [130042]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 11 July 2000]I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Elmet (Mr. Burgon) on 23 July 1999,Official Report, columns 677–78W.

  The Department is currently collating this information for 1999–2000 and this will be made available to the House shortly.

  Army (Complaints)
  Mr. Peter Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average length of time for the processing of complaints to the Army Board and Her Majesty the Queen. [130745]

  Dr. Moonie
  The average time taken from first submission of complaint by the individual to his or her Commanding Officer to promulgation of the Army Board determination of those cases in the system over the last 12 months (from 1 June 1999 to 31 May 2000) is 82 weeks. 72 per cent. of all cases are decided below Army Board level and consequently take far less time to resolve. After the individual has received the Army Board determination and decides to petition the Sovereign, further legal advice is sought and a report prepared for the Army Board and subsequently the Secretary of State for Defence. The Secretary of State is responsible for putting the petition to Her Majesty. The length of time taken for the process varies very significantly from case to case reflecting the relative difficulty and complexity and the need for the Army Board and the Secretary of State to deal personally and carefully with each case. In the six cases submitted to Her Majesty in the 12 months from June 1999 to 31 May 2000 the time taken from the original determination by the Army Board to submission varied from 30 months to eight months.

  We recognise the problem delay causes in the processing of Redresses of Complaint. The Chain of Command has been provided with clear guidance explaining that every effort must be made to resolve complaints as swiftly as possible and at the lowest possible level, in the interests of good management, efficiency and justice. The Army General Administrative Instructions dealing with Redresses of Complaint have also been amended to ensure that the message is clearly understood by all involved.

  Future Basing Plans (Army)
  Mr. Olner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future basing plans for the Army. [131152]

  Mr. Spellar
  I am now able to give details of our plans for the future basing of units following the Strategic Defence Review restructuring. Since my predecessor published outline basing proposals last year, we have discussed the implications of these changes with the local authorities concerned. We have also, as part of our commitment under SDR to put the environment at the heart of decision making, subjected our proposals to a rigorous examination as part of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the whole of the SDR. The SEA has confirmed that the Army's plans for barrack redevelopment, which flow from the relocation and re-roling of units, are unlikely to have major effects on the environment. Where a potential impact has been identified we have either already changed our plans accordingly or plan to take the necessary action to address the problem as part of our detailed development proposals.

  The changes from the outline proposals announced last year are not in themselves substantial. However, they do provide the Army with a firm basis on which to plan for changes in the roles of units and their parent formations

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  and for a number of relocations of units, all of which are necessary to bring about a more balance operational and training cycle.

  The Headquarters of 12 Mechanised Brigade has formed in Aldershot and that of 16 Air Assault Brigade in Colchester. Aldershot Garrison will house enhancements to 101 Logistic Brigade, including 10 Transport Regiment RLC which will move from Colchester, and the lighter elements of 12 Mechanised Brigade. We intend to keep the overall position in the Garrison under review as Project Connaught, the PPP Project, develops.

  Tidworth Garrison will accommodate an additional armoured regiment, armoured infantry battalion and engineer regiment, required for 12 Mechanised Brigade. Sixteen Close Support Medical Squadron will be moved out of Tidworth to be incorporated into three Close Support Medical Regiment, in Catterick. We are still considering the most appropriate location for the additional artillery regiment, which we originally planned to accommodate in Larkhill. Project Allenby, the PPP Project, is currently scoping the potential for this regiment to be based in Tidworth or Bulford Garrison instead, as part of its overall strategic look at the operational requirement.

  Catterick Garrison will accommodate a number of additional units and enhancements as follows: an additional field workshop will form part of five Battalion REME. Eight Transport Regiment RLC will be enhanced and its fuel handling capabilities rationalised. Three Close Support Medical Regiment, which provides medical support to three (UK) Division, will also be based in Catterick. It will incorporate 24 Close Support Medical Squadron, which is already based in Catterick, 16 Close Support Medical Squadron, which will move from Tidworth, a new close support medical squadron and an evacuation squadron.

  Thirty-eight Engineer Regiment in Claro Barracks, Ripon will be enhanced by the addition of a Close Support Squadron. However the nine very heavy tracked bridge laying vehicles with which the Squadron will be equipped could cause a high environmental risk to the cultural heritage in Ripon town centre, and undesirable traffic congestion. We have therefore decided to locate these vehicles at Cambrai/Megiddo Barracks, Catterick.

  Colchester Garrison will be the main garrison for 16 Air Assault Brigade, although the aviation regiments and one of its infantry battalions will be based elsewhere and the engineer regiment will be located at Woodbridge. Two parachute regiments and a parachute artillery regiment will be based in Colchester, replacing the existing airmobile units.

  The 4th armoured reconnaissance unit will be based in Stanley Barracks, Bovington. Dalton Barracks, Abingdon will house additional sub-units for both 3 Close Support Regiment RLC and 4 General Support Regiment RLC.

  Some moves are already taking place (such as that of two parachute battalions from Aldershot to Colchester with a corresponding move of two infantry battalions from Colchester to form part of the new 12 Mechanised Brigade). Most unit relocations will however have to await the preparation and refurbishment of accommodation, which
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  will be spread over a number of years, and the usual Notice of Proposed Development process. In carrying out this work we shall take every opportunity to provide our military personnel with the sort of modern, efficient, good quality accommodation which they deserve.

  Overseas Service Personnel
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many United Kingdom service personnel are serving overseas, broken down by country. [130768]

  Mr. Spellar
  As at 1 April 2000, the latest date figures for which are available, 39,560 armed forces personnel were serving overseas (this does not include Naval personnel afloat). The three Services collate data on location of personnel slightly differently and this has determined the presentation of the breakdown by country, as follows:

  Country

  Number

  Mainland Europe

  29,213

  Austria

  19

  Belgium

  550

  France

  33

  Germany

  20,429

  Greece

  18

  Italy

  605

  Netherlands

  254

  Norway/Denmark

  251

  Poland

  70

  Portugal

  60

  Turkey

  199

  Former Yugoslavia

  6,307

  Miscellaneous

  418

  Mediterranean, near and Middle East

  5,180

  Cyprus

  3,631

  Gibraltar

  457

  Mid East/Gulf

  270

  Saudi Arabia

  618

  Miscellaneous

  204

  Far East

  288

  Brunei

  201

  Nepal

  33

  Diego Garcia

  38

  Miscellaneous

  16

  North America

  1,417

  Canada

  905

  USA

  512

  Other

  1,498

  Australia

  70

  South Atlantic

  1,428

  Elsewhere

  1,964

  Total

  39,560

  Note:

  1. The 'Elsewhere' figure is made up predominantly of Army personnel including Service Attachés and loans and exchange personnel in the following countries: Andaman Islands, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Indonesia, South Africa, Egypt, Fiji, Ghana, India, Jamaica, Malawi, Malaysia, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Tongan Islands, Tanzania, Singapore, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Albania, Brazil, China, Congo, Columbia, French Overseas Territories, Guatemala, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Laos, Lebanon, Lithuania, Thailand, Angola, Mozambique, USSR.

  2. In addition to Service Attachés and loan and exchange personnel, `Miscellaneous' covers small groups deployed in the relevant region.

  Departmental Budget (Nuclear Weapons)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of his departmental budget is allocated for expenditure on(a) the verification of nuclear arms agreements, (b) the dismantling of redundant nuclear weapons stocks, (c) research on the safe storage and transport of nuclear weapons and (d) the development of a new nuclear warhead or delivery vehicle for nuclear warheads (i) independently and (ii) in collaboration with the United States, using computer simulation facilities. [130846]

  Mr. Hoon
  The following sums are recorded as having been expended during 1999–2000:

  (a) the verification of nuclear arms agreements—£4.2 million

  (b) the dismantling of redundant nuclear weapons—£11.5 million

  (c) work on the safe storage and transport of nuclear weapons makes use of information and capabilities gained in the various parts of the wider research programme rather than as a discrete activity. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  (d) There are no current plans for any replacement for Trident, and as published in the Strategic Defence Review, we are maintaining only the minimum capability to design and produce a successor should this prove necessary. There was therefore no expenditure on the development of a new nuclear warhead or delivery vehicle for nuclear warheads, (i) independently or (ii) in collaboration with the United States, using computer simulation facilities.

  Territorial Army (Wandsworth)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what financial provision he has made for the training of Territorial Army units in the London Borough of Wandsworth during the coming year. [131469]

  Mr. Spellar
  For financial year 2000–01, a total of £450,000 has been allocated to cover Man Training Days (MTDs) for Territorial Army units in the London Borough of Wandsworth. This reflects the levels of MTDs requested by the units themselves.

  Sierra Leone
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what security measures have been taken by his Department to ensure the safety of the UK military training team in Sierra Leone; and if he will make a statement. [131495]

  Mr. Hoon
  In view of the unstable security environment, the Short-Term Training Teams we have deployed to Sierra Leone include a contingent specifically tasked with Force Protection. British Forces have been provided with appropriate Rules of Engagement to allow them to defend themselves robustly if attacked.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost to the Government of implementing Operation Basilica in Sierra Leone; and if he will make a statement. [131496]

  Mr. Hoon
  The estimated costs of the two Short-Term Training Teams we have recently deployed to Sierra Leone under Operation Basilica amount to some £1.3 million.

  Victoria Cross
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people have been awarded the Victoria Cross since 1970; how many holders of the Victoria Cross are still living; and if he will make a statement. [131521]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 20 July 2000]The Victoria Cross has been awarded to two people since 1970, on both occasions posthumously. There are currently 24 living holders of the Victoria Cross.

  Chinook Helicopters
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the contract was signed to fit the RAF Chinook helicopter fleet with flight data recorders; what the original date for completion was; what the current estimate is for date of completion; and if he will make a statement. [131522]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 20 July 2000]I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 18 November 1997,Official Report, columns 151–53W. The programme of work is due to be completed by the end of August 2001.

  Warships
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 14 June 2000,Official Report, column 10W, for what reason he did not provide information on the most recent date on which a new warship was ordered for the Royal Navy. [132029]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 21 July 2000]I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 17 July 2000,Official Report, column 10W. This is the most recent order for a new RN warship.

  Prior to this announcement the last RN warship order was on 14 March 1997 when an order was placed for the design and build of three ASTUTE class nuclear attack submarines.

  Military Hospital, Northallerton
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the new Military District Hospital at Northallerton will open; and if he will make a statement. [131023]

  Dr. Moonie
  The new Ministry of Defence Hospital Unit at Northallerton NHS Health Services Trust opened on 1 July 1999.

  Imaging Systems
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what work his Department has commissioned from DERA on through-the-wall imaging systems; at what cost to his Department; and if he will make a statement. [131768]

  Dr. Moonie
  The Ministry of Defence is currently conducting research into through wall imaging technology and techniques within both the Corporate and the Applied Research Programmes. In financial year 2000–01 this will amount to £370,000 in total. Work is planned to continue in this area.

  Michael John Smith
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those papers which have been removed by Ministry officials this year from Michael John Smith (PR 3345), in HMP Full Sutton. [132275]

  Dr. Moonie
  No papers have been removed from the prison cell of Michael John Smith by Ministry officials. Papers containing classified information in connection with the criminal prosecution of Mr. Smith were removed from his cell by the prison authorities, who were advised and assisted by Ministry of Defence officials. A full list of all documents removed was provided to Mr. Smith by the prison authorities. I am withholding this list under Exemption 4c of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department will reply to the letter dated 19 June from Michael John Smith (PR 3345), currently in HMP Full Sutton. [132278]

  Dr. Moonie
  On the advice of the Treasury Solicitor, any correspondence received directly from Mr. Smith to my officials is forwarded to them for attention. Mr. Smith's letter of 19 June has been the subject of subsequent correspondence between the Treasury Solicitor, who acts on behalf of the Ministry, and Messrs A. S. Law, who act on behalf of Mr. Smith.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on which dates Michael John Smith (PR 3345) in HMP Full Sutton was visited by MOD HQ Sy2 Directorate; for what purpose; and what opportunities were afforded to Mr. Smith to have a legal representative in attendance. [132277]

  Dr. Moonie
  Searches of Mr. Smith's cell were conducted by the prison authorities on 15 and 23 June 2000. Ministry of Defence officials provided advice and assistance in relation to documents stored in the cell. The purpose of the searches was to remove classified information which Mr. Smith was not entitled to keep in his cell and to arrange for its secure storage within the prison. The documents were examined in a separate room, under the prison Governor's powers of search, which do not require the presence of a prisoner's legal representative. Mr. Smith and a member of the Board of Prison Visitors were present at the search on 15 June. Mr. Smith declined to be present at the search on the 23 June.

  Bowman Project
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what sum his Department has paid to Archer in respect of the package 'O' contract for the Bowman Project in each month since April 1999; and if he will make a statement; [131627]

  (2) what the budget of the Bowman Project was in (a) 1993 at (i) 1993 and (ii) 2000 prices and (b) 2000 at (A) 1993 and (B) 2000 prices; and what added capability has been required since 1993; [131628]

  (3) if he will list the funds allocated for supply and support of the Bowman Project in (a) June 1999, (b) June 2000 and (c) June 2001; [131629]
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  (4) what funding he will provide for the supply and support of the Bowman Project in (a) August and (b) September; and if he will make a statement; [131630]

  (5) what (a) legal and (b) financial provision he has made for redundancy following the expiry of the Bowman package 'O' contract at the end of July; and what forecast of redundancy numbers his Department has made in respect of the work force of (i) Archer, (ii) Racal, (iii) ITT and (iv) other contractors. [131631]

  Dr. Moonie
  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Human Rights
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the President of the Council if she will set out the proposed terms of reference of the Joint Committee on Human Rights. [131597]

  Mrs. Beckett
  The proposed terms of reference for the Joint Committee on Human Rights will reflect those in the Message brought from the Lords and printed in the Votes and Proceedings for Wednesday 12 July.

  Adapted for Commons usage they will be:
  The Committee shall consider

  (a) matters relating to human rights in the United Kingdom (but excluding consideration of individual cases);

  (b) proposals for remedial orders, draft remedial orders and remedial orders made under Section 10 of and laid under Schedule 2 to the Human Rights Act 1998; and

  (c) in respect of draft remedial orders and remedial orders, whether the special attention of the House should be drawn to them on any of the grounds specified in Standing Order No. 151 (Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee));

  (3) The Committee shall report to the House

  (a) in relation to any document containing proposals laid before the House under paragraph 3 of the said Schedule 2, its recommendation whether a draft order in the same terms as the proposals should be laid before the House; or

  (b) in relation to any draft order laid under paragraph 2 of the said Schedule 2, its recommendation whether the draft order should be approved;

  and the Committee may report to the House on any matter arising from its consideration of the said proposals or draft orders.
  The Committee shall report to the House in respect of any original order laid under paragraph 4 of the said Schedule 2, its recommendation whether

  (a) the order should be approved in the form in which it was originally laid before Parliament; or

  (b) the order should be replaced by a new order modifying the provisions of the original order; or

  (c) the order should not be approved,

  and the Committee may report to the House on any matter arising from its consideration of the said order or any replacement order.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Crop Contamination
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions his Department has had with(a) the Ministry of

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  Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, (b) the Department of Health and (c) the Cabinet Office since the discovery of the possible contamination of the Advanta Seed crop. [123921]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 5 June 2000]Officials and Ministers across Government have been in continuous contact since we were notified of the possible contamination of Advanta Seed crop. A joint memorandum prepared by DETR and MAFF was submitted to the Agriculture Committee on 12 July and a copy has been placed in the House Library. This gives full details about the events leading up to Government's announcement about the Advanta seeds issue on 17 May.

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions from which sources the United Kingdom accepts the import of toxic waste for(a) incineration and (b) landfill. [129973]

  Mr. Meacher
  UK policy on waste imports is set out in the legally binding United Kingdom Management Plan for Exports and Imports of Waste, which came into effect in June 1996.

  The policies in the UK Plan prohibit most waste imports for disposal, and are designed to encourage countries to become as self-sufficient as possible in waste disposal. However, where countries cannot reasonably be expected to deal with specific wastes in an environmentally sound manner, the UK is prepared to accept them given that we have the necessary treatment facilities which meet tough environmental standards.

  Consistent with this approach the UK currently accepts imports for disposal by high temperature incineration from Brazil, Guernsey, Ireland, the Isle of Man, Jersey, Portugal, South Africa and Thailand. We also have extant agreements to accept waste from Argentina, Chile, Egypt and Pakistan, although there have been no shipments to date from these countries.

  We have only accepted waste for landfilling from the British Antarctic Territory, the Falkland Islands and the Isle of Man.

  Earlier this year the UK made a bilateral arrangement to accept wastes from the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia on Cyprus for disposal by either option, although there have been no shipments under the arrangement to date.

  The position is different for imports for recovery, which under European law includes incineration where the primary purpose is energy recovery. The UK Plan, consistent with the EC Waste Shipments Regulation and OECD Decision C(92)39/Final, permits movements of wastes for recovery between OECD members on the basis that this trade provides a valuable source of raw materials; and that no country is self-sufficient in waste recovery.

  However, while any OECD member country may export hazardous wastes to the UK for incineration with energy recovery, to date we have only received hazardous wastes from Guernsey, Ireland, the Isle of Man, Jersey and the Netherlands.

  UK policies and procedures on the acceptance of waste imports are being considered as part of the current review of the UK Plan. I have made it clear that the UK would
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  expect developing countries to develop, as quickly as is feasible, appropriate facilities to deal with their own waste, as far as is compatible with environmentally sound and efficient management.

  Road Safety
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the implications for road safety of the House of Lords' case of Goodes v. East Sussex County Council. [131640]

  Mr. Hill
  The judgment of the House of Lords in this case was that the duty of a highway authority to maintain highways for which it is responsible under section 41 of the Highways Act 1980 does not include a duty to keep these highways free from ice and snow.

  We are considering the full implications of this judgment before deciding whether to propose any changes to existing highway legislation.

  Local Government Network
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on what occasions(a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department met the New Local Government Network in the last six months; who was present on each occasion; and what was discussed. [131485]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment Transport and the Regions has not met the New Local Government Network during the last six months.

  My right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and the Regions and I continue to have contact with the New Local Government Network about aspects of our local government modernisation agenda, including, on occasions, addressing conferences organised by them. My next meeting with them is planned for later this month to discuss best value partnership working.

  Sustainable Development
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps have been taken to ensure that the principles contained on pages 22 and 23 of the White Paper, "A Better Quality of Life—a Strategy for Sustainable Development for the UK", are applied to policy-making throughout Government. [131967]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The principles are reflected or being taken forward in a range of Government guidance documents and strategies. In particular, the 1999 "Modernising Government" White Paper committed the Government to:producing and delivering an integrated system of impact assessment and appraisal tools in support of sustainable development, covering impacts on business, the environment, health and the needs of particular groups in society.

  The first stage of this work has been completed—the production of a comprehensive IT database of existing impact assessments and appraisals, and sources of guidance (www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/regulation/1999/ checklist/intro.htm) to be made available on Departments' intranets. Building on this, consideration is currently being given to the development of a more streamlined

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  integrated appraisal system to deliver the goal of `inclusive' policy making set out in the "Modernising Government" White Paper and elaborated in the Cabinet Office report "Professional policy making for the twenty-first century".

  Developments in applying the principles in the Strategy will be reported in the Government's first annual review of progress towards sustainable development later this year.

  Concessionary Travel
  Mr. Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions have taken place with the Scottish Executive about the use of the proposed new universal Scottish concessionary travel card in Clwyd. [131893]

  Mr. Hill
  A range of issues is discussed between my Department and the Scottish Executive from time to time, including concessionary fares. I understand that the Scottish Executive have no plans to extend the availability of the Scottish concessionary travel card beyond the borders of Scotland.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to publish his Green Paper on radioactive waste management; and if he will make a statement on the terms of reference of the Green Paper. [130865]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 20 July 2000]I expect the consultation paper on the management of radioactive waste to be published in the autumn. It will be the first step of an open and transparent approach that must characterise the radioactive waste management policy debate in the future.

  The main aim of the consultation paper will be to explore how to involve the public, and groups that represent the public, in that debate.

  The scope of the consultation paper will be as comprehensive as possible and will address issues associated with radioactive materials, such as plutonium, currently outside the scope of existing policy.

  Aerodromes (Noise Levels)
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what his timetable is for consultation on schemes for the amelioration of noise from aerodromes; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of fitting silencers to light aircraft. [131949]

  Mr. Mullin
  We published our consultation paper on control of noise from civil aircraft on 20 July. This proposes legislation to strengthen aerodromes' powers to establish and enforce noise amelioration schemes, and to enable the Secretary of State to designate an aerodrome requiring it to agree such a scheme with an appropriate local authority; together with related matters. The consultation paper will shortly be available on the Department's website. We have invited responses by 13 October. We shall study these carefully before making a decision.
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  To be most effective, engine noise reduction technologies need to be applied at the design stage. The airframe and propellers are also significant sources of noise, and thus the success of retro-fitted silencers depends on the type of aircraft and operating conditions. They may also have an impact on aircraft performance; they would not be appropriate in any case where safety would or could be compromised as a result. The CAA can advise on their appropriateness in specific cases.

  Domestic Air Services
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the total number of domestic aircraft landings at Heathrow Airport was in the last 12 months. [131954]

  Mr. Mullin
  The CAA data available group take-offs and landings together. In the year to end April 2000, there were 69,606 take-offs and landings by domestic services at Heathrow. This figures is for commercial flights, and excludes such things as positional movements.

  Rogers Report
  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 13 July 2000,Official Report, column 625W, which academic institutions, regeneration practitioners and professional institutions are working together in the North West to develop urban development skills following the Rogers report. [131641]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  A steering group led by the University of Salford, including Universities in Liverpool and Manchester, the North West Development Agency, the North West Regional Assembly, Government Office for the North West, major local authorities, the professions and private practitioners has commissioned the Centre for Local and Economic Strategy to undertake a feasibility study on a North West Centre for Excellence for Regeneration.

  Timber
  Mr. Gummer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will require house builders to certify the source of the timber used in the construction of their houses; [131696]

  (2) if he will introduce regulations requiring house builders to use wood from sustainable sources, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. [131695]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Department has no plans at this time to introduce additional regulation on house builders requiring them to use wood from certified sustainable sources. However, the use of timber from sustainable sources is an integral part of our overall strategy for sustainable construction. Rather than regulate, we are seeking to change attitudes through collaboration and education. Through the Construction Research and Innovation Programme, the Department supports the development of a range of tools and guidance, such as BRE's Environmental Estimating Design software (ENVEST) and Environmental Assessment Methodology (BREEAM). These are aimed at helping clients and designers to identify more sustainable approaches to the supply and use of all construction materials.

  Taskforces
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the taskforces for which he is responsible; and if he will estimate the annual cost in each case. [132018]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  My Department is responsible for three taskforces as follows:Shipping Taskforce—Members attend on a voluntary basis. Departmental costs are not separately identifiable.
  Taskforce for London Transport—£83,555.
  Taskforce on Home Buying—Members attend on a voluntary basis. Departmental costs are not separately identifiable.

  Rail Freight
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 12 July 2000,Official Report, column 563W, on rail freight, what the maximum permissible weight will be for a traction unit designed to convey the cement road tankers to which he refers. [132019]

  Mr. Hill
  In my answer to the hon. Member on 12 July I stated that the cement road tanker designed to be conveyed on the intermodal wagons would have a maximum weight of 40 tonnes. This referred to the combined weight of the load of cement, the road tanker and its trailer. The total on-road weight of road tanker, trailer and traction unit and its load will not exceed 44 tonnes (road tanker—5.1 tonnes; trailer—5 tonnes; traction unit—8.1 tonnes; load of cement—not more than 25.8 tonnes).

  Disruptive Airline Passengers
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance he issues to air carriers operating out of UK airports on(a) appropriate staff training for, and (b) ways of dealing with, air rage. [131896]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Civil Aviation Authority is responsible for the safety regulation of UK-registered aircraft. UK airlines, as a condition for the issue of an Air Operators' Certificate, are required to train cabin staff in all relevant safety procedures and, given the disparate nature of aircraft operations, it is for them to decide the most appropriate type of training in dealing with disruptive passengers.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many carriers operating out of UK airports carry handcuffs and other passenger restraints; and if he will make a statement. [131895]

  Mr. Mullin
  This is a matter for the airlines. However, I understand that most airlines operating long-haul flights to and from UK airports carry handcuffs or other forms of passenger restraint.

  Regional Development Agencies
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what role Regional Development Agencies play in evaluating single regeneration budget bids; and if he will make a statement on the transparency of the process. [131994]
  388W
  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Regional Development Agencies are responsible for assessing bids for SRB funding against the criteria and priorities set out in the published bidding guidance and regional strategies.

  The assessment process requires RDAs to consult with, and take account of the views of, Government Departments and agencies whose interests are covered in the bid proposals. The RDAs then discuss their proposed recommendations for support with either myself or my right hon. Friend for formal approval. RDAs provide detailed feedback to all bidders.

  I consider that these arrangements ensure there is transparency at all stages.

  Porpoises
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures are in place to protect harbour porpoise in(a) United Kingdom waters and (b) other waters in the European Union. [131990]

  Mr. Mullin
  Harbour porpoises, like all cetaceans, are protected in Great Britain under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Section 9 of the 1981 Act makes it an offence to intentionally kill or injure all cetaceans, or to damage, destroy or obstruct access to any place which they use for shelter or protection. Similar provisions apply in Northern Ireland. In addition, the Government have recently proposed an amendment to the Countryside and Rights of Way Bill to increase the protection given to cetaceans. The amendment will make it an offence to intentionally or recklessly disturb a cetacean.

  Within the European Union, harbour porpoises are protected under the Council Directive (92/43/EEC) on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora, known as the Habitats Directive. This requires member states to designate appropriate sites of community importance for harbour porpoises as Special Areas of Conservation and prohibit the deliberate killing and disturbance of this species. This Directive is transposed into UK law by the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations 1994.

  The Government are currently considering the implications of last autumn's judgment by the High Court that the Habitats Directive extends beyond the limits of the territorial seas. They expect to consult before the end of this year on regulations to transpose the Directive to cover the marine environment within the United Kingdom's jurisdiction outside the territorial seas.

  Urban Design
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the outcome of the skills seminar on urban design held on 13 July; and if he will place in the Library copies of the papers arising. [131992]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The seminar which I chaired considered how to raise the level of urban design skills in the light of the recommendations of the Urban Taskforce. It drew on findings from two research projects commissioned earlier this year. These reviewed provision of training for urban design and the availability of design
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  skills in local planning authorities in England. Copies of the reports, delegate pack and DETR news release have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Participants at the seminar agreed to set up a working party, to be chaired by Sir Stuart Lipton, chair of the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, to consider how to train a new generation of urban designers. Its members will be drawn from the key professional institutions and it will promote a new multi-disciplinary approach to training in design.

  Ocean Habitats
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the measures needed to protect ocean habitats. [131997]

  Mr. Mullin
  At its annual meeting in Copenhagen on 26 to 30 June, the OSPAR Commission adopted and launched the Quality Status Report on the whole of the North-East Atlantic, the "QSR 2000", along with reports covering the five regions of the OSPAR maritime area. The UK participated, in particular, in the preparation of the reports on the Greater North Sea (Region II) and the Celtic Seas (Region III). Together, these reports comprise the first detailed assessment of the health of the North-East Atlantic.

  The assessment concludes that worsening trends in the pollution of the North-East Atlantic have been reversed, and that many significant sources of pollution have been stopped. Nevertheless, the North-East Atlantic is still under threat. The main fields where action is needed are the sustainable management of fish stocks, the continuing impact of some fisheries on fragile ecosystems, and the elimination of inputs of hazardous substances. Organotin compounds from antifouling treatments of ships and concerns about endocrine disrupters are particularly highlighted as problems.

  Other important issues identified by the OSPAR Commission are climate changes resulting from human activities and the consequent effects on the marine environment, the need to protect marine biodiversity and ecosystems from human activities, and the impacts of oil spills and discharges of ballast water from shipping.

  The Government consider, in line with the conclusions of the Quality Status Report, that the long-term OSPAR strategies, adopted by the Ministerial Meeting in 1998 at Sintra (in which my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister played a leading role) and subsequently, provide a sound framework for future action on hazardous substances, radioactive substances, eutrophication, the protection of marine biodiversity and habitats and the offshore oil and gas industry. The Government will also pursue action in other relevant international forums, including the Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol, the International Maritime Organisation (particularly on tributyl tin) and the European Community (particularly on the further development of the Common Fisheries Policy).

  The assessment also shows that, in spite of major scientific efforts of OSPAR Commission parties over the last 25 years, there are still major gaps in our understanding of the marine environment, and that improvement of our knowledge base remains a priority.
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  The Government will be working, with our OSPAR partners, to develop effective programmes to remedy such gaps.

  The Government are also considering the implications of last autumn's judgment by the High Court that the EU Habitats Directive extends beyond the limits of the territorial seas. They expect to consult before the end of this year on regulations to transpose the Directive to cover the marine environment within UK jurisdiction outside the territorial seas and have begun the process of identifying possible candidate Special Areas of Conservation in that area.

  Luton Airport Parkway
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the net present cost of the Luton Airport Parkway project under the private finance initiative; what the value is of the public sector comparators in(a) pre-risk and (b) risk-adjusted terms; what risks are identified as having been transferred; and if he will make a statement. [131937]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Luton Airport Parkway Station project was carried out by Railtrack, who took all the design, construction and operational risks. The final cost of the scheme was £23 million and a fixed £2.8 million contribution to the scheme was made through our local transport allocations for the Luton/Dunstable area.

  The Station was opened by Her Majesty the Queen in November last year and has been very successful. 23 per cent. of passengers at the rapidly expanding airport are now using public transport, with 16 per cent. using the new station. Railtrack worked very hard to complete the complicated scheme which they took over from the previous promoters. In addition to an intensive service operated by Thameslink, Midland Mainline services started calling at the station in May.

  Combined Heat and Power
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Government intend to publish their strategy for delivering their target for combined heat and power of at least 10 GWe of CHP by 2010; and if he will make a statement. [131673]

  Mr. Meacher
  We are currently formulating a strategy to achieve our target. It will include a range of policy, regulatory and fiscal measures, a number of which have already been announced.

  A cornerstone of the strategy is the encouragement of Good Quality CHP, which is key to maximising environmental and economic benefits. We are implementing a CHP Quality Assurance programme (CHPQA) to enhance the quality of CHP and determine eligibility to a range of benefits, including exemption from the climate change levy.

  We plan to issue a draft CHP strategy for consultation in the autumn when CHPQA is in place.

  Fuel Poverty
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the component parts will be of the Government's new definition of fuel poverty, including specific exclusions; and if he will make a statement. [130935]

  Mr. Meacher
  The information is as follows.

  1. The Inter-Ministerial Group on Fuel Poverty, chaired jointly by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Energy and Competitiveness in Europe and my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, has reviewed the commonly applied definition of fuel poverty, namely a household that needs to spend more than 10 per cent. of income to achieve a satisfactory heating regime. The Group has taken account of responses to last year's consultation on the new Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES), which sought comments on the definition, and in particular:
  whether the use of fuel for non-heating purposes should be included in assessing the amount of fuel needed to achieve a satisfactory heating regime;and
  whether the calculation of household income should exclude any element of housing costs such as rent or mortgage payments.

  Some 60 per cent. of the 252 respondents commented on one or both of the questions.

  2. The Group has concluded as a consequence that the 10 per cent. threshold is appropriate for defining fuel poverty. On non-heating fuel, the Group noted that 54 per cent. of respondents to the new HEES consultation had commented that all fuel costs should be taken into account; 6 per cent. had other suggestions; and the other 40 per cent. did not comment. The Group believes that the definition should be based on all fuel use.

  3. As regards the treatment of housing costs, the Group noted that 34 per cent. of respondents suggested that they should not be excluded from the calculation of household income; 20 per cent. that some allowance should be made; 6 per cent. offered other suggestions; and 40 per cent. did not comment. The Government's Poverty Strategy has shown income data both with no allowance for housing costs, and excluding costs met by Housing Benefit or Income Support for Mortgage Interest (ISMI). The Group has taken account of responses to the consultation exercise and the difficulty of producing definitive figures, and has concluded that the draft Fuel Poverty Strategy which will be issued in the autumn will focus mainly on the first basis, but will identify the number of fuel poor on both bases. But the Government will consult further and will invite comments on this, when they publish their draft Strategy.

  4. Some commentators have argued that all mortgage, rent and other housing costs should be excluded in calculating household income. On this basis, however, more than one in three households in England would have been classed as fuel poor in 1996, based on the English House Condition Survey. Although fuel poverty is unacceptably widespread, this definition would include many households who would not be regarded—or regard themselves—as being in material fuel poverty.

  Quarrying
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which organisations representing the UK quarrying industry have been consulted about the proposed aggregates tax. [132259]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  A range of quarry trade organisations has been invited by the Treasury, HM Customs and Excise and the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions to participate in the process of researching the environmental impacts of aggregate quarrying, developing the mechanisms of the proposed levy (including two consultations on draft clauses), discussing the content of a voluntary alternative package of measures, and clarifying the implications of the Chancellor's announcement in Budget 2000. Trade organisations recorded as having been involved in one or more of these processes include the British Aggregates Association, the British Cement Association, the Confederation of British Industry, the Quarry Products Association and the Silica and Moulding Sands Association. Views have also been received from representatives of the coal and ceramic clay producers.

  Liverpool-Dover Railway
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment the Government have made of(a) the financial viability, (b) the practical viability, (c) the planning aspects, (d) the environmental impact and (e) the contribution to transport policies of the proposals made by Central Railway plc. for a freight-only railway from Liverpool to Dover. [132148]

  Mr. Hill
  None. I understand that Central Railway plc may intend to submit an application under the Transport and Works Act 1992 but no such application has yet been received.

  Park Homes
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to ensure that recreational park home owners are included in legislation or other action arising from the report of the Park Homes Working Party. [132139]

  Mr. Mullin
  Owners of holiday park homes are not covered by the mobile homes legislation and did not fall within the remit of the Park Homes Working Party. We are now consulting on the recommendations of the Working Party, and any responses from interested bodies or individuals on the position of holiday park home owners will be considered. The Director General of Fair Trading has given his support to codes of practice for the letting, selling and siting of holiday park homes.

  Social Exclusion
  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 13 July 2000,Official Report, column 625W, who has been invited to the consultation meetings on the

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  feasibility study of a recommendation made by the Social Exclusion Unit's Policy Action Team 16 (Learning Lessons); and where these consultation meetings will take place. [131659]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  I have placed in the Library of the House a list of those invited to consultation meetings on the National Centre for Neighbourhood Renewal. The meetings will take place in central London.

  Ribble Valley
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of all new developments in the Ribble Valley were built on brownfield sites in each year since 1994. [131661]

  Chatburn air quality

  Sulphur dioxide

  Nitrogen dioxide

  PM10

  Date

  Maximum 15 minute mean recorded (ppb)

  Number of exceedences of the 15 minute mean for SO2 (100ppb)

  Maximum 1 hour mean recorded (ppb)

  Number of exceedences of the 1 hour mean for NO2 (105ppb)

  Maximum 4 hour mean recorded (ugm3)

  Number of exceedences of the 24 hour mean for PM10 (50ug/m3)

  April-September 1997

  110

  7

  40

  0

  54

  1

  October 1997-March 1998

  110

  2

  57

  0

  59

  6

  April-September 1998

  107

  2

  26

  0

  53

  1

  October 1998-March 1999

  59

  0

  38

  0

  43

  0

  April-September 1999

  49

  0

  69

  0

  52

  1

  October 1999-March 2000

  66

  0

  38

  0

  54

  2

  AQS objective

  100

  35/yr

  105

  18/yr

  50

  35/yr

  RVBC has concluded that the air quality in Chatburn already meets the Government's air quality objectives.

  The Environment Agency also collects a large amount of monitoring data from the individual industrial sites it regulates. All these data are available on the public registers.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many new dwellings were built in the Ribble Valley in each year since 1994. [131657]

  Mr. Mullin
  The total number of permanent dwellings completed in Ribble Valley are as follows:

  Period

  Number

  1994

  242

  1995

  343

  1996

  271

  1997

  212

  1998

  179

  1999

  1126

  1 Figure reported for 11 months of the year

  A303 (Stonehenge)
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the total amount spent by his Department and its predecessors since 1986 is on(a) design work, (b) public consultation and inquiries and (c) other identifiable cost headings in connection with road improvements on the A303 past Stonehenge, including Countess Roundabout and Winterbourne Stoke. [131533]
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  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The information is not available for local authority districts. The latest information for the North West shows that for 1994, 63 per cent. of all new development took place on recycled land.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what levels and type of pollution were measured in the Ribble Valley in each year since 1994. [131647]

  Mr. Hill
  Ribble Valley Borough Council (RVBC) established an air quality monitoring station in Chatburn in 1997. It is equipped to continuously monitor sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and PM10 particulates. The following data have been obtained:

  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. Robert Key, dated 24 July 2000:
  The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has asked me to reply to your recent question about the total amount spent by his Department and its predecessors on road improvements for the A303 past Stonehenge, including Countess Roundabout and Winterbourne Stoke since 1986.
  Prior to 1 April 1996, the only expenditure by the Highways Agency and its predecessors that can be attributed solely to the A303/Amesbury-Berwick Down scheme past Stonehenge relates to a public consultation exhibition held in 1993 costing £32,000 and a conference and exhibition in 1994 costing £78,000. Since then the Agency has spent £909,461 on the design of the A303 Stonehenge scheme, including preliminary work on the improvement of Countess Roundabout. In addition, a public exhibition was held in 1999 at a cost of £48,000.
  If you wish to discuss this matter further, Mark Bailey, the Highways Agency's Route Manager for the A303 (telephone 01179 878198) would be happy to talk to you.

  Neighbourhood Renewal
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the deprived areas which will benefit from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund. [132110]

  Ms Armstrong
  We will consult in the autumn on which local authorities should benefit from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund.
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  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions who will determine the spending allocations of the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund. [132115]

  Ms Armstrong
  The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions will bring before the House a Special Grant Report under section 88B of the Local Government Finance Act 1988.

  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the priorities will be for the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund. [132114]

  Ms Armstrong
  The Neighbourhood Renewal Fund will make a key contribution to the delivery of the National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal—including new targets for education, crime, employment, health and housing in deprived areas—and help to get money to where it is most needed. Authorities will work with new Local Strategic Partnerships to draw up local deprivation strategies which will spell out how the additional funding will help to renew the most deprived communities and promote closer co-operation with the police, health and other local services.

  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) who the lead Minister will be for the National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal; [132112]

  (2) what the role will be of (a) the RDAs and (b) local authorities in the implementation of the National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal. [132113]

  Ms Armstrong
  The Report by the Social Exclusion Unit on a "National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal: a framework for consultation", published last April, raised these issues in its key ideas 22, 23 and 24. Decisions on these and other points in the draft Strategy will be announced in the autumn when the National Strategy Action Plan setting out the Government's response to the consultations is published.

  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will make a statement on the role of the new National Centre for Neighbourhood Renewal; [132280]

  (2) where the National Centre for Neighbourhood Renewal will be based; to whom it will be accountable; and what its budget will be. [132111]

  Ms Armstrong
  The Social Exclusion Unit's Policy Action Team on "Learning Lessons" (Policy Action Team 16) recommended setting up a National Centre for Neighbourhood Renewal, to play a leadership role in promoting effective, inclusive approaches to neighbourhood renewal. The Government have accepted this recommendation.

  The Policy Action Team envisaged that the Centre would promote: quality training and development for neighbourhood renewal among policy makers, professional and practitioner groups and community organisations; better access to "lessons learned" from previous experience; better collaboration between those involved in neighbourhood renewal; better research on the issues; and better leadership.
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  The Government are currently considering and consulting on the precise scope and functions of the Centre. This will include consideration of the location, budget and accountability arrangements.

  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the relationship will be between local authorities, regional development agencies and the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund. [132116]

  Ms Armstrong
  In drawing up local deprivation strategies for using the new Neighbourhood Renewal Fund, local authorities will work with new Local Strategic Partnerships. The RDAs should be key members of the partnerships in the areas in which they are investing.

  Brownfield Development
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what annual targets he has set for the proportion of new housing to be provided(a) on recycled land and (b) by re-using existing buildings in each of the years to 2008. [132320]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  This Government are committed to maximising the re-use of previously-developed land within urban areas, bringing empty homes back into use and converting existing buildings, in preference to the development of greenfield sites. The target for England is that, by 2008, 60 per cent. of additional housing should be provided on previously-developed land and through conversions of existing buildings.

  Home Ownership
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions from what base year the press releases accompanying the CSR forecast states that twice as many families will be helped into home ownership by 2004. [132319]

  Mr. Mullin
  When the press release talks about twice as many families being helped into home ownership, this is compared to the number of families that would have been helped if the previously planned funding level for low-cost ownership in 2001–02 had been maintained until 2004.

  Fishguard Harbour
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions further to his answer of 17 July 2000,Official Report, column 48W, on Fishguard Harbour, if he plans to refuse to ban the use of pleasure craft in Fishguard Harbour, except with the consent of the Harbourmaster, and the use of any craft by anyone under the age of 16 years. [132498]

  Mr. Hill
  Age limits for the use of craft in Fishguard Harbour are included in the Harbour byelaws proposed by the harbour operator, Stena Line Ports Ltd. There are outstanding objections and we have not yet reached a decision on this issue.

  Partnership Investment Programme
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 6 July 2000,Official Report, column 264W, on

  397W
  what date discussions between his Department and the European Commission about an alternative to the Partnership Investment Programme started; in what form these discussions have taken place; how far such discussions have progressed; and what conclusions have been reached. [131977]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Discussions between the Department and the European Commission about an alternative to the Partnership Investment Programme began on 2 March 2000. Discussions are continuing. My Department is exploring a number of other avenues. Subject to the views of other Government Departments, this is likely to include a fact-finding seminar with other Member States in order to establish their approach to regeneration.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many written parliamentary questions tabled to his Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April have not received substantive answers, citing as the reason commercial or other confidentiality. [132133]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  For the period in question, 15 out of a total of 2,865 parliamentary questions tabled to my Department did not receive substantive answers, citing as the reason commercial or other confidentiality.

  Photocard Driving Licences (Post Offices)
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the post offices offering over-the-counter identity document checking facilities for photocard driving licence applicants, during a six month trial period. [132153]

  Mr. Hill
  The pilot over-the-counter application checking service for those who hold UK passports and are applying for a first photocard driving licence, commenced at 208 selected post offices on 12 June. A list of participating post offices has been placed in the House Libraries.

  Buses (Disabled Access)
  Mrs. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will introduce regulations to ensure that wheelchair users and other disabled people can travel by bus. [132674]

  Mr. Hill
  I am pleased to announce that I have today laid before the House the Public Service Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 2000 which set technical standards for wheelchair access and a range of other features to enable disabled people to use buses and coaches.

  Our Ten Year Transport Plan, Transport 2010, published last week, demonstrated our commitment to creating public transport that is accessible to disabled people. These regulations are the latest move towards achieving that goal.

  Buses are at the very heart of public transport and these regulations will mean that, in future, more and more disabled people will be able to use local bus services.

  Housing Investment
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what his plans are for housing investment in future years; and if he will make a statement. [132683]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I am pleased to announce that the Government's spending plans for 2001–02 to 2003–04, announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 18 July 2000,Official Report, columns 219–29, provide extra investment of £1.6 billion a year for housing by 2003–04 compared to 2000–01. These extra resources confirm our commitment in the Housing Green Paper to ensure that everyone has the opportunity of a decent home. Our full spending plans are set out in the tables.

  The settlement includes, over the three years:
  an additional £400 million for council housing placed in arm's-length management companies;
  support for the transfer of up to 200,000 homes each year from local authorities to housing associations;
  an additional £250 million for our new Starter Home Initiative; an additional £872 million for new social rented housing;
  an additional £120 million for a new Safer Communities Supported Housing Fund.

  Total additional spending over the three years will be just over £1.8 billion. In addition, we will be boosting the Housing Private Finance Initiative, providing for an extra £600 million investment in council housing over the two years 2002–03 to 2003–04. This will bring total additional investment in housing over the three years to nearly £2.5 billion.

  By 2003–04, annual capital investment in housing, excluding the Private Finance Initiative, will have risen to more than £4 billion. This compares with the planned capital investment we inherited in 1997 of just £1.5 billion for 1997–98, with further cuts proposed by the last Government for 1998–99 and 1999–2000. We acted swiftly to tackle past and planned under-investment. Our Capital Receipts Initiative provided nearly £800 million extra in 1997–98 and 1998–99. Through our 1998 Comprehensive Spending Review, we provided an additional £3.9 billion for the years 1999–2000 to 2001–02 so that, in 2001–02, capital investment in housing will be double the amount we inherited.

  In the 2000 spending review, we have looked closely at our priorities for housing in the context of our Housing Green Paper and the many initial comments we received in response to it. We concluded that, despite the higher levels of investment planned in 2001–02, additional resources would be needed to fulfil the commitments in the Green Paper. The extra resources we are making available over the next three years are on top of the planned funding level for 2001–02 agreed during the 1998 Comprehensive Spending Review.

  Our new spending plans will help to ensure that we meet our Green Paper commitment to bring all social housing up to a decent standard within a decade, with a third of homes that currently fail to reach those standards improved by 31 March 2004.

  We are providing an extra £400 million for investment in local authority-owned housing. In line with the Green Paper proposals, we are putting that, together with

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  £60 million of existing resources, into a special pot of £460 million, available to authorities which have set up arm' s-length management companies and demonstrated excellence in their performance under the new Best Value regime. In this way, we are rewarding good performance as well as encouraging authorities to separate their landlord from their strategic function. We expect that the money available will result in improvements to approaching 100,000 homes by 2003–04.

  Within the Housing Revenue Account for local authority housing we are providing a Major Repairs Allowance as part of a new, more business-like financial regime. The Major Repairs Allowance will be £1.6 billion in 2001–02. In future years, the amount per dwelling will be up-rated in line with inflation. We expect the total amount to be £1.5 billion in 2003–04 and £1.4 billion in 2003–04, reflecting the reduction in the number of local authority dwellings as a result of stock transfers and Right to Buy. These amounts will be drawn from the total provision for capital expenditure by local authorities.

  We also propose that management allowances will rise by 2 per cent. in real terms in each of the years 2002–03 and 2003–04. Maintenance allowances will be up-rated in line with inflation over the same period.

  Taken together, we believe these measures will provide authorities with the resources and the freedom to manage their housing assets more effectively.

  As the Green Paper stresses, the transfer of council housing to housing associations will play an important part in bringing social housing up to decent standards, in separating authorities' strategic and landlord functions for housing, and in creating a more diverse range of social landlords. We have made provision in our spending plans to support the transfer of up to 200,000 homes each year from 2001–02, where proposals have the backing of tenants. We are conducting a review of the stock transfer process. We will be setting up a new Community Housing Task Force to assist local authorities and tenants to carry forward transfer as part of a reformed process. The task force will help to ensure that new social landlords created by the transfer process empower tenants and regenerate communities.

  The Private Finance Initiative is another important option for improving local authority housing. Currently, there are eight authorities testing this approach through pathfinder schemes. Our new spending plans provide £160 million in 2001–02 to fund the existing pathfinders, with an extra £600 million over the following two years to fund new schemes.

  The provision of affordable housing is a vital part of our strategy for ensuring that everyone has the opportunity of a decent home. We believe that local authorities are best placed to assess the need for affordable hosing in their areas and to reflect those assessments in their housing strategies, their investment plans and in the implementation of planning powers for affordable housing.

  We have already acted to put that policy in place.

  We did so through the 1998 Comprehensive Spending Review, increasing the resources available to local authorities for housing investment, including investment in new affordable housing. We also increased the scope
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  available to them to reflect local priorities in their investment plans, through the creation of a single pot for housing capital expenditure. We were able to halt planned cuts to the Housing Corporation's investment in new affordable housing. We have also encouraged the Corporation to strengthen the links between its investment decisions and the priorities of local authorities at regional and local levels.

  Our recently revised planning guidance for housing (PPG3) reinforces the powers available to authorities to seek the provision of affordable housing as a proportion of new private developments, complementing public investment. We will be issuing best practice guidance to help authorities to make more effective use of these powers in future years.

  These policies are helping to deliver more affordable housing and to ensure that homes are provided where they are needed most. However, we do not believe that this is sufficient. Local authorities and housing associations in urban and rural areas of high demand have impressed upon us the difficulties they face in improving existing poor condition housing for their tenants, while at the same time providing decent homes for families in need of affordable housing.

  We have taken account of these representations in the spending review and will increase funding through the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme. Ahead of the spending review period, we are providing an additional £50 million this year. This will be followed by an extra £872 million between 2001–02 and 2003–04. Our new spending plans will result in investment through the Approved Development Programme nearly doubling from planned expenditure of £691 million in 2001–02 to £1,236 million by 2003–04. This will allow increased provision of affordable housing in both urban and rural areas. We expect to see increasing use of modern construction techniques and greater efficiency in line with the Construction Task Force report.

  Most people aspire to home ownership, and nearly 70 per cent. of households in England own their own homes already. However, despite relatively low interest rates and a stable economy, high house prices in some areas can act as a barrier to home ownership for people on lower incomes. Our Housing Green Paper recognised the need to expand our existing programme of support for low cost home ownership, particularly to help key workers who need to live close to the communities they support. Through our Green Paper, we are consulting on proposals for a new Starter Home Initiative to help key workers to achieve home ownership in high price, high demand areas. Our spending plans provide an additional £250 million between 2001–02 and 2003–04 to support low cost home ownership. We will announce details of the Starter Home Initiative in the light of responses to the Green Paper.

  Increased funding for the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme and the new Starter Home Initiative will significantly increase the provision of affordable housing. Local authorities will continue to be able to complement Housing Corporation and Starter

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  Home Initiative investment from their own capital allocations, in line with their own local housing strategies. Their funding decisions will influence the total level of affordable housing provision across England.

  The spending review has also underlined the importance of supported housing. Our new Supporting People programme will come into effect in 2003–04, providing an integrated policy and funding framework for support services for vulnerable households. We will be providing revenue funding of £153 million between 2001–02 and 2003–04 to ensure the effective implementation of Supporting People.

  In the run-up to implementation, we have also decided, in line with the Government's commitment to reducing crime and protecting the vulnerable, to provide £120 million additional capital funding for a new Safer Communities Supported Housing Fund, together with associated capital funding for a new Safer Communities Supported Housing Fund, together with associated revenue support of £17 million. This will provide new housing and support for young people at risk and other vulnerable people, such as those fleeing domestic violence. It will also provide housing and support for ex-offenders and people with drug or alcohol problems. The fund will be administered by the Housing Corporation, and will be conditional on local authorities providing matching capital funding for housing provided in their areas. Projects must also have the full support of the local crime and disorder partnership. More details of this scheme will be announced in the autumn.

  Disabled Facilities Grants fund adaptations to enable disabled people to live with dignity in their own homes. We are providing an extra £39 million over the three years for these grants, increasing funding to £88.8 million by 2003–04.

  Home Improvement Agencies play an important role in helping elderly and vulnerable home owners to maintain and improve their homes. We are providing an extra £6 million in grants to local authorities for Home Improvement Agencies over the next three years.

  Our new spending plans include a total of over £200 million over the three years to prevent rough sleeping throughout England and to help former rough sleepers rebuild their lives through education, training and employment. These resources will ensure that, having achieved the Government's target of reducing the level of rough sleeping by at least two-thirds, those reductions can be sustained.

  Table 2: Planned spend for 2001–02 prior to 2000 Spending Review and total spending plans up to 2003–04

  £ million

  Plans agreed prior to review

  Total spending plans

  2001–02

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Totals

  Local authority capital

  2,305

  2,305

  2,465

  2,545

  7,316

  Of which:

  Housing basic credit approvals

  2,305

  705

  793

  842

  2,341

  Arm's-length management companies

  0

  0

  160

  300

  460

  Major Repairs Allowance

  0

  1,600

  1,512

  1,403

  4,515

  Housing Corporation

  890

  995

  1,158

  1,460

  3,614

  Of which:

  Approved Development Programme including ERCF (capital)

  691

  789

  940

  1,236

  2,966

  including Rough Sleepers Initiative capital of

  24

  24

  24

  24

  71

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  Our spending plans will help to improve the quality of housing and the support we provide for the most vulnerable members of society.

  In addition to quality, choice is a key theme of the Housing Green Paper. By improving the quality and supply of housing, we will also improve the choices available to people as home owners or tenants.

  We are also keen to encourage local authorities to introduce more customer-focused lettings schemes which given tenants a greater choice over where they live. Over the next three years, we will be providing £11 million to support pilot schemes involving local authorities and registered social landlords which test choice-based lettings policies.

  We are about to conduct extensive research into the availability and quality of local authority gypsy sites. The results will be considered as part of the next spending review. In the meantime, we are making available £17 million over the next three years to help authorities to improve and refurbish a limited number of sites, as part of the Government's policy to discourage unauthorised camping and all the problems associated with it. We will publish details of the scheme in the autumn.

  Our aim is to ensure that everyone has the opportunity of a decent home. Our Housing Green Paper sets out our strategy for meeting that aim. Our new spending plans provide the resources necessary to deliver it. This money, together with the additional resources being made available in other programmes, ensures a major contribution to the renaissance of our cities and countryside, which will be highlighted in our Urban and Rural White Papers.
  Spending Review 2000 Housing

  Table 1: Planned spend for 2001–02 prior to 2000 Spending Review and additional spending plans up to 2003–04

  £million

  Of which:

  Housing departmental expenditure limit (DEL)

  Total capital expenditure

  Total current expenditure

  Plans agreed prior to review

  2001–02

  3,552

  3,072

  480

  Additional spending

  2001–02

  128

  148

  -20

  2002–03

  645

  549

  96

  2003–04

  1,085

  945

  140

  2004–05

  1,858

  1,642

  216

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  Table 2: Planned spend for 2001–02 prior to 2000 Spending Review and total spending plans up to 2003–04

  £million

  Plans agreed prior to review

  Total spending plans

  2001–02

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Totals

  Current expenditure

  199

  206

  218

  224

  648

  including Social Housing Management Grant of

  145

  145

  157

  162

  463

  including Rough Sleepers Initiative current expenditure of

  18

  18

  18

  18

  54

  including Innovation and Good Practice Grant of

  6

  7

  9

  10

  27

  Starter Home Initiative

  0

  50

  100

  100

  250

  Large Scale Voluntary Transfer Pool

  86

  86

  196

  211

  492

  Supporting People

  0

  20

  55

  78

  153

  Safer Communities Supported Housing Fund

  0

  22

  45

  70

  137

  Disabled Facilities Grant

  75

  87

  88

  89

  263

  Home Improvement Agencies

  7

  9

  9

  9

  26

  Rough Sleepers Unit and homelessness

  30

  30

  30

  30

  91

  Lettings pilot schemes

  0

  6

  4

  1

  11

  Tenant Participation Grant

  6

  6

  6

  6

  19

  Neighbourhood wardens

  0

  2

  3

  5

  10

  Other housing expenditure

  152

  64

  42

  43

  149

  Total housing (Departmental Expenditure Limit)

  3,552

  3,682

  4,201

  4,647

  12,530

  Private Finance Initiative for Housing

  160

  160

  300

  300

  760

  Housing Revenue Account Subsidy1

  3,096

  3,106

  3,025

  2,958

  9,089

  1 Annually Managed Expenditure

HEALTH

  Levonorgestrel
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will publish the medical research and evidence on which the Committee for the Safety of Medicines based their recommendation that levonorgestrel 0.75 mg could be supplied as a pharmacy medication; [129410]

  (2) what trials have been conducted in the United Kingdom to test the safety and long-term health effects of levonorgestrel 0.75 mg. [129409]

  Yvette Cooper
  A product containing levonorgestrel 0.75 mg has been authorised in the United Kingdom as a prescription only medicine. This followed advice from the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) who were satisfied as to the product's quality, safety and efficacy. The evidence considered included two World Health Organisation sponsored pivotal studies. One study involving approximately 3,000 women in 14 countries, including the UK, has been published in the Lancet (1998). The other, published in Human Reproduction (1993), involved 880 women. Copies are available in the Library. Other supporting data not in the public domain are confidential to the application.

  Evidence of safety as stated was taken into account when the CSM considered the proposal for levonorgestrel 0.75 mg to be available without prescription. There is also evidence from a study of the effects of self-administering emergency contraception (New England Journal of Medicine, 1998). Levonorgestrel 0.75 mg has been available from pharmacies in France without a doctor's prescription since June 1999. The criteria for prescription control are defined in the legislation. The CSM considered each of these criteria and advised that they did not apply to levonorgestrel 0.75 mg for emergency contraception in women of 16 and over. They considered that all the steps required to supply emergency contraception safely could be successfully completed in a pharmacy.

  E.coli
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what priority is being given in the Health Service to emphasising(a) the health dangers of bacterium E.coli and (b) ensuring that the disease can be speedily identified. [131420]

  Ms Stuart
  The bacterium currently of most concern is vero cytotoxin producing E.coli, of which E.coli 0157 is the commonest. In may this year the Chief Medical Officer's Update, which is distributed to all medical practitioners, carried an article "VTEC Guidance" which drew attention to the seasonal increase in infection, the risks from farm visits and the susceptibility of children to developing Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome following infection with E.coli 0157. A further CMO Update in August will alert medical practitioners to the potential increased release of toxin that can be caused by certain classes of antibiotic in patients with E.coli 0157. The CMO also issued a press release "Health advice issued for farm visits by children" in April alerting the public to the risks of infection associated with farm visits and advising on sensible precautions to be taken to avoid infection. This advice was sent to all directors of public health and consultants in communicable disease control. Information has been given to vulnerable groups such as pregnant women on how to avoid infection. The Pregnancy Book, given to all first time mothers, contains advice on safe eating and how to avoid infection and this advice is repeated in the leaflet "While you are pregnant: safe eating and how to avoid infection" given to all mothers. Guidance was issued by the CMO in July 1998 on the safe cooking of burger meat to prevent foodborne infection.

  All Public Health Service Laboratories test all stool samples for E.coli 0157 in accordance with agreed Standard Operating Procedures. The PHLS published its "Guidelines for the control of infection with Vero cytotoxin producing Escherichia coli (VTEC)" dealing with sampling and identification procedures. E.coli 0157 infection that is foodborne, which is the majority, is

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  notifiable as a 'foodborne disease', and all laboratories voluntarily notify all E.coli infections as part of an agreed reporting protocol.

  Residential and Nursing Homes
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what response he has made to the submission by Methodist Homes for the Aged to his consultation paper on Nationally Required Standards for Residential and Nursing Homes for Older People. [130781]

  Mr. Hutton
  I am aware that the supportive response from Methodist Homes to the consultation document raised a number of concerns including about the staffing and physical environment standards and the timescale for implementing the standards.

  I refer my right hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Warrington, North (Helen Jones) on 20 July 2000, Official Report, columns 287–88W. This set out the conclusions we have reached in relation to the physical standards in residential and nursing homes based on the responses to the consultation process on "Fit for the Future?".

  Regarding staffing, we do not accept that fixed ratios are the best means of specifying the number and qualifications of staff to be employed in a nursing home. For qualified nurses, numbers should relate to the assessed needs of residents at any one time. We are considering what models of assessment should be recognised by the National Care Standards Commission for this purpose and how nursing needs are defined so that nurse staffing levels can be set accurately and realistically. For ancillary staff, levels should take account of the degree of efficiency and effectiveness demonstrated by providers in managing ancillary tasks.

  The standards for nine out of the eleven topic areas that we consulted upon in "Fit for the Future?" received overwhelming support and these will form the basis for the full set of national minimum standards which we will publish later this year.

  Meat Inspection
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many veterinary surgeons were employed on duties associated with abattoirs in each of the past 18 months. [131101]

  Ms Stuart
  I am advised by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) that the number of veterinary surgeons employed by or on behalf of either the FSA (and previously the Joint Food Safety and Standards Group (JFSSG) of the Department of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food) or its executive agency, the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS), on duties associated with abattoirs in Great Britain for each of the past 18 months is as follows:

  month

  MHS

  JFSSG/FSA 1

  1999

  January

  472

  10

  February

  476

  10

  March

  490

  10

  April

  478

  10

  May

  497

  10

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  Month

  MHS

  JFSSG/FSA 1

  June

  505

  10

  July

  507

  10

  August

  546

  10

  September

  521

  10

  October

  539

  10

  November

  520

  10

  December

  528

  10

  2000

  January

  521

  10

  February

  505

  10

  March

  517

  10

  April

  532

  9

  May

  503

  9

  June

  523

  9

  1 FSA since 1 April 2000

  MHS veterinary surgeons are employed throughout Great Britain on meat hygiene, inspection and animal welfare duties as well as the enforcement of specified risk materials (SRM) controls. The vast majority of these staff are employed on a contract basis. These contracts relate to individual plants and to a specific number of hours. The above figures therefore do not equate to full-time equivalent figures which are considerably less.

  Veterinary Meat Hygiene Advisers have been employed by or on behalf of the Food Standards Agency since its established on 1 April 2000. Prior to this they formed part of the JFSSG. They play a major role in the audit of the MHS, the licensing of meat plants and other activities in England. In Scotland and Wales, these duties are carried out by staff of the State Veterinary Service (SVS).

  SVS staff throughout Great Britain may also from time to time visit abattoirs on other official business. The above figures do not include veterinary surgeons employed by the SVS who undertake any of these other duties.

  Food Supplements
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on the international regulation of vitamins and minerals at the Codex Alimentarius Commission; and if he will make a statement. [131492]

  Ms Stuart
  A proposal for draft guidelines for vitamin and mineral supplements was discussed at the meeting of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses on 19–23 June 2000. The Committee made some progress towards consensus on the text and will discuss it further at its next meeting.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when(a) he and (b) his officials last attended European Ministerial Working Group meetings to discuss the Draft European Directive on Food Supplements; what assessment he has made of the extent to which the Directive provides for the continued access by consumers to safe dietary supplements on retail sale; what amendments are being proposed to that Directive by other member state Governments; and if he will make a statement; [131491]
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  (2) what his policy objectives are in relation to the proposed Food Supplements Directive; what the timetable is for further progress in discussions on the Directive; and if he will make a statement. [131493]

  Ms Stuart
  There have been no meetings at ministerial level to discuss this proposal. It was discussed by officials at a council expert working group held in July, and the Food Standards Agency has circulated details of the specific issues discussed to interested parties. The timetable for further discussions has not been announced but the next meeting of this group is due in September.

  Publications (Sensory-impaired Access)
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure that all future literature which forms part of National Health Service public consultations will be available in a variety of formats to enable accessibility for the sensory-impaired. [131747]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 21 July 2000]All the Department's publications are available on request in braille, on audio cassette tape, on disk or in large print. Additionally, documents are simultaneously published on the Department's website, which has been designed in line with the Cabinet Office guidelines on accessibility. Braille and large print publications and/or audio tapes are produced as standard for certain categories of information, including major consultation documents produced by the Department.

  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's policy is in relation to the production of its publications in accessible formats for the sensory-impaired. [131746]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 21 July 2000]All the Department's publications are available on request in braille, on audio cassette tape, on disk or in large print. Additionally, documents are simultaneously published on the Department's website, which has been designed in line with the Cabinet Office guidelines on accessibility.

  Braille and large print publications and/or audio tapes are produced as standard for certain categories of information, including: consultation documents; information specifically aimed at elderly or disabled people; and information about help with costs.

  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nationally-produced public information leaflets and booklets have also been available since 1990 in(a) Braille, (b) moon, (c) large print, (d) audio-tape and (e) other formats suitable for those with a single or dual sensory impairment. [131781]

  Ms Stuart
  All the Department's publications are available on request in braille, on audio cassette tape, on disk or in large print. Additionally, documents are simultaneously published on the Department's website, which has been designed in line with the Cabinet Office guidelines on accessibility.

  Braille and large print publications and/or audio tapes are produced as standard for certain categories of information, including: consultation documents; information specifically aimed at elderly or disabled people; and information about help with costs. The following table provides information about special format publications in these categories since April 1993.
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  Format

  Number

  Braille

  51

  Moon

  1

  Large print

  43

  Audio tape

  83

  Notes:

  1. Before April 1993 responsibility for printing and publishing services rested with Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

  2. Table does not show one-off publications/tapes produced in response to individual consumer requests

  Guillain-Barré Syndrome
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the availability of Viagra to sufferers of neuropathy due to Guillain-Barré Syndrome; and if he will make a statement. [131748]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 21 July 2000]We consulted widely before introducing regulations on 1 July 1999 restricting the prescribing by general practitioners of treatments for impotence, including Viagra.

  GPs may issue a National Health Service prescription to men for the treatment of impotence only if they have one of a number of listed medical conditions. Neuropathy due to Guillain-Barré Syndrome is not one of these conditions.

  Mead Webber Abattoir
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the start and finishing date of the independent public inquiry into the reasons for the closure of the Mead Webber abattoir; [131622]

  (2) if he will list the factors underlying the delay in opening the independent public inquiry into the reasons for the closure of the Mead Webber abattoir. [131623]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 21 July 2000]I understand from the Food Standards Agency that the arrangements for the independent investigation have been agreed but that Mead Webber Ltd. has indicated that it will not specify its complaint against the Meat Hygiene Service until related assault allegations have been resolved. Work on the investigation will begin as soon as a formal complaint has been received. In the circumstances, it is not possible to estimate its finishing date.

  Genetic Testing
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will respond to the report published in 1999 by the Human Genetics Advisory Commission, "The Implications of Genetic Testing for Employment". [132741]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Government have given careful consideration to a report on "The Implications of Genetic Testing for Employment", from the Human Genetics Advisory Commission (HGAC). The Government agree with the HGAC that this is an issue which should be kept under close review in future. The Government accept the main findings of the HGAC's report. They have today asked the Human Genetics Commission (HGC), which is the successor to HGAC, to take note of the HGAC's recommendations, have suggested ways of taking them forward and have drawn attention to the measures they have already taken in this area. The Government have also asked the HGC to consider the next steps by including
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  this issue in the Commission's wider study of the uses of genetic information and to provide advice to Ministers in due course.

  I am placing a copy of the letter in the Library.

  Suicides (NHS)
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the annual suicide rate of NHS(a) hospital nurses, (b) general practice nurses,(c) community nurses, (d) mental health nurses and (e) all nurses in each year since 1989 stating in each case (i) the number of suicides per grade and (ii) the proportion that represents per thousand employed in that category by the NHS; and if he will make a statement; [131014]

  (2) what was the annual suicide rate of NHS (a) general practitioners, (b) junior hospital doctors, (c) senior hospital doctors, (d) consultants and (e) all doctors in each year since 1989 stating in each case (i) the number of suicides and (ii) the proportion that represents per thousand employed in that category by the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [131021]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information requested is not held centrally but may be held locally by individual National Health Service employers.

  We take the issue of suicide very seriously. That is why the development of strategies to reduce suicide is a major part of our programme outlined in the White Paper "Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation."

  The Department has commissioned Professor Keith Hawton from Oxford University to carry out research into suicide and stress among a number of occupational groups, including doctors and nurses. His reports will be published in due course.

  The table shows statistics presenting the numbers of suicide deaths for doctors and nurses. The data are presented for ages 16–74 and 16–59. It is not possible to identify doctors and nurses who were actually employed at the time of their deaths, or whether they were employed by the NHS.

  Suicides (E950-E959 and E980-E989 excluding E988.81) of medical practitioners, England and Wales, 1989–98

  Year

  Age 16–74

  Age 16–59

  1989

  19

  17

  1990

  25

  19

  1991

  26

  18

  1992

  18

  13

  1993

  18

  11

  1994

  25

  21

  1995

  13

  11

  1996

  13

  11

  1997

  16

  12

  1998

  17

  15

  1 International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision. E950-E959 Suicides and self inflicted injury. E980-E989 excluding E988.8 injury undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted excluding accelerated registrations.

  Notes:

  1. 1989–92—years of registration

  2. 1993–98—years of occurrence
  410W

  Suicides (E950-E959 and E980-E989 excluding E988.81) of nurses, England and Wales, 1991–98

  Year

  Age 16–74

  Age 16–59

  1991

  65

  57

  1992

  56

  51

  1993

  52

  48

  1994

  64

  54

  1995

  61

  50

  1996

  54

  49

  1997

  55

  48

  1998

  56

  51

  1 International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision. E950-E959 Suicides and self inflicted injury. E980-E989 excluding E988.8 injury undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted excluding accelerated registrations.

  Notes:

  1. 1991–92—years of registration

  2. 1993–98—years of occurrence

  BUPA
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many discussions his Department has had in the last year with BUPA about future partnerships; and what topics were discussed. [131646]

  Ms Stuart
  The Department has had no direct discussions with BUPA in the last year.

  Internet (Drugs)
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures have been operated to close websites selling drugs via the Internet. [132122]

  Ms Stuart
  The procedures are identical to those used in any investigation into alleged breaches of medicines regulations. The investigation has to be conducted in accordance with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and its Codes of Practice.

  Those websites which have been closed have either been closed voluntarily after advice from the Medicines Control Agency or closed following a warning by the Agency that a failure to close may result in a prosecution.

  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what drugs(a) licensed and (b) unlicensed by the Medicines Control Agency on sale via the Internet have led to (i) investigations and (ii) prosecutions. [132121]

  Ms Stuart
  Full information could only be put together at a disproportionate cost. (180 investigations are involved, each of which could cover any number of different medicines). However, investigations by the Medicines Control Agency into the alleged sale of medicines purporting to be licensed on the internet suggest that these medicines are likely to be those indicated for, or believed to possess memory enhancing capabilities (often referred to as "smart" drugs), or impotence (such as Viagra) or the capability to cause a loss of weight ("slimming pills"), or remedy hair loss.

  Investigations by the Medicines Control Agency into the alleged sale of unlicensed medicines on the Internet indicate that such medicines are likely to be those

  411W
  claiming the qualities stated in the preceding paragraph, for example, Gamma Hydroxyl Butyrate (GHB), Dehydroepiandrosterone (a steroid type drug).

  The medicine involved in the only prosecution to date was GHB, being sole over the Internet.

  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what investigations he has made of websites selling drugs(a) nationally and (b) internationally. [132123]

  Ms Stuart
  The Medicines Control Agency (MCA) has conducted approximately 180 investigations into cases of national Websites allegedly offering medicines for sale. The MCA has no jurisdiction outside United Kingdom territory, although it works with enforcement and regulatory authorities in other countries, particularly the United States of America Food and Drug Administration, to investigate international websites.

  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many employees are engaged in the Special Inquiry Unit of the Medicines Control Agency investigating drug sales through the Internet. [132118]

  Ms Stuart
  Three enforcement offices of the Special Enquiry Unit of the Medicines Control Agency are specifically engaged in investigating alleged illegal sales of medicines on the Internet. In addition investigating officers in other units of the Medicines Control Agency's Enforcement Group undertake investigations into alleged breaches of medicines regulations in which activities on the Internet can be a major or contributory part. All this work may also be done in partnership with other national and international enforcement agencies and the Police Service.

  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what training is undergone by employees of the Special Inquiry Unit of the Medicines Control Agency investigating drug sales through the internet. [132119]

  Ms Stuart
  All enforcement officers in the Medicines Control Agency receive basic training in the use of the internet. Enforcement officers in the Special Inquiry Unit also receive specialist training in advanced search techniques. In addition, some enforcement officers are intelligence analysts, trained to police standards in the analysis and validation of data and information.

  HAZ

  HAZ allocation 1999–20001

  HAZ expenditure 1999–20002

  Underspend against allocation—real terms2

  Underspend as a percentage of allocation

  First Wave

  Lambeth, Southwark and Leiwsham

  6,137

  3,637

  2,500

  41

  East London

  5,535

  5,421

  114

  2

  Plymouth

  2,043

  1,227

  816

  40

  Luton

  1,300

  1,132

  168

  13

  Sandwell

  2,302

  1,258

  1,045

  45

  South Yorkshire Coalfields

  5,539

  4,334

  1,205

  22

  Manchester, Salford and Trafford

  6,900

  4,325

  2,575

  37

  Bradford

  3,822

  1,657

  2,165

  56

  Tyne and Wear

  8,493

  4,293

  4,200

  49

  Northumberland

  2,395

  1,833

  562

  23

  North Cumbria

  2,298

  1,218

  1,080

  47

  First Wave Total

  47,210

  30,336

  16,874

  34

  412W
  The MCA is committed to providing any training found necessary in this area to ensure it continues to effectively discharge its responsibility to enforce medicines legislation.

  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to seek to amend the law relating to sales of drugs over the internet; and if he will make a statement. [132120]

  Ms Stuart
  We have no immediate plans to amend the law.

  Alcohol and Drugs (Hospitals)
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) admissions to NHS hospitals and (b) persons were treated in NHS accident and emergency units were related to (i) alcohol and (ii) drugs in 1999. [132343]

  Ms Stuart
  In 1998–99 there were (i) 39,600 hospital admissions to National Health Service hospitals of NHS and private patients with primary diagnosis related to alcohol (based on international classification of diseases codes F10, K70, T51), and (ii) 9,300 for diagnoses mentioning drugs (based on ICD10 codes F11-F16 and F18-F19). Data on the number of persons that were treated in NHS accident and emergency units for these diagnoses are not collected centrally.

  Tranquilliser Addiction
  Ms Kelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the successful applicants, and amount of grant aid issued, under the Section 64 Grants Scheme that directly address tranquilliser addiction. [132035]

  Mr. Hutton
  No grants under the Section 64 scheme are currently being made to organisations directly addressing tranquilliser addiction.

  Health Action Zones
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those Health Action Zones that underspent on their 1999–2000 budgets, indicating in(a) percentage and (b) real terms the degree of underspend. [131067]

  Mr. Hutton
  The table shows that all Health Action Zones underspent against the 1999–2000 allocations. Information on how much of this is committed to projects in 2000–01 is not held centrally.
  413W

  HAZ

  HAZ allocation 1999–20001

  HAZ expenditure 1999–20002

  Underspend against allocation—real terms2

  Underspend as a percentage of allocation

  Second Wave

  Tees

  3,132

  1,789

  1,344

  43

  Wakefield

  1,666

  1,335

  331

  20

  Leeds

  3,610

  2,693

  917

  25

  Hull and East Riding

  2,824

  1,987

  837

  30

  Merseyside

  7,445

  6,338

  1,107

  15

  Bury and Rochdale

  2,004

  1,906

  98

  5

  Nottingham

  3,105

  1,554

  1,551

  50

  Sheffield

  2,923

  2,292

  631

  22

  Leicester City

  1,502

  1,100

  402

  27

  Wolverhampton

  1,388

  632

  756

  54

  Walsall

  1,376

  1,275

  102

  7

  North Staffordshire

  2,008

  698

  1,310

  65

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  2,288

  2,105

  163

  8

  Camden and Islington

  2,372

  1,056

  1,316

  56

  Brent

  1,294

  1,017

  277

  21

  Second Wave Total

  39,084

  27,778

  11,306

  29

  Sub-total

  85,701

  58,113

  27,587

  32

  Central and other innovations

  1,700

  1,700

  0

  0

  Grand Total

  87,994

  59,814

  27,587

  32

  1 HAZ funding comes from a number of sources as follows:

  (a) The HAZ central budget comprising three elements:

  (i) programme funding for joint projects with other agencies;

  (ii) innovations funding;

  (iii) central and other innovations;

  (b) Funding for smoking cessation services.

  (c) Funding for drugs prevention services for First Wave HAZs.

  (d) Targeted funds for deprived areas allocated to HAs which include HAZs within their boundaries.

  2 Figures reported by HAZs at the end of 1999–2000.

  Note:

  Figures are in £000s.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions he has deposited papers in the Library in response to parliamentary questions tabled to his Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April. [132127]

  Ms Stuart
  The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Millennium Dome
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proposals he has received to use the Millennium Dome to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee; and what response he has made. [125698]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  I have received one proposal from a member of the public suggesting that the Dome is kept within the public sector and used to celebrate events such as the Queen's Golden Jubilee. My officials responded on 19 July stating that the Government believe that a sale to the private sector is the best way to secure the Government's objectives for future use of the Dome. The selection criteria used to shortlist proposals for the future use of the Dome specifically aim to maximise the public benefit.

  Racism (Football)
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action he is taking to eliminate racism in football. [131758]

  Kate Hoey
  [holding answer 21 July 2000]The Government believe that the Football Task Force's first report provided an effective blueprint for eliminating racism in football. The report's one recommendation for the Government was implemented by means of Section 9 of the Football (Offences and Disorder) Act 1999, which made the chanting of racist material by individual supporters an offence.

  The report's other recommendations were intended for the football authorities, and a number of these have already been implemented under the aegis of the Kick it Out campaign. I understand that the sport's governing bodies will shortly announce a review of the implementation of the Task Force's reports on racism, disabled access and community involvement.

  Football Investment
  Maria Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the Football Association and the FA Premier League about the investment of the proceeds of the funds of their new television contracts in grass roots football; and if he will make a statement. [132676]
  415W
  Mr. Chris Smith
  Following extensive discussions with the Football Association, FA Premier League and other interested parties, the Football Foundation became operational last month. The Foundation is a partnership between the sport and Government. The Foundation will receive funding from the Football Association, the FA Premier League, the Lottery Sports Fund and other Government sources. The primary aim of the Foundation will be to improve facilities for grassroots football.

  The Government have nominated my hon. Friend the Member for Stalybridge and Hyde (Mr. Pendry) to be its representative on the board of the Foundation. Sport England has nominated its Chairman, Trevor Brooking, to be its representative on that board to sit alongside those of the Football Association and FA Premier League. The Foundation will be launched tomorrow when full details of its plans will be published.

  National Lottery (Ribble Valley)
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of lottery ticket receipts has been spent in the Ribble Valley through the National Lottery Charities Board in each year since 1994. [131658]

  Kate Hoey
  The proportion of total National Lottery ticket sales awarded by the National Lottery Charities Board (NLCB) in the Ribble Valley constituency is shown in the table. The figures for NLCB awards in the Ribble Valley constituency are taken from my Department's National Lottery Awards Database, based on data provided by the Lottery distribution bodies.

  Financial Year

  NLCB awards in Ribble Valley constituency (£)

  Total National Lottery ticket sales (£ million)

  Proportion of total receipt awarded in Ribble Valley constituency by NLCB (percentage)

  1994–95

  —

  1,191

  0.0000

  1995–96

  24,836

  5,217

  0.0004

  1996–97

  343,930

  4,723

  0.0072

  1997–98

  378,641

  5,514

  0.0068

  1998–99

  335,770

  5,228

  0.0064

  1999–2000

  835,019

  5,094

  0.0163

  Total

  1,918,196

  26,967

  0.0071

  National Athletics Stadium
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on progress in the development of the national athletics stadium at Pickett's Lock. [132369]

  Kate Hoey
  I chaired the first meeting of the Lee Valley Stadium Forum on 26 June. The purpose of the Forum is to keep Ministers and interested parties up to date with developments and highlight any emerging difficulties which can then be dealt with through separate discussions. The Forum includes representatives from the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority—the site's owners, UK Athletics, Sport England, the Mayor of London, the London Borough of Enfield, the London Development Agency, the Government Office for London and Transport for London. The British Olympic Association 416W
  are also represented to ensure that any Olympic issues are addressed. The next meeting of the Lee Valley Stadium Forum will be held on 2 October 2000.

  The Lee Valley Regional Park Authority and UK Athletics have appointed consultants to undertake business and technical feasibility studies for this project. Ernst & Young have been appointed to carry out a business feasibility study which will seek to identify long-term revenue options, set out possible models for project delivery and highlight suitable management structures post World Championships. Drivas Jonas have been appointed to conduct the various design and technical studies needed. This will include an assessment of transport issues and environmental impacts. Both studies will be funded jointly by the National Lottery Sports Fund and by the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority.

  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the oral statement of the Minister for Sport on 4 May 2000,Official Report, column 156WH, if he will place in the Library a copy of the letter which the Minister for Sport undertook to write to the hon. Member for Ryedale (Mr. Greenway) concerning Pickett's Lock. [132385]

  Kate Hoey
  I will write to the hon. Member and will place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of the House.

  World Cup Bid
  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the Football Association about the loss of the World Cup 2006 bid since 6 July [132384]

  Kate Hoey
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State discussed FIFA's decision with the Prime Minister's Special Envoy to the bid on 6 July. I have corresponded with the Chief Executive of the Football Association about the costs of the bid since that day.

  Football Task Force
  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what plans he has to implement the recommendations of the Football Task Force; [132387]

  (2) what plans he has to appoint a Commissioner for Football. [132389]

  Kate Hoey
  The Football Task Force made a number of recommendations in its final report, "Football: Commercial Issues", including a proposal for a Football Audit Commission. The Government will announce their response to the report shortly.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many of the written parliamentary questions tabled to his Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April have not received substantive answers, citing as the reason that the information is(a) not held centrally, (b) not held in the form requested or (c) not available. [132135]
  417W
  Mr. Chris Smith
  Three questions did not receive substantive answers as the information was not held centrally.

  Six questions did not receive substantive answers as the information was not held/available in the form requested.

  Nine questions did not receive substantive answers as the information was not available.

  My Department always aims to provide a substantive reply to hon. Members' questions. Where this is not possible, we would endeavour to provide the information that is available even though it is not precisely what has been requested or in the form requested.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Working Time Directive
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many workers in Shrewsbury and Atcham received the right to four weeks paid holiday under the Working Time Directive; and if he will make a statement. [131145]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  It is estimated that 3.1 million people have gained additional paid leave as a result of the entitlement to four weeks paid leave introduced by the Working Time Regulations. It is not possible to estimate numbers of beneficiaries by parliamentary constituency.

  Part-time Workers
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many part-time workers from Shrewsbury and Atcham have benefited from the provisions relating to equal pay and conditions in the Part-Time Workers Directive; and if he will make a statement. [131144]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The Regulations introduced on 1 July 2000 provide a guarantee of fair treatment to all 6 million part-time workers in Britain. It is estimated that over 400,000 workers will benefit from the Regulations. No information on numbers of beneficiaries is available below the national level.

  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many part-time workers will benefit from the Part-Time Workers Directive(a) nationally, (b) in Teesside and (c) in the constituency of Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East; and if he will make a statement. [131204]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 18 July 2000]The Regulations introduced on 1 July 2000 provide a guarantee of fair treatment to all 6 million part-time workers in Britain. It is estimated that over 400,000 workers will benefit from the Regulations. No information on numbers of beneficiaries is available below the national level.

  Jodrell Bank
  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has held with the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council concerning the future of Jodrell Bank. [131638]
  418W
  Ms Hewitt
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has had no specific discussions with the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC) about the future of Jodrell Bank. The PPARC is reviewing the future of all its telescopes, including Jodrell Bank, in the context of possible UK membership of the European Southern Observatory. No decisions have been made, and no major changes to the funding of existing telescopes are expected for at least five years. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry will discuss the future of Jodrell Bank, and other telescopes, at the appropriate time.

  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the contribution of Jodrell Bank to the science base in the North West. [131639]

  Ms Hewitt
  As Jodrell Bank is recognised as a major science facility in the North West it will be examined as part of the activities of the Government-commissioned reviews being carried out by the North West Science and Development Group and the North West Science Review Team, which are looking at economic development and the science base in the region. These reviews are due to report by the 29 December and 30 September respectively.

  Post Offices (IT)
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much it will cost the Government to supply each post office with(a) internet provision and (b) computer terminals for public access. [131901]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 21 July 2000]The Government are contributing £480 million towards the capital costs of the Horizon project to equip every post office with a modern on-line IT platform, and will contribute to the cost of a pilot trial of Internet access and learning points in a limited number of post offices, once the Post Office have demonstrated a convincing business case. The scope for extending this facility more widely will depend on the outcome of the trials.

  Opinion Research
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 28 June 2000,Official Report, column 518W, on opinion research, if he will list the information held centrally on the results of his Department's market and opinion research, stating in each case which of these results will be placed in the Library. [132008]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 21 July 2000]No information is held centrally on the results of the Department's market and opinion research.

  Employment Rights
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to improve the employment rights of(a) agency and (b) part-time employees. [132284]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  Since the Government came to office, new employment rights such as the National Minimum Wage and those under the Working Time Regulations to entitlements such as paid annual leave, have improved the position of part-time employees and agency temps.
  419W
  We are currently seeking to improve and clarify the existing regulations governing the conduct of employment agencies. We are placing greater emphasis on the clarity of terms issued and on ensuring workers are paid in full and on time. These proposals form part of a package of measures to ensure appropriate minimum standards for the recruitment industry, which we intend to finalise shortly.

  The Part-time Workers Regulations came into force on 1 July and ensure that part-time workers are not treated less favourably in their contractual terms and conditions than comparable full-timers, unless different treatment is justified on objective grounds. The regulations cover all terms and conditions including pay, pensions, holidays and training.

  Tobacco Industry
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met representatives of the United Kingdom tobacco industry to discuss the export trade implications of the European Commission's proposal for a directive concerning the manufacture, production and sale of tobacco products. [132334]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  I have received a number of written representations on this issue from UK tobacco manufacturing companies in recent months.

  Weights and Measures Legislation (Ribble Valley)
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many traders in the Ribble Valley have been fined for trading in pounds and ounces; and how many of these fines have been contested. [131766]

  Dr. Howells
  The responsibility for enforcing weights and measures legislation, including the use of the legal units of measurement, lies with local authorities. According to information supplied to the Department by Lancashire County Council there have been no prosecutions taken against traders in the Ribble Valley for failing to use grams and kilograms alongside ounces and pounds.

  EU Structural Funds
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the eligibility of Objective 1 applicants for regional selective assistance. [132051]

  Mr. Caborn
  Businesses in Objective 1 areas will be eligible to apply for regional selective assistance subject to their meeting the criteria of the scheme.

  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the first applications for the UK's four Objective 1 regions will be(a) invited and (b) determined. [132055]

  Mr. Caborn
  It is for the Objective 1 programme partnerships themselves to decide how and when to call for applications and when to take decisions. However, I expect them to start appraising applications very soon if they have not already done so.

  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements he has put in place for applying for the EU Objective 1 funds. [132054]
  420W
  Mr. Caborn
  The arrangements for applying for EU structural funds are set out in Council Regulation (EC) No. 1260/1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds (OJ L 161 of 26 June 1999) and in the eligible regions' Single Programming Documents and programme complements. Responsibility for structural funds partnerships rests with the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions for England, and with the devolved administrations for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. My Department is responsible for overall co-ordination of the structural funds in the United Kingdom.

  Euro
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the progress of the United Kingdom retail financial sector towards preparedness for membership of the euro; and if he will make a statement. [131938]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I have been asked to reply.

  This information is contained in the Second Outline National Changeover Plan, published in March 2000.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the studies undertaken or being undertaken by the Government which quantify or examine the trade and competition effects that would result from the United Kingdom entering the single currency area. [131940]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I have been asked to reply.

  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 3 February 2000, Official Report, column 685W.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Judicial Appointments
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the observations of Lord Steyn on judicial appointment procedures; and if he will make a statement. [132146]

  Mr. Lock
  The Lord Chancellor is aware of the reports of Lord Steyn's recent remarks at an event at the London School of Economics. The Lord Chancellor has already decided to establish a Commission for Judicial Appointments as recommended by Sir Leonard Peach to provide ongoing, independent monitoring of the appointments process and to provide a further recourse for disappointed candidates. The Lord Chancellor has not ruled out further reform, but he prefers for the present to proceed with and evaluate the implementation of the Peach report recommendations.

  Court Dress
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the observations of the Lord Chief Justice on court dress; and if he will make a statement. [132147]

  Mr. Lock
  The Lord Chancellor has made no assessment of the comments attributed to the Lord Chief Justice. He has indicated in the past that he is willing to
  421W
  consider the issue if there is evidence that the balance of opinion is changing against maintaining court dress in its current form.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department on how many occasions he has deposited papers in the Library in response to parliamentary questions tabled to his Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April. [132128]

  Mr. Lock
  According to departmental records covering the relevant period, papers were deposited in the Library on 27 occasions in response to parliamentary questions.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  British Council
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what new British Council offices have been opened in the last 12 months. [131801]

  Mr. Hain
  The following new British Council offices have opened in the last 12 months:

  Pristina, Kosovo

  Brasov, Romania

  Ramallah, East Jerusalem

  Irkutsk, Russia

  Chandigarh, India

  Multan, Pakistan.

  This list does not include branch offices in towns and cities with pre-existing operations.

  Rachel McGee
  Mr. Fitzpatrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements were made by the consular staff in Cuba to facilitate payment for private legal assistance to Rachel McGee prior to her trial there in September 1999. [131908]

  Mr. Hain
  [holding answer 21 July 2000]On 18 March 1999 Consular Division in London contacted Ms McGee's mother, Mrs. Griffen, about the cost of private legal assistance for Rachel. This was estimated by Bufete Internacional, the Cuban law firm that is allowed to represent foreign nationals, to be a minimum of US$2000.

  Mrs. Griffen deposited US$2000 with Consular Division on 6 April 1999. The money was made available to our Embassy in Cuba on the same day.

  On 23 April 1999 Consular Division told Mrs. Griffen that the costs of the lawyer was now estimated by Bufete Internacional to be US$5000. Mrs. Griffen decided she could not afford that amount.

  Mrs. Griffen asked our consular staff in Cuba to use the money deposited with them to fund her visit to Cuba.

  Mr. Fitzpatrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial assistance for the payment of private legal assistance consular staff in Cuba offered to Rachel McGee prior to her trial there in September 1999. [131909]
  422W
  Mr. Hain
  [holding answer 21 July 2000]None. There is no provision for public funds for legal assistance for British Nationals overseas.

  Mr. Fitzpatrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the British consular staff in Cuba were acting on the understanding that Rachel McGee had waived her right(a) to give evidence and (b) for a lawyer to represent her, at her trial there in September 1999. [131910]

  Mr. Hain
  [holding answer 21 July 2000]The information is as follows:

  (a) No.

  (b) No.

  The Consul met with Rachel at court prior to the trial. Up to then she had not said that she did not want to give evidence nor had she indicated that she did not want a lawyer to represent her.

  Mr. Fitzpatrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times lawyers from the law firm that is allowed to represent foreign nationals in Cuba(a) met Rachel McGee prior to her trial in Cuba in September 1999 and (b) discussed the case with her during or after her trial. [131911]

  Mr. Hain
  [holding answer 21 July 2000]The information is as follows:

  (a) Rachel McGee has stated that she did not see her lawyer prior to her trial.

  (b) Rachel said she did not discuss the case with her lawyer during the trial and that she has not seen her lawyer since the trial.

  Westminster Foundation for Democracy
  Mr. Efford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the annual report of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy will be published. [132739]

  Mr. Hain
  I have arranged for copies of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy's annual report to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses today.

  The Foundation has continued its crucial work in building and strengthening democracy overseas during the last 12 months. In 1999–2000 the Foundation managed 656 projects in almost 60 countries working with political parties, the media, trade unions, local government, legal organisations and human rights, civil society and women's groups.

  The Foundation received a grant-in-aid of £4 million from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, a further £460,734 of earmarked funds for specific projects and £121,669 from corporate supporters and the National Lottery Charities Board.

  Most of the Foundation's activities were in its priority areas which are Central and Eastern Europe; the Commonwealth of Independent States and Anglophone Africa. The Foundation has also carried out important projects in Asia and the Middle East.

  In addition to its core projects, the Foundation has provided timely and effective responses to the need for technical assistance in the Balkans, especially in Kosovo, Serbia and Bosnia, to take forward work on political and civic development.

  Entry Clearance
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he plans to publish the report of the 1998 Joint (Foreign and Commonwealth Office/Home Office) Study on entry clearance. [132740]

  Mr. Vaz
  The Joint Study report on entry clearance has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The Study was conducted between January and April 1998, by officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Home Office, Cabinet Office and Treasury. Its conclusions led to the establishment of the new Joint Entry Clearance Unit (JECU) as part of the Government's wider commitment to providing a 'fairer, faster and firmer' entry clearance process. The study report may be of interest to Members in the context of the Memorandum of Understanding agreed between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Home Office, which was placed in the Libraries on 7 June.

  Diego Garcia
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the position of the former residents of Diego Garcia. [132386]

  Mr. Hain
  I am aware that some of the former residents (Ilois) of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) seek a right of return, and to this end proceedings have been brought in the High Court in London which challenge the validity of the BIOT Immigration Ordinance. The matter is still before the Court. The outer islands of the territory have been uninhabited for 30 years so any resettlement would present serious problems both because of the practical feasibility and in relation to our treaty obligations. But a study has been commissioned from independent consultants to consider the former issues in more detail.

  Most of the Ilois live in Mauritius where they are Mauritian citizens. Since they left the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) Her Majesty's Government has given over £4 million to the Government of Mauritius to assist with their integration into Mauritian society.

  Sandra Gregory
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he made to the Thai authorities during his recent visit to Bangkok in support of Sandra Gregory's application for a royal pardon. [131978]

  Mr. Hain
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State did not make any specific representations about any consular cases during his recent visit to Thailand, though the Government of course continues to discuss Consular issues with the Government of Thailand on other occasions.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of when the request for a Royal Pardon submitted to the King of Thailand on behalf of Sandra Gregory is likely to be responded to. [131979]

  Mr. Hain
  The hon. Member may already be aware that on 20 July the Thai Foreign Ministry informed our Ambassador in Bangkok that His Majesty the King of 424W
  Thailand had granted a Royal Pardon to Sandra Gregory. Miss Gregory and her parents were informed of the news the same day by staff in our Consular Division.

  United Nations
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which days he plans to attend the United Nations Millennium Summit; on which days he will be represented by his Ministers; and if he will make a statement. [131016]

  Mr. Hain
  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister will head the UK delegation to the United Nations Millennium Summit. His full programme and the exact composition of the UK delegation have yet to be finalised.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what objectives the Government seek to achieve at the United Nations Millennium Summit; what specific reforms the Government will be seeking; and if he will make a statement. [131017]

  Mr. Hain
  The UK wants the Millennium Summit, through wide-ranging discussion on the role of the UN in the 21st Century, to result in an action-oriented concluding document which sets the UN forward-looking objectives on a range of key issues, as outlined by the UN Secretary-General in his Millennium Report.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which of the Core Group of Multilateral Treaties and Optional Protocols deposited with the Secretary-General which are representative of the United Nations key objectives for the Millennium Summit the UK has not signed and ratified, stating in each case(a) the reasons for non-signature and ratification and (b) when the Government plans to give UK assent; and if he will make a statement. [131019]

  Mr. Hain
  This Government remain dedicated to the international rule of law. Of the 25 treaties listed by the UN Secretary-General as representative of the United Nations' key objectives, the United Kingdom is a Party to 16 and has also ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, which has yet to come into effect.

  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister expects to be able to sign the First Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, at the Millennium Summit in September. The UK is looking closely at the implications for the UK armed forces of the Second Optional Protocol, on the involvement of children in armed conflict, and intends to sign in the near future.

  Legislation is currently in preparation to enable the United Kingdom to ratify two more of the treaties on the list which it has already signed. The Government intend to make the United Kingdom one of the first 60 states to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. The Terrorism Bill contains provisions which will enable us to ratify early next year the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings and the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism. The Government attach great importance to universal adherence to both these Conventions.
  425W
  The Government expect to begin the ratification procedure for the Kyoto Protocol after the Conference of the Parties to the Protocol in The Hague in November, assuming it has a satisfactory outcome. This would coincide with the ratification by other EU member states.

  After a thorough review of our obligations under international human rights treaties in 1999, we concluded that accession to the First Optional Protocol to ICCPR and the Optional Protocol to CEDAW, which call for the right of individual petition, would affect the major work under way in preparing for and implementing the Human Rights Act 1998 which will incorporate the European Convention on Human Rights into domestic law. The Act will come fully into force on 2 October 2000. We will review our position on these Optional Protocols again once the Act has bedded down.

  The International Covenant on the Protection of the Rights of all Migrant Workers goes far beyond the scope of the UK's existing immigration laws. Most of the 12 existing signatories are countries of origin of migrant workers. No EU states are signatories. The Government consider they have already struck the right balance between the need for immigration control and the protection of the interests and rights of migrant workers, who already have the protection of our existing commitments under international law.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which reservations, lodged by the UK to United Nations treaties, the Government plans to lift; when they plan to lift them; and if he will make a statement. [131018]

  Mr. Hain
  We are committed to the international rule of law and to the United Kingdom's obligations under international law. We keep those commitments and the terms in which they are entered into under review. We have no specific plans at the present time to lift any reservations to United Nations treaties.

  Belarus
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports his Department has received concerning the whereabouts of, and the circumstance relating to the disappearance of,(a) the First Deputy Chairman of the Belarus Supreme Council, (b) Yuri Zakhavenko, (c) Anatol Kvasovski and (d) Dmitri Zaradski; and what representations have been made by (i) the United Kingdom Government and (ii) the European Union on their behalf to the Government of Belarus. [130725]

  Mr. Vaz
  Her Majesty's Government, in concert with our EU partners, has repeatedly asked the Belarusian authorities to investigate the disappearances of Mr. Gonchar, Deputy Chairman of the 13th Supreme Soviet, his associate Mr. Krasovski, and Mr. Zakharenko, a former Interior Minister. The European Union maintains pressure on the Belarusian authorities to pursue their inquiries into these disappearances and keep us informed of progress. In a formal EU representation in April 2000, EU Heads of Mission in Minsk, once again requested information on all
  426W
  cases involving the disappearances of political figures. The whereabouts of these men are still not known. The Belarusian Government argue that there is no evidence to suggest that State agencies were in any way responsible for the disappearances. They claim to have done everything possible to find the missing men.

  There is much speculation concerning the disappearance of Mr. Zavadsky, a cameraman working for Russian ORT, on 8 July. We are aware that the Belarusian opposition suspect official involvement but we have not seen any evidence to support this. The Belarusian Government have said that they are searching for Zavadsky. Our Embassy in Minsk are monitoring the situation.

  Official Visits
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the projected(a) State Visits and (b) other categories of official visit by heads of Government, and heads of state to the United Kingdom. [131833]

  Mr. Battle
  At the invitation of Her Majesty The Queen, His Majesty The King of Jordan, accompanied by Her Majesty Queen Rania, will pay a State Visit to the United Kingdom from 7 to 10 November. There are no other visits by Heads of State or Government confirmed at present.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many parliamentary questions were tabled to his Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April which requested information, pursuant to his previous answers. [132134]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  Figures supplied by the House of Commons Library indicate that there were 53 such questions. However, because of the way that information is recorded on the POLIS database, it is not possible to guarantee the complete accuracy of this figure.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Child Poverty
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the number of children living in poverty in the United Kingdom; and if he will provide a breakdown for children aged(a) 0 to four years, (b) five to 10 years, (c) 11 to 15 years and (d) 16 years and above, providing in each case the numbers affected and the proportion of the relevant age group. [127859]

  Mr. Bayley
  Poverty is a multi-dimensional problem which cannot be defined solely on the basis of a particular level of income. One indicator which may be used, however, is whether the income of households is below 60 per cent. of median. The following table provides this information for the proportion of children living in households below 60 per cent. of median equivalised income in 1998–99 in the age bands requested.
  427W

  Proportion of children below 60 per cent. of median equivalised income in 1998–99, including the self-employed

  Before housing costs

  After housing costs

  Total children in group

  Age bands

  Number (million)

  Proportion

  Number (million)

  Proportion

  Number (million)

  Children aged 0–4

  0.7

  21

  1.2

  34

  3.5

  Children aged 5–10

  1.2

  27

  1.6

  36

  4.5

  Children aged 11–15

  0.9

  26

  1.1

  32

  3.6

  Children aged 16 and above

  0.3

  23

  0.3

  25

  1.3

  All children

  3.1

  24

  4.2

  33

  12.8

  Notes:

  1. The source is Households Below Average Income (HBAI). Estimates are derived from the Family Resources Survey.

  2. All figures are subject to sampling error and response biases. Results may be sensitive to the precise way in which household incomes are adjusted for household size and composition.

  3. Estimates are presented on household income both Before Housing Costs (BHC) and After Housing Costs (AHC) in line with HBAI conventions.

  4. HBAI defines a child as an individual aged under 16, or an unmarried 16 to 18-year-old on a course up to and including 'A' level standard (or up to and including "highers" in Scotland).

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Tynan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the local authorities in Great Britain which(a) have already embarked on the housing benefit verification framework, stating their respective commencement dates, (b) are planning to do so, stating their proposed starting dates and (c) have still to commit themselves to the scheme. [130759]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 18 July. 2000]We do not hold information in the format requested. Information provided by local authorities shows that at 17 July 2000, 173 had certified they are fully complying with all the requirements of the Verification Framework. A further 78 authorities had either already received or accepted the offer of set-up funds to implement the Framework fully and are at various stages of their implementation.

  The table which lists these authorities and, where appropriate, includes the commencement date certified by the authority has been placed in the Library.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the number of pensioners expressed as a percentage of the total number of pensioners who are entirely dependent upon the state old age pension and means tested benefits(a) for the UK and (b) for Wales. [131601]

  Mr. Rooker
  Estimates for Great Britain and Wales for 1997–98 (the latest year for which information is available) are as follows:

  In 1997–98, 9 per cent. of pensioners in Great Britain were entirely dependent on State Retirement Pension and/or means-tested benefits for their income. In Wales, the proportion was 12 per cent.

  Source:

  Family Resources Survey 1997–98

  Free Television Licences
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the value of the free television licence for pensioners aged over 75 years is taken into account in 428W
  assessing entitlement to (a) Housing Benefit, (b) Council Tax Benefit, (c) Income Support and (d) other means-tested assistance. [131654]

  Mr. Rooker
  No.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many written parliamentary questions were tabled to his Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April 2000; and how many have not received substantive answers citing disproportionate cost as the reason. [132132]

  Mr. Rooker
  We received 1,815 written parliamentary questions during the period 19 October 1999 to 20 April 2000. Fifteen of those Questions did not receive substantive answers owing to disproportionate cost.

  Disability Benefits
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many requests for permission to make late appeals in respect of Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance were(a) made and (b) granted in each year since 1996–97. [132056]

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

  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants of Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance receive both a child dependant's addition and an adult dependant's addition. [132059]

  Mr. Bayley
  The number of Incapacity Benefit recipients where both a child dependant's addition and an adult dependant's addition is payable is 47,200.

  The number of Severe Disablement Allowance recipients where both a child dependant's and an adult dependant's addition is payable is 1,300.

  These figures are taken from a 5 per cent. sample of the benefit computer system at 29 February 2000 and will exclude a small number of clerically held cases.

  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants of Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance with dependent children also receive Income Support. [132060]
  429W
  Mr. Bayley
  At November 1999, there were 231,000 claimants of Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance of working age with dependent children who also receive Income Support in Great Britain.

  Of the 231,000 claimants of Incapacity Benefit/Severe Disablement Allowance with dependent children who also receive Income Support, 132,000 are not receiving an Incapacity Benefit payment but are receiving National Insurance credits only due to failing the contribution condition.

  Source:

  Client Group Analysis of DSS statistical 5 per cent. samples relating to the working age claiming key Social Security benefits in November 1999.

  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people who have been assessed as disabled under the Industrial Injuries Disablement Scheme he estimates will benefit from decision CI 1698/97 of the Social Security Commissioners on aggregation of disablement assessments. [132057]

  Mr. Bayley
  Work is in hand to identify the people affected.

  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many children, by age group, live in households where a parent is in receipt of Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance or Income Support with a disability premium. [132058]

  Mr. Bayley
  The information is in the table.

  Children of working age recipients of Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance or Income Support with a disability related premium by age of child—Great Britain: November 1999

  Thousand

  Number

  All children

  582

  Under 5

  97

  Aged 5–10

  153

  Aged 11–15

  163

  16 or over

  54

  Not known

  115

  Notes:

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand

  2. Includes children for which additional benefit allowances are payable.

  3. A "disability related premium" means a Disability Premium, Severe Disability Premium (higher and lower rates) or a Higher Pensioner Premium where the claimant or partner are aged over 60 and would qualify for the Disability Premium.

  Source:

  Client Group Analysis of DSS statistical 5 per cent. samples relating the working age claiming key Social Security benefits in November 1999.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  New Deal (Disabled People)
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much has been allocated in the current financial year on developing the New Deal for Disabled People; how many people will benefit from 430W
  the scheme (a) nationally, (b) on Teesside and (c) in the constituency of Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East; and if he will make a statement. [128637]

  Ms Hodge
  For 2000–01, £640,000 has been allocated to my Department to develop the New Deal for Disabled People. To date the pilot phase has consisted of 24 Innovative Schemes and a Personal Adviser Service in 12 areas, covering around a quarter of a million people on Incapacity Benefit, and including South Tyneside in the North-East. Since autumn 1998 (when the pilots began) to the end of March 2000, the latest figures available, nearly £3 million had been spent on the Innovative Schemes and over £10 million on the 12 Personal Adviser pilot areas. During the same period 2,755 people had found jobs as a result of the pilots (3,454 to the end of May 2000). Together with colleagues at the Department of Social Security we are currently considering lessons learned from the pilot and hope to make an announcement in the near future about our plans for national extension.

  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people with more than one disability have joined the New Deal for the Disabled scheme. [131519]

  Ms Hodge
  The information is not available in the precise form requested. We have been piloting the New Deal for Disabled People (NDDP) since autumn 1998. People coming forward to date have a wide range of disabilities: many have more than one disability. The extra help and support provided takes account of the individual needs of each person who volunteers to take part in the NDDP pilots. The latest figures, to the end of May, show that 12,199 disabled people on Incapacity Benefits have joined the programme so far by participating in the 24 innovative schemes or by drawing up an agreed work-focused action plan with a personal adviser in 12 NDDP pilot areas. I am pleased to say that 3,454 people have found jobs as a result.

  After-school Clubs
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what funding is available to support the training of play workers in after-school clubs. [128745]

  Ms Hodge
  It is not possible to identify funding which is specifically available for the training of play workers. However, we have allocated £18 million in England to Training and Enterprise Councils between 1998–99 and 2000–01 to support the training needs of the child care workforce, including playworkers. Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships also spend a proportion of their budget on training. Further Education Colleges also spent £93.32 million on child care related training in 1998–99. This is in addition to the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) budget for the UK of £220 million from 1999–2003 to fund a significant expansion in out of school provision. Training is an acceptable element in bids made to NOF for support under the programme.

  Nursery Nurses
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many nursery nurses are employed in schools in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement on their future role. [129508]

  Ms Hodge
  The information is not available in the form requested. Figures are not collected for schools—other than nursery and primary schools—or private and voluntary providers. Information on the overall numbers of full-time equivalent nursery nurses employed in maintained nursery and primary schools is shown in the table, which shows that the number of full-time equivalent nursery nurses has increased by more than 3,000, or 16 per cent., since January 1997.

  Number of full-time equivalent Nursery Nurses1 in Maintained Nursery and Primary Schools in England: 1997 to 20002

  Position as at January

  Number

  20002

  21,862

  1999

  20,266

  1998

  19,973

  1997

  18,860

  1 Figures relate to staff who hold NNEB certificate or equivalent but exclude persons who are employed as unqualified teachers. Excludes unqualified persons.

  2 Provisional

  Source:

  Annual Schools' Census

  We fully recognise the tremendous contribution that well-managed and well-trained support staff, such as qualified nursery nurses, can make. That is why we are implementing a range of measures to increase the availability of such support. Our programme includes:
  additional recruitment—increasing by 20,000 the number of full-time equivalent support staff working in primary and secondary schools in England by 2002;
  effective induction training—with the forthcoming publication of high quality training materials for schools and local authorities;
  greater clarity over role and qualifications pathways—to be set out in a new national framework published by the Local Government National Training Organisation;
  good practice guidance—advice to heads and teachers on ways to support the effective involvement of support staff in schools.

  For information on teaching assistants in Wales, I refer the hon. Member to the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Sex Education
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what action the Government have taken to encourage sexual education for young people outside secondary schools. [130288]

  Jacqui Smith
  Across Whitehall there are a number of programmes which address health education for young people outside secondary schools. My Department, for instance, supports the work of some 80 national voluntary youth organisations through a scheme of grants worth 432W
  £12 million over the three years 1999–2002. These grants promote the provision of planned programmes of informal personal and social education for young people through a diverse range of projects, many of which address health education issues.

  For those young people in secondary schools, we recently published our Sex and Relationship Education guidance which sets out how schools can work in partnership with members of the wider community when planning and delivering sex and relationship education. The Department of Health will be issuing guidance to health authorities to make it clear that any materials they develop for use in schools must be in line with the DfEE guidance.

  Computers for Teachers
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many and what proportion of the teachers who applied for the Computers for Teachers scheme(a) received repayments within one month of the application, (b) are awaiting partial repayments and (c) are awaiting full repayments. [130775]

  Mr. Wills
  Owing to the popularity of the scheme, a backlog in making payments developed. This meant that 1,232 teachers received their computer subsidies within one month of the application. All but 217 valid claims have now been settled in full, and a further 346 incomplete applications have been received. Those involved have been contacted for further details.

  In recognition of inconvenience that may have been caused, a payment of £15 will be made to individual teachers where more than 30 days has elapsed between receipt of a valid application and payment or investigation of the claim.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what preparations his Department has made to ensure that data protection regulations are adhered to in the administration of the Computers for Teachers scheme; and if he will make a statement. [130776]

  Mr. Wills
  Teachers' information is stored on a secure database designed solely for the purpose of recording eligibility information and calculating Computers for Teachers subsidies and associated audit activities. All personal information relating to teachers' applications will be removed from the database, when the administration of the scheme is concluded.

  Economic Activity Rates
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will estimate, on the basis of the Labour Force Survey, the economic activity rates for(a) men and (b) women in each region and nation with (i) no long-term health problems, (ii) long-term health problems, (iii) long-term musculo-skeletal problems, (iv) chest problems, (v) heart problems, (vi) mental illnesses and (vii) learning difficulties. [130801]

  Ms Jowell
  [holding answer 17 July 2000]The economic activity rates for men and women with and without long-term health problems, in each region and nation in the UK are presented in Table 1.
  433W

  Table 1: Economic activity rates by gender, region and presence or absence of long-term health problems

  Percentage

  No long-term health problem

  Long-term health problem 1

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  North East

  90.5

  76.5

  54.6

  48.5

  North West

  92.2

  78.8

  62.5

  51.2

  Merseyside

  87.5

  73.7

  51.0

  46.1

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  90.4

  79.1

  65.9

  54.9

  East Midlands

  92.3

  79.6

  68.0

  61.2

  West Midlands

  90.7

  77.4

  64.9

  57.9

  Eastern

  91.8

  78.5

  73.5

  61.1

  London

  88.0

  74.1

  64.9

  55.1

  South East

  93.2

  80.0

  75.2

  68.7

  South West

  92.2

  81.0

  72.7

  63.9

  Wales

  89.9

  77.5

  53.2

  46.0

  Table 2: Economic activity rates by gender, region and types of long-term health problem

  Percentage

  Problems connected with arms, hands, legs, feet, back or neck1

  Chest or breathing problems, asthma, bronchitis

  Heart, blood pressure or blood circulation problems

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  North East

  43.2

  42.3

  85.5

  59.9

  45.2

  65.8

  North West

  61.8

  46.4

  79.5

  66.8

  57.5

  56.9

  Merseyside

  50.2

  36.5

  62.5

  66.1

  47.3

  2—

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  67.2

  50.7

  78.6

  63.5

  64.2

  55.2

  East Midlands

  68.4

  56.3

  81.7

  74.1

  69.6

  72.7

  West Midlands

  63.5

  53.8

  76.5

  71.6

  63.3

  60.0

  Eastern

  67.0

  58.4

  86.8

  71.3

  77.0

  66.7

  London

  60.5

  51.6

  81.8

  67.5

  71.9

  57.9

  South East

  72.1

  66.7

  87.6

  77.0

  72.0

  69.9

  South West

  71.4

  61.6

  84.8

  71.6

  68.5

  64.2

  Wales

  50.5

  36.5

  68.0

  61.1

  44.9

  56.6

  Scotland

  54.4

  38.7

  74.3

  70.0

  55.3

  64.1

  Northern Ireland

  54.1

  28.0

  61.7

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Total UK

  62.5

  50.8

  80.0

  69.1

  62.8

  62.0

  1 The labour force survey does not have a classification for musculo-skeletal problems. This category presented covers problems or disabilities connected with arms or hands, legs or feet, back or neck (including arthritis and rheumatism).

  2 Number of cases is too few to be reliable so the estimate is not shown.

  Figures for the incidence of mental illness and learning difficulties, when broken down by region are mainly less than 10,000 cases, which is below the publication threshold for data from the Labour Force Survey. Figures below this level are unreliable; therefore, only national estimates can be given, and these are presented in Table 3.

  Table 3: Economic activity rates by gender and mental illness and learning difficulties in the UK

  Percentage

  Total UK

  Mental illness 1

  Male

  28.7

  Female

  25.6

  Learning difficulties 2

  Male

  45.9

  Female

  30.5

  1 Mental illness, phobias, panics or other nervous disorders, depression, bad nerves or anxiety.

  2 Severe or specific learning difficulties.

  Note:

  All figures taken from the Labour Force Survey (Spring 2000, UK).
  434W

  Table 1: Economic activity rates by gender, region and presence or absence of long-term health problems

  Percentage

  No long-term health problem

  Long-term health problem 1

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Scotland

  91.8

  80.1

  57.7

  50.1

  Northern Ireland

  87.0

  67.9

  50.1

  40.5

  Total UK

  91.0

  78.0

  65.1

  56.3

  1 Long-term health problem refers to a problem lasting more than 12 months

  Table 2 presents a breakdown of the figures given in Table 1, by the following types of long-term health problem: musculo-skeletal, chest problems, and heart problems.

  Lone Parents (Shrewsbury and Atcham)
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many lone parents have secured jobs through the New Deal for Lone Parents in Shrewsbury and Atcham; and if he will make a statement. [131146]

  Ms Hodge
  This information is not available in the form requested, as New Deal for Lone Parents is delivered on an Employment Service District basis. The table contains the information for the Shropshire district.

  NDLP figures for Shropshire district—October 1998 to April 2000

  Shropshire district

  Initial interview

  986

  Agreement to participate

  898

  Total numbers into jobs

  344

  Equal Treatment Directive
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if the proposed Council Directive Establishing a General Framework for Equal Treatment in
  435W
  Employment and Occupation, as currently drafted, would require a parish church not to refuse to employ an atheist in the post of verger; [131166]

  (2) what the effect will be of the proposed Council Directive Establishing a General Framework for Equal Treatment in Employment and Occupation, as currently drafted, on the employment policy of the Board of Social Responsibility of the Church of Scotland which requires that all its staff should be committed Christians; [131167]

  (3) if the proposed Council Directive Establishing a General Framework for Equal Treatment in Employment and Occupation, as currently drafted, will require the repeal of section 60 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. [131168]

  Ms Jowell
  The proposed Council Directive Establishing a General Framework for Equal Treatment in Employment and Occupation is currently in negotiation. Until a text has been finally agreed it is not possible to assess the precise effect it will have on existing legislation such as that mentioned in the question. However, the Government are negotiating on the basis that the text finally agreed should be clear and workable in practice and should preserve, where appropriate, existing arrangements which allow religious bodies to protect their ethos. We are seeking to negotiate an agreement which will protect the existing rights of church schools under section 60 of the Schools Standards and Framework Act 1998.

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will seek to amend the proposed EU directive on equal treatment in employment so as to reflect the concerns of religious groups in the UK. [131579]

  Ms Jowell
  The proposed Council Directive Establishing a General Framework for Equal Treatment in Employment and Occupation is currently in negotiation. The Government are negotiating on the basis that the text finally agreed should be clear and workable in practice and should preserve, where appropriate, existing arrangements which allow religious bodies to protect their ethos. We have been consulting a range of religious groups on the implications of the proposals throughout the negotiations.

  Teachers (Performance-related Pay)
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the average amount of time spent in training the external assessors of performance-related pay. [131712]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The External Assessors who will visit schools to verify Headteachers' decisions about which teachers meet threshold standards must attend a three day training event, and successfully pass a formal independent accreditation process.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he received legal advice as to whether the standards for the performance-related pay threshold should be referred to the School Teachers Review Body; and when he received such advice. [131799]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State receives advice as appropriate before he takes decisions.
  436W
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment for how long schools will be compensated for the additional salary costs of teachers they recruit who are already in receipt of performance-related pay. [131536]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  A new Special Grant in England will target funds to support the additional pay costs of the new performance threshold for teachers separately from schools' delegated budgets until March 2002. The funding arrangements beyond that point will be decided in the light of the Government spending review and the early experience of the teachers' pay reforms.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if the standards for teachers' threshold assessment for performance related pay for 2001–02 will be the same as for the current year. [131537]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The standards for teachers' threshold assessment were quashed in the Judicial Review brought by the NUT. At this time it is not possible to say what they will be for the current year or for 2001–02.

  Computers (Access)
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much funding is available from(a) Government and (b) other sources for (i) the Computers Within Reach Scheme and (ii) other schemes designed to assist people on low incomes participate in the information age. [131792]

  Mr. Wills
  The Government are making £15 million available for a pilot scheme in England—"Computers Within Reach"—to enable those who cannot afford new computers to acquire reconditioned computers for use in the home for the purpose of improving their employment prospects, for lifelong learning, and potentially for their children's homework. We are currently assessing which locations will be included in the pilot projects and details will be announced later this year. £252 million of funding from the Capital Modernisation Fund (CMF) is being used to set up around 700 ICT Learning Centres across England. This will be complemented by £77.5 million of New Opportunities Fund money to provide revenue support and develop Community Grids for Learning. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland received £70 million of CMF funding in the March 1999 Budget for use in similar schemes.

  In autumn 2000, the University for Industry (UfI) will become operational using the brand name 'learndirect' for its products and services. It will develop a network of some 1,000 'learndirect' centres by spring 2001. The DfEE has allocated £84 million in 2000–01 to support Ufl's development and implementation plans and the development and management of the learndirect information and advice line.

  We do not have available figures on the funding from other sources.

  Judicial Review (NUT)
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the court hearings which took place in connection with the action by the National Union of Teachers resulting in the decision of Mr. Justice Jackson on 14 July; if his
  437W
  Department was entitled to have legal representatives (a) attend and (b) make legal representations at those hearings; and whether his Department was represented at the hearings. [131798]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The application for permission for judicial review was held on 19 April 2000. My Department was entitled to attend and make representations, but in accordance with common practice decided not to do so in all the circumstances of the case. The judicial review hearing took place between 11 and 14 July. My Department was entitled to and did attend and make representations.

  Child Care
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will estimate the net cost of(a) making grants available to all playgroups and nurseries for three-year-olds and (b) reducing the coverage of grants in respect of three-year-olds to two days a week. [131527]

  Ms Hodge
  [holding answer 20 July 2000]Since this Government came to office, 120,000 new, free, early education places have been created for three and four-year-olds nationally. All four-year-olds already have free access to early education. Two thirds of three-year-olds will be able to access a free place by 2002. The priority is to reach those three-year-olds in social need who would most benefit from a free nursery place. The estimated annual cost of achieving universal provision is approximately £450 million.

  If three-year-old entitlement was to be reduced from five sessions to two, the estimated cost of universal provision would be approximately £180 million.

  East Lancashire University
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to establish a university in East Lancashire; and if he will make a statement. [131890]

  Mr. Wicks
  The Government do not determine the siting of higher education institutions. It is a matter for the interested bodies in the region to consider with the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

  School Capital Grants (Northampton)
  Ms Keeble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list(a) the schools in Northampton, North which have received capital grants and (b) the value of grant in each case. [131947]

  Jacqui Smith
  The table shows the schools in Northampton, North constituency which have benefited from allocations of New Deal for Schools grant. All schools in the constituency will have benefited from Devolved Formula Capital in 2000–01, which is allocated by the local education authority.
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  New Deal for schools grant allocations to schools in Northampton, North constituency

  School

  Total grant allocated under NDS (£)

  Kingsthorpe Community

  409,457

  Northampton School for Girls

  60,000

  Stimpson Avenue Lower School and Nursery

  13,000

  Thomas Becket RC Upper School

  20,000

  Trinity School

  60,000

  Kings Heath Lower School and Nursery

  10,000

  Booth Lower School

  20,000

  Gladstone Lower School

  22,000

  Weston Favell Upper School

  50,000

  St. Mary's RC Middle

  53,500

  Emmanuel C. of E. Middle

  21,400

  St. Gregory's Lower

  14,980

  Blackthorn Middle

  20,000

  Kingsthorpe Middle

  90,000

  Gladstone Lower

  85,000

  Package Bids1

  1,188,700

  Cedar Road Lower, Boothville Middle,

  Sunnyside Lower, Booth Lower, Kings Heath

  Lower, Spencer Middle, Kingsley Lower,

  Kingsthorpe Middle Community, Trinity School,

  Booth Lower, Emmanuel Church of England

  Voluntary Aided Middle, Whitehills Lower, and the Camrose Centre2

  2,226,114

  Total

  4,364,151

  1 A total of £1,888,700 was awarded for 10 package projects in NDS round three. Details of schools to which funding was allocated are held by Northamptonshire local education authority.

  2 The schools listed were included in package projects totalling £2,226,114 in NDS round four. Details of allocations for individual schools are held by Northamptonshire local education authority.

  School Inspections (Racial Equality)
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many Ofsted school inspection reports, since the publication of the report of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry, have included(a) consideration of the school's effectiveness in preventing and addressing racism, (b) highlighted racial equality issues among the key action points and (c) identified improvements in the school's practice in promoting racial equality; [131961]

  (2) how many schools placed under special measures since the publication of the report of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry have had failure to address issues of racial equality identified among their weaknesses; [131962]

  (3) how many schools which have been identified by Ofsted as having serious weaknesses have, since the publication of the report of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry, had failure to address racial equality as one of the identified weaknesses; [131963]

  (4) if he will request Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools to respond in writing to the recommendations of the report of the Commission for Racial Equality, "Inspecting Schools for Race Equality: Ofsted's Strengths and Weaknesses". [131964]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  These are matters for HM Chief Inspector of Schools, Chris Woodhead. I have asked him to write to my hon. Friend and to place a copy of his letter in the Library. Post-inspection action plans are prepared by schools' governing bodies to address the key issues for action identified by inspectors, which could include the need better to address issues of racial equality. In the case
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  of schools requiring special measures or with serious weaknesses, HM Inspectors judge whether action plans adequately address the key issues and monitor improvement on subsequent visits. My Department checks on the progress made by each school and, in cases where progress is limited, works with the local education authority to ensure that urgent action is taken to improve the quality of education provided for pupils.

  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he will respond to the recommendations of the report of the Commission for Racial Equality, Inspecting Schools for Race Equality: Ofsted's Strengths and Weaknesses. [131965]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  This Government are committed to ensuring high standards and equal opportunities for every child in every school and Ofsted has an important role in achieving that aim. Most of the recommendations in the CRE's report are matters for Ofsted. We will respond to the other recommendations after we have completed our consideration of the report.

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the average class size was for classes taught by one teacher in(a) Great Britain and (b) each local education authority, for(i) primary and (ii) secondary schools, in (A) 1979, (B) 1992 and (C) each year since 1996; and what the figure was for (x) Key Stage 1 and (y) Key Stage 2 in each year since 1996. [132026]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Information is not available in the form requested. The available information is contained in tables, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

  For information on classes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, I refer the hon. Member to the Secretaries of State for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively.

  Youth Unemployment (Greater London)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the impact of the New Deal on reducing youth unemployment in the Greater London area. [132073]

  Ms Jowell
  The New Deal for Young People is aimed at people aged 18–24 who have been claiming unemployment benefits for six months or more.

  Claimant unemployment among this group has fallen by 70 per cent. in the three years since April 1997 and by 56 per cent. since April 1998 when the New Deal was introduced. Part of this fall is due to the delivery of a strong and stable economy, but the New Deal for Young People has helped unemployment to fall even faster. The fall of 56 per cent. since the New Deal was introduced compares with a fall of 18 per cent. in total unemployment, 23 per cent. in total youth (18–24) unemployment and 26 per cent. in the total number unemployed for six months or more. The effect of the New Deal is confirmed by independent research from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research.

  It is not possible to measure the New Deal effect exactly in each part of the country. However, in Greater London the fall in unemployment among the New Deal
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  client group has also been substantially faster than for other groups. In Greater London, in the two years since April 1998, claimant unemployment among those aged 18–24, unemployed for six months or more, has fallen by 56 per cent., from 19,346 to 8,552. This compares with a fall of 21 per cent. in total unemployment, 29 per cent. in total youth (18–24) unemployment, and 26 per cent. in the total number unemployed for six months or more.

  Rural School Closures
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many schools and colleges in rural areas have closed in each of the last five years. [131900]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 21 July 2000]The table shows the number of schools in rural areas approved for closure in each of the last five years.

  Number

  1996

  21

  1997

  4

  1998

  5

  1999

  2

  2000

  2

  Although a number of governing bodies of further education colleges in rural areas have been dissolved, in each case the educational provision has continued by arrangement with another institution in the further or higher education sector.

  Hendon Schools
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much extra has been and will be awarded in direct cash payments to each school, by name, in Hendon as a result of(a) the budget and (b) the Comprehensive Spending Review. [131905]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 24 July 2000]A table was placed in the Library of the House on 3 June giving details, by constituency, of the allocation of the extra budget funding for schools—the School Standards Grant. This information is not normally published for individual schools. The amount of School Standards Grant paid to schools in Hendon is £615,000.

  I will place a similar table in the Libraries, with estimates of the grant payable to schools by constituency, as a result of the 2000 Spending Review, as soon as possible.

  Access to Work Scheme
  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what research his Department has carried out on the level of awareness of the Access to Work scheme among(a) employers and (b) disabled people. [131820]

  Ms Hodge
  [holding answer 21 July 2000]Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
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  Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Richard Allan, dated 24 July 2000:
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about research on the level of awareness of the Access to Work programme among employers and disabled people. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  We have not undertaken any specific research into the level of awareness of Access to Work. However, in 1998 the Institute of Employment Studies carried out an independent evaluation of Access to Work for the Employment Service. They found that recipients had learnt about Access to Work from a wide range of sources, indicating that knowledge of Access to Work is widespread among agencies helping disabled people, including family doctors, social services departments, health services, hospitals, employment agencies, employers and organisations and support groups for disabled people.
  We have recently contracted for an independent survey of Access to Work recipients to be undertaken later this year. The survey will ask how recipients found out about the Access to Work programme and about their knowledge of what it can provide for disabled people.
  I hope this is helpful.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions he has deposited papers in the Library in response to parliamentary questions tabled to his Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April 2000. [127338]

  Mr. Mandelson
  Between 19 October 1999 and 20 April 2000, papers were deposited in the Library on 22 occasions.

  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many written parliamentary questions tabled to his Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April 2000 have not received substantive answers, with commercial or other confidentiality cited as the reason. [127676]

  Mr. Mandelson
  Of the 564 written parliamentary questions tabled in this period, four did not receive a substantive answer with confidentiality cited as the reason, and one further received only a partial answer.

  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of the written parliamentary questions tabled to his Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April 2000 have not received substantive answers, excluding those not answered citing(a) disproportionate cost, (b) that the information is not available, not held centrally, or not held in the form requested and (c) commercial confidentiality or other confidentiality. [131123]

  Mr. Mandelson
  Of the 564 written parliamentary questions tabled to my Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April 2000 there were no occasions where a substantive answer was not given other than the reasons set out in the hon. Member's question.

  Registrable Associations
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Hull, North of 17 July 2000,Official Report, column 18W, (1) what definition he uses of public concern; and how he was informed of those public concerns; [132036]

  (2) what representations he has received from members of the public who are concerned about police membership of Opus Dei; and if he will place copies of them in the Library; [132034]

  (3) if he will list the religious organisations he consulted when drafting clause 49 (registration of associations) of the Police (Northern Ireland) Bill; [132033]

  (4) if he will make a statement on his policy in respect of the inclusion of (a) the Legion of Mary, (b) St. Vincent de Paul, (c) Guild of Catholic Mothers, (d) St. Joseph Young Priests Society, (e) Society of St. Gregory, (f) Thomas Merton Society, (g) Catholic Women's League, (h) the Irish National Foresters and (i) the Jesuits from clause 49 (Registration of associations) of the Police (Northern Ireland) Bill; [132070]

  (5) what criteria he applied in selecting the registrable associations listed in Clause 49 of Police (Northern Ireland) Bill; [132124]

  (6) if he will require members of internal organisations of (a) the Church of Ireland, (b) Presbyterian, (c) Methodist, (d) Free Presbyterian and (e) other churches to declare their membership of such organisations when applying to the Police Service of Northern Ireland. [132125]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Government's decisions on registrable associations were made in the light of the recommendation and principles set out in chapter 15 of the Patten Report, and the list of organisations given in the NI Affairs Committee Report of 8 July 1998. As I said in Standing Committee B on the Police (NI) Bill, 29 June 2000,Official Report, column 336, the issue is not about membership per se but is "largely one of perception". For example, as reflected in submissions to the Commission and Government and by the amendment tabled by Members of Parliament in Committee.

  We have not been made aware of public concern surrounding organisations other than those listed, but the clause contains a provision that would enable the Secretary of State to amend the list.

  The Government have met representatives of Opus Dei and are considering the points put to it about their inclusion.

PRIME MINISTER

  Lord Birt
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) what factors underlay his decision to appoint Lord Birt as his adviser on crime; whom he consulted before making that appointment; and for what period the appointment has been made; [130317]

  (2) if he will list the qualifications held by Lord Birt relevant to his role as adviser on crime; [130318]
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  (3) what remuneration was offered to Lord Birt in respect of his role as crime adviser; [130319]

  (4) what areas Lord Birt will focus on in his role of adviser on crime; [130320]

  (5) what (a) expenses, (b) transport arrangements and (c) office facilities Lord Birt will be eligible to claim in his role as adviser on crime; [130321]

  (6) how he will ensure the accountability to Parliament of Lord Birt in his role as crime adviser; and to what categories of information in respect of crime Lord Birt will be allowed access. [130398]

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister what considerations led him to appoint Lord Birt to investigate the reasons for the growth in crime; and if he will make a statement. [130305]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 13 June 2000]I have asked Lord Birt to take a long-term, strategic look at criminality and long-run social trends. We have a strategy in place for tackling crime and its causes which is starting to show results in key areas such as burglary and car crime. But crime remains a serious and deep-seated problem and we must continue to look to the future and be open to new ideas. Lord Birt brings a strategic outlook and an understanding of social trends gained from a long and distinguished career in broadcasting. He will be reporting to me and to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary as well as working closely with my right hon. and learned Friends the Lord Chancellor and the Attorney-General and they will ensure that any new policies on crime are shared with Parliament.

  Lord Birt has been appointed as a part-time unpaid adviser. The duration of the appointment is yet to be determined. As an adviser to the Government he will be entitled to claim out-of-pocket expenses, to have appropriate use of Government office accommodation and to have access to relevant Government papers. He will not be entitled to use official Government transport.

  Attorney-General (Appointment)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Prime Minister what the most recent occasion was, prior to the present appointment, when the Attorney-General was appointed from the House of Lords. [130833]

  The Prime Minister
  As far as I am aware there have been no previous appointments from the House of Lords. There is no reason why either the Attorney-General or the Solicitor-General should not be members of the House of Lords. Previously attendance by the Attorney-General in the House of Lords was similar to that of a Temporal Assistant whose attendance was commanded by writ in order to give advice. I refer the hon. Member to an exchange reported in the Other Place on 19 November 1957,Official Report, House of Lords, columns 377–82, for further details on this aspect.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Prime Minister how many of the written parliamentary questions tabled to him between 19 October 1999 and 20 April did not receive substantive answers, citing as the reason that the information was(a) not held centrally, (b) not held in the form requested and (c) not available. [131199]
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  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 18 July 2000]Of the 454 written answers I provided in the specified period I was unable to provide information on four occasions because it was either not held centrally or not held in the format requested or not available.

  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Prime Minister how many written parliamentary questions were tabled to his Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April; and how many have not received substantive answers, with disproportionate cost cited as the reason. [131224]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 20 July 2000]I provided 454 written answers within the specified period. I was asked on one occasion to provide information which could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Sellafield
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the matters discussed at, and the outcome of, his recent meeting with the Save our Sellafield campaign. [131995]

  The Prime Minister
  The group briefed me and my right hon. Friend the Minister for Energy and Competitiveness in Europe (Mrs. Liddell) on a range of issues facing the west Cumbrian economy, including the need to attract new inward investment, and emphasised the importance to that economy of Sellafield.

  United Nations
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Prime Minister on which days he plans to attend the United Nations Millennium Summit; and if he will make a statement. [131015]

  The Prime Minister
  The UN Millennium Summit in New York will take place over three days from 6–8 September. I plan to attend for at least part of the time.

  Computer Security
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Prime Minister what steps he takes to ensure the security of information held on, or transmitted via, the Downing street computer system. [132144]

  The Prime Minister
  Information security remains a high priority and its effectiveness is kept under continuous review.

  Lords Lieutenant
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the answer of 13 July 2000,Official Report, column 663W, on lords lieutenant, what recent assessment he has made of the system for appointing deputy lords lieutenant. [132331]

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

  Under section 2 of the Lieutenancies Act 1997, the lord lieutenant of a county or area shall appoint such persons as he thinks fit to be his deputy lieutenants, subject to the non-disapprobation of the Queen. The Act, which was granted Royal Assent on 19 March 1997, repealed parts of the Reserve Forces Act 1980, including

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  those relating to lord lieutenants and deputy lieutenants. There are at present no plans to change the system of appointing deputy lieutenants.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Government Property Lawyers
  Siobhain McDonagh
  To ask the Solicitor-General when the Government Property Lawyers 1997–98 Annual Report and Accounts will be published. [132500]

  The Solicitor-General
  I can confirm that I have today placed copies of the Annual Report in the Libraries of the House.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Liberia
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what development assistance has been given to Liberia since 1997; and if she will make a statement. [126416]

  Clare Short
  Development assistance for the period 1997 to 1999 totalled 3.55 million.

  Full details are included in the respective "British Aid Statistics" which is available in the Library of the House.

  Oxfam Report
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the recent Oxfam report, "Missing the Target: the price of empty promises"; and if she will make a statement. [128715]

  Clare Short
  The UK Government have taken the lead in seeking to mobilise the international development system including development NGOs to focus on the achievement of the 2015 targets. We have always made clear that the 2015 targets are extremely challenging, but very substantial progress has been made and more is possible. Some targets are nearer to achievement than others. It is also possible that some of the targets will be achieved overall but not achieved in some countries. The purpose of the targets is to seek to galvanise a greater effort in each country and by all parties.

  At last year's Summit in Cologne, the G8 called for an annual poverty report from the international financial institutions as a means of focusing the international effort toward the targets. The first report has been prepared for this year's Summit in Okinawa. The report draws attention to the concerted and sustained commitment that will be needed if the 2015 targets are to be met. However its conclusion is that achieving the targets is still possible overall, though it will be more difficult in some parts of the world than in others. The report proposes a comprehensive range of measures for dealing with this: these include improving the global environment faced by developing countries; increasing aid flows and improving the effectiveness of aid; accelerating the implementation of the enhanced heavily indebted poor countries initiative; harnessing new
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  information and communication technologies for increased productivity and economic growth; and working to reduce conflict.

  Amazon Basin (Logging)
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the logging activities in the Amazon by the Brazilian Environment Agency; and if she will make a statement. [131153]

  Clare Short
  The role of the Brazilian Environment Agency (IBAMA) is to monitor and control logging rather than actively engage in it. Our assessment is that environmental management capacity in Brazil needs to be developed in order to implement policies that have already been formally adopted. We believe that IBAMA are currently under-resourced and there are many weaknesses in the enforcement of existing forestry legislation owing to lack of incentives and capacity. We, and other donors, are contributing to institutional strengthening of IBAMA through the Pilot Programme to Conserve the Brazilian Rainforest.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action she proposes to take to discourage logging activities in the Amazon by the Brazilian Environment Agency. [131154]

  Clare Short
  We are contributing to the international efforts to encourage sustainable logging practices in Brazil. Our contribution is mainly being channelled through the Pilot Programme to Conserve the Brazilian Rainforest.

  Financial Contributions
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what are the policy aims underlying her Department's contribution to(a) the Asian Development Bank, (b) the African Development Bank, (c) the International Monetary Fund, (d) the International Finance Corporation, (e) the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, (f) the International Development Association, (g) Trade and Investment Research Activities, (h) UNAIDS, (i)the UN Fund for Population Acts, (j)the African Development Fund, (k) the WHO, (l) the UN Centre for Human Settlements, (m) the European Commission Attribution, (n) EU research, (o) the Desertification Convention, (p) the International Trade and Timber Organisation and (q) the World Food Programme; what assessment she has made of the value for money of these contributions; and if she will make a statement. [131620]

  Clare Short
  The policy aims underlying our contribution to(a), (b), (d), (e), (f), (j), (l), (m) and (n) are set out in the relevant Institutional Strategy Papers, which have been deposited in the Library of the House. Strategy Papers for (h), (k), (1) and (q) will be published shortly and will be deposited in the Library of the House, with the exception of the International Monetary Fund which is a Treasury lead.

  Our policy aims on (g), (o) and (p), are outlined in chapters 3, 4 and 5 in DFID' s 2000 Departmental Report.

  HIV/AIDS
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of the current multilateral budget funding HIV/AIDS programmes will be principally directed towards Africa. [131619]

  Clare Short
  It is not possible to identify statistically how our contributions to the core funding of multilateral organisations involved in tackling HIV/AIDS is allocated. Obviously the major effort of most international organisations working on HIV/AIDS is being devoted to Africa.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the total amounts spent by her Department on HIV/AIDS in each year since 1992. [131616]

  Clare Short
  [holding answer 20 July 2000]DFTD' s total expenditure on HIV/AIDS from 1992–93 to 1999–2000 was as follows:

  £ million

  1992–93

  15

  1993–94

  30

  1994–95

  35

  1995–96

  34

  1996–97

  41

  1997–98

  41

  1998–99

  43

  1999–2000

  55

  The statistical system used excludes activities costing less than £100,000 and multilateral expenditure.

  Bangladesh
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development for what reasons Bangladesh has been excluded from the HIPC initiative; and what representations the UK Government have made on this matter. [131624]

  Clare Short
  According to the World bank and IMF, Bangladesh's debt sustainability ratios are below the minimum thresholds used by the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative. This means that it would not qualify for debt relief.

  For a country to receive HIPC debt relief, it requires not only unsustainable levels of debt, but also a commitment to poverty reduction and reform. In the case of Bangladesh, any consideration of debt relief would be likely to require further progress in areas such as public expenditure allocations on essential services for poor people, measures to improve the quality of public services, improving revenue administration, and a serious start on structural measures such as financial sector and public enterprise reform.

  Our substantial aid programme to Bangladesh—£65 million in 1999–2000—focuses on promoting the reduction of poverty both directly and by addressing constraints on faster pro-poor growth and improved governance.

  Mozambique
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what debt is owed by Mozambique to the(a) UK Government and (b) UK private sector; what are the debt service payments relating to that debt; and by how much that debt service will be reduced by debt cancellation and other national and international debt relief initiatives. [131625]

  Clare Short
  Mozambique's aid debts of £21.8 million to the UK were cancelled in 1983. Under the Government's policy on 100 per cent. debt relief for countries eligible under the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative, debt service payments on Mozambique's remaining debt of £9.5 million to the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) ceased. The enhanced HIPC Initiative both removes the unpayable portion of Mozambique's debt and halves the debt service that it was previously paying to official creditors.

  We do not have figures for Mozambique's debt to the private sector. However, since we estimate its worldwide private sector debt to be less than one per cent. of its total debt, the amount owed to the UK is presumed to be minimal.

CABINET OFFICE

  Official Meetings
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office from which sections of the US Departments of Justice, Defense and State officials were drawn attending each of the meetings which took place since 1 January 1998 between her departmental representatives and Ambassador David Aaron. [130514]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The information is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

SCOTLAND

  Astute Submarines
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the impact on the Scottish economy of the decision to place the mast order for the Royal Navy's Astute submarines with Pilkington Optronics in Govan. [127715]

  Dr. Reid
  The contract for optronic masts for Astute submarines was awarded by BAe Systems, the prime contractor, to Pilkington Optronics. The order is worth over £20 million and will support the jobs of the 600-strong workforce. Pilkington Optronics won this order in open competition demonstrating their excellent capability to provide leading-edge technology in this field.

  Saudi Arabia (Trade)
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the recent Scottish trade mission to Saudi Arabia. [129932]
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  Mr. Wilson
  Trade missions organised by Scottish Trade International are the responsibility of the Scottish Executive. However, the recent trade mission from 16–26 June was STI's third trade mission to Saudi Arabia.

  Nine companies participated in the mission from a range of sectors. The mission covered three centres in Saudi Arabia: the Eastern Province, Riyadh and Jeddah. It is too early to estimate the likely success of the mission, but both the British Embassy in Saudi Arabia and STI report extremely positive responses from the business community.

  Lords Lieutenant
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of Scotland's Lords Lieutenant are(a) women and (b) members of an ethnic minority. [132141]

  Dr. Reid
  Four Lords Lieutenant are women (including two ex-officio); none are members of an ethnic minority.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Firearms
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to respond to the second report of Session 1999–2000 from the Home Affairs Committee on controls over firearms (HC 95). [130327]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Government are currently considering the Select Committee's report and hope to publish their response shortly.

  Police (Racism)
  Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he has made in his campaign to eliminate racism from the police force. [130339]

  Mr. Straw
  In February, I published my first annual report on progress of the implementation of my Action Plan to take forward the recommendations of the report of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry, a copy of which is in the Library. I was able to report that over half of the report's 70 recommendations had already been implemented and that work was under way on the others. The Bill to extend the Race Relations Act 1976 to the police and other public authorities was introduced in December 1999. I have set targets for forces on recruitment, retention and progression of ethnic minority officers. In addition, a nationally co-ordinated and funded programme of community and race relations training is now under way in police forces. I have made increasing trust and confidence in policing among ethnic minority communities one of just two Ministerial Priorities for the current year.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Russell Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effect of the employment concession on the total number of applicants for asylum in the United Kingdom. [130341]
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  Mrs. Roche
  We believe that the concession, which has operated since 1986, acts as a pull factor for applicants wishing to find work in this country but who do not qualify for asylum. A number of other European countries have no such concession allowing asylum seekers to work. We are keeping the need for the concession under review, particularly in the light of the substantial progress we are making to speed up asylum decisions.

  Dr. Ladyman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the London boroughs about the dispersal of asylum seekers by those boroughs to other local authority areas. [130343]

  Mrs. Roche
  We have had general discussions with the Association of London Government about the dispersal of asylum seekers. We recently announced the further roll-out from today of the national asylum support scheme to include new in-country asylum applicants in London. This should, over time, reduce the number of cases where the London boroughs are proposing dispersal under the voluntary scheme.

  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy towards asylum seekers. [130360]

  Mrs. Roche
  We remain committed to a fairer, faster and firmer approach to immigration and asylum, and aim to achieve most asylum decisions within two months and most appeals within a further four months from April 2001. We are already meeting the two month target for family cases. We will continue to provide protection to those in real need of it, while taking the strongest possible measures to deter unfounded claims. In particular, a new civil penalty has been introduced for bringing clandestine entrants into the United Kingdom in lorries and other vehicles.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his estimate is of his Department's spending on asylum seeker support for(a) 2000–01, (b) 2001–02, (c) 2002–03 and (d) 2003–04. [132355]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) budget for 2000–01 has been increased by £609 million to £1,198 million. This includes a cash estimate for spending on asylum seeker support for 2000–01 of £604 million.

  Following the Spending Review, the total budget for IND has been increased by £409 million to £952 million in 2001–02, by £446 million to £990 million in 2002–03 and £501 million to £990 million in 2003–04. The provisional estimates for asylum seeker support in those years are £403 million for 2001–01, £434 million for 2002–03 and £491 million for 2003–04. The asylum support estimates for 2001–04 have been calculated on a resource basis and are not directly comparable with those for 2000–01.

  Burglary
  Ms Rosie Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress with the reducing burglary initiative. [130344]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Sixty-three strategic development projects approved in April last year are underway and another 161 projects have been approved in the last three
  451W
  months. In total these have been granted nearly £16 million and they cover over 800,000 households that suffered more than 60,000 burglaries in a year.

  In April, we launched the third round, inviting bids from crime and disorder partnerships for a share of the remaining funding—over £30 million.

  Police Recruitment
  Mr. St. Aubyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on police recruitment. [130345]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Taking account of their Crime Fighting Fund bids, forces currently estimate that they will recruit about 7,600 officers this financial year.

  I understand from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and other sources that most forces are experiencing no difficulties in recruiting. The Metropolitan Police Service and the City of London Police are, however, finding it difficult to recruit, as are other forces, including Essex, Hampshire, Hertfordshire and Thames Valley.

  The Government are doing all they can to help all forces maximise recruitment, including funding a national recruitment campaign to be launched later this Summer. This will focus particularly on London and the South East. It is designed to improve the image of the police and encourage quality applicants.

  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced on 23 June an increase of £3,327 in the London Allowance for those Metropolitan and City officers who joined on or after 1 September 1994 and who are not in receipt of housing allowance. The increase is intended to make the starting pay of new officers in those forces, more attractive and so boost recruitment.

  Mr. Salter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reports he has received indicating which police forces find it most difficult to(a) recruit and (b) retain police officers; and what plans he has to seek to address these difficulties. [130355]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I understand from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and other sources that most forces are having no difficulty in recruiting. The Metropolitan Police Service and the City of London police are however finding it difficult to recruit and retain new police officers. A few others, including Essex, Hampshire, Hertfordshire and Thames Valley have reported some recruitment problems.

  We are doing all we can to help all forces maximise recruitment and minimise wastage, including funding a national recruitment campaign to be launched later in the summer. This will focus particularly on London and the South-east. It is designed to improve the image of the police and encourage quality applicants.

  To help address the recruitment and retention problems in London my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced in the policing of London debate, on 23 June 2000, Official Report, column 562, a £3,327 increase in London Allowance for those Metropolitan or City Officers who joined on or after 1 September 1994 and who are not in receipt of housing allowance.

  Anti-social Behaviour
  Mr. Goggins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice he has given to registered social landlords with regard to the making of anti-social behaviour orders. [130346]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The new guidance booklet, "Anti-Social Behaviour Orders: Guidance on drawing up Local ASBO Protocols", which my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary launched on 28 June, gives advice on partnership working which should assist registered social landlords and other bodies in the consultation process leading up to an ASBO application. A copy of the guidance is in the Library.

  Mr. Andy King
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for on-the-spot fines to curb anti-social behaviour. [130350]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  On-the-spot fines are not currently available as a penalty for a criminal offence in England and Wales. The Government take the problems posed by anti-social behaviour very seriously and are considering what new means of dealing with this type of behaviour are necessary.

  Marsham Street
  Sir Michael Spicer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the future of the three tower blocks in Marsham street. [130347]

  Mr. Straw
  The future of the Marsham street site rests on the outcome of a public private partnership project to provide modern offices for Home Office and Prison Service staff. Bids from two private sector consortia are being evaluated and I expect to announce the outcome shortly.

  Police Manpower
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the correlation between the number of police officers in a police area and the level of crime. [130348]

  Mrs. Organ
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the correlation between the number of police officers in a police area and the level of crime. [130351]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I refer my hon. Friends to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Great Yarmouth (Mr. Wright) on 13 July 2000,Official Report, columns 668–74W. This presented an assessment by my Department of the relationship between changes in police numbers and crime rates at police force level over the last few years. It showed that at level of individual forces, there seems little obvious link between performance and police numbers.

  Mr. David Heath
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reports he has received about the adequacy of police numbers in rural areas. [130349]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I have received a number of reports expressing concern about police numbers or the adequacy of police services in rural areas.
  453W
  Under the Police Act 1996, it is for Chief Constables to determine the number of police officers in their force from within their available resources, but the Government recognise the importance of ensuring that forces have the funding for sufficient officers to provide an effective service.

  Rural areas will benefit from the Crime Fighting Fund, which will provide for an additional 9,000 officers over and above those whom forces planned to recruit in the three years 2000–01, 2001–02 and 2002–03.

  In addition, £15 million was made available through the Budget, for assistance specifically to police forces in rural areas this year. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Ellesmere Port and Neston (Mr. Miller) on 20 July 2000, Official Report, columns 320–21W.

  Racially Aggravated Offences
  Mr. Bradshaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact of the racially aggravated offences introduced by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998; and if he will make a statement. [130352]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  This is the subject of a research project commissioned by the Home Office. Results are expected towards the end of this year and a report will be published early next year. The research is designed to look in detail at the operation of the legislation and the extent to which it is being used. It includes questionnaire surveys of key personnel in the police, Crown Prosecution Service and courts, in-depth interviews in five local areas and a thorough analysis of the available statistics.

  Rural Policing
  Dr. George Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to help improve the effectiveness of police forces serving rural communities. [130353]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Rural areas will benefit from the Crime Fighting Fund, part of which will be used to provide funding for 9,000 officers over and above the number forces in England and Wales have already planned to recruit in the period 2000–03.

  In addition, £15 million was made available through the Budget for assistance specifically to police forces in rural areas this year. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave my hon. Friend, the Member for Ellesmere Port and Neston, (Mr. Miller), on 20 July 2000, Official Report columns 320–21W.

  Public Safety Radio Communications
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from police forces about the public safety radio Communications project. [130354]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and I have discussed the Public Safety Radio Communications Project with representatives of the 454W
  Association of Chief Police Officers and with individual chief officers on several occasions. A number of forces have raised the question of affordability of the project. I refer the hon. Member, to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary's Statement on 19 July 2000, Official Report, columns 376–91.

  Referendum Campaigns
  Mr. Day
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on the Government's role during referendum campaigns. [130356]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the right hon. Member for Maidstone and The Weald(Miss Widdecombe) on 12 May 2000, Official Report, column 520W.

  Home Detention Curfew Scheme
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders have been released from prison on the Home Detention Curfew Scheme; and if he will make a statement. [130357]

  Mr. Boateng
  As of 30 June, a total of 23,052 prisoners had been placed on the Home Detention Curfew Scheme since the scheme began on 28 January 1999.

  Victim Support
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much financial support from central Government has been made available to victim support in each of the last five financial years. [130358]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mr. McWalter) on 26 June 2000,Official Report, columns 383–84W.

  Licensing Laws
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about his proposals to amend the licensing laws. [130359]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  On launching the White Paper on 10 April this year, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary told the House that it would be helpful to have responses to the White Paper proposals by 31 July. Since then, up to 12 July, hon. Members had written 143 times on behalf of constituents. In addition, representations had been received from 271 members of the public; 65 licensing justices; 55 local authorities; 19 petrol stations; 11 businesses within the hospitality and leisure industry; nine residents associations; eight passenger boat companies; seven church organisations; six non-profit making registered clubs; two solicitors; one police authority; and one fire authority. A full analysis of these replies and any others received after 12 July will not be completed until after the closing date of 31 July.

  Land (Illegal Occupation)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his proposals for amending the laws relating to illegal occupation of land. [130361]
  455W
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  There are no plans for changes to legislation at present. We are considering, in consultation with the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what changes are necessary to the current joint guidance on unauthorised camping, to clarify it and ensure there are no misconceptions arising from the use of the term "toleration". We expect to make an announcement shortly.

  Association of Chief Police Officers
  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met the chairman of the Association of Chief Police Officers to discuss measures to combat crime. [130340]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary had a bilateral meeting with Sir John Evans, Chairman of the Association of Chief Police Officers on 21 June.

  Sussex Police
  Mr. Waterson
  T o ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many police officers there were in Sussex in May 1997; and how many there are now; [130634]

  (2) what the establishment of the East Downs Division of Sussex Police was in May 1997; and what it is now. [130516]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I understand from the Chief Constable of the Sussex Police that on 31 May 1997 the force had 3,038 police officers and that on 13 July this year there were 2,891 officers. I have been told that recruitment in the Sussex Police is on course to reach its target of 228 new constables for this year and this number includes the 69 constables to be recruited under the force's Crime Fighting Fund allocation.

  I have been informed by the Chief Constable that it is not possible to provide information on the number of officers in the East Downs Division for 1997. But there were 269 officers in the East Downs Division on 13 July this year. I understand that the East Downs will benefit from the extra constables being recruited by the force.

  Essex Police
  Mr. Hurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the size of the police grant to Essex was in(a) 1970, (b) 1980 and (c) 1990. [130937]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The information available is set out in the table.

  £000

  Year

  Police grant

  1970–71

  Not available

  1980–81

  17,959

  1990–911

  54,023

  1 Includes police grant and other specific grant.

  Source:

  The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy Police statistics.

  Mr. Hurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) police officers and (b) civilian
  456W
  staff were employed by the Essex Police Authority and its predecessor bodies in (i) 1970, (ii) 1980, (iii) 1990 and (iv) 1999. [130938]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The available information is set out in the table. Information for civilian support staff numbers, on a force by force basis is only available from 1974. Data for the previous years have not been retained by the Department.

  Essex police

  Year1

  Number of police officers

  Number of civilian support staff

  19702

  1,900

  Not available

  1980

  2,567

  711

  1990

  2,822

  988

  1999

  2,891

  1,273

  19993

  2,835

  1,300

  1 As at 31 March.

  2 In 1970 the force was known as the Essex and Southend on Sea Joint Constabulary.

  3 As at 30 September.

  Animal Experiments
  Dr. Ladyman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many licences to conduct animal experiments were granted to(a) commercial organisations and (b) non-profit organisations; and what the mean time was between the application for a licence being submitted and its being granted, in each of the last 10 years. [130936]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Table 19 of the Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals 1998, and the corresponding tables in the equivalent publications for 1989 to 1997, provide a breakdown of the total number of project licence holders and scientific procedures by type of designated establishment in 1998. Information on the number of project licences granted during the year is not collated separately by type of establishment.

  The Home Office does not hold historical data on the time taken to process project licence applications. However, figures collected for the early part of this year show an average processing time for a project licence of just under 40 working days from receipt of the application to issue of the licence.

  The Home Office is committed to processing project licence applications as expeditiously as possible, but no targets have been, or indeed can be, set for the time needed to consider any particular application. This depends greatly on the nature of the application. A well-drafted application for a replacement licence to continue existing work or for a minor amendment to an existing licence may be assessed quickly. One for a new study could take a considerable time to examine—indeed, some may take months where complex scientific issues are involved. There are usually negotiations between the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate and the applicant to ensure that the 3Rs (the Refinement of scientific procedures; Reduction in numbers of animals used; and their Replacement wherever possible) are rigorously applied in every case. Applicants may also take time preparing supplementary or revised material for consideration. The situation is further complicated when

  457W
  advice is needed from experts outside the Home Office, or if the application needs to be referred to the Animal Procedures Committee.

  I am aware of the concerns among scientists about the length of time that appears to be taken in some cases from the initial conception of a project to the issue of a project licence, including the requirements of the ethical review process that need to be met locally before the application reaches the Home Office. I have, therefore, asked my officials to work with the Department of Trade and Industry, to review the operation of these arrangements to ensure that the processes are as efficient and effective as possible without compromising animal welfare.

  Mr. Fitzpatrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the figures relating to scientific procedures performed on living animals in Great Britain in 1999. [132680]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The information requested will be published as a Command Paper Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain 1999 on 17 August.

  In the meantime, I can report that:
  the number of procedures started in 1999 was about 2.66 million, almost exactly the same as in 1998. 83 per cent. of these were performed using mice and rats;
  the number of animals used in 1999 was 2.57 million about 24,000 fewer than in 1998; and
  the number of procedures involving the use of genetically modified animals rose by 63,000 to 511,000 in 1999, but this was almost exactly offset by a decrease to 1,894,000 in the use of animals with a normal genetic constitution.

  Local Exchange Trading Schemes
  Jean Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many local exchange trading schemes projects are operating in the UK; and whether he will make a statement on local exchange trading schemes and their relationship with the economy. [131106]

  Mr. Boateng
  Research carried out in 1999 indicated that there were approximately 303 Local Exchange and Trading Schemes in the United Kingdom with about 22,000 members and a turnover equivalent to some £1.4 million. Their effect on the economy is therefore minor, although for the individuals and communities involved they are significant in helping to rebuild a sense of community and community involvement.

  Neighbourhood Warden Schemes
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what support is available to local authorities which wish to set up neighbourhood warden schemes; and if he will make a statement; [131578]

  (2) what recent discussions he has had with the police about neighbourhood warden schemes; [131598]

  (3) what discussions he has had with local authorities about neighbourhood warden schemes; [131577]

  (4) what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of neighbourhood warden schemes run by local authorities. [131576]
  458W
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  In 1999, the Home Office conducted a study with the aim of collecting information on the types of neighbourhood warden schemes operating in Britain and where possible to examine the effectiveness of such schemes. Fifty existing and recent neighbourhood wardens projects were examined, a good proportion of which were funded at least in part by local authorities. Partnership proved to be a crucial aspect of a large number of the initiatives. It was concluded that further research was needed to establish the impact of neighbourhood wardens schemes on levels of crime and disorder and quality of life in local areas and to identify elements of good practice. The Home Office subsequently commissioned further research which is examining eight neighbourhood warden schemes in detail. The report of this research will be available later this year.

  The Home Office study of neighbourhood warden schemes was conducted in support of Policy Action Team (PAT) 6 on Neighbourhood Wardens set up by the Social Exclusion Unit. Following the report of PAT 6, a Neighbourhood Wardens Unit was established jointly funded by the Home Office and the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR). An Advisory Committee was set up to advise the Unit on a broad range of issues on neighbourhood wardens. The Advisory Committee meet quarterly and consist of representatives who have a key interest in neighbourhood wardens, including the police and local authorities. More specifically, the advisory committee includes members from:
  Association of Police Authorities
  National Black Police Association
  Association of Chief Police Officers
  Association of Town Centre Managers.

  There is also a Practitioners Group consisting of existing neighbourhood warden scheme managers which includes members from local authorities.

  Some £13.5 million of Government funding has been made available over three years until March 2003 for the funding of new or expanded neighbourhood warden schemes and for evaluation of those schemes. The Neighbourhood Wardens Fund is being administered by the Neighbourhood Wardens Unit in the DETR. Local authorities and others have been eligible to apply for this funding.

  Identity Cards
  Mr. Gummer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to consult on the introduction of identity cards; and if he will make a statement. [131473]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  We are not persuaded of the case for introducing compulsory identity cards and have no present plans to consult on the issue.

  Abandoned Vehicles
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 7 July 2000,Official Report, column 315W, on abandoned vehicles, when he will next review the forward work programme. [131569]
  459W
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate forward work programme will go up for discussion with policy units in November 2000. Ministerial approval for the forward work programme is scheduled for April 2001.

  West Mercia Constabulary
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will meet representatives of the West Mercia Constabulary to offer them more funding to offset increases in fuel costs; and if he will make a statement. [131529]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 20 July 2000]Rising costs, including those of fuel, have to be handled as part of normal budget management. In the case of price increases for any commodity, a force may have to reconsider internal budgets and re-allocate resources away from one area towards another.

  I have no plans to meet with representatives of the West Mercia Constabulary to discuss this particular subject.

  Ministerial Prison Visits
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisons(a) he and (b) other Ministers in his Department plan to visit between 28 July and 23 October. [131697]

  Mr. Boateng
  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is planning to undertake at least one prison visit in this period and I expect to make at least eight visits, some of which may be unannounced. However, final arrangements have not yet been made and alterations or additions to the programme are possible.

  Crime (Chelmsford)
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on changes in the level of reported crime in Chelmsford in each of the last five years. [130566]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The latest available data for notifiable offences recorded by the police in Chelmsford over the last five years are given in the table.

  Number of crimes recorded

  Percentage change compared to the previous year

  Old rules1

  1995–96

  10,238

  —

  1996–97

  9,991

  -2

  1997–98

  9,110

  -9

  1998–99

  9,460

  4

  New rules

  1998–99

  10,396

  —

  1999–2000

  10,738

  3

  1 The rules for recording crimes changed in April 1998 which led to a large increase in the number recorded. Essex collected data based on the old rules and the new rules in 1998–99.

  Prison Officers
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement of the rights of prison officers, as constituents, to contact their Member of Parliament for help on issues relevant to them; and what 460W
  assessment he has made of the compatability of the relevant Prison Service rules with the right of a constituent to contact their Member of Parliament; [132151]

  (2) if he will publish the paragraphs of the staff hand book for prison officers at Chelmsford prison which relate to them contacting their Member of Parliament. [132150]

  Mr. Boateng
  The rights of prison officers to contact their Member of Parliament are set out in the Prison Service Staff Handbook. This reminds staff that civil servants should not attempt to bring political or other outside influence to support any personal claims as a civil servant. It makes it clear that this does not restrict staff's right to approach their Member of Parliament. A copy of the Prison Staff Handbook is available in the Library. The relevant paragraph is paragraph 19.84.

  Suicide Rates
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the annual suicide rate of police officers in each year since 1989, in each police force and in total, stating in each case(a) the number of suicides classified by rank and (b) the proportion per thousand police officers; and if he will make a statement. [131020]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the annual suicide rate of prison service personnel was in each year since 1989 in each category of prison and in total, stating in each year(a) the number of suicides per thousand prison service personnel and (b) the number of suicides classified by grade; and if he will make a statement. [131832]

  Mr. Boateng
  The statistics for the number of self-inflicted deaths among staff are set out in the table. Statistics on staff suicides are not collected centrally and so these have been collated from a number of sources (some of which may have been compiled on different bases).

  These figures include those deaths where the coroner has recorded a verdict of suicide and, in some cases (generally the most recent), other deaths where the inquest is still pending or the verdict has not been notified to the Prison Service, but the circumstances in which the body was found suggest that the death was self-inflicted. The figures may underestimate the number of self-inflicted deaths, in that they record those deaths whose circumstances are known to the Service. If family members choose not to report the circumstances of the death, the death may not be recorded here.

  Records of the cause of staff deaths before 1990 are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. A full breakdown of the figures according to grade and location could likewise be obtained only at disproportionate cost. An analysis carried out in 1998 indicated that, of 34 staff who had committed suicide since 1990, 18 were prison officers, five were senior officers and one was a principal officer. The other staff were drawn from a number of different grades within the Service.
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  In 1994, the Prison Service was greatly concerned to note the increased number of staff suicides. The causes of each suicide were examined. In all cases, the principal cause appeared to be the member of staffs private life rather than their work with the Prison Service. A workshop was held that year, to examine issues relating to staff suicide. A number of ideas emerged from that and the Service has continued to keep this issue under very careful review, to see whether there are any additional steps which could usefully be taken.

  The Prison Service's Staff Care and Welfare Service offers confidential support and assistance to staff for a range of personal and emotional problems. The Staff Care and Welfare Service co-ordinates the provision of post-incident care and also provides a welfare service which all staff can use at any time. Part of that service is provided via trained Care Teams, drawn from a cross-section of grades, which are based in prisons and provide an on-site support network. While this is primarily geared towards post-incident work, increasingly these teams do offer a greater range of support to staff. In 1999, welfare officers dealt with more than 7,000 cases, most of which related to transfers, physical illness, work-related stress and debt.

  Welfare officers, who are based in five geographical areas, provide a comprehensive support and referral service for staff. They deal with a multitude of problems and can call upon specialist services—both internal and external—as necessary to meet the client's needs. Given the operational duties which the majority of Prison Service staff perform, they are often referred to external counselling services so that they may discuss in confidence the personal and emotional problems which may be generated by working with prisoners.

  HM Prison Service: self-inflicted deaths among staff

  Year

  Total staff employed1

  Self-inflicted deaths

  1990

  31,629

  4

  1991

  33,149

  2

  1992

  35,172

  5

  1993

  37,942

  4

  1994

  38,607

  11

  1995

  40,266

  10

  1996

  38,212

  4

  1997

  40,098

  1

  1998

  41,244

  3

  1999

  42,683

  7

  2000

  43,683

  21

  1 Figures for 1990–93 do not include administrative staff in Prison Service Headquarters. Figures from 1994 onwards are drawn from Prison Service Annual Reports.

  2 To end June

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the annual suicide rate of Probation Service personnel was in each year since 1989, in each probation service and in total, stating in each case(a) the number of suicides per thousand Probation Service personnel and (b) the number of suicides classified by grade; and if he will make a statement. [131831]

  Mr. Boateng
  The information is not held centrally, and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost from the 54 probation committees who are the employers of probation staff.
  462W
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the annual suicide rate of fire officers was in each year since 1989 in each authority area and in total stating in each case(a) the proportion per thousand fire officers and (b) the number of suicides classified by grade; and if he will make a statement. [131830]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  There is no centrally held information on the suicide rate of fire service personnel in each fire authority.

  All fire brigades in England and Wales are required to provide annually to Her Majesty's Inspectorate statistical information about fire service fatalities. The information is provided on the following basis:
  Brigade fatalities during operational incidents;
  Brigade fatalities during training for operational incidents;
  Brigade fatalities during routine activities on and off brigade premises; and
  Number of brigade personnel killed involving brigade vehicle accidents.

  On the basis on which the data are collected, brigades are not asked or required to submit information about suicides.

  We could now write out to all brigades seeking this information but it may mean a manual check of their records for the last 11 years, and this would only be done at disproportionate cost.

  Police and Scientific Development Branch
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list for each civil service grade the academic and professional qualifications of the officials at his Department's Police and Scientific Development Branch; [131765]

  (2) if he will list the number of officials, by civil service grade, employed at his Department's Police and Scientific Development Branch. [131776]

  Mr. Straw
  The numbers and grades of staff employed at the Police and Scientific Development Branch (PSDB) are given in the table.

  Grade

  Number

  SCS

  2

  Grade 6

  3

  Grade 7

  11

  SSO/SPTO

  21

  HSO/HPTO/HEO

  22

  SO/PTO/EO

  21

  SPS/PS

  4

  AO

  6

  AA

  3

  Typist

  1

  SGB1

  2

  Staff recruited to PSDB at SO level or above will have a minimum of a good honours degree in an appropriate scientific or technological subject. Many staff also possess further degrees and are members of the appropriate professional body.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Police and Scientific Development Branch received their first prototype of the AVID hand-held radar system. [131773]
  463W
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Police and Scientific Development Branch procured an AVID system, known at that time as VADAR, on behalf of the Prison Service in April 1999.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) referrals for trials and assessment and (b) reports of completed trials were made in respect of his Police and Scientific Development Branch in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [131775]

  Mr. Straw
  The Police and Scientific Development Branch (PSDB) has published 78 reports since 1997, the majority dealing with trials and assessments conducted on behalf of the police service or other PSDB customers. PSDB does not have a central record of requests for trials and assessments.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the budget of his Department's Police and Scientific Development Branch in(a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000 and (e) 2001. [131763]

  Mr. Straw
  The budget for the Police and Scientific Development Branch is shown in the table, the figures are in £000.

  £000

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  Pay

  2,462

  2,512

  2,667

  3,145

  Non pay

  1,283

  1,308

  1,338

  1,618

  Capital

  222

  196

  196

  222

  Other current

  4,700

  5,042

  4,830

  5,623

  Receipts

  (3,320)

  (3,348)

  (3,178)

  (4,435)

  Total net expenditure

  5,347

  5,710

  5,853

  6,173

  Life Signs Monitoring Systems
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what alternatives(a) exist and (b) he has trialled to (i) the life signs monitoring system and (ii) the AVID hand-held radar detection system; and if he will make a statement. [131764]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Police Scientific Development Branch (PSDB) has evaluated two alternative systems, AVIAN and MICROSEARCH for the detection of life signs in vehicles. PSDB has also conducted trials on the Mandec UK life signs monitoring system for use in calls. Some work has also been conducted on alternative methods of life signs monitoring in cells based on Closed Circuit Television and optical systems, audio systems or microwave radiation.

  PSDB has not trialled AVID or other hand held radar detection systems for detection of people or animals in freight.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library the search protocols agreed with the passenger and freight transport industry on the searching of vehicles seeking entry into the UK in(a) France and (b) the UK. [131774]

  Mrs. Roche
  A draft copy of the Civil Penalty Codes of Practice was placed in the Library on 3 March this year. I will arrange for the final version of the Codes of Practice to be placed in the Library next week.
  464W
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the unit cost of(a) an AVID hand-held radar system and (b) a static X-ray system, for the detection of people and animals in freight trucks; and if he will make a statement. [131772]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The cost of the AVID system is not known. Static X-ray systems are not designed to detect people and animals. The cost of a static X-ray system for detecting drugs, explosives, weapons and other contraband ranges from £190,000 to £4,118,000.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what trials have been held at(a) Dover and (b) Portsmouth into the use of hand-held radar systems for the detection of people and animals in freight trucks; on what dates; and if he will make a statement. [131771]

  Mrs. Roche
  An inconclusive trial of a radar system was held at Dover on 25 August 1999. A trial of a hand-held radar device will begin at Portsmouth on 26 July. A trial of some other equipment will begin as soon as the supplier receives the upgraded hardware from the manufacturer.

  The Immigration Service is holding discussions with other companies who are pursuing a range of solutions and further trials are a possibility.

  If the initial trials of the radar and heartbeat devices at Portsmouth prove promising, the trials will be transferred to Dover.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the role of Status 3 in Harlington in respect of hand-held radar systems for truck searches at ports. [131779]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Immigration Service at Status Park has for some years been seeking low cost, portable and effective devices to detect the presence of human beings hidden inside vehicles and freight containers. The search has included small handheld devices. The Immigration Service at Status Park has conducted trials of such equipment within the last few years and will continue to consult with the industry to find a workable solution.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what trials have been conducted at Belmarsh Prison into life signs monitoring systems; with what results; and if he will make a statement. [131769]

  Mr. Boateng
  A trial of the Life Signs monitoring system was conducted during 1999 at Belmarsh Prison in an unoccupied room in the Health Care Centre. Unfortunately the equipment failed and the trial was aborted. The Prison Service are currently considering how best to proceed with this project in order to test out the feasibility of this system.

  Departmental Expenditure Plans
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish revised estimates for the analyses of expenditure presented on pages 72 to 85 of his Department's Annual report 1999–2000 in respect of the financial years(a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and(c) 2001–02, together with equivalent analyses of his expenditure plans for (i) 2002–03 and (ii) 2003–04; and if he will make a statement. [132356]
  465W
  Mr. Straw
  These analyses will be published in the Department's Annual Report for 2000–01 in April 2001.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish revised estimates of staff numbers as analysed on page 86 of the Home Office Annual report 1999–2000 in respect of the financial years(a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02, together with equivalent analyses for (c) 2002–03 and (d) 2003–04; and if he will make a statement. [132349]

  Mr. Straw
  The data in the Annual Report are the latest available. Consideration is being given to the staff implications arising from the outcome of the 2000 Spending Review announced on 18 July. Revised plans will be published in the next Home Office Annual Report.

  Departmental Financial Estimates
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what figure he assumes for inflation when making his financial estimates for the financial years(a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01, (c) 2001–02, (d) 2002–03 and (e) 2003–04. [132350]

  Mr. Straw
  Inflation assumptions reflect the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) deflators produced by the Treasury, and are used in calculating real terms increases in expenditure. The factors for the financial years 1999–2000 to 2003–04 are:

  Year

  Percentage

  1999–2000

  2.5

  2000–01

  2.25

  2001–02

  2.5

  2002–03

  2.5

  2003–04

  2.5

  Departmental Public Service Agreements
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a revised list of his Department's public service agreements taking account of the conclusions of the Comprehensive Spending Review. [132352]

  Immigration and Nationality Directorate Objectives and Targets 2000–01

  Number

  Objective

  Target

  1.

  To increase the number of asylum decisions

  130,000–150,000

  2.

  To increase the percentage of substantive asylum applications decided within two months.

  70 per cent. by March 2001

  3.

  To remove more failed asylum seekers.

  12,000

  4.

  To increase decisions in nationality cases.

  91,000

  5.

  To reduce the average time for granting citizenship.

  12 months by March 2001

  6.

  To increase the number of non asylum after entry decisions.

  205,000

  7.

  To increase the number of non asylum offenders removed.

  3,500

  8.

  To maintain the unit cost in real terms of supporting an asylum seeker for a week.

  £150 single

  £220 family

  9.

  To reduce the unit cost of immigration checks at ports.

  £5.17

  10.

  To increase the percentage of inadequately documented passengers who are detected at locations where there are Airline Liaison Officers.

  82 per cent.

  11.

  To reduce the number of occasions where non European Economic Area passengers have to wait more than 30 minutes.

  1,455 or less

  12.

  To increase the percentage of detailed examinations (non asylum) which result in refusal.

  64 per cent.

  13.

  To increase the percentage of non asylum refusals which result in removal.

  92 per cent.

  14.

  To maintain the percentage of appealed decisions upheld.

  85 per cent.

  466W
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will in the context of the Spending Review 2000 shortly publish a comprehensive list of public service agreements for all Government Departments.

  Immigration and Nationality Directorate
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a revised table of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate's objectives and annual targets as set out on pages 32 and 33 of the IND Annual report 1999 to take account of the conclusions of, and the period covered by, the Comprehensive Spending Review. [132353]

  Mrs. Roche
  The table at pages 32 and 33 of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) Annual Report 1999 lists the 21 business objectives and targets agreed for IND following the last Comprehensive Spending Review in 1998. They cover the three year period from April 1999 to March 2002. Following the announcement of the outcome of the 2000 Spending Review on 18 July, IND will work to develop similar objectives and targets for the next three years through to March 2004, supplementing those to be published in the Public Service Agreement and the Service Delivery Agreement.

  Eighteen updated objectives and targets for this year are listed in the table. More details will be available in the IND Business Plan for 2000–01 which is to be published shortly. A copy will be placed in the Library. Details of IND's objectives and targets for the next three years will be published in future business plans.

  The target for initial asylum decisions for this year has been revised upwards to 130,000–150,000 from the 65,000 in the last IND Business Plan. This will substantially clear the backlog. Funding for the increase is being provided as part of the £609 million extra for IND in the current financial year. That funding will also enable IND to increase the number of detention places. This is an essential element in the strategy to meet our target of removing 12,000 failed asylum seekers this year and at least 30,000 a year in the next three years.

  These figures reflect the important changes introduced by the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. All entitlement of new asylum applicants to cash social security benefits ended on 3 April 2000. Public expenditure overall would be significantly higher if such entitlements continued.
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  Immigration and Nationality Directorate Objectives and Targets 2000–01

  Number

  Objective

  Target

  15.

  To increase the number of prosecutions prepared against those facilitating breaches of the Immigration Rules.

  115

  16.

  To increase the number of upper/middle enforcement operations.

  15/40

  17.

  To increase the number of projects initiated against organised crime.

  18

  18.

  To process asylum support claims within agreed timescales (from date of receipt).

  70 per cent, within 2 days

  100 per cent, within 7 days

  Performance Targets
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish revised tables of objectives and targets as set out in the Home Office Annual report 1999–2000, taking account of the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review. [132351]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Revised objectives and targets for the Home Office relating to the outcome of the Spending Review 2000 will be published in 2001 in the Home Office Business Plan for 2001–02.

  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department against what benchmark the achievement of targets for the local authority area reduction in crime set out in section 23 of the Comprehensive Spending Review will be judged. [132279]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Achievement of the target will be assessed against the national average domestic burglary rate for Crime and Disorder Partnerships which are published as part of the crime statistics every six months.

  Convicted Prisoners (Possessions)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the procedures applicable to the removal of property and papers from convicted prisoners while serving their sentences. [132282]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Prison Rules 43(5) and the Young Offender Institution Rules 45(4) allow Governors to confiscate any unauthorised article found in the possession of prisoners after their reception into prison, or concealed or deposited anywhere within a prison. Chapters 17 and 18 of the Security Manual, PSO 1000, contain procedural guidance on conducting searches and preserving evidence arising therefrom, and are available in the Library.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if an inventory is maintained of property and papers removed from convicted prisoners while serving their sentences. [132281]

  Mr. Boateng
  While no central inventory exists for property and papers removed from prisoners, confiscated items are recorded on the individual searching sheets returns. Items of especial value are recorded in the local Heads of Management Services' offices.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many written parliamentary questions were tabled to his Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April 2000 which requested information, pursuant to his previous answers. [132138]
  468W
  Mr. Straw
  My Department received 130 questions between 19 October and 20 April 2000 which requested information pursuant to previous replies.

  Sentencing
  Mr. Fitzpatrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to fulfil the Government's commitment to extend the Attorney-General's powers to refer unduly lenient sentences to the Court of Appeal for review. [132678]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  An Order extending the Attorney-General's powers in relation to unduly lenient sentences is being laid before Parliament today. This will enable the Attorney to refer sentences imposed for offences of illegal trafficking in drugs and pornographic material involving children and offences specifically against children (unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 16, inciting a girl under 16 to have incestuous intercourse and indecent conduct towards a young child). The Order comes into effect on 21 August 2000 and will apply to any sentence imposed after that date. The Government will keep under review whether further extensions should be made in future.

  R18 Videos
  Mr. Fitzpatrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the consultation paper on the regulation of R18 videos; and if he will make a statement. [132679]

  Mr. Straw
  I have today placed in the Library copies of a Consultation Paper on the Regulation of R18 videos. As hon. Members will be aware, I was extremely disappointed with the High Court decision, on 16 may, which dismissed the British Board of Film Classification's application for Judicial Review in respect of appeals against their decision not to classify seven sexually explicit videos in the R (restricted) 18 category—which are available only in licensed sex shops. The Government maintain a firm commitment to the protection of children from unsuitable sexually explicit material and, in the light of the recent judgment, are publishing a consultation paper which examines a number of options to improve the safeguards for children from possible exposure to videos classified in the R (restricted) 18 category. The paper also suggests measures for modernising and strengthening the recruitment and appointment procedures of the Video Appeals Committee.

  Prison Service
  Mr. Fitzpatrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the performance of Her Majesty's Prison Service in 1999–2000. [132681]
  469W
  Mr. Boateng
  I have today laid before Parliament on behalf of the Director General of Her Majesty's Prison Service, the Annual Report and Accounts for the Service for 1999–2000. Copies have been placed in the Library.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Expenditure Plans
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what his Ministry's spending plans are for the three years following the 2000 Spending Review; and if he will make a statement. [132561]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  The results of the Spending Review for MAFF are summarised in Chapter 16 of the White Paper on "Spending Review 2000: New Public Spending Plans 2001–2004" (Cm 4807). The key figures are as follows:

  £ million

  2000–01

  2000–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Total DEL1 of which:

  804

  963

  1,048

  1,081

  Resource Budget

  638

  780

  795

  846

  Capital Budget

  166

  183

  253

  235

  Total AME2

  1,488

  1,582

  1,529

  1,536

  1 Departmental Expenditure Limit

  2 Annually Managed Expenditure

  MAFF's aim has been amended to give a clearer and more focused picture of what the Department wants to achieve: good quality food which meets consumers' requirements; modern, sustainable, competitive farming and fisheries businesses; protection of the rural and marine environment and a thriving rural economy.

  I should like to explain how the Spending Review settlement will impact on MAFF's programmes over the next three years and assist the Department in pursuing its aims and objectives.

  Safe, good quality food

  MAFF's responsibility for handling food safety transferred in April with the creation of the new Food Standards Agency (FSA). But MAFF will continue to play a key role in ensuring there is good quality, safe food meeting consumer requirements. As well as its wider commitment to sponsoring all the industries in the food chain, MAFF will retain as a key priority tackling the threat from animal diseases that are transmissible to humans and threats to the health and welfare of farm animals.

  Over the next three years we will: continue to work towards the eradication of BSE, with a target by 2004 of being on track for fewer than 30 cases by 2006. We will introduce a scrapie control programme. This will comprise a ram genotyping programme, designed to encourage the use of scrapie resistant rams, and new testing and control measures. Consultation documents on the first stage of this programme, involving ram genotyping, will be issued on 28 July and copies will be placed in the Library of the House. We will pursue our strategy for controlling TB in cattle. There will be additional funding to increase testing in response to the spread of the disease, in line with EU requirements and veterinary advice. And we will complete the field trial of badger culling in 10 areas of high cattle TB incidence, as
  470W
  recommended by the Krebs review. We will also examine possible ways of enhancing other strands of the TB strategy in consultation with the TB Forum. We will complete work on extending the coverage of the Cattle Tracing System database from 40 per cent. of the GB herd to 100 per cent.

  Rural development and restructuring

  The Government set out on 7 December 1999, Official Report, columns 701–12, their long-term strategy for the future development of an agriculture industry that must be competitive, diverse and flexible, that must respond better to consumer demands (including those of the food industry), that must be more environmentally responsible and that must play an integral part in the wider rural economy.

  The £1.6 billion, seven-year England Rural Development Plan (ERDP) is a key component in the delivery of this strategy. Over the next three years we will spend a total of £600 million under the ERDP. This will be funded in part by redirecting (or modulating) CAP payments and matching them with further Government funding on a pound for pound basis. There will be extra money for the agri-environment schemes, allowing more farmland to be protected and enhanced under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme and approved for conversion to organic farming. And there will be a substantial increase in funding over the three years for measures to encourage diversification and restructuring. We will replace Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances with a new area-based scheme of support for hill farmers.

  We will also provide funding over the next three years for agricultural measures in the Objective 1 areas of Cornwall and the Scilly Isles, South Yorkshire and Merseyside. And there will be funding for rural regeneration projects under the new LEADER+ programme.

  The other major plank of the Government's strategy for agriculture is the Action Plan which was announced on 30 March 2000. We will carry forward the measures announced in that Action Plan by: providing an additional £40 million up to March 2003 for the Pig Industry Restructuring Scheme; maintaining the increased rate of grant under the Farm Waste Grant Scheme; continuing the new programme of business advice to farmers through the Business Link Partnership; providing additional funding for the applications currently being considered under the Agricultural Development Scheme; and making additional funding available for the development of an electronic portal for farming, providing access from a single source to information and interactive advice for farmers.

  Research and development

  We will maintain a strong and varied programme of research to support, inform and facilitate the implementation of MAFF's policies and its regulatory and environmental activities. Over the next three years we will
  increase spending on research and surveillance on TSEs in sheep by a total of £26.2 million. There will also be an additional £10.5 million to invest in the facilities in which to carry out this research; invest in new and improved facilities at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency which will contribute to MAFF's programme of research on TSEs and research, diagnosis and surveillance in respect of other major animal diseases, including those transmissible to humans; and complete the procurement
  471W
  of a new marine research vessel to be used by MAFF's Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science in support of the Department's objectives on the conservation of fish stocks and sustaining the marine environment.

  We will shortly be conducting a major consultation on our Research Strategy for 2001–05. I shall consider the overall priorities for the whole research programme on the basis of that consultation, taking the advice of my new MAFF Science Committee, which will be launched soon.

  Improving services

  A key objective for MAFF over the next three years is to modernise the Department and make real and lasting improvements in the efficiency with which we deliver services to our stakeholders. The major initiative in this area will be the creation of a new CAP Payments Agency, for which there is additional provision of £130 million over the Spending Review period. The Agency will merge the paying agency functions of the Intervention Board and MAFF's Regional Service Centres to provide top quality customer service using modern electronic systems. I am making a separate announcement today on this exciting and challenging project.

  CAP reform

  We will continue to work with our European partners to secure further reform of the CAP which will increase the competitiveness of the whole food chain. To that end there will be additional funding to improve our policy analysis and enhance our capability to model the economic impact of CAP reform.

  Flood and coastal defence

  An additional £10 million in 2002–03 and £20 million in 2003–04 will be made available to local flood and coastal defence operating authorities for investment in maintaining and improving defences. There will also be additional funds for improving storm tide forecasting and warning systems.

  An in-depth review of the current arrangements for the funding and provision of flood and coastal defences will be completed in 2001.

  Fisheries

  Securing a sustainable future for the sea fishing industry remains a priority for MAFF. A total of £11 million will be made available for a three year programme of structural measures under the EU's Agenda 2000, including provision for safety training, encouragement of environmentally sustainable fishing, improvement in the quality of fish and support for regional fisheries management initiatives.

  Charging

  We will waive cattle passport charges for a further two years until March 2004. This waiver is worth around £18 million a year to the industry.

  As Minister responsible for co-ordinating the implementation of the Government's Action Plan for farming, I am considering with colleagues the recommendations of the task force which was set up to examine alternative approaches to charging for meat hygiene inspection, in response to concerns expressed by small and medium sized abattoirs.

  Conclusion

  Spending by MAFF in 2003–04 will be almost £280 million higher than in 2000–01, an average annual increase in real terms of more than 6 per cent. This fulfils
  472W
  the Government's pledge to introduce a significant programme of measures to help the environment, agricultural restructuring and the wider rural economy. And it reflects the continuing commitment to protecting public health, encouraging sustainable development and modernising service delivery.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the Intervention Board's spending plans are for the three years following the 2000 Spending Review; and if he will make a statement. [132562]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  The results of the 2000 Spending Review for the Intervention Board (IB) and the spending plans that have resulted from it were summarised in Chapter 16 of the White Paper on "Spending Review 2000: New Public Spending Plans 2001–2004" (CM 4807). The key figures are:

  £ million

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Departmental expenditure limit

  179

  222

  201

  189

  of which:

  Resource budget

  175

  198

  197

  185

  Capital budget

  4

  4

  4

  4

  Annually managed expenditure

  635

  714

  697

  709

  The settlement for the next three years will allow IB to make progress on all its objectives and its targets to be set out in its Service Delivery Agreement. It will underpin its operations and ongoing efficiency plans and facilitate change including achievement of the Modernising Government agenda.

  The settlement recognises the resource cost of implementing the new Slaughter Premium Scheme and the ongoing but falling cost of operating the Over Thirty Months Scheme. The short-term increase in MBM disposal costs reflects the successful letting of MBM disposal contracts and the commencement of full-scale incineration of MBM stock.

  It will also contribute to the PSA target for MBM disposal and enable the early reimbursement of up to £170 million of EAGGF funding.

  IB's CAP expenditure is non-discretionary and demand-led. It is treated as Annually Managed Expenditure (including OTMS compensation) and is subject to review and adjustment in order to meet changes in scheme operations, anticipated levels of activity and EU rates of aid.

  IB will be reviewing its asset utilisation plans in order to dispose of any surplus assets.

  Departmental Restructuring
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress is being made regarding the restructuring of his Department's regional activities; and if he will make a statement. [132559]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  I have decided to make a number of important changes to the way MAFF operates in the regions, in order to improve the services we offer to farmers and to strengthen the contribution we make to the wider rural economy. We will participate fully in the Government Offices for the Regions, strengthening MAFF's regional policy capability; we will set up new organisational structures to enhance the delivery of rural
  473W
  development policies; and we will invest up to £130 million over the next spending period to modernise the way we administer CAP schemes, taking full advantage of the benefits of electronic services delivery.

  I have given careful consideration to the findings of a detailed study of methods of delivering CAP payments, submitted at the beginning of this year by PricewaterhouseCoopers. I have concluded that the interests of farmers, traders and taxpayers would best be served by the creation of a new CAP Payments Agency, merging the paying agency functions of MAFF's nine Regional Service Centres and the Intervention Board to provide top quality customer service using modern electronic systems. Farmers and traders will benefit from a reduction in "red tape" and more efficient and rapid processing of payments, with the achievement of 95 per cent. electronic service delivery capability by March 2004. There will be significant benefits for taxpayers, with a 10 per cent. cut by March 2004 in unit costs of administering payments and further savings in subsequent years after the new Agency is fully established.

  I have written today to the main organisations representing farmers and traders to explain how the Agency will work, and to seek their views on the best ways of ensuring a smooth transition to the new arrangements. We will work very closely with our customers to help them reap the benefits which electronic service delivery offers. However we recognise that many farmers are apprehensive about changes in the way their claims are handled and will maintain arrangements for face-to-face local contacts with farmers, at least until the new IT systems are fully operational and everyone has easy local access to the internet.

  The Agency will be constituted as an executive agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and will therefore be answerable to me. It will continue to administer the schemes currently operated by the Intervention Board in all parts of the UK and the devolved administrations will therefore be represented on its Ownership Board. It will operate from five sites, with its headquarters at Reading and other sites at Carlisle, Exeter, Newcastle and Northallerton. The work that will transfer to the new Agency currently accounts for some 80 per cent. of the 2,000 staff in the Regional Service Centres and nearly all the Intervention Board's 1,350 staff. By the time the new systems are fully operational (2004) we estimate that the total number of staff required will fall to around 1,950. We will make every effort to find suitable alternative employment for staff who are no longer required as a result of the modernisation programme.

  I have also been reviewing other aspects of MAFF's organisation in the regions in the light of the Modernising Government initiative and the recent PIU reports "Rural Economies" and "Reaching Out". It is now right to establish greater integration of MAFF's strategic and policy activities in the regions with Government Offices. I am therefore preparing to provide a senior member of MAFF staff, with appropriate support, to join each Government Office. This will help strengthen the rural capability of the Government Offices and improve their links with my Department. And it will foster closer relationships with regional stakeholders, including the agriculture, fisheries and food industries, and their
  474W
  representatives, regional institutions such as the Regional Development Agencies, and representatives of rural and environmental interests.

  Parallel to the integration with Government Offices, I have decided to restructure the work currently carried out in the Farming and Rural Conservation Agency (FRCA) and the non-CAP payment functions of the Regional Service Centres. We will create a single, nationally managed but largely regionally based service to carry out this work. The service will be set up so that it relates effectively to Government Offices. Its staff will be located throughout England and will continue to provide a local service on the ERDP schemes.

  We will build on the considerable skills of staff in FRCA and the Regional Service Centres to create the new service as a centre of excellence for the delivery of rural development polices and programmes, particularly one of MAFF's flagship policies—the England Rural Development Programme (ERDP). It will provide continuing employment opportunities for some of the staff at the RSCs which are not in CAPPA locations (Bristol, Cambridge, Crewe, Nottingham and Worcester) as well as for FRCA staff.

  I would expect to review these organisational arrangements in 2003 at the end of the mid-term evaluation of the ERDP, and to consider at that stage whether full integration with the Government Offices would be sensible.

  The decision to implement this comprehensive programme of changes is a further element in my Department's commitment to delivering efficient and responsive modern public services. The new CAP Payments Agency will ensure that service standards to farmers and traders are second to none. And agriculture and the wider rural economy will benefit through the strengthening of MAFF's regional policy presence.

  I recognise that these decisions will create considerable uncertainty for staff in my Department's Regional Service Centres and at the Intervention board who have worked hard to provide good services to their customers. I have met the Trade Unions to discuss the position, and to assure them that I am committed to ensuring that everyone is treated fairly and sensitively as we take the change programme forward.

  Lindane
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research his Department has(a) undertaken and (b) evaluated into the health risks associated with lindane. [127816]

  Ms Quin
  Under both UK and EU pesticides legislation the responsibility for undertaking research into the health risks lies with the companies who market the pesticides. Lindane is presently under review in both the UK and EU programmes. Both reviews have required the submission of data and research studies by companies wishing to support the compound.

  In the EU review, 562 studies were submitted on, among other things, the compound's identity; physical and chemical properties; classification; methods of

  475W
  analysis; toxicology and metabolism; and residues data. I have arranged for a copy of the EU's list of tests and studies to be placed in the House Libraries.

  Much of the data submitted for the EU review of lindane have also been submitted under the UK review along with a further 30 studies relating to operator exposure to lindane when treating seed. These are listed in our evaluation on the review of lindane which I have also placed in the Libraries.

  Until recently the UK and EU reviews of lindane have been running in tandem. Under the UK review the Government have moved swiftly to ban those uses of lindane in this country which posed an unacceptable risk. At EU level the Commission has just produced a proposal to withdraw the agricultural uses of lindane as insufficient data have been submitted to support its continued use for these purposes. The Government have supported and welcome this development.

  Rockall Fishery
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment his Department has made of the possibility of unregulated fishing by new vessels in deciding policy on relinquishing sovereignty over Rockall waters; and if he will make a statement. [130784]

  Mr. Morley
  The Rockall fisheries zone (RFZ) was relinquished in 1997 as a result of the previous UK Government acceding to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Article 121(3) of UNCLOS prevents rocks which cannot sustain human habitation or economic life of their own
  being used to generate exclusive economic zones. Maintenance of the RFZ would not therefore have been compatible with UNCLOS and so would have been open to legal challenge.

  It was recognised that third countries would have access to the new area of international waters, which falls within the regulatory area of the North East Atlantic Fisheries commission (NEAFC). I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 3 July 2000, Official Report, column 9W, which explains the action being taken by the Government to secure specific NEAFC management measures to regulate fishing in the Rockall area.

  Labelling Directive
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy within the Council of Ministers to support the resolution of the European Parliament to debate the reference to animal category in the proposed labelling directive. [131248]

  Ms Quin
  On 17 July the Agriculture Council, with the strong support of the UK, decided unanimously to accept the amendments to the new rules on beef labelling proposed by the European Parliament. This means that beef will not have to be labelled with the category of animal from which it is derived.

  Fisheries (Grant Aid)
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will assess the impact on the fishing industry of the reduction in the Environment Agency's fisheries budget for 2001–02; and if he will make a statement. [130818]

  Mr. Morley
  The reduction in grant in aid to the Environment Agency in England in 2001–02 is unlikely to have any significant impact on the fishing industry. I would also refer my hon. Friend to the replies given to the hon. Member for New Forest, West (Mr. Swayne) on 27 October 1999,Official Report, column 922W.

  Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowance
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the effect of reform of the Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowance Scheme on farm incomes in(a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) Wales. [131600]

  Ms Quin
  There will be some redistribution of support between producers but the impact will vary according to their individual circumstances. We are pressing the EC Commission to allow a safety net mechanism that will give producers time to adjust.

  Land Settlement Association
  Mr. Gummer
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when(a) he and (b) his Ministers consulted with the Board of Inland Revenue on the Land Settlement Association's compensation arrangements. [131475]

  Mr. Morley
  Neither my fellow Ministers nor I have consulted the Board of the Inland Revenue about the taxation arrangements for the payment made in 1991 to settle the litigation brought against the Ministry by former members of the Land Settlement Association.

  Veterinary Products
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to regulate the pricing of veterinary products in the UK. [131602]

  Ms Quin
  There are no controls in either UK or European Community law on the pricing of veterinary medicinal products. Decisions on pricing are a matter for the companies manufacturing the products, taking into account commercial factors such as development and production costs and anticipated volume of sales. Similarly, the cost of veterinary treatment is not controlled by legislation but is a matter for negotiation between veterinary surgeon and client.

  However, we have received representations about comparatively high prices of veterinary medicinal products in the UK and the issue is being investigated by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) who are currently conducting an inquiry into the pricing of veterinary medicines in the UK. It will consider whether there is any evidence of anti-competitive practices. In addition, my right hon. Friend the Minister announced on 30 March an independent review of dispensing of medicines by

  477W
  veterinary surgeons as part of the Government's Strategy for Agriculture. This review will examine current dispensing practices and their impact on the supply, availability and costs of veterinary medicines. An announcement of the membership of the Review Group and its terms of reference will be made shortly. The review will be completed by the end of March 2001.

  European Regulations
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with his European counterparts about ensuring uniform and simultaneous implementation of European regulations; and if he will make a statement. [131817]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 21 July 2000]I refer to my answer given to the hon. Member on 2 May 2000,Official Report, column 99W.

  Abattoirs
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which British regions currently have no abattoir licensed to slaughter cattle under the over-30-months scheme. [131912]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 21 July 2000]Tenders for over-30-months scheme abattoir services were considered and contracts awarded on a regional basis. The only region without its own abattoir is East Anglia, which was grouped with the South East of England as a single region in view of the small number of cattle coming forward for slaughter from these areas, as compared with the rest of Great Britain. I will be placing in the Library of the House a copy of a map locating the OTMS abattoirs.

  Dairy Farmers
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the effects of a removal of the quota system on British dairy farmers. [131819]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 21 July 2000]In the run up to the Agenda 2000 CAP negotiations the Ministry commissioned The University of Manchester to carry out a study on the milk quota system. In its report 'An Economic Evaluation of the UK Milk Quota System' it concluded that despite the fact that conditions in the UK are well suited to milk production, the imposition of milk quotas is a source of economic inefficiency.

  In addition to this, the UK, together with Italy, Sweden and Denmark, produced a paper that concluded that the abolition of the milk quota system would provide greater flexibility in the dairy market, encourage investment in the UK dairy industry and leave it free to compete for a share of the growing world markets.

  Livestock Farmers
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assistance the Government have given to Britain's livestock farmers in the last year. [127045]

  Ms Quin
  [pursuant to her reply of 29 June 2000, c.609W]The amount of money paid to Livestock farmers contained some inaccuracies and underestimated the support paid.
  478W
  Since August 1999, the Government have announced two significant packages of assistance for the livestock sector delivering in total £419 million. Livestock farmers also receive around £ 1 billion each year in payments under the CAP to which this £149 million is an addition (CAP payments for beef producers are also set to rise this year by £130 million as a result of the reform of the beef regime). Beef and dairy farmers also benefit from the Over-thirty-months Scheme which itself costs around £400 million each year to run.

WALES

  New Deal
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the average length of time is for which participants in the New Deal in Wales are subsidised. [131036]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  [holding answer 24 July 2000]To April 2000, the average period of subsidy was five months.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of New Deal participants in Wales have become unemployed afterwards. [131039]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  [holding answer 17 July 2000]To the end of April 2000, 32 per cent. of New Deal leavers in Wales have subsequently claimed Jobseeker's Allowance.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people in Wales who took part in the New Deal remained in their New Deal job for more than one year. [131051]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  [holding answer 17 July 2000]The period of subsidised employment lasts a maximum of six months. Information on those who continue with the same employer on leaving the New Deal is not available.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people who participated in the New Deal in Wales had previously been unemployed for 12 months or more in(a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999. [131038]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  [holding answer 24 July 2000]This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of those leaving the New Deal for Young People in Wales for jobs lasting less than 13 weeks have found jobs lasting less than(a) one week, (b) two weeks, (c) four weeks and (d) eight weeks. [131052]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  [holding answer 17 July 2000]This information is not available. Young people who do leave for a job lasting less than 13 weeks return to New Deal at the point at which they left, and are no longer classified as leavers.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the number of people who have left the New Deal for Young People in Wales and returned to state benefits within 12 months. [131054]
  479W
  Mr. Paul Murphy
  [holding answer 17 July 2000]None. To April 2000, 2,940 young people transferred to state benefits on leaving the New Deal. Information on those who return to state benefits at a later stage is not available.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many written parliamentary questions were tabled to his Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April; and how many have not received substantive answers citing disproportionate cost as the reason. [132131]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  186 written questions were tabled to my Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April 2000. Of these, one parliamentary question did not receive a substantive answer and a further five questions were not answered fully for reasons of disproportionate cost.

  Local Government
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had, with which bodies, in respect of the year 2000 Spending Review on local government; and if he will publish the minutes of meetings relating to this. [131767]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The Spending Review is internal to Government; there are no formal consultations with outside bodies. However, over the last year I have discussed the needs of local government in Wales with a number of organisations including the Welsh Local Government Association, and my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary has met with representatives of 20 of the 22 local authorities in Wales. These meetings have given me a sound understanding of the funding needs for local government ahead of the 2000 Spending Review. It is of course a matter for the National Assembly for Wales to decide how it spends the settlement it has received.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the Band D Council Tax in each of the local authorities in Wales in each financial year since 1994. [131656]

  Mr. Hanson
  The information requested from 1994–95 to 1999–2000 is as follows.

  Band D Council Tax levels in Wales: 1994–95 and 1995–96

  £

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Alyn and Deeside

  385

  403

  Colwyn

  363

  387

  Delyn

  369

  401

  Glyndwr

  358

  383

  Rhuddlan

  376

  399

  Wrexham Maelor

  380

  406

  Carmarthen

  381

  439

  Ceredigion

  395

  451

  Dinefwr

  386

  445

  Llanelli

  438

  495

  Presli Pembrokeshire

  373

  427

  South Pembrokeshire

  360

  416

  Blaenau Gwent

  312

  343

  Islwyn

  301

  334

  Monmouth

  323

  351

  Newport

  321

  349

  480W

  Band D Council Tax levels in Wales: 1994–95 and 1995–96

  £

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Torfaen

  319

  354

  Aberconwy

  353

  400

  Arfon

  357

  382

  Dwyfor

  339

  384

  Meirionnydd

  348

  391

  Ynys Mon

  362

  399

  Cynon Valley

  348

  390

  Merthyr Tydfil

  341

  396

  Ogwr

  350

  401

  Rhondda

  346

  400

  Rhymney Valley

  349

  402

  Taff Ely

  357

  402

  Brecknock

  348

  393

  Montgomeryshire

  333

  377

  Radnorshire

  333

  378

  Cardiff

  292

  338

  Vale of Glamorgan

  306

  353

  Port Talbot

  376

  419

  Lliw Valley

  376

  419

  Neath

  413

  454

  Swansea

  388

  435

  Band D Council Tax levels in Wales: 1996–97 to 1999–2000

  £

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  Isle of Anglesey

  417

  424

  477

  534

  Gwynedd

  483

  515

  571

  618

  Conwy

  401

  403

  460

  488

  Denbighshire

  462

  529

  599

  647

  Flintshire

  501

  511

  563

  592

  Wrexham

  489

  520

  575

  633

  Powys

  434

  426

  501

  552

  Ceredigion

  509

  562

  623

  670

  Pembrokeshire

  436

  451

  507

  542

  Carmarthenshire

  553

  557

  613

  666

  Swansea

  455

  478

  548

  596

  Neath Port Talbot

  546

  621

  692

  750

  Bridgend

  500

  539

  601

  647

  Vale of Glamorgan

  435

  443

  495

  532

  Rhondda Cynon Taff

  500

  560

  611

  686

  Merthyr Tydfil

  496

  569

  639

  712

  Caerphilly

  471

  519

  583

  633

  Blaenau Gwent

  437

  492

  563

  640

  Torfaen

  440

  483

  532

  564

  Monmouthshire

  409

  403

  452

  485

  Newport

  391

  413

  464

  531

  Cardiff

  428

  486

  546

  573

  The figures for 2000–01 are a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.

  Cardiff County Council
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the assets transferred to Cardiff county council included within the Memorandum of Understanding between the Welsh Office and Cardiff county council on 1 April 1999 indicating what each related to and which minister was responsible for negotiating the transfer. [131670]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  This is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales, since implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding took place after the transfer of functions to the Assembly.
  481W
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans there are to develop the land, to Ferry Road, included within the memorandum of understanding between his Department and Cardiff county council of 1 April 1999; what estimates were made of the cost of this land at the time of the transfer; and what is the estimated current cost of this land. [131660]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  This is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales. The relevant functions transferred to the Assembly on 1 July 1999.

  Nolan Rules
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list each group that is responsible to his Department, with significant and plural membership from outside the Civil Service, and to which the Nolan rules on non-departmental public bodies do not apply and for each such group, if it(a) is a company limited by guarantee, (b) is a charity, (c) has no formal legal basis, and (d) has some other legal basis giving details. [131239]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  There are no such groups responsible to my Department.

  Working Families Tax Credit
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary about the implementation of working families tax credit; and if he will make a statement. [132378]

  Mr. Hanson
  My right hon. Friend and I have regular discussions with the First Secretary about a range of UK Government policies including the Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC).

  Progress with the implementation of WFTC has been very encouraging. At the end of April, it is estimated that 62,000 families in Wales were receiving WFTC—12,000 more than were receiving Family Credit at its peak.

  Investment
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the level of investment in Wales in each year since 1994. [131662]

  Percentage of gross income taken in direct and indirect tax by quintile group, 1998–99

  Quintile groups of households 1

  Bottom

  Second

  Third

  Fourth

  Top

  All households

  Total direct taxes

  12

  14

  18

  21

  24

  21

  Income tax2

  4

  6

  10

  13

  18

  14

  Employees' NIC3

  2

  3

  4

  5

  4

  4

  Local taxes4

  6

  5

  4

  3

  2

  3

  Total indirect taxes

  28

  21

  19

  17

  12

  16

  VAT

  11

  8

  8

  7

  5

  7

  Duty on petrol/oil

  3

  2

  2

  2

  1

  2

  Duty on tobacco

  3

  2

  2

  1

  —

  1

  Duty on alcohol

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Other indirect taxes5

  10

  8

  7

  6

  4

  6

  1 Households are ranked by equivalised disposable income.

  2 Income tax is net of tax relief on mortgage interest and life assurance premiums.

  3 National Insurance Contributions.

  4 Council tax, domestic rates and water charges after deducting discounts, council tax benefits and rates rebates.

  5 Includes intermediate taxes, vehicle excise duty and lottery and betting taxes.

  482W
  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Government expenditure which can be identified as having been incurred for the benefit of Wales since 1994 is as follows:

  Year

  £ million

  1994–95

  12,756

  1995–96

  13,329

  1996–97

  13,803

  1997–98

  13,988

  1998–99

  14,398

  This includes expenditure by the Welsh Office as well as expenditure for the benefit of Wales by Whitehall departments. Figures for the total identifiable expenditure in Wales for 1999–2000 and for the current year have not yet been complied by the Treasury.

TREASURY

  Taxation
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 22 February 2000,Official Report, column 998W, to the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb), if he will recalculate the figures using data from the 1998–99 Family Expenditure Survey. [129806]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Matthew Taylor, dated 24 July 2000:
  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking, pursuant to our answer of 22 February 2000, for corresponding estimates for 1998–99 of the percentage of the income of each quintile group of the population using data from the Family Expenditure Survey.
  The information requested is set out in the table attached. The analyses in the article are based on data from the Family Expenditure Survey and are therefore subject to a margin of error due to sampling variation. The changes in the figures from 1997–98 are too small to draw conclusions about changes in the tax burden over this two year period. These figures are derived from Table 2A in Appendix 1 of the article 'The effects of taxes and benefits on household income, 1998–99' published in the April 2000 edition of Economic Trends.

  Ministerial Directions
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times in each year since 1994 his Department has been notified of a ministerial direction as provided for in the procedures set out in paragraphs 12 to 15 of the Treasury document, entitled "The Responsibilities of an Accounting Officer"; and if he will make a statement. [130312]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  [holding answer 13 July 2000]The Treasury has been notified of the following number of directions, under the procedures set out in paragraphs 12 to 15 of the Treasury document entitled "The Responsibilities of an Accounting Officer".

  Year

  Number of directions

  1990

  1

  1991

  2

  1992

  4

  1993

  1

  1994

  0

  1995

  5

  1996

  0

  1997

  2

  1998

  5

  1999

  5

  2000

  1

  Jobs (Shrewsbury and Atcham)
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate he has made of the number of new jobs which will be created in Shrewsbury and Atcham in 2000–01; [131140]

  (2) how many new jobs have been created in Shrewsbury and Atcham in each year since 1997. [131141]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician.I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Paul Marsden, dated 24 July 2000:
  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent questions about jobs created in Shrewsbury and Atcham since 1997, and future projections for 2000–01 (131140/1). I am replying in the absence of the National Statistician.
  The Annual Employment Survey (AES) gives an estimate of the number of employee jobs in September of each year. Between September 1997 and September 1998 (the latest year for which figures are available), the AES shows that the number of employee jobs in Shrewsbury & Atcham increased from 39,000 to 41,000. Forecasts for future years are not made.

  Heavily Indebted Poor Countries
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much debt owed by poor countries has been cancelled by the United Kingdom since May 1997; [130813]

  (2) how much debt has been cancelled to date under the HIPC initiative. [130812]
  484W
  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The total amount of debt relief agreed to date under the HIPC Initiative is in excess of $16 billion. Since May 1997, the UK has provided in the region of £250 million of debt relief to the heavily indebted poor countries. With the additional 11 countries expected to qualify under the HIPC initiative by the end of the year, the UK will have provided approximately £660 million in debt forgiveness. This is in addition to the £400 million of relief provided prior to May 1997 in the context of multilateral rescheduling agreements.

  Pensions
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to change the tax rules on compulsory annuitisation of money purchase pensions. [130824]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 17 July 2000]I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb) on 29 November 1999,Official Report, column 78W.

  Aggregates Tax
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what assessment he has made of the effect on employment in rural areas of the introduction of the proposed aggregates tax; [131609]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the effect on employment in the aggregates and construction industry of the proposed aggregates tax; [131610]

  (3) how the proposed aggregates tax will differentiate between quarrying operations with good and bad environmental performance; [131613]

  (4) what assessment he has made of the benefits of linking the taxation of aggregates to environmental performance of quarrying operators; [131611]

  (5) if he will exempt some quarrying operations from the proposed aggregates tax on the basis of defined environmental targets. [131612]

  Mr. Timms
  The aggregates levy is based on independent research which verified that there are significant environmental costs associated with quarrying, including noise, dust, visual intrusion, loss of amenity and damage to biodiversity. The Government decided to address these costs through the introduction of the aggregates levy. It will be introduced at a uniform rate in order to keep it simple and to give a clear signal to purchasers of primary aggregates to use more sustainable materials. It will reward quarry operators who invest in equipment for recycling, and ensure that all users of aggregates are taking responsibility for the costs that the production of their inputs imposes on the rest of society. This is consistent with the polluter pays principle.

  There would be a number of practical difficulties with a levy which attempted to differentiate between quarries with different environmental performance. These relate to assessing compliance, defining environmental performance, the treatment of imports, EU state aids rules and UK competition policy. A uniform levy was therefore considered to be the most viable option.
  485W
  All the revenues raised from the levy will be recycled back to business through a cut in employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) and a new `Sustainability Fund' aimed at delivering local environmental benefits. It is not possible to say precisely what the effect of the levy, the cut in employer NICs and the Sustainability Fund will be on the aggregates and construction industries, since this will depend, among other things, on future employment trends and the degree to which firms switch to recycled materials.

  Pleasure Yachts
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many owners of pleasure yachts have been prosecuted in the last 12 months for which figures are available for the unlawful use of rebated heavy oil. [131608]

  Mr. Timms
  Private pleasure craft (including yachts) are not road going vehicles and as such qualify to use rebated heavy oil as motor fuel.

  Burning oil which is fully rebated is not allowed for use as motor fuel. I am not aware of any prosecutions of pleasure yacht owners for such misuse in the past 12 months.

  Fuel and Tobacco Smuggling (Northern Ireland)
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many seizures there have been of smuggled fuel and tobacco products in Northern Ireland in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [129861]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 19 July 2000]I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for East Londonderry (Mr. Ross) on 5 July 2000,Official Report, column 201W.

  18,585,438 cigarettes have been seized.

  Household Incomes
  Mr. Berry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the average annual net disposable income was, at 2000 prices, calculated on the basis of Table 8.2 in the annual reports of the Family Expenditure Survey, in the

  Figure 1—Annual disposable and gross income for the lowest and highest income quintiles in the UK for the calendar years 1990 to 1993 and the financial years 1994–95 to 1998–99

  Lowest 20 per cent.

  Highest 20 per cent.

  Disposable income (£)

  Percentage change

  Gross income (£)

  Percentage change

  Disposable income (£)

  Percentage change

  Gross income (£)

  Percentage change

  19901

  3,560

  0

  3,790

  0

  31,100

  0

  39,900

  0

  19911

  3,900

  10

  3,950

  4

  33,500

  8

  42,900

  8

  19921

  3,730

  -4

  3,790

  -4

  31,400

  -6

  40,900

  -5

  19931

  3,900

  5

  3,940

  4

  32,700

  4

  42,800

  5

  1994–95

  4,060

  4

  4,110

  4

  33,500

  2

  44,400

  4

  1995–96

  4,290

  6

  4,350

  6

  34,300

  2

  45,500

  2

  1996–97

  4,360

  2

  4,410

  1

  36,800

  7

  47,800

  5

  1997–98

  4,520

  4

  4,580

  4

  39,200

  7

  51,000

  7

  1998–99

  4,780

  6

  4,890

  7

  42,000

  7

  55,000

  8

  1 In 1994–95 the Family Expenditure Survey moved from a calendar year basis to a financial year basis

  Source:

  ONS, Family Expenditure Survey 1990 to 1993 and 1994–95 to 1998–99
  486W
  lowest and highest quintiles in each year from 1990 to 1999, only for households with children in those quintiles; and how many and what proportion of the population households in each quintile represented; [131960]

  (2) what the average annual (a) net disposable and (b) gross income was of the lowest and highest quintiles in each of the years from 1990 to 1999, calculated on the basis of Table 8.2 in the annual report of the Family Expenditure Survey, but for Great Britain only, and showing, for the two quintiles, the percentage gain or loss over the preceding year. [131959]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Roger Berry, dated 24 July 2000:
  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent questions concerning net disposable and gross income. The first question concerned average annual net disposable and gross income for 1990 to 1999 for Britain only in the highest and lowest quintile groups on the basis of Table 8.2 in the annual report of the Family Expenditure Survey (131959). The second question concerned annual net disposable income over the same period at 2000 prices in respect of households with children, for the same quintiles (131960).
  In answer to your first question the information readily available relates to the United Kingdom, from Table 8.3 in the ONS annual publication "Family Spending 1998–99" and equivalent tables in the reports for earlier years. They are shown in the attached table at figure 1.
  The United Kingdom is England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, while Great Britain does not include Northern Ireland. The equivalent information for Great Britain for the complete run of years could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However the figures for Great Britain for 1998–99 are very close to those for the UK. They are shown in the attached table at figure 2.
  Like all estimates from sample surveys, the figures in this answer are subject to sampling variability. For the lowest quintile this is generally about plus or minus 1.6% and for the highest quintile about plus or minus 3.5%. Estimates of percentage change from one year to another are subject to higher sampling error: plus or minus 2 percentage points for the lowest quintile and plus or minus 5 percentage points for the highest. For the highest quintile, for example, an estimated change of 7% indicates that the true change is unlikely to be outside the range 2% to 12%. The sampling variability quoted is in the 90% confidence interval.
  In answer to your second question the information requested requires a special computing run for each year and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  487W

  Figure 2—Disposable and gross income for the lowest and highest quintile groups in Great Britain, 1998–99

  (£)

  Disposable income

  Gross income

  1998–99

  Lowest 20 per cent.

  4,790

  4,870

  Highest 20 per cent.

  42,000

  55,100

  Source:

  ONS, Family Expenditure Survey 1998–99

  Tax Credits (Northampton)
  Ms Keeble
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families in Northampton North have received the Working Families Tax Credit. [131941]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The number of families in receipt of Working Families Tax Credit at the end of May 2000 is provisionally estimated at 1,056,000. Available figures by constituency are given in tables which have been deposited in the Library.

  Ms Keeble
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families in Northampton North have received the Children's Tax Credit. [131942]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Children's Tax Credit will be announced from 6 April 2001. I am afraid an estimate of the number of families in Northampton, North who could benefit from it is not available, but an estimated 400,000 families in the East Midlands could do so.

  Public Sector
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 17 July 2000,Official Report, column 98W, when he will next publish estimates of (a) public net worth and (b) public gross worth; and if he will make a statement. [131950]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Updated forecasts of public sector net worth will be published in the Pre-Budget Report in the autumn.

  Alcohol-related Crime
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to increase the taxes on high percentage volume beers, lagers and ciders as a means of reducing alcohol-related crime. [131898]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Any change to the level of UK alcohol duties is a matter for the Chancellor's Budget deliberations.

  Self-employment
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the reasons for the fall in self-employment since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [131966]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  It seems likely that the strong expansion in employee job opportunities since 1997 has encouraged some of the self-employed to switch to employee jobs. Total employment has increased by over one million since the General Election in 1997.

  Drake Insurance Plc
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to protect consumers who insured their motor vehicles with Drake Insurance plc and who have now had their policies cancelled. [132087]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The courts have sanctioned the appointment of a provisional liquidator to manage the affairs of Drake Insurance plc. There is also statutory provision for the protection of certain policyholders under the Policyholders Protection Act 1975.

  The provisional liquidator and the Policyholders Protection Board, together with some commercial interests, are working to secure the best outcome for policyholders.

  Consultation
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what criteria he uses to determine whether a trade body is representative of an industry and should be consulted in the formulation of a policy decision. [132260]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Cabinet Office Consultation Code of Practice says that consultation documents should be made widely available and effectively drawn to the attention of all interested groups.

  Electronic Service Delivery
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how capability for electronic service delivery is defined in his document entitled "Prudent for a Purpose". [132268]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Substantial new investment is being provided to ensure that all Government services are on-line by 2005. The definition of capability for electronic service delivery, and the arrangements for monitoring the number of services that are enabled for electronic transactions, are set out in the periodic reports published on the Central Information Technology Unit's website (http://www.citu.gov.uk).

  EU Structural Funds
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent arrangements he has made to ensure that Government match funds are efficiently delivered through each Government Department, in the UK's four EU Objective 1 regions. [132052]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Resources for public sector match funding for Objective 1 projects have been provided for within Departments' total spending review settlements. The new PSA targets in Spending Review 2000 set tough targets on improving value for money and efficiency across the public sector.

  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the public funds available to(a) the DTI, (b) the DETR, (c) MAFF, (d) DCMS, (e) DfEE and (f) the Welsh Assembly to match the funds available to the UK's four EU Objective One regions. [132053]
  489W
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  It remains the responsibility of grant applicants to secure match funding from a wide range of Government programmes. The identity of match funding sources will depend on the nature of the projects brought forward under the Objective 1 programmes.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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(a) citing disproportionate costs, (b) stating that the information is not available, not held centrally, or not held in the form requested or (c) citing commercial or other confidentiality. [132129]

  Mr. Timms
  Very few Parliamentary questions will not have been answered substantively, either in their entirety or in part, for reasons other than those specified in the hon. Member's question. But determining exactly how many would entail scrutinising individually the answers to the 1,676 questions tabled in the period concerned. This is an undertaking which could be completed only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many written parliamentary questions tabled to his Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April have not received substantive answers, citing as the reason(a) commercial and (b) other confidentiality. [128015]

  Mr. Timms
  [pursuant to his replies, 26 June 2000, c. 428, and 29 June 2000, c. 591]The number of questions tabled between 19 October and 20 April 2000 was 1,676 and not 1,479, a figure which relates to the 1999–2000 session up to 20 April.

  Departmental Vehicles
  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for his Department and its agencies the approved list of manufacturers of(a) cars and (b) commercial vehicles; and if he will make a statement on his Department's leasing and purchasing policy. [128982]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Treasury does not use any cars or commercial vehicles, other than those provided under contract with the Government Car and Despatch Agency. Information about the cars provided was contained in the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office on 19 July 2000,Official Report, column 191W.

  European Single Currency
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the extent to which the euroland economies have merged in accordance with the economic criteria set out in the five tests for UK membership; and if he will make a statement. [130787]
  490W
  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The five economic tests set out by the Chancellor are to judge the economic case for UK membership of the single currency only.

  National Savings
  Mrs. Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the outcome is of the Treasury's five-yearly review of National Savings. [132685]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Government's quinquennial review of National Savings was announced on 11 January. The review took a fundamental look at the strategic purpose of the functions carried out by the agency in the light of developing circumstances and Government policy. It then considered what organisational structure might best deliver the Government's policy objectives. In doing so, it looked at all the options on their merits, with the aim of identifying whether National Savings remains the most suitable way of delivering policy.

  The review recognised the importance of recent innovations in National Savings to making the agency more efficient and more flexible. This includes the role played by outsourcing its operations. It is now better placed than ever to build on this achievement to modernise and adapt to the changing market in which it operates. It now has the potential to match the best in the financial services market, providing choice and good value products for savers and investors in the very competitive savings market.

  The review sees these developments as central to National Savings continuing to make a valuable contribution to the cost-effectiveness of the national debt by offering attractive products and services to members of the public. It will set a clear and overarching objective to achieve cost-effective Government debt management. National Savings, which will remain a Government agency, funds a significant amount—over £62 billion—of the national debt. Taxpayers will continue to see the benefit of National Savings' contribution, which is more cost-effective than comparable gilt-edged securities.

  This is also good news for existing National Savings savers and for future customers. National Savings will be working to give its current and new customers more attractive, more up to date products and services. People will also get more choice on how they access those products. In addition to being able to get National Savings products through the Post Office and by post as they do now, customers will in future be able to choose from a wide range of channels.

  In taking forward the review's recommendations, National Savings will continue to modernise its activities to make and keep it relevant, efficient and cost-effective. This will involve focusing on developing those aspects of the business that can operate competitively and cost-effectively, and continuing to develop new products as well as embracing innovations and new ideas.

  The outcome of the review will be taken forward in a new business strategy, and reflected in the framework document which governs the relationship between the Agency, the Treasury and Ministers.

  Department for International Development: Staff and Budget Comparisons
  Department for International Development: Staff and Budget Comparisons
  Fishing Vessels: Decommissioning
  Fishing Vessels: Decommissioning
  Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy Outbreak, USA
  Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy Outbreak, USA
  North-east Coast Salmon Drift Net Fishery
  North-east Coast Salmon Drift Net Fishery
  Scottish Parliament: Acts
  Scottish Parliament: Acts
  Yorkshire Water: Sale Proposals
  Yorkshire Water: Sale Proposals
  Smoking in the Workplace
  Smoking in the Workplace
  Safer Streets Coalition: Representations
  Safer Streets Coalition: Representations
  A.1 Newcastle to Berwick Improvement
  A.1 Newcastle to Berwick Improvement
  Swimming Pool Lifeguarding
  Swimming Pool Lifeguarding
  Attacks on Train: British Transport Police Policy
  Attacks on Train: British Transport Police Policy
  Genetic Testing and Employment
  Genetic Testing and Employment
  Mirror Group Newspapers: Investigation Costs
  Mirror Group Newspapers: Investigation Costs
  Children Act Report: Updated Statistics
  Children Act Report: Updated Statistics
  Mentally Disordered Defendants: Court Division Schemes
  Mentally Disordered Defendants: Court Division Schemes
  Residential and Nursing Home Standards
  Residential and Nursing Home Standards
  Personal Investment Authority: Compliance Checks
  Personal Investment Authority: Compliance Checks
  Government Special Shares
  Government Special Shares
  Luncheon Vouchers
  Luncheon Vouchers
  Long-term Care Insurance
  Long-term Care Insurance
  EU Preliminary Draft Budget
  EU Preliminary Draft Budget
  Houses of Parliament: Sittings Statistics
  Houses of Parliament: Sittings Statistics
  Central Office of Information Trading Fund: Accounts
  Central Office of Information Trading Fund: Accounts
  Northern Ireland: Terrorist Intimidation
  Northern Ireland: Terrorist Intimidation
  Northern Ireland: Drug-related Crimes
  Northern Ireland: Drug-related Crimes
  Millennium Dome
  Millennium Dome
  Mr Ben Evans
  Mr Ben Evans
  Moluccas
  Moluccas
  Departmental Cars
  Departmental Cars
  Telegram from HM Ambassador to Japan
  Telegram from HM Ambassador to Japan
  UNITA: Sanctions
  UNITA: Sanctions
  Human Rights: FCO Annual Report
  Human Rights: FCO Annual Report
  Sierra Leone: UN Diamond Embargo
  Sierra Leone: UN Diamond Embargo
  Sudan: British Military Cemeteries
  Sudan: British Military Cemeteries
  Sudan: British Council Projects
  Sudan: British Council Projects
  Strategic Export Controls
  Strategic Export Controls
  Entry Clearance Refusal: 1999 Report
  Entry Clearance Refusal: 1999 Report
  Gaming Machine Industry: Payment Methods
  Gaming Machine Industry: Payment Methods
  Young Offenders: Living Arrangements
  Young Offenders: Living Arrangements
  Asylum Seekers: Rent Levels
  Asylum Seekers: Rent Levels
  Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey
  Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey
  No. 2, Marsham Street
  No. 2, Marsham Street
  Foreign Nationals: Leave to Remain
  Foreign Nationals: Leave to Remain
  Police Forces in Rural Areas: Financial Provision
  Police Forces in Rural Areas: Financial Provision
  National Probation Service: Funding
  National Probation Service: Funding
  Criminal Records Bureau Information Systems and Services
  Criminal Records Bureau Information Systems and Services
  Prison Service Performance
  Prison Service Performance
  Scientific Procedures on Living Animals
  Scientific Procedures on Living Animals
  Unduly Lenient Sentences: Attorney-General's Powers
  Unduly Lenient Sentences: Attorney-General's Powers
  Asylum Claims: Postal Applications
  Asylum Claims: Postal Applications
  Defence Training Review
  Defence Training Review
  MoD: Cost of New Barracks in UK
  MoD: Cost of New Barracks in UK
  Mull of Kintyre Helicopter Crash
  Mull of Kintyre Helicopter Crash
  MERLIN Radio-imaging Telescope
  MERLIN Radio-imaging Telescope
  Departmental Cars
  Departmental Cars
  School Performance Indicators: Pupils Recently Arrived from Overseas
  School Performance Indicators: Pupils Recently Arrived from Overseas
  House of Lords: New Office Accommodation
  House of Lords: New Office Accommodation
  House of Lords: Members' Postal Arrangements
  House of Lords: Members' Postal Arrangements