Written Answers of 13 June 2000

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Criminal Justice
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the baseline against which he will measure his target of improving the satisfaction of(a) victims and (b) witnesses with their treatment by the criminal justice system; how that baseline was measured; and how he proposes to measure levels of satisfaction by 31 March 2002. [125624]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The baseline for victim satisfaction is the British Crime Survey 1998.

  There is presently no reliable indicator of witness satisfaction. A new cross Criminal Justice System survey on witness satisfaction has accordingly been put in hand. The results will be available in the autumn, enabling a baseline to be set.

  Future levels of victims' satisfaction will be measured by the British Crime Survey, and of witness satisfaction by a further survey.

  Departmental Expenditure Limits
  Maria Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for changes to the 2000–01 Department expenditure limits within his responsibility. [126025]

  Mr. Straw
  Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL), which covers Class IV Vote 1 (Home Office administration, police, probation, immigration and other services, England and Wales) and Vote 2 (Prisons, England and Wales), will be increased by £42,050,000 from £8,068,786,000 to £8,110,836,000.

  The changes are the net effect of the following transfers: £1,200,000 to the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Class III Vote 1) in respect of neighbourhood wardens; £20,200,000 from the DEL Reserve for police modernisation; £2,900,000 from the Capital Modernisation Fund for the electronic chipping of goods; and £20,150,000 from the Capital Modernisation Fund for the national strategy for police information systems.

  The increases will be offset by a charge on the Reserve and will not, therefore, add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Changes to the budgeted amount for the Immigration and Nationality Directorate, which includes the costs of dealing with the asylum seekers, have yet to be confirmed.

  Prison Service Race Relations Group
  Maria Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the report of the Prison Service race relations group. [126026]

  Mr. Boateng
  A copy of the ninth report of the Prison Service race relations group to the Prison Service Management Board has been placed in the Library.

  Interception of Communications Tribunal
  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements have been made following the expiry of the term of appointment of the President of the Interception of Communications Tribunal on 4 April; and if he will make a statement. [126027]

  Mr. Straw
  Mr. Justice Burton has been appointed as President of the Interception of Communications Tribunal for a period of five years.

  Immigration and Nationality Directorate
  Mr. Hope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has received the annual report for 1999 of the Complaints Audit Committee of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate; and if he will make a statement. [126067]

  Mr. Straw
  A copy of the report has been placed in the Library. It is a useful and informative document and I am grateful to the Committee for its comments and its recommendations which will all be followed up. The report also includes details of the broadening of the Committee's terms of reference to reflect their role in monitoring complaints arising from the enhanced powers of Immigration Officers under Part VII of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Sittingbourne and Sheppey (Mr. Wyatt) of 15 May 2000,Official Report, column 53W, on animal experiments, whether the review of section 24 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1966 in the context of freedom of information legislation has been completed; and if he will make a statement. [125902]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Section 24 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 prevents the disclosure of information about the use of animals in scientific procedures that has been provided in confidence. Under the proposals for the Freedom of Information Bill, all statutory bars are being reviewed, including Section 24.

  The maintenance of the necessary protection for individual scientists and their research institutions and for the commercial confidentiality of their work is a priority in the review of Section 24.

  No decision has yet been taken on whether to repeal or amend Section 24.

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the criminal sanctions in his proposed Health and Safety legislation come into force which official or Minister will be criminally liable for deaths caused in or by each Government department and agency; and if he will list the job title of each such official or Minister in each Government department or agency. [125810]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The consultation paper published on 23 May, "Reforming the Law on Involuntary Manslaughter: the Government's Proposals", set out proposals for a new offence of corporate killing and invited views on the application of Crown immunity to the offence. The closing date for comments on the proposals is 1 September 2000.

  Once we have been able to consider responses to the consultation paper, we will reach a decision on the possible application of Crown immunity to the offence.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applications were(a) lodged, (b) outstanding and (c) decided in the years 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99 and 1999–2000. [125691]

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

  Applications for asylum to the United Kingdom, initial decisions and cases awaiting an initial decision1

  Asylum applications2

  initial decisions2

  Cases awaiting an initial decision2,3

  1995–96

  43,365

  28,915

  69,165

  1996–97

  27,685

  38,895

  54,950

  1997–98

  33,855

  36,020

  50,950

  1998–994

  51,255

  26,525

  74,405

  1999–20004

  76,115

  51,445

  98,365

  1 Figures rounded to the nearest five

  2 Excluding dependants

  3 Cases outstanding at the end of the financial year

  4 Provisional data

  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the arrangements are for assessing the suitability of individual retail outlets for receiving vouchers allocated to asylum seekers; what criteria are applied in the assessment; and what monitoring arrangements are in place. [125119]

  Mrs. Roche
  The retail outlets have been selected to provide a wide range of retail opportunities to asylum seekers. In excess of 19,000 outlets are signed up to the voucher scheme. Sodexho is responsible for the maintenance of this retail network. The National Asylum Support Service monitors the growth of the retail network in terms of overall numbers, geographical spread, and retail mix.

  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are applied in assessing the suitability of(a) contractors and (b) accommodation in relation to the Government's dispersal policy for asylum
  536W
  seekers; and what weight is given in that assessment to factors concerning management arrangements and care of the asylum seekers. [125117]

  Mrs. Roche
  Independent property surveyors were appointed to inspect property proposed by all potential providers prior to contract. An ongoing programme of inspection is in place for all providers to ensure providers maintain acceptable standards.

  Potential providers were assessed in terms of their financial standing, nature of accommodation offered, commercial offer and support infrastructure. This process included seeking references from past and present customers and consultation with Local Authority Consortia.

  The assessment model for assessing the suitability of contractors includes management arrangements and care of asylum seekers. I am unable to give further details since this information could prejudice negotiations with additional accommodation providers.

  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) failed asylum seekers and (b) others have been (i) deported and (ii) removed to Zimbabwe in each month since May 1999. [125124]

  Mrs. Roche
  The requested information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Firearms Legislation
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has issued to police forces since 1 May 1997 with regard to the implementation and enforcement of firearms legislation; if the guidance suggested a reduction in approval or renewal of firearm licences or shotgun certificates; and if he will place copies in the Library. [125799]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Since 1 May 1997, the Home Office has issued three circulars on firearms licensing matters to all police forces in England and Wales: Home Office Circular (HOC) 32/97 on the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997, HOC 68/97 on the Firearms (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1997 and HOC 41/98 on the Firearms Rules 1998. In addition, a letter to all chief officers on 19 October 1999 provided guidance on fittedness to possess firearms and a letter to all chief officers of 10 March 2000 provided guidance on the secure storage of firearms.

  The Home Office has not suggested to chief officers that the number of firearm and shotgun certificates on issue should be reduced as a matter of policy. Home Office guidance on firearms licensing has always made clear that each case should be dealt with on its own merits. The aim of our controls on firearms is to protect public safety rather than to reduce the overall number of firearms in lawful hands.

  Copies of the three Home Office circulars were placed in the Library at the time of their issue. I will arrange for copies of the guidance on security and the guidance on fittedness to be placed in the Library.

  Correspondence
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Broxbourne dated 21 February, 13 April, 11 May and 8 June in connection with Mr. Doug Eve of Cheshunt, a constituent. [125798]

  Mrs. Roche
  I will be responding to the letters of 21 February, 13 April and 11 May from the hon. Member shortly. I am sorry for the delay in replying. I will reply to the letter of 8 June as soon as I receive it.

  Horse Racing
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will initiate a review of the procedures which were implemented on 22 May for calculating starting prices in horse racing. [125638]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Whether, and if so how, the calculation of starting prices should be regulated is an issue which is within the terms of reference of the independent review of gambling chaired by Sir Alan Budd, whose report we expect next summer.

  Lord Archer
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated(a) number of person hours and (b) cost to date of the Metropolitan police investigation in to the allegation of perjury made against Lord Archer of Weston-super-Mare. [125313]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I understand from the Metropolitan police that to date, an estimated 1,446 person hours have been devoted to the investigation and that the cost is approximately £36,000. Most of the work has been undertaken by police officers and civilian staff in normal duty time.

  Police Helicopters
  Ms Julie Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 5 June 2000,Official Report, column 159W, on police helicopters, what the helicopter supplied by Veritair Ltd. is used for in addition to tracking stolen cars. [125431]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The helicopter is used to support officers on the ground in a range of policing activities, including vehicle pursuits; searching for suspects; missing person searches; surveillance; public order, command and control; and to provide direct support for tactical operations.

  Software Language
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what software language is used in the new Central Immigration and Nationality Directorate computerisation; and if it is programmed as a totally integrated national database. [125541]

  Mrs. Roche
  The new computerised system for dealing with immigration and nationality casework uses a number of standard applications and programmes. The system uses Microsoft NT and Office products.

  Government Technical Assistance Centre
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the work and objectives of the Government Technical Assistance Centre. [125667]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  When established, the Technical Assistance Centre will be a twenty-four hour facility. Our intention is that it shall be operated by the National Criminal Intelligence Service on behalf of the law enforcement, security and intelligence agencies. It will undertake complex processing needed to derive intelligible material from lawfully intercepted computer-to-computer communications and will provide improved facilities for deriving evidence from lawfully seized computer data.

  The Technical Assistance Centre will not analyse the intelligible content of any intercepted or seized material. That will remain a function of the agency which applied for the interception warrant or executed the warrant for seizure of the material.

  The primary objective of the Technical Assistance Centre will be to sustain law enforcement capabilities in the face of criminal use of new information and communication technologies. Day-to-day operating procedures for the Centre are being developed by a Home Office-led Project Team.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Members' Lockers
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee for what reason hon. Members' lockers are being refurbished and renumbered; what is the cost of the work; and if he will make a statement. [125739]

  Sir Sydney Chapman
  This is a matter for the Serjeant at Arms; I have asked him to write to the hon. Member.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Agricultural Wages
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of Agricultural Wages Board rates of pay in tackling social exclusion in rural areas. [125198]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 12 June 2000]We have made no specific assessment of the effect of the Agricultural Wages Board rates of pay in tackling social exclusion in rural areas.

  Bovine TB
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects a prophylactic bovine TB treatment to be available. [125176]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 9 June 2000]This work is taking place in an international context at the frontiers of scientific knowledge and could take between 10 and 15 years to complete. As with any such scientific endeavour at such an early stage, there is no guarantee of success.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she will reply to the question tabled by the hon. Member for Leyton on 1 March concerning her Department's budget (ref 113063). [125670]

  Mr. Foulkes
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given 2000,Official Report, column 409W.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Appointments Commission
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Council, pursuant to her reply of 2 February 2000,Official Report, column 633W, on the Appointments Commission, how much time was spent by PricewaterhouseCoopers in helping to recruit the Appointments Commission. [125361]

  Mrs. Beckett
  PricewaterhouseCoopers Executive Search and Selection assisted the Cabinet Office and independent selection panel to recruit the Chairman and independent members of the House of Lords Appointments Commission.

  They employed a number of consultants and administrators and invested well in excess of 300 hours in the generation, administration and evaluation of applications.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Council, pursuant to her reply of 2 February 2000,Official Report, column 633W, on the Appointments Commission, what expenses were incurred in recruiting the Appointments Commission and what were the advertising costs. [125362]

  Mrs. Beckett
  The expenses incurred in the process of recruiting members of the House of Lords Appointments Commission came to £4,186.50.

  The advertising costs, including VAT, were £35,878.63.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Solicitor-General what was the total expenditure by the Crown Prosecution Service in each of the last five years; what is the planned total expenditure for the current year and subsequent two years; what is the total and percentage real terms change in each year; and if he will make a statement. [125311]

  The Solicitor-General
  The total expenditure by the Crown Prosecution Service in cash terms in each of the last five years; the planned total expenditure for the current and subsequent year; and the total and percentage real terms change in each year are as follows.
  540W

  Year

  Total expenditure £000

  Total real terms change £000

  Percentage real terms change

  1995–96

  315,083

  —

  —

  1996–97

  319,823

  -5,745

  1.7

  1997–98

  320,602

  -8,398

  2.5

  1998–99

  328,347

  -2,792

  -0.8

  1999–2000

  331,493

  -4,939

  -1.5

  2000–01

  350,530

  11,048

  3.4

  2001–02

  336,930

  -20,817

  -6.2

  The increase in total planned expenditure in 2000–01 includes, for example, an additional £9 million from the Capital Modernisation Fund to fund new investment in information technology. Planned total expenditure is available for one subsequent year only. The expenditure plan for 2001–02 is subject to the outcome of the current spending review, which will also set the expenditure for 2002–03.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Solicitor-General how many contested cases were conducted by the Crown Prosecution Service in(a) magistrates courts and (b) Crown courts and (c) in total, in each of the last five years and in the current year to date; and if he will make a statement. [125312]

  The Solicitor-General
  The following table shows the number of contested hearings recorded by the Crown Prosecution Service in magistrates courts, in the Crown court, and in total, for each of the last five calendar years and for the period January to March 2000.

  The table also shows the number of guilty pleas recorded in each period, and the number of magistrates courts cases which were proved in the absence of the defendant. Also shown are the proportion of cases which proceeded to a contested hearing and the proportion dealt with by way of guilty plea and proof in absence.

  The overall number of contested hearings dealt with by the Crown Prosecution Service has fallen over the period under review, from 105,707 in 1995 to 82,355 in 1999—a fall of 22.1 per cent. However, the pattern of change in magistrates courts and in the Crown court has been rather different: the proportion of contests in magistrates courts has fallen with each succeeding year, from 9.2 per cent. in 1995 to 6.2 per cent. in 1999; and the proportion of contests in the Crown court has risen over recent years, from 22.8 per cent. in 1997 to 26.9 per cent. in 1999.

  The reasons for these trends are believed to be as follows:
  There has been an increase in the number of magistrates courts cases proved in the absence of the defendant rather than proceeding to a contest, from 92,251 in 1995 to 114,880 in 1999: an increase of 24.5 per cent. Proofs in absence have increased since 1995 largely in response to a simplified procedure for prosecuting minor road traffic offences;
  The Plea Before Venue procedure, introduced in November 1997, has led to an increasing number of guilty pleas being entered in magistrates courts rather than in the Crown court. This has had the effect of lowering the proportion of contests in magistrates courts and increasing it in the Crown court.
  541W

  CPS contests and contest rates

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  12000

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Magistrates court

  Contested hearings

  84,403

  9.2

  72,812

  8.0

  71,558

  7.6

  67,156

  6.8

  61,901

  6.2

  15,284

  5.9

  Guilty pleas

  744,247

  80.8

  737,510

  81.5

  766,836

  81.0

  810,952

  81.7

  820,741

  82.3

  214,744

  82.3

  Proofs in absence

  92,251

  10.0

  95,142

  10.5

  108,831

  11.5

  114,133

  11.5

  114,880

  11.5

  30,846

  11.8

  Total hearings

  920,901

  905,464

  947,225

  992,241

  997,552

  260,874

  Crown court

  Contested hearings

  21,304

  23.5

  20,382

  23.3

  21,983

  22.8

  20,515

  24.9

  20,454

  26.9

  5,108

  25.7

  Guilty pleas

  69,260

  76.5

  67,202

  76.7

  74,398

  77.2

  61,863

  75.1

  55,705

  73.1

  14,758

  74.3

  Total hearings

  90,564

  87,584

  96,381

  82,378

  76,159

  19,866

  Total contested hearings

  105,707

  93,194

  93,541

  87,671

  82,355

  20,392

  1 January to March

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Railways
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he has met the Director General of the Association of Train Operating Companies to discuss the future of the railways. [124005]

  Mr. Hill
  I last met the Director General of ATOC on 1 November 1999 when among other topics, we discussed the Transport Bill, railway performance and railway safety. Officials from my Department have met with ATOC to discuss train operator's concerns about station leases, and to explore the extent to which the existing regulatory provision can safeguard against the public interest.

  Housing
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent representations he has received concerning the construction of new houses on greenfield land and the green belt. [124006]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Secretary of State has received a number of representations in the context of various reviews of regional planning guidance currently under way and in exercise of his other statutory planning functions. Most recently, I met the leaders of local authorities with strategic planning functions in the South East. I emphasised the Government's commitment to re-use brownfield land and existing buildings before building on greenfields.

  Croydon Tramlink
  Mr. Geraint Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received about the extension of the Croydon tramlink and its linkage to the London underground. [124007]

  Mr. Hill
  I understand that London Transport are conducting a study into the extension of Croydon tramlink to other areas and its interchange with other forms of public transport including the London underground. Ultimately, it will be for the Mayor to decide if any such extensions and linkages should be taken forward.

  Railway Lines
  Charlotte Atkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what Government support is available to industry to reopen disused railway lines to reduce the number of journeys by heavy lorries. [124009]

  Mr. Hill
  Support is available through my Department to assist companies in moving goods from road to rail where payment is justified by the environmental benefits.

  A capital grant is available towards the cost of new or refurbished freight facilities, which might in principle include the reopening of disused railway lines.

  Pensioner Transport Concessions
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions are taking place between his Department and transport undertakers on concessionary transport for pensioners. [124010]

  Mr. Hill
  This has been one of the topics discussed at meetings between the bus industry and my Department which take place from time to time.

  Traffic Reduction Policy
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the progress of the Government's traffic reduction policy. [124011]

  Mr. Hill
  As we set out in "Tackling Congestion and Pollution", published in January, our policies focus on improving the outcomes that matter to people, such as congestion, pollution and road safety, rather than national traffic volume figures. The Transport Bill currently before Parliament, and the 10-year plan we will be publishing this summer, demonstrate our commitment to put in place the policies and resources that are needed.

  Waste Incineration
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received concerning the waste incineration directive. [124012]

  Mr. Meacher
  Representations on a range of different aspects of the proposed Directive have been received from various environmental and rural organisations, industry
  543W
  representatives and individuals. As the hon. Member may be aware, recent interest has been focused on the implications of the proposal for operators of small-scale animal carcase incinerators.

  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment. Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of UK incinerators that fail to meet the terms of the EU Waste Incineration Directive. [125305]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 9 June 2000]The proposed waste incineration directive, the precise scope of which is yet to be finalised, requires upgrading of incineration plant to the specified standards within five years of its adoption. The consultants Entec UK Ltd. undertook a cost-benefit analysis of the proposed directive to underpin a regulatory and environmental impact assessment, and their report (copies of which are in the House Library) largely identified numbers of incinerators in different sectors, although subsequently we have received information that the report significantly underestimated the number of animal carcase incinerators. The National Farmers Union have suggested there are some 3,000 on-farm small scale animal carcase incinerators.

  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the organisations he has consulted over the EU Waste Incineration Directive. [125329]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 9 June 2000]Copies of the various drafts of the proposed directive and the cost-benefit analyses DETR commissioned from Entec UK Ltd. were distributed as they arose to the trade representative organisations listed over the period since 1994, as well as to relevant Government Departments and environmental organisations. Trade representative organisations were also invited to meetings with DETR on the following dates: 27 April 1994, 25 September 1997 and 6 October 1998.

  Association of Drum Manufacturers

  Association of Independent Electricity Producers

  Association of Electrical Machinery Trades

  British Scrap Federation

  British Cement Association

  British Recovered Paper Association

  British Biogen

  British Foundries Association

  British Plastics Federation

  Chemical Industries Association

  Combined Heat and Power Association

  Combustion Engineering Association

  Confederation of British Industry

  Electricity Association

  Energy from Waste Association

  Environmental Services Association

  Environmental Engineering Group, Open University

  Federation of Small Businesses

  Food and Drink Federation

  Institute of Waste Management

  Licensed Animal Slaughterers and Salvage Association

  544W

  National Farmers Union

  National Association of Waste Disposal Officers

  Oil Recycling Association

  Paper Federation of Great Britain

  Pet Food Manufacturers' Association

  Photographic Wastes Management Association

  Quarry Products Association

  Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Ltd.

  TRADA Technology Ltd.

  UK Renderers Association Ltd.

  UK Steel Association

  United Kingdom Agricultural Supply Trade Association

  Waste Processing Association

  Water UK

  Wood Panel Industries Federation.

  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the effect of the EU Waste Incineration Directive on the disposal of animal carcases in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [125306]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 9 June 2000]No assessment has been made of the effect of the proposed waste incineration directive on options for disposing of animal carcases in the UK. The Waste Strategy 2000, published on 25 May, indicates that wastes should be managed in accordance with the Best Practicable Environmental Option, and should be disposed of as close to the point of production as possible, consistent with the need for effective environmental controls.

  Congestion Taxes (London)
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about the introduction of congestion taxes and car bans in London. [124013]

  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about the introduction of congestion taxes and car bans in London. [124027]

  Mr. Hill
  This is a matter for the Mayor of London.

  Traffic Congestion
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if it is his policy to support the approval of ring roads as a means of reducing traffic congestion and pollution. [124014]

  Mr. Hill
  Our policy is to support road schemes if, after consideration of alternative options and full appraisal, it is concluded they provide sustainable solutions to transport problems and should he accorded priority having regard to available resources. In the case of local roads it is for authorities to justify road schemes as part of their Local Transport Plans.

  Waste Disposal (Worcestershire)
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the level of fly-tipping and other illegal waste disposal in Worcestershire; and if he will make a statement. [124015]

  Mr. Mullin
  None. There are strict controls in place to ensure that waste is disposed of without danger to the public or the environment. The responsibility for their enforcement rests with the Environment Agency and, in some circumstances, with local authorities as waste collection authorities and planning authorities.

  The Environment Agency is investigating allegations of illegal waste disposal in Worcestershire in co-operation with Worcestershire County Council, Wychavon District Council and, because of the nature of the allegations, the West Mercia Police. The allegations concern activities at Mucknell Farm, Badgers Hill, Crabbe Yard and other locations in central Worcestershire. The purpose of the Environment Agency's investigation is to establish whether the waste management controls of Part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 have been contravened and, if there is evidence of contravention, action will be taken in line with the Agency's published Enforcement Policy.

  Parish Council Names
  Mr. David Heath
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received from parish councils concerning cyber-squatting of parish council names. [124016]

  Region

  Draft RPG advice from Regional Planning Body to Secretary of State

  Public Examination

  Target for issue of revised RPG by Secretary of State

  Eastern (RPG6)

  August 1998

  February 1999

  Summer/autumn 2000

  North East (RPG1)

  December 1999

  1June/July 2000

  Spring/summer 2001

  East Midlands (RPG8)

  November 1999

  1June 2000

  Summer 2001

  South East (RPG9)

  December 1998

  May 1999

  Autumn 2000

  South West (RPG10)

  August 1999

  March/April 2000

  Winter 2000/01

  West Midlands (RPG11)

  1End 2001

  1Early 2002

  Autumn 2002

  Yorkshire and the Humber (RPG12)

  November 1999

  1June/July 2000

  Spring/summer 2001

  North West (RPG13)

  1June/July 2000

  1February 2001

  Winter 2001

  1 Target

  Notes:

  1. The entry against Eastern Region is for RPG6 covering East Anglia. Draft RPG in this case was issued for consultation by the Government Office.

  2. The review of RPG9 covers London, the Government Office area for the South East and Bedfordshire, Essex and Hertfordshire.

  3. In London the GLA will produce a statutory spatial development strategy (SDS) instead of non-statutory Regional Planning Guidance. Hence there is no separate entry for London.

  Telecommunications Masts
  Mrs. Laing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on planning controls on mobile phone masts. [124019]

  Mr. Raynsford
  In its response to the report of the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones, issued on 11 May 2000, the Government said that they were minded to introduce a requirement for an application for full planning permission for all new telecommunications
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  Ms Beverley Hughes
  I am not aware of any representations on cyber-squatting of parish council names. UK Governmental bodies, including parish councils, are entitled to set up websites using the ".gov.uk" suffix, making it clear that the site is an official part of Government.

  Household Waste
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his target for recycling household waste. [124017]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Government's waste strategy sets ambitious targets for increasing recycling of household waste—doubling recycling in three years, and nearly trebling it in five. This is a substantial step forward, which will require authorities to provide householders with doorstep recycling services.

  Housebuilding Targets
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to issue new regional planning guidance on housebuilding targets. [124018]

  Mr. Grieve
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the proposed regional planning guidance on new housebuilding targets. [124020]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The timetable for the production of new Regional Planning Guidance (RPG) is set out in the table. RPG includes guidance on the future level of provision of housing, which may be provided either through new build or conversion of existing buildings.

  masts, but would need to consult widely before doing so, including on the principle and precise scope of any new arrangements. We shall issue a consultation paper on this and related guidance as soon as practicable.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of the announcement of a review of planning policy with respect to telecommunications masts on the number of new planning applications to build such masts. [125888]
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  Ms Beverley Hughes
  In their response to the report of the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones, issued on 11 May 2000 and placed in the Libraries of both Houses, the Government said that they were minded to introduce a requirement for an application for full planning permission for all new telecommunications masts, but would need to consult widely before doing so, including on the principle and precise scope of any new arrangements.

  We have made no assessment of the impact of the response on the number of applications to build telecommunications masts. In considering applications, local planning authorities should continue on the basis of current legislative arrangements and policy guidance.

  New Deal for Communities
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on progress in ensuring that the needs of ethnic minorities are recognised in the New Deal for Communities. [124021]

  Ms Armstrong
  We assess all New Deal for Communities proposals for evidence of their capacity to work with, and involve, people from ethnic minorities. To help partnerships achieve this objective, we have issued specific race equality guidance, developed by a steering group of experienced practitioners. We will monitor progress at our annual reviews with partnerships.

  Neighbourhood Renewal
  Ms Blears
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what responses he has received to the consultation on the national strategy for neighbourhood renewal. [124022]

  Ms Armstrong
  Consultation on the National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal continues until 30 June. Later in the year, the Social Exclusion Unit will make known the number of responses and the main issues raised.

  Road Charging (Motorways)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on plans for road charging on motorways. [124023]

  Mr. Hill
  We have no current plans to introduce widespread charging on the motorway network. The Transport Bill contains tightly defined powers to charge on limited parts of the trunk road network (which includes most motorways). These are on tunnels and bridges of at least 600 m, or in order to support a local authority charging scheme (and then only at the request of the charging authority). We have no plans to charge on bridges and tunnels that are currently free from tolls.

  Brownfield Sites
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what further proposals he plans to bring forward for the use of brownfield sites in rural areas. [124024]
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  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Planning Policy Guidance note 3: Housing, sets out the Government's policy for maximising the re-use of previously-developed land for housing. It requires local planning authorities to make sufficient land available either within or adjoining villages to meet the needs of local people.

  Directly Elected Mayors
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the benefits of directly elected mayors. [124025]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  There is considerable international experience of the benefits which directly elected mayors can bring for local communities.

  The Local Government Bill [HL] will give local people the choice of three broad frameworks for effective, dynamic and accountable leadership, including the option of a directly elected mayor.

  Local Government
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about the planned Cabinet-style operation of local government. [124026]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The proposals in the Local Government Bill [HL] will introduce three broad frameworks for new constitutions for councils (including a mayor and cabinet and leader and cabinet framework) which will increase the efficiency, transparency and accountability of council decision making. Councils will have to consult their local community about how, within these broad frameworks, they wish to be governed in the future. Where local people express a preference for an elected mayor to lead their community, the council will first have to put this option to them in a referendum.

  Flaxmill Project
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on funding for the Flaxmill project in Shrewsbury. [124028]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  I understand the Flaxmill project is the restoration of an old iron frame building in Shrewsbury. It has received an approval for a grant from Advantage West Midlands (AWM) towards this restoration, to be given when funds are available.

  Light Rail Services
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on funding for light rail services. [123990]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Light rail and similar rapid transit systems can have a role to play in delivering integrated transport in major conurbations, particularly in densely used transport corridors. Government funds can be provided to authorities for such systems where these deliver net benefits that are greater than those offered by the available alternatives; cannot be entirely funded from
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  local sources or the private sector; provide good value for money and are essential to the achievement of the objectives of the relevant authority's local transport plan.

  Air Service Agreements
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on progress in the bilateral negotiations with the United States of America on air service agreements for transatlantic routes. [123999]

  Mr. Mullin
  The latest round of UK/US talks, aimed at liberalising our bilateral aviation relations, resumed today. I expect further rounds of talks during the course of this year and it would be premature, at this early stage, to anticipate any agreements which may eventually be reached.

  Rail Safety
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to improve safety at railway stations. [124008]

  Mr. Hill
  We are continuing to work with the rail industry, the British Transport Police and others to improve safety at railway stations. For example, we are seeking further accreditations under the Secure Stations Scheme that we introduced in April 1998, which is designed to improve and standardise good security practices at all overground and underground stations.

  I very recently met my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department to explore further joint initiatives on the rail safety and security.

  My Department is also taking a close interest in the current North-West pilot scheme aimed at improving security in the whole public transport journey: walking, bus/rail interchange, as well as security at stations and on trains.

  Runways (South-East)
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Government expect the South East Regional Airports study into runway capacity in the South-East to report. [125122]

  Mr. Mullin
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 6 June 2000,Official Report, column 203W.

  Airworthiness Certificates
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the (CAA)(a) requires manufacturers and operators to provide complete checklists, including emergency checklists, before granting an airworthiness certificate and (b) considers full authority digital engine control systems as flight safety critical. [125301]

  Mr. Mullin
  The CAA requires routine and emergency checklists to be provided by the manufacturers before a certificate of airworthiness is granted. These are included in the aircraft flight manual. Operators also have to produce emergency checklists but this is not related to the issue of the Certificate of Airworthiness.
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  The CAA considers full authority digital engine control systems with no manual back up systems to be flight safety critical. The process of certification ensures that the level of design assurance applied to the digital software of such systems is in proportion to the level of criticality.

  Small Farm Incinerators
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of small farm incinerators in each EU member state. [125166]

  Mr. Hill
  No such assessment has been made. We understand, however, that the practice of small-scale animal carcase incineration is less widespread in other member states than in the UK.

  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the dangers to human health posed by small farm incinerators. [125165]

  Mr. Hill
  The study undertaken on behalf of the Department by the consultants Entec UK Ltd. (copies of which are in the House Library) to underpin a regulatory and environmental impact assessment of the proposed waste incineration Directive considered the health impacts of incineration processes generally (section 1.4) and the health benefits of the proposal in respect of animal carcase incinerators of different capacities (Appendix 1.5.4). The report, however, significantly underestimated the number of small-scale animal carcase incinerators, of which there are some 3,000 operating, and health benefits are accordingly underestimated.

  Marine Surveyors
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 23 May 2000,Official Report, column 430W, on marine surveyors, what plans he has to ensure that practising marine surveyors operating in the private sector are professionally qualified and covered by professional indemnity insurance. [125136]

  Mr. Hill
  There are no plans to ensure that practising marine surveyors operating in the private sector are professionally qualified and covered by professional indemnity insurance.

  Private sector surveyors acting on the MCA's behalf must hold professional qualifications equivalent to the MCA's own surveyors. Certifying authority surveyors carry professional indemnity insurance as a contractual requirement. A classification Society's liability to the MCA is unlimited in the case of wilful omission, in the case of negligence it is limited to £500,000. These levels of liability are currently under review.

  Aircraft Safety (Mobile Phones)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what tests have been undertaken on the level of interference by mobile telephones on the safety of aircraft; what tests are planned on the effect of such telephones on aircraft safety; what guidance his Department has given to airlines about the use of mobile phones and lap top computers on(a) landing and

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  (b) taking-off; and when a system of checking that all such equipment is detected and switched off before aircraft are boarded will be introduced. [125669]

  Mr. Mullin
  I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 8 June 2000,Official Report, column 312W. In addition to the blanket prohibition on the use of mobile phones on aircraft, the Civil Aviation Authority also require lap top computers and similar electronic equipment to be switched off during landing and take-off.

  The CAA is also promoting the evaluation by the airlines of on-board detection equipment, and if its use proves effective will propose its introduction to the Joint Aviation Authorities.

  Bicycle Lanes (Central London)
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) when he last met representatives of Chelsea and Kensington Borough Council to discuss increasing the number of bicycle lanes in central London; [124849]

  (2) when he last met representatives of Islington Borough Council to discuss increasing the number of bicycle lanes in central London; [124850]

  (3) when he last met representatives of Camden Borough Council to discuss increasing the number of bicycle lanes in central London; [124851]

  (4) when he last met representatives of Hammersmith and Fulham Borough Council to discuss increasing the number of bicycle lanes in central London; [124852]

  (5) when he last met representatives of Westminster Borough Council to discuss increasing the number of bicycle lanes in central London; [124853]

  (6) when he last met representatives of the Greater London Assembly to discuss increasing the number of bicycle lanes in central London; [124854]

  (7) when he last met representatives of the City of London Corporation and Council to discuss increasing the number of bicycle lanes in central London; [124855]

  (8) when he last met representatives of Southwark Borough Council to discuss increasing the number of bicycle lanes in central London; [124856]

  (9) when he last met representatives of Lambeth Borough Council to discuss increasing the number of bicycle lanes in central London; [124857]

  (10) when he last met representatives of Hackney Borough Council to discuss increasing the number of bicycle lanes in central London. [124858]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 9 June 2000]We have not met recently with representatives of the individual inner London local authorities or members of the Greater London Assembly to discuss bicycle lanes. However, all London local authorities have been given additional support, as part of the Local Transport Capital Expenditure Settlement for 2000–01, for advancing the 2,900km London Cycle Network.

  Copies of the London Cycle Network map have been placed in the Library.

  Parliament Square
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent representations he has received about safety for(a) pedestrians and (b) cyclists in Parliament Square. [124859]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 9 June 2000]The safety of pedestrians and cyclists in Parliament Square received extensive consideration as part of the "World Squares for All" Masterplan. We look forward to the implementation of the Masterplan proposals.

  Bicycle Parking Facilities
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he provides external bicycle parking facilities for visiting members of the public at his departmental sites. [124860]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 9 June 2000]The facilities available for cyclists vary between our 1,250 plus sites but visitor parking provision is made at our three headquarters sites in London and at most of our buildings outside London. In some instances, where no facilities are provided, there are plans to rectify this situation.

  Bicycle Use
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for each year since 1990 the number of(a) people using bicycles, (b) miles cycled and (c) journeys made by bicycle. [124862]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 9 June 2000]The available information for Great Britain, from the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions' National Travel Survey, is shown in the table:

  1990–92

  1993–95

  1996–98

  Percentage of households with at least one cycle

  36

  38

  40

  Stages per person per year1

  20

  18

  17

  Miles per person per year1

  41

  37

  38

  1The figures for journeys and miles per person per year are averages over all people in the survey

  Further information is given in the Transport Statistics Report "Cycling in Great Britain" available from the House of Commons Library.

  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made towards achieving the National Cycling Strategy's objective of doubling the proportion of journeys made by bicycle by 2002. [124863]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 9 June 2000]We have endorsed the targets set by the National Cycling Strategy when it was launched in 1996, i.e. to double the number of cycle trips (based on 1996 figures) by 2002 and to double it again by 2012.

  However, we now recognise that it is unlikely that the 2002 target will be achieved. It has become apparent that more preparation was needed than was originally anticipated in 1996. But with the increased provision of infrastructure and other measures by local authorities,

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  following the introduction of Local Transport Plans and the Launch of the Road Safety Strategy, we are confident of achieving the target of a fourfold increase in the number of cycle trips by 2012.

  London Buses
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the increase in journey times resulting from the replacing of two-person crews with one-person crews on central London bus routes in the last live years. [125607]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 12 June 2000]This is a matter for London Bus Services Ltd (LBSL), formerly London Transport Buses, as the organisation responsible for providing bus services in London.

  LBSL have estimated that replacing open platform, crew-operated buses with one person operated vehicles increases journey times by between 12 per cent. and 20 per cent. The smallest increases in journey time are achieved on the latest generation of fully accessible low-floor buses, which have wide 'easy flow' entrances.

  Gas Safety
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Health and Safety Executive started its investigation into gas safety due to be reported this summer. [124873]

  Mr. Mullin
  [holding answer 12 June 2000]The Health and Safety Executive, on behalf of the Health and Safety Commission, started work on a fundamental review of the health and safety regime for the installation and use of gas at the end of 1998. A Discussion Document was published on 4 November 1999 with a formal consultation period to 4 February 2000.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment his Department has made of the use of excess gas flow valves in housing in the USA. [124875]

  Mr. Mullin
  [holding answer 12 June 2000]No assessment has been made.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the cost of installing excess gas flow valves in all local authority housing in England. [124871]

  Mr. Mullin
  [holding answer 12 June 2000]No estimate has been made.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what safeguards exist to protect public sector housing against excess gas flow arising from(a) vandalism, (b) accident and (c) carelessness. [124874]

  Mr. Mullin
  [holding answer 12 June 2000]Legislation covering the installation and use of gas requires that all gas fittings are properly supported and so placed or protected as to avoid any undue risk of damage to the fitting due to(a) vandalism, (b) accident and (c) carelessness.

  DVLA (Lost Passports)
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many passports submitted with driving licence applications have been lost by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in the last three years; and how much compensation has been paid by the DVLA in relation to this. [125454]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 12 June 2000]Since April 1999, when customers had to provide original identity documents with their photocard driving licence applications, the DVLA has reimbursed the replacement cost of 682 identity documents, of which 417 were passports, at a total cost of £17,000.

  Of these cases Royal Mail accepted Responsibility for the loss of 487 documents and have reimbursed DVLA accordingly. In this same period DVLA has issued over 4 million photocard licences.

  Diabetic Pilots
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the implications of the ruling by the Canadian Federal Government allowing the restoration of pilots' licences to pilots diagnosed with diabetes. [125711]

  Mr. Mullin
  [holding answer 12 June 2000]The international standards for pilots' licences established by the International Civil Aviation Organisation do not permit individuals with insulin dependent diabetes to hold a pilot's licence. Under the terms of the Chicago Convention, any licence which has not been issued in accordance with ICAO standards must be endorsed to that effect and may be used in other states only with the permission of the state concerned. The CAA will not grant permission for any pilot with insulin dependent diabetes to operate in UK airspace.

  Park Homes Working Party
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the report of the Park Homes Working Party will be available; and if he will make a statement. [125868]

  Mr. Mullin
  My Department will publish the recommendations of the Park Homes Working Party in July this year, with a deadline of 31 October for any comments interested individuals and bodies may wish to make. We will announce our conclusions in due course after that date.

  Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Middlesbrough
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what decision he has taken concerning a possible second inquiry into the future of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, St. Hilda's, Middlesbrough. [125871]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  None. The listed building consent applications to demolish the former Middlesbrough Cathedral, now known as the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, and its former Presbytery, were called in by the Secretary of State on 13 April. Following a major fire on 30 May, the church building is beyond reasonable hope of being repaired and is to be demolished on grounds of
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  public safety. The Secretary of State therefore on 7 June withdrew his direction to call in the application to demolish the church building. The adjacent presbytery survived the fire reasonably intact and remains called in. The public local inquiry will now be held into finding possible alternative uses for the presbytery building only. The length of the inquiry will therefore be shorter than was originally proposed for the joint inquiry into both buildings.

  Aircraft (Organophosphates)
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 14 December 1999,Official Report, column 103W, if his review of incidents involving possible organophosphate air pollution on board civilian aircraft has reached conclusions. [125342]

  Mr. Mullin
  [holding answer 12 June 2000]The investigation of these incidents is still under review. The report will be published following its outcome. I am unable to comment until that stage has been reached.

  Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
  Dr. Whitehead
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what his policy is on planning protection for areas of outstanding natural beauty; and if he will make a statement. [125979]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Government accept the view put by the then Countryside Commission in section 4 of their publication "Protecting our finest landscapes: advice to Government (1998)", that the landscape qualities of National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) are equivalent. Conserving and enhancing the beauty of the landscape are objectives for both types of designation. The Government therefore believe that the protection given to both types of area by the land use planning system should also be equivalent.

  The Government's planning policies for AONBs are set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note (PPG) 7: "The Countryside—Environmental Quality and Economic and Social Development (Revised February 1997)". PPG7 states that:
  The Government regards National Park Designation as conferring the highest status of protection as far as landscape and scenic beauty are concerned.

  This reflects the National Park Authorities' primary objective to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the Parks. It does not mean that the landscape beauty of AONBs is in any way inferior to that of National Parks. AONBS should therefore share the highest status of protection in relation to landscape and scenic beauty.

  In relation to major projects, it is the Government's view that, henceforth, the assessment required in paragraph 4.5 of PPG7 in National Parks should also apply in to proposals for major development in AONBs. Such proposals should be demonstrated to be in the public interest before being allowed to proceed. Consideration of applications should therefore normally include an assessment of:

  (i) the need for the development, in terms of national considerations, and the impact of permitting it or refusing it on the local economy;

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  (ii) the cost of and scope for developing elsewhere outside the area or meeting the need for it in some other way;

  (iii) any detrimental effect on the environment and the landscape, and the extent to which that should be moderated.

  The guidance in the preceding paragraph therefore replaces the last two sentences of paragraph 4.8 of PPG7.

  Dr. Whitehead
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will make an announcement about new measures to conserve and enhance areas of outstanding natural beauty; and if he will make a statement. [125980]

  Mr. Meacher
  I am very pleased to announce today that the Government will shortly bring forward amendments to the Countryside and Rights of Way Bill, as part of a series of measures to safeguard the status of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) and provide for their proper protection and management. The amendments will make provision for the creation of Conservation Boards for individual, larger AONBs where this would benefit their cohesive management and where there is local support for such a move. They will also require the adoption of a Management Plan for each AONB.

  The Government have already indicated its support for AONBs through increasing the budget available to them, via the Countryside Agency, almost threefold over three years (from £2.1 million in 1998–99 to £5.9 million this year). We will continue to ensure that Government funding is available to work alongside local authorities in managing AONBs in partnership.

  Air Traffic Control
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Crewe and Nantwich (Mrs. Dunwoody) of 8 May 2000,Official Report, column 266W, on air traffic controllers, if he will make a statement on progress made with achieving a full complement of air traffic controllers at Heathrow. [124403]

  Mr. Mullin
  Good progress has been made. The full complement of air traffic controllers is now in place at Heathrow.

  Singapore Airlines
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will grant Singapore Airlines regulatory approval to operate transatlantic services from London Heathrow to the United States; for how many years this application has been outstanding; and if he will make a statement. [125896]

  Mr. Mullin
  UK/Singapore air services arrangements already provide routeing rights for airlines of Singapore to operate across the Atlantic from Heathrow to the United States. What they do not provide for, and what Singapore Airlines has been seeking specifically since 1989, are fifth freedom traffic rights for airlines of Singapore across the Atlantic to the US. During recent UK/Singapore air services negotiations, we have said that we would review the case for offering fifth freedom rights once the UK/US market had been liberalised.

  Local Government Pensions
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the rights of employees whose jobs have been compulsorily transferred from local government to other service providers as a result of the Local Government Pension Scheme Amendment Regulations. [125746]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Any compulsory transfer of staff, which occurs as part of the delivery of Best Value, involves local authorities having to consider the question of future pension rights as part of their contract specification and subsequent negotiations. The Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment etc.) Regulations 1999 provide private sector employers, bidding for a contract to deliver local government services, with an option of access to the Local Government Pension Scheme for those staff who transfer under the contract and who remain engaged in the delivery of those services. Alternatively, private sector employers can choose to provide broadly comparable pension arrangements and, within the statutory framework of the Local Government Pension Scheme, can negotiate the fair transfer of the accrued pension rights of the staff involved in the contract who decide not to leave their pension rights in the local authority scheme.

  Other transfers which do not come within the prescribed ambit of the Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment etc.) Regulations 1999 can be dealt with in a similar way so as to ensure that in all cases transferring staff are treated equitably and fairly.

  Departmental Running Costs
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals there are to amend his Departmental Expenditure Limit and running costs limit for 2000–01. [126028]

  Mr. Prescott
  Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimates for Class III, Votes 1 and 8, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions' Departmental Expenditure Limits for 2000–01 will change as follows.

  The DETR Main Programmes Departmental Expenditure Limit will be increased b £22,928,000 from £10,838,414,000 to £10,861,342,000. This increase reflects transfers from other Government Departments of £1,390,000, a transfer of £24,000 from the Invest to Save Budget and a claim on the DEL Reserve of £21,514,000. The changes are set out in greater detail as follows.

  (i) The changes for Class III, Vote 1 (Housing, construction, regeneration, regional policy, planning, and countryside and wildlife, England) are as follows: £1,200,000 will be transferred from Class IV, Vote 1 (Home Office administration, police, probation, immigration, and other services, England and Wales) to the New Deal for Communities in respect of the Neighbourhood wardens unit; a transfer of £190,000 from Class I, Vote 1 (Department for Education and Employment: programmes and central services) for the Rough Sleepers Initiative; and a transfer of £24,000 to English Nature for an Invest to Save programme.

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  (ii) The change for Class III, Vote 8 (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) is an increase of £21,514,000 for the implementation of the second phase of the Graduated Vehicle Excise Duty programme.

  (iii) As a consequence changes to Class III, Vote 8 the DETR gross running cost limit will be increased by £16,372,000 from £684,556,000 to £700,928,000. This is the result of an increase in running costs on Class III, Vote 8 for the Graduated Vehicle Excise Duty programme.

  The increase in the DETR Main Programmes Departmental Expenditure Limit will be offset by transfers and by a charge on the DEL Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Hazardous Wastes
  Mr. Burgon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the United Nations Basel Protocol on Liability and Compensation for damage resulting from transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal, which opened for signature on 6 March. [126234]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Basel Liability and Compensation Protocol was concluded on 10 December 1999 at the 5th Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention, after nearly 10 years of negotiation. It provides for a comprehensive regime for liability and for adequate and prompt compensation for damage resulting from the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes and their disposal.

  We shall shortly be consulting widely on the potential implications of the United Kingdom signing and ratifying this Protocol. These views will be taken into account in reaching a decision as to whether the United Kingdom should proceed with signature.

DEFENCE

  Munitions Stocks
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what steps have been taken to restore stocks of precision guided and non-precision guided munitions back to pre-operation levels following operation Allied Force; and if he will make a statement; [124207]

  (2) what contracts have been placed to replace (a) Paveway II, (b) Paveway III, (c) RBL 755, (d) 1,000 lb bomb, (e) ALARM and (f) TLAM expended during operations in Kosovo, listing in each case the (i) company involved, (ii) estimated date of delivery, (iii) value of the contract and (iv) cost per unit; and if he will make a statement. [124221]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 5 June 2000]Rather than simply replace all of the weapons used, we have evaluated the need to retain the capability provided by each weapon system and whether replenishment of that weapon represents the most cost effective means of restoring that capability. Where necessary, replacement weapons were ordered both during and immediately
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  after the conflict, with due consideration to previous stockholding and usage rates, to restore an appropriate level of War Reserve.

  Munition

  Company

  Approximate value (£ million)

  Unit price (£)

  Delivery date

  Paveway II

  Portsmouth Aviation

  18

  8,000

  August 2000

  RBL 755

  Hunting Engineering Ltd.

  7

  7,000

  August 2000

  TLAM

  Raytheon

  23

  1,100,000

  —

  No further orders are currently required for Paveway III, 1,000 lb bombs or ALARM missiles.

  Given TLAM's unique capability, knowledge of its delivery schedule could allow a potential adversary to assess the UK's stock level and operational capability; this information is, therefore, withheld in accordance with Exemption 1 (Defence, Security, and International Relations) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  RAF Feltwell
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons there are no RAF personnel at RAF Feltwell. [125174]

  Mr. Spellar
  There is no operational requirement for RAF personnel to be based at RAF Feltwell.

  Unmanned Combat Vehicles
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to develop unmanned combat vehicles; and if he will make a statement. [125424]

  Dr. Moonie
  The Ministry of Defence currently does not have any plans to develop an unmanned land combat vehicle. We are, however, conducting broad research into robotics technologies and remote operation for military vehicles.

  Remote control is at present used only for explosive ordnance disposal vehicles but Terrier, the replacement engineer tractor, will be fitted for, but not with, an ability for remote operation; it is likely the Future Engineer Tank will also be so fitted. The possibility of remotely operating armoured vehicles for obstacle and mine clearance roles in Bosnia was examined but not pursued.

  Kosovo (Internet)
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the infrastructure components he has procured to provide internet access to all military personnel in Kosovo. [125807]

  Mr. Spellar
  The infrastructure components currently being procured using public funds are routers, a switch, a server, printers and modems, together with the necessary software licences.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when, and with which companies and providers, he contracted the procurement of infrastructure for access to the internet by all military personnel in Kosovo; and what the contractual in-service date is. [125806]
  560W
  Since the Kosovo campaign, contracts have been placed for these munitions as follows:

  Mr. Spellar
  Contracts for infrastructure equipment were placed with Honeywell Controls, DELL Electronics and Tangible Benefit on 7 June. The MOD's Defence Communication services Agency will provide the communications infrastructure and, to enable the service to be set up rapidly, the Permanent Joint Headquarters will act as the internet service provider. The service is expected to be in place by the end of this month.

  Navy E-mail
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list(a) overseas garrisons and (b) Royal Navy ships where all military personnel have access to e-mail services. [125808]

  Mr. Spellar
  All personnel in the Cyprus and Gibraltar garrisons have access to e-mail services via local providers, as do most personnel in the Falkland Islands.

  All Royal Navy ships of frigate size and above are capable of accessing the internet, enabling the ship's company to send and receive e-mail. Minor War Vessels can access the internet when alongside, and are also fitted with the necessary equipment when deployed on operations for a prolonged period.

  Communication and Information Services
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on arrangements for the delivery of communication and information services to his Department. [126065]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Defence Communication Services Agency (DCSA) was established on 1 April 1998 and is responsible for the end-to-end delivery of communication and information services across Defence. The RAF Signals Engineering Establishment (RAFSEE) was formed in 1982 and became a Defence Agency in November 1994. The DCSA, RAFSEE and a number of non-Agency organisations responsible for aspects of the delivery of communication and information services and supporting activities were brought together to form a single Communication and Information Services and Support (CISS) organisation under the Defence Logistics Organisation on 1 April 2000. In order to strengthen the focus of the overall CISS organisation on service delivery and to reinforce the alignment of the DCSA's responsibility, authority and accountability it has been decided to remove Agency status from the RAFSEE organisation and to expand the DCSA to encompass the entire CISS organisation.
  561W
  The removal of RAFSEE's Agency status and the expansion of the DCSA to encompass the entire CISS organisation are, of themselves, administrative procedures and will not result in any geographical relocation or redundancies for staff.

  Special Investigations Branch
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officers and of what rank comprise the Special Investigations Branch; and what is the annual expenditure of the SIB broken down into relevant headings. [123887]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Special Investigations Branch (SIB) comprises 25 Officers and 158 soldiers, of the following ranks:

  Rank

  Total

  Lieutenant Colonel

  3

  Major

  12

  Captain

  10

  Warrant Officer Class I

  14

  Warrant Officer Class II

  27

  Staff Sergeant

  49

  Sergeant

  68

  Total

  183

  The full cost of operating the SIB does not currently fall to a single, discrete budgetary area. For example, support costs may be satisfied at local level by the military unit with whom the SIB personnel are collocated; and, moreover, such costs are not separately apportioned. To determine the cost of operating the SIB worldwide could not, therefore, be achieved without disproportionate effort.

  A provisional estimate of expenditure on the three major SIB units which operate in the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland and Germany, for the present financial year, is detailed in the table.

  Expenditure

  £

  Military pay

  7,122,261

  Civilian pay1

  1,020,969

  Contracts2

  32,500

  IT3

  29,989

  Lands and buildings4

  28,000

  Travel and subsistence5

  244,658

  Fuel and utilities

  60,638

  VAT receipts

  -33,000

  Miscellaneous6

  423,603

  Total

  8,929,618

  1In the UK and NI the SIB's functions are supported by civil servants, and in Germany by Locally Employed personnel

  2Cleaning; Technical cleaning

  3Installation and upkeep of both hardware and software

  4Rents, legal fees,
  and minor estate improvements

  5Vehicle hire, detached duty and daily travel

  6Telephone costs, office supplies and logistical support

  Sierra Leone (Malaria)
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what precautionary treatment was given to troops deployed to Sierra Leone in respect of malaria before they left the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [125191]
  562W
  Mr. Hoon
  [holding answer 9 June 2000]For Sierra Leone the most effective anti-malaria drug is considered to be mefloquine and current policy recommends that treatment begins three weeks before personnel are due in the area of risk. This is to allow time for those who cannot tolerate mefloquine to exhibit adverse reactions and be placed on an alternative regimen: the drug itself starts to take preventative effect within 12 hours. Aircrew are not given mefloquine because of the possible side effects which can degrade concentration and coordination. Aircrew, therefore, take chloroquine and proguanil tablets instead, although these do not offer the same degree of protection in Sierra Leone which is a chloroquine resistant area.

  Issuing the Spearhead Battalion permanently with mefloquine, as a preventative measure, is not an option since the drug is only licensed for one year's continuous use; long term treatment with mefloquine is not medically advisable. The great majority of personnel deployed to Sierra Leone began taking anti-malaria tablets prior to embarkation although not for the full three weeks because of the short notice to deploy. However, a small number did not begin the preventative course of treatment and arrived in theatre without anti-malaria tablets. The reasons for this are currently being investigated. This omission was quickly remedied by procuring a French anti-malaria drug which was available locally, and this was subsequently replaced by supplies of the preferred British drug.

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what medical advice was given to troops deployed to Sierra Leone concerning malaria; and if he will make a statement. [125189]

  Mr. Hoon
  [holding answer 9 June 2000]All UK forces that deployed to Sierra Leone were advised, in accordance with the Surgeon General's policy, that the preferred anti-malarial drug for ground forces deployed ashore is mefloquine. While most effective, this drug carries a risk of side effects when first taken and, for that reason, personnel carrying out certain operational duties cannot be treated with it. Those forces unable to take mefloquine were advised that the recommended alternative is chloroquine and proguanil. Personnel deployed ashore were also provided with the opportunity to impregnate their uniforms and mosquito nets with mosquito repellent.

  South Atlantic Medal
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what length of service was laid down in MOD Command Paper 544/82 for the award of the South Atlantic Medal; and how many medals were awarded to nonmilitary personnel from(a) the United Kingdom, (b) the Falkland Islands, (c) St. Helena and (d) elsewhere. [125594]

  Dr. Moonie
  Information about the length of service required to qualify for the award of the South Atlantic Medal is contained in Command Paper 8601, which was presented to Parliament in July 1982. A copy of this document is in the Library of the House.
  563W
  My Department does not hold a definitive list of those civilians who were awarded the South Atlantic Medal, although our records show that the following categories did receive it, with or without a rosette depending on where they served:

  South Atlantic Medal with Rosette:

  35 Falkland Islands Defence Force

  49 UK civilians (includes eight NAAFI personnel)

  South Atlantic Medal without Rosette:

  15 UK civilians (includes five NAAFI personnel).

  The numbers given include those NAAFI personnel who were members of the Expeditionary Forces Institute (EFI), who were enlisted into the Royal Navy or Royal Army Ordnance Corps on short service engagements. It has not been possible to break the figures down further to determine how many NAAFI civilian personnel who were not members of the EFI received the medal, as the relevant NAAFI records no longer exist.

  A number of laundrymen working on RN ships also qualified for the medal. It has not been possible to establish whether records still exist detailing the numbers who received the medal, although it is known that of those currently working on RN ships three were recipients of the medal. A number of Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel also received the medal, but it has not been possible to determine how many.

  In addition to the numbers quoted above we are advised by the Registry of Seamen and Shipping that 2,321 Merchant Navy personnel were awarded the medal. It has not been possible to break the information down further to establish their nationality.

  As information relating to the award of this medal to non-Service personnel is not held centrally and records are kept by a number of different agencies and organisations, we have been unable to determine how many other civilians might have been awarded this medal.

  Sierra Leone (Parachute Regiment)
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on what date the Parachute Regiment was first told to prepare to deploy to Sierra Leone; and if he will make a statement; [125450]

  (2) on what date members of the Parachute Regiment who were deployed to Sierra Leone were first given anti-malaria treatment; and if he will make a statement; [125451]

  (3) on what date the Parachute Regiment first moved to deploy to Sierra Leone; and if he will make a statement. [125452]

  Mr. Hoon
  [holding answer 12 June 2000]The notice to move for the Spearhead land element, which included the 1st Battalion The Parachute Regiment, was reduced from the usual level of readiness to six hours for the lead element and 24 hours for the main body at 1500 hours on 6 May. All elements started to move later that same day. Anti-malaria treatment commenced also on 6 May, shortly after the notice to move had been reduced.

  Recruitment Targets
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect the introduction of(a) increased telephone time, (b) the increase in leave it the end of operational tours and (c) introduction of e-mail will have on reducing the time the Government will take to achieve its recruitment targets set out in the Strategic Defence Review. [125564]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 12 June 2000]The doubling of telephone call time to 20 minutes, the introduction of post operational tour leave, and the ongoing introduction of e-mail facilities were measures aimed at alleviating pressure on families, and were primarily designed to assist retention. All the measures have proved highly popular since their introduction and it is hoped that they will also have a beneficial, although indirect, effect on recruiting.

  Organophosphate Air Pollution (Aircraft)
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his review of incidents involving possible organophosphate an pollution on board aircraft, and their implications for military personnel, has reached conclusions. [125343]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 12 June 2000]We have no evidence of organophosphate pollution on military aircraft affecting personnel, but we will consider carefully any conclusions from an on-going BAe Systems investigation into an incident involving a civil BAe 146 aircraft last year.

  Chinook Disaster
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will undertake that all files held by public bodies relating to the Chinook disaster will be preserved. [125269]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 9 June 2000]When the original Board of Inquiry papers, written evidence and papers held by the branch with lead responsibility for matters concerning the crash are eventually archived, they will be assigned a review date of 25 years, with a recommendation for permanent retention. At the 25 year point they will be examined for their suitability for transfer to the Public Record Office in accordance with the provision of the Public Records Act 1958 and 1967.

  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department requires manufacturers to provide complete flight reference cards prior to releasing an aircraft into operational service; if the Chinook Mk2 had a complete set of flight reference cards at the time of the fatal crash of ZD576 in June 1994; and if these included drills covering the possibility of FADEC malfunctions. [125300]

  Mr. Spellar
  All manufacturers of new Ministry of Defence aircraft are contractually required to provide full aircrew documentation prior to release to operational service. This documentation includes both Aircrew Manual and Flight Reference cards. The Chinook Mk2 had a complete set of Flight Reference Cards in June 1994. This contained all the normal and emergency operating drills in force at that time, including drills for a possible FADEC malfunction.

  Joint Helicopter Command
  Ms Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will report on the outcome of the study to determine the best location for the new Joint Helicopter Command; and if he will make a statement. [125801]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Headquarters of the Joint Helicopter Command is based at Headquarters Land Command at Wilton in Wiltshire, and there are no current plans to move it. A team from the Joint Helicopter Command Headquarters is currently at the very early stages of conducting a strategic review to identify the most effective and efficient solution for the basing of Joint Helicopter Command units. The review consists of two phases—a scoping exercise (phase one) and full investment appraisal and review of the estate rationalisation candidates that arise out of the scoping exercise (phase two). Phase one is due to be completed next month, after which it should be possible to give further details of the sites under review. It is too early to say when the comprehensive investment appraisal that will comprise phase two will be completed.

  RAF Buchan
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to visit RAF Buchan. [125570]

  Mr. Hoon
  I have a full programme of visits to Service establishments but have no plans at present to visit RAF Buchan.

  Hydrographic Office
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office for the financial year 2000–01. [126064]

  Secretary of State for Defence

  Minister for Defence Procurement

  Minister for the Armed Forces

  Under-Secretary of State for Defence

  Chief of Defence Procurement

  (a) Aerospatiale

  29 March 2000

  22 October 1999

  None

  22–24 February 2000

  6 May 2000

  (b) BAE Systems

  30 November 1999

  23 November 1999

  29 March 2000

  22–24 February 2000

  None

  (c) Boeing

  None

  None

  None

  None

  None

  (d) Daimler Chrysler Aerospace

  None

  None

  None

  None

  13 December 1999

  (e) General Dynamics

  None

  None

  None

  None

  23 March 2000

  (f) Lockheed Martin

  17 February 2000

  None

  None

  None

  None

  (g) Raytheon

  7 December 1999

  None

  None

  None

  None

  (h) Rolls Royce

  4 March 2000

  None

  29 March 2000

  None

  21 December 1999

  RNAS Prestwick
  Ms Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the cost to his Department of rescinding the lease of the site of RNAS Prestwick (HMS Gannet); and if he will make a statement. [125802]

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

  Type 45 Destroyers
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the planned in-service date is for the first Type 45 destroyer; and if he will make a statement. [124996]
  566W
  Dr. Moonie
  The key targets set for the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office in 2000–01 are as follows:Process and promulgate priority safety information within stated time scales from receipt of data.
  To achieve 100 per cent. of the endorsed and funded Defence Programme to cost, quality and timeliness targets, in particular short notice operational requirements as defined in Tasking Authorisation Forms (TAFs).
  Prepare changes to the Framework Document by October 2000, and agree the principal changes as part of the Quinquennial Review by June 2001.
  Achieve efficiency measure of 13.5 per cent. growth in "Value Added" per member of staff (based on FY 1995–96) by 31 March 2001.
  Review Pay Policy, and Reward and Performance Management, and implement a new system for the FY 2000–01 pay round.
  A Technical Programme, addressing infrastructure and new product development, to be communicated and delivered to time and budget—as set each year.
  Break even taking one year with another and achieve an average Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) during the plan period of 7.5 per cent.

  Ministerial Meetings
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when, during the past six months, he, his Ministers or the Chief of Defence Procurement have met the chairman or chief executive of(a) Aerospatiale, (b) BAE Systems, (c) Boeing, (d) Daimler Chrysler Aerospace, (e) General Dynamics, (f) Lockheed Martin, (g) Raytheon and (h) Rolls Royce. [117152]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 3 April 2000]During the period October 1999 to March 2000, the Secretary of State for Defence, the Ministers for Defence Procurement and the Armed Forces, the Chief of Defence Procurement and I have met the Chairman or Chief Executive of the companies mentioned as follows:

  Dr. Moonie
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the armed forces gave him on 2 November 1999,Official Report, column 87W.

  Type 42 Destroyers
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to ensure the effectiveness in the air defence role of Type 42 destroyers prior to all Type 45 destroyers entering into service; and if he will make a statement. [124995]

  Dr. Moonie
  The introduction into service of the Type 45 destroyer equipped with the Principal Anti-Air Missile System will provide the improved naval air defence capability which the Royal Navy will need. In the
  567W
  meantime, we have a programme of enhancements to the Type 42 destroyer and its GWS30 Sea Dart weapon system under way. We will continue to consider what further enhancements may be required while Type 42 destroyers remain in service.

  Weapons Systems (Funding)
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what additional funding has been made available in(a) this and (b) the previous financial year to restore deficiencies in weapons systems and spares of critical equipment, listing in each case the (i) weapons system or type of spare, (ii) deficiency identified and (iii) estimated date of deficiency rectification. [124220]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 5 June 2000]The Strategic Defence Review contained a number of specific measures targeted at improving the sustainability of our forces, on which we spent £11.4 million last year and £11.3 million this year on Priming Equipment Packs for Tornado GR1/4 and Harrier GR7 aircraft to enhance their deployability. Other funding has been directed at our medical services as previously announced. Work on weapon systems and spares is an on-going process and affects systems across Defence: a more detailed answer could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Challenger II
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress his Department has made in purchasing track for Challenger II to a new design. [125315]

  Dr. Moonie
  The Department is shortly to enter a competition phase for the selection of a track which might be taken forward into a trials and assessment phase. Subject to successful trials it is possible that production of new track could begin in 2002 and that there would then be a phased transition over a number of years from old to new track.

  Asbestosis
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what compensation is available to former service personnel for work-related asbestosis. [124988]

  Mr. Spellar
  Compensation arrangements for Service personnel and former Service personnel who suffer illness as a consequence of exposure to asbestos are the same as for those killed or injured or who develop a disease from any other cause attributable to their service. Service personnel were, however, prevented by Section 10 of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947 from suing for compensation until 15 May 1987 when The Crown Proceedings (Armed Forces) Act 1987 repealed Section 10. Since then Service personnel have, like any other employee, been entitled to sue the Ministry of Defence for compensation where they have suffered as a result of the Department's negligence. The repeal of Section 10 was not made retrospective. The War Pensions Agency pays compensation to former Service personnel for illness caused before the repeal of Section 10, in the form of a war pension and other allowances.

  National Missile Defence System
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of(a) the cost and
  568W
  (b) the length of time required to upgrade RAF Fylingdales in the event of a request from the United States for United Kingdom assistance in the deployment of the proposed National Missile Defence System. [125077]

  Mr. Hoon
  We have not received a request from the US regarding the use of any facilities in the UK as part of the proposed US National Missile Defence system. Nor would we expect one until after a US decision to proceed with deployment of the proposed system. We would consider such a request carefully, taking into account a wide range of factors, including a detailed assessment of the proposed nature and duration of any works requested. The question of financial costs associated with proceeding with deployment of the proposed US National Missile Defence system is first and foremost a matter for the US.

  POWs (Japan)
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Government Departments he is consulting on the issue of a gratuity payment to former prisoners of war held in Japan. [125459]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 12 June 2000]The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department of Social Security and the Department of Health are being consulted.

  Statistics
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what statistics relating to the responsibilities of his Department are collated by parliamentary constituency, indicating the dates covered in each case. [123835]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 25 May 2000]The Ministry of Defence collects a wide range of manning and establishment statistics on a regional basis, not all of which are centrally held. Many of these statistics can be analysed on a constituency basis using Geographic Information Systems. It is therefore not possible to give a meaningful list of statistics collected by parliamentary constituency as this would incur disproportionate cost.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Briefing Documents
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's policy on producing briefing documents giving information about senior businessman, politicians and other public figures in overseas countries; and if he will place in the Library copies of all such documents. [124334]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  [holding answer 8 June 2000]The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and posts abroad collect a vast amount of information on all subjects, including information about personalities in other countries, in order to provide briefing and assessments for Ministers and officials. Such information is often acquired on a confidential basis and in some cases is subject to statutory restrictions on disclosure. It would not be appropriate, therefore, to make it available as the hon. Member suggests.

  British Council
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what work has been done to expand the work and upgrade the facilities of the British Council in Lithuania; and if he will make a statement. [125666]

  Mr. Hain
  Since opening in refurbished premises in 1992, the British Council offices in Lithuania have been further renovated and developed, and electronic information sources have been installed. The Council intends to ensure its operations remain appropriate and its premises suitably equipped.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what work is being undertaken by the British Council in Kosovo to show films to the local population; what types of film the Council plans to show; what funding has been made available from his Department to support this activity; and if he will make a statement. [125595]

  Mr. Hain
  The British Council plans to show recent British feature films in the newly opened cinema in Pristina. It will fund a visit by the cinema's manager to the UK to select films and discuss commercial access to UK films. The Council has also negotiated rights to enable Kosovo TV to broadcast a selection of British television programmes during the coming year. The FCO contributed £114,000 to help the Council set up its operation in Kosovo.

  India
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on a permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council by India. [125550]

  Mr. Hain
  We are committed to early enlargement of the permanent and the non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council, including the creation of a new permanent seat for the Asian electorial group. It would be for the Asian group to decide who would occupy any permanent seat allocated to them; no doubt others could have claims too.

  Nigeria
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received concerning attacks on the Christian population in Kaduna, Nigeria. [125734]

  Mr. Hain
  We monitor closely the religious tensions in Kaduna and elsewhere in Nigeria. Following a demonstration against the possible imposition of the Sharia penal code, violent riots broke out in Kaduna in February. Christians and Muslims burned each others' properties, businesses and places of worship. An estimated 500 people, both Christian and Muslim, were killed. The violence spread to southern Nigeria where around 500 people, mostly Muslims, died.

  Violence flared up again in Kaduna in May, in which it is reported that about 200 people died. The reason for this outbreak of violence is not clear.
  570W
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions his Department has had with the President of Nigeria concerning the attacks on Christians in Nigeria. [125733]

  Mr. Hain
  We are monitoring closely the religious tensions in Nigeria, which have led to the deaths of hundreds of Christians and Muslims. I have expressed my deep concern to the Nigerian authorities. Our High Commission in Abuja is in regular contact with the local and Federal authorities, and with leaders of both communities. We welcome their efforts to diffuse tension and work towards reconciliation.

  South Lebanon
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received concerning the whereabouts and welfare of the civilian population who have fled South Lebanon. [125892]

  Mr. Hain
  Most recent reports indicate that of the 6,000 or so Lebanese (civilians and former SLA) who fled to Israel from southern Lebanon during and after the Israeli withdrawal, about one quarter have already returned to Lebanon. Those that remain in Israel have been housed and given residency for one year initially. They are entitled to work and to benefit from Israeli healthcare.

  Egypt
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received regarding the conviction of the Egyptian Christian, Shaiboob William Arsal, to 15 years hard labour. [125890]

  Mr. Hain
  Shaiboob William Arsal has been sentenced to 15 years hard labour for the murder of two people in 1998. We understand that he is likely to appeal to a higher criminal court.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government are supporting the request of UNHCR to interview the Cuban citizens, Dr. Noris Pena Martinez and Dr. Leonel Cordova Rodriguez, currently held in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement. [125803]

  Mr. Hain
  We understand that the two doctors are in the care of UNHCR who are hoping to relocate them to a third country. We urge the Government of Zimbabwe to abide by its obligations as a signatory to the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees.

WALES

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary concerning the increased release of receipts from council house sales; and if he will make a statement. [125560]
  571W
  Mr. Paul Murphy
  [holding answer 12 June 2000]I meet the First Secretary regularly and discuss a number of issues, including this one.

  Both the First Secretary and I are aware that, currently, the only significant requirement for local authorities to set aside receipts for debt redemption relates to capital receipts from the sale of council houses. The Assembly has therefore asked that the issue of whether this position can be improved upon be considered as part of the general review of capital finance regulations being undertaken in conjunction with the Welsh Local Government Association.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Millennium Dome
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to sell the Millennium Dome; and if he will make a statement. [124940]

  Janet Anderson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and the Regions gave my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea (Mr. Linton) on 17 January 2000,Official Report, column 255W.

  Millennium Projects
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) how much partnership funding has been secured, and how much remains to be secured, for each of the major capital projects funded by the Millennium Commission; [125907]

  (2) what the original planned completion date was for each of the Millennium Commission's major capital projects; and what the present expected completion date is in each case; [125905]

  (3) how much of the total Lottery grant awarded to the Millennium Commission's major capital projects has been paid in each case. [125906]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  This is a matter for the Millennium Commission. I will write to the hon. Member in my capacity as Chairman of the Commission, and place copies of my reply in the Libraries of the House.

  Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the financial position of the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds. [125904]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Following re-structuring of the Royal Armouries' relationship with their private sector partner in July last year. I announced on 19 October that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State had provided additional grant-in-aid of £1 million per annum to cover the cost of the responsibilities transferred. Since then, the Royal Armouries has managed its expenditure successfully within the additional grant provided. We will continue to work closely with the Royal Armouries on the necessary improvements in management.

  NMEC
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is the average amount of money spent by visitors to the Dome on(a) food and drink and (b) merchandise; and how much in each case is retained by NMEC. [118510]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 10 April 2000]The average amount of money spent by visitors to the Dome on(a) food and drink and (b) merchandise is just over £3 in both cases. NMEC retains between 20 and 50 per cent., depending on the individual contractual arrangements with suppliers. Where NMEC is the supplier, the percentage depends on its pricing strategy, taking into account value for honey and prices in the open market.

TREASURY

  VAT (Listed Properties)
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates he has made of the annual cost to the Exchequer of applying a rate of VAT to renovation work on listed properties of(a) 12 per cent., (b) 10 per cent., (c) 7.5 per cent. and (d) 5 per cent. [125909]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Customs and Excise do not have estimates of the costs of reducing the VAT rate on renovation work on listed buildings because reliable estimates of amounts of VAT which have been paid in the past on such work are not available.

  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the annual cost is to the Exchequer of zero-rated VAT on alterations to listed buildings. [125908]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Customs and Excise do not have an estimate of the cost of zero-rated VAT on alterations to listed buildings. This is because reliable estimates of the amount of expenditure on such work are not available.

  Credit Unions
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many credit unions operate in the UK; and what links his Department has with them; [125643]

  (2) what plans he has to (a) extend the areas from which credit unions can borrow and (b) amend the legislation in respect of credit unions. [125644]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  There are currently 860 credit unions in operation in the UK of which 675 are in Great Britain. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in Northern Ireland is responsible for credit unions in Northern Ireland. The Government announced on 16 November 1999 a package of measures designed to help credit unions to grow, some of which have been included in the Financial Services and Markets Bill. There will be further consultation on extending the areas from which credit unions can borrow.

  Expenditure Limits
  Mrs. Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes are proposed to the Inland Revenue departmental expenditure limit and running costs limit for 2000–01. [126071]
  573W
  Dawn Primarolo
  Subject to Parliamentary approval of the Supplementary Estimate for Class XVI, Vote 5 the Inland Revenue Departmental Expenditure Limit for 2000–01 will be increased by £147,608,000 from £2,097,763,000 to £2,245,371,000. The Inland Revenue running cost limit will also be increased by £154,608,000 from £2,222,471,000 to £2,377,079,000.

  The increase is mainly to cover increased workloads and measures introduced in the Budget and also in respect of some interdepartmental transfers.

  The increase will be offset by transfers or charged to the DEL reserve and will not add therefore to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Mrs. Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes are proposed to HM Treasury's departmental expenditure limit and running costs limit for 2000–01. [126072]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate for Class XVI Vote 1 (HM Treasury), the Departmental Expenditure Limit for 2000–01 will be increased by £26,376,000 from £220,417,000 to £246,793,000.

  The increase is the net effect of an increase in other current expenditure of £20,950,000 and capital of £7,450,000, to meet new commitments in respect of the costs associated with the new Partnerships UK, and a decrease in running costs of £1,400,000 to meet the continuing costs in other current expenditure of the Treasury Taskforce, giving a net total increase of £27,000,000 which will be drawn from the Capital Modernisation Fund. The running costs limit for HM Treasury will accordingly be decreased by £1,400,000 from £64,923,000 to £63,523,000.

  A reduction included in the Revised Estimate for Class XVI Vote 3, (HM Treasury: Office of Government Commerce) will decrease HM Treasury's DEL by £224,000, and a further reduction due to transferring responsibility for Class XVI Vote 15 (1999–2000), (Repayments to the Contingencies Fund) to Class XVI Vote 7, (Inland Revenue: Payments in Lieu of Tax Relief) will decrease HM Treasury's DEL by £400,000; giving a net increase to HM Treasury's DEL of £26,376,000.

  The increases will be offset by transfers and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Mrs. Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes are proposed to HM Customs and Excise departmental expenditure limit and running costs limit for 2000–01. [126073]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Revised Estimate for Class XVI, Vote 4 (HM Customs and Excise: administration) the Customs and Excise Departmental Expenditure Limit for 2000–01 will be decreased by £2,100,000 from £888,958,000 to £886,858,000. The running costs limit will be decreased by the same amount from £863,057,000 to £860,957,000. The decrease covers a transfer of Invest to Save funds to the Inland Revenue to support the joint Closer Working Programme. There is no overall change to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Forms
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the net change in each year since May 1997 in the number of forms issued by his Department which(a) charities and (b) other voluntary organisations are required to complete. [123948]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The number of forms that a charity or voluntary organisation is required to complete will depend on the size and nature of the organisation and the purposes for which they need to complete forms.

  Public Sector Workers (Home Loans)
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Housing Green Paper, how, for(a) taxation and (b) national insurance contribution purposes, his Department's revenue bodies would treat preferential loans made by the Government to public sector workers wishing to buy housing in London and the South East of England; and if he will make a statement. [119425]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 17 April 2000]Under current rules, if a Government Department were to make preferential loans for key workers, whether in the public, private or voluntary sectors, there would be no tax or national insurance charges arising provided that the employees were not directly employed by a Government Department and the loans were neither guaranteed nor facilitated by their employers.

  Stakeholder Pensions
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what advice he has received on(a) the costs of full concurrency in stakeholder pensions in tax revenue forgone and (b) changes in administrative costs borne by the Inland Revenue. [115907]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the revenue implications of allowing for(a) partial concurrency and (b) full concurrency of the proposed new stakeholder pension regime with other existing occupational and personal pension products or schemes; and if he will make a statement. [123721]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Ministers are currently examining this issue.

  Windfall Tax
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the Windfall Tax to have been fully spent on employment programmes; and if he will make a statement. [125397]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Information on the estimated allocation of the Windfall Tax receipts between different programmes, including employment programmes, is set out in Table 4.1 of the Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report published at the time of the 2000 Budget. Future funding plans for employment programmes are being considered as part of the current Spending Review.

  Working Families Tax Credit
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer under what circumstances a Working Families Tax Credit award can be amended, once finalised, due to a change in the claimant's circumstances. [125386]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The circumstances by which a Working Families Tax Credit award can be amended, once finalised, are:If the applicant in a one-parent family dies, or both the applicant and their partner in a two-parent family dies.
  If the family breaks up during an award period and Working Families Tax Credit, Disabled Person's Tax Credit, Income Support or income based Jobseeker's Allowance are awarded to someone else for a child who was included in the original award.
  If the only child in the family in a WFTC award is aged 16 or over and leaves full-time non-advanced education.

  Ms Buck
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average Working Families Tax Credit payment in each region of the UK for those households making claims in the six months October 1999 to April 2000(a) in gross terms and (b) net of housing benefit and council tax benefit. [125414]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The average weekly value of Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) awards made in the six months from October 1999 to the end of March 2000 are estimated to be as follows:

  £

  Region

  Average weekly value of awards

  North East

  70.97

  North West

  73.17

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  72.59

  East Midlands

  71.21

  West Midlands

  73.72

  East of England

  70.44

  London

  75.08

  South East

  70.70

  South West

  69.81

  Wales

  71.37

  Scotland

  70.55

  Northern Ireland

  76.34

  United Kingdom

  72.09

  Note:

  The figures for the regions of England, for Wales and for Scotland are estimates based on a 5 per cent. sample of awards, and are therefore subject to sampling error.

  No reliable estimate of the overall effect of WFTC on Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit for families receiving WFTC can yet be made, for the reasons given in my reply to my right hon. Friend the Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) on 12 June 2000, Official Report, column 459W.

PRIME MINISTER

  Bill of Rights
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will assess the benefits of introducing a written constitution and bill of rights. [124914]

  The Prime Minister
  We have no plans to do so.

  Women's Institute Conference
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of the invitation to him as Prime Minister to address the Women's Institute Conference at Wembley. [125725]

  The Prime Minister
  The invitation to address the Women's Institute was extended verbally.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Prime Minister if his prepared speech for the Women's Institute Conference included an explicit reference to Clause 28. [125726]

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a verbatim record of the Downing street media briefings on Tuesday 6 June concerning the Women's Institute speech the following day. [125727]

  The Prime Minister
  Verbatim records of Downing street media briefings are not routinely kept; however a record of all media briefings can be found on the Downing street website at www number-10.gov.uk.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Prime Minister what decisions he has reached on Lord Neill's recommendations on Government special advisers; and if he will make a statement. [125729]

  The Prime Minister
  We intend to present our full response to Parliament before the summer recess.

  Vasili Mitrokhin
  Mr. Ennis
  To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to publish the Intelligence and Security Committee's report into the handling of the information provided by Vasili Mitrokhin; and if he will make a statement. [125947]

  The Prime Minister
  I have today laid before both Houses of Parliament a copy of the Intelligence and Security Committee's Report into the Security and Intelligence Agencies' handling of the information provided by Mr. Mitrokhin. In consultation with the Committee, a small number of excisions from the original text have been made on grounds of national security. I have also today laid before both Houses of Parliament the Government's Response to the Committee's Report.

  The Government are very grateful to the Committee for the Report of its Inquiry. Mr. Mitrokhin's information is uniquely valuable. Its authenticity has been proved beyond doubt. The Government have drawn a number of conclusions from the information itself, from the publication project and from the findings of the Intelligence and Security Committee's Inquiry. The most significant are:

  i. The KGB posed a major threat to British interests but the United Kingdom's Security and Intelligence Agencies were notably successful in containing this threat. After the expulsion of more than 100 Soviet intelligence officers in 1971, the KGB found the United Kingdom an extremely difficult target and operational environment.

  ii. Mr. Mitrokhin himself is a brave man who was determined in his efforts to expose the KGB. The Government pay tribute to him.

  577W

  iii. Credit is due to the Secret Intelligence Service for its role in getting Mr. Mitrokhin and his material safely to the United Kingdom. This was a tremendous intelligence coup. Credit is also due to the Security and Intelligence Agencies for their work in exploiting the material. This has been beneficial not only for the UK but also for many other countries.

  iv. The publication project, leading to "The Mitrokhin Archive", allowed Mr. Mitrokhin's material to be made available to a wider readership. The Government believe that it was right to put this historic record into the public domain.

  v. Lessons have been learned from the handling of Mrs. Norwood's case.

  Finally, I should like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to our intelligence and security agencies for their dedication and professionalism in protecting our vital national interests.

HEALTH

  Mead Webber Plant
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when Professor Sir John Krebs was first informed about problems at Mead Webber; by whom; and what action he took. [122067]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 15 May 2000]I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that Ms Suzi Leather, the agency's deputy chair, was fully informed of the situation at Mead Webber by the chief executive of the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) on Saturday 22 April. Ms Suzi Leather and Professor Sir John Krebs, Chairman of the Food Standards Agency, discussed the situation at this plant with the chief executives of the Meat Hygiene Service and the Food Standards Agency over the following week.

  The MHS is an executive agency of the Food Standards Agency and the Food Standards Agency holds the Chief Executive of the MHS responsible for the operation and management of the MHS and its staff. Given the concerns expressed about the Mead Webber closure, Professor Sir John Krebs has taken and maintains a close interest in the situation at the plant, and was as a consequence fully informed of the outcome of a meeting which took place on Sunday 30 April between the Chief Executive of the MHS and Dr. Richard North, Food Safety Adviser representing Mead Webber Ltd. At this meeting, it was agreed that, given Mead Webber Ltd.'s concerns:
  An independent investigation into the actions of the Meat Hygiene Service at the Mead Webber plant would take place;
  The outcome of this independent investigation would be placed in the public domain; and
  No Hygiene Assessment System score would be published for the plant for the first month after re-opening, to enable plant management and the Meat Hygiene Service to work constructively together to address any remaining concerns.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what conclusions had been reached by Official Veterinary Surgeons in the five years prior to 10 April on the acceptability of trimming by meat inspectors at the Mead Webber plant. [122060]
  578W
  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 15 May 2000]I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that there is no formal record of the conclusions reached by official veterinary surgeons (OVSs) in the five years prior to 10 April 2000 on the acceptability of trimming by meat inspectors at the plant operated by Mead Webber Ltd.

  The Meat Hygiene Service's policy and instruction to inspection staff on carcase trimming is detailed in the MHS Operations Manual, Chapter 6, Page 4. It states:
  Carcases and offal presented for inspection with evidence of visible contamination must be appropriately trimmed to your satisfaction before application of the health mark. Trimming of contamination is normally a task for premises staff working under your direction. However, you may trim minor contamination provided it does not interfere with the inspection routine. Where this cannot be done on the dressing line the affected carcase or offal must be detained for more detailed attention.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if Mr. Yogaratnam of the Meat Hygiene Service had sole responsibility for the Mead Webber plant; to whom in the MHS he reported; what responsibilities he had in respect of other plants at the time he had responsibility for Mead Webber; and how many other plants he had responsibility for. [122054]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 15 May 2000]I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that Mr. Yogaratnam was the official veterinary surgeon (OVS) and principal official veterinary surgeon (POVS) for the Mead Webber plant, and as such had sole responsibility for ensuring its full compliance with public health and animal welfare regulations. While contract OVSs were used to provide locum cover during the times that Mr. Yogaratnam carried out his POVS duties, they reported to Mr. Yogaratnam as the responsible OVS and POVS for the Mead Webber abattoir.

  Mr. Yogaratnam reported to his line manager, Mr. Ivor Pumfrey, Meat Hygiene Service Regional Director (Wales). Mr. Yogaratnam's technical line manager was Mr. Peter Soul, MHS Director of Operations.

  Mr. Yogaratnam was also OVS and POVS at three licensed cutting premises. Mr. Yogaratnam was POVS for 16 other plants in the area. As a POVS he was responsible for contract performance management of Contract OVSs working in 10 other plants in the area.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason the faxed communication of 24 April from Mr. Webber of Mead Webber to the chief executive of the Meat Hygiene Service asking for an explanation of the changes in the MHS's trimming policy was not(a) acknowledged and (b) answered. [122068]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 15 May 2000]I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that as Monday 24 April 2000 was a Bank Holiday, the Meat Hygiene Service offices were closed. Following this, the chief executive of the Meat Hygiene Service was due to be on annual leave until 2 May. However, having been made aware of the situation at the plant operated by Mead Webber Ltd., he returned early and on 28 April 2000 answered Mr. Webber's undated fax which had been sent on 24 April 2000.
  579W
  In his response, the chief executive of the Meat Hygiene Service acknowledged receipt of the fax sent by Mr. Webber and informed him that he had commissioned an investigation into Mr. Webber's concerns and would write again with the conclusions of that investigation.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what brief was given to Mr. John Cartwright by the Meat Hygiene Service prior to his attendance at the Mead Webber plant on 26 April. [122064]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 15 May 2000]I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that an independent investigation is to be carried out as soon as possible into the actions of the Meat Hygiene Service at Mead Webber's plant at Eardisley. This will include scrutiny of the actions of Mr. Cartwright.

  It would be inappropriate to comment further until this investigation has been completed.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason the prohibition by Mr. Turner of the Meat Hygiene Service on carcase trimming by the meat inspectors at the Mead Webber plant was reversed on 20 April; and by whom and for what reason the decision was subsequently changed again. [122057]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 15 May 2000]I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) have met with a representative of Mead Webber Ltd. and agreed to an independent inquiry into MHS's actions at Mead Webber and the publication of its findings. The events of 20 April 2000 are to be fully investigated as part of that independent investigation. It would be inappropriate to comment further until this investigation has been completed.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason a letter was sent by an official veterinary surgeon to Mead Webber on 19 April concerning remedial works prior to the meeting planned for 26 April; and what account the letter took of remedial works and redecoration already agreed. [122043]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 15 May 2000]I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that an investigation is to be carried out as soon as possible into

  NHS body

  Nature of contracts

  Penalty (£)

  Trent Region

  East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust

  Radio Control System

  1,040

  Nottingham Health Authority

  Headquarters Building

  1,500

  Rotherham General Hospitals NHS Trust

  Catering

  3,000

  Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust

  Laundry

  Contract Terminated

  University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

  Laundry

  1,500

  South-West Region

  Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust

  Patient Administration IT System

  Free extension to service for one quarter (value approx. 300,000)

  Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust

  Cleaning

  4,817

  Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust

  Laundry

  22,665

  Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust

  Radiology services

  8,048

  West Dorset General Hospitals NHS Trust

  Estate Maintenance

  5,000

  Exeter Community Hospitals NHS Trust

  Cleaning

  8,800

  South Devon Health Care NHS Trust

  Laundry

  Contract Terminated

  East Somerset NHS Trust

  Security

  Contract Terminated and 520 penalty

  East Somerset NHS Trust

  Orthotic Services

  Contract Terminated

  Poole Hospitals NHS Trust

  Cleaning

  27,500

  580W
  the actions of the Meat Hygiene Service at Mead Webber's plant at Eardisley. This will involve scrutiny of correspondence.

  It would be inappropriate to comment further until this investigation is completed.

  Departmental Statistics
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what statistics relating to the responsibilities of his Department are collated by parliamentary constituency, indicating the dates covered in each case. [123839]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 25 May 2000]Statistics collected in the Department are largely by health authority, local authority or National Health Service trust reflecting local lines of responsibility and accountability. The Department publishes a wide range of detail at these levels. Comprehensive information at constituency level could be collected and published only at disproportionate cost.

  The Library provides a tailored service for hon. Members; statistics which can often be provided at parliamentary constituency level include economic statistics (employment, unemployment and inactivity), claimant count, employees jobs, average earnings and census data.

  Following the publication of the Social Exclusion Unit's report on the National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal we are working closely with the Office for National Statistics on improving information across Government at a level and a consultation report on better information was produced in April 2000. This, along with information which will emerge from the 2001 census will allow a wider range of health data to be available at a local level.

  Penalty Clauses
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 23 May 2000,Official Report, columns 420–22W, on penalty clauses, what was the cost to the private sector providers of their failure to perform to time or to standard. [124132]

  Ms Stuart
  The information requested is in the table.
  581W

  NHS body

  Nature of contract

  Penalty (£)

  Northern and Yorkshire Region

  Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare NHS Trust

  Payroll Services

  2,213

  Wakefield and Pontefract Community Health NHS Trust

  Information Services

  19,249

  South Durham Health Care NHS Trust

  Combined Heat and Power

  25,000

  Leeds Community and Mental Health Services NHS Trust

  Community Units for the Elderly

  701

  Leeds Community and Mental Health Services NHS Trust

  Community and Mental Health Information System

  21,015

  South-East Region

  Oxfordshire Mental Health NHS Trust

  Mental Health reprovision

  Penalty to be finalised

  East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust

  Patient Administration IT System

  79,000 over 3 years

  East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust

  IT Finance System

  50,000 over 2 years

  Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Trust

  Energy Management

  20,500

  Sussex Weald and Downs NHS Trust

  IM&T Service and Support

  37,684

  Hampshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust

  Joint Contracts Tribunal agreement for minor works

  9,750

  South Buckinghamshire NHS Trust

  Catering

  14,937

  Portsmouth Healthcare NHS Trust

  Estates Maintenance

  1,611

  Portsmouth Healthcare NHS Trust

  Cleaning

  9,526

  Oxfordshire Ambulance NHS Trust

  Ambulance vehicle construction

  6,000

  Oxfordshire Ambulance NHS Trust

  Specialist computer software

  4,000

  Kent Ambulance NHS Trust

  IT

  30,000

  Eastern Region

  Norfolk Mental Health Care NHS Trust

  Supplies

  4,500

  North Essex Mental Health NHS Trust

  Catering

  Contract Terminated

  West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust

  Clinical waste incineration; Energy maintenance

  4,616

  Papworth Hospital NHS Trust

  Cleaning

  5,582

  Peterborough Hospitals NHS Trust

  Cleaning

  51,000

  Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust

  Cleaning

  6,000

  East and North Hertfordshire Health Authority

  Nursing Homes; Therapeutic care

  Contract Terminated

  Basildon and Thurrock NHS Trust

  Laundry

  298,261

  London Region

  Bromley Hospital NHS Trust

  Domestic services

  Contract Terminated

  Camden and Islington Community Health NHS Trust

  Cleaning; laundry; sterile supplies; patient transport; dairy supplies; taxi services

  Contracts Terminated

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham Mental health NHS Trust

  Security

  Contract Terminated

  Forest Healthcare NHS Trust

  Domestic services

  30,000

  Guy's and St. Thomas's NHS Trust

  Security

  Contract Terminated

  Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust

  Computer maintenance

  Contract Terminated

  Havering Hospitals NHS Trust

  Energy management system

  461,000

  Kingston Hospital NHS Trust

  Security

  Contract Terminated

  Newham Healthcare NHS Trust

  Patient taxi service

  Contract Terminated

  North Middlesex Hospital NHS Trust

  Computer maintenance; CCTV services

  4,000

  Riverside Community Health NHS Trust

  Equipment maintenance

  Contract Terminated

  Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust

  Boiler room maintenance; Patient transport; fire precautions

  25,000

  St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust

  Agency nursing

  400,000

  North-West Region

  Bay Community NHS Trust

  FM Services

  3,000

  Alder Hey NHS Trust

  Pharmacy

  Payment withheld pending resolution

  West Midlands Region

  No known private sector contracts where penalty clauses have been triggered

  Public Consultation Procedures
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he last issued guidance to health authorities in England and Wales with regard to public consultation procedures. [124619]
  582W
  Mr. Denham
  Guidance on the process and legal requirement for consultation on substantial variations in service was issued in 1990. The legal requirement has not changed but we plan to issue more comprehensive guidance on public consultation procedures later in the year. We are presently consulting on a draft. Colleagues
  583W
  in the Welsh Assembly are aware of this work. It is for them to decide whether or not they wish to produce similar guidance for their health authorities.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he gives to hospitals regarding the definition of waiting lists; and if he will make a statement. [124943]

  Mr. Denham
  Guidance on waiting list definitions is given in the National Health Service Data Manual and the NHS Data Dictionary which are distributed to all NHS trusts and health authorities.

  Relenza
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 27 January 2000,Official Report, column 334W, to the hon. Member for Richmond Park (Dr. Tonge), when he will publish the results of the appraisal by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence of the drug Relenza; and if he will make a statement. [125110]

  Mr. Denham
  The National Institute for Clinical Excellence has completed a rapid appraisal on Relenza, which was disseminated to the National Health Service in October 1999. The outcome of NICE's appraisal is therefore already on the public record. A full appraisal is currently being carried out and the revised guidance is expected to be published in October 2000.

  Mental Health
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate(a) the present and (b) the projected number of sufferers from mental illness in the UK. [125373]

  Mr. Hutton
  It is estimated that about one adult in six in the United Kingdom aged between 16 and 64 suffers from some form of mental illness.

  This estimate is based on a survey conducted on adults in Great Britain in 1993. Applying this rate of mental illness to the projected UK population aged 16–64 at mid year 2000 suggests that about six million adults between the ages of 16 to 64 in the UK suffer from some form of mental illness, mainly anxiety and depressive episodes.

  It is also estimated that about one child in 10 between the ages of five and 15 suffers from a mental disorder.

  The source for the prevalence of mental disorder in children is a survey on the mental health of children and adolescents in Great Britain in 1999. By applying the survey rate to the mid year UK population aged five to 15, we estimate that about 800,000 children in this age range suffer from some form of mental disorder.

  There are no equivalent estimates at a national level of the prevalence of mental illness among older people. It is not, therefore, possible to give a reliable figure for the total number who suffer from mental illness in the UK. However research suggests that around 600,000 people aged over 65 in the UK have dementia. Figures for older people with other psychiatric disorders are less precise.
  584W
  The Department does not produce projections of the numbers of mental illness sufferers in future years. However a survey on the prevalence of mental illness in adults aged 16–74 in Great Britain is currently being carried out, and a report of the findings is due in the summer of 2001.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps is he taking to promote the use of direct payments for people with mental health problems. [125713]

  Mr. Hutton
  We issued revised guidance in February which makes clear that local authorities can make direct payments for any community care service except permanent residential care, and that they should consider this option for service users from all client groups including those with mental health problems. Officials have been meeting local authority officers to explain how local authorities should plan their direct payment schemes in order to reflect the guidance. The Department is funding the Centre for Mental Health Services Development for a project which will aim to promote independent living by implementing Direct Payments for people experiencing mental distress.

  Mileage Rates (Nurses)
  Dr. Brand
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the new mileage payment rates for nurses working in the community. [125282]

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

  Mortality Statistics
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients(a) of Weston General Hospital, (b) of Avon Health Authority and (c) nationally have died of an illness for which they were awaiting treatment in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [125366]

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Etanercept
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the current prescribing status is of Etanercept as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease. [125137]

  Ms Stuart
  Etanercept's marketing authorisation is for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis where other drug treatments have proved inadequate. Etanercept may be prescribed on the National Health Service.

  Royal Shrewsbury Hospitals NHS Trust
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the appointment of Mrs. Jenny Upshall as a
  585W
  non-executive director of Royal Shrewsbury Hospitals NHS Trust, taking account of the operation of Integrate Services; and if he will make a statement. [124876]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 12 June 2000]My right hon. Friend will keep Mrs. Upshall's appointment under review.

  Primary Care Trusts
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of(a) shortlisted applicants for and (b) those appointed as (i) chairman and (ii) non-executive director of primary care trusts have declared political activity for (A) the Labour Party, (B) the Conservative Party and (C) the Liberal Democrat Party. [125899]

  Ms Stuart
  The information requested is given in the table.

  Political activity of candidates for primary care trust appointments in 2000

  Percentage

  Party

  Shortlisted candidates

  Appointed candidates

  Non-executives

  Labour

  28.9

  17.3

  Conservative

  4.6

  13.5

  Liberal Democrat

  3.1

  3.8

  Ind./no political activity

  63.4

  65.4

  Chairs

  Labour

  30.6

  23.5

  Conservative

  13.9

  11.8

  Liberal Democrat

  5.6

  11.8

  Ind./no political party

  59.9

  52.9

  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) Labour, (b) Conservative and (c) Liberal Democrat councillors have been (i) shortlisted and (ii) appointed (1) to the chairmanship of and (2) as non-executive directors of primary care trusts. [125900]

  Ms Stuart
  The information requested is given in the table.

  Political activity of councilors appointed to primary care trust appointments in 2000

  Party

  Shortlisted councillors

  Appointed councillors

  Non-executives

  Labour

  6

  2

  Conservative

  7

  5

  Liberal Democrat

  2

  2

  Chairs

  Labour

  3

  2

  Conservative

  2

  2

  Liberal Democrat

  1

  1

  NHS Patients
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for how many patients NHS trusts have funded treatment in the private sector in each month of the last three years; and what was the total amount spent in each case. [124131]
  586W
  Ms Stuart
  The total amount of National Health Service funds spent on the provision of hospital and community services for NHS patients treated outside the NHS (in the independent sector comprising of for profit hospitals, not for profit hospitals, voluntary hospitals/hospices and independent clinics) for the last three years are as follows:

  Percentages are of NHS expenditure on hospital and community services

  Billion

  Percentage

  1998–99

  1.25

  4.8

  1997–98

  1.08

  4.6

  1996–97

  0.87

  3.8

  Information on patient activity and annual expenditure in the independent sector, comprising of for profit hospitals, not for profit hospitals, voluntary hospitals/hospices and independent clinics for the last three years available has been placed in the Library.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Higher Education Funding
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will itemise and quantify current public sector funding to higher education institutions which(a) is and (b) is not subject to statutory limitations on control of funding by reference to criteria for the selection and appointment of academic staff and the admission of students. [125401]

  Mr. Wicks
  [holding answer 12 June 2000]The Secretary of State funds the higher education sector for England via the Higher Education Funding Council for England and the Teacher Training Agency. Section 68(3) of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 precludes the Secretary of State from putting conditions on the grant to the Funding Council relating to the selection and appointment of academic staff and the admissions of students. He has not done so.

  Television Advertisements
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many television advertisements have been commissioned by his Department since 1 May 1997; and, of those, how many were provided with closed caption subtitling. [125609]

  Mr. Wills
  [holding answer 12 June 2000]The Department for Education and Employment has run five television advertising campaigns since 1 May 1997. In line with the Department's mainstreaming policies, all of these used closed titles, to ensure that viewers with hearing difficulties have access to the advertisements.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what provision he has made for the financial year 2000–01 to meet the costs incurred by Kent County Council Education Authority through the provision of interpreters to assist unaccompanied minors and the children of asylum seekers and economic migrants; [125275]
  587W
  (2) what has been the cost to the schools budget, for the latest year for which figures are available, of the provision of interpreters for unaccompanied minors and the children of asylum seekers and economic migrants; how much of this money has been refunded by central Government to local education authorities; and if he will make a statement. [125277]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 12 June 2000]The Ethnic Minority and Traveller Achievement Grant is a key element of our strategy for raising standards for minority ethnic pupils, including unaccompanied minors and children of asylum seekers, who are at risk of underachieving, and for meeting the particular needs of pupils for whom English is an Additional Language. The total allocation of the Ethnic Minority and Traveller Achievement Grant for Kent in 2000–01 is £2,459,221. The costs of providing interpretation can be met from within this Grant.

  The information on the cost to the whole school budget of the provision of interpretation for unaccompanied minors and children of asylum seekers is not kept centrally by the Department, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Departmental Initiatives
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 19 May 2000,Official Report, column 292W, on departmental initiatives, if he will list the amount originally budgeted for in (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and

  £ million

  FY 1997–98 Budget

  FY 1997–98 Outturn

  FY 1998–99 Budget

  FY 1998–99 Outturn

  FY 1999–2000 Budget

  FY 1999–2000 Estimated Outturn

  Education Action Zones (Rounds 1 and 2)

  0

  0

  10.8

  10.2

  30

  29.2

  Employment Zones1

  4.0

  1.0

  29.0

  5.0

  16.0

  16.0

  Neighbourhood Support Fund

  0

  0

  0

  0

  20.0

  20.0

  Sure Stare2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  80.8

  19.0

  Excellence in Cities

  0

  0

  0

  0

  32.0

  32.0

  Early Excellence Centres3

  0

  0.12

  9.0

  1.9

  10.0

  4.1

  Early Years Nursery Education Grant funding for education places for 3 year olds

  0

  0

  0

  0

  38.0

  38.0

  New Start4

  1.75

  0.97

  4.75

  3.85

  5.9

  5.6

  Millennium Volunteers5

  0

  0

  0

  0

  5.0

  4.0

  Community Champions6

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0.5

  0.46

  Adult and Community Learning Fund7

  0

  0

  5.0

  2.5

  6.56

  6.1

  New Deal for Schools8

  83.0

  78.0

  250.0

  223.0

  250.0

  282.35

  1 Employment Zones: funding in 1997–98 and 1998–99 was for prototype EZs. The underspends result from the fact that these took longer to set up and develop than anticipated—the first prototype did not start until February 1998. There has been no carry forward of unspent funds within the initiative.

  2 Sure Start is a cross-departmental programme, which is overseen by a steering group involving Ministers from the Departments of Education and Employment, Health, Social Security, Environment, Transport and the Regions, Culture, Media and Sport and the Home Office, the Lord Chancellor's Department and the Treasury. Spending in the first year was lower than originally planned. The budget for Sure Start is ringfenced and any underspends are automatically carried forward.

  3 Early Excellence Centres: the programme was established in year in 1997–98, and no money was budgeted, but £0.12 million was spent from savings from the wind up of the Nursery Voucher Scheme and a small contribution from New Deal for Schools. Build up of the programme was phased, resulting in slower draw on allocation than expected. The Manifesto commitment was 25—there are 29 EECs and they are receiving full funding contribution. There has been no carry forward of unspent funds within the initiative.

  4 New Start: underspends were due to projects taking longer than anticipated to progress. In 1998–99 £0.90 million was carried over to 1999–2000, and is included in the budget figure for that year.

  5 Millennium Volunteers: although no budget/underspend is shown, £0.4 million was spent and met from the Windfall Tax.

  6 Community Champions: underspend due to the development and launch of the initiative in year which meant it was not fully under way until January 1999.

  588W
  (c) 1999–2000, stating for each year the funds budgeted for which were not spent and if they were carried forward. [124411]

  Mr. Wicks
  [holding answer 5 June 2000]The following table shows, for each of the initiatives listed in the previous reply, the budget for 1997–98, 1998–99 and 1999–2000, along with the outturn figures for 1997–98 and 1998–99. Estimated outturn figures for 1999–2000 are as given in the response to the previous question. Final outturn figures will not be available until the publication of the Appropriation Accounts in October.

  Arrangements for carry forward of unspent funds have changed over the period. There was no facility to carry forward within the Department unused recurrent funds from 1997–98 to subsequent years. As announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review White Paper in July 1998, end year flexibility for Departments was introduced in 1998–99.

  The New Deal for Schools, funded from the windfall tax, was announced in the Budget in July 1997, and now totals some £1.376 billion over the Parliament, including the extra £250 million announced in the March Budget and the further £43 million announced in the pre-Budget report in November 1999. A total of £452 million from 1999–2000 to 2001–02 was announced in July 1998 for the Sure Start programme. The budgets for both these programmes are ringfenced and any underspends are automatically carried forward.

  The footnotes in the table indicate whether the 1998–99 underspends on other programmes were carried forward rather than being allocated to other priority areas.
  589W

  7 Adult and Community Learning Fund: the budget/outturn figures given for 1998–99 do not include the £3.27 million spent on the Laptop Programme for Adult and Community Learning Tutors, which was not part of the original budget. Programme underspend is due to the fact that the initial application process took longer than expected and projects therefore started later in the year. Money for the Adult and Community Learning Fund has been re-profiled over the lifetime of the initiative so that the £20 million originally announced for the fund remains available.

  7 New Deal for Schools: underspends denote slippage in claiming funds by LEAs. All NDS funds have been allocated to schools. The budget for NDS is ringfenced and any underspends are automatically carried forward.

  No-smoking Policy
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on(a) the effectiveness of his Department's no-smoking policy and (b) the proportion of his Department's offices that do not allow smoking. [125156]

  Mr. Blunkett
  The Department for Education and Employment restricts smoking to designated areas. This effectively provides a non-smoking working environment for staff. All DfEE Headquarter buildings restrict smoking in this way.

  Key Stage 2 (Marking)
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what inter-marker reliability data are available for end of Key Stage 2 English tests. [124896]

  Jacqui Smith
  External Marking Agencies collect data about relative marking performance of markers engaged in marking each subject at each key stage.

  Two types of data are collected.

  Judgmental data about the general marking performance of markers together with information about how well they have managed the marking process and adhered to administrative procedures and deadlines.

  The variation in marking standards between the team leaders and the markers who report to them is measured. This is known as the absolute mark difference (AMD) criterion. This measurement is taken at more than one stage during the marking process—twice for all markers and three times for some markers. The values for each marker are compared with pre-determined bands of marking acceptability and a judgment is made about any corrective action which may be required or, in some cases, the requirement to stop a marker from carrying out any further marking. (In cases where markers are stopped, all scripts from the marker's allocation are re-marked by an approved marker.)

  The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, who are responsible for the development and administration of the National Curriculum on behalf of the Secretary of State, collect the AMD data from all external marking agencies to enable the monitoring of marking variation year-on-year and to establish whether or not the pre-determined bands of marking acceptability require adjustment in future years.

  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many schools returned end of Key Stage 2 English test papers for a review of marking last year. [124893]

  Jacqui Smith
  Last year 2,210 schools returned end of Key Stage 2 English test papers for a review of marking. In 1999, 16,364 schools with 629,000 pupils nationally took part in the end of Key Stage 2 tests.
  590W
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many Key Stage 2 English markers were removed last year on grounds of unsatisfactory performance. [124895]

  Jacqui Smith
  There were 45 Key Stage 2 English markers removed last year on grounds of unsatisfactory performance. This represents 2.2 per cent. of the total markers involved in marking the end of Key Stage 2 English tests nationally.

  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the correlation between the year-on-year increase in the number of end of Key Stage 2 English test papers returned for a review of marking and exam marking standards. [124895]

  Jacqui Smith
  The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, responsible for the development and administration of the National Curriculum on behalf of the Secretary of State, has not established any direct relationship between the number of review requests received and the information which it has available concerning marking standards. As the percentage of review requests is very small, less than 1 per cent., it would not be statistically valid to attempt to draw any conclusions from the data which are available.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proposals he has to amend the Departmental Expenditure Limit for 2000–01. [126068]

  Mr. Wills
  Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Revised Estimate for Class I, Vote 1 (Department for Education and Employment: programmes and central services), the overall DfEE Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) for 2000–01 (excluding Welfare to Work) will be decreased by £190,000 from £18,355,709,000 to £18,355,519,000.

  This change in Vote 1 is the result of a transfer to Class III, Vote 1 (Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions: Housing, construction, regeneration regional policy, planning and countryside and wildlife, England) of £190,000 for the rough sleepers initiative.

  Sixth Forms
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the average A level points score per pupil for 11 to 18 years schools, with sixth forms containing(a) 50 or fewer, (b) 51 to 100, (c) 101 to 150, (d) 151 to 200, (e) 201 to 250 and (f) more than 250 pupils. [124695]
  591W
  Mr. Wicks
  The average GCE A/AS point score per pupil for schools with an age range of 11 to 18, with sixth forms containing:

  (a) 50 or fewer pupils: 7.4

  (b) 51 to 100 pupils: 9.4

  (c) 101 to 150 pupils: 11.9

  (d) 151 to 200 pupils: 14.6

  (e) 201 to 250 pupils: 15.7

  (f) more than 250 pupils: 15.8.

  Education Council (Luxembourg)
  Mr. Casale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the outcome was of the Education Council held in Luxembourg on 8 June; and if he will make a statement. [125786]

  Ms Jowell
  The Council of EC Education Ministers, at which the UK was represented by Nicol Stephen MSP, Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning in the Scottish Executive, adopted a Decision to establish the European Year of Languages 2001.

  Ministers held an open debate on the future challenges and objectives of education systems in the learning society. The Council agreed that education and training policies would play a key part in ensuring the successful follow-up to the conclusions agreed at the Lisbon European Council, and on the need for Education Ministers to feed into the Luxembourg Employment Process. Ministers recognised that benchmarks and the exchange of good practice could be useful tools in supporting appropriate action at member state level. Ministers put forward proposals for policy areas which should be covered by the report of Education Ministers to the Stockholm European Council in spring 2001. Discussion covered the Commission's work on the e-learning initiative, which was welcomed by member states.

  The Commission presented a report on quality indictors in school education. It also gave progress reports on the Recommendation on Quality Evaluation in School Education, and the Recommendation on Mobility within the Community for students, persons undergoing training, young volunteers, teachers and trainers.

  A copy of the Council minutes will be placed in the Library.

  Social Affairs Council
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the outcome was of the Social Affairs Council held in Luxembourg on 6 June; and if he will make a statement. [125171]

  Ms Jowell
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Social Security, my hon. Friend the Member for Wallasey (Angela Eagle), and I represented the UK at the Social Affairs Council meeting on 6 June.

  Political agreement was reached by the Council on a Directive implementing the principle of equal treatment of persons irrespective of their racial or ethnic origin. This is the first legislative proposal brought under Article 13 of the Treaty. The Directive covers a range of issues including employment, access to social protection and social security; access to education; and access to goods
  592W
  and services. All member states with scrutiny reserves, including the UK, lifted them. The Presidency gave a progress report on negotiations on the other proposals brought forward under Article 13—a draft Directive establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation and a Community Action Programme.

  The Council debated its role in following up the Special European Council held in Lisbon in March and its input to the Spring European Council to be held in 2001. The Council agreed conclusions which would be transmitted to the Presidency of the EU before the European Council, in Feira. The Council noted the Employment Committee's work programme for 2000.

  The Council unanimously adopted a decision setting up a Social Protection Committee. The Council endorsed a report of the High-Level Working Group on Social Protection and agreed to submit it to the European Council at Feira. The report sets out two priorities—a pensions study and the identification of common objectives and indicators of social protection.

  The Council discussed three outstanding issues arising from the Commission's proposals for simplification of Regulation 1408/71. The Regulation concerns the co-ordination of member states' social security systems—including healthcare—and is aimed at assisting free movement of workers within the Community. None of the issues was resolved. Technical negotiations will continue at official level.

  The Council adopted a mixed Resolution (of the Council and of the Ministers for Employment and Social policy meeting within the Council) on the balanced participation of men and women in working and family life.

  The Council reached broad agreement on the draft Directive on temporary work at height (the "Scaffolding Directive").

  The Commission made a presentation on its study of the implications of the European Court of Justice rulings (Decker and Kohll) concerning reimbursement for medical treatment these will be made available to member states following further relevant rulings from the Court.

  Supply Teachers
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what measures are in place to replace supply teachers from Australia and New Zealand. [125130]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Government welcome the contribution which teachers from Australia and New Zealand have made, particularly since the 1980s, and continue to make in English schools. However, they do not seek to replace teachers from particular countries who leave. Rather, we have introduced a range of measures to attract people into teaching, and to encourage those with Qualified Teacher Status who have spent time away from the profession to return. Since we announced £6,000 training salaries and £4,000 new-style "golden hellos" on 30 March, 1,119 more people have applied for postgraduate teacher training than in the same period last year. We are also introducing additional funding to help schools take people onto the Graduate Teacher
  593W
  Programme. Alongside the improvements we are making to teachers' pay, school leadership and the support and continuing professional development available to teachers, these initiatives will make it much easier for schools to attract the number and quality of teachers they need and so reduce the need for supply teachers generally in the longer term.

  LEA Funding
  Ms Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the expenditure per pupil was in(a) primary and (b) secondary education in the London boroughs of (i) Kensington and Chelsea and (ii) Westminster in 1996–97 and 1999–2000; and what is his estimate for 2000–01. [125416]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The following table sets out the funding per primary and secondary pupil through Standard Spending Assessment and special and specific grants for each of the years requested.

  Primary

  Secondary

  Kensington and Chelsea

  1996–97

  2,664

  3,647

  1999–2000

  3,559

  4,404

  2000–01

  3,907

  4,766

  Westminster

  1996–97

  2,703

  3,497

  1999–2000

  3,489

  4,127

  2000–01

  3,801

  4,422

  New Deal
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people(a) in the greater Portsmouth area and (b) nationally are using the New Deal for partners; and if he will make a statement. [124552]

  Ms Jowell
  By the end of April 2000, 2,622 partners of unemployed people nationally had attended an initial interview to discuss their participation in New Deal for Partners of Unemployed People.

  We do not collect information on the greater Portsmouth area specified.

  We are pleased to be able to provide targeted help to assist members of workless households back to work through the New Deal for Partners of Unemployed People.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  BNFL
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the reports prepared by external advisers in relation to BNFL since 1 January. [125585]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Since 1 January my Department has received advice and reports from its advisers in relation to BNFL. This material, which is commercially confidential, covers a range of issues including accounting and contractual topics relating to BNFL's business operations.

  Gas and Electricity Consumer Council
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his policy is on regional offices for the proposed Gas and Electricity Consumer Council; and if he will make a statement. [125584]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Proposals for the structure of the new Gas and Electricity Consumers' Council (GECC) were the subject of an extensive consultation exercise undertaken by Ann Robinson, the Chairman designate of the new organisation. I shall make a further statement once decisions are taken on the outcome of that exercise.

  ECGD
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will publish the results of his review of the Export Credit Guarantees Department. [125586]

  Mr. Caborn
  The review of ECGD's Mission and Status, which was announced last July, is nearing completion. The public consultation exercise and a number of independent studies into certain aspects of ECGD's operations have provided valuable evidence. These inputs will enable Ministers to determine the right way forward for ECGD, and I expect an announcement of the outcome of the Review to be made in the House shortly.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which Department is responsible for commenting on the human rights aspects of applications for ECGD support in the case of(a) those countries qualifying for overseas development assistance and (b) those countries which do not qualify for such assistance. [125202]

  Mr. Caborn
  Responsibility for assessing all the risks and issues connected with applications for ECGD support lies with ECGD. For countries which are only eligible for highly concessional International Development Association (IDA) loans from the World Bank, we would seek the views of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development as part of ECGD's procedure for assessing whether Productive Expenditure criteria have been met. Applications for ECGD support in countries which are not eligible for IDA only loans would be referred to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for advice on human rights where ECGD has concerns about the issue.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which Department had responsibility for scrutinising the human rights aspects of the request for ECGD assistance for the Ilisu dam project; and what comments were made. [125203]

  Mr. Caborn
  Responsibility for assessing the risks and issues connected with the application for ECGD support lies with ECGD. However, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) provided advice to ECGD which was reflected in the statement made regarding the project on 21 December by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. ECGD is in regular contact with FCO regarding this project.

  Limited Liability Partnerships
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what restrictions he proposes to place on limited companies re-incorporating as limited liability partnerships. [125427]

  Dr. Howells
  Part II of the Companies Act 1985 provides a mechanism by which a company may alter its status by way of re-registration. There is no similar provision in the Limited Liability Partnerships Bill.

  If, therefore, the members of a limited company decide that they wish to cease to trade through their current vehicle—the limited company—and to commence trading through a limited liability partnership, they will have to go through a three stage process. First, they will have to set up the limited liability partnership complying with the conditions set out in the LLP Bill and regulations. Second, they will have to transfer the assets and liabilities of the company to the LLP. This may give rise to transaction and taxation charges; the LLP Bill and regulations do not provide any tax exemptions for such a transfer, nor do they facilitate the transfer in any other way, e.g. by providing for an automatic transfer of assets. Finally, the members of the company would either have to keep the company in being in parallel to the LLP, and so continue to comply with the regulatory requirements set out in the Companies Act 1985, or they would need to seek to wind up the company by a members' voluntary winding up.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimates he has made of the number of public and private limited companies likely to re-incorporate as limited liability partnerships as a result of the provisions of the Limited Liability Partnerships Bill[Lords]; and what consultations he has had with the Treasury about the tax revenue consequences of such changes. [125429]

  Dr. Howells
  No estimates have been made. I would refer my hon. Friend to replies to two of his earlier written questions. The first is my reply on 9 June 2000,Official Report, column 385W to his question asking what estimate had been made of the number of plcs likely to register as limited liability partnerships which gave the reasons why we would be surprised if plcs converted to LLPs. The second is the reply made by my hon. Friend the Paymaster General on 5 June 2000, Official Report, column 77W, to the question asking the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultations he has had with the DTI on this subject. My hon. Friend the Paymaster General confirmed that officials at the DTI have been in close contact with Inland Revenue officials, and went on to note that because of the possibility that some LLPs might be set up solely because of their taxation of LLPs. Depending on what this work finds, consideration will be given to bringing forward further tax legislation in due course.

  Letters and Packets
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry under what statutory provisions the European Commission determines the limits to monopoly public services for letters or packets to a given upper value or weight. [125700]

  Dr. Howells
  The statutory provisions under which the European Commission may propose changes to the reserved area for letter post are found in Directive 97/67/EC 596W
  of the European Parliament and the Council dated 15 December 1997, which was made under Articles 57(2), 66 and 100a of the Treaty establishing the European Community (now Articles 47(2), 55 and 95 in the consolidated version of the EU Treaty and the EC Treaty made by the Treaty of Amsterdam). Such proposals are submitted for consideration to the European Parliament and to the Council of Ministers.

  Civil Plutonium and Uranium
  Dr. George Turner

  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish figures for the United Kingdom's stocks of civil plutonium and uranium as at 31 December 1999. [126232]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I have today placed in the Libraries of the House figures for the United Kingdom showing national holdings of civil plutonium and uranium as at 31 December 1999. In accordance with our commitment under the "Guidance for the Management of Plutonium", I have today sent a copy of the figures to the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, who will be circulating it to member states in due course.

  Research Councils
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the quinquennial review of the Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils will take place; and what the terms of reference for the review will be. [126231]

  Mr. Byers
  My noble Friend the Minister for Science is today launching the Quinquennial Review of the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils.

  Reviews of non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) are an important part of our modernisation programme. The Government are committed to achieving better public services that are of higher quality and are more responsive to the needs of the people who use them. Regular NDPB reviews are an important element in ensuring that we have in place the right structures to deliver the Government's agenda effectively and to provide a strong focus on improving future performance.

  The terms of reference for the Review of the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils are:

  CCLRC was established in February 1995 and so it is due for review in the course of 2000.

  The review of CCLRC will have two stages.
  The first stage will examine the role, organisation and composition and funding mechanisms for CCLRC, by reference to its Charter and mission, its past performance, recent CCLRC instigated studies on future vision and funding, current best practice for NDPBs and its contribution to the work of other Research Councils. All relevant options for the future of the Council will be considered, including abolition, continued NDPB status, rationalisation, privatisation or strategic contracting out.
  The conduct of the second stage will be dependent on and informed by the outcome of the first. If the first stage confirms the continued operation of CCLRC in its present or another form, this stage will examine the opportunities for improving performance by reference to such issues as management structures, aims and objectives, performance targets and service standards, use of new technology, levels of delegated authority and effective accountability. In that event, the review will take account of evidence of work already undertaken to review and

  597W
  improve performance. Opportunities for expanding the present range of users of facilities and services and optimising the contribution of facilities and services to exploitable research will also he considered.

  The review will be conducted in accordance with the latest Cabinet Office guidance (published on 31 January 2000) and will include consultation, either in person or in writing, with members of Council, staff of the Executive and CCLRC's customers and key stakeholders.

  The Review Team will report at intervals to a Review Board. It will be the task of the Review Board to respond flexibly to the Reviewer's proposals during the progress of the Review, each member contributing guidance and knowledge, including where appropriate to the good offices of his or her parent department or organisation. The Review Board will ensure that Ministers, the Treasury, the Cabinet Office, and the staff and customers of the CCLRC are kept informed of the progress of the Review and will facilitate the gathering of information for the Reviewer and his or her communication with staff and customers.

  The Review will be supported by officials in the Office of Science and Technology, with specialist advice as appropriate. The Review Board will be chaired by Sir Peter Williams and include key stakeholder representatives. The aim will be to complete each stage of the review within a period of about approximately three months, as recommended in the Cabinet Office guidance.

  As indicated in the terms of reference, the Review Team is seeking the views of interested parties. A questionnaire is available from the CCLRC website http://www.clrc.ac.uk/qreview or from:

  CCLRC Quinquennial Review Team

  Office of Science and Technology

  Room G/5

  Albany House

  94–98 Petty France

  London SW1H 9ST

  Tel: 020 7271 2050

  Email: cclrc.qrteam@dti.gsi.gov.uk

  Initial comments should be sent to the above address by 4 July 2000.

  Nuclear Reprocessing
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with BNFL in respect of the statement by British Energy that it wishes to end the reprocessing of its spent fuel. [125566]

  Mrs. Liddell
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has not discussed this matter with BNFL. Through my normal contacts with BNFL and British Energy, I am aware of the respective positions of both companies concerning the contracts they have entered into. The contracts are a commercial matter for the two companies.

  Expenditure Limits
  Mr. Goggins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what changes will be made to his Departmental Expenditure Limit and running costs limit for his Department and the Office of Telecommunications. [126230]
  598W
  Mr. Byers
  Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the voted element of the Departmental Expenditure Limit for the Department of Trade and Industry will be increased by £58,372,000 from £3,445,344,000 to £3,503,716,000 and the gross running costs limit will be increased by £1,000,000 from £400,002,000 to £401,002,000. The net provision of Class IX Vote I will be increased by £58,372,000, which results from:

  (i) additional provision of £45,000,000 for operating aid to coal producers;

  (ii) additional provision of £15,000,000 from the Capital Modernisation Fund for the promotion of innovation clusters and business incubators in the regions;

  (iii) the transfer of £866,000 to the Scottish Executive, £496,000 to the National Assembly for Wales, and £266,000 to the relevant Northern Ireland Department representing their share of the Phoenix fund to promote enterprise among disadvantaged groups and in deprived areas;

  (iv) the reclassification as running costs of £1,000,000 of programme expenditure provision for the Small Business Service.

  The £45,000,000 for operating aid to coal producers will be charged to the Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  In addition, subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the Departmental Expenditure Limit for the Office of Telecommunications will be increased by £2,399,000 from £1,000 to £2,400,000 and the gross running costs limit will be increased by £1,484,000 from £11,347,000 to £12,831,000. These changes result from:

  (i) an increase of £1,484,000 in the running costs provision to ensure a competitive market in internet access which underpins e-commerce;

  (ii) an increase of £946,000 in the current expenditure provision for co-operation with economic regulators overseas;

  (iii) an increase of £250,000 in the capital expenditure provision to implement an electronic records management system.

  These increases will be offset by a compensating increase in appropriations in aid. However, adoption of the EC Telecoms Licensing Directive will result in a reduction of £2,399,000 in the overall appropriations in aid provision.

  The consequential increase of £2,399,000 in the net provision will be charged to the Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Gas-fired Power Stations
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will announce his decisions on Veridian Power Resources Ltd.'s proposals to build gas-fired power stations at the Rockware Glass factories at Knottingly and Doncaster. [126233]
  599W
  Mrs. Liddell
  I have today decided to give directions under section 14(3) of the Energy Act 1976 to prevent Viridian Power Resources Ltd.'s building 13 MW generating stations to be fuelled by natural gas at the Rockware Glass factories at Knottingly and Doncaster.

  Copies of the Press Notice and decision letter are being placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Assisted Areas
  Mr. Khabra
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the reasons for certain areas being(a) removed from and (b) added to the assisted areas map. [124004]

  Mr. Caborn
  The reasons for the amendments to the Government's assisted area proposals are set out in "Amendments to the Government's Proposals for new Assisted Areas". A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

  "Made in Britain"
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what advice he gives to British companies wishing to include a "Made in Britain" emblem on their products. [125676]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 12 June 2000]British companies are free to apply a made in Britain emblem if their products meet the definition of origin in section 36(1) of the Trade Descriptions Act 1968. This states that for the purposes of the Act goods shall be deemed to have been manufactured or produced in the country in which they last underwent a treatment or process resulting in a substantial change. My Department has issued a guidance note on this aspect of the Act, copies of which have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Post Office Users' Council
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the cost was of the system of Post Office advisory committees and the Post Office Users' Council in the latest full year for which figures are available; and what the cost will be of the new arrangements he is proposing. [125456]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 12 June 2000]The cost of the Post Office Users' National Council (POUNC); the Post Office Users' Councils for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and the Post Office Advisory Committees was approximately £800,000 in 1999–2000.

  Peter Carr (the Chairman of POUNC and the Chairman designate of the CCPS) issued a consultation document on the structure of the new Council on 17 April. I am now awaiting a report on the outcome of the consultation together with proposals about the structure and costs of the CCPS.

  Departmental Responsibilities
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what statistics relating to the responsibilities of his Department are collated by parliamentary constituency, indicating the dates covered in each case. [123840]
  600W
  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 25 May 2000]My Department has wide-ranging responsibilities. The majority of statistics used in this Department are collated by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The ONS collects a wide range of statistics that can be provided at parliamentary constituency level including economic statistics on employment, unemployment and inactivity, claimant count, employee jobs, average earnings and Census of Population data. Details of all these data could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Pylons
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the recent inquiry commissioned by the National Farmers Union into the alleged link between skin cancer and pylon lines; and if he will make a statement. [123906]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Public Health on 8 June 2000,Official Report, columns 328–29W.

  Miners (Compensation)
  Judy Mallaber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many cases have been lodged by former miners living in Amber Valley for compensation for emphysema and other respiratory diseases. [123940]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Department's claims handling agents have registered 1,565 claims for respiratory diseases from former miners living in the Amber Valley region, centring on the towns of Alfreton, Heanor and Ripley. Of these the Department has settled 69 claims and made interim payments to a further 394, totalling nearly £900,000.

  No-smoking Policy
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on(a) the effectiveness of his Department's no-smoking policy and (b) the proportion of his Department's offices that do not allow smoking. [125147]

  Dr. Howells
  My Department operates a smoking policy designed to minimise staff exposure to environmental tobacco smoke in order to ensure their health, safety and welfare, and prevent significant discomfort. Advice and guidance is available to staff who wish to give up, cut down, or control their smoking. In buildings occupied and controlled by my Department, smoking is only permitted in a small number of designated rooms or areas.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Expenditure Limits
  Mr. Goggins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals he has to amend his Department's expenditure limit and running costs limit for 2000–01. [126157]

  Mr. Rooker
  Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Revised Estimate for Class XII Vote 3 (Department of Social Security: administration) the Department of Social Security's Departmental Expenditure Limit will be reduced by £16,869,000 from £3,207,614,000
  601W
  to £3,190,745,000. The reduction is the net effect of the continuing consequences of the transfer of the Department of Social Security Contributions Agency and Working Family Tax Credit Unit to Inland Revenue. There will be a corresponding increase on Class XVI, Vote 5, Inland Revenue: administration.

  As a result of this change the running cost limit of this department will be reduced by £16,869,000 from £2,958,599,000 to £2,941,730,000.

  Single Room Rent
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 5 June 2000,Official Report, column 101W, regarding single room rent, if he will make available the methodology used in calculating the cost of abolishing the single room rent restrictions. [125898]

  Angela Eagle
  The methodology used to estimate the cost of abolishing the single room rent is based on a number of data sources, for example, rent officer statistics, departmental forecast of the Housing Benefit caseload and administrative data following the introduction of the single room rent restriction. These data sources have been used to, for example, estimate the proportion of cases restricted by the single room rent and the shortfall in the amount of rent used to assess Housing Benefit.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 5 June 2000,Official Report, column 101W, regarding single room rent, if he will publish the full range of the estimate of the cost of abolishing the single room rent restrictions, including the lowest point of the range. [125887]

  Angela Eagle
  The range is between £10 million and £160 million but these figures are heavily dependent on how single young people, landlords and the rental market would react to the abolition of the single room rent.

  Mrs. Maud Beaver
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will review the decision of the Benefits Agency on a winter fuel payment in respect of Mrs. Maud Beaver of Buckfastleigh. [124916]

  Angela Eagle
  The administration of Winter Fuel payments is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Mr. Anthony Steen, dated 12 June 2000:
  The Secretary Of State has asked me to respond to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning your constituent Mrs. Maud Beaver and a question arising as to her entitlement to a Winter Fuel payment (WFP) and a review of that decision.
  As you will appreciate, individual customers' cases are confidential. I will therefore, write to you privately on this matter.

  Lone Parents
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many initial invitation letters have been sent to lone parents in the target group for the New Deal for Lone Parents since the national programme began in October 1998. [125635]
  602W
  Angela Eagle
  The total number of initial invitation letters issued since the full national programme began in October 1998 was 482,874.

  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many lone parents, broken down into the target and non-target groups for the New Deal for Lone Parents have claimed Income Support for(a) less than a year, (b) between one and two years, (c) between two and three years, (d) between three and four years, (e) between four and five years and (f) over five years. [125629]

  Angela Eagle
  The target group for the New Deal for Lone Parents (NDLP) is all lone parents on Income Support. Invitation letters are sent to lone parents on Income Support with a youngest child aged at least five years and three months. From 22 May lone parents whose youngest child is aged three or four have also started to receive invitation letters.

  This information is in the table.

  Lone parents receiving Income Support as at February 2000

  Thousand

  Duration of current claim

  All lone parents

  Of those receiving invitation letters

  All cases

  918.6

  448.3

  Less than 1 year

  216.5

  83.3

  1 to 2 years

  149.1

  53.2

  2 to 3 years

  105.6

  40.0

  3 to 4 years

  74.2

  30.3

  4 to 5 years

  60.5

  27.8

  5 years and over

  312.7

  213.8

  Notes:

  1. Numbers are based on a five per cent. sample and are therefore subject to sampling error.

  2. Numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred and expressed to the nearest thousand therefore totals may not sum.

  3. Lone parents are defined as single people with dependants not in receipt of a pensioner or disability premium.

  4. Numbers do not include lone parents who choose to sign unemployed and are in receipt of Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance.

  5. In some cases, when claims are first entered on the Income Support Computer System (ISCS), the date of claim was incorrectly input as the date of conversion of the ISCS system. This means that for some cases (which we are unable to identify) the length of claim is inaccurate for claims made before the end of 1992 when the conversion period ended.

  6. Lone parents on Income Support with a youngest child aged at least five years 3 months receive NDLP invitation letters. From May 22 lone parents whose youngest child is aged three or four have also started to receive invitation letters.

  Source:

  Income Support Quarterly Statistical Inquiry—February 2000

  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security of the lone parents who successfully find work after participating in the New Deal for Lone Parents, how many had previously been claiming Income Support for(a) up to six months, (b) six months to one year, (c) one year to two years, (d) between two and three years, (e) between three and four years, (f) between four and five years and (g) over five years. [125630]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is not currently available. However, developmental work is currently being undertaken which will facilitate the link between a New Deal for Lone Parents participants' records and their Income Support details.
  603W
  In the period ending March 2000, 50,911 lone parents have gained employment from the New Deal for Lone Parents since the programme began.

  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average length of time on Income Support of a lone parent; and what had been the average length of time on Income Support of a lone parent who found work after participating in the New Deal. [125633]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is not available. A total of 50,911 lone parents have found jobs through the New Deal to March 2000.

  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many lone parents joined the target group for the New Deal for Lone Parents in the last month for which figures are available; and how many initial invitation letters have been sent to these people. [125636]

  Angela Eagle
  The target group for the New Deal for Lone Parents is all lone parents on Income Support. The information is not available in the format requested. However, 84,200 joined this category during the quarter ending February 2000.

  Initial invitation letters are sent to all lone parents on Income Support with a youngest child aged over 5 years 3 months eight weeks after claiming Income Support except those in receipt of Invalid Care Allowance, Incapacity Benefit, or Severe Disability Allowance. In the quarter to February 2000, 40,100 lone parents qualified for letters. From 22 May lone parents on Income Support with a youngest child aged 3 or 4 have also started to receive invitation letters.

  Notes:

  1. Numbers obtained by looking for claimants who were not in the relevant category in November 1999 but who subsequently appear in it in February 2000. This method will underestimate the true number of people who "flow" into the group as people who join and leave benefit between quarters, or those who leave Income Support before the second quarter will not be counted.

  2. Numbers are based on a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to sampling errors.

  3. Numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred and expressed in thousands.

  4. Lone parents are defined as single people with dependants not in receipt of a pensioner or disability premium.

  5. Numbers do not include lone parents who choose to sign unemployed and are in receipt of income-based Jobseeker's Allowance.

  Source:

  Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry

  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many lone parents have been in the target group for the New Deal for Lone Parents in total since the national programme began in October 1998. [125634]

  Angela Eagle
  The target group for the New Deal for Lone Parents is all parents on Income Support. Over the Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiries for November 1998 to February 2000, there have been a total of 1,248,700 who fall into this category, of whom 482,874 have received invitation letters.

  Notes:

  Numbers are based on a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to sampling error.

  2. Numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred and expressed in thousands.
  604W
  3. Lone parents are defined as single people with dependants not in receipt of a pensioner or disability premium.

  4. Numbers do not include lone parents who choose to sign unemployed and are in receipt of income-based Jobseeker's Allowance.

  5. From 22 May 2000 lone parents on Income Support with a youngest child aged 3 or 4 have started to receive invitation letters.

  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many lone parents who have found work through the New Deal for Lone Parents have a youngest child aged between three years and five years and three months; and how many have a youngest child aged below three years, broken down on a monthly basis. [125637]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is not available in the format requested.

  Figures are available for the numbers of lone parents whose youngest child is aged under 5 years and 3 months gaining jobs after the full national phase of the programme in October 1998. The information is in the table.

  Month

  Lone Parents with youngest child aged under 5 years and 3 months

  1998

  November

  530

  December

  380

  1999

  January

  630

  February

  880

  March

  990

  April

  1,310

  May

  1,030

  June

  900

  July

  1,020

  August

  750

  September

  1,010

  October

  2,250

  November

  1,910

  December

  1,130

  2000

  January

  810

  February

  1,270

  March

  1,910

  Total

  18,700

  Notes:

  1. Figures in above table are for Phase 3 of the programme (from 26 October 1998). Information is not available in this format for phases 1 and 2 because results were kept clerically and it is not possible to accurately break them down on a monthly basis.

  2. Figures for the most recent months may subsequently rise slightly. This is due to the backdating of jobs gained by leavers to unknown destinations which we subsequently discover have found employment.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people were in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance in each constituency in Devon, Torbay and Plymouth, broken down by age group for the period from August 1998 to the latest date for which figures are available. [124992]

  Angela Eagle
  The administration of Jobseeker's Allowance is a matter for Alexis Cleveland, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. She will write to the hon. Member.
  605W
  Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Mr. Adrian Sanders, dated 12 June 2000:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent question asking if he will list the number of people in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance for each constituency in Devon, Torbay and Plymouth, broken down by age group for the period from August 1998 to the latest date for which figures are available.
  The information is in the attached tables.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Table 1. Jobseeker's Allowance claimants by parliamentary constituency, August 1998

  Thousand

  All cases

  Aged under 25

  25–59

  60 and over

  Plymouth, Devonport

  2.8

  0.8

  1.9

  —

  Plymouth, Sutton

  3.5

  0.9

  2.6

  —

  South West Devon

  1.1

  *0.3

  0.8

  —

  Torbay

  2.5

  0.6

  1.9

  —

  East Devon

  0.9

  *0.3

  0.6

  —

  Exeter

  2.1

  0.8

  1.3

  —

  North Devon

  1.6

  *0.4

  1.2

  —

  Teignbridge

  1.9

  *0.4

  1.5

  —

  Tiverton and Honiton

  1.4

  *0.4

  1.0

  —

  Torridge and West

  2.1

  0.6

  1.5

  —

  Totnes

  1.6

  *0.3

  1.3

  —

  Table 2. Jobseeker's Allowance claimants by parliamentary constituency, August 1999

  Thousand

  All cases

  Aged under 25

  25–59

  60 and over

  Plymouth, Devonport

  2.1

  0.5

  1.6

  —

  Plymouth, Sutton

  3.2

  0.7

  2.5

  —

  South West Devon

  0.8

  *0.3

  0.5

  —

  Torbay

  2.6

  0.5

  2.0

  —

  East Devon

  0.8

  *0.2

  0.6

  —

  Exeter

  1.9

  0.5

  1.3

  —

  North Devon

  1.4

  *0.3

  1.1

  —

  Teignbridge

  1.4

  *0.3

  1.2

  —

  Tiverton and Honiton

  1.0

  *0.3

  0.6

  —

  Torridge and West

  1.7

  *0.4

  1.3

  —

  Totnes

  1.5

  *0.2

  1.3

  —

  Table 3. Jobseeker's Allowance claimants by parliamentary constituency, February 2000

  Thousand

  All cases

  Aged under 25

  25–59

  60 and over

  Plymouth, Devonport

  2.1

  0.6

  1.7

  —

  Plymouth, Sutton

  3.2

  0.8

  2.4

  —

  South West Devon

  0.7

  *0.3

  *0.4

  —

  Torbay

  2.4

  *0.5

  1.8

  —

  East Devon

  0.8

  *0.4

  *0.5

  —

  Exeter

  2.0

  0.6

  1.3

  —

  North Devon

  1.6

  *0.3

  1.3

  —

  Teignbridge

  1.6

  0.5

  1.0

  —

  Tiverton and Honiton

  1.1

  *0.5

  0.6

  —

  Torridge and West Devon

  1.7

  0.6

  1.1

  —

  Totnes

  1.7

  *0.2

  1.2

  —

  Notes:

  1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred and quoted in thousands.

  2. Sample size 5%, therefore subject to sampling error.
  606W
  3. Figures marked '*'of less than 500 are subject to a high degree of sampling error and should be used as a guide to the current situation only.

  4. '—' denotes nil or negligible.

  5. Cases in August 1998 are allocated to each Parliamentary Constituency by matching postcodes against the 1999 version 1 of the Postcode Directory.

  Automated Credit Transfer
  Mr. David Heath
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what assessment he has made of the percentage of benefit payments which will still be made in cash following the transfer to automated credit transfer in 2003; [125254]

  (2) what changes he intends to make to the mechanism for cash payments of benefit following the transfer to automated credit transfer in 2003. [125255]

  Mr. Rooker
  From 2003 we intend to move from the traditional paper-based methods of benefit payment to a more secure and efficient method of paying benefits through Automated Credit Transfer (ACT). All benefit recipients will still be able to collect their cash from the post office after 2003 if they wish, and we anticipate that a number will wish to take advantage of this option.

  No-Smoking Policy
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on(a) the effectiveness of his Department's no-smoking policy and (b) the proportion of his Department's offices that do not allow smoking. [125149]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Department has a policy statement on smoking at work. Its objective is to provide a smoke-free environment at all workplaces and most other areas within its offices not covered by a mandatory ban on smoking.

  In practice, the needs of smokers are taken into account, when necessary, by the provision of properly vented smoking rooms isolated from staff working areas when they can be accommodated within the structure of the building; otherwise staff must smoke outside the building.

  This policy effectively means that no member of staff is put in a position whereby they are exposed to passive smoking while carrying out their duties on DSS occupied premises.

  The proportion of the Department's offices which do not allow smoking anywhere in the building is not known. The decision not to allow smoking will have been taken only after a staff consultation exercise has taken place in each building and either, staff have decided in favour of a total ban, or, suitable accommodation cannot be found in the building to adapt as a smoking room. It is estimated that the number of buildings with a total ban on smoking is low.

  Social Security Administration (Fraud) Act
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the local authorities that do not have a serving inspector appointed under section 110 of the Social Security Administration (Fraud) Act 1997. [125099]
  607W
  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 8 June 2000]209 local authorities have reported the appointment of a total of 719 inspectors empowered to make relevant inquiries and examine documents.

  Local authorities fraud investigators are also able to ask their local Benefits Agency inspectors to use their powers in order to obtain information for the authority.

  A list of local authorities, which have not reported the appointment of a currently serving inspector, has been placed in the Library.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will estimate the cost of removing the top two bands of housing benefit non-dependant deductions and capping the maximum non-dependant deduction to 50 per cent. of the rent due; [125292]

  (2) how many claimants are subject to each level of housing benefit non-dependant deductions; [125289]

  (3) if he will estimate the cost of not imposing housing benefit non-dependant deductions where this would leave non-dependants with an income below income support level; [125293]

  (4) if he will estimate the cost of abolishing housing benefit non-dependant deductions; [125290]

  (5) if he will estimate the cost of capping the maximum housing benefit non-dependant deduction to 50 per cent. of the rent due. [125291]

  Angela Eagle
  The cost of removing the top two bands of Housing Benefit non-dependent deductions and capping the maximum non-dependant deduction to 50 per cent. of the rent due is estimated to be £40 million a year1.

  At May 1998, the latest date for which information is available, the numbers of claimants subject to each level of Housing Benefit non-dependant deductions2 are in the table.

  Housing Benefit (HB)—Non-dependant deductions—May 1998

  Non-dependants deduction level

  Number of HB recipients to whom deduction applies

  £7

  125,000

  £16

  21,000

  £22

  19,000

  £36

  12,000

  £41

  7,000

  £45

  15,000

  Note:

  All estimates were obtained using the Policy Simulation Model, which uses as base data the Family Resources Survey for 1997–98. Estimates are uprated to 2000–01 prices and benefits levels and are consistent with Departmental forecasts of the number of non-dependants in 2000–01. These forecasts are themselves based on extrapolations of Housing Benefit administrative data.

  The cost of not imposing Housing Benefit non-dependant deductions where this would leave non dependants with an income below Income Support level is estimated to be £30 million a year.
  608W
  The cost of abolishing Housing Benefit non-dependant deductions is estimated to be £230 million a year. The cost of capping the maximum Housing Benefit non-dependant deduction to 50 per cent. of the rent due is estimated to be £35 million a year.1
  1 Costed on basis that no deduction on behalf of any individual exceeds 50 per cent. of rent, rather than having a 50 per cent. cap on the total deduction for each household.
  Source:
  2 Some HB recipients may be subject to more than one non-dependant deduction Housing Benefit Management Information System, annual 1 per cent. sample inquiries, taken on the second Thursday of May 1998.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many Housing Benefit recipients have been assessed under the 6 October 1997 scheme; [125296]

  (2) how many Housing Benefit recipients are still assessed under the pre-January 1996 rules on rent restrictions for private sector tenancies; [125294]

  (3) how many Housing Benefit recipients are assessed under the Local Reference Rent (January 1996) scheme. [125295]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is in the table.

  Private tenants receiving Housing Benefit in August 1999 by Housing Benefit scheme—Great Britain

  Scheme

  Housing Benefit recipients

  January 1996

  273,000

  October 1997

  287,000

  Private tenants receiving Housing Benefit in August 1999 not assessed under the January 1996, October 1996 or October 1997 schemes— Great Britain

  Tenancy type

  Housing Benefit recipients

  Total private tenants not assessed under the January 1996, October 1996 or October 1997 schemes

  1,191,000

  Housing Association

  892,000

  Regulated

  139,000

  Deregulated

  158,000

  "Other" private tenancies

  4,000

  Note:

  Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand

  Source:

  Housing Benefit Management Information System, quarterly caseload inquiry, taken on the second Thursday of August 1999

  Winter Fuel Payments
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for what reason men aged 60 to 64 years have been required to provide their original birth certificate in connection with a claim for Winter Fuel payments; and what alternative documents will be accepted. [125307]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 9 June 2000]The best evidence of age than can be provided is a certified copy of an entry, which has by law to be made in a register concerning the event. This is classed as primary evidence. Photocopies of original documents carry little or no weight of evidence. This is because the original document
  609W
  has authenticating features not available in a photocopy. However, photocopies that are certified as a true copy of the original are more acceptable.

  If primary evidence is not available, then items of secondary evidence will be requested. Examples of these are:

  A certificate of baptism

  A marriage certificate

  A certificate of service in HM Forces

  A certificate of employment under the Crown

  A certificate of service in the mercantile Marine

  A certificate of membership of a Trade Union or Friendly Society

  Membership cards or papers of an Approved Society or unemployment insurance

  Apprenticeship indentures

  Early certificate or testimonial from an employer

  Certificate of Naturalisation, Alien's Registration card, Home Office travel documents or passport

  Life insurance policy

  Certificate of confirmation

  National Health Service medical card

  Adoption certificate.

  Note:

  This list is not exhaustive.

  Employment Service
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when all areas will have organisational boundaries co-ordinated with those of the Employment Service; if he will set out the programme for such co-ordination; and if he will make a statement. [125441]

  Angela Eagle
  In March of this year my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced the creation of a new agency for people of working age that will draw together those elements of the Benefits Agency which support people of working age, and the Employment Service. The agency will launch as soon as possible during 2001. Organisational boundaries will be considered in the design of the new agency.

  Pensions
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many letters he has received from pensioners expressing views on the recent increase in the state retirement pension; and if he will make a statement. [125764]

  Mr. Rooker
  Further to my oral answer to the hon. Member for Southend, West (Mr. Amess) on 3 April 2000,Official Report, columns 624–25, we have received about 4,000 further letters that mention the level of the State Pension.

  Income Support
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners he expects to claim Income Support as a result of his Department's take-up campaign. [125749]
  610W
  Mr. Bayley
  We have not set a target for the Minimum Income Guarantee take-up campaign, but we will carry out a comprehensive evaluation of the campaign, early next year.

  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the reasons for which pensioners who are eligible to claim Income Support do not claim. [125748]

  Mr. Bayley
  Research on barriers pensioners face in claiming Income Support was detailed in the Departmental report "Overcoming barriers, older people and Income Support", published last October. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the complexities surrounding pensioner take-up. A copy has been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the number of Income Support claimants by constituency in the county of Devon, Torbay Unitary Authority and Plymouth Unitary Authority for each year from August 1998 to the latest date for which figures are available. [124987]

  Mr. Bayley
  The administration of Income Support is a matter for Alexis Cleveland, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency to answer. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Mr. Adrian Sanders, dated 12 June 2000:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking if he will list the number of income support claimants by constituency in the county of Devon, Torbay Unitary Authority and Plymouth Unitary Authority for each year from August 1998 to the latest date for which figures are available.
  The information is in the table attached.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Income Support claimants by parliamentary constituency

  August

  February

  1998

  1999

  2000

  Plymouth, Devonport

  8.3

  8.0

  8.1

  Plymouth, Sutton

  7.8

  7.8

  7.7

  Torbay

  9.6

  9.4

  9.4

  East Devon

  4.3

  4.4

  4.1

  Exeter

  6.5

  6.7

  6.5

  North Devon

  5.7

  5.7

  5.6

  South West Devon

  3.4

  3.2

  3.2

  Teignbridge

  6.2

  6.5

  6.7

  Tiverton and Honiton

  4.6

  4.5

  4.5

  Torridge and West Devon

  5.6

  5.3

  5.2

  Totnes

  6.0

  5.7

  5.8

  Notes:

  1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred and quoted in thousands.

  2. Cases in August 1998 are allocated to each Parliamentary Constituency by matching postcodes against the 1999 version 1 of the Postcode Directory and in August 1999 and February 2000 against the 1999 version 2 of the Postcode Directory; as such represents Constituency boundaries as at May 1997.

  3. Sample sizes 5%, therefore subject to sampling error.

  Agoraphobia
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy to recognise agoraphobia within the eligibility rules for Disability Living Allowance. [125712]
  611W
  Mr. Bayley
  Eligibility for Disability Living Allowance is based on a person's needs, and not on recognition of their specific medical condition. However, guidance available to decision makers includes agoraphobia as a potentially disabling condition, and the eligibility criteria for the lower rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance, need for guidance or supervision on unfamiliar routes, may be of particular relevance for people suffering from agoraphobia.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  No-smoking Policy
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on(a) the effectiveness of his Department's no-smoking policy and (b) the proportion of his Department's offices that do not allow smoking. [125151]

  Jane Kennedy
  (a) My Department has a well established "Smoking Policy" designed to provide smoke-free working conditions for those staff who want them, while offering limited, designated, smoking facilities for smokers and help for those who wish to stop smoking. (b) Practical arrangements for the implementation of the smoking policy are the responsibility of local offices located throughout England and Wales and statistics are not held centrally on how many offices do not allow smoking.

  I also refer my hon. Friend to the replies given to the right hon. Member for Penrith and The Border (Mr. Maclean) on 14 December 1999, Official Report, column 125W, and to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Crausby) on 20 January 2000, Official Report, column 527W.

  Legal Aid Board
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the(a) capital value of assets charged to the Legal Aid Board and (b) the interest which accrued in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [125359]

  Mr. Lock
  The capital value of the charge placed on assets by the Legal Aid Board for the last 10 years is shown in the table and is taken from the Legal Aid Board's annual accounts for each of the past 10 years.

  Calculation of the interest accrued in each year can be provided only at disproportionate cost as only information on the amount accrued on charges still live at each year-end is readily available.

  £000

  Financial year

  Total value of principal quantified charges

  Non-interest bearing principle

  Interest bearing principle

  Interest accrued as at 31 March of date shown1

  1990–91

  68,019

  60,340

  7,679

  824

  1991–92

  86,034

  62,346

  23,688

  4,018

  1992–93

  107,261

  63,583

  43,678

  7,573

  1993–94

  128,872

  66,740

  62,132

  12,517

  1994–95

  146,846

  67,964

  78,882

  17,587

  1995–96

  170,516

  71,726

  98,790

  23,987

  1996–97

  185,906

  72,238

  113,668

  30,623

  612W

  £000

  Financial year

  Total value of principal quantified charges

  Non-interest bearing principle

  Interest bearing principle

  Interest accrued as at 31 March of date shown1

  1997–98

  196,156

  72,586

  123,570

  36,631

  1998–99

  206,792

  74,776

  132,016

  41,261

  1999–2000

  209,824

  78,258

  131,566

  43,878

  1 The figures shown in the above table cover live cases at each year end. No data is available on the make up of the movement from one year to the next in terms of new charges added and old ones redeemed.

  Crown Court (Ex Post Facto Taxation)
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what estimate he has made of the savings in administrative costs which would result from replacing the present system of the ex post facto taxation of counsels' fees in the Crown court with a combination of an extended graduated fees scheme and individual case contracts. [125358]

  Jane Kennedy
  No estimates have been made. It will only be possible to do so once the extent of the graduated fee scheme and the contracts have been agreed.

  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the cost of administering the system of ex post facto taxation of counsels' fees in the Crown court in each of the last 10 years. [125357]

  Jane Kennedy
  The information requested is not available.

  Salaried Defence Service
  Mr. Leslie
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he will publish consultation papers on(a) establishing a salaried defence service and draft code of conduct for salaried defenders employed by the Legal Services Commission and (b) choice of representative in criminal proceedings. [126069]

  Mr. Lock
  Copies of both consultation papers have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Copies are also available on the Lord Chancellor's Department's website at http://www.open.gov.uk/lcd.

  Departmental Expenditure Limits
  Mr. Leslie
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proposals he has to amend the Lord Chancellor's Department's departmental expenditure limit for 2000–01. [126070]

  Mr. Lock
  Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate for Class V, Vote 1, the Lord Chancellor's Department's Departmental Expenditure Limit for 2000–01 will be increased by £10,000,000 from£2,515,609,000 to £2,525,609,000. The increase is in respect of an award from the Capital Modernisation Fund for the "Crown Court Programme".

  The increase will be offset by a transfer from the Capital Modernisation Fund and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Penalty Clauses
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 16 May 2000,Official Report, column 16W, on penalty clauses, what penalty payments were made by CSL Group Ltd. [125360]

  Mr. Lock
  The totals for each financial year are as follows:

  £

  Date

  Total

  1998–99

  33,600

  1999–2000

  113,250

  2000£01 to date

  1,400

  Total

  148,250

CABINET OFFICE

  No-smoking Policy
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on(a) the effectiveness of her Department's no-smoking policy and (b) the proportion of her Department's offices that do not allow smoking. [125160]

  Mr. Stringer
  (a) The effectiveness of my Department's no-smoking policy is not specifically measured.

  (b) 100 per cent. However, designated smoking rooms are provided in each of the offices occupied by my Department. I also refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Penrith and The Border (Mr. Maclean) on 21 December 1999, Official Report, column 574W.

  Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to her answer of 19 January 2000,Official Report, column 443W, concerning contracts, if
  614W
  she will list the companies concerned and whether these contracts were subject to a competitive tendering process. [124825]

  Mr. Stringer
  Details of companies concerned and whether they were subject to a competitive tendering process are given in the table:

  Name of company

  Competitively tendered

  AT Kearney

  No

  BMRB International

  No

  Close, Morton and Company

  No

  Competitive Contract Services

  No

  Garavi Gujarat

  No

  Hymans Robertson1

  Yes

  Opinion Leader Research

  No

  Pannell Kerr Forster/Knight Frank

  Yes

  Price WaterhouseCoopers1

  Yes

  Rawlings and Co.1

  No

  Schneider-Ross

  Yes

  South Thames Consultancy

  Yes

  1 Two contracts

  Specified Advisers
  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many Special Advisers employed by the Government are(a) men, (b) women and (c) from ethnic minorities; and how many attended (i) a state school and (ii) Oxford or Cambridge. [125565]

  Mr. Stringer
  At 12 June, of the 79 Special Advisers in post, 20 are women. In response to a voluntary survey, the number identified from ethnic minorities are five or less. The exact number is not identified in order to protect the identity of the individuals in line with guidance in the Government Statistical Service Code of Practice. Information relating to the educational background of Special Advisers is not held centrally.

  Government Car and Despatch Agency
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many cars the Government Car and Despatch Agency has purchased since May 1997. [125555]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  Since May 1997 the Government Car Service, which is part of the Government Car and Despatch Agency, has purchased 126 cars.

  Central Laboratory of the Research Councils: Quinquennial Review
  Central Laboratory of the Research Councils: Quinquennial Review
  Company Insolvency, Razzaq v. Pala Decision
  Company Insolvency, Razzaq v. Pala Decision
  Salaried Defence Service and Choice of Representative in Criminal Proceedings: Consultation Papers
  Salaried Defence Service and Choice of Representative in Criminal Proceedings: Consultation Papers
  Lord Chancellor's Department: Expenditure Limit
  Lord Chancellor's Department: Expenditure Limit
  London Elections: Spoiled Ballot Papers
  London Elections: Spoiled Ballot Papers
  Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
  Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
  Rail Passenger Service Franchises
  Rail Passenger Service Franchises
  Badger Cull: Cost of Research
  Badger Cull: Cost of Research
  BSE and Whole Herd Slaughter
  BSE and Whole Herd Slaughter
  Interception of Communications Tribunal: President
  Interception of Communications Tribunal: President
  Immigration and Nationality Directorate: Complaints Audit Committee Report
  Immigration and Nationality Directorate: Complaints Audit Committee Report
  Prison Service Race Relations Group: Report
  Prison Service Race Relations Group: Report
  Home Office: Expenditure Limit
  Home Office: Expenditure Limit
  Merrywood School Closure
  Merrywood School Closure
  Education Council, 8 June 2000
  Education Council, 8 June 2000
  Social Affairs Council, 6 June
  Social Affairs Council, 6 June
  Mr Vasili Mitrokhin: Intelligence and Security Committee Report
  Mr Vasili Mitrokhin: Intelligence and Security Committee Report