Written Answers of 14 June 2000

HEALTH

  Mead Webber
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the(a) lowest and (b) highest HAS scores formally awarded to the Mead Webber plant since the introduction of HAS scores; what was the average score; and what were the (a) lowest, (b) highest and (c) average HAS scores awarded to the plant by Mr. Yogaratnam. [122051]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 15 May 2000]I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that the lowest hygiene assessment system (HAS) score awarded to the Mead Webber plant since the system was introduced is 65; the highest 87 and the average 82.

  The lowest HAS score awarded to the plant by Mr. Yogaratnam is 80; the highest 87; and the average 84.

  NHS Patients (Food)
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost was of food for each patient in each year since 1985 in(a) Bolton Hospitals NHS Trusts, (b) North West NHS hospitals and (c) NHS hospitals in England. [122594]

  Mr. Denham
  Information on the cost of food was collected centrally for the first time in the 1998–99 financial year.

  The cost of meal provision per patient per day for Bolton Hospitals National Health Service Trust was £4.39.

  The total cost of meal provision for the North West Region was £41,291,201.

  The total cost of meal provision for England was £255,868,647.

  NHS Hospitals (Cleaning)
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the average cost was of directly provided cleaning per square metre for each year since 1985 in(a) Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust, (b) North West NHS hospitals and (c) NHS hospitals in England; [122596]

  (2) what the average cost was of contracted-out cleaning per square metre for each year since 1985 in (a) Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust, (b) North West NHS hospitals and (c) NHS hospitals in England. [122595]

  Mr. Denham
  Information was collected centrally for the first time in the 1998–99 financial year. However these data cannot be split between contracted out and directly provided services.

  Xenotransplantation
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many incidents of(a) virus infection and (b) horizontal gene transfer, broken down by the (i) place, (ii) date and (iii) exact nature of each incident, have occurred as a result of xenotransplantation procedures; and if he will make a statement; [125265]

  (2) what safety precautions are implemented (a) during and (b) after xenotransplantation research procedures in order to minimise (i) virus infection and (ii) horizontal gene transfer. [125264]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 9 June 2000]The safety of research into xenotransplantation is governed by various regulations. A summary of the agencies involved and regulations that might apply is contained in guidance on making proposals to conduct xenotransplantation on human subjects (UKXIRA 1998). Copies are available in the Library.

  The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) requires employers to notify the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) of incidents occurring in the workplace that result in the ill health of employees. The HSE has advised that data sets for reports under RIDDOR for the financial years 1994–95 to 1998–99 contained no reports of infection attributed to xenotransplantation procedures.

  No clinical trials involving humans have yet been approved in the United Kingdom. Our position remains that clinical trials in xenotransplantation involving humans will be allowed to take place only when we are fully satisfied that the risks associated with such procedures are acceptable, taking account of all the available evidence at the time.

  Diabetes
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the report, "Diabetes in the UK-the Missing Million"; and if he will make a statement. [125738]

  Mr. Denham
  We welcome the report, which will help to raise awareness of the seriousness of diabetes. We announced last year the development of a National Service Framework for diabetes in England. The diabetes National Service Framework will be published in 2001 for implementation in the National Health Service from 2002. Its aim is to improve health outcomes for people with diabetes, by raising the quality of services and reducing variations between them.

  Air Ambulance Services
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding the Government contributed towards the financing of the North West air ambulance, and how many times the air ambulance has been called out in the North West, in the last year for which figures are available. [125959]

  Ms Stuart
  Air ambulances are not funded from National Health Service central funds. The North West air ambulance launched 480 missions in its first year, 1999–2000.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Fishing
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the financial effect on the Government of the EU Commissioners' proposal to achieve the required reduction in fishing for MAGP IV exclusively through cuts in fleet capacity; and what fleet cuts would be required in Britain for the remaining 18 months of the programme. [124452]

  Mr. Morley
  If adopted, the suggested measures would require a cut in the UK fishing fleet of 8 per cent. over the two years 2001–02, representing about 22,000 tonnes of capacity.

  It is not possible to make an accurate estimate of the likely cost of decommissioning this tonnage through a voluntary grant scheme. Based on the average level of successful bids under the most recent scheme in 1997, it would be about £75 million. But the cost would be substantially higher since there would have to be sizeable cuts in those profitable fleet segments which have hitherto shown little interest in voluntary decommissioning schemes. Cuts of this scale over such a time period are not ones we think are feasible or that we could support.

  Live Animal Exports
  Mr. Presser
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 3 May 2000,Official Report, column 140W, on live animal exports, what steps he plans to take to reduce the number of sheep originating from Kent which need to be removed by his staff at Dover port from consignments of slaughter/further fattening sheep; and if he will make a statement. [124888]

  Mr. Morley
  Careful consideration is already given to the reasons why individual sheep are found to be unfit at Dover so that steps can be taken to deal with any remediable cause.

  Mr. Prosser
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 1 March 2000,Official Report, column 286W, on live animal exports, how many sheep were rejected by local veterinary inspectors from 31 May to 31 December 1999 as unfit to travel, broken down by county in England and Wales. [125135]

  Mr. Morley
  The updated numbers of sheep rejected by local veterinary inspectors as unfit to travel for the period 31 May to 31 December 1999 according to counties of origin are as follows:

  Country/county

  Number

  England

  Herefordshire

  506

  North Yorkshire

  3,726

  Shropshire

  3

  Scotland

  Dumfries and Galloway

  17

  Lanarkshire

  6

  Mid-Lothian

  1

  Wales

  Denbighshire

  6,547

  Monmouthshire

  10

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  Country/county

  Number

  Powys

  600

  Wrexham

  1,143

  Total

  12,559

  Notes:

  1. Nil returns for all other counties

  2. All figures are provisional and subject to change

  Tuberculosis
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the terms on which compensation is granted to farmers in the tuberculosis study areas; and what allowance there is for consequential loss. [125800]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 13 June 2000]When cattle are slaughtered following a positive reaction to the tuberculin skin test, the farmer receives compensation of 100 per cent. of their market value. No compensation is given for consequential losses. Compensation arrangements are the same both inside and outside badger culling trial areas.

  Pigs (Transportation)
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his policy on the transportation of pigs in farrowing crates. [125747]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 13 June 2000]Farrowing crates are used to prevent sows from crushing their young piglets. They are not used to transport pigs.

  Animal Import Licences
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the current importation licences which permit the importation of cynomolgus monkeys and wild-caught baboons into the UK for xenotransplantation research, indicating for each licence(a) the number of non-human primates involved, (b) the origin of the primates and (c) the expiry date of the licence; and if he will make a statement. [125302]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 9 June 2000]A list of the current import licenses for cynomolgus monkeys(macaca fascicularis, otherwise known as crab-eating macaques), with expiry dates, is as follows. The animals are intended for research purposes but this Department does not require the type of research to be specified on the licence application. There are no current import licences for the importation of baboons.

  Number licensed

  Country of origin

  Date licence expires

  30

  Israel

  16 June 2000

  36

  China

  16 June 2000

  12

  China

  18 July 2000

  100

  Mauritius

  16 August 2000

  100

  Mauritius

  16 August 2000

  100

  Mauritius

  16 August 2000

  100

  Mauritius

  16 August 2000

  18

  Israel

  21 September 2000

  60

  Israel

  3 October 2000

  60

  Mauritius

  11 October 2000

  60

  Mauritius

  11 October 2000

  60

  Mauritius

  11 October 2000

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  Number licensed

  Country of origin

  Date licence expires

  50

  Mauritius

  14 October 2000

  50

  Mauritius

  14 October 2000

  50

  Mauritius

  14 October 2000

  50

  Mauritius

  14 October 2000

  34

  Mauritius

  2 November 2000

  20

  Mauritius

  2 November 2000

  10

  Mauritius

  7 November 2000

  40

  Mauritius

  7 November 2000

  4

  Mauritius

  7 November 2000

  30

  Israel

  30 November 2000

  60

  Mauritius

  30 November 2000

  Agricultural Workers
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of agricultural/horticultural workers in Cheshire are in(a) part-time and (b) full-time employment; how many receive the national minimum wage, how many of the part-time employees are female; and if he will make a statement on the retention of the Agricultural Wages Board. [124785]

  Ms Quin
  The 1999 June Agricultural and Horticultural Census recorded 3,938 agricultural and horticultural workers in Cheshire (excluding farmers and managers). Of this total 23 per cent. were in part-time employment and 77 per cent. were in full-time employment. The agricultural work force in Cheshire included 868 regular part-time workers of which 408 were female. In addition 300 casual or seasonal workers were employed on a part-time basis. We have no information on the gender of these workers or any data on rates of pay on a county basis.

  All agricultural workers should receive at least the Agricultural Minimum Wage set under the Agricultural Wages Order. All such rates are above the national minimum wage.

  The review of the operation of the Agricultural Wages Board—one of the regular, standard reviews—is ongoing. The consultation period closed on 31 March and the responses which were received are being considered.

  Frozen Beef Imports
  Sir Michael Spicer
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish an assessment of the animal health and safety welfare standards in countries from which the United Kingdom imports frozen beef. [124675]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 5 June 2000]All consignments of fresh or frozen beef meat imported into the UK, whether from other EU member states or third countries, must have been produced in accordance with the harmonised Community rules laid down in Council Directive 64/433/EEC. Ensuring that these rules are adhered to is the responsibility of the European Commission and reports of their veterinary inspection visits to a number of these countries are available on their website at the following address:http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg24/health/vi/reports/index—en.html

  On animal welfare, Article 8 of Council Directive 98/58/EC, which lays down minimum standards for the protection of animals kept for farming purposes, requires
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  the European Commission to submit a report on the comparison between animal welfare provisions in the Community and in non-member countries which supply the Community. We await the findings of this report with interest.

  EU Beef Labelling
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the meat industry on the compulsory EU beef labelling scheme; and if he will make a statement. [123297]

  Ms Quin
  At its meeting in Luxembourg on 17 April the Agriculture Council reached a political agreement on the adoption of a common position on a Commission proposal for a Regulation laying down general rules for a compulsory beef labelling system in the EU. Since then we have received representations from a number of organisations involved in the beef supply chain expressing concerns about the compliance costs, the value of the proposed compulsory indications to consumers and the timescale for implementation.

  Particular concern has been expressed about the requirement for beef to be labelled with the category of animal from which it is derived. We fully appreciate these concerns. The requirements may be amended following consideration of the proposed Regulation by the European Parliament.

  Farmers
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers have left farming in each of the past 10 years. [123462]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 23 May 2000]Information in the form requested is not available. The overall number of main holdings in the agricultural census in the United Kingdom has declined from 256,700 at June 1989 to 239,600 at June 1999. These are net figures, which include holdings coming into, as well as leaving agriculture and will, in many cases, take no account of changes in ownership.

  GM Maize (Chardon LL)
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in respect of the proposed decision to add the genetically-modified maize variety Chardon LL to the United Kingdom National List, how much money those making representations have in total paid him for so doing. [121514]

  Ms Quin
  To date £6,810 has been received in respect of written representations, and £40,280 for requests to be heard by a person appointed by Ministers.

  Pig Industry
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce a scheme to compensate pig farmers for the disposal of specified material on the same basis as that which exists for beef farmers. [121769]

  Ms Quin
  There is no scheme in place which compensates beef farmers or slaughterers for the disposal of specified material. The additional veterinary inspection
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  cost of overseeing the removal and destruction of specified risk material (SRM) from cattle is not presently passed on to cattle slaughterhouse operators but as there are no SRMs in pigs no additional veterinary inspection costs apply.

  Sheep Dips
  Mr. Curry
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information was provided to regional service centres in December 1999 to assist them in responding to inquiries about the withdrawal of organophosphate sheep dips; and on what date the advice was received by each centre. [120074]

  Ms Quin
  The withdrawal of organophosphorus sheep dips was announced to Parliament by written answer on 20 December 1999, when a MAFF News Release was also published and was made available on the MAFF website to which all Regional Service Centres have access. Regional Directors were informed of developments at their regular monthly meeting on 20 January and were subsequently provided with further briefing.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  General Affairs Council
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the outcome of the General Affairs Council held in Brussels on 22 and 23 May; and if he will make a statement. [123722]

  Mr. Vaz
  I wrote to the Chairman of the European Select Committee on 7 June to explain the outcome of the 22–23 May General Affairs Council held in Brussels. Copies of my letter have been deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Charities (Forms)
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. [123947]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  Although the FCO has contact with many charities and other voluntary organisation, no central record is kept of those contacts and the information sought could be collected only at disproportionate cost.

  It is FCO policy, as far as possible, to minimise the administrative burdens it places on the charities and voluntary organisations with which it has dealings.

  Ethiopia
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with(a) the Organisation for African Unity and (b) the United Nations, about the war between Ethiopia and Eritrea; and if he will make a statement. [124500]
  622W
  Mr. Hain
  [holding answer 5 June 2000]Our Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York is in frequent contact with the United Nations Secretary-General and the Algerian OAU Presidency to discuss the war between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

  Our Ambassadors in Algeria and Addis Ababa also hold frequent talks with the Algerian OAU Presidency. And our Ambassador in Addis Ababa is in contact with the OAU Secretariat.

  Croatia
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to support Croatia's proposed accession to the(a) European Union and (b) World Trade Organisation; and if he will make a statement. [125377]

  Mr. Vaz
  Her Majesty's Government fully support the EU's Stabilisation and Association process, designed to build stability and prosperity in South East Europe. The 1999 Cologne European Council confirmed that Stabilisation and Association Agreements will offer a prospect of European Union membership on the basis of the Amsterdam Treaty and fulfilment of the criteria defined at the Copenhagen European Council.

  The Commission has produced a study on the feasibility of a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Croatia recommending that the EU open up negotiations on an Agreement.

  We welcome the Commission's effort to reach agreement on the terms of Croatia's WTO accession. Following recent developments, we understand that the key outstanding issues surrounding a market access package have been resolved. We hope that this should open the way to Croatia's accession to the WTO in the near future.

  OECD
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total amount paid by Her Majesty's Government to the OECD in respect of membership fees in each of the last three financial years. [125532]

  Mr. Hain
  The total amount paid by Her Majesty's Government over the last three financial years is £14,151,086.69. The OECD membership fees per year for the last three years are: 1997—£4,845,082.79, 1998—£4,586,554.69, 1999 —£4,719,449.21.

  We believe that this represents good value for money. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development provides expert analysis and facilitates policy discussion on a wide range of subjects, including macroeconomic policy, labour market reform, harmful taxation competition. E-commerce, and food safety.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the countries with which he has discussed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in the last 12 months. [125768]
  623W
  Mr. Hain
  We have discussed the Treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons with a range of interlocutors as part of our normal bilateral dialogues. It has also been discussed at European Union and G8 summits and at meetings of the United Nations Security Council. The review conference of the treaty in May 2000 offered the opportunity for further bilateral and multilateral discussions. The conference was attended by 155 states parties.

  In all appropriate forums, both bilateral and multilateral, we have made clear our commitment to the treaty and our determination that all those states which are not party to it should proceed towards accession as soon as possible.

  Chechnya
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his European and NATO colleagues concerning the protection of inhabitants of the Caucasus against Chechnyan forces. [125894]

  Mr. Vaz
  [holding answer 13 June 2000]We have had regular discussions with international colleagues about the Chechnya conflict, including in the EU, NATO, the OSCE and other international fora. Such discussions have regularly included discussion of the impact of the crisis on regional stability.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Chechnyan rebel leaders concerning the jihad in the Caucasus. [125893]

  Mr. Vaz
  [holding answer 13 June 2000]Neither I nor my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary have had meetings with Chechen warlords. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials have from time to time met Chechen representatives. In such contacts we have condemned terrorism and made clear our concern about the level of violence and reported human rights abuses on both sides in the Chechen conflict.

  European Social Charter
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will ratify the 1996 revised European Social Charter of the Council of Europe signed on 7 November 1997. [125795]

  Mr. Vaz
  [holding answer 13 June 2000]We are continuing to review ratification of the Revised European Social Charter and consultations will continue on the provisions that we might accept upon ratification.

  UNMOVIC
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government have taken to ensure that there is adequate Arab representation within the UNMOVIC inspection teams. [125142]

  Mr. Hain
  This is a matter for UNMOVIC's Executive Chairman, Dr. Hans Blix. The UK is in favour of UNMOVIC staff being drawn from the broadest possible geographical base, as called for under United Nations 624W
  Security Council resolution 1284. We urge all UN members to respond positively to Dr. Blix's requests for staff.

  Russian Federation
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to refer breaches of the European Convention on Human Rights by the Russian Federation in Chechnya to the European Court of Human Rights under Article 33 of the Convention; and if he will make a statement. [125990]

  Mr. Vaz
  We have considered with our EU partners the possibility of bringing an interstate action against Russia under Article 33 of the European Convention on Human Rights. We and other EU states have pursued other means of ensuring accountability for alleged human rights abuses in Chechnya, notably at the 56th Session of the Commission of Human Rights. An EU-drafted Resolution was passed, registering major concerns, including the need for an independent Commission of Inquiry meeting international standards. With EU partners, we have agreed that this type of international pressure, rather than an interstate complaint, was the clearest way of indicating our concern over the situation in Chechnya.

  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is the Government's policy to support the proposed suspension of the Russian Federation from the Council of Europe in accordance with Recommendation 1456 (2000) of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. [125991]

  Mr. Vaz
  We share the concerns expressed in Recommendation 1456 of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (CoE) and have taken every opportunity, bilaterally and in company with our EU partners, to impress on Russia the need to comply with its human rights obligations. However, we share the EU position that it is preferable to continue to bring pressure to bear through engagement within the CoE rather than to isolate Russia by suspension.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Queen's Counsels
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what restrictions on the use of QCs have been introduced(a) by Government Departments and (b) through legal aid funding, indicating in each case what savings to public funds he estimates will be made as a result; and if he will make a statement. [125533]

  The Solicitor-General
  I have been asked to reply.

  Dealing first with (a), whenever a Government Department in England and Wales wishes to brief a QC to appear in court on a civil matter, a legal adviser of a designated level of seniority must seek a nomination from the Law Officers of a particular Queen's Counsel with the appropriate expertise. Each such nomination has to be approved personally by the Attorney General or by me before instructions can be sent. This procedure has been

  625W
  in operation for some years. It means that QCs are the exception, not the rule. The two First Treasury Counsel are both junior counsel and they will advise and represent the Government without Queen's Counsel in many of its important civil cases. In addition there are four panels of junior Counsel whom Departments are expected to use for the majority of the Government's civil litigation.

  With regard to legal aid funding, in civil matters, Queen's Counsel should not be instructed by a solicitor acting for a publicly funded party unless prior authority has been given by the Legal Services Commission either in the certificate or subsequently by the Area Director. The Legal Services Commission issues Guidance on the use of Queen's Counsel and on making an application for prior authority.

  In criminal matters before the higher courts, judges have powers to allow a Queen's Counsel for the defence in the following cases: (a) on a charge of murder; (b) where it appears to the court making the order that the case is one of exceptional difficulty, gravity or complexity and that a Queen's Counsel is required in the interests of justice; or (c) where the prosecution is being brought by the Serious Fraud Office. The Lord Chancellor has been consulting on changes to this rule to control the use of QCs more strictly. The consultation is substantially concluded and he will shortly be laying regulations which will have the effect of restricting the use of QCs to cases where the prosecution have instructed a QC or Senior Treasury Counsel or the defence case is exceptional when judged against other offences of the same type and the defence case for that defendant involves substantial, novel or complex issues of law or fact which in the opinion of the court could properly be handled by a QC. Judges will be asked to endorse a written application stating how the criteria are met. This will allow the effect of the change to be monitored.

  It is impossible to predict how many Government cases in the future will justify the appointment of a QC or, consequently, what cost savings are made by the operation of these procedures.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Geraint Davies
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many legal firms deal with legal aid work; and what the number was in 1996. [125434]

  Mr. Lock
  The information is not readily available in the form requested, and can be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Legal Services Commission, which replaced the Legal Aid Board on 1 April 2000, records payments made to solicitors offices and not solicitors firms. One firm may have several offices, but the Commission's payment system cannot identify them as belonging to the same firm.

  During the period April 1996 to 31 March 1997, 10,739 offices received legal aid payments. The most recent figure available is for the period 1 April 1998 to 31 March 1999, when the number was 10,751. The figure for 1999–2000 is not yet available but will appear in the Legal Aid Board's final annual report which will be laid before Parliament in July 2000.

  Barristers
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what his policy is with regard to the exercise of his powers under the Access to Justice Act 1999 and the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 on the formation of partnerships between barristers. [125432]

  Mr. Lock
  The Lord Chancellor has no statutory powers with regard to the formation of partnerships between barristers.

  The Lord Chancellor's powers under Schedule 4 to the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990, as amended by schedule 5 to the Access to Justice Act 1999, enable him only to strike down and replace a professional body's rules if they unreasonably restrict a right of audience or to conduct litigation, or the exercise of such a right.

  The rules preventing barristers forming partnerships are entirely a matter for the Bar Council.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Alcohol (River Boats)
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many alcohol-related incidents were reported to police on or relating to Thames river boats in(a) 1990–91, (b) 1992–93, (c) 1994–95, (d) 1996–97 and (e) 1998–99. [125446]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  This information is not available.

  Immigration
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many citizens of the European Community or European Economic Area, or members of their families, were(a) questioned, (b) searched and (c) detained in (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999; and how the powers in these respects are exercised and at what location, in respect of those travelling by rail through the channel tunnel. [125385]

  Mrs. Roche
  The information requested is not available. European Economic Area (EEA) nationals are normally admitted to the United Kingdom on production of a valid passport or identity card as evidence of nationality and identity, in accordance with Article 3(1) of the Immigration (European Economic Area) Order 1994 ("the EEA Order") and subject of Article 15(1) of the EEA Order. Under Article 3(3) of the EEA Order, an accompanying family member of an EEA national who is not himself an EEA national will normally be admitted to the United Kingdom, although he may, in addition, be required to hold an EEA family permit issued abroad.

  Under Article 15(1) of the EEA Order, immigration officers on arrival may refuse to admit a person if his exclusion is justified on grounds of public policy, public security or public health. This applies when the person is travelling by rail through the channel tunnel or by any other means of transport.

  Powers for immigration officers to question passengers arriving in the United Kingdom, whether they are citizens of the European Union or European Economic Area, or their accompanying (third country) relatives, are contained

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  in paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971. Schedule 2 applies to the examination of (EEA) nationals in accordance with Article 20(2)(e) of the EEA Order. Under paragraph 4(3) of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971, a person who is examined under paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971 may be searched, and his belongings examined, and that person may be detained under paragraph 16 of Schedule 2 of the Immigration Act 1971.

  These powers are normally exercised where the passenger first encounters the immigration officer or, in the case of a person examined on board a train, immediately on his arrival in the United Kingdom.

  Child Abuse
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he takes to ensure that alleged cases of institutional child abuse are thoroughly investigated. [125750]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Although the conduct of criminal investigations is a matter for the chief officer of police, the police have a duty and responsibility to investigate all criminal offences. Investigations into allegations of criminal offences against children in particular, should be carried out sensitively, thoroughly and professionally.

  The Home Office has worked with the Department of Health and the Department for Education and Employment to publish guidance—"Working Together to Safeguard Children"—which sets out how all agencies and professionals should work together to promote children's welfare and to protect them from abuse and neglect.

  In addition, following the North Wales Child Abuse Report (the Waterhouse Report) "Lost in Care", the Government agreed there was a need for an inter-agency review of best practice in conducting complex abuse investigations and that a Review Group would be established to take forward this work, bringing together representatives from the Home Office, Department of Health, Local Government Association, Association of Directors of Social Services and the Association of Chief Police Officers.

  Ronald Maddison
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people(a) have voluntarily contacted the police, (b) the police have contacted and (c) the police estimate they will wish to contact in connection with the Wiltshire Constabulary inquiry into the death of Ronald Maddison. [125989]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I understand from the Wiltshire Constabulary that no-one has contacted them on their own initiative in connection with the inquiry into the death of Ronald Maddison; that the force has so far been in contact with 12 people in this connection; and that it is not possible to estimate the final number who may be contacted. The inquiry into Mr. Maddison's death is just one aspect of a wider inquiry into events at Porton Down over many years.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will direct that the relevant local authorities and regional assemblies be given the opportunity to be involved in all discussions between the National Asylum Support Service and the private agencies and landlords in the allocation of asylum seekers to different localities. [125278]

  Mrs. Roche
  The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) is fully committed to consulting the regional consortiums as part of the negotiation process in dispersing asylum seekers. We recognise the importance of local knowledge and expertise and NASS has an established consultation process for the procurement of accommodation. It would not be practicable to give individual local authorities and regional assemblies the opportunity to be involved in all discussions with private agencies and landlords. NASS must strike the right balance between the need to consult and the need, for example, to secure accommodation within reasonable timescales.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent the size of the local Islamic community and the availability of support workers in the education and social services departments and voluntary agencies is taken into account by the National Asylum Support Service in the allocation of asylum seekers to local authorities. [125279]

  Mrs. Roche
  Wherever possible we disperse asylum seekers to areas where there is an established community of the same language. We also take into account any other local factors brought to our attention during the consultation process with the local regional consortium. The voluntary agencies are establishing "one stop shops" where asylum seekers can receive help and advice.

  Resident and Community Groups
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money has been made available for spending under the Government's policy for community involvement by residents' and community groups since May 1997; and if he will make a statement. [124261]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Home Office spent £170,000 in 1999–2000 under the Community Resource Fund, and is likely to spend a similar amount during this financial year. £325,000 was spent under the Community Development Learning Fund with £650,000 to be made available for 2000–01. Both these funds were established as a result of recommendations contained in the Policy Action Team 9 Report on Community Self-Help, and are aimed at enabling small and emerging community groups in deprived areas to access funds as easily and quickly as possible.

  Other departments also resource this activity. The hon. Member may wish to seek further information from, in particular, my right. hon. Friends the Secretary of State for the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, and the Secretary of State for the Department for Education and Employment.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  No-smoking Policy
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 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. [125161]

  Mr. Foulkes
  Our smoking policy, which allows smoking in designated areas only, has been very effective. We have two offices in London and East Kilbride where smoking is permitted only in five designated areas which account for between 1 per cent. and 2 per cent. of the total available space.

  Croatia
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if Know How Fund aid to Croatia has been increased since the election of the new Government; and if she will make a statement. [125376]

  Clare Short
  Our bilateral allocation to Croatia is £1 million in the current financial year, increasing to £1.5 million in each of the two following years. Our share of the EU programme to Croatia in 2000 is just over £2 million.

  Our aim is to complement the funding available through the EU and the international financial institutions to which we contribute. Since the election of the new Government we have discussed with the Croatian authorities several areas of possible support to their reform programme. Where our current funding allocations are insufficient to support good proposals put to us by the Croatian authorities, I shall consider transferring uncommitted funds from within the overall allocation for Central and South Eastern Europe.

  Mangrove Swamps
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid is being given towards the preservation of mangrove swamps in(a) the West Indies and (b) the Indian Ocean. [123245]

  Clare Short
  My Department supports a number of programmes and activities related to the sustainable use and conservation of coastal ecosystems, including coral reefs and seagrass as well as mangrove swamps. Current programmes at least in part related to the preservation of mangrove swamps in the West Indies and the Indian Ocean include: the Turks and Caicos Islands Coastal Resource Management Project to develop institutional capacity; support to the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) for capacity building in coastal resource management; promotion of participatory natural resource management through the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI); the State Forest Management project in Grenada; rehabilitation of coastal mangroves in Bangladesh as part of a project to increase fish and shrimp production; and development of community management of coastal ecosystems at Mafia Island in Tanzania.
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  Other on-going activities we support include the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) and preparatory work for the African Partnership Conference on the Development and Protection of the Coastal and Marine Environment of Africa.

  In addition, recently completed work includes support to the preparation of the South Africa White Paper on Sustainable Coastal Development containing provisions for the protection of degraded and threatened ecosystems, and research on the coastal lagoons of Sri Lanka. I will send my hon. Friend a copy of the findings and recommendations of this research project on participatory approaches to natural resource management.

  This answer does not include any assistance which may be given by other Government Departments.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  SSA (Leeds)
  Mr. Mudie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the standard spending assessment for education in Leeds in(a) 1998–99, (b) 1999–2000 and (c) 2000–01 and the actual spending and planned spending by the local authority on education in those years. [125425]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The following table sets out, for Leeds Local Education Authority, the Education Standard Spending Assessment for(a) 1998–99 (b) 1999–2000 and (c) 2000–01; the planned spending by the local authority on education for each of these years; the actual spending on education for 1998–99, the latest year for which such information is available; and the total resources available per pupil (5–15) through SSA and special and specific grant for all three years.

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  Education SSA (£ million)

  278.7

  292.4

  306.6

  Budget (£ million)

  297

  306.6

  315.2

  Net revenue expenditure (£ million)

  292.6

  —

  —

  SSA + Special and Specific Grant per pupil (5–15) (£)

  2,505

  2,683

  2,937

  Note:

  Budget figures are based on education budgeted net revenue expenditure taken from information reported by the authority on the RA and RA(SG) forms. The comparable outturn figure is based on information on the ROI, RS and RG Outturn forms. Net revenue expenditure figures include an estimate of education CERA made centrally, based on information in the forms.

  Key Stage 2 (Marking)
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many end of Key Stage 2(a) mathematics and (b) science test papers were returned for a review of marking in each of the past four years. [124894]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Information on the number of end of Key Stage 2 mathematics and science test papers returned for a review of marking is available only for the past three years.
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  The number of tests papers returned for review of marking were:

  Mathematics

  Science

  1998

  1,658

  1,870

  1998

  1,283

  3,967

  1997

  1,563

  2,577

  Allington School Site
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he will announce a decision about the sale of the Allington School site in Chippenham. [125716]

  Jacqui Smith
  The application from Wiltshire County Council to sell the former Allington school site has been put on hold, at the request of the County Council, pending further discussions between the County Council, North Wiltshire District Council and Chippenham Town Council over the provision of additional playing fields in Chippenham.

  Early-years Education
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many additional free early years education places would be required to meet the Government's target of free places being available for 66 per cent. of three-year-olds by 2002 for(a) England and (b) each local education authority in London. [122710]

  Ms Hodge
  [holding answer 19 May 2000]190,000 additional new free early years education places for three-year-olds will be made available over the next three years using the £390 million allocated by the Government. This will allow us to meet the national target of providing 66 per cent. of all three-year-olds in England with a free place.

  We are seeking to target those children in most social need. To this end different targets have been set with different local authorities to reflect their position on the Government's Index of Local Deprivation.

  The following table shows the estimated number of new places required in the local education authorities in London to contribute to taking the national figure to 66 per cent. It also shows our estimate of the percentage of three-year-olds in each area who will have a free place by April 2001.

  Local education authority area

  New Places required to reach national target of 66%

  % of children expected to have free places by April 2001

  Barking and Dagenham

  0

  81.9

  Barnet

  695

  51.0

  Bexley

  669

  44.9

  Brent

  494

  81.7

  Bromley

  2,022

  16.0

  Camden

  518

  80.7

  City of London

  2

  64.0

  Croydon

  1,276

  57.4

  Ealing

  0

  79.7

  Enfield

  1,235

  67.4

  Greenwich

  245

  84.2

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  Local education authority area

  New Places required to reach national target of 66%

  % of children expected to have free places by April 2001

  Hackney

  739

  86.4

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  297

  80.5

  Haringey

  149

  83.5

  Harrow

  1,195

  30.1

  Havering

  1,158

  22.0

  Hillingdon

  1,596

  37.5

  Hounslow

  293

  76.1

  Islington

  574

  82.9

  Kensington and Chelsea

  601

  71.5

  Kingston upon Thames

  265

  52.9

  Lambeth

  868

  84.9

  Lewisham

  946

  82.9

  Merton

  0

  68.6

  Newham

  686

  88.1

  Redbridge

  1,221

  56.0

  Richmond upon Thames

  771

  30.5

  Southwark

  221

  85.4

  Sutton

  1,264

  13.2

  Tower Hamlets

  0

  85.9

  Waltham Forest

  1,058

  80.7

  Wandsworth

  1,083

  78.8

  Westminster

  692

  76.0

  Pre-school Learning
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what financial support his Department has given to the Pre-school Learning Alliance in each year since April 1997. [123102]

  Ms Hodge
  The Department has provided the following Financial Support to the Pre-school Learning Alliance (PLA) since 1997:

  £

  Marketing, quality and training infrastructure

  Section 64 grant: core funding

  Total

  1997–98

  1,578,000

  420,000

  1,998,000

  1998–99

  1,585,000

  420,000

  2,005,000

  1999–2000

  1,590,000

  420,000

  2,010,000

  2000–01

  1,600,000

  450,000

  2,050,000

  Total

  6,353,000

  1,710,000

  8,063,000

  During the same period £640 million has been made available to fund places for three and four-year-olds—around 50 per cent. went to the voluntary sector. I am encouraged that over 80 per cent. of new free nursery places for three-year-olds created during 1999–2000 were in the voluntary and private sectors.

  In March, I announced that, for the third year running, we are making available £500,000 for a further round of small grants for pre-schools and playgroups facing financial difficulties. This will give groups breathing space in which to consider their longer term plans.

  In recognition of the challenges facing the sector we have announced the provision of £250,000 for specific projects to help pre-schools and playgroups develop and grow, as the early years sector expands.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  London Underground
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 12 May 2000,Official Report, column 483–84W, on London Underground, if he will list (a) train, (b) signal and (c) track failures in each financial year for each line of the London Underground. [125281]

  Mr. Hill
  This is an operational matter for London Underground Ltd. (LUL). The figures requested are not standard London Underground performance measures and data are not kept in this format. Therefore to provide the figures on a line by line basis would incur disproportionate cost.

  Registered Social Landlords
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will list(a) those local authorities which have transferred some or all of their housing stock to registered social landlords, (b) the name of the registered social landlord to which the stock has been transferred, (c) the average rent increase or decrease determined by the registered social landlord in each financial year since the transfer and (d) the rent collected by the registered social landlord as a percentage of the total rent due in each financial year since the transfer; [124258]

  (2) if he will list those registered social landlords to which local authority housing stock has been transferred which have failed to satisfy the performance indicators set by the Housing Corporation, for each financial year since the stock was transferred, and in each case give details of the specific performance indicators they failed. [124259]

  Mr. Mullin
  [holding answer 8 June 2000]The information requested, that is readily available, has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  However, information about rent increases and decreases has been collected as part of the Housing Corporation's performance indicators only since 1995–96. Information on rent increases for transfer tenants and for new tenants is not collected separately. The rent differential between these two groups can be over 20 per cent. It would be misleading to provide an average figure combining rent increase and decrease figures for transfer tenants and new tenants.

  The Housing Corporation has collected a range of performance indicators since 1993–94. Since April 1998, RSLs have been expected to achieve set levels of performance in certain key areas of housing management. In view of this, a list of RSLs to which local authority housing stock has been transferred which failed to satisfy the performance indicators set by the Housing Corporation is available only for the years 1997–98 and 1998–99.

  Housing Investment Programme
  Ms Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what were the(a) cash and (b) percentage changes to the Housing
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  Investment Programme in the London boroughs of (i) Kensington and Chelsea and (ii) Westminster in each year since 1992. [125421]

  Mr. Mullin
  Kensington and Chelsea's and Westminster's Housing Investment Programme allocations for 1992–93 to 2000–01 were as set out in the table. The figures for 1997–98 to 1999–2000 include the allocations made through the Capital Receipts Initiative.

  £ thousand

  Kensington and Chelsea

  Year

  Allocation

  Change on previous year

  Amount

  Percentage

  1992–93

  13,084

  +3,440

  +36

  1993–94

  12,087

  -997

  -8

  1994–95

  9,567

  -2,520

  -21

  1995–96

  9,327

  -240

  -3

  1996–97

  9,583

  +256

  +3

  1997–98

  7,453

  -2,130

  -22

  1998–99

  9,682

  +2,229

  +30

  1999–2000

  10,625

  +943

  +10

  2000–2001

  16,395

  +5,770

  +35

  £ thousand

  Westminster

  Year

  Allocation

  Change on previous year

  Amount

  Percentage

  1992–93

  21,314

  +1,249

  +6

  1993–94

  25,190

  +3,876

  +18

  1994–95

  18,780

  -6,410

  -25

  1995–96

  16,583

  -2,197

  -12

  1996–97

  15,763

  -820

  -5

  1997–98

  12,313

  -3,450

  -22

  1998–99

  14,172

  +1,859

  +15

  1999–2000

  15,561

  1,389

  +10

  2000–2001

  25,535

  +9,974

  +64

  Thameslink
  Mr. Pollard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he will take to ensure that Railtrack minimises inconvenience to passengers travelling to London from stations on the northern section of the Thameslink line, during the construction of the Thameslink 2000 project; and if he will make a statement. [125591]

  Mr. Hill
  The shadow Strategic Rail Authority is already working closely with Railtrack to construct replacement timetables for services disrupted by the engineering works for Thameslink 2000. These discussions supplement the normal 30 week notice period Railtrack must give to Train Operating Companies in order to undertake long planned work, and the aim is to reduce disruptions to the minimum.

  Rail Sleeper Services
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will take steps to encourage the reinstatement of discontinued sleeper services between the North of England and London. [125549]
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  Mr. Hill
  These services were withdrawn some years ago by the British Railways Board as they were no longer financially viable. Since then journey times and opportunities on North of England services have been substantially improved both early in the morning and late into the evening. The Franchising Director has no plans to include North of England sleeper services in Passenger Service Requirements at present, since there is little perceived demand. These services could be provided by train operators in the future if there is an adequate commercial basis for their provision. Financial support could be sought through the making of an appropriate Rail Passenger Partnership bid.

  Jubilee Line
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reasons Jubilee Line services to Charing Cross have been discontinued; what consultation tool place before the withdrawal; and if he will make a statement. [125606]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 12 June 2000]It was decided to extend the Jubilee Line from Green Park to Stratford via Westminster and Waterloo, omitting Charing Cross for engineering, cost and passenger benefit reasons. London Underground Limited did not undergo a consultation period before the withdrawal of the service since Part Five, Section 38 of the London Underground Act 1992 (giving construction powers) excluded them from any need to do so. However, throughout the time the Bill was going through Parliament London Underground made clear their intention to close the Charing Cross Jubilee platforms.

  Connex South Central
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make it a requirement for the successful bidder for the Connex South Central franchise to include firm proposals to reopen the Lewes-Uckfield railway line. [125610]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 12 June 2000]Negotiations for a replacement South Central franchise are at an advanced stage. The Deputy Prime Minister has asked the Franchising Director to evaluate the bids against the following criteria: commitment to secure better performance and customer services, the extent to which extra or earlier investment can be secured, the extent to which passengers will be given a greater voice in the level and standard of services, and value for money to the taxpayer. All the investment proposals contained in bids will be evaluated against these criteria.

  Rail Passenger Committees
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what safeguards he proposes to put in place to secure the independence in respect of policy making of the rail passenger committees. [125608]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 12 June 2000]The recently renamed Rail Passengers Committees will continue to have the freedom to express their independent views under the sponsorship of the Strategic Rail Authority as they currently do under the sponsorship of the Office of the Rail Regulator. Although the SRA will sponsor the 636W
  RPCs, the Secretary of State will continue to appoint the Chairmen of the RPCs and the Chairman of the national Rail Passengers' Council.

  Bog Areas (Conservation)
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to ensure that appropriate hydrological and management regimes are established by 2005 in all lowland raised bog areas which have been damaged but still retain nature conservation interest. [125773]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Biodiversity Habitat action plan for Lowland Raised Bogs, published in October 1999, and placed in the Library of the House, sets out the planned action for restoring this habitat to favourable conservation status in the UK.

  English Nature is the Lead Agency for co-ordination of action and work plans by the organisations identified in the plan. The plan acknowledges that a list must first be drawn up to decide which bogs require action to be taken.

  Some bogs are included in the list of Candidate Special Areas of Conservation under the EC Habitats Directive which is currently under review. The Government will ensure that activities on or around candidate SACs which may damage their hydrology and are subject to formal permissions or licences are reviewed, including planning consents and activities licensed by the statutory water regulators. This could lead to a number of different outcomes to remove the source of damage.

  Dog Identification
  Mr. Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how often the Working Party on Dog Identification has met; what items were on its agenda when it met; who has given evidence or provided reports or submissions to it; what means of dog identification are being considered by it; what methods of enforcement of dog identification are being considered by it; and if it will receive and consider submissions from members of the public. [125874]

  Mr. Hill
  The Dog Identification Working Group (DIG) was set up to consider the issues surrounding the permanent identification of dogs in England. The Group will produce a report to reflect a consensus view on all the available options for dog identification and this is expected in the Summer. No decisions will be taken until I have fully considered the report.

  The Working Group has met on eight occasions, the first meeting was held on 17 May 1999 and chaired by the then Under-Secretary, my hon. Friend the Member for Mansfield (Mr. Meale). The Agenda items of these meetings have been wide ranging to cover all the issues surrounding dog identification. Among the issues the Group has discussed are existing voluntary schemes, different methods of enforcement, a Dog Registration Consultation Paper from the Pet Advisory Committee, International Experience of dog identification schemes, a public education and marketing strategy and the use of databases. The Group has considered a wide range of evidence relevant to its terms of reference—copies of this will be contained in annexes to the Group's report. All forms of identification are being considered including possible future developments in technology. Enforcement

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  is a matter which will be covered by the Group's report. When I have received the Group's report, I will consider the recommendations and whether any further consultation is required.

  Gas Safety
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent representations he has received regarding the installation of excess gas flow valves in public sector housing. [124870]

  Mr. Mullin
  [holding answer 12 June 2000]The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), on behalf of the Health and Safety Commission, is undertaking a fundamental review of the current health and safety regime for the installation and use of gas to determine whether, or how far changes are needed to the existing system of control. As part of the consultation process, HSE has received three representations from a UK supplier of excess gas flow valves about the safety case for fitting these valves in domestic premises generally, including public sector housing. I am also aware of a similar representation made recently to my right hon. Friend the Minister for Competition and Consumer Affairs.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which local authorities have fitted excess gas flow valves to their housing stock; and how many have been fitted. [124872]

  Mr. Mullin
  [holding answer 12 June 2000]I have been advised by the Health and Safety Executive that it is aware of 21 local authorities and three housing associations that have specified and are fitting excess gas flow valves, as set out in the list. I have no information about the numbers that have been fitted.Local authorities and housing associations known to be specifying and fitting excess gas flow valves
  Local Authorities

  Birmingham city council

  Bristol city council

  Bromsgrove district council

  Cheltenham district council

  Coventry city council

  Derby city council

  Dudley Metropolitan borough council

  Glasgow city council

  Halton Metropolitan borough council

  Hounslow London borough council

  Hillingdon London borough council

  Kingston upon Thames borough council

  Leicester city council

  Macclefield borough council

  Newham borough council

  Nottingham city council

  Newcastle upon Tyne borough council

  Preston borough council

  Rotherham Metropolitan borough council

  Sandwell borough council

  Slough borough council

  Housing Associations

  Guinness Trust

  Orbit housing association

  Touchstone housing association

  Waterloo housing association

  Two-wheeled Vehicles
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures the Government have pursued since 1 May 1997(a) to promote the wider use of powered two-wheelers and (b) to improve their safety. [125453]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 12 June 2000]"A New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone" recognised that there are circumstances in which mopeds and motorcycles can have a role to play in integrated transport. We have thus:established an Advisory Group on Motorcycling;
  advised local authorities to take account of the contribution powered two wheelers are making in delivering integrated transport policies.

  We have taken action to improve the safety of motorcyclists by:
  making changes to the theory and practical driving tests—resulting better driving standards will benefit all vulnerable road users;
  announcing a package of measures for improving training and testing for riders of mopeds and motorcycles;
  since June 1999, requiring, along with EU partners, the design and construction of newly designed models of motorcycles to be approved and verified to appropriate safety and environmental standards;
  committing, in "Tomorrow's Roads: Safer for Everyone", to further measures that will improve the safety of motorcyclists over the next 10 years.

  The Highways Agency's new strategic plan for safety, "Making the Network Safer", includes actions to reduce risks to motorcyclists travelling on trunk roads and motorways.

  Telecommunications Masts
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to declare a moratorium on further planning applications for new telecommunications masts pending the outcome of the announced review of planning policy; and when he expects to complete this review. [125889]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 13 June 2000]The Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones, set up at the instigation of the Government and chaired by Sir William Stewart FRS FRSE, has considered the possible health effects of the use of mobile phones, base stations and transmitters. The Group published its report on 11 May.

  The Group concluded that
  the balance of evidence indicates that there is no general risk to the health of people living near to base stations on the basis that exposures are expected to be small fractions of guidelines. However, there can be indirect adverse effects on their well-being in some cases.

  The Group recommended that for all base stations, including those with masts under 15m, permitted development rights for their erection be revoked and that the siting of all new base stations should be subject to the normal planning process.

  In its response to the report, also issued on 11 May 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

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  widely before doing so, including on the principle and precise scope of any new arrangements. We aim to issue a consultation document in the summer, with a view to being able to introduce revised procedures and guidance by the end of the year.

  The Group does not recommend a moratorium on further planning applications for new telecommunications masts pending the outcome of our review, or at all, and the Government have no plans to introduce such a moratorium.

  Class 175 Trains
  Mrs. Betty Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the new Class 175 trains will be brought alto service on the North Wales Coast Route; and what the reasons are for the late delivery. [125796]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 13 June 2000]The train operating company, First North Western, hopes to introduce the new trains into service late this year. Delay in their introduction is due to technical difficulties.

  Neighbourhood Renewal
  Mr. Casale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to monitor the effectiveness of cross-departmental initiatives aimed at neighbourhood renewal and urban regeneration. [124272]

  Ms Armstrong
  My Department commissions in-depth evaluations to assess the effectiveness of initiatives aimed at neighbourhood renewal and urban regeneration. These evaluations are concerned with effectiveness both in terms of process issues, such as delivery structures, and in terms of their impact on deprivation and exclusion. DETR is currently responsible for the following evaluations of cross-departmental initiatives:

  New Deal for Communities
  The monitoring and evaluation arrangements for the NDC programme comprise ongoing project and scheme monitoring, which is reported to Government at the mid-year and annual progress reviews, and individual project evaluation, and scheme evaluation at the three, six and end year stages of the schemes. The Government will also be undertaking a national evaluation of the programme, which will focus on the operation and achievements of the programme in its first three years.

  Single Regeneration Budget
  There is an on-going evaluation of rounds 1 and 2 of SRB and plans to commission an evaluation of more recent SRB activity this year.
  In addition, we are supporting the evaluation of the Local Government Association's New Commitment to Regeneration and have commissioned an action research study to develop more co-ordinated working between regeneration initiatives at the local level. Emerging evidence from these studies has already been used to support wider reviews of policy such as the Spending Review 2000 cross-cutting review of Government Intervention in Deprived Areas, the Social Exclusion Unit's National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal and the work of the Performance and Innovation Unit.

  NATS
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many organisations have expressed interest in being included on the list of interested parties to bid for the NATS public-private partnership. [125936]

  Mr. Mullin
  Nineteen companies have expressed an initial interest in the NATS PPP. These are not formal expressions of interest. In accordance with the Department's agreement with those companies their identities cannot be revealed. Furthermore, in order to maintain a competitive and level playing field, the Department does not intend to release the identities of bidding companies and consortia in future stages of the PPP process.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the cost of part-privatising NATS. [125935]

  Mr. Mullin
  DETR, NATS and the CAA expect to incur consultancy costs in the order of £20 million in connection with the NATS PPP. In addition, restructuring costs of around £15 million are expected to be incurred in order to achieve the separation of NATS from the CAA.

  Mr. Chidgey
  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 18 January 2000,Official Report, column 358W, concerning NATS, if he has produced (a) the list of properties and (b) the valuation; and when he plans to publish this information. [125937]

  Mr. Mullin
  A list of properties, which are owned or leased by NATS, has been placed in the Library. Valuations for the key sites are in progress. However, we do not intend to publish these at this stage as they will form part of the confidential information released to pre-qualified bidders in the NATS PPP.

  Government Initiatives
  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress is being made on the co-ordination of Government initiatives at a regional and local level. [124274]

  Ms Armstrong
  We have established the core of the new Regional Coordination Unit. We will publish, in July, a timetabled action plan for implementing the conclusions of the Performance and Innovation Unit's Report on the role of central Government at regional and local level.

  Regional Planning Guidance (South-east)
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reasons copies of the draft regional planning guidance for the south-east were not available in public libraries until Thursday 18 May; if he will extend the deadline for replies to the consultation; and if he will make a statement. [125964]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Boxes of leaflets and documents were sent to all chief executives of local authorities in the south-east, requesting them to distribute the document and leaflet to their council offices and to their libraries. The documents were sent out on the first day of consultation,
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  27 March 2000. It is the Secretary of State's opinion that draft Regional Planning Guidance for the south-east has been made widely available and that there is no need to extend the consultation period.

  Passenger Transport Authorities (Wales)
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will take steps to enable the National Assembly for Wales to establish passenger transport authorities under the terms of the Transport Bill. [125471]

  Mr. Hill
  We made our position clear in our response1 to the 2nd Report of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee (HC287) "The Transport Bill and its impact on Wales". In particular we said that:
  The possibility of creating new Passenger Transport Authority areas was considered at the time of the Transport White Paper. We rejected it then, partly because no group of authorities seemed to have a very strong case for establishing a PTA and partly because, although PTAs have a good track record in co-ordinating and developing public transport, they have no roads responsibilities, and this can create problems in fully integrating transport in their areas.
  Local authorities outside the PTAs already work closely together in developing transport strategies for their areas, as the Local Transport Plans for England submitted to the DETR last summer have shown. A number have submitted joint plans for their combined areas, and we are confident that this co-operation will continue. We are not persuaded of the argument to bring forward primary legislation to enable the establishment of one or more PTAs in Wales.
  1 Response published as the 5th Special Report of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee (HC497) "The Transport Bill and its Impact on Wales".

  BAe 146 Aircraft
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the airworthiness directives the Civil Aviation Authority has issued to British airlines relating to BAe 146 aircraft in their service about(a) engine icing and (b) the ingestion of fumes from the engines into the cabin. [125988]

  Mr. Mullin
  As a result of in service experience of engine icing on the BAe 146, the Civil Aviation Authority has issued a total of five Airworthiness Directives, two of which have been superseded. These Airworthiness Directives impose operating limitations and placarding requirements. In addition, the CAA has accepted as mandatory three Airworthiness Directives (two of which have been superseded) issued by US Federal Aviation Administration in relation to the Allied Signal ALF 502 engine used on the BAe 146. The CAA is entirely satisfied that all the necessary precautions have been taken to ensure that the aircraft meets both UK and international airworthiness standards. The current limitation published for aircraft have shown themselves to be both effective and practical for crews to apply.

  The CAA has not issued any Airworthiness Directives relating to the ingestion of engine fumes into the cabin on BAe 146. This issue is currently the subject of investigations by both the Australian Senate and the Swedish aviation authorities. Should these investigations reveal problems the CAA will ensure that appropriate action is taken.

TREASURY

  Convergence
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when current forecasts indicate convergence between the UK and Euroland economies under the convergence programme submitted to the EU. [125554]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 12 June 2000]As set out in Articles 99 and 104 of the EC Treaty, the UK once a year submits a Convergence Programme as part of the Stability and Growth Pact. The Chancellor has said we will produce an assessment of the five tests early in the next Parliament.

  Royal Collection
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 7 June 2000,Official Report, column 274W, on the Royal Collection, if the Royal Collection includes all the Queen's assets. [125901]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  [holding answer 13 June 2000]The custody and care of the assets in the Royal Collection Trust are the responsibility of the trustees. I have asked the Director of the Trust to write to the hon. Member.

  North Sea Tax Revenue
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sterling/dollar exchange rate was assumed when forecasting the North Sea tax revenue as set out in the March Financial Statement and Budget report. [125639]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 13 June 2000]I refer the hon. Member to page 165 of the March 2000 Financial Statement and Budget Report.

  Marsham Street
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for how long the old Department of the Environment building in Marsham street has lain empty; and if he will make a statement. [124268]

  Mr. Timms
  The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions finally vacated 2 Marsham street at the end of April 1998.

  Retail Inquiry
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to publish the next Inquiry into Retail; and to which years' statistics it will relate. [125571]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Len Cook to Dr. David Clark, dated 14 June 2000:
  As the Director for the Office for National Statistics (ONS) I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking for the date and year of the next Inquiry into Retail (125571).
  The Sector Review into Retailing (formerly Business Monitor SDA25) will be published in August 2000. The sector review will contain statistics on total turnover, sales by non-store activity, a detailed breakdown of commodity sales, stocks, purchases, capital expenditure, employment costs, taxes and levies for the most recently completed inquiry year 1998 on the new inquiry basis

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  Annual Business Inquiry). It will also contain statistics for the inquiry years 1997, 1996 and 1995 which have been adjusted by a series of factors to reflect the methodology improvements introduced for the 1998 inquiry year and remove the discontinuities with previous estimates.

WALES

  No-smoking Policy
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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. [125169]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  My Department operates the same policy on smoking as the National Assembly for Wales, which is designed to protect the great majority of staff, who do not smoke, from the effects of smoke, as required by health and safety legislation. Smoking is therefore not permitted in working areas, whether cellular or open plan, and sources of information and advice on stopping smoking are provided to those staff who wish to give up the habit.

  My Department only has one building housing about 40 staff who have agreed between themselves that smoking should take place only in certain rooms.

  Opinion Research
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 25 May 2000,Official Report, column 633W, on opinion research, what steps have been taken to ensure that his Department makes such results publicly available as required by paragraph 19 of the Cabinet Office May 1999 Guidelines on Research into Public Attitudes and Opinions. [125992]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The Wales Office has not carried out any market or opinion research since it was established on 1 July 1999. In the event that my Department does undertake any market or opinion research, the Guidelines will be followed.

DEFENCE

  Army Training and Recruiting Agency
  Mr. Ennis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Army Training and Recruitment Agency for the financial year 2000–01. [125578]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Chief Executive of the Army Training and Recruiting Agency has been set the following Key Targets for 2000–01:

  1. To meet the Adjutant General's requirement for 620 commissioned officers.

  2. To meet the Adjutant General's requirement for 610 officers qualified for service in Field Force units following successful Special to Arm training.

  3. To meet the Adjutant General's requirement for the professional development training of 6,714 officers.

  4. To meet the Adjutant General's requirement for 10,831 regular soldiers qualified for service in Field Force units following successful Basic and Special to Arm training.

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  5. To meet the Adjutant General's requirement for professional development training for 52,458 soldiers.

  6. To achieve a 3 per cent. annual aggregate improvement in ATRA efficiency measured on the ATRA Efficiency Index.

  Depleted Uranium Shells
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many depleted uranium shells have been(a) fired and (b) recovered from the DERA establishment at Dundrennan in each of the last three years; [124697]

  (2) if the test firing of depleted uranium shells at the DERA establishment at Dundrennan, Kirkcudbrightshire is continuing. [124718]

  Mr. Spellar
  The number of depleted uranium shells fired at the range in each of the last three years is as follows:

  Number

  1997

  749

  1998

  134

  1999

  111

  During this period only one projectile has been recovered. This was in October 1997 when a fishing vessel trawled up one in the Solway Firth. Current planning proposes a programme of DU firings up to October 2001.

  Identification Friend or Foe System
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reasons underlay the length of time taken to procure the successor Identification Friend or Foe system for the Royal Air Force; what the original cost was; if the contract is to be signed at that original cost; and if he will make a statement. [124885]

  Dr. Moonie
  This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Robert Walmsley to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 14 June 2000:
  I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about procurement of the Successor Identification Friend or Foe (SIFF) system for the Royal Air Force. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.
  The SIFF programme involves fitting new electronic equipment into some 40 different types of Sea, Land and Air platforms. Total equipment requirements are likely to number in the order of 1000 transponders and 600 interrogators: each has to be functionally and physically integrated with the host platform. SIFF is a complicated project.
  The only contract placed to date for fitting SIFF has been to the Royal Air Force's Tornado F3 aircraft. This was placed with the then British Aerospace, the aircraft design authority in 1998. This contract was placed ahead of the main SIFF programme in order to achieve cost savings through alignment with the Tornado Capability Sustainment Programme. Separately, but also in 1998, the SIFF Integration Study and Planning Phase (ISPP) commenced with contracts being placed with individual platform type design authorities to investigate the fitting of a SIFF system to the platforms in the main SIFF programme. The overall value of the Tornado F3 and ISPP contracts together amounts to some £100M, and this is within the original budget provision.

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  Owing to the number and diversity of the platform types, it is not possible to adopt a single prime contractor approach to manage the main SIFF programme, which amounts to an estimated value of over £400M. Outputs from ISPP have included Demonstration and Manufacture tenders provided by two competing potential equipment suppliers, BAE SYSTEMS and Raytheon Systems Ltd, covering many of the platform types, and from individual platform design authorities for the remainder. Evaluation of these tenders is an extensive and intensive task, to ensure that the decision on the choice of equipment supplier and the phasing of the work to be undertaken by the individual platform design authorities is made on the best overall balance of operational and value for money grounds. We are currently considering the way ahead in the light of this and in the current competitive situation are unable to provide further information on costs or budgets. I hope that we will be in position to announce a decision on the programme, including the choice of equipment supplier, during the summer.

  AMRAAM Missiles
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what obligations Raytheon has in respect of industrial participation and offsets in respect of the current order for AMRAAM missiles for the RAF; and if he will make a statement. [124991]

  Mr. Hoon
  The order placed in 1992 for AMRAAM missiles is now complete and was made through the Government to Government Foreign Military Sales process. Such purchases do not attract industrial participation.

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what obligations he plans to place upon Raytheon in respect of industrial participation and offsets in respect of the additional AMRAAM order announced on 16 May; and if he will make a statement. [124990]

  Mr. Hoon
  The announcement on 16 May stated the intention to purchase a quantity of AMRAAM missiles to equip Eurofighter when it first enters service. Options for acquisition, whether by a Government to Government order or through a direct contract with Raytheon, are being examined. The potential for industrial participation opportunities will be taken into account.

  Warrior Fighting Vehicles
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about structural and metallurgical defects on Warrior fighting vehicles in Kosovo. [125316]

  Mr. Spellar
  Despite its advantages there are also inherent problems in the use of aluminium armour on vehicles such as the Warrior. The Department has been aware of this for some time and appropriate repair schemes have been developed with the Design Authority. There have been no reports, however, of specific structural or metallurgical defects affecting any Warrior vehicles deployed to Kosovo.

  UAVs
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what projects his Department is engaged with the US Department of Defense involving(a) unmanned aerial vehicles and (b) unmanned aerial combat vehicles; and if he will make a statement. [125706]
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  Mr. Spellar
  None. However, we do have in place a number of Information Exchange Agreements with the US Department of Defense in support of unmanned aerial vehicle systems research for sea, land and air operations.

  Front-line Equipment
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's policy is on the use of PFI or PPP solutions for the procurement of front-line equipment. [125805]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 13 June 2000]Public Private Partnerships comprise a range of close relationships between the public and private sectors including Private Finance Initiatives (PFI) and Smart Procurement. PFI solutions are being explored for a number of services in direct support of operations (e.g. Heavy Equipment Transporter, Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft) where we judge this may offer best value for money without detriment to operational effectiveness.

  Personnel (Scotland)
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people were employed by his Department in Scotland in(a) 1979, (b) 1989, (c) 1994 and (d) 1999, broken down into (i) civilian and (ii) military personnel and including territorial forces. [125574]

  Dr. Moonie
  The table gives details of the number of people employed by the Ministry of Defence in Scotland in(a) 1979, (b) 1989, (c) 1994 and (d) 1999 broken down into (i) civilian and (ii) military personnel.

  Year

  (i) Regular Forces

  (ii) MOD civilians

  (a) 1979

  19,016

  n/a

  (b) 1989

  20,035

  12,209

  (c) 1994

  18,030

  11,238

  (d) 1999

  14,937

  9,274

  Notes:

  1. The data cover UK Regular Forces and UK based civilian personnel counted in official Ministry of Defence civil service figures. They exclude UK based casual civilian personnel and permanent civilian personnel whose salaries are paid for or reimbursed by other non MOD organisations such as NATO and USAF.

  2. Civilian figures are full-time equivalents where part-time staff are counted in proportion to hours worked. Since 1995 the method of counting part-time civilian staff has reflected actual hours worked (on average approximately 60 per cent. of full-time) rather than the notional 50 per cent. previously used.

  3. The data for Royal Navy Regular Forces include personnel on board ships in their home waters who are included in the region of their ships home port. The method of allocating personnel to location was changed in 1995 from having a category for location on the record of Service to using the postcode of the unit to which personnel are attached.

  4. Location data for territorial forces are only readily available for 1999 for the Royal Navy and RAF and are not readily available at all for the Army. Such incomplete data are of little use for comparative purpose of the PQ and have therefore not been included in the written answer.

  It is not possible, without disproportionate cost, to obtain data for civilian personnel prior to 1980. Location data for the territorial forces of all three Services for the dates requested are not available without disproportionate cost.

PRIME MINISTER

  Serbia
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his letter of 2 June, what ways of funding the Serbian health system the Government have identified in the last 12 months and are considering for the next 12 months; and if he will give details of the initiative to which he refers to facilitate the return of Serb communities which have fled Kosovo. [125604]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 12 June 2000]We have contributed £2.5 million each to the Balkans appeals of the ICRC and UNICEF. There are no specific allocations to Serbia, but UNICEF plans support to mother and child health services for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees. ICRC programmes include provision of essential medicines to IDPs, refugees and the socially vulnerable in Serbia. In addition, ECHO plans support to primary health care services in remote locations, including to IDPs and refugees.

  We have provided £120,000 for roads and community schemes managed by British and Swedish troops of Multi National Brigade (Central) to encourage Serbs to return to villages in the Sliovo area, and Albanians to return from Pristina to their villages in the region.

  Government Annual Report
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Prime Minister when the Government's third annual report will be published. [125939]

  The Prime Minister
  By the end of July.

  Criminal Assets
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Prime Minister when the Performance and Innovation Unit will publish its report on the pursuit and seizure of criminal assets; and if he will make a statement. [126158]

  The Prime Minister
  The Performance and Innovation Unit's report "Recovering the Proceeds of Crime" is being published today as agreed Government policy. Copies have been placed in the Vote Office and in the Libraries of the House. It is also available on the Cabinet Office website at www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/innovation.

  The PIU report sets out the Government's new approach to tackling crime through its finances. In implementing the report, the Government are determined to show that crime will not pay in the UK. We aim to reduce crime and to increase confidence in the criminal justice system. The report sets out a plan of action covering the following areas:

  (i) a more strategic approach to asset recovery, including a dedicated National Confiscation Agency and greater cross-Government co-operation;

  (ii) more emphasis on financial investigation to help law enforcement uncover criminal assets as a routine part of their business;

  (iii) a new legislative attack closing legal loopholes and calling all convicted offenders to account for their assets where they have clearly benefited from their crimes; and introducing civil forfeiture giving the courts power to recover unlawful gains currently beyond the reach of the law;

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  (iv) tightening the money laundering regime, simplifying and consolidating the money laundering laws;

  (v) taxing unlawful gains by using tax powers more effectively to target criminal wealth; and

  (vi) setting a higher international standard, working with our partners overseas to drive up standards and close boltholes.

  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, in collaboration with my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary, will take forward implementation of the conclusions of the report and introduce legislation as soon as possible. The report is being widely circulated so that views received by the Home Office by the end of August can be taken into account prior to introduction of legislation. Further information can be found on the Home Office website at www.homeoffice.gov.uk.

  Performance and Innovation Unit
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Prime Minister what the annual cost is of the Performance and Innovation Unit; and what action the Government are taking to implement its reports. [124285]

  The Prime Minister
  For the financial year 1999–2000 the Performance and Innovation Unit (PIU) spent £2.3 million. For 2000–01 the unit has an allocation of £2.6 million.

  Whenever PIU reports represent Government policy, implementation plans with lead responsibilities and timetables for action are included. I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for South Cambridge (Mr. Lansley) on 3 May 2000, Official Report, columns 109–10W.

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 14 June. [125403]

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

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  New Millennium Experience Company
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which accountants have been paid fees by the New Millennium Experience Company; and for what purpose. [124385]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 5 June 2000]The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) has paid fees to four firms of accountants.Deloitte & Touche—tax advice.
  Ernst & Young—external audit; accounting advice; provision of interim management of staff; and IT consultancy.
  priceWaterhouseCoopers—tax advice; IT consultancy; internal audit; and financial planning.
  Arthur Anderson—internal audit.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the resignation of the Chairman of the New Millennium Experience Company. [124483]
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  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 5 June 2000]Robert Ayling decided to resign as Chairman of the New Millennium Experience Company on 23 May. His decision was made in the best interests of the Dome. He served the Dome as Chairman for three years and his decision to step down was in keeping with the fact that he has always put the good of the project first. I would like to pay tribute to Robert Ayling for his contribution to the Millennium Experience.

  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if the(a) contingency draw down, (b) £60 million cash flow facility and (c) £29 million additional cash flow facility made available to the New Millennium Experience Company will be repaid; [125023]

  (2) which Millennium Commission projects have received funding additional to their original grants; for what purposes; and to what value in each case. [125024]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 8 June 2000]These are matters 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.

  Television Licences
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will estimate how many direct debits for paying licence fees currently set up with the BBC by visually-impaired customers will have to be cancelled because of the evidence requirements contained within the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1998; what guidance his Department has given the BBC to ensure that visually-impaired customers have equal access to this method of paying bills; and if he will make a statement. [125347]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  Under section 2(2) of the Wireless Telegraphy Act (as amended), the only evidence required to prove entitlement to the 50 per cent. reduction in the television licence fee for registered blind people, introduced by the Government on 1 April this year, is a certificate issued by a local authority. This requirement has no bearing on the method of payment. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not issue guidance to the BBC on the administration of the television licensing system, since this is a statutory responsibility of the Corporation.

  No-smoking Policy
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 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. [125157]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  I refer my hon. Friend to the replies I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Crausby) on 24 January 2000,Official Report, column 89W, and to the right hon. Member for Penrith and The Border (Mr. Maclean) on 16 December 1999, Official Report, columns 279–80W.

  My Department's policy on smoking can be considered effective as it actively encourages a reduction in smoking by allowing smoking to take place only in the designated
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  smoking rooms. Less than 1 per cent. of the Department's office space is given over to areas in which smoking is allowed.

  Bowling Greens
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the number of bowling greens which have been closed and redeveloped in each of the last 10 years. [125870]

  Kate Hoey
  Neither my Department nor Sport England hold this information.

  Analogue Televisions
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which action his Department has taken to advise purchasers of analogue televisions that the televisions will cease to function as soon as the analogue signal is withdrawn. [125919]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  The Government are working with industry on a public information campaign to inform viewers about digital television. I expect this to deliver messages about the timescale and the conditions which have to be met for the switch-over from analogue to digital transmissions, and advice about how to get digital television and that analogue television sets can be converted to receive digital signals by the addition of a set top box. One of the conditions for switch-over is that 95 per cent. of consumers have access to digital receiving equipment.

  National Lottery (Computer Failures)
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer of 5 June,Official Report, column 96W; if, when he was informed of the defect in the National Lottery computer, he was told when the defect was identified and by whom; if he was informed of estimates Camelot had made of how long the defect affected its operation before it was corrected; and if he has been informed as to when the National Lottery Commission will complete its investigations. [125673]

  Kate Hoey
  Due to an error in my original answer, the incorrect date was given for the date on which the National Lottery Commission became aware of the defect in the National Lottery computer system. The correct answer is as follows. I apologise for any inconvenience that this might have caused.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State was informed when the defect was identified and by whom, and was also informed of how long the defect had affected operations.

  The defect was first drawn to the National Lottery Commission's attention on 12 April 2000 in a letter from an ex-GTECH employee. The defect affected operations from the start of the Lottery until it was corrected on 27 July 1998.

  The Commission intends to complete its investigations as soon as possible.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Vibration White Finger
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many men in South Wales were diagnosed by his Department and agencies as suffering from vibration white finger in(a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) 2000 to date; [125742]

  (2) how many former miners in South Wales applied for Disablement Benefit for vibration white finger in (a) 1997, (b) 1999 and (c) 2000 to date. [125741]

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

  Information on claims to industrial injuries disablement benefit for vibration white finger made in Wales

  Number of claims made for industrial injuries disablement benefit for vibration white finger in Wales1

  Number of men who were first diagnosed as suffering from vibration white finger for industrial injuries disablement benefit

  1997

  2,300

  300

  1998

  1,300

  201

  1999

  1,300

  108

  First quarter 2000

  400

  16

  1 Estimate

  Notes:

  1. Claims data are based on a 10 per cent. sample.

  2. Diagnoses data are based on a 100 per cent. count of first diagnosed assessments.

  3. Diagnoses will be made after the claim has been made. Claims and any resultant diagnoses may not be made in the same period.

  Source:

  DSS Information Centre

  Employment Services
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish the last two national surveys of employees in his Department; what action has been taken as a result of the most recent survey; and if he will make a statement. [125442]

  Mr. Rooker
  The last two national surveys of employees in the Department were the Child Support Agency's staff attitude survey carried out in May 1999 and an internal communications survey completed on 2 June 2000.

  We do not expect to publish these surveys externally.

  The recent survey of internal communications will be used to rationalise and improve internal communications processes. A summary of the results will be available for staff via internal staff media.

  The Department is committed to the civil service reform agenda, which includes providing a better deal for staff. The results of national employee surveys will be used to deliver this aim and ultimately provide a better service for the public.

  State Pension
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the date of October 2001 is to be maintained as the target for helping potential benefit customers 652W
  understand (a) their future entitlement to retirement pension and (b) the importance of saving for their retirement; how this target will be achieved; how much it is expected to cost; and if he will make a statement. [125439]

  Mr. Rooker
  The first combined pension forecasts, which include details of both State and private pension rights, were issued to Prudential customers in April in one of a series of pilots we are conducting. Other pilot employers and pension providers will issue combined forecasts later this year. We are on course to meet or exceed our target to start the full-scale service from 2002.

  Availability of the full service depends on putting in place a new computer system that can issue the much higher numbers of State Pension forecasts which will be needed, up to 15 million a year from 2005. Our target date for introducing this new service will be £14.5 million with ongoing running costs of £7.5 million a year once the service has bedded down.

  Combined pension forecasts will, for the first time, provide individuals with a clear indication of what sort of retirement income to expect. This will enable them to make better-informed decisions on what savings they need to make.

  Telephone Claims Service
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the estimated cost is of the national telephone claims service for pensioners which is planned to be introduced in October; what the continuing yearly cost to his Department of this service will be; and if he will make a statement. [125378]

  Mr. Rooker
  It is estimated that it will cost around £1 million to introduce the National Retirement Pension Tele-Claims Service from October 2000. The majority of this cost is associated with an upgrade of infrastructure that will provide a platform for further pensions modernisation in the future.

  Introducing this service will:
  Provide active assistance to customers at the point of claim by allowing them to speak to a member of staff who will complete an electronic claim form on their behalf;
  Provide a simplified claim form tailored to customers individual requirements;
  Reduce the need to ask customers for supporting documentary evidence by making use of data held.

  The ongoing running cost to the Department is expected to be around £0.5 million per annum.

  Benefit Fraud
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people were involved in fraudulent benefit claims which resulted in the overpayment of £135 million for 1999–2000; how many such benefit claimants received no further benefit from his Department; and if he will make a statement. [125438]

  Mr. Rooker
  The "overpayment" figure (or value of losses) for 1999–2000 is currently being collated. It will appear in the Losses Statement of the Vote 1 Appropriation Account due to be signed by the Benefits Agency Chief Executive in August.
  653W
  The 1998–99 Statement showed losses of £136 million. In addition to overpayments caused by fraudulent benefit claims, this amount includes losses due to other factors such as the writing off of old debts, the miscalculation of entitlement in disability benefits, the change in the payment of hospital in-patients and the duplication of payments of Jobseeker's Allowance by automated credit transfer.

  The number of people involved in fraudulent benefit claims, which formed part of the total losses, is not available.

  The number of benefit claimants who received no further benefit is not available, as the Benefits Agency does not match past fraudulent claims with new claims.

  Means-tested Benefits
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to review the imputed rate of return on savings used in calculating entitlement to means-tested benefits. [124939]

  Mr. Bayley
  The system of tariff income in the income-related benefits is not based on any imputed rate of return. The system provides a straightforward method of calculating the weekly contribution which people with capital in excess of the lower limit are expected to make from those resources to help meet their normal living expenses. Because no tariff applies to savings below the lower limit, the rule is most generous to people with relatively low savings; for example, in cases where the lower limit is £3,000 the annual tariff income for a person with savings between £3,000 and £3,250 would equate to just 1.6 per cent. of their savings.

  The capital rules are kept under regular review.

  "Listening to Older People"
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent representations he has received on his document, "Listening to Older People". [124281]

  Mr. Rooker
  During 1999 the Government led a programme of listening to older people events across the UK. The events were put on by a partnership between the Inter-Ministerial Group for Older People, the UK Secretariat for the International Year of Older Persons and mainly voluntary sector organisations working with older people.

  On 17 May the Government published three documents relating to this programme of listening events. "Life begins at 50: the 1999 Listening Events"; a newsletter style account of last year's regional programme of events. "Building a Better Society for Older People: Report on the Listening Events to the Inter-Ministerial Group for Older People"; a research report on the regional events by Annette Boaz and Carol Hayden, Warwick Business School, the University of Warwick. "Life begins at 50—A Better Society for Older People"; a report setting out the key points raised by older people during the 1999 listening events, the action we have already taken to address them, and the action we will take in the future.
  654W
  No representations have been received on these documents.

  Pensions Entitlement
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many people who have reached pensionable age within the last two years have not yet been paid their full entitlement of additional pension; [125915]

  (2) how many people are currently employed in carrying out manual calculations of the entitlements to additional pension of those who have already retired; [125917]

  (3) how many manual calculations of entitlements to additional pension were carried out in each of the last three months. [125918]

  Mr. Rooker
  It is estimated that in the last two years the National Insurance Recording System (NIRS) computer will not have carried out a calculation of the additional pension in some 120,000 cases. The number of these who have not yet been paid their full entitlement to additional pension is not known, but because the facility for Benefit Agency offices to apply for a clerical calculation has been available, the number will be in the minority.

  There is a team of 10.5 people in the Benefits Agency responsible for clerical calculations of additional pension.

  The number of clerical calculations carried out in March was 5,789; in April it was 588; and in May it was 442. The significant reduction in April and May was planned. The processes that had prevented the NIRS2 computer calculating additional pension had become available and it was part of a strategy to accommodate the transition from clerical to computer calculations.

  Minimum Income Guarantee
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners are being targeted as possible qualifiers for the minimum income guarantee in each of the age groups(a) 60 to 65, (b) 65 to 70, (c) 70 to 75, (d) 75 to 80, (e) 80 to 85, (f) 85 to 90 and (g) over 90 years old. [118007]

  Mr. Rooker
  [pursuant to his reply, 12 April 2000, c. 167W]The information requested is in the table.

  Pensioners in the following age bands are being targeted as possible qualifiers for the minimum income guarantee

  Age band

  Total count

  Male

  Female

  60–64

  156,542

  0

  156,542

  65–69

  245,887

  108,088

  137,799

  70–74

  298,589

  117,065

  181,524

  75–79

  436,627

  146,415

  290,212

  80–84

  509,017

  206,772

  302,245

  85–89

  360,645

  136,119

  224,526

  90+

  159,881

  45,505

  114,376

  Total

  2,167,188

  759,964

  1,407,224

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Assisted Area Status
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he intends to submit a new proposal for assisted area status for North Staffordshire. [125353]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 9 June 2000]Details of the revised assisted area proposals, which included North Staffordshire were published on 10 April 2000.

  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from the Office of Commissioner Monti in respect of assisted area status for North Staffordshire. [125350]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 9 June 2000]None.

  Textile Task Force
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many companies in the North East have benefited from the Textile Taskforce; how much money has been allocated from the Task Force Fund; and what financial resources are available to it. [125383]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The most recent information available shows that 48 companies have contacted the North East Textiles Taskforce, resulting in 29 initial visits being made. The range of support already provided has included help towards a sports/leisurewear event, trade shows, marketing, technical training and developing business system and process analysis.

  When the Taskforce was set up it was allocated funding totalling £773,000. Total spend by the Taskforce up to the end of May 2000 was £140,000.

  Limited Liability Partnerships Bill
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals he has for the registering of partnership agreements and the publication of partnership accounts under the provisions of the Limited Liability Partnerships Bill[Lords]; and what role he plans for Companies House in respect of these new entities. [125428]

  Dr. Howells
  There will be no requirement for limited liability partnerships to register an agreement between members. The Government concluded, after wide consultation and taking account of the views of the Trade and Industry Committee, that to impose a requirement on LLPs to register a member's agreement would be of little value unless regulations determined exactly what should be contained in the agreement, and that would be almost impossible to define. Moreover, it would be impracticable for Companies House to take a view on every individual agreement to ensure agreements met the statutory criteria before allowing an LLP to register.

  More detail of the Government's decision on this matter is set out in the Government Observations on the Fourth Report from the Trade and Industry Committee (Session 1998–99) on the draft Limited Liability Partnership Act (HC 529).
  656W
  The LLP regulations will apply the accounts and audit provisions of the Companies Act 1985 with appropriate modifications to reflect the different capital structure of LLPs. They will require LLPs to disclose similar financial information to that required of companies in their annual accounts, those accounts being filed with Companies House where they will be open for inspection.

  Companies House will be responsible for the registration and striking-off of LLPs, the registration of documents which must be filed under the LLP regulations and for enforcing compliance in line with requirements of the regulations. They will also provide information on LLPs to the public as they do for companies.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whom his Department is consulting on the provisions of the Limited Liability Partnerships Bill[Lords]; and what replies he has received to date. [125702]

  Dr. Howells
  There has been extensive consultation on the basis of three detailed consultation documents published in February 1997, September 1998 and July 1999. For each consultation copies were sent to some 1,800 consultees, including business, trade associations, academics, potential clients and regulators and meetings were held by officials with interested representatives from each of these groups. Telephone and written requests for documents resulted in around 3,000–5,000 extra copies of each document being sent out. The documents were also made available to visitors to the LLP website at www.dti.gov.uk/cld/llpbill/index.htm from September 1998. Over 300 responses were received in total. The names of those who responded can be found in the Libraries of each House and the responses are publicly available. A further short consultation paper was published in February 2000 on a more limited circulation, but was also available on the LLP website.

  Dagenham Ford Plant
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has held with the Greater London Authority with regard to the future of the Ford Dagenham plant; and what plans he has for future discussions. [125611]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 12 June 2000]My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry discussed the future of the Dagenham plant directly with the mayor both before and after Ford's announcement on 12 May. A representative of the Greater London Authority also attends the fortnightly meetings on the regeneration of Dagenham and the Thames Gateway organised by my Department and involving other Government Departments, local councils and regeneration bodies, TUC and Ford. My right hon. Friend and I intend to remain in close contact with the mayor, the Greater London Authority and the London development agency.

  Insolvency (Creditors)
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received about the priority given to creditors of companies in administration under the Insolvency Act 1986; and if he will make a statement. [125770]
  657W
  Dr. Howells
  Under the Insolvency Act 1986 certain debts (principally for employee claims and taxes collected but not paid over) have preferential status up to defined limits.

  Representations are received about this from time to time and many representations received since the failure of UNO plc and World of Leather plc urged that preferential status should be reduced or abolished or that the categories of eligible claims should be extended. Last year the Department published a consultation document entitled, "A Review of Company Rescue and Business Reconstruction Mechanism", which invited views on, among others, the question of whether Crown preference in insolvency should be abolished. A report of the review group will be published in due course.

  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from creditors of World of Leather plc and UNO; and if he will make a statement. [125769]

  Dr. Howells
  Many representations have been received from or on behalf of customers of both UNO plc and World of Leather concerning payments made for furniture ordered but not supplied. The issues raised are set out in the record of the debate held in the House on 24 May 2000,Official Report, columns 247–55WH. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade subsequently also wrote to hon. Members who had participated in the debate and a copy of this letter has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Sub-post Offices (Transfer)
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will investigate the financial transactions which take place between Post Office Counters Ltd. and prospective sub-postmasters at the time of a transfer of a post office business to new ownership; and if he will assess the effect of these transactions on the long-term future of the Post Office network. [125461]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 12 June 2000]The contractual and financial arrangements relating to the transfer of a post office business to new ownership are matters for the Post Office and the prospective sub-postmaster. I am not aware that the financial terms relating to licence and relocation fees are having any significant implications for the long-term future of the network and I understand that the Post Office offers some flexibility where particular circumstances merit it.

  Chronic Bronchitic Emphysema
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claims from widows have been settled in respect of mineworkers who died of chronic bronchitic emphysema in the last two years. [125880]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 13 June 2000]We have made interim payments of bereavement awards to 2,577 widows seeking compensation for chronic bronchitis and emphysema, totalling £22.5 million. At present 262 claims from widows have been assessed through the medical process. We expect these claims to be settled shortly.
  658W
  My Department has also received estate claims in respect of some 7,400 miners who died between 1992 and May 1997.

  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claims his Department has received from mineworkers claiming compensation for chronic bronchitic emphysema; and, since May 1997, how many such claims have been settled. [125882]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 13 June 2000]After years of neglect by British Coal and a blind eye from the previous Administration, this Government have reached an agreement which gives former miners fair compensation for their suffering resulting from these diseases.

  The Department's claims handlers have registered nearly 107,000 claims for chronic bronchitis and emphysema from former miners and their families. To date, we have made 21,500 payments in full and final, and part settlements, totalling £60.5 million.

  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he appointed respiratory consultants to examine and report on claims from mineworkers for chronic bronchitic emphysema; how many have been appointed in(a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland; and when he expects the reports to be complete. [125881]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 13 June 2000]Healthcall commenced recruitment on 1 November 1999. To date 170 respiratory consultants have been recruited including 77 who are not allocated to a specific location. Reports are to be completed as soon as possible.

  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many mineworkers requesting domiciliary visits for tests in respect of claims for chronic bronchitic emphysema died prior to the test being carried out. [125883]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 13 June 2000]After years of neglect by British Coal and inaction by the previous Administration, this Government have reached an agreement which gives former miners fair compensation for their suffering resulting from these diseases.

  My Department has received estates claims in respect of some 7,400 miners who died between 1992 and May 1997. Many of these could have received compensation during their lifetime if British Coal and the previous Administration had not continued to deny responsibility.

  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he intends to make bereavement awards to the relatives of deceased widows of mineworkers who would have qualified for payments due under death certificates relating to chronic bronchitic emphysema. [125885]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 13 June 2000]After inaction under the previous Government, this Government have reached an agreement which should give former miners fair compensation for their suffering resulting from these diseases.

  The Department has agreed that the sons and daughters of those widows who died in the period between the date of the High Court judgment and the signing of the Handling Agreement may receive an ex-gratia payment.
  659W
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received concerning lung function tests carried out on behalf of the Government by Healthcall in respect of compensation claims from mineworkers suffering from chronic bronchitic emphysema. [125884]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 13 June 2000]I am informed that no such representations have been received.

  Young People (Protection at Work)
  Mr. White
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the future of the UK opt-outs under the EU Directive on the protection of young people at work. [126395]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The Directive on the Protection of Young People at Work (94/33/EC) provides a time-limited opt-out for the UK from certain of its provisions. The opt-out expires on 22 June 2000 and the UK will not be pursuing an extension. The Government will be undertaking a full consultation of all interested parties on proposals for the necessary amendments to the Working Time Regulations, in order to give effect to the previously excluded provisions in UK law. We will seek views on the most appropriate use of the derogations which are available in the Directive, in order to balance the proper protection of young people from being required to work long hours against the need to avoid unnecessary burdens on business and to respond to practical problems in particular areas and sectors.

  Postal Services
  Shona McIsaac
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what duty the Postal Services Commission will have to ensure that any infringement of the reserved area is remedied. [126396]

  Mr. Byers
  The provisions in the Postal Services Bill provide for the enforcement of the reserved area by the Postal Services Commission. That it has a duty to do so is implicit in the Bill. The reserved area (in which it is an offence to operate without a licence) is there to protect the provision of the universal postal service. The primary duty of the Commission (as set out in clause 3) is to exercise its functions in the manner which it considers best calculated to ensure the provision of the universal postal service.

  Since, under the European postal services directive, the reserved area can be only such as is necessary to ensure the provision of the universal service, infringement (unlicensed activity) of the reserved area (which is illegal) must be considered a potential threat to the provision of the universal service. This applies as much to relatively small infringements (which could cumulatively undermine the universal postal service) as it does to large infringements which have a significant effect in their own right. It follows, therefore, that there is an implied duty for the Commission to enforce the reserved area to protect the licensing regime and by doing so to protect the provision of a universal postal service.

  The Bill makes it clear that, if the Commission considers that the scope of clause 7 of the Bill, and thus the activities requiring a licence, should be changed the mechanism for doing so is to recommend to the Secretary of State that he makes an Order modifying clause 7. It is
  660W
  clear, therefore, that the Commission should not allow de facto reductions in the scope of the reserved area simply by allowing repeated infringements of it.

  Both the intention and effect of the Bill is that the Commission will take whatever enforcement action it considers necessary to protect the reserved area by deterring, detecting and prosecuting or otherwise remedying unlicensed activity. Not to do so (without good reason) would be a breach of its duties.

  In line with precedents in the utilities legislation (where it is also a criminal offence to operate without a licence) and the application of the criminal law in general, by not creating an express duty to take enforcement action in all circumstances, the Bill recognises that there should be an element of discretion in enforcement. So, while the presumption is that the Commission will usually take action to protect the licensed area where it knows or has good reason to believe an offence is being committed under clause 6 of the Bill, there may be circumstances where formal enforcement procedures, by prosecution or otherwise, are not in the public interest.

  Enterprise Culture
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action his Department is taking to achieve its key priority for 2000–01 of promoting a culture of enterprise in the European Union. [125912]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Department's actions include:pressing for the early adoption of a European Charter for Small Firms setting out key principles for promoting enterprise and pledging the Commission and Member States to action;
  working closely with the Commission in drawing up a Multiannual Programme for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship for 2001–05 which seeks to develop a programme of actions to make Europe more entrepreneurial and innovative; and
  giving support to the Spirit of Enterprise, a European Union-wide awards scheme whose aim is to promote entrepreneurship among young people.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the National Campaign for Enterprise. [125914]

  Mr. Byers
  The national campaign for enterprise—called Enterprise Insight—was launched by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 11 May. The campaign, supported by my Department, is informing young people about the challenges and rewards of starting their own business, developing entrepreneurial skills and encouraging the establishment and growth of successful businesses. Existing entrepreneurs and business people have a key part to play in the campaign. Already, 200 have signed up to participate in a range of activities to encourage enterprise in their communities.

  Public Service Targets
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the criteria are for evaluating his Department' s performance against its public service agreement target for 2002 of making the United Kingdom the best place in the world to trade electronically.[125924]

  Mr. Caborn
  The PIU report, 'e-commerce@its.best.uk', set out a number of possible criteria for evaluating progress against the target of being the best place in the world to trade
  661W
  electronically by 2002. The Office of the e-Envoy is working to establish more rigorously what these criteria should be and the results of this will be published in the autumn. In the meantime, the DTI continues to work towards a number of measurable targets related to trading online, namely that:
  1.5 million small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) connected;
  1 million SMEs actually trading online;
  and the use of ICTs by micro and small businesses up with the best in the world.

  Progress against these targets is measured in the DTI's annual International Benchmarking Study. The year 2000 study will be published shortly.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the criteria are for evaluating his Department's performance against its public service agreement target for 2002 of improving the overall international ranking of the science and engineering base in terms of quality relevance and cost-effectiveness. [125920]

  Mr. Byers
  The criteria for relevance and cost effectiveness are, respectively;the ranking of the UK against G7 and other countries in terms of HEI funding from non-Government sources;
  the ranking of the UK against G7 and other countries in terms of papers published per £1 million investment.

  Business Start-ups
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many successful high growth business start-ups there were in each of the last four years. [125922]

  Mr. Byers
  In 1999, the latest year for which figures are available, there were 12,800 successful higher growth start-up enterprises. In 1998 there were 12,600 enterprises. Estimates for earlier years cannot be made. Higher growth means enterprises achieving annual sales of El million or more, or employing 10 or more people, by their fourth year of trading.

  Spin-out Companies
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many companies have been spun out by universities in each of the past four years. [125910]

  Dr. Howells
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minster for Small Business and E-Commerce to my hon. Friend the Member for Crosby (Mrs. Curtis-Thomas) on 23 May 2000,Official Report, column 474W.

  Export Licences
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish the criteria which are being used to judge the achievement of his Department's key priority for 2000–01 to operate efficient and effective systems for export licensing. [125913]

  Dr. Howells
  The criteria used to judge achievement of this priority are set out in the Government's Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls, together with details of performance. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

CABINET OFFICE

  Criminals (Confiscation of Assets)
  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on the Government's policy towards the seizure of criminal assets. [124270]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has announced, we have today published the performance and innovation unit report, "Recovering the Proceeds of Crime".

  Copies of the report have been placed in the Vote Office and Libraries of the House.

  The report sets out a package of rigorous measures to recover from criminals their unlawful gains and to ensure that crime does not pay. We will:
  strongly encourage prosecutors and courts to make confiscation the norm after convictions where there have been proceeds from crime;
  enable courts to keep restrained assets to help meet confiscation orders; and
  simplify and enhance money laundering legislation to make it easier to bring cases and help focus efforts on criminal money flows.

  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what meetings she has had with the performance and innovation unit to discuss proposals to confiscate the assets of criminals. [124271]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  I have been Sponsor Minister for the performance and innovation unit project on recovering the proceeds of crime.

  As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has announced earlier, we have today published the performance and innovation unit report, "Recovering the Proceeds of Crime". Copies of the report have been placed in the Vote Office and Libraries of the House.

  The report sets out a package of rigorous measures to recover from criminals their unlawful gains and to ensure that crime does not pay.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what specific measures she intends to bring forward to ensure that criminals are deprived of the profits they make from drug dealing and other criminal activity. [124284]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has announced, we have today published the performance and innovation unit report, "Recovering the Proceeds of Crime".

  Copies of the report have been placed in the Vote Office and Libraries of the House.

  The report sets out a package of rigorous measures to recover from criminals their unlawful gains and to ensure that crime does not pay.

  Genetic Modification
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent discussion she has had with the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food regarding presentation of Government policy on GMOs. [124273]
  663W
  Marjorie Mowlam
  I have held recent discussions with various colleagues, including my right. hon. Friend the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, given my role as co-ordinator of biotechnology policy across Government.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many special advisers there are and how many have authority over civil servants. [124275]

  Mr. Stringer
  There are 79 special advisers in post of which two in the Prime Minister's office have executive powers.

  Knowledge Network Computer System
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if certain information held on the Knowledge Network computer system will be restricted to Ministers and special advisers. [124276]

  Mr. Stringer
  From the beginning of the project, it has been envisaged that as much information as possible which is eventually held on the Knowledge Network will be made publicly available over the Internet.

  Access to the full Knowledge Network will be restricted to Ministers and civil servants (including special advisers). There will be no new types of material produced by, or held on, the Knowledge Network which has not previously been circulated within Government through existing paper methods.

  Drug Abuse
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when she last met the UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator to discuss progress in meeting the Government's targets on reducing drug abuse. [124277]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  I hold regular meetings with the UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator to discuss progress in meeting all aspects of the Government's anti-drug strategy.

  Civil Service Recruitment Policy
  Helen Jackson
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps she is taking to ensure equal opportunity recruitment policies in the Civil Service. [124278]

  Mr. Stringer
  The Government are committed to a diverse Civil Service which reflects the society it serves, and has set targets of 35 per cent., 3.2 per cent., and 3 per cent. for the representation of women, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities in the Senior Civil Service by 2004–05. Departments have also set targets for these groups outside the Senior Civil Service.

  Recruitment to the Civil Service is on merit, through fair and open competition. We want the best people for the work, whatever their background.

  Magistrates
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress has been made since May 1997 in 664W
  making magistrate appointments in the county palatine more representative of the communities they serve. [124279]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  In my Directions for Advisory Committees in the Duchy of Lancaster there is a requirement that each Bench should broadly reflect the community it serves. We have been consulting on whether this result is best achieved by retaining the separateness of Duchy appointments or linking the system with the rest of England and Wales by transferring the power to appoint to the Lord Chancellor. As a result of this consultation, I have decided to see how we can more closely align with the system run by the Lord Chancellor on the principles of openness and transparency, while still retaining the local link through the Duchy, which many in the Duchy area value highly. I have asked a Committee involving representatives of the Duchy and the Lord Chancellor's Department to examine this question and report to me.

  Drugs Policy
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proposals she has for further co-ordination of the Government's drugs policy. [124280]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Government's drugs policy is set out and co-ordinated through our ten year Strategy, "Tackling Drugs to Build a Better Britain". The Anti Drugs Co-ordinator, Keith Hellawell, was appointed to co-ordinate and drive forward the strategy. The strategy contains challenging aims and targets across the whole of our policy. These are annually monitored and reported in the co-ordinator's national plan and report.

  The current spending review is considering further ways to enhance co-ordination of the strategy. Results of our consideration will be published when the review is concluded.

  Drug Prevention Programmes
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if it is her policy to introduce independent assessment of the effectiveness of drug prevention programmes(a) in schools and (b) elsewhere. [124283]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  As part of the Government's ten-year strategy "Tackling Drugs to Build a Better Britain" we are committed to identifying what works. This includes education and prevention initiatives. To support this objective the Drug Prevention Advisory Service (DPAS), is currently discussing with the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) ways in which the school inspections system can monitor schools drug policies and activities.

  DPAS also has a key role in assessing all Drug Action Teams prevention programmes. These cover a wide range of activities, including those, which take place in schools. The Anti Drug Co-ordinator, with the support of DPAS is currently reviewing DAT action plans for the year ahead.

  Small Business
  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent representations she has had on administrative burdens on small business. [124286]
  665W
  Mr. Stringer
  My ministerial colleagues and I have sought and received representations from a wide range of business organisations about the specific problems facing small businesses. We have most recently received correspondence from the Federation of Small Business. I will be meeting the Federation shortly to discuss their ideas for simplifying and reducing regulatory burdens.

  Civil Service Code
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what procedures she uses to remove conflicts of interest which are contrary to the Civil Service Code. [124287]

  Mr. Stringer
  The Civil Service Code is part of the terms and conditions of employment of all civil servants. The code informs civil servants of the standards they are expected to uphold, and the appeal mechanisms available to them. Ministers are under a duty, set out in the ministerial code, not to ask civil servants to act in any way which would conflict with the Civil Service Code.

  Crop Contamination
  Mr. David Heath
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on co-ordination between Government Departments in formulating policy and providing public information on contamination by GM seed of conventional crops. [124288]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  I have met various colleagues to discuss contamination of GM seed. In addition to a parliamentary statement made by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 18 May 2000, public information has been provided on the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food website and placed in the House Library.

  Annual Report
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will arrange for the Government's annual report to be prepared by the National Audit Office following previously published guidelines. [124289]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The Government have no such plans at this time.

  Drug Deaths
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what new proposals she has to reduce drug deaths. [124290]
  666W
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Government's ten-year anti-drugs strategy aims to reduce the number of deaths from the misuse of illegal drugs. The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) has been considering how best we can report, monitor and reduce the number of deaths arising from the use of illegal drugs and they will be reporting to Ministers in the near future.

  The anti-drugs strategy includes a target to have in place an action plan to reduce the number of drug-related deaths and this will be drawn up and implemented in response to the recommendations contained within the ACMD's report.

  Computer Viruses
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps have been taken across Government Departments to prevent disruption of communications by computer viruses similar to that known as the Love Bug. [124282]

  Mr. Ian McCatney
  Further to the hon. Member's question, dated 10 May 2000,Official Report, column 830W, we have published an assessment of computer viruses such as the Love Bug and its implications, copies of which have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Mr. Michael Jabez Foster
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when copies of the report on the impact of the love letter computer virus on Government IT systems will be placed in the Library. [126066]

  Mr. Stringer
  I have today placed copies of the report in the Libraries of the House.

  Staff Secondments
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to her answer of 11 January 2000,Official Report, column 134W, concerning secondments, which of the secondees listed were appointed for a period of 12 months or less. [124816]

  Mr. Stringer
  There were 10 secondees into the Cabinet Office for a period of 12 months or less from May 1997.

  All 10 of those secondees were in the return from May 1999. They were seconded in from Anderson Consulting, Barclays Bank plc, BT, Hay Management Consultants, KPMG, Marks & Spencer plc, McKinsey & Co., Microsoft Corporation, Wragge & Co. Solicitors, and Zurich Financial Services.

  Departmental Cars
  Departmental Cars
  Armed Forces Pay Review Body: Recommendations
  Armed Forces Pay Review Body: Recommendations
  Persistent Young Offenders
  Persistent Young Offenders
  Regulation of Investigatory Powers Bill
  Regulation of Investigatory Powers Bill
  GM Contamination of Oilseed Rape Seed
  GM Contamination of Oilseed Rape Seed
  Cod Fishing Ban
  Cod Fishing Ban
  Pig and Poultry Installations: Pollution Control
  Pig and Poultry Installations: Pollution Control
  Computer Virus: Impact on Government IT Systems
  Computer Virus: Impact on Government IT Systems