Written Answers of 20 June 2000

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Driving Standards Agency
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the business plan of the Driving Standards Agency concerning its future policy on test centre closures; if he will list, by region, the test centres targeted for closure; and what the timetable is for such closures.[125588]

  Mr. Hill
  The Driving Standards Agency's Business Plan for 2000–01 announced targets for the disposal of all vacant space over a five-year period. The target for 2000–01 is a 48 per cent. reduction, which should save fee payers about £145,000 annually. Closures of individual test centres will be considered on their merits and with regard to local circumstances.

  The Agency has consulted on the closure of the following driving test centres in the Wales and Western Area:

  Pembroke Dock and Haverfordwest—rationalising at Withybush.

  Portsmouth—relocating to the north of the city.

  Minehead.

  Representations are currently being considered.

  For the future, proposals for test centre openings and closures will, as far as practicable, be considered across the group of centres serving a locality. When proposals for a locality have been developed, the Agency will consult interested parties. This strategy should provide a network of improved test centres delivering a better quality of customer service, while adapting to changes in the demand for driving tests and test requirements.

  RMS St. Helena
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 5 June 2000,Official Report, column 59W, on RMS St. Helena, for how long RMS St. Helena was made available for service during the Falklands conflict; and for how many days it was in the war zone.[125592]

  Mr. Hill
  RMS St. Helena was made available for Royal Navy charter between May and September 1982 but did not leave the UK until 13 June 1982. The ship was in the war zone for 17 days from 26 June 1982 to 12 July 1982 which was the end of the qualifying period.

  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many civilians served on RMS St. Helena during the Falklands conflict; of these how many were from(a) St. Helena, (b) the Falklands,
  (c) the United Kingdom and (d) elsewhere; and how many have been awarded the South Atlantic Medal.[125593]
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  Mr. Hill
  Approximately 32 civilians served on RMS St. Helena at the time of the Falklands War. Of these, 21 were from St Helena, none from the Falklands, 11 were from the United Kingdom and none from elsewhere. None of these people have been awarded the South Atlantic Medal.

  Road Deaths (North Yorkshire)
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he has taken to reduce the number of deaths on North Yorkshire's roads.[125872]

  Mr. Hill
  This Government are committed to further improvements in road safety. We launched a new road safety strategy in March this year, and we are providing substantial extra resources for Local Transport Plans.

  In the Local Transport Capital Settlement for 2000–01, North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) received £8.5m as a block allocation, an increase of 58 per cent. over 1999–2000. This increase will allow NYCC to place additional emphasis on local safety schemes during the current financial year.

  We have also in the region commissioned two safety studies which will investigate trunk road safety problems, one between Bramham and Barton on the Al and the other between Scotch Corner and Penrith on the A66. Details of these studies, together with other planned trunk road safety schemes, are outlined in the letter from the Acting Chief Executive of the Highways Agency to the hon. Member, 29 February 2000, Official Report, columns 190W–92W.

  In North Yorkshire there has been a continuing reduction in the fatal and seriously injured categories, and in 1998 the County met the then national target of a one third reduction by the year 2000 compared with the 1981–85 base.

  Road Accidents (A21)
  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many accidents involving one or more vehicles occurred on the stretch of the A21 between the intersections with the B2079 and B2099 in each of the last five years, setting out in each case whether personal injury occurred.[125735]

  Mr. Hill
  The numbers of personal injury accidents on this stretch of road is shown for the last five years for which figures are available.

  Number

  1994

  6

  1995

  7

  1996

  11

  1997

  7

  1998

  11

  No information is available regarding damage-only accidents.

  Campers (Unauthorised Waste)
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his
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  answer of 8 June 2000, Official Report, column 312W, what representations he has received from local authorities and others concerning the effectiveness of powers under section 59(b) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 in penalising the depositing of waste by unauthorised campers.[125772]

  Mr. Mullin
  I am not aware of any representations on the effectiveness of these powers.

  Housing
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what steps he is taking to evaluate new approaches to allocating social housing, as proposed in the Housing Green Paper; and if he will make a statement;[126013]

  (2) what recent guidance he has given to local authorities on dealing with categories of applicants who have not traditionally applied for local authority accommodation; and if he will make a statement.[126017]

  Mr. Mullin
  In April, we published a Housing Green Paper, "Quality and choice: A Decent Home For All". This included our proposals for modernising policies that affect people's opportunities to access social housing. The Housing Green Paper set out proposals to give applicants for social housing a greater say over where they live. Local authorities will be encouraged to develop lettings systems which provide applicants with much more information about available housing, allowing them to make decisions about their housing options. People who may not have traditionally applied for social housing will be able to apply for vacant properties but we will want to ensure that priority goes to people in the greatest housing need. However, in some areas, local authorities may wish to implement local lettings plans to tackle social problems on particular estates. This may involve giving priority to people who would help to create more sustainable communities or to provide housing for key public sector workers.

  Responses to the Housing Green Paper have been invited by 31 July 2000. Following the consultation period, the Government will invite local authorities to pilot customer-focused schemes. This will include the need to test the impact of local lettings plans. All the pilot schemes will be carefully evaluated. The Government will also issue a revised version of the Code of Guidance on lettings and homelessness advising local authorities how they can implement choice-based lettings under the current legislative framework.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the definition of homelessness contained in the Housing Act 1996 will be used in future housing legislation; and if he will make a statement.[126016]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Housing Green Paper, which was issued for consultation on 4 April, includes proposals for strengthening the protection available to homeless people. The Government intend to take forward these proposals in the light of responses to the Green Paper. There are no present plans to change the statutory definition of homelessness.

  Landing Slot Allocations
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to review the system of landing slot allocations at major UK airports.[126201]

  Mr. Mullin
  Slot allocation is governed by EC Regulation 95/93. At airports where demand for slots significantly exceeds supply, they are allocated by an independent slot co-ordinator, using criteria set out in the Regulation, in international guidelines, and in any local rules. There are currently four such airports in the UK: London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Stansted and Manchester. We are awaiting proposals from the Commission for reform of EC 95/93.

  Landfill
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment his Department made, prior to the publication of the Waste Strategy 2000: England and Wales (Command Paper 4693), of the experiences in other countries of landfill mining, with particular reference to Germany; and if he will make a statement.[126633]

  Mr. Mullin
  [holding answer 19 June 2000]: UK landfill practices differ from most other countries. The mixing of hazardous and non-hazardous waste is more common in UK landfill sites, and they contain more moisture due to wet landfill operating systems. There would be significant engineering problems in drying excavated waste, some of which would be hazardous. The Environment Agency has therefore advised that landfill mining has limited potential in the UK.

  Ministerial Visits (Overseas)
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the(a) itinerary, (b) cost and (c) purpose of his visit to (i) Nigeria and (ii) Sierra Leone in the week beginning 12 June.[126547]

  Mr. Prescott
  [holding answer 19 June 2000]: I visited Nigeria and Sierra Leone at the request of the Prime Minister from 11–15 June in order to enhance bilateral relations, encourage UK business and thank the service men and women leaving Sierra Leone as well as visiting those who have just arrived.

  I visited Abuja, Lagos, Kano and Freetown. In Nigeria I was accompanied by a business team and met the President, Vice-President and other Ministers as well as religious leaders, NGOs and British and Nigerian business leaders.

  In Sierra Leone I met the President, Vice-President and Foreign Secretary and the Mayor and other civic leaders of Freetown. I also visited HMS Ocean and met service men and women from the Royal Marines, the Royal Navy, the Royal Naval Reserve and 2 Royal Anglian, who are providing the Short Term Training Team, as well as members of other armed services.

  The cost of my visit to Nigeria was approximately £5,500. For security reasons I flew to Sierra Leone with the RAF. The cost was approximately £24,000.

  Countryside Access
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate the Government have made of the cost to public funds of implementing their proposals on access to the countryside, including start-up costs and operational costs.[126863]

  Mr. Mullin
  [holding answer 19 June 2000]: Placing monetary values on the cost of the Government's proposals for creating a new statutory right of access to open countryside well in advance of such a right coming into force is inevitably subject to a degree of uncertainty. The Government have undertaken a Regulatory Impact Assessment which suggests the additional annual costs to the public sector, for which monetarised values have been derived, to be in the order of £2 million to £3 million a year, with one-off costs of about £6 million.

  Telecommunications Masts
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what account local authorities are obliged to take of public health concerns when determining planning applications for telecommunications masts.[126986]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Health considerations and public concern can in principle be material considerations in determining applications for planning permission and prior approval. Whether such matters are material in a particular case is ultimately a matter for the courts. It is for the decision-maker (usually the local planning authority) to determine what weight to attach to such considerations in any particular case. In doing so, authorities may have regard to the report of the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones published on 11 May.

  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive on their advice to local authorities with respect to planning applications for telecommunications masts.[126988]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  My officials regularly discuss aspects of telecommunications development with officials from the Scottish Executive. They have, in particular, held discussions about the range of actions being taken forward in response to the Stewart report's recommendations on planning.

  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance he has given to local authorities with respect to determining planning applications for telecommunications masts; and if he will make a statement. [126987]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Government planning policy for telecommunications is set out in Planning Policy Guidance note 8 (revised): Telecommunications, and the Department's Circular 4/99, "Planning for Telecommunications". In addition, a letter was sent to all Council leaders on 23 July 1999, providing advice about the health aspects of telecommunications masts.

  In its response to the report of the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones, issued on 11 May 2000 and placed in the Libraries of both Houses, the Government said that they were minded to introduce a requirement for an application for full planning permission for all new
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  telecommunications masts, but would need to consult widely before doing so, including on the principle and precise scope of any new arrangements. A copy of the response was sent to all Chief Planning Officers on 11 May.

  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. In the meantime, Local Planning Authorities should continue to deal with planning applications for telecommunications on the basis of the current legislative arrangements and policy guidance.

  Recycling
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps the Government are taking to enable local authorities to meet the set-up costs for intensive recycling. [126469]

  Mr. Mullin
  Funding for local authorities is being considered as part of the current spending review, alongside all the Government's spending pressures. The outcome of the review will be announced by the end of July.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  RUC Special Branch
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland at what time and on what date the RUC Special Branch's Tasking and Co-ordinating Group was informed by any branch of the security forces or services of security operations associated with incidents in the Forfar Street area of Belfast on 9 September 1987, the Newington Street area of Belfast on 16 May 1988, the Waterville area of Belfast on 23 September 1988 and the Forterllian Drive area of Belfast on 12 February 1989.[114593]

  Mr. Ingram
  My hon. Friend refers to the following:

  The incident that occurred in Forfar Street area on 9 September 1987. I have assumed he is referring to the murder of Patrick Hamill on 8 September 1987. The details of the incident were referred to the Royal Ulster Constabulary's Tasking and Co-ordinating Group at 17.55 hrs on 8 September 1987;

  The incident that occurred in the Newington Street area on 16 May 1988. I have assumed he is referring to the murder of Mr. Terence McDade on 10 May 1988. The details of the incident were referred to the Royal Ulster Constabulary's Tasking and Co-ordinating Group at 22.39 hrs on 10 May 1988;

  The incident that occurred on 23 September 1988. An exact time of when the incident was referred to the Royal Ulster Constabulary's Tasking and Co-ordinating Group is not available, but police were informed at 04.32 hrs on 23 September 1988;

  The incident that occurred in the Forterllian area on
  12 February 1989. I have assumed he is referring to the murder of Mr. Patrick Finucane at Fortwilliam Drive. The

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  details of the incident were referred to the Royal Ulster Constabulary's Tasking and Co-ordinating Group at 19.41 hrs on 12 February 1989.

  No-smoking Policy
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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.[125150]

  Mr. Mandelson
  The NIO has a well established policy on smoking. A complete ban on smoking has operated effectively in the Department since 1995. This policy is supported by participation in the national no-smoking day campaign and a series of health awareness events where staff who smoke are offered practical advice and information on how to stop.

  Smoking is not permitted in any NIO offices apart from designated smoking rooms.

  Police Authority
  Mr. Hope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements have been made for the appointment of a new Police Authority for Northern Ireland to succeed the present Authority whose term of office expires on 28 June.[127323]

  Mr. Mandelson
  The Police Authority has a vital task to perform in securing the maintenance of an effective and efficient police force. It also has a very important role to play in continuing to enhance the relationship between the police and the public it serves in the period before the planned Policing Board takes over from the Authority.

  I have therefore appointed the current Chairman, Vice-Chairman and 16 members of the Police Authority for Northern Ireland to serve from 29 June 2000 for a further three years (as required by statute) or until the Policing Board takes over from them, probably at the end of March 2001. I have also appointed four new members and in making those appointments I have, as required by the Police (NI) Act 1998, consulted the 26 local district councils. In addition, and in accordance with the guidelines issued by Dame Rennie Fritchie, the Commissioner for Public Appointments, applications for appointment were invited from other individuals. As a result, the Authority widely represents the community and will provide a necessary measure of continuity in the period leading to establishment of the Policing Board.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Organic Farming
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much financial assistance will be available to fund organic conversion in the current financial year.[127017]

  Mr. Morley
  We expect to spend £12 million on aid for conversion under the Organic Farming Scheme in financial year 2000–01.
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  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which European Union countries provide continuous financial support to farmers after the conversion process to organic farming has been completed. [127019]

  Mr. Morley
  The hon. Member may like to refer to the table of statistics (page 51 of the Minutes of Evidence) on this matter included in the Report of the Inquiry on "Organic Farming and the European Union" undertaken by the House of Lords European Communities Committee (Sub-Committee D) in Session 1998–99 (HL Paper 93).

  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of agricultural land is certified organic and in conversion in(a) Austria, (b) Denmark, (c) Finland, (d) France, (e) Sweden and (f) the United Kingdom.[127016]

  Mr. Morley
  In respect of organic areas in other EU member states, the hon. Member may like to refer to the table of statistics (page 49 of the Minutes of Evidence) on this matter included in the Report of the Inquiry on "Organic Farming and the European Union" undertaken by the House of Lords European Communities Committee (Sub-Committee D) in Session 1998-99 (HL Paper 93). Currently, around 3 per cent. of agricultural land in the UK is certified organic or in conversion.

  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to the answer of 11 April 2000,Official Report,column 134W, on organic food, what additional financial assistance he will make available to farmers wishing to convert to organic farming, in addition to free conversion advice and on-farms visits by the Organic Conversion Information Service, before the Organic Farming Scheme reopens. [127025]

  Mr. Morley
  We have no plans to provide funding additional to the £12 million we already plan to spend in 2000–01 under the Organic Farming Scheme. The OFS will reopen to new applications early in 2001 following the review of the scheme, which is currently taking place.

  Floods
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress the Environment Agency has made in implementing its action plan in response to the independent report on the Easter 1998 floods; and if he will make a statement on the serious flooding in Todmorden and other areas of northern England in early June.[127295]

  Mr. Morley
  The Chairman of the Environment Agency has provided me with a report of progress up to the end of April 2000. Copies are being placed in the House Libraries.

  I am pleased to note that the major work programme set out in the Action Plan is almost complete.
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  Key developments since the Agency's last report, which covered the period to end of December 1999, are as follows:
  Completion of the first phase of the telemetry works resulting in an additional 109 river level gauges, 16 river flow gauges and 65 rain gauges. These will enable conditions to be monitored during flooding and the calibration of flood models.
  A concordat between the Agency and the Meteorological Office has been signed to provide a framework for improved liaison and exchange of data.
  The Agency has completed its programme of visual inspections of its flood defences. Local authorities have inspected between 75 per cent. and 90 per cent. of their defences. The remainder are scheduled for completion by September in line with the Ministry's High Level Targets. Defences belonging to third parties have been inspected where identified through discussions with local authorities.
  Of the 1.6 million properties within the flood plain, one million addresses have been identified as high risk. This will enable flood risk information and other publicity material to be better targeted within the wider flood plain.
  A letter designed to raise awareness of the flood risk to caravan sites has been produced and distributed together with a request for site owners to make visitors aware of such risks and what they should do in the event of a flood.
  The Agency is providing guidelines to enable the severity and extent of flooding to be calculated on a consistent basis in order to better inform post event surveys.
  Two activities have yet to be fully completed by the Agency. These are the introduction of the new flood warning codes and revised management structures. The new flood warning codes are scheduled to be introduced on 12 September 2000. The introduction of the revised management structures will be phased during April to September 2000 in order to minimise the risk of disruption to services.

  The Agency's Easter Floods Project Team has now completed its work and is to be congratulated for its efforts in delivering the Action Plan and meeting the priorities I set out in striving for a seamless and integrated service of flood forecasting, warning and response. The outstanding issues will be taken forward by the Agency's National Flood Warning Centre. Further activity in improving flood defence will be driven by the High Level Targets that the Government set last November.

  As regards the flooding earlier this month, I am acutely aware of the suffering experienced by many communities in northern England, and express the Government's sympathy to all those affected. I have asked the Chairman of the Environment Agency to provide a report on the flooding, by 21 July 2000, to include:

  the impact of the flooding;

  the causes of the flooding, including assessment of the contributory factors suggested by local members of the public;

  the effectiveness and timeliness of flood warnings;

  to what extent the effects of these floods were mitigated as a result of the measures taken to implement the Independent Report of the Easter 1998 floods; and

  what further lessons can be learned from these floods.

SCOTLAND

  Employment Service
  Ms Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what performance targets have been set in respect of the employment service in Scotland's aims and objectives in 2000–01.[127225]

  Dr. Reid
  The aim of the Employment Service is to help people without jobs find work and employers to fill their vacancies. The Employment Service in Scotland makes a significant contribution to an efficient and flexible labour market and to meeting the Government's objectives of high and stable employment and growth, opportunity for all and social inclusion. Its main priority is to help people faced with particular difficulties in the labour market move from welfare and economic inactivity into sustainable employment. It is taking forward an ambitious programme of technological change and business improvement and is preparing for the merger with the Benefits Agency in 2001. I am announcing today the targets we have set for the Employment Service in Scotland for 2000–01, which relate to its four key objectives.

  Vision and Purpose

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

  Aim

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

  Objective A

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

  Targets

  1.To help 20,292 participants in the New Deals and the Glasgow Employment Zone, directly or in partnership with others.

  2.To help 11,200 people with disabilities into work, directly or in partnership with others.

  3.To help 33,335 disadvantaged jobseekers into work, directly or in partnership with others.

  4.To help 91,875 people from welfare into work, directly or in partnership with others.

  5.To help 169,325 jobless people into work, directly or in partnership with others.

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  Objective B

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

  Target

  To ensure that the relevant labour market responsibilities of people on JSA are fulfilled in 94 per cent. of cases checked.

  Objective C

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

  Targets

  1. To achieve a 91 per cent. customer service level for jobseekers.

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

  Objective D

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

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Capital Modernisation Fund
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the applications made by her Department to the Captial Modernisation Fund, giving the(a) intended recipients, (b) financial value and (c) outcome of each application.[126450]

  Clare Short
  DFID has made one application to the Capital Modernisation Fund, which was unsuccessful. This was to meet the costs of a proposed project to implement overseas Information Communications Technology centres to serve three African communities. The cost was estimated at £850,000.

  Departmental Publications
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list(a) the total number of publications issued by her Department each year since 1997, (b) how many of each were printed and (c) the total cost of each publication.[126448]

  Clare Short
  As part of our commitment to openness, as well as to raising awareness and understanding of development issues, we now make publicly available all our strategy documents, including all country and

  Zimbabwe project completion reports received since 1 May 1997

  Project title

  Overall achievement

  Small-scale Irrigation Using Wells, Pilot Project

  Very good

  Zimbabwe Forestry Research and Institution Strengthening Project

  Satisfactory

  ATP Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Company (ZISCO)—completed February 1996

  Poor

  Insect Pest Management Project

  Satisfactory

  Wildlife Disease Epidemiology, Phase II Project

  Satisfactory

  National Measles Immunisation Days 1998 Project

  Satisfactory

  ATP: Supply of 300 Land Rovers1—completed June 1997

  Very good

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  institutional strategy papers, as well as all major consultation papers and speeches. Our publishing output has therefore expanded considerably.

  Due to the disproportionate cost involved we are not able to provide the full level of details requested. However within the main categories we have produced:

  36 x Country Strategy Papers

  10 x Institutional Strategy Papers

  8 x Consultation Papers

  4 x Background briefings

  18 x Speech booklets

  10 x Issues of Development magazine.

  We also produced this year a publications catalogue which lists the majority of departmental publications produced since 1997, together with information on how to obtain copies. A copy of the catalogue has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Costs and print runs vary from a typical strategy paper (1,500 copies costing approximately £1,500) to Developments magazine (60,000 copies costing approximately £40,000 per issue, including distribution).

  Departmental Reports
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list(a) the cost and (b) number of copies printed of the Departmental report in (i) 1999 (ii) 1998 and (iii) 2000.[126443]

  Clare Short
  The total cost and number of copies printed of the Departmental Report are as follows:

  Year

  Cost(£)

  Copies printed

  1998

  33,672

  1,500

  1999

  65,051

  2,500

  2000

  98,000

  3,500

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list(a) the number of project completion reports received from Zimbabwe since 1 May 1997 and (b) each project that has met its objective.[126452]

  Clare Short
  Since 1 May 1997, 10 Zimbabwe Project Completion Reports have been received. Of these, eight (80 per cent.) were judged to have either fully or largely achieved their objectives. The following table lists the reports received, indicates their overall achievement rating and describes the rating system used.
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  Zimbabwe project completion reports received since 1 May 1997

  Project title

  Overall achievement

  Social Marketing of Mosquito Nets

  Satisfactory

  Children Under Stress

  Satisfactory

  Health Management Strengthening

  Fair

  1Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA), Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), Posts and Telecommunications Corporation, Forestry Commission

  Performance Rating

  Very good: Fully achieved

  Satisfactory: Largely achieved despite a few shortcomings

  Fair: Only partially achieved, benefits and shortcomings finely balanced

  Poor: Very limited achievement, extensive shortcomings

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if the police project in Zimbabwe funded by her Department will meet its objective as set out in her Department's Public Service Agreement.[126457]

  Clare Short
  A formal review of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Organisational Development Project in October 1999 showed that it was successful in contributing to DFID's objectives as set out in the Public Service Agreement. The review concluded that the project was enabling organisational change to take place in ZRP to the benefit of the people of Zimbabwe, including the poorest.

  However, since February the ZRP has not enforced the law or upheld their own charter in relation to the attacks on the opposition and the land invasions. I have therefore decided that we will continue to support police activities which directly relate to confidence building with civil society, community based organisations and human rights groups. I have also suspended the supply of Land Rovers.

  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) pursuant to her answer of 12 June 2000,Official Report, columns 442–43W, on land acquisition in Zimbabwe, for what reasons she did not list (a) the number, acreage and cost of farms acquired, (b) the person to whom the farms were transferred and (c) the acreage which remains in production; [127092]

  (2) pursuant to her answer of 12 June 2000, Official Report, columns 442–43W, on Zimbabwe, if she will place in the Library a copy of the (a) ODA evaluation conducted in 1988 and (b) 1993 study carried out by the Zimbabwean Comptroller and Auditor General.[127153]

  Clare Short
  As I have made clear, producing the information required would involve disproportionate cost.

  I am happy to place a copy of the 1988 ODA evaluation report in the House of Commons Library.

  The 1993 study on land reform was prepared by the office of the Zimbabwean Comptroller and Auditor General.

  Overseas Staff
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many staff and at what
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  grades her Department employs in (a) Kazakhstan, (b) Uzbekistan, (c) Turkmenistan, (d) Tajikistan and (e)Kyrgyzstan.[126432]

  Clare Short
  Our programmes in these countries are small or non-existent and administered by Embassy staff, who are appointed by the FCO, and Staff Appointed In Country (SAIC). Details of staff and their grades for each country are as follows:

  (a) Kazakhstan

  DS9 (also covers programme in Kyrgyzstan)—70 per cent.

  DS7 (also covers programme in Kyrgyzstan)—15 per cent.

  SAIC Grade III—100 per cent.

  (b) Uzbekistan

  DS9–15 per cent.

  SAIC II—100 per cent.

  (c) Turkmenistan

  DS9–15 per cent.

  SAIC III—100 per cent.

  (d) Tajikistan

  No staff employed

  (e) Kyrgyzstan

  SAIC Grade II—100 per cent.

  SAIC Grade III—100 per cent.

  My Department also employs two Assistant Professional Officers on DFID rural livelihoods activities within a World bank project.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the total numbers of locally employed staff employed by her Department on(a)1 May 1997 and (b) 1 May 2000.[126445]

  Clare Short
  Figures for locally employed staff, now known as Staff Appointed in Country (SAIC), were not collected centrally in 1997. The figure for SAIC employed by the Department on 1 May 2000 was 410.

  Job Advertisements
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list(a) the total number and (b) the total cost of job advertisements placed by her Department since 1 May 1997.[126446]
  125W
  Clare Short
  The total number of advertisements and their associated costs in each of the financial years since 1997 are as follows:

  Number of advertisements

  Costs (£)

  1997–98

  1313

  991,487

  1998–99

  1324

  1,025,832

  1999–2000

  326

  1,064,554

  2000–012

  40

  216,435

  Total

  1,003

  3,298,308

  1Detailed records of the number of advertisements are not held for these years. The figures are estimates based on the actual costs which are held and other known financial information.

  2To date

  Sierra Leone
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of her Department's bilateral country programme aid for Sierra Leone is spent by the Government of Sierra Leone. [126458]

  Clare Short
  Currently, we are providing £10 million of programme aid to the Government of Sierra Leone for two purposes: to meet the Government's debt service obligations to the international financial institutions (IFIs); and to help pay the salaries of public sector teachers and health workers, and the police. The programme aid grant is administered on behalf of the Government of Sierra Leone by Crown Agents Financial Services Ltd. (CASL). CASL make current debt service payments direct to the IFIs on behalf of the Government of Sierra Leone as they become due. CASL reimburses the Government of Sierra Leone for prior expenditure on public sector salaries, and then carries out independent audit checks on payroll to guard against fraudulent claims.

  Ministerial Offices (Refurbishment)
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the total cost of refurbishment and redecoration of her Department's ministerial offices since 1 May 1997.[126444]

  Clare Short
  Since 1997 our Department has spent the following amounts on the refurbishment of ministerial offices, which included replacement furniture and redecoration:

  1997: £7,978

  1998: £7,376

  1999: Nil.

  The figures for 2000 are not available yet.

  Know How Fund
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid her Department is providing to Eastern European countries under the Know How Fund; and if she will make a statement.[125229]

  Clare Short
  Over the last five years bilateral programmes of financial and technical assistance to Eastern European countries have totalled around £80 million a year. This assistance is channelled directly to Governments, and also to other institutions including local governments,126W
  non-governmental and civil society institutions. In addition the UK provided assistance through its contributions to multilateral institutions including the European Community and World Bank.

HEALTH

  Mead Webber Plant
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the nature is of the investigation the Meat Hygiene Service is planning into official veterinary surgeon supervision at the Mead Webber plant since 10 April; and what the timescale is for the investigation.[122042]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 15 May 2000]:I understand from the Food Standards Agency that it is arranging for Mead Webber Ltd.'s complaints against the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) to be investigated independently. The investigation will be carried out as quickly as possible.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many Official Veterinary Surgeons have attended the Mead Webber abattoir since the Meat Hygiene Service took over responsibility for supervising it; and when Mr. Yogaratnam was appointed as OVS to the plant.[122056]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 15 May 2000]: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that, owing to a fire at a central Government filestore in 1998, the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) is unable to provide a categorical statement as to how many official veterinary surgeons (OVSs) have attended the Mead Webber abattoir since it took over responsibility for supervising these premises.

  However, available records show that 19 OVSs have attended the Mead Webber abattoir since the MHS took over responsibility for supervising it. Two of these have acted as the lead OVSs throughout this period, and as such have been responsible for the production of HAS scores for the plant. The other 17 have been used to provide locum cover.

  Mr. Yogaratnam was appointed as OVS to the Mead Webber plant in April 1997.

  Staff Secondments
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff from his Department were seconded to private sector companies in(a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999 and (c) May 1999 to April 2000; and if he will list in each case the companies to which staff were sent, the names and ranks of the staff involved and the duration of the secondment.[123424]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 24 May 2000]: Interchange is a key component of the reform agenda. The Modernising Government White Paper committed us to increasing interchange, in particular by bringing in more people on secondment and sending more of our people out. Secondments and attachments are part of the Interchange Initiative which promotes the exchange of people and good practice between the Civil Service and other organisations. All sectors of the economy are involved: voluntary, education, health, public and private.
  127W
  Central records are held on the following secondments to the private sector which commenced in the years shown in the table.

  Date

  Number

  Details

  May 1997-April 1998

  2

  Howard Bloom, SCS, to Sema Group for 5 years

  Mr. W. Flynn, 1P4 to Dawn til Dusk Plc for 1 year

  May 1998-April 1999

  0

  No secondments, according to central records

  May 1999-April 2000

  1

  Robert Newton, IP3 to Federal Mogul for 6 months

  Accident and Emergency Units (Violence)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had, and with whom, about giving greater support to nursing staff working in accident and emergency units at NHS hospitals in the Greater London area to combat violence towards staff from the general public.[125767]

  Ms Stuart
  We are determined to ensure that National Health Service staff who spend their lives caring for others are not rewarded with intimidation and violence. Violence to staff is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

  "Working Together", the national human resources strategic framework for the NHS, sets out a number of HR targets and priorities for NHS employers. One of these concerns violence to staff. NHS employers have been asked to put in place systems for the recording and monitoring of violent incidents and to meet targets to reduce these by 20 per cent. by 2001 and 30 per cent. by 2003. Regional offices of the NHS Executive are asked to monitor progress against these targets. The London Regional Office through its performance management processes will be measuring progress against these targets in 2001.

  Cosmetic Surgery
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer of 17 May 2000,Official Report, column 129W, on cosmetic surgery, what assessment he has made of the operation of regulations pertaining to advertising of cosmetic surgery; and what contact has taken place between his Department and the Department of Trade and Industry on the same.[126320]

  Ms Stuart
  Our response to the Health Committee's Fifth Report on the regulation of private and other independent healthcare made it clear that we agreed that normal advertising controls alone may not be sufficient in the field of cosmetic surgery to ensure that the information that patients receive is of an acceptable standard. Officials in the Department of Health and the Department of Trade and Industry worked together on this issue. The Care Standards Bill, as drafted, will allow us to introduce regulations covering standards of information given to patients in the independent sector, including promotional material.

  Diabetes
  Mr. Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has (1) to improve awareness among health care professionals of the risk factors and symptoms of diabetes; [126513]

  (2) to raise awareness of diabetes among the public, with particular reference to those in higher-risk groups. [126512]

  Mr. Denham
  We recognise the importance of raising awareness about the risk factors and symptoms of diabetes among both the public and health care professionals. Ministers have asked the United Kingdom National Screening Committee, which advises Government on all aspects of screening policy, to consider whether there is a case for the introduction of a targeted screening programme for Type 2 diabetes and, if so, how this could most effectively be achieved. The conclusions of the Committee will inform the work of the Expert Reference Group for the National Service Framework for diabetes in England.

  The aims of the diabetes National Service Framework are to improve health outcomes for people with diabetes by raising the quality of services and reducing variations between them. Its scope includes prevention, identification and management of diabetes and its complications.

  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what methods his Department will use to identify the estimated one million people living undiagnosed with diabetes;[126427]

  (2) what plans he has to move resources within the NHS from treating the complications of diabetes towards prevention and early diagnosis;[126397]

  (3) what plans he has to reduce the incidence of diabetic complications through prevention, early diagnosis and intensive management of the condition.[126418]

  Mr. Denham
  We recognise the importance of detecting diabetes as early as possible. Ministers have asked the United Kingdom National Screening Committee, which advises Government on all aspects of screening policy, to consider whether there is a case for the introduction of a targeted screening programme for Type 2 diabetes and, if so, how this could most effectively be achieved. The conclusions of the Committee will inform the work of the Expert Reference Group for the National Service Framework for Diabetes in England that we announced last year. The scope of the Framework includes prevention, identification and management of diabetes and its complications.

  Single Currency
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the costs to his Department of switching from the pound to the euro.[126399]

  Ms Stuart
  Should the United Kingdom decide to join the euro, the cost of the changeover would depend on the detailed approach taken to a changeover.

  Service Costs
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost of the(a) adolescent and

  129W
  child psychiatry service, (b) adolescent and child psychology service, (c) community psychiatric nursing service, (d) cervical cytology screening programme and (e) accident and emergency service in (i) 1970, (ii) 1980, (iii) 1990 and (iv) 1999. [126824]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 19 June 2000]: Information on the costs of the community psychiatric nurses is not collected centrally. Information is not collected separately on the child and adolescent psychology service.

  The NHS Cervical Screening Programme began in 1988. The National Audit Office estimated in 1998 that the Programme costs around £132 million per year, around £34 per woman screened
  National Audit Office; The Performance of the NHS Cervical Screening Programme in England; Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General; HC678 Session 1997-98; 22 April 1998.
  The latest information on the cost of child and adolescent psychiatry service and the accident and emergency service is shown in the table.

  £

  Expenditure 1998–99

  Adolescent and child psychiatry,

  123,278,175

  Purchase of healthcare by HAs (A&E)

  780,245,000

  The adolescent and child psychiatry figure includes expenditure for in-patients, outpatients, royal college specialities and day care patients.

  Coronary Care Services
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the targets he has set health authorities for coronary care services.[126111]

  Yvette Cooper
  The National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease was published on 6 March. The Framework sets 12 national standards for improved prevention, diagnosis and treatment, and goals to secure fair access to high quality services over the 10-year period. This will include building up capacity, increasing the specialist workforce, improving prevention and creating faster access to services.

  Last October we announced a £50 million investment for the expansion of cardiac surgery. Last month we announced a further investment of £50 million, to be used to establish rapid access chest pain clinics, to speed up ambulance response times, to purchase defibrillators and to reduce waiting times for treatment.

  Regional offices are working with their health authorities and National Health Service trusts to ensure that these resources are targeted most effectively to increase the use of marginal capacity and to meet the greatest need within their region. A top priority for Dr. Roger Boyle, the National Director for Heart Disease, is to look with regional offices and with cardiac centres at the initial plans to ensure that we make the very best use of all the available skills and capacity.

  Correspondence
  Sir Michael Spicer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the hon. Member for West Worcestershire will receive an answer to his letters of 23 March, 5 May and 2 June, relating to the case of his constituent, Ms Wendy Hands of Ashbrooke, Church Walk, Upton-upon-Severn, addressed to the Minister for Public Health.[126982]

  Yvette Cooper
  I shall let the hon. Member have a reply to his letters as soon as possible.

  Adoption
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children were adopted in the UK in 1999. [126267]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I have been asked to reply.

  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 Mr. Tom Cox dated 20 June 2000:

  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question about adoption.

  The final numbers of adoptions recorded during 1999 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are not yet available; the corresponding number in Scotland was 488.

  The number of adoptions recorded in 1998 in the United Kingdom was 4,998.

WALES

  Education and Health Funding
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much additional funding will be made available to(a) schools and (b) the Health Service in Wales as a result of specific measures announced in the Budget.[118188]

  Mr. Hanson
  There will be an increase of £49.6 million in the Welsh Block as a consequence of the increase in education funding for 2000–01 and of £1,299 million as a consequence of the increase in health funding for 2000–01 to 2003–04, £99 million of which will fall in 2000–01. The allocation of these funds is entirely a matter for the Assembly.

  The Assembly Finance Secretary has announced allocations of £20.6 million to schools delegated budgets to raise standards of teaching and learning; £26.8 million for capital investments in schools; £2.2 million for teacher recruitment measures; and £40 million for joint working between NHS, Social Services, voluntary organisations and others to deal with all-year emergency pressures on the NHS and for the NHS to reduce waiting times. She has said that the rest of the increase will be allocated to health; discussions are ongoing on how best to allocate it to other identified priority areas.

  Drugs
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the
  131W
  First Secretary concerning the impact of (a) hard and (b) soft drugs upon Deeside; and if he will make a statement.[126518]

  Mr. Hanson
  My right hon. Friend and I have regular discussions with the First Secretary and other Assembly Secretaries about a range of topics including drug abuse.

  On 25 May, Jane Hutt, the Assembly Secretary for Health and Social Services, launched "Tackling Substance Misuse in Wales: A Partnership Approach", copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House. New developments in North Wales include the appointment by the Community Drug and Alcohol Service of two young people's workers and a specialist midwife.

  Rural Bus Services
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary concerning the provision of improved rural bus services; and if he will make a statement.[126973]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I have regular discussions with the First Secretary on a range of topics including rural bus services.

  I am pleased that the Assembly has decided to continue the Bus Subsidy Grant scheme in the current financial year. Of the £5 million budget, £3 million is reserved solely for boosting the number and range of services in rural areas. The balance is available for use at local authorities' discretion—which can include yet further support to rural services. These figures are in addition to approximately £10 million a year which authorities already spend on subsidising non-commercial local bus services throughout their areas.

  Rural Wales
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary concerning new policies to assist rural Wales; and if he will make a statement.[126972]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I have regular discussions with the First Secretary about a range of matters including the needs of rural Wales.

  RN exercises cancelled due to budgetary reasons—FY 1999–2000

  Serial/name of exercise

  Dates

  1 FLOTEX (Flotilla Exercise)

  November 1999

  2 CADENCE BRAKE (Royal Marine winter driving training in Norway (precursor to serial 4))

  November 1999

  3 ASWEX 2000 (Ship, Submarine, Helicopter Anti-submarine warfare exercise)

  January 2000

  4 Royal Marine Winter Deployment (Arctic warfare training in (Norway)

  January 2000

  Defence Intelligence and Security Centre
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current year's budget and staff establishment of the Defence Intelligence and Security Centre. [125201]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 12 June 2000]: The cash allocation for Financial Year 2000–01 is £18.448 million. The Defence Intelligence and Security Centre's current staff establishment is as follows:
  132W
  The Assembly is addressing the specific needs of rural Wales and its communities in the development of several new policies and programmes. These include the Communities First programme; Local Regeneration Fund; Objective 1 Single Programming Document; Objective 2 and Transitional Funding for many parts of the rural East; and the Rural Development Plan for Wales.

DEFENCE

  No-smoking Policy
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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.[125158]

  Dr. Moonie
  My Department's aim, in line with wider Government policy, is to create a non-smoking working environment in so far as this reflects the wishes of staff. Detailed guidance on this policy is promulgated in the "Departmental Health and Safety Handbook, Joint Service Publication 375", a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

  The implementation of departmental policy on smoking, in common with other health and safety matters, is a local line management responsibility, and consequently, no central record is held on the proportion of the Department's offices that do not allow smoking. This information could, therefore, be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Armed Forces Exercises
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the(a) Army, (b) Navy, (c) RAF and (d) TA exercises cancelled for budgetary reasons in (i) 1999–2000 and (ii) 2000–01.[125707]

  Dr. Moonie
  The following table sets out the Royal Navy exercises cancelled for budgetary reasons in the specified period.

  No Army, RAF or TA exercises have been cancelled for budgetary reasons during 1999–2000.

  No Navy, Army, RAF or TA exercises planned to take place during financial year 2000–01 have been cancelled (or are expected to be cancelled) for budgetary reasons.

  Number

  Army Officers

  41

  Army Solders

  166

  Navy Officers

  9

  Navy Rating

  28

  RAF Officer

  14

  RAF Airmen

  49

  Civilian Non Industrial

  122

  Civilian Industrial

  25

  Total

  454

  BOWMAN Project
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the cost has been to date of the BOWMAN project;[125783]

  (2) what alternatives to the BOWMAN project he has (a) considered and (b) evaluated; and when he will make a decision on the future of the project.[125784]

  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. Robert Key, dated 20 June 2000:

  I am replying to your questions to the Secretary of State for Defence about the BOWMAN communication project. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.

  As part of the BOWMAN project, we have examined a number of alternative technical options, and have reviewed whether the basic approach to BOWMAN remains valid in the light of rapid developments in the mobile communications field. The analysis demonstrates that BOWMAN can be a robust solution to the military requirement. Our primary effort has been directed to working with Archer Communications Systems Limited (ACSL), the nominated BOWMAN contractor, to establish whether an adequately de-risked solution can be provided on taut contractual terms. In parallel, study contracts were placed earlier this year with Computing Devices Canada and Thomson CSF to ascertain whether suitable alternatives to the current ACSL solution for BOWMAN might be available. These studies have reported and are being evaluated.

  A decision on the way ahead for BOWMAN is expected later this Summer. At 31 March 2000, expenditure on BOWMAN which included work that would be relevant to solutions other than that being developed by ACSL, was some £260M at outturn prices.

  DERA Public-private Partnership
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the inclusion of DERA West Freugh in the DERA public-private partnership.[125950]

  Mr. Hoon
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 17 April 2000,Official Report, columns 366–67W, to my hon. Friend for Huddersfield (Mr. Sheerman), which outlined our proposals for the DERA public private partnership. These are described in more detail in the consultation document, a copy of which can be found in the Library of the House and on the internet at www.mod.uk/commercial/ppp/dera/.
  Under current proposals, we envisage that the capabilities provided by West Freugh will form part of the NewDERA company. It is, therefore, likely that West Freugh would transfer to the private sector.

  Our proposals are designated to secure a long-term future for both NewDERA and those elements to be retained within the Ministry of Defence. The new freedoms proposed for NewDERA will open up a range of commercial opportunities not previously available and help secure jobs in the longer term.

  No final decisions on the PPP will be taken until all the inputs received during the consultation exercise, which ended on 9 June, have been fully analysed. We hope to be in a position to make an announcement on the way ahead for DERA before the summer recess.

  Sierra Leone
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons army doctors during the recent deployment in Sierra Leone and Senegal did not carry sufficient supplies of(a) mefloquine and (b) savarine; and if he will make a statement.[126055]

  Mr. Hoon
  [holding answer 15 June 20001: The normal anti-malarial drugs for Sierra Leone are mefloquine, or chloroquine and proguanil tablets for aircrew. Supplies of these drugs were readily available. The reasons why some personnel deployed to Sierra Leone without supplies of mefloquine are being investigated by the Ministry of Defence. The French anti-malarial drug savarine, which is a combination of chloroquine and proguanil, was acquired locally as an interim measure and distributed within 24 hours of personnel arriving in theatre. Personnel who had deployed without supplies of mefloquine were transferred to mefloquine within four days of arrival in theatre.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy on medical preparedness of(a) the spearhead battalions of the Rapid Reaction Corps and (b) other armed forces personnel in all three Services, with particular reference to Sierra Leone; and if he will make a statement.[126056]

  Mr. Hoon
  [holding answer 15 June 2000]: It is the Ministry of Defence's policy that all Service personnel should be up to date with routine vaccinations and that members of the Joint Rapid Reaction Forces should be up to date with certain additional vaccinations, depending on their degree of readiness. Personnel deploying to high risk areas should receive further vaccinations specific to the risks they face. Other aspects of medical preparedness will depend on the role of the deploying forces and the geographical location to which they are deploying.

  Service Personnel (Medical Records)
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what records are kept(a) centrally, (b) in theatre and (c) on individual service personnel relating to (i) inoculations, (ii) prophylactic drugs and (iii) other medications. [126053]

  Mr. Hoon
  [holding answer 15 June 2000]: Details of inoculations, prescribed prophylactic drugs and other medications are recorded in individuals' personal medical records known as Form F Med 4. These records are normally held by the individuals' parent units. Information may also be held on medical centre computer systems. Any medical treatment administered to personnel in-theatre is recorded for each individual in an operational medical record (Form F Med 965). This information is incorporated into F Med 4s on return. In addition, the Army records the nature and date of vaccinations given to individuals centrally on personnel information systems. A central record has been maintained on vaccinations given to personnel while deployed on Operation Palliser.

  Land (Caversfield)
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will enforce the agreement between the Ministry of Defence and Hodge (Eastern) Ltd. on recreational land at Caversfield in Oxfordshire.[126663]
  135W
  Dr. Moonie
  The former Ministry of Defence land at Caversfield, sold to Hodge (Eastern) Limited in December 1996, included two areas of 'bare' land, which the clawback clause in the transfer refers to as open space either for playing fields or agricultural purposes.
  There has been no breach of the agreement between the Ministry of Defence and Hodge (Eastern) Limited in relation to this open land.

  RAF Feltwell
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when a Minister from his Department last visited RAF Feltwell.[126648]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 19 June 2000]: Since 1 May 1997 no Minister of this Department has visited RAF Feltwell.

  Advertising
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent by his Department on advertising in each year since May 1997.[125695]

  Dr. Moonie
  This information is not required in the requested format, for internal MOD management purposes and, as a result, is not collected centrally. It could, therefore, be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, related cost information is as set out.

  £million

  Financial year

  PR Marketing and business support services

  Expenditure by the Chief of Public Relations1

  1997–98

  0.502

  2.267

  1998–99

  0.844

  2.328

  1999–2000

  1.114

  2.741

  1Excluding staff salaries or associated costs

  Security
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in respect of DA-Notice No. 4, how many(a) sites and (b) individuals have been identified where disclosure of locations and addresses would not be in the public interest.[126876]

  Mr. Spellar
  There are under 10 sites where disclosure of location would not be in the public interest. The locations of other sites covered by DA-Notice No. 4 are not concealed, although their security arrangements are classified.

  Each Ministry involved in security and counter-terrorist measures holds its own list of high threat personnel addresses. That for the Ministry of Defence contains those of 22 serving military personnel, 46 retired military personnel, three civil servants and four Ministers.

  Munitions Stocks
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what steps have been taken to restore stocks of precision guided and non-precision guided munitions back to pre-operation levels following Operation Allied Force; and if he will make a statement;[124207]
  136W
  (2) what contracts have been placed to replace (a) Paveway II, (b) Paveway III, (c) RBL 755, (d) 10001b bomb, (e) Alarm and (f) TLAM expended during operations in Kosovo, listing in each case the (i) company involved, (ii) estimated date of delivery, (iii) value of the contract and (iv) cost per unit; and if he will make a statement. [124221]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 5 June 2000] [pursuant to his reply, 13 June 2000, c. 559–60W]: The unit price of Paveway II is some £18,000 (VAT exclusive) and not £8,000 as previously stated.

PRIME MINISTER

  Correspondence
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister how many(a) special advisers and (b) officials are authorised to respond to correspondence on his behalf.[126506]

  The Prime Minister
  The nature and origin of correspondence will determine whether a Minister, official or special adviser replies.

  Press Contacts
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will introduce a code for Ministers and special advisers on contacts with the Press.[126502]

  The Prime Minister
  Guidance for Ministers on contacts with the Press is set out in the "Ministerial Code". Guidance for all civil servants, including special advisers, on contacts with the Press is set out in "Guidance on the Work of the Government Information Service".

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister what methods are used to resolve conflicts of interest within the terms and conditions of employment in the case of special advisers invested with power to direct civil servants.[126297]

  The Prime Minister
  Advice on handling conflicts of interests for all civil servants is set out in the "Civil Service Management Code". For Special Advisers, this is supplemented by guidance set out in the "Model Contract for Special Advisers".

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the visits undertaken to the United States by(a) Ministers and (b) special advisers since 1 May 1997.[126549]

  The Prime Minister
  Detailed information in the form requested is not held centrally. A list of Cabinet Ministers' visits overseas costing more than £500, and information on spend by all Ministers on travel overseas for the period 2 May 1997 to 31 March 1999 was placed in the Library of the House on 17 June 1999,Official Report, columns 196–97W. This included the costs of accompanying special advisers. A similar list and information on spend for the financial year 1999–2000 is currently being assembled and will be published shortly.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Holocaust Survivors
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on progress with his discussions with the banking industry concerning charges levied on holocaust survivors in respect of conversion of pensions from deutschmarks to sterling.[122449]

  Mr. Byers
  Earlier this year I approached a number of major banks about their charging policy in respect of regular payments made by the German Government to survivors of the Holocaust living in the UK.

  I am pleased that all the major banks have agreed to waive their charges relating to holocaust payments in future. The Department of Trade and Industry will seek the help of the German authorities to identify those who might benefit from this arrangement, but in the meantime potential beneficiaries should make themselves known to one of the following banks: Bank of Scotland; Barclays; HSBC; Lloyds TSB and Royal Bank of Scotland/National Westminster.

  These banks have agreed to waive future charges. Because of the large number of other payments the banks process, those who receive Holocaust-related payments from the German Government through a bank account should contact one of these banks to benefit from this new arrangement.

  Distance Selling
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the(a) organisations and companies consulted in 1998–99 as part of the consultation on the EU directive on distance selling and (b) those organisations and companies that responded to this consultation.[125951]

  Dr. Howells
  Consultations on the implementation of the Directive 97/7/EC on the Protection of Consumers in respect of Distance Contracts (the Distance Selling Directive) were conducted in June 1998 and November 1999. A total of 576 organisations, including consumer and business organisations, individual businesses, and local authority trading standards departments, were consulted. In addition, there have been over 350 downloadings of the second consultation document from the DTI website at www.dti.gov.uk/CACP/ca/distance/

  A list of the organisations, businesses and individuals consulted in 1998–99 and those that responded to this consultation has been made available for inspection in the Libraries of the House.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the organisations and companies consulted in 1998–99 as part of the consultation on the EU directive on distance selling, indicating the organisations and companies that responded to the consultation.[126894]

  Dr. Howells
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him today to his question above.

  Insolvency
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how he defines the difference between responsible risk takers and culpable bankrupts for the purpose of implementing the recommendations of the Insolvency Working Party; and if he will estimate the proportion of each.[126035]

  Dr. Howells
  I am satisfied that there is a clear distinction to be drawn between individuals who are dishonest or whose conduct with regard to their creditors is irresponsible and those whose use of credit and treatment of their creditors is conscientious and above board. Examples of irresponsible conduct would be an individual continuing to trade and incur credit at a time when he or she knew themselves to be insolvent; or an individual consumer obtaining credit without any regard to his ability to repay the debts incurred. Information available from Official Receivers indicates that the very great majority of individuals subject to bankruptcy are neither dishonest nor irresponsible.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what basis he estimates that seven to 12 per cent. of bankrupts are culpable; and what relationship these percentages have to the findings of the Insolvency Service's Study of Business Failures in January and February 1999. [126040]

  Dr. Howells
  An estimate of the number of bankrupts who may have been guilty of misconduct in relation to their creditors can be made by reference to the number of bankrupts reported by Official Receivers as having, prima facie, committed criminal offences; the number of bankrupts identified by Official Receivers as having committed criminal offences but in respect of whose affairs further investigation or prosecution would not, in the public interest, be warranted; and information obtained from Official Receivers as in their survey of Business Failures.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many(a) individuals and (b) firms are regulated by each of the bodies responsible for regulating the insolvency industry. [126484]

  Dr. Howells
  The Insolvency authorising bodies are responsible for the authorisation of individuals as insolvency practitioners. Firms cannot be authorised. The numbers of individuals concerned are:

  Number

  The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants

  155

  Insolvency Practitioners Association

  330

  The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales

  784

  The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland

  68

  The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland

  156

  The Law Society

  196

  The Law Society of Scotland

  20

  The Secretary of State

  125

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action his Department has taken over the report issued by Mr. Justice Ferris and his proposals for setting the fees of insolvency practitioners. [126486]

  Dr. Howells
  Following receipt of the first report by Mr. Justice Ferris, The Association of Business Recovery Professionals (formerly the Society of Practitioners of
  139W
  Insolvency) issued preliminary guidance to its members on the possible format of application for fee approval. Further guidance is awaiting publication of the final report of the Ferns Working Party and the issue of a revised Statement of Insolvency Practice on remuneration of office holders. My Department is represented on the Working Party and is continuing to monitor the position.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what inquiries his Department has made into(a) receiverships and (b) liquidations started more than 10 years ago but still not finalised; and how many liquidators come into this category. [126479]

  Dr. Howells
  This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many complaints about the conduct of the insolvency practitioners have been lodged with each of the bodies responsible for regulating the insolvency industry since 1997.[126485]

  Dr. Howells
  The number of complaints about insolvency practitioners received between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 1999 for each authorising body is as follows:

  Number

  Association of Chartered Certified Accountants

  118

  Insolvency Practitioners Association

  347

  Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales

  597

  Institute of Charted Accountants in Ireland

  23

  Institute of Charted Accountants in Scotland

  115

  The Law Society

  7

  The Law Society of Scotland

  0

  The Secretary of State

  132

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set up an independent investigation into the administration and liquidation of(a) J. S. Bass & Co. Limited and (b) Exchange Travel.[126476]

  Dr. Howells
  No. However, as I indicated in my recent letter to my hon. Friend, officials are in touch with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales concerning the handling of the complaint about the insolvency practitioners in the Bass case.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place the comments received on the Insolvency Working Party's interim and final reports in the Library.[126482]

  Dr. Howells
  The Insolvency Regulation Working Party was established by the insolvency authorising bodies and comments made to it were a matter for the Working Party and not for Ministers.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the receiverships and liquidations begun more than 20 years ago and still not finalised.[126480]

  Dr. Howells
  This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
  140W
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legislation under which the receivers and liquidators will be required to owe a duty of care to all the stakeholders affected by their decisions.[126481]

  Dr. Howells
  I have no plans to do so.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action his Department has taken over the receivership of Heritage plc.[126490]

  Dr. Howells
  The complaint about the receivers of Heritage plc was a matter for the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, the authorising body of the practitioners concerned. The Institute found there to be no prima facie case of misconduct.

  In view of continuing concerns expressed by the complainant, officials have been in touch with the Institute and are in the process of carrying out a review of the handling of the complaint.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the(a) Atlantic Computers, (b) Coloroll, (c) Barlow Clowes and (d) Stone Platt receiverships and liquidations began; when they were finalised; what fees have been collected by the insolvency practitioners; and if he will make a statement.[126478]

  Dr. Howells
  The information requested is not immediately available. I will write to my hon. Friend about this matter and place a copy of that letter in the Libraries of the House.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals he has for expanding the supply of insolvency practitioners.[126489]

  Dr. Howells
  The requirements to be fit and proper and to meet certain criteria as to education, practical training and experience are designed to ensure that authorisation will only be granted to individuals who can demonstrate a high standard of integrity and professionalism.

  There are presently 1,834 authorised insolvency practitioners of whom some 1,270 are currently understood to take appointments.

  The Insolvency Bill presently before Parliament provides for the Secretary of State to have the additional power to recognise a body so that it may authorise individuals to take appointments but only in the capacity of nominee or supervisor of a voluntary arrangement.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action(a) he and (b) the Recognised Professional Bodies have taken against the insolvency practitioners whose actions were highlighted in Channel 4's "Dispatches" programme broadcast on 19 June 1996.[126477]

  Dr. Howells
  The relevant Recognised Professional Bodies were made aware of the programme at the time and I have no reason to doubt that any matters arising which related to the conduct of authorised insolvency practitioners would have been fully and thoroughly investigated by the bodies concerned.

  Auditors
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will propose legislation which will prevent auditors acting as consultants for their audit clients.[126487]

  Dr. Howells
  We have no plans to do so.

  It is central to the role of the company auditor that he or she is independent in mind and in appearance. The provision of non-audit services to audit clients can call into question the auditor's independence of the entities being reported on. It will be appropriate for the new Ethics Standards Board, when it is established as part of the new independent Framework of Regulation for the accountancy profession, to look at the ethical rules and guidance in this area.

  The law in the UK already requires that the bodies responsible for supervising the work of company auditors have adequate rules to ensure that the auditor does not have an interest likely to conflict with the proper conduct of the audit. The current professional guidance, which forms part of those rules, acknowledges that the provision of non-audit services may give rise to threats to independence. The auditor is required to put in place appropriate safeguards and to be able to demonstrate that he or she has reasonably concluded that those safeguards are adequate. Otherwise the auditor either cannot take on the audit engagement or cannot provide the non-audit service.

  Science Enterprise Challenge
  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the outcome of the additional round of Science Enterprise Challenge will be announced. [126744]

  Mr. Byers
  I have today announced that four additional enterprise centres are to be established at the universities of Durham, Oxford, Ulster and Warwick.

  These centres will join the existing network of eight centres I announced in September 1999. These centres will foster the commercialisation of research and new ideas, will help stimulate scientific entrepreneurialism and will incorporate the teaching of enterprise into science and engineering curricula in universities.

  The quality of the proposals demonstrates the wealth of talent and creativity within our science and engineering community, and the enthusiasm for innovative thinking and entrepreneurialism.

  I very much look forward to seeing these centres develop. I am confident that they will make a significant contribution to the enterprise and innovation culture in the UK.

  Robert Maxwell
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list(a) the date when the inspectors were appointed to investigate the affairs of the business dealings of the late Robert Maxwell, (b) the cost of the investigation to date, (c) the likely date of publication, (d) representations received from any party which objects to the publication of the inspectors' report and (e) the reasons for the delay in publishing the report.[126488]
  142W
  Dr. Howells
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to him on 5 May 1999,Official Report, column 416W. The cost to date of the inspection into the affairs and membership of Mirror Group Newspapers is £7,676,952. The inspectors have not yet reported to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. I am not aware that any representations have been received which object to the publication of the inspectors' report.

  Personal Care Occupations
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those occupations which involve grooming and other aspects of personal care which are not regulated.[126415]

  Dr. Howells
  The grooming and personal care occupations cover a number of different industries, all of which are governed by general legislation on the supply of goods and services. There are no sector specific regulations.

  Following publication of the Consumer White Paper "Modern markets: confident consumers", we continue to encourage sectors to develop effective codes of practice. These can raise standards of consumer protection and help inform consumers of the level of service they can expect and of methods of redress should the service not meet their expectations.

  Parental Leave Directive
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library the letter of warning from the European Commission regarding the incorrect transposition of the Parental Leave Directive and the response from the Government to this letter.[126286]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  Correspondence between the European Commission and the UK Government on the implementation of the Parental Leave Directive is confidential.

  ECGD (Sudan)
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications have been received from United Kingdom companies for ECGD cover concerned with projects relating to the Sudan oil industry in each of the last three years.[126659]

  Mr. Caborn
  One application has been received in 1997 but no ECGD cover was provided.

  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if Sudan is accepted for ECGD cover. [126660]

  Mr. Caborn
  No.

  Corruption and Bribery
  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the British companies which have been banned from World bank contracts because of fraud and corruption in the last five years.[127076]
  143W
  Mr. Caborn
  The companies and individuals debarred by the World bank for infringing its procurement guidelines and which are listed on the World bank's website are as follows:

  Pradeep S. Nair of London, United Kingdom

  Crown Sakura Ltd. of London, United Kingdom

  Chase Berkeley Cavendish Ltd. of London, United Kingdom

  Amani B. P. Ltd. of London, United Kingdom

  Case Technology Ltd. of Watford, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom

  Labh Singh Gill of Warwickshire, United Kingdom

  Pradeep Menon of London, United Kingdom

  Shivshanker Pre Nair of London, United Kingdom

  Agricultural Development Services Ltd. of London, United Kingdom

  Ana Exports Ltd. of London, United Kingdom

  Consultants for International Development plc of London, United Kingdom

  Cord Construction Ltd. of Isle of Man, United Kingdom

  Cybertek International of London, United Kingdom

  Drill Technologies & Co. of London, United Kingdom

  Economic Consulting Group of London, United Kingdom

  Emkay Enterprises Ltd. of London, United Kingdom

  Engineering Projects International of London, United Kingdom

  First Fuji Ltd. of Isle of Man, United Kingdom

  Flair Developments Ltd. of Isle of Man, United Kingdom

  Infotek & Co. of London, United Kingdom

  International Development Projects Services of London, United Kingdom

  Inter-Russ Ltd. of Isle of Man, United Kingdom

  Labh Universal of Coventry, United Kingdom

  Medirite Group Ltd. of Middlesex, United Kingdom

  Mirna International of Berkshire, United Kingdom

  Norsk-Agro Ltd. of London, United Kingdom

  Resource Development Ltd. of Isle of Man, United Kingdom

  Ribalco International of Berkshire, United Kingdom

  Shivind Ltd. of Isle of Man, United Kingdom

  Thrust Technologies & Co. of London, United Kingdom

  Times International & Co. of London, United Kingdom

  United Basel Ltd. of Isle of Man, United Kingdom

  West End Associates Ltd. of Isle of Man, United Kingdom

  Agric-Canada of United Kingdom

  Overseas Project Services Ltd. of United Kingdom.

  It is understood that a number of the companies and individuals dispute the findings which led to the debarments.

  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many British companies have been prosecuted in the UK for bribing foreign officials in the last five years. [127077]

  Mr. Caborn
  Official records do not distinguish between prosecutions of companies or individuals; nor do they distinguish between prosecutions in respect of domestic or foreign officials. The figures for prosecutions 144W
  in England and Wales under the Prevention of Corruption Acts 1889 to 1916 for the last five years for which figures are currently available are as follows:

  Year

  Number

  1993

  35

  1994

  46

  1995

  60

  1996

  60

  1997

  58

  Advertising Standards Authority
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Advertising Standards Authority.[126329]

  Dr. Howells
  As we stated in the White Paper "Modern Markets: Confident Consumers" (Cm 4410 July 1999), the Government strongly support the self-regulatory controls on advertising in the UK run by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). We remain of the view that the ASA is a good example of effective self-regulation, which has succeeded in maintaining standards in the field of advertising.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many referrals the OFT has received from the Advertising Standards Authority since 1 May 1997.[126330]

  Dr. Howells
  The Office of Fair Trading report having received three cases referred for consideration under the Control of Misleading Advertisements Regulations 1988 by the Advertising Standards Authority since 1 May 1997.

  Coal Industry
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress is being made with the Government's application to the European Commission for approval of financial support to the coal mining industry; and if he will make a statement.[127024]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Government are consulting widely among producers and users of coal and other interested parties on the proposed structure of the scheme. My officials are engaged in preliminary discussions with the European Commission and we hope to be in a position to formally notify the Commission soon on our proposals to pay aid.

  Advertising
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been spent by his Department on advertising in each year since May 1997.[125693]

  Mr. Byers
  Expenditure on advertising by the DTI, which was all placed through the Central Office of Information, was as follows:

  £

  1997–98

  12,373,637

  1998–99

  15,543,938

  1999–2000

  11,714,573

  1Excluding VAT

  Public Holidays
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to declare a public holiday to commemorate(a)in 2002, the 50th anniversary of the accession to the throne of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and (b)in 2003, the 50th anniversary of her coronation; and what dates have been selected. [126653]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  A bank holiday in 2002 to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee, and the date on which such a holiday might be held, is under consideration and will be the subject of appropriate consultations. I have no plans for any additional bank holidays in 2003.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Equal Treatment Directive
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library copies of the responses which he received from organisations outside Government to his consultation about the proposed EC Directive on implementing the equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin.[126535]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The consultation was conducted at a series of five meetings with organisations outside government which were held between publication of the draft by the Commission in November 1999 and political agreement at Council in June 2000. This was due to negotiations in Brussels being conducted in closed Working Group sessions, and are, therefore, being unable to provide later versions of the text of the Directive outside government in writing.

  Drivers (Red Lights)
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drivers have been(a) prosecuted for and (b) convicted of driving through a red traffic light in each of the last five years.[126248]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The following table gives the available information:

  Numbers of prosecutions and convictions for failing to comply with traffic signals, England and Wales, 1993 to 1997

  Prosecutions

  Convictions

  1993

  35,306

  30,061

  1994

  29,152

  24,266

  1995

  29,695

  24,480

  1996

  30,220

  25,307

  1997

  27,915

  23,553

  Note:

  Figures for later years are not yet available

  The majority of these offences are dealt with by the issue of fixed penalty notices.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the 146W
  letter, dated 25 April, from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. T. Khan. [126289]

  Mr. Straw
  I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 20 June.

  Cycling on Pavements
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he has had with police forces about the enforcement and value of the prohibition of cycling on pavements.[126409]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Cycling on the pavement is a long-established offence under Section 72 of the Highways Act 1835. The Government's most recent consultation with the police on this subject was on the introduction of a fixed penalty offence for cycling on the pavement. The change was supported by the Association of Chief Police Officers.

  The Home Office consultation exercise in 1996 on seven proposed new fixed penalty offences, including cycling on the pavement, revealed substantial public concern about inconsiderate and irresponsible cycling on the pavement in England and Wales, which particularly affected the elderly and disabled. The new fixed penalty offence allows the police to deal more simply and directly with particular local problems as they arise.

  Bribery
  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to make bribery carried out overseas by UK citizens and companies a criminal offence; and if he will make a statement.[127075]

  Mr. Straw
  Copies of the discussion paper setting out the Government's proposals for the reform of the law of corruption are now available in the Library and in the Vote Office.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Kosovan refugees in the UK applied for leave to remain in the last 12 months; and what percentage of such applications(a) were granted, (b) were refused and (c) are under consideration.[127088]

  Mrs. Roche
  Since March 2000, of those who arrived from Kosovo under the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Humanitarian Evacuation Programme, 656 principal applicants have sought an extension of exceptional leave to enter, 374 have applied for asylum and 150 have applied for both exceptional leave and asylum. Five per cent. of the applications have been granted, 33 per cent. refused and 62 per cent. are outstanding.

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received in support of allowing Kosovan refugees to remain in the United Kingdom until such time as they feel able to return. [127089]

  Mrs. Roche
  Ministers and officials have corresponded with and have had regular meetings with various non-Governmental organisations involved with the support of the Kosovan evacuees since they came to the United Kingdom last year.
  147W
  Kosovan Albanians who were evacuated to the United Kingdom under the Humanitarian Evacuation Programme (HEP) between 25 April and 25 June 1999 were granted 12 months' leave to enter. As agreed with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) at the outset of the evacuation process, protection was afforded on a temporary basis only. It was made clear at the time and subsequently that the leave of the evacuated Kosovans would not be extended and that they would be expected to return to Kosovo as soon as it was safe to do so.

  UNHCR judge that it is now safe for the majority of Kosovan Albanians to return to Kosovo and this has been exemplified by the one million Kosovans who have voluntarily chosen to return since July 1999.

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Kosovan refugees were returned to Kosovo on each day between 1 and 16 June. [127087]

  Mrs. Roche
  All of the 469 Kosovans who arrived in the United Kingdom under the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Humanitarian Evacuation Programme and the 69 who arrived in the United Kingdom independently, returned to Kosovo on the permanent voluntary return programme between 1 and 16 June. The table shows the number of Kosovans returning permanently on each flight between 1 and 16 June.

  Date

  Humanitarian evacuation programme

  Independent arrivals

  1 June

  120

  11

  9 June

  112

  15

  15 June

  93

  31

  16 June

  144

  12

  Total

  469

  69

  Regulation of Investigatory Powers Bill
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the nature of the representations he has received recently from business interests in respect of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Bill. [126305]

  Mr. Straw
  I have received various representations from business interests since the introduction of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Bill to the House of Commons on 9 February this year. They have supported the broad aims of the Bill. Most have pressed for changes to minimise the uncertainty over the impact of Clause 12 (maintenance of a reasonable intercept capability). The Clause has been amended in response to some of these representations. The Alliance for Electronic Business pressed for affirmative resolution for the order under Clause 12. This was provided by amendment at Commons Report. We have also amended the Bill to require the Secretary of State to meet the marginal costs of interception. Some businesses have also asked for reassurances which have been given as to how we intend the regime to work. Others are pressing us about the costs of maintaining a reasonable intercept capability on the internet.
  148W
  Business interests have also pressed for some changes to Part III of the Bill in relation to access to encryption keys. Changes have been made to Part III in response to these representations. For example, the Bill has been amended to say that keys can be accessed only "in special circumstances" as a direct response to industry representations. Amendments designed to clarify what should be contained in a decryption notice and to remove the Directors' liability in respect of Part III of the Bill were also a response to industry representations.

  Burns Committee
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will establish an investigation into the source of the leak of the findings of the Committee of Inquiry into Hunting with Dogs; and if he will make a statement. [126303]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I am not aware of a leak of the findings of the Report of the Committee of Inquiry into Hunting with Dogs in England and Wales.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with Lord Burns following the publication of the report of the Committee of Inquiry into Hunting with Dogs; and if he will make a statement. [126304]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  None.

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for licences under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 were(a) granted unamended, (b) granted in amended form and (c) rejected in the last year for which figures are available. [126332]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  This information is not recorded centrally.

  I am advised that the vast majority of project licence applications are revised during negotiations with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate or have conditions added to either restrict or qualify the authorities sought. Proposals which are outside the requirements of the law or not good science will rarely become formal applications (and hence rejections) because most potential applicants seek and take the advice of inspectors at an early stage.

  Paragraph 13 of Appendix B of the Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals (Great Britain) 1998 provides figures for the number of project licences granted and revoked during 1998 and how many were in force on 31 December 1998. A total of 1,104 project licences were granted in 1998. This is also shown subdivided into severity bandings.

  Appendix C of the 1998 Statistics contains 10 typical examples of the value added to licence applications by the Inspectorate' s assessment process.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with Huntingdon Life Sciences; and if he will make a statement. [126264]
  149W
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I visited Huntingdon Life Sciences on 8 June 2000 in connection with my responsibilities under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. During my visit I talked to managers and staff about the campaign of harassment they have experienced from animal rights extremists over recent months. This included meeting two women who had their cars set on fire outside their homes. While it is a long-standing tradition in this country that individuals are free to express their views peacefully, people also have a right to carry out their lawful business without fear of intimidation and violence. The Government unreservedly condemn those who use such repellent tactics and wholeheartedly support the police in their continuing efforts to combat those who use them.

  Crime Fighting Fund
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the additional police officers announced as part of the Crime Fighting Fund are(a) in service and (b) coming into service in each of the next eight quarters (i) nationally and (ii) in Merseyside. [127073]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  All forces in England and Wales have been asked to profile their planned recruitment over the 12 months of 2000-01. On the basis of the force profiles, the table shows the number of officers recruited, or planned to be recruited, that will be deemed to be Crime Fighting Fund officers.

  The total allocation of Crime Fighting Fund officers for 2000–01 is 3,000. Forces have, so far, profiled the recruitment of 2,672 of the 3,000. Forces will have the opportunity to re-profile their recruitment up to the maximum of 3,000 Crime Fighting Fund officers as the year progresses. The number of deemed Crime Fighting Fund officers may rise or fall if actual recruitment does not match profiled recruitment or if the profile changes.

  Forces have not yet been asked to profile recruitment for 2001–02. The table shows the allocation of Crime Fighting Fund officers for 2001–02 as a whole.

  England and Wales

  Merseyside

  1 April to 30 June 2000

  679

  28

  1 July to 30 September 2000

  616

  26

  1 October to 31 December 2000

  886

  42

  1 January to 31 March 2001

  491

  9

  Sub-Total 2001–02

  2,672

  105

  Allocation for 2001–02

  2,000

  96

  Total for 2000–01 and 2001–02

  4,672

  201

  Criminal Records
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what estimate he has made of the cost of exempting volunteers from fees for(a) criminal conviction certificates, (b) criminal record certificates and (c) enhanced criminal record certificates; [126991]

  (2) what his latest estimate is of the fee to be charged for (a) criminal conviction certificates, (b) criminal record certificates and (c) enhanced criminal record certificates; [126992]
  150W
  (3) what plans he has to review his policy on the liability of volunteers for fees for criminal conviction certificates, criminal record certificates and enhanced criminal record certificates; [126993]

  (4) what estimate he has made of the number of volunteers each year who will require (a) criminal conviction certificates, (b) criminal record certificates and (c) enhanced criminal record certificates once the Criminal Records Bureau is in operation; [126990]

  (5) what estimate he has made of (a) the start-up costs and (b) the first year's operating costs of the Criminal Records Bureau; and if he will make a statement. [126989]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Criminal Records Bureau is being established within the framework of a Public Private Partnership. The Department has planned provision across the three financial years 1999-2002 for expenditure of around £10 million in connection with the establishment of the Bureau. But the Bureau's full operating costs will not be known until a contract has been awarded to the private sector partner.

  It has always been planned that the Bureau's costs should be recovered through the charges that it makes for certificates. Work on the level of fees must await information about the Bureau' s operating costs. But we have made clear our determination to keep the cost of certificates as low as possible. Reducing or waiving charges in respect of particular voluntary organisations, or for the voluntary sector as a whole, would raise substantial problems of principle and would either place an added burden on the public purse or lead to an increased level of fee for others seeking certificates from the Bureau, who may be no less deserving than volunteers.

  Part V of the Police Act 1997, under which the Bureau is being established, does not require volunteers to apply for certificates. It will generally be for organisations to decide who will require a certificate. Work is continuing on estimating the likely number of applicants for certificates, building on work on demand estimates and market research, and will be subject to consultation before final conclusions are reached.

  Before we make Regulations to prescribe various matters including charges for certificates, we shall undertake a Regulatory Impact Assessment, in consultation with representatives of voluntary organisations and others. This will provide a thorough and up-to-date assessment of the implications.

  Advertising
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been spent by his Department on advertising in each year since May 1997. [125697]

  Mr. Straw
  The money spent on advertising in each financial year since May 1997 was as follows:

  £ million

  1997–98

  1.4

  1998–99

  1.8

  1999–2000

  5.9

  151W
  In each year the major Home Office campaigns have been on fire safety, electoral registration and special constables recruitment. The higher expenditure in 1999-2000, was largely accounted for by additional expenditure on fire safety and on publicity to explain the new voting system for the European Parliamentary election.

  Corruption Law
  Mrs. Gilroy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the Government's proposals for the reform of the law of corruption. [127223]

  Mr. Straw
  The Government's proposals for the reform of the law of corruption in England and Wales are published today and copies will be placed in the Library.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Television Licence Reminders
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will discuss with the Television Licensing Authority the sending of television licence reminder forms headed Accounts Payable to companies; and if he will make a statement. [125736]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  Under the provisions of the Broadcasting Act 1990, the BBC has statutory responsibility for the administration of the television licensing system. TV Licensing carries out the day to day administration of the licensing system as agent for the BBC. The wording of TV Licensing's renewal reminder letters is therefore a matter for TV Licensing and the BBC, and not one in which the Government can intervene. The BBC has, however, confirmed that it is not promoting the TV licence as an Account Payable.

  Orchestras
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is his estimate of the number of people employed full time as professional musicians working for orchestras in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [126076]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  I have asked the Arts Council of England, as the main distributor of public subsidy for the arts in England, to provide this information for England. When it is available, I will write to the right hon. Member, and place a copy in the Library of the House. Figures for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the devolved administrations.

  Independent Television
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will review the legislation that controls independent television in the UK with the aim of ensuring that adequate safeguards exist to protect local programme generation and local management of services. [126075]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  The Government are reviewing broadcasting legislation as part of our consideration of the future regulation of communications. Our conclusions 152W
  will be announced in the forthcoming Communications White Paper, which is being prepared jointly by my Department and the Department for Trade and Industry.

  Single Currency
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will estimate the cost to his Department of switching from the pound to the euro. [126398]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  Should the UK decide to join the euro, the cost of a changeover would depend on the detailed approach taken to a changeover.

  Television Advertisements
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many television advertisements have been commissioned by his Department since 1 May 1997; and, of these, how many were provided with closed caption subtitling. [126898]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  None.

  Opinion Research
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer of 8 June 2000,Official Report, column 301W, on opinion research, if he will place all the unpublished opinion and market research carried out since January 1999 in the Library. [126984]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  This material could be provided only at disproportionate cost; as indicated in my answer of 8 June, all non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Department have been made aware of their obligations under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Advertising
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been spent by his Department on advertising in each year since May 1997. [125692]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  The following table shows the cost of advertising undertaken by my Department. This expenditure was incurred to attract candidates for the many public appointments for which I am responsible.

  £

  May 1997–March 1998

  0

  1998–1999

  242,700

  1999–2000

  139,501

  2000–01 to date

  0

  BBC Public Service Proposals
  Mr. Pond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he will publish the criteria he uses in assessing new BBC public service proposals. [127227]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  I intend to publish the criteria tomorrow, and copies will be placed in the Library of the House.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Fiji
  Mr. Russell Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government have taken to encourage the restoration of democracy in Fiji. [125216]

  Mr. Battle
  We have condemned the use of criminal armed force by the kidnappers in Fiji and demanded the release of all the hostages, the restoration of democratic, constitutional government and the arrest of the hostage-takers. In pursuit of these aims, I participated in the meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on 6 June which agreed to suspend Fiji from Commonwealth Councils and to send a CMAG delegation to Fiji. We are also discussing with our EU partners ways of encouraging the restoration of democracy in Fiji.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the political situation in Zimbabwe. [125217]

  Mr. Hain
  We hope that the presence of over 300 international observers will help the people of Zimbabwe to overcome their fears, political intimidation and violence and exercise their democratic right to vote.

  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Zimbabwe. [125224]

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the UK's relations with Zimbabwe. [125226]

  Mr. Hain
  The UK and Zimbabwe have a shared history. Our people know each other well. But President Mugabe's actions and rhetoric have made it difficult for us to have the warm and friendly government-to-government relations that we would like.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Zimbabwean high commissioner on land reform. [125232]

  Mr. Hain
  The Zimbabwe High Commissioner was a member of the delegation that met my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 27 April. We have had no further discussions with him on land reform.

  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on the rule of law in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement. [125234]

  Mr. Hain
  We have had discussions with people inside and outside of Zimbabwe on the urgent need to restore the rule of law there.

  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last visited Zimbabwe to discuss the political situation there; and if he will make a statement. [125240]

  Mr. Hain
  I have not visited Zimbabwe in my capacity as FCO Minister of State.

  International Criminal Court
  Mr. David Heath
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many countries have ratified the statute for an International Criminal Court; and if he will make a statement. [125218]

  Mr. Vaz
  To date 97 countries have signed and 12 have ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. The Court will come into existence once the Statute has been ratified by 60 states. The UK intends to be one of those 60.

  Iran
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Iranian authorities on securing a fair trial for the 13 Jews accused of espionage. [125219]

  Mr. Hain
  This Government and our EU colleagues have raised with the Iranians at every appropriate opportunity our concerns about the trial on espionage charges in Shiraz of 13 Jews and eight Muslims.

  The Danube
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of when a navigable route will be available along the Danube for the countries economically dependent on it; and if he will make a statement. [125220]

  Mr. Vaz
  The UK welcomed the proposal on 24 May by the European Commission for an EU contribution of up to 22 million euro to the International Fund for the Clearance of the Danube. This proposal followed a comprehensive examination of the technical issues associated with this project. The target date for the opening of a navigable channel at Novi Sad is spring 2001. Provided this timetable is met, work on the second phase of the project to restore the river-beds and banks would begin in summer 2001. We will work with the EU towards completing this work on time and in accordance with the EU sanctions regime.

  Ethical Foreign Policy
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made in developing an ethical dimension to his foreign policy; and if he will make a statement. [125221]

  Mr. Hain
  We consistently promote British interests and pursue British values by supporting democracy and human rights wherever we can, however we can.

  Sierra Leone
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the current position is in respect of the UN arms embargo on Sierra Leone. [125222]

  Mr. Hain
  United Nations Security Council resolution 1171 (1998) imposed an embargo on the sale and supply of arms and related material to Sierra Leone other than to the Government of Sierra Leone through named entry points. There are exemptions in that resolution and in resolution 1299 (2000) for supply to the United Nations
  155W
  and the Military Observer Group of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOMOG) as well as UN member states co-operating with UNAMSIL and the Government of Sierra Leone.

  The UK fully supports and rigorously implements the embargo. We are discussing with Security Council colleagues ways to ensure that is implemented more effectively by all states.

  Middle East
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the middle east peace process. [125227]

  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding the situation in the middle east peace process. [125228]

  Mr. Hain
  The Middle East Peace Process is at a crucial stage. On the Palestinian track, negotiations continue in the US. We continue to work for a conflict-ending agreement this summer.

  On the Syrian track, we are watching developments closely following the death of President Asad. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary attended his funeral last week and met his son, Bashar. We believe Syria remains committed to the peace process and look forward to continuing Syrian and Israeli efforts to reach agreement.

  We welcome UN confirmation that Israel has withdrawn fully from Lebanon. We shall continue to work hard with the UN and countries in the region to maintain calm and stability in southern Lebanon.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received about the middle east peace process. [125237]

  Mr. Hain
  We are in frequent contact with all the parties. Most recently, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met a number of interlocutors, including Bashar al-Assad, at the condolence ceremony for the late President Assad on 13 June.

  Angola
  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the effect of UN sanctions in Angola on the operational activities of UNITA. [125231]

  Mr. Hain
  UN sanctions are making it harder for UNITA to continue fighting and put pressure on UNITA to return to the negotiating table. We commend the work of the Expert Panel of the UN Angola Sanctions Committee in investigating violations of the sanctions and developing recommendations on tightening implementation. The UK strongly supported the adoption of UN Security Council resolution 1295 on 18 April. The resolution welcomes the Panel's report, stresses the obligations of all member states to comply with the measures against UNITA and expresses the readiness of the Council to consider action in relation to states it determines to have violated those measures. This shows the determination of the international community to make sanctions bite.

  Plan Colombia
  Mr. Goggins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of Plan Colombia and the part the United Kingdom can play in its development. [125233]

  Mr. Battle
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier in the House today to my hon. Friend the Member for Doncaster, Central (Ms Winterton),Official Report, columns 150–51.

  Burma
  Valerie Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Burma. [125235]

  Mr. Battle
  We are deeply concerned at the lack of any prospects towards democratisation in Burma, as well as at the serious violations of human rights there. We are at the forefront of international action to press the military regime to improve the situation and to enter into dialogue with democratically elected Burmese leaders.

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will introduce investment sanctions against Burma. [126908]

  Mr. Battle
  There is no consensus within the European Union or the United Nations for investment sanctions at the moment, nor do we have any plans to introduce such measures. But we do discourage trade and investment in Burma by UK companies. In March, I met the Chief Executive of Premier Oil, and made clear to him our deep concern about their investment in Burma and that we would welcome their moving out as soon as and to the fullest extent that they lawfully can. We regularly give business inquiries a statement on the nature of the Burmese regime and the state of the economy.

  The European Union has recently adopted a freeze on funds held by members of the Burmese regime. We will continue to press the regime in other fields too: for example the ILO has just agreed to adopt unprecedented measures against the regime in an effort to stop forced labour.

  EU Enlargement
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what will be on the agenda in respect of enlargement at the forthcoming European Council meeting; and if he will make a statement. [125236]

  Mr. Vaz
  As the hon. Member may know, the European Council took place yesterday and today. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister will be making a statement on the outcome to the House tomorrow.

  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on British policy on the enlargement of the European Union. [125230]

  Mr. Vaz
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier in the House today to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Crausby),Official Report, column 141.

  Ukraine
  Ms Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on bilateral relations with Ukraine. [125239]

  Mr. Vaz
  Bilateral relations between the United Kingdom and Ukraine are very good. We engage with Ukraine in a broad range of activity and maintain close contacts at working and ministerial level. I had three meetings with the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Borys Tarasyuk, in 1999 and visited Kiev in April this year. I have invited Mr. Tarasyuk to pay an official visit to the United Kingdom in early 2001. The newly established UK-Ukraine Consultative Mechanism provides an additional channel for regular dialogue between 10 Downing Street and the President's Administration.

  Diamond Trade (Africa)
  Mr. Michael Jabez Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in stopping trading in diamonds which fuels conflict in Africa. [125241]

  Mr. Hain
  The Government are committed to curbing the trade in diamonds which fuels conflict in Africa. We fully support UN Security Council resolution 1173 (1998) which prohibits the import from Angola of diamonds not controlled through the Angolan Government's Certificate of Origin regime. We have tabled a draft UN Security Council Resolution which would ban the import of uncertified diamonds from Sierra Leone.

  BBC World Service
  Mr. Rammell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of the BBC World Service in north America. [125242]

  Mr. Hain
  The BBC World Service broadcasts to North America as it does to other parts of the world. Its radio audience in Canada is a third of a million. In the USA it is 2.7 million. This figure represents significant growth, and has been achieved mainly through the establishment of local rebroadcasting partnerships. World Service activity world-wide is monitored against targets and is subject to periodic review with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

  Russia
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the UK's bilateral relations with Russia. [125243]

  Mr. Vaz
  Our relations with Russia are in good shape. We want to do what we can to encourage a democratic and stable Russia. The key is critical engagement. We should not isolate Russia, nor should we shy away from issues on which we disagree, such as Chechnya.

  EU (French Presidency)
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent meetings he has 158W
  had with the Government of France to discuss its presidency of the European Union; and if he will make a statement. [125223]

  Mr. Vaz
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has regular contact with his French counterpart, M. Vedrine, on a number of issues, including the French Presidency of the European Union. He is next due to discuss the Presidency with M. Vedrine on 21 June. I also met Pierre Moscovici, the French Minister for Europe, in Santa Maria da Feira to discuss the Presidency.

  Czech Republic
  Mr. Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about relations between the United Kingdom and the Czech Republic. [125225]

  Mr. Vaz
  The UK enjoys excellent relations with the Czech Republic. The Czech Defence Minister is in the UK today. And my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary will visit Prague in July. We are close NATO allies, and the UK fully supports the Czech application for EU membership.

  Wine Expenditure
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 12 May 2000,Official Report, column 496W, concerning his Department's spending on champagne and other wine, in which category such expenditure is recorded; what items in addition to (a) champagne and (b) other wine are recorded in this category; and how much his Department has spent on items in this category in each year since 1 May 1997. [124246]

  Mr. Hain
  [holding answer 5 June 2000]: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office records this expenditure as official entertainment. The costs also include such items as catering requirements (including food/drink), related hire charges, and other administration costs (such as invitation cards). The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not maintain a comprehensive central record of these categories of expenditure.

  International Traffic and Arms Regulations
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the benefits to the UK of being granted special status under the US International Traffic and Arms Regulations; and if he will make a statement. [125381]

  Mr. Hain
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary for Defence on 15 June 2000,Official Report, columns 667–68W.

  Saudi Arabia
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking on human rights in Saudi Arabia following the Amnesty International report "Saudi Arabia: A Justice System Without Justice"; and if he will make a statement. [126080]
  159W
  Mr. Hain
  Saudi Arabia is an Islamic country in which justice is based on Sharia Law. The British Government respect Islam but have concerns about human rights in the Kingdom, including the discrimination against women and non-Muslims, the restrictions on freedom of expression, movement, assembly and worship, the implementation of UN human rights instruments, and issues relating to the judicial process.

  The British Government are firmly committed to constructive engagement on human rights with Saudi Arabia and discuss the issue regularly with the Saudis. The Government take, and will continue to take, every realistic and responsible step to try to improve matters.

  Nazi Slave Labour Victims
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement as to the circumstances in which the proposed compensation package for slave labour victims of the Nazis to be met by the German Government have been proposed to be reduced in respect of claimants in the "rest-of-the-world" group, including United Kingdom residents. [126032]

  Mr. Vaz
  I understand that the sum of money earmarked at one stage of the negotiations for allocation to "rest-of-the-world" claimants was reduced subsequently in discussions between the German and US Governments.

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received(a) from and (b) on behalf of slave labour victims of the Nazis, in respect of the German compensation fund. [126030]

  Mr. Vaz
  I have received a number of letters from colleagues in the House, on behalf of their constituents.

  My officials have spoken regularly with representatives of former Poles and Ukrainians who were former slave/forced labourers.

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the original estimate of compensation levels for Nazi slave labour victims under the German compensation scheme(a) in total and (b) in respect of each category of case; and what is the current estimate under the revised proposals put forward by the German Government as to (a) and (b). [126033]

  Mr. Vaz
  Agreement on a fund totalling DM10 billion was announced in December 1999.

  The amount of compensation intended for allocation to former slave labourers has been set at a maximum of DM15,000 per claimant. Former forced labourers may receive a aximum of DM5,000.

  Current uncertainty about the availability of funds and the process of disbursement mean it is not possible at this stage to predict the sum which will be available in practice to individual claimants.

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the German Government concerning the regulations over the compensation scheme for slave labour victims of the Nazi regime. [126029]
  160W
  Mr. Vaz
  Our Ambassador in Berlin has written recently to the German Government to express concern that UK claimants have free, fair and equal access to the compensation fund. We remain in close touch with the German Government on this.

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made as to the number of rest-of-the-world claimants resident in the United Kingdom, who are likely to qualify for compensation from the German fund for slave labour victims of the Nazis. [126031]

  Mr. Vaz
  We have no exact numbers for the UK, but understand that there may be 2,000 or more potential claimants.

  Kosovo
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Kosovan Albanians have been referred to the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia for atrocities committed against Serbs and other non-Albanian people in Kosovo. [126219]

  Mr. Hain
  The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) is investigating all atrocities committed in Kosovo regardless of the perpetrator's ethnic origin. ICTY has issued indictments against five Serbs for alleged crimes against humanity in Kosovo. No Kosovan Albanians have yet been indicted.

  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the percentage of UNMIK'S authorised civil administration staff deployed in Kosovo. [126647]

  Mr. Hain
  [holding answer 19 June 2000]: According to the United Nations Secretariat there are 1,148 approved posts for international staff working for UNMIK, 75 per cent. of which are currently filled. There are a number of staff who have been appointed but have not yet arrived in Kosovo. When they do, 90 per cent. of the approved posts for international staff will be filled.

  United Nations
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his(a) EU and (b) UN counterparts concerning Ambassador Richard Holbrooke's proposal that the United Nations should transform its civilian-run peacekeeping Department into a larger and more effective military-style operation. [126607]

  Mr. Hain
  [holding answer 19 June 2000]: We strongly support efforts to enhance the operational capacity and effectiveness of the UN's Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO). We are working closely with the UN Secretariat, the United States, and other EU and UN members.

  Military officers are already closely involved in the preparation and execution of United Nations peacekeeping missions. But DPKO needs increased intelligence and planning capacity and an enhanced capacity to manage police and other civilian deployments. And, since modern peacekeeping is now rarely wholly military in nature, we want to see better integration of military and civilian resources. I have also explained the concept of a UN rapid reaction capability.

  Official Visits (Overseas)
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list his officials who have visited(a) Nigeria, (b) Liberia, (c) Sierra Leone and (d) Togo since January 1999. [126610]

  Mr. Hain
  [holding answer 19 June 2000]: There have been regular visits by a range of officials to these four countries since January 1999.

  The provision of a detailed breakdown would incur disproportionate cost.

  UN Register of Conventional Arms
  Ms Rosie Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the UK will submit its return covering imports and exports of major types of conventional weapons during 1999 to the UN Register of Conventional Arms; and if he will place copies of the return in the Library. [127224]

  Mr. Hain
  The Government submitted the UK's return to the UN Register covering conventional arms transfers in calendar year 1999 on 20 June. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Echelon Surveillance System
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to establish that the Echelon Surveillance System is not used to the economic disbenefit of(a) the UK and (b) other EU states; and if he will make a statement. [126298]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  The hon. Member will be well aware of the Government's policy not to comment on alleged surveillance systems.

  China
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the human rights record of the Chinese Government in respect of practitioners of Falun Gong; and what steps he is taking to promote human rights in China. [126669]

  Mr. Battle
  We are deeply concerned about the treatment of Falun Gong adherents, including the passing of severe sentences, by the Chinese authorities since the movement was banned in July 1999. We and EU partners have made this clear to the Chinese Government on a number of occasions and urged them to comply with the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which China signed in October 1998.

  On 20 June I called in the Chinese Ambassador to London and expressed directly my concerns to Mr. Ma on the treatment of dissidents in China, and on the alleged intimidation in China of family members of a Falun Gong practitioner who is a UK citizen.

  We are pressing for greater respect for human rights in China through our bilateral human rights dialogue with the Chinese Government. During the last round of the dialogue in February 2000 we agreed to establish a joint expert working group to work towards the ratification and implementation of the International Covenants on Civil and Political, and on Economic, Social and Cultural
  162W
  Rights. An invitation was also extended to the Foreign Secretary's Death Penalty Panel to visit China to discuss issues relating to abolition of the Death Penalty throughout China.

  Execution (Texas)
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to Governor George Bush of Texas about the execution on 22 June of Mr. Gary Graham. [126983]

  Mr. Battle
  The EU Presidency, on behalf of the UK and other members, made representations to the Governor of Texas on 17 May on behalf of Mr. Graham asking him to commute Mr. Graham's sentence to life imprisonment, or such other penalty as is compatible with international law. Notice of the EU Demarche was given to the State Department.

  Advertising
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been spent by his Department on advertising in each year since May 1997. [125694]

  Mr. Hain
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not use advertising to publicise Government policy or programmes.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Social Fund
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the additional administration cost of every(a) budgeting loan and (b) crisis loan if they were repaid over a period of (i) 78 weeks, (ii) 104 weeks, (iii) 130 weeks and (iv) 156 weeks. [125286]

  Angela Eagle
  The administration of the Social Fund is a mater for Alexis Cleveland, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 19 June 2000:

  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking if he will estimate the additional administration cost of every (a) budgeting loan and (b) crisis loan if they were repaid over a period of (i) 78 weeks, (ii) 104 weeks, (iii) 130 weeks and (iv) 156 weeks.

  The integrity of the social fund depends on recycling the loans within a reasonable timescale to make future loans available as soon as possible.

  Only a composite figure for the cost of recovering budgeting loans and crisis loans is available. Approximately 95% of Social Fund recovery is taken directly from benefit in payment to the customer. Around 90% of that is taken automatically through a computerised link between the Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance computer systems and the Social Fund system. Staff input is required at the beginning and end of the process, but very little intervention is needed during the course of the recovery. While some recovery from benefit is made by clerical processes, and customers no longer in receipt of benefit are pursued to repay their loans by other means, the proportionate cost of this is small in comparison to the overall cost of recovery.

  As a consequence, it is estimated that the administrative cost of the process would not be greatly affected by the duration of the recovery period if the customers who took advantage of the longer

  163W
  repayment periods remained on benefit throughout. However, the longer the payment period, it is more likely that customers will leave benefit before their loan is repaid. Then the proportion requiring clerical activity would increase and therefore administration costs would rise but we are at present unable to quantify by how much.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Winter Fuel Payments
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners in the Basildon parliamentary constituency received Winter Fuel Payments in(a) 1998–99 and (b) 1999–2000; and how much was paid in total in each of those years. [125955]

  Angela Eagle
  The administration of Winter Fuel Payments is a matter for Alexis Cleveland, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. She will write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Angela Smith, dated 19 June 2000:

  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about how many pensioners in the Basildon parliamentary constituency received winter fuel payments in (a) 1998–99 and (b) 1999–2000; and how much was paid in total in each of those years.

  In 1998–99, 13,241 winter fuel payments (WFP) were made in the Basildon constituency; in 1999–2000, 16,098 payments were made.

  In 1998–99, the total amount of WFP in the Basildon constituency was £256,940; in 1999–2000, the total was £1,204,050.

  WFP exercises before 1998–99 highlighted that over 500,000 customer accounts did not hold a postcode. A correction exercise resulted in more postcodes being allocated. The figures for 1999–2000 in the Basildon constituency increased due to this, and also because of the increase in the WFP from £50 to £100 from 1999–2000.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Widowed Mother's Allowance
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the Benefits Agency received application for widowed mother's allowance and widows' payment from Mrs. C. M. of Weston Turville, Buckinghamshire (WA 075311C); when his Department will complete its calculation of her benefit; when she will receive payments; and if he will make a statement. [126529]

  Angela Eagle
  The administration of benefits is a matter for Alexis Cleveland, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Mr. David Lidington, dated 19 June 2000:

  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the widow's benefit claim made by Mrs Caroline Moran, 4 Worlds End Lane, Weston Turville, Aylesbury.

  As you will appreciate, individual customers' cases are confidential. I will therefore, write to you privately on this matter.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what his target is for processing applications for widowed mother's allowance; how many applications are being processed within that target time; and if he will make a statement; [126525]
  164W
  (2) how many applicants are currently awaiting a decision on the calculation of their entitlement to widowed mother's allowance; and how many of those have been waiting for more than (a) three months, (b) six months and (c) 12 months; [126523]

  (3) what is his policy on paying interest on late payments of widowed mother's allowance. [126524]

  Angela Eagle
  The administration of benefits is a matter for Alexis Cleveland, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Mr. David Lidington, dated 19 June 2000:

  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary questions asking, what his target is for processing applications for widowed mothers allowance; how many applications are being processed within that target time; and if he will make a statement. Also, how many applicants are currently awaiting a decision on the calculation of their entitlement to widowed mother's allowance; and how many of those have been waiting for more than (a) three months, (b) six months and (c) 12 months, and what is his policy on paying interest on late payments of widowed mother's allowance (WMA).

  The Benefits Agency (BA) has targets for the clearance of Widows Benefit claims. The targets are measured from the date of receipt of the claim in the BA to the date the benefit is awarded. Figures for the individual widows benefits, such as Widowed Mothers Allowance are not maintained.

  The current clearance target is 85 per cent. in 10 days for Widows payment cases and 85 per cent. in 30 days for Widows benefit.

  The latest figures available show that for the year ended March 2000, 90.2 per cent. of claims to Widows Payment and 78.5 per cent. of claims to Widows Benefit were cleared within target.

  For the months of April and May 2000 the Widows payment clearance is running at 91.5 per cent. and at 84.5 per cent. for Widows Benefit.

  Although individual benefit offices would be able to focus on the state of their uncleared claims for management purposes these details are not fed into any national statistical counters. The information required to answer your question could only therefore be obtained at inappropriate cost and effort.

  It is clear from the figures quoted above that the clearance target for Widows Benefit claims was not met for 1999–2000. This has been due for the most part to the difficulties associated with the introduction of the new National Insurance computer system (NIRS2). NIRS2 provides the BA with its benefit calculations including those for entitlements to Retirement Pension and Widows Benefits.

  Early figures for 2000–2001 as above show an improving level of clearance for Widows Benefit claims as NIRS2 recovery proceeds.

  Failure to process a WMA claim within the published operational targets will not, in itself give rise to a special payment. Each case must be considered on its own merits.

  In the majority of cases, it is anticipated that claims will be processed by the Agency within published timescales. However, some cases will legitimately take longer to process than others because of the complex nature of the case and the degree of work involved.

  Different rules apply where payment was delayed because of the implementation of the new National Insurance Recording System (NIRS2). Where a customer has suffered unreasonable delay and inconvenience in receiving their full entitlement to WMA which was solely attributable to the problems encountered with the implementation of NIRS2, they automatically receive a £10 flat-rate compensatory payment.

  Where payment of WMA has been unreasonably and exceptionally delayed due to official error a special compensatory payment in the form of interest would be considered.
  165W
  Where the customer feels that the compensation calculated does not adequately compensate for the financial loss actually suffered as a direct result of the delay, a specific claim for further compensation should be made by the customer and full supporting evidence of the loss provided.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Automatic Credit Transfers
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the payment of benefit by automatic credit transfers involves the notification of the claimant's national insurance number to the receiving bank. [126542]

  Mr. Rooker
  The administration of benefit payments is a matter for Alexis Cleveland the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. She will write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Mr. Terry Rooney, dated 19 June 2000:

  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking if the payment of benefit by automated credit transfer (ACT) involves the notification of the claimant's National Insurance number to the receiving bank.

  Payments made by ACT are made through BACS (the UK's major automated clearing house). For BACS to accept a payment file completion of a number of identification fields is mandatory, for example bank/building society account number, sort code and amount.

  Another mandatory requirement is for the inclusion of a payment reference. The inclusion of a reference allows each benefit system to track and trace individual payments, facilitating action such as recalling a payment and responding to customer enquiries.

  All benefits use the customers' National Insurance number as a payment reference, with the exception of Child Benefit for which the Child Benefit number is used.

  This reference is passed over to the receiving bank with all other payment details.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Minimum Income Guarantee
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners there are whose income takes them above the qualifying income for minimum income guarantee but who receive a final income below the minimum income guarantee once council tax rebates and Housing Benefit are deducted. [127074]

  Mr. Bayley
  The information is not available.

  State Pension
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost of increasing the basic state pension for persons over(a) 75 and (b) 80 to the level of the minimum income guarantee. [126673]

  Mr. Rooker
  The information is in the table.

  Estimated costs of increasing the basic state pension

  £million

  2001–02

  75 and over

  80 and over

  Gross

  3,600

  2,400

  Net of means-tested benefits

  2,600

  1,600

  Notes:

  1. It is assumed that the Category A rate of basic Retirement Pension is raised to the level of the Minimum Income Guarantee in 2001–02 (assumed to be £84.80 for those aged 75 to 79, and £90.20 for those aged 80 and over).
  166W
  2. It is assumed that basic Retirement Pension recipients with entitlement of less than the full Category A rate receive a pro-rata increase, except married women in receipt of the Category BL pension, who receive an increase such that the Category A and Category BL pension together are equivalent to the appropriate couple rate of the Minimum Income Guarantee.

  3. These estimates include a saving of £30 million from the removal of the 25p age addition currently paid to those aged 80 and over.

  4. Costs are rounded to the nearest £100 million and are in 2000–01 prices.

  5. Costs include benefits whose rates are linked by statute to the rate of basic Retirement Pension.

  6. Gross costs are estimated by the Government Actuary's Department. Costs net of means-tested benefit savings have been estimated using the Policy Simulation Model.

  Radiation Diseases
  Mr. Goggins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the recommendations made by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council in relation to diseases caused by radiation will be implemented; and if he will make a statement. [127226]

  Mr. Bayley
  Amendment Regulations to the Social Security (Industrial Injuries) (Prescribed Diseases) Regulations 1985 were laid yesterday implementing the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council's recommendations with effect from 10 July 2000. All the Council's recommendations set out in their report "Diseases induced by Ionising and Non-Ionising Radiation" (Cm 4280) are included in the amending regulations.

  The regulations also clarify that the time limits that operate between leaving a prescribed occupation and making a claim for asthma (prescribed disease D7) and deafness (prescribed disease A10) refer to employed earners employment. The regulations also specify the exact lung function formulae that should be used in connection with claims for chronic bronchitis and emphysema rather than making a reference to a textbook.

  Fraud
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 13 June 2000,Official Report, column 606W, on the Social Security Administration (Fraud) Act 1997, (a) how many of those local authorities who have reported the appointment of an inspector have a serving inspector at present and (b) how many inspectors are serving at present. [127086]

  Angela Eagle
  The figures in my Written Answer on 13 June 2000,Official Report, column 606W, referred to the number of inspectors currently serving. Since then, the Department has been notified of the appointment of one additional inspector, bringing the total currently serving up to 720 in 209 local authorities.

TREASURY

  Census
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will make a statement on the steps he is taking on including a question concerning religious identity in the 2001 Census; [126011]
  167W
  (2) how many representations he has received from (a) hon. Members and (b) others concerning the inclusion of a question in the 2001 Census concerning religious identity. [126012]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Mr. Colman) on 15 June 2000,Official Report, column 687W.

  Single Currency
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the cost to(a) the public sector and (b) the private sector of changing from the pound to the euro. [126403]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Should the UK decide to join the euro, the costs of a changeover would depend on the detailed approach taken by organisations to a changeover.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the Treasury's estimate of the economic and fiscal consequences of joining the first wave of the euro in 1999; and if he will update it. [126791]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Treasury published the paper, "UK Membership of the Single Currency: An Assessment of the Five Economic Tests", in October 1997. The Chancellor of the Exchequer has said we will make another assessment of the five economic tests early in the next Parliament.

  Mr. St. Aubyn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what safeguards he has put in place to ensure that money spent through the National Changeover plan will be neutral in its impact upon public opinion about whether the United Kingdom should join the euro. [126185]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 19 June 2000]: Government policy on the euro was set out in the Second Outline National Changeover Plan.

  The Government are committed to making preparations both to help business deal with the euro following its introduction in the 11 participating member states on 1 January 1999, and also to making preparations for the possibility of the UK joining the single currency.

  VAT
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what powers are available to him to offer a VAT rebate on holiday accommodation for visitors in the United Kingdom with particular reference to citizens of other EU states; and if he will make a statement. [126981]

  Mr. Timms
  There is no mechanism to rebate any of the VAT paid by tourists on the holiday accommodation they stay in while in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will use the powers available to him to vary the rate of VAT on specific services on a regional basis; and if he will make a statement. [126980]

  Mr. Timms
  The Chancellor has no powers to vary the rate of VAT on specific services on a regional basis.

  Opinion Research
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 8 June 2000,Official Report, column 384W, on opinion research, how he is intending to make the results of this research publicly available in accordance with Cabinet Office guidelines. [126985]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Cabinet Office guide on Government research into public attitudes and opinions, published on 12 May 2000, says It is good practice to publish the results of research, or at least to place them in the House of Commons Library and make them publicly available on request and on the Internet.
  We take full account of the Cabinet Office guidelines.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the letters of 4 April and 3 May from the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan regarding his constituent Helen Cruickshank. [126675]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I replied to the hon. Member on 8 April. A copy will be forwarded.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the letter of 9 May from the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan regarding his constituent Vernon Hope. [126676]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I replied to the hon. Member on 14 June.

  Landfill Tax
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ring-fence landfill tax for waste recycling and reduction. [126804]

  Mr. Timms
  I have no plans to do so. However, the recently published Waste Strategy announced that the Government propose to use the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme to help deliver an increase in recycling, particularly of household waste.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Magistrates Courts
  Mr. David Taylor
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many(a) cases were dealt with by (i) stipendiary magistrates and (ii) non-stipendiary magistrates benches and (b) each way cases were referred to the Crown court by (1) stipendiary magistrates and (2) non-stipendiary magistrate benches in each magistrates courts committee, for the last five years for which figures are available. [126442]

  Jane Kennedy
  A breakdown of cases dealt with by stipendiary magistrates and non-stipendiary magistrates benches is not held centrally, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

CABINET OFFICE

  Business Excellence Model
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on the progress of Phase three of the Public Sector Benchmarking project relating to the use of the Business Excellence Model. [125940]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Public Sector Benchmarking Project promotes the EFQM Excellence Model (previously the Business Excellence Model) to the public sector. Phase three, which begun in April 1998, includes arrangements for easy access to training and support at reduced rates. Since then, the project has introduced over 1,000 public sector organisations to the Model.

  The Model is now used throughout the public sector, including local government, central Government, schools, hospitals, police forces, fire brigades, Agencies and non-departmental public bodies. It is used in support of the Modernising Government agenda, through policies such as Best Value and Better Quality Services.

  We are not complacent. We are studying further the impact of the Excellence Model to help us decide how we can improve our efforts to maximise the use of the Excellence Model in the public sector.

  The Public Sector Benchmarking Project is now known as the Public Sector Excellence Programme.

  Table 1—Data relating to DFEE responsibilities which are collated by Parliamentary Constituency.

  Subject area

  Availability/frequency of publication/reference period

  Working age employment rates

  Annually for 1996, 1997 and 1998. 1999 data due in January 2001. Published by ONS

  Working age economic activity rates

  As above

  ILO unemployment rates

  As above but only available for about 80 constituencies due to small samples sizes

  Claimant unemployment rates and claimant unemployment levels by age and duration

  Monthly from January 1996. Latest available data is for April 2000. Published by ONS

  Employee jobs by industry

  1995–98 data are available currently. Next update for 1999 due in March 2001. Published by ONS.

  Average earnings of full-time employees

  Available for 1998 and 1999. Published by ONS.

  New Deal for Young People Statistics

  Available quarterly and updated quarterly

  Proportion of 15 year old pupils in schools achieving 5 or more A*-C GCSE/GNVQs (by parliamentary constituency of the school)

  Collated for 1998–99

  Proportion of 15 year old pupils in schools with 1 or more A*-G GCSE/GNVQs (by parliamentary constituency of the school)

  Collated for 1998–99

  Proportion of school pupils achieving level 4 at Key Stage 2 in English and Maths. (by parliamentary constituency of school)

  Collated for 1998–99

  1997–98 Individual College Results: median college (by parliamentary constituency of college)

  Collated for 1997–98

  Class sizes (by parliamentary constituency of school)

  Collated for January 200

  A-level results (by parliamentary constituency of school/college)

  Collated for 1998–99

  Unauthorised absences—Percentage half days missed due to unauthorised absences (by parliamentary constituency of school)

  Collated for 1998–99

  Note:

  Other information collected in the Annual Schools Census, and school performance data using other measures than those quoted, could not be collated by constituency

  Taskforces and Review Groups
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will list the(a) task forces and (b) review groups which have been established since 1 May 1997, indicating which are still in existence; and how many there were on 1 May in (i) 1998, (ii) 1999 and (iii) 2000. [126500]

  Mr. Stringer
  A full list of Task Forces established between 2 May 1997 and 31 October 1999 was placed in the Library of the House on 9 December 1999. A list of review groups established during the same period was placed in the Library on 1 February 2000. We have given a commitment to update these lists every six months. Updated lists covering the period to the end of April 2000 will be published shortly.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Statistics
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what statistics relating to the responsibilities of his Department are collated by parliamentary constituency, indicating the dates covered in each case. [123846]

  Mr. Wills
  [holding answer 25 May 2000]: The information requested is shown in the following table:

  New Deal Gateway
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to increase the flexibility of the New Deal Gateway in order to cope with those clients with severe social problems. [123883]

  Ms Jowell
  There already exists a high degree of flexibility in the Gateway for those with severe social problems, not least through the individually tailored support from the New Deal Personal Adviser. They are able to make use of systematic assessment techniques to identify problems that may be preventing the young person moving into employment. Young people will then, if necessary, be referred by their adviser to a range of provision which can help them with jobsearch, training in basic skills, dealing with issues such as drug or alcohol abuse. This help can be continued beyond the Gateway when the young person is on an option.

  Advisers will also be able to defer entry to the new Gateway to Work by a few weeks for those young people who have other issues that need to be resolved and who would not be ready to benefit from the course.

  School Lunches
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will place in the Library a list and a summary of responses to consultation on draft regulations and guidance for minimum nutritional standards for school lunches. [124496]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 5 June 2000]: A list and a summary of responses to our consultation on draft regulations and guidance for minimum nutritional standards for school lunches was published on 19 June, and copies have been placed in the Libraries.

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the resource implications of the incorporation of health and safety issues into the National Curriculum; and if he will make a statement on developments on this matter. [125714]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 14 June 2000]: Health and safety issues have always been included in the National Curriculum. The revised curriculum, which will take effect in autumn 2000, contains clearer and fuller statements of the general principles applying to health and safety teaching, including the importance of risk assessment. Subject specific requirements are highlighted in individual subject orders. The only new requirement relates to Information and Communications Technology to reflect the massive increase in the use of computers in schools in recent years.

  £6 million is available to schools from the Standards Fund to support the implementation of the revised National Curriculum. In addition, the Health and Safety Executive and the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority have produced joint guidance on teaching health and safety issues which is available at www.hse.gov.uk/policy/ genteach.htm.

  Single Currency
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will estimate the costs to his Department of conversion to the euro from the pound. [126402]

  Mr. Wills: Should the UK decide to join the euro, the cost of a changeover would depend on the detailed approach taken to a changeover.

  Performance-related Pay
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment whether teachers employed to teach in(a) institutions for young people maintained by social sciences departments and (b) prison institutions for young offenders are eligible for performance-related pay. [126318]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Teachers employed to teach in institutions for young people maintained by social services departments and in prison institutions for young offenders are not, as of right, subject to the terms of the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document and are not eligible to apply for the threshold in the current round of the assessment process. In response to representations received from institutions wishing to mirror the threshold arrangements, we are actively considering how to open up threshold training and the external assessment process to such institutions once the immediate pressures of the current application round have reduced.

  School Milk
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what recent guidance he has issued to(a) infant, (b) junior and (c) primary schools in England and Wales on school milk schemes. [127029]

  Jacqui Smith
  The Government encourage schools to provide drinking milk, and to make use of either the EU School Milk Subsidy Scheme or the Welfare Food Scheme. These schemes are administered by the Intervention Board, on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and by the Department of Health, respectively.

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the average class size was for classes taught by one teacher in(a) 1996 and (b) 2000 for (i) pupils in Key Stage 1, (ii) pupils in Key Stage 2, (iii) primary schools and (iv) secondary schools in (1) Great Britain and (2) each parliamentary constituency. [126175]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 19 June 2000]: Class size information covering English parliamentary constituencies for 1996–97 and 1999–2000 has been placed in the Library.

  Provisional national estimates of Key Stage 1 classes for January 2000 were recently published in a Statistical First Release "Class sizes in maintained schools in England: January 2000 (15/2000)" on 12 April 2000.

  National figures for infant class sizes in September 1999 were published in Statistical First Release "Infant class sizes in England (2/2000)" on 21 January 2000.
  173W
  The Government are well on target to deliver their pledge to limit infant classes to 30 pupils. At the same time, average class sizes in maintained primary schools went down for the second year running—from 27.5 in January 1999 to 27.1 in January 2000, after rising for the previous 10 years. The average size of junior classes also fell, from 28.4 in January 1999 to 28.3 in January 2000. Maintained secondary classes are already much smaller than primary, with around five fewer pupils on average. The pupil:teacher ratio in secondary schools in January 2000 was 17.1. It is worth bearing in mind that secondary classes rose steadily under the previous Government—in 1998 the figure was 19.9; and that in the Budget, secondary headteachers received between £30,000 and £50,000 each to spend as they choose. If they spent it on teachers, they could reduce the secondary pupil:teacher ratio by 0.4.

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

  Disabled School Children
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what(a) resources and (b) money targeted at improving access for disabled school children has been made available (i) nationally (ii) in Teesside and (iii) in the constituency of Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East since 1 May 1997; and if he will make a statement. [126496]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 19 June 2000]: Each year we make resources available through the School Access Initiative, to invest in making mainstream schools accessible to those with disabilities and sensory impairments. The following table sets out the amount allocated each year since 1997–98, nationally, in Teesside, and to Redcar and Cleveland LEA (which covers the constituency of Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East).

  This is part of this Government's determination to improve educational standards for all children and work towards a more inclusive approach for children with disabilities. More than 1,900 schools will benefit from this year's £30 million programme. Working closely with LEAs like this offers us the best opportunity to secure a coherent approach to opportunities for disabled children.

  Financial Year

  England (£ million)

  Teesside1 (£)

  Redcar and Cleveland LEA (£)

  1997–98

  3.6

  57,860

  15,000

  1998–99

  11

  175,000

  35,000

  1999–2000

  20

  350,000

  100,000

  2000–01

  30

  490,000

  140,000

  1Includes Hartlepool, Stockton on Tees, Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland LEAs

  Correspondence
  Mr. Peter Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Hexham of 22 February about the reduction in Northumberland school budgets. [126768]
  174W
  Mr. Wills
  A reply will be issued by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister shortly.

  New Deal
  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list for each parliamentary constituency(a) the total number of leavers from the New Deal for 18 to 24-year-olds, (b) the total number of leavers who have gone into sustained unsubsidised employment and (c) the total number of leavers whose destination is unknown in 1999; and if he will make a statement. [126178]

  Ms Jowell
  [holding answer 19 June 2000]: The information on young people showing the number of leavers and the number of people moving into sustained unsubsidised employment is already held at constituency level in the Library. Although the number of people leaving for unknown destinations is not published at constituency level, it is available at Unit of Delivery level and is also in the Library. More statistical information is available and more research findings are published on New Deal than any previous Government programme.

  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many lone parents in Paisley, South have found employment as a consequence of the New Deal for Lone Parents. [126816]

  Ms Jowell
  [holding answer 19 June 2000]: Between October 1998 and the end of March 2000, 78 lone parents in Paisley, South had found employment as a consequence of the New Deal for Lone Parents.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the impact of the New Deal for(a) young people, (b) those aged over 50 years and (c) the long-term unemployed in Coventry. [125642]

  Ms Jowell
  [holding answer 13 June 2000]: Up to the end of March 2000, 3,140 young people and 2,215 long term unemployed adults had benefited from starting the New Deal in Coventry. The New Deal for those aged 50 or over was launched nationally in April this year and it is too soon to provide statistics. New Deal has had a major impact on the employability of those who have taken part in the initiative; already over 1,750 people have found jobs. Many others have gained from the Personal Adviser approach and benefited from training, education and work experience opportunities.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people on the New Deal for over 25s in(a) Edinburgh and (b) Edinburgh, East and Musselburgh (i) at the end of March and (ii) at the latest available date, (1) were in the advisory interview process, (2) had found unsubsidised jobs through the advisory interview process, (3) had transferred to other provision, (4) were in subsidised employment, (5) had taken education and training opportunities, (6) were in training for work and (7) were in follow through. [125754]
  175W
  Ms Jowell
  The information is contained in the following table.

  Edinburgh

  Edinburgh, East and Musselburgh

  In advisory interview process

  499

  73

  Found unsubsidised jobs through advisory interview process

  160

  35

  Transferred to other provision

  119

  22

  In subsidised employment

  32

  5

  Taken education and training opportunities

  61

  7

  In Training for Work

  42

  5

  In Follow Through

  3

  0

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people in Edinburgh had(a) joined the 18 to 24 New Deal, (b) gained subsidised jobs from the 18 to 24 New Deal, (c) gained unsubsidised jobs from the 18 to 24 New Deal, (d) started on the 18 to 24 New Deal Gateway, (e) entered each of the 18 to 24 New Deal Options and (f) been on follow-through (i) at the end of March and (ii) at the latest available date. [125822]

  Ms Jowell
  Latest figures show that to the end of March 2000 in Edinburgh 3,099 people joined the New Deal for Young People, 232 gained subsidised jobs, 1,238 gained unsubsidised jobs, 2,739 started on the New Deal Gateway, 232 started the employment option, 397 started Full Time Education and Training, 239 started the Voluntary Sector option, 194 started the Environment Task Force option and 594 started Follow Through. We are on course to meet our Manifesto commitment of 250,000 jobs.

  Governors' Advice Line
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he plans to launch a governors' advice line as recommended by the Education and Employment Committee's Fifth report of Session 1998–99, HC509—I; and when it will be available for school governors to use. [126904]

  Jacqui Smith
  The Government stated their commitment to providing a single national helpline for school governors in the response my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made last autumn to the Select Committee's Report on the Role of School Governors. Negotiations with national governor organisations' representatives are continuing. Meanwhile, we are funding the three existing governors' helplines provided by the National Governors' Council, the National Association of Governors and Managers and Information for School and College Governors.

  We greatly appreciate the work done by governors, as volunteers, and we want them to have access to independent advice from experienced governors.

  ICT Access
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what advice has been given to schools about allowing local residents' groups and other organisations access to computers and other facilities outside school hours. [126116]
  176W
  Jacqui Smith
  The Department published "Raising Standards: opening doors: developing links between schools and their communities" in January this year. This document offers wide-ranging advice to schools on allowing greater access to their premises and facilities and on enhancing their links with the local community. It is available free of charge to all schools.

  We are also planning to publish later this year a Schools Plus Manual, which will offer schools further practical advice and support on how to develop as a community resource and how to strengthen their relationships with their local community.

  In March this year the Schools Plus Policy Action Team, set up by the Social Exclusion Unit following its report on Neighbourhood Renewal, published its report on "Building Learning Communities". The Team considered how schools could be used to engage the community, drawing in greater support and making their facilities available to more people. It made 32 recommendations under two broad headings: extending services offered by schools; and improving school community links. We are considering how to implement the Team's recommendations.

  Specialist Schools
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of specialist schools make use of their right to select up to 10 per cent. of their pupils by aptitude. [127072]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  We do not have figures on the percentage of specialist schools which make use of the 10 per cent. aptitude selection arrangement. Information about this is now being collected within the schools' progress reports. From a questionnaire sent to the first 238 specialist schools we know that 7 per cent. of the 142 schools which responded select some of their pupils by aptitude.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many specialist schools have been set up since 1997; how many have opted to select 10 per cent. of their intake by aptitude; and if he will list each of those schools and their local education authority. [126905]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  In May 1997, there were 181 specialist schools. A further 222 specialist schools have become operational since then. We do not have figures on the percentage of specialist schools which select 10 per cent. of their intake by aptitude. Information about this is now being collected within the schools' progress reports. From a questionnaire sent to the first 238 specialist schools we know that 7 per cent. of the 142 schools which responded select some of their pupils by aptitude.

  Class Sizes (East Sussex)
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the average class size was in secondary schools in East Sussex in each year since 1979. [126299]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The requested information on class sizes in maintained secondary schools in East Sussex local education authority area is shown in the following table.
  177W
  In England, maintained secondary classes are already much smaller than primary classes, with around five fewer pupils on average. The average class size in maintained secondary schools in England in January 2000 was 22.0, compared to an average of 27.1 pupils per class in maintained primary schools. It is also worth considering the secondary class size figures published on 12 April in the Statistical First Release "Class sizes in maintained schools in England: January 2000", which showed a rise in class sizes under the previous Government—in 1990 the average class size in maintained secondary schools in England was 20.3.

  In the Budget, secondary headteachers received between £30,000 and £50,000 each to spend as they choose. If they spent it on teachers, it is estimated that this would reduce the pupil:teacher1 ratio in secondary schools by 0.4.
  1Pupil:teacher ratios (PTRs) within maintained secondary schools relate the overall number of pupils in these schools to the full-time equivalent number of qualified teachers employed in these schools.

  Average size of classes taught by one teacher in maintained secondary schools in the local education authority areas of East Sussex and Brighton: 1979 to 2000

  Position as at January

  East Sussex1

  Brighton1

  East Sussex1

  20003

  22.1

  22.3

  n/a

  1999

  22.1

  22.0

  n/a

  1998

  21.4

  22.3

  n/a

  1997

  n/a

  n/a

  21.4

  1996

  n/a

  n/a

  21.1

  1995

  n/a

  n/a

  21.3

  1994

  n/a

  n/a

  21.0

  1993

  n/a

  n/a

  20.1

  1992

  n/a

  n/a

  20.8

  1991

  n/a

  n/a

  21.0

  1990

  n/a

  n/a

  20.8

  1989

  n/a

  n/a

  20.9

  Difference between budgeted spend and education SSA 1995–96 to 1999–2000

  £million

  LEA

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  Camden

  0.6

  5.2

  3.9

  3.5

  2.3

  City of London

  2.1

  2.3

  2.3

  1.8

  1.1

  Greenwich

  -2.3

  3.7

  -0.6

  -0.8

  0.6

  Hackney

  8.2

  10.6

  7.2

  2.5

  -1.1

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  5.3

  8.4

  6.8

  6.3

  5.0

  Islington

  2.3

  2.5

  3.5

  2.0

  0.3

  Kensington and Chelsea

  9.5

  14.0

  16.3

  12.3

  12.4

  Lambeth

  3.8

  9.8

  4.2

  2.6

  3.6

  Lewisham

  1.6

  3.8

  3.3

  -0.3

  0.0

  Southwark

  -0.8

  3.8

  2.0

  0.4

  3.9

  Tower Hamlets

  5.5

  9.7

  1.8

  1.5

  -0.4

  Wandsworth

  2.7

  5.3

  0.5

  1.3

  -1.0

  Westminster

  9.0

  14.5

  9.7

  10.6

  8.7

  Barking and Dagenham

  6.3

  4.9

  2.8

  2.3

  1.7

  Barnet

  6.8

  9.6

  5.4

  7.6

  6.5

  Bexley

  -4.5

  -3.4

  -4.5

  -3.3

  -3.7

  Brent

  -10.8

  -6.2

  -3.2

  -3.9

  -4.4

  Bromley

  8.5

  2.4

  7.6

  -2.1

  -4.0

  Croydon

  5.3

  10.0

  7.3

  2.9

  0.6

  Ealing

  0.3

  3.5

  5.9

  2.1

  0.3

  Enfield

  1.0

  3.3

  0.5

  -1.0

  -0.2

  Haringey

  7.8

  8.0

  1.7

  0.3

  0.0

  Harrow

  6.4

  7.4

  5.0

  2.8

  2.7

  Havering

  1.7

  -0.3

  0.0

  2.6

  -0.5

  Hillingdon

  -1.7

  -0.4

  -1.4

  -2.1

  -0.9

  Hounslow

  -0.8

  -0.7

  -2.9

  -2.7

  -2.0

  Kingston upon Thames

  1.4

  1.4

  0.2

  0.4

  0.9

  Merton

  0.1

  1.2

  -0.1

  0.1

  -2.4

  178W

  Average size of classes taught by one teacher in maintained secondary schools in the local education authority areas of East Sussex and Brighton: 1979 to 2000

  Position as at January

  East Sussex1

  Brighton1

  East Sussex1

  1988

  n/a

  n/a

  20.7

  1987

  n/a

  n/a

  21.4

  1986

  n/a

  n/a

  21.7

  1985

  n/a

  n/a

  21.2

  1984

  n/a

  n/a

  21.8

  1983

  n/a

  n/a

  21.9

  1982

  n/a

  n/a

  21.8

  1981

  n/a

  n/a

  21.9

  1980

  n/a

  n/a

  22.0

  1979

  n/a

  n/a

  22.1

  1After local government reorganization

  2Before local government reorganization

  1Provisional

  Note:

  n/a = not applicable

  SSAs
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list by LEA in England the amount each local authority spent on education above its education SSA for each of the past five years. [126906]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The following table shows by LEA the amount in £ million by which each authority budgeted above or below its education SSA for the years 1995–96 to 1999–2000. Budget figures are taken from Local Authority Revenue Account (RA) returns, and include a centrally calculated estimate of the amount of education related capital expenditure from the revenue account (CERA). Figures for 2000–01 are not yet available: in this and future years, budget data which are more precisely comparable to education SSA will be available from the section 52 returns submitted by local education authorities, including their own estimate of CERA.
  179W

  Difference between budgeted spend and education SSA 1995–96 to 1999–2000

  £ million

  LEA

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  Newham

  -8.6

  -9.4

  -6.2

  0.3

  -4.5

  Redbridge

  1.6

  0.8

  -1.6

  -1.2

  -3.3

  Richmond upon Thames

  3.7

  3.9

  4.0

  2.8

  0.8

  Sutton

  0.9

  1.3

  0.8

  1.6

  -0.2

  Waltham Forest

  0.3

  2.0

  3.1

  1.9

  -0.7

  Bedfordshire

  -2.2

  -0.3

  —

  —

  —

  Bedfordshire 1997

  —

  —

  2.5

  0.1

  -0.3

  Luton 1997

  —

  —

  3.0

  3.0

  3.4

  Berkshire

  -2.9

  -8.2

  -3.9

  —

  —

  West Berkshire (Newbury) 1998

  —

  —

  —

  1.6

  0.0

  Bracknell Forest 1998

  —

  —

  —

  -0.2

  0.0

  Windsor and Maidenhead 1998

  —

  —

  —

  0.8

  14.8

  Reading 1998

  —

  —

  —

  4.0

  0.6

  Slough 1998

  —

  —

  —

  -5.0

  -1.7

  Wokingham 1998

  —

  —

  —

  -0.7

  1.2

  Buckinghamshire

  1.4

  1.2

  —

  —

  —

  Buckinghamshire 1997

  —

  —

  8.8

  -1.0

  -1.4

  Milton Keynes 1997

  —

  —

  -5.3

  -3.7

  -5.4

  Cambridgeshire

  17.5

  7.7

  10.1

  —

  —

  Cambridgeshire 1998

  —

  —

  —

  10.8

  3.9

  Peterborough 1998

  —

  —

  —

  -0.8

  1.5

  Essex

  8.1

  6.5

  7.3

  —

  —

  Essex 1998

  —

  —

  —

  5.2

  -1.0

  Southend on Sea 1998

  —

  —

  —

  -0.1

  0.8

  Thurrock 1998

  —

  —

  —

  -1.4

  -0.4

  Hertfordshire

  8.6

  10.6

  14.0

  3.4

  -1.4

  Kent

  -3.6

  3.1

  -9.2

  —

  —

  Kent 1998

  —

  —

  —

  -3.5

  -5.0

  Medway 1998

  —

  —

  —

  -5.2

  -1.1

  Norfolk

  20.7

  19.9

  13.0

  10.9

  5.4

  Oxfordshire

  0.1

  2.6

  0.5

  -6.3

  -3.4

  Suffolk

  13.8

  11.8

  8.9

  7.4

  6.9

  Surrey

  7.4

  14.5

  6.7

  -2.7

  -2.8

  East Sussex

  8.8

  10.5

  —

  —

  —

  East Sussex 1997

  —

  —

  5.4

  1.1

  1.6

  Brighton and Hove 1997

  —

  —

  8.7

  4.5

  1.3

  West Sussex

  15.5

  5.9

  9.3

  11.5

  6.5

  Avon

  40.8

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Bath and NE Somerset 1996

  —

  8.0

  6.6

  6.5

  6.0

  Bristol 1996

  —

  20.5

  16.7

  16.2

  16.4

  South Gloucestershire 1996

  —

  9.0

  9.1

  7.7

  5.6

  North Somerset 1996

  —

  7.3

  6.8

  6.7

  3.0

  Cornwall

  7.4

  0.0

  -1.3

  -0.5

  1.8

  Devon

  1.9

  0.2

  5.0

  —

  —

  Devon 1998

  —

  —

  —

  0.7

  -0.9

  City of Plymouth 1998

  —

  —

  —

  0.0

  -0.6

  Torbay 1998

  —

  —

  —

  -1.5

  -0.5

  Dorset

  15.5

  4.5

  —

  —

  —

  Dorset 1997

  —

  —

  14.5

  2.6

  11.0

  Bournemouth 1997

  —

  —

  3.6

  2.1

  1.6

  Poole 1997

  —

  —

  1.3

  1.7

  3.5

  Gloucestershire

  0.9

  1.0

  -2.3

  -3.6

  -3.4

  Hampshire

  43.0

  22.9

  —

  —

  —

  Hampshire 1997

  —

  —

  21.9

  9.4

  6.2

  Portsmouth 1997

  —

  —

  —

  2.2

  1.1

  Southampton 1997

  —

  —

  2.5

  6.6

  3.0

  Hereford and Worcester

  -2.1

  -0.1

  5.7

  —

  —

  Herefordshire 1998

  —

  —

  —

  0.3

  -0.6

  Worcestershire 1998

  —

  —

  —

  0.0

  -2.1

  Isles of Scilly

  0.1

  0.1

  0.1

  —

  —

  Isle of Wight

  0.6

  1.5

  0.7

  0.5

  0.4

  Somerset

  15.1

  7.4

  15.3

  9.9

  10.3

  Wiltshire

  12.4

  9.8

  —

  —

  —

  Wiltshire 1997

  —

  —

  7.2

  2.5

  1.6

  Swindon (Thamesdown) 1997

  —

  —

  -1.6

  -3.0

  -2.1

  Birmingham

  29.2

  26.0

  26.0

  36.3

  40.2

  Coventry

  14.6

  12.5

  13.8

  9.8

  15.6

  Derbyshire

  20.1

  16.1

  0.0

  —

  —

  Derbyshire 1997

  —

  0.0

  8.9

  8.6

  5.4

  City of Derby 1997

  —

  0.0

  -0.7

  -1.3

  -1.2

  Dudley

  8.7

  8.0

  10.1

  8.4

  11.0

  Leicestershire

  11.6

  11.9

  —

  —

  —

  Leicestershire 1997

  —

  —

  7.1

  10.2

  8.2

  Leicester City 1997

  —

  —

  -1.8

  -2.5

  -2.9

  180W 181W

  Difference between budgeted spend and education SSA 1995–96 to 1999–2000

  £ million

  LEA

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  Rutland 1997

  —

  0.0

  0.6

  0.2

  1.4

  Lincolnshire

  21.8

  15.9

  16.0

  5.7

  5.0

  Northamptonshire

  7.0

  4.8

  1.0

  -3.1

  1.8

  Nottinghamshire

  26.8

  17.3

  20.1

  —

  —

  Nottinghamshire 1998

  —

  —

  —

  18.4

  24.1

  City of Nottingham 1998

  —

  —

  —

  -5.9

  -3.9

  Staffordshire

  12.3

  9.3

  —

  —

  —

  Staffordshire 1997

  —

  —

  0.5

  4.1

  3.5

  Stoke on Trent 1997

  —

  —

  1.2

  -0.2

  0.1

  Warwickshire

  8.4

  6.7

  10.1

  11.0

  5.8

  Sandwell

  6.9

  10.0

  6.1

  6.1

  4.8

  Shropshire

  9.5

  4.7

  5.3

  —

  —

  Shropshire 1998

  —

  —

  —

  4.8

  3.6

  Telford and Wrekin 1998

  —

  —

  —

  -3.7

  -1.1

  Solihull

  7.4

  6.6

  4.2

  2.6

  -1.0

  Walsall

  4.3

  7.0

  3.8

  2.3

  -0.7

  Wolverhampton

  5.5

  9.3

  7.3

  5.8

  9.2

  Barnsley

  0.4

  -1.0

  -3.0

  -2.9

  -2.7

  Bradford

  -5.8

  -3.9

  -6.2

  -6.4

  -4.9

  Calderdale

  2.6

  1.8

  2.1

  1.0

  0.7

  Doncaster

  1.6

  1.9

  4.5

  -0.6

  -1.4

  Kirklees

  10.3

  12.2

  0.6

  1.7

  2.3

  Leeds

  42.1

  25.0

  34.2

  18.3

  14.2

  North Yorkshire 1996

  20.3

  2.0

  —

  —

  —

  North Yorkshire 1997

  —

  —

  15.2

  12.9

  12.8

  York 1996

  —

  -0.6

  4.9

  3.1

  4.6

  Rotherham

  0.8

  -0.2

  -3.5

  -4.5

  -2.2

  Sheffield

  9.6

  -0.8

  1.3

  0.1

  0.0

  Wakefield

  6.0

  3.5

  -0.7

  0.7

  0.5

  Cleveland

  3.0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Hartlepool 1996

  —

  -0.1

  -1.4

  -0.8

  0.4

  Middlesbrough 1996

  —

  -0.5

  -3.2

  -4.3

  -3.2

  Redcar and Cleveland 1996

  —

  -1.3

  -0.6

  -0.2

  -0.1

  Stockton on Tees 1996

  —

  -0.6

  -0.5

  0.8

  1.5

  Durham

  13.3

  6.8

  —

  —

  —

  Durham 1997

  —

  0.0

  10.5

  10.8

  11.0

  Darlington 1997

  —

  0.0

  -0.5

  -0.4

  -0.6

  Northumberland

  6.9

  5.4

  -0.8

  -0.6

  0.9

  East Riding of Yorkshire 1996

  —

  11.2

  9.2

  7.9

  7.8

  Kingston upon Hull 1996

  —

  3.4

  0.4

  1.1

  1.2

  North Lincolnshire 1996

  —

  9.2

  4.9

  2.3

  3.8

  North East Lincolnshire 1996

  —

  -1.7

  -0.5

  0.8

  1.9

  Gateshead

  7.7

  7.6

  7.4

  5.6

  3.3

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  4.1

  12.8

  18.1

  17.1

  10.4

  North Tyneside

  3.6

  3.2

  4.8

  3.7

  2.8

  South Tyneside

  3.6

  1.3

  -1.1

  -1.8

  0.5

  Sunderland

  3.1

  -1.3

  0.4

  -3.0

  -0.5

  Bolton

  6.2

  5.0

  2.5

  1.8

  1.6

  Bury

  7.4

  6.7

  4.3

  1.0

  1.5

  Cheshire

  23.0

  20.3

  21.6

  —

  —

  Cheshire 1998

  —

  —

  —

  23.7

  21.1

  Halton 1998

  —

  —

  —

  0.4

  0.4

  Warrington 1998

  —

  —

  —

  0.6

  2.0

  Cumbria

  11.3

  11.5

  11.9

  10.2

  8.1

  Knowsley

  0.7

  -0.3

  1.4

  0.2

  0.1

  Lancashire

  36.5

  31.3

  21.4

  —

  —

  Lancashire 1998

  —

  —

  —

  19.6

  16.4

  Blackburn with Darwen 1998

  —

  —

  —

  0.3

  0.5

  Blackpool 1998

  —

  —

  —

  -3.5

  -2.1

  Liverpool

  -2.0

  2.3

  -9.1

  -3.7

  -3.5

  Manchester

  -8.5

  -1.4

  0.9

  -3.3

  0.6

  Oldham

  6.3

  6.7

  5.0

  1.7

  3.4

  Rochdale

  0.4

  2.1

  0.8

  -1.1

  1.9

  Salford

  7.1

  8.2

  10.9

  6.0

  4.8

  Sefton

  7.7

  6.2

  4.5

  3.9

  4.0

  St. Helens

  9.9

  7.1

  3.8

  4.3

  4.2

  Stockport

  9.3

  6.6

  2.6

  4.9

  2.6

  Tameside

  7.9

  2.1

  1.9

  0.7

  -1.3

  Trafford

  6.4

  4.3

  8.8

  8.6

  14.0

  Wigan

  8.3

  7.9

  7.1

  6.7

  6.4

  Wirral

  -0.3

  0.5

  -2.0

  -3.0

  -0.3

  Total

  703.9

  699.3

  611.3

  425.8

  387.7

  182W

  Textile and Clothing Industry: Support Package
  Textile and Clothing Industry: Support Package
  Committee for Ethnic Minority Employment in Film
  Committee for Ethnic Minority Employment in Film
  Millennium Dome Additional Funding: Direction
  Millennium Dome Additional Funding: Direction
  Organic Farming Scheme: Grant Eligibility
  Organic Farming Scheme: Grant Eligibility
  Sea Defence and Flood Control Expenditure
  Sea Defence and Flood Control Expenditure
  House of Lords Reform: Proposed Joint Committee
  House of Lords Reform: Proposed Joint Committee
  Tuberculosis Immunisation
  Tuberculosis Immunisation
  Medicines: Cost of Blister Packs
  Medicines: Cost of Blister Packs
  Aspirin: Comparative Costs
  Aspirin: Comparative Costs
  Science Enterprise Centres
  Science Enterprise Centres
  Corruption Law: Reform
  Corruption Law: Reform
  Conventional Arms Transfer Register: UK Return
  Conventional Arms Transfer Register: UK Return
  Child Poverty
  Child Poverty
  Departmental Cars
  Departmental Cars