Written Answers of 22 June 2000

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Chemical Weapons Act 1996
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the operation of the Chemical Weapons Act 1996. [127693]

  Dr. Howells
  In accordance with the Act, I have today laid a copy of the report on its implementation during 1999 before both Houses.

  Company/market

  Date of loan

  Loan value (million)

  Lender

  Borrower

  Stirling International Civil Engineering Ltd.

  Lesotho

  18 November 1991

  £49.3

  Hill Samuel Bank1

  Lesotho Highlands Development Authority

  Lesotho

  14 December 1994

  £9.7

  Hill Samuel Bank1

  Lesotho Highlands Development Authority

  Kier International Ltd.

  Lesotho

  18 November 1991

  £49.3

  Hill Samuel Bank

  Lesotho Highlands Development Authority

  Lesotho

  14 December 1994

  £9.7

  Hill Samuel Bank

  Lesotho Highlands Development Authority

  Romania

  14 March 2000

  euro 88.3

  Deutsche Bank

  Ministry of Public Works and Territorial Planning

  Egypt

  12 November 1981

  £32.0

  HSBC

  Ministry of Development

  Kvaerner Roving Ltd.2

  Lesotho

  17 February 1994

  £4.7

  West Merchant Bank

  Lesotho Highlands Development Authority

  India

  2 November 1989

  £31.8

  West Merchant Bank

  National Hydroelectric Power Corporation

  India

  11 October 1996

  £20.4

  Barclays Bank

  Nathpa Jhakri Power Corporation

  Hong Kong

  4 August 1990

  £10.4

  J. Henry Schroder & Co.

  Castle Peak Power Co. Ltd.

  Balfour Beatty Ltd.

  Lesotho

  18 November 1991

  £49.3

  Hill Samuel Bank

  Lesotho Highlands Development Authority

  Lesotho

  15 December 1995

  £1.8

  Hill Samuel Bank

  Lesotho Highlands Development Authority

  Lesotho

  14 December 1994

  £9.7

  Hill Samuel Bank

  Lesotho Highlands Development Authority

  China

  18 March 1996

  £8.2

  West Merchant Bank Ltd.

  Bank of China

  Netherlands Antilles

  10 January 1991

  $18.0

  Barclays Bank

  Resort of the World NV

  Malaysia

  12 July 1991

  £305.0

  J. Henry Schroder & Co.

  Tenaga Nasional Berhad

  Thailand

  17 August 1994

  £15.0

  Australia and New Zealand Banking Group

  Provincial Electricity Authority

  Turkey

  30 July 1987

  $18.1

  Deutsche Bank AG

  Ministry of Housing and Reconstruction

  1 ABN AMRO Bank later took over the loan

  2 Now known as GE Energy (UK) Ltd.

  Inward Investment (Greater London)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action his Department is taking to encourage inward investment into the Greater London area. [127139]

  Mr. Caborn
  The DTI's Invest in Britain Bureau (IBB) provides grant in aid funding to the London First Centre (LFC) to promote London overseas as a location for inward investment. LFC received grant in aid of £1.015 million in 1999–2000, increased to £1,065 million in 2000–01.

  LFC efforts are focused world-wide but investment is particularly encouraged, geographically from North America, and sectorally on functions such as European Headquarters, pan-European call centres and high value-added manufacturing. LFC is keen to emphasise

  Corruption and Bribery (Lesotho)
  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the loans underwritten by Her Majesty's Government to companies implicated in the current criminal trial concerning bribery and corruption in Lesotho. [127078]

  Mr. Caborn
  [holding answer 20 June 20001 Charges have been laid against various consortiums involved in the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. Kier International, Stirling International, Balfour Beatty, and Kvaerner Boving are UK members of consortiums involved in the project. All deny having been involved in any malpractice.

  From records readily available the following loans have been underwritten by Her Majesty's Government through, ECGD, to these companies:

  London's position as the centre of European e-commerce and a leading destination for projects in knowledge driven sectors.

  For the 12-month period ending 31 March 2000, LFC completed 115 projects resulting in 5,440 jobs created and 1,035 safeguarded.

  From 3 July 2000, responsibility for inward investment in London will pass to the Mayor and the London Development Agency.

  Maternity Pay and Parental Leave
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the terms of reference are for the review of maternity pay and parental leave. [127694]
  237W
  Mr. Byers
  The review will consider the steps needed to make sure that parents have choices to help them balance the needs of their work and their children so that they may contribute fully to the competitiveness and productivity of the modern economy.

  The review will seek:
  To examine how the economy is changing, particularly in relation to working patterns, and what the needs of the modern economy will be.
  To identify how competitiveness and productivity in this context can be enhanced through giving families reasonable choices to help them to balance the needs of their children and work.

  In doing so, it will take into account:
  The impact of maternity pay and parental leave on business, particularly SMEs, and families including whether it is possible to simplify the implementation of existing legislation.
  Best practice in business and its impact, including the extent to which employers currently offer additional entitlements or flexible arrangements.
  Factors affecting women's decisions to return to work after childbirth.
  Factors affecting the take up of parental and paternity leave.
  Impact of returning to work part-time, from home or on flexible hours.
  Reducing child poverty, including the particular problems faced by the workless and by parents receiving the Working Families Tax Credit.

  I will chair a Ministerial Group to help co-ordinate the work of the review. Other members of the group are listed in the table:

  Members

  Baroness Jay

  Leader of the House of Lords

  Lord Privy Seal and Minister for Women

  Andrew Smith

  Chief Secretary to the Treasury

  Lord Falconer

  Minister of State, Cabinet Office

  Tessa Jowell

  Minister of State, DfEE

  Margaret Hodge

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary, DfEE

  Baroness Hollis

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary, DSS

  Alan Johnson

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary, DTI

  David Irwin

  Chief Executive, Small Business Service

  There will be extensive consultation and detailed research to back up the review.

  Directors' Salaries
  Mr. Mudie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to enable shareholders to vote on directors' salaries. [125853]

  Dr. Howells
  The Department of Trade and Industry published a consultation paper on directors' remuneration last year which put forward a number of proposals for improving disclosure of directors' remuneration and the board's accountability to shareholders. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry will make an announcement shortly on the Government's response to the consultation.

  Aerospace Industry
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the use made by the United Kingdom aerospace industry 238W
  of outsourcing to non-EU based companies and locations of items previously manufactured in the United Kingdom. [126833]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  I have not made any specific assessment of changes in the sourcing of aerospace items. However my Department is working closely with the Society of British Aerospace Companies on competitiveness improvement programmes for the aerospace industry. DTI funding for this work is helping to improve productivity and other aspects of competitiveness of UK suppliers which should ensure that the outsourcing of aerospace items is kept to a minimum.

  Export Promotion
  Mr. Prior
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the status of the Joint Directorate. [126752]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Joint Directorate was renamed in 1994 as the Joint Export Promotion Directorate, which was run and staffed jointly by the DTI and the FCO. It was also charged with providing a general policy framework for the export promotion work of those two Departments, which was branded as the Overseas Trade Services.

  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary announced on 12 March 1999, Official Report, columns 399–400W, the Government's response to the Cabinet Secretary's Review of Export Promotion, the core of which was that all trade promotion development activities of the DTI and the FCO should be unified in a new joint operation, British Trade International, with a single Chief Executive, Sir David Wright. Copies of the report have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  The Joint Export Promotion Directorate and its responsibilities were subsumed in the restructuring of British Trade International.

  Rogue Directors
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the DTI Hotline for reporting rogue directors is still operating; how many rogue directors have been reported on it since it was established; and what action has been taken and in how many cases as a result of reports received. [126047]

  Dr. Howells
  The Hotline continues to operate and, in the period from inception to 31 May 2000, it has received 2,067 inquiries either to its telephone answering machine, through correspondence or by the online submission of information via the Insolvency Service website. As a result, a total of 656 completed questionnaires/letters have been returned to the Insolvency Service concerning the activities of bankrupts and disqualified directors.

  The Prosecution Section of the Insolvency Service considers all completed questionnaires, obtains additional information from Official Receivers and Insolvency Practitioners and, where appropriate, submits reports alleging specific offences to Department of Trade and Industry lawyers.
  239W
  In the period to 31 May this year 181 cases have been referred to DTI lawyers and these have led to six convictions, the issue of 21 warning letters and a further seven defendants being charged with one or more offences. In 56 cases it was decided that no further action should be taken and the balance of the reports are still under consideration.

DEFENCE

  Defence Evaluation and Research Agency
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the type of projects which(a) New DERA and (b) Retained DERA will undertake following the division of the organisation. [126937]

  Mr. Hoon
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend for Huddersfield (Mr. Sheerman) on 17 April 2000,Official Report, columns 366–67W, 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 our current proposals, we envisage that New DERA would continue to provide similar service to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and other customers, working on a wide range of scientific and technical projects, providing advice, problem-solving, consulting, engineering and research services. It would, however, have much greater freedom to exploit its technology into broader markets, which in turn will have knock-on benefits for its core military business.

  RDERA will focus on activities that must be carried out in government plus it will support MOD in its Department of State functions. It will ensure that MOD has an impartial source of advice and systems research capability, providing high level assessment, integration and management of the research programme and international research collaboration. This will include, for example, continued development of MOD's protection measures against chemical and biological weapons and the maintenance and employment of operational analysis models used to underpin policy, operational concept and procurement decisions.

  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures he will take to ensure that at both Retained DERA and New DERA there is no diminution in(a) the scientific qualifications of staff and (b) the ability to provide impartial advice, once DERA is divided. [126931]

  Mr. Hoon
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I have given to his earlier question on the DERA PPP project, in which I have outlined our proposals for the future of DERA.

  (a) Under our preferred option, Core Competence, RDERA will focus on those activities that must be carried out by Government and to do so, we will need to retain those staff with the necessary expertise and qualifications to meet this role. The existing excellent system for recruiting, training and developing staff will be combined with a healthy interchange with industry, including NewDERA, and academia to give staff the opportunity for full and rewarding careers. Similarly,
  240W
  NewDERA will move into the private sector with the appropriate staff to maintain and, hopefully, develop its capabilities. NewDERA will have the freedom to attract and reward the best qualified staff to take it forward as a leading research and technology organisation.

  (b) NewDERA will remain a significant supplier of science and technology to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) for the foreseeable future. Consequently we will be putting into place measures to ensure that it continues to be an organisation with which MOD customers are happy to do business. NewDERA itself will be keen to satisfy the needs of MOD, which will continue to be its most important single customer. The provision of high quality, impartial and high integrity advice and services will be at the heart of its business for all customers, including MOD. The proposed constraints described in the consultation document, which include features such as a special share, approval of Directors and contractual constraints, have been designed to provide a balance between allowing NewDERA the freedoms it needs to grow in the private sector and ensuring that access is preserved to those capabilities needed for the effective operation of our armed forces.

  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the expected relationship between Retained DERA and New DERA. [126933]

  Mr. Hoon
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I have given to his earlier question on the DERA PPP project, in which I have outlined our proposals for the future of DERA.

  Under our preferred option, Core Competence, we expect that once bedded down, the relationship between New DERA and RDERA will be the same as the relationship between any private sector company and their main customer.

  Contractual frameworks will naturally need to be established to govern relationships between RDERA and New DERA to reflect the changes brought about by the PPP. But this is no different from relationships that currently exist between the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and other private sector organisations. MOD through RDERA would take the lead on all Government to Government collaborations and where necessary, and with the agreement of the other Government or Governments involved, RDERA would sub-contract elements of the programme to New DERA.

  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the consequences for the development of future generations of military aero engines of the closure of DERA Ryestock's aero engine testing facilities. [127090]

  Mr. Hoon
  [holding answer 20 June 2000]On completion of the current engine programme for the Eurofighter project in 2002, there will be insufficient future work to justify the retention of the altitude test facilities at DERA Pyestock. There is no Ministry of Defence strategic requirement to retain the facilities. We are satisfied that there will be scope for engine suppliers to make appropriate alternative arrangements.

  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultations his Department has had with the United States Government on the proposed reorganisation of DERA; what the most recent response of the US Government has been; and if he will make a statement. [127091]
  241W
  Mr. Hoon
  [holding answer 20 June 2000]Following the announcement in 1998 of a public-private partnership (PPP) for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA), consultation has been an important and regular feature of the process. We have consulted with a wide range of key stakeholders, including international collaborative partners. Last year's consultation exercise on a potential PPP solution produced valuable responses, which have informed the most recent phase of work. The current consultation exercise, which I announced on 17 April 2000,Official Report, columns 366–67W gave all stakeholders the opportunity to submit their views on our revised proposals for the DERA public-private partnership.

  Consultation with the USA has concentrated on discussions between MOD officials and Ministers with counterparts in the US Administration, the DoD and other US authorities. As would be expected with such a complex and important process, senior officials have held numerous detailed discussions with their US counterparts. Although it is not practicable for us to keep records of all discussions that take place at senior official level, we can confirm that the Principal Finance Officer, the Chief Scientific Adviser, the Deputy Under Secretary for Science and Technology, the Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff for Equipment Capability and the Chief of Defence Procurement have all been in consultation with their US colleagues.

  Since the consultation was extended, as announced on 26 October 1999, Official Report, column 768W, discussions at ministerial level are recorded as follows:
  Secretary of State for Defence, the right hon. Geoffrey Hoon, met the Hon. John Hamre, the Deputy Secretary of State for Defense 27–28 January 2000.
  Minister for Defence Procurement, Baroness Symons, met the following US representatives to discuss the DERA public-private partnership proposals:
  Dr. C. Dorman, the Chief Scientist of the Office of Naval Research (ONR), on 22 November 1999, in London.
  Hon. John Hamre, the then Deputy Secretary for Defense in Washington on 29 February 2000, and then again in London on 22 March 2000.
  Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition and Technology) Jacques Gansler on 29 February, and then again on 22 and 23 May 2000.
  Rudy de Leon, the Deputy Secretary for Defense in Washington on 2 May 2000.
  Baroness Symons has also met senior National Security officials and had telephone conversations with John Hamre, and David Oliver, the Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense Acquisition and Technology, on this subject.

  A team of UK Ministry of Defence officials led by the Director of the DERA Partnering Team, has completed a comprehensive series of briefings in the USA from 8 to 24 May 2000. This visit covered a wide range of US laboratories and sites as well as US officials from the US Department of Defense and the State Department.

  Responses from the US and our other allies have been generally supportive of the Core Competence approach. They have made it clear that they wish to continue collaboration with the UK and see no reason why this should not be possible along the lines we are proposing. In common with all our collaborative partners, they have welcomed our willingness to listen to their views and engage in genuine consultation. Naturally, they have emphasised that they wish to ensure that government-only
  242W
  information provided under existing arrangements and as part of future collaboration will be adequately protected. Following any decision to proceed with Core Competence we would obviously take forward detailed work on this issue.

  The current consultation period ended on 9 June. I can assure the hon. Gentleman that views expressed will be taken into account before a final decision is made.

  DSA 2000
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the UK firms represented at DSA 2000 in Malaysia; what recent meetings Ministers or officials have had with such firms in respect of licensed production; and what products on display at DSA 2000 are(a) manufactured and (b) designed by UK firms. [126765]

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

  Rifles
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what policy has been adopted with regard to the sale of self-reloading rifles no longer required by the British Army. [126461]

  Mr. Hoon
  [holding answer 19 June 2000]Our policy is that small arms (other than automatic weapons which are routinely destroyed) which are declared surplus by the Ministry of Defence area available only to Governments, including acceptable military, paramilitary and police organisations (either directly or through duly licensed entities authorised to procure weapons on their behalf), to meet their legitimate defence and security requirements. All such transfers are assessed on a case by case basis against the UK national export licence assessment criteria and the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports.

  In practice, few inquiries are received for the purchase of surplus small arms and the reality is that most are destroyed.

  Civil Servants
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the further dispersal of MOD civil servants outside London to other parts of the United Kingdom. [126678]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 21 June 2000]The following planned moves will result in civil service staff being relocated from London to other parts of the United Kingdom:As part of the Head Office redevelopment the number of staff in London will reduce, fulfilling one of the aims of the Strategic Defence Review. Staff will move to a number of locations including York, Bath and Bristol;
  As part of the integration of the former Army Technical Support Agency (ATSA) functions into the Equipment Support (Land) organisation in the Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO), many of the 216 civilian posts at ATSA Woolwich will move to Andover in late 2002;
  48 civilian posts at the former Print and Distribution Function Woolwich are due to transfer to the Defence and Storage Distribution Agency (DSDA) at Llangennech.

  Other moves may be planned but the details are not held centrally.
  243W

  Sierra Leone
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what reports he has received concerning the well-being of Major Andrew Harrison, serving in Sierra Leone, following his involvement with the RUF; what assessment he has made of threats to Major Harrison and the Ghurkha detachment being held hostage by the RUF; and if he will make a statement; [127310]

  (2) what recent discussions he has had with the (a) UN peacekeeping force in Sierra Leone and (b) Revolutionary United Front concerning Major Andrew Harrison. [127311]

  Mr. Hoon
  I receive regular briefings on the situation regarding Major Harrison from civilian and military officials, who are in daily contact with him. I spoke to him myself by telephone on Monday 19 June. He is well and in good spirits, and is well protected by the Indian Gurkha forces at Kailahun. Although, because of the presence of RUF forces, the UN forces there are restricted in their freedom of movement outside the UN compound, they are not hostages and there is currently no direct threat to them or to Major Harrison. Although this is primarily a matter for the UN, we are liaising closely with them in Sierra Leone and New York in an effort to resolve the situation peacefully. I have not had any contact with the RUF.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many troops, and from which regiments, were affected by the failure to supply sufficient quantities of mefloquine in West Africa. [126054]

  Mr. Hoon
  [holding answer 15 June 2000]The number of personnel who deployed to West Africa on Operation Palliser without supplies of anti-malarial tablets, and the reasons for this, are currently being investigated by my Department. Supplies of the tablets were readily available and there are no known problems with the supply chain.

  Non-procurement Fraud
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate his Department has made of the cost to its budget in each of the last five years in relation to non-procurement fraud; and if he will make a statement. [126686]

  Dr. Moonie
  The reported estimated annual costs of non-procurement fraud for the financial years 1995–96 to 1999–2000 inclusive are as follows:

  £

  1995–96

  217,000

  1996–97

  234,000

  1997–98

  98,000

  1998–99

  570,000

  1999–2000

  99,000

  No abatement is made for subsequent recoveries. These figures relate to a combination of suspected and proven frauds with estimated values refined from time to time as investigations, sometimes lasting a year or more, reach a conclusion.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many written parliamentary questions tabled to his Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April 2000 have not received substantive answers, citing as the reason commercial or other confidentiality. [127340]

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

  Trigat Programme
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the medium-range Trigat programme. [125782]

  Dr. Moonie
  The MR TRIGAT Industrialisation and Production (I&P) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed by Germany, France and the UK, but has not come into force because Belgium and the Netherlands have yet to sign. This has delayed the placing of the MR TRIGAT Industrialisation and Production contract by over 12 months. The situation has been further complicated by a request from Germany to reduce the number of equipments envisaged when that country signed the MOU. These uncertainties cast significant doubt on whether (and when) a contract based on the existing MOU will be possible.

  Our priority must be to deliver a cost effective anti-tank guided weapon capability with the minimum delay. To this end, we continue to liaise with the participating nations to resolve the current uncertainty and to agree a way forward.

  Arms Exports (Saudi Arabia)
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the value of United Kingdom arms exports to Saudi Arabia in each of the past five years. [126251]

  Dr. Moonie
  I refer my hon. Friend to the 1997 and 1998 Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls, which contain details of the value of arms exports to Saudi Arabia. Copies of these reports have been placed in the Library of the House. The 1999 Annual Report is due to be published shortly. Comparable information for other year could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  General Permitted Development Order
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to amend the General Permitted Development Order made under the Town and Country Planning Act 1995. [126284]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  In February, my Department launched a research project which includes a review of the changes of use granted permission by the General Permitted Development Order 1995. In May, we announced in response to the report by the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones that the Government was
  245W
  minded to introduce a requirement for an application for full planning permission for all new telecommunications masts. However, we would need to consult widely on the principle and precise scope of any new arrangements, including the extent to which the existing permitted development rights in the Order might need to be amended. My Department also issued jointly with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 19 June a consultation paper which proposes that a planning application should in future be made for certain works within conservation areas that currently benefit from permitted development rights. Implementation of the proposal would require amendment of the Order.

  Transport Plan
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make it his policy to publish an environmental appraisal alongside the Government's Ten Year Transport Plan. [126852]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Ten Year Plan will contain an assessment of the Plan's impact on key environmental indicators.

  Interactive Voice Response Systems
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many agencies of his Department use interactive voice response systems when dealing with telephone inquiries from the general public. [127113]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  None of the Department's nine executive agencies currently offers telephone services that recognise and react to the spoken word.

  Departmental Accounting Office
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what are the purpose and functions of his Department's additional accounting officer; and when this post was created. [127128]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Department's additional accounting officer has direct responsibility for Class III Vote 4, Local government, England, and the White Paper account relating to the Pooling of Non-Domestic Rates and Redistribution to Local Authorities in England. This appointment was made following departmental restructuring on 1 April 1998. The Permanent Secretary, as principal Accounting Officer, continues to have personal responsibility for the overall organisation, management and staffing of the department.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many written parliamentary questions tabled to his Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April 2000 have not received substantive answers, excluding those not answered on grounds(a) of disproportionate cost, (b) that the information is not available, not held centrally, or not held in the form requested and (c) of commercial or other confidentiality. [127098]
  246W
  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 21 June 2000]I assume the right hon. Member is referring to parliamentary questions where Ministers indicate in their response that they will write to hon. Members to provide the information requested. If so, there have been 25 such cases, out of a total of 2,865 parliamentary questions answered by my Department in the period in question.

  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on how many occasions he has deposited papers in the Library in response to parliamentary questions tabled to his Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April 2000. [127337]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  For the period in question, my Department has deposited papers in the Library in response to parliamentary questions on 240 occasions.

  Air Traffic Control
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what actions were taken by(a) his Department and (b) NATS between 9 June and 17 June in order to ensure that the breakdown on 9 June was not repeated. [127239]

  Mr. Mullin
  Following the computer problem at West Drayton on 9 June, the Department urgently requested: information from National Air Traffic Services Ltd. (NATS) on the nature and cause of the problem; and reassurance that immediate steps were being taken to rectify the fault to ensure that it would not happen again. When a further computer problem occurred on 17 June NATS contacted the Department with detailed information on this incident and the remedial action being taken.

  NATS has advised that the causes of the failures were two unrelated application software design faults triggered in established and hitherto correctly functioning systems. The incident on 9 June was traced to an application code which failed to correctly process an unusual flight plan dealing with a flight to Hamburg which required complex co-ordination with an adjacent air traffic control centre (Copenhagen). Immediate action was taken to issue an operational procedure to all units affected not to file flight plans which could cause this problem.

  The failure on 17 June resulted from a latent design fault in the flight strip printing system. The failure was cleared by reverting to a previous version of the software and as an additional precautionary measure a system message has been input which actively prevents the system from exercising the faulty code sequence.

  As a permanent solution NATS is producing design fixes for both faults. These are currently undergoing test and assurance processes with NATS' operational engineering staff as a matter of high priority.

  Mr. Leslie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when his Department's latest Air Traffic Forecasts will be published. [127814]

  Mr. Mullin
  The air traffic forecasts referred to are published by my Department every three years and reflect the intention to monitor air traffic developments and to keep assumptions and methodologies under review.
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  I have now approved the revised forecasts and agreed to their publication. Copies have been placed in the House Libraries and will shortly be on the DETR website.

  Index of Local Deprivation
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact on the level of regeneration funding for London boroughs of the new index of local deprivation. [127161]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Decisions about the level of funding of domestic regeneration programmes is subject to the outcome of the spending review, which is expected to be announced next month. The index of local deprivation is still being finalised and is expected to be published later in the summer.

  Birmingham Northern Relief Road
  Mr. McCabe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when work is to start on the Birmingham Northern Relief Road. [127787]

  Mr. Hill
  The Highways Agency is currently making progress with arrangements for the compulsory purchase of land. Work to clear the site will be undertaken in the autumn and will continue into next year in preparation for construction to start in the spring. A copy of an edited

  Number of fatal and non-fatal casualties and fires1 in dwellings2, 1994–98, UK

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  19983

  Number of fatal casualties in dwellings

  488

  559

  564

  562

  506

  Number of non-fatal casualties in dwellings

  12,916

  13,108

  14,189

  14,896

  14,970

  Number of fires in all dwellings involving casualties

  9,008

  9,237

  10,033

  10,454

  10,463

  Number of fires in multi occupancy dwellings4 involving casualties

  3,861

  3,997

  4,551

  4,716

  4,724

  Percentage

  43

  43

  45

  45

  45

  1 Including late call and heat and smoke damage incidents (not recorded prior to 1994).

  2 Dwelling locations include caravans, houseboats and other non-building structures used as permanent dwellings.

  3 The 1998 casualty information is provisional and will be revised for later publication after death certificate information has been finalised.

  4 Multi occupancy dwellings are those in which the building has been subdivided into separate domestic living areas whether or not part of the building is used for a non-domestic purpose.

  Hunting with Dogs
  Mr. Sawford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total cost of the Burns Inquiry into hunting with dogs. [126901]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as the final cost is known.

  Metropolitan Police
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the(a) current strength and (b) number of officers actually available for duty in the Metropolitan Police Service. [127313]

  Mr. Straw
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the strength of the force at the end of May was 25,484. This figure includes officers on secondment to The National Criminal Intelligence Service, the National Crime Squad and central services.
  248W
  version of the Concession Agreement prepared in accordance with the judgment of the High Court has been placed in the Library.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Eurodac
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on planned UK participation in the Eurodac system. [127196]

  Mrs. Roche
  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced on 7 October 1999 that the United Kingdom was opting in the draft Regulation to establish Eurodac. The United Kingdom continues to play a full part in the discussion on this text, on which the European Parliament is now to be re-consulted.

  Domestic Fires
  Ms Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people(a) died and (b) were injured in domestic fires in each of the last five years, and, of these, what proportion of the fires occurred in houses in multiple occupation. [127008]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The information is given in the table.

  When these are excluded the strength of the Metropolitan Police is 24,966. The number of officers available for duty at the end of May was 24,966.

  These figures are not comparable with those for previous years because of changes to the boundaries of the Metropolitan Police District. Responsibility and resources for those parts of Essex, Hertfordshire and Surrey previously policed by the Metropolitan Police were transferred to the relevant county forces with effect from 1 April 2000.

  Prisons
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) additional prisons and (b) additional prison places there were and what was their cost in each of the last five years; how many planned (i) additional prisons and (ii) additional prison places there are and what is their cost in the next three years; and if he will make a statement. [125322]
  249W
  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 9 June 2000]The information requested is set out in the table.

  Number of new prisons provided in each of the last five years

  Number of additional uncrowded prison places provided in each of the last five years1

  Cost of additional places in each of the last five years (£ million)2,3

  1996–97

  0

  1,857

  186

  1997–98

  4

  4,635

  211

  1998–99

  0

  1,697

  238

  1999–2000

  2

  2,071

  205

  2000–014

  1

  840

  244

  1 The number of new places includes those at new prisons and places provided at existing prisons by building houseblocks and Ready To Use units. It is the total of new places and does not take into account places taken out of use, for example by the closure of Aldington.

  2 The total cost of new places includes new prisons provided under the Private Finance Initiative.

  3 This is an estimate of the total capital and current cost as the Prison Service does not record separately the running costs of added accommodation at existing prisons.

  4 The new prison in 2000–01 is called Rye Hill and will open in January 2001.

  Note:

  A new prison called Dovegate (800 places) is planned to open in July 2001. Plans for 2001–02 are currently being considered as part of the Spending Review 2000.

  Global Cultural Diversity Congress
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of the report to Creditors prepared by the liquidator of Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd. [127355]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Disclosure of the Report of the Creditors is a matter for the liquidators of Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd. and so it is not my decision to do so.

  Immigration Detention Centres
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the planned capacity is of each of the proposed detention centres at Thurleigh, Harmondsworth and Aldington; what criteria will be used to allocate(a) asylum seekers and (b) other immigrants to these centres; and if he will make a statement. [127354]

  Mrs. Roche
  It is proposed that there will be 900 places for immigration detainees at the detention centre at Thurleigh, 550 at Harmondsworth and about 300 at Aldington. People are detained under powers set out in the Immigration Act 1971. Although many have claimed asylum at some time they will be detained because of their status as inadmissible passengers, illegal entrants or people subject to deportation. The primary criterion is whether the person is unlikely to comply with conditions of temporary admission or their removal directions. No particular criteria will attach to these three new centres. The allocation of immigration detainees into a particular centre is primarily dependent on the availability of space and the location of the place of initial detention.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria will be used to select the asylum seekers to be detained at Lindholme; what his 250W
  target is for the average length of time for which an asylum seeker will remain at Lindholme; and if he will make a statement. [127356]

  Mrs. Roche
  Lindholme will be used as part of the detention estate, housing, principally, those immigration detainees apprehended in the North of England. The criteria for the use of Lindholme will be the same as for other centres. It will be for illegal entrants, inadmissible passengers and those subject to deportation who are detained under powers in the Immigration Act 1971. Many of these people have claimed asylum at some stage. Detention is used where it is believed a person is unlikely to comply with conditions of temporary admission or their removal directions.

  There is no target for the average length of time for which a detainee will remain at Lindholme. Detention must be proportionate and for the minimum period necessary.

  Equal Treatment Directive
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which organisations attended his consultative meetings about the EC Directive on implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin. [127352]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  In addition to the organisations that were listed in the reply I gave the hon. Gentleman on 8 June 2000,Official Report, columns 377–78W, the Government had consultative meetings with the following representatives of organisations:

  1. Sushi Sharma (Brent Council, Community Safety Team)

  2. Sofi Taylor (Greater Glasgow NHS Primary Care Trust)

  3. Bob Purkiss (Transport and General Workers Union)

  4. Pauline Granstan (Communication Workers Union)

  5. Jacinta J. Barker (Black and Minority Ethnic Community Safety Forum)

  6. Wali Tasar Uddin MBE (Commonwealth Society of Edinburgh)

  7. Selma Rahman (Fife Racial Equality Council)

  8. Sherry Peck (North Herts. Minority Ethnic Forum)

  9. Priscilla Marongwe (Edinburgh and Lothians Racial Equality Council)

  10. Farkhanda Chaudhry (Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisation)

  11. Jimshid Ahmadi (North Shields Peoples Centre)

  12. Anne Gaspard (United Kingdom Office of the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia—EUMC)

  13. Diya Muqit (Citizenship Foundation)

  14. Khalil Kazi (United Kingdom Migrants Forum)

  15. Claude Hendrickson (Youth Enquiry Service)

  16. David Hey (Salfia Association, Dewsbury)

  17. Ray Sefia (The Ceed Charity)

  18. Mohinder Chatrik (Indian Workers' Association, Huddersfield)

  19. John Creaby MBE (Tyne and Wear Racial Equality Council)

  20. N. Khan Moghal (Manchester Council for Community Relations)

  21. Bisi Akinwumi (Voluntary Organisation Internet Service)

  22. Geremy Phillips (Manchester Trades Union Council)

  23. Robert Cater (Race Equality First)

  24. Patrick Yu (Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities)

  251W

  25. Paul Winstone (Leicester City Council)

  26. Paul Auber (Chapelton Young Peoples 10–2 Club)

  27. Lee Jasper (The 1990 Trust)

  28. Harriette Campbell (African Caribbean Women's Association.)

  29. Judith Woodward (National Assembly Against Racism)

  30. Royana Meechan (Tribesnetribes)

  31. Kazim Khan (Tze UK Incorporating the Race and Drugs Project)

  32. Liaquat Ali (Council of British Pakistanis—Scotland)

  33. Sheila Rogers (Equality Commission for Northern Ireland Racial Equality Directorate)

  34. Dr. Jack Demaine (Loughborough University)

  35. Kristin Couper (Universite de Pans 8)

  36. Philip Mathew (Haringey Racial Equality Council)

  37. Fred Ellis (Haringey Racial Equality Council)

  38. Prof. Chris Mullard (Focus Consultancy)

  39. Kalpana Desai (Kirlees Asian/Black Women's Association)

  40. Mr. P. J. Smith (Labour Party)

  41. Laure Tsobgny (Millennium Experience)

  42. Mr. Akhtar Shah (Scottish Council for Minorities Rights)

  43. Corall Jenkins (Unison)

  44. Michelynn Lafleche (Runnymede Trust)

  45. Baroness Sarah Ludford (European Parliament—EP Rep. to European and United Nations Conferences Against Racism)

  46. Val Carpenter (National Coalition Building Institute)

  47. Rajinder Sohpal (Reading Council for Racial Equality)

  48. Jayne Done (Oldham Local Education Authority)

  49. Alan Corbett (Milton Keynes Council)

  50. Tara Mukherjee (European Multicultural Foundation)

  51. Stephen Pittam (The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust)

  52. Michael Head (European Commission Against Racism and Intolerance)

  53. Julia Kaufmann (BBC Children in Need Appeal)

  54. Jabeer Butt (Race Equality Unit)

  55. Leandra Box (Race Equality Unit)

  56. Dr. James Uhomoibhi (Multi Cultural Resource Centre, Northern Ireland)

  57. Rita Patel (Belgrave Baheno Women's Organisation)

  58. Karen Chouhan (Belgrave Baheno Women's Organisation)

  59. Sue Errington (Devon and Exeter Racial Equality Council)

  60. Mr. Lloyd Blake (African and Caribbean Peoples Movement)

  61. Mr. Abdulaziz Toki (Asian Support Group European Union Migrants Forum)

  62. N. Khan Moghal (Manchester Council for Community Relations)

  63. Aisling Bryne (Al-Hasaniya Moroccan Women's Centre)

  64. Sheila Rogers (Equality Commission for N. Ireland Racial Equality Directorate)

  65. Dr. Tony Langlois (Community Relations Council for Northern Ireland)

  66. Gerry Gable (Anti-racist and Violent Crime Task Force)

  67. Suzette Bronkhorst (I Care—Internet Centre, Anti-racism in Europe)

  68. Samir Sharma (Central Scotland Racial Equality Council)

  69. Mukami McCrum (Central Scotland Racial Equality Council)

  70. Mrs. Bilquis Ahmed (Azeemia Foundation)

  71. Margaret Donaghy (Traveller Movement N. Ireland)

  72. Dave Hey (Salfia Association, Dewsbury)

  73. Mr. Ahmad Fawzi (United Nations Information Centre)

  252W

  74. Namasiku Liandu (University of Abertay, Dundee)

  75. Victor Momodu

  76. Elizabeth Kayembe (Abantu—for Development)

  77. Gay Moon (Justice)

  78. Noel James (Law Society)

  79. Asad Rehman

  80. Julia Hausermann (Rights Humanity)

  81. Mrs. Couper (University de Paris 8)

  82. Sanjiv Verdi (Unison).

  Road Hauliers (Penalties)
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what payments have been received by his Department in respect of civil penalties imposed on road hauliers under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999; and if he will make a statement. [127353]

  Mrs. Roche
  As at midday on 20 June, a total of £24,000 had been received in respect of civil penalties imposed under the provisions of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. In addition, a total of £137,829.70 had been received by way of payment as security in order to secure the release of vehicles impounded under the provisions of the Act, and a further £5,933.10 had been received in respect of detention of those vehicles and related expenses.

  Spiritual Healers Charitable Trust
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Charity Commission about the proposed registration of the National Federation of Spiritual Healers Charitable Trust Ltd. as a charity; and if he will make a statement. [126472]

  Mr. Boateng
  None. The Charity Commission is answerable to the High Court for its legal decisions and its interpretation of charity law. Registration is not a matter for the Home Office.

  Home Detention Curfew
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many category A prisoners were released on the home detention curfew scheme up to 31 May; what offences each committed and what was the(a) sentence received, (b) sentence served and (c) time spent on the scheme in each case; if any breached the conditions of the curfew, had their licence revoked or re-offended while on the scheme; and if he will make a statement. [126907]

  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 20 June 2000]As of 31 May 2000, no category A prisoners were placed on the home detention curfew scheme.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Winter Fuel Payments
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for what reasons 24 September was chosen as the cut-off for the winter allowance for 2000–01. [126045]
  253W
  Angela Eagle
  To ensure people receive their winter fuel payments in good time to contribute to winter fuel bills, the qualifying week must precede the onset of winter. The week of 18 to 24 September will be used as the qualifying week for the coming winter to ensure that the correct payments can be made before Christmas, in good time to contribute to winter fuel bills. The process for identifying eligible people and determining the amount payable takes around 10 weeks. This allows for completion of the enormous task whereby around 11.5 million people who are now eligible for winter fuel payments are either identified from our records, or through a claims process.

  If there were an entitlement provision for those people who had reached age 60 after the qualifying week, greater complexity would be brought to the scheme. The administration process of establishing the eligibility of all those who claimed, by checking age and household circumstances, would take a great deal of time and would add significant expense.

  The current approach ensures all those eligible, particularly the oldest, get a significant and well timed payment. Clearly, there will be people who just miss out, but this would happen even if both a qualifying week and mop-up period were used, since the mop-up period would need to end at some point. We believe it has struck the right balance between providing help to the great majority of older people and ensuring that the payments can be made in time for the coldest weather.

  Housing Benefit
  Ms Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his Department's estimate of the annual costs of increasing the earnings disregard for Housing Benefit claimants by(a) £5 per week for a single person aged under 65 years and (b) by £10 for a household with children. [126435]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is in the table.

  Estimated costs of increasing the earnings disregard for Housing Benefit claimants

  £ million

  Cost in 2000–01

  Increase the Housing Benefit earnings disregard by £5 per week for a single person aged under 65 years

  15

  Increase the Housing Benefit earnings disregard by £10 per week for a family with children

  70

  Notes:

  1. Based on the 1997–98 Family Resources Survey and Housing Benefit administrative/forecast data.

  2. Costs are rounded to the nearest £5 million.

  3. The estimates do not take into account any behavioural effect that may be caused by these measures.

  Ms Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the annual cost of disregarding child maintenance from housing benefit calculations(a) for all claimants and (b) for claimants also receiving working families tax credit. [126434]
  254W
  Angela Eagle
  We estimate that the cost of fully disregarding maintenance payments in Housing Benefit would be about £20 million a year. This includes an estimate for the cost for cases who would become newly entitled as a result of the full disregard.

  The cost of fully disregarding maintenance payments in Housing Benefit (HB) for claimants who receive working families tax credit is also about £20 million a year.

  Notes:

  1. Cost for existing claims based on data taken from May 1998 HBMIS dataset, a 1 per cent. survey of HB claims.

  2. Cost for cases who become newly entitled is calculated from data taken from 1996–97 Family Resources Survey uprated to 2000–01 prices, benefits and earnings levels.

  3. Costs and Caseloads are calibrated to forecast caseloads for 2000–01. The cost has been rounded to the nearest £10 million.

  4. This cost will include a small element of spousal maintenance.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 15 June 2000,Official Report, column 713W, on housing benefit, what average time is taken to process the housing benefit claims dealt with by Chelmsford Borough Council that are not dealt with within the 14 day guidelines. [127205]

  Mr. Rooker
  The information requested is not currently available. However, under the Best Value regime introduced from April 2000, local authorities are required to submit data on the average length of time taken to determine new claims. The first figures are expected to be available to the Department by autumn this year.

  Single Payments
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out for each of the last three years before its abolition(a) the total amount spent on the single payments scheme and (b) the amount spent on each major category of item for which such grants were available. [125285]

  Angela Eagle
  Expenditure on the single payment scheme for the last three years before its abolition is given in the Annual Report on the Social Fund 1988–89.

  Statistical samples of single payments, by item, are given in the Supplementary Benefit Annual Statistical Enquiries, 1986 and 1987.

  The publications are available in the Library.

  Benefit Information
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how he seeks to ensure easy access by all potential claimants to accurate benefit information; what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the complaints handling system in each division within his Department; and if he will make a statement. [125443]

  Angela Eagle
  We are modernising the way DSS services are delivered and restructuring the Department to provide a comprehensive, dedicated service focused on the needs of our key client groups: pensioners, working age people and children. Our programme includes initiatives to provide better information and effective systems for complaints and redress, if things go wrong.
  255W
  Key improvements in quality and accessibility of information about benefits include:
  Benefits Agency leaflets have been redesigned making them clearer, easier to follow and more tailored to customers needs;
  information on benefits is now available in bilingual/Welsh, eight ethnic minority languages, large print, audiocassette and Braille;
  the new Pensions Direct teleservice means we can take claims and deal with queries over the telephone;
  through the New Deals and the ONE service we are providing one-to-one personal help and advice on jobs, training, child care and other services, as well as information on benefits;
  an improved Departmental website due to be launched shortly will provide customers with easy access to benefit information and in the future will enable them to contact us electronically.

  We are reviewing our complaints and redress systems, in relation to our main client groups. Considerable work on this is already underway in the Department's current Agencies, most notably:
  from July 2000 a new system will be introduced in Benefits Agency which will help us reduce complaints handling time;
  the Child Support Agency and War Pensions Agency have each recently introduced an independent body to review complaints.

  In addition to the Department's own complaints procedures the Parliamentary Ombudsman investigates complaints of maladministration. Since 1997, the Ombudsman's reports show a 25 per cent. reduction in the number of complaints made to him about Departmental Agencies.

  Income Support
  Ms Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the characteristics of households with incomes below the level of Income Support. [127005]

  Mr. Bayley
  Research has been, and continues to be, commissioned by the Department to examine the characteristics of the poorest groups and, where appropriate, to explore the reasons for non-take-up of benefits.

  A substantial programme of research was undertaken to examine the characteristics of the poorest pensioners and to explore their barriers to claiming Income Support. Ongoing surveys of low-income families with children also provide detailed information about Britain's poorest families. In addition, research was completed in 1999 that examined the circumstances of the lowest income households identified from the Department's Households Below Average Income (HBAI) series. This followed evidence that households reporting the lowest incomes in household surveys do not necessarily have the lowest living standards.

  All findings from research undertaken by the Department are published and placed in the Library.

  Expenditure
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the level of social security expenditure as a percentage of GDP is(a) in the United Kingdom and (b) on average in the other EU member states. [126978]
  256W
  Mr. Darling
  Comparative data across European Union member states are published by the Statistical Office of the European Communities. It produces comparisons of expenditure on social protection using a broader definition than Social Security alone. The definition includes spending on health, social services, active labour market policies and public sector occupational pensions. The most recent figures are for 1997 and show that UK spending on social protection represented 26.8 per cent. of Gross Domestic Product, compared with an EU average of 28.2 per cent.

  Source:

  Social protection: expenditure and receipts, 1999 edition, Eurostat.

  Child Support
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to make it a criminal offence to give false information to the Child Support Agency. [126654]

  Angela Eagle
  Under proposals in the current Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Bill, we will introduce new criminal offences for providing false information in relation to child support and failing to provide information when required to do so. Any person who deliberately misleads the Child Support Agency or withholds information will be liable to a fine of up to £1,000 on conviction.

  Average Incomes
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the average income from state benefits for(a) pensioners, (b) pensioners over 75, (c) single parents and (d) the disabled (i) in cash and real terms and (ii) as a percentage of average earnings for (1) 1979, (2) 1984, (3) 1989, (4) 1994 and (5) for each year from 1994. [126682]

  Mr. Bayley
  Information on components of pensioners' incomes is published in the annual statistical publication, The Pensioners' Incomes Series, copies of which are in the Library. The latest available figures are for 1997–78.

  Benefits (Balkan Claimants)
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many nationals of each of the successor republics to the former Yugoslavia who are residing in the United Kingdom are claiming social security benefits in this country. [127350]

  Mr. Bayley
  The information is not available as details of a claimant's nationality are not routinely recorded. Benefit entitlement is dependent upon a person's immigration status rather than nationality.

SCOTLAND

  Caledonian MacBrayne
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last discussed issues relating to Caledonian MacBrayne with the European Commission; and if he will make a statement. [125723]
  257W
  Dr. Reid
  My hon. Friend the Minister of State, Scotland Office, recently met with representatives of the European Commission to discuss a wide range of issues affecting transport in remote and peripheral regions in Scotland and elsewhere in Europe including ferry services. Responsibility for issues affecting the operation of Caledonian MacBrayne ferry services is devolved and therefore rests with the Scottish Executive.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of the written parliamentary questions tabled to his Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April 2000 have not received substantive answers, citing as the reason that the information is(a) not held centrally, (b) not held in the form requested and (c) not available. [127333]

  Dr. Reid
  Four questions did not receive substantive replies because the information was not held centrally. Three questions could not be answered fully because some of the information requested was not held centrally.

  No question did not receive a substantive reply because the information was not held in the form requested.

  The information to answer one question was not available and some information requested was not available in respect of three questions.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Chevening Scholarships
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Chevening scholarships have been awarded to(a) Kazakhstan, (b) Uzbekistan, (c) Turkmenistan, (d) Tadjikistan and (e) Kyrgyzstan. [R] [126430]

  Mr. Hain
  In 1999–2000 there were 11 Chevening Scholars from Kazakhstan, 13 from Uzbekistan, five from Kyrgyzstan, two from Turkmenistan, and one from Tadjikistan.

  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the criteria are on which the number of Chevening scholarships are made available to different countries. [126431]

  Mr. Hain
  Chevening Scholarships funding is allocated to different countries each year in line with FCO Objectives. As the cost of academic courses varies, it is not possible to make a precise correlation between the funding available and the number of scholarships.

  Recruitment (Women Graduates)
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many female graduates were recruited by his Department, and, of these, how many are still employed by his Department, in each of the last 20 years. [126429]

  Mr. Hain
  The table shows the number of women recorded as having been recruited to the FCO through the fast stream competition where candidates are required to have a degree. The table also shows how many of these are still with the FCO for each of the last 20 years.
  258W
  Women graduates may have been recruited into other grades but in these cases information on whether or not they had a degree was not systematically recorded as possession of a degree was not a requirement for recruitment in most cases.

  Number Recruited

  Number still with the FCO

  1980

  0

  0

  1981

  5

  3

  1982

  5

  5

  1983

  5

  3

  1984

  2

  2

  1985

  12

  10

  1986

  12

  8

  1987

  8

  8

  1988

  12

  8

  1989

  6

  5

  1990

  12

  9

  1991

  14

  14

  1992

  3

  3

  1993

  4

  4

  1994

  6

  6

  1995

  10

  9

  1996

  9

  7

  1997

  10

  10

  1998

  11

  11

  1999

  11

  11

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many ministerial visits were made by United Kingdom Ministers to(a) Kazakhstan, (b) Uzbekistan, (c) Turkmenistan, (d) Tadjikistan and (e) Kyrgyzstan in
  each of the last three years. [R] [126428]

  Mr. Vaz
  The following Ministers have visited the countries of Central Asia in the last three years:Foreign Office Minister of State, Doug Henderson MP, visited Turkmenistan in May 1998;
  Doug Henderson's successor, Joyce Quin MP, visited Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in October 1998; and
  the Minister for Construction (DETR), Nick Raynsford MP, visited Kazakhstan this month.

  More ministerial visits to the region are planned for the coming months.

  South Lebanon
  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made on the protection of civilians in South Lebanon following the Israeli withdrawal. [126438]

  Mr. Hain
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I have publicly called on all parties to exercise restraint. We have also, privately, raised our concerns with Lebanese, Syrian and Israeli leaders during recent visits to their countries. We continue to work hard with the UN to maximise calm and stability.

  Sierra Leone
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment the United Nations or its associated bodies have made of the role of Liberia in respect of the conflict in Sierra Leone; and what action is proposed as a result. [126771]
  259W
  Mr. Hain
  [holding answer 21 June 2000]The United Nations has made no formal assessment of Liberia's role in respect of the conflict in Sierra Leone. However, there is increasing international concern over reports of close links between RUF rebels in Sierra Leone and supporters in Liberia, and Liberia's alleged involvement in the illicit trade in Sierra Leone diamonds.

  We will be taking forward our discussions with international partners on these issues over the coming period. Meanwhile, we welcome the EU's decision on 13 May to delay signature of the National Indicative Programme for Liberia in the light of concerns about Liberia's current activities.

  Burma
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to identify the location and value of assets held by the Burmese Government which have been frozen by the EU. [127160]

  Mr. Battle
  The Bank of England's Sanctions Emergency Unit, on behalf of HM Treasury, has issued a Notice to all financial institutions in the UK instructing them to freeze all funds belonging to those individuals subject to EC Regulation 1081/2000. UK financial institutions are required to report all such funds to the Bank of England.

  The Burma (Freezing of Funds) Regulations 2000 makes breaches of the EC Regulation a criminal offence and provides penalties for such breaches.

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to introduce investment sanctions against Burma. [127159]

  Mr. Battle
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave her on 20 June 2000,Official Report, column 156W.

HEALTH

  MRSA (Netherlands)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the incidence, control and reduction of MRSA in hospitals in the Netherlands. [126325]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 19 June 2000]We are aware of the very strict protocols used for the management of MRSA in the Netherlands. Practice there and in other European Union countries is taken into account when formulating central policy. We have recently set national standards for the control of hospital acquired infections, including MRSA. These will be delivered locally and will be independently inspected and reviewed by the Audit Commission and the Commission for Health Improvement.

  Administrative Costs
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the budget for hospital and community health services of(a) health authorities and (b) primary
  260W
  care groups and primary care trusts was spent on administrative costs in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [126916]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 21 June 2000]In 1998–99 £420 million was spent on the cost of managing health authorities, 1.15 per cent. of the £36,612 million total National Health Service expenditure (net).

  Primary care groups were not established until April 1999; therefore no figures on their management costs are yet available.

  Hospital Cleaning
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the financial savings made by NHS trusts in(a) domestic services and (b) cleaning contracts in the last year for which figures are available. [126920]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 21 June 2000]The information is not collected centrally.

  Voluntary Sector
  Dr. Desmond Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the voluntary sector organisations involved in(a) primary care groups and (b) healthy living centres. [126881]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 21 June 2000]The names of all voluntary sector organisations currently working with primary care groups (PCGs) are not collected centrally. PCGs should work alongside voluntary organisations in identifying local priorities and developing the Health Improvement Programme (HImP).

  The New Opportunities Fund (NOF) who are running a programme to support the development of a network of healthy living centres (HLCs) collect information about partners involved in bids as part of the application process. I have placed in the Library a list of those voluntary organisations involved at the bidding stage in the seven NOF funded HLCs.

  Prescriptions (Incapacity Benefit)
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will estimate the cost of granting all those on Incapacity Benefit in the UK free prescriptions; [127240]

  (2) if he will estimate the costs of giving free prescriptions to all those on Incapacity Benefit in Norwich, North. [127241]

  Ms Stuart
  In England, it is estimated that the cost of extending entitlement to free prescriptions to all recipients of Incapacity Benefit would be around £120 million per year. Information is not available on a constituency basis.

  Repairs and Maintenance
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the outstanding repair and maintenance backlog at NHS facilities in each health authority in each year since 1995; and if he will make a statement. [127164]

  Ms Stuart
  The table provides the details requested.
  261W

  Outstanding repair and maintenance backlog figures in each health authority in each year since 1995

  £000

  Health authority

  1995–961

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Avon

  39,962

  42,294

  58,610

  51,593

  Barking and Havering

  42,150

  49,631

  47,116

  13,317

  Barnet

  7,914

  7,904

  11,273

  15,683

  Barnsley

  3,582

  3,222

  2,931

  1,755

  Bedfordshire

  8,577

  13,671

  11,714

  14,762

  Berkshire

  33,958

  67,528

  75,670

  76,355

  Bexley and Greenwich

  18,807

  11,395

  1,930

  3,890

  Birmingham

  102,672

  120,034

  153,721

  178,950

  Bradford

  18,836

  36,871

  30,645

  29,800

  Brent and Harrow

  35,282

  58,428

  27,396

  32,231

  Bromley

  50,950

  54,288

  51,962

  14,881

  Buckinghamshire

  28,781

  45,548

  43,924

  26,399

  Bury and Rochdale

  11,330

  10,530

  18,155

  7,834

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  59,953

  64,495

  67,147

  76,827

  Cambridge and Huntingdon

  22,676

  17,633

  25,768

  32,539

  Camden and Islington

  97,610

  140,919

  105,889

  120,775

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  12,450

  13,114

  8,690

  8,929

  County Durham

  35,383

  35,627

  35,745

  12,780

  Coventry

  36,280

  42,172

  40,196

  71,852

  Croydon

  21,997

  20,012

  28,547

  23,200

  Doncaster

  15,209

  18,188

  14,738

  13,772

  Dorset

  27,321

  10,339

  9,774

  7,036

  Dudley

  242

  14,815

  25,695

  28,916

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  64,250

  106,666

  99,863

  99,056

  East Kent

  39,664

  15,576

  13,583

  11,568

  East Lancashire

  14,995

  23,859

  26,710

  32,879

  East London and The City

  92,758

  90,396

  122,008

  102,314

  East Norfolk

  36,510

  33,243

  40,624

  27,038

  East Riding

  148,755

  44,409

  56,968

  63,735

  East Surrey

  6,420

  5,320

  5,005

  7,530

  East Sussex

  30,227

  17,185

  21,468

  19,552

  Enfield and Haringey

  6,716

  10,474

  11,847

  14,785

  Gateshead and South Tyneside

  8,899

  9,413

  9,907

  9,390

  Gloucester

  8,306

  20,126

  18,075

  17,150

  Herefordshire

  9,041

  8,532

  8,232

  8,552

  Hillingdon

  3,055

  6,823

  5,850

  5,482

  Isle of Wight

  1,340

  1,250

  1,162

  1,491

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  22,121

  47,840

  48,450

  48,742

  Kingston and Richmond

  6,264

  4,498

  3,893

  8,022

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  81,945

  76,420

  75,975

  119,506

  Leeds

  67,622

  67,150

  73,377

  87,440

  Leicestershire

  62,994

  56,499

  56,925

  42,504

  Lincolnshire

  35,253

  37,053

  37,178

  103,810

  Liverpool

  11,148

  17,634

  23,231

  28,953

  Manchester

  42,325

  63,276

  71,840

  109,650

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  28,254

  30,022

  39,564

  24,540

  Morecambe Bay

  5,396

  4,822

  4,226

  14,318

  Newcastle and North Tyneside

  4,432

  23,068

  38,624

  52,426

  North and East Devon

  12,743

  13,086

  12,217

  8,034

  North and East Hertfordshire

  10,453

  11,114

  11,502

  44,057

  North and Mid Hampshire

  10,777

  24,201

  20,454

  14,838

  North Cheshire

  3,005

  2,484

  2,393

  5,657

  North Cumbria

  27,609

  24,935

  25,038

  12,994

  North Derbyshire

  5,530

  4,970

  5,441

  6,048

  North Essex

  71,095

  90,471

  66,814

  52,224

  North Nottinghamshire

  12,831

  12,440

  13,343

  12,550

  North Staffordshire

  16,080

  37,750

  35,055

  31,803

  North West Anglia

  3,679

  488

  13,436

  12,185

  North West Lancashire

  24,231

  28,332

  32,368

  30,463

  North Yorkshire

  10,100

  23,054

  23,187

  6,851

  Northamptonshire

  31,580

  29,364

  29,142

  27,400

  Northumberland

  6,390

  6,778

  6,828

  11,054

  Nottingham

  29,257

  38,951

  56,158

  51,046

  Oxfordshire

  20,466

  28,884

  29,697

  43,257

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  11,346

  10,548

  48,329

  9,711

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  0

  27,423

  28,239

  14,268

  Rotherham

  2,850

  3,520

  5,975

  4,519

  Salford and Trafford

  30,951

  27,633

  29,899

  14,356

  Sandwell

  8,086

  7,431

  4,115

  4,596

  262W 263W

  Outstanding repair and maintenance backlog figures in each health authority in each year since 1995

  £000

  Health authority

  1995–961

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Sefton

  7,645

  6,165

  5,270

  11,746

  Sheffield

  14,048

  12,341

  22,181

  30,827

  Shropshire

  8,868

  28,482

  39,912

  26,974

  Solihull

  0

  245

  175

  1,770

  Somerset

  5,280

  5,073

  3,925

  5,786

  South and West Devon

  16,508

  12,428

  12,492

  12,458

  South Cheshire

  7,900

  6,153

  13,119

  14,681

  South Derbyshire

  6,896

  7,949

  7,577

  3,302

  South Essex

  17,931

  20,644

  17,013

  8,258

  South Humber

  3,866

  6,529

  6,423

  5,668

  South Lancashire

  9,301

  9,439

  9,118

  4,997

  South Staffordshire

  16,581

  6,829

  12,972

  10,553

  Southampton and South West Hampshire

  113,700

  19,571

  13,512

  10,863

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  8,915

  8,050

  7,688

  9,337

  Stockport

  14,558

  16,068

  12,858

  12,785

  Suffolk

  9,941

  15,252

  15,427

  32,900

  Sunderland

  6,182

  6,136

  6,326

  12,138

  Tees

  23,856

  28,723

  24,484

  26,446

  Wakefield

  18,919

  1,981

  21,316

  41,831

  Walsall

  2,346

  5,193

  5,397

  11,172

  Warwickshire

  11,574

  7,823

  9,620

  6,462

  West Hertfordshire

  34,619

  35,706

  28,316

  28,741

  West Kent

  57,073

  53,947

  73,113

  75,539

  West Pennine

  6,045

  6,650

  6,866

  11,348

  West Surrey

  12,185

  14,834

  13,059

  20,974

  West Sussex

  21,634

  24,438

  29,879

  23,973

  Wigan and Bolton

  15,290

  13,281

  15,428

  13,146

  Wiltshire

  25,414

  42,425

  47,719

  52,848

  Wirral

  7,207

  5,759

  9,505

  10,447

  Wolverhampton

  0

  22,842

  17,074

  18,560

  Worcester

  11,377

  14,883

  17,246

  17,688

  1 Fire safety backlog was not collected in 1995–96. The figures for the remaining years include all aspects of backlog repair and maintenance.

  Source:

  The figures are derived from the Estates Returns Information Collection (ERIC) collected annually by NHS Estates.

  Accident and Emergency
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many vacancies there were in medical posts in the specialty of accident and emergency in England in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [127163]

  Ms Stuart
  Information about consultant vacancies in accident and emergency medicine is contained in the Department of Health Recruitment, Retention and Vacancies Survey, March 1999. Data are only available for that year and only for consultants in that specialty. The survey does not include information about other grades of medical staff in accident and emergency medicine. Copies of the survey are available in the Library.

  Spanish Medicines Law
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he(a) has made and (b) plans to make to the European Commission in respect of the December amendment to Article 100 of the Spanish Medicines Law. [126667]

  Dr. Howells
  I have been asked to reply.

  We have made no representations to the European Commission in respect of the Spanish law, and currently have no plans to do so.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Running Costs
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the running costs of the House are on(a) sitting and (b) non-sitting Fridays. [126324]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  [holding answer 19 June 2000]It is not possible to distinguish running costs between sitting and non-sitting days because staff salaries are computed on an annual basis. Overtime figures for normal working days vary as a result of the unpredictability of adjournments; they are minimised wherever possible.

  Heating, power and other services costs are substantially unaffected by a non-sitting Friday as normal departmental activities still have to be carried out. It is not practicable to calculate the small volume savings associated with the absence of Members, which in any case will be partly compensated for by increased visitor requirements.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Rwanda
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of her Department's bilateral country programme aid for Rwanda is spent by the Government of Rwanda. [126456]

  Clare Short
  Of the £30 million committed in
  265W
  December 1998, £10.6 million has been used to help Rwanda service multilateral debt and £15 million has been provided as budget support to underpin Government of Rwanda's commitment to increase spending on health and education as a proportion of GDP.

  Nigeria
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of her Department's bilateral country programme aid for Nigeria is spent by the Government of Nigeria. [126453]

  Clare Short
  None of the bilateral programme is spent by the Government of Nigeria.

  China
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of her Department's bilateral country programme aid for China is spent by the Government of China. [126455]

  Clare Short
  Our programme in China is developed and implemented in full consultation with the Government of China. We do, however, work with and through a range of other actors, including non-governmental organisations and, increasingly, multilateral donors such as the World bank and the Asian Development bank.

  We estimate that about 30 per cent. of our total programme resources are channelled through the Government of China, under the strict controls applicable under Financial Aid. A detailed list of our activities in China, together with our Country Strategy paper, will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Departmental Publications
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the cost of her Departmental publications each year from 1992 to 1999. [126449]

  Clare Short
  The costs of Departmental publications since 1992 are as follows (costs are recorded on a financial year basis):

  £

  1992–93

  252,175

  1993–94

  248,710

  1994–95

  318,596

  1995–96

  351,867

  1996–97

  374,651

  1997–98

  381,638

  1998–99

  537,007

  1999–2000

  657,801

  Interactive Voice Response Systems
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many agencies of her Department use interactive voice response systems when dealing with telephone inquiries from the general public. [127392]
  266W
  Clare Short
  My Department has no interactive voice response systems that deal with telephone inquiries from the general public operational either within the Department or in use in any agencies thereof.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many parliamentary questions were tabled to her Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April 2000 which requested information, pursuant to her previous answers. [127332]

  Clare Short
  Ten parliamentary questions were tabled to my Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April 2000 requesting information pursuant to previous answers.

  Ghana
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of her Department's bilateral country programme aid for Ghana is spent by the Government of Ghana. [126451]

  Clare Short
  In November 1999, we committed £40 million in flexible budget support to the Government of Ghana for 2000–02. We anticipate that the larger part of this (£25 million) will be disbursed in 2000 to help Ghana recover from the economic shocks of 1999.

  Additionally, we anticipate that £7 million will be provided in flexible budget support specifically for social sectors in 2000–01. Up to £11 million is available for this purpose in 2001–02.

  In total, flexible budget support represents 55 per cent. of the total bilateral commitment to Ghana over the next two years.

CABINET OFFICE

  People's Panel
  Lorna Fitzsimons
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when she will publish results from the People's Panel Ethnic Minority Booster Research; and if she will make a statement. [127382]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  Initial research has now been carried out using the People's Panel Ethnic Minority Booster to find out more about the experiences of people from an ethnic minority background in using a range of public services. An extra 830 people from ethnic minority communities were recruited to the original People's Panel to ensure that views could be analysed in detail. Results have been published today, and I have placed copies in the Libraries of the House.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on the progress of the People's Panel. [126104]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  Four major waves of quantitative research and several qualitative research projects using the People's Panel have been carried out since it was set up in the summer of 1998. Summaries of the research results have been placed in the House Library and published on the internet. A fifth wave of research, which will set a baseline for the new consumer focus for public services announced on 9 February, is under way. This will measure
  267W
  satisfaction with and expectations of key public services. The results are expected to be announced during the summer. An additional 830 people from ethnic minority communities have been recruited to allow us to examine their views in detail. The results from the first research using this group will be announced shortly.

  An independent evaluation of the panel was published on 23 May 2000, Official Report, column 451W. Copies of the evaluation were placed in the Library of the House. The evaluation report concluded that the Panel had
  proved its worth as a vehicle to promote greater understanding, within local and national government, of public views, and of the need to obtain these views, and that the Panel has proved a valuable asset.

  The recommendations arising from the evaluation are in the course of being implemented.

  Government Annual Report
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many copies of the Government Annual Report have been(a) sold at full price and (b) given away free of charge, to date. [125745]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  Over 10,000 copies of the Government Annual Report 1998–99 have been bought by members of the public at full price. No figures are kept for copies requested by and supplied to members of the public from Departments or otherwise given away without charge.

  Government IT Projects
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what is her estimate of the total cost to public funds of the work of the Steering Committee and Review Team engaged upon the review of major Government IT projects. [126417]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The estimated total cost to the public fund of the review of Government IT projects is £290,000.

  Expenditure in financial year 1999–2000 was £189,000 and in financial year 2000–01 it was £101,000.

  Volunteering (Civil Service)
  Dr. Desmond Turner
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps she will take to promote volunteering among civil service employees during the International Year of Volunteering 2001. [126880]

  Mr. Stringer
  Following on from the Prime Minister's recent initiative to promote voluntary activity in the community, the Cabinet Office has written recently to all Departments and agencies encouraging them to allow and support their staff to undertake voluntary work through the provision of designated paid leave for that purpose. We will continue to promote this initiative throughout the year and into 2001. We are currently in consultation with colleagues in other Departments over what we intend to do specifically during the International Year of Volunteering.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many written parliamentary questions were 268W
  tabled to her Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April 2000; and how many of them have not received substantive answers, with disproportionate cost cited as the reason. [127336]

  Mr. Stringer
  Between 19 October 1999 and 20 April 2000, 238 written questions were tabled to my Department, of which two were replied to by stating that the information was not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. A further 13 questions received partial answers, with disproportionate cost cited as the reason why a complete answer could not be given.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  LEA Funding
  Ms Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the value was of additional support to schools in(a) Westminster city council area and (b) the Royal boroughs of Kensington and Chelsea additional to revenue support grant since 1997 in respect of (a) the School Standards Fund, (b) section 11/ethnic minority achievement grant, (c) Excellence in Cities (d) education action zone and (e) other categories. [125417]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The additional
  support provided for schools is contained in the table:

  £

  Westminster

  Kensington and Chelsea

  Standards Fund (Main)1

  1997–98

  865,543

  609,905

  1998–99

  1,697,559

  977,941

  1999–2000

  5,606,292

  3,190,611

  2000–01

  7,317,157

  23,585,179

  Section 11 (Home Office)

  1997–98

  1,363,058

  739,615

  1998–99

  1,398,498

  758,845

  Education Action Zones

  2000–01

  800

  0

  Special Grants3

  2000–01

  818,000

  494,000

  1 Includes Excellence in Cities and Ethnic Minority Achievement 1999–2000 to 2000–01.

  2 Offered £4.1 million initially 2000–01.

  3 Including School Budget Support and School Standards Grants

  Notes:

  1. NDS Capital excluded from figures.

  2. Standards Fund grants include the local authority contribution, where required.

  School Playing Fields
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many sales of school playing fields he has(a) approved and (b) rejected in each month since October 1998; [125928]

  (2) what the acreage is of the school playing fields whose disposal he has (a) approved and (b) rejected in each month since October 1998; [125929]

  (3) what has been the total sale value of school playing fields whose disposal he has (a) approved and (b) rejected in each month since October 1998. [125930]
  269W
  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 15 June 2000]Before October 1998, there was no regulation of the sale of school playing fields whatever. If a local authority wanted to sell a school playing field, there was nothing to stop it and it could spend the proceeds as it wished.

  To put a stop to the indiscriminate sale of school playing fields, the Government introduced Section 77 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. Section

  Sale of school sports pitches approved under Section 77 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 since 1 October 1998

  Number of sales

  Area (m2)

  Total sale value (£)

  Approved

  Rejected

  Approved

  Rejected

  Approved

  Rejected

  1998

  October

  1

  —

  16,000

  —

  2,414,000

  —

  November

  2

  —

  71,665

  —

  2,250,000

  —

  December

  4

  —

  51,780

  —

  1,283,000

  —

  1999

  January

  2

  —

  75,900

  —

  —1

  —

  February

  6

  —

  139,180

  —

  12,645,000

  —

  March

  6

  —

  171,100

  —

  6,670,000

  —

  April

  10

  —

  177,590

  —

  6,122,000

  —

  May

  7

  —

  93,450

  —

  13,430,000

  —

  June

  2

  2

  51,300

  51,500

  90,000

  516,000

  July

  2

  —

  82,500

  —

  5,160,000

  —

  August

  1

  —

  33,000

  —

  32,600

  —

  September

  1

  —

  9,000

  —

  650,000

  —

  October

  2

  —

  36,500

  —

  1,280,000

  —

  November

  2

  —

  56,800

  —

  2,180,000

  —

  December

  3

  —

  27,110

  —

  1,320,000

  —

  2000

  January

  2

  —

  14,360

  —

  806,500

  —

  February

  1

  —

  48,300

  —

  3,100,000

  —

  March

  1

  —

  5,880

  —

  150,000

  —

  April

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  May

  4

  —

  41,780

  —

  12,520,000

  —

  June

  2

  —

  28,170

  —

  1,200,000

  —

  1 Not known

  Notes:

  1. All sale proceeds are used to provide new or improved sports or education facilities at maintained schools.

  2. 40 per cent. of applications are in respect of sports pitches at closed or closing schools.

  3. In 66 per cent. of cases at operating schools, the sale proceeds have been used to provide new or enhanced sports facilities, including sports halls, all-weather pitches or improved grass sports pitches.

  Standards Fund
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list(a) the education authorities which did not accept Standards Fund grants available through the provision of matching funding in each of the last two years and (b) the amount of grant involved in each case; and how the undistributed funds were used. [126319]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The tables show the sums initially surrendered for the main Standards Fund programme. We cannot separately identify where this was due to difficulty in finding match funding. Most authorities accepted allocations in full in both years. The requirement for authorities to contribute to the 2000–01 Standards Fund of over £1.6 billion supported expenditure was allowed for in the 5.4 per cent. increase in education Standard Spending Assessment for 2000–01. Surrendered sums are re-used in full for supporting education priorities, mainly within the Standards Fund programme.
  270W
  77 requires a local authority, or the governing body of a maintained school, to obtain the Secretary of State's consent before disposing, or changing the use, of any school playing field. Local authorities are aware of the tough criteria against which their applications are considered and only put forward those applications they are confident will meet the criteria. The table shows the requested information.

  Standards Fund

  £

  Local education authority

  Initial DfEE grant

  2000–01 surrendered allocations

  302 Barnet

  1,972,471

  370 Barnsley

  183,866

  820 Bedfordshire

  365,107

  867 Bracknell Forest

  50,000

  304 Brent

  1,084,292

  846 Brighton and Hove

  114,685

  305 Bromley

  56,666

  351 Bury

  200,256

  875 Cheshire

  1,379,056

  801 City of Bristol

  473,857

  909 Cumbria

  469,808

  841 Darlington

  36,739

  878 Devon

  1,284,058

  835 Dorset

  79,418

  332 Dudley

  66,178

  840 Durham

  167,038

  811 East Riding of Yorkshire

  73,411

  308 Enfield

  200,610

  916 Gloucestershire

  163,112

  850 Hampshire

  303,731

  207 Kensington and Chelsea

  319,145

  271W

  Standards Fund

  £

  Local education authority

  Initial DfEE grant

  810 Kingston-upon-Hull

  24,500

  314 Kingston upon Thames

  169,515

  856 Leicester

  424,956

  855 Leicestershire

  325,750

  821 Luton

  37,571

  315 Merton

  40,055

  806 Middlesbrough

  150,216

  391 Newcastle upon Tyne

  700,740

  926 Norfolk

  120,006

  802 North Somerset

  43,118

  928 Northamptonshire

  755,049

  929 Northumberland

  1,407,923

  892 Nottingham City

  78,910

  891 Nottinghamshire

  637,089

  353 Oldham

  100,000

  874 Peterborough

  270,035

  879 Plymouth

  127,434

  870 Reading

  85,832

  807 Redcar and Cleveland

  41,956

  354 Rochdale

  274,135

  857 Rutland

  201,567

  333 Sandwell

  1,252,750

  343 Sefton

  15,319

  893 Shropshire

  424,384

  393 South Tyneside

  36,740

  342 St. Helens

  303,158

  356 Stockport

  52,500

  935 Suffolk

  390,455

  936 Surrey

  245,527

  880 Torbay

  59,090

  358 Trafford

  128,804

  937 Warwickshire

  50,000

  869 West Berkshire

  250,000

  359 Wigan

  214,004

  865 Wiltshire

  145,555

  872 Wokingham

  95,000

  816 York

  6,790

  Total

  18,729,923

  Standards Fund

  £

  Local education authority

  DfEE grant

  1999–2000 surrendered allocations

  Barnsley

  6,000

  Brent

  476,538

  Coventry

  101,580

  Devon

  47,260

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  87,750

  Greenwich

  25,000

  Hillingdon

  48,450

  Manchester

  18,750

  Newcastle

  31,792

  North Lincolnshire

  18,705

  North Somerset

  32,831

  Northumberland

  19,689

  Richmond on Thames

  20,000

  Salford

  16,004

  Solihull

  10,000

  Southampton

  34,000

  South Tyneside

  9,000

  Suffolk

  374,665

  Trafford

  20,000

  Wandsworth

  14,644

  Warrington

  5,500

  Total

  1,418,156

  Notes:

  1. Adjustments to 2000–01 are continuing. Once complete, they will result in reductions to the total allocations initially surrendered.

  2. Reasons given for the surrender by authorities include claim of difficulty with matching funding.

  School Instructors
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidance he gives to local education authorities on ensuring that instructors in maintained secondary schools have the same basic numeracy and literacy skills as those with qualified teacher status; and if he will make a statement. [126783]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Education (Teachers' Qualifications and Health Standards) (England) Regulations 1999 provide that it is for governing bodies acting with the consent of local education authorities to satisfy themselves as to the qualifications and experience of prospective instructors. This would include satisfying themselves as necessary that instructors whom they wish to employ have the requisite literacy and numeracy skills.

  Unit Costs
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the average cost of educating(a) a primary and (b) a secondary school pupil in (i) 1970, (ii) 1980, (iii) 1990 and (iv) 1999; and what was the cost of educating a pupil excluded from school in each of those years. [126785]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Unit costs based on net institutional expenditure for primary and secondary pupils in English maintained schools for the financial years 1979–80, 1989–90 and 1998–99 are set out in the following table. Figures on the same basis for 1969–70 are not readily available. Information about the cost of educating pupils excluded from school is not collected centrally.

  Primary

  Secondary

  1979–80

  430

  610

  1989–90

  1,210

  1,860

  1998–99

  1,882

  2,450

  Under this Government, funding per pupil has increased by over £300 per pupil. In this year alone it has risen by £180. And that does not even include capital expenditure. Under the last Government, spending per pupil fell by £60 in real terms between 1994–95 and 1997–98.

  Teachers (Absence and Resignations)
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many teachers resigned from teaching in(a) 1970, (b) 1980, (c) 1990 and (d) 1999 citing stress-related reasons; [126786]

  (2) what the most frequently cited reasons were for teacher absence giving rise to the need for supply teachers in each of the last five years; [126788]

  (3) how many teaching days were lost at schools in England and Wales owing to absence of teachers because of stress-related illness in (a) 1970, (b) 1980, (c) 1990 and (d) 1999. [126787]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  This information is not held centrally.

  Teacher Training
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the total level of Government funding the current financial year for higher education institutions to support the training of teachers on PGCE courses in a subsidiary subject; and if he will make a statement. [126965]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  There is no separately identified funding for subsidiary subjects within initial teacher training (ITT) courses. The level of funding for individual courses, which varies between primary and secondary and between individual secondary subjects, depends only on the main subject of study. In 1999–2000 public expenditure to higher education institutions in England for secondary Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) courses was some £58.6 million, of which £46.5 million was distributed by the Teacher Training Agency (TTA) and £12.1 million paid through LEAs to cover tuition fees.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to offer financial support to higher education institutions that train teachers in a subsidiary subject; and if he will make a statement. [126964]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Government funding covers all aspects of initial teacher training (ITT) courses. The level depends on the main subject of study. There are no plans to include any subsidiary subjects that providers might offer in determining the level of funding ITT providers receive. The Government pay the fees for home and European Union students on Post Graduate Certificate in Education courses irrespective of their subject of study.

  New Deal for Schools Programme—Bid Information

  NDS 1

  NDS 2

  NDS 3

  LEA name

  Number of projects

  NDS bid

  Number of projects

  NDS bid

  Number of projects

  NDS bid

  England

  1,138

  143,673,836

  2,407

  761,231,849

  6,753

  1,427,768,901

  Barking and Dagenham

  5

  210,520

  19

  1,548,000

  101

  21,097,222

  Barnet

  10

  370,300

  6

  1,610,071

  18

  5,967,682

  Barnsley

  1

  500,000

  2

  2,076,000

  24

  7,639,233

  Bath and North East Somerset

  4

  1,032,300

  11

  1,078,027

  43

  5,290,678

  Bedfordshire

  6

  1,950,190

  1

  1,382,000

  11

  4,698,729

  Bexley

  10

  572,000

  22

  984,375

  78

  3,228,916

  Birmingham

  8

  1,622,306

  279

  2,771,700

  24

  16,760,924

  Blackburn with Darwen

  —

  0

  21

  832,939

  35

  7,818,980

  Blackpool

  —

  0

  25

  667,395

  206

  8,855,600

  Bolton

  3

  647,925

  8

  1,497,039

  19

  17,725,984

  Bournemouth

  3

  418,000

  4

  855,091

  20

  5,859,788

  Bracknell Forest

  —

  0

  1

  745,500

  25

  6,100,413

  Bradford

  18

  1,135,308

  10

  1,895,300

  37

  27,026,971

  Brent

  7

  807,975

  2

  1,321,900

  30

  13,313,899

  Brighton and Hove

  1

  1,588,000

  9

  1,065,431

  27

  4,637,498

  Bristol, City of

  9

  619,515

  20

  12,286,387

  87

  9,471,973

  Bromley

  18

  304,700

  7

  582,700

  38

  3,357,485

  Buckinghamshire

  3

  564,365

  18

  1,081,883

  153

  13,138,480

  Bury

  3

  343,000

  26

  650,000

  44

  2,081,550

  Calderdale

  2

  842,970

  3

  2,969,980

  19

  3,241,146

  Cambridgeshire

  5

  598,000

  17

  2,375,468

  119

  24,241,315

  Camden

  8

  220,406

  8

  620,517

  46

  5,044,598

  Cheshire

  10

  971,903

  6

  1,566,890

  37

  9,684,187

  Cornwall

  2

  1,018,781

  29

  1,577,016

  148

  11,075,669

  Coventry

  3

  668,534

  20

  409,926

  58

  11,103,475

  Croydon

  26

  2,293,503

  9

  2,227,540

  54

  17,079,880

  Cumbria

  9

  655,000

  8

  1,632,666

  31

  3,115,942

  Darlington

  8

  320,340

  4

  185,775

  37

  5,506,754

  Special Educational Needs
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what action his Department has taken to help LEAs increase the percentage of statements of special educational needs issued within 18 weeks of application; and which LEAs have received specific support on this matter. [127141]

  Jacqui Smith
  In 1998, my Department provided good practice guidance to LEAs which were not producing at least 60 per cent. of their draft statements within 18 weeks. We have followed this up by asking for evidence of improved performance, and we are currently considering what action to take in relation to continuing poor performers as identified in the Audit Commission's performance indicators for 1998–99, the most recent available. We will continue to keep LEA performance in this area under review. It is encouraging to note that the Audit Commission's figures show a continuing improvement, with English councils overall preparing 67 per cent. of draft statements within 18 weeks in 1998–99, compared to 54 per cent. in 1997–98 and 48 per cent. in 1996–97.

  School Repairs
  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list for(a) England and (b) each local education authority, the number and value of funding bids made to his Department in each financial year since 1995–96 for the repair of school buildings. [126846]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 21 June 2000]: The following table shows the number and value of bids made under the New Deal for Schools programme. There was no equivalent programme prior to 1997–98.
  275W

  New Deal for Schools Programme—Bid Information

  NDS 1

  NDS 2

  NDS 3

  LEA name

  Number of projects

  NDS bid

  Number of projects

  NDS bid

  Number of projects

  NDS bid

  Derby, City of

  5

  555,848

  12

  1,149,812

  39

  5,727,180

  Derbyshire

  10

  1,125,000

  11

  2,677,488

  16

  11,834,372

  Devon

  7

  2,047,797

  21

  3,517,200

  40

  12,146,776

  Doncaster

  5

  419,000

  11

  446,900

  31

  9,250,567

  Dorset

  12

  1,637,808

  17

  2,645,000

  39

  18,231,100

  Dudley

  6

  278,432

  18

  66,739,238

  47

  30,513,213

  Durham

  14

  930,000

  20

  2,068,052

  58

  7,535,852

  Ealing

  7

  554,111

  5

  1,036,000

  19

  5,265,197

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  74

  1,187,400

  3

  1,508,680

  26

  15,186,328

  East Sussex

  24

  2,475,119

  5

  2,088,000

  13

  5,271,311

  Enfield

  9

  369,774

  8

  23,455,000

  30

  8,124,930

  Essex

  10

  1,479,192

  11

  2,556,250

  52

  12,771,860

  Gateshead

  5

  352,000

  3

  1,187,000

  23

  8,683,450

  Gloucestershire

  20

  1,618,041

  8

  4,000,210

  50

  6,843,046

  Greenwich

  7

  306,850

  5

  614,725

  44

  23,149,769

  Hackney

  —

  0

  2

  575,000

  45

  6,071,504

  Halton

  —

  0

  10

  723,500

  21

  4,481,894

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  2

  300,000

  3

  870,000

  36

  7,601,901

  Hampshire

  21

  7,232,201

  44

  27,277,610

  128

  20,070,199

  Haringey

  4

  556,000

  14

  2,125,160

  53

  7,861,247

  Harrow

  3

  188,500

  9

  1,057,300

  26

  7,419,442

  Hartlepool

  6

  412,500

  7

  426,728

  12

  2,822,244

  Havering

  6

  446,382

  3

  333,000

  66

  5,225,870

  Herefordshire

  15

  810,439

  9

  1,849,708

  101

  7,664,268

  Hertfordshire

  2

  1,529,000

  22

  3,461,399

  47

  21,453,011

  Hillingdon

  39

  1,341,306

  7

  1,392,630

  45

  4,683,851

  Hounslow

  33

  5,232,395

  10

  1,506,644

  149

  9,946,717

  Isle of Wight

  10

  232,075

  44

  5,301,971

  12

  4,486,077

  Isles of Scilly

  —

  0

  1

  52,550

  3

  57,596

  Islington

  2

  395,700

  8

  1,248,100

  30

  7,795,865

  Kensington and Chelsea

  1

  244,000

  5

  550,563

  13

  1,108,330

  Kent

  64

  3,342,344

  6

  7,064,000

  52

  34,169,038

  Kingston upon Hull, City of

  1

  590,000

  3

  503,195

  38

  10,099,179

  Kingston upon Thames

  2

  724,000

  2

  767,000

  56

  4,350,254

  Kirklees

  7

  660,045

  21

  768,528

  47

  5,379,495

  Knowsley

  4

  1,894,130

  24

  8,441,650

  9

  5,601,137

  Lambeth

  3

  361,475

  6

  2,291,688

  41

  13,508,349

  Lancashire

  6

  2,105,570

  7

  3,507,489

  36

  13,350,490

  Leeds

  5

  1,402,380

  18

  69,620,431

  38

  14,943,428

  Leicester, City of

  5

  589,000

  51

  48,287,830

  61

  9,961,677

  Leicestershire

  26

  795,216

  59

  7,177,112

  96

  14,221,370

  Lewisham

  5

  1,105,582

  7

  3,600,157

  18

  26,779,014

  Lincolnshire

  16

  1,545,614

  15

  1,259,945

  45

  8,359,932

  Liverpool

  17

  6,977,431

  4

  4,016,000

  15

  19,410,197

  London, City of

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Luton

  2

  345,000

  25

  397,000

  31

  5,589,822

  Manchester

  6

  1,447,600

  4

  2,829,300

  35

  13,567,400

  Medway

  —

  0

  13

  1,218,134

  34

  4,641,936

  Merton

  1

  1,828,547

  7

  1,288,311

  17

  7,562,704

  Middlesbrough

  2

  300,000

  4

  1,512,944

  26

  3,444,881

  Milton Keynes

  7

  271,000

  12

  926,520

  15

  2,182,980

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  7

  611,000

  4

  8,952,859

  15

  8,922,816

  Newham

  3

  482,643

  9

  1,306,430

  29

  6,435,236

  Norfolk

  2

  1,482,000

  7

  2,696,680

  46

  29,633,848

  North East Lincolnshire

  2

  328,437

  14

  1,471,655

  35

  8,129,485

  North Lincolnshire

  1

  143,260

  10

  1,320,263

  49

  11,603,862

  North Somerset

  1

  2,591,000

  4

  1,617,238

  7

  4,301,910

  North Tyneside

  2

  406,000

  9

  837,775

  64

  3,626,255

  North Yorkshire

  3

  962,000

  5

  7,374,000

  58

  56,602,284

  Northamptonshire

  21

  1,165,050

  60

  6,961,690

  77

  10,538,379

  Northumberland

  21

  541,500

  12

  2,022,500

  48

  14,313,550

  Nottingham, City of

  —

  0

  8

  2,619,700

  69

  19,920,230

  Nottinghamshire

  4

  3,533,651

  38

  14,643,648

  42

  22,630,536

  Oldham

  14

  784,323

  6

  2,591,367

  36

  9,455,699

  Oxfordshire

  1

  1,030,000

  66

  41,652,522

  111

  12,100,128

  Peterborough, City of

  —

  0

  15

  1,255,500

  84

  9,126,958

  Plymouth, City of

  —

  0

  14

  1,641,168

  16

  3,768,519

  Poole

  3

  241,000

  3

  905,310

  15

  2,415,718

  Portsmouth

  3

  1,901,000

  24

  740,800

  75

  10,017,757

  Reading

  —

  0

  1

  2,279,825

  14

  2,792,418

  276W 277W

  New Deal for Schools Programme-Bid Information

  NDS 1

  NDS 2

  NDS 3

  LEA name

  Number of projects

  NDS bid

  Number of projects

  NDS bid

  Number of projects

  NDS bid

  Redbridge

  2

  335,000

  13

  981,750

  44

  3,766,960

  Redcar and Cleveland

  3

  337,210

  7

  941,625

  30

  11,510,296

  Richmond upon Thames

  2

  317,100

  9

  218,500

  18

  2,163,900

  Rochdale

  2

  1,460,130

  4

  1,962,000

  15

  3,297,824

  Rotherham

  3

  817,000

  6

  2,183,864

  21

  18,139,193

  Rutland

  2

  340,450

  9

  1,127,200

  47

  4,779,155

  Salford

  4

  2,013,155

  34

  23,344,854

  50

  7,643,480

  Sandwell

  5

  914,125

  6

  16,563,955

  63

  12,807,740

  Sefton

  10

  836,000

  8

  442,204

  199

  20,032,123

  Sheffield

  2

  1,273,000

  1

  4,862,000

  21

  14,328,791

  Shropshire

  3

  1,277,908

  19

  1,184,252

  52

  7,615,357

  Slough

  —

  0

  13

  384,528

  40

  6,554,768

  Solihull

  6

  2,931,445

  1

  1,525,780

  115

  5,317,434

  Somerset

  5

  620,663

  9

  2,958,500

  26

  8,253,903

  South Gloucestershire

  2

  412,270

  9

  1,507,180

  19

  6,039,642

  South Tyneside

  2

  945,000

  55

  16,519,322

  19

  5,032,435

  Southampton

  3

  711,000

  24

  724,414

  90

  7,542,431

  Southend on Sea

  —

  0

  4

  598,117

  46

  2,007,530

  Southwark

  9

  381,747

  2

  770,350

  1

  280,000

  St. Helens

  2

  663,000

  1

  1,369,000

  5

  4,890,400

  Staffordshire

  16

  8,847,122

  269

  82,143,638

  145

  14,550,466

  Stockport

  22

  979,429

  13

  2,173,544

  70

  8,274,324

  Stockton on Tees

  3

  697,000

  15

  371,687

  31

  8,006,946

  Stoke on Trent

  2

  900,000

  3

  4,414,739

  12

  3,362,269

  Suffolk

  2

  1,065,000

  15

  1,578,900

  25

  4,457,500

  Sunderland

  2

  719,000

  2

  960,000

  36

  11,320,320

  Surrey

  13

  1,406,380

  33

  2,340,108

  82

  7,547,268

  Sutton

  6

  894,510

  4

  515,500

  72

  2,268,003

  Swindon

  11

  1,292,000

  4

  219,250

  11

  4,117,373

  Tameside

  5

  462,050

  4

  2,637,550

  38

  6,262,009

  Telford and Wrekin

  —

  0

  5

  675,200

  40

  5,861,218

  Thurrock

  —

  0

  8

  507,300

  22

  1,613,942

  Torbay

  —

  0

  14

  20,605,047

  27

  2,755,011

  Tower Hamlets

  3

  928,490

  5

  21,448,700

  25

  5,110,392

  Trafford

  3

  425,000

  6

  1,138,550

  22

  13,948,425

  Wakefield

  12

  600,225

  4

  1,923,650

  21

  8,364,798

  Walsall

  8

  682,250

  10

  1,805,100

  61

  11,112,860

  Waltham Forest

  2

  886,272

  3

  19,563,222

  12

  7,148,533

  Wandsworth

  4

  260,690

  5

  865,155

  10

  3,148,794

  Warrington

  —

  0

  26

  1,081,554

  149

  8,748,072

  Warwickshire

  2

  1,177,000

  3

  2,591,000

  17

  13,018,883

  West Berkshire

  1

  1,092,650

  13

  1,359,491

  16

  2,716,697

  West Sussex

  125

  3,021,104

  8

  2,130,522

  42

  6,818,827

  Westminster, City of

  1

  312,800

  7

  999,371

  52

  8,209,792

  Wigan

  3

  720,914

  3

  2,619,300

  19

  8,755,708

  Wiltshire

  7

  1,541,320

  7

  1,007,615

  47

  10,664,442

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  —

  0

  8

  635,300

  21

  3,780,690

  Wirral

  2

  500,000

  21

  1,901,900

  41

  14,537,717

  Wokingham

  —

  0

  3

  1,508,050

  44

  9,297,570

  Wolverhampton

  7

  475,803

  29

  760,948

  48

  5,636,120

  Worcestershire

  —

  0

  73

  16,582,464

  80

  11,690,306

  York, City of

  1

  180,115

  2

  691,000

  11

  5,751,458

  NDS 4

  All NDS

  LEA name

  Number of projects

  NDS bid

  Number of projects

  NDS Bid

  England

  4,963

  1,578,330,159

  15,261

  3,911,004,745

  Barking and Dagenham

  94

  15,240,538

  219

  38,096,280

  Barnet

  31

  21,453,457

  65

  29,401,510

  Barnsley

  31

  10,799,803

  58

  21,015,036

  Bathand North East Somerset

  23

  3,918,505

  81

  11,319,510

  Bedfordshire

  16

  3,103,705

  34

  11,134,624

  Bexley

  61

  5,286,907

  171

  10,072,198

  Birmingham

  62

  22,131,407

  373

  43,286,337

  Blackburn with Darwen

  47

  6,253,074

  103

  14,904,994

  Blackpool

  29

  4,597,791

  260

  14,120,786

  278W 279W

  NDS 4

  All NDS

  LEA name

  Number of projects

  NDS bid

  Number of projects

  NDS Bid

  Bolton

  12

  13,072,477

  42

  32,943,425

  Bournemouth

  21

  10,955,817

  48

  18,088,696

  Bracknell Forest

  9

  2,036,643

  35

  8,882,556

  Bradford

  51

  17,363,269

  116

  47,420,848

  Brent

  20

  16,875,729

  59

  32,319,503

  Brighton and Hove

  12

  2,989,677

  49

  10,280,606

  Bristol, City of

  15

  7,659,401

  131

  30,037,276

  Bromley

  9

  4,478,214

  72

  8,723,099

  Buckinghamshire

  56

  9,626,414

  230

  24,411,142

  Bury

  58

  2,452,095

  131

  5,526,645

  Calderdale

  32

  4,447,833

  56

  11,501,929

  Cambridgeshire

  111

  17,746,575

  252

  44,961,358

  Camden

  15

  1,974,604

  77

  7,860,126

  Cheshire

  88

  22,968,453

  141

  35,191,433

  Cornwall

  20

  7,522,815

  199

  21,194,281

  Coventry

  48

  15,356,820

  129

  27,538,755

  Croydon

  29

  6,617,510

  118

  28,218,433

  Cumbria

  41

  3,824,576

  89

  9,228,184

  Darlington

  29

  11,963,599

  78

  17,976,468

  Derby, City of

  19

  2,972,188

  75

  10,405,028

  Derbyshire

  23

  11,020,239

  60

  26,657,099

  Devon

  48

  23,214,431

  116

  40,926,204

  Doncaster

  31

  19,800,876

  78

  29,917,343

  Dorset

  20

  13,834,750

  88

  36,348,658

  Dudley

  16

  9,476,399

  87

  107,007,282

  Durham

  47

  6,315,317

  139

  16,849,221

  Ealing

  12

  3,507,648

  43

  10,362,956

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  18

  10,986,364

  121

  28,868,772

  East Sussex

  18

  4,826,272

  60

  14,660,702

  Enfield

  49

  16,606,730

  96

  48,556,434

  Essex

  57

  30,670,861

  130

  47,478,163

  Gateshead

  49

  8,061,963

  80

  18,284,413

  Gloucestershire

  27

  9,581,515

  105

  22,042,812

  Greenwich

  28

  10,492,818

  84

  34,564,162

  Hackney

  72

  12,833,120

  119

  19,479,624

  Halton

  34

  5,167,568

  65

  10,372,962

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  41

  9,595,337

  82

  18,367,238

  Hampshire

  98

  20,600,587

  291

  75,180,597

  Haringey

  38

  5,980,341

  109

  16,522,748

  Harrow

  29

  8,607,514

  67

  17,272,756

  Hartlepool

  21

  4,032,982

  46

  7,694,454

  Havering

  78

  11,476,617

  153

  17,481,869

  Herefordshire

  31

  5,630,030

  156

  15,954,445

  Hertfordshire

  25

  12,937,434

  96

  39,380,844

  Hillingdon

  12

  4,090,842

  103

  11,508,629

  Hounslow

  82

  16,846,310

  274

  33,532,066

  Isle of Wight

  18

  5,139,669

  84

  15,159,792

  Isles of Scilly

  5

  55,326

  9

  165,472

  Islington

  19

  11,231,566

  59

  20,671,231

  Kensington and Chelsea

  8

  1,103,275

  27

  3,006,168

  Kent

  20

  15,840,643

  142

  60,416,025

  Kingston upon Hull, City of

  31

  9,855,426

  73

  21,047,800

  Kingston upon Thames

  17

  3,799,051

  77

  9,640,305

  Kirklees

  51

  12,470,646

  126

  19,278,714

  Knowsley

  9

  3,857,597

  46

  19,794,514

  Lambeth

  30

  10,417,819

  80

  26,579,331

  Lancashire

  28

  16,362,366

  77

  35,325,915

  Leeds

  30

  14,692,588

  91

  100,658,827

  Leicester, City of

  10

  9,774,886

  127

  68,613,393

  Leicestershire

  80

  15,100,892

  261

  37,294,590

  Lewisham

  35

  29,074,518

  65

  60,559,271

  Lincolnshire

  26

  4,770,890

  102

  15,936,381

  Liverpool

  10

  33,102,065

  46

  63,505,693

  London, City of

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Luton

  9

  2,275,363

  67

  8,607,185

  Manchester

  24

  14,643,124

  69

  32,487,424

  Medway

  20

  4,088,953

  67

  9,949,023

  Merton

  25

  17,059,638

  50

  27,739,200

  Middlesbrough

  19

  4,698,723

  51

  9,956,548

  Milton Keynes

  20

  4,816,413

  54

  8,196,913

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  14

  47,077,611

  40

  65,564,286

  280W 281W

  NDS 4

  All NDS

  LEA name

  Number of projects

  NDS bid

  Number of projects

  NDS Bid

  Newham

  30

  4,984,823

  71

  13,209,132

  Norfolk

  29

  39,751,229

  84

  73,563,757

  North East Lincolnshire

  15

  8,193,255

  66

  18,122,832

  North Lincolnshire

  38

  13,756,693

  98

  26,824,078

  North Somerset

  15

  8,384,494

  27

  16,894,642

  North Tyneside

  9

  2,956,129

  84

  7,826,159

  North Yorkshire

  27

  10,761,617

  93

  75,699,901

  Northamptonshire

  77

  18,365,633

  235

  37,030,752

  Northumberland

  36

  15,286,701

  117

  32,164,251

  Nottingham, City of

  22

  6,148,460

  99

  28,688,390

  Nottinghamshire

  63

  61,138,652

  147

  101,946,487

  Oldham

  43

  8,863,589

  99

  21,694,978

  Oxfordshire

  28

  12,978,067

  206

  67,760,717

  Peterborough, City of

  68

  15,365,282

  167

  25,747,740

  Plymouth, City of

  17

  3,706,030

  47

  9,115,717

  Poole

  12

  4,823,309

  33

  8,385,337

  Portsmouth

  37

  10,836,597

  139

  23,496,154

  Reading

  20

  7,217,449

  35

  12,289,692

  Redbridge

  44

  4,915,155

  103

  9,998,865

  Redcar and Cleveland

  21

  9,774,307

  61

  22,563,438

  Richmond upon Thames

  21

  2,306,900

  50

  5,006,400

  Rochdale

  20

  7,135,981

  41

  13,855,935

  Rotherham

  5

  35,694,167

  35

  56,834,224

  Rutland

  36

  6,409,153

  94

  12,655,958

  Salford

  38

  4,238,528

  126

  37,240,017

  Sandwell

  66

  15,322,489

  140

  45,608,309

  Sefton

  122

  15,562,099

  339

  36,872,426

  Sheffield

  16

  9,055,560

  40

  29,519,351

  Shropshire

  31

  3,616,268

  105

  13,693,785

  Slough

  10

  4,466,849

  63

  11,406,145

  Solihull

  10

  3,314,400

  132

  13,089,059

  Somerset

  25

  6,808,108

  65

  18,641,174

  South Gloucestershire

  34

  14,395,265

  64

  22,354,357

  South Tyneside

  18

  3,734,149

  94

  26,230,906

  Southampton

  70

  5,275,710

  187

  14,253,555

  Southend on Sea

  27

  7,512,240

  77

  10,117,887

  Southwark

  21

  13,315,218

  33

  14,747,315

  St. Helens

  8

  4,413,355

  16

  11,335,755

  Staffordshire

  53

  8,994,369

  483

  114,535,595

  Stockport

  21

  9,629,519

  126

  21,056,816

  Stockton on Tees

  17

  5,303,280

  66

  14,378,913

  Stoke on Trent

  10

  4,656,877

  27

  13,333,885

  Suffolk

  56

  12,580,000

  98

  19,681,400

  Sunderland

  9

  5,164,736

  49

  18,164,056

  Surrey

  99

  12,878,258

  227

  24,172,014

  Sutton

  44

  1,734,470

  126

  5,412,483

  Swindon

  50

  15,237,262

  76

  20,865,885

  Tameside

  30

  10,954,379

  77

  20,315,988

  Telford and Wrekin

  47

  13,044,261

  92

  19,580,679

  Thurrock

  36

  1,800,063

  66

  3,921,305

  Torbay

  56

  6,462,291

  97

  29,822,349

  Tower Hamlets

  15

  9,060,712

  48

  36,548,294

  Trafford

  38

  12,120,431

  69

  27,632,406

  Wakefield

  8

  7,804,550

  45

  18,693,223

  Walsall

  48

  13,670,987

  127

  27,271,197

  Waltham Forest

  11

  2,698,057

  28

  30,296,084

  Wandsworth

  6

  4,650,522

  25

  8,925,161

  Warrington

  44

  6,302,252

  219

  16,131,878

  Warwickshire

  23

  13,011,898

  45

  29,798,781

  West Berkshire

  6

  1,200,308

  36

  6,369,146

  West Sussex

  35

  19,467,210

  210

  31,437,663

  Westminster, City of

  48

  5,162,836

  108

  14,684,799

  Wigan

  20

  7,554,932

  45

  19,650,854

  Wiltshire

  51

  14,822,736

  112

  28,036,113

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  10

  1,581,098

  39

  5,997,088

  Wirral

  32

  23,161,690

  96

  40,101,307

  Wokingham

  25

  4,374,055

  72

  15,179,675

  Wolverhampton

  35

  7,104,625

  119

  13,977,496

  Worcestershire

  90

  11,717,681

  243

  39,990,451

  York, City of

  10

  10,446,099

  24

  17,068,672

  282W

  Early Years Education
  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list for(a) the United Kingdom and (b) each local education authority, the number of three-year-olds with free early years education places providing five or more session of education per week in (i) 1979, (ii) 1990 and (iii) each year since 1992. [126845]

  Ms Hodge
  [holding answer 21 June 2000]: The information is not available in the form requested. Up to September 1999, 'free' places for three-year-olds were only available in maintained nursery and primary schools funded by local education authorities from their own budgets. Since September 1999 specific funding by the Government for three-year-olds has been introduced and is available to both maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers via the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships. From summer 2000 this extra funding will be available in all local authority areas.

  The available information on the numbers of three-year-olds in early-years provision for England and in each local education authority is contained in tables, copies of which have been placed in the Libraries. Table 1 gives the number of children in free early-years education places from 1996 to 2000. Table 2 shows the number of new funded places for three-year-olds being created in all sectors over the next year, including newly projected figures for summer 2000, autumn 2000 and spring 2001.

  The new places this year are supported by £100 million of funding. Half of all three-year-olds will have access to a free place by spring 2001, and the Government are well on track to meet the 2002 target of expanding overall nursery provision to 66 per cent. of three-year-olds.

  For information on three-year-olds with free early years places in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, I refer the hon. Member to the Ministers in the Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland Executives respectively.

  Paddy Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the number of free places available in early years education for three-year-olds in each year from 1996–97 to 2000–01, in each county and local eduction authority; and if he will make a statement. [126583]

  Ms Hodge
  The information is not available in the form requested. Up to September 1999, 'free' places for three-year-olds were only available in maintained nursery and primary schools funded by local education authorities from their own budgets. Since September 1999 specific funding by the Government for three-year-olds has been introduced and is available to both maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers via the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships. From summer 2000 this extra funding will be available in all local authority areas.

  The available information on the numbers of three-year-olds in early-years provision for England and in each local education authority is contained in tables, copies of which have been placed in the Libraries. Table 1 gives the number of children in free early-years education places from 1996 to 2000. Table 2 shows the number of new funded places for three-year-olds being created in all sectors over the next year, including newly projected figures for summer 2000, autumn 2000 and spring 2001.
  284W
  The new places this year are supported by £100 million of funding. Half of all three-year-olds will have access to a free place by spring 2001, and the Government are well on track to meet the 2002 target of expanding overall nursery provision to 66 per cent. of three-year-olds.

  Employment Action Plan
  Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will place copies of the United Kingdom's Employment Action Plan in the Library. [127788]

  Ms Jowell
  I have today placed in the Library copies of the UK Employment Action Plan, which sets out the Government's policies for implementing the 2000 Employment Guidelines agreed at the European Council held in Helsinki in December 1999. The Plan contains the latest information on policies for employment and employability, encouraging entrepreneurship and labour market adaptability, lifelong learning and equal opportunities.

  Child Care
  Ms Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the relationship between the costs of child care in London and the child care component of the Working Families Tax Credit. [127004]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I have been asked to reply.

  The child care tax credit within the Working Families Tax Credit is designed to help working families who incur eligible child care costs by providing a credit worth 70 per cent. of eligible child care costs of a maximum of £100 for families with one child and £150 for families with two or more children. Like all the other elements of the Working Families Tax Credit it is available at the same rates throughout the UK for to all families who qualify.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  New Millennium Experience Company
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if the payment of the additional aid to the New Millennium Experience Company has been authorised by the European Commission. [124133]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  No. The funding of the New Millennium Experience Company is not considered to be State Aid and therefore does not require notification to the European Commission.

  Digital Television
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of homes in(a) Wales, (b) England and (c) Scotland receive digital television; and what his target is for increasing these figures. [126074]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  Most homes in Wales, England and Scotland are able to receive digital television through terrestrial, satellite or cable delivery platforms. The
  285W
  Government's policy is that all viewers who receive analogue television should be able to receive the main free-to-air channels digitally before the analogue transmissions are fully switched to digital. At present, over 4 million people have subscribed to digital television.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what was the total cost to public funds of the recent visit of the Minister for Tourism, Film and Broadcasting to Las Vegas. [127307]

  Janet Anderson
  I visited Las Vegas as part of a wider visit to North America on official business as the Minister for Tourism, Film and Broadcasting. In Canada I represented the Government at the Banff International Television Festival, met the British Columbia Minister for Film to discuss current revisions to the film co-production Treaty between the UK and Canada, and undertook several engagements for the British Tourist Authority. In Nevada I made the Keynote Speech at the opening of the Annual Conference of the Institute of Travel and Tourism, had meetings with the Lt. Governor of Nevada, the Mayor of Las Vegas and with the Aladdin Project, the first major UK investment in the Las Vegas tourist industry. I attended 22 official engagements during my visit which was arranged jointly by my Department and the Foreign Office.

  I will write to the hon. Member shortly with details of the costs of the visit.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Committees (Evidence)
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his policy on(a) ministers and (b) officials from his Department giving evidence to committees of the Northern Ireland Assembly in relation to the impact of reserved matters on devolved policy areas. [126690]

  Mr. Mandelson
  The Government's approach on such matters is set out in Devolution Guidance Note 12 which is published by the Constitution Secretariat in the Cabinet Office.

  It is available on the internet at:
  www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/constitution/2000/devolution/ guidance/dgn12.htm

  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the occasions on which(a) ministers and (b) officials have been invited to give evidence to Northern Ireland Assembly committees; how many have been (i) accepted and (ii) refused, indicating the reasons for refusal; and what was the subject matter to be discussed in each case. [126691]

  Mr. Mandelson
  To date no NIO Ministers or officials have been invited to give evidence to Northern Ireland Assembly Committees.

TREASURY

  Pensioners (Tax)
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many pensioners were sent a self-assessment tax form and were subsequently assessed as having no income tax liability in 1998–99. [125840]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 5 June 2000,Official Report, column 81W.

  Inflation Forecasts
  Mr. Michael Jabez Foster
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the inflation forecasts set out in the Red Book. [125841]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Latest RPIX inflation outturns are in line with the Budget forecast. The monetary policy framework set up by this Government is delivering low and stable inflation. It is because of this that interest rates are historically low—less than half the level seen in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

  Married Couples (Taxation)
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on taxation of married couples. [125842]

  Dawn Primarolo
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor has affirmed our commitment to the principle that the tax system should treat people as individuals, each entitled to their own personal allowance.

  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the abolition of the married persons tax allowance; and if he will make a statement. [125854]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Chancellor regularly receives representations on all aspects of the tax system.

  We have introduced a package of reforms designed to make work pay better and focus resources on families with children. As part of the package, we have increased Child Benefit to record levels of £15 a week for the first child and £10 for subsequent children from April 2000, and it will rise further to £15.50 and £10.35 respectively from April 2001. We are increasing the Working Families Tax Credit by £4.35 a week from this month for children under 16. And in April 2001 we are introducing the Children's Tax Credit which will be worth up to £442, over twice as much as the old married couple's allowance which it replaces. By 2001, personal tax and benefit changes in this and previous Budgets will mean that 1.2 million children will be lifted out of poverty.

  Landfill Tax
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with other Departments on the impact of the landfill tax on fly-tipping. [125843]

  Mr. Timms
  Treasury and Customs officials work closely together with those other departments that have policy interests on matters relating to waste disposal and
  287W
  landfill tax. All evidence suggests that the majority of fly-tipping is by householders, who are not directly affected by the tax.

  Hypothecated Taxation (NHS)
  Tony Wright
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is undertaking studies on the role of hypothecated taxation as part of the Government's review of the NHS. [125844]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  No such studies are being undertaken as part of the current review.

  Corporation Tax
  Mr. Derek Twigg
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the level of UK corporation tax in(a) the current financial year and (b) in 1997. [125845]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Corporation tax rates in the UK are at their lowest ever levels. The main rate of corporation tax for the current year is 30 per cent., and the small companies' rate is 20 per cent. Since 1997, the Government have cut these rates from 33 per cent. and 23 per cent. respectively. In addition, a new starting rate of 10 per cent. was introduced from April 2000.

  Climate Change Levy
  Mr. Brooke
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received from businesses on the climate change levy. [125846]

  Mr. Timms
  The Government have developed climate change levy in an open and consultative way. Firstly through the work of Lord Marshall's Task Force and then through the extensive consultation exercises which followed the announcement of the levy in Budget 99. More recently the Government have consulted on the draft legislation underpinning the levy, on the support for energy efficiency measures under the levy package, and on the definition of "good quality" Combined Heat and Power plant.

  During this process, the Government have received many representations from business and other interested parties and these views have helped to refine the design of the levy.

  Working Families Tax Credit
  Mr. Russell Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the impact of the changes to the Working Families Tax Credit announced in the Budget. [125847]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The impact of the changes to the Working Families Tax Credit, and the increase of the national minimum wage from October 2000 to £3.70 per hour announced in the Budget, will guarantee a family with children, with someone working at least 35 hours a week, a minimum income of £208 a week from October 2000 and £214 from April 2001. These, together with other measures the Chancellor announced in Budget 2000, will lift 1.2 million of the children out of poverty this Parliament.
  288W
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect on family incomes of the changes to the Working Families Tax Credit he announced in his Budget. [125858]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The introduction of the Working Families Tax Credit, together with other measures announced in the Budget, means that from October 2000 the minimum income guarantee for a family with children and someone working at least 35 hours a week will be £208 a week. This figure will rise to £214 a week from April 2001. These measures, together with the other measures the Chancellor announced in Budget 2000 will lift 1.2 million children out of poverty this Parliament.

  Mr. St. Aubyn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the cost to public funds of the Working Families Tax Credit advertising campaign in(a) 1999–2000 and (b) 2000–01. [126179]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 19 June 2000]: The total cost of the Working Families Tax Credit advertising campaign in 1999–2000 was £13.8 million. To date, the cost for 2000–01 has been £2 million.

  The freephone response line and the Tax Credits Office helpline have both performed extremely well and have now received over 3 million calls since September 1999.

  Drugs Seizures
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the value of drugs originating in South American countries seized by Customs and Excise in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [125848]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Customs do not have a comprehensive record of the origin of all drugs seized. Evidence shows cocaine is the drug most frequently seized from South America and that most of the cocaine seized by Customs is from there. In 1999, the estimated value at street price of Customs cocaine seizures amounted to over £250 million.

  ECOFIN
  Sir David Madel
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many meetings of ECOFIN there have been since 2 May 1997; and how many he has attended. [125849]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Since 12 May 1997, there have been 32 meetings of the Economic and Finance Council of Ministers, of which the Chancellor of the Exchequer has attended 26. On other occasions Treasury Ministers and officials have represented the Government.

  Venture Capital
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the increase in the availability of venture capital in the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2000. [125850]

  Mr. Timms
  According to statistics published by the British Venture Capital Association, the amount of venture capital invested in the United Kingdom increased from £3,066 million in 1997 to £6,169 million in 1999, the latest year for which data are available. The fastest growth sector was investment in management buy-outs
  289W
  and buy-ins, which now account for around three quarters of total venture investment in the UK. Start-up and other early stage investments grew strongly, but still account for only some 6 per cent. of total venture investment in the UK. The Government are concerned to improve the availability of small scale and early stage venture capital in the UK, as well as addressing access across the UK's regions and across technology sectors. To this end, the Department of Trade and Industry, through the Small Business Service and a new Small Business Investment Taskforce, is working to stimulate the creation of new public-private partnerships, within the framework of a new £1 billion target "umbrella" fund, to increase the supply of small scale venture capital. To better understand the factors affecting the UK institutions' decisions on investing in venture capital and other asset classes, the Chancellor has also commissioned Paul Myners, chairman of Gartmore investment managers, to conduct a review and report with recommendations in time for the Budget in 2001.

  Savings Ratio
  Mr. Collins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what projection he has made for the savings ratio in the next quarter. [125851]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Treasury do not publish quarterly projections of the saving ratio. Estimates for 2000 Q1 will be published by the Office for National Statistics on 29 June.

  Income Redistribution
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is towards use of the tax system for the redistribution of income. [125852]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Budget 2000 builds on the success of the last three years. It supports work, families and enterprise and it cuts poverty, helps pensioners, and delivers substantial new resources for schools and hospitals. By 2001, personal tax and benefit changes mean that a single earner family with two children on £12,500 will be £2,600 a year better off. On £25,000, they will be £370 better off.

  Environmental Targets
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the contribution his Department is making to efforts to ensure that Britain meets its national and international environmental targets. [125855]

  Mr. Timms
  Recent Budgets have introduced many measures to help the UK to achieve its national and international environmental goals. Measures to tackle climate change include the climate change levy and reforms to vehicle excise duty (VED). They put the UK on track to meet its legally binding Kyoto target for a 12.5 per cent. reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and move towards its own more challenging domestic goal of a 20 per cent. reduction in carbon emissions. Measures to improve air quality, to help meet targets in the Air Quality Strategy, include cutting and freezing duty on road fuel gas, introducing a duty differential to encourage ultra-low 290W
  sulphur petrol, and extra incentives within the new graduated VED and company car tax systems for cars which use less-polluting fuels.

  Fuel Duties
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of increases in fuel duties since May 1997. [125856]

  Mr. Timms
  Revenues from fuel duties are set out in table 2.1D of Financial Statistics and table K2 in the Customs and Excise Annual Report 2000.

  The Government are committed to appraising the environmental impact of all Budget measures and these assessments are published in Chapter 6 of the Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report 2000.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how standard temperatures are applied in the determination of volume on which motor fuel duty is paid. [127362]

  Mr. Timms
  When motor fuel passes the duty point both its actual volume and its temperature are recorded. Using internationally agreed conversion tables the volume of the oil, had it been at a temperature of 15°C, is calculated. These are the "standard litres" on which excise duty is charged and paid by the oil companies.

  Single Currency
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received about joining the single currency. [125857]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Government's policy on membership of the single currency remains as set out by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in October 1997, and restated by the Prime Minister in February 1999. The Government have said they will recommend joining a successful single currency only if it is in our national economic interest to do so.

  Disadvantaged Areas
  Mr. Bradshaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he proposes to promote enterprise among disadvantaged groups and in disadvantaged areas in the south-west. [125859]

  Mr. Timms
  The Government's aim is to help create a supportive environment for entrepreneurial activity in all sections of society. Long-term unemployed people who want to move into self-employment are being helped with support under New Deal options nationally; while the Employment Zone pilot in Plymouth has been helping long-term unemployed adults aged 25 plus to get back into work, including the opportunity to pool benefits, training and job search funds to help with business start-up costs, since April 2000. We will also be offering New Entrepreneur Scholarships in high unemployment areas, to equip potential entrepreneurs with the management and business skills needed to turn their aspirations into successful businesses. A pilot programme will be running in Cornwall (and London and Manchester) later this year, before a national roll-out in September 2001.
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  Moreover, the Government announced in November 1999 the creation of a new Phoenix Fund, with £30 million to invest over three years in promoting better access to business support and finance in deprived areas. This includes:
  a development fund to promote innovative enterprise support in deprived areas, including incubator units;
  a national challenge fund to help resource community finance initiatives, and to evaluate the variety of approaches and distil best practices;
  loan guarantee support for community finance initiatives borrowing from wholesale sources of finance, so that they can on-lend in deprived areas; and
  a network of mentors to pre and early phase business start-ups through a new Business Volunteer Mentoring Association, being run on a pilot basis until April 2001.

  The Department of Trade and Industry has lead responsibility for the Phoenix Fund, including the disbursal of funding and business support in the South West.

  The Government have also instigated a range of measures in recent Budgets, including cuts in capital gains tax and corporation tax, and enhanced capital allowances, which will benefit many of the 65,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in disadvantaged areas and the wider South West region. Moreover, the Government are currently financing a network of regional venture capital investment funds for early-stage SMEs, and contributing to a regional target of £85 million for the South West. The first steps towards this target are being taken now with the regional venture capital competition being run by the DTI.

  The Small Business Service is also tasked with the brief of reaching-out to start-up and existing enterprises in disadvantaged communities, to increase accessibility of business support.

  We are also bringing schools and businesses closer together, particularly those in high unemployment areas. We have already provided an extra £10 million nationally to boost enterprise skills in our schools. The new National Enterprise Campaign, launched this month, includes a particular focus on our high unemployment areas.

  Taxation
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of the net increase in the amount of tax that will be paid in the current financial year as a result of his Budget. [125860]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Details of the Budget measures can be found in Table A.13 of the March 2000 Financial Statement and Budget Report.

  Employment Support
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on supporting(a) manufacturing and (b) service employment in the UK economy. [125861]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Government are pursuing a comprehensive range of policies which are helping to support both manufacturing and service sector 292W
  employment, including the Welfare to Work programme and tax and benefit reform. Since May 1997 UK employment has increased by over 900,000.

  Small Businesses
  Ms Keeble
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what fiscal measures he has taken to encourage small businesses. [125862]

  Mr. Timms
  The Government have dramatically improved the fiscal environment for investment in and by small businesses.

  Since May 1997, the smaller companies Corporation Tax rate has been reduced from 23 to 20 per cent., and a new starter rate of Corporation Tax has been introduced which benefits companies with profits of up to £50,000. Small and medium sized companies have also benefited from the abolition of Advance Corporation Tax and the payment of CT in arrears.

  To encourage investment by small and medium sized enterprises, the Government have now made permanent at 40 per cent. the enhanced first year capital allowances for plant and machinery, first introduced in the July 1997 Budget. This year the Government are also introducing a 100 per cent. first year allowance for small firms' investment in information and communication technology. This measure is designed to accelerate the take up of new e-commerce practices, and will operate for three years.

  To encourage small and medium sized companies to invest in innovation through research and development, this year's Finance Bill introduces a new R&D tax credit. This provides cash flow support to companies investing in R&D even before they are paying CT, and increases the tax allowance for current spending on R&D from 100 to 150 per cent.

  To encourage investment in the growth of small businesses, the Government have significantly enhanced the incentives for individuals to make such investments via reforms to Capital Gains Tax. Gains on any shareholdings in unquoted companies will now be taxed as business assets on a shorter four year taper, with the final effective rate for higher rate taxpayers now down to 10 per cent. This year's Finance Bill also introduces improvements to the operation of the Enterprise Investment Scheme and Venture Capital Trust scheme (notably reducing from five to three years the minimum holding period for access to income tax reliefs). These changes will further enhance the incentives for individuals to invest in smaller higher risk trading companies.

  The Government are also creating new fiscal incentives for UK companies to invest as corporate venturers in smaller growing companies. This year's Finance Bill introduces a new Corporate Venturing Scheme, which provides relief against Corporation Tax for minority equity investments made in eligible higher risk companies for a minimum of three years.

  Finally, to enable smaller higher risk trading companies to recruit and retain more easily the key employees which they need to deliver their growth potential, this year's Finance Bill introduces a new Enterprise Management Incentive scheme. Under this measure, eligible companies

  293W
  will be able to offer tax-advantaged options over shares worth up to £100,000 (at the time of option grant) to up to 15 employees.

  Economic Convergence
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his forecast for economic convergence of the British economy with that of those nations in the eurozone. [125863]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has said we will make another assessment of the five economic tests early in the next Parliament.

  NMB Group
  Mrs. Gordon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of the secured loans made by NMB Group plc's fully-owned subsidiary, Consumer Loans Company Limited, were redeemed during the Bank of England's ownership of NMB Group plc from 1994 to February 2000; in what proportion of the redeemed loans a charge for early settlement equal to six months' interest was levied; and in what proportion of the redeemed loans the charge for early settlement was calculated by reference to the Rule of 78. [125946]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  During the period of the Bank of England's ownership, NMB was run on an arms length basis under its own board of directors. The overall policy was to run down the business. The Bank does not have details of loans and repayments, but asked NMB to responded positively to any approach by individual borrowers who wished to refinance their loan.

  Scottish Parliament Committees
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will outline his policy on(a) Ministers and (b) officials from his Department accepting invitations to give evidence to committees of the Scottish Parliament in relation to the impact of reserved policy matters on devolved policy areas; and if he will make a statement. [126674]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  [holding answer 20 June 2000]: Decisions on whether Ministers or officials should accept invitations to give evidence to committees of the Scottish Parliament in relation to the impact of reserved policy matters on devolved policy areas depend on the circumstances of the case.

  Voluntary Giving
  Dr. Desmond Turner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress he has made following his announcement at the National Council for Voluntary Organisations conference on 9 February concerning the Government's intention to initiate a national campaign to promote the giving of time and money in partnership with the voluntary sector. [126877]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 21 June 2000]: When the Chancellor addressed the NCVO conference on 9 February, he said that he wanted to bring together all relevant parties to examine proposals for a national campaign based on a partnership with the
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  voluntary sector. The NCVO and the Charities Aid Foundation have made some proposals on a possible campaign, which we are discussing with them.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many parliamentary questions were tabled to his Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April which requested information, pursuant to previous answers. [127343]

  Mr. Timms
  Seventy seven.

PRIME MINISTER

  Chief Press Secretary
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister under what circumstances the Chief Press Secretary is authorised to speak on his behalf when dealing with ministers. [126503]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 20 June 2000]: The Chief Press Secretary always acts in accordance with the Prime Minster's wishes.

  Charter of Fundamental Rights
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the factors determining the number of delegates each political party was asked to provide for the drafting of the Charter of Fundamental Rights. [127184]

  The Prime Minister
  For the 30 national parliamentary delegates to Charter Convention, most parliaments, including the United Kingdom's, have selected one representative from each chamber and from each of the main political parties. The 16 members of the European Parliament were selected on a pro rata basis from among the European political groupings.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to veto the inclusion of the Charter of Fundamental Rights in any treaty base. [127197]

  The Prime Minister
  The Government have made clear their view that the Charter should be a declaratory document, not incorporated into the EU Treaties. That position is shared by a significant number of our EU partners.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list by political party the number of UK delegates to the drafting body on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. [127190]

  The Prime Minister
  The United Kingdom delegates to the drafting body of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights are:

  Lord Goldsmith QC (Labour)—Prime Minister's representative

  Win Griffiths MP (Labour)—Parliamentary representative

  Lord Bowness (Conservative)—Parliamentary representative

  Andrew Duff MEP (Liberal Democrats)—European Parliament representative

  David Martin MEP (Labour)—European Parliament
  representative

  Timothy Kirkhope MEP (Conservative)—European Parliament representative.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Young Offenders
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the length of time taken for young offenders' cases to reach a conclusion was in the courts in each metropolitan police authority area in the last year for which figures are available; and what the corresponding figures were for 1997. [126963]

  Jane Kennedy
  The exact information requested is not available. Information on the time taken in magistrates' courts proceedings is collected by the Lord Chancellor's Department's Time Intervals Survey. Figures on the

  Average number of days from first listing to case completion at youth courts1

  Survey2

  Greater Manchester

  Merseyside

  Metropolitan3

  Northumbria

  South Yorkshire

  West Midlands

  West Yorkshire

  June 19974

  62

  67

  50

  47

  50

  72

  55

  February 1999

  47

  62

  35

  48

  43

  86

  55

  June 1999

  48

  53

  40

  43

  37

  68

  39

  October 1999

  45

  53

  48

  51

  49

  75

  45

  February 2000

  49

  54

  51

  44

  50

  74

  46

  1From the start of 1999 analysis of the Time Intervals Survey has included certain longer cases lasting over a year that were previously excluded from the calculations. In this table however the results presented are calculated on the pre-1999 basis for comparability. On the new basis of calculation many of the figures for the February 1999 to February 2000 surveys would be a few days higher.

  2The first listing to completion period for all youth cases is believed to show some seasonal variation making figures from June surveys slightly lower than the underlying trend, and figures from February surveys a little higher than the trend. For this reason comparisons across time for figures in this table are best made between surveys a whole number of years apart, for example February against February or June against June.

  3Based on youth courts in the London area. Excludes cases dealt with at youth courts within the Metropolitan Police authority area but outside the London Boroughs. Includes youths apprehended by City of London Police and proceeded against in London Youth Courts (Youth Courts are not held at the magistrates' courts in the City of London).

  4In the June 1997 survey the sample sizes for Youth Court cases were less then 100 in Merseyside, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire and due to the small sample sizes these figures should be treated with added caution.

  Source:

  Lord Chancellor's Department Magistrates' Courts Time Intervals Survey

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many written parliamentary questions tabled to his Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April 2000; have not received substantive answers, with commercial or other confidentiality cited as the reason. [127339]

  Mr. Lock
  In the relevant period, there was one written answer which withheld information requested by an hon. Member on the grounds that it was commercially sensitive.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Non-departmental Public Bodies
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the(a) budgeted and (b) actual expenditure of each of the non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department for each of the last three years, and the (i) budgeted and (ii) projected expenditure for this year and each of the next three years. [121423]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 9 May 2000]: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
  296W
  timeliness of cases dealt with at the Crown Court are not however available separately for adult and youth defendants.

  The table shows the average number of days from first listing to case completion at Youth Courts in Metropolitan Police authority areas from June 1997, February 1999, June 1999, October 1999 and February 2000 Time Intervals Surveys. The only survey to cover all Youth Court defendants in 1997 was the June survey, and the most recent results available are from the February 2000 survey. A degree of seasonal variation is believed to affect the figures shown in the table and therefore comparisons over time are best made between figures from surveys which are whole years apart, for example June against June.

  Irish Milk Quota
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his oral statement of 11 May 2000,Official Report, column 1031, concerning the Irish milk quota, if he will identify the agreement cited by the Irish Government; and on what basis it bound British negotiators, and those of other parties, to accept Irish demands on milk quota. [122971]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 22 May 2000]: The agreement that the Irish Government used in the Agenda 2000 negotiations was reached in the Agriculture Council of March 1984. This agreement stated that when distributing quota from the reserve, priority will be given to Ireland.

  Ireland was able to cite this agreement, to which the UK Government of the time had been a party, in its argument to negotiate an additional allocation of quota.

  Farm Incomes
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what effect the funding arrangements for the expansion of the agri-environment schemes will have on overall farm incomes. [122968]
  297W
  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 22 May 2000]: Section 7 of the England Rural Development Plan describes the economic impact on farmers of the Rural Development Regulation and the mechanism for funding the measures. Copies of the Plan were placed in the Library of the House.

  Rural Development Scheme
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his oral statement of 11 May 2000,Official Report, column 1028, concerning the redistributive effects of the England rural development scheme, if he will provide estimates of the projected redistribution in each English region. [122967]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 22 May 2000]: Each English region is being allocated funds for the Rural Enterprise Scheme, Training measure and processing and Marketing Grants to enable them to identify projects which meet regionally identified priorities. Funds are being apportioned on the basis of objective criteria such as agricultural productivity and labour force.

  Crop Contamination
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the advice he received about the contamination by GMOs of rape seed together with a list of all those who were consulted and the dates on which he first contacted them after 17 April. [123832]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 25 May 2000]: Since 17 April Ministers have sought advice on this matter from the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE), the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs (ACAF). Ministers initially received informal advice from ACRE and the FSA, which was subsequently confirmed in formal advice. That advice has been published. Informal advice has been received from ACAF and formal advice is awaited. This will be published when it is received.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the Government will restrict the import of crop seeds described as GM-free from countries in which separation distances between GM crops and GM-free crops are less than in the United Kingdom. [124157]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 22 June 2000]: The marketing of seeds imported into the EC from non-EC countries is governed by EC equivalence arrangements.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information the Government have obtained from parties other than Advanta UK on the contamination of conventional Advanta rapeseed with genetically modified rapeseed; and when such information was received. [124148]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 5 June 2000]: Apart from that supplied by Advanta, we have received information on the GM rapeseed inadvertently planted in the UK from the Canadian authorities. On 25 May the Canadian Food Inspection Agency provided preliminary information about the production of the relevant seed in Canada. A Ministry official went to Canada on 26 May
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  to liaise further with the Canadian authorities, who are still investigating how the conventional rapeseed came to be affected. We remain in close touch with them on this.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his oral statement of 18 May 2000,Official Report, columns 473–74, what data he has collated on distances between fields that had been used to produce conventional Advanta rapeseed and the GM crops responsible for the cross-pollination of the conventional crop. [1241163]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 5 June 2000]: The Government have no data yet on distances between fields used to produce the conventional Advanta oilseed rape seed stocks and possible sources of cross-pollination. The Canadian authorities are currently investigating which fields were used in the production of the affected Advanta seed. My Department aims to obtain the results of these investigations at the earliest opportunity.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the crop sites now growing GM oilseed rape as a result of the contamination of Advanta rapeseed with GM rapeseed will be subject to the same controls as crop sites intentionally sown with GM rapeseed for the purposes of a licensed crop trial. [124160]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 5 June 2000]: All releases of GMOs, whether deliberate or inadvertent, are subject to the provisions of Part VI of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had about liability in cases where(a) conventional crop seed is contaminated with GM crop seed, (b) conventional crops are cross-pollinated by GM crops and (c) conventional crops are contaminated with genetic material from GM crops as a result of other forms of gene flow. [124161]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 5 June 2000]: I have had discussions recently on various issues relating to GM crops. The question of liability is a matter of civil law and liability will depend on the specific circumstances of each case, including where relevant the contractual arrangements that have been entered into by the parties concerned.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans the Government had in place before 18 May to inform farmers of the contamination of conventional Advanta rapeseeds with GM rapeseeds; and what changes have been made to those plans since 18 May. [124167]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 5 June 2000]: After learning of the problem Ministers established the factual background and took advice on the health, environmental and legal implications, in order to be able to publish appropriate information. This was published on 17 May. Further information was published as soon as we were in a position to do so.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 8 June 2000,Official Report, column 359W, which Canadian seeds authority was responsible for ensuring the purity of the rapeseed involved in the Advanta GM contamination incident. [126854]
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  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 22 June 2000]: Responsibility for the purity of certified seed exported from Canada to the UK rests with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, reporting directly to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 8 June 2000,Official Report, column 359W, if he will list the seeds authorities that have a legal responsibility for ensuring the purity of seeds exported from the UK; and which Government Department is responsible. [126853]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 19 June 2000]: The following departments are responsible for ensuring the certification of seeds, including those for export, as prescribed by the seeds regulations. The regulations do not prescribe purity standards for the presence of GM material.
  For England and Wales—the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (acting in relation to Wales on behalf of the National Assembly for Wales)
  For Scotland—the Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department
  For Northern Ireland—the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

  British Cattle Movement Service
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the average(a) telephone response time and (b) failure rates were of calls to the British Cattle Movement Service in each month of this year to date. [125674]

  Ms Quin
  The average amount of time that callers to the BCMS helpline have had to wait between making a call and speaking to a operator, and the number of abandoned calls are as follows:

  Average response time (seconds)

  Number of abandoned calls

  January

  70

  3,210

  February

  42

  1,638

  March

  36

  2,132

  April

  76

  2,967

  May

  99

  4,549

  The number of abandoned calls equates to about 15 per cent. of all calls received by the helpline. Most of these calls would have been made during peak periods.

  The increase in May corresponds with the Spring calving peak. In addition, some experienced call centre staff have recently had to be re-deployed to other priority work and new staff are currently undergoing training.

  The BCMS is considering an industry request for changes to the call centre work patterns with a view to increasing the number of staff during peak hours. This would result in off-setting reductions in opening hours at night and weekends.

  Vessels Satellite Monitoring
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the compliance rates are of vessels registered in other EU member states which are obliged to carry operational satellite monitoring equipment. [125699]
  300W
  Mr. Morley
  The Ministry does not have detailed information about the compliance rates of vessels registered in other member states obliged to carry satellite monitoring equipment. Such information would be held by the relevant flag state authorities. However, we understand that the position in other member states is similar to the UK. Compliance by vessels from other member states operating in British Fishery Limits has been good. Action will, and already has been taken against EU vessels fishing in UK waters that are not complying with the directive on satellite monitoring equipment.

  Water Level Management
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which completed Water Level Management Plans include actions to eohance biodiversity on sites of special scientific interest. [125780]

  Mr. Morley
  MAFF encourages flood and coastal defence operating authorities to enhance biodiversity where possible when preparing Water Level Management Plans (WLMPs). Operating authorities have not hitherto been required to report biodiversity gains.

  MAFF is aware of biodiversity gains at a number of sites where WLMPs have been implemented, but information is not generally available on the sites where there has been a gain.

  The High Level Targets issued in November 1999 require operating authorities to report biodiversity losses and gains annually from 1 April 2001. Further information should then be available.

  Organophosphates
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research his Department has(a) undertaken and (b) evaluated on the relationship between arhythmic heart conditions and the use of organophosphates in sheep dip. [126822]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 19 June 2000]: As research relevant to OP sheep dips is published, it is evaluated by the Medical and Scientific Panel, a sub-committee of the Veterinary Products Committee. The Panel considered evidence that exposure to OPs could cause heart problems but concluded that such problems were unlikely to occur at the levels of exposure to OPs experienced during dipping operations. Following a Scientific Workshop on 28 March 2000, which was organised by the Government, we hope shortly to call for proposals for further research which could include the effects of OPs on the heart.

  Fur Farming
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what definition he uses of public morality in his policy on banning fur farming in this country. [126862]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 19 June 2000]: "Public morality" is not susceptible to an absolute definition: it inevitably involves subjective judgment. The expression is relevant to consideration of the proposed ban under Community law. The European Court of Justice

  301W
  has held that in principle it is for each member state to determine in accordance with its own scale of values the requirements of public morality in its territory.

  In the Government's view, fur farming is not consistent with a proper value and respect for animal life. Animal life should not be destroyed in the absence of sufficient justification in terms of public benefit. The Government believe that the rearing of animals solely or primarily for slaughter for their fur fails this test. The position of fur farming is quite distinct from that of food production. Where the primary purpose of keeping an animal is the production of food, that purpose provides a sufficient public benefit to justify breeding the animals for slaughter. This is so even where the production of fur or hide is a secondary purpose of keeping the animal.

  For the reasons set out, the Government believe that a total ban on fur farming is justified.

  Land Drainage
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on charges for land drainage. [124141]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 5 June 2000]: Within their districts, internal drainage boards require the payment of (a) drainage rates by occupiers of agricultural land (including buildings) and (b) special levies by local authorities in respect of developed areas and other non-agricultural land.

  The income from the general drainage charge contributes to the costs of the Agency's flood defence functions in the area concerned.

  The Environment Agency charges a fee of £50 to persons applying for land drainage consents under section 109 of the Water Resources Act 1991, the sum being prescribed under section 110 of that Act.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on how many occasions since 31 March 1999(a) departmental and (b) non-departmental special advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity. [124110]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 5 June 2000]: Departmental special advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity on eighteen occasions since 31 March 1999. There has been no occasion when non-departmental advisers have accompanied me on visits abroad.

  Farm Production
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment the Government have made of the relationship between level of production per unit of area and farm size in each of the major livestock and arable sectors. [126864]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 19 June 2000]: The relationship between production per unit area and farm size is monitored through the annual Farm Business Survey. Detailed results of the survey are published in "Farm Incomes in the United Kingdom", available on the Internet at www.maff.gov.uk/esg/.

  Interactive Voice Response Systems
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many agencies of his Department use interactive voice response systems when dealing with telephone inquiries from the general public. [127121]

  Mr. Morley
  As far as I am able to ascertain, without an expensive investigation, no agency of this Department uses interactive voice response systems in their dealings with the public.

  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many telephone lines to his Department used by the general public are responded to by interactive voice response systems. [127120]

  Mr. Morley
  As far as I am able to ascertain, without an expensive investigation, none of the telephone lines in the Ministry that are used by the public are equipped with interactive voice response systems.

  Fisheries
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the capacity of EU institutional structures to accommodate regional fisheries councils. [127001]

  Mr. Morley
  The capacity of the EU institutional structure to accommodate regional fisheries councils will depend on the role and powers envisaged for such bodies.

  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has held with representatives of the European Commission on initiating consideration at EU level of proposals for zonal fisheries management. [126926]

  Mr. Morley
  My officials and I regularly discuss with the European Commission and colleagues from other member states ways of improving fisheries management at the regional and zonal level. Most recently, I made clear at the Fisheries Council on 16 June that we welcomed recent moves to enhance the regional dimension of the Common Fisheries Policy through, for example, the extension of regional workshops and the regional consultations on the Irish Sea cod recovery programme. These helpfully bring together fishermen, scientists and administrators to consider together improvements in the management of specific stocks in particular areas.

  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has held with the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations and the Scottish Fishermen's Federation on the Hull University report, "Regional Management of European Fisheries". [126924]

  Mr. Morley
  Neither my right hon. Friend nor I have met the NFFO or SFF to discuss the Hull University report. Officials are to have an initial meeting with the NFFO and SFF on 29 June to discuss their joint document, "Zonal management: a new vision for Europe's fisheries".

  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of zonal fisheries management in relation to(a) overfished stocks, (b) excess fishing capacity and (c) discard. [126927]
  303W
  Mr. Morley
  The National Federation of Fishermen's Organisation and the Scottish Fishermen's Federation (NFFO/SFF) document, "Zonal management: a new vision for Europe's fisheries", is now being studied and officials will be meeting the NFFO and SFF on 29 June to discuss it.

  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further meetings he has planned with(a) the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations and Scottish Fishermen's Federation, (b) European Commission officials, and (c) representatives of EU member states to discuss regionalisation of fisheries policy. [126928]

  Mr. Morley
  Officials will be meeting the NFFO and SFF on 29 June to discuss their joint document, "Zonal management: a new vision for Europe's fisheries".

  My right hon. Friend expects to meet Commissioner Fischler shortly to discuss the 2002 CFP review, in the course of which we will make clear the Government's desire to secure a stronger regional dimension for the CFP and to involve fishermen more fully in fisheries management. We will also continue to make the same point in our regular contacts with colleagues in other member states.

  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the state of preparations for the 2002 CFP Review; and if he will identify the key issues for the UK. [126925]

  Mr. Morley
  The European Commission has indicated that it will shortly begin preparing a Green Paper on the 2002 review, to be issued early in 2001. My right hon. Friend expects to meet Commissioner Fischler in the near future to discuss this matter. He will emphasise that the UK wishes to maintain key features of the present arrangements such as national quotas based on relative stability and access restrictions within national 6/12 mile limits; and that we wish to secure improvements to make the CFP a more effective instrument for conserving fish stocks, including enhancing the regional dimension and integrating environmental considerations more fully.

  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from relevant parties on treaty changes required for 304W
  zonal fisheries management; and if he will publish the external legal opinion he has received in respect of these matters. [126923]

  Mr. Morley
  Neither my right hon. Friend nor I have received any such representations or external legal opinion.

  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of trends in the fishing industry with regard to(a) recruitment and retention of staff, (b) profitability and (c) employment levels. [126930]

  Mr. Morley
  The Sea Fish Industry Authority published in 1999 a Labour Market Survey National Report, which evaluates employment trends, skill shortages and training needs. The Authority also publishes periodically data on the costs, earnings and profitability of a number of categories of vessels in the UK fishing fleet. Each year, MAFF publishes the United Kingdom Sea Fisheries Statistics, which contains information on numbers of fishermen.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he intends to reply to the letters dated 3 February, 9 March and 13 April from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Ms R. Barraclough. [124465]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 5 June 2000]: I replied to my right hon. Friend on 21 June, and apologise for the delay.

WALES

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many of the written parliamentary questions tabled to his Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April have not received substantive answers, excluding those not answered for reasons of(a) disproportionate costs, (b) information not available, not held centrally, or not held in the form requested and (c) commercial or other confidentiality. [127342]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Five. 97.5 per cent. of written PQs tabled to this Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April 2000 have received substantive answers.

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