Written Answers of 1 March 2000

PRIME MINISTER

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 1 March. [111213]

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

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Prime Minister how many senior civil servants from an ethnic minority background are employed in his office; and how many of them are(a) men and (b) women. [110676]

  The Prime Minister
  As at 1 April 1999, 55 members of the Senior Civil Service were from ethnic minority background (1.7 per cent.).

  Information on ethnic origin in the Civil Service is collected on the understanding that it will be treated on a confidential basis. To protect the privacy of individual members of staff we do not disclose data relating to fewer than five people.

  The Cabinet Office monitors ethnicity but not at individual unit level. The Cabinet Office and Number 10, which for these purposes are taken together, have fewer than five people of ethnic minority background in the Senior Civil Service.

  Downing Street Receptions
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Prime Minister if the cost of the Countryside Reception held at No. 10 Downing street on 2 February was borne from public funds. [112069]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 28 February 2000]: Yes.

TREASURY

  Stock Exchange
  Mr. Ian Stewart
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how he proposes to effect the transfer of the Competent Authority for listing from the London Stock Exchange to the Financial Services Authority. [112936]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Given the need for planning purposes to have a precise target date for the transfer of the Competent Authority for listing function, we have decided to make the transfer by means of Regulations made under the European Communities Act 1972. These Regulations are being laid in draft today for the approval 266W
  of Parliament with the intention that the transfer should take place on 1 May. The proposed new legislative framework for the Competent Authority would then be brought into effect as soon as possible after the enactment of the Financial Services and Markets Bill.

  Vehicle Excise Duty
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the income from the vehicle excise duty levy in 1999. [111977]

  Mr. Timms
  Figures are available only on a financial year basis and are shown in table B9 of the 1999 pre-Budget Report, p.154.

  Israel
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what investigations Her Majesty's Customs and Excise has conducted of imports to the UK during the past three years of wines produced in wineries located in(a) the Golan Heights and (b) the Israeli West Bank settlement of Barkan; and what its findings have been concerning imports under preferences during that period. [111882]

  Dawn Primarolo
  From examination of entry records Customs and Excise has identified small quantities of wines from the Golan Heights and the area Barkan. Details have been passed to the European Commission.

  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 14 February 2000,Official Report, column 447W, concerning imports from Israeli settlements in occupied territories, whether the documents referred to in the answer declared products imported to the United Kingdom in violation of Article 38 and the provisions of the Protocol on Rules of Origin of the EC Trade Agreement with Israel to have originated in Israel. [111874]

  Dawn Primarolo
  As indicated in my answer of 14 February, the documents failed to substantiate the alleged non-compliance with the provisions of the Agreement between the EC and Israel.

  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what post-import verification procedures Her Majesty's Customs and Excise has initiated with Israel's customs service for products imported from Israel following indications that the products in question may have been wholly obtained or significantly processed in territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including in Israeli settlements. [111883]

  Dawn Primarolo
  None.

  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment Her Majesty's Customs and Excise has made of its ability to establish the origin of products that may have been produced in territories occupied by Israel since 1967 if Israel's customs misapply the origin rule protocol and the territorial clause in its agreements. [111884]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The European Commission is taking the lead in establishing the origin of products imported into the European Union, that may have been produced in territories occupied by Israel since 1967. The Commission has not yet provided an assessment of the likely outcome of this initiative.
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  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what investigations Her Majesty's Customs and Excise has conducted and what information it has obtained concerning carpets imported to the UK under preferences from a manufacturing firm in the Israeli West Bank settlement of Barkan, or carrying the name or trademark of such a firm. [111879]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Customs and Excise has identified a number of consignments of carpets from the area Barkan which have been imported into the UK under preferences. Details have been passed to the European Commission.

  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 14 February 2000,Official Report, column 447W, what the information was concerning products processed in Israeli settlements in occupied territories which may have been imported into the UK in violation of Article 38 and the provisions of the Protocol on Rules of Origin of the EC Trade Agreement with Israel; and if Her Majesty's Customs and Excise has identified (a) importations to the UK under preferences of dates from the Israeli exporters in question and (b) the UK importers and consignees. [111881]

  Dawn Primarolo
  It comprised details obtained by the European Commission of a range of goods together with information from another source about dates produced in Israeli settlements. Customs and Excise has identified importations into the UK under preferences of dates of Israeli origin but, as indicated in my answer of 14 February, scrutiny of the customs entry documents has failed to substantiate the alleged non-compliance with the provisions of the EC-Israel trade agreement.

  Agriculture (Fuel Tax)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the total revenue which the Treasury received in each of the last five years from the agricultural sector of the economy; and how much of this arose from taxation on fuel. [111789]

  Mr. Timms
  The estimated amount of revenue received from the agricultural sector (including the forestry and fishing sectors) for each of the last five years is:

  £ million

  PAYE and NICS

  Other Taxes 1

  Total

  1994–95

  1,000

  -250

  750

  1995–96

  1,090

  -315

  775

  1996–97

  780

  -245

  535

  1997–98

  n/a

  40

  n/a

  1998–99

  n/a

  -140

  n/a

  1 Capital Gains Tax, Corporation Tax, Self-employed Income Tax and VAT.

  Note:

  Figures of income tax and national insurance contributions collected via PAYE cover employers classified to agriculture, forestry or fishing. They are available only to 1996–97, due to problems with the NIRS2 computer system.

  In addition to the revenues shown, stamp duty is payable on transactions of agricultural property, but cannot be separately identified.

  It is not possible to identify the amount of excise duty or VAT relating to fuel in the agricultural sector.

DEFENCE

  Video Conferencing
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what use experience of video conferencing exists in(a) the Army and (b) the RAF; and what were the locations linked and the bandwidth used; [110851]

  (2) if he will list the Royal Navy ships which have video conferencing facilities, indicating the bandwidth used and the locations where video conferencing has been (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful for each ship. [110852]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 21 February 2000: VideoTeleConferencing (VTC) is used both operationally and for normal business across Defence. Because it is primarily used in a joint environment, the questions are answered together.

  HMS Illustrious, Invincible and Fearless are permanently fitted with VTC facilities. HMS Chatham, Campbeltown, Cumberland and Cornwall are also fitted to receive VTC, but the terminal equipment is not carried routinely unless the ship is in Flag Ship role. They typically operate at bandwidths of either 64 kilobits per second or 128 kilobits per second and use dedicated military satellite services, although some ships can also use Inmarsat if required.

  The Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ) is the main sponsor of deployed, operational VTC. VTC was first deployed on operations in 1997 in the form of a capability trial. The trial was successful and VTC is now routinely deployed on operations to provide the Chief of Joint Operations with one of his primary command tools. The PJHQ has a significant VTC capability and is able to conduct secure VTC with a wide range of UK and allied Headquarters and deployable formations. In addition, HQ Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps, for which UK is framework nation, is in the process of being equipped with VTC. Secure high quality VTC links also exist between the PJHQ and the Defence Crisis Management Centre that are used to conduct crisis planning and to provide operational updates to Defence chiefs. The bandwidth employed by operational VTC services varies between 64 kilobits per second and 384 kilobits per second. It forms part of the overall information exchange requirements package for a deployed formation which takes account of the operational requirement, whether or not the end user is in a mobile or static environment, and the available capacity in the overall communications planning scenario.

  Within the Royal Air Force, VTC systems exist in the main Headquarters of Strike Command and Personnel and Training Command among other locations. Additionally, a Closed Circuit Television System is used in Headquarters Strike Command to support operational briefings for senior staff. Commercially available systems are employed which typically utilise a bandwidth of between 128 kilobits per second and 384 kilobits per second, connected via Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) lines. These allow dial-up connections to be established to other sites with similar facilities.

  Within the Army, VTC is being used for a variety of applications including communication between the main locations of the Adjutant General's staff in Upavon, Glasgow and London and also with in Headquarters Land

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  and at a number of garrisons. Again these systems typically utilise a bandwidth of between 128 kilobits per second and 384 kilobits per second. Initiatives are currently being studied to extend this connectivity to provide VTC facilities in other major Army headquarters to support a variety of business activities in the future.

  One specific application under investigation is the use of VTC in support of Custody Hearings and Summary Appeal Courts under the control of the Courts Martial Administrative Office (CMAO) to support the processes set out in the Armed Forces Discipline Bill. On 18 February 2000, CMAO staffs completed a two week trial which included links to sites in Germany, Brunei and Canada. The purposes of this trial were: to demonstrate to the Judge Advocate General's department the proposed Custody Hearing process using VTC; to prove the principle of using VTC for Custody Hearings; to examine the possibility of taking evidence from witnesses in overseas theatres and to examine the possibility of conducting Directions Hearings by VTC. The trial report is expected to conclude that the aims of the study were achieved although some processes and procedures would need to be refined. The report will recommend that a detailed Statement of Requirement be prepared for a VTC system to be procured and installed later this year.

  In the event, however unlikely, that a soldier needs legal advice on a Summary Dealing matter while in an operational theatre, it will firstly be sought from other Service lawyers in theatre (RAF or RN). Should these not

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Access denied

  0

  1

  0

  3

  1

  Browsing

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Password abuse

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Privilege abuse

  0

  5

  2

  1

  1

  Data stolen/disclosed

  0

  2

  0

  0

  1

  Files deleted/damaged

  1

  2

  2

  1

  0

  Fraud

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Other

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  The following information is recorded against each hacking incident:
  installation/system, main use of the system, date, intent/success, effect of incident, assets compromised, additional free text on why, how and actions taken.

  Bloody Sunday
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 17 February 2000,Official Report, column 648W, on Bloody Sunday, what efforts his Department is making to recover the 10 rifles which were used on Bloody Sunday and were identified as having been sold to private companies. [111712]

  Mr. Hoon
  [holding answer 28 February 2000]: The Ministry of Defence/West Mercia Police investigation, which I announced on 17 February, is urgently investigating the whereabouts of the Bloody Sunday rifles that have been sold and whether it might be possible to recover them.
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  be available then the use of telephone or VTC will be made available subject to operational priorities. If the matter was sufficiently serious for the CO to believe that detention is necessary, he will almost certainly wish the individual to be removed to a rear area where he can be appropriately dealt with.

  Computers
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence,pursuant to his answer of 14 February 2000,Official Report, column 372W, on computers (1) if he will list the eight different categories of misuse by which internal hacking incidents are categorised; and the number of hacking incidents by category for each of the last five years; [111112]

  (2) what information is held on his Department's incident recording system about each internal hacking incident over the last five years. [111110]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 22 February 2000]: My Department is a contributing Department to the Government wide Unified Incident Reporting and Alert Scheme (UNIRAS). Internal hacking incidents are categorised into the following eight types of misuse: access denied; browsing; password abuse; privilege abuse; data stolen/disclosed; files deleted/damaged; fraud; other.

  The number of internal hacking incidents, by category, for each of the last five years is:

  Bagshot Park
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 21 February 2000,Official Report, column 729W, concerning Bagshot Park, what payment was made on surrender of the property; and what its value was at that time. [111941]

  Dr. Moonie
  In accordance with the terms of our contractual arrangements with the Crown Estate, my Department made a payment of £1.8 million on the surrender of Bagshot Park. The value of the property is not a matter for the Ministry of Defence.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Affordable Drugs
  Mr. Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions he has had with pharmaceutical companies about ensuring that developing countries have access to affordable drugs. [111509]
  271W
  Mr. Byers
  The issue of healthcare in developing countries and access to medicines was raised at the recent WTO Ministerial Conference in Seattle, and while there I met representatives of the pharmaceutical industry and NGOs. Since Seattle I have received representatives on this issue from pharmaceutical companies and NGOs.

  Export Credits Guarantee Department
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much ECGD cover was granted in respect of(a) heavily indebted poor countries, (b) lower middle income countries and (c) higher middle income countries in each of the financial years (i) 1995–96, (ii) 1996–97, (iii) 1997–98 and (iv) 1998–99 indicating in each case the percentages for civil aerospace and defence cover. [111008]

  Mr. Byers
  The following table lists the information requested on the basis of the country categorisations which informed ECGD's recent evidence to the International Development Committee. For completeness, ECGD has included details for all Low Income countries (not all of which are HIPCs) where ECGD cover has been provided.

  ECGD cover for HIPC, LMI UMI countries

  Total business (£Million)

  Defence (%)

  Civil (%)

  Aero (%)

  FY 1995–96

  HIPC

  190

  0

  100

  0

  LMI

  2,874

  15

  82

  3

  UMI

  1,086

  47

  36

  17

  Value of ECGD cover in respect of guarantees issued in 1998–99—top ten exporters

  Company

  Nature of Projects

  Markets

  Value of ECGD cover (£ million)

  BAe Systems

  Civil Aerospace

  Belgium, Canada, China, Croatia, E1 Salvador, Greece, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Portugal, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United States, Uzbekistan

  769

  BAe Systems

  Defence

  Saudi Arabia, Republic of Korea

  1,020

  Marconi Communications; Marconi Electronic Systems

  Radio Communications and Defence

  India, Sweden, Brunei, United States, Japan

  607

  Mitsui Babcock

  Power Station

  China

  264

  Kvaerner

  Media Production and Blast Furnace Equipment

  Egypt, Republic of Korea

  137

  Vickers

  Defence

  Oman

  131

  ALSTOM

  Power Generation Equipment

  Mexico, Anguilla, Saint Kitts and Nevis

  75

  Rolls Royce

  Aero Engines

  China, United Arab Emirates

  73

  Bechtel

  Power Generation

  China

  54

  Dennis

  Buses

  Hong Kong

  51

  Coflexip

  Offshore Pipelines

  Brazil

  38

  Values shown in respect of Bae Systems include also amounts in respect of Rolls Royce aero engines.
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  ECGD cover for HIPC, LMI and UMI countries

  Total business (£million)

  Defence (%)

  Civil (%)

  Aero (%)

  FY 1996–97

  HIPC

  161

  0

  63

  37

  LMI

  1,950

  8

  77

  15

  UMI

  465

  52

  30

  18

  FY 1997–98

  HIPC

  17

  0

  100

  0

  LMI

  1,156

  10

  44

  46

  UMI

  914

  29

  67

  5

  FY 1998–99

  HIPC

  21

  0

  100

  0

  LMI

  924

  3

  56

  41

  UMI

  1,249

  84

  15

  1

  Notes:

  1. HIPC: Highly Indebted Poor Countries

  2. LMI: Low Middle Income

  3. UMI: Upper Middle Income

  It should be noted that countries do move from one category to another. The case records available do not indicate the category of the market at the time the guarantees were issued.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the 10 companies in receipt of the highest level of export credit guarantees for the financial year 1998–99, indicating the amount of cover given to each company and listing the projects for which it was given. [111009]

  Mr. Caborn
  The information requested is in the following table:

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Clean Development
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions have taken place outside the remit of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change between his Department and the Governments of developing countries relating to the design of the Clean Development Mechanism. [112170]

  Mr. Meacher
  I have been asked to reply.

  Since the Fifth Conference of the Parties in Bonn in October-November 1999, there have been no discussions relating to the design of the Clean Development Mechanism between members of the UK Government and governments of developing countries. However, the intensified process in the run-up to the Sixth Conference of the Parties in November 2000 includes several opportunities for such discussions by Ministers and officials, both within and outside the formal UNFCCC process.

  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's definition of clean development. [112171]

  Mr. Meacher
  I have been asked to reply.

  In the context of the Clean Development Mechanism established by the Kyoto Protocol, there is no agreed international definition of "clean development". However, under the Kyoto Protocol, Clean Development Mechanism projects are defined as those that contribute to the overall objective of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change—to reduce and stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere—and assist the developing country host in achieving sustainable development.

  Nuclear Power Projects
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy with regard to nuclear power projects as eligible projects in the Clean Development Mechanism, currently developed under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. [112168]

  Mr. Meacher
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Government believe that all projects under the Clean Development Mechanism must contribute to the overall objective of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change—to reduce and stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere—and assist the developing country host in achieving sustainable development. The detailed rules that will govern the Clean Development Mechanism are due to be agreed at the Sixth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in November this year. In advance of that, the Government have noted the case for prior exclusions as a way to ensure environmental integrity, and also attach importance to the need for developing countries to play a key role in determining their own sustainable development needs and priorities.
  274W
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received from(a) Commonwealth and (b) other Governments concerning the UK's policy on the eligibility of nuclear power projects under the rules for the Clean Development Mechanism. [112169]

  Mr. Meacher
  I have been asked to reply.

  The UK Government have had recent representations from Commonwealth and non-Commonwealth Ministers regarding the potential exclusion of nuclear power projects from the Clean Development Mechanism. At the Fifth Conference of the Parties (CoP5) in November 1999, the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions received representations from Indian and Chinese Ministers. Both Ministers were concerned that the UK should not support specific exclusions from the Clean Development Mechanism and that the host developing country should determine whether projects met their own sustainable development aims. At CoP5, some EU Ministers and I briefly discussed project eligibility for the Clean Development Mechanism. I understand that the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has not received any representations.

  Overseas Missions
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the differences in the activities of a British Council office and a Foreign and Commonwealth Office mission abroad. [112005]

  Mr. Hain
  The British Council is the United Kingdom's principal agency for cultural relations abroad. Its overseas offices engage in a range of people-to-people activities in pursuit of the FCO' s cultural policy objectives. Foreign and Commonwealth Office missions overseas engage primarily in government-to-government relations across the range of the Department's objectives. The activities of British Council offices and our diplomatic missions are carefully co-ordinated to ensure complementarity and avoid duplication or overlap.

  UK/China Forum
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the role of the UK/China Forum in creating closer links between the UK and China. [112015]

  Mr. Battle
  The UK-China Forum is a high-level non-Governmental organisation, whose membership is drawn from senior individuals in the worlds of politics, business and industry, the law, education, science and technology, the media and the arts. The purpose is to develop contacts at all levels between Britain and China, with the aim of building stronger links between the two countries.

  The first meeting of the Forum, held in London on 21 and 22 October 1999, identified a number of areas where bilateral contacts and joint activities could be strengthened. Preparations are now underway for the second meeting of the Forum, to be held in Beijing in October 2000.

  Istanbul Summit
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list his Department's programme and that of its Agencies to implement the proposals set out in paragraph 44 of his report on the OSCE Istanbul summit relating to police activities and training. [112130]

  Mr. Vaz
  We currently provide 10 UK police officers to the Police Monitor Group within the OSCE Mission to Croatia. Their role is to ensure the local police force continues to improve in its professionalism. In addition, we also provided 40 UK police officers to the OSCE Police Training School in Kosovo. Their role is to recruit and train a multi-ethnic Kosovo Police Service in order to help them gain the skills and equipment needed to engage effectively in police activities.

  Congo
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role Britain is playing in international efforts to bring peace to the Democratic Republic of Congo and the surrounding states, with particular reference to Rwanda and Uganda; and if he will make a statement. [111782]

  Mr. Hain
  Britain is playing an active and constructive role in international efforts to resolve the 'crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Our aim now is to: help all the parties, including Rwanda and Uganda, implement the Lusaka Agreement; support the early deployment of the UN observer force to DRC as soon as conditions allow; and get the national dialogue on the future of DRC under way; and keep DRC at the top of the international agenda.

  We are also providing practical support: British officers are deployed in the region as part of the UN mission; and we have made contributions of £160,000 for the Joint Military Commission, and £25,000 for the National Dialogue. We are ready to do more, as the parties actively demonstrate their commitment to the Lusaka Agreement.

  Child Soldiers
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the numbers of child soldiers in Sudan; what assessment he has made of the number of other countries in Africa where child soldiers are being used in significant numbers; and what steps the Government are taking to alleviate this problem. [112324]

  Mr. Hain
  There are no reliable estimates of the number of child soldiers in Sudan. Over the past year, reports of the use of child soldiers in Africa, including internal conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Angola.

  We are committed to bringing to an end the use of child soldiers which is in contravention of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Our approach is based on a combination of: support for international efforts in this field, in particular the work of the UN Special Representative for Children in Armed Conflict; strengthening international standards; urging the
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  governments concerned to tackle this abuse; and, with the Department for International Development, support for practical measures to address this issue.

  Kosovo
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many international police officers have been deployed to Kosovska Mitrovica. [112103]

  Mr. Hain
  The United Nations report that on 28 February 2000 there were 541 international police officers in Kosovska Mitrovica.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many police from the United Kingdom have been deployed, and how many have been pledged to be deployed, to(a) Kosovo, (b) Pristina and (c) Kosovska Mitrovica. [112104]

  Mr. Hain
  The United Kingdom has deployed 60 police officers to the United Nations International Police (UNIP) in Kosovo. In response to a UN request, we are increasing that contribution to 120 officers. We have also recently increased our contribution to the OSCE-run school training the future Kosovo police service from 32 to 40 officers. We are also considering deployment of additional specialists to help combat organised crime in Kosovo.

  The United Nations is responsible for determining where UNIP officers are deployed. Of the 60 UK officers with UNIP, 59 are based in Pristina and the surrounding area (the most densely populated region of Kosovo).

  A senior UK police officer has been deployed full-time to Mitrovica (as the Deputy Regional Commander) and several officers have been on short-term secondments to the Mitrovica region. 230 UK troops, from the Royal Green Jackets, were also deployed to Mitrovica between 15 and 22 February.

  British Council, Africa
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about funding for the British Council in Africa. [112327]

  Mr. Hain
  The grant in aid allocated by the British Council to its African directorates from 1994–95 to 1999–2000 has increased in cash terms from £13 million to £14 million (though this represents a 6 per cent. reduction in real terms). However, the overall level of activity undertaken by the Council in Africa over the same period has declined from £106 million to £59 million, as the result of a downturn in the management of development and training contracts.

  Sierra Leone
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations have been made to him by the United Nations requesting troops for the Sierra Leone peacekeeping operation. [112326]

  Mr. Hain
  We strongly support the UN's efforts in Sierra Leone to create a climate of confidence for the implementation of the Lome Peace Agreement.
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  We were asked by the UN to provide military observers and logistical support to the UN peacekeeping operation in Sierra Leone, UNAMSIL. We currently deploy 15 military observers to the force Observer Group, including the Group's Chief of Staff, and an eight-man movement control detachment to assist the rapid deployment of troop contingents in-country. We have also offered the UN assistance with airlift of troops and/or equipment.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the second report of the Secretary-General, pursuant to Security Council resolution 12780 (1999) on the United Nations missions in Sierra Leone, in particular the report's assessment of the United Nations' ability to maintain a major military presence in Sierra Leone. [112325]

  Mr. Hain
  We agree with the Secretary-General's assessment that the establishment and maintenance of security in Sierra Leone is essential to the success of the Lome Peace Agreement. We therefore supported his recommendation that the UN peacekeeping operation in Sierra Leone, UNAMSIL, be substantially expanded to take on some of the security tasks formerly carried out by the departing Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS)' peacekeeping force, ECOMOG. We strongly backed UN Security Council Resolution 1289 of 7 February which authorised the deployment of up to 11,100 troops and observers.

  We also agree with the Secretary-General that the UN, already under considerable resource pressure, will not be able to maintain a major military presence in Sierra Leone for a prolonged period; and that the responsibility for the success of the peace process ultimately lies with the people and leaders of Sierra Leone.

  In order to help Sierra Leone to take responsibility for its own security, we are working closely with the Government of Sierra Leone to help rebuild new, democratically accountable Sierra Leone armed forces, and a new police force.

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the situation in Sierra Leone; and if he will make a statement. [111982]

  Mr. Hain
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Chatham and Aylesford (Mr. Shaw) on 15 February 2000,Official Report, column 762.

  Sri Lanka
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the state of human rights in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement. [111983]

  Mr. Hain
  Although the Sri Lankan Government have taken some steps to improve their human rights record, we remain concerned about continuing violations and failures to prosecute violators. We are also concerned about human rights abuses committed by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and reports that they are still using child soldiers. We will continue to raise our concerns and stress the need for effective machinery to protect and promote human rights.

  Turkey
  Mr. Savidge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received concerning disputes between Turkey and neighbouring states over water resources. [112097]

  Mr. Vaz
  The governments of Syria, Iraq and the League of Arab States have registered their concern about the potential impact of the Ilisu Dam on their water supply from the Tigris river. We have also received several letters from NGOs on the same subject. Water is a sensitive issue in the region because of scarcity of supply. The Ilisu Dam is, however, a hydro-electric project, not an irrigation proposal. Continued flow of water would be needed for the dam to function.

  Sombrero (Wildlife)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the ecological value of(a) reptiles, (b) grasshoppers, (c) beetles, (d) carved flies, (e) scorpions and (f) lizards on the Island of Sombrero. [111172]

  Mr. Hain
  No assessment of these matters has yet been carried out. However, information on the ecological value of the fauna and flora of Sombrero is being gathered for the review of Beal Aerospace's proposal for a commercial space rocket launch complex on the island. This review is being carried out for the Government of Anguilla by a UK Planning Inspector. It will cover material in the Environmental Assessment submitted by Beal Aerospace as well as other reports, including ones submitted by the Royal Society for the protection of Birds on invertebrates and lizards.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds about the development of Sombrero Island near Anguilla. [111171]

  Mr. Hain
  The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (and others) have made a number of representations to HMG and to the Government of Anguilla expressing concern about the Environmental Assessment submitted by Beal Aerospace in support of its proposal to develop a commercial rocket launch site on Sombrero. At the request of the Government of Anguilla we have therefore arranged for a UK Planning Inspector to review the evidence, so that decisions can be taken with the benefit of his advance on environmental aspects of the proposal.

  The most recent representations followed surveys of the island in November 1999 and included reports by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds on Seabirds, by Fauna and Flora International on Lizards and by Dr. Michael Ivie of the University of Montana on Invertebrates.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  London Underground
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the escalators that were not working on 14 February 2000,
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  on the London Underground; for what reasons each was not working; and what measures will be pursued to ensure that all escalators are in full working order. [110745]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 21 February 2000]: This is an operational matter for London Transport. However, I understand that at 14 February 2000, 47 escalators out of 381 were out of service.

  These are as follows:

  Station

  Number of escalators

  Reason

  Old Street

  1

  1—

  Oxford Circus

  1

  1—

  Victoria

  1

  1—

  Notting Hill Gate

  2

  1—

  Warren Street

  1

  1—

  Bethnal Green

  1

  1—

  Kings Cross

  1

  1—

  Holborn

  2

  1—

  St. John's Wood

  1

  1—

  Tottenham Court Road

  1

  1—

  Hyde Park Corner

  1

  1—

  Manor House

  2

  2—

  Wood Green

  1

  2—

  London Bridge

  1

  Power supply problems

  Canada Water

  4

  Station construction work

  Shepherds Bush

  1

  3—

  Oxford Circus

  1

  3—

  Waterloo

  1

  3—

  Old Street

  1

  3—

  South Wimbledon

  1

  3—

  Clapham North

  1

  3—

  Clapham South

  1

  3—

  Euston

  2

  3—

  Baker Street

  3

  3—

  Oxford Circus

  4

  3—

  Kings Cross

  1

  3—

  Brixton

  1

  3—

  Vauxhall

  1

  3—

  Walthamstow

  2

  3—

  Highbury

  1

  3—

  Victoria

  1

  3—

  Seven Sisters

  1

  3—

  Charing Cross

  1

  3—

  1 Planned replacement or refurbishment

  2 Tracking and guidance system repairs

  3 Replacement of machine drive shaft

  London Underground is implementing a new programme of expenditure on escalator maintenance and repair of nearly £140 million over the years 1998–99 to 2000–01 (1998–99 £26 million, 1999–2000 £44.8 million, 2000–01 £66.1 million).

  Revenue Support Grant
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the percentage contribution from central Government funds towards local authority expenditure in England in(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999–2000; and if he will give the estimated percentage in 2000–01. [111617]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The information is as follows.280W

  Government funds as a percentage of Englich local authority revenue expenditure1

  Year

  Central government funds2 (percentage)

  Non-domestic rates3 (Percentage)

  1997–984

  50.4

  25.5

  1998–994

  50.3

  24.9

  1999–20005

  48.1

  25.3

  1 Local authority expenditure is defined as "revenue expenditure to compare with TSS" which is expenditure to be met from Revenue Support Grant, Specific and Special Grants in Aggeregate External Finance, SSA Reduction Grant, Police Grant. Central Support Protection Grant (1999–2001), Non-domestic rates, council tax and appropriations from reserves.

  2 Central Government Funds Comprise Revenue Support Grant. Police Grant and Central Support Protection Grant (1999–00 to 2000–01).

  3 This represents the distributable amount from the non-domestic rates pool and City Offset.

  4 Outturn

  5 Budget

  Note:

  The percentages for 2000–01 will depend on how much local authorities spend.

  Clean Development
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the Government's policy on the handling of radioactive waste from nuclear power stations in developing countries; and what account he has taken of the environmental and health impact of radioactive waste in formulating his position on the eligibility of nuclear power projects for inclusion in the Clean Development Mechanism. [112075]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Government have made no generic assessment of the impacts of radioactive waste in the context of the suitability of nuclear power projects for inclusion in the Clean Development Mechanism. Although international rules for the Clean Development Mechanism have yet to be agreed, the Government have noted the case for prior exclusions of certain project types, including nuclear power, as a way to ensure environmental integrity. The Government also attach importance to the need for developing countries to play a key role in determining their own sustainable development needs and priorities.

  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the Government's policy on the design of the Clean Development Mechanism being developed under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, with particular reference to the inclusion of nuclear power and large hydro projects in the Mechanism. [112074]

  Mr. Meacher
  This Government believe that all projects under the Clean Development Mechanism must contribute to the overall objective of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change—to reduce and stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere—and assist the developing country host in achieving sustainable development. The design of the Clean Development Mechanism, including the eligibility of certain project types, will not be agreed until the Sixth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in November 2000. In advance of that, the Government have noted the case for prior exclusions of certain project types as a way to ensure environmental integrity, and also attach
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  importance to the need for developing countries to play a key role in determining their own sustainable development needs and priorities.

  Biodiversity
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) when he expects the Government to sign up to the OECD agreement on The Global Biodiversity Information Facility; [111991]

  (2) what commitments the Government have made to implement the terms of the agreement on The Global Biodiversity Information Facility. [111992]

  Mr. Meacher
  We recognise that there is a need for global biodiversity data to be collected and managed, and therefore used to underpin the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. The National Biodiversity Network, to which the Government have announced a £250,000 contribution, aim to do this for the UK. We recognise too that there is already much work going on globally producing many results and outputs. However, because there is no set protocol of compilation or standardisation of such work, its full potential, particularly when coupled with modern information technology, is not being realised.

  The OECD has usefully identified this gap through its Mega Science Forum and has carried out some preliminary work in suggesting ways for promoting a mechanism to meet these needs.

  Plans for the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) are still being drafted and will not be ready for adoption and signature until the end of the year. We have, however, demonstrated our interest by playing a full part in the discussions so far and shall continue to do so. Our aim is to secure a GBIF which will meet its objectives cost effectively, and through collaboration with all information providers and collectors, all interested countries, and other arrangements and institutions including those associated with the Convention on Biological Diversity.

  Buses
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment his Department has made of the effect of introducing buses with a maximum width of 2.55 m on existing bus services, with particular reference to the impact of such a change on the number of bus routes that would have to be discontinued. [112408]

  Mr. Hill
  Following an extensive consultation, the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 were amended in 1995 (SI 1995 No. 3051) to allow vehicles to operate at a maximum width of 2.55 m. No problems were raised at the time of the consultation in respect of this increase. The dimension is a maximum allowance and, therefore, it is permissible to operate buses at less than 2.55 m on routes that require narrower vehicles to be used.

  Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his policy in respect of the addition of methyl tertiary butyl ether to petrol; and if he will make a statement. [111892]

  Mr. Hill
  The Government remain neutral on the use of MTBE in petrol. It can provide worthwhile improvements in air quality through the reduction of vehicle pollutants, e.g. carbon monoxide by 25 per cent. and hydrocarbons by 15 per cent. On the other hand, not all petrol sold in the United Kingdom contains MTBE. The average concentration of MTBE in UK petrol is about 1 per cent., well below that permitted under EU law.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the maximum concentration of methyl tertiary butyl ether allowed in petrol. [111893]

  Mr. Hill
  Directive 98/70/EC stipulates that member states may not prevent, restrict or discourage production, marketing and free movement of blended petrol that contains 15 per cent. or less MTBE by volume. This requirement has been implemented in UK law by the Motor Fuel (Composition and Content) Regulations 1999.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the locations where methyl tertiary butyl ether has been found in groundwater supplies in excess of maximum safe levels in the past three years. [111894]

  Mr. Mullin
  Environment Agency monitoring of groundwater has not encountered any concentrations of MTBE which the Agency considers excessive. The Agency is currently undertaking a research project on the incidence of MTBE in England and Wales, the results of which will be available this summer.

  Road Safety
  Mr. Tony Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress he has made in developing the Government's road safety strategy; and if he will make a statement. [112908]

  Mr. Hill
  Today, we have published our road safety strategy, "Tomorrow's roads—safer for everyone". This sets stretching new targets to reduce the number of casualties on our roads, particularly child deaths and injuries. By 2010 we want to see a 40 per cent. overall reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured and a 50 per cent. reduction in the number of children killed or seriously injured, compared with the average for 1994–98. We also want to see a 10 per cent. reduction in the rate of slight injuries, measured per 100 million vehicle kilometres.

  Measures to achieve these objectives include:
  expecting local authorities to use their powers to introduce self-enforcing 20 mph zones around schools and in residential areas;
  a robust package of measures to further reduce drink driving;
  strengthening enforcement of drug driving, including a commitment to legislate to give police the powers to test for drugs at the roadside;

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  consulting the public on a package of measures designed to encourage young and new drivers to take a more structured approach to learning to drive;
  continuing to monitor the driving test to ensure it is sufficiently stretching and appropriate for modern driving conditions;
  developing information schemes and advice for older drivers and publicity on the dangers of driving while using a mobile phone;
  expecting a 30 mph speed limit to be the norm for villages;
  increasing resources for Local Transport Plans, which will include local road safety plans and targets, to £1 billion next year;
  setting up a Road Safety Advisory Panel which will include representatives of the main stakeholders and will help us to review our targets and strategy; and
  raising the standard of road safety education, particularly promoting child pedestrian training in deprived areas, where we know children are at greater risk.

  Enforcement of road traffic law will have a major part to play in improving road safety. The Home Office is conducting a major review of all road traffic penalties, including those for speeding and careless driving, which will report in due course.

  The Government's detailed review of speed policy has also been published today. "Tomorrow's roads—safer for everyone" reflects the findings of this review. It does not recommend blanket changes to existing speed limits, but acknowledges that there is a place for lower limits in specific areas where there is an accident problem.

  Copies of the documents published today—the Government's detailed review of speed policy; the Government's response to the ETR Select Committee's report, "Young and Newly Qualified Drivers: Standards and Training"; the Government's response to the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety's report, "Road Traffic Law and Enforcement; the Highways Agency's safety plan, "Making the network safer—Highways Agency strategic plan for safety" and a report by the Transport Research Laboratory, "The numerical context for setting national casualty reduction targets"—have all been placed in the Library.

  Motorcycle Licensing
  Mr. Leslie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to revise motorcycle licensing rules following the safer motorcycling consultation exercise undertaken by the Driving Standards Agency last year. [112909]

  Mr. Hill
  The document, "Tomorrow's roads—safer for everyone", which is published today, sets out the broad context for how we propose to deliver road safety improvements for motorcyclists. A detailed report of the decisions taken in response to the consultation exercise has also been issued today, and I shall place copies in the Library of the House.

  We are removing unnecessary restrictions while improving training and testing for learner riders. We shall abolish the rule that means learner riders lose their provisional licence after two years, and we shall improve the training they receive. New licences will be valid until age 70 years, providing the rider holds a current training certificate. New car drivers will have basic safety training before riding a moped.

  British Waterways Board
  Ms Ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about the External Financing Limit for the British Waterways Board. [112973]

  Mr. Mullin
  The 1999–2000 External Financing Limit for the British Waterways Board will be increased by £340,000 from £58,690,000 to £59,030,000. This will enable them to replace a life expired pumping facility at Gloucester Docks. It will be funded by an increase in grant in aid to the Board arising from savings elsewhere on Class III, Vote 3.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Millennium Dome
  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many tickets for the Millennium dome have been sold from outlets based in Wales to date; and what percentage they represent of overall sales to date. [110849]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 21 February 2000]: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 28 February 2000, Official Report, column 85W. This represents around 1.16 per cent. of the total sales to 6 February.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he has revised his estimate that the Millennium dome will attract 12 million visitors this year. [112050]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 28 February 2000]: The New Millennium Experience Company continues to aim for 12 million visitors for the year.

  Right of Reply
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will take steps to introduce a statutory right of reply in respect of factual inaccuracies in the media. [109996]

  Janet Anderson
  The Government have no plans to introduce a statutory right of reply in respect of factual inaccuracies in the media. We believe that current self-regulatory arrangements on the media are working satisfactorily.

  Tourism Summit
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what is the budget for his Tourism Summit; [112086]

  (2) what is the catering budget for the Tourism Summit. [112085]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 28 February 2000]: The budget for the Summit is £1,000. This includes the cost of catering, which will be provided by the in-house catering service at the Globe Theatre. We have chosen the most economical of the lunch options available.

  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will publish the agenda for the Tourism Summit. [112079]
  285W
  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 28 February 2000]: There are four main parts to the agenda. Ministers collectively will review the progress made in implementing Tomorrow's Tourism, and consider what ought to be done over the next year. There will be a progress report on the work of the better Regulation Task Force in this area, and a discussion of its implications. Progress in improving accommodation quality following the launch of the harmonised gradings will be discussed, and Ministers will receive the report of the Tourism Consumer Working Group and decide on their response to it. As promised in the original strategy document, we will then publish a report setting out our conclusions on progress to date and detailed recommendations for the future.

  Dome Celebrations (Transport)
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on transport arrangements for the dome celebrations on new year's eve 1999. [105980]

  Janet Anderson
  Over 10,000 guests were invited to the dome opening celebration. Some of those arriving via Stratford suffered lengthy delays, although everyone arrived in time for the opening show. The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) and the Metropolitan police have apologised for the delays and NMEC has offered free dome tickets to all those who used Stratford.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Public Services (Modernisation)
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has for taking forward work on the modernisation of public services. [112802]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  Like all members of this Government, I am committed to delivering efficient and responsive modern public services that provide excellence for the many, and not just the few. My Department has published a booklet today on what it has done and is planning to do to take forward the Government's long-term programme of reform to modernise the public service. These plans, which will evolve over the coming months, will lead to changes in the way MAFF does its business. Copies of this booklet, "MAFF's Part in Modernising Government", are being placed in the Library of the House.

  Modernising Government gives MAFF an opportunity to deliver better services to our many customers. We will make the most of this opportunity.

  Live Animal Exports
  Mr. Prosser
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many times bad weather was forecast for planned sailings of ships carrying live sheep for export from Dover Port to the continent in 1999; how many times his inspectors discussed the weather with the master of vessels carrying live sheep; how many such sailings were undertaken when winds were force 7 or 286W
  higher or when the state of the sea was rough; and how many such sailings were postponed due to bad weather. [111373]

  Mr. Morley
  Ministry staff track forecasts of weather and sea conditions on all occasions when there are plans to take live food animals out of Dover by sea. The trigger for the Department's inspection staff at Dover to initiate discussions with the master of the vessel is a clear forecast, when the master imminently intends to sail with animals, that force 7 winds and/or rough sea conditions are likely to prevail. Inspection staff discuss the conditions with the master of the vessel to ensure that the master has exercised his judgment as to whether animals are likely to be caused injury or unnecessary suffering as a result of weather and/or sea conditions likely to be encountered during the voyage (as required by article 4(2) of the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997). The 1999 discussions were initiated with the master on 24 occasions. Thirteen sailings commenced in force 6–7 winds and/or rough sea conditions and nine in calmer conditions. Two sailings were postponed.

  Mr. Prosser
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many notices were served by his staff under Article 18 of the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997 at Dover Port in respect of live sheep destined for export; how many such sheep were removed at his inspectors' instructions from livestock vehicles at Dover Port and for what reasons; and how many documentary queries were made by his inspectors at Dover Port in respect of consignments of live sheep destined for export in 1999; [111371]

  (2) how many (a) live sheep and (b) live pigs destined for export from the United Kingdom in 1999 were declared to be unfit to travel by (i) his inspectors at Dover Port and (ii) Local Veterinary Inspectors when carrying out inspections prior to issuing an export health certificate. [111372]

  Mr. Morley
  Seventy-eight (78) notices were served by MAFF staff during 1999 at Dover Port on consignments of slaughter/further fattening sheep. 257 sheep were removed. 160 of these were removed to improve stocking densities; 82 were removed because they were unfit; 15 dead animals were removed. There were 19 documentary queries.

  Separate figures for animals declared unfit for travel by Local Veterinary Inspectors are available only from 31 May 1999 when changes to pre-export inspection arrangements were introduced. Between then and 31 December 1999 12,558 sheep and 188 pigs were rejected as unfit to travel.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Senator Pinochet
  Mr. Hope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has taken a decision in the case of Senator Pinochet. [110636]

  Mr. Straw
  I expect to make a decision in the case of Senator Pinochet at 8.00 am tomorrow. I will give full reasons for my decision.

  Waterhouse Tribunal
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he was told by the Waterhouse Tribunal of the urgent need to instruct police authorities to search for those persons named as being unsuitable to work with children; and if he will make a statement. [111370]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Waterhouse Tribunal made no such proposal. The desirability of tracing those concerned was recognised by the Government on publication of the report.

  CS Spray
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will suspend the use of CS spray on people known to be in mental distress until research into the effects of CS on people using neuroleptic drugs has been carried out. [111803]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Police officers need some means of protection against attacks, even when committed by people who are mentally disturbed, and the safety of CS spray to all concerned must be compared with that of alternatives, such as physical restraint or use of batons, which themselves involve an element of risk. Nor is it always clear when an attacker is suffering from a mental disorder which might require medication. The Guidance on the use of CS spray in such circumstances are set out in paragraphs 6.5, 8.4 and 8.5 of the guidance published by the Association of Chief Police Officers on this subject, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Police Radio Communications Project
  Mr. Hope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made on the Police Service Radio Communications Project; and if he will make a statement. [112636]

  Mr. Straw
  On 13 January, I laid before Parliament a Departmental minute notifying a non-statutory liability arising from the issue by the Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO) of a letter of instruction to proceed to British Telecom plc. This letter authorised them to invest in the project infrastructure, pending satisfactory conclusions of the final contract negotiations. I can now confirm that yesterday evening PITO signed a contract with British Telecom plc for the provision of the Public Safety Radio Communications Service (PSRCS) to all police forces in England, Wales and Scotland. I will be announcing shortly further details on the scope and timetable of the project.

  Racing Greyhounds
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what safeguards exist concerning the welfare of racing greyhounds(a) during their working lives at (i) registered tracks and (ii) independent tracks and (b) after they retire; and if he will make a statement. [112391]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Provisions safeguarding the welfare of all domestic and captive animals in this country, including greyhounds whether on course or in retirement, are included in the Protection of Animals Act 1911 and the Abandonment of Animals Act 1960.
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  The British Greyhound Racing Board and the National Greyhound Racing Club, who are responsible for the sport, have regular meetings with the major animal welfare organisations. The industry also supports the work of the Retired Greyhound Trust, which is currently concentrating on expanding and properly financing local home finding schemes for retired greyhounds.

  Global Cultural Diversity Congress
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will establish an independent public inquiry into the collapse of the Global Cultural Diversity Congress. [112464]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I have aske d the incoming Chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality, Gurbux Singh, to consider urgently the lessons to be learned from the collapse of the Global Cultural Diversity Congress and to produce a report. I hope to indicate the time scale for the report shortly.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the report of the Chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality into the collapse of the Global Cultural Diversity Congress to be completed; and if he will place the report in the Library when it is available. [112463]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I have asked the incoming Chairman, Gurbux Singh, to undertake the review as a matter of urgency. The terms of reference and timetable for the review will be published shortly and the key findings of the review will be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he plans to take in respect of the civil servants and members of the Commission for Racial Equality who are directors of Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd.; and what role his Department and the Commission for Racial Equality had in their appointment. [112462]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  My Department was not involved in the appointment of its Directors and no Home Office officials are Directors of the company.

  The role of the Commission will be examined in the context of the review which I have asked the incoming Chairman, Gurbux Singh, to conduct.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 22 February 2000,Official Report, column 863W, to the hon. Member for Stafford (Mr. Kidney), if he will place the accountants' report on Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd. in the Library. [112465]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  There are no plans to do so.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which Ministers and officials in his Department were responsible for supervising the organisation of the Global Cultural Diversity Congress by Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd.; what was the nature of that supervision; and if he will make a statement. [112461]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Commission for Racial Equality decided to stage the Cultural Diversity Congress and took a collective decision to set up Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd. to organise the event.
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  Operational supervision of the arrangements was a matter for the Commission.

  Metropolitan Police
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the change in the total number of police officers in the Metropolitan Police Service over the next three financial years; and if he will make a statement. [112394]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that the revenue budget for 2000–01 should be sufficient to enable him to maintain police officer strength at around 25,600. He also aims to maintain front-line policing strengths for the following two years, subject to sufficient funding.

  From 3 July 2000 budgets for the Metropolitan Police Authority will be a matter for the Greater London Authority, subject to my reserve powers to set a minimum budget.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is his policy that there should be more police officers in the Metropolitan Police Service at the end of this Parliament than at the start; and if he will make a statement. [112458]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Under the Police and Magistrates Courts Act 1994, it is for the Commissioner to determine the actual number of police officers in the Metropolitan Police Service at any one time. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary set out his policy as regards the number of police officers in all forces in England and Wales in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Elmet (Mr. Burgon) on 9 February 2000,Official Report, columns 172–74W.

  Mike Tyson
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department further to his answer of 14 February 2000,Official Report, columns 419–20W, and his letter to the right hon. Member for Maidstone and the Weald of 18 February 2000, what assessment he has made of the compatibility of his instruction to admit Mike Tyson under paragraph 1(3) of schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971 with the Immigration Rules. [112401]

  Mr. Straw
  My instruction under Paragraph 1(3) of schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971 to admit Mr. Tyson was entirely compatible with the Immigration Rules, including paragraph 320(18). Whereas under that paragraph refusal of entry should normally follow in the case of someone with a criminal conviction of the sort prescribed in the absence of strong compassionate reasons, the paragraph leaves a residual discretion, confirmed by the courts, to depart from that normal course.

  Stansted Hijacking
  Gillian Merron
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his considerations of the claims for political asylum made by some passengers on the aeroplane recently hijacked to Stansted airport. [112937]
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  Mr. Straw
  Of the total 170 people on the aircraft, 73 returned voluntarily to Afghanistan on 14 February. Four members of the flight crew are due to return with the aircraft when necessary clearances have been given. Two passengers have also asked to return to Afghanistan. Arrangements are being made for them to do so. 14 individuals are the subject of criminal charges in relation to the hijacking. This leaves 44 passengers who have made a claim for asylum under the 1951 Geneva Convention together with some 33 dependants.

  I have postponed a decision in six claims made by the relatives of those charged because I have been advised that the effect of considering their claims could prejudice the trials of the hijackers. I have postponed a decision in two cases in which I am expecting further information from the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture and a further six cases in which further inquiries need to be made.

  I have personally considered each of the remaining claims, including the representations made by the legal advisers representing each applicant. I have also taken into account advice I have received from Counsel and the Home Office Afghanistan country assessment. I have now reached my decisions. I have decided to grant refugee status in two cases, because I am satisfied that their applications disclose a well-grounded fear of persecution on a ground set out in the 1951 Convention. In both cases, as it happens, the applicant's case for asylum arose before they had boarded the flight, and it was a matter of chance for them that it was hijacked. Indefinite leave to enter will be granted to the wife of one of these applicants as his dependant, although she had claimed asylum in her own right. The claimants in these cases have five children who will also be given indefinite leave to enter. I have rejected the claims in the remaining 27 cases on the grounds that I am not satisfied that they have a well-founded fear of persecution by reason of their race, religion, nationality or membership of a particular social group or political opinion.

  In considering each of these claims, I have taken proper account of the United Kingdom's obligations under the 1951 Convention. I have taken account of all necessary legal requirements. These requirements are such that it would have been improper in the cases I have considered for me to take into account at that stage other factors, such as the need to deter future hijackers, and I have not done so. However, in determining the future status of those whose claims I have rejected, I have a different duty, to take into account all relevant information including public interest points in deterring future hijackings.

  In these cases, I have decided that the public interest in deterring future hijacks for the purposes of claiming asylum is a very strong one and, therefore, I have decided that they should not be given permission to stay in this country. Accordingly, I have given instructions that they should not be granted Exceptional Leave to Enter, which would give them this permission. We are ready to make arrangements for them to return to Afghanistan voluntarily. Given the current situation in Afghanistan, it is not proposed immediately to set directions for their enforced removal to Afghanistan. Instead, we are continuing to explore the possibility of removing these individuals to other countries. In the meantime they will be offered bail conditions to be set by a Chief Immigration Officer involving a recognisance, restrictions on their

  291W
  address, and conditions for regular reporting to the Immigration Service. Arrangements for accommodation will be made centrally and the cost will not be borne by local authorities. For the time being we will continue to detain those on whom no decision has been made.

  The events surrounding this terrorist act of hijacking have shown serious weaknesses in the way in which international conventions relating to refugees, terrorism and human rights operate. We shall be raising our concerns with like-minded countries and with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Education (Asia)
  Mr. St. Aubyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her Department's support for education initiatives in Asia. [111178]

  Clare Short
  The Government are working to strengthen the international effort to meet the International Development target of achieving universal primary education by 2015 and gender equality in primary and secondary schooling by 2005. To meet targets we must make greater progress in Asia where 50 million children are still out of school. The UK has major projects working to improve state systems in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal and we are working hard to try to ensure that the UN led Conference in Dakar on 26–27 April drives forward progress in meeting the 2015 target across the world.

  Globalisation White Paper
  Mr. Goggins
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what consultations she intends to carry out prior to the publication of the White Paper on Globalisation. [111179]

  Clare Short
  We will consult widely as part of the preparation of the White Paper on Globalisation and Development. We will provide an outline of the White Paper and establish a website containing the outline. We will invite submissions widely from individuals and organisations in the UK and from developing countries and international organisations.

  World Bank Development Report
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what has been the response of her Department to the World bank development report 2000–01 consultation draft, "Attacking Poverty", with particular reference to population issues. [111180]

  Clare Short
  I welcome the draft World Development Report and I welcome the fact that for the first time the World bank has put it out for wide consultation on the internet before publication in September. My Department has fed in detailed research to the report team, including a major study of the views of the poor across the world. We alongside others have suggested that the contribution of demographic change to economic growth should receive greater attention within the report.

  Kosovo (Health Services)
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on health services in Kosovo. [111181]

  Mr. Foulkes
  Medical services in Kosovo suffer from 10 years of neglect and poor maintenance, the dismissal of Albanian Kosovars from health administration and from the aftermath of the conflict. Our immediate priority is to ensure that access to urgent medical assistance is widely available. The UK is taking the lead in essential services at Pristina University Hospital under a neutral international management team, and is supporting primary health care provision for some 800,000 people. We are working closely with Joint Administration and key donors to develop longer-term sustainable health programmes.

  EU Development Work
  Mr. McWalter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on progress in reforming the EU' s development work. [111182]

  Clare Short
  I welcome the commitment of the new European Commission to major improvement of the European Union's development programmes. Most of the damaging splits in responsibility within the Commission have been removed, a development policy statement will be tabled this month, and the structure of the European Development Fund was significantly improved during the negotiations on the next Lomé convention.

  The UK advocated all these changes in the strategy we published over a year ago. But the impact of these measures has not yet been felt on the ground or reflected in the allocation of EC development spending. We will continue to press for much greater effectiveness and efficiency in EC programmes so that the EU plays a more effective role in meeting the international poverty eradication targets.

  Monitoring
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what monitoring her Department will carry out of the uses to which funds which are released as a result of debt cancellation are put. [111183]

  Clare Short
  The revision to the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) initiative agreed last year requires countries to develop national poverty reduction strategies. Resources arising from debt relief will be spent within this framework. I place great importance on civil society and the international community being able to monitor the implementation and outcomes of these strategies, and I recognise that increased international support will be required to ensure that this takes place. We are devoting additional resources to improve the statistics essential for monitoring progress in HIPC countries, as part of the new Partnership for Statistics for Development in 21st Century initiative, launched in November 1999.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent representations she has received relating to UK aid to Zimbabwe; and if she will make a statement. [111184]
  293W
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what non-financial assistance she is giving to Zimbabwe; and if she will make a statement. [111191]

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the future of the aid programme to Zimbabwe. [111200]

  Clare Short
  Appalling economic management has brought Zimbabwe to a crisis. The International Financial Institutions are urging the Government to take action to improve economic management and focus on the reduction of poverty. We have also made it clear that there is a strong case for land reform and that we would provide support for a programme that was fully transparent and focused on helping poor farmers.

  Some 70 per cent. of Zimbabwean households fall below the poverty line. Cutting aid would hurt the people who have suffered most through economic mismanagement. We will continue to work with progressive forces in Zimbabwe, where we judge our aid can be effective.

  Debt Reduction
  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent representations she has received on the reduction of third-world debt. [111185]

  Clare Short
  I have discussed debt relief, and the contribution it can make to poverty reduction, on a number of occasions recently ranging from a meeting with the Ugandan High Commissioner to children from Rhyl school. On 21 December, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and I hosted a seminar for representatives of the UK faiths and non-governmental organisations to discuss these issues. I continue to receive many letters on debt from members of the public.

  School of Tropical Medicine (Liverpool)
  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the contribution made by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine to international development. [111186]

  Clare Short
  The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, alongside other UK institutions, is a valued partner in our work to improve the health of the poorest and our efforts to attain the international development targets.

  The school has responded to international needs for applied research and training in Malaria, Child Health, Reproductive Health, Filariasis (Elephantiasis), Onchocerciasis (River Blindness), TB and HIV/AIDs, as well as Health Sector Development.

  Gender Inequality
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the progress being made towards eliminating gender inequalities in basic education. [111187]

  Clare
  In the 10 years since the first Education for All conference in Jomtien considerable progress has been made in spreading support for the education of girls 294W
  in developing countries. Countries themselves are increasingly convinced of the need to include girls and progress is being made. The research evidence is clear that educating girls leads to major development gains as the girls grow up in smaller families, improved child survival and enhanced household income. We are committed to mobilising increased international commitment to the international development targets of universal primary education by 2015 and gender equity in primary and secondary schooling by 2005.

  Sierra Leone
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what humanitarian assistance Her Majesty's Government plans for Sierra Leone during 2000. [111188]

  Clare Short
  Our Programme in Sierra Leone is directed mainly at supporting the peace process and assisting with the preparations for elections in 2001.

  We are continuing to support a number of international and local non-government and civil society organisations which are working in the country on food security, basic health care, basic education and water and sanitation projects. During the last 18 months we have committed over £5 million towards these humanitarian assistance activities.

  The deployment of the expanded United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone force and continuing progress with the disarmament and demobilisation process will improve the prospects for access to areas which have until now been behind the rebel lines. DFID will continue to support effective co-ordination of humanitarian assistance and will be ready to respond to sensible, well-targeted proposals.

  Security Sector Reform
  Mr. Savidge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the progress of her Department in promoting security sector reform. [111189]

  Clare Short
  Our policy on security sector reform in developing countries is set out in our policy statement on "Poverty and the Security Sector" which was launched in March 1999.

  In many countries bloated, ill-disciplined security sector forces, absorbing disproportionate resources, abuse their power and sometimes lead to coups and conflict which hold back development and cause the growth of poverty. We are focused primarily on providing assistance to strengthen the democratic accountability and transparency of the security sector and where appropriate to facilitate the transition to peace. We are also working to improve objective assessment of threat and security services of appropriate size and that are properly trained.

  We are currently working in this way with the FCO and MOD in Sierra Leone. We have funded a number of projects involving both UK and Commonwealth officials who are working very closely with the Government of Sierra Leone on a wide range of governance and security sector reform measures. Positive steps are also being

  295W
  made in Nigeria, where the three Departments are supporting the Government of Nigeria in its efforts to reform the security sector.

  A copy of DFID's policy statement on Poverty and the Security Sector, along with the two papers and speeches from the February symposium have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Debt Relief
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which countries have agreed to adopt poverty relief or education programmes to qualify for debt relief and further aid. [111190]

  Clare Short
  The revision to the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative requires the 41 countries to develop and implement national poverty reduction strategies to qualify for debt relief. Other counties who access the most concessional resources of the IMF and World Bank will also need to produce these strategies, which will then form the basis for IMF and Bank lending operations. These strategies will be centred on achieving the international development targets, including the provision of universal primary education. The development of these strategies is now underway across the world.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the impact of multilateral debt relief on development projects funded by her Department. [111196]

  Clare Short
  The revision to the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative requires countries to produce national poverty reduction strategies to qualify for their debt relief. These strategies will set out policies and priority actions for governments, and provide a framework for all donor assistance. Where they are credible, the international community should support them wholeheartedly. I welcome the decision of the World bank and the IMF to tie their assistance to these strategies.

  Sanctions
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she will reply to the second report from the International Development Committee, Session 1999–2000 (HC 67) on "The Future of Sanctions"; and if she will make a statement. [111192]

  Clare Short
  I welcome the Committee's report and commend its proposals. We will be considering the conclusions and recommendations carefully and we will produce a detailed response in due course. The Department for International Development (DFID) is already taking action on some of the recommendations. There will be a joint FCO/DFID mission, probably in the last week of March, to the UN to explore how the UN Secretariat can be assisted in offering better advice to the Security Council on the design and implementation of sanctions, and what role the UK may play in this.

  Pakistan (Ophthalmic Services)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance she is giving to the Government of Pakistan to help to set up and maintain ophthalmic services in rural areas. [111193]
  296W
  Clare Short
  We are not currently giving any such assistance to help set up and maintain ophthalmic services in rural areas of Pakistan. Such services have benefited indirectly in the past from our contributions to Pakistan's Social Action Programme which aims to improve basic social services including health. Since last October's military coup, our development assistance to the Pakistan Government has been frozen. We have advised the new administration that if they make clear commitment to action on poverty reduction—requiring better economic management, action against corruption and an early transition to democracy, we will reinstate our support.

  Agriculture (Africa)
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent representations she has received about her Department's policies on the development of the agricultural sector in Africa. [111194]

  Clare Short
  Officials maintain regular contact with developing country governments, civil society and the private sector on the development of the agricultural sector in Africa. We seek to improve the livelihoods of the rural poor and reduce poverty.

  We have recently commissioned an independent evaluation to assess the impact of our sustainable agriculture strategy. The study will be completed later this year.

  Mozambique Floods
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her Department's response to the recent floods in Mozambique. [111195]

  Clare Short
  Since my statement to the House on 28 February 2000,Official Report, column 21, the situation in Mozambique has continued to deteriorate and is likely to get worse.

  The UN is providing a senior administrator who will arrive today to improve co-ordination. The UK has provided a further five helicopters, 76 boats and 39 life rafts with a team of expert volunteers. We stand ready to do more.

  UN Education Conference
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the United Nations conference on education to be held in Senegal in April. [111197]

  Clare Short
  The World Education Forum in Dakar from 26–28 April will assess progress achieved in the 10 years since the World Conference on Education for All in Jomtien. This International Consultative Forum has been convened by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World bank. I will attend the Forum.
  297W
  Our priority in Dakar is to obtain a strong commitment from North and South to the implementation of strategies for achieving effective primary education for all by 2015. In assessing the progress that has been made since Jomtien, it is important that the Forum pays particular attention to analysing why some countries, including some of the poorest, have managed to achieve considerably more than others.

  UNCTAD Conference
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the recent UNCTAD conference in Bangkok. [111198]

  Clare Short
  The UNCTAD X Conference was devoted to the theme of globalisation and how developing countries can best take advantage of it. Its concluding Declaration emphasised the importance of the multilateral trading system and of building the capacity of developing countries to participate in it fully. The Conference also agreed a Plan Of Action, which sets out the priorities for UNCTAD' s work for the next four years. This will increase the complementarities between the work of UNCTAD and that of the WTO, strengthening its ability to contribute to efforts to build developing countries' capacity to manage their integration into the global economy.

  My right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade spoke in the interactive debate on 13 February. I attended the conference on 16 February and spoke in the interactive debate on trade and development. My statement (a copy of which is in the Library of the House) stressed the importance to developing countries of attracting investment, of maintaining the momentum of the multilateral trade system and of starting a new round of trade negotiations in which the developing countries can advance their interests. My bilateral conversations with the heads of multilateral agencies and developing countries' trade ministers were supportive of the priorities outlined in my speech.

  Both the UNCTAD Secretary General and his staff, and the Thai authorities are to be congratulated for preparing and organising this constructive and forward-looking conference.

  Fair Trade Fortnight
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action her Department is taking to support Fair Trade Fortnight. [111199]

  Clare Short
  My Department takes every opportunity to promote fair trade products and support ethical trading in mainstream business. We support the efforts of the Fair Trade Foundation, Comic Relief, the Co-Operative Bank and others, to inform consumers of how they assist poor producers in the developing world by purchasing fair trade purchases. Tomorrow I will be attending the launch of Fair Trade Fortnight, at St. Martin in the Fields in London, where I will sign the Fair Trade Pledge promising to buy a different Fair Trade product every month. I would urge members to follow suit and help 298W
  ensure that farmers in the developing world are being paid a fair wage, without exploitation or damage to their environment, that their families have access to education, and that they are able to invest in improving basic health and well-being.

  Water
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the work her Department is doing to promote poor people's access to water in developing countries. [111201]

  Clare Short
  Access to clear, safe water is a major focus for our programme as it is crucial to health, agriculture and industry and freeing women and girls' time for education and production. We are giving increased priority to water and sanitation in our work. One billion people still lack access to clean water and three billion to sanitation. It is estimated that by 2025 one in three people will be living in countries subject to chronic water scarcity unless water resources are used more efficiently.

  Kenya (Schools)
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to support the development of schools in Kenya. [111202]

  Clare Short
  We have recently made a grant of £13.36 million over a period of three years to assist the Kenyan Ministry of Education to strengthen primary education. In partnership with the Ministry of Education we will provide textbooks for the poorest schools in 25 of the poorest districts as well as implement a schools-based teacher development programme. Through this project we will work with the Ministry of Education to encourage key reforms and strengthen our dialogue with the Government of Kenya.

  We are also supporting management training of all primary head teachers and all women primary deputy head teachers throughout Kenya in order to help increase the efficiency of primary school management and contributing to improved attitudes towards girls, and children with special needs.

  Aid Statistics
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of British(a) bilateral and (b) multilateral aid was allocated to states in (i) Africa, (ii) Asia, (iii) Latin America and (iv) Europe in (1) 1996, (2) 1997, (3) 1998 and (4) 1999; and what is her estimate of the equivalent figure in 2000. [112114]

  Clare Short
  The information requested is given in the table for the Department for International Development expenditure only (other UK aid is excluded as we do not have the required details for the later years). Multilateral assistance cannot be readily broken down by region but we conduct special exercises periodically to estimate the geographical distribution of our contributions to multilateral institutions. The latest exercise was conducted in 1997.
  299W

  DFID programme expenditure

  percentage going to

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000 estimated outturn 1

  2000–01 plans 1

  1997 imputed multilateral share 2

  Africa

  32

  33

  39

  32

  35

  37

  America

  6

  9

  9

  6

  6

  10

  of which:

  Caribbean

  4

  6

  6

  —

  —

  0

  Central

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  5

  South

  2

  2

  2

  —

  —

  4

  Asia

  30

  28

  27

  23

  25

  28

  Europe

  13

  11

  7

  6

  6

  24

  Other Bilateral

  19

  19

  18

  32

  28

  1

  Total

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  1 General allocations (eg humanitarian assistance, scholarship schemes) which cannot be assigned to regions in advance are included in 'other bilateral'.

  2 Includes contributions from other government Departments to multilateral institutions.

  Note:

  Columns may not usm to totals due to rounding.

  Congo
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the Government are taking to alleviate the suffering of those people in the Congo who are under immediate threat of severe hunger. [112322]

  Clare Short
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 27 January 2000,Official Report, column 320W.

  China
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what assessment she made 300W
  of the human rights record of the People's Republic of China before her Department became involved in the exchange arrangements between the Scottish Police College and the State Police of the People's Republic of China; [112455]

  (2) if she will make a statement about the role of her Department in the exchange arrangements between the Scottish Police College and the State Police of the People's Republic of China. [112454]

  Clare Short
  My Department has played no role in any exchange arrangements between the Scottish Police College and the State Police of the People's Republic of China.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Fraud
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the local authorities inspected by the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate which were found to have Housing Benefit application forms that did not ask for a claimant's(a) income and (b) National Insurance number. [111240]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 21 February 2000]: To date the BFI have completed 41 local authority inspections. They found:
  no cases where the Housing Benefit application form did not ask for any details of a claimant's income, although there were examples where the claim form did not request information on all relevant income required to determine entitlement to benefit;
  one case (London Borough of Croydon, inspected in June 1998) where the form did not ask for the National Insurance number. There were other examples where the request for the National Insurance number was restricted to specific circumstances.

  Since 6 September 1999, a person making a claim for Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit must provide (in relation to themself and any partner in respect of whom they are claiming benefit) a National Insurance number and evidence that that number has been allocated to them; or information to allow one to be to be traced or allocated. LAs should, therefore, now have procedures in place to ensure that claimants meet this requirement and to be able to show that this procedure has been followed.

  The Verification Framework, available to all LAs as good practice guidance and a mandatory set of instructions for those LAs which receive additional funding, requires that the claim form should collect the NINO for the claimant and the partner.

  Welfare Reform
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate how many(a) widows and (b) widowers will benefit from the Welfare Reform Bill and by how much in (i) Shrewsbury and Atcham and (ii) Shropshire; and if he will make a statement. [111447]

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

  Estimates of the numbers of widows and widowers who will be affected by the Welfare Reform Act in Great Britain, and the average gain

  Widows

  Widowers

  Numbers affected

  Average gain (£)

  Numbers affected

  Average gain (£)

  Bereavement Payment

  40,000

  1,000

  15,000

  2,000

  Widowed Parents Allowance

  —

  —

  25,000

  145–50

  Bereavement Allowance

  —

  —

  10,000

  130

  1 Per week (net)

  302W
  Notes:

  1. Figures shown are for the first full year (2002–03), assuming implementation date of April 2001.

  2. Numbers affected are rounded to the nearest 5,000.

  3. Bereavement Payment numbers are total payments made over the financial year. Weekly benefit numbers are an average stock figure for the financial year.

  4. Not all the numbers affected will be financial gainers as there may be offsetting income-related benefit reductions. Average weekly benefit gains are net of income-related benefits.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Neil Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the amount of housing benefit paid to each local authority in respect of non-local authority rented housing for the years(a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97, (c) 1997–98, (d) 1998–99, and (e) 1999–2000, indicating the average number of recipients for each authority. [110949]

  Angela Eagle
  The information has been placed in the Library.

  CSA
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many compensation payments from the Child Support Agency have been awarded since its establishment of(a) under £100, (b) £101 to £500, (c) £501 to £1,000 and (d) £1,001 to £5,000; and what has been the total amount paid in compensation payments. [111437]

  Angela Eagle
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mrs. Faith Boardman. She will write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Mrs. Faith Boardman to Mr. Douglas Alexander, dated February 2000:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the Child Support Agency.
  You ask about the number of compensation payments that have been awarded since the establishment of the Agency within certain pay-bands. The Special Payments section was introduced in 1995 and the data provided has been given from April of that year.
  I am sorry I am not able to give you the information in the format you requested. Information that is available is provided in a table at the attached Annex.
  The second table provides figures for advance payments of maintenance. These are payments made to the parents with care to provide redress where maladministration has caused substantial arrears to accrue. A payment is made which is equivalent to the amount of maintenance the parent with care would have received had maladministration not taken place. These payments are subsequently recovered from future maintenance payments made by the non-resident parent.
  The number of compensation payments has increased as a result of our action to clear the backlog of maintenance applications which were over 52 weeks old. The number of these cases currently stands at 39,246, compared with over 225,000 which were outstanding at the end of March 1997.
  Additionally, we have increased our customer awareness of special payments by advising them, where appropriate, how to apply. This has also had an effect on the number of compensatory payments made.
  303W

  Breakdown of compensatory payments into pay-bands

  £

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1 1999–2000

  Under £250

  63

  455

  1,341

  3,630

  2,257

  £250–£499.50

  42

  136

  311

  690

  256

  £500–£999.99

  37

  180

  205

  327

  118

  £1,000–£4,999.99

  41

  203

  266

  643

  206

  Over £5,000

  3

  9

  13

  225

  64

  Total

  186

  983

  2,136

  5,515

  2,901

  Total amount paid in year

  114,979

  655,821

  1,101,313

  4,373,295

  1,471,955

  Advance payments of maintenance

  Number of Payments

  Total amount paid (£)

  1998–99

  151

  458,206

  1999–20001

  216

  395,323

  1 Up to 30 September 1999

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the combined value of child dependency addition and child benefit for the child of a widowed mother(a) in cash terms, (b) in real terms and (c) as a percentage of average earnings, in (i) November 1979 and (ii) April 1997; and what is his estimate of the equivalent figure in April 2000. [111809]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is in the table.

  The combined value of child dependency addition and child benefit for the child of a widowed mother (a) in cash terms, (b) in real terms, (c) as a percentage of average earnings, in November 1979 and April 1997

  (a) Actual rate of child dependency addition and child benefit

  (b) Real value of(a) uprated to April 2000 Prices 1 (£)

  (c) Actual rate of (a) as a percentage of average earnings 2

  First child

  November 1979

  11.10

  31.15

  11.0

  April 1997

  20.95

  22.65

  5.5

  April 2000

  26.35

  26.35

  n/a

  Subsequent children

  November 1979

  11.10

  31.15

  11.0

  April 1997

  20.20

  21.85

  5.5

  April 2000

  21.35

  21.35

  n/a

  1 The Retail Prices Index (all items) has been used as published by the Office for National Statistics.

  2 Average Earnings are taken from the New Earnings Survey (NES) estimates of earnings for all full-time adult employees, as published by the Office for National Statistics.

  n/a = Not available.

  Note:

  The figures are rounded to the nearest 5 pence at each uprating date.

  Peat Compost
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Sopcial Security, Pursuant to his answer of 21 February 2000,Official Report, Column 787W, what percentage of compost used in his Department"s estate gardens is peat; when peat compost will be phased out by his Department"s estate; and if he will make a statement. [111932]

  Mr. Bayley
  The Department estates partner Trillium has now confirmed that only peat substitutes are used in the Department. A further re-check of suppliers has been instigated and if any peat usage is found it will be phased out by June 2000.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Literacy and Numeracy Poster
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the cost of(a) reprinting the recent poster on literacy and numeracy and (b) additional postage. [111952]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The cost of reprinting and distributing the "Every lesson counts" posters is £20,000. The cost has been met by the Centre for British Teachers which has a contractual responsibility for proofing and publishing the posters.

  Class Sizes (Shropshire)
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many classes of 30 and over for five to seven-year-olds were recorded for schools in Shrewsbury and Atcham(a) in May 1997 and (b) at the latest available date; and if he will make a statement. [111916]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The latest available information on infant class sizes in the parliamentary constituency of Shrewsbury and Atcham is shown in the following tables. The class size count for January 2000 is currently being undertaken and provisional national estimates are expected to be published in April.

  The Government are well on course to limit all infant classes for five, six and seven-year-olds to 30 or below by September 2001 at the latest.

  305W

  Number and percentage of Key stage 1 classes taught by one teacher with 30 or more pupils in maintained Primary Schools in the parliamentary constituency of Shrewsbury and Atcham 1997 and 1999

  Position as at January

  1999

  1997

  Number of classes with 30 or more pupils

  19

  31

  All classes

  113

  123

  Percentage of classes with 30 or more pupils

  17

  25

  Number and percentage of Infant classes taught by one teacher with 30 or more pupils in maintained Primary Schools in the parliamentary constituency of Shrewsbury and Atcham 1997 and 1999

  Position as at September

  1999

  1997

  Number of classes with 30 or more pupils

  7

  1—

  All classes

  117

  1—

  Percentage of classes with 30 or more pupils

  6

  1—

  1 Information was not collected

  Network Consultancy Group
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many meetings of the New Local Government Network consultancy group on new models of local education have been held in his Department; [112006]

  (2) if he will list the councillors who are members of the New Local Government Network research project on new models of local education; [112007]

  (3) on what basis his Department is participating in the New Local Government Network consultancy group on new models of local education; [112008]

  (4) what staff, material and other support has been extended by his Department to the New Local Government Network consultancy group (a) in the course of its research project on new models of local education and (b) otherwise; [112009]

  (5) how many civil servants are members of the New Local Government Network consultancy group on new models of local education; and on how many occasions they have attended meetings of the group; [112010]

  (6) what estimate he has made of the cost to public funds of his Department's participation in the New Local Government Network's consultancy group on new models of local education. [112011]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  One member of the DfEE's staff agreed to be a member of the group established by the New Local Government Network, and has met a member of the secretariat, but has not so far attended any meetings. This involvement was intended to improve the group's understanding of relevant central Government policy and activity. No meetings of the group have been held in the Department and no staff, material or other support extended to the group or to the Network, so there has been no cost to public funds. One of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools is also a member of the group, but has not attended any meetings. The full membership of the group is a matter for the New Local Government Network.

  Dyslexia
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what measures he has taken to support children with dyslexia in schools; and if he will make a statement. [111979]

  Jacqui Smith
  Under the Education Act 1996, schools and local education authorities have a duty to identify and make suitable provision for all children with special educational needs, including children with dyslexia. The Code of Practice on the Identification and Assessment of Special Educational Needs, which came into effect on 1 September 1994, gives guidance to schools and local education authorities on how to meet this duty. Paragraphs 3:60 to 3:63 provide guidance on specific learning difficulties and have particular reference to dyslexia. The Code is currently being revised to update the guidance and provide examples of good practice, with an increased emphasis on early identification and support.

  In recognition of the need for partnership working to address children's dyslexia a seminar was held in July 1999 bringing together the main Government Departments and agencies, and external partners for an exchange of views on the key educational issues. Ways in which individual expertise and resources can be pooled were identified, and a consensus reached over a shared agenda for tackling issues in the areas of early identification, teacher training, and the use of ICT. An informal working group has since been focusing on the training of teachers of children with dyslexia.

  To assist schools in recognising dyslexia we have produced simple guidance which provides hints to primary school teachers to help them identify children who may be dyslexic. In addition the Department has recently provided a grant to help the British Dyslexia Association reprint the schools resource pack entitled "Achieving dyslexia friendly schools". Two copies of the pack have been distributed to all local education authorities in England. With funding from the Department, the Dyslexia Institute is undertaking a two year study programme which seeks to evaluate the effects of structured programmes of intervention for seven-year-old pupils who are experiencing specific difficulties in learning to read, write and spell. Two key aspects of the programme are to develop activities that parents can do at home and to share the knowledge and skills of specialist teachers more widely.

  New Deal Plaques
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what are the projected costs of supplying plaques to schools which receive improvement grants under the New Deal for Schools. [111499]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 28 February 2000]: The average cost of a plaque is £29.

  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what were the reasons behind the decision to supply plaques to schools which receive improvement grants under the New Deal for Schools. [111498]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 28 February 2000]: It is normal practice to acknowledge the source of funding in public building projects. Projects completed with funding from the European Union and National Lottery also have plaques displayed.

  Supported Employment
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on(a) the extra demand for and (b) the extra provision of supported employment places in each year since 1997 and projected forward to 2003. [112117]

  Ms Hodge
  [holding answer 28 February 2000]: A report on research conducted by the Institute of Employment Studies into the Supply and Demand for Supported Employment was published in July 1998. A copy is available in the Library.

  Some 22,234 Supported Employment places were provided in 1996. In 1997 this rose by 506 places to 22,740 (a 2.2 per cent. increase) and in 1998 by a further 184 places to 22,924 (3 per cent. over 1996). Figures for 1999 are not yet available but for this year and for the period to 2003 I expect numbers to continue to increase.

  Access and Hardship Funds
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what arrangements he will put in place for monitoring, standardising and accounting for payments of access fund bursaries for(a) mature and (b) young students. [112120]

  Mr. Wicks
  [holding answer 28 February 2000]: We will issue guidance on the bursary schemes for higher education institutions which will include the monitoring and accounting arrangements. It will be for HEFCE to publish this guidance. Arrangements for awarding the bursaries will be at the discretion of institutions, within the guidance provided.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he will issue revised guidance to the HEFCE and higher education institutions on the use of the Access and Hardship Funds. [112119]

  Mr. Wicks
  [holding answer 28 February 2000]: We plan to issue guidance on the Access Funds in March, and on the Hardship Funds shortly after Easter. It will be for the HEFCE to pass this on to the higher education institutions.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if Scottish students studying at English universities will be eligible for(a) Access Fund bursaries and (b) the Hardship Fund. [112121]

  Mr. Wicks
  [holding answer 28 February 2000]: Access Funds and Hardship Funds in England are administered by higher education institutions, following guidance provided by the Department. We have no plans to change the current eligibility conditions for payments from the Hardship Fund. Eligibility for the Access Fund Bursaries will be set out in Guidance to be provided to higher education institutions.

  Special Educational Needs (Sittingbourne and Sheppey)
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the provision for special educational needs in Sittingbourne and Sheppey. [111085]

  Jacqui Smith
  Children with special educational needs in Sittingbourne and Sheppey are usually placed either at one of the 64 mainstream primary and secondary schools or at one of the two special schools or at one of five special educational needs units, all of which are within the Swale District of Kent local education authority.

  Child Care Places
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if places on holiday play schemes and privately financed sports weeks are included within his Department's figures for the number of child care places created; and if he will list the number of such places included in, and the proportion they represent of, the total new child care places announced since May 1997. [111027]

  Ms Hodge
  [holding answer 21 February 2000]: Since May 1997 we have announced the creation of 149,606 new child care places.

  Between May 1997 and March 1999 a total of 73,316 new child care places were created. Most of these places were created through the Out of School Childcare Initiative (OSCI). We do not hold separate figures on holiday play schemes. Privately financed sport weeks would not have attracted OSCI funding.

  Between April and September 1999 Early Years and Childcare Partnerships (EYDCPs) reported the creation of around 76,000 new child care places. Of these 29,724 (39 per cent.) were holiday play scheme places. Some 60 per cent. of these holiday places were in the voluntary sector, 25 per cent. were in the private sector and 15 per cent. were in the maintained sector. Some of the play scheme places in the private sector may have included privately financed sports weeks, but we do not hold separate figures.

  Employment Zones
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to allow the Employment Service to bid for new contracts as part of the Employment Zone initiative; and if he will make a statement. [111022]

  Ms Jowell
  [holding answer 21 February 2000]: In our bidding guidance for both rounds of the competition to run Employment Zones, we invited bids from the private, public and voluntary sectors. The Employment Service chose to bid under the name of 'Working Links' in partnership with two leading private sector companies. They proceeded to win eight out of fifteen Zones, subject to post-tender negotiations.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the successful bidders for Employment Zone contracts for the long-term unemployed. [111007]
  309W
  Ms Jowell
  Subject to negotiation, contracts will be awarded to: Working Links (a consortium of Ernst and Young, Manpower plc and the Employment Service) in Heads of the Valleys and Caerphilly, Brent, Brighton and Hove, Glasgow, Plymouth, Southwark, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Tower Hamlets; Reed and Partners in Haringey, Liverpool and Sefton, Newham and Doncaster; Pertemps in Birmingham; the North West Wales Partnership in North West Wales and the Nottingham Employment Zone Partnership in Nottingham.

  Remploy
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on current developments at Remploy. [110371]

  Ms Hodge
  [holding answer 21 February 2000]: A new Chairman, Alan Pedder, took up appointment on 5 January 2000. He has been working with his Board to develop a strategy for the Company.

  The key elements of the strategy are to:
  create more opportunities for disabled people, including continued expansion of Interwork and support for disabled people to progress to unsubsidised jobs;
  use existing Remploy factories more effectively to provide training and development, as well as work, for their employees, thus supporting people to progress both within and outside Remploy;
  continue to modernise factories to drive for increased business opportunities;
  streamline the commercial management and administration of the Company;
  increase marketing initiatives to generate new sales.

  Education Funding (Leicestershire)
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the cash and percentage funding variance of Leicestershire county council from the county council Standard Spending Assessment average in each year between 1991–92 to 2000–01. [110840]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The information requested is shown in the following table:

  Variance in Education SSA

  Cash £ million

  Percentage

  1990–91

  49.2

  21.6

  1991–92

  56.6

  21.4

  1992–93

  61.4

  21.7

  1993–941

  56.4

  22.1

  1994–95

  53.3

  20.5

  1995–96

  52.8

  20.0

  1996–97

  64.5

  24.0

  1997–982

  -50.1

  -19.9

  1998–99

  -35.5

  -14.2

  1999–2000

  -30.2

  -11.7

  2000–01

  -31.5

  -11.6

  1 In 1993–94 Education Standard Spending was reduced by the creation of the further Educatiion funding Council and the subsequent reduction in post-16 funding.

  2 In 1997–98 £527 million was removed from Education Standard Spending for the Nursery Voucher Scheme. Leicestershire was also affected by Local Government Reorganisation—the old Leicestershire LEA was split into Leicester City, Rutland and 1997 Leicestershire. The figures from 1997–98 to 2000–01 quoted in this table are for 1997 Leicestershire.

  Citizenship Education
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what plans he has to issue guidance for teachers on the teaching of controversial subjects as part of Citizenship education at key stages 3 and 4; [110936]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the amount of curricular time needed for the teaching of Citizenship as a foundation subject at key stages 3 and 4; [110937]

  (3) what factors underlay his decision to require pupils at key stage 3 to be taught about regional identities in the United Kingdom as part of the programme of study for Citizenship; [110938]

  (4) what plans he has to implement the recommendation of the Advisory Group on Citizenship for the establishing of a Commission on Citizenship Education to monitor and scrutinise the implementation of Citizenship education; [110939]

  (5) what estimate he has made of the number of additional teachers who will need to be recruited in order to teach Citizenship at key stages 3 and 4; [110940]

  (6) what estimate he has made of the annual cost of implementing Citizenship education at key stages 3 and 4. [110941]

  Jacqui Smith
  The introduction of Citizenship education in schools was supported during the consultation on the review of the National Curriculum. We are actively taking forward plans to implement the new arrangements for the introduction as a statutory subject at Key Stages 3 and 4 in 2002. I chair a working party in the Department for Education and Employment developing a package of measures to support schools in delivering the Citizenship programme. The Working Party's membership is drawn from head teachers, advisers, Citizenship education groups and the churches. The hon. Member for Faversham and Mid-Kent (Mr. Rowe) is also a member. It includes representatives from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, the Office for Standards in Education and the Teacher Training Agency. It is considering the requirements for teachers and teacher training for Citizenship education as part of its remit along with other issues such as assessment, community involvement and resources.

  Standards Funds of £18 million have already been made available from April 2000 to support schools in implementing the revised National Curriculum—some £12 million of that will support Citizenship and Personal, Social and Health Education, of which £5 million is for Citizenship at Key Stages 3 and 4. The wider costs to the Government of introducing Citizenship education are being considered as part of the Citizenship Education Working Party's work.

  Pupils will be taught, within the Citizenship programme, about the regional identities in the United Kingdom as part of learning about the diversity of our society and the need for mutual understanding and respect. The teaching of controversial issues arises in other subjects as well as in Citizenship. There are well established safeguards in law to guard against biased and unbalanced teaching. The report of the National Advisory Group on Education for Citizenship and the Teaching of Democracy in Schools acknowledged these in its final

  311W
  report in September 1998 and included a note on the teaching of controversial issues. Guidance for schools on this and other matters will be provided as part of initial planning guidance to be issued by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority.

  There are no current plans to establish a commission to monitor and scrutinise the implementation of Citizenship education but the matter is to be kept under review. Teaching and learning in Citizenship will be monitored in the same way as for other subjects. Citizenship comes under the remit of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to monitor and review the curriculum and the teaching of it in schools will be inspected by the Office for Standards in Education.

  Sure Start
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many of the local Sure Start programmes already(a) announced and (b) running, operate in rural areas. [110789]

  Yvette Cooper
  Of the 60 'trailblazer' and 69 Round 2 local authority districts announced to date as eligible for a local Sure Start programme, five can be classed as 'remoter mainly rural' (Boston, Fenland, Sedgemoor, Penwith and Kerrier). In addition, the trailblazer Sure Start programme in East Cleveland covers what is essentially a rural area, while a further seven districts are a mix of urban and rural, and coalfield areas (Isle of Wight, Easington, Wear Valley, Sedgefield, Derwentside, Ashfield, Bolsover). The trailblazer programmes in Fenland and East Cleveland are up and running now and Minsters hope to agree the programmes in Penwith and Sedgemoor soon. The remaining programmes are part of the second round and should be up and running by the summer.

  New Deal
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will estimate how many 18 to 24-year-olds have benefited from the New Deal in the Vale of York. [111377]

  Ms Jowell
  To the end of December 1999, 168 young people had benefited from the New Deal in the Vale of York constituency. Eighty-one of these have gained jobs through the New Deal and 51 have gained valuable training and work experience through the New Deal options.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people had left the New Deal for Young People for unsubsidised jobs up to the end of October 1999. [109704]

  Ms Jowell
  [holding answer 11 February 2000]: Between January 1998 and the end of October 1999, 104,380 people left the New Deal for Young People for unsubsidised jobs.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people in Wales have had their benefits stopped for failing to take up a New Deal option. [111688]
  312W
  Ms Jowell
  [holding answer 22 February 2000]: In Wales, from April to the end of September 1999, the latest date for which data are available, 239 sanctions were imposed for failing to take up a New Deal Option.

  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement regarding the cost per participant of the New Deal. [109612]

  Ms Jowell
  [holding answer 22 February 2000]: The New Deal for Young People is designed to provide the help and support each individual joining the programme needs. Accordingly the cost of participation varies greatly from individual to individual.

  We estimate that the overall average cost of helping a young person who takes part in New Deal is about £2,000.

  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to enhance the functioning of the New Deal Gateway. 1111124]

  Ms Jowell
  The New Deal Gateway is already working effectively—almost 116,000 young people have already moved into work from this first stage of the New Deal.

  We intended to use our continuous improvement strategy to build on this success. From spring 2000 there will be a nationwide expansion of the intensive Gateway approaches currently being piloted, which will take into account lessons learned from the evaluation of these pilots. In addition we have already developed the New Deal Gateway by ensuring early diagnosis of any literacy and numeracy needs, and by strengthening our arrangements to ensure that young people are moved with pace and purpose through the Gateway.

  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many injuries related to participation in the New Deal have been reported by New Deal participants since April 1998. [111123]

  Ms Jowell
  Since April 1998, there have been 149 injuries reported by New Deal participants. 128 of these injuries were classified as minor.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of those leaving the New Deal for Young People for jobs lasting less than 13 weeks have found jobs lasting less than(a) one week, (b) two weeks, (c) four weeks and (d) eight weeks. [109812]

  Ms Jowell
  The information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of those lone parents who have been sent a letter inviting them to join the New Deal for Lone Parents have gone on to find jobs on the scheme; how this figure relates to Government targets; and if he will make a statement. [109277]
  313W
  Ms Hodge
  Invitation letters are sent to those lone parents whose youngest child is aged over five years and three months, after they have received Income Support for eight weeks. Other lone parents with younger children are able to join the programme but are not sent invitation letters. These invitation letters are not appointment letters; their aim is to tell lone parents about NDLP and the benefits that can be gained from participating in the programme.

  There have been 443,700 invitation letters issued to lone parents. Of these, 36,990 have attended an initial interview, of which, 4,680 have left the New Deal for Lone Parents (NDLP) to go into employment. At the end of November an additional 6,070 were receiving support from their personal advisers while in work on NDLP. These 10,750 lone parents represent 2.4 per cent. of those sent a letter.

  In addition, 74,320 lone parents who did not receive an invitation letter attended an interview. Therefore, total interviews and/or letters was 518,020, total jobs found was 32,710, which is 6.3 per cent. of those who were either interviewed or sent a letter.

  In total, 112,570 lone parents have attended an initial interview, of whom 89 per cent. have agreed to participate in the programme.

  The Employment Service has a target to place 15,000 New Deal for Lone Parents participants into work during 1999–2000. The Employment Service is currently expected to exceed this target. As a result of NDLP, many lone parents are also gaining jobs without a direct Employment Service referral.

  Austria (Bilateral Meetings)
  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many bilateral meetings were held between his Department and its Austrian counterpart in each of the last five years; and what was discussed at each meeting since May 1997; [109875]

  (2) if he will list those previously planned meetings and their subject, between his Department and its Austrian counterpart which have been cancelled since the formation of the new Austrian Government. [109896]

  Ms Jowell
  Before the formation of the new Austrian Government the Department for Education and Employment or its predecessor Departments had a range of bilateral contacts with the relevant Austrian Ministries. Since May 1997 discussions have concentrated on education and training policies and programmes and were mostly in the context of the Austrian Presidency of the EU.

  No DfEE bilateral meetings had been arranged at the time that the new Austrian Government was formed.

  Farmers
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what recent assessment he has made of the need of farmers who are employed on a part-time and seasonal basis to find employment in periods when they are out of work. [109809]
  314W
  Ms Jowell
  Although no specific assessment of this kind has been made, a national network of Employment Service Jobcentres exists to provide all individuals who need it help with finding work, including those who work on a part-time or seasonal basis. This is successful in enabling most people to leave unemployment quickly.

  Part-time and seasonal work are valuable forms of employment and income. For those who, nevertheless, face substantial labour market disadvantage, there is a wider range of programmes and other individualised help designed to overcome the barriers that may prevent people from being in work.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is his estimate of the annual cost of providing nursery education for all three-year-olds who are not in early years education; and if he will make a statement. [108864]

  Ms Hodge
  We are making £390 million available over three years to increase by 190,000 the number of free, good quality, early education places for three-year-olds. This new money is being phased in over the financial years 1999–2000 to 2001–02. The priority is to reach those three-year-olds in social need who would most benefit from a free nursery place. The additional funding will enable 66 per cent. of all three-year-olds to have access to a free place by March 2002, as the first stage of the Government's strategy to provide free early education places for all three-year-olds. The estimated annual cost of achieving universal provision is approximately £450 million.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many asylum-seeking children are being provided with education in each of the state primary and secondary schools in London; and what proportion of pupils in each school this represents. [108793]

  Jacqui Smith
  Local education authorities do not routinely keep information on the number of asylum seeker children in their area so it is not possible to provide details on the numbers of children who have been offered school places.

  The Department does not instruct local education authorities to return information about asylum seeker children educated in schools. The figures are volatile which means that they are out-of-date soon after collection. This and the inevitably high costs for LEAs of carrying out frequent counts renders such an exercise as being of limited value.

  Higher Education (UK Component Countries)
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many undergraduate students in each of the component countries of the United Kingdom are enrolled on a course in another component country. [110394]

  Mr. Wicks
  [holding answer 21 February 2000]: The most recent information available is shown in the following table.

  315W

  Undergraduate students 1 from the component countries of the United Kingdom enrolled on a course in another component country of the United Kingdom 1998–99

  Country of institution

  Country of domicile

  England

  Wales

  Scotland

  Northern Ireland

  Total

  England

  981,106

  26,964

  16,808

  255

  1,025,133

  Wales

  24,552

  42,167

  476

  9

  67,204

  Scotland

  16,501

  284

  97,604

  42

  114,431

  Northern Ireland

  9,032

  422

  5,580

  29,178

  44,212

  Total

  1,031,191

  69,837

  120,468

  29,484

  1,250,980

  1 Full-time and part-time students

  Teacher Training
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment who will be responsible for leading the INSET training days in schools in connection with the new pay arrangements for teachers; and if he will make a statement. [111583]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Schools are free to arrange INSET days in the way that best suits their needs. They will have a range of written materials available and my Department will be issuing further guidance. Some schools may wish to use the additional INSET day to work through the threshold arrangements with staff. Others may wish to use it to develop a performance management policy for the school with staff and governors. Headteachers and representatives of LEAs have been invited to one of a series of threshold training events taking place between 27 March and 14 April. At these events they will be given training packs and a "tool-kit" to take back to schools to help them explain the threshold process to teachers and governors. We are also arranging for trained performance management consultants to be available later in the summer to offer training and support including a one day training conference for a representative from each school.

  Education Initiatives
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 17 January 2000,Official Report, column 275W, on education initiatives, if he will list the individuals and organisations that have carried out consultancy and advisory work for his Department on a non-commercial basis. [109090]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

HEALTH

  BCG Vaccine
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to review the existing arrangements with Medeva Pharma for supply of the BCG vaccine. [107989]

  Yvette Cooper
  Medeva Pharma is the sole United Kingdom licensed manufacturer of BCG vaccine. The shortage of this vaccine is clearly unsatisfactory. The previous Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson), met senior staff from Medeva twice in 1999 asking them to provide detailed explanations for their manufacturing problems and sought details of the plans for their resolution. The Department continues to be in close contact with 316W
  Medeva monitoring the manufacturing progress. It is of considerable concern that despite numerous interventions supply of BCG vaccine is not forthcoming. Opportunities for alternative supplies from across the world are being investigated.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons there is a shortage in the supply of manufactured BCG vaccine; what action he will like to restart the programme of vaccination in schools; and how he will ensure that supplies of the vaccine remain(a) constant and (b) sufficient. [107997]

  Yvette Cooper
  There is only one licensed manufacturer of BCG vaccine in the United Kingdom—Medeva Pharma. Over the past months, this company has experienced severe manufacturing problems with their BCG production facility in Speke, Liverpool. Medeva has indicated to the Department that the production volumes are not currently sufficient to support the routine schools programmes. Until manufacturing resumes in sufficient quantities, stocks are being used specifically for those at higher risk of tuberculosis. The Department has had no alternative but to request health authorities to suspend their routine schools immunisation programme.

  As soon as the problems with the manufacturing facility have been resolved and this has been demonstrated by stocks becoming available in sufficient quantities, the Department will advise health authorities to recommence their routine schools programmes.

  Since vaccines are biological products whose manufacture can never be guaranteed, continuity of supply can only be assured by having sufficient stock manufactured in advance, preferably from more than one manufacturer. The Department is in contact with Medeva Pharma to offer any assistance in resolving their manufacturing problems. The Department is also investigating the possibility of alternative suppliers who can produce licensed, batch released vaccine for the UK market.

  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 27 January 2000,Official Report, column 335W, on BCG vaccinations, what is the procedure for a doctor to apply for BCG vaccinations; to whom the application is made; who takes the decision on issuing the vaccination; and who monitors and records the results of the vaccination programme. [108673]

  Yvette Cooper
  BCG vaccine is ordered in the same way as for childhood vaccines. This may be direct from the distributor, Farillon, or via a local hospital pharmacy, dependent on local policy.
  317W
  BCG will continue to be issued as now, as it becomes available, for higher risk groups, in particular to maintain selective neonatal immunisation of infants at higher risk of exposure to tuberculosis.

  Uptake of BCG vaccine is recorded by National Health Service trusts and the information collated by the Department on central return KC50. Figures are published annually in the Department's Statistical Bulletin, "NHS Immunisation Statistics". Surveillance of tuberculosis is the responsibility of the Public Health Laboratory Service, Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre. Vaccine uptake and the incidence of tuberculosis are monitored by both the Department and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, the independent expert committee that advises the United Kingdom Health Departments on immunisation matters.

  NHSnet
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the development of NHSnet; and if he will make a statement. [108212]

  Ms Stuart
  NHSnet is the National Health Service's own secure internal network for voice and data services. It already links most NHS trusts and health authorities, and a proportion of GP practices. Increasingly it will become the main vehicle for communications between the Department and the NHS, and between and within NHS organisations. Development plans include:to connect all computerised general practitioner practices with full e-mail and internet access
  to use NHSnet for appointment booking, referrals, discharge information, radiology and laboratory requests and results in all parts of the country
  to open a national electronic Library for Health with accredited clinical reference material on NHSnet to support clinical decision-making
  in the longer term to support the development of telemedicine services between hospitals and GP surgeries.

  NHS Dentistry
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure that NHS dentistry is available throughout the UK. [109836]

  Mr. Hutton
  We recognise the problems of access to National Health Service dentistry which exist in parts of the country and which it inherited in 1997. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has made it clear that, by the end of 2001, everyone should be able to find an NHS dentist simply by calling NHS Direct. We have already addressed the problem with the Investing in Dentistry initiative which generated up to 800,000 patient registrations with dentists, and the Personal Dental Service projects which include "phone and go" dental access centres. By the end of the year there will be about forty access centres in the areas which need them most, providing the full range of high quality NHS dentistry to patients who are not registered with a dentist. Further measures will be set out in the forthcoming strategy for NHS dentistry in England.

  Dental Amalgams
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the toxic elements included in mercury-based amalgams in dentistry. [110484]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 21 February 2000]: The principal elements used in dental amalgam are mercury, silver, copper and tin. All of these can be toxic at high doses but, apart from a few cases of hypersensitivity, there is no evidence of risk of systemic toxicity at the levels released from dental amalgam.

  Shropshire Health Authority
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each year from 1992 the(a) total funding and (b) percentage increase in funding for Shropshire Health Authority; and if he will make a statement. [111917]

  Mr. Denham
  Health authorities have existed in their current form since 1 April 1996. Prior to 1 April 1996 allocations were made to Regional Health Authorities.

  The table gives the information from 1996–97 onwards:

  Year

  Total allocation (£000)

  Percentage increase in allocation

  1996–97

  162,708

  4.05

  1997–98

  169,555

  4.06

  1998–99

  178,325

  4.86

  1999–20001

  247,650

  6.51

  2000–01

  265,676

  6.89

  1 Allocations for 1999–2000 are not comparable with those for 1996–97 to 1998–99, which cover hospital and community health services only. 1999–2000 is the first year of unified allocations which cover hospital and community health services, prescribing and general practice infrastructure.

  "Fit for the Future?"
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received concerning the Centre for Policy on Ageing report, "Fit for the Future?", on standards for care homes; and if he will make a statement. [111781]

  Mr. Hutton
  The consultation period ended on 21 January 2000. A further two weeks grace was given for late arrivals and the 1,250 responses received within this period have been analysed. In total, 1,400 responses were received. The responses are being carefully considered before the standards and the timetable for their implementation are finalised. We hope to publish the finalised standards and the timetable for their implementation later this year.

  NHS Trust Boards
  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the real terms change in remuneration for NHS Trust Board members over the last three years(a) nationally and (b) for each region. [112449]

  Mr. Denham
  National Health Service trusts and health authorities are placed into one of three bands according to their turnover (for trusts) or their total cash
  319W
  allocation (for health authorities). Remuneration for non-executive members of NHS boards between 1993 and 31 March 1999 was as follows:

  Band

  Remuneration (£)

  Chairs

  1

  19,285

  2

  17,145

  3

  15,125

  Non-executives

  all bands

  5,000

  Remuneration was increased from 1 April 1999 by 2.8 per cent., giving the following current levels:

  Band

  Remuneration (£)

  Chairs

  1

  19,825

  2

  17,625

  3

  15,550

  Non-executives

  all bands

  5,140

  These rates apply to all NHS regions.

  NHS Vacancies
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many NHS vacancies there are for(a) doctors, (b) health visitors and (c) the professions allied to medicine; and how many such posts in each category have been vacant for longer than six months; [112456]

  (2) how many vacancies there are in the NHS for managerial and administrative staff; how many have been vacant for longer than six months; and if he will make a statement. [112459]

  Mr. Denham
  The available information is contained in the table.

  Department of Health Recruitment, Retention and Vacancies Survey: Vacancies in NHS trusts by England; doctors, health visitors PAMs and admin, and estates staff at 31 March 1999

  Whole time equivalents

  Total vacancies1

  Three Month vacancies2

  Consultants3

  930

  440

  Other doctors and dentists4

  270

  60

  Health visitors

  270

  100

  Professions allied to medicine (PAMs)

  2,580

  860

  Admin, and estates staff

  3,250

  640

  1 Posts that Trusts were actively trying to fill at 31 March 1999

  2 Posts that had been vacant for three months or more at 31 March 1999

  3 Excludes dental consultants

  4 Excludes training grades

  Note:

  Figures are rounded to the neaerest 10

  Source:

  Department of Health Recruitment, Retention and Vacancies Survy 1999

  NHS Employment
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many managers and administrators were employed by the NHS in each of the last five years; at what cost;320W
  what was the total cost to the NHS of management and administration in each of those years; and if he will make a statement. [112400]

  Mr. Denham
  The available information is contained in the tables.

  National Health Service Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS): Administration and estates staff working in the senior manager, manager, and clerical and administrative areas of work, in England as at 30 September of each year

  whole-time equivalent

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  Senior Managers and Managers

  20,050

  20,590

  21,430

  21,850

  Administrative and Clerical

  133,12

  132,29

  131,86

  132,96

  Notes:

  Figures are rounded to the nearest ten

  Figures from before 1995 were not collected on a comparable basis

  Source:

  Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census

  Paybill for Administrative and Clerical Staff, Managers and Senior Managers, in the NHS in England for 1994–95 to 1998–99

  £ million

  Managers and Senior Managers

  Administrative and Clerical

  1994–95

  716

  1,582

  1995–96

  792

  1,647

  1996–97

  867

  1,731

  1997–98

  912

  1,766

  1998–99

  953

  1,866

  Source:

  Health Authority and NHS Trust financial returns

  Paybill costs of staff in senior management, management and administrative and clerical grades are not a reliable indicator of overall administration costs because they include, for example, large numbers of support staff employed to enable medical staff to concentrate on treating patients. In addition, salary measures do not include the non-staff costs of management, such as Health Authority accommodation.

  Expenditure against the published definition of NHS management costs is the most reliable indicator of the cost of administration in the NHS. The definition of management costs includes the staff costs of managers in Health Authorities, Primary Care Groups and NHS Trusts, as well as non-staff of HAs and PCGs.

  Total NHS Management costs in 1998–99 prices

  £ million

  1995–96

  2,063

  1996–97

  1,949

  1997–98

  1,846

  1997–98

  11,928

  1998–99

  1,870

  1 Rebased

  Note:

  The definition of management costs was revised for 1998–99 to capture some management activity previously excluded, mainly related to NHS Trusts purchasing private sector support services. To provide a consistent time series, the 1997–98 figure was rebased on the new definition.

  Source:

  Health Authority and NHS Trust annual accounts

  Long-term Care
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to respond to the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Long-Term Care; and if he will make a statement. [111999]

  Mr. Hutton
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 2 December that the Government were broadly accepting one of the Royal Commission's main recommendations by establishing a National Care Standards Commission. We are also implementing several of the Royal Commission's other recommendations—such as extending direct payments to people over 65. We are looking at other changes as part of the Year 2000 Spending Review, which will be completed this summer. We will then publish a White Paper.

  Dental and Optical Examinations
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people, who do not qualify for free examinations, have received(a) dental and (b) eye examinations in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [112398]

  Mr. Hutton
  Data on dental examinations in England is available only for the last two years.

  The estimated number of claims for a standard or extensive examination for charge paying patients under the General Dental Service is shown in the following table. The figures are for claims scheduled for payment by the Dental Practice Board for the year's 1997–98 and 1998–99, for England. The number of people will be smaller because some will have more than one examination in a year. Charge payers include some patients whose charges are partly remitted.

  England

  Million

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Standard examination

  13.0

  13.6

  Extensive examination

  1.6

  1.7

  The Department started an annual sample survey of private sight tests in 1993. Estimates of the number of tests undertaken in Great Britain are as follows.

  Year

  Million

  1993–94

  6.589

  1994–95

  6.465

  1995–96

  7.009

  1996–97

  6.689

  1997–98

  7.115

  1998–99

  7.430

  Since 1 April 1999, everyone aged 60 and over has been eligible to receive a free, National Health Service sight test and numbers of NHS sight tests have increased by some 50,000 per week in England alone. We expect to see some reduction in the number of private sight tests in 1999–2000 as a result of the increased NHS activity.

  Patients Charter
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations have been cancelled in breach of the patients charter in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [112460]

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested is available in the Library.

  Hospital Closures
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those(a) NHS community hospitals and (b) other NHS hospitals which have closed since May 1996; and if he will make a statement. [112399]

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Integrate Services, Warrington
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the papers relating to Integrate Services in Warrington which are currently held by the North-West Regional Executive; [111822]

  (2) what steps his Department has taken to review the legal status of holiday assets currently owned by Integrate Services in Warrington and purchased from Section 64 grant; and if he will make a statement; [111818]

  (3) if he will set up an inquiry into the destruction of papers relating to Integrate Services by the Warrington Community Healthcare Trust; and if he will make a statement; [111819]

  (4) what discussions his Department has had with the North Cheshire Health Authority on ways of ensuring that residents currently cared for by Integrate Services in Warrington continue to benefit from assets purchased with money given for their care; and if he will make a statement; [111820]

  (5) what discussions he has had with (a) the North-West Regional Executive and (b) North Cheshire Health Authority on the case of Integrate Services since 9 February; and if he will make a statement. [111823]

  Mr. Hutton
  Integrate Services is currently the subject of an inquiry by the Charity Commissioners. I understand that the Commissioners have confirmed that the organisation enjoys full legal ownership of these holiday assets.

  While I am concerned by the apparent lack of robust handover arrangements for documentation when management responsibility for the Section 64 grant changed hands, there are already clear guidelines on record keeping by National Health Service bodies. At the time of the transfer from Warrington Community Healthcare NHS Trust to North Cheshire Health Authority, HC(89)20 was in force. I am, therefore, instructing North Cheshire Health Authority to investigate the continuity of record keeping with regard to this Section 64 grant.

  The NHS Executive North West has had, and continues to have, ongoing discussions with North Cheshire Health Authority and briefs Ministers accordingly. There have been no direct discussions between Ministers and the health authority on this subject.
  323W
  Papers held by the Regional Office include correspondence from the Royal College of Nursing, two members of the management committee of Integrate Services and the new Chair of that Management Committee; the health authority paper; the independent report; and related briefing material.

  Midwives
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of practising midwives are aged under 30 in(a) England, (b) the North-west Region and (c) North Cheshire Health Authority. [111817]

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  NHS Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS): All registered midwives by ageband, within the north- west region, north Cheshire health authority and in England as at 30 September 1998

  Percentage

  Under 30

  30 and over

  England total

  11

  89

  North-west region

  9

  91

  North Cheshire HA

  7

  93

  Notes:

  1. Percentages are calculated from figures expressed as whole-time equivalents

  2. Figures exclude learners and agency staff

  Source:

  Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census

  Dentistry (Pensions)
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health If he will make a statement on the effects which staging the fee increases to general dental practitioners for the financial years 1996–97, 1997–98 and 1998–99 will have on general dental practitioners' pensions. [112031]

  Mr. Denham
  National Health Service pensions are based on actual levels of pensionable remuneration and not on deemed or notional earnings. Where staging occurs, only earnings actually received are taken into

  Analysis of General Medical Service Non Cash limited Expenditure for Locum Allowance, England 1994–95 to 1998–99

  £

  For single handed rural GPs attending trainig courses

  Sickness

  Confinement

  Prolonged study leave

  Total

  1994–95

  95,761

  4,112,600

  2,199,685

  624,455

  7,032,501

  1995–96

  122,616

  4,629,919

  2,167,949

  623,081

  7,543,565

  1996–97

  213,320

  4,157,683

  2,197,246

  748,824

  7,317,073

  1997–98

  419,450

  3,898,453

  2,524,973

  1,032,067

  7,874,943

  1998–99

  238,260

  4,545,889

  3,051,148

  1,438,380

  9,273,677

  Sources:

  1. Annual financial returns of family health services authorities, 1994–95 and 1995–96

  2. Annual financial returns of health authorities, 1996–97 to 1998–99
  324W
  account in the calculation of pensions. The effect of staging, therefore, is slightly to reduce the pension from the figure that would be payable had staging not occurred. The degree to which this happens for an individual will depend on when that person retires and their earnings in the years before the staging and during the years when the staging applied. General Dental Practitioners' pensions are calculated on total career earnings uprated in accordance with a formula agreed with the profession.

  Locums
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the(a) numbers of and (b) cost to the NHS of employing locum doctors in (i) general practice and (ii) hospital medicine for each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [112395]

  Mr. Denham
  Figures on the number of locum staff working in the hospital medical sector are no longer collected centrally. The figures were last collected in September 1996 when there were 2,500 hospital medical locums. Figures on the number of locum staff working in general practice are not collected centrally.

  The latest available information on costs to the National Health Service for locum medical staff in the Hospital and Community Health Service is shown in the table.

  Breakdown of Locum doctors (Medical/Dental) for HCHS expenditure

  £000

  TFR3

  HFR 25

  Total

  1994–95

  108,851.61

  164,250.81

  273,102.43

  1995–96

  109,321.44

  1,876.80

  111,198.24

  1996–97

  116,581.75

  409.23

  116,990.98

  Notes:

  Data after 1996–97 is not available

  Data provided by FPB-ATA

  Locum costs in general practice are not separately identified from other practice expenses. Information is available only on locum allowances paid to GPs in respect of attendance at training courses, prolonged study leave, sickness and confinement. Expenditure was as follows:

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