Written Answers of 2 March 2000

DEFENCE

  Cadets
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he is taking to improve recruitment to the cadet branch of HM armed forces. [105144]

  Mr. Spellar
  Recruitment to the cadets is undertaken through the local and national initiatives of each individual cadet force. The three Services provide funding and advice to these national youth organisations, with the help of the Territorial, Auxiliary and Volunteer Reserve Associations.

  Army funds support Army Cadet Force recruitment, including the recent "Attitude" marketing campaign. Phase 2 of this successful national campaign to recruit cadets and adult instructors will start later this year.

  RAF funding and advice supports local recruiting initiatives by the Air Training Corps. Advice and support from the Services and MOD is available where required to units of the Combined Cadet Forces. Although the Sea Cadet Corps is an independent charitable body, the Royal Navy provides support and advice in the context of recruitment.

  In addition, we fully expect that the additional £3 million we have made available over a four-year period following the Strategic Defence Review, for a range of manpower, training equipment, and infrastructure enhancements for all cadet forces, will further encourage cadet recruitment.

  Peat Compost
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to phase out the use of peat compost in gardens(a) owned and (b) tended by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [110727]

  Dr. Moonie
  In line with the MOD's Departmental Plan on the Greening Government Initiative, my Department is looking at ways to ensure that any use of peat in the maintenance of its grounds is substituted by organic waste. This reflects the advice within the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions Greening Operations Guide.

  Defence Catering Agency
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to transfer the Defence Catering Agency to York. [109444]

  Mr. Spellar
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 7 February 2000,Official Report, column 33W, to the hon. Member for Salisbury (Mr. Key).

  Nuclear Weapons Exercises
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the names, dates and locations of the nuclear weapons exercises being organised by his Department during 2000. [112366]

  Mr. Spellar
  The following nuclear weapon accident response exercises are planned to be held during 2000:

  Date

  Name

  Location

  May 2000

  Exercise BOWLINE

  Coulport

  June 2000

  RAF Station NAR team Standardisation1

  Wiltshire

  July 2000

  RAF Station NAR team Standardisation1

  Oxfordshire

  July 2000

  Exercise SENATOR

  North of England

  September 2000

  RAF Station NAR team Standardisation1

  South Glamorgan

  September 2000

  UK/US Exercise

  Norfolk

  October 2000

  RAF Station NAR team Standardisation1

  Suffolk

  November 2000

  RAF nuclear weapon convoy Standardisation

  To be decided

  1 RAF Station Nuclear Accident Response (NAR) teams provide immediate response forces for the air transportation of nuclear weapons

  European Peacekeeping Corps
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence further to his answer of 24 January 2000,Official Report, column 63W, on the European Peacekeeping Force, what is his policy on the level of capabilities the European Peacekeeping Corps should attain, in terms of (a) operational deployment range and (b) optimal UK commitment. [112387]

  Mr. Hoon
  As explained in my answer of 24 January, there is no intention of creating a "European Peacekeeping Corps". At the Helsinki European Council EU states committed themselves to being able, by 2003, to deploy rapidly and sustain up to 50,000–60,000 troops capable of the full range of Petersberg tasks.

  The operational range of these forces and the question of national contributions are being discussed as part of the follow-up work to Helsinki under the Portuguese Presidency. No decisions have yet been taken.

  Embassy Staff
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies have been carried out since 1 January 1995 on the value for money provided by defence attachés and advisers at British embassies; and on what dates each of them was concluded. [112368]

  Mr. Hoon
  The MOD in conjunction with the FCO carried out a detailed and comprehensive review of attaché and adviser placement and their roles as part of the follow up work to the Strategic Defence Review. This review, which was approved by the Defence Council on 20 September 1999, determined where British Defence attachés and advisers should be accredited to best serve British Defence interests abroad. The Official Committee for Service Attachés and Advisers (OCSAA) subsequently scrutinised each post in every Defence Section prior to approving, on 20 October 1999, the implementation plan which will bring into effect the changes agreed in the review.

  Dimming Sun
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the nuclear weapon accident exercise, Dimming Sun, will be held, and where. [112365]

  Mr. Spellar
  It is planned to hold the UK/US joint nuclear weapon accident response exercise Dimming Sun in Norfolk in June 2003. The precise date and location have not yet been finalised.

  Royal Irish Regiment
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what has been the outcome of the investigation by the officer in command into the appearance in photographs of members of the Royal Irish Regiment in uniform with banners of the Orange Order; [112686]

  (2) if members of the Royal Irish Regiment have been disciplined as a result of their appearance in photographs in uniform with banners of the Orange Order. [112685]

  Mr. Spellar
  The circumstances surrounding the publication of a photograph of the Royal Irish Regiment in the Andersonstown News on 15 January 2000 are currently under investigation by the Special Investigations Branch of the Royal Military Police. The investigation is in its final stages and a report is expected later this month.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence further to his answer of 24 January 2000,Official Report, column 67W, on the Royal Irish Regiment, when the Royal Military Police will complete its investigation; and if he will publish its conclusions. [111945]

  Mr. Spellar
  The investigation by the Special Investigations Branch of the Royal Military Police is in its final stages and a report is expected later this month. I will write to my hon. Friend in the light of the outcome and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Microwave Communications Link
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what purpose and at what cost he has purchased a microwave communications link between Shrewton telephone exchange and Salisbury Plain training area. [112546]

  Mr. Spellar
  This microwave telephone link will allow greater access to the public telephone system for troops wishing to make welfare calls from the training facility at Copehill Down. The cost to the Ministry of Defence was £6,674.

  HMS Vigilant
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the naval and other vessels that were within one hour's sailing distance from the site of the Solway Harvester disaster on 11 January; what was the precise location of HMS Vigilant at this time; what was the cause of damage to the radar system of HMS Vigilant and what was the time taken for repairs carried out before docking at Faslane, while in harbour, and elsewhere; and if he will place a copy of the submarine's log for the period from 8 to 15 January in the Library. [111949]
  328W
  Mr. Spellar
  No Royal Navy ships or submarines were within one hour's sailing distance from the site of the Solway Harvester disaster on 11 January. At the time the mayday was raised, the nearest vessel was the RFA Bayleaf, which was some 30 miles west of the Solway Harvester's position. HMS Vigilant was in the Atlantic Ocean conducting training in deep water. I am withholding her precise location under exemption 1 (Defence Security and International Relations) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. HMS Vigilant returned to Faslane on 14 January for repairs to a defective seal on her radar mast, sailing again on 16 January.

  Private Security Companies
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the private security companies employed(a) currently and (b) in the past three years by his Department; for what purpose they have been employed; at what cost; and at which locations. [112547]

  Mr. Spellar
  The following private security companies are currently employed by the Ministry of Defence:

  Burns International Security Services (UK) Ltd.

  Chilport (UK) Ltd.

  Chubb Guarding Services

  Dardan Security Ltd.

  Initial Security Ltd.

  Medway Ports

  RCO Support Services

  Reliance Security Services Ltd.

  Securicor Guarding Ltd.

  Securi-Guard Ltd.

  Serco

  Solo Security Services

  Thorn Security.

  Other private security companies employed by the Ministry of Defence in past three years (who are no longer employed) are:

  Centuryan Security Ltd.

  Guarda Security plc.

  Private security companies have been employed on general guarding duties at some 40 sites (just under half of which are awaiting disposal) throughout Great Britain. The total whole life cost of current contracts is £32 million.

  Private security companies are employed at the following sites:

  Alamein Barracks

  Ashford Barracks

  Cambridge House

  Cheadle Hume (Pay and Pensions Agency)

  Cwrt-Y-Gollen Training Camp

  Defence Clothing and Textile Agency, Caversfield

  Defence Munitions Depot, Broughton Moor

  Defence Storage and Distribution Centre, Aston Down

  Distribution Outlets, Aldershot

  Finningley and Harrogate (Army Site and Government Buildings)

  329W

  Garats Hay Barracks

  Glen Parva Barracks

  HMS Forest Moor

  HMS Forward

  HMS Osprey

  Holton Heath

  Merryfield Airfield, RNAS Yeovilton

  NATO Mooring and Support Depot, Fairlie by Largs

  Norton Manor Camp, Taunton

  Oakington Bks

  Ordnance Support Unit, Burscough

  Pembroke Dock

  RAF Cowden

  RAF Edzell

  RAF Greenham Common

  RAF Kemble

  RAF Macrihanish

  RAF Oakhanger

  RAF Quedgeley, Moreton and Stirling Lines

  RAF West Raynham

  RAF Wroughton

  RM Sites, Plymouth

  RMB Chivenor

  RN Sites, Plymouth

  RN Sites, Portsmouth

  Saighton Camp, Chester

  Shoeburyness (Army Site)

  St. Georges Bks, Gosport

  Support Engineering Facility, Exeter

  Waste Disposal Site, Gillingham

  Woodbridge (Army Site).

  Mozambique
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date he received requests for help in disaster relief in Mozambique; what his response was; and what personnel and equipment have been provided. [112693]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Ministry of Defence (MOD) was approached by the Department for International Development (DfID) on Saturday 26 February as to the availability of British military equipment in and around Mozambique. We advised them that there were no military assets in the region. Since then we have been examining, in conjunction with DfID, options for the deployment of MOD personnel and equipment from beyond the immediate area. An MOD team was sent to the region on 29 February to carry out reconnaissance and planning work.

  As a result, on Wednesday 1 March we jointly announced a decision to provide four Puma helicopters and around 100 aircrew and support personnel to assist in the immediate rescue operation. We are continuing to work closely with DfID to determine what further help we can provide.

WALES

  Local Government Remuneration
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has held with the First Minister on issuing guidance to(a) councillors, (b) council leaders and (c) elected mayors on future levels of remuneration. [104847]

  Mr. Hanson
  [holding answer 18 January 2000]: My right hon. Friend has discussions on issues affecting Wales with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales on a regular basis. The Secretary of State has had no discussions with the First Secretary on issuing guidance to councils on future levels of remuneration or allowances. The setting of members' allowances is a matter for individual councils.

  Under the present draft of the Local Government Bill, the National Assembly will have the power to make regulations to require councils in Wales to establish an independent panel to review councillors' allowances and pensions.

  Child Poverty
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what research he has initiated into child poverty in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [107419]

  Mr. Hanson
  I have not initiated any research into child poverty in Wales. However, the Government are committed to tackling poverty and social exclusion in the UK. The Government's Poverty Strategy Report "Tackling Poverty and Social Exclusion" launched in September 1999 set out a concerted cross-Government drive to highlight the underlying cases of poverty and social exclusion.

  The National Assembly for Wales has set up a Social Exclusion Unit to look at poverty issues and will promote effective joint working to combat family poverty and social exclusion in Wales.

  In addition, the Joint Ministerial Committee on Poverty has agreed to future joint working between the UK Government and the devolved administrations to tackle poverty across the UK.

  Magistrates Courts
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent representations he has made to the Lord Chancellor concerning the future of magistrates courts in rural areas and small townships in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [107422]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I have made no such representations to the Lord Chancellor.

  The Government consider that magistrates courts are best managed locally by magistrates courts committees under the provision of the Justices of the Peace Act 1997. Decisions concerning the future of magistrates courts in Wales, whether rural or urban, are for the relevant magistrates courts committee to determine, in consultation with the paying authority or authorisations.

  Uniform Business Rate
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for(a) each local authority in Wales and

  331W
  (b) Wales as a whole the amount of revenue that will be raised from the uniform business rate in (1) 1990–2000 and (2) 2000–01. [112306]

  Mr. Hanson
  Estimated figures for the amount of revenue that will be raised from the uniform business rate in 1999–2000 are as follows:

  £000

  Isle of Anglesey

  7,517

  Gwynedd

  29,616

  Conwy

  17,027

  Denbighshire

  14,135

  Flintshire

  29,315

  Wrexham

  23,850

  Powys

  16,504

  Ceredigion

  8,144

  Pembrokeshire

  20,032

  Carmarthenshire

  22,331

  Swansea

  40,712

  Neath Port Talbot

  26,524

  Bridgend

  25,450

  The Vale of Glamorgan

  16,934

  Rhondda Cynon Taff

  31,849

  Merthyr Tydfil

  8,505

  Caerphilly

  20,099

  Blaenau Gwent

  9,055

  Torfaen

  13,864

  Monmouthshire

  12,587

  Newport

  38,186

  Cardiff

  90,481

  Wales

  522,717

  Since July 1999 business rates in Wales have been the responsibility of the National Assembly for Wales.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  London Underground
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington

  Indicative projection of 15 Year investment expenditure

  £million 1999–2000 prices

  Stations

  Lifts and escalators

  Trains

  Track

  Civil infrastructure

  Communications

  Management systems

  Signalling

  Total

  Bakerloo

  100

  50

  90

  60

  40

  10

  20

  20

  390

  Central, Waterloo and City

  220

  90

  100

  160

  100

  30

  10

  70

  780

  Victoria

  220

  30

  250

  90

  40

  10

  10

  250

  900

  Northern1

  320

  70

  —

  180

  40

  10

  20

  310

  950

  Jubilee2

  80

  50

  —

  40

  60

  20

  20

  10

  280

  Piccadilly

  220

  50

  500

  180

  50

  20

  20

  150

  1,190

  Metropolitan, Circle, Hammersmith and city

  330

  20

  590

  210

  170

  40

  10

  330

  1,700

  District

  210

  20

  250

  130

  100

  30

  10

  220

  970

  East London3

  50

  —

  —

  10

  130

  —

  10

  —

  200

  1 Northern Line train investment costs are contracted for under a separate PFI scheme and are excluded from these figures.

  2 Excludes operating and maintenance costs for the Jubilee Line Extension project.

  3 Excludes costs from potential project for extending East London Line.

  Aircraft Near-misses
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will set out
  332W
  (Mr. Brake), of 21 December 1999, Official Report, column 524W, what comparators he used to calculate the PPP infrastructure companies' estimated efficiency improvement of 20 per cent. [115921

  Mr. Hill
  The briefing note PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) published in December 1999 assumed that under the Public Private Partnership for London Underground the private sector infrastructure companies will bring efficiency improvements of 20 per cent. The PwC note, which has been placed in the House Library, sets out the basis for assuming this level of efficiency savings, which is in line with the experience of other industries where the financing and management of infrastructure programmes has been transferred to the private sector.

  Since the PwC briefing note was published, Arthur Andersen and the London School of Economics have completed a report for the Treasury Taskforce called "Value for Money Drivers in the Private Finance Initiative". This shows the PFIs of all types are, on average, delivering efficiency savings of 17 per cent.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 21 December 1999,Official Report, column 521W, covering investment in London Underground, if he will list the specific projects envisaged, indicating the estimated cost of each. [111591]

  Mr. Hill
  Under the terms of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) for London Underground, infrastructure companies will be required to implement a combination of specific projects and performance enhancements specified in output terms. The PPP will not, therefore, in general specify particular amounts of money to be spent, nor particular works to be carried out. It will be for bidders to decide what they have to do to meet the performance specification for each infrastructure company.

  However, when the PPP competition was launched in June 1999 London Underground published a briefing document containing estimates of how much they then believed it would cost over the first 15 years to implement the performance regime under development for the PPP. This was broken down as follows:

  the definition of a near miss between aircraft; how many such incidents have taken place at Heathrow in the past three years; and how many of those incidents occurred within three miles of Wargrave in Berkshire. [111259]
  333W
  Mr. Mullin
  The definition of a near miss (or Airprox) applied by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) is a situation in which, in the opinion of a pilot or controller, the distance between aircraft as well as their relative positions and speed have been such that the safety of the aircraft involved was or may have been compromised.

  In the last three years (1997–99) there were four reported Airproxes in the London Heathrow (LHR) Zone, an area 24 nautical miles (nm) East-West by 16 nm North-South, centred on Heathrow. Wargrave does not lie in the LHR Zone but in the same period there were two reported Airproxes within a circle radius 3 nm centred on the town.

  Euro
  Mr. Portillo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much money has been spent to date by his Department and by bodies funded by his Department in connection with the National Changeover Plan; on what headings this money has been spent; and how much his Department plans to spend on implementing the plan over the next 12 months. [112145]

  Mr. Prescott
  [holding answer 29 February 2000]: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary on 29 February 2000, Official Report, column 233W.

  National Air Traffic Services
  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will list, for each of the last 10 years for which figures are available, the total amount NATS has(a) borrowed from and (b) repaid to the Civil Aviation Authority and HM Treasury and (c) the total amount of capital investment made by NATS; [112393]

  (2) what profits NATS has made in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [112392]

  Mr. Mullin
  [holding answer 1 March 2000]: NATS was incorporated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Civil Aviation Authority on 1 April 1996—figures are not available for NATS as a separate entity before that time. The relevant figures for NATS for financial years 1996–97, 1997–98 and 1998–99 are as follows:

  £ million

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Profits after interest and tax

  13.7

  14.7

  30.9

  Borrowed from CAA

  0

  2.1

  12.0

  Repaid to CAA

  31.3

  28.2

  67.9

  Capital Investment

  56.5

  42.7

  35.7

  Profits in 1998–99 were up due to higher than expected levels of traffic, and a reduction in NATS" operating costs. Borrowing repayments increased in order to allow NATS to carry increased funds forward to 1999–2000, to prepare for the higher levels of capital expenditure on the New Scottish Centre expected in that year. Profits in 1998–99 were up due to higher than expected levels of traffic, and a reduction in NATS' operating costs. Borrowing repayments increased in order to allow NATS
  334W
  to carry increased funds forward to 1999–2000, to prepare for the higher levels of capital expenditure on the New Scottish Centre expected in that year.

  New Public Bodies
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the new public bodies established by his Department since May 1997. [112661]

  Ms Armstrong
  The annual Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies" provides information on public bodies. The 1997 edition lists those bodies in existence prior to May 1997, and the 1998 and 1999 editions list bodies in existence in subsequent years. Copies of "Public Bodies" have been placed in the Library of the House. They are also available on the Cabinet Office website (www.cabinet—office.gov.uk/quange).

  Marine Accidents Investigation Branch
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to increase the staff and funding of the Marine Accidents Investigation Branch; and if he will make a statement. [111824]

  Mr. Hill
  The staffing and funding requirements of the Marine Accident Investigation Branch are kept under constant review.

  Three additional staff were recruited in 1999—one accident investigator and two administrative staff. A further accident investigator has been recruited this year and is expected to be in post within the next few months. Another investigator may be recruited later in the year for one year to assist with Lord Justice Clarke's inquiries into the Marchioness disaster.

  London Mayor
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the cost to public funds is of the leaflet "Your questions answered about electing a Mayor and Assembly for London"; how many copies of the leaflet(a) have been and (b) will be printed; how the leaflet will be distributed; and at what cost to public funds. [112490]

  Mr. Hill
  Six million copies of the leaflet have been printed. They are available in nine languages, including English, as well as in braille, large print and on audio cassette. Just over three million leaflets are being distributed to households in London. Two million are being distributed to customers involved in transactions with Post Office Counters in London. The rest are being distributed through local authorities, voluntary bodies and in response to requests for information through a telephone help line and a website. The total cost of printing, translating and distributing the leaflets through the Post Office's commercial direct mail service is estimated to be £475,000.

  Flooding, Melton
  Mr. David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will provide financial assistance to Melton Borough Council
  335W
  under the Bellwin Scheme in respect of costs incurred following flooding in the area on 25 December 1998 and 16 January 1999. [113149]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  I am satisfied that financial assistance under the Bellwin scheme is justified in this case given the exceptional circumstances. A scheme will, therefore, be established under section 155 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Grant has generally been paid to authorities at a rate of 85 per cent. of their eligible expenditure above a threshold. However, a Bellwin scheme was activated for Melton as a result of the 1998 Easter floods. Since Melton have already spent over their threshold for 1998–99 in dealing with that emergency, it seems reasonable that they should not have to do so in dealing with further incidents in the same financial year. I therefore propose to waive the threshold.

  Trains
  Mr. Leslie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if there is an exemption order for the fleet of new Class 175 trains to be introduced into service by First North Western Trains Ltd. in respect of any of the provisions of the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 1998; and if he will make a statement. [1132841

  Mr. Hill
  As my predecessor explained in her answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, East (Mr. McNulty) on 9 March 1999,Official Report, column 167W, we are expecting to receive a number of exemption applications from train and tram operating companies whose designs for new rail vehicles were well advanced prior to the 1998 Regulations coming into force.

  We have received an application from First North Western Trains Ltd. relating to the new Class 175 trains they wish to introduce into service. The exemptions, have been discussed with our statutory advisers the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee. An exemption Order relating to the exemption of these trams has been laid in Parliament today. Copies are available from the Library.

  The exemptions will not prevent disabled people from using the new trams or trains. Indeed, we believe that their introduction will make a significant contribution to improving mobility opportunities for disabled people.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Judicial Review (DPP)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Solicitor-General in how many instances in the past three years decisions of the Director of Public Prosecutions have been subject to judicial review; what the outcome was in each instance; and in what percentage of reviews the original decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions has been upheld. [111947]

  The Solicitor-General
  The information requested is not collated centrally. The table shows the information for the last three years (i.e. 1997–99) which has been collated from various sources and is the best available information at present. Percentages may not give an accurate picture as such small numbers are involved but, where leave for 336W
  judicial review was granted, the decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions was fully upheld in 56 per cent. of the cases and partly upheld in 6 per cent. of cases.

  Year

  Number of DPP's decisions subject to judicial review

  Outcome

  1997

  6

  3 applications dismissed

  2 applications allowed

  1 application withdrawn

  1998

  2

  2 applications allowed

  1999

  8

  1 application allowed

  6 applications dismissed

  1 application dismissed in part

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Solicitor-General in how many instances in the past three years decisions of the Director of Public Prosecutions have been subject to judicial review; what the outcome was in each instance; and in what percentage of reviews the original decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions has been upheld. [111943]

  The Solicitor-General
  During the years 1997, 1998 and 1999, four applications have been made for judicial review of decisions of the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland in connection with his functions under the Prosecutions of Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 1972. In one case, the application for review was dismissed after a full hearing. In two cases, the application was withdrawn following upon correspondence between the parties. In one case, leave to apply has been granted pending a full hearing. The percentage of reviews where the original decision of the Director has been upheld by the Divisional Court in the three years considered is 100 per cent.

  A decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland not to prosecute a case was successfully challenged by judicial review in 1996. Although the court gave an oral judgment in December 1996 quashing the Director's decision, a written judgment was not handed down until February 1998.

  Senator Pinochet
  Mr. Lepper
  To ask the Solicitor-General if he will make a statement concerning the Crown Prosecution Service as prosecuting authority and the case of Senator Pinochet. [106948]

  The Solicitor-General
  The Crown Prosecution Service as prosecuting authority for England and Wales has advised the Metropolitan Police Service that the material provided by the Kingdom of Spain for the purposes of the extradition proceedings would not be admissible in a criminal prosecution in England and Wales and could not be put into admissible form without a full police investigation. On the material presently available to the CPS, therefore, there is no realistic prospect in this jurisdiction of convicting Senator Pinochet of any criminal offence.

  The Crown Prosecution Service has also advised the Metropolitan Police Service that, in view of the independent medical report on Senator Pinochet commissioned by the Home Secretary and taking into

  337W
  account representations made to the Home Secretary concerning the reports, no court in England and Wales would allow a trial of Senator Pinochet to take place, whatever the evidence.

  The CPS advised the police further that the allegations contained in the Swiss, both French and both Belgian requests did not disclose offences which could be tried here since the conduct alleged in each of the requests occurred before the relevant legislation came into force.

  I was consulted about this matter by the DPP and agree with these conclusions.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Trade Union Recognition
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received regarding the adequacy of the consultation period for statutory trade union recognition. [111530]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  I have received no representations on this matter.

  E-commerce
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he is taking to provide a network of support for those businesses which trade on the internet. [111553]

  Ms Moran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further measures he intends to take to assist small businesses to take advantage of e-commerce. [111556]

  Ms Hewitt
  We have established a network of 100 support centres throughout the UK under the Information Society Initiative (ISI) at which businesses can get impartial, jargon-free advice and support. In England, these Centres will be fully integrated into the new Small Business Service.

  We have also worked with the digital content sector—which includes many key service and content providers for e-commerce based businesses—to agree with them an Action Plan for Growth. This was published on 29 February and copies are available in the Library of the House. We are now working in partnership with the newly formed Digital Content Forum to take forward the Plan's proposals.

  Beyond this, work is under way to develop a new, industry led mentoring scheme for internet based start-ups, building on recommendations in the Performance and Innovation Unit's report e-commerce@its.best.uk.

  Mineworkers Pension Funds
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the use of surpluses from the mineworkers pension funds. [111554]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Surpluses in the coal pension schemes (The Mineworkers' Pension Scheme and the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme) are split 50/50 between the membership of the schemes and the Government in our role as guarantor to the schemes.
  338W
  In accordance with Coal Industry Act 1994 (Sch.5, paragraph 2(10)), all surpluses received by the Secretary of State must be paid into the Consolidated Fund. However, under Government Accounting rules, receipts can be used to offset related expenditure by the Department concerned. In this case, the Treasury has agreed that DTI may, for the present, retain pension fund receipts to help offset expenditure on liabilities inherited from British Coal.

  Family-friendly Employment Policies
  Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress he is making on encouraging businesses to adopt family-friendly employment policies. [111557]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment will shortly be announcing details of the Government's campaign to promote good practice that both benefits the business and enables employees to balance work and the rest of their lives better. It will be delivered in partnership with leading employers and others.

  The campaign will build on the framework of rights to maternity leave, parental leave and emergency time off which came into force last December.

  National Minimum Wage
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy that the purchasing power of the national minimum wage including the 10p increase recently announced is maintained in future. [111559]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The Government have always made clear that there should be no automatic mechanism for making changes to the national minimum wage rate.

  We have asked the independent Low Pay Commission to continue monitoring the minimum wage and to examine the case for an increase.

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate how many 21-year-olds would be entitled to the full minimum wage if they were treated as adults rather than young people; what estimate he has made of the impact of such a change(a) nationwide and (b) in the constituency of Hereford; and if he will make a statement. [112430]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The total number of 21-year-olds entitled to the national minimum wage is, according to Autumn 1999 Labour Force Survey figures, around 440,000. Of these fewer than 20,000 would benefit from being entitled to the full national minimum wage rate rather than the rate for young people, according to the Low Pay Commission's estimate, which covers Great Britain. There are no figures available for individual constituencies.

  I also refer the hon. Member to the Government's detailed response to the Low Pay Commission's report, placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament on 22 February 2000, which explains the Government's position on 21-year-old workers and the national minimum wage.

  Nuclear Safety
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure safety at nuclear installations. [111560]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The primary responsibility for ensuring safety at nuclear licensed sites falls to the licensee. Safety is independently monitored and regulated by the Health and Safety Executive's Installations Inspectorate.

  Both for licensees and for Ministers, safety at nuclear installations is the top priority. In particular, in their capacity as shareholder of BNFL and sponsor of UKAEA, Ministers make it clear they expect licensees to respond in a constructive and timely way to any regulator concerns.

  Hi-tech Electronics Firms (South Devon)
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to assist the development of a centre for high technology electronics firms in South Devon; and if he will make a statement. [111561]

  Ms Hewitt
  Although I am not aware of a proposal for such a development, my Department, through the Government Office for the South West, stands ready to advise on assistance that may be available, for example, through the Enterprise Fund.

  Part-time Workers
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the Government's consultation on its proposals to extend the rights of part-time workers. [111565]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The consultation on part-time work began on 17 January and ended on 27 February. We will now be looking closely at the responses before taking the next steps in implementation of the Directive.

  Design and Innovation
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next plans to meet chairmen of the regional development agencies to discuss their role in encouraging higher levels of investment in design and innovation. [111566]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Secretary of State met Regional Development Agency Chairmen on 13 December 1999. He has no immediate plans for further meetings. However, I meet with them regularly to discuss a broad range of economic development issues, including both investment and innovation.

  Consumer Protection
  Gillian Merron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what account he takes of the interests of consumers in forming his Department's policies. [111567]

  Dr. Howells
  Our White Paper "Modern Markets: Confident Consumers" set out how we would bring the interests of consumers to the heart of government. We recognise that well-informed, empowered consumers are good for business. They help promote innovation and stimulate better value. Our policies reflect this important role of consumers in a modern economy.

  Technology-based Companies
  Dr. Ladyman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken to extend the availability of venture capital for technology-based companies. [111568]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government have created a £180 million Enterprise Fund to address the difficulties growth businesses face in accessing appropriate finance. This Fund will complement existing market provision, using public resources to partner private sector funds to address acknowledged gaps in the market.

  An integral part of the Enterprise Fund is the UK High Technology Fund. The Fund will raise some £105 million from the private sector alongside some £20 million of Government money to invest in the United Kingdom's early stage high technology businesses.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced on 10 November last year that Westport Private Equity Ltd. had been appointed to manage the UK High Technology Fund.

  The Fund Manager has already secured over £50 million of private sector investment alongside the Government's investment of £20 million.

  Post Offices
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the future of the sub-post office network in Britain. [111569]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The Government are fully committed to a nationwide network of post offices, and are contributing nearly £500 million towards the cost of equipping the network with a modern, automated, online IT platform. This system, which will be installed at nearly 40,000 counter positions in some 18,000 post offices throughout the country, will enable the Post Office to improve its services to existing clients and to take advantage of new business opportunities in the marketplace. Under the provisions of the Post Office Reform Bill, the Postal Services Commission, assisted by the Post Office Users National Council will monitor developments in the network of post offices against published access criteria. In addition, the Performance and Innovation Unit in the Cabinet Office is carrying out a study to identify the contribution made by post offices to the vitality of local communities, and to consider how the network can best contribute to the Government's objectives for the future.

  Competition Policy
  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received regarding the conduct of competition policy. [111550]

  Dr. Howells
  My right hon. Friend and the Secretary of State and I receive a number of representations covering a variety of competition policy matters.

  Single European Currency
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions he has
  341W
  had with representation of business and commerce on the cost of replacing the pound with the single European currency. [111552]

  Mr. Byers
  I have regular meetings with business representatives to discuss a range of issues including the single currency.

  Labour Market Reforms
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact on business competitiveness of labour market reforms introduced since May 1997. [111558]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The Government's labour market policies help people into work and provide additional flexibility and security for those in work. These policies are good for individuals, good for business and good for the economy as a whole. Employment is at its highest ever level. Unemployment is at its lowest level for 20 years. Decent minimum employment standards promote employee commitment, reduce absenteeism and staff turnover and increase incentives for individuals and employers to invest in training and lifelong learning.

  Textile Industry
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to assist the textile sector. [111562]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The DTI is currently funding around 30 projects to encourage the growth and competitiveness of the UK textiles and clothing industry. These projects cover research into product innovation and development, design, education and training, benchmarking and the development of supply chain partnerships.

  On a national level, my Department has been actively involved in an industry led-group, the Textile and Clothing Strategy Group (TCSG), which has been established in direct response to concerns from the industry about its future. A draft report containing several recommendations aimed at helping safeguard the future of the sector has recently been produced by the Group and is currently out for consultation among the industry.

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will publish the Government's response to the recent consultation exercise upon the future for renewable energy. [101071]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 2 December 1999]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for St. Helens, North (Mr. Watts) on 1 February 2000, Official Report, column 536–37W.

  Clean Development Mechanism
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the potential for increased British exports under the Clean Development Mechanism of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. [112067]
  342W
  Ms Hewitt
  The UK Government fully support the aims of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM): to help achieve sustainable development and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We wish to see the CDM operate in a way that fully encourages business involvement to help achieve these goals.

  It is too early usefully to quantify the effect of CDM activity on UK exports, since the rules for its operation will not be agreed until the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Sixth Conference of the Parties in November 2000.

  However, we are already promoting business awareness of the CDM through, for example, our work with the Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment (ACBE) and a joint DTI-DETR website and named contact points. Furthermore, British Trade International are appointing an Export Promoter for Energy and the Environment, who will work closely with the Power Sector Working Group and with two existing renewable energy Export Promoters, to raise awareness of, and developing, export opportunities arising from the Kyoto provisions.

  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he or officials of his Department have received from representatives of the British or foreign nuclear industry concerning the eligibility of nuclear power projects under the Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol. [112068]

  Ms Hewitt
  My Department has received representations from a number of organisations, including representatives of the British nuclear industry, about the eligibility of nuclear power projects for the Clean Development Mechanism and has noted their concerns. Neither I, nor my officials, have received any representations from representatives of foreign nuclear industry.

  Objective 2
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what changes were made in the draft map of authorities designated for Objective 2 status, including internal ward changes, prior to publication of the final map; and how such changes were made. [111920]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Government made some small changes in England and some in Scotland to the UK Objective 2 proposals which were submitted to the Commission on 8 October. The changes set out below were made following discussions with the European Commission, in order to meet the requirements of the Structural Fund Regulation on statistical data and size of each proposed area. The changes were made with the agreement of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions for England, and of the Scottish Executive for Scotland.

  Ilisu Dam
  Mr. Savidge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if ECGD support has been(a) discussed, (b) requested and (c) granted for any projects of the South East Anatolia Development Project in Turkey other than the Ilisu Dam. [112329]
  343W
  Mr. Caborn
  ECGD support has not been granted for any project in the South East Anatolia Development Project, including Ilisu.

  There are no current applications for projects in the South East Anatolia Development Project other than Ilisu and the wastewater treatment plant at Diyarbakir.

  An informal preliminary inquiry was received in 1999 regarding a possible application for a subcontract on the Cizre project; no application has been received.

  Because applications/records of discussions which do not result in a guarantee are kept for only a limited time after the exporter has advised that they may be closed, it is not possible to state definitively that no discussions were held, or requests for cover received, in the early years of the South East Anatolia Development Project.

  Euro
  Mr. Portillo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money has been spent by his Department to date in connection with the National Changeover Plan; on what headings this money has been spent; and how much his Department plans to spend on implementing the plan over the next 12 months; and what steps his Department has taken to encourage businesses to make preparations for the introduction of the euro. [112149]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 29 February 2000]: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer which the Economic Secretary gave to him on 29 February 2000, Official Report, column 233W.

  Arms Exports
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what export credit support is(a) currently allocated and (b) under consideration, in respect of arms export decisions. [112411]

  Mr. Caborn
  As at the end of January 2000, guarantees in respect of defence-related exports accounted for £3,875 million of ECGD's amounts at risk, representing 22.3 per cent. of ECGD's total amounts at risk.

  Information relating to business under consideration is commercial in confidence.

  Zero Hours Contracts
  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on(a) his Department's policy in respect of the House of Lords decision in the case of Carmichael and another v. National Power and (b) zero hours contracts. [112675]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The House of Lords decided the case of "Carmichael and another v. National Power" in the light of its own particular facts. Whether a particular contract between a worker and a work provider is one of service or for services, or some other type, remains a common law question of mixed fact and law to be assessed on a case by case basis.

  The Government consider that zero hours contracts can contribute to the flexibility necessary for a modern labour market, provided there are mutual benefits for employers and employees. The National Minimum Wage and the Working Time Regulations have significantly reduced
  344W
  the scope for abuse of zero hours contracts, as will the regulations implementing the Part Time Work Directive when they come into force.

  Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme. [111539]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme is a very successful scheme which, since its introduction in 1981, has guaranteed over 70,000 loans valued at around £2.5 billion.

  It is now one of the Component parts of the new Enterprise Fund and continues to play an important role in the Government's support for small businesses.

  Shipbuilding
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what matters he discussed relating to domestic and international shipbuilding markets at his last meeting with representatives of management and trade unions in the United Kingdom shipbuilding industry. [111542]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  On 13 October 1998, I attended the most recent meeting of the Shipbuilding Forum which comprises representatives of management and trade unionists in the shipbuilding industry, its suppliers and customers, as well as key Government Departments. At the Forum, I discussed a wide range of topics including the domestic and international ship market, UK competitiveness, productivity and employment, improvements the Department had made to the Shipbuilding Intervention Fund and the Home Shipbuilding Credit Guarantee Scheme and individual prospective orders. I also received reports on the projects which my Department is supporting to enhance the competitiveness of the industry.

  Since that formal meeting, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have had other meetings with industry representatives&management and unions&as well as interested hon. Members. Again, discussion has included the wide range of topics I have just outlined.

TREASURY

  ECOFIN
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the outcome of the ECOFIN Council held in Brussels on 28 February; and if he will make a statement. [111885]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer attended the Economic and Finance Council of Ministers.

  The Council agreed to publish the Code of Conduct Group (Business Taxation) Report of 23 November.

  The UK and Danish Convergence programmes and the Stability programmes of Italy, Germany, Belgium and Spain were agreed. The UK Convergence programme was commended. The Council thought it appropriate that the programme stresses the securing of macro-economic stability supported by a sound budgetary position and

  345W
  continued structural reform. The Council noted that the monetary framework of inflation targeting has been an important condition for securing low inflation expectations. The Council further noted that the UK convergence programme was fully in line with the Broad Economic Guidelines.

  Discussion on the Broad Economic Guidelines and the Lisbon European Council showed general agreement on the need to push ahead with structural reforms, particularly in the labour market. The Chancellor's proposal to include timetables and benchmarking in Lisbon conclusions received wide support.

  The Commission presented their report on the Functioning of Product and Capital Markets (the Cardiff Process). The Presidency concluded that this report was an important contribution to the Lisbon European Council.

  Bio-diesel
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the impact on tax revenue of giving bio-diesel produced through recycling waste edible oils parity with fossil-based low petroleum gas; and if he will make a statement. [112452]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 1 March 2000]: A reduction of duty on bio-diesel produced through recycling waste edible oils, from the current diesel duty rate to the rate applicable to road fuel gas, would cost £35 million in a full year if 90,000,000 litres were to be produced. This is the maximum estimated UK production capacity, and does not take account of any possible imports. There is little information available to support the case for a duty reduction to the same level as road fuel gas.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each year since 1978 the number of women who have exercised their right for the married women's option in national insurance. [112162]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The numbers of women in Great Britain who paid class 1 National Insurance Contributions at the reduced rate for each year since 1978–89 are given in Table 11 of "Contributions and Qualifying Years for Retirement Pension 1995/96—Volume 2", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Employment Trends
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in work have been with their present employer for(a) three, (b) four, (c) five and (d) six or more years. [112153]

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

  Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Frank Field, dated 2 March 2000:
  The Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has been asked to reply to your parliamentary question about the length of time people have been with their present employer. I am replying in Dr Holt's absence.
  346W
  The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is the ONS's major source of labour market data on individuals. Estimates from the LFS of the number of employees who had worked for their current employer for three, four, five or six or more years are given in the table below. The figures are for the United Kingdom and for the autumn (September to November) 1999 quarter, and are not seasonally adjusted.

  Length of time employees had worked for their current employer UK, autumn 1999, not seasonally adjusted

  Thousand

  Less than 3 years

  10,066

  3 years, but less than 4

  1,616

  4 years, but less than 5

  1,283

  5 years, but less than 6

  1,117

  6 or more years

  10,002

  All employees1

  24,144

  1 Includes some employees who did not state how long they had worked for their current employer

  Source:

  ONS, Labour Force Survey

  Earnings
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the (i) number and (ii) proportion of people in work who were below the(a) lower earnings limit and (b) the tax threshold for each of the last 30 years. [112154]

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

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Frank Field, dated 2 March 2000:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question about the people earning below the lower earnings limit and the tax threshold for the last thirty years.
  The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is the ONS's major source of labour market data on individuals. It can provide information on the earnings of employees and the number and proportion of employees earning below (a) the lower earnings limit for National Insurance contributions and (b) the tax threshold. This information is given in the attached table.
  The LFS provides fuller coverage of people on low pay than another major source of earnings data, the New Earnings Survey (NES), and is the most appropriate source of data to answer this question. However, data on earnings in the LFS are only available from the winter (December to February) 1992/3 quarter onwards. The table gives data for autumn (September to November) quarters from 1992 to 1999. The data are for Great Britain and are not seasonally adjusted.

  Employees with gross weekly earnings1 below the National Insurance lower earnings limit and the tax threshold Great Britain, autumn quarters 1993 to 1999, not seasonally adjusted

  Autumn quarters

  Weekly limit (£)

  Thousands

  Proportion of all employees2

  National Insurance lower earnings limit

  1993

  56

  2,340

  10.9

  1994

  57

  2,191

  10.2

  1995

  58

  2,265

  10.3

  1996

  61

  2,490

  11.2

  1997

  62

  2,449

  10.8

  1998

  64

  2,375

  10.2

  1999

  66

  2,210

  9.4

  347W

  Employees with gross weekly earnings1 below the National Insurance lower earnings limit and the tax threshold Great Britain, autumn quarters 1993 to 1999, not seasonally adjusted

  Autumn quarters

  Weekly limit (£)

  Thousands

  Proportion of all employees2

  Tax threshold3

  1993

  66

  2,782

  13.0

  1994

  66

  2,668

  12.4

  1995

  68

  2,753

  12.6

  1996

  72

  2,954

  13.2

  1997

  78

  3,143

  13.8

  1998

  81

  3,172

  13.7

  1999

  83

  2,947

  12.6

  1 LFS earnings are based on those employees earning less than £100 per hour

  2 Bases for calculation of percentages exclude employees who did not give a valid response regarding their hourly or weekly earnings

  3 Single persons tax threshold

  Source:

  ONS, Labour Force Survey

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the numbers and proportions for full-time men and women workers who earned below two-thirds of average earnings for each of the last 30 years. [112157]

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

  Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Frank Field, dated 2 March 2000:
  The Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question regarding earnings of full-time male and female employees. I am replying in Dr. Holt's absence.
  The New Earnings Survey (NES) is based on a one per cent. sample of employees in the PAYE system and is therefore likely to under-represent relatively low paid staff earning below the tax threshold, and in particular those who work part-time. Below is a table showing the requested information from the 1986 to 1999 New Earnings Surveys. This information is not available from 1970 to 1985.
  We are only able to give percentages earning below specific thresholds, rather than numbers, because appropriate grossing factors for the NES sample are not available.

  New Earnings Survey, April of each year (GB)

  Full-time employees on adult rates, whose pay for the survey period was unaffected by absence. Percentage earning less than two-thirds of average gross weekly earnings

  Males

  Females

  1986

  23.0

  19.6

  1987

  24.4

  20.8

  1988

  25.7

  22.8

  1989

  26.1

  23.7

  1990

  26.4

  24.0

  1991

  27.2

  23.8

  1992

  27.5

  24.8

  1993

  28.4

  25.3

  1994

  29.0

  25.4

  1995

  29.2

  25.5

  1996

  29.8

  25.7

  1997

  29.5

  25.7

  1998

  30.4

  26.1

  1999

  30.3

  26.7

  Income Trends
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the proportions of income from work, social security and dividends, which make up total income; and if he will list the equivalent data for(a) 10, (b) 20 and (c) 30 years previously. [112161]

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

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Frank Field, dated 2 March 2000:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question on proportions of income from work, social security and dividends.
  The information available from the Family Expenditure Survey shows the proportions of income deriving from work, social security and investments as follows.

  Proportion of gross income

  Percentage

  Source of income

  1968

  1978

  1988

  1998–99

  Wages and salaries (including self-employment)

  84

  80

  77

  76

  Social security benefits

  9

  12

  12

  12

  Investments

  3

  3

  5

  4

  Note:

  The balance is made up of annuities and pensions, and other sources.

  Like all estimates from sample surveys, these figures are subject to sampling variability.

SCOTLAND

  Murder Statistics
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Grantham and Stamford (Mr. Davies), of 21 February 2000,Official Report, column 743W, on murder statistics, if the entry in the table for 1996 includes the murders committed at Dunblane. [112165]

  Dr. Reid
  Yes. The entry for 1996 includes the 17 victims who were murdered at Dunblane.

  Departmental Staff
  Caroline Flint
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland in the last five years, what proportion of women employees in (i) his Department and (ii) executive agencies under the control of his Department,(a) returned to work after childbirth; (b) returned to work after childbirth before the end of maternity leave, indicating the (1) time-range and (2) mean time, (c) returned to work after childbirth on reduced working hours, indicating the average hours worked and (d) returned to work after childbirth full-time and subsequently reduced their hours. [109236]

  Dr. Reid
  The Civil Service as a whole is striving for an improved balance between work and family life. I understand that my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Cabinet Office has provided my hon. Friend with some information in respect of the family friendly policies being developed as part of the Civil Service Reform programme. My own Department
  349W
  follows the arrangements of the former Scottish Office. Wherever possible, we try to accommodate the wishes of those who take or return from maternity leave. This includes arrangements for alternative work patterns. However, I am afraid that detailed information in the form requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

PRIME MINISTER

  Drug Misuse
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Prime Minister which Minister has responsibility for policy on(a) drug misuse and schools and (b) drug misuse and young people. [112382]

  The Prime Minister
  A number of Government Departments have interests and policy responsibilities for drug misuse and young people, principally the Home Office, the Department of Health and the Department for Education and Employment. Work across Government is co-ordinated by the Minister for the Cabinet Office, advised by the UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister on what dates he has visited the United States since 25 April 1999; and on which of these occasions he met President Clinton. [112334]

  The Prime Minister
  I have not visited the United States since April 1999.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister on what dates since 3 September 1998 President Clinton has visited Britain to meet him. [112333]

  The Prime Minister
  President Clinton has not visited the United Kingdom since September 1998.

  Performance and Innovation Unit
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Prime Minister what additional projects are planned for the Performance and Innovation Unit; and if he will make a statement. [113147]

  The Prime Minister
  I have asked the Performance and Innovation Unit (PIU) to undertake a further project looking at effective leadership in delivering public services.

  The project will look across the public sector and at international and private sector organisations. It will consider the needs of public sector leadership in the future; carry out an audit of the extent to which current activity aimed at developing leaders can be expected to meet those needs; make recommendations on the action needed across the public sector to get good leaders into place and enable them to operate effectively; and identify practical ways of increasing the diversity of public sector leadership.

  My right hon. Friend the Minister for School Standards is the Sponsor Minister.

  The PIU aim to complete the project work in the summer.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Millennium Dome
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he will answer the questions on Millennium Dome attendance and ministerial responsibility tabled by the right hon. Member for Birkenhead for answer on 17 January. [108039]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 1 February 2000]: I refer my right hon. Friend to the replies I gave on 21 February 2000, Official Report, column 800W, and 28 February 2000, Official Report, column 84W.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what requirement there was that all foods sold meet the standards required of domestic producers in the contracts with the operators of catering outlets that operate in and around the Millennium Dome at Greenwich. [110506]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 17 February 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 10 February 2000, Official Report, column 237W.

  Free Television Licences (Alyn and Deeside)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many families in Alyn and Deeside will benefit from the introduction of free television licences for households with a member aged 75 years or over. [111293]

  Janet Anderson
  This information is not available. 1991 Census information is out of date and no household survey has a sample size sufficient to make reliable estimates of qualifying households at a constituency or local authority level.

  Tourism Summit
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if he will publish the list of invitees to the Tourism Summit; [112080]

  (2) which Ministers will be attending the Tourism Summit; [112087]

  (3) how many invitations to the Tourism Summit have been issued; and how many (a) acceptances, and (b) refusals have been returned. [112078]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 28 February 2000]: All Members of the EA Cabinet Committee and the Foreign Secretary were invited to nominate a Minister to attend the Summit. Ministers from the Scottish and Welsh devolved Administrations and from the Northern Ireland Assembly were also invited. Further invitations were also issued to Lord Haskins and Teresa Graham, Chairman and Deputy Chair of the Better Regulation Task Force, to David Quarmby, the Chairman of the British Tourist Authority; Alan Britten, Chairman of the English Tourism Council; Sir Ron Watson, Chairman of the Tourism Executive at the Local Government Association and Bob Cotton, the Chief Executive of the British Hospitality Association.

  The following Ministers accepted invitations to the Summit which I chaired: Patricia Hewitt MP, DTI; Beverley Hughes MP, DETR; Tessa Jowell MP, DfEE;

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  Mike O'Brien MP, Home Office; Patricia Scotland, FCO; Stephen Timms MP, Financial Secretary, HM Treasury; Joyce Quin MP, MAFF; and Alasdair Morrison MSP.

  Lord Haskins, Teresa Graham, David Quarmby, Alan Britten, Sir Ron Watson, and Bob Cotton also attended.

  A number of officials were also present.

  Free Television Licences
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is the total cost of providing and administering free television licences for over 75-year-olds, for each of the first five years of the scheme. [112164]

  Janet Anderson
  Estimates of £117 million in 2000–01 and £283 million in 2001–02 formed part of the pre-Budget Report. Updated estimates are being prepared and will be incorporated in the Department of Social Security's Departmental Report which is due for publication following the Budget. These are likely to be higher than the earlier estimates as a result of the final structure of the scheme.

  Free Television Licences (Wirral, South)
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many families in Wirral, South will benefit from the introduction of free television licences for households with a member aged 75 years or over. [110906]

  Janet Anderson
  This information is not available. 1991 Census information is out of date and no household survey has a sample size sufficient to make reliable estimates of qualifying households at a constituency or local authority level.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Industrial Injuries Scheme
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what plans he has to reform the industrial injuries scheme in respect of self-employed workers; and if he will make a statement. [111589]

  (2) what recent (a) consultations he has conducted and (b) representations he has received concerning reforms of the industrial injuries scheme with respect to self-employed workers; and if he will make a statement. [111590]

  Mr. Bayley
  We continue to see a case for reforming the industrial injuries scheme to reflect better the needs of today's labour market and to improve incentives for prevention of work-related accidents and diseases, and incentives for rehabilitation back into work. Initial discussions with key stakeholders last year have confirmed our belief that there is scope for reform. However, much work remains to be done to decide the best way forward. Against the background of the current major programme of reform to other parts of the Social Security system, the work cannot be completed quickly.

  The basis of the current scheme is that Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit is payable to employed earners who suffer a loss of faculty through an industrial
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  accident or disease, and that those who undertake self-employment do so knowing that provision against industrial injury is their own responsibility.

  We have not conducted further consultation, nor received recent representations, about reform of the industrial injuries scheme with respect to self-employed workers.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a code of practice for use by the Child Support Agency of deduction from earnings orders for the enforcement of payment of child support arrears. [111778]

  Angela Eagle
  Deduction from earnings orders are an effective way of ensuring payment of child support where a non-resident parent chooses to pay in this way, or where other methods have failed.

  Guidance for Child Support Agency staff on the use of such orders is contained in volume 9 of the Child Support Guide, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Benefits Statistics
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the (i) numbers and (ii) percentages of single parents on(a) Income Support, (b) Income Support and the remainder of a Family Credit/Working Families Tax Credit award, (c) Income Support and Housing Benefit, (d) Working Families Tax Credit and Housing Benefit, (e) Housing Benefit and (f) other benefits. [112167]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is in the table.

  Single parents receiving various benefits, Great Britain at a point in time 1

  Number of claimants

  Percentage of single parents 2

  Benefit

  Income Support

  1,042,000

  65.1

  Income Support and Family Credit/Working Families Tax Credit

  14,000

  0.9

  Income Support and Housing Benefit

  826,000

  51.6

  Working Families Tax Credit and Housing Benefit3

  151,000

  9.4

  Housing Benefit

  1,016,000

  63.5

  Other benefits

  Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance

  14,000

  0.9

  Widow's Benefit

  47,000

  2.9

  Family Credit

  405,000

  25.3

  Disability Working Allowance

  2,511

  0.2

  1 Numbers are given at a point in time. For all benefits except Widow's Benefit and Housing Benefit information is given at August 1999. Housing Benefit and benefit combinations with Housing Benefit are given at May 1998 (latest figures available), and Widow's Benefit is given at March 1999.

  2 Percentage of lone parents is based on the caseload, as a proportion of official best estimates of the lone parent population for 1996 (provisional).

  3 Housing Benefit with Working Families Tax Credit information is not yet available as the Housing Benefit data predates the introduction of WFTC. Figures represent Housing Benefit with Family Credit.

  Notes:

  1. There will be a significant overlap between recipients of some benefits as a claimant may be in receipt of more than one Social Security Benefit.

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  2. Income Support, Family Credit/Working Families Tax Credit, Widows Benefit and Jobseeker's Allowance information is based on a 5 per cent. sample and is therefore subject to a degree of sampling error.

  3. Disability Working Allowance (DWA) figures are based on a 100 per cent. count of claims and are unrounded.

  4. Widows Benefit information is based on a 1 per cent. sample and is therefore subject to a degree of sampling error. Figures are for those widows resident in GB and overseas and are in thousands.

  5. Numbers are rounded to the nearest thousand, except DWA where exact figures are quoted.

  6. Figures are based on all single parents with dependants, and not just those with a lone parent premium.

  Sources:

  1. Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry, August 1999.

  2. Jobseeker's Allowance Statistics Quarterly Enquiry, August 1999.

  3. Family Credit Statistics Quarterly Enquiry, August 1999.

  4. Disability Working Allowance 100 per cent. count of claims.

  5. Official Best estimates of the lone parent population taken from Population Trends.

  6. Housing Benefit Management Information System annual 1 per cent. sample enquiries, taken on the second Thursday of May 1998.

  7. Pensioners Strategy Computer System, March 1999.

  Income Support/Supplementary Benefit
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the average number of children in single parent families claiming income support/ supplementary benefit for each of the last 30 years. [112158]

  Mr. Bayley
  The information is in the table.

  Average number of children in supplementary benefit/income support lone parent families, 1969–99

  Year

  Average number of children

  1969

  1.95

  1970

  1.93

  1971

  1.97

  1972

  1.92

  1973

  n/a

  1974

  1.94

  1975

  1.90

  1976

  1.89

  1977

  1.85

  1978

  1.80

  1979

  1.76

  1980

  1.73

  1981

  1.68

  1982

  1.69

  1983

  1.66

  1984

  1.65

  1985

  n/a

  1986

  1.64

  1987

  1.65

  1988

  1.68

  1989

  1.65

  1990

  1.68

  1991

  1.68

  1992

  1.69

  1993

  1.70

  1994

  1.72

  1995

  1.73

  1996

  1.74

  1997

  1.76

  1998

  1.77

  1999 May

  1.78

  1999 November (latest)

  1.79

  Notes:

  1. Lone parents are classified as single claimants with dependants who are not receiving the disability or pensioner premium. Children are classified as aged 0–15 years.
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  2. The average number of children per lone parent family, is based on the Income Support lone parent caseload as a proportion of the total number of children in such families.

  3. Average number of children figures have been rounded to 2 decimal places.

  4. All numbers are given at a point in time. For 1969–74 and 1977–79 the month was November, for 1975–76 and 1980–84 the month was December, for 1986 the month was February, and for 1987 to the present time the month was May.

  5. n/a = information not available.

  6. Supplementary Benefit was replaced by Income Support in 1988.

  Sources:

  Income Support Statistics Annual Enquiries, 1969 to 1993.

  Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiries, 1994 to 1999.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of single parents were drawing income support or supplementary benefit in each of the last 30 years. [112166]

  Mr. Bayley
  The information is in the table.

  Percentage of lone parents receiving Supplementary Benefit/Income Support (IS), 1971–99

  Year

  Percentage of IS lone parents receiving benefit

  1971

  37

  1972

  n/a

  1973

  n/a

  1974

  n/a

  1975

  n/a

  1976

  40

  1977

  n/a

  1978

  39

  1979

  36

  1980

  36

  1981

  41

  1982

  45

  1983

  48

  1984

  52

  1985

  n/a

  1986

  57

  1987

  60

  1988

  64

  1989

  65

  1990

  64

  1991

  67

  1992

  70

  1993

  70

  1994

  69

  1995

  68

  1996

  66

  1997

  63

  1998

  60

  1999

  58

  19991

  58

  1 November (latest)

  Notes:

  1. Numbers are given at a point in time. For 1971–74 and 1977–79 the month was November, for 1975–76 and 1980–84 the month was December, for 1986 the month was February, and for 1987 to the present time the month was May.

  2. Lone parents are classified as single claimants with dependants who are not receiving the disability or pensioner premium.

  3. Sample sizes: 1971–76 Supplementary Pension cases 1 in 160 and Supplementary Benefit cases 1 in 40 1977–87 Supplementary Pension cases 1 in 200 and Supplementary Benefit cases 1 in 50 1988–92 1 in 100 1993–99 1 in 20.

  4. Supplementary Benefit was replaced by Income Support in 1988.

  5. "N/A' information not available.

  6. Population estimates upon which percentages have been based— official best estimates of the numbers of one parent families published in population trends—for the years 1995 and 1996 are provisional. These official best estimates are not available for 1983,

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  1997 and subsequent years; the best estimate for 1982 has been used for the 1983 percentage and the provisional best estimate for 1996 used for subsequent years from 1996.

  Source:

  Income Support Statistics Annual Enquiries, 1971 to 1993.

  Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiries, 1994 to 1999.

  Official Best Estimates from Population Trends.

  Lowest Income Decile
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the percentages of(a) pensioners, (b) households with children and (c) households without children who (i) are currently in the lowest income decile and (ii) were in that decile for 10, 20 and 30 years previously. [112160]

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

  Percentage of individuals in each family type in the bottom decile

  Including the self-employed

  Excluding the self-employed

  BHC

  AHC

  BHC

  AHC

  1979

  Pensioners

  22

  19

  23

  21

  Families with children

  9

  10

  9

  9

  Families without children

  5

  6

  5

  6

  1988–89

  Pensioners

  14

  8

  15

  9

  Families with children

  11

  12

  11

  12

  Families without children

  7

  8

  7

  9

  1997–98

  Pensioners

  11

  6

  12

  6

  Families with children

  12

  12

  11

  12

  Families without children

  8

  10

  7

  9

  Notes:

  1. Information is derived from the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) data sets. 1979 is the earliest year for which DSS statistics are available.

  2. Estimates for 1979 and 1988–89 are derived from the Family Expenditure Survey and relate to the United Kingdom. Estimates for 1997–98 are taken from the Family Resources Survey and relate to Great Britain. All estimates are subject to sampling error. Results for individual years are sensitive to the precise way in which household incomes are adjusted for household size and composition; the picture of changes over time is generally not sensitive to this.

  3. Individuals are classified by the family types in which they live. Pensioners are here defined as a single person is of State pension age or over, or a couple where the man is of State pension age or over. A child is defined as an individual aged under 16 or an unmarried 16 to 18-year-old on a course up to and including 'A' levels or 'Highers' in Scotland.

  4. The estimates are presented on household income both Before Housing Costs and After Housing Costs in line with HBAI conventions. Figures are also provided including and excluding the self-employed reflecting concerns over the accuracy of income information for the self-employed at the bottom of the income distribution. All figures for the bottom decile should be treated with caution; the bottom decile of reported incomes cannot safely be construed as the bottom decile of living standards.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the proportions of pensioners, unemployed, sick and disabled, single parents who compose the lowest decile in the distribution of income; and if he will list the equivalent data for 10, 20 and 30 years previously. [112330]
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  Mr. Bayley
  The information is in the table.

  The composition of the lowest decile of the income distribution based on available households below average income (HBAI) data percentage of bottom decile whose family type/economic status is:

  Including the self-employed

  Excluding the self-employed

  BHC

  AHC

  BHC

  AHC

  1979

  Pensioners

  36

  31

  40

  36

  Head or spouse unemployed

  15

  16

  17

  17

  Sick and disabled

  8

  8

  8

  9

  Single with children

  9

  9

  10

  9

  1988–89

  Pensioners

  23

  14

  28

  17

  Head or spouse unemployed

  27

  30

  31

  35

  Sick and disabled

  6

  5

  7

  6

  Single with children

  9

  10

  11

  12

  1997–98

  Pensioners

  19

  9

  23

  11

  Head or spouse unemployed

  18

  23

  21

  27

  Sick and disabled

  5

  4

  5

  5

  Single with children

  13

  14

  15

  18

  Notes:

  1. Information is derived from the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) data sets. 1979 is the earliest year for which DSS statistics are available.

  2. Estimates for 1979 and 1988–89 are derived from the Family Expenditure Survey and relate to the United Kingdom. Estimates for 1997–98 are taken from the Family Resources Survey and relate to Great Britain. All estimates are subject to sampling error. Results for individual years are sensitive to the precise way in which household incomes are adjusted for household size and composition; the picture of changes over time is generally not sensitive to this.

  3. Individuals are classified by the family types in which they live and/or their economic status. Families may belong to more than one group. Pensioners are here defined as a single person who is of State pension age or over, or a couple where the man is of State pension age or over. A child is defined as an individual aged under 16 or an unmarried 16 to 18-year-old on a course up to and including 'A' levels or 'Highers' in Scotland. The sick and disabled in this analysis are those in receipt of at least one of the following benefits relevant to the period: invalidity benefit, incapacity benefit, disability living allowance, disability working allowance; war disability pension, attendance allowance, industrial injuries disablement benefit, mobility allowance, severe disability allowance, statutory sick pay and sickness benefit.

  4. The estimates are presented on household income both Before Housing Costs and After Housing Costs in line with HBAI conventions. Figures are also provided including and excluding the self-employed reflecting concerns over the accuracy of income information for the self-employed at the bottom of the income distribution. All figures for the bottom decile should be treated with caution; the bottom decile of reported incomes cannot safely be construed as the bottom decile of living standards.

  New Deal for Lone Parents
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many lone parents in(a) the target group and (ii) the non-target group who have gained employment under the New Deal for Lone Parents are now in receipt of Income Support and have no earnings; [112755]

  (2) have gained employment under the New Deal for Lone Parents; and how many of these have subsequently claimed Income Support. [112754]
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  Angela Eagle
  From the national launch in October 1998 to December 1999, 20,400 lone parents from the target group and 14,800 lone parents from the non-target group have obtained jobs through NDLP.

  The number of those who obtained jobs through NDLP and subsequently claimed Income Support is not available.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Senator Pinochet
  Mr. Paul Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a further statement on the case of Senator Pinochet. [110637]

  Mr. Straw
  I have today decided that I will not order the extradition of Senator Pinochet to Spain. I made this decision under section 12 of the Extradition Act 1989. I have referred the case to the Director of Public Prosecutions for consideration of a domestic prosecution, in accordance with Article 7 of the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. I have also decided not to issue Authorities to Proceed in respect of the extradition requests from Switzerland, Belgium and France. Full reasons for my decisions are contained in the letters to the parties concerned from one of my officials as set out:

  Letter to the Spanish Ambassador:

  2. I am writing to inform you that the Secretary of State has this morning decided pursuant to section 12 of the Extradition Act 1989, to make no order for the return of Senator Pinochet to Spain. This letter sets out the Secretary of State's reasons. He reserves the right to expand on them should it become necessary to do so.

  The Secretary of State's approach to his decision

  3. On 14 April 1999, the Secretary of State issued an Authority to Proceed under section 7 of the Act on certain of the charges made in Spain's extradition request. On 8 October 1999, Senator Pinochet was committed by the Bow Street Magistrate on all charges covered by the Authority, to await the decision of the Secretary of State as to whether he should be extradited to Spain. A habeas corpus application was made on Senator Pinochet's behalf on 22 October 1999, which has not yet been heard.

  4. The Secretary of State is precluded by the Act from making an order for Senator Pinochet's extradition while his habeas corpus application is still pending. In the ordinary course, the Secretary of State would not make a decision to refuse such an order until all proceedings arising out of the habeas corpus application had been completed. However, he has a discretion to do so in appropriate cases and a duty to consider whether this is such a case. In approaching that discretion, he has proceeded on the basis that he should not at this stage decide against making an extradition order unless it is already clear that there is some decisive factor which would lead him to refuse such an order at the end of the day. The only factor militating against the extradition of Senator Pinochet which is potentially decisive at this stage is the state of his health, and in particular his mental fitness to stand trial.
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  Representations

  5. On 11 January 2000, the Secretary of State informed those acting for Senator Pinochet and the Kingdom of Spain that he had commissioned a medical report on Senator Pinochet, which had been delivered to the Home Office on 6 February 2000. He informed them that the report indicated that Senator Pinochet was unfit to stand trial, and that no significant improvement to that position could be expected. Subject to representations to be received at the Home Office by 5 pm on Tuesday 18 January 1999, he said that he was minded to conclude that no purpose would be served by continuing the current extradition proceeding arising from the Spanish request. Similar letters were sent to representatives of Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and other human rights organisations, which invited them to make such representations if they wished. A statement to the same effect was made to the press on 11 January 2000, and in the House of Commons on the following day.

  6. The Secretary of State has received representations from most of those who were expressly invited to make them, as well as from a large number of other parties. He has taken careful account of them. He has also taken account of the points in recent judicial review proceedings in the High Court. In addition, he has reminded himself of the representations which were made to him on the two occasions, in December 1998 and April 1999, when he considered whether an Authority to Proceed should issue under section 7 of the Act in respect of Spain's extradition request.

  7. On 15 February 2000, the High Court decided that the Secretary of State was bound to disclose copies of the medical report in confidence to the authorities of Spain, Belgium, France and Switzerland, all of whom have made requests for the extradition of Senator Pinochet. Copies of the report, together with certain ancillary material, were supplied to the Crown Prosecution Service on behalf of Spain and to the embassies of Belgium, France and Switzerland later on the same day. They were invited to make any representation on the report by 5 pm on Tuesday 22 February 2000. Representations were received in response to this invitation from all four requesting states. In the case of Spain, Belgium and France these included opinions from medical practitioners about the material sent to them on Tuesday 15 February 2000. In addition, some other representations on the medical report have been received. The Secretary of State has carefully considered these representations and the opinions annexed to them, with the benefit of expert advice.

  Senator Pinochet's health

  8. At the time when the Secretary of State was considering his first and second Authorities to Proceed, he received representations and a certain amount of information about Senator Pinochet's state of health from his solicitors. The tenor of this material was that Senator Pinochet was in some respects frail, as was to be expected in a man of his age. It did not, however, suggest that he was either physically or mentally unfit to stand trial. The Secretary of State did not regard this information as justifying the refusal of either of the Authorities to Proceed which he then issued.

  9. The first sign that a serious problem about Senator Pinochet's health might be developing came on 6 October 1999, when, two days before judgment was given in

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  the committal proceedings, the Bow Street Magistrate excused him from attending the judgment in person. This decision was based on evidence given to the court by the general practitioner attending Senator Pinochet.

  10. On 14 October 1999, shortly after the decision of the Magistrate to commit Senator Pinochet, the Secretary of State received through diplomatic channels representations from the Chilean Embassy, supported by medical reports, which suggested that there had been a recent and significant deterioration in Senator Pinochet's health. The Secretary of State did not regard this material as conclusive. It did, however, suggest the possibility that Senator Pinochet might be unfit to stand trial. He therefore decided to invite Senator Pinochet to submit to a medical examination by a team of clinicians appointed by him. The object was to obtain an independent, comprehensive and authoritative report on the relevant clinical facts. Senator Pinochet consented to undergo an examination, and the Secretary of State then selected, with the assistance of the Chief Medical Officer's advice, a team of clinicians to carry it out, having the required range of specialisations and no inappropriate personal interest in the case. They were:
  Sir John Grimley Evans FRCP, Professor of Clinical Geratology at the University of Oxford. He is a former Vice President of the Royal College of Physicians and serves on the World Health Organisation expert panel on the care of the elderly. The Chief Medical Officer identified him as probably the most respected individual in British geriatric medicine.
  Dr. Michael Denham MD, FRCP (Lond., Edin.), FRSA, Consultant Physician in Geriatric Medicine at Northwick Park Hospital, London. He is a former President of the British Geriatrics Society and the author of numerous papers on the care of the elderly.
  Professor Andrew Lees MD, FRCP, Professor of Neurology at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London. Professor Lees is a specialist in movement disorders and dementia. He is medical adviser to, and Co-Director of, the Parkinson's Disease Society.

  All three are independent practitioners of outstanding national and international reputation in their fields. On their advice and with the agreement of the Chief Medical Officer, Maria Wyke MA, PhD, Consultant Neuropsychologist, was added to the team. Professor Lees and Dr. Maria Wyke are fluent Spanish speakers.

  11. The clinicians were instructed to undertake the examinations and procedures which they judged desirable in order to provide the Home Secretary with a fully comprehensive report on the state of Senator Pinochet's health. In particular, they were asked to advise the Secretary of State whether, in their view, there were any aspects of Senator Pinochet's state of health which, separately or together, suggested that he was not then fit, or was likely to become unfit, to stand trial in Spain. They were told that the Secretary of State was particularly interested in Senator Pinochet's ability to follow a line of questioning, to recall events, some of which took place as long ago as the 1970s, and to give coherent evidence. To the extent that any of the contents of their report were influenced by observation of Senator Pinochet's conduct and manner, they were asked to advise the Secretary of State on the extent to which that conduct and manner were capable of being consciously influenced by the Senator himself.
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  12. It should be pointed out that the clinicians were not expected, in reaching their conclusions, to take responsibility for the legal test of fitness for trial, nor does the Secretary of State consider them to have done so. Their function was to ascertain the clinical facts. The test of fitness for trial which has been applied, both in framing their instructions and in assessing their report, is the responsibility of the Secretary of State, who in turn has drawn extensively upon the opinions of his legal advisers.

  13. The medical examination was conducted in Spanish at the Northwick Park Hospital in London over a period of some six hours on 5 January 2000, and the report was delivered to the Home Office on the following day. Certain information supplementing the report was supplied afterwards. This comprised (i) a short account of the procedures followed at the examination, which was supplied by Professor Grimley Evans on 7 January 2000; (ii) a copy of the neuropsychological report of Dr. Wyke, which had been summarised in the principal report but not annexed to it; and (iii) an explanation of neuropsychological testing by way of introduction to Dr. Wyke's report. This material was supplied to the four requesting states with the principal report on 15 February 2000. In addition, the Secretary of State has referred to Professor Grimley Evans and his colleagues the representations received on their report, and medical opinions annexed to those representations, and he has received their comments.

  14. As the Secretary of State disclosed in his announcements on 11 and 12 January 2000, the conclusions of the medical report indicated that Senator Pinochet was unfit to stand trial and that no significant improvement to that position could be expected. The Secretary of State has considered the matter afresh in the light of all the material referred to in the preceding paragraph, and in the light of representations which he has received on the subject. Having done so, he is satisfied that the conclusions of the original report were correct and that it is right to regard Senator Pinochet as unfit to stand trial.

  15. The critical facts are as follows:

  (1) Senator Pinochet was born on 25 November 1915. He is 84 years old. The Secretary of State does not regard Senator Pinochet's age as being in itself a sufficient basis for his present decision. But he has taken account of it in assessing the significance of other aspects of his state of health.

  (2) The clinicians instructed by the Secretary of State concluded that Senator Pinochet would not at present be mentally capable of meaningful participation in a trial. In reaching that conclusion, they were obliged to make assumptions about what kind of participation in a criminal trial would in law be regarded as "meaningful" in determining the fitness of an accused. Those assumptions are apparent from the conclusion of their report and are considered in sub-paragraphs (3) and (4) below. So far as the Secretary of State has attached weight to them, he is satisfied that they are appropriate.

  (3) The clinicians expressed their opinion about Senator Pinochet's capacity for meaningful participation in a trial on the basis of (i) Senator Pinochet's memory deficit for both recent and remote events; (ii) his limited ability to comprehend complex sentences and questions

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  owing to memory impairment and a consequent inability to process verbal information appropriately; (iii) his impaired ability to express himself audibly, succinctly and relevantly; and (iv) easy fatiguability. The Secretary of State considers that all of these factors are potentially relevant to Senator Pinochet's mental capacity to participate in a trial. In this context, he attaches particular importance to Senator Pinochet's memory deficit for recent events, which would affect his ability to relate and understand items of information given to him at a trial, and to his limited ability to comprehend complex sentences and questions and to process verbal information. The Secretary of State has not attached weight to the impairment of Senator Pinochet's capacity to remember remote events, save in so far its recent deterioration is symptomatic of brain damage having a wider significance: see sub-paragraph (6) below.

  (4) With these impediments Senator Pinochet would be unable to follow the process of a trial sufficiently to instruct Counsel. He would have difficulty in understanding the content and implications of questions put to him and would have inadequate insight into this difficulty. He would have difficulty in making himself understood in replying to questions.

  (5) In assessing the significance of the above matters, the Secretary of State has considered the nature of the issues which would be likely to arise in a criminal trial on the serious charges for which Senator Pinochet has been committed. He has also assumed that at any trial reasonable steps would be taken to mitigate Senator Pinochet's disabilities, for example, by attending to his physical comfort and medical needs, by adjusting the timetable of hearings, and by endeavouring to simplify the proceedings so far as their nature permitted. He has reminded himself that the burden of proof at any trial would be on the prosecution. The Secretary of State does not consider that these matters are capable of mitigating to a significant degree the difficulties to which Senator Pinochet's disabilities would give rise.

  (6) The disabilities identified in the medical report are due to widespread brain damage, the major episodes of which seem to have occurred during September and October 1999 when Senator Pinochet suffered a number of strokes. They are not due to the ordinary processes of ageing.

  (7) The examination took place on a single day, but the clinicians had access to reports prepared by reputable British general practitioners and specialists attending Senator Pinochet who had examined him on a number of occasions in September and October 1999. These enabled them to cross-refer their observations on 5 January 2000 to earlier observations and to evaluate a characteristic pattern of illness as it had evolved over a period of several months.

  (8) The clinicians considered that further deterioration in both his physical and his mental condition was likely to occur, but were unable to express an opinion on the effect (if any) which a trial would have on the rate of deterioration. Their view was that although some day-to-day fluctuation in functional abilities was characteristic of brain damage due to cerebrovascular disease, further sustained functional improvement of a significant degree was unlikely.

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  16. The Secretary of State has always attached great importance to being able to satisfy himself that the results of the medical examination were not influenced by feigning of any kind. His instructions to the clinicians drew attention to the point and he is satisfied that they have been conscious of it throughout. They have advised him that there was no evidence that Senator Pinochet was trying to fake disability. The impediments were coherent in nature and consistent in manifestation, and the neuropsychological testing showed none of the features of deliberate exaggeration. In particular, those neuropsychological tests which were indicative of original intelligence and educational level showed superior performance. The Secretary of State is advised that there is no practical possibility that the results of the neuropsychological tests were influenced by coaching. He is also advised that while it is possible to simulate with drugs the symptoms of a global impairment of cognitive functions, (i) this is a problem with which geriatricians are particularly familiar, and (ii) Senator Pinochet's cognitive impairment was focal rather than global, a pattern not seen in drug-induced impairment. It is important to point out that the outward manner of Senator Pinochet is not necessarily a reliable guide to his mental condition. It is characteristic of persons with a high level of original intelligence that they are able to mask superficially a significant impairment of cognitive functions.

  17. The report of the clinicians who examined Senator Pinochet has been criticised by a number of medical practitioners whose opinions have been transmitted by the examining magistrates responsible for criminal investigations of Senator Pinochet in Spain, Belgium and France, and by certain other parties. In considering these criticisms, the Secretary of State has borne in mind that those who have made them have not examined Senator Pinochet, as the authors of the report of 6 January 2000 did, nor have they had the advantage which the clinicians enjoyed of studying records of Senator Pinochet's recent medical history. The Secretary of State is advised that most of the criticisms made of the report are irrelevant to its conclusions, and certainly to the conclusions that are critical to Senator Pinochet's fitness for trial (see paragraph 15). He is advised that those criticisms which are relevant are medically unjustified. The Secretary of State is satisfied that the advice he has received on these points has been based on a careful and objective analysis of the criticisms. He accepts that advice.

  18. The medical report on Senator Pinochet of 6 January 2000 is an entirely independent report by highly qualified specialist practitioners on the relevant clinical facts. In commissioning it, the Secretary of State did not set out to prove any particular point and had no expectation of any particular outcome. He is satisfied that the clinicians who prepared it undertook their task in the same spirit.

  19. Letters of request from the examining magistrates in Belgium and France have been transmitted to the United Kingdom, each of which seeks a further medical examination. In addition, Judge Garzon, the examining magistrate in Spain, has called in his representations for a further examination of Senator Pinochet. Senator Pinochet has consistently declined to comply with the invitations addressed to him by requesting states for a further medical examination. The Secretary of State, having taken advice on the point, does not consider that a

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  further examination would yield further material of significance. He does not therefore regard it as either necessary or appropriate to commission one in order to determine whether Senator Pinochet is fit to stand trial.

  Unfitness to stand trial

  20. The conclusions to which the Secretary of State has come mean that in a criminal trial in England, Senator Pinochet would be found unfit to stand trial, and there would not therefore be any trial of the charges against him on their merits. If this were a peculiarity of English criminal law, the Secretary of State would not attach as much weight to it as he does. However, in the view of the Secretary of State, the principle that an accused person should be mentally capable of following the proceedings, instructing his lawyers and giving coherent evidence is fundamental to the idea of a fair trial. He is advised that the attempted trial of an accused in the condition diagnosed in Senator Pinochet, on the charges which have been made against him in this case, could not be a fair trial in any country, and would violate Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights in those countries which are party to it.

  21. After receiving the initial representations of Spain, the Secretary of State asked for further information from those representing Spain about the principles governing these matters in the Spanish system of criminal justice. This information has satisfied him that while the procedure differs in significant respects from that which would be followed in England, the underlying principle is substantially the same. The test of fitness to stand trial in Spain depends mainly on whether the accused is capable of understanding and following the charges against him, answering questions put to him, understanding the oral and documentary evidence for the defence and the prosecution, defending himself and instructing his lawyers. This is consistent with the representations as to Spanish law made on behalf of Senator Pinochet and on behalf of human rights organisations represented by Bindman & Partners. If Senator Pinochet were to be extradited to Spain, his fitness for trial would be assessed there by an objective process of clinical examination and testing. There is no reason to believe that that process would lead to conclusions any different in substance from those of the medical report commissioned by the Secretary of State in England. The Secretary of State is conscious that in Spain as in England, a "trial" may include the process of assessing the Defendant's fitness for trial. However, on the material before him, it is reasonable to assume that if Senator Pinochet were to be extradited to Spain, a trial there on the merits of the charges against him would be found impossible.

  22. In considering whether to decide against extradition on account of Senator Pinochet's unfitness to stand trial, the Secretary of State has given careful thought to the alternative possibility of leaving that question to be determined in accordance with Spanish judicial procedures in Spain, in the event that there was no other objection to extraditing him there. He has been advised and has concluded that on the basis of English law he is bound to form a view of his own on Senator Pinochet's fitness to stand trial, and that he cannot refrain from reaching a concluded view on this point on the basis that the question can be determined in Spain. In the light of his conclusion that no improvement in Senator Pinochet's condition can be expected, he considers that no purpose
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  would be served by the continuance of the current extradition proceedings in England. These would involve the continued detention of Senator Pinochet here for a period which, allowing for the habeas corpus proceedings and any appeal arising out of them, might be substantial. Any order for the extradition of Senator Pinochet which might then be made would involve the compulsory removal to another country of a man of 84 years of age who must at this stage be presumed innocent, for the purpose of a trial which could not result in any verdict on the charges against him, for reasons that are already apparent to the Secretary of State as the extradition authority in the United Kingdom. The Secretary of State considers that that course would serve no purpose of any substantial value to the interests of justice and that it would be oppressive to Senator Pinochet.

  23. The Secretary of State would not necessarily have taken the same view if there had been any realistic prospect that Senator Pinochet's condition would improve, either spontaneously or as a result of treatment. He is aware that in Spanish law the effect of a finding that an accused is unfit to stand trial is to suspend a prosecution for as long as that state of affairs subsists, but it is not tantamount to an acquittal.

  Section 12 of the Extradition Act 1989

  24. Section 12(2)(a) of the Act provides that the Secretary of State may not order the extradition of the accused in relation to any alleged offence if it appears to him that: (i) by reason of its trivial nature; or (ii) by reason of the passage of time since he is alleged to have committed it … or (iii) because the accusation against him is not made in good faith in the interests of justice, it would, having regard to all the circumstances, be unjust or oppressive to return him.

  25. The Secretary of State considers that this provision has no application to the present question. Although it would in his view be oppressive to order Senator Pinochet's extradition given his unfitness to stand trial, this state of affairs has not arisen by reason of the passage of time since he is alleged to have committed the offences. But for the lapse of time since the alleged offence, a decision under section 12 might possibly have fallen to be made before Senator Pinochet became unfit, but the cause of his unfitness is the supervening brain damage which appears to have occurred in September and October 1999. That damage was not itself either caused or aggravated by the lapse of time since the alleged offences. Neither of the other two factors identified in the sub-section is relevant.

  26. It follows that Senator Pinochet's unfitness for trial is not an absolute bar to his extradition. It is a matter to be addressed as part of the general discretion of the Secretary of State under section 12(1).

  The European Convention on Extradition

  27. The United Kingdom and Spain are parties to the Convention.

  28. The Convention requires extradition in all cases to which it applies, subject only to specific and limited exceptions, and to any reservations made by particular contracting states on their accession. In cases falling outside these exceptions and reservations, there is no general discretion. There is no express exception applicable to this case, nor is there any relevant

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  reservation of the United Kingdom or Spain. The Secretary of State is advised that it is open to argument whether the Convention is subject to an implicit exception for cases where the primary purpose of any extradition, namely the trial of the charges alleged against the accused, could not be served. In the circumstances of this case, the Secretary of State considers it unnecessary to form a concluded view about that. He has assumed, in reaching his decision, that the Convention does not allow for the refusal of extradition on the ground that the accused is and will remain unfit to stand trial in the requesting state.

  29. The Convention is not incorporated into English domestic law save to the limited extent provided for by the European Convention on Extradition Order 1990, SI 1990/1507. This provides simply for the Extradition Act 1989 to apply as between the United Kingdom and other parties to the Convention, and for it to do so on the basis contemplated in section 9(8)(a) of the Act that a prima facie case need not be shown on the committal hearing. Section 12 of the Act therefore applies, as a matter of English law, to extradition proceedings arising out of requests from states party to the Convention. The discretion conferred by it on the Secretary of State must be exercised in such cases.

  30. Although the Convention is not part of English domestic law, the Secretary of State attaches great importance to the international obligations of the United Kingdom, and in the exercise of his discretions under the Extradition Act he regards those obligations as both relevant and entitled to considerable weight. In most cases to which the Convention applies they will be decisive. However, the Secretary of State recognises that given the breadth of his discretion under section 12 of the Act there may be some occasions on which the requirements of the Convention are outweighed by other compelling considerations peculiar to particular cases. The Secretary of State considers that they are outweighed by such considerations in this case, having regard in particular to the nature of Senator Pinochet's condition in a man of his age, to its probable permanence, and to its impact on the possibility of a trial of the charges against him.

  31. The experience of the Home Office has been that in practice parties to the Convention operate its provisions in a more flexible fashion than its absolute language suggests, and in accordance with basic principles of justice which are common to all of them. It is consistent with this approach that Belgium should have been recorded in the judgment of the High Court on their recent application for judicial review as having
  clearly stated that they would support the Secretary of State's decision if only they could be satisfied that Senator Pinochet is indeed shown by the report to be permanently unfit to stand trial;

  and that Spain should have informed the Secretary of State that they will respect any decision made by the Secretary of State in the exercise of his discretionary powers. In making his decision, the Secretary of State has not attached weight to the matters summarised in this paragraph, but he considers it right that they should be recorded.

  Other countervailing considerations

  32. The main consideration which has been urged upon the Secretary of State in favour of allowing the current extradition proceedings to take their course is the importance of ensuring so far as possible that the
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  allegations made against Senator Pinochet should be tried. The Secretary of State agrees that this is important. The scope of the charges against Senator Pinochet was substantially reduced as a result of the decision of the House of Lords in R v. Bow Street Metropolitan Stipendiary Magistrate ex p. Pinochet (No. 3) [1999] 2 WLR 827, but the remaining charges are extremely serious. The Secretary of State attaches great importance to the principle that universal jurisdiction against persons charged with international crimes should be made effective, and he is aware that the practical consequence of refusing to extradite Senator Pinochet to Spain on account of his unfitness to stand trial is that he will probably not be tried anywhere. The Secretary of State is also mindful of the sense of injury which will be felt by those who suffered from breaches of human rights in Chile in the past, as well as their relatives. All of these are matters of legitimate concern, and he has had them very much in mind when considering the evidence about Senator Pinochet's state of health. They are among the reasons why he has required the evidence of Senator Pinochet's condition to satisfy a high standard of expertise, thoroughness, objectivity and cogency before he was prepared to act on it. Ultimately, however, the reservation "so far as possible" cannot be brushed aside. A trial of the charges against Senator Pinochet, however desirable, is no longer possible.

  33. The Secretary of State has considered other factors, including a wide variety of matters raised in representations received at the Home Office. This letter has dealt in terms only with those matters which have had a significant bearing on the Secretary of State's decision. It is, however, right to mention the following further points:

  (1) The Secretary of State understands that if Senator Pinochet were convicted in Spain of the offences charged against him, victims of those offences might be entitled to recover civil damages in proceedings ancillary to the criminal trial. The Secretary of State doubts whether this point could be relevant to a decision whether to extradite a person on a criminal charge, but he has reached no concluded view on its legal relevance, because he does not in any event feel able to attach significant weight to it. It is right to add that the point assumes the possibility of a verdict on the charges.

  (2) The Secretary of State has not had regard to the possibility, if indeed it is a real one, that Senator Pinochet might be tried in Chile.

  (3) The Secretary of State considers that in some circumstances it may be appropriate for him to have regard to political, economic or diplomatic interests of the United Kingdom in exercising his discretions under the Extradition Act. He has not had regard to such factors in making his present decision.

  Referring the decision to the Court

  34. The Secretary of State has been urged by a number of those who have made representations to him to leave to the Courts the question whether Senator Pinochet should be discharged on account of unfitness to stand trial. He has considered this possibility but does not propose to adopt it.
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  35. The High Court has power to discharge accused persons who are being unlawfully detained, and such further powers as are specifically conferred on it by the Extradition Act 1989. It has no inherent supervisory power over extradition. Under section 11(3) of the Act, the High Court on the hearing of a habeas corpus application has a duty similar to that of the Secretary of State under section 12(2)(a) to discharge an accused if by reason of the lapse of time since the offences are alleged to have been committed it would in all the circumstances be unjust or oppressive to order his extradition. If the Secretary of State had regarded these provisions as applicable he would have been bound to refuse to extradite Senator Pinochet. However, the facts making it oppressive to extradite Senator Pinochet do not arise from the lapse of time since the alleged offences. Therefore neither section 11(3) nor section 12(2)(a) applies. The Secretary of State is the only authority on whom a general discretion is conferred whether to order extradition. He has had regard in exercising it to the principle expressed by the courts on a number of occasions that the proper exercise of that discretion by the Secretary of State is the principal safeguard for the accused against oppression.

  36. The Secretary of State would not, even if the Court had concurrent jurisdiction in the circumstances of this case, have thought it right to refrain from performing a duty or exercising a discretion conferred on him by statute, which he was in a position to exercise on material which he had commissioned for that purpose, simply because at some future stage another authority might take the decision instead.

  Domestic prosecution

  37. Article 7 of the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment requires the Secretary of State, if he does not order the extradition of a person accused of torture, to submit the case to the United Kingdom prosecuting authorities for the purposes of a domestic prosecution. The Secretary of State has supplied papers in advance to the Solicitor General and the Director of Public Prosecutions for that purpose and has this morning referred the case to them under Article 7. Their functions in the matter are entirely independent of his.

  Letters rogatory

  38. The only additional matter is the application of Judge Garzon by letters rogatory of 15 January 2000 for Senator Pinochet to be required to appear in court to respond to a request for a statement. The Home Secretary has decided not to give effect to this request on the grounds that Senator Pinochet is not a compellable witness as a matter of English law.

  Letter to the Belgian Ambassador:

  39. The Secretary of State has today made a final decision not to issue an Authority to Proceed under section 7 of the Extradition Act 1989 in respect of the two requests of Belgium for Senator Pinochet's extradition, transmitted on 15 December 1998 and 11 November 1999. In making this decision, the Secretary of State has treated the "Elaborative Memorandum" transmitted on 3 February 2000 as supplementing those requests and has had regard to the full range of offences alleged against Senator Pinochet in all three documents.
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  40. Under 7(4) of the Extradition Act 1989, the Secretary of State is required to refuse an Authority to Proceed if an order for the extradition of Senator Pinochet could not lawfully be made or would not in fact be made in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Under those provisions, extradition is available only in respect of extradition crimes. The Secretary of State has directed himself on this point in accordance with the decision of the House of Lords in R v. Bow Street Metropolitan Stipendiary Magistrate ex p. Pinochet (No.3) [1999] 2 WLR 827. An offence committed outside the United Kingdom is not an extradition crime unless it was punishable in the United Kingdom at the date when it is alleged to have been committed. Torture outside the United Kingdom and conspiracy to torture outside the United Kingdom first became punishable in the United Kingdom on 29 September 1988 when section 134 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 came into force.

  41. None of the matters set out in the two extradition requests of Belgium and the Elaborative Memorandum disclose offences of torture or conspiracy to torture committed after 29 September 1988. In the Elaborative Memorandum, attention is drawn to three cases in which persons disappeared in circumstances which have never been disclosed to their families. It is alleged that their disappearance constituted torture of themselves and their families, which in the absence of news of them continued, or must be treated as continuing, to the present day. It is an essential requirement of the offence of torture in English law that the accused should, by some act or omission, have intentionally inflicted severe physical or mental pain or suffering on another person or been party to the infliction of such pain or suffering. The Secretary of State does not regard the two extradition requests or the Elaborative Memorandum as alleging (i) any act or omission inflicting severe pain or suffering and occurring on or after 29 September 1988, or (ii) that any intention to inflict pain or suffering was continuing until 29 September 1988 or any later date, or (iii) an intention existing at any time to inflict pain or suffering on any one other than those who disappeared. Furthermore, the Secretary of State does not regard any such allegations as being implicit in the facts alleged.

  42. There are no offences other than torture or conspiracy to torture disclosed in the two extradition requests or the Elaborative Memorandum which have at any time been punishable in the United Kingdom if committed outside the United Kingdom. The requirement that offences alleged in an extradition request should be punishable under the law of the requested state is of course reflected in the European Convention on Extradition.

  43. If the Secretary State had regarded the two extradition requests and the Elaborative Memorandum as disclosing extradition crimes, he would nevertheless have refused to issue an Authority to Proceed in this case because he is satisfied that Senator Pinochet is unfit to stand trial and that there is no likelihood of significant improvement. He has today decided on that ground that he will not order the extradition of Senator Pinochet to Spain. It appears to him that even had the Belgian extradition requests and the Elaborative Memorandum disclosed extradition crimes Senator Pinochet's unfitness to stand trial would have precluded his extradition to Belgium for the same reasons as it precluded his

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  extradition to Spain. The enclosed copy of my letter this morning to the Spanish Ambassador sets those reasons out.

  44. In these circumstances, the question whether Senator Pinochet could claim state immunity in respect of the offences alleged against him does not arise.

  45. I refer to the three letters of request issued by the examining magistrate Mr. Vandermeersch and transmitted on 19 and 24 January and 22 February 2000. The first of these seeks a further medical examination of Senator Pinochet. It has been executed in accordance with English law by inviting Senator Pinochet to submit voluntarily to the examination sought. He has declined to comply. In the light of the judgment of the High Court on 15 February 2000, the second letter of request has been executed so far as it seeks disclosure of the medical report. The Secretary of State does not propose to give effect to the second letter of request to any greater extent, having regard to the terms of that judgment and to his decision to refuse an Authority to Proceed in respect of Belgium's extradition requests. If Senator Pinochet were at some future stage to enter Belgium or to be extradited there from a third country, the Secretary of State will consider what further assistance might be appropriate. The third letter of request invites the Secretary of State or other competent authority to carry out an assessment of the frontal functions and of the autobiographical recall capacities of Senator Pinochet with the latter's consent. This letter has been executed so far as it can be by inviting Senator Pinochet's consent. He has declined. There is accordingly nothing more by way of execution to be done.

  46. As indicated, I am enclosing a copy of the letter which I have sent this morning to the Spanish Ambassador.

  Letter to Swiss Ambassador:

  47. The Secretary of State has today made a final decision not to issue an Authority to Proceed under section 7 of the Extradition Act 1989 in respect of the request of Switzerland for Senator Pinochet's extradition, received on 11 November 1998 and renewed on 7 October 1999.

  48. Under section 7(4) of the Extradition Act 1989, the Secretary of State is required to refuse an Authority to Proceed if an order for the extradition of Senator Pinochet could not lawfully be made or would not in fact be made in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Under those provisions, extradition is available only in respect of extradition crimes. The Secretary of State has directed himself on this point in accordance with the decision of the House of Lords in R v. Bow Street Metropolitan Stipendiary Magistrate ex p. Pinochet (No.3) [1999] 2 WLR 827. An offence committed outside the United Kingdom is not an extradition crime unless it was punishable in the United Kingdom at the date when it is alleged to have been committed. Torture outside the United Kingdom and conspiracy to torture outside the United Kingdom first became punishable in the United Kingdom on 29 September 1988 when section 134 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 came into force.

  49. The requirement that offences alleged in an extradition request should be punishable under the law of the requested state is of course reflected in the European
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  Convention on Extradition. None of the offences alleged in the extradition requests of Switzerland are alleged to have been committed after that date.

  50. If the Secretary of State had regarded the extradition request of Switzerland as disclosing extradition crimes, he would nevertheless have refused to issue an Authority to Proceed in this case because he is satisfied that Senator Pinochet is unfit to stand trial and that there is no likelihood of significant improvement. He has today decided on that ground that he will not order the extradition of Senator Pinochet to Spain. It appears to him that even had the request of Switzerland disclosed extradition crimes Senator Pinochet's unfitness to stand trial would have precluded his extradition to Switzerland for the same reasons as it precluded his extradition to Spain. The enclosed copy of my letter this morning to the Spanish Ambassador sets those reasons out.

  51. In these circumstances, the question whether Senator Pinochet could claim state immunity in respect of the offences alleged against him does not arise.

  52. As indicated, I am enclosing a copy of the letter which I have sent this morning to the Spanish Ambassador.

  Letter to French Ambassador:

  53. The Secretary of State has today made a final decision not to issue an Authority to Proceed under section 7 of the Extradition Act 1989 in respect of the requests of France for Senator Pinochet's extradition, transmitted on 13 November 1998 and 4 February 1999.

  54. Under section 7(4) of the Extradition Act 1989, the Secretary of State is required to refuse an Authority to Proceed if an order for the extradition of Senator Pinochet could not lawfully be made or would not in fact be made in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Under those provisions, extradition is available only in respect of extradition crimes. The Secretary of State has directed himself on this point in accordance with the decision of the House of Lords in R v. Bow Street Metropolitan Stipendiary Magistrate ex p. Pinochet (No.3) [1999] 2 WLR 827. An offence committed outside the United Kingdom is not an extradition crime unless it was punishable in the United Kingdom at the date when it is alleged to have been committed. Torture outside the United Kingdom and conspiracy to torture outside the United Kingdom first became punishable in the United Kingdom on 29 September 1988 when section 134 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 came into force.

  55. The requirement that offences alleged in an extradition request should be punishable under the law of the requested state is of course reflected in the European Convention on Extradition. None of the offences alleged in the extradition requests of France are alleged to have been committed after that date.

  56. If the Secretary of State had regarded the extradition requests of France as disclosing extradition crimes, he would nevertheless have refused to issue an Authority to Proceed in this case because he is satisfied that Senator Pinochet is unfit to stand trial and that there is no likelihood of significant improvement. He has today decided on that ground that he will not order the extradition of Senator Pinochet to Spain. It appears to him that, even had the requests of France disclosed extradition

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  crimes, Senator Pinochet's unfitness to stand trial would have precluded his extradition to France for the same reasons as it precluded his extradition to Spain. The enclosed copy of my letter this morning to the Spanish Ambassador sets those reasons out.

  57. In these circumstances, the question whether Senator Pinochet could claim state immunity in respect of the offences alleged against him does not arise.

  58. A letter of request of 22 February from Judge Le Loire sought a further medical examination of Senator Pinochet. That request was forwarded to Senator Pinochet's legal representatives on 29 February. They confirm that he does not propose to comply.

  59. As indicated, I am enclosing a copy of the letter which I have sent this morning to the Spanish Ambassador.

  Tote
  Mr. Olner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the sale of the Tote and the future of the Levy Board. [111812]

  Mr. Straw
  The futures of the Horserace Totalisator Board (The Tote) and the Horserace Betting Levy Board have, for different reasons, been under review. I am now able to set out the Government's conclusions.

  I announced in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Leigh (Mr. Cunliffe), on 12 May 1999, Official Report, columns 159–160W, that the Government had decided to sell the Tote and that further work would be put in hand to determine the most appropriate method of sale. That work, which included the evaluation by independent financial advisers of a range of sale options, has now been completed. The options included flotation of the Tote on the stock market, its sale by open competitive auction and a sale to horseracing. Consideration of the best option was helped by the agreement of all relevant horseracing interests to support a single proposal to buy the Tote on behalf of racing, in order to maintain the position under which all the Tote's profits are used for the benefit of racing.

  Following careful consideration of all the available sale options, I have concluded that a sale to racing represents the best match, in principle, with the Government's objectives for the sale as a whole, as set out in my May 1999 statement. While the price to be paid by racing for the Tote will need to be the subject of commercial negotiation, it will be important to ensure that it is a fair one which strikes the right balance between the respective legitimate interests in the Tote of both racing and the taxpayer.

  Racing's proposal to Government aims to ensure that those who are responsible for managing and developing the Tote's business do so within a fully commercial operating environment. I believe that this represents the best options for the Tote and its staff, not forgetting, of course, all those who bet with it.

  We therefore propose to bring forward legislation, at the appropriate time and when Parliamentary time allows, which would enable the sale to proceed on this basis. However, a final decision will need to take account of circumstances at the time, including the outcome of commercial negotiations and relevant legal considerations.
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  I have also today published the report of the quinquennial review of the Horserace Betting Levy Board; copies have been placed in the Library.

  The Levy Board was set up in 1961 to collect a levy on horserace bets from bookmakers and to disburse it for the benefit of racing.

  The Report concludes that the Levy Board is an efficient body which carries out its statutory functions well, but that most of those functions no longer need to be carried out in the public sector. In particular, the arrangements under which racing receives income from bookmaking should become a matter for settlement between the parties on a commercial basis.

  The Report recommends that the Government, in co-operation with the Levy Board and the industries involved, should take forward detailed consideration of all of the associated issues including the Board's important role in the provision of integrity services and its regulatory functions.

  The Government agree with these conclusions, and propose to bring forward, once again at the appropriate time and when Parliamentary time allows, legislative proposals for the abolition of the Levy Board. We shall now be discussing with the Board, the British Horseracing Board and other representatives of the racing and bookmaking industries, the steps needed to put alternative arrangements in place. As part of this process I shall be asking the British Horseracing Board, as racing's governing body, to prepare a realistic plan which shows how racing will be run as a national sport without a statutory levy.

  I should make it clear that the decision to abolish the levy system is no reflection on the performance of either the Board or its staff. Both have made a significant contribution to the administration of racing over many years, which we gratefully acknowledge.

  The sale of the Tote and the abolition of the levy system will together mark an important change in the relationship between the Government and horseracing. The Home Secretary is responsible for policy on the regulation of gambling, which requires consideration of its social impact and measures to ensure protection against crime and exploitation. For reasons of history, this responsibility has involved the Government in the administration and financing of British horseracing to an extent and in ways which are no longer needed.

  My recent announcement that the Government are to establish an independent review of gambling offers racing, and others, an opportunity to put forward their ideas for the future control and regulation of betting on horseracing. Meanwhile, the sale of the Tote and the abolition of the Levy should enable racing to take more control of its own affairs and finances, as befits a mature sport. In preparing the legislation needed to give effect to these changes, the Government are committed to working closely with racing, bookmaking and other relevant interests to ensure that the results which are delivered match up to our aspirations. Horseracing is an important and successful national sport which gives employment and pleasure to many people. We want it to prosper.

  Metropolitan Police (Private Medical Treatment)
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library the Metropolitan Police Service report into the pilot project which involved the use of private medical facilities to treat Metropolitan police officers. [112751]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Commissioner tells me that the Metropolitan police are undertaking a "Spend-to-Save" pilot scheme for the early diagnosis of musculoskeletal conditions that involves the use of private medical facilities. The scheme commenced in May 1999 and will run to the end of April 2000, after which a report will be published. I will arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library.

  River Thames (Bodies Recovered)
  Mr. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many bodies recovered from the Thames by the Metropolitan police in the last five years have been incapable of identification. [111987]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Commissioner of the Metropolitan police has informed me that between 1 January 1995 and 24 February 2000 his officers recovered 197 bodies from the River Thames. Of these, seven currently remain incapable of identification.

  Gammahydroxybutyrate
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of

  £000

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  Belmarsh

  22,251

  23,607

  25,400

  26,445

  27,090

  Brixton

  18,570

  17,722

  17,491

  17,677

  17,488

  Feltham

  15,776

  15,711

  16,472

  17,067

  19,615

  Holloway

  15,768

  16,796

  17,824

  18,386

  18,622

  Latchmere House

  2,404

  2,396

  2,497

  2,440

  2,667

  Pentonville

  16,323

  16,229

  17,346

  19,352

  19,988

  Wandsworth

  21,668

  19,015

  20,323

  21,821

  22,640

  Wormwood Scrubs

  20,273

  20,803

  20,912

  20,937

  20,558

  Civil Servants (Relocation)
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Government make use of relocation companies when relocating civil servants. [112063]

  Mr. Straw
  The Home Office and its agencies use one relocation company, Hambro Countrywide Relocation, to assist members of staff who have been authorised to move home at public expense following a transfer within, or into, the Department.

  Correspondence
  Sir Nicholas Lyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for North-East Bedfordshire concerning the asylum application concerning Mr. Arif and Mrs. Susan Tuysuz originally lodged in 1994. [111717]

  Mrs. Roche
  I wrote to the right hon. Member on 28 February. I am sorry for the delay.
  374W
  (1) the recent announcement by the President of the United States of America of the decision to place gammahydroxybutyrate in Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substance Act; and if he will make a statement; [111873]

  (2) the impact of recent moves in the US to place gammahydroxybutyrate under the Controlled Substances Act; and if he will make a statement. [111722]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I am aware that in the United States of America the Controlled Substances Act has recently been amended to include gammahydroxybutyrate. This information will also be made available to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs who are responsible for keeping drug misuse in the United Kingdom under review.

  It is important to bear in mind that drug misuse patterns vary from country to country. Gammahydroxybutyrate misuse has given rise to concern in the United States of America for a number of years. Historically, it has been widely available there and could be purchased over the counter in health food stores until 1992.

  Prison Budgets (London)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the financial budget allocated to each London prison in each of the last five years. [111938]

  Mr. Boateng
  Budgets are adjusted periodically during the year. The final budgets for the years 1995–96 to 1998–99 and the latest budget for 1999–2000 are given in the table.

  Police Recruitment
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Elmet of 9 February 2000,Official Report, column 172W, if he will publish a breakdown of the figure of 12,478 police recruits on a (a) force by force and (b) year by year basis. [111872]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Members for North-East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald) and for Southwark, North and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) on 21 February 2000,Official Report, column 828W.

  Criminal Justice (Mode of Trial) Bill
  Mr. Marshall-Andrews
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is his policy that magistrates should take into account possible loss of reputation in deciding whether to allow an election for jury trial under the provisions of the Criminal Justice (Mode of Trial) (No. 2) Bill. [112361]
  375W
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact on the confidence of(a) the general public and
  (b) members of the ethnic minorities in the criminal justice system of his proposals under the Criminal Justice (Mode of Trial) (No. 2) Bill; and if he will make a statement. [112519]

  Mr. Straw
  The Bill is part of the Government's programme to modernise the criminal justice system, to make it more responsive to the needs of victims of crime and the public at large. It is designed to prevent defendants from manipulating the system by demanding Crown Court trial in trivial cases just to delay proceedings. It does not prevent cases from being tried by jury where Crown Court trial is appropriate, and there is no reason why there should be any diminution in public confidence. Rather, it is likely to enhance public confidence.

  The Government have given careful consideration to the concerns that the changes could adversely affect minority ethnic defendants. They are satisfied that this is not the case. Home Office data published on 9 December 1999 show a higher conviction rate for white defendants (67 per cent) than for black defendants (57 per cent) in the magistrates courts. A similar pattern emerges from a separate study (to be published on 3 March), which shows that both in magistrates courts and in the Crown Court white defendants are more likely (by about six percentage points) to be convicted than black defendants.

  Under the Criminal Justice (Mode of Trial) (No. 2) Bill, magistrates courts would consider the circumstances of the offence but not the circumstances of the defendant. They would therefore be precluded from taking account of the effect of conviction on an accused's reputation (or livelihood), which under the original Mode of Trial Bill they would have been required to consider. The change was made in response to the widely-expressed concern that such considerations might discriminate in favour of certain categories of defendant and against others. The criteria in the new Bill will ensure that the courts make an objective decision on where a case should be tried.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase the number of(a) lay magistrates, (b) stipendiary magistrates, (c) recorders and assistant recorders and (d) circuit judges if the Criminal Justice (Mode of Trial) (No. 2) Bill is enacted. [112518]

  Mr. Straw
  My right hon. Friend the Lord Chancellor has no plans to increase the number of lay magistrates, stipendiary magistrates, recorders and assistant recorders and circuit judges as a consequence of enacting the Criminal Justice (Mode of Trial) (No. 2) Bill.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the average(a) cost of, (b) length of and (c) waiting time for (1) a trial in the magistrates court following the dismissal of an appeal to the Crown Court from the decision of magistrates on mode of trial, under the provisions of the Criminal Justice (Mode of Trial) (No. 2) Bill; [112539]

  (2) a hearing of (i) an oral and (ii) a written appeal to the Crown Court from the decision of magistrates on mode of trial, under the provisions of the Criminal Justice (Mode of Trial) (No. 2) Bill. [112537]
  376W
  Mr. Straw
  I refer the right hon. Member to my reply given on 27 January 2000,Official Report, column 250W. There will be no change under the Number 2 Bill.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the(a) number and (b) cost of additional appeals to the Crown Court against the (i) verdicts and (ii) sentences of magistrates, if the Criminal Justice (Mode of Trial) (No. 2) Bill is enacted. [112531]

  Mr. Straw
  I refer the right hon. Member to my reply given on 16 February 2000,Official Report, column 544W. There would be no significant change under the (No. 2) Bill.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to issue national guidelines to magistrates in England and Wales on the nature of the circumstances for each type of either-way offence which would normally lead to that offence being tried(a) summarily and (b) on indictment if the Criminal Justice (Mode of Trial) (No. 2) Bill is enacted. [112534]

  Mr. Straw
  National Mode of Trial Guidelines were issued in 1995 by the then Lord Chief Justice, setting out the circumstances in which magistrates should consider committing an either-way offence for trial in the Crown Court. Although the Criminal Justice (Mode of Trial) (No. 2) Bill is not intended significantly to change the basis on which magistrates make their decisions on mode of trial, some amendments to the guidelines would be necessary to bring them into line with the Bill.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the effect of the requirement in(a) the Criminal Justice (Mode of Trial) Bill and (b) the Criminal Justice (Mode of Trial) (No. 2) Bill for magistrates courts to state the reasons for their decision as to mode of trial on the percentage of appeals to the Crown Court against the magistrates' decision. [112530]

  Mr. Straw
  The requirement (which is in the (No. 2) Bill only) for magistrates to give reasons is not expected to affect the number of defendants exercising the right of appeal to the Crown Court on mode of trial.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of defendants who will exercise the right of appeal to the Crown Court on mode of trial, under the provisions of the Criminal Justice (Mode of Trial) (No. 2) Bill; and what estimate he has made of the percentage of appeals that will be successful. [112538]

  Mr. Straw
  It is assumed that 3,500 defendants (25 per cent. of those who would have elected and whom the magistrates have decided to try) will appeal; that 17.5 per cent. of these cases will proceed to an oral hearing; and that 12.5 per cent. of appeals considered on the papers, and 27.5 per cent. of oral appeals, will be successful.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the increase in the number of cases in(a) the Divisional Courts (b) the Court of Appeal and (c) the House of Lords as a result of the Criminal Justice (Mode of Trial) (No. 2) Bill being enacted; what will be the additional costs to public funds; and if he will make a statement. [112535]
  377W
  Mr. Straw
  Our estimate is that any change in the number of cases going to these courts will be de minimis.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what factors underlay his estimate of(a) the cost savings that would be made and (b) the number of defendants who would be tried in the magistrates' courts rather than the Crown court under (i) the Criminal Justice (Mode of Trial) (No. 2) Bill and (ii) the Criminal Justice (Mode of Trial) Bill; [112528]

  (2) if he will provide a breakdown of the estimated savings to the criminal justice system from the Criminal Justice (Mode of Trial) (No. 2) Bill by each principal category of expenditure; and if he will make a statement. [112533]

  Mr. Straw
  For the Criminal Justice (Mode of Trial) Bill it was assumed that 12,000 fewer defendants would be tried in the Crown Court annually, resulting in resource savings to the criminal justice system of £105 million a year. For the Criminal Justice (Mode of Trial) (No. 2) Bill it is assumed that 14,000 fewer defendants would be tried in the Crown Court annually, resulting in resource savings to the criminal justice system of £128 million a year.

  The £128 million estimated annual resource savings are made up as follows:
  for the courts—£12.5 million on committals and £41.5 million on Crown Court trials which would no longer take place. This would be offset by the cost of magistrates courts trials (£8.5 million, including the cost of any subsequent committals for sentence), and the cost (estimated at £0.5 million) of interlocutory appeals to the Crown Court.
  for the Prison Service—savings of £83.5 million annually would result from a reduction in remand times and the shorter sentences imposed by magistrates courts.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is his policy that appeals to the Crown Court against magistrates' decisions as to mode of trial under the provisions of the Criminal Justice (Mode of Trial) (No. 2) Bill should be heard (1) by circuit judges only; and if he will make a statement; [112536]

  (2) in open court; and if he will make a statement. [112529]

  Mr. Straw
  The intention is that the appeal should be heard by the Resident Judge or by a deputy nominated by the senior presiding Judge. The Government believe that most appeals will be determined on the basis of the papers. It would however be open to the parties to seek to make oral representations, which the judge could agree to hear if he considered it necessary in the interests of justice; the arrangements for such an oral hearing would be a matter for the judge's discretion.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the length of the average waiting time for a trial in a magistrates court if the Criminal Justice (Mode of Trial) (No. 2) Bill is enacted. [112517]

  Mr. Straw
  The magistrates courts deal with over 400,000 either-way cases annually and will have no difficulty in absorbing the additional cases which it is expected that they will retain as a result of the Bill.

  Asylum Seekers (Chelmsford)
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers the Chelmsford Borough Council area will be expected to house from April; and if he will make a statement. [112493]

  Mrs. Roche
  The number and location of asylum seekers accommodated under the national asylum support scheme throughout the country will depend on where accommodation, whether in the private or public sector, is made available to the Home Office for that purpose, on where there are existing ethnic minority communities and on where there is the potential for support services to be developed.

  The Home Office intends to secure accommodation from local authorities through Regional Consortia. Chelmsford is in the Eastern Region Consortium.

  Freedom of Information
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will include in the code of practice on freedom of information a provision that, where a request is made for information about a third party, the holder of the information should consult the third party before deciding what information is to be released and in what form. [112676]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I can confirm that this will be covered by the code of practice, a working draft of which my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and I hope to place in the Parliamentary Libraries shortly.

  Global Cultural Diversity Congress
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library the minutes of all meetings of the Commission for Racial Equality at which the Global Cultural Diversity Congress and Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd. were discussed. [112682]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  No. Disclosure of minutes of meetings of the Commission for Racial Equality is a matter for the Commission.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the involvement of the Home Office Race Equality Unit in the Global Cultural Diversity Congress and the relationship between the Unit and Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd. [112716]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The head of the unit attended on my behalf at two meetings of the International Steering Committee of the Congress. The Unit provided names of possible speakers and suggested topics for workshops.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the persons who wrote messages of support in the Global Cultural Diversity Congress registration brochure published by the Commission for Racial Equality, indicating in each case when they were first informed that the Global Cultural Diversity Congress had been cancelled, and by whom. [112726]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  These are matters for the company and the Commission for Racial Equality.
  379W
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what expenses the Commission for Racial Equality has paid to(a) Commissioners or (b) members of the Commission's staff in respect of their functions as Directors of Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd.; and if he will make a statement. [112725]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  This information is not available to me.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the actions of Mr. Hugh Harris as acting Chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality at the Commission's meeting on 7 February in respect of business related to Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd. [112715]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  No. I will need to consider the report of Gurbux Singh before doing so.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when(a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department learned that a request for additional funding from Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd. would be discussed at the Commission for Racial Equality's meeting on 7 February; and if he will make a statement. [112712]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The dates are 4 February, 3 February and 1 February respectively.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what (i) funding and (ii) promises of funding under whose authorisation and on what terms(a) his Department and (b) the Commission for Racial Equality have given to Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd; when his Department promised funding; and if he will make a statement. [112737]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I approved, in September 1999, Home Office funding of £10,000 for a "think-tank" and up to £40,000 for a research report on the costs of racial discrimination to be used at the Congress. The other matters will be addressed in the review which my right hon. Friend has asked Gurbux Singh to conduct.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) who is ultimately liable for the debts of Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd; and if he will make a statement; [112740]

  (2) what are the total (a) assets and (b) liabilities of Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd; and if he will make a statement; [112681]

  (3) if he will refer the collapse of Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd to the Department of Trade and Industry for investigation; [112722]

  (4) what was the total level of sponsorship and donations given to Global Cultural Diversity Congress by (a) commercial, (b) charitable and (c) community organisations; what was the level provided by each organisation; on what terms that money was provided; what arrangements have been made for the money to be repaid; and if he will make a statement; [112708]

  (5) which foreign Governments gave money towards the costs of the Global Cultural Diversity Congress; what was the amount provided by each Government; on what
  380W
  terms that money was given; what arrangements have been made for it to be repaid; and if he will make a statement. [112709]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  That is a matter for the liquidator.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if at meetings of the Commission for Racial Equality, Commissioners who were at the same time directors of Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd. voted on business related to Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd. [112714]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The decision-making process will be examined by Gurbux Singh in the review he is to undertake.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when members of the International Strategic Steering Committee of the Global Cultural Diversity Congress were informed that the Congress had been cancelled, and by whom; and if he will make a statement. [112679]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The decision to cancel the Congress and to notify interested parties was primarily a matter for Global Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what disciplinary action he plans to take against officials of(a) his Department and (b) the Commission for Racial Equality in respect of the cancellation of the Global Cultural Diversity Congress and the collapse of Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd; and if he will make a statement. [112721]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  This must await the outcome of the review.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the(a) Ministers, (b) civil servants and (c) foreign dignitaries who had confirmed that they would attend the Global Cultural Diversity Congress as speakers, members of panels or hosts of sessions, indicating in each case (i) when they confirmed they would attend, and (ii) when they were first made aware that the Global Cultural Diversity Congress had been cancelled, and by whom. [112724]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  No. Organisational issues relating to the event and its cancellation were the responsibility of Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd. We are unaware of all of those who were expected to take part in this way at the moment.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if(a) he (b) Ministers in his Department or (c) officials in his Department authorised the donation of money from his Department to fund the Global Cultural Diversity Congress; and if he will make a statement. [112742]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I approved, in September 1999, Home Office sponsorship of £10,000 for a "think-tank" and up to £40,000 for a research report on the costs of racial discrimination which was intended to be used at the Congress. The results of this report are valid in any event and will be publicised.
  381W
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the involvement of the hon. Member for Warwickshire North, with the Global Cultural Diversity Congress and Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd. [112741]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I was invited to join the International Steering Committee that held its launch on 8 February 1999 at the South African Embassy but did not personally attend any subsequent meetings. I spoke at the launch of the Global Cultural Diversity Congress at the Foreign Office on 8 February. I hosted an event at the Home Office on 10 May 1999 for representatives of business and the voluntary sector to raise awareness of the Congress.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions representatives of(a) Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd. And (b) the Commission for Racial Equality had with Ministers in his Department or his officials about the request for additional funding for the Global Cultural Diversity Congress which was discussed at the Commission's meeting on 7 February prior to the meeting taking place. [112677]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Discussions between officials and representatives of Global Cultural Diversity Congress and the Commission for Racial Equality about funding took place during the three weeks prior to the Commissioners meeting on 7 February. Ministers were not involved in these discussions.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations his Department has received from(a) commercial, (b) charitable and (c) community organisations and from (d) foreign Governments regarding the cancellation of the Global Cultural Diversity Congress and the collapse of Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd. [112723]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  None.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what dates since 1 January(a) he, (b) ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department met representatives from the (i) International Strategic Steering Committee of the Global Cultural Diversity Congress, (ii) Commission for Racial Equality and (iii) Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd; if (1) the Global Cultural Diversity Congress and (2) Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd were discussed; and if he will place in the Library the minutes of such meetings. [112718]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and I met representatives of the Commission for Racial Equality to discuss the Congress and the company on 21 and 22 February. Officials had meetings with representatives of the International Strategic Steering Committee or the Commission or Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 limited on 13 January, 27 January, 1 February, 3 February, 7 February and 15 February.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the involvement of Sir Herman Ouseley as Chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality with the Global Cultural Diversity Congress and Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd. [112717]
  382W
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The role of the Commission will be examined as part of the review I have asked Gurbux Singh to undertake.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the appointments on public bodies held by(a) members of the Commission for Racial Equality and (b) directors of Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd. [112711]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The information requested is not readily available. My officials will have to make inquiries and I will write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales regarding the Global Cultural Diversity Congress and Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd; and if he will make a statement. [112678]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary advised the First Secretary of the Welsh Assembly of the decision that it would not be justifiable to use substantial public funds to support the event on 21 February.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the involvement of the International Strategic Steering Committee of the Global Cultural Diversity Congress with Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd. [112680]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The International Strategic Steering Committee of the Global Cultural Diversity Congress was established to advise on issues for discussion, possible speakers and representation at the event and to ensure a global perspective for the Congress. The organisation of the conference was for the Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd.

  Commission for Racial Equality
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Government's policy is on directors of a company in liquidation holding office on the Commission for Racial Equality. [112710]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Government policy on public appointments is set out under Nolan guidelines by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. There is no specific reference to directors of a company in liquidation.

  Matters relating to the appointment of Commissioners are considered on a case-by-case basis.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Mr. Hugh Harris was appointed Acting Chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality, and by whom. [112713]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary appointed Hugh Harris to take on the role of Acting Chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality on Monday 7 February, following Sir Herman Ouseley's retirement.

  Non-departmental Public Bodies
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many limited companies currently
  383W
  trading have been set up by (a) the Commission for Racial Equality and (b) other non-departmental public bodies; and if he will make a statement. [112727]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  One. Five other Home Office Executive Non-Departmental Public Bodies have limited companies currently trading.

  Strip-search Procedures
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date a review of strip search procedures was undertaken; if the report was completed; when he will publish and respond to its recommendations; if he will make a statement concerning the management of this review indicating how many staff were allocated to its completion and at what level supervision was undertaken; what consultation took place with non-Governmental organisations; and how many communications he has received on the issue. [111948]

  Mr. Boateng
  I am pleased to announce that I received the Prison Service's report on searches of the person last week. Copies have been placed in the Library and are available on the Prison Service website at www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk.

  The report makes 16 recommendations, all of which have been accepted by the Prison Service.

  The review was co-ordinated by one senior executive officer in the Prison Service's security group who consulted and involved many staff of a variety of grades both in the Prison Service headquarters and in prison establishments. As this was an internal review, non-governmental organisations were not consulted, but publications on the subject by several such organisations were taken into account.

  Five Parliamentary Questions have been received from my hon. Friend, and one from hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Dr. Jones). In addition, a letter was received from my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak.

  The emerging findings were then subjected to rigorous competitive analysis by other staff across the Service, including senior managers. This process has taken a long time, and other priority tasks prevented the earlier completion of the report. But I am satisfied that the Prison Service took the completion of this report very seriously.

  Departmental Press Office
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the cost to public funds of his plans to expand his Department's Press Office; and if he will make a statement. [112527]

  Mr. Straw
  Individual salaries differ but our estimate is that the cost of extra staff for the Home Office Press Office will be up to £400,000 in a full year.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost is to public funds of the relocation of his Department's Press Office to Queen Anne's Gate; and if he will make a statement. [112523]

  Mr. Straw
  An independent consultant's report, produced by Clear Communications Ltd. in 1999, recommended a major restructuring of the Home Office 384W
  Press Office. The Home Office Press Office is now being restructured and a number of additional posts have been created. It is not possible to fit it into its existing accommodation in Queen Anne's Gate, which in any case is considerably substandard. It is therefore proposed to move it and some other parts of Communication Directorate to another floor in the same building some time in May. Detailed costings are dependent on a number of factors and are not yet available.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to modernise his Department's Press Office IT system; what is the cost to public funds; and if he will make a statement. [112525]

  Mr. Straw
  In the short term, the Home Office Press Office is taking part in the pilot running of a Briefing and Reference Database (BARD). This combines published information such as news releases, speeches, Parliamentary business and basic facts and figures about Home Office business so that press officers can answer quickly and accurately media inquiries. In the long term the Communication Directorate, along with the rest of the Home Office, will benefit from new working practices and Information Technology (IT) systems under a proposed Private Finance Initiative project called IT 2000. No detailed costs are available.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many press officers are employed by his Department's Press Office; how many are to be recruited to the news team as part of the current restructuring process; and if he will make a statement. [112544]

  Mr. Straw
  At present there are 14 press officers (including three trainees and one Chief Immigration Officer on secondment) employed in the main Home Office Press Office, with three unfilled vacancies. The restructuring of the Press Office could involve the appointment of up to 10 further press officers.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the(a) minimum and (b) maximum starting salary for recruits to his Department's new Press Office news team; and if he will make a statement. [112524]

  Mr. Straw
  The new Press Office news team will largely be recruited at Information Officer grade, for which the pay band is £15,902 to £27,709 p.a.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the functions of his Department's new Press Office news team. [112522]

  Mr. Straw
  The planned restructuring of the Home Office Press Office will enable it to separate the functions of dealing with breaking news from those of more medium to long-term communications planning. The plan involves the setting up of a team of press officers who would operate from roughly 6 am to about 10 pm on weekdays in order to deal with the growing 24-hour demands of the media. This team would deal with today's stories in the media, handle media bids for interviews with Ministers and urgent media statements when these are needed.
  385W
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many press officers are to be recruited to his Department's new Press Office news team; and if he will make a statement. [112526]

  Mr. Straw
  An independent consultant's report, produced by Clear Communications Ltd. in 1999, recommended a major restructuring of the Home Office Press Office and an increase in staff resources of up to 10 press officers. This restructuring will enable the unit to deal better with the growing number of media calls it is receiving and be reactive and proactive to the growing number of continuous 24-hour news operations. An advertisement recently appeared in the trade press and the plan is to recruit up to 10 additional staff.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many press officers were employed in his Department on(a) 1 May 1997, (b) 1 January 1998, (c) 1 January 1999 and (d) 1 January 2000; at what grades they were employed; and what was the cost to public funds of their employment. [112397]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 1 March 2000]: Records of staff numbers are of necessity a snapshot of a particular month and do not take into account staff arrivals and departures which are happening constantly. The press office has for instance seen a turnover of staff of nearly 200 per cent. since January 1997.

  The relevant staff numbers and staff costs (which include Superannuation and National Insurance) are:
  May 1997—total of 15 Press Officers at approximate cost of £370,000. The grades were: three Senior Information Officers, ten Information Officers, two part-time, one Assistant Information Officer and a Higher Executive Officer on secondment;
  January 1998—total of 14 Press Officers at approximate cost of £330,000. The grades were: three Senior Information Officers and 11 Information Officers, two part-time;
  January 1999—a total of 14 Press Officers at approximate cost of £330,000. The grades were: two Senior Information Officers, eight Information Officers, two part time, three Assistant Information Officers and a Higher Executive Officer on secondment; and
  January 2000—a total of 13 Press Officers at approximate cost of £345,000. The grades were: three Senior Information Officers, six Information Officers, three Assistant Information Officers and a Higher Executive Officer.

  In addition, at various times throughout this period Chief Immigration Officers were on six-month attachment to the press office. It should also be noted that the grades referred to are substantive grades and that at various times press officers may have been on temporary promotion to a higher grade.

  Internal Communications Advisers
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many internal communications advisers are to be recruited by his Department; what is their(a) minimum and (b) maximum starting salary; and if he will make a statement. [112520]

  Mr. Straw
  Ten Internal Communication Advisers are to be recruited by the Home Office.

  They will be Grade 7 appointments with a minimum starting salary of £29,777 and a maximum starting salary of £46,112.
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  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the functions of his Department's Internal Communications Advisers. [112521]

  Mr. Straw
  The functions of the Internal Communication Advisers are to:

  (i) support the modernisation programme and business change within individual Directorates and Agencies in the Home Office;

  (ii) tailor the Home Office internal communication strategy for a specified Directorate or Agency incorporating best industry practice;

  (iii) support the implementation of the Home Office Internal Communication strategy, working as part of a team of Internal Communication Advisers within the Home Office;

  (iv) develop the key communication skills of senior managers and managers within Home Office Directorates and Agencies, making full use of in-house and external agency expertise;

  (v) ensure local communication activities are co-ordinated with other communication activities across the whole Home Office by working via the Head of Internal Communication; and

  (vi) develop and manage mechanisms to gather feedback, such as surveys and focus groups.

  General Pinochet
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received on the medical condition of General Pinochet since 16 February; and if he will place copies of them in the Library. [112695]

  Mr. Straw
  I have received various representations which I intend to place in the Library when I have secured the agreement of the requesting states which have provided them.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of his Department's staff were(a) registered disabled, (b) women, (c) from ethnic minorities and (d) from (i) independent, (ii) grammar and (iii) other schools in (1) 1970, (2) 1979, (3) 1989 and (4) 1999. [106762]

  Mr. Wills
  Details of the percentage of the Department's staff who were registered disabled, women and from ethnic minorities in 1999 are given below and comprise staff in DfEE Head Office sites, the Employment Service and DfEE staff working in the Government Office network. The figures for permanent and temporary (casual) staff are shown separately.

  Permanent staff

  There were a total of 36,934 permanent staff employed in DfEE at 1 April 1999 of whom:

  1,933 had declared a disability, which is equal to 5.4 per cent. of the total number

  27,296 were women, which is equal to 73.9 per cent. of the total number

  2,317 were known to be from an ethnic minority background, which is equal to 6.3 per cent. of the total number.

  387W
  Temporary (casual) staff

  There were a total of 3,539 temporary (casual) staff employed in DfEE at 1 April 1999 of whom:

  52 had declared a disability, which is equal to 1.5 per cent. of the total number

  2,279 were women, which is equal to 64 per cent of the total number

  102 were known to be from an ethnic minority background, which is equal to 2.9 per cent. of the total number.

  The provisions in the Disability Discrimination Act, 1995, replace the former quota scheme, the designated employment scheme and the requirement to register as a disabled person. Instead, individuals may now voluntarily declare a disability under the definitions contained in the Act; this is the basis for the information given.

  DfEE (in line with the Commission for Racial Equality guidelines) asks staff to voluntarily declare their ethnicity in order to monitor progress against its Equal Opportunities Action Plan. The figures reflect the position for those who have provided this information. We are unable to supply details of the percentage of the Department's staff who were registered disabled, women and from ethnic minorities in 1970, 1979 or 1989, nor statistical information on the type of school attended by staff. This is for the following two reasons:

  The Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) came into existence in 1995, following Machinery of Government changes. The records retained for predecessor departments are limited and incomplete and are insufficient to provide the information requested for the three years in question. Neither does DfEE (nor did its predecessor departments) hold information centrally on the type of secondary school attended by its staff. Individual records hold the name, but not the classification, of the school.

  Caroline Flint
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment in each of the last five years, what proportion of women employees in (i) his Department and (ii) executive agencies under the control of his Department(a) returned to work after childbirth, (b) returned to work after childbirth before the end of maternity leave, indicating the (1) time-range and (2) mean time, (c) returned to work after childbirth on reduced working hours, indicating the average hours worked and (d) returned to work after childbirth full-time and subsequently reduced their hours. [108967]

  Mr. Wills
  We are unable to answer all elements of the question because the information needed could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, details of the proportion of women employees in DfEE (which includes DfEE staff in Government Offices) and ES, who returned to work after childbirth in each of the last five years (part(a) of the question), is shown in the following table. The figures for 1995 include, from January to July, women in the former Department for Education and Employment Department Group who transferred to DfEE following Machinery of Government change in July 1995.

  The figures are expressed as a percentage of the total number who completed maternity leave in each of the years shown.
  388W

  Total number taking maternity leave

  Percentage returning to work

  1995

  1,644

  99.9

  1996

  1,641

  98.1

  1997

  1,338

  99.3

  1998

  1,099

  100.0

  1999

  970

  99.8

  New Deal
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much has been spent to date on the New Deal for the long-term unemployed aged 18 to 24 years. [107437]

  Ms Jowell
  [holding answer 28 January 2000]Since its start in 1998, to the end of December 1999, £550.8 million has been spent on the New Deal for young people. Expenditure on the New Deal is planned over the lifetime of this Parliament; any unspent resource in one year is therefore available in future years. Independent research published last year indicates that the impact on the economy of the New Deal for young people is likely to be of a sufficient scale to largely offset the cost of the programme.

  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment the Government have made of the level of retention in employment of those on the New Deal employment option; and if he will make a statement. [109282]

  Ms Jowell
  Of the 24,670 young people who joined the employer option before October 1999, 80 per cent. remained on the option for at least 13 weeks.

  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the impact of each New Deal scheme on unemployment in Cumbria. [109286]

  Ms Jowell
  In the period ending December 1999, 2,245 young people in Cumbria had found employment through the New Deal for Young People. Over the last two years, the numbers of 18 to 24-year-olds unemployed for six months or more has fallen by 74 per cent.

  Similarly, in the period ending December 1999, 506 people in Cumbria had found employment through the New Deal for long term unemployed adults aged 25 or over. In the period July 1998 to December 1999, the numbers of adults aged 25 or over unemployed for at least two years fell by 41 per cent.

  These results demonstrate the positive impact the New Deal has on long term unemployed people of all ages.

  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate the Government have made of the cost to businesses of participating in the New Deal in(a) the UK as a whole and (b) Cumbria. [109285]

  Ms Jowell
  There is a comprehensive programme of evaluation of New Deal underway, which includes qualitative and quantitative research with employers at a national level. A report on the survey is due to be published around the end of July 2000.

  Leeds LEA
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many(a) infant children in classes of 31 or more, (b) after school clubs, (c) summer literacy schools, (d) summer numeracy schools, (e) school projects benefiting from New Deal for Schools capital funding and (f) qualified teaching assistants there were in the area of Leeds Local Education Authority for the years 1996–97 to 1999–2000. [109048]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The available information is shown in the tables.

  Numbers of children in maintained primary schools in infant classes of 31 or more taught by one teacher in Leeds local education authority area: 1997–2000

  Number of children in infant classes of 31 or more in

  January

  September

  2000

  1—

  2—

  1999

  5,094

  2,720

  1998

  7,847

  5,132

  1997

  7,817

  2—

  1 Provisional national estimates are due to be published in April 2000

  2 Not available

  Numbers of out of school clubs in the Leeds local education authority area: 1997–2000

  Position as at 31 March

  Out of school clubs1

  2000

  2—

  1999

  111

  1998

  105

  1997

  3—

  1 Includes clubs which operate before and/or after school

  2 Not available

  3 Information was collected by the Department for Education prior to 1998

  Number of summer literacy and numeracy schools in the Leeds local education authority area: Financial years 1996–97 to 1999–2000

  Summer literacy schools

  Summer numeracy schools

  2000–01

  1—

  1—

  1999–2000

  11

  3

  1998–99

  8

  1

  1997–98

  1

  2—

  1996–97

  2—

  2—

  1 Not available

  2 Scheme did not exist

  Numbers of new deal for schools projects in Leeds local education authority area: Financial years 1996–97 to 1999–2000

  New Deal for Schools projects1

  1999–2000

  65

  1998–99

  41

  1997–98

  37

  1996–97

  2—

  1Comprises projects which benefited from New Deal for Schools Capital Funding

  2Scheme did not exist

  390W

  Number of Full time equivalent educational support staff in schools1 in Leeds Local education authority area: 1997–2000

  Position as at January

  Full time equivalent of other educational support staff1

  2000

  2—

  1999

  2,212

  1998

  2,179

  1997

  2,073

  1 Includes nursery assistants, special needs support staff Liberians and technicians

  2 Includes Maintained Nursery, Primary, Secondary and all Special Schools and Pupil Referral Units

  Class Sizes (Somerset)
  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is his estimate of the number of pupils in Somerset in classes with over 30 pupils in(a) 1996–97, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999–2000, broken down by (i) Key Stage 1, (ii) Key Stage 2, (iii) Key Stage 3 and (iv) Key Stage 4; and if he will make a statement. [110763]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The available information is shown in the tables.

  The January class size count for the academic year 1999–2000 is currently being undertaken and provisional national estimates are expected to be published in April.

  Numbers of pupils in classes of size 31 or more taught by one teacher, by key stage of education, in maintained primary schools in the local education authority area of Somerset—1997 and 1999 Position as at January

  Key stages

  1

  2

  3

  Mixed

  Total

  1999

  4,266

  10,274

  0

  792

  15,372

  1997

  4,887

  8,876

  0

  333

  14,096

  Numbers of pupils in infant classes of size 31 or more taught by one teacher in maintained primary schools in the local education authority area of Somerset—1998 and 1999 Position as at September

  Number

  1999

  1,545

  1998

  4,598

  1997

  1—

  1 Not available

  Numbers of pupils in classes of size 31 or more taught by one teacher in maintained secondary schools in the local education authority area of Somerset—1997 and 1999 Position as at Januar

  Secondary ages1

  Middle-deemed secondary

  Mainly under 14

  Mainly 14 and 15

  Toatal secondary

  1999

  1,578

  2,455

  930

  4,963

  1997

  975

  1,672

  1,193

  3,840

  1 Ages as at the start of the academoc year (August 31)

  Peat Compost
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to
  391W
  phase out the use of peat compost in gardens (a) owned and (b) tended by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [110726]

  Mr. Wills
  My Department's policy is based around the Model Improvement Programme for Greening Operations which DETR published in 1998, and includes a commitment to substitute the use of all slow renewables such as peat with organic wastes such as coir, manure, leaf mould and bark chippings. The Department's procurement policy reflects this commitment.

  Recycling
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of documentation used by his Department is(a) made from recycled paper and (b) collected for recycling. [111597]

  Mr. Wills
  Information is not collected centrally in the form requested. My Department's contracted stationery suppliers offer recycled paper. Individual Divisions within the Department make decisions on the purchase of paper under the Departmental wide contract based on value for money, quality and fitness for purpose. My Department's HQ sites have paper recycling schemes in place.

  Asset Sales
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 24 January 2000,Official Report, column 25W, on asset sales, if he will list the individual land and buildings sold by the Employment Service and the value realised from the sale of each item. [111267]

  Ms Jowell
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Matthew Taylor, dated February 2000:
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question pursuant to his Answer of 24 January, Official Report, column 25W, on asset sales about the individual land and buildings sold by the Employment Service and the value realised from the sale of each item. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  In answer to your question, I have listed below the details you have requested.

  £

  Land and building

  Sale proceeds

  West London Area Training Centre (Chiswick)

  450,111

  Elephant and Castle Jobcentre

  3,250,643

  Crosby Jobcentre

  170,000

  Sub total

  3,870,754

  Romsey1

  136,973

  Total

  4,007,727

  1 This building was sold late in 1999, but was not included in the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 104497 as the details had not been confirmed at the time

  I hope this is helpful.

  Carlisle Jobcentre
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to relocate the jobcentre in Carlisle; and if he will make a statement. [111419]

  Ms Jowell
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Eric Martlew, dated February 2000:
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning plans to relocate Carlisle Jobcentre. This falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  Our Jobcentre in Carlisle is currently located at Edenbridge House, Lowther Street, Carlisle in premises leased from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The current lease is due to expire on 31 March 2001 and we understand that the Ministry of Agriculture would like to be able to utilise the space currently occupied by the Jobcentre.
  Accordingly, we are currently looking at possible alternative premises. In doing so we will, of course, aim to find a location which offers at least the same standards of accommodation for both our customers and staff as we have currently.
  I hope this is helpful.

  New Deal (Young People)
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 15 February 2000,Official Report, column 470W, on the New Deal, if he will list the number of young people on each of the New Deal options in Shrewsbury and Atcham broken down into (a) employment, (b) full-time education/training, (c) voluntary sector and (d) environment task force; and if he will make a statement. [111063]

  Ms Jowell
  The numbers of young people on each of the New Deal Options in Shrewsbury and Atcham at the end of December were as follows:

  Number

  Employment Option

  4

  FTET

  17

  ETF

  12

  VS

  12

  I expect many of these to join the 155 young people who have already found work as a result of New Deal in Shrewsbury and Atcham.

  New Deal (JSA)
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will review the requirement under the New Deal programme whereby a JSA claimant who stops claiming JSA to work on a temporary contract with a employer has, on completing the contract to wait a further six months before becoming eligible for training. [112089]

  Ms Jowell
  There is no case for a review. Anyone who has been in employment for several months or more immediately prior to making a claim for Jobseeker's
  393W
  Allowance (JSA) has an excellent chance of finding a job quickly and will be helped to do so by the Employment Service.

  The New Deal for Young People is designed to help those who are at risk of long-term unemployment. It is essential that we target resources effectively. New Deal advisers have discretion to allow early access to the programme for young people claiming JSA who are likely to find it particularly difficult to find work.

  Equal Pay Act 1970
  Mr. Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he intends to amend section 2(5) of the Equal Pay Act 1970 to entitle an employee in Scotland to arrears of remuneration or damages for breach of the principle of equal pay for a period of six years. [111929]

  Ms Jowell
  We are considering the implications of recent case law for the provisions in the Equal Pay Act on entitlement to arrears of pay for employees across the UK. I will make a further statement in due course.

  Education Maintenance Allowance
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many awards have been made of the education maintenance allowance in the 15 pilot areas in England so far; and what is the cost of these awards(a) in total and (b) as a percentage of the budgeted amount. [111714]

  Mr. Wicks
  The information requested is shown in the table (figures refer to the period up to and including 18 February):

  Current EMA recipients

  Total cost to date (£)

  Bolton

  1,130

  420,760

  Cornwall

  2,770

  1,442,447

  Doncaster

  1,241

  634,959

  Gateshead

  953

  502,261

  Greenwich

  205

  108,178

  Lambeth

  179

  89,350

  Leeds

  962

  508,108

  Lewisham

  175

  70,591

  Middlesbrough

  913

  443,841

  Nottingham

  1,184

  821,835

  Oldham

  1,205

  641,975

  Southampton

  804

  358,836

  Southwark

  108

  37,175

  Stoke

  1,179

  656,569

  Walsall

  1,114

  594,851

  Total

  14,122

  7,331,736

  There is no set budget as the scheme is demand led. Some EMA applications remain uncleared where further information is required from applicants.

  We are encouraged by anecdotal information which suggests that EMAs are having a positive impact already. A number of institutions have reported improved
  394W
  attendance and a stronger work ethic among EMA recipients. EMAs have the potential to make a real difference to the life chances of young people and we are pleased that the pilot areas have made an encouraging start and continue to consolidate the progress already made.

  University Fees and Grants
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the proposed annual university(a) fees and (b) repayable grants for tuition at universities in each part of the United Kingdom for students who are (i) UK citizens, (ii) other EU citizens, (iii) Commonwealth citizens, (iv) Irish and (v) other, (A) educated and (B) resident in the previous four years in (1) England, (2) Scotland, (3) Ireland, (4) other European Countries, (5) Commonwealth countries and (6) other places. [111996]

  Mr. Wicks
  The maximum tuition fee contribution for "home" (including other EU students) studying in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (and for students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland, who are studying in Scotland), if they are assessed as eligible for fee support, will be £1,050 in the next academic year (2000–01). Universities may charge fees to other students at higher rates. To qualify for "home" fee status, a student must normally meet certain conditions, including having been ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom (or the European Economic Area for EU nationals) for three years on the relevant date closest to the beginning of their course. However, no part of that three year-period can have been wholly or mainly for the purpose of receiving full-time education.

  Public support towards tuition fees is not repayable. Because of the system of income-assessment around a third of home and EU students make no contribution to tuition fees.

  This answer covers Northern Ireland (given the suspension of devolved government there) but tuition fees for Scottish-domiciled and EU students studying in Scotland are a matter for the Scottish Executive and Scottish Parliament.

  Key Stage 4
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the Key Stage 4 results for 16-year-olds in English, maths and science for each year since 1992(a) for Shropshire and (b) nationally; and if he will make a statement. [111915]

  Mr. Wicks
  The GCSE is the main means of assessing the performance of pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 and these results for(a) Shropshire and (b) nationally are shown in the table. The figures show the number of 16-year-olds achieving the specified grades, as percentages of those 16-year-olds entered for the relevant GCSE subjects.
  395W

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  (a) Shropshire

  Percentage of 16-year-old candidates achieving grades A*-C in:

  English

  51

  56

  57

  54

  57

  54

  59

  61

  Mathematics

  42

  48

  50

  45

  46

  48

  53

  54

  Science

  42

  43

  50

  48

  51

  51

  55

  56

  Percentage of 16-year-old candidates achieving grades A*-G in:

  English

  99

  99

  98

  98

  98

  98

  100

  99

  Mathematics

  95

  97

  97

  96

  96

  96

  97

  98

  Science

  98

  98

  97

  97

  97

  97

  98

  99

  (b) England

  Percentage of 16-year-old candidates achieving grades A*-C in:

  English

  54

  56

  57

  56

  56

  55

  56

  58

  Mathematics

  44

  46

  46

  45

  46

  47

  47

  49

  Science

  43

  44

  46

  47

  48

  48

  50

  50

  Percentage of 16-year-old candidates achieving grades A*-G in:

  English

  98

  99

  97

  97

  97

  97

  99

  99

  Mathematics

  94

  94

  95

  95

  96

  96

  95

  96

  Science

  96

  96

  95

  95

  96

  96

  97

  98

  New Deal (Scotland)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will estimate the number of businesses in(a) Inverclyde, (b) Renfrewshire and (c) Scotland which have participated in the New Deal; and if he will make a statement. [111502]

  Ms Jowell
  [holding answer 28 February 2000]Employers across Scotland are strongly committed to New Deal, with almost 11,000 signing New Deal Agreements to date, and many others recruiting New Dealers into unsubsidised jobs (for which Agreements are not required) or supporting the Programme in other ways. In Inverclyde and Renfrewshire 417 employers have signed Agreements (Agreement figures are not broken down below the level of New Deal Delivery Units).

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the relationship between(a) class sizes in the years when (i) Key Stage assessment (ii) GCSEs, (iii) A-levels, and (iv) equivalent vocational training are taken and (b) pupil performance as measured at each of those stages; and if he will make a statement. [112434]

  Average size of classes taught by one teacher in Maintained Primary Schools by Key Stage in Hereford Parliamentary constituency and in England: 1996–1999

  Hereford Parliamentary constituency

  England

  Key stage 1

  Key stage 2

  Overall primary1

  Key stage 1

  Key stage 2

  Overall primary1

  1999

  24.4

  27.4

  25.8

  26.5

  28.4

  27.4

  1998

  25.2

  27.4

  26.4

  27.1

  28.3

  27.7

  1997

  24.7

  27.0

  26.2

  26.9

  28.1

  27.5

  1996

  24.7

  26.2

  25.4

  26.8

  27.9

  27.3

  1 Includes middle schools

  Note:

  position at January each year
  396W
  Ms Estelle Morris
  The evidence, including that from Ofsted, indicates that class size is most important at Key Stage 1. That is why we have pledged to reduce the size of infant classes. The pledge will ensure that all children benefit from infant classes of 30 or below, and will help to give young pupils the important start they need.

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the size of classes was in(a) Hereford and (b) nationwide, in each of the last four academic years, leading up to (i) each Key Stage assessment, (ii) GCSEs, (iii) A-levels and (iv) vocational courses equivalent to A-levels; and if he will make a statement. [112437]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Information on class sizes is not available in the form requested. The available information on class sizes from January 1996 to 1999 is shown in the table. A class size count for January 2000 is currently being undertaken and national estimates are expected to be published in a Statistical First Release in April.

  The most recent count of infant classes was carried out in September 1999. Figures derived from this count show that the average size of infant classes taught by one teacher in maintained primary schools in the Hereford Parliamentary constituency was 23.7 pupils per class. The Government have pledged to limit to 30 the size of infant classes for five, six and seven-year-olds by September 2001 at the latest. We are well on course to deliver that pledge.
  397W

  Average size of classes taught by one teacher in Maintained Secondary Schools by age group1 in Hereford Parliamentary constituency and in England: 1996–1999

  Hereford Parliamentary constituency

  England

  Aged under 14

  Aged 14 and 15

  Aged 16 or older

  Overall secondary2

  Aged under 14

  Aged 14 and 15

  Aged 16 or older

  Overall secondary2

  1999

  24.7

  22.3

  13.8

  23.4

  25.1

  21.7

  10.5

  21.9

  1998

  24.5

  20.3

  8.3

  22.0

  24.9

  21.6

  10.7

  21.7

  1997

  24.4

  20.0

  8.3

  21.8

  24.7

  21.6

  10.8

  21.7

  1996

  25.2

  20.9

  10.1

  22.7

  23.5

  21.5

  10.6

  21.7

  1 Ages at the start of the academic year (August 31)

  2 Includes middle schools

  Notes:

  Position at January each year

  Ex-ASTRA Civil Servants
  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many ex-ASTRA civil servants have been re-employed in the Civil Service under the reinstatement initiative; of those reinstated what were their grades(a) before privatisation and (b) on reinstatement; and how many have subsequently left the Civil Service and on what terms. [112152]

  Mr. Wicks
  [holding answer 1 March 2000]The information sought is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. However, reinstatement is the return to work of former established civil servants in the same permanent grade as when they left the Civil Service. All former established staff have the right to apply for reinstatement.

  School Terms
  Mr. Dobbin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to review the pattern of school terms and school holidays; and if he will make a statement. [112691]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Decisions about the number, length and dates of school terms and holidays are taken locally, not by central Government. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans to change these arrangements.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Chevening Scholarship Programme
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of the Chevening scholarship programme for(a) young Chinese officials and (b) others. [112012]

  Mr. Hain
  The FCO's Chevening Scholarships programme in China is the largest in the world, with more than 100 Scholars in 1999–2000. The Scholars (future "leaders, decision makers and opinion formers") come from a wide variety of backgrounds, including government, business and NGOs. Our survey of departing students shows that 97 per cent. of Chinese Scholars in 1999 rated their academic experience in the UK as "excellent" or "good", and 97 per cent. rated the experience of their stay in the UK as "excellent" or "good". Chevening Scholars coming to the UK from China acquire new knowledge and skills, and learn more 398W
  about our way of life and values. In future, as their careers progress, we hope they will tend to look to the UK for ideas, technology, trade and investment. China has been designated as one of the target countries for the Prime Minister's initiative to attract more international students to the UK. As a result, we plan to expand the Chevening programme in China in the coming academic year, by at least 15 scholars.

  Abkhazia
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the joint OSCE/UN fact finding mission will visit the Gali region of Georgia; and if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's efforts to resolve the issue of Abkhazia. [112128]

  Mr. Vaz
  No date has yet been fixed for the OSCE fact-finding mission to Gali. Her Majesty's Government are working actively within the Friends of the Secretary-General group to help find a solution to the conflict in Abkhazia, Georgia. The Secretary of State discussed the situation in Abkhazia with President Shevardnadze and others during his visit to Georgia on 23–24 February.

  Mrs. Layla Zana
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what views he has expressed to the Turkish Government regarding its refusal to allow members of the European Parliament to visit Mrs. Layla Zana in prison; and if he will make a statement. [111986]

  Mr. Vaz
  We regret that the Chairman of the EU/Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee, Daniel Cohn Bendit, was refused access to Layla Zana in late February, and have raised this in discussions with the Turkish authorities. We remain hopeful that a meeting may be possible at a later date.

  As referred to in my parliamentary answer of 1 December 1999, Official Report, column 262W, the British Embassy in Ankara closely monitors the case of Mrs. Zana.

  Kosovo
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the support given by the Kosovo Liberation Army to Albanian protesters in Mitrovica on 21 February. [112111]
  399W
  Mr. Vaz
  The Kosovo Liberation Army was demilitarised in September 1999, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1244. We are aware of press reports of Kosovo Albanian extremists being involved in disturbances in Mitrovica.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what assessment he has made of the progress that the European Union has made in its economic and infrastructure efforts in Kosovo; [112094]

  (2) what recent assessment he has made of the progress that has been achieved in the civil implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1244 in Kosovo; [112091]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the progress made in establishing and overseeing the development of the first stage of provisional democratic self-governing institutions in Kosovo. [112092]

  Mr. Vaz
  I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude) on 28 February 2000,Official Report, column 133W.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the security situation in(a) Prizren, (b) Pec and (c) Gnjilane; and if he will make a statement. [112112]

  Mr. Vaz
  Although we keep the security situation across the province under review, we have not made specific assessments of the situation in Prizren, Pec or Gnjilane, which are respectively in the German, Italian and US-led KFOR sectors. We understand, however, that the situation in Gnjilane is currently tense, with isolated incidents of violence.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement concerning recent Serbian protests in Kosovska Mitrovica at KFOR troop activity. [112102]

  Mr. Vaz
  We condemn any attacks on KFOR, whose mission is to provide security for all people in Kosovo.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate his Department has made of the policing requirement for(a) Pristina, (b) Kosovska Mitrovica and (c) Kosovo. [112109]

  Mr. Hain
  The UN Secretary-General has estimated the international policing requirement for Kosovo as 4,718 officers. We accept this. We have agreed to double our own contribution as part of the international effort to meet this requirement.

  Within Kosovo, UNMIK are best placed to decide on the day-to-day operational requirements for the various regions, including Pristina and Mitrovica. These requirements are kept under continuous review, and adjustments made as necessary. For example additional police officers, as well as KFOR troops, were sent recently to Mitrovica.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British troops were involved in activity in Kosovska Mitrovica between 15 and 22 February. [112106]
  400W
  Mr. Vaz
  Two hundred and thirty troops from the Royal Green Jackets were involved in security operations in Kosovska Mitrovica between 15 and 22 February.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the support given by the Government of President Milosevic to Serbian protesters in Kosovska Mitrovica. [112110]

  Mr. Vaz
  We have no evidence of any direct support given by the Government of President Milosovic to stirring up trouble in Mitrovica.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his Department was informed of the mass protests by ethnic Kosovo Albanians which began on 21 February in Kosovska Mitrovica. [112105]

  Mr. Vaz
  My Department was informed of the news when it broke on 21 February.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the progress made in the re-establishment of an independent, impartial and multi-ethnic judiciary in Kosovo. [112096]

  Mr. Vaz
  I am satisfied with the progress being made on the re-establishment of an independent, impartial, multi-ethnic and effective judiciary in Kosovo and that it is being given a very high priority. The UN Mission in Kosovo has changed the basis of applicable law to that which applied in 1989, before Milosevic removed Kosovo's autonomy, as the Kosovo Albanians and others were reluctant to accept the discriminatory Yugoslav and Serbian laws. This helps recruit local multi-ethnic judges and prosecutors and 130 were appointed in January alone. Council of Europe legal experts are reviewing Kosovo's laws to establish whether they are in conformity with internationally recognised standards. The OSCE's Judicial Training Unit is providing intensive training to local judicial personnel.

  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what assessment he has made of progress made by UNMIK in setting up the administration of social services, utilities and the consolidation of the rule of law in Kosovo; [112058]

  (2) what assessment he has made of progress made by UNMIK in the establishment and consolidation of its authority and the creation of interim UNMIK-managed structures in Kosovo. [112061]

  Mr. Vaz
  [holding answer 28 February 2000]: UNMIK inherited a massive challenge in June 1999: nothing less than the rebuilding of society in Kosovo. The UK has made a substantial contribution, including to emergency repair of utilities. We gave US$1 million to pay the salaries of utilities workers for the UN Mission last summer.

  The Kosovo Albanians and Serbs have now both agreed to join the UN Mission in the new Joint Interim Administrative Structure (JIAS). This will involve joint departments, each headed jointly by a member of UNMIK and by a Kosovar. One of these, which is already being

  401W
  established, deals with Health and Social Welfare. UNMIK have recently recruited more than 300 judges and prosecutors to put in place an effective legal system.

  UNMIK
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the contributions made by(a) Her Majesty's Government and (b) the European Union to the manning and resources of UNMIK. [112905]

  Mr. Vaz
  The UK and its EU partners continue to make a major contribution to the international effort in Kosovo. The main elements of the UK's bilateral contribution include:

  60 officers for the international police presence, a contribution we are now going to double;

  40 police officers training the future Kosovo Police Service;

  30 civilian secondees working on human rights/rule of law, democratisation, media development, elections and administration;

  DFID has 50 staff working on the ground in Kosovo.

  UK pays 6.25 per cent. of UNMIK assessed contributions. Our contribution for June 1999-June 2000 is £15.7 million. We pledged $13 million in the second half of 1999 on activities in support of UNMIK:
  $4.8 million for upgrading Pristina airport.
  $1 million for salary costs for utility workers.
  $1 million on prisons and the use of an Emergency Engineering Unit to help repair prison facilities.
  $3 million for activities related to the transformation of the Kosovo Liberation Army and $1 million for socially valuable projects to be carried out by the Kosovo Protection Corps.
  $2.9 million on other support including the UN Mine Action and Co-ordination Centre, the provision of a health management team for Pristina Hospital and providing experts to the UNMIK Civil Administration pillar.

  In November 1999, we pledged a further $10 million in budgetary support to UNMIK.
  A UK Scenes of Crime team (up to 20 personnel) carried out forensic investigations in Kosovo last year. Work will be resumed in the spring.

  EU has agreed to provide 360 meuro to Kosovo in 2000 most of it for reconstruction and in budgetary support to UNMIK, with around 50 meuro in humanitarian aid. The EU is providing emergency budget support to UNMIK through accelerated procedures.

  The EU Task Force (which has been strengthened to become the EU Reconstruction Agency) is responsible for the delivery of EU assistance. Since starting work in July 1999, it has disbursed over 52 million euros.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the progress that UNMIK has made in(a) the establishment and consolidation of its authority, (b) the creation of interim UNMIK-managed structures, (c) setting up the administration of social services and utilities and (d) the consolidation of the rule of law in Kosovo. [112093]

  Mr. Vaz
  I refer the hon. Lady to the answer given to the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude) on 2 March 2000,Official Report, column 400W.

  Hungary
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received from Hungary concerning ethnic Hungarians in Vojvodina. [112107]

  Mr. Vaz
  We have not received any recent official representations from Hungary concerning ethnic Hungarians in Vojvodina. We are aware of Hungarian concerns about the situation in Serbia and we share the view that the promotion of democratic change in FRY/Serbia will be the best way of helping minorities within that country.

  Danube
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance the Government are giving to those countries affected by the cyanide contamination of the Danube. [111972]

  Mr. Vaz
  We have followed with concern reports of the pollution in the Danube caused by a serious spill of cyanide-contaminated water from a gold mine in Western Romania. There is no UK involvement in this disaster nor have we provided any assistance directly to those countries affected. We support the EU initiative in calling for an investigation into the causes of this pollution. We also support the EU principle that the polluter should pay.

  The European Commission has confirmed that it will provide some practical assistance. The EU Commissioner for the environment, Margot Wallstroem, visited the region in February to assess the damage and what help might be offered. The EU is to set up a working committee of international experts and is ready to send experts to the region to help if necessary. No decision has yet been taken on financial assistance.

  Global Cultural Diversity Congress
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has received from(a) commercial, (b) charitable and (c) community organisations and from (d) foreign Governments regarding the cancellation of the Global Cultural Diversity Congress and the collapse of Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd. [112720]

  Mr. Hain
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has received no representations regarding the cancellation of the Global Cultural Diversity Congress and the collapse of Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Intervention Board
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the review of regional service centres for the Intervention Board Executive Agency began; how much it has cost; when he expects it to report; and if he will list all the present sites of the Intervention Board Executive Agency with the whole-time equivalent staff numbers employed at each site. [111351]
  403W
  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 22 February 2000]My right hon. Friend the Minister commissioned PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to review the administration of payments under the CAP subsidy schemes. The review, which began last September, covered the payments made through MAFF's nine Regional Service Centres (RSCs) and through the Intervention Board Executive Agency (IBEA). PwC submitted their report at the end of January and my right hon. Friend is now considering their recommendation that the payment functions of MAFF and IBEA should be merged. Any significant reorganisation of MAFF's RSCs and IBEA will require new funding, and the case for this will be considered in the context of the Spending Review 2000.

  PwC's fees for the study which was completed in January amounted to approximately £300,000 (excluding VAT and expenses).

  The Intervention Board currently operates form two main sites, in Reading and Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Some control staff are also based at outstations in England based at Bristol, Harrogate, Wolverhampton and Cambridge. The whole-time equivalent staff numbers employed at each site are as follows:

  Number

  Reading

  1,002

  Newcastle

  1293

  Bristol

  22

  Harrogate

  12

  Wolverhampton

  17

  Cambridge

  9

  Total

  11,355

  1 Includes 15 control staff

  BSE
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the underspend in the Treasury's budget for BSE-related expenditures. [111707]

  Ms Quin
  There is currently no underspend in this Department's budget for BSE-related expenditure.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  H-blocks
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what savings arose as each of the H-blocks in the Maze Prison was emptied of prisoners. [102160]

  Mr. Ingram
  In 1998–99, there was a reduction of £0.33 million in the budget operating costs for which HMP Maze was directly responsible. Currently operating costs are £1.10 million less than the 1998–99 budget.

  In addition, there was a 26 per cent. reduction in staffing at the prison between June 1998 and September 1999.

  Mrs. Rosemary Nelson
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions the issue of the 404W
  personal security of Mrs. Rosemary Nelson was raised in meetings between the Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition and officials of the Northern Ireland Office and the Prime Minister's Office. [103817]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Government's long-standing policy is that they discuss security with the individual concerned and not with third parties. The Committee on the Administration of Justice, who wrote on behalf of Rosemary Nelson on 10 August 1999 were informed of this and were given details of how Rosemary Nelson might apply to the Northern Ireland Office's Key Person's Protection Scheme. She did not do so. Additionally, where the police have intelligence of a specific threat, which they did not in this case, they will notify the individual concerned and offer advice on security.

  Paramilitary Violence
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the recorded number of incidents of violence caused by paramilitary groups during 1999; and if he will make a statement. [111428]

  Mr. Ingram
  The following tables show the security related incidents in Northern Ireland for the period 1 January to 31 December 1999.

  Number of incidents

  Shooting

  125

  Bombing

  1100

  1 Excludes incidents involving incendiaries, petrol bombs or hoax bombs

  Casualties as a result of paramilitary style attacks

  By Loyalist

  By Republican

  Deaths

  3

  4

  Shootings

  47

  26

  Assaults

  90

  44

  Recycling
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of documentation used by his Department is(a) made from recycled paper and (b) collected for recycling. [111605]

  Mr. Ingram
  The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Decommissioning
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a further statement about decommissioning of illegally held arms in Northern Ireland. [111405]

  Mr. Ingram
  There is no doubt that we have experienced a number of setbacks in recent weeks. However, the maintenance of the IRA cease-fire, as General de Chastelain has acknowledged, represents an important step and has contributed greatly to the peace process. It is important that we build upon that.

  General de Chastelain's last report gave some grounds for optimism, but it is imperative that we have clarity on the issue of decommissioning before we can restore

  405W
  devolved government in Northern Ireland. We are all agreed that the Good Friday Agreement has to be implemented in full. The obligations on all sides have not changed.

  Our priority is to work together with the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland parties to restore the institutions quickly, and to see that decommissioning begins as soon as possible. What we all need to do now, after recent disappointments, is to move on together without any recrimination and without any precondition. What is important is that substantive progress is made now. The next step is to decommission weapons, and that must happen soon.

  Ballymena Government Training Centre
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the future of Ballymena Government Training Centre, Co. Antrim indicating the steps being taken to redeploy instructors, administrative staff and industrial staff employed at the Centre and the likely number of redundancies in each group of employees. [112406]

  Mr. Ingram
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Training and Employment Agency under its Chief Executive. Mr. Ian Walters. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Ian Walters to Mr. Roy Beggs, dated 1 March 2000:
  The Secretary of State has asked me, as Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency, to reply to your question about the future of Ballymena Training Centre, the steps being taken to re-deploy staff, and the likely number of redundancies.
  Following a review of training centres and Further Education colleges, the then Minister, Mr. McFall, confirmed in September 1 that planning would proceed on the merger of the training centres and FE colleges. Plans are underway for Ballymena Training Centre to become fully integrated into the North East Institute of Further and Higher Education and the aim is for the merger to take effect in September 2000.
  To help facilitate the merger process, the Department, acting through the Agency, has introduced a voluntary redundancy scheme for training centre staff in the instructional and industrial grades. In Ballymena, 11 staff out of a total of 30 staff have applied for and been granted voluntary redundancy. There will be a further opportunity for staff in these grades to apply for the voluntary redundancy scheme in the next few months.
  Arrangements are being discussed for instructional and industrial staff who prefer to transfer to employment with North East Institute, to do so with appropriate protection of their employment rights.
  I expect that all administrative staff in the training centre will be re-deployed to other parts of the Department or, perhaps, the wider Northern Ireland Civil Service. There is no need for a voluntary redundancy scheme for this group of staff.
  I hope you find this information helpful.

  Departmental Expenditure Limit
  Jean Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what changes there are to his Department's departmental expenditure limit. [113148]

  Mr. Mandelson
  Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Revised Spring Supplementary Estimate the Departmental Expenditure Limit for the Northern Ireland Office will be increased by £4,221,000 from £1,025,277,000 to £1,029,498,000. This is to fund 406W
  expenditure arising from the Northern Ireland Act 2000. Pending that approval, expenditure of £4,221,000 will be met by a repayable advance from the Contingencies Fund.

  This increase will be offset by a reduction in expenditure of the Northern Ireland Departments and will therefore not add to the total of planned Public Expenditure.

CABINET OFFICE

  Drugs
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent appointments she has made to support her work on the Government's anti-drugs strategy. [112384]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  My right hon. Friend has made no recent appointments in this area.

  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) on what projects the UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator will work with the hon. Member for Witney (Mr. Woodward); [112383]

  (2) what Civil Service support will be made available to the hon. Member for Witney in his work in relation to drugs and children. [112385]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator has been asked to consider what more could be done to co-ordinate work on drugs in schools. This involves discussions with the Department for Education and Employment and organisations such as the Metropolitan Police and Childline. In the light of his experience with Childline, my hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr. Woodward) has met the UK anti-drugs co-ordinator on this issue. There is no question of civil service support being made available to the hon. Member for Witney.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Mozambique
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the emergency help sent so far to Mozambique during the recent flooding; and if she will make a statement. [112694]

  Clare Short
  My Department deployed two humanitarian specialists to the region during the initial stages of the flooding on 11 February. They conducted rapid assessments and liaised with the Mozambican authorities and humanitarian organisations to help identify priority needs. We despatched a consignment of over 400 tents on 12 February from the UK to Maputo for the Red Cross to distribute for emergency shelter to those made homeless. We also supported the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team who are assisting the Mozambican authorities with the targeting and coordination of the relief efforts. Given the deteriorating situation over the last week we redeployed a humanitarian specialist to Mozambique to work alongside permanent DFID staff in Maputo.

  We have mobilised 11 helicopters, including four from the RAF, to assist with the rescue and relief effort. We have also provided US$1 million to the World Food

  407W
  Programme to support the continued operations of helicopters from the South African Defence Force. To assist with the effective tasking of all helicopters, we have seconded a logistics expert into the World Food Programme. But helicopters are not the total answer. We are also deploying 70 boats and specialist trained crews, together with a number of large capacity self-inflating life rafts. DFID has already contributed over £5.8 million for rescue and immediate relief including the provision of shelter, water, sanitation and health support. This funding has been channelled through the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, UNICEF, World Food Programme, Red Cross, ActionAid, Oxfam, Save the Children Fund and World Vision. These activities are being coordinated with the Mozambican authorities. We stand ready to provide further assistance.

HEALTH

  NHS Dentistry
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the level of demand for NHS dentistry in the next five years; [109828]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the number of dentists required to meet current demand for NHS treatment; [109855]

  (3) what estimate he has made of the number of patients waiting to see an NHS dentist; [109866]

  (4) what is the average waiting time to see an NHS dentist in Shropshire. [109835]

  Mr. Hutton
  The number of dentists in the General Dental Service in England at December 1999 (the latest date for which figures are available) was 17,746, an all time high and an increase of 480 from the previous year. Access problems are largely attributable to increases in the proportion of the time which dentists spend treating private patients and in the numbers of dentists working part-time. We therefore believe that we need to increase the level of dentists' commitment to the National Health Service. The Government will discuss with the profession a scheme to encourage and reward commitment to the NHS, paying out about £17 million a year.

  Plans for the future direction and development of NHS Dentistry have been made taking into account past, present and future trends in registrations and demand for NHS dentistry. Information on the number of patients waiting to see a NHS dentist, or the length of waiting time for dental services in Shropshire, is not available centrally. For information on protocol for waiting times at the Shropshire Dental Access Centre, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to the hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr. Hammond) on 19 January 2000, Official Report, column 511W.

  Dentists
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to encourage competition amongst dentists. [112321]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 28 February 2000]The NHS expects all its dentists to provide a high quality and reliable service. Patients should be told whether they can 408W
  expect to pay the standard charge for this service and, if so, how much a course of treatment will be. On top of this, we welcome the initiative of individual dentists who attract patients by offering exceptional service in some way.

  Old Church Hospital
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds there will be at the proposed new hospital at Old Church; and what is the current number of beds in the present hospital at Old Church. [111953]

  Mr. Denham
  There are currently 463 beds at Old Church hospital. The Trust has submitted proposals which are currently under consideration by the London Regional Office of the NHS Executive to provide 711 beds at Old Church Park.

  Adoption
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to reform the system for the adoption of children; and if he will make a statement. [111780]

  Mr. Hutton
  Through the Government's Quality Protects Programme we aim to develop a modern adoption system which puts the interests of the child first and provides a sensitive and efficient service. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is reviewing with ministerial colleagues how we can build on Quality Protects, moving further and faster to secure our aim of maximising the use of adoption for all children for whom it is appropriate and minimising delay. My right hon. Friend will make further announcements on the work programme in due course.

  Long-term Care
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if nursing care funded by the Government for those in long-term care will be restricted to that given by trained nurses; [112004]

  (2) if he intends to adopt the definition of nursing care set out in the report of the Royal Commission on Long-Term Care. [112003]

  Mr. Hutton
  No options for change have been ruled in or out at this stage. The Department of Health held a seminar on 1 March to discuss approaches to defining nursing care. Participants included representatives of professional and managerial organisations, private sector providers and voluntary organisations representing users of services. The issues raised at the seminar will help to inform our consideration of national standards for staffing levels in nursing homes and our final decision on the future funding of long-term care, following the conclusion of the spending review.

  Crowns and Bridges
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of claims for(a) precious metal based and (b) non-precious metal-based crowns and bridges in each of the last three years. [111724]
  409W
  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 29 February 2000]The tables show the number of claims scheduled for payment for crowns and bridges in precious and non-precious metal carried out in England from 1996–97 to 1998–99.

  General Dental Service: Number of treatments for crowns: 1996– to 1998–99 England

  Thousand

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Precious metal

  Crowns full or 0.75—precious metal

  21.7

  192.0

  248.2

  Bonded FJC—gold or precious

  1,264.2

  892.8

  870.1

  Total

  1,285.9

  1,084.8

  1,118.3

  Non-precious metal

  FJC—non-precious metal alloy

  3.6

  26.8

  26.9

  Bonded FJC—non precious

  14.5

  12.6

  15.1

  Total

  18.1

  39.4

  42.0

  Total for all metals

  1,304.0

  1,124.2

  1,160.3

  General Dental Service: Number of treatments for bridges1: 1996–97 to 1998–99 England

  Thousand

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Precious metal

  Retainers

  Retainer—gold-inlay compound

  1.1

  0.8

  0.4

  Inlay—compound confluent cavity or 0.75 crown

  0.5

  0.4

  0.5

  FJC

  1.1

  1.2

  0.8

  Retainer—other-FJC precious

  1.1

  0.9

  1.4

  Bonded FJC—gold or precious

  174.1

  142.0

  156.0

  Pontics

  Pontics—gold

  1.4

  1.2

  1.1

  Others precious

  0.4

  0.1

  0.4

  Bonded gold/precious

  118.8

  98.2

  109.4

  Total for precious metal1

  298.5

  244.8

  270.0

  Non-precious metal

  Retainers

  FJC non-precious

  0.4

  0.1

  0.2

  Bonded FJC non-precious

  1.7

  2.2

  2.8

  Acid etch retainer—metal

  33.7

  30.6

  33.5

  Pontics

  Other alloys non-precious

  0.2

  0.1

  0.2

  Bonded non-precious

  1.2

  1.7

  2.0

  Acid etch pontic—bonded

  19.4

  18.8

  20.5

  Total for non-precious metal1

  56.6

  53.5

  59.2

  Total for all metals1

  355.1

  298.3

  329.2

  1 Figures for bridges are available only for the individual parts

  NHS Staff
  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 agency nurses (i) nationally and (ii) by region for each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [112396]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 1 March 2000]Information on the number of agency staff is not available centrally.
  410W
  The table shows the total expenditure on non-National Health Service nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff in England, for the financial years 1994–95 to 1998–99. These figures include all agency staff and any staff not directly employed by individual NHS trusts and health authorities.

  Expenditure on non-NHS nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff England

  £

  Financial year

  Total expenditure

  1994–95

  132,836,673

  1995–96

  166,631,983

  1996–97

  191,496,635

  1997–98

  216,338,567

  1998–99

  272,225,162

  Sources:

  1. Annual financial returns of district and regional health authorities and the special health authorities for the London postgraduate teaching hospitals 1994–95 and 1995–96

  2. Annual financial returns of health authorities 1996–97 to 1998–99

  3. Annual financial returns of NHS trusts

  Correspondence
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letter of 29 October 1999 from the right hon. Member for North-East Hampshire regarding Dr. Egerton, a constituent. [112540]

  Ms Stuart
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health, replied to the right hon. Member on 29 February.

  Breast Implants
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in implementing the recommendations made by the Independent Review Group set up to examine the health risks of silicone gel breast implants relating to(a) information about benefits and risks of surgery for patients undergoing cosmetic breast augmentation surgery, (b) advertisements promoting breast implant surgery, (c) a consent form which incorporates the issues to be discussed between surgeons and women considering breast implantation, (d) measures to ensure that standards of care in private clinics, (e) registration of details of each breast implant and explain, (f) reporting breast implant-related adverse incidents, (g) information to patients on the likely financial implications of breast implant surgery and (h) a steering group to organise research. [112549]

  Mr. Denham
  A group chaired by the noble Baroness Emerton of Tunbridge Wells is producing an information booklet for women who are contemplating having breast implants. The booklet will provide expanded information on the issues identified by the Independent Review Group, including consent and financial implications. This will be available shortly.

  There have been discussions between the Advertising Standards Authority and Departmental officials about advertising, and we are currently considering how best to take this matter forward.
  411W
  The use of such forms is good practice, and in 1992 the Department issued model consent forms which can be adapted by National Health Service trusts for any procedure. This will be supported by the information leaflet which will give advice to women on the questions they will need to ask surgeons before giving consent.

  We are committed to introducing new and modern regulatory arrangements for independent healthcare provision through the Care Standards Bill, which is currently before Parliament. Copies of the Government's response to the Health Committee report of the regulation of private healthcare are available in the Library.

  The group's recommendations on registration were about ensuring good clinical practice. Measures are also in hand, through initiatives such as the Care Standards Agency and the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, to increase compliance with good clinical practice in both the public and the private sector.

  The Medical Devices Agency guidance was published last year on the reporting of adverse incidents. This was circulated to liaison officers in the public and the private sectors, to all members of the British Association of Plastic Surgeons and the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, and to manufacturers. Copies are available in the Library.

  A steering group has been established within the Department to identify suitable approaches that could lead to research of high scientific quality into breast implants and cosmetic surgery. The group's membership includes a consultant plastic surgeon, an Emeritus Professor of immunology, a representative from industry and the Chairman of the NHS Health Technology Assessment programme.

  Non-medical Supplies
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which private firms were invited to tender for the supply of non-medical supplies and equipment to NHS trusts in(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999–2000 to date. [112570]

  Mr. Denham
  This information is not available because National Health Service trusts are not required to report to the Department which firms they have invited to tender.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much NHS trusts spent on non-medical supplies and equipment in(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999–2000 to date. [112541]

  Mr. Denham
  Information is not available for 1999–2000.

  Expenditure on non-medical supplies and equipment 1997–98 and 1998–99 is shown in the table.

  £000

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Revenue expenditure:

  Supplies and services—general

  627,624

  704,052

  Premises

  1,480,979

  1,468,051

  Establishment

  638,573

  674,119

  Transport

  173,104

  173,955

  Audit fees

  18,468

  18,828

  412W

  £000

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Other auditors' remuneration

  13,031

  12,675

  Other

  722,149

  847,930

  Capital assets:

  Equipment—additions

  352,296

  343,690

  Descriptions of the entries in the revenue expenditure lines are as follows:

  Supplies and services—general
  This is the trust's total revenue expenditure on such things as:

  cleaning equipment, materials and external contracts;

  provisions;

  contract catering;

  staff uniforms and clothing;

  patients' clothing;

  laundry equipment, materials and external contracts;

  hardware and crockery; and

  bedding and linen (both disposable and non-disposable).

  Premises
  This is the trust's total revenue expenditure on:

  coal;

  oil;

  electricity;

  gas;

  other fuel;

  water and sewerage;

  general supplies and services;

  furniture;

  furnishings and fittings;

  office equipment;

  computer hardware and software;

  data processing services;

  rates;

  rent;

  property insurance;

  engineering and building maintenance; and

  other miscellaneous.

  Establishment
  This is the trust's total revenue expenditure on administrative expenses including:

  printing and stationery;

  postage;

  telephones;

  advertising;

  travel;

  subsistence;

  removal expenses; and

  staff cars.

  Transport
  This is the trust's total revenue expenditure on:

  vehicle insurance;

  fuel and oil;

  maintenance equipment, materials and external contracts;

  hire of transport;

  hospital car services: and

  miscellaneous transport expenses.

  413W
  Audit fees
  This is the total of fees paid or payable to the external auditor for the reporting year in respect of fees for auditing the annual accounts and returns.

  Other auditors' remuneration
  This is the total of fees paid or payable to the external auditor for the reporting year in respect of fees for any work other than auditing the accounts and returns, e.g. fees for value for money reviews.

  Other
  This is the total revenue expenditure of the trust not covered above. These include:

  patients' travelling expenses;

  redundancy costs;

  expenditure related to contracts with security firms;

  insurance payments other than car or property insurance; and

  losses and special payments, net of related insurance proceeds.

  There may be medical expenditure within this category but there is insufficient information to identify and exclude this.

  Descriptions of the entries in the capital asset line are as follows:

  Equipment—additions
  This represents the net book value of equipment assets acquired using both exchequer funds and from donations in the year. It also includes transfers from assets under construction where these have been completed in the year. Insufficient information is available to split the category into medical and non-medical equipment. This net book value does not equal the actual cash expenditure. Cash expenditure just on equipment is not available.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what targets were set for savings to be made in the purchase of non-medical supplies and equipment by NHS trusts in(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999–2000 to date. [112571]

  Mr. Denham
  National Health Service trusts were not set targets for savings in the purchase of non-medical supplies and equipment in 1997–98, 1998–99 or 1999–2000.

  The NHS Supplies Authority has been set purchasing targets covering all areas it influences—medical and non-medical goods and services. Those targets and achievements are set out in the table:

  £ million

  Target

  Achievement

  1997–98

  175.6

  104.2

  1998–99

  182.5

  113.3

  1999–2000

  1111.0

  2122.0

  1 More than

  2 To 31 January 2000

  Source:

  NHS Supplies Authority

  Ambulances
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the breakdown on the M4 motorway of a St. John Ambulance under contract to the London Ambulance Service carrying a patient awaiting a heart and lung transplant on 19 February; [112626]

  (2) what requirements there are for ambulances carrying patients long distances to carry spare tyres. [112627]
  414W
  Ms Stuart
  The breakdown of the ambulance carrying a patient from London to Wales was regrettable, but I understand that another vehicle was speedily provided and the patient suffered no adverse effects from this incident. It is policy among all ambulance services not to carry a spare wheel. A replacement vehicle was sent to ensure proper transport for the patient.

  Elderly People
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what data he has collated for (i) 1997–98 and (ii) 1998–99 on the indicators in the Government's poverty audit Opportunity for All relating to (i) intensive home care for people over 65 years of age in England and (ii) community based care for people over 65 years of age. [112156]

  Mr. Hutton
  The data for these indicators, which are also part of the Personal Social Services Performance Assessment Framework, were published on 24 November 1999 in a summary form in Social Services Performance 1998–99 and in detail in the form of computer tables on the Department of Health's internet site (reference: www.doh.gov.uk/paf/). The data show that in England (i) 8.4 households per 1,000 head of population aged 65 or over received intensive home care (more than 10 contact hours and 6 or more visits during the survey week) in England in 1998–99. Comparable data are not available for 1997–98 due to changes in the data collection. (ii) 71 people aged 65 or over per 1,000 head of population aged 65 or over received community based services in 1998–99. The comparable number for 1997–98 was 81.

  Cleft Lip and Palate Services
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations he has had with patients and their families about the future provision of cleft lip and palate centres. [112730]

  Mr. Denham
  The Chief Executive of the Cleft Lip and Palate Association (CLAPA) was a member of the Clinical Standards Advisory Group that reviewed cleft lip and palate services. He is currently a member of the Cleft Implementation Group. Representatives of cleft support groups have been involved in proposals in all regions and the Deputy Chief Medical Officer attended the CLAPA's Annual General Meeting in October last year.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what expert qualifications and experience members of his Clinical Standards Advisory Group have on cleft lip and palate. [112733]

  Mr. Denham
  The information is contained in Appendix A of the Clinical Standards Advisory Group on Cleft Lip and/or Palate (available in the Library) which lists the members of the CSAG committee established to look into this. The cleft committee was chaired by Professor John Murray, Dean of the Dental School at the University of Newcastle.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the members of his Department's Clinical Standards Advisory Group on cleft lip and palate. [112732]
  415W
  Mr. Denham
  The members of the sub group of the Clinical Standards Advisory Group which looked at cleft lip and palate services are listed in appendix A of the CSAG Report on cleft lip and palate services, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which hospitals his Department is assessing as future cleft lip and palate centres; and when he will announce his decision on the future locations of such centres. [112731]

  Mr. Denham
  Decisions about the designation of specialist cleft lip and palate centres are matters for Regional Specialist Commissioning Groups, in accordance with the commissioning framework issued in

  Region

  Chair

  Northern and Yorkshire

  Barry Fisher, Chief Executive of North Yorkshire Health Authority

  North-West

  Professor Maggie Pearson, North-West Regional Office

  Trent

  Dick Stockford, Director of Policy Development, Trent Regional Office

  West Midlands

  Henry Foster, Chief Executive, Dudley Health Authority

  London

  John James, Chief Executive, Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster Health Authority

  Eastern

  Chris Heginbotham, Chief Executive, East and North Herts Health Authority

  South-East

  Mike Gill, Regional Director of Public Health, Eastern Region

  South-West

  Tony Laurence, Regional Director, South West Region

  416W
  the Health Services Circular HSC 1998/238, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the members of the regional specialised services commission groups and the relevant sub-groups charged with taking forward the Government's plans for the future provision of cleft lip and palate services. [112729]

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, it should be noted that Regional Specialised Commissioning Groups (RSCGs) have been established in all the English health regions, and Regional Directors of the NHS are accountable for their performance. The chairs of the RSCGs are as follows:

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