Written Answers of 3 March 2000

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Concessionary Fares
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what concessionary fare schemes for public transport are available to blind people. [111974]

  Mr. Hill
  The most recent comprehensive information available to the Department comes from a survey of the position in 1995–96. Of the 331 local authorities which responded to that survey, 299 provided a concessionary travel scheme for blind people. The areas covered by these schemes included Greater London and all the six metropolitan areas. At least 32 of the schemes provided free travel; the remainder offered a range of different concessions.

  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of the payment of Disability Living Allowance to blind people and the disabled on entitlement to local authority concessionary fare schemes. [111975]

  Mr. Hill
  A survey of the position in 1995–96 indicated some differences between local authorities as to eligibility for concessionary travel for people in receipt of Disability Living Allowance. Last year the Department of Social Security and the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions issued a guidance note to local authorities suggesting that concessionary travel should not be refused to people on the grounds that they were in receipt of the mobility element of the Disability Living Allowance.

  Animals (Mange)
  Mr. McCabe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which public bodies have specific powers covering the control of animals with mange. [112014]

  Mr. Mullin
  This is not a matter for my Department.

  Thameslink
  Mr. Pollard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 21 February 2000,Official Report, column 706W, when he expects to be able to publish the shadow Strategic Rail Authority's proposals for additional capacity on the Bedford to London section of the Thameslink route which will not be dependent on the Thameslink 2000 project. [112425]
  418W
  Mr. Hill
  Thameslink's initial proposals for additional capacity were set out in "Thameslink—A New Partnership for the Millennium" which they published in March 1999. Discussion of these and other proposals to enhance capacity on the Bedford to London section is continuing with the Franchising Director, who will make an announcement in due course, I have asked the Franchising Director to keep my hon. Friend directly informed of progress.

  Objective 1, Merseyside
  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on progress in negotiations between his Department and the European Commission on the Objective 1 Special Programme Document for Merseyside. [112942]

  Ms Armstrong
  We are making good progress in our negotiations with the European Commission on the Objective 1 Single Programme Document for Merseyside. The European Commission is keen to ensure that confirmation of the acceptability of the Single Programme Document is provided by 31 March.

  Funding Schemes
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the funding schemes administered by his Department, indicating the total funds of each scheme and the administration costs of each scheme as a percentage of the total funds. [112494]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 2 March 2000]: Details of the schemes administered by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and information about the level of funding is given each year in the Departmental Annual Report. The 1999 Annual Report was presented to Parliament on 25 March 1999 (Cm 4204). The Department does not record its administration costs at the level of individual schemes.

  Rail Franchise (North England)
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he last met the Chairman of the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority to discuss the redrawing of the Rail Franchise for the North of England; and if he will make a statement. [112784]

  Mr. Hill
  The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has not met the Chairman of the shadow Strategic Rail Authority to discuss redrawing the rail franchise for the North of England, but the Franchising Director will consider this together with other relevant matters when replacing the franchise in that area.

  Air Rage
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many incidents classified as air rage have been reported in each year since 1990; and if he will make a statement. [113027]

  Mr. Mullin
  Data are not available for that period. Reports of disruptive incidents on UK airlines have been collected since April 1999. An analysis of the data for the
  419W
  seven months to October 1999 recorded 796 incidents, 39 of which were considered serious. The analysis is available in the House of Commons Library.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish the amounts allocated to homelessness over the past 10 years and the amounts allocated to rough sleeping over the past 10 years. [112810]

  Mr. Mullin
  Since 1990 my Department has allocated the following amounts to tackle single homelessness and rough sleeping.

  1990–93

  £12.1 million (single homelessness)

  £96 million (rough sleeping)

  1993–96

  £19 million (single homelessness)

  £86 million (rough sleeping)

  1996–99

  £23.8 million (single homelessness)

  £73 million (rough sleeping)

  1999–2002

  £196 million (Rough Sleepers Unit).

  The Rough Sleepers Unit was established in my Department in April 1999. This Unit has an integrated budget combining the separate single homelessness and rough sleeping programme budgets as well as budgets previously administered by other Departments.

  Government implemented a special homelessness initiative in the early 1990s to tackle homelessness pressures in London and the South-East which was allocated partly to local authorities and partly to housing associations (through the Housing Corporation). The local authority allocations were £112 million in 1990–91 and £126.7 million in 1991–92.

  Local housing authorities have statutory obligations to assist homeless persons under part VII of the Housing Act 1996 (and formerly under part III of the Housing Act 1985). This includes unintentionally homeless households with dependant children, and those who are vulnerable, totalling almost one million households between 1991–99. Funding for local authorities' activities under these provisions is provided as part of the annual local government finance settlement and is unhypothecated.

  Water Industry
  Mr. Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what arrangements he has made for protecting vulnerable customers under the Water Industry Act 1999. [113477]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Water Industry (Charges) (Vulnerable Groups) Regulations 1999 were made under the Water Industry Act 1999 and laid on 22 December 1999. The regulations offer protection to customers who might face hardship affording their bills because they use large amounts of water for essential purposes and pay on a measured basis. Customers will qualify for assistance if they are in receipt of income related benefits or tax credits (Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Working Families Tax Credit, Disabled Person's Tax 420W
  Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit) and either (a) they have three dependent children under the age of 16; or (b) they have a medical condition requiring significant extra water use (these are defined as kidney failure requiring home dialysis, abdominal stomas, desquamation, weeping skin disease and incontinence).

  Customers in these circumstances will be entitled to pay the average charge for the company that supplies them, rather than their actual measured charge. This represents a significant new step to tackle water poverty.

  The wording of the 1999 Regulations could have been interpreted as excluding low income customers whose children have qualifying medical conditions. That was not the intention. Therefore the Government have today laid the Water Industry (Charges) (Vulnerable Groups) (Amendment) Regulations 2000 which ensure that low income customers can receive assistance if their children are suffering from a qualifying medical condition. This confirms the Government's commitment to helping families who might face hardship as a result of high essential water use.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Schuman Project
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the UK beneficiaries of the Schuman Project who are(a) lawyers and (b) judges since its inception. [112336]

  Mr. Lock
  The only available information is contained in the analysis and first assessment on the pilot phases 1997–98 of the Robert Schuman Project published by the European Commission on 1 December 1998. The UK organisations selected to receive funding under the scheme are as listed. A report covering 1999 will be published in the Official Journal in due course.

  1997

  SLS Legal Publications—University of Belfast

  The General Council of the Bar of England and Wales

  The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn

  The Institute of Professional Legal Studies—Queen's University Belfast

  1998

  AIRE Centre (Advice on Individual Rights)

  Liberty (The National Council for Civil Liberties)

  Middlesex University

  SLS Legal Publications—University of Belfast

  Southampton Institute

  The Law Society of Scotland (two projects)

  The University of Manchester

  The University of Birmingham.

  Eviction and Seizure of Goods
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many court orders for evictions and seizure of goods there were last year in which those to be evicted or to have goods seized no longer lived at the named address; what estimate he has made of the(a) total cost and (b) cost per order; and if he will make a statement. [112435]
  421W
  Jane Kennedy
  Statistics and costs information are not kept in the form requested, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Family Court Officers
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if the comprehensive induction programme for family court officers includes modules on how to apportion specific periods of parental access in cases of divorce or separation. 1112309]

  Mr. Boateng
  I have been asked to reply.

  The national induction programme highlights factors which family court welfare officers need to address in their work with families and their assessments for courts. These factors include the nature, frequency and safety of involvement with each parent following separation.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Miners Compensation
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in how many cases payment of claims in respect of chronic bronchitis and emphysema suffered by former miners have been made to their widows. [111414]

  Mrs. Liddell
  As at 20 February the Department has made bereavement award payments to 1,851 widows amounting to over £16 million. In addition some 2,500 widows of miners who were in receipt of Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit for Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema have received interim payments of £2,000 each.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many medical tests were carried out under the Miners Compensation Scheme in Scotland in(a) 1999, (b) January 2000 and (c) February 2000 to date, on ex-miners seeking compensation for emphysema and other respiratory diseases. [111415]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 22 February 2000]: To date over 3,200 ex-miners have undergone lung function tests at one of the four centres established in Scotland by Healthcall, the company contracted to carry out the lung function programme.

  Nuclear Fuels
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library copies of letters sent to or received from British Nuclear Fuels plc on(a) safety at Sellafield and (b) Plutonium MOX fuel, by Ministers and officials in (i) his Department and (ii) other departments, since 10 September 1999. [112354]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Correspondence on these and other issues is a matter between the Government and the company.

  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the first commercial quantity of vitrified high level radioactive waste will be repatriated to foreign countries following the reprocessing of imported spent nuclear fuel as Sellafield. [112352]
  422W
  Mr. Caborn
  Dates for the return of wastes arising from BNFL's reprocessing operations will be agreed between the company and the owners of the reprocessed fuel.

  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library copies of all letters sent by Ministers and officials of(a) his Department and (b) other Departments to his Japanese Trade counterpart on the matter of plutonium MOX fuels, British Nuclear Fuels plc or Sellafield since 10 September 1999. [112355]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Correspondence on these and other issues is a matter between the two Governments. Senior officials from my Department visited Tokyo on 7–10 February to discuss MOX fuel with the Japanese Ministries and power utilities concerned. A joint press statement issued by the two Governments was placed in the Libraries of both Houses on 28 February.

  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the(a) dates and (b) purpose of visits made by Ministers in his Department to Sellafield since May 1997; and if he will place in the Library copies of speeches and radio and television interviews made by Ministers in association with such visits. [112353]

  Mrs. Liddell
  My hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Battle), the then Minister for Energy, visited Sellafield on 15 February 1999 at the invitation of BNFL for a site visit. There was no media involvement associated with this visit.

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list, for each(a) director and (b) non-executive director of British Nuclear Fuels plc. their responsibilities in the company and the length of time each has served in that capacity as a board member. [112545]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 2 March 2000]: The responsibilities, and length of service, of the members of the Board of BNFL are as follows:

  Executive Directors
  David Bonser, Director, Engineering, Waste Management and Decommissioning Business Group, 30 September 1999 to date.
  Ross Chiese, Group Finance Director, 26 August 1994 to date.
  Christopher Loughlin, Director, Thorp and Magnox Business Group, 30 September 1999 to date.

  Non-executive Directors
  Sir John Boyd, Chairman of the Remuneration Committee, 30 October 1997 to date.
  Hugh Collum, Chairman, 21 July 1999 to date (Chairman from 1 October 1997 to date.
  Professor Alistair MacFarlane, 15 July 1994 to date.
  Katherine Mortimer, 1 April 1993 to date.
  John Rimington, 29 January 1998 to date.
  John Rogues, Chairman of the Audit Committee, 1 November 1990 to date.
  Grahame Smith, 1 September 1999 to date.

  Note:

  John Taylor resigned as Director and Chief Executive of BNFL on 1 March 2000.

  Ilisu Dam
  Mr. Savidge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what analysis he has undertaken of the comparative risks, costs and benefits of alternatives to the Ilisu Dam, including(a) energy conservation, (b) other renewable sources, (c) fossil fuels, and (d) nuclear power. [112125]

  Mr. Caborn
  It is for the project sponsor to carry out any analysis of the comparative risks, costs and benefits of alternatives to a particular project.

  Turkey needs to expand its generating capacity considerably. We know that they are looking at coal, gas and oil fired stations elsewhere in Turkey and also at nuclear power. It is natural that they should see hydro power—a clean, renewable energy source which does not involve imports—as having a place in meeting this need.

  New Public Bodies
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the new public bodies established by his Department since May 1997. [112664]

  Mr. Byers
  The annual Cabinet Office publication, "Public Bodies", provides information on a range of public organisations. The 1997 edition lists those bodies in existence prior to May 1997. The 1998 and 1999 editions list public bodies in existence in subsequent years. Copies of these publications have been placed in the Library of the House. Copies are also available on the Cabinet Office website (www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/quango).

  ECGD supported project

  Name of bank

  Name of company1

  ACESITA stainless steel strip mill in Timoteo, Brazil

  (a) Annealing and Pickling Line

  Kleinwort Benson Ltd.

  VAI (formerly Davy McKee (Poole) Ltd. trading as Davy International)

  (b) Hot Mill

  Lloyds TSB (formerly Lloyds Bank plc)

  VAI (formerly Davy McKee (Sheffield) Ltd. trading as (Davy International)

  The nuclear power project in Qinshan, China

  (a) Qinshan Phase II

  Standard Chartered Bank

  Weir Pumps Ltd.

  (b) Qinshan Phase III

  Midland Bank plc

  Bechtel Ltd.2

  The Coal handling export terminal in Tianjin, China

  Midland Bank plc and Bank of China, London

  ALSTOM Automation International Ltd.

  The coal fired power station in Manjung Malaysia3

  Midland Bank plc

  ALSTOM Power Plants Ltd.

  Line of Credit for Korean Development Bank4

  HSBC Investment Bank plc

  Various5

  The seventh Airbus A330–200 to United Arab Emirates6

  HSBC Bank plc

  BAE Systems (formerly BAE) and Rolls-Royce

  1 Companies listed are the known lead contractors but there will be many sub-contractors involved on which records are not routinely held by ECGD—for example in the Airbus case typically, some 400 in the BAE Systems supply chain and some 250 in the Rolls-Royce supply chain.

  2 Bechtel Ltd. is acting as procurement agents to procure equipment from a number of British firms (including Weir Pumps and ALSTOM) who have won valuable sub-contract work.

  3 The coal fired power station in Manjung, Malaysia '(d)' and the Janamanjung Plan in Malaysia '(e)' are one and the same project.

  4 A Supplier Credit Finance Facility (SCFLOC) to support the purchase of UK Capital and Semi-Capital UK Goods and UK Services. It is an export credit loan and not a 'development loan'.

  5 No contracts have yet been placed.

  6 Delivered on 28 January 2000—the seventh of seventeen aircraft ordered under a Purchase Agreement dated 18 October 1996.

  Global Cultural Diversity Congress
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans his Department has to conduct an investigation into the collapse of Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd. [112735]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 2 March 2000]: It is the policy of my Department not to comment on the affairs of particular companies. If the hon. Member has any information which he feels needs to be brought to my Department's attention he should do so as soon as possible.

  MOX Fuel
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when his Department was informed by BNFL of problems in respect of MOX fuel supplied to German utilities. [112033]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 2 March 2000]: BNFL first told my Department of a problem concerning MOX fuel supplied to the German utility, PreussenElektra, on 22 October 1999.

  ECGD Projects
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which British (i) banks and (ii) companies are involved in the following ECGD supported projects:(a) ACESITA stainless steel strip mill in Timoteo, (b) the nuclear power project in Qinshan, China, (c) the coal handling export terminal in Tianjin, China, (d) the coal fired power station in Manjung, Malaysia, (e) the Janamanjung Plant in Malaysia, (f) the development loan to the Korean Development Bank and (g) the seventh Airbus A330–200 to the United Arab Emirates. [112473]

  Mr. Caborn
  The following is the information:

  Utilities Bill
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to make regulations under the Utilities Bill regarding Consumer Council access to information. [113414]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Utilities Bill contains strong information-gathering powers for the Gas and Electricity Consumer Council, to ensure it has access to the information it will need in order to play an influential and informed role on behalf of consumers within the regulatory system.

  However, there are a small number of areas, such as information relevant to court proceedings, where confidentiality is legitimate. I have today published a consultation paper setting out the Government's initial thoughts on making regulations defining these areas, subject to Parliament's approval of the relevant provisions of the Utilities Bill.

  I have placed copies of the consultation paper in the Libraries of both Houses.

  IR35
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the right to full employment protection of individuals who become direct employees under IR35. [112987]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The treatment of individuals under tax and national insurance legislation does not determine their status for employment law purposes.

  Objective 2 Map
  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
  [pursuant to the reply, 2 March 2000, c.342W]: I now provide the changes in the proposals.

  The changes made to coverage in England are as follows:

  Torbay
  Torwood ward is added

  Southend
  Victoria and St. Lukes wards are included in exchange for Chalkwell and Leigh wards

  Great Yarmouth
  Magdalen West ward was included in exchange for Gorleston ward

  East Staffordshire
  Victoria and Eton wards are included in exchange for Needwood ward and Tutbury and Hanbury ward.

  The changes made in Scotland are:

  Angus
  Slidlaw and Carnoustie West are included in exchange for Colliston and Hayshead wards

  Clackmannanshire
  Harviestoun ward is no longer included
  426W
  Dundee
  Dudhope, Central, Menziehill and Gourdie wards are included in exchange for Wellgate, Baxter Park, Douglas, Whitfield and Trottick

  Falkirk
  Dawson and Victoria wards are included in exchange for Denny ward

  Glasgow
  Castlemilk and Dennistoun are included in exchange for Toryglen and Crosshill

  Midlothian
  Part of Pathhead ward is now included

  Moray
  Keith and part of Strathisla ward are now included in exchange for Rathford

  Renfrewshire
  Johnstone Cochranemill ward is included in exchange for Barshaw

  South Lanarkshire
  Ferniegar and part of Fernhill ward are included in exchange for Low Waters.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  New Deal
  Judy Mallaber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will publish New Deal statistics at an individual constituency level regularly. [113410]

  Ms Jowell
  To support our crusade against youth unemployment, I am pleased to announce that I am today making available information on the progress of the New Deal in each constituency across Great Britain. To put this information into context, some general indicators of local labour markets are also included.

  Copies of the individual constituencies' statistics have been placed in the Library. In order to keep Members informed of progress, I will place updates of this information in the Library each quarter.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensioners
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the income of the poorest pensioners in(a) 1997–98 and (b) 2000–01. [111811]

  Mr. Rooker
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows:

  The median income among the poorest fifth of pensioner couples in 1997–98 was £126 per week. The median among the poorest fifth of single pensioners was £68 per week.

  Notes:

  1. Information is for 1997–98, the latest year available. Forecasts are not available for 2000–01.

  427W

  2. Single pensioners are defined as single (non-cohabiting) people over state pension age (65 for men, 60 for women); pensioner couples are defined as couples (married or cohabiting) where the man is over state pension age.

  3. Estimates of incomes refer to net income before housing costs, expressed in July 1997 prices.

  4. Estimates are rounded to the nearest £ per week, although they are not necessarily accurate to that degree.

  5. For the purposes of this analysis, the 'poorest' are defined as the bottom fifth of the pensioner couples income distribution and the bottom fifth of the single pensioners income distribution, calculated on the net income before housing costs measure. Figures are not available for the distribution of pensioner couples and single pensioners combined.

  6. The median income for a given group of people, or couples, is the income of the person or couple exactly in the income distribution. Thus for a given group, half the people or couples have an income higher than the median and have an income lower than the median.

  Source:

  Family Resources Survey 1997–98.

  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what(a) current measures are in place and (b) future proposals he has to ensure the senior citizens claim their full benefit entitlement. [111094]

  Mr. Rooker
  We are committed to taking action to find more effective ways of encouraging eligible pensioners to claim their benefit entitlement. We will be announcing our plans, to encourage pensioners to take-up their entitlement to their minimum income guarantee, shortly.

  New Public Bodies
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the new public bodies established by his Department since May 1997. [112659]

  Mr. Rooker
  The annual Cabinet Office publication, "Public Bodies", provides information on a range of public bodies. The 1997 edition lists those public bodies in existence prior to May 1997. The 1998 and 1999 editions list public bodies in existence in subsequent years. Copies of these publications have been placed in the Library of the House. Copies are also available on the Cabinet Office website (www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/quango).

  In this Department no new public bodies have been established since May 1997.

  Pensioners (Greater London)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) men and (b) women were in receipt of a State Retirement Pension in each of the parliamentary constituencies in the Greater London area on 1 February. [112617]

  Mr. Rooker
  Information on the number of men and women in receipt of a State Retirement Pension is not available at parliamentary constituency level. Although information is available on the number of people of pensionable age, this is from the 1991 Census published by the Office for National Statistics.

  Miners Compensation
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the payment of compensation for mining-related illness to ex-coal miners will result in a reduction of social security benefits currently paid to them. [112502]

  Mr. Bayley
  Payments of compensation are treated as capital in the income-related benefits1. Where a person who has suffered a personal injury (including an industrial illness) receives a compensation payment, the capital value may be disregarded if it is held in a Trust Fund. Normal rules on income from Trust Funds would apply.
  1 The income-related benefits are Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will answer the letter from the hon. Member for Wellingborough of 29 June 1999 and provide the breakdown requested of the £22 million stated by the Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for City of York (Mr. Bayley), to have been paid in respect of war pensions for psychiatric illness in 1939,Official Report, 24 February 1999, column 518. [113170]

  Mr. Bayley
  A reply to most of the matters raised in the letter was sent on 9 September 1999, and a further letter, about war pensions paid in respect of psychiatric illness in 1939, was sent to my hon. Friend the Member for Wellingborough on 26 February 2000.

HEALTH

  Accident and Emergency Units
  Mr. Dobbin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the accident and emergency units indicating(a) the projected patient attendance expected when built, (b) the actual patient attendance achieved each year since 1992 and (c) the number of cubicle beds in each unit. [112951]

  Ms Stuart
  Copies of accident and emergency attendances by NHS trusts are available in the Library. The initial projected number of accident and emergency attendances and the number of beds within accident and emergency units are not collected centrally.

  Global Cultural Diversity Congress
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he was informed of the cancellation of the Global Cultural Diversity Congress and the collapse of Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd., and by whom; and if he will make a statement. [112793]

  Ms Stuart
  The Department was informed of the cancellation of the Global Diversity Congress by the Chief Executive of the Commission for Racial Equality, Susie Parsons, in a letter dated 22 February 2000.

DEFENCE

  Employment Statistics
  Mrs. Ann Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilians in each of the standard age groups were employed in his Department in(a) 1979 and (b) 1999. [104021]

  Dr. Moonie
  A breakdown by age group of the number of civilians employed by the Ministry of Defence on 1 April 1999 is given in the table. Corresponding information for 1979 is not readily available and could be produced only at disproportionate cost. A breakdown by age group for the whole Civil Service is provided within the annual publication "Civil Service Statistics", available from the Library of the House.

  Civilian personnel employed by Ministry of Defence at 1 April 1999

  Thousand (Full time equivalent)

  Age group

  Males

  Females

  Total

  16–19

  1.0

  0.4

  1.4

  20–24

  2.8

  2.0

  4.8

  25–59

  5.9

  4.0

  9.9

  30–34

  8.6

  5.1

  13.8

  35–39

  9.6

  4.9

  14.5

  40–44

  9.9

  4.2

  13.9

  45–49

  9.9

  4.2

  14.1

  50+

  24.7

  8.7

  33.4

  Unknown

  2.4

  0.0

  2.5

  Total

  74.7

  33.6

  108.3

  Notes:

  1. Data may not sum to totals due to rounding

  2. Data includes 5.3 thousand FTE MoD staff who are on secondments, maternity leave, unpaid leave, career breaks.

  Source:

  Defence Analytical Services Agency

  New Public Bodies
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the new public bodies established by his Department since May 1997. [112660]

  Dr. Moonie
  The annual Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies" provides information on a range of public bodies. The 1997 edition lists those in existence prior to May 1997. The 1998 and 1999 editions list public bodies in existence in subsequent years. Copies of these publications have been placed in the Library of the House. Copies are also available on the Cabinet Office website (www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/quango).

  Greek Commemorative Medals
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress his Department is making in negotiations with the Greek Government on the verification of service to allow the award of Greek commemorative medals to British servicemen and women. [112965]

  Dr. Moonie
  I presume that the medals referred to are the official campaign medals instituted by the Greek Government for service in Greece and Crete during the Second World War. In recent years the Greek Government have offered them to eligible British ex-Servicemen who have been invited to apply in writing 430W
  to the Greek Embassy in London. The Queen has granted permission for the medals to be accepted as souvenirs or keepsakes, but not to be worn.

  The eligibility criteria, assessment of entitlement and distribution of these medals are entirely matters for the Greek Government. My Department do not directly assist the Greek authorities with the verification of eligibility. However, on request, we will provide any British veteran with an official Record of Service, which he can offer to the Greek authorities and may provide sufficient proof of participation in the campaigns in Greece and Crete, to enable the Greek Government to issue a medal.

TREASURY

  Government Investments
  Barbara Follett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Government's investments. [113413]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Today we have confirmed our plans to sell 150 tonnes of gold in 2000–01, a sum equivalent to the amount sold in 1999–2000 on a pro rata basis. These sales form part of the programme announced on 7 May 1999,Official Report, column 479W, to restructure the United Kingdom's reserves holdings. As in 1999–2000, the sales will be made through Bank of England auctions. There will be six auctions during 2000–01, which will be held every other month starting in May. As in 1999–2000, the auctions will be of approximately 25 tonnes each, and they will continue to be conducted on a single price basis.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Regional Orchestras
  Ms Atherton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on plans to reduce the size of regional orchestras. [112812]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The Arts Council's plans for the regional orchestras were announced last October. Discussions with individual orchestras on securing their long-term future are currently underway, and these will include looking at ways in which they could benefit from greater flexibility to vary the number of players so that they can diversify their repertoire and bring a greater range of music, including large scale symphonic work, to audiences across England.

  Funding Schemes
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the funding schemes administered by his Department, indicating the total funds of each scheme and the administration costs of each scheme as a percentage of the total funds. [112491]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 2 March 2000]: Although my Department provides funding for various schemes they are all administered by other bodies.

  Football
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations his Department has made to the European Commission regarding the rules allowing professional footballers from any EEA country to play football in any other EEA country. [112514]

  Kate Hoey
  My Department has made no recent representations to the European Commission on this subject.

  New Public Bodies
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the new public bodies established by his Department since May 1997. [112665]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  The annual Cabinet Office publication, "Public Bodies, provides information on a range of public bodies. The 1997 edition lists those public bodies in existence prior to May 1997. The 1999 edition lists those public bodies in existence at 1 April 1999. Copies

  Number of staff and their category

  Reason for terminations

  Period of notice

  Total cost (£)

  11 aged 60+ who are being compulsorily retired

  Museum reorganisation

  6 to 9 months

  48,529

  Nine aged between 50 and 60 who are taking early retirement but on a compulsory basis

  Museum reorganisation

  6 months

  1190,470

  22 persons under 50 who are taking compulsory early severance

  Museum reorganisation

  6 months

  1,035,510

  Three others

  Performance or health grounds

  2—no notice

  0

  1–13 weeks

  0

  1 Additionally these staff will be paid an annual compensation cost until they reach age 60. The total cost in the current year is £67,950. Over the next few years this annual sum will reduce as people reach age 60. The overall present value of this payment, at current money values, is estimated to be £455,360. There will also be other one-off costs estimated at £184,390 relating to pension preservation and the bringing forward of lump sums.

  Notes:

  1. All the compensating amounts shown in the table derive from Civil Service Pension Scheme standard terms and conditions.

  2. The table does not include staff whose fixed-term contracts have not been renewed. These terminations do not carry a cost to the Museum.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total cost of senior management salaries at the British Museum(a) is for the present year and (b) was for 1997. [112346]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The answers are:

  Year

  Amount (£)

  1 April 1996 to 31 March 1997

  181,602

  1 April 1997 to 31 March 1998

  219,086

  1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000

  323,560

  Notes:

  1. We have used as the definition of "senior management" those earning above £59,000 per annum, the threshold we use in pay negotiations following Treasury guidance.

  2. Variances between years are due to adjustments to individual salaries and also to changes, since 1 April 1999, to senior management structures in the Museum.

  3. These amounts include the salary costs of a senior manager whose appointment is for the life of the Great Court project only.

  4. The senior management team has been strengthened for the task of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the British Museum.
  432W
  of these publications have been placed in the Library of the House. Copies are also available on the Cabinet Office website (www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/quango).

  Since 1 April 1999 my Department has established the following advisory non-departmental public bodies:

  Eight Regional Cultural Consortiums covering the following regions:

  North West

  North East

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  West Midlands

  South West

  East Midlands

  South East

  Eastern.

  British Museum
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many British Museum staff have been dismissed over the past 12 months; at what cost; and with what period of notice, in each case. [112380]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The answers are:

  Euro
  Mr. Portillo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 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. [112138]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 29 February 2000]: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 1 March 2000, Official Report, column 233W.

  Jorge Semprun Speech
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will place in the Library an English translation of the speech by Jorge Semprun to the Weimar meeting on EU cultural and audio visual issues. [112386]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  I refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave him on 15 June 1999,Official Report, column 88W, and 6 July 1999, Official Report, column 458W. In those answers I outlined the informal discussions of the meeting in Weimar to which Jorge

  433W
  Semprun contributed. The text of his contribution was placed in the Library. Translations of the proceedings of informal Culture/Audiovisual Council meetings are not made: this would be prohibitively expensive.

  New Millennium Experience Company
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many designers awarded contracts by the New Millennium Experience Company have received payments from the NMEC that were(a) greater than, (b) the same as and (c) less than the sum specified under the terms of their contract. [110916]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 21 February 2000]: Payments are being made in all cases according to contractual terms. Some invoices are the subject of normal issue resolution procedures.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Diplomatic Immunity
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which consultative committees of the European Communities confer diplomatic immunity on their members; what is the total number of diplomatic passports issued by them; and how many incidents involving such individuals have been covered by diplomatic immunity(a) in the United Kingdom, (b) across the EU and (c) further afield since the establishment of the bodies in each of the last five years. [112332]

  Mr. Vaz
  Members of consultative committees of the European Union, such as the Committee of the Regions and the Economic and Social Committee have no diplomatic immunity. Therefore, no diplomatic passports have been issued to them and no diplomatic incidents have occurred involving such individuals in the UK, EU or further afield.

  Albania
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in Albania. [112108]

  Mr. Vaz
  The security situation in Albania continues to cause concern. After the civil unrest in 1997 there are still large caches of weapons throughout the country. Although the Government have had some success in recent months in tackling organised crime, armed gangs still operate in the north of the country and in the south on major routes from Greece.

  We are helping the Albanian Government to build up the capacity of its police forces and currently have 20 British police officers serving there with the Western European Union's Multi-National Advisory Police Element. We are also providing support, bilaterally and through NATO, for the rebuilding and restructuring of the Albanian armed forces, as well as advice on the disposal of surplus munitions. Up-to-date information on the security situation as it affects travellers in Albania is provided in the FCO's travel advice.

  "UK in Europe"
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the planned(a) contents of, (b) contributors to, (c) target audience for, (d) means of distribution of and (e) print run of the booklet, "UK in Europe"; and if schools will receive copies of the booklet. [112371]

  Mr. Vaz
  The FCO publication, "UK in Europe, a New Millennium", is intended as an introductory text to the subject of Britain's membership of the EU. Written by the FCO, it is targeted at the general public in the UK and overseas. Print runs and the means of distribution have yet to be finalised.

  Your Britain, Your Europe Roadshow
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the accommodation costs of the Your Britain, Your Europe Roadshow; and to how many people, from which organisations, these costs were attributable. [112338]

  Mr. Vaz
  The accommodation costs were £6,775.75. Over the week the costs were attributable to 19 people from two organisations: the FCO and Caribiner, the public relations company which helped organise the roadshow.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reason his Minister for Europe travelled to Paris, as part of the Your Britain, Your Europe Roadshow, to conduct an interview with a UK radio station; and what was the cost of this visit. [112340]

  Mr. Vaz
  I visited Paris to deliver a speech at an event to mark the 50th anniversary of the Council of Europe. I took the opportunity also to conduct a radio interview and to meet journalists at the Gare du Nord station to publicise the roadshow. The cost of the visit to Paris was £4,192.69. This covered the travel and accommodation costs of myself and accompanying FCO officials.

  Burundi
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the further support announced during his visit to Africa for the Burundi peace process. [112381]

  Mr. Hain
  The UK has supported the Burundi peace process politically, with resources and with personnel. The UK has contributed over £250,000 so far and will continue to support the process as long as the current momentum is maintained.

  I attended the Burundi peace summit at Nelson Mandela's request in Arusha on 21 February, and I announced a further contribution of £30,000 to the current round of negotiations and £50,000 for related reconciliation efforts in Burundi.

  Euro
  Mr. Portillo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much money has been spent to date by his Department and by bodies funded by his Department in connection with the National
  435W
  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. [112136]

  Mr. Hain
  [holding answer 29 February 2000]: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office have not incurred any expenditure in connection with the National Changeover Plan, nor do we plan to spend anything over the next 12 months.

  Regional and Minority Languages
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress towards the signature of the Council of Europe Charter on Regional and Minority Languages. [113411]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  I am pleased to announce that yesterday the UK Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe signed the Charter on behalf of the United Kingdom. We hope to ratify later this year, subject to the completion of requisite Parliamentary procedures.

  EU Business
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list(a) the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for March and (b) the major European Union events for the next six months. [113412]

  Mr. Vaz
  The following is the information:

  Monthly forecast of EU Business: March 2000
  This calendar is primarily concerned with European Union matters, but certain other relevant events are also included. Events and dates quoted are based on the information available on the date of issue.

  March

  28 February-1 March—Lisbon—EuroMed Investment Conference

  Opening Statement

  Panel Discussion

  Investing in an Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area

  Working Groups

  Doing Business in the Free Trade Area

  Promoting Investment in a Free Trade Area

  Investment Financing in the Mediterranean Region

  Presentation and Discussion of the Conclusions and recommendations of the Working Groups

  Conclusions and Recommendations

  Closing Statements

  Press Conference

  1–2 March—Brussels—European Parliament Plenary
  Consultation Procedure
  (possible) Proposal for a Council regulation establishing a Community framework for the collection and management of the fisheries data needed to conduct the common fisheries policy
  (possible) Proposal for a Council decision on financial contribution from the Community towards the expenditure incurred by the member states in collecting data, and for financing studies and pilot projects for carrying out the common fisheries policy
  (possible) Proposal for a Council directive amending Directive 93/53/EEC introducing minimum Community measures for the control of certain fish diseases
  436W
  Proposal for a Council regulation amending for the fourth time Regulation (EC) No 1626/94 laying down certain technical measures for the conservation of fishery resources in the Mediterranean and for the fourth time Regulation (EC) No 850/98 for the conservation of fishery resources through technical measures for the protection of juveniles of marine organisms
  (possible) Initiative of the Republic of Austria with a view to adopting a Council decision to combat child pornography on the Internet

  Lisbon—EU/Russia Ministerial Meeting

  EU-Russia relations

  Developments in Russia, including the Northern Caucasus

  Developments in the EU

  Western Balkans Mediterranean region and the Middle East Peace Process

  Preparation for the EU-Russia Summit

  3–4 March—Lisbon—Justice and Home Affairs Council (Informal)

  No formal agenda

  10 March—Tokyo—EU/Japan Ministerial Meeting

  No agenda yet available

  13 March—Brussels—Social Affairs Council

  Preparation of the special European Council in Lisbon

  Presidency paper on a Europe of innovation and knowledge

  Commission Communication on Community policies to promote employment (Article 127)

  Commission Communication on social inclusion

  Commission Communication on job strategies in the information society

  First Commission report on the social situation in Europe

  Commission proposals on Article 13

  Oral report from the Presidency on progress in negotiations

  13 March—Brussels—ECOFIN Council

  Adoption of the provisional agenda

  Approval of the list of "A" items

  Implementation of the Stability and Growth Pact

  Preparation of the Lisbon European Council on Employment, Economic Reforms and Social Cohesion

  Towards a Europe based on Innovation and Knowledge, Lisbon, 23–24 March 2000

  Taxation

  (a) (possible) VAT: Postal Services Presentation of Commission proposal

  (b) Taxation of aircraft fuel

  Presentation of Commission communication

  Discharge of 1998 budget

  Presentation of Commission action plan to improve management and financial procedures

  AOB

  13–17 March—Strasbourg—European Parliament Plenary

  No agenda yet available

  16 March—Brussels—Internal Market Council

  No agenda yet available

  17 March—Lisbon—Informal Education Ministers Meeting

  No formal agenda

  17–18 March—Porto—Trade Ministers' Meeting (Informal)

  No formal agenda

  20–21 March—Brussels—General Affairs Council

  No agenda yet available

  437W
  20–21 March—Brussels—Agriculture Council

  No agenda yet available

  23–24 March—Lisbon—Special European Council

  No formal agenda

  27 March—Brussels—Justice and Home Affairs Council

  No agenda yet available

  28 March—Brussels—Transport Council

  No agenda yet available

  Dates

  Venue

  Events

  March

  28 February-1 March

  Lisbon

  EuroMed Investment Conference

  1–2

  Brussels

  European Parliament Plenary

  2

  Lisbon

  EU/Russia Ministerial Meeting

  3–4

  Lisbon

  Justice and Home Affairs Council (Informal)

  10

  Tokyo

  EU/Japan Ministerial Meeting

  13

  Brussels

  Social Affairs Council

  13

  Brussels

  ECOFIN Council

  13–17

  Strasbourg

  European Parliament Plenary

  16

  Brussels

  Internal Market Council

  17

  Lisbon

  Informal Education Ministers Meeting

  17–18

  Porto

  Trade Ministers' Meeting (Informal)

  20–21

  Brussels

  General Affairs Council

  20–21

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  23–24

  Lisbon

  Special European Council

  27

  Brussels

  Justice and Home Affairs Council

  28

  Brussels

  Transport Council

  29–30

  Brussels

  European Parliament Plenary

  30

  Brussels

  Environment Council

  April

  3

  Luxembourg

  Fisheries Council

  3–4

  Cairo

  EU-Africa Summit

  4

  Luxembourg

  Social Affairs Council

  7–8

  Lisbon

  ECOFIN Council (Informal)

  10–11

  Luxembourg

  General Affairs Council

  10–14

  Strasbourg

  European Parliament Plenary

  13

  Luxembourg

  Consumer Affairs Council

  15–16

  Oporto

  Environment Council (Informal)

  17–18

  Luxembourg

  Agriculture Council

  May

  2

  Brussels

  Telecommunications Council

  3–4

  Brussels

  European Parliament Plenary

  5–7

  San Miguel, Azores

  Information Meeting of Foreign Ministers

  8

  Brussels

  ECOFIN Council

  8

  Lisbon

  EU/New Zealand Ministerial Meeting

  11

  Brussels

  Health Council

  15–16

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  15–16

  Oporto

  WEU Council

  15–19

  Strasbourg

  European Parliament Plenary

  16

  Brussels

  Culture Council

  18

  Brussels

  Industry Council

  18

  Brussels

  Development Council

  22–23

  Brussels

  General Affairs Council

  25

  Brussels

  Internal Market Council

  25–26

  Lisbon

  EuroMed Foreign Ministers Meeting (Informal)

  28–30

  Evora

  Agriculture Council (Informal)

  29–30

  Brussels

  Justice and Home Affairs Council

  30

  Brussels

  Energy Council

  June

  5

  Luxembourg

  ECOFIN Council

  6

  Luxembourg

  Social Affairs Council

  8

  Luxembourg

  Education Council

  13–14

  Luxembourg

  General Affairs Council

  13–16

  Strasbourg

  European Parliament Plenary

  15

  Luxembourg

  Research Council

  16

  Luxembourg

  Fisheries Council

  19–20

  Luxembourg

  Agriculture Council

  19–20

  Sta. Maria da Feira

  European Council

  21–23

  Cyprus

  3rd Euro-Mediterranean Conference of the Ministers of Industry

  438W
  29–30 March—Brussels—European Parliament Plenary

  No agenda yet available

  30 March—Brussels—Environment Council

  No agenda yet available

  European Calendar—March—August 2000
  This calendar is primarily concerned with European Union matters, but certain other relevant events are also included. Events and dates quoted are based on the information available on the date of issue.
  439W

  Dates

  Venue

  Events

  22–23

  Luxembourg

  Environment Council

  26–27

  Luxembourg

  Transport Council

  28

  Lisbon

  EU/India Summit

  July

  3–7

  Strasbourg

  European Parliament Plenary

  6–7

  Lille

  Culture Council

  7–8

  (to be confirmed)

  Social Affairs Council (Informal)

  10–11

  Brussels

  General Affairs Council

  15–16

  (to be confirmed)

  Environment Council (Informal)

  17

  Brussels

  ECONFIN Council

  17–18

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  24

  Brussels

  Budget Council

  25

  Bangkok

  ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meeting

  28–29

  Bangkok

  ASEAN Post Ministerial Meeting

  28–29

  Arles

  Justice and Home Affairs Council (Informal)

  August1

  —

  —

  1 There are no Councils scheduled for this month

  Austria
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what change in the UK's bilateral relations with Austria has resulted from the resignation of the Leader of the Freedom Party of Austria; and if he will make a statement. [113015]

  Mr. Vaz
  Joerg Haider's resignation as Leader of the Freedom Party has not affected the measures introduced by the 14 members of the EU against Austria on 4 February. The issue has not been Haider's leadership of the Freedom Party, but the participation of the Freedom Party in the government of Austria. We will continue to judge the Austrian Government on how it lives up to its commitments in its Declaration.

  Iran
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the death sentences imposed on three Iranian Batá'ís in the city of Mashad on 3 February; and what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Iranian Ambassador about them. [113014]

  Mr. Hain
  We remain concerned at reports of the death sentences passed on Mr. Najafabadi, Mr. Moghaddam and Mr. Khulusi in Mashad on 3 February. The picture has been somewhat confused by the recent statement by Mr. Sabeqi, spokesman for the Iranian Judiciary, that no such sentences had been passed. The Portuguese Presidency, on behalf of EU partners, presented a demarche to the Iranian authorities expressing our concern and seeking clarification as to the current status of these three gentlemen on 17 February. We took similar bilateral action with the Iranian Ambassador on 21 February.

  We regularly raise with the Iranian authorities our serious concern about treatment of the Bahá'ís. Persecution of individuals on religious grounds is totally unacceptable.

  Mr. Temple-Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received concerning the claims by the Iranian exile group, the National Council of Resistance, about the turnout for the recent Iranian Majles elections and falsification of results. [113069]
  440W
  Mr. Hain
  I was aware of this attempt by the National Council for the Resistance of Iran (NCRI) to dismiss as a fraud the conduct and outcome of the recent Iranian elections. Their claims are not credible. The political choice made in the elections by the Iranian people is a matter for them, but our view, and that of all impartial observers, is that the election result in Iran has been a substantial vote of confidence in President Khatami's political and economic reforms, and a clear signal of the Iranian people's interest in modernisation.

  For us, that is also a vindication of the policy of engagement with Iran pursued by this Government. That policy has attracted some criticism in the past, sometimes from the people who have accepted at face value the propaganda of the NCRI, which is an organisation dominated by the terrorist Mujahedin-e-Khalq (MKO). The MKO are based in Baghdad and are regarded by Saddam Hussein as some of his most trusted allies. They are despised by most Iranians within Iran for their support for Saddam during the Iran/Iraq war in the 1980s. They have been responsible for a series of terrorist attacks in Iran which we have condemned.

  In our dealings with the Iranian Government we and our EU partners have regularly expressed our concern over a number of issues, particularly human rights, and we will continue to do so until those legitimate concerns are dealt with to our satisfaction. But in assessing those concerns, and the progress of events in Iran generally, we will pay little attention to the views of the MKO or NCRI, whose own background and methods do not permit them to speak with authority on democracy or human rights.

  The outcome of the elections strengthens our optimism for the future of Iran, and for Britain's developing relationship with Iran.

  Nigeria
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Nigeria concerning the Christian-Muslim conflicts in the north of the country. [112988]

  Mr. Hain
  I discussed the situation in Northern Nigeria with Nigerian Foreign Minister Lamido on 14 February.
  441W
  I was deeply concerned by the situation in Kaduna and condemn the recent violence there and elsewhere. I have appealed to all those concerned for calm and for them to settle their differences without recourse to violence.

  Visa Applications
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many visa applications have been submitted to the Deputy High Commission in(a) Delhi, (b) Mumbai and (c) Calcutta during February 2000; and what were the figures for February 1999. [112790]

  Mr. Vaz
  The deadline for the submission of entry clearance statistics from overseas posts for the month of February is 15 March. I will write to my hon. Friend when the figures requested are available. I am glad that my hon. Friend was able to visit our entry clearance operations in New Delhi and Bombay recently.

  St. Helena
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent developments there have been in the revision of the St. Helena constitution. [113019]

  Mr. Battle
  Following the publication of the White Paper "Partnership for Progress and Prosperity" we have asked the St. Helena Legislative Council what changes they would like to see in the Constitution. We have told them that we are prepared to consider specific, detailed and well argued recommendations for the amendment of the 1988 Constitutional Order.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to publish the report from Mr. J. J. Rowe on the operation in 1999 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989. [113408]

  Mr. Straw
  I have today arranged for copies of Mr. Rowe's report to be placed in the Library. Mr. Rowe recommends that the legislation should be renewed. A draft Order is being laid before the House today which continues all those provisions of the Act which are currently in force.

  Quantum Project
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will announce the outcome of the Prison Service's Quantum project. [113409]

  Mr. Boateng
  I announced in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Chorley (Mr. Hoyle), on 14 December 1999,Official Report, columns 139–40W, that Martin Narey, the Director-General of the Prison Service had selected Electronic Data Systems (EDS) as the preferred supplier for the Quantum project and that
  442W
  negotiations would be held with a view to award of contract. I am pleased to say that the preferred supplier negotiations with EDS have concluded successfully. Martin Narey has decided to award a contract to EDS for the provision of Information Technology services for the Prison Service.

  Strip-searches
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times in each(a) women's and (b) men's prison a prisoner has been strip-searched after a visit by an hon. Member since 1 January. [111968]

  Mr. Boateng
  Prisons are not required to maintain statistics of the number of strip searches carried out, nor records of visits by hon. Members to prisoners. I am, however, aware that a female prisoner at Highpoint prison was strip searched following a visit by her Member of Parliament on 3 February.

  As I advised the hon. Member during the debate he raised on Tuesday 29 February, this strip search was purely a random search. All prisons are required to carry out random searches of prisoners on completion of visits; Highpoint prison has a set level of 10 per cent. for such random searches. Category A prisoners will always be strip searched following any visit in open conditions.

  Prison Suicides
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what surveys he undertook in 1999 in prisons in England and Wales to check the efficacy of the suicide awareness programmes. [111978]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Prison Service has developed a set of auditable key performance baselines for policies and practices in prison establishments, including the suicide awareness strategy. The standards audit unit of the Prison Service visit establishments to conduct these audits.

  In 1999, a total of 71 establishments were audited on the suicide awareness baseline. Of these, 13 achieved a rating of good; 27 acceptable; 24 deficient; and seven unacceptable.

  The Director-General is personally committed to ensuring that the suicide awareness strategy works, as are the Director of Security, who has policy responsibility for suicide awareness, and the area managers responsible for establishments. All regularly visit establishments. Members of the suicide awareness support unit at Prison Service headquarters also visit establishments to provide support to those operating the strategy.

  Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons also inspects prisons on a regular and unannounced basis during which he will look at the operation of the suicide awareness strategy. In addition to any recommendations that may arise from a visit to an individual prison, the Chief Inspector published a thematic review into the suicide awareness strategy in 1999. This contained a number of recommendations as to how the strategy could be improved; these recommendations are currently being acted upon.

  Sex Offenders (Treatment)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which prisons in England and Wales run a sex offenders treatment programme; and what was the number of prisoners attending such a programme on 15 February. [112019]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Prison Service sex offenders treatment programme consists of four sub-programmes—core for all offenders, extended for those at high risk of re-offending, adapted for those with a low IQ, and a booster programme for all to reinforce the programme's lessons towards release from custody. A rolling programme is also being trialled for low risk offenders, and to provide a facility to enable those who have not done well on parts of the other programmes to revise elements rather than going through the whole programme again.

  The programme is run in its various versions at:

  Acklington—core/booster/extended

  Albany—core/extended/rolling

  Birmingham—core

  Brixton—core/extended

  Channings Wood—core

  Dartmoor—core

  Feltham—core

  Frankland—core

  Full Sutton—core/rolling

  Grendon—core

  High Down—core/rolling

  Hull—rolling

  Leyhill—booster

  Littlehey—core

  Maidstone—core

  Manchester—rolling

  Risley—core/booster

  Rochester—booster

  Swinfen Hall—core/extended

  Usk—core/extended/adapted

  Wandsworth—core

  Wayland—core/booster/extended/rolling

  Whatton—core/booster/adapted

  Woodhil—core

  Wymott—core/booster

  With regard to the number of inmates taking part on the sex offender treatment programme on 15 February, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hull, North (Mr. McNamara) on 16 February 2000, Official Report, columns 538–39W.

  Prisons (Foreign Language Materials)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who has the responsibility for the provision of foreign language newspapers or books for non-English speaking prison inmates held in prisons in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [111985]

  Mr. Boateng
  Foreign language materials are provided in prison establishments through the local public library authority, in accordance with 'Guidelines for Prison Libraries (1997)' which details the standards under which 444W
  prison libraries should operate. Each establishment has a local public authority librarian working to a joint service level agreement.

  Governors of prisons in England and Wales will make arrangements to supply at least one newspaper for every ten prisoners, to be purchased out of prison funds They should provide as full a range of newspapers as possible, taking into account the preferences of those prisoners from ethnic minority groups. This is underpinned by the Prison Service race relations policy, which highlights the importance of prisons being aware of the needs of foreign prisoners and the materials that can be obtained to meet their needs. Subject to security considerations, prisoners are also allowed to receive newspapers, periodicals, magazines or books of their choice.

  Secure Remands
  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many secure remands to local authority accommodation were made since 1 June 1999 in relation to(a) children aged 12 to 14 years, broken down by age, gender and ethnicity, (b) females aged 15 to 16 years, broken down by age and ethnicity and (c) males aged 15 to 16 years declared vulnerable, broken down by age and ethnicity. [112000]

  Mr. Boateng
  The number of children and young people remanded or committed to local authority secure accommodation is recorded on the last day of each month by local authority secure units and sent to the Home Office. These returns break down the total number by age, gender and the statutory position under which the child or young person has been placed.

  Information on ethnicity is not recorded. We have received returns from all units for June to December 1999 and the totals are set out in the table.

  Direct secure remand and committals by courts are made under section 23(4) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1969 and section 37 of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980. The table also includes remands to secure accommodation under section 25 of the Children Act 1989, following application to a court by a local authority.

  Date, gender and age

  Direct court-ordered secure remand (section 23(4) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1969

  Remand to local authority secure accommodation via section 25 of the Children Act 1989

  Committal for sentence to the Crown court under section 37 of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980

  30 June—males

  12

  —

  1

  —

  13

  5

  5

  1

  14

  26

  14

  1

  15

  20

  18

  2

  16

  14

  16

  2

  Total

  65

  54

  6

  30 June—females

  12

  —

  1

  —

  13

  —

  4

  —

  14

  1

  4

  —

  15

  7

  2

  1

  16

  —

  5

  —

  Total

  8

  16

  1

  445W

  Date, gender and age

  Direct court-ordered secure remand (section 23(4) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1969

  Remand to local authority secure accommodation via section 25 of the Children Act 1989

  Committal for sentence to the Crown court under section 37 of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980

  31 July—males

  12

  —

  3

  —

  13

  3

  6

  —

  14

  25

  12

  1

  15

  26

  12

  1

  16

  17

  6

  1

  Total

  71

  39

  3

  31 July—females

  12

  —

  1

  —

  13

  —

  3

  —

  14

  1

  8

  —

  15

  3

  5

  1

  16

  4

  3

  —

  Total

  8

  20

  1

  31 August—males

  12

  —

  5

  —

  13

  11

  4

  1

  14

  20

  17

  4

  15

  24

  7

  5

  16

  30

  7

  2

  Total

  85

  40

  12

  31 August—females

  12

  —

  1

  —

  13

  1

  —

  —

  14

  4

  3

  —

  15

  —

  4

  1

  16

  4

  1

  —

  Total

  9

  9

  1

  30 September—males

  12

  1

  3

  —

  13

  11

  4

  1

  14

  22

  8

  2

  15

  28

  5

  1

  16

  31

  8

  3

  Total

  93

  28

  7

  30 September—females

  12

  —

  1

  —

  13

  2

  1

  —

  14

  3

  5

  —

  15

  3

  7

  1

  16

  10

  10

  —

  Total

  18

  24

  1

  31 October—males

  12

  4

  4

  —

  13

  16

  6

  2

  14

  30

  9

  1

  15

  33

  6

  1

  16

  35

  8

  4

  Total

  118

  33

  8

  31 October—females

  12

  —

  2

  —

  13

  1

  3

  —

  14

  —

  6

  —

  15

  4

  4

  1

  16

  8

  4

  —

  Total

  13

  19

  1

  446W

  Date, gender and age

  Direct court-ordered secure remand (section 23(4) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1969

  Remand to local authority secure accommodation via section 25 of the Children Act 1989

  Committal for sentence to the Crown court under section 37 of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980

  30 November—males

  12

  8

  8

  —

  13

  10

  7

  —

  14

  28

  11

  1

  15

  36

  11

  2

  16

  40

  6

  5

  Total

  122

  43

  8

  30 November—females

  12

  —

  2

  —

  13

  1

  3

  —

  14

  2

  6

  —

  15

  3

  5

  1

  16

  11

  5

  —

  Total

  17

  21

  1

  31 December—males

  —

  12

  3

  3

  —

  13

  4

  4

  —

  14

  11

  6

  —

  15

  36

  7

  2

  16

  36

  6

  11

  Total

  90

  26

  13

  31 December—females

  12

  —

  3

  —

  13

  —

  3

  —

  14

  1

  11

  —

  15

  3

  5

  1

  16

  9

  4

  1

  Total

  13

  26

  2

  Deportation
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are awaiting deportation following rejection of their application for asylum. [111954]

  Mrs. Roche
  The information is not available. Data are not available on asylum applicants who have voluntarily left the country without the knowledge of the Home Office. Therefore, it is not possible to make a reliable estimate of the number of failed asylum seekers remaining in the country.

  Jury Trial
  Mr. Marshall-Andrews
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Southwark, North and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) of 14 December 1999,Official Report, column 139W, on jury trial, if the sum of £66 million annually takes account of the cost of alternative sentences; and if he will provide a breakdown of the cost of £0.5 million for interlocutory appeals including the legal and administrative costs per appeal. [112410]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The estimated resource savings take account of alternative sentences which the magistrates' courts might impose. It has been assumed, for the purpose of assessing the financial implications of
  447W
  appeals, that 25 per cent. of defendants who would have elected Crown Court trial will appeal to the Crown Court against the magistrates' decision to try the case, and that 17.5 per cent. of appeals would proceed to an oral hearing. A paper-based appeal would cost £25 in court resources, £30 in Legal Aid and £35 in prosecution costs. An oral hearing would cost an additional £77 in court resources, £45 in Legal Aid and £60 in prosecution costs.

  Metropolitan Police Housing
  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who receives the proceeds of the sale of Metropolitan Police housing. [112409]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Receiver for the Metropolitan Police District informs me that the proceeds of the sale of Metropolitan Police housing go to the Metropolitan Police Fund.

  New Prisons
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions his Department has had on possible sites for the construction of new prison establishments in England and Wales; and if he will list the areas in which such establishments may be built. [112618]

  Mr. Boateng
  The siting of new prisons is governed by strategic need. Prison population pressures are currently greatest in areas such as Greater London, the Midlands, the North-West and Yorkshire, and it is in these locations that the Prison Service has concentrated its efforts on finding new prison sites.

  All new prison sites involve discussions with the respective local planning authorities in accordance with Crown development procedures.

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the enforcement of European Union legislation in the UK regarding animal experimentation. [112692]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  It is the role of the European Commission to enforce Community legislation in the sense that full transposition into national law is required for a Council Directive.

  Directive 86/609/EEC—on the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the member states regarding the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes—is transposed and implemented in the United Kingdom through the rigorous controls of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

  The domestic legislation was last amended in July 1998 (for enactment on 5 September 1998) when several requirements of the Directive, which had previously been enacted through administrative provisions, were placed on the face of the 1986 Act.

  New Public Bodies
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the new public bodies established by his Department since May 1997. [112669]
  448W
  Mr. Straw
  The annual Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies" provides information on a range of public bodies. The 1997 edition lists those public bodies in existence prior to May 1997. The 1998 and 1999 editions lists public bodies in existence in subsequent years. Copies of these publications have been placed in the Library. Copies are also available on the Cabinet Office website www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/quango.

  Home Detention Curfew
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the prisoners released to date under the Home Detention Curfew scheme have(a) breached the conditions of the curfew, (b) disappeared, (c) had their curfew revoked and (d) re-offended while on the scheme; what offences were committed by those who re-offended while on the scheme; what was the (i) average and (ii) maximum sentence received by a prisoner for an offence committed while on the scheme; and if he will make a statement. [112728]

  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 2 March 2000]: As of 29 February 2000, 862 prisoners subject to home detention curfew have had their licences revoked by the Secretary of State following a breach of the curfew conditions of their licence or a breach of their non-curfew licence conditions. Fifty are currently unlawfully at large. Breaches of non-curfew related conditions by curfewees whose original offences were committed prior to 1 January 1999 are dealt with by the courts. Information on these cases is not held centrally.

  The number of cases where a breach of curfew conditions has been reported is not readily available and I will write to the hon. Member with this information.

  As of 29 February, the Prison Service had received notification of 194 curfewees who had been charged with an offence committed while subject to the home detention curfew scheme.

  A breakdown of the offences committed by these curfewees is shown in the table. This breakdown has been prepared from information supplied by police forces and drawn from the police national computer. Further analysis of re-offending by those subject to home detention curfew, including the procedures for notification of further charges to the Prison Service by the police, is currently under way as part of a long-term evaluation of the scheme.

  Information is not held centrally on the sentences received by prisoners for offences committed while subject to home detention curfew.

  Overall, the home detention curfew scheme has an impressive success rate of 95 per cent. of curfewees completing their period of curfew licence. However, we are not complacent about any re-offending on curfew and the scheme is strictly enforced. Where a prisoner does commit a further offence while subject to curfew, he or she is in breach of their licence conditions and may be recalled to prison, in addition to the possibility of an additional sentence for the new offence.

  449W

  Offence type

  Number

  Burglary, theft and stealing from shops1

  70

  Assault

  31

  Driving and Traffic Offences

  19

  Drug Offences

  16

  Breach of the peace2

  14

  Handling Stolen Goods/Deception

  12

  Criminal Damage

  10

  Threatening Behaviour

  8

  Possession of an offensive weapon

  4

  Breach of court injunction or Restraining Order

  3

  Rape

  2

  Harassment

  1

  Going Equipped

  1

  False Imprisonment

  1

  Arson

  1

  Indecent Exposure

  1

  Total

  194

  1 Including taking without consent/taking and driving away

  2 Including Drunk and Disorderly

  Note:

  Where a curfewee was charged with more than one offence, they appear in the table next to the most serious offence. The table excludes those where, following initial notification, the Prison Service was informed that the charges had been withdrawn.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners released on the home detention curfew scheme have been convicted(a) summarily and (b) on indictment of a further offence committed whilst on the scheme; and what (i) original and (ii) further offences were committed and what sentences were received in each case. [112794]

  Mr. Boateng
  Information is not held centrally on the convictions and sentences received by those who have committed offences while subject to home detention curfew.

  Probation Service
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received on his plans to change the name of the Probation Service to the Community Punishment and Rehabilitation Service; how many representations were(a) in favour and (b) against his plans; and if he will make a statement. [112738]

  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 2 March 2000]: A total of 216 representations have been received relating to the proposed change to the name of the probation service. The great majority of these have been generally supportive of the plans for modernising the service and accept the benefit of having a new name, but most expressed concern about the name "Community Punishment and Rehabilitation Service". The new name will be one of a range of measures in the forthcoming Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill, and I have said that I will listen carefully to the points raised when the Bill is considered by Parliament.

  Crime Statistics (London)
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his projection for the level of recorded crime from April 1999 to March 2000 for the Metropolitan Police area in relation to(a) burglary of dwellings and (b) robbery against which the five-year crime reduction target has been set. [113023]
  450W
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that the current projections for burglary of a dwelling and robbery offences in the financial year 1999–2000 are:(a) burglary of a dwelling, approximately 79,000; and (b) robbery approximately 36,000.

  As part of its strategy to reduce crime in London, the Metropolitan Police have targets to reduce domestic burglaries by 10 per cent. and Street Crime by 15 per cent. over the next five financial years, based on the projected recorded crime figures for the end of the financial year 1999–2000.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish statistics for(a) crime rates broken down by categories of offences and (b) clear up rates in (i) the areas transferring out of the Metropolitan force and (ii) London boroughs for each of the last two years. [112761]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Most details of notifiable offences, and clear ups, are not collected centrally below police force area level. Details of the numbers of a limited range of offences recorded in Basic Command Units for the six month period ended September 1999, including London boroughs and those areas being transferred from the Metropolitan police to other forces, are included in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin on recorded crime, issue 1/00, published on 18 January and which is available in the Library.

  Global Cultural Diversity Congress
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will investigate the reasons why the accounts of Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd. for the last financial year have not been filed at Companies House; and if he will make a statement. [112796]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  These are matters for the liquidator.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Female Genital Mutilation
  Ms McCafferty
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the Government's policy is on measures to eradicate violence against women, with particular reference to the practice of female genital mutilation in developing countries. [111295]

  Clare Short
  Violence against women is one of the most shocking manifestations of women's inequality. We are working to ensure that women's empowerment and equality are actively pursued in the mainstream of all development activities.

  Female genital mutilation is a serious health issue. It is also a violation of the rights of women to live free from violence. Our policy is to try to persuade countries where the practice occurs to take steps to reduce and eventually eliminate it. We encourage Governments to strengthen laws which prohibit female genital mutilation and other harmful traditional practices, such as dowry deaths. We also work with women's organisations to strengthen their capacity to address female genital mutilation and other harmful traditional practices. We have supported NGO projects to train health workers in a number of countries,

  451W
  including Ghana, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia, to prevent and manage health complications related to female genital mutilation.

  We have also made a major contribution to the Trust Fund on Violence Against Women run by UNIFEM, which provides support to local women's organisations working on issues of violence against women throughout the world. We also work to combat the effects of violence against women through our bilateral programme in more than a dozen poor countries.

  Operation Rachel
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the nature of the assistance provided by the European Union to the South African Police Service as part of Operation Rachel. [112348]

  Clare Short
  The European Union has agreed to provide up to 200,000 euros under the Common Foreign and Security Policy to the South African Police Service as the implementing agency of Operation Rachel for 1999–2000. This is part of the EU Joint Action initiative to combat small arms proliferation. The UK contribution to this will be about 16 per cent. or £20,000. In addition, the Government have provided £6,000 of Satellite Telephone Systems for Operation Rachel, through direct bilateral assistance.

  St. Helena
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the provision of supplies to St. Helena by the RMS St. Helena. [112922]
  452W
  Clare Short
  The RMS St. Helena resumed normal operations on 3 February following the breakdown experienced on 5 November 1999. The ship delivered 720 tonnes of freight to St. Helena on its first scheduled call to the island on 17 February. Alternative arrangements were made to ensure freight delivery continued while the RMS was out of service.

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the provision of an airstrip on St. Helena. [112966]

  Clare Short
  I have agreed that my Department will finance a comparative study of air and sea access costs in order to identify the most cost-efficient permanent solution to the island's international passenger and cargo transportation needs. Terms of Reference for the study are currently being prepared and will be agreed with the St. Helena Government. Consultants are expected to start work in the middle of this year.

  Serbia
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans the Government have for humanitarian aid for Serbia. [110693]

  Clare Short
  The UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs produce regular reports on the humanitarian situation in Serbia. We continue to monitor these closely. While there has not been a humanitarian crisis this winter in Serbia, there is some hardship. We are providing assistance to vulnerable groups in Serbia through the European Commission Humanitarian Office (ECHO). We have no current plans for bilateral humanitarian assistance to Serbia. We are, however, making untied contributions to the emergency Balkans appeals issued by the international agencies.

  Prison Service Website
  Prison Service Website
  Smoke-free Areas in Public Places: Research Project
  Smoke-free Areas in Public Places: Research Project
  Ilisu Dam Project
  Ilisu Dam Project
  Act of Union of 1801: Bicentenary
  Act of Union of 1801: Bicentenary
  Prime Ministerial Visits: Press Accreditation
  Prime Ministerial Visits: Press Accreditation
  New Millennium Experience Company: Additional Grant
  New Millennium Experience Company: Additional Grant
  RAC and AA Hotel Classification System
  RAC and AA Hotel Classification System
  Goodwin Sands
  Goodwin Sands