Written Answers of 20 March 2000

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Press Releases
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for the period 2 May 1997 to 29 February 2000, what was(a) the number of occasions on which couriers were used to distribute news releases from his Department and (b) the total cost of using couriers to distribute news releases. [113977]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 10 March 2000]: As far as I am aware couriers have not been used, by MAFF, to distribute news releases.

  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the(a) national, (b) regional and (c) local newspapers and media bodies to which his Department sent news releases during the period 2 May 1997 to 29 February 2000. [113989]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 10 March 2000]: News releases are made available to all press and media bodies through the Central Office of Information (COI) managed News Distribution Service and the interne, and until recently via the Royal Mail postal service.

  I will write to the hon. Member with a list of all those we believe have received news releases.

  Farmers' Ages
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the most recent figures are regarding the average age of farmers and the trend in average age. [113878]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 10 March 2000]: The estimated average age of holders on main holdings in the UK for the years 1990 to 1997 are contained in the table.

  Year

  Estimated average age

  Percentage of holders aged 65 and over

  1990

  53

  23

  1993

  53

  23

  1995

  54

  25

  1997

  53

  22

  Notes:

  1. The EC Farm Structure Survey is held across all member states of the European Union four times every decade, to assess the agricultural situation across the Community and to monitor trends in the structure of holdings.

  2. The holder of the holding is that (natural or legal) person in whose name the holding is operated. The holder can own the holding outright or rent it, or be a hereditary long-term leaseholder, or a usufructuary or a trustee. A natural person may be either a single individual or a group of individuals, for example married couples, siblings, joint beneficiaries under a will or intestacy.
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  3. The data is collected by age bands and, to calculate the average, the mid-point of each age band is used. The mid-point of 67 is assumed for the age band Aged 65 and over.

  Source

  EC Farms Structure Survey

  Fisheries
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the environmental impact of the proposed reduction in grant-in-aid to the Environment Agency in support of its fisheries work. [114436]

  Mr. Morley
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for New Forest, West (Mr. Swayne) on 27 October 1999,Official Report, column 922W.

  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received in relation to the proposed cut in grant-in-aid to the Environment Agency in support of its fisheries work. [114435]

  Mr. Morley
  I have received representations from a number of individuals and organisations, including some 120 letters from Members of Parliament and over 60 letters from the general public.

  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the number of job losses resulting from the proposed cut in grant-in-aid to the Environment Agency in support of its fisheries work. [114434]

  Mr. Morley
  The planned reduction in grant-in-aid to the Environment Agency to fund its work on salmon and freshwater fisheries in England will come into effect in 2001–02. It will be for the Environment Agency to determine its spending priorities for that year in the light of the fall in grant-in-aid. Until it has done this it is not possible to assess the impact of the reduction.

  GM Crops
  Mr. David Heath
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what maximum percentage of the diet of(a) animals reared for meats, (b) animals kept for dairy produce and (c) poultry may originate from a GM crop or a mixture of GM crops. [113769]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 13 March 2000]: There are no specific rules on the proportion of animal diets which are permitted to originate from GM crops.

  Irish Sea
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what progress has been made on the development of a regional fisheries forum for the Irish Sea area; [114706]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the cost of establishing a regional fisheries forum for the Irish Sea area. [114707]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 15 March 2000]: Although ideas for the establishment of a Forum for Fisheries in the Irish Sea are not currently being pursued, substantial progress has been made in the context of the Irish Sea Cod Recovery Programme in the involvement of

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  fishermen in fisheries management decisions which affect them. At UK prompting, the European Commission and Council agreed on 17 December last that each stage of the Programme should be developed through a regional consultation group bringing together fishermen, scientists and administrators from the Member States concerned in the Irish Sea cod fishery. This group will also review progress towards meeting the stock recovery objectives of the Programme.

  This marks an important step forward in strengthening the regional dimension of the Common Fisheries Policy.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Bus and Priority Lanes
  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he plans to extend bus lanes on congested motorways and trunk roads; what plans he has to introduce priority lanes on motorways and trunk roads for lorries; and if he will make a statement. [112706]

  Mr. Hill
  The Government are committed to making the best possible use of existing trunk road systems in tackling problems of traffic congestion. This may, at certain specific locations, involve the provision of designated lanes but I do not envisage their widespread use in the immediate future on the motorway and trunk road network outside urban areas. Where such lanes are appropriate, consideration needs to be given on a case by case basis as to what vehicles, including buses and heavy goods vehicles, may use them and at what times.

  A3 (Hindhead)
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) when the public were last consulted about proposals to remedy blockages on the A3 near Hindhead; when he plans next to consult the public on this issue; if he will estimate the cost of the current study of the A3 near Hindhead; and if he has consulted the National Trust about the A3 near Hindhead; [114368]

  (2) when the public will next be involved in the problem of the proposals to remedy blockages on A3 near Hindhead problem. [114425]

  Mr. Hill
  The public were consulted on options for a road solution at Hindhead, including the proposed tunnel scheme, in 1992. As part of the study now under way the public are being involved on an on-going basis through a comprehensive programme of consultation and communication. This includes setting up local focus groups, a wider reference group, telephone interviews with longer distance travellers and a formal public consultation exercise. The commission for the study was awarded on the basis of a tender price of £188,066. Mr. Peter Griffiths, Director of the National Trust for the South Region, is a member of the study's steering group.

  London Underground
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place 388W
  in the Library a copy of the invitation documents sent to consortiums selected to bid for the two deep-level tube PPP contracts, together with the draft contract for the proposed PPP; and if he will list the members of each consortium which was selected. [114195]

  Mr. Hill
  The invitation to tender and PPP draft contract contain commercially confidential material whose release could undermine the public sector's negotiating position and prevent best value from being achieved. London Transport has made an overview of the invitation to tender publicly available and I have placed a copy in the Library of the House.

  London Underground announced the consortia selected to bid for the two deep-level tube contracts on 7 October 1999. The bidding consortia and their members are as follows:

  LINC:
  Bombardier Prorail, John Mowlem and Company, Fluor Daniel, Alcatel Telecom and Anglian Water

  Metronet:
  Adtranz (Daimler-Chrysler Rail Systems), W. S. Atkins, Balfour Beatty (BICC), Seeboard plc and Thames Water

  Tube Lines Group:
  Bechtel/Halcrow, Amey, Hyder Investments and Jarvis

  TubeRail:
  Brown and Root, Alstom Transportation Projects, Amec and Carillion

  The Tube Lines Group has been invited to bid for only one of the two contracts.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he is expecting PPP bids for the sub-surface London tube lines by 31 March. [114985]

  Mr. Hill
  No. London Transport will be inviting bids shortly.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what London tube lines and stations will be closed during the proposed PPP; and if he will make a statement. [114984]

  Mr. Hill
  Under the PPP, the private sector will take over responsibility for delivering a massive programme of work on the Tube network, totalling around £8 billion of investment and around £5 billion of maintenance over the next 15 years. This will reduce passenger journey times and make services more reliable, as well as improving the quality of the travelling environment.

  As now, it will be necessary from time to time to close some parts of the network for limited periods to undertake essential work. Bidders' proposals in this area will be closely examined when London Underground evaluates the PPP bids.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what is his policy on continuing with proposals for the London Underground PPP if none of the bids undertakes best value against the appropriate public sector comparator; [114986]
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  (2) what public sector comparators he will employ to assess whether potential bidders for the London Underground PPP are offering best value for money; and if he will make a statement. [114931]

  Mr. Hill
  To test that the London Underground PPP represents value for money, London Underground, with their professional advisers, are developing a rigorous public sector comparator. A paper explaining the principles underlying the comparator will be published shortly. The cash values produced by the comparator will also be released, but only once negotiations with bidders are complete. To publish them any earlier would risk jeopardising the taxpayer's negotiating position.

  To ensure that the public sector comparator proves a rigorous and fair test, it is to be audited by London Underground's independent, external auditors. In addition, the comparator will be open to detailed scrutiny by the National Audit Office in the usual way.

  We will not contemplate deals being done if they do not offer best value to the taxpayer.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what representations about the political risks associated with the proposed contracts for the London Underground PPP he has received from potential bidders; and if he will make a statement; [114932]

  (2) what commitment the Government have entered into to underwrite the bidders' costs of bidding for the contracts for the London Underground PPP; how much he estimates this will cost public funds; and if he will make a statement. [114934]

  Mr. Hill
  My right hon. Friend has received no representations about political risk associated with the PPP contract. My officials have, however, received a small number of representations about political and other risk associated with the bidding competition.

  Under the terms of the Invitation To Tender for the deep Tube infrastructure service contracts, London Underground may make payments to bidders for bid costs:

  (i) should the PPP competition be terminated on grounds other than the fact that the bids do not present value for money; or

  (ii) where costs are incurred by an unsuccessful shortlisted bidder after London Underground has required offers with committed finances to be submitted.

  We are confident that PPP will represent best value and go ahead, and therefore expect there to be no cost to public funds in the first case. If costs are incurred in the second case, arising from the successful completion of the PPP programme, it may be necessary to reimburse the eligible costs from public funds up to a limit of £1 million per shortlisted bidder.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much has been spent on professional and consultancy fees in respect of the London Underground PPP; and if he will estimate how much will be spent in total by the time of completion of the PPP. [114933]

  Mr. Hill
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, West (Mr. Thomas) on 21 December 1999,Official Report,
  390W
  column 525W. London Transport will not know the overall requirements or costs for external advice until the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) transaction has been completed, but the Government are working with LT to ensure that we receive the best advice while minimising the overall costs of implementing the PPP.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what estimate he has made of how much public funding will be required to support the London Underground PPP; and if he will make a statement; [114980]

  (2) what is his latest estimate for the total funding requirement for the London Underground for the period of the proposed PPP; and how this will be met. [114981]

  Mr. Hill
  Under the PPP, we expect to see around £8 billion invested in the Underground over the first 15 years with around a further £5 billion spent on maintenance. It would not be sensible at this stage, before London Underground have received bids, to estimate how this will be funded. However, we have made clear that if it should prove value for money, then Transport for London will receive the appropriate level of central government grant to allow for London Underground's need to make any payments to the PPP contractors.

  The PPP is about obtaining best value in the way that farebox revenue and any public subsidy is spent. The evidence indicates that the PPP will be better value than the wholly public sector alternatives, even if central government grant continues to be paid.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received from potential bidders for the PPP contracts on the London Underground concerning shortfalls against costs of the PPP. [114982]

  Mr. Hill
  None.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what cap he will set on increases in fares on the London Underground under the proposed PPP. [114983]

  Mr. Hill
  Fares on the London Underground will be a matter for the Mayor. The economic analysis London Underground and their advisers have undertaken for the PPP assumes that fares will do no more than keep pace with inflation once the PPP is in place.

  Welded Vehicles
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his estimate of the number of motor vehicles that were welded together and offered for resale during 1999; and if he will make a statement. [114494]

  Mr. Hill
  The information requested is not held centrally by the Department. Our aim is to ensure that all vehicles comply with prescribed roadworthiness standards and that the tools are there to see they are enforced. Through its oversight of the MOT testing regime the Vehicle Inspectorate enforces the relevant roadworthiness requirements. Local authority trading standards officials have powers to deal with unscrupulous traders who offer unroadworthy vehicles for sale. As must be the case, the
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  best advice we can give is for buyers to arrange for an independent technical inspection of a vehicle and to obtain information on its background prior to purchase.

  Rema (Sinking)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recommendations were made to him by the Marine Accident Investigation Board following the sinking of the Rema. [114525]

  Mr. Hill
  The Marine Accident Investigation Branch Report into the sinking of the Belize-registered MV Rema made one recommendation to this Department, addressed to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. The Agency is recommended to advocate through the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the fitting of hold bilge alarms in all single hold vessels.

  An identical recommendation was addressed to the International Merchant Marine Registry of Belize (IMMARBE), therefore the Maritime and Coastguard Agency will be consulting IMMARBE and the United Kingdom marine industry for their views on how this recommendation should be supported and taken forward to the IMO.

  The other four inspector's recommendations contained in the report are addressed to IMMARBE and propose measures to improve its safety record.

  O Licences
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will increase the minimum deposit for the grant of an O licence from £5,000 to £20,000. [114518]

  Mr. Hill
  New European Union rules on the level of finances required by holders of international operator licences came into effect in this country for new applications in October 1999. Existing operators have until October 2001 to meet the new requirements. They require an amount equal to or exceeding 9,000 euro for the first or only vehicle authorised under the operator's licence and 5,000 euro for each additional vehicle. This represents a significant increase over the previous financial requirements. Traffic Commissioners assess the level of financial resources required by domestic operators as a proportion of these figures. For standard national licences this is normally some 80 per cent. of the figure set for an international operator's licence and about 50 per cent. for Restricted licences. We are planning to carry out a consultation exercise seeking views on whether these remain appropriate levels of funding for domestic operators.

  Rail Yards (Telephony Equipment)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will issue guidelines identifying(a) the correct telephony equipment for use in railway freight yards and (b) suitable training courses for operatives. [114515]

  Mr. Hill
  There are no plans to issue guidelines identifying what communication equipment, including telephone equipment, should be used in railway freight yards.
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  The provision of communication equipment, including telephones, and the suitable training of staff in its use, is a matter for the train operating companies.

  Greater London (Select Committee Report)
  Ms Ryan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what steps are being taken to prepare a response to the recommendation in the Twentieth Report of the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee, Session 1998–99 (HC 477), about Greater London; [114561]

  (2) what plans he has to include in the preparation of the White Paper on rural issues investment in and support for the management of green and open spaces within conurbations, with special reference to London. [114554]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Government's Response was published in January 2000 (Cmnd 4550). It identified a number of recommendations to be considered further in the White Paper on urban policy. The White Paper will set out policies and proposals for improving the quality of life in our towns and cities. An important part of this will be our proposals for improving the management of the public realm, including our parks and open spaces.

  Parks and open spaces are important to the quality of life in all our towns, cities and conurbations. The proposals set out in our Response and being developed in the White Paper are for national application.

  Green and Open Spaces
  Ms Ryan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what mechanisms exist to ensure that initiatives across London which affect green and open spaces and the public funds invested in them can be co-ordinated. [114560]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  A large proportion of the open space surrounding the built up area of London is designated as Green Belt or Metropolitan Open Land. As such it enjoys a high degree of protection from development, through existing national planning guidance and local planning policies. In addition, Strategic Guidance for London Planning Authorities (RPG3) issued in 1996 urges local planning authorities to encourage the maintenance and support of agriculture as a major economic activity in the Green Belt.

  The new Mayor of London will be required to produce a number of important strategies including a spatial development strategy, a number of environmental strategies and biodiversity action plan. Each of the strategies should be consistent with the others. Together, these strategies will enable the Mayor to devise an holistic approach to the protection and enhancement of green and open spaces of strategic importance in London.

  Ms Ryan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what hectarage of green and open space land open to the public is (i) owned and (ii) managed by the(a) Corporation of London, (b) Royal Parks Agency, (c) Lee Valley Regional Park, (d) London boroughs, (e) English Heritage and (f) other agencies. [114558]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  This information is not held centrally.
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  Ms Ryan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much public funding was spent within the boundary of the M25 on (1) management and maintenance and (2) the development, conservation and restoration of public and open spaces, parks, gardens and estates by(a) the Corporation of London, (b) the Royal Parks Agency, (c) the Lee Valley Regional Park, (d) the Heritage Lottery Fund, (e) the London boroughs, (f) English Heritage and (g) other agencies and by way of (i) grants made available via the Government Office for London for Single Regeneration Budget or related green space projects, (ii) ESF Objective 2 grants related to green space enhancement and (iii) grants made by London TECs for country green space development projects in the last 12 months. [114559]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The information requested in respect of the Corporation of London, the Lee Valley Regional Park, the London boroughs and other agencies is currently not available centrally in the form, and for the geographical area requested. I am however able to say that the estimated net current expenditure of the London boroughs and the City of London on managing and maintaining parks and open spaces totals £100,896,000 for 1999–2000.

  Responsibility for the Royal Parks Agency, Heritage Lottery Fund and English Heritage falls to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. My right hon. Friend informs me that the information requested in respect of the Heritage Lottery Fund is not currently available for the geographical area requested. The total grant paid to the Royal Parks Agency for 1999–2000 is £26.389 million, which is currently not broken down in the form requested. The English Heritage budget for 1999–2000 for the management and maintenance of properties and land within their care is a total of £3,597,618. The budget for development and conservation projects on English Heritage owned properties for 1999–2000 is £539,500.

  No grants have been offered to third parties for management of open space, parks, or gardens in the last 12 months by English Heritage. However, London Region has commissioned a management plan to advise on proposals for College Farm at a cost of £15,000, and English Heritage contributed £37,000 to the Thames Landscape Strategy in 1999–2000.

  Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will conduct a review of sections 92 and 122 of the Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984, with particular reference to compatibility between those two sections and the personal injuries and damage to vehicles caused by rising bollards. [114795]

  Mr. Hill
  We have no plans to conduct such a review. Section 122 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 places a duty on local traffic authorities to exercise their functions under the Act so as to secure the expeditious, convenient and safe movement of traffic, so far as practicable having regard to certain matters such as amenity and need for access to premises. This includes the exercise of their power under section 92 to place bollards to prevent vehicles from using roads from which 394W
  they are prohibited. It is the responsibility of individual traffic authorities to ensure that they exercise their road traffic regulation functions in a manner that is compatible with their statutory duty under section 122.

  Highways (Works)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will take powers to require utility telecoms companies and local authorities to co-ordinate their work programmes so that disruptive excavations of the highway are minimised; and if he will make a statement. [114996]

  Mr. Hill
  Street works undertakers are required under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 to co-operate with highway authorities and one another, and the authorities for their part are required to co-ordinate works in their streets. Section 66 of the 1991 Act provides that undertakers must carry on and complete works with all reasonable dispatch, and a street authority can require an undertaker obstructing the street more extensively or for longer than is reasonable necessary to comply with a restraining notice. Where there is a risk of serious traffic disruption from street works, section 56 enables the street authority to direct the undertaker to carry out work only at certain times, if the disruption can be avoided or reduced by this means.

  In a further development, the 1998 Integrated Transport White Paper made a commitment to consult on options for an incentive system, with penalties, to minimise disruption to road users, and to encourage improved co-ordination of street works. A consultation was launched last October and my Department is considering the responses to the consultation in order to decide on the best way forward.

  Finally, Regulations have been made under powers in the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, and came into effect last year, to facilitate and encourage the electronic transfer of information about street works and other works in the highway between utilities such as telecoms companies and highway authorities. This will ensure greater consistency and speed in transferring and registering the information, which in turn will help authorities in their co-ordination role.

  Accident Reduction Targets
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he is taking to ensure that local authorities meet the Government's accident reduction targets; and if he will make a statement. [114890]

  Mr. Hill
  The Government's Road Safety Strategy, "Tomorrow's Roads—Safer for Everyone", included new national casualty reduction targets to be met by 2010. To achieve these targets we must work in partnership with
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  others, including local authorities. The strategy outlines what we expect of local authorities. Within their local transport plan (LTP) authorities must devise a local road safety strategy including local casualty reduction targets in support of the national targets. We are providing authorities with additional resources for implementation.

  The integrated transport element of capital allocations, which includes road safety schemes, will be £250 million in 2000–01, 20 per cent. higher than in the current year. Authorities will be required to produce annual progress reports setting out performance against the indicators and targets contained within the LTP. Authorities will be asked to look again at LTPs which fail to deliver against their targets and we reserve the right to reduce allocations to poorly performing authorities or introduce the selective ring-fencing of resources.

  Office of the Rail Regulator
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many full-time staff worked in the Office of the Rail Regulator at the time that the present Regulator was appointed; how many new appointments have been made since then; how many staff have left since then; how many vacancies exist; how many staff are due to leave within the next six months; and how many staff the Regulator employs. [114917]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 16 March 2000]: At the time the present Regulator was appointed—on 5 July 1999—there were 140 full-time staff in the Office of the Rail Regulator, including the staff of the Central and regional Rail Users' Consultative Committees. Since his appointment, there have been 53 appointments—16 of which were new posts. Thirty-three staff have left since the current Regulator was appointed. There are 27 existing vacancies and there are five staff due to leave within the next six months. The Regulator currently employs 160 staff.

  Cycle Lanes
  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many kilometres of cycle lanes have been built in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and how many are projected to be built in the next five years. [114814]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 6 March 2000]: Information about the lengths of cycle lanes provided and projected by local highway authorities is not held centrally. The responsibility for the provision of all cycle facilities, including cycle lanes, rests with individual highway authorities.

  We are encouraging local highway authorities to respond to the National Cycling Strategy by including local strategies to increase cycling in their local transport plans.

  Telecommunications Masts
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what investigations the Health and Safety Executive is making into the potential health hazards of telecommunications masts. [115066]
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  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 17 March 2000]: The Health and Safety Executive, in common with other Government Departments, is advised on health hazards from radiation emitted from telecommunication masts by the National Radiological Protection Board. The Government's view, based on advice from the NRPB, is that the validated scientific evidence does not suggest that radiofrequency emissions from telecommunication masts present a health hazard if they comply with NRPB guidelines, but that there is a need for more research.

  HSE is supporting national and international research programmes into the suggested harmful effects of radiofrequency emissions, and will contribute to the review of the UK research programme in the light of the recommendations of the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones due in May.

  Multiple Property Owning
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with the Treasury regarding taxation to discourage multiple property owning. [115125]

  Mr. Mullin
  [holding answer 16 March 2000]: My Department has regular discussions with the Treasury on a range of issues of mutual interest. Final decisions on taxation are a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

  Seat Belts
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he is taking to ensure that seat belts are worn by rear-seat passengers. [115537]

  Mr. Hill
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 16 March 2000,Official Report, columns 329–30W.

  Home Energy Efficiency Programme
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much money was allocated to the Home Energy Efficiency Programme for each financial year since 1990–91 to the present for(a) the United Kingdom as a whole, (b) England, (c) Scotland and (d) Wales; and if he will make a statement. [115139]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) covers Great Britain only. Northern Ireland has always had its own separate scheme. Until 1999, the scheme had shared administration and delivery costs and no separate allocation for England, Scotland and Wales. During 1999–2000, the scheme was devolved to Scotland with a set budget. The total allocation for each year from 1990–91 is as follows, together with the approximate proportion spent in Scotland and Wales:
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  Financialyear

  Total allocation (£ million)

  Of which approximately allocated to Scotland (percentage)

  Of which approximately allocated to Wales (percentage)

  1990–911

  1.5

  3-

  3-

  1991–92

  26.1

  9

  4

  1992–93

  33.6

  8

  3

  1993–94

  41.5

  8

  4

  1994–95

  83

  8

  5

  1995–96

  107.2

  8

  5

  1996–97

  76.1

  8

  5

  1997–98

  76.1

  8

  4

  1998–99

  76.2

  7

  6

  1999–2000

  74.9

  2-

  5

  1 Expenditure in 1990–91 was for three months only.

  2 From 1 July 1999, Scotland set up its own separate scheme "Warm Deal". The total amount transferred to Scotland for the whole year (including expenditure during 1 April to 30 June) was £5.9 million. This figure does not include any additional monies allocated by the Scottish Executive to the programme.

  3 Not available.

  Housing (Newcastle Great Park)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the housing densities of the housing areas of the proposed Newcastle Great Park planning application now referred to him, using the net site density method set out in Annexe C of the revised Planning Policy Guidance 3. [115285]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The application for Newcastle Great Park, which is currently before the Secretary of State, is for outline planning permission, so the information provided does not enable the net housing density to be calculated in accordance with Annexe C of the revised PPG3 on Housing. To do so, we should require many more details, such as the housing layout and area of open space, that the applicants are legitimately seeking to reserve for later approval if outline permission is granted

  All vacant residential properties at 1 April 1999

  Dwellings leased to, or by, the authority at 1 April:

  1999

  1998

  1997

  1996

  1995

  To LA

  By LA

  To LA

  By LA

  To LA

  By LA

  To LA

  By LA

  To LA

  By LA

  Gateshead

  2,608

  0

  416

  0

  399

  0

  372

  0

  356

  0

  335

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  7,905

  0

  792

  0

  732

  0

  701

  0

  658

  0

  648

  North Tyneside

  5,008

  0

  326

  0

  314

  0

  312

  0

  283

  0

  273

  South Tyneside

  2,341

  0

  386

  0

  364

  0

  353

  0

  339

  0

  558

  Sunderland

  4,298

  8

  426

  8

  357

  8

  345

  8

  301

  8

  431

  Source:

  Annual HIP (Operational Information) returns

  Rural Public Transport
  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to improve the provision of public transport in(a) rural areas and (b) West Cumbria; and if he will make a statement. [115144]

  Mr. Hill
  Many of the measures within the Integrated Transport White Paper and the Transport Bill currently before Parliament benefit rural areas. We are also
  398W
  If the application is approved, the planning authority concerned (either the local authority or the Secretary of State) could impose conditions on the outline permission relating to housing density. The Secretary of State would expect any decision on this application to take into account the policies in the revised PPG3, as well as any other relevant policy guidance.

  Vacant Properties (Tyne and Wear)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many vacant residential properties there were in each local authority area in Tyne and Wear on the most recent date for which figures are available; and how many residential properties have been leased in each such local authority area in the last five years. [115283]

  Mr. Mullin
  The latest information reported by local authorities on Housing Investment Programme returns is as follows:

  developing a Ten Year Plan for transport to set out a long-term investment programme and a Rural White Paper to set out our objectives for rural areas.

  The system of Local Transport Plans, which are five year integrated transport strategies prepared by local authorities, are the cornerstone of delivering better transport in local ares. Authorities are specifically required to address the accessibility needs of people in rural areas in their Plans and to recognise the interrelationship between rural and other areas.
  399W
  We appreciate that rural areas have particular transport problems, which is why we have made £170 million available for rural transport over the three years to March 2001. The bulk of this money is delivered through the Rural Bus Subsidy Grant. In England this provides £32.5 million a year to fund new or improved bus services for rural areas. In February we announced the extension of the Rural Bus Subsidy Grant until at least 2004.

  We are also conscious of the importance of rural railways. Our guidance to the Franchising Director seeks improvements through the re-negotiation of franchise agreements. We have also made available additional funding for a new Rail Passenger Partnership scheme aimed specifically at providing support for locally sponsored services that are not commercially viable.

  We look forward to receiving the full Local Transport Plan for Cumbria to be submitted in July. This will set out the authority's plans for transport in the area for the next five years. We have also been working with the many local bodies on the development of a Lake District Transport Strategy to improve and co-ordinate public transport provision across Cumbria. The strategy recognises the importance of links with both West Cumbria and the Furness area. A range of measures to improve public transport are under way, including upgrading information displays and new bus shelters. Further work is planned, including through ticketing, marketing and promotion, travel point information, improving existing interchange between bus and rail and new multi-modal interchanges.

  Cumbria has received £957,300 a year in Rural Bus Subsidy Grant and has established 27 new and 64 improved services. The county has also recently been awarded £722,000 under the Rural Bus Challenge for a project to enhance bus links between Cockermouth, Keswick and Penrith. Feeder bus services to the core route (including one from Workington), interchange and waiting facilities and travel information are all to be improved. This work will complement the improvements achieved through the Local Transport Plan, particularly those planned for Penrith rail station to enhance linkages with bus services. A feasibility study is also being undertaken with interested companies and Railtrack to establish detailed proposals to improve the Furness and Cumbrian coast rail services.

  The Countryside Agency has provided grant to support three Rural Transport Partnerships, including one in West Cumbria, to secure additional resources for rural transport supporting local communities and in particular to reduce rural isolation and social exclusion through enhanced access to jobs and services.

  Jubilee Line
  Mr. Bruce George
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action is being taken permanently to correct the signal failures affecting the Jubilee line. [114820]

  Mr. Hill
  This is an operational matter for London Underground. I understand that software improvements are currently being carried out which will improve the reliability of the signalling system on the Jubilee line. The implementation programme for this work is expected to be completed by the end of June. Other improvements in 400W
  the Stratford area have already been carried out or are in hand and will help to provide a more consistent and regular service. Further, line-wide, signalling-related work is also scheduled to take place throughout the year.

  Publicity Costs (Greater London Authority)
  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much money the Government have spent on publicity costs in relation to the Greater London Authority and associated bodies. [115513]

  Mr. Hill
  In the run-up to the London Referendum between May 1997 and 7 May 1998 the total publicity budget was £1.6 million. There was no publicity budget for publicising the Greater London Authority between the Referendum and Royal Assent for the Greater London Authority Act 1999 in November 1999.

  The Government are currently running a multi-media information campaign to ensure that Londoners know about the new voting process on 4 May and understand how the Mayor and Assembly will affect their daily lives. The total budget for this campaign is £4.1 million—about 81p per London elector. Approximately £2.9 million will be spent in the current financial year and £1.2 million in 2000–01.

  In addition, following the recent amendment to the Greater London Authority Act 1999, the Government have agreed to spend £1.7 million on a booklet prepared by the Greater London Returning Officer containing election addresses by Mayoral candidates.

  National Air Traffic Services
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the estimated level of capital investment by National Air Traffic Services for(a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (c) 2001–02; and how much of that investment will go to the New Scottish Centre in each of these years. [115509]

  Mr. Mullin
  The 1999 NATS Business Plan estimated capital investments are at the following levels.

  £ million

  1999–2000

  55.6

  2000–01

  47.5

  2001–02

  53.7

  NATS are currently developing a long-term investment plan, which will be completed in the next few months.

  It is not possible to give a precise estimate of the likely expenditure on the New Scottish Centre over the next few years as the contract for construction of the centre building has yet to be let. However the cost of the centre is expected to be of the order of £400 million, and is expected to come into operation in the winter of 2006–07.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the civil airports in the UK, specifying which use National Air Traffic Services to provide air traffic control services. [115508]
  401W
  Mr. Mullin
  The following is a list of the civil airports in the UK. Those which use National Air Traffic to provide air traffic control services are marked with an asterisk (*).

  Aberdeen*

  Alderney (States of Guernsey)

  Belfast City

  Belfast International*

  Birmingham International Airport*

  Blackpool

  Bournemouth International Airport

  Bristol Filton

  Bristol International Airport (Lulsgate)

  Cambridge

  Cardiff International Airport*

  Carlisle Airport

  Coventry

  Cranfield Airport

  Dundee

  Dunsford Aerodrome

  East Midlands International Airport

  Edinburgh*

  Exeter

  Glasgow—Prestwick

  Glasgow*

  Gloucestershire Airport

  Guernsey States Airport

  Hawarden

  Highlands and Islands Airports (includes 10 airports—not all have ATC)

  Humberside International Airport

  Isle of Man (Ronaldsway) Airport

  Jersey

  Leeds Bradford International Airport

  Liverpool

  London—Biggin Hill

  London—Gatwick*

  London—Heathrow*

  London—Luton

  London—southend

  London—Stansted*

  London City*

  Lydd

  Manchester*

  Manston—Kent International

  Newcastle International Airport

  North Denes Heliport

  Norwich

  Oxford

  Plymouth City

  Sheffield

  Shoreham

  Southampton

  St. Marys

  Swansea

  Teeside

  Warton

  Woodford Aerodrome

  Green Transport Plans
  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the budget was for promoting green transport plans in 1999–2000; and what is the predicted outturn of expenditure for 1999–2000. [115514]
  402W
  Mr. Hill
  The original budget was for £2 million. The predicted outturn is around £0.5 million.

  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reasons the Government transferred £500,000 for the green transport plans budget in 1999–2000 to other uses. [115515]

  Mr. Hill
  £500,000 was transferred to make the best use of predicted underspend. This is a new programme to promote the take-up of travel plans through guidance and advice to employers and schools. We have decided to wait for the results of a pilot programme of site specific advice before rolling out a more substantial programme.

  Housebuilding (Chelmsford)
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will assess the impact his statement of 7 March on housebuilding will have on the Chelmsford Local Authority area; and, as a result of his statement, how many houses will have to be built in Chelmsford,(a) over the next five years and (b) over the next 16 years. [114782]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [pursuant to her answer, 16March 2000, c. 330W]: The Secretary of State's proposed changes to the Regional Planning Guidance for the South East and for the East of England will now be published on 27 March.

  Housebuilding Statistics
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) when he will publish the housebuilding figures announced on 7 March broken down by county; [114413]

  (2) what balance of brownfield and greenfield development he expects to take place in each of the English regions in the next 15 years as a result of his statement on 7 March; [114412]

  (3) how many new homes will need to be built in West Sussex in (a) the next 15 years and (b) over each of the next five years as a result of his housebuilding policy announcement on 7 March. [114402]

  Mr. Raynsford
  [pursuant to his answers, 13 March 2000, c. 31–32W, 34–35W]: The Secretary of State's proposed changes to the Regional Planning Guidance for the South East and for the East of England will now be published on 27 March.

SCOTLAND

  Poindings and Warrant Sales
  Mr. Grieve
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent(a) advice he has received and (b) representations he has made in respect of the impact of abolishing poindings and warrant sales on the Government's ability to recover unpaid tax or VAT. [112043]

  Dr. Reid
  [holding answer 28 February 2000]: I have not received advice or made representations in respect of the impact of abolishing poindings and warrant sales on the Government's ability to recover unpaid tax or VAT.

  Press Releases
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the(a) national, (b) regional and (c) local newspapers and media bodies to which his Department sent news releases during the period 2 May 1997 to 29 February 2000. [113983]

  Dr. Reid
  [holding answer 10 March 2000]: All media outlets can request press releases. Targeted distribution will rely on the subject and content of the specific press release. The numbers involved in listing these outlets would incur disproportionate costs. Press releases are available electronically to all media outlets via Cable and Wireless. The are also available on the Internet.

  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland for the period 2 May 1997 to 29 February 2000 what was(a) the number of occasions on which couriers were used to distribute news releases from his Department and
  (b) the total cost of using couriers to distribute news releases. [113973]

  Dr. Reid
  [holding answer 10 March 2000]: All press releases are distributed electronically via Cable and Wireless. Couriers have not been used to distribute press releases.

PRIME MINISTER

  Staff (10 Downing Street)
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will list those staff paid for by the Labour Party who are working in No. 10 Downing Street, indicating their function in each case; [112055]

  (2) if the marginal costs which result from the employment of Labour party staff in No. 10 Downing Street are met from public funds. [112056]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 28 February 2000]: The information requested is as follows:

  Sally Morgan—Political Secretary

  John Cruddas—Deputy Political Secretary

  Faz Hakim—Assistant Political Secretary

  Michael Stephenson—Assistant Political Secretary

  Plus six secretarial and administrative support staff, four of whom work on a job-share or part-time basis.

  As has been the case under successive Administrations, marginal costs associated with the Political Office are met from within the overall budget for No. 10 Downing Street.

  Roger Liddle
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Prime Minister on what occasions, and at what venues, during November and December 1999 his Defence and Foreign Affairs Adviser, Mr. Liddle, made speeches at seminars in(a) the UK and (b) other European countries. [112001]

  The Prime Minister
  Seminars attended by Mr. Liddle during this period were informal. On all occasions he made introductory remarks that formed the basis for discussion. He did not speak from a written text.
  404W
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Prime Minister when he will answer the question from the hon. Member for Croydon, South tabled on 22 February 2000, concerning Mr. Roger Liddle (ref. 112076). [115370]

  The Prime Minister
  I have done so today. The question referred to by the hon. Member bears the reference number 112001 and not 112076.

  Joint Ministerial Committee
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Prime Minister how many plenary meetings of the Joint Ministerial Committee on the relationship between Westminster and the devolved Administrations have been held. [114585]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 14 March 2000]: The Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) has not met to consider the relationship between Westminster and the devolved administrations. However, the guidance note on "Common Working Arrangements," agreed by the official committee of the JMC, includes guidance on handling relations between the Administrations and Westminster. This note is available in the Library of the House and on the Cabinet Office website (at www.cabinet-office.gov.uk /constitution/2000/devolution/).

  Official Visits Abroad
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to paragraph 72 of the Ministerial Code and the answer by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, of 13 March 2000,Official Report, column 33W, if it is his policy that Ministers should be willing to provide information on their overseas travel more frequently than once a year. [115207]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 17 March 2000]: A detailed list of Cabinet Ministers' visits overseas, and information on spend by all Ministers on travel overseas for the period 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000 will be published as soon as possible after the end of the current financial year. It is reasonable that, in response to a Parliamentary Question seeking information similar to that which is currently being assembled, the hon. Member was informed that he would have to wait for the published list.

  Union with Ireland Act 1800
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to commemorate the date of the 200 Anniversary of the Union with Ireland Act 1800; and if he will make a statement. [114546]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 17 March 2000]: None.

  House of Lords
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will publish the correspondence between the Government and Lord Rodgers of Quarry Bank concerning the appointment of peers to the House of Lords; [115423]

  (2) what discussions he has had with opposition parties over the appointment of peers to the House of Lords; [115421]
  405W
  (3) what discussions have been conducted between the Government and Lord Rodgers of Quarry Bank over the appointment of peers to the House of Lords. [115422]

  The Prime Minister
  It is established practice under section 8(c) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information not to disclose information relating to information, opinions and assessments given in relation to recommendations for honours.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs as of 1 April 1999, which of the executive and advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department(a) were required to publish annual reports, (b) were required to publish annual accounts, (c) were subject to a full audit by the National Audit Office, (d) were under the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Ombudsman or other ombudsmen, (e) had their own complaints procedure, (f) were required to observe the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, (g) possessed a register of Members' interests, (h) allowed the public to inspect a register of Members' interests, (i) were subject to a public right to attend board meetings or committee meetings, (j) were obliged to release reports of meetings, (k) were subject to a public right to inspect agendas of meetings, (l) were subject to a public right to see minutes of meetings, (m) were required to hold public meetings, (n) (i) maintained an internet site and (ii) were developing an internet site and (o) had been subject to a quinquennial review within the last year, including a continuing review. [114166]

  Mr. Hain
  All executive and advisory NDPBs sponsored by our Department on 1 April 1999 were required to publish annual reports; to publish annual accounts (where they had significant expenditure of their own); to operate in accordance with the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information; and to draw up, and make publicly available on request, a Register of Members' Interests. All NDPBs were also encouraged to hold meetings in public and to release or otherwise make available records of meetings. There was, however, no statutory requirement or obligation for them to do so.

  Information on audit arrangements for executive NDPBs is set out in Public Bodies 1999. Information on which NDPBs maintain their own website can be accessed from the Cabinet Office quango website (www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/quango).

  The Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission was subject to a quinquennial review during 1998.

  Uganda
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures he has taken to encourage the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Northern Uganda; and if he will encourage the Ugandan and Sudanese Governments to enter into negotiations with all the warring parties. [115219]
  406W
  Mr. Hain
  We welcomed the bilateral agreement signed by Uganda and Sudan last December in Nairobi. Successful implementation will increase stability in the region and help secure the release and return of abducted children. We are encouraging the Governments in both Kampala and Khartoum to honour these commitments.

  We have consistently urged the Government of Uganda to seek a negotiated settlement to the conflict in Northern Uganda. I welcomed the Government's decision to pass amnesty legislation when I saw President Museveni last October. But this is just one element towards a negotiated settlement which must also involve commitment on all sides to reconciliation and rehabilitation. We continue to encourage the Government of Uganda to open direct dialogue with the Lords Resistance Army (LRA). The Department for International Development is also supporting a number of projects in the North aimed at promoting peace, rehabilitation and development, as well as responding to some humanitarian needs.

  Peat Compost
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 22 February 2000,Official Report, column 941W, on peat compost, what percentage of the compost used in his Department's estate gardens is peat; when use of peat compost will be phased out on his Department's estates; and if he will make a statement. [115236]

  Mr. Hain
  No peat is used on the FCO's estate. There is no information available on what our overseas Posts use, but FCO purchasing guidance states that peat should be avoided.

  Fundamental Rights Charter
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in respect of the Convention on a draft Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU, if he will list(a) the participant from each member state or other appointing body, (b) the composition and tasks of its, (i) working groups, (ii) drafting Committee and (iii) Editorial Committee, (c) the dates when these groups and the Plenary of the Convention (1) have met and (2) plan to meet and (d) what (x) oral and (y) written evidence from his Department has been reported by select committees of the House concerning the Convention. [115249]

  Mr. Vaz
  (a) The current membership of the EU Charter Convention is:

  Member States Representatives

  Lord Goldsmith, QC—United Kingdom

  to be announced—Austria

  Jean-Luc Dehaene—Belgium

  Dr. Erling Olsen—Denmark

  Paavo Nikula—Finland

  Guy Braibant—France

  Roman Herzog (Chair)—Germany

  George Papadimitriou—Greece

  Michael O' Kennedy—Ireland

  Stefano Rodota—Italy

  Paul-Henri Meyers—Luxembourg

  Frits Korthals Altes—Netherlands

  Professor Bacelar de Vasconcelos—Portugal

  Professor Alvaro Rodriguez Bereijo—Spain

  Daniel Tarschys—Sweden

  407W
  National Parliamentary Representatives

  Win Griffiths, MP—United Kingdom

  Lord Bowness—United Kingdom

  Dr. Heinrich Neisser—Austria

  Dr. Harald Ofner—Austria

  Roger Lallemand—Belgium

  Karel de Gucht—Belgium

  Claus Larsen Jensen—Denmark

  Ulla Tornaes—Denmark

  Gunnar Jansson—Finland

  Tuija Brax—Finland

  Hubert Haenel—France

  Francois Loncle—France

  Professor Doctor Jurgen Meyer—Germany

  Jurgen Gnauck—Germany

  Georgios Romeos—Greece

  Michael Liapis—Greece

  Desmond O'Malley—Ireland

  Bernard Durkan—Ireland

  Piero Melograni—Italy

  Andrea Manzella—Italy

  Ben Fayot—Luxembourg

  Simone Beissel—Luxembourg

  Michiel Patijn—Netherlands

  Ernst Hirsch Ballin—Netherlands

  Jose Barros Moura—Portugal

  Maria Eduarda Azevedo—Portugal

  Gabriel Cisneros—Spain

  Jordi Sole Tura—Spain

  Goran Magnusson—Sweden

  Lars F. Tobisson—Sweden

  Members of the European Parliament

  Inigo Mendez de Vigo

  Charlotte Cederschiold

  Thierry Cornillet

  Ingo Friedrich

  Timothy Kirkhope

  Johanna Maij-Weggen

  David Martin

  Pervenche Beres

  Hans-Peter Martin

  Martin Schulz

  Elena Paciotti

  Andrew Duff

  Johannes Voggenhuber

  Sylvia-Yvonne Kaufmann

  Georges Berthu

  Jens-Peter Bonde

  Commission

  Antonio Vitorino

  Most of the delegates also have Alternates. Lord Goldsmith's Alternate/Deputy is Martin Eaton, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Deputy Legal Adviser.

  (b) The Convention agreed that instead of meeting in smaller working groups they would hold formal plenary sessions and more frequent informal sessions. First readings of draft articles should take place in the latter, with more formal decisions and additional readings left to the former.

  A Drafting Committee ("Praesidium") composed of the chairperson, the vice-chairpersons (one from the EP representative, one from the national parliament representative, and the representative of the member state currently president of the Council), and the representative of the Commission, and assisted by the General
  408W
  Secretariat of the Council, prepares and circulates working drafts taking account of drafting proposals submitted by any member of the Body.

  (c) The Convention has met five times so far, most recently on 20–21 March (plenary). Previous meetings were on 17 December 1999 (plenary), 1–2 February (plenary), 24–25 February and 2–3 March.

  A further 12–13 meetings are planned on 27–28 March, 3–4 April, 27–28 April, 11–12 May, 22–23 May, 5–6 June (plenary), 19–20 June, 29–30 June, 17–18 July, 11–12 September (plenary), 25–26 September, 9–10 October (to be confirmed), and 18–19 October (plenary).

  (d) My letter of 8 December 1999 to the chairs of the two European Scrutiny Committees has been placed in the Libraries as have papers by Lord Goldsmith to the Charter Convention. Both Lord Goldsmith and I are scheduled to give oral evidence on 5 April to the House of Lords Inquiry on the Charter. There have also been other opportunities—such as the adjournment debate on 16 February—to discuss the Charter. Parliament's two delegates to the Charter Convention provide a further channel for information on the negotiations.

  Honduras
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department have made to the Government of Honduras about the murder of Edy Ortega and Francisco Espinoza. [114842]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 16 March 2000]: Sadly these two cases are just an example of the abuses suffered by street children in Honduras. The majority of cases happen when a child is detained for a petty crime and tries to flee detention. Our Embassy in Tegucigalpa makes regular representations to the Honduran authorities on these and other issues on human rights abuses.

  We are also in touch with several Human Rights NGOs working in Honduras and through these we lobby for progress on several cases including Edy Ortega's and Francisco Espinoza's tragic deaths. We continually reiterate our position on the treatment of minors by the authorities.

  We remain committed to the continued improvement in the overall lot of children throughout Central America, and in particular in their treatment. We are supporting projects throughout the region bilaterally and through the EU and other multilaterals in areas such as constructing community centres and hostels, health, rural development, and training and education which involve the police.

  Trade Attachés
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the(a) job description and (b) person specification for trade attachés appointed to British embassies. [115363]

  Mr. Battle
  Each commercial job overseas requires a combination of skills and attributes relevant to the specific post. Since these jobs can differ in certain respects, reflecting the particular requirements of a market, there is no standard job description covering all such posts. As a general guide, duties for a substantive First Secretary
  409W
  Commercial post involve management of our commercial operation and staff; provision and analysis of local market research; local contact building; advising British business visitors; coordinating arrangements for trade missions and other visitors (including ministerial and VIP visits); responsibility for specific market sectors; research and provision of commercial input into economic reporting; and implementation of initiatives agreed with British Trade International headquarters.

  A typical job specification would highlight the need for the person taking up the post to have effective interpersonal, management and communication skills with knowledge of the business world. A comprehensive training and briefing programme is provided prior to any posting.

  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the trade attachés recruited from the private sector and currently serving in British embassies, with their date of appointment and special areas of expertise in each case. [115364]

  Mr. Battle
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the question raised by my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, South (Mr. Simpson), on 15 March 2000,Official Report, column 223W.

  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria are used for the appointment of specialist trade attachés to British embassies; and if he will make a statement. [115365]

  Mr. Battle
  Decisions on all commercial appointments are made by FCO Selection Boards. Candidates are considered on the basis of their suitability in terms of the competences, skills and experience required for each post.

  Bosnia
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many suspected war criminals have been apprehended by British forces in Bosnia. [113722]

  Mr. Vaz
  British SFOR troops have successfully detained nine war crimes suspects indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. They have also been involved in the arrest of a further two suspects with other SFOR forces. A further indictee was shot dead by British SFOR personnel acting in self-defence during a detention operation.

  Millennium Civil Society Forum
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries have pledged money towards the Millennium Civil Society Forum to be held in May; and if he will make a statement. [114243]

  Mr. Hain
  The Millennium Forum has yet to announce details of any financial pledges they have received. In response to a request from the Forum's organisers, the Government have in principle offered funding to help the Forum secure participation by civil society representatives from less developed countries.

  Iran
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the continued use of Sharia law punishments in Iran; and if he will make a statement. [115498]

  Mr. Hain
  Hudud punishments in Iran, though in recent years used less frequently, are allowed under Sharia law. Sharia law forms the basis of the Iranian legal system, as well as the legal systems of some other countries in the region.

  With our EU partners the UK tabled the United Nations General Assembly resolution on human rights in Iran adopted on 17 December 1999. This resolution calls on Iran to take the necessary steps to end the use of torture, the practice of amputation, stoning and other cruel, inhuman and degrading punishments.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  BNFL
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the reportable accidents and incidents that occurred at(a) BNFL Chapelcross, (b) BNFL Calderhall, (c) BNFL Springfields and (d) BNFL Capenhurst since 1992–93; and if he will breakdown the figures by (i) fatalities, (ii) major injuries, (iii) other injuries, (iv) dangerous occurrences and (v) disease. [113309]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The tables contain information on accidents and incidents reported to HSE since 1992–93 at specified BNFL premises. Brief details of events occurring at licensed nuclear sites relating to nuclear safety are published in the site Quarterly Reports, which are placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  1. Notifications are made under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 and their predecessors.

  Table 1A: Chapelcross

  Fatal

  Major injuries

  Other injuries

  Dangerous occurrence

  Diseases

  1992–93

  0

  0

  5

  1

  0

  1993–94

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  1994–95

  0

  0

  3

  0

  0

  1995–96

  0

  0

  3

  3

  0

  1996

  0

  0

  1

  3

  1

  1997

  0

  0

  2

  2

  0

  1998

  0

  1

  1

  1

  0

  1999

  0

  1

  2

  2

  0

  2000

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Table 1B: Calderhall

  Fatal

  Major injuries

  Other injuries

  Dangerous occurrence

  Diseases

  1992–93

  0

  0

  7

  3

  0

  1993–94

  0

  0

  4

  0

  0

  1994–95

  0

  1

  9

  0

  0

  1995–96

  0

  1

  6

  3

  0

  1996–97

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  411W

  Table 1B: Calderhall

  Fatal

  Major injuries

  Other injuries

  Dangerous occurrence

  Diseases

  1996

  0

  1

  2

  0

  0

  1997

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1998

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1999

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  2000

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Table 1C: Capenhurst

  Fatal

  Major injuries

  Other injuries

  Dangerous occurrence

  Diseases

  1992–93

  0

  0

  4

  1

  1

  1993–94

  0

  0

  12

  0

  0

  1994–95

  0

  1

  5

  0

  1

  1995–96

  0

  0

  4

  1

  0

  1996–97

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1996

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1997

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  1998

  0

  1

  2

  0

  0

  1999

  0

  2

  1

  0

  0

  2000

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Table 1D: Springfields

  Fatal

  Major injuries

  Other injuries

  Dangerous occurrence

  Diseases

  1992–93

  0

  8

  39

  3

  0

  1993–94

  0

  1

  40

  1

  0

  1994–95

  0

  5

  25

  2

  2

  1995–96

  0

  2

  10

  0

  0

  1996–97

  0

  0

  7

  1

  0

  1996

  0

  1

  14

  1

  1

  1997

  0

  7

  5

  2

  0

  1998

  0

  3

  7

  8

  0

  1999

  0

  2

  6

  3

  0

  2000

  0

  0

  2

  0

  1

  Note:

  The Health and Safety Executive transferred responsibility for enforcement of the general provisions of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 at licensed nuclear installations from its Field Operations Directorate to the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate in August 1996. The figures up to August 1996 are recorded by financial year and those after are recorded by calendar year.

  2. Notification of nuclear events to HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate in accordance with the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 (as amended) and published in the sites' Quarterly Report.

  Table 2

  Site

  Event

  Date

  Chapelcross

  Employee momentarily exposed to radiation from irradiated fuel element

  25 May 1993

  Chapelcross

  Defect in heat exchanger

  1 June 1997

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received from the EU Environment Commissioner in respect of the application of the provisions of Article 34 of the Euratom Treaty to Sellafield. [114088]

  Mrs. Liddell
  None.
  412W
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library copies of communications between his Department's Director General for Energy and the atomic energy counsellor in the British Embassy in Tokyo made since 1 August 1999. [114082]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Communications between the British Embassy in Tokyo and energy policy officials in my Department constitute information whose disclosure would harm the frankness of internal discussion, and as such are exempt under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the cost of his Department's Director General for Energy's visit to Japan on 7–10 February; and under which budget sub-head costs were met. [114085]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The cost of the Director General for Energy and other Department of Trade and Industry officials' visit to Japan on 7–10 February was in the region of £23,000.

  I understand that these costs are to be met by my Department's Running Cost budget sub-head.

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Nolan Rules on public appointments apply to non-executive directors of British Nuclear Fuels; and if he will make a statement. [115067]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I can confirm that all appointments, and re-appointments, of non-executive directors to the Board of BNFL are subject to the Code and Guidance of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

  Nuclear Energy (Emissions Reduction Targets)
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry by how much generation of electricity from nuclear sources would have to be increased over current levels to(a) save two million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year and (b) meet all the Government's current carbon dioxide reduction targets. [114819]

  Ms Hewitt
  The table sets out the required increase in nuclear generation to achieve savings of 2 MtC and 22 MtC. The latter figure represents the additional reduction required, based on existing policies, to achieve the domestic goal of a 20 per cent. reduction in CO2, by 2010. The provisionally estimated generation from nuclear plants in 1999 was around 88 TWh. This amount of generation is estimated to be saving between about 10 and 21 MtC, depending on the mix of fuels assumed to be displaced.

  Extra nuclear generation required (TWh) if displacing:

  CO2 savings required

  Coal

  Gas

  2 MtC

  9

  21

  22 MtC

  94

  234

  National Grid Company (Compulsory Purchase Order)
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received
  413W
  concerning the' Inspector's report closing the inquiry following the withdrawal of all compulsory purchase orders on the line of pylons from Picton to Shipton by Bellingborough; and if he will make a statement. [114338]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Two written representations have been received following the withdrawal by the National Grid Company plc at the public inquiry on Thursday 2 March 2000 of the National Grid Company plc (Nunthorpe to Newby) Compulsory Purchase Order 1999. That inquiry related to the compulsory purchase of certain rights to underground part of the proposed 400 kV electrical connection between Lackenby, Picton and Shipton at privately owned land between Nunthorpe and Newby. The Secretary of State is now awaiting the Inspector's report on the proceedings, but understands that the company considered it had obtained all the necessary voluntary agreements from the landowners along the route of the proposed compulsory purchase order.

  Gas-fired Power Stations
  Shona McIsaac
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the average number of construction jobs which will be created by each of the gas-fired power stations for which approval has been sought but not yet granted. [114156]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The actual number of construction jobs will vary according to the size of the power station and the stage reached in its construction. From information available to the Department, we estimate that construction of 1 Gigawatt could generate peak employment of around 800 jobs, including an allowance for employment in production of the gas turbines themselves.

  Shona McIsaac
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will lift the moratorium on the construction of new gas-fired power stations. [114158]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Government expect to be able to relax the stricter consents policy for new gas-fired power stations as soon as it concludes, on the basis of advice from the Director General of Electricity Supply, that the reform programme has been undertaken and the distortions in the electricity market have been removed. The Government expect the reforms to be substantially complete across the picture before the consents policy is relaxed.

  Lord Levy
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on which dates Lord Levy has had meetings with(a) ministers and (b) senior officials in his Department since 1 May 1997, giving in each case the purpose of the meetings; and if he will make a statement. [113502]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 7 March 2000]: Records of meetings with officials are not held centrally, but to the best of my knowledge, no Minister or senior official in the Department of Trade and Industry has met Lord Levy since 1 May 1997 in his capacity as the Prime Minister's personal envoy delivering messages in the Middle East.

  Electricity Requirement (South-East)
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what is his estimate of the extra electricity requirement to supply the proposed new housing build in the South-East; [114184]

  (2) what is his estimate of the extra electricity transmission lines and their cost, that will be needed by new-build homes in the South-East. [114186]

  Mrs. Liddell
  No such estimate has been made.

  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to encourage the building of new power stations in the South East. [114185]

  Mrs. Liddell
  As was made clear in the October 1998 White Paper the Government intend to leave the initiative for proposals for new generation capacity entirely to developers. Power stations are run by private companies which must make market investment decisions, subject to the usual environmental and planning/consent constraints. It is therefore a matter for power station developers to consider where they wish to locate their stations.

  Counterfeit Goods
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the value of counterfeit goods seized by trading standards officers in the United Kingdom during 1999. [114991]

  Dr. Howells
  Information about the value of counterfeit goods seized by trading standards officers is available in a National Counterfeiting Survey compiled by Warwick University, but the latest figures available only cover the period 1 April 1998 to 31 March 1999. The replies from 75 per cent. of Trading Standards Departments in England, Wales and Scotland show that during this period goods with an estimated street value of £22,445,580 were seized, this being equivalent to a value of £65,053,217 if they had been genuine goods. These figures are not, though, comprehensive, but it is hoped that better estimates covering the whole of the UK will be available in the future. One initiative that should, among other things, help to deliver an improved understanding of the extent of all intellectual property crime is the new Counterfeiting and Piracy Forum. The Forum will meet for the first time later this month bringing together industry, public sector enforcers, consumers, retailers and Internet service providers with Government. This Forum will be able to explore issues such as better record keeping of criminal activity, greater co-operation and co-ordination of enforcement effort and how to make consumers more knowledgeable about short and long term damage to both themselves and others caused by the purchase of fake goods.

  Industrial Diseases
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list by region of residence the numbers of(a) claims received in respect of respiratory disease, (b) interim and expedited awards in respect of respiratory disease by (i) number and (ii) value, (c) claims in respect of vibration white finger and (d) interim and general damage awards in respect of vibration white finger by (i) number and (ii) value. [115043]
  415W
  Mrs. Liddell
  The information is as follows:

  Respiratory Disease

  Interim payments

  Expedited payments

  Postal region

  Total claims

  Number of claims

  £

  Number of claims

  £

  Anglia

  327

  46

  208,250.00

  0

  0.00

  Midlands

  19,545

  3,505

  6,772,233.51

  327

  857,385.75

  North East

  37,895

  5,675

  10,867,100.00

  695

  1,753,281.10

  North West

  6,407

  789

  1,554,850.00

  46

  137,667.84

  Northern Ireland

  11

  1

  2,000.00

  0

  0.00

  Scotland

  8,477

  1,377

  2,699,550.00

  325

  799,584.11

  South Central

  150

  13

  26,000.00

  0

  0.00

  South East

  1,507

  265

  488,350.00

  18

  38,037.87

  SouthWest

  633

  41

  79,850.00

  10

  22,243.83

  Wales

  24,295

  3,874

  7,384,800.00

  330

  878,674.05

  London

  203

  20

  40,000.00

  0

  0.00

  No postcode

  100

  8

  16,000.00

  0

  0.00

  Total

  99,550

  15,614

  30,102,983.51

  1,751

  4,486,874.55

  Vibration white Finger

  Interim payments

  General damages

  Postal region

  Total claims

  Number of claims

  £

  Number of claims

  £

  Anglia

  168

  5

  15,572.21

  27

  150,083.04

  Midlands

  14,666

  1,602

  1,672,738.05

  1,602

  9,074,958.80

  North East

  30,545

  6,065

  10,681,785.76

  6,065

  32,699,739.99

  North west

  2,529

  514

  264,456.71

  514

  1,512,530.00

  Northern Ireland

  4

  0

  0.00

  0

  0.00

  Scotland

  3,967

  1,328

  1,610,503.83

  1,328

  3,392,825.84

  South Central

  42

  8

  14,629.37

  8

  26,094.68

  South East

  524

  73

  57,888.35

  73

  165,014.48

  South west

  61

  9

  5,869.37

  9

  16,503.02

  Wales

  8,756

  2,380

  754,584.83

  2,380

  8,194,798.15

  London

  39

  0

  0.00

  0

  0.00

  No postcode

  207

  173

  0.00

  173

  127,310.00

  Total

  61,508

  12,179

  30,102,983.51

  1,751

  71,037,886.72

  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of state for Trade and Industry how many claims his Department has received in respect of respiratory disease; and in respect of how many claims spirometry has been completed. [115045]

  Mrs. Liddell
  As at 5 March the Department's claim handlers had received in received 98,803 claims. 66,077 of these are from live claimants, of which 44,797 have received spirometry tests, with a further 12,619 invited to make appointments.

  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claims have been made in respect of respiratory disease by(a) the sufferer and (b) widows and dependants where the claimant has died after the date of claim. [115044]

  Mrs. Liddell
  As at 16 March IRISC, the Department's claims handler, had been informed of 4,249 claims where the sufferer has died since their date of claim. Details are not available of the number of widows or dependants who have died after submitting claims.

  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the locations, dates of opening or proposed dates of opening are of centres for mdical assessment of claims for vibration white finger. [115049]

  Mrs. Liddell
  There are currently 13 centers open for medical assessment of claims for vibration white finger. The location and dates of opening for the centres are as follows:416W

  Location

  Dates

  Newcastle

  9 August 1999

  Sheffield

  23 August 1999

  Mansfield

  1 September 1999

  Cardiff

  8 September 1999

  Glasgow

  13 September 1999

  Edinburgh

  6 October 1999

  Barnsley

  10 November 1999

  Wakefield

  12 December 1999

  Nottingham

  7 January 2000

  Manchester

  10 January 2000

  Birmingham

  21 February 2000

  Stoke

  1 March 2000

  Swansea

  6 March 2000

  An additional centre will be opened in London (Victoria) by the end of March.

  Wind Power
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total subsidy for the generation of power from wind turbines in(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999–2000. [114913]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 16 March 2000]: The support to wind energy from the Fossil Fuel Levy in England and Wales was:

  417W

  Year

  £ million

  1997–98

  36.8

  1998–99

  35.1

  1999–2000

  16.5

  1 estimated

  The support to wind energy from the Fossil Fuel Levy in Scotland was:

  Year

  £ million

  1997–

  3.9

  1998–

  5.4

  1999–2000

  15.7

  1 estimated

  Correspondence
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when Bruce Crawford MSP will receive a reply to his letter, dated 31 January, to the Minister for Energy and Competitiveness in Europe regarding compensation payments to ex-miners. [115534]

  Mrs. Liddell
  A reply was sent on Friday 3 March 2000.

  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the hon. Member for Broxbourne will receive a reply to her letters of 21 September, 20 October, 17 November, 14 December, 11 January and 8 February relating to Mr. James Gardiner, a constituent. [113929]

  Mr. Byers
  [pursuant to the reply, 14 March 2000, c. 341-42]: The hon. Lady's letters of 21 September and 20 October have been traced. The letter of 7 March arrived on 14 March. The other correspondence does not appear to have been received. I replied to the hon. Lady on 16 March.

  Post Office
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many sub-postmasters there are in the UK; and how many of them are(a) from ethnic minorities and (b) women. [115205]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 17 March 2000]: There are at present some 16,000 sub-postmasters. A number of these cover more than one post office.

  Approximately 40 per cent. of this total are women. The Post Office's estimate is that 12.4 per cent. of sub-postmasters are from ethnic minorities. This estimate derives from data provided on a voluntary basis by sub-postmasters.

  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce measures to allow post offices to sell alcoholic drinks. [115484]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  Items such as stationery and greetings cards, which complement postal services, may be sold in post offices by Post Office Counters Ltd. However, where a post office is located alongside a retail outlet, the decision to sell alcoholic drinks rests with the shop owner.
  418W
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what contracts the Post Office has with haulage contractors for the delivery of UK mail in foreign-registered trucks; and if he will make a statement. [115268]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The names of the Post Office's contractors are a commercially confidential matter for the Post Office, who tell me that they use a range of hauliers, some UK based, some based in other countries. They have no records of where their suppliers register their vehicles.

  Export Guarantees
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what involvement Mr. David Harrison, of the Export Guarantees Advisory Council, had in the decision of the ECGD to support the ACESITA stainless steel strip mill in Timoteo. [114785]

  Mr. Caborn
  [holding answer 17 March 2000]: In his capacity as a banking member of the Export Guarantees Advisory Council, Mr. David Harrison may be asked for his advice from time to time on cases which are being put forward for underwriting decisions. Such advice is sought only from a Council Member who has no direct business interest in the relevant transaction.

  This case did not involve submission to Mr. Harrison or to any other member of the Export Guarantees Advisory Council.

  Science and Engineering
  Dr. Michael Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action is he taking to draw public attention to the importance of science and engineering. [114787]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 17 March 2000]: National Science Week launched on Friday, now annually attracts well over a million visitors to more than 7,000 events, and is the flagship project of our Public Understanding of Science, Engineering and Technology programme. This programme currently supports 15 pilot projects with a total value this financial year of £1.46 million.

  More generally, the Department grant-aids relevant activities throughout the year organised by the Royal Society, the British Association for the Advancement of Science and the Research Councils.

  We have also consistently supported the engineering community in its efforts to raise the profile of engineering in the mind of the public and past initiatives such as "Action for Engineering" have received substantial financial assistance. One of the key aims of the latest such initiative to receive DTI support, the "Campaign to Promote Engineering" is to present engineers and engineering as key contributors to the nation's wealth and quality of life. The campaign's patrons include Professional Engineering Institutions, Trade Associations and companies both large and small within all sectors of UK industry. DTI also continues its financial support for SETNET (Science Engineering Technology Mathematics Network) whose key objective is to bring coherence and co-ordination to the myriad schemes and resources aimed at fostering the teaching and learning of engineering related subjects in schools.
  419W
  Dr. Michael Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his Department's involvement in activities relating to Science Week commencing on 17 March organised by the British Association. [114788]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 17 March 2000]: My Department is a strong supporter of National Science Week and continues to be the main core sponsor of the week. The British Association for the Advancement of Science receives grant aid worth £160,000 each year from the Office of Science and Technology's Public Understanding of Science, Engineering and Technology budget to cover core costs. In addition we have also provided almost £90,000 to support 56 National Science Week projects around the United Kingdom through the COPUS grants scheme.

  My Department also runs a small number of events to mark National Science Week, targeted at a Whitehall audience. This year these include an event co-hosted by the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee at the Palace of Westminster on 23 March entitled "Putting Science To Work".

  Cable & Wireless Communications
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will accept the recommendations of the Competition Commission's report into the acquisition of Cable & Wireless Communications cable business by NTL; to what extent he will be guided in his decision by representations made outside the Competition Commission process; and if he will make a statement. [115244]

  Dr. Howells
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will publish the Competition Commission's report into the acquisition by NTI., Incorporated of the cable business of Cable & Wireless Communications as soon as is reasonably practical. In publishing the report he may comment on it.

  If the report finds that the merger may be expected not to operate against the public interest, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will have no power to take any action in respect of the merger.

  If the report finds that the merger may be expected to operate against the public interest, then the Director General of Fair Trading (DGFT) will advise the Secretary of State on the report. The DGFT's advice will also consider any representations that may have been made subsequent to the CC's report. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will decide on his response to the merger in the light of the CC's report and the DGFT's advice, taking into account any matters which he considers relevant.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he received from(a) BSkyB and (b) News International with regard to the acquisition of Cable & Wireless Communications cable business by NTL (i) before and (ii) subsequent to his receipt of the Competition Commission's report on this subject. [115213]

  Dr. Howells
  I do not think it appropriate in general to disclose either the identity of those who make representations on cases or the substance of their views.420W
  This allows interested parties to comment freely without concern that their comments might then be disclosed, which could prejudice the future supply of information.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Art and Business
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if he will list those organisations which have received funding under the Pairing Scheme administered by Art and Business (formerly ABSA), together with the relevant amount in each case in(a) 1997-98, (b) 1998-99 and (c) 1999-2000; [114743]

  (2) if he will list those organisations which agreed funding arrangements under the Arts Council Pairing Scheme administered by Art & Business (formerly ABSA) for schemes lasting more than (a) one year, (b) two years and (c) three years in (i) 1997–98, (ii) 1998–99, and (iii) 1999–2000, together with the planned funding agreed for each year. [114742]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 15 March 2000]: During the three years in question, Arts and Business agreed 1,890 Pairing Scheme awards totalling £12,080,157. These are summarised in the following table. A full list of awards has been included in a report prepared by Arts and Business, and I have arranged for a copy to be placed in the Libraries of the House.

  £

  Year

  Value of 'one-off' awards (i.e. awards not covered by a three-year contract

  Value of awards made as part of a three-year contract

  Total

  1997–98

  1,979,129

  2,087,962

  4,067,091

  1998–99

  1,294,082

  2,677,812

  3,971,894

  1999–2000

  2,047,554

  1,993,618

  4,041,172

  Total

  5,320,765

  6,759,392

  12,080,157

  Note:

  The Pairing Scheme did not make two-year awards

  National Athletics Stadium
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made in locating a site for a new national athletics stadium. [114908]

  Kate Hoey
  Sport England has submitted an analysis of the cost and design issues related to the brief for an athletics venue proposed by UK Athletics, along with an evaluation of a number of potential sites in London against criteria discussed and agreed between my Department, the Government Office for London, UK Sport, UK Athletics, the 2005 World Athletics Championships Bid Team and the British Olympic Association. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and I chaired a meeting of all interested parties on Wednesday 15 March to consider
  421W
  these papers at which it was agreed that my Department will co-ordinate further detailed work on a short-list of sites and a further announcement will be made shortly.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he will reply to the question tabled on 15 February, ref 110728, from the hon. Member for Shrewsbury and Atcham concerning peat compost. [115191]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave on 15 March 2000,Official Report, columns 253–54W.

  Olympic Bid
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if it is the policy of his Department that any stadium selected as a London bid venue for the 2005 World Athletics Championships should be capable of being upgraded to 80,000 seats in the event of a successful London Olympic bid. [115227]

  Kate Hoey
  We are looking at a number of options to ensure that we develop a venue capable of staging major domestic and international athletics events, which creates a permanent legacy for future generations of UK athletes and will not rule out a future Olympic bid.

  Wembley Stadium
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he plans to reply to the Fourth report of Session 1999–2000 of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Wembley National Stadium (HC 164). [115232]

  Kate Hoey
  We are considering the conclusions and recommendations in the Committee's Fourth report of Session 1999–2000 carefully and will respond shortly.

  BBC Funding
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he plans to reply to the Third report of Session 1999–2000 of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Funding of the BBC (HC 25). [115231]

  Janet Anderson
  The Government welcome the Culture, Media and Sport Committee's report "The Funding of the BBC" and is grateful to the Committee for its inquiry into this area. Command Paper 4674, which constitutes the Government's response to the report, is due to be published on 22 March. Copies will be placed in the Library.

  Baltic Exchange
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with English Heritage concerning the heritage and architectural merits of the Baltic Exchange; and if he will make a statement. [115262]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 17 March 2000]: No such discussions have taken place.
  422W
  Nevertheless, I am aware that an application for demolition of the building and redevelopment of the former Baltic Exchange site has been made to the City of London Corporation. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Transport and the Regions has issued an Article 14 Direction the effect of which is to prohibit the City Corporation from making a decision, pending consideration by my right hon. Friend as to whether the case should be called in for his own decision and whether an environmental impact assessment should be carried out. English Heritage are my right hon. Friend's advisers on listed building matters and their views will be taken into account at the appropriate stage.

  It would not be right for me to comment on merits of the case, since to do so could prejudice my right hon. Friend's decision.

  Millennium Dome
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will place in the Library copies of the results of market research commissioned by NMEC in 1999 into the Millennium Dome. [110243]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 15 March 2000]: Much of the market research commissioned by the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) in 1999 was specifically oriented to particular business development aspects of the project. It was commissioned on the basis that it would not be published, but would be used internally by NMEC to inform its marketing and business strategies. Copies of the more general market research undertaken as part of the overall development of the project in 1997 and 1998 have been placed in the Library.

DEFENCE

  Defence Medical Services
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much in addition to existing spending plans the Government plan to spend in real terms on the Defence Medical Services over the next four years. [113707]

  Dr. Moonie
  Following the Strategic Defence Review we allocated an additional £140 million to the Defence Medical Services over the four years 1998–99 to 2001–02. Funding for subsequent years is currently under consideration as part of my Department's annual planning process.

  Iraq
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the total cost to the UK(a) of operation Desert Fox and (b) of subsequent operations in Iraq; and what is the current monthly cost. [113710]

  Mr. Hoon
  Information on the total cost of Operation Desert Fox cannot be reliably differentiated from the overall costs of military operations in the Gulf, which in 1998–99 cost £35 million. The figure for 1999–2000 is forecast to be £30 million, a reduction of £3 million on the previous estimate I gave to the House on 22 February.
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  Our costs are not collected on a monthly basis, nor do they relate, always, to regular monthly activities.

  Army Numbers
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current strength of the Army; and what was its strength in March 1999. [113712]

  Mr. Spellar
  The current strength of UK Trained Army Personnel as at 1 February 2000, the latest figures available is 96,607. This represents an increase of some 147 personnel over the comparable figure for March 1999 of 96,460.

  Weapons of Mass Destruction
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made by his Department of the threat to the UK from weapons of mass destruction. [113714]

  Mr. Hoon
  Our assessment is that there is no significant threat to the UK from weapons of mass destruction at present, but developments continue to be monitored closely.

  Chinook Crash, Mull of Kintyre
  Mr. Martin Bell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the cause of the crash of RAF Chinook ZD 576 on the Mull of Kintyre in 1994 has been established absolutely beyond doubt. [113715]

  Mr. Spellar
  Yes. The finding of gross negligence required there to be absolutely no doubt whatsoever over the cause of the crash. The aircraft was being flown towards the high ground of the Mull of Kintyre at high speed, at low level and into fog.

  Eurofighter
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate of the sales of Eurofighter in the first five years of operation. [113717]

  Mr. Hoon
  I am pleased to say that the export prospects for Eurofighter are excellent. As my hon. Friend will be aware from the announcement made of 8 March, Greece has made a commitment to purchase 60 aircraft, with an option for a further 30. A number of other countries are showing interest in Eurofighter and I am sure that the Greek commitment represents the first of a number of opportunities for future sales of this excellent combat aircraft, bringing benefit to the UK defence industry, as well as those of our Eurofighter partners.

  Invincible Replacements
  Mr. Savidge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in the Government's plans to procure replacements for the current Invincible class of aircraft carriers. [113718]

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Government's plans to procure replacements for the Invincible class of aircraft carriers. [113727]
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  Mr. Hoon
  Competitive contracts, each potentially worth about £30 million, for the future aircraft carrier assessment phase were awarded on 23 November to BAe Land and Sea Systems, now BAE SYSTEMS, and Thomson-CSF Naval Combat Systems. The assessment phase will investigate options for carrier design and, by 2003, will deliver proposals for the demonstration and manufacture of the vessels. The carriers, which will be built in the United Kingdom at an estimated cost of £2 billion, are scheduled to enter service in 2012 and 2015.

  Training and Education (Forces Personnel)
  Mr. Geraint Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to increase the proportion of accredited training and education in the armed forces. [113719]

  Mr. Spellar
  Civilian accreditation of military education and training is an important recruiting and retention issue for the armed forces. As such all three Services are working closely with a number of key accreditation and awarding bodies to increase the amount of civilian recognition given to military courses, leading to the award of academic, vocational and professional qualifications.

  Kosovo
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the actions of British forces defending(a) Serbs and (b) Albanian civilians in Kosovo. [113720]

  Mr. Hoon
  The role of British forces in Kosovo is to provide a secure environment for all Kosovans, whatever their ethnic origin.

  British forces, based in Multi-National Brigade (Centre), provide round-the-clock patrols, static guards, protection of churches, patriarchal sites and businesses, as well as checkpoints at permanent and varying locations.

  British forces remain available to COMKFOR, to assist where the need is greatest.

  Boeing C17 and Antonov 100–124
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the(a) payload, (b) range, (c) fuselage volume, (d) cost and (e) availability of the (i) Boeing C17 and (ii) Antonov 100–124 aircraft for the Royal Air Force's short-term strategic aircraft requirements. [113721]

  Dr. Moonie
  On the basis of information publicly available, the C-17 has a maximum payload capability of 77 tonnes at the military limit of 2.25g, which it can carry an approximate range of 2,400 nautical miles, whereas the An124–100 has a maximum payload capability of 120 tonnes at the civil limit of 2.5g, which it can carry up to a range of 1,790 nautical miles.

  The C-17 has a fuselage volume of 592m3, whereas the An124–100 has a fuselage volume of 1,270m3. I am withholding commercially sensitive details of costs and availability under Exemption 13 (third party's commercial confidences) of the Code of Practice on access to Government Information.

  Prisoners of War
  Mr. David Heath
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received seeking the payment of ex-gratia compensation to prisoners of war held in the far east during world war two. [113723]

  Dr. Moonie
  Since the beginning of 1999, we have received three Parliamentary Questions relating to this subject and over 450 letters. These have come particularly from Members of Parliament, Ex-Service Organisations and former Far Eastern Prisoners of War and their families, the majority of which have been in response to the Royal British Legion campaign. My hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces also met officers of the Royal British Legion last year.

  Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) Life Extension Programme
  Mr. St. Aubyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the number of private sector firms invited to tender for the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) Life Extension Programme. [113724]

  Dr. Moonie
  The CVR(T) Life Extension Programme was a single source procurement for which only Alvis Vehicles Ltd. were invited to tender. Since Alvis are the Design Authority for CVR(T) and hold the Intellectual Property Rights for much of the vehicle, the MOD could not issue information to a third party to have the vehicle redesigned. There was therefore no practicable alternative but to contract with Alvis. However, this covered only the design of the modifications and the conversion of the first 200 vehicles and a limited competition is being run between Alvis and the MOD's Army Base Repair Organisation to convert the remaining vehicles.

  Mozambique
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all support from the services sent to Mozambique to assist flood victims; and what was the income to his Department from leasing equipment and aircraft. [113725]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Ministry of Defence has, at the request of the Department for International Development (DfID), provided four Puma helicopters with around 100 support personnel, and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Fort George with an additional five helicopters to Mozambique to assist in the international flood relief efforts.

  The current estimate of the MOD's additional costs, which the DfID agreed to reimburse, is around £1.15 million for the four Puma aircraft and support personnel, which includes the cost of both deployment and recovery by civilian charter and RAF transport aircraft. The deployment of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Fort George is estimated at £1.4 million. It would be highly misleading to refer to this as income; the DfID will merely make good the additional costs the Ministry of Defence incurs in giving assistance.

  Overseas Emergencies
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will discuss with the Secretary of State for 426W
  International Development a plan for future provision of helicopters and other aircraft, as well as personnel, in cases of emergencies in countries overseas. [113726]

  Mr. Hoon
  There are well-established procedures between the Department for International Development and the Ministry of Defence for calling on military support in response to emergencies in countries overseas. These procedures are reviewed as a matter of routine following every operation, and will involve discussions between both Departments at every level.

  Leave Entitlement
  Mr. Pond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to improve leave entitlements for Service personnel. [113704]

  Mr. Spellar
  As part of our "Policy for People" in the Strategic Defence Review we undertook to introduce a Common Annual Leave Allowance of 30 working days for all Service personnel. This was implemented in April 1999.

  Additionally, we announced the introduction in July 1999 of post-operational tour leave, which is a guaranteed period of leave when personnel return from operational detachment.

  We are now confident that the recently introduced measures are fully in keeping with the best standards in practice in either the public or private sector. None the less, we keep the position under review.

  Service Quarters
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) single quarters and (b) married quarters there are at (i) RAF Halton and (ii) RAF High Wycombe; and how many of such quarters in each station are unoccupied. [114208]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 13 March 2000]: At RAF Halton there are currently 539 families quarters, of which 120 are unoccupied. Of these 80 are surplus for disposal and the remainder are awaiting incoming Service families or modernisation.

  At RAF High Wycombe there are currently 748 families quarters, of which 65 are unoccupied. Of these all are either awaiting incoming Service families or modernisation.

  Accommodation for single personnel is in the form of either individual rooms, rooms accommodating two to four people, or multiple occupancy rooms in barrack blocks which have nine to ten bed spaces per room. Based on a count of available bed spaces the figures for single accommodation are as follows:

  Total capacity

  Unoccupied

  RAF Halton

  2,553

  1,193

  RAF High Wycombe

  641

  184

  No-fly Zones (Iraq)
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel are involved in patrolling the no-fly zones in northern and southern Iraq. [114516]
  427W
  Mr. Hoon
  As at 10 March, we had some 1,048 Service personnel involved in or supporting operations in the northern and southern no-fly zones. This is further supplemented by the HMS Illustrious Carrier Task Group that is currently operating in the region, which consists of 1,895 Service personnel.

  Military Exercises (Kenya)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimates have been made of the quantities of unexploded munitions left behind after exercises in Kenya; and what assessments have been made of the costs of clearing such unexploded munitions. [114445]

  Mr. Spellar
  The quantity of unexploded munitions left behind by British units after exercises in Kenya is constantly monitored by collecting information in range log books. It is not possible, however, to estimate the quantity of unexploded munitions attributable to British units on those areas upon which the Kenyan Army also trains.

  The UK has deployed advisory teams to assist the Kenyan Department of Defence (KDOD) in the planning and conduct of field firing and range management. In addition, Exercise Pineapple, the annual exercise to clear ranges of unexploded munitions, has been expanded to incorporate the KDOD training area at Archers Post, and will be significantly enhanced in 2001. The in-country cost of this exercise this year will be some £7,000, rising to some £30,000 next year.

  RN Vessels
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Royal Navy ships will take part in Naval Task Group 2000; if a round the world voyage is to be part of the deployment; and if he will make a statement. [114765]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Naval Task Group 2000 deployment will be headed by the Type 22 frigate HMS Cornwall and will comprise of HMS Sutherland (Type 23 frigate), HMS Newcastle (Type 42 destroyer), HMS Tireless (Fleet submarine) supported by the Royal Fleet Auxiliaries Fort Victoria, Bayleaf, and Diligence.

  The Task Group will deploy to the Asia Pacific region via the Suez Canal and return via the Pacific Ocean and Panama Canal.

  The deployment will provide a clear demonstration of the Royal Navy's ability to maintain an operationally effective and self-sustaining maritime force out of area for a prolonged period and provides an excellent opportunity for pursuing defence diplomacy objectives.

  SERCO
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 29 February 2000, Official Report, column 210W, when he will deposit in the Library(a) the list of contracts held by SERCO, their date of execution, their length and location and (b) his reply to the hon. Member for Crewe and Nantwich. [115035]
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  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 16 March 2000]: I replied to my hon. Friend on 12 March and a copy of my letter was placed in the Library of the House on 14 March.

  Servicemen's Allowance (London)
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the loss of gross earnings per month attributable to withdrawal of the London allowance for Servicemen serving in Greater London in the financial year starting in April 2000 for(a) aircraftsman second class, (b) aircraftsman first class, (c) corporal, (d) sergeant, (e) flight sergeant, (f) warrant officer, (g) pilot officer, (h) flying officer, (i) flight lieutenant, (j) squadron leader, (k) wing commander, (l) group captain, (m) air commodore, (n) air vice-marshal, (o) air marshal and (p) air chief marshal and their army and navy equivalents. [114807]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 16 March 2000]: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Disaster Relief
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his policy in respect of providing equipment and civilians and military staff for disaster relief purposes. [113700]

  Mr. Hoon
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Altrincham and Sale, West (Mr. Brady) on 20 March 2000,Official Report, columns 708–09W.

HEALTH

  Mental Health
  Mr. Hesford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what extra resources will be made available to help providers deliver the National Service Framework for mental health; and when such resources will be made available to providers. [114199]

  Mr. Hutton
  Additional investment of £700 million has been provided for health and social services over the three years 1999–2002 to modernise mental health services.

  Circulars Allocation Working Paper (99–00) Health Authority 27 and Health Service Circular 1999/038: Local Authorities Circular (99)8 notified health and local authorities of their modernisation fund allocations for 1999–2000.

  HSC 1999–243 "Health authority revenue cash limits: 2000–01" set out how each health authority's individual cash limit is made up for 2000–01. Local Authorities Social Services Letter (99)25 "Personal Social Services (PSS) Funding: 2000–01" set out the Mental Health Grant, including modernisation fund, for each local authority for 2000–01.

  Health authorities will wish to be assured that robust plans are in place to ensure that this money is spent on the priorities locally which are based on the Mental Health National Service Framework (MHNSF) standards before

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  confirming allocations to providers. The plans for spend of new money will be incorporated into the mental health joint investment plans due to be submitted to regional offices on 31 March 2000. Allocation of funds to National Health Service providers will then be staged to coincide with actual cost demands.

  Mental Health Grant allocations to local authorities are made in September and January of each financial year on receipt of claims confirming take up of the grant and compliance with conditions set by the Department in line with MHNSF implementation and, from April 2000, confirmation that money is identified in mental health joint investment plans.

  Multiple Sclerosis
  Charlotte Atkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the incidence of MS is(a) in North Staffordshire and (b) in the United Kingdom. [114472]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information is not available in the form requested. Figures are not available on the incidence of Multiple Sclerosis in North Staffordshire. However, it is estimated that multiple sclerosis affects between 80–90,000 people in the UK.

  Population

  New cases per year (Incidence)

  Total number of cases (Prevalence)

  England (Approx. 50m)

  4 per 100,000 (2,000)

  100 per 100,000 (50,000)

  Under 16

  2.5 per cent. of all new cases (50)

  50

  Over 60

  2.5 per cent. of all new cases (50)

  12,500

  Over 70

  Very Few

  3,750

  These figures are derived from epidemiological research studies. These studies all give slightly different figures. The table provides current best estimates for England. National Health Service figures do not provide accurate estimates of the epidemiology of MS. This is because many patients are not admitted to hospital and outpatient diagnostic data are not comprehensive.

  Dental Services
  Ms Ryan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have died as a result of an anaesthetic for a dental procedure in a community dental practice since 1970. [114555]

  Mr. Denham
  Records show that since 1970 there have been 84 deaths associated with general anaesthesia for dental treatment outside hospital.

  The review of general anaesthesia and sedation, which will be reporting to Ministers shortly, discusses the difficulties that exist in collecting data on mortality associated with general anaesthesia for dental treatment.

  Domiciliary Care Charges
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will issue guidelines to local authorities to ensure that domiciliary care charges are consistent, transparent and equitable. [114720]
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  Mr. Hutton
  Our White Paper "Modernising Social Services" recognised that the scale of variation in discretionary charges is unacceptable. We are considering the recommendations from the Royal Commission on long-term care and will consider the Audit Commission's report on home care charges when it is published. We will consult representatives of service users, carers, local authorities, and other interested parties about possible changes.

  Medical Laboratory Scientific Officers
  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the basis underlying the calculation of the number of medical laboratory scientific officers who will benefit from the 26 per cent. pay offer for 1999–2000 given(a) by him on 31 January 2000, Official Report, column 453W, and (b) by the Minister of State on 8 March 2000, Official Report, column 228WH. [115129]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 17 March 2000]: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 14 March 2000, Official Report, column 132W.

  Long-term Care
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from Age Concern, the British Pensioners and Trade Union Action Association and other interested parties in relation to the report from the Royal Commission on long-term care for the elderly. [115304]

  Mr. Hutton
  A large number of representations to the Government on a variety of issues refer to long-term care. There have been 980 letters to the Department specifically focused on the Royal Commission's report. Many of the representations have broadly supported the recommendations in the Royal Commission's majority report; others have been critical and some have put forward alternative proposals.

  Representatives of Age Concern have spoken to Ministers and officials on numerous occasions on Royal Commission issues.

  We have received one representation from the British Pensioners and Trade Union Action Association. The East Grinstead and District branch collected 85 signatures on a petition which called for the end to means-testing of local authority funding of placements in residential care homes and nursing homes.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on the report of the Royal Commission on long-term care for the elderly. [115303]

  Mr. Hutton
  We have had frequent discussions with ministerial colleagues in the Department and in other Departments on the issues covered by the Royal Commission on long-term care.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what conclusions he has drawn concerning the report from the Royal Commission on long-term care for the elderly. [115302]

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

  Asylum Seekers (Children)
  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the Government plans to spend from his Department's budget on unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in 1999–2000 and 2000–01. [115511]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Department plans to spend £52.386 million towards reimbursing local councils with social services responsibilities the costs they have incurred in providing accommodation and support to unaccompanied asylum seeking children in 1999–2000.

  It is not possible to forecast how much the Department might spend in 2000–01 as this will depend on the numbers of unaccompanied minors looked after by local councils and on the conditions of any special grant.

  Domestic Violence (Children)
  Ms Moran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) in how many cases in England and Wales in each of the last three years contact or residence orders had been made by the courts in cases where children(a) were killed during contact visits with parents who had a history of domestic violence and (b) were killed in circumstances where the parents had separated due to domestic violence and were disputing contact or residence; [113947]

  (2) how many children have been killed in England and Wales since 1 January 1995 in circumstances where the parents had separated as a result of domestic violence and were disputing contact or residence. [113948]

  Mr. Boateng
  I have been asked to reply.

  Just over 50 children a year in England and Wales are killed by their parents, but those killed during contact visits and in cases of disputed contact cannot be separately identified in the statistics collected centrally.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Staff Bonuses
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department, its agencies and associated public bodies spent in total on extra bonuses above usual payments for staff working over the new year period; what were the(a) maximum and (b) minimum bonuses paid; how many people received the (i) maximum and (ii) minimum payments; and if he will make a statement. [104494]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Northern Ireland Civil Service and Northern Ireland Office spent a total of £1,187,877 on extra bonuses for staff working over the new year period.

  The maximum bonus paid was £550 and 877 people received this and the minimum bonus was £75 received by 268 people.
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  The remaining expenditure was made up by a range of varying amounts between the minimum and maximum totals, depending on the individual circumstances.

  Education Maintenance Allowances
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the expenditure was on Education Maintenance Allowances by each education and library board in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [114651]

  Mr. Ingram
  Expenditure over the last three years on the maintenance element of Boarding, Maintenance and Clothing Allowances paid by each Education and Library Board in Northern Ireland is as follows:

  £

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Belfast

  5,599

  8,518

  8,687

  North-eastern

  5,232

  7,272

  5,109

  South-eastern

  9,406

  10,294

  4,304

  Southern

  14,711

  11,697

  13,437

  Western

  16,521

  11,707

  11,654

  Total

  51,469

  49,488

  43,191

  These allowances are not directly related to Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMAs), which are presently being piloted in a number of areas in England and Wales. The progress of these pilots will continue to be monitored by the Department of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment and their possible application in Northern Ireland will be evaluated in due course.

  Social Security Benefits
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate his Department has made of the cost of restoring general student entitlement to social security benefits at current levels in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [114663]

  Mr. George Howarth
  My Department has not estimated the cost of restoring social security benefit entitlement to students generally. The primary source of financial support for full-time students comes from the education system and most full-time students are not eligible to claim income-related benefits. However, certain students in vulnerable groups, such as lone parents, can claim these benefits under the current rules.

  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many students are currently in receipt of Income Support and Housing Benefit in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [114665]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The Social Security Agency does not hold statistics in such a way as to enable us to identify the number of students currently receiving Income Support and Housing Benefit. However, available information shows that 109 students are currently in receipt of Housing Benefit.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is her Department's policy on linking and twinning arrangements between local authorities in the United Kingdom and local authorities in Zimbabwe; and what plans she has to review this policy. [114177]

  Mr. Foulkes
  We are not supporting any twinning arrangements with local authorities in Zimbabwe at present. We have no plans to review this. A copy of our Country Strategy Paper for Zimbabwe is available in the Library of the House.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Schoolchildren (Newcastle)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many children of school age resident in Newcastle are educated in(a) independent schools and (b) local education authority maintained schools outside Newcastle; and how many children from outside Newcastle are educated in schools maintained by Newcastle local education authorities. [112135]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 28 February 2000]: The total number of children of school age resident in the Newcastle upon Tyne local education authority area and educated in independent schools is not collected centrally. However, in January 1999 the number of children of school age resident in the Newcastle upon Tyne local education authority area and educated in non-maintained special schools was 30 and a further 39 were receiving special educational treatment in independent schools.

  The total number of children of school age resident in the Newcastle upon Tyne local education authority area and educated in local authority maintained schools outside the area was 35 in January 1999.

  In January 1999, the total number of children of school age resident in other local authority areas and educated in maintained schools in the Newcastle upon Tyne local education authority area was 113, including 38 children without statements who were in hospital.

  New Deal
  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what information he collates on the number and percentage of 18 to 24 year olds who leave(a) Gateway and (b) each New Deal option for (i) jobs lasting more than 13 weeks but less than six months, (ii) jobs lasting more than six months but less than nine months and (iii) jobs lasting more than nine months but less than 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [113676]

  Ms Jowell
  [holding answer 9 March 2000]: We issue currently information, by Unit of Delivery, on participants who leave New Deal for a job and have not returned to claim Jobseeker's Allowance within (a) 13 weeks and (b) 26 weeks.

  Pre-school Education
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the average charge for an(a) childminder, (b) private nursery place and (c) local authority nursery place for children aged (i) nil to one, (ii) one to two and (iii) two to three years in each local authority. [114792]

  Ms Hodge
  The Department does not have information on child care costs in the detailed form requested.

  Research commissioned by the DfEE last year, "Parents' Demand for Childcare", includes information on households' payments for child care. Among households with one or two children in England and Wales, the average hourly cost of child care was £1.93 per child. The cost varied between regions and was on average £1.62 in the north of England and the Midlands, and £2.22 in the south.

  Nationally, registered childminders were paid on average £2.51 per hour and nursery provision on average cost £2.11 per hour. In the south, households paid on average £2.68 per hour to registered childminders and £2.52 for nursery provision. The survey sample size does not enable similar analysis for the north and Midlands.

  In this analysis nursery provision covers all types of nurseries, including nursery classes, independent day nurseries as well as nurseries run by local authorities.

  Employment and Social Affairs Council
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the outcome of the Employment and Social Affairs Council held in Brussels on 13 March; and if he will make a statement. [114906]

  Ms Jowell
  I represented the UK at the Employment and Social Affairs Council and the Standing Committee on Employment held in Brussels on 13 March.

  The Presidency summarised preparations for the Lisbon Summit on 23–24 March which will focus on four themes: consolidation of the Luxembourg Process, modernising social protection, co-ordinating mechanisms for tackling social exclusion and dovetailing the Cardiff, Luxembourg and Cologne Processes.

  The UK urged the Summit to focus on concrete outcomes and cautioned against setting EU level growth targets. The Presidency's strategic goals on the quality and quantity of employment and its concentration on social exclusion and lifelong learning were welcomed. The UK also called for measures to improve work/life balance and to promote investment in human resources, in particular through a European standard for investing in people and the further development of a European on-line learning and jobs bank.

  As part of its contribution towards the Lisbon preparations, the Commission introduced its package of Communications on mainstreaming employment, combating social exclusion and social trends in Europe. The Commission called on the Summit to make a commitment to full employment and to adopt quantified commitments to increased economic activity, and decreased unemployment and poverty.
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  The Presidency reported on progress in the negotiations on the Commission's package of measures to tackle discrimination under Article 13 of the Treaty. The Presidency aims to achieve political consensus on these proposals during its term in office.

  ONE Service
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what measures are in place to assess the effectiveness of the ONE service in assisting people with a mental illness. [114674]

  Ms Jowell
  The new ONE service provides a coherent and seamless service for people of working age, by providing a single point of access for help in finding the best way to work, and help in securing benefits. All advisers in the ONE pilots have been trained to work sensitively with all ONE clients, and have benefited from the expertise of stakeholders, e.g. with experience of working with people with mental illness, who participated in the training process.

  We will assess fully the effectiveness of the ONE service for all clients. As part of the ONE evaluation, we will be carrying out in-depth interviews with ONE staff and clients to examine the effectiveness of the ONE service in identifying and meeting the needs of individual clients, including people with a long-standing illness or disability. Where particular individual needs, such as those for people with a mental illness, are identified and have a significant impact for the ONE service this would be picked up in these interviews

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to the answer of 9 March 2000,Official Report, columns 791–92W, if he will make it his policy to collect statistics on the numbers of people with a mental illness attending ONE meetings and the numbers who subsequently gain employment. [114673]

  Ms Jowell
  The ONE service is built upon the principle of treating people as individuals, with their own unique needs, abilities and circumstances, and not categorising them as members of particular groups. ONE advisers encourage everyone to use their skills and talents to the full.

  Further to my reply of 9 March, we are not yet in a position to provide information on the numbers of people with mental illness who are using the ONE service. The ONE evaluation database will capture information on ONE claimants receiving sickness and disability benefits and whose main disabling condition is 'mental and behavioural disorders'. This will enable us, in due course, to provide information on those in this group passing through ONE. However, this will only given an indication of the numbers of people using the ONE service who have a mental or behavioural disorder and have claimed a sickness or disability benefit as a consequence. It will not be possible to identify clients who have not claimed a sickness or disability benefit in respect of such disorders.

  Student Support
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what are the criteria determining residence by a UK student in the various component parts of the UK for the purpose of student 436W
  support; and if the circumstances determining such deemed residence can change during the course of study. [115009]

  Mr. Wicks
  [holding answer 16 March 2000]: The eligibility criteria are set out in the various regulations which cover the component parts of the UK (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales) and are broadly comparable. To qualify for support, a student must normally satisfy three criteria on the first day of the first academic year of the course:
  be settled in the UK for the purposes of our immigration laws; be ordinarily resident in the UK;
  have been ordinarily resident throughout the three year period preceding that date other than wholly or mainly for the purpose of receiving full-time education.

  Exceptions to the ordinary residence requirement are made where the applicant, their parent or spouse:
  are or have been temporarily absent or employed abroad; have been recognised as refugees;
  are EEA migrant workers working in this country who have been ordinarily resident in the European Economic Area (EEA) for the three year period, and
  EU nationals (including British students) who have been resident in the EEA for three years, will be eligible for means tested fee support only.

  Students who are recognised as refugees after the start of their course and students who satisfied the ordinary residence requirement but failed to satisfy the immigration requirement and who are granted exceptional leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom after the start of their course are entitled to student support for the remainder of their course.

  Qualifications
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the relationship between the proposed foundation degrees and the higher national diplomas. [115001]

  Mr. Wicks
  [holding answer 16 March 2000]: The Foundation Degree is part of a deliberate strategy to diversify higher education to meet the differing demands of a knowledge-driven economy. Although it will build on the best elements of existing two year higher education provision, including Higher National Diplomas, this new qualification will offer a distinct combination of features. It will equip students with the employability skills, specialist technical knowledge and broad understanding needed in the new economy.

  Higher Education Fees
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what obligation there is on higher education institutions to charge higher fees for part-time study to overseas students than to United Kingdom residents; if this fee regime applies to EU residents studying in the United Kingdom; and if the same fees regime applies to UK-national students whose home is in another EU country. [115002]

  Mr. Wicks
  [holding answer 16 March 2000]: There is no obligation on higher education institutions to charge higher fees for part-time study to overseas students than to UK students. Under our European Community Treaty

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  obligations, other UK-based EU students must be treated no less favourably than UK students for tuition fee purposes. This also applies to UK and other EU nationals studying in the UK whose home is in another European Economic Area country.

  Learning and Skills Councils
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what procedure will be adopted for appointment of members to the local learning and skills councils; and if such appointments will be subject to local advertisement and consultation. [115008]

  Mr. Wicks
  [holding answer 16 March 2000]: Members of the local Learning and Skills Councils will be appointed on merit and in accordance with the seven principles of public appointments of the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA). All posts will be advertised in the appropriate local press.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the reasons which underlie the revision of the timetable for appointments to the Learning and Skills Council as explained in a letter to the hon. Member for Daventry from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary dated 13 March. [115010]

  Mr. Wicks
  [holding answer 16 March 2000]: The Learning and Skills Council Bill was published in the House of Lords on 16 December. When we published the Learning and Skills Council Prospectus, we had anticipated that the Bill would be published first in the House of Commons. We have revised the timetable for appointments to reflect the changed circumstances. I wrote to the hon. Member with details on 13 March.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what arrangements will be made for the continuation of local Education-Business Partnerships and partnerships with other public education providers and local authorities when TECs are replaced by local learning and skills councils. [115007]

  Mr. Wicks
  [holding answer 16 March 2000]: From April 2001 Learning and Skills Councils (LSCs) will be responsible for ensuring effective systems are in place to foster links between education and business, including the maintenance of an effective network of Education Business Partnerships and other education business link organisations. My Department has published a consultation document about how best to achieve this under the Learning and Skills Councils.

  The network of local Learning Partnerships—which involve colleges, local authorities, schools and a wide range of others—will have a crucial role to play alongside local LSCs. The two bodies will work closely together to identify the key actions needed to continue to improve provision in local areas with Learning Partnerships perfectly placed to provide the necessary in-depth understanding of local needs. I am making available £10 million to Learning Partnerships in each of the next two years to help them fulfil this vital role.

  Personal Careers Interviews
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if a personal careers interview is now available to all 16-year-olds who request one. [115005]

  Mr. Wicks
  [holding answer 16 March 2000]: Every 16 year old will get the careers information and guidance they need to enable them to make well-informed decisions. This may include a careers interview if this is appropriate to help them make a successful transition to post-16 learning.

  Individual Learning Accounts
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on progress in the national roll out of individual learning accounts. [115004]

  Mr. Wicks
  [holding answer 16 March 2000]: We are seeking to establish a public/private partnership to run a Customer Service Centre to administer individual learning accounts. As part of the tendering process, discussions will take place about the roll out of the national system.

  TECs
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many TECs have merged their operation with chambers of commerce; and what arrangements will be made for continued business involvement by membership of their successor bodies. [115006]

  Mr. Wicks
  [holding answer 16 March 2000]: Of the existing 72 TECs, 16 have merged their operations with chambers of commerce.

  In developing our plans for the LSC, we have listened closely to business and acted on their recommendations. We recently announced that on both the national and local Learning and Skills Councils 40 per cent. of the LSC members, together with the national Chair and most local Chairs, will have substantial recent business or commercial experience.

  We are also taking a wide range of steps to ensure continued involvement in the LSCs by business leaders with a strong interest in learning and skills. For example Nick Reilly, the Chairman and Managing Director of Vauxhall Motors Ltd., has set up a Business Champions Group to raise awareness in the business community about the Learning and Skills Council and to encourage business involvement.

  Disabled Student Allowance
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many and what percentage of full-time students are claiming disabled student allowance; and what was the total cost in each of the last three years. [115003]

  Mr. Wicks
  [holding answer 16 March 2000]: The number and value of disabled students' allowances made by local education authorities in England and Wales as part of the mandatory awards scheme in the academic years 1995–96 to 1997–98—the latest years for which figures are available—are shown in the following table.

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  The percentage of award holders in receipt of DSAs is not available since students can receive more than one allowance. There is a general disabled students allowance as well as separate allowances for specialist equipment, non-medical helpers and travel costs resulting from a

  Number1 and value2 of Disabled Students Allowances paid by LEAs in England and Wales academic years 1995–96 to 1997–98

  Academic year

  Number of allowances

  Value of allowances (£ million)

  Total award holders

  1995–96

  6,550

  9.1

  770,820

  1996–97

  8,120

  10.4

  765,090

  1997–98

  10,770

  13.3

  769,660

  1 Students can receive more than one type of allowance

  2 All figures are shown in cash terms. The amounts shown are the gross amounts of the allowances. Because of the effect of income assessment, the net cost of disabled students allowances paid as part of the total award will be lower.

  Source:

  F503G

  Sixth Forms
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many state secondary schools in England(a) with (b) do not have a sixth form. [115072]

  Mr. Wicks
  As at January 1999 there were 3,560 maintained secondary schools in England, of which 1,831 schools have a sixth form.

  GCSE Performance
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on differences in performance at GCSE between state secondary schools(a) with and (b) without a sixth form. [115070]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Provisional figures for 1999 show that the GCSE achievements of 15 year old pupils in maintained mainstream schools with and without sixth forms are:

  (a) with

  (b) without

  (c) Total

  Percentage achieving 5 or more A-C grades

  49.9

  40.9

  46.5

  Percentage achieving 5 or more A-G grades

  91.6

  89.6

  90.9

  Percentage achieving no passes

  3.9

  4.5

  4.1

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  (a) In Newcastle

  11th (out of 11)

  11th (out of 11)

  11th (out of 12)

  (b) In the North East

  162nd (out of 164)

  160th (out of 164)

  161th (out of 166)

  (c) In England

  3,075th (out of 3,130)

  3,096th (out of 3,137)

  3,073rd (out of 3,150)

TREASURY

  Working Families Tax Credit
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claimants of family credit there were in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne in each of the last three years; and how many claimants of the working families tax credit there are in the city. [111360]
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  disability. However, the number of mandatory award holders in each year is shown in the following table for comparison. Information on the number of students claiming DSAs in 1998–99, when DSAs were no longer means tested, should be available in April 2000.

  (a) with

  (b) without

  (c) Total

  Average GCSE point score per pupil

  39.5

  35.4

  38.0

  Westgate College, Newcastle
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many students have achieved five grade A to C passes at GCSE at Westgate College, Newcastle, since the College was formed; what proportion of students at the College this represents; and what is the position of Westgate College among schools in(a) Newcastle, (b) the North East and (c) England ranked in descending order of achievement of five grades A to C at GCSE in the last three years. [115307]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The proportion of 15-year-old pupils achieving 5 or more GCSE passes at grades A*— C at Westgate College, Newcastle are as follows:

  Year

  Percentage

  1994–95

  6

  1995–96

  7

  1996–97

  8

  1997–98

  6

  1998–99

  10

  The position of Westgate College among maintained schools in the last three years is as follows:

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 22 February 2000]: It is estimated that 3,300 families in Newcastle upon Tyne local authority have been awarded the Working Families Tax Credit by the end of January 2000. A further 1,300 families were stillin receipt of Family Credit giving a total of about 4,600 on either Working Families Tax Credit or Family Credit. The number of Family Credit cases in payment in earlier years is given in the table:

  441W

  Family Credit cases in payment in Newcastle upon Tyne

  Month/year

  Number

  February 1997

  4,200

  February 1998

  4,600

  February 1999

  4,300

  Notes:

  1. Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to sampling error.

  2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claims and what percentage take-up of the working families tax credit he is assuming is necessary to meet his target of taking 800,000 children out of poverty. [113786]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 9 March 2000]: The estimate that 800,000 children will be lifted out of poverty is based on the combined effect of the tax and benefit changes announced in the last two Budgets—in particular the introduction of the Working Families Tax Credit, the 10p starting rate of tax, the introduction of the Children's Tax Credit, reforms to National Insurance and increases in Child Benefit and child premia within Income Support.

  For more detailed analysis behind this estimate I refer my right hon. Friend to the written answer which the Economic Secretary gave to the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb) on 14 April 1999, Official Report, columns 241–15W.

  The Government estimate that around 1.4 million families will benefit from the WFTC. They will be on average £24 a week better off compared with Family Credit.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library the publicity material his Department has published, aimed at low-income families, to encourage take-up of working families tax credit. [114477]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 14 March 2000]: A complete set of the relevant Working Families Tax Credit publicity material has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will amend housing benefit regulations so as to increase the value of working families tax credit to low-income families. [114480]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 14 March 2000]: The Working Families Tax Credit increases the take-home pay for around 1.4 million low income working families. The Government currently estimate that one in eight Working Families Tax Credit recipients will also be in receipt of Housing Benefit. By comparison, around one in three Family Credit recipients were receiving Housing Benefit.

  Changes to Housing Benefit regulations are a matter for the Department of Social Security and the wider issues will be considered in the Housing Green Paper.

  Increases in the child credits in the Working Families Tax Credit from April 2000 will be matched by increases in the child credits in income-related benefits. This means that all families receiving benefits will see the extra gain because Housing Benefit entitlement will not be affected.
  442W
  Housing Benefit regulations are currently being amended to ensure that gains from the child care tax credit will be received in full by all eligible families because they are disregarded in Housing Benefit. The gains from the child care tax credit are particularly targeted on those on the lowest incomes who were not able to take advantage of the child care disregard in Family Credit.

  Petroleum Products Smuggling
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the loss of revenue through the smuggling of petroleum products into Northern Ireland in each year since 1997. [113539]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 7 March 2000]: HM Customs and Excise assess the total revenue lost (excise duty and VAT) through cross-border shopping and smuggling of road fuels in Northern Ireland was about £100 million in 1998.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the level of smuggling of petroleum products into England in 1998 and 1999. [113540]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 7 March 2000]: HM Customs and Excise do not have any estimates of the level of smuggling of petroleum products into England, due to a lack of sufficient information on which to base such estimates.

  Diesel Fuel (Illegal Imports)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent talks his Department has held with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on behalf of HM Customs and Excise on restrictions on illegally imported diesel fuel. [114521]

  Mr. Timms
  HM Customs and Excise take this matter very seriously and have introduced a range of measures to counter it.

  City of London
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his most recent estimate of(a) the contribution to the gross national product and (b) total revenue to the Exchequer of the activities of the City of London. [114704]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Office for National Statistics does not publish estimates for the contribution to GNP of the City of London, nor does it have any plans to. No estimate has been made by the Government of the revenues to the Exchequer from the activities of the City of London.

  Banking Industry
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Bank of England will respond to the Treasury on progress by the banking industry in addressing the issues and recommendations highlighted by the Social Exclusion Unit's Policy Action Team report No. 3; and if he will make a statement. [114358]

  Mr. Timms
  The report of Policy Action Team 3, "Enterprise and Social Exclusion", was published in November 1999. It recommended that the Bank of
  443W
  England should be invited to report regularly on finance for business among deprived groups and communities. The Bank of England has agreed to take on this role, and it will report in due course.

  Publicity Expenditure
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the total expenditure of his Department and its agencies on publicity for(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98 and (c) 1998–99; what estimate he has made of such expenditure for (d) 1999–2000, (e) 2000–01 and (f) 2001–02; and if he will break these figures down to indicate expenditure on (i) advertising and (ii) Press and public relations. [113891]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 14 March 2000]: The information requested could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

  Landfill Tax
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money has been allocated from the landfill tax to environmental trusts(a) nationally and (b) in each local authority area in the County of Essex. [114885]

  Mr. Timms
  Contributions totalling £246 million have been made under the environmental bodies credit scheme since the introduction of the tax on 1 October 1996 to 15 March 2000. I have asked the Regulator for the scheme, ENTRUST Ltd., to provide such data as it holds on the amounts contributed to bodies in Essex, and will place a copy of their response in the Library.

  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the maximum sum which could have been allocated from the landfill tax to environmental trusts(a) nationally and (b) in each local authority area in the County of Essex. [114884]

  Mr. Timms
  If site operators had contributed to environmental bodies from the introduction of the tax on 1 October 1996 at a level entitling them to claim the maximum tax credit of 20 per cent. of their liability, the maximum credit that could have been claimed nationally, up to 29 February 2000, is £292 million. This represents contributions of £324 million. Operators are not constrained in how they allocate these credits between local authority areas.

  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will return to local authorities the full value of the landfill tax to fund schemes for reduction, re-use and recycling of waste; and if he will make a statement. [114887]

  Mr. Timms
  No. Revenues from the landfill tax contribute to Government spending on its priorities.

  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been allocated from the landfill tax to develop new waste management strategies in each year since its introduction(a) nationally and (b) in each local authority area in the County of Essex. [114886]
  444W
  Mr. Timms
  The information requested about support for waste management strategies is a matter for the Regulator for the environmental bodies credit scheme, ENTRUST Limited. I have asked them to reply, and will place a copy of their response in the Library.

  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money has been collected since the landfill tax was introduced(a) nationally and (b) in each local authority area in the County of Essex. [114883]

  Mr. Timms
  Total landfill tax receipts net of credits claimed in respect of contributions to environmental bodies since the introduction of the tax on 1 October 1996 to 31 March 1999 were £806.6 million. The forecast for the financial year from 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000 is £400 million. No figures are available for individual counties or local authority areas.

  Air Passenger Duty
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer of exempting Aberdeen from air passenger duty. [115073]

  Mr. Timms
  Based on existing passenger numbers and duty rates, exempting flights departing from Aberdeen from air passenger duty would cost approximately £10 million in a full year. Also exempting flights from other UK airports to Aberdeen would approximately cost a further £5 million.

  Aviation Fuel Duty
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of a tax on aviation fuel on air passengers; and if he will make a statement. [115300]

  Mr. Timms
  I have made no such assessment. The Government support removal of the international ban on taxation of aviation fuel, but only in the context of a world-wide agreement.

  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact on revenue of introducing duty on aviation kerosene in line with the amount of fuel in aircraft leaving the United Kingdom. [114805]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 16 March 2000]: No such assessment has been made.

  Drug Searches
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many citizens of the United Kingdom, or their relatives, have been stopped and their belongings searched for drugs at air or sea entry points equipped with separate entry arrangements for these persons. [115281]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Information is not available in the form requested. In 1998–99 Customs conducted a total of 19,018 personal searches of travellers from all parts of the world including British citizens.

  Bank Branch Closures
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what representations he has made to Barclays Bank plc over its branch closure policy; and if he will make a statement; [114910]
  445W
  (2) what representations he has made to Barclays Bank plc over its branch closure policy in respect of the Government's policy on social exclusion; and if he will make a statement; [114881]

  (3) what representations he has made to Barclays Bank plc over its branch closure policy; and if he will make statement. [114907]

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what representations he has received concerning the closure of bank branches in rural areas; and if he will make a statement; [114946]

  (2) what assessment his Department has made of the impact of bank branch closures on rural areas. [115203]

  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what plans he has to encourage banks to install ATM machines that both dispense cash and accept cash deposits; [115255]

  (2) what plans he has to encourage high street banks to co-operate in sharing premises and overheads to avert closures in villages and rural towns; [115253]

  (3) what plans he has to encourage high street banks to set up mini-branches in rural sub-post offices in areas where no high street bank is present. [115254]

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has made to Barclays Bank plc over their branch closure policy in rural areas; what reply he has received; and if he will make a statement. [115243]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Treasury have received such representations from time to time. The Treasury Policy Action Team (PAT 14) report "Access to Financial Services" said that the way forward lies in developing new and alternative means to deliver and provide banking services, including through the Post Office network. A number of banks already have agreements with the Post Office to provide banking services through post offices.

  National Pay Awards
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what support he has provided to local government under the Comprehensive Spending Review to take account of pay pressures arising from national pay awards. [115140]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The Comprehensive Spending Review provided a generous settlement for local government. The details are set out in "Modern Public Services for Britain: Investing in Reform" (Cm 4011). The Government have made it clear that all pay awards will need to be paid from within the spending limits set in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

  Government Debt
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answers of 19 January 2000,Official Report, column 516W, and 8 March 2000, Official Report, column 774W, if he will estimate the interest which would have been saved in the 1998–99 financial year if Government debt in the period 1990–91
  446W
  to 1998–99 had been issued in the form of (a) Treasury bills and (b) floating rate notes and continuously rolled over. [114725]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Hypothetical calculations of this kind are meaningless. A wholesale change in financing of this kind would have had a major effect on relative yields. The only sure way to reduce debt interest and make room for worthwhile public spending is steadfast pursuit of disciplined fiscal and monetary policy within strict frameworks, as the present Government have done.

  Industrial and Provident Societies
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what plans he has to bring forward amendments to the Industrial and Provident Societies Acts arising from the recent consultation exercise; and if he will make a statement; [114248]

  (2) how many submissions were received in his consultation on industrial and provident societies; in what format the submissions were published; what were the main representations made to him by the Co-operative Movement; and if he will make a statement. [114308]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Government recognise the wish to modernise the Industrial and Provident Societies Acts. 76 written responses to the consultation document were received. They have not been published. Responses were received from the Movement's promoting bodies, other interested organisations and a number of individual industrial and provident societies, who made a number of wide ranging comments on the issues and questions raised in the consultation document. Discussions with the Movement are continuing.

  Gold Reserves
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the effect on the price of gold of sales to date of UK gold reserves; and what effect this will have on the revenue from IMF sales of gold intended to benefit poor countries. [112862]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 14 March 2000]: The Government's policy is to sell gold in an orderly, prudent and transparent way, in order to minimise the impact on the market. The price of gold is at around the same level as it was on the day prior to last May's announcement.

  Unemployment Count Leavers
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a breakdown of leavers of the unemployment count by duration, using the categories of destination and duration used in Table C.34 of "Labour Market Trends", broken down into those aged(a) under 25 and (b) 25 years or above, for each of the six most recent half-year periods for which figures are available. [109572]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 15 February 2000]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.
  447W
  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Peter Lilley, dated 20 March 2000:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question about leavers of the claimant count by destination, duration and age.
  The information you requested for the six most recent half-year periods is given in the attached tables. These are large tables and copies of them are being placed in the House of Commons Library rather than reproduced in Hansard.

  Jobcentre Vacancies
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of official jobcentre vacancies consisted of(a) armed forces and (b) other vacancies which are counted more than once by reason of being registered in more than one job centre, for each of the last three years. [114684]

  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. Graham Brady, dated 20 March 2000:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question on double counting of armed forces vacancies in jobcentres.
  Armed forces vacancies are not counted more than once by reason of being registered in more than one Jobcentre. The armed forces vacancies displayed in Jobcentres are only a small sample of the overall numbers available. Some 40 Jobcentres around the country are nominated to take vacancies from their local armed forces careers office. There will be some duplication in the displays, as information about vacancies is shared between Jobcentres, but there is no problem with overcounting in the statistics which are obtained from the computer records.
  Similarly other vacancies are only counted by the Jobcentre which takes them. Any duplication, if it exists, is likely to be minimal as employers have no need to notify a vacancy to more than one Jobcentre.

  Electors
  Mr. Rammell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many electors there are on the electoral registers for 2000–01 in(a) Essex and (b) England. [114513]

  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. Bill Rammell, dated 20 March 2000:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question about the 2000–01 electoral registers for Essex and England.
  These data are still in the process of being collected. They will be published in a First Release on 12 April. A copy of this press release will be available in the House of Commons library on that day.

  Israel
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if any of the other European Community member states' customs services have taken measures in the past three years to recover duties or collect security deposits in connection with goods of any sort that have been imported 448W
  from Israel under preferences in cases where (a) the documents submitted in support of their originating status referred to locations in the West Bank, Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip or the Golan Heights or (b) the goods were labelled or otherwise identified in a fashion indicating that they were produced or had undergone substantial processing in the territories occupied by Israel since 1967. [115323]

  Dawn Primarolo
  HM Customs and Excise are not aware of any such action taken by other member states.

  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answers of 1 March 2000,Official Report, columns 266–67W, whether examination of the documents accompanying the consignments referred to in those answers has substantiated the alleged non-compliance with the provisions of the Agreement between the EC and Israel. [115319]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The information is still being evaluated. The results will be passed to the European Commission.

  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answers of 1 March 2000,Official Report, columns 266–67W, what measures to recover duties and collect security deposits have been taken in connection with importations from Israel under preferences of consignments accompanied by documents identifying the location of their suppliers as within the West Bank, Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip and the Golan Heights. [115320]

  Dawn Primarolo
  No such measures have been taken.

  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answers of 1 March 2000,Official Report, columns 266–67W, whether, upon their examination by Customs and Excise, the information contained in the documents accompanying the consignments referred to in those answers, together with the maps and other information available to Customs and Excise, justifies imposing duties and collecting deposits from the importers of those consignments under UK and Community law. [115311]

  Dawn Primarolo
  No decision has yet been taken by Customs and Excise to impose duties or collect deposits.

  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer where the responsibility for ensuring the appropriate application of Community treaties, including external trade agreements, lies and if the United Kingdom will ask the Commission to indemnify it against liability for losses to the Community's own resources consequent on failures of UK customs enforcement that may arise out of a misapplication of EU-Israel agreements by Israel's customs service. [115317]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The responsibility for ensuring the appropriate application of Community treaties lies with the Community, and, where member states are also party to the agreement, with the member states.

  The question of indemnity does not arise given that the United Kingdom, in conjunction with other member states, is co-operating fully with the European Commission.
  449W
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if Her Majesty's Customs and Excise has demanded security deposits from importers claiming the benefit of preferences under the Community's preferential trade agreements for importations from Israel based on evidence indicating that the products being imported may have been produced or undergone substantial processing in the territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including in Israeli settlements. [115322]

  Dawn Primarolo
  No.

  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answers of 14 February 2000,Official Report, column 447W, and 1 March 2000, Official Report, columns 266–67W, whether the documents referred to in those answers referred to (a) importation of dates and (b) importation under preferences of other products, with particular reference to wines and carpets from the area Barkan and the Golan Heights. [115318]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Yes, and the evidence from the further checking referred to in previous answers has been passed to the European Commission.

  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps HM Customs and Excise can take if Israel's customs service has been systematically misapplying the territorial clauses and origin rules in its trade agreements with the EU to prevent fraudulent preferential importations into the United Kingdom of products from settlements without the co-operation of Israeli customs. [115316]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The question of further action by HM Customs and Excise will not arise until the European Commission has completed its assessment of the situation.

  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what account Her Majesty's Government have taken, in connection with imports from Israel under preferences, of public communications by the Government of Israel stating that Israel issues certificates of origin according to its own definition of territoriality. [115312]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The content of these communications has been noted.

  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the extent to which achievement of the objects and purposes of the EC's trade agreements with Israel depends on the provisions of the agreement relating to the scope of territorial applicability and to bilateral customs co-operation. [115324]

  Dawn Primarolo
  No such assessment has been made.

  EU Preferential Trade Agreements
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if Her Majesty's Customs and Excise has demanded security deposits from importers claiming the benefit of preferences under the Community's preferential trade agreements in cases where the documents accompanying 450W
  the consignments being imported, or the labelling or other identifying details of the goods themselves, have given rise to strong doubts regarding their originating status under the agreements in question. [115321]

  Dawn Primarolo
  No.

  Climate Change Levy
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what advice he has received on the legality of the reduction in employers' National Insurance contributions in connection with the climate change levy for the purposes of complying with EU competition regulations; and if he will publish it. [115263]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 17 March 2000]: The proposed reduction in the rate of employers' National Insurance contributions in April 2001 is in accordance with EU competition rules and is therefore a matter for the UK Government.

  Tobacco Smuggling
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reports he has received of the level of tobacco smuggled into each European Union member state in each of the last five years. [115408]

  Dawn Primarolo
  No information on this basis has been published. HM Customs and Excise do have information on levels of tobacco smuggled into the UK but there is no standard reporting of levels of smuggling into each member state of the European Union.

  Customs however regularly receive and give qualitative information from and to colleagues in other member states about tobacco smuggling.

  Waste Incinerators
  Mr. Woolas
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to include energy generated from waste incinerators in the 100 per cent. first year investment allowance for companies moving from environmentally unfriendly to environmentally friendly technologies and processes. [115351]

  Mr. Timms
  The Government published a consultation paper on the additional support for energy efficiency measures available under the climate change levy package (including the proposed scheme offering enhanced 100 per cent. first year capital allowances for energy saving investments) on 9 December 1999. The consultation paper proposed that five energy saving technologies (combined heat and power plant, boilers, motors, variable speed drives and lighting systems) would be made eligible for the enhanced capital allowances. Responses received to the consultation paper are currently being assessed and further announcements will be made shortly.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will answer the question from the right hon. Member for Hitchen and Harpenden of 15 February (ref. 109572). [115579]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I did so earlier today.

  Euro
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those games which have been produced with European Community money to teach people about the euro; what age groups are targeted; and how many have been produced. [115577]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The UK Government have not produced any educational games to teach people about the euro, nor have any such games been funded by the Commission in the UK.

  ECOFIN Council
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the outcome of the ECOFIN Council held in Brussels on 13 March; and if he will make a statement. [115547]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Dumfries (Mr. Brown) on 17 March 2000,Official Report, columns 352–53W.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Child Poverty
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many children were living in poverty in each year from 1979 to date in(a) Shrewsbury and Atcham and (b) Shropshire; and if he will make a statement. [107253]

  Mr. Bayley
  There is no single official measure of poverty. Poverty and social exclusion are complex multi-dimensional issues, affecting many aspects of people's lives; their income, health, housing, the quality of their environment and their opportunities to work and to learn. There is no single measure which captures the complex problems which need to be overcome.

  We are determined to tackle the problems that condemn many individuals and communities to poverty. That is why we set out our strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion in our first annual report "Opportunity for all" (Cm 4445). The report includes a range of indicators that capture the many aspects of poverty and social exclusion.

  We are unable to present low income statistics for Shrewsbury and Atcham and Shropshire local authorities because they are not statistically robust for areas smaller than geographical regions. However, information for the whole of the West Midlands is shown in the table:

  Number of children below 60 per cent. median income in West Midlands, including the self-employed

  Million

  Before housing costs

  After housing costs

  1994–95

  0.3

  0.4

  1995–96

  0.3

  0.4

  1996–97

  0.4

  0.4

  1997–98

  0.4

  0.4

  Note:

  Some of the fluctuation in numbers between years may be due to sample variability.

  Source:

  Households Below Average Income

  Some indicators of poverty and social exclusion are available at the local authority level. For example, the table shows the number of children in families receiving Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance.

  Number of dependants under age 16 included in Income Support and Jobseekers Allowance (income based) claims for Shrewsbury and Atcham and Shropshire

  Thousand

  Period

  Shrewsbury and Atcham

  Shropshire

  May 1993

  3.0

  9.3

  May 1994

  3.3

  8.4

  May 1995

  3.0

  7.9

  May 1996

  3.0

  7.9

  May 1997

  2.6

  7.4

  May 1998

  1.9

  5.8

  May 1999

  2.0

  6.4

  Notes:

  1. Numbers are taken from the Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiries for May 1993–1999, which is a point in time survey based on a 5 per cent. sample of Income Support claimants.
  454W
  2. The figures include the unemployed who until 1996 were included in Income Support caseloads. Income Support for the unemployed was replaced by income-based Jobseeker's Allowance from October 1996.

  3. Numbers are based on sample cases and will therefore be subject to sampling error.

  4. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest hundred and expressed in thousands.

  5. The local authority district is assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant 1995–1999 version 1 postcode directories.

  Improving educational attainment is an intrinsic part of our strategy for tackling the causes of poverty and social exclusion. In 1997 in Shropshire, 62 per cent. of students in English and 61 per cent. in Maths achieved Level 4 and above in Key Stage 2. By 1999 this had improved to 74 per cent. in English and 72 per cent. in Maths.The health of our children is also an important indicator of levels of poverty and social exclusion. In Shrewsbury and Atcham in 1997–98, the rate at which children (aged under 16) were admitted to hospital as a result of an unintentional injury resulting in a hospital stay of more than three days was 1.5 per thousand (to the nearest 0.5 per thousand). This is broadly unchanged from 1995–96.

  Further information on the indicators we will use to monitor its progress in tackling poverty and social exclusion, including definitions and baseline data, was placed in the House of Commons Library on 21 September to accompany "Opportunity for All".

  Independent Tribunal Service
  Mr. Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many doctors who are panel members for the Independent Tribunal Service are also employed by SEMA to report on the condition of applicants for incapacity or disability benefit. [113647]

  Mr. Bayley
  The Contractual Terms of employment for Sema Group Medical Services state that any employee must not, at any time during their employment with Sema Group, enter into any contract of employment with an outside employer which might lead to a conflict of interest.

  In view of the conflict of interest, which would arise if a doctor employed by Sema Group Medical Services were to be employed by the Tribunal Service, no doctors would be given permission to work for the tribunal service.

  We do know that some doctors employed by Nestor Disability Analysis (NDA) to work on a sessional/EMP basis for Medical Services sit on Appeals Services panels. Neither we, nor Sema Medical Services, have any details of numbers. It is however for the Appeals Service and the Lord Chancellor to ensure that panellists they appoint are sufficiently independent and impartial under paragraph 6 of the Social Security Act 1998.

  Fraud
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Heywood and Middleton (Mr. Dobbin) on 7 March 2000,Official Report, column 612W, on what date he estimates these savings in respect of instrument of payment fraud will be achieved; [114689]
  455W
  (2) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Heywood and Middleton (Mr. Dobbin) on 7 March 2000, Official Report, column 612W, on what is the basis for his calculation of the amounts automated credit transfer will save from the elimination of instrument of payment fraud. [114668]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 14 March 2000]: The move to Automated Credit Transfer as the normal method of payment will bring significant savings from reduced levels of fraud. The move will begin in 2003, but full savings will not be realised until 2005, when the transition from current paper based methods of payment is complete.

  Anticipated savings from the elimination of instrument of payment fraud are based on estimates of current losses due to the fraudulent encashment of girocheques and order books, and our best estimate of the potential for further losses.

  Minimum Income Guarantee
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will backdate awards of the pensioners' minimum income guarantee to the date when he announced that there would be a take-up campaign for all pensioner claimants who would have qualified had they applied earlier. [114718]

  Mr. Rooker
  No. An announcement of our plans to encourage pensioners to take-up their entitlement to the Minimum Income Guarantee will be made shortly.

  Benefit Fraud Inspectorate
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate's programme of inspections for the forthcoming year(a) generally and (b) with special reference to housing benefit administration. [114832]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Benefit Fraud Inspectorate (BR) reports to the Secretary of State for Social Security on the administration of Social Security benefits by local authorities and seeks to drive up standards of administration. This work is part of a process that will transform the delivery of Housing Benefit so that local authorities provide a faster, more accurate service, which is more secure against fraud.

  To date, we have published 42 reports following BFI inspections of Housing and Council Tax Benefit administration in local authorities. The BFI programme includes a further 55 local authority inspections, which are due to be completed before April 2001. This includes the inspections that were announced last September, which focus on the 30 local authorities with the highest benefit spend. A further programme of inspections, some of which will be completed in the coming year, is due to be announced in April.

  In addition to the programme of inspections in local authorities, the BFI will be completing a further inspection in the Benefits Agency during the coming year.

  With the advent of Best Value, the BFI will be responsible for undertaking Best Value inspections on HB/CTB issues working, as necessary with the Housing Inspectorate and the Audit Commission. This programme
  456W
  of work will depend on the local authorities performance plans, which are due to be submitted by the end of this month.

  SERPS
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide a breakdown for each of the next 20 financial years of the estimated cost of(a) his proposed deferral until October 2002 of the cuts in widows' SERPS and (b) his proposed preserved rights scheme. [115527]

  Mr. Rooker
  The information is in the table.

  £ million, 1999–2000 prices

  Year

  Cost of deferral

  Illustrative scheme costs assuming 30 per cent. reduction in expenditure that would ohterwise have occurred

  2000

  60

  0

  2001

  160

  0

  2002

  260

  0

  2003

  270

  40

  2004

  260

  70

  2005

  260

  110

  2006

  250

  150

  2007

  240

  190

  2008

  240

  220

  2009

  230

  260

  2010

  220

  300

  2011

  210

  330

  2012

  200

  370

  2013

  200

  410

  2014

  190

  440

  2015

  180

  470

  2016

  170

  500

  2017

  160

  530

  2018

  150

  560

  2019

  140

  590

  2020

  130

  610

  Notes:

  1. Estimates of gross SERPS are provided by the Government Actuary's Department in 1999–2000 prices, rounded to the nearest £10 million.

  2. In order to produce long-term estimates, the figures are based on those used in the Government Actuary's Department's latest quinquennial review.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if his proposal to give preserved rights to those who were given incomplete information about their widow's SERPS entitlement will include those who were given no information. [115526]

  Mr. Rooker
  I refer the hon. Member to the statement my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State made on 15 March 2000,Official Report, columns 307–21.

  Stakeholder Pensions
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what his targets are for the number of people taking out stakeholder pensions; over what time-scale this is set; and how many such people he expects to be people who do not currently have a pension. [114990]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Department's targets will be set out in the Public Service Agreement covering the period from April 2001 to March 2004. It will be published later this year.

  Exceptional Hardship Payments
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much of the budget for the exceptional hardship payment scheme was(a) spent, (b) unspent and (c) retained by local authorities in each year since it was introduced. [115310]

  Exceptional hardship payments

  £ million

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  Government contribution

  2.50

  18.25

  18.25

  20.00

  20.00

  Amount spent

  0.10

  3.13

  6.42

  7.49

  1—

  Amount unspent

  2.40

  15.12

  11.83

  12.51

  1—

  1 Not yet known

  Source:

  1995–96 to 1998–99 Housing Benefit Subsidy claim forms from Local Authorities

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what assessment he has made of the conclusions of the DETR/DSS publication, Housing Benefits and the Private Rented Sector, concerning(a) the availability of private rented accommodation for people aged under 25 years, (b) the ability of people aged under 25 years to negotiate lower rents and (c) the impact of the single room rent restriction; [115305]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the conclusions of the DETR/DSS report, "Housing Benefit and the Private Rented Sector", on the average weekly difference between rents charged and housing benefit paid to people under 25 years affected by the single room rent restriction. [115306]

  Angela Eagle
  The findings of the report concluded that the single room rent restriction is causing difficulties for some young people under 25 years in accessing and maintaining accommodation. We are considering the future of the single room rent as part of our wider review of housing. We will be taking account of all the available research which will include the localised reports we received from a variety of organisations on the effects of the single room rent.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of people aged under 25 years affected by the single room rent restriction who have successfully applied for an exceptional hardship payment. [115309]

  Angela Eagle
  We do not collect statistical information on the number of single people aged under 25 years affected by the single room rent restriction who have successfully applied for an exceptional hardship payment. However, research done in 1997 showed that overall 3 per cent. of a sample of tenants affected by the Single Room Rent and Local Reference Rent restrictions interviewed in the survey had successfully applied for and received exceptional hardship payments.

  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many single pensioners claiming housing benefit live in accommodation comprising two bedrooms or more. [114988]

  Angela Eagle
  The information requested is not available.
  458W
  Angela Eagle
  The exceptional hardship payments scheme was introduced from 1995–96. The amounts spent and unspent from the local government contributions to the exceptional hardship payments schemes are in the table. The amount that is unspent is retained by local authorities, and therefore, for part(c) of the question the amounts are as shown in the third line of the table.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received on the impact of the single room rent restriction for people aged under 25 years. [115308]

  Angela Eagle
  Representations about the impact of the single room rent (SRR) provision for under 25-year-olds have been received from hon. Members, members of the public and a variety of voluntary and charitable organisations. The representations we have received from voluntary organisations and others suggest that the single room rent restriction is causing localised difficulties for some young people under 25 years in that the accommodation to which the restriction relates is not readily available.

  Benefit Fraud Hotline
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the number of calls received by the Benefit Fraud Hotline in each month since January 1999. [114987]

  Mr. Rooker
  The information is in the table.

  Number of calls received at the national Benefit Fraud Hotline from January 1999 to February 2000

  Calendar month

  Calls answered 1999

  Calls answered 2000

  January

  13,925

  14,272

  February

  13,798

  19,285

  March

  16,901

  —

  April

  11,996

  —

  May

  11,303

  —

  June

  13,415

  —

  July

  10,491

  —

  August

  10,336

  —

  September

  12,971

  —

  October

  9,291

  —

  November

  14,683

  —

  December

  10,906

  —

  Sick Notes
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health about sick notes signed by doctors for those on long-term sick leave. [114989]

  Mr. Bayley
  There have been no such discussions.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Home Affairs Research and Statistics Directorate
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the titles of projects(a) undertaken and (b) completed by the Home Affairs Research and Statistics Directorate in the past six months, indicating which have been published and how their findings have otherwise been made available. [114647]

  Mr. Straw
  I have placed a table in the Library providing the information requested.

  In addition to publication, Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate findings are available on the Home Office website and may also be referred to at seminars and conferences. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Oxford, West and Abingdon (Dr. Harris) on 9 February 2000, Official Report, columns 164–65W, concerning the Department's policy for releasing research reports.

  Fire Authorities
  Mr. Dobbin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will investigate means of rationalisation of the system for funding fire authorities in metropolitan authorities, county councils and combined fire authorities. [114912]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister is leading a fundamental review of local government finance, which is being carried out in partnership with local authorities. The review is looking at the distribution of revenue support grant for all local authority services, including the fire service, to investigate whether there is a way of distributing the grant which is simpler, more stable and fairer than the present arrangements. The review is also considering options for improving and simplifying the local authority capital finance system. The aim is to publish a Green Paper in the summer.

  Secure Facilities
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the stage reached in the planning process for all sites under consideration for future use(a) as prisons, (b) secure training centres and (c) other secure facilities. [114758]

  Mr. Boateng
  As I stated in the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 21 February 2000,Official Report, columns 813–14W, tenders for two new prisons have been let and these prisons are currently under construction at Rye Hill, at Onley near Rugby and Marchington in East Staffordshire. Later this year it is planned to issue tenders for the procurement of a further two prisons at Ashford in Middlesex and Peterborough. There is outline planning permission for both but detailed approval will be needed once the designs are finalised. The Prison Service also has outline planning permission for a new prison at Maghull on Merseyside and is discussing with the local planning authority the submission of a planning application for a new prison in Woolwich, South East London.
  460W
  The Home Office recently acquired the site of the former Youth Training Centre at St. Charles in Brentwood for development as a Secure Training Centre (STC). An application for outline planning permission will be submitted to the local planning authority shortly. This, with the STCs already open at Medway near Rochester, Rainsbrook near Rugby and Hassockfield near Consett in Co. Durham, would bring the STC estate to four establishments with a fifth site yet to be identified.

  Other secure facilities for which the Home Office is directly responsible are immigration detention centres. A planning application to redevelop the former Aldington prison near Ashford in Kent as a new purpose-built immigration detention centre has been submitted to the local planning authority. The Immigration and Nationality Department is also preparing a planning application to redevelop its Harmondsworth site near Heathrow Airport to provide another new purpose-built immigration detention centre. These form part of the proposals for implementing the recent White Paper about firmer, fairer and faster immigration controls.

  Prison Working Group
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the findings of the working group set up under Lord Laming on prisons. [114759]

  Mr. Boateng
  Lord Laming is due to submit his report to me by 1 May. In the interests of thoroughness I have informed him that this may take the form of an interim report, with the full document to be completed as soon as possible. When this is done I will arrange for copies to be placed in the Library.

  Marsham Street Offices
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the former Government offices in Marsham Street are to be demolished; and what will replace them. [115074]

  Mr. Straw
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 20 January 2000,Official Report, column 558W, to the hon. Member for Gainsborough (Mr. Leigh).

  Forest Bank Prison
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current prisoner population at HMP Forest Bank; when it will reach capacity; what is the current staff/prisoner ratio; what is the expected staff/prisoner ratio at full capacity; how many prisoner custody officers and managers have transferred(a) from HMP Blakenhurst, (b) other privately run prisons and (c) the Prison Service; what incidents have been reported at the establishment since it opened; what amounts have been calculated for financial penalties for contract failures to date; and if he will list the reasons for financial penalties being imposed so far. [114761]

  Mr. Boateng
  As at 14 March the prisoner population at Forest Bank prison and young offender institution was 420. It is due to reach full capacity on 11 May this year. The current staff/prisoner ratio is one member of staff to 1.27 prisoners and the expected staff/prisoner ratio at full capacity is one member of staff to 2.29 prisoners.
  461W
  The details requested about the number of custody officers and managers who transferred to Forest Bank from other prisons are given in the table. Incidents which have occurred at Forest Bank are detailed in the table.

  The imposition of financial penalties does not start until the prison reaches full capacity on 11 May; therefore, no financial penalties have yet been calculated or imposed.

  Prisoner custody officers and managers transferred to Her Majesty's Prison/Young Offenders Institution Forest Bank

  Transferred from

  (a) Her Majesty's Prison Blakenhurst

  Managers

  7

  Senior Prisoner Custody Officers

  5

  Prisoner Custody Officers

  5

  (b) Other privately run prisons

  Managers

  10

  Senior Prisoner Custody Officers

  9

  Prisoner Custody Officers

  4

  (c) The Prison Service

  Managers

  13

  1 One of whom is on secondment

  Incidents reported at Her Majesty's Prison/Young Offenders Institution Forest Bank to 14 March

  Incident

  Fights

  3

  Concerted indiscipline

  2

  Assaults on other prisoners

  7

  Assaults on staff

  6

  Fires in wastebins

  2

  Drug finds

  3

  Total

  23

  Police Recruits
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police recruits began training at Hendon for the Metropolitan police on the course due to commence on 13 March. [115495]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that the information requested is 65.

  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the maximum number of police officer recruits that can be trained at Hendon for the Metropolitan police(a) on each course and (b) during a year. [115494]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that the Recruit Training School at Hendon can normally train a maximum of 190 recruits on each course. There are 10 intakes per year, giving an annual provision for 1,900 recruits. This capacity could be increased, exceptionally, to meet additional demand.

  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the anticipated start dates of police officer recruit courses for the Metropolitan police during 2000 as at 1 January 2000. [115493]
  462W
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that the information requested is: 4 January; 7 February; 13 March; 17 April; 22 May; 26 June; 31 July; 4 September; 9 October; 13 November and 18 December.

  Football Offences and Disorders Act
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been(a) charged with and (b) convicted of an offence under the Football Offences and Disorders Act 1999 since it came into force. [115381]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Information on the number of people charged by offence is not collected centrally.

  The Football Offences and Disorders Act 1999 came into force on 27 September 1999. Provisional court proceedings data for the fourth quarter of 1999 will become available in June and provisional data for subsequent quarters at three monthly intervals thereafter.

  Tobacco Products
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences have been recorded in respect of(a) confectioners and tobacconists and (b) other retailers of the sale of tobacco products to those aged under 16 in each of the last five years; how many police cautions have been issued; and what has been the average fine levied. [115141]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The offence of selling tobacco to persons under the age of 16 is a summary offence and does not form part of the recorded crime series.

  Available data taken from the Home Office Cautions and Court Proceedings Databases are given in the table. We do not hold the type of retailer for this offence because information is not recorded on the characteristics of all cases held on the database apart from those that are evident from the description of the offence with which the defendant has been charged.

  Number of offenders cautioned, defendants presecuted and convicted and average fine given for offences relating to the sale of tobacco to persons aged under 161, England and Wales, 1994–98

  Year

  Total cautioned

  Total prosecuted

  Total convicted

  Average fine (£)

  1994

  13

  108

  83

  228

  1995

  8

  173

  142

  230

  1996

  1

  140

  119

  226

  1997

  5

  138

  119

  242

  1998

  —

  173

  135

  225

  1 Offences under Section 7 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1993 as amended by Section 1 of the Children and Young Persons (Protection from Tobacco) Act 1991.

  Infanticide
  Ms Moran
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the(a) parliamentary constituency of residence, (b) age, (c) date, (d) location and (e) manner of death of each child who was killed (i) during child contact visits with parents with a history of domestic violence and (ii) in cases of disputed contact in instances of domestic violence by parents since January 1995; [113950]
  463W
  (2) how many children have been killed in England and Wales since 1 January 1995 during child contact visits with parents who had a history of domestic violence. [113949]

  Mr. Boateng
  Just over 50 children a year in England and Wales are killed by their parents, but those killed during contact visits and in cases of disputed contact cannot be separately identified in the statistics collected centrally.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the Government plan to spend from his Department's budget on asylum seekers in 1999–2000 and 2000–01. [115512]

  Mrs. Roche
  Responsibility for the budget for supporting asylum seekers transferred to the Home Office from April 1999. It is anticipated that the total cost of operating the Immigration and Nationality Directorate and supporting asylum seekers for the financial year 1999–2000 will be in the region of around £800 million.

  The Home Office has a provisional allocation of £300 million for supporting asylum seekers in 2000–01. Estimating support costs for 2000–01 is subject to a large number of variables such as the level of new applications, the speed of processing claims and the resources directed at processing cases and other work. Those estimates and the overall resourcing of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate are currently under review.

  Illegal Diesel Fuel (Prosecutions)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have taken place in the last 12 months relating to the use of illegal diesel fuel. [114520]

  Mr. Timms
  I have been asked to reply.

  In the financial year to date 11 prosecutions have taken place which relate to the smuggling of diesel fuel with a further 14 cases awaiting trial.

  Customs and Excise also prosecute cases arising from the misuse of rebated oils but I regret that figure is not readily available.

  Ballot Procedures
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy on regulations appertaining to(a) trade union and (b) other organisations' ballot procedures which for public policy reasons were laid down by Parliament. [114995]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  I have been asked to reply.

  So far as trade unions are concerned, when conducting ballots they must comply with the relevant legal requirements set out in the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 as amended (including
  464W
  by the Employment Relations Act 1999). My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will shortly be commencing provisions of the 1999 Act which provide for balloting in connection with union recognition and derecognition. He has no plans for further changes to the law governing trade union balloting procedures.

  As to "balloting" by other organisations, my Department published last year a consultative document setting out the Government's proposals for strengthening the current regulatory and best practice frameworks governing the level of company directors' remuneration. The document expressed the Government's concern that many listed companies have failed to respond adequately to the current best practice provisions on transparency, linkage to performance and accountability to shareholders and canvassed views on a number of options, including some involving additional shareholder voting requirements. The Government expect to announce the outcome of their consultation shortly.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Westminster Hall (Costs)
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the President of the Council what estimate she has made of the running costs of sittings in Westminster Hall; and if she will make a statement. [114094]

  Mrs. Beckett
  I understand that no readily available separately identifiable costs arise from the use of permanent staff of the House, but that certain extra running costs for security, for printing the Official Report and for the provision of sound services for the extra debate and scrutiny Westminster Hall provides will amount to approximately £155,000 in a full year.

  Legislation (Environmental Impact)
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the President of the Council how many bills published since the Queen's Speech were accompanied by a statement of their implications for the environment; and what proportion this represents of the total number of Bills published in the current session. [114703]

  Mrs. Beckett
  There is no formal requirement on Departments to either produce or publish full environmental appraisals. However, environmental appraisals have been published alongside two Government Bills this session, representing 5.5 per cent. of the number of Government Bills published in the current Session, including the Financial Services and Markets Bill which was published last Session but carried over to complete its passage in this.

  The assessment of the environmental impacts of draft legislation should be integral to the broader appraisal of policy that takes place but may not be set out in a separate statement.

  Environmental appraisals are part of the overall policy appraisal process and are therefore carried out alongside, for example, regulatory impact appraisals and health impact assessments where necessary.

  Iraq: Sanctions Exemptions
  Iraq: Sanctions Exemptions
  Discrimination Against Women: Optional Protocol to UN Convention
  Discrimination Against Women: Optional Protocol to UN Convention
  Belgium: British Missions and the Union Flag
  Belgium: British Missions and the Union Flag
  UNHCR: Financial Management
  UNHCR: Financial Management
  Mozambique: Disaster Response
  Mozambique: Disaster Response
  Humanitarian Emergencies: Advance Information
  Humanitarian Emergencies: Advance Information
  Sudan
  Sudan
  Disaster Response
  Disaster Response
  Imports from US: Duty
  Imports from US: Duty
  Consolidated Fund Bill
  Consolidated Fund Bill
  Chinese President: Policing Arrangements for State Visit
  Chinese President: Policing Arrangements for State Visit
  International Law Enforcement Telecommunications Seminar
  International Law Enforcement Telecommunications Seminar
  Representation of the People Bill: Compatibility with Human Rights Convention
  Representation of the People Bill: Compatibility with Human Rights Convention
  Human Rights Convention: Compatibility of Legislation
  Human Rights Convention: Compatibility of Legislation
  Refugees: Integration in Britain
  Refugees: Integration in Britain
  Bi-centenary of Act of Union between Great Britain and Ireland
  Bi-centenary of Act of Union between Great Britain and Ireland
  Public Sector Ombudsmen Review
  Public Sector Ombudsmen Review
  Electoral Reform Ballot Services
  Electoral Reform Ballot Services
  Black and Ethnic Minority Detained Patients
  Black and Ethnic Minority Detained Patients
  Mental Health Services: Funding Allocation
  Mental Health Services: Funding Allocation
  St John's Wort
  St John's Wort
  Smoking and Food Preparation and Consumption
  Smoking and Food Preparation and Consumption
  NHS Dentistry
  NHS Dentistry
  Teachers: Stress-related Disorders
  Teachers: Stress-related Disorders
  Government-owned Vacant Housing Stock
  Government-owned Vacant Housing Stock
  Termite Infestation at Saunton
  Termite Infestation at Saunton
  GM Food
  GM Food
  Badger Culling Trials
  Badger Culling Trials
  Flood Defence Emergency Response Project
  Flood Defence Emergency Response Project
  "Agriculture in the United Kingdom"
  "Agriculture in the United Kingdom"