Written Answers of 21 March 2000

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  M25
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much compensation has been paid and is expected to be paid to householders following the widening of the M25 between junctions 8 and 9. [112543]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 2 March 2000]: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Peter Nutt to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Nutt to Mr. Crispin Blunt, dated 21 March 2000:
  The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has asked me to reply to your question about the compensation levels paid and expected to be paid following widening of the M25 between junctions 8 and 9.
  Compensation under part 1 of the Land Compensation Act 1973 is awarded for the effects of the full M25 8–10 widening scheme, which include the provision of road lighting. The estimate of £20M provided last week in reply to your Parliamentary Question 111815 relates to the full 8 – 10 scheme and we do not hold detailed information in the form you require.
  We are however, able to give an indication only as to the levels of compensation already paid to residents living between junctions 8 and 9. This is in the region of £7.052M paid to around 680 claimants, giving an average settlement so far of some £10,300.
  Of those, around 500 claimants live near the porous asphalt section between Leatherhead and Ashtead and have received in the region of £5.9M, an average settlement of £11,508 per claim.
  The compensation still to be paid for the outstanding claims should be in the region of £5.2M. This makes an indicative total in the region of £12.25M for the 8 – 9 section.

  Liquid and Gas Spills
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many reported incidents involving liquid and gas spills caused by hose failures there have been in the United Kingdom in the last five years for which figures are available; what was the cost of cleaning up each incident and who met the cost in each case; what the estimated cost was of the(a) environmental damage and (b) property damage caused by each incident; and how many people sustained injuries in each incident. [114220]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 13 March 2000]: Incidents involving liquid and gas spills are reported to HSE under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995. From April 1996 to date (a period of just under four years), there were 69 incidents defined as "Dangerous occurrences" and "chemical transfer" (including transfer by hose, pipeline or vehicles). Dangerous occurrences include the release of 100kg or more of flammable liquid, or 10kg of a
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  flammable gas or vapour. Information that would allow us to ascertain how many were caused by hose failures and the number of people sustaining injuries is not always recorded or readily available in all cases.

  Mundic (Housing)
  Ms Atherton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the incidence of Mundic in housing. [115193]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  My Department has an on-going programme of research into the better understanding of the deterioration mechanism which affects housing constructed using mundic aggregate. The work is developing methods of testing and assessment to enable the maximum number of houses to be safely accepted by mortgage lenders for obtaining mortgages. Initial recommendations were made in 1994 and 1997 from which the Council of Mortgage Lenders agreed to mortgage about 80 per cent. of houses that had previously been blighted. Further recommendations covering a proportion of the remaining houses will be made in the next few months.

  Company Car Drivers
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to ensure that company car drivers pay their own insurance. [115221]

  Mr. Hill
  None. The law requires the user of a vehicle to have valid insurance cover. It does not require that he pay for it himself.

  Transport Strategy (Gloucestershire)
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about the public inquiry in Gloucestershire concerning the transport strategy for the region. [115027]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 16 March 2000]: The Public Examination of the draft revised Regional Planning Guidance for the South West prepared by the South West Regional Planning Conference, is currently taking place in Exeter. The draft Guidance includes a draft Regional Transport Strategy, which will be examined on 30 and 31 March. The final version of the Guidance including the Regional Transport Strategy, will be issued by the Secretary of State next winter in the light of the advice of the Panel for the Public Examination and following consultation on any significant changes.

  Carbon Monoxide Detectors
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what investigation he has carried out into the use of carbon monoxide detectors in homes; and if he will make a statement. [115028]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 16 March 2000]: My Department, with the Health and Safety Executive and the Department of Trade and Industry commissioned the Building Research Establishment to investigate the optimal siting of electrical carbon monoxide (CO) detectors/alarms in domestic premises. The summary report of this work entitled "Evaluation of carbon

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  monoxide detectors in domestic premises" was published in 1999 by HSE. In partnership with some members of the gas industry we are also currently supporting further research work by BG Technology on the sensitivity and long term reliability of electrical carbon monoxide detectors.

  The role of these detectors/alarms is being addressed in the HSE' s fundamental review of the health and safety regime for the installation and use of gas. Currently responses to a discussion document are being evaluated and Ministers should receive a report this Summer.

  My Department's view is that carbon monoxide detectors/alarms have a role to play in reducing risks from carbon monoxide but the need to properly maintain combustion appliances is paramount.

  PPG17 (Sport and Recreation)
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to issue for consultation a revised draft Planning Policy Guidance Note 17 (Sport and Recreation). [115376]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I hope to publish a consultation draft soon.

  London Underground
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much London Transport has spent on external consultants to date in relation to the public-private partnership for London Underground, stating both(a) actual and (b) budgeted costs. [115420]

  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, column 525W. I will provide an up-dated figure in due course, in line with the commitment we have given to the House.

  Local Government Bill
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the transparency of the decision-making process of those authorities which have experimented with the cabinet-style arrangements envisaged by the Local Government Bill [Lords]. [115491]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  We have made no general assessment of experimental arrangements. However, any such experiments have been carried out within the existing statutory framework which was not designed to deliver the transparency of decision-making which will be put in place by our proposals in the Local Government Bill.

  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he will take to ensure transparency in the decision-making process of the cabinet-style arrangements envisaged by the Local Government Bill [Lords]. [115489]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The arrangements we are proposing in Part II of the Local Government Bill 468W
  and draft guidance are designed to ensure transparent and inclusive decision-making. These new arrangements involve:
  an inclusive process of formulating a council's policy framework and budget, which will be the responsibility of the full council in public;
  publicly known individuals—the executive—being personally responsible for implementing this framework and budget;
  accurate recording of decisions and their reasons, and timely publication of these and of the background and factual papers available to the decision-maker(s); and
  powerful overview and scrutiny committees, meeting in public:
  to discuss and make recommendations on the development of policies; and
  to hold each executive member to account for what he or she has done and is planning to do.

  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the responses to the Consultative Draft Guidance and Regulations with respect to the Local Government Bill [Lords]. [115490]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  We have received very many helpful and constructive responses to the consultative draft guidance and regulations on new constitutions for councils. We are currently analysing these responses in detail and will consider them all carefully when revising the drafts for further consultation.

  Climate Change Levy
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many meetings his officials have had with European Commission officials on the climate change levy. [115264]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 17 March 2000]: Recognising the crucial importance of state aids guidelines for our climate change levy policy, my Department's officials have met five times since September with the European Commission to discuss the climate change levy. They will continue to have further meetings to take forward our notification of the arrangements proposed for the levy.

  Westminster Station
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will call for a report from London Underground as to why lifts are not operating, walls are unfinished and netted off, and considerable areas have been left unsightly, untidy and strewn with garbage at Westminster underground station. [115136]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 17 March 2000]: I understand from the London Underground that three of the five lifts at Westminster station are in service. The work required, and safe methods for carrying it out, on the remaining two are under discussion with contractors and HM Railways Inspectorate. The walls of the station are finished to the approved architectural design. The netting is to catch any foreign objects, which might be thrown by passengers. The Bridge Street underpass is currently cordoned off by contractors to allow for the permanent lighting to be installed; this may look untidy until the work is completed.

  Hedges
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will announce the results of the consultation on the Government's proposals for the control of hedges; how many letters of support he has received from individuals and organisations with regard to each of the four options outlined in his proposals; which option gained the most support; which option he will seek to implement; and what his timescale is for putting forward his proposals. [115242]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 20 March 2000]: The deadline for responses to the consultation paper "High hedges: possible solutions" was 31 January. We are currently analysing the thousands of replies that we have received, and so are not yet in a position to provide the information requested. We will be taking account of all comments in considering the best way forward on this issue. We will announce the results of consultation, and our conclusions, when that consideration has been completed.

  London Mayoral Election
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 14 March 2000,Official Report, column 120W, on what date the Greater London Returning Officer made (a) a provisional and (b) a firm order for the necessary paper for the Greater London mayoral elections booklet. [115510]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 20 March 2000]: A provisional order for the printing of this booklet, including the paper, was placed on 2 March. A firm order was placed by the Department on 7 March.

  Ms Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what briefing from him is available for prospective mayoral candidates for the Greater London Authority election. [116033]

  Mr. Hill
  Briefings for prospective Mayoral candidates on organisational and administrative matters are available on request to the Greater London Authority Transition Team.

  Rail Services
  Kali Mountford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what provision he is making for the cost of rail services secured by English passenger transport executives in 2000–01. [116034]

  Mr. Hill
  A special grant report has been laid before the House today for the payment of Metropolitan Railway Passenger Services Grant in 2000–01 to English Passenger Transport Authorities (PTAs). The main purpose of the grant is to provide support to those PTAs for the local rail services provided by franchise operators and secured by the PTAs' Passenger Transport Executives under the terms of franchise agreements with franchisees and the Director of Passenger Rail Franchising.

  Partnership Investment Programme
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he 470W
  has to seek an amendment to the Treaty of Rome to allow the continuation of the gap funding mechanism of the Partnership Investment Programme; and if he will make a statement. [115504]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  We are working with the European Commission to try to identify a means of continuing to work in partnership with the private sector to regenerate derelict sites and buildings, within the existing Treaty rules. Ministers have recently held discussions with Commissioner Monti on the problems we face since the Commission ruled that the Partnership Investment Programme (PIP) breached the State aid rules. These discussions are continuing at official level.

  Sewerage Agency Payments
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to the letter to him from the hon. Member for Shrewsbury and Atcham dated 18 February on sewerage agency agreements, if he will ensure that regulations are introduced to preserve local authority employees' pension entitlements; and if he will make a statement. [115730]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Under the provisions of the Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations 1997, local authority employees who are members may already preserve their pension entitlements, indexed in line with inflation, on leaving. Alternatively, the regulations also allow for suitable actuarial transfers to be arranged to provide an equitable service award in any new scheme.

  The extent to which employees in local authorities work on the delivery of privatised water company services through agency agreements, and the availability of alternative broadly comparable pension arrangements to those employed under them, is currently being established with the co-operation of the United Kingdom Steering Committee on local government pensions. The results of that survey will be considered carefully.

  Commission for Integrated Transport
  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will give an itemised breakdown of the £1,550,000 budget of the Commission for Integrated Transport in 1999–2000. [115635]

  Mr. Hill
  The Commission for Integrated Transport's provisional budget for 1999–2000 had to be allocated well before its launch. A sum of £1.5 million was originally allocated from within DETR's programme budget for this purpose.

  Because CfIT was not launched until July 1999, however, it will spend much less than the £1.5 million figure. Its projected spend to the end of this financial year is £269,000.

  £

  Projected spend to end of March 2000

  Salaries

  90,000

  Consultancy

  125,000

  Travel and Subsistence

  24,000

  Hospitality

  5,000

  Publicity

  25,000

  Total

  269,000

  Local Government Finance
  Jean Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on progress with the review of local government finance. [115998]

  Ms Armstrong
  Joint reports prepared by central and local government officials on the revenue grant distribution and capital finance reviews will be discussed at the next meeting of Central Local Partnership on 22 March. Copies of these reports will be available from the House of Commons Library and the DETR and LGA websites after the meeting.

  Decisions about the merits of the various options for reform will not be taken until we have consulted widely this summer.

  Railway Yards (Handheld Radios)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make the issuing of licences for the use of handheld radios on railway yards site-specific. [114514]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have been asked to reply.

  The issue of licences for railway operational purposes requires that hand radios are listed in the licence, according the site where they will be used.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  EU Trade Agreements
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the European Community takes when, in respect of existing trade agreements with other countries, there ceases to be an agreed definition and interpretation of their territorial scope of applicability. [115314]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Community continues to apply agreements while they remain in force.

  MedicAlert
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what safeguards he will put into place to ensure that(a) charities and (b) MedicAlert will not be faced with a third change to telephone numbers and consequent expenses; and if he will make a statement. [115120]

  Ms Hewitt
  Numbering is a matter for the Office of Telecommunications (Oftel). The current change to London telephone numbers is the result of Oftel's wide 1996 consultation of consumers, businesses and other organisations. The new scheme ensures that there is now a large amount of additional capacity to meet new demand (for example London will now have 80 million numbers behind the 020 code). The extra capacity created is far in excess of forecast demand and will last for the foreseeable future. However, it is impossible to predict all the new services which technological change and market developments may bring into being this century. It is therefore not possible for Oftel to be certain that it will never need to change the scheme further, or that charities, including MedicAlert, will never be faced with such a472W
  change again. Oftel has ensured the current change has been widely publicised in advance to allow organisations to plan for it.

  British Astronauts
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on when he expects the next British astronaut to take part in a space mission. [115192]

  Ms Hewitt
  Following wide consultation with industry and the science sector, the Government concluded that the provision of an astronaut did not best meet our space priorities of commercial exploitation and good space science. Within the inevitably limited funds we have available, we must prioritise in the best interests of the British space science community and industry. A British astronaut is not therefore anticipated in the near future. It is still possible, however, for British nationals to apply for overseas astronaut training schemes.

  Israel (EU Agreements)
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, prior to the conclusion of an internationally-recognised final settlement between Israel and its Palestinian and Syrian neighbours, the Commission has authority to conclude and implement agreements on behalf of the European Community without the consent of member states that would allow the benefits of trade preferences to accrue to Israeli settlements and enterprises established in the territories occupied by Israel since 1967. [115315]

  Mr. Caborn
  No.

  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if Israel and the European Community established a single specific definition and interpretation of the territorial scope of their agreements' applicability prior to concluding them. [115313]

  Mr. Caborn
  No.

  Utilities Bill
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 10 March 2000,Official Report, column 839W, what consultations, on what dates, he held with consumer groups concerning the decision to remove the provisions concerning telecommunications and water industries from the Utilities Bill; on what date or dates he received representations from the National Consumer Council and the Consumers Association; and if he will make a statement. [115383]

  Dr. Howells
  There were no consultations. Representations were received from the National Consumer Council on 1 March and from the Consumers Association on 29 February.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Family Credit (Southwark)
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the average payment per week of
  473W
  (a) Family Credit and (b) child care allowance via Family Credit in Southwark in the last year of Family Credit. [114839]

  Angela Eagle
  It is not possible to provide a reliable estimate of the average Family Credit award at a local authority level. However, for Great Britain as a whole, the average amount of Family Credit received was £62.05 at August 1999 and, for the London Government Office Region, the average amount of Family Credit received at August 1999 was £66.16.

  Within Family Credit, eligible child care is treated as a disregard and can be offset against earnings when Family Credit is calculated. Due to the relatively small numbers, it is not possible to provide a reliable estimate of the amount of child care disregard either by local authority or by region. However, for Great Britain as a whole, the average amount that recipients benefited from the child care disregard was £22.04 at August 1999.

  Notes:

  1. Average weekly payment figures are based on an average of four quarters of November 1998 to August 1999.

  2. Numbers are based on a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling error.

  3. Family Credit was replaced by Working Families Tax Credit in October 1999.

  4. The amount of Family Credit quoted represents the average amount for all Family Credit recipients—including those with the child care disregard.

  Source:

  Family Credit 5 per cent. sample of awards.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in Southwark were in receipt of(a) family credit and (b) the child care allowance in each of the last five years. [114835]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is in the tables.

  Number of Family Credit recipients in Southwark local authority area, August 1995–99

  Thousand

  Year

  Family Credit recipients

  August

  1995

  1.6

  1996

  2.0

  1997

  2.1

  1998

  2.5

  1999

  2.6

  Notes:

  1. Caseload figures are taken at a point in time for which the month is August.

  2. Sample size is 5 per cent. As the numbers are based on a relatively small number of sample cases the estimates are subject to a high degree of sampling error i.e. for an estimate of 2,000 the true value will lie somewhere in the range 1,628 to 2,382.

  3. Family Credit was replaced by Working Families Tax Credit in October 1999.

  4. Local authorities are assigned by matching the postcode against the 1999 version 1 of the postcode directory.

  5. Numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred and expressed in thousands.

  Source:

  Family Credit 5 per cent. sample of awards
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  Family Credit recipients benefiting from the child care disregard, London Government Office Region August 1995–99

  Thousand

  Year

  August

  1995

  2.0

  1996

  2.7

  1997

  3.1

  1998

  3.7

  1999

  4.8

  Notes:

  1. Caseload figures are taken at a point in time for which the month is August.

  2. Numbers are based on a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling error.

  3. Family Credit was replaced by Working Families Tax Credit in October 1999.

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

  Minimum Income Guarantee
  Mr. Stevenson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners in(a) Stoke on Trent, South parliamentary constituency and (b) the City of Stoke on Trent are in receipt of the minimum income guarantee. [115081]

  Mr. Rooker
  The information is in the table.

  Income Support pensioners aged 60 and over, by parliamentary constituency/local authority: November 1999

  Thousand

  Area

  Pernsioners aged 60 and over

  Stoke on Trent, South parliamentary constituency

  2.9

  Stoke on Trent local authority

  8.3

  Notes:

  1. Samples size 5 per cent., therefore subject to sampling error.

  2. Pensioners are defined as benefit units where either the claimant and/or their partner is aged 60 years or over.

  3. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred and quoted in thousands.

  Source:

  Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, November 1999

  Severely Disabled Children
  Mr. Ennis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimates he has made of the number of severely disabled children aged three and four years who will benefit from the provisions of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 in(a) Barnsley and (b) Doncaster. [115199]

  Angela Eagle
  This information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.

  In 2001–02, we estimate that approximately 7,000 severely disabled children aged three or four in Great Britain will become entitled to the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA). If the proportion of gainers in the areas requested were in line with the proportion of all DLA higher rate mobility recipients in these areas, about 60 children would qualify in both Barnsley and Doncaster.

  Single Pensioner Income
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on what basis he has calculated the net average income of single pensioners at £132 per week. [115115]

  Mr. Rooker
  The £132 per week figure refers to mean incomes of single pensioners from all sources, after tax payments and before housing costs have been deducted. The figure quoted is for the financial year 1997–98 and is expressed in July 1997 prices.

  The figure is taken from "The Pensioners' Incomes Series 1997/8" (PI) which is based on data from the Family Resources Survey (FRS). The PI series looks at cash incomes directly received by pensioners in Great Britain. The FRS does not collect information on people living in institutions, such as prisons or nursing homes, therefore the PI series does not cover these people.

  Family Credit (Norwich)
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the average payment per week of(a) Family Credit and (b) child care allowance via Family Credit in Norwich in the last year of Family Credit. [115099]

  Angela Eagle
  It is not possible to provide a reliable estimate of the average Family Credit award at a local authority level. However, for Great Britain as a whole, the average amount of Family Credit received was £62.05 at August 1999 and for the East Government Office Region the average amount of Family Credit received at August 1999 was £61.29.

  Within Family Credit, eligible child care is treated as disregard and can be offset against earnings when Family Credit is calculated. Due to the relatively small numbers, it is not possible to provide a reliable estimate of the amount of child care disregard either by local authority or by region. However, for Great Britain as a whole, the average amount that recipients benefited from the child care disregard was £22.04 at August 1999.

  Notes:

  1. Average weekly payment figures are based on an average of four quarters of November 1998 to August 1999.

  2. Numbers are based on a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling error.

  3. Family Credit was replaced by Working Families Tax Credit in October 1999.

  4. The amount of Family Credit quoted represents the average amount for all Family Credit recipients—including those with the child care disregard.

  Source:

  Family Credit 5 per cent. sample of awards.

  Government Pensions Liability
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the Government's liability is for(a) the basic state pension, (b) SERPS and (c) state second pension in (a) 2000, (b) 2005, (c) 2010, (d) 2015, (e) 2020, (f) 2030, (g) 2040 and (h) 2050 at current real values. [115102]

  Mr. Rooker
  The information is in the table.476W

  Estimated future liability for basic state pension, state earnings-related pension (SERPS) and state second pension— 1999–00 prices

  £ billion

  Year

  BSP

  SERPS

  State second pension

  Total

  2001–01

  33.7

  4.9

  0.0

  38.6

  2005–06

  34.8

  7.0

  0.1

  41.9

  2010–11

  37.5

  8.6

  0.9

  46.9

  2015–16

  39.1

  9.4

  1.9

  50.4

  2020–21

  40.4

  9.7

  3.1

  53.1

  2030–31

  48.7

  9.5

  7.7

  65.8

  2040–41

  52.2

  6.9

  12.9

  72.0

  2050–51

  50.5

  3.6

  19.0

  73.1

  Notes:

  1. The figures have been calculated based on the following assumptions:

  SERPS expenditure is based on the assumption that State Second Pension is introduced from 2002 and so any SERPS expenditure after that date is on earlier accruals.

  SERPS expenditure does not include the effects of the Inherited SERPS scheme and accompanying deferral announced on 15 March 2000.

  State Second Pension expenditure assumes the scheme becomes flat rate from 2006 onwards.

  From 2006 everyone aged under 40 and earning over £9,500 (in 1999 earnings terms) chooses to contract out of State Second Pension. Contracting out is based on the proposals contained in the current Bill.

  2. Increases in contracted out rebates as a result of introducing State Second Pension and Stakeholder pensions are not included in the table.

  3. The figures are consistent with those in the Government Actuary Department's report on the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Bill 1999.

  4. As the costs are based on long-term estimates and assumptions the figures given for early years, particularly 2000–01, are very broad brush estimates and are subject to uncertainty.

  5. The figures are shown rounded to the nearest £0.1 billion and may not sum to totals due to rounding.

  Source:

  Government Actuaries Department

  Computers
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of automated systems for cross-checking the consistency of data between different departmental computer systems as a means of reducing fraud and error. [115367]

  Mr. Rooker
  A continuous programme of data matching activities has taken place since 1995. Results confirm matching data from a number of sources across the Department is an effective tool in identifying losses to programme expenditure caused by fraud and error.

  Between April 1998 and March 1999, cross checking data held on departmental computer systems resulted in 139,292 referrals for further investigation, 63 per cent. of which were found to be incorrect, resulting in savings estimated at £114.8 million.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, Central will receive a reply from the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency to his request for details
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  of the implications of the outcome of the Lawrence inquiry for the recruitment and career development procedures of the Benefits Agency. [115503]

  Angela Eagle
  A reply was issued to my hon. Friend on 17 March 2000.

  Mortgages
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 8 March 2000,Official Report, columns 731–32W, what notification of interest changes he has received from the Office for National Statistics since 11 May 1999. [114821]

  Angela Eagle
  The information is in the table.

  Percentage

  Date of notification from Office for National Statistics

  Average interest rate notified

  11 May 1999

  6.66

  9 June 1999

  6.65

  7 July 1999

  6.65

  12 August 1999

  6.60

  7 September 1999

  6.59

  29 October 1999

  6.58

  9 November 1999

  6.62

  8 December 1999

  6.67

  12 January 2000

  6.88

  8 February 2000

  6.88

  8 March 2000

  6.92

  Note:

  Information extracted from table 7.1L Building Societies: interest rates

  Source:

  Building Societies Commission; Bank of England

  Inherited SERPS Entitlement
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost of exempting all persons who have reached pension age by April 2000 from the proposed 50 per cent. cut in inherited SERPS entitlement, on a basis consistent with his estimate of a cost of £2,500 million for his proposed deferral of the cut until October 2002, assuming that this policy was implemented in place of his proposals announced on 15 March. [115528]

  Mr. Rooker
  The estimated cost is £7,100 million.

  Notes:

  1. The cost has been estimated by the Government Actuary's Department (GAD).

  2. The cost is expressed as the net present value of the annual figures from 2000–01 to 2050–51 in 1999–00 prices, discounted at an annual real rate at 6 per cent.

  3. It has been prepared on a basis which is consistent with the latest GAD Quinquennial Review.

  Disability-related Living Costs
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to carry out research into calculating disability-related living costs in a manner which allows them to be taken into account when deciding local authority service charges. [114715]

  Mr. Hutton
  Our White Paper "Modernising Social Services" recognised that the scale of variation in discretionary charges is unacceptable. The Audit 478W
  Commission is preparing a report on home care charges and we shall take this into account when considering how to address these variations.

PRIME MINISTER

  Korean War (50th Anniversary)
  Mr. Walter
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans the Government have to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Korean War. [115037]

  The Prime Minister
  The United Kingdom will be represented at the Opening Ceremony of the Commemoration Programme taking place on 25 June in the Republic of Korea, to recognise the 50th Anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War. The ceremony will be held at the Korean War Cemetery, Seoul. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence will attend. Contingents of veterans are being invited.

  A comprehensive series of commemorative events are planned over the next three years in the Republic of Korea. The United Kingdom will be represented at a number of these events at an appropriate level.

  Synchrotron
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister what factors led him to decide that the new synchrotron should be built at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire. [115138]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 17 March 2000]: The Government's position is that the scientific case was marginally in favour of Rutherford and site issues were neutral.

  Both partners expressed the view that they favoured the Rutherford site. The French Education Ministry stated publicly that
  This site was strongly supported by the French partners in the project and we are delighted with this choice.

  The Wellcome Trust stated that they would withdraw from the partnership if the decision was taken to locate the project at Daresbury.

  Chechnya
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his recent meetings with Acting President Putin; and what assistance he agreed to provide in Chechnya. [115604]

  The Prime Minister
  I had useful and constructive meetings with Acting President Putin in St. Petersburg on 11 March which focused on Chechnya and the Russian economy. I made clear that the Russian response to events in Chechnya had to be proportionate and strongly urged that independent international observers be given access to assess whether human rights violations had taken place. I stressed the urgent need for a political process to begin in Chechnya. Mr. Putin assured me that Russia would permit access by the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, Mary Robinson, and by international bodies such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
  479W
  I also discussed with Mr. Putin prospects for the Russian economy and British investment in it. I made clear the need to improve conditions for investors. Mr. Putin stressed his intention to develop a liberal market economy.

  The United Kingdom has already provided £1.4 million for humanitarian assistance to IRC/UN appeals for Chechnya. We have also donated through the EU which has provided 3.3 million euros. The UN launched a further appeal for Chechnya on 15 March and we are giving urgent consideration to a further UK donation.

  Iraq
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will meet Mr. Hans von Sponeck, on his return from Baghdad to discuss(a) sanctions against Iraq, (b) water problems and (c) the effects on the children of Iraq of trauma in relation to bombing. [115633]

  The Prime Minister
  I had detailed discussions about Iraq with the UN Secretary General when he visited London earlier this month. I see no need to discuss this further with Mr. von Sponeck.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Websites
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the expenditure incurred by his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies on(a) the setting up and (b) the operation of websites, indicating the cases in which the expenditure has been above that budgeted; and if he will list for each website (i) the topics which have been covered, (ii) the current average number of hits per month and (iii) the estimated expenditure on each website for each of the next three years. [115393]

  Mr. Hain
  The FCO has four websites:

  (a) The main FCO website (www.fco.gov.uk) covers all aspects of the UK's external relations, including regular updates on current developments, travel, consular and trade matters, as well as providing material on British domestic policy for overseas audiences. Relaunched in 1998 it receives c. 1.5–2 million hits per month.

  (b) The 'Planet Britain 2000' (www.planet-britain.org) website and accompanying CD-ROM is a wide-ranging site aimed at a youth audience overseas. It carries a wealth of information about British education, culture, music, sport, technology and fashion. It receives 350,000 hits per month.

  (c) 'Information From Britain' (ww.informationfrombritain.com) is Whitehall's first e-commerce site, allowing customers worldwide to order and pay electronically for Foreign Office publications. It was set up in 1998 and receives c. 40,000 hits per month.

  (d) The FCO's Human Rights Project Fund database is published on the Human Rights in Foreign Policy site (hrpd.fco.gov.uk) which receives about 16,000 hits per month.

  The set up costs of the above sites were:

  (a) £55,225

  (b) £100,000

  (c) £96,000

  (d) £18,000.

  480W
  All contracts were awarded by competitive tender. Expected running costs over the next three years are the staff costs for the FCO's three Internet editors and ancillary staff, amounting to under £130,000 p.a.

  The FCO main website has won six major international awards in the last two years.

  Atomic Energy Counsellor (Tokyo)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to appoint an experienced member of an appropriate non-Governmental organisation as atomic energy counsellor to the British Embassy in Tokyo. [115357]

  Mr. Hain
  None.

  Kosovo
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many mass grave sites have been identified in Kosovo; and how many of these have been investigated in detail. [115335]

  Mr. Hain
  The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) have said that there are in excess of 500 reported grave sites. ICTY have already investigated 195 sites which yielded over 2,000 bodies. Further investigations will begin again shortly with the spring thaw.

  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his estimate of the number of Kosovar Albanians killed by Serb police and armed forces in Kosovo between June 1998 and June 1999. [115334]

  Mr. Vaz
  Our estimate for the number of Kosovar Albanian civilians killed in Kosovo between June 1998 and June 1999 is at least 10,000.

  Iran
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations have been made to the Iranian Government on the sentences on(a) Mr. Zabihullah Mahrami, (b) Mr. Musa Talibi, (c) Mr. Ataollah Hamid Nasirizadeh, (d) Mr. Zabihi-Moquaddan, (e) Mr. Kashefi-Najafabadi and (f) Mr. Manuchehro Khulusi. [115605]

  Mr. Hain
  We and our EU partners regularly raise with the Iranian authorities our concerns over their treatment of the Baha'i religious minority, particularly cases where the death sentence is involved. Most recently I raised the cases of Mr. Zabihi-Moquaddam, Mr. Kashefi-Najafabadi and Mr. Khulusi with Deputy Foreign Minister Sarmadi during a meeting on 7 March.

  Millennium Forum
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide assistance to NGOs from less developed countries to enable them to participate in the Millennium Civil Society Forum in May. [115146]

  Mr. Hain
  To be truly representative, the Millennium Forum needs to secure the participation of civil society groups from developed and developing countries. The
  481W
  Government have therefore in principle offered financial assistance to the Forum to help fund the attendance of civil society representatives from less developed countries.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Speed Cameras
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many motorists were convicted of speeding in the Greater London area as result of the use of speed cameras during 1999. [114992]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Figures relating to convictions for speeding following the use of speed cameras are not available.

  However, there were 8,297 prosecutions taken and 15,323 fixed penalty notices issued for speeding offences as a result of the use of speed cameras in the area covered by the Metropolitan Police in 1997, the latest year for which figures are available. There were none in the City of London.

  Metropolitan Police
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the recruitment target is for the Metropolitan Police for the current year. [115033]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for North-East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald) on 13 March 2000,Official Report, columns 91–92W.

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of entrants to the Metropolitan Police Service on intake start date 13 March. [115758]

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

  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many investigations were carried out between 1 April 1998 and 31 March 1999 by the South West Area Major Investigation Pool of the Metropolitan Police; how many of those investigations concerned one or more deaths; how many officers worked in the pool; and what was the total sum available to the pool in that period for overtime payments. [115728]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has informed me that between 1 April 1998 and 31 March 1999 the South West Area Major Investigation Pool undertook 37 investigations. The number of investigations involving one or more deaths was 31. There were approximately 95 police officers employed by the Pool over the year. The actual cost of overtime worked by police and civil staff was £525,756.

  Ms Perham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the rate of absenteeism of Metropolitan police officers for each of the years 1990 to 1999. [115223]
  482W
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that records are kept of sickness absences. Figures before 1994–95 are not readily available. Details over the last five financial years are shown in the table:

  Working days lost

  1994–95

  369,140

  1995–96

  375,829

  1996–97

  386,001

  1997–98

  395,395

  1998–99

  289,789

  Ms Perham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Metropolitan police officers were serving in specialist units for each of the years from 1990 to 1999. [115224]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that the numbers of officers other than recruits in training, or in units other than Boroughs and Holding Branch, since 1990 are given in the table:

  Metropolitan police officers employed in some form of specialism

  December 1990

  7,825.00

  December 1991

  8,151.00

  December 1992

  8,551.18

  December 1993

  7,882.35

  December 1994

  7,550.39

  December 1995

  7,654.47

  December 1996

  7,541.41

  December 1997

  7,502.65

  December 1998

  7,420.10

  December 1999

  7,670.73

  Jill Dando Murder Investigation
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the Jill Dando murder investigation has cost to date broken down into(a) salary, (b) expenses and (c) other costs; and if he will make a statement. [115238]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has informed me that, as of 16 March 2000, the salary costs of the officers employed on the Jill Dando murder investigation were approximately £1,342,000; expenses were approximately £26,000; and other costs approximately £542,000.

  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) full-time and (b) part-time police officers and (c) civilian police staff are working on the Jill Dando murder investigation. [115360]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has informed me that, as of 16 March 2000, the investigative team comprised 38 full-time police officers and seven full-time civilian staff. There are no part-time officers on the team.

  Prison Places
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of prison places required within the prison Service in England and Wales over the next five years. [114994]

  Mr. Boateng
  The estimate of the number of prison places required over the next five years is determined by the latest prison population projections, which were published on 10 February in Home Office Statistical Bulletin No. 2/00, "Projections of Long Term Trends in the Prison Population to 2007", a copy of which is available in the Library and a summary of which is available on the Home Office website http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/ index.htm. The projection provides three variants. The projected average prison population for each of the next five years for the central variant is given in the table.

  Under existing plans, the Prison Service will increase planned operational capacity from an average of 67,800 in 1998–99 to 71,400 in 2001–02—the third year of the Comprehensive Spending Review settlement. The number of places to be provided after 2001–02 will be determined as part of the next spending review.

  Prison population projections for 1999–2000 to 2004–05

  Year

  Central variant

  1999–2000

  65,300

  2000–01

  68,100

  2001–02

  70,100

  2002–03

  70,800

  2003–04

  71,300

  2004–05

  71,900

  Peat Compost
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 22 February 2000,Official Report, column 875W, 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. [115237]

  Mr. Straw
  No central records are kept of the amount or percentage of peat used on the Department's estate. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the Department's Greening Operations Policy (published in 1998) and its Procurement Manual both state that peat free composts should be used and the current estimate is that if the Home Office makes any use of peat at all this is minimal.

  Road Accident Victims
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Association of Chief Police Officers concerning the decision by the police to prevent the release of names and addresses of people injured in road accidents; and if he will make a statement. [115298]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  My officials have been in close contact with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Media Advisory Group which has been monitoring the effect and operation in practice of the ACPO guidelines "Naming of Victims or Witnesses 484W
  Involved in Crime, Road and other Incidents". ACPO is currently reviewing the application of the guidance. Initial findings are expected to emerge by Easter.

  CS Gas
  Mr. Wood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent by each police force in England and Wales, and in total, on the purchase of CS gas in the year April 1998 to March 1999. [115093]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The quantities of CS incapacitant spray purchased by police forces in England and Wales is a matter for individual Chief Constables. The amount purchased and total expenditure are not collated centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Tariff Setting
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria he uses in reaching decisions on whether to refer decisions on tariffs for prisoners to the Lord Chief Justice for determination. [115415]

  Mr. Boateng
  The statement made by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to Parliament on 13 March 2000,Official Report, columns 21–24, announced transitional tariff-setting arrangements for those sentenced to be detained during Her Majesty's pleasure. Under those arrangements, detainees whose tariffs have not expired will be invited to make representations to the Lord Chief Justice. Where they do so, he will consider them and make a recommendation to the Secretary of State who will then regard himself as bound to set fresh tariffs no higher than those recommended by the Lord Chief Justice.

  The tariff-setting arrangements for adult murderers remain unaltered. The Secretary of State will continue to set their tariffs after considering a report from the trial judge, the judicial recommendations on tariff and any representations from the prisoner on the tariff information disclosed to him.

  City Status
  Jane Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which towns with populations of less than 200,000 have been awarded city status since 1970. [115713]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  There have been four grants of city status since 1970. Of these, St. David's and Armagh. both granted city status in 1994 in recognition of their long and venerable Christian traditions, have populations of less than 200,000.

  Electoral Procedures
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what pilot schemes of innovative electoral procedures he has approved for the May local elections. [115903]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I am making orders to enable the following pilot schemes to take place at this May's local elections:

  Amber Valley—extension of entitlement to postal vote

  Blackburn with Darwen—early voting

  Blackpool—early voting

  Bolton—all postal ballot

  Broxbourne—electronic counting

  485W

  Chester—early voting

  Coventry—early voting

  Doncaster—all postal ballot

  Eastleigh—extension of entitlement to postal vote

  Gateshead—all postal ballot

  Gloucester—extension of entitlement to postal vote

  Kingston upon Hull—early voting

  Knowsley—early voting

  Leeds—extended hours of poll

  Manchester—early voting

  Milton Keynes—extension of entitlement to postal vote

  Mole Valley—extended hours of poll

  Plymouth—early voting

  Redditch—early voting

  St. Helens—early voting

  Stevenage—all postal ballot

  Stoke-on-Trent—early voting

  Sunderland—early voting and mobile voting

  Swindon—all postal ballot

  Wigan—all postal ballot

  Windsor and Maidenhead—mobile early voting facility.

  In addition, I hope to be able to make orders in relation to the following schemes very shortly:

  Bury—electronic voting and counting

  Norwich—all postal ballot, mobile polling facility and early voting

  Salford—electronic voting and counting

  Stratford—electronic voting and counting

  Three Rivers—electronic counting

  Watford—mobile polling facility, early voting, weekend voting and freepost facility.

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what powers are available to him governing the movement of monkeys from holding centres to research establishments; what documentation must be provided to allow such movements; and if he will make a statement; [115731]

  (2) what steps he is taking to establish what will happen to monkeys held at the Shamrock Farm once that establishment is closed; and if he will make a statement. [115729]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I am advised that most of the animals were pre-allocated to purchasers on arrival at Shamrock Farm. The remaining animals are in the process of being allocated now. The establishment will remain open and continue to be licensed and regularly inspected until this process has been completed and all of the animals have been removed. I understand that there will be no surplus animals.

  The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 requires both dispatching and receiving establishments in the United Kingdom to keep detailed records of the source and disposal of animals moving from one location to another. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food regulates the transportation of live animals, including primates. The Welfare of Animals (Transport)
  486W
  Order 1997, which is administered by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, requires that the animals must be fit to travel, carried in a way that does not cause injury or unnecessary suffering, and be accompanied by someone competent to look after their welfare.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many investigations were carried out in 1999 under the Animal Scientific Procedures Act 1986; how many of these revealed that a criminal offence had been committed; and if he will make a statement. [115732]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate carried out one major investigation commissioned by the Secretary of State in 1999. This was the Harlan UK investigation. My reply to my hon. Friend the Member for South Thanet (Dr. Ladyman) on 8 March 2000,Official Report, columns 661–62W, reported the outcome of that investigation.

  The Inspectorate also investigated a number of other alleged infringements of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in 1999. Most of these were self-reported. A number of these cases have yet to be completed. A report on infringements, and their outcomes, will be included in the Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals 1999 to be published in July.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letters to him dated 13 December 1999 and 13 January and 17 February with regard to Mr. M. Ahmad. [115631]

  Mrs. Roche
  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary wrote to my right hon. Friend today. I am sorry for the delay in replying.

  Senator Pinochet
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what approaches he has made to the Spanish Government regarding sharing the costs to the UK taxpayer of the legal action brought against Senator Pinochet. [114048]

  Mr. Straw
  It would not be appropriate for me to make any such approach. The European Convention on Extradition, to which Spain and the United Kingdom are both parties, requires, under Article 24 of the Convention, that:expenses incurred in the territory of the requested Party by reason of extradition shall be borne by that Party.

  Costs under the Convention are, therefore, borne on a reciprocal basis. Spain bears the costs of the extradition requests which it receives from the United Kingdom.

  Prisoners (Purposeful Activity)
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average number of hours per week spent by prisoners on purposeful activity in 1990. [115757]

  Mr. Boateng
  The average number of hours spent by prisoners in purposeful activity in the 1990–91 financial year was 22.3 hours.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Animal Feed
  Mr. David Heath
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to introduce a novel feed regulation to ensure the safety and labelling of genetically modified animal feedstuffs. [113764]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 13 March 2000]: Animal feed legislation is a harmonised area under European law, and it is not therefore possible to introduce national rules on such labelling. We are, however, pressing the EC Commission to bring forward proposals for control within this area as soon as possible. We expect these to be submitted to the Council later this year.

  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what plans the Government have to implement an authorisation process for livestock feed additives under the provisions of Regulation 13 of Article 9K of Council Directive 96/51/EC; [115246]

  (2) when he will announce the Government's proposals for the implementation of Regulation 13 of Article 9K of Council Directive 96/51 concerning additives in feedstuffs. [115245]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 20 March 2000]: The consultation on the Feeding Stuffs Regulations specifically requested comments on the proposed Regulation 13. This was in order that all the implications of a prohibition on livestock additives used outside feeds could be assessed. The Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs (ACAF) has recently recommended that non-feed uses of additives should be retained but should be subject to controls.

  We will be in a position to make a decision on this issue shortly, when we have studied all the responses to the consultation and considered how we may be able to carry forward the ACAF recommendation.

  Over-30-Months Scheme
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many carcases he estimates will be rendered under the over-30-months scheme in each of the next five years. [114828]

  Ms Quin
  The Intervention Board's current estimate is that around 600,000 over-30-months scheme (OTMS) animals a year will be rendered.

  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how tallow produced as a byproduct under the over-30-months scheme is classified by his Department. [114830]

  Ms Quin
  Tallow from OTMS animals is classified as a waste because of the need for material from such animals to be destroyed. As such it is managed and disposed of in accordance with waste management controls. All disposals to date and those planned for the future involve energy recovery.

  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the locations where tallow from Over-30-Months Scheme cattle is stored, indicating the tonnage at each site. [114829]
  488W
  Ms Quin
  Tallow produced from the rendering of animals under the Over-30-Months Scheme is being stored at three locations in the UK. As at 29 February 2000, the stock level at each site was:

  Store location

  Tonnage as at 29 February 2000

  Canvey Island, Essex

  104,229

  Eastham, Merseyside

  80,001

  Bootle, Merseyside

  24,121

  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the price(a) per carcase and (b) per tonnage paid by the Intervention Board in each year since 1996 to each company awarded a contract to render cattle under the Over-30-Months Scheme. [114827]

  Ms Quin
  Renderers are paid according to the tonnage of OTMS material processed. In 1996 and 1997 a centrally negotiated rate of £105 (£110 in Northern Ireland) per tonne of Over-30-Months Scheme (OTMS) material processed (equivalent to around £52.50 per animal) was paid to contracted renderers. This rate included the cost of collection of raw material from abattoirs, estimated at £10–15 per tonne. Since 1998, and following a competitive tender, the average rate paid for the rendering of OTMS material is as set out in the reply given to the hon. Member on 24 January 2000,Official Report, column 11W.

  Slaughterhouses
  Mr. Hurst
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many premises were licensed as slaughterhouses in England and Wales in the years(a) 1979, (b) 1989 and (c) 1999. [114949]

  Ms Quin
  The table gives end of year figures for 1979, 1989 and 1999 for red and poultry meat slaughterhouses in England. Prior to 1993, slaughterhouses in England and Wales were not licensed by MAFF, but by local authorities. The England figures for 1979 and 1989 have therefore been derived from records of State Veterinary Service visits during those years and are approximate. For poultry meat slaughterhouses in England, no figures are available prior to 1983.

  Year

  Red meat

  Poultry meat

  1979

  975

  —

  1989

  690

  107

  1999

  339

  119

  The licensing of slaughterhouses in Wales is a devolved matter. The National Assembly for Wales, which now has responsibility for the administration of such matters, has provided the following information in relation to slaughterhouses in Wales. No poultry meat slaughterhouse figures are available for 1979 or 1989:

  Year

  Red meat

  Poultry meat

  1979

  79

  —

  1989

  66

  —

  1999

  34

  12

DEFENCE

  CVR(T) (Transmission Mechanisms)
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what exemptions from procurement rules have been granted to Alvis for the supply of transmission mechanisms for the CVR(T); and for what reasons. [113191]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 6 March 2000]: Alvis Vehicle Ltd. have been granted no exemptions from procurement rules for the supply of transmission mechanisms for the CVR(T).

  Tritium Production
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the unit cost of production of tritium for use by his Department. [114444]

  Mr. Hoon
  I am withholding details of the unit cost for tritium production under the terms of the Exemption Categories 1 (Defence, Security and International Relations) and 13 (Third party's commercial confidences) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Service Quarters
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many repossession proceedings his Department initiated in respect of RAF quarters in each of the last three years; how many of those proceedings resulted in a court order for the eviction of the occupants; and if he will make a statement. [114209]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 13 March 2000]: DHE manage Service Family Accommodation (SFA) as a Tri-Service resource and records are not kept centrally or on a single Service basis. To obtain the information requested, a manual search of every repossession case over the past three years would have to be made and this could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Anti-ballistic Missile Treaty
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to prohibit activities by United States authorities on his Department's land, which are contrary to the terms of anti-ballistic missile treaty. [114423]

  Mr. Hoon
  [holding answer 14 March 2000]: The interpretation of the anti-ballistic missile treaty is a matter for the parties to that treaty, not for the United Kingdom or any other non-party.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions his Department has had with the United States regarding a European-wide ballistic missile defence system. [114326]

  Mr. Hoon
  [holding answer 14 March 2000]: We continue to monitor the threats posed by ballistic missiles, and the development of the technology available to counter them. We will continue to consult closely with the US and take account of the work they are doing, to help us take an informed decision on whether to acquire such a capability ourselves in the future.

  Strategic Defence Initiative
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the 1985 Strategic Defence Initiative Memorandum of Understanding. [114325]

  Mr. Hoon
  [holding answer 14 March 2000]: No. I am withholding this information under Exemption 1 (Defence, Security and International Relations) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Scientific Research Projects
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those scientific research projects on which his Department is collaborating with other European countries. [114328]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 14 March 2000]: Details of specific projects could be provided only at disproportionate cost but, under bilateral or multilateral arrangements relating to research, my Department has significant numbers of joint programmes or information exchanges with the following countries or organisations:

  Country/organization

  Number of programmes

  France

  85

  Sweden

  26

  Netherlands/Norway

  25

  Germany

  17

  WEAG1/EUCLID2

  30

  GARTEUR3

  8

  Miscellaneous

  10

  1 Western European Armaments Group: informal grouping of European Defence Ministers providing policy direction for armaments and research issues

  2 European Cooperation for the Long-term in Defence (EUCLID) based on competition and contracts placed on lead contractors, usually with some industrial funding

  3 European aerospace forum involving UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Italy

  International research collaboration also takes place under the umbrella of NATO. Details are not included as NATO also includes non-European countries.

  Many technologies are involved, including:

  Energetic Materials and Plasmas

  Structural Materials and Structural Effects Analysis

  Sensor Systems

  Computer Applications and Information Processing

  Design Aspects—Platforms and Weapons

  Photonic/Optical Materials and Devices

  Electronic and Electrical Devices

  Signature Control and Signature Reduction

  Computing Technologies

  Operating Environmental Issues

  Communications and CIS Related Technologies

  Integration and other Systems Issues

  Guidance and Control Systems (Weapons and Platforms)

  Propulsion and Powerplants

  Electronic Materials

  Manufacturing Processes/Design tools/Techniques.

  Towers of Excellence
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the scientific areas covered by his Towers of Excellence initiative. [114327]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 14 March 2000]: As part of our strategy for defence science and technology, the Ministry of Defence has been developing an approach known as the "Towers of Excellence" model. The intention, in partnership with industry, is to identify areas in which technological excellence might best be concentrated and defence-specific technologies enhanced to the level required to produce world class equipment for our Armed Forces.

  To do this on a systematic basis requires a comprehensive view of industrial capabilities and aspirations. There must be sufficiently coherent clusters of technology to enable UK industry to continue to be able to bid for a substantial proportion of UK defence equipment. These towers must therefore align with industry's own plans. We expect this alignment to be informed by the defence industries' own technology strategy which they have prepared to complement that of MOD.

  Industry and MOD have agreed on a process for bringing their respective strategies together and defining priorities for constructing technological "towers of excellence" within available resources. Work is likely to continue through to the end of 2000.

  RN Vessels
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has for the use of HMS Birmingham; and if he will make a statement. [114767]

  Dr. Moonie
  HMS Birmingham is no longer operational and is currently awaiting disposal.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are to fit further Royal Navy ships with Sonar 2087; and if he will make a statement. [114803]

  Dr. Moonie
  We plan to fit Sonar 2087 to all Type 23 frigates. In the longer term it might also be a contender for fitment to the Future Surface Combatant.

  Transport Aircraft
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the sum invoiced to his Department by Air Foyle Ltd. for the charter of an Air Foyle Antonov 124–100 aircraft to Transport four Royal Air Force Puma helicopters from RAF Brize Norton to South African Air Force Base Heudspruit on Friday 3 March. [114744]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 15 March 2000]: I am withholding details of the sum invoiced to the MOD by Air Foyle Ltd. for the charter of an Antonov 124–100 under Exemption 13 (Third party's commercial confidences) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the maximum number of RAF Puma helicopters which can be carried in(a) Hercules C130K, (b) Hercules C130J, (c) Boeing C17 and (d) Antonov
  492W
  124–100 transport aircraft; and how many refuelling stops each aircraft requires, carrying its respective maximum complements of Puma helicopters, on a flight from RAF Brize Norton to South African Air Force Base Heudspruit. [114745]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 15 March 2000]: The Hercules C130K Mk1 cannot carry the Puma helicopter. Both the Hercules C130K Mk3 and the C130J can carry one Puma helicopter and would normally require three en-route stops to complete the flight from Brize Norton to SAAF Base Heudspruit.

  According to information publicly available the Boeing C17 is capable of carrying three Puma helicopters and would normally require two en-route stops to complete the flight.

  The AN124–100 is capable of carrying four Puma helicopters and would normally require two en-route stops to complete the flight.

  The degree to which the Puma is dismantled dictates whether or not the maximum number of airframes can be loaded into transport aircraft. The requirement for en-route stops can vary according to prevailing weather conditions.

  Railtrack (Training)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost of the facilities being offered to Railtrack for training by his Department; what is the length of time for the course; where it is taking place; and what facilities exist for re-charging Railtrack for these facilities. [115085]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Army has provided Railtrack with limited assistance in the form of presentations and involvement in a Railtrack seminar. Discussions have also been held at working level with the company on the possible provision of Logistic Planning Workshops by the Royal Logistics Corps. The presentations and attendance have lasted around two days and Railtrack have paid the full costs of this help. Any further assistance provided will be charged for at appropriate rates.

  Peat Compost
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 10 March 2000,Official Report, column 828W, on peat compost, when his officials began their assessment of the full impact of phasing out the use of peat on his Department's estate; and if he will make a statement. [115234]

  Dr. Moonie
  My officials began their formal assessment on 7 February 2000.

  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer on 10 March 2000,Official Report, column 828W, on peat compost, if he will list all his Department's estate gardens; and if he will make a statement. [115235]

  Dr. Moonie
  This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Gulf War Illnesses
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what experts from outside the Department he
  493W
  consulted in preparing rebuttal arguments relating to the views of Professor Hooper at the meeting of the Independent Panel on Gulf War Illnesses on 29 March 1999; if he will place copies of the Government's evidence to the Panel in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [115540]

  Mr. Spellar
  No outside experts were consulted. The Panel is briefed on the current state of interactions research at its meetings and has therefore received copies of MOD papers on Gulf veterans' illnesses, copies of which are already in the Library of the House.

  Procurement
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will decide on the contracts for the(a) beyond visual range air-to-air missile and (b) future transport aircraft. [115128]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 17 March 2000]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence hopes to announce decisions on both of these projects in the next few weeks.

  British Commonwealth Occupation Force
  Mr. David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to issue a campaign medal to those who served in the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan in the years 1945 to 1948; and if he will make a statement. [115593]

  Dr. Moonie
  There are no plans to institute a medal for service in the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan between 1945 and 1948. The Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals, which advises the Sovereign on all matters relating to the institution of medals, has a longstanding policy that it will not consider cases for the retrospective award of medals for service given many years ago.

  Strategic Export Controls
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to publish the numbers of weapons and items of equipment being exported from the United Kingdom in the next Annual report on Strategic Export Controls on a country by country basis; and if he will make a statement. [115425]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Government will continue publishing details of weapons and equipment exported in the Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls using information obtained from the United Nations Conventional Arms Register and HM Customs and Excise. The Government are committed to strengthening the Arms Register and also to achieving greater international transparency in the sales overseas of major defence systems. Information relating to the two previous years is contained in Part III of the 1997 and 1998 Reports, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. It is planned to publish the 1999 Report later this year.

  Service Personnel (Trade Unions)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussion he has had with other NATO countries about allowing members of the armed services to become members of trade unions; and if he will make a statement. [115145]

  Mr. Spellar
  There have been no discussions with other NATO countries about this issue. Due to the unique nature of Service life it is Ministry of Defence policy not to have a Service trade union, or federation, for members of the Armed Forces. There are no plans for change.

  The Ministry of Defence has agreements with a number of major trade unions, as well as concessions with professional associations, whereby Service personnel may be recognised as eligible for membership. No restrictions are placed on attendance at meetings of civilian trade unions, professional associations, or courses of instruction run by them intended to enhance trade skills and professional knowledge, provided Service uniform is not worn, Service duties are not impeded and no action is taken which would bring the Services into disrepute. It is important that the Armed Forces maintain a position of political neutrality. Service personnel may not therefore participate in industrial action, or any form of political activity organised by a civilian trade union, or professional organisation, to which they belong.

  Porton Down (Animals)
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what procedures have been put in place to ensure that overbreeding of animals at Porton Down is minimized; and if he will make a statement. [115272]

  Dr. Moonie
  This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Sir John Chisholm to Mr. Norman Baker, dated 21 March 2000:
  I am replying to your parliamentary question about the animal breeding programmes at Porton Down since the laboratories are part of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA).
  As I explained in my letter to you on 19 January 1998 the animal species currently bred at Porton Down are mice, rats, marmosets, rhesus monkeys and a few pigs. Apart from the unusual circumstances arising in 1994/95, when 94 marmosets had to be culled, there has been no excess breeding of non-human primates. Any surplus pigs, as I explained previously, are sent to market.
  As you know, the independent Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (AWAC) which reviews animal care and welfare arrangements within DERA addressed the issue of animal breeding during the period of its last report (31 October 1998–1 November 1999). In particular, the breeding of mice and rats was considered as this leads to the largest surplus. The Porton strain of mice and rats has been used for many years and the outcome of current research programmes relies on the accumulated background data derived from these strains. For this reason, the preferred option is to continue the rodent breeding programme at Porton. The alternative would be to purchase mice and rats from a supplier, which would mean carrying out additional experiments to produce base line data for the different strain.
  The scientists at Porton are, of course, mindful of the need to minimise overbreeding in this area. Porton maintains a small number of breeding pairs of mice and rats to supply ongoing research programmes. The number of breeding pairs in the colony is adjusted to meet the estimated demand of the research programmes. Research programmes, however, are not entirely predictable and on occasions there may be an urgent need for animals. Estimates for animal use

  495W
  are regularly reviewed. To an extent research programmes are adjusted either by bringing forward an experiment to use a surplus or, in the case of a shortage, utilising smaller groups over a longer period or by widening the weight range where possible.
  The Committee was satisfied overall that the animals bred at Porton are well cared for and only culled when necessary. The AWAC report also pointed out that all culled rodents are donated to wildlife sanctuaries to feed wild birds and so are not wasted.
  I hope that this is helpful.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Lawyers (Intimidation)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received from the Law Society and Bar Council for Northern Ireland concerning allegations of intimidation of lawyers; what surveys or research have been undertaken to determine the extent of intimidation; what assessment he has made of(a) under-reporting of intimidation and (b) malicious or unfounded allegations; and if he will commission a study to determine the extent of intimidation and make recommendations. [111946]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 2 March 2000]: The current Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has received no representations from the Law Society or the Bar Council for Northern Ireland concerning allegations of intimidation of lawyers.

  On surveys and research, the Government are aware that the Independent Commission for Police Complaints undertook a survey into the specific area of complaints relating to allegations of improper conduct by police officers towards, or in respect of, solicitors. Furthermore, the Commission monitors and supervises all complaints of intimidation of lawyers or any attempts to undermine their professional integrity. I am not aware of other survey or research work.

  On under-reporting, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers in his March 1998 report concluded that there had been under-reporting, again in relation to police complaints. I note that the Special Rapporteur recommended that solicitors should lodge formal complaints and that he welcomed the steps taken by the Law Society to introduce a complaints procedure for solicitors.

  Given that there have been no representations by the Law Society or Bar Council, and that there are procedures for investigation of allegations (including the Law Society's own) and these are to be enhanced in respect of complaints about police conduct when the Police Ombudsman is introduced later this year, the Government are not currently persuaded that they should commission a study.

  Mrs. Rosemary Nelson
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his reply of 19 January 2000,Official Report, column 445W, if he will set out the Government's response to the specific concerns about Mrs. Nelson's safety raised by the UN Special Rapporteur in his 1998 report. [113863]
  496W
  Mr. Ingram
  The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers referred in his March 1998 Report to complaints made by Mrs. Nelson. The Government had already informed the Special Rapporteur that the complaints by, and on behalf of, Mrs. Nelson were under investigation, under the supervision of the Independent Commission for Police Complaints.

  In addition, the Government had already sought, in February 1998, an assessment from the police on Mrs. Nelson's security. The RUC determined that they had no intelligence to substantiate a specific threat to Mrs. Nelson.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 24 January 2000,Official Report, columns 5–6W, if he will place in the Library a copy of the assessments of Mrs. Rosemary Nelson's security made by the RUC in February and August 1998. [113472]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 10 March 2000]: No. The assessments are confidential and are not made public. My reply on 24 January 2000, Official Report, columns 5–6W, however, indicated the outcome of the Chief Constable's threat assessments on Mrs. Nelson.

  Road Arches
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications were made under Article 73 of the Roads (NI) Order 1993 for permission to erect arches over roadways between 16 June and 11 July 1999; if he will list those applications(a) granted and (b) refused; of those granted, what level of public liability insurance against claims in respect of injury was required in each case; how many arches were erected where no application was made; and how many prosecutions were brought for breach of Article 73 of the Roads (NI) Order 1993 during 1999. [115277]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Roads Service under its Chief Executive Mr. C. James. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from C. James to Mr. Jeremy Corbyn, dated 21 March 2000:
  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to respond to your recently tabled Parliamentary Question about arches over roads.
  Between 16 June 1999 and 1 I July 1999, the Department's Roads Service received 4 applications under Article 73 of the Roads (NI) Order 1993 for consent to erect arches over roads. In each case, consent was given and the applicant was required to have public liability insurance of £5M. These applications were in respect of arches over the following roads:

  Market Square, Lisburn, County Antrim;

  North Street, Upper Ballinderry, Lisburn, County Antrim;

  Bridge Street, Edenderry, Portadown, County Armagh; and

  Garvaghy Road, Portadown, County Armagh.

  At least a further 100 arches were erected over public roads where no applications for consent under Article 73 had been made. No prosecutions were brought for breaches of Article 73 during 1999.
  I hope this information is helpful.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  BBC Film Projects
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which BBC film projects have been awarded National Lottery funding; to what value in each case; and on what conditions. [114350]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 13 March 2000]: There have been no National Lottery awards to the BBC for film production. However, the BBC has co-financed with The Arts Councils of England and Wales, and with other financiers, the films on the following list which shows the amount of National Lottery money received.

  Standard conditions for film production awards are published in the guidelines for applicants, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. Conditions specific to a particular project are a commercial matter and regarded as confidential for that reason.

  Project

  Award amount (£)

  Distributing body

  Features

  Ratcatcher

  615,000

  Arts Council of England

  The Darkest Light

  708,000

  Arts Council of England

  The Last Yellow

  550,000

  Arts Council of England

  A Room for Romeo Brass

  850,000

  Arts Council of England

  Among Giants

  665,000

  Arts Council of England

  Divorcing Jack

  800,000

  Arts Council of England

  Hideous Kinky

  1,070,000

  Arts Council of England

  Love is the Devil

  364,551

  Arts Council of England

  Speak Like a Child

  433,896

  Arts Council of England

  The Governess

  907,075

  Arts Council of England

  Frantz Fanon

  84,000

  Arts Council of England

  Love and Death on Long Island

  750,000

  Arts Council of England

  Metroland

  865,000

  Arts Council of England

  My Son the Fanatic

  750,000

  Arts Council of England

  Peggy Su!

  500,000

  Arts Council of England

  Photographing Fairies

  890,000

  Arts Council of England

  Sixth Happiness

  469,727

  Arts Council of England

  The Revengers Comedies

  950,000

  Arts Council of England

  Wilde

  1,500,000

  Arts Council of England

  Pandaemonium

  655,094

  Arts Council of England

  Five Seconds to Spare

  1,009,500

  Arts Council of England

  One of the Hollywood Ten

  450,000

  Arts Council of Wales

  Y Mabinogi

  207,137

  Arts Council of Wales

  Shorts

  The Night Frontier

  18,635

  Arts Council of England

  The Albatross

  29,000

  Arts Council of England

  The Queen's Monastery

  35,000

  Arts Council of England

  Tourism (North Yorkshire)
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to promote tourism in North Yorkshire. [114945]

  Janet Anderson
  The Yorkshire Tourist Board (YTB) will receive £367,000 for tourism projects in the region in 2000–01 from the English Tourism Council—an increase of 26 per cent. on the current year. These projects include development of the Yorkshire brand and sub-regional brands and developing training that is customised to meet customer needs, which will help promote tourism throughout Yorkshire. North Yorkshire, in common with all parts of England, also benefits from the promotion work of the British Tourist Authority (BTA), which 498W
  promotes Britain as a visitor destination in overseas markets. The BTA is receiving £36 million from my Department this year.

  The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy estimates that local authority expenditure on tourism promotion in North Yorkshire in 1997–98 was £1.775 million. In addition, tourism in Yorkshire has also benefited, both directly and indirectly, from the National Lottery, (649 projects in the country have received awards totalling £44,710,497 according to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's National Lottery Awards Database which uses information supplied by the distributing bodies.

  Millennium Dome
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to alter the ticketing arrangements for the Millennium Dome; and what effect the changes will have on the(a) 12 million visitor target and (b) anticipated income stream. [114542]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 14 March 2000]: From 1 April, the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) is introducing extended opening times. Visitors can enjoy the Dome from 09.00 to 20.00 on Sundays to Thursdays, and from 09.00 to 23.00 on Fridays, Saturdays, Bank Holidays and during school holidays and the peak summer periods—providing a maximum potential visit time of 14 hours.

  The Government are extremely encouraged by the continuing upward trend in visitor numbers to the Dome. Ten million paying visitors will enable the Company to deliver a break even operating budget. However NMEC's target remains at 12 million.

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people from North Yorkshire have bought tickets to visit the Millennium Dome in January and February 2000. [111406]

  Janet Anderson
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for West Suffolk (Mr. Spring) on 17 March 2000,Official Report, column 368W. NMEC are unable to provide a regional break down of ticket sales.

  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport who owns the copyright associated with each of the exhibits in the Millennium Dome. [109727]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 11 February 2000]: The contractual terms of each exhibit vary reflecting the different nature and type of exhibit—both in terms of structure and content. Similarly arrangements regarding copyright and intellectual property rights vary. As is normal practice, these contracts contain confidentiality clauses applicable to both parties. NMEC considers that publication of details, including ownership of copyright, from individual contracts runs the risk of adversely impacting on its relationships with its designers and, therefore, on its ability to operate in an effective and commercial manner.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the payments overdue to zone designers at the Millennium Dome at 7 February. [109959]
  499W
  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 14 February 2000]: The policy of the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) is to pay suppliers within the terms of the contractual arrangements agreed, which is usually 30 days from the day of the invoice, subject to resolution of any queries on the invoice within the 20 day period. As at 7 February, a total of £1.8 million of invoices registered in NMEC's Finance Department remained the subject of on-going discussion with zone designers outside the 30 day period; a total of £2.1 million overdue on the 30 day basis at 7 February—and following resolution of queries where they arose—was released for payment on 14 February.

  Athletics
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with Sport England concerning the availability of £60 million to fund world-class athletics facilities. [115734]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  We have established the principle with Sport England that, subject to the details being worked out a viable application coming forward, the £20 million coming back from the Football Association and up to £40 million which will not now be required for the conversion of Wembley may be available to fund world-class athletics facilities.

  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which sites are still under consideration as possible venues for the 2005 world athletics championships. [115735]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  Sport England and UK athletics are currently considering four London locations—Crystal Palace, Hillingdon, Lee Valley (Hackney Wick/Pickett's Lock) and Twickenham.

  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer of 14 March 2000,Official Report, column 155W, concerning a national athletic stadium, if his Department has discussed with Manchester City Council its proposal for a 18,000 to 20,000 seat permanent athletics stadium to be built on the UKSI site adjacent to the City of Manchester Stadium. [115755]

  Kate Hoey
  As explained in the written reply of 14 March 2000,Official Report, column 155W, officials from my Department and Sport England have discussed proposals for holding the 2005 World Athletics Championships in Manchester with the Chief Executive of Manchester City Council. These discussions included a presentation by Manchester on 21 January at Sport England's offices to officials from UK Athletics, Sport England and DCMS. One of the options discussed during that meeting was the possibility of a permanent national athletics facility on the UKSI site adjacent to the City of Manchester Stadium. However, as my reply of 14 March explained, the decision by UK Athletics to submit a London bid for the 2005 World Athletics Championship and the British Olympic Association confirming that it will only consider a London based Olympic bid has effectively ruled out Manchester as a venue for staging these major events.

  Wembley Stadium
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer of 13 March 500W
  2000, Official Report, column 13W, what amendments to the Lottery Funding Agreement relating to Wembley National Stadium were discussed at his meeting with Mr. Ken Bates on 22 December 1999. [115230]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  None.

  Regional Cultural Consortiums
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer of 15 March 2000,Official Report, columns 245–50W, if he will list political affiliations, where known, of the members of each regional cultural consortium. [115725]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  Apart from the Chairs, who are appointed by the Secretary of State, members of the Consortiums are appointed from within each region by a variety of nominating bodies. Additional individual members may be co-opted. Where political affiliation is known—which is mainly where representatives are drawn from local Government—it is as follows:

  Member

  Nominating body

  East of England

  Jeremy Clover

  Local Government

  Con

  Irene Macdonald

  Local Government

  Lab

  Anthony Rowlands

  Local Government

  Lib Dem

  Jacqualine Russell

  Regional Development Agency

  Lab

  Wendy Silby

  Local Government

  Con

  Hazel Simmons

  Local Government

  Lab

  East Midlands

  Sandra Barnes

  Local Government

  Con

  Ted Cassidy

  Regional Development Agency

  Lab

  Ian Croft

  Local Government

  Con

  John Dickie

  Local Government

  Lab

  Ian Maclennan

  Local Government

  Lab

  Fiona Martin

  Local Government

  Lib Dem

  Ned Newitt

  Local Government

  Lab

  Christine Rose

  Local Government

  Lab

  North East

  George Gill

  DCMS

  Lab

  John Burton

  Local Government

  Lab

  Aileen Handy

  Local Government

  Lab

  Dorothy Long

  Local Government

  Lab

  Winnie Lowes

  Local Government

  Lab

  Bob Pendlebury

  Regional Tourist Board

  Lab

  Ione Rippeth

  Local Government

  Lib Dem

  Don Robson

  Regional Sports Board

  Lab

  North West

  John Commons

  Local Government

  Lib Dem

  Guy Harkin

  Local Government

  Lab

  Pam Hayward

  Area Museums Council

  Lab

  Steven Matthews

  Local Government

  Lab

  Graham Morgan

  Local Government

  Lab

  David Newton

  North West Sport

  Lab

  Peter Pimbley

  Local Government

  Con

  Kath Reade

  Regional Development Agency

  Lab

  Kath Robinson

  Local Government

  Lab

  South East

  Mary Baldwin

  Local Government

  Lib Dem

  Freddie Emery-Wallis

  Local Government

  Con

  Cheryl Hall

  Local Government

  Lab

  Jon Hartley

  Local Government

  Lab

  Heather Hawker

  Local Government

  Con

  Roger Thomas

  Regional Tourist Board

  Con

  South West

  Robin Bush

  Local Government

  Lib Dem

  Andrew May

  Local Government

  Lab

  Pat Roberts

  Regional Tourist Board

  Lab

  Norman Thompson

  Local Government

  Con

  Viv Vines

  Regional Sports Board

  Con

  501W

  Member

  Nominating body

  West Midlands

  Baroness Crawley

  DCMS

  Lab

  Jeff Carpenter

  Area Museums Council

  Lab

  Stephen Clee

  Local Government

  Con

  Maureen Compton

  Local Government

  Lab

  Phillip Davis

  English Heritage

  Lab

  Elizabeth Edmonsdon

  Local Government

  Lab

  John Fletcher

  Local Government

  Lab

  Mike Freeman

  Local Government

  Lab

  Jean Holder

  Local Government

  Lib Dem

  Sir William Lawrence

  Regional Tourist Board

  Con

  Carl Rice

  Local Government

  Lab

  Gwyn Roberts

  Local Government

  Lab

  Yorkshire

  Chirs Heinitz

  DCMS

  Lab

  David Ashton

  Local Government

  Con

  Tina Davey

  Local Government

  Lab

  David Gemmell

  Regional Tourist Board

  Lab

  Sue Knowles

  Local Government

  Lab

  Reg Littleboy

  Library and Information

  Lab

  Pat Marsh

  Local Government

  Lib Dem

  Christopher Price

  Regional Arts Board

  Lab

  Peter Price

  Regional Sports Board

  Lab

  Mike Pye

  Area Museums Council

  Lab

  Alan Smith

  Local Government

  Lab

  Direct Funding
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions his Department has held with representatives of the national institutions which receive direct funding from his Department over proposals to replace this direct funding arrangement; and if he will make a statement. [115524]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  There are no proposals to change the funding relationship between my Department and those national institutions which receive direct funding.

  Free Television Licences (Morecambe and Lunesdale)
  Miss Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many pensioners in Morecambe and Lunesdale will benefit from free television licences for those persons aged over 75 years. [115746]

  Janet Anderson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my right hon. Friend the Member for Alyn and Deeside (Mr. Jones) on 2 March 2000,Official Report, column 350W.

TREASURY

  Aviation Fuel
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the Government's policy is on the European Commission's proposals to compel member states to impose a tax on aviation fuel. [115288]

  Mr. Timms
  There are no such proposals.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the ECOFIN meeting of 13 March; and what discussions took place concerning taxation of aviation fuel. [115287]
  502W
  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Dumfries (Mr. Brown) on 17 March 2000,Official Report, columns 352–53W.

  Government Borrowing
  Mrs. Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give details of the Government's borrowing programme in 2000–01. [115904]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The main details of the Government's borrowing programme are set out in Annexe B of the Financial Statement and Budget Report, published today. The financing remits for 2000–01 (including the Exchequer Cash Management remit) set by the Government for the Debt Management Office and for National Savings are also published today, in the 2000–01 Debt Management Report. Copies of the Report have been placed in the Libraries of the House. The Report sets out the Government's debt management policy, reviews the Government's borrowing programme in 1999–2000, and provides details of the Government's borrowing programme in 2000–01.

  Small and Medium Enterprises
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the report commissioned from Lord Trotman into finance for small and medium enterprises is to be published. [114443]

  Mr. Timms
  This report was published by the Treasury today. Copies are available in the Library.

WALES

  Tourism
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to discuss with the First Secretary the prospects of the tourist industry in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [115201]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I meet the First Secretary regularly and we discuss a range of issues. I am very aware of the importance of the tourist industry to the Welsh economy and was pleased to note that the National Assembly's Economic Development Committee recently endorsed the new tourism strategy of the Wales Tourist Board.

  Welsh Language Road Signs
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the cost to public funds of the erection of Welsh language road signs in Wales for each of the years 1990 to 1999. [113301]

  Mr. Hanson
  Expenditure on road signs is incurred by a number of public bodies in Wales and information on costs from 1990 to 30 June 1999 is not held centrally.

  On 1 July 1999 responsibility for this matter transferred to the National Assembly for Wales.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Higher Education (Student Awards)
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list areas where local education authorities currently may exercise discretion in connection with higher education student awards. [115142]

  Mr. Wicks
  [holding answer 20 March 2000]: Under the Education (Student Support) Regulations 1999, local education authorities (LEAs) are able to exercise discretion in three broad areas: eligibility for support, assessment of income and payment of support.

  LEA discretion when assessing a student's eligibility for support is limited to specific circumstances relating to: the time limits for applying for support and its duration; the information required to assess eligibility; whether a student meets the residence conditions; whether support may be transferred to another course; and whether a student is unfitted to receive support. LEAs also have discretion in determining whether students meet certain conditions for receiving particular elements of support. There is discretion in determining eligibility for fee support when students have previously attended a higher education course or are repeating part of a course. There are specific circumstances in which LEAs have discretion when determining: eligibility for and the amount of disabled students allowances; the amount of care leavers grant for which a student is eligible; the income of dependants; and the maximum student load for which a student is eligible.

  There are also circumstances in which LEAs are able to exercise discretion in determining the residual income of the student, the student's parent or the student's spouse relating to: the financial year of assessment; treatment of a student's income when payments are made as a result of previous obligations incurred; and determining which parent's income to assess when the parents do not live together. LEAs also have discretion to pay support for periods when students are absent from a course and in determining the method of recovering overpayments of support.

  Agricultural Education
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to facilitate rationalisation of provision for agricultural education at higher and further levels to reflect changing economic conditions in that industry. [115760]

  Mr. Wicks
  LANTRA, the National Training Organisation for the land based industries, has recently carried out a Labour Market Information and Skills Foresight Survey covering the land-based industries. This exercise provides the foundation for the forthcoming Workforce Development Plan to meet the skill and educational needs of the land-based industries, including agriculture, for the short and medium term. LANTRA is also consulting the agricultural industry on the viability and value of vocational qualifications. A project is underway to revise standards of competence within the land based sector to reduce duplication and increase the relevance of vocational qualifications. The work is due to be completed by 31 December 2001.
  504W
  For higher education, it is for individual institutions to make their own decisions about the scope of agricultural provision.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the decision by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to end the setting of GCSEs in agriculture after 2002. [114750]

  Mr. Wicks
  [holding answer 15 March 2000]: The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) is working with the awarding bodies to develop advice on the list of GCSE titles to be offered from 2001, QCA will consult widely as part of this exercise, and no decisions have been reached at this stage. There is a wide range of vocationally-related qualifications in agriculture and horticulture already available, including GNVQs in land and environment. We shall ensure that there continues to be an appropriate range of such qualifications in the future for young people.

  E-University
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on progress in developing the e-university concept. [115766]

  Mr. Wicks
  The Higher Education Funding Council for England has responsibility for the development of the e-Universities project. It is intended to harness expertise in the public and private sectors to exploit information and communication technology and provide novel means of teaching and learning. To date, HEFCE has:established a Steering Group to commission studies to the concept and give practical and detailed advice on options for implementation;
  approved and invited tenders for an initial feasibility study to flesh out the e-Universities concept, to begin by the end of February and report by summer;
  commissioned a study into the market for virtual distance learning.

  Disabled Students
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if special arrangements are made to equalise the level of support for disabled students who have to cross from one part of the United Kingdom to another to study on account of their disability. [115768]

  Mr. Wicks
  Currently, disabled students' allowances (DSAs) are available to all eligible students across the United Kingdom on the same basis. Additional travel costs, incurred by reason of a student's disability, are covered by the DSAs. Students with disabilities studying at least 50 per cent. of a full-time course in Scotland are currently eligible for DSAs. From September 2000, part-time disabled students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will also be eligible for DSAs.

  Teaching (Quality Assurance)
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what, in relation to the current assessment of academic teaching quality is(a) the annual cost to public funds in each of the last three years, (b) the estimated cost of compliance by the higher education sector and (c) the assessed benefits of the process. [115767]
  505W
  Mr. Wicks
  The Higher Education Funding Council for England has a statutory responsibility under the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 for assessing the quality of the provision which it funds. Quality assessment/subject reviews are carried out under contract between HEFCE and QAA, the cost of which for the last three years is:

  £ million

  1997–98 (HEFCE and DENI)

  4.1

  1998–99 (HEFCE only)

  4.2

  1999–2000 (HEFCE only)

  5.6

  The cost of compliance by the HE sector is not collected centrally.

  Quality assurance provides: accountability for the use of public funds; public information on the purpose and quality of provision to prospective students and other stakeholders; encouragement to improve; and opportunities for sharing best practice across the sector.

  Free School Meals
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list(a) the percentage of pupils entitled to free school meals in each of the grammar schools in England and (b) the average percentage of pupils entitled to free school meals in each local education authority where there are one or more grammar schools. [115505]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Information on free school meals for individual schools is not published centrally.

  The available information on school meals is shown in the table.

  Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals in maintained secondary schools 1 in those local education authorities with one or more selective grammar schools, January 1999

  Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free schools meals

  England

  16.9

  Barnet

  15.9

  Bexley

  14.1

  Bromley

  13.0

  Enfield

  21.4

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  8.8

  Redbridge

  17.7

  Sutton

  8.3

  Birmingham

  33.6

  Walsall

  18.7

  Wolverhampton

  21.6

  Liverpool

  37.6

  Wirral

  26.6

  Trafford

  19.0

  Calderdale

  17.1

  Kirklees

  18.6

  North Yorkshire

  6.9

  Buckinghamshire

  7.4

  Poole

  8.2

  Bournemouth

  11.8

  Stoke on Trent

  24.9

  Wiltshire

  6.9

  Reading

  13.5

  Slough

  16.5

  Devon

  10.1

  506W

  Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals in maintained secondary schools 1 in those local education authorities with one or more selective grammar schools, January 1999

  Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free schools meals

  Plymouth

  15.4

  Torbay

  16.2

  Essex

  11.0

  Southend-on-Sea

  15.5

  Kent

  12.3

  Medway

  11.8

  Lancashire

  17.3

  Telford and Wrekin

  19.1

  Cumbria

  13.1

  Gloucestershire

  8.2

  Lincolnshire

  8.7

  Warwickshire

  8.3

  1 Includes selective grammar schools

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the average percentage of pupils entitled to free school meals in the(a) 100 and (b) 200 schools with the (i) highest and (ii) lowest proportion of pupils achieving five grade A*-C passes at GCSE in the last year for which figures are available. [115533]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The proportions of pupils"known to be eligible for free school meals"

  averaged over the 100 maintained, mainstream secondary schools with the highest, and lowest, percentages of 15 year old pupils achieving five or more GCSE/GNVQ grades A*-C in 1999 were two and 44 per cent. respectively.

  The proportions of pupils
  "known to be eligible for free school meals"

  averaged over the 200 maintained, mainstream secondary schools with the highest, and lowest, percentages of 15 year old pupils achieving five or more GCSE/GNVQ grades A*-C in 1999 were 3 per cent. and 42 per cent. respectively.

  School Standards
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) in how many secondary schools fewer than 15 per cent. of pupils achieved five A*-C grades at GCSE in 1999; [115291]

  (2) what was the average improvement in science at Key Stage 2 in (a) schools in education action zones and (b) all schools between 1998 and 1999; [115293]

  (3) what proportion of pupils in schools in education action zones obtained five A*-C grade GCSEs in (a) 1998 and (b) 1999; [115295]

  (4) how many pupils were excluded from schools in education action zones, expressed as a proportion of the number of pupils on roll, in (a) 1998 and (b) 1999; [115296]

  (5) what was the rate of truancy of pupils in schools in education action zones, expressed as a proportion of the number of pupils on roll, in (a) 1998 and (b) 1999. [115297]
  507W
  Ms Estelle Morris
  There were 126 secondary schools in England where fewer than 15 per cent. of pupils achieved five A*-C grades at GCSE/GNVQ in 1999. The average improvement, between 1998 and 1999 in the percentage of pupils achieving Level 4+ in KS2 science test was,(a) 12 percentage points in schools in those education action zones which began in 1998–99, and (b) 10 percentage points in all maintained mainstream schools in England.

  The percentage of pupils who attained 5 A*-C GCSE/GNVQs in schools in those education action zones which began in 1998–99 was 20 per cent. in 1998 and 23 per cent. in 1999.

  The permanent exclusion rate for schools in Education Action Zones was 0.25 per cent. in 1997–98. (This is the latest year for which data are available. Exclusion data for 1998–99 from the 2000 Schools' Census will be published in June).

  The percentage of half days missed by pupils due to unauthorised absence in schools in Education Action Zones was (a) in 1997–98, 1.8 per cent. and (b) in 1998–99, 1.7 per cent.

  City Technology Colleges
  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what differences there will be in legal status and powers between his proposed new academies and existing city technology colleges; and if he will facilitate the creation of more city technology colleges. [115727]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Details of the legal arrangements for city academies are under consideration. We expect academies to be established under the city technology college (CTC) legislation. However, there will be a different approach to funding, curriculum and the diversity of promoters.

  Computers
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of the adult population is computer-literate to at least basic level; and what was the annual percentage increase in that figure over the last three years. [115765]

  Mr. Wicks
  A survey carried out in November 1999 showed that 44 per cent. of the adult population in Britain consider themselves to be very or fairly computer literate. 36 per cent. consider themselves to be not at all computer literate. The Department has not collected this information on an annual basis. Therefore no information can be given regarding increases in the overall level of computer literacy.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list(a) the areas in which he has approved pilot projects for Computers within Reach and (b) the criteria for such projects; and what estimate he has made of the number of people who will benefit from such projects. [115375]

  Mr. Wills
  The selection of computer suppliers for the Computers within Reach initiative is currently underway, and includes assessment of proposals submitted in response to the prospectus published in autumn 1999 and follow-up visits to shortlisted suppliers. The successful 508W
  suppliers, with the geographical areas which they intend to cover, will be published later this spring. In selecting computer suppliers the following criteria are being taken into account:
  evidence of status, financial stability and accountability
  ability to provide quality reconditioned or unsold equipment in sufficient quantities for geographical coverage
  in the case of reconditioning, evidence of a reconditioning track record and the ability to ensure reconditioning to relevant functional and technical standards
  ability to guarantee quality control, safety and software licence protection
  ability to ensure a complete delivery service
  evidence of a plan for set-up and basic training on delivery
  evidence of links with local charities and communities in delivering reconditioned or remaindered computers to low income learners and families learners
  firm proposals for the future continuation of the project once DfEE funding ceases and for other sources of funding (which should be named).

  We anticipate that up to 100,000 people could benefit from the project.

  Education Action Zones
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the businesses involved in the leadership of each education action zone. [115294]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Each EAZ is led by a forum made up of the main partners in the zone. In all cases this includes business partners.

  The following EAZ forums are chaired by business people: Barnsley (Non-Executive Director for a number of local companies), Barrow (Furness Building Society), Bedford (Chamber of Commerce), Blackburn and Darwen (MTM Associates), Brighton (KPMG), Bristol (HSBC), Corby (Grant Thornton), Dingle, Granby and Toxteth (ICI), Easington and Seaham (Seaward Electronics), East Cleveland (Cleveland Potash Mining), Grimsby (Tioxide UK), Hastings and St. Leonards (Marshall Tufflex), Lambeth (Shell), North East Sheffield (Yorkshire Water), Salford and Trafford (Kellogs), Wednesbury (Spring), Weston-super-Mare (Ron Fowler Communications), Wigan (North West Water), Wythenshawe (Manchester Airport). Some of the new EAZs have not yet elected their Chair.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many education action zones have attracted maximum matched funding from his Department as a result of funds raised from business or other partners. [115292]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Direct pound for pound match funding of private sector sponsorship was introduced for the second round of EAZs. We will be in a position to provide a detailed statement when they submit their audited financial accounts.

  Education Services (Islington)
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will place in the Library
  509W
  a copy of the contract between Islington Local Education Authority and Cambridge Education Associates for the provision of education services. [115637]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The final contract between Islington Local Education Authority and Cambridge Education Associates is commercial in confidence. However, I have already placed in the Library the "Invitation to Negotiate" that was issued to selected bidders in August. This includes a draft contract, proposed performance standards and their link to the payment mechanism and a description of the services to be outsourced.

  School name

  LEA

  Pupil numbers January 1998

  Pupil numbers January 1999

  Blakelaw/Firfield

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  361

  404

  Earl Marshall/Firvale

  Sheffield

  403

  439

  Regis School/The King's School

  Wolverhampton

  626

  631

  Information on the number of applications for each school is not collected centrally.

  Teachers' Employment Conditions (Disparities)
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what appraisal he has made of disparities in respect of(a) remuneration, (b) conditions and (c) access to Government professional development initiatives for (i) teachers and (ii) further education lecturers. [115764]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Disparities in pay and other employment arrangements are inevitable in different sectors where staff are employed by different employers. My right hon. Friend has acted to improve the quality of schoolteachers and the attractiveness of school teaching as a profession as a response to the particular issues relating to that profession.

  The terms and conditions of the staff who work in further education are a matter for the employers to determine. The Government play no part in the discussions between the employers and staff representatives on questions relating to terms and conditions of service and are not involved in the setting of pay levels in the sector.

  Age Profiles (Academics)
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what reply he has sent to the representations by the Association of University Teachers on the age-profile of teaching academics. [115071]

  Mr. Wicks
  [holding answer 20 March 2000]: As independent bodies, higher education institutions appoint and retain the staff they need to run their academic programmes. It is for individual institutions to tailor their recruitment policies if they wish to alter the age balance of their staff or to plan for the forthcoming retirement of a particular age group.

  Fresh Start Schools
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many Fresh Start schools(a) have increased pupil numbers and (b) are oversubscribed. [115290]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The official school census is undertaken in January of each year and we do not yet have data for January 2000. We can therefore only provide a comparison for the three schools which were opened as Fresh Start schools in September 1998, and not for the other seven Fresh Start schools which opened in September 1999 or later.

  Head Teachers
  Mr. Rammell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) when he expects the revised versions of the document entitled "Head Teachers Facing Allegations" to be circulated; [115601]

  (2) what progress his Department has made in the current review of the document entitled "Head Teachers Facing Allegations"; [115602]

  (3) who has been consulted on the current review of the document entitled "Head Teachers Facing Allegations". [115603]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The document referred to was not produced by my Department. It was produced jointly by representatives of local government employers and the teacher unions.

  Mr. Rammell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many head teachers in(a) secondary, (b) primary and (c) special schools have been dismissed for misconduct in each of the last three years. [115600]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Department does not collect information on the number of head teachers who have been dismissed for misconduct.

  Mr. Rammell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many head teachers in(a) secondary, (b) primary and (c) special schools were suspended under accusations of misconduct in each of the last three years. [115599]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Department does not collect this information.

  Education Spending (Tyne and Wear)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the(a) SSA and (b) total estimated spending per head in each local education authority in Tyne and Wear in each year from 1995–96 to 1999–2000; and if he will estimate the comparable figures for 2000–2001; and what assessment

  511W
  he has made of the impact of changes in (i) school population, (ii) overall population and (iii) take-up of free school meals on these figures. [115286]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 20 March 2000]: The tables list (a) the SSA per pupil, calculated by adding primary and secondary SSA together and dividing by total

  Table A: SSA per pupil

  Local Education Authority

  Gateshead

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  North Tyneside

  South Tyneside

  Sunderland

  1995–96

  2,223

  2,337

  2,124

  2,211

  2,200

  1996–97

  2,299

  2,401

  2,237

  2,305

  2,299

  1997–98

  2,355

  2,461

  2,295

  2,409

  2,379

  1998–99

  2,471

  2,599

  2,412

  2,530

  2,500

  1999–2000

  2,597

  2,736

  2,529

  2,662

  2,625

  2000–01

  2,721

  2,878

  2,653

  2,800

  2,743

  Note:

  Cash figures: no allowances have been made for Nursery Vouchers, or for changes in SSA methodology.

  Table B: Spend per pupil

  Local Education Authority

  Gateshead

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  North Tyneside

  South Tyneside

  Sunderland

  1995–96

  1,897

  1,985

  1,892

  1,753

  1,871

  1996–97

  1,934

  2,119

  1,928

  1,771

  1,880

  1997–98

  1,937

  2,167

  1,938

  1,767

  1,870

  Changes in the size of the school population do not have a direct impact on the SSA per pupil, nor do changes in the overall population and take up of free school meals, since they do not form part of the calculation of an authority's education SSA. No assessment can be made of the impact of changes in population and take up of free school meals on overall expenditure per pupil.

  Special Educational Needs
  Hesford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how pupils with special educational need will be supported and advised in Excellence in Cities areas. [115048]

  Jacqui Smith
  Pupils with special educational needs (SEN) in all areas of the country, including Excellence in Cities (EIC) areas, are supported by schools and LEAs in accordance with the guidance in the SEN Code of Practice. My right hon. Friend aims to consult publicly later this year on a revised SEN Code of Practice. The revised Code is expected to come into effect in September next year. Within EIC areas pupils with SEN in mainstream schools benefit from all aspects of Excellence in Cities. In addition special schools are eligible to become specialist or beacon schools as part of the specialist and beacon school expansion under EIC.

CABINET OFFICE

  Relocation
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what relocation companies the Government makes use of when relocating civil servants. [115379]

  Mr. Stringer
  Departments and agencies have delegated authority to make their own arrangements for employing relocation companies. No central record of relocation companies is maintained.
  512W
  numbers of pupils between five and 15 used in the SSA methodology; and (b) spending per pupil in LEA maintained primary and secondary schools for 1995–96 to 1997–98, the latest year for which finalised figures are available, based on Net Institutional Expenditure, which is not directly comparable with the SSA figure.

  Civil Service Entrants
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what is the average starting salary for new graduates employed by the Civil Service. [115487]

  Mr. Stringer
  Salary ranges and pay arrangements vary from Department to Department. Information is not held in the form requested. Entrants to the Civil Service Fast Stream Development Programme can expect salaries in London to start from around £17,500, with additional amounts for relevant experience.

  Many graduates join the Service as junior managers. The average starting salary at this level during 1998–99 was £15,640.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Property Law Report
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans the Lord Chancellor has to implement the Law Commission report No. 152, entitled "Property Law: Liability for Chancel Repairs." [114045]

  Mr. Lock
  My noble and learned Friend, the Lord Chancellor, announced in response to a written parliamentary question on 29 July 1998,Official Report, House of Lords, column WA201, that the Law Commission Report No. 152, "Liability for Chancel Repairs" would not be implemented. This remains the Government's position.

  Court Fees
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what meetings he has had with the Law Society over the Lord Chancellor's proposals to raise court fees. [114046]
  513W
  Mr. Lock
  I have had no meetings with the Law Society over proposals concerning court fees, and there has been no request for such a meeting. We have however consulted the Law Society regarding our proposals, in the usual way. Its response has been considered along with the other responses received.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what meetings the Lord Chancellor has had with the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux over his proposals to raise court fees. [114050]

  Mr. Lock
  We have had no meetings with the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux (NACAB) over proposals to raise court fees and there has been no request for such a meeting. We have however consulted NACAB regarding our proposals, in the usual way. Its response has been considered along with other responses received.

  Small Claims Courts
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans the Lord Chancellor has to assess the effectiveness of the enforcement of decisions of the small claims courts. [114049]

  Mr. Lock
  Since March 1998, we have been engaged in a comprehensive review of the enforcement of all civil court judgments, including small claims decisions. I anticipate being able to report the conclusions of the review in June.

  Crown Court Juries
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what research the Lord Chancellor's Department has commissioned regarding the gender balance of juries in Crown court trials. [114051]

  Jane Kennedy
  The Lord Chancellor's Department has not commissioned any research into the gender balance of juries in Crown court trials.

  Civil Actions
  Mr. McWalter
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans the Lord Chancellor has to make provision for those for whom the cost of civil actions is increased by a change mid-trial of presiding judge. [114052]

  Jane Kennedy
  Under section 53 of the Administration of Justice Act 1985, the Lord Chancellor may consider claims from parties in respect of those costs incurred where a judge is incapacitated, or dies during a trial and the case has to be re-heard.

  Judiciary (Training)
  Ms Moran
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans the Lord Chancellor has for training for the judiciary in respect of child contact in cases of domestic violence. [114053]

  Jane Kennedy
  Judicial training is the responsibility of the Judicial Studies Board (JSB) which is a non-departmental public body and is chaired by Lord Justice Waller.
  514W
  Circuit Judges, Recorders and Assistant Recorders newly authorised to hear Private Family Law cases attend a JSB Family Law induction seminar. Thereafter they attend a JSB Family Law continuation seminar every three years. Training on the issues relating to child contact in cases involving domestic violence is given at these seminars.

  Magistrates Courts
  Ms Blears
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps the Lord Chancellor is taking to ensure that local communities have access to justice in local magistrates courts. [114047]

  Jane Kennedy
  It is the Government's policy that the administration of magistrates courts is best decided locally. It is for each magistrates courts committee to decide how best to deploy their resources, in order to fulfil their statutory responsibility to provide an efficient and effective service to court users.

  The Department does encourage each Committee to take account of new legislation and administrative initiatives.

  Magistrates Courts (Devon)
  Mr. Bradshaw
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what recent representations he has received about the future of magistrates courts in Devon; and if he will make a statement. [114044]

  Jane Kennedy
  I have recently received 11 representations from hon. Members, justices of the peace and other local interested parties, following Devon and Cornwall magistrates courts committee's proposals to close 13 of its 25 courthouses.

  The Government's policy is that magistrates courts in Devon are best managed by the local magistrates courts committee. Decisions concerning the number of magistrates courts in its area are for Devon and Cornwall magistrate courts committee to determine.

  Court of Protection
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what arrangements have been put in place to monitor the financial affairs of people who lack capacity and who no longer come within the protective jurisdiction of the Court of Protection since the capital threshold was raised to £10,000; what plans he has to raise the threshold further; and what further safeguards he plans to enable ministers to exercise their responsibility for the protective oversight of the financial affairs of the people affected. [115724]

  Jane Kennedy
  The capital threshold of £10,000 is one of the criteria used when considering the appropriate arrangements which need to be made to protect peoples finances where they lack capacity. It is one of a set of stringent criteria applied when determining what level of intervention is required in day-to-day affairs of clients who have widely differing circumstances. The level of monitoring is considered in every individual case.

  I will consider raising the threshold further when the effectiveness of these new arrangements has been assessed.

  Websites
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the expenditure incurred by his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies on(a) the setting up and (b) the operation of websites, indicating the cases in which the expenditure has been above that budgeted; and if he will list for each website (i) the topics covered, (ii) the average number of hits per month and (iii) the estimated expenditure on each website for each of the next three years. [115089]

  Mr. Lock
  The information sought regarding the websites of my Department, agencies and non-departmental bodies is as listed:

  Websites

  1. The Lord Chancellor's Department

  a. Set up costs: £7,368

  b. Operating Costs (1999–2000): £16,200

  c. Topics covered: What's New?; Press notices; The department; LCD research; The courts; Judges & QCs; Magistrates; Speeches; Civil Procedure Rules; Consultation papers; Access to Justice; Legal aid; Civil matters; Individual and Family matters; Criminal matters; Statute Law database; Year 2000; Complaints procedures; and links to related sites.

  d. Average number of unique access hits per month: 22,000

  e. The estimated expenditure on the website for each of the next three years:

  i. 2000–01: £65,000

  ii. 2001–02: £65,000

  iii. 2002–03: £65,000

  f. The Department is currently developing a Community Legal Service website which will be launched in April. Final costs are not available at this time.

  2. The Court Service

  a. Set up costs: £18,542

  b. Operating Costs (1999–2000): £16,000

  c. Topics covered: What's New; Court of Appeal and High Court judgments; Practice Directions; Daily Lists for the Supreme Court and the Crown Court (together with their Warned Lists); Supreme Court Costs Office; Crown Court and county court contact details; county court Parish Index; Courts with Divorce, Family and Care jurisdiction in England and Wales; Vexatious Litigants; Civil Procedure Rules Practice Directions; court forms and information leaflets; Court Service Annual report (in English and Welsh); Court Service Plan; Job Opportunities; Judicial Statistics; an Introduction to the Court Service; the Courts' Charter; the Office of the Social Security and Child Support Commissioners; the Immigration Appellate Authority; Special Commissioners for Income Tax; VAT and Duties Tribunal; and links to 19 Related Sites

  d. Average number of unique access hits per month: 27,280

  e. The estimated expenditure on the website for each of the next three years;

  i. 2000–01: £16,000

  ii. 2001–02: £16,000

  iii. 2002–03: £16,000

  3. The Northern Ireland Court Service

  a. Set up costs: nil

  b. Operating Costs (1999–2000): nil. The NICS maintains a number of pages on the Northern Ireland Civil Service website.

  c. Topics covered: Courts Charter and complaints procedures

  d. Average number of unique access hits per month: not monitored by NICS

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  e. The estimated expenditure on the website for each of the next three years:

  i. 2000–01: unknown at this stage

  ii. 2001–02: unknown at this stage

  iii. 2002–03: unknown at this stage

  4. The Public Trust Office

  a. Set up costs: £2,500

  b. Operating Costs (1999–2000): £2,000

  c. Topics covered: introduction to the PTO; charter statements for each business area; details of the complaints procedure; "dormant funds in court" and links to other relevant sites.

  d. Average number of unique access hits per month: Not currently monitored.

  e. The estimated expenditure on the website for each of the next three years:

  s: i. 2000–01: estimated at £20,000. A contract to re-design, build and maintain the website is about to be let. This will provide both for initial work and ongoing development over the next year.

  ii. 2001–02 and 2002–03: the future location of the work done by the PTO is under consideration, following the Quinquennial Review of the agency published in October 1999. Due to this, it is not possible to say what the expenditure will be nor by which department it might be incurred.

  5. The Public Record Office

  a. Set up costs: Total development cost £2,100,000.

  b. Operating Costs (1999–2000): £70,000.

  c. Topics covered: the public records; the services provided by the PRO and Family Records Centre; the operation of the public records system; the PRO contribution to the National Grid for Learning; information for records managers, conservators and the archives profession; the interactive enquiries service; interactive consultation on new developments; and links to other sites of archival or historical interest.

  d. Average number of unique access hits per month: 1,430,262

  e. The estimated expenditure on the website for each of the next three years:

  i. 2000–01: £80,000 (development costs—£500,000)

  ii. 2001–02: £90,000 (development costs—£500,000)

  iii. 2002–03: £100,000 (development costs—£500,000)

  6. Her Majesty's Land Registry

  a. Set up costs: £1,000

  b. Operating Costs (1999–2000): £31,350

  c. Topics covered: About the Land Registry; Exhibitions and Events; Complaints procedure; Areas served by the Land Registry; Direct Access Service; Fees Calculators; Online publications including Annual Report and Accounts; Business Plan; information leaflets; application forms, District Land Registries, Residential Property Price Reports; Guide to Land Registry Services; Feedback facility; Online Property price database.

  d. Average number of unique access hits per month: 29,000

  e. The estimated expenditure on the website for each of the next three years:

  i. 2000–01: £44,431

  ii. 2001–02: £44,431

  iii. 2002–03: £44,431

  7. The Law Commission

  a. Set up costs: £2,400

  b. Operating Costs (1999–2000): £12,000

  c. Topics covered: library containing full text of all Law Commission publications since March 1997; background information on the organisation of the Law Commission; summary of projects currently being undertaken by the

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  Commission; information on current recruitment campaigns; information on all law reform projects underway in all government departments ("Law Under Review").

  d. Average number of unique access hits per month: 3,500

  e. The estimated expenditure on the website for each of the next three years:

  i. 2000–01: £18,500

  ii. 2001–02: £18,500

  iii. 2002–02: £18,500

  8. The Official Solicitor's Office

  a. Set up costs: nil

  b. Operating Costs: (1999–2000): £120

  c. Topics covered: History of the Office; current legal basis and staffing of the office; areas of work covered and workloads; information for the legal profession and for individuals.

  d. Average number of unique access hits per month: not known.

  e. The estimated expenditure on the website for each of the next three years:

  i. 2000–01: £120 (but website development to be reviewed)

  ii. 2001–02: £120

  iii. 2002–03: £120

  9. The Judicial Studies Board

  a. Set up costs: £925

  b. Operating Costs (1999–2000): £1,080

  c. Topics covered: the structure and work of the JSB and its committees; all publications that are available free of charge to members of the public (for example, the "Annual Report" and "Annual Lecture") as well as those publications whose circulation on paper was previously limited simply for financial reasons (for example, the "Equal Treatment Bench Book" and the "Specimen Directions").

  d. Average number of unique access hits per month: 450

  e. The estimated expenditure on the website for each of the next three years:

  iv. 2000–01: £1,000

  v. 2001–02: £5,000

  vi. 2002–03: £3,000

  10. HM Magistrates' Court Service Inspectorate

  a. Set up costs: £7,000.

  b. Operating Costs (1999–2000): £7,208

  c. Topics covered: What's new; Who MCSI are; what MCSI do; how to contact MCSI; Published documents—field inspection, thematic review, business plan and guidelines; Order forms; feedback from the public; links to other related sites

  d. Average number of unique access hits per month: 116

  e. The estimated expenditure on the website for each of the next three years:

  i. 2000–01: £15,000

  ii. 2001–02: £6,500

  iii. 2002–03: £6,500

  11. The Legal Aid Board

  a. Set up costs: £47,000.

  b. Operating Costs (1999–2000): £12,920

  c. Topics covered: the Legal Aid Board's Regional Legal Services Committees; details of the Legal Aid Franchise Quality Assurance Standard; Civil contracting documentation; guidance issued by the Legal Aid Board in relation to the current legal aid scheme, the franchising quality assurance standard and on contracting regime; details on the development of legal aid policies and research reports together with draft consultation documents and final versions of documents for the new funding scheme under the Access to Justice Act 1999, including the Funding Code and the guidance on the Code; addresses and locations of legal aid area/regional offices; details of how to obtain legal aid forms; information on current legal aid leaflets;
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  News about legal aid—copies of Press releases, issues of FOCUS, the Board's newsletter to legal aid providers; and other information of importance; Links to other related websites (e.g. LCD/NACAB etc.).

  d. Average number of unique access hits per month: 15,000

  e. The estimated expenditure on the website for each of the next three years:

  i. 2000–01: £43,000

  ii. 2001–02: £25,000

  iii. 2002–03: £25,000

  12. The Civil Justice Council

  a. Set up costs: £1,116

  b. Operating Costs: £1,175

  c. Topics covered: the background of the Council; the membership of the Council and its Sub-Committees; and summary reports of Council and Sub-Committee meetings.

  d. Average number of unique access hits per month: Not monitored.

  e. The estimated expenditure on the website for each of the next three years:

  i. 2000–01: £1,175

  ii. 2001–02: £1,175

  iii. 2002–03: £1,175.

HEALTH

  Alcohol Strategy
  Ms Atherton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress there has been on the National Alcohol Strategy; and if he will make a statement. [111086]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Department is committed to tackling alcohol misuse including its impact on our key priorities of cancer, heart disease and mental health and are continuing to work with key stakeholders across Government, the alcohol field and the alcohol industry, on a coherent and balanced framework for action that we plan to publish later this year.

  Concrete Recycling Plants
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department have made on the impact on health of silica dust from concrete recycling plants. [111162]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 21 February 2000]: The Department has not undertaken any specific studies into the effects on health that might be produced by exposure to dust generated by recycling concrete. Crushing or drilling of concrete releases silicious dust and exposure can lead to silicosis. This is uncommon, but can occur among those exposed through their work. Regulation of levels of dust in the workplace is the responsibility of the Health and Safety Executive while regulation of emissions is the responsibility of the Environment Agency and local authority environmental health departments. Research shows that it is very unlikely that members of the public exposed to low concentrations of dust near to concrete crushing activity would be placed at any significantly increased risk.

  Residential and Nursing Care
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the variations in local authorities' baseline fee rates for residential and nursing care in England. [110699]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Social Services White Paper, "Modernising Social Services", made clear that contract prices should be determined having regard to providers' costs and planned outcomes for users. The costs of providers of residential care and nursing home care vary across the country.

  Mr. Burnett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of nursing home patients means-tested by social services were granted fully-funded NHS nursing care(a) between 1980 and the judgment of the Court of Appeal in the Coughlan case and (b) from the Coughlan judgment to date. [114739]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information is not available in the format requested. Information on people newly meeting eligibility criteria for continuing National Health Service in-patient care is collected on a quarterly basis. Between 1 April 1995 and 30 June 1999, 125,429 people newly met eligibility criteria for continuing NHS in-patient care. From 1 July 1999 to 31 December 1999 12,076 people newly met eligibility criteria for continuing in-patient care funded by the NHS. Changes in the way the data have been collected since April 1995 may mean that the figures are not comparable.

  Mr. Burnett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding arrangements exist in other European Union countries for individuals whose needs are primarily for nursing rather than social care; and if he will make a statement. [114738]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information is not available in the format requested. Information on international provision of nursing home care in other European Union countries is contained in Chapter 6 of Research Volume 1 which accompanied the report of the Royal Commission on Long Term Care "With Respect to Old Age", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by local authority(a) the average cost per resident per week of providing accommodation in council non-residential care homes and (b) the rate paid per resident per week for accommodation in privately run residential care homes. [115117]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information on reported gross expenditure per week of residential placements by local councils for older people on a per capita basis in 1997–98 is contained in the Department's Key Indicator Graphical System, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Coughlan Case
  Mr. Burnett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) for what reason he has not issued guidance to area health authorities following the Court of Appeal judgment in the Coughlan case; [114737]

  (2) what steps he is taking to ensure that eligibility criteria issued by area health authorities following the judgment of the Court of Appeal in the Coughlan case are lawful. [114736]
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  Mr. Hutton
  We issued interim guidance on 11 August 1999 (Health Service Circular 1999/180 and Local Authority Circular (99) 30). This requires health and local authorities, in consultation with each other and, where appropriate, involving primary care groups, to satisfy themselves that their continuing and community care policies and eligibility criteria and other relevant procedures are in line with the Court of Appeal judgment on the Coughlan case and existing guidance, and to take further legal advice where necessary. The interim guidance also states that where authorities revise eligibility criteria following any review, they should consider what action they need to take to reassess service users against the revised criteria.

  Revised continuing care guidance will be issued in the autumn. In the meantime we continue to monitor the situation.

  NHS Walk-in Centres
  Mr. Dobbin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many NHS walk-in centres have been introduced to date; [115260]

  (2) how many further NHS walk-in centres are planned. [115259]

  Ms Stuart
  There are 36 walk-in centre pilots approved last year. Four have opened to date, with the remaining sites to open by December 2000. Walk-in centres will improve access to and convenience of services for patients.

  No decisions have been made about the number of further walk-in centres which might be developed in the future.

  Private Health Care
  Mr. Dobbin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he gives local authorities on the regulation of private health care. [115282]

  Ms Stuart
  Local authorities do not hold responsibility for the regulation of private healthcare. Private hospitals and clinics are regulated by health authorities under Part II of the Registered Homes Act 1984. Health authorities apply the Act with reference to guidance on the Registration and Inspection of Nursing Homes issued in 1985 by the then National Association of Health Authorities and Trusts. In addition, the Department issued guidance to health authorities in 1995 which was aimed at promoting a more consistent application of regulation by regulation authorities. The Care Standards Bill, currently before Parliament, seeks to introduce a new regulatory system for care homes and private and voluntary healthcare which will be administered by a single body, the National Care Standards Commission.

  Elderly People (Sunderland)
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to improve the standard of(a) nursing and (b) residential home care of elderly people in Sunderland; and if he will make a statement. [115078]

  Mr. Hutton
  Nursing home standards are maintained and improved through the Nursing Homes Registration and Inspection Unit, which is the responsibility of
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  Sunderland Health Authority and Sunderland Social Services. Residential care homes standards are maintained and improved through the Registration and Inspection Department, which is the responsibility of the City of Sunderland Council. In the future, the inspection and regulation of nursing homes and residential care homes will become the responsibility of the National Commission for Care Standards.

  Mental Health Services (Sunderland)
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to extend provision for(a) hospital-based and (b) community-based mental health services in Sunderland. [115079]

  Mr. Hutton
  Sunderland health authority has indicated that it plans to expand provision for(a) hospital and (b) community based mental health services through the following initiatives:

  (a) Hospital
  A strategic review of bed provision at the Cherry Knowle Hospital site.

  (b) Community
  Development of an assertive outreach service.
  Out of hours community practice nurse/social worker team.
  Roll out of pilot scheme looking at multi-disciplinary working between a community practice nurse team and social services.

  Social Services
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on social services(a) nationally and (b) in London in each year from 1979 to 1999. [115104]

  Mr. Hutton
  Gross expenditure on local authority personal social services for England and London is provided in the table.

  Local authority personal social sercives gross expenditure 1979–80 to 1997–98 England and London

  £ million

  Year1

  England

  London 2

  1979–80

  1,489

  3—

  1980–81

  1,844

  3—

  1981–82

  2,038

  3—

  1982–83

  2,249

  3—

  1983–84

  2,492

  645

  1984–85

  2,642

  681

  1985–86

  2,804

  716

  1986–87

  3,080

  794

  1987–88

  3,423

  865

  1988–89

  3,776

  963

  1989–90

  4,204

  829

  1990–91

  4,698

  1,140

  1991–92

  5,127

  1,214

  1992–93

  5,470

  1,294

  1993–94

  6,278

  1,401

  1994–95

  7,503

  1,595

  1995–96

  8,393

  1,771

  1996–97

  9,263

  1,898

  1997–98

  9,984

  2,064

  1 Data for 1998–99 are expected to be published in May 2000

  2 Includes all 33 inner and outer London authorities

  3 Denotes information not available

  Source:

  RO3 return

  Ministerial Visit (Worcester)
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons he cancelled his visit to Worcester on 17 March to top-out the new hospital building; what plans he has to reinstate this visit; and if he will ensure that hon. Members whose constituents will be served by the hospital are given adequate notice of such visits. [115630]

  Yvette Cooper
  Owing to other unforeseen diary engagements my right hon. Friend regrets that he was unable to visit Worcester on 17 March. The visit will be rearranged as soon as possible. Hon. Members whose constituents will be served by the hospital will be notified of the revised arrangements.

  Private Treatment
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations his Department has received from patients who have been on NHS waiting lists but have paid for private treatment. [115337]

  Ms Stuart
  We have received a number of letters from patients and hon. Members on this subject.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letter of 26 January from Mr. John Wood of 21 The Martels, Barton on Sea. [114728]

  Ms Stuart
  A reply was sent to Mr. Wood on 20 March.

  Telecommunications Masts
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the need for further investigation into the health effects of mobile telecommunications masts. [114189]

  Yvette Cooper
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 16 March 2000,Official Report, column 300W.

SCOTLAND

  Oil and Gas Industry
  Mr. Savidge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the future of oil and gas industry businesses in Scotland. [114012]

  Mr. Wilson
  I am a member of Pilot, the successor body to the Oil and Gas Industries Task Force. It has set up a support group for the oil fabrication sector, involving government agencies and the industry. This group is charged with identifying the way forward, and ensuring that the skills base is maintained.

  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the export opportunities for Scottish businesses in the oil and gas industry. [114025]

  Mr. Wilson
  The Government are working hard to promote exports by the oil and gas industry. It is essential we do everything possible to maximise opportunities for
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  Scottish companies. For example, I recently undertook a four-nation tour of the Far East where the oil and gas sector was central to many of my discussions.

  Scottish Economy
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of business and trade unions to discuss the state of the Scottish economy; and if he will make a statement. [114013]

  Dr. Reid
  I meet regularly with representatives of the business community and the trade unions in Scotland. There is widespread recognition of the benefits which the Government's economic policies are producing.

  Mr. Tynan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will ensure that the Chancellor of the Exchequer takes into account the state of the Scottish economy when drawing up his next Budget. [114017]

  Dr. Reid
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will have regard to the economy of the whole UK, including Scotland, in preparing for his Budget.

  Working Families Tax Credit
  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the impact of the Working Families Tax Credit in Scotland. [114014]

  Dr. Reid
  We estimate that around 70,000 families in Scotland have taken up the Working Families Tax Credit.

  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the criteria under which people living in Scotland will be able to take up the Working Families Tax Credit. [114021]

  Dr. Reid
  The Working Families Tax Credit is available to families, either couples or lone parents, who have one or more children; work at least 16 hours a week; are resident in the UK and entitled to work here and have savings of £8,000 or less. We estimate that the WFTC could provide help to 130,000 families in Scotland and that the current take-up in Scotland is around 70,000 families.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what reports he has received on the impact of the Working Families Tax Credit on the Scottish economy. [114024]

  Dr. Reid
  The Working Families Tax Credit, along with other measures we have taken, will lift an estimated 60,000 Scottish children out of poverty by the year 2002.

  New Deal
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the number of Scots who have moved from benefits into work under the New Deal scheme; and if he will make a statement. [114015]

  Mr. Wilson
  By the end of December 1999, 21,370 young people in Scotland had secured jobs through the New Deal. A further 2,870 people had found work through the New Deal for those aged 25 or over.
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  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people in Scotland have moved into unsubsidised employment as a result of the New Deal; and if he will make a statement. [114027]

  Mr. Wilson
  At December 1999, 18,300 young people in Scotland have moved into unsubsidised employment as a result of the New Deal. A further 1,700 people have entered into unsubsidised employment in Scotland as a result of the New Deal 25+.

  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the cost of the new deal scheme in Scotland. [114029]

  Mr. Wilson
  Up to the end of January 2000 the cost of New Deal scheme for Young People, in Scotland, was £45 million.

  Parliament Building
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive about the new Parliament building at Holyrood. [114016]

  Dr. Reid
  Responsibility for the new Parliament building rests with the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the implementation for disabled people in Scotland of the new deal. [114018]

  Mr. Wilson
  New Deal for Disabled People pilots are making good progress. As of January 2000, 2,180 people across Britain previously on incapacity benefits have found work through the programme, including over 300 for pilots based in Scotland. The Government are actively considering what can be provided across the country as a whole, including Scotland. An announcement is expected shortly.

  Scottish Parliament (Elections)
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will bring forward proposals to amend the Scotland Act 1998 in respect of the method of election of members of the Scottish Parliament. [114019]

  Dr. Reid
  I have no plans to review the system of election of members of the Scottish Parliament.

  Exchange Rate
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the effect of the level of sterling on Scottish manufacturing industry, tourism and agriculture. [114020]

  Dr. Reid
  The Government understand the concerns of organisations and businesses, particularly manufacturers trading within Europe, about the value of the pound. But it is determined to take a long-term view and it would be wrong to let short-term pressures lead back to policies that produced boom and bust in the past. Short-term fixes
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  would be the biggest threat of all to industry, tourism and agriculture with the illusion of temporary relief followed by the reality of long-term damage.

  Scottish Executive (Shared Objectives)
  Mr. Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland in what areas of policy he is working jointly with the Scottish Executive to deliver shared objectives. [114022]

  Dr. Reid
  We are working jointly with the Scottish Executive across a wide range of issues to optimise the benefits of devolution for the people of Scotland. The Joint Ministerial Action Committees on Poverty and the Knowledge Economy are good examples of such joint working.

  National Pay Awards
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will bring forward measures to compensate local authorities for national pay awards above inflation through an appropriate contribution to the block grant; and if he will make a statement. [114023]

  Dr. Reid
  The Scottish Executive have the responsibility for determining the level of support which it makes available to local authorities in Scotland. The total budget that is available to the Scottish Executive for this and other purposes is determined in accordance with the Statement of Funding Policy published by HM Treasury in March 1999.

  Forth Bridge
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his role in respect of the safety and maintenance of the Forth Bridge. [114028]

  Mr. Wilson
  My right hon. Friend takes an active interest in the safety and maintenance of the Forth Bridge but it is primarily for the Rail Regulator to ensure that Railtrack complies with its obligations under the Railways (Safety Cases) Regulations 1994 and other legal obligations in relation to the safety of the bridge and its operation.

  Pig Industry
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has held with the First Minister on the future of the Scottish pig industry. [114030]

  Mr. Wilson
  My right hon. Friend has regular discussions with the First Minister on a wide range of issues.

  Television Reception (Rural Areas)
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport regarding television reception in rural areas of Scotland. [114031]

  Mr. Wilson
  The Government are aware of the particular problems in receiving terrestrial television signals in rural areas. I understand that, with the introduction of digital television, new analogue transmitters are no longer being 526W
  planned. However, the BBC and Independent Television Commission, which are responsible for the television transmission network, are now considering, in consultation with the digital broadcasters, the Government, and other interested parties, how to develop the coverage of digital television across the whole of the UK. The Government will ensure that no fewer than those who presently receive analogue television (in Scotland 98.1 per cent. of the population) can receive the main free-to-air channels digitally before the analogue signals are switched over. The process of switch over is subject to close liaison and consultation with all those involved, including viewers.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the claimant count rate of unemployment in Scotland(a) currently and (b) a year ago. [114026]

  Mr. Wilson
  The claimant count rate of unemployment in Scotland in February 2000 was 5.1 per cent., down from 5.6 per cent. in February 1999, and the lowest rate since April 1976.

ADVOCATE-GENERAL

  Scottish Legislation
  Mr. Savidge
  To ask the Advocate-General if she will make a statement on the arrangements for considering whether Bills passed by the Scottish Parliament are within its legislative competence. [114033]

  The Advocate-General for Scotland
  I receive copies of all Bills introduced to and passed by the Scottish Parliament to enable me to consider whether their provisions are within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament. Similar arrangements enable all UK Departments with an interest to do likewise.

  Responsibilities
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Advocate-General if she will make a statement on the opinions for which she has inherited responsibilities from the Lord Advocate. [114034]

  The Advocate-General for Scotland
  One of my functions as a UK Law Officer is to give opinions, when required, to the UK Government on Scots law. This function was performed by the Lord Advocate before devolution.

  European Convention on Human Rights
  Mr. Browne
  To ask the Advocate-General what recent discussions she has had with the Lord Advocate and Solicitor-General regarding the incorporation of the European convention on human rights into Scots law. [114036]

  The Advocate-General for Scotland
  I have regular discussions with the Lord Advocate and Solicitor-General regarding a variety of matters of mutual interest.
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  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Advocate-General what steps she is taking to monitor the impact of the European convention on human rights in Scotland. [114037]

  The Advocate-General for Scotland
  Questions relating to the European Convention on Human Rights may now be raised as "devolution issues" in courts or tribunals in Scotland and must be intimated to me under schedule 6 of the Scotland Act 1998.

  Devolution Notices
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Advocate-General what subjects have been raised with her as devolution issues; and how many cases have now been intimated to her. [114038]

  The Advocate-General for Scotland
  Since May 1999 around 500 devolution notices have been intimated to me. A variety of subjects have been raised and almost all have been in criminal cases. Common subjects include: delay in raising proceedings; access to a solicitor; legal aid; temporary sheriffs; questioning in road traffic cases; and use of hearsay evidence.

  Lockerbie
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Advocate-General what discussions she had with the Solicitor-General for Scotland before his recent visit to Washington to discuss the Lockerbie trial. [114035]

  The Advocate-General for Scotland
  I meet the Lord Advocate, as he now is, from time to time, and our discussions are wide-ranging.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Trade Union Recognition
  Angela Smith
  To ask the President of the Council to ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if it will formally recognise the TGWU 1/427 parliamentary staff branch which represents the staff of hon. Members. [114064]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  No. The Commission is not responsible for the pay and conditions of service of Members' staff. Therefore, the question of formal recognition of a union by the Commission does not arise.

  Modernisation
  Mr. Rammell
  To ask the President of the Council what assessment she had made of the impact of the work of the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons on the way in which the House operates. [114065]

  Mr. Tipping
  I refer my hon. Friend to the oral answers I gave earlier today to my hon. Friends the Members for Rotherham (Mr. MacShane) and North-West Norfolk (Dr. Turner),Official Report, column 853.

  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the President of the Council if she will make a statement on future plans to modernise the working hours of the House. [114066]
  528W
  Mrs. Beckett
  My hon. Friend will be aware that at present, we have experiments both on providing extra sittings in Westminister Hall and on bringing forward the hours of sitting on Thursday.

  I have no further proposals to change sitting hours at present.

  Westminster Hall
  Helen Jackson
  To ask the President of the Council if she will make a statement on the progress of the experiment with sittings in Westminster Hall. [114067]

  Mr. Tipping
  The experiment of sittings in Westminster Hall appears to be successful and will be evaluated by the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons in due course.

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what plans the Committee has for improving the acoustics for sittings in Westminster Hall. [115250]

  Sir Sydney Chapman
  An additional loudspeaker is being installed adjacent to the press table in the Grand Committee Room, which should improve audibility in that area; however, as Sittings of the House in Westminster Hall are still an experiment, it would be premature at this time to allocate additional funds, which could prove to be nugatory, in order to improve the acoustics further.

  If my hon. Friend has been experiencing problems with the acoustics in the Grand Committee Room, she may wish to discuss the nature of the problem directly with the Director of Parliamentary Works.

  Legislation Timetables
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the President of the Council what progress there has been in the development of timetables for legislation in the House this Session. [114068]

  Mrs. Beckett
  I refer my hon. Friend to the oral reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, South (Mr. Griffiths),Official Report, column 851.

  Parliamentary Website
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee what plans the Committee has to review the design of the parliamentary website. [115248]

  Mr. Allan
  As part of its ongoing examination of the information services provided for Members, the Information Committee has discussed the design and content of the parliamentary website with officials. I am advised that a number of improvements have been initiated. These include the addition of Bound Volume text of Hansard back to Session 1988–89, a rebuilding of the publications search engine, the introduction of links to a redesigned internet POLIS and the preparation of a site map.

  Discussions are also taking place with the House of Lords about site design. These include consideration of a major redesign of the site. The work is being undertaken by the Joint Working Party on Information Management and the Parliamentary Intranet, who will be identifying priorities for improvements to the site

  529W
  and making recommendations accordingly. Members of the Information Committee have agreed to provide feedback on their use of the parliamentary website as part of this process.

  E-mail and Internet Service
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee if he will make a statement concerning the continued provision of free remote access to the parliamentary e-mail and internet service. [114055]

  Mr. Allan
  There are currently no plans to withdraw the arrangements for free access to the PDVN. As the hon. Member knows, the Parliamentary Communications Directorate is presently conducting trials of Virtual Private Network (VPN) technology, which would enable Members' constituency offices to connect to the PDVN using an Internet Service Provider (ISP). VPN access to the PDVN would be quicker and more reliable than the current system. No choice of ISP has yet been made and no decision about any charging arrangements has been taken. The Information Committee is closely monitoring developments.

  Committee members generally are committed to the principle of providing the best information services at the least cost to Members. We will consider the proposals
  530W
  from PCD from that point of view and make recommendations accordingly. However, the Committee does not have the authority to make spending decisions of this nature and any recommendation from the Committee with financial implications will have to be passed to the Finance and Services Committee and then on to the House of Commons Commission for decision.

  Refreshment Department
  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the salaries are for the two most senior positions in the Refreshment Department in financial year 1999–2000; and what the percentage increase in those salaries will be in the next financial year. [115252]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  Information on the salary ranges of staff of the House is published in the Commission's Annual Report (Annexe B, Appendices 1 and 2). The pay rates shown in Appendix 2 to Annexe B were increased by 2.9 per cent. and 2.3 per cent. for Band 3 and Band A2 respectively, on 1 April 1999. The pay remit for the next financial year has not yet been approved by the Commission. Pay increases for staff in these pay bands are linked to performance and the salaries of individual members of staff are not published.

  UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture: UK Contribution
  UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture: UK Contribution
  Select Committee on Human Rights: Legal Adviser
  Select Committee on Human Rights: Legal Adviser
  Job Applicants: Sexual Orientation
  Job Applicants: Sexual Orientation
  Spoliation Advisory Panel
  Spoliation Advisory Panel
  "Family": Definition for Tax Purposes
  "Family": Definition for Tax Purposes
  Army Cadet Force
  Army Cadet Force
  Military Support for Relief Work
  Military Support for Relief Work
  Services Cotswold Centre
  Services Cotswold Centre
  War Widows' Pensions
  War Widows' Pensions
  Armed Forces' Meat Supplies
  Armed Forces' Meat Supplies
  Northern Ireland: Smoking-related Deaths
  Northern Ireland: Smoking-related Deaths
  Northern Ireland: Public Transport Expenditure
  Northern Ireland: Public Transport Expenditure
  Local Election Pilot Schemes
  Local Election Pilot Schemes
  Law Commission Recommendations
  Law Commission Recommendations
  NHS Additional Funding, by Region
  NHS Additional Funding, by Region