Written Answers of 9 May 2000

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Kosovo
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the role of the United Nations in Kosovo. [121067]

  Mr. Vaz
  [holding answer 5 May 2000]: The United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) has the unenviable task of reconstructing a devastated province and reconciling a polarised population. To this end UNMIK's operations have divided up under four pillars, covering civil administration, humanitarian relief, democratic institution-building and reconstruction.

  We fully support UNMIK's efforts to carry out its mandate and have provided UK personnel to assist in local government, 60 civilian police officers with a further 90 promised and £119 million in humanitarian relief and reconstruction aid.

  Sierra Leone
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Sierra Leone. [121299]

  Mr. Hain
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 8 May 2000,Official Report, columns 518-29.

DEFENCE

  Nuclear Test Veterans
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many claims for compensation by British nuclear test veterans have been(a) made and (b) settled to date. [121304]

  Dr. Moonie
  My Department has recorded 144 claims for compensation from British nuclear test veterans. As there is no evidence of excess illness or mortality among British nuclear test veterans as a group which could be linked to their participation in the nuclear tests, no compensation claims from them have been settled. In any event, prior to May 1987, Service personnel were prevented from pursuing claims for compensation from the Ministry of Defence by section 10 of The Crown Proceedings Act 1947. The repeal of section 10 by the Crown Proceedings (Armed Forces) Act 1987 was not made retrospective and claims arising from injury or illness caused before the repeal are barred by law.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Dr. Harold Shipman
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from hon. Members regarding an inquest on the 23 alleged victims of Dr Shipman; and if he is minded to direct the Stockport coroner to hold such an inquest. [121461]

  Mr. Straw
  No representations have been made to me on this matter other than from my hon. Friend the Member for Stalybridge and Hyde (Mr. Pendry). Having regard to all the issues, including the difficult position for the relatives if the deaths were not investigated in public, I have agreed that inquests should take place and directions have been sent to the coroner accordingly. The directions give the coroner authority to hold inquests. However, the detailed handling arrangements are matters for the coroner to determine.

  Radio (Emergency Services)
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from(a) other Government Departments, (b) the Fire Service, (c) the Ambulance Service and (d) the Police concerning the Radio Replacement Scheme. [121336]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I have received various representations from police forces, the Association of Police Authorities, individual Police Authorities and other interested organisations in England and Wales about the Public Safety Radio Communications Project (PSRCP). The project represents an important part of our commitment to ensure that the police have access to the modern facilities they need to play their key part in tackling crime and disorder and improving community safety. Concern has been expressed about the cost of the project. I recognise those concerns. Over the three year period starting from the 1999–2000 financial year, the police service will receive an additional £1.24 billion in central Government funding. The annual charges for the PSRC Service will be reduced by the £50 million that I obtained from the Capital Modernisation Fund, specifically for the PSRCP. Consideration of the financial pressures on forces will also be taken into account in the overall level of resources to be provided to the police service in future years as part of the year 2000 Spending Review.

  I have received, also, various representations from the fire services about future radio communications and control room requirements, including views on cost and on participation in the PSRC Service. All fire authorities in England and Wales are now required to undertake Best Value reviews of their communications requirements in 2000–01. I am making available to fire authorities this week the results of a consultancy study to assist consideration of their future control room needs. This strongly confirms the benefits of a joined-up approach in exploring technology to create new possibilities for improving cost-effectiveness and service delivery. This will be followed by guidance on take up of the PSRC Service.

  The PSRC Service represents a positive approach to options to radio replacement programs within the Ambulance Services. The NHS Executive is reviewing this.

  Chinese Head of State (Visit)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the conduct of the Metropolitan police in relation to protesters during the Chinese Head of State's visit in 1999. [121298]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The policing arrangements for the State Visit of the President of China were fully reviewed by the Metropolitan police after the visit, and a copy of the review placed in the Library.

  Since that time, the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has accepted, in the context of court proceedings, that the removal of some flags and banners from protesters was unlawful.

  EU Action Plan
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the role of Europol in co-operation with the Russian Federation authorities combating organised crime in the context of the EU Action Plan. [120851]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  In its meeting on 27 March 2000, the Justice and Home Affairs Council approved the European Union Action Plan on common action for the Russian Federation on combating organised crime. In that meeting, the Council also adopted a Decision authorising the Director General of Europol to enter into negotiations on agreements with certain third states, including the Russian Federation, and non-European Union related bodies. The Government welcome this Council Decision which, in the context of the Action Plan, enables Europol to play a full part in supporting co-operation between the member states and the Russian Federation in combating the common threat from organised crime to mutual advantage.

  Schengen Agreement
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on Government policy on acceding to elements of Schengen in lieu of a third state agreement, as set out in the Council Decision of 27 March, 2000/C106/01; what elements of

  Direct Costs

  £ million

  Benefit

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  Home Office

  —

  —

  —

  —

  537

  Department of Social Security:

  Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance

  205

  195

  150

  150

  1—

  Housing Benefit

  205

  195

  145

  125

  —

  Council Tax Benefit

  10

  10

  10

  10

  —

  Department of Health:

  Adults/Families

  —

  10

  68

  170

  —

  Children

  —

  3

  2

  20

  52

  Total (to nearest £ million)

  420

  413

  375

  475

  590

  1 Home Office figures for 1999–2000 include the following amounts paid to the Department of Social Security for the cost of asylum support:

  Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance—£170 million

  Housing Benefit—£135 million

  Council Tax Benefit—£10 million

  Note:

  Figures may not sum due to rounding
  332W
  information may not be shared under the latter agreement; and what assessment he has made of the additional benefits from direct partial accession. [120850]

  Mrs. Roche
  The United Kingdom Government have applied to participate in the law enforcement and judicial co-operation aspects of the Schengen acquis, including the Schengen Information System (SIS), in order to enhance co-operation at European Union level in the fight against organised and international crime.

  The purpose of the Council Decision referred to is a limited one: it authorises the Director of Europol to enter into negotiations on agreements with third States and non-European Union related bodies. The United Kingdom is, of course, already a full member of Europol.

  The Decision does not cover the broader police and judicial co-operation arrangements provided for in the Schengen Convention, nor the opportunity to participate in the SIS.

  Europol and the SIS were established for entirely different purposes: the Europol Convention specifically excludes exchanges of information between the two databases. The Government's application to participate in parts of the Schengen acquis is complementary to its existing participation in Europol.

  Magistrates Courts
  Mr. Hurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the cost to the probation services in England and Wales consequent upon the closure of magistrates courts from 1 January 1995 to 31 December 1999. [121030]

  Mr. Boateng
  The information on which such estimates could be based is not held locally.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department spent (i) directly and (ii) indirectly on asylum seekers in(a) 1995, (b) 1996, (c) 1997, (d) 1998 and (e) 1999; and what estimate has been made of expenditure in the year 2000. [119485]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 17 April 2000]: The following amounts have been directly spent on supporting asylum seekers. Expenditure is recorded by financial year and it is not possible to give figures for calendar years.
  333W
  The Department of Health did not incur costs of supporting asylum seekers before 1996–97, but from 1996–97 to 1998–99 was responsible for Special Grant payments to local authorities towards the cost of supporting asylum seekers. In 1999–2000, responsibility for grant payments for adult singles and families transferred to the Home Office, with responsibility for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children remaining with the Department of Health.

  The Home Office also incurs other costs of dealing with asylum seekers, but these cannot be separated from the overall costs of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. The following table shows the annual outturn for Immigration and Nationality Directorate, which includes the cost of dealing with asylum seekers. The budgeted amount for 2000–01 has yet to be confirmed.

  Indirect Costs

  £ million

  Year

  Amount spent

  1995–96

  199

  1996–97

  212

  1997–98

  215

  1998–99

  209

  1999–2000

  1260

  1 Forecast outturn

  The Lord Chancellor's Department also incurs costs in dealing with asylum seekers, but these cannot be separated from the overall running costs of the Immigration Appellate Authority. The following table provides administration costs of the Immigration Appellate Authority, which includes the costs of dealing with asylum seekers but excludes accommodation recruitment and other capital expenses. The budget for 2000–01 has yet to be confirmed.

  £ million

  Year

  Amount spent

  1995–96

  8.4

  1996–97

  11.4

  1997–98

  12.5

  1998–99

  14.1

  1999–2000

  16.1

  The Department of Social Security estimates that between 1994 and 1999 the annual administrative cost for income support asylum seeker claims was in the region of £1 million. In 1999–2000, the estimated cost is in the region of £2 million.

  The Department of Health is unable to quantify the indirect cost of asylum seekers as no data are collected for analysis.

  The Department for Education and Employment does not collect information centrally about education, training or employment provision for asylum seekers or their dependants and cannot supply costs spent directly or indirectly from 1995.

  The Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has no programme of expenditure on asylum seekers and indirect expenditure is not separately identifiable.
  334W
  The number of asylum seekers in Northern Ireland is extremely small and any expenditure is, therefore, negligible.

TREASURY

  Employment Tax Credits
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 19 April 2000,Official Report, column 588W, on employment tax credits, what is the higher rate for couples. [120799]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 4 May 2000]: The rate for couples in the illustrative model of the employment tax credit for people without children is £49.50 a week. This is the same as the employment tax credit for people with children that is implied by the introduction of the integrated child credit, based on April 2001 rates of Working Families Tax Credit and Children's Tax Credit. Details of this illustrative model are set out in the table on page 14 of the Treasury paper "Tackling Poverty and Making Work Pay—Tax Credits for the 21st Century".

  Tax (EU)
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals are under negotiation in the EU for(a) Europe-wide taxes and (b) European limits and controls on national taxes. [120809]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 5 May 2000]: EC proposals for legislation are considered by the European Scrutiny Committee and Explanatory Memoranda concerning existing proposals on taxation are in the Library.

  EU-UK Trade
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of United Kingdom exports and imports counted as being within the EU, consists of entrepot trade through Rotterdam and Amsterdam(a) to and (b) from non-EU countries. [120810]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 5 May 2000]: HM Customs and Excise are the Department responsible for collecting trade statistics on the movement of goods with other countries including EC member states.

  Goods from non-EC destinations that transit other EC member states before clearing customs procedures for import in UK are recorded as non-EC movements for trade statistics purposes. Likewise, goods from non-EC destinations that transit other EC member states after clearing customs procedures for export in UK are recorded as non-EC movements.

  Some trade reported as moving within the EC may have previously originated from, or be ultimately destined for, non-EC countries. However, under the Intrastat system these movements are not readily identifiable.

  UK Companies Overseas (Bribes)
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the Inland Revenue takes to ensure that bribes paid by UK companies overseas are not treated as tax-deductible expenses. [121032]
  335W
  Dawn Primarolo
  Section 577A, Income and Corporation Taxes Act (ICTA) 1988 denies tax relief for any payment the making of which constitutes the commission of a criminal offence.

  This effectively denies relief, inter alia, for any bribe which is contrary to the Prevention of Corruption Acts. There is also a general provision (section 577 ICTA) which denies tax relief for any form of business entertainment, hospitality or gift—so some payments which might be in a grey area might in any event be denied relief without the need to show that they were in any way corrupt payments.

  As far as enforcement is concerned, the Inland Revenue examines a proportion of tax returns every year, to ensure that taxpayers pay the correct amount of tax. Most of the returns that are examined in detail are selected after a risk assessment, which identifies those cases where errors are most likely, and where the amount at stake is greatest. Tax inspectors are trained to discover evasion, avoidance and technical errors, by establishing the full facts and applying the correct interpretation of tax law. As part of this process they will, where appropriate, make inquiries about claims for expenditure, to ensure that they are allowed under tax law.

  Children's Fund (Wales)
  Ms Julie Morgan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to distribute money from the Children's Fund in Wales; and what mechanisms will be used to distribute the fund. [119579]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Children's Fund will be used to support voluntary sector projects providing local solutions to the problem of child poverty. These are devolved matters. Work on mechanisms for distributing money is currently focusing on England, but involves dialogue with the devolved administrations.

  The question of resources for the Children's Fund, including any consequentials for the devolved administrations, is being considered as part of the current Spending Review. In the event of spending consequentials it would be for the Welsh Assembly to decide whether and how to establish a Children's Fund for Wales.

HEALTH

  Smokers Helpline
  Siobhain McDonagh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many calls were made to the new helpline for smokers between 10 December 1999 and 11 February 2000. [113837]

  Yvette Cooper
  70,480 calls were answered by the frontscreen service in the specified period. This includes hang-ups, hoaxes and trials, but does not include short-calls lost in the British Telecom system.

  Siobhain McDonagh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the total expenditure on advertising the new helpline for smokers in the current year. [113838]
  336W
  Yvette Cooper
  The total sum of advertising spend on the new tobacco education campaign for the period 10 December 1999–31 March 2000 inclusive was £5,485,000. The breakdown is as follows:

  £

  Ambient media

  141,000

  Billboards

  1,242,000

  TV

  3,190,000

  Press

  397,000

  Radio

  515,000

  The aim of the new campaign is to increase the intention to give up, provide support and encouragement for those who want to give up by communicating that many smokers want to give up and that they are not alone; that giving up is an ongoing and difficult process and that individual support is available in local areas and through the helpline.

  Siobhain McDonagh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of calls to the new helpline for smokers were answered by an automated system (IVR) during the period 10 December 1999 and 11 February 2000. [113839]

  Yvette Cooper
  During the specified period 40 per cent. of calls were answered by the IVR system and 60 per cent. were answered by live operators.

  During the exceptional Millennium period (27 December 1999 to 3 January 2000) 58 per cent. of calls went to IVR and the rest to live operators.

  If these exceptionally high figures for the Millennium period are taken out of the totals the proportion of IVR to live would be 26 per cent. IVR to 74 per cent. live for 10 December 1999 to 11 February 2000.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total expenditure was on advertising the new helpline for smokers, between 10 December 1999 and the end of March 2000; and what the expenditure on the Quitline was for the equivalent period in the previous year. [115395]

  Yvette Cooper
  The total sum of advertising spend on the new tobacco education campaign for the period 10 December 1999 and up until the end of March 2000 is £5,485,000. The breakdown is as follows:

  £

  Ambient media1

  141,000

  Billboards

  1,242,000

  TV

  3,190,000

  Press

  397,000

  Radio

  515,000

  1 The term Ambient media is defined as non-traditional, outdoor media.

  The total advertising spend for 1998–99 was £2,720,000, most of the campaign activity being concentrated in the December 1998 to February 1999 period.

  The aim of the new campaign is to increase the intention to give up, provide support and encouragement for those who want to give up by communicating that many smokers want to give up and that they are not alone;

  337W
  that giving up is an on-going and difficult process and that individual support is available in local areas and through the helpline.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of calls to the new helpline for smokers were answered by an automated system (IVR) during the period 10 December 1999 to 11 March 2000 inclusive; and what was the proportion for calls to Quitline for the equivalent period in the previous year. [115394]

  Yvette Cooper
  35 per cent. of calls were answered by the IVR system in the specified period. The proportion of calls reaching the automated Quitline service in the equivalent period in 1998–99 was 26 per cent.

  If the exceptionally high figures for the Millennium period (27 December 1999 to 3 January 2000) are taken out of the totals the proportion of calls answered by IVR was 22 per cent.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many calls were made to the new helpline for smokers, between 10 December 1999 and 11 March 2000 inclusive; and how many calls were made to the Quitline, in the same period for the previous year. [115396]

  Yvette Cooper
  The 1999–2000 campaign was designed to motivate smokers towards a range of cessation options such as 'going it alone', seeking advice from a general practitioner or pharmacist or visiting a local cessation service, as well as telephoning the helpline or visiting the new campaign website.

  Calls to the helplines funded by the Department were as follows:

  10 December 1999 to 11 March 2000

  0800 169 0 169: 83,451 (calls answered)

  0800 00 22 00: 75,431 (calls answered)

  Total: 158,882.

  In addition, there were 231,891 hits to the website in that period.

  10 December 1998 to 11 March 1999

  175,827 calls were made to Quitline: 0800 00 22 00.

  Griffiths Inquiry
  Dr. Brand
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the report of the independent inquiry into clinical trials in North Staffordshire, prepared last year by a panel chaired by Professor R. K. Griffiths, will be published. [120306]

  Mr. Denham
  The review of the research framework in North Staffordshire was published on 8 May 2000.

  Rheumatoid Arthritis
  Mr. Woolas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to make Etanercept available on the NHS for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. [120655]

  Ms Stuart
  Etanercept will be available on the National Health Service as soon as the manufacturer launches the product in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will have completed the licensing process for the use of Remicade in rheumatoid arthritis; and if he will be referring this to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. [120831]
  338W
  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 8 May 2000]: Remicade has been authorised for the treatment of Crohn's disease. The authorisation was obtained through the European Centralised Procedure which is co-ordinated by the European Medicines Evaluation Agency. If the marketing authorisation holder applies for a new clinical indication for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, the Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products at the European Medicines Evaluation Agency will review the available data and transmit its scientific opinion to the European Commission. European marketing authorisations are published in the form of a commission Decision in the official Journal of the European Communities. Presently, remicade does not form part of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence's (NICE) work programme for this year. However, NICE's work programme is continually being re-assessed and a number of possible additional topics for appraisal by NICE during the year 2000–01 are currently being considered. An announcement will be made shortly.

  Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what reports he has received of the commercial interests of the members of the Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products. [121107]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 8 May 2000]: The Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products is a European committee for which I have no responsibility. I cannot, therefore, answer this question.

  Committee on Safety of Medicines
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make inquiries concerning the commercial interests of all members of the Committee on Safety of Medicines; and if he will publish the results of those inquiries. [121106]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 8 May 2000]: The commercial interests of all members of the Medicines Act Advisory Bodies, of which the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) is one, are published annually in the "Medicines Act 1968 Advisory Bodies—Annual Reports", copies of which are available in the Library. The 1999 report is due to be published in July this year. The latest record of CSM interests in the pharmaceutical industry—correct at 5 May 2000—has been placed in the Library.

  Ozone-friendly Refrigerants
  Mr. Derek Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the use of ozone-friendly refrigerants in air conditioning in NHS premises; in and what guidance is given on this in respect of purchasing new equipment. [120417]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 8 May 2000]: It is the Department's policy to achieve best environmental practice and it is committed to the efficient use of energy and resources. This includes taking action to reduce/minimise pollution, or the risk of pollution, including ozone-depleting substances and greenhouse gases.
  339W
  National Health Service Estates—an executive agency of the Department—issued guidance "Model Engineering Specifications" that includes design notes C4, "Mechanical Ventilation and Air Conditioning Systems" and C10, "Refrigeration". This guides NHS bodies and encourages designers to use ozone-friendly refrigerants. NHS bodies are advised to take these matters into account when making their purchasing decisions.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Coal Industry (BBC)
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information about his decision to pay subsidies to the coal industry was given to the BBC by(a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials in his Department before Monday 17 April. [121050]

  Mr. Byers
  The Department maintains regular contact with the BBC on a range of issues.

  Staff Redeployment
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the reasons for the recent redeployment from his Department's energy policy division of(a) Mr. Mike Atkinson, (b) Mr. Michael Orig, (c) Mr. Alan Wright and (d) Mr. Jonathan Green. [121047]

  Mrs. Liddell
  As is normal practice these moves were decided under the authority of the Permanent Secretary, as part of the Department's career management processes.

  Minimum Wage
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many prosecutions there have been to date for the non-payment by a company to their workforce of the national minimum wage. [121123]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 5 May 2000]: There have been no criminal prosecutions under section 31 of the National Minimum Wage Act 1999 since it came into force 13 months ago.

  This is because the Act also contains a number of provisions empowering enforcement officers to take civil action against non-paying employers and the enforcement body will always use these in the first instance. However, there will be criminal prosecutions where the enforcement body considers them necessary.

  Spirometry Testing
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many test centres have been established for claimants for compensation for chronic bronchitis and emphysema; where they are; and when he expects all planned test centres to be in operation. [120400]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Spirometry testing has been conducted at 36 centres at Barnsley, Blackpool, Bolsover, Bristol, Cannock, Cardiff, Chesterfield, Coventry, Deal, Durham, Drongon, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hessle, Huddersfield, Leeds, Leicester, Lochore, Mansfield, Mexborough, Mountain Ash, Newcastle, Newport, Nottingham, Oxford, Pontefract, Plymouth, Salford, Sheffield, South Rislip, Stoke, Swansea, Whitehaven, Wigan, Wirral and 340W
  Wrexham. In addition to the 46,000 or so spirometry assessments carried at these centres, the Department has also assessed over 3,000 claimants in their homes.

  The centres in Barnsley, Bristol, Cannock, Chesterfield, Coventry, Durham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Huddersfield, Leeds, Lochore, Mansfield, Mexborough, Mountain Ash, Newcastle, Newport, Nottingham, Pontefract, Sheffield, Stoke, Swansea, Wigan and Wrexham have now been fully adapted for the more detailed medical requirements of the main Medical Assessment Process (MAP). There are also new cantres in Ayr, Enfield and Manchester. In addition the spirometry centre in Deal will be adapted shortly. The need for further centres will be kept under review.

  Coal
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list in respect of(a) deep-mined and (b) open-cast coal the tonnages of coal produced in the latest year for which figures are available for each member state of the European Union, together with the amounts of subsidy provided; and if he will list the relevant articles of European Union treaties and relevant regulations or directives relating to limits on non-commercial support for the mining or marketing of coal. [120645]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I have no information on the division between deep-mined coal and opencast coal produced in other member states. Total hard coal production in the EU in 1999 was as follows:Germany 44 million tonnes, UK 36 million tonnes (21 million deep-mined and 15 million opencast), Spain 17 million tonnes and France 4.5 million tonnes.

  The last year for which figures are available for the amount of subsidy provided is 1997. In that year Germany produced 51 million tonnes with authorised operating aid of ECU 4,919.1 million. The UK produced 47 million tonnes (30.3 million deep-mined and 16.7 million open cast) with no operating aid. Spain produced 17.5 million tonnes with authorised operating aid of ECU 704.5 million. France produced 5 million tonnes of hard coal in 1997, but we have no information on the amount of operating aid paid.

  Issues relating to the production of coal are covered by the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community, which is also known as the Treaty of Paris. State aid is prohibited in general terms by Article 4 of that Treaty but Decision 3632/93/ECSC, which is made under Article 95, permits such aid in the limited circumstances detailed in the Decision which include prior Commission approval.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will provide an analysis of how the figure for state aid for the coal industry was derived. [120111]

  Mrs. Liddell
  As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry indicated in his statement to the House on 17 April 2000,Official Report, columns 697-99, the Government are exploring with the European Commission how state aid might be offered to help the coal industry through this period of transition. We will also be consulting with interested parties on the precise structure of the state aid scheme to be put to the European Commission.
  341W
  The amount of aid paid will depend on the outcome of negotiations with the Commission and coal producers as well as market conditions over the next two years. It is too soon to make any detailed analysis of the costs. I have said that I do not rule out a figure as high as £100 million.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the occasions on which he has discussed with the European Commission the potential for state aid to the coal industry. [120114]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I have discussed the potential for state aid to the coal industry with Commissioner de Palacio. Officials in London and Brussels have discussed the issue with the Commission services. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has discussed the matter with Commissioner Monti.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which interested parties he will be consulting regarding the proposed state aid to the coal industry; and by when the consultation process will be completed. [120112]

  Mrs. Liddell
  My officials will discuss the proposed state aid to the coal industry with major coal producers and coal production trade associations, as well as coal users and traders. This informal consultation process will take place during May this year. Any interested parties should contact David Fielder on 020 7215 5593 or write to the Coal Directorate at Room UG23, 1 Victoria Street, London, SW1H 0ET. We will, of course, also be consulting the European Commission prior to submitting a formal notification of aid.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects the European Commission to reach a decision on the legality of the proposed state aid to the coal industry. [120113]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Government will be discussing a proposed state aid scheme for the coal industry with the European Commission and the coal industry over coming weeks. The Commission has three months from the date on which we submit a formal notification of aid in which to reach a decision. As was said to the House on 17 April 2000,Official Report, columns 697-99, we hope to be making the first payments under the scheme during this financial year.

  Regulations
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he plans to adopt the Better Regulation Task Force recommendation of a minimum of three months consultation before regulations are laid before Parliament. [121338]

  Mr. Byers
  We are presently considering the Task Force's recommendations.

  Part-time Work Directive
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will publish guidance on the part-time work directive. [121331]
  342W
  Mr. Byers
  Guidance on the part-time work directive has already been published.

  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to widen the scope of the part-time work directive. [121330]

  Mr. Byers
  Our proposals were laid before Parliament on 3 May and we have no plans to widen their scope.

  Fixed-term Contracts
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he plans to consult on fixed-term contracts. [121332]

  Mr. Byers
  The fixed-term work directive was agreed on 28 June 1999 and is due to be implemented in the UK by 10 July 2001. The Government plan to consult on their proposals in order to meet this deadline.

  Small Business Council
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will list the business qualifications and experience required for the post of Chairman of the Small Business Council; [121334]

  (2) if he will set out the job specification for the Chairman of the Small Business Council. [121335]

  Mr. Byers
  I refer to the DTI news release of 7 March in which my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Small Business and E-Commerce announced the appointment of William Sargent as the first Chair of the Small Business Council and made clear that his experience makes him well suited for the post.

  BNFL
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what communications he received about the BNFL Safety Action Plan between 18 February and 18 April from British Nuclear Fuels. [120042]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I did not receive communications from BNFL on their proposed responses to the HSE reports between 18 February and 18 April.

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what appointments of non-executive directors to the Board of British Nuclear Fuels Limited have not been made under the terms of the Code and Guidance of the Commissioner for Public Appointments; and if he will make a statement. [115995]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 27 March 2000]: I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer I gave to him on 20 March 2000, Official Report, column 412W. I am advised that there is one matter concerning the change of status from executive to non-executive director of one director, currently on a short-term appointment, about which my officials are in contact with the Office of the Commissioner of Public Appointments. Unrelated to that matter, however, the company has announced that the director concerned will be leaving the Board at the end of August upon expiry of the term of his appointment.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Magistrates Courts
  Mr. Hurst
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the costs of administering the magistrates courts in England and Wales in each year from 1995 to 1999. [R] [121024]

  Jane Kennedy
  The gross revenue costs of administering the magistrates courts are as follows:

  Year

  £ million

  1995–96

  330

  1996–97

  330

  1997–98

  325

  1998–99

  328

  1999–2000

  1333

  1 Projected

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Aid
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to assess the effectiveness of provision of long-term development aid channelled through non-governmental organisations to countries in conflict. [120764]

  Mr. Foulkes
  None.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  "Ingredients for Success"
  Mr. Robert Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list those who responded to the consultation exercise, "Ingredients for Success". [119464]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 20 April 2000]: We received and took into account 181 representations in response to "Ingredients for Success". About a quarter of the responses came from nutritionists, about a fifth from local education authorities, and about a further fifth from representative and professional bodies. The remainder came from caterers, school staff, food manufacturers and suppliers, and others (charities and individuals). I will write to the hon. Member with a summary of responses, together with a list of those who responded.

  Correspondence
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when the hon. Member for West Derbyshire can expect to receive a reply to the letter he sent on 21 February about Meadows Primary School. [120679]

  Ms Hodge
  A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 27 March 2000.

  Specialist Staff
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the provision of specialist staff through Ethnic Minority and Travellers Educational Achievement Grant funding. [121253]

  Jacqui Smith
  The Ethnic Minority and Traveller Achievement Grant (EMTAG) is designed to raise standards for those ethnic minority and traveller pupils at risk of under-achieving and to meet the particular needs of pupils for whom English is an additional language.

  We are making available more money than ever before as part of our drive to raise the academic achievements of those ethnic minority groups at risk of under-achieving. For 2000–01, £162.5 million will be available to local education authorities and schools to improve the attainment of ethnic minority, traveller and refugee pupils—an increase of 7 per cent. on the amount available for these purposes in 1999–2000.

  A key element of the grant programme is that the funding should largely go direct to schools, so that head teachers can use it where it is most needed—to employ more teachers and teaching assistants and to work with their local communities. Specialist teachers, bilingual assistants and other classroom assistants supported through the grant have a vital role to play in raising standards for ethnic minority pupils. We expect that, depending on local needs, a large proportion of the grant will be spent on teachers and classroom assistants. As a requirement of the grant, local education authorities are required to provide information about their plans for spending the grant and details of actual expenditure. We will also monitor the numbers of specialist staff employed by EMTAG through an independent evaluation of the grant.

  Computers for Teachers Initiative
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many teachers have received computers as a result of his Computers for Teachers initiative. [121252]

  Mr. Wills
  The deadline for teachers' purchase of computers under this scheme was 30 April 2000. To date, some 15,000 applications for subsidy have been received following purchase of computers by teachers. These are being processed, and more are expected. A final figure will be published later this year.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 2 May 2000,Official Report, column 92W, what was the pupil: teacher ratio in (a) former grant-maintained primary schools and (b) former grant-maintained secondary schools in each of the last five years. [121270]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The available information on pupil teacher ratios in maintained primary and secondary schools is shown in the following table.

  The Department is currently collecting information on pupil:teacher ratios in all schools for January 2000. Provisional national estimates for maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools were published in

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  Statistical First Release "Pupil: Teacher ratios in maintained schools in England (14/2000)" on 12 April 2000, a copy of which is available from the Library. Final data will be published in a statistical volume in September.

  Pupil:teacher ratios in maintained primary and secondary schools:1995–99—Position as at January

  England

  Year

  Number of schools

  Full-time equivalent Pupil
  2

  Full-time equivalent qualified Teacher
  3

  Pupils Teachers ratio
  4

  All maintained primary schools
  1

  1999

  18,234

  4,300,563

  182,646

  23.5

  1998

  18,312

  4,300,388

  181,394

  23.7

  1997

  18,392

  4,271,131

  182,442

  23.4

  1996

  18,480

  4,232,514

  182,626

  23.2

  1995

  18,551

  4,159,021

  181,910

  22.9

  All maintained secondary schools
  1

  1999

  3,560

  3,121,901

  183,578

  17.0

  1998

  3,567

  3,072,822

  181,853

  16.9

  1997

  3,569

  3,041,584

  181,692

  16.7

  1996

  3,594

  3,010,416

  180,868

  16.6

  1995

  3,614

  2,992,857

  181,445

  16.5

  Grant-maintained primary schools

  1999

  511

  142,478

  6,056

  23.5

  1998

  508

  139,619

  5,947

  23.5

  1997

  483

  131,712

  5,656

  23.3

  1996

  448

  120,319

  5,214

  23.1

  1995

  410

  107,803

  4,731

  22.8

  Grant maintained secondary schools

  1999

  668

  641,774

  38,514

  16.7

  1998

  667

  625,781

  38,030

  16.5

  1997

  652

  602,936

  36,838

  16.4

  1996

  642

  579,924

  35,493

  16.3

  1997

  622

  553,007

  34,154

  16.2

  1 Includes local education authority (LEA) maintained and grant-maintained schools.

  2 Includes all full-time pupils and full-time equivalent of part time pupils (each part-time pupil is treated as 0.5 full-time equivalents).

  3 Includes all full-time qualified teachers and full-time equivalent of part time qualified teachers (the directed hours of part-time teachers are converted to full-time equivalent teacher numbers by dividing by 32.5)

  4 The Pupil: Teacher ratio relates the full-time equivalent number of pupils to the full-time equivalent number of qualified teachers.

  Key Stage 2
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what reliability data are available for the end of Key Stage 2 tests; and for what reason they are not published. [121091]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  It is unclear what reliability data are referred to in this question.

  Test reliability relates to how a test question is answered by children or pupils and how consistently it is interpreted in the way anticipated. This aspect of the test question performance is dealt with by means of pre-testing the questions—a process which occurs twice during the life-cycle of a test question. The Government are satisfied that the quality control procedures for the test development and the marking process is thorough and rigorous. This was reflected in the findings of the Rose Review, an independent cross-party panel set up last year to consider the test development and assessment arrangements at Key Stage 2. The data are not published
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  as they form part of the overall process of judging how well a question performs—which takes into account other, judgmental factors.

  Reliability in marking relates to the construction of the mark scheme and how markers interpret the answers to questions. Absolute reliability is achieved when any marker, trained in the use of a markscheme, marks a question and gives it the same mark as any other marker who may mark the same question. Marker training is intended to ensure that marker reliability is as high as possible. Data are collected from markers and analysed each year in relation to the degree of variation from absolute reliability which occurs. The data are used to manage the marking process and remove any markers which may not be performing satisfactorily. As the data relates to individual teachers, they remain confidential.

  The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority publish the findings from their annual evaluation of the test administration procedure.

  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many end of Key Stage 2 English test papers were returned for a review of marking in each of the past four years. [121089]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Data are available only for the past three years:

  1999: 4,974

  1998: 4,095

  1997: 1,881

  Bearing in mind the cohort sizes of approximately 600,000 pupils, these figures represent a very small percentage.

  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many end of Key Stage 2 English test papers were returned for a review of marking last year; and what proportion of these resulted in a change of National Curriculum level. [121088]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  In 1999, 4,974 end of Key Stage 2 English papers were returned for a review of marking. This figure represents approximately 0.8 per cent. of the total number of English papers taken nationally.

  45 per cent. of these reviews resulted in a change of National Curriculum level.

  Age Discrimination
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to ensure that his Department avoids operating policies which result in age discrimination. [121087]

  Ms Hodge
  We are committed to eliminating age discrimination from the Department's policies and practices in line with the "Code of Practice on Age Diversity in Employment", published in June 1999. We are conducting a full review of all our personnel procedures to ensure they are consistent with the standards set out in the code.

  In addition, in line with our commitments to equality of opportunity, the Department already recruits and promotes people on the basis of their competence to do the job without reference to their age through full fair and open competitions; encourages all staff to take advantage

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  of learning and development opportunities; and has given its staff greater flexibility to choose when they retire between the ages of 60 and 65.

  As part of the Department's commitment to continuous improvement, we are currently carrying out a review of the way we ensure that equal opportunities issues, including age, are taken into account in the development of all our policies.

  GCSE Courses
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to abolish the agricultural, horticultural and nautical studies GCSE courses offered by the NEAB. [121086]

  Mr. Wicks
  The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) is currently working with the awarding bodies to develop advice on the list of approved GCSE titles to be offered from 2001. QCA is seeking the views of interested organisations before submitting final recommendations. 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 qualifications in all three areas in the future for young people.

  Post-16 Education
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the staying-on rate for post-16 years education in respect of pupils from schools(a) with and (b) without sixth forms in each of the last five years. [120917]

  Mr. Wicks
  The Department does not collect administrative data on 16-year-olds in education by the type of school attended the previous year. However, estimates of the proportion of 16-year-olds in full-time education in the Spring following Year 11, with a breakdown by school type, are available from the Youth Cohort Study. Estimates for the latest years are given in the following table.

  Proportion of 16-year-olds in full-time education1 in maintained schools at Year 11, England

  Percentage

  1994

  1996

  1998

  School without sixth form

  64

  65

  62

  School with sixth form

  73

  73

  71

  1 The figures do not include those studying part-time.

  Source:

  Youth Cohort Study, Cohorts 7, 8, 9

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he will publish the latest updated timetable for the transition plan for changes in delivery of post-16 years education. [120829]

  Mr. Wicks
  [holding answer 8 May 2000]: We have been working with partner organisations to update the National Transition Plan. The next version will reflect important announcements we made at the end of March on handling the staffing implications of "Learning to Succeed" and the second Funding Consultation
  348W
  Documents which are being issued this week. We intend to publish the next version of the Transition Plan within the next month.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the 10 local education authorities with(a) the highest and (b) the lowest rate of pupils staying on for post-16 years education. [120918]

  Mr. Wicks
  We are committed to a step change in participation and attainment rates for 16 and 17-year-olds. The Learning and Skills Bill sets out reforms in post-16 education and training which we believe will make a significant impact. We have announced details of the new Connexions Service which will provide advice, guidance, information and support service for all 13 to 19-year-olds, whatever their needs and circumstances. Five Connexions Service pilots were announced on 3 February 2000 evaluating various aspects of the new service.

  The information requested on participation in education by LEA is contained in the following table. There are no data available on participation in Government Supported Training by LEA but there is evidence that higher rates of training by TEC areas compensate for low levels of full-time education.

  Participation in full-time education of 16-year-olds by LEA, England, 1997–98

  LEA

  Rate

  10 Highest

  Rutland

  94

  Kingston upon Thames

  93

  Sutton

  93

  Redbridge

  88

  Bath and NE Somerset

  87

  Bournemouth

  87

  Hertfordshire

  85

  Bromley

  84

  Barnet

  83

  Hounslow

  83

  10 Lowest

  Derby

  56

  Sheffield

  56

  Sandwell

  54

  Barnsley

  52

  City of Kingston upon Hull

  52

  South Tyneside

  52

  Sunderland

  52

  Knowsley

  51

  Salford

  49

  Stoke on Trent

  49

  Source:

  Statistical Bulletin 14/99: Participation in education and training by young people aged 16 and 17 in each local area and region, England, 1993–94 to 1997–98

  A-levels
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what proportion of candidates aged 18 years or under achieved three or more grade As at A-level in(a) sixth forms in independent schools, (b) sixth forms in maintained schools, (c) sixth form colleges and (d) other further education colleges in the most recent year for which figures are available; [120913]
  349W
  (2) what was the total average points score for candidates aged 18 years or under attempting at least one GCE A-level from (a) school sixth forms in the maintained and independent sectors, (b) sixth form colleges and (c) other further education colleges in the last year for which figures are available. [120919]

  Mr. Wicks
  The proportion of candidates aged 18 years or under that achieved three or more grade As at A-level in England in 1998–99 was:

  (a) 17 per cent. in sixth forms in independent schools

  (b) 6 per cent. in sixth forms in maintained schools

  (c) 5 per cent. in sixth form colleges

  (d) 2 per cent. in other further education colleges.

  The total average points score for candidates aged 18 or under attempting at least one GCE A-level in England in 1998–99 was:

  (a) 17.9 in school sixth forms in the maintained and independent sectors—22.1 for independent schools and 16.6 for maintained schools

  (b) 16.3 in sixth form colleges

  (c) 9.7 in other further education colleges.

  League Cricket
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will meet representatives of the Lancashire Cricket Board to discuss the regulations relating to the employment of overseas professionals in league cricket. [121266]

  Ms Hodge
  Due to diary commitments, I am unable to meet representatives from the Board. I have arranged for representatives from the Department's Overseas Labour Service to contact the Board to discuss their concerns.

  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received on the employment of overseas professionals in league cricket; and if he will make a statement. [121265]

  Ms Hodge
  I have received a number of letters from Members of Parliament whose constituencies are in Lancashire. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State with responsibility for work permit matters and I have given detailed replies explaining the current criteria for the employment of overseas cricketers which were agreed after consultation with the cricketing governing bodies who are responsible for the development of the game in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what regulations have been introduced in the past five years which change the existing arrangements whereby overseas professionals can be employed in league cricket; and if he will make a statement. [121264]

  Ms Hodge
  In 1993 criteria were introduced which required an overseas cricketer to have played in at least one first class match, as defined by the International Cricket Council (ICC), to qualify for issue of a work permit to play in league cricket.

  This requirement remained until August 1998 when, after consultations with the English and Wales Cricket Board, the Scottish Cricket Union, and representatives of the League Cricket Conference, the criteria were changed. In order to qualify for a permit a player must have played
  350W
  in a minimum of one test match for his country, or at least three one-day internationals, or at least five first class matches, as defined by the ICC. It was also decided that discretion would be exercised when considering applications for former test match players who did not meet this criteria.

  Work permit arrangements for cricket players are reviewed annually between the Department's Overseas Labour Service and the relevant cricket governing bodies.

  Gifted Children
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress has been made with plans for gifted children to sit maths GCSE early under the Maths 2000 project. [121251]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The National Primary Trust is developing Advanced Maths Centres to enable gifted pupils to take GCSE Mathematics in Year 6, following an out of school hours learning programme. The Trust is currently negotiating with 23 Excellence in Cities partnerships with a view to establishing 10 to 15 centres. Each would cater initially for up to 40 pupils from schools within Excellence in Cities areas. This initial cohort would take GCSE examinations in Summer 2001.

  Deaf and Blind Children
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what additional resources, following the recent Budget, he has allocated to local education authorities to support peripatetic teachers of the deaf and blind who support children in mainstream classes. [121329]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  All schools will be free to use the £290 million extra funding announced in the budget as they see fit. It will therefore be open to them to allocate some of the extra funding to employ peripatetic teachers of the deaf and blind, where they have children who would benefit from such support. Funding is also available under Standards Fund grant 18 to support the training and development of teachers of deaf and blind pupils.

  "News Update"
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the cost of(a) preparation, publication and printing and (b) postage and distribution of "News Update" from his Department; how many copies have been printed; and to whom they have been distributed, in each year since it commenced publication. [121327]

  Mr. Wicks
  "News Update" is produced five times a year. Production costs on average £1,300 per issue, including printing. The print run is 3,500 per issue. Since the first issue in November 1998, the total production costs have been £11,700.

  "News Update" is distributed to MPs, opposition front-bench spokespersons in the House of Lords, Local Education Authority Chairs and Chief Executives, Trade Union General Secretaries, TEC Chief Executives and internally to senior staff at the DfEE and the Employment Service. Much of the distribution is through the DfEE's internal mail network without quantifiable cost. External postage amounts to about £80 per issue.

  Higher Education
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what institutions are currently designated under section 28 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992; and which of these have(a) been designated and (b) have had their designation withdrawn during the last three years. [120830]

  Mr. Wicks
  [holding answer 8 May 2000]: There are currently 32 designated colleges under section 28 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992. Of these, 19 are designated under subsection 28(2)(a) as former voluntary aided schools and the remaining 13 colleges were designated under subsections 28(2)(b) and 28(2)(c) and are generally referred to as "specialist designated".

  There have been no new designations since the establishment of the FE sector on 1 April 1993. Three designated colleges have merged since then with other colleges: St. Phillip's Roman Catholic Sixth Form College (now part of South Birmingham College) on 31 August 1995; National Sea Training College (now part of North West Kent College of Technology) on 25 October 1996; and De La Salle College (now part of Pendleton College) on 7 February 1997.

  The full list of designated colleges is as follows:

  Aquinas College, Stockport

  Cardinal Newman College, Preston

  Carmel College, St. Helens

  Christ the King Sixth Form College, Lewisham

  College of Richard Collyer in Horsham, Horsham

  Holy Cross College, Bury

  King Edward VI College, Nuneaton

  King Edward VI College, Stourbridge

  Loreto College, Manchester

  Ludlow College, Ludlow

  Notre Dame Sixth Form College, Leeds

  St. Brendan's Sixth Form College, Bristol

  St. Charles Catholic Sixth Form College, London

  St. Dominic's Sixth Form College, Harrow-on-the-Hill

  St. Francis Xavier Sixth Form College, London

  St. John Rigby Roman Catholic Sixth Form College, Wigan

  St. Mary's College, Blackburn

  St. Mary's RC Sixth Form College, Middlesbrough

  Xaverian College, Manchester

  City Literary Institute, London

  Cooperative College, Loughborough

  Cordwainers College, Hackney

  Fircroft College of Adult Education, Selly Oak

  Hillcroft College, Surbiton

  Marine Society College of the Sea, London

  Mary Ward Centre, London

  Morley College, London

  Northern College for Residential Adult Education, Barnsley

  Plater College, Oxford

  Ruskin College, Oxford

  Worker's Educational Association, London

  Working Men's College, London.

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  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many extra full-time places in higher education have been created in each of the last five years. [120834]

  Mr. Wicks
  [holding answer 8 May 2000]: The available information is given in the table. Plans which distinguish between full and part-time places are available only from the academic year 1999–2000.

  Publicly funded higher education places in England
  1

  FTEs in thousands

  Financial year

  Planned places

  Extra funded places (or reduction)

  1994–95

  941

  —

  1995–96

  961

  20

  1996–97

  1,003

  243

  1997–98

  1,001

  (2)

  1998–99

  1,023

  22

  1999–2000

  1,035

  12

  1 Includes full and part-time, undergraduate and postgraduate students on the basis of full-time equivalents (FTEs). Places shown are those funded through the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) or the Teacher Training Agency (TTA), and exclude those in further education colleges funded by the Further Education Funding Council (FEFC).

  2 1996 plans included an additional 28,000 mainstreamed continuing education places, which had previously not been funded.

  Pupil Subsidies (Hardship)
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the cost of(a) free school meals and (b) clothing grants and other subsidies for children attending maintained schools in (i) 1970, (ii) 1980 and (iii) 1999; and if he will estimate how many children in receipt of such benefits came from broken homes. [119771]

  Jacqui Smith
  The Department does not collect this information. However, using data on school meals take-up, we estimate that the cost of providing free school meals in England in the 1999–2000 financial year was over £300 million. The Department did not collect statistics on the take-up of free school meals before 1989, so we cannot estimate their cost in 1970 and 1980. Under education legislation, local education authorities and schools must offer free school meals to those pupils whose parents receive income support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance. We do not collect data on the numbers of eligible pupils from broken homes.

  Local education authorities have discretionary powers to offer clothing grants and other miscellaneous subsidies to children in cases of hardship. It is for each authority to set its own eligibility criteria for grant, in the light of local needs and circumstances. The Department does not collect data on these grants.

  Performance and Assessment
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the recent research by David Jesson of the Centre for Performance Evaluation and Resource Management at the University of York; and if he will make a statement. [119922]
  353W
  Jacqui Smith
  An analysis by the Department's Analytical Services has shown that, broadly speaking on average points scores, the most able 25 per cent. of pupils achieved the same result in selective and non-selective schools.

  David Jesson's research is a further contribution to this debate.

  Special Schools
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many(a) primary and (b) secondary special schools have closed since 1995 in each local education authority. [119539]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 17 April 2000]: The table sets out the number of maintained special schools which have closed in each local education authority area since 1995. It does not include those authorities where no such closures have taken place. It includes closures which have been approved but which have not yet taken place. But the closure of some special schools is usually followed by the opening of others, or by the establishing of special units within mainstream schools.

  While there are some special schools which cater for pupils wholly of primary school age, or wholly of secondary school age, there are many others which cover both phases, so it is not possible to split the figures between primary and secondary.

  Table of local authorities showing number of special schools approved for closure or closed since 1995

  Local education authority

  Number

  Avon

  1

  Barking

  3

  Barnet

  1

  Barnsley

  3

  Bedfordshire

  1

  Birmingham

  5

  Blackburn

  2

  Bolton

  2

  Bradford

  1

  Bristol

  2

  Bromley

  1

  Bury

  1

  Cambridgeshire

  2

  Camden

  4

  Cheshire

  1

  Derbyshire

  4

  Durham

  8

  Essex

  5

  Gateshead

  4

  Gloucestershire

  4

  Hackney

  1

  Hampshire

  2

  Haringey

  1

  Harrow

  2

  Hertfordshire

  4

  Islington

  1

  Kingston upon Hull

  2

  Kirklees

  1

  Knowsley

  2

  Lambeth

  4

  Lancashire

  3

  Leeds

  3

  Lewisham

  1

  Liverpool

  11

  Manchester

  2

  Merton

  1

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  10

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  Table of local authorities showing number of special schools approved for closure or closed since 1995

  Local education authority

  Number

  Newham

  6

  North Lincolnshire

  2

  North Somerset

  2

  Northumberland

  2

  Nottingham City

  7

  Oldham

  3

  Oxfordshire

  2

  Peterborough

  1

  Rochdale

  1

  Salford

  3

  Sandwell

  1

  Sheffield

  3

  South Gloucestershire

  2

  Southwark

  1

  St. Helens

  2

  Staffordshire

  2

  Stockport

  4

  Sunderland

  1

  Telford and Wrekin

  4

  Tower Hamlets

  2

  Trafford

  6

  Wakefield

  2

  Walsall

  1

  Waltham Forest

  1

  Wandsworth

  3

  Warwickshire

  5

  Westminster

  1

  Wigan

  5

  Wiltshire

  1

  Total

  185

  Nursery Education
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much money has been provided to each local education authority, on a ring-fenced basis, for the provision of nursery places for four-year-olds, since May 1997; and what criteria are used by his Department for the expenditure of that money. [119490]

  Ms Hodge
  [holding answer 17 April 2000]The following table shows the estimated amount of specific grant this Government have provided to each Local Education Authority, since May 1997, for four-year-old early education places, amounting to £631.2 million.

  The criteria for the provision of this funding is set out in the "Requirements of Nursery Education Grant" which is issued to all Local Education Authorities annually. I have placed a copy of this in the Library.

  In addition to this specific grant funding, the table also shows the level of funding provided, since April 1997, for the Under Fives Education Standard Spending Assessment (SSA) sub block, which has increased from £1,089 million in 1997–98 to £1,342 million in 2000–01, an increase of £253 million.

  £

  LEA Number/name

  Specific grant funding for 4 year old places May 1997-March 2000

  Under Fives SSA sub block From 1997–98 to 2000–01

  201 City of London

  44,239

  525,635

  202 Camden

  2,447,710

  26,199,350

  203 Greenwich

  2,773,478

  34,439,251

  204 Hackney

  2,980,044

  42,099,645

  355W

  £

  LEA Number/name

  Specific grant funding for 4 year old places May 1997-March 2000

  Under Fives SSA sub block From 1997–98 to 2000–01

  205 Hammersmith and Fulham

  1,636,268

  22,208,333

  206 Islington

  2,114,722

  32,213,647

  207 Kensington and Chelsea

  1,032,706

  16,291,874

  208 Lambeth

  3,070,930

  47,315,973

  209 Lewisham

  3,130,106

  41,799,656

  210 Southwark

  3,167,629

  49,295,463

  211 Tower Hamlets

  2,146,908

  44,930,632

  212 Wandsworth

  3,867,737

  36,090,382

  213 Westminster

  1,849,560

  20,979,552

  301 Barking and Dagenham

  1,765,439

  24,125,654

  302 Barnet

  3,614,333

  35,006,253

  303 Bexley

  2,606,279

  24,149,142

  304 Brent

  2,736,491

  39,619,753

  305 Bromley

  5,100,604

  29,248,314

  306 Croydon

  6,048,437

  42,273,609

  307 Ealing

  3,430,661

  42,080,847

  308 Enfield

  3,445,040

  36,796,575

  309 Haringey

  2,429,547

  38,830,346

  310 Harrow

  2,215,048

  22,798,730

  311 Havering

  2,776,425

  22,302,298

  312 Hillingdon

  2,672,244

  23,681,920

  313 Hounslow

  2,013,805

  28,155,892

  314 Kingston-upon-Thames

  1,668,814

  11,962,294

  315 Merton

  2,048,953

  19,245,190

  316 Newham

  3,091,355

  50,441,093

  317 Redbridge

  3,435,180

  27,301,291

  318 Richmond-upon-Thames

  2,362,189

  13,401,432

  319 Sutton

  1,974,014

  15,210,394

  320 Waltham Forest

  2,554,006

  33,335,378

  330 Birmingham

  11,783,384

  139,962,427

  331 Coventry

  3,384,879

  34,287,990

  332 Dudley

  3,710,884

  28,815,226

  333 Sandwell

  2,987,298

  35,453,907

  334 Solihull

  2,397,517

  19,229,377

  335 Walsall

  2,604,948

  28,904,993

  336 Wolverhampton

  2,570,806

  29,114,582

  340 Knowsley

  1,585,878

  23,661,932

  341 Liverpool

  4,907,920

  59,188,289

  342 St. Helens

  1,932,173

  17,927,819

  343 Sefton

  2,947,503

  26,480,973

  344 Wirral

  4,149,910

  33,882,113

  350 Bolton

  2,841,652

  28,236,268

  351 Bury

  2,251,775

  17,048,891

  352 Manchester

  4,457,698

  63,455,403

  353 Oldham

  2,619,319

  26,597,738

  354 Rochdale

  2,254,788

  25,545,335

  355 Salford

  2,707,015

  26,462,617

  356 Stockport

  3,484,095

  25,133,268

  357 Tameside

  2,408,284

  23,291,539

  358 Trafford

  2,865,589

  20,312,104

  359 Wigan

  3,433,156

  28,979,591

  370 Barnsley

  2,187,391

  20,484,099

  371 Doncaster

  2,977,993

  31,382,784

  372 Rotherham

  2,912,829

  24,035,721

  373 Sheffield

  6,057,663

  47,356,406

  380 Bradford

  5,486,859

  61,363,771

  381 Calderdale

  1,942,438

  20,765,966

  382 Kirklees

  4,337,797

  41,447,454

  383 Leeds

  7,960,883

  70,718,825

  384 Wakefield

  3,498,079

  28,404,693

  390 Gateshead

  2,018,410

  19,314,038

  391 Newcastle Upon Tyne

  2,904,090

  28,988,668

  392 North Tyneside

  1,873,911

  18,124,299

  393 South Tyneside

  1,430,236

  16,268,735

  394 Sunderland

  2,823,357

  30,647,773

  420 Isles of Scilly

  24,401

  223,825

  800 Bath and North East Somerset

  2,198,269

  12,718,586

  801 City of Bristol

  4,179,267

  39,699,083

  802 North Somerset

  2,598,843

  13,907,594

  803 South Gloucestershire

  3,442,961

  21,981,555

  805 Hartlepool

  950,625

  10,341,339

  806 Middlesbrough

  1,534,150

  18,459,150

  807 Redcar and Cleveland

  1,400,437

  15,375,552

  808 Stockton on Tees

  1,898,200

  19,105,620

  810 Kingston Upon Hull

  2,903,707

  30,263,632

  811 East Riding of Yorkshire

  3,573,101

  23,043,212

  812 North East Lincolnshire

  1,809,580

  36,801,075

  813 North Lincolnshire

  1,602,657

  14,175,583

  356W

  £

  LEA Number/name

  Specific grant funding for 4 year old places May 1997-March 2000

  Under Fives SSA sub block From 1997–98 to 2000–01

  815 North Yorkshire

  6,545,160

  44,474,348

  816 City of York

  2,026,232

  13,483,553

  820 Bedfordshire

  5,478,779

  32,620,541

  821 Luton

  2,362,532

  23,342,271

  825 Buckinghamshire

  7,145,460

  36,818,705

  826 Milton Keynes

  3,793,569

  18,601,327

  830 Derbyshire

  7,882,768

  56,773,285

  831 City of Derby

  2,631,137

  24,323,450

  835 Dorset

  5,964,663

  25,105,447

  836 Poole

  2,198,869

  10,824,072

  837 Bournemouth

  2,397,719

  11,566,800

  840 Durham

  4,731,876

  46,614,569

  841 Darlington

  1,184,119

  10,096,485

  845 East Sussex

  6,174,647

  37,623,254

  846 Brighton and Hove

  2,955,123

  21,053,357

  850 Hampshire

  19,734,237

  105,388,667

  851 Portsmouth

  2,631,819

  19,972,766

  852 Southampton

  2,667,163

  22,898,940

  855 Leicestershire

  8,459,289

  42,050,808

  856 City of Leicester

  3,376,784

  37,494,284

  857 Rutland

  431,985

  2,267,346

  860 Staffordshire

  8,843,720

  66,060,025

  861 Stoke on Trent

  2,395,675

  24,933,123

  865 Wiltshire

  7,039,003

  24,059,879

  866 Swindon

  3,528,047

  17,156,587

  867 Bracknell Forest

  2,146,276

  8,643,081

  868 Windsor and Maidenhead

  2,685,865

  19,969,052

  869 West Berkshire

  1,997,405

  9,761,799

  870 Reading

  1,579,927

  12,693,025

  871 Slough

  625,883

  15,076,047

  872 Wokingham

  3,078,414

  9,333,372

  873 Cambridgeshire

  7,071,693

  45,390,961

  874 Peterborough

  2,910,513

  19,057,525

  875 Cheshire

  11,322,430

  56,519,961

  876 Halton

  1,244,530

  14,060,951

  877 Warrington

  4,185,917

  18,084,822

  878 Devon

  10,254,437

  49,728,187

  879 Plymouth

  3,874,095

  22,639,526

  880 Torbay

  1,493,816

  10,092,027

  881 Essex

  17,727,923

  110,200,579

  882 Southend-on-Sea

  2,230,039

  16,388,210

  883 Thurrock

  1,313,651

  15,127,821

  884 Herefordshire

  2,490,837

  13,154,133

  885 Worcestershire

  8,782,704

  41,417,451

  886 Kent

  20,422,401

  122,161,732

  887 Medway Towns (R and G)

  2,156,170

  26,508,014

  888 Lancashire

  16,605,957

  107,804,099

  889 Blackburn with Darwen

  1,297,803

  19,905,426

  890 Blackpool

  2,076,049

  14,023,959

  891 Nottinghamshire

  9,647,913

  53,218,304

  892 City of Nottingham

  2,529,142

  32,514,913

  893 Shropshire

  4,541,257

  18,408,566

  894 Telford and Wrekin

  1,392,112

  14,919,311

  908 Cornwall

  5,728,739

  35,616,608

  909 Cumbria

  5,010,134

  42,532,605

  916 Gloucestershire

  8,751,420

  47,048,781

  919 Hertfordshire

  13,729,335

  95,207,322

  921 Isle of Wight

  2,118,616

  10,961,727

  925 Lincolnshire

  5,808,892

  52,483,372

  926 Norfolk

  9,427,151

  41,930,030

  928 Northamptonshire

  8,194,925

  58,586,326

  929 Northumberland

  2,888,327

  25,987,204

  931 Oxfordshire

  8,959,795

  42,953,283

  933 Somerset

  7,133,883

  39,937,579

  935 Suffolk

  9,199,437

  49,416,913

  936 Surrey

  16,018,864

  84,705,754

  937 Warwickshire

  6,494,790

  41,153,322

  938 West Sussex

  12,400,914

  54,837,210

  Total

  631,196,266

  4,887,492,000

  Note:

  Specific grant funding provided in 1997–98 to LEAs that no longer exist have been distributed across the new LEA areas. Where there is more than one new area it has been distributed according to the percentage of funding the new areas received in 1998–99 and 1999–2000.

  Human Rights and Disability
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what response he has made to the National Disability Council's report on Human Rights and Disability. [120832]

  Ms Hodge
  [holding answer 8 May 2000]: The report "The Impact of the Human Rights Act on Disabled People" was prepared for, and recently published by, the National Disability Council and The Royal National Institute for Deaf People. The NDC has sent copies to the Chairs of the Disability Rights Commission, the Commission for Racial Equality, the Equal Opportunities Commission and to Northern Ireland's Equality Commission and Human Rights Commission and to a range of disability and other organisations, as a contribution to the debate on the human rights legislation.

  It is an interesting report and we are considering how best to make use of the material that it contains.

  Learning Accounts
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he will introduce the national arrangements for issuing individual learning accounts; who is the contractor selected; how many people have applied to individual TECs and remain on a waiting list; and what criteria will be applied for entitlements, including those in connection with transport and child care costs. [120833]

  Mr. Wicks
  [holding answer 8 May 2000]: I can answer most of the hon. Member's question by referring him to the replies I have given to the previous parliamentary questions of 3 April and 4 May 2000, Official Report, columns 295W and 196W respectively.

  Our latest figures show that in England, over 117,000 accounts had been opened by the end of March 2000. This is against a UK target of 100,000 accounts opened by April 2000, and we are on track to achieve the target of 1 million accounts opened in the lifetime of this Parliament.

  I am pleased to announce that the Department has issued a letter of intent to Capita Group to start the development of these services under the national framework.

  From April, we have been offering 80 per cent. discounts for computer literacy courses through Further Education colleges in England. Anyone aged 19 or over can open a learning account and claim the incentives. When deciding eligibility for the incentives, we will take into account the type of learning people plan to undertake and any Government financial support they already get for their chosen learning. Child care and transport costs will not be eligible for the incentives.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT ANDTHE REGIONS

  Regional Development Agencies
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what arrangements he has made to monitor the performance of regional development agencies. [120154]
  358W
  Ms Armstrong
  We developed an interim evaluation and performance monitoring framework for the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) prior to their establishment on 1 April last year. This framework included a set of core indicators that reflected the purposes for which the RDAs were set up, to be used by the RDAs in developing their regional strategies.

  We undertook to review the interim framework within 18 months of the establishment of the RDAs, and we have recently started to take this review forward.

  A38 Bypass
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his bypass programme for the A38. [120155]

  Mr. Hill
  The Dobwalls bypass and the Saltash-Stoketon Cross improvement schemes are being considered under the London to South-West and South Wales multi-modal study. The outcome of the study will inform consideration of transport infrastructure requirements in preparing Regional Planning Guidance, including the need for improvements to the trunk road network.

  New Houses (South-East)
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received on his proposals for housebuilding in the South-East. [120156]

  Mr. Raynsford
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is just beginning to receive representations on his proposals. These are subject to public consultation until 19 June. He expects to receive further representations to his "Proposed Changes to Draft Regional Planning Guidance" (RPG9) during the course of the consultation period.

  Trans-European Road Network
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on investment in Trans-European Network roads. [120157]

  Mr. Hill
  Parts of the national trunk road network have also been designated as Trans-European Network (TEN) routes. Our plans for investment in the trunk road network were set out in "A New Deal for Trunk Roads in England".

  Air Pollution
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on Government policy concerning the emission of greenhouse gases by aircraft within UK jurisdiction. [120158]

  Mr. Mullin
  Emissions from aircraft on domestic flights are already included in the UK totals and targets. The draft Climate Change Programme, published in March, sets out our plans for delivering the UK's target under the Kyoto Protocol and moving towards our
  359W
  domestic goal of a 20 per cent. cut in carbon dioxide emissions by 2010. We are also working in ICAO towards the reduction of emissions from international aviation.

  Fishing Vessels (Safety)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to modify the regulations governing the safety of the crews of United Kingdom-registered fishing vessels. [120160]

  Mr. Hill
  We have recently introduced the Fishing Vessels (EC Directive on Harmonised Safety Regime) Regulations 1999, and we are continuing to implement occupational health and safety directives. We propose to introduce a safety code for under-12m fishing vessels and to review the UK Fishing Vessel (Safety Provisions) 1975.

  Transatlantic Aviation Market
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to raise the full liberalisation of the transatlantic aviation market at the bilateral talks with the United States in June. [120161]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Government will persist in their efforts to secure the liberalisation of the UK/US aviation market at the next round of formal talks to be held in June.

  Cheam Station
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make improvements to the condition and fabric of Cheam station a condition of the re-award of the relevant franchise. [120162]

  Mr. Hill
  As the hon. Gentleman will know from the recent adjournment debate about the replacement of the Connex South Central franchise, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has issued instructions to the Franchising Director asking him to deliver improvements through renegotiation of franchise agreements. The replacement bids for this franchise must include proposals for improved station facilities and a cleaner, safer station environment.

  Green Belt
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to protect existing green belt areas. [120163]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Planning Policy Guidance note 2 already states that land in designated green belts should be protected against inappropriate development. Local planning authorities must take it into account in preparing their development plans and in individual development control decisions.

  Climate Change
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent research he has commissioned to determine the effects of climate change on human health. [120164]
  360W
  Mr. Meacher
  My Department supports research on the global impacts of climate change on human health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The Department of Health has commissioned a report from the Institute for Environment and Health on the possible impacts of climate change on health in the UK.

  Railtrack Safety Company
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the safety company of Railtrack will be incorporated; and when the managing director will be appointed. [120165]

  Mr. Hill
  The Health and Safety Executive and the Rail Regulator will shortly be starting a statutory consultation on changes to Regulations and to Railtrack's licence necessary to enable the new company to function. I understand that Railtrack is proceeding as far as it can with the arrangements for setting up the new company.

  Regeneration
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps the Government are taking to ensure that disadvantaged neighbourhoods outside the inner cities benefit from regeneration programmes. [120166]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Renewing and revitalising poor neighbourhoods has consistently been a high priority for this Government and a consultation framework on the National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal was published by the Social Exclusion Unit in April. We are already addressing the needs of disadvantaged neighbourhoods outside the inner cities through the Single Regeneration Budget but the future role of all the regeneration programmes is being considered in the current spending review.

  Fifth Freedom Rights
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which non-United Kingdom and non-United States carriers have received further fifth freedom rights from the UK in the last year; and which applications are still outstanding. [120167]

  Mr. Mullin
  In the last year the UK has granted new fifth freedom traffic rights, or additional frequencies to existing rights, to the designated airline or airlines of the following countries:

  Bahrain

  Bangladesh

  Greece

  India

  Luxembourg

  Mauritius

  Namibia

  Pakistan

  Uganda.

  Requests for new fifth freedom rights are often made in the course of negotiations but are then not pursued.

  Regional Airports (Access)
  Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on access by non-UK carriers to regional airports. [120168]

  Mr. Mullin
  Since June 1998 all bilateral partners with whom we did not already have liberal air services agreements have been offered unrestricted access to all UK regional airports, so long as UK airlines are also allowed to operate on the same routes. Some 17 countries have accepted the offer, and it has been discussed in virtually all air services negotiations held since June 1998.

  Organophosphates
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will circulate the revised HSE Guidance Note MS17, entitled "Medical Aspects of Work-Related Exposure to Organophosphates", to(a) potential users of organophosphates and (b) GPs. [120169]

  Mr. Meacher
  No. MS17 is a priced publication available on that basis to anyone, but it is written for doctors and other health professionals and would not be helpful to the general user of organophosphates. All GPs are being made aware of its existence, but it would be wasteful to distribute it to the many who will have no cause to refer to it.

  Transport for London
  Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to meet the Mayor of London to discuss the entry into operation of Transport for London. [120170]

  Mr. Hill
  My right hon. Friend will be meeting the Mayor of London in due course to discuss a range of issues, including transport.

  Thames Gateway
  Mr. Paul Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the future development of the Thames Gateway. [120171]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced on 7 March that the Thames Gateway remains a focus for development and an opportunity for growth in the south-east. Draft Regional Planning Guidance published on 22 March identifies the regeneration of the area as a national and regional priority and proposes an extension of the boundary into south Essex. Stronger implementation structures, including a new strategic partnership and local delivery mechanisms, are being discussed with local and regional organisations in the area.

  Local Authority Debt
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the trend in the level of external local authority debt in the last three years for which figures are available. [120172]
  362W
  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The trend in the level of external debt of local authorities in England is broadly flat. Total external debt has been estimated at about £37 billion at end March in each of the years 1997, 1998 and 1999.

  Second and Holiday Homes
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the extent of(a) second and (b) holiday home ownership in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [120173]

  Mr. Mullin
  Estimates based on the Survey of English Housing (SEH) indicate that there were about 234,000 English households who owned second homes in England and Wales in 1998–99.

  Some 46 per cent. of SEH respondents owning a second home included "holiday home/retirement home/weekend cottage" as one of their reasons for having the second home. This would indicate a figure for holiday home ownership of around 108,000.

  There is no comparable recent and reliable source of information on people whose main residence is in Wales who have a second home in England or Wales.

  Packaging Waste
  Jane Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the packaging waste compliance scheme registration fee structure. [120174]

  Mr. Meacher
  In the light of experience with the current arrangements, we intend to consult shortly on an alternative structure for registration fees for compliance schemes.

  NATS Employees (Share Allocation)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many shares are to be allocated to NATS employees under the arrangements proposed in the Transport Bill. [120175]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Government propose that 5 per cent. of NATS shares are to be made available for an employee share scheme. Details will be worked up in due course following consultation with NATS' employee representatives and, when selected, the strategic partner.

  Regional Development Agency(Yorkshire and Humberside)
  Kali Mountford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the work of the regional development agency in the Yorkshire and Humberside region. [120176]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Government have set Yorkshire Forward the challenging task of leading the revitalisation of the Yorkshire and Humber economy. The first step towards this goal was made with the production of a Regional Economic Strategy. The strategy, a well structured framework for promoting economic development and competitiveness in the region, was welcomed by the Government earlier this year.
  363W
  Yorkshire Forward is now working with other partners to develop a series of Action Plans to take forward key actions in the Strategy. At the same time, Yorkshire Forward has made good use of its programme funding to secure new investment in the region, to create new jobs and to address the skills gap.

  Workplace Parking Tax
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the likely impact of the proposed workplace parking tax on local economies. [120177]

  Mr. Hill
  Research indicates that a levy on workplace parking can help to tackle traffic congestion. Less congestion will help to improve the competitiveness of local economies. In addition, the hypothecation of the revenues raised for improving local transport will help to maintain their vitality.

  We will require local authorities that choose to bring forward a workplace parking levy scheme to assess the likely impact of their scheme, including its effect on the local economy, before the Secretary of State approves the order to give effect to the scheme.

  Village Speed Limits
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list those authorities which have completed the introduction of a programme of village speed limits throughout their area. [120178]

  Mr. Hill
  The setting of local speed limits is a matter for local authorities who are not obliged to inform central Government of the number or whereabouts of local speed limits they have in force.

  CITES
  Mr. Burgon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species which took place in Gigiri, Kenya, from 10 to 20 April. [121623]

  Mr. Meacher
  A record 130 countries attended the Conference, which took place in a positive and friendly atmosphere in the excellent facilities provided at UNEP HQ.

  The Conference considered 62 proposals to amend the species covered by CITES, which are listed in two Appendices. Appendix I lists highly endangered species which are prohibited in international commerce. Appendix II lists other endangered species in the table, which includes details of the final position taken by the

  Species—scientific name

  Species—common name

  Proposal

  UK/EU final position

  Outcome

  Fauna

  Crocodylus niloticus (Tanzania pop.)

  Nile crocodile

  Increase export quota for wild-taken specimens

  Support

  Adopted

  Manis crassicaudata

  Indian pangolin

  Uplist (AH to AI). Amended to remain in All with zero wild quota

  Support as amended

  Adopted as amended

  Manis pentadactyla

  Chinese pangolin

  Manis javanica

  Malayan pangolin

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  UK (in accordance with the EU' s common position) on those proposals which were put to the Conference for decision.

  The UK achieved its main objective on the key proposals for elephants, turtles and whales. Our own proposal to list the basking shark on Appendix II achieved 61 per cent. support—the highest vote for any of the three shark proposals before the Conference. Unfortunately a two-thirds majority was required and the majority of states which use basking shark fins voted against our efforts to ensure that fisheries were managed sustainably and trade levels monitored.

  We were particularly disappointed that representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) intervened in the debate on behalf of overseas fishing industry interests, and partly disowned their own technical report which showed that species like the basking shark are particularly suitable for CITES management. Given the continuing threat to this species, and the strength of our scientific case which was widely acknowledged, the Government intend to work with our European Union colleagues to list the basking shark on Appendix III of CITES as soon as possible. If agreed, this would make any transaction between the EU and other states in basking shark products subject to the EU CITES Regulations.

  Another major UK proposal at the Conference—to establish a working group to address unsustainable trade in bushmeat—has been strongly endorsed. Initially, the working group will focus on the management of bushmeat harvesting and trade in six African countries with particular problems such as dislocation caused by irresponsible forest exploitation by international timber companies and unsustainable demand for bushmeat from urban areas. My Department is making £50,000 available in the current financial year to support this initiative, and we look forward to contributions from other CITES Parties and non-Governmental bodies.

  I would also like to highlight two other UK achievements at the Conferences. First we ensured that most of the tough recommendations made in the recent CITES Tiger Missions, led by the UK, were endorsed and that countries which fail to implement them can as a last resort face wildlife trade sanctions. As a potential consumer state, the UK will continue to maintain a vigilant profile through education, detection and prosecution to prevent any revival in the use of tiger products for traditional medicine in this country. Secondly, I would like to pay tribute to representatives of HM Customs and Excise and the Police who organised a widely praised exhibition of the UK's work to enforce CITES. Two recent convictions in the UK for illegal trade in shahtoosh and parrots have demonstrated the increasing commitment of statutory enforcement agencies to tackle wildlife crime. I hope that the proposed Wildlife Crime Unit, which I announced on 16 February, will enable us to build on these achievements.
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  Species—scientific name

  Species—common name

  Proposal

  UK/EU final position

  Outcome

  Tursiops truncatus ponticus

  Black Sea Bottle Nosed Dolphin

  Uplist (AII to AI)

  Abstain

  Withdrawn

  Eschrichtius robustus (Eastern N. Pacific stock)

  Grey Whale

  Downlist (to AII)

  Oppose

  Rejected

  Balaenoptera acutorostrata (S. Hemisphere stock)

  Minke Whale

  Downlist (to AII)

  Oppose

  Rejected

  Balaenoptera acutorostrata (Okhotsk Sea—W. Pacific stock)

  Minke Whale

  Downlist (to AII)

  Oppose

  Rejected

  Balaenoptera acutorostrata (NE Atlantic, N. Atlantic Central stock

  Minke Whale

  Downlist (to AII)

  Oppose

  Rejected

  Parahyaena brunnea

  Hyaena

  De-list (from AII)

  Support

  Adopted

  Loxodonta africana (South African pop.)

  African Elephant

  Downlist (to AII). Non-ivory trade only

  Support as amended

  Adopted as amended

  Loxodonta africana (Botswanan pop.)

  African Elephant

  Commercial ivory quota

  Oppose

  Withdrawn

  Loxodonta africana (Namibian pop.)

  African Elephant

  Commercial ivory quota

  Oppose

  Withdrawn

  Loxodonta africana (Zimbabwean pop.)

  African Elephant

  Commercial ivory quota

  Oppose

  Withdrawn

  Loxodonta africana (App. II pops.)

  African Elephant

  Uplist (AII to AI)

  Oppose

  Withdrawn

  Loxodonta africana (App. II pops.)

  African Elephant

  Annotation amendment (re "appropriate and acceptable destinations")

  Support

  Adopted

  Dugong dugon (Australian pop.)

  Sea Cow

  Uplist (AII to AI)

  Abstain

  Adopted

  Vicugna vicugna (App. I pops.)

  Vicuna

  Downlist (to AII)

  Support

  Withdrawn

  Vicugna vicugna (App. II pops)

  Vicuna

  Delete zero quota for trade in cloth

  Support

  Adopted

  Moschus spp. (App. II pops.)

  Musk deer

  Uplist (to AI)

  Oppose

  Withdrawn

  Ovis vignei (unlisted sub spp.)

  Urial

  List non AI pops, on AII

  Support as amended

  Adopted as amended

  Rhea pennata pennata (Argentine pop.)

  Lesser Rhea

  Downlist (to AII)

  Support

  Adopted

  Falco rusticolus (N. American pop.)

  Gyr Falcon

  Downlist (AI to AII)

  Oppose

  Rejected

  Eunymphicus cornutus cornutus

  Horned Parakeet

  Uplist (AII to AI)

  Support

  Adopted

  Eunymphicus cornutus uveaenisis

  Ouvea Parakeet

  Uplist (AII to AI)

  Support

  Adopted

  Garrulax canorus

  Melodious Laughing Thrush

  List (on AII)

  Oppose (but support AIII)

  Adopted

  Cuora s.l.

  Box Turtles

  List (on AII)

  Support

  Adopted

  Clemmys guttata

  Spotted turtle

  List (on AII)

  Oppose

  Rejected

  Geochelone sulcata

  African spurred tortoise

  Retain AII with zero wild quota

  Support

  Adopted as amended

  Malacochersus tornieri

  Pancake tortoise

  Uplist (AII to AI)

  Support

  Withdrawn

  Eretmochelys imbricata (Carib. pop. in Cuban waters

  Hawksbill Turtle

  Downlist (to AII)

  Oppose

  Withdrawn

  Eretmochelys imbricata (Carib. pop. in Cuban waters

  Hawksbill Turtle

  Downlist (to AII) for one-off sale of shell stocks

  Abstain

  Rejected

  Crocodylus moreletii (Sian Ka'an, Quintana Roo pop.)

  Belize crocodile

  Downlist (to AII)

  n/a

  Withdrawn before the Conference

  Varanus melinus

  Quince monitor lizard

  Uplist (AII to AI)

  Oppose

  Withdrawn

  Crotalus horridus

  Timber rattlesnake

  (List on AII)

  Oppose

  Withdrawn

  Bufo retiformis

  Sonoran green toad

  De-list (from AII)

  Support

  Adopted

  Mantella spp. (except M. aurentiaca)

  Malagasy poison frog

  List (on AII)

  Support

  Adopted

  Rhincodon typus

  Whale shark

  List (on AII)

  Support

  Rejected

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  Species—scientific name

  Species—common name

  Proposal

  UK/EU final position

  Outcome

  Carcharodon carcharias

  Great white shark

  List (on AI)

  Support AII

  Rejected

  Cetorhinus maximus

  Basking shark

  List (on AII)

  Support

  Rejected

  Latimeria spp. (except L. chalumnae)

  Coelecanth

  List (on AI)

  Support

  Adopted

  Latimeria menadoensis

  Menado coelacanth

  List (on AI)

  Support (only if above proposal failed)

  Withdrawn

  Poecilotheria spp.

  Ornamental tarantula

  List (on AII)

  Oppose

  Rejected

  Flora

  Popophyllum hexandrum; and Rauvolfia serpentina

  Combine with annotation for Taxus wallichiana

  Support

  Adopted (also referred to Plants Committee)

  Ceropegia spp.

  De-list (from AII)

  Support

  Adopted

  Frerea indica

  De-list (from AII)

  Support

  Adopted

  Byblis spp.

  Rainbow Plant

  De-list (from AII)

  Support

  Adopted

  Disocatus macdougalli

  McDougal's cactus

  Downlist (to AII)

  Support

  Adopted

  Sclerocactus mariposensis

  Lloyds Mariposa cactus

  Downlist (to AII)

  Support

  Rejected

  Cephalotus follicularis

  Albany pitcher plant

  De-list (from AII)

  Support

  Adopted

  Dudleya stolonifera

  Laguna Beach Liveforever

  Downlist (to AII)

  Support

  Adopted as amended

  Dudleya traskiae

  Santa Barbara Island

  Liveforever

  (a) Cyathea spp. and

  Tree ferns

  (a) amend listing to Cyathea spp. (inc. Alsophila, Nephelea, Sphaeropteris, Trichipteris) and Cibotium barometz

  Support

  Adopted

  (b) Dicksonia spp.

  (b) amend listing to Dicksonia spp. (originating in Americas) and Cibotium barometz

  Shortia galacifolia

  Oconee-Bells

  De-list (from AII)

  Support

  Withdrawn

  Lewisia cotyledon

  Siskiyou Lewisia;

  De-list (from AII)

  Support

  Adopted as amended

  Maguire's Bitter-root;

  Saw-toothed Lewisia

  Darlingtonia californica

  California Pitcher Plant

  De-list (from AII)

  Support

  Adopted

  Panax ginseng (roots)

  Ginseng

  List (on AII)

  Support

  Adopted as amended

  Araucaria araucana (Argentine pop.)

  Monkey puzzle tree

  Uplist (AII to AI)

  Support

  Adopted

  Cactaceae spp.

  De-list (from AII)

  Oppose

  Withdrawn (but decision adopted)

  Kalmia cuneata

  Laurel

  De-list (from AII)

  Support

  Withdrawn

  Camptotheca acuminata

  Happytree

  List (on AII)

  Open

  Withdrawn

  Cistanche deserticola

  Desert living Cistanche

  List (on AII)

  Support

  Adopted as amended

  Harpagophytum procumbens; Harpagophytum zeyheri

  Grapple plant

  List (on AII)

  Support

  Withdrawn

  Adonis vernalis

  Herb of spring adonis

  List (on AII)

  Support

  Adopted as amended

  Guaiacum sanctum

  Brazil wood

  Uplist (to AI)

  Oppose

  Withdrawn (but decision adopted)

  Notes:

  1. AI = Appendix I of CITES (species banned in commerce).

  2. All = Appendix II of CITES (species regulated in commerce)

  Waste Management Licensing
  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will extend the scope of the Waste Management (Licensing) Regulations so that judgment on fit and proper person status takes into account relevant convictions in other EU countries; [118780]
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  (2) if convictions in other countries are taken into consideration when assessing applicants' fit and proper person status for the purpose of waste management licensing; [118778]

  (3) what relevant convictions under UK law are taken into consideration when assessing applicants for fit and proper person status for the purpose of waste management licensing. [118779]
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  Mr. Meacher
  Offences which are taken into consideration in Great Britain when assessing "fit and proper person" status are those set out in regulation 3 of the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994 (S.I. 1994 No. 1056) (as amended). Convictions in other countries are not currently taken into consideration when assessing applicants' fit and proper person status for the purpose of these provisions and waste management licensing. However, we are considering whether the list of relevant offences should be extended to take into account convictions in other EU countries, although there is at present no EU-wide mechanism to support such a system.

  The amendment of the 1994 Regulations in relation to Wales is a devolved function and would be a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.

  Bull Bars
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to ban the use of bull bars on public roads. [120281]

  Mr. Hill
  As stated in our recently published Road Safety Strategy "Tomorrow's Roads—Safer for Everyone", we believe that the anticipated European Commission proposal to make all new car fronts safer would be the best way of preventing particularly dangerous bull bars being fitted to vehicles. We are currently awaiting the opportunity to examine the details of the Commission's draft proposal. We had expected this to be put forward in mid-March, and were disappointed when this proved not to be possible. We are now urging the Commission to bring forward their proposal at the earliest opportunity.

  We are keen to see bull bars tackled as soon as possible, on an effective Europe-wide basis. We are therefore also submitting a scientific proposal to the Commission for bull bars to be controlled by an amendment to the external projections directive as an interim measure.

  Disabled Access (Stations)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of(a) London Underground and (b) Railtrack stations have disabled access; what steps are being taken to increase the provision; and if he will make a statement. [120079]

  Mr. Hill
  20 per cent. of London Underground stations have wheelchair access to at least one direction of travel on at least one line. It is anticipated that the number of tube stations with disabled access will increase to 45 per cent. through the PPP contracts.

  22 per cent. of Railtrack stations have wheelchair access from the street. Railtrack has a strategy to make all stations fully accessible to the disabled within 20 years. Railtrack are awaiting the outcome of the Rail Regulator's periodic review of their access charges, which are due later this year, before finalising their programme of improvements.

  Noise Pollution
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will 370W
  instruct the Highways Agency to prepare plans for noise pollution barriers on the section of the M62 adjoining to Bradley Wood, Huddersfield; [120129]

  (2) what steps he is taking to ensure that noise pollution caused by motorways is reduced. [120128]

  Mr. Hill
  No. The Government set out their policy towards dealing with the problems of traffic noise arising from motorways and other roads managed by the Highways Agency in "A New Deal for Trunk Roads in England". We expect considerable benefits to be achieved by the increased use of quieter surfaces both for new trunk roads and for those needing maintenance. In addition, we have asked the Highways Agency to consider the case for providing noise mitigation in the worst cases where no other action was being taken to provide relief for residential properties. The Government are also supporting the implementation of a proposed EU Directive that will require vehicle tyres to meet noise emission limits.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what arrangements he has made with the Highways Agency to increase sound pollution barriers when stretches of existing motorways are(a) upgraded and (b) modified. [120130]

  Mr. Hill
  The Highways Agency is required to assess the potential adverse effects on the environment of any modifications to existing motorways which involve physical alterations. With regard to noise, the effectiveness of any existing sound barriers will be taken into account and proposals for upgrading them or for alternative measures to be provided in conjunction with the alteration will be considered.

  Open-cast Mining Sites (Scotland)
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how often open-cast mining sites in Scotland were inspected by the Health and Safety Executive in the last three years; and what plans he has to increase the frequency of inspections in the coming year. [120791]

  Mr. Meacher
  Health and Safety Executive inspectors carry out routine preventative inspections of workplaces according to the hazards and risks of the workplace. With open-cast coal mines such inspections are normally made once per year. In addition an inspector may visit for other reasons, e.g. to investigate an accident or complaint.

  As of 31 March 2000 there were 106 open-cast coal mines registered in Scotland of which 28 were operational. All the operational sites were inspected during 1999–2000. Over the last three years a total of 254 inspection contacts were recorded at open-cast sites in Scotland by inspectors. These included visits to non-operational sites to check their status.

  HSE has no plans to change this inspection strategy.

  Road Hauliers (Compensation)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Morecambe and Lunesdale (Miss Smith), of 19 April 2000,Official Report, column 485W, if he will list those areas of sustained effort which required departmental and diplomatic activity in the

  371W
  settlement of claims by road hauliers affected by the 1996 dispute; and what total sums of claims (a) have been agreed and (b) were refused by the French Government. [120847]

  Mr. Hill
  Action included numerous meetings with the French Ministry of Transport and with the Interior Ministry, initially to clarify the scope of the French compensation code, the legal and administrative procedures for submitting claims and the basis on which claims should be prepared. Subsequent meetings dealt with the lack of consistency among Préfectures in the application of the rules; their application in particular circumstances, including in respect of lorries that were blocked in more than one Département and those that were prevented from entering France; the delay in processing claims and the revised arrangements introduced to speed up the process. The trade associations were also represented at some of the meetings.

  Officials also spent a great deal of time giving guidance to claimants and assisting them in lodging claims. However, claimants are under no obligation to inform the Department of the outcome of their cases. We are therefore unable to provide information about amounts of compensation paid and refused.

  Speed Limits
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to allow the erection of signs in home zone areas instructing drivers to drive at very slow speeds. [120984]

  Mr. Hill
  Local traffic authorities have the powers to introduce 20mph speed limits and associated signing without seeking consent from the Secretary of State. For the pilot home zones in England, we will consider authorising the use of advisory 10mph maximum speed signs. This will depend on the effectiveness of engineering measures or 20mph speed limits in reducing vehicle speeds.

  Croydon Tramlink
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when his Department last assessed the level of passenger demand for the Croydon Tramlink. [120841]

  Mr. Hill
  The Department assessed levels of passenger demand for Croydon Tramlink prior to the Concession Agreement being signed in 1996. In line with the PFI nature of the project, assessment of passenger demand for Tramlink is now a matter for the concessionaire Tramtrack Croydon Ltd. (TCL). I understand that in April this year TCL estimated that Croydon Tramlink will carry more than 20 million passengers a year.

  Utility Road Works
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to encourage utility companies and others to co-ordinate their activities in order to reduce the number of occasions on which roads and pavements are dug up. [121062]

  Mr. Hill
  Street works undertakers are required under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 to co-operate with highway authorities and one another to co-ordinate 372W
  their works, in the interests of safety, and in order to minimise inconvenience to road users and protect the street and apparatus in it. This duty of co-ordination is backed by criminal sanctions. Highway authorities for their part must co-ordinate works of all kinds in the streets for which they are responsible. A code of practice issued under the Act sets out the co-ordination machinery in detail.

  Regulations made last year under the 1991 Act aim to facilitate and encourage the electronic transfer of information about street works and other works in the highway between utilities and highway authorities, by way of a system known as ETON which makes use of the internet. This will ensure greater consistency and speed in transferring and registering the information, which in turn will help authorities in their co-ordination role.

  On 5 April, in addition to announcing its intention to develop a scheme to charge utilities for street works which are unreasonably prolonged, the Government also stated that it would work with highway authorities and utilities to develop best practice on street works. Co-ordination and quality of work were specifically mentioned as areas to cover. We aim to publish guidance later this year.

  Bilateral Air Service Agreement
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what the Government's policy is on granting the European Commission a mandate to negotiate bilateral air service agreement between the EU and the US; [121285]

  (2) if it is his objective to achieve full liberalisation of air services between the UK and the US as a result of the forthcoming bilateral air service agreement talks with the US; [121283]

  (3) what his policy is on open skies in the context of the forthcoming bilateral air talks with the US Government; [121284]

  (4) what recent discussions he has had with his US counterpart on bilateral air service agreement; [121281]

  (5) what HM Government's aims are in the forthcoming bilateral air service agreement talks with the US Government; and if he will make a statement. [121282]

  Mr. Mullin
  It is the Government's policy to secure the liberalisation of the UK/US aviation market, an objective often referred to as 'open skies'. In pursuit of this objective, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has spoken on a number of occasions with the US Secretary for Transportation, and has met him twice this year.

  Our aim in negotiations is to remove all capacity and route restrictions on UK-US traffic, thereby increasing competition to the benefit of consumers, provided UK carriers can gain effective access to the US domestic market and so compete on fair terms.

  As regards a mandate for the EU, our priority continues to be our bilateral negotiations with the US and we are not persuaded of the advantages of granting the Commission a mandate. Nevertheless, we have taken part constructively

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  in discussions with EU colleagues and the Commission on the technical detail of what a possible mandate might contain.

  Forth Rail Bridge
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will call for reports from Rigblast and Railtrack about the use of blasting techniques on the Forth Rail Bridge. [120866]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 8 May 2000]: I understand that the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and the Health and Safety Executive are closely monitoring the work currently being undertaken by Railtrack and its contractors.

  Pollution
  Mr. Derek Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many incidents have been reported in each of the last five years for which figures are available of(a) deaths and (b) injuries caused by uncontrolled releases of (i) hydrocarbons, (ii) ammonia and (iii) HFCs. [120422]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 8 May 2000]: In the context of refrigeration systems, the statistical information held by the Health and Safety Executive is not sufficiently detailed to determine whether any reported deaths and injuries have been caused by uncontrolled releases of hydrocarbons, ammonia and HFCs. Hydrocarbons have been interpreted only in the context of refrigeration and not its wider definition which would include substances such as petrol and LPG.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Public Bodies (Appointments)
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the appointments made to public bodies by the first minister and deputy first minister during the period of devolution from November 1999 to February 2000. [120633]

  Mr. Mandelson
  The appointments made to public bodies in Northern Ireland by the First Minister and Deputy First Minister during the period of devolution were as follows:

  Planning Appeals Commission

  Part-time Commissioner—T. McCaw

  NI Economic Council

  Member—Prof. B. K. Ashcroft

  Member—F. P. Bunting

  Member—J. Corey

  Member—T. Gillen

  Member—Ms R. G. D. Johnston

  Member—R. W. J. Tosh.

  Farmers (Early Retirement)
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will introduce an early retirement scheme for farmers; and if he will make a statement. [120736]
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  Mr. Ingram
  As the hon. Member is aware, an early retirement scheme is one of the discretionary measures provided for under the Rural Development Regulation. However, such a scheme would be expensive. It would benefit relatively few people and would have to be paid for by many others. Given the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's existing budget and current commitments, it is simply not affordable at present. As a result, an early retirement scheme has not been included as one of the measures to be introduced in Northern Ireland in the period 2000–06 under the Rural Development (Accompanying Measures) Plan. However, a scheme has not been entirely ruled out and can be considered in the later years of the Plan period when modulation receipts are at their maximum. It is, however, a very costly option and it would need to be demonstrated that such a scheme would offer value for money.

  Agrimonetary Compensation
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when agrimonetary compensation will be made available for the arable, beef and sheep sectors in(a) 2000 and (b) 2002; and if he will make a statement. [120755]

  Mr. Ingram
  In terms of optional agrimonetary compensation, payments to the sheep sector will be made with the first advance on ewe premium in July 2000.

  The bulk of payments to the beef sector, i.e. beef special premium and suckler cow premium, will be made from October 2000.

  In terms of compulsory agrimonetary compensation, the second instalment of compensation to beef and arable producers will be paid from October 2000 with the third instalment a year later. The third instalment for sheep is likely to be paid in April 2001.

  No payments are presently planned for 2002.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reason the Government did not provide the agrimonetary compensation available in 2000 to the(a) beef, (b) sheep and (c) arable sectors; and if he will make a statement. [120756]

  Mr. Ingram
  Compulsory agrimonetary compensation totalling up to £88 million will be payable in 2000 to the UK arable, beef and sheep sectors. The Prime Minister's announcement of 30 March 2000 made available further optional compensation totalling £66 million to the beef, sheep and dairy sectors. This balanced the difficulties faced by the agricultural industry with the impact on the UK Exchequer. Drawing down agrimonetary compensation (which must be paid on a UK-wide basis) has considerable public expenditure implications: once the Fontainbleau rebate is taken into account, the cost of the 30 March agrimonetary package to the UK Exchequer is approximately £50 million. Expenditure of the magnitude involved must be judged carefully against the many competing demands on the public purse.

  Union Flag
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether a Union flag has been provided at the Roads Service Maintenance Depot, Ballinahone, Armagh City; who has been made responsible for hoisting
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  the Union flag at these premises on the designated dates; whether St. Patrick's day and Easter day were recognised by the flying of the Union flag at these premises; and if he will make a statement about the arrangements to fly the Union flag at this Depot. [120796]

  Mr. Ingram
  Responsibility for the subject in question 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. John D. Taylor, dated 8 May 2000:
  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to respond to your recently tabled Parliamentary Question about the flying of the Union Flag at the Roads Service Maintenance Depot, Ballinahonemore Road, Armagh.
  I can advise that a Union Flag has been provided at the Depot and that the Premises Officer for the building is responsible for flying the flag on the designated dates. Regrettably, due to an oversight, the flag was not flown on St. Patrick's Day or Easter Day this year. I have, however, reminded relevant staff of the instructions for flags to be flown on designated dates.
  I hope you find this information helpful.

  Public Authorities
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will make an order listing the public authorities to be designated under section 75(3)(a) and (d) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998; what bodies are to be included in the initial order; and what bodies he proposes to consult in relation to the second order. [120702]

  Mr. Mandelson
  The majority of public bodies to which section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 applies are identified in the legislation. In relation to designation under section 75(3)(a) and (d) of the Act, it is intended to lay before Parliament, as soon as possible, an order which will list a number of bodies in respect of which consultation is complete. In regard to the second order, it is intended to consult a number of additional bodies suggested by the Equality Commission and which carry out functions relating to Northern Ireland.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  BSE
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will call for a report on recent research in Switzerland concerning tests capable of detecting sub-clinical infection of BSE. [120652]

  Ms Quin
  A Swiss company, Prionics, has developed a test for the post mortem diagnosis of BSE in cattle, the Prionics Check Test. In a recent evaluation of selected BSE screening diagnostic tests conducted under the auspices of the European Commission, the Prionics Check Test detected all clinically affected animals which were histopathologically positive. Prionics have also published the results of a validation of their test on clinical cattle. Swiss authorities have used the test to survey healthy cattle slaughtered for human consumption, casualty animals also slaughtered for human consumption and fallen stock. They have identified a small number of positive animals, especially among the casualty and fallen stock categories.
  376W
  This test was employed in a survey of British cattle more than five years of age slaughtered under the over-thirty-months scheme. The survey involved the examination of a systematic sample of 4,136 cattle. The Prionics Check Test was not found to be more sensitive than conventional histopathological examination of brain samples. The comparative data obtained by histopathological diagnosis at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency indicate that the Prionics Check Test is capable of detecting BSE-infected animals only three months or less before the onset of clinical signs and, at present, cannot be regarded as being capable of detecting BSE-infected animals at an earlier stage.

  Badger Culling
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the(a) number and (b) species of non-target animals which have been caught in cage traps set for badgers in the TB trial cull; if he will indicate (i) the number which were injured but released, (ii) the number which (A) were found dead and (B) needed to be dispatched as a result of their injuries and (iii) the nature of the injuries; and if he will make a statement. [120775]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 4 May 2000]: In trial operations to date 373 non-target animals and birds have been captured, of which 336 were released uninjured. For the remainder the information requested is as follows:

  Species

  Number found dead

  Number found injured and despatched

  Nature of injuries

  Grey Squirrel

  5

  10

  caught in mesh bars of trap

  Pheasant

  5

  9

  head injuries

  Rook

  2

  1

  wing/leg damage

  Jay

  1

  3

  wing/leg damage

  Fox

  0

  1

  serious mange

  No injured animals were released.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has for the badger culling trial to observe a closed season; and if he will make a statement. [120776]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 4 May 2000]: The badger culling trial incorporates a closed season from 1 February to 30 April inclusive. During this period no trapping or culling takes place.

  Fishing Industry
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when and for what reason he decided to transfer 200 tonnes of plaice and sole to Belgium; and what consultations he held with the industry. [119236]

  Mr. Morley
  A "gentlemen's agreement" has been reached with Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands—welcomed by the UK industry—on the withdrawal of beam trawlers until 1 May from the northern part of the Irish sea closed to protect spawning cod. In the context of arriving at that agreement, the UK undertook to transfer 190 tonnes of North Sea plaice and 5 tonnes of sole in ICES Areas VIId and VIIfg to the Belgian authorities for them to allocate.
  377W
  This transfer was in recognition of the good will shown by the Belgians, who have substantial flatfish quotas in the Irish sea, in reaching agreement with us and of our on-going co-operation with them in matters of quota management including assistance with quota transfer to ourselves. The transfer was not the subject of prior consultation with the industry but it came from stocks that were underfished in 1999, particularly North sea plaice where the underfish exceeded 10,000 tonnes.

  No British fisherman will suffer a reduction in fishing opportunities as a result of this arrangement. 50 tonnes of North sea sole obtained through economic link license conditions has also been allocated to the inshore sector.

  Bovine TB
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many confirmed cases of bovine TB there were in Staffordshire and Derbyshire in(a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999; and if he will make a statement. [120778]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 4 May 2000]: The number of herds in Staffordshire and Derbyshire where bovine TB has been confirmed were:

  Derbyshire

  Staffordshire

  1997

  1

  24

  1998

  6

  30

  1999

  19

  35

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many badger road casualties tested as positive for bovine TB in(a) Staffordshire, (b) Derbyshire, (c) Cheshire, (d) Shropshire and (e) England and Wales in (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999. [120772]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 4 May 2000]: In the period concerned, badger road casualties were collected at the discretion of Divisional Veterinary Managers. The number of badger road casualties that tested positive for bovine TB were:

  1997

  1998

  1
  1999

  Staffordshire

  6

  8

  6

  Derbyshire

  0

  0

  2

  Cheshire

  0

  0

  0

  Shropshire

  2

  0

  0

  England and Wales

  80

  101

  71

  1 In 1999 carcases were collected only between January and August.

  Fallen Stock
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to the answer of 12 April 2000,Official Report, column 220W, on fallen stock, how many knackermen own approved incinerators for the disposal of specified risk material. [120769]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 4 May 2000]: Twenty-six knackers' yards have incinerators which are approved to incinerate specified risk material.

SCOTLAND

  Assisted Areas
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many responses were received by his Department in respect of the revised assisted areas map; and how many responses(a) objected to and (b) supported the removal of Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch, and Strathspey from the proposed map. [120924]

  Dr. Reid
  [holding answer 5 May 2000]: During the consultation period following the 10 April announcement of revised Assisted Area map proposals, a total of 83 responses were received by my Department, of which a total of 63 related to all of or parts of Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey areas.

  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the criteria were which excluded Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey from the revised assisted areas map. [120926]

  Dr. Reid
  [holding answer 5 May 2000]: The July 1999 Assisted Area map proposals put forward the Highlands and Islands NUTS 2 area as a whole, for inclusion on the basis of its population sparsity. However, the European Commission would not accept this, and the Inverness NUTS 3 area does not on its own meet the sparsity criterion.

  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will rank Scottish constituencies by(a) the reduction and (b) the increase in population coverage proposed in the revised assisted areas map. [120927]

  Dr. Reid
  [holding answer 5 May 2000]: The information requested is contained in the table (but see note following).

  Scottish parliamentary constituencies with reduced population coverage, comparing the revised Assisted Areas map proposals published in April 2000 against the earlier proposals published in July 1999

  Parliamentary constituency

  Population change

  Pollok

  61,862

  Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber

  55,451

  Cathcart

  36,536

  Moray

  24,329

  Angus

  22,244

  Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley

  19,649

  Ross, Skye and Inverness West

  19,367

  Govan

  8,846

  Clydesdale

  7,991

  Edinburgh West

  7,006

  Roxburgh and Berwickshire

  6,218

  Falkirk West

  6,160

  Edinburgh North and Leith

  6,036

  Dumbarton

  6,015

  Paisley South

  5,800

  Falkirk East

  5,011

  Airdrie and Shotts

  4,734

  Rutherglen

  1,842

  379W

  Scottish parliamentary constituencies with increased population coverage, comparing the revised Assisted Areas map proposals published in April 2000 against the earlier proposals published in July 1999

  Parliamentary constituency

  Population change

  Dundee East

  31,275

  Greenock and Inverclyde

  30,920

  Maryhill

  29,888

  Anniesland

  29,009

  East Kilbride

  23,616

  Galloway and Upper Nithsdale

  20,266

  Livingston

  16,764

  Tweeddale, Ettrick and Launderdale

  14,837

  Dundee West

  14,684

  Kelvin

  9,717

  Paisley North

  5,806

  Coatbridge and Chryston

  5,213

  Hamilton South

  5,051

  Ayr

  4,824

  West Renfrewshire

  4,816

  Clydebank and Milngavie

  4,197

  Dumfries

  2,587

  Eastwood

  602

  Stirling

  236

  Note:

  These figures are based on population data for 1991 wards. Several Parliamentary Constituency and ward boundaries have changed since 1991, therefore a 1991 ward may be shared between more than one parliamentary constituency. Due to this, the above data has been compiled on a 'best fit' basis.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Millennium Dome
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many corporate hospitality events have taken place at the dome to date; and how many are planned. [119307]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 17 April 2000]: During the period 1 January to 15 April 2000 there were 456 corporate hospitality events. For the period 16 April to 31 December 2000 there are 105 confirmed events and a further 476 provisional bookings awaiting confirmation.

  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much financial contribution to the New Millennium Experience Company corporate hospitality events at the dome(a) have made to date and (b) are expected to make. [119308]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 17 April 2000]: To date corporate hospitality events have represented 17 per cent. of total catering sales. Corporate hospitality events are expected to represent approximately 20 per cent. of all catering sales.

  Forth Rail Bridge
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action he has taken since June 1999 to promote the inclusion of the Forth Rail Bridge as a UNESCO World Heritage Site; what progress has been made with preparing a management plan as required by UNESCO for such sites; and if he will make a statement. [120865]
  380W
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  [holding answer 8 May 2000]: Responsibility for nominating the Forth Bridge to UNESCO for World Heritage (WH) Site status, including arrangements for producing a Management Plan, lies with the Scottish Executive. The Forth Rail Bridge is one of 25 sites included in the UK's Tentative List of sites which may be nominated to UNESCO for WH Site status over the next 10 years. My Department is liaising with the Devolved Administrations and other interested bodies over the order and timing of future nominations, taking into account the UNESCO World Heritage Committee's priorities for action.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Back to Work Bonus
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the back to work bonus; and if he will make a statement. [120802]

  Angela Eagle
  An evaluation of the back to work bonus has recently been completed, with the publication in April of the final report "Prospects of Part-Time Work: the Impact of the Back to Work Bonus". A copy has been placed in the Library.

  We will ensure that the back to work bonus continues to complement other measures that provide cash help for people moving from benefits to work.

  Job Seeker's Allowance
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what(a) proportion and (b) number of people who claimed job seeker's allowance in 1999 declared part-time work; what their average earnings were (i) per hour and (ii) per week; and if he will make a statement. [120801]

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

  Job Seeker's allowance (income-based) claimants with part-time earnings, February to November 1999

  Number

  Number of claimants

  33,000

  Average weekly part-time earnings

  £28.31

  Percentage of total JSA(IB) claimants

  3.6

  Notes:

  1. Figures are based on a four-quarterly average of point in time surveys throughout 1999.

  2. Claimant figure has been rounded to the nearest thousand.

  3. Sample size 5 per cent., therefore subject to sampling error.

  4. No account is taken of any partner's earnings.

  5. Numbers represent income-based JSA cases where either an amount is taken into account or disregarded from their benefit. It will not therefore include claimants who declare work but receive no remuneration.

  6. Information about the hourly level of average earnings is not available.

  Source:

  Jobseeker's Allowance Statistics Quarterly Inquiries, February to November 1999.

  Stakeholder Pensions
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate the Government have made of the impact of demutualisation of life insurers and private pension providers on the provision of stakeholder pensions. [121031]

  Mr. Rooker
  It is expected that both mutual and shareholder owned providers will be offering stakeholder pensions from April 2001. Both will operate under the same rules. There is no indication that demutualisation will have an impact on the provision of stakeholder pensions.

  Family Support
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what initiatives have been introduced since 1 May 1997 to support the family, with particular reference to cases in which there are children at risk. [120674]

  Angela Eagle
  We are committed to giving children the best possible start. Measures announced so far in this Parliament will help lift 1.2 million children out of poverty, and are a major step in achieving our commitment to eradicating child poverty. Measures since 1 May 1997 include:Child Benefit (CHB)—36 per cent. increase in rate for eldest child. Further above-inflation rise April 2000: standard rate CHB £15 for eldest child, £10 for other children.
  Income-related benefits—child allowance for under-11s up by £4.70 from last October. New allowance for children aged 0-16 now £26.60. Support for children under 11 in the income-related benefits up by over 50 per cent. in two years.
  Sure Start Maternity Grant—April 2000: payments double from £100 to £200, and to £300 from this autumn.
  Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC)—extra help for low-income working families. Includes new allowance for disabled children, extra £21.90 on top of other child allowances, and from June, a £4.35 increase in under-16 child credit (Income Support/Jobseeker's Allowance/Housing Benefits child allowance increase from October).
  Childcare Tax Credit—part of WFTC, 70 per cent. of eligible child care costs up to a maximum of £100 for one child, £150 for two or more.
  Children's Tax Credit—April 2001, new Tax Credit, worth up to £442 a year.
  Integrated Child Credit—from 2003, will bring together different strands of help for children currently contained in benefits and tax system.

  In all, we will provide an additional £7 billion a year in new tax and benefit measures for families with children by the end of this Parliament. By April 2001, as a result of budget changes to personal tax and benefits, families with children will be, on average, £850 a year better off.

  Later this year we will be publishing our second annual report on tackling poverty and social exclusion, monitoring progress so far.

  Winter Fuel Payments
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people aged 60 years and above are ineligible for the winter fuel payments because they(a) are in (i) residential care, (ii) nursing homes and (iii) local authority residential accommodation, (b) live abroad, (c) are in prison and (d) are in hospital. [120384]
  382W
  Angela Eagle
  Winter Fuel Payments are provided to older people who are ordinarily resident in Great Britain to help towards their winter heating costs. Where someone is already receiving public assistance with their heating costs it is inappropriate for a Winter Fuel Payment to be made. For example, payments are inappropriate for people living permanently in residential care or nursing homes who also receive help through Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance. It is also inappropriate for Winter Fuel Payments be made to people who do not contribute towards their heating costs, such as those serving a prison sentence or those who have been receiving free hospital in-patient treatment.

  The estimated number of people aged 60 or over who were receiving public assistance during the winter of 1999 are set out by category:

  Number

  Residential care homes

  199,000

  Nursing homes

  20,000

  Local Authority residential accommodation

  6,000

  Sentenced prisoners

  900

  Hospital in-patients

  12,000

  Note:

  Numbers are rounded to the nearest thousand.

  All estimates are for November 1999 except the estimate for hospital in-patients which is for March 1999. It is not possible to estimate the number of people aged 60 or over who are ineligible for a Winter Fuel Payment because they live abroad, as we do not hold records for those among them who do not receive a social security benefit.

  Family Benefits
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many families have been in receipt of(a) family credit and (b) the working families tax credit in each month since May 1997. [121035]

  Angela Eagle
  Family Credit was replaced with Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) from 5 October 1999.

  The information is in the table.

  Numbers of families in receipt of family credit and WFTC, for each month from May 1997

  Thousand

  Month

  Family credit

  WFTC

  Total

  May 1997

  748

  —

  748

  June 1997

  760

  —

  760

  July 1997

  764

  —

  764

  August 1997

  758

  —

  758

  September 1997

  761

  —

  761

  October 1997

  763

  —

  763

  November 1997

  766

  —

  766

  December 1997

  751

  —

  751

  January 1998

  754

  —

  754

  February 1998

  761

  —

  761

  March 1998

  767

  —

  767

  April 1998

  767

  —

  767

  May 1998

  767

  —

  767

  June 1998

  785

  —

  785

  July 1998

  786

  —

  786

  August 1998

  783

  —

  783

  September 1998

  785

  —

  785

  October 1998

  786

  —

  786

  November 1998

  791

  —

  791

  383W

  Numbers of families in receipt of family credit and WFTC, for each month from May 1997

  Thousand

  Month

  Family credit

  WFTC

  Total

  December 1998

  780

  —

  780

  January 1999

  780

  —

  780

  February 1999

  789

  —

  789

  March 1999

  792

  —

  792

  April 1999

  793

  —

  793

  May 1999

  791

  —

  791

  June 1999

  801

  —

  801

  July 1999

  797

  —

  797

  August 1999

  784

  —

  784

  September 1999

  758

  —

  758

  October 1999

  625

  253

  878

  November 1999

  464

  467

  931

  December 1999

  365

  567

  932

  January 2000

  249

  703

  952

  February 2000

  109

  877

  986

  March 2000

  —

  994

  994

  Notes:

  1. These figures, and in particular the WFTC figure for March. exclude awards made after March and backdated.

  2. Figures are for Great Britain only.

  3. Sample size 5 per cent., therefore subject to sampling error.

  4. Figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

  Source:

  Family Credit/Working Families Tax Credit 5 per cent. sample of awards.

WALES

  Elected Mayors
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the Local Government Association with regard to the introduction of elected mayors in Wales. [115583]
  384W
  Mr. Hanson
  I have discussed this and other issues relating to the Local Government Bill in a series of meetings with the Welsh Local Government Association over the last few months.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has for the remuneration of elected mayors in Wales. [115581]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The level of remuneration of elected mayors will be for their own local authorities to determine. The National Assembly for Wales and the Welsh Local Government Association are in the process of setting up a review of special responsibility allowances, which will recommend appropriate levels of allowances for senior councillors, including elected mayors. It is intended that the result of the review will be published before the summer.

  Local Government
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary concerning the efficacy of the cabinet system in the management of local government in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [118187]

  Mr. Hanson
  I am in regular contact with the Assembly Secretary for Local Government, Peter Law, over the provisions of the Local Government Bill which include provision for new executive structures for councils. The Government are committed to the modernisation of local government in England and Wales, and the new executive structures are vital to the overall aims of transparency, efficiency and accountability.

  Takeovers Directive and Gibraltar
  Takeovers Directive and Gibraltar
  Telecommunications Council, 2 May
  Telecommunications Council, 2 May
  Animal Waste Material Incineration
  Animal Waste Material Incineration
  Genetically Modified Fish
  Genetically Modified Fish
  British Transport Police: Best Value Requirement
  British Transport Police: Best Value Requirement
  The Judiciary and the Committee on Standards in Public Life
  The Judiciary and the Committee on Standards in Public Life
  Farmers: Retirement Scheme
  Farmers: Retirement Scheme
  Pig Industry Restructuring Scheme
  Pig Industry Restructuring Scheme
  Salmon: Sterilisation
  Salmon: Sterilisation
  BSE Cases: Predictions
  BSE Cases: Predictions