Written Answers of 12 May 2000

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Housing Improvement Agencies
  Sir Paul Beresford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 30 March 2000,Official Report, column 228W, on housing improvement agencies, what previous experience Collective Enterprises Ltd. has had in administering Government grants; and on what basis he determined that CEL possessed (a) broad-based expertise in housing and care issues, (b) the capacity to support individual agencies and their managing agents across England and (c) the ability to deliver services from a position of independence and impartiality. [121844]

  Mr. Mullin
  Officials of my Department and the Department of Health evaluated the tenders received from Care and Repair England Ltd. and Collective Enterprises Ltd. (CEL) against a range of criteria, including those mentioned by the hon. Member, and recommended that CEL's tender as a whole offered a more effective approach to the delivery of the requirements of the national coordinating role. My Department's contract with CEL does not require them to administer the system of grants to individual home improvement agencies.

  Environment Agency
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what the average fine imposed on businesses prosecuted by the Environment Agency was in each of the last three years; [121843]

  (2) how many businesses were successfully prosecuted by the Environment Agency in each of the last three years. [121842]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Environment Agency publishes prosecution statistics in its annual reports. Although these figures do not distinguish between companies and individuals, and it would cause disproportionate cost to do so here, most prosecutions are against businesses. The 1999–2000 annual report will be laid before Parliament in July. Figures for the previous two years are as follows.

  Function/year

  Number of prosecutions

  Average fine (£)

  Water Quality

  1997–98

  222

  4,258

  1998–99

  258

  16,157

  Waste

  1997–98

  313

  1,999

  1998–99

  301

  1,060

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  Function/year

  Number of prosecutions

  Average fine (£)

  Integrated Pollution Control

  1997–98

  12

  18,375

  1998–99

  16

  11,000

  Radioactive Substances

  1997–98

  3

  11,000

  1998–99

  3

  37,666

  Water Resources

  1997–98

  17

  4,576

  1998–99

  21

  2,159

  Flood Defence

  1997–98

  1

  2,850

  1998–99

  4

  1,387

  Navigation

  1997–98

  31

  118

  1998–99

  43

  162

  1 The average fines for Water Quality offences in 1998–99 has been adjusted to reflect the reduction in the amount the Milford Haven Harbour Authority was fined for its part in the Sea Empress disaster. On appeal the fine was reduced from £4 million to £750,000.

  Urban Design
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will publish good practice guidance on urban design in the planning system. [122345]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The good practice guidance we have prepared in partnership with the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment will be published on Monday 15 May. Copies of "By Design Urban design in the Planning System; towards better practice" will be placed in the Library of the House.

  "By Design" will form a key part of the Government's strategy for promoting better urban design in the planning and development system. It provides sound, practical advice on how to implement the Government's commitment to good design as set out in Planning Policy Guidance, in particular PPG1 "General Policy and Principles" and PPG3 "Housing". It also reinforces the call in the Urban Task Force's report "Towards an Urban Renaissance" for earlier, greater and better-informed attention to urban design.

  Regional Development Agencies
  Angela Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the total budget is for each of the regional development agencies for 2000–01; and if he will break it down in each case by programme. [122460]

  Ms Armstrong
  The budgets of the regional development agencies for 2000–01 are as follows.
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  NE

  NW

  YH

  EM

  WM

  E

  SE

  SW

  Total

  Administration

  9,713

  12,334

  8,284

  7,158

  7,732

  4,805

  5,737

  7,586

  63,349

  Land and Property

  15,930

  8,180

  13,370

  8,250

  6,990

  2,000

  3,200

  19,400

  77,320

  Partnership Investment Programme

  21,960

  72,680

  20,000

  18,200

  13,410

  6,500

  12,500

  11,800

  177,050

  Single Regeneration Budget

  93,500

  140,900

  127,700

  37,700

  86,400

  18,400

  47,200

  23,700

  575,500

  Rural Development

  2,859

  1,283

  3,375

  3,381

  1,883

  3,100

  1,799

  7,023

  24,703

  Skills Development Fund

  2,305

  6,027

  4,400

  3,623

  4,969

  4,242

  5,929

  3,679

  35,174

  Skills Administration

  186

  294

  241

  215

  257

  233

  290

  233

  1,949

  Inward Investment

  1,715

  1,443

  1,465

  1,064

  1,389

  965

  965

  1,554

  10,560

  Competitiveness Development Fund

  440

  440

  440

  440

  440

  440

  444

  444

  3,528

  Clusters

  1,500

  1,500

  1,500

  1,500

  1,500

  1,500

  1,500

  1,500

  12,000

  Gross Total

  150,108

  245,081

  180,775

  81,531

  124,970

  42,185

  79,564

  76,919

  981,133

  Land and Property

  -15,770

  -14,670

  -8,800

  -9,100

  -4,000

  -650

  -3,500

  -14,950

  -71,440

  PIP receipts

  -5,830

  -21,190

  -2,000

  -2,700

  -6,000

  -150

  -4,000

  -1,950

  -43,820

  Rural Development

  -236

  -270

  -453

  -590

  -183

  -145

  -142

  -575

  -2,594

  Other Current

  -13,920

  -11,468

  -5,335

  -2,048

  -1,395

  -418

  0

  -3,416

  -38,000

  Total Receipts

  -35,756

  -47,598

  -16,588

  -14,438

  -11,578

  -1,363

  -7,642

  -20,891

  -155,854

  Net Total

  114,352

  197,483

  164,187

  67,093

  113,392

  40,822

  71,922

  56,028

  825,279

  Rail Schemes
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what his policy is on checking the reliability of privately-produced studies of proposed rail schemes, with particular reference to Virgin Trains' commercial study of electrification of the North Wales main line. [121839]

  Mr. Hill
  The Franchising Director would normally verify the accuracy of any privately produced railway study, using external consultants where necessary. Virgin Trains' study was presented to the former Office of Passenger Rail Franchising (now the shadow Strategic Rail Authority), and the Franchising Director judged its conclusions to be valid, having considered it in line with the organisation's process of due diligence.

  Departmental Inquiries
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 18 April 2000,Official Report, column 444W, which of the reviews, public inquiries and commissions of inquiry listed have been carried out by paid appointees; who are the paid appointees; and what is their level of remuneration. [121845]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  London Underground
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on(a) train, (b) signal and (c) track failures in each financial year since 1994–95 for each line of the London Underground and the cumulative figures for all lines. [119670]

  Mr. Hill
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to his earlier question on 21 December 1999,Official Report, column 523-24W. London Underground has provided the figures for the extra years which have been requested and these are included in the table, along with the figures for the full year 1999–2000.
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  Service disruption due to failures in:

  Trains

  Signal/points

  Other track

  1994–95

  16,126

  2,349

  659

  1995–96

  15,102

  2,494

  959

  1996–97

  14,873

  2,323

  1,007

  1997–98

  18,088

  2,827

  907

  1998–99

  20,159

  2,756

  869

  1999–2000

  16,216

  2,626

  909

  These figures show a significant reduction in train failures in 1999–2000 compared with the previous year. This is attributable to the new or refurbished stock now available on the Northern, Jubilee and Piccadilly lines. The reduction of signal or points failure in 1999–2000 compared with the two previous years reflects investment and maintenance work enabled by the additional funding provided by the Government.

  Air Traffic Control
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which EU member states have privatised their air traffic control facilities in the last five years. [121295]

  Mr. Mullin
  No state in Europe has privatised its main air traffic control service provider. However, a number of states are, like the UK, looking at ways to commercialise their service providers and at how to introduce new management expertise and financing into the provision of air traffic control.

  Noise Mitigation Schemes
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will instruct the Highways Agency to add to the list of possible noise mitigation schemes, published in the Official Report on 11 November 1999, columns 681-83W, (a) the A46 at Harvington and (b) the M5 at Whittington. [121313]

  Mr. Hill
  No. Neither location meets the criteria established in the announcement of 22 March 1999 to determine whether the need for noise remedial measures should be studied in further detail. The A46 at Harvington carries far less traffic than would generate a roadside
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  noise level of 80dB (A). The M5 at Whittington was improved more recently than 1988 and noise mitigation measures were provided in accordance with current standards.

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will review the criteria for potential road noise mitigation schemes published on 22 March 1999 to include roads built or widened after 1988. [121314]

  Mr. Hill
  The purpose of the policy is to focus attention on cases where people may not have had the benefit of noise mitigation measures provided in accordance with current standards. These standards were introduced in 1988 and it is not appropriate to review schemes where noise mitigation was designed within those standards.

  Camping
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what powers he has to recover the cost to the community of site clearance and waste disposal caused by unauthorised camping. [121297]

  Mr. Mullin
  Under section 59(8) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the Environment Agency or local authority is entitled to recover its costs incurred from any person who made, or knowingly caused or permitted, the illegal deposit of any waste.

  Housing (Multiple Occupation)
  Ms Drown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will introduce licensing legislation in respect of houses in multiple occupation in England and Wales. [121776]

  Mr. Mullin
  We will introduce the necessary primary legislation as soon as Parliamentary time can be found. Key conclusions and a summary of responses to our 1999 consultation paper for England will be published in due course.

  European Research Area
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what communications he has received on the proposed establishment of a European research area; and how much money the Community has spent in the United Kingdom for research projects chosen by the European Community. [121633]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Commission issued a Communication "Towards a European Research Area" [COM (00)6] on 18 January 2000. An explanatory memorandum on this Communication was deposited in the House of Commons and House of Lords on the 17 March 2000. It is expected that at its meeting on 15 June the Research Council will adopt a Council Resolution as a formal response to this Communication.

  The European Community's main instrument for funding scientific research and development is the Framework Programme. This is administered by
  486W
  the European Commission. As a matter of policy the Commission do not publish data showing the amount of funding awarded on a country-by-country basis.

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMISSION

  Electronic Data Systems
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission if the National Audit Office has(a) a contract and (b) a framework agreement with Electronic Data Systems. [121790]

  Mr. Sheldon
  The National Audit Office has neither a contract nor a framework agreement with Electronic Data Systems.

CABINET OFFICE

  Public Opinion Research
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when guidance on public opinion research will be published. [122308]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  Guidance on Government Research into Public Attitudes and Opinions is being published today. A copy of the guidance has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Ministerial Red Boxes
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to her answer of 2 May 2000,Official Report, column 88W, what is the guidance concerning the carrying of Ministerial Red Boxes on trains; and of what breaches of that guidance she has been notified in the last six months. [121135]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  Ministerial Red Boxes generally contain official papers or other material which may be sensitive or valuable. Due care therefore needs to be given to their protection when carried on any form of public transport, as set out in the general rules governing the control of such material. There is no requirement to notify me of breaches of the guidance.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Athletics Facilities
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding is available from his Department for facilities for the provision of athletics in the area of Bridgnorth District Council. [121355]

  Kate Hoey
  Funding for athletics is available from a variety of sources. The National Lottery provides funding for facilities across a wide range of different sports, including athletics. The Lottery Sports Fund provides around £200 million to distribute each year. Funding may also be available from other sources including local authorities, Sports match (the Government's business incentive scheme for sport) and the Foundation for Sport and the Arts.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what data he has collated on differential rates of spending on the National Lottery by different social classes(a) in absolute terms and (b) as percentages of income; if he will publish this data; and if he will make a statement. [120626]

  Kate Hoey
  The National Lottery Commission supports a social research programme on participation in the National Lottery. Report No. 1 of this programme, published in May 1999, contains data on participation by social class and income category. Copies of this report are being placed in the Libraries of the House today.

  Public Library Services
  Mr. Geraint Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what guidance he proposes to issue to library authorities about the public library services they should be providing. [122346]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  I am publishing draft public library standards on Monday 15 May, a day which already marks the celebration of 150 years of public libraries, and I shall be placing copies of those draft standards in the Libraries of the House that morning. Following a wide consultation with library authorities, users, key organisations and other interested people, I hope to publish final standards later in the year and intend that they should then take effect from 1 April 2001.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Ethically Produced Food
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement about her policy on ethically produced food in developing countries, with particular reference to(a) animal welfare standards, (b) employment practices and (c) consequences for the environment. [121840]

  Clare Short
  The Government support ethical approaches to business and trade, which have an important part to play in promoting sustainable development and in bringing benefits to poor people in developing countries. We take account of animal welfare standards, employment practices and consequences for the environment.

  My Department has developed detailed guidelines on the use of animals for any purpose, agricultural or otherwise. These guidelines govern animal welfare standards in all our programmes and projects. They reflect the broad guiding principles that use must be humane and that harms of a certain degree or kind ought under no circumstances to be inflicted on an animal. A copy of these guidelines is being placed in the Library of the House.

  We encourage British retailers to examine their global supply chains to ensure they comply with the Core Labour Standards, as set internationally by the ILO within the Declaration of Fundamental Principles and Rights to Work, or can be bettered by voluntary codes of conduct such as SA 8000 or the base code of the Ethical Trading Initiative, which is supported by my Department.
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  We also Promote better environmental management as a contribution to eliminating poverty. Environmental considerations are integrated throughout our programmes. All projects are screened at the design stage and monitored during implementation for their impact on the environment. My Department supports work to develop and implement a wide array of technologies and approaches that mitigate the impact of food production on the environment in developing countries. We also support efforts to encourage the private sector in developing countries to integrate environmental concerns into decision making by assistance to industry organisations, promotion of industry codes of conduct and environmental auditing standards.

  India
  Mr. Khabra
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial assistance her Department has given to the victims of the disaster in the states of Gujarat and Rajasthan in India. [121318]

  Clare Short
  My Department has provided £500,000 to Oxfam for drought relief activities in Gujarat and Rajasthan. We are in close contact with other agencies working in this area and also in the drought affected regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. We stand ready to respond further to assessed needs.

  BP Amoco
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with BP Amoco concerning their investment in Petrol China in relation to its plans to operate in Tibet. [121586]

  Mr. Foulkes
  Neither I, nor the Secretary of State, have had discussions with BP Amoco concerning their investment in Petro China.

  Sierra Leone
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of the United Kingdom's assistance for security sector reform in Sierra Leone is paid for by(a) her Department and (b) other Government Departments. [121583]

  Mr. Foulkes
  Assistance provided for security sector reform to date amounts to £1.15 million all of which is to be met by our Department.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her Department's support for security sector reform in Sierra Leone. [121584]

  Mr. Foulkes
  Security is a top priority for the poor. Without basic security it is impossible for poor people to build a better life and to work their way out of poverty. During the eight years of civil war in Sierra Leone unaccountable armed forces became part of the security problem. Our Department has been working closely with the Government of Sierra Leone, as well as the World Bank and others to support the disarmament and demobilisation programme as well as supporting wider reform in the security sector including reforms to the military and the police force.
  489W
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the projects her Department supports in Sierra Leone, indicating the financial support provided to each. [121585]

  £ million

  Support to the Government of Sierra Leone's National Programme for Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration

  12.4

  Emergency support to Lungi Demobilisation Camp

  1.6

  Security Sector Project (SILSEP)

  1.7

  Support to the Commonwealth Police Development Taskforce (includes Police Humanitarian Fund and Public Order support)

  2.45

  Provision of an Inspector General of Police

  0.25

  Military Reintegration Plan (MRP)

  3.4

  Commonwealth Community Safety and Security Project

  12.9

  Support to Campaign for Good Governance (Civil Society)

  0.2

  Support for the return of Paramount Chiefs

  2.0

  Law Development Project (incl. Legal Draftsman)

  2.2

  Media Development Project

  1.1

  Governance assistance programme: British Council project management

  1.1

  Support to the President's office

  0.2

  Humanitarian Relief and reconstruction

  5.0

  Budgetary Support for essential services/repayment of debts

  20.5

  Ferry

  1.5

  Pakistan
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent representations she has received on bonded labour in Pakistan; and if she will make a statement. [121587]

  Mr. Foulkes
  We receive occasional representations from human rights groups and from individuals.

  The Secretary of State's statement to the House of Commons on 10 November 1999, Official Report, column 553W, affirmed the British Government's commitment to the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour, both in the UK and overseas. That continues to be our position.

  The practice of forced (or 'bonded') labour remains a problem in Pakistan, notwithstanding the existence of legislation there to outlaw it. Therefore, we take every suitable opportunity to remind the authorities of their obligations to uphold the basic rights of all the Pakistani people, particularly the poor and disadvantaged. It is these groups, inevitably, that are most vulnerable to the perils of 'debt bondage' and 'bonded' employment.

  Our Department maintains contact with organisations which are active in campaigning, or in acting against such violations of human rights. We stand ready to support their work in Pakistan if worthwhile opportunities emerge. Meanwhile, we are supporting an innovative programme to phase out child labour from the football manufacturing industry in and around Sialkot.

HEALTH

  Meat Hygiene Service
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will instruct the Food Standards Agency to conduct an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the closure of the Mead Webber Abattoir at Eardisley, with particular reference to the conduct of the Meat Hygiene Service. [121219]
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  Mr. Foulkes
  DFID has allocated resources in support of the following projects in Sierra Leone:

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 10 May 2000]: This is a matter for which the Food Standards Agency is responsible. I understand that a formal complaint has been received from Mead Webber Ltd. about the circumstances surrounding the closure of the abattoir, and that it has been agreed by the Food Standards Agency that an independent investigation will be carried out. The most appropriate way of doing this, acceptable to both parties, is being urgently considered, with a view to it starting as soon as possible.

  Medical Treatment Abroad
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have used the E112 procedure to have medical treatment abroad in each of the last five years. [121788]

  Ms Stuart
  The information requested is as follows:

  Year

  Number of E112s issued

  1995

  1409

  1996

  815

  1997

  859

  1998

  812

  1999

  860

  1 Records incomplete

  Royal Liverpool Children's NHS Trust
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what decision has been taken with respect to Hilary Rowland's chairmanship of the Royal Liverpool Children's NHS Trust; who took the decision; which Ministers were consulted on this decision; and if he will make a statement. [121787]

  Ms Stuart
  Hilary Rowland, Chief Executive, is on extended leave from her post at the Royal Liverpool Children's National Health Service Trust after what has been an exceptionally demanding period, both for her and for Alder Hey Children's Hospital. During this time, Ms Rowland remains in contact with regional officials at the NHS Executive North West and has their continuing support.

  Human Papilloma Virus Testing
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason there has been a delay in the selection of pilot sites for human papilloma virus testing. [121784]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Department is currently establishing an advisory group, which will oversee the commissioning and running of the pilot sites for human papilloma virus testing and provide expert advice and support on all aspects of the scope of the project. A limited competition exercise will be held in the summer to select the pilot sites, and it is anticipated they will be chosen by the autumn. Testing will begin when preparatory work at each site is complete.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Magistrates Courts
  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what estimate he has made of the savings which will result from closing the(a) Axminster and (b) Exmouth magistrates courts. [121785]

  Jane Kennedy
  None. Under the provisions of the Justices of the Peace Act 1997 the Axminster and Exmouth magistrate's courts are managed locally by the Devon and Cornwall Magistrates Courts Committee. Decisions concerning closure are for that Committee to determine, although a contributing local authority may appeal to the Lord Chancellor against a proposed closure. The procedure for such appeals is set out in section 56 of the Act. In the absence of an appeal the Lord Chancellor has no locus in the matter.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Rifle Thefts
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) rifles minus their bolts and (b) complete rifles were stolen from their civilian owners in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and of these how many were (i) 22 calibre and (ii) full bore. [121259]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Chief Constable has advised me that the information is not retained in a manner which readily permits obtaining the detail necessary to answer this question without incurring a disproportionate cost.

  Firearms
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many legally held firearms have been destroyed in the last 12 months for which figures are available, as a consequence of the authority to hold such a firearm being(a) withdrawn and (b) given up by the holder; and of those firearms how many were (i) handguns, (ii) rifles of 22 calibre, (iii) rifles over 22 calibre, (iv) shotguns and (v) other firearms. [121258]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Chief Constable has advised me that the following firearms, legally held on certificate, were destroyed during the period 1 May 1999 to 30 April 2000.
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  Firearms

  Number

  Shotguns

  1,199

  Handguns

  414

  Rifles

  268

  Air Rifles

  299

  It has not been possible to give a more detailed breakdown.

  Performance Targets (Social Security)
  Mr. Russell Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what performance targets have been set for the Social Security Agency for the current financial year. [122440]

  Mr. George Howarth
  The following targets have been set with the objective of continuing to provide high levels of service to customers. I am satisfied that the targets represent a demanding challenge for the Agency. The targets will be included in the Agency's 2000–03 Strategic and Business Plan, which is due for publication this month. A copy of the Plan will be placed in the Library. The targets are as follows:

  1. Customer Satisfaction

  90 per cent. of customers to regard the Agency's services as satisfactory or better.

  2. New Deal initiatives

  To increase the numbers of Lone Parents participating in the scheme by 25 per cent. year on year.
  To have 5 per cent. of those Partners of the Unemployed targeted agree to participate in the scheme.

  3. Resource Management

  To achieve cash efficiency savings of the order of £1.4 million.

  4. Benefit Accuracy

  Disability Living Allowance—To pay the correct amount in at least 88 per cent. of cases.
  Incapacity Benefit—To pay the correct amount in at least 95 per cent. of cases.
  Income Support—To pay the correct amount in at least 89 per cent. of cases.
  Jobseeker's Allowance—To pay the correct amount in at least 91 per cent. of cases.

  5. Fraud

  To achieve a 5 per cent. reduction in the level of fraud and error in Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance.

  6. Financial Recovery

  Recovery of overpayments—£3.7 million.

PRIME MINISTER

  Post Office
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Prime Minister when he will publish the Performance and Innovation Unit's report on the social value of rural post offices; and if he will make a statement. [121126]

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to publish the Performance and Innovation Unit report on the Post Office. [120480]

  The Prime Minister
  The Performance and Innovation Unit report on the Post Office network will be published shortly.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the departments which have spent money directly or indirectly on asylum seekers in the years(a) 1995, (b) 1996, (c) 1997, (d) 1998, (e) 1999 and (f) 2000 to date. [119451]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 17 April 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 9 May 2000, Official Report, columns 332-33W.

  Social Exclusion
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will define social exclusion. [120672]

  The Prime Minister
  Social exclusion is a shorthand term for what can happen when people or areas suffer from a combination of linked problems such as unemployment, poor skills, low incomes, poor housing, high crime environments, bad health and family breakdown.

  Aircraft
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Prime Minister if he is evaluating proposals for acquiring aircraft for his official use. [118108]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 10 April 2000]: No. As my answer to the hon. Member of 3 April 2000, Official Report, column 279W, made clear, decisions on which aircraft to use will be determined on cost, the numbers of people travelling with me, security and business considerations and the availability of aircraft. There is no dedicated aircraft which is solely for my use.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Ennis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on arms sales to Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement. [122442]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  The Government's policy on export licence applications for Zimbabwe was set out in my statement to the House of Commons on 3 May 2000,Official Report, columns 149-62.

  As I informed the House, the Government decided last week, in the light of the deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe, to refuse from 3 May all applications for new licences for Zimbabwe for goods and technology listed in part III, schedule 1, of the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, as amended (commonly known as the Military List).

  This included all new licence applications for spare parts in connection with previous contracts. We also began a review of all extant export licences for Zimbabwe.

  In line with my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's statement of 9 February 2000, Official Report, columns 184-85W, the Government will not grant export licences for dual-use equipment where there is a clear risk that the equipment would be used in the Democratic
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  Republic of the Congo. Other applications for Standard Individual Export Licences to export dual-use equipment to Zimbabwe will be considered on a case-by-case basis against the national criteria and those in the EU Code of Conduct.

  We have now completed the review of extant licences foreshadowed in my statement of 3 May. The Government place considerable importance on UK companies being able to honour their contractual obligations. They do not, therefore, revoke existing licences except in exceptional circumstances. Zimbabwe has now regrettably placed itself in that category. We have, therefore, decided to revoke all extant Standard Individual Export Licences for goods and technology on the Military List (with the possible exception of one extant licence for de-mining equipment already in Zimbabwe) and to remove Zimbabwe as a permitted destination from all Open Individual Export Licences for goods and technology on the Military List.

  In addition, Zimbabwe is a permitted destination on four Open General Export Licences (OGELs) and two Open General Transhipment Licences (OGTLs) which allow the export of goods and technology on the Military List. Zimbabwe will now be removed from the coverage of these licences. Amended copies of these licences will be placed in the Library of the House.

  We will remove Zimbabwe as a permitted destination from the coverage of extant Open Individual Export Licences for dual-use equipment. Exporters affected by this measure may, however, submit applications for Standard Individual Export Licences for this equipment. Such applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis against the criteria as described above.

  We will also be prohibiting transhipment of goods on the Military List to Zimbabwe via the United Kingdom without a licence, by means of an amendment to schedule 3 of the EG(C)O.

  The effect of this is that we now have a national arms embargo on Zimbabwe. We will be requesting the Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories to take the necessary measures to implement the same embargo.

  The Government will continue to monitor events in Zimbabwe closely.

  China
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Government policy towards China and human rights discussions in the United Nations. [121501]

  Mr. Hain
  The United Kingdom has a wide-ranging relationship with China. As Permanent Members of the United Nations Security Council we regularly discuss an extensive range of international interests and responsibilities including global and regional security, as well as political, financial, economic and environmental issues.

  The UN Commission on Human Rights considered a resolution tabled by the United States on the human rights situation in China on 18 April. We voted against a Chinese sponsored "No-Action" motion to guillotine discussion on a US sponsored resolution. The EU Presidency condemned the continuing restrictions upon

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  the fundamental freedoms of thought, expression, religion, assembly and association. on behalf of the EU, the Presidency also made it clear that it was vital that the human rights dialogue with China should continue and be kept under regular review.

  Sri Lanka
  Mr. Trend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement on the Sri Lankan Government's imposition of emergency regulations on 3 May. [121581]

  Mr. Hain
  I last met the Sri Lankan High Commissioner on 20 January when he paid a courtesy call on me.

  We are concerned by the possible restrictions on civil liberties and press freedoms following the introduction of the regulations by the Sri Lankan Government and hope that they will be lifted as soon as possible. It is not clear how the regulations will be implemented. We shall continue to monitor the situation.

  Women Senior Managers
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many women there are in his Department in the top three senior management grades; and what these figures were 10 years ago. [121775]

  Mr. Hain
  As at 1 April 2000 there were eight women at JESP 13 and above, which equates to Grades 1-3, the top three senior management grades.

  In 1990, the Department did not record the gender of those in the most senior grades. Figures for 1990 could therefore only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  Women Graduates
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many women graduates recruited into his Department in 1980 are still serving in his Department. [121715]

  Mr. Hain
  No women were recruited to the FCO in 1980 through the fast stream competition where candidates are required to have a degree. Women graduates may have been recruited into other grades, but in these cases information on whether or not they had a degree was not systematically recorded as possession of a degree was not a requirement for recruitment in most cases.

  Iran
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 8 May 2000,Official Report, columns 257-58W, if he raised the issue of legal proceedings concerning members of the Jewish community when he spoke to Iranian Foreign Minister Kharrazi on 28 April regarding the postponement of his visit to Iran; and what factors underlay his decision to postpone the visit. [121674]

  Mr. Hain
  [holding answer 11 May 2000]: Further to my answer of 8 May 2000, Official Report, columns 257-58W, the Foreign Secretary has raised this issue on a number of occasions with Foreign Minister Kharrazi (including when
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  he visited London in January), and with the Iranian ambassador. He did not discuss it or other foreign policy concerns during his telephone call to Foreign Minister Kharrazi on 29 April which focused exclusively on the postponement of his visit to Iran in the light of the situation in Zimbabwe.

  Wine Expenditure
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department has spent on(a) champagne and (b) other wine in each year since 1 May 1997. [121781]

  Mr. Hain
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not maintain a comprehensive central record of these categories of expenditure. A comprehensive breakdown of expenditure could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Macedonia
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance his Department has provided to the British soldier Richard Hudson currently detained in Skopje jail in Macedonia; and if he will make a statement. [121956]

  Mr. Hain
  At the time of his arrest Mr. Hudson was working as a civilian sub-contractor for KFOR. He is not a member of HM armed forces.

  Our consular staff in Macedonia have visited Mr. Hudson regularly since his arrest and will continue to do so during his detention. They have pursued every complaint or rumour of maltreatment, and taken up his case at the highest levels in the Macedonian Government.

  Mr. Hudson has made an application for a transfer to a UK prison under the Council of Europe Transfer of Prisoners Agreement. We have passed his application to the UK prison service and to the Minister of Justice in Macedonia. We will continue to press the Macedonian Government for a quick decision.

  British Overseas Territories Bill
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 5 May 2000,Official Report, column 240W, when he expects to conclude his consideration of the principles to be addressed in the Overseas Territories Bill. [121841]

  Mr. Battle
  We hope to conclude consideration of the principles to be addressed in the Overseas Territories Bill by the end of May this year.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  War Pensions
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many former service personnel who participated in the nuclear tests programmes in Australia and the South Pacific have been awarded war pensions after they developed(a) leukaemia, excluding chronic lymphatic and (b) multiple myeloma; when was

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  the first time that former service personnel were awarded war pensions after developing these illnesses; and if he will make a statement. [121615]

  Mr. Bayley
  The administration of the War Pensions Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive of the War Pensions Agency, Mr. Gordon Hextall. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Gordon Hextall to Mrs. Ann Winterton, dated 12 May 2000:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many former service personnel who participated in the nuclear tests programmes in Australia and South Pacific have been awarded war pensions after they developed (a) leukaemia, excluding chronic lymphatic and (b) multiple myeloma; when was the first time that former service personnel were awarded war pensions after developing these illnesses; and if he will make a statement.
  The War Pensions Agency processes claims for war disablement and war widows' pensions and for associated supplementary allowances. Under the war pensions scheme, awards may be made in respect of any condition which is due to any service in the armed forces.
  We do collect statistics of all claims for war pensions from British nuclear test veterans who believe that they might have been exposed during service to excessive radiation. However, these also include claims from personnel who served, for example, on nuclear submarines.
  The statistics at 10th May 2000 are as follows:

  Leukaemia: 9 cases (5 disablement, 4 widows)

  Multiple myeloma: 13 cases (10 disablement, 3 widows)

  You will wish to know that the background to these awards is that as a result of concern amongst some test participants about the effects that the participation may have on their health, the Ministry of Defence commissioned an independent study by the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) in 1988 to investigate the subsequent health of participants. The study compared the mortality and cancer incidence in over 20,000 test participants with that of a similar-sized control group of ex-servicemen who had not participated in the test programme.

  The 1988 NRPB Report and the Department's position
  The NRPB Report published in 1988 confirmed that participation in the UK tests has not had a detectable effect on the participants' expectation of life, nor on their risk of developing cancer in general. It did, however, raise a reasonable doubt that leukaemia (other than chronic lymphatic leukaemia) and multiple myeloma might be due to participation. Whilst the NBPB Report did not causally relate leukaemia and multiple myeloma specifically to participation in the nuclear weapons tests, its' evidence was nevertheless accepted as raising a reasonable doubt that leukaemia (other than chronic lymphatic leukaemia) and multiple myeloma may have resulted from such participation. Thus, any claim for war pension in respect of disablement or death due to leukaemia (other than chronic lymphatic leukaemia) and multiple myeloma was likely to succeed. This policy was effective from 28th January 1988.

  The 1993 NRPB Report
  The study was extended and the second NRPB Report was issued in 1993. This confirmed the overall conclusion of the 1988 Report, that participation in the tests had no detectable effect on the participants' expectation of life, nor on their risk of developing most cancers. It concluded that the small hazard of multiple myeloma suggested by the 1988 Report was not supported by the additional data, although the possibility of some small risk of developing leukaemia (other than chronic lymphatic leukaemia) in the first 25 years after participation could not be ruled out.
  As a result of this later Report, it is now the Secretary of State's normal policy to accept any new claim in respect of leukaemia (other than chronic lymphatic leukaemia) if the participant developed the condition within 25 years of his participation in the tests. This change was effective from 11th December 1993. War Pensions
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  already in payment to test participants or their widows in respect of disablement or death due to leukaemia (other than chronic lymphatic leukaemia) or multiple myeloma were not affected by that decision.

  Evidence of service-related ionising radiation exposure
  Should there be reliable evidence of service-related ionising radiation and where there is a recognised link between the claimed condition and such exposure, an award of war pension will be considered.
  The Secretary of State does not accept evidence of participation in the nuclear tests as itself equating to proof of service-related ionising radiation exposure.
  If I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to ask.

  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claims for war pensions by British nuclear test veterans have been(a) made and (b) awarded to date. [121303]

  Mr. Bayley
  The administration of the War Pensions Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive of the War Pensions Agency, Mr. Gordon Hextall. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Gordon Hextall to Mr. Andrew Welsh, dated 12 May 2000:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many claims for war pension by British nuclear test veterans have been (a) made and (b) awarded to date.
  The War Pensions Agency processes claims for war disablement and war widows' pensions, and for associated supplementary allowances. Under the war pensions scheme awards may be made in respect of any condition which is due to any service in the armed forces. Unfortunately, our statistics do not specifically record the number of claims from, and awards to, ex-service personnel whose service included participation in the British nuclear test programme. To obtain that precise information would require a clerical exercise which could only be carried out at disproportionate costs.
  However, we do have statistics of claims for war pension from British nuclear test veterans who believe that they might have been exposed during service to excessive ionising radiation, but these include claims from personnel who served, for example, in nuclear submarines.
  At 31st March 2000. these statistics record 1,228 claims which resulted in 467 awards, but these are for a miscellany of conditions, some of which have no connection to participation in the test programme.
  If I can be of any further assistance, then please do not hesitate to contact me.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Maritime Safety
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the conclusions reached at the Council of Ministers meeting of 28 March on maritime safety; what measures are under discussion involving co-operation with(a) defence ministers and (b) European defence agencies for future presentation to a European Council meeting concerning a global strategy by the European Union in the Field of Maritime Security; and what is his policy thereon. [119815]

  Mr. Hill
  I have been asked to reply.

  In answer to the first part of his question on maritime safety I refer the hon. Member to my reply given on 30 March 2000, Official Report, columns 230-31W. In answer to the second part, my right hon. Friend the

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  Secretary of State for Defence has not had any discussions concerning a global strategy by the European Union in the field of maritime security.

  Export Licences
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date his Department received export licence application number 8664; on what date he expects it to be determined; and if he will make a statement about its progress. [122037]

  Dr. Howells
  Licence Application 8664 was received by the Export Control Organisation (ECO) on 15 December 1999. The application is currently under consideration in conjunction with other Government Departments. A decision on the licence application will be reached as quickly as possible consistent with the need to give full consideration to the issues involved.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals he has to ensure that applications for export licences are published in advance, allowing for proper public and parliamentary debate before decisions are made. [121717]

  Dr. Howells
  The 1998 White Paper on Strategic Export Controls proposed that new primary legislation should provide for parliamentary scrutiny of secondary export control legislation, but the White Paper stated that the Government did not consider there should be advance parliamentary scrutiny of individual export licence applications as this would slow down significantly the process of decision making and raise difficult issues of commercial confidentiality. The Foreign Affairs and Trade and Industry Committees endorsed this conclusion while the Quadripartite Committee on Strategic Export Controls has stated that it will seek to come to conclusions on this issue in its next Report.

  All the White Paper proposals are under review in the light of comments received. In coming to conclusions on this issue, the Government will take account also of the conclusions of the Committees, including any conclusions reached by the Quadripartite Committee on this matter. We will be announcing proposals for new export control legislation following conclusion of the review.

  Small Firms
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the way that assistance is given to small firms in the regions. [121662]

  Ms Hewitt
  The DTI is responsible for many forms of assistance to small firms. All those services are subject to regular evaluation.

  At a regional level, business support can be provided in a variety of ways. Some services are provided by the Government Offices in the regions; others are provided by the Regional Development Agencies. But the most important mechanism for providing support for small businesses at the local level in England is the network of Business Link partnerships. These provide their own services, but also access to other forms of support from both the public and private sector. Funding mechanisms also vary and, in relevant areas, EU funding can be a significant source of business support.
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  It is critically important that the services provided and funded by Government are effective both in terms of content and delivery. The Department therefore asked each Regional Development Agency (and the London Development Partnership) last year to report on the delivery of business support in their region. A number of RDAs supported their reviews with external research. Those reports are now being received and the newly-established Small Business Service will be taking forward the reports with each of the RDAs. In parallel, the Small Business Service is itself restructuring the Business Link network, with the aim of new Business Link partnerships coming into operation from April 2001. The new partnerships will be expected to develop their services within the context both of the RDA regional economic strategies and national priorities established by the SBS.

  Enterprise Fund
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the small firms who will directly benefit from the Government's Enterprise Fund(a) nationally and (b) in the Crosby constituency. [121660]

  Ms Hewitt
  The main elements of the Enterprise Fund are the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme, the UK High Technology Fund and the Regional Venture Capital Funds.

  With regard to the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme, the Government act as guarantor to the lenders in the scheme. The loan is arranged between the lender and the small firm and is subject to commercial confidentiality procedures.

  Both venture capital elements of the Enterprise Fund, namely the UK High Technology Fund and Regional Venture Capital Funds are currently being developed. They will be managed by professional fund managers. All their investment decisions will be made on a commercial basis. As an investor in the funds, the Government will not be able to forecast which small businesses will directly benefit.

  It is therefore not possible to list, either nationally or for the Crosby constituency, which small firms will directly benefit from the Government's Enterprise Fund.

  Partnership Fund
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how the Partnership Fund will achieve its aims of fostering new attitudes and approaches to partnership at work; and how much money is to be made available for the Fund. [121663]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The Fund supports projects to develop partnership approaches in the workplace and to disseminate best practice. Up to £5 million is being made available in a series of calls over four years.

  Thirty-five projects, having a total value of £2,880,000, are being supported under the first call for proposals of the Partnership Fund. The second call for proposals was launched by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 9 May 2000 and the deadline for applications is 21 July 2000.

  Shipbuilding
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will ensure that Shipbuilding Intervention Fund money will remain available to UK shipbuilders for the remainder of this year. [121470]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  I announced on 25 January 2000,Official Report, column 199W that I had decided to extend the availability of the Shipbuilding Intervention Fund to 31 December 2000. I am pleased to confirm that that remains the position.

  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on(a) perceptions of the effectiveness of the home shipbuilding credit guarantee scheme and (b) the plans the Government have to alter the scheme. [121469]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  I believe that the scheme has played an important role in helping UK yards win new orders since its inception in the 1960s, and continues to do so. The scheme has supported some 1,200 vessels to the value of more than £4.5 billion. It currently supports UK built ships to the tune of £200 million.

  The Department runs the scheme on a comparable basis to similar schemes in our main competitor countries and we believe that its current terms facilities are competitive. To this end, and in response to recommendations from our partnership with the industry in the Shipbuilding Forum in 1999, we delivered significant improvements to the scheme by making loans available in euros and US dollars, and by making guarantees only facilities available too. This makes the scheme one of the few to offer guarantees only, and to offer finance of up to 12 years.

  Following the introduction of these improvements, there is now a high level of inquiry for finance under the scheme involving potential orders for eligible ships at virtually all the UK yards.

  In line with our general approach we remain ready to consider constructive suggestions for ways that the scheme might be strengthened in the future.

  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his Department's support for shipbuilding(a) on the River Clyde and (b) in the United Kingdom as a whole. [121315]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  My Department's strategy is to support and promote all parts of the UK shipbuilding industry equally, irrespective of their location. In particular, the policy is to assist the industry to improve its competitiveness. In July 1998 my Department established the Shipbuilding Forum whose membership comprises representatives of the shipbuilding and ship repair industry, trades unions, equipment suppliers and customers, both private and public sector. Also involved are the National Training Organisation for the marine sector and relevant Government Departments. The Forum's terms of reference are to consider the current situation of the shipbuilding and ship repair industry and how to improve its competitiveness so as to increase its share of the European market, leading to increased output, profitability and employment.

  Energy Supplies
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to penalise gas and electricity companies that take over control of peoples' energy supplies without their consent. [121445]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Government take seriously the distress and inconvenience caused by involuntary transfers and has encouraged Ofgem to take firm action with the companies concerned.

  It is for the Director General of Gas and Electricity Supply to determine what action should be taken to combat involuntary transfers of energy supply. The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets [Ofgem] is taking steps that will significantly reduce these transfers. Among other things, Ofgem recently renewed the licence condition for gas and electricity suppliers governing sales and marketing practices, and is presently consulting on further enhancements. Ofgem also works closely with individual suppliers to resolve problems that lead to customer complaints.

  Radio Frequencies (Mobile Phones)
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultations Her Majesty's Government have had with the authorities responsible for airport radar systems in respect of the distribution of new frequencies for mobile phones. [121360]

  Ms Hewitt
  None of the radio frequencies for the licences assigned by the recent third generation mobile communications auction is used by airport radar systems.

  A proposal to share frequency bands, including those used by civil airport radar in the UK, for possible future expansion of third generation mobile systems, is to be discussed at the World Radio Conference currently taking place in Istanbul (WRC-2000). The authorities concerned with civil airport radar were fully involved in the UK's preparations for WRC-2000, and ensured that the requirements of safety were taken into account. The agreed European position is that further study is required before any decisions can be taken.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when new licences for mobile phones will be issued; and what effect the distribution of frequencies will have on the optimal use of the spectrum. [121362]

  Ms Hewitt
  Subject to the provisions of the Wireless Telegraphy (Third Generation Licences) Notice 1999, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry will grant a Wireless Telegraphy Act Licence for Third Generation Mobile Communications within 20 business days of the successful bidder for the licence confirming either that it is not subject to any preconditions or that it is no longer subject to any preconditions. Licences were issued to TIW UMTS UK Ltd. and One 2 One Personal Communications Ltd. on 9 May 2000.

  A well designed auction with well informed bidders should ensure that spectrum licences go to those who place the highest value on them and are most likely to make optimal use of the spectrum. In addition, the issue of five licences, including one reserved for a new entrant, should help to ensure that the available spectrum is used effectively by increasing sustainable competition and encouraging the faster roll-out of innovative services.

  Rover
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will send copies of the interim report from the Rover Task Force to hon. Members with West Midlands constituencies; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [121134]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 8 May 2000]: May I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. Burden) on 5 May 2000, Official Report, column 231W.

  Radio Spectrum
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to receive the money from the sale of the radio spectrum; and if he will make a statement. [121198]

  Ms Hewitt
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry expects to receive all of the receipts from the auction of Wireless Telegraph Act licences for Third Generation mobile communications in the current financial year.

  Motor Industry
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many businesses there are which conduct retail, after sales and repair of motor vehicles in the United Kingdom; and how many of them employ fewer than 50 people. [121590]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 11 May 2000]: In 1999, there were 60,455 businesses in these sectors. 8,435 employed fewer than 50.

  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the motor retail franchised dealers(a) he and (b) his officials have visited in the United Kingdom since July 1999. [121595]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 11 May 2000]: My officials are in regular contact with the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMIF) which also includes the National Franchise Dealers Association.

  I met with John Edwards of the Phoenix Consortium, a Rover dealer and a member of the RMIF during the recent contacts over Rover.

  Arms Exports
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what recent representations he has received on the controls on licensed production and brokerage of arms for export; and if he will make a statement; [121732]

  (2) what initiatives he is pursuing for greater control of licensed production and brokerage of arms for export; and if he will make a statement. [121731]

  Dr. Howells
  The 1998 White Paper on Strategic Export Controls (Cm 3989) contained proposals to extend controls on trafficking and brokering in several areas, including in respect of the supply of arms and other controlled goods to any country subject to embargo and the supply of equipment the export from the UK of which 504W
  has been banned because of evidence that goods of the same type have been used in torture. All the White Paper proposals are currently under review in the light of comments received.

  As part of this review the Government are also considering the issue of licensed production overseas following the raising of this issue in a number of the responses to the White Paper. However, a licence is already required for the export of any controlled equipment or technology in tangible form needed for an overseas manufacturing facility.

  In recent months the Department for Trade and Industry has received representations on the issues of arms brokering and licensed production from Oxfam and Amnesty International's UK Directors, from many individual members of these two organisations and from other members of the public.

  The Government will announce proposals for new export control legislation following conclusion of the current review of the White Paper proposals.

  Penalty Clause
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the contracts entered into with private sector companies for the provision of goods or services since May 1997 where penalty clauses were triggered for non-performance; and if he will make a statement. [122015]

  Dr. Howells
  Where appropriate, DTI contracts include liquidated damages clauses. Penalty clauses are not legally enforceable. The DTI has a great number of contracts in operation at any one time, the details of which are not held centrally. It would entail disproportionate cost to find out which of these contracts included liquidated damages clauses and which of those clauses had been invoked.

  Contracting Out
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the areas within his Department and its agencies where functions have been contracted out, listing(a) the cost involved, (b) date of contract with expiry term, (c) the name of the company and (d) the area within the DTI from which the functions have been taken since May 1997. [121619]

  Dr. Howells
  I will arrange to write to the hon. Member with this information shortly.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Influenza
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee which anti-viral drugs are available to hon. Members and staff at the Palace of Westminster to treat influenza. [121972]

  Mrs. Roe
  Stocks of a number of common drugs for emergency use are kept in the occupational health consulting room off the Lower Waiting Hall. These include drugs for treating angina, asthma and bacterial infections. These can be issued by the occupational health
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  doctors, and by certain medically qualified hon. Members. The occupational health service also provides influenza vaccinations for hon. Members and staff in the at-risk groups.

  The service does not, however, hold other drugs (including anti-viral influenza drugs) as the House's medical services are not intended to replace normal GP services.

  Surveillance Devices
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many surveillance devices are in use(a) inside and (b) outside buildings on the Parliamentary Estate; what is the (i) nature, (ii) location, (iii) purpose and (iv) cost of installing and running each such device; and if he will make a statement. [120773]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  [holding answer 11 May 2000]: The outturn for expenditure on security services in 1998–99 for the House of Commons was £13,953,000 as shown in the commission's Twenty-First Annual Report for 1998–99 (HC721); in 1999–2000 the cost was £13,454,174.

  It is not the practice to give detailed information of the type asked for by my hon. Friend.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Remploy Ltd.
  Mr. Anthony D. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the findings of the first stage of the quinquennial review of Remploy Ltd. [122343]

  Ms Hodge
  The Department has now completed the prior options stage of the quinquennial review of Remploy. Copies of the report have been placed in the Library and will be sent to those who contributed to the consultation exercise. The report is also available on the DfEE website (www.dfee.gov.uk).

  The review considered a number of options but decided that Remploy's position and NDPB status should remain as it is for now. The next stage of this review will start shortly and will be completed within three months. During this stage the review team will look at the relationship between the Government and the Company to ensure that it operates to the highest standards in line with the commitment set out in the Modernising Government White Paper.

  There will be a further review in two years time to assess the impact of Remploy's new Corporate Plan—Remploy 21.

  Correspondence
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he will reply to the letter dated 30 March from the hon. Member for West Derbyshire in relation to the Chairman of the Governors of the Fitzherbert School in Fenny Bentley, Derbyshire. [121450]

  Mr. Wills
  A reply to the hon. Member was issued on Wednesday 10 May 2000.
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  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when the hon. Member for West Derbyshire will receive a reply to his letter of 30 March about the William Gilbert School in Duffield, Derbyshire. [121441]

  Mr. Wills
  A reply to the hon. Member's letter was issued on 8 May 2000.

  New Deal
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many(a) men and (b) women from ethnic minority communities living in the Greater London area have benefited from the New Deal. [121122]

  Ms Jowell
  New Deal actively promotes equality of opportunity and outcome for people of all ethnic and racial groups. Targets have been set for all Units of Delivery to achieve parity of outcome on jobs between white and ethnic minority young people, by the end of this Parliament. Latest figures show that to the end of February 2000, in Greater London, 19,157 men and 10,035 women from ethnic minority groups have benefited from starting the New Deal for young people and that 12,198 men and 2,565 women from ethnic minority groups have benefited from starting the national New Deal for long-term unemployed people aged 25 or over. Many others will have benefited from the New Deal for Lone Parents and other New Deals.

  Free School Meals
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many children living in the Greater London area were receiving free school meals on 1 April. [121973]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The data are not available in the form requested. Figures on the number of day pupils attending maintained schools1 in the Greater London Government Office Region who took a free meal in January this year is currently being collected. Latest estimates show that there were 226,000 such pupils, which represents 21 per cent. of the pupil population.

  Final national figures will be published in the Statistical Volume "Statistics of Education: Schools in England 2000" in September, a copy of which will be available in the Library.
  1 Includes pupils of all ages attending maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools, pupil referral units and all special schools in the Greater London Government Office Region.

  Primary and Secondary Schools (Gloucestershire)
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much was spent per pupil in(a) Gloucestershire and (b) England and Wales, in (i) primary schools and (ii) secondary schools in each of the last ten years for which figures are available. [122005]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The following table sets out spending per pupil in Gloucestershire and England, from 1990–91 to 1998–99, the latest year for which expenditure figures are available. The figures are based on Net Institutional Expenditure.
  507W

  Table 1.

  £ per pupil

  Net institutional expenditure

  Pre-primary and primary

  Secondary

  Gloucestershire

  1990–91

  1,203

  1,912

  1991–92

  1,379

  1,811

  1992–93

  1,627

  2,122

  1993–94

  1,523

  2,084

  1994–95

  1,555

  2,113

  1995–96

  1,494

  2,082

  1996–97

  1,569

  2,133

  1997–98

  1,664

  2,243

  1998–991

  1,813

  2,321

  England

  1990–91

  1,339

  2,019

  1991–92

  1,469

  2,145

  1992–93

  1,583

  2,256

  1993–94

  1,630

  2,245

  1994–95

  1,661

  2,270

  1995–96

  1,687

  2,286

  1996–97

  1,731

  2,340

  1997–98

  1,739

  2,359

  1998–991

  1,882

  2,450

  1 Provisional

  The following tables set out the resources being made available in Gloucestershire and England for primary and secondary education as part of the drive to raise standards. These figures are not comparable with the net institutional figures set out in table 1. The special and specific grant totals include the money for schools announced in the Budget on 21 March.

  Table 2.

  £ per pupil

  Standard Spending Assessment

  Primary

  Secondary

  Gloucestershire

  1998–99

  2,081

  2,703

  1999–2000

  2,199

  2,816

  2000–01

  2,282

  2,935

  England

  1998–99

  2,248

  2,918

  1999–2000

  2,372

  3,031

  2000–01

  2,474

  3,175

  Table 3.

  £per pupil

  special and specific grants

  primary

  secondary

  Gloucestershire

  1998–99

  59

  49

  1999–2000

  127

  88

  2000–01

  238

  176

  England

  1998–99

  73

  64

  1999–2000

  140

  103

  2000–01

  250

  190

  Higher Education (Standardised Testing)
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to encourage higher education institutions to introduce standardised testing for scholastic attainment. [119143]
  508W
  Mr. Wicks
  [holding answer 17 April 2000]: Admissions procedures are a matter in the first instance for individual higher education institutions.

  The Government wish to see a widening of access to higher education, and we share the aspiration of those who promote the use of Scholastic Aptitude Tests (SATs) that higher education should be available to all who can benefit from it. The substantial reform of post-16 qualifications to be introduced from September will help broaden access to university by giving recognition to a wider range of qualifications. In addition, we are investing heavily in raising standards in deprived areas through "Excellence in Cities". This year we shall be launching new summer schools to help young people to understand better the opportunities higher education can offer. New "Opportunity Bursaries" of up to £1,000 per year will also be introduced from next year to give able young people from areas without a history of participation in higher education the extra financial incentives and confidence they need to embark on a higher education course.

  The Sutton Trust is running a small pilot of SAT-type tests in schools in England this year.

  Although its research is entirely separate from DfEE activities in this area we are happy to work closely with the Trust because its work is focused on widening the socio-economic profile of students in higher education. We have learned from its experience in running summer schools and have adopted much of its best practice in the summer schools we will launch this summer.

  Education Funding (Somerset)
  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what is the average per pupil education standard spending assessment for 2000–01 in(a) primary and (b) secondary schools in (i) England and (ii) Somerset; what is the reason for the difference between (i) and (ii); and if he will make a statement; [121235]

  (2) if he will estimate the additional cash which would be available for education in Somerset if the average per pupil standard spending assessment for primary and secondary schools in Somerset was the same as the average for England; and if he will make a statement. [121221]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 10 May 2000]: The following table shows for 2000–01 education SSA per primary and secondary pupil for Somerset and England.

  £

  SSA

  Somerset

  England

  Difference

  Primary per pupil

  2,310

  2,474

  164

  Secondary per pupil

  2,984

  3,175

  191

  The differences between the figures for England and those for Somerset are a result of the authority receiving a below average share of the national total for education standard spending to reflect social deprivation and area costs. If Somerset's SSA per pupil for primary and secondary schools were the same as the national average it is estimated that its education SSA would be £11 million higher. Since 1997–98 Somerset's education SSA per pupil has increased by £338, and its special and specific grants per pupil have increased by £193.
  509W
  Somerset will benefit this year from Standards Fund grant of £8.8 million. Its share of the £50 million and £290 million special grants will be £3 million.

DEFENCE

  Reserve Forces and Cadets Associations
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the new locations and structures of the Reserve Forces and Cadets Associations; and if he will make a statement. [121939]

  Mr. Spellar
  Details of the locations of the Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Associations (previously called Territorial Auxiliary and Volunteer Reserve Associations) are as follows:

  Council of Reserve Forces' and Cadets; Associations
  Duke of York's Headquarters, Chelsea, London SW3 4SG.

  Highland Association
  Seathwood, 365 Perth Road, Dundee, DD2 1LX
  Councils forming the Association: Highland, Moray, Aberdeenshire, City of Aberdeen, Perthshire and Kinross, Angus, City of Dundee, Argull and Bute, Stirling, Fife, Falkirk, West Dunbartonshire, East Dunbartonshire, parts of north Lanarkshire and the Islands area of Orkney, Shetland and Western Isles.

  Lowland Association
  Lowland House, 60 Avenuepark Street, Glasgow G20 8LW
  Councils forming the Association: The Scottish borders, Dumfries and Galloway, East Lothian, City of Edinburgh, Midlothian, West Lothian, South Lanarkshire. North Lanarkshire (that formerly comprised of Monklands and Motherwell districts) East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, City of Glasgow and that part of Argull and Bute Council comprising the Island of Bute.

  North of England Association
  53 Old Elvet, Durham DH I 3JJ
  Counties forming the Association: Northumberland, Durham, Tyne and Wear and the Boroughs of Hartlepool; Stockton: Middlesborough; Redcar and Cleveland.

  Yorkshire and the Humber Association
  20 St. George's Place, York Y024 IDS
  Counties forming the Association: North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, East Riding of Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire.

  North West of England and Isle of Man Association
  Alexandra Court, 28 Alexandra Court, Liverpool L17 8YE
  Counties forming the Association: Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside and the Isle of Man.

  Wales Association
  Centre Block, Maindy Barracks, Cardiff CF4 3YE.
  Counties forming the Association: The Counties of Wales.

  West Midland Association
  Tennal Grange, Tennal Road, Harborne, Birmingham B32 2HX
  Counties forming the Association: Hereford and Worcester, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and West Midland Metropolitan.

  East Midlands Association
  6 Clifton Terrace, Derby Road, Nottingham NG7 1LZ
  Counties forming the Association: Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland.
  510W
  Wessex Association
  2 Beaufort Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2JS
  Counties/Unitary Authorities forming the Association: Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire.

  Eastern Wessex Association
  30 Carlton Place, Southampton S015 2DX
  Counties forming the Association: Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Dorset, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Oxfordshire and Channel Islands.

  East Anglia Association
  "Springfield Tyrells", 250 Springfield Road, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 6BU
  Counties forming the Association: Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire. Norfolk, Suffolk and those parts of the counties of Essex and Hertfordshire which do not form part of the Greater London Boundaries.

  Greater London Association
  Duke of York's Headquarters, Chelsea, London SW3 4RY
  Area forming the Association: The Association boundaries conform with the Metropolitan Police boundaries and include the City of London, the boundaries of London and Middlesex and parts of Kent, Surrey, Essex and Hertfordshire.

  South East Association
  Sandling Place, Sandling Lane, Maidstone ME14 2NJ
  Counties forming the Association: Kent and Surrey excluding those parts of these Counties within the Metropolitan Police District, East Sussex and West Sussex.

  Northern Ireland Association
  25 Windsor Park, Belfast BT9 6FR
  Counties forming the Association: The six Counties of Ulster.

  On 1 September, the Eastern Wessex and South East Associations will amalgamate and reform as the South East Association. The new Association will be based in Aldershot. At the same time, responsibility for reserve forces and cadets in Dorset will pass to the Wessex Association.

  Membership of each RFCA is prescribed by means of a Scheme of Association, which is renewable every five years. Details of the Associations' responsibilities are contained in the Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Associations' Regulations, which were laid before the House on 23 March and a copy of the Regulations is available in the Library of the House.

  Merlin Operators
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many Merlin operators have been accepted into service; [121606]

  (2) how many further deliveries of Merlin operators are anticipated during the next (a) six months, (b) 12 months, (c) 18 months and (d) 24 months. [121607]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 11 May 2000]: There are two Merlin programmes, namely the Merlin Mk1 Anti-Submarine Warfare Helicopter and the Merlin Mk3 Support Helicopter.

  To date 12 Merlin Mk1s have been accepted into service, but no Mk3s.
  511W
  The following further Merlin deliveries into service are anticipated in the periods in the question (figures are shown cumulatively):

  (a) Five Mk1 and seven Mk3 within six months;

  (b) 12 Mk1 and 11 Mk3 within 12 months;

  (c) 18 Mk1 and 16 Mk3 within 18 months;

  (d) 29 Mk1 and 22 Mk3 within 24 months.

  Lynx Helicopters
  Mr. DuncanSmith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the Lynx helicopters that have been grounded due to serious technical faults will be back in service within(a) six months, (b) 12 months, (c) 18 months and (d) 24 months. [121602]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 11 May 2000]: A number of steps are already being taken to increase the number of main rotor heads available for our Lynx helicopters, including bringing forward heads unaffected by fatigue problems from other airframes in routine maintenance, and improving repair and overhaul times. These will generate a steady improvement in Lynx availability with full fleet recovery being achieved after the delivery of new rotor heads in 18 months to two years. There are sufficient Lynx helicopters already available to meet all primary operational tasks.

  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the remaining Lynx helicopters have been converted to Mark 8 standard. [121600]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 11 May 2000]: 31 Mark 3 Lynx helicopters have been converted to Mark 8 standard, six are currently undergoing conversion at the Defence Aviation Repair Agency. We are currently examining whether to convert the final 12 Mark 3s as originally planned in light of the remaining fatigue life of the aircraft.

  Fisher Patrol Squadron
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to order a new class of ships for the Fisher Patrol Squadron. [121609]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 11 May 2000]: The Department's agreement with the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for the provision of Fishery Protection services is kept under periodic review. As part of the normal planning process, the ordering of replacements for those vessels currently used in the Fishery Protection role will be considered as the vessels reach the end of their lives.

  Frigates and Minehunters
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost per annum is of operating(a) Type 23 frigates, (b) Type 22 frigates, (c) SSNs, (d) Hunt Class minehunters and (e) Sandown Class minehunters. [121608]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 11 May 2000]: The actual cost per annum of operation (a) Type 23 frigates, (b) Type 22 frigates, (c) SSNs, (d) Hunt Class minehunters and (e) Sandown Class minehunters will vary considerably dependent on the tasking/maintenance undertaken. Indicative annual costs, including manpower, fuel and stores only, would be in the region of £16 million for a
  512W
  Type 23 and a Type 22 frigate, £11 million£n for an SSN, £3 million for a Hunt Class minehunter and £2 million for a Sandown Class minehunter.

  Aircraft Information Systems
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the target dates for the completion of the information systems for Sea Kings are; and if they will be met; [121604]

  (2) what the target dates for the completion of the information systems for Sea Harriers are; and if they will be met. [121605]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 11 May 2000]: The Mission System Upgrade for the Sea King Airborne Early Warning helicopters includes the installation of the Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS). This programme is on target to meet the predicted in service date of late 2001.

  It is expected that all Sea Harriers FA2 aircraft will be equipped with JTIDs by 2005 as planned.

  Cluster Bombs
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the targets against which cluster bombs were deployed by the Royal Air Force during Operation Allied Force were selected by(a) Her Majesty's Government and (b) by NATO multilateral targeting arrangements. [121668]

  Mr. Spellar
  During Operation Allied Force, Royal Air Force Harrier GR7s released cluster weapons (RBL755s) against fixed targets and Yugoslav/Serbian fielded forces. The selection and allocation of fixed targets, and the nomination of aircraft to specific tasks, was the responsibility of NATO's Combined Air Operations Centre at Vicenza in Italy. This selection and tasking process was conducted in close coordination with the UK's air commander in theatre who scrutinised all targets and tasks against national Rules of Engagement and targeting constraints, where appropriate consulting the UK national chain of command.

  On the other hand, attacks against fielded forces were normally conducted in response to targets which had been located, identified and allocated by an Airborne Forward Air Control aircraft. In these highly responsive circumstances, the Harrier GR7 pilot was responsible for locating, positively identifying and assessing the validity of the target against clearly defined Rules of Engagement; the pilot was also responsible for selecting the most appropriate number and type of weapon to be released. UK armed forces will always use the weapons judged most appropriate against a given target, taking into account weapon effectiveness and the need to minimise collateral damage.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many BL755 cluster bombs were used in the Falklands Islands by Her Majesty's Armed Forces; how many sub munitions from these weapons have been cleared; and what estimates have been made of the number of sub munitions remaining. [121667]

  Mr. Spellar
  I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  RAF Fylingdales
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are for the use of RAF Fylingdales for the National Missile Defense system. [121998]

  Mr. Hoon
  We have not received a request from the US regarding the use of RAF Fylingdales as part of the NMD system, and nor would we expect any until after a US decision on whether or not to proceed towards deployment of such a system.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many American(a) civilian and (b) military personnel are based at RAF Fylingdales. [121999]

  Mr. Spellar
  There are nine US civilian contractor employees and one US military officer at RAF Fylingdales.

  RAF Feltwell
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the operational purpose of RAF Feltwell; and how many(a) UK and (b) US personnel are stationed there. [121997]

  Mr. Spellar
  RAF Feltwell is a passive deep space tracking station and part of a worldwide network of sensors tracking man-made objects in deep space. As at 10 May 2000, there were 124 US personnel stationed there in support of this role, and no UK personnel. Feltwell also provides a support function for RAF Lakenheath.

  Menwith Hill
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) US military, (b) US civilian, (c) UK military and (d) UK civilian personnel work at Menwith Hill Station. [121780]

  Mr. Spellar
  As at 26 April 2000, at RAF Menwith Hill there were 415 US military, 989 US civilian, five UK military and 392 UK civilian personnel (excluding GCHQ staff). I am withholding the numbers of GCHQ staff under exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the planned numbers of US military personnel at Menwith Hill Station will be in(a) 2000, (b) 2003 and (c) 2005. [121783]

  Mr. Spellar
  As at 26 April 2000, there were 415 US military personnel at RAF Menwith Hill. This number is not expected to change significantly in the foreseeable future.

  Joint Operations
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what joint operations or exercises have taken place outside the United Kingdom since 1 March 1999 between British forces and members of the armed forces of states that are not parties to the Ottawa Convention. [122033]

  Mr. Spellar
  Since 1 March 1999, UK forces have participated in 10 joint operations and 13 joint exercises outside of the UK with armed forces from states that are not parties to the Ottawa Convention. These states are: Azerbaijan, Bahrain, China, Egypt, Estonia, Finland,514W
  Georgia, India, Kuwait, Kyrgyztan, Latvia, Libya, Morocco, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Turkey, UAE and USA.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Sheep Dip
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 17 April 2000,Official Report, columns 333-34W, (1) what proportion of the sum attributed to the introduction of a single charge for authorisation for the disposal of used sheep dip will accrue to (a) sheep farmers, (b) other farmers and (c) non-farmers; [120638]

  (2) which years the four-year period for the introduction of a single charge for the disposal of sheep dip applies to. [120637]

  Mr. Mullin
  [holding answer 3 May 2000]: I have been asked to reply.

  The single charge shall apply to the first four years of an initial groundwater authorisation falling in the Environment Agency's "Reduced Application Charge" band, whenever such an authorisation might commence. The Environment Agency's existing records show that some 73 per cent. of the sum attributed to the introduction of this single charge will accrue to sheep farmers, 26 per cent. to other farmers, and 1 per cent. to non-farmers.

TREASURY

  Mobile Phone Licences
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the receipts from the auction of Third Generation mobile phone licences is in the form of an initial payment in the current financial year. [121028]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have been asked to reply.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry expects to receive all of the receipts from the auction of Wireless Telegraphy Act licences for Third Generation mobile communications in the current financial year.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Landmines Act
  Mr. Hope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what responsibility his Department has in respect of the Landmines Act 1998. [122344]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Following discussions between the Departments concerned, the reply given by my right hon. Friend, the Minister of State, Home Office, (Mr. Boateng), on 20 May 1999,Official Report, column 443W, requires expansion. The Home Secretary has general ministerial responsibility for enforcement action under the Landmines Act 1998 taken by the police in England and Wales, with parallel responsibilities being

  515W
  exercised in Northern Ireland by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and in Scotland by the Scottish Ministers. Her Majesty's Customs and Excise also have enforcement responsibilities under the Act. In addition, the Foreign Secretary has responsibility for policy on the Ottawa Convention and for co-ordinating any amendments to the Landmines Act which may arise from amendments to the Ottawa Convention. Action may be taken under other provisions of the Act by the Secretaries of State for the Department for International Development, the Ministry of Defence, the Department for Trade and Industry, the Attorney-General and the Attorney-General for Northern Ireland.

  Immigration
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons married to United Kingdom citizens have been(a) served with deportation orders and (b) deported from the United Kingdom in each of the last 10 years. [121742]

  Mrs. Roche
  The central deportation records do not separately identify spouses of United Kingdom citizens and the information requested could, therefore, be obtained only at disproportionate cost through the examination of individual case files.

  Youth Custody Orders
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many youth custody orders have been used since their introduction; and how many are in use. [121786]

  Mr. Boateng
  The detention and training order under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 was implemented on 1 April 2000. It is the new main custodial sentence for juveniles aged 12 to 17 and replaced the secure training order and detention in a young offender institution for that age group. Because the minimum term of a detention and training order is four months, all the orders which have been made since 1 April remain in force. Information from the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales indicates that on 10 May, 483 detention and training orders were being served.

  Asylum Seekers
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have been granted exceptional leave to remain in the United Kingdom under the backlog clearance exercise; and if he will make a statement. [122027]

  Mrs. Roche
  Since the start of the backlog clearance exercise in late December 1998 up to the end of March 2000, 15,125 initial decisions were made to grant exceptional leave to remain under the backlog criteria set out in the White Paper. We are aiming to clear the backlog of pre-1996 asylum applications by the end of July this year.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the implementation of the voucher scheme for asylum seekers; what has been the impact on administrative costs of the scheme; and if he will make a statement. [121992]
  516W
  Mrs. Roche
  The National Asylum Support Service commenced the distribution of vouchers on 3 April 2000. From this date, destitute asylum seekers and their dependants have been able to exchange vouchers for cash at designated Post Offices and for goods in over 18,000 affiliated national and independent retail outlets.

  As the new voucher scheme has only been in operation since 3 April it is too early to make any meaningful assessment of its impact on central and local government administration costs.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will bring the new support arrangements for asylum seekers into force for all new asylum applicants. [121995]

  Mrs. Roche
  The new support arrangements were introduced on 3 April for those seeking asylum at port and extended on 17 April to bring onto the scheme new in-country applicants who make an asylum claim in Kent and those asylum seekers resident in Kent who receive a first decision on their application and then go on to appeal. It is hoped to bring all new asylum applicants onto the new support arrangements within six months.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of asylum seekers were recognised as refugees in the last six months; and if he will make a statement. [121994]

  Mrs. Roche
  In the period October 1999 to March 2000, of the initial decisions made under normal procedures on applications for asylum to the United Kingdom 7 per cent. were granted refugee status. In addition, 3 per cent. of applications received in the period July 1993 to December 1995 which were decided in the latest six months under the backlog criteria set out in the White Paper were granted refugee status.

  Information on asylum can be accessed via the Internet at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/index.htm.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provisions govern the legality of selling and buying vouchers issued to asylum seekers under the new support arrangements; what is the maximum penalty; how many persons have been convicted of an offence and what sentences they received; if the vouchers are marked 'non-transferable'; and if he will make a statement. [122000]

  Mrs. Roche
  There are no specific provisions in the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 directly covering the sale or purchase of vouchers issued to asylum seekers under the new support arrangements. However, it is made clear on the face of a voucher that it is only for the use of the person named on it. Accordingly, any attempt to obtain cash or goods by a person other than the one named on the voucher could constitute an offence under the Theft Acts or conspiracy to defraud at common law, for which there is a range of maximum sentences. In certain circumstances, the offences of making false or dishonest representations (the maximum penalty for which is seven years imprisonment on conviction on indictment), under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, may be made out. These latter offences correspond to anti-fraud provisions in social security legislation.
  517W
  No persons have been convicted of an offence relating to the sale or purchase or other misuse of vouchers provided under the new arrangements.

  Any asylum seeker who disposes of their vouchers for cash might be liable to be charged with conspiracy to commit or aiding and abetting the commission of the offences under the Theft Acts or the 1999 Act.

  Any asylum seeker receiving support under the national asylum support scheme who obtains cash from whatever source or by whatever means and fails to notify the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) would be liable to have their support suspended or discontinued under regulation 20(1)(a) of the Asylum Support Regulations 2000, as he would be in breach of a condition subject to which the asylum support had been provided (notification of change of circumstances). If they fail to notify the Service dishonestly and with a view to obtaining an advantage for themselves or another, they commit an offence under the 1999 Act which is punishable with a maximum of seven years imprisonment.

  The NASS is presently in the process of establishing its intelligence and investigation functions. It is intended that NASS be able to receive complaints of fraud or misuse of its voucher scheme, to investigate these as appropriate, and to take such action as may seem correct in the individual case.

  Child Curfew Orders
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many local child curfew orders have been issued; and if he will make a statement. [121985]

  Mr. Boateng
  No applications have been received from local authorities to establish child curfew schemes under section 14 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. Following consultation with local authorities and the police, the Government are considering what improvements might be made to the provisions to ensure that they are able to contribute effectively to local partnership efforts to tackle anti-social behaviour.

  Global Cultural Diversity Congress
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what timetable has been set for the review of the cancellation of the Global Cultural Diversity Congress announced on 22 February; if the review is under way; and if he will make a statement. [121991]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The review is underway and Mr. Gurbux Singh hopes to report to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, within a month.

  Afghan Airliner Asylum Seekers
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the persons who arrived in the United Kingdom on the hijacked Afghan airliner(a) have claimed asylum, (b) have been granted refugee status including as dependants, (c) have been granted exceptional leave to remain, (d) have had their claims refused, (e) have appealed against a refusal of their claim, (f) have remained in the United Kingdom, (g) have
  518W
  been removed to Afghanistan and (h) have been removed to a third country; and if he will make a statement. [121990]

  Mr. Straw
  Of those persons who arrived on the hijacked Afghan airliner 79 have claimed asylum; eight passengers and six dependants have been granted asylum but no-one has been granted exceptional leave to remain; 37 have been refused asylum, of which five are dependants; all those who were refused have appealed; none have remained in this country without permission; and no-one has yet been removed to Afghanistan or to another third country. However, 81 of those on the aeroplane have now left this country voluntarily. Twelve individuals are the subject of criminal charges in relation to the hijacking.

  Consideration of further action will be given as soon as the outcome of the outstanding appeals is known.

  Anti-Social Behaviour Orders
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many anti-social behaviour orders have been issued against(a) persons (i) over and (ii) under the age of 18 and (b) persons under the age of 16; and if he will make a statement. [122028]

  Mr. Straw
  As hon. Friend the Minister of State, Home Office (Mr. Clarke), stated in his reply to the hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Mr. Hawkins) on 21 February 2000,Official Report, column 824W, records of the numbers of anti-social behaviour orders issued are not currently held centrally. We understand that about 40 to 45 orders have been made in England and Wales since the relevant provisions of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into force in April last year. We understand that at least 21 were in respect of persons under the age of 18, of which at least 14 were in respect of persons aged under 16.

  Crime Fighting Fund
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to announce the revised allocation of recruits under the Crime Fighting Fund; what discussions and meetings he has had with police authorities and chief constables about the revised allocation; what representations he has received on this issue; when he first informed police authorities and chief constables that the allocation would be revised to allow the recruitment of 5,000 extra recruits over two years rather than three; and if he will make a statement. [121988]

  Mr. Straw
  I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 6 April 2000,Official Report, columns 595-96W.

  My officials have consulted police service and police authority representatives on how the recruitment scheme can be accelerated. I have received some representations from hon. Members, chief constables and police authorities about their allocations under the Crime Fighting Fund recruitment scheme. I announced details of the accelerated scheme in a reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, South (Mr. Cunningham) on 27 March 2000, Official Report, columns 1–3W, and I hope to make the promised further announcement shortly.

  Recorded Crime
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the change in the level of recorded crime in(a) England and Wales and (b) each police force area in the year ending 31 March; and if he will make a statement. [121983]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Statistical Bulletin giving the Recorded Crime Statistics for the year ending 31 March 2000, including the requested details, is due to be published in July.

  Institutional Racism
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the extent to which(a) his Department and (b) other Government Departments, non-departmental public bodies and executive agencies are institutionally racist; what criteria he uses to define institutional racism; and if he will make a statement. [121996]

  Mr. Straw
  I accepted the definition of institutional racism set out in the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry report as a useful guide in tackling discrimination and inequality within public services.

  In the Home Office, we had already identified, through a staff survey, that a significant number of our minority ethnic staff felt that they had experienced prejudice or been denied opportunity. A programme of action was started including targets for recruitment, retention and progression, and the establishment of a minority ethnic network for staff.

  The Government are determined that the public sector should lead on race equality. The legislation currently going through Parliament extends direct discrimination provisions to public authorities and includes, for the first time, indirect discrimination and a duty on all public authorities to promote race equality, and will prove a key lever in tackling institutional racism.

  The Home Office is working with other Government Departments in developing strategies to inculcate race equality as a core issue. Responsibility for action by individual Departments or organisations rests with them.

  Passport Fees
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase passport fees to cover the increased cost due to handling charges payable on credit card transactions as payment for passports. [121984]

  Mrs. Roche
  Savings resulting from the introduction of credit card payment for postal passport applications are likely to offset the costs of handling charges. Therefore, this development is unlikely to result in an increase in passport fees. The savings will result from more efficient processing of passport fee receipts. The facility to pay by credit card will also be more convenient for many passport customers than existing payment methods.

  Passport Agency
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to improve the 520W
  external communications and media handling capabilities of the United Kingdom Passport Agency; and if he will make a statement. [122034]

  Mrs. Roche
  The United Kingdom Passport Agency has undertaken a thorough audit of its external communications and media handling and has already introduced a number of improvements.

  The Agency is undertaking more focused market research, to test new services and determine customer needs.

  A 24 hour a day, seven days a week national telephone inquiry line has been established for general inquiries and for customers to check on progress of passport applications, as well as a same-day e-mail inquiry service, faxback service and a regularly updated website.

  Passport offices have longer opening hours. The London office now opens at 7.30am Monday to Friday, all offices are open to 6pm, and Saturday opening will start this summer at all offices.

  There are stronger links with the travel trade, to get important messages over to their customers.

  The Agency is establishing a small team, dedicated to improving communications between the United Kingdom Passport Agency, its customers and the public, and to ensure that the Agency can respond more effectively to the media. The Agency is creating its own press office.

  Referendum Campaigns
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on Government activity during referendum campaigns. [121993]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Government have maintained, and will maintain, the usual rules on the activities of civil servants during referendum and election periods. In addition, the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Bill would prohibit the Government from publishing, displaying or distributing material in relation to a referendum in the 28 days immediately prior to the date of the poll. This proposal responds to the report of the Neill Committee and has been welcomed by the Committee.

  Home Detention Curfew
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 8 May 2000,Official Report, column 312W, what period was served by the prisoner convicted of wounding (inflicting grievous bodily harm) and released on the Home Detention Curfew scheme before the end of the requisite period due to an error in sentence calculation (a) before release on the Home Detention Curfew scheme and (b) subsequently; and if he will make a statement. [122030]

  Mr. Boateng
  The prisoner convicted of wounding (inflicting grievous bodily harm) and released on the Home Detention Curfew scheme before the end of the requisite period served 215 days before his release on Home Detention Curfew and subsequently served 227 days on his return to lawful custody.

  Disorder (Central London)
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action was taken by the Metropolitan police regarding the dispersal of the demonstrators from Trafalgar Square and Whitehall on 1 May; to which areas of London they were dispersed; what policing arrangements were made to ensure a peaceful and orderly dispersal; and if he will make a statement. [121989]

  Mr. Straw
  The Metropolitan police inform me contingency plans were drawn up to deal with possible disorder. The tactic for this event was to contain any disorder followed by a controlled dispersal. This is what took place from Parliament Square, Trafalgar Square and Whitehall. I understand that protesters from Whitehall and Trafalgar Square were released in small numbers throughout the afternoon and evening to make their way home. Some demonstrators from Parliament Square were escorted to Kennington Park, and a small group of demonstrators congregated in the Strand were escorted to Kennington Park. During the controlled dispersals, police monitored their movements throughout.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answers of 8 May 2000,Official Report, column 314W, on the disorder in central London on 1 May, what meetings were held prior to 1 May between the Metropolitan police and the Royal Parks Agency regarding the protection of the statues in Parliament Square; who was the most senior Metropolitan police officer present at each such meeting; what advice the Royal Parks Agency received from the Metropolitan police concerning boarding up the statues; who was the most senior Metropolitan police officer who authorised the giving of such advice; and if he will make a statement. [122031]

  Mr. Straw
  The Metropolitan police inform me that one formal meeting was held with the Royal Parks Agency and several phone calls were made. A member of the central planning team attended the meeting under the directions of the event commander, who on this occasion was Commander Messinger. The available information and intelligence was shared with the Agency.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answers of 8 May 2000,Official Report, column 314W, on the disorder in central London on 1 May, what meetings were held prior to 1 May between the Metropolitan police and English Heritage regarding the protection of the Cenotaph; who was the most senior Metropolitan police officer present at each such meeting; what advice English Heritage received from the Metropolitan police about boarding up the Cenotaph; who was the most senior Metropolitan police officer who authorised the giving of such advice; and if he will make a statement. [122032]

  Mr. Straw
  The Metropolitan police inform me that one formal meeting was held with English Heritage and several phone calls made. A member of the police central planning team attended the meeting under the directions of the event commander, who on this occasion was Commander Messinger. The available information and intelligence was shared with English Heritage.

  Prisons
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Government's prisons policy. [122001]

  Mr. Straw
  It is the Government's policy that the Prison Service should contribute to the wider aims of the criminal justice system by: protecting the public by holding those committed by the courts in a safe, decent and healthy environment; and reducing crime by providing constructive regimes which address offending behaviour, improve educational and work skills and promote law abiding behaviour in custody and after release.

  The Prison Service's priorities for 2000–01 are therefore to maintain security and prevent escapes, to deliver improved regimes, including joint approaches with the Probation Service and to manage the prison population safely. The Service is working to improve healthcare, to build a partnership with the Youth Justice Board, to increase prison capacity and to modernise the Service, which includes improving race relations and information technology.

  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will commission a full independent evaluation of the methodology of, and conclusions arrived at, in the Comparative Costs of and Performance of Privately and Publicly Operated Prisons 1998–99; what plans he has to issue a qualification of the conclusions arrived at; and if he will make a statement. [121467]

  Mr. Boateng
  The current methodology was developed by Coopers and Lybrand in 1994–95 and has been updated in subsequent years by Home Office staff. The 1998–99 results show that privately managed prisons cost on average 0 per cent. to 13 per cent. less than comparable publicly managed prisons. The present methodology does not cover prisons which have also been designed, constructed, managed and financed by the private sector (DCMF prisons), three of which have now been fully operational for a year. The Prison Service is therefore commissioning independent consultants to develop a revised methodology which will include DCMF prisons, and an invitation to tender will be issued shortly.

  Local Elections
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the turnout in(a) the May 2000 local elections and (b) each of the previous five local elections for each local authority area which conducted pilot projects of alternative voting procedures under the Representation of the People Act 2000; what alternative procedures were used in each case; what plans he has to extend such alternative procedures to all local elections in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [121987]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Information about turnout in local authority elections for the previous five local elections for each local authority is not held centrally and we would need to obtain this from local authorities and this would be at disproportionate cost.

  A list of the local authorities running pilot schemes at the recent local elections was provided in a reply I gave to my hon. Friend, the Member for Stockport (Ms Coffey) on 21 March 2000, Official Report, columns 486-87W.
  523W
  Section 10 of the Representation of the People Act 2000, requires local authorities which ran pilot schemes to produce an evaluation report within three months of the election. No decisions on roll-out can be made until this process has been completed.

  Young Offenders
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made to date in halving the time taken from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders; when he expects it to be achieved; and if he will make a statement. [122036]

  Mr. Boateng
  In 1996, the average time from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders was 142 days. The Government are committed to halving this by March 2002. We are making continuing good progress—the national average had fallen to 108 days in 1999.

  A copy of the latest figures has been placed in the Library.

  Overseas Visitors
  Mr. Mudie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether 1 October will be the commencement date for appeal rights for visitor visa refusals. [121713]
  524W
  Mrs. Roche
  We plan that family visitors who have been refused entry clearance will be able to appeal against the refusal from 2 October 2000.

  Prohibited Weapons
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prohibited weapons are held by private individuals in England by permission of the Secretary of State. [119870]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [pursuant to the reply, 20 April 2000, c. 595W]: The final paragraph of that reply should have read as follows:

  There are only eight private individuals in England authorised by the Secretary of State to possess a total of 1,337 prohibited weapons. The vast majority of these are held by one person in one of the most comprehensive private collections of historic firearms in the world. The remaining firearms are held by two people who provide highly specialised firearms training to units of the United Kingdom armed forces; a forensic firearms expert; a lecturer and technical consultant; the owner of a private museum; a professional trapper of dangerous animals who is called in by the police to deal with such animals as escaped big cats; and a researcher into ballistics.

  UN Committee against Torture
  UN Committee against Torture
  Prison Service Projects
  Prison Service Projects
  Pakistan: Debt Relief
  Pakistan: Debt Relief
  Parliamentary Written Answers: Reference to Web-pages
  Parliamentary Written Answers: Reference to Web-pages
  Belfast City Airport
  Belfast City Airport
  Belfast to Bangor Railway Line
  Belfast to Bangor Railway Line
  Northern Ireland Railways
  Northern Ireland Railways
  Northern Ireland Act: Designated Public Bodies
  Northern Ireland Act: Designated Public Bodies
  Duchy of Lancaster: Visit by Minister
  Duchy of Lancaster: Visit by Minister
  Urban Design
  Urban Design
  South-east Europe: UN Meeting
  South-east Europe: UN Meeting
  Ethiopia
  Ethiopia