Written Answers of 16 May 2000

PRIME MINISTER

  Ministerial Meetings
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his April meeting with the management of Ford, Dagenham. [121070]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 5 May 2000]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and I met with representatives of the Ford Motor Company at the end of March, and representatives of the car industry including Ford at a meeting with the motor industry in April. However, I have had no meetings with the management of Ford, Dagenham during April.

  Serbia
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to offer to assist the authorities in Serbia to establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission similar to that in South Africa; and if he will make a statement. [122336]

  The Prime Minister
  There is no prospect of the present Serbian authorities establishing a credible Truth and Reconciliation Commission. However, the UK Government have always stressed the importance of bringing to justice those responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law in former Yugoslavia. To this end, we support the work of the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia (ICTY) by providing information and resources. In 1999 our contribution to the ICTY was assessed at £3.1 million.

  In Serbia, our active support for Serbian civil society and independent media includes support for projects in this field, including one media project which aims to draw on the experiences of South Africa. The issue of "Reconciliation with the Past" will be the subject of one of the UK funded New Serbia Forum series, which brings together Serbian experts from the democratic opposition to discuss the policies necessary for the post-Milosevic era.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Finance Bill
  Mr. Rammell
  To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee on which date the amendments to the Finance Bill, due to be debated on 2 May, were posted on the parliamentary intranet; and if he will make a statement. [122120]

  Mr. Allan
  This is a matter for the Deliverer of the Vote, but I am advised that the Notice of Amendments given up to and including Thursday 27 April 2000 for the Committee of the whole House on the Finance Bill was 68W
  posted on the parliamentary intranet at 8.13 am on Friday 28 April. The Amendment Paper for the business of the Committee of the whole House for Tuesday 2 May, which was substantially the same as the previous paper, was posted on the parliamentary intranet at 9.34 am on Tuesday 2 May. If the hon. Member has any further queries on this matter, I would advise him to contact the Deliverer of the Vote.

HEALTH

  Death Certificates, Royal Free
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements are in place at the Royal Free Hospital to provide death certificates at weekends in respect of members of groups and communities who require them to arrange early burial or cremation because of their beliefs or culture; and if he will make a statement. [117840]

  Mr. Denham
  At the Royal Free Hospital, a doctor who knew the patient in life must sign a cause of death certificate. This is usually a junior doctor, if the death occurs out of normal hours. Once it has been completed, the body can be released to the funeral director who will obtain the death certificate from the Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths. The Registrar's office opens from 9am–12:20pm every Saturday and they have an on-call system for Sunday registrations.

  In response to concerns that have been expressed by some religious groups, such as Muslims, that removal and burial can be unreasonably delayed where the death occurs at the weekend, I understand that the Home Office, which has a general responsibility for coroner arrangements, has asked coroners to ensure that they always take account of the religious feelings of the bereaved and deal with their concerns with understanding and sensitivity. Many coroners have discussed these issues with their local ethnic and religious communities.

  Thyroid Disease
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what research his Department has sponsored as to whether the estrogenic dose from soy baby foods is in the range known to cause thyroid abnormalities; and if he will make a statement; [118340]

  (2) if he will estimate by age the number of people in the UK, and the proportion of the population which this represents of their age group, who are thought to be at risk of thyroid disease; and what correlation these figures have with the consumption levels of these age groups of soy baby food products. [118342]

  Ms Stuart
  Thyroid dysfunction is common and it is thought that up to 5 per cent. of the population are affected by hyper- or hypo-thyroidism. There is no central statistical information to answer the question with regard to incidence or risk of thyroid disease.

  Following the 1996 advice of the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT), a large programme of research was sponsored to specifically determine if soy infant formula carries any risk for infants. The Food Standards Agency is now responsible for this research.
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  The COT has set up a working group to review the available scientific evidence, including data on thyroid abnormalities, to determine if there are health implications associated with soy infant formula. The group will publish a report early next year. On the basis of this report, the FSA will consider whether any action needs to be taken.

  Slimming Drugs
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many slimming clinics have closed as a result of the implementation by the Medicines Control Agency of the ban on the use of products containing amfepramone and phentermine; and how many jobs have been lost through such closures. [121109]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 8 May 2000]: We do not have evidence that slimming clinics are closing, other than the one claim brought to our attention by the right hon. Member, following the withdrawal of amfepramone and phentermine from the market.

  The European Commission's decision to withdraw amfepramone and phentermine products became effective from 9 April 2000. Following a legal challenge, the European Court has suspended the European Commission decision to withdraw amfepramone products. As a consequence the licences for amfepramone products were reinstated on 18 April 2000 and amfepramone has again been available on the United Kingdom market since that date. The European Court has not currently made any decision to suspend the Commission's decision regarding phentermine, which remains withdrawn.

  Food-related Illness
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of conventional farming methods on levels of food-related illness and the cost of treating food-related illness in the NHS. [118572]

  Ms Stuart
  There has not been any assessment carried out of the impact of conventional farming methods on the levels of food-related illness. Indeed, it is usually not possible to trace the source of sporadic cases of food poisoning (which constitute the majority of cases) to a specific food, let alone to a specific food producer.

  Although we have a good estimate of the total number of cases of infectious intestinal disease, and their cost to the National Health Service, it is not possible to say what proportion of this is foodborne. On the basis of a large study carried out in 1994–95, the cost to the NHS in England of treating illness due to the major food poisoning bacteria, Salmonella and Campylobacter, alone was between £26 million and £30 million per year from 1997 to 1999.

  Correspondence
  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire will receive a substantive answer to his letter of 28 March on behalf of his constituent Mrs. Drickett. [122332]

  Ms Stuart
  My right hon. Friend replied to the right hon. Member on 15 May.

  Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to promote research into and public awareness of causes and symptoms of myalgic encephalomyelitis; and if he will make a statement. [122395]

  Yvette Cooper
  The chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis working group convened by the Chief Medical Officer to produce good practice guidance for the care and treatment of people with CFS/ME—will make recommendations about the need to identify and commission further research.

  The CFS/ME working group is also producing briefing notes. These are being distributed widely. The aim of the briefing notes is to inform people about the working group and the condition itself.

  Priorities for departmental research and development support for the development of policy are determined through discussions with policy colleagues, the Departmental research Committee and Ministers. In the National Health Service research and development programme, priorities take account of widespread consultation with those using, delivering and managing services, within a framework overseen by the central research and development committee for the NHS. In all cases, priorities for our budgets reflect analysis of the burden of disease, potential benefits and our priorities and take account of the responsibilities and work of other funders.

  Honey (GM Pollen)
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when, and on what terms, EU marketing consent was given for honey containing genetically modified pollen. [121699]

  Ms Stuart
  The European Commission, in response to questions from the European Parliament, has advised that honey containing trace amounts of pollen from genetically modified crops is not classified as a novel food, and may therefore be lawfully sold throughout the Community. Work carried out by the Laboratory of the Government Chemist, a report of which is available in the Library, indicates that the amount of genetically modified material in honey is likely to be extremely small, at most no more than 0.00000000003g to 0.000000005g in a 500g jar.

  All GM crops intended for deliberate release in this country, and in the rest of the European Community, have to be thoroughly assessed for human and environmental safety before they are allowed to be planted. This assessment includes safety implications of any exposure to pollen through ingestion or inhalation from the air, or as a result of it landing on other crops.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Hunting with Hounds
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the Burns Committee to report. [121529]
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  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I understand Lord Burns hopes to submit his report to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary by late spring.

  Jay Abatan
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if there will be a coroner's inquest, with a jury, into the death of Jay Abatan. [122481]

  Mr. Boateng
  I understand that the coroner will decide shortly whether to resume the inquest into the death. A jury would not be mandatory, but the coroner could summon one if she were satisfied that there was reason to do so.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable on the circumstances of the death and investigations following the attack on Jay Abatan in Brighton in January 1999. [122480]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I have received a report from Sussex Police and will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible. A copy of this letter will be placed in the Library.

  Animal Trainers
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many animal trainers are licensed under the Performing Animals Regulations 1925; and if he will make a statement. [122303]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Home Office has so far this year received notification of 61 trainers and exhibitors of performing animals currently registered with local authorities under the Performing Animals (Regulation) Act 1925. Local authorities were reminded last January of their obligation under the Act to copy related certificates of registration to the Secretary of State.

  Sentencing
  Mr. Hope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce new sentencing arrangements. [122565]

  Mr. Straw
  As part of our objectives of reducing crime and dispensing justice fairly, we have already put in place a comprehensive programme of work to reduce the rate of re-offending. This includes ensuring that the Prison Service and the probation service work more effectively together; improving the enforcement of community penalties; developing programmes, in custody and in the community; which are known to reduce re-offending (based on the "what works" strategy) and building on the opportunities which new technology opens up.

  Together these developments present an opportunity to consider possible new forms of sentences which better protect the public and reduce re-offending. In particular, they open up the possibility of a more flexible sentencing structure, in which the boundaries between custodial and community penalties are less rigid. However, the current legal framework established in the Criminal Justice Act 1991 may not be best suited to an approach of this sort. I have therefore decided to review that framework. The review will complement that of the criminal courts being conducted by Lord Justice Auld.
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  Its terms of reference will be:
  In the light of the Government's objectives to protect the public by reducing crime and re-offending, and to dispense justice fairly and consistently, to consider:
  what principles should guide sentencing decisions;
  what types of disposal should be made available to the courts in order to meet the overarching objectives;
  the costs of different disposals and their relative effectiveness in reducing re-offending;
  what changes therefore need to be made to the current sentencing framework, as established by the Criminal Justice Act 1991, so as more effectively to reduce re-offending, including any transitional and consequential arrangements; and
  the likely impact of any recommendations in terms of costs and the effects on the prison population.
  In particular, the review should bear in mind the desirability of promoting flexibility in the use of custodial and community based approaches.

  The review will be led by a senior official from the Home Office. I want it to be a rigorous, evidence-based exercise. It will operate in an open way, involving and seeking views from as wide a range of interests as possible. I expect it to take about 12 months from now to produce recommendations, which will then be the subject of formal consultation.

  1999 European Parliamentary Elections
  Mr. Olner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to complete the review of the 1999 European parliamentary elections. [122568]

  Mr. Straw
  The review has been completed and copies have today been placed in the Library.

  Lowdham Grange Prison
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the recommendations for improvements made by the Chief Inspector of Prisons in his unpublished report on Lowdham Grange are to be implemented before the publication of the report. [121466]

  Mr. Boateng
  The report was published on 27 April. In accordance with the protocol for handling inspection reports, the Prison Service will produce an action plan within 30 working days of publication of the report, addressing all the recommendations made by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons. It is not possible to say how many of the 127 recommendations were fully implemented before publication, but once the action plan has been completed and reviewed at Prison Service Headquarters, I will write to the hon. Member with a progress report on implementation.

  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what financial penalties have been incurred at HMP Lowdham Grange since the prison opened; and what were the reasons for each penalty. [121465]

  Mr. Boateng
  The information in respect of performance measures is shown in the table. There was a reduction in fee of £702.00 in respect of an unavailable prisoner place in June 1998. There have been no reductions in fees since February 1999.
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  Incident of failure

  Nature of performance measure

  June 1998 to August 1998

  September 1998 to November 1998

  December 1998 to February 1999

  Keeping Prisoners in Custody

  Failure of security procedures

  1

  0

  0

  Key/lock compromises

  2

  1

  0

  Maintaining Order and Control

  Assault on staff and others

  9

  5

  6

  Assault on prisoners

  1

  0

  0

  Incident of concerted indiscipline

  3

  3

  0

  Incident of self harm

  8

  1

  9

  Incident of Class A drugs

  22

  25

  11

  Contingency planning exercise

  0

  1

  0

  Comply with agreed reporting procedure

  1

  0

  0

  Tool/implement loss (found)

  2

  0

  1

  Tool/implement loss (not found)

  0

  1

  0

  Providing Decent Conditions

  Failure to provide meals

  2

  0

  0

  Response to prisoner complaints

  30

  12

  4

  Substantiated complaints

  5

  2

  2

  Repair failure

  3

  1

  0

  Providing Positive Regimes

  Deliver work hours

  0

  14

  13

  Reduction

  £45,080

  £31,231

  £6,334

  Private Prisons
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review his decision not to make contracts between his Department and private prison operators public; and if he will make a statement. [121464]

  Mr. Boateng
  Unpriced copies of contracts between the Prison Service and companies operating prisons are available in the Library and can be obtained from the Prison Service for a small fee to cover administrative and printing costs. This policy is consistent with the Cabinet Office guidance on interpreting the Code of Practice on Access to Official Information and with the requirements of the European Union Procurement Directives.

  Altcourse Prison
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what financial penalties have been incurred at HMP Altcourse since the prison opened; if he will list the reasons for each penalty; how many of the recommendations for improvements made by the Chief Inspector of Prisons in his report were implemented before the publication of the report; what conclusions were drawn from the recent security audit; by what date recommendations for improvement were implemented; and what penalties were incurred by Group 4 as a result of that audit. [121468]

  Mr. Boateng
  Financial penalties totalling £212,728.23 were withheld for the period 1 December 1997 to 30 August 1998 for Altcourse prison. Of these, £195,000 have been calculated by converting the penalty points accrued during the period to a financial value in accordance with the performance mechanism contained in the contract. The amount also includes the sum of £17,728.23 which has been deducted from the contractor for 'doubling', in excess of permitted levels. There have been no financial penalties since 1 September 1998.
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  The incidents leading to the deductions are listed in the table and are failures to comply with performance standards.

  The inspection report on Altcourse prison was published on 19 April. In accordance with the protocol for handling inspection reports, the Prison Service will produce an action plan within 30 working days of publication of the report, addressing all the recommendations made by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons. It is not possible to say how many of the 106 recommendations were fully implemented before publication, but once the action plan has been completed and reviewed at Prison Service Headquarters, I will write to the hon. Member with a progress report on implementation.

  The overall compliance rating of the security audit of Altcourse prison was acceptable. Of the modules audited, four were rated as good, two as acceptable and three as deficient. Only one of these was rated as a significant finding and this has been fully addressed.

  An action plan has been produced addressing the recommendations for improvements, and some non-compliant baselines were resolved during the course of the audit. Ninety per cent. of the action plan has already been implemented with full implementation to be completed by the end of June. No financial penalties were incurred as a result of the audit.

  Altcourse prison: Failures to comply with performance standards

  Nature of performance

  Number of incidents

  Keep prisoners in custody

  Escape from Prison

  1

  Release in error

  1

  Items smuggled in Key lock Compromises

  66

  75W

  Altcourse prison: Failures to comply with performance standards

  Nature of performance

  Number of incidents

  Maintain order, control discipline and safe environment

  Assaults on Staff and others

  34

  Assaults on Prisoners

  29

  Incident of concerted indiscipline

  128

  Incidents of roof climbing

  2

  Incidents of self harm

  70

  Contingency Planning Exercise

  1

  Fire Evacuation Exercise

  1

  Failure to comply with agreed reporting procedures

  7

  Tool/Implement loss (found)

  1

  Providing decent conditions for Prisoners and meet their needs, including healthcare

  Failure to provide medical response

  155

  Response to Prisoner Complaints

  16

  Repair failure

  63

  Provision of sentence plans

  80

  Providing Positive Regimes

  Main Programmes Sentenced (Core Week)

  4

  Regime Activities Sentenced (Non-Core Week)

  4

  Out of cell hours

  36

  Helping Prisoners prepare for their return to the Community

  Visits starting within 30 minutes of appointment

  61

  Release without discharge report

  13

  Pre-release course attendance

  13

  EU Asylum Policy
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has received from the European Commission in respect of powers exercised by virtue of any convention or treaty article concerning the standardisation of tests for accepting asylum applications to Governments of member states. [121631]

  Mrs. Roche
  I am aware of no proposals from the European Commission concerning the standardisation of the criteria for the recognition of refugees, or for determining the member state responsible for determining an asylum claim made within the European Union. Such proposals would be consistent with the requirements of article 63 of the Amsterdam Treaty. However, the European Commission has to date produced only a discussion document on "Towards Common Standards on Asylum Procedures" and a working paper entitled "Revisiting the Dublin Convention". The latter seeks to initiate debate on the Dublin Convention as the first step towards developing Community legislation for determining which member state is responsible for considering an application for asylum submitted in one of the member states. The Government's view of this document can be found in the Home Office Explanatory Memorandum dated 10 May, deposited in the Library. The Government's view on the discussion paper "Towards common Standards on Asylum Procedures" can be found in the Home Office Explanatory Memorandum dated 26 March 2000 deposited in the Library.

  Human Rights Act 1998
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to amend the Human Rights Act 1998 following the judgment of 76W
  the Court of Appeal in the case of R v. Perry; what steps he is taking to prevent abuse of the type referred to in the judgment; and if he will make a statement. [121986]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 12 May 2000]: The Human Rights Act 1998 gives further effect in United Kingdom law to most of the rights guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights, which successive governments and Parliament have abided by for the last 50 years. The Court of Appeal takes a robust approach to those who waste its time and the position should be no different when the Human Rights Act comes fully into force. All judges, lay magistrates and their legal advisers are being trained to deal with Convention points effectively.

  Wrongfully Convicted Prisoners
  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what financial and other assistance is available at the time of release for prisoners freed by the Court of Appeal on grounds of wrongful conviction; and if he will make a statement. [121937]

  Mr. Straw
  Most prisoners when released from prison are given a discharge grant to help them meet their immediate needs. The position of prisoners discharged from court after a sentence has been quashed or reduced on appeal is that they would normally be entitled to a grant provided they have been in custody for at least nine days of their sentence.

  In cases of wrongful conviction where it has been decided that an individual qualifies for payment of compensation, he or she may then apply for an interim payment to help alleviate any immediate financial difficulties.

  Funding has been made available this year to enable a voluntary body, familiar with prisoner resettlement issues, to develop, on a national basis, an advice and counselling service specifically geared to the needs of successful appellants. We hope to be entering into discussions soon with possible providers of such a service. The Probation Service may also provide assistance on a voluntary basis.

  Asylum and Immigration
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances(a) asylum seekers, (b) persons granted asylum, (c) persons granted exceptional leave to remain and (d) other persons subject to immigration control may lawfully work in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [121812]

  Mrs. Roche
  The circumstances vary according to the category.

  Asylum seekers who have not received a first decision on their asylum application within six months may apply to the Home Office for permission to work. Where written permission is granted, they will be able to take employment lawfully.

  Persons granted asylum are given indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom and as such have no restriction attached to their stay. They may seek whatever employment they wish and they do not need to seek permission from the Immigration Authorities to take employment.
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  Persons granted exceptional leave to remain are free to seek employment within the limit of their leave to remain. They do not need to seek permission from the Immigration Authorities in order to do so.

  There are a considerable number of categories under which persons subject to immigration control may lawfully engage in employment. Details of the various categories which permit employment and self-employment within the Immigration Rules, and the conditions attached to leave granted under those categories, are set out in the Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules, HC 395. In addition, there are a number of concessions that operate outside the Rules, under which those who meet the requisite criteria may lawfully take employment. Details of the various concessions are contained in the Immigration Directorate's Instructions. Copies of the Rules and the Instructions are available in the Library on the Home Office website: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/ind/hpg.htm.

  Gardening Leave
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officials in(a) his Department and (b) its non-departmental public bodies and Executive agencies are currently on gardening leave. [121813]

  Mr. Straw
  Six officials in the Home Office (and none in our non departmental public bodies and Executive agencies) are currently on special leave with pay while awaiting a posting.

  Corpus Juris
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on Corpus Juris and the EU InterGovernmental Conference. [120888]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Ludlow (Mr. Gill) on 15 May 2000,Official Report, column 51W.

  The Intergovernmental Conference should focus on the institutional reforms necessary to prepare the European Union for enlargement.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Television (Wales)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what proportion of television viewers in Wales have access to Channel 4 television; and what plans he has to increase the availability of Channel 4 in Wales; [121930]

  (2) what proposals he has to increase the availability of Channel 5 in Wales, other than via pay-for-access satellite; [121928]

  (3) if he will make a statement on the availability of Channel 4 in Wales following the implementation of digital television. [121929]

  Janet Anderson
  The priority for the use of scarce frequency channels is to develop digital terrestrial television across the UK, rather than to extend analogue Channel 5 services.
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  The Welsh transmitters broadcast analogue S4C, instead of Channel 4, so only the 40 per cent. or so of Welsh viewers who can receive signals from English terrestrial transmitters can obtain terrestrial analogue Channel 4. The introduction of digital television has improved the availability of Channel 4 in Wales, since it can be broadcast alongside S4C from Welsh transmitters.

  The Government will ensure that all consumers in Wales who presently receive analogue television will be able to receive the main free-to-air channels digitally, before the analogue transmissions are fully switched to digital.

  Channel 3
  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proposals he has to improve regional management and control of Channel 3. [122459]

  Janet Anderson
  These are matters for the Independent Television Commission. The Broadcasting Act 1996 empowers the Commission to vary a Channel 3 licence on a change of control if they consider it may be prejudicial to the regional character of the service. The Commission can take into account the extent to which managerial and editorial decisions are taken by persons employed in the licence area.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Business Costs
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the(a) start-up and (b) annual running costs to business of (i) the working families tax credit, (ii) the recoupment of the student loan and (iii) stakeholder pensions. [121071]

  Mr. Byers
  Details of costs arising from these measures are set out in the Regulatory Impact Assessments prepared by the relevant departments, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

  Gas Market
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to implement the Gas Directive (98/30/EC). [122714]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I have today issued a consultation document outlining proposals for implementation of the 'downstream' aspects of the Gas Directive. This follows a parallel consultation document outlining proposals to implement those aspects of the Gas Directive which apply to upstream pipeline networks, which I issued on 30 March 2000,Official Report, columns 242–43W.

  The regime for the gas market in Great Britain, which has been fully open to competition since 1998, with regulated third party access to pipelines and requirements for non-discrimination, is generally well ahead of the requirements of the Directive. However, there are a number of areas where relatively limited technical amendments will be needed to ensure full compliance.
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  The consultation document identifies requirements for amendment to the regulatory framework in the following areas:
  improvements in the transparency of the procedures for licence applications;
  a duty of non-discrimination to be imposed on certain undertakings (in addition to those already subject to such a duty);
  separate internal management accounts to be kept by certain undertakings;
  statutory provisions for third party access to be applied to certain undertakings;
  competent authorities for dispute settlement purposes to be designated.

  It also identifies a need for certain administrative actions.

  The parallel 'upstream' consultation document proposed that the interconnecting pipeline between the United Kingdom and Belgium should be regarded as an upstream pipeline for the purposes of the Directive. However, the responses to that document may make a good case for treating it as a downstream pipe-line. The present consultation document therefore seeks views on how this interconnector might be treated as a 'downstream' pipeline, subject to statutory third party access with appeal to the Secretary of State.

  The regulatory impact costs on business, on which comments are invited, are expected to be negligible.

  Comments on the consultation document have been requested by 16 June 2000.

  A copy of the document has been placed in the Library of the House. The document will also be available on the Department's website (www.dti.uk).

  Insolvency Service
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Quinquennial Review of the Insolvency Service will take place; and what the terms of reference for the review will be. [122715]

  Mr. Byers
  I am launching the Quinquennial Review of the Insolvency Service today.

  The Government are committed to achieving better public services that are of higher quality and are more responsive to the needs of the people who use them. The services and functions provided by the Executive Agencies and non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) are at the heart of this programme of continuous improvement and their effective delivery is a key element in the success of Modernising Government. Regular Agency and NDPB reviews are an important element in ensuring that we have in place the right structures to deliver the Government's agenda effectively and to provide a strong focus on improving their future performance.

  The terms of reference for the review of the Insolvency Service are:
  To consider and to make recommendations regarding:First, the organisational status which would be most appropriate for the policy, work and operation of the Insolvency Service in the future, taking into account its contribution to the objectives of the Department and of the Government as a whole, including the Modernising Government agenda, developments in
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  the national and international legislative, regulatory and commercial environment, and the views of customers, staff, consumers and other interested parties; and Second, whether any changes should be made to the way in which the Insolvency Service operates, including its aims and objectives, targets and financial controls; the scope of the activities undertaken; and whether its activities could be done more effectively.The review is to be undertaken in accordance with the latest Cabinet Office guidance, published in January 2000.
  The review will be led by Pamela Denham, a former official in the Department of Trade and Industry, with support from officials and specialist advice as appropriate. The Review Team will report to a Steering Group which will include two independent members (Gill Hankey and Geoffrey Drage) and be chaired by Dr. Catherine Bell, the Director General of Corporate and Consumer Affairs. The aim will be to complete each stage of the review within three months, as recommended in the Cabinet Office guidance.

  As indicated in the terms of reference, the Review Team is seeking the views of interested parties. A consultation paper is available from:

  The Insolvency Service Review Team

  Room 876

  Esso House

  96 Victoria Street

  London

  SW1E 5JL

  tel: 010 7215 2255

  fax: 020 7215 2987

  e-mail: cca.commens@lond02.dti.gov.uk

  Comments should be sent to the same address by 6 June 2000.

  Rover
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what contingency plans the Government have in the event that the conditional offer to Phoenix by Burdale Financial, the subsidiary of First Union, of £200 million to finance the acquisition of Rover is withdrawn following due diligence; and if he will make a statement. [122244]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The financial backing which it has received for its bid is a commercial matter for the Phoenix Consortium. The Consortium has not sought Government finance for its proposals.

  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to meet representatives of(a) Burdale Financial and (b) First Union to discuss the financing of the acquisition of Rover by Phoenix. [122242]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  None. This is a commercial matter for the Phoenix Consortium.

  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the status of the offer to Phoenix by First Union of £200 million to finance the acquisition of Rover in respect of(a) due diligence and (b) an examination of the business plan of Phoenix; and if he will make a statement. [122241]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  These are commercial matters for the Phoenix Consortium. It would not be appropriate to comment.
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  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the prospects for Honda's involvement in the future of the Rover plant. [122243]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  None. This is commercial matter between Honda and the Phoenix Consortium.

  Ilisu Dam
  Ms Kingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has had with the Turkish Government regarding the Ilisu Dam Project. [120897]

  Mr. Caborn
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has not had any discussions with the Turkish government regarding the Ilisu Dam project. As part of its normal procedures, the Export Credits Guarantee Department has had discussions with the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSI), the Turkish authority responsible for the project; the most recent meeting took place in London in February.

  Defence Manufacturers Association
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many times his Department has met representatives of the Defence Manufacturers Association since 1997. [122245]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  My Department maintains a regular dialogue with the Defence Manufacturers Association (DMA) on sectoral and export issues. Many of the meetings between officials in my Department and the DMA are informal or during the course of other events and no central record is kept. In 1997, the then Under-Secretary of State with responsibility for Small Firms addressed the DMA's Annual General Meeting.

WALES

  Youth Service
  Mrs. Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the development of the Youth Service in Wales and the Learning and Skills Bill[Lords]. [121238]

  Mr. Hanson
  The Government have introduced amendments to the Learning and Skills Bill to enable the National Assembly to develop, together with local authorities and others, an enhanced youth support service for young people in Wales.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Jay Abatan
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Solicitor-General if he will call for a report from the Crown Prosecution Service on its actions following the attack on Jay Abatan in Brighton in January 1999. [122482]
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  The Solicitor-General
  I have received an initial report about this case from the Crown Prosecution Service. I am now making further inquiries and will provide as substantive answer as soon as I am able.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Asylum Seekers (Housing)
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assumptions he made about the number of asylum seekers living in south east England when he prepared his response to the Crow report. [120255]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Department's household projections are only one of several factors which informed the Proposed Changes to draft Regional Planning Guidance for the south east. I refer the hon. Member to my answer below—which clarifies the relationship between population projections in which assumptions about asylum seekers are made and the Department's household projections.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assumptions he has made in his Department's projections of future population and household formation trends about the number of asylum seekers in England. [120276]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 2 May 2000]: National population projections are prepared by the Government Actuary's Department and published jointly with the Office for National Statistics. A description of the assumptions in the 1996-based national population projections can be found in "National Population Projections: 1996-based" (ONS series PPG2 No. 21, published by TSO). These included a long-term asylum seeker assumption of 5,000 a year to the UK, virtually all of whom were assumed to settle in England. This assumption has subsequently been revised.

  The 1996-based national population projections were an input into the Department's household projections, the latest of which is published in "Projections of Households in England to 2021", a copy of which is in the Library. No other information about asylum seekers in England was used in producing the household projections.

  A6 (Dove Holes)
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list, in respect of the A6 trunk road through Dove Holes, Derbyshire, for each of the last 10 years,(a) the number of (i) fatalities and (ii) injuries recorded in road accidents and (b) the number of speeding offences detected in the 30 mph zone; and what assessment he has made of the efficacy of the recently implemented traffic calming measures there. [121053]

  Mr. Hill
  I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Peter Nutt, to write to my hon. Friend.
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  Letter from Peter Nutt to Mr. Tom Levitt, dated 16 May 2000:
  The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Keith Hill, has asked me to reply to your recent question requesting (a) the number of (i) fatalities and (ii) injuries recorded in road accidents and (b) the number of speeding offences detected in the 30mph zone, both over the last ten years, on the A6 Trunk Road through Dove Holes, Derbyshire. You also asked what assessment had been made of the efficacy of the recently implemented traffic calming measures there.
  Unfortunately, we do not have personal injury figures for a full ten-year period for this length of A6. The figures between April 1994 and December 1999, the latest period for which information is available, are as follows:

  Fatal - Nil;

  Serious - 7;

  Slight - 28

  As enforcement of speed limits is a matter for the police, the Highways Agency does not record the number of speeding offences on trunk roads. This information should be available from the Chief Constable of Derbyshire Constabulary.
  The "traffic calming measures" to which you refer take the form of variable speed limits (30mph in the built-up area, 40mph in the more rural area) rather than physical constraints on the speed of traffic more normally associated with traffic calming schemes. At present, it is too early to say how effective the measures at Dove Holes have been; monitoring began in April and a report will be produced later this year. I will ensure that you receive a copy.
  In the meantime, if you wish to discuss any aspect further, the Highways Agency Route Manager for this length of A6 is Steve Forgham. He can be contacted at our office at Broadway, Broad Street, Birmingham, B15 1BL, or by telephone on 0121 678 8506.

  Correspondence
  Sir Peter Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will reply to the letter of 28 February from the right hon. Member for Fareham about(a) the effect of the 1994 Land Tribunal Judgment in the case of Batchelor v. Kent County Council and (b) the action he intends to take following that judgment. [120983]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  I replied to the right hon. Member's letter of 28 February on 15 May. My reply sets out the current position on the area of the compensation code that featured in the Batchelor case and of the compulsory purchase policy review which has been considering the whole question of compensation for compulsory purchase. I apologise for the delay, which was caused by problems with our ministerial correspondence tracking system.

  Air Traffic Control
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what communications he has received from(a) the European Commission and (b) other sources concerning the compatibility with the public ownership and funding of those agencies now operating in the United Kingdom of European Commission proposals to create a single European Airspace and European Air Safety Agency. [121638]

  Mr. Mullin
  DETR received in January 2000 a copy of the Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament entitled "The creation of a single European sky"—EM No. 13735/99 COM(99) 614 final.
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  This Communication examined in detail the European air traffic management system. It provides the Commission's views on where it believes there are shortcomings, and makes proposals for areas which need further study in order to achieve the Commission's objective of "European airspace as a seamless continuum". In general, the Commission's ideas, such as the need to separate service provision from regulation, seem compatible with UK air traffic control policy. This is also the broad consensus view of the respondents to DETR's recent consultation exercise on this Communication.

  In June 1998, the Council mandated the Commission to develop, on behalf of the European Community and the member states, a Treaty for a new international organisation to be known as the European Aviation Safety Authority, involving both EU and non-EU member states, as well as the Community itself. The mandate required the Commission first to submit a draft outline text of the founding Treaty to a Special Committee of member states representatives. The draft Treaty agreed by the Special Committee envisages that national aviation authorities, such as the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority, will continue as nationally constituted.

  The Commission has recently suggested an alternative option, based on the creation of a Community Agency. In this connection, DETR received in April 2000 a copy of the Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament entitled, "Commission Working Document with a view to discussions within the Council on the creation of the European Aviation Safety authority in the Community framework"—COM(2000) 144 final. This document also envisages the continuation of national aviation authorities.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which Treaty Articles, Regulations and Directives relating to the control of air traffic within the European Union will(a) permit and (b) prohibit, a continuation of the current ownership of and mode of control in the airspace of the United Kingdom. [121630]

  Mr. Mullin
  By virtue of Article 295 of the Treaty of Rome, provisions made by the European Union under the Common Transport Policy must not prejudice the rules in member states governing the system of property ownership.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proportion of total aircraft movements in the United Kingdom were handled by National Air Traffic Services on the most recent date for which figures are available. [121751]

  Mr. Mullin
  In 1999, NATS handled 46 per cent. of all aircraft movements in or out of the 60 UK airports for which data are available. In addition, NATS handles all flights between UK airports and aircraft over-flying the UK.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many passengers used licensed airports in the United Kingdom during 1999; in how many of those airports National Air Traffic Services was provider of air traffic control; and where such airports were. [121750]
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  Mr. Mullin
  In 1999 there were almost 170 million terminal passengers at the 60 UK airports for which data are available. NATS provided ATC services at 10 of these airports:

  Aberdeen

  Belfast International

  Cardiff

  Edinburgh

  Glasgow

  London Heathrow

  London Gatwick

  London City

  London Stansted

  Manchester.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the providers of flight information air traffic control services to the aircraft in the open flight information regions. [121752]

  Mr. Mullin
  All Air Traffic Control (ATC) Units, both civil and military, are required to provide flight information services (FIS). This service is provided at the London and Scottish Air Traffic Control Centres by dedicated FIS controllers. At other ATC units, the provision of FIS is one of the primary responsibilities of all air traffic controllers.

  Local Council Cabinets
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the operation of the procedures and the timescale for the introduction of the Cabinet system of Government in local councils. [121485]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Local Government Bill[Lords], now before the House, provides for councils to adopt a new constitution with a separate executive. If the Bill is enacted, we expect that, under normal circumstances, all councils will have adopted a new constitution by May or June 2002 at the latest. We have now published for consultation revised drafts of the proposed guidance and regulations on new constitutions for councils; copies are available from the Vote Office and have been placed in the Library.

  Driving Test Centres (South London)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the driving test centres in South London. [121974]

  Mr. Hill
  There are 14 driving test centres in the Greater London constituencies south of the Thames at:South Norwood; Wallington (Mint House); Wallington (Old Town House); Morden; Southfields; Sutton; Belvedere; Bexley Heath; Hither Green; Sidcup; West Wickham and Surbiton.

  There are two test centres in Croydon, one conducting tests for learner lorry and bus drivers, the other for learner car drivers.

  The test centres at Southfields and Surbiton are to be relocated to a new site at Tolworth-Surbiton from 8 June and Southfields from early September.

  Through Traffic (Cheltenham)
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with Gloucestershire County Council regarding proposals to remove through traffic on the A40 through Cheltenham. [122007]

  Mr. Hill
  The Secretary of State has held no such discussions. This is a matter for the County Council to consider within the context of its Local Transport Plan.

  Mayoral Election
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he [his Ministers or his officials](a) approved and (b) were informed of the wording of the instructions to voters on the supplementary vote system used in the election for Mayor of London that were (i) printed on ballot papers, (ii) displayed in polling stations and (iii) to be given orally to voters; what discussions he [his Ministers or his officials] have had with, and what representations he has received from (1) the Greater London Returning Officer, (2) Ministers and officials in the Home Department and (3) other persons regarding the wording of the instructions used at the election for Mayor of London; and if he will make a statement. [121814]

  Mr. Hill
  In March, a Greater London Returning Officer (GLRO) was appointed to oversee the running of the first GLA election. In addition 14 constituency Returning Officers (CROs) were appointed to take the poll in their areas.

  The wording of the instructions to voters printed on the mayoral ballot paper and displayed in polling station were prescribed in the Greater London Authority Elections (No. 2) Rules (SI 2000/427), which were approved by Parliament. No representations have been made to Ministers about the wording of the instructions; I understand that a small number of representations have been made to the GLRO.

  The GLRO will be discussing experience of the election arrangements (which included a number of innovations) with the CROs, and will let me have his conclusions in due course.

  Hazardous Loads
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent representations he has received regarding the transportation of hazardous loads by road in tunnels. [121724]

  Mr. Hill
  None.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will restrict the transportation of dangerous and hazardous goods to rail; and if he will make a statement. [121723]

  Mr. Hill
  Consignors of dangerous goods may choose the mode of transport most appropriate for their needs, provided that they comply with the relevant safety requirements. As demonstrated in the 1992 Health and Safety Commission Advisory Committee on Dangerous Substances report on the major hazard aspects of the transport of dangerous substances, a copy of which is in
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  the Library of the House, there is no evidence that one mode of transport is generally more dangerous than another.

  Police Authorities (Council Tax)
  Shona McIsaac
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the police authorities of England in order of their Band D council tax precept for the financial year 2000–01. [122009]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Band D council tax precepts issued by English police authorities for 2000–01, listed in order of the amounts set, are given in the table:

  £

  Police authority

  Council tax (Band D)

  GLA—police

  91

  Lincolnshire Police

  86

  Dorset Police

  84

  Cumbria Police

  84

  Staffordshire Police

  83

  Merseyside Police

  81

  Northamptonshire Police

  80

  Surrey Police

  79

  Gloucestershire Police

  78

  Warwickshire Police

  78

  Wiltshire Police

  76

  West Mercia Police

  74

  Norfolk Police

  72

  Derbyshire Police

  71

  Hertfordshire Police

  68

  Essex Police

  68

  Leicestershire Police

  68

  Avon and Somerset Police

  68

  Bedfordshire Police

  67

  Cleveland Police

  66

  Nottinghamshire Police

  65

  Greater Manchester Police

  63

  Lancashire Police

  63

  Cambridgeshire Police

  62

  Suffolk Police

  61

  Cheshire Police

  61

  Thames Valley Police

  60

  Humberside Police

  60

  South Yorkshire Police

  59

  Devon and Cornwall Police

  59

  West Yorkshire Police

  59

  North Yorkshire Police

  57

  Kent Police

  56

  Sussex Police

  56

  Hampshire Police

  55

  West Midlands Police

  55

  Durham Police

  53

  Northumbria Police

  52

  Housing (West Oxfordshire)
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of growth in housing in West Oxfordshire over the next 20 years. [121816]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The level of house building in Oxfordshire is set through Regional Planning Guidance for the South-East (RPG9). The next round of this guidance is currently being prepared by my Department, taking into account the first draft prepared by the local authorities in the region, and also responses made to this draft. We have now published the latest set of proposed changes and are currently inviting comments.
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  Draft RPG9 allocates an annual average of 43,000 new dwellings per year in the South-East. Local authorities in the region have been asked to consider how this figure can best be divided between the counties, working from an illustrative distribution included with the draft. This suggests that 2,680 new dwellings could be built per year in Oxfordshire.

  Following final publication of RPG9 later this year it will be the responsibility of Oxfordshire County Council and the district councils in the area to decide on the allocation of the Oxfordshire housing figure between the districts, including West Oxfordshire. This figure will be then adopted in the next Oxfordshire County Structure Plan.

  Until this time the building rates set out in the current Oxfordshire Structure Plan will apply. This allocates 6,750 new dwellings to West Oxfordshire District between 1996 and 2011.

  Ivory Trade
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement regarding Government policy towards the ivory trade and elephant poaching, following the recent agreement of countries attending the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species meeting. [122141]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 15 May 2000]: The Government support the co-operative arrangements for elephant conservation between the African range states which have developed at a series of special dialogue meetings over the last five years, sponsored by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the UN CITES Secretariat. The latest dialogue meeting took place in Nairobi immediately before the CITES Conference and was, like the previous meetings, partly funded by my Department. Senior UK officials attended the meeting. The Nairobi dialogue agreed arrangements for each African region to participate in two systems which underpin future elephant management and trade: the Monitoring of Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) and the Elephant Trade Information System (ETIS). The dialogue paved the way for the compromise reached at the CITES Conference itself.

  The main features of the compromise are that the elephant populations of Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, estimated at a total of 192,000 animals, are now listed on Appendix II of the Convention. This means that managed trade in elephant products of these four populations is agreed to be scientifically sustainable according to the criteria laid down under CITES. However there are still concerns among a number of African states—which we share—about resuming further commercial trade in raw ivory at present, particularly as we cannot yet assess the full impact of last year's experimental ivory auctions on elephant poaching levels, both in Africa and Asia. We therefore welcome the decision reached as part of the compromise which sets zero quotas for the export of ivory from southern Africa.

  MIKE and ETIS are expected to provide comprehensive information to enable the next CITES Conference in 2002 to decide whether controlled ivory trade can safely be resumed, and whether the conservation benefits of such trade outweigh any remaining risks. The

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  European Union, with the support of the UK, is considering a grant of 4 million Euro to MIKE. The UK has already provided £60,000 towards the cost of ETIS

  The Government appreciate the role played by responsible non-Government organisations, particularly the World Wide Fund for Nature and Fauna and Flora International, in obtaining such a successful outcome in Nairobi.

  Standard Spending Assessments
  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the standard spending assessment per head of population for each English county for(a) 1998–99, (b) 1999–2000 and (c) 2000–2001, ranked from highest to lowest; and if he will make a statement. [122238]

  Ms Armstrong
  Three tables have been placed in the Library giving the standard spending assessment per head of population for each English county for 1998–99, 1999–2000 and 2000–01 respectively.

  Railtrack Safety Company
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 9 May 2000,Official Report, column 360W, on Railtrack, under what statutory provisions Railtrack is required to consult before creating a safety company; with whom it will consult; and what are the terms and timetable for the consultation. [122457]

  Mr. Hill
  Arrangements for consultation by Railtrack before the proposed safety company assumes any safety responsibilities and in respect of other requirements for the company's operation are expected to be specified in modifications to its Network Licence. The Rail Regulator will consult shortly on his proposals for these modifications before the nature of the obligations are finalised. These would be imposed under the Railways Act 1993.

  Water Sources (Drug Residues)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what evidence he has assessed which indicates that potentially damaging residues from medicinal drugs are contaminating waterways and drinking water sources. [121528]

  Mr. Mullin
  Last year the Environment Agency commissioned a review of human pharmaceuticals in the environment for completion by the end of May. This will report on the information available on such substances in the environment, their occurence, fate and ecological effects and will provide a basis for further work. The Department has also funded extensive monitoring for drug residues in drinking water sources since the 1970s. Although certain common drugs have been detected at very low concentrations in some drinking water sources, current drinking water treatment processes are effective in removing them.

  Ten Year Transport Plan
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he has decided to publish his 10-year transport plan before the end of July. [122485]
  90W
  Mr. Hill
  As with all such departmental reports, we will publish the plan when it is ready.

  Rail Access Charges Review
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Rail Regulator will conclude his review of access charges. [122486]

  Mr. Hill
  It is the Rail Regulator's present intention to publish his final review notice on access charges in early September 2000, subject to the outcome of the consultation announced on 14 April, the deadline for responses for which is 26 May.

  Urban Task Force
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many of the recommendations made by the Urban Task Force in the report, "Towards an Urban Renaissance", have been implemented; and if he will make a statement. [122167]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Urban Task Force report, "Towards an Urban Renaissance", made more than 100 recommendations about how to revitalise our towns and cities. It formed an excellent contribution to the debate on how to reverse the social, physical and economic decline that many of our urban areas have faced in recent decade

  The Government are looking at the report's conclusions in detail as we prepare for the forthcoming White Paper on urban policy. But we, and others, have already addressed around a quarter of the recommendations including:
  Setting up three pilot Urban Regeneration Companies in Liverpool, East Manchester and Sheffield. These will co-ordinate the regeneration of run-down urban neighbourhoods within a wider local strategy developed by the local authority and its partners, listening to local people's needs and ensuring local priorities are met.
  Setting up nine pilot home zones—traffic schemes in residential areas which will give residents more control over traffic movements and ensure that the needs of people. rather than traffic, come first.
  Publishing revised planning policy guidance on development plans(PPG12) which advocates simpler and more effective development plans. This helps to fulfil the Urban Task Force's recommendation to streamline the planning process.
  Piloting eight Private Finance Initiatives for Housing Revenue Account pathfinders, helping fulfil the need to attract private investment in local communities.
  Taking steps to put Local Transport Plans (LTPs) on a statutory footing, ensuring that local authorities take an integrated and strategic approach to planning transport provision in their area.
  Publishing draft revised planning policy guidance on transport (PPG13) to promote civilised towns and cities where the needs of people are given priority.
  Setting up a new Govermnent unit for neighbourhood warden schemes to provide pump-priming funding to test out these schemes.

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  Publishing revised planning policy guidance on Housing (PPG3) which introduces a new sustainable approach to planning for housing. This addresses many of Lord Rogers' recommendations through its main provisions which include:
  Targets to put 60 per cent. of new homes on brownfield sites—set at all levels of the planning hierarchy, from regional to local level, and contributing to the achievement of the national 60 per cent. target.
  A sequential approach—to ensure that brownfield land is used for development before greenfield land whenever possible.
  New policies on land take—to avoid inefficient development and encourage higher intensity development in urban areas around good transport nodes.
  Looking again at greenfield land in the system—to ensure that land already allocated for housing meets the new approach.
  New car parking standards—removing minimum car parking standards, and substituting a maximum of, on average, 1.5 car parking spaces per dwelling.
  A new emphasis on quality development—to stress the need for imaginative design, taking account of what people want and ensuring better links with public transport.
  Improved housing choice and affordability—encouraging mixed communities with mixed tenures and strengthening the preference for affordable housing to be provided on-site.
  Tackling unpopular housing—by getting local planning authorities to look at how to recycle existing buildings as well as recycle land.

  Many other recommendations will be addressed in part or in full by the new power which the Government are giving to local authorities to promote and improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of their area. Other recommendations are also being taken forward in the context of the Government's Housing Green Paper.

  Building Control
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made with the setting up of an advisory body on performance standards in building control. [122679]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  My Department and the National Assembly for Wales have joined the Association of Corporate Approved Inspectors, the Construction Industry Council, the District Surveyors Association and the Local Government Association in signing a Memorandum of Understanding that establishes a new Building Control Performance Standards Advisory Group.

  The Advisory Group's terms of reference are:
  to keep under review the effectiveness of the standards and guidance published in "Building Control Performance Standards" (July 1999) and to make recommendations for revisions of the standards and guidance
  to advise on, and draw up recommendations on, performance indicators for the effective delivery of building control and procedures for the monitoring of building control bodies
  to consider complaints from building control bodies, other statutory bodies and other parties with an interest in relevant building work, that building control bodies have not acted in accordance with the Building Control Performance Standards; where appropriate, to refer such complaints to relevant other bodies; and/or to make recommendations to the building control bodies concerned on prevention of future non-compliant action.

  I welcome the formation of the Advisory Group, which met for the first time on 10 May 2000. I look forward to working with the Group and its member bodies to
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  promote continuous improvement in standards of service in both the public and private sectors of the building control profession.

  In addition to representatives of the signatory bodies, there will be a representative of the Building Regulations Advisory Committee and two members representing building users and construction clients.

  The Audit Commission has accepted an invitation from the Group to participate in its work as observers.

  The first chair of the Group is Michael Finn FRICS who chaired the steering group which drew up the performance standards for building control published in July last year. The Construction Industry Council will provide the secretariat for the Group for an initial period of three years.

  Millennium Dome
  Ms Ryan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the final shortlist for the proposed uses for the Millennium Dome after the millennium celebration will be announced. [122718]

  Ms Armstrong
  The Government have announced today that two proposals have been selected to advance to the final stage of the competition. Detailed proposals and indicative financial offers were invited from bids shortlisted in January. These two bids were chosen from a strong field of five bids remaining in the competition.

  The bids in the final shortlist are:
  Dome Europe, an advanced leisure, business and retail attraction, proposed by the Principal Finance Group of Nomura International plc.
  Legacy plc, a high technology industrial campus of workspace, leisure and retail uses, proposed by Robert Bourne.

  In reaching this decision the Government have evaluated the bids against the published criteria, and have taken into account the views of umbrella organisations in the area and the public responses to a national consultation exercise held in April. Details of the public consultation results have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  We will now work with the bidders to develop these proposals further, and will proceed to a decision in the summer on the winning proposal.

  Raptors
  Mr. Russell Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was(a) the cost of producing the Langholm report into raptors and (b) the cost of compensation that had to be paid to landowners. [120378]

  Dr. Reid
  I have been asked to reply.

  The subject matter is now devolved. However, the Game Conservancy Trust and the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology carried out a study between 1992 and 1996 of grouse populations on Langholm and other moorland estates in response to concerns about the impact of birds of prey on the number of grouse available during the annual shooting season. The results, published in 1997 as "Birds of Prey and Red Grouse", cost £400,000; the study

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  was funded and guided by a consortium of those with an interest in the subject, which included Scottish Natural Heritage, Buccleuch Estates, RSPB and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee.

  The study was undertaken for research purposes: no compensation was paid to landowners.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Bovine Tuberculosis
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will publish the report of the independent Husbandry Panel on Cattle TB. [122717]

  Ms Quin
  The Panel's report is published today. Copies are being placed in the Parliamentary Libraries and will be made widely available. We would like to thank Dr. Clive Philips, the Panel Chairman, and his colleagues for their work. The Government will now consider the Panel's recommendations in consultation with the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB and other interested parties before deciding how best to take them forward.

  IACS Fraud
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many prosecutions for Integrated Administration and Control System fraud his Department has initiated since 1997; and how many of them have resulted in a guilty verdict. [122394]

  Ms Quin
  .: Since 1997 there have been 15 prosecutions for fraud against CAP schemes falling under the IACS umbrella. Of these 14 were found guilty, one not guilty.

DEFENCE

  Defence Transport and Movements Agency
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Defence Transport and Movements Agency for the financial year 2000–01. [122567]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Chief Executive of the Defence Transport and Movements Agency has been set the following Key Targets for 2000–01:
  Key Target 1:
  To meet the Customers' requirements as specified in Customer Supplier Agreements (CSAs):

  94 per cent. or more of Agency transactions within agreed criteria.

  94 per cent. or more of the services provided under call-off contracts at a satisfactory level.

  Customer Satisfaction rating for all Agency services, including call-off contracts, of 85 per cent. or more.

  Key Target 2:

  To achieve an average 3 per cent. reduction in administrative unit costs.

  Key Target 3:

  To demonstrate improved net added value.

  94W Key Target 4:

  To achieve at least a satisfactory rating in the provision of operational transport and movements support.

  Defence Storage and Distribution Agency
  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency for the financial year 2000–01. [122569]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Chief Executive of the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency has been set the following Key Targets for 2000–01:
  Key Target 1:
  To meet the Customers' requirements as specified in Customer Supplier Agreements (CSAs):

  85 per cent. or more of issues to consumers to be within specified supply chain processing times.

  95 per cent. or more of receipts to be processed within agreed time limits.

  No more than 0.1 per cent. of issues to be subject to an accepted discrepancy report.

  The aggregated level and value of stock written off as a result of DSDA actions to be less than the levels agreed in CSAs.

  Key Target 2:

  To achieve an average 5 per cent. reduction in the unit cost of output.

  Key Target 3:

  To achieve an average 5 per cent. reduction in receipts processing times.

  Key Target 4:

  To achieve a 5 per cent. reduction in the cost of quality failures.

  British Forces Post Office Agency
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the British Forces Post Office agency for the financial year 2000–01. [122570]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Chief Executive of the British Forces Post Office agency has been set the following Key Targets for 2000–01:
  Key Target 1:
  To meet the Customers' requirements as specified in Customer Supplier Agreements (CSAs):

  96.6 per cent. or more of deliveries of Official Mail and BFPO Private Mail to be within CSA specified times.

  The Quality of Service Standard for all classes of mail to be greater than or equal to 94 per cent. of deliveries within CSA specified times.

  98.5 per cent. or more of aggregated deliveries of Courier Mail to be within CSA specified times.

  Key Target 2:

  To achieve an average 3 per cent. reduction in the unit cost of output.

  Civilian Personnel Costs
  Ms Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the average annual cost of employing 10,000 MOD civilians. [121805]

  Dr. Moonie
  £169 million. In calculating this figure, it has been possible to take account of Pay, Employer's Related National Insurance Contributions and Pensions
  95W
  contributions only. Any calculation of overheads such as rents, rates, utilities costs, food, office equipment and services could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Nuclear Test Veterans
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to extend the remit of the National Radiological Protection Board's study of the incidence of multiple myeloma among veterans of the UK's atmospheric nuclear test programme in the 1950s. [121980]

  Dr. Moonie
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for South Derbyshire (Mr. Todd) on 28 February 2000,Official Report, column 34W.

  Dartmoor (Live Firing)
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the(a) advertised and (b) actual number of days on which army live firing took place within each of the three ranges in the Dartmoor National Park for the year ended 31 December 1999. [121515]

  Dr. Moonie
  The advertised and actual number of days on which the Armed Services fired on each of the three firing ranges in the Dartmoor National Park for the year ended 31 December 1999 is as follows:

  Advertised

  Actual

  Okehampton

  78

  40

  Willsworthy

  205

  131

  Merrivale

  137

  83

  Ships (Lynx Helicopters)
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of frigates and destroyers that are operating without the Lynx helicopter. [121603]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 11 May 2000]: At present, there are no frigates and destroyers on current operations without their dedicated Lynx flight. However, 10 other frigates and destroyers are presently at sea on other tasks, such as exercises and training, without their Lynx helicopters.

  Typhoon Aircraft
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what air interception capability will exist for Royal Air Force Typhoon aircraft upon the exhaustion of the aircraft's air to air missile armament. [121676]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 11 May 2000]: None. However, it is unlikely that a cannon would be of use in such a scenario as the risk would remain that aircraft could be engaged by missiles from well outside the gun's range.

  Property Procurement
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how much was spent by each service and Ministry of Defence agency on new buildings and land in each of the past three years; [121597]
  96W
  (2) pursuant to his answer of 27 March 2000, Official Report, column 27W, on property procurement, if he will list the new buildings, with a value greater than £100,000, procured by his Department in (a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98 and (c) 1998–99, indicating their cost and location. [121610]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 11 May 2000]: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Eurofighter
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if the Mauser 27mm cannon specified for the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft will be installed in aircraft of Tranche 1 of the production programme for the Royal Air Force; [121683]

  (2) if the Royal Air Force will procure Mauser 27mm cannon to fit to its Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft with a corresponding stock of spares and ammunition. [121677]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 11 May 2000]: The Mauser 27mm cannon will be installed in Tranche 1 Eurofighter aircraft for the royal Air Force. However, we are not planning to procure stocks of spares or ammunition following our decision not to use the gun, or to fit it to subsequent tranches of aircraft.

  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what instruction he gave to the Defence Sales organisation of his Department on the inclusion of Mauser 27mm cannon in Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft for sale to the Greek Air Force. [121679]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 11 May 2000]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State of Defence has given no instructions to officials concerning the weapons configuration for Eurofighter sales to the Greek Air Force. This is a matter for the Greek Government and Eurofighter GmbH with which they are negotiating the sale.

  I welcome the benefits to the UK Defence Industry that the proposed sale will bring and my Department will continue to support that sale through the Defence Export Services Organisation, providing advice and assistance where we are able.

  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment was made of the cost effectiveness of Mauser 27mm cannon armament for the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft of the Royal Air Force in(a) airspace policing in peacetime and (b) ground attack missions. [121678]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 11 May 2000]: We have assessed that the minimal operational utility of the Mauser cannon on Eurofighter in any role is outweighed by its support, fatigue and training cost implications, particularly given the capability of the advanced short-range air-to-air missiles with which the aircraft will be armed.

  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the benefits of commonality of armament and interoperability for the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft in the four nation production programme. [121682]
  97W
  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 11 May 2000]: Potential benefits in commonality and interoperability between the four partner nations are a fundamental consideration when taking decisions on the Eurofighter programme.

  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what combat advantages will be derived for Royal Air Force Typhoon aircraft from the elimination of the Mauser 27mm cannon not possessed by the equivalent gun equipped aircraft in service with the Italian, German and Spanish air forces. [121684]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 11 May 2000]: The advantages in deleting the Mauser cannon from our Eurofighter aircraft derive from avoiding the support, fatigue and cost implications which we would otherwise have to bear. These implications more than outweigh the minimal combat value in retaining the gun, particularly given the advanced short-range air-to-air missiles with which Eurofighter will be armed.

  Iraq
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if RAF aircraft have used cluster bombs against targets in the(a) southern and (b) northern Iraq no-fly zones. [122230]

  Mr. Hoon
  No.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Millennium Summit
  Ms Kingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what preparations her Department is making for the UN Millennium Summit in September. [121517]

  Clare Short
  The Millennium Summit will be an important opportunity for the world's leaders to put the International Development Targets for poverty elimination at the top of the international agenda. The emphasis on poverty elimination in the Secretary General's Millennium Report provides a good starting-point for discussion of this issue at the Summit. My officials will discuss with the UN Information Centre (UNIC) in London whether there are opportunities around the Millennium Report and Summit to raise awareness in the UK of the poverty elimination agenda and the UN's role. My Department, with the FCO, is providing funding for representatives from the least developed countries to attend the Millennium Forum, which will bring together the views of civil society world-wide as a contribution to the Summit.

  Zambia
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she estimates Zambia will reach its(a) decision point and (b) completion point in the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative. [121779]

  Clare Short
  I hope that Zambia will reach its Decision Point under the revised Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative within the next nine months. We are disappointed that only five countries have, so far, come forward under the revised Initiative, and are pleased that, as we advocated, the World bank and IMF have agreed to 98W
  set up a joint committee to oversee the implementation of HIPC. In order to reach its Decision Point and begin to receive debt relief, there are also actions that Zambia has to undertake. The Government have already begun work on developing their interim poverty reduction strategy, which I welcome. They also need to agree quickly and implement a programme of economic reform with the IMF.

  In revising the HIPC Initiative last year, it was agreed that Completion Points would be "floating", that is, the requirement would be for countries to fulfil agreed conditions, rather than reaching Completion after three years. It is too early to say, at this stage, when Zambia will reach its Completion Point. I continue to emphasise that, in our view, the main condition for a country to complete the HIPC process should be the production of a high quality poverty strategy, based on sound analysis and extensive consultation.

  Anti-drugs Measures
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will have discussions with mycologists at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh before endorsing a programme submitted by the UN International Drug Control Programme for field trials of fusarium oxysporum as a weapon against coca growing in Columbia and Peru. [121080]

  Clare Short
  My Department has not been asked either to endorse or fund the UNDCP's research into the use of fusarium oxysporum as a control agent against coca crops in Colombia. My officials have, however, discussed the planned research with mycologists widely in the UK, including at the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. I understand that UNDCP are working closely with the UN Environmental Programme to ensure that all precautions are taken and that risks are eliminated.

SCOTLAND

  Police Forces
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many police forces in Scotland have the Crown as part of their(a) crest and (b) cap badge. [121463]

  Dr. Reid
  The crest of the Scottish police service incorporates the Crown. The eight Scottish police forces have a common cap badge incorporating a representation of the Scottish police service crest. Two of the eight forces (Lothian and Borders Police and Fife Constabulary) have individual crests in the form of a coat of arms granted by the Lord Lyon. Both of these also incorporate the Crown.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Regeneration
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the number and value of(a) bids and (b) grants made in each of the last three financial years for which figures are available, for each (i) area-based and (ii) other regeneration-related initiative for which his Department is responsible. [119801]
  99W
  Mr. Wills
  [holding answer 20 April 2000]: The information is not available in the format requested for all potentially relevant initiatives. The Department has adopted a range of approaches to provide support for those individuals most affected by deprivation, because we recognise that competitive bidding is not always the most effective method. The following examples demonstrate that range:
  in the bidding process for Education Action Zones we received 60 bids for the 25 available places in the first round of Education Action Zones and 123 bids for the 50 available places in the second round for which 48 places were actually awarded. First round zones receive £750,000 in Government grant per year with the zone expected to raise a further £250,000 sponsorship from the private sector. Second round zones receive grant of £500,000 with a further £250,000 available on a pound for pound matched funding basis for every pound sponsorship raised from the private sector;
  the Neighbourhood Support Fund(NSF) will annually help at least 15,000 of the most disaffected and disengaged 13 to 19-year-olds to re-connect with education, training and employment opportunities. Between 1999–2000 and 2001–02 £60 million will be made available to support some 700 NSF projects that will test the effectiveness of a variety of approaches to re-engaging the disaffected young. Some of these do not involve competitive bidding. The individual members of the Learning Alliance (CSV, NACRO, Rathbone CI, and the YMCA), will be funding NSF projects directly via their local affiliates in the 40 target areas, at a total annual cost for projects of £2 million. The National Youth Agency (NYA), working closely with local authority youth services, will identify potential NSF projects and then select the most promising to fund. The NYA is currently processing applications for NSF support from more than 150 community/voluntary organisations, with a total value of approximately £5 million. The NYA aims to fund 80 projects per annum at a combined yearly cost of £3 million. The Community Development Foundation (CDF) has invited competitive bids from community and voluntary groups and has received more than 1,300 applications for NSF funding, with a total value of around £26 million. Some 400 projects have been approved to date. The CDF will eventually support about 600 projects, at an annual cost of £12 million;
  Excellence in Cities(EiC) is not a traditional bidding programme. Forty-seven local authorities, responsible for city schools, have been invited to become part of the programme and are guaranteed funding provided they meet quality assessment thresholds;
  the approach for establishing Employment Zones involved an open and competitive bidding process to run a commercial operation where bids were assessed, against published criteria, by independent consultants;
  to support early years education, we are making specific grants available to Local Education Authorities (from September 1999–March 2002) to almost double the number of three year olds in early education places. While this new money is not geared towards any regeneration initiatives it is being targeted on those children with greatest social need. This money does not form part of any bidding process.

  Barristers (Disability)
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what recent representations he has received regarding the exclusion of barristers from the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; [120782]

  (2) what plans he has to amend the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to include barristers; and if he will make a statement. [120781]

  Ms Hodge
  [holding answer 8 May 2000]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State received a report on 13 December 1999 from the Disability Rights Task Force,
  100W
  set up by the Government to consult and advise on how to implement comprehensive and enforceable civil rights for disabled people. In its final report, the Task Force made over 150 recommendations. On 13 December, my right hon. Friend announced that the Government would be bringing forward legislation to give effect to the education recommendations of the Task Force. On 30 March, the Government issued an interim response to the report's recommendations in the areas of local government, health and social services, housing, the environment and participation in public life.

  Also on 30 March, I informed the House in a written reply that the Government are still considering a number of the recommendations that would require legislative changes to the DDA. One such recommendation is that the employment provisions of civil rights legislation should cover barristers. The Government's final response to the report will be made in due course.

  Employment and Social Affairs Council
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the outcome of the Social Affairs Council held in Brussels on 8 May; and if he will make a statement. [121570]

  Ms Jowell
  I represented the UK at the Employment and Social Affairs Council held in Brussels on 8 May. There were two items on the agenda: the Broad Economic Guidelines 2000 (BEGs), prepared by Economic and Finance Ministers (ECOFIN) in accordance with Article 99 of the Treaties establishing the European Community; and Article 13 (non-discrimination).

  In the discussion on the Broad Economic Guidelines, the UK supported the emphasis on structural reform, but argued that more attention should be given to tackling social exclusion. The Presidency undertook to write to ECOFIN summarising the views of the Employment and Social Affairs Council and said that he had received an assurance that ECOFIN would not be invited to finalise its draft of the BEGs until it had received the views of the Council.

  The Presidency reported on the negotiations on the two proposed Directives and the action programme brought forward under Article 13(non-discrimination). The Presidency noted that a number of issues remained to be resolved but hoped to register progress at the SAC on 6 June.

  Supply Teachers (Jury Service Cover)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proposals he has to reimburse schools who have to engage supply teachers temporarily to replace teachers who are absent on jury service; and if he will make a statement. [121729]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The Department has no plans to reimburse schools for any costs incurred in covering teachers who serve on juries. The arrangements for paid and unpaid leave for jury service are determined under teachers local contracts of employment.

  Homophobia Video
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment in how many schools the video, "Beyond a Phase: A Practical Guide to Challenging Homophobia in Schools", is available. [121968]

  Jacqui Smith
  The Department does not hold this information. I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave on 14 April 2000,Official Report, column 297W.

  Civil Servants (Relocation)
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which relocation companies his Department has used when relocating civil servants since May 1997. [122294]

  Mr. Wills
  During the period in question, the Department has used only one relocation company, Cendant Relocation (UK) Ltd.

  New Deal
  Mr. Mudie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many New Deal places have been(a) offered, (b) taken up and (c) completed in his Department since the start of the New Deal. [122231]

  Mr. Wills
  I can confirm that in response to(a) a total of 54 individuals have been offered New Deal placements in my Department, of whom (b) 44 have taken up the offer and in response to (c) a total of 8 placements have been completed.

  Mr. Mudie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many New Deal places have been(a) offered, (b) taken up and (c) completed within Leeds City Council since the start of the New Deal. [122228]

  Ms Jowell
  From April 1998 to May 2000 no New Deal clients have been directly employed by Leeds City Council on the Employment Option.

  Groundwork manages the New Deal ESF option in Leeds. Leeds City Council run the ETF programme for Groundwork. Since April 1998, 127 New Deal clients have started the Council's ETF option. Some of these will subsequently have started work for LCC—but the Employment Service does not have details of those engaged or specific numbers.

  Universities (ICT Funding)
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the costs of upgrading the existing IT structure within the universities to allow individual academics access to JANET 4, broken down by research council. [122136]

  Mr. Wicks
  We have allocated approximately £150 million to the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) for capital investment in information and communications technology over the period 1999–2000 to 2001–02. The improvement in the backbone to the JANET network, SuperJANET4, is being met from top-sliced funding from all the HE Funding Councils, of which HEFCE's contribution is £40 million. Individual higher education institutions and research 102W
  councils wanting to enhance their local area networks to exploit the extra bandwidth available will need to fund this from within their annual grant allocation.

  Press Officers
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many Press Officers were in post in his Department in(a) May 1997 and (b) May 2000. [121954]

  Mr. Wills
  [holding answer 12 May 2000]: At the beginning of May 1997 there were 20 Press Officers in post at the Department for Education and Employment, serving six Ministers. There are currently 27 Press Officers in post, serving eight Ministers.

  School Inspections
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what assessment was made of the ability of Salter Baker Associates (Education) Ltd. to meet Ofsted's quality assurance standards following an audit of the company in summer 1999; and what was the date of the assessment; [121791]

  (2) if he will list the documents received by Ofsted from Salter Baker Associates (Education) Ltd. in August 1999; [121792]

  (3) on what grounds and on what date Ofsted decided to terminate 14 inspection contracts with Salter Baker Associates (Education) Ltd., in 1999; [121795]

  (4) what steps were taken by Ofsted to ensure that matters of concern raised during its quality assurance audit of Salter Baker Associates (Education) Ltd. were addressed prior to the awarding of inspection contracts for autumn 1999; [121796]

  (5) what concerns were recorded by the Ofsted Contracts Division during their quality assurance audit of Salter Baker Associates (Education) Ltd., in summer 1999; [121797]

  (6) what steps are being taken by the Contracts Division of Ofsted to ensure that companies undertaking inspections facilitate checks on their financial viability; [121798]

  (7) what discussions he has had with Ofsted on measures needed to monitor the financial viability of companies undertaking school inspections; and if he will make a statement. [121799]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 15 May 2000]: These are matters for Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools, Chris Woodhead. I have asked him to write to my hon. Friend and to place a copy of his letter in the Library.

  Connexions Service
  Ms Ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the locations of the pilot projects for the Connexions Service; and if he will make a statement. [120848]

  Mr. Wicks
  I am pleased to announce the extension of the Connexions Service pilots. New pilots are to be established in Durham, Hertfordshire, Central London, Oldham, Merseyside, South Yorkshire, and at the
  103W
  Huntercombe Young Offenders Institution in Oxfordshire. These are additional to the pilots announced by the Secretary of State on 3 February.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 19 April 2000,Official Report, column 563W, on Connexions, how many persons are employed in the National Unit of the Connexions Service in (a) London, (b) Sheffield and (c) elsewhere; how many of them are from (i) Government Departments, (ii) youth and voluntary work and (iii) the private sector; and what is the timetable for employing more persons in the National Unit. [122473]

  Mr. Wicks
  The structure of the Connexions National Unit will be for the new Chief Executive to determine. We expect a new Chief Executive to take up post and make decisions on the staffing complement of the National Unit by late summer.

  Youth Services (Wandsworth)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much money was spent by his Department on youth services in the London Borough of Wandsworth in the last year for which figures are available. [122388]

  Mr. Wicks
  My Department does not fund Wandsworth's youth service. Youth service funding is provided centrally from the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions to each local authority. In 1997–98, the latest confirmed figures taken from the local authority returns (R01), Wandsworth spent £2,958,000 on its youth service.

  Learning Gateway
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many of the 16 and 17-year-olds in the Learning Gateway have entered learning and training. [122349]

  Mr. Wicks
  The Learning Gateway provides a client-centred approach, based on one-to-one support from a Personal Adviser, for 16 and 17-year-olds who have drifted away from learning and need additional help to enter mainstream learning opportunities. The Learning Gateway was introduced in September 1999. At the end of March 2000, some 17,500 young people had joined and over 11,000 were still on it. Around 3,500 (60 per cent. of leavers) were known to have progressed to a mainstream education or training opportunity or found a job—an encouraging start for a new initiative dealing with a particularly disadvantaged client group. The Learning Gateway has a key role to play in the development of the Connexions Service—the new youth support service for 13 to 19-year-olds, which will be phased in from April 2001.

TREASURY

  Tobacco Taxation
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money he expects the increased tobacco taxation to raise for expenditure on the NHS in the next three 104W
  financial years; and if his expenditure projections for the NHS will be sustained irrespective of the yield from tobacco taxation. [120609]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  [holding answer 2 May 2000]: Table A.13 in the Financial Statement and Budget Report gives the projected Exchequer yields from the 5 per cent. real increase in tobacco duty announced in Budget 2000. The Budget 2000 expenditure projections for the NHS are from plans which the Government will deliver.

  Funding (Wales)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what representations he has received from the National Assembly for Wales in relation to Objective 1 match funding and the Comprehensive Spending Review; [121736]

  (2) what representations he has received from the (a) First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales and (b) Secretary of State for Wales with relation to (i) the Comprehensive Spending Review and (ii) this year's Comprehensive Spending Review and Objective 1 match funding. [121737]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  There have been a number of representations on the 2000 spending review and Objective 1 funding. The implications for the Welsh block arising from Objective 1 funding are currently being considered as part of the Government's Spending Review which is now under way.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he received from the National Assembly for Wales in relation to this year's Comprehensive Spending Review. [121735]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  A number of representations have been received in relation to the 2000 spending review. The outcome of the review will be announced in due course.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make available to the National Assembly for Wales, for capital expenditure projects in the industrial and social infrastructure, a population-based share of the sum the Treasury receives as a result of the sale of mobile telephone franchises. [121924]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The receipts from the sale of mobile phone licenses are a UK resource which will be used to reduce net debt. The resulting reduction in the burden of public debt will benefit all parts of the UK for many years to come.

  Debt Relief
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the Government are taking to ensure that the cancellation of third world debt is on the agenda at the G8 Summit in Okinawa. [121766]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have informed the Japanese Presidency of the G7/8 that we would like to use the opportunity of the Okinawa summit, and the meetings of G7 Finance Ministers running up to the summit, to review and encourage progress on the debt relief initiatives.

  Penalty Clauses
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [122018]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Since May 1997, the Treasury has not had a contract that has triggered liquidated damages/penalty clauses.

  Climate Change Levy
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how he intends to ensure that the climate change levy is revenue neutral in the long term for those industries and individual companies to which it is to be applied; and if he will make a statement. [122126]

  Mr. Timms
  As the Chancellor stated when the climate change levy was first proposed, the levy package is designed to be revenue neutral for the private sector. Moreover, the levy package is expected to be broadly neutral between services and manufacturing, in that the Government expect manufacturing and services each to pay broadly as much in the levy as they get back via the 0.3 per cent. NICs reduction and the additional support for energy efficiency measures. The Government do not intend to make the levy revenue neutral for each firm or sector, however. As Lord Marshall stated in his report "Economic Instruments and the Business Use of Energy", the design of the levy should ensure some incentive for all users to save energy at the margin.

  As with excise duties, the Government expect that the rates of the levy will keep pace with inflation over time. The value of the NIC reductions to business is also expected to increase over time.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to make an early announcement of financial incentives for the emissions trading scheme for firms taking on binding emissions targets as part of the climate change levy; and if he will make a statement. [122125]

  Mr. Timms
  Emissions trading will provide a flexible way in which sectors involved in negotiated agreements as part of the climate change levy can meet their individual energy efficiency targets.

  In addition, the Government are working closely with the business-led UK Emissions Trading Group (ETG) on the development of a wider emissions trading scheme, and have said that they see merit in the case put forward by the ETG that some form of financial incentive will be required for companies to take on binding emission targets that generate additional emission reductions. Issues being addressed include the links between the wider trading scheme and the negotiated agreements; and the form a financial incentive might take. Further announcements will depend on the progress the ETG and the Government can make in dealing with these outstanding issues.

  Pensions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will hypothecate the proceeds from privatisations, semi-privatisations and outsourcing of services for the purpose of increasing the level of the basic pension. [122105]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  [holding answer 15 May 2000]: No. The Government will be spending an additional £6.5 billion on pensioners over the course of this Parliament, £2.5 billion more than if the basic state pension had been increased in line with earnings. We are helping all pensioners, but targeting help on those who have lost out over the last 20 years. Over half of these additional resources are going to 3 million of Britain's poorest pensioners. As a result of all our measures, including the introduction and uprating of the minimum income guarantee in line with earnings, raising the winter fuel payment to £150 and the introduction of free TV licences for pensioners aged over 75, the poorest pensioners over 75 will be up to £950 better off in cash terms than in 1997.

  The Government make their spending decisions based on what is affordable within the prudent control of the public finances. In general, the Government believe that how money is raised should not determine how it is spent, and spending priorities are best determined in the round. The Chancellor's recent Budget continued to build a platform of economic stability from which to deliver high and stable levels of growth and employment, while releasing substantial new resources for its key priorities, including extra support for pensioners.

  Insurance Brokers Registration Act 1977
  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to take steps to repeal the Insurance Brokers Registration Act 1977. [R] [122168]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  In response to a request from the Insurance Brokers Registration Council, the Government have decided that the repeal of this Act will take effect on 30 April 2001.

  Institutional Investment
  Mrs. Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made on the review of institutional investment by Mr. Paul Myners. [122716]

  Mr. Timms
  A consultation document is being launched by Paul Myners today, and will be available on the Treasury website (hm-treasury.gov.uk). Printed copies will be available tomorrow, and will be placed in the Library of the House.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  European Commission (Nice Proposals)
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the President of the European Commission to discuss proposals to be agreed at Nice. [120886]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  I meet the President of the Commission regularly, including at the monthly meetings of the General Affairs Council.
  107W
  We expect two main issues for agreement at the Nice European Council. First, the agreement to reform of the European Union to prepare it for enlargement, on which we share with France the key objective of securing a reweighting of votes in favour of larger members. Secondly, conclusion of the arrangements for the European Security Initiative, on which France has been our partner since we launched it jointly at St. Malo. The French Presidency is also mandated to take forward the conclusions of the Lisbon European Summit, at which Britain secured Europe's commitment to our agenda of economic reform and full employment.

  Chechnya
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had recently with Governments in the north Caucasus regarding the situation in Chechnya. [120887]

  Mr. Vaz
  My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have regular discussions with the Russian Government on Chechnya, most recently when Mr. Putin visited London on 17 April, during a telephone conversation on 27 March, and during my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's visit to St. Petersburg on 11 March. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised Chechnya during his visit to Moscow on 22/23 February and expects to discuss it again tomorrow when he returns to Moscow for official talks.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding the proposed gift of public money to fund the acquisition of white-owned farms in Zimbabwe. [120889]

  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to assist the holding of free and fair elections in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement. [120893]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his latest contacts with the Government of Zimbabwe. [120898]

  Mr. Hain
  I refer the hon. Member and my hon. Friends to the oral answer my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary gave earlier in the House today to the hon. Member for Cotswold (Mr. Clifton-Brown),Official Report, column 131.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the prospects for free and fair elections in Zimbabwe. [122003]

  Mr. Hain
  We note the recent statement by the Zimbabwe Electoral Supervisory Commission that free and fair elections could not be held under conditions of mounting political violence which has killed at least 19 people in the past three months. We have called all along for a fair election, free from political intimidation. It is not too late for President Mugabe to restore an environment conducive to free and fair elections.
  108W
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had regarding independent monitoring of elections in Zimbabwe with(a) the Commonwealth, (b) the European Union, (c) the United Nations and (d) other organisations. [122002]

  Mr. Hain
  We are working closely with the Commonwealth, EU, UN and other partners to ensure that international election observers are deployed to Zimbabwe as soon as possible, and in sufficient numbers to allow them to observe the pre-election preparations and to speak authoritatively on the conduct of the poll.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the action being taken to agree the presence in Zimbabwe of election, human rights and democracy observers including those from the Organisation of African Unity and the EU. [122268]

  Mr. Hain
  The Commonwealth Secretary-General and a team of experts and a team from the European Commission are visiting Zimbabwe to prepare for the deployment of Commonwealth and EU observers. We are in touch with the OAU but do not yet have details of its plans.

  Indonesia
  Mr. David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support the Government are giving to the Government of Indonesia to help them combat the problems of ethnic conflict. [120890]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  I raised the issue of ethnic tension when I met President Wahid in February. We fully support his efforts to secure stability in the areas of conflict and we welcome signature in Geneva at the weekend of a ceasefire in Aceh. Britain has already funded initiatives to promote reconciliation in Maluku and we are fully supporting the efforts of the United Nations Development Programme in the region. We are ready to help in any realistic and sensible way in reducing ethnic tensions and violence.

  Middle East
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of when the peace accords between(a) the Palestinian Authority and Israel, (b) Lebanon and Israel and (c) Syria and Israel will be signed; and if he will make a statement. [120891]

  Mr. Hain
  I have just returned from Syria and the Lebanon and we continue to work hard to achieve success in the Middle East Peace Process which is at an important stage.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his current assessment is of the middle east peace process. [120905]

  Mr. Hain
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the oral answer I gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for Milton Keynes, South-West (Dr. Starkey),Official Report, column 146.

  Anglo-Swiss Relations
  Dr. Palmer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Anglo-Swiss relations. [120892]

  Mr. Vaz
  UK/Swiss relations are excellent and Switzerland is an important trading partner for the UK.

  Cyprus
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress in the application of Cyprus to join the European Union. [120894]

  Mr. Vaz
  Cyprus's accession negotiations with the European Union have covered 25 of the 31 chapters of the acquis communautaire, comprising the rights and obligations of EU membership. The remainder will be opened this year. Fifteen chapters do not need further negotiation at this stage—the greatest number for any candidate.

  The EU's objective is accession, following a political settlement, of a united Cyprus to the EU. It would clearly be easier for the united island to accede to the EU. But the Helsinki European Council in December 1999 agreed that a settlement is not a precondition for accession. We fully support the UN proximity talks preparing for a comprehensive settlement, which are due to resume shortly in New York.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Turkish Prime Minister on his recent statement about Cyprus; and if he will make a statement on that statement. [121932]

  Mr. Vaz
  The Foreign Secretary has had no recent discussions with the Turkish Prime Minister on the subject of Cyprus. However, we maintain regular contact with the Turkish Government in the context of the current UN settlement process and continue to urge all parties involved to cooperate with the UN Secretary-General constructively and flexibly.

  Central America (Street Children)
  Mr. Sawford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received relating to street children in central America. [120896]

  Mr. Hain
  Most of the reports relate to Guatemala and Honduras. The latest were about the murders of two 17-year-old Honduran boys.

  We follow this issue with interest and concern, and regularly make representations to Central American authorities. We maintain regular contact with NGOs active on street children issues.

  We are active in helping to alleviate the suffering of street children. The FCO is today hosting the Americas Open Day as part of the String of Pearls Millennium Festival. This will include a live world-wide internet broadcast on Street Children in Central America alongside "Toybox" a UK charity we support in Guatemala: A first for the FCO.

  Franco-British Co-operation
  Mr. Casale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Franco-British co-operation in international affairs. [120899]

  Mr. Vaz
  The UK and France have achieved a great deal since the UK/French Summits at St. Malo in December 1998 and in London in November 1999, which committed both Governments to strengthening their foreign policy cooperation. In addition to our joint work on the European defence initiative, we have worked together closely on Africa, the Middle East, the Western Balkans and on UN issues.

  Non-proliferation Treaty
  Charlotte Atkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the outcome of the non-proliferation treaty review conference in New York. [120900]

  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the non-proliferation treaty review conference. [120909]

  Mr. Hain
  The Review Conference runs until 19 May. The UK delegation will continue to work for a positive outcome to the Conference which will advance the goal of nuclear disarmament.

  UN Security Council
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is in relation to increasing the number of permanent members of the UN Security Council. [120901]

  Mr. Hain
  We believe early enlargement of the UN Security Council is essential to make it more representative of today's world.

  We support expansion of the Council from 15 members to 24 including five additional permanent seats: two for Germany and Japan plus three for developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

  New Zealand Prime Minister (State Visit)
  Mr. Neil Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent visit to the UK of the Prime Minister of New Zealand. [120902]

  Mr. Laxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent visit to the UK of the Prime Minister of New Zealand. [120907]

  Mr. Battle
  Helen Clark visited the UK on 18 and 19 April. She had very productive discussions with my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, and with other senior colleagues. I also had the opportunity to meet her briefly. We attach great importance to maintaining our excellent and close relationship with the government of New Zealand, and were delighted to see Ms Clark here so soon in to her term of office.

  Italy
  Mr. Plaskitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contacts he has had with the new Government of Italy. [120903]

  Mr. Vaz
  The new Italian Government were approved by the Italian Parliament on 28 April. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini at the gathering of EU foreign ministers held under the Portuguese presidency in the Azores 5–6 May.

  St. George's and Europe Days
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how his Department's establishments(a) in the United Kingdom and (b) overseas marked (i) St. George's day and (ii) Europe day. [120904]

  Mr. Vaz
  The FCO does not officially mark St. George's day (or St. David's or St. Andrew's Day). Nor do we issue guidance to our missions overseas, which represent the interests of all the United Kingdom.

  On Europe Day, the FCO and missions overseas fly the EU flag alongside the Union Jack. This year, for the first time, the FCO also hosted a Europe Open Day on 9 May to coincide with the London String of Pearls Millennium Festival. Some of our missions overseas also contributed to Europe Day events organised by their host Governments and the local offices of the European Commission.

  International Drugs Trade
  Dr. Ladyman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made by Her Majesty's Government on tackling the international drugs trade. [120906]

  Mr. Battle
  UK counter-drugs activity overseas aims to reduce the availability of Class A drugs in the UK. Progress, achieved through co-ordinated inter-Departmental activity on agreed priorities, is being seen in increased seizures of heroin and cocaine en route to the UK/EU, and increased disruption of the criminal groups involved in trafficking. The UK is also active in international forums aimed at strengthening the global framework for tackling the illicit drugs trade, including in the UN and G8. In the financial year 1999–2000 my Department spent £6.7 million on anti-drugs projects overseas.

  Peru
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent Peruvian presidential elections. [120908]

  Mr. Battle
  The UK has played a leading role in calling for higher standards in the Peruvian electoral process, commissioning election campaign reports and providing and financing electoral observers. We welcomed the announcement of the second round on 28 May, and continue to press for opposition access to the media, proper use of state resources and avoidance of the irregularities of the first round.

  Stability Pact
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made on implementation of the Stability Pact for south-east Europe. [120879]

  Mr. Vaz
  The Government are pleased with the progress of the Stability Pact for south-east Europe. I represented Britain at the regional funding conference on 29 March, at which 1.8 billion euro was sought to fund quick start projects in the region. In the event, 2.4 billion euro was pledged. The UK has played a leading role in the Pact, reflecting our position as a key contributor to stability in the Balkans.

  Intergovernmental Conference
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in respect of "IGC: Reform for Enlargement", Cm 4595, how many copies were printed; what the cost per copy was to the Government; what the sale price was; how many were distributed free and to whom; if he will estimate the cost per copy to the Government and the sale price if it had been in black and white only; and for what reasons he did not print it in that form. [121038]

  Mr. Vaz
  1,500 copies were printed. The cost per the copy to Government was £7.40 and the sale price £11.10. Numerous copies were distributed free of charge to opinion formers and members of the public. The cost per copy of a black and white version would have been £4.47, with a sale price of £6.70.

  We decided to publish the White Paper in colour in order to make the material clearer and more accessible to the public.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to "IGC: Reform for Enlargement, Cm 4595", which proposals under discussion in respect of the Enlargement Treaty planned for consideration at Nice in December would require amendment of Acts of Parliament; and when the proposed treaty will be published. [121078]

  Mr. Vaz
  We hope that the intergovernmental conference negotiations currently underway will be concluded by the end of the year. It is too early to say what the result of those negotiations will be, but the outcome will require ratification by Parliament.

  Danube
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received from the Bulgarian and Romanian Governments on(a) removal of obstacles on the Danube and (b) the rehabilitation of ports on the Danube. [121757]

  Mr. Vaz
  The Bulgarian and Romanian Prime Ministers wrote to their EU and NATO counterparts on 5 April setting out their concerns at the slow progress of the Danube Commission's proposal to the European Commission for clearance of the River Danube. The Danube Commission's proposal does, however, have a number of technical issues on which the EU requires detailed clarification.
  113W
  Neither government have raised the question of rehabilitation of ports on the Danube, though both have expressed concern at mounting unemployment along the Danube as a result of the halt in river traffic through Serbia.

  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the cost of(a) clearance of the Danube and (b) building a new bridge on the Danube in Novi Sad. [121771]

  Mr. Vaz
  The estimated cost of clearing the Danube, as set out in the Danube Commission's proposal to the European Commission of 25 January 2000, is 24.1 million euro.

  We have made no estimate of the cost of rebuilding a new bridge over the Danube at Novi Sad. We understand that both the Serbian government and the Novi Sad local municipal authorities have announced separate plans to build a replacement bridge at Novi Sad.

  Japanese Emperor (State Visit)
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department met the Metropolitan police to discuss the security arrangements for the State Visit of Emperor Akihito of Japan in May 1998. [121718]

  Mr. Battle
  Meetings involving Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials and the police in advance of the State Visit by the Emperor of Japan were held on the following dates: 15, 26 and 29 January and 6 and 8 February 1998. The purpose of these meetings was not to take operational decisions, but to go through successive drafts of the programme and discuss new programme proposals.

  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will release the minutes of discussions his Department held about the security arrangements which were taken for the State Visit of Emperor Akihito of Japan in May 1998. [121719]

  Mr. Battle
  Minutes were not taken because the purpose of these meetings was not to take operational decisions, but to go through successive drafts of the programme and discuss new programme proposals. Any outcome of the discussions was subsequently reflected in revised programmes.

  EU and NATO
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when and at what level the EU consultation and co-operation mechanism with NATO will be set up. [121753]

  Mr. Vaz
  The United Kingdom is fully involved in the continuing discussions to ensure the best means of providing full mutual consultation, co-operation and transparency between the EU and NATO. The Presidency will report on progress to the European Council at Feira on 19–20 June.

  European Security
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how and at what stage 114W
  non-EU members will be involved with the shaping and implementation of EU decisions concerning European Security and Defence Identity and ESDP. [121754]

  Mr. Vaz
  The Portuguese EU Presidency will report on progress to the European Council at Feira between 19–20 June on the mechanisms for involving non-EU European countries in military crisis management.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence has been provided since May 1994 to Governments of states against which British nuclear weapons were hitherto targeted that they are no longer so targeted. [121931]

  Mr. Vaz
  We have given a number of key public assurances that our nuclear weapons are not targeted at any state, most recently as part of the common statement made by the nuclear weapons states on 1 May 2000 in New York at the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference.

  China
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received concerning the persecution of House Church leaders in China. [122234]

  Mr. Battle
  We follow the situation concerning the House Church Christian leaders in China closely. The treatment of Li Dexian, who has been detained on a number of occasions, most recently on 11 April, is a particular concern. We raised his case during the fourth round of the UK/China Human Rights Dialogue in Beijing in February, and I have also raised this case more recently with the Chinese Ambassador. We also pressed the Chinese authorities to facilitate the freedom of religious practice in line with the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which China signed in October 1998. We will continue to press our concerns with the Chinese authorities at every appropriate opportunity including future rounds of the UK and EU Human Rights Dialogues

  Handcuff Exports
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the serial numbers of those Big Brutus handcuffs exported from the United Kingdom by Hyatt & Co., of Birmingham, since 1 May 1997; when he expects legislation further restricting the sale of oversize handcuffs to be brought forward; and if he will make a statement. [121803]

  Mr. Hain
  Neither FCO nor DTI has the information requested. Serial numbers are not routinely requested from, or supplied by, companies as part of the export licensing process.

  I refer the hon. member to the answer I gave him on 10 March 2000, Official Report, column 873W. We are not aware of any illegal conduct on the part of UK individuals or companies. Should any evidence be produced, we would of course pass it on to the appropriate investigative authorities.
  115W
  The Government are still considering amending legislation to extend controls to cover large individual cuffs.

  Strategic Arms Exports
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Government's response to the Joint Select Committee report on Strategic Arms Exports will be completed. [122290]

  Mr. Hain
  We regret the delay in responding to the Report of the joint inquiry conducted by the Foreign Affairs, Defence, Trade and Industry and International Development Committees into the 1997 and 1998 Annual Reports on strategic export controls and aims to do so as soon as possible.

  The Report contained a large number of complex recommendations for specific action, which were of interest to several Departments. It has taken longer to formulate a response than would normally be the case.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Public Records
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) what response the Secretary to the Advisory Council on Public Records has made to those hon. Members who have asked the Council whether Public Records Act Instrument 12, 1996, permits the Keeper of Public Records to allow constituents to inspect and copy the 1911 decennial census returns for England and Wales; and on which dates since January 1998 the full Council has met under the Chairmanship of the Master of the Rolls to consider similar requests from hon. Members; [121836]

  (2) how many hon. Members have written since January to the Chairman of the Advisory Council on Public Records, requesting the Council to consider whether Public Records Act Instrument 12, 1996, permits the Keeper of Public Records to allow their constituents to inspect and copy the 1911 decennial census returns for England and Wales; and what advice the Chairman has given to those hon. Members on the legal issues involved. [121835]

  Mr. Lock
  The full Advisory Council considered the subject of access to the 1911 census returns on one occasion since January 1998 namely, on 22 October 1998.

  The Master of the Rolls, as Chairman of the Advisory Council on Public Records, has received 15 letters from hon. Members since January 1998 concerning access to the 1911 census returns.

  The answer sent to hon. Members by the Secretary to the Advisory Council on Public Records, at the request of the Master of the Rolls, is annexed.

  On 3 April 2000 the Secretary consulted all members of the Council by post, asking them whether they wished the subject to be put on the agenda for the next meeting of the Council in June. Members approved the line taken in the responses to hon. Members and none requested that the subject be considered again by the full Council
  116W Access to Census Records from 1901 and 1911
  The Master of the Rolls has asked me to thank you for your letter of ****, and to reply on his behalf. He has seen and approved the contents of this letter.
  I think that your constituent has been briefed by Mr. Denis McCready, who has for some years been campaigning about access to the census records. Mr. McCready himself appealed to the Council on this issue, and the Council considered his appeal on 22 October 1998. I shall set out below the background, then explain the Council's position.
  The Public Records Act 1958, as amended by the Public Records Act 1967, specifies the normal term for the closure of public records, and the procedure for changing that period, as follows:
  Public records in the Public Record Office…shall not be available for public inspection until the expiration of the period of thirty years beginning with the first day of January in the year next after that in which they were created, or of such other period, either longer or shorter, as the Lord Chancellor may, with the approval, or at the request, of the Minister or other person, if any, who appears to him to be primarily concerned, for the time being prescribe as respects any particular class of public records. (c5(1))
  It is thus the responsibility of the Lord Chancellor and (in the case of the Office for National Statistics, for census records) the Economic Secretary to the Treasury to decide whether and for what period the normal thirty year term will be varied. The Lord Chancellor always seeks the advice of the Council before making such a decision. Neither the Master of the Rolls (as the Council's chairman) nor the Keeper of the Public Records has any authority in the matter, so neither has the power unilaterally to release closed records.
  In a Schedule to an Instrument signed by Lord Gardiner, the Lord Chancellor, on 20 June 1966 all decennial census returns were closed for 100 years. I enclose a copy of the Schedule. Mr. McCready has suggested that this schedule is invalid because it does not specify the "class" of records, as required by s5(1) of the Act. Mr. McCready is using the term "class" in its technical sense in the Public Record Office where it has until recently meant a particular series of records identified by letters and a number (such as AIR 21 on the same schedule). However, as you know, the interpretation of an Act of Parliament depends on definitions contained within the Act (there is none for "class" in the Public Records Act), the Interpretation Act, or normal dictionaries. The word "class" in the Act should thus be understood to have its normal meaning of a category, such as (in this instance) "Decennial Census Returns".
  Mr. McCready has also pointed out that no undertaking of closure for 100 years was given to individuals when the 1901 and 1911 censuses were taken, and suggested that this means that there could be no breach of confidence by releasing them after a shorter period. The Home Secretary on 26 October 1998 in a Written Answer to a Parliamentary Question gave the terms of the undertakings of confidentiality stated on the 1901, 1911 and later census schedules (Hansard cols 55–6). That on the 1901 schedule reads:
  The Return is required for carrying out the provisions of the Census Act. The contents of the Schedules will be treated as confidential; they will be published in General Abstract only. and strict care will be taken that the Returns are not used for the gratification of curiosity, or for other purposes than those of the Census.
  Those for 1911 read, on the front and on the back of the schedule:
  The contents of the Schedule will be treated as strictly confidential.
  The contents of the Schedule will be treated as confidential. Strict care will be taken that no information is disclosed with regard to individual persons. The returns are not to be used…for any other purpose than the preparation of Statistical Tables.

  117W
  In 1981, the Government for the first time spelt out on the census schedules the period that it considered would need to pass before the duty of confidence owed as a result of such undertakings would be discharged:
  Your replies will be treated in strict confidence. After the census, the forms will be locked away for 100 years before they are passed to the Public Record Office.
  In answer to Parliamentary Questions the Government has reiterated that it considers that 100 years is the period which should pass before the duty of confidence is discharged. In a written answer to Lord Teviot in the House of Lords on 14 October 1997, the Lord Chancellor said that:
  the maintenance of public confidence in the census is paramount. It would be unwise to amend retrospectively the period of closure as the credibility of assurances about recent and future censuses would be affected if the Government is seen to be departing from previous assurances.

  Schedule

  Number of class

  Description

  Person whose approval has been given

  Prescribed period Years

  War Office

  W.0. 71

  Judge Advocate General's Office—Courts Martial: Proceedings

  Secretary of State for Defence

  100

  W.0. 160

  War of 1914–18: Special Series

  Secretary of State for Defence

  100

  Air Ministry

  Air 18

  Judge Advocate General's Office—Courts Martial: Proceedings

  Secretary of State for Defence

  100

  Air 21

  Judge Advocate General's Office—Courts Martial: Registers

  Secretary of State for Defence

  100

  Registrar General

  R.G.

  Decennial Census Returns

  Registrar General

  100

  Penalty Clauses
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department 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. [122020]

  Mr. Lock
  Of the contracts entered into by the Lord Chancellor's Department since May 1997, only that with CSL Group Ltd. has triggered penalty payments.

  Family Law
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the whole of the Family Law Act 1996 will be operational; and what additional costs the Government will incur as a result. [121721]

  Jane Kennedy
  Parts I, III and IV of the Family Law Act 1996, with the exception of section 60, are already in force. In relation to Part II of the Act, I refer the hon. Member to the written parliamentary answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Dartford (Dr. Stoate) on 17 June 1999,Official Report, column 213W. The position remains the same.

  Section 60 of the Act permits the making of Rules of Court to allow third parties to apply for orders under Part IV on behalf of victims of domestic violence. The Government are currently considering whether it is appropriate to implement the provisions of section 60. The cost implications of implementation will be considered as part of this process.
  118W The present Government therefore adheres to the guidelines, set out in the previous Government's White Paper Open Government of 1993 (Cm 2290), for determining the extended closure of records (annex C, p 90). These specify that records of the decennial census of population are to be closed for 100 years.The Council concluded in October 1998 that the Government's grounds for the closure of the census records were valid, but that it might be possible to overcome the problem for future generations by giving a lesser commitment in forthcoming censuses. It therefore decided not to ask the Lord Chancellor to initiate any reconsideration of the matter, and informed Mr. McCready of its views. As you will appreciate, in the absence of any change in policy by ministers there was nothing that the Council could ask the Master of the Rolls or Keeper to do. There has been no change since 1998 that would justify asking the Council to reconsider, and so far as the 1901 census is concerned the records will become open at the beginning of 2002 in any case, in a searchable digital format that has been widely welcomed by genealogical bodies.

  Judgments
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department on how many occasions since May 1997 he has had cause(a) to reprimand or (b) take other action about the length of time taken by a judge to deliver judgment following the end of the trial. [121716]

  Jane Kennedy
  The Lord Chancellor, as Head of the Judiciary, deals with allegations of judicial misconduct. There have been two occasions where retrials have been necessary because of judicial delay. The Lord Chancellor decided in both to make ex gratia awards of compensation in respect of costs incurred. On both occasions the Judge had resigned or retired.

  On a third occasion the Lord Chancellor agreed with the Lord Chief Justice that a Judge should be released from sitting to enable him to complete a number of outstanding judgments. On a fourth occasion the Vice Chancellor issued a rebuke and warning following a delay which was severely criticised by the Court of Appeal. The Lord Chancellor wrote to the Judge, supporting the Vice Chancellor's action.

  The Lord Chancellor and the senior judiciary are working to put systems in place to ensure that if there is any possibility of undue delay in the delivery of a judgment, that it is identified early and remedial action taken.

  Michael Abatan
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will call for a report on the recent trial in Hove relating to the
  119W
  assault on Michael Abatan in Brighton in January 1999, in particular the evidence directed to be withheld from the jury. [122479]

  Jane Kennedy
  The conduct of trials rests entirely in the hands of the judiciary, and the directions they give are based on representations made by the prosecution and defence counsel. It would be inappropriate to call for a report as the judiciary are independent of the Government and administration.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensioner Savings
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the percentage of pensioner households with savings of(a) up to £1,000, (b) between £1,000 and £3,000, (c) between £3,000 and £6,000, (d) between £6,000 and £12,000 and (e) over £12,000. [122235]

  Mr. Rooker
  The information is in the table.

  Savings

  Percentage of pensioner benefit units

  Up to £1,000

  38

  Between £1,000 and £3,000

  11

  Between £3,000 and £6,000

  10

  Between £6,000 and £12,000

  11

  Over £12,000

  29

  Notes

  1. Components may not sum to 100 per cent. owing to rounding.

  2. Pensioner benefit units are defined as those benefit units where either the head or spouse is aged 60 or over.

  3. Questions on assets are a sensitive part of the FRS questionnaire and have relatively low levels of response, hence higher levels of imputation, compared to other parts of the survey. Responses are imputed in around one in 10 cases. Evidence also suggests some under-reporting of capital by respondents.

  Source:

  Family Resources Survey 1998–99.

  Retirement Pension
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) men and (b) women were in receipt of a state retirement pension and were over 100 years old on 1 May. [122076]

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

  The latest population projections for those over 100 years at mid-2000

  Number

  Male

  1,000

  Female

  7,000

  Notes:

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.

  2. National Population Projections supplied by the Government Actuary's Department for mid-year 2000.

  Expatriates Pensioners
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated number of British citizens 120W
  who have emigrated overseas and are in receipt of a State Retirement Pension which has been frozen because they are living in countries without a reciprocal pension upgrading agreement with the UK; and if he will make a statement. [121981]

  Mr. Rooker
  Some 470,000 people overseas are in receipt of a UK State Retirement Pension which has been frozen. The Department's records are unable to differentiate between a British citizen and a pensioner from another country who, through having worked and paid National Insurance in this country, is entitled to a UK State Retirement Pension. Therefore the Department can provide only the total figure.

  The total annual cost of uprating all frozen UK pensions paid overseas to the rate paid to pensioners resident in the UK would be some £300 million a year.

  Our priority is to concentrate any resources that may become available on pensioners resident in the UK. We have done much already for them but, as my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in the Budget, we plan to do more. That is why we have no plans to unfreeze.

  Winter Fuel Payment
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if pensioners qualify for winter heating allowance if living abroad for all or part of the year; and if he will make a statement. [121808]

  Angela Eagle
  The Winter Fuel Payment scheme relates only to people aged 60 and over who are ordinarily resident in Great Britain. Eligible people living in Northern Ireland get similar payments through mirroring legislation.

  If someone lives only part of the year abroad and their normal home is in Great Britain they are eligible for a payment; but someone whose normal place of residence is outside Great Britain is not eligible.

  The payments are aimed at mitigating harmful climatological effects that are particular to the British winter. Great Britain has a variable winter climate, which means that there are short spells of very cold weather rather than long ones. Weather conditions can also change rapidly over a few days, and winter mortality rates are higher in Great Britain than in most other European countries. The payments are therefore aimed at older households in Great Britain to ensure they are able to turn up their heating when it is cold.

  National Insurance Numbers
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many newly-issued national insurance numbers have gone missing and how many missing national insurance numbers have been traced to(a) asylum seekers and (b) other persons subject to immigration control in each of the last three years for which figures are available; what estimate he has made of the extent to which national insurance numbers are misappropriated (i) generally, (ii) by asylum seekers and (iii) by other persons subject to immigration control; what action he is taking to investigate this; and if he will make a statement. [121829]
  121W
  Mr. Rooker
  There are no missing National Insurance numbers; all numbers issued are recorded on the Departmental Central Index (DCI). There are some numbers, however, that will have been created, typically when someone invents a fictitious identity. We know of 716 such cases.

  I announced on 27 March plans to ensure that our defences against identity fraud are strengthened. We have found from a pilot in Balham, South London, that a combination of dedicated resources, better training, specialist equipment and effective liaison between Government Departments, particularly with the Immigration and Nationality Department, leads to improved performance in this area. Staff in Balham, using these techniques, have detected 225 cases where fraudulent identity documents were used, all of which resulted in an arrest.

  While data are collected on the number of false identities detected, they are not available in the required format to supply details specific to asylum seekers and those subject to immigration control. The Home Office and my Department work closely to monitor cases involving immigration offenders, 9,256 such cases have been referred. These are checked against DCI, any found to be claiming benefit are referred for investigation by both the Benefits Agency and the Home Office. Data are not available on the outcome of those investigations.

  Benefit Claim Packs
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when(a) Attendance Allowance and (b) Disability Living Allowance claim packs will be available in the South Shields constituency. [122398]
  122W
  Mr. Bayley
  The Supply Operations Group Print Contract Management Team has liaised with Newcastle Disability Benefit Centre (DBC) and established their requirement. As a result, Tactica Solutions are issuing 500 copies of each claim pack to the DBC today.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will launch an inquiry into the failure of the Group 4 contractor to supply Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance claim packs to disability benefits centres in the north-east of England. [122397]

  Mr. Bayley
  Based on the existing annual usage information, Tactica Solutions, one of the contractors who supply print items (ie: claim packs, forms and leaflets) to the Benefits Agency, printed adequate stocks of the Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance claim packs to meet demand into May 2000.

  However, an increase in demand in March and April exhausted stock more quickly than anticipated. This was made worse by the fact that stocks were being run down in anticipation of revised versions of these claim packs becoming available. As it takes an average of six weeks to produce a claim pack, the sudden upsurge in demand created a gap in supply.

  New usage figures have now been negotiated with the supplier to take account of the most up to date demand information. This will lead to an increase in stock held that should more accurately reflect customer requirements.

  The current shortage has now been rectified and Tactica Solutions have the products in stock.

  South Downs: Restoration and Access
  South Downs: Restoration and Access
  Merseyside Objective 1 Single Programming Documents
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  Waste Incineration Directive
  Waste Incineration Directive
  Agricultural Buildings and Council Tax
  Agricultural Buildings and Council Tax
  Tourism and the Planning System
  Tourism and the Planning System
  Mobile Phones: House of Lords Rules
  Mobile Phones: House of Lords Rules
  Husbandry Panel on Cattle TB: Report
  Husbandry Panel on Cattle TB: Report
  Genetically Modified Crops: Objections Process
  Genetically Modified Crops: Objections Process
  Sentencing Decisions: Home Office Review
  Sentencing Decisions: Home Office Review
  European Parliament Elections: Review
  European Parliament Elections: Review
  Journalists' Sources of Information: Protection
  Journalists' Sources of Information: Protection
  Exports Invoiced in Dollars
  Exports Invoiced in Dollars
  Export Receipts Paid in Euros
  Export Receipts Paid in Euros
  Royal Parks Review
  Royal Parks Review
  BSE Research
  BSE Research
  Young Asylum Seekers
  Young Asylum Seekers
  Mycobacterium Bovis Infections
  Mycobacterium Bovis Infections
  Severely Disabled People and Income Support
  Severely Disabled People and Income Support
  Millennium Dome: Future
  Millennium Dome: Future
  EU Employment and Social Affairs Council
  EU Employment and Social Affairs Council
  Armed Forces Discipline Acts: Consolidation
  Armed Forces Discipline Acts: Consolidation