Written Answers of 6 November 2000

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Departmental Policies
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Solicitor-General if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effect on the Manchester, Gorton constituency, of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [136167]

  The Solicitor-General
  In October 1999, in line with national policy, the City of Manchester Branch of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), in liaison with the police and Manchester City Magistrates Court, introduced the Narey proposals. All defendants charged with a criminal offence now make their first appearance before Manchester City Magistrates Court within 72 hours. Present figures would suggest that between 40 per cent. and 45 per cent. of all defendants now have their cases finalised far more quickly than previously was the case. On 13 November 2000, the City of Manchester Branch will be altering its structures in line with the proposals in the Glidewell review. This will enable the CPS to place greater emphasis on more serious crime in Manchester Crown Court. The CPS, together with other agencies, has also helped to draw up procedures and protocols to speed up youth justice, particularly persistent young offenders.

  Since May 1997, the Crown Prosecution Service has successfully prosecuted a number of major cases arising in the Gorton area. In November 1997, James Patterson Smith was sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of Kelly Ann Bates in Furnival Road, Gorton the previous year. This year the CPS has successfully completed prosecutions arising out of Operation Sydney, involving the supply of hard drugs in the Bennett Street area of West Gorton, and Operation Peking, where four men received substantial custodial sentences for violence and intimidation in Gorton.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  British Council
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what contracts her Department is currently funding through the British Council. [136644]

  Clare Short
  DFID currently has 100 contracts with the British Council, 65 of which are consultancy type contracts. The remaining 44 are for the provision of training services and have been called down under a general Enabling Agreement for management of DFID's Technical Co-operation Training Programme.

  Indonesia
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the officials she met on her recent visit to Indonesia. [136625]

  Clare Short
  During my visit to Indonesia from 9–12 October, I held formal discussions with the following people:

  President Abdurrachman Wahid

  Lieut. Gen. (Ret.) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Co-ordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs

  Mrs. Erna Witoelar, Minister of Settlements and Regional Infrastructure

  Prof. Bungaran Saragih, Minister for Agriculture and Forestry

  Dr. Nur Mahmud Isma'il, Junior Ministry for Forestry

  Mr. Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries

  Mr. Aspar Aswin, Governor of West Kalimantan

  Mr. Gusti Samsumin, Chairman, Regional Assembly, West Kalimantan

  Mr. Mark Baird, Country Director for the World Bank

  Mr. John Dodsworth, Resident Representative the International Monetary Fund

  Mr. Jan van Heeswijk, Resident Representative of the Asian Development Bank

  In addition, I held informal discussions with a number of other Government representatives, Parliamentarians, donor representatives and representatives of civil society and other non-governmental institutions.

  Globalisation White Paper
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when her White Paper on globalisation will be published. [136624]

  Clare Short
  We are aiming to publish the White Paper before the Christmas recess.

  Communicable Diseases
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the recent EC communication on "Accelerated action targeted at major communicable diseases within the context of poverty reduction"; and what plans she has to support it. [136766]

  Clare Short
  The UK Government were closely involved in the drafting of the EC policy framework for tackling poverty and major communicable diseases which strongly reflects our own developmental priorities. The communiqué represents an international consensus and is part of the wider process of building on the commitment to achieving the international health targets. A crucial next step is the forthcoming December G8 meeting in Japan, which provides an opportunity to ensure that the international architecture required to take forward the effective global partnership to tackle infectious diseases is in place.

  Sub-Saharan Africa
  Mr. Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made in implementing the commitment increase by 50 per cent. spending on basic education, health care and clean water in sub-Saharan Africa. [137185]
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  Clare Short
  At the G7/8 Denver Summit in June 1997 my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister committed the Government to increase by 50 per cent. spending on basic education, health care and clean water in sub-Saharan Africa over the next three years.

  To fulfil this promise my Department's target was to commit at least £360 million over the three years to 1997 to 2000 compared with £240 million in the previous three years.

  We achieved this at the end of October last year. In total, we have committed £452 million; some 25 per cent. over the target.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Bishops' Palaces
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will make a statement on the future of the remaining bishops' palaces. [135369]

  Mr. Stuart Bell
  The hon. Gentleman may have in mind a report in 'The Sunday Telegraph' on 15 October, speculating on the possible recommendations of the Archbishops' Review of Bishops' Needs and Resources, chaired by Professor Anthony Mellows. That Review's report is expected early next year. We do not yet know what its recommendations will be. But we will of course pay careful heed to what it says.

  Clergy (Stipends and Pensions)
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will report on the contribution made by the Church Commissioners to clergy stipends and pensions. [135373]

  Mr. Stuart Bell
  In 1999 the Commissioners contributed £156.1 million in support of the Church's ministry, representing some 20 per cent. of the Church's overall running costs of approximately £760 million.

  That sum includes the Commissioners' expenditure of £87 million on clergy pensions and transitional relief of £17 million to help dioceses with the cost of the new funded pension scheme. It also includes £20 million paid towards the stipends of parish clergy, much of which is targeted specifically towards those dioceses most in need of financial help, and stipends paid to other clergy of nearly £7 million.

  Bibles (Ethnic Minority Languages)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what changes have taken place in the past 10 years in the Church's spending on Bibles in ethnic minority languages. [135374]

  Mr. Stuart Bell
  The Church Commissioners' expenditure is committed to the support of clergy stipends, pensions and other legal commitments. Those commitments do not stretch to the publication of bibles.

  Redundant Churches
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will make a statement on the rights of congregations to purchase churches made redundant by Church authorities. [135372]

  Mr. Stuart Bell
  I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave him on 10 July 2000,Official Report, column 369W, in which I explained that the procedure for settling the future of redundant Church of England churches gives priority to dioceses seeking and achieving suitable alternative uses. Dioceses are also encouraged to keep informed the local parochial church council who are also given the opportunity to make representations for or against the proposed use.

  Clergy (Conditions of Service)
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will make a statement on the conditions of service of the clergy. [135370]

  Mr. Stuart Bell
  Conditions of service will vary slightly from diocese to diocese but should include a stipend (based on a National Stipend Benchmark of £16,420), free accommodation (or a housing allowance), membership of a non-contributory pension scheme, and the full reimbursement of all working expenses.

  Investment
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what account the Church Commissioners take of scripture in their investment decisions. [135371]

  Mr. Stuart Bell
  The Commissioners' ethical investment policy is exercised in the context of their duty to manage their inherited assets to provide financial support for the Church of England's ministry, especially in areas of need and opportunity.

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMISSION

  Privatisation (NAO Review)
  Mr. David Heath
  To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission what discussions he has had with the Comptroller and Auditor General on the resources available to the NAO to review the effectiveness and economy of the privatisation of public assets. [135368]

  Mr. Sheldon
  Over the past 10 years the National Audit Office has published more than 50 reports on privatisations and a variety of public/private partnerships. The Public Accounts Commission last met on 18 July to consider and approve the National Audit Office's Corporate Plan for 2001–2002 and beyond. The resources to be made available to the National Audit Office will include provision to enable it to continue its work on this important area.

DEFENCE

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the size of the Territorial Army. [134414]

  Mr. Spellar
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 30 October 2000,Official Report, column 271W.

  Trafalgar Class Submarine
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the state of seaworthiness is of each Trafalgar class submarine. [134918]

  Mr. Spellar
  HMS Torbay, HMS Trenchant and HMS Talent are currently undergoing refit and repair at Devonport. The initial phase of the inspection programme for Trafalgar class submarines has shown that, of these, HMS Trenchant is clear of the defect affecting HMS Tireless, which is being prepared for repair in Gibraltar. Of the remaining submarines, HMS Trafalgar and HMS Turbulent show early signs of the defect and are alongside at Devonport. HMS Triumph has been found to be clear of the defect and will return to operational duties shortly.

  Chinese Armed Forces (UK Visits)
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the occasions during May and June on which representatives of the Chinese armed forces visited the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the(a) purpose, (b) itinerary and (c) cost to his Department of each. [134428]

  Mr. Hoon
  [holding answer 26 October 2000]: There were three visits to the United Kingdom by representatives of the Chinese armed forces in May and June this year. These were:

  1. A PLA Logistics Delegation of six officers (led by a Major-General) visited the UK between 10–12 May in order to study the logistics organisation in the UK armed forces. The delegation visited the Defence Logistics Organisation in Bath, Andover and Yeovilton, and the Defence Procurement Agency in Bristol. The costs of the visit were met by the Chinese.

  2. The PLA Air Force Command College visited the UK between 28 May-4 June in order to learn about UK defence policy, the organisation of the RAF and its concept of operations in a joint environment. The delegation consisted of eight college staff (led by a Major-General), twenty-eight students, five interpreters, and eleven aircrew. They visited the MOD in London, RAF Brize Norton, RAF High Wycombe, RAF Lossiemouth, RAF Cranwell and BAE Systems in Warton. There were also cultural visits to London and Edinburgh. The cost of the visit to the MOD was approximately £10,000.

  3. General Cao, the Head of the Chinese General Equipment Department, and an accompanying delegation of twelve officers visited the UK between 18–25 June as part of an ongoing programme of senior military visits and ministerial exchanges. The General visited the MOD in London, the Defence Procurement Agency in Bristol, the Defence Logistics Organisation in Bath, BAE Systems in Farnborough and Warton, and Racal Electronics in Crawley. There were also cultural visits to London and Scotland. The cost of the visit to the MOD was some £15,700.

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  In addition, a Chinese officer was attending the Royal College for Defence Studies course (which runs from January to December), and another officer was conducting English Language Training at the Defence School of Languages in Beaconsfield between 19 June-8 August. The cost of this training to the MOD was approximately £50,000 and £5,000 respectively.

  All of these visits were part of our wider efforts to develop a substantive defence relationship with China through regular balanced and reciprocal engagement in order to promote confidence-building and dispel mistrust.

  Defence co-operation forms a key part of the UK's overall strategy of constructive engagement with China, and improving contacts with the Chinese in all areas.

  Defence Medical Services
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many reserves there were in the Defence Medical Services in(a) the RAF, (b) the Army and (c) the Navy in (i) 1992–93, (ii) 1993–94, (iii) 1994–95, (iv) 1995–96, (v) 1996–97, (vi) 1997–98, (vii) 1998–99 and (viii) 1999–2000. [134294]

  Mr. Spellar

  [holding answer 30 October 2000]: The numbers of reservists in the Defence Medical Services for the years 1992 to 2000 are set out in the tables. They comprise members of the Volunteer Reserve Forces and the Regular Reserve Forces. The latter are ex-Regular personnel who retain a specific liability to call-out on leaving the Regular Forces. The figures do not include ex-Regular personnel who are not in a Reserve Force, but who retain a general liability to recall to the Regular Services in a serious crisis as defined in the Reserve Forces Act 1996. RAF figures are available only from 1 April 1998 as prior to this date medical and non-medical reservist manpower figures were not recorded separately.

  Volunteer Reservists

  Year

  Royal Naval Reserve

  Territorial Army

  Royal Auxiliary Air Force

  1992

  370

  6,125

  —

  1993

  340

  5,955

  —

  1994

  233

  5,355

  —

  1995

  328

  5,086

  —

  1996

  278

  4,758

  —

  1997

  256

  4,475

  —

  1998

  275

  4,434

  182

  1999

  276

  4,223

  231

  2000

  289

  4,395

  233

  Note:

  Figures are as at 1 April except for the Territorial Army for 1992 and 1993. The Territorial Army figure for 1992 is as at 1 May 1992 and for 1993 includes officers as at 1 March 1993.

  Regular Reservists

  Year

  Royal Fleet Reserve

  Army Reserve

  Air Force Reserve

  1992

  —

  2,445

  —

  1993

  —

  2,196

  —

  1994

  —

  2,175

  —

  1995

  —

  2,132

  —

  1996

  —

  2,092

  —

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  Regular Reservists

  Year

  Royal Fleet Reserve

  Army Reserve

  Air Force Reserve

  1997

  101

  2,054

  —

  1998

  112

  1,917

  609

  1999

  92

  1,777

  564

  2000

  67

  1,699

  559

  Notes:

  1. Royal Fleet Reserve figures are as at 1 January. The figures comprise non-commissioned personnel only as figures for officers are not available and no figures are available prior to 1 January 1997.

  2. Army Reserve figures are as at 1 April except for 1992 and 1993. The Army Reserve figure for 1992 is at 1 May 1992 and for 1993 includes officers as at 1 March 1993.

  3. Air Force Reserve figures are as at 1 April.

  Research Projects
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how long his Department has given to BAE Systems RO Defence and Thomson Racal Defence to complete the radar counterstealth research; what response each company has made to the deadline; and if he will make a statement; [135702]

  (2) how many industry proposals to conduct three-year research projects into the new innovative radar counterstealth technologies his Department is reviewing; what is the estimated cost of each proposal; and if he will make a statement; [135748]

  (3) what targets his Department has set for Category B work to be undertaken for the purpose of inventive research; what percentage of the research budget is allotted for such research; what this represents in cash terms; and if he will make a statement; [135714]

  (4) if (a) BAE Systems RO Defence, (b) Thomson Racal Defence and (c) the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency have responded to his Department's mandates for three-year research projects; and if he will make a statement; [135713]

  (5) what assessment he has made of the impact of radar counterstealth technology on the exploitation of the stealth technology currently in use; if use of radar counterstealth technology will increase the ability to avoid detection; and if he will make a statement. [135753]

  Dr. Moonie
  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Ship War Graves
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps the Government have taken to protect war graves of the HMS Repulse and HMS Prince of Wales; what further action is planned; what co-operation is taking place between the Governments of Malaysia and Singapore and the United Kingdom on this matter; and if he will make a statement. [135882]

  Dr. Moonie
  As I informed the House on 1 November 2000,Official Report, columns 243–50WH, my officials in both Malaysia and Singapore have made representations to officials within the respective governments. Both Malaysian and Singapore Navies have
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  been asked to keep my officials informed of reports of intrusive diving or salvage and to inform us of any untoward activity in the area of the wrecks.

  Furthermore, I am mindful that although designation of HMS Repulse and HMS Prince of Wales may not present the degree of protection that is sought for these vessels, that designation would provide evidence of the wrecks' status and this Government's commitment to honour its war dead. For this reason I have asked my officials to look again at detailing what designation will entail and what it will provide and whether this can be linked effectively to ensure better protection. I will write to the hon. Member when this work is complete.

  Naval Fire Support
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what percentage of the total cost(a) his Department, (b) BAE Systems RO Defence, and (c) the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency will pay to fund the study to assess future naval fire-support requirements for the Royal Navy; and if he will make a statement; [135745]

  (2) how much time his Department, BAE Systems, and DERA have allotted for the fire-support requirements study; what percentage of the time frame will be dedicated to the development programme of the 155 mm naval gun; and if he will make a statement. [136000]

  Dr. Moonie
  Although some preliminary MOD funded studies are being conducted, we have yet to define a programme to assess future naval fire support requirements. A number of studies will be necessary ranging from operational analysis to technology research. Until this is done, it is not possible to estimate the scope or cost of the work. One study is about to start to examine the technical options for naval variants of the 155 mm artillery gun, one potential approach to meeting our requirement, and this has a 50/50 funding split between MOD and BAE Systems.

  Naval Equipment
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what estimate he has made of the cost of development and subsequent production of the 155 mm naval gun; and if he will make a statement; [135747]

  (2) what is the (a) timescale and (b) cost of retrofitting (i) Type 45 destroyers and (ii) new Type 45 destroyers with the new naval 155 mm gun; and if he will make a statement; [135989]

  (3) what (a) cost and (b) performance advantages the 155 mm naval gun to be deployed on the type 45 destroyer will have over the mk 8 mod I gun now deployed; and if he will make a statement; [135997]

  (4) how the development programme for construction of the 155 mm naval gun will ensure it is capable of unloading 20 rounds per minute; and if he will make a statement. [136003]

  Dr. Moonie
  The Type 45 Destroyer is being designed to allow the incremental incorporation of additional capabilities through life, to meet changing defence needs and to take advantage of technological developments. Some work is currently underway to consider what additional capabilities (including, potentially, enhanced
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  naval fire support) we may need in the future but until it has been completed it would be inappropriate to prejudge its outcome. It is not therefore possible to estimate the value for money of a 155 mm gun or other potential solutions for Naval Fire Support for the Type 45.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress he has made in developing the new extended-range guided munitions for use in land-based 155 mm artillery; what has been the cost to date of the development and production of ERGMs for the(a) land-based and (b) naval 155 mm gun; and if he will make a statement. [135999]

  Dr. Moonie
  The Extended Range Guided Munitions programme is a specific US Naval project in which my Department has no direct involvement. The nearest UK equivalent programme is the Low Cost Guided Munition (LCGM) Research Programme. This is a research programme to develop new technologies and assess their application to land and maritime systems.

  Nuclear Submarines (Gibraltar)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action his Department took to upgrade the Port of Gibraltar from category Z to category X for servicing nuclear submarines; and if he will make a statement. [136153]

  Mr. Spellar
  The category Z berth in Gibraltar Naval Base has not been upgraded to a category X berth.

  To undertake the specific repair to the reactor coolant system of HMS Tireless, the Z berth in Gibraltar has been enhanced to the standard necessary to obtain approval from the regulatory authority to undertake the repair.

  This included enhancing the management organisation in Gibraltar and providing the additional equipment needed for the repair. This equipment will be removed when the repair is completed. The temporary enhancement to the Z berth occupied by HMS Tireless does not involve structural work and there are no changes required to the existing emergency planning arrangements.

  Joint Helicopter Command
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will implement joint flying rules for all three services in the Joint Helicopter Command; and if he will make a statement. [134308]

  Mr. Spellar

  [holding answer 2 November 2000]: Joint Flying Regulations have been in place for some time for all Service aircrew, including those in the Joint Helicopter Command although each of the three services retain individual regulations specific to their aircraft type and role. A review of regulations applying to military flying operations is currently under way and this work is due to be completed by January 2003. Other work, in parallel to the study, is being carried out to identify the areas where joint regulations need to be expanded.

  Lynx Helicopters
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Lynx helicopters are available for operational duty in(a) the Royal Navy, (b) the Army and (c) the RAF;
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  for each service how many of those are flying beyond the 500-hour deep-servicing requirement; and if he will make a statement. [134298]

  Mr. Spellar

  [holding answer 2 November 2000]: On 26 October, the Army had 39 fully serviceable Lynx aircraft in units. As at 24 October, the Royal Navy had 17 Lynx aircraft allocated to current operational duty and a further 21 aircraft are carrying out training and support activity and could be made available for operations although at penalty to their primary activity. The RAF does not have any Lynx helicopters.

  'Deep' scheduled maintenance for Army Lynx aircraft is every 800 and 2,400 flying hours. The Royal Navy does not carry out block maintenance. Scheduled maintenance of Royal Navy Lynx aircraft is carried out on a rolling calendar basis throughout the life of the aircraft. Currently no Lynx aircraft is operating beyond authorised maintenance limits.

  Kosovo
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the relative contribution to the outcome of the conflict in Kosovo of(a) air power and (b) other factors. [136254]

  Mr. Spellar
  The success of the air operations, although a critical element, is unlikely to have been the sole reason why Milosevic eventually agreed to the international community's demands. Although it is certain to have had a substantial effect, we believe that it was the cumulative effects of international pressure on all fronts, diplomatic, economic (trade and financial) and military, that achieved the aims of the international community.

  Theatre Wide Area Communications System
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which British companies were asked to tender for the vehicle for the Theatre Wide Area Communications System; and if he will make a statement. [136784]

  Dr. Moonie
  Our procurement strategy has been to seek a prime contractor for the entire Theatre Wide Area Communications Network for the Joint Rapid Reaction Force. The two competing companies (Nortel Networks Global Professional Services (Defence) and Thomson Racal Defence) for the prime contract were invited to propose the most suitable means, including communications equipments and vehicles, to meet the capability requirement. My Department has therefore not sought any tenders directly for vehicles to meet this requirement.

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the expected cost is for of the(a) Theatre Wide Area Communications System and (b) the vehicle to be used for the system; and if he will make a statement. [136788]

  Dr. Moonie
  In the absence of the selection of a preferred contractor and finalisation of negotiations, a firm figure is not available, but we expect the cost of the Theatre Wide Area Communications Network manufacture contract, including vehicles and the first three years support, to be around £120 million.
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  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Bucher-Guyer Duro vehicle is used by(a) British and (b) NATO forces; and if he will make a statement. [136786]

  Dr. Moonie
  The Bucher-Guyer Duro vehicle is not currently used by British forces. I understand a total of some 3,500 of these vehicles are in service with the armed forces of Belgium, Switzerland and Malaysia.

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the Bucher-Guyer Duro vehicle for use with the Theatre Wide Area Communications System; and if he will make a statement. [136782]

  Dr. Moonie
  Against the overall capability sought for the Theatre Wide Area Communications Network (TWACN) for the Joint Rapid Reaction Force the Bucher-Guyer Duro vehicle has been proposed as the most suitable vehicle by both companies competing for the prime contract. Assessment continues of both companies' offers for TWACN, including the vehicles, against the capability sought.

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what specification of vehicle was prepared for the Theatre Wide Area Communications System; and if he will make a statement. [136785]

  Dr. Moonie
  The requirement sought from industry was in the form of the capability required for the entire Theatre Wide Area Communications Network (TWACN) for the Joint Rapid Reaction Force (JRRF). In broad terms this included a requirement for a vehicle capable of being deployed, including by air, and used in accordance with the needs of the JRRF. The detailed requirements applicable to the vehicle are classified and I am withholding them under paragraph la of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what tests the Bucher-Guyer Duro vehicle has undergone for use in the British Army; and if he will make a statement. [136787]

  Dr. Moonie
  The Bucher-Guyer Duro has been subjected to date to a range of tests including airportability; human factors integration; Theatre Wide Area Communications Network box body fit and integration with the Duro chassis; and, initial recovery assessment. We have received copies of reliability trials reports from both the Swiss Ministry of Defence and from Germany, plus a technical evaluation report from the Czech Republic. UK type approval from the Vehicle Certification Agency has been confirmed.

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when contracts will be placed for the Theatre Wide Area Communications System; and if he will make a statement. [136783]

  Dr. Moonie
  We expect to place the prime contract for the entire Theatre Wide Area Communications Network for the Joint Rapid Reaction Force by the end of December 2000, subject to the satisfactory outcome of final contract negotiations with the preferred contractor, a decision on which is expected to be taken around the middle of November.

  Lee Clegg
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what grounds he decided that Lee Clegg could be paid retrospectively for loss of salary while in prison; and by what contractual arrangement he was required to make such a payment. [134885]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Army Pay Warrant (1964) directs the terms under which Army personnel are paid. In accordance with this Royal Warrant, pay was forfeited for the period of imprisonment awarded to Corporal (Cpl) Clegg. Following successful appeals, Cpl Clegg's convictions were quashed. As a result Cpl Clegg has no convictions against his name, and there are no regulations to prohibit the award of the pay that had been previously withheld.

  Force Research Unit
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the costs were of his attempts to prevent the Sunday People publishing articles concerning the activities of the Force Research Unit and allegations of collusion and loyalist paramilitaries. [134886]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Ministry of Defence's costs for this case are currently estimated at approximately £28,000. The Sunday People is paying its own costs.

  The Ministry of Defence made an application to the Court because there was good reason to believe that the Sunday People intended to print information that could put lives at risk and damage national security.

  The Court made Orders (agreed between the newspaper and MOD) on 13 October which include provisions preventing the newspaper publishing certain information of that kind.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Portcullis House (Refreshment Facilities)
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee when the Refreshment Department's facilities in Portcullis House will be available for use by hon. Members and staff. [136289]

  Mr. Dennis Turner
  I fully understand the disappointment of hon. Members who had expected to be able to make use of refreshment facilities in Portcullis House as soon as the offices were ready for occupation.

  I am pleased to advise the hon. Member that "the debate" self-service restaurant and "the adjournment" brasserie on the ground floor of Portcullis House are expected to be handed over to the Refreshment Department on Monday 6 November. Thereafter. the Refreshment Department will require a period of three to four weeks to move their equipment and produce onto the site, complete staff training and conduct trial runs for the restaurant facilities.

  It is also expected that the first floor areas will be handed over to the Refreshment Department on Monday, in which case services to the meeting and conference rooms will be able to commence within the next two weeks.
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  The Director of Catering Services has advised me that she hopes to be in a position to open full services in time for the State Opening of Parliament on Wednesday 6 December, but that bookings for "the adjournment" or the supply of refreshments to the first floor meeting rooms cannot be made until the premises have been formally handed over the Refreshment Department.

  The coffee bar to be positioned in the covered courtyard will not be in place until early in the New Year.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Gas Supplies
  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will discuss with the suppliers of gas to industry measures to offset major price increases of gas in the near future, which will have an effect on manufacturing industry; and if he will make a statement. [135264]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Since the spring, the wholesale price of gas has risen sharply and this has had an effect on many industrial and commercial customers, especially those who have contracts tied to the spot price. The main reason for this rise has been increased trade across the GB-Belgium interconnector reflecting high oil-related gas prices, particularly in north-west Europe.

  The Government are concerned about this rise. Work is already in hand to boost liberalisation and competition in Europe and thus break the link between gas and oil prices which keeps European prices higher than would otherwise generally be the case. This is the most effective long-term means of ensuring the competitive gas prices industry seeks. However, it is likely to take some time.

  Meanwhile, the Government are already in dialogue with participants in the industry about the gas price rise and this is being intensified. However, it is not the role of the Government to influence the prices charged by individual companies.

  Pensions (Post Offices)
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements have been put in place to ensure that those who choose to draw pensions in cash will continue to be able to do so at post offices. [135866]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The Government are committed to ensuring that all state benefit and pensions recipients who wish to do so will continue to be able to access their benefits in cash in full, at a post office counter both before and after the changeover to payment of benefits by automated credit transfer. The Post Office and the banks are currently discussing arrangements for the provision of Universal Banking services at post offices to facilitate this.

  Job Losses (Electronics Industry)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received on his industrial policy for the electronics industry in relation to job losses announced by Panasonic and Sony in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [135650]
  14W
  Dr. Howells

  [holding answer 30 October 2000]: I have not received any representations from the electronics industry in relation to the recent announcements by Panasonic and Sony.

  With the transfer of devolved powers to the National Assembly for Wales, such representations would be referred to them.

  Of course, I very much regret the job losses. The NAW is working closely with local partners and the Department for Education and Employment to provide assistance to those affected.

  Michael German (National Assembly Deputy First Minister) and David Rowe Beddoe (Chairman of the Welsh Development Agency) met with senior managers from Panasonic on 27 October 2000 and Mr. German attended the meeting of the Welsh Electronics Forum on 31 October 2000. The Forum has established a special taskforce to deal with the after effects of job losses in the consumer electronics sector in Wales which will meet in the very near future.

  The Government were alerted to the announcements prior to their publication on a confidential basis. Such decisions are ultimately commercial ones for the companies to take themselves to ensure their long term future. It is not the Government's policy to intervene in such decisions. In such a competitive sector as consumer electronics where companies operate on a global scale, costs are under constant review. It would be surprising, and rather worrying, if companies did not feel the need to re-assess and re-structure their operations from time to time.

  Both companies are still employing around 3,000 people in Wales between them and are committed to continuing their presence in Wales. Both are hoping to bring new higher value, more sophisticated production to their Welsh plants in the near future, and are investing heavily in their research and development facilities in Wales. This demonstrates the confidence that both companies have in the UK.

  The best contribution that the Government can make is to secure long term economic stability based on low inflation and sound public finances. This will allow business to invest and plan ahead with confidence.

  Shipbuilding Communities Campaign
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the proposed establishment of a shipbuilding communities campaign modelled on the Coalfields Campaign. [136555]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  We have received no representations about such a proposal. However, as my hon. Friend is no doubt aware, we already have a very active and successful group for addressing the industry's concern, i.e. the Shipbuilding Forum. The Forum—which brings together industry, Government and the unions—has played a very constructive role in producing pragmatic solutions to the industry's concerns over the past two and a half years.

  Dounreay
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will announce his decision on managing PFR fuels at Dounreay. [136104]

  Mrs. Liddell

  [holding answer 2 November 2000]: A public consultation was undertaken as part of this decision-making process. This raised a number of very different points of view. It has taken longer than expected to assess these. A decision will be announced as soon as this assessment is complete.

  Ex-Miners
  Dan Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what plans he has to improve access for ex-miners in Somerset to the Medical Assessment Process from a centre nearer to the area; [136459]

  (2) what provision has been made to enable ex-miners in Somerset to access the Medical Assessment Process from a test centre in Bristol. [136460]

  Mrs. Liddell
  There are currently 321 registered claims in the Somerset area. To date, Healthcall has received 79 completed sets of claims documentation—including claims questionnaires; financial and other losses questionnaires; and the Mandates required to access claimants medical records. Of these, 11 have been tested, and Healthcall is searching for the medical records of the remaining 68 cases.

  Healthcall currently has premises in Bristol that originally accommodated a set of COPD testing equipment. Due to the current lack of claimants ready to test in the Somerset area with completed claims documentation, this set of equipment was moved to meet demand in the South Wales area. The Bristol centre will be re-opened shortly to accommodate the claimants in the surrounding area.

  Healthcall is currently considering establishing a centre nearer to the bulk of the claimants in the Somerset areas.

  New Businesses in Rural Areas
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the number of new businesses established in rural areas in each of the last five years. [136629]

  Dr. Howells
  When providing assistance to businesses, the Small Business Service (SBS) has historically recorded only the size of the business helped. Age of the business is not reported.

  Information on assistance given to farmers by Business Links is being collected this year as a result of the recent introduction of the Farm Business Advice Service. This is one of the measures introduced this year to help farming and horticultural industries within the Government's Action Plan for Farming announced this year on 30 March.

  Information on the number of farmers receiving assistance under these measures is not expected to be available until February 2001 as the initiative was introduced only in September.

  Employment Tribunal Compensation Awards
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many companies were established in each of the last three years whose directors have employment tribunal compensation awards against them in respect of their actions as directors of previously liquidated companies. [135331]

  Dr. Howells
  It is not possible to provide an answer to this question without incurring disproportionate cost. There is no requirement for this information to be submitted on the part of directors of newly incorporated companies under the Companies Acts; and Companies House has no ready way of correlating information on directors with such information as might be abstracted from employment tribunal records about the defined sub-set of former directors.

  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many cases have been recorded of companies failing to make payments awarded by employment tribunals due to the company having been liquidated, in each of the last three years. [135332]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  Enforcement of Employment Tribunal awards is generally a matter for the county courts, though where an employer is insolvent, payment of a limited range of awards may be made from the National Insurance Fund.

  Records are not kept of the total number of Tribunal awards unpaid because of an employer's insolvency.

  National Minimum Wage
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the number of employers in breach of regulations relating to the national minimum wage during 1999–2000. [135330]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The independent Low Pay Commission monitored the impact of the national minimum wage in the Second Report published earlier this year. They reported that the early indications were that the vast majority of businesses are meeting their obligations to pay the national minimum wage.

  Bank Closures
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what impact he estimates the creation of the Universal Bank will have on the rate of bank branch closures. [136927]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  No such estimate has been made. However, proposals for the provision of Universal Banking services through the post office network, which the Post Office and the banks are currently developing, will substantially increase the volume of banking activity at post offices and will restore banking services to many areas where bank branches have closed.

  Oil and Gas Exploration
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to review the inspection mechanism under which licences are granted in the UK continental shelf for oil and gas exploration, where no development has taken place. [136308]
  17W
  Mrs. Liddell
  Fallow blocks and fallow discoveries are monitored on a regular basis.

  One of the results of the most recent fallow initiative, which was concluded in July, is that 18 previously fallow discoveries are to be developed. In addition, PILOT's Undeveloped Discoveries Workgroup has identified six areas on the UK Continental Shelf where the licensees involved are being urged to find innovative ways of working together, with the hope that at least three additional projects will have plans for development by mid-2001.

  Further steps will be taken as necessary to ensure the timely development of the UK's petroleum resources.

  Mission Status Review
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in achieving the statement of business principles as set out in the Department's mission status review; and whether he expects the deadline to be met. [136767]

  Mr. Caborn
  ECGD has posted a draft statement of Business Principles on its website www.ecgd.gov.uk and sought comments from interested parties as part of the consultation process. ECGD is on schedule to publish its statement of Business Principles by the end of this year.

  Copies of the draft statement have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Export Credit Agencies
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts concerning the reform of export credits agencies. [136768]

  Mr. Caborn
  I have not held direct discussion with my EU counterparts on the reform of export credit agencies. However I attach great importance to the various initiatives ECGD is actively pursuing in the international forum at the OECD aimed at improving standards and disciplines applied by export credit agencies in project impact assessments, and in the areas of the environment, bribery and productive expenditure.

  These initiatives are in line with the outcome of the recent Review of ECGD's Mission and Status announced in Parliament by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 25 July, 2000 Official Report, columns 520–21.

  I wrote to the OECD Secretary General following the publication of ECGD's Mission and Status Report to urge support for multilateral agreement in the OECD that others adopt similar principles.

  Post Offices
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the Government defines as a rural post office. [136681]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The Government definition of a rural post office is one located in a community of up to 10,000 inhabitants.

  Postal Services Commission
  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will announce the membership of the Postal Services Commission. [125067]

  Mr. Byers

  [pursuant to my reply, 6 June 2000, c. 186W]: The Postal Services Commission has today become a statutory body created under the Postal Services Act 2000.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Waste Management
  Mr. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance he will issue to the Mayor of London on the exercise of his development control powers in relation to waste management developments with a capacity of more than 50,000 tonnes per annum; and if he will publish such guidance. [134056]

  Mr. Meacher

  [holding answer 23 October 2000]: GOL Circular 1/2000 "Strategic Planning in London" published in June 2000, provides advice and guidance for the Mayor and London Boroughs on their responsibilities for strategic planning. The circular includes guidance on the relationship between the Borough's Unitary Development Plans, the Mayor's spatial development strategy and municipal waste management strategy, and the Mayor's role in decisions on planning applications. The circular also requires that the spatial development strategy should take account of Planning Policy Guidance Note 10—Planning and Waste Management, which provides advice on providing new waste management facilities consistent with sustainable development.

  Furthermore, in preparing the Municipal Waste Management Strategy the Mayor shall have regard to the National Waste Strategy (Waste Strategy 2000, CM 4693). We therefore have no plans to offer the Mayor further guidance on the exercise of his development control powers in relation to waste management facilities.

  Whistleblowers
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what procedures exist in his Department for a civil servant to report an action which(a) is illegal, improper or unethical, (b) is in breach of constitutional convention or a professional code, (c) may involve possible maladministration and (d) is otherwise inconsistent with the Civil Service Code. [134461]

  Mr. Hill
  Civil servants working in DETR have, at any time, the statutory right to express concerns under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998. Moreover, DETR employees also have a contractual obligation to report alleged breaches of the Civil Service Code in accordance with the procedures set out in the DETR Staff Handbook. The procedures require individuals, in the first instance, to approach a senior line manager and to ensure that evidence of criminal or unlawful activities by others are reported to the appropriate authorities. If the individual considers this to be inappropriate or they wish to take the
  19W
  matter further, they have the right to make a formal report to the Director of Human Resources, or other designated senior officer. It will always be assumed that the individual has made the report in good faith. A formal response will advise the individual that they have further rights to submit a written appeal to the Permanent Secretary and a further appeal to the Civil Service Commissioners.

  Water Conservation
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what initiatives he is pursuing to encourage water conservation. [135230]

  Mr. Meacher
  My Department is pursuing a number of initiatives to promote water conservation across a wide range of end users. Our 'Are You Doing Your Bit' campaign is encouraging individuals to make lifestyle changes to conserve water and to benefit the environment. Also, from 1 January 2001, the maximum flush volume of all new WCs will be reduced by 20 per cent. due to measures introduced by the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999. To help businesses reduce their environmental impact and improve their competitiveness the Environmental Technology Best Practice Programme provides information and best practice advice on efficient water use. My Department is also working closely with the Environment Agency and the Buying Agency on projects to reduce water use in schools and other public sector buildings.

  We are also taking steps in the Water Bill to prevent damaging over-abstraction.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what initiatives he is pursuing to promote energy efficiency in(a) the business environment and (b) the home. [135233]

  Mr. Meacher
  For business, we are introducing the Climate Change Levy and a new system of Enhanced Capital Allowances for energy saving products. We are continuing to support the Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme and are also creating a new body (the Carbon Trust) with a specific brief to help business move towards an energy efficient economy.

  To promote energy efficiency in the home, my Department funds the Energy Saving Trust. The Trust runs a series of programmes which aim to improve awareness of energy efficiency, provide information and advice and to work with the market to develop and market energy efficient goods and services in the domestic and small business sectors.

  My Department also funds the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme, which provides comprehensive packages of heating and insulation improvements for the homes of those households who are most at risk from cold-related ill health—the elderly and families on low income and the disabled or chronically sick.

  In March this year my Department issued consultation proposals for a new and extended programme of Energy Efficiency Standards of Performance to run from 2002–05. These standards, to be set by Government, will require gas and electricity suppliers to encourage and
  20W
  assist consumers to make energy savings. Like earlier programmes, the new scheme will focus strongly on low-income groups, helping the Government's attack on fuel poverty. Provisional conclusions on the level and format of the scheme will be issued shortly.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what initiatives he has taken to promote Energy Efficiency Week. [135440]

  Mr. Meacher
  Energy Efficiency Week is part of the Energy Efficiency campaign run by the Energy Saving Trust, and funded by my Department. Activities during the week included the launch of a television and radio advertising campaign, a new energy efficiency website and the energy efficiency recommended logo. Events were staged on a national and regional level, with activities taking place around the country to promote the energy efficiency message to consumers.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many people on low incomes living in private sector homes in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) Devon have had energy efficiency measures implemented and central heating and security devices installed in their homes as part of the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme; and how many are waiting for such work to be carried out; [135930]

  (2) if he will make a statement on progress on the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme, with particular reference to the rate of installation of (a) loft insulation, (b) cavity wall insulation, (c) draught-proofing, (d) efficient central heating, (d) door and window locks, (e) spy holes and (f) smoke alarms; and what steps he is taking to ensure hot water and central heating work are given priority before the onset of winter. [136027]

  Mr. Meacher

  [holding answer 2 November 2000]: The new Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) for England was launched on 1 June 2000. It replaced a more basic scheme that had operated since 1991, providing low income and disabled households with a single insulation improvement such as window and door draught-proofing.

  New HEES provides packages of insulation and heating measures, linked to the condition of the property and the type of householder. To provide these packages the grant maximum has been raised from the previous £315 to up to £2,000 in the case of low-income households aged 60 years or more. The latter may also receive a package of basic security measures, funded through the Home Office 'Locks for Pensioners' initiative, if they live in an area experiencing above the national average burglary rate for England.

  The scheme is managed by two regional scheme managers. They are responsible for marketing the scheme and surveying homes to identify the improvements required. Once these are agreed with the householder, a works order is placed with local contractors.

  The table sets out the number of households that have had work completed and those where orders have been, or are about to be, placed. Due to the package approach taken, it is not possible to break down the individual insulation and security measures that will be provided to households.
  21W

  Type of measure

  Number of households in England (of which in Devon) where work has been completed and invoices received

  Number of households in England (of which in Devon) where work orders issued to contractors
  1

  Number of households in England (of which in Devon) where work orders yet to be issued to installers

  Insulation and security measures

  21,960 (571)

  42,054 (982)

  1,007 (0)

  Installation of new central heating system and insulation

  663 (1)

  9,287 (472)

  2,968 (19)

  Repair to broken central heating system

  1,290 (0)

  8,126 (186)

  425 (15)

  1 Due to the one to three week delay between the completion of the work and the issue of invoices by contractors it is likely that work has already been completed in some of these households.

  In addition to those shown above, there are a further 5,200 properties (of which 132 are in Devon) where permission is awaited from private landlords or owner occupiers for the work to be carried out.

  After a slow start on the summer, insulation measures are now being installed within four to six weeks from the date of survey.

  The national shortage of qualified heating engineers has severely affected the rate at which central heating systems are being repaired or installed. Devon is one of the areas most affected, with the shortage reflected in labour costs which are up to 20 per cent. higher than elsewhere in the country.

  We are working with the heating industry to address this shortage of trained engineers. In addition, as part of its Affordable Warmth Programme, Transco has also allocated some £10 million towards the training of energy efficiency professionals, including new heating engineers. In the meantime, additional contractors are being sought, and it is expected that the backlog on repairs should be cleared by the end of the year. However some delays in the installation of new heating systems are likely to continue until additional engineers become available.

  As energy efficiency is a devolved matter, it is the responsibility of the respective Parliament and Assemblies to comment on the situation in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

  Concessionary Fares
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects consultations upon concessionary fares for bus travel to be completed. [135741]

  Mr. Hill

  [holding answer 31 October 2000]: We issued last December a consultation paper on the implementation of the statutory minimum concessionary fares commitment. The consultation is now complete, and is being taken into account in consideration of implementation of the provisions in the Transport Bill, which is at present before Parliament.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which local authorities operate a concessionary fare travel scheme for senior citizens that are not part of a Passenger Transport Authority; and if he expects these schemes to continue when the Government scheme for half fare travel is introduced. [135214]

  Mr. Hill
  Most local authorities outside Passenger Transport Authorities operate a concessionary travel scheme for senior citizens. The Transport Bill, which is at present before Parliament, provides for a statutory 22W
  minimum local authority scheme which will ensure travel for pensioners on local buses at half fare or better, with a free bus pass. Any existing schemes which do not meet that standard will need to be improved; there are no requirements for other schemes to be changed.

  Car Ownership
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the principal elements in the cost of car ownership in(a) 1970, (b) 1980, (c) 1990 and (d) the latest date for which figures are available, indicating in each year the percentage of these costs of average earnings. [135407]

  Mr. Hill
  The principal elements in the costs of car ownership are set out in the table with a baseline figure of 100 for 1970. A similar index for average earnings is included and all figures are adjusted for overall inflation:

  1970

  1980

  1990

  1999

  All motoring expenditure:

  100

  103

  90

  100

  of which:

  Motor vehicle purchase:

  100

  98

  77

  67

  Maintenance:

  100

  120

  124

  149

  Petrol and oil:

  100

  112

  92

  122

  Tax and insurance:

  100

  71

  83

  113

  Average earnings:

  100

  119

  150

  174

  The information on changing costs comes from the Retail Prices Index, which monitors price changes over time for a standard collection of goods and services. Average earnings data are collected at April each year by means of a survey and represent the gross pay of adults working full-time whose pay is unaffected by absence. All figures are for Great Britain.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what have been the changes in the costs of(a) private car ownership, (b) rail travel and (c) bus travel since 1970. [135396]

  Mr. Hill
  Information on relative price changes is collected by the Office for National Statistics for use in the Retail Prices Index (RPI). The DETR also collects specific information on changes to average bus fares. Setting indices to a base figure of 100 in 1970 changes, without allowing for inflation, are as follows:

  1970

  1999

  Motoring costs

  100

  877

  Train fares

  100

  1,663

  Bus fares

  100

  1,483

  Overall RPI

  100

  880

  Emissions
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the(a) amount and (b) percentage was of (i) carbon dioxide and (ii) nitrogen oxide emissions in (1) 1970, (2) 1980, (3) 1990 and (4) the last year for which figures are available in the road transport sector. [135409]

  Mr. Hill
  Official estimates of the annual emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions in the UK since 1970 are contained in my Department's National Atmospheric Emission Inventory. The table shows road transport's contribution to national emissions of carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides by source category in 1970, 1980, 1990 and 1998. 1998 is the last year official data are currently available.

  1970

  1980

  1990

  1998

  CO2 emissions from road transport

  Ktonnes1

  16,299

  21,221

  29,776

  31,529

  Percentage of total UK emissions

  8.8

  12.9

  18.7

  21.2

  NOx emissions from road transport

  Ktonnes

  769

  989

  1,328

  799

  Percentage of total UK emissions

  30.8

  38.2

  47.6

  45.6

  1 As carbon

  Road Resurfacing
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when information and advice from the Highways Agency will be available on the priorities for resurfacing concrete roads up to 2010. [136012]

  Mr. Hill
  Information on the initial priorities for resurfacing concrete roads will be available next spring after the Highways Agency has obtained and considered the views of local authorities on the approach they propose for prioritising the work.

  Tyre Safety
  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what investigations he has instigated to ascertain the safety of Firestone tyres fitted to Ford Explorer vehicles imported from the United States of America. [135842]

  Mr. Hill

  [holding answer 31 October 2000]: There is a possibility that under certain circumstances and operating conditions that tread separation and rapid tyre deflation may occur in the case of Firestone P235/75 R 15 Radial ATX, ATX11 and Wilderness AT—all "S" rated tyres fitted to Ford Explorer vehicles.

  The Secretary of State's power in this respect is limited to checking compliance on the part of Bridgestone/Firestone UK Ltd. with the voluntary Code of Practice on the recall of tyres drawn up by the Department and the Tyre Industry Council.

  Vehicle Inspectorate Vehicle Safety Branch is satisfied that the company has taken the appropriate action in recalling Firestone P235/75 R 15 Radial ATX, ATX11 and Wilderness AT—all "S" rated—tyres fitted to Ford
  24W
  Explorer vehicles. In accordance with the terms of the Code, this action has been registered with the Vehicle Inspectorate.

  Road Deaths
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people were killed in road accidents in(a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999 in Devon; and how many of these were children. [135814]

  Mr. Hill

  [holding answer 1 November 2000]: The number of children and adults killed in road accidents in Devon for the years 1997–1999 are shown in the table:

  Fatalities in Devon, by age: 1997–1999

  Casualties

  Year

  Child
  1

  Adult

  All

  1997

  4

  52

  56

  1998

  4

  49

  53

  1999

  2

  46

  48

  Total

  10

  147

  157

  1 Aged 0 to 15

  Rail Vehicle Accessibility
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if there is an exemption order for the fleet of new Class 170/3 trains to be introduced into service by South West Trains Ltd. in respect of the provisions of the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 1998; and if he will make a statement. [137186]

  Mr. Hill
  We have received an application from South West Trains Ltd. relating to the new Class 170/3 trains they wish to introduce into service. The exemptions have been discussed with our statutory advisers, the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee. An exemption Order relating to the exemption of these trains was laid before Parliament on 3 November 2000. Copies are available from the Library.

  Further applications for exemption from certain aspects of the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 1998 have also been received from Gatwick Express for their Class 460 vehicles, Chiltern Railways Ltd. for their Class 168/1 vehicles and South West Trains in relation to their Class 458 vehicles. The exemptions sought were also discussed with the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee. The exemption Order relating to the Gatwick Express vehicles was laid before Parliament on 1 September 2000 while the Orders relating to the Chiltern Railways and South West Trains vehicles were both laid before Parliament on 8 September 2000.

  The exemptions will not prevent disabled people from using the new trains. Indeed, we believe that their introduction will make a significant contribution to improving mobility opportunities for disabled people.

  Transport (Disabled Access)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent representations he has received concerning the introduction of legislation to improve access to transport
  25W
  for disabled people; what has been his response; what proposals he has to improve access for disabled people; and if he will make a statement. [137005]

  Mr. Hill
  The Department has held widespread consultations with disability organisations and with the transport industries in the course of developing proposals to implement the transport provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

  Regulations have been in place since the end of 1998 to require all new trains to meet detailed technical standards to guarantee accessibility. In the order of 250 trains in service are already DDA compliant. Regulations setting similar standards for buses used on local or scheduled services are also in place and will take effect from 31 December this year. A package of measures to introduce access requirements for licensed taxis is being finalised and will be subject to further consultation.

  In addition, we are also considering the recommendations of the Disability Rights Task Force as they relate to transport and I hope to make a statement in response to the recommendations shortly.

  Render Plants
  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what powers he has(a) to deal with the problem of smell from animal render plants and (b) to ensure that regulations are enforced by local authorities. [136438]

  Mr. Meacher
  Animal rendering plants are regulated under the air pollution control regime established by Part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Regulation is transferring to the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999 over a transitional period.

  In accordance with the 1990 Act, rendering plant must be authorised and regulators must include in authorisations conditions aimed at ensuring the use of the Best Available Techniques Not Entailing Excessive Cost (BATNEEC) to prevent, minimise and render harmless emissions. "Harm" is defined in the Act as including offence to the senses and hence local authorities must address any odour issues. The statutory guidance issued to regulators concerning BATNEEC for animal rendering plant focuses especially on the odour issue and we updated and strengthened the guidance earlier this year.

  The 1990 Act gives regulatory responsibility for animal rendering plant to local authorities. It additionally provides the Secretary of State with a number of reserve powers which could be exercised in the event of regulatory failings. These include the power to direct what conditions should be imposed in a given case, to direct whether an enforcement notice should be served or whether an authorisation should be revoked, to direct that regulatory responsibility be transferred to the Environment Agency, and to direct that an application for authorisation be referred to him for determination.

  Drink Driving
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what research he has evaluated as to the age groups most prone to drinking and driving; and if he will make a statement; [136505]
  26W
  (2) what research he has commissioned on the best ways to discourage drinking and driving; [136511]

  Mr. Hill
  The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions has commissioned a wide-ranging programme of research into drinking and driving. This research has included trends in drinking and driving, and characteristics of drink drive offenders, including the age distribution. Research has also evaluated the drink drive rehabilitation scheme and reviewed the High Risk Offender scheme. Other research has considered drink drivers' attitudes to enforcement and penalties. Much of this research is reflected in the Government's Road Safety Strategy "Tomorrows Roads—Safer for Everyone". The following research reports, published by the Transport Research Laboratory, are relevant:

  Drinking and driving in Great Britain—a review. G. Maycock. TRL Report 232. 1997.

  The high risk offender scheme for drink-drivers. G. P. Davies et al. TRL Report 394. 1999.

  Drink/driver rehabilitation courses in England and Wales. G. P. Davies et al. TRL Report 426. 1999.

  Unlawful driving behaviour: a criminological perspective. C. Corbett et al. TRL Contractor Report CR 301. 1992.

  Copies of these reports have been placed in the Library of the House of Commons.

  An analysis of drink-drive data, including trends in accidents involving illegal alcohol levels, casualty and accident characteristics and breath test outcomes is included annually in Road Accidents Great Britain.

  The Department also commissions market research into the attitudes of those who drink and drive so that its advertising can be effectively directed.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many(a) deaths and (b) serious injuries in the last 10 years have been attributed to drinking and driving. [136503]

  Mr. Hill
  The data required are given in the table.

  The estimated number of fatalities in accidents involving illegal alcohol levels in the years 1989–99 was 6,520, and the estimated number of serious injuries for the same time period was 35,170.

  Table 2a: Estimates of casualties involving illegal alcohol levels and the consequent casualties adjusted for under reporting: 1988–99

  Number

  Year

  Fatal

  Serious

  Slight

  Total

  1988

  790

  5,100

  16,860

  22,740

  1989

  810

  4,790

  16,620

  22,220

  1990

  760

  4,090

  15,550

  20,400

  1991

  660

  3,610

  13,610

  17,880

  1992

  660

  3,280

  12,770

  16,710

  1993

  540

  2,660

  11,780

  14,980

  1994

  540

  2,840

  11,780

  15,160

  1995

  540

  3,000

  12,450

  16,000

  1996

  580

  3,010

  13,450

  17,040

  1997

  550

  2,940

  13,310

  16,800

  1998

  460

  2,520

  12,610

  15,590

  19991

  420

  2,430

  13,980

  16,830

  1 Provisional data. Final fatality data from coroners are available for 1998 but 1999 estimates are based on around three-quarters of expected coroners' returns and may be biased. They remain provisional until more complete information for 1999 is available.

  27W
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research he has commissioned on the impact of insurance costs for drivers aged 17 to 25 on the rate of drinking and driving. [136504]

  Mr. Hill
  None.

  Local Government Finance
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what changes he plans to make to the SSA methodology following the transfer of funding for 2001–02 for Adult Education, Nursery Education Grant and Care Leavers Grant. [137067]

  Ms Armstrong
  We have consulted local government on whether adjustments were required to the SSA methodology to reflect the transfers of funding for Adult Education, Nursery Education Grant and Care Leavers Grant. Over 100 responses were received, the vast majority supporting our recommended approach.

  I therefore propose that we implement our recommended approach. That is, that we make no change to the SSA methodology for Other Education or Children's Social Services following the transfers for Adult Education and Care Leavers Grant, and that we make a small adjustment to the Under 5s SSA methodology following the transfer of funding for Nursery Education for four-year-olds. The purpose of the adjustment to the Under 5s SSA is to ensure that the distribution of this funding matches, as closely as possible, the previous distribution under specific grant.

  Rural Areas
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the Government's definition of a rural area. [136727]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Government have no single definition of a rural area. But different definitions are used for different policy purposes to ensure that policies are sensitive to differing circumstances and to ensure administrative efficiency.

  The Countryside Agency, which is the Government's statutory adviser on issues relating to the environmental, economic and social well being of the English countryside currently uses a working definition of rural areas as those wards which lie outside settlements of 10,000 people.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people in England live in settlements of between 2,000 and 20,000, and, of this number, how many live in settlements of 10,000 or more. [136719]

  Mr. Meacher
  In 1991 the population living in settlements in England of the following size was:

  Settlements of 2,000–20,000: 6,890,253

  Settlements of 10,000–20,000: 2,682,336 (included in above)

  These figures are taken from the 1991 Urban Area statistics. More recent information is not currently available.

  Parish Councils
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the Government have any plans to change the law on parish referendums. [136726]

  Ms Armstrong
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply 1 gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) on 2 November 2000,Official Report, column 551W.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many new parish councils have been formed in each of the last 10 years. [136718]

  Ms Armstrong
  The table shows the number of new parishes that have been created in each of the last ten years:

  Year

  Number of parishes created

  1990–91

  19

  1991–92

  10

  1992–93

  6

  1993–94

  10

  1994–95

  4

  1995–96

  18

  1996–97

  9

  1997–98

  1

  1998–99

  20

  1999–2000

  42

  Trans-European Network
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what ports in the UK are included in the Trans-European Network transport network; and what(a) EU and (b) UK funds have been used for improving facilities at those ports in each year since 1994. [129466]

  Mr. Hill

  [pursuant to his reply, 12 July 2000, c. 561–62 W]:

  £ million

  Year

  Ports receiving funds

  EU funding

  1995

  None

  —

  1996

  None

  —

  1997

  Portsmouth, Great Yarmouth, Boston, Port of London, Southampton, Felixstowe, Heysham

  0.70

  1998

  Portsmouth, Sunderland, Tyne, Humber, Heysham, Southampton, Harwich

  1.60

  1999

  Great Yarmouth

  0.24

  Rail Freight
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what will be the(a) initial and (b) longer-term cargo-deck heights on the sprinter trains proposed by the winner of the recent rail freight competition; and if the layout of their longer-term sprinter-train design has been finalised. [129997]
  29W
  Mr. Hill

  [pursuant to his reply, 10 July 2000, c. 403–04W]: I would like to confirm that the deck-height of the Railtrack MPVC (multi-purpose vehicle container) used in the trials is 1,200 mm and of the intermediate container flats 1,000 mm and not as printed in the Official Report.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what will be the maximum cargo height on the piggyback trailer systems that have been proposed by the winner of the recent rail freight competition. [129996]

  Mr. Hill

  [pursuant to his reply, 10 July 2000, c. 404W]: I would like to confirm that the maximum cargo-height will be 3.4 m permitting the conveyance of the semi-trailer or 9'6" ISO containers in the wagon pockets or a C45 Swapbody over SBI-c cleared routes and not as printed in the Official Report.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in how many of his Department's PH contracts KPMG has been an adviser. [132868]

  Ms Beverley Hughes

  [pursuant to her reply, 27 July 2000, c. 773W]: I have now been advised that KPMG have also acted as a financial adviser and quality assurance to the Vehicle Inspectorate for the procurement process of the computerisation of MOT testing project. The contract was signed in April 1998.

  Supporting People Programme
  Mr. Prosser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will make further information available on the structure and resourcing of the Supporting People programme. [133617]

  Mr. Raynsford

  [pursuant to his reply, 27 July 2000, c. 778W]: I would like to confirm that we will be providing £153 million of revenue funding over three years to enable to implement the Supporting People programme and not £140 million as printed in the Official Report.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Security Situation
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 12 June 2000,Official Report, column 491W, what steps have been taken to reduce the security presence consistent with the level of threat; and what steps will be taken in the next three months. [134883]

  Mr. Ingram
  Further to the Secretary of State's statement in the House on 12 June 2000,Official Report, columns 491–92W, all the measures have now been completed except for the Cookstown base and the Fort George army base. These should be finalised this month and the beginning of December respectively.
  30W
  On 29 September the Chief Constable announced a further tranche of normalisation measures. These were:

  demolition of six patrol bases in Co. Fermanagh;

  closure and demolition of Long Kesh Army base situated beside HM Prison, Maze;

  return to its owners of land at Newtownhamilton, currently used by security forces; and

  closure of Strand Road Holding Centre in Londonderry and granting of solicitor access to terrorist suspects held at Gough Barracks, Armagh.

  All these measures have been set in train and will be completed within six months. Further measures will be taken when it is safe to do so.

  Secondary Education
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will place in the Library a copy of the report published by the Northern Ireland Department of Education, 'The Effects of the Selective System of Secondary Education in Northern Ireland'. [135825]

  Mr. Mandelson
  A copy of the report will be placed in the Library shortly.

WALES

  Fuel Protests
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps have been taken to prevent disruption by fuel protests in Wales. [136614]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I have been asked to reply.

  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary published on 29 September a memorandum of understanding signed by all members of the Fuel Supply Task Force aimed at putting in place more robust systems to avoid disruption of fuel supplies throughout the United Kingdom. He also made a statement to the House on 2 November 2000, the details of which are contained in the Official Report, columns 837–52.

  My right hon. Friend the First Minister of the National Assembly for Wales is a member of the task force and a signatory of the memorandum and will continue to be fully involved in the task force's work.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many of the troops trained to drive fuel tankers in the event of fuel protests will be stationed in Wales. [136615]

  Mr. Spellar
  I have been asked to reply.

  Should the armed forces be asked to provide assistance, their precise disposition will be determined at the time in consultation with the relevant civil authorities. This will take into account a number of factors, in particular the relative need for military support for the delivery of fuel in different parts of the country.

  University Spaces
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) applications for degree courses were received and (b) vacant university spaces there were in each of the past five years in Wales. [134913]

  Mr. Hanson
  The numbers of applications to Welsh higher education institutions1 are shown in the table:

  Year of admission

  Number of applications
  2

  1995

  116,455

  1996

  88,131

  1997

  91,173

  1998

  89,548

  1999

  88,247

  1 The number of higher education institutions in Wales, within the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), was 15 for the years 1995 to 1998, rising to 16 in 1999.

  2 In 1995 up to eight selections were available to each applicant, subsequently reduced to six.

  Source:

  UCAS

  Information on the number of vacant university spaces is not available centrally.

  Foreign Investment
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives are being pursued by his Department to attract foreign investment in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [134899]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Since primary responsibility for promoting Wales as a location for inward investment now rests with the National Assembly for Wales, my Department is pursuing no specific initiatives to this end. However, I maintain close contact with the First Minister and his Cabinet and with the Chairman of the WDA. I and my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State also emphasise the attractions of Wales for foreign investment when our duties involve meetings with people from overseas.

  The National Assembly, in conjunction with its "Team Wales" partners, continues to enjoy considerable success in securing projects from foreign investors. Important developments announced during the current year have included:

  One2One Personal Communications Ltd. at Merthyr Tydfil;

  Cycle City Ltd. at Bangor;

  SPX Contech at Welshpool;

  General Domestic Appliances Ltd. at Bodelwyddan; and Manpower plc at Pembroke Dock.

  These five projects will involve capital investment totalling more than £50 million. They are expected to create nearly 1,500 new jobs, while safeguarding a further 1,000.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much foreign investment Wales received in the last 10 years. [135226]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Between April 1990 and March 2000, capital expenditure reported by overseas-owned companies at the time of the investment decision was £8,603 million.

  School Closures
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of(a) junior and (b) secondary school closures by constituency in Wales in each of the last five years. [135221]

  Mr. Hanson
  Information is not available by constituency. Local education authorities (LEAs) notified the Welsh Office of the following school closures between 1 January 1995 and 30 June 1999. On 1 July 1999, responsibility for education transferred to the National Assembly for Wales.

  LEA

  School

  Primary
  1

  1995

  Dyfed

  Blaenau CP School

  Dyfed

  Llanddeusant CP School

  Clwyd

  Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr CP School

  Dyfed

  Crugybar CP School

  1996

  Mid Glamorgan

  Ferndale Junior School

  Mid Glamorgan

  Dyffryn Infants School

  1997

  Ceredigion

  Brongest CP School

  Conwy

  Ysgol Llwydgoed

  1998

  Pembrokeshire

  Barham VC Primary School

  Pembrokeshire

  Rosemarket VC School

  Carmarthenshire

  Llandyfaelog VCP School

  Conwy

  Ysgol Cadnant

  Conwy

  Ysgol Bodlondeb

  Conwy

  Ysgol Babanod Gyffin

  Caerphilly

  Brithdir Primary School

  1999 (to 30 June)

  Rhondda Cynon Taff

  Dunraven Primary School

  Rhondda Cynon Taff

  Blaenrhondda Primary School

  Rhondda Cynon Taff

  Blaenycwm Primary School

  Secondary

  1995–97

  No closures

  —

  1998

  Blaenau Gwent

  Glanyrafon Comprehensive School

  1999 (to 30 June)

  No closures

  —

  1 it is not possible consistently to distinguish junior schools

  In addition, there were 17 amalgamations of infant and junior school during the period covered by these figures. Some amalgamations might have resulted in the closure of premises.

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the average class sizes in(a) junior and (b) secondary schools in each local education authority in Wales in each of the last three years. [135224]
  33W
  Mr. Hanson
  The following is the available information for 1997–98 and 1998–99. Responsibility for education transferred to the National Assembly for Wales on 1 July 1999.

  Average class sizes for registered Key Stages 2 classes in maintained primary schools

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Isle of Anglesey

  24.6

  24.2

  Gwynedd

  25.0

  24.9

  Conwy

  27.2

  27.2

  Denbighshire

  27.7

  27.6

  Flintshire

  29.8

  28.0

  Wrexham

  28.6

  28.0

  Powys

  24.1

  23.7

  Ceredigion

  22.4

  21.9

  Pembrokeshire

  24.6

  25.0

  Carmarthenshire

  23.5

  23.9

  Swansea

  28.6

  29.1

  Neath Port Talbot

  26.8

  27.1

  Bridgend

  30.5

  29.7

  Vale of Glamorgan

  28.6

  28.2

  Rhondda Cynon Taff

  28.8

  28.0

  Merthyr Tydfil

  28.9

  28.3

  Caerphilly

  29.2

  28.9

  Blaenau Gwent

  30.1

  29.8

  Torfaen

  30.4

  28.5

  Monmouthshire

  29.4

  29.5

  Newport

  30.1

  29.3

  Cardiff

  28.9

  28.6

  Average class sizes for registered classes in maintained secondary schools

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Isle of Anglesey

  19.5

  20.5

  Gwynedd

  17.7

  18.1

  Conwy

  20.8

  22.1

  Denbighshire

  19.9

  20.3

  Flintshire

  20.1

  19.8

  Wrexham

  22.0

  22.7

  Powys

  17.7

  17.8

  Ceredigion

  19.7

  18.2

  Pembrokeshire

  21.5

  20.5

  Carmarthenshire

  20.9

  20.8

  Swansea

  21.0

  20.8

  Neath Port Talbot

  20.9

  21.1

  Bridgend

  21.7

  20.7

  Vale of Glamorgan

  22.4

  21.0

  Rhondda Cynon Taff

  20.5

  20.6

  Merthyr Tydfil

  19.2

  20.2

  Caerphilly

  20.5

  20.9

  Blaenau Gwent

  19.3

  19.5

  Torfaen

  21.0

  21.2

  Monmouthshire

  20.2

  21.2

  Newport

  21.4

  21.8

  Cardiff

  22.5

  23.2

  Welsh Language
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of children received their education in the primary education sector through the medium of Welsh(a) within Wales as a whole and (b) by constituency, in each year since 1980. [135688]

  Mr. Hanson
  Figures for Wales are available only from the academic year 1985–86. At the constituency level, they are available only from 1996–97. Responsibility for education transferred to the National Assembly for Wales on 1 July 1999.
  34W
  Available information is set out in the tables:

  Percentage of primary school pupils in classes where Welsh is the sole or main medium of instruction—Wales

  Year

  Percentage

  1985–86

  11.7

  1986–87

  11.9

  1987–88

  12.2

  1988–89

  12.5

  1989–90

  13.5

  1990–91

  14.1

  1991–92

  16.0

  1992–93

  16.6

  1993–94

  16.4

  1994–95

  17.1

  1995–96

  17.2

  1996–97

  17.2

  1997–98

  17.7

  1998–99

  17.7

  Constituencies

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Ynys MÖn

  66.7

  68.1

  65.7

  Caernarfon

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  Conwy

  43.7

  42.6

  36.4

  Clwyd, West

  23.0

  22.5

  23.0

  Vale of Clwyd

  14.0

  13.6

  13.8

  Delyn

  13.5

  12.8

  12.3

  Alyn and Deeside

  0.9

  0.9

  1.0

  Wrexham

  9.6

  9.9

  9.2

  Clwyd, South

  13.3

  14.2

  14.6

  Meirionnydd Nant Conwy

  88.4

  97.5

  89.5

  Montgomeryshire

  19.0

  19.3

  19.3

  Brecon and Radnorshire

  8.6

  8.6

  8.3

  Ceredigion

  72.1

  72.0

  71.2

  Preseli Pembrokeshire

  20.9

  21.4

  21.9

  West Carmarthen and South Pembrokeshire

  17.4

  17.2

  17.6

  East Carmarthen and Dinefwr

  69.8

  70.2

  71.3

  Llanelli

  30.0

  28.8

  30.3

  Gower

  9.2

  9.0

  9.2

  Swansea, West

  6.9

  7.1

  7.2

  Swansea, East

  5.7

  6.3

  6.7

  Neath

  24.3

  24.1

  24.1

  Aberavon

  4.9

  5.1

  4.9

  Bridgend

  7.7

  7.4

  7.5

  Ogmore

  9.9

  9.9

  9.8

  Vale of Glamorgan

  8.0

  8.1

  9.1

  Cardiff, South and Penarth

  7.0

  7.3

  7.4

  Cardiff, Central

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  Cardiff, North

  11.2

  11.7

  13.6

  Cardiff, West

  7.9

  8.3

  9.1

  Pontypridd

  18.3

  18.5

  18.3

  Rhondda

  14.8

  15.4

  16.2

  Cynon Valley

  13.4

  13.8

  14.1

  Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney

  9.8

  9.6

  10.7

  Caerphilly

  12.6

  13.0

  13.3

  Islwyn

  4.4

  5.1

  5.3

  Blaenau Gwent

  4.1

  4.1

  4.1

  Torfaen

  3.4

  3.5

  4.2

  Monmouth

  0.8

  0.9

  1.1

  Newport, East

  3.8

  4.1

  4.1

  Newport, West

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  source:

  Welsh Office Schools Census

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of children received their education through the medium of Welsh(a) within Wales as a whole and (b) by constituency, in each year since 1980. [135687]
  35W
  Mr. Hanson
  Information is not available in the form requested. Because data are not collected on the same basis from primary and secondary schools, separate tables are provided, setting out the most appropriate available indicators for each sector. Figures for primary schools are available only from the academic year 1985–86. In both sectors, a constituency-level breakdown is available only from 1996–97. Responsibility for education transferred to the National Assembly for Wales on 1 July 1999.

  Percentage of primary school pupils in classes where Welsh is the sole or main medium of instruction Wales

  Percentage

  1985–86

  11.7

  1986–87

  11.9

  1987–88

  12.2

  1988–89

  12.5

  1989–90

  13.5

  1990–91

  14.1

  1991–92

  16.0

  1992–93

  16.6

  1993–94

  16.4

  1994–95

  17.1

  1995–96

  17.2

  1996–97

  17.2

  1997–98

  17.7

  1998–99

  17.7

  Constituencies

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Ynys Mön

  66.7

  68.1

  65.7

  Caernarfon

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  Conwy

  43.7

  42.6

  36.4

  Clwyd, West

  23.0

  22.5

  23.0

  Vale of Clwyd

  14.0

  13.6

  13.8

  Delyn

  13.5

  12.8

  12.3

  Alyn and Deeside

  0.9

  0.9

  1.0

  Wrexham

  9.6

  9.9

  9.2

  Clwyd, South

  13.3

  14.2

  14.6

  Meirionnydd Nant Conwy

  88.4

  97.5

  89.5

  Mongomeryshire

  19.0

  19.3

  19.3

  Brecon and Radnorshire

  8.6

  8.6

  8.3

  Ceredigion

  72.1

  72.0

  71.2

  Preseli Pembrokeshire

  20.9

  21.4

  21.9

  Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire

  17.4

  17.2

  17.6

  Carmarthen East and Dinefwr

  69.8

  70.2

  71.3

  Llanelli

  30.0

  28.8

  30.3

  Gower

  9.2

  9.0

  9.2

  Swansea, West

  6.9

  7.1

  7.2

  Swansea, East

  5.7

  6.3

  6.7

  Neath

  24.3

  24.1

  24.1

  Aberavon

  4.9

  5.1

  4.9

  Bridgend

  7.7

  7.4

  7.5

  Ogmore

  9.9

  9.9

  9.8

  Vale of Glamorgan

  8.0

  8.1

  9.1

  Cardiff, South and Penarth

  7.0

  7.3

  7.4

  Cardiff, Central

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  Cardiff, North

  11.2

  11.7

  13.6

  Cardiff, West

  7.9

  8.3

  9.1

  Pontypridd

  18.3

  18.5

  18.3

  Rhondda

  14.8

  15.4

  16.2

  Cynon Valley

  13.4

  13.8

  14.1

  Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney

  9.8

  9.6

  10.7

  Caerphilly

  12.6

  13.0

  13.3

  Islwyn

  4.4

  5.1

  5.3

  Blaeunau Gwent

  4.1

  4.1

  4.1

  Torfaen

  3.4

  3.5

  4.2

  Monmouth

  0.8

  0.9

  1.1

  Newport, East

  3.8

  4.1

  4.1

  Newport, West

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  36W

  Percentage of pupils in maintained secondary schools in year groups 7 to 11 taught Welsh as a first language Wales

  Percentage

  1979–80

  9.7

  1980–81

  10.1

  1981–82

  10.1

  1982–83

  10.2

  1983–84

  10.4

  1984–85

  11.1

  1985–86

  10.7

  1986–87

  11.1

  1987–88

  11.1

  1988–89

  11.3

  1989–90

  11.6

  1990–91

  11.7

  1991–92

  11.7

  1992–93

  12.1

  1993–94

  12.1

  1994–95

  12.2

  1995–96

  12.4

  1996–97

  12.6

  1998–88

  12.8

  1998–99

  13.3

  Constituencies

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  Ynys Mön

  44.1

  48.9

  51.3

  Caernarfon

  95.10

  94.7

  94.9

  Conwy

  33.2

  32.9

  34.0

  Clwyd, West

  6.7

  8.1

  8.7

  Vale of Clwyd

  16.7

  17.4

  17.0

  Delyn

  8.1

  8.7

  9.0

  Alyn and Deeside

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  Wrexham

  10.5

  10.5

  10.9

  Clwyd, South

  1.6

  2.0

  1.5

  Meirionnydd Nant Conwy

  59.6

  60.0

  65.5

  Mongomeryshire

  14.3

  13.7

  14.7

  Brecon and Radnorshire

  3.4

  3.5

  4.5

  Ceredigion

  47.8

  45.2

  49.0

  Preseli Pembrokeshire

  13.1

  13.8

  15.0

  Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire

  14.8

  15.4

  16.4

  Carmarthen East and Dinefwr

  37.9

  37.0

  38.1

  Llanelli

  16.8

  17.4

  17.8

  Gower

  16.2

  16.4

  17.0

  Swansea, West

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  Swansea, East

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  Neath

  15.6

  17.1

  17.7

  Aberavon

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  Bridgend

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  Ogmore

  21.2

  20.1

  19.6

  Vale of Glamorgan

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  Cardiff, South and Penarth

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  Cardiff, Central

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  Cardiff, North

  20.1

  21.1

  17.2

  Cardiff, West

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  Pontypridd

  14.1

  13.8

  13.3

  Rhondda

  11.8

  12.8

  13.3

  Cynon Valley

  6.0

  8.9

  12.0

  Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  Caerphilly

  11.3

  11.5

  11.8

  Islwyn

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  Blaenau Gwent

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  Torfaen

  9.4

  9.8

  10.5

  Monmouth

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  Newport, East

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  Newport, West

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  Earnings
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the average percentage
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  growth in average gross weekly earnings of full-time employees on adult rates in Wales for (a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999. [136271]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The information requested is in the table.

  Average gross weekly earnings of full-time employees on adult rates

  Year

  Average gross weekly earnings (£)

  Year on year growth (Percentage)

  1996

  313.30

  —

  1997

  330.20

  5.4

  1998

  342.80

  3.8

  1999

  353.60

  3.2

  Source:

  National Statistics, New Earnings Survey

  GDP Growth
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the percentage GDP growth in Wales in(a) 1998 and (b) 1999. [136206]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  GDP figures are not available for 1999. GDP at basic prices grew by 4 per cent. between 1997 and 1998.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Euro
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will deposit in the Library a copy of the(a) minutes and (b) agenda of the European Community Working Group on Education and the Euro; and when the group will next meet. [134211]

  Ms Jowell
  The minutes and agenda of the European Community working group on Education and the Euro are the property of the European Commission, which provided the secretariat for the meeting. The Commission have taken the view that it would be more appropriate for them to release the documents rather than the Government of a member state. The papers are kept by the Directorate-General for Education and Culture who can make them available on submission of a written application. There are no plans for any further meetings of the group.

  Disabled Students (University Applications)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of applications made to universities in each of the past five years were made by disabled students. [134900]

  Mr. Wicks
  The latest available data, covering full-time and sandwich undergraduates applying through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), are shown in the following table. Some full-time and all part-time students apply outside UCAS.
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  UK domiciled applicants to full-time and sandwich undergraduate courses via UCAS

  Year of entry

  Total applicants

  Of which percentage recording a disability

  1995

  369,701

  4.1

  1996

  364,885

  4.6

  1997

  398,327

  4.6

  1998

  389,588

  4.6

  1999

  388,691

  13.8

  2000

  2388,986

  Not available

  1 Because of a change in the guidance for the reporting of this information to UCAS, the figures between 1999 and 1998 are not directly comparable

  2 Near final total

  University Courses
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many(a) applications for degree courses were received and (b) vacant university spaces there were, in each of the past five years. [134909]

  Mr. Wicks
  The latest available data, showing the number of applications from UK domiciled students via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) to institutions in the UK, are shown in the following table. Final figures for 2000 entry will be available in early 2001.

  Applications from UK domiciled students via UCAS to full-time and sandwich first degree courses in UK institutions

  Year of entry

  Number of applications1

  1995

  2,103,141

  1996

  1,661,323

  1997

  1,735,497

  1998

  1,700,939

  1999

  1,752,822

  1 In 1995 each applicant could make up to eight applications; in 1996 and subsequent years each applicant could make up to six applications

  Figures for the number of vacancies are not available centrally. Although universities and colleges inform UCAS throughout the clearing process which courses have vacancies, and these appear in the national press and elsewhere, they do not declare the number of vacancies.

  Learning and Skills Council
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the establishment of the learning and skills councils. [134690]

  Mr. Wicks
  We are making good progress in establishing the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). We have made a number of key senior appointments at both national and local level. These include the National Chair, National Chief Executive, National Council members and the Chairs of the LSC's Adult Learning Committee and Young Peoples Learning Committee. At the local level we have appointed all 47 local Chairs and local Executive Directors. Work continues apace to ensure that the LSC is operational from April 2001 and, to help ensure this, we remain on course to announce local Council members by the end of November and members of the LSC's Adult
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  Learning Committee and Young Peoples Learning Committee by December. The LSC is also working to ensure that its wider staffing requirements are met.

  New Deal (Young People)
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment has been made of the future occupations of young people who complete the New Deal scheme in West Sussex. [134626]

  Ms Jowell

  [holding answer 26 October 2000]: We do not collect detailed statistics on the future occupations of young people when they complete New Deal for individual Units of Delivery and so no comprehensive assessment has been made.

  The flexible design of New Deal aims to tailor provision, in particular training, to meet the aspirations of participants and prepare them for a career in their chosen field. The evidence we do hold indicates that of the 317 young people who have gained sustained unsubsidised employment from New Deal in the West Sussex Unit of Delivery, approximately 3 per cent. moved into managerial/professional occupations, 10 per cent. into clerical/secretarial occupations, 9 per cent. into craft and related occupations, 13 per cent. into personal and protective services, 6 per cent. into sales, 14 per cent. into plant and machinery operation and 45 per cent. into non-specified occupations.

  Religious Freedom
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many letters he has received alleging that there was a threat to religious freedom posed by the EU directive on employment agreed between the Governments of the EU on 17 October. [135068]

  Ms Jowell
  We have received over 12,000 letters following publication of the European Commission's original proposal for this directive. Of these, some 10,500 raised concerns on religious grounds, in particular that the wording of the original draft of the directive posed a threat to religious freedoms. We have now negotiated a final text which, we believe, fully responds to the concerns expressed, and allows member states considerable latitude in implementing its provisions in relation to staff policies of religious organisations. In particular the agreed text allows the UK to protect the right of church schools to give preference to teachers of their faith in line with the provisions of the Schools Standards and Framework Act 1999.

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the average class sizes in(a) junior and (b) secondary schools in each local education authority in each of the last three years. [135225]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The information requested on class sizes in England by local education authority area has been placed in the Library. Information on class sizes was recently published in a Statistical Volume 'Statistics of Education—Schools in England 2000'.
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  The latest infant class size data for September 2000 were recently published in a Statistical First Release 'Infant Class Sizes in England 2000' on 1 November, copies of which are available from the Library, or alternatively can be accessed from the Department for Education and Employment statistical website www.dfee.gov.uk/statistics. Figures from this release show that since September 1998, 324,000 five, six and seven-year-olds have benefited from the Government's infant class size initiative. In September 2000, 30,000 children were in classes of 31 or more children, compared to 171,000 in September 1999. This demonstrates that the Government are delivering early their infant class size pledge, which is supported by some £620 million.

  January 2000 saw a fall in the size of the average junior class in England; and a continuing fall in the size of the average primary class, after rising for a decade. The size of the average secondary class nationally, at 22, is still five below the average primary class. Secondary headteachers are receiving an average of £50,000 this year (£60,000 from April 2001) in direct grant to spend as they choose. If this were spent on recruiting teachers, the average secondary class size could be reduced by up to 0.8.

  For information on classes in Wales, I refer the hon. Member to the Secretary of State for Education in Wales.

  New Deal (Costs)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the total cost of the New Deal; and what percentage of this figure is spent on administration. [135232]

  Ms Jowell
  The table shows the total amount spent by the Department for Education and Employment on the Welfare to Work related New Deals, and the percentage of this spent on DfEE administration.

  £ million

  1997–98 outturn

  1998–99 outturn

  1999–2000 estimated outturn

  Total New Deal Spend

  37

  220

  428

  Of which:

  Administration costs

  1.2

  2.4

  3.2

  Administration costs as a percentage

  3.24

  1.09

  0.75

  Child Labour
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the Government's policy on Commission Recommendation 2000/581/CE" pursuant to Convention 182 of the Organisation Internationale du Travail, on banning the worst forms of work for children; which jobs undertaken in the United Kingdom are covered; how many are involved; and if he will make a statement. [135575]

  Ms Jowell
  The Government fully support the International Labour Organisation's Convention No. 182 concerning the prohibition and immediate action for the elimination of the worst forms of child labour and ratified the Convention in March 2000. As part of the implementation of the Convention we are required to identify work which by its nature, or the circumstances
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  under which it is carried out, is considered likely to harm the health, safety and morals of children under the age of 18. We are currently in the process of determining a list of harmful areas of work existing in the UK.

  Work Force Dignity
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the costs involved in maintaining the dignity of the work force in accordance with Article 31 of the draft European Charter of Fundamental Rights. [135572]

  Ms Jowell
  None. The Charter is not legally binding. It is addressed to the EU Institutions, and to member states only when they are implementing Union law (Article 51(1)). It does not establish any new power or task for the Community or the Union or modify powers and tasks defined by the Treaties (Article 51(2)).

  Learning Support Units
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many learning support units are(a) planned and (b) operating in (i) England and Wales, (ii) Nottinghamshire and (iii) Nottingham; and what the time scale is for the establishment of learning support units in each of those areas. [135487]

  Jacqui Smith
  We are planning to have over 1,000 Learning Support Units established in England by 2002. For information about the plans and time scales for Units in Nottinghamshire and City of Nottingham, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 19 July 2000,Official Report, column 201W.

  The number of Units currently operating in England is around 500 of which 16 are in Nottinghamshire.

  Information about the number of Units in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Assembly.

  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the curriculum is for pupils in learning support units. [135483]

  Jacqui Smith
  This is for the mainstream and unit staff to determine in the light of pupils' individual needs and circumstances. But unit staff should both liaise closely with the school's teaching staff in setting and marking suitable work, and consult the senior management team in fixing the details of an appropriate curriculum.

  Carers
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps the Government are taking to ensure that people who have responsibilities as carers are not unfairly discriminated against within the labour market. [135801]

  Ms Hodge

  [holding answer 30 October 2000]: The Government recognise the valuable contribution carers make both to their families and society as a whole. We are keen to give them the support they need—whether to balance work with their caring responsibilities or to get back to work when their caring responsibilities end or reduce.
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  For those carers seeking to enter the labour market, Employment Service advisers ensure that they have the same access to all the programmes, such as New Deal, as any other job seeker, and can be granted exemptions from requirements in certain circumstances. Advisers discuss with the individual their circumstances and skills and tailor the help that will best equip them to enter the labour market. The Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) rules also contain special provision to help carers back into employment.

  New Deal 50 plus takes account of time spent on Invalid Care Allowance when assessing eligibility. My Department has worked in partnership with The Carers National Association to produce a leaflet to explain how New Deal 50 plus can help carers back into work.

  For those carers who are working the new entitlement to take a reasonable time off work to deal with a crisis involving the care of a dependant is a significant new right. The Government believe in a fair and flexible labour market that benefits both employers and employees, working in partnership together. Our Work-Life Balance campaign encourages all employers to introduce policies and practices which benefit the business and help their staff achieve a better balance between work and the rest of their lives. These practices can offer carers a greater choice over where, when and how they work and can help employers retain valued staff.

  Higher Education Institutions
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what criteria he employs when deciding to admit private higher education institutions into the publicly funded sector; and how many such applications have been successful. [135534]

  Mr. Wicks
  Under the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, any private higher education institution seeking designation into the publicly funded sector must have at least 55 per cent. of its full-time equivalent roll capable of being defined as higher education.

  The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) provides advice to the Secretary of State on applications from private institutions seeking designation as higher education institutions.

  HEFCE funding would require institutions to comply with all the conditions related to receipt of grant, including quality assessment, financial health, governance, audit and accountability standards.

  No private higher education institution has been designated under these provisions so far.

  Disabilities
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what action he is taking to improve the position of those with more than one impairment or complex disabilities. [135840]

  Ms Hodge

  [holding answer 31 October 2000]: We are tackling the social exclusion of disabled people, including those with more than one impairment or who have complex disabilities, in three ways.
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  First, we are continuing to implement the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, and we set up the Disability Rights Commission earlier this year. Secondly, we are working to raise awareness and give advice and information to businesses about the requirements of the DDA through disability awareness campaigns. Thirdly, the Employment Service has a range of specialist employment measures which aim at removing the barriers faced by disabled people. These included the Access to Work, Supported Employment, and Work Preparation Programmes, and the services of the Disability Employment Advisers.

  The New Deal for Disabled People which has been successfully piloted, will be extended nationally. We are also considering the recommendations of the Disability Rights Task Force, in tandem with the implementation of the recently agreed Employment Directive under Article 13.

  Students
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what response he has sent to the Joint Council for Education in the Commonwealth/UK COSA report on international student mobility. [135937]

  Mr. Wicks

  [holding answer 1 November 2000]: We are closely considering the report's recommendations. I am pleased to see that a good deal of what the report suggests is being already implemented in the UK. For example, we place great importance on attracting more international students to the UK. We are actively pursuing this through the Prime Minister's initiative to recruit an additional 75,000 students into further and higher education by 2005.

  Departmental Guidance (Teachers)
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if his Department's guidance to teachers is based on the principle that teachers act in loco parentis. [136261]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Guidance is issued by my Department on the basis of the law, policy and good practice.

  Reading (Phonetic Teaching)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the phonetic approach to the teaching of reading. [136194]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The National Literacy Strategy, which is based on research and inspection evidence of best practice, gives a strong emphasis to the systematic teaching of phonics. As part of the strategy, we have provided all primary schools with practical guidance on the teaching of phonics in the booklet "Progression in Phonics". Since the implementation of the literacy strategy began, there has been a 10 percentage point increase, to 75 per cent., in the percentage of 11-year-olds achieving the standards expected for their age in English.

  Individual Learning Accounts
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the eligibility criteria for students who wish to obtain individual learning accounts. [136180]

  Mr. Wicks

  [holding answer 2 November 2000]: In England, people aged 19 and over can open an Individual Learning Account and benefit from the incentives. There is no upper age limit for account holding. To hold an Individual Learning Account people must be settled in the UK under the Immigration Act 1971, or be European Economic Area nationals working in the UK, or have the right to remain in the UK. Account holders must be resident in England or, if resident outside of England, be ordinarily resident in England (i.e. living abroad temporarily). The only exception to this is for UK armed forces personnel, who qualify for an Individual Learning Account while serving abroad.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the discount arrangements for students who wish to pursue courses of study lasting(a) one, (b) two, (c) three and (d) more than three years. [136182]

  Mr. Wicks

  [holding answer 2 November 2000]: Individual Learning Account incentives are made available to individuals on a rolling year basis. For new account holders their account holding year starts when they first book learning using their account. Under current arrangements the first 1 million account holders to book eligible learning can benefit from a £150 contribution towards their course costs, providing they contribute at least £25 themselves. In second and subsequent years account holders can get a 20 per cent. discount on a wide range of learning up to a maximum of £100 in each year.

  Account holders can also claim an 80 per cent. discount on a limited number of basic IT and maths courses up to a maximum of £200 in each year. The most anyone can claim in any one year is £200. Limits on how much individuals can claim through the incentives in their account holding year ensure that as many individuals as possible benefit from Individual Learning Accounts. If the course costs are split across more than one academic year, account holders will be able to use each annual entitlement to help pay for the learning costs.

  Internet-based Teaching
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of internet-based teaching programmes that can develop literacy and numeracy for post-16 year olds in education. [136540]

  Mr. Wicks
  Improving adult literacy and numeracy skills is a priority for this Government. We have introduced a number of relevant measures and have already announced our intention to allocate £150 million additional expenditure over the period 2001–02 to 2003–04, and will shortly be publishing our national strategy.

  The University for Industry in conjunction with my Department and the Institute of Education in London are currently undertaking research to examine the effectiveness and appropriateness of ICT based learning

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  for people with basic skills needs. The project outcomes will be available early next year and will include a report and a good practice guide.

  Special Educational Needs
  Valerie Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when the Special Educational Needs and Disability in Education Bill will be introduced in Parliament. [137099]

  Mr. Blunkett
  The Government are committed to securing comprehensive civil rights for disabled people. That commitment will be underpinned by a significant investment over the next three years until 2003–04. Over the period 2001–02 to 2003–04 the Government will be investing £220 million through the Schools Access Initiative in England to help improve the accessibility of the school building stock. The spending will be £50 million in 2001–02, rising to £70 million in 2002–03 and £100 million in 2003–04. In addition, over the period 2002–03 to 2003–04, £172 million will be made available to the post-16 sector (Further Education, Higher Education, Adult Education and the Youth Service) to improve accessibility for disabled students and adult learners in England. Provision in Wales and Scotland is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales and the Scottish Executive respectively.

  I can confirm that the Special Educational Needs and Disability Bill will be introduced in Parliament early in the next Session, although it has not proved possible to publish a draft Bill this Session.

  The new legislation will be a significant step forward for disabled pupils, students and adult learners alike.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of the first year of special regional projects on special educational needs; and what plans he has to draw their annual reports to public attention. [136306]

  Jacqui Smith
  The network of eleven SEN regional co-ordination projects have been successfully established and cover the whole of England. A team from the University of Manchester has, since April, been evaluating the projects' work. Their Initial Impressions report is being published this week. The report reveals that there is an enthusiasm for the projects, an optimism that the structures already set up, if maintained and developed, have the potential "to make a difference" to the educational experiences of children and young people with SEN. I am today placing a copy of the published report in the Library of both Houses. Copies are also being made available to everyone involved in the projects and it can also be viewed or downloaded from my Department's SEN Website.

  Access to Work Scheme
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what response he has made to the RADAR report on awareness of the Access to Work Scheme among small employers; and what plans he has to increase(a) their awareness and take-up of the Scheme and (b) the resources available for it. [136301]
  46W
  Ms Jowell
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Mark Neal to Mr. Tim Boswell, dated 6 November 2000:
  As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked Leigh Lewis to reply to your question concerning the RADAR report on awareness of the Access to Work scheme among small employers and what plans there are to increase their awareness and take-up of the scheme and the resources available for it. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to Mr Lewis as Chief Executive of the Agency. I am replying on Mr Lewis' behalf.
  I have read the RADAR report and was encouraged to see that 74% of small business respondents to the Jobs Worth Survey reported a relatively high awareness of disability issues. However, I recognise that these respondents also indicated a low level of awareness of the Disability Service, and particularly Access to Work.
  Employment Service invest around £300,000 each year in marketing and publicising its disability services and programmes, including Access to Work, through a variety of media such as external advertising, exhibitions, marketing events and video. A major process review of Access to Work is currently underway to improve the responsiveness of the programme to disabled people and their employers. A new Employment Service Website is due for launch during November and will contain information on all programmes and services provided to disabled people and their employers, including information for individuals and employers on Access to Work.
  In 1999–2000, the Employment Service spent £24.39 million on providing Access to Work support to disabled people in paid employment. During 2000–2001, the Employment Service has £25.6 million to spend on providing Access to Work support.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Training (Disabled People)
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the cost and coverage of vocational residential training for disabled people and its effectiveness in meeting demand for such training. [136303]

  Ms Hodge
  Residential Work Based Learning for Adults offers nationally around 1,200 places for disabled people each year at 13 specialist providers, at a cost of £14.7 million. They provide around 118 courses across a broad range of occupational sectors. In 1999–2000, 46 per cent. of those completing their training entered employment within six months of the end of their course. The type, number and content of the training programmes are regularly reviewed both in the light of demand from applicants and the needs of the labour market. An evaluation of the effectiveness of residential training provision is under way. The results are expected to be published at the end of the year.

  Child Care (Rural Areas)
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what are the latest available figures for the provision of child care places in rural areas in England; and what the figures were for each year since 1995. [136678]
  47W
  Ms Hodge
  The information requested is not available. Statistics on child care places are collected at a local education authority level and are not split between urban and rural areas.

  New Deal (Withdrawal of Benefit)
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people's benefits have been withdrawn as a result of their refusal to accept any of the options on(a) the New Deal for the Young Unemployed, (b) the New Deal for over 25s and (c) the New Deal for Older Workers. [136317]

  Ms Jowell
  Figures for the period 1 April 1998 to 30 June 2000 show that the following benefit sanctions have been imposed for (i) refusal of a New Deal option, (ii) Leaving an option voluntarily, (iii) misconduct, (iv) failure to attend and (v) other reasons:

  New Deal for young people

  Number of sanctions imposed

  Refusal of an Option

  1,438

  Leaving an Option Voluntarily

  8,781

  Misconduct

  8,108

  Failure to attend

  12,544

  Other reasons

  1,280

  Total

  32,151

  New Deal 25+ pilots

  Number of sanctions imposed

  Refusal of an Option

  40

  Leaving an Option Voluntarily

  233

  Misconduct

  192

  Failure to attend

  1,750

  Other reasons

  7

  Total

  2,222

  As the National New Deal 25+ programme and New Deal 50+ are voluntary programmes, participants are not subject to benefit sanctions.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Sickness Absence
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the progress made by his Department since 1999 in reducing sickness absence; what targets he has agreed with the Cabinet Office; and if he will make a statement. [135494]

  Mr. Morley

  [holding answer 30 October 2000]: The Departmental targets are to reduce sickness absence to 7.8 days per staff year by end-2001 and 6.9 days per staff year by end-2003.

  A range of measures to reduce sickness absence are currently being piloted with a view to roll-out throughout the core-Department. These will put in place Cabinet
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  Office "Best Practice" recommendations to manage and reduce sickness absence. Our Executive Agencies are introducing similar measures.

  Whistleblowers
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what procedures exist in his Department for a civil servant to report actions which(a) are illegal, improper or unethical, (b) are in breach of constitutional convention or a professional code, (c) may involve possible maladministration and (d) are otherwise inconsistent with the civil service code. [136058]

  Mr. Morley

  [holding answer 2 November 2000]: The procedures for reporting such concerns are the same for each issue. Where they cannot be resolved through line management staff may report issues in confidence through someone outside the normal chain of command. For core-MAFF this is the director of Establishments; for Agency staff the appropriate Chief Executive. If, after investigation, a member of staff is not satisfied with a given response a right of appeal exists to the Permanent Secretary and beyond that to the Civil Service Commissioners.

  Wheat
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average(a) market price and (b) cost of production, per ton of wheat in the last 12 months. [136965]

  Ms Quin
  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Bovine TB
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will publish the results of the road traffic accident survey of badger carcases recommended by the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB; and if he will make a statement. [137097]

  Ms Quin
  As from today arrangements are in place to test a sample of badger carcases for bovine tuberculosis in the counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire, as recommended by the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB. Road casualty badgers along with badgers found dead on farms in Krebs trial areas within these counties will be collected and tested. Survey results will be published.

  Cabinet Committee for Rural Affairs
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the Cabinet Committee for Rural Affairs was formed; how many times it has met to date; and on what dates. [136682]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Prime Minister announced on 10 November 1999, Official Report, column 542W, that he had established the Cabinet Committee on Rural Affairs. Regarding details of the meetings, it is established practice, under exemption two of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, not to disclose information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet Committees.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Sickness Absence
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress made by his Department since 1999 in reducing sickness absence; what targets he has agreed with the Cabinet Office; and if he will make a statement. [135462]

  Mr. Hain

  [holding answer 30 October 2000]: The Cabinet Office prepares an annual report of sickness absence in the Civil Service which includes information for each department. The report for 1999 is being finalised and will be published shortly. Details of the Department's targets for reduced sickness absence for 2001 and 2003 against a baseline of 1998 will be included in its Service Delivery Agreement. This will also be published shortly. In order to meet these targets the Department has streamlined procedures for recording absences, improved monitoring of sickness and pursued more active case management.

  Sierra Leone
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library the full text of the agreements made between the UK Government and Sierra Leone since 1 April 1997 concerning(a) the training of the Sierra Leone armed services, (b) the police and security services training and (c) any other services provided by Her Majesty's Government. [136675]

  Mr. Hain
  All texts on agreements made between the UK Government and the Government of Sierra Leone on training the Sierra Leone armed services and police will be placed in the Library of the House by the Ministry of Defence and the Department of International Development respectively, except for those where disclosures would be prejudicial to our relations with the Government of Sierra Leone.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the future role of the British Council in Sierra Leone. [136645]

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to close down the British Council Country Directorate in Sierra Leone. [136823]

  Mr. Hain
  There are no plans to close British Council's Country Directorate in Sierra Leone. Following its recent strategic review, the council intends to maintain its activities there. These will focus on governance, education and public access information services with Internet access.

  Solomon Islands
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government of the Solomon Islands have asked Her Majesty's Government for assistance in relation to recent civil disorder on the islands; and what assistance has been provided. [136631]
  50W
  Mr. Battle
  In early August the Solomon Islands Government asked HMG to provide additional manpower and equipment for the Royal Solomon Islands Police (RSIP). We are considering this request with other key players in the region, in the light of the Townsville Peace Agreement which was agreed on 15 October.

  A World Bank delegation is in Honiara from 31 October until 7 November to assess the economic needs of the Solomon Islands and suggest how donor countries can most effectively provide assistance. Missions from the International Monetary Fund and the Asian Development Bank will make similar visits later this month. We will consider what further help we and our international partners can offer in the light of the recommendations arising from these missions.

  Mercenaries
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to publish the Green Paper on Mercenary Activity; and if he will make a statement. [135504]

  Mr. Hain
  The Green Paper is in the final stages of preparation. We continue to work towards a publication date of end November, but there may be some slight slippage. I will keep Parliament informed.

  Cuba
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 30 October 2000,Official Report, column 234W, for what reason a period of 15 days elapsed before Ministers were informed of the arrests of British nationals. [136674]

  Mr. Hain
  As I said in my earlier answer of 30 October 2000,Official Report, column 234W, it is not normal practice for FCO officials to inform Ministers whenever a British national is arrested overseas. Due to a printing error, that answer appeared in incorrect form in Hansard. I would also like to take this opportunity to clarify another answer to the hon. Lady of 30 October 2000, Official Report, column 234W. Our Embassy in Havana was informed of the arrest of six British nationals on 9 October and immediately began seeking details and information about their whereabouts. On 12 October they made their first formal request for access. A diplomatic note requesting access was sent to the Cuban Ministry for Foreign Affairs on 16 October.

  Kosovo
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many United Nations personnel have been(a) earmarked for and (b) recruited for the United Nations civilian administration in Kosovo; and how many United Nations personnel earmarked for the United Nations civilian administration in Kosovo have already been deployed. [135418]

  Mr. Hain
  According to the United Nations Secretariat the authorised total for international personnel working in the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) is 1,156. Of that figure, 1,088 are currently deployed and a further 68 have been recruited. In addition, UNMIK employs 4,112 locally engaged staff.
  51W
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the deadline is for setting up an international police task force in Kosovo; and how many of the planned international police officers are deployed in Kosovo. [135419]

  Mr. Hain
  The United Nations International Police (UNIP) is already operating in Kosovo. According to the United Nations Secretariat, 4,129 of the approved total of 4,718 police officers have now deployed to Kosovo.

  Overseas Territories
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what length of time has been given to the Overseas Territories to respond to the KPMG reports. [136676]

  Mr. Battle
  The Overseas Territories covered by the KPMG review, namely the Caribbean Overseas Territories and Bermuda, have agreed to submit written responses to the recommendations in the reports by 15 January 2001.

  ASSIST Programme
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Assistance to Support Stability with In-Service Training programme; and what changes to the programme are planned. [137177]

  Mr. Vaz
  The ASSIST programme was established on 1 April 1998 to replace the UK Military Training Assistance Scheme (UKMTAS), with the main purpose of refocusing support to the Government's priority of promoting respect for human rights and good governance.

  Nigeria
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the extent of recent violence in Nigeria; and if he will make a statement. [136765]

  Mr. Hain
  I was saddened to hear of the serious outbreak of rioting in Lagos on 15–18 October. At least 200 people were killed, and over 16,000 fled their homes.

  The violence was predominantly between the Yoruba and Hausa communities. Its immediate cause remains unclear. The Oodua Peoples Congress, a militant Yoruba organisation, were heavily involved.

  The security forces brought the situation under control, and made many arrests.

  I deplore all such incidents. I urge the communities involved to resolve their differences through dialogue not violence.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Arts Venues (Small Towns)
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent assessment he has made of the future viability of arts centres and venues for live theatre and music in small towns. [135349]
  52W
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Arts centres are undoubtedly important for the local communities they serve, especially where access to mainstream venues such as theatres and concert halls is difficult. It is for that reason we believe decisions on their future viability and funding needs are best taken locally by the regional arts boards and local authorities. In a number of cases they will also be considered as part of the Arts Council's theatre review.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Healey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the measures he is taking to ensure that former coalfield areas gain a fair share of national lottery funding, and the effectiveness of those measures to date. [135352]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  The Government would like to see all parts of the country receiving a fair share of lottery funding. My Department and lottery distributors commissioned research into the impact of the lottery on the coalfields and have established a joint coalfields action group to take forward the report's recommendations. Early indications are that the rate of awards to coalfields areas has increased since Government lottery reforms came into force in August 1998.

  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money has been raised for good causes by the National Lottery since its inception. [135353]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  Up to the end of September this year, the National Lottery had raised £9.96 billion for good causes.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to ensure that the arrangements for auditing organisations in receipt of National Lottery grants are robust. [135909]

  Kate Hoey
  Distribution of National Lottery grants is a matter for 15 National Lottery distributing bodies. The Secretary of State's directions to these bodies (or, in the case of bodies operating solely in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, the directions from the devolved Administrations) require them to establish procedures which ensure lottery resources are being used for the purposes for which grants were given and that the schemes supported represent value for money; that projects are delivering the benefits identified on the application form in accordance with specified financial arrangements; and that assets purchased are being used for the purpose for which they were intended. The distributing bodies are required to set out their performance on this in their annual reports.

  My Department requires distributing bodies' accounting officers to submit a statement, verified by the National Audit Office (or equivalent) which states that their systems (including their systems for monitoring arrangements as set out above) are adequate for the distribution of lottery funds before they are permitted to draw down such funds. Other steps include an annual assurance exercise which examines distributors' compliance with their directions.

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the transport vehicles to which the Heritage Lottery Fund has given
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  financial support since its foundation; how many such vehicles are on static display only; and how many such vehicles are in use. [136275]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The information requested is held by the Heritage Lottery Fund and I have asked for it to be provided. I will write to my hon. Friend when the information is available and place copies in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what guidelines he has issued to the National Lottery Commission in respect of criteria for awarding the licence to run the National Lottery. [136394]

  Kate Hoey
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's directions to the National Lottery Commission were placed in the Libraries of the House on 4 February 2000.

  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what criteria there are for fitness to be granted the licence to run the National Lottery, with particular reference to the personal character and past conduct of bidders. [136244]

  Kate Hoey
  Decisions on fitness and propriety of the National Lottery operator are a matter for the National Lottery Commission. Section 4(1)(a) of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993 (as amended) requires the Commission to secure that the National Lottery is run, and every lottery that forms part of it is promoted with all due propriety

  Section 5(5) of the Act further provides that
  In determining whether to grant [a licence to operate the National Lottery] the Commission may consider—

  (a) whether any person who appears to it to be likely to manage the business or any of the business of running the National Lottery under the licence is a fit and proper person to do so, and

  (b) whether any person who appears to it to be likely to be a person for whose benefit that business would be carried on is a fit and proper person to benefit from it.

  Detailed criteria are a matter for the Commission.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what kind of facilities will be built in schools under the New Opportunities Fund's schools initiative; and if he will make a statement. [136297]

  Kate Hoey
  Subject to responses to the consultation paper, published today, we would like this initiative to focus primarily on refurbishing existing, and building new, indoor and outdoor sports facilities for schools and community use. The types of facilities we envisage being funded include playing fields, swimming pools, tennis courts, indoor nets, astropitches and facilities for outdoor adventure. This extra money would provide a wider range and greater number of facilities than would be possible through central Government funding alone.

  Football (Television Coverage)
  Mrs. Fiona Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will take steps to ensure access to premiership and national football matches through terrestrial television channels. [135354]
  54W
  Janet Anderson
  The Government only intervene in the sports broadcasting market to ensure that all television licence holders have "free to air" access (i.e. on BBC, the ITV Network or Channel 4) to those sporting occasions which have true national resonance; known as "listed events". The list was last revised and extended in 1998 and will be kept under review.

  As far as national team football is concerned, the entire finals tournaments of both the World Cup and European Championships are listed. Premier League football is not listed because, while the Premiership is of great interest to football fans, it does not strike a chord with the general viewer in the same way as the events which are listed.

  Young Musicians
  Ms Keeble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his policy is for improving opportunities for young musicians. [135355]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Ensuring all children have access to music-making opportunities is a key priority for my Department. We are working closely with partners on a range of policies to deliver this, including the Department for Education and Employment's £270 million Music Standards Fund and the £30 million Arts Council of England Lottery funding of the National Foundation for Youth Music.

  Richmond Park (Traffic Management)
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what views he has expressed to the Royal Parks Agency concerning the options for traffic management in Richmond park. [135356]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  None. Traffic management in the Royal Parks is an operational matter which is delegated to the Royal Parks Agency. However, I am aware of the sensitivity of the issue among local people, as I know is the agency.

  Library Plans
  Mrs. Ann Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the latest annual library plans submitted to his Department. [135357]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  Analysis of the plans submitted at the end of September is currently taking place. Individual and confidential feedback will be given to each of the 149 library authorities in December, and a general appraisal of all the plans will be published early in 2001.

  Press Complaints Commission
  Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will take steps to put the Press Complaints Commission on a statutory basis. [135358]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  The Government have no plans to put the Press Complaints Commission on a statutory basis. I believe that an effective system of self-regulation is far preferable to any statutory system.

  Broadcasting (Wales)
  Mr. John Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received about the impact of the change of ownership of HTV on broadcasting in Wales. [135359]

  Janet Anderson
  I have received no such representations as of 3 November. Changes of ownership in media companies are matters for the competition authorities and the Independent Television Commission.

  Olympic Games
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to provide financial support for British contenders for the next Olympic games. [135360]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  Financial support for elite UK athletes is provided through the World Class Performance Programme. The UK programme will provide at least £100 million over the next four years to help British competitors prepare for the 2002 Commonwealth Games and the Athens Olympics in 2004.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many Olympic athletes have received sponsorship from the New Opportunities Fund. [134706]

  Kate Hoey
  No Olympic athletes have received sponsorship from the New Opportunities Fund because the NOF programmes cover health, education and environment projects.

  National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many grants have been awarded by the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts; and what proportion of funding has been allocated to(a) science, (b) technology and (c) the arts. [135361]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  NESTA does not invest according to rigid boundaries between science, technology and the arts, and many of the individuals and projects which it has so far supported do not fall into exact distinctions between these disciplines. However, I can confirm that £500,000 of the £3 million so far awarded, has been given to projects predominantly related to science, £600,000 has been spent on projects which are mainly concerned with engineering and technological innovation, and awards principally focusing on the arts total £1.9 million. Further awards in all three areas will be announced by NESTA in the near future. I am asking the Chief Executive of NESTA to write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible with details of each award made so far and shall ensure that a copy of the letter is placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.

  Millennium Dome
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has for the future of the Dome. [135362]
  56W
  Janet Anderson
  The Government are currently in discussion with Legacy plc, in relation to Legacy's proposal for a high-technology business campus at the Greenwich site. The Legacy proposal is currently being analysed by the competition team in advance of any decision on preferred bidder status. We hope to make an announcement in due course. The Government are determined to get the best deal for the regeneration of East London.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many of the people employed in the Millennium Dome are(a) women, (b) from an ethnic minority and (c) both. [134585]

  Janet Anderson
  The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) has advised that, of the 1,398 people it directly employs, 647 (46 per cent.) are women. Using information from NMEC's equal opportunities monitoring process, 257 (18 per cent.) of the 1,398 employees are from ethnic minorities; 815 (58 per cent.) are white and 326 (24 per cent.) withheld the necessary information. Of the total number of women employed directly by NMEC, 125 (20 per cent.) are from ethnic minorities, 380 (59 per cent.) are white and 142 (21 per cent.) withheld the necessary information.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many letters of complaint he has received about expenditure on the Millennium Dome. [134583]

  Janet Anderson
  Since 1 May 1997 until 16 October 2000, my Department had received a total of 7,997 letters from members of the public and 1,246 ministerial cases relating to Millennium issues. Correspondence is not logged according to issues covered. Identifying those letters which relate specifically to complaints about expenditure on the Millennium Dome can therefore be undertaken only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many staff are employed in the Millennium Dome. [134584]

  Janet Anderson
  The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) has advised that it directly employs 1,398 people.

  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the Fraud Squad regarding Millennium Dome contracts; and if he will make a statement. [134588]

  Janet Anderson

  [holding answer 26 October 2000]: Neither my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State nor I have had any such discussions. The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) has advised that, following third-party allegations about the award of certain contracts to a design company, David James, Executive Chair of NMEC, notified the Met's CID. Prior to these allegations David James had, on taking office, initiated a review of past contractual arrangements entered into by NMEC. This study, together with the CID investigation, are on-going and it would not therefore be appropriate for me to comment at this stage. I will, however, report to the House as soon as the investigation is completed.
  57W
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many contracts, for what purposes, and of what aggregate value, were awarded to At Work Ltd. by the New Millennium Experience Company; and if he will make a statement. [135413]

  Janet Anderson

  [holding answer 30 October 2000]: I have been advised by the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) that At Work Ltd. were awarded three contracts by NMEC relating to the Living Island, Shared Ground and Work and Learning exhibit zones. All the contracts were concerned with design development (interior and exterior) for each of the zones in question. The aggregate value of these contracts was £4.5 million net of VAT.

  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment was made(a) by and (b) for the Government prior to the final decision to locate the Dome at Greenwich of the effects on visitor numbers of locating the Dome there. [136240]

  Janet Anderson
  The decision to locate the Millennium Dome at the Greenwich site was taken by the Millennium Commission in 1996.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will write to the hon. Member in his capacity as chairman of the Millennium Commission with details of the commission's decision and copies of that reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House

  Football Facilities
  Mr. Caplin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to increase investment in grass roots football facilities. [135363]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister launched the Football Foundation on 25 July. The foundation is a partnership between Sport England, the Football Association and the FA Premier League, all of which are contributing to its income.

  75 per cent. of the foundation's income will be used to fund the development of grass roots football in England, including the provision of high quality facilities. The foundation is expected to distribute grass roots funding of £18 million in its first year of operation.

  Picketts Lane Athletics Stadium
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he expects the contract for the new Picketts Lane athletics stadium to be signed. [135364]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  The Lee Valley Stadium project is still at the pre-design feasibility stage. Contracts for the construction of the new stadium can only be concluded once the design stage has been completed.

  Theatre Funding
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to ensure that there are sufficient resources available for the development of smaller theatres and theatre groups. [135348]
  58W
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The Arts Council's current review of regional theatre in its wildest and most inclusive sense, which it is undertaking in collaboration with the Regional Arts Boards and other interested parties, will be addressing these concerns when deciding how to allocate the additional funding it received from the recent spending review.

  Seaside Resorts (North Yorkshire)
  Mr. Quinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to support North Yorkshire's seaside resorts. [135351]

  Janet Anderson
  During my seaside 2000 tour I visited both Scarborough and Whitby and also launched the Yorkshire Coastal Tourism Initiative. I also announced a 4-point plan for England's seaside resorts, including measures to improve their low levels of lottery funding and to support bids for European regeneration money. Local authorities and regional bodies can play a major role in making progress in those areas and DCMS will continue to support them and achieve good results for resorts, including those in Yorkshire, such as we did in the new objective 2 and assisted area maps and in the latest SRB round.

  Tennis
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the opportunities for pupils in maintained schools to learn to play tennis. [134370]

  Kate Hoey
  Government policy is to encourage participation in a wide range of sports in schools. As part of the Government's Sports Strategy the first phase of the School Sports Coordinators programme has recently been established and will provide further opportunities for children in primary and secondary schools in deprived areas to participate in a range of sports, including tennis. In addition, the Lawn Tennis Association has a number of initiatives geared towards promoting tennis in schools, including the Starter Tennis Scheme, the Club-School Link Programme, and the Tennis Awards scheme.

  UK Sports Institute
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the intended opening date of the UK Sports Institute. [134642]

  Kate Hoey
  Recruitment of the key staff of the UKSI Central Services team has been completed. From November 2000, sports will have access to the technical, operational and programme support provided through the UKSI Central Services Team.

  The UKSI is also made up of a network of institutes operated by the home country sports councils. The establishment of the English Institute of Sport of the UKSI is on-going. The Badminton Centre in Milton Keynes, the Aquatics Centre and Velodrome in Manchester and the Ice-Centre in Nottingham are already available to athletes. In May/June 2000, the water-based hockey pitches in Birmingham and Cannock were among the first completed new projects. Over £50 million of new lottery funding has been committed by Sport England to date for additional facilities for the English network. It is

  59W
  expected that the majority of the remaining lottery applications, representing over £60 million of further investment in network facilities in England, will be made in the next six months. Once the full building programme has been completed, there will be over 80 facilities that go to make up the English Institute of Sport network.

  In addition, the UKSI Scottish Institute of Sport, funded by sportscotland, has been established and operating for 18 months and The Sports Council for Wales has been operating and developing UKSI Cymru for sometime. Both have been providing a range of services direct to athletes including technical training and support, conditioning guidance and supervision, preventive and reactive sports medical support and sports science. The Sports Council for Northern Ireland has identified the University of Ulster as their preferred partner to develop in partnership the UKSI network centre for Northern Ireland. Initial principles of agreement have been signed by both parties and work is under way to identify the most appropriate format to operate the network centre.

  I am arranging for copies of the UKSI Quarterly Update report for August 2000—produced by UK Sport—to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses to provide further information on progress of the UK Sports Institute.

  Photography
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of arts lottery funding has been awarded to projects primarily concerned with photography as an art form. [134519]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The number of arts lottery awards made to projects primarily concerned with photography is, according to figures supplied by the Arts Council, 24, totalling some £4,306,000. This represents 0.27 per cent. of the total awards and 0.32 per cent. of the total value of awards made by the Arts Council. Many more Arts Council awards will have gone to projects which also support photography through exhibitions and touring but which are not specifically for photography.

  Historic Building Grants
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many historic building grants were awarded in the last five years; and what was the average cost of these grants. [135207]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Grants for historic buildings and monuments are provided by English Heritage (EH) and the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). The information requested is provided for both of these organisations. It should be noted that the HLF's remit covers the whole of the UK, where as EH covers England only.

  Since financial year 1995–96 EH have offered the following numbers of grants:

  Historic Buildings and Monuments Grants:

  Total Offered: £50,974,000

  Number of Cases: 1,025

  Average Grant: £49,731

  This includes secular buildings and monuments.
  60W
  Church Grants:

  Total Offered: £45,717,000

  Number of Cases: 1,317

  Average Grant: £34,713

  This includes churches and other places of worship.

  Cathedral Grants:

  Total Offered: £15,000,000

  The actual number of cases of grants offered to cathedrals are not held centrally by English Heritage therefore we are unable to give an average grant figure.

  Since 1995 the HLF have awarded the following number of grants:

  Historic Building and Sites:

  Total Awarded: £436,382,000

  Number of cases: 1,658

  Average Grant: £263,000

  This includes secular buildings, places of worship and monuments.

  Wembley National Stadium Ltd.
  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) when Wembley National Stadium Ltd. will repay £20 million of National Lottery funds to Sport England; [135712]

  (2) what arrangements have been agreed for the repayment of £20 million of National Lottery funding by Wembley National Stadium Ltd. to Sport England. [135710]

  Kate Hoey
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 30 October 2000,Official Report, column 327W to the hon. Member for East Surrey (Mr. Ainsworth).

  BBC Digital Services
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make it his policy to allow BBC licence payers a discount if they are unable to receive BBC digital services; and if he will make a statement. [135907]

  Janet Anderson
  No. In February this year, in announcing its proposals for the future funding of the BBC, the Government made clear that they had opted for a unified television licence fee covering all the BBC's services, rather than differential fees for analogue and digital viewers. The Government estimate that the switch over to digital television will take place this decade, so the time has come to recognise that digital will soon be the norm.

  BBC News
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received regarding the decision of the BBC to move its main evening news from 9 pm to 10 pm; and what discussions he has had with the director-general of the BBC on the subject. [136403]

  Janet Anderson
  We have received 45 representations on the BBC's decision to reschedule the nine o'clock news. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State
  61W
  expressed his misgivings about the BBC's decision when he met the chairman and director-general of the BBC to discuss a range of topics on 6 October.

  Synchronised Swimming
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the training facilities available for synchronised swimming. [136398]

  Kate Hoey
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 30 October 2000,Official Report, column 325W.

  Marine Archaeology
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made since his meeting in May with the hon. Members for Knowsley, South (Mr. O'Hara) and Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) on the protection of sites of marine archaeological interest. [135329]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The Government remain fully committed to securing, at the earliest opportunity, the necessary legislation to provide English Heritage with powers below the mean low water mark. This will place underwater archaeology on the same footing as land based archaeology, allowing access to English Heritage grant funds and support which are currently not available to underwater archaeological work.

  The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is working on placing, during the current financial year, a number of wreck marker buoys and information signs at or near to sites which are designated under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973. We are continuing to support, through the Heritage Grant Fund, a maritime archaeological project undertaken by the Hampshire and Wight Trust and the archaeological diving training programme provided by the Nautical Archaeological Society.

  Playing Fields
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many new(a) public playing fields and (b) school playing fields have been funded by the National Lottery. [136769]

  Kate Hoey
  Specific information on lottery funding directed to both new public and school playing fields is not available. However, the Sports Lottery Fund has made 35 awards totalling nearly £17.6 million for projects creating both new and upgrading existing public playing fields, so they may be brought back into use. The Sports Lottery Fund has also made 15 awards totalling nearly £14 million for creating both new, and upgrading school playing fields.

  Dr. Tonge

  To ask the Secretary of. State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made in the development of a national register of playing fields. [136755]

  Kate Hoey
  The proposals for a national register of recreational land were originally put forward during the preparation of the Playing Pitch Strategy by the GB Sports Council, the National Playing Fields Association and the 62W
  Central Council for Physical Recreation in 1989. The objectives of the register from the outset were; to monitor change in the recreational land resource; to assist in policy development at the local and national level; to provide information to the public. This proved to be an extensive task, surveying over 70,000 individual pitches on more than 23,000 sites across England. An independent evaluation of the register in 1994 found a number of shortcomings with the data. These shortcomings were due to a number of factors including the voluntary nature of the project, with owner and managers of sites under no obligation to provide data, and many refusing to co-operate.

  A review of the effectiveness of the register in 1998 indicated that the likelihood of achieving and maintaining a comprehensive, accurate, up-to-date national inventory of playing pitches was remote. Sport England, with the support of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the National Playing Fields Association, and the Central Council of Physical Recreation, is currently working with the Local Government Association on a suitable model of the register which can be used by local authorities to undertake assessments of playing field need and provision in their area.

  National Lottery Commission
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many newsagents have made representation to his Department expressing concern about recent actions of the National Lottery Commission. [135335]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  I have received a range of representations about the award of the next National Lottery licence, including a few from newsagents. I have given Lord Burns, with the other Commissioners, a clear remit to bring the current process to a timely and fair conclusion and I have every confidence in their ability to do so.

PRIME MINISTER

  Public Service Agreements
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister which Cabinet committees monitor public service agreements; and if he will make a statement. [134832]

  The Prime Minister
  The Committee on Public Services and Public Expenditure (PSX) has its terms of reference to monitor progress against public service agreements, to review public expenditure allocations and make recommendations to the Cabinet.

  Environmental Policies
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the meetings (1) he has held with environmental non-governmental groups in 2000 to discuss the future of environment policy; [135434]
  63W
  (2) by date and organisation he has held with business organisations or companies since 1 January to discuss the future of environment policy. [135433]

  The Prime Minister
  I have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals. As with previous Administrations, it is not my practice to provide details of all such meetings.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister what account he took of comments posted on the No. 10 web site, at your say/environment in preparation of his speech to the Joint Green Alliance/CBI partnership meeting on environmental policies on 24 October. [135539]

  The Prime Minister
  I am well aware of the range of opinion on these issues, which I reflected in my speech.

  Whistleblowers
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister what procedures exist in his Department for a civil servant to report actions which(a) are illegal, improper, or unethical, (b) are in breach of constitutional convention or a professional code, (c) may involve possible maladministration and (d) are otherwise inconsistent with the Civil Service Code. [135492]

  The Prime Minister
  Civil servants in my Department are encouraged to report such actions to their line manager in the first instance. If for any reason an individual feels unable to do this or if the matter cannot be resolved in the management line, he/she may report such actions to one of two Designated Officers. Alternatively, he/she may report the matter to the independent Civil Service Commissioners, either directly or through the Permanent Secretary.

  Scottish Civil Service
  Mr. Grieve
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his responsibilities for the Scottish Civil Service and its adherence to the Civil Service Code. [135946]

  The Prime Minister

  [holding answer 31 October 2000]: Under the terms of the Scotland Act 1998, civil servants working in the Scottish Executive are members of the Home Civil Service and subject to the requirements of the Civil Service Code.

  Mr. Grieve
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will refer to the Cabinet Secretary the proposals of the First Minister, the hon. Member for Central Fife (Mr. McLeish) in relation to privileged access for Labour MSPs to civil servants of the Scottish Executive and compliance with the Civil Service Code. [135945]

  The Prime Minister

  [holding answer 31 October 2000]: The First Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for Central Fife (Mr. McLeish) has made his position clear in the following terms:
  Any talk of politicising the civil service in Scotland is nonsense. Impartiality is at the heart of everything the Civil Service has to offer and I will not let it be compromised in any shape or form.
  64W
  Of course there is a need for party political support and advice but that is a role for others—not the Civil Service.
  The Political Unit I am proposing will be entirely staffed by Labour movement staff with a range of liaison functions. It will be distinct from the Policy Unit which will continue to be staffed by Special Advisers and career civil servants.
  Let us also be clear that in accordance with well established practice MSPs of all parties have access to briefing from civil servants, usually on the basis that they support Ministers at meetings arranged for the purpose. This mechanism provides a valuable opportunity for MSPs to discuss issues of concern to their constituents with those closest to the detail of a particular policy and I intend that more should be made of it.

  I see no reason for referring the matter to the Secretary of the Cabinet.

  Definition of Superpower and Superstate
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Prime Minister what reasons underlie his policy of(a) favouring the creation of a European superpower and (b) not favouring the creation of a European superstate. [136229]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 1 November 2000,Official Report, column 509W.

  Ministerial Conduct
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will provide guidance to cabinet ministers about(a) the declaration of loans received for house purchases and (b) the receipt of donations from hon. Members. [136228]

  The Prime Minister
  Section 9 of the Ministerial Code provides guidance to Ministers on the handling of private interests.

  Fuel Crisis
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister what consultations he has had with drivers' trade unions about the possible use of Army drivers and tankers for transporting oil in the event of fuel supply stoppages. [136772]

  The Prime Minister
  In the past few weeks, Ministers in various Departments have held a number of meetings with representatives of organisations affected by the protests, including the trade unions.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Mr. Raymond Hale
  Dr. Naysmith
  To ask the President of the Council for what reason the petition by Mr. Raymond Hale of the University of Bristol, submitted to the Privy Council on 10 September 1999, has not received a response; and if she will make a statement. [136010]

  Mrs. Beckett
  Since the petition was received, officials from my Department have been pursuing it with Bristol University and with Mr. Hale. My officials wrote to Mr. Hale on 20 October 2000 to say that they would do all they could to secure a decision on his Petition by the end of November 2000.

  Appointments Council
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the President of the Council what the total budget is for the House of Lords Appointments Commission in the current financial year. [136038]

  Mrs. Beckett
  I understand that the Commission has provisionally estimated its budget for the current financial year at £250,000. The Commission will be taking into account the need for any changes in the light of experience and feedback it receives from the public and others.

CABINET OFFICE

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to her answer of 5 June 2000,Official Report, column 102W, on Special Advisers, if she will list the destination of each of the overseas visits undertaken by departmental or non-departmental special advisers. [135255]

  Mr. Stringer
  During the financial year 1999–2000, Special Advisers accompanied the Minister for the Cabinet Office or her predecessor to Paris, Rome, Brussels, Lisbon and New York. In addition, the UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator and his deputy visited Australia, Lisbon (twice), Belgium, Vienna and Turkey.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Departmental Policies
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effect on the Manchester, Gorton constituency of her Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [136176]

  Jane Kennedy
  The policies developed by this Department generally relate to England and Wales as a whole and it is therefore not possible to say what the specific impact is on the Manchester, Gorton constituency. However, Manchester, Gorton is within the Manchester Magistrates' Courts Committee (MCC) area and will be part of the Greater Manchester MCC that comes into effect on 1 April 2001. A new 18-courtroom building is to be provided by Manchester City Council under a PH contract. The Lord Chancellor's Department will be providing PH Credits to the City Council to the value of approximately £45 million, which is 70 per cent. of the net present value of the scheme. Also, since 1997, £78,804 has been provided by the Lord Chancellor's Department to improve facilities available at the Manchester Magistrates' Court.

  In addition, the Manchester Community Legal Service Partnership (CLSP), which covers Manchester, Gorton constituency, is one of 143 CLSPs throughout England and Wales. Throughout the Manchester, Gorton constituency, 12 agencies have been awarded contracts with the Legal Services Commission.

HEALTH

  Waiting Lists
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the average change in waiting times for in-patient treatment for NHS patients in each year since May 1997. [135012]

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  Weeks

  As at 31 March

  Average time (median) waited by those on the list1

  1997

  13.2

  1998

  14.8

  1999

  12.8

  2000

  12.9

  31 August 200022

  12.9

  1 This is the published notice, which refers to waiting list for elective 2 Latest available figure data used in the monthly statistical press the average time waited by those on the admission at a particular date

  2 Latest available figure

  The National Health Service Plan states that the maximum wait for in-patient treatment will be cut from 18 months now to six months by 2005. Urgent cases will continue to be treated much faster in accordance with clinical need. As a result of delivering this policy, we would expect the average time that patients have been waiting for in-patient treatment to fall from three months to seven weeks by 2005.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in East Sussex were on(a) an in-patient and (b) an out-patient waiting list on (i) 1 May 1997 and (ii) the latest date for which figures are available. [135326]

  Mr. Denham

  [holding answer 30 October 2000]: The information requested is given in the table.

  East Sussex, Brighton and Hove health authority1

  Patients waiting for elective admission

  Outpatient over 13 week waiters2

  31 March 19973

  20,035

  Data not collected

  Latest date

  418,460

  57,562

  1 HA waiting lists and times data have been collected on a responsible population basis since April 1999. Prior to this, data were collected on the basis of a resident population.

  2 Information is not collected on the total number of patients waiting for an out-patient appointment. The table gives information on the number of patients not yet seen for first out-patient appointment who had been waiting 13 weeks or over following referral by a GP.

  3 The baseline is given as 31 March 1997, as data were not collected at 31 May 1997.

  4 31 August 2000

  5 30 June 2000

  Single Currency (NHS Trusts)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost to NHS trusts of preparing for the euro. [134774]

  Mr. Denham
  None.

  Private Medical Insurance
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he last met representatives of the private medical insurance industry. [134786]

  Ms Stuart
  During the last two years I have met representatives of the private medical insurance industry several times. The last meeting took place in March this year. There is also regular on-going dialogue with representatives from individual companies at official level. The latest meeting took place on 26 October this year.

  Heart Surgery
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average change in waiting times for heart surgery has been since May 1997. [134742]

  Mr. Denham
  The average time patients waited for an operation involving the heart fell from 15 weeks at March 1997 to 14 weeks at December 1999 (latest data available).1

  The National Service Framework sets out a 10-year programme to transform the treatment of people with heart disease. An extra £230 million a year is being invested in heart disease services by 2004, backed up by an extra £120 million spending on equipment. The NSF pledge to carry out 3,000 more heart operations by 2002 has now been boosted by a further £10 million for another 3,000 procedures. This programme of expansion means that the maximum waiting time for routine cardiac surgery will fall to six months by 2005 and to three months by 2008.
  1 HES data relate to the average time waited by patients for elective admission during particular periods. Unlike published waiting list statistics, this is not adjusted for self-deferrals or periods of medical/social suspension. The answer uses HES data, although Korner data are usually used to answer average waiting times questions. However, Korner data are collected by consultant speciality only, and it is not possible to identify data relating specifically to heart surgery.

  Medicine Rationing
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on rationing of medicines in the National Health Service. [134954]

  Mr. Denham
  With the exception of the small number of medicines covered by schedules 10 and 11 of the general practitioner terms of service, and guided by any locally determined policies, National Health Service prescribers are free to prescribe any available medicines. In deciding on the appropriate treatment for individual patients they should take account of any local or national guidance, in particular any relevant recommendations on clinical and cost-effectiveness from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.

  Respite Care
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the availability of respite care to the carers of children with learning difficulties; and if he will make a statement. [135536]
  68W
  Mr. Hutton
  There has been no specific survey of how many learning-disabled children there are; the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS) surveys in 1989 estimated that there were 327,000 disabled children under 16 in England and Wales. This estimate represents 3.2 per cent. of the population and is lower than other estimates. It is generally accepted that this estimate although dated, remains valid.

  OPCS has also estimated that two thirds of the 110,000 most severely disabled children did not receive any support services. We can also estimate that two thirds of the most disabled 16 and 17-year-olds will receive no service—that gives a figure of about 11,500.

  Of the families covered in the OPCS private households survey, only a third of the children in the 5–15 age group or their families had received a domiciliary service in the previous year, and although the rate rose to almost four-fifths among the children under five, this was mainly attributable to health visiting.

  The inspection by the Social Services Inspectorate of services to disabled children and their families, published in 1998, identified a heavy demand for services in all local authorities.

  The Learning Disability Strategy, to be published early next year, will address the needs of learning-disabled people of all ages. Our consultation with experts in the field and service users has emphasised the importance of increased family support.

  On 27 September, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced that we will increase the amount of money put aside specifically to support carers in England through the Carers Special Grant from £50 million this year to £70 million in 2001–02, £85 million in 2002–03 and £100 million in 2003–04.

  This funding will more than double from £120 million this year to £290 million by 2003–04. This is an unprecedented investment in the future of some of the most vulnerable children in our country. I expect that at least £15 million of next year's special grant will be dedicated to the new priority area: disabled children. This money will be spent on a wide range of services, including both home based and respite care.

  Psychotropic Medication
  Dr. Naysmith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he collates about the level of prescribing of psychotropic medication in residential homes; and what guidance he issues to doctors on this subject. [136015]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information on the level of psychotropic medication in residential homes is not available. The "Prescription Cost Analysis: England 1999", which is available in the Library, shows that in 1999, 5.6 million prescription items were dispensed in the community in England for drugs used in psychoses and related disorders. Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders are contained within the British National Formulary section 4.2.

  The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has a continuing rollover work programme appraising drugs and interventions. We are considering a number of drugs for 2000 to 2001 for NICE, and an announcement will be made shortly.
  69W
  Dr. Naysmith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will issue guidance to doctors about alternatives to the prescribing of psychotropic medication for stress and minor illness. [135990]

  Mr. Hutton
  The National Institute for Clinical Excellence work programme includes the development of a guideline on the management of depression in the community. This will offer guidance on drug treatments and psychological therapies.

  The recently published National Health Service Plan provides a model of mental health services which requires radical shifts in the current range of provision. An investment of over £300 million will fast forward the Mental Health National Service Framework and provide real choices and alternatives for service users. An example is the investment in primary care workers who will promote a range of options in the care and treatment of stress and minor illness.

  NHS Dental Treatment
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many dentists were registered to treat NHS patients in each year from 1992 to 1999(a) by parliamentary constituency, (b) in Greater London and (c) in England and Wales; [135780]

  (2) what was the average number of patients registered with an NHS dentist in each year from 1992 to 1999 (a) by constituency, (b) in Greater London and (c) in England and Wales. [135781]

  Mr. Hutton
  The number of principal dentists on a health authority (HA) list (Family Health Services Authority (FHSA) for 1992 to 1995) in the General Dental Services at 30 September in each of the years 1992 to 1999 is shown in tables by(a) health authority (b) in Greater London, defined by HAs indicated and (c) in England and Wales. The tables have been placed in the Library.

  The average number of patients registered with a principal dentist in the General Dental Services at 30 September in each of the years 1992 to 1999 is shown in tables by (a) health authority (b) in Greater London, defined by HAs indicated and (c) in England and Wales. This has been obtained by dividing the number of registrations by the number of principal dentists on a HA list.

  Registration numbers from December 1997 are affected by the shortening of the registration period to 15 months. Previously the period was 24 months for adults, while children's registrations expired at the end of the following calendar year if the patient had not visited their dentist in the meantime. Registration numbers between 1992 and 1999 were also affected by administration changes.

  Data are not available by parliamentary constituency.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on dental services(a) nationally and (b) in Coventry South. [136590]

  Mr. Hutton
  On 28 September 1999, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced that within two years there would be access to NHS dentistry for everyone who wants it via NHS Direct. The dental strategy,70W
  "Modernising NHS Dentistry—Implementing the NHS Plan", published on 19 September 2000, shows how that pledge can be met. The strategy focuses on the areas of access, quality and oral health and is supported by £100 million new funding. Responsibility for dentistry is devolved to health authorities and they will be performance managed on service provision in their area.

  There are 24 practices in Coventry still accepting new patients for NHS dental treatment. A dental access centre across five sites in Coventry and Warwickshire is due to open soon. Dental access centres provide a complete range of dental services, including routine and urgent care. People do not need to register to see a dentist at a centre, and centres have extended opening times.

  Departmental Studies
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) undertaken in the last five years on the management or administration of (i) National Health Service pensions, (ii) general procurement, (iii) National Health Service payroll and (iv) drug procurement; and if he will place copies of these reports in the Library. [135763]

  Mr. Denham
  A prior options review of the NHS Pensions Agency, which administers the NHS pensions scheme, was completed by the Department of Health in 1998. A copy of that report was placed in the Library.

  On general procurement, the then Secretary of State my right hon. Friend the Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson) and the then Chief Secretary of the Treasury, my right hon. Friend the Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) who is now the Secretary of State for Health, commissioned a review of NHS procurement by a team from the Cabinet Office Efficiency Unit as part of the 1998 Comprehensive Spending Review settlement. The team reported to Ministers in November 1999. Copies are available in the Library.

  The Department has not commissioned or undertaken any reports during the last five years on the management or administration of the NHS payroll service.

  In November 1999 the Department commissioned a fundamental review of arrangements for the supply of generic medicines to National Health Service community pharmacies and dispensing doctors. The review was carried out by Oxford Economic Research Associates (OXERA) and their final report was submitted in September 2000. As a next step the Department intends to issue proposals for longer-term arrangements for the generics supply chain, drawing on OXERA' s work, for discussion with interested parties, along with a summary report of the factual basis of OXERA' s findings. A copy of the proposals and the summary report will be placed in the Library.

  In relation to branded medicines the Department produced the third Report to Parliament on the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the

  71W
  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health, the Member for Birmingham, Edgbaston (Ms Stuart), on 20 December 1999, Official Report, column 420W.

  Correspondence
  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire will receive a reply to his letter of 16 August on behalf of his constituent Mrs. Cochrane. [135786]

  Ms Stuart
  A reply to the right hon. Member's letter was sent on 1 November 2000.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to answer the questions tabled on 17 July by the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby, on the subject of the Alder Hey inquiry, to which he gave holding answers; and when he will reply to the letters of 3 August and 20 September, on the same subject, from the hon. Member. [136183]

  Mr. Denham
  I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply to his questions and letters as soon as possible.

  Prescription Charges
  Dr. Naysmith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will set up a review of the system of prescription charges including assessment of the treatment under the scheme of(a) patients requiring life-long treatment for non-exempt medical conditions and (b) other patients who are exempted from charges; [135987]

  (2) when the list of medical conditions exempt from prescription charges was last reviewed; [135988]

  (3) what his policy is in granting exemption from prescription charges to patients suffering from sickle cell and thalassaemia; and what changes there have been in that policy since May 1997. [136001]

  Ms Stuart
  The list of medical conditions conferring prescription charge exemption was agreed with the medical profession in 1968. The list and other aspects of prescription charges were reviewed in 1998 as part of the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review. No changes were made to the list of medical exemptions. We have no plans to undertake a further review. Our policy is to give priority to helping those who may have difficulty in paying charges, rather than extending the exemption arrangements.

  Suicides
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent studies he has carried out on the correlation between individual doctors and suicides. [136095]

  Mr. Denham
  The Department commissioned a research project on suicide in high-risk occupational groups, conducted by Professor Keith Hawton and colleagues at the Centre for Suicide Research, University 72W
  of Oxford. The project was funded over the period 1 December 1993 to 30 June 2000. A major component of the study has been research on suicide in doctors. The research will help to inform policy development.

  Long-term Care
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which elements of the Government's proposals for elderly care, announced in the National Health Service National Plan, were included by the Royal Commission on Long Term Care in its estimate for free personal care. [136041]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Royal Commission on Long Term Care proposed that personal care should be free, with recipients of long-term care making a co-payment for living and housing costs. It did not sum a series of proposals to reach its estimate of the cost of free personal care. It used information on the costs of care and the numbers of privately funded residents. Our proposals for free nursing care fall within the Royal Commission's estimate of the cost of free personal care, as do the proposed changes to the residential charging rules—the three month property disregard, uprating the capital limits and resources to enable councils to place charges on homes.

  Fruit Juice Labelling
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will extend the period for the introduction of new packaging and labelling rules under the EU fruit juice Directive from 30 months to five years. [136662]

  Ms Stuart
  The European Union fruit juice Directive requires member states to prohibit the sale of products which fail to comply with its provisions 30 months after the directive enters into force. The UK has no discretion to extend the transition period set out in the directive. Industry is aware of the likely timescales for the required changes.

  Occupational Therapists
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the question tabled by the hon. Member for Twickenham on 16 May concerning occupational therapists (ref. 122908). [136315]

  Mr. Denham
  I replied to the hon. Member on 2 November 2000,Official Report, columns 605–06W

  Eye Tests
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many eye tests were carried out on people aged over 65 years since April 1999(a) in Coventry South and (b) nationally. [136692]

  Mr. Hutton
  We extended eligibility for National Health Service sight tests to everyone aged 60 and over from 1 April 1999. In England and Wales, 10,030,000 sight tests were paid for by health authorities in the year ending 31 March 2000. This was 34 per cent. more than the total for the year ending 31 March 1999 (7,469,000). Figures for the numbers of people aged 60 and over who have received free eye tests in particular areas are not collected centrally. However, the increase in the total number of sight tests paid for by Coventry health authority in the year ending 31 March 2000 was
  73W
  14,360. The increase in the total number of sight tests paid for by all health authorities in England in the year ending 31 March 2000 was 2,407,080. It is fair to assume that the majority of these increases was due to newly eligible people aged 60 or over obtaining NHS sight tests.

  Children in Care
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to raise the standards of care for looked after children. [136687]

  Mr. Hutton
  We have already taken steps to improve the standard of care received by looked after children, and we are committed to a clear programme of action to turn around the experience of this vulnerable group.

  The Government Response to the Children's Safeguards Review, in November 1998, set out a detailed programme to ensure good quality care for looked after children. The Quality Protects programme was introduced in 1999–2000, to improve the services provided to and the outcomes of vulnerable children, particularly looked after children. Councils receive special grant funding to help them make the changes required, and councils have been set clear targets which they are expected to achieve. In particular, the funding has been directed at improving the quality and range of placements available and at raising levels of educational achievement for looked after children. We recently announced the extension of this programme from three to five years.

  From 1 January 2001, small private children's homes will be brought into regulation. This will mean that, for the first time, these homes will have to meet the requirements of the Children's Homes Regulations 1991 and will have to be registered with council inspection units.

  The Children (Leaving Care) Bill will ensure that young people do not leave care before they are ready to do so. From 2002 the National Care Standards Commission will inspect children's homes, local authority fostering services and independent fostering agencies. Inspection will be against national minimum standards for the particular organisations which will ensure that the quality of care received by looked after children will be acceptable throughout England.

  NHS Walk-in Centres
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to develop further the number and range of NHS walk-in centres. [136589]

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

  We will consider this in the context of improving primary care services in general.

  Clinical Error
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce an early warning system of clinical error. [136694]
  74W
  Ms Stuart
  We agreed all recommendations set out by an expert group on learning from adverse events in the National Health Service in the report "An Organisation with a Memory". We are planning, by the end of 2001, to introduce a new mandatory reporting system to log failures, mistakes, errors and near-misses in health care and ensure that lessons learned in one part of the NHS are properly shared with the whole of the health service.

  Primary Care Trusts
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made on the development of primary care trusts. [136588]

  Mr. Denham
  Excellent progress continues to be made in developing primary care trusts (PCTs) with 44 primary care groups forming 40 PCTs in this first year. Over 130 further PCT proposals are now being assessed against national criteria. Final decisions on these proposals will be made shortly with a view to establishing the PCTs in January for an operational start date of 1 April 2001. At least a further 190 PCGs are also considering movement to trust status for 2002.

  NHS Beds
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase the number of beds in the NHS. [136688]

  Mr. Denham
  As a result of the National Health Service Plan there will be 7,000 extra beds by 2004. Of these, on current assumptions, 2,100 will be in general and acute wards, the first increase of its kind in 30 years. The remaining 5,000 will be in intermediate care.

  Violence against NHS Staff
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on steps being taken to protect NHS staff from violence. [136690]

  Mr. Denham
  A cross-government campaign "NHS zero tolerance zone" was launched on 14 October 1999, underpinned by a national target to reduce violence against staff by 20 per cent. by 2001 and by 30 per cent. by 2003. All National Health Service trusts should now have systems in place to record incidences of violence to staff, and also to have local reduction strategies in place.

  Phase II of the "NHS zero tolerance zone" campaign was launched on 3 October 2000. It is aimed at reducing violence in the high risk settings, namely mental health, ambulance, community and primary care.

  By April 2003, NHS employers are expected to be accredited as putting an improving working lives standard into practice, which includes applying zero tolerance to violence against staff.

  Institutional Racism (NHS)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to tackle institutional racism in the NHS. [136691]

  Mr. Denham
  Activity to mainstream race equality in the National Health Service is occurring on a number of fronts, including within policy making in the Department, service delivery and the NHS workforce. In January 2000
  75W
  the Department published "The Race Equality Agenda of the Department of Health", which set out a programme of action on race equality. "The NHS Plan: a plan for investment, a plan for reform", published in July 2000, recognises the need for a modern NHS to respond to the needs of our diverse, multi-cultural society. This is reflected in the core principles of the new NHS and in a number of the commitments made in the NHS Plan. The NHS Plan also makes clear that every member of staff in the NHS is entitled to work in an organisation which is committed to improving diversity and tackling discrimination and harassment (including racial discrimination and harassment). The Department has also launched an Equalities Framework for the NHS, "The Vital Connection", in April 2000, which includes clear requirements for the NHS to promote race equality and introduces a package of standards, indicators and monitoring arrangements. Significant progress has also been made in implementing "Tackling Racial Harassment in the NHS—a Plan for Action", published in March 1999. All these documents have been placed in the Library.

  Cataract Services
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on cataract services in the NHS(a) nationally and (b) in Coventry. [136581]

  Mr. Denham
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced in July that we are investing £20 million to modernise cataract services. This will ensure quicker and more efficient services for patients and increase the number of cataract operations performed from 170,000 in 1998–99 to 250,000 by the year 2003.

  A total of £2.1 million has been allocated from this money to improve cataract services in the West Midlands region. Of this, £630,000 has been awarded to a consortium that includes Coventry and Warwickshire Health Authorities.

  NHS Doctors
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doctors(a) work and (b) worked in 1996 in the NHS. [136689]

  Mr. Denham
  The number of doctors working in the National Health Service as at 30 September 1999 (latest available figure) was 93,980. The comparable number working in the NHS in 1996 was 86,580. This represents an average annual increase of 2.8 per cent. per annum.

  Adoption
  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children are awaiting adoption, broken down by age in years. [136854]

  Mr. Hutton
  The available information for the past five years to 1999 (latest year available) is given in the table.

  Estimated number of children looked after by local authorities who were placed for adoption at 31 March by age, England 1995–99

  Year

  Age at 31 March

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  0

  160

  140

  140

  260

  110

  1

  230

  260

  320

  370

  460

  76W

  Estimated number of children looked after by local authorities who were placed for adoption at 31 March by age, England 1995–99

  Year

  Age at 31 March

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2

  240

  250

  300

  350

  430

  3

  190

  240

  280

  250

  350

  4

  180

  220

  260

  260

  350

  5

  190

  180

  220

  270

  270

  6

  190

  170

  190

  200

  240

  7

  180

  150

  150

  130

  190

  8

  140

  150

  140

  130

  130

  9

  120

  120

  120

  90

  100

  10

  100

  90

  90

  70

  70

  11

  70

  70

  70

  30

  40

  12

  80

  60

  40

  30

  30

  13

  30

  50

  40

  10

  20

  14

  20

  20

  30

  10

  1—

  15

  20

  20

  10

  20

  0

  16

  10

  10

  10

  1—

  30

  17

  1—

  10

  10

  1—

  1—

  All ages

  2,200

  2,200

  2,400

  2,400

  2,900

  1 Estimate less than five

  Notes:

  1. Table excludes children looked after under a series of short-term placements

  2. Columns may not add to totals due to rounding

  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to improve the system of adoption. [136855]

  Mr. Hutton
  We are committed to ensuring the best use of adoption as an option to meet the needs of looked after children. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced in February this year that we would conduct a thorough review of adoption services. As a first step towards this, we asked the Cabinet Office Performance and Innovation Unit to carry out a study of adoption practice during the summer to assess the evidence, explore the options for action and make recommendations to the Government. The Performance and Innovation Unit Report was published for consultation in July.

  The Prime Minister has announced that we will publish a White Paper before the end of the year setting out our new approach to adoption, building on the review and the results of the consultation. The White Paper will include proposals for new legislation to be introduced next year. In the meantime we are taking forward a programme of work to improve adoption services, including setting up a National Adoption Register and drawing up new National Standards for adoption services. In addition, we have announced an adoption and permanence task force to spread best practice and improve local council performance.

  We are also committed to improving intercountry adoption services and to putting in place effective measures to protect children. Regulations under the Adoption (Intercountry Aspects) Act 1999 are being prepared which will shortly be subject to a public consultation exercise. The Act enables the United Kingdom to ratify the 1983 Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. We hope to be able to present the regulations to Parliament early next year.

  Drug-related Deaths
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths were caused by(a) heroin, (b) crack/cocaine and (c) ecstasy in each year from 1990 to 1999; and what his projection is for the number of deaths in each category for 2000. [136573]

  Ms Stuart
  The information requested is given in the table, and is for England and Wales.

  Deaths where drug mentioned on death certificate

  Heroin

  Heroin and/or morphine

  Ecstasy/MDMA

  Cocaine

  1993

  67

  187

  8

  12

  1994

  127

  276

  27

  24

  1995

  162

  355

  10

  19

  1996

  241

  464

  16

  18

  1997

  255

  445

  11

  38

  1998

  407

  632

  15

  65

  Figures prior to 1993 have not been provided as they are not directly comparable to post-1993 data due to changes in the way data are collected and recorded. Data prior to 1993 are included in series DH4, available in Library. Detailed figures for the period 1993 to 1998 are available in Health Statistics Quarterly Editions 5 and 7, which can be found in the Library of the House. Data for 1999 will be available in 2001.

  It is difficult to make accurate predictions for the number of deaths in these categories for 2000, as the numbers are small and highly variable.

  Heroin and/or morphine is listed because heroin breaks down in the body into morphine, meaning the latter may be detected in the body at post-mortem and recorded on the death certificate. Therefore both figures are listed.

  Community Nurses (Mileage Allowance)
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mileage allowances community nurses can claim in rural areas; and if these have been increased since 1997. [136500]

  Mr. Denham
  Mileage and travelling entitlements for National Health Staff, including community nurses, on national terms are determined by an agreement of the General Whitley Council. These rates were increased with affect from 1 July 2000, under cover of advance letter GC 2/2000 A copy of this advance letter, setting out the new rates, has been placed in the Library.

  Accident and Emergency Departments
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the average waiting time in accident and emergency departments by health authority for(a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999. [135848]

  Ms Stuart

  [holding answer 1 November 2000]: Although the information requested is not currently collected centrally, the NHS Plan states that by 2004, no patient will wait more than four hours in accident and emergency departments from the time of arrival to admission, discharge or transfer, and that the average wait will be 75 minutes.

  Operation Cancellations
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what redress will be available to patients when operations are cancelled on the day they are due to take place under the National Plan. [135849]

  Mr. Denham

  [holding answer 1 November 2000]: In the National Health Service Plan we have pledged that from 2002, when a patient's operation is cancelled on the day of surgery for non-clinical reasons, the hospital will have to offer another binding date within a maximum of the next 28 days or fund the patient's treatment at the time and hospital of the patient's choice.

TREASURY

  Sickness Absence
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 28 July 2000,Official Report, columns 1023–4, regarding monthly outturns on sickness absence, if directors in his Department submit monthly or other regular reports on sickness absence; what unpublished statistics on sickness absence in his Department he holds; and if he will make a statement. [134829]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Incidences of sickness absence are reported by managers and collated centrally. Procedures for recording, monitoring and tackling sickness absence were reviewed in 1999 in line with the work on reducing absence following the July 1998 report on "Managing Attendance in the Public Sector".

  Tax and Benefits Confidential Helpline
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have contacted the confidential telephone line set up on the advice of Lord Grabiner's report on the informal economy; and how much(a) tax has been received and (b) benefit expenditure has been saved as a result. [134553]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The number of calls received up to the end of October 2000 by the Tax and Benefits Confidential Helpline is 12,633. The amounts of tax recovered and benefits expenditure saved as a result of the line are not available and cannot be estimated. The phone line gives people the opportunity to find out where they stand on a no-names basis, so the numbers that have put their tax and benefits affairs in order as a result of the advice they were given are unknown.

  PIA Ombudsman
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many decisions were made by the Personal Investment Authority Ombudsman in each of the last two years; [135275]

  (2) how many decisions were made by the Personal Investment Authority Ombudsman in each of the last two years in favour of the complainant. [135274]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  This information is published in the annual report for 1999–2000 of the Personal Investment Authority Ombudsman Bureau, a copy of which is in the Library.

  ICS
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases were referred to the ICS(a) Independent Investigator and (b) Board of Directors in each of the last two years under the ICS Complaints Procedure; and how many of these referrals resulted in an amended decision. [135270]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  (a) None between 1 October 1998 to 30 September 1999 and two between 1 October 1999 and 30 September 2000; (b) none between 1 October 1998 and 30 September 1999 and three between 1 October 1999 and 30 September 2000; none of these resulted in an amended decision.

  Inland Revenue Officers
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place the technical note on the review of Inland Revenue Officer powers in the Library. [135893]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Proposals arising from Inland Revenue's review of officer powers were published as chapter 3 of a technical discussion paper entitled "Simplifying National Insurance Contributions for Employers". This was published on 7 June 2000 and is available on the Inland Revenue's website. A copy has also been placed in the Library.

  Construction Industry
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times the joint working group on review of the construction industry scheme has met; and if he will place the text of its recommendations and deliberations in the Library. [135895]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The joint working group met eight times. It discussed a number of the industry's concerns. The group did not set out to produce a text of its recommendations and deliberations.

  Intellectual Property Taxation
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will publish the technical note relating to the review of intellectual property taxation concerning intangibles and good will. [135901]

  Dawn Primarolo
  A technical note entitled "Reform of the taxation of intellection property, goodwill and other intangible assets" was published by the Inland Revenue on 23 June 2000.

  Petrol Prices
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the average cost of petrol was accounted for by VAT and duty in each of the last seven years. [136005]

  Mr. Timms
  The proportion of the cost of petrol accounted for by duty and VAT is published in the Treasury publication "Tax Benefit Reference Manual", a copy of which is held in the House of Commons Library.

  FSA Inquiries (Human Rights)
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance is given to Financial Services Authority investigators on procedures to be followed to ensure that inquiries do not breach human rights. [136105]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Financial Services Authority (FSA) currently provides staff, including investigators, to all the main bodies responsible for the regulation of financial services in the UK. All investigators receive training specifically tailored for the types of inquiry they carry out. Such training covers procedures to ensure that inquiries are conducted lawfully, fairly and with sensitivity to those involved.

  Departmental Policies
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effect on the Manchester, Gorton constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [136173]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Manchester, Gorton parliamentary constituency, along with the rest of the United Kingdom, is benefiting from the long-term action we have taken to build economic stability and secure high and stable levels of growth and employment. Since the general election, claimant unemployment in the constituency has fallen by 1,812, or 37 per cent. youth unemployment is down by three-quarters, and long-term unemployment has been cut by more than half.

  Macroeconomic stability is being complemented at the microeconomic level by the Government's policies to ease the transition from welfare into work and to make work pay. To the end of the August 2000, the New Deal for 18 to 24-year-olds had helped 1,817 young people in the Manchester, Gorton constituency gain valuable skills and experience—755 (42 per cent.) of whom had moved into employment. The working families tax credit (WFTC), introduced in October 1999, is helping to make work pay for low and middle income families. In May 2000, 2,200 families in Manchester, Gorton were benefiting from WFTC.

  Mr. Emlyn Wynne
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place a copy of the Financial Services Authority's Complaints Commissioner inquiry into the case of the late Mr. Emlyn Wynne in the Library. [136097]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The report of the FSA's independent Complaints Commissioner on his investigation into the complaint from the family of the late Mr. Emlyn Wynne contains information confidential to the firm and to the family, and has not therefore been made public.

  Political Donations (Tax)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to tax donations to(a) political parties and (b) the offices of individual hon. Members. [136413]
  81W
  Dawn Primarolo
  The Government have no plans to introduce such a policy.

  Public Expenditure
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on the percentage of GDP which is represented by public expenditure. [136195]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The Government's fiscal policy is guided by two fiscal rules first set out in the Financial Statement and Budget Report in July 1997 (HC85). This fiscal policy is underpinned by the Code for Fiscal Stability laid before Parliament under section 155 of the Finance Act 1998.

  Budget Letter
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to submit his next Budget letter for independent adjudication before it is publicly distributed. [136191]

  Dawn Primarolo
  There is no Budget letter. All Budget documents will continue to provide an accurate and balanced account of the Budget.

  Single Currency
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will(a) commission and (b) publish independent assessments of whether his five economic tests are being met. [136411]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Treasury will make another assessment of the five economic tests early in the next Parliament.

  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the non-economic factors which will be taken into account in determining the timing of a decision to replace the pound with the euro. [136263]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The determining factor underpinning any Government decision to join the single currency is whether the economic case for the UK joining is clear and unambiguous.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last discussed constitutional issues raised by the euro with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. [136404]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer meets with his Cabinet colleagues on a regular basis and discusses a wide range of issues.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy in the event of UK membership of the eurozone to negotiate a right to withdraw unilaterally from the zone. [136190]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Any decision by the UK to join EMU would be made by the British people in a referendum and would be on the same treaty basis as applies to existing members.
  82W
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the causes of the fluctuations in the exchange rate between the euro and the pound in 1999–2000. [136009]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Exchange rates are determined by global markets and are influenced by a wide range of factors.

  Post Office Closures
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of the closure of post offices since May 1997 on his objective of reducing financial exclusion. [136711]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Bringing those who are currently unbanked into the mainstream banking system will make a major contribution to reducing financial exclusion. The Government—through its £500 million investment in automation of the Post Office network, and its support for Universal Banking Services at post offices—is enabling the Post Office to make banking services more accessible to the financially excluded.

  Pension Funds (Tax Credit)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of the abolition of the tax credit on dividends on the size of UK pension funds. [136417]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Government's package of corporation tax reforms included not only the withdrawal of payable tax credits on dividends but also cuts in corporation tax rates. These and other measures will help to improve investment performance. The effect of these changes on the size of UK pension funds will vary depending upon many factors, such as: the type of scheme; the take-up of private pensions; the level of future contributions and the investment policy adopted by fund managers.

  Tax System
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the role of the Paymaster General in tackling unfair tax contributions. [136415]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The responsibilities of Treasury Ministers are set out in the "List of Ministerial Responsibilities", copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

  Working Families Tax Credit
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families benefit from the working families tax credit in each constituency in Wales. [136616]
  83W
  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury, North (Mr. Chaytor) on 1 November 2000,Official Report, column 515W.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the future of the Working Families Tax Credit. [136473]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The introduction of the WFTC was the first step in a continuing programme of integration of tax and benefits, to make work pay better and improve support for families with children. In Budget 2000, the Chancellor announced the introduction, from 2003, of two new tax credits which will build on and extend the principles of the WFTC.

  Labour Market Trends Survey
  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list (1) for(a) Great Britain, (b) England, (c) Scotland, (d) Wales and (e) each region (as defined in the Labour Market Trends Survey) the economic activity rate for (i) men, (ii) women and (iii) men and women, for age groups (A) 16 to 17, (B) 18 to 24, (C) 25 to 34, (D) 35 to 49, (E) 50 to 59, (F) 60+ and (G) all aged 16 and over, for each of the years available from 1979 to 2000; [136749]

  (2) for (a) Great Britain, (b) England, (c) Scotland, (d) Wales and (e) each English region (as defined in the Labour Market Trends Survey) employee jobs by industry, for (i) men, (ii) women and (iii) men and women, for each of the years available from 1979 to 2000; [136748]

  (3) for (a) Great Britain, (b) England, (c) Scotland, (d) Wales and (e) each region (as defined in the Labour Market Trends Survey) the ILO unemployment rate for (i) men, (ii) women and (iii) men and women, for age groups (A) 16 to 17, (B) 18 to 24, (C) 25 to 34, (D) 35 to 49, (E) 50 to 59, (F) 60+ and (G) all aged 16 and over, for each of the years from 1979 for which figures are available; [136747]

  (4) for (a) Great Britain, (b) England, (c) Scotland, (d) Wales and (e) each local area (as defined in the Labour Market Trends Survey) the claimant count, for (i) men, (ii) women and (iii) men and women, for age groups (A) 16 to 17, (B) 18 to 24, (C) 25 to 34, (D) 35 to 49, (E) 50 to 59, (F) 60+ and (G) all aged 16 and over, for each of the years available from 1979 to 2000. [136750]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Richard Allen, dated 6 November 2000:
  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent questions regarding a variety of labour market statistics for men and women in different regions in Great Britain. I am replying in his absence. (136747/136748/136749/146750)
  Information on the number of employee jobs by region and industry for recent dates is published quarterly in table B.16 of Labour Market Trends. A back series of employee jobs, along with the number of people claiming unemployment-related benefits (the 'claimant count') by age and region are available through the Nomis database at the House of Commons Library. Information on computerised claims, by age, for regions and for a range of local area geographies is available monthly from June 1985.
  84W
  Estimates of economic activity and International Labour Organisation (ILO) unemployment by age and region are available from the Labour Force Survey (LFS), National Statistics' major source of labour market data on individuals. The information requested is also available through the House of Commons Library.
  The ONS preferred measure of unemployment is the ILO unemployment rate, derived from the LFS. It is defined on an internationally recognised basis. It counts as unemployed people who are a) without a paid job b) available to start work within the next two weeks and c) have either looked for work in the last four weeks or are waiting to start a job already obtained. This measure has been used in the LFS since 1984. LFS estimates of economic activity, defined as people in employment or ILO unemployed, are also available from 1984 onwards on a consistent basis.
  The Office for National Statistics (ONS) currently uses Government Office Regions (GORs) as the primary categorisation for regions. LFS estimates based on GORs are only available from 1992 onwards. LFS estimates based on the Standard Statistical Region categorisation are available from 1979, but only from 1984 onwards on the consistent ILO definitions of economic activity and unemployment.

  Low Earnings
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in(a) Greater London and (b) the Sutton and Cheam constituency earn (a) £3.60 per hour, (b) £3.61 to £3.80 per hour, (c) £3.81 to £4 per hour and (d) £4 to £4.50 per hour; and what percentage of total employees this constitutes in each case. [134892]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Paul Burstow, dated 6 November 2000:
  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question on earnings in Greater London and the Sutton and Cheam constituency. (134892)
  The following table shows the percentage of employee jobs earning within specified hourly pay bands in Greater London and Sutton and Cheam. The table is based on data from the New Earnings Survey (NES) for April 2000. NES answers are given as percentages earning below specified thresholds, rather than numbers. This is because appropriate grossing factors for the NES sample are not available at very detailed levels.

  Percentage

  Greater London

  Sutton and Cheam

  £3.60 exactly

  0.2

  0.7

  £3.61–£3.80

  0.6

  1.3

  £3.81–£4.00

  1.0

  0.7

  £4.01–£4.50

  3.2

  6.0

  However, the NES underestimates the number of low paid jobs since it does not provide a comprehensive picture of the lower end of the earnings distribution. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) best estimates of the number of jobs in the UK with hourly pay less than national minimum wage rates were published in the NES press release on 26 October available in the House of Commons Library. These estimates are based on a new methodology that combines information from the NES and the Labour Force Survey. Further tables, including estimates for Government Office Regions, will be published on the National Statistics website (www.statistics.gov.uk) on 10 November.

  Government Accounts
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is the Government's practice to require the production of both an invoice and a receipt for accounting of expenditure in Government Departments; and if he will make a statement. [136558]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The rules on the authorisation by Government Departments of payments made by them are set out in Section 21.2 of Government Accounting (GA). Of particular relevance are GA paragraphs 21.2.1 and 21.2.19–22.

  There is a copy in the House of Commons Library.

  Mapeley Limited
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date the contract between his Department and Mapeley Limited was concluded for the strategic transfer to Mapeley Limited of the ownership and management of the combined estate of the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise; and if he will place a copy of the contract in the Library. [136957]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise are working with Mapeley to finalise the details of the STEPS contract.

  Statistics (Sutton and Cheam)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were unemployed in the Sutton and Cheam constituency in each year since 1979 according to the International Labour Organisation definition. [134983]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Paul Burstow, dated 6 November 2000:
  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question on the number of people unemployed in the Sutton and Cheam constituency in each year since 1979 according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) definition. (134983)
  The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is the main source of labour market data on individuals used by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). However, estimates for the number of people ILO unemployed are not available for small areas such as the constituency of Sutton and Cheam.
  The measure of unemployment derived from the LFS is defined on a consistent and Internationally recognised basis set out by the ILO. It counts as unemployed people who are (a) without a paid job (b) available to start work within the next two weeks and (c) have either looked for work in the last four weeks or are waiting to start a job already obtained. This measure has been used in the LFS since 1984.
  ONS also publishes the monthly numbers of people who are claiming unemployment-related benefits, also known as the Claimant Count. Comparable figures (based on the 1995 boundaries) are available since 1996. The attached table gives the annual average levels of claimants in the Sutton and Cheam parliamentary constituency since 1996.
  86W
  Information on the unadjusted claimant level by parliamentary constituency ward based on the 1981 wards are available monthly from June 1983 to January 1996 and can be obtained from the Nomis database in the House of Commons Library.

  The annual average levels of claimants in the Sutton and Cheam parliamentary constituency

  Year

  Number

  Rate

  1996

  2,053

  5.2

  1997

  1,315

  3.5

  1998

  990

  2.8

  1999

  881

  2.4

  Note:

  Average for the nine months January to September 2000 is 701 (1.9 per cent.).

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the infant mortality rates were in each of the last 10 years for(a) Sutton and Cheam constituency and (b) Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth Health Authority. [134989]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Paul Burstow, dated 6 November 2000:
  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question asking for the infant mortality rates in the last 10 years for Sutton and Cheam constituency and Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth Health Authority. I am replying in his absence. (134989)
  The figures are shown in the attached table. The rates for Sutton and Cheam constituency (which are calculated from fewer than 20 deaths) may be unreliable due to the small number of events and should be treated cautiously. Any variation they show over time, or difference from National or health authority rates are likely to be due to chance.

  Infant mortality numbers and rates for Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth HA and Sutton and Cheam parliamentary constituency, 1990–99

  Registration year

  Number

  Rate1

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth HA

  1990

  78

  9.3

  1991

  49

  5.4

  1992

  57

  6.2

  1993

  67

  7.3

  1994

  33

  3.6

  1995

  59

  6.5

  1996

  51

  5.5

  1997

  40

  4.4

  1998

  39

  4.3

  1999

  42

  4.6

  Sutton and Cheam constituency

  1990

  9

  8.3

  1991

  2

  1.7

  1992

  6

  5.2

  1993

  3

  2.6

  1994

  1

  0.9

  1995

  8

  7.0

  1996

  5

  4.4

  1997

  3

  2.8

  1998

  3

  2.9

  1999

  4

  3.6

  1 per 1,000 live births

  87W
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many suicides there have been in(a) Greater London and (b) the Sutton and Cheam constituency in each year since 1980, broken down by age; and if he will make a statement. [134891]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

  Suicides and undetermined deaths1, registered in years 1980–99, for usual residents of Greater London

  All ages

  10–14

  15–19

  20–24

  25–29

  30–34

  35–39

  40–44

  45–49

  1980

  888

  1

  34

  76

  72

  70

  63

  83

  73

  1981

  986

  2

  35

  65

  89

  98

  79

  69

  64

  1982

  882

  7

  21

  73

  77

  87

  78

  62

  75

  1983

  890

  1

  27

  61

  70

  79

  67

  74

  77

  1984

  864

  2

  30

  59

  70

  63

  80

  66

  66

  1985

  836

  0

  31

  69

  73

  71

  72

  67

  74

  1986

  786

  1

  28

  68

  79

  66

  63

  62

  54

  1987

  801

  3

  24

  88

  79

  80

  86

  64

  61

  1988

  855

  4

  31

  84

  84

  78

  87

  62

  56

  1989

  774

  1

  31

  77

  89

  88

  64

  64

  62

  1990

  756

  0

  25

  74

  91

  84

  71

  56

  74

  1991

  737

  3

  14

  75

  88

  87

  67

  78

  65

  1992

  723

  3

  16

  75

  94

  89

  70

  64

  55

  1993

  726

  3

  15

  68

  97

  93

  69

  68

  68

  1994

  706

  3

  17

  63

  104

  88

  68

  63

  51

  1995

  674

  4

  17

  67

  89

  86

  83

  66

  57

  1996

  631

  2

  17

  49

  75

  93

  69

  69

  63

  1997

  667

  2

  26

  55

  89

  81

  72

  44

  70

  1998

  782

  3

  22

  65

  103

  123

  97

  68

  65

  1999

  682

  0

  14

  55

  81

  104

  78

  69

  55

  50–54

  55–59

  60–64

  65–69

  70–74

  75–79

  80–84

  85+

  1980

  64

  100

  66

  64

  47

  41

  25

  9

  1981

  87

  89

  89

  81

  61

  41

  25

  12

  1982

  75

  69

  63

  64

  51

  42

  24

  14

  1983

  74

  78

  64

  74

  62

  53

  19

  10

  1984

  84

  80

  70

  46

  51

  58

  27

  12

  1985

  62

  71

  76

  53

  52

  36

  18

  11

  1986

  67

  59

  49

  46

  50

  56

  26

  12

  1987

  47

  58

  63

  51

  50

  21

  13

  13

  1988

  55

  66

  52

  48

  48

  54

  24

  22

  1989

  49

  50

  46

  27

  36

  42

  29

  19

  1990

  52

  42

  35

  50

  25

  30

  30

  17

  1991

  54

  41

  40

  26

  31

  27

  25

  16

  1992

  49

  40

  39

  33

  37

  24

  22

  13

  1993

  43

  38

  29

  34

  28

  25

  28

  20

  1994

  46

  45

  36

  24

  29

  17

  19

  33

  1995

  47

  38

  26

  20

  15

  24

  16

  19

  1996

  39

  32

  25

  16

  28

  16

  19

  19

  1997

  55

  39

  35

  19

  25

  19

  15

  21

  1998

  57

  45

  29

  30

  21

  19

  13

  22

  1999

  50

  37

  31

  21

  24

  25

  20

  18

  1 International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, codes E950–959 and E980–E989 excluding E988.8.

  Suicides and undetermined deaths1, registered in years 1988–99, for usual residents of Sutton and Cheam constituency

  All ages

  10–14

  15–19

  20–24

  25–29

  30–34

  35–39

  40–44

  45–49

  1988

  4

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  1989

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1990

  13

  0

  0

  2

  0

  1

  0

  1

  3

  1991

  6

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  1

  2

  0

  1992

  6

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  0

  1993

  5

  1

  1

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  1

  88W
  Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Paul Burstow, dated 6 November 2000:
  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question on the numbers of suicides in Greater London and the Sutton and Cheam constituency in each year since 1980 broken down by age. I am replying in his absence.
  Figures for Greater London are presented in the attached table for years up to 1999, the latest available. Boundary changes to the Sutton and Cheam constituency mean that figures are not available for years prior to 1988. Figures for Sutton and Cheam are therefore presented in the attached table only for years 1988 to 1998, based on the 1999 constituency boundary.
  89W

  Suicides and undetermined deaths1, registered in years 1988–99, for usual residents of Sutton and Cheam constituency

  All ages

  10–14

  15–19

  20–24

  25–29

  30–34

  35–39

  40–44

  45–49

  1994

  7

  0

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1995

  8

  0

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  1996

  4

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  1

  2

  1997

  8

  0

  0

  0

  1

  2

  0

  1

  0

  1998

  7

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  2

  1

  0

  1999

  6

  0

  1

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  1

  50–54

  55–59

  60–64

  65–69

  70–74

  75–79

  80–84

  85+

  1988

  0

  1

  0

  1

  0

  1

  0

  0

  1989

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  1990

  0

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  0

  0

  1991

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1992

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  1

  1

  1993

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1994

  0

  0

  1

  1

  1

  1

  0

  0

  1995

  0

  2

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  0

  1996

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1997

  2

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1998

  0

  1

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  1999

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  1 International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, codes E950-E959 and E980-E989 excluding E988.8

  VAT (Fuel)
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on(a) the level of VAT receipts received in the current financial year to date from petrol and diesel sales and (b) the level of sales projected by his Department for that period. [136316]

  Mr. Timms
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood) on 31 October 2000,Official Report, columns 410–11W.

  Forestry
  Mr. HomeRobertson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what additional funding is being made available for(a) that section of MAFF responsible for forestry in England, (b) the Scottish Executive and (c) the National Assembly for Wales in respect of (i) the decision not to proceed with the sale of cutting rights in Forestry Commission forests and (ii) the consequences of falling world timber prices on Forest Enterprise; and if he will make it his policy to ensure that the Scottish Executive and the National Assembly for Wales are given access to support from the UK Treasury on a basis equivalent to what is proposed for the English part of the Forestry Commission, and that the extent of forestry in each country is taken into account. [137093]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The Forestry Commission in England is a Government Department distinct from MAFF. Spending Review 2000 set provision for the Forestry Commission in England and its Great Britain core functions. The allocation of Spending Review 2000 provision for Scotland and Wales is a matter for the Scottish Executive and the National Assembly for Wales.

  The Statement of Funding Policy published in July 2000 sets out the funding policies for the devolved Administrations.

  The implications of the current income shortfall are being reviewed with the Forestry Commission, the Scottish Executive and National Assembly for Wales.

  Employment Rates
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the contribution to GDP which would result from employment rates in each of the age groups(a) 45–50, (b) 50–55, (c) 55–60, (d) 60–65, (e) 65–70 and (f) over 70 years being the same as the employment rates in the age group 40–45 years. [136076]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 6 November 2000:
  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question on estimates of the contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which could result from employment rates in certain age groups being the same as employment rates in the age group 40–45 years.
  This information is not available. In order to make this calculation it would be necessary to make assumptions about the characteristics of those entering employment and the jobs they would be doing. In particular predictions would have to be made as to what the hours worked and earnings would be of people moving from inactivity to employment. While simplistic assumptions could be made it might prove misleading to assume, for example, that these factors would be the same as for those already in employment.

  Public and Voluntary Sector Funding (Walsall)
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what total additional funding has been allocated for use by public and voluntary sector organisations in the Walsall borough since May 1997; and if he will list the Government Departments from whose budgets such funding was paid. [136847]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Figures giving total funding across all public and voluntary sectors in the borough are not readily available, and would involve disproportionate cost to acquire.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Winter Fuel Payments
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what checks are made to ensure the validity of claims for backdated winter fuel payments. [134561]

  Angela Eagle
  The administration of winter fuel payments is a matter for Alexis Cleveland, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Mr. David Willetts, dated 6 November 2000:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what checks are made to ensure validity of claims for backdated winter fuel payments.
  As with all claims to benefit, checks are made to validate any claim before payment is considered. This is completed by various means, including but not restricted to, reference to existing Departmental records and National Insurance data.
  For making Winter Fuel Payments in respect of previous years, use has been made of address matching software. Before validating any payments for retrospective claims, records have been cross-matched with previous years Winter Fuel Payments to ensure that payments are made only to those entitled and at the correct amounts.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many households will benefit this winter from the winter heating allowance in each county in Wales. [135991]

  Angela Eagle
  The information requested is not available because forecasts of winter fuel payment recipients and the number of households in which they live are only produced for Great Britain as a whole. For each unitary authority in Wales, the estimated number of people (rather than households) who benefited from the winter fuel payment in the winter—1999–2000 is shown in the table.

  Estimates of the number of recipients of winter fuel payments for winter 1999–2000 by unitary authority in Wales

  Thousand

  Number

  Wales (total)

  548.4

  Isle of Anglesey

  14.1

  Gwynedd

  25.3

  Conwy

  27.9

  Denbighshire

  20.0

  Flintshire

  24.4

  Wrexham

  21.5

  Powys

  26.4

  Ceredigion

  13.5

  Pembrokeshire

  22.7

  Carmarthenshire

  36.8

  Swansea

  45.0

  Neath Port Talbot

  26.1

  Bridgend

  22.7

  The Vale of Glamorgan

  22.0

  Rhondda Cynon Taff

  41.3

  Merthyr Tydfil

  10.2

  Caerphilly

  27.8

  Blaenau Gwent

  12.8

  Torfaen

  16.3

  92W

  Estimates of the number of recipients of winter fuel payments for winter 1999–2000 by unitary authority in Wales

  Thousand

  Number

  Monmouthshire

  17.3

  Newport

  23.8

  Cardiff

  50.5

  Note:

  The table is based on 5 per cent. samples of administrative information and therefore subject to a degree of sampling error.

  Household Incomes
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) pensioners and (b) children in each of the past five years have lived in households with less than 60 per cent. of median income. [134558]

  Mr. Bayley
  The information is in the tables.

  Number of pensioners living in households below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income

  Million

  Including self-employed

  Excluding self-employed

  Year

  Before housing costs

  After housing costs

  Before housing costs

  After housing costs

  1994–95

  2.0

  2.5

  1.9

  2.3

  1995–96

  2.1

  2.4

  2.0

  2.3

  1996–97

  2.0

  2.5

  1.9

  2.4

  1997–98

  2.1

  2.6

  2.0

  2.5

  1998–99

  2.2

  2.6

  2.0

  2.4

  Number of children living in households below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income

  Million

  Including self-employed

  Excluding self-employed

  Year

  Before housing costs

  After housing costs

  Before housing costs

  After housing costs

  1994–95

  2.9

  4.0

  2.3

  3.3

  1995–96

  2.7

  4.0

  2.2

  3.4

  1996–97

  3.3

  4.4

  2.7

  3.9

  1997–98

  3.2

  4.3

  2.7

  3.8

  1998–99

  3.1

  4.2

  2.6

  3.7

  Notes:

  1. All figures are estimates and are taken from the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) data set which is derived from the Family Resources Survey (FRS). The FRS does not include Northern Ireland, and 1998–99 is the latest year for which data are available.

  2. The estimates are sample counts, which have been adjusted for non-response using multipurpose grossing factors that control for region, Council Tax band and a number of other demographic variables. Estimates are subject to both sampling error and to variability in non-response. All numbers are rounded to the nearest 100,000.

  3. The income measure used is weekly net (disposable) equivalised household income (that is to say income that is adjusted to reflect the composition of the household). While the number of individuals below various income thresholds may be sensitive to the precise way in which incomes are equivalised, changes shown over time generally are not.
  93W
  4. The estimates are presented on both a Before Housing Costs (BHC) and an After Housing Costs (AHC) basis in line with HBAI conventions. Figures are also provided including and excluding the self-employed, as research suggests that, for self-employed people, income as reported in surveys is often a poor indicator of living standards.

  Source:

  Family Resources Survey

  We have pledged to halve the number of children living in poverty in 10 years and eradicate child poverty in 20 years and we have already made significant progress. Estimates of the impact of the last four budgets are that the tax and benefit measures announced will lift 1.2 million children above the 60 per cent. median threshold after housing costs.

  Also, past changes in pensioner incomes reflect the fact that many pensioners have simply lost out on the opportunity for all people of working age to build a second pension. We are also determined to provide security for all of today's pensioners. The minimum income guarantee provides that security for pensioners with low incomes and our national take-up programme will encourage those entitled to claim.

  Working Families Tax Credit
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out the basis of his calculation of the number of people who will be taken off Housing Benefit as a result of the Working Families Tax Credit. [135262]

  Angela Eagle
  Estimates of the numbers of households taken off Housing Benefit as a result of the Working Families Tax Credit were produced using the Department of Social Security's Policy Simulation Model (PSM). The PSM is based on the Department's annual Family Resources Survey, which is a sample of around 23,000 households in Great Britain. Individuals' and households' income tax and national insurance liabilities, and entitlements to tax credits and social security income-related benefits, are modelled according to the prevailing tax and benefit rules and rates. The numbers in receipt of particular benefits are then calibrated to the forecasts for those benefits, published in the departmental report, or underlying the Pre-Budget Report.

  The effects of Working Families Tax Credit on the number of Housing Benefit recipients was determined by modelling two different benefit systems—one with Working Families Tax Credit, and one as if Family Credit had continued in existence, with appropriate uprating of benefit rates. All other tax and benefit rules were kept the same in the two systems. Adjustments were then made to ensure coherence with other forecasts. Comparison of the two modelled systems then gives the effect on the number of Housing Benefit recipients.

  Benefit Expenditure
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will so out the calculations behind the Government's statement that expenditure on contributory benefits will increase as a proportion of total benefit expenditure by 1.2 per cent. over the present Parliament. [135263]
  94W
  Angela Eagle
  The information is in the table.

  Contributory benefits expressed as a percentage of total benefits

  1996–97

  2001–02 Departmental Report

  2001–02 Spending Review

  Contributory Benefits

  42,159

  49,958

  50,061

  Total Benefits

  92,212

  106,479

  106,367

  Contributory percentage of total

  45.72

  46.92

  47.06

  Notes:

  1. The contributory benefits are Retirement Pension, Widow's benefit, Jobseeker's Allowance, Statutory Sick Pay, Incapacity benefit, Maternity Allowance, Statutory Maternity Pay, Guardian Allowance.

  2. Total benefits include all local authority spending on Housing benefit and Council Tax benefit in addition to the money funded directly from Central Government.

  Sources:

  Departmental report 2000. Spending Review 2000

  The rise in contributory benefits as a proportion of total benefit expenditure over the present Parliament is the proportion for 2001–02 of 46.92 per cent. less that for 1996–97 of 45.72 per cent. which gives 1.2 per cent. This was calculated using figures from the Departmental Report 2000. The table also shows the latest figures for 2001–02 published in the Spending Review 2000. The increase using these figures is 47.06 per cent. less 45.72 per cent. giving 1.3 per cent.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many additional staff have been moved into frontline positions in his Department and its agencies since April. [135265]

  Angela Eagle
  1,037 staff have moved, or are planned to move, from central and support services to the frontline under the organisational changes, announced in February, to focus the Department's resources on service delivery. It is expected that 2,500 posts will have moved by the end of this financial year, with a further 500 posts moved in the following year.

  Benefits (Special School Pupils)
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what benefit entitlement there is for 16 to 18-year-olds in education in special schools in respect of(a) the pupil and (b) the pupil's parents; and if he will make a statement. [135537]

  Angela Eagle
  Child Benefit is normally payable to the parents of all young people who remain in relevant education until they leave school or until their 19th birthday if this comes first. For the purposes of benefit entitlement relevant education means non advanced education, usually up to A level standard and includes special schools.

  Entitlement to other benefits for 16 to 18-year-olds in relevant education, (whether or not they are in special schools), and their parents, will depend on their circumstances.
  95W
  Those parents entitled to one or more of the income related benefits of Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance (Income Based), Housing Benefit, or Council Tax Benefit, may include the young person in their claim as a dependant, and the relevant child personal allowance and premiums will be included in the assessment.

  In certain instances, young people may claim Income Support in their own right, while continuing with their studies at school. These include those who are lone parents, young people who are severely mentally or physically handicapped, those who necessarily live away from their parents, and those who are estranged from their parents. Child Benefit ceases to be paid for young people who claim in their own right.

  Young people who, because of a severe mental or physical disability need help with personal care or mobility for at least three months, and are likely to continue to need help for a further six months or more, may qualify for Disability Living Allowance, regardless of their parents' circumstances. In addition they may also qualify for Severe Disablement Allowance.

  A parent who spends at least 35 hours a week caring for a young person who gets Disability Living allowance may claim Invalid Care Allowance.

  Benefits Agency Staff
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what consultations he has held on the working practices and conditions of Benefits Agency staff; and if he will make a statement. [135527]

  Angela Eagle
  Benefits Agency (BA) management recognises and values the importance of obtaining the views of staff and their elected representatives.

  BA has a formal Partnership Agreement with the Public and Commercial Services Union, the union who represent the majority of staff working for BA. The principles enshrined in this document are, for example allowing the unions the widest possible scope for influencing decisions prior to resolution, followed in consultation and negotiation when discussing any changes to staff's terms and conditions of employment.

  Benefits Agency Doctors
  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the review of fees and expenses payable to doctors working on behalf of the Benefits Agency will be concluded. [135547]

  Mr. Bayley
  The third report of the Social Security Select Committee looking at the standards of service provided by Sema Group Medical Services states that the question of doctors pay is an issue for Sema Group Medical Services to address.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list in date order the Housing Benefit regulations and amendments to them issued since 1 May 1997. [135719]

  Angela Eagle
  The information has been placed in the Library.

  Central Recovery Group
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for what reason the Central Recovery Group failed to meet its estimates of revenue recovery in each of the last three years. [135479]

  Angela Eagle
  The administration of benefits is a matter for Alexis Cleveland, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. She will write to my right hon. Friend.

  Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Mr. Frank Field, dated 6 November 2000:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to respond to your Parliamentary Question asking for what reason the Central Recovery Group failed to meet its estimates of revenue recovery in each of the last three years.
  The table below sets out the Central Recovery Group's overpayment recovery targets for the past three years, as set by the Department on behalf of the Secretary of State, and their achievement against those targets.

  £ million

  Year

  Target

  Performance

  1997–98

  10.3

  10.4

  1998–99

  12.8

  15.3

  1999–2000

  16.9

  19.1

  You will note that they have exceeded their target each year.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Severe Disablement Allowance
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the Government's plans to abolish Severe Disablement Allowance. [135538]

  Mr. Bayley
  The reform of Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA) will refocus benefit on people disabled early in life who have never had the opportunity to work and gain entitlement to incapacity benefits through the payment of contributions.

  At present, the poorest 70 per cent. of those receiving SDA also receive Income Support (IS). The IS rules require every pound of their SDA to be deducted from their IS so, in practice, they receive no benefit from SDA.

  From April 2001, young disabled people under 20 (or 25 if they were in education or training that continued beyond their 20th birthday) will be given access to Incapacity Benefit without having to satisfy the normal contribution conditions. Based on current rates, they will gain up to £26.70 a week. No new SDA claims will be accepted but existing recipients will be protected and will continue to receive SDA for as long as they continue to satisfy the conditions of entitlement. In addition there are special linking periods of eight weeks, one year and two years for people who leave SDA before April 2001 to try work or training which would allow them to return to SDA if they are still within their linking period.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) new claims and (b) awards of Severe Disablement Allowance there were in each of the last 18 months. [136304]
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  Mr. Bayley
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.

  Severe Disablement Allowance, new claims and awards

  New claims received (Number)

  Spells commencing

  December 1998

  2,896

  1,900

  January 1999

  3,527

  1,100

  February 1999

  3,857

  1,100

  March 1999

  4,227

  1,300

  April 1999

  3,342

  1,100

  May 1999

  3,318

  600

  June 1999

  3,916

  800

  July 1999

  4,228

  800

  August 1999

  3,910

  700

  September 1999

  4,064

  1,300

  October 1999

  4,354

  1,000

  November 1999

  4,377

  1,100

  December 1999

  3,016

  1,300

  January 2000

  3,548

  1,000

  February 2000

  4,155

  600

  March 2000

  4,692

  1,200

  April 2000

  3,481

  1,100

  May 2000

  3,913

  800

  Notes:

  1. New claims figures are a 100 per cent. count from Central Data Unit.

  2. Awards figures are taken from a 5 per cent. scan of the benefit computer system and excludes a small number of cases held clerically. These figures are shown in thousands and have been rounded to the nearest hundred.

  3. Awards in a particular month do not necessarily relate to claims received in that month.

  Widowers' Benefits
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the implications for recently widowed men are of last year's out-of-court settlement with Mr. Christopher Crossland on widowers' benefits; and what new help will be offered to men who are widowed before the new benefit rules come into force next year. [135721]

  Angela Eagle
  The friendly settlement reached with Christopher Crossland has no implications for Widows' Benefits.

  Fathers who are widowed before Bereavement Benefits are introduced will be able to claim Widowed Parent's Allowance from 9 April 2001 as long as they satisfy the qualifying conditions.

  Benefits Agency Reorganisation
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what discussions he has had with trade unions regarding the planned changes to the Benefits Agency leading to the establishment of a working age agency and a pensions agency. [135525]

  Angela Eagle
  A working age agency joint trade union forum has been established which represents staff from Employment Service, Benefits Agency and other parts of the Department of Social Security and all the constituent unions (Public and Commercial Services, First Division Association and Institute of Professional Managers and Specialists). This joint forum has met twice to date and arrangements have been made for regular monthly meetings with senior management within the working age programme on behalf of my right hon. Friends the 98W
  Secretaries of State for Social Security and for Education and Employment. These monthly meetings will be supplemented by additional meetings with the appropriate programme managers to discuss issues of detail.

  Union representatives from this forum are also due to meet with Ministers from this Department and from the Department for Education and Employment on 11 December 2000.

  Similar arrangements have been put in place with the DSS Trade Union side to discuss matters relating to the setting up of the pensions organisation.

  ONE Pilot
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the ONE pilots. [135526]

  Angela Eagle
  The ONE service is designed to change the culture of the benefits system by providing an integrated, work-focused service for all people of working age. Pilots commenced in twelve areas of the country in 1999 and are due to run until April 2002.

  The ONE pilots are the subject of rigorous evaluation to determine the effectiveness of the new service compared to the present one. They will be evaluated using a range of standard evaluation techniques, and data will be compared from the different model pilots to assess their relative effects.

  When robust and reliable research findings are available, they will be published. We expect to be in a position to publish the first findings from the preliminary phase of the pilots by the end of the year.

  CSA
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if voluntary payments made by non-custodial parents directly towards their children's maintenance are deducted by the CSA from the calculation of maintenance that it requests from the non-custodial parent. [135827]

  Angela Eagle
  Many non-resident parents want to, and do, provide financial support for their children while their maintenance liability is being calculated by the Child Support Agency. Voluntary payments of child maintenance paid before liability has been calculated can be offset against that liability. However, voluntary payments are not currently provided for in legislation and the Child Support Agency follows guidelines to determine which payments should be set-off against arrears of maintenance.

  The Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 gives statutory recognition to voluntary payments made before maintenance has been assessed. In the new child support scheme, payments in cash, either direct to the parent with care or via the Agency, and payments by the non-resident parent of household bills for mortgage repayments, gas/electricity or water bills can be offset as voluntary payments.

  Once maintenance liability has been calculated, there is no provision for voluntary payments to be taken into account and maintenance liability can only be discharged if payments are made to a specified person, usually the parent with care, directly, or through the CSA. The

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  amount of debt which arises through non-payment of child maintenance will not be offset by any amounts the non-resident parent has paid to the child, such as for pocket money or presents.

  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the new child support scheme indicates the categories of expenditure covered by the CSA maintenance payment. [135852]

  Angela Eagle
  Maintenance calculations under the new child support scheme are intended to provide a reasonable level of support for children while leaving non-resident parents with sufficient income to meet their other responsibilities.

  The new rates do not reflect an assessment of levels of expenditure in specified categories and it will be for the parent with care to decide how best to spend the money in the interests of her children.

  Charter of Fundamental Rights
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the cost to his department of adopting Article 25 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights; and if he will make a statement. [135570]

  Angela Eagle
  None. The charter will be a political declaration and is not legally binding. It is addressed to the EU institutions, and to member states only when they are implementing Union law (Article 51(1)). It does not establish any new power or task for the Community or the Union or modify powers and tasks defined by the Treaties (Article 51(2).

  Invalid Care Allowance
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to allow carers to keep their invalid care allowance money on receipt of their state pension. [135528]

  Mr. Bayley
  On 3 October we announced, as part of a package of measures for carers, plans to give people aged 65 and over the right to claim Invalid Care Allowance (ICA) for the first time. This entitlement will be subject to existing rules governing the receipt of ICA, including abatement where state retirement pension is paid.

  We estimate 40,000 pensioners will gain access to ICA or the carer premium for the first time as a result of this change.

  Vaccine Damage Victims
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the sums due to victims of vaccine damage he will pay to the families concerned; and if he will make a statement. [135996]

  Mr. Bayley
  In his statement on vaccine damage of 27 June 2000,Official Report, columns 719–27, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State said that top-up payments would be made in all cases where a vaccine damage award had been made prior to that date. About 900 awards had been made between 1978 and the date of
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  the statement. So far 129 top-up payments have been paid amounting to £8,696,500. Another 122 cases are nearing completion. In general cases are being paid in date order, that is to say, those customers who received their original payment the longest time ago will be paid first. The Vaccine Damage Payment Unit has recruited additional staff and arrangements are in place to progress the remaining payments as soon as possible while ensuring the interests of the intended beneficiary are protected.

  Benefit Fraud (Local Authorities)
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many local authorities have been subject to a review by the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate; and in which cases he has used the powers in section 139D of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 to direct a local authority. [136159]

  Mr. Rooker
  As at 3 November 2000, the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate had completed inspections on 73 local authorities and was in the process of inspecting a further 30 authorities. Directions under section 139D of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 have been given to one local authority, Northampton Borough Council, in August 2000.

  Benefits (Sutton)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in(a) the Sutton and Cheam constituency and (b) the London borough of Sutton have been in receipt of (i) Income Support, (ii) Disability Living Allowance, (iii) Incapacity Benefit, (iv) Unemployment Benefit and (v) Housing Benefit in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [134890]

  Angela Eagle
  The administration of benefits is a matter for Alexis Cleveland, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Mr. Paul Burstow, dated 6 November 2000:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to respond to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people in (a) the Sutton and Cheam constituency and (b) the London Borough of Sutton have been in receipt of (i) income support, (ii) disability living allowance, (iii) incapacity benefit, (iv) unemployment benefit. and (v) housing benefit in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.
  The data is not available in the requested format, however the information that is available is supplied in the attached tables.
  I hope this is helpful.

  (i) Income Support

  Year

  Sutton and Cheam constituency

  London borough of Sutton

  May

  1990

  —

  8.1

  1991

  —

  8.8

  1992

  —

  8.9

  1993

  —

  12.7

  1994

  —

  12.8

  1995

  —

  12.7

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  (i) Income Support

  Year

  Sutton and Cheam constituency

  London borough of Sutton

  1996

  —

  12.3

  1997

  —

  8.6

  1998

  —

  8.2

  1999

  2.8

  8.0

  2000

  3.1

  7.9

  Notes:

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

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

  3. Income Support for the unemployed was replaced by Income Based Jobseekers Allowance in October 1996. Figures up to and including May 1996 included the unemployed on Income Support.

  Source:

  Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiries, 1990–2000

  (ii) Recipients of Disability Living Allowance

  Year

  Sutton and Cheam constituency

  London borough of Sutton

  May

  1993

  1,200

  2,700

  1994

  1,400

  2,600

  1995

  1,300

  2,600

  1996

  1,400

  2,900

  1997

  1,400

  3,300

  1998

  1,329

  3,414

  1999

  1.418

  3,548

  2000

  1,505

  3,707

  Notes:

  1. Figures up to 1997 are based on 5 per cent. data and are rounded to the nearest hundred. For later years the figures are based on 100 per cent. data and are unrounded.

  2. Figures not available for 1992 owing to incomplete regional data.

  3. Yearly figures are given at 31 May.

  Source:

  DSS Information Centre

  (iii) Incapacity Benefit

  Year

  Sutton and Cheam constituency

  London borough of Sutton

  May

  1995

  —

  2.6

  1996

  —

  2.5

  1997

  —

  2.5

  1998

  1.0

  2.3

  1999

  1.0

  2.2

  2000

  0.9

  2.3

  Notes:

  1. Incapacity Benefit figures by Parliamentary Constituency are unavailable before 1998.

  2. Figures taken from 5 per cent. samples of the benefit computer system, and exclude a small number of cases held clerically. A rating factor has been used on figures for the London borough of Sutton from May 1996 to May 1999, to account for missing postcodes.

  3. Figures are expressed as thousands and are rounded to the nearest hundred.

  4. Yearly figures are given at 31 May.
  (iv) Unemployment Benefit
  No figures are available for Unemployment Benefit by either parliamentary constituency or Local Authority however figures for Jobseekers Allowance are provided in the table below.
  Unemployment benefit ceased in 6th October 1996 and Jobseekers Allowance began from 7th October 1996.
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  Jobseeker's Allowance

  Sutton and Cheam constituency

  London borough of Sutton

  August 1997

  —

  2.5

  May 1998

  —

  2.3

  August 1998

  0.9

  —

  May 1999

  1.1

  2.4

  May 2000

  1.7

  1.7

  Notes:

  1. Claimant figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred and expressed in thousands.

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

  3. Jobseeker's Allowance replaced Income Support for the unemployed in october 1996.

  4. Figures are for all claimants including those with nil benefit.

  Source:

  Jobseeker's Allowance Statistics Quarterly Enquiry, August 1997 to May 2000

  (v) Housing Benefit

  Year

  London borough of Sutton

  May

  1992

  9,470

  1993

  10,170

  1994

  10,280

  1995

  10,610

  1996

  10,880

  1997

  10,690

  1998

  9,980

  1999

  9,650

  2000

  8,870

  Notes:

  1. The figures supplied are for May each year from 1992 to May 2000.

  2. The figures have been rounded to the nearest ten cases.

  3. If the Local Authority failed to return any data, this will have been estimated.

  4. The data for the years prior to 1992 are unavailable. The data for the Sutton and Cheam constituency are unavailable as the lowest level that the data are collected for is by Local Authority.

  Source:

  Housing Benefit Management Information System, Quarterly 100 per cent. caseload inquiries taken in May 1992 to 2000.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Metropolitan Police
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of whether the Metropolitan police are institutionally racist. [134999]

  Mr. Charles Clarke

  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary made clear his assessment of institutional racism in the Metropolitan police service as well as in other public institutions in his statement to the House on publication of the report of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry on 24 February 1999,Official Report, columns 389–93. The action plan he published in March 1999 sets out a major programme of reform, the implementation of which is overseen and audited by the steering group set up for this purpose, which he chairs. The first annual report on progress in implementation of the action plan was published in February 2000.

  Nice Inter-Governmental Conference
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what issues within the remit of his Department are to be the subject of negotiation at the Nice Inter-Governmental Conference. [134785]

  Mr. Straw
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has overall responsibility for Inter-Governmental Conference issues, which are expected to be concluded at the European Council in December in Nice.

  The scope of the conference and the Government's position on the main issues was set out in the Government's White Paper—"IGC: Reform for Enlargement", in February 2000. The Home Office has a direct interest in several of the treaty changes which are being proposed, in particular some of those related to any extension of qualified majority voting.

  Violent Crime
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will commission an independent study of the possible reasons for the increase of violent crime in 1999–2000 and publish its findings. [134782]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I have no plans to commission such a study.

  Action to reduce violent crime, based on research by the Home Office as well as from other sources on the causes of and trends in violent crime and crime overall, is ongoing. Police forces are aware of the increase in violent crime and are carrying out proactive operations to tackle it.

  EU Judicial System
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is his policy to support the principle of the establishment of an EU-wide system of jurisdiction; and if he will make a statement on proposals under discussion thereon. [134797]

  Mrs. Roche
  We do not favour the establishment of a single European Union-wide jurisdiction, nor are there any current proposals to establish one. The United Kingdom fully supports the Tampere conclusion that mutual recognition should be the cornerstone of judicial co-operation in the European Union.

  Police Recruitment
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were recruited in the last 12 months, having previously served in forces outside Great Britain. [135822]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The information requested is not collected centrally. However, inquiries made with the Northern Ireland Office have established that in the last 12 months three officers from the Royal Ulster Constabulary have been recruited by forces in England and Wales.

  "Voices"
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department spent on advertising space in the recent Government publication, "Voices". [135588]
  104W
  Mr. Straw

  [holding answer 30 October 2000]: The Home Office has spent £5,477.85 including VAT on advertising space in "Voices". This expenditure covered in 1999 an advertisement featuring information about the "Break the Chain" initiative on domestic violence and this year a police recruitment advertisement.

  Merseyside Police
  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding has been allocated to Merseyside police since May 1997 in annual budgetary settlement and in special programmes; and how much of that funding was additional to the formulae aid programmes in operation before that date. [135832]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The amount of funding allocated to Merseyside in annual budgetary settlement since 1997 is shown in the table.

  £ million

  Year

  Government funding
  1

  1997–98

  207.5

  1998–99

  213.2

  1999–2000

  215.3

  2000–01

  220.7

  1 Includes Home Office Police Grant, Revenue Support Grant and National Non-Domestic Rates grant.

  Provision for 1996–97 was £203.4 million.

  In addition the force has received:

  £ million

  Year

  Capital grant
  1

  1997–98

  3.8

  1998–99

  2.3

  1999–2000

  2.0

  2000–01

  2.5

  £

  Year

  Loan charges grant
  1

  1997–98

  414,488

  1998–99

  340,380

  1999–2000

  351,136

  2000–01

  318,450

  1 Full year figure

  Home Office accounts records show that the force has also received the following individual payments:

  August 1997 Police Firearms Grant—£66,556

  August 1999 Police Beacon Scheme—£83,000

  March 2000 Police Beacon Scheme—£8,880

  June 2000 Crime Fighting Fund—£664,195

  September 2000 Crime Fighting Fund—£430,216

  October 2000 Anti-robbery grant—£1,800,000.

  "Casework Information Needs within the Criminal Justice System"
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a formal response to the report, "Casework Information Needs within the Criminal Justice System", undertaken jointly by the Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate, HM Inspectorate
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  of Constabulary, HM Magistrates' Courts Service Inspectorate, HM Inspectorate of Prisons, HM Inspectorate of Probation and the Social Services Inspectorate; and if he will make a statement. [135580]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Government welcome the joint inspectorates' report, and the way the six separate inspectorates collaborated together in reporting jointly on casework information flows right across the criminal justice system (CJS). This joint approach fits in well with the Government's development of joint planning for the CJS as a whole and in particular with the CJS Integrating Business and Information Systems (IBIS) initiative. There are no plans to publish a formal response to the report but it will be a useful aid to CJS departments, services and agencies in improving the way they currently handle casework information and its findings are being taken forward in ongoing work by CJS departments, including the points raised about the IBIS model of information flow in the criminal justice system. The inspectorates have indicated that, in their future inspections, they will be seeking confirmation that the recommendations of this report are being addressed and will commission a review of the implementation of the recommendations in two years' time.

  Dorset Police Authority
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the numbers of(a) operational police officers and (b) total staff employed by the Dorset Police Authority in (i) May 1997 and (ii) at the latest date for which figures are available. [135535]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Information on operational police numbers is collected in March of each year by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary. Total staffing numbers are collected twice a year in March and September. The latest available information in both cases are those for March 2000.

  The information is set out in the table.

  Dorset Police

  Year (as at 31 March)

  1997

  2000

  Total number of operational police officers

  1,081

  1,223

  Total police numbers

  1,284

  1,306

  Total number of civilian staff'

  615

  686

  Total number of staff employed

  1,899

  1,992

  1 excludes traffic wardens

  Between March 1997 and March 2000 the number of operational police officers in the Dorset Police increased by 13 per cent. The total increase in police service personnel for the same period was nearly 5 per cent.

  Ball-bearing Guns
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ban ball-bearing guns; and if he will make a statement. [135533]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  There are no plans to ban ball-bearing (BB) guns. These weapons generally have muzzle energies much lower than that required to inflict an injury more serious than superficial bruising. Because of this they do not fit the definition of a firearm contained in the Firearms Act 1968 and do not come under the 106W
  control of the Act. However, as the Home Affairs Committee (HAC) recognised in its recent report on "Controls Over Firearms", there is a danger of armed police being called out to deal with youngsters brandishing these weapons in the street.

  In its response to the HAC, the Government accepted the recommendation that the sale of these weapons to young people by mail order, telephone and the internet be banned and extended to include sales through any outlet, including face to face. The Government are therefore now considering how the sale of these and other replica firearms to people under 18 years of age might be restricted.

  Kray Brothers
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what files the Metropolitan police hold of material assembled by the Kray brothers; what their policy is on public access to those files; and if he will make a statement. [135715]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  This is a matter for the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police but I understand that nine files concerning the Kray brothers have been deposited in the Public Record Office. At the time of the last review the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Council agreed that all but one of these should be withheld from public inspection for a period of at least 50 years from the date of the last action on the papers. The one other file is subject to the 30 year rule.

  Criminal Record Checks
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what consultation there has been with voluntary organisations on the cost of criminal record checks by the Criminal Records Bureau; and if he will make a statement; [134677]

  (2) if his Department has issued guidance to local authorities on whether the cost of criminal record checks by the Criminal Record Bureau should be paid for by the local authority or the new employee; and if he will make a statement. [134678]

  Mr. Charles Clarke

  [holding answer 31 October 2000]: We have had frequent contacts over many months with voluntary sector organisations on a wide variety of issues concerning the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). There have been ad hoc meetings at both ministerial and official levels with the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), with individual bodies such as the Scout Association and with groups of organisations such as national sports bodies. The NCVO represents the sector on the board which oversees and advises Ministers on the programme as a whole, and several voluntary organisations are represented on the Customer Forum, which provides a bridge between the CRB and its future clients. Before making regulations prescribing such matters as the fees to be charged by the CRB, we shall carry out a regulatory impact assessment in consultation with affected bodies, including representatives of voluntary organisations. This will provide a thorough and up-to-date assessment of the implications.
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  The cost of certificates will be charged to the individual on whom the check is sought, although there is nothing to stop an employer such as a local authority or any organisation reimbursing the individual if they so wish.

  Organ Donation Forms
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to require local authorities to send out organ donation forms with their electoral registration forms; [136037]

  (2) if he will list those local authorities which send out organ donation forms with their electoral registration forms. [136834]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  It is the responsibility of each electoral registration officer (ERO) to decide whether to include additional literature with the electoral registration form. I have no plans to change that arrangement. The Secretary of State for Health and the Home Secretary wrote jointly to the professional associations of electoral administrators to seek their help in encouraging EROs to include organ donation literature with the electoral registration forms which were sent out this year. I have no substantive information about those EROs who have done so in the past.

  Lord Lieutenants
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 26 October 2000,Official Report, column 216W, regarding lord lieutenants, if he will provide a full breakdown of expenses incurred during the financial year 1999–2000 for the lord lieutenant of (a) Greater Manchester and (b) the West Midlands; and what mechanisms are in place to ensure that expenses claimed by lord lieutenants are appropriate and provide value for money. [136712]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Costs for the Lord Lieutenancies of Greater Manchester and the West Midlands are higher than those for other Metropolitan Lieutenancies because they include more significant staffing and accommodation costs.

  All claims for expenses and other costs incurred by the Lieutenancies in England are carefully considered by the Home Office before payments are made.

  Pursuant to this, it may be helpful if I give some further information to put the figures previously provided on 26 October 2000, Official Report, column 216W, into their proper context.

  Lord Lieutenants are appointed under current legislation by The Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister, following consultations locally and, where appropriate, with the First Minister or Secretary. Lord Lieutenants are much appreciated in their counties and areas, particularly as a link with the Royal Family and for their support of a wide range of local voluntary and community work.

  Lord Lieutenants are unpaid. They may however claim expenses from central Government for certain items such as travel and other reasonable non-entertainment expenses incurred in carrying out their official duties. Amounts claimed will clearly vary according to, for example, levels of activity in each county and area, size and dispersal of populations, and the personal circumstances of each Lord Lieutenant. Some choose not to claim any expenses.
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  In addition, counties and areas provide varying levels of administrative support, as do some Government Departments in respect of functions carried out by Lord Lieutenants on their behalf. The Home Office meets the cost of administrative support for Metropolitan counties in England.

  Marsham Street
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for West Worcestershire (Sir W. Spicer) of 24 July 2000,Official Report, column 452W, on the future of the three tower blocks in Marsham Street SW1, if the evaluation of the two private sector consortia involved in the public private partnership project to provide offices for his department and Prison Service staff has been completed; and if he will make a statement on his Department's latest position with regard to the future of the tower blocks. [136714]

  Mr. Straw
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend, the Member for Regent's Park and Kensington North (Ms Buck), on 28 July 2000,Official Report, column 1167W.

  Home Detention
  Mr. Collins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prisoners have been released in Cumbria under the home detention curfew scheme to date; and if he will make a statement; [136436]

  (2) how many of the prisoners released in Cumbria under the home detention curfew scheme have reoffended; and for what offences they have been convicted. [136437]

  Mr. Boateng
  This information is not available centrally. Data on releases under the Home Detention Curfew scheme are broken down by contract region, and not by county.

  However, I will make further inquiries of the electronic monitoring contractor for the Northern Region and write to the hon. Member with this information as soon as it is available. A copy will be placed in the Library.

  Sai Baba
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many representations requesting that Her Majesty's Government take action against Sai Baba he has received in the last 12 months; [136849]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the activities of Sai Baba involving UK citizens in (a) the UK and (b) India. [136848]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  During the last 12 months the Home Office has received eight representations from members of the public about Sai Baba, of which seven were from overseas. In addition four representations have also been made by my hon. Friend.

  The Government's position is that the members of this, and any other religious organisation, are free to follow their own doctrines and practices provided that they remain within the law.

  Fingerprint Evidence
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance is available for chief police officers in standardising procedures for assessing fingerprint evidence; how frequently have standards been changed since a standardised system was first introduced; and what standards are used by police forces of(a) other European Union member states and (b) the United States. [134881]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The current requirement for presenting fingerprint evidence in court is based on at least 16 points of comparison. This dates from 1935. In 1988 the Home Office commissioned a review of this requirement. A report was published in Fingerprint World and the Journal of Fingerprint Identification and was placed in the Library. In 1994 the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) initiated a review which concluded that fingerprint evidence should in future be based upon the expert testimony of fingerprint officers rather than any particular fixed number of points of comparison. ACPO are planning to introduce a non-numerical standard in the new year, once they are satisfied that the appropriate quality assurance standards, inspection, training and competency testing regimes that will underpin the new standard are in place within force fingerprint bureaux.

  There is no single common standard in Europe. Norway has a non-numerical standard while others have numerical standards varying between eight and 16 characteristics. Europol are considering moving to a non-numerical standard.

  The United States uses a non-numerical fingerprint standard.

  Telecommunications (Records)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines and safeguards govern access to the records of(a) mobile telephone service providers, (b) cell phone relay masts and transmissions and (c) individual subscriber call records; and what body has responsibility for oversight. [134991]

  Mr. Boateng
  Communications data may be supplied voluntarily for specified purposes (eg investigation of crime) under section 29 of the Data Protection Act 1998 and section 45 of the Telecommunications Act 1984. It may additionally be supplied in obedience to court orders.

  A more tightly controlled regulatory regime will be provided for under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. Chapter II of part I of the Act regulates access to communications data, explains the duties and responsibilities placed upon each party involved in the process, and creates a system of safeguards.

  The overall regime will be subject to oversight by the office of the Interception Commissioner. We aim to consult on a draft code of practice early next year, and to implement the chapter II provisions by April 2001.

  Racial Discrimination
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which representatives of the Government attended the August 2000 session of the UN Committee on the Elimination of all forms of Racial 110W
  Discriminations hearing the UK Periodic report made under the Convention; what were the recommendations of the Committee; and what response will be made to each recommendation. [134880]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Government were represented by Sara Marshall, head of the Race Equality Unit at the Home Office, and Henry Steele, from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Legal Department. They were supported by Warwick Maynard, Julie Clouder, Brian Quaife and Tim Woodhouse from the Home Office, and Nia James and Paul Bentall from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

  Copies of the committee's recommendations have been placed in the Library.

  A 16th update report, which will respond to all the recommendations, is currently being drafted. It is due to be submitted to the United Nations Committee by April 2001; copies will then be placed in the Library.

  New City Creation
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the decision on the creation of a new city will be published. [136309]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  No date has yet been set for the announcement of the result of the competition for the millennium grant of city status, but we are aiming for an announcement before the end of the year. City status is a rare mark of distinction granted by the Queen on the advice of Ministers.

  Offshore Taxation
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers Her Majesty's Government have in respect of international agreements to require taxes to be levied in the(a) Channel Islands and (b) Isle of Man. [136781]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The report of the Royal Commission on the Constitution (Command Paper 5460) sets out in paragraphs 1497 and 1513 the limited circumstances in which, in its view, the United Kingdom would be justified in using its paramount powers in respect of the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. As indicated in paragraph 1503, and also in paragraph 1535, these include the fulfilment of the United Kingdom's international responsibilities and obligations. Taxation in the islands has always been on the basis of laws enacted by the island legislatures.

  Illegal Entrants
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fines have been imposed on transport operators carrying illegal entrants to the UK since the scheme of fines was introduced. [136762]

  Mrs. Roche
  Since 3 April 2000, when the civil penalty provisions of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 were introduced, and 31 October, 552 penalties have been imposed on persons found to have carried between them a total of 3,127 clandestine entrants to the United Kingdom in their vehicles.

  Police Stations (Counter Closures)
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police station front-counters have closed in England and Wales, excluding the Metropolitan police area, since 1 January; and if he will make a statement. [136576]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  This information is not centrally collected.

  Electoral Register
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place a copy of his Department's study into the establishment of a central electoral register in the Library; when the study was commissioned; what the cost was; and if he will make a statement. [136208]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Improvement and Development Agency for local government (IdeA) was asked in April of this year to consider how access to the separate electoral registers maintained at a local level could be made easier for the purpose of checking that those making political donations were on the register. I will place in the Library a copy of the paper presented by IdeA to a steering group established by them to consider the issues. This group includes representatives of those who have responsibility for the registers and the Home Office. IdeA has undertaken this work as part of its general remit to improve the electronic delivery of services and there has been no charge to the Department.

  Discussions are continuing with IdeA and representatives of electoral registration officers. An arrangement for making access to the registers easier and quicker would involve a considerable IT project and is unlikely to be completed before next October. We are considering with IdeA as a matter of urgency what interim arrangements could be made for when the controls on donations set out in the Political Parties, Election and Referendums Bill come into force.

  Emergency Planning
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has issued to(a) local authorities and (b) other bodies regarding emergency planning procedures to be put in place in the event of a further disruption of fuel supplies; and if he will make a statement. [136313]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Organisations likely to be involved in responding to any future disruption to fuel supply have been briefed on the planned arrangements. This includes, for example, the list of designated petrol stations, and the list of Priority Purposes together with guidance on how to implement it.

  Local Authorities have been kept updated through established liaison links and by the involvement of the Local Government Association in work carried out for the Fuel Task Force.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list(a) actual and (b) planned spending on emergency planning in (i) each of the last five financial years, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) each of the next five financial years; and if he will make a statement. [136312]
  112W
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The information requested is given in the table. The figures are for Home Office expenditure on emergency planning and include grants, which the Home Office allocates to local authorities in England and Wales as a contribution towards their emergency planning activities. However, it is worth noting that other Government departments also have an interest in emergency management, and provide funding that supports recruitment of specialist staff, equipment purchase and academic research.

  The Spending Review 2000 exercise, recently completed by Her Majesty's Treasury, has looked forward to the three years 2001–02, 2002–03 and 2003–4. Budget allocations for these years have not yet been finalised within the overall Home Office settlement.

  Figures for 2004–05 and 2005–06 will be established in subsequent spending round reviews.

  Home Office gross expenditure on emergency planning

  £ million

  Actual

  Planned

  1995–96

  33

  36

  1996–97

  34

  33

  1997–98

  31

  29

  1998–99

  29

  29

  1999–2000

  38

  36

  2000–01

  136

  36

  1 Estimate

  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons his Department's grant for emergency planning in Shropshire was reduced between 1999 and 2001. [136836]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The reorganisation of local government necessitated the introduction of a new distribution mechanism for Civil Defence grant which was announced to local authority chief executives in May 1999. The three-tier system includes a basic allocation, a sum for County Councils in respect of Shire Districts and a final element based on population size.

  The allocation to Shropshire County Council has fallen between 1999–2000, and the proposed allocation for 2001–02. However, part of this reduction is offset by an increase in funding to the unitary authority of Telford and Wrekin which was formerly part of the county.

  Prisoners (Voting Rights)
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to amend the law to allow convicted prisoners to vote at local and national elections; and if he will make a statement. [136559]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I have no plans to change the law. Neither the Home Affairs Committee report on electoral law and administration in 1998 nor the working party on electoral procedures in 1999 recommended any change to the current provisions prohibiting convicted prisoners from voting.

  Fuel Crisis
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) arrests were made and (b) charges have been brought in relation to the recent fuel crisis; and if he will make a statement. [136311]
  113W
  Mr. Straw
  In England and Wales, 32 people were arrested as a result of the fuel protests in early September. In addition, 62 people were reported for summons, predominantly drivers of vehicles wilfully obstructing the highway. Information on the number of charges brought is not centrally available.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what emergency procedures his Department put in place during the recent fuel crisis; what reporting requirements were placed on local authorities and others in relation to the disruption and availability of fuel supplies; how the reports were(a) delivered and (b) distributed; and if he will make a statement. [136314]

  Mr. Straw
  Ministers and officials across Departments met regularly as the Civil Contingencies Committee. The Home Office Emergency Operations Centre was opened, and other Departments involved activated their own special arrangements. All of these were coordinated by operations based in the Cabinet Office.

  Regular situation reports on all aspects of the situation, including from local authorities, were commissioned and distributed as appropriate by email or fax.

  Bingo
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to deregulate the bingo industry. [137030]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I am publishing today a consultation document which sets out proposals for an order under the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act, 1994, to deregulate certain aspects of the bingo industry. Our consultation document makes three specific proposals.

  First, we propose the abolition of a requirement for licensed bingo clubs to notify the licensing authority of changes in their charges to players 14 days in advance. This part of our proposals will also have a small benefit for licensed casinos.
  114W
  Second, we propose to change the law so as to allow bingo clubs to have a mixture of jackpot and lower prize gaming machines.

  Finally, we propose to amend the law on multiple bingo—also known as the 'National Game'—so that it can offer more than one national, regional, and house prize.

  The Government believe that these reforms will benefit both the industry and its customers. The consultation document asks for responses by 16 February 2001. I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library.

  CRE (Annual Report)
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to publish the Commission for Racial Equality's 1999 annual report; and if he will make a statement. [137031]

  Mr. Straw
  The Commission for Racial Equality's annual report 1999 is published today and copies have been laid before Parliament.

  Exceptionally this year the report goes beyond the 12 calendar months stipulated by the Race Relations Act 1976 and covers a 15 month period thus encompassing both the calendar year 1999 and the financial year 1999–2000.

  The Commission for Racial Equality have produced a report which they believe meets both the requirements of the Race Relations Act 1976 and the Commission's own need to report on achievements against targets which are based on the financial year.

  However, since the Race Relations Act 1976 requires reports to be made in relation to the calendar year, and as soon as practicable after the end of the year, we have advised the Commission that future reports need to follow these requirements until such times as Parliament may decide to amend the Act.

  Copies have also been placed in the Library and they have been sent to the Scottish Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales.

  Bingo
  Bingo
  Commission for Racial Equality: Annual Report
  Commission for Racial Equality: Annual Report
  Lieutenant Governors
  Lieutenant Governors
  Home Office: Staff Numbers
  Home Office: Staff Numbers
  Millennium Dome
  Millennium Dome
  Anglo-Irish Secretariat, Maryfield
  Anglo-Irish Secretariat, Maryfield
  British-Irish Intergovernmental Secretariat, Windsor House
  British-Irish Intergovernmental Secretariat, Windsor House
  Northern Ireland: Irish Republic Officials
  Northern Ireland: Irish Republic Officials
  Northern Ireland: Fireworks
  Northern Ireland: Fireworks
  Northern Ireland Ex-prisoners and Victims' Group Funding
  Northern Ireland Ex-prisoners and Victims' Group Funding
  Magistrates' Courts Service: Chief Inspector's Annual Report
  Magistrates' Courts Service: Chief Inspector's Annual Report
  East of England Development Agency: Strategy Revision
  East of England Development Agency: Strategy Revision
  Smoking at Petrol Filling Stations
  Smoking at Petrol Filling Stations
  Agrimonetary Compensation for Arable Farmers
  Agrimonetary Compensation for Arable Farmers
  BSE Cases
  BSE Cases
  Organic Farming Scheme
  Organic Farming Scheme
  Badger Road Casualties: TB Survey
  Badger Road Casualties: TB Survey
  BSE and UK Sheep Flock
  BSE and UK Sheep Flock
  House of Lords Annual Report
  House of Lords Annual Report
  Resuscitation Decision-making
  Resuscitation Decision-making
  Sexual Intercourse: Risk Comparison
  Sexual Intercourse: Risk Comparison
  Diploma in Social Work
  Diploma in Social Work
  Social Care National Vocational Qualifications
  Social Care National Vocational Qualifications
  Flu Vaccination
  Flu Vaccination
  Social Security: Third Way Policy
  Social Security: Third Way Policy
  Child Poverty: Definition
  Child Poverty: Definition
  "Learning from Success" Conferences
  "Learning from Success" Conferences
  Age Diversity in Employment: Code of Practice
  Age Diversity in Employment: Code of Practice
  Examination Performance and Month of Birth
  Examination Performance and Month of Birth
  Departmental Cars
  Departmental Cars