Written Answers of 7 November 2000

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  CPS Documents
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Solicitor-General if he will list the conditions to be met for material found in the archives of foreign intelligence agencies to be regarded by the Crown Prosecution Service as of evidential value in legal proceedings. [136231]

  The Solicitor-General
  Any statement in a document found in the archives of a foreign intelligence agency will be hearsay and inadmissible if the reason for tendering the evidence is to prove the truth of the content of the document, unless the document can be brought within one of the exceptions to the hearsay rule. The most important of these, as regards statements in documents, are found in a number of statutes, for instance the Criminal Justice Act 1988.

  Cyclists
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Solicitor-General what the Crown Prosecution Service's policy is on prosecution of cyclists for(a) riding on pavements, (b) failing to display lights at night, (c) riding without warning bells or horns and (d) ignoring red signals at traffic junctions. [136257]

  The Solicitor-General
  Pedestrians and road users should be able to travel safely. Cyclists must take responsibility to ensure the safety of others and where the facilities are available make use of designated cycle lanes and at other times use the roadways. When cyclists have failed to act in a safe way thereby causing or potentially causing danger to others, offences arising out of this behaviour (such as riding on a pavement, failing to display lights, and ignoring signals) will be considered for prosecution.

  Where cases referred to the Crown Prosecution Service pass the evidential and public interest tests set out in the Code for Crown Prosecuters, a prosecution will be brought. There is no law stating that pedal cycles must be ridden with warning bells or horns and the Crown Prosecution Service cannot prosecute such cases.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Steele Report
  Mr. Donaldson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to publish the report of the review of the proposal for a new police fund to assist the widows and families of RUC officers murdered as a result of terrorist action; and if he will make a statement. [137114]
  116W
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 23 October 2000,Official Report, columns 20–21W, what the recommendations are of John Steele's report on implementation of recommendation 87 of the Patten report; how he plans to respond to each of the recommendations proposed; and what estimate he has made of the cost of implementing each recommendation. [135792]

  Mr. Mandelson
  I received the report from John Steele on 27 October. It is being published today, and copies are being placed in the Library of both Houses. Copies are also being sent to all those parties with whom Mr. Steele had meetings.

  The Government are grateful to Mr. Steele for taking on this sensitive review of the recommendation (recommendation 87) by the Independent Commission on Policing and for concluding his review so promptly. We welcome his comprehensive and thorough report. The Government are undertaking a detailed assessment of each of the specific proposals and these will form the basis on which the Government take forward implementation of this very important Patten recommendation.

  In particular, the Government agree that a new fund should be established covering in scope deaths and injuries caused directly by terrorist violence against members of the police in Northern Ireland. The fund would help seriously injured police officers, and retired officers and their families, as well as police widows. The Government will establish a Trust to administer the fund, on the basis proposed, as soon as possible.

  The Government also accept the key recommendation that widows of police officers who were killed as a result of terrorist activity prior to 25 November 1982 should receive lump sum payments. We will look to see how these payments, along the lines proposed in Mr. Steele's report, can be made without undue delay.

  The Government have already implemented the related recommendation, recommendation 88, that the Widows' Association should be given premises and a regular source of finance to run their organisation. The Widows' Association moved into new premises, and funding began, in September.

DEFENCE

  Joint Exercise (Oman)
  Mr. Rapson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the armed forces to undertake a joint exercise in Oman in Autumn 2001. [137361]

  Mr. Hoon
  Exercise Saif Sareea 2 will take place in Oman in September and October 2001. This will be a major Joint and Combined exercise with the Sultan's Armed Forces. The exercise will demonstrate the Joint Rapid Reaction Force concept, which was a central pillar of our Strategic Defence Review by deploying, sustaining and recovering a Joint Task Force at medium scale to conduct an Out of Area Operation. It sends a very clear signal about our commitment to the Gulf region arid will show Britain's ability to deploy rapidly a considerable force, with real punch, over large distances. The UK contribution will include a Naval Carrier Task Group, Armoured and
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  Commando Brigades and around 50 combat aircraft. The exact number of personnel taking part has yet to be finalised, but our contribution will be in excess of 20,000.

  Sponsored Reserves
  Mr. Ian Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the use of Sponsored Reserves. [137548]

  Mr. Spellar
  The first agreement for the use of what are familiarly known as "Sponsored Reserves" was signed on 27 October 2000 on behalf of the Meteorological Office and the RAF's HQ Strike Command. Introduced by the Reserve Forces Act 1996, this new form of reserve service extends the ability of the private sector and Government agencies to provide specialist support on operations as well as in peacetime. More properly known as special members of a reserve force, sponsored reservists are employed as civilians in peacetime and as volunteer members of a reserve force when deployed to support operations.

  The Mobile Meteorological Unit (MMU) provides meteorological support to the RAF in peacetime and to UK and Allied Forces when these forces are operating away from their fixed bases. Some 60 staff of the MMU form a unit of the RAF Reserve. Members will be routinely called out on a rotational basis under the terms and conditions of employment developed from the abroad consultation process with Industry that followed the Reserve Forces Act's coming into force in April 1997. This agreement represents the first use of the SR concept by my Department and builds on the established working pattern of the MMU which has supported operations since 1962 with great distinction.

  Departmental Building Costs
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 26 October 2000,Official Report, column 160W, regarding his Department's headquarters in Whitehall, which companies or consortia other than Modus Services plc were (a) invited to apply for the public-private partnership contract and (b) applied for the public private-partnership contract; what independent assessment was made of his Department's office requirements prior to the contract being signed; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the contract between his Department and Modus Services plc. [136673]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: As a result of advertisements requesting Expressions of Interest in December 1996, over 30 companies were issued a Preliminary Information Memorandum (PIM) in February 1997. Eight consortia responded to the PIM and six consortia were invited in mid 1997 to submit outline proposals for the public-private partnership project for the redevelopment of the Ministry of Defence Main Building in Whitehall. These were:

  Amey/Kvaerner consortium led by Kvaerner Corporate Development (this consortium became Modus Services plc);

  British Land, Pell Frischmann and Royal Bank of Scotland led consortium;

  Horseguards Group led by Ove Amp and Partners, Dresdner Kleinwort Benson Ltd. and Innisfree Management Ltd.;

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  MoDeM consortium led by the Bucknall Group;

  Mapeley Defence led by Nationsbank;

  Paladin Property Partnership led by Trevor Osbourne Property Group Ltd.

  In late 1997, invitations to negotiate were issued to three consortia as follows:

  Amey/Kvaerner (Modus);

  MoDeM;

  Mapeley Defence.

  The project represents a long-overdue modernisation and rationalisation of the MOD's Headquarters in Whitehall. The building dates from the 1950s, its infrastructure is inefficient, the offices fall well short of modern standards and are close to becoming a health hazard. The requirement was subject to the usual extensive scrutiny within Government and a number of alternatives were considered. I am withholding a copy of the contract under Exemption 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  ALSL
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will publish the bids received for construction of the four vessels under the ALSL performance; indicating how successful and unsuccessful bidders(a) met and (b) failed to meet his Department's selection criteria; [136744]

  (2) what reasons underlay the increase in the budget for ALSL vessels from two to four ships; [136818]

  (3) what the final bid prices were for tenders for the ALSL design and build contracts received from (a) Appledore/BMT, (b) Swan Hunter and (c) BAe Systems, Govan. [136819]

  Mr. Hoon
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: Four new Alternative Landing Ships Logistics (ALSL), replacing four LSLs, therefore represents a significant increase in capability. The current Landing Ships Logistic (LSLs) are mostly over 30 years old and of decreasing utility. The new ships will each have double the capacity of the old versions, and be able to offload troops into a potentially hostile environment twice as quickly, at a safer distance, in significantly worse sea conditions. We have always known that the LSLs would need replacing at some point; buying four ALSLs in this manner represents better value for money that running a fleet of two ALSLs and three LSLs and then buying more ALSLs closer to the LSLs' Out of Service Dates.

  The bids received, the assessment markings and the prices are commercially sensitive and I am therefore withholding these details under Exemption 7 (effective management and operations of the public service) and Exemption 13 (third party's commercial confidences) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Navy Training Budget
  Ms Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the budget for training all ranks of Royal Navy personnel in(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000, (d) 2000–01 and (e) 2001–02. [136939]
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  Mr. Spellar
  The figures provided are the training budget in cash terms for the delivery of training at all the shore establishments of the Naval Recruiting and Training Agency. This encompasses initial training (i.e. new recruits) and aspects of career training and Pre-Joining Training, i.e. courses immediately prior to a particular draft/appointment. These figures do not include costs of projections for Royal Marines or Naval Reserves but does include the NRTA HQ costs as these are considered to be a training overhead cost or projection.

  The following are the actual expenditure figures for 1997–98, 1998–99 and 1999–2000, the cash allocation figure for 2000–01 and the Short Term Plan (STP 01) projected Cash Control Total (CCT) for 2001–02:

  Naval recruiting and training agency (NRTA)

  £ million

  Year

  Actual expenditure

  Cash allocation

  Project CCT

  1997–98

  179.902

  —

  —

  1998–99

  192.263

  —

  —

  1999–2000

  192.990

  —

  —

  2000–01

  —

  200.342

  —

  2001–02

  —

  —

  196.133

  AWE Stewardship Programme
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the stewardship programme at AWE Aldermaston and indicate its annual budget. [135406]

  Mr. Spellar
  The stewardship programme at AWE comprises work, including research, necessary to ensure the continued safety and operational effectiveness of the Trident warhead. The current annual cost is broadly £120 million at 2000–01 prices.

  Ordnance Safety
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the ability of bombs and missiles currently in service to withstand repeated take-offs by the aircraft carrying them. [136235]

  Mr. Spellar
  An initial assessment of the life of a weapon, taking into account all operational factors including take-offs and landings, is made by the Design Authority when the weapon enters service. Further testing and evaluation is carried out while the weapon is in-service to identify any requirement to extend air carriage life.

  Overarching Personnel Strategy
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the Armed Forces Overarching Personnel Strategy. [137068]

  Mr. Spellar
  Copies of the Armed Forces Overarching Personnel Strategy were placed in the Library of the House on 14 April.

  Rights of the Child
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures he will take to ensure compliance with the United Nations Optional Protocol on the Rights of the Child. [136954]

  Mr. Spellar
  We are currently considering detailed administrative guidelines within the armed forces to implement the Optional Protocol. These guidelines will reflect the practical position set out in the UK's declaration on signing the Protocol.

TREASURY

  Tax Statistics
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people paid more than £1 million in tax in(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999–2000. [134724]

  Dawn Primarolo
  There are around 500 and 550 people who had income tax liabilities greater than £1 million in 1997–98 and 1998–99 respectively. These estimates are based on the Self Assessment computer system. I regret that information for 1999–2000 liabilities is not yet available.

  Tobacco
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much contraband rolled tobacco was seized by HM Customs in each of the past 10 years for which figures are available. [134411]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Prior to this year, separate figures for seized rolled tobacco have not been kept centrally. The figures for revenue on all types of tobacco detections for 1993–94 to 1996–97 were given in my answer to the hon. Member for Beckenham (Mrs. Lait) on 16 February 1998,Official Report, column 478W; similar figures for 1997–98 are contained in HMCE Cross Channel Excise Smuggling 1998, a copy of which is in the Library.

  For 1998–99 and 1999–2000, the amounts seized were £60.6 million and £297.8 million respectively.

  Tax (Wales)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax was raised in Wales broken down by(a) income tax, (b) VAT, (c) corporation tax and (d) other tax in the last year for which figures are available. [135237]

  Dawn Primarolo
  For 1998–99:(a) the figure for income tax liability from people living in Wales will be included in the next edition of "Inland Revenue Statistics 2000", a copy of which will be placed in the Library of the House;

  (b) VAT is a centrally collected tax and the figure for receipts is available only for the UK as a whole (HM Customs and Excise Annual Report, Table A1). However it is possible to estimate tax shares using figures for household expenditure (published by ONS in "Family Expenditure"), apportioned by the number of households (published by ONS in "Regional Trends", or available from the DETR);

  (c) corporation tax figures are not available; and
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  (d) all other Customs and Excise taxes are collected centrally, and figures for receipts are available only for the UK as a whole (HM Customs and Excise Annual Report, Table A1). It is possible to estimate tax shares using household expenditure figures and household numbers (see (b)), or per capita of the adult population.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much(a) value-added tax, and (b) income tax was collected in each tax office in Wales in each year since 1995. [135238]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Meaningful figures are not available.

  Tax year 1999–2000

  Date

  Issued1

  Received1

  Sent back1

  Processed1

  Waiting to be processed1

  April 2000

  8,763,125

  202,063

  3,170

  0

  202,063

  May 2000

  111,723

  450,747

  7,156

  33

  652,777

  June 2000

  80,792

  668,360

  21,613

  536,927

  784,210

  July 2000

  48,707

  689,542

  17,589

  575,802

  897,950

  August 2000

  50,490

  875,041

  18,526

  739,180

  1,033,811

  September 2000

  41,072

  1,314,559

  27,309

  740,604

  1,607,766

  1 Monthly SA returns

  Tax System
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publicise the proportion of the purchase price of(a) a pint of beer, (b) a bottle of wine, (c) a bottle of whiskey, (d) a packet of 20 cigarettes and (e) a litre of unleaded petrol that is represented by tax and excise duty. [136391]

  Dawn Primarolo
  This information is available in Customs and Excise factsheets on(a) beer, (b) wine, (c) spirits, (d) tobacco and (e) hydrocarbon oil, copies of which are in the Library.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish an estimate of the impact of direct and indirect taxes on households in all main income deciles since May 1997. [136419]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The latest available figures are contained in the article "The effects of tax and benefits on household income, 1998–99" in the April 2000 edition of Economic Trends. It should be noted that the detailed results in this article are freestanding, since the underlying statistics do not support direct comparison with articles from earlier years.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the loss to the Inland Revenue in 1999–2000 resulting from(a) tax avoidance and (b) tax evasion. [136390]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Inland Revenue does not identify these elements separately in their statistics. Figures are published in the Board of Inland Revenue's Annual Report, copies of which are in the Library of the House, and updates will be published in the next edition.

  Excise Duties
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of increased excise duties on the Retail Prices Index since May 1997. [136192]

  Self-assessment
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 28 July 2000,Official Report, column 1022W, concerning tax returns, if he will publish the monthly number of self assessment forms (a) issued, (b) received, (c) sent back, (d) waiting to be processed and (e) processed for each month since the introduction of self assessment. [135872]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 31 October 2000,Official Report, columns 412–13W. The figures for 1999–2000 are as follows:

  Dawn Primarolo
  The impact of changes in excise duties on the Retail Prices Index are published by the Office for National Statistics each year on the Internet. The latest of these can be found at http://www.statistics.gov.uk.

  Fuel Taxation
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason aviation fuel utilities on(a) UK domestic flights and (b) EU internal flights is exempt from fuel taxation. [136544]

  Mr. Timms
  The relevant EC Directive provides a compulsory exemption for commercial aviation fuels reflecting long-standing international agreement.

  Illegal Fuel Imports
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much road fuel has been seized by Customs and Excise in Northern Ireland because it was being illegally imported into the United Kingdom in each of the last five years. [137088]

  Mr. Timms
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for East Londonderry (Mr. Ross) on 5 July 2000,Official Report, column 201W.

  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what additional resources Customs and Excise in Northern Ireland have received to deal with increases in the illegal importation of road fuel from the Republic of Ireland. [137089]

  Mr. Timms
  From within their existing resources Customs and Excise have increased by a factor of four the resource devoted to tackling oils fraud in Northern Ireland, complemented by additional mainland resource for specific exercises.

  Petrol Duty
  Mr. Maclean
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of the current level of petrol duty on the Retail Prices Index. [137105]

  Mr. Timms
  An assessment of the impact from petrol duty on retail prices is made when producing the twice-yearly economic forecast. An updated inflation forecast will be published in the pre-Budget Report, on 8 November.

  Floods (Lewes)
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ensure the deadlines normally applicable for VAT and other tax returns by businesses are relaxed for businesses seriously affected by the recent flooding in Lewes. [136566]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: Both Customs and Excise and the Inland Revenue will deal sympathetically with any business in serious difficulty as a result of an unforeseeable event such as severe flooding. Deadlines applicable to the submission of VAT and other tax returns are prescribed in law but there is no liability to a penalty where the business has a reasonable excuse for failing to meet its obligations.

  Tax (Married Couples)
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidelines are issued by the Inland Revenue regarding the tax treatment of married couples where a business partnership exists between husband and wife; if, in these circumstances, an investigation into the tax affairs of either husband or wife automatically triggers an investigation into the financial circumstances of the spouse; and if he will make a statement. [135158]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The tax treatment of a business partnership between husband and wife is the same as the tax treatment of any other business partnership.

  The Inland Revenue may open an inquiry into the partnership return and any or all of the partners' personal returns. The official guidance is that before they issue a notice of an inquiry into the partnership return, staff should review the returns of all relevant partners. Where staff decide that they need to check whether the partnership return is fundamentally incorrect, they will normally need to inquire into all of the individual partners' returns as well. This is to ensure that all risks of error or evasion in the partnership are looked at properly.

  Where a partner's personal return is selected for inquiry on its merits, without an inquiry into the partnership return, then an inquiry into the spouse's return is not triggered automatically.

  Working Families Tax Credit
  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the annual cost to the Exchequer would be of disregarding the working mother's allowance in respect of the working families' tax credit. [136831]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: I am not aware of a working mother's allowance.

  Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on the introduction of ultra low sulphur diesel. [137609]

  Mr. Timms
  The Government are today publishing "Using the Tax System to Encourage Cleaner Fuels: The Experience of Ultra-Low Sulphur Diesel". Copies are available in the Library of the House and in the Vote Office.

  Barnett Formula
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes have been made to the English comparator that forms the basis of the Barnett formula in each year since 1997; what consequential changes in allocations to(a) Northern Ireland, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales were made as a result; and what the cumulative effect of all such changes was in the current financial year. [137027]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  With regard to changes which have been made to the English comparator since 1997, the departmental comparability factors in the Barnett formula which were used in the 1998 Comprehensive Spending Review were set out in Annexe C of the Statement of Funding Policy published in March 1999. The factors which were used in the 2000 Spending Review were set out in Annexe C of the updated Statement of Funding Policy in July 2000.

  The changes in allocations to Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales depend on changes in UK Government Departments' departmental expenditure limits, the relevant departmental comparability factor and the appropriate population share. Increases in the Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales budgets were announced in the 1998 Comprehensive Spending Review and 2000 Spending Review.

  Spending in the current financial year determined in the 1998 Comprehensive Spending Review was based on comparability factors used in that review.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Euro
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions he has had with(a) the Federation of Small Businesses and (b) the Forum of Private Business about Government policy towards the euro. [134379]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have regular meetings with both the Federation of Small Businesses and the Forum of Private Business to discuss a range of issues regarding the single currency.

  US Business Regulation
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will assess the operation of sunset regulation in the United States; and if he will make a statement. [136409]

  Ms Hewitt
  This Department is well aware of the use of sunset regulations in the United States and elsewhere. It is one of the many techniques available to improve
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  regulatory processes and we are already committed to using it in appropriate circumstances. For example, Part I of the Electronic Communications Act 2000—which received Royal Assent on 25 May this year—is subject to a 'sunset clause'.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will assess the impact of the United States Regulatory Flexibility Act 1980 and the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act 1996. [136408]

  Ms Hewitt
  David Irwin, the Small Business Service Chief Executive, and I visited the US in March this year.

  In addition, a delegation of the Small Business Council visited the US in October and is currently assessing the impact of that legislation. It will make recommendations on the merits of this type of approach to David Irwin in due course.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will assess the impact of the Family and Medical Leave Act in the United States. [136399]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  As part of the review of maternity pay and parental leave, I visited the US in July to learn about existing and proposed provision in the US and best practice in US companies. This included discussions with the Department of Labor on the Family and Medical Leave Act. The Department of Labor is currently undertaking an assessment on the Act's impact in the US, but data are not yet available.

  Employment-related Litigation
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the cost to business of employment-related litigation in the last year for which figures are available. [136455]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  This information is not available.

  Universal Bank
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of(a) the setting up costs and (b) the annual running costs of the Universal Bank. [136708]

  Mr. Byers
  The Post Office and the High Street banks are working together to develop Universal Banking services. An announcement on costs will be made in due course.

  Overhead Power Lines
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research he has recently commissioned on the possible link between overhead power lines and cancer. [137199]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Department of Health is currently funding both epidemiological and laboratory studies on power lines and cancer. The Department of Health also contributes to the World Health Organisation International Electromagnetic Fields Project and has supported the United Kingdom Childhood Cancer Study. The electricity industry is supporting high-quality, independent research.
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  The Department of Trade and Industry has not recently commissioned any research into the possible link between overhead power lines and cancer as it is believed that there is sufficient on-going research sponsored by Government and by other agencies.

  The Government also rely on the independent advice from the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) for guidance on all forms of hazard to health from radiation, including electromagnetic fields. That advice to date is that, while the possibility of an association cannot be dismissed, there is insufficient evidence of any adverse health effect from the fields from power supplies to which the general public may be exposed.

  Postal Services Act
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he plans to bring the Postal Services Act 2000 into force; and if he will make a statement. [137485]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  I have made the first Commencement Order under section 130 of the Act to set the dates for the coming into force of many of the principal provisions of the Act. In accordance with the Order, these provisions will be brought into force in three phases.

  As announced in the pursuant answer given on 6 November 2000, Official Report, column 18W, the Postal Services Commission became a statutory body on that date, with many of its new powers, including the power to prepare for the licensing regime. I can confirm that Mr. Graham Corbett CBE has been appointed as Chairman. Mr. Robin Aaronson, Mr. Tony Cooper, Ms Julia Kaufmann OBE, Ms Janet Lewis-Jones, and Mr. Ken Olisa have been appointed as members. The Commissioners have with the approval of the Secretary of State appointed Mr. Martin Stanley as their Chief Executive and he will under the provisions of the Act be a member of the Commission.

  Also on 6 November the powers which will pave the way for the establishment of the Post Office company and the transfer of the Post Office's business to this company were commenced (though the transfer will not take place until next Spring).

  On 1 January 2001, the provisions relating to the new Consumer Council for Postal Services will be commenced.

  On 26 March 2001, the requirements for the full licensing regime will be commenced; and (as this is the day on which it is planned to vest the business of the Post Office in the new Post Office company) the repeal of much of the existing Post Office legislation will take effect.

  A further Commencement Order will be made in due course covering the provisions not contained in the first Order. It is expected that most of the remaining provisions will be commenced on 26 March 2001.

  Post Office Network
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the Post Office regarding the proposals contained in the Performance and
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  Innovation Unit report on the Post Office Network sub-post offices for a new role for Government general practitioners. [137256]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  There have been extensive discussions between my Department and the Post Office on the development of proposals and of a business case for a Government General Practitioner role for the Post Office Network, including sub-post offices.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures his Department is taking to protect suburban post offices from closure in the Sutton and Cheam parliamentary constituency. [136442]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The Government are committed to implementing all 24 of the recommendations in the Performance and Innovation Unit report on modernising the post office network. Many of the measures being undertaken, such as development of Universal Banking services, of a Government General Practitioner role as one stop shop for electronic access to public services and of e-commerce opportunities, will be relevant to all parts of the post office network, whether urban, suburban or rural.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how funds announced in this year's Spending Review for the maintenance of the post office network will be divided between areas defined as rural and areas defined as urban; and to publish the criteria used to define an area as rural or urban. [136716]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: As some of the measures for the modernisation and maintenance of the post office network for which funding was allocated in the Spending Review relate to the network as a whole, it is not possible to give a precise division between rural and urban areas. The Government definition of a rural post office is one located in a community of less than 10,000 inhabitants.

  Internet Chat Services
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the self-regulatory approach in dealing with undesirable and illegal Internet content in the specific case of Internet chat rooms and their use by paedophiles to contact children. [136216]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: Illegal content in chat rooms is covered by existing law, and is dealt with by the police in the same way as illegal content in the off-line world.

  The Internet Crime Forum sub-group on chat recently published its interim findings (http://www. internetcrimeforum.org.uk/chatwise.html). This group looked at potential means of addressing the problems with chat rooms. Their recommendations were that the best way forward was to educate users and increase awareness of the risks. They suggested further measures on reporting mechanisms and advice to users that service providers should take.

  The self-regulatory approach employed by the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has proved successful at regulating relatively static Internet content such as web pages and newsgroups. The IWF is generally regarded as a model internationally. However, Internet chat is ephemeral, and the IWF's remit does not specifically
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  cover it. The IWF passes reports that it receives about chat rooms directly to the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS).

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his Department was represented on the inter-departmental Internet Crime Forum sub-group on Internet chat services; when he will receive the report; and if he will make a statement. [136219]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: Both the DTI and the Home Office are represented on the main Internet Crime Forum panel. The Home Office is represented in the sub-group on Internet chat services, although the DTI is not.

  The preliminary findings of the sub-group have been published on the Internet Crime Forum website, at: http://www.internetcrimeforum.org.uk/chatwise.html. I understand the full report will be published shortly.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met(a) Internet service providers and (b) web hosting services to discuss guidelines for the provision of Internet chat services with special reference to the protection of children. [136217]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: DTI Ministers discuss matters of concern with ISPs and others involved with web hosting on a regular basis. As Minister responsible for e-commerce, I last met a group representing the ISP industry on 25 May.

  I also met representatives of children's charities earlier this year to discuss issues related to the safety of children on the Internet. As a result of this meeting, Government and outside bodies including the charities and the Internet Watch Foundation have developed a set of safety messages for children and their parents on the use of the Internet. These can be found on the Government's UK Online portal at: http://www.ukonline.gov.uk/sub—safety.htm#children.

  In addition, representatives of the ISPs attend the Internet Crime Forum, a body that includes representatives from Government, industry and the police. This body, which covers Internet safety issues for children, last met on 26 September.

  Robert Maxwell
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 26 October 2000,Official Report, column 156W, on Robert Maxwell, what arrangements are in place to ensure that the inspectors appointed on 8 June 1992 under the Companies Acts to investigate the affairs and membership of Mirror Group Newspapers plc are providing value for money. [136713]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The inspectors act independently of Government and are
  "masters of their own procedure".

  However in all Companies Act inspections (including this case) the inspectors maintain regular contact with departmental officials regarding the progress of the inspection and provide detailed analyses in support of claims for costs and expenses.

  Off-shore Wind Farms
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the future prospects for offshore wind farm development. [136310]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The development of wind energy, both onshore and offshore, will make a significant contribution towards meeting our targets for renewable energy. Energy generated from both onshore and offshore wind installations will benefit from the proposed Renewables Obligation to be placed on electricity suppliers.

  In addition, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced last month a total of £89 million from the Government and the New Opportunities Fund for capital grants for electricity generation from offshore wind and energy crops.

  My Department, in consultation with other Departments and potential developers, is working to introduce a streamlined consents procedure for proposed offshore wind energy projects.

  Construction of the UK's first offshore wind project at Blyth is now complete, and the turbines are expected to start generating electricity soon.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Birds (Shooting and Trapping)
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent discussion he has had with other EU countries regarding the shooting and trapping of birds during the migration season. [134520]

  Mr. Mullin
  On 18 September 2000, officials from my Department met with their counterparts from the European Commission and other member states as part of a regular forum to discuss issues concerning the EC Birds Directive, including the hunting of migratory birds.

  The Government fully support the Commission in its aim to ensure that member states fulfil their obligations under with the provisions of the Wild Birds Directive and that hunting is carried out only on a sustainable basis.

  Single Regeneration Budget
  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if there will be a Single Regeneration Budget round seven in 2001–02. [134566]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Following the announcement on 21 July by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister that the Regional Development Agencies' funding will be brought together in a single budget from April 2002, my right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and the Regions is considering what arrangements should apply during the transitional year 2001–02. A detailed announcement will be made in due course.
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  During 2001–02, RDAs will continue to deliver regeneration activity, particularly in the most deprived communities, through the programmes they manage including existing commitments under SRB, the land and property budget, the rural development programme and the skills development fund.

  Concessionary Fares
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his proposals to finance half-fare travel for senior citizens; and how much he expects each local authority to contribute. [135213]

  Mr. Hill
  We have said that local government will be reimbursed for the overall additional cost of the statutory minimum concessionary fare scheme, for which provision is made in the Transport Bill at present before Parliament. The Local Government Finance settlement will include an appropriate sum within the Environmental Protection and Cultural Services block, which will be distributed according to the relevant Standard Spending Assessment formula. The implications for individual authorities will depend on whether any concessionary fare scheme which they already provide meets the new statutory requirements, or if it does not what expenditure will be involved in bringing it up to the necessary standard.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what provision he has made to ensure that funding arrangements for the new concessionary fares(a) are affordable and (b) are sufficiently flexible to operate in rural areas. [137259]

  Mr. Hill
  Our estimate of the overall annual extra cost in England of the statutory minimum scheme provided for in the Transport Bill is in the order of £47 million. That amount is therefore being added to the lower tier of the Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services (EPCS) Standard Spending Assessment (SSA), which is taken into account in the calculation of revenue support grant allocations. An authority's SSA will increase by a share of the £47 million that is broadly in proportion to its current share of the EPCS lower tier. The financial implications of the minimum standard will clearly vary from one local authority to another, according to whether an existing scheme is operated and if so what it provides.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will investigate different models of operation of concessionary fares in order to ensure that the available network is created between urban and rural areas. [137260]

  Mr. Hill
  The Transport Bill provides for a statutory minimum local authority concessionary fares scheme which will ensure travel for pensioners and disabled people on local buses at half fare or better, with a free bus pass. It is open to local authorities to act jointly to provide a concessionary fare scheme which applies across their combined area, and to provide concessionary travel on modes of transport other than bus.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will launch national and local campaigns to ensure that there is maximum take-up of new concessionary fares. [137262]
  131W
  Mr. Hill
  I certainly hope that there will be a high take-up of the new statutory minimum concessionary fare scheme. The effect will vary from place to place, according to what scheme each local authority does (or does not) provide already; I am sure that local authorities will draw the attention of their residents to local improvements.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish the timetable for the full implementation of new concessionary fares. [137263]

  Mr. Hill
  We do not expect the new statutory minimum local authority concessionary fares scheme to come into operation before 1 April 2001.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with the Local Government Association regarding the introduction of new concessionary fares arrangements, with particular reference to rural areas. [137258]

  Mr. Hill
  My officials have had several discussions with representatives of the Local Government Association (LGA) regarding the introduction of the statutory minimum local authority concessionary fares scheme.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the role of taxis under the new arrangements for concessionary fares. [137261]

  Mr. Hill
  The Transport Bill provides for a statutory minimum local authority concessionary fares scheme for travel on local bus services. However, it is open to local authorities to offer schemes which provide for travel by taxi as an addition or an alternative to the statutory minimum scheme. In particular, schemes based on tokens, which can be used on taxis, can continue to be offered by local authorities, as an alternative to the statutory minimum. The necessary provision is contained in clause 145(6) of the Transport Bill, at present before Parliament.

  Labour Party Conference
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which of his Department's(a) paid employees and (b) press officers attended the Labour party conference in Brighton. [135155]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 30 October 2000]Consistent with the terms of their contracts, all Special Advisers attended the Labour party conference. No other officials attended in an official capacity.

  Sickness Absence
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions 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. [135764]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 30 October 2000]: Following publication of the Cabinet Office report "Working Well Together—Managing Attendance in the Public Sector" the Department has been implementing a programme of action with the aim of reducing the level of sickness absence in the Department. Initiatives include
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  new guidance for line managers and staff and improved sick absence monitoring so that a more accurate picture of trends can be identified and clearer understanding of the factors involved appreciated. Health promotion activities have complemented this approach with lifestyle screening, displays, in-house magazine articles and proactive events.

  Details of the Department' s targets for reduced sickness absence for the years 2001 and 2003 against a baseline year of 1998 will be included in its Service Delivery Agreement. This is to be published shortly.

  Recycling (Organic Waste)
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what support he plans to give to encourage the development of techniques for the recycling of organic materials in household waste. [136286]

  Mr. Meacher
  Waste Strategy 2000 set tough statutory targets for the recycling and composting of household waste, to be achieved by 2003–04 with higher targets in later years.

  Waste Strategy 2000 also announced the establishment of the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), to tackle the barriers to increased re-use and recycling and to create stable and efficient markets for recycled materials and products.

  WRAP will co-ordinate and commission research into new or improved processing techniques for recycled materials, including organic household waste, and provide advice, guidance and technical support to people involved in recycling and composting.

  Urban Deprivation
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to ensure small pockets of deprivation outside cities receive Government support for regeneration. [136526]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Government are committed to tackling deprivation and main spending programmes, which are seen as the key for achieving the greatest impact, have been set new targets through the Spending Review 2000, so that the outcomes they achieve in deprived areas improve. They have also received substantial increases from the Spending Review for the next three years. The Action Plan for implementing the Neighbourhood Renewal strategy, which will be published shortly, will set out further proposals for tackling deprivation wherever it occurs, in line with our objective of narrowing the gap between deprived areas and the rest of the country. The Neighbourhood Renewal Unit will take this forward cross-departmentally.

  Air Service Agreements
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which non-UK and non-US carriers have received further fifth freedom rights from the UK in the last year; and which applications are still outstanding. [136703]
  133W
  Mr. Mullin
  Fifth freedom rights are often the subject of discussion during air service negotiations. In the last year the UK has granted, as part of a balanced exchange of rights, new or additional fifth freedom traffic rights to the designated airline or airlines of the following countries:

  Argentina

  Azerbaijan

  Chile

  Colombia

  Greece

  Grenada

  India

  Luxembourg

  Namibia

  Pakistan

  Turkey

  Turkmenistan

  Uganda.

  No applications are currently awaiting a decision.

  Thameslink 2000
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the impact of the proposed Thameslink 2000, indicating how many passengers the link is expected to carry. [136535]

  Mr. Hill
  Railtrack's Thameslink 2000 proposals are currently being considered at a public inquiry under the Transport and Works Act. Following the inquiry, the Inspector will make a report to the Secretary of State. It would be inappropriate for me to comment at this stage on the merits or otherwise of the proposals as this would prejudice the inquiry proceedings and the Secretary of State's eventual decision on whether or not to approve the proposals.

  Regional Development Agencies
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Regional Development Agencies. [136268]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  A report on the performance of the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) is currently being finalised for consideration by Ministers. My Department has also commissioned research into the RDAs' Regional Strategies, partnership working, and their monitoring and evaluation frameworks. The results will be disseminated in due course.

  Scottish Airports and Air Services Review
  Ms Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to ensure that Scottish airports' consultative committees are involved in the Scottish airports and air services review. [136422]

  Mr. Mullin
  Scottish airports consultative committees will be formally consulted on the Scottish Regional Air Services Consultation Document when it is published and 134W
  invited to attend public events during the consultation period which offer the opportunity for further discussion of the document.

  Scottish Air Traffic Control Centre
  Ms Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the Scottish Air Traffic Control Centre. [136423]

  Mr. Mullin
  The New Scottish Centre project is proceeding smoothly. Award of the detail building design contract was made to Gibb Developments on 2 November. The main construction contract will be awarded early next year. Planning applications for site preparation works will be submitted to the local authority soon and initial site preparations are expected to begin early next year. In addition, local surveys on transport, land drainage, topography and soil characteristics have been completed. NATS have already signed an agreement with Lockheed Martin for provision of much of the centre software. NATS have now informed us that the revised forecast date on which the centre will come into operation may now be in the winter of 2007–08 rather than 2006–07. This is because NATS is considering the incorporation of additional software into the centre's systems. It is only because NATS are confident that the existing centre will be able to cope until this later date that they have the option of putting back the forecast operational date to allow the incorporation of these new functions.

  Red Routes
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many miles of red route roads there are in England; what steps are taken to enforce the regulations which apply to them; and if he will make a statement. [136671]

  Mr. Hill
  There are a total of 320 miles of red routes, all of which are in London. The enforcement of the regulations is a matter for the Metropolitan police.

  Driving Tests
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people have(a) passed their driving test and (b) progressed to Pass Plus since the introduction of Pass Plus in 1995. [136670]

  Mr. Hill
  Pass Plus was introduced in February 1995, since when 3,138,795 people have passed the practical car driving test and 108,549 people have successfully completed the Pass Plus course.

  Rail Investment
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 26 October 2000,Official Report, column 173W, on rail investment, if he will set out the advantages and disadvantages of taking an equity stake in Railtrack. [136283]

  Mr. Hill
  Were the Government to bring forward proposals to increase their current 0.2 per cent. equity stake in Railtrack, we would set out the advantages and disadvantages at that time.

  Road Noise
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what sift criteria will be used to determine which trunk roads are priorities for resurfacing to reduce noise levels. [136285]

  Mr. Hill
  The criteria for prioritising the trunk roads for resurfacing with quieter materials are being developed by the Highways Agency. The Agency will be seeking the views of local authorities on these criteria early in the new year with a view to finalising them in the spring.

  Regional Airports
  Mr. John Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what powers he has to regulate the cost of air travel from regional airports. [136280]

  Mr. Mullin
  On routes within the European Economic Area (EEA), air fares are governed by EC Regulation 2409/92, under which there is a presumption that airlines are free to charge the fares they wish. However, the Secretary of State may require the lowest fully flexible fare to be withdrawn if it is excessively high to the disadvantage of users, taking into account airline costs, the whole fare structure for the route, and the competitive market situation.

  In addition, EC Regulation 2408/92 allows a member state to impose a public service obligation (PSO) to protect services, which would otherwise not be provided on a purely commercial basis, on routes serving airports in peripheral regions and thin routes to any regional airport which is vital to the economic development of the region. The Regulation allows for PSO routes to be restricted to a single carrier, subject to an open competitive tender, and for the remuneration of operating losses incurred by carriers selected to operate these routes. PSOs may include a tariff obligation limiting fare levels or requiring concessionary fares for certain categories of passenger.

  On routes outside the EEA, it is the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) which has the power to regulate air fares. The CAA's intervention is limited primarily to circumstances where passengers are being substantially overcharged as a result of an airline abusing a position of market power, normally because bilateral government imposed restrictions are preventing free market entry. The CAA's aim is to ensure that flexible on-demand travel is available at a price reasonably related to the cost of its provision, including a return on capital.

  Planning Applications
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the guidance given to planning inquiry inspectors on the degree of attention which should be given to local community opinion on planning applications. [136292]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Under the provisions of the relevant inquiries procedure rules (the Town and Country Planning (Inquiries Procedure) (England) Rules 2000 (S.I.2000 No. 1624) and the Town and Country Planning (Determination by Inspectors)(Inquiries Procedure) (England) Rules 2000 (S.I.2000 No. 1625)) local views 136W
  and any other written or oral representations received on a proposed development must always be taken into account by Planning Inspectors in handling a planning appeal or case called-in by the Secretary of State. Like any other material consideration, the precise weight an Inspector gives to such views is a matter for his or her judgment. An Inspector will make a decision (or recommendation in those cases called-in or appeals recovered by the Secretary of State for his determination) on the basis of all the facts presented to him or her, taking into account all the relevant policy guidance.

  Quarry Excavations
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what environmental protection measures are in place to mitigate the effects on groundwater of water run-off from quarry excavations. [136291]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Environment Agency has powers under the Water Resources Act 1991, the Groundwater Regulations 1998 and the Anti-Pollution Works Regulations 1999 to take action where pollution is threatened or occurring. Under the Groundwater Regulations, for instance, it can prohibit, or place conditions upon, an activity such as quarrying where groundwater could be threatened. The exact measures which it might take would depend upon the circumstances of the individual case. Local authorities have a statutory duty to consult the Environment Agency when considering planning consents for quarries and are able to impose conditions to protect groundwater. Minerals Planning Guidance 2 "Applications, permissions and conditions" (1998) contains advice on this.

  Advertising Controls
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to amend the regulations relating to areas of special control of advertisements; and if he will make a statement. [135333]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: At the end of June, following consultation on a range of measures to improve the control of outdoor advertisements, I published a proposal to limit the geographical scope of Areas of Special Control of Advertisements (ASCAs) to land within National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Broads, Sites of Special Scientific Interest and conservation areas. We are carefully considering the representations received about ASCAs since the June announcement before coming to a final decision.

  Operation Stack
  Mr. Howard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to be able to announce alternative arrangements to Operation Stack. [136439]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: A feasibility study was commissioned by the Channel Road Transport Group in August 1999 to consider the economic and operational requirements for alternatives to Operation Stack. The Group is chaired by Kent County Council and includes, among others, the Highways Agency and

  137W
  Government Office for the South East. The Group is currently considering its report and will make recommendations to Ministers for consideration in due course.

  Waste Incinerator, Shrewsbury
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the proposed waste incinerator in North Shrewsbury. [136833]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  This is a matter for Shropshire County Council as the waste planning authority. I understand that the County Council is currently investigating a number of sites for possible waste transfer stations and civic amenity (recycling) facilities, none of which are in Shrewsbury and Atcham district. Land at Battlefield in North Shrewsbury was provisionally earmarked by the County Council earlier this year for a range of waste facilities, but this location is no longer considered viable. I understand that the County Council has no plans at present for a waste incinerator.

  Playing Fields
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the Sports Council is a statutory consultee on planning proposals affecting playing fields. [136754]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The English Sports Council, now Sport England, was made a statutory consultee on 5 August 1996 for planning applications involving the development of playing fields. Details of the consultation requirements, including the definition of "playing field", are set out in The Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure)(Amendment) Order 1996 (Statutory Instrument No. 1817).

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many planning applications have been referred to his Department by Sport England since the Town and Country Planning and Playing Fields England Directive 1998. [136756]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: Since The Town and Country Planning (Playing Fields)(England) Direction 1998 came into effect on 23 December 1998, 37 planning applications have been referred to the Secretary of State.

  Earnings
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 31 October 2000,Official Report, columns 405–06W, on New Earnings Survey data, if he will publish data for hourly wages for the smallest area covering South Gloucestershire Local Authority which does not breach his confidentiality agreement. [136305]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: Part A of the ONS publication 'New Earnings Survey 1999' lists the average hourly wage (excluding overtime) in South Gloucestershire Unitary Authority as £9.95. This incorporates employees in all occupation groups.
  138W
  The Area Cost Adjustment (ACA) methodology only uses occupation groups that are considered relevant to local authority employment. Applying the ACA methodology to the 1999 New Earnings Survey data produces an average hourly wage (excluding overtime) in South Gloucestershire Unitary Authority of £9.72. As indicated in my reply of 31 October, this value for South Gloucestershire contributes to the 'Rest of England' average hourly wage (excluding overtime) figure of £9.91.

  Local Authority Wage Information
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 31 October 2000,Official Report, columns 405–06W, on local authority level wage information, for what reason the provision of data for the City of London Authority does not breach confidentiality rules. [136501]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The figure provided for the City of London in my answer of 31 October does not breach the ONS confidentiality agreement, as it is the average figure for the City of London. It therefore does not reveal the disaggregate data which is covered by the confidentiality agreement.

  Rural Areas
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will provide the latest Government or Government recognised figures for the percentage of parishes in England that have(a) no shops, (b) no post office or sub post office, (c) no GP surgery, (d) no primary school, (e) no secondary school, (f) no village hall or similar community centre, (g) no dispensing chemist, (h) no police station, (i) no pub, (j) no working church, (k) no daily bus service and (l) no bank; and if he will give comparable figures for 1997. [136729]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The most recent comprehensive survey of rural services was undertaken by the Rural Development Commission in 1997. It showed:

  Percentage of parishes without:

  Percentage

  Permanent shop (of any kind)

  42

  Post Office

  43

  GP (based in the parish)

  83

  School (for 15 year olds)

  93

  School (for 6 year olds)

  50

  Village Hall/Community Centre

  28

  Chemist (of any kind)

  79

  Police Station

  92

  Public House

  29

  Church/chapel

  161

  Daily Bus Service

  75

  Bank/Building Society

  91

  1 Percentage of parishes which either have no church/chapel or are without a resident minister.

  The Countryside Agency is undertaking a further survey of the level of service provision in rural areas this year. I understand that this will be published in the spring of 2001.
  139W
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what are the latest available figures for the level of use of public bus services in rural areas; and what the comparable figures were in each year since 1995. [136677]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The data collected by my Department on the number of bus passenger journeys does not specifically identify journeys in rural areas.

  However, information provided separately to my Department by local authorities on the Rural Bus Subsidy Grant introduced in 1998 shows that journeys on the 1,800 services funded by the grant have risen from 10 million in 1998–99 to 16 million in 1999–2000.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the formulae used to allocate central Government funds to local authorities have been changed since May 1997. [136725]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: Yes. I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Stafford (Mr. Kidney), on 13 July 2000, Official Report, columns 626–27W.

  Area-based Initiatives
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action is being taken to ensure that area based initiatives target money to areas with the greatest need. [136700]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Action Plan for implementing the National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal, which will be published shortly, will set out how the Government's main spending programmes and its area-based initiatives can best contribute to the target of narrowing the gap between areas with the greatest need and the rest of the country. The Neighbourhood Renewal Unit will take this forward cross-departmentally. The £800 million over the next three years for the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund will provide extra resources for the 88 most deprived authorities and Local Strategic Partnerships will ensure local people play a part.

  Waste Disposal Authorities
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if individual waste disposal authorities are permitted to export some or all of their waste to the areas of other waste disposal authorities within the same region. [137245]

  Mr. Mullin
  The proximity principle is one of the criteria required to underpin all decisions of waste disposal authorities. However, the precise location for waste disposal is a matter for those authorities and their contractors.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the guidance given by his Department to waste disposal authorities on the regional content for their activities. [137244]
  140W
  Mr. Mullin
  Guidance on the planning for waste at the regional level and its implications for waste local plans and waste disposal authorities is contained in Planning Policy Guidance Note No. 10 "Planning and Waste Management" and in PPG 11 "Regional Planning". They require regional and local plans to be developed in line with the national waste strategy set out in Waste Strategy 2000: England and Wales (Cm 4693) published in May.

  Local Authority Reorganisation
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what resources he will make available to local authorities that were reorganised on 1 April 1998 in respect of reorganisation costs incurred by them in 2000–01; and if he will make a statement. [137358]

  Ms Armstrong
  On 14 July I invited authorities that reorganised on 1 April 1998 to submit estimates of the amount of expenditure they expect to incur on transitional costs of reorganisation in 2000–01. On the basis of the information provided by authorities, I have decided the revised maximum amounts that it would be appropriate to allocate towards such costs in 2000–01.

  The amounts are as follows:

  £000

  Authority

  Amount 12000–01

  1998 Reorganisations

  West Berkshire Council

  3,740

  Reading Borough Council

  3,628

  Slough Borough Council

  1,894

  Wokingham District Council

  2,237

  County of Hertfordshire District Council

  1,711

  Worcestershire County Council

  4,471

  Plymouth City Council

  3,515

  Torbay Borough Council

  2,910

  Thurrock Borough Council

  3,213

  Nottingham City Council

  1,095

  Halton Borough Council

  3,759

  Telford and Wrekin District Council

  670

  Medway Borough Council

  2,085

  Peterborough City Council

  472

  Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

  765

  Blackpool Borough Council

  980

  Total

  37,145

  1 Maximum amounts: £000s rounded

  Windsor and Maidenhead, Bracknell Forest, Malvern Hills, Southend on Sea and Warrington did not submit bids for SCA.

  Needs Indices (Housing Capital)
  Mr. Healey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will announce the results of the consultation exercise on the needs indices to be used in the allocation of 2001–02 housing capital resources to local authorities and registered social landlords. [137364]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I am pleased to be able to announce that the needs indices for the 2001–02 allocations have now been finalised after careful consideration of the responses to the Consultation Paper we issued in summer and a number of other representations we have received.
  141W
  We have, with one exception, made the proposed changes to the local authority stock condition indicator in the Generalised Needs Index (GNI)—the index used in allocation of resources to local authorities. These were supported in nearly all responses. The exception is on the relative weights given to the renovation and improvement elements where we have decided to base these on the relative costs of the work as suggested in a number of responses.

  Several of the responses raised concerns over authorities' ability to fund either private sector renewal activity or provision of new affordable housing following the transfer of resources into the new Major Repairs Allowance (MRA), which is ring-fenced for use on council housing. In the light of these responses, I have decided to increase the shares of the private sector stock and new provision indicators in the GNI to 45 per cent.—up from 35 per cent. and 40 per cent. respectively in the Consultation Paper. These increases involve reducing the share of the local authority stock indicator to 10 per cent. but we intend to increase this in the next two years to reflect the extra resources in these years which are expected to be spent largely on improving council housing. The other significant issued raised in the responses concerned the overall reduction in the targeting of resources to deprived areas resulting from the introduction of the MRA. Specific targeting of resources to deprived areas is not appropriate in the MRA but I have decided to increase the level of targeting within the GNI from 20 per cent. to 30 per cent.

  The introduction of the MRA and the related GNI changes lead to shifts in the distribution of resources. We will ensure that all authorities with housing stock receive a 2001–02 allocation (housing capital plus estimated MRA) which is at least 10 per cent. above their 2000–01 allocation unless there has been a significant fall in their relative performance or the number of council houses they own has fallen substantially through partial stock transfers or demolitions.

  No changes were proposed or are being made to the Housing Needs Index used in allocation of resources to registered social landlords, beyond the usual annual data updating.

  A list of the respondents to the Consultation Paper is available in the House Library and Members can view individual responses in the Department's Library. I am arranging for details of the 2001–02 indices for each authority to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Green Ministers
  Mr. Ennis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the last meeting of green ministers took place; what was discussed; and which Departments were represented by(a) Ministers and (b) officials. [137484]

  Mr. Meacher
  Green Ministers held their final meeting of this year on 2 November. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Green Minister for that Department, spoke about directing development and promoting agricultural practices to protect and enhance the countryside and wildlife. The meeting also received a presentation on the Work-Life Balance campaign by the 142W
  Green Minister for the Department for Education and Employment, and discussed how this initiative had implications for many departments.

  The Committee also reviewed the handling of sustainable development considerations in the Spending Review 2000 and environmental aspects of Government procurement. The purchase of renewable energy was discussed, with considerable progress noted.

  The next meeting will be held in the new year.

  The Departments represented by Ministers were: Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions; Department for Culture, Media and Sport; Department of Health; Department for International Development; Law Officers' Departments; Department of Social Security; Home Office; Ministry of Defence; Chancellor's Departments; Cabinet Office; Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; Department for Education and Employment; the Welsh Office; and Northern Ireland Office.

  Those represented by officials were: Department of Trade and Industry and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

  Flooding (Shrewsbury)
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the performance of local partnerships in coping with emergency planning during the floods in Shrewsbury. [136950]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: I have been asked to reply.

  Partnerships between the Environment Agency, local authorities and the emergency services worked very well in the recent bout of flooding. It is encouraging that the exercising of emergency plans in many areas played an important part in achieving a good response.

SCOTLAND

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the First Minister on the level of regulations on small businesses. [136479]

  Dr. Reid
  I have regular discussions with the First Minister on a range of issues affecting business in Scotland.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  National Lottery
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the National Lottery funding was to(a) the English Sports Council, (b) UK Sport, (c) the Arts Council of England and (d) the Heritage Lottery Fund in (i) 1997–98, (ii) 1998–99 and (ii) 1999–2000; and what the forecast level is for the current year in each case. [134592]
  143W
  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 26 October 2000]The amount of Lottery funding (including interest') to(a) the English Sports Council, (b) UK Sports Council, (c) the Arts Council of England and (d) the Heritage Lottery Fund in 1997–98, 1998–99 and 1999–2000 and the forecast level for 2000–01 based on our most recent Lottery income forecast is set out in the table. For the

  £ million

  (1)

  (2) 1997–98

  (3) 1998–99

  (4) 1999–2000

  (5) 2000–01 (forecast)

  (6) Share of annual projected lottery proceeds as anticipated at the start of the current licence 2

  English Sports Council

  307

  256

  211

  202–244

  3194

  UK Sports Council

  —

  —

  319

  22–25

  n/a

  Arts Council of England

  298

  235

  201

  182–203

  183

  Heritage Lottery Fund4

  371

  315

  288

  290–319

  4257

  1 Interest has been included in the data in columns (2) and (5), but not in the anticipated income figures in column (6). Also, the amount of interest earned by the distributing bodies varies according to the level of their balances in the NLDF. This explains why some distributors' income has diverged from projections more than others.

  2 This is based on the originally projected Lottery proceeds of £9 billion evenly spread over the seven years of the licence. The figures for individual bodies reflect their notional annual share of total projected Lottery proceeds based on the original allocation of 20 per cent. to the original five good causes adjusted to take into account the establishment of the Film Council and UKSC as Lottery distributing bodies.

  3 UK Sport became a Lottery distributor with effect from 1 July 1999, taking 1.53 per cent. of Lottery income. As a consequence, the share allocated to the English Sports Council was reduced from 13.88 per cent. to 12.6 per cent.

  4 The Film Council became a Lottery distributor with effect from 1 October 1999, taking 2.03 per cent. of Lottery income. As a consequence, the share allocated to ACE was reduced from 13.88 per cent. to 11.85 per cent.

  Sydney Olympics
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the dates of attendance of(a) ministers and (b) officials of his Department at the Sydney Olympic Games and the total cost of attendance in each case. [134846]

  Kate Hoey
  [holding answer 26 October 2000]: As Minister for Sport, I visited the British Olympic Team Holding Camp on the Gold Coast and attended the Sydney Olympic Games between 9–29 September 2000. I was accompanied by a Private Secretary. The total cost of this visit is not currently available as some invoices have yet to be received, but the flight costs for both of us totalled £8,021.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State attended the Games in Sydney on 15–17 September 2000 as part of a wider trip which also included official Government visits in Auckland, Wellington and Canberra. He was accompanied by his Principle Private Secretary. Again, the total cost of these visits is not currently available as some invoices have yet to be received, but the flight costs for the entire visit totalled £11,022.20

  The Permanent Secretary of the Department was in Australia on Departmental business from 13–17 September 2000. He attended the Olympic Games with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State from 15–17 September 2000 and accompanied him on official engagements in Sydney and Canberra. His flight costs were £5,946.

  In addition, I also attended the Paralympic Games between 14–22 October 2000 accompanied by my Assistant Private Secretary. The flight costs for this visit were £10,670.
  144W
  purposes of comparison, the table includes a column (6) which shows the annual share of Lottery proceeds which it was originally thought that each distributing body would receive over the lifetime of the licence. These figures have been adjusted to reflect changes in functions when the UK Sports Council and Film Council were established.

  New Millennium Experience Company
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the design companies which have secured contracts from the New Millennium Experience Company together with the number of contracts in each case. [135411]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 30 October 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 23 March 2000, Official Report, column 622W.

  Sports Lottery Fund
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to ensure that funding from the Sports Lottery fund is targeted on the communities that need it most. [135219]

  Kate Hoey
  My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State has issued directions to Sport England under the National Lottery Acts requiring it to take into account a range of issues in formulating its criteria for Lottery funding and in assessing applications for such funding. In particular, the directions require Sport England to take into account the scope for reducing social and economic deprivation, and the promotion of sport for people from all sections of society. All of the requirements of these directions were taken into account by Sport England in the development of its Lottery Strategy published last year. The Strategy commits Sport England to allocating at least 50 per cent. of its Community Capital Projects Fund to areas of greatest need. Projects in these areas may also be eligible to receive higher proportions of Lottery funding. All projects submitted for Lottery funding must be of benefit to the local community and must show a demonstrable need for the facility.

  Tourism
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which regions of the United Kingdom have received Government funding for the tourism industry in each of the last two years. [136537]

  Janet Anderson
  All the regions of England have received Government funding for the tourism industry in each of the last two years. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport provides funding, through the English Tourism Council, for the Regional Tourist Boards. Other sources of funding for tourism-related projects received by the regions include the National Lottery, the Single Regeneration Budget and the Assisted Areas Programme.

  Responsibility for regional funding of tourism in the other countries of the United Kingdom rests with the devolved administrations.

  Swimming (Tourism)
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much Government funding Merseyside metropolitan borough councils received for tourism projects in connection with swimming recreation for(a) 1998, (b) 1999 and (c) the current year to date. [136538]

  Janet Anderson
  We have contacted a number of organisations to request the information required, and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as it is available, placing copies of my letter in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Wembley Stadium
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the reasons for permitting the demolition of the twin towers at Wembley Stadium. [136241]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Approval for the demolition of the twin towers was given by the London Borough of Brent following an application for planning and listed building consent made by Wembley National Stadium Ltd. As the stadium has Grade II listed status, the application for listed building consent was accompanied by a full Heritage Study which considered the question of whether the stadium was capable of adaptation and the feasibility of retaining the twin towers. The new stadium will extend to the north of the existing stadium, and will be considerably higher than the towers if they were reconstructed and incorporated in the new design. In view of these considerations, and having taken into account the merits of the proposed replacement stadium, and wider community benefits, English Heritage, who are a statutory consultee for such applications, did not raise any objections to the application for listed building consent.

  National Art Collections
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the number of works of art and other items from national collections that have been hired out to(a) public and (b) private sector organisations in the last year; and if he will make a statement. [136612]
  146W
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  DCMS holds precise figures for the number of loan venues, both home and overseas, to which its sponsored national museums and galleries loaned items in 1999–2000. However, the actual number of loan items involved is not held centrally. We have therefore contacted those institutions to request the information for a reply to my hon. Friend. I will write to him as soon as this is available, placing copies of my letter in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Museum Appointments
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to alter the arrangements for appointing(a) the chairman and (b) the trustees of national museums; and if he will make a statement. [136851]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]I have issued a consultation paper proposing a number of alternative options for changes to the arrangements for appointing the trustees and chairman of national museums and galleries and I am considering the various responses. I have made clear in the consultation paper that I wish to maintain a flexible, consultative approach but one which provides an effective basis for deciding which changes are appropriate.

  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with chairmen, trustees and directors of national museums regarding an extension of Prime Ministerial patronage in the field of senior museum appointments; and if he will make a statement. [136852]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]I have been consulting the chairmen, trustees and directors of national museums on a number of alternative proposals to improve the process of public appointments to national museums and galleries. I am carefully considering the responses I have received.

  Small Businesses (Tourism)
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what Government funding is available for advertising by small tourism businesses. [136536]

  Janet Anderson
  The Government do not provide funding for advertising by tourism businesses of any size. This is a commercial matter for the businesses themselves. However, all tourism businesses benefit from the activities of the British Tourist Authority, whose funding in 2000–01 to promote Britain overseas has been increased to £37 million. They may also benefit from the over £5 million made available via the English Tourism Council to support tourism in the regions. Small tourism businesses, like all businesses, also have access to the full range of business support services available through the Small Business Service.

  Disability Discrimination Act 1995
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the potential cost to operators of(a) small hotels, (b) guesthouses and (c) bed and breakfast businesses of the cost of complying with Phase III of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; and if he will make a statement. [136853]
  147W
  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 will provide disabled people with better service and facilities and it will also boost one of tourism's under-developed markets. It is not possible to estimate the cost of complying with the requirements of the DDA by type of property because each case will be different. I recognise the concern among small hoteliers about the potential costs of complying with the Act, but they are only required to make "reasonable" changes to their properties, which means the costs will be reasonable. There is a need for sector specific guidance on the sort of adjustments which are likely to be necessary and my Department is discussing with the English Tourism Council and other bodies how to meet this need.

  Paralympiad
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the compliance with public service broadcasting requirements of coverage on television of the 11th Paralympiad. [136434]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: None. Responsibility for ensuring compliance with public service broadcasting requirements rests with the independent regulators.

  Hotel Stars
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the operation of the star system for hotel accommodation; and what plans he has to make proposals for its improvement. [136947]

  Janet Anderson
  The new quality assurance system for hotels and guest accommodation was introduced in September 1999 by the English Tourism Council (ETC), the AA and RAC. Hotels that meet the quality standard are awarded from one to five stars, based upon a mixture of quality and facilities. (Guest accommodation is rated on quality alone and is awarded diamonds).

  Take up of the scheme has been steadily increasing since its introduction and we want as many providers as possible to join. We believe that this will help drive up quality standards in accordance with the aims of "Tomorrow's Tourism" and make selection of accommodation easier and more reliable for visitors. The ETC are responsible for encouraging and measuring take up of the scheme and advising Ministers upon its effectiveness. There are no current plans to change the scheme, but we will continue to monitor its progress with care.

  Looted Exhibits
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the research recently published by the National Museum Directors' Conference on works in British galleries and museums which may have been looted by the Nazis; and if he will make a statement. [136941]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  I welcome the publication by The National Museum Director's Conference on 26 October of the results of the continuing research into the provenance, between 1933 and 1945, of works in their collections. In addition, the plans for similar research into four of the important non-national collections in England were announced. This research demonstrates the sector's148W
  commitment to play its part in addressing the issue of spoliated art. An unknown provenance between the dates mentioned does not, in itself, indicate that the item was misappropriated and, to date, only one claim has been made.

  Regional Tourist Councils
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the arrangements for distributing funds to the regional tourist councils in the UK. [136770]

  Janet Anderson
  The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is responsible for funding the English Tourism Council (ETC). In the current financial year the ETC is making over £5 million of its £10 million grant-in-aid available to support tourism in the English regions. Most of this is being passed to the 10 Regional Tourist Boards under individual funding agreements with the ETC, following a competitive bidding process. The remainder of this regional money is used by the ETC, for instance, for delivering regional services such as inspections under the national accommodation scheme (which have been contracted out to a single provider). Future levels of funding for tourism in the English regions will be decided during negotiation of the next three-year funding agreement between the Department and the ETC and in the light of any further bidding competition run by the ETC.

  Responsibility for funding the national tourism bodies in the other countries of the United Kingdom rests with the devolved Administrations, who also make decisions about their own regional structures and funding.

  Millenium Dome
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has for the future of(a) the building, (b) the site and (c) the contents of the Millennium Dome. [134824]

  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. An announcement will be made in due course. The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) is preparing plans for decommissioning the Millennium Experience from January 2001. That includes returning various assets in the exhibitions that are on loan or hired to their owners, removing any other items of value for sale, and preparing the Dome for its subsequent use. Legacy plc is in discussion with NMEC regarding the scope of decommissioning it would require if negotiations are successful.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Post Office Network
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the funds announced in this year's Spending Review for the maintenance of the Post Office network require approval by the European Union. [136799]
  149W
  Mr. Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: I have been asked to reply.

  The European Commission has been notified of the broad outline of the measures to modernise and maintain the Post Office network proposed in the Performance and Innovation Unit report. In developing individual measures in detail, including any funding arrangements, we are consulting with the Commission to ensure compliance with state aid provisions.

  Flood Defence (Shrewsbury)
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps the Environment Agency has taken to improve flood defence systems around Shrewsbury since October 1998; and if he will make a statement. [136795]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The Agency has repaired and maintained upstream floodbanks that provide flood protection to the town. Proposals for a scheme in the town were rejected in 1994 by the borough council. The Agency has since been working with the borough council and the residents to investigate more innovative solutions and identify a scheme that would be both practical to develop and acceptable to the town's people if it meets the Ministry's criteria within which the Agency has to operate.

  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much the budget of the Environment Agency was each year since 1996 for flood defence systems around Shrewsbury; and if he will make a statement. [136794]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: No capital funds have been allocated for a scheme in Shrewsbury following the rejection of the earlier proposed scheme by the local planning authority in 1994. However, considerable revenue expenditure has been made—more than £1 million since 1996—to repair and maintain upstream floodbanks that provide flood protection to the town.

  Agri-Compensation
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the Government last made a claim for agrimonetary compensation from the European Commission; and what was the outcome. [136962]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Minister gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Hillsborough (Helen Jackson) on 2 November 2000, Official Report, column 620W.

  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what his policy is regarding the arable agri-compensation that will be available by 31 October. [135674]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 31 October 2000]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister to my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Hillsborough (Helen Jackson) on 2 November 2000, Official Report, column 620W.

  Dairy Cattle
  Mr. Fitzpatrick
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he plans to take to address the dairy cattle health and welfare problems associated with further intensification of the dairy industry and a rise in the number of dairy cattle housed indoors throughout the year, in the Government's response to the Farm Animal Welfare Council's report on the welfare of dairy cattle. [136035]

  Mr. Morley
  The Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2000 (SI 2000 No 1870), which came into force on 14 August this year, regulate the conditions in which all cattle and calves should be kept, covering such things as accommodation, ventilation, lighting, feed and water, and inspections. Similar regulations will shortly enter into force in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Revision of our Code of Recommendations for the Welfare of Cattle is nearly complete and will reflect FAWC's advice on best practice on all-year housing; we shall shortly consult with all stakeholders on our draft. We have also commissioned a research project involving behavioural studies relating to the welfare of intensively managed dairy cows. And, through the agricultural consultancy ADAS, we run an extensive programme of guidance for dairy farmers.

  Farm Incomes
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the(a) gross incomes and (b) net incomes of farmers were in each year from 1990 to 1995; and what average total subsidy was paid in each of those years. [136571]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The information is given in the table.

  Average farm output, net farm income and subsidies for full time farm business in England (real-terms, 1999 prices, average year end February)

  £000/farm

  Total farm output1

  Net farm income

  Subsidies and grants

  1990–91

  161.6

  21.3

  3.5

  1991–92

  155.6

  21.4

  4.1

  1992–93

  155.9

  26.5

  7.3

  1993–94

  158.5

  28.0

  17.1

  1994–95

  168.4

  33.2

  19.2

  1995–96

  184.8

  42.4

  23.9

  1 This is broadly equivalent to the concept of gross farm income

  Source:

  Farm Business Survey

  GM Trials
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made by the Government since 31 July in reaching a final agreement with the European Commission on the two metre rules for field margins; when he expects this issue to be resolved; and if he will make a statement. [136220]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Heywood and Middleton (Mr. Dobbin) on 30 October 2000, Official Report, column 233W, referred to a recognition by Commissioner Fischler of the importance of traditional

  151W
  landscape features, such as hedges, in implementing aid schemes. This recognition stems from the frequent and intensive contacts that MAFF Ministers and officials have had with the Commission over recent months and, as part of the initiative to simplify the administration of the Common Agricultural Policy, a change to the rules of the Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) has now been proposed which would give it practical effect. The proposed rule change would allow United Kingdom farmers to continue, on a permanent basis, to treat field margins in the same way as they have done in the past so far as their inclusion in IACS claims is concerned and would remove the risk of environmental damage that might have resulted from strict application of "two metre rule". This change would also avoid imposing extra burdens of "red tape" on farmers or any adverse impact on their returns under the IACS schemes. The Government welcome this proposal and will press for its rapid adoption.

  Arable Farmland
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what changes there were in the average value of arable farmland in England from 1990 to 2000. [136591]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: MAFF's agricultural land prices series are derived from returns made to the Valuation Office Agency of the Inland Revenue. Arising from changes in the manner in which

  £ million

  FEOGA years1

  Measure

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  2004

  2005

  2006

  Total

  Investment in Agricultural Holdings

  Total

  0.0

  1.0

  1.5

  2.3

  3.3

  3.7

  4.8

  16.6

  Of which:

  EU Contribution

  0.0

  0.5

  0.8

  1.1

  1.6

  1.8

  2.4

  8.3

  Exchequer Contribution

  0.0

  0.5

  0.8

  1.1

  1.6

  1.8

  2.4

  8.3

  Training

  Total

  0.0

  2.1

  2.5

  3.6

  4.0

  4.0

  5.7

  22.0

  Of which:

  EU Contribution

  0.0

  1.1

  1.3

  1.8

  2.0

  2.0

  2.9

  11.0

  Exchequer Contribution

  0.0

  1.1

  1.3

  1.8

  2.0

  2.0

  2.9

  11.0

  Less Favoured Areas

  Total

  42.4

  43.8

  40.9

  37.4

  34.8

  27.2

  27.2

  253.8

  Of which:

  EU Contribution

  11.4

  7.1

  7.1

  7.1

  7.1

  7.1

  7.1

  54.0

  Exchequer Contribution

  31.0

  36.7

  33.9

  30.3

  27.8

  20.1

  20.1

  199.8

  Agri-environment

  Total

  83.6

  111.3

  122.1

  137.6

  153.5

  169.2

  183.8

  961.1

  Of which:

  EU Contribution

  34.8

  34.5

  29.1

  23.7

  18.3

  16.2

  13.7

  170.3

  Exchequer Contribution

  48.8

  64.6

  71.5

  80.6

  90.0

  99.8

  108.8

  564.1

  Modulation Receipts

  0.0

  12.2

  21.5

  33.3

  45.2

  53.2

  61.3

  226.7

  Improving Processing and Marketing of Agricultural Products

  Total

  0.0

  2.2

  6.3

  8.0

  8.0

  8.0

  11.4

  44.0

  Of which:

  EU Contribution

  0.0

  1.1

  3.2

  4.0

  4.0

  4.0

  5.7

  22.0

  Exchequer Contribution

  0.0

  1.1

  3.2

  4.0

  4.0

  4.0

  5.7

  22.0

  Afforestation of Agricultural Land

  Total

  15.5

  20.3

  23.9

  26.1

  27.1

  29.1

  30.1

  172.0

  Of which:

  EU Contribution

  5.3

  5.7

  6.6

  6.9

  7.3

  8.0

  6.6

  46.4

  Exchequer Contribution

  10.2

  13.0

  15.4

  17.2

  17.8

  19.1

  19.7

  112.3

  Modulation Receipts

  0.0

  1.6

  1.9

  2.0

  2.0

  2.0

  3.8

  13.3

  152W
  the data were transmitted and compiled last year, there were some changes in definitions occasioning a break in the series. This break occurs in 1993; hence it is not possible to have a comparable series before and after that year. The latest available data refer to the year 1999 (and figures for this and the two preceding years are still provisional). The MAFF series are not defined directly for arable farmland but there is a categorisation by predominant grade of land. It is probably the case that Grades 1 and 2 land would be closest to arable land for most situations and this general assumption is made for the purpose of these valuations. The average price of Grades 1 and 2 farmland in England rose from £3,617 per hectare in 1993 to £7,172 in 1999, representing an increase in current (nominal) price terms of 98.3 per cent. The increase was not continuous and peaked in 1997 when the price was £7,339 per hectare; it declined to £6,941 in 1998, before rising somewhat again last year. In real (constant 1995 price) terms the overall increase for the period 1993 to 1999 amounted to 68.8 per cent.

  ERDP
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total funding for the ERDP in each of its seven years broken down by(a) source of funding and (b) component scheme. [136724]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The table shows the planned expenditure and sources of funding for each measure under the ERDP over the period 16 October 1999 to 15 October 2006.
  153W

  £million

  FEOGA years1

  Measure

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  2004

  2005

  2006

  Total

  Other Forestry Measures

  Total

  7.8

  8.5

  9.7

  9.7

  9.7

  9.7

  9.7

  64.9

  Of which:

  EU Contribution

  0.2

  0.8

  1.4

  1.9

  1.9

  2.0

  2.0

  10.2

  Exchequer Contribution

  7.6

  7.7

  8.3

  7.8

  7.8

  7.7

  7.7

  54.7

  Adaption and Development of Rural Areas

  Total

  0.0

  4.3

  9.5

  17.5

  28.6

  33.2

  47.2

  140.3

  Of which:

  EU Contribution

  0.0

  2.2

  4.8

  8.7

  14.3

  16.6

  18.7

  65.3

  Exchequer

  0.0

  2.2

  4.8

  8.7

  14.3

  16.6

  28.5

  75.0

  Total expenditure

  149.3

  193.5

  216.6

  242.1

  269.1

  284.0

  320.0

  1,674.7

  Of which:

  EU Contribution

  51.7

  52.9

  54.1

  55.3

  56.5

  57.7

  59.1

  387.4

  Exchequer Contribution

  97.7

  126.8

  139.0

  151.6

  165.3

  171.1

  195.8

  1,047.2

  Modulation Receipts

  0.0

  13.8

  23.4

  35.3

  47.2

  55.2

  65.1

  240.0

  1 FEOGA years run from 16 October to 15 October

  BSE
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence his Department has obtained that links new variant CJD in humans with BSE in cattle. [135915]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 31 October 2000]: I have been asked to reply.

  We are advised on all matters relating to Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) by the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC). At its meeting in March 1999, SEAC advised that
  BSE and vCJD were caused by a closely similar prion strain, and concluded that variant CJD was an acquired prion disease caused by exposure to BSE or a BSE like agent.

CABINET OFFICE

  Drugs
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when she will report progress on the Government's 10-year anti-drugs strategy; and if she will make a statement. [137184]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator's second Annual Report is published today and copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  The report sets out progress during 1999–2000 in delivering our targets across the four aims of the Government's 10-Year Strategy which reflect the balance of our policies across all aspects of the drug misuse problem. Those aims are: helping young people to resist drug misuse; protecting our communities from drug related anti-social and criminal behaviour; increasing the numbers of drug misusers in treatment; and reducing the availability of drugs on our streets.

  We have met most of our annual targets and are on track for our targets for 2002. Key achievements include: the establishment of the Drugs Prevention Advisory Service (DPAS), with nine regional teams to support the work of Drug Action Teams (DATs); establishment of a
  154W
  framework for a holistic approach to drug education in schools through Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) which is now in the national curriculum for the first time—Ofsted reports indicated that 93 per cent. of secondary and 75 per cent. of primary schools now have a drug education policy; targeted prevention work for young people at risk through Health Action Zones; arrest referral schemes covering all custody suites in all police forces in England and Wales expected well ahead of our 2002 target; steady increase in drug misusers attending treatment services—around 7 per cent. over six months from March 1999 to September 1999; CARATs—the Counselling, Assessment, Referral, Advice and Throughcare programme for drug misusers is now available in every prison in England and Wales; and co-ordinated law enforcement activity leading to some £1.2 billion of Class A drugs being prevented from reaching our streets—an increase of 33.5 per cent on the previous year; and an increase of 9.2 per cent. in the number of Class A trafficking groups disrupted-nearly double the target.

  Good progress has been made, but there is still a lot to do. New money made available to the Anti-Drugs Strategy under the Spending Review for 2001 to 2004 will help us to do more to drive forward the Strategy's key targets for 2005 and 2008 and increase our proactive efforts to prevent and tackle drug misuse.

  Focus 5000
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) what the cost was in the last 12 months for which figures are available of servicing the Focus 5000 group; [136928]

  (2) how many people have left the Focus 5000 group since its inception; and how joiners are recruited; [136924]

  (3) how she ensures that the Focus 5000 group is representative of the UK population; [136929]

  (4) if she will list the policy initiatives and options that have been tested on the Focus 5000 group. [136926]
  155W
  Marjorie Mowlam
  The cost of servicing the Panel over the last 12 months is £146,750, made up of:

  Two top-up recruitment exercises of 500 Panel members: £49,250 each exercise.

  Recruitment of a booster of 830 Panel members from ethnic minority communities: £61,500.

  In addition, the contractor is paid a £9,000 quarterly management fee.

  Since the Panel was set up in 1998, 450 members have asked to leave. The original members were recruited by MORI (contracted to run the Panel) using a pre-selected random sample in 714 sampling points at addresses across the United Kingdom. In order to ensure the correct number of young people joined the Panel, a booster survey was conducted among 16–24 year olds.

  Since 1998, there have been two top-up recruitment exercises, both from a pre-selected ramdom sample of addressees, but stratified towards more deprived areas and those with a greater proportion of young people.

  Although the proportion of original Panel members coming from ethnic minorities is representative of the UK population as a whole, it is too small to analyse their views in detail. We have, therefore, recruited 830 new members with ethnic minority backgrounds.

  The Panel has a profile that is representative of the UK population in terms of age, gender, region and a wide range of other demographic indicators. Research results are benchmarked against other surveys that MORI carry out for other central Government Departments and local authorities and we have also commissioned a small study looking at representativeness of research carried out using the Panel; by comparing individual responses among those who took part in the most recent wave of research and in 1998 on service satisfaction questions.

  A full evaluation of the effectiveness of the Panel in helping shape Government policy and how representative it now is will be carried out early in 2001. The results will be published.

  Five major waves of quantitative research and several qualitative research projects have been carried out using the People's Panel. These have supported a number of policy initiatives. Summaries of the research results have been placed in the House Library and published on the internet. I shall send copies to the hon. Member.

  Honours Unit
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people are employed in the Honours Unit. [136702]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The Ceremonial Branch of my Department, which has policy responsibility for honours matters and oversees the preparation of recommendations for the Prime Minister's Honours Lists and the public honours nominations service, comprises 18 people.

  Public Services Productivity
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what seminars have been organised for Government Ministers and senior civil servants on public services productivity; and if she will make a statement. [135896]
  156W
  Marjorie Mowlam
  The Centre for Management and Policy Studies (CMPS) in the Cabinet Office has organised jointly with the Public Services Productivity Panel a seminar for senior officials. More broadly, CMPS's programme of seminars for Ministers and senior civil servants addresses a range of themes with the overarching aim of improving the quality and efficiency of public services.

PRIME MINISTER

  Far East Prisoners of War
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister when he will make an announcement on a special gratuity for(a) former Far East prisoners of war and (b) their widows. [137108]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer my hon. Friend to the Statement given in the House today by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  GMO Research
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the projects funded by her Department since 1 May 1997 that partially or wholly involve research into genetically modified organisms indicating their aggregate cost. [136621]

  Clare Short
  The information requested is as follows. The aggregate cost of some £5.4 million is being spent over average project lives of three to four years.

  Renewable Natural Resources Research Strategy

  Projects Involving the Potential Release of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)1

  Plant Sciences

  Crop Resistance to the Nematodes Globodera and Naccobus in Bolivian Hillside Potato Production
  University of Leeds; PROINPA, Bolivia; 1 October 1997–30 September 2000; £88,518 [R6830]2

  Development and Application of Transformation Systems in Rice
  John Innes Institute; IRRI; University of Dhaka; University of Delhi; IIAR, India; 1 September 1997–31 August 2000; £288,649 [R6948]2

  Modelling Gene Flow in Pigeonpea
  University of Birmingham; ICRISAT; NBPGR, India; 1 April 1999–31 March 2002; £199,276 [R7261C]3

  Durable Crop Resistance in Rice and Potato Plants to Nematodes
  University of Leeds; IRRI; WARDA; PROINPA, Bolivia; 1 January 1999–31 December 2001; £289,205 [R7294]3

  Transgenic Rice with Resistance to Rice Yellow Mosaic Virus
  John Innes Institute; WARDA; 1 July 1999–30 June 2002; £335,683 [R7415]3

  Transformation and Mapping of Natural Resistance to Rice Yellow Mottle Virus and Nematodes
  John Innes Institute; WARDA; 1 January 2000–31 December 2002; £97,728 [R7548]3
  157W
  Crop Protection

  Review of Genetically Modified Pest Management Technologies for Use in Developing Countries
  NRI; CICR, India; WARDA; ODI; PROINPA, Bolivia; University of Leeds; 21 February 2000–30 September 2000; £54,943 [R7585]2

  Fish Genetics

  Development and Exploitation of Transgenic Til
  University of Wales—Swansea; University of Southampton; 1 April 1998–31 March 2000; £219,468 [R7113]2

  Production of Improved Reversibly Sterile Strains of Tilapia, Field Testing
  University of Southampton; 1 April 2000–31 March 2004; £304,000 [R7591]3

  Animal Health

  Development of a Genetically Marked Rinderpest Vaccine
  Institute of Animal Health—Pirbright Laboratory; 1 October 1997–31 March 2000; £119,698 [R7048]2

  Pen-side Diagnostics for the Detection of Antibodies Against a Marked Rinderpest Virus (RPV) Vaccine
  Institute for Animal Health (Pirbright); IVRI, India; SVDL, Ethiopia; PARC, Kenya; 1 May 1999–30 April 2002; £223,549 [R7362]3

  Evaluation of Candidate Genes for Dominant Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes Target Antigens for Use as Vaccine Components
  Institute for Animal Health (Compton); ILRI; 1 October 1999–30 September 2002; £206,877 [R7365]3

  Review Studies

  Predicting Costs and Benefits to Livelihoods of the Poor in Developing Countries from "Terminator" Gene Technologies—GS Consulting; 1 July 1999–29 February 2000; £35,000 [R7573]2

  Projects Involving the Use of GMOs for Diagnostic and Research Purposes4

  Crop Post-Harvest

  Development of Low Cost and Simple Technologies for Aflatoxin Estimation in Foods and Feeds
  SCRI; ICRISAT; 1 April 1998–31 March 2001; £164,754 [R7083F]3

  Investigation of Role of Pectate Lyase in Banana Fruit Ripening Using Gene Transformation Techniques
  NRI; HRI; 1 April 1998–31 March 2001; £45,000 [R7160]3

  Crop Protection

  Identification of Varieties with Durable Resistance to Rice Yellow Mottle Virus
  WARDA; IER, Mali; INAR, Niger; 1 October 1997–30 September 2001; £208,265 [R6723H]3

  Analysis of Host Specificity Gene in Vascular Bacterial Pathogens of Banana and Plantain
  NRI; 14 October 1998–28 February 1999; £18,454 [R7248]2

  Study on Diversity within Maize Bushy Stunt Phytoplasma in Central America
  NRI; CENTA, El Salvador; CIMMYT; 1 January 1999–30 June 1999; £19,714 [R7318]2

  Optimisation and Dissemination of a Molecular Identification Module for Phytophthora Species
  SCRI; CABI Bioscience—Egham; 15 February 1999–15 May 1999; £15,347 [R7337]2

  Management and Molecular Characterisation of Bemisia tabaci and Tomato Leaf Curl Virus Disease on Tomato in India
  NRI; 1 September 1999–31 August 2002; £295,672 [R7460]3
  158W
  Study on Variation and Management Strategies for Banana Streak Virus in Uganda
  John Innes Institute; 1 November 1999–31 December 2000; £64,559 [R7478]3

  Strategies for the Sustainable Deployment of Cassava Mosaic Disease-Resistant Cassava in Eastern Africa
  NRI; NAARI, NARO, Uganda; 1 November 1999–31 October 2002; £492,502 [R7505]3

  Characterisation of West African Rice Blast Lineages and Resistance Sources
  HRI; WARDA; SARI, Ghana; CRI, Ghana; 1 December 1999–30 November 2002; £364,334 [R7552]3

  Integrated Management of Banana Diseases in Uganda
  CABI Bioscience—Egham; University of Reading; Uganda National Banana Research Programme; KARI, Uganda; IITA; 1 January 2000–31 December 2002; £329,361 [R7567]3

  Characterisation and Epidemiology of Root Rot Diseases Caused by Fusarium and Pythium spp. in Beans in Uganda
  NRI; HRI; CIAT; KARI, Uganda; NAARI, Uganda; PPRI, South Africa; 1 February 2000–31 March 2003; £445,236 [R7568]3

  Investigation of Epidemiology and Management of Virus Diseases of Vegetable Crops
  HRI; NRI; KARI, Kenya; CABI Bioscience-Kenya; Wye College; 1 March 2000–31 March 2003; £441,294 [R7571]3

  Animal Health

  A Laboratory Animal Model for Screening of Theilerial Vaccine Candidates
  Roslin Institute; ILRI; 1 April 1998–31 March 1999; £20,067 [R7163]2

  Further Information
  DFID Natural Resources Project Database on the internet <www.narsis.org>

  Acronyms

  CENTA—Centro Nacional de Technologia Agropecuaria y Forestal, El Salvador

  CIAT—Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical, Colombia CICR-Central Institute for Cotton Research, India

  CIMMYT—Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maiz y Trigo, Mexico

  CR1—Crops Research Institute, Ghana HRI-Horticulture Research International

  ICRISAT—International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, India

  IER—Institut Economie Rurale, Mali

  IIAR—Indian Institute for Agricultural Research, India

  IITA—International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Nigeria

  ILRI—International Livestock Research Institute, Kenya

  INRA—Institute National de la Recherche Agronomique, Niger

  IVRI—Indian Veterinary Research Institute

  IRRA—International Rice Research Institute, Philippines

  KARI—Kenya Agricultural Research Institute

  KARI—Kawanda Agricultural Research Institute, Uganda

  NAARI—Namulonge Agricultural and Animal Research Institute, Uganda

  NARO—National Agricultural Research Organisation, Uganda

  NBPGR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, India

  NRI-Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich

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  ODI—Overseas Development Institute

  PARC—Pan-African Rinderpest Campaign, Kenya

  PPRI—Plant Protection Research Institute, South Africa

  PROINPA—Programma de Investigacion de la Papa, Bolivia

  SARI—Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, Tamale, Ghana

  SCRI—Scottish Crops Research Institute

  SVDL—Sabeta Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Ethiopia

  WARDA—West African Rice Development Association, Cote d' Ivoire

  1 Projects commissioned after 1 May 1997; total commitment £2,462,594

  2 Completed projects

  3 Ongoing projects

  4 Projects commissioned after 1 May 1997; total commitment £2,924,559.

  Misuse of Aid
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what measures are in place to prevent British aid being used to fund or encourage illegal activity in developing countries; [136635]

  (2) what steps are taken to ensure that British aid is not misused; and if she will make a statement. [136630]

  Clare Short
  The Department's Office Instructions manual, a copy of which is available in the Library, contains an explicit requirement for all development assistance to comply with the Overseas Development and Co-operation Act 1980. If there was any question regarding the legality of an activity in the country concerned, this would be addressed as part of the appraisal procedure. All expenditure is subject to subsequent monitoring, accounting and audit processes to verify that funds are used for the purposes intended. External scrutiny of the Department's expenditure is carried out by the National Audit Office on behalf of the Comptroller and Auditor General.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the scope for corruption in sector-wide approaches to aid. [136637]

  Clare Short
  Sector-wide approaches are considered after careful appraisal of a wide range of factors which include, in particular, the robustness and integrity of financial management systems. Where such systems have inadequate controls, separate procurement, disbursement and/or audit channels are used. Technical assistance associated with a sector-wide approach can include strengthening of the expenditure management, procurement, reporting, accounting and audit capacity of the sector concerned. Thus sector-wide approaches help deliver country wide improvements in health and educational provision and improved financial management.

  Publications
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much her document "Fair-Trade, Overview, impact and challenges" cost to produce. [136632]

  Clare Short
  It cost £57,542.

  Imfundo Project
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much her Department has spent on the Imfundo project. [136633]

  Clare Short
  The total spend (excluding staff costs) on the Imfundo project to date is £52,957.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Carers
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many carers in receipt of their retirement pension do not qualify for the full amount of Invalid Care Allowance. [136446] [136595]

  Mr. Bayley
  It is estimated that up to 110,000 carers in Great Britain in receipt of retirement pension have made a claim to Invalid Care Allowance (ICA) at some point but do not currently qualify for the full amount of the allowance due to the overlapping benefit rules.

  Note:

  Those who have never claimed ICA due to receipt of an overlapping benefit will not be included.

  Source:

  ICA unit administrative data and projections of underlying entitlement cases aged over State pension age. Rounded to the nearest ten thousand.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many married couples who were carers, over the age of 60 years and both in receipt of the state pension, were not entitled to Invalid Care Allowance in the last year for which figures are available. [136447] [136596]

  Mr. Bayley
  The information is not available.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many carers over the age of 65 years he expects to claim Invalid Care Allowance under the package for carers announced in October. [136444] [136598]

  Mr. Bayley
  It is estimated that 40,000 individuals aged 65 or over who are also carers will benefit by being eligible to claim Invalid Care Allowance under the extension of new claims entitlement to that age group.

  Note:

  Due to the difficulty of modelling entitlement to ICA from survey data and the small sample sizes used, this estimate must be treated with caution.

  Source:

  Family Resources Survey 1997–98, 1998–99. ICA caseload forecasts. Estimates rounded to the nearest five thousand.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much additional funding he has allocated for the package of measures for carers announced in October. [136445] [136597]

  Mr. Bayley
  The allocation amounts to £191 million over the three years 2001–02 to 2003–04.

  Pensions and Working Age Agencies
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what progress has been made in establishing(a) a pensions agency and (b) a working age agency. [135524]
  161W
  Angela Eagle
  Project teams are in place to take work forward on the design and development of the pensions organisation and working age agency. The projects are working closely together to ensure a smooth migration to the new organisations without disrupting the existing service to benefit clients. The project teams report regularly to Ministers on progress.

  Invalid Care Allowance
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost of abolishing the overlapping benefits rule for those over pension age in the case of Invalid Care Allowance in order to ensure that full-time carers over pension age could receive ICA in addition to any state pension. [135081]

  Mr. Bayley
  It is estimated that the cost of abolishing the overlapping benefits rules in the case of Invalid Care Allowance (ICA) for those over state pension age in 2002–03 would be about £400 million.

  Notes:

  1. Cash prices, rounded to nearest £50 million.

  2. Given the limitations of modelling entitlement to Invalid Care Allowance from survey data the estimate should be treated with caution.

  3. It is assumed that take-up among the entitled group will be 100 per cent.

  4. An adjustment has been made for Income Related Benefits (IRB) effects.

  Sources:

  Family Resources Survey 1998–99, ICA quarterly extract September 1999 and ICA caseload forecasts.

  In-patients Costs
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what studies his Department has conducted into the everyday (out of hospital) financial costs borne by pensioners who go into hospital for six weeks or more. [136546]

  Mr. Rooker
  None.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people, who have previously been awarded a life award of disability living allowance at high rate, have had their disability living allowance downgraded following a review in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) Scotland. [135860]

  Mr. Bayley
  The information is in the table.

  Disability Living Allowance (DLA) life awards1 at higher rate downgraded following review2 for the period 1 December 1993 to 31 May 2000

  Great Britain

  Scotland

  All downgradings3,4,5

  55,500

  7,200

  Downgraded to lower rate3

  11,800

  1,800

  Downgraded to fixed term4

  44,600

  5,500

  1 The term "life award" was removed from legislation in January 2000. Therefore figures may include a small number of indefinite awards.

  2 From October 1999 reviews were replaced by two new processes, reconsideration and supercession, which are included in these figures

  162W
  3 Figures consist of cases where the higher rate of either the care or the mobility component has been reduced.

  4 Figures consist of cases previously awarded for life which are then awarded for a fixed period of time.

  5 Includes a small number of cases which were both downgraded to a lower rate and downgraded to a fixed term so figures will not sum.

  Note:

  DLA was created in 1992.

  Source:

  DSS Information Centre: 5 per cent. data rounded to the nearest hundred.

  It is important to note that "life awards" of DLA was never intended to guarantee benefit entitlement up to death. They were always subject to change where, for example, a person no longer continued to satisfy the rules of entitlement, or where an error had been made. The criteria for changing a DLA award were, and remain, the same as those that apply to changes of almost all Social Security benefits. The Government recognised that the "life award" terminology in DLA was in this respect unsatisfactory because it created uncertainty. In the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 the terminology was changed to bring it in to line with other benefits. Awards previously termed "for life" are now termed "indefinite". The Department routinely examines cases to make sure that people are still entitled.

  Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will publish the criteria by which sufferers from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome are determined to be in eligible occupations for the purpose of receiving benefit; [137242]

  (2) if an individual diagnosed as suffering from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is eligible for industrial injuries disablement benefit. [137241]

  Mr. Bayley
  Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit may be payable to people who are diagnosed as suffering from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. To be entitled, they must have worked as an employed earner in an occupation involving the use of hand-held powered tools whose internal parts vibrate so as to transmit that vibration to the hand, but excluding those that are solely powered by hand. They must also have a disablement assessed at 14 per cent. or more.

  Attendance Allowance
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications for Attendance Allowance have been received in each quarter of the last three years; and of those how many were(a) successful, (b) unsuccessful, (c) subject to appeal and (d) successful at appeal. [136806]

  Mr. Bayley
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the tables.

  Attendance Allowance claims

  Decided1

  Quarter ending

  Received

  Successful

  Unsuccessful

  June 1997

  115,334

  76,484

  32,119

  September 1997

  101,077

  75,948

  31,640

  December 1997

  98,112

  69,741

  27,448

  March 1998

  97,727

  73,995

  25,600

  163W

  Attendance Allowance claims

  Decided 1

  Quarter ending

  Received

  Successful

  Unsuccessful

  June 1998

  102,246

  71,762

  26,471

  September 1998

  104,411

  74,384

  25,440

  December 1998

  98,680

  71,212

  25,490

  March 1999

  108,677

  75,196

  26,858

  June 1999

  101,702

  73,844

  27,099

  September 1999

  98,377

  73,132

  26,725

  December 1999

  90,158

  58,795

  19,729

  March 2000

  104,929

  75,676

  23,262

  1 Figures include claims received before the quarter

  Source:

  DSS Information Centre: 100 per cent. data

  Attendance Allowance review and appeal decisions1

  Review decisions2

  Appeal decisions

  Quarter ending

  Total

  Successful3

  Total

  Successful4

  June 1997

  26,541

  15,593

  1,207

  725

  September 1997

  31,497

  17,561

  1,399

  804

  December 1997

  29,922

  16,939

  1,360

  770

  March 1998

  29,267

  16,892

  1,696

  894

  June 1998

  24,415

  13,811

  1,651

  873

  September 1998

  24,716

  13,725

  1,697

  833

  December 1998

  24,122

  13,571

  1,494

  782

  March 1999

  26,052

  14,431

  1,546

  772

  June 1999

  23,310

  12,676

  1,697

  796

  September 1999

  26,284

  14,004

  1,566

  729

  December 1999

  17,895

  8,722

  1,257

  602

  March 2000

  22,143

  12,779

  1,261

  557

  1 Figures include claims received before the quarter.

  2 Figures include supersessions and reconsiderations from October 1999.

  3 Figures relate to previously unsuccessful claims where benefit is awarded, and to awards which are increased in value.

  4 Figures relate to previously unsuccessful review decisions where benefit is awarded or where the value of the award is increased.

  Source:

  DSS Information Centre: 100 per cent. data.

HEALTH

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the measures that have been taken to reduce out-patient and in-patient NHS waiting lists in the last year for hospitals serving(a) the Greater London Area and (b) the residents of the Borough of Kingston upon Thames. [135778]

  Mr. Denham
  Within the Greater London area, specific measures to reduce in-patient waiting lists have included the provision of additional theatre lists, weekend working, the recruitment of extra staff and collaborative arrangements with the private sector.

  Measures to reduce out-patient waiting lists in London include the provision of more clinics, the implementation of good practice recommendations from the National Patients Access team such as establishing booking system for out-patients, close working with primary care to develop agreed referral guidelines to ensure that the right patients are referred to the right clinics. Other measures include expanding the range of professionals who can see and manage patients health needs through learning from the beacons initiative. We have also established a work programme with National Health Service trusts in London
  164W
  to ensure best practice out-patient systems are put in place to reduce waiting times. All trusts have in place plans to improve waiting times for outpatients and a director responsible for implementing the plan.

  These developments have resulted in a fall in the total number of London residents waiting for treatment by 29,000 from 167,000 to 138,000 (August 2000) since the General Election.

  All these measures will have benefited residents of the Borough of Kingston upon Thames. In addition, local initiatives for in-patients have included Kingston Hospital running additional operating sessions including day case sessions at the weekend, the local health authority funding additional equipment and the appointment of a discharge co-ordinator. Finally Kingston and District NHS Trust has received capital funding to assist with the reduction in waiting lists. This has enabled the trust to buy additional equipment for use in out-patient clinics.

  Antidepressants
  Dr. Naysmith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to combat the increase in the prescribing of SSRI antidepressants; and if he will make statement. [136002]

  Mr. Hutton
  We recognise that there has been an increase in the prescribing of Selective Serotonin Re-Uptake Inhibitor antidepressants. The Clinical Standards Advisory Group have indicated that depression still remains undiagnosed in too many cases and that treatment is often inadequate. A range of effective treatments should be available including appropriate drug therapy as well as psychological approaches. Treatment plans for particular individuals need to be developed in consultation with them and regularly reviewed.

  A number of clinical guidelines and protocols for the management of depression have been developed. These include the consensus statement by the Royal Colleges of Psychiatrists and General Practitioners published in 1992.

  Dentists
  Mr. Hurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists offered NHS treatment in each of the years between 1990 and 1999(a) in England and Wales and (b) in Essex. [136079]

  Mr. Hutton
  The number of dentists in the General Dental Service at 30 September in each of the years 1990 to 1999 is shown in the table for(a) England and Wales and (b) Essex.

  General Dental Service: Number of dentists

  Year2

  England and Wales

  3Essex

  1990

  16,317

  418

  1991

  16,287

  441

  1992

  16,242

  438

  1993

  16,616

  460

  1994

  16,734

  465

  1995

  16,827

  472

  1996

  17,236

  476

  165W

  General Dental Service: Number of dentists

  Year2

  England and Wales

  3Essex

  1997

  17,657

  497

  1998

  18,200

  526

  1999

  18,719

  535

  1 Dentists cover principal dentists on a health authority or Family Health Services Authority (FHSA) list, their assistants and vocational dental practitioners.

  2 Number of dentists at 30 September each year.

  3 Before April 1996 the area was covered by Essex FHSA. From April 1996 the area was covered by North Essex and South Essex Health Authorities.

  Hepatitis C
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the demand for liver transplantation arising from people who have contracted hepatitis C; and how this demand will be met. [136162]

  Mr. Denham
  Figures supplied by United Kingdom Transplant show that, for 1998 and 1999, 82 and 99 transplants respectively were performed on patients who had contracted liver failure as a result of hepatitis C infection. As of 3 November, 23 such patients are on the waiting list for liver transplant.

  Liver transplantation is limited by the supply of organs. However, new and innovative techniques such as liver splitting are helping to increase the supply. Publicity campaigns are also an important factor in increasing the supply of organs for transplantation. The current campaign encourages people to join the National Health Service Organ Donor Register, to carry the donor card and most importantly to discuss their wish to be an organ donor after death with their family and friends.

  In addition, there is growing experience and success with live related liver transplantation especially in children.

  Mixed-sex Wards
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many representations he has received about the continuation of mixed sex wards in the last 12 months. [136465]

  Mr. Denham
  The number of representations about the continuation of mixed sex accommodation received by the Department in the last 12 months is 52.

  Drug Addicts (GP Treatment)
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many patients with drug problems had treatment withdrawn by GPs in(a) 1999 to 2000 and (b) 2000–01 at the latest date for which figures are available; [136652]

  (2) how many general practitioners ceased to offer treatment for drug related problems to patients addicted to drugs in (a) 1999–2000 and (b) 2000–01 at the latest available date. [136525]

  Ms Stuart
  This information is not held centrally. However, the number of episodes of treatment for drug misuses reported by National Health Service funded general practitioners to the regional drug misuses 166W
  databases in England rose from 1,341 to 1,790 between the six month periods ending 31 March 1999 and 30 September 1999. An episode starts when a drug misuser presents to a particular agency for treatment for the first time or after an interval of six months or more.

  Carers
  Mr. Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if independent fostering agencies will be able to approve and register carers under the draft regulations recently published under the Care Standards Act 2000. [136529]

  Mr. Hutton
  Draft regulations to bring into effect the provisions of the Care Standards Act 2000 in relation to the regulation of independent fostering agencies are currently being prepared. They will be published as part of the consultation procedure early next year. The current intention is, however, that registered independent fostering agencies will able to approve and hold their own lists of carers.

  Ambulance Staff (Assaults)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) alcohol and (b) drug related assaults on ambulance staff have taken place in each of the last three years for each relevant NHS trust. [136443]

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested is not held centrally. The National Health Service Executive conducted a survey of violence in National Health Service trusts in England in 1998–99. The survey found that, on average, seven violent incidents were recorded each month per 1,000 staff. This is equivalent to approximately 65,000 violent incidents each year. The number of violent incidents varied by trust type. The average number of incidents in ambulance trusts was over twice the average for acute trusts: seven incidents every month per thousand staff working for ambulance services compared with three for the acute sector.

  The survey did not reveal the causes of violent incidents. This information would be reflected in local prevention and reduction strategies, and held locally by individual National Health Service employers through local reporting procedures and identified through appropriate risk assessment measures. Details of the survey can be found in Health Service Circular 1999/229: 'Managing Violence, Accidents and Sickness Absence in the NHS', copies of which are available in the Library.

  As part of the continuing NHS zero tolerance zone campaign, the NHS Executive developed further resource sheets to support staff working in those settings we know to be most at risk—namely in Mental Health, Community and Ambulance settings, and also in primary care. A "Resource Pack Update" was issued on the 3 October 2000 to assist managers and staff working in high risk settings and included guidance on:

  Managing Violence in Mental Health;

  Managing Violence in the Community;

  Managing Violence in Ambulance Trusts;

  Primary Care—Preventing Violence and Abuse to GPs and their staff; and

  Case Studies and Examples of Good Practice—Part II.

  NHS Finance
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much capital has been allocated to the North East and Yorkshire region as part of the national bidding processes in(a) the current financial year and (b) 1999–2000; and how much each NHS trust obtained for each national priority. [137024]

  2000–01 capital allocations by trust (up to October 2000)

  £000

  Mod. Fund

  Trust code

  Trust name

  Waiting list and times

  Renal

  Cataract

  Pathology

  Ambulance response times

  Dental access centres

  RCF

  Airedale

  481

  —

  120

  —

  —

  —

  RCE

  Bradford Community Health

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  RAE

  Bradford Hospitals

  525

  —

  352

  83

  —

  —

  RGA

  Calderdale Hospitals

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  RLG

  Carlisle Hospitals

  391

  —

  30

  —

  —

  —

  RLN

  City Hospitals Sunderland

  580

  481

  —

  —

  —

  —

  RTC

  County Durham and Darlington Priority Services

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  RE6

  Cumbria Ambulance Service

  —

  —

  —

  —

  14

  —

  RMW

  Dewsbury Health Care

  600

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  RR7

  Gateshead Health

  510

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  RCD

  Harrogate Health Care

  188

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  RGB

  Huddersfield Health Care Services

  472

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  RV9

  Hull and East Riding Community Health

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,448

  RWA

  Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals

  333

  70

  —

  —

  —

  —

  RGD

  Leeds Comm. and Mental Health Services Teaching

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  RR8

  Leeds Teaching Hospitals

  1,600

  550

  386

  158

  —

  —

  RNM

  Newcastle City Health

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  RTD

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospitals

  1,100

  170

  258

  —

  —

  —

  RR9

  North Durham Health Care

  494

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  RVK

  North East Ambulance Service

  —

  —

  —

  —

  137

  —

  RLF

  North Lakeland Healthcare

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  RVW

  North Tees and Hartlepool

  495

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  RCA

  Northallerton Health Services

  180

  —

  115

  —

  —

  —

  RM6

  Northgate and Prudhoe

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  RE8

  Northumberland Mental Health

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  RTF

  Northumbria Health Care

  400

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  RR4

  Pinderfields and Pontefract Hospitals

  399

  —

  194

  —

  —

  —

  RLH

  Priority Healthcare Wearside

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  RCC

  Scarborough and NE Yorkshire Healthcare

  430

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  RTA

  South Durham Health Care

  462

  —

  —

  127

  —

  —

  RCJ

  South Tees Acute Hospitals

  455

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  RE9

  South Tyneside Healthcare

  392

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  RVX

  Tees and North East Yorkshire

  118

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  RV1

  Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Serv.

  —

  —

  —

  —

  109

  —

  RGF

  Wakefield and Pontefract Community Health

  425

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  RE7

  West Cumbria Healthcare

  210

  —

  —

  —

  —

  230

  RGH

  West Yorkshire Met. Ambulance Service

  —

  —

  —

  —

  109

  —

  RCB

  York Health Services

  477

  30

  —

  199

  —

  —

  Total

  11,717

  1,301

  1,582

  440

  369

  1,678

  CHD

  Trust code

  Trust name

  Revascularisation

  Rapid access chest clinics

  Cardiac equipment

  Personal dental services pilots

  NHS Direct

  Critical care

  Total allocation

  RCF

  Airedale

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  250

  851

  RCE

  Bradford Community Health

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  RAE

  Bradford Hospitals

  —

  291

  25

  —

  —

  385

  1,661

  RGA

  Calderdale Healthcare

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  45

  45

  RLG

  Carlisle Hospitals

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  113

  534

  RLN

  City Hospitals Sunderland

  —

  20

  —

  —

  —

  1,041

  2,122

  RTC

  County Durham and Darlington Priority Services

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  RE6

  Cumbria Ambulance Service

  —

  —

  50

  —

  —

  —

  64

  RMW

  Dewsbury Health Care

  —

  70

  —

  —

  —

  195

  865

  RR7

  Gateshead Health

  —

  300

  —

  —

  —

  209

  1,019

  RCD

  Harrogate Health Care

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  188

  RGB

  Huddersfield Health Care Services

  —

  —

  45

  —

  —

  224

  741

  RV9

  Hull and East Riding Community Health

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,448

  RWA

  Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals

  282

  23

  100

  —

  —

  3,831

  4,639

  RGD

  Leeds Comm. and Mental Health Services Teaching

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  168W
  Mr. Hutton
  The following tables detail the capital funds that the Northern and Yorkshire Regional Office has been allocated in(a) the current financial year and (b) 1999–2000 as part of the national bidding process, in totality and also detail how much each NHS trust obtained for each national priority.
  169W

  CHD

  Trust code

  Trust name

  Revascularisation

  Rapid access chest clinics

  Cardiac equipment

  Personal dental services pilots

  NHS Direct

  Critical care

  Total allocation

  RR8

  Leeds Teaching Hospitals

  835

  152

  120

  —

  —

  950

  4,751

  RNM

  Newcastle City Health

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  RTD

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospitals

  300

  —

  —

  —

  —

  540

  2,368

  RR9

  North Durham Health Care

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  57

  551

  RVK

  North East Ambulance Service

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  137

  RLF

  North Lakeland Healthcare

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  RVW

  North Tees and Hartlepool

  —

  43

  —

  —

  —

  130

  668

  RCA

  Northallerton Health Services

  —

  —

  —

  155

  —

  448

  892

  RM6

  Northgate and Prudhoe

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  RE8

  Northumberland Mental Health

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  RTF

  Northumbria Health Care

  —

  199

  74

  —

  —

  421

  1,094

  RR4

  Pinderfields and Pontefract Hospitals

  —

  91

  —

  —

  —

  112

  796

  RLH

  Priority Healthcare Wearside

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  RCC

  Scarborough and NE Yorkshire Healthcare

  —

  90

  —

  —

  —

  163

  683

  RTA

  South Durham Health Care

  —

  33

  —

  —

  —

  —

  622

  RCJ

  South Tees Acute Hospitals

  —

  —

  153

  —

  —

  525

  1,133

  RE9

  Southe Tyneside Healthcare

  —

  —

  25

  —

  —

  —

  417

  RVX

  Tees and North East Yorkshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  118

  RV1

  Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Serv.

  —

  —

  36

  —

  536

  —

  681

  RGF

  Wakefield and Pontefract Community Health

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  425

  RE7

  West Cumbria Healthcare

  —

  24

  —

  —

  —

  125

  589

  RGH

  West Yorkshire Met. Ambulance Service

  —

  —

  269

  —

  —

  —

  378

  RCB

  York Health Services

  —

  —

  40

  —

  —

  332

  1,078

  Total

  1,417

  1,336

  937

  155

  536

  10,096

  31,564

  Northern and Yorkshire regional office capital allocations received under national bidding process

  £000

  1999–2000

  Accident and Emergency Modernisation Fund

  13,448

  Waiting List Modernisation Fund

  2,745

  Pathology Modernisation Fund

  417

  Cancer Outpatients Modernisation Fund

  228

  NHS Direct

  241

  Primary Care Walk in Centres

  285

  Total

  17,364

  2000–01 (to October 2000)

  Waiting List and Times Modernisation Fund

  11,717

  Renal Modernisation Fund

  1,301

  Cateract Modernisation Fund

  1,582

  1999–2000 capital allocations by trust

  £000

  Mod. Fund

  Trust code

  Trust name

  Accident and emergency

  Waiting list

  Pathology

  Cancer outpatients

  NHS Direct

  Primary care walk in centres

  Total allocation

  RCF

  Airedale

  600

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  600

  RCE

  Bradford Community Health

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  RAE

  Bradford Hospitals

  300

  100

  —

  —

  —

  —

  400

  RGA

  Calderdale Healthcare

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  RLG

  Carlisle Hospitals

  410

  140

  —

  46

  —

  —

  596

  RLN

  City Hospitals Sunderland

  600

  55

  —

  —

  —

  —

  655

  RTC

  County Durham and Darlington Priority Services

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  RE6

  Cumbria Ambulance Service

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  RMW

  Dewsbury Health Care

  600

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  600

  RMU

  East Yorkshire Community Healthcare

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  RF3

  East Yorkshire Hospitals

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  RR7

  Gateshead Health

  750

  373

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,123

  RCD

  Harrogate Health Care

  30

  —

  —

  7

  —

  —

  37

  RGB

  Huddersfield Health Care Services

  40

  160

  —

  —

  —

  —

  200

  RV9

  Hull and East Riding Community

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  RWA

  Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals

  1,064

  —

  —

  12

  —

  —

  1,076

  RMV

  Hull and Holderness Community Health

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  RGD

  Leeds Comm. and Mental Health Services Teaching

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  RR8

  Leeds Teaching Hospitals

  770

  250

  417

  32

  —

  —

  1,469

  170W

  Northern and Yorkshire regional office capital allocations received under national bidding process

  £000

  Pathology Modernisation Fund

  440

  Ambulance Response Times Modernisation Fund

  369

  Dental Access Centres

  1,678

  Coronary Heart Disease:

  Revascularisation

  1,417

  Rapid Access Chest Clinics

  1,336

  Cardiac Equipment

  937

  Personal Dental Services Pilots

  155

  NHS Direct

  536

  Critical Care

  10,096

  Total

  31,564

  171W

  1999–2000 capital allocations by trust

  £000

  Mod. Fund

  Trust code

  Trust name

  Accident and emergency

  Waiting list

  Pathology

  Cancer outpatients

  NHS Direct

  Primary care walk in centres

  Total allocation

  RNM

  Newcastle City Health

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  RTD

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospitals

  —

  177

  —

  —

  —

  285

  462

  RR9

  North Durham Health Care

  70

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  70

  RVK

  North East Ambulance Service

  —

  —

  —

  —

  175

  175

  RLF

  North Lakeland Healthcare

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  RVW

  North Tees and Hartlepool

  755

  660

  —

  54

  —

  —

  1,469

  RCA

  Northallerton Health Services

  600

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  600

  RM6

  Northgate and Prudhoe

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  RE8

  Northumberland Mental Health

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  RTF

  Northumbria Health Care

  1,800

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,800

  RR4

  Pinderfields and Pontefract Hospitals

  815

  250

  —

  35

  —

  —

  1,100

  RLH

  Priority Healthcare Wearside

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  RF2

  Royal Hull Hospitals

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  RCC

  Scarborough and NE Yorkshire Healthcare

  910

  60

  —

  —

  —

  —

  970

  RTA

  South Durham Health Care

  600

  410

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,010

  RCJ

  South Tees Acute Hospitals

  312

  110

  —

  20

  —

  —

  442

  RE9

  South Tyneside Healthcare

  617

  —

  —

  22

  —

  —

  639

  RVX

  Tees and NE Yorkshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  RV1

  Tees, East and North Yorkshire Amb. Service

  —

  —

  —

  —

  200

  —

  200

  RGF

  Wakefield and Pontefract Community Health

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  RE7

  West Cumbria Healthcare

  600

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  600

  RGH

  West Yorks. Met. Ambulance Service

  —

  —

  —

  —

  -134

  —

  -134

  RCB

  York Health Services

  1,205

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,205

  Total

  13,448

  2,745

  417

  228

  241

  285

  17,364

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the conventionally financed precursor scheme for the Newcastle Hospitals Trust PFI has been approved. [137026]

  Mr. Hutton
  Although the scheme has not yet been approved, it is expected that it will be approved in the near future. Public capital funds have been reserved to meet the full capital costs of this scheme, which will be released to the trust as soon as the remaining outstanding issues have been resolved.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the block allocation is for discretionary capital for each NHS trust in the North East and Yorkshire region in(a) the current financial year and (b) 1999–2000. [137023]

  Mr. Hutton
  Block capital allocations to NHS trusts in the Northern and Yorkshire Region for 1999–2000 and 2000–01 are shown in the table.

  Hull and East Riding Community Health NHS Trust and Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust both became operational on 1 October 1999. For comparison purposes, the block capital allocations of their predecessor constituent trusts have been aggregated and presented under the new trusts' names.

  Block capital allocations to NHS trusts in the Northern and Yorkshire region

  £000

  NHS trust

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  Airedale

  1,644

  1,678

  Bradford Community Health

  800

  817

  Bradford Hospitals

  3,047

  3,110

  Calderdale Healthcare

  1,564

  1,597

  Carlisle Hospitals

  1,200

  1,225

  City Hospitals Sunderland

  3.526

  3,599

  County Durham and Darlington Priority Services

  615

  628

  Cumbria Ambulance Service

  517

  528

  172W

  Block capital allocations to NHS trusts in the Northern and Yorkshire region

  £000

  NHS trust

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  Dewsbury Health Care

  1,490

  1,521

  Gateshead Health

  2,077

  2,120

  Harrogate Health Care

  1,563

  1,596

  Huddersfield Healthcare

  1,697

  1,732

  Hull and East Riding Community Health

  1,329

  1,081

  Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals

  4,500

  4,600

  Leeds Community and Mental Health

  1,274

  1,300

  Leeds Teaching Hospitals

  11,833

  12,385

  Newcastle City Health

  2,246

  2,299

  Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals

  7,323

  7,782

  North Durham Health Care

  1,901

  1,941

  North East Ambulance Service

  1,995

  2,036

  North Lakeland Healthcare

  557

  569

  North Tees and Hartlepool

  2,678

  2,769

  Northallerton Health Services

  897

  916

  Northgate and Prudhoe

  543

  554

  Northumberland Mental Health

  271

  277

  Northumbria Health Care

  3,891

  4,045

  Pinderfields and Pontefract Hospitals

  3,440

  3,512

  Priority Healthcare Wearside

  514

  525

  Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare

  1,819

  2,132

  South Durham Health Care

  2,327

  2,398

  South Tees Acute Hospital

  4,050

  4,140

  South Tyneside Health Care

  1,568

  1,601

  Tees, East and North Yorks Ambulance

  2,196

  1,984

  Tees and North East Yorkshire

  1,112

  1,362

  Wakefield and Pontefract Community Health

  813

  1,037

  West Cumbria Health Care

  1,103

  1,126

  West Yorks Metropolitan Ambulance Service

  1,758

  1,795

  York Health Services

  2,933

  2.994

  Total

  84,611

  87,311

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the level of capital expenditure needed at each hospital site of the Newcastle City Health Trust to ensure they comply with Heath and Safety Executive standards. [137025]
  173W
  Mr. Hutton
  The current estimated level of capital expenditure needed at each hospital site of the Newcastle City Health NHS Trust in relation to Health and Safety Executive standards is shown in the table.

  £

  Hospital

  Statutory and safety

  Fire safety

  Total

  Newcastle General

  546,000

  3,259,821

  3,805,821

  Hunters Moor

  132,000

  458,550

  590,550

  St. Nicholas

  687,000

  2,061,630

  2,748,630

  Sanderson

  150,000

  1,001,390

  1,151,390

  Totals

  1,515,000

  6,781,391

  8,296,391

  CJD Clusters
  Ms Rosie Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) undertaken at (i) a local and (ii) a national level into potential clusters at vCJD cases in (A) Queniborough, Leicestershire and (B) Armthorpe, South Yorkshire; [137115]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of establishing (a) a standardised protocol and (b) a dedicated core team for the investigations of potential clusters of vCJD. [137116]

  Yvette Cooper
  The National CJD Surveillance Unit investigate all cases of vCJD to identify common factors. All possible groupings of cases are being considered. Local health authorities are involved where localised investigations of groups of cases are appropriate. The Department is actively working with scientists from the CJD Surveillance Unit, health care specialists and others to draw up a protocol to investigate all suspected "clusters". One investigation has already been set up into the grouping of cases at Queniborough.

  NHS (Routine Screening)
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to extend routine screening in the NHS. [135847]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 1 November 2000]: The National Health Service Plan made a clear commitment to extending routine screening.

  Women aged 65–70 will be offered routine breast screening; cervical screening technologies will be improved; and colorectal cancer screening will be introduced should the current pilot studies demonstrate its effectiveness. The United Kingdom National Screening Committee will continue its review of prostate cancer screening.

  By 2004, there will also be new screening programmes for women and children, including equitable, high quality antenatal screening, screening for haemoglobinopathies and neonatal deafness.

  Children's Food
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment his Department has made of the regulations applying to(a) children's food and (b) baby food; and if he will make a statement. [136565]
  174W
  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: Foods for children and babies are subject to the same legislation as applies to foodstuffs generally. In addition there are specific regulations controlling the composition, labelling and (in the case of infant formula only) advertising of infant formula and baby foods. These regulations are amended from time to time to take account of advances in the scientific understanding of the needs of babies.

  Breast Cancer Screening
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on breast cancer screening for the over 65s in(a) Coventry, South and (b) nationally. [136693]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The National Health Service Breast Screening Programme (NHSBSP) invites women aged 50–64 to be screened by mammography every three years, and women over 65 are eligible for screening every three years on request. A total of 88,119 women over 65 were screened in England in 1998–99, of which 954 were screened in Coventry. The Coventry screening programme covers Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull.

  The NHS Cancer Plan announced that the NHSBSP will extend routine invitations for screening to women aged 65–70 by 2004. Women aged over 70 will be offered free three yearly screening on request, as women over 65 are now. It is anticipated that the first breast screening programmes in England will start inviting women over 65 in 2001–02, with all programmes starting by 2004, benefiting 400,000 women each year.

  Healthy Living Centres
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the role of healthy living centres in the Government's public health strategy. [136585]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The New Opportunities Fund is responsible for funding the healthy living centre initiative. Healthy living centre applicants need to demonstrate that their projects will support national and local health strategies. Healthy living centres will have a key role to play in reducing inequalities and supporting the work of other statutory and voluntary agencies locally.

  Health Inequalities
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to narrow the health gap between rich and poor areas. [136696]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The National Health Service Plan announced a stronger role in prevention for the NHS working in partnership with others. By 2003 reducing inequalities will be a key criterion for allocating NHS resources. For the first time ever we will create national health inequalities targets to narrow the health gap in childhood and throughout life between socio-economic groups and between the most deprived areas and the rest of the country. Specific targets will be developed in consultation with external

  175W
  stakeholders and expert advice, as the new national statistics classification becomes available early in 2001. A copy of the NHS Plan has been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to reduce health inequalities(a) nationally and (b) in Coventry, South. [136695]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: Prevention was identified as one of the five challenges in the National Health Service Plan that needed to be addressed. In addition, it announced a stronger role in prevention for the NHS working in partnership with others. By 2003, reducing inequalities will be a key criterion for allocating NHS resources. For the first time ever we will create national health inequalities targets to narrow the health gap in childhood and throughout life between socio-economic groups and between the most deprived areas and the rest of the country.

  Coventry Health Authority's Health Improvement Programme for 2000–03 identified tackling health inequalities as a key priority and has designated six areas of the city as health action areas. These areas, including three in Coventry, South, have the greatest level of deprivation and health need. Health professionals are working with local people and partner organisations to develop health action and service plans.

  The National Health Service will respond to different needs of different populations. Efforts will continually be made to reduce unjustified variations and raise standards to achieve a truly National Health Service.

  Heart Disease
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to end local variations in accessing treatment for heart disease in Coventry. [136580]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The Coventry Health Authority and the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust approach to access to cardiac treatment and preventative services is in line with the National Service Framework (NSF) for Coronary Heart Disease (CHD). The local health community has identified key priority areas which will further promote fair and equitable access to treatment for heart disease. Actions are under way to implement the NSF for CHD at a local level in line with the key milestones set nationally.

  Walsgrave Hospital is opening a rapid chest pain clinic early next year to promote access to a specialist for all patients with new onset chest pain which their general practitioner thinks might be due to angina.

  General practices in Coventry are developing CHD registers and will ensure that an increasingly equitable approach to primary care for CHD patients is adopted.

  Coventry has been proactive in developing hospital based smoking cessation services in addition to those set up in the community. Referral to the hospital smoking cessation team will become an extension of the treatment package offered to patients with CHD in Coventry.

  Teenage Pregnancies
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to reduce the number of unplanned teenage pregnancies(a) nationally and (b) in the West Midlands. [136697]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, East (Ms Prentice) on 14 June 1999, Official Report, columns 17–18.

  The Social Exclusion Unit's report on teenage pregnancy, published on 14 June 1999, sets out a 30 point action plan working across Government. It sets out a £60 million package to tackle the issue, and highlights two main goals: reducing the number of teenage conceptions, with the specific aim of halving the rate of conceptions among under 18s by 2010; and getting more teenage parents into education, training or employment to reduce their risk of long term social exclusion.

  Copies of the report are available in the Library.

  Following the launch of the report, every area in England now has a local teenage pregnancy co-ordinator in place, making a total of 141. Their role is to develop strategies to tackle teenage pregnancy in their area, in consultation with local communities. They will report annually on progress to the Department of Health. £7.5 million has been made available for innovative local projects in the current financial year.

  The NHS Plan has set an interim target of achieving a 15 per cent. reduction in under-18 conception rates by 2004.

  New guidance on sex and relationship education was issued to schools in July. A national media campaign began at the end of October, when the first adverts appeared in teenage magazines. The campaign was developed drawing on comprehensive research on what works best with young people. It is aimed as much at boys as at girls.

  During 2000–01, we provided funding of over £1 million to the West Midlands to develop local services to prevent teenage pregnancy and support teenage parents. Specific initiatives include a Sexual Health and Drugs Outreach Work (SHADOW) project in Coventry that addresses sexual health, pregnancy and healthy lifestyles for young people. This will link to a one-stop shop, due to open shortly in Coventry city centre, to deliver a number of services such as Connexions, youth information and a general advice and counselling service for young people. A mobile sexual health and advice clinic has been set up in North Staffordshire, enabling young people to access services in youth and leisure facilities.

  Childbirth
  Ms Drown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the rate was of(a) spontaneous, (b) Caesarean and (c) instrumental births as a percentage of all births in (i) 1995–96, (ii) 1996–97, (iii) 1997–98 and (iv) 1999–2000. [136798]
  177W
  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The table shows the method of delivery in National Health Service hospitals in England for the years 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, and 1998–99. Figures for 1999–2000 are not available.

  Estimated percentages

  Year

  Spontaneous

  Instrumental

  Caesarean

  Other

  1995–96

  73

  10

  16

  0

  1996–97

  72

  10

  17

  1

  1997–98

  71

  11

  17

  1

  1998–99

  70

  11

  19

  1

  Note:

  Figures are provisional

  Influenza Vaccination
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the shortfall in the national availability of influenza vaccination; what steps his Department has taken to ensure that all medical, nursing and ancillary staff working in NHS hospitals have been offered free influenza vaccination; and if he will make a statement. [136771]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: This year, we have extended the recommended groups for influenza immunisation to include everyone aged 65 and over, irrespective of their underlying health, as well as younger people in established high risk groups. This increase has led to record numbers of vaccine being made available, nearly 11 million this year compared to 7.8 million last year, an increase of 40 per cent.

  Unfortunately one of the manufacturers, Solvay, has encountered problems in growing a strain of the vaccine which has led to delays in some deliveries. Solvay have been in touch with the affected general practitioners to tell them details of any delays, but have confirmed that all ordered vaccine will be delivered by the end of November, in time to protect people this winter.

  As part of the winter planning process, National Health Service employers are required to offer immunisation to all staff involved in the delivery of care and/or support to patients. Offers of immunisation by NHS employers are being closely monitored by the Department to ensure that all staff have been given the opportunity to be immunised.

  Responsibility for occupational influenza immunisation rests with the employer and it should be provided through an occupational health service. It is up to individual NHS trusts to determine their own programme and fund the immunisation of their staff.

  Osteopaths
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many osteopaths practising before 1993 were refused registration under the Osteopaths Act 1993. [136441]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The General Osteopathic Council's records show that, at 2 November 2000, 73 practitioners who claimed to be practising as osteopaths before 1993 have been refused statutory registration under the Osteopaths Act of that year.

  Naz Project
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the Naz Project; and what funding his Department has provided for the project from 1997 to 2000. [136763]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The Naz Project plays a valuable role in providing the South Asian, Latin American, Irani, Turkish and Arab Communities with education and advice on HIV/AIDS issues, and care, support and prevention services. The Department provided core grant funding of £27,000 per year from 1997 to 2000, and £25,000 in 2000–01.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Cayman Islands
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Cayman Islands authorities on the White Paper on Overseas Territories. [135172]

  Mr. Battle
  There is a continual dialogue between the Governor and the Cayman Islands Government on White Paper issues. We have hosted two Consultative Council meetings in October 1999 and October 2000 when Ministers from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and appropriate Whitehall Departments met elected representatives from all the Overseas Territories including the Cayman Islands. Baroness Scotland of Asthal also discussed White Paper issues with the Cayman Islands Government during her visit to the Territory in July of this year.

  EU Council (Biarritz)
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the outcome was of the EU Council at Biarritz; and if he will make a statement. [135174]

  Mr. Vaz
  This informal European Council took stock of progress of the Inter-Governmental Conference on treaty change. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made clear our support for the extension of majority voting in areas where this will benefit Britain, while making clear that these areas did not include tax or social security. The European Council agreed that there was a role for enhanced co-operation in an enlarged European Union. It also agreed that the Charter of Rights should he adopted at the Nice European Council as a purely political declaration. Heads of State and Government also discussed the situation in the Middle East, and held a meeting with President Kostunica of Serbia.

  BBC
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his funding for BBC activities. [135175]

  Mr. Hain
  We have provided a record £64 million increase for the World Service over the next three years.

  Sub-Saharan Africa (Solar Energy)
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what solar energy projects in African sub-Saharan countries he is funding. [135176]

  Mr. Hain
  We are currently funding two solar energy projects in Ethiopia and one in Uganda, with one in South Africa that aims to facilitate financing for renewable energy, including solar energy, together with two other African projects funded by the Climate Change Challenge Fund.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the UK's relationship with Zimbabwe. [135177]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  The economic crisis in Zimbabwe continues to deepen. The economy is contracting by up to one tenth this year and receipts from tourism are down by three-quarters. Inflation is predicted to reach 80 per cent. and foreign exchange is effectively exhausted.

  Britain is ready to engage with the Government of Zimbabwe, as its partner for development. But there is no realistic prospect of economic progress unless President Mugabe first restores the rule of law.

  I met yesterday with Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the Zimbabwe Opposition. I shared with him our strong friendship for the people of Zimbabwe and Britain's willingness to work with any of their representatives who share our commitment to the rule of law, democracy and the welfare of its people.

  Recruitment
  Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent progress he has made in widening recruitment to the Foreign Office. [135179]

  Mr. Battle
  We are widening the FCO's recruitment base, launching marketing and outreach initiatives to encourage people from different backgrounds to join the FCO. We want to ensure that we draw on the very best of Britain's diverse society in promoting UK interests overseas.

  St. Helena
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in the past year towards the restoration of full British citizenship for the people of the island of St. Helena. [135181]

  Mr. Battle
  We have consulted the Overseas Territories, have resolved the matters which need to be covered by new legislation and have produced drafting instructions for a Bill.

  North Korea
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his counterparts in the EU, the USA, Japan 180W
  and China with regard to his decision to normalise diplomatic relations with North Korea; and if he will make a statement. [135182]

  Mr. Battle
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed his decision to respond positively to a North Korean proposal on establishing diplomatic relations with South Korean, US and Japanese counterparts and a number of EU colleagues. Ministers in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and Spain have since made similar announcements. The decision acknowledges progress in the dialogue between North and South Korea and between the US and North Korea and reaffirms British support for the engagement policy of South Korean President, Kim Dae-Jung, but it does not imply approval of the North Korean regime. We remain deeply concerned about human rights in North Korea, as well as Pyongyang's policies on weapons of mass destruction, missile proliferation and nuclear issues; and will use formal relations to continue pressing these issues.

  Guatemala
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on UK relations with Guatemala. [135183]

  Mr. Battle
  Guatemala has the United Kingdom's full support in the consolidation and strengthening of its democracy, adherence to the rule of law and observance of human rights.

  The Government have as their objective a further deepening of the UK-Guatemala relationship. The visit to Guatemala in September of an IPU delegation, led by the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Baldry), made a helpful contribution to that objective.

  Middle East
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the middle east peace process. [135184]

  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the political situation in the middle east. [135189]

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the peace process in the middle east. [135193]

  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in the middle east. [135195]

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the middle east crisis. [135199]

  Mr. Hain
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given earlier in the House today by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary to my hon. Friend the Member for Derby, North (Mr. Laxton).

  Iran (Jewish Community)
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation of Jews in Iran. [135185]
  181W
  Mr. Hain
  The Jewish community in Iran is represented, as are other minorities, by a member in the Majles, and Judaism is among the religions recognised by the Iranian Constitution. Jewish Iranians are free to run businesses and enjoy their own culture, although the right to hold public office is circumscribed.

  However, we remain concerned at the sentencing of ten Jews and two Muslims on espionage charges. We and our EU partners have taken every appropriate opportunity to raise our concerns throughout the trial and the subsequent appeal about the nature of the proceedings. We hope that the Iranian Judiciary will show clemency.

  James Mawdesley
  Mr. Derek Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government took to help secure the release of James Mawdesley from imprisonment in Burma. [135186]

  Mr. Battle
  From the moment of his arrest, we gave James every consular assistance: we visited him 14 times and sent 64 diplomatic notes. We began calling for his release after he was beaten by prison guards in October.

  Immediately following the UN Working Group's decision on 10 October that James was being held arbitrarily, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary demanded James' release. Baroness Scotland repeated this demand when she summoned the Burmese Ambassador the next day. Our Ambassador in Rangoon also made representations. The Burmese Ambassador came to inform me on 16 October that James was being released.

  EU Common Foreign and Security Policy
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met representatives of the French Government to discuss the EU' s common foreign and security policies; and if he will make a statement. [135187]

  Mr. Vaz
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has frequent contact with the French Government over CFSP—in formal discussions, telephonically and at multilateral meetings (e.g. GAC). Since the St. Malo summit, we co-operate particularly closely on European defence, Africa, Balkans and other areas. He will address the French National Assembly on 8 November.

  Latvia
  Dr. Whitehead
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the bilateral relations between the UK and Latvia; and what plans he has to visit Latvia. [135188]

  Mr. Vaz
  Our bilateral relationship with Latvia is good. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary told President Vike-Freiberga of Latvia on 26 October, during her recent visit to London, that the Baltic States were a priority for the United Kingdom and that he hoped to visit Latvia next year. I will make a visit to Latvia tomorrow.

  Czech Republic
  Mr. Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about relations with the Czech Republic. [135190]
  182W
  Mr. Vaz
  We enjoy excellent relations with the Czech Republic. We are close NATO allies, and fully support the Czech application for EU membership. Trade and investment links are strong. The Czech Prime Minister called on my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister last month. I will be visiting Prague later this month with several ministerial colleagues.

  Iraq
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what communication he has had with the Iraqi Government as a result of the involvement of British citizens in the recent aeroplane hijack and hostage situation in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [135191]

  Mr. Battle
  We had no direct contact with the Iraqi Government before or during the hijacking of Saudi Air SV115.

  Belize/Guatemala Border Dispute
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's position regarding the territorial dispute between Guatemala and Belize. [135192]

  Mr. Battle
  The United Kingdom continues to support Belize's Sovereignty and Territorial integrity and will continue to provide legal assistance in Belize's efforts to demarcate its land and maritime boundaries. We are pleased that constructive discussions between the two sides have taken place in the presence of the Secretary General of the Organisation of American States and that further talks are planned. We believe it essential that these discussions continue, and that there is early progress on confidence building measures. We continue to make our views clear to both sides.

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance he is giving to(a) Belize and (b) Guatemala to resolve problems relating to their common border. [137061]

  Mr. Battle
  In helping Belize to resolve its border dispute with Guatemala the UK:has provided financial support for talks between Belize and Guatemala being held under the auspices of the Organisation of American States; and
  is helping Belize in its efforts to demarcate its land and maritime boundaries by providing them with legal and hydrographic assistance.

  The UK strongly encourages both parties to resolve the dispute through bilateral negotiation. We are pleased that the OAS-facilitated talks between Belize and Guatemala have made encouraging progress. We hope this will be taken forward in talks in Washington this week.

  EU Voting Structures (Treaty of Nice)
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on preparations for the revision of voting structures within the EU in the forthcoming treaty of Nice. [135194]
  183W
  Mr. Vaz
  Negotiations on the re-weighting of votes in the Council continue in the Intergovernmental Conference.

  The Government's approach remains as set out in the White Paper laid before the House on 15 February.

  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on preparations for the EU Council at Nice as regards changes to the relationships among the EU institutions. [135196]

  Mr. Vaz
  The Intergovernmental Conference is about making the institutional reforms necessary to allow enlargement to proceed. The issues remain those set out at the beginning of the Conference; that is chiefly the size and composition of the Commission, the re-weighting of votes in the Council of Ministers, the extension of Qualified Majority Voting and closer co-operation between individual member states.

  Sri Lanka
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about conflict in Sri Lanka. [135197]

  Mr. Hain
  We remain extremely concerned about the conflict in Sri Lanka and the effect it is having on the civilian population. We call upon the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE to cease hostilities and begin negotiations immediately.

  We fully support Norway's efforts to facilitate peace talks.

  Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Yugoslavia. [135198]

  Mr. Vaz
  We applaud the peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy which President Kostunica is leading in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Programmes of EU and UK assistance will contribute to the international community's efforts to help the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to overcome its immediate economic difficulties and to rejoin the family of nations.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his(a) European and (b) United States counterparts regarding developments in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. [135428]

  Mr. Vaz
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: I refer to my reply to the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude) on 25 October 2000, Official Report, columns 148–49W.

  Trade (EU Market Access)
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment of the impact on ACP producers of rice, sugar, rum and bananas of the European Commission's Everything but Arms initiative which seeks to extend duty and quota free access to the EU market to 48 least developed countries. [136824]

  Clare Short
  I have been asked to reply.
  184W
  The Government support the European Commission's initiative and recognise the need to consider carefully the potential impact of the proposal on non-Least Developed Countries Africa, Caribbean and Pacific producers. Much depends on the ability of LDCs to respond to the new incentives but the build up of exports is likely to take time. Initial reform of the EU internal sugar and rice regimes is likely to take place over the next few years under pressure from international trade liberalisation agreements.

  Memorandum on EEC Negotiations 1970–72
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place the text of Sir Con O'Neill's Memorandum on the EEC negotiations of 1970–72 in the Library. [134177]

  Mr. Vaz
  Sir Con O'Neill's report on the negotiations of 1970–72 for the UK's entry to the EEC was published by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 7 September and copies have already been placed in the Libraries of the House. The original file copy of the report is now available at the Public Record Office under reference FCO 75/1.

  Burma
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to encourage the development of democracy in Burma. [134921]

  Mr. Battle
  Our policy is to press the Burmese regime at every opportunity to enter into substantive dialogue with democratic parties, including ethnic minorities, and to improve their appalling human rights record. In April this year we successfully persuaded EU partners to strengthen the EU Common Position on Burma by publishing the list of regime members subject to an EU travel ban, imposing a freeze on their funds held in the EU, and banning the supply of equipment that might be used for internal repression or terrorism. We believe continued pressure forces the regime to take note of the international community's concerns, as witnessed by their recent release of the British prisoner, James Mawdsley. We will continue with this policy: forthcoming opportunities include the UN General Assembly resolution, the ILO Governing Body, and the EU-ASEAN Ministerial meeting. We also support the work of Razali Ismail in his good offices roles as the UN Special Envoy for Burma.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his EU and UN counterparts concerning multilateral investment sanctions against Burma. [136764]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: We regularly discuss measures against Burma with our EU Partners but there is no consensus for multilateral investment sanctions. Nor is there consensus for such measures within the UN. We do not encourage trade or investment in Burma. We have suspended financial support for trade missions and trade promotions. In March I told Premier Oil, the largest UK investor in Burma, that we would welcome its moving out. We discourage

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  tourism as well. We are currently working with partners on a resolution on Burma to be adopted at the UN General Assembly.

  EU Enlargement
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy towards discussions of EU enlargement at the IGC in Nice. [135091]

  Mr. Vaz
  The UK is committed to a swift and successful enlargement of the European Union. In the current intergovernmental conference we are discussing the institutional issues which need to be resolved in order for enlargement to proceed. Discussions at the informal Biarritz summit indicated that we are on course for agreement at Nice on these issues. We welcome this.

  Charter of Fundamental Rights
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effects of Article 21 of the draft Charter of Fundamental Rights on his Department's employment of women in jobs requiring considerable manual strength. [135571]

  Mr. Vaz
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Stone (Mr. Cash) on 2 November 2000,Official Report, column 555W.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy regarding the legal status of the Charter of Fundamental Rights. [136395]

  Mr. Vaz
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Tunbridge Wells (Mr. Norman) on 1 February 2000,Official Report, column 541W.

  China
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recommendations the UK Government have made to other EU member states on the future of the EU/China human rights dialogue. [135767]

  Mr. Battle
  The Government take an active role in the EU in determining the direction and strategy for addressing the human rights situation in China. EU partners approved a UK proposal in February 2000 to consider ways of strengthening the EU/China human rights dialogue process to make it a more effective mechanism for addressing common concerns with the Chinese authorities. EU Foreign Ministers are expected to discuss the outcome of this review at the General Affairs Council on 4 December.

  Mr. Stevenson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what developments there have been in the UK Government's inquiries as to the(a) whereabouts and (b) welfare of the 11th Panchen Lama. [135513]

  Mr. Battle
  The Government raised the case of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the Dalai Lama's choice as the 11th Panchen Lama, during the fifth round of the UK/China Human Rights Dialogue in London between 16–18 October. We pressed the Chinese to allow access
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  to the boy by an independent figure acceptable to the Chinese Government and Tibetans to verify his health and living conditions.

  The Chinese stated that the boy was well and attending school. They said that his parents did not want international figures and the media intruding into his life. Two photographs claimed to be of Ghedun Choekyi Nyima were shown to us but not handed over.

  Mr. Stevenson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions are planned within the Council of Ministers concerning the future of the EU/China human rights dialogue. [135514]

  Mr. Battle
  EU Foreign Ministers are expected to review the EU/China human rights dialogue process at the General Affairs Council on 4 December. The Council is also expected to discuss the human rights situation in China in March 2001 following the next round of the EU/China Human Rights dialogue expected to take place in Stockholm in February 2001.

  Mr. Stevenson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress was made on issues concerning Tibet during the last round of UK/China human rights dialogue, held recently in London. [135515]

  Mr. Battle
  The situation in Tibet was a particular focus of the fifth round of the UK/China Human Rights Dialogue held in London between 16–18 October. We pressed the Chinese authorities to resume a dialogue with the Dalai Lama on a long-term political solution to the question of Tibet. We received a briefing from the Chinese on recent contacts with representatives of the Dalai Lama and urged the Chinese to take these forward as a matter of importance.

  We also made clear our specific concerns about the situation in Tibet, including freedom of religion, the treatment of Buddhist monks and nuns, Han Chinese migration to Tibet, the investigation into the 1998 riots at Drapchi Prison, and the closure of the Gyatso Orphanage in Lhasa.

  We also asked about a number of individual cases of concern including Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the Dalai Lama's choice as Panchen Lama. The Chinese side displayed two photographs claimed to be of Ghedum Choekyi Nyima to substantiate their assertion that he was in good health and receiving education.

  We also sought and received a commitment from the Chinese authorities to allow the proposed visit to Tibet by the All-Party Group on Tibet to be carried forward into 2001.

  Whistleblowers
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. [135467]

  Mr. Hain
  [holding answer 30 October 2000]: In accordance with the Department's Code of Ethics, staff may raise with their line manager or with a senior member

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  of the Administration concerns they may have about actions they consider to be illegal, unconstitutional, improper, unethical or otherwise in breach of the Code. They may also raise such concerns with the Civil Service Commissioners or with the Diplomatic Service Appeal Board as appropriate. The Code of Ethnics is annexed to the general principals of conduct contained in Departmental regulations which are issue to all staff on their appointment.

  Independent Monitor for Visa Applications
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs where the post of Independent Monitor for Visa Applications was advertised; and how many people submitted applications. [135826]

  Mr. Vaz
  It is not usual practice to advertise a post of this nature. A short-list of candidates was compiled, including suggestions from the Cabinet Office Public Appointment Unit's database.

  Kosovo
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of civilian Serbs(a) resident in Kosovo at the beginning of 1999, (b) who left after the NATO action and the withdrawal of the Serb forces and (c) who have subsequently returned. [136290]

  Mr. Vaz
  The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that before the conflict there were around 200,000 Kosovo Serbs in the province. Estimates for the number of Kosovo Serbs remaining are in the range of 100,000. Those who return frequently do so independently and usually without assistance from UNMIK; thus estimated number of Serb returns are not available.

  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of civilian(a) Roma, (b) Muslim and (c) Slav people resident in Kosovo at the beginning of 1999; how many left after the NATO action and the withdrawal of the Serb forces; and how many have subsequently returned. [136200]

  Mr. Vaz
  Pre-conflict population figures for Kosovo were far from exact. The 1991 census recorded some 45,000 Roma living in Kosovo, but their numbers may well have been considerably higher. The number of Gypsies (including Askali and Egyptians as well as Roma) is now estimated to be 30,000, although more may be present but unreported. The Pre-conflict Muslim population (Kosovo Albanians and Turks) was roughly estimated at 1.8 million. With the vast majority of the 860,000 refugees having returned to the province, their estimated numbers remain close to this figure. It is estimated that some 200,000 Kosovo Serbs were present pre-March 1999. In addition, Kosovo's Muslim Slave populations (Bosniacs and Gorani) stood at around 57,000 and 12,000 before the conflict and today number about 35,000 and 12,000.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of compatibility of the provisions of applicable law for Kosovo with human rights standards. [135426]
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  Mr. Vaz
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has recently published a report on the workings of Kosovo's criminal justice system, making a number of criticisms. The report has been submitted to the United Nations Interim Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) who will respond in due course.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department's policy is regarding the Kosovo currency. [135420]

  Mr. Vaz
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: We supported the decision of the Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) to issue an UNMIK regulation on the use of foreign currencies in Kosovo in September 1999. The regulation does not preclude the use of the Yugoslav dinar and as such does not pose a threat to FRY sovereignty.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in setting up interim self-government institutions in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement. [135422]

  Mr. Vaz
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) Dr. Bernard Kouchner issued a regulation on 11 August 2000 concerning self-government of municipalities in Kosovo, outlining the responsibilities, rights and duties of the municipalities and those individuals elected to serve within them.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what actions his Department has taken following the OSCE report 'Kosovo: A Review of the Criminal Justice System'. [135424]

  Mr. Vaz
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: This report has been submitted to the United Nations Interim Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) who will respond in due course.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the consistency of approaches to the applicable law of Kosovo's courts and authorities. [135427]

  Mr. Vaz
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has recently published a report on the workings of Kosovo's criminal justice system, making a number of criticisms. The report has been submitted to the United Nations Interim Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) who will respond in due course.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the future of Serb military and police deployment in Kosovo. [135421]

  Mr. Vaz
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: UN Security Council resolution 1244 confirms that an agreed number of Yugoslav and Serb military and police personnel will be permitted to return to Kosovo to

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  perform certain functions as defined in annex 2 to the resolution. The return of these personnel will be subject to a separate agreement. No such agreement has yet been reached.

  "Everything but Arms" Initiative
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on his Everything but Arms initiative from Caribbean Governments. [136825]

  Mr. Vaz
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The Secretary of State has not received any representations on this issue from Caribbean Governments. However we are aware of the concern of the Caribbean states with certain aspects of this proposal and my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has received a letter from the President of Guyana on this subject.

  Serbia
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guidance he has given to his Department on a request by Serbian judges for urgent international assistance with the reform of the judicial system in Serbia. [135425]

  Mr. Vaz
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: Her Majesty's Government have been active in promoting the reform of the judicial system in Serbia. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has funded a number of recent initiatives including a seminar on 23–25 August on the role of the judiciary in Serbia, run by the British Association for Central and Eastern Europe's New Serbia Forum, and two seminars run by the AIRE Centre with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy. The UK will continue to play an active role in this field.

  Ministerial Visits (Balkans)
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit(a) Serbia, (b) Montenegro and (c) Kosovo. [135423]

  Mr. Vaz
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: Her Majesty's Government look forward to the imminent restoration of diplomatic relations with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs hopes to visit Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo in the near future.

  Qualified Majority Voting
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursant to his answer of 30 October 2000,Official Report, column 238W, if he will list those areas in which the extension of qualified majority voting proposed for the Nice Treaty is in the national interest in respect of each of the Written Questions tabled for answer on 30 October by the right hon. Member for Wokingham. [136802]

  Mr. Vaz
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The Government's policy towards the IGC in general and the extension of qualified majority voting in particular is laid out in the White Paper published in February, to which I refer the right hon. Gentleman.

  Iraq (Exports)
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what goods subject to strategic export controls have recently been approved for export to Iraq. [137357]

  Mr. Hain
  Following consultation with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Trade and Industry recently approved a licence to export four diaphragm vacuum pumps, controlled under the Dual-Use and Related Goods (Export Control) Regulations, to the World Health Organisation in Iraq under the United Nations Oil for Food Programme. The export of these goods to Iraq has been approved by the UN Sanctions Committee.

  Mordechai Vanunu
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the representations he has made recently to the Israeli Government on behalf of Mordechai Vanunu. [137243]

  Mr. Hain
  We have raised our serious concerns about Mordechai Vanunu's detention regularly with the Israeli authorities, and will continue to do so.

  Foreign Affairs
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a report to the House on significant events in foreign affairs between 1 August and 23 October. [135178]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  We welcome the major steps towards democracy taken by the Serb people first on 24 September by voting in massive numbers for change, and then on 5 October as their determination brought on the collapse of the Milosevic regime. We and our EU partners promised in September that we would respond rapidly with a rapid revision of our policy, if they took such a step. Now we are keeping our promise: lifting sanctions, supporting the re-integration of the FRY into international organisations, and providing European and bilateral assistance.

  We have all been shocked by the recent upsurge of violence in Israel and the Occupied Territories. The most important task now is to end the violence and bring the parties back to the negotiating table. We have been working closely with all sides to get the Peace Process back on track and our engagement has been warmly welcomed. In the last month the Prime Minister has been in regular contact with regional leaders, and I have had a very constructive visit to Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Egypt, Jordan and Syria.

  On 6 October in Warsaw the Prime Minister affirmed our strong commitment to a swift and successful enlargement of the EU. Enlargement will help make our continent more stable by integrating more countries into a Union that promotes the principles of democracy, good governance, the rule of law and respect for human rights. The Government are determined that there should be a breakthrough on enlargement under the Swedish Presidency. We are working with EU member states to commit themselves to a specific framework leading to an early end of the negotiations and accession.
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  On 19 October I announced in Seoul that the UK intended to respond positively to a proposal in a letter from the North Korean Foreign Minister that North Korea and the UK establish diplomatic relations. The decision was taken in the light of a number of positive developments since the Inter-Korean Summit in June, including further progress in North/South contacts, Marshal Cho's visit to Washington, the US/DPRK joint communique and Mrs. Albright's visit to Pyongyang to prepare for a possible visit by President Clinton.

  Between 6 and 8 September, at the Millennium Summit of the United Nations in New York, the Prime Minister underlined the significance the UK puts on the UN and its changing role in the 21St century. We hope the Summit will constitute a turning point in strengthening the UN system and in directing its overall efforts towards specific goals on development, security and the environment. The UK was instrumental in helping guarantee the Declaration included a paragraph on keeping track of the progress of those commitments.

  The UK warmly welcomed the Brahimi Panel report on UN Peace Operations as a key part of an overall agenda for UN reform. It identified key areas for action, most particularly the need for a more co-ordinated capacity for a rapid response to crises and a more integrated ability to plan and support UN missions. We look forward to working with the Secretary General and other member states on swift implementation of Brahimi recommendations.

  We have provided substantial practical support for the efforts of the Government of Sierra Leone and the United Nations to secure lasting peace and stability. Our objective remains to ensure that the people of Sierra Leone are offered a realistic prospect of stability and peace; and a future free from the violence of a brutal rebel minority.

  We remain very concerned about the situation in Fiji and we will continue, with our partners in the Commonwealth and the EU, to keep up the pressure on Fiji's Interim Administration for a speedy restoration of constitutional democracy.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Pupil-teacher Ratio
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the teacher-to-pupil ratio was in East Sussex(a) for children aged between five and seven years, (b) for children aged eight to 11 years, (c) for all primary schools in the county and (d) for all secondary schools in the county in (i) 1997–98, (ii) 1998–99 and (iii) 1999–2000. [135736]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 31 October 2000]: The information is not available in the form requested. The available information requested on pupil-teacher ratios and class sizes for the East Sussex region is shown in the following tables.

  The latest infant class size data for September 2000 were published in a Statistical First Release "Infant Class sizes in England 2000" on 1 November, copies of which
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  are available from the Library, or alternatively can be accessed from the Department's statistical website www.dfee.gov.uk/statistics. Figures from this release showed that since September 1998 6,065 five, six and seven-year-olds in East Sussex have benefited from the Government's infant class size initiative. As few as 2.3 per cent. of the relevant age group remained in infant classes of 31 or over. Some £620 million is available to support the pledge, and allocations so far to East Sussex LEA amount to over £4 million. This has helped to reduce the size of the average infant class in East Sussex LEA to 25.6 in September 2000 from 27.1 in September 1998.

  The Government are delivering their pledge to limit infant classes for five, six and seven-year-olds to 30 or below early. When the Government came to power, there were nearly half a million children in large infant classes. By September 2000, this has been reduced to some 30,000 children.

  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 in England, 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.

  Pupil-teacher ratios (PTRs) in maintained primary and secondary schools in the local education authority area of East Sussex, 1997–2000

  Position as at January

  Primary

  Secondary

  2000

  22.4

  17.1

  1999

  23.8

  16.9

  1998

  23.2

  16.6

  1997

  22.8

  16.2

  Average size of Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 classes taught by one teacher in the local education authority of East Sussex, 1997–2000

  Position as at January

  KS 1

  KS 2

  2000

  26.1

  30.2

  1999

  27.5

  29.9

  1998

  27.3

  29.4

  1997

  27.9

  28.9

  Average size of infant classes (5, 6 and 7-year-olds) taught by one teacher in the local education authority area of East Sussex, 1998–2000

  Position as at September

  Average class size

  Number of pupils in classes of over 30 children

  Percentage of pupils in classes of over 30 children

  Total number of pupils

  2000

  25.6

  316

  2.3

  13,506

  1999

  25.9

  1,813

  13.3

  13,662

  1998

  27.1

  6,381

  43

  14,947

  New Deal (Sutton)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people have had their benefits stopped for failing properly to take up a New Deal option at each benefit office within the Sutton and Cheam constituency and at the Sutton office; and if he will make a statement. [134893]

  Ms Jowell
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: Sutton Jobcentre is the only office in the Sutton and Cheam constituency. At this office no benefit sanctions have been imposed in this financial year, up to the end of September. That is the only period for which figures are immediately available.

  The great majority of young people taking part in the New Deal do so to improve their employability and find a job without the necessity to impose any benefit sanctions.

  Overseas Students
  Mr. Fearns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what funding is available from his Department for overseas students studying in the United Kingdom. [136042]

  Mr. Wicks
  We offer scholarships through the Overseas Research Students Awards Scheme (ORSAS) for full-time overseas postgraduate students registered as research students at British universities. For this financial year, we are providing £12.5 million. We also fund the Montserrat Emergency Award Scheme, which in the current financial year, is providing £1.6 million towards 195 Montserrat students' higher education tuition fees and living expenses.

  There are also other Government schemes to support overseas students: the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan, funded jointly by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development which will receive £12 million this financial year; the Shared Scholarship Scheme, funded by DFID which will receive £2 million this financial year; and the British Chevening Scholarship Scheme, where FCO is providing £30 million this financial year.

  Global Business Dimensions Ltd.
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when the investigation by the Special Investigative Unit into Global Business Dimensions Ltd. will be completed; and if he will place a copy of the report in the Library. [136069]

  Ms Jowell
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The investigation by the Department's Special Investigation Unit (SIU) has now been completed and a final report will be produced in due course. SIU's reports are confidential to the Department and hence it would not be appropriate in this instance to place a copy in the Library.

  Schools (Internet)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many(a) primary and (b) secondary schools which are connected to the internet allow access to unmoderated internet chat rooms. [136210]
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  Mr. Wills
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: We are determined to ensure that all pupils' use of the internet is both safe and appropriate. Although we do not collect these figures, we understand that open chat lines are rarely used in schools, to avoid any possible compromise to pupil safety. Where chat rooms are used, these tend to be educational, such as the 'chat' sessions which the Science Museum, for instance, holds with subject experts.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what reports have been received by his Department of indecent approaches towards children at school through(a) Internet chat rooms and (b) e-mail. [136211]

  Mr. Wills
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: My Department has not received any reports of indecent approaches towards children through Internet chat rooms or e-mails. Schools deal with the improper use of e-mail through their normal disciplinary procedures, involving the police where appropriate. The DfEE ensures that information and advice are provided to parents and teachers who have to deal with any problem directly.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps his Department has taken to promote the safety of children who use the Internet at school. [136212]

  Mr. Wills
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: DIEE's and others' projects have shown that schools already implement a wide range of Internet safety measures, which we have supplemented by creating the Superhighway Safety pack. It is a comprehensive guide to the whole range of safety measures which schools and parents can adopt. It covers acceptable use policies, home-school contracts, filtering systems, walled gardens, firewalls, monitoring, advice on setting up websites and information about pupils' physical well-being when using computers. As well as advice and guidance, the pack provides contact details for a wide range of appropriate sources of further information or resources.

  The pack was created with valuable help from partners including Becta, NCH Action for Children, the Parents Information Network, the British Educational Suppliers Association and Disney. It was originally produced in 1999 and revised in September 2000, to include extra information such as the advice sheet "Parents making the Internet Safer". We also launched a new Safety website in September 2000 ("http://safety.ngfl.gov.uk") which carries all the information from the pack in an easy to use format.

  Polytechnic Reclassification
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the reclassification of the former polytechnics as universities on(a) academic standards and (b) vocational training. [136260]

  Mr. Wicks
  The Department has made no assessment relating to the reclassification of the former polytechnics.
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  The Department is not aware of any adverse effect on the academic standards or vocational courses and training available.

  The Secretary of State called for diversity across the whole spectrum of higher education at his landmark speech at Greenwich earlier this year. The introduction of foundation degrees is an indication of the importance of vocational qualifications.

  The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) carries out reviews of the effectiveness of institutional arrangements for the management of the quality and standards of academic provision in all higher education institutions that receive public funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). Individual reports are published by the QAA for the assessments it carries out.

  Disability Discrimination Act 1995
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the average cost is of an adjustment made by an employer to support a disabled employee under the terms of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; and what the average cost is of an employee's adjustment within the Access to Work Scheme. [136300]

  Ms Hodge
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: It is not possible to give an absolute cost of adjustments. We published research in March 1998 called "Integrating Disabled Employees", which reported that, where adjustments are needed, the majority cost less than £50, with only very few estimated to have cost more than £5,000. The findings were based on a small sample and are therefore not necessarily representative of all UK employers. Other research published in May 1999 entitled "Employment of Disabled People: Assessing the Extent of Participation", reported that only 11 per cent. of disabled people who are able to work (including those not currently in work) require some form of special equipment, aids or adaptations in order to work.

  Access to Work pay grants towards additional costs for employing disabled people. Employers are expected to make a contribution when the person is already in work. During 1999–2000 Access to Work provided help to 20,729 disabled people in work at a cost of £24.39 million. The average cost of Access to Work help during 1999–2000 was £1,177.

  New Deal (Disabled People)
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to introduce(a) an element of compulsion and (b) the potential for withdrawal of current benefits for non-participants, in the New Deal for Disabled People. [136302]

  Ms Hodge
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: Participation in the New Deal for Disabled People (NDDP) is voluntary. We have no plans to compel people to join the NDDP or to withdraw benefits from those who do not.

  Local Authority Funding Allocations
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assumptions are made, in respect of central Government funding allocations to local 196W
  authorities, for annual funding required for (a) each child in primary school, (b) each child in secondary school, (c) each child in care, (d) each elderly person requiring home help and (e) each elderly person requiring residential care, indicating in each case the figure for an English shire council and the figures for each other type of council. [136496]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The table gives for 2000–01, the Education Standard Spending Assessment per pupil for (a) primary and (b) secondary schools for (i) Shire Counties, (ii) London Authorities, (iii) Metropolitan Authorities and (iv) Unitary Authorities.

  2000–01

  Average primary SSA per pupil

  Average secondary SSA per pupil

  Shire Counties

  2,350

  3,020

  London

  2,980

  3,800

  Metropolitan

  2,460

  3,170

  Unitary

  2,430

  3,130

  Since 1997, overall funding per pupil has increased by over £300 per pupil (to some £3,100 per pupil this year). Funding per pupil fell by £60 in real terms between 1994–95 and 1997–98. There will be further increases in funding following the year 2000 spending review: a further £370 per pupil over the three year period, taking the total increase to nearly £700 between 1997–98 and 2003–04. Funding for children in care and for elderly people is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health.

  Excellence in Cities
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what criteria he used to determine the dates on which the summer school pilots set up under the Excellence in Cities programme are to take place; and if he will make a statement. [136527]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  My right hon. Friend did not set dates for the summer schools for gifted and talented 10–14 year-olds, or the higher education summer schools for those completing Year 11 and Year 12. In each case, the dates were set by the providers.

  There are advantages and disadvantages to holding all summer schools within a set period. The Department is looking at this and other ways to maximise recruitment and attendance.

  Entrepreneurship (Schools)
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what initiatives are in place to teach socially excluded and disadvantaged young people how to operate their own businesses. [136539]

  Ms Jowell
  The Department for Education and Employment currently funds two major initiatives that support socially excluded and disadvantaged young people to set up their own business: the self employment route of the New Deal for Young People and the Youth Enterprise Initiative.
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  The self-employment route of New Deal for Young People is delivered in three stages—a one day awareness raising session; a four day course and/or counselling leading to the production of a business plan; and a 26 week period of test trading, where a participant runs their own business while receiving a training allowance.

  The Youth Enterprise Initiative operates in England and is managed by The Prince's Trust, supported by DfEE and private donations. It offers loans and grants to disadvantaged young people between the ages of 18–30 wanting to set up their own businesses—but who are unable to access start-up capital from commercial sources. Assistance is given in putting together a business plan and the help of a business mentor is provided for up to three years.

  Digital Divide
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what measures the Government are taking to address the digital divide in education. [136542]

  Mr. Wills
  The Prime Minister has given a commitment that, by 2005, all those who want it will have the opportunity to access the Internet. We are currently investing more than £1.7 billion in initiatives to ensure everyone is able to reap the rewards of the digital revolution.

  In schools, good progress is being made in improving computer/pupil ratios, and 88 per cent. of all schools are now connected to the Internet. In future, all school leavers should be able to use and benefit from new technologies.

  We are also tackling the difficulties that a significant minority of adults currently face in accessing ICT. On 11 September the Prime Minister set out the Government's agenda to get the UK on line. We have pledged that by the end of 2002 there will be around 6,000 UK online centres with access points in many public libraries and around 1,000 learning centres specifically focused on the most deprived urban and rural wards. 50,000 free computer-training courses are being made available for jobless people across the country under our UK online Computer Training scheme. We are also piloting an initiative to wire up homes and schools in some of the most disadvantaged areas. And we are introducing the 'Computers Within Reach' pilot scheme to enable around 100,000 low-income learners and families to acquire reconditioned computers.

  National Training Organisations
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to amalgamate national training organisations. [136822]

  Mr. Wicks
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: There are currently no specific plans to amalgamate National Training Organisations. We made clear at the recent NTO National Council conference our belief that a smaller and stronger network of NTOs is needed to make a greater impact on skills development. We will shortly be
  198W
  consulting widely on the future development of the NTO network to better represent employer skills needs. The consultation will be completed by next spring.

  Job Action Teams (Dorset)
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people in Dorset have benefited from Action Teams for Jobs; and if he will make a statement. [136958]

  Ms Jowell
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: There is not an Action Team for Jobs in Dorset. We set up Action Teams in 40 local authority districts with the greatest problems associated with high unemployment and low employment.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people have been helped into work as a result of the Action Team for Jobs. [136959]

  Ms Jowell
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The 40 Action Teams have been operating since 16 October except for the three pathfinders launched in the summer. Early performance figures are not yet available.

  New Deal (West Sussex)
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) which areas of West Sussex are included in the West Sussex Coastal Plain unit for delivery of the New Deal; [137063]

  (2) how much has been spent on the New Deal for young people in West Sussex since its inception. [137062]

  Ms Jowell
  The West Sussex Coastal Plain unit of delivery covers the South Downs from Chichester and Midhurst to Worthing and Bognor Regis. Since the inception of New Deal this unit of delivery has spent £623,656.

  Learning and Skills Council
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the winding up of the National Advisory Council for Education and Training Targets and the transfer of its activities to the Learning and Skills Council. [137035]

  Mr. Wicks
  The National Advisory Council for Education and Training Targets (NACETT) will be wound up on 1 April 2001. As from 1 April 2001, responsibility for advice on National Learning Targets relating to 19-year-olds and older age groups will pass to the Learning and Skills Council. The Government are very grateful for the good work undertaken by NACETT on the Targets and in helping to promote a culture of lifelong learning.

  Blind/visually Impaired Pupils
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what consultations he has held with(a) the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, (b) awarding bodies, (c) representatives of disability organisations and (d) others in connection with

  199W
  the early availability and special preparation of papers and tests for pupils who are blind or who have a visual impairment. [137036]

  Jacqui Smith
  Officials of the DfEE regularly consult with the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA), which develops the National Curriculum Key Stage assessments on behalf of the Secretary of State, over the preparation and design of the tests. As part of this test development process, the QCA ensures that advice on the appropriateness of test materials for pupils with special assessment requirements is sought from:a range of organisations dealing with Special Educational Needs, including the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB);
  teachers working with pupils with a range of special assessment needs, including visual impairment;
  advisory groups in Special Educational Needs appointed by the QCA;
  an agency with specific expertise in developing test materials for visually impaired pupils.

  In addition, for those pupils for whom access to the standard tests is difficult, the QCA produces braille, modified large print and enlarged versions of the tests. Further modifications can be approved by the QCA such as copying onto coloured paper.

  Schools ordering the statutory National Curriculum Key Stage tests in braille, modified large print and enlarged versions are able to tailor their orders to meet their pupil's exact requirements.

  The awarding bodies which develop the GCE, VCE, GCSE, and GNVQ examinations regularly consult with organisations, such as the RNIB, on arrangements for blind and visually impaired candidates. The awarding bodies' special arrangements already allow for the provision of Braille papers and manual Braillers for candidates who are blind or who have a visual impairment. Additional time is also granted to such candidates to allow them to access questions and present responses.

  Private Finance Initiative (Schools)
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many of his Department's officials(a) have worked and (b) are working with Islington LEA on the submission of a PFI bid for schools; and at what cost to his Department. [137207]

  Jacqui Smith
  The preparation of bids for schools PFI projects is the responsibility of local education authorities. My officials are currently reviewing bids for projects to sign contracts in 2002–03; Islington is one of a large number of authorities to have applied for support. Many authorities, including Islington, have taken the opportunity to discuss their bids with officials in my Department. Such discussions are part of the normal work of officials and no separate calculation is made of the costs involved.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will set out the usual process for preparation of a school's PFI bid including details of the involvement of officials from his Department. [137228]
  200W
  Jacqui Smith
  Public Private Partnerships form a central part of the Department's schools capital investment strategy to secure a modern educational infrastructure fit for the 21st century and able to deliver on our aims of raising standards, securing wider access and encouraging lifelong learning. Since May 1997, we have made available over £2.5 billion for schools PFI projects to address the backlog of repair and maintenance work and develop modern school buildings which will provide better conditions for teachers to teach and pupils to learn.

  The preparation of bids for schools PFI projects is the responsibility of local education authorities. In July, we invited authorities to bid for support, against the Department's published criteria, for PFI projects expected to reach contract signature in 2002–03. Several authorities took the opportunity to discuss their proposals with my officials before the deadline for receipt of bids at the end of September.

  My officials are currently making an initial assessment of the schools PFI proposals we have received. We have commissioned customised computer software to help authorities estimate the level of funding required, and we will be making this software available to those authorities whose projects score most highly in the initial assessment.

  Authorities will be advised towards the end of November whether their projects are still under consideration in the current capital round. A priority list of projects which we are able to support will be drawn up in early 2001. Authorities will then be able to discuss with DfEE officials the preparation of outline business cases for consideration by the Office of Government Commerce chaired Project Review Group (PRG).

  Islington LEA
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many of his Department's officials have been seconded to work on the outsourcing of certain education services from Islington LEA; and at what cost to his Department. [137226]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  No officials have been seconded from the Department to work on the outsourcing process in Islington.

  Charter of Fundamental Rights
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if Article 15 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights requires equal working conditions for nationals of third countries working in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [136462]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Charter will be a political declaration of rights, freedoms and principles and is not legally binding. Article 15 recognises that third country nationals who are authorised to work in a particular member state should enjoy working conditions such as protection against unfair dismissal and health and safety, equivalent to citizens of the EU. This is consistent with existing UK law.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Notices of Possession
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the average length of time between serving of a notice of seeking possession on a tenant of a local authority and the granting of possession where the application was successful(a) in England and Wales, (b) in the West Midlands counties and (c) in Birmingham in each of the last two years; and if he will make a statement on his proposals to speed up the process. [136288]

  Mr. Lock
  Information about the length of time between serving a notice of possession on a tenant of a local authority and the granting of possession is not collected.

  The Lord Chancellor's Consultation paper entitled: "Access to Justice: Housing and Land proposed new procedures", was issued on 19 July 2000 and included proposals to streamline possession proceedings and tackle unnecessary delay. The proposals were welcomed by the majority of those who responded to the consultation. Draft rules, taking into account the comments received, are currently being considered by the Civil Procedure Rule Committee.

  The Lord Chancellor's review of civil enforcement has concluded that service standards should be introduced to the courts, setting a target for evictions to be carried out no later than four weeks after the bailiff first receives the warrant.

  Court Service
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what reports, research or projects have been undertaken for the Court Service in the last three years by Mtic Ltd. [136532]

  Mr. Lock
  We do not have any information or information to indicate that the Court Service has employed this company in the last three years.

  Public Trust Office
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will list the work undertaken for the Public Trust Office in the last three years by(a) FTI, (b) IRC Europe, (c) Mtic Ltd, (d) PriceWaterhouse and (e) Zeldon Health Ltd. [136199]

  Jane Kennedy
  In the last three years none of these organisations has undertaken work for the Public Trust Office.

  Civil Procedure Rules
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment she has made of the implementation of the civil procedure rules; what audit has been carried out of the financial consequences of implementation for the Department and 202W
  the litigating public; and what change there has been in the number of cases conducted by litigants in person following implementation. [136293]

  Jane Kennedy
  Overall, the civil justice reforms are proving to be a success. A number of bodies have already provided their own independent opinion of the success of the reforms. The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) and the Federation of Insurance Lawyers (FOIL) have provided helpful presentations to the Civil Justice Council. The Centre for Dispute Resolution (CEDR) commissioned MORI to conduct a poll of lawyers and some judges. In addition, Wragge & Co. (Solicitors) have provided research of FTSE 1,000 companies.

  From this research it is apparent that attitudes to civil justice have improved with parties coming together earlier to discuss the case. Anecdotal evidence suggests that parties are more willing to co-operate to reach settlement and, where disputes are taken into court, the litigation is conducted in a less adversarial manner.

  The Lord Chancellor's Department has just commenced its own evaluation programme, having allowed 18 months for 'bedding in' factors such as stabilisation of work load and the disposal of the majority of pre-reform cases in the system. The programme comprises academic research projects to assess the qualitative aspects of the reforms, attitudinal research through survey to obtain the views of those who use the system, and evaluation of the quantitative aspects through empirical data analysis. The programme is expected to take two years. The long-term financial consequences for the Department and for the litigating public will form part of the overall evaluation programme. Initial indications are that the number of claims commenced by litigants in person has increased since the implementation of the civil justice reforms, but it will not be possible to confirm this or come to conclusions until the overall evaluation programme is completed.

  Access to Justice
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on access to justice in Buckinghamshire. [136476]

  Jane Kennedy
  The Lord Chancellor's aim is to provide a fair, swift and effective system of justice.

  There are six magistrates courts, two county courts, and one Crown court in Buckinghamshire. Courts in Buckinghamshire are being modernised in order to be fit for the 21st Century. For example, one of the aims of the Crown court programme is to improve efficiency and enhance the facilities at all Crown court centres, irrespective of size, location or current accommodation limitations.

  The Community Legal Service (CLS) will improve access to good quality legal advice, through local networks of legal services based on legal needs. There are now 67 firms of solicitors and advice agencies in Buckinghamshire in the latest edition of the CLS Directory, which means they either have the CLS Quality Mark already or are likely to apply for the Quality Mark in the near future. They will provide the local CLS

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  network in Buckinghamshire. The Legal Services Commission (LSC) is also looking to set up CLS Partnerships covering Buckinghamshire, which will co-ordinate the funding and provision of local services. There is a CLS Partnership in Chiltern, and the LSC are looking to form partnerships with the other districts in Buckinghamshire.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Criminal Justice System
  Mr. Olner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements have been made to improve the co-ordination and effectiveness of the criminal justice system in England and Wales. [137359]

  Mr. Straw
  The Government are committed to improving the performance of the Criminal Justice System (CJS) in England and Wales and have set out clear aims, objectives and targets for the CJS as a whole. A Strategic Plan for the CJS was published in March 1999 covering 1999–2002 and a Business Plan for the CJS in 2000–01 in May 2000. Copies have been placed in the Library. An updated CJS Business Plan for 2001–02 will be published early in 2001.

  The strategy for the CJS is overseen by the Ministerial Group on the Criminal Justice System, chaired by me and including my noble and learned Friend, the Lord Chancellor, my noble and learned Friend, the Attorney-General, my right hon. Friend, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury together with Ministers and senior officials from the main CJS Departments. As part of the 2000 Spending Review, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced in July 2000 a new reserve of £525 million over the three years 2001–02 to 2003–04 to be used to help deliver the objectives and targets set out in the latest CJS Public Service Agreement. Initial decisions on use of the reserve will be made in the next few months.

  Alongside these new resources the Government are working with the police, Crown Prosecution Service, courts, probation and prison services on an on-going programme of modernisation and reform and are engaged in a number of important reviews of the criminal justice process. These include Sir Robin Auld's review of the criminal courts and a review of the present sentencing framework led by John Halliday, formerly Director of Criminal Justice Policy at the Home Office.

  The Home Office, the Lord Chancellor's Department, the Law Officers' Department and Her Majesty's Treasury are now pursuing work to draw together the experience of the last three and a half years, and, taking account of the current reviews, to identify the way forward for the longer term. Any firm conclusions which emerge from this work will be reported to the House.

  Sex Offenders
  Mr. Fitzpatrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sex offenders subject to the Sex Offenders Act 1997 have been placed on the home detention curfew scheme since 28 January 1999. [137407]
  204W
  Mr. Boateng
  Further to my reply to the hon. Member for Bromsgrove (Miss Kirkbride) of 26 June 2000,Official Report, column 377W, in which I stated that as of 31 May 2000 only two prisoners subject to the provisions of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 had been granted Home Detention Curfew, I have since been informed that a third sex offender subject to the 1997 Act has been placed on the scheme.

  The offender was convicted of unlawful sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl and was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment. He was considered as a candidate for Home Detention Curfew in view of the exceptional circumstances that he was a registered blind person and it was his first offence. He had a suitable address and was judged at an enhanced risk assessment board to pose a low risk of re-offending. He was placed on the scheme on 11 July 2000 until his conditional release date of 8 September 2000. He successfully completed the curfew and is not known to have been arrested, charged or convicted of any further offence since.

  Under existing arrangements, sex offenders subject to the 1997 Act may be released only in exceptional circumstances and then only with the personal authorisation of the Director General of the Prison Service. In this case, as in the other cases previously notified, I regret that this requirement was not followed by the establishment. Although I am satisfied in this particular case that the risk to the public was remote, I have asked the Director General for a report into the circumstances of the release.

  Under the amendment to the Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill which the Government brought forward on 12 June 2000, sex offenders subject to the notification requirements of part I of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 will be excluded from the Home Detention Curfew scheme altogether. This amendment will prevent the re-occurrence of any further errors of this kind as they will automatically be excluded on the local inmate database system (as in the case for other statutory exclusions, for example deportees).

  Charities
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many investigations have been carried out under section 8 of the Charities Act 1993: and what was the average length of time taken to complete an investigation. [134441]

  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 31 October 2000]: Section 8 of the Charities Act 1993 came into force on 1 August 1993. In the calendar years from 1994 to 1999, inclusive, 2,595 investigations under section 8 of the Charities Act 1993 have been completed. The Commission has changed its reporting from calendar to financial years. Where appropriate both are shown in this breakdown:

  Number

  1994

  523

  1995

  926

  1996

  347

  1997

  345

  1998

  199

  1999

  255

  2000 (to 30 September)

  234

  205W

  Number

  1998–99

  260

  1999–2000

  255

  2000 (April-September)

  130

  Statistical information on the average length of time taken to complete an investigation is currently not routinely collected, but plans are under way to collect this information for future years.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many investigations under section 8 of the Charities Act 1993 have taken more than 12 months to complete; and what percentage of section 8 investigations this represents. [134440]

  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 31 October 2000]: The figures for the length of time taken to conclude investigations in the years 1993–98 are not held centrally. The figures for the most recent years are:

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  20001

  Number of investigations completed

  260

  255

  130

  Number of investigations taking more than 12 months to complete

  68

  82

  26

  Percentage of investigations taking more than 12 months to complete

  26

  32

  20

  1 April to September

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many charities were removed from the Charities' Register following an investigation under section 8 of the Charities Act 1993 in each year since the Act came into force. [134439]

  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 31 October 2000]: Removal from the Register is not one of the remedial or protective powers available to the Charity Commission under section 18 of the Act (which applies to section 8 investigations). The Commission's remedial powers include the suspension, removal and appointment of charity trustees, and the freezing of bank accounts. These measures are designed to protect the assets of a charity under investigation and ensure they are applied properly in the future.

  In exceptional circumstances, where it is clear these statutory measures are insufficient to secure the charity's future the Commission can propose the transfer of assets to another charity and the winding up of the original charity. Historical statistics are not held centrally but in the six months April-September 2000, nine charities were removed in these circumstances and proposals to remove a further nine remain under consideration.

  Drink Driving
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been (1) prosecuted for drinking and driving in each of the last five years; what proportion of those prosecutions were in the months of November, December and January; and if he will make a statement; [136508]

  (2) convicted for drinking and driving offences in each of the last five years while in charge of (a) a car and (b) a motorbike. [136507]
  206W
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The available information is contained in the table.

  Number of prosecutions and convictions for 'Driving etc. after consuming alcohol or taking drugs', England and Wales, 1995–99

  Prosecutions

  Convictions

  1995

  105,407

  92,505

  1996

  107,931

  95,705

  1997

  112,125

  100,202

  1998

  104,045

  93,116

  19991

  99,500

  89,364

  1 Provisional

  No distinction between those in charge of cars or motorcycles is available in the statistics collected centrally.

  Based on the two years 1998 and 1999, the proportion of prosecutions completed in the months of November, December, and January was 9 per cent., 7 per cent., and 9 per cent. respectively, or 25 per cent. for the three months combined.

  Crime Figures
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what, based on information contained in British Crime Surveys and police recorded crime figures was the percentage of crimes committed against individuals and their property which(a) were reported, (b) were recorded by the police, (c) were cleared up, (d) resulted in a caution or conviction, (e) resulted in a conviction and (f) resulted in a custodial sentence in (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999; and if he will make a statement. [134675]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 30 October 2000]: Information on attrition within the Criminal Justice System in 1997 is detailed on page 29 of "Digest 4—Information on the Criminal Justice System in England and Wales" published by the Home Office in October 1999. A copy of this publication is available in the Library.

  The information requested for 1998 is not available, as no British Crime Survey was conducted in 1999.

  The 2000 British Crime Survey measures crimes against people living in private households. It also provides estimates of the proportion reported to the police and recorded by them. This is detailed on page 6 of the "2000 British Crime Survey—Home Office Statistical Bulletin 18/00" published by the Home Office in October 2000. The survey does not include data on the other requests.

  Figures for 1997 and 1999 are not directly comparable due to changes in the Home Office rules on counting and classification of recorded crime on 1 April 1998. Further details of the changes, and the way in which they have affected the notifiable offences series, are shown in Home Office Statistical Bulletin 18/99.

  Police Sick Leave
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were on long-term sick leave in(a) each English police force and (b) each Metropolitan police divisional force for the last year for which such statistics are available; what

  207W
  proportion of total establishment officer strength this represents in each case; and if he will make a statement. [134988]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The information is given in the tables. It is based on the number of officers who have been on sick leave for more than 28 days on the particular date mentioned.

  Forces

  Police officers on long-term sick leave on 31 March 2000

  Percentage strength on long-term sick leave

  Avon and Somerset

  53

  1.8

  Bedfordshire

  24

  2.3

  Cambridgeshire

  41

  3.3

  Cheshire

  83

  4.1

  City of London

  16

  2.2

  Cumbria

  36

  3.3

  Derbyshire

  63

  3.5

  Devon and Cornwall

  99

  3.5

  Dorset

  23

  1.8

  Durham

  23

  1.5

  Essex

  61

  2.2

  Gloucestershire

  16

  1.4

  Greater Manchester

  220

  3.2

  Hertfordshire

  27

  1.5

  Humberside

  35

  1.8

  Kent

  53

  1.7

  Lancashire

  81

  2.5

  Leicestershire

  42

  2.1

  Lincolnshire

  19

  1.7

  Merseyside

  124

  3.0

  Metropolitan Police

  397

  1.6

  Norfolk

  23

  1.7

  Northamptonshire

  16

  1.4

  Northumbria

  57

  1.5

  North Yorkshire

  46

  3.6

  Nottinghamshire

  54

  2.4

  South Yorkshire

  86

  2.7

  Staffordshire

  60

  2.8

  Suffolk

  21

  1.8

  Surrey

  28

  1.6

  Sussex

  72

  2.6

  Thames Valley

  102

  2.7

  Warwickshire

  28

  3.1

  West Mercia

  32

  1.7

  West Midlands

  176

  2.4

  West Yorkshire

  104

  2.2

  Wiltshire

  11

  1.0

  Note:

  Figures for Cleveland and Hampshire are not available

  London borough

  Number of officers on long-term sick leave at 31 July 2000

  Percentage of total strength

  Barking and Dagenham

  8

  3.0

  Barnet

  11

  2.2

  Bexley

  3

  1.1

  Brent

  17

  3.0

  Bromley

  8

  1.9

  Camden

  5

  0.8

  City of Westminster

  34

  2.2

  Croydon

  9

  1.6

  Ealing

  12

  2.1

  Enfield

  8

  1.7

  Greenwich

  17

  2.8

  Hackney

  12

  1.9

  Hammersmith

  7

  1.4

  Haringey

  11

  2.2

  Harrow

  3

  1.1

  208W

  London borough

  Number of officers on long-term sick leave at 31 July 2000

  Percentage of total strength

  Havering

  9

  2.9

  Heathrow Airport

  7

  2.3

  Hillingdon

  11

  3.1

  Hounslow

  6

  1.5

  Islington

  11

  2.1

  Kensington and Chelsea

  7

  1.3

  Kingston upon Thames

  6

  2.4

  Lambeth

  13

  1.5

  Lewisham

  7

  1.2

  Merton

  3

  1.1

  Newham

  5

  0.9

  Redbridge

  16

  3.9

  Richmond upon Thames

  5

  1.8

  Southwark

  13

  1.7

  Sutton

  7

  2.3

  Tower Hamlets

  6

  1.1

  Waltham Forest

  13

  3.0

  Wandsworth

  8

  1.4

  Sickness Absence
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress made by his Department since 1997 in reducing sickness absence; and if he will make a statement. [134506]

  Mr. Straw
  Information on sickness absence data for the Civil Service between 1995 and 1998 was published in a British Medical Institute (BMI) Health Services Report 'Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service', produced on behalf of the Cabinet Office. Information for 1999 will be included in the next BMI report to be published shortly.

  The Home Office and its Agencies have introduced new guidelines, policies and procedures with a view to reducing sickness absence. The Department's Service Delivery Targets for April 2001 to March 2004, which include a target for sickness absence, were published on Friday, 3 November, and are available on the Home Office website (www.homeoffice.gov.uk/pfd/sda2000.htm).

  To reduce sickness absence, and sustain this improvement thereafter in the:
  Home Office and its agencies (excluding the Prison and Probation Services) to an average of 6.9 days per member of staff by end of March 2003;
  Prison and Probation Service to an average of 9.0 days per member of staff by 2004;
  Fire Service, by 2005, to a level consistent with or better than those presently achieved by the best quartile of employers, eg an average of 6.5 shifts for firefighters and 5.4 shifts for control room staff; and in
  all police forces which now have targets as part of their efficiency plans.

  Internet (Child Abuse)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been brought involving(a) child abuse and (b) stalking of children within internet chat rooms; and how many such prosecutions have been successful. [136215]
  209W
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The information is not available in the form requested.

  Any sexual or violent offence committed against a child might amount to abuse. It is not possible to identify child victims of abuse from the overall statistics.

  Among the range of offences an adult might be charged with, in respect of a child, however, is the offence of indecent conduct towards a young child under section 1 of the Indecency with Children Act 1960. For 1999 the statistics for prosecutions and convictions were: 330 prosecutions and 217 convictions.

  Similarly, there is no specific offence of stalking of children within internet chat rooms. It is not possible to say how many of the offences of "stalking" under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 involve children using the internet.

  However, information is given as follows, for offences under Section 2 and Section 4 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 in 1999.

  Under s. 2—summary offence of harassment—there were: 5,427 prosecutions and 2,709 convictions.

  Under s. 4 of the 1997 Act—putting people in fear of violence—there were: 1,632 prosecutions and 488 convictions.

  Firearms
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment his Department has made of(a) the most common ways illegally held firearms are obtained and (b) what their origin is; and if he will make a statement. [135809]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 30 October 2000]: The Government believe that there is no single main source of illegal firearms in the United Kingdom. In particular, there is no evidence of organised and large-scale smuggling of firearms into this country. Interviews with criminals indicate that many firearms are obtained through informal contacts where their origins are not established.

  The use of firearms in crime in this country is small in relation both to overall national crime figures and to other comparable countries. It may therefore be misleading to talk of any source of illegal firearms to be 'common' or to draw wider conclusions from particular incidents. Sources of illegally held firearms in recent years have included, for example: theft from legitimate sources; smuggling from abroad; conversion of deactivated or replica firearms to fire live ammunition; and 'trophies of war' brought back by returning service personnel. Individual firearms may remain in circulation for many years and their origins may be difficult to establish.

  The Government have accepted the recommendations by the Firearms Consultative Committee (FCC) and the
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  Home Affairs Committee (HAC) that further research should be carried out into this area. We are considering how best this should be carried forward.

  Crime (Sutton and Cheam)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes(a) were reported and (b) led to convictions in the Sutton and Cheam constituency in each year since 1979. [134888] [134986]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 6 November, 2000]: Details of reported crime are not available. Information on the numbers of crimes recorded by the police in the London Borough of Sutton has been provided by the Metropolitan police. The figures cover from the 1995–96 financial year onwards. I understand that comparative data for earlier years are not available.

  Recorded offences in the London Borough of Sutton

  Number

  1995–96

  10,756

  1996–97

  13,677

  1997–98

  13,059

  1998–991

  12,752

  1999–20001

  14,493

  1 New counting rules

  Available information held centrally on the Home Office Court Proceedings Database, showing the number of offenders convicted of indictable offences at Sutton Petty Sessional Division (PSD), are as follows:

  Offenders convicted for indictable offences at Sutton PSD1,2

  Number

  1979

  624

  1984

  704

  1989

  636

  1993

  655

  1994

  818

  1995

  787

  1996

  692

  1997

  740

  1998

  752

  1999

  681

  1 Includes those found guilty at the Crown Court where the committing PSD was Sutton.

  2 For earlier years also includes Wallington PSD which amalgamated with the then Sutton PSD in 1986–87 to form the current Sutton PSD.

  Note:

  Due to disproportionate costs, selected years only are given.

  It is important to note that as recorded crime data relate to offences, and convictions data relate to offenders, the two sets of figures are not directly comparable.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were convicted in respect of(a) murder, (b) indictable offences and (c) non-indictable offences in each year since 1979 in the Sutton and Cheam constituency. [134889] [134985]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: Available information taken from the Home Office Court Proceedings Databases are given in the table. Due to disproportionate cost selected years only are given.
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  Number of offenders convicted at Sutton Petty Sessional Division (PSD1) or at the Crown court (where the committing magistrates court was Sutton PSD1) for certain offences, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1993 to 1999

  Offence

  Murder

  Indictable offences

  Summary non-motoring offences

  1979

  —

  624

  742

  1984

  —

  704

  876

  1989

  —

  636

  789

  1993

  —

  655

  885

  1994

  1

  818

  281

  1995

  —

  787

  373

  1996

  —

  692

  1,132

  1997

  —

  740

  904

  1998

  1

  752

  1,066

  1999

  —

  681

  780

  1 For earlier years also includes Wallington PSD which amalgamated with the then Sutton PSD in 1986–87 to form the current Sutton PSD

  Number of persistent young offenders convicted of one or more recordable offences in 1999 by division/sub -division and number of recordable offences

  Number of recordable offences

  Metropolitan division or sub-division

  Four

  5 to 9

  10 to 19

  20 to 49

  50 and over

  Total

  Acton

  —

  6

  4

  —

  —

  10

  Barkingside

  —

  4

  7

  —

  —

  11

  Barnet and Hertsmere

  —

  4

  5

  3

  —

  12

  Battersea

  1

  9

  2

  5

  —

  17

  Belgravia

  —

  4

  5

  1

  —

  10

  Bexleyheath

  4

  14

  15

  —

  —

  33

  Boreham Wood

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  2

  Brixton

  1

  10

  4

  1

  —

  16

  Bromley and Orpington

  6

  17

  11

  6

  —

  40

  Brompton

  1

  2

  2

  2

  —

  7

  Catford

  2

  13

  9

  3

  —

  27

  Charing Cross

  2

  6

  4

  —

  —

  12

  Chingford

  —

  5

  10

  5

  —

  20

  Colindale

  —

  3

  1

  1

  —

  5

  Croydon

  2

  7

  11

  3

  —

  23

  Dagenham

  —

  10

  7

  7

  1

  25

  Ealing

  2

  5

  4

  1

  —

  12

  Edmonton

  —

  5

  5

  2

  —

  12

  Enfield

  1

  9

  7

  4

  —

  21

  Epsom and Sutton

  2

  10

  8

  3

  —

  23

  Forest Gate

  2

  6

  7

  1

  —

  16

  Fulham

  2

  10

  9

  1

  —

  22

  Greenwich

  2

  10

  13

  6

  —

  31

  Hackney

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Hammersmith

  1

  5

  6

  —

  —

  12

  Hampstead

  —

  3

  1

  2

  —

  6

  Harrow

  —

  8

  6

  2

  —

  16

  Harrow Road

  —

  2

  1

  —

  —

  3

  Heathrow Airport

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Hillingdom

  —

  1

  5

  2

  —

  8

  Holborn

  —

  1

  3

  1

  —

  5

  Holloway

  —

  3

  5

  4

  —

  12

  Hornsey

  —

  4

  9

  1

  —

  14

  Hounslow

  2

  29

  17

  2

  —

  50

  Ilford

  2

  9

  10

  1

  —

  22

  Islington

  2

  7

  3

  —

  —

  12

  Kentish Town

  2

  8

  9

  2

  —

  21

  Kilburn

  —

  14

  5

  —

  —

  19

  Kingston

  3

  17

  13

  2

  —

  35

  Lewisham

  —

  9

  9

  6

  1

  25

  Leyton

  —

  4

  6

  2

  —

  12

  Limehouse

  2

  7

  3

  —

  —

  12

  Marylebone

  3

  10

  13

  4

  —

  30

  Notting Hill

  1

  3

  4

  1

  —

  9

  Paddington Green

  —

  5

  2

  —

  1

  8

  Peckham

  1

  8

  4

  2

  —

  15

  Metropolitan Police
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his estimate is of the number of young offenders within each Metropolitan police divisional force who have committed(a) five offences or more, (b) 10 offences or more, (c) 20 offences or more and (d) 50 offences or more; and if he will make a statement. [134982]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The exact information requested is not held centrally.

  However, information on the total number of convictions for recordable offences relating to persistent young offenders convicted of one or more recordable offences in 1999 is available. The information, disaggregated by the Metropolitan police division (and in some cases sub-division) associated with the last recordable offence, is shown in the table.
  213W

  Number of persistent young offenders convicted of one or more recordable offences in 1999 by division/sub -division and number of recordable offences

  Number of recordable offences

  Metropolitan division or sub-division

  Four

  5 to 9

  10 to 19

  20 fo 49

  50 and over

  Total

  Plaistow

  1

  6

  7

  2

  —

  16

  Plumsted

  1

  17

  5

  6

  1

  30

  Redbridge

  —

  1

  2

  —

  —

  3

  Richmond

  —

  4

  4

  2

  —

  10

  Romford

  2

  10

  12

  6

  1

  31

  Shorditch and Hackney

  —

  4

  3

  1

  —

  8

  South Norwood

  4

  19

  19

  7

  —

  49

  Southall

  3

  9

  6

  2

  —

  20

  Southwark

  —

  5

  8

  2

  —

  15

  Spelthorne

  —

  6

  6

  3

  —

  15

  Stoke Newington

  1

  4

  4

  —

  —

  9

  Streatham

  —

  9

  9

  3

  —

  21

  Sutton

  —

  3

  5

  3

  —

  11

  Teddington

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Tooting

  —

  2

  2

  —

  —

  4

  Tottenham

  1

  6

  2

  1

  —

  10

  Twickenham

  1

  8

  10

  1

  —

  20

  Uxbridge

  1

  14

  6

  7

  —

  28

  Vauxhall

  1

  5

  7

  1

  1

  15

  Wallington

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  1

  Walworth

  —

  11

  8

  —

  —

  19

  Wandsworth

  1

  4

  6

  —

  —

  11

  Wembley

  2

  4

  4

  —

  —

  10

  West End Central

  1

  6

  2

  —

  —

  9

  West Hendon

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Whetstone

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Whitechapel

  1

  10

  5

  1

  —

  17

  Wimbledon

  —

  22

  11

  4

  —

  37

  Winchmore Hill

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  1

  Total

  71

  517

  440

  144

  6

  1,178

  Internet Chat Services
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his Department was represented on the inter-departmental Internet Crime Forum sub-group on internet chat services; when he will receive the report; and if he will make a statement. [136218]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]The Home Office is represented on the inter-departmental Internet Crime Forum sub-group on internet chat services. The sub-group made its interim findings available on the Internet Crime Forum website—http://www.internetcrimeforum.org.uk/chatwise.html—on 31 October; I understand the full report will be published in due course.

  Drugs
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have involved(a) heroin, (b) crack/cocaine, (c) ecstasy and (d) cannabis in each year from 1990 to 1999; and what his projection is for the numbers in each category for the year 2000. [136570]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The information requested, although not published in the annual Home Office statistical bulletin, is available for England and Wales for the years 1993 to 1999 inclusive and is given in the table. Information for the period 1990 to 1992 was collected on a different basis and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Equivalent data for 2000 are not yet available; nor are forecasts usually prepared.
  214W

  Prosecutions in England and Wales for drug offences 1993–99

  Heroin

  Cocaine/crack

  Ecstasy-type

  Cannabis

  1993

  3,570

  2,666

  2,319

  31,275

  1994

  4,831

  2,815

  2,826

  41,239

  1995

  6,753

  3,205

  4,548

  44,994

  1996

  9,549

  3,596

  5,389

  45,121

  1997

  13,355

  4,644

  5,265

  52,743

  1998

  16,098

  5,852

  3,432

  60,114

  1999

  17,673

  6,691

  5,066

  57,512

  Source:

  Drugs Research Unit, Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate

  Miss Hilda Murrell
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the outcome of the DNA tests on evidence found in connection with the murder of Miss Hilda Murrell. [136560]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 6 November, 2000] I understand from West Mercia Constabulary that no significant DNA results have yet been identified from examination of items which could bear DNA traces. But the police and Forensic Science Service have not yet reached the end of the forensic examination of the items which were prioritised as likely to give results.

  Corpus Juris
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the Government's policy towards corpus juris. [134993]
  215W
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Ludlow (Mr. Gill), on 15 May 2000,Official Report, column 51W, and to the reply given to the Lord Pearson of Rannoch, on 25 October 2000, Official Report, House of Lords, column WA45–46.

  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 the Metropolitan police force area since 1 January; if he will break down the closed counters by police borough; and if he will make a statement. [136575]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 6 November, 2000]: It is for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to determine the hours of business of police station front-counters. I understand from the Commissioner that a total of seven police station front-counters have closed in the Metropolitan Police force area since 1 January 2000: two in Bexley, one in
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  Bromley, three in Harrow and one in Hounslow. In all cases where front counter services have been withdrawn, a free 24-hour telephone service has been provided at the relevant police building with a direct link to the local police control room. This ensures that members of the public are still able to speak to a police officer or member of the civil staff at all times.

  Police Officers
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there were in(a) England and (b) Wales in each of the last 10 years in areas defined as (i) rural and (ii) urban; and if he will publish the criteria used to define an area as rural or urban. [136746]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 6 November, 2000]: All police forces in England and Wales have rural and urban areas. Information is not centrally collected about the number of police officers deployed to either rural or urban areas. Available resources are deployed by Chief Officers of Police according to operational need.

  Criminal Justice System
  Criminal Justice System
  Tobacco Smuggling
  Tobacco Smuggling
  Nottingham: Police Firearms
  Nottingham: Police Firearms
  Telecommunications Masts
  Telecommunications Masts
  ABRO Workshop, Sennybridge
  ABRO Workshop, Sennybridge
  Oman: Exercise Saif Sareea 2
  Oman: Exercise Saif Sareea 2
  Special Educational Needs and Disability Bill
  Special Educational Needs and Disability Bill
  Bullying in Schools Related to Sexual Orientation
  Bullying in Schools Related to Sexual Orientation
  Buckingham Palace Road Roadworks
  Buckingham Palace Road Roadworks