Written Answers of 17 November 2000

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Non-departmental Public Bodies (Scotland)
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the non-departmental public bodies responsible to him which have duties relating to Scotland, indicating their budget and staffing in Scotland, the number of Scottish board members and their emoluments. [137695]

  Mr. Morley
  A list of the non-departmental public bodies that are sponsored by my Department and which have a remit covering Great Britain or the United Kingdom is set out in the following annexe.

  The remaining information is not held centrally in the form requested but general information on expenditure, staffing, board members and levels of remuneration is published annually in the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies". Copies of "Public Bodies 1999" have been placed in the Libraries of the House and "Public Bodies 2000" is due to be published next month. Information on board membership and remuneration can also be downloaded from the Cabinet Office Public Appointments Directory website (www.cabinet-office.gov.uk)
  Non-departmental public bodies with duties relating to Scotland Executive NDPBs:

  British Potato Council

  Horticultural Development Council

  Food From Britain

  Home-Grown Cereals Authority

  Meat and Livestock Commission

  Milk Development Council

  Sea Fish Industry Authority

  UK Register of Organic Food Standards

  Wine Standards Board of The Vintners' Company

  Advisory NDPBs:

  Advisory Committee on Pesticides

  Farm Animal Welfare Council

  Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee

  Veterinary Products Committee

  Tribunals:

  Plant Varieties and Seeds Tribunal.

  Flood Defences
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to make available extra moneys for river dredging flood defence works in East Sussex. [137545]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 14 November 2000]Additional funding of £51 million over four years has already been announced for, inter alia, an accelerated programme of river flood defence capital works in 798W
  England. The Environment Agency's staff in East Sussex are reviewing options for flood defence of communities on East Sussex rivers in the light of experience of the recent floods. They plan to meet local residents in the near future to explain those options. It is therefore too early to say what plans there are for river dredging flood defence works in East Sussex, whether it would be effective, or the extent to which such work would attract funding from this Department.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to strengthen and enhance the flood defences at York. [138545]

  Mr. Morley
  I understand that the flood defences at York have operated to their design standard or better in the recent flooding. The Environment Agency will be checking the necessity for urgent repairs and reviewing the need for strengthening and enhancing the defences once the immediate work of dealing with the floods is completed. No doubt they will consider if advantage can be taken of the Government's additional funding over the next four years, a major element of which is aimed at accelerating the programme of river flood defence works.

  Thames Barrier
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment has been made of the impact of global warming and sea level rise on the risk of the Thames Barrier being unable to withstand future storm surges. [138498]

  Mr. Morley
  The Thames Barrier is the largest component of the complex system of gates, walls and embankments which form the tidal barrier to London and the Thames Estuary. The Barrier is a robust and flexible installation with a design based on rates of sea level rise predicted in the 1970s which were higher than those currently anticipated. It provides London with a high level of protection from tidal flooding and with normal care and maintenance should continue to do so until at least the latter half of this century. Even then, although the Barrier may need to be closed more frequently, it will continue to fulfil its primary function.

  The Environment Agency is currently developing its tidal defence strategy for the next 100 years, with several studies already in progress.

  Rivers
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans the Government have to regulate flows of water in the(a) River Severn, (b) River Derwent, (c) River Ouse, (d) River Aire and (e) River Don. [138560]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 16 November 2000]I have asked the Environment Agency, in conjunction with their partners, to produce a full report on the flooding, its effects, how flood warning and emergency response worked and what lessons we can learn. The Agency will initiate this when the immediate work of dealing with the floods has been completed; the report should be available by Easter. In the meantime there are no new plans for these rivers.
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  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the river improvement schemes that will be funded from the new money he has announced for the Environment Agency. [138559]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 16 November 2000]The additional funding of £51 million over the next four years is primarily for the Environment Agency, but some may be allocated to local authorities and Internal Drainage Boards as well. A major element of the package is designed to accelerate the programme of river flood defence works. The Ministry is approaching all the operating authorities to establish their plans with a view to determining the content of the enhanced national river works programme.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Guided Tours (Summer Recess)
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what operational and financial assessment she has made of the arrangements for guided tours of the Palace of Westminster during the 2000 summer recess with special reference to the effectiveness of(a) these arrangements and (b) the previous practice of using the same guides in the recess as in the parliamentary session. [139138]

  Mrs. Roe
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer of 14 November 2000,Official Report, column 589W.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Police Service
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 23 October 2000,Official Report, column 19W, what the perceived community background is of members of the Chief Constable's Change Management Team. [135824]

  Mr. Ingram
  As I indicated in my earlier reply, I do not consider it appropriate to comment on the perceived community background of members of the Change Management Team.

  Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions and on what dates the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has given him advice with respect to taking measures to create rights supplementary to those in the European Convention on Human Rights; and what advice was given which was not supplementary to the European Convention. [136706]

  Mr. George Howarth
  One of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission's statutory duties is to provide advice to the Secretary of State on the scope for defining, in Westminster legislation, rights supplementary to those in the European Convention on Human Rights. The Commission is currently undertaking an extensive consultation exercise and will submit a preliminary report to the Secretary of State next March.

  Compensation Agency
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements he has made to carry out a quinquennial review of the Compensation Agency. [139442]

  Mr. Ingram
  I have agreed that a review should be undertaken. The Compensation Agency was previously reviewed in 1995. Accordingly it should, like other agencies, now be subject to a quinquennial review. The review will commence immediately and should be completed by 30 May 2001.

  The review will be directed by a Steering Group under the Chairmanship of the Director of Resources in my Department.

  The Steering Group will be supported by a Project Team led by a member of the Senior Civil Service from outside the Agency. The leader of the Project Team will report to the Steering Group on a regular basis.

  The review process will provide extensive opportunities for consultation with internal and external stakeholders and will follow the procedures recommended in the guidance for the review of agencies and non-departmental public bodies published by the Cabinet Office.

  Forensic Science Agency
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements he has made to carry out a quinquennial review of Forensic Science Northern Ireland. [139443]

  Mr. Ingram
  I have agreed that a review should be undertaken. Forensic Science Northern Ireland completed five years of operation as an executive agency on 31 August 2000. Accordingly it should, like other agencies, now be subject to a quinquennial review. The review will commence immediately and should be completed by 30 April 2001.

  The review will be directed by a Steering Group under the Chairmanship of the Director of Resources in my Department.

  The Steering Group will be supported by a Project Team led by a member of the Senior Civil Service from outside Forensic Science Northern Ireland. The leader of the Project Team will report to the Steering Group on a regular basis.

  The review process will provide extensive opportunities for consultation with internal and external stakeholders and will follow the procedures recommended in the guidance for the review of agencies and non-departmental public bodies published by the Cabinet Office.

PRIME MINISTER

  Lord Birt
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 24 July 2000,Official Report, columns 442-43W, on Lord Birt, if he will list the activities undertaken by Lord Birt in his capacity as his adviser on crime; how many meetings he has had with Lord Birt on crime since Lord Birt's appointment; what reports on crime he has

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  been presented with by Lord Birt; and what has been the total amount to date claimed by Lord Birt for out-of-pocket expenses. [137320]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 8 November 2000]Lord Birt is looking at criminality and long-term social trends. The focus of his work to date has been analysing existing data on offenders, offences and victims. As part of this work, Lord Birt has met Ministers and officials from relevant Departments and practitioners. I understand that he has claimed just over £300 in out-of-pocket expenses.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Chambré Hardman
  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions his Department has held concerning the retention of Chambré Hardman's photographs, negatives and house in Liverpool; and what was the outcome of those discussions. [138749]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  We acknowledge that the Chambré Hardman collection is of national importance and support the wish to ensure its conservation and presentation to the public. My Department has had discussions with a number of interested parties, including the National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside, the National Museum of Film, Photography and Television, and the North West Museum Service, to ensure the preservation of the collection and the house.

  There are a number of potential solutions for the long-term care and public presentation of both the collection, and Chambré Hardman's house in Liverpool. It is now for the Trustees of the Chambré Hardman Trust to assess all of the available options; to determine which of these is the most realistically able to meet its objectives; and to develop a viable business case for the preferred solution.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Benefit Payments
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in(a) the City of Leeds and (b) the Leeds, Central constituency have been in receipt of (i) Income Support, (ii) Disability Living Allowance, (iii) Incapacity Benefit, (iv) Unemployment Benefit and (v) Housing Benefit in each of the last 10 years. [138261]

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

  Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Mr. Hilary Benn, dated 16 November 2000:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to respond to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people in (a) the City of Leeds and (b) the Leeds Central constituency have been in receipt of (i) income support, (ii) disability living allowance, (iii) incapacity benefit, (iv) unemployment benefit, and (v) housing benefit in each of the last 10 years.
  802W
  The data is not available in the requested format, however, the information that is available is supplied in the attached tables.
  I hope this is helpful.

  (i) Income Support claimants

  Year

  Leeds local authority

  Leeds, Central constituency

  May 1990

  59,500

  —

  May 1991

  61,100

  —

  May 1992

  68,100

  —

  May 1993

  74,600

  —

  May 1994

  75,500

  —

  May 1995

  71,000

  —

  May 1996

  69,300

  —

  May 1997

  48,500

  —

  May 1998

  47,700

  —

  August 1998

  —

  10,500

  May 1999

  46,900

  10,300

  May 2000

  47,300

  10,800

  Notes:

  1. Constituency information represents constituency boundaries as at May 1997.

  2. Parliamentary constituency data are only available from August 1998 onwards. These data were collated in the quarterly statistics as quoted in source, but data prior to August 1998 could not be collected as there was no methodology to collate the information at this time.

  3. The numbers are based on either 1 per cent. or 5 per cent. sample data and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling error.

  4. Numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred.

  5. Income Support Figures prior to 1997 include unemployed cases.

  6. Jobseeker's Allowance replaced Unemployment Benefit and Income Support for the unemployed from October 1996.

  Sources:

  Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiries, May 1990–May 1994 (1 per cent. samples)

  Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiries, May 1995–May 2000 (5 per cent. samples)

  (ii) Disability Living Allowance recipients

  Year

  Leeds local authority

  Leeds, Central constituency

  May 1993

  15,800

  —

  May 1994

  17,300

  —

  May 1995

  19,900

  —

  May 1996

  21,500

  —

  May 1997

  23,300

  —

  May 1998

  24,705

  4,543

  May 1999

  24,997

  4,567

  May 2000

  26,054

  4,702

  Notes:

  1. Constituency information represents constituency boundaries as at May 1997.

  2. Parliamentary constituency data are only available from 1998 onwards.

  3. Incomplete regional data also means that local authority or constituency estimates are not available for DLA prior to 1993. Reliable postcodes were held on the DLA computer system but the postcodes held on the Mobility Allowance and Attendance Allowance computer systems were unreliable and missing for many cases. The quarterly sample is drawn from all three computer systems and therefore the postcode data was incomplete.

  4. Figures up to 1997 are rounded to the nearest hundred, based on either 1 per cent. or 5 per cent. sample data and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling error.

  5. The years 1998 onwards which are based on 100 per cent. data and are not rounded.

  Source:

  Information Centre sample data (DLA)
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  (iii) Incapacity Benefit recipients

  Year

  Leeds local authority

  Leeds, Central constituency

  May 1995

  21,100

  —

  May 1996

  20,900

  —

  May 1997

  19,800

  —

  May 1998

  18,700

  3,300

  May 1999

  17,600

  2,900

  May 2000

  16,600

  2,800

  Notes:

  1. Constituency information represents constituency boundaries as at May 1997.

  2. Parliamentary constituency data are only available from 1998 onwards.

  3. Incapacity Benefit replaced Sickness and Invalidity Benefits on 13 April 1995.Prior to this local authority information is not available, as postcodes were not present on the data sets.

  4. The numbers are based on 5 per cent. sample data and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling error.

  5. Numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred.

  6. Incapacity Benefit figures exclude a small number of cases held clerically.

  7. For Incapacity Benefit a rating factor has been used on figures for the Leeds Local Authority from May 1996 to May 1999, to account for missing postcodes.

  Source:

  Incapacity Benefit: Figures are taken from 5 per cent samples of the benefit computer system

  (iv) Unemployment Benefit/Jobseeker's Allowance claimants by parliamentary constituency/local authority

  Year

  Leeds local authority

  Leeds, Central constituency

  November 1996

  23,500

  —

  May 1997

  20,500

  —

  May 1998

  16,800

  —

  August 1998

  —

  4,900

  May 1999

  16,300

  4,400

  May 2000

  14,900

  4,300

  Notes:

  1. Constituency information represents constituency boundaries as at May 1997.

  2. Parliamentary constituency data are only available from 1998 onwards.

  3. Jobseeker's Allowance numbers include claimants receiving either Income-based and/or contribution-based JSA and claimants receiving no benefit, but sign for National Insurance credits only.

  4. Jobseeker's Allowance replaced Unemployment Benefit and Income Support for the unemployed from October 1996. The Benefits Agency does not hold figures for Unemployment Benefit by either parliamentary constituency or local authority.

  5. Estimates for local authority areas or parliamentary constituency are not available for Unemployment Benefit.

  6. Numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred.

  7. The numbers are based on 5 per cent. sample data and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling error.

  Source:

  Jobseeker's Allowance Statistics Quarterly Enquiries, November 1996 to May 2000 (5 per cent. samples)

  (v) Housing Benefit recipients

  Year

  Leeds local authority

  May 1992

  71,970

  May 1993

  72,760

  May 1994

  72,910

  May 1995

  73,550

  May 1996

  72,500

  May 1997

  69,950

  May 1998

  67,590

  May 1999

  65,720

  May 2000

  62,840

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  Notes:

  1. Parliamentary constituency data are unavailable for Housing Benefit.

  2. Housing Benefit figures are rounded to the nearest ten.

  3. Housing Benefit figures are based on 100 per cent. data.

  4. Housing Benefit data refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.

  5. Housing Benefit figures exclude Extended Payment cases, which were only available from May 1997.

  Source:

  Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit quarterly 100 per cent. case load counts taken on the second Thursday in May of each year quoted.

  Duplicate Benefit Payments
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 31 October 2000,Official Report, columns 346–47W, what conclusions the Benefits Agency internal audit came to regarding the role of EDS in the duplication of income support payments on 17 and 18 January. [138338]

  Mr. Rooker
  The administration of benefit payments is a matter for Alexis Cleveland the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. She will write to my right hon. Friend.

  Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Mr. Frank Field, dated 17 November 2000:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to respond to your Parliamentary Question asking what conclusions the Benefits Agency (BA) internal audit came to regarding the role of EDS in the duplication of income support payments on 17th and 18th January.The report concluded that responsibility for the error lay with DSS Information Technology Services Group (ITSG), Benefits Agency (BA) and EDS. The report did not apportion levels of responsibility; it identified errors on the part of all parties. The report concluded:'Following a technical problem, incorrect (re-start) action by ITSG led to the creation of the £10.5m Income Support file with an incomplete number of records. The EDS automated system to transfer files to BACS had limited in-built validation and reconciliation checks and this allowed the £10.5m file to be forwarded to BACS…Reconciliation checks undertaken within the BA identified a problem but the incident handling and escalation procedures were inadequate'.As mentioned in my response on 30 October, Official Report columns 346–347, the report contained a series of thirteen recommendations. EDS is a key stakeholder, working with DSS in the programme of activity to implement these recommendations, which include improvements to validation and reconciliation checks to prevent a reoccurrence of the original incident. My previous response provided more detail.I hope this additional information is helpful.

  Climate Change
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what strategic measures he is taking to allow for environmental changes induced by climate change. [137183]

  Mr. Bayley
  I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer from my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Environment on 13 November 2000,Official Report, columns 469–70W.

  Civil Servants (Relocation)
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 2 May 2000,Official

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  Report, column 37W, on relocation of civil servants, which relocation companies hold contracts with his Department for the relocation of civil servants; when these contracts were last renewed; where the contracts were advertised; and what the length and value is of each contract. [137096]

  Mr. Rooker
  This Department has a contract with Cendant Relocation plc. The contract was advertised in Official Journal European Communities (OJEC0) on 13 August 1997. The contract was renewed in May 1998 for three years with a possible two-year extension and has an estimated annual value of £800,000.

  Pensioner Incomes
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what information he collects on the minimum incomes required by different categories of pensioner households to afford a minimum acceptable standard of living; and what proposals he has to improve its(a) flow and (b) accuracy. [137270]

  Mr. Rooker
  A number of research studies have been conducted in this area. The range of methods which can be used to explore questions of absolute and relative adequacy of benefits include budget standards methodology, deprivations studies, expenditure studies and consensual studies. All these research methods are considered when assessing benefit levels; however, no single method can be used to calculate an "adequate" income. What people need to live on varies greatly depending on their needs, age, proximity to friends and relatives—it is not possible to produce figures showing what is adequate for all pensioner families.

  Pensioner Statistics
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) men and (b) women will reach the statutory retirement age in each of the next five years. [138521]

  Mr. Rooker
  The information is in the table.

  Population attaining state pension age in year shown, United Kingdom

  Thousand

  Year

  Men

  Women

  Total

  2001

  269

  294

  563

  2002

  273

  319

  592

  2003

  276

  341

  616

  2004

  275

  347

  622

  2005

  266

  348

  614

  Notes:

  1. State Pension age is currently 65 for men and 60 for women.

  2. Population projections for the United Kingdom and its constituent countries are carried out every two years by the Government Actuary's Department in consultation with the Registrars General. The latest projections, based on the population at mid-1998, were published in November 1999.

  3. Population projections provide estimates of the number of people by age last birthday at the middle of each year. The figures in the table have been derived from these estimates.

  4. Not everyone starts to receive State Retirement benefits on reaching the State Pension age.

  Source:

  Government Actuary's Department

  Minimum Income Guarantee
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners who are entitled to the Minimum Income Guarantee there are in the constituency of Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East. [138857]

  Mr. Rooker
  There are around 2,800 recipients of the Minimum Income Guarantee in the parliamentary constituency of Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East.

  Notes:

  1. Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling error.

  2. Pensioners are defined as where the claimant and/or partner are age 60 or over.

  3. The figure is rounded to the nearest hundred.

  4. Cases are allocated to each parliamentary constituency by matching the postcode against the 2000 version 1 ONS Postcode Directory.

  Source:

  Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, May 2000

  NIRS2
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the Benefits Agency will have fully recovered from the effects of the delayed implementation of the NIRS2 computer; and if he will make a statement. [139571]

  Mr. Rooker
  The contract for NIRS2 was signed in 1995 and there have been problems with the system from the start, the full effects of which we are still trying to resolve.

  We are sorry to report that the Benefits Agency (BA) will not complete its review of benefit claims affected by the delayed implementation of NIRS2 by the end of this year as had been expected. Although good progress has been made with outstanding cases in BA offices, full completion of the necessary benefits reviews is dependent on the clearance of work arrears in the Inland Revenue's National Insurance Contributions Office (NICO) that result in a change to the contribution record.

  NICO is urgently looking at when it expects to have completed its own recovery from the late implementation of NIRS2. BA recovery cannot be achieved until after the NICO recovery has been achieved and this will not be by the end of this year.

  As contribution records are brought up to date, BA offices will be prompted by NIRS2 to review an old or existing benefit claim if the change to the record has affected the previous benefit rate. Many of these prompted reviews however will not require the rate in payment to be revised because the contingency arrangements deployed by the Benefits Agency will have ensured the new NIRS2 rate is already in payment.

  I would like to take this opportunity to express my regret and apologise to those pensioners and other benefit claimants who have been adversely affected by these delays. Although most benefit reviews have been completed and in the great majority of cases the rate in

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  payment found to be correct because of the contingency measures deployed by the Benefits Agency, my hon. Friend will wish to know that:
  140,153 people have been underpaid a total of £58 million;
  of that number and amount, 123,924 are pensioners with underpayments amounting to £41 million;
  267,590 people have received compensation amounting to £3.6 million comprising £2.7 million under the special £10 scheme I announced in February 1999 and £900,000 under the Departmental Special Payments Scheme;
  6,564 people have been overpaid benefit amounting to £2 million;
  there were at 15 September 111,433 cases waiting to be reviewed by BA offices, of which 96,776 were pensioners and widows.

  There are still a small number of new benefit and pension claims for which NIRS2 cannot provide all or some of the amounts payable. For these cases, contingency arrangements such as manual calculations remain in place. The priority is to ensure that benefit or pension is paid on time. Where this is not possible, however, payment of compensation is available either within the normal rules of the Department's Special Payments Scheme or by way of the special £10 scheme we announced on 1 February 1999.

  Pensions
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 13 November 2000,Official Report, column 526W, on pension expenditure, if he will provide corresponding estimates for each year from 1992–93 to 1995–96 inclusive. [139074]

  Mr. Rooker
  By 2002–03 GDP is forecast to reach a level 32 per cent. higher in real terms than it was in 1992–93.

  Expenditure as a percentage of GDP

  Retirement pensions1

  Means-tested benefits for pensioners2

  Other benefits paid to pensioners3

  Total

  1992–93

  4.35

  1.19

  0.02

  5.56

  1993–94

  4.34

  1.25

  0.02

  5.62

  1994–95

  4.18

  1.22

  0.02

  5.42

  1995–96

  4.14

  1.18

  0.02

  5.35

  1 Includes Retirement Pension basic and earnings-related components.

  2 Includes Income Support, Social Fund Payments, Housing Benefit paid to people aged 60 and over.

  3 Includes non-contributory Retirement Pension and Christmas Bonus.

  Note:

  Excludes special needs benefits such as Attendance Allowance.

  Benefit Fraud
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on how many occasions he has used his powers to require local authorities to take specific measures to tackle housing benefit fraud; and if he will list in each case the date those powers were exercised and the local authority concerned. [139072]

  Mr. Rooker
  To date we have made one such Direction, to Northampton Borough Council, in August 2000.

DEFENCE

  RAF Aircraft
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many RAF aircraft, and of which types, have been(a) retired from service and (b) put into reserve, in each of the past three years. [138426]

  Mr. Spellar
  The information requested in the table.

  Number withdrawn from service1

  Number placed in storage2

  Aircraft Type

  1997

  1998

  1999

  1997

  1998

  1999

  Bulldog T1

  0

  0

  21

  0

  0

  0

  Gazelle HT Mk3

  12

  11

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Nimrod MR2

  0

  31

  31

  0

  0

  0

  Tornado GR1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  VC10

  0

  1

  2

  0

  0

  0

  Wessex

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1 Aircraft withdrawn from service during the year prior to disposal or transfer to an upgrade programme. Excludes aircraft lost in crashes.

  2 Aircraft placed in storage during the year. Excludes aircraft withdrawn from service and awaiting disposal.

  3 The Nimrod MR2 fleet is being reduced prior to the introduction of the Nimrod MRA4. These airframes have been transferred to the Nimrod MRA4 programme.

  Tucano Aircraft
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the Tucano aircraft to be returned to service; and if he will make a statement on the airworthiness of the Tucano fleet. [138428]

  Mr. Spellar
  Following the temporary cessation of Tucano flying on 4 September 2000 the first Tucano aircraft were returned to service on 29 September 2000. There is a rolling programme under way to bring the entire fleet back into service and the full training fleet of aircraft should be available by the end of February 2001.

  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost of repairs to the faults recently identified in the RAF's Tucano aircraft. [138427]

  Mr. Spellar
  The cost of repairs to the rudder controls on aircraft currently in the Tucano training fleet is estimated at around £250,000. Modified parts with a greatly extended service life will subsequently be fitted across the Tucano fleet. The total cost of the repair and subsequent modification programme to all RAF Tucano aircraft will be in the order of £1 million.

  Harpoon Missiles
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the service life is of the Royal Navy's stocks of Harpoon missiles; and what upgrade and refurbishment work is planned. [138430]

  Mr. Spellar
  Ship launched stocks of Harpoon missiles are planned to provide offensive anti-ship capability to the Royal Navy until 2025. Submarine-launched stocks of Harpoon missiles are currently planned to go out of service in 2003.

  Regular maintenance and minor modification is carried out as required; there are presently no plans for a major missile refurbishment programme. Some modification work is being undertaken on Type 22 and Type 23 frigates

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  to enhance the missile system capability within coastal waters. Other options for increasing the Royal Navy's offensive capability are being considered, which may lead to an upgrade of some of the existing missile stock.

  RN Personnel
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent Royal Navy personnel are capable of diving in conditions other than shallow and benign waters; and if he will make a statement. [138995]

  Mr. Spellar
  RN personnel divers can dive in sea conditions up to sea state five and to depths of up to 80 m. In extremis RN divers can operate in poorer sea states to prevent loss of life.

  Condoms
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will give a substantive reply to the question from the hon. Member for Leyton and Wanstead, to which he gave a holding answer on 25 July 2000,Official Report, column 554W. [139150]

  Mr. Spellar
  I will write to my hon. Friend shortly.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Arms Exports (Israel)
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those arms and components for military or security equipment licensed for sale to Israel since 1997. [135470]

  Dr. Howells
  Details of export licensing decisions between 2 May 1997 and 31 December 1999 have been set out in the Government's Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls, published by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; copies are in the Library of the House. The reports list by country of destination the numbers of export licences issued and refused in each equipment category and give details of the military equipment for which licences have been granted. They also set out the value of defence exports to each country.

  As regards the period 1 January to 31 October 2000, 153 Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) and 12 Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs) were issued covering the export to consignees or end-users in Israel. The information is as summarised broken down according to the entries in the Military List under which the goods on each licence are controlled (known as their rating). It could not be broken down in the manner requested as the equipment covered by most entries in the Military List could be used for military or security purposes.

  Individual licences may cover a range of goods with various ratings (and OIELs may also cover a range of countries). Where this is so, the licence is included in the Table in the total for all of the relevant ratings.
  810W

  Individual licences issued between I January and 31 October 2000 covering the export to consignees or end-users in Israel of goods on the Military List

  Rating

  Number of SIELs issued covering goods with this rating

  Number of OIELs issued covering goods with this rating

  ML1

  1

  2

  ML2

  3

  1

  ML3

  9

  0

  ML4

  9

  2

  ML5

  24

  1

  ML6

  6

  2

  ML9

  8

  2

  ML10

  38

  4

  ML11

  21

  2

  ML13

  1

  0

  ML14

  1

  1

  ML15

  9

  0

  ML16

  14

  0

  ML18

  4

  0

  ML21

  4

  0

  ML22

  0

  3

  PL5017

  6

  4

  PL5006

  0

  1

  This information does not cover any Media OIELs that may have been issued during this period. Media OIELs authorise the export to all destinations of protective clothing, mainly for the protection of aid agency workers and journalists when working in areas of conflict.

  In addition, Israel is a permitted destination on certain Open General Export Licences covering the export of goods on the Military List; copies of all Open General Export Licences are placed in the Library of the House.

  Post Office Closures
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the factors underlying the rate of post office closures since 1997. [136710]

  Mr. Byers
  Post office closures remain below past peak levels. In 1991–92, 478 offices closed and in 1984–85 395 closed. The number of rural office closures in the first half of the current financial year is running at a lower level than in the same period last year. I have asked the Post Office for an analysis of the factors underlying Post Office closures. This analysis is to include age of person moving out of the business, property sold, location and reason. In addition, we are implementing in full the recommendations of the Performance and Innovation Unit report to modernise the post office network and strengthen its future viability.

  Consumer Protection
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the representations received in connection with consumer protection legislation. [138514]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 16 November 2000]We have had 31 representations from members of the public, including nine coupons from the National Consumer Council's campaign in the Daily Express. We have had nine joint representations from the National Consumer Council and the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, as well as a further representation from the
  811W
  National Consumer Council and representations from individual Citizens Advice Bureau. In addition we have had representations from the Consumer's Association with the Federation of Small Business, the Welsh Consumer Council and Direct Line Insurance plc.

  Many of the representations were forwarded to us by Members of Parliament. In addition we have received representations from my hon. Friends the Members for Clwyd, South (Mr. Jones), for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn), for Stourbridge (Ms Shipley), and for Vale of Clwyd (Mr. Ruane), and two from my hon. Friend the Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell).

  SmithKline Beecham/Glaxo
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the reasons for the delay in the merger of SmithKline Beecham and Glaxo. [138553]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 16 November 2000]The European Commission approved the merger of Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham on 8 May. The US Federal Trade Commission are considering the competition implications of the market in smoking cessation products relating to Glaxo Wellcome's prescription drug Zyban and SmithKline Beecham's over-the-counter products Nicorette and Nicoderm. This is a matter for the US authorities.

  Fuel Prices
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will refer the retail pricing of petrol products to the Competition Commission. [139100]

  Dr. Howells
  Under UK competition legislation, it is for the Director General of Fair Trading to investigate allegations of anti-competitive behaviour and if appropriate make a reference to the Competition Commission under the Fair Trading Act 1973 or take action under the Competition Act 1998.

  Steel Industry
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what recent discussions he has had with the senior management of Corus regarding the future of the steel industry in Teesside and research and development in Corus; [138854]

  (2) what recent discussions he has had with the senior management of Corus on the future of the steel industry. [138856]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has had discussions with senior executives from Corus on several occasions in recent months to discuss a range of matters affecting UK operations. From time to time we also visit Corus plants for discussions with local management and my officials maintain a regular dialogue with the company.

  MOX Fuel
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent communications he has had from the European Commission in respect of the 812W
  adequacy of data provided to the Commission in regard to the applicability of Euratom Treaty Article 37 to the MOX demonstration facility at Sellafield. [137871]

  Mr. Meacher
  I have been asked to reply.

  Acting on a complaint, the European Commission has asked what general data have been provided under Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty, covering the operation of the MOX Demonstration Facility, and requested other information relevant to the issue of whether such data should have been submitted. The Government's response confirmed their view that, on the basis of current guidance and of discussions with the Commission in 1996, no submission of data is necessary in respect of the MOX Demonstration Facility. Notwithstanding this view, the Government have offered to provide the Commission with comprehensive background information in order to assist it in replying to the complainant.

  Deregulation Orders
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many deregulation orders have been passed in each of the last three years. [136407]

  Mr. Stringer
  I have been asked to reply.

  The deregulation orders passed in each of the last three years are as follows:
  1997–12

  The Deregulation (Casinos) Order 1997 (SI no. 1997/950)

  The Deregulation (Employment in Bars) Order 1997 (SI no. 1997/957)

  The Deregulation (Gaming on Sunday in Scotland) Order 1997 (SI no. 1997/941 (S. 83))

  The Deregulation (Betting Licensing) Order 1997 (SI no. 1997/947)

  The Deregulation (Validity of Civil Preliminaries to Marriage) Order 1997 (SI no. 1997/986)

  The Deregulation (Occasional Permissions) Order 1997 (SI no. 1997/1133)

  The Deregulation (Provision of School Action Plans) Order 1997 (SI no. 1997/1142)

  The Deregulation (Football Pools) Order 1997 (SI no 1997/1073)

  The Deregulation (Betting and Bingo Advertising etc.) Order 1997 (SI no. 1997/1074)

  The Deregulation (Casinos and Bingo Clubs: Debit Cards) Order 1997 (SI no. 1997/1075)

  The Deregulation (Non-Fossil Fuel) Order 1997 (SI no. 1997/1185)

  The Deregulation (Public Health Acts Amendments Act 1907) Order 1997 (SI no. 1997/1187)

  1998–5

  The Deregulation (Licence Transfers) Orders 1998 (SI no. 1998/114)

  The Deregulation (Deduction from pay of Union Subscriptions) Order 1998 (SI no. 1998/1529)

  The Deregulation (Methylated Spirits Sale By Retail) (Scotland) Order 1998 (SI no. 1998/1602 (S.87))

  The Deregulation (Exchangeable Driving Licences) Order 1998 (SI no. 1998/1917)

  The Deregulation (Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles) Order 1998 (SI no. 1998/1946)

  1999–4

  The Deregulation (Weights and Measures) Order 1999 (SI no. 1999/503)

  The Deregulation (Pipe-lines) Order 1999 (SI no. 1999/742) The Deregulation (Casinos) Order 1999 (SI no. 1999/2136)

  The Deregulation (Millennium Licensing) Order 1999 (SI no. 1999/2137).

HOME DEPARTMENT

  European Refugee Fund
  Gillian Merron
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he has put in place to deal with applications for financing under the European Refugee Fund. [139444]

  Mrs. Roche
  The European Refugee Fund (ERF) is intended to support three categories of project:(i) conditions for reception; (ii) integration of persons whose stay in the member state is of a lasting and/or stable nature; and (iii) voluntary return and reintegration. The ERF is administered in European Union member states by Responsible Authorities. The Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) is the Responsible Authority for the United Kingdom.

  IND is issuing a public call today for proposals for financing under the ERF in 2000 and 2001. The public call notice summarises the criteria for financing, how to obtain detailed guidelines and an application form, and arrangements for submitting applications. Applications must be submitted by 29 December. The public call notice can be found on the IND website (www.homeoffice.gov.uk/ind) and a copy has been placed in the Library.

  DNA Testing
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the reliability of DNA testing(a) in convicting the guilty and (b) in exonerating the innocent. [137936]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The reliability of DNA evidence is assured through the internal quality assurance measures adopted by the Forensic Science Service (FSS) and through external accreditation by the British Standards Institute (BSI) and United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) to the BS EN ISO 9000 and M10 National Standards. This independent accreditation of the DNA process involves regular audit to ensure the standards are maintained.

  The more advanced SGMplus technique was introduced by the FSS in September 1999. A statistical assessment, to be published in the International Journal of Legal Medicine, showed that when using this process the probability of a chance match between a full DNA profile obtained from a suspect's sample and another one from a crime scene stain left by another person was less than one in a billion.

  Prisons
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the ratio of staff to inmates is in(a) each prison holding 18 to 21-year-olds and (b) each institution holding juveniles. [137724]

  Mr. Boateng
  This information is given in the table. Information about Doncaster prison was not readily available and I shall write to the hon. Member about this.
  814W

  Establishment

  18–21

  Under 18

  Ashfield

  1:2.27

  1:2

  Askham Grange

  1:4

  —

  Aylesbury

  1:6

  —

  Brinsford

  1:5

  1:3

  Brockhill

  1:1.5

  —

  Bullwood Hall

  1:2.2

  —

  Castington

  1:3.24

  1:1.37

  Chelmsford

  1:13

  —

  Deerbolt

  1:3.14

  —

  Dorchester

  1:1.5

  —

  Dover

  1:2.15

  —

  Drake Hall

  1:2.7

  —

  Eastwood Park

  1:2.4

  —

  Exeter

  1:11

  —

  Feltham

  1:1.27

  1:0.94

  Forest Bank

  1:6

  —

  Glen Parva

  1:1.4

  —

  Gloucester

  1:15

  —

  Guys Marsh

  1:2

  —

  Hatfield

  1:3

  —

  Hindley

  1:2

  —

  Hollesley Bay

  1:7.6

  1:8

  Holloway

  1:1.5

  —

  Hull

  1:6

  —

  Huntercombe

  —

  1:1.4

  Lancaster Farms

  1:2.3

  1:6

  Lewes

  1:2.6

  —

  Low Newton

  1:1.9

  —

  Moorland

  1:1.7

  —

  New Hall

  1:1.24

  —

  Northallerton

  1:2

  —

  Norwich

  1:4.7

  —

  Onley

  1:3.1

  1:2.6

  Portland

  1:3.7

  1:2

  Prescoed

  1:1.4

  —

  Reading

  1:1.1

  —

  Rochester

  1:4.2

  —

  Stoke Heath

  1:5.8

  1:3.5

  Styal

  1:2.5

  —

  Swansea

  1:8.75

  —

  Swinfen Hall

  1:1.4

  —

  Thorn Cross

  1:2

  1:2

  Werrington

  —

  1:0.7

  Wetherby

  —

  1:6.8

  Woodhill

  1:2

  —

  Home Detention Curfew Scheme
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 2 November 2000,Official Report, column 611W, if he will (a) list the categories of offence for which the 1,756 people were sentenced and (b) the action taken following the breaches of the conditions of their release. [137993]

  Mr. Boateng
  An analysis of the index offences of the 1,756 prisoners who were placed on the home detention curfew scheme and who breached the conditions of their licence is contained in the table.

  Where a breach is notified to the Prison Service, consideration is given to the most appropriate course of action, in the light of the available legal powers and the circumstances of the individual case. Where an offender breaches his licence conditions, the presumption is that the Prison Service will always revoke the licence unless there are legal considerations which prevent this or make it impracticable, or other exceptional circumstances. Of the 1,756 cases referred to, 1,294 had their licences revoked by the Secretary of State pursuant to

  815W
  section 38A(1) or section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991. In a further 46 cases, the breach was reported to the police or probation service to consider initiating breach action through the courts under section 38(1) of the Act. In addition, those prisoners who were convicted of committing a further offence during the currency of their licence, and therefore were in breach of their licence conditions, would have been liable, under section 40 of the Act, to an additional sentence of imprisonment.

  In 416 cases legal considerations prevented revocation action. The majority of these were cases where the breach of licence was notified to the Prison Service only after the licence had expired; as my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Corby (Mr. Hope) of 22 May 2000, Official Report, column 360W, indicated, a significant proportion of cases involving further charges brought against curfewees have not been notified to the Prison Service by the police. Action is currently being taken to improve reporting arrangements.

  Breakdown of the original offences of those curfewees who breached the conditions of their licence

  28 January 1999 to 30 September 2000

  Number

  Total

  1,756

  Manslaughter

  2

  Other homicide and attempted homicide

  6

  Attempted murder

  0

  Making threats to kill

  5

  Conspire, aid, incite murder

  0

  Death by reckless driving

  3

  Wounding

  180

  Wounding (inflicting GBH)

  115

  Assault occasioning ABH

  61

  Assault with intent to cause GBH

  4

  Assaults

  46

  Assault with intent to resist arrest

  4

  Other assault

  34

  Obstruct/resist constable

  0

  Assault on police officer

  8

  Cruelty to children

  4

  Other violence against the person

  14

  Cause explosion, place explosive

  0

  Possess firearms with intent

  8

  Possess offensive weapon

  6

  Other violence against the person

  0

  Buggery

  0

  Indecent assault

  1

  Unlawful sexual intercourse

  0

  Abduction

  0

  Bigamy

  0

  Burglary

  307

  Robbery

  95

  Taking and driving away

  27

  Other theft

  149

  Handling stolen goods

  50

  Fraud

  82

  Forgery

  9

  Drugs offences

  192

  Production

  4

  Supply

  63

  Possession with intent

  57

  Possession

  54

  Unlawful import/export

  14

  Other drugs offences

  0

  816W

  Breakdown of the original offences of those curfewees who breached the conditions of their licence

  28 January 1999 to 30 September 2000

  Number

  Arson

  11

  Criminal damage

  11

  In charge or driving under the influence of drink or drugs

  55

  Reckless driving

  26

  Other motoring offences

  117

  Drunkenness

  11

  Blackmail

  3

  Kidnapping

  3

  Affray

  48

  Violent disorder

  9

  perjury/libel/pervert the course of justice

  18

  Threat/disorderly behaviour

  9

  Breach of court order

  67

  Procuration

  0

  False imprisonment

  4

  Bail Act offences

  2

  Assisting illegal immigrant

  1

  Minor firearm offences

  0

  Vagrancy Act offences

  0

  Cruelty etc to animals

  0

  Escaping lawful custody

  0

  Making off without payment

  0

  Criminal attempts

  2

  Other indictable offences

  44

  Help under Immigration Act 1971

  1

  Other non criminal offences

  0

  Offence not recorded

  148

  Detention and Training Orders
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will issue guidelines on mobility programmes for young people serving sentences on a detention and training order. [138436]

  Mr. Boateng
  The detention and training order was implemented on 1 April 2000. It is the new main custodial sentence for juveniles aged 12–17.

  The rules for mobility programmes (which can involve escorted absences or temporary release for training and rehabilitation) vary between types of institutions.

  We are looking at the policy and arrangements, with a view to issuing guidance over the next few months.

  European Public Prosecutor
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will provide a substantive reply to the question from the hon. Member for Ludlow tabled on 23 October (ref. 134594) relating to the European Public Prosecutor. [138859]

  Mrs. Roche
  The question to which the hon. Member refers raises a difficult issue which is being considered. I shall provide a substantive reply shortly.

  Anti-social Behaviour Orders
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many anti-social behaviour orders have been issued since April 1999 in the boroughs of(a) Middlesbrough, (b) Stockton, (c) Hartlepool and (d) Redcar and Cleveland; and if he will make a statement. [138855]
  817W
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  A breakdown of the number of anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) issued by borough is not held centrally. However, Cleveland Police inform me that seven ASBOs have been issued so far in Cleveland—two in Middlesbrough, two in Hartlepool and three in Stockton on Tees.

  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the average cost is of issuing anti-social behaviour orders;[137599]

  (2) how many anti-social behaviour orders have been issued since April 1999 in (a) England and Wales, (b) the Greater London area and (c) the Royal Borough of Kingston. [137598]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [Pursuant to the reply, 13 November 2000, c. 531W]At least 10—rather than 30 as previously stated—anti-social behaviour orders issued since the measure was implemented have been made in the Greater London area.

  Cleveland Police
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of ethnic minority(a) officers and (b) civilian staff in Cleveland police force in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [138853]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The figures are as follows:

  Officers

  Civilians

  March

  1998

  18

  5

  1999

  9

  5

  2000

  17

  4

  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has set every police force in England and Wales minority ethnic employment targets which are intended to ensure that forces are representative of the communities which they serve by 2009. Cleveland police's target for minority ethnic officers is 29, and for civilians is 12.

CABINET OFFICE

  E-government
  Mr. Laxton
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when the last meeting of the Cabinet Office Central IT Unit on e-government took place; and when the next meeting will be. [138740]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The Central IT Unit (CITU) has not existed as a separate Division within the Cabinet Office since it was subsumed into the Office of the e-Envoy in July this year. At the same time it was renamed the "e-government group".

  The Central Information Technology Unit (CITU) was set up in November 1995. CITU's remit was to advise Ministers on the development of their strategy for the use of IT by Government.

  Current activities include taking forward the Information Age Government agenda of the Modernising Government White Paper including the follow up work to "e-government: a strategic framework for public services
  818W
  in the Information Age". This work includes advising Departments on the development of their own e-business strategies and monitoring progress on the Prime Minister's target that by 2005 100 per cent. of dealings with Government should be available.

  This work now sits within the Office of the e-Envoy, a group comprising approximately 75 people organised in three groups:

  e-government

  e-commerce

  e-communication.

  The website contains full information about all of their work: www.e-envoy.gov.uk

  Regulatory Impact Assessments
  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will list the regulatory impact assessments published in the last six months. [139137]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The Government are committed to ensuring that regulations are necessary, give effective protection, balance cost and risk, are fair and command public confidence. In accordance with this, we require Departments to produce and publish RIAs for all regulatory proposals likely to have an impact on business.

  I have presented to Parliament today a Command Paper listing 107 RIAs published between 1 January and 30 June 2000. Copies of those listed have been placed in the House Libraries. This is the thirteenth such Command Paper.

TREASURY

  E-commerce Consultation Forum
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times the Electronic Commerce Consultation Forum has met; on what dates; if he will publish their deliberations and recommendations; and if he will list the sub-groups of the forum.[135899]

  Mr. Timms
  The Electronic Commerce Consultation Forum has met three times since its establishment in June 1999. The dates and minutes of these meeting and details of the sub-groups can be found on the Inland Revenue website at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/ e-commerce/ecom4.htm.

  Beer and Cider Excise Duty
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to Table B11 of his pre-Budget Report, what the assumptions are behind the increases in projected beer and cider excise duty revenues between the financial years 2000–01 and 2001–02 in respect of(a) the measure of inflation used, (b) the rate of inflation projected, (c) the month and year in which inflation is projected and (d) the increase in pence per pint of (i) beer and (ii) cider, will such an increase give rise to in financial year 2001–02. [138660]

  Mr. Timms
  The measure of inflation used is the all-items PRI in the 12 months to September 2001, as published in Table B3 of the pre-Budget Report. Estimates of the effect of duty changes on the price of
  819W
  beer and cider are published by HM Treasury in the "Tax Ready Reckoner and Tax Reliefs, November 2000". copies of which are in the Library.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will provide a substantive reply to the question tabled by the hon. Member for Louth and Horncastle for answer on 6 November (ref. 135972). [138851]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Shortly.

  Departmental Expenditure Limits
  Mr. Ian Stewart
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to amend the Inland Revenue Departmental Expenditure Limit and running costs limit for 2000–01. [139445]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the Supplementary Estimate for Class XVI, Vote 6 the Inland Revenue Departmental Expenditure Limit for 2000–01 will be decreased by £14,800,000 from £2,245,371,000 to £2,230,571,000. The Inland Revenue running cost limit will also be reduced by £3,500,000 from £2,377,079,000 to £2,373,579,000. This is needed to offset a reduction in anticipated receipts within the Valuation Office Agency.

  The reduction arises from a £15 million transfer to the Cabinet Office for the Department's contribution to the Government IT gateway project offset by Valuation Office Agency award of £0.2 million from the Civil Service Modernisation Fund.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Departmental Policies (Gorton)
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effect on the Manchester, Gorton constituency, of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [136169]

  Ms Armstrong
  The Gorton constituency has benefited from a range of Government initiatives since 2 May 1997 including:

  Regeneration (including Housing Initiatives)

  The capital receipts initiative in Manchester has allowed a greater degree of flexibility in investment in the council stock. The investment in the Gorton constituency in public sector housing is

  £ million

  1997–98

  6.3

  1998–99

  8.0

  1999–100

  6.9

  2000–011

  8.9

  1 Projected

  820W
  Northmoor Road Renewal Area

  This was declared in 1998 and is an integrated regeneration programme including social, environmental, and physical elements and has received approximately £3 million in funding from Single Regeneration Budget funding, Housing Capital Programme, and significant additional investment from the Housing Corporation and the private sector.

  Gorton Renewal Area

  This was declared in 1992, and was one of the first new-style housing "Renewal Areas". It has had approximately £2.8 million investment from Housing Capital Programme since 1997.

  A6 Corridor

  Longsight and Levenshulme form part of this Single Regeneration Budget scheme which also includes Ardwick. It has been allocated £9 million over the 1997–2004 period (to date £4 million has been spent by the partnership) to improve social and economic regeneration in the area.

  The North West Development Agency have also spent £850k on a mixed use (residential and industrial) development in south Levenshulme.

  Neighbourhood Renewal Fund

  Manchester will receive an estimated £41 million over the next three years as part of the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund announced recently. The fund will help local authorities meet their Public Service Agreement targets in areas such as raising schools standards, and reducing unemployment—reducing burglary, narrowing the health gap between deprived areas and the rest of the country and improving the standard of social housing.

  New East Manchester Ltd.

  New East Manchester Ltd. one of three Urban Regeneration Companies in the country, has the responsibility to encourage development and improve demand across the whole of East Manchester.

  Transport

  The recent opening of the final section of the M60 Manchester Outer Ring Road (Denton to Middleton) will improve communications to the constituency.

  Expansion of the Metrolink will provide new links between Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Ashton and Manchester Airport. Total cost is £500 million of which £250 million will be provided by Government. While the constituency will not be directly served by a new line, new stations on the extensions to Ashton and Manchester airport will be accessible to the constituency.

  The South East Manchester Multi Modal study which covers the constituency in its study area will make recommendations for a long term strategy, and a plan of specific interventions, to address the transport problems in the study area.
  821W
  Local Government Finance Settlement

  The following table shows the Government Grant to Manchester as part of the Local Government Finance Settlement. A statistical analysis of what proportion was spent in the Gorton constituency is not available.

  £ million

  1997–98

  362.47

  1998–99

  375.62

  1999–100

  390.57

  2000–101

  401.97

  European Funding

  Objective 2 1997–99

  The City Pride Action Plan area covers the Gorton constituency. The Plan has been allocated £36 million of European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and European Social Fund grant to support a range of project activity from broad business support and innovation and technology to investment in the tourism and cultural sector.

  In addition, the constituency overlaps 3 of the 6 Community Economic Development Action Plans that cover the city of Manchester. The 3 Action Plans—Princess Road Corridor, Stockport Road Corridor and East Link—have been allocated over £5.5 million and among the projects being supported in the Gorton constituency are:

  Rusholme Environmental and Physical Improvements (£70,000 ERDF)

  Longsight Millennium Recycling Action (£75,000 ERDF)

  Levenshulme Block Improvement Scheme (£100,000 ERDF)

  Monastery of St. Francis and Gorton Trust (£13,000 ERDF).

  Local Transport Plans
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much has been applied for by each local authority in their local transport plans for(a) maintenance of principal highways, (b) maintenance and strengthening of bridges, (c) individual schemes costing over £5 million and (d) integrated transport measures costing less than £5 million for each year from 2001–02 to 2005–06. [138068]

  Mr. Hill
  I have placed a copy of the information requested in the Libraries of the House.

  Volunteers
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will mark next year's International Year of Volunteers by spending a day working as a volunteer. [137427]

  Mr. Prescott
  [holding answer 13 November 2000]I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 13 November 2000,Official Report, column 531W. I fully support the aims of the International Year of Volunteers and will consider any request to participate nearer the time.

  Climate Change
  Mr. White
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to publish the UK's climate change programme [139109]
  822W
  Mr. Prescott
  I have today laid before Parliament, "Climate Change: The UK Programme (Command Number 4913)". Our programme sets out how we will deliver the UK's Kyoto target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2008–12 and move towards our domestic goal to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010. We estimate that the policies and measures set out in the programme could cut the UK's greenhouse gas emissions by 23 per cent. by 2010 and carbon dioxide emissions by 19 per cent. Further non-quantified measures could achieve the domestic goal.

  I am also publishing the following documents alongside the programme, copies of which will be placed in the Libraries of the House:

  Projections of non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions for the United Kingdom and constituent countries;

  Energy Efficiency Commitment 2002–05—The Government's Provisional Conclusions;

  Climate Change and UK Nature Conservation: A Review of the Impact of Climate Change on UK Species and Habitat Conservation Policy;

  Summary of Responses to the Draft Climate Change Programme; and

  An information and activity pack on global warming for 7 to 11-year-olds.

HEALTH

  Armed Forces (Medical Services)
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what recent reports he has received on the availability of medical services in the armed forces; and what advice he has received on increasing their availability; [136008]

  (2) if he will make a statement on trends in the availability of medical services in the armed forces over the last three years. [136007]

  Ms Stuart
  Defence Medical Services (DMS) is responsible for providing medical services in the armed forces. The Department of Health is aware of the report issued by the Ministry of Defence in December 1998 entitled, "Defence Medical Services: A Strategy for the Future" which explained that there are serious workforce shortages in DMS.

  At present workforce levels are stabilising and the MOD are exploring new ways of meeting the regular and reserve medical manpower requirements. This work is being undertaken in close consultation with the Department and the National Health Service. For example, the NHS will in future be including DMS' requirements in medical student numbers.

  The future strategy for DMS identified a gap at the higher 'strategic' level and closer links have now been established between the MOD and Department with NHS representatives being appointed to the two DMS top management boards. To supplement this activity and to direct work a Joint Steering Group has been established by the MOD and Department with the Scottish Executive and the Welsh Office also represented.

  Wheelchair Voucher Scheme
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future of the wheelchair voucher scheme. [136270]

  Mr. Hutton
  We have asked all wheelchair services to continue to operate a voucher scheme, which offers users a choice of wheelchair to meet their needs. In making the funding for the wheelchair initiatives recurrent from 1 April 2000, we have removed the distinction on what should be spent on National Health Service indoor/outdoor powered wheelchairs and or vouchers. We have asked health authorities and provider services to consult with service users and take a flexible approach to ensuring the money meets local wheelchair needs and priorities.

  Prosorba Column
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 23 October 2000,Official Report, column 86W, on the Prosorba Column, what reports he has received on the effectiveness of the Prosorba Column as a treatment for arthritis. [137086]

  Mr. Denham
  The Department has not received any reports on the effectiveness of the Prosorba Column as a treatment of arthritis.

  Electronic Database
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress of the Electronic Record Demonstrator Implementation Programme and progress towards achieving a national electronic health record database; what timescale he is working to; and if he plans to fund the chosen programme from(a) NHS funds, (b) a public-private partnership and (c) other sources. [137273]

  Ms Stuart
  The Electronic Record Development and Implementation Programme (ERDIP) was launched in November 1999. Following the selection exercise the names of the successful Electronic Health Record (EHR) and Electronic Patient Record (EPR) demonstrator sites were announced in April and June 2000 respectively. These have been placed in the Library.

  The NHS Information Authority (NHSIA) is currently finalising deliverables, timescales and associated release of funding with each of the individual sites. Detailed Project Initiation Documents will be available on the NHSIA website at http://nww.nhsia.nhs.uk once the Project Briefs have been approved.

  The work of the demonstrator sites is being supported by three projects managed centrally by the NHSIA:
  Definition of level 3 EPR for acute hospitals for integrated care pathways and electronic prescribing. The total cost of this work will be around £39,000, which will be met from the NHSIA's central budget;
  Definition of the components of the first generation EHR that will need to be in place by 2005 to support 24-hour emergency care access to patient records. This year the NHSIA will spend around £62,000 against this activity, with further work being commissioned in years 2001–03. The cost of all of this work will be met from the NHSIA's central budget;
  The development of an evaluation programme to ensure the sites will deliver solutions that can be applied on a national basis (£1.7 million from the Modernisation Fund has been set aside for this programme).
  824W
  The management costs of ERDIP are being funded from the NHSIA's central budget.

  In total, (including the £1.7 million), up to £13.1 million from the Modernisation Fund will be used to support the cost of the two-year demonstrator programme. These funds will be used to deliver solutions earlier to the NHS and are in addition to the £132 million allocated for local investment in the implementation of the Strategy in 2000–01. Further sums will be made available to the Service as part of the spending review settlement for the period 2001–04. These will be announced in the autumn as part of the three-year allocations for health authorities.

  Departmental Employees (New Deal)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff are employed by his Department under the New Deal for Young People. [137961]

  Mr. Denham
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 13 November 2000,Official Report, columns 551–52W.

  Assaults on Staff
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department about measures to protect NHS staff from assault. [137933]

  Mr. Denham
  Our campaign to tackle violence against NHS staff, the "NHS zero tolerance zone", has been developed by the Department working with colleagues in the Home Office, Lord Chancellor's Department and in the Crown Prosecution Service.

  This cross-Government approach is also reflected in the new national sentencing guidelines which were issued to magistrates courts in September for a wide range of offences. The guidelines now include as aggravating factors, to be taken into account when sentencing, whether the offence occurred in hospital or medical premises and whether the victim was serving the public.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has also met recently with the Home Secretary and other Ministers to discuss the role of the National Health Service in local crime and disorder reduction partnerships.

  PACT data
  Dr. Brand
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when PACT data were last published; and if he will make a statement. [138031]

  Ms Stuart
  PACT data are not published but are made available quarterly to health authorities, primary care groups and primary care trusts for their internal use. Data covering the period January to March 2000 were issued in September. The next report covering the quarter April to June is expected to be available by the middle of December.

  Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research his Department has commissioned into the causes and treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis. [138168]
  825W
  Mr. Denham
  The most recent project commissioned by the Department is a systematic review to determine the clinical effectiveness of treatments and interventions for chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis. The review was commissioned for a working group which is looking at the efficacy of available treatments and interventions for chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME). The results of this review will inform the final report produced by the CFS/ME Working Group. In addition the National Health Service Health Technology Assessment Programme has recently commissioned a study on the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy in chronic fatigue syndrome.

  Prescription Pricing
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the performance of the Prescription Pricing Authority in giving accurate and up-to-date information to primary care groups. [138313]

  Ms Stuart
  There are currently delays of three months, resulting from the large number of prescriptions which fell within Category D of the Drug Tariff last year. The Prescription Pricing Authority has now begun to clear the backlog and will have completed this task by September next year. Meanwhile the authority is providing monthly forecasts for the availability of Prescription Pricing Authority information reports for the next two-month period to every health authority chief executive and professional adviser, and to every primary care group/trust.

  Dental Treatment
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the need for NHS dental treatment in South East Cornwall; and if he will make a statement. [138276]

  Mr. Hutton
  Demand for National Health Service dentistry remains high throughout Cornwall. We have invested £436,431 for 12 Investing in Dentistry grants, generating up to 37,500 extra registrations with dentists in Cornwall. In addition the personal dental services pilot scheme treats emergency and urgent patients at 20 sites across Cornwall.

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

  Training Costs
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost of training a(a) doctor, (b) nurse, (c) occupational therapist, (d) physiotherapist and (e) speech and language therapist; and if he will make a statement. [138404]
  826W
  Mr. Denham
  In the period between entry to medical school and full registration, it is estimated that training a doctor costs between £200,000 and £250,000. Doctors generally continue training after full registration. As the duration and nature of post-registration training varies greatly and as service and training costs are closely related it is not possible to provide a meaningful estimate of the total cost of training.

  The latest year for which figures are available show that in 1999–2000 the national average estimated cost of training a nurse was £11,000 per annum; an occupational therapist £7,000 per annum; a physiotherapist £7,200 per annum and a speech and language therapist £7,000 per annum. These costs are inclusive of tuition, bursary and salary support costs. Most courses are of three years duration.

  Secure Units
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what recent evaluation he has made of methods of control and restraint in local authority secure units for young people; [138434]

  (2) when he will decide on a national standard of accredited methods of control and restraint in local authority secure units for young people. [138435]

  Mr. Hutton
  The methods of control and restraint adopted in each local authority secure unit are monitored and evaluated as part of the continuing inspection programme of secure establishments for children carried out by the social services inspectorate.

  Guidance on permissible forms of control in children's residential care was issued in 1993.

  Residential and Nursing Homes
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish regulations for residential and nursing homes under the Care Standards Act 2000; what the timescale is for the implementation of the regulations; and if he will make a statement. [138422]

  Mr. Hutton
  We will be consulting on regulations for care homes under the Care Standards Act 2000, soon. The regulations will be implemented in time for the start of the National Care Standards Commission in April 2002.

  NHS Trusts (Market Testing)
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has given to NHS trusts on market testing of(a) laundry, (b) cleaning and (c) catering services. [138448]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 15 November 2000]The abolition of compulsory market testing of laundry, cleaning and catering services in the National Health Service was announced in September. Under new guidance to be published in due course NHS trusts will be required to demonstrate value for money in terms of quality, cost and patient satisfaction across all their support services.

  Euro
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to the NHS to date has been of the national euro changeover plan. [138731]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 16 November 2000]Public sector spending on changeover planning to date is set out in the Treasury's Fourth Report on Euro Preparations, published on 6 November 2000. Copies of the Report are available in the Library.

  Cancer Research
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the Government response to the Science and Technology Committee 6 report of Session 1999–2000, HC723, on Cancer Research; and if he will make a statement. [139648]

  Yvette Cooper
  We have published the Government Response today, as Cm 4928, and copies are available in the Library. We welcome the thorough inquiry into all the research and related issues that the Committee has conducted. We accept many of the recommendations in the report.

  When the Committee published its report, we decided that an essential first step in improving cancer research and, through this, cancer care in this country, was to create a NHS Cancer Research Network. By 2003, we will be investing an additional £20 million each year on this new initiative.

  The NHS Cancer Research Network will have a direct impact on the quality of cancer care by integrating research and cancer care; improving the quality, speed and co-ordination of cancer research; and increasing the number of NHS organisations, health care professionals, and patients participating in cancer research studies. The initial target for the NCRN will be to double the number of cancer patients entering trials within three years. The first step in establishing the NHS Cancer Research Network is to commission a Co-ordinating Centre and an appointment has now been made, following an open competition.

  The Co-ordinating Centre will be a joint enterprise. Two groups will work together to achieve the overall aims of the NHS Cancer Research Network. A consortium involving the universities of Leeds and York and the MRC Clinical Trials Unit, led by Professor Peter Selby will concentrate on operating a network for controlled trials, especially of new approaches that have shown promise in diagnosing, treating and caring for patients with cancer. Professor David Kerr will lead the NHS's contribution to early studies translating advances in basic science into promising new treatments for cancer through a network of centres.

  In relation to further action, we agree with the Committee that a new 'bricks and mortar' institute for cancer research is not the best way forward in this country. We need a different type of mechanism to plan and co-ordinate the drive on cancer research in general. We have asked the Department's Director of Research & Development (Professor Sir John Pattison) and the National Cancer Director (Professor Mike Richards) to consult all those involved in the funding and delivery of
  828W
  cancer research, and then to come forward with definitive proposals for a National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI).

  Through these and other measures outlined in our response, the Government will be taking a major step forward in the benefits cancer research can bring to patients. We thank the Committee for their work and their contribution to the debate on improving cancer research and care in this country.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letter of 19 June from the right hon. Member for North East Hampshire regarding the Director of Social Services of Hampshire County Council, Mr. Butler. [138904]

  Ms Stuart
  I shall let the right hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Competitive Sports
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what recent assessment he has made of the role of competitive sports in secondary education. [134936]

  Jacqui Smith
  Competitive sports in schools play an important role in providing extra-curricular physical activity for schoolchildren. They are a compulsory part of the National Curriculum for Physical Education for pupils aged between 5 and 14 and are one of the options for pupils aged 14 to 16. HMCI's Annual Report looked at a sample of 115 primary schools and 53 secondary schools, and without exception, all secondary schools provided opportunities to participate in extra-curricular sports, and three quarters of primary schools provided similar opportunities for the older range of pupils. As part of the Government's Sports Strategy. the first phase of School Sports Co-ordinators has just been established. They will work with families of primary and secondary schools in areas of greatest need to provide children with even more opportunities to compete and participate in a wide range of school sports, and will also promote school team competitions.

  Payroll Administration
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the costs of payroll administration in his Department and associated agencies and non-departmental bodies in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [135994]

  Mr. Wills
  [holding answer 1 November 2000]The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost, as the elements of the payroll administration costs for the Department and its agencies and non-departmental bodies are not available in aggregated form.

  Student Loans
  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how the receipt of a London weighting
  829W
  allowance in a salary is treated by the regulations governing the repayment threshold and liability under the student loan scheme. [136534]

  Mr. Wicks
  Borrowers with mortgage style loans may apply to defer repayment of their student loan for a year at a time if their income is not more than 85 per cent. of national average earnings. London weighting is treated as part of the borrower's income. Borrowers with income contingent loans are liable to repay 9 per cent. of gross income (taxable or liable to national insurance) over £10,000 a year. London weighting is treated as part of gross income.

  Higher Education Students
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list, in respect of each of the last five years, by(a) age category, (b) mode of study, (c) gender, (d) ethnic origin and (e) socio-economic group, the total number of students (i) applying to enter higher education and (ii) entering higher education. [137372]

  Mr. Wicks
  The latest available data, covering students applying to full-time and sandwich undergraduate courses via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), are shown in the following tables(a) to (d). Final figures for autumn 2000 entry will be released by UCAS in January 2001. UCAS does not cover applicants or accepted applicants to part-time courses. The available data, collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency, on entrants to part-time undergraduate courses is shown in table (e). The figures show that, for example, the numbers of students from ethnic minority and working class backgrounds have remained unchanged or increased a little since the introduction of fees, comparing 1996 (the year before fees were announced) with 1999. Applications generally rose in 1997 after the changes in university finance from 1998 were announced in July 1997.

  UK domiciled applicants and accepted applicants to full-time and sandwich undergraduate courses in the UK via UCAS Institutions in the UK

  (a) By gender

  Thousand

  Year of entry

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  Applicants

  Men

  179.6

  175.5

  190.0

  184.1

  182.4

  Women

  190.1

  189.4

  208.3

  205.5

  206.3

  Total

  369.7

  364.9

  398.3

  389.6

  388.7

  Accepted applicants

  Men

  132.1

  131.3

  146.5

  142.8

  143.6

  Women

  133.4

  137.0

  156.9

  155.4

  159.4

  Total

  265.5

  268.3

  303.3

  298.2

  303.1

  (b) By age group

  Year of entry

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  Applicants

  Under 21

  272.1

  274.2

  300.9

  303.8

  306.8

  21 and over

  97.6

  90.7

  97.4

  85.9

  81.8

  Total

  369.7

  364.9

  398.3

  389.6

  388.7

  830W

  (b) By age group

  Year of entry

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  Accepted applicants

  Under 21

  204.5

  209.1

  237.5

  239.6

  245.6

  21 and over

  61.1

  59.2

  65.8

  58.6

  57.4

  Total

  265.5

  268.3

  303.3

  298.2

  303.1

  (c) By ethnic group

  Year of entry

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  Applicants

  Asian Bangladeshi

  2.2

  2.3

  2.5

  2.6

  2.9

  Asian Chinese

  3.0

  3.1

  3.5

  3.6

  3.6

  Asian Indian

  13.3

  14.1

  15.3

  15.9

  16.6

  Asian Pakistani

  7.8

  8.5

  9.1

  9.5

  9.9

  Asian Other

  4.4

  4.2

  4.6

  4.6

  4.6

  Black African

  7.2

  7.1

  7.7

  7.1

  7.1

  Black Caribbean

  4.7

  4.5

  4.8

  3.5

  4.5

  Black Other

  2.0

  1.9

  2.3

  2.4

  2.5

  White

  303.4

  293.5

  315.1

  300.9

  299.6

  Other

  5.4

  5.7

  6.4

  6.3

  6.7

  Not known

  16.5

  20.1

  27.0

  32.4

  30.6

  Total

  369.7

  364.9

  398.3

  389.6

  388.7

  Accepted applicants

  Asian Bangladeshi

  1.5

  1.5

  1.7

  1.8

  2.0

  Asian Chinese

  2.2

  2.4

  2.7

  2.7

  2.9

  Asian Indian

  9.5

  10.3

  11.7

  12.1

  13.0

  Asian Pakistani

  5.1

  5.7

  6.4

  6.6

  7.1

  Asian Other

  3.0

  2.9

  3.3

  3.3

  3.4

  Black African

  4.1

  4.3

  4.8

  4.5

  4.7

  Black Caribbean

  2.7

  2.8

  3.2

  2.9

  3.0

  Black Other

  1.2

  1.2

  1.5

  1.6

  1.7

  White

  221.4

  219.4

  243.6

  234.6

  237.2

  Other

  3.7

  3.9

  4.6

  4.6

  5.0

  Unknown

  11.2

  13.9

  19.8

  23.4

  23.0

  Total

  265.5

  268.3

  303.3

  298.2

  303.1

  (d) By social class

  Year of entry

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  Applicants

  Professional

  50.2

  49.9

  48.4

  47.0

  46.5

  Intermediate

  140.1

  139.0

  150.3

  147.3

  144.8

  Skilled non-manual

  42.4

  43.0

  49.6

  47.1

  47.1

  Skilled manual

  61.9

  58.2

  60.7

  58.9

  58.5

  Partly skilled

  28.8

  28.3

  32.2

  31.0

  30.8

  Unskilled

  7.6

  7.0

  7.9

  7.3

  7.5

  Unknown

  38.6

  39.4

  49.2

  51.0

  53.5

  Total

  369.7

  364.9

  398.3

  389.6

  388.7

  Accepted applicants

  Professional

  38.7

  39.3

  39.6

  38.5

  38.9

  Intermediate

  103.4

  105.0

  117.4

  115.6

  115.7

  Skilled non-manual

  30.3

  31.3

  37.3

  35.6

  36.3

  Skilled manual

  42.5

  40.9

  44.8

  44.2

  44.5

  Partly skilled

  19.8

  19.9

  23.5

  22.7

  23.1

  Unskilled

  5.0

  4.9

  5.6

  5.3

  5.5

  Unknown

  25.8

  27.1

  35.0

  36.6

  39.1

  Total

  265.5

  268.3

  303.3

  298.2

  303.1

  831W

  (e) UK domiciled entrants to part-time undergraduate courses in the UK1

  Thousand

  Entrants

  1995–96

  259.2

  1996–97

  271.9

  1997–98

  265.6

  1998–99

  266.3

  1999–2000

  272.8

  1 Including undergraduate courses in HE institutions, FE institutions and the Open University

  Schools Inspectorate
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what restrictions exist on the future disclosure of material held in his Department's files on former members of the Schools Inspectorate. [137914]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  My Department's policy is that personal information will be disclosed only where there is a legal duty to do so or where the individual concerned has given their consent.

  Learning and Skills Councils
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of appointees(a) to the National Learning and Skills Council and (b) to local learning and skills councils have declared recent political activity, broken down by involvement in their respective parties. [137853]

  Mr. Wicks
  [holding answer 13 November 2000]Appointments to the Learning and Skills Council are still being made. Once this process is complete I shall write to the hon. Member with this information and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Engineering Degrees
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many students were studying for engineering degrees in(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99 and (d) 1999–2000; and what proportion this represents of those studying for degrees in each year. [138306]

  Mr. Wicks
  The information requested is shown in the following table.

  Number and percentage of full-time students enrolled on engineering/technology first degrees in publicly funded higher education institutions in the United Kingdom: 1996–97 to 1999–2000

  Thousand

  All students on first degrees

  Of which those on engineering/technology courses

  Academic year

  Number1

  Number1

  Percentage

  1999–2000

  908.3

  74.7

  8.2

  1998–99

  906.3

  77.3

  8.5

  1997–98

  899.7

  80.0

  8.9

  1996–97

  875.1

  81.3

  9.3

  1 Headcount of full-time students on first degree courses

  Source:

  Higher Education Statistics Agency—individual student record

  Schools (Suffolk)
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many(a) pupils and (b) teachers there were in Suffolk in (i) primary, (ii) middle and (iii) upper schools for (A) the latest period for which figures are available, (B) 12 months previously, (C) 24 months previously, (D) 36 months previously and (E) 48 months previously. [138541]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The information requested is shown in the following table.

  Full-time equivalent (FTE) number of pupils and teachers1 in Suffolk LEA

  January

  FTE pupils2

  FTE teachers3

  Maintained Primary4

  2000

  45,813

  2,074.1

  1999

  45,899

  2,082.9

  1998

  45,678

  2,062.0

  1997

  45,561

  2,046.0

  1996

  45,084

  2,022.1

  Middle Deemed Primary

  —

  —

  2000

  —

  —

  1999

  —

  —

  1998

  —

  —

  1997

  —

  —

  1996

  —

  —

  Middled Deemed Secondary

  2000

  17,833

  942.1

  1999

  17,562

  927.6

  1998

  17,203

  913.5

  1997

  16,637

  886.2

  1996

  16,283

  884.6

  Maintained Secondary4

  2000

  34,117

  2,129.0

  1999

  33,378

  2,132.6

  1998

  32,905

  2,119.0

  1997

  32,970

  2,109.3

  1996

  32,757

  2,083.4

  1 Qualified teachers only

  2 This is all pupils on the school registers (counting each part-time pupil as 0.5)

  3 FTE teachers includes full-time teachers and full-time equivalent of part-time teachers. For the purpose of reckoning the full-time equivalent of part-time teachers (FTE), each teachers part-time service is evaluated as a proportion of a full school week (32.5 hours).

  4 Excluding middle deemed primary

  Age Discrimination
  Ms Perham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what discussions he has held with the insurance industry about measures to prevent age discrimination in employment. [137623]

  Ms Hodge
  The Government have to date had no direct discussion with the insurance industry about measures to prevent age discrimination. However, our Code of Practice on Age Diversity in Employment has been widely disseminated and promoted across all sectors including the financial services sector.

  We are supporting the Code with a series of research projects, which are looking in more depth at specific areas of age discrimination. A recently commissioned project will look at ageist barriers to employment, including insurance measures. This research will provide firm

  833W
  information on which to base our future discussions with the insurance sector. Findings from this research will be published during 2001.

  Ballots (Grammar Schools)
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what has been the cost to public funds of grammar school petition and ballot procedures which have been implemented to date; [138443]

  (2) what costs have been incurred by his Department in respect of retaining Electoral Reform Society services during grammar school (a) petitions and (b) ballots. [138444]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 15 November 2000]On the matter of Departmental staffing costs in relation to the grammar school ballots policy, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 1 November 2000,Official Report, column 504W.

  The Department has paid Electoral Reform Services £292,391.09 for services undertaken in relation to grammar school petitions and ballots from March 1999 to date. This breaks down as follows:

  Financial year

  Total payments to ERS (£)

  1998–99

  14,599.94

  1999–2000

  217,705.86

  April-October 2000

  160,085.29

  1 Of this, £1,780.07 was for printing, postage and administration costs relating to the Ripon ballot.

  Footballers (Work Permits)
  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many work permits have been granted to date to professional footballers(a) from non-EEA countries for the 1999–2000 season, (b) that had played for their country in at least 75 per cent. of the competitive, 'A' team matches for which they were available for selection during the two years preceding the date of the work permit application and (c) from countries whose FIFA ranking was at or above 70th place in the official rankings list when averaged over the two years preceding the date of the work permit application. [138626]

  Ms Hodge
  For the 1999–2000 football season:

  (a) the Department granted 80 work permits to professional footballers from non-EEA countries for the 1999–2000 season;

  (b) 71 met the criteria of having played in at least 75 per cent. of their country's competitive 'A' team matches for the two years preceding the date of work permit application;

  (c) 73 met the criteria of the player's country having a FIFA ranking of at or above 70th place in the official rankings list when averaged over the two years preceding the date of the application.

  Overall of the 80 permits issued, 65 met both of the published criteria—(b) and (c) in the question asked. The additional 15 permits were issued on the positive recommendations made to the Department by the independent football review panels.

  Higher Education
  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received from organisations in(a) England and Wales and (b) Scotland concerning proposals by the Quality Assurance Agency for higher education on the nomenclature of higher education qualifications; and if he will make a statement. [138352]

  Mr. Wicks
  [holding answer 16 November 2000]The need for greater clarity and consistency in the use of higher education qualification titles is recognised by both higher education institutions and employers. The Quality Assurance Agency has published its proposals for a qualifications framework for higher education together with a position paper on the nomenclature of qualifications. A further revised consultation paper was issued on 14 November. My officials have received a small number of comments on the framework and these have been addressed in the revised consultation paper. A separate framework for Scotland is being introduced and questions on this should be addressed to the Scottish Parliament.

  Computers Within Reach Scheme
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the cost has been of phase 1 of the Computers within Reach scheme. [138860]

  Mr. Wills
  Phase 1 of the Computers within Reach scheme has just been announced. The first phase of the scheme is intended to provide 35,000 recycled computers and printers, and will attract funding of £5,250,000 to the contractors operating the pilots.

  In addition, the individuals who receive each PC (except a small minority in a linked scheme, Wired Up Communities) will be asked for a £60 contribution towards the cost. For those individuals who have special needs that require further adaption of the computer or software we have a further budget available. The Department has also bulk purchased software from a software company to run on the recycled computers. There will be further costs in relation to the operation and evaluation of the scheme. These costs have not been fully finalised at present.

  National Grid for Learning
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has for the future development of the National Grid for Learning. [139409]

  Mr. Wills
  I can today announce that we have commissioned a study to look at the future development and financing of the National Grid for Learning (NGfL). It will include an analysis of the full range of options for future progress and will produce recommendations about the best way forward.

  New technology in schools is changing all the time. When we started the national drive to get all our schools connected to the internet three years ago, very little had been done to prepare our schools, teachers or pupils for new technology.
  835W
  In the last three years we have achieved a tremendous amount. Today, 98 per cent. of secondary schools and 86 per cent. of primary schools are online. That is a total of 20,200 schools connected to the internet compared with around 6,500 in 1998. The Prime Minister recently announced a further £1 billion investment to step up the drive to use new technology to raise standards in schools.
  836W
  However, we must renew and re-invigorate the National Grid so that it moves with the times. It is critical that it provides accessible, high-quality, interactive content and that schools have the fast internet access that will enable them to make the best use of it. The study we have commissioned will look at the best options for securing these outcomes and the best ways of financing them, including making the best use of the private sector.