Written Answers of 20 November 2000

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Contraception
  Ms McCafferty
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her Department's contributions to the provision of contraceptives in the developing world. [138526]

  Mr. Foulkes
  We are committed to the International Development target to attain universal access to reproductive health services before 2015. We have substantial involvement in efforts to ensure women and men in developing countries can access contraceptives and other reproductive health commodities.

  Our recent pledge to contribute an additional £25 million to the United Nations Population Fund, on top of our annual core contribution of £15 million, will help meet immediate and short-term needs, and assure continued access to essential reproductive health commodities, including condoms for family planning and HIV/AIDS prevention, in a number of countries which are facing shortages.

  Ms McCafferty
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has made to other donor Governments about the supply of contraceptives in the developing world. [138527]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The recent pledges by this Department and the Government of the Netherlands, to contribute an additional £51 million to the United Nations Population Fund to help fund immediate and short-term needs in developing countries for reproductive health commodities, is a further demonstration of the commitment of both Governments to the health of poor people.

  We will continue to encourage other donors and developing countries to make every effort to meet the rising demand for contraception in the developing world.

  Intellectual Property Rights
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effects of recent decisions within the WTO on patents and intellectual property rights in technological developments in the developing world. [138552]

  Mr. Foulkes
  [holding answer 16 November 2000]: The UK Government believe that intellectual property rights (IPR)—for instance, conferring copyright, patent or trade mark protection—provide an important incentive for private investment. Developing countries have an important interest in providing intellectual property protection, as a way of encouraging more foreign investment, research and innovation from which they should benefit.
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  The Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Agreement was introduced into the WTO in the Uruguay Rounds and sets minimum standards for intellectual property rights (IPR) protection.

  Developing countries agreed to implement TRIPs consistent legislation by January 2000. The least developed countries have until 2006 to comply. Therefore the real impacts are not yet visible and no conclusion can be drawn as to the effect of these rules on technological developments or otherwise in developing countries.

  The precise details of IPR regimes can and should be tailored to the particular circumstances of individual countries. The UK Government believe that the TRIPs agreement allows WTO members sufficient flexibility to implement domestic IPR regimes which take adequate account of their national circumstances. But governments and the international community do need to support improved arrangements to monitor the impacts of the current agreement to make sure that this is the case.

  GM Research
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the GM research funded by her Department which incorporates genetic systems designed to prevent seed germination. [138721]

  Mr. Foulkes
  [holding answer 16 November 2000]: This Department is not funding research which incorporates genetic systems designed to prevent seed germination.

  We have funded a study to examine the likely costs and benefits to the livelihoods of the poor in developing countries from the application of so-called "terminator genes" and similar technologies. The results of this work are being prepared for publication and will be disseminated widely.

  Development Council
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what was the outcome of the Development Council held in Brussels on 10 November; and if he will make a statement. [138452]

  Clare Short
  The main achievement was the adoption by the Council and the Commission of a Declaration on the European Community's Development Policy. This was a milestone for the EC. The Declaration provides the EC, for the first time, with a clear operational framework for all EC development assistance, with poverty reduction as the principal objective. This was an important UK objective in our published strategy for working with the EC. The Development Commissioner, Poul Nielson, also presented a comprehensive Action Programme for implementing the Declaration. He emphasised the multi-dimensional nature of poverty, the need to work within a country's own poverty reduction strategies, the importance of focusing EC development assistance on fewer areas and the need for further progress in ensuring that other EC policies such as fisheries, trade and agriculture do not undermine our development efforts.

  I strongly welcomed the Declaration and the Commission's plans for implementing the new policy. It remains essential to turn the operational framework into reality on the ground. My Department will be reviewing how we can help ensure that this is achieved.
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  The Council also adopted an important new framework for preparation of EC Country Strategy Papers. This clarifies the need to collaborate closely with other donors and to focus on poverty reduction strategies developed by the partner country.

  The Council briefly reviewed the actions that have been taken to follow up the overall evaluation of EC programmes which had been discussed in May 1999. These included the adoption of an overall statement of EC development policy.

  The Council adopted a Resolution on Communicable Diseases which welcomed a recent Commission Communication and called for an Action Programme to implement it. The Council agreed on the need for a coherent approach to tackling these diseases which threaten poor people and hinder efforts to reduce poverty. Conclusions on the 6th Conference of the Parties on Climate Change were also adopted.

  During the pre-Council dinner there was an informal exchange of views on Liberia, Ethiopia/Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan and Zimbabwe.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  School Skiing Lessons
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many British school children participated in ski lessons in(a) the UK and (b) Europe in each of the last three years as part of school organised sport. [138663]

  Kate Hoey
  Figures for the number of children participating in school organised skiing lessons are not centrally held. However, Crystal Holidays Industry Report 2000 estimates that in 1999–2000, 119,000 British children took part in school organised skiing holidays. These figures are not broken down between the UK and Europe.

  Free Television Licences (Cheltenham)
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many pensioners will receive free television licences in Cheltenham in 2000. [139283]

  Janet Anderson
  Everyone aged 75 or over will be entitled to benefit from a free television licence, but licences cover households rather than individuals. Estimates of the number of households which will receive a free licence are not available at constituency level and TV Licensing, which administers the concession as agent for the BBC, is not able to provide geographical breakdowns of free licences issued. However, estimates of the over-75 population based on the 1991 Census indicate that there were approximately 7,400 people aged 75 or over in the Cheltenham constituency.

  English Heritage
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the accountability of English Heritage. [138867]
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  Mr. Alan Howarth
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is answerable to Parliament for the policies and performance of all public bodies sponsored by the Department, including English Heritage. In addition, the Chief Executive of English Heritage, as its Accounting Officer, and the Accounting Officer of DCMS are responsible to Parliament for the resources under their control, and can be summoned to appear before the Public Accounts Committee of the House of Commons.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Lord Birt
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Solicitor-General how many meetings the Attorney-General has had with Lord Birt regarding crime since Lord Birt's appointment as an adviser to the Government on crime. [137317]

  The Solicitor General
  I refer to the answer given by the Prime Minister on 17 November 2000,Official Report, column 800W.

  Treasury Counsel
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Solicitor-General if his Honour Gerald Butler QC has completed his review of arrangements for the instruction of Treasury Counsel at the Old Bailey. [139708]

  Solicitor General
  His Honour Gerald Butler QC delivered his report to the Attorney-General on 18 August 2000. The report recommends the retention of the Treasury Counsel system but makes important recommendations to open up and modernise the Treasury Counsel arrangements. The Government will be accepting most of the recommendations without modification.

  The system of selecting barristers to be monitored for appointment as Treasury Counsel will be reformed with the aim of encouraging applications from a broader cross-section of the bar (and solicitor advocates) and there will be a higher quality of monitoring so that able barristers have the best chance of an appointment.

  There will be clear rules as to the maximum permitted length of service of Junior and Senior Treasury Counsel. There will be new criteria governing the ambit of work sent to Treasury Counsel with the aim of reducing their considerable workload and giving other banisters more opportunity to be instructed in cases being prosecuted at the Old Bailey. Murder and manslaughter cases, not falling within the criteria, will not normally be prosecuted by Treasury Counsel at the Old Bailey in the future.

  Consideration will be given to instructing Counsel from the provinces in cases at the Old Bailey and, with a reduced volume of work, Treasury Counsel will be freed up to prosecute some cases in the provinces and to be instructed to defend in some cases. The practice whereby Junior Treasury Counsel are paid a brief fee of two thirds of that of Senior Treasury Counsel leading them, whatever work is to be done or not to be done, will cease. I believe these reforms will be of considerable benefit to the criminal justice system.
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  The report and the Government's response have been placed today in the Libraries of each House for the information of Members. It is also being published today on the Attorney-General's website (www.lslo.gov.uk), with copies being made available to interested parties.

DEFENCE

  Gulf War Syndrome
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what investigations have been carried out by his Department into Gulf War syndrome; what are the causes of Gulf War-related illnesses; and if he will make a statement. [138454]

  Mr. Spellar
  In July 1997, the Government published a detailed policy statement: "Gulf Veterans' Illnesses: A New Beginning", which set out how we proposed to address veterans' health concerns, including 20 key points on which the Government are taking specific action. Progress against the 20 key points has been reported and published, the most recent occasion being as part of the Defence Committee's Eleventh Special Report, Session 1999–2000. Further details of the Government's work to date can be found in the Library of the House and on my Department's website at: http://gulfwar.mod.uk. The Government accept that since returning from the Gulf conflict, some British veterans have become ill. Many believe that this ill-health is unusual and directly related to their participation in the conflict. Research published so far shows that Gulf veterans report more health problems than comparable military personnel who were not deployed to the Gulf.

  However, the findings also support the view that Gulf veterans were not suffering from a single illness or "syndrome", and that the illnesses identified were not unique to the veterans. There is still no medical or scientific consensus on this subject. My Department remains open minded about the various causes of illness which have been suggested and important research continues.

  Helicopter Bases
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received on plans to review the locations of the home bases of helicopters in the armed forces; and if he will make a statement. [138544]

  Mr. Spellar
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on 14 November 2000,Official Report, column 574W, and on 13 June 2000, Official Report, column 565W, and to my letter dated 24 August to my hon. Friend the Member for Ayr (Ms Osborne).

  New Equipment Capabilities
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what initiatives his Department outlined at the university of Lancaster for a range of new equipment capabilities designed to improve the SSN's operational effectiveness in littoral zones; what initiatives were laid out for a network-centric concept of operations; and if he will make a statement; [138982]
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  (2) what plans the Royal Navy Submarine Service has for improved connectivity and advanced intelligence, surveillance, targeting, and reconnaissance capabilities to change the contribution of nuclear attack submarine to future joint operations; and if he will make a statement. [138978]

  Mr. Spellar
  At the Submarine Centennial Conference (27–29 September 2000), the Ministry of Defence's Equipment Capability Customer organisation outlined the research programme to inform new equipment capabilities that will improve our ship, submarine and aircraft operational effectiveness, in support of littoral operations contributing towards a more joint defence capability. Rear Admiral Rob Stevens, Flag Officer Submarines, and members of his staff, also addressed the conference.

  The research programme includes work relevant to operations in littoral zones: hull-mounted sonar arrays; communications technologies; Recoverable Tethered Optical Fibre buoys; and mine detection and avoidance.

  We are also conducting research related to a network-centric concept of operations, and to improve connectivity and advanced intelligence, surveillance, targeting and reconnaissance capabilities. The aim is to integrate underwater assets fully with wider maritime, air and land forces. There is a large programme of research and development work under way specific to the underwater battlespace. Some highlights include research into multistatics, allowing ships, submarines and maritime aircraft to exploit each other's sensors; remote sensor active acoustics; long-range acoustic communications; remotely deployed sensor systems; static sensors and Underwater Unmanned Vehicles. These technologies have wide military utility, and commercial applications, which are also developing rapidly, will be taken into account.

  Soldiers
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if soldiers assigned to the EU defence capability may be used in operations outside Europe. [138724]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 16 November 2000]: Troops on EU-led operations could be deployed outside Europe. The European Union has resolved to establish the capability, where NATO as a whole is not engaged, to launch and conduct military operations in response to international crises. The United Kingdom is committed to support the development of this capability, and will offer British forces to such operations in the light of circumstances at the time, which may involve deployment outside Europe.

  Common European Security and Defence Policy
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state(a) the title and function of each of the military bodies established within the Secretariat of the Union, as agreed in December 1999, (b) the names of each of the representatives of the United Kingdom, together with their service rank, appointed to each, together with any other office held by them, (c) the body or institution of the Union that supervises the activities of each committee and to whom they are accountable and

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  (d) what meetings of the Union he has attended in 2000 with members of the Governments of other member states. [139084]

  Mr. Hoon
  At the Helsinki European Council in December 1999, EU member states agreed to the establishment of a Military Committee and a Military Staff within the European Council.

  The function of the Military Committee is to give military advice, make recommendations to the Political and Security Committee and provide military direction to the Military Staff. The Chairman of the Military Committee will attend meetings of the Council when decisions with defence implications are to be taken.

  The function of the Military Staff is to provide military expertise and support to the Common European Security and Defence Policy, including on the conduct of EU—led operations. The Military Staff will perform early warning, situation assessment and strategic planning for Petersberg tasks.

  As an interim measure, the Council agreed to set up the following bodies within the Council as of March 2000:

  (a) An interim body of military representatives of member states' Chiefs of Defence to give military advice as required to the interim political and security committee.

  (b) Military experts seconded from member states to strengthen the Council Secretariat in order to assist in the work on the CESDP and to form the nucleus of the future Military Staff.

  The UK representative in the interim body of military representatives is the Chief of Defence Staff. This body, known as the interim Military Body, (iMB) meets at Chiefs of Defence Staff level as and when needed. A Lieutenant General acts as the permanent representative in the iMB on behalf of the Chief of Defence Staff for day—to—day business. In addition to his role in the iMB the Lieutenant General is also the UK representative in both the NATO Military Committee and the Western European Union Military Delegates.

  The military experts seconded from member states to strengthen the Council Secretariat are known as the interim Military Staff (iMS). The UK has seconded two officers to the iMS, a Major General to head the body and one staff officer (Lt. Col. level).

  The interim Military Staff is accountable to the interim Military Body, which is in turn accountable to the General Affairs Council.

  I attended General Affairs Council meetings on 14 June and 20 November. The Minister for Defence Procurement attended a meeting of the General Affairs Council on my behalf on 20 March.

  In addition, I attended informal meetings of EU Defence Ministers on 28 February and 22 September.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the assessment he has made of the impact on the organisational efficacy and cost of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and of the chain of command to individual military units of adding to the existing NATO contingency planning, the parallel obligations now 8W
  contemplated within the European Union; and if he will indicate what extra forces will be necessary to fulfil such dual demands. [139056]

  Mr. Hoon
  The commitments we have made to develop the military crisis management capabilities of the European Union will strengthen both the European Union and NATO. The establishment of a small military staff within the EU will be partly offset by the winding down of the Western European Union. British forces will be contributed to multinational operations in the framework of the European Union on a voluntary basis, depending on the circumstances at the time.

  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of how many British(a) military personnel, (b) aircraft, (c) ships and (d) armoured vehicles he estimates will be seconded to the EU under plans put forward at the St. Malo, Cologne and Feira meetings for the development of EU defence policy. [138681]

  Mr. Hoon
  [holding answer 16 November 2000]: No British forces are being seconded to the EU. The UK, along with other member states, will identify a range of forces from which a contribution to an EU—led military crisis management operation could be drawn.

  The details of this contribution will not be finalised until the Capability Commitments Conference on 20 November.

  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what United Kingdom forces will be offered to help meet the Headline Goal adopted by the EU at its Helsinki summit; and if he will make a statement. [139515]

  Mr. Hoon
  Over the last six months, military experts of EU member states assisted by NATO planners, have carried out a detailed assessment of the forces and capabilities required by the EU to enable it to carry out by 2003 the full range of crisis management ("Petersberg") tasks envisaged in the Headline Goal set at Helsinki. The UK has identified a pool of forces and capabilities which would enable it to make a powerful contribution to such options in support of the Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy, where NATO as a whole is not engaged. UK participation in any particular operation, and the nature of our contribution, would be matters for decision by the UK Government in the light of circumstances at the time.

  In the maximum scale operation envisaged at Helsinki—a corps level of deployment of up to 60,000 troops—the UK component could be around 12,500 strong. Maritime and air deployments of up to 18 warships and 72 combat aircraft could be made in addition.

  The pool provides for an element of choice in order to cater for differing operational, political or geographical circumstances. The full details of the forces identified are confidential, but the major elements are as follows:

  Land

  Either an armoured or mechanised brigade, each of which could be sustained for at least a year; or an air assault brigade which would be deployed for up to six months. Combat support enabling capabilities such as artillery, and short range air defence and attack helicopters

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  could be deployed in addition, supported by the appropriate complement of logistic enablers and national support troops.

  Maritime

  Maritime forces comprising one aircraft carrier, two nuclear powered submarines, deployment of up to four destroyers/frigates, support vessels; and an amphibious task group, including one helicopter landing platform and an amphibious brigade. The aircraft carrier, helicopter landing platform and submarines could not necessarily be sustained continuously for a whole year.

  Air

  Up to 72 combat aircraft (including Sea Harriers), with associated support aircraft including strategic transport. This number would be available for six months to cover initial theatre entry. For a longer term commitment the total would reduce.

  The development of the EU Headline Goal and the commitment of EU member states to delivering the capabilities required are important steps in a wider process of improving European defence capabilities. They will reinforce efforts being made nationally and multinationally, in particular, in response to NATO initiatives, and, in so doing, strengthen the European contribution to the Alliance.

  Trident
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contingency plans exist in respect of submariners in Trident submarines being trapped on the sea bed; if the Royal Navy has the capability to deal with such emergencies without the use of outside agencies; and if he will make a statement. [138803]

  Mr. Spellar
  The UK submarine Rescue Service has the capability to deal with rescue from any submarine without the use of outside agencies. However, every rescue attempt from a submarine trapped on the sea bed, regardless of nationality, has to be evaluated to determine the optimum solution taking into consideration speed/time and distance. This may mean that it is quicker to rescue distressed submariners using the assistance of other nations' submarine rescue assets.

  European Airspace
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the impact of the adoption of the proposals of the European Commission for the creation of a common European sky on existing provisions and agreements, concerning the powers of Her Majesty's Government to make such arrangements with NATO allies. [139063]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Commission's proposals are still being developed. A formal presentation of the proposals is expected to be made to the Stockholm Summit in March 2001. The need to ensure sufficient access to airspace for both civil and military purposes will be highlighted, as will the need to respect national security and defence requirements. Bringing together civil and military expertise at European level, in co—operation with NATO, is an important element of the work being undertaken. I10W
  am content that our active engagement in the process will ensure that the defence needs of the UK and our allies will not be compromised.

  Defence Aviation Repair Agency
  Mr. John Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) service and (b) civilian personnel are employed (i) by DARA and (ii) outwith DARA at RAF St. Athan. [138886]

  Mr. Spellar
  As at 1 October 2000, DARA employed 729 service personnel and 2,224 civilian personnel at RAF St. Athan. The non DARA personnel employed at St. Athan on that date were 669 service personnel and 340 civilians.

  Mr. John Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many headquarters staff were employed by DARA at RAF St. Athan when it was launched in April 1999. [138883]

  Mr. Spellar
  There were 39 staff employed in the DARA Head Office at RAF St. Athan on 1 April 1999.

  Mr. John Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the cost of re—locating DARA operations at RAF St. Athan to Cardiff International Airport. [138884]

  Mr. Spellar
  DARA are conducting a rigorous investment appraisal of the various options to provide modern infrastructure for its Aircraft Business Unit. This investment appraisal is not yet complete and an accurate cost is therefore not yet available.

  Mr. John Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) military and (b) civilian personnel are employed by DARA at (i) Fleetlands, (ii) Almondbank and (iii) RAF Sealand. [139327]

  Mr. Spellar
  The number of personnel employed by DARA at its four locations is set out in the table.

  Locations

  Civilian

  Service

  Fleetlands

  1,103

  13

  Almondbank

  363

  0

  Sealand

  1,070

  184

  Mr. John Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the annual cost of maintaining RAF St. Athan if DARA were to re—locate elsewhere. [139330]

  Mr. Spellar
  No decision has been made yet to relocate the DARA elsewhere. Options are being considered, and the extent of any relocation, if it were to go ahead, has not been decided. Until a full business case has been prepared, no estimate of the cost of maintaining RAF St. Athan without the DARA can be provided.

  Mr. John Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilian employees working for DARA at RAF St. Athan live in the Vale of Glamorgan. [139583]

  Mr. Spellar
  This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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  Mr. John Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who in his Department was involved in the appointment of the Chief Executive of the Defence Aviation Repair Agency; when he was appointed; and what criteria were used to assess his suitability for the post. [138273]

  Mr. Spellar
  The selection board for the Chief Executive of the Defence Aviation Repair Agency consisted of the Chief of Defence Procurement, the Air Member for Logistics, the Deputy Under Secretary of State for Civilian Management (Principal Establishment Officer) and the Non Executive Director of the Air Officer Communications, Information Systems and Support Services RAF Signals and Engineering Establishment (AOCSS's RAF SEE) Owners Board. The board was chaired by the Civil Service Commissioner and confirmed by Ministers. CE/DARA designate was appointed on 1 September 1998.

  The Department was seeking an innovative Chief Executive to lead and motivate a diverse team during the creation and development of the new Agency, and to devise a strategy for moving the Agency to Trading Fund status in order to operate on a fully commercial basis. Candidates were asked to demonstrate experience at Director/Board level of successful change management to improve working methods and achieve cost reductions in an organisation relevant to the core business of the Defence Aviation Repair Agency. In addition to commercial experience, financial acumen was also sought.

  Service Personnel (Medical Treatment)
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his letter dated 19 October 2000 to the hon. Member for Gosport in reply to his question of 28 July 2000,Official Report, column 911W, if he will give figures of medically downgraded personnel in the (a) Royal Navy, (b) Royal Marines, (c) Army and (d) RAF for each of the preceding five years on the same basis. [139009]

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

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the hon. Member for Gosport will receive a substantive answer to his question put down for priority answer on 28 July 2000 concerning the detailed strengths of doctors and nurses in each medical and surgical specialty in recent years. [139010]

  Dr. Moonie
  I wrote to the hon. Member on 14 November and copies of my letter have been placed in the Library.

  Aircraft (Fuel Capacity)
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the fuel capacity is of(a) a Tristar and (b) a VC10 aircraft; and how many standard road fuel tankers it takes to fill (i) one Tristar and (ii) one VC10. [139164]
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  Mr. Spellar
  The fuel capacity of Tristar and VC10 aircraft and the numbers of standard road fuel tankers it takes to fill each is detailed in the table.

  Number of aircraft in fleet

  Max fuel capacity (litres)

  Number of bowsers to fill aircraft Civilian road bowser (35,000 litres)

  TriStar mark of aircraft

  C2/C2A

  3

  121,134

  3.46

  KCl/K1

  6

  176,530

  5.04

  VC10 mark of aircraft

  CMk1(K)

  12

  87,940

  2.51

  KMk2

  1

  98,055

  2.80

  KMk3

  4

  104,601

  2.99

  KMk4

  5

  88,054

  2.52

  HMS Ocean
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what problems are scheduled to be resolved during the docking period of HMS Ocean; when it is estimated that the ship will be operational; what will be the cost of the repairs; and if he will make a statement. [138423]

  Mr. Spellar
  The next docking period of HMS Ocean is planned for early 2002 and is likely to span about four months. This is the first routine docking since acceptance, as required to meet Lloyd's survey standards, and is expected to cost in the region of £5 million. During this docking period, the opportunity will be taken to make modifications to the hull to improve the safety of the deployment of some of the landing craft.

  In addition, when HMS Ocean returns from her current deployment, routine maintenance will be undertaken at her base port. During this maintenance, defect repair will also be undertaken; the most significant of these will be modifications to the landing craft davit arrangements, enhancements to the replenishment—at—sea facilities and changes to the main engine governors. These repairs are expected to cost in the region of £2 million.

  HMS Ocean has been deployed on operations and exercises throughout the last two years and is currently on deployment with an amphibious ready group. As in all first of class ships, operating the vessel has indicated the need for improvements in some areas. These are being addressed in the programmed support periods.

  Porton Products
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what products manufactured at CAMR and Porton Down were subject to agreements with Porton Products for their marketing and distribution between 1986 and 1994; where these products were(a) marketed and (b) distributed to; and if he will make a statement. [138421]

  Yvette Cooper
  I have been asked to reply

  Porton Products Ltd. was purchased by a French company, the Beaufour Ipsen Group, in 1994. I refer the hon. Member to the list of products subject to the marketing agreement with Porton Products Ltd., which has been deposited in the Library. Neither CAMR nor the

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  Department has information relating to the locations in which CAMR products were marketed and distributed by Porton Products Ltd. Beaufour Ipsen may be able to provide the hon. Member with such information.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Transport Investment
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what public investment in public transport and road improvement has been made since 1997. [135209]

  Historic and planned expenditure

  £ billion1

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Public Investment expenditure

  2.8

  2.3

  2.7

  2.8

  3.3

  4.5.

  6.8

  of which:

  Strategic roads

  0.9

  0.8

  0.7

  0.9

  1

  1.1

  1.2

  Rail

  0

  0

  0.1

  0.1

  0.3

  1

  2.3

  Local transport

  0.6

  0.4

  0.5

  0.8

  1.3

  1.5

  1.7

  London

  1.2

  1

  1.2

  1

  0.6

  0.8

  0.9

  Other transport areas

  0.1

  0

  0.1

  0.1

  0.1

  0.1

  0.1

  Public Resource expenditure

  4.7

  4.9

  5.2

  5.3

  5.5

  5.7

  5.9

  of which:

  Strategic roads

  0.3

  0.3

  0.5

  0.5

  0.6

  0.7

  0.7

  Rail

  1.8

  1.7

  1.5

  1.4

  1.4

  1.3

  1.3

  Local transport

  2.1

  2.3

  2.5

  2.6

  2.8

  2.9

  3

  London

  0.4

  0.4

  0.4

  0.6

  0.6

  0.7

  0.7

  Other transport areas

  0.1

  0.1

  0.3

  0.1

  0.1

  0.2

  0.1

  Total Public expenditure

  7.4

  7.2

  7.8

  8.1

  8.8

  10.2

  12.1

  of which:

  Strategic roads

  1.2

  1.2

  1.2

  1.4

  1.6

  1.8

  1.9

  Rail

  1.8

  1.7

  1.6

  1.5

  1.6

  2.3

  3.6

  Local transport

  2.6

  2.8

  3

  3.4

  4.1

  4.4

  4.7

  London

  1.6

  1.4

  1.7

  1.6

  1.2

  1.5

  1.7

  Other transport areas

  0.1

  0.1

  0.3

  0.2

  0.2

  0.2

  0.2

  1 Rounded, outturn prices

  Animal Rendering Plants
  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the implications of the Phillips report for animal rendering plants. [136385]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Phillips Inquiry report raises a wide range of issues, including some concerning the management, operation and regulation of meat rendering plants. The Government are considering the implications of this extensive and complex report and will publish a response in due course.

  Drink Driving
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many(a) deaths and (b) serious injuries between 1 December and 5 January have been attributed to drinking and driving in each of the last 10 years. [136502]
  14W
  Mr. Hill
  "Transport 2010: The 10—Year Plan" published by the Government in July contained details of historic and planned future levels of public investment in transport. Between 1997–98 and 1999–2000, DETR funded public capital investment in transport totalling £7.8 billion in cash terms. In the same period DETR funded public expenditure on transport totalling £22.4 billion in cash terms. The table provides a breakdown of these figures by mode of transport and year and illustrates how spending on transport is due to increase as a result of the Spreading Review 2000 settlement announced by the Chancellor in July. Copies of the 10—Year Plan have been placed in the House Libraries.

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The estimates of casualties in drink drive related accidents in Great Britain are shown as follows:

  Casualties in drink drive accidents 1 December-5 January

  Fatal

  Serious

  1989

  60

  450

  1990

  50

  330

  1991

  60

  340

  1992

  60

  280

  1993

  40

  230

  1994

  50

  230

  1995

  60

  280

  1996

  50

  230

  1997

  40

  220

  1998–991

  50

  210

  1 Provisional

  These figures are shown rounded to the nearest 10.

  London Underground
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the major breakdowns on the London Underground in the last 12 months. [137380]

  Mr. Hill
  This is an operational matter for London Underground (LUL) but they have provided the following information.

  LUL keep a range of records of incidents on the London Underground system. They do not use the term "major breakdown" as such, but the most appropriate measure to refer to is the record LUL have of operational or mechanical incidents which give rise to delays to passengers of over one hour. For the purpose of answering this question a "major breakdown" is therefore taken to be an incident which gives rise to delays to passengers of over one hour on the system, and is related to a failure of infrastructure or assets on the system.

  The table sets out, by line and by main categories of infrastructure or asset failure, the number of such incidents during the 12 months to 14 October 2000. The incidents are in practice very varied, and categories may inevitably overlap to some extent: for example, track failures may be closely linked to signal problems, and train or track failures may be linked to power problems.

  The table excludes incidents which are not related to a failure of infrastructure or assets on the system. These include a wide range of instances: for example delays due to passengers reporting the smell of burning, or water on platforms, or broken glass roof panels at a station.

  Failures

  Train/signal/track

  Escalator

  Lifts

  Power

  Bakerloo Line

  19

  8

  36

  18

  Central Line

  17

  8

  —

  8

  District Line

  13

  —

  —

  11

  Jubilee and East London Lines

  8

  3

  —

  4

  Metropolitan and Circle (C and H)

  11

  —

  —

  2

  Metropolitan and Circle (Main)

  8

  3

  —

  10

  Northern Line

  7

  48

  1

  16

  Piccadilly Line

  7

  10

  4

  9

  Victoria Line

  9

  73

  —

  11

  Waterloo and City

  5

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  104

  153

  41

  89

  Rail Services
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he has taken to ensure that better information is made available to the travelling public concerning the cancellation and disruption of train services arising from(a) Railtrack's rail replacement programmes and (b) disruption caused by adverse weather conditions. [138164]

  Mr. Hill
  On 9 November, the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister met senior rail industry representatives to discuss progress with the national track recovery plan, including the need to provide better information to passengers during the current disruption to services. Train operators have, among other things,16W
  increased staffing on stations and trains by 1,000 and have placed posters on stations and distributed newsletters to passengers setting out service changes. The National Rail Enquiry Service has an extra 200 staff to help at its call centres and the National Rail website ("www.nationalrail.co.uk") is updating travel information three times an hour.

  Pesticides
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will discuss with Ofwat proposals to encourage water companies to offer support to farmers who are committed to methods of cultivation and land management which reduce pesticide usage. [138302]

  Mr. Mullin
  Diffuse sources of pollution, including from the inappropriate use, mis—use or run—off from agricultural pesticides, fertilisers and cultivation (erosion) can increase the cost of purifying drinking water. The regulatory regime provides an incentive for water companies to adopt the most cost—effective way of delivering clean water to their customers. In some cases, there will be scope for innovative approaches to cutting treatment costs by reducing diffuse pollution. This could include supporting farmers in reducing their usage of chemicals, and I very much welcome the efforts of those water companies who have chosen to do this.

  However, water companies are not responsible for the environmental quality of water more generally. The Government therefore believe that the principal channel for financial support for environmentally friendly farming practice should continue to be agri—environment measures. Expenditure on these measures will more than double in England over the seven year period of the England Rural Development Programme. The Government have published Codes of Good Agricultural Practice to help farmers protect water, air and soil, and also the Green Code for the safe use of pesticides. We are also encouraging the Environment Agency to focus more regulatory effort on the causes of diffuse pollution, particularly where bathing waters or river water quality objectives are threatened.

  MV Derbyshire
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what actions he will take following the conclusion of the inquiry into the sinking of the MV Derbyshire. [138263]

  Mr. Hill
  I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 8 November 2000,Official Report, columns 239–40W about the MV Derbyshire Report.

  The Honourable Mr. Justice Colman's report was published on 8 November 2000, and copies have been placed in the Commons Library.

  Mr. Justice Colman made a total of twenty—four recommendations to enhance bulk carrier safety and safety generally. These are addressed to the Department, Lloyds Register of Shipping, the International Association of Classification Societies and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). In consultation with the others to whom recommendations are addressed, the Department will prepare a response to each of the recommendations.
  17W
  This response will be presented to Parliament. In this respect the Department will give urgent consideration, in particular, to the recommendations that the IMO should revise the relevant provisions of the International Load Line Convention 1966 and that any enhanced requirements concerning hatch cover strength should also apply to existing ships.

  Council Tax Bands
  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many properties are in Band F and above, broken down by(a) registered social landlords and (b) local authority in (i) London and (ii) England. [138627]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  I have placed in the Library of the House a table showing the number of dwellings in Bands F and above in each local authority in England. The Department does not collect separate information which allows this to be broken down by registered social landlords.

  Walton Group Plc
  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made on recovering the city grant awarded to Walton Group plc for the regeneration of Exchange Flags in Liverpool. [138751]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Police investigations are still in progress, and therefore it would be inappropriate for me to make any further statement at this time.

  Housing
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the need for provision of affordable housing in advance of his publication of his(a) rural white paper and (b) urban white paper. [138548]

  Mr. Mullin
  While the Government have from time to time commissioned studies of the extent and nature of housing need to inform their views on the need for affordable housing in England, they believe that neither national nor regional estimates can adequately reflect the diversity of needs and priorities which exist at the local level. For these reasons, the Government believe that local authorities are best placed to carry out assessments of housing need in their areas.

  But the Government recognise that in many areas there is a need for more affordable housing. That is why we shall be almost doubling funding for affordable housing through the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme over the next three years. Our Rural White Paper will set out our policies for affordable housing provision in rural areas.

  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many of the recommendations made in the Policy Action Team 7 report from the Performance and Innovation Unit, "Unpopular Housing" his Department(a) has implemented to date and (b) plans to implement in the near future. [138547]
  18W
  Mr. Mullin
  Nearly all recommendations are being progressed. A number of these have been implemented in full. Several were included as proposals for reform in the Housing Green Paper, published in April. We will make an announcement on the outcome of consultation on the Green Paper later this year. An Audit tracking progress on implementing the recommendations made by all 18 Policy Action Teams will be published by the Social Exclusion Unit in the next few months.

  National Rail Inquiry Service
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent steps he has taken to improve the quality of the National Rail Inquiry Service. [138524]

  Mr. Hill
  The National Rail Inquiry Service is provided by train operators and administered by the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC). It has recently increased staffing levels by 15 per cent. (200 staff) and has introduced a new recorded state—of—the—network information service to provide better information to passengers during the current disruption to rail services.

  Planning Inquiries
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to accelerate the decision—making process with regard to planning inquiries. [138615]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning to my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon (Angela Smith) on 27 June 2000,Official Report, columns 453–54W.

  The statutory instruments setting out the streamlined procedures for handling planning appeals by written representations, hearings and inquiries in England, and laid before Parliament that day, came into effect on 1 August 2000.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent discussions he has held with Railtrack about the second phase of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link; and if he will make a statement. [138531]

  Mr. Hill
  Railtrack have said that they will take a decision on exercising their option once they have the final outcome of the Regulator's periodic review process. As yet the Department has received no formal approach from Railtrack concerning Section 2 of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. Railtrack has already committed to purchase Section 1 of the link and has previously indicated its desire to exercise its exclusive option to purchase Section 2.

  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimates he has made of the dates on which the(a) first and (b) second phases of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link will be in service. [138529]
  19W
  Mr. Hill
  (a) Construction on Section 1 remains on time and on budget. Services are due to start in October 2003.

  (b) Assuming Railtrack's agreement to purchase, construction on Section 2 is due to start in July 2001. Services are due to start in 2007.

  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent estimate he has made of the cost of building the second phase of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. [138530]

  Mr. Hill
  The target construction cost of Section 2 of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link remains at £2.5 billion at 1997 prices.

  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the passenger figures were for Eurostar journeys in the last year for which figures are available; and what assessment he has made of the need for subsidy to complete the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. [138517]

  Mr. Hill
  The most recent passenger figures are for the year 1999 when 7,046,000 tickets were sold. This was a 4 per cent. increase on 1998. In 2000 to date Eurostar have sold 5,914,000 tickets, an increase of 11 per cent. on the same period last year.

  The Government are providing Capital Grant towards both sections of the CTRL, with £78 million going towards Section 1 and £1.7 billion towards Section 2. Both figures are at 1997 prices.

  Water Industry
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to increase competition in the United Kingdom water industry. [138616]

  Mr. Mullin
  On 6 November 2000 the Government published a consultation document on a draft Water Bill. The draft Bill would give the Director General of Water Services in England and Wales a new duty to protect the interests of consumers in relation to water and sewerage services including, wherever appropriate, by promoting effective competition.

  In April this year, my Department published, jointly with the National Assembly for Wales, a consultation paper on the broad options for extending competition in the water industry in England and Wales. There have since been a number of proposals within the industry for restructuring. In the light of the responses to the consultation exercise and these other recent developments in the industry, we are carrying out further work to examine options for increasing competition. We will consider what legislative changes may be needed to promote competition as part of this work, and will make a statement setting out our conclusions early next year.

  The Scottish Executive is responsible for the water industry in Scotland.
  20W

  EU Environment Legislation
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the effect of European legislation on wildlife and the management of(a) nature conservation areas and (b) green belt sites since 1997. [139065]

  Mr. Mullin
  Nature conservation areas in England are generally notified as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because they host the best examples of our national heritage of wildlife habitats, geological features and landforms. In relation to the first part of his question I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 16 November 2000,Official Report, column 727W.

  In relation to the second part, green belt designation has no bearing on the notification of wildlife sites for the purposes of European Union legislation.

  School Transport
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about those local authorities which require school transport to meet R66 standard. [138843]

  Mr. Hill
  I am not aware of any local authority requiring school buses to meet the UN ECE Regulation 66 standard, which applies to the strength of superstructure of coaches. This standard is required for single—deck coaches first used in the UK on or after 1 April 1993. However, local authorities can specify the age and type of vehicle used for school transport and could require ECE Regulation 66 compliance by specifying coaches first used after April 1993 in their contracts.

  Bus Companies
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list those bus companies which have had prohibition notices issued against them in the last 12 months. [138844]

  Mr. Hill
  Details of operators and any prohibitions which they receive are not released because they might be open to misinterpretation.

  Prohibitions issued to bus operators by the Vehicle Inspectorate are monitored by Traffic Commissioners. They consider whether an operator should be called to appear at a Public Inquiry (under the Public Passengers Vehicles Act 1981) and decide whether disciplinary action is appropriate.

  In the financial year ending 31 March 2000, disciplinary action was taken against bus and coach operators on 172 occasions.

  Park Homes
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to review the regulations relating to static caravans; and if he will make a statement. [139254]

  Mr. Mullin
  Recommendations for changes to the control regime applying to mobile homes were included in the report of the Park Homes Working Party, published earlier this year. We have consulted on, and are considering, the Working Party's recommendations.

  Greenhouse Gases
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions who Her Majesty's Government's representatives were at the Hague Conference on curbing emissions of greenhouse gases; and what conclusions were reached to which Her Majesty's Government acceded. [138532]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 17 November 2000]: The Deputy Prime Minister and I will represent the Government at the Sixth Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which is currently taking place in The Hague. The ministerial segment begins on 20 November and the Conference is scheduled to end on 24 November. The Government will inform the House about the outcome of the Conference in due course.

  Rough Sleepers (East Sussex)
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many rough sleepers there were in(a) East Sussex and (b) the Lewes constituency in the last year for which figures are available. [139038]

  Ms Armstrong
  The latest available figures for the number of rough sleepers in each of the local authorities in East Sussex are shown in the table. There are no specific figures available for the parliamentary constituency of Lewes.

  These figures show the position as at June 2000. These figures are compiled on the basis of local authority data from local street counts, and estimates provided by local authorities.

  Number of rough sleepers

  Brighton and Hove

  26

  Eastbourne

  1

  Hastings

  3

  Lewes

  10

  Rother

  10

  Wealden

  20

  1 Estimated

  2 No estimate made by local authority

  Automatic Train Ticket Machines
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what progress his Department has made in ensuring that all automatic train ticket machines have facilities for accepting rail cards held by disabled people; [138782]

  (2) if his Department will take steps to ensure that all automatic train ticket machines are able to provide discounted tickets to groups of people with a statutory entitlement to a discounted fare. [138781]
  22W
  Mr. Hill
  Automatic ticket machines inherited by train operators from British Rail offer a limited number of ticket options and train operators have had to decide which tickets to include on the basis of greatest demand. The new generation ticket machines gradually being introduced by train operators will allow a wider range of tickets to be sold and we expect train operators to include discounted tickets for Disabled Persons Railcard holders.

  Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (Newcastle)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many grants have been awarded under the home energy efficiency scheme in the Newcastle upon Tyne, Central constituency from 1997–98 to 1999–2000; and what was the(a) total and (b) average value of grants in that period. [139159]

  Mr. Meacher
  The number of grants and their total value and average value for each year from 1997–2000 is shown in the table. Also shown is the comparative information for the current year to date.

  Period

  Number of grants

  Average value of grant £

  Total value of grant £

  1997–98

  606

  142

  85,900

  1998–99

  450

  135

  60,600

  1999–00

  511

  162

  82,800

  2000–011

  1,133

  371

  420,100

  For overall period 1997–2000

  2,700

  241

  649,400

  1 Up to 13 November 2000

  The average value of grant has increased substantially in the current year following the launch of the new Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) for England on 1 June 2000. It replaced the more basic scheme that operated since 1991. HEES provides packages of insulation and heating measures, linked to the condition of the property and the type of householder. The grant maximum increased from £315 up to £2,000.

  South East England Regional Assembly
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what has been the cost to public funds to date of the South East England Regional Assembly, broken down into provision for(a) salaries of staff, (b) premises, (c) disbursements to members and (d) others. [138783]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Expenditure for the year 2000–01 as at the end of September 2000 is as follows:

  £

  (a) Salaries of staff

  128,729

  (b) Premises 1

  0

  (c) Disbursements to members

  22,226

  (d) Others

  89,425

  Total

  240,380

  1 Rent free office provided by the Government Office for the South East

  Emergency Tug (Pentland Firth)
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 13 November 2000,Official Report, column 488W, on the emergency tug in the Pentland Firth, if he will place a copy of the correspondence in the Library. [139078]

  Mr. Hill
  I am unable to provide this information as correspondence between Ministers and their correspondents is treated in confidence unless the originator chooses to make such issues public.

  British-Irish Council Environmental Sectoral Group
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the British—Irish Council Environmental Sectoral Group meeting held in London on 2 October. [138742]

  Mr. Meacher
  A copy of the Communiqué issued at the end of the meeting which sets out very clearly all the matters covered has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what data he provided to the British—Irish Council Environmental Sectoral Group on the environmental impact of munitions dumping in the Beaufort's Dyke. [138744]

  Mr. Meacher
  I did not provide any information on the environmental impact of munitions dumping in the Beaufort's Dyke to the 2 October meeting of the British-Irish Council Environmental Sectoral Group. The meeting reviewed the conclusions of the OSPAR Regional Quality Status Report on the Celtic Seas which has been made public.

  Radioactive Discharge (Irish Sea)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what forecast he has made of the level of radioactive discharge into the Irish Sea in each year to 2020, indicating the measures he will take to ensure fulfilment of the OSPAR Agreement. [138743]

  Mr. Meacher
  The consultation document on a UK Strategy for Radioactive Discharges 2001–20, which was published in June, shows how we shall implement the agreements on radioactive discharges reached at the 1998 Ministerial meeting of the OSPAR Commission. It includes projected discharge profiles by sector for the nuclear industry, for the period to 2020. Responses to the consultation are now being considered, with a view to issuing the final strategy in the spring. The final strategy will show separate projections for radioactive discharges into the relevant OSPAR sea areas, one of which is the Celtic Seas, which includes the Irish Sea. Statutory guidance to the Environment Agency, which is about to be issued in draft for consultation, will ensure that future discharge authorisations are consistent with the discharges strategy. The strategy will also contain environmental concentration data for a key set of indicators designed to monitor progress in implementing our OSPAR commitments and will be updated every four years. Comprehensive data on the amounts of radionuclides 24W
  discharged from UK installations and their concentrations in the marine environment are published annually in "Radioactivity in Food and the Environment", a joint report by the Food Standards Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

  Bill Boards
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his plans to change the restrictions on the siting of bill boards in the countryside. [138868]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury, North (Mr. Chaytor) on 7 November 2000,Official Report, column 136W.

  Departmental Pay Bill
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 13 November 2000,Official Report, column 467W, on payroll administration, what the total wage bill is estimated to be in 2000–01 for his Department and its agencies. [139011]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The estimated wage bill for the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and its Agencies, in the financial year 2000–01, is £464 million.

  Ministerial Visit (Santiago)
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the purpose was of the visit of the Minister for Housing and Planning to Santiago, Chile on 9 and 10 November; and what was the total costs to public funds. [138484]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I led a very successful trade mission to Brazil and Chile from 5–10 November. We visited Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Santiago. Accompanying me were around a dozen representatives from the British construction industry. The purpose of the mission was to promote British construction exports. In Santiago we met with the Chilean British Chamber, the Minister of Justice, the Under-Secretary for the Economy, Energy and Mining, the Under-Secretary for Finance and the Director General of the Ministry for Public Works and participated in a seminar to promote the use of Public—Private Partnerships to facilitate greater investment in public infrastructure. A large number of UK construction companies are now pursuing the opportunities opened up during this mission. While I was in Santiago, I took the opportunity to address the Canning House conference on Chile and the EU which coincided with my visit. Other speakers from the UK included Baroness Hooper, Chris Patten and Lord Garel—Jones.

  The cost to public funds of the mission to Brazil and Chile was approximately £27,400. This covered the cost of my travel and accommodation and that of four officials who accompanied me. It also included part sponsorship of the seminar to promote Public—Private Partnerships and the cost of the Chairman of the Movement for Innovation joining the Chilean part of the mission to discuss plans to promote the principles of "Rethinking Construction" in Chilean construction projects.

  Millennium Dome
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received from Mr. PY Gerbeau regarding the operation of the Millennium Dome after 31 December. [139307]

  Ms Armstrong
  Since the withdrawal of the bid from Nomura for the Dome in September, we have received numerous unsolicited expressions of interest from parties interested in procuring the Dome, including one from PY Gerbeau. These have all been outside the terms of the competition.

  Within the context of the competition, the competition team has been continuing its discussions with Legacy plc, and in the light of progress the Government have now decided to grant Legacy preferred bidder status. Legacy plc have been awarded preferred bidder status because they have confirmed that they will resolve all outstanding contractual issues within an agreed timetable. Negotiations will continue, and if all goes well we expect to exchange contracts during February. Progress will be reviewed regularly.

  English Partnerships will be working closely with Legacy plc to agree a masterplan for the Dome and associated land.

  In addition, English Partnerships and the London Borough of Greenwich are working together, and are in discussion with the London Development Agency, to put in place a new partnership for the next stage of the regeneration of the Greenwich Peninsula. This will build on the work done so far on the development of the Peninsula, including the Dome site, the Millennium Village, and retail and commercial investments, and the emerging development framework for East Greenwich Riverside.

  The aim will be to work closely with local stakeholders, including private sector landowners, employers and residents, to establish and implement a new masterplan framework for the Peninsula. This will maintain the momentum established by the Millennium Experience and the enormous improvements in transport infrastructure that have been made, maximising private sector investment and regeneration benefits for the Peninsula. I have asked English Partnerships to consider, in their discussions with other parties, the possible establishment of an urban regeneration company, following the principles set out in our White Paper published last week.

  Title

  Author

  Date commissioned

  Estimated publication date

  UK Accession to the EEC volume 1

  Professor Alan Milward

  1993

  2001

  UK Accession to the EEC volume 2

  Professor Alan Milward

  1997

  2005

  Falklands Campaign

  Professor Lawrence Freedman

  1997

  2002

  North Sea Oil and Gas

  Professor Alexander Kemp

  1999

  2004

  External Economic Policy since the War volume 2

  Professor Leslie Pressnell

  1974

  2002

  Defence Organisation since the War

  Professor Donald Cameron Watt

  1974

  2001

  Secret Flotillas—revised edition

  Sir Brooks Richards

  2000

  2001

  SOE in France—revised edition

  Professor M. R. D. Foot

  2000

  2002

  SOE in the Low Countries

  Professor M. R. D. Foot

  1987

  2000

  SOE in Italy

  Christopher Woods

  1989

  2002

  SOE in Greece

  Professor Richard Clogg

  1984

  2002

PRIME MINISTER

  Regulatory Impact Unit
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister how many officials in his office work(a) part time and (b) full time in the Regulatory Impact Unit; and if he will make a statement. [136020]

  The Prime Minister
  None.

  Constituency Matters
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Prime Minister if it is his practice to notify hon. Members when he has received a complaint about a personal constituency matter for which the hon. Member would expect to take responsibility; and if he will make a statement. [137772]

  The Prime Minister
  It would depend on the circumstances of the correspondence and the nature of the complaint.

  Saudi Air Hijack
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 30 October 2000,Official Report, column 280W, what factors underlay his decision not to hold discussions with the Iraqi Government on the hijacking of a Saudi Arabian aircraft. [136861]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 15 November 2000]: The Iraqi Government severed diplomatic relations with the UK in February 1991. The Saudi Government naturally took the lead in discussions with the Iraqi Government to resolve the hijacking of Saudi Air flight SV115. I am grateful for the assistance provided by the Russian Embassy in Baghdad which was in touch with the local authorities on our behalf.

  Official Histories
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Prime Minister how many Government sponsored official histories are in preparation; when each was commissioned; who the authors are; what the estimated dates of completion are; and what the estimated cost in each case is. [138778]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 17 November 2000]: The original programme of official histories, commissioned by the War Cabinet and covering military and civil histories of the second world war, was extended in 1966 by the then Prime Minister to include selected periods or episodes of peacetime history. The following are in preparation:
  27W
  The cost of preparing official histories is borne mainly by the Cabinet Office with royalties payable by the publisher offsetting the costs. It is not possible without disproportionate cost to itemise the cost of all the individual histories.

  Professional Services
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the greatest amount paid from public funds to an individual(a) dentist, (b) doctor, (c) solicitor, (d) barrister and (e) accountant for services provided in the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available. [139597]

  The Prime Minister
  The information requested is not held centrally.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is (1) on the 2000 NPT Review Conference proposals on a move to single—warhead submarine—launched ballistic missiles and multiple warhead SLBMs; [138480]

  (2) on the 2000 NPT Review Conference decision on a no—first—use policy. [138479]

  Mr. Vaz
  No such decisions were made at the 2000 NPT Review Conference.

  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government that NATO's arms control options (1) should include an upgraded financial commitment to International Atomic Energy Agency and a public statement in support of the organisation; [138483]

  (2) should include (a) recommendations for the creation of a subsidiary body within the Conference on Disarmament to deal with nuclear disarmament, (b) examination of measures regarding irreversibility, (c) removing requirement for nuclear weapons from its defence policy and (d) recommendations urging progress on the START process and the preservation and strengthening of the ABM Treaty; [138475]

  (3) should reflect the 2000 NPT Review Conference decisions on resumption of testing or developing new nuclear weapons; [138540]

  (4) should include examination of further verification measures; [138477]

  (5) should include a declaration by the Alliance formally adopting the elimination of members' nuclear weapons as an eventual goal; [138482]

  (6) should reflect the 2000 NPT Review Conference recommendation urging the US Administration to re—submit the CTBT to the Senate; [138539]

  (7) should reflect the 2000 NPT Review Conference decisions on use of its existing science programme in order to support the Trilateral Initiative; [138478]
  28W
  (8)should be released as a public document; [138481]

  (9) pursuant to the 2000 NPT Review Conference decisions should include a review of the reliance placed by non-nuclear weapon states on nuclear weapons held by allies. [138538]

  Mr. Vaz
  The scope of the exercise to which each of these questions refer is, as agreed by all Allies at the 1999 Washington NATO summit:to consider options for confidence and security building measures, verification, non—proliferation and arms control and disarmament.

  NATO has already made clear, at its ministerial meetings in Florence in May, its strong support for, and commitment to, the conclusions of the 2000 NPT Review Conference. Allies have naturally taken those conclusions into consideration in the course of this exercise. We expect Allies to reiterate their support for all of them. It will be for NATO Foreign Ministers to decide, at their meetings in December, how best to make public the conclusions of this exercise.

  The Trilateral initiative involves the development of arrangements to allow the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to verify that fissile material from nuclear weapons declared by the US and Russia to be no longer required for military purposes is irreversibly removed from military programmes. These arrangements are being negotiated between the US, Russia and the IAEA. NATO is not a party to these negotiations.

  The UK and NATO Allies have of course made regular national statements in support of the IAEA, most recently at the Agency's General Conference in October. All NATO Allies make regular budget subscription payments and contributions to the IAEA Technical Co—operation Fund, in accordance with a scale guided by United Nations principles. Furthermore, last year the UK, along with 14 other NATO allies, made additional voluntary contributions to the Agency amounting to some US$15 million.

  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the policy of Her Majesty's Government are on production of fissile material for weapons use. [138474]

  Mr. Hain
  The previous Government announced in 1995 that the United Kingdom had stopped the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons. We have welcomed similar statements by France, Russia, and the United States.

  We are eager to see negotiations started in the Geneva Conference on Disarmament on a Treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.

  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the policy is of Her Majesty's Government on implementation of Article VI and paragraph 4(c) of the 1995 Decision on Principles and Objectives for Nuclear Non—Proliferation and Disarmament. [138476]

  Mr. Hain
  The Government are fully committed to the implementation of Article VI and paragraph 4(c) of the 1995 Decision on Principles and Objectives for Nuclear
  29W
  Non-Proliferation and Disarmament. It hopes to see early international progress on the implementation of the agreements reached at the 2000 NPT Review Conference in this regard.

  The Government's highest priorities are the entry into force of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty; the negotiation of a Fissile Material Cut—Off Treaty; and further deep cuts in the nuclear arsenals of the United States and the Russian Federation.

  EU Intergovernmental Conference
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which social protection policies are intended to be covered by the new Article 130(b) of the TEC, as proposed in the draft Treaty of Nice. [138486]

  Mr. Vaz
  New Article 130(b) of the TEC is a suggestion from the Presidency. It proposes that a new Committee on Employment and Social Protection with advisory status shall monitor the social situation and the development of social protection policies in the member states and the Community and promote exchanges of information, experience and good practice between member states and with the Commission. Discussion continues on the Article.

  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria will apply to determine whether representatives of the general public come from organised civil society as proposed by the amendment to Article 257 of the TEC contained in the draft Treaty of Nice. [138487]

  Mr. Vaz
  Each member state will decide its own criteria for determining which members of the general public best represent civil society in their country. The Government will consider a wide variety of nominees, with the aim of making our delegation to the Economic and Social Committee as representative as possible.

  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those areas which fall within the exclusive competence of the European Commission which will not be subject to the proposals for enhanced co—operation as set out in the draft Treaty of Nice. [138499]

  Mr. Vaz
  Discussions continue on the precise scope of the proposed enhanced co—operation arrangements. All partners are clear that enhanced co—operation could not be used in areas such as trade policy, the common agricultural policy or the single market.

  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the areas of social exclusion which are intended to be brought within the ambit of the suggested new Article 137(j) of the TEC in the draft Treaty of Nice. [138485]

  Mr. Vaz
  New Article 137(j) of the TEC is a suggestion from the Presidency. It proposes that the Community supports and complements the activities of member states in combating social exclusion. Discussion continues on this Article.

  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which of the provisions outlined in the draft Treaty of Nice as being 30W
  candidates for qualified majority voting are deemed by Her Majesty's Government not to be vital to the United Kingdom's national interest. [138491]

  Mr. Vaz
  The Government have made it clear that we shall insist on retaining unanimity in the areas of tax, social security, Treaty change, own resources, border controls and defence. We shall consider all the other Articles on a case by case basis.

  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the regional bodies which will be politically accountable to(a) the National Assembly for Wales, (b) the Northern Ireland Assembly and (c) the Scottish Parliament, for the purpose of the amendment of Article 263 of the TEC proposal in the draft Treaty of Nice. [138488]

  Mr. Vaz
  The proposed amendment states that representatives to the Committee of the Regions will either hold a regional or local authority electoral mandate, or be politically accountable to an elected assembly. There would be no change to the present position in the UK.

  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place a copy of the draft Treaty of Nice in the Library. [139294]

  Mr. Vaz
  A copy of the Progress Report on the Intergovernmental conference has been informally available in the Library since 6 November. It is also available on the following website "www.europa.eu.int".

  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the areas where it is proposed that enhanced co—operation need not involve at least eight members of the EU. [138472]

  Mr. Vaz
  Talks continue on the scope of enhanced co—operation and the number of member states required for enhanced co—operation in specific areas. Some member states have suggested enhanced co—operation in foreign policy in groups of less than eight.

  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government that the EU's provisions on closer co—operation should encompass the Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy. [138473]

  Mr. Vaz
  The Government support the introduction of provisions for enhanced co—operation to the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy for the implementation of policies which have been agreed by consensus by all member states.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when draft amendments to the consolidated treaties of the European Union will be considered at Nice; when they will be(a) published, (b) placed in the Vote Office, (c) available to the media throughout the European Union and (d) sent to the Governments of candidate member states; and if he will publish communications he has made to representatives of Governments of (i) member and (ii) candidate states prior to the consideration of the proposed amendments. [139085]

  Mr. Vaz
  The Nice European Council will take place from 7–9 December 2000. The Presidency has been consistent in placing draft papers put to the
  31W
  Intergovernmental Conference on the Council Secretariat website www.europa.eu.int. We have passed these to the Scrutiny Committee. A final version of the Treaty will be made available to the media at the end of the European Council; this will then be submitted to Parliament in the form of a Command Paper in the usual way. The Government are in regular touch with other member states and applicant countries on the IGC. It is not the Government's policy to make public its records of meetings with other Governments.

  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made on the proposals in the paper Confer 4790/00, "Progress report on the Intergovernmental Conference on Institutional Reform", relating to the extension of qualified majority voting to(a) Article 13, (b) Article 100, (c) Article 137(a)(f), (d) Article 151(5) and (e) Article 161. [138355]

  Mr. Vaz
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood) on 30 October 2000,Official Report, column 238W.

  Demining (Afghanistan)
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which export licence applications for the export of equipment on the Military List for demining operations in Afghanistan the Government have approved since August. [139226]

  Mr. Hain
  Following consultations with this Department and the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Trade and Industry recently issued a licence for the export of Military Listed mine—clearance equipment for use by OMAR International, a UN funded NGO, to aid their demining activities in Afghanistan. This licence was granted for humanitarian purposes and it does not affect the Government's continued support for the EU Common Position on arms exports to Afghanistan.

  Israeli Military Helicopters
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what investigations are being undertaken into the use of Israeli military helicopters using parts exported by United Kingdom companies. [138988]

  Mr. Hain
  We are closely monitoring the current violence in the Middle East, including the equipment used by the Israeli Defence Forces in the Occupied Territories. We have no evidence that British equipment licensed for export under this Government has been used against civilians in the Occupied Territories. We continue to look at all applications for licences to export defence equipment to Israel on a case—by—case basis against consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens resident in Zimbabwe have been affected by the actions 32W
  of the Zimbabwean Government which have recently been ruled illegal by the Supreme Court; and if he will make a statement. [138839]

  Mr. Hain
  British nationals overseas are not obliged to register with British missions. Those that do register are not asked about their property holdings. It is therefore impossible to say how many British citizens might be affected by the Supreme Court ruling in Zimbabwe on 10 November.

  Departmental Expenditure (Special Missions and Services)
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide a breakdown of the special missions and services included in the other external relations section of his Department's expenditure plans for 2000–01. [138354]

  Mr. Hain
  The planned expenditure of £17.574 million for special missions and services, information services, sponsored visits and lecture tours, given at Table 28 of the departmental expenditure plans for 2000–01 (Command 4609), is broken down as follows:

  (a) £7.274 million for general programme activities comprising payments for:

  Military training delivered by loan service personnel—£923K

  Other training assistance—£771K

  Environmental policy—£665K

  Climate change challenge fund—£500K

  Royal visits—£487K

  Conflict prevention—£448K

  War Crimes Tribunal—£350K

  Small Commonwealth states office—£256K

  Peacekeeping incidental expenses (visas, medication)—£240K

  Commonwealth human rights fund—£205K

  Counter terrorism assistance—£204K

  Peacekeeping training—£204K

  Crisis management—£125K

  Other programme items of less than £100K—£1.895 million

  (b) £2.8 million sponsorship of visits to the UK by foreign dignitaries

  (c) £3.7 million command programme budgets covering several hundred small overseas assistance projects under £25K.

  (d) £1.4 million consular information campaign.

  (e) £1.3 million challenge fund—overseas assistance projects over £25K where FCO funds are often matched by private sponsorship.

  (f) £1.1 million OSCE projects.

  These planning figures are based on expenditure during the previous year.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Connexions Service
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list for each local education authority(a) the amounts spent and (b) the

  33W
  full-time equivalent numbers directly employed in the Youth Service in each of the last three years, together with a projection of the proportion of that (i) expenditure and (ii) staff to be transferred to the Connexions Service. [137032]

  Mr. Wicks
  [holding answer 7 November 2000]: The table gives the information requested in respect of the amounts spent for each local education authority in the Youth Service for the last three years. The figures are drawn from the local authority returns (R01) for 1996–97, 1997–98 and 1998–99, which is the latest year available. The three years prior to 1996–97 are included to indicate how spending is recovering from cuts in services in 1995–96.

  My Department does not collate the numbers employed by local authorities within their Youth Services. The 1998 audit of England's Local Authority Youth Services,

  Net current expenditure after recharges (R01 line 29) by English LEAs on the Youth Service from 1993–94 to 1998–99

  12£000

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  31998–99

  Corporation of London

  0

  10

  40

  130

  90

  100

  Avon

  6,380

  6,540

  6,820

  —

  —

  —

  Barking and Dagenham

  1,490

  1,440

  1,220

  1,320

  1,280

  1,280

  Barnet

  1,620

  1,650

  1,480

  1,540

  1,650

  1,950

  Barnsley

  820

  1,070

  1,210

  1,530

  1,360

  1,630

  Bath and North East Somerset

  —

  —

  —

  570

  1,230

  1,310

  Bedfordshire

  2,580

  2,510

  2,300

  2,190

  1,400

  1,190

  Berkshire

  4,220

  4,470

  4,780

  4,920

  4,990

  —

  Bexley

  1,350

  870

  1,060

  1,120

  1,150

  1,460

  Birmingham

  5,890

  7,010

  6,680

  6,800

  7,430

  8,140

  Blackburn

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,030

  Blackpool

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  600

  Bolton

  1,700

  1,540

  1,570

  1,560

  1,200

  1,340

  Bournemouth

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,040

  1,000

  Bracknell Forest

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  740

  Bradford

  3,270

  4,900

  4,640

  4,200

  4,280

  4,290

  Brent

  3,930

  3,570

  2,670

  2,570

  2,410

  2,480

  Brighton and Hove

  —

  —

  —

  —

  710

  1,050

  Bristol

  —

  —

  —

  2,380

  2,380

  1,040

  Bromley

  920

  970

  880

  890

  960

  2,210

  Buckinghamshire

  5,360

  3,970

  3,970

  3,820

  2,440

  1,970

  Bury

  890

  940

  1,090

  850

  710

  820

  Calderdale

  1,740

  1,910

  1,890

  2,150

  2,070

  1,980

  Cambridgeshire

  5,270

  5,020

  3,860

  3,600

  3,110

  2,410

  Camden

  1,850

  2,180

  2,310

  2,310

  2,040

  2,190

  Cheshire

  4,240

  5,140

  3,910

  3,730

  3,980

  2,610

  Cleveland

  4,720

  5,070

  5,150

  —

  —

  —

  Cornwall

  1,920

  2,030

  2,380

  2,110

  2,070

  2,460

  Coventry

  1,760

  1,750

  1,830

  2,330

  2,510

  2,100

  Croydon

  1,700

  1,730

  1,690

  1,770

  1,740

  1,860

  Cumbria

  2,150

  1,600

  1,550

  1,590

  1,530

  1,610

  Darlington

  —

  —

  —

  —

  520

  560

  Derby City

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,140

  1,410

  Derbyshire

  5,970

  6,450

  5,610

  5,520

  4,230

  4,320

  Devon

  4,780

  4,160

  2,970

  3,170

  3,150

  2,130

  Doncaster

  1,900

  1,980

  1,890

  1,710

  1,730

  1,870

  Dorset

  3,390

  3,610

  3,710

  3,770

  2,010

  2,320

  Dudley

  970

  1,090

  1,100

  1,070

  1,180

  1,190

  Durham

  4,620

  4,370

  3,740

  3,970

  3,650

  3,740

  Ealing

  1,120

  1,110

  1,230

  1,010

  940

  1,080

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  —

  —

  —

  1,320

  1,300

  1,360

  East Sussex

  2,020

  2,260

  2,210

  2,100

  1,610

  1,500

  Enfield

  690

  740

  690

  750

  900

  970

  Essex

  9,790

  11,270

  8,930

  8,950

  8,760

  5,780

  Gateshead

  1,160

  980

  900

  990

  930

  1,150

  Gloucestershire

  3,340

  3,520

  3,060

  3,010

  2,980

  2,590

  34W
  "England's Youth Service—the 1998 Audit," indicated that there were approximately 7,190 full-time equivalent Youth Service delivery staff employed in 1996–97.

  Details of the Youth Service resources that will contribute to the delivery of the Connexions Service are not yet available. We have asked the Connexions Partnerships introducing the service in 2001–02 to identify the Youth Service resources that local authorities in their areas propose to bring within the Connexions Service framework. This information will be set out in the business and delivery plans that Partnerships will be submitting at the beginning of 2001. The Connexions Service Business Planning Guidance indicates our expectation that local authorities will wish to contribute a significant proportion of their Youth Service provision to the delivery of the Connexions Service. This may include, for example, incorporating youth workers within the
  multi-disciplinary teams of personal advisers created at local level.
  35W

  Net current expenditure after recharges (R01 line 29) by English LEAs on the Youth Service from 1993–94 to 1998–99

  1,2£000

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  31998–99

  Greenwich

  2,020

  1,750

  1,830

  1,900

  1,920

  2,220

  Hackney

  3,630

  3,260

  2,810

  1,820

  1,370

  1,240

  Halton

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  870

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  1,980

  830

  790

  1,210

  1,430

  1,050

  Hampshire

  3,930

  4,280

  4,130

  4,470

  3,110

  3,430

  Haringey

  800

  850

  810

  1,250

  1,190

  1,540

  Harrow

  780

  830

  910

  1,020

  740

  810

  Hartlepool

  —

  —

  —

  860

  850

  920

  Havering

  1,060

  1,040

  910

  900

  1,090

  1,220

  Hereford and Worcester

  2,370

  2,360

  2,110

  2,120

  2,370

  520

  Hertfordshire

  4,680

  5,000

  4,870

  5,150

  5,610

  4,910

  Hillingdon

  1,530

  1,640

  1,290

  1,590

  1,520

  1,670

  Hounslow

  940

  880

  870

  960

  990

  1,180

  Humberside

  6,260

  6,200

  6,380

  —

  —

  —

  Isle of Wight

  1,030

  1,050

  940

  930

  1,010

  970

  Isles of Scilly

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Islington

  3,450

  3,520

  3,700

  3,800

  4,110

  3,380

  Kensington and Chelsea

  2,330

  2,330

  1,790

  3,570

  3,750

  2,720

  Kent

  6,040

  8,730

  4,440

  5,240

  4,930

  4,580

  Kingston-upon-Hull

  —

  —

  —

  2,130

  2,110

  1,400

  Kingston upon Thames

  820

  800

  880

  630

  640

  590

  Kirklees

  3,270

  3,820

  2,850

  1,430

  1,310

  2,070

  Knowsley

  2,120

  0

  0

  20

  0

  490

  Lambeth

  2,480

  2,750

  3,480

  1,610

  1,840

  1,860

  Lancashire

  10,370

  10,790

  10,680

  10,250

  10,790

  6,410

  Leeds

  3,790

  4,260

  4,350

  4,570

  5,360

  11,910

  Leicester City

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2,450

  2,730

  Leicestershire

  6,600

  6,390

  5,210

  5,140

  3,170

  3,380

  Lewisham

  1,330

  640

  10

  1,470

  1,810

  1,800

  Lincolnshire

  2,040

  2,150

  2,010

  2,100

  2,140

  2,240

  Liverpool

  6,520

  6,220

  6,530

  6,600

  6,400

  6,710

  Luton

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,030

  970

  Manchester

  3,300

  2,710

  2,810

  2,740

  2,670

  2,860

  Merton

  930

  830

  520

  520

  490

  530

  Middlesbrough

  —

  —

  —

  1,380

  260

  630

  Milton Keynes

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,450

  1,470

  Newbury

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  710

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  1,600

  2,410

  2,440

  2,680

  2,570

  3,020

  Newham

  2,560

  2,360

  2,110

  2,100

  2,230

  1,860

  Norfolk

  2,970

  3,250

  3,030

  3,100

  3,150

  2,890

  North East Lincolnshire

  —

  —

  —

  870

  650

  680

  North Lincolnshire

  —

  —

  —

  1,090

  970

  1,210

  North Somerset

  —

  —

  —

  900

  870

  850

  North Tyneside

  300

  270

  260

  230

  230

  300

  North Yorkshire

  2,850

  2,900

  2,750

  1,530

  1,600

  1,200

  Northamptonshire

  2,750

  2,880

  2,920

  2,930

  2,990

  3,170

  Northumberland

  1,820

  2,250

  2,010

  1,700

  1,280

  1,170

  Nottingham City

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2,950

  Nottinghamshire

  6,660

  6,800

  7,000

  7,140

  7,500

  5,060

  Oldham

  1,140

  1,240

  1,200

  1,390

  2,310

  2,660

  Oxfordshire

  2,760

  3,240

  3,470

  2,790

  2,700

  2,690

  Peterborough

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  160

  Plymouth

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  240

  Poole

  —

  —

  —

  —

  720

  700

  Portsmouth

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  0

  Reading

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2,130

  Redbridge

  1,390

  1,400

  1,370

  1,340

  1,190

  1,310

  Redcar and Cleveland

  —

  —

  —

  890

  1,050

  1,130

  Richmond upon Thames

  760

  860

  930

  880

  890

  910

  Rochdale

  1,320

  1,440

  1,440

  1,410

  1,390

  1,240

  Rochester and Gillingham

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  810

  Rotherham

  2,380

  2,460

  2,180

  1,720

  2,720

  3,420

  Rutland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  150

  220

  Salford

  980

  980

  950

  1,000

  1,110

  1,180

  Sandwell

  690

  730

  880

  980

  1,230

  1,350

  Sefton

  1,410

  1,510

  1,440

  1,500

  1,510

  1,680

  Sheffield

  4,050

  4,320

  4,290

  4,190

  3,970

  4,170

  Shropshire

  3,060

  3,010

  2,720

  2,630

  2,550

  1,400

  Slough

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  900

  Solihull

  780

  710

  620

  530

  610

  640

  Somerset

  2,260

  2,340

  2,040

  2,220

  2,390

  2,350

  36W 37W

  Net current expenditure after recharges (R01 line 29) by English LEAs on the Youth Service from 1993–94 to 1998–99

  12£000

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  31998–99

  South Gloucestershire

  —

  —

  —

  820

  890

  870

  South Tyneside

  1,040

  1,000

  900

  990

  940

  990

  Southampton

  —

  —

  —

  —

  770

  820

  Southend

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  720

  Southwark

  1,590

  2,760

  3,000

  3,510

  3,820

  4,050

  St. Helens

  380

  470

  640

  400

  850

  890

  Staffordshire

  10,710

  10,320

  8,850

  8,340

  6,630

  6,460

  Stockport

  1,320

  1,130

  1,150

  1,170

  1,300

  1,510

  Stockton-on-Tees

  —

  —

  —

  1,190

  1,170

  1,060

  Stoke on Trent

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,090

  770

  Suffolk

  1,480

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Sunderland

  1,860

  1,830

  1,900

  1,940

  510

  1,090

  Surrey

  5,100

  5,890

  5,200

  5,000

  4,640

  4,830

  Sutton

  1,040

  1,180

  1,220

  1,200

  1,140

  1,190

  Swindon

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,200

  1,030

  Tameside

  2,900

  2,540

  1,790

  1,830

  1,670

  1,740

  The Wrekin

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,200

  Thurrock

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,070

  Torbay

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  410

  Tower Hamlets

  4,600

  4,540

  4,160

  4,180

  3,930

  3,760

  Trafford

  1,080

  1,040

  1,020

  1,060

  1,030

  1,470

  Wakefield

  1,420

  1,390

  1,350

  1,370

  1,740

  1,570

  Walsall

  1,080

  1,350

  310

  150

  1,200

  1,410

  Waltham Forest

  2,180

  1,890

  1,910

  1,770

  1,910

  2,180

  Wandsworth

  3,180

  3,240

  3,140

  3,070

  2,960

  3,100

  Warrington

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  850

  Warwickshire

  790

  970

  750

  760

  940

  1,100

  West Sussex

  4,200

  4,490

  3,990

  3,320

  3,400

  3,590

  Westminister

  2,390

  2,450

  2,700

  2,760

  2,840

  2,190

  Wigan

  1,010

  1,100

  1,110

  1,090

  1,160

  1,200

  Wiltshire

  5,110

  5,000

  4,030

  4,220

  2,660

  1,680

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  580

  Wirral

  2,590

  2,530

  2,250

  2,220

  1,960

  1,940

  Wokingham

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  470

  Wolverhampton

  2,690

  2,900

  2,830

  2,920

  2,990

  2,840

  Worcestershire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,670

  York

  —

  —

  —

  740

  850

  920

  National Total

  296,060

  302,550

  279,140

  274,420

  277,400

  285,610

  1 Figures are in cash terms: i.e. they have not been corrected for inflation

  2 Expenditure has been rounded to the nearest £10

  3 1998–99 figures are provisional

  School Playing Fields
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many school playing fields have been sold during each of the last five years for which figures are available. [138810]

  Jacqui Smith
  Prior to October 1998 there was nothing to prevent a local authority selling a school playing field if it wanted to. An estimated 40 playing fields a month were sold in this way under the previous Government. Section 77 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 was introduced, with effect from 1 October 1998, to stop the indiscriminate sale of school playing fields. Local authorities and governing bodies of all maintained schools, including foundation schools, are now required to obtain the Secretary of State's consent before disposing of playing fields, or any part of a playing field.

  Since October 1998, 76 applications from local authorities and governing bodies to sell areas equal to, or larger than, a sports pitch have been approved. As no
  38W
  national figures were collected before October 1998, the following table provides a breakdown of these approved applications for each year since the law was changed.

  Sale of school sports pitches approved under section 77 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 since October 1998.

  Year

  Number of sales

  1998

  7

  1999

  44

  2000

  25

  Notes

  1. All sale proceeds are used to provide new or improved sports or education facilities at maintained schools.

  2. 38 per cent. of approved applications were in respect of sports pitches at closed or closing schools.

  3. In 68 per cent. of cases at operating schools, the sale proceeds have been used to provide new or enhanced sports facilities, including sports halls, all-weather pitches or improved grass sports pitches.

  4. 'Sports pitch' means an area of open grassed land which is equal to, or larger than, the Football Association's recommended 2,000 sq m area for games played by under-10s and which has a configuration making it suitable for sports pitches, whether laid out as a sports pitch or not.

  Catering Industry
  Dr. Palmer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will take steps to relax the immigration rules in respect of professionals from the catering industry. [137452]

  Ms Hodge
  The changes to the work permit skills criteria, which came into effect on 1 October 2000, are in part a response to concerns raised by the catering industry about the lack of skilled, professional staff. Where it can be shown that UK or European Economic Area workers are not available, the process for employers to obtain the necessary work permit for overseas staff is now more transparent, straightforward and relevant to the needs of employers.

  If we wish key sectors in the economy to grow, we must ensure that that growth is not inhibited by lack of relevant and appropriate skills. At the same time we are investing £6 billion a year in training and education for adults to encourage more people to develop the skills needed in the modern economy.

  Disability Rights
  Mr. Berry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he plans to publish a final response to the report of the Disability Rights Task Force, "From Exclusion to Inclusion". [139408]

  Ms Hodge
  The Government published their interim response on many of the Task Force's non-legislative recommendations in March 2000. The SEN and Disability Rights in Education Bill, which will be presented to Parliament next Session, implements the Task Force's recommendations on civil rights in education. We have been considering the remainder of the Task Force's recommendations in the light of negotiations on the European Commission's Employment Directive, brought forward under Article 13 of the European Community Treaty. The Directive, which was agreed at the Council of Ministers on 17 October, has implications for many of the Task Force's recommendations on the definition of disability and discrimination in employment. We hope to be in a position to publish a final response to the Task Force around the end of February 2001.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Lord Birt
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many meetings the Lord Chancellor has had with Lord Birt regarding crime since Lord Birt's appointment as an adviser to the Government on crime. [137316]

  Jane Kennedy
  I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 17 November 2000,Official Report, column 800W.

  Queen's Counsel
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department for what reason the 40W
  number of QCs appointed in each of the last 10 years has remained broadly the same; and if he will make a statement. [138619]

  Mr. Lock
  The number of appointments in recent years has ranged from 60 to 78. The number appointed in each year merely reflects the number of applicants who meet the criteria to the required degree.

  The number appointed in each year shows little correlation with the number of applicants. The number of applicants in recent years has varied little (from 472 to 553), and the success rate of those applicants has varied from less than 12 per cent. to more than 15½ per cent.

  Immigration and Asylum Appeals
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the average time taken was between an asylum appeal and (b) a non-asylum immigration appeal being referred by the Home Office to the appellate authorities and the determination of that appeal in (i) 1997–1998, (ii) 1998–1999, (iii) 1999–2000 and (iv) 2000–01 to date; and if he will make a statement. [139372]

  Jane Kennedy
  Waiting time information is available from 1999–2000. The waiting time for asylum and non-asylum appeals from receipt by the IAA to promulgation of the adjudicator's decision, in 1999–2000 was 10.7 weeks and 12.3 weeks respectively. The waiting time for 2000–2001 to 31 October is 19 and 18.8 weeks respectively.

  The increased waiting times are as a consequence of the increase in asylum appeals. The Lord Chancellor expects to meet his target to dispose of 65 per cent. of appeals through both tiers of the system within four months from April 2002.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he expects to meet his target for reducing the average duration of an asylum appeal to four months. [139379]

  Jane Kennedy
  For the current financial year, the Immigration Appellate Authority's target is an average waiting time for appeals before adjudicators of 16 weeks. The Lord Chancellor's Departments Service Delivery agreement sets a different target covering both ties of the appeal process. The target is to dispose of at least 65 per cent. of appeals within four months from April 2002. The Lord Chancellor expects this target to be met.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many adjudicators are available to hear asylum and immigration appeals; what plans he has to review that number; and if he will make a statement. [139374]

  Jane Kennedy
  There are currently 75 full-time and 311 part-time adjudicators available to hear asylum and immigration appeals. This represents an increase of 27 full—time (64 per cent.) and 121 part-time adjudicators (64 per cent.) since 1 April 1999. A further 26 full-time adjudicators are in the process of being appointed and recruitment is under way to appoint a further 200 part-time adjudicators. The Lord Chancellor keeps the numbers under constant review to ensure that sufficient judiciary are available to hear asylum appeals.
  41W
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many(a) asylum appeals and (b) non-asylum immigration appeals, were awaiting determination on (i) 1 April 2000 and (ii) the most recent date for which information is available. [139380]

  Jane Kennedy
  The table shows appeals at the Immigration Appellate Authority at 1 April and 31 October 2000 (the most recent date for which information is available).

  Asylum workload has increased by 181 per cent. over that period to a level of broadly 3,600 cases a month. The number of outstanding cases is consistent with the number of cases that will inevitably be in the system at any one time, given the higher workload and an average disposal time of around four months.

  1 April 2000

  31 October 2000

  Asylum

  3,805

  14,216

  Non-asylum

  2,827

  2,522

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the average cost to his Department is of(a) an asylum appeal and (b) a non-asylum immigration appeal; and if he will make a statement. [139376]

  Jane Kennedy
  Separate average cost for asylum and non-asylum average costs are unavailable. The average unit cost to the Immigration Appellate Authority, excluding accommodation and overhead costs, for all types of appeal is £375.

  Court Sittings (Judges)
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the recommended amount of time per day that judges should sit in courts. [138864]

  Jane Kennedy
  There is no single recommended or prescribed sitting time for judges, as they are required to work outside sitting hours for other purposes, for example, reading or preparing case papers, preparing reserved judgments, dealing with listing directions, liaison with magistrates and chairing meetings of local user committees.

  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the average amount of time per day spent sitting in court by judges(a) nationally and (b) at courts in Gloucestershire; and if he will make a statement. [138865]

  Jane Kennedy
  Information relating to the average length of courtroom sitting days in given in the table.

  Average sitting days (hours)

  Area

  Crown court1

  County court2

  1997

  Gloucestershire

  3.94

  5.08

  England and Wales

  4.46

  4.74

  1998

  Gloucestershire

  4.12

  5.59

  England and Wales

  4.44

  4.77

  42W

  Average sitting days (hours)

  Area

  Crown court12

  County court2

  1999

  Gloucestershire

  3.77

  5.98

  England and Wales

  4.45

  4.74

  20003

  Gloucestershire

  4.08

  4.28

  England and Wales

  4.39

  4.75

  1 Figures are expressed as decimals—e.g. 4.75 hours = 4 hours 45 minutes

  2 The Crown court figures relate to all types of judge. The county court figures cover only circuit judge level sittings

  3 Period covers January to September 2000

  Notes

  1. Only Gloucester Crown court sits within Gloucestershire.

  2. Only Gloucester county court hears circuit judge level trials within Gloucestershire.

SCOTLAND

  Government Expenditure and Revenue (Scotland)
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will publish the Government Expenditure and Revenue (Scotland) report for the year 1998 to 1999. [138525]

  Dr. Reid
  The next report on Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland, in common with previous reports, is being prepared by the Government Economic Service and Government Statistical Service. No date has been set for publication.

HEALTH

  Alder Hey Hospital
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for (1) Health if he will make public the reports of Professor Robert Tinston, Chief Executive of the NHS North West Regional Office, in respect of the inquiry into the disposal of children's organs at the Alder Hey Hospital, Liverpool; [131651]

  (2) how many parents of deceased children have been consulted by the Redfern Inquiry; what form that consultation has taken; if he will extend the time of the inquiry; and if he will make a statement; [131649]

  (3) if he will call for an interim report from the Redfern Inquiry into events at Alder Hey Hospital, Liverpool; [131650]

  (4) what extra resources have been provided to Alder Hey Hospital, Liverpool, to enable it to co-operate fully with the Redfern Inquiry; and if he will make a statement. [131652]

  Mr. Denham
  Internal reports between officials and Ministers are normally exempt from disclosure under exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information that relates to information that would harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion, unless justifiable reasons are presented why they should not be covered by this exemption clause.
  43W
  The independent inquiry should detail in its report the extent and form of parental consultation. The Inquiry has taken longer than first indicated to allow for the work to be completed.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State received the Report on 7 November and will study its findings over the next few weeks before publishing his response.

  The National Health Service Executive recognised that extra expenditure would be incurred by the Trust in addressing issues relating to organ retention, including the Royal Liverpool Children's Inquiry. The trust has been allocated additional funding in 1999–2000 and 2000–01 to meet these costs and after that any recurring element will be funded from the normal commissioning process.

  Infertility Treatment
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the operation of his guidelines to local health authorities on the availability of infertility treatment; and if he will make a statement. [135489]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Department has not issued any guidelines to health authorities on the provision of infertility treatment.

  However, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has published three sets of comprehensive clinical guidelines for the management of infertility in primary, secondary and tertiary care. These guidelines have been distributed to Royal College's members working in the field.

  We share concerns that have been expressed about the unacceptable variations in the level of NHS funded infertility services across the country. We are examining ways to tackle this problem.

  We also propose shortly to publish a report on the results of a survey the Department undertook last year into health authorities' provision of infertility services.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letters to him dated 22 May, 29 June and 2 August from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr. Griffith. [136089]

  Ms Stuart
  A reply to my right hon. Friend's letter was sent on 7 November.

  Measles, Mumps and Rubella Vaccine
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about single dose measles mumps and rubella vaccines, with particular reference to availability of an option for parents to have these vaccines administered to their children singly. [136201]

  Yvette Cooper
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Ayr (Ms Osborne) on 19 June 2000,Official Report, column 49W.

  Maternity Units
  Sir Archie Hamilton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of maternity units in England have no(a) paediatric special care units on site and (b) doctors routinely attached to the units; how often patients have had to be transferred as emergency cases from these units before, during and after labour to hospitals with full maternity and paediatric facilities in the last 12 months; and what was the incidence of child mortality (i) in maternity units in (a) and (b) and (ii) in all hospitals in the last 12 months. [136821]

  Yvette Cooper
  The information requested is not available. The latest data available for child mortality in all hospitals for 1998–99 are shown in the table.

  Count of deaths by age NHS hospitals, England 1998–99

  Age

  Died

  Stillbirth

  0

  2,852

  2,249

  1

  184

  —

  2

  102

  —

  3

  62

  —

  4

  47

  —

  5-9

  170

  —

  10-14

  209

  —

  Age not known and others

  262,002

  —

  Total

  267,668

  —

  Notes

  Figures in this table have not yet been adjusted for shortfalls in data

  Source

  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health

  Civil Servants Relocation
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which relocation companies hold contracts with his Department for the relocation of civil servants; when the contracts were last renewed; where the contracts were advertised; and what the length and value of each contract is. [137187]

  Ms Stuart
  The contract for relocation of Departmental staff is held by Cendant Relocation (UK) Ltd. (formerly PHH Relocation plc). The contract was advertised in June 1997 in the European Official Journal and, following a tender exercise, was awarded to PHH to run from 1 January 1998 for a period of three years, with an option to extend for a further two years at the end of the initial period. There is no set value to the contract as Cendant charge for their services on a by case basis.

  Drug Abuse
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those projects his Department supports which are engaged in highlighting the dangers of drug abuse to children and young people. [137339]

  Ms Stuart
  We are committed to a 10-year strategy of joint action to tackle the problem of drug misuse. One of the aims of the strategy is to ensure that young people have access to all the information and support they need in order to resist drug misuse and thus to achieve their full potential in society.

  The Department is contributing to this objective through a wide range of projects and initiatives that are listed in the United Kingdom Anti-Drugs Co-Ordinator's

  45W
  Annual Report 1999–2000, copies of which are available in the Library. One example is the "Primary Care and Primary Schools" programme that was launched earlier this year. This project will enable healthcare professionals to support primary school teachers in the delivery of drug education. We are also supporting drug prevention work in the 26 Health Action Zones. This work is targeted at young people who are particularly at risk of developing problems with drugs.

  Mobile Phones
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the health risks involved in the use of mobile telephones(a) with and (b) without hands-free kits. [137931]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones (the Stewart group) was set up at the request of the previous Minister for Public Health to investigate the public health implications of mobile phone technologies. The group's report was published on 11 May and copies are in the Library. The report included a number of recommendations which are being taken forward by the Government. These include a commitment to initiate a comprehensive independent programme of research with a budget of several million pounds.

  Flu
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the availability of stocks of the influenza vaccine in the parliamentary constituency of Brentwood and Ongar. [138059]

  Yvette Cooper
  General practitioners order their supply of flu vaccine direct from manufacturers. This year there are five suppliers of flu vaccine. Unfortunately one of the manufacturers, Solvay, has encountered problems in growing a strain of the vaccine which has led to delays in some deliveries. Solvay have been in touch with the affected GPs to tell them details of any delays, but have confirmed that all ordered vaccine will be delivered by the end of November, in time to protect people this winter.

  Latest figures as at 8 November, show that 9.8 million doses of vaccine have already been distributed. This, along with the amount of vaccine still to be delivered, is a sufficient amount to exceed our immunisation target of 60 per cent. uptake in those aged 65 and over, and to achieve a substantial rise in uptake among those at risk.

  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what target he has for the number of people over the age of 60 years to receive the influenza vaccine in the parliamentary constituency of Brentwood and Ongar by 31 January 2001; what percentage that is of the population of over 60s; and if there are sufficient stocks of the vaccine to meet his target. [138060]

  Yvette Cooper
  This year, we have extended the recommended groups for influenza immunisation to include everyone aged 65 and over, irrespective of their underlying health, as well as younger people in established high risk groups. This increase has led to record numbers of vaccine being made available—nearly 11 million this year compared to 7.8 million last year, an increase of 40 per cent.
  46W
  For the first time, health authorities have been set a target of achieving a minimum 60 per cent. uptake of immunisation in those aged 65 years and over in their areas. They will be required to monitor this, and have also been asked to supply the minimum data necessary for national monitoring purposes.

  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his targets for the vaccination programme against influenza by priority groups in the parliamentary constituency of Brentwood and Ongar; and if he will list those groups and indicate what progress he had made to achieve those targets on 31 October. [138061]

  Yvette Cooper
  For the first time, health authorities have been set a target of achieving a minimum 60 per cent. uptake of immunisation in those aged 65 years and over in their areas. They will be required to monitor this, and have also been asked to supply the minimum data necessary for national monitoring purposes.

  Monitoring figures received as at 31 October from South Essex, North Essex and Barking and Havering health authorities, show uptake rates so far of 50 per cent., 49 per cent. and 49 per cent. respectively, in the 65 and over age groups.

  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what contingency plans his Department has (1) implemented for dealing with the possibility of a flu epidemic this winter; on what date such plans were implemented and at what cost to his Department; and if he will make a statement; [137127]

  (2) evaluated for dealing with the possibility of a flu epidemic this winter; and if he will make a statement. [137126]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 13 November 2000]: Contingency plans for dealing with an epidemic or outbreak of flu are part of the detailed planning process to manage winter pressures. Planning has been taking place across health and social care since May of this year. Communities have been planning appropriately to manage demand, with influenza immunisation a key part of these plans.

  Health authorities have appointed co-ordinators to take overall responsibility for influenza immunisation and to work with general practitioners to ensure that immunisation is made available to vulnerable members of the public.

  This year the offer of immunisation against influenza has been extended to include all those over the age of 65. Funding of £60 million has been made available to support the immunisation of 'at risk' groups and a major publicity programme was launched in September to ensure that at risk groups in the community are aware of the opportunity to be immunised.

  In addition, National Health Service employers are offering immunisation to all staff involved in the delivery of care and support to patients. Social services employers have been asked to consider offering immunisation to their staff, with approximately 75 per cent. of employers choosing to do so.

  NHS Consultation (Taunton)
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many responses he has received to his recent NHS consultation from the Taunton constituency. [138312]

  Ms Stuart
  The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Hepatitis C
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the preparations made by the NHS to combat the increased incidence of hepatitis C. [138318]

  Yvette Cooper
  The incidence of newly acquired hepatitis C infections is not known, as the virus is usually acquired without symptoms. Nevertheless, it is possible that the incidence is falling. Transmissions of hepatitis C through contaminated blood and blood products have now been virtually eliminated. There is also some evidence that the prevalence of hepatitis C among younger injecting drug misusers is less than among those who started injecting before harm minimisation strategies (e.g. needles exchange schemes) were put in place.

  While the number of new infections may be falling, we expect an increase in the number of people diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C over the next 10 years, as individuals who have carried the virus for some time are identified through wider testing of groups who have been at risk.

  The National Institute for Clinical Excellence has recently published recommendations on the use of alpha interferon combined with ribavirin for the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C, and National Health Service funding includes resources for implementing this guidance. Evidence-based clinical guidelines, drawn up by the professions, will be published shortly. The Department is in discussion with the professions, and with healthcare commissioners, about developing hepatology services to uniform standards throughout the country.

  Emergency Contraception
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to make emergency contraception available from(a) community pharmacists and (b) school nurses.[137742]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 13 November 2000]: An application has been received to reclassify levonorgestrel 0.75mg (marketed as Levonelle—2) for emergency contraception from prescription only to pharmacy availability for women aged 16 and over. Public consultation was completed on 30 June. The application has now been considered by the Medicines Commission. If we decide to proceed, an Order will be laid shortly.

  In addition there are pilot schemes running whereby emergency contraception is issued by pharmacists under National Health Service arrangement using patient group direction.

  Sex and Relationship Education Guidance issued by the Department for Education and Employment in July this year states that health professionals can provide pupils with specific and up-to-date information about sexual health and contraception. Health professionals can also
  48W
  play an important part in ensuring young people know about their local advice services. The specific role of school nurses in providing services to young people is at the discretion of school governing bodies, in consultation with parents and the school community.

  Breast Cancer (Genetic Testing)
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on genetic testing of women who may be pre-disposed to develop breast cancer; how many genetic tests for BRCA 1 and 2 are carried out each year; and how many of these tests produced positive results. [138340]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 14 November 2000]: Referral for specialist genetic counselling is normally only appropriate for women at high familial risk of breast cancer. Genetic testing for mutations in the breast cancer predisposition genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2) may be appropriate for some of these women. In 1998–99, 1,173 tests were undertaken in United Kingdom regional genetic centres for BRCA1 and BRCA2. This compares to 856 in 1997–98 and 458 in 1996–97.

  Information on the number of tests which produced positive results is not held centrally. New initiatives for cancer genetic services were outlined in the National Health Service cancer plan, one of which is that common datasets will be developed for the collection of information by cancer genetic services.

  Primary Care Trusts (Appointments)
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many councillors have been appointed as(a) chairmen and (b) non-executive directors of primary care trusts; and how many declared a political affiliation to (a) the Labour Party, (b) the Liberal Democrat Party, (c) the Conservative Party and (d) other parties. [138625]

  Ms Stuart
  We do not collect information about political affiliation. Information about political activity as required to be collected by the Commissioner for Public Appointments is set out in the table.

  Political activity of councillors appointed to the boards of primary care trusts

  Appointed councillors

  Non-Executives

  Labour

  9

  Conservative

  5

  Liberal Democrat

  4

  Other

  1

  Chairs

  Labour

  5

  Conservative

  2

  Liberal Democrat

  2

  Other

  1

  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many appointees to(a) chairmanships and (b) non-executive directorships of primary care trusts have declared a political affiliation to (i) the Labour Party, (ii) the Liberal Democrat Party, (iii) the Conservative Party and (iv) other parties. [138624]
  49W
  Ms Stuart
  We do not collect information about political affiliation. Information about political activity as required to be collected by the Commissioner for Public Appointments is set out in the table.

  Political activity of candidates appointed to the boards of primary care trusts

  Appointed

  Non-Executives

  None declared

  112

  Labour

  36

  Conservative

  9

  Liberal Democrat

  6

  Other

  3

  Chairs

  None declared

  24

  Labour

  11

  Conservative

  3

  Liberal Democrat

  3

  Other

  2

  North Cumbria Health Authority
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements North Cumbria health authority has made with West Cumbria Health Care Trust to have patients treated in the private ward of West Cumbria Hospital; and if he will make a statement. [138617]

  Mr. Hutton
  The North Cumbria health authority has negotiated a contract with West Cumbria Health Care National Health Service Trust whereby NHS patients, who would otherwise face a long wait for hernia, varicose vein or laparoscopic cholecystectomy treatment in the Carlisle Hospitals NHS Trust, are treated in the Cumbria Clinic at the West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven.

  The health authority and primary care groups consider this to be an appropriate and effective use of NHS resources to bring waiting times to within more acceptable levels and is entirely in line with the Government's recently announced "Concordat" with the private sector.

  Fertilisation and Embryology
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what ethical considerations the Government will take into account in deciding its policy on embryonic stem cell research; and if he will make a statement. [138668]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 16 November 2000]: All research on human embryos is strictly regulated by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990. This Act was introduced following detailed consideration by the Warnock Committee in the early 1980s of the issues raised by developing technologies in this area. The provisions in the Act were subject to considerable debate in both Houses.

  Following the recommendations in the Chief Medical Officer's expert group report: "Stem Cell Research: Medical Progress with Responsibility", the Government announced their intention to introduce regulations to extend the purposes for which human embryos may be used in research. These Regulations will be decided on a free vote. The expert group included members with a wide range of interests, including ethics.
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  We also took account of the joint Report by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and Human Genetics Advisory Commission: "Cloning Issues in Reproduction, Science and Medicine" (December 1998) and reports from other bodies such as the Nuffield Council on Bioethics, as well as views in Europe and elsewhere.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the clinical data recording errors contained in the HFEA February 2000 update. [138671]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 16 November 2000]: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority operates a systems and data audit programme. This is used to monitor the standard of IVF and donor insemination treatment records and provide assurances for the National Audit Office regarding the collection of licence fee income. The HFEA audit is in the fourth year of its five-year programme and has identified areas where errors could be avoided by licensed clinics. It has also provided information and guidance to clinics on improvements in the quality of their information.

  The authority's February 2000 Update reports a number of discrepancies found as part of the audit, such as inaccurate reporting of patients' and partners' full name, patient reference and treatment date.

  The audit programme and publication of the Update series demonstrates the FIFEA's commitment to reducing errors and improving the way that information is recorded.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the granting of a licence by the HFEA in 1996 to the Centre for Genome Research, University of Edinburgh for the culture of multipotential human embryos. [138672]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 16 November 2000]: In February 1996 the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority issued a two-year research licence for a project entitled "Culture of Multipotential Human Embryo Cells" at the Centre for Genome Research, University of Edinburgh. The objective of the proposed research was to establish cell lines from human embryos with a view to analysing the factors that affect the development of embryos fertilised and grown "in vitro" and to assess their development potential. An application was made for renewal in February 1998 and a licence was granted in May 1998 for a further two years.

  The objectives of this research are (i) to promote advances in the treatment of infertility; (ii) to increase knowledge about the causes of congenital disease; and (iii) to develop methods for detecting the presence of gene or chromosome abnormalities in embryos before implantation.

  The centre is required to provide reports on the progress of the research and is subject to inspection by the authority.
  51W
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on(a) the use of adult stem cells and (b) therapeutic cloning. [138670]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 16 November 2000]: The issues of stem cell research and therapeutic cloning were comprehensively discussed in the report of the Chief Medical Officer's Expert Group—"Stem Cell research: Medical progress with responsibility" published in August of this year, copies of which are available in the Library.

  The report concluded that research on stem cells from all sources provides the possibility of exciting prospects for future therapies for a range of debilitating diseases including Parkinson's, Diabetes, spinal injuries and liver disease. However a great deal of research will be needed to realise such potential.

  We have accepted the recommendations of the report and will introduce Regulations to extend the permitted research purposes under the 1990 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act to allow for research on embryonic stem cells. The Regulations will be decided by a free vote. Research involving adult stem cells is not subject to legal restrictions.

  NHS (Disciplinary Action)
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many staff were dismissed in the last year from the NHS following disciplinary action, in the last year for which figures are available; [139090]

  (2) how many staff were (a) demoted and (b) suspended, pending investigation, in the last year for which figures are available in the NHS; [139091]

  (3) how many NHS staff were given (a) a first written warning and (b) a final written warning in the last week for which figures are available; [139092]

  (4) how many disciplinary panels were convened in the NHS in the last year for which figures are available; [139093]

  (5) how many employees of the NHS are currently suspended; [139095]

  (6) how many working days were missed as a result of suspension of staff within the NHS over the last year; [139096]

  (7) how many appeals against disciplinary action were made by NHS staff in the last year; and what percentage of those appeals were upheld. [139097]

  Mr. Denham
  The Department does not routinely collect information regarding the disciplinary proceedings carried out in National Health Service organisations. However, it does collect information regarding the suspension of hospital doctors and community dentists which have lasted longer than six months.

  The most recent information collected shows that in the period 1 July to 30 September the total number of hospital doctors and community dentists who had been suspended for longer than six months was 26.

  Overhead Powerlines
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department will publish the work it has 52W
  funded on the impact of electric fields associated with overhead powerlines; and if he will make a statement. [138780]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 17 November 2000]: The Department expects those researchers to whom it provides funds to publish in open peer reviewed scientific journals. The Department has funded work on electric fields from power lines at Bristol University which was published in December 1999 and the United Kingdom Childhood Cancer Study which is expected to be published shortly. The Department also contributes to the World Health Organisation Electromagnetic Fields Project, the progress of which is accessible on its website.

  The National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) provides advice to Government on these matters. In 1992, and again in 1994, the NRPB's independent advisory group on non-ionising radiation examined the evidence for an association between the incidence of cancer and exposure to electromagnetic fields and concluded that there was no clear evidence of an adverse health effect at the levels of electromagnetic field to which the public is normally exposed. The advisory group monitors the relevant research and will be publishing a comprehensive review of the more recent studies including those on electric fields in the next few months.

  Ambulance Services (Kent and Sussex)
  Mr. Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will make an announcement about the timetable for the proposed reorganisation of ambulance services in Kent and Sussex. [138905]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 17 November 2000]: The seven ambulance trusts in South East Region of the National Health Service, together with the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service, which is part of the Isle of Wight Healthcare Trust, have conducted a review of how ambulance services are delivered in the region. They have submitted their findings to Ministers and these are under consideration.

  Hospital Waiting Times (Mid-Essex)
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in Mid Essex Hospital Trust area were waiting(a) for inpatient treatment for the last available month, (b) more than 12 months for inpatient treatment and (c) 13 weeks or more for an outpatient appointment in the last available quarter. [138869]

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested is given in the tables.

  Total number of patients waiting and the number of patients waiting over 12 months for hospital treatment at Mid Essex Hospital Services National Health Service Trust in September 2000

  Month

  Total number of patients waiting

  Number of patients waiting over 12 months

  September 2000

  9,486

  781

  Source:

  KH07 quarterly return
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  Total number of patients waiting 13 weeks or more for an outpatient appointment at Mid Essex Hospital Services National Health Service Trust in Quarter 2 2000–01

  Month

  Number of patients waiting over 13 weeks

  Q2 2000–01

  2,836

  Source:

  QM08 quarterly return

  Medical Training
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many students started(a) a diploma in nursing and (b) a degree in nursing studies in each year since 1997; and what the drop out rate was for each year's intake. [138694]

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested for England is given in the tables.

  Student commissions

  Nursing

  Midwifery

  Year

  diploma

  degree

  Adjusted diploma

  degree

  total1

  1997–98

  14,429

  297

  572

  224

  16,539

  1998–99

  15,523

  21,314

  597

  255

  17,689

  1999–2000

  16,020

  1,726

  620

  403

  18,769

  2000–013

  16,799

  2,407

  615

  504

  20,325

  Average attrition rates as at December 1999

  Percentage

  Year/cohort

  Diploma

  Degree

  Combined diploma and degree

  1997–984

  15.7

  13.47

  15.48

  1998–99

  6.92

  8.34

  7.07

  1999–2000

  5—

  5—

  5—

  2000–01

  5—

  5—

  5—

  1Forecast outturn commissions based on Q2 2000–01 NMET performance management report

  2Adjusted to take account of Dearing transfer 1,017 places 1992–93 to 1997–98 inclusive

  3The step change in degree commissions in 1998–99 is as a result of the transfer from DfEE to DH following Dearing

  4The data held for 1997–98 only cover the first year of the course, data that include the second year should be available after December 2000.

  5Data not yet available

  Source:

  English National Board

  Data held for the 1995–96 cohort—the majority of these students have now completed their training—shows an attrition figure of 17 per cent. Attrition rates also vary from year to year, from university to university and across nursing branches. The human resources performance framework, published on 4 October 2000 set a target for training intakes from 2000–01 of an attrition rate no higher than 13 per cent. in pre-registration nursing and midwifery training.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many students started medical training and what the drop-out rate was in each year since 1997. [138692]
  54W
  Mr. Denham
  Figures provided by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) on the number of full-time undergraduate entrants to medical schools in United Kingdom higher education institutions since 1997–98 are as follows:

  UK

  England

  1997–98

  5,062

  3,749

  1998–99

  5,069

  3,735

  1999–2000

  15,306

  13,980

  1The 1999–2000 figures are provisional. Awaiting confirmation of July 2000 figures in HEFCE November 2000 Survey.

  Information on the attrition rate of medical students is not collected centrally.

  Dementia
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's expenditure on research into dementia was in each year since 1993–94. [138784]

  Mr. Hutton
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Soames) on 21 June 1999,Official Report, column 289.

  Freedom of Information
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress his Department has made in examining the need to review section 118 of the Medicines Act 1968; and if he will make a statement. [138872]

  Ms Stuart
  Section 118 of the Medicines Act is one of a number of pieces of legislation that the Government are currently reviewing to see whether or not it is appropriate to repeal them, once new freedom of information legislation is in place, and a final decision has still to be made.

  Section 118 does not place an absolute restriction on the disclosure of information. The Medicines Control Agency, as the executive arm of the licensing authority, acts on the basis that section 118 allows it to disclose information where to do so is in the performance of its duty to protect public health. Therefore, where there is a risk to public health or safety, the agency has an overriding obligation to remove or reduce that risk even if confidentiality is broken. The agency also complies with the current administrative Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  NHS Retirement Age
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average age at retirement was of(a) all members of the NHS pension scheme in England and Wales, (b) members in normal health and (c) members in ill health between 1 April 1994 and 31 March 1999, or in the last five years for which figures are available, broken down by professional group; and what the total number of retirements over the same period was for each professional group. [138752]

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested is shown in the table.
  55W

  Average age at retirement

  Employment group

  All members

  Normal health

  Ill health

  Total retirements

  Administrative Officers and those not in groups below

  58

  60

  52

  22,917

  Mental Health Officers (non-manual), excluding MHOs with special class status not yet doubling membership, Part Time Mental Health Specialists

  55

  58.5

  51

  6,736

  Manual Workers

  58.5

  61.5

  53

  19,677

  Mental Health Officers (manual),excluding MHOs with special class status not yet doubling membership

  59

  61

  54.5

  62

  Hospital Medical Staff (consultants, registrars, junior doctors),Part Time Specialists (non MHO) MHOs and Nurses without special class status

  57

  61

  49

  6,014

  Medical Practitioners

  59.5

  62.5

  53.5

  2,069

  Dental Practitioners

  57

  60.5

  51.5

  964

  Nurses, Physiotherapists, Midwives and Health Visitors with special class status, MHOs with special class status not yet doubling Membership

  55.5

  59.5

  51

  32,763

  GP Practice staff

  61

  62

  46.5

  279

  All Groups

  57

  60

  51.5

  191,481

  1Based upon data available to the Government Actuary, in the form requested, of some 72 per cent. of retirements during the period. The total number of retirements processed by the NHS Pensions Agency between 1994 and 1999 was 127,380. The breakdown of the remaining 28 per cent. is not yet available.

  Hospital Waiting Times
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his statement on NHS resources and priorities of 14 November 2000,Official Report, columns 805–08, how many people have been waiting for outpatient treatment for 13 weeks or more; and if he will estimate how many will be waiting by 2002. [138910]

  Mr. Denham
  At the end of September, 435,768 patients were waiting over 13 weeks for a first outpatient appointment. The number of those waiting more than 13 weeks fell by 80,000 over the past year and we expect further falls next year.

  Delayed Hospital Discharges
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish, for the period 1 July to 30 September, figures for delayed discharges from hospital of people aged 75 and over in(a) East Kent Health Authority and (b) England. [138647]

  Ms Stuart
  For that period the rates of delayed discharges for people over 75-years-old were 10.76 per cent. in East Kent Health Authority and 12.99 per cent. in England.

  Health Authority Expenditure
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list in rank order expenditure in each health authority by weighted head of population in each of the financial years 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99 and 1999–2000 in respect of(a) primary care, (b) secondary care, (c) administration and programme and (d) total expenditure. [139387]

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested has been placed in the Library.

  Expenditure per weighted head of population for 1996–97 to 1999–2000, in rank order, is shown for each health authority in England in the tables. Figures are shown for expenditure on primary care, secondary care, administration and programme, and as a total, in each case.
  56W
  These figures are not comparable between years or between health authorities as a result of changes in accounting practice and other technical accounting differences.

  Euro
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the trusts and health authorities which have submitted to the NHS South East Regional Office their estimates of the cost of changing over from the pound to the euro; and if he will list in respect of each such trust and health authority the estimated cost of the changeover in terms of(a) staff days and (b) non-staff costs. [139366]

  Mr. Denham
  The position on National Health Service bodies is given in Treasury's Fourth Report on Euro Preparations, published on 6 November 2000.

  It is not possible at this stage to provide estimates of the costs of a changeover to the NHS because they would reflect the timing and nature of any future implementation. For example, NHS bodies will as a matter of routine be upgrading systems as they become obsolete and this could provide them with euro compliant systems at minimal cost.

  Health Authority Allocations
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the total health authority allocations for 2001–02 for each health authority in England on a per capita basis. [138863]

  Mr. Denham
  Health authority allocations for 2001–02 per weighted head of population in each health authority in England are given in the table.

  2001–02 allocation per weighted head of population

  Health authority

  £

  Avon

  724

  Barking and Havering

  743

  Barnet

  714

  Barnsley

  719

  Bedfordshire

  703

  Berkshire

  708

  57W

  2001–02 allocation per weighted head of population

  Health authority

  £

  Bexley and Greenwich

  786

  Birmingham

  742

  Bradford

  735

  Brent and Harrow

  735

  Bromley

  745

  Buckinghamshire

  712

  Bury and Rochdale

  737

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  740

  Cambridgeshire

  710

  Camden and Islington

  747

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  748

  County Durham

  727

  Coventry

  730

  Croydon

  724

  Doncaster

  749

  Dorset

  754

  Dudley

  732

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  720

  East and North Hertfordshire

  725

  East Kent

  755

  East Lancashire

  739

  East London and the City

  686

  East Riding

  751

  East Surrey

  748

  East Sussex, Brighton and Hove

  756

  Enfield and Haringey

  726

  Gateshead and South Tyneside

  743

  Gloucestershire

  760

  Herefordshire

  738

  Hillingdon

  726

  Isle of Wight

  792

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  657

  Kingston and Richmond

  739

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  734

  Leeds

  750

  Leicestershire

  717

  Lincolnshire

  734

  Liverpool

  764

  Manchester

  763

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  759

  Morecambe Bay

  768

  Newcastle and North Tyneside

  757

  Norfolk

  729

  North and East Devon

  742

  North and Mid Hampshire

  733

  North Cheshire

  752

  North Cumbria

  740

  North Derbyshire

  740

  North Essex

  725

  North Nottinghamshire

  731

  North Staffordshire

  732

  North West Lancashire

  748

  North Yorkshire

  727

  Northamptonshire

  735

  Northumberland

  746

  Nottingham

  729

  Oxfordshire

  709

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  736

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  758

  Rotherham

  737

  Salford and Trafford

  758

  Sandwell

  740

  Sefton

  771

  Sheffield

  761

  Shropshire

  726

  Solihull

  739

  Somerset

  739

  South and West Devon

  755

  South Cheshire

  744

  South Derbyshire

  718

  South Essex

  723

  South Humber

  755

  58W

  2001–02 allocation per weighted head of population

  Health authority

  £

  South Lancashire

  743

  South Staffordshire

  723

  Southampton and South West Hampshire

  736

  St. Helen's and Knowsley

  737

  Stockport

  729

  Suffolk

  740

  Sunderland

  738

  Tees

  736

  Wakefield

  740

  Walsall

  723

  Warwickshire

  741

  West Hertfordshire

  732

  West Kent

  738

  West Pennine

  724

  West Surrey

  746

  West Sussex

  730

  Wigan and Bolton

  715

  Wiltshire

  736

  Wirral

  767

  Wolverhampton

  735

  Worcestershire

  734

  England

  736

  Care Workers (Child Protection)
  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the vetting of child care workers required by the Protection of Children Act 1999 is operational. [139161]

  Mr. Hutton
  Yes. The requirement contained in the Protection of Children Act 1999 for child care organisations to check child care workers came into effect on 2 October 2000.

  Council of Health Regulators
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the estimated annual cost of the proposed establishment of a UK Council of Health Regulators; and if he will make a statement. [138467]

  Mr. Denham
  We proposed in the National Health Service Plan that a United Kingdom Council of Health Regulators should be established to provide formal co-ordination between the health regulatory bodies which would, in the first place, act as a forum in which common approaches across the professions could be developed for dealing with matters such as complaints against practitioners. Its role will depend on the willingness of the regulatory bodies to reform. We are therefore still considering the proposed form, functions and cost of this new body.

  Community Health Councils
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the financial consequences of abolishing community health councils and replacing them with patient advocacy and liaison services (PALS), patients' forums, local advisory forums and all party scrutiny committees. [138468]

  Ms Stuart
  The National Health Service Plan sets out a programme of investment and reform to modernise NHS. Chapter 10 of the Plan announced the introduction of a new system of public and patient involvement to
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  strengthen the voice of the patient at every level of the NHS. As a consequence, Community Health Councils are to be abolished, subject to legislation.

  The aim of the new system is not to cut costs, but to transform the NHS, so that health care services are built around the needs of the patients who use it and citizens that pay for it. The current CHC budget is £23 million per annum, and an additional £10 million per annum has been made available from 2001–02 specifically to assist with the introduction of a Patient Advocacy and Liaison Service.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Bovine TB
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will invoke the precautionary principle in respect of bovine TB by permitting a cull of badgers in affected areas; [137555]

  (2) what measures he proposes to arrest the spread of bovine TB. [137553]

  Ms Quin
  The Government fully recognise the economic and financial costs which cattle TB imposes on the farming industry. We are pressing ahead with a comprehensive strategy first detailed in 1998 and on which regular progress reports are given to the House. The Government are keeping the need for additional measures under constant review.

  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the risk to cattle of ingesting grass contaminated by badger urine and excrement. [137583]

  Ms Quin
  Research is being carried out by the Moredun Research Institute and the Scottish Agricultural College examining the potential routes of M.bovis transmission from pasture contaminated with infected excreta to cattle under controlled conditions. Results will be published when available.

  Sugar Beet Regime
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the value was of the ex-farm sugar beet crop in each of the past five years; and what is the estimated comparable figure post implementation of the proposed new EU sugar regime. [137588]

  Ms Quin
  The value of the UK sugar beet crop in the last five years was as follows:

  £million

  1995

  355

  1996

  358

  1997

  329

  1998

  295

  1999

  291

  The future value of the crop will depend on a number of factors, including sugar beet yields and the level of sugar production quotas. Quotas are expected to continue
  60W
  to be constrained by current WTO limits on export subsidies; the extent of the constraint will be determined in part by future world market prices.

  Seed Purity
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many spot checks have been undertaken in the last six months to ensure seed purity. [137347]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 9 November 2000]: Between 1 May and 31 October 2000, MAFF arranged for 611 samples to be taken and tested from seed offered for sale. These were tested to ensure compliance with the minimum standards for analytical purity and 'other seeds content' required by the EU seeds directives. Of the samples tested, two failed to reach these minimum standards due to excessive presence of ergot or other seeds.

  In addition, the Central Science Laboratory (CSL) has delegated powers under Section 125 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to carry out inspection and enforcement with respect to the deliberate release of genetically modified organisms. CSL inspectors have audited 11 main seed importers to ensure that appropriate checks and tests are being carried out to prevent unapproved GM seed varieties being released.

  In response to a Government request for information, the seeds industry has advised that they have reviewed their seed production methods and, where a risk assessment deems it appropriate, seed companies are having samples of seed tested to detect any presence of GM material.

  BSE
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) undertaken into the possibility that cow dung used as a fertiliser could transmit BSE in cattle to humans as CJD; what were the findings; and what advice he has issued on the matter. [137624]

  Ms Quin
  No work has been commissioned to demonstrate directly that cow dung used as fertiliser could transmit BSE to humans as CJD. In studies commissioned by MAFF, BSE infectivity has been found in the wall of the gut of cattle that were given BSE infected cattle brain by mouth, but none has been seen in the gut of natural cases of BSE. Analysis of data from the epidemic (by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) and other groups) suggests that horizontal transmission between animals does not occur, by any route. It has proved difficult to test faeces directly for infection, as it is highly toxic to mice, but no infection has been transmitted to mice from the faeces of cattle experimentally infected with BSE.
  61W
  Although MAFF has not issued advice on this matter, SEAC have considered and issued advice on the disposal of excreta from experimentally infected cattle. The Committee's advice applies specifically to experimentally infected cattle and SEAC has not issued broader advice on this question.

  Swine Fever
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the first payments under the new pig welfare compensation scheme will be paid to farmers in areas affected by swine fever. [138274]

  Ms Quin
  Producers with welfare difficulties as a result of being subject to movement controls due to the classical swine fever outbreak in East Anglia are eligible to enter their pigs into the Pig Welfare (Disposal) Scheme. Payments under that scheme since its inception on 29 August and up to 13 November have amounted to £1.5 million. Changes to the payment structure of the scheme, announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister on 1 November, may result in a few minor adjustments to those payments.

  Million dozen

  Country

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  United Kingdom

  791

  80

  791

  772

  770

  752

  761

  76

  754

  726

  Netherlands

  47

  2

  19

  22

  31

  29

  30

  3

  25

  31

  France

  12

  —

  6

  13

  17

  15

  17

  1

  20

  19

  Germany

  8

  —

  8

  5

  4

  6

  7

  —

  7

  8

  Belgium

  3

  —

  3

  4

  6

  5

  7

  —

  3

  5

  Denmark

  2

  —

  3

  3

  4

  4

  3

  —

  3

  3

  Italy

  0

  —

  0

  0

  2

  2

  2

  —

  3

  1

  Irish Republic

  0

  —

  0

  0

  2

  3

  2

  —

  1

  0

  Others

  0

  —

  0

  2

  2

  2

  4

  —

  3

  2

  Total

  864

  85

  831

  821

  837

  818

  833

  83

  819

  795

  0 = less than 0.5 million dozen eggs

  Source:

  HM Customs and Excise; MAFF

  Poultry
  Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what forecasts he has made in respect of the economic prospects of the poultry sector for the next 12 months. [138433]

  Ms Quin
  Income forecasts for pig and poultry farms, year ending February 2001, will be published in a Statistical News Release on 31 January 2001. More detailed information underlying these forecasts will be published in "Farm Incomes in the UK, 1999–2000" in March 2001.

  Organophosphates
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will receive the report from CBD Porton Down on the dose effect profiles for organophosphate sheep dips on brain electrical activity and sensitive behaviour indices in non-human primates; and if he will make a statement on the progress of organophosphate research. [138049]
  62W
  Mrs. Shephard
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the causes of the outbreak of swine fever in East Anglia. [138096]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 13 November 2000]: The most likely source of infection is still thought to be consumption by a pig or pigs of an infected pork product. However, epidemiological investigations are continuing and the results of these investigations will be reported in full in due course.

  Eggs
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the countries of origin of eggs sold in the UK in each of the past 10 years. [138271]

  Ms Quin
  The table shows the country of origin of eggs sold in the UK. For imported eggs the country of dispatch is given. Some of these eggs may have been produced in another country, but such information is not available on a reliable basis. The data include the shell egg equivalent of whole (dried, frozen and liquid) egg, egg yolk, and albumen.

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 15 November 2000]: The research project at CBD Porton Down commenced in April 1998. This is a particularly exacting study and progress is such that the final report may not be available before April 2002.

  On the broader range of organophosphate research, following the publication of the Report of the Committee on the Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment, a government funded programme of research is being put in place. The issues to be addressed were discussed in a Scientific Workshop on 28 March and a Research Requirements Document was published on 20 July. Concept notes submitted in response to this document have been evaluated by independent scientists and 18 proposers have been invited to submit full proposals. We expect that full proposals will be evaluated in December and our aim is to complete the commissioning process by February 2001. We are also funding a review of data on suspected health complaints in humans held by the OP Information Network, the Pesticides Action Network and the Northern Ireland OP Sufferers Association which will be carried out by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
  63W
  A database of Government-funded OP research generally since 1995 has been prepared and is available on-line to the public at www.csl.gov.uk/ops (passwords are "public" then "access".

  Farming
  Mr. Peter Bradley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farming businesses(a) closed and (b) went bankrupt in each year between 1990 and 2000. [139025]

  Ms Quin
  Statistics on the number of farming business closures are not available. Data on farming bankruptcies are available only for England and Wales, and only up to 1999. These data are presented in the table.

  Number of bankruptcies in the agricultural and horticultural sector: England and Wales 1990–99

  Year

  Total bankruptcies (including insolvencies1)

  1990

  309

  1991

  401

  1992

  504

  1993

  434

  1994

  397

  1995

  317

  1996

  257

  1997

  206

  1998

  222

  1999

  224

  £Companies and Partnerships

  Source:

  Department of Trade and Industry

  LEADER + Programme
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements he has made for the implementation of the LEADER+ Programme in England. [139447]

  Mr. Morley
  MAFF has submitted the draft England LEADER+ Programme to Brussels; similar arrangements are being made for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

  I have arranged for copies of the Programme document to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  GM Feedstuffs
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide updated information on the project to feed GM maize and corn to chickens, including the date on which the project commenced, the date it will finish, the date when its results will be available and who is undertaking it. [136485]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The design of this project is still being considered and hence it has not yet started. The objective of the research is to establish if DNA molecules from GM feed ingredients can be detected in poultry meat at slaughter. When the experimental protocol has been finalised the research is expected to last about 18 months. The findings will be published once the experimental data are analysed at the end of the research phase. It is envisaged that the project will be undertaken by ADAS Consulting Ltd.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Miners' Compensation
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the value of compensation clawback from(a) Scottish and (b) UK ex-miners as a result of the Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) Act 1997. [135119]

  Mr. Bayley
  We do not have a current estimate of the amount of benefit that will be recovered from the Department of Trade and Industry in respect of UK ex-miners cases as a result of the Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) Act 1997.

  The number of claims settled to date has been relatively small. Claims by ex-miners against the former British Coal Board are a unique situation, and we will be able to prepare reliable estimates only once more robust information regarding the numbers of potential claims, and the potential amounts to be recovered, becomes available.

  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the estimated average delay arising from the need to assess recovery of compensation under the Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) Act 1997 was in the last 12 months in payment of compensation to ex-miners suffering from respiratory diseases. [135122]

  Mr. Bayley
  The Compensation Recovery Unit has a statutory obligation to advise compensators of the amount to be recovered, within 28 days of a request for this information. This obligation is being met in 99.8 per cent. of cases. In cases where the information is not sent within 28 days, the Unit loses its right to recover and the compensator is entitled to settle without further reference to the Unit.

  Compensators (including the Department of Trade and Industry) apply to this Department for details of the amount to be recovered well in advance of making any settlement, and apply periodically for revised details. Thus they are in possession of current details on the date that an agreement to settle is made, and compensation may be paid without delay.

  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the recovery of compensation payments under the Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) Act 1997 is applicable if the recipient of compensation is the widow of the original claimant. [135120]

  Mr. Bayley
  Yes. The requirement to recover compensation payments applies in respect of the benefits paid to the person who suffered the accident, injury or disease, irrespective of whether the actual recipient of the compensation payment is someone other than the person who suffered the accident, injury or disease. Recovery is made at source from the compensator, never from the recipient.

  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many certificates have been issued by the Compensation Recovery Unit to reclaim benefits from damages received under the miners" compensation settlement; what was the original amount earmarked that could be reclaimed under these certificates; and what is currently the estimated amount. [136430]
  65W
  Mr. Bayley
  The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Income Support
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many recipients of Income Support who are (i) unemployed and (ii) single parents have been in receipt of the benefit for(a) up to one year, (b) one to two years,(c) two to three years, (d) more than three years and (e) other periods for which information is available. [137094]

  Angela Eagle
  Income-based Jobseeker"s Allowance replaced Income Support as the income related benefit for unemployed people with effect from October 1996. Recipients of Income Support may however, work part time for up to 16 hours per week. Their partner, should they have one, may work up to 24 hours per week without affecting entitlement to Income Support.

  Income Support lone parents by duration, Great Britain, May 2000

  Thousand

  Duration

  Number of claimants

  Under 1 year

  213.0

  1–2 years

  150.9

  2–3 years

  104.2

  3 years and over

  442.0

  Total of all cases

  910.1

  Notes:

  1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred and quoted in thousands

  2. Based on 5 per cent. sample (therefore subject to sampling error)

  3. Lone parents are single claimants with dependants who are not receiving the disability or pensioner premium

  Source:

  Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry, May 2000

  Income-based Jobseeker"s Allowance claimants by duration, Great Britain, May 2000

  Thousand

  Duration

  Number of claimants

  Under 1 year

  562.6

  1–2 years

  113.5

  2–3 years

  50.3

  3 years and over

  98.1

  Total of all cases

  824.5

  Notes:

  1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred and quoted in thousands

  2. Based on 5 per cent. sample therefore subject to sampling error

  3. Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance claimants may have underlying entitlement to benefit via the contributory route

  4. Jobseeker"s Allowance replaced Income Support for the unemployed with effect from October 1996

  Source:

  Jobseeker"s Allowance Statistics Quarterly Enquiry, May 2000.

  Pensions Advisers
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensions advisers at each grade in his Department there were in(a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) 2000; and what was the relevant staff establishment in each year. [137759]
  66W
  Mr. Rooker
  The Department has no specific pension adviser posts. All staff engaged on pensions work give advice to the public. Staffing information is not held on specific areas of work.

  Disability Living Allowance (Appeals)
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of those claimants who are successful at disability living allowance appeal tribunals have had to wait in excess of(a) one month, (b) two months and (c) three months for arrears to be paid in the last 12 months. [138055]

  Mr. Bayley
  The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Appeals Service Tribunal
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what factors underlay the decision to replace the Independent Tribunal Service with the Appeals Service Tribunal. [138300]

  Angela Eagle
  The Independent Tribunal Service (ITS) was a tribunal non-Departmental Public Body under a Presidential system. The President was responsible not only for judicial functions but also for the administration of the five tribunals. As a member of the judiciary, the President was not accountable to Parliament for the performance of ITS, and it was not possible to set targets relating to appeals administration.

  The Social Security Act 1998 provided the legislative framework to introduce a more streamlined and efficient appeals system. The President remains the judicial head of appeal tribunals and is responsible for their independent functions.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State assumed responsibility for the administration of appeals from 1 June 1999 and the Appeals Service agency, headed by a Chief Executive, was established on 3 April 2000. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has set the agency key financial and performance targets which are detailed in its published Business Plan for 2000–01.

  Basic Pension
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what increases in the basic pension for 2001–02 and 2002–03 would result if the 0.3 per cent. reduction in employers" contribution rates was cancelled and the money spent on the basic pension. [138351]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 15 November 2000]: The 0.3 per cent. reduction relates to the climate change levy and therefore has no relevance to Social Security policy issues.

  Pensioners (Over-75s)
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received on the impact on pensioners approaching 75 years of the obligation to purchase annuities or risk losing their pension; and if he will make a statement. [138542]

  Mr. Rooker
  We have received various representations on the requirement to use tax-approved pension funds to purchase an annuity by the age of 75. These are
  67W
  long-standing rules which ensure that such funds are used to provide secure lifelong pensions in retirement. We are considering the points that have been made and an announcement will be made in due course if it is decided that any changes to the current rules are needed.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 22 June 2000,Official Report, column 254W, what is the average time taken to process Housing Benefit claims by Chelmsford Borough Council; and what proportion of new claims for which all the relevant information has been provided are not dealt with within the 14 day guidelines to process applications. [139076]

  Angela Eagle
  The information requested about the average time taken to process Housing Benefit claims is not currently available. So far very limited information has been provided by local authorities on performance against Best Value indicators for the period April to June 2000. This information is currently being considered and analysed by the Department. Full year results will not be available until late summer 2001.

  Between April 1999 and March 2000, the latest period for which data are available, Chelmsford Borough council cleared 57 per cent. of its new Housing Benefit claims within 14 days of receipt of all necessary information.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 22 June 2000, Official Report, column 254W, on Housing Benefit, what is the average length of time taken to determine new Housing Benefit claims by each local authority in England. [139075]

  Angela Eagle
  The information requested is not currently available. So far very limited information has been provided by local authorities on performance against Best Value indicators for the period April to June 2000. This information is currently being considered and analysed by the Department. Full year results will not be available until late summer 2001.

  Pensioner Income
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many and what proportion of(a) single and (b) married couple pensioners have an income of £20,000 a year or more; and if he will list for those groups the main sources of income. [139301]

  Mr. Rooker
  Some 398,000 pensioner couples have an annual net income of more than £20,000. This represents 15 per cent. of all pensioner couples. Corresponding information for single pensioners is not available since the sample size is too small to provide statistically reliable estimates.

  The main sources of income for pensioners who have an annual net income of more than £20,000 are benefit income (including pensions), Occupational pensions, investment income, earnings and other income.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security at what level of income entitlement to the pension credit would run out in the case of a single pensioner receiving the basic pension at(a) 20 per cent., (b) 30 per cent., (c) 40 per cent., (d) 50 per cent.,
  68W
  (e) 60 per cent., (f) 70 per cent., (g) 80 per cent., (h) 90 per cent. and (i) 100 per cent. of the full rate. [139311]

  Mr. Rooker
  The pension credit does not work in this way. The aim of the pension credit is to reward savings income of up to £135 a week for a single pensioner and £200 a week for couples.

  Stakeholder Pensions
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the additional cost which would result from increasing the stakeholder exemption limit to 20 employees. [137443]

  Mr. Rooker
  Exempting employers of less than 20 people from providing access to Stakeholder Pensions could affect over one million businesses and 1.89 million employees. There would be no additional cost.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what research has been carried out by his Department to estimate the additional costs of introducing stakeholder pensions to be met by smaller scale employers with numbers of employees just above the proposed exemption limits. [137442]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Regulatory Impact Assessment published with the Stakeholder Pension Scheme Regulations 2000 (SI 1403) set out estimates of the range of costs likely to be faced by employers in providing access to a stakeholder pension scheme. A copy of the Assessment is in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the organisations consulted on the implementation of the proposals for stakeholder pensions; what proportion of those consulted raised concerns about the additional administrative work involved; and what changes were made as a result of the consultation. [137440]

  Mr. Rooker
  Over 400 organisations were consulted on our proposals for stakeholder pension schemes. There was a specific consultation on proposals for the employer access requirement on which more than 100 responses were received. These included responses from the Confederation of British Industry and the Federation of Small Businesses.

  Several responses, by or on behalf of employers, expressed concerns about the likely administrative burden. The consultation proposals were subsequently amended to exempt employers with fewer than five employees from the requirement. An exemption was also added for employers who offer their employees at least a 3 per cent. contribution to a personal pension which meets certain conditions.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many recent representations he has had from employers and their representatives on the administrative work involved in the introduction of stakeholder pensions. [137441]

  Mr. Rooker
  We have not received any formal representations from employers or their representatives on the administrative work involved in providing access to stakeholder pension schemes since the consultation exercises (proposals for the employer access requirement
  69W
  were issued in June 1999, and the draft regulations in May 2000). However, we continue to receive inquiries from employers seeking clarification on the ways in which the employer access requirement will work.

  Winter Fuel Allowance (Carers)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost of extending the Winter Fuel Allowance to carers in receipt of ICA where there is no one in the household over 60; and how many beneficiaries there would be. [138909]

  Mr. Rooker
  It is estimated that the cost of extending Winter Fuel Payments to carers in receipt of Invalid Care Allowance, where there is no-one in the household over 60, would be £50 million in the winter of 2000–01, with approximately 250,000 extra recipients.

  Notes:

  1. Based on survey information, subject to sampling error.

  2. Cash prices, to the nearest 10 million.

  Minimum Income Guarantee
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he is taking to ensure that respondents to the Minimum Income Guarantee take-up campaign who are not eligible for Minimum Income Guarantee but might be eligible for the pensioner credit are notified of their entitlement. [138693]

  Mr. Rooker
  We are considering what steps are needed to do this.

  NIRS2
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the number of incomplete national insurance records on the NIRS2 computer system for the financial year 1997–98; and if he will make a statement on the implications of these incomplete records on the benefit and pension entitlements of those effected. [137694]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I have been asked to reply.

  At the end of each year we receive contributions details for approximately 50 million individual employees, some of whom have had several jobs during the year. We have updated over 98 per cent. of individual records for which we have received 1997–98 details.

  Of the remaining two per cent., in the majority of cases the information we have received is incomplete, or in a format that we cannot use to update the individual record. This is a feature of any year and we are continuing to work with employers to put this right. The remaining details are currently being entered into NIRS2.

  By the end of November we estimate that we will have updated over 99 per cent. of records on NIRS2 for which we have received 1997–98 contributions details.

  The effect on an individual's benefit or pension entitlement of their 1997–98 National Insurance contribution record being incomplete varies from case to case.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  "Charging with Care"
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the President of the Council, pursuant to her oral answer of 11 May 2000,Official Report, column 1015, on the Audit Commission report "Charging with Care", what the basis was of her statement concerning the Commission"s findings about Liberal Democrat councils. [138015]

  Mrs. Beckett
  I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Departmental Policies (Gorton)
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 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. [136174]

  Mr. Byers
  My Department does not maintain statistical information down to constituency level.

  Constituents in Gorton, like many others in Manchester, will have benefited from my Department"s Employment Rights policies, which include the National Minimum Wage, the Working Time Directive, Part-Time Working Regulations and improved Maternity Leave.

  The Ward of Got-ton, North has been included in the revised Assisted Area map for Regional Selective Assistance and all of the Wards are included for the Enterprise Grant Scheme.

  In the North-West we are also promoting regional innovation including the use of new technology, supporting small business, and developing Manufacturing Centres of Excellence.

  Miners" Compensation
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many medical assessment procedures in respect of miners" compensation claims for chest disease were completed(a) in 1999, (b) January to June, (c) July, (d) August, (e) September and (f) October. [137072]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Since the beginning of 1999, Healthcall, the company contracted to carry out both the first stage medical assessments (spirometry) and the full Medical Assessment Process (MAP), have completed a total of 59,277 spirometry tests, and 6,059 MAP assessments broken down as follows:

  Spirometry

  MAP

  1999

  37,169

  2

  January to June

  17,887

  1,163

  July

  1,878

  714

  August

  2,154

  942

  September

  1,440

  1,408

  October

  1,324

  1,830

  Post Offices
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many mergers of sub-post offices are estimated by the Performance and Innovation Unit to result from its recommendation to create bigger outlets. [138043]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 13 November 2000]The Cabinet Office Performance and Innovation Unit report on the Post Office network did not contain such an estimate.

  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many sub-post masters and mistresses are qualified and registered with the Financial Services Authority to offer financial advice on retirement pension provision. [138036]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 13 November 2000]: There are no proposals from the government or any other body including the National Federation of Subpostmasters for subpostmasters and mistresses to offer financial advice on retirement pension provision.

  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the formula proposed by the Post Office for calculating a social network payment for sub-post offices. [138038]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 13 November 2000]: The Post Office network submitted its business plan to me on 19 September. The plan contains commercially sensitive information and was submitted to me in confidence.

  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many representations he has received regarding modified post offices. [138417]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 14 November 2000]: Written representations regarding modified sub post offices have been received from four Members of Parliament and from 6 individual subpostmasters.

  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department is taking to ensure that those running modified sub-post offices receive (a) the minimum wage and (b) other employees' statutory rights, following the decision in the case of H. & V. Patel v. the Commissioner of Customs and Excise. [138410]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 14 November 2000]: It is the responsibility of the Post Office to ensure compliance with any employment legislation applicable to sub-postmasters.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many parishes do not have a post office(a) in the latest year for which figures are available and (b) 10 years previously; and if he will place a list of those parishes in the Library. 139061]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  I understand from the Post Office that they do not hold data at parish level.

  Late Payment
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many invoices the Ministerial Parliamentary 72W
  Support team paid in 1999–2000; and what percentage of these were paid within 30 days of receipt or from the date a supplier dispute was resolved. 138400]

  Ms Hewitt
  In 1999–2000, 93 per cent. of invoices for expenditure incurred by the Department, including the Ministerial and Parliamentary Support Team, were paid within 30 days.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will explain the reasons for the shortfall in performance against his departmental target of paying 100 per cent. of all currently presented bills in 1999–2000 within 30 days of receipt of goods and services or a valid invoice. [138399]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Department has been introducing a Resource Accounting and Budgeting system, including a new electronic measure of the bills received and paid. The transition to the new system has temporarily affected the bill paying process across the Department.

  Waste Packaging Regulations
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the cost of the Waste Packaging Regulations to(a) consumers and (b) business. [138497]

  Ms Hewitt
  Assessments of the costs of these Regulations have been made at every stage of their development. In August 2000, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions published a consultation paper on the recovery and recycling targets in the Regulations. This paper included a draft Regulatory Impact Assessment which estimated that the cost to the UK for 2001 would be in the region of £150 million. It is for businesses to decide what proportion of these costs will be passed on to consumers.

  IBM UK
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support the Government provides in the form of(a) regional grant and (b) other measures to IBM UK. [138495]

  Mr. Caborn
  Since May 1997, IBM UK has received Regional Selective Assistance for new investment in Great Britain and assistance from the Renfrewshire Enterprise Company for training associated with that investment.

  As an inward investor, IBM has also received advice from Invest UK and Locate in Scotland concerning their activities in the UK.

  Biwater (Clay Cross) Ltd.
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will refer to the Competition Commission for investigation under the Fair Trading Act 1973 the takeover of Biwater (Clay Cross) Ltd. by Saint Gobain. [137975]
  73W
  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 16 November 2000]: The Director General of Fair Trading (DGFT) advised me on 21 June 2000 that I should not refer this merger to the Competition Commission under the Fair Trading Act 1973. I accepted this recommendation on 29 June 2000 and cleared the merger.

  Subsequently, my hon. Friend and others raised issues which they felt amounted to material information which should lead to the case being re-opened and referred to the Competition Commission.

  I submitted this information to the DGFT and asked him to consider whether it was material information.

  The DGFT wrote to my hon. Friend on 23 October 2000 to say that he had concluded that the additional information provided was not material. Therefore he saw no grounds for re-opening the case.

  After taking into account all the relevant considerations and the provisions of the Fair Trading Act 1973 I have accepted the advice of the DGFT.

  Nissan, Sunderland
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions he has had with Nissan over the future of its car plant in Sunderland. [138690]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 16 November 2000]: The Department is in regular contact with senior executives from Nissan both from the UK and Japan to discuss issues affecting the development of the car plant in Sunderland. Officials are also working closely with the company to help secure the assembly of the new Micra model at the Sunderland plant.

  Universal Banking
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the high street banks which(a) are working with the Post Office to develop the concept of Universal Banking services and (b) have declined to do so. [138513]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 16 November 2000]: The Post Office is working with the High Street banks, other financial institutions, the British Bankers' Association and the Building Societies Association to develop the concept of Universal Banking services. No bank has declined to do so.

  EC Merger Regulations
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the French presidency's proposals for EU-wide mergers and acquisition legislation. [138679]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 16 November 2000]: EC legislation on mergers and acquisitions has existed since 1989 in the form of the EC Merger Regulation (Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064–89, since amended by Council Regulation (EC) 1310–97). Mergers which meet the thresholds in the Regulation fall to the consideration of the European Commission rather than to that of national competition authorities.
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  The French Presidency has not made any proposals regarding the amendment of the EC Merger Regulation. However, the European Commission has begun a review of the Regulation following a report to the Council of Ministers on the operation of its thresholds. The report can be found on the Commission's website at: www.europa.eu.int/comm/competition/mergers/review and copies will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Offshore Oil Industry
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has made to the European Commission concerning the impact of the EC Directive on large combustion plants on the off-shore oil industry. [139155]

  Ms Hewitt
  My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment has represented the views of Her Majesty's Government in discussions on this Directive. Under the Common Position reached at the June meeting of the Environment Council, the Directive would not apply to plant used on offshore platforms.

  Telecommunications
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he intends to take to provide assistance to businesses based in areas not scheduled for coverage by BT's ADSL roll-out programme. [139071]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 17 November 2000]: The Government will stimulate and promote industry investment in higher bandwidth services so that as many people as possible can get faster access to the Internet and other information services. For this reason, we are encouraging a range of higher bandwidth technologies, such as cable modems, third generation mobile phones, broadband fixed wireless and satellite services, as well as ADSL. To cover the areas that the market does not reach, we will work through the development agencies in the regions, and in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales to develop effective strategies for the rollout of higher bandwidth services.

  Business Regulations
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many regulations on businesses were in existence in 1997; and how many there are now. [136418]

  Mr. Stringer
  I have been asked to reply.

  This information is not kept in the form requested and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Existing regulations with the potential to affect business may originate far back in history and cross a great spread of departmental responsibilities.

  Since 1998, every regulation with an impact on business is required to undergo a regulatory impact assessment to ensure that all the alternatives have been considered and that the benefits justify the costs. Regulatory impact assessments can be obtained from the Libraries of the House.

CABINET OFFICE

  Civil Servants (Retirement Age)
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will end the requirement for civil servants to retire at the age of 60. [137621]

  Mr. Stringer
  Departments have authority to set the normal retirement age for their own staff, with the exception of those in the Senior Civil Service, and some already operate retirement ages above 60. The normal retirement age for members of the Senior Civil Service is currently 60.

  In the light of the Performance and Innovation Unit report "Winning the Generation Game" Departments are considering, as recommended in the report, whether changes to their retirement arrangements would be practicable, and the Cabinet Office will consider whether to change the retirement age for the Senior Civil Service.

  Drug Misuse
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on the Government's strategy to reduce unlawful drug use. [137448]

  Mr. Stringer
  The Government's 10-year strategy for tackling drug misuse, "Tackling Drugs to Build a Better Britain", was published in 1998. The strategy is proactive and wide-ranging. It aims to create a healthy and confident society, increasingly free from the harm caused by the misuse of drugs, particularly Class A drugs such as heroin and cocaine.

  The UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator published his Annual Report for 1999–2000 on 7 November 2000. The report shows that we are making progress towards meeting the challenging targets we have set. My hon. Friend will be interested to read the written answer that my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford, South (Mr. Gapes) on 7 November 2000, Official Report, column 153W, which highlighted areas of work where the drugs strategy is having a positive impact.

  Copies of the Annual Report for 1999–2000 have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

TREASURY

  Regeneration Schemes (Tax Relief)
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to Cm 4917, if he will make a statement on the participation of people with disabilities in his proposals for tax reliefs for regeneration schemes. [138201]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 13 November 2000]: The Government are determined that disabled people have the opportunity to lead fulfilling and independent lives and play a full and active role in society.

  The Government have been encouraged by the work of the first three Urban Regeneration Companies (URCs)Liverpool Vision, New East Manchester, and Sheffield One-in developing a clear vision and strategy for key
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  areas of these cities. The Government will continue to monitor the URCs carefully, and will consider how a tax relief could help to promote their development. At present no decisions have been made on the details of any possible tax relief.

  Pensions/Taxation
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to Cm 4917, if he will update his answers to the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb) of 3 July 2000,Official Report, column 15W, on pensions, and the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell of 28 July 2000, Official Report, column 1011W, on capital gains tax, and 28 July 2000, Official Report, column 1016W, on taxation of incomes; and if he will make a statement. [138326]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Responsibility for pensions policy rests with the Secretary of State for Social Security.

  Updated estimates, consistent with the November 2000 pre-Budget report, are as follows:
  The full year cost of reducing the top rates of income tax (including dividends) by 10 percentage points is £8 billion in 2000–01.The yield from introducing a 50 per cent. rate on taxable income over £100,000 is given in another written answer which I am today giving to the hon. Gentleman (137844).
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 1 November 2000,Official Report, column 515W, on taxation, by what method the underlying assumptions of his answer of 28 July 2000, Official Report, column 1011W, and the Survey of Personal Incomes were used to produce his answer; and if he will update his answer using the new assumptions which will be published in the pre-Budget report. [137844]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 13 November 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 1 November 2000, Official Report, column 515W.

  Introducing a 50 per cent. rate of income tax on taxable income of over £100,000 would yield £2.9 billion in 2000–01 and for later years this figure will increase by on average £300 million per year. These estimates include tax on dividends, and taxable income has been defined as income after deducting the personal allowance.

  These latest estimates are now based on the 1998–99 survey of personal incomes and are consistent with the November 2000 pre-Budget report.

  Post War Credit Claims
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of those who are entitled to repayment of post war credit have not yet claimed; what is the estimated value of the money owed; what measures the Government are taking to locate those whose claims are outstanding; and if he will make a statement. [138702]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The total sum of post war credits remaining unclaimed is estimated at £33 million. Figures for the numbers entitled to make a claim are not available. Substantial publicity campaigns have been mounted and approximately 95 per cent. of the original credit has already been repaid.

  Enterprise Management Incentives
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what factors underlay the estimate in the Pre-Budget report, page 47, Paragraph 3.60, that 2,500 companies will use enterprise management incentives over the next three years. [138620]

  Mr. Timms
  The target population for EMIs is broadly the same as that for the Enterprise Investment Scheme, which has attracted over 3,000 companies in its first six years. EMIs are simple to operate, and the potential benefits from being able to attract and retain high quality employees suggest that EMIs will be popular.

  Fuel Tax (Farmers and Horticulturists)
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the impact of a tax on fossil fuels on farmers and horticulturists. [137142]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 16 November 2000]: The Government have received representations on tax on fuel from a large number of organisations and individuals, including farmers and horticulturists. Farmers are entitled to use 'red diesel' for off road use, with a duty rate of just over 3p/litre. The Government have announced that this rate will be frozen in Budget 2001 in cash terms.

  The Government announced in the pre-Budget report that they intend to abolish vehicle excise duties on tractors. Also, in recognition of the unique position of the UK horticulture sector, the Government announced in the March Budget that they intend to offer a special package of support under the climate change levy.

  Working Families Tax Credit
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the yield from abolishing the child care tax credit element of the Working Families Tax Credit. [139059]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 17 December 1998,Official Report, column 753W. The Government have no plans to abolish the child care tax credit element of the Working Families Tax Credit.

  British Film Industry
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans there are to renew the section 42 tax relief scheme in relation to the British film industry. [139066]

  Dawn Primarolo
  We have no plans to renew the section 42 tax relief scheme in relation to the British film industry because there is no time restriction in the Finance Act (No. 2) 1992.

  EU Tax Harmonisation
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from(a) Ministers and (b) institutions of the European Union concerning proposals for discussion at Nice of the need to harmonise further (a) direct and (b) indirect taxation; and if he will publish such proposals. [139057]
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  Dawn Primarolo
  The Government have made it quite clear that they will insist on retaining unanimity for decisions on taxation. Published Commission communications will have been subject to the normal parliamentary scrutiny procedures.

  Euro
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what studies his Department has undertaken on the effects of the euro on competition; and if he will make a statement. [139077]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 3 February 2000,Official Report, column 687W.

  Brit Discs
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much the annual vehicle excise duty of a 40 tonne truck will be reduced as a result of the proposed introduction of a Brit disc on foreign hauliers. [139300]

  Mr. Timms
  The Government announced in the pre-Budget report that they intend to introduce a 'user charge' or `vignette' scheme in the UK for lorries. The Government would intend that UK hauliers would face no additional costs as a result.

  No decisions on the detailed arrangements of such a scheme have been taken. The Government will consult on the operational implications. In addition the Government announced that they plan to reform vehicle excise duty for lorries in Budget 2001. They are consulting on this reform.

  Debt Management Office
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his oral statement of 8 November 2000,Official Report, columns 315-27, and the pre-Budget report, paragraph B66, when the Debt Management Office will publish the range of instruments in which it may invest surpluses. [138786]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The revised Debt Management Office list outlining additions to the range of instruments in which the DMO can transact on a bilateral basis for cash management purposes was published at 3:30 pm on 9 November 2000. It was issued by way of a screen announcement to the major electronic newswire services. A copy of the announcement can be found on the Debt Management Office's website at: http://www.dmo.gov.uk/cash/index.htm.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his oral statement of 8 November 2000,Official Report, columns 315–27, and the pre-Budget report, if he will estimate VAT receipts for financial year 2001–02, assuming a stable ratio VAT receipts to consumption; and if he will make a statement. [138785]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The impact of the National Audit Office audited assumption on VAT receipts to 2005–06 is contained in paragraph B42 of the November 2000 pre-Budget report.

  Industrial Diseases (Death Certificates)
  Ms McCafferty
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many death certificates were issued for each of the years 1990 to 1999 which mention(a) cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis, (b) extrinsic allergic alveolitis and (c) asbestosis. [139303]

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

  Letter from Len Cook to Ms Chris McCafferty, dated 20 November 2000:

  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question on the number of death certificates issued for 1990 and 1999 which mention cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis, extrinsic allergic alveolitis and asbestosis. (139303)

  Since 1993, all conditions mentioned on the death certificates have been coded routinely and figures requested for those years are presented in the attached table.

  In earlier years, while the underlying cause of death was routinely coded only a selection of the other causes mentioned in the death certificate were identified for coding purposes. Asbestosis was identified in this way but alveolitis was not separately identified. For 1990, 1991 and 1992 the number of certificates mentioning asbestosis was 155, 135 and 148 respectively. These figures are however not comparable with those for later years because of the different methods used.

  Mentions of asbestosis, extrinsic allergic alveolitis and cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis, England and Wales 1993–99

  Cause of death and ICD91 code

  Extrinsic allergic alveolitis (ICD 495)

  Asbestosis (ICD 501)

  Idiopathic fibrosing alveolitis (ICD 516.3)

  1993

  36

  293

  1,348

  1994

  34

  265

  1,322

  1995

  43

  207

  1,376

  1996

  25

  260

  1,414

  1997

  26

  224

  1,521

  1998

  29

  186

  1,558

  1999

  36

  211

  1,633

  1 Deaths are classified according to the WHO International Classification of Disease Ninth Edition.

  Note:

  The terminology used in the table follows that in the WHO volume

  Employee Statistics
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many constituencies the number of(a) male and (b) female employees has decreased since (i) 1997 and (ii) 1999. [139305]

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

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Frank Field, dated 20 November 2000:

  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question on the number of Parliamentary Constituencies that have seen a fall in employee jobs since 1997 and 999. (139305)

  The Annual Employment Survey (AES) is the current source of data on the numbers of employee jobs in Parliamentary Constituencies. Limited post-1997 information may be obtained by comparing the AES results for 1997 and 1998. These can be
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  accessed from the NOMIS database in the House of Commons Library. Estimates for 1999 will not be released until April 2001 and will be based on the Annual Business Inquiry, the AES's successor.

  VAT (Church Repairs)
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) when he expects his proposal of a 5 per cent. rate of VAT on church repairs to come into effect; [138823]

  (2) what advice the Treasury intends to give to organisations intending to carry out repairs on churches about when the reduction in the rate of VAT will come into effect; [138832]

  (3) when he expects to receive an answer from the European Commission to his request to set a lower rate of VAT on church repairs; [138833]

  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his timescale is for implementing his proposal for reducing VAT for listed buildings that are places of worship. [138840]

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to receive a reply from the European Commission to his application for a change to VAT on churches. [139267]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Government have requested that the European Commission should consider making early legislative proposals to include repairs, maintenance and improvements to listed places of worship in the list of permissible reduced rates annexed to the Sixth Directive. The European Commission is currently considering this request. It is too early to discuss the date when any reduced rate could come into effect.

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Chancellor's proposal on the VAT levied on church repairs will also apply to mosques, synagogues and other places of worship. [138831]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Yes. Places of worship are listed religious buildings such as cathedrals, churches, chapels, meeting-houses, synagogues, mosques and temples.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Stasi Agents
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on recent discoveries in the Berlin Stasi archive about paid Stasi agents in the United Kingdom. [137460]

  Mr. Straw
  As I said to the House on 21 October 1999,Official Report, columns 590–91, it would be wholly improper to denounce anyone without their having been convicted of an offence. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, my hon. Friend the Member for North Warwickshire (Mr. O'Brien), also explained to the House in a debate on British Stasi agents on 21 December 1999, Official Report, column 188WH, that the fact of a name appearing in the East German intelligence records is not, of itself, proof of any wrongdoing. The records need to be treated with caution.
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  The Security Service continues to investigate cases arising from the Stasi records. Where the criteria agreed with the prosecuting authorities are met, cases are referred to the prosecuting authorities to decide whether a prosecution should be mounted.

  Safer Communities
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the relationship between Neighbourhood Wardens and the police in promoting safer communities. [137463]

  Mrs. Roche
  Neighbourhood Wardens provide a reassuring presence in high crime neighbourhoods. They have no additional powers. They will promote community safety and respond to anti-social behaviour, enabling police to deal with crime. Neighbourhood Wardens will work in and with communities to reduce the fear of crime, strengthen community spirit, and report incidents to the police.

  Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Bill
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his plans for implementing the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Bill. [137464]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Subject to the timing of Royal Assent, we intend to commence a substantial part of the Bill, including the controls on donations and campaign expenditure, on or around 16 February 2001. The implementation of these provisions will give effect to the Government's manifesto commitments to require the disclosure of the source and value of donations of £5,000 or more and to ban the foreign funding of political parties.

  Police (Investment)
  Mrs. Fiona Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what real increase in investment in the police service has been earmarked for the financial years 2001–02 and 2003–04. [137466]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Total provision for the police will be £8.5 billion in 2001–02, £.9.0 billion in 2002–03 and £9.3 billion in 2003–04. In real terms, these are annul increases of 7.4 per cent. 3.5 per cent. and 0.6 per cent. respectively. Spending will rise by almost £1.6 billion by 2003–04 against provision for this year. That is a rise of 11.8 per cent. in real terms.

  Licensing Laws
  Mr Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department When he expects to publish the outcome of his Department's consultation on the proposed changes to the licensing laws in England and Wales. [137467]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  We are considering the responses to the White Paper. We hope to announce decisions on the way forward very soon. I am pleased by the level of support for the proposed modernisation of the system.

  Police Numbers
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking to increase police numbers; and if he will make a statement. [137469]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Crime Fighting Fund will enable police forces to recruit 9,000 officers over and above the number previously planned in the three years 2000–01 to 2002–03.

  To help forces meet their recruitment targets the first-ever National Recruitment Campaign was launched on 30 August.

  The Metropolitan Police Service and the City of London Police have been experiencing particular problems in attracting new recruits. To address their problems in this area, I have agreed to an increase of £3,327 per annum in the London Allowance paid to those officers in each force who were recruited on or after 1 September 1994 and who are not in receipt of housing allowance.

  The Government want to see police numbers rising. The spending plans I announced on 19 July 2000, Official Report, columns 376–91, are intended to achieve that. These plans make generous provision intended to meet the major pay, pensions and other pressures on forces as well as providing ring-fenced funding to increase recruitment through The Crime Fighting Fund. We anticipate that these measures will enable forces to increase police officer numbers to record levels by March 2003.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what date he expects the police forces in England and Wales to have replaced the number of police officers they have lost since March 1997; and if he will make a statement. [137479]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  We anticipate that with the crime fighting fund, the additional allocation of resources for the police service in the Budget last March and the additional funds to be provided as a result of the Spending Review 2000, police numbers should surpass their March 1997 level by the end of March 2002.

  Home Detention Curfew Scheme
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders convicted of offences of violence were released from prison early on the home detention curfew scheme; and if he will make a statement. [137470]

  Mr. Boateng
  Of the 26,607 prisoners released up to 30 September 2000 under the Home Detention Curfew scheme, 6,141 were convicted of offences of violence.

  Army Training (Police Facilities)
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training facilities are offered by the police to the Army. [137471]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  National Police Training liaises with the military on a regular basis and there is some overlap in training provision, especially in relation to exercises with specialist areas of military activity. A
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  senior officer from the Armed Services generally attends the Strategic Command Course at Bramshill and senior military personnel attend other seminars and events from time to time.

  Apart from this there are few other arrangements for shared training. We are aware of some instances where army dog-handlers have been trained alongside police dog-handlers and we understand that some army staff have attended courses at the National Training Centre for Scientific Support to Crime Investigation in County Durham.

  Crime Trends
  Mr. Derek Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on trends in the levels of crime since 1997. [137473]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The most recently published information comes from the British Crime Survey published on 17 October. It shows that there was an overall fall of 10 per cent. between 1997 and 1999 in the crimes which the British Crime Survey measures.

  Mr. Savidge
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on trends in(a) recorded crime and (b) victimisation rates recorded in the British Crime Survey, between 1993 and 1995. [137477]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  On the basis of offences that can be compared across both sets of figures, crime recorded by the police fell by 8 per cent. between 1993 and 1995. The number of comparable crimes measured by the British Crime Survey (BCS) rose by 4 per cent. The divergent trend is consistent with two results from the BCS. The first is that the proportion of offences reported to the police victims fell between 1993 and 1995. The second is that the proportion of the reported crime that was recorded by the police also fell, according to BCS evidence.

  Private Security Industry
  Mr. David Heath
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to regulate the private security industry. [137474]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  We outlined our proposals to regulate the private security industry in the White Paper "The Government's Proposals for Regulation of the Private Security Industry in England and Wales", which was published last year. The proposals allow for the establishment of a new Authority which will be responsible for licensing people employed in specified sectors of the industry, and maintaining and improving standards within the industry. We intend to introduce legislation to give effect to these proposals as soon as Parliamentary time allows.

  Travellers
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to enable the swift eviction of travellers illegally occupying local authority land. [137475]
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  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 provides powers for the police and local authorities to remove travellers who are camping on unauthorised sites. Section 61 allows the police to direct them to leave, and failure to comply with a direction is an arrestable offence. Section 77 allows the local authority to direct unauthorised campers to leave; failure to comply is a criminal offence, and the local authority may apply to the magistrates court for an order allowing them to take reasonable steps to achieve compliance. The Home Office/DETR guidance document "Managing Unauthorised Camping" has recently been revised to reinforce the message that unauthorised camping which involves criminal or antisocial behaviour should not be tolerated.

  Passports
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on European Commission proposals relating to the design of passports in EU member states. [137478]

  Mrs. Roche
  The European Commission has not yet put forward any proposals on passport format, although it announced its intention to do so in September. We have made clear to the Commission that we would not agree to the removal of the Royal Coat of Arms from the cover of the passport. Nor would we agree to any other amendments which were not justified on security grounds.

  The Commission has said that there is, and will be, no proposal to replace the Royal Crest with stars on the front of passports, or to change the message on the inside cover.

  We will inform Parliament more fully of our reactions to the proposals when they emerge.

  Prisoner Numbers
  31. Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were imprisoned on the most recent date for which figures are available; and how many prison places were available on that date. [137480]

  Mr. Boateng
  The latest data available are for Thursday 9 November 2000, when the population was 64,004.

  The uncrowded capacity of the prison estate is 63,456 and the crowded capacity is 71,131.

  Metropolitan Police Personnel
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many uniformed Metropolitan police personnel were based within the Greater London area on 1 November(a) 2000, (b) 1999, (c)(d) 1997 and (e) 1996. [137481]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the number of officers available for duty in the Metropolitan police on 1 November for the years in question is as shown in the table.
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  Year (as at 1 November)

  Number of police officers (full time equivalents)

  1996

  27,013

  1997

  26,519

  1998

  26,084

  1999

  25,808

  2000

  124,715

  1On 1 April the Metropolitan Police District was reduced in size following boundary changes with the counties of Essex, Hertfordshire
  and Surrey.

  Hendon Police College
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers began basic training at Hendon in 1996; and how many he estimates will do so in 2000. [137482]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that the number of officers who began basic training at Hendon in 1996 was 1,065. Since January 2000, 703 recruits have commenced training at Hendon, a further 134 are due to commence on 12 November 2000, and the December intake is estimated to be 150. Should these estimated numbers be achieved the total for the full year would be 987.

  Internet-related Crime
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to provide resources to police forces in England and Wales to enable them to combat internet-related crime. [137483]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I refer the hon Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Chatham and Aylesford (Mr. Shaw) on 13 November 2000,Official Report, column 530W.

  Drug Misuse
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact of drug treatment and testing orders on reoffending rates. [137456]

  Mr. Boateng
  Evaluation of the three pilots found that the number of crimes committed by offenders subject to Drug Treatment and Testing Orders fell from an average of 137 offences in the month before arrest to around 34 per month after only six weeks on the order. These reductions were largely maintained over time. Those who have completed the order were reported to have stopped offending.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will establish a royal commission on drug misuse; and if he will make a statement. [137461]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Government have a comprehensive and challenging 10-year National Drug Strategy to tackle all aspects of the drugs problem in this country. The Government have no intention of establishing a Royal Commission, which would serve only to distract from the Strategy.
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  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the availability of drugs in prisons; and what steps he is taking to reduce that availability. [134821]

  Mr. Boateng
  There are no direct measures of the availability of drugs in prisons. Random mandatory drug testing figures provide an indirect measure—the latest figures indicate that on average 12.5 per cent. of prisoners test positive for drugs (down from 24.4 per cent. in 1996–1997).

  There is a comprehensive series of measures in place to reduce the availability of drugs; including: Closed Circuit Television surveillance of visits areas (118 establishments);

  Drug detention dogs (nationally 121 passive and 195 active dogs); visit bans initiative (from 1 April 1999–30 June 2000, 2,991 visitors were banned on suspicion of trafficking and 401 placed on closed visits); low level fixed furniture is now in use in many prison visit areas to inhibit smuggling; and Police and Prison Services have agreed protocols to enhance mutual co-operation and effectiveness.

  Remedial Orders
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the procedure for approving remedial orders under the Human Rights Act 1998. [137459]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The procedure is set out in full in Schedule 2 of the Human Rights Act 1998. The procedure allows an opportunity for representations to be made on the proposed changes to the law.

  Parenting Orders
  Maria Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many parenting orders have been granted under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998; and how many are currently being processed. [137476]

  Mr. Boateng
  The parenting order under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 was implemented nationally on 1 June 2000 following successful pilots. Reinforcing parental responsibility is a key objective of the Government's youth justice reforms and the order provides a new means of supporting parents in exercising proper responsibility for their children's behaviour.

  Information from the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales indicates that between 30 September 1998 and 31 March 2000, 284 parenting orders were made in the pilot areas. Information on the number of parenting orders currently being considered is not available centrally.

  Postal Ballots
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the(a) security and (b) integrity of postal ballots. [134878]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 26 October 2000]: I have no reason to believe that the existing safeguards in respect of the security and integrity of postal ballots have been compromised, but I am always ready to consider representations as to how the system may be improved.

  New Deal for Young People
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff are employed by his Department under the New Deal for Young People. [137964]

  Mr. Straw
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office on 14 November 2000,Official Report, column 551W.

  Immigration (Carriers' Liability)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the financial penalties imposed on carriers for carriage of third country nationals lacking necessary documents broken down by EU member state. [138086]

  Mrs. Roche
  Not all European Union member states currently impose financial penalties on carriers for the carriage of third country nationals who arrive without the required documents. Where member states do impose such provisions, the systems for imposing penalties and deciding the amount to be charged differ. The definitive position could only be obtained by direct reference to the authorities of each individual State—therefore I regret that the information requested could only be ascertained at disproportionate cost.

  So far as the United Kingdom is concerned, the prescribed sum payable under the Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act 1987 is £2,000.

  Criminal Records Bureau
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to assist voluntary youth organisations by meeting the cost of Criminal Record Bureau charges from public funds. [138301]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  It has always been the intention that, when the Criminal Records Bureau comes on stream, it will be expected to recover its costs through charges that it makes in relation to the certificates that it issues, on application, to individuals. Voluntary organisations, and employers, will be able to reimburse applicants if they so wish. Waiving charges in respect of those applying from the voluntary sector, or from part of the sector, would inevitably increase the cost to the public purse or for other applicants. We have made clear our determination to keep fees as low as possible. An impact assessment will address the implications for the voluntary sector and others.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date the regulatory impact assessment on the Criminal Records Bureau was commissioned; and when it will be published. [138047]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 13 November 2000]: A compliance cost assessment (a forerunner of current regulatory impact assessments) was carried out in 1996 in advance of the introduction of the Police Bill. A further regulatory impact assessment is to be conducted to provide an up-to-date evaluation of the implications for those applying for certificates of the fees to be charged by the Criminal Records Bureau. The exercise will be carried out before regulations are made which prescribe such matters as the level of fees, in advance of the Bureau becoming operational in around July 2001. Officials will
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  contact a cross-section of affected organisations before the end of November in order to seek information about those organisations and about the implications for them of the charging of fees. This information will be collated in the regulatory impact assessment document which it is hoped it will be possible to make public for wider consultation before the end of February. I shall write to my hon. Friend as soon as the detailed timetable, which is the subject of continuing discussions, has become clearer.

  Police Training
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the companies authorised by his Department to organise tuition and examinations for promotion in the police force. [138658]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The only qualifying examinations for promotion to Sergeant and Inspector (known as OSPRETM) are organised on behalf of the Police Promotion Examinations Board by the Examinations and Assessment unit of National Police Training (NPT), who are assisted in the administration of the examinations by the Improvement and Development Agency.

  The only authorised training package is the Candidates' Development Programme (CDP) produced by NPT. The CDP, which only addresses Part II of the examinations, has been made available to every police force in England and Wales together with a training workshop for their nominated training staff. In addition, three private training providers were awarded a franchise to deliver the CDP:

  IODA based in Nottingham;

  VECTRA based in Bradford; and

  QSEC based in Liverpool.

  No company or individual is authorised by NPT to provide tuition for Part I of the examinations which is based on Blackstone's Police Manuals published by Blackstone Press Limited.

  Pakistan (Expropriated Funds)
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what help he has offered to the authorities in Pakistan who are seeking to recover funds expropriated from that country illegally. [138520]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Over the past four years, the Home Office has received only two formal requests for assistance in connection with funds appropriated illegally from Pakistan. However, these were requests for evidence relating to the misappropriation of funds, not requests for confiscation of assets.

  The first request, issued in October 1997, asked for evidence relating to Senator Asif Ali Zardari, the husband of Benazir Bhutto, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, in connection with allegations of drug trafficking. A large amount of evidence was gathered, but its transmission to Pakistan was hindered by legal challenges both before and after the coup of 12 October 1999. The Secretary of State has taken a decision to transmit the evidence, but this is still subject to an appeal against a decision of the court that leave to apply for a judicial review should not be granted.
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  The second request, issued in August 1999, concerned a fraud allegedly perpetrated by members of a former government. This request was subsequently withdrawn following the death of one of the principals.

  Home Office officials have had several meetings with officials from Pakistan to advise them on how to seek recovery of funds alleged to be in the United Kingdom. On 18 February 2000, the then head of the Judicial Co-operation Unit (JCU) met General Amjad, head of the National Accountability Bureau, and provided detailed advice on the assistance that the United Kingdom could offer, following this up with copies of published information. On 6 March 2000, another official from the JCU met with officials from the National Accountability Bureau and the High Commission to review the assistance that could be offered, and to take note of some of the points they wished to raise in the Zardari case.

  On 22 September 2000, members of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development (DflD), and the Home Office met with General Amjad and other officials from the authorities in Pakistan to explore the scope of the assistance available to Pakistan from the United Kingdom.

  On 13 November 2000, the Head of the United Kingdom Central Authority, the section within the Home Office that deals with letters of request from overseas, travelled to Pakistan for a five-day visit sponsored by the DflD to meet prosecutors, judges and officials of the National Accountability Bureau and provide advice on the assistance the United Kingdom can offer and on our requirements in terms of letters of request.

  Firearms (Disabled People)
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Secretary of State (1) for the Home Department for what reason his Department requires information on physical disabilities from applicants renewing firearms certificates; [139006]

  (2) if he will list the disabilities for those participating in shooting as a sport which are considered by his Department to put other shooters at risk. [139005]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  One of the recommendations on firearms licensing made in Lord Cullen's Report into the Dunblane tragedy was that the police should be able to seek and consider information on the medical history of any person applying to possess firearms.

  In order to implement this and other recommendations, the Firearms Rules were amended in 1998 to require applicants for the grant or renewal of a firearm or shot gun certificate to declare whether they suffer from any medical condition or disability including alcohol and drug related conditions, and if so to give details.

  It is not possible to provide a comprehensive list of conditions or disabilities that might have a bearing on this issue. Were any such list to be attempted, there is a real risk that it would exclude conditions that might affect an individual's fitness to possess a firearm, if only because of the medication which may have to be taken. It is for the police to consider each applicant on an individual basis, seeking medical advice where appropriate. It is open to any applicant aggrieved by the refusal of a chief officer of police to grant or renew a certificate to appeal to the Crown Court or in Scotland, the Sheriff's Court.

  Fuel Protests
  Mr. Peter Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evidence he has received of extremist political involvement in the organisation of the recent fuel protests; and if he will make a statement. [139019]

  Mr. Straw
  It is the policy of successive Governments not to comment on such issues.

  Police Recruitment
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost will be to the Crime Fighting Fund of recruiting an additional 9,000 police officers over the next three years. [137465]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The recruitment of 9,000 police officers through the Crime Fighting Fund is expected to cost £454 million in the three years 2000–01 to 200203. An additional £272 million has been made available through the Spending Review 2000 to meet the continuing costs of employing the 9,000 in 2003–04.

  Victim Support
  Mr. John Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to provide further support to the victims of crime. [137462]

  Mr. Straw
  From next April, the annual Home Office grant to Victim Support will rise from £18.3 million to £19 million. This represents an increase of more than 50 per cent. since we assumed office in May 1997. The enhanced grant has enabled Victim Support to improve their existing services and to introduce new ones, including witness services in all magistrates courts.

  Immigration and Asylum
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his plans to develop an inspection and reporting centre for asylum seekers in Horley. [139309]

  Mrs. Roche
  Plans for the establishment of an immigration office in Horley are currently on hold following difficulties in agreeing the terms of the lease with the landlord of the premises. The Immigration Service is currently pursuing alternatives but no final decisions have yet been made.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost in the latest year for which figures are available of asylum seekers awaiting a decision on whether they have a right to remain in the UK; and how many asylum seekers who have been refused permission to remain in the UK have not been removed from the country(a) because they are awaiting removal and (b) because they cannot be traced. [138870]

  Mrs. Roche
  In 1999–2000, the Home Office took over financial responsibility for asylum support costs, although asylum seekers continued to be supported by either the Department of Social Security (DSS) or through local authorities. In 1999–2000, the cost of supporting asylum seekers in the United Kingdom, while they awaited an initial decision, appeal or removal, was £537 million—including £315 million paid to the DSS and £222 million paid to local authorities for single adult and family grant
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  payments. The Department of Health also incurred an additional cost of £52 million for supporting unaccompanied minor asylum seekers in the United Kingdom, bringing the total cost in 1999–2000, for supporting asylum seekers to £590 million. Cost figures for supporting asylum seekers, which exclude cases awaiting removal, are not currently available.

  I regret that current information on the number of asylum seekers who have been refused permission to remain in the United Kingdom and have not yet been removed from the country is not available.

  All cost figures are rounded to the nearest £1 million.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for asylum from people who came to the United Kingdom from Kosovo under the United Nations Humanitarian Evacuation Programme and medical evacuation programmes have been determined; in how many cases the claim was(a) accepted and (b) refused; in how many such cases the applicant was granted exceptional leave to remain; how many such cases now await (i) an initial decision and (ii) an appeal; and if he will make a statement. [139383]

  Mrs. Roche
  The information is not available in the precise format requested. A total of 514 principal applicants have submitted applications for asylum which, because they also encompass general humanitarian reasons for wanting to stay here, are being considered as dual applications for asylum and further exceptional leave. Of these, 103 principal applicants have been decided with two being granted asylum along with five dependants, and 101 have been refused. No applicant who had applied for asylum has yet been granted exceptional leave. A total of 411 principal applicants are awaiting an initial decision on their cases.

  Information on asylum appeals is not separately available but 93 principal Kosovan Humanitarian Evacuation Programme applicants have outstanding appeals against various refusal decisions.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many and what percentage of appealed asylum and in-country immigration applications in(a) 1999–2000 and (b) 2000–01 to date the decision of his Department was upheld. [139363]

  Mrs. Roche
  The available information is given in the table.

  IND decisions upheld by Adjudicators at the Immigration Appellate Authority

  Asylum appeals

  Non-asylum appeals

  Determined

  Upheld

  Determined1

  Upheld1

  1999–2000

  Number

  15,635

  8,455

  8,805

  n/a

  Percentage

  100

  63

  —

  —

  April to September 2000–01

  Number

  8,455

  6,950

  3,455

  1,990

  Percentage

  100

  82

  100

  58

  1In-country and entry clearance cases are not separately identifiable in the statistics

  Note:

  Figures exclude any subsequent appeals
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  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many non-asylum offenders have been removed from this country during 2000–01 to date. [139386]

  Mrs. Roche
  Between 1 April and 30 September 2000, 2,440 immigration offenders who had not made an asylum application at any stage were removed from the United Kingdom. This figure is provisional.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his current target date is to clear the backlog of asylum cases awaiting an initial decision; what plans he has to review that target date; and if he will make a statement. [139365]

  Mrs. Roche
  We have no present plans to review our current objective of reducing the backlog of these cases to frictional levels by April 2001.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his estimate is of the cost to his Department of asylum seeker support in(a) 2000–01 to date and (b) the financial year 2000–01 in total; what the cost to public funds was of asylum seeker support in 1999–2000; and if he will make a statement. [139368]

  Mrs. Roche
  Expenditure by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate for asylum support from 1 April 2000 to 30 September 2000 was £317.4 million. For the financial year 2000–01, the Home Office has a provisional allocation of £604 million for supporting asylum seekers, excluding provision for supporting unaccompanied asylum seeking children.

  The comparable cost in 1999–2000 to the Home Office budget of supporting asylum seekers in the United Kingdom was £537 million. The Department of Health incurred an additional cost of £52 million for supporting unaccompanied asylum seeking children, bringing the total cost in 1999–2000 for supporting asylum seekers to £590 million.

  All cost figures are rounded to the nearest £ million.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many decisions case workers at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate made on average per week in(a) asylum and (b) immigration cases, in each quarter of (i) 1997, (ii) 1998, (iii) 1999 and (iv) 2000 to the end of the third quarter. [139369]

  Mrs. Roche
  The information requested is given in the table.

  Average weekly decisions

  Period

  Asylum cases1

  Immigration cases2

  1997

  1st quarter

  750

  5,320

  2nd quarter

  785

  5,030

  3rd quarter

  715

  4,910

  4th quarter

  645

  4,240

  1998

  1st quarter

  705

  4,580

  2nd quarter

  580

  5,040

  3rd quarter

  615

  5,660

  4th quarter

  525

  5,190

  1999

  1st quarter

  380

  4,070

  2nd quarter

  1,040

  4,990

  3rd quarter

  600

  5,680

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  Average weekly decisions

  Period

  Asylum cases1

  Immigration cases1

  4th quarter

  575

  7,040

  2000

  1st quarter

  1,790

  7,720

  2nd quarter

  2,375

  8,300

  3rd quarter

  2,060

  8,600

  1Including pre-1996 applications decided since 1999 under the backlog clearance exercise

  2Covering after-entry extensions of stay (including cases dealt with by the Public Caller Unit which did not involve a decision), European cases, travel documents, citizenship and right of abode

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how may asylum applications from nationals of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia are awaiting(a) an initial decision and (b) an appeal. [139378]

  Mrs. Roche
  The specific information required is not available. However, as at the end of 1999, 15,720 nationals of the Former Yugoslavia, which includes the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, were awaiting an initial decision.

  The number of applications received from Federal Republic of Yugoslavia nationals between January and September 2000 was 5,065.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average unit cost in 1999–2000 was and what the average unit cost is for 2000–01 of(a) asylum after-entry casework, (b) nationality casework and (c) enforcement casework, expressed in (i) cash and (ii) real terms. [139371]

  Mrs. Roche
  For the purposes of monitoring the performance of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate under the terms of the Casework Programme contract with Siemens Business Services, the unit cost of a basic casework decision is determined each month. The unit cost excludes some overheads. The costs of more complex decisions may be estimated by combining the cost of the basic decision was £38.66 for the period April 1999 to March 2000 and £34.75 for the period April 2000 to September 2000. The costs of more complex decisions may, therefore, be expressed as given in the table.

  £

  1998–2000

  2000–01

  2000–01 Real terms

  Type of output

  Cash

  Cash

  Real terms (1999–2000 prices)

  After Entry Casework

  49.19

  44.13

  43.69

  Asylum Casework

  350.26

  314.84

  311.72

  Nationality Casework

  58.76

  52.82

  52.30

  Deportation Casework

  1,382.10

  1,242.31

  1,230.01

  Illegal Entry Casework

  636.73

  572.33

  566.66

  These costs exclude any productivity-related payments that may subsequently be due to Siemens Business Services.
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  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many failed asylum seekers have been removed by(a) the Ports Directorate and (b) the Enforcement Directorate during 2000–01 to date; how many failed asylum seekers were removed by each Directorate in 1999–2000; and if he will make a statement. [139362]

  Mrs. Roche
  The information available on the number of failed asylum seekers removed from the United Kingdom, in the financial year 1999–2000, and from 1 April to 30 September in the current year is given in the table.

  The Government have made clear their determination to increase substantially the number of such removals and significant additional resources are being allocated to achieving this. We have set a target of 12,000 removals in the current financial year and 30,000 for the financial year 2001–02.

  Asylum seekers removed1 from the United Kingdom

  1 April 1999 to 31 March 20001,2

  1 April to 30 September 20001,2,3

  Port asylum removals

  5,080

  3,020

  Enforcement asylum removals

  2,830

  1,850

  Total

  7,910

  4,870

  1Includes voluntary departures

  2Excludes dependants

  3Figures are provisional and subject to revision

  4Includes Port and Enforcement departures under the Voluntary Assisted Returns programme

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what percentage of initial asylum decisions taken since 1 April 2000 the decision was taken within eight weeks of the application being lodged; in how many of those cases the decision to reject the application was on non-compliance grounds; and if he will make a statement. [139370]

  Mrs. Roche
  Of all applications lodged between 1 April 2000 and 30 September 2000, 32 per cent. had an initial decision within two months, of which 57 per cent. were refused on non-compliance grounds. This is on course to meet the target of making initial decisions in 70 per cent. of cases by March 2001.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his target for April 2001 is for the percentage of initial asylum decisions to be decided within eight weeks of the application being lodged. [139367]

  Mrs. Roche
  The target, published in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate Business Plan for 2000–01, is to decide 70 per cent. of new substantive asylum applications within two months by March 2001.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many nationals of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia have been granted(a) refugee status and (b) exceptional leave to (i) enter and (ii) remain since 1 May 1997. [139377]
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  Mrs. Roche
  The information requested on grants of asylum and exceptional leave to remain is given in the table.

  Nationals of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia granted asylum and exceptional leave to remain

  Grants of asylum

  Grants of ELR

  1997

  January

  75

  *

  February

  150

  *

  March

  160

  *

  April

  140

  *

  May

  95

  *

  June

  90

  40

  July

  100

  35

  August

  100

  45

  September

  120

  40

  October

  145

  40

  November

  85

  *

  December

  95

  5

  Total

  1,355

  210

  1998

  January

  120

  *

  February

  95

  *

  March

  100

  15

  April

  100

  20

  May

  120

  10

  June

  110

  5

  July

  50

  20

  August

  50

  —

  September

  40

  —

  November

  80

  —

  December

  10

  —

  Total

  935

  75

  1999

  January

  n/a

  n/a

  February

  n/a

  n/a

  March

  n/a

  n/a

  April

  n/a

  n/a

  May

  n/a

  n/a

  June

  n/a

  n/a

  July

  n/a

  n/a

  August

  n/a

  n/a

  September

  n/a

  n/a

  October

  n/a

  n/a

  November

  n/a

  n/a

  December

  n/a

  n/a

  Total

  6,290

  85

  2000

  January

  n/a

  n/a

  February

  n/a

  n/a

  March

  n/a

  n/a

  April

  10

  165

  May

  20

  50

  June

  25

  20

  July

  30

  35

  August

  45

  40

  September

  30

  70

  Total to date

  160

  385

  Notes:

  1. Figures rounded to the nearest 5, with '*' = 1 or 2

  2. Includes some who arrived in the UK under the Humanitarian Evacuation Programme
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  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many non-asylum after-entry decisions were made(a) in 1999–2000 and (b) in 2000–01 to date. [139364]

  Mrs. Roche
  The numbers of non-asylum after-entry decisions, excluding those in respect of European Economic Area cases, were 230,000 in 1999–2000 and 140,000 in the period April to September 2000. These figures include cases dealt with by the Public Caller Unit which did not involve a decision, such as the return of a passport following a withdrawn application and the transfer of conditions from an old to a new passport.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of detailed non-asylum immigration examinations have culminated in refusal during 2000–01 to date. [139360]

  Mrs. Roche
  As at 31 October, 20,972 cases of detailed non-asylum immigration examinations have resulted in refusal since 1 April 2000. This is 64 per cent. of the total number of cases where detailed examinations have occurred.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many nationality decisions were taken in 1999–2000, how many have been taken in 2000–01 to date; and if he will make a statement. [139381]

  Mrs. Roche
  The number of decisions taken in nationality cases in the period April 1999 to March 2000 was 66,499. As at 31 October 2000, 53,480 decisions have been taken in the period April to October 2000.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his latest estimate is of the gross expenditure, receipts and net expenditure of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate(a) during the financial year 2000–01 to date and (b) for the entire financial year 2000–01; what were the equivalent figures for the financial year 1999–2000; and if he will make a statement. [139385]

  Mrs. Roche
  Gross expenditure for the Immigration and Nationality Directorate for the period 1 April to 31 October 2000 was £355.5 million, receipts were £14.2 million and net expenditure was £341.3 million. For the full financial year 2000£01, the Immigration and Nationality Directorate is provisionally forecasting gross expenditure of £1,292 million, receipts of £33.5 million and net expenditure of £1,258.5 million.

  For the period 1 April to 31 October 1999, gross expenditure was £128.8 million, receipts were £5.5 million and net expenditure was £123.3 million. For the financial year 1999–2000, gross expenditure was £804.6 million, receipts were £10.5 million and net expenditure was £794.1 million.

  Information for the financial year 2000–01 is not directly comparable with that for 1999–2000. There has been a substantial increase in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate"s budget for processing asylum

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  applications, expanding the detention estate and for supporting asylum seekers, including some costs that fell elsewhere in 1999–2000.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the backlog in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate is for(a) general and settlement cases, (b) European cases, (c) deportation and illegal entry cases and (d) nationality cases. [139375]

  Mrs. Roche
  The information requested is given in the table.

  Cases awaiting initial consideration at 1 October 2000

  Type of case

  Number

  General and settlement

  400

  European

  10

  Deportation and illegal entry

  19,700

  Nationality1

  276,000

  1Total cases awaiting a decision

  2Provisional figure

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many airline liaison officers are in post. [139358]

  Mrs. Roche
  On 1 November 2000, 21 airline liaison officers were in post at 20 different locations around the world.

  Port Checks
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average unit cost is of an immigration port check in 2000–01; and what the average cost was of an immigration port check in 1997–98, 1998–99 and 1999–2000 expressed in(a) cash and (b) real terms. [139357]

  Mrs. Roche
  The information requested for 1998–99, 1999–2000 and 2000–01 is set out in the table. Comparative figures are not available for 1997–98.

  £

  Real terms 1998–99

  Cash terms

  1998–99

  Comparative baseline

  5.68

  5.68

  1999–2000

  Target

  5.43

  5.55

  Outturn

  5.17

  5.30

  2000–01

  Target

  5.17

  5.41

  Outturn1

  4.35

  4.55

  1April to September

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in 2000–01 to date non-European Economic Area passengers have had to wait more than 30 minutes for immigration port checks. [139359]

  Mrs. Roche
  As at 31 October 2000, there have been 1,742 occasions since 1 April 2000, where non-European Economic Area passengers have had to wait more than 30 minutes for immigration port checks.

  Deportation
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what number and percentage of non-asylum refusals have culminated in removal during 2000–01 to date. [139361]

  Mrs. Roche
  As at 31 October 2000, 17,387 non-asylum refusals have culminated in removal since 1 April 2000. This is 89 per cent. of the total number of non-asylum refusals.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people evacuated from Kosovo to the United Kingdom under the United Nations Humanitarian Evacuation Programme and medical evacuation programmes(a) remain in the United Kingdom, (b) have applied to extend their stay on medical or humanitarian grounds, (c) have been granted permission to extend their stay, (d) have applied for political asylum or exceptional leave to remain and (e) have an address which is known to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. [139384]

  Mrs. Roche
  The information is not available in the precise format requested. Of the 4,346 people evacuated to the United Kingdom under the United Nations Humanitarian Evacuation Programme, 2,439 have made permanent voluntary returns to Kosovo. Of the remaining 1,907, 182 principal applicants have submitted applications for further leave within the Immigration Rules. Short extensions were granted on a temporary basis to 89. A total of 514 principal applicants have submitted applications for political asylum and exceptional leave to remain of whom two principal applicants and five dependants have been granted asylum.

  A number of applicants have made voluntary departures following refusal of their applications and others have returned to Kosovo while their applications remained outstanding.

  The vast majority of those who came on the United Nations Humanitarian Evacuation Programme are accounted for, either having made applications to remain here or having left voluntarily. Those who sought to remain are in contact with the Immigration and Nationality Directorate.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time taken to grant British citizenship was in(a) 1999–2000 and (b) 2000–01 to date. [139382]

  Mrs. Roche
  On 1 April 1999, the average waiting time was 20.6 months. This had reduced to 19.9 months by 31 March 2000.

  As at 31 October 2000, the average waiting time is now 14.1 months.

  Senator Pinochet (Legal Fees)
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total cost to public funds was of the legal fees concerning Senator Pinochet. [138871]

  Mr. Straw
  The total cost to public funds of the legal fees concerning Senator Pinochet was £2,204,595.60. The breakdown is as follows:
  99W
  Costs incurred by the Home Office

  Treasury Solicitor"s fees £63,1501

  Disbursements (mainly Counsels" fees) £284,3151

  Costs of the Kingdom of Belgium and Amnesty International £150,725

  1Of these two amounts £28,500 was recovered from Senator Pinochet under costs orders made against Senator Pinochet by the High Court.

  Costs incurred by the Crown Prosecution Service

  Counsels" fees £425,077

  Costs incurred by the Lord Chancellor"s Department

  The Law Lords ordered that Senator Pinochet's costs should be met from central funds for the first two hearings before the House of Lords in the unusual circumstances of the case. The costs paid from central funds were as follows:

  for the first hearing in the House of Lords £270,935.89; and

  for the application to set aside the judgment following the first hearing in the House of Lords £151,361.30.

  The costs of those Divisional Court hearings in which Senator Pinochet was successful or which did not proceed, were also ordered to be paid from central funds. The cost of Divisional Court hearings was £787,477.86.

  All these costs were ordered to be paid under Section 16 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985, and they fall to be paid out of the Lord Chancellor"s Department"s portion of central funds. The total is £1,209,775.05.

  Senator Pinochet received no legal aid funding in any of the proceedings against him.

  Treasury Solicitor"s Fees

  Amicus Curiae (costs and disbursements including Counsel"s fees) £71,029

  Other costs and disbursements £29,024.76 All these figures include Value Added Tax where appropriate.
  100W
  The figures are for legal fees only. They do not include other costs—for example, the medical examination of 5 January 2000 and staff costs. I will inform the House of these costs once they have been finalised.

  Speeding
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many speeding convictions for HGV drivers there were in each of the last 10 years. [139306]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The information collected centrally does not distinguish the type of vehicle involved in speeding offences.

  Curfew Orders (Tagging)
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he intends to take in respect of electronically monitored curfew orders for 10 to 15-year-olds following the pilots in Greater Manchester and Norfolk. [139446]

  Mr. Straw
  I am pleased to announce that, following successful trials, electronically monitored curfew orders for 10 to 15-year-olds will be available to the courts from 1 February 2001.

  The curfew orders will be a means of keeping young offenders at home, off the streets and away from shopping centres and other places where they may get into trouble. By keeping young offenders out of harm"s way we believe the curfew order should be able to prevent young offenders from re-offending and help protect the public.

  The roll-out of electronically monitored curfews for 10 to 15-year-olds should be seen within the context of the youth justice reforms as a whole. Tackling youth crime and reforming the youth justice system remains a key priority.

  The evaluation report of the trials is being published today, and I am arranging for a copy to be placed in the Library.

  Treasury Counsel
  Treasury Counsel
  Queen's University Freshers' Fair: OTC Stand
  Queen's University Freshers' Fair: OTC Stand
  Waste Incineration Emissions
  Waste Incineration Emissions
  M.25 Junctions: Traffic Lights
  M.25 Junctions: Traffic Lights
  Litter: Fixed Penalties and Convictions
  Litter: Fixed Penalties and Convictions
  Car Design: Pedestrian Protection
  Car Design: Pedestrian Protection
  Departmental Cars
  Departmental Cars
  Public Debt Repayment and Annuity Rates
  Public Debt Repayment and Annuity Rates
  Mental Health Act 1983: Responses to White Paper
  Mental Health Act 1983: Responses to White Paper
  Prostate Cancer and PC-SPES
  Prostate Cancer and PC-SPES
  Department of Health: Legal Advisers
  Department of Health: Legal Advisers
  Home Office and Lord Chancellor's, Department: Staff Numbers
  Home Office and Lord Chancellor's, Department: Staff Numbers
  Electronically Monitored Curfew Orders for 10 to 15 Year-olds
  Electronically Monitored Curfew Orders for 10 to 15 Year-olds
  Immigration Detainees: Internal Reviews
  Immigration Detainees: Internal Reviews
  Third Way Policy
  Third Way Policy
  Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
  Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
  Electronic Communications Act 2000, Section 8
  Electronic Communications Act 2000, Section 8
  Millennium Dome: Future Plans
  Millennium Dome: Future Plans
  Zanzibar: Free Elections
  Zanzibar: Free Elections
  Millennium Volunteers
  Millennium Volunteers
  EU Rural Development Initiative
  EU Rural Development Initiative
  E-Commerce: Customer Protection Directive
  E-Commerce: Customer Protection Directive
  Internet Fraud Prevention
  Internet Fraud Prevention
  Autism and MMR Vaccination
  Autism and MMR Vaccination
  Mirror Group Newspapers plc Investigation: Payments to Inspectors
  Mirror Group Newspapers plc Investigation: Payments to Inspectors
  Coal Industry Pension Scheme Surpluses
  Coal Industry Pension Scheme Surpluses