Written Answers of 30 November 2000

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Millennium Dome
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many recruits from the New Deal for Young People(a) have worked and (b) are working in the Millennium Dome. [134827]

  Janet Anderson
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before Prorogation. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he last met the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to discuss the Dome. [135415]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 30 October 2000]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had no meetings with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to discuss the Dome.

  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the meetings he has attended since September 1999, together with their dates, at which the future use of the Millennium Dome site was discussed, indicating who was in attendance at each meeting. [139167]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 20 November 2000]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State attended meetings on 1 December, 13 December and 15 December 1999, at which the future use of the Millennium Dome was discussed.

  These meetings were attended by Lord Falconer, Minister of State at the Cabinet Office and Shareholder of the New Millennium Experience Company, Andrew Smith, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, and Hilary Armstrong, Minister for Local Government and the Regions. Officials from the Competition Team, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR), English Partnerships (EP), the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC), and the Millennium Commission (MC) were also present.

  New Millennium Experience Company
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what advice he has received, from whom, and when, as to the solvency of the New Millennium Experience Company; [134495]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the liability of directors of the New Millennium Experience Company under the Companies Acts. [134483]
  712W
  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 26 October 2000]: I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before Prorogation. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the New Millennium Experience Company's fulfilment of the requirements placed upon it by section 221 of the Companies Act 1985, with particular reference to the requirement to maintain a record of its assets and liabilities. [134430]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 26 October 2000]: I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before Prorogation. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Mr. Marshall-Andrews
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will place in the Library documents communicating to the New Millennium Experience Company indemnities for the directors of the company, as referred to in the National Audit Office report, HC 936. [138418]

  Janet Anderson
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before Prorogation. I shall therefore write to my hon. and learned Friend and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people on the payroll of the New Millennium Experience Company have received remuneration through offshore accounts. [140424]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 27 November 2000]: I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before Prorogation. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list those contracts entered into by the New Millennium Experience Company which have not complied with public procurement procedures. [140556]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 27 November 2000]: 1 refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 21 November 2000, Official Report, columns 138–39W.

  Departmental Employees (New Deal)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people his Department employs under the New Deal for Young People. [137955]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before Prorogation. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Picketts Lock
  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if a new Lottery agreement between Sport England and Wembley National Stadium
  713W
  Ltd. excluding athletics from Wembley, will be concluded before the feasibility studies into Picketts Lock, Enfield, are concluded; [139853]

  (2) what contingency plans he has for a London venue for the World Athletics Championships in 2005 if the feasibility studies conclude that Picketts Lock is unsuitable. [139854]

  Kate Hoey
  [holding answer 27 November 2000]: I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before Prorogation. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Sports Injuries
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was spent by his Department on research into the prevention of sports injuries in the last three years. [140665]

  Kate Hoey
  [holding answer 28 November 2000]:
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before Prorogation. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will amend the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 to ensure that inquiry officers are prevented from entering private property unless they have reasonable grounds for suspecting that television is being watched illegally. [141095]

  Janet Anderson
  TV Licensing's inquiry officers have no authority to enter any premises without the owner's or occupier's consent, unless authorised to do so by a search warrant issued by a justice of the peace in England, Wales or Northern Ireland or, in Scotland, a sheriff. Under section 15(1) of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 (as amended), a justice of the peace or a sheriff may issue a warrant if satisfied by information on oath that there is reasonable ground for suspecting that an offence under the Act has been or is being committed, and that evidence of the commission of the offence is to be found on the premises specified. The Government consider that this provides adequate safeguards and therefore have no plans to amend the 1949 Act.

  Athletes (Lottery Funding)
  Mr. Trickett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what age limitations apply to athletes seeking lottery funding. [141202]

  Kate Hoey
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before Prorogation. I shall therefore write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Cycling
  Mr. Trickett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) how many velodromes operated in the United Kingdom in the last four years; where they were; how many velodromes are proposed to be closed; and if he will make a statement; [141203]
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  (2) how much (a) capital and (b) revenue funding was provided to the sport of cycling by his Department in each of the last four financial years; [141204]

  (3) what his estimate is of the number of cyclists who use the Manchester velodrome. [141201]

  Kate Hoey
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before Prorogation. I shall therefore write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Disabled Tourists
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to make English tourist resorts more attractive to disabled tourists. [141271]

  Janet Anderson
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before Prorogation. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Accommodation (Disabled People)
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what is the deadline by which accommodation businesses with 12 beds or fewer must comply with the Disability Discrimination Act 1999; [141274]

  (2) what powers he has to regulate the provision of accommodation for disabled tourists in hotels and guest houses in England. [141275]

  Janet Anderson
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before Prorogation. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Free Television Licences
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to award to disabled pensioners aged under 75 years free television licences; and if he will make a statement. [141078]

  Janet Anderson
  The Government have no plans to extend the availability of free television licences to disabled pensioners below the age of 75.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Portcullis House
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what arrangements apply to hon. Members who wish to provide refreshments to constituents at events in rooms in Portcullis House; if hon. Members are entitled to make their own refreshment arrangements; and if she will make a statement. [140823]

  Mrs. Roe
  Catering in the multi-purpose conference rooms (the Attlee Suite and the Macmillan Room) will be provided by the Refreshment Department. Hon. Members will be invited to liaise directly with the Portcullis House Catering Manager, as different menu options are available.
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  At the time of booking Meeting Rooms M to U, hon. Members will be asked if they require any refreshments and they will be offered tea, coffee, biscuits, sandwiches, morning pastries or afternoon cakes.

  Currently, hon. Members are able to make their own arrangements for providing refreshment in the Jubilee Room and in Room E in 7 Millbank.

  I understand that all of the arrangements in Portcullis House will be reviewed after six months of operation.

DEFENCE

  Air War Capability
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the ability of the United Kingdom to fight an air war in bad weather. [134917]

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

  Petrol Costs (Ministerial Cars)
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was in each of the past three years of petrol for his Department's fleet of ministerial cars; and how many vehicles there are in that fleet. [134932]

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

  Sickness Absence
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress made by his Department since 1999 in reducing sickness absence; what targets he has agreed with the Cabinet Office; and if he will make a statement. [135465]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 26 October 2000]: I will write to the hon. member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Nuclear Disarmament
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about progress made on the Government's commitment to nuclear disarmament given at this year's Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Conference at the United Nations. [135400]

  Mr. Hoon
  I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  "Voices"
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on advertising space in the recent Government publication, "Voices". [135590]

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

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 5 June 2000,Official Report, column 21W, on special advisers, if he will list the destination and the total cost, including travel, accommodation and subsistence allowance, on each of the occasions when departmental or non-departmental special advisers travelled abroad in an official capacity. [135244]

  Mr. Hoon
  During the period 31 March 1999 to 31 March 2000, special advisers in this Department travelled on official business to Washington and Portugal at a total cost of £5,071. The cost of these visits were accounted for in the expenditure on Ministers' travel overseas published by the Prime Minister on 28 July 2000,Official Report, column 969W, which for 1999–2000 was £4.6 million compared to £7.9 million for the last year of the previous Administration.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his counterparts in the other states armed with nuclear weapons; and what progress he has made, following the statement on nuclear disarmament agreed at this year's Non-proliferation Treaty Conference at the United Nations. [135328]

  Mr. Hoon
  [holding answer 2 November 2000]: I have had discussions on a range of subjects with my counterparts from the other nuclear weapon states since the conclusion of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in May. We will continue to work with the other nuclear weapon states in the spirit of our joint statements to the 2000 NPT Review Conference and the meetings of its Preparatory Committee. We are unequivocally committed to the global elimination of nuclear weapons and welcome the successful agreement of a final document at the Review Conference containing a package of measures on nuclear disarmament.

  The United Kingdom's constructive role in negotiation of that document has been widely recognised.

  Civil Servants (Relocation)
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 2 May 2000, Official Report, column 13W, which relocation companies hold contracts with his Department for the relocation of civil servants; when those contracts were last renewed; where the contracts were advertised; and what the length and value of each contract is. [137172]

  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. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the document DCI Gen 150/97 covering guidance on answers to parliamentary questions. [137346]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 9 November 2000]: I am withholding a copy of the Defence Council Instruction under Exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
  717W
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's guidance on answers to parliamentary questions. [137345]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 9 November 2000]: I refer my right hon. Friend to HC67 1996–97, the Government Response to the Second Report from the Committee (Session 1995–96) on Ministerial Accountability and Responsibility published in November 1996.

  Defence Systems
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what capabilities the Royal Navy's SSNs have for connectivity in the littoral environment; what equipment they have for improving connectivity in littoral zones; when DERA's and Thomson Marconi Sonar's RTOF Buoy will be available to the Royal Navy; and if he will make a statement. [139653]

  Dr. Moonie
  SSNs have a wide range of communications capability usable in all environments. I refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces gave on 20 November 2000,Official Report, column 5W, which stated that we are conducting research to improve the connectivity of our submarines. The RTOF Buoy is being investigated as part of this research.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost is to the RN of purchasing its current connectivity equipment; what the cost of the RTOF Buoy is; what time scale has been set for implementation of the RTOF Buoy in SSN; and if he will make a statement. [139719]

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

  Gurkhas
  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of Gurkha regiments who were prisoners of the Japanese in the Second World War and their widows will receive compensation; and if he will make a statement. [138618]

  Dr. Moonie
  As I announced on 7 November 2000,Official Report, columns 159–70, the Government are making a single ex gratia payment of £10,000 to each of the surviving members of the British groups who were held prisoner by the Japanese during the Second World War, in recognition of the unique circumstances of their captivity. Those who are eligible to receive this payment include former members of HM Armed Forces who were made prisoners of war.

  Prior to 1947 there were no Gurkha Regiments in the British Army. The (old) Indian Army, which included Gurkha regiments, was separate from the British Army and responsibility for it passed to the new Governments of India and Pakistan when those countries became independent. Former members of the (old) Indian Army generally did not receive payments under UK auspices under the 1951 San Francisco Treaty of Peace with Japan and are not eligible for the current ex gratia scheme.

  Plutonium
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what United Kingdom origin reactor grade plutonium has been fabricated into a nuclear device and subsequently tested for reliability and yield by British defence authorities since 1970. [138986]

  Mr. Hoon
  I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Defence Aviation Repairs Agency
  Mr. John Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the cost to DARA was of monitoring(a) Armondbank, (b) Fleetlands, (c) RAF Sealand and (d) RAF St. Athan in the financial year 1999–2000; [139328]

  (2) what recent representations he has received about the cost to the Royal Air Force of work undertaken by the Defence Aviation Repairs Agency; [140985]

  (3) how many RAF personnel were in DARA at RAF St. Athan on 1 April 1999; [141167]

  (4) what plans headquarters Strike Command have to reduce the number of RAF personnel at DARA at RAF St. Athan by April 2002; [141169]

  (5) what the estimated cost is of locating the headquarters of the Defence Aviation Repairs Agency outwith the existing DARA sites; [141164]

  (6) what reason the chief executive of DARA does not consider RAF St. Athan as a cost effective and strategic location for the headquarters of DARA; [141165]

  (7) what cost savings are expected from re-locating the DARA headquarters from RAF St. Athan to the Bath/Bristol area; [141166]

  (8) if the personnel department at DARA at RAF St. Athan keeps computerised records of the home addresses of their staff. [141168]

  Mr. Spellar
  I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  RAF St. Athan
  Mr. John Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the RAF plans to upgrade and repair the runway at RAF St. Athan. [139324]

  Mr. Spellar
  There are no plans to upgrade the runway at RAF St. Athan. However, repairs have been undertaken during this year and are planned to continue during 2001.

  Mr. John Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the buildings at RAF St. Athan and the purposes for which they are used; [140988]

  (2) what plans he has for the future of RAF St. Athan. [140984]

  Mr. Spellar
  I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  European Rapid Reaction Corps
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the military advantages over the existing NATO structure of EU countries allocating forces to a rapid reaction corps; [139953]
  719W
  (2) what criteria he will apply to the provisional allocation to an EU rapid reaction corps of the UK armed forces currently assigned to NATO. [139951]

  Mr. Hoon
  The UK is not allocating forces to an EU Rapid Reaction Corps.

  The EU, with the assistance of NATO, has identified the required pool of forces and capabilities to carry out the full range of Petersberg tasks. EU member states have nominated those elements of their own national forces they believe could contribute to this requirement and have committed themselves to make further improvements to meet a defined level of capability (the 'Headline Goal') by 2003.

  Our declaration of forces to NATO is unaffected.

  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what access to US intelligence facilities a separate EU rapid reaction corps will have. [139958]

  Mr. Hoon
  Access by the EU to American intelligence facilities is a matter for the US Government. As a member of NATO, however, the US has welcomed the impetus being given to strengthening a common European policy in security and defence. Work is in hand to afford the EU access to Alliance capabilities in support of operations in which NATO as a whole is not militarily engaged.

  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the role of a separate EU rapid reaction corps in the creation of a common European defence policy. [139961]

  Mr. Hoon
  There is no intention to create a separate EU rapid reaction corps.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from the USA about the European Rapid Reaction Force proposal. [140281]

  Mr. Hoon
  [holding answer 24 November 2000]: William Cohen, the US Defense Secretary, speaking at NATO Defence Ministers Informal Meeting on 9–10 October, said,
  "Let me be clear on America's position. We agree with this goal—not grudgingly, not with resignation, but with wholehearted conviction".

  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what parliamentary scrutiny will apply to the agreements reached on setting up the EU Rapid Reaction Corps. [140087]

  Mr. Hoon
  [holding answer 24 November 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to my statement to the House on 22 November 2000, Official Report, columns 319–20, and in particular my answer to the points raised by my hon. Friend the Member for Hull, North (Mr. McNamara). In addition the Government remain open to scrutiny by the Defence Select Committee whose remit is to "examine the expenditure, administration and policy" of the Department.

  Research Organisations
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research organisations are owned by his Department; and what their budgets are for the year 2000–01. [R] [140158]
  720W
  Dr. Moonie
  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Press Officers
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many additional press officers he plans to recruit; where they will be based; and how much has been allocated for their recruitment. [140016]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 24 November 2000]: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Military Exports
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of defence attachés' time was allocated to promoting military exports in the last five years. [140705]

  Mr. Spellar
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 29 November 2000,Official Report, column 642W.

  No comparable information is available for earlier years.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the occasions in the past two years when UK service personnel have been used to promote the sales of military equipment(a) in the UK and (b) abroad; and what income was derived from such activities. [140703]

  Dr. Moonie
  Many staff in my Department contribute to the Government's support for defence exports. As an indication of the level of activity involved, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for South Derbyshire (Mr. Todd) on 16 November 2000,Official Report, columns 741–42W, which includes details of occasions when defence personnel, including service personnel, have been used to promote the sales of military equipment at specific events in the UK and overseas.

  Defence exports save the defence budget around £400 million a year. These savings come from spreading fixed overheads over the longer production runs generated by exports, from the sale of surplus defence equipment and from receipts of commercial exploitation levy on equipment developed using public money.

  Training (Foreign Armed Forces)
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will breakdown the income derived by the UK Government from training in the UK of service personnel from foreign forces in each of the last three years. [140707]

  Mr. Spellar
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 27 November 2000,Official Report, column 429W.

  C-17 Globemaster Aircraft
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the minimum operational flying height permitted under the terms of the lease of the four Boeing C-17 Globemaster aircraft for the RAF will be. [140572]
  721W
  Mr. Spellar
  There is no minimum operating height, other than for flight safety reasons, within the flight envelope for the C-17 aircraft. However, as the requirement which the C-17s will meet is that for outsized strategic airlift, not tactical airlift, we have no plans to use these aircraft for low level operations.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the air-dropping of troops or equipment will be permitted under the terms of the lease of the four Boeing C-17 Globemaster aircraft for the RAF. [140570]

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

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the maximum number of flying hours permitted for each of the four Boeing C-17 Globemaster aircraft will be under the terms of their lease for the RAF; and what penalties are specified if the figure is exceeded. [140571]

  Mr. Spellar
  Under the terms of the lease there is no restriction on the number of flying hours permitted either for individual aircraft or across the fleet.

  HMS Sheffield
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason the Exocet missile system was removed from HMS Sheffield; what replacement system HMS Sheffield will carry over the next 10 years of its service life; and if he will make a statement. [140711]

  Mr. Spellar
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr. Duncan Smith) on 8 June 2000,Official Report, column 338W.

  Mustard Gas (Pigs)
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 16 November 2000,Official Report, column 741W, on mustard gas and pigs, whether the company testing the model cream for treating mustard gas burns is a British company; whether untreated controls are being run; and how many and what species of animals were used in (a) 1998, (b) 1999 and (c) 2000 to date. [140725]

  Dr. Moonie
  The purpose of the on-going work involving mustard gas and pigs at the Chemical and Biological Defence Sector of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) is to develop better protection for UK servicemen should mustard gas be used as a weapon against them. All testing, including that for the cream for protection against mustard gas injury, is carried out by DERA at Porton Down.

  Each animal acts as its own control. That is, a small amount of mustard is applied to sites on the back that both have, and have not, been pre-treated with the protective barrier cream.

  All the animals involved are large, white domestic pigs. The study involved six animals per year for 1998 and 1999, and a total of ten animals in 2000 to the current date.

  Military Attacks (NATO States)
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department will make publicly available plans and other documents it has obtained from the archive of(a) the Soviet Union and (b) other Warsaw Pact countries since the end of the Cold War, relating to possible military attacks on NATO states. [136236]

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

  Porton Down
  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by(a) species, (b) numbers involved and (c) nature of the research, the experiments carried out on animals at Porton Down in each of the last five years. [141021]

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

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations regarding future court action he has received from lawyers representing the families of servicemen who underwent experiments at Porton Down. [141063]

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

  Kosovo
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are for joint NATO and Yugoslav Army patrols between Kosovo and Serbia. [141062]

  Mr. Spellar
  I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Andrew Weir
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has signed the contract for the roll-on, roll-off ferries with Andrew Weir. [140977]

  Mr. Hoon
  Not yet. Negotiations to finalise the details of the agreement are continuing with AWSR Shipping Ltd.

  Trident
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what account his Department takes of the number of anti-ballistic missiles deployed by other countries when determining the number of warheads deployed on United Kingdom Trident submarines. [141158]

  Mr. Hoon
  I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  National Missile Defence
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 30 October 2000,Official Report, columns 505–06W, on national missile defence, if he will set out the views of the UK to which he referred. [141159]
  723
  Mr. Hoon
  I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  POWs (Germany)
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many protected personnel were prisoners of war in Germany during the Second World War; and how much pay was deducted by his Department from those protected personnel; [141147]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the shortfall in pay to protected personnel who were captured and held by Germany as prisoners of war during the Second World War. [141146]

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

  National Parks
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many days in each of the last 10 years have land in national parks been closed to the public because of military training; and which national parks were affected in each year. [141112]

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

  School Results
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on trends in the qualifications achieved by pupils at(a) Key Stages (i) one, (ii) two and (iii) three, (b) GCSE and (c) A-level in schools run by his Department over the last 10 years. [141111]

  Mr. Spellar
  I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Kursk Submarine
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason the Royal Navy LR5 submersible rescue vessel deployed to rescue the Kursk submarine did not proceed with the operation; and if he will make a statement. [140909]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Royal Navy Submarine Search and Rescue Service, which includes the rescue submersible LR5, was deployed to the Barents Sea in support of a major operation assembled by the Russians to rescue the crew of the submarine Kursk. Overall command of this operation remained at all times in Russian hands. The decision on whether or not to deploy the LR5 depended on an inspection of the Kursk by specialist Norwegian divers. Tragically, following that inspection, the Russian authorities confirmed that all on board the Kursk had died. The LR5 was not therefore required and the Royal Navy Submarine Search and Rescue Service was withdrawn.

  Christmas Deployments
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of(a) the RAF, (b) the Army and (c) the Royal Navy he expects to be (i) serving abroad and (ii) deployed in front-line duties between 24 December
  724W
  and 2 January 2001; what percentage of overall strength of each force this represents; and if he will make a statement. [139757]

  Mr. Spellar
  The current estimate of the number of personnel who will be serving abroad and deployed in front-line duties over the Christmas and new year period is as follows:

  Naval service

  Army

  RAF

  Estimated numbers serving abroad

  5,100

  34,500

  6,600

  As a percentage of trained strength

  13

  35

  12

  Of those serving abroad, estimated numbers deployed on operations are

  4,000

  6,200

  3,800

  As a percentage of trained strength

  10

  6

  7

  Notes:

  1. All figures rounded to the nearest 100

  2. Data exclude Mobilised Reservists

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provisions have been made to ensure family contact on 25 December, 31 December and 1 January 2001 for those members of the armed forces who will be separated from their families on these dates; and if he will make a statement. [139758]

  Mr. Spellar
  We attach great importance to service personnel deployed on overseas operations being able to keep in touch with their families throughout the year. It is for this reason that personnel deployed on operations are given 20 minutes' publicly funded telephone time each week. Previous concerns about the adequacy and reliability of the welfare telephone services in some overseas theatres have been resolved by the introduction of Project Welcome. This welfare telephone service is deployed in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Italy, Kosovo, Bosnia and Sierra Leone and aboard some of the operationally deployed ships and RFAs (Royal Fleet Auxiliaries). Free blueys (aerogrammes), e-blueys and concessionary parcel rates are also provided. We are also in the process of introducing free access to e-mail facilities.

  Meetings have been held with the contractor responsible for providing the operational telephone welfare service (Project Welcome) to ensure that it is robust enough to cope with the extra demand that will be placed on it over the Christmas period. Measures to give service personnel on operations extra concessionary rates over the Christmas period, for calls beyond their free allowance, are also under consideration.

  For ships at sea who are not covered by Project Welcome funding has been secured to provide personnel with 10 minutes free call time over the Christmas period.

  Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
  Ms Kelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what research his Department has undertaken into the number of former and serving personnel suffering from severe cases of post-traumatic stress disorder; [141217]

  (2) what assistance his Department offers to serving and former servicemen suffering from severe cases of post-traumatic stress disorder. [141216]
  725W
  Dr. Moonie
  I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  RAF Chilmark
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the application of the Crichel Down rules to the former RAF Chilmark; what progress has been made in identifying former owners; and when a new trust will be established to manage the site. [141040]

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

  Scots Guardsmen Fisher and Wright
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether Scots Guardsmen Fisher and Wright will be deployed for service in Northern Ireland; [141105]

  (2) when the Scots Guardsmen Fisher's and Wright's engagement with the Army will cease; and if they will have an opportunity to re-engage. [141106]

  Mr. Spellar
  I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the exceptional circumstances taken into consideration by the Army Board which enable James Fisher and Mark Wright to remain in the Army. [141015]

  Dr. Moonie
  The decision of the Army Board reflects the view of an employer about the future service of two employees. Queen's Regulations allow for the retention of individuals who have received a custodial sentence where there are exceptional reasons that make retention desirable. The Board gave the fullest possible consideration to all of the relevant circumstances of the case before coming to its decision. This is a confidential matter for the employer, the Army, and the employees. Given the degree of public interest we have been as open as we could be about the Board proceedings and we have confirmed the outcome. To go further than that, and to release the Determination of summary of its contents, which inevitably covers matters personal to the soldiers, would clearly be inappropriate.

  Gulf Veterans
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for (1) what reason former Gulf veterans are informed they can only obtain copies of their military medical records if they give a declaration that they do not intend to sue his Department; [141079]

  (2) what reasons Gulf veterans on incapacity and disablement living allowances seeking copies of their medical records have to pay a fee to his Department; [141019]

  (3) what reason Gulf veterans seeking a copy of their military medical records have to state that their cases are not ones in which his Department is currently interested. [141080]

  Mr. Spellar
  I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
  726W
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Gulf veterans have died since April 1995; how many of them(a) claimed to be suffering from Gulf War Syndrome and (b) claimed to be suffering from symptoms of an ill-defined nature caused by service in the Gulf War; how many deaths in (a) and (b) were suicides; and if he will make a statement. [141017]

  Mr. Spellar
  According to my Department's records, in the period 1 April 1995 to 28 November 2000,278 UK Gulf veterans (service and ex-service personnel) died. None of these records show "Gulf War Syndrome" as a cause of death. Records are not available indicating whether those who died claimed to be suffering from Gulf War Syndrome or whether they claimed to be suffering from the symptoms of an ill-defined nature caused by service in the Gulf conflict. Of the 278 UK Gulf veterans who died, 50 deaths were categorised under the International Classification of Diseases 9th Edition Revision 1977 as due to suicide and injury undetermined whether accidental or intentional.

  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ellesmere Port and Neston (Mr. Miller) on 20 July 2000, Official Report, columns 247–48W, regarding mortality data covering the period 1 April 1991 to 30 June 2000 comparing the UK Gulf veterans to a matched control group.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason ill Gulf veterans have not been offered tests for exposure to depleted uranium. [140492]

  Mr. Spellar
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith) on 29 November 2000,Official Report, column 643W.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what warnings were given to British troops about the use of ammunition containing depleted uranium prior to(a) the Gulf War and (b) service in Kosovo; [140493]

  (2) what measures were taken to ensure that British troops serving in the Gulf War were protected against ingesting radioactive particles from depleted uranium. [140494]

  Mr. Spellar
  Early in the 1990–1991 Gulf conflict, the Ministry of Defence decided that the DU-based tank round should be brought into service to give our forces a better capability against Iraqi tanks. At the same time a bulletin was produced setting out safety procedures. Explosive ordnance disposal personnel, whose work entailed a direct risk of significant exposure, were provided with detailed instructions on the precautions that they should take to protect their health. Instructions were also issued to Ordnance Corps personnel involved in the handling, transportation and storage of the ammunition. It appears that tank crews and other personnel were not issued with such advice. This omission was publicly recognised by MOD in July 1993.

  More recently, a copy of a signal message dated 25 February 1991, from the MOD to one Armoured Division in Saudi Arabia, has been found. The signal provides advice on measures to be taken to prevent exposure to respirable DU dust hazards. Although it is suggested that a subsequent signal was sent promulgating

  727W
  the advice to other units in theatre, so far, no evidence has been found among contemporary records to substantiate whether this advice was in fact promulgated.

  Service personnel deployed to Kosovo are given appropriate force protection advice including available appropriate protective equipment, including gloves and respiratory equipment, which they should wear if they encounter targets suspected of being damaged by DU-based ammunition.

  Depleted Uranium (Yugoslavia)
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the effects of depleted uranium on the health of British troops in Yugoslavia. [141209]

  Mr. Spellar
  I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Chemical Weapon Stores
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the threat to old underground chemical weapon stores from recent flooding. [141207]

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

  Warrior Armoured Vehicle
  Mrs. Fitzsimons
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the use of the Warrior armoured vehicle. [141259]

  Mr. Spellar
  A number of precautionary operating restrictions have been put in place on the use of the Warrior Armoured Vehicle. Over the past nine months there have been three separate incidents of a failure in the drive shaft system of Warrior vehicles. Damage has also been found in a further four vehicles following a fleet-wide inspection programme that was initiated following a failure in February. The most recent failure occurred on 17 November 2000. Prior to this year Warrior had experienced only two similar failures since entering service in 1987.

  The particular problem concerns the universal joint of the drive shaft system. On each occasion the joint has broken causing a loss of drive, braking and steering to the left-hand track of the vehicle. In view of the potential safety implications of further failures restrictions have been introduced. The main restrictions are the introduction of a 30 kph speed limit, limited use on public roads and an increase in the frequency of inspections.

  Work on a technical solution is well advanced and trials of a modification are under way. If these trials prove successful, delivery and fitting of modified drive shafts is expected to begin in March 2001 with all 786 vehicles expected to be converted by August 2001.

  Serles Houses, Winchester
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will announce a decision on the sale of Series House in Winchester. [140906]
  728W
  Dr. Moonie
  I wrote to the hon. Member on 29 November, together with all other hon. Members who had previously expressed an interest in the future of Serles House, to say that I have agreed that the property should be sold to Hampshire County Council (subject to access arrangements being resolved).

  My officials have written to the council and to other interested parties in similar terms.

  Criminal Convictions (Army)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many soldiers have been discharged from the Army in each of the last five years for(a) murder and (b) possession, use or trafficking in drugs; [141018]

  (2) how many members of the Army have been retained in service in each of the last five years having been convicted of (a) murder and (b) possession, use or trafficking in drugs; [141014]

  (3) how many soldiers found to be (a) in possession of, (b) using and (c) trafficking drugs have been retained in service for exceptional circumstances; and what are the circumstances in each case. [141016]

  Dr. Moonie
  The Army monitors centrally only statistics of those who have been tried by court martial. Records of those who appear in civilian courts are held at individual regiments and to interrogate those would incur disproportionate costs. We are aware, however, of two people who have been retained in the Army following a conviction of murder in a civilian court. Any murder committed in the UK or Cyprus comes under the jurisdiction of the civil police and is tried in a civilian court. Any murder committed in Germany would, however, be subject to court martial action. No soldier has been tried for murder, by court martial, in the last five years.

  Up to May 2000, the Army monitored only those cases tried by court martial and those drug offences related statistics are set out in the table:

  Date

  Number to trial

  Discharged

  1995

  38

  31

  1996

  34

  27

  1997

  14

  12

  1998

  17

  14

  1999

  19

  17

  2000 (to date)

  8

  7

  Those who have been convicted by court martial and retained in the Army for drug offences are in the following table:

  Date

  Numbers retained

  Conviction

  1995

  4

  Not recorded

  1996

  2

  1 Not recorded/1 Possession

  1997

  0

  n/a

  1998

  2

  Possession

  1999

  2

  Possession

  2000(to date)

  1

  Possession

  729
  The retention of individual soldiers in relation to drug offences is a matter between the employer and employee. Disclosure of the personal circumstances of such cases is inappropriate.

  Soldiers caught using drugs can also be tried summarily by their Commanding Officer. Since May 2000, the Army has been monitoring cases of summary dealing and recorded figures to date show that 24 soldiers have been dealt with summarily. The Commanding Officer's powers of discipline do not include the power to dismiss. There is, however, a system for administrative dismissal which could be implemented as a result of the soldier's overall performance.

  The Army's Compulsory Drug Testing programme also highlights those guilty of drug abuse and those caught will normally, but not always, be administratively discharged.

  Military Training
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when he last discussed the Otterburn training area with the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions; [141254]

  (2) what has been the impact on (a) Catterick Garrison, (b) Salisbury Plain Training Area and (c) other training areas of the delay in constructing new infrastructure at Otterburn training area. [141252]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the impact on military training in respect of (a) the MLRS system, (b) the AS90 gun and (c) other training of the delay in constructing new infrastructure facilities at Otterburn in Northumberland. [141251]

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

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Rwanda
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what has been the Government's response to Rwanda's appeal for emergency assistance to famine stricken regions. [139770]

  Clare Short
  WFP are about to launch an appeal totalling US$8.2 million for food aid to 270,000 vulnerable people in the south and south-east of Rwanda affected by drought. In the meantime, we are in close contact with our office in Kigali, other donors and non-government organisations in order to monitor the situation carefully, including the effect of the recent floods. The UK will give very careful consideration to the WFP appeal and be ready to respond as necessary.

  Child Labour
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the countries with whose Governments she has discussed the use of child labour during the last 12 months. [139454]

  Clare Short
  The focus of our recent work on child labour has been to encourage the International Labour Organisation to extend the number of countries in which 730W
  it operates and to sharpen its targeting on children in the worst forms of child labour through a series of "Time-Bound Programmes". Our support has allowed the International Programme for the Elimination of Child Labour to extend into a regional programme in the Arab States and in Eastern Europe over the last year. These are in addition to our ongoing IPEC support in India and South East Asia and our direct collaborative support to governments, civil society organisations and international bodies such as UNICEF.

  Sex Tourism
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the countries to which she has offered help and advice about combating sex tourism; and if she will make a statement. [139460]

  Clare Short
  Combating sex tourism is one aspect of a wider set of issues in which poor people—particularly young women and children—are vulnerable to the interests of the sex industry, national and international trafficking and associated illegal activities. It is an international problem which requires internationally coordinated action. Much of our focus is on reducing the vulnerability of young people being recruited into this industry. With other Government Departments, we are supporting efforts of regional and international agencies to combat trafficking, strengthen law enforcement and improve the mechanisms for prosecution of those who commit sex offences abroad.

  Most recently in May 2000, a meeting of Law Enforcement agencies in Seoul followed up the ASEM Child Welfare Experts' recommendations from October 1998. China has offered to host the next ASEM Child Welfare Experts' Meeting. There is wide regional support for this initiative.

  We very recently reviewed the ILO programmes we support in Northern Thailand as part of an initiative to combat trafficking in the Mekong basin of South East Asia. Good progress has been made in establishing offices, staff and ground level activities in Laos, Cambodia, China as well as Thailand.

  Congo
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support her Department is providing to British NGOs working in the Democratic Republic of Congo to assist people who are dependent on food aid as a result of conflict. [139771]

  Clare Short
  Since the current conflict began in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in August 1998, the UK has committed over £3.5 million in humanitarian assistance, targeted towards the most vulnerable sections of the population on both sides of the conflict. Our combinations are channelled through well-established UK-registered NGOs. This year, for example, we have worked with the Save the Children Fund, the British Red Cross, the International Committee of the Red Cross, Medecins sans Frontieres and Oxfam. Our assistance has focused mainly on emergency health and nutrition, and water and sanitation.

  Technical Co-operation and Training Scholarships
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many technical co-operation and training scholarships for study in the United Kingdom were offered by her Department in(a) 1990 and (b) the latest date for which figures are available. [140729]

  Clare Short
  In financial year 1990–91, 12,619 students studied in the UK financed from our bilateral country programmes. The figure for 1999–2000 was 2,878. This reflects a shift over that period from UK-based training to in-country and regional training.

PRIME MINISTER

  Correspondence
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Prime Minister when Mr. A. Blee, a constituent of the hon. Member for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, will receive answers to his letters of 17 February 1998, 12 February, 23 February, 18 April and 26 September. [134144]

  The Prime Minister
  I understand that Mr. Blee supplied my office with copies of the letters referred to by my hon. Friend and that a response has now been sent.

  Conflict Prevention Review
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the objectives of his cross-departmental review of conflict prevention, indicating the size of the(a) overall budget and (b) budget to be spent on peacekeeping. [138703]

  The Prime Minister
  The outcomes of the Government's cross-departmental review of conflict prevention were set out in Chapter 36 of the Spending Review 2000 White Paper (Cm 4807) published in July, copies of which are available from the Library.

  Civil Service
  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list(a) those public servants who have the right of direct access to the Prime Minister and (b) those who may exercise that right through the Head of the Home Civil Service. [139523]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 21 November 2000]: Ministers and officials have access to the Prime Minister in order to carry out their responsibilities.

  No. 10 Press Office
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Prime Minister what instructions the No. 10 Press Office has issued to(a) Ministers and (b) Government departments about the handling of European announcements and information. [140279]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Minister of State, Foreign 732
  and Commonwealth Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz), on 24 November 2000, Official Report, column 345W.

  Russian Plutonium Disposition Programme
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister what matters in respect of United Kingdom assistance to the Russian plutonium disposition programme were discussed at his recent meeting with the Russian President. [140514]

  The Prime Minister
  I did not discuss UK assistance to the Russian plutonium disposition programme at my recent meeting with President Putin. I discussed it with President Putin at the Okinawa Summit in June. There have not been any changes to the UK pledge of assistance since then.

  The G8 has established a Plutonium Disposition Planning Group, which will hold regular meetings to develop the Russian plutonium disposition programme. Officials from the FCO and Russia, as well as other G8 countries, will attend. The first meeting of this group will take place on 7–8 December.

  President of Russia
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his recent meetings with the President of Russia, with special reference to their discussions on Chechnya and missile defence. [140701]

  The Prime Minister
  I had useful talks with President Putin in Moscow on 20 and 21 November. We covered a range of issues, including Chechnya and missile defence. On Chechnya, President Putin repeated his concerns over the threat to security from Chechen separatists, while on missile defence he repeated publicly that he was ready to continue contacts with the US.

  Royal Commission (Child Abuse)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will establish a Royal Commission on the extent of child abuse; and if he will make a statement. [138764]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 27 November 2000]: The Government have taken firm action to help and protect the most vulnerable children and young people in our society. In our response to the Waterhouse Report we set out a wide ranging policy and legislative programme that includes:
  the recently passed Care Standards Act which sets out wide-scale reform of the systems to protect vulnerable people and will regulate and improve standards in children's homes and other care services. The Act also establishes the post of a National Children's Rights Director within the National Care Standards Commission with a remit across all children in receipt of services regulated by the Commission;
  the Protection of Children Act 1999 places the Department of Health's Consultancy Index—the list of individuals deemed unsuitable to work with children—on a statutory footing. Regulated child care providers are now required to check the names of anyone they propose to employ in posts involving regular contact with children against the list; and
  the £885 million Quality Protects programme which is designed to improve the management and delivery of children's social services. Linked to this programme, the Government are working with the other agencies with child protection responsibilities to identify better ways to safeguard children and promote their welfare.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Minimum Wage
  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of the national minimum wage in poverty reduction. [139544]

  Mr. Byers
  Figures from the Office of National Statistics show that before the Government introduced the new law in April 1999, around 1.5 million workers were earning less than the minimum wage. By spring this year, that figure had fallen to 300,000. And many of those 300,000 are in receipt of training or accommodation, where lower rates can legitimately be applied.

  But poverty among those with jobs is only part of the problem and the national minimum wage is only part of the solution. Initiatives such as tax credits, benefit and pension reform and the New Deal for the unemployed also have an important role to play in reducing poverty.

  Mr. Rammell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his plans to review the reduced minimum wage for young people. [139545]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  We have asked the Low Pay Commission to continue to monitor and evaluate the impact of the minimum wage and to report its findings by July 2001. We have particularly asked the Commission to look at the youth rate and to continue monitoring the 21-year old cut off.

  Subcontinent
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what contracts for the supply of goods to the Indian subcontinent have received support from the Export Credits Guarantee Department in the current year. [139546]

  Mr. Caborn
  The following new contracts involving the supply of goods to the Indian sub-continent have received ECGD support this calendar year.

  Bangladesh

  The supply of and construction of bridges, contract value £15.7 million.

  India

  The development of safe mooring infrastructure for a liquefied natural gas terminal for the Dabhol power plant, contract value £15.5 million.

  Sri Lanka

  The sale of two Airbus A330–200 aircraft, contract value £55 million.

  Post Offices (ACT)
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact on the post office network of switching benefit payments to automated credit transfer from 2003. [139547]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  We are fully committed to modernisation of the post office network and have made the largest ever investment into the Post Office, of half a billion pounds on post office automation, to make a start 734
  and with more to follow. When the move to ACT starts in 2003, post offices will be equipped to play a re-invigorated role at the heart of community life.

  By accepting all 24 recommendations of the PIU report on the future of the post office network, we have demonstrated our continuing commitment to maintenance of a nationwide network of post offices.

  Both before and after the change to ACT, those benefit and pension recipients who wish to continue to collect their benefits money in cash, in full, across a post office counter, will still be able to do so.

  Consumer Protection
  Mr. John Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how he plans to enforce consumer protection measures during the pre-Christmas shopping period. [139548]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Department is working with consumer protection enforcement bodies such as the Office of Fair Trading and Trading Standards Departments and with business to highlight areas of particular concern so that consumers can shop with confidence.

  Climate Change Levy
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he made to the Chancellor before the pre-Budget report concerning the climate change levy. [139549]

  Ms Hewitt
  My Department made representations to HM Treasury in advance of the pre-Budget report on a number of issues including the climate change levy. It has worked with HM Treasury and other Departments in the development and implementation of the levy. The Government have aimed to balance its environmental objectives with the need to safeguard the competitiveness of UK business; and my Department has, in this context, maintained close contacts with business to ensure that its views are taken into account.

  Euro
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is recommending small businesses to take in preparation for the United Kingdom joining the single European currency. [139550]

  Mr. Caborn
  Planning is the key to a smooth and cost-effective changeover. Individual businesses and sectors must make their own commercial and operational judgments about their approach.

  Universal Bank
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on progress towards the establishment of a Universal Bank in post offices. [139551]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The Post Office and the banks are working together to develop the concept of Universal Banking services.

  Centres of Excellence
  Mr. Hopkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on progress made in establishing centres of excellence in United Kingdom universities. [139552]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government want to see a diversity of excellence in universities, with universities adopting a variety of missions, building on their strengths. The Government believe that all universities should focus on producing excellent teaching, though the nature of teaching may vary. Some universities will also want to focus on excellent research, some on excellent knowledge transfer, and some on a combination of these, so there is a diversity of excellence. The Government have supported the development of centres of excellence through a number of programmes.

  European Social Agenda
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussion he has held with the Secretaries of State for Education and Employment and for Social Security about the potential costs to business of the European social agenda. [139553]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  My right hon. Friend the Minister for Employment, Welfare to Work and Equal Opportunities and I attended the Employment and Social Policy Council at which proposals for a new European Social Agenda were agreed on 28 November. The Agenda will now be considered by Heads of States at the Nice European Council in December. The Government made clear our support for a European Social Agenda which takes forward the Lisbon European Council objective that the European Community should become the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion. The agreed text will take forward this objective.

  The impact on business, including potential costs, is one of the factors that the Government as a whole take into account in their responses to proposals for the agenda and any measures brought forward to effect its implementation.

  Single European Market
  Ms Dari Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the benefits to manufacturing industry of membership of the single European market in the last 12 months. [139554]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Our membership of the European Single Market gives all UK business access to the largest Single Market in the world—a market of nearly 380 million consumers. Over 55 per cent. of the UK's trade, worth over £200 billion a year, is with the EU.

  We attract a huge amount of inward investment as a gateway to the Single Market, from countries outside the EU.

  The European Union is the world's largest trading bloc and membership of that bloc is crucial for British trade, investment and prosperity.

  Receivership
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to review the law relating to the disposal of company assets following receivership; and if he will make a statement. [139555]

  Dr. Howells
  I have no such plans.

  Enterprise Promotion
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to promote enterprise among disadvantaged communities. [139556]

  Mr. Caborn
  My Department recognises the importance of promoting enterprise among disadvantaged communities. The Small Business Service's remit includes tackling social exclusion, by ensuring that Business Links' plans take account of the needs of their local communities and by utilising the Phoenix Fund to promote enterprise in deprived areas. We offer regional selective assistance to eligible investment projects and, in conjunction with HM Treasury and the Inland Revenue, we are considering the recommendations of the Social Investment Task Force on ways of introducing new sources of private and institutional investment into disadvantaged communities.

  Dounreay
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the management of the prototype fast reactor fuels at Dounreay. [139557]

  Mr. Byers
  Following a public consultation I have been considering the arguments for and against each of the options for this fuel. I expect to announce my decision soon.

  Family-friendly Employment
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has held with business and industry about family-friendly employment policies; and if he will make a statement. [139558]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The ongoing review of maternity pay and parental leave has included extensive discussions with employers, employees and interest groups. The Confederation of British Industry, the British Chambers of Commerce, the Federation of Small Business, and industry specific bodies, have all participated in these meetings. Individual business, both large and small, have also been consulted.

  Procurement
  Mr. St. Aubyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has held with the Secretary of State for Defence on the extent to which his procurement policies are open to competition. [139559]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  My Department maintains a close dialogue with that of my right hon. Friend on the wider industrial implications of defence procurement decisions. This ensures that when individual decisions are made these implications are fully taken into account.

  Car Industry
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make statement on the future of the motor car industry in the United Kingdom. [139560]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The UK motor industry continues to have good prospects, with new production lines coming on stream in 2001. 1999 car production was the highest since 1972; sales were the fourth highest on record and UK exports were the highest ever. Since 1997, some 9,600 new jobs have been announced with over £3 billion of new investment.

  Fireworks
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to review the law concerning the sale of fireworks. [139561]

  Dr. Howells
  The Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997 introduced comprehensive controls on the types and sizes of fireworks which can be sold to the public. I have no plans to introduce further controls on fireworks or to review the existing Regulations.

  Regional Development Agencies
  Mr. Ennis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the role that RDAs will play in supporting local business forums. [139562]

  Mr. Caborn
  The RDAs have a statutory purpose to promote business efficiency, investment and competitiveness in their regions. As part of this, they work closely with the full range of business organisations in their area.

  Iran
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to improve trade with Iran. [139563]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Government are committed to strengthening the commercial relationship with Iran to our mutual benefit. TradePartnersUK are currently running an extensive programme of exhibitions, seminars and outward trade missions to Iran. We are also funding visits by UK experts, to identify areas where UK companies can assist Iran develop her economy. The sectors where opportunities have already been identified include; hydrocarbons, mining, power generation, automotive, water and waste management, and agriculture including the packaging industry. In addition my officials, both in the UK and in Tehran, continue to provide information and advice to allow companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, to make informed decisions about exporting to this important market—indeed we have just strengthened the commercial team in Tehran in recognition of the improved relations between Britain and Iran.

  I visited Iran in October to support the 48 UK companies that exhibited at the Tehran International Trade Fair. During my visit, I was pleased to announce that the Export Credits Guarantee Department will now provide medium term cover to help UK exporters win business in Iran. My visit, the first by a UK Minister for Trade in
  738W
  20 years, underlines this Government's commitment to building on the strong commercial relationship that goes back many years.

  Business Opportunities
  Mr. Goggins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action his Department is taking to support the development of new business opportunities linked to universities. [139564]

  Ms Hewitt
  A key aim of the Government's White Paper, "Excellence and Opportunity: a science and innovation policy for the 21st century", which was published in July of this year, is to strengthen the links between business and universities to realise the business opportunities offered by science. The White Paper sets out a range of measures to support these stronger links which build on the success of schemes such as Science Enterprise Centres to bring business skills into the curriculum and University Challenge to provide seed funding. These will provide our scientists and engineers with more incentives and skills, and strengthen the links between them and industry, so that they can play a greater role in wealth creation.

  The White Paper announced a Higher Education Innovation Fund of £140 million over three years to further enhance university-business knowledge transfer. This will triple existing HEROBAC funding by the third year. It will be a permanent funding stream to build on universities' potential as drivers of growth in the knowledge economy, and will, therefore, help universities to respond to the needs of business—especially SMEs. We are also providing funding for one more round of University Challenge and putting £15 million more into Science Enterprise Centres. We are also doubling the number of new starts for Faraday Partnerships, from four to eight a year, to link the science base to business networks.

  Cefn Croes Windfarm
  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will hold a public inquiry on the Cefn Croes windfarm proposal in Ceredigion; and if he will make a statement. [139565]

  Mr. Byers
  I have yet to hear the views of the Ceredigion county council. Until their views are known it is too early to say whether a public inquiry will be necessary.

  Impact Assessments
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures he is taking to ensure that impact assessments are effective. [139566]

  Ms Hewitt
  New guidance announced on 9 August, which is available on the Cabinet Office website, includes a number of important advances on previous practice. Civil servants are required to prepare an initial regulatory impact assessment early in the policy-making process before Ministers consider regulatory and non-regulatory policy options. As the policy develops, the guidance requires more thorough assessment of costs and benefits of proposals throughout the lifetime of the policy in
  739W
  question. Ministers are required to certify their confidence that the "benefits justify the costs" rather than that "the correct balance has been struck".

  Textiles
  Charlotte Atkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the progress of the action plan for the textile industry. [139567]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government have made considerable progress on the implementation of the 12 point plan for the textile and clothing industry, announced on 6 June 2000 by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and the Minister for Employment, Welfare to Work and Equal Opportunities. A new unit has been set up within the DTI to implement the 12 point plan as well as the recommendations contained in the National Strategy, produced by the industry led Textiles and Clothing Strategy Group which were directed at Government.

  Major developments have included:

  the establishment of a major new supply chain initiative for the textiles and clothing industry;

  temporary relaxation of the rules for trade fair support to enable more textiles and clothing companies to receive assistance;

  the establishment of more projects to help the technical textiles sector;

  initial meetings between public procurement agencies and manufacturers to discuss ways to improve UK supplies of securing contracts.

  Shipbuilding
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received concerning the European Union's shipbuilding intervention fund. [139568]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  I have received representations from the industry, the trade association and the trade unions and a number of hon. Members, including my hon. Friend.

  Post Offices
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the European Commission regarding his proposals for a national bank in post offices. [139569]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The European Competition Commissioner has been informed about the new package of measures to modernise the post office network, including universal banking, and my officials are in contact with the European Commission.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many sub-post offices have(a) reduced opening hours and (b) closed (i) permanently and (ii) on a temporary basis since June 1999; how many have subsequently been re-opened (A) in Scotland and (B) in each Scottish local authority area; and if he will make a statement. [138993]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 21 November 2000]: I am advised by the Post Office that their records are maintained on a financial year basis and that for the year to end March 2000, 380 sub-post offices in Scotland
  740W
  were classified as operating a reduced opening hours service. During the 1999–2000 financial year there was a net closure of 29 sub-post offices in Scotland, all on a temporary basis. The Post Office does not hold figures by local authority area.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made on support for pilot projects to enable post offices to become(a) one-stop shops and (b) general Government practitioners in Wales. [141157]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  This is a matter for the devolved Administration.

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received on the application of climate change levy charges to rural post offices which are customers of Northern Electric and Gas; and if he will make a statement. [140881]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The Department of Trade and Industry has received no representations from rural post offices about the climate change levy. We are aware that energy supply companies, including Northern, are in the process of writing to all their non-domestic customers, forewarning them of the inclusion of the climate change levy on their energy bills following 1 April 2001. The climate change levy is intended to increase energy efficiency across all sectors of business, and will help the UK to meet its Kyoto targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and move towards our domestic goal to cut CO2 emissions by 20 per cent. Some of the revenues from the levy will be used for energy efficiency initiatives which will help small businesses.

  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what formal requirements there are for the Post Office to keep open(a) rural and (b) urban sub-post offices; and if he will make a statement. [140452]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  As recommended in the Performance and Innovation Unit report, a formal requirement has been placed upon the Post Office to maintain the rural network and to prevent any avoidable closures of rural post offices. A rural post office is defined as one serving a community of up to 10,000 inhabitants.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices, including sub-post offices, have closed in(a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years in areas defined as rural and areas defined as urban; and to publish the criteria used to define an area as rural or urban. [136721]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 6 November 2000]: For the years from March 1991 to March 1998, a reliable split between rural and urban offices is not available. Total net closures for these years were as follows:

  Year to end March

  Number

  1991

  233

  1992

  478

  1993

  202

  1994

  176

  1995

  175

  1996

  193

  1997

  163

  1998

  243

  741W

  Closures

  Year to end March

  Rural

  Urban

  1999

  England

  -167

  -18

  Scotland

  -25

  0

  Wales

  -10

  -3

  Northern Ireland

  -12

  +2

  2000

  England

  -271

  -92

  Scotland

  -30

  +1

  Wales

  -40

  +54

  Northern Ireland

  -2

  -2

  Notes:

  The figures shown are net closures, indicated by a minus sign, or net openings, indicated by a plus sign.

  The urban closure data include data anomalies between countries caused by revisions of codings.

  The net total figures for the United Kingdom are correct but the ongoing process of revising data has affected individual country totals.

  In the figures above the Post Office has defined rural offices as those located in a community of fewer than 6,300 inhabitants. In the light of the Performance and Innovation Unit Report (which defined a rural post office as one located in a community of up to 10,000 inhabitants), the Post Office is currently agreeing with the Postal Services Commission a process and format for reporting information on the network including the definitions that will be used. The Government definition of a rural post office is one located in a community of up to 10,000 inhabitants.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many sub-post offices have closed in the last six months in(a) urban and (b) rural areas. [140167]

  Mr. Byers
  I understand from the Post Office that figures for the six months until the end of October are not available.

  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Post Office proposal to offer retirement and pensions services and information for the over-55 year group will require sub-post office staff to register with the Financial Services Authority. [140264]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 24 November 2000]: The Post Office has no proposals to offer financial advice on retirement pension provision.

  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Performance and Innovation Unit has made an estimate of the number of mergers of sub-post offices required by its recommended programme of modernisation for the urban network. [140263]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 24 November 2000]: The Performance and Innovation Unit has not made such an estimate.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the age profile was, in five year periods, for owners of sub-post offices in(a) 1980, (b) 1990 and (c) currently. [140094]
  742W
  Mr. Byers
  Information for 1980 and 1990 is not available. Currently the age profile of sub-postmasters is as follows:

  Age range

  Number

  Up to 20

  7

  21–25

  108

  26–30

  311

  31–35

  645

  36–40

  1,947

  41–45

  2,454

  46–50

  3,199

  51–55

  3,454

  56–60

  2,513

  61–65

  1,239

  66–70

  477

  71–75

  217

  76 and over

  166

  The number of sub-postmasters shown in the table is not the same as the number of sub-post offices. Sub-postmasters may operate more than one outlet.

  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what pressure he plans to bring to bear on the Post Office to end the practice of demanding substantial premiums from retailers willing to take over a discontinued sub-post office business. [140131]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  I understand from the Post Office that among the measures taken to protect the post office network, and smaller post offices in particular, they have in recent years raised the threshold of the introductory payments for taking on a sub-post office. Such payments do not apply to offices for which the post office remuneration is less than £14,000 a year. I have asked the Post Office to consider whether more can be done to make the contractual terms and arrangements more flexible and attractive to prospective subpostmasters.

  Research Organisations
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research organisations are owned by his Department; and what their budgets are for the year 2000–01. [R] [140155]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Department of Trade and Industry has responsibility for two organisations which conduct scientific research: the National Physical Laboratory (a government-owned, contractor-operated organisation) and the UK Atomic Energy Authority (a non-departmental public body; NDPB).

  DTI also has accounting officer responsibilities for the Research Councils which are established as seven separate NDPBs. As well as funding research and training in the science and engineering base some of the Research Councils operate research institutes, as shown in the table.

  The budgets for 2000–01 are necessarily estimates. The figures given are the estimated total budgets for the individual organisations. These estimates will typically include predicted income from a number of different sources including other parts of the public sector, the private sector and international sources. The estimated income will not all be directed to the funding for research as the same organisations also carry out other functions of a technical nature (this is particularly the case for UKAEA).
  743

  £ million

  Research organisation

  Estimated budget 2000–01

  Government-owned, contractor-operated

  National Physical Laboratory

  150

  Non-Departmental Public Bodies

  UK Atomic Energy Authority

  2240

  BBSRC

  The Babraham Institute

  16.0

  Institute for Animal Health

  25.1

  Institute of Arable Crop Research

  25.1

  Institute of Food Research

  14.0

  Institute of Grassland & Environmental Research

  14.8

  John Innes Centre

  22.3

  Roslin Institute

  13.3

  Silsoe Research Institute

  9.8

  Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Council

  3111.4

  Medical Research Council

  Institutes and Units4

  179.5

  NERC

  British Antarctic Survey

  32.8

  British Geological Survey

  35.1

  Centre for Coastal & Marine Sciences

  515.2

  Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

  31.2

  Southampton Oceanography Centre

  66.3

  PPARC

  UK Astronomy Technology Centre

  2.6

  Note:

  1. The estimated current financial year's turnover of National Physical Laboratory Management Limited, which is the company contracted to run the National Physical Laboratory for the Department.

  2. The main activity of the UKAEA is to manage nuclear liabilities in a way which is safe, secure and environmentally responsible. Their principal research activity is into the use of nuclear fusion as a future energy source, this programme's budget is estimated to be £14.3 million in 2000–01.

  3. CCLRC is funded primarily through other Research Councils.
  4. MRC units are internal divisions of the MRC and individual budgets are not available.

  5. NERC is in the process of re-organising the Centre for Coastal and Marine Sciences.

  6. The figure for the Southampton Oceanography Centre is the contribution for the science budget only. As SOC is a joint venture between NERC and the University of Southampton it is not possible to give an equivalent figure for external receipts.

  Insolvency Service Agency
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Quinquennial Review of the Insolvency Service Agency will be completed within the six month time scale. [140233]

  Dr. Howells
  Stage 1 of the Quinquennial Review of the Insolvency Service was completed in September. Stage 2 will commence following the announcement of the Stage 1 report, and is expected to be completed within three months.

  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultation arrangements he proposes between the Insolvency Service Agency and the relevant trade unions to discuss Stages I and II of the Agency Quinquennial Review; and when this consultation will(a) take place and (b) be concluded. [140236]
  744W
  Dr. Howells
  The relevant trade unions and staff have been consulted by the Quinquennial Review Team as part of the Stage 1 review, in accordance with the Cabinet Office Guidance on the conduct of Quinquennial Reviews. When ministerial decisions have been reached and announced, the Insolvency Service will discuss the implementation of the conclusions of the Quinquennial Review with the relevant trade unions through the normal Whitley channels. As in Stage 1, the relevant trade unions will be invited to meet the Quinquennial Review Team to discuss Stage 2 issues when the Review Team begin their work. This will follow the announcement of the Stage 1 report.

  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place a copy of the Stage I Quinquennial Review report for the Insolvency Service Agency in the Library. [140234]

  Dr. Howells
  A copy of the Stage 1 Quinquennial Review Report will be placed in the Library of the House when the Stage 1 Report is announced to the House.

  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when(a) the Insolvency Service Agency trade union side and (b) members of staff in the Insolvency Service will be informed of the results of Stage I of the Agency Quinquennial Review. [140235]

  Dr. Howells
  The Insolvency Service Agency Trade Union Side and staff will be informed of the results of Stage 1 of the Insolvency Service Quinquennial Review when recommendations have been agreed by DTI, HM Treasury and Cabinet Office Ministers, and the report has been announced to the House. The Quinquennial Review report was presented to Ministers on 27 October 2000. An announcement will be made as soon as possible.

  Lead-replacement Petrol Duty
  Mr. Alan Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to ensure that the proposed reduction in lead-replacement petrol duty will be passed on by(a) petrol retailers and (b) oil companies to motorists. [140445]

  Mr. Byers
  The retail price of gasoline is set at forecourts by competitive marketing between petrol retailers. Competitive pressure is likely to result in the proposed reduction in lead replacement petrol duty being passed on to consumers at the pump.

  Oil Supplies
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research he has commissioned into the future supply of oil. [140610]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 28 November 2000]: The Department is aware of a wide range of academic and industry studies which look at future world oil supplies and meets regularly with experts to discuss this and other oil market issues.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his latest estimate is of the extent of(a) United Kingdom oil reserves and (b) world oil reserves. [140612]
  745W
  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 28 November 2000]: My Department publishes estimates of remaining recoverable oil and gas reserves in the annual "Brown Book". The latest edition (Development of UK Oil and Gas Resources 2000) is available in the Library of the House and on the Web at http://www.dbd-date.co.uk/bbonline/

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimates he has made of the future demand for oil in(a) the UK, (b) the EU and (c) the world. [140592]

  Mr. Byers
  My Department has just completed a revised set of energy projections for the UK. The projections will be published as Energy Paper 68 entitled: "Energy Projections for the UK" and include estimates for the use of oil and other fuels. Energy Paper 68 is provisionally expected to be available from the Stationery Office on 8 December. Copies will also be lodged in the Library of the House.

  The DTI makes no projections of oil demand outside of the UK. Some bodies make such projections, principally the International Energy Agency and the European Commission. The latter's baseline scenario projects modest growth in the use of oil.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the extent of the availability of unconventional oil sources including(a) gas to distillates, (b) heavy oils and (c) sands and shales. [140593]

  Mr. Byers
  The gas from the UK Continental Shelf would be suitable as a feedstock for gas to distillates technology. The exploitation of this technology would depend on the business case for this process in a UK context. The UK does not have significant reserves of either of the other two sources.

  Departmental Payment
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of correctly presented bills were paid by his Department within 30 days of receipt of goods and services or a valid invoice in the last 12 months. [140728]

  Mr. Byers
  The percentage of correctly presented bills which were paid within 30 days of receipt of goods and services or a valid invoice, for the period 1 January 2000 to 31 October 2000, was 93 per cent.

  Comparable information prior to 1 January 2000 is not available.

  Sub-postmasters
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many sub-postmasters have resigned in(a) the past three months, broken down by region and (b) the same three month period in each of the last three years. [140843]

  Mr. Byers
  I understand from the Post Office that the figures are not available in the form requested.

  Sterling
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions he has had with manufacturing industry on the level of sterling. [140964]
  746W
  Mr. Byers
  We are in frequent contact with manufacturing industry, at both ministerial and official level, covering a range of issues affecting manufacturers.

  Consumer Complaints
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the trend of consumer complaints in the last 10 years. [140940]

  Dr. Howells
  Local authority trading standards departments provide the Office of Fair Trading with regular returns detailing the number of consumer complaints that they have received. The Director General of Fair Trading publishes these in his annual report to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, copies of which are placed in the Library of the House. The report does not deal with complaints made to other regulatory bodies, such as the utilities regulators, Government Departments, representative bodies such as the National Consumer Council and the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, and trade associations.

  For the year ending 30 September 1989, the number of consumer complaints reported by local authorities to the OFT was 583,760. By the year ending 30 September 1999, this had risen to 897.704.

  Debt Collection Agencies
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list for each of the last 10 years, the number of(a) complaints the Office of Fair Trading has received against debt collection agencies, (b) agencies whose licences have been revoked and (c) agencies which were found to be trading without a licence. [140975]

  Dr. Howells
  The Office of Fair Trading does not have records in the form specified and this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  However, figures relating to the number of consumer credit licences for debt collectors and investigators which the Director General was minded to revoke, suspend or vary compulsorily are set out in his Annual Reports to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. These are available in the Library of the House.

  The Office of Fair Trading Annual Report also contains figures on the number of consumer complaints reported by trading standards departments and advice agencies in the financial services and related industries, although debt collectors are not specifically identified.

  Unfair Trading
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on how many occasions in each of the last 10 years the Director General of Fair Trading has used his powers under Part III of the Fair Trading Act 1973 to take action against traders whose actions were considered to be unfair to consumers. [140974]

  Dr. Howells
  The Director General of Fair Trading has taken action under Part III of the Fair Trading Act 1973
  747W
  in each year since 1990. A table setting out the details of the action taken is listed below. These figures are set out in the Director General of Fair Trade's annual reports to

  Year

  1990

  15 assurances given, 2 undertakings given to the court and 4 court orders.

  1991

  7 assurances given, 1 undertaking given to the court and 2 court orders.

  1992

  26 assurances given, 1 court order.

  1993

  22 assurances given, 1 undertaking given to the court.

  1994

  15 assurances given, 8 court orders and 1 conviction for breach of a court order.

  1995

  22 assurances given, 3 court orders.

  1996

  30 assurances given and 1 court order.

  1997

  8 assurances given, 4 court orders, and 2 people found guilty of breaching earlier undertakings.

  1998

  3 assurances given, 2 court orders and 1 person found guilty of contempt of court for breaching earlier undertakings.

  1999

  4 assurances given, 1 person found guilty of breach of a former court order and 2 people found guilty of breaching earlier undertakings.

  Oil and Gas Exploration
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will suspend further consideration of the 19th round of oil and gas licensing of environmentally sensitive areas to the west of the Shetland Islands until the regulations applying the EC Habitats Directive to the offshore industry have been implemented; and if he will list the sites requiring designation as special areas for conservation. [140887]

  Mr. Byers
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Energy and Competitiveness in Europe on 25 October 2000,Official Report, column 129W.

  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what factors he took into account in granting approval for oil and gas exploration of the White Zone between the Shetland and Faroe Islands. [140886]

  Mr. Byers
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Ceredigion (Mr. Thomas) on 9 November 2000,Official Report, columns 333–34W.

  Employment and Recruitment Agencies
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) which organisations have made representations to his Department(a) in support of and (b) against a four week limit on temp to perm fees; [140894]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the impact on the labour market of the proposed four week limit on the temp to perm fees in the Employment Agency Regulations; [140896]

  (3) what discussions he has had with employment and recruitment agencies relating to the imposition of a four week limit on the temp to perm fees; [140893]

  (4) what discussions his Department held with the recruitment industry concerning the four week limit for temp to perm fees in the draft Employment Agency Regulations. [140895]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  I have received over 200 representations on our proposal to limit the length of time an agency can demand a transfer fee from an employer after a hiring ceased where the employer wishes to take a temporary worker on permanently. Many representations have been duplicate circular letters submitted by agencies or their permanent staff against the proposals. Representations in support have been received from
  748
  my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

  agencies, employers, trade unions and professional associations. My Department and I have had continuous discussions with the industry since the publication of the proposals by means of meetings, visits, correspondence, conference speeches and telephone. In common with all regulatory proposals an impact assessment has been prepared. We expect our proposals to improve labour market flexibility by removing barriers to entry into the permanent employment market, while allowing agencies to recoup their investment in the workers they supply and greater freedom to recruit.

  Ilisu Dam
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has considered the implications of the World Commission on Dams Report for his decision on an export credit for the Ilisu Dam; and if he will make a statement. [140755]

  Mr. Caborn
  We are studying carefully the Report of the World Commission on Dams. We will take account of the Report in considering our decision on Ilisu.

  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made by the Turkish authorities in meeting the four conditions for UK ECGD support announced in December 1999; and if he will make a statement. [140756]

  Mr. Caborn
  Progress has been made on the four conditions since my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's statement to the press in December last year. However, we will have a much clearer idea of the extent to which those conditions have been addressed when we have seen and assessed the updated Environmental Impact Assessment Report, the response of the Turkish authorities to that document and the Resettlement Action Plan.

  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the recommendations and guidelines for good practice identified in the recent World Commission on Dams Report will be used to shape the policies of the Export Credits Guarantee Department. [140757]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Report is clearly a seminal document and will require detailed study. ECGD propose to consult with other Departments, in particular the Department for International Development (who provided funding for the Commission), the Department
  749W
  of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department of Trade and Industry and Trade Partners.

  ECGD will also seek to ensure that the Export Credit Agencies issues raised by the Report are properly and fully considered by the OECD, and will also liaise with ECAs bilaterally. We will of course consider how far the Report affords us a template for our decision making process on future dam projects where we are approached for cover.

  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the Governments of(a) Turkey, (b) Syria and (c) Iraq relating to the legal implications of the Ilisu Dam for cross border water sharing agreements between these countries and obligations under international law. [140758]

  Mr. Caborn
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has had no discussions with the governments of Turkey, Syria or Iraq on the Ilisu Dam. We are of course aware that the Syrian and Iraqi governments have made representations to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office regarding the project, and the issue of waterflow to downstream states is one of the four conditions outlined by my right hon. Friend in his statement to the press last December. My officials and their Foreign and Commonwealth office counterparts remain in touch with Turkish officials regarding these conditions.

  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to receive a copy of the updated Environmental Impact Assessment report and Resettlement report in respect of the Ilisu Dam. [140759]

  Mr. Caborn
  The latest information we have is that the updated Environmental Impact Assessment Report is expected to be made available to the Turkish buyer shortly. When the buyer has had the opportunity to respond, the Report will be made available to the Export Credit Agencies involved in the project. We envisage this will be early in the New Year. We have been informed by the contractors that the Resettlement Action Plan is expected to take longer, but timing is still uncertain.

  Plutonium
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what procedures are in place to ensure that weapons-grade plutonium from magnox reactors is not used for military purposes.[140982]

  Dr. Howells
  All the magnox reactors in the United Kingdom, with the exception of those at Chapelcross, are subject to Euratom safeguards and to the terms of the UK/Euratom/IAEA safeguards agreement. These safeguards arrangements are designed to detect the diversion of nuclear material from its declared civil uses. The announcement of the outcome of the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) in July 1998 included a commitment that all planned future reprocessing would be carried out under safeguards. All such reprocessing of irradiated magnox fuel, including that from Chapelcross, is therefore subject to the safeguards arrangements described above.
  750W
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what quantity of weapons-grade plutonium has originated in the UK's civil magnox reactors in each of the last 20 years. [140981]

  Mr. Byers
  The information requested is available only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what reason his Department has ceased publication of full records of plutonium production in civil reactors. [140983]

  Mr. Byers
  I refer my hon. Friend to the replies given to my hon. Friend the Member for Kirkcaldy (Dr. Moonie), on 2 June 1998,Official Report, column 162W, and my hon. Friend the Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith) on 24 June 1998, Official Report, column 499W.

  Beer Industry
  Mrs. Dean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what assessment he has made of the competitive impact of the growth of pub-owning chains in the United Kingdom beer market; [139940]

  (2) when he will announce the findings of the six-month review of the beer orders conducted by the Office of Fair Trading; [139941]

  (3) what assessment his Department has made of the pattern of ownership in the tenanted UK pub estate. [139942]

  Dr. Howells
  The Office of Fair Trading's review of the 1989 Beer Orders addresses a number of issues in the pub and brewing industries, including structural changes in the pub retailing sector. We are currently considering the Office's report carefully, and will make a statement shortly.

  Gas Prices
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his assessment is of the consequences of the recent doubling of the price of gas; and if he will make a statement.[140868]

  Dr. Howells
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Energy and Competitiveness in Europe on 6 November 2000,Official Report, column 13W.

  Supermarkets
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made following his request to the Director General of Fair Trading to draw up a code of practice on relations between supermarkets and their suppliers following the publication of the Competition Commission's report "Supermarkets: A report on the supply of groceries from multiple stores in the United Kingdom" (Cm 4842). [141156]

  Dr. Howells
  The Director General of Fair Trading's discussions with the major supermarkets on a Code of Practice are continuing. He hopes to make a draft available to representatives of suppliers for comment, as requested by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, in early January. My right hon.
  751W
  Friend asked the Director General of Fair Trading to report back to him in three months' time (ie by the middle of January).

  Biscuit Industry
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received concerning the impact on jobs and investment of the recent mergers and takeovers in the British biscuit industry. [139541]

  Ms Hewitt
  It is not our policy to disclose the identity or content of representations on cases so that interested parties may comment freely without any concern that their comments might then be disclosed.

  Oil and Gas Directorate
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of his Department's oil and gas directorate posts were in(a) Aberdeen, (b) Glasgow, (c) London and (d) elsewhere in each of the last three years. [137335]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The number of Oil and Gas Directorate posts located in(a) Aberdeen, (b) Glasgow, (c) London and (d) elsewhere in each of the last three years are as follows:

  1998

  1999

  2000

  Aberdeen

  56.3

  60.3

  72.3

  Glasgow

  0

  0

  0

  London

  102.3

  99.3

  103.8

  Other

  0

  0

  0

  Accurate figures are difficult to provide in view of the transfer in 1999 of 14 Aberdeen DTI Oil and Gas Directorate staff working on Royalties to the Inland Revenue in Aberdeen. In addition this year has seen the transfer of 22.5 DTI Infrastructure and Energy Project staff to the Oil and Gas Directorate following the merger of Infrastructure and Energy Projects Directorate with British Trade International. Of the posts transferred 19.5 are based in Aberdeen and 3.5 in London.

  Electricity Consumption
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the effect on UK domestic and electricity consumption of putting forward the clocks by one extra hour; and if he will make a statement. [140132]

  Mr. Byers
  The 1989 Green Paper "Summertime: A Consultation Document" (CM722) concluded that the impact of putting the clocks forward by one extra hour was marginal in terms of energy consumption.

  Coal Miners' Compensation Scheme
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the average length of time taken to process a claim for compensation on behalf of coal miners' suffering from(a) emphysema and (b) chronic bronchitis; and what steps he is taking to speed up payments. [140449]
  752W
  Mr. Byers
  This information is not available in the form requested.

  As to speeding up the process, we are working with the solicitors representing the claimants and our contractors to streamline the complex procedures where ever possible. At the High Court hearing in Sheffield two weeks ago Mr. Justice Turner, the High Court judge with responsibility for the British Coal respiratory litigation, praised the efforts and commitment of all concerned to improve the progress on what is the largest personal injury litigation ever in the UK, while recognising that significant improvements still needed to be made. He also went on to say that the complexity of the procedures is a necessary part of ensuring that claimants get in full the fair compensation due to them.

  With compensation for vibration disease, over £270 million has been paid out in coal health compensation so far. Last week compensation payments were totalling £1 million a day.

  Mobile Phone Transmission Equipment
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the potential for mobile phone transmission equipment to interfere at close range with other businesses using electrical equipment. [140462]

  Ms Hewitt
  Virtually all electrical and electronic equipment that is liable to cause interference or be affected by it is subject to European Directive 89/336/EEC on electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). In addition radio equipment is subject to the new Radio and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment (R&TTE) Directive. These directives are designed to ensure that radio, electronic and electrical equipment can co-exist in the electromagnetic environment. Details of these directives can be found on the Department's Radiocommunications Agency's website www.radio.gov.uk.

  Diesel Prices
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce a regulatory regime to stabilise the pump price of diesel in the United Kingdom at the November 1999 price. [141001]

  Mr. Byers
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a number of changes in fuel duty rates in his pre-Budget statement which would lead to a reduction in the pump price of ultra low sulphur diesel.

  Rural Petrol Stations
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will assess a review of the factors affecting the number of petrol stations in rural areas which have closed during the past six months; and if he will make a statement; [140835]

  (2) if he will introduce a scheme to subsidise petrol stations in rural areas. [140841]

  Mr. Byers
  The Government in our recently published White Paper "Our Countryside: The Future—a Fair Deal for Rural England" announced our intention to consult on
  753W
  a wide range of measures to secure access to vital services in rural areas. These include a proposal for rate relief for garages offering community benefits.

  Oil and Gas Prices
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his policy is regarding the de-linking of oil and gas prices; and if he will make a statement. [140844]

  Mr. Byers
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the Minister for Energy and Competitiveness in Europe's answer on 6 November 2000,Official Report, column 13W.

  European Coal and Steel Community
  Mr. Geraint Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the EU inter-Governmental legal requirements of transferring the assets of the European Steel and Coal Community to the European Community budget. [141281]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  At the Amsterdam Council in 1997 and in two further Council decisions in 1998 and 1999, it was unanimously agreed by EU member states that when the ECSC expires in July 2002 its assets should be transferred to the European Community budget and used to fund research into the coal and steel sectors. These industries fully support this decision since the ECSC's assets derive from the ECSC levy paid by them until 1997. The Legal Services of the Council of the EU have advised that such a transfer cannot be achieved under the Treaty Establishing the European Community as it stands, as there is no legal provision for it. Member states all agree that the forthcoming inter-governmental conference meeting in Nice should be invited to adopt, as part of the Nice Treaty, a protocol which will be attached to the Treaty Establishing the European Community. This will enable the transfer to take place. Parliament will be asked to ratify the protocol before it comes into force.

  Steel Industry
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the price paid for electricity by the United Kingdom steel industry. [139536]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The Department conducts a quarterly survey of 1,200 manufacturing companies in Great Britain, the results of which are published in "Energy Trends". Data collected by the survey for Quarter 2 2000 indicate that extra large industrial users of electricity, i.e. those consuming more than 150,000 kWh per annum, pay 2.57p/kWh.

  The average price of electricity for extra large industrial consumers has fallen continually in real terms over the past five years. Between Q2 1995 and Q2 2000 the average price paid by extra large industrial consumers had decreased by nearly 25 per cent. in real terms.

  The New Electricity Trading Arrangements (NETA) will put significant downward pressure on electricity prices. Indeed, in anticipation of NETA, forward prices for 2001 are already 30 per cent. lower in real terms than in 1998. The programme of plant divestment by major electricity generators has also contributed to these price reductions.

  Nuclear Power Stations
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate the total cost of decommissioning the UK's nuclear power stations. [141191]

  Mr. Byers
  The total undiscounted cost of decommissioning the UK's nuclear power stations is currently estimated at £12.6 billion.

  Medical Tests (Wales)
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many medical assessment procedures were conducted at each of the testing centres in Wales in each calendar month from January to date. [141151]

  Mr. Byers
  Since January this year the Department has carried out a total 4,326 medical tests in Wales, some 1,769 full Medical Assessment Processes and 2,557 spirometry tests. These are broken down by centre as follows:

  Spirometry

  MAP

  Swansea1

  January

  359

  0

  February

  31

  0

  March

  47

  22

  April

  34

  45

  May

  34

  29

  June

  1

  68

  July

  39

  59

  August

  54

  63

  September

  73

  52

  October

  3

  79

  November (to date)

  0

  93

  Mountain Ash

  January

  625

  0

  February

  207

  1

  March

  89

  0

  April

  144

  1

  May

  78

  3

  June

  16

  76

  July

  111

  82

  August

  111

  78

  September

  32

  127

  October

  60

  141

  November (to date)

  79

  123

  Cardiff

  January

  9

  —

  February

  1

  —

  March

  1

  —

  April

  0

  —

  May

  1

  —

  June

  1

  —

  July

  6

  —

  August

  3

  —

  September

  1

  —

  October

  2

  —

  November (to date)

  2

  —

  Newport

  January

  116

  1

  February

  38

  8

  March

  27

  15

  April

  7

  45

  May

  6

  78

  June

  5

  89

  755W

  Spirometry

  MAP

  July

  16

  84

  August

  31

  69

  September

  23

  63

  October

  11

  82

  November (to date)

  23

  93

  1 Healthcall have carried out spirometry assessments on all those claimants in the Swansea area for whom they have details but the centre will remain open to assess new claimants as and when their details are passed to Healthcall.

  2The Cardiff centre is a spirometry only centre. As with Swansea, Healthcall have carried out spirometry assessments on all those claimants in the Cardiff area for whom they have details.

  Employment Agencies Act
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he plans to introduce changes to the regulations under the Employment Agencies Act 1973 restricting temporary to permanent fees; and if he will make a statement. [141269]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of that letter in the Libraries of the House.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Home Care Charging Policy
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the President of the Council, pursuant to her answer of 27 November 2000,Official Report, column 486W, on home care charging policy, for how long Oldham Council had had a Liberal Democrat majority when she provided her oral answer of 11 May 2000, Official Report, column 1015; and if the council had undertaken a review of its charging policy during that time. [141068]

  Mrs. Beckett
  Oldham Council has had a Liberal Democrat majority since 4 May. I understand that no review of the council's charging policy has taken place since then.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the President of the Council, pursuant to her answer of 5 June 2000,Official Report, column 1W, on special advisers, if she will list the destination and the total cost, including travel, accommodation and subsistence allowance, on the occasion when departmental or non-departmental special advisers travelled abroad in an official capacity.[135252]

  Mrs. Beckett
  During the period 31 March 1999 to 31 March 2000, a special adviser travelled abroad on official business on one occasion—on a visit to the Netherlands on Millennium Bug business. The total cost of this visit was £936. The cost of this visit was accounted for in expenditure on Ministers' travel overseas published by the Prime Minister on 28 July 2000,Official Report, column 968W, which for 1999–2000 was £4.6 million compared to £7.9 million for the last year of the previous Administration.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Greenhouse Gases
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the contribution made by(a) UK-based airlines and (b) UK airports to greenhouse gas emissions; and what contributions they are expected to make to help the UK reach its Kyoto targets. [136197]

  Mr. Mullin
  The UK reports its emissions as required by internationally agreed reporting guidelines, including greenhouse gas emissions. In 1998 greenhouse gas emissions from civil aviation movements entirely within the UK were 0.95 MtC. Under the Kyoto Protocol, emissions from international flights are not allocated to individual countries. Emissions from UK airports are not reported separately. The UK total greenhouse gas emissions in 1998 were 192.65 MtC.

  Details of action being taken, both in the UK and internationally to reduce future aviation emissions, will be set out in the UK's climate change programme to be published shortly. It is not possible to quantify the contribution that the results of this action may make to achieving the UK's Kyoto target. But in any event action in other areas of the transport sector and in other sectors of the economy is expected to achieve the target and move the UK towards its domestic goal to cut emissions of carbon dioxide by 20 per cent. by 2010.

  In keeping with the requirements of the Kyoto Protocol, the UK is working within the International Civil Aviation Organisation on measures to reduce emissions from international civil aviation. Options include technological and operational improvements and market-based incentives. An ICAO decision on policy options is expected in autumn 2001.

  The UK supports an emissions trading scheme in the long term and an emissions charge in the meantime.

  Health and Safety Executive
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of the Sykes Accommodation report on the implications of closing the Hull Office of the HSE: [134242]

  (2) what the cost was of the preparation of the Sykes report; and if it was distributed to trade unions and employers in the Humberside region. [134243]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 2 November 2000]: The business case for HSE's Yorkshire and North East Accommodation Review was co-ordinated by Jim Sykes, Head of the region's Specialist Group. A document entitled "Accommodation Review: Yorkshire and North East Region" setting out a range of options was prepared for internal use. Since it was believed that none of the accommodation changes identified would affect the level of service provided by HSE, the report was not circulated outside HSE. A copy of this document is, however, now being placed in the Libraries of the House, and is being sent to trade unions and employers in the Humberside region. No record exists of the cost of preparing the business case, but it is estimated that the document

  757W
  "Accommodation Review: Yorkshire and North East Region" took about a week to prepare. This document followed earlier work by Mr. Sykes' predecessor who, it is thought, spent about two weeks on it with approximately two months' administrative support.

  London Underground
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent decisions he has made about(a) the private sector operating in the London Underground and (b) running the deep-level underground; what consultations he has held on these matters with the London Mayor and the Greater London Authority; and if he will make a statement. [136974]

  Mr. Hill
  Some Underground support functions, such as cleaning, are already contracted out to the private sector. We have no plans, however, for private sector operation of core train or station functions, or running of the Underground, as proposed by the opposition. We are continuing to make progress with the public-private partnership, which will leave operations in the hands of the public sector and bring in the private sector to invest in maintaining and upgrading the infrastructure. Ministers have had several meetings with the Mayor and the GLA on the subject of the Underground.

  Mr. Pound
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much London Transport has spent to date on consultancy costs for the London Underground public-private partnership; and what forecast he has made of total expenditure on consultancy costs. [141282]

  Mr. Hill
  I understand from London Transport that their expenditure on external consultants from 20 March 1998 (the date of the Government's announcement) to 30 September 2000, for work on the PPP and restructuring of London Underground, was £69.4 million. The remaining consultancy work required on the project has now become clearer and London Transport estimate that the final amount should be around £92 million. I can also report, pursuant to my answer to the hon. Member for Eltham (Mr. Efford) of 18 May 2000,Official Report, column 252W, that the consultancy expenditure incurred by London Transport to 31 March 2000 was over-stated at £60.3 million and should have been reported as £59.6 million.

  Energy Conservation Authorities
  Mrs. Gilroy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made by each energy conservation authority as defined in the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 in improving the energy efficiency of the domestic housing stock in their area, at the most recent date for which figures are available. [137326]

  Mr. Meacher
  The overall improvements in energy efficiency, as reported by energy conservation authorities 758W
  in England in the period 1 April 1996 to 31 March 2000, have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Ministerial Visit (China)
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 26 October 2000,Official Report, column 172W, what the total cost was of his recent visit to China for all the members of his delegation; and if he will break down the costs. [137235]

  Mr. Prescott
  [holding answer 7 November 2000]: The total cost for my delegation, including that given in my answer of 26 October 2000, Official Report, column 172W, is estimated to be approximately £43,000. Details of this trip will be included in the annual list of Cabinet Ministers' visits overseas which will be published after the end of the financial year. Total Government expenditure on ministerial visits in 1999–2000 was £4.6 million compared to £7.9 million for the last year of the previous Administration.

  UN Convention on Biological Diversity
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps the Government are taking in relation to genetic use restriction technologies following the recommendation of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity concerning the approval of such technologies by parties for field testing prior to appropriate assessments being made in regard to socio-economic impacts, biological diversity and food security. [138795]

  Mr. Meacher
  In line with the decision of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention, the Government support strict, case by case, precautionary action to control the field testing and commercial development of gene use restriction technologies. As called for in the decision, we will make available information on UK experience and expertise on such technologies through the clearing-house mechanism under the Convention.

  Road Traffic
  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list those local authorities that have set targets for the overall level of road traffic in their area as part of their full local transport plans, giving the targets in each case. [139678]

  Mr. Hill
  As part of their full local transport plans submitted in July 2000, local traffic authorities in England (outside London) submitted road traffic reduction reports as required by the Road Traffic Reduction Act 1997. Copies of the reports have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. A number of authorities, shown in italics in the table, submitted plans containing targets for the overall level of road traffic for their area. Others set targets for part of their area or for some types of traffic.
  759W

  Authority

  Target

  Bath & North East Somerset

  In Bath, to achieve a 10 per cent. reduction in the average 1990–99 traffic flow levels by 2006. In Keynsham, to constrain traffic growth to the current 1.5 per cent. per annum on the four radia routes. In North Radstock, to keep traffic growth at the current level of 1 per cent. per annum. On the inter-urban corridors to reduce the average growth in all vehicle traffic to 0.5 per cent. per annum for the five year to 2006.

  Bedfordshire

  Decrease travel to work by car from 71 per cent. in 1991 to 58 per cent. in 2011. Increase travel to work by public transport from 11 per cent. in 1991 to 15 per cent. in 2011. Increase travel to work on foot from 12 per cent. in 1991 to 15 per cent. in 2011. Increase travel to work by cycle from 4 per cent. in 1991 to 10 per cent. in 2011.

  Blackburn

  Reduce annual peak hour traffic growth to zero by 2006. Contain off-peak hour traffic growth to zero by 2006. Contain off-peak traffic growth to local low growth levels.

  Blackpool

  A reduction in traffic growth from the predicted 7.4 per cent. to 14 per cent. for 2000–06 to 1 per cent. to 5 per cent.

  Bournemouth, Poole & Christchurch1

  Reduce the rate of growth of traffic on roads by 50 per cent. by 2006 and zero thereafter.

  Bracknell Forest

  To limit the growth of road traffic in the Borough in the morning peak period to 14 per cent. above the 1996 level by 2006.

  Brighton & Hove

  Stabilise the level of car traffic entering and leaving the central area of Brighton and Hove, based on 1996 traffic levels, by 2006, and reduce those levels by 5 per cent. by 2011.

  Bristol

  Reduce growth in private car traffic by 20 per cent. by 2005 and thereafter to seek a 20 per cent. reduction by 2015.

  Buckinghamshire

  To reduce the proportion of journey to work trips made by car by 3 per cent. In urban areas, growth rate target set at half the base growth rate. In rural areas, to reduce the volume of HGV traffic on the strategic highway network by 5 per cent. by 2006.

  Cambridgeshire

  Reduce traffic by 1.3 per cent. per annum in the central area of Cambridge by 2006. Stabilise traffic levels on Cambridge radial routes.

  Cheshire

  Restrain traffic growth to 15 per cent. by 2011.

  City of York

  Limit overall growth in traffic to 4 per cent. (1999–2006) with a reduction of 13 per cent. on secondary and residential roads.

  Cumbria

  In Carlisle, Zero traffic growth overall from 2000–05. In Kendall, to reduce current traffic levels by 20 per cent. in 2005. In Lake District, zero traffic growth by 2005.

  Darlington

  Limit road traffic approaching the urban area in 2006 to 7.5 per cent. higher than in 2000. Limit road traffic approaching Darlington town centre in 2006 to 4 per cent. higher than in 2006.

  Derby City2

  To stem the rate of traffic growth completely across the city centre cordon with total peak hour traffic volumes in 2005–06 no greater that those in 2000–01. To stem the rate of traffic growth across the urban area cordon to at least 1 per cent. below NRTF central growth forecasts by 2006.

  Derbyshire

  Increasing the number of bus journeys to at least 50 million per annum within five years. An increase of 20 per cent. in the number of employees cycling to work where employers have adopted cycling as part of their Travel Plan by 2005–06. An increase of 25 per cent. in the number of secondary school pupils cycling to school where schools have adopted cycling as part of school Travel Plan. A reduction of 6 per cent. in the number of single occupancy car journeys to work within two years of an employer adopting a Travel Plan. Increase the percentage of primary school pupils travelling to school by non-car modes by 5 per cent. by 2005–06.

  Dorset

  For Weymouth, Portland and Chickerall, to reduce the forecast level of traffic growth by 10 per cent. by 2006 and 30 per cent. by 2016 (compared to 1996). For Dorchester, Bridport, Sherbourne and North Dorset, to reduce the forecast level of traffic growth by 10 per cent. (compared to 1996) by 2006 and 20 per cent. by 2016. For Wimbourne, Purbeck, Ferndown, Verwood, West Moors, Colehill and Corfe Mullen, to reduce the forecast level of traffic growth by 10 per cent. by 2006 and 25 per cent. by 2016 (compared to 1996). Reduce congestion in rural areas by 10 per cent. by 2006 and 20 per cent. in 2016.

  Durham

  Reduce the forecast growth of traffic from 1.5 per cent. to 0.33 per cent. per annum throughout the plan period.

  East Riding

  To maintain 2000–01 traffic levels in Beverley town centre. To maintain 2000–01 traffic levels in Goole town centre. To reduce 1997 traffic levels in Bridlington town centre by 10 per cent. by 2004.

  760W 761W

  Authority

  Target

  East Sussex

  Traffic growth in Eastbourne not to exceed 23 per cent. between 1998 and 2006. Traffic growth in Bexhill and Hastings not to exceed 14 per cent. between 1998 and 2006. Traffic growth in Lewes package not to exceed 8 per cent. between 1998 and 2006. Traffic growth in Newhaven package area not to exceed 8 per cent. between 1998 and 2006.

  Essex

  To reduce the rate of growth in traffic (vehicle kilometres) based on 1998 traffic levels to 5 per cent. to 10 per cent. (main urban areas), 0 per cent. to 5 per cent. (inter urban areas) and 5 per cent. to 10 per cent. (other areas).

  Gloucestershire

  By 2010, average daily traffic volumes to increase by no more than 20 per cent. compared with 1996 levels. By 2006 the increase over 1996 to be no more than 15 per cent.

  Greater Manchester3

  Annual car traffic on A and B Roads to grow by no more than 8 per cent. by 2006 and 10 per cent. by 2011. No growth in peak hour car trips in the regional centres. Reduction of traffic between 2006 and 2011 of 5 per cent. in key centres.

  Hampshire

  To halve the rate of growth in traffic by 2020.

  Hartlepool

  Limit overall traffic growth to less than 5 per cent. between 2000 and 2005.

  Herefordshire

  To restrict the growth in traffic levels in Hereford to 1 per cent. per annum during the period 2001 to 2010.

  Hertfordshire

  Reduce the percentage of road based journeys made by car in 2011 to 61 per cent. from 68.4 per cent. (Cheshunt/Waltham Cross), 60.7 per cent. from 69.9 per cent. (Hemel Hempstead), 59.8 per cent. from 67 per cent. (Bishop's Stortford), 51.5 per cent. from 63.8 per cent. (Hitchin), 51.2 per cent. from 60.7 per cent. (Borehamwood) and 56.4 per cent. from 62.9 per cent. (Harpenden).

  Isle of Wight

  To limit the growth of traffic to an average of 1 per cent. per annum over the period 2000–10 on roads in the North East Triangle Strategy Area. To limit the growth of traffic during the months of June, July and August to an average of 1 per cent. per annum over the period 2000–10 on roads in the Coastal Resorts Strategy Area. To limit the growth of traffic on classified roads in the Rural Strategy Area to an average of 1½ per cent. per annum over the period 2000–10. To achieve no growth in traffic flows on unclassified roads in the Rural Strategy Area over the period 2000–10.

  Kent

  1 per cent. reduction in traffic growth by 2005.

  Kingston upon Hull

  To reduce the percentage of car modal split for journeys to work and increase that of other modes.

  Lancashire

  Traffic growth during the plan period to he below 5 per cent.

  Leicester City4

  A 4 per cent. reduction in car trips to the City Centre in the morning peak by 2006.

  Lincolnshire

  To constrain the growth in peak hour traffic in Gainsborough, Louth, Sleaford, Spalding and Stamford to 5 per cent. between 2000 and 2006. To constrain peak hour traffic congestion in Greater Lincoln, Grantham, Boston and Skegness (in the summer season) to 2000 levels by 2006.

  Medway

  To control the growth in car traffic to Chatham city centre by 1.5 per cent. below average predicted growth forecast by 2006 during the day.

  Merseyside5

  Total traffic growth not to exceed 20.8 per cent. in 2006 and 29.2 per cent. in 2011. Car traffic growth not to exceed 21.2 per cent. in 2006 and 29.2 per cent. in 2011.

  Middlesbrough

  Reduce Annual Average Daily Flows to 0 per cent. growth at the town centre cordon by 2005 and 2 per cent. by 2010. Reduce peak hour flows to 0 per cent. growth at the town centre cordon by 2005 and 2 per cent. by 2010.

  Milton Keynes

  To reduce car use for the journey to work from 77 per cent. (1997) to 62 per cent. by 2006 and to 55 per cent. by 2011.

  Norfolk

  Norwich Inner Ring Road cordon crossing traffic levels to be no higher than 1995 levels in 2006. Growth in traffic crossing the Norwich Outer Ring Road cordon to be less than 10 per cent. between 1995 and 2006. Growth in traffic crossing the King's Lynn town cordon to be no more than the NRTF central growth estimate by 2006. Growth in the traffic crossing the Great Yarmouth town cordon to be no greater than the NRTF central growth estimate by 2006.

  Northamptonshire

  No growth in morning inbound peak hour car vehicle flows (from 1999 level) on the radial routes in Northampton. Car vehicle traffic growth is no greater than 1 in 15 (the 1999 base level) in the urban areas (other than in Northampton) by 2005 (NRTF low growth forecast).

  North Lincolnshire

  To keep overall traffic growth to an average of 2.2 per cent. or less for the next five years.

  762W 763W

  Authority

  Target

  North Somerset

  In Weston-Super-Mare, a 19 per cent. reduction in the rate of traffic growth by 2006 and 34 per cent. by 2011. In Clevedon, a 26 per cent. reduction in the rate of traffic growth by 2006 and 40 per cent. by 2011. In Portishead, a 52 per cent. reduction in the rate of traffic growth by 2006 and 69 per cent. by 2011. In Nailsea, a 14 per cent. reduction in the rate of traffic growth by 2006 and 21 per cent. by 2011.

  North Yorkshire

  To achieve zero growth in Harrogate and Scarborough town centres from 2000. To limit traffic growth in the North York Moors National Park to at least 1 per cent. below average national traffic growth. To limit traffic growth in the Yorkshire Dales National Park to at least 2 per cent. below average national traffic growth. To reduce traffic flow on the A19 through Selby by 30 per cent. on the opening of the Selby bypass and restrain growth from that time not to exceed national low growth forecasts.

  Nottingham City6

  Limit traffic growth in the morning peak from 1991 to 2006 to 2 per cent. Restore traffic levels in the morning peak at 2011 to 1991 levels.

  Nottinghamshire

  Limit traffic growth in West Nottinghamshire to 9 per cent. by 2011 based on 1999 levels. Limit traffic growth in rural area to 16 per cent. by 2011 based on 1999 levels.

  Oxfordshire

  To reduce traffic growth in the period 2000–15 to half the forecast growth for Oxfordshire.

  Peterborough

  Private car traffic in the central area to be held below local traffic forecasts for the next five years. By 2015 to reduce the levels of private cars in the central area of the city to 2000 levels.

  Plymouth

  Maintain morning peak traffic volumes at 2000 levels at City Centre Cordon.

  Portsmouth

  To secure no growth for private vehicles (cars and vans) into the core area during the morning peak period by 2006, relative to 1999.

  Reading

  Reduce car trips to Reading town centre by 0 per cent to 3.5 per cent. by 2005. To increase public transport trips to the town centre by 25 per cent. to 35 per cent. by 2005. To increase cycle trips to the town centre by 50 per cent. to 60 per cent. by 2005. To increase walking trips to the town centre by 25 per cent. to 30 per cent. by 2005.

  Shropshire

  To reduce cars entering Shrewsbury town centre by 5 per cent. by 2005. To limit traffic growth to 1 per cent. or less per annum on all roads (outside the town centre) in the Shrewsbury area. To limit traffic growth to 2 per cent. or less on inter urban roads until 2005 and to 1 per cent. or less thereafter.

  Slough

  Zero growth in traffic in the morning and evening weekday peak hours and growth in daily traffic flows which are no more than those which have been observed over the last five years.

  Southampton

  Reduce the proportion of car use at peak periods on the main routes to the City Centre from the average 1994–96 levels of 71 per cent. to 65 per cent. by 2005 and 60 per cent. by 2010. Increase the proportion of peak period public transport trips to the City Centre from the average 1994–96 levels of 26 per cent. to 30 per cent. by 2005 and 33 per cent. by 2010. Increase the proportion of off-peak public transport trips to the City Centre from the average 1994–96 levels of 21 per cent. to 25 per cent. by 2005 and 28 per cent. by 2010. Increase cycle use from the average 1994–96 levels of 1.6 per cent. to 4 per cent. by 2005 and to 7 per cent. by 2010.

  Somerset

  To reduce the forecast peak hour car traffic growth in Taunton and Yeovil by 50 per cent. and in Bridgwater by 40 per cent. For A and B roads, to reduce traffic growth by 5 per cent. for the period 1996–2011.

  Southend-on-Sea

  Traffic growth less than forecast growth of 11 per cent. by 2006.

  South Gloucestershire

  Limit traffic growth 2001–06 to 6 per cent. overall and reduce traffic growth to 0 per cent. per annum by 2010.

  South Yorkshire7

  Contain traffic at 1999 levels by 2006.

  Stockton-on-Tees

  Limit traffic growth to low growth figure of 4.5 per cent. (2000–05).

  Stoke on Trent

  The overall rate of traffic growth in Stoke on Trent (excluding trunk roads) to be constrained to an increase of only 10 per cent. between 1999 and 2011 in comparison with the 1997 low growth NRTF projected increase of 15 per cent. over the same period.

  Suffolk

  In Ipswich, by 2006 to have stabilised traffic flows and congestion at 1999 levels. In South Lowestoft, to reduce the annual growth rate in car traffic to zero per cent.

  Surrey

  To limit road traffic levels on county roads to 8 per cent. growth by 2006, 10 per cent. by 2011 and zero growth above the 1998 level by 2016 with a reduction thereafter.

  Swindon

  To slow the forecast rate of traffic growth in the morning peak by 16 per cent. between 1999 and 2006 and 39 per cent. between 1999 and 2011.

  764W 765W

  Authority

  Target

  Telford & Wrekin

  Reduce traffic growth to 1.6 per cent. per annum by 2010.

  Thurrock

  Reduce traffic levels in central urban areas by 5 per cent. by the year 2011, relative to unconstrained traffic levels. Reduce traffic levels in other non-central areas by 2.5 per cent. to 5 per cent. by 2011, relative to unconstrained traffic levels.

  Tyne and Wear8

  Limit total vehicle kilometres on principal roads in 2006 to 2.524 billion, compared to 2.274 billion in 1996–97.

  Warrington

  A 68 per cent. and 43 per cent. reduction in the rate of traffic growth to 2006 and 2011.

  Warwickshire

  Avoid congestion increasing journey times on the local highway network by more than half between 1999 and 2011. Reduce the proportion of school journeys undertaken by car from 37 per cent. in 1999 to 33 per cent. by 2006 and 24 per cent. by 2011.

  West Berkshire

  To limit traffic increases to NRTF low growth forecast in the Newbury/Thatcham area for 1999–2006. To limit traffic increases to mid growth forecasts in rural areas for 1999–2006.

  West Midlands9

  To contain the growth in traffic between 1996 and 2006 to between 10 per cent. and 13.5 per cent. for a 24 hour weekday.

  West Sussex

  Reduce vehicle kilometres driven in within a 12 hour weekday period by: 2.5 per cent. (2006), 7.5 per cent. (2011) and 15 per cent. (2016) in the Coastal Towns. 5 per cent. (2006), 10 per cent. (2011) and 15 per cent. (2016) in the Central Towns. 5 per cent. (2006), 2.5 per cent. (2011) and 10 per cent. (2016) in Rural Areas.

  West Yorkshire10

  Traffic growth not to exceed 5 per cent. by 2006.

  Wiltshire

  In Western Wiltshire, a reduction in rate of traffic growth from 22 per cent. to 10 per cent. In Salisbury, a reduction in rate of traffic growth from 20 per cent. to 10 per cent. In Devizes, a reduction in rate of traffic growth from 27 per cent. to 17 per cent. In the remainder of Wiltshire, all other routes to be constrained to NRTF low growth.

  Windsor & Maidenhead

  In Maidenhead, traffic growth to increase by no more than 6 per cent. by 2006 from 1999. In Windsor, traffic growth to increase by no more than 6 per cent. by 2006 from 1999. In other areas, traffic to increase by no more than 10 per cent. by 2006, based on vehicle kilometres.

  Wokingham

  To restrain traffic growth in the northern part of the district to 3 per cent. below NRTF by the year 2006. To restrain traffic growth in the central part of the district to no more than NRTF by the year 2006. To restrain traffic growth in Wokingham town centre to 2.5 per cent. below NRTF by the year 2006. To restrain traffic growth in the Reading Urban Area part of the district to 2.5 per cent. below NRTF by the year 2006. To ensure that traffic growth in the southern part of the district does not exceed 1.5 per cent. of NRTF by the year 2006. To constrain car travel growth by residents to existing levels.

  1A joint plan for the Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch area.

  2A joint plan with Derbyshire County Council.

  3A joint plan for the Metropolitan area consisting of the following traffic authorities: Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan.

  4A joint plan with Leicestershire County Council.

  5A joint plan for the Metropolitan area consisting of the following traffic authorities: Liverpool, Knowsley, St. Helens, Sefton and Wirral.

  6A joint plan with Nottinghamshire County Council.

  7A joint plan for the Metropolitan area consisting the following the traffic authorities: Sheffield, Rotherham. Barnsley and Doncaster.

  8A joint plan for the Metropolitan area consisting of the following traffic authorities: Gateshead, Newcastle, N. Tyneside, S. Tyneside and Sunderland.

  9A joint plans for the Metropolitan area consisting of the following traffic authorities: Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton.

  10A joint plan for the Metropolitan area consisting of the following traffic authorities: Leeds, Kirklees, Calderdale, Bradford and Wakefield.

  Source

  NRTF—Department of Transport National Road Traffic Forecasts 1997

  Home Energy Efficiency Scheme
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what additional money he has allocated to the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme; and if he will make a statement in respect of eligible insulation and central heating measures. [139668]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme provides grants of up to £2,000 for comprehensive packages of insulation and heating improvements. The scheme is aimed at those households who are most 766W
  vulnerable to cold-related ill health: older people and families on low incomes, and the disabled and chronically sick. The scheme is focused on the private sector where nearly 70 per cent. of the fuel poor in England are found.

  Following the Comprehensive Spending Review this summer, the budget for the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme has been set at:

  2000–01: £122 million

  2001–02: £153 million

  2002–03: Increased by £14 million to £167 million

  2003–04: Increased by £18 million to £171 million.

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  The scheme provides packages of measures drawn from the following list:

  Insulation measures

  Loft insulation

  Draughtproofing doors and windows

  Cavity wall insulation

  Hot water tank insulation

  Compact fluorescent lamps

  Heating system measures

  Gas room heaters with thermostat controls

  Electric storage heaters

  Closed solid fuel fire cassette

  Electric dual immersion water heater with foam insulated tank

  Timer controls for electric space and water heaters

  Central heating through electric or gas systems (only for low income households aged 60 years or more).

  The package offered is tailored to the conditions of the individual property.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to extend the entitlement to home energy efficiency scheme plus grants to those receiving the savings element of the proposed Pension Credit. [140634]

  Mr. Meacher
  At present, all households aged 60 or more and in receipt of Income Support, Council Tax Benefit, Housing Benefit or income-based Job Seekers Allowance are eligible for the higher tier of grants available under the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) for England. This higher tier is in recognition of the particular difficulties faced by low-income older households. In total, we estimate that over 3.7 million older households—some 60 per cent. of all such households—are eligible for grants up to £2,000.

  We continue to monitor carefully all aspects of HEES and will consider in due course whether the eligibility criteria should be extended to include the Pension Credit when it is introduced in 2003.

  Polegate Bypass
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much compensation has been agreed for contractors in respect of the postponement of the original Polegate Bypass project. [140302]

  Mr. Hill
  I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Tim Matthews, to write to the hon. Member.Letter from Tim Matthews to Mr. Nigel Waterson, dated 30 November 2000
  The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Keith Hill, has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the original Polegate Bypass.When my predecessor wrote to you on 11 November last year, interim on account payments totalling £5m (including VAT) had been paid to those who submitted tenders for the cancelled Weald and Downlard DBFO project. This included the Polegate Bypass scheme among others. Since then a further £51,000 has been paid following the receipt of additional supporting evidence provided by the claimants.

  Mobile Phone Transmission Equipment
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what regulations govern the installation of mobile phone transmission equipment as it relates to human health. [140464]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  There are no specific regulations governing the installation of mobile phone transmission equipment as it relates to health. However, telecommunications operators have a duty under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 and the Management of the Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 to ensure that so far as is reasonably practicable, their work activities—which would include the installation and operation of their equipment—do not expose people to risks to their health and safety.

  The Government's statutory adviser, the National Radiological Protection Board, has published guidelines on limiting exposure to electromagnetic radiation. All mobile phone transmission equipment should meet these guidelines. Following publication of the Stewart report on mobile phones and health in May 2000, the Government accepted that, as a precautionary measure, the emissions from mobile phone base stations should meet the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines for public exposure as expressed in the EU Council Recommendation of 12 July 1999 on the limitation of exposure of the general public to electromagnetic fields (OHz to 300GHz). Most base stations already meet the ICNIRP guidelines and all new base stations will do so.

  Lorry Drivers
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what data he has collated on the link between the speed patterns of lorries and other commercial vehicles and the working hours of drivers over the last 10 years. [140528]

  Mr. Hill
  The recently completed Driver Fatigue project included an investigation of sleep related vehicle accidents occurring on certain motorways. About 25 per cent. of the sleep related vehicle accidents occurring on these motorways were work related (ie involving commercial vehicles). This type of accident occurs more often between 0200 hrs. and 0700 hrs. suggesting that night workers are particularly vulnerable, as are those driving home after a night shift, in the early morning and after the shift has lasted 12 hours.

  Flytipping
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate his Department has made (1) of the volume of illegally flytipped waste removed by(a) the Environment Agency and (b) local authorities in (i) 1995, (ii) 1996, (iii) 1997, (iv) 1998, (v) 1999 and (vi) 2000; [140511]

  (2) of the cost to (a) the Environment Agency and (b) local authorities of removing waste illegally flytipped in (i) 1995, (ii) 1996, (iii) 1997, (iv) 1998, (v) 1999 and (vi) 2000. [140510]

  Mr. Mullin
  Under section 59 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 the Environment Agency and local authorities may remove flytipped waste from land in
  769W
  certain circumstances. Where these powers are used the agency or local authority is entitled to recover its costs from the person who deposited the waste or knowingly caused or permitted its deposit.

  The Environment Agency does not currently collate data on the removal of flytipped waste. However, based on budget information the Agency has estimated that its costs for the removal of flytipped waste are approximately £500,000 per annum. No precise figures are available on the volumes of waste removed.

  Data on the costs and volume of the removal of flytipped waste by local authorities are not held centrally.

  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will list the individuals and companies prosecuted by the Environment Agency for illegal flytipping in the London area in 1999 and 2000; [140500]

  (2) how many prosecutions have been secured by (a) the Environment Agency and (b) local authorities in relation to illegal flytipping (i) nationally and (ii) in the London area in 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000; [140505]

  (3) what has been the average fine levied on (a) individuals and (b) companies convicted of illegal flytipping in (i) 1995, (ii) 1996, (iii) 1997, (iv) 1998, (v) 1999 and (vi) 2000. [140504]

  Mr. Mullin
  Flytipping is not defined in legislation but the term is generally used to refer to the illegal disposal of waste on sites which have neither a waste management licence nor a registered exemption from licensing—in contravention of sections 33 or 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. However, it is also an offence under section 33 to dispose of waste in contravention of a licence. The available data do not separately identify the two different types of offences committed under section 33 and the following information therefore includes offences other than flytipping.

  The Environment Agency advises that in the time available to answer the question it is unable to provide a list of those prosecuted specifically under sections 33 or 34 of the 1990 Act in the London area in 1999 and 2000. However, I am happy to write to my hon. Friend with this information and to place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

  In the meantime, the Environment Agency has provided the following list of individuals and companies successfully prosecuted by its Thames Region for waste offences under Part II of the 1990 Act:

  January 1999 to December 1999

  David Kennedy trading as (t/a) D and A Developments

  John Rawlings

  Robert Clarke

  Andrew Baughan t/a Banbury Demolition

  Anthony Cnincharo

  Joseph Lee

  Philip Watson

  M and P Mccarthy Bros.

  William Winters

  Frederick Holmes

  770W

  Sonny Smith

  John White

  John Holmes

  Brian Davies

  Lee Sardell

  Greenwich Waste Management Ltd.

  Mark Avery

  Geoffrey David Parker

  Thomas Arthur Copas

  Copas Brothers (Farms) Ltd.

  Lee Richard Pearson

  J. L. Dicks (Honeywagon) Company Ltd.

  Bernard John Soyer

  Mark Pattenden

  Lee Drewitt

  Kevin Maloney

  Caleb Beldom

  Paul Anthony Bridger

  Mark Kirby

  Roger Irwing

  William David Tiller

  James William Warren

  Moinui Islam

  Gary Nigel Langley

  Thomas Patrick Wall

  January 2000 to October 2000

  Paul Thornton

  David Millard

  Allan John Payne

  Richard Colin Day

  Frank Gerald McDonagh

  Thames Water Utilities Ltd.

  Giuseppe Severino

  Christopher John Dann

  Ruben Reed

  Barry Croucher

  Russell Payne

  Dean Stroud

  David Prater

  James Hyatt t/a Surrey Waste Services

  Peter King

  Sung Hoon Baeg

  George Collins

  Daniel Praeter

  Tony Lee Farrell

  Sam Frankham

  Mark Mahoney.

  The average fines levied on individuals in all courts for offences under sections 33 and 34 of the 1990 Act, taken from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database, are as given:

  (i) 1995: £377

  (ii) 1996: £650

  (iii) 1997: £775

  (iv) 1998: £612

  (v) 1999: £654

  (vi) 2000: data not yet available.

  771W
  The average fines levied on organisations in all courts for offences under section 33 and 34 of the 1990 Act, taken from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database, are as follows:

  (i) 1995: £1,191

  (ii) 1996: £2,623

  (iii) 1997: £2,125

  (iv) 1998: £2,221

  (v) 1999: £2,585

  (vi) 2000: data not yet available

  Note

  "Organisations" includes companies, agencies, local authorities, private bodies etc.

  The Crime and Criminal Justice Unit of the Home Office does not hold data on prosecutions taken by the Environment Agency separately from those taken by local authorities. The available figures, as shown in (i) and (ii) below, are taken from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database based on the principal offence. Data also include prosecutions by police:

  (i) The total number of defendants prosecuted at magistrates courts for offences under sections 33 and 34 of the 1990 Act in England and Wales for offences under sections 33 and 34 of the 1990 Act in England and Wales

  Year

  Number

  1995

  134

  1996

  199

  1997

  173

  1998

  220

  1999

  233

  2000

  1—

  1Data not yet available

  (ii) The total number of defendants prosecuted at magistrates courts for offences under sections 33 and 34 of the 1990 Act in the Metropolitan police area

  Year

  Number

  1995

  31

  1996

  34

  1997

  39

  1998

  56

  1999

  70

  2000

  1—

  1Data not yet available

  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will launch an investigation into the role of criminal gangs in illegal flytipping in the London area. [140506]

  Mr. Mullin
  There are strict controls in place to ensure that waste is disposed of without danger to the public or the environment. The responsibility for the investigation of any alleged breaches of these controls and subsequent enforcement action rests with the Environment Agency and, in some circumstances, with local authorities as waste collection authorities. Any evidence of flytipping, including the involvement of criminal gangs, should be reported to the Environment Agency so that it may undertake relevant investigations.

  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans the Government have to increase the penalties for illegal flytipping. [140507]
  772W
  Mr. Mullin
  The maximum penalties for flytipping of waste are already severe—an unlimited fine and up to five years' imprisonment on conviction in a Crown Court—and the Government have no plans to increase them. The courts are independent of the Government and it is for them to determine the penalties they impose, within the terms of the relevant legislation, and to ensure that sentences fully reflect the gravity of offences which damage the environment.

  However, it is the Government's view that severe penalties should be imposed for significant breaches of environmental law. The Government's response to the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Select Committee's Reports on the Environment Agency (2000) and on the Operation of the Landfill Tax (1999) made this clear and set out the action being taken to ensure that the Courts are fully aware of the Government' s concern about this issue.

  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans the Government have to review the law on illegal flytipping. [140508]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Government currently have no plans to review the legislation on flytipping. However, the FlyTipping Forum which brings together the Government, the Environment Agency, local authorities, the National Farmers' Union, the Country Landowners Association and other national organisations is addressing the specific problem of flytipping on farms. It is assessing the scale of the problem, and will look at how the enforcement agencies can work more effectively together, including the pursuit of offenders and more effective deterrence. The Government will then consider the results of this research and any recommendations which the Forum may make.

  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans the Government have to provide assistance to local authorities in tackling illegal flytipping. [140509]

  Mr. Mullin
  Local authorities' responsibilities for flytipping are funded through the Revenue Support Grant. Substantial extra resources—an increase of £1,127 million by 2003–04—will help fund environmental, protective and cultural services. Local authorities will set their own priorities for the use of these resources.

  Dr. Stoate
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps have been taken to publicise the 24 hour emergency telephone hotline for members of the public reporting information about flytipping incidents. [140994]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Environment Agency's emergency hotline (0800 80 70 60) plays an important role in alerting the Agency to all types of environmental incidents—including flytipping. The Agency promotes the number as widely as possible through their public relations activities—including flytipping campaigns and the FlyTipping Forum—and it features in a wide range of the Agency's reports and publications such as the "Customer Charter" and waste management explanatory leaflets.

  Dr. Stoate
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many calls have been received by the Environment Agency's 24 hour
  773W
  emergency telephone hotline for members of the public reporting information about flytipping incidents since it was set up; and how many have resulted in the prosecution of suspected flytippers. [140993]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Environment Agency received 30 reports of fly tipping incidents on their 24 hour emergency telephone hotline (0800 80 70 60) in the period from 31 March 1999 to 1 April 2000. The hotline is used for the reporting of all environmental incidents and the Agency does not collate data on how many prosecutions result from the public's use of it. However, I have asked the Agency whether it is possible to establish how many of the 30 reported flytipping incidents have resulted in prosecutions. I will write to my hon. Friend on receipt of the Agency's response and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

  Poster Hoardings
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will review the law on the erection of poster hoardings. [140503]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  This was included in the proposals in our Modernising Planning consultation paper "Outdoor Advertisement Control", issued in July 1999. I announced our conclusions in the light of the consultation response on 29 June 2000,Official Report, column 600W, in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Milton Keynes, North-East (Mr. White). In relation to Areas of Special Control of Advertisements, a further announcement was made on 28 November 2000, Official Report, column 554W, in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Bury, North (Mr. Chaytor).

  Environmental Agreements
  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress he has made in considering the options for defining the relationship between multilateral environmental agreements and World Trade Organisation disciplines since the publication of his response to the 16th report from the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee. [140334]

  Mr. Meacher
  Clarifying the relationship between Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) and the rules of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) remains an important priority for the United Kingdom and the European Union. We will continue to press for inclusion of this issue in a new trade Round.

  The European Community submitted a paper on "Resolving the Relationship between WTO rules and Multilateral Environmental Agreements" to the WTO Committee on Trade and Environment when it met on 24–25 October. The paper was designed to stimulate a positive discussion among WTO members on the nature of the problem and what our aims should be in clarifying the relationship. It discusses the need for some form of WTO accommodation mechanism for trade measures mandated by MEAs. An option for this mechanism considered by the paper is "reversal of the burden of proof' under Article XX of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (the General Exceptions clause), which would require that any party challenging a mandated
  774W
  MEA trade measure would have to prove that the measure does not meet the conditions of Article XX. The paper makes clear, however, that we have not reached a final conclusion on the merits of this option, and that we remain ready to consider any proposals made by other WTO members.

  We will continue to use all opportunities to engage with developing countries on this issue. We are funding the Commonwealth Secretariat to host a workshop on Trade and Sustainable Development, to which twenty Commonwealth countries including the UK have been invited, on 19–22 January 2001. The issue of the relationship between Multilateral Environmental Agreements and WTO rules will be one of the subjects discussed at the workshop.

  M25 (Essex)
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what the most recent date was on which the signing of the strategic diversion routes through the Essex section of the M25 was checked for continuity and accuracy; and how often that signing is checked; [140467]

  (2) what discussions he has had with the Highways Agency about ensuring that the signing of the strategic diversion routes through the Essex section of the M25 is regularly maintained. [140466]

  Mr. Hill
  Responsibility for the maintenance of the `symbol' diversion signs from the M25 in Essex rests with the highway authority of the road on which the sign is placed. For trunk roads my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, the Environment and Regions is Highway Authority and the Highways Agency acts on his behalf. The Highways Agency maintains the signs in accordance with an agreed code of practice. For other roads the local authority takes responsibility and Agents act on its behalf.

  The Highways Agency checked the symbol diversionary signs for the Essex section of the M25 for continuity and accuracy in 1998–99 and these were reviewed as part of the London Primary Route Signing Project in 1999.

  Train Protection Systems
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the cost of installing(a) the Train Protection Warning System and (b) the Automatic Train Protection System. [140420]

  Mr. Hill
  The only estimate made by the Secretary of State for installing the Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS) was as part of the regulatory impact assessment for the Railway Safety Regulations 1999, laid in the House in August 1999. This showed an estimated cost ranging between £130-£155 million. The Secretary of State has not made an estimate of the cost for installing Automatic Train Protection (ATP). More recent industry estimates suggest that the figure will be closer to £330 million for TPWS and in the order of £2 billion for ATP.

  Rail Maintenance Staff
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many maintenance staff were employed on track maintenance duty(a) by British Rail in the year before privatisation and (b) by Railtrack in September 2000. [140419]

  Mr. Hill
  The British Railways Board's Annual Report and Accounts 1995–96 show that 15,745 staff were employed by British Rail Infrastructure Services on infrastructure maintenance, track renewal and design duties.

  No maintenance staff were employed by Railtrack in September 2000. Upon privatisation, the former British Rail Infrastructure Services Units were transferred to other private sector companies.

  Rail Funding
  Mrs. Betty Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what funding was provided by Government to the United Kingdom rail industry in each year from 1997 to date; and what the value was of such funding for rail services to and within Wales. [140332]

  Mr. Hill
  Train operating companies (TOCs) receive Support for Passenger Rail Services (SPRS) from the Franchising Director and income from Passenger Transport Executives (PTEs) for rail passenger services in major conurbations. Also, freight operating companies (FOCs) receive freight grant payments from my Department. The first table shows the value of all three types of funding to all TOCs and FOCs in Great Britain in each year since 1996–97. The figures for 2000–01 are estimated outturns.

  Cash prices £ million

  Payments

  SPRS

  PTE

  Freight grant

  1996–97

  1,809

  291

  12

  1997–98

  1,429

  375

  21

  1998–99

  1,196

  337

  19

  1999–2000

  1,033

  312

  17

  2000–01

  913

  280

  16

  The second table shows Shadow Strategic Rail Authority estimates of the proportion of total SPRS payments which relates to train-miles travelled in Wales. There are no PTEs in Wales. Equivalent data for freight grants are not available.

  Cash prices £ million

  Payments—SPRS

  1996–97

  101

  1997–98

  77

  1998–99

  68

  1999–2000

  74

  2000–01

  n/a

  Coach Companies
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many times 776W
  coach companies in the Isle of Sheppey have been investigated for safety reasons by the Vehicle Inspectorate in the past five years. [140324]

  Mr. Hill
  In the Isle of Sheppey, nine separate investigations in respect of four different coach companies have been carried out by the Vehicle Inspectorate in the past five years.

  Affordable Housing
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what increase in the number of affordable houses he expects in rural areas as a result of the planned change in approach of the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme. [140316]

  Mr. Mullin
  [holding answer 27 November 2000]: The Housing Corporation is implementing a more strategic approach to the distribution of the Approved Development Programme to ensure resources are targeted effectively to meet regional and local priorities. The number of affordable homes provided in rural areas will depend on regional and local assessments of housing need, as well as the measures for increasing affordable housing which has been set out in our Rural White Paper.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what targets he has set for the provision of affordable housing in drawing up the Rural White Paper. [140315]

  Mr. Mullin
  [holding answer 27 November 2000]: 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 has set out our policies for affordable housing provision in rural areas.

  Mesothelioma
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many deaths there were from mesothelioma and what the standard mortality rate was in each(a) county and (b) district, for the most recent year for which figures are available. [140761]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Health and Safety Executive maintains a register of deaths in Great Britain for which mesothelioma is mentioned on the death certificate. The latest year for which data are available is 1998.

  A paper produced by HSE's Epidemiology and Medical Statistics Unit (EMSU), `Mesothelioma area statistics: county districts in Great Britain 1986–1995' is the most up-to-date analysis of the mesothelioma register by the old local government structure (phased out between 1995–98), and is available in the Libraries of the House. No further analysis was undertaken during the progressive introduction of unitary authorities between 1995–98. The first complete year of mesothelioma deaths based on the new geography is 1998. A table showing the number of mesothelioma deaths in 1998 and the death rates (per million people) by the new government structure has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Finsbury Park Single Regeneration Budget
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the total Government expenditure on the Finsbury Park Single Regeneration Budget(a) to date and (b) estimated for its lifetime. [139982]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 27 November 2000]: The Finsbury Park Single Regeneration Budget scheme was approved on 1 December 1999. The projected Government expenditure for the financial year 2000– 01 is £2.54 million, and up until the end of June 2000 £490,464 had been spent in total. Total Government expenditure over the seven year life of the scheme is estimated at £25 million.

  Air Traffic Control
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he has held talks with the CAA about the capacity constraints, the hourly flow rates and general re-organisation agreed for area control and terminal control of NERC in the period January 2001 to December 2002. [140698]

  Mr. Mullin
  There are regular meetings between the CAA and the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions to discuss matters of mutual interest and concern. In turn, the CAA's Safety Regulation Group has responsibility for the safety regulatory oversight of the New En-Route Centre programme and the ongoing operation of the London Area and Terminal Control Centre at West Drayton. The New En-Route Centre will not enter operational service until the Safety Regulation Group has issued an approval, supported by the NATS Safety Case for the new centre. The Safety Regulation Group has also been involved in the oversight of the operational conversion training programme.

  From January 2001 to January 2002 there are not planned to be hourly flow rates for other than normal control of demand over capacity. Post January 2002, when Swanwick becomes operational, specific flow control measures will be implemented for a temporary period, while staff gain confidence in the new procedures and equipment. Thereafter, hourly flow rates will be applied for the normal control of demand over capacity.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the plans that have been made by NATS to protect low cost airlines from the effects of the cuts in capacity expected at the commencement of the New En-Route Centre. [140691]

  Mr. Mullin
  Airline operators have been briefed by NATS that there will be a reduction in capacity during the transfer of operations from West Drayton to Swanwick. This reduction in capacity will be a temporary measure while staff gain confidence with the new procedures and equipment they will be using at Swanwick. The reduction in capacity will be managed through the imposition of flow control measures which will be applied fairly to all operators.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what training programmes are in place to bring up to full complement 778W
  validated air traffic controllers at the London Area and Terminal Control Centre; and how long it will be before the training of new controllers is completed. [140689]

  Mr. Mullin
  NATS has an ongoing programme to recruit and train new air traffic controllers for NATS units throughout the UK. There is no shortage of staff to meet operational requirements in Area Control operations at the London Area and Terminal Control Centre at West Drayton in 2001. In addition, NATS has a full complement of 255 controllers to meet current operational requirement in the Terminal Control operation at West Drayton, although a slight shortfall, 10 to 14 controllers, is expected after the introduction of two new air traffic sectors in spring 2001.

  NATS plans to continue to increase the number of operational air traffic controllers in order to meet future operational requirements at the New En-Route Centre and elsewhere, and the anticipated pattern of retirements and resignations. A 50 per cent. increase in the intake of student controllers is planned next year and recruitment will continue at a high level for a number of years thereafter to meet forecast demand for increases in airspace capacity. Training controllers for West Drayton currently takes around three and a half years from entry into the College of Air Traffic Control.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what effect the commencement of the new training programme for air traffic controllers at the National En-Route Centre will have on the day-to-day work of the London Area and Terminal Control Centre; when the cuts in capacity following the introduction of NERC will take place; and what explanation has been offered to the airlines. [140690]

  Mr. Mullin
  The training of controllers for the New En-Route Centre will commence on 2 January 2001 and finish in January 2002. NATS currently has 360 air traffic controllers available to meet a budgeted requirement for 300 controllers in the Area Control operation at the London Area and Control Centre at West Drayton. This overbearing has been in place for some time in order to meet development requirements at the New En-Route Centre. Next year the overbearing will be used to provide cover for the operational conversion training programme. By June 2001, the actual number of controllers is anticipated to increase to 374.

  It is anticipated flow restrictions will be introduced on a temporary basis when the New En-Route Centre is introduced into operational service. This is a standard safety procedure which is applied whenever major new developments enter operational service, to enable staff to gain confidence in new procedures and equipment in the live operational environment. The conversion training programme is a complex exercise, the details of which have been communicated to the airlines.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the New En-Route Centre at Swanwick will operate in all its planned sectors when it becomes operational in 2002. [140694]

  Mr. Mullin
  When the New En-Route Centre opens in January 2002 it will have procedures in place for up to 29 sectors, as is the case with the current Area Control operation at West Drayton. As is also the case at West
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  Drayton, the actual number of sectors open at Swanwick will vary to match seasonal traffic demand, depending on the amount of traffic requiring an air traffic control service. It is anticipated that 24 to 26 of the 29 sectors will typically be open at any one time, though precisely which sectors are open will vary in accordance with traffic flows. These numbers generally match the numbers of sectors currently open at West Drayton.

  VED (Lorries)
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if hauliers with a reduced pollution certificate will continue to receive the rebate to aid lorries meeting the most stringent emissions standards, in addition to the reduction in vehicle excise duty announced in the Chancellor's pre-Budget report 2000. [140650]

  Mr. Hill
  As indicated in the PBR, the reform of the structure of lorry VED and related issues, including reduced pollution certificates, are now subject to consultation with the road haulage industry and more widely. Discounts for vehicles that offer pollution advantages will continue to be part of the reformed package, subject to constraints such as EU minimum rates.

  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if all payments of the vehicle excise duty for lorries will be sent out by the target date of January 2001. [140652]

  Mr. Hill
  The Government have stated that notification of entitlement and invitations to apply for rebates will be sent to keepers of vehicles during December 2000 and January 2001, and that they intend that rebates will be sent to keepers within 28 days from the receipt of applications at DVLA. The Government will make every effort to meet those targets.

  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the DVLA will be writing to hauliers inviting them to apply for a vehicle excise duty rebate; and if those renewing licences after 30 November will have to make a payment in full and receive a rebate at a later date. [140649]

  Mr. Hill
  We intend that all those entitled to rebates will receive notification as soon as possible after 30 November. The amount payable by those taking out licences with effect from 1 December onwards will be the statutory Vehicle Excise Duty less the amount of the rebate, so that there will be no need for a separate transaction to receive the rebate.

  Millennium Dome
  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many times he has met Robert Bourne of Legacy plc(a) this year and (b) in previous years. [140717]

  Mr. Prescott
  I have met Robert Bourne on a number of occasions this year as part of the competition process for selling the Millennium Dome. I have not met him on any other occasion.
  780W
  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if the fee agreement with Lazard for the sale of the Millennium Dome is contingent on success; [140716]

  (2) what fees will be due to Lazards in the event of a successful sale of the Millennium Dome. [140715]

  Mr. Prescott
  The involvement of Lazard in the process for selling the Millennium Dome has concluded with the award of preferred bidder status to Legacy plc. The fees payable to Lazard were not dependent on either Legacy plc reaching preferred bidder status or an eventual successful sale of the Dome.

  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate his Department has made of the total cost of negotiating and finalising the sale of the Millennium Dome, broken down by fees paid to(a) merchant banks, (b) lawyers, (c) accountants and (d) other advisers. [140720]

  Mr. Prescott
  The breakdown of costs requested is commercially confidential, in order not to compromise future Government negotiations with professional firms about the provision of advice. The costs arising in all the categories listed will be met from within the budget for the Dome legacy competition. This is held by English Partnerships, and currently stands at £6.9 million.

  Road Fatalities
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions after what length of time a death from injuries following a road traffic accident ceases to be recorded as a fatal accident; and if he will make a statement. [140603]

  Mr. Hill
  A road accident is recorded as fatal if any casualty in that accident dies within 30 days of the accident. This is in accordance with the definition which is widely used internationally.

  Rail Safety
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the Rail Regulators' Review of Access Charges; what assessment he has made of the extent to which the Rail Regulators have complied with his obligation to promote the safety of the railway; and if he will place copies of documents relating to such an assessment in the Library. [140731]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 28 November 2000]: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Libraries of the House.

  Marine Nature Conservation
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the geographic extent of the review of Marine Nature Conservation with regards to(a) distance offshore and (b) marine nature conservation in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. [140935]

  Mr. Mullin
  The original Terms of Reference for the Review of Marine Nature Conservation were to consider issues to the limit of UK Territorial Waters. However,
  781W
  since then the Review's Terms of Reference have been extended to allow consideration to issues up to the limit of UK jurisdiction, that is the UK Continental Shelf and superjacent waters to a limit of 200 nautical miles from baselines.

  The devolved Administrations have responsibility for marine nature conservation up to the limit of Territorial Waters, subject to the requirements to meet international and European obligations.

  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the timetable is for his Department's review of marine nature conservation. [140936]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Working Group of the Review of Marine Nature Conservation was originally due to report its findings to Ministers by the end of this year. However, since that timetable was agreed the Review's Terms of Reference have been extended to include consideration of issues beyond UK Territorial Waters to the limit of UK jurisdiction. In view of this, the timetable for reporting on the outcome of the Review has been extended and the Working Group is now expected to report on its consideration of issues to the extent of UK Territorial Waters during the first quarter of next year. The Working Group's final report, taking into account issues to the limit of UK jurisdiction, will be presented to Ministers by the end of summer next year.

  Road Fund Licence
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions to what point will the road fund licence rebates to the registered keeper in respect of cars under 1500 cc be backdated; and if he will make a statement. [140938]

  Mr. Hill
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in the pre-Budget report his intention that the increase to 1500cc in the threshold for the lower rate of vehicle excise duty for cars will be backdated to November 2000. Detailed arrangements will be subject to consultation with the motoring organisations.

  Rents
  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for(a) England and (b) London the average rent in (i) 1989–90, (ii) 1992–93, (iii) 1995–96, (iv) 1998–99 and (v) 1999–2000 (A) in pounds per week and (B) as a percentage of the relevant bottom quartile and bottom decile male earnings for (1) the average council dwelling, (2) the average housing association dwelling and (3) the average three room dwelling rented by a private tenant claiming Housing Benefit referred to the rent officer. [140997]

  Mr. Mullin
  The available figures are given in the table. The earnings figures used in the answer are of full-time manual male employees. In many cases tenants will have much or all of the rent met by Housing Benefit.
  782W

  Local authority rents

  Average rent

  Rent expressed as percentage of:

  Year

  £ per week

  lower decile earnings

  lower quartile earnings

  England

  1989–90

  20.86

  14.8

  11.7

  1992–93

  30.84

  19.1

  15.2

  1995–96

  38.41

  22.0

  17.5

  1998–99

  42.33

  21.7

  17.3

  1999–2000

  43.92

  n/a

  n/a

  London

  1989–90

  24.65

  16.0

  12.2

  1992–93

  41.777

  23.5

  18.3

  1995–96

  50.76

  27.4

  21.0

  1998–99

  55.44

  27.1

  20.6

  1999–2000

  58.00

  n/a

  n/a

  Note

  The local authority average weekly unrebated rent per financial year

  Housing Association/RSL rents

  Average rent

  Rent expressed as percentage of:

  Year

  £ per week

  lower decile earnings

  lower quartile earnings

  England

  1989–90

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1992–93

  34.44

  21.3

  17.0

  1995–96

  44.00

  25.2

  20.0

  1998–99

  51.68

  26.5

  21.1

  1999–2000

  52.95

  n/a

  n/a

  London

  1989–90

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1992–93

  40.25

  22.5

  17.7

  1995–96

  50.28

  27.1

  20.8

  1998–99

  59.28

  29.0

  22.0

  1999–2000

  61.36

  n/a

  n/a

  Notes

  The above figures are net weekly rents, excluding service charges

  The 1992–93 figures for London is indicative only

  The 1999–2000 figures are provisional and unpublished

  Source

  Housing Corporation, HAR/10 and RSR

  Average rent paid by private tenants claiming housing benefit and referred to a rent officer

  Average rent

  Rent expressed as percentage of:

  Year

  £ per week

  lower decile earnings

  lower quartile earnings

  England

  1989–90

  40.23

  28.5

  22.6

  1992–93

  59.88

  37.1

  29.6

  1995–96

  69.73

  39.9

  31.7

  1998–99

  72.84

  37.4

  29.7

  1999–2000

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  London

  1989–90

  57.62

  37.3

  28.5

  1992–93

  82.62

  46.3

  36.3

  1995–96

  97.23

  52.5

  40.3

  1998–99

  108.89

  53.2

  40.4

  1999–2000

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Note

  The above figures are the average rents determined for benefit purposes and cover all private lettings and all sizes of dwelling referred to rent officers

  Source

  Rent Officer Statistics, published by DETR

  Housing Subsidy
  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for each local authority in England(a) the amount of housing HRA subsidy payable in 2000–01, (i) in total and (ii) per dwelling and (b) the projected figures for 2001–02. [140998]

  Mr. Mullin
  I have placed a table in the Library showing the latest figures for Housing Revenue Account subsidy payable in 2000–01. This is based on local authority estimates as reported in their advance subsidy claims. The figures will, therefore, be subject to change following receipt of audited outturn figures in due course. Figures for 2001–02 are not yet available.

  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much was the estimated overall revenue subsidy including Housing Benefit in each of the last 10 financial years in England(a) per council dwelling and (b) per private rented dwelling where the tenant was in receipt of Housing Benefit. [141005]

  Mr. Mullin
  The figures requested are shown in the table. The Housing Revenue Account Subsidy figures include both the housing and rent rebate elements. The figures for the private rented sector (which includes registered social landlords) show the average rent allowance subsidy per claimant.

  £

  Financial year

  Housing revenue account subsidy per council dwelling

  Rent allowance subsidy per claimant

  1990–91

  922

  1,294

  1991–92

  964

  1,635

  1992–93

  1,036

  2,001

  1993–94

  1,100

  2,248

  1994–95

  1,137

  2,445

  1995–96

  1,130

  2,594

  1996–97

  1,154

  2,682

  1997–98

  1,124

  2,757

  1998–99

  1,026

  2,811

  1999–2000 (Provisional)

  1,085

  2,875

  Note

  Rent allowance subsidy has been calculated on the assumption that central Government meet 95 per cent. of the amount received by the tenant. Weekly averages have been converted to annual amounts, but individual claimants will not necessarily receive benefit for a whole year

  Housing Investment
  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the total gross investment in housing for each of the OECD countries for(a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90 and (c) 1999–2000 expressed as (i) a percentage of GDP and (ii) in pounds per million households. [140999]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I have been asked to reply. The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
  784W
  Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. lain Coleman, dated 30 November 2000

  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question on the total gross investment in housing for each of the OECD countries for (a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90 and (c) 1999–2000 expressed as (i) a percentage of GDP and (ii) in pounds per million households (140999). I am replying in his absence.

  Data, on an annual calendar basis, are available from the OECD Economic Outlook Database for investment in housing.

  Council Housing
  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for(a) England and (b) each London borough for the years (i) 1979–80, (ii) 1985–86, (iii) 1990–91, (iv) 1993–94, (v) 1996–97 and (vi) 1999–2000, (A) the number of lettings, including nominations to housing associations by councils to new applicants, (B) the number of such lettings and dwellings of two or more bedrooms, (C) the number of acceptances of households as priority homeless and (D) the number of such acceptances where there were dependent children or a pregnant woman. [141000]

  Mr. Mullin
  I have placed in the Libraries of the House a table presenting the information requested.

  Improvement and Development Agency
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what has been the annual turnover of the Improvement and Development Agency; and how much funding it has received to date from(a) central Government and (b) local authorities. [140794]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 29 November 2000]: From its establishment in April 1999, the Improvement and Development Agency's (IDeA's) turnover and its make-up are as follows:

  £

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  Turnover

  19,703,000

  125,516,000

  Revenue Support Grant (England)

  10,685,192

  14,939,300

  Local authority subscriptions

  1,123,800

  1,151,900

  Sales and other income (from specific projects and trading activities)

  7,894,008

  19,424,800

  1Estimated

  A substantial proportion of the IDeA's sales are to local authorities.

  Neighbourhood Warden Schemes
  Dr. Stoate
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what mechanism has been established to evaluate the performance of schemes supported by the fund to promote new neighbourhood warden schemes; and if he will make a statement. [140990]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Neighbourhood Wardens' Unit will be managing the programme. The Government Offices are responsible for monitoring the performance of schemes within their region. The Neighbourhood Wardens' Unit have recently let a contract to Crime Concern and Social Development Direct. They will
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  provide independent national evaluation to all schemes that receive funding from the neighbourhood wardens' programme.

  Dr. Stoate
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will announce the allocation of the fund to promote new neighbourhood warden schemes in 2000–01 to 2002–03; and when new applications for funding starting in 2001–02 can be submitted. [140989]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Neighbourhood Wardens' programme is being jointly funded by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the Home Office. There is a budget of £13.5 million over three years until March 2002–03. My hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Home Department, the hon. Member for Norwich, South (Mr. Clarke), the Champion Minister, announced the results of the first tranche of bidding on 18 September. Funding totalling £7.52 million will go to 45 schemes in England and five schemes in Wales. A decision on a further 42 schemes has been deferred to allow further development of their Implementation Plans.
  As yet, no decision has been taken on a second bidding round.

  Housing New Lettings (London)
  Mr. Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of new lettings available to London councils in housing provided by(a) local authorities and (b) registered social landlords in each of the last five years. [140866]

  Mr. Mullin
  The available information is as follows:

  New lettings provided in London by boroughs and registered social landlords

  London boroughs

  RSLs

  Total new lettings

  1995–96

  40,150

  11,500

  51,650

  1996–97

  40,440

  9,300

  49,740

  1997–98

  37,320

  8,280

  45,600

  1998–99

  32,250

  8,310

  40,560

  1999–2000

  28,060

  8,040

  36,100

  Notes

  1. New lettings exclude transfers of existing LA or RSL tenants other than some 200 RSL tenant transfers to London boroughs' stock.

  2. London borough lettings include both secure and non-secure (eg introductory) tenancies.

  Source:

  DETR Housing Investment Programme returns Housing Corporation CORE returns.

  A17 (Public Lavatories)
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many public lavatories for which he is responsible there are on the A17 road; and what proposals he has for their future. [141199]

  Mr. Hill
  The Secretary of State is responsible for one public lavatory on the A17. This is at the Carter Plot picnic site, East Heckington, Lincolnshire. Options for its 786
  future are being considered. The views of the local authorities will be taken into account before decisions are taken.

  Drink Driving
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of continuing disruption of rail services on the number of drink driving offences this winter. [140923]

  Mr. Hill
  I have not made any such assessment. Railtrack is working to complete the track recovery programme as quickly as it can so that train services can be restored to normal as soon as possible.

  Maritime Pollution
  Mr. Alan Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the appropriateness of the Tyne and Wear Oil Pollution Contingency Plan to deal with a major maritime pollution incident. [141184]

  Mr. Hill
  The Local Authority Tyne and Wear Oil Pollution Contingency Plan was submitted to the Coastguard Agency in 1995. It was updated in December 1999 by the merged Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). In light of the revision of the National Contingency Plan (NCP) for marine pollution from shipping and offshore installations, published in February 2000, the MCA wrote to each maritime Local Authority asking for a status update on their oil pollution plans. Once a response has been received from Tyne and Wear Emergency Planning Unit the MCA will assess the appropriateness of this plan.

  Mr. Alan Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to improve preparations to deal with major maritime pollution incidents by(a) increasing the Civil Defence Specific Grant, (b) increasing funding by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and (c) placing a statutory duty on local authorities to prepare and respond to such incidents. [141185]

  Mr. Hill
  (a) Civil Defence Specific Grant is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department.

  (b) Adequate funding has already been provided to allow the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to undertake its role in preparing, and assisting other bodies to prepare, for major maritime pollution incidents. This role includes implementing the "National Contingency Plan for Marine Pollution from Shipping and Offshore Installations" and contributing to the overall effectiveness of the "National Contingency Plan" by conducting exercises with local authorities, training contingency planners and providing stockpiles of material and equipment needed to combat pollution.

  (c) The matter is still under active consideration.

  Building Regulations
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to receive recommendations from the Building
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  Regulations Advisory Committee regarding changes to part L of the Building Regulations; and if he will make a statement. [140863]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Proposals to change Part L of the Building Regulations were put out to public consultation in June this year, and over 350 responses have been received. These proposals are now being re-examined by my Department in conjunction with the Building Regulations Advisory Committee, and I hope to receive the Committee's recommendations in the first half of next year.

  Local Government Pension Scheme
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to enable a pension to be paid under the local government pension scheme to one nominated financial dependant where there is no spouse; and if he will make a statement. [140913]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Government's White Paper "Partnership in Pensions" in December 1998 explained that if the general membership of a public service scheme such as the Local Government Pension Scheme wanted in future to provide survivor benefits for partners other than a legal spouse, and were prepared to meet the additional costs, we would consider how this might be achieved. My Department is currently liaising with the Employers' Organisation and the Trade Union representatives, who are working up joint proposals, about how an amendment to the scheme might be introduced which will not adversely impact on local authority employers' pension costs.

  Railway Network (South Nottinghamshire)
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of Nottinghamshire County Council's plans for the South Nottinghamshire Railway Network. [141108]

  Mr. Hill
  The South Nottinghamshire Rail Network was included as part of the proposals for local heavy rail network development within the Greater Nottingham Local Transport Plan submitted jointly in July 2000 by Nottinghamshire County Council and Nottingham City Council. The plan made clear that the authorities and their partners, including Derbyshire County Council, the Train Operating Companies and Railtrack, are continuing to develop their proposals.

  I understand that a pre-qualification bid for the South Notts Rail Network submitted to the shadow Strategic Rail Authority under the Rail Passenger Partnership scheme has been successful. It is now for the respective partners in the scheme to work up a detailed bid.

  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the proposed extension of the South Nottinghamshire Railway Network to include Gedling. [141109]

  Mr. Hill
  While the Greater Nottingham Local Transport Plan did contain an outline proposal to provide rail access to Gedling, it remains for the partners in the South Nottinghamshire Rail Network scheme to submit further details to the sSRA in support of an RPP bid.

  Foreign-owned Vehicles
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps are taken by his Department to check the roadworthiness of foreign-owned trucks and trailers arriving at sea ports. [140910]

  Mr. Hill
  Records of the checks of foreign-owned trucks and trailers by the Vehicle Inspectorate do not identify where the location was a port.

  In the year 1999–2000, 3,684 such vehicles were checked for roadworthiness and 314 prohibitions were issued.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many prosecutions there have been in each of the last three years of(a) drivers and (b) owners of foreign-owned trucks and trailers found to be unroadworthy on arrival at sea ports. [140911]

  Mr. Hill
  Roadworthiness checks on foreign vehicles are carried out by the Vehicle Inspectorate's vehicle examiners who prohibit rather prosecute as this is a more effective sanction. Records of these checks do not identify where the location was a port. In the year 1999–2000, 3,684 such vehicles were checked for roadworthiness and 314 prohibitions were issued. In 1998–99, 3,498 vehicles were checked and 301 prohibitions issued, and in 1997–98, 5,343 vehicles were checked and 354 prohibitions issued.

  Modified Agricultural Crops
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he last met representations of the Supply Chain Initiative for Modified Agricultural Crops. [141120]

  Mr. Mullin
  My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment met representatives of SCIMAC on 29 November.

  Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the role and purpose of the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment. [141119]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) is a statutory science and technical committee formed under section 124 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

  ACRE advises the UK Government, the devolved Administrations and the Health and Safety Commission/Executive on the risks posed to human health and the environment from the deliberate release of genetically modified organisms. The Committee also advises on the release of non-native plants and animals covered by sections 14 and 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

  ACRE members are independent and appointed purely for their scientific and technical expertise. The Committee meets approximately eight times each year and the Agenda and Minutes of the meetings are published on the

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  Internet at www.environment.detr.gov.uk/acre/index.htm. Further information about the role, purpose and activities of ACRE, its membership and full Terms of Reference may be found in the Committee's 1999 Annual Report, a copy of which is in the House Library, as well as on the website above.

  Norfolk and Norwich Hospital (Transport)
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what joint assessment he has made with the University of East Anglia on bus routes to the Norfolk and Norwich hospital. [140924]

  Mr. Hill
  The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has made no joint assessment with the University of East Anglia on bus routes to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. Public transport access is a matter for Norfolk County Council, as the local transport authority, to discuss with the Hospital Trust and the commercial operators. It is important that solutions to local transport problems are developed locally.

  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with the East Anglian Ambulance Service on road transport to the Norfolk and Norwich hospital. [140919]

  Mr. Hill
  The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has had no discussions with the East Anglian Ambulance Service on road transport to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. It is the responsibility of Norfolk County Council, as the local transport authority, to discuss with the East Anglian Ambulance Service the matter of road transport to the hospital.

  Local Traffic Flows (Norwich)
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what further assessment the Highways Agency has made of local traffic flow following the employment of the Norwich Research Park facilities. [140927]

  Mr. Hill
  I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Tim Matthews, to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Tim Matthews to Dr. Ian Gibson, dated 30 November 2000

  The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has asked me to reply to your recent question.

  The Highways Agency has not carried out an assessment of local traffic flow following the employment of the Norwich Research Park facilities.

  If you wish to discuss this matter further please contact Alan Kirkdale, Highways Agency's Area Manager, telephone 01234 796095.

  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what further assessment he has made of the local traffic flow since the planning of a medical school adjacent to the Norfolk and Norwich hospital. [140926]

  Mr. Hill
  The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has made no assessment of the traffic flow since the planning of a medical school 790W
  adjacent to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. Assessment of the local traffic flow is a matter for Norfolk County Council as the local transport authority to address.

  National Parks
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for the years(a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90 and (c) 1998–99, (i) the number of visitors to, (ii) the budget of and (iii) the spend per visitor at each national park. [141116]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Government grant for each National Park in England and Wales was:

  Park

  1979–80 £000

  1989–90 £000

  1998–99 £000

  1994 visitor survey1 Million

  Brecon Beacons

  297

  818

  1,942

  3.7

  Broads1

  —

  900

  1,500

  5.4

  Dartmoor

  399

  1,117

  1,942

  3.8

  Exmoor

  262

  916

  1,607

  1.4

  Lake District

  709

  1,742

  2,836

  13.9

  Northumberland

  251

  560

  1,184

  1.4

  North York Moors

  370

  1,112

  2,179

  7.8

  Peak District

  909

  2,462

  4,060

  12.4

  Pembrokeshire

  323

  989

  2,098

  4.7

  Snowdonia

  431

  1,311

  2,654

  6.6

  Yorkshire Dales

  449

  1,155

  2,104

  8.3

  Total

  5,1543

  13,082

  24,106

  69.4

  1'Visitors to National Parks', Countryside Commission, 1996, ISBN 086170 46812 Broads Authority created in 1988.

  3Includes a separate publicity budget for all Parks of £754,000

  The grant figures do not include local authority contributions to Park Authorities (usually one-third of Government grant) or other sources of finance, e.g. EU funding.

  The visitor figures come from the only national survey for all parks, which was produced in 1994. The totals for the Peak District, Lake District and Snowdonia are considered to be substantial under-estimates. A new national survey of park visitors is expected in the next UK Day Visits Survey, which is due to be undertaken in 2001. A number of Park Authorities carry out their own regular surveys, but that information is not held centrally. It is therefore not possible to produce a comparison of Park Authority spend per visitor.

  Environment Agency
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much was spent in the earliest and most recent years for which figures are available by the Environment Agency in each of its administrative areas. [141038]

  Mr. Mullin
  The information is as follows.

  £ million

  Environment Agency region

  1996–97

  1999–2000

  Anglian

  96.2

  92.1

  North East

  66.7

  70.7

  North West

  49.6

  65.9

  Midlands

  65.2

  70.6

  Southern

  46.5

  50.4

  South West

  56.1

  54.6

  Thames

  92.8

  141.0

  Wales

  43.6

  48.7

  Rural Post Offices
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received on the application of climate change levy charges to rural post offices as customers of Northern Electric and Gas; and if he will make a statement. [140880]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions has not received any representations from rural post offices regarding climate change levy charges. The climate change levy will take effect on 1 April 2001 and will apply to all of the non domestic sector. The levy will play a major role in helping the UK to meet its targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will reply to the question of 2 November from the hon. Member for Hull, North; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the Sykes' Accommodation report on the implications of closing the Hull Office of the HSE. [141107]

  Mr. Meacher
  I replied to my hon. Friend's question today, Official Report, columns 756–57W.

  Community Transport Services
  Judy Mallaber
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will extend fuel duty rebate to community transport services as announced in Transport 2010-the Ten Year Plan. [141002]

  Mr. Hill
  We are taking forward the commitment announced in "Transport 2010" that we would work up proposals for extending fuel duty rebate to a wider range of community transport services. We shall be consulting on these proposals shortly with the intention of having new rules in place for the 2001––02 financial year.

  Urban Capacity
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will require local authorities to publish their urban capacity reports. [140904]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Forthcoming good practice guidance to local authorities will advise authorities to take account of the views of interested parties and potential users in preparing urban housing capacity studies. It is expected that local authorities will publish these studies and the guidance will advise them to do so.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which local authorities in Hampshire have completed an urban capacity study. [140905]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Hampshire County Council undertook a co-ordinated urban capacity study for the whole of the county in 1998 for the County Structure Plan. Since then five authorities have completed their own urban capacity studies and a further six have studies which are under way.
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  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will instruct local authorities not to identify any reserve sites for new building until all authorities in a planning region have completed urban capacity studies. [140903]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Our planning guidance for housing (PPG3) states that all local authorities should undertake urban housing capacity studies. They should take account of such studies in updating their local plans. All sites proposed for housing development should be tested against the policies set out in PPG3.

  Starter Home Initiative
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if Hampshire Police are included in the Government's Starter Home Initiative for key public workers. [140946]

  Mr. Mullin
  We announced in July that £250 million would be available over the next three years to fund the Starter Home Initiative. This will help key workers on modest incomes to buy their own homes in high price, high demand areas while helping their employers to address their recruitment needs. We will be announcing further details of the scheme, and inviting bids for funding, in the near future.

  Packaging Waste
  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of packaging waste that is currently reprocessed is generated from(a) industrial waste, (b) retail waste and (c) local authorities; and if he will make a statement. [141178]

  Mr. Mullin
  Businesses that are obligated to recover and recycle specified tonnages of packaging waste under the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations are not required to establish whether the packaging waste is derived from the commercial, industrial or household waste stream. However, of the tonnages of packaging waste that flow into the waste stream in the UK, the amounts of each of the main packaging materials that arise as waste in(a) the commercial/industrial and (b) the household (i.e. collected by local authorities) waste stream are as follows:

  Commercial/industrial stream (%)

  Household waste stream (%)

  Total tonnage in waste stream

  Paper

  87.5

  12.5

  3,855,000

  Glass

  16

  84

  2,200,000

  Aluminium

  5

  95

  120,000

  Steel

  29

  71

  750,000

  Plastics

  35

  65

  1,678,900

  As targets for recovery and recycling of packaging waste rise, it is likely that greater amounts of packaging waste from the household waste stream will be collected and recovered.

  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of progress towards achieving his target of
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  a 28 per cent. increase in the recovery and recycling of packaging materials up to the end of 2001; and if he will make a statement. [141179]

  Mr. Mullin
  When the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 Regulations came into force, recovery was at 30 per cent. of which recycling made up around 27 per cent. By the end of 1999 we had reached 38 per cent. recovery and we expect to reach 50 per cent. in 2001 in line with the EC Directive target. We are already meeting the Directive's recycling target of 25 per cent.

  Businesses obligated under the packaging Regulations have been working towards the target levels of packaging waste recovery in the EC Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste since the Regulations came into force in 1997. The Directive requires the UK to recover 50 per cent. of packaging waste by 2001. In our estimation, the UK's recovery of packaging waste will have to increase from around 38 per cent. at the end of 1999 to reach 50 per cent. in 2001, i.e. an increase of some 12 percentage points or, in tonnage terms, just over one million tonnes. We would expect further progress to be made in the course of 2000 but final figures for 2000 will not be available until mid 2001.

  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the impact of the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 on the recovery and recycling infrastructure in the last three years. [141180]

  Mr. Mullin
  In the three full years in which the recovery and recycling obligations under the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 have been in effect, the recovery and recycling infrastructure in the UK has had to develop to deal with increasing amounts of reprocessing in order to meet interim targets under the Regulations.

  The following table shows the interim targets in the packaging Regulations, the tonnage of packaging waste estimated to flow into the waste stream in each of the three years, and the amounts of packaging waste recovered and recycled.

  1998

  1999

  2000

  Targets (recovery and recycling)—percentage

  38

  43

  45

  7

  10

  13

  Tonnage in waste stream—million tonnes

  10.2

  9.2

  9.2

  Recovery (recycling)—tonnes

  3,338,705

  3,497,647

  12,577,982

  (2,890,351)

  (3,006,342)

  —

  1Up to end September 2000 only

  In 2001, the tonnage of packaging flowing into the UK waste stream is estimated at 9.3 million tonnes, 50 per cent. of which must be recovered if the Directive targets are to be met. The UK recovery and recycling infrastructure will therefore have to deliver some 4.65 million tonnes of packaging waste recovery next year.

  Mobile Phone Base Stations
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to publish the results of the consultation on mobile phone base stations. [141073]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The consultation exercise seeking views on possible changes to the planning laws relating to mobile phone masts and associated guidance ended on 31 October 2000. The Department is currently analysing the responses. We shall announce our conclusions as soon as practicable.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of mobile phone base stations that have been relocated because of concerns about their proximity to(a) schools and (b) dwellings. [141074]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Department has made no such estimate.

  Recycled Materials
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the total amount of(a) glass, (b) paper, (c) aluminium and
  (d) plastic recycled in the United Kingdom in each of the last 20 years. [141142]

  Mr. Mullin
  We do not hold the total amounts of recycling carried out in each of these materials over the last 20 years and the information can be obtained only at a disproportionate cost. However, information on previous years' recycling for these materials can be found in the Digest of Environmental Statistics Number 20, copies of which are available in the House Library.

  Mercury
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much mercury he estimates has been released into the atmosphere from crematoria in the United Kingdom in each of the past 20 years; and if he will make a statement. [141192]

  Mr. Hill
  The National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory estimates the figures for mercury emissions from crematoria since 1978 as follows:

  Year

  Crematoria (tonnes mercury emitted)

  UK total

  Crematoria as percentage of UK total

  1978

  1.8

  39.7

  4

  1979

  2.0

  41.7

  5

  1980

  1.3

  37.4

  3

  1981

  1.3

  36.6

  3

  1982

  1.3

  34.0

  4

  1983

  1.3

  32.6

  4

  1984

  1.3

  30.6

  4

  1985

  1.3

  33.9

  4

  1986

  1.3

  33.0

  4

  1987

  1.3

  31.7

  4

  1988

  1.3

  32.9

  4

  1989

  1.3

  31.9

  4

  1990

  1.3

  31.4

  4

  1991

  1.3

  32.2

  4

  1992

  1.3

  30.6

  4

  1993

  1.4

  24.5

  6

  795W

  Year

  Crematoria (tonnes mercury emitted)

  UK total

  Crematoria as percentage of UK total

  1994

  1.3

  23.6

  6

  1995

  1.3

  18.2

  7

  1996

  1.3

  14.6

  9

  1997

  1.3

  12.9

  10

  1998

  1.3

  12.4

  11

  Total contribution

  38.8

  953.7

  4

  My Department is currently reviewing the existing statutory guidance which addresses air pollution from all sectors regulated by local authorities under Part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, including that for crematoria.

  Blue Green Algae
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many(a) lakes, (b) rivers and (c) waterways have been affected by blue-green algae in each of the past 20 years; and if he will make a statement. [141190]

  Mr. Mullin
  Data are only available since 1991, and the Environment Agency does not collate information in the format requested. The following table shows for each of the last nine years the total number of water bodies in England and Wales which the Environment Agency is aware have suffered from blue-green algae, either through

  Number of water supply disconnections made by water undertakers for non-payment of a water bill

  (a) Total disconnections

  (b) Non-households

  (c) Households

  Percentage of households

  1989–90

  n/a

  n/a

  8,426

  10.042

  1990–91

  n/a

  n/a

  7,673

  10.038

  1991–92

  n/a

  n/a

  21,282

  10.105

  1992–93

  21,735

  3,099

  18,636

  10.092

  1993–94

  15,088

  2,636

  12,452

  10.062

  1994–95

  12,832

  2,785

  10,047

  10.050

  1995–96

  7,822

  1,996

  5,826

  10.029

  1996–97

  4,691

  1,543

  3,148

  0.016

  1997–98

  3,681

  1,774

  1,907

  0.009

  1998–99

  2,877

  1,748

  1,129

  0.005

  1999–2000

  3,582

  3,455

  2127

  0.001

  n/a = Not available

  1Totals numbers of households before 1 April 1996 are estimated

  2Number to 30 June 1999, when household disconnections for non-payment were made unlawful by the Water Industry Act 1999

  Notes

  Information has not been kept in the form above for 1980–89 (before privatisation)

  No figures are available of disconnections caused by cut-off valves in pre-payment units

  Sewage Works
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many sewage works have breached United Kingdom pollution limits, ranked by the responsible water company in descending order, for each of the past 20 years. [141212]

  Mr. Mullin
  I will write to my hon. Friend with the available data and place a copy of my letter in the Libraries of the House.
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  the Agency's own regular monitoring programme or throgh investigating reports recived from members of the public.

  Year

  Number of water bodies where blue-green algae confirmed

  1991

  269

  1992

  248

  1993

  195

  1994

  245

  1995

  271

  1996

  220

  1997

  249

  1998

  211

  1999

  172

  Sewage Works

    Water (Disconnections)
    Mr. Ruane
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many(a) customers, (b) business customers and (c) private customers have been disconnected by water companies in the United Kingdom in each of the past 20 years; and what proportion of households is represented by customers in (c). [141208]

    Mr. Mullin
    Under the Water Industry Act 1999, the Government have ended water companies' right to disconnect household customers for non-payment of bills.

    The Office of Water Services have the following figures for disconnection in England and Wales. Regulation of the water industry in Scotland and in Northern Ireland is fully devolved.

    Domestic Air Fares
    Mr. Sheerman
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what powers he has to set limits on domestic air fares; and if he will make a statement. [141171]

    Mr. Mullin
    Domestic air fares in the UK are subject to Council Regulation 2409/92 on fares and rates for air services, which provides for Community air carriers to set fares at the levels they wish and to enter the markets they wish without restriction. The Regulation allows member states to withdraw a basic fare which is considered, in the
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    light of all relevant factors, to be excessively high in relation to the costs of providing the service, and to take action against predatory pricing.

    These provisions do not apply to fares established by public service obligation in accordance with Council Regulation 2408/92 on access by Community air carriers to intra-Community air routes. Member states may impose a public service obligation in respect of scheduled air services to an airport serving peripheral or development regions within its territory, or on a thin route to any regional airport, such route being considered vital for the economic development of the region, to the extent necessary to ensure the adequate provision of services satisfying fixed standards of continuity, regularity, capacity and pricing, which standards air carriers would not assume if they were solely considering their commercial interest, and may reimburse carriers for meeting these standards. A public service obligation may therefore include a tariff obligation limiting fare levels or requiring concessionary fares for certain categories of passenger.

    Pesticides
    Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he is taking to encourage a reduced use of pesticides. [141027]

    Mr. Mullin
    The Department (together with MAFF's Pesticides Safety Directorate) provides the secretariat for the Pesticides Forum which brings together organisations with an interest in the use of pesticides and their impact. The Forum's primary purpose is to advise on and promote responsible pesticide use. The Government have been exploring with the agrochemical industry whether the objective of minimising the adverse environmental impact of pesticide use could be achieved through a partnership approach. The industry has proposed a package of voluntary measures, but the Government believe these still fail to meet a number of concerns raised in the recent consultation exercise. The Government would like to see further improvements and will be holding discussions with the Crop Protection Association on developing a more substantial package in the run up to Budget 2001.

    Exotic and Dangerous Animals
    Dr. Tonge
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to control further the sale of exotic and dangerous animals in pet shops; and if he will make a statement. [140828]

    Mr. Mullin
    The Government have no immediate plans to extend their controls on the sale of these animals but will look at this issue again when their review of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 is completed next April.

    United Airlines Boeing 767–300
    Dr. Tonge
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with the Civil Aviation Authority concerning the risk of fire on United Airlines Boeing 767-300 flying into Heathrow on 9 January 1998; and if he will make a statement. [140918]
    798W
    Mr. Mullin
    This incident was investigated by the Department's Air Accidents Investigation Branch and copies of their report, which was published on 2 November, have been placed in the Library. As the aircraft involved in this incident was on the US aircraft register and operated by a US airline, it is regulated by the US Federal Aviation Administration and not the Civil Aviation Authority. The majority of the recommendations contained in the report were addressed to the aircraft manufacturer and the FAA. However, the CAA has accepted recommendations 99–50 and 99–51 and has initiated appropriate action.

    Energy Efficiency
    Mr. Wigley
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what the average Standard Assessment Procedure rating is for energy efficiency in homes in England; [141022]

    (2) how many homes in England have a Standard Assessment Procedure rate of below 20 for energy efficiency in the home. [141023]

    Mr. Meacher
    The Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) rating is designed to reflect the energy efficiency of a dwelling. It runs from 1 (highly inefficient) to 100 (highly efficient).

    Data from the English House Condition Survey show that in 1996 the average SAP rating of the housing stock was just under 44 SAP points; and that 1.5 million households had a SAP rating of below 20.

    Excise Duty
    Mr. Wigley
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to ensure that new vehicle excise duty forms for applications for lower excise duty are available to road hauliers throughout the United Kingdom; and if restrospective applications for lower excise duty will be accepted in cases where vehicle excise duty forms are not available. [141013]

    Mr. Hill
    In Great Britain, V85/1 and V11 licence renewal reminders that have or will be sent to hauliers in respect of licences expiring at the end of November and December 2000 have already been produced and quote the full rate of Vehicle Excise Duty. However, when hauliers apply for a new licence using these forms at one of DVLA's local offices, the lower rate will be applied. Reminder issues from January 2001 will quote the lower rate. Similar arrangements will apply in Northern Ireland.

    Railtrack
    Mr. Campbell-Savours
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if bulging in railway line products supplied to Railtrack from Italy has implications for Railtrack's renewal programme; [141227]

    (2) if he will secure from Railtrack an assurance that all strings of railway lines imported and used on the national rail network comply with Railtrack specifications; [141228]
    799W
    (3) if he will secure from Railtrack an assurance that all Railtrack products used on the national railway network are as individual pieces of equipment traceable as to (a) country of manufacture and (b) name of manufacturer; [141229]

    (4) what proportion of Railtrack's (a) current and (b) future renewal programme involves the use of heat-treated rails; [141230]

    (5) what assessment he has made of the safety and usage implications for the life of railway lines arising out of the use of (a) heat-treated and (b) non-heat-treated railway lines on the national rail network; [141231]

    (6) on how many occasions Railtrack has been served with enforcement orders relating to its operations since 1994; [141232]

    (7) if he will list all train derailments since 1994; [141233]

    (8) what assessment he has made of Railtrack's compliance with condition No. 7 of its operations licence in relation to the number of broken rails in each year since 1994; [141234]

    (9) if he will place a copy of the Balfour Beatty maintenance audit report on railway stewardship of August in the Library; [141235]

    (10) if ultrasonic testing of railway lines at the site of the Hitchin crash included angle probe ultrasonic testing in the period prior to the crash; [141236]

    (11) if ultrasonic testing of railway lines on site throughout the UK rail network included angle probe ultrasonic testing as a matter of routine; [141237]

    (12) what assessment he has made of the implications for safety in the national rail network arising from not using angle probe techniques in the ultrasonic testing of railway lines; [141238]

    (13) if levels of asymmetry tolerance in relation to railway lines imported from Italy in 2000 have implications for the safety of the national rail network; [141239]

    (14) if levels of asymmetry tolerance in relation to railway lines imported from Corus operations in France have implications for the safety of the national rail network; [141240]

    (15) if the return of railway lines imported from Italy in 2000 was related to the need to maintain safety standards on the national rail network; [141241]

    (16) if problems with the welding of railway lines imported from Italy in 2000 have implications for renewal of the national rail network; [141242]

    (17) if he will request Railtrack to provide details as to the nature of the contractual arrangements for the import of railway lines from Italy; [141243]

    (18) if he will discuss with Railtrack the implementation of arrangements whereby future maintenance contracts for maintenance contractors will exclude the right of Railtrack to override recommendations for maintenance and renewal made by maintenance and repair contractors and include the right of maintenance contractors to vary repair and maintenance contracts with the approval of regulatory bodies. [141244]
    800W
    Mr. Hill
    I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

    M4 (Dauntsey)
    Mr. Gray
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when resurfacing work is due to take place on the stretch of the M4 motorway near Dauntsey. [141247]

    Mr. Hill
    I will write to the hon. Member and place copies of my letter in the Libraries of the House.

    GM Trials
    Mr. Willis
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what procedure the Government have established to protect the health and safety of workers on GM farm trial sites. [141255]

    Mr. Meacher
    I will write to the hon. Member and place copies of my letter in the Libraries of the House.

    Otterburn
    Mr. Key
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) when the(a) first public inquiry and (b) second public inquiry were (i) opened and (ii) concluded into the proposals for changes to the Otterburn training area in Northumberland National Park; [141249]

    (2) when the Otterburn training area public inquiry inspector presented his report to Ministers; and when he will announce his decision; [141250]

    (3) if he will remove Otterburn training area from the Northumberland National Park and add Kielder Forest to the National Park. [141253]

    Mr. Mullin
    I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

    Construction
    Mrs. Brinton
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will make a statement on the role of the construction industry in providing(a) placements and (b) subsequent jobs under the New Deal; [141262]

    (2) if he will make a statement on the role of (a) schools and (b) further education establishments in providing career options in the construction industry. [141263]

    Ms Beverley Hughes
    I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

    Road Building Schemes
    Mrs. Brinton
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance his Department has issued to local authorities on the assessment of the economic implications of major new road building schemes following the publication of the "Transport and the Economy' report by the Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment; and what steps he is taking to ensure the implementation of its recommendations. [141264]

    Mr. Hill
    I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

    Clock Tower, Westminster
    Mr. Fearn
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the effects of the recent construction work around Westminster Station on the structural stability of the Clock Tower. [141272]

    Mr. Hill
    I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

    Endangered Species
    Mr. Fearn
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to increase public awareness of trends in the number of endangered species and their conservation. [141276]

    Mr. Mullin
    I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

    Poll Tax
    Mr. Trickett
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proportion of poll tax has not been collected; what is its cash value; and how much has been written off as impossible to collect. [141273]

    Ms Beverley Hughes
    I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

    Floods (West Sussex)
    Mr. Flight
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what account he will take of the recent flooding in West Sussex in revising PPG25; and if he will make a statement. [141278]

    Ms Beverley Hughes
    I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

    Audit Commission
    Dr. Gibson
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to publish the Government's response to the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Select Committee report (HC 174411) of its inquiry into the work of the Audit Commission and the second stage of the Financial Management and Policy Review of the Audit Commission; and if he will make a statement. [141299]

    Ms Armstrong
    I have today laid before Parliament the Government's response to the Select Committee Report on the Audit Commission. I have also today published the Government's response to the Financial Management and Policy Review of the Audit Commission (FMPR).

    In formulating our response to the Select Committee we have had regard to the work of the School of Public Policy, University of Birmingham which recently completed the second stage of the FMPR. This Report, which we are also publishing today, recognises the Commission as a well managed organisation providing important benefits at reasonable cost. Copies of this Report and our response to it have been placed in the House Library. We have also published the FMPR Reports and Select Committee responses to them on the DETR website.

    The Government welcomed the overall findings of both the Select Committee and the FMPR that the Audit Commission is a well respected body, which is doing a difficult task well. The Government have a high regard for the work of the Commission and this has been reflected in our decision to give the Commission a pivotal role in our best value plans for local government including the establishment of a Best Value Inspection service. The Commission has also been asked to develop a new inspection capacity in the NHS alongside that of the Commission for Health Improvement.

  EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

    "Voices"
    Mrs. May
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the total revenue received from advertising in the most recent edition of "Voices" magazine. [139165]

    Ms Jowell
    [holding answer 20 November 20001 The total revenue raised from advertising in the November 2000 issue of "Voices" was £35,180.

    Information Technology
    Charlotte Atkins
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement about broadening access to information technology within disadvantaged communities. [139192]

    Mr. Wills
    [holding answer 29 November 2000]: The Prime Minister has given a commitment that, by 2005, all those who want it will have the opportunity to access the internet. We are currently investing more than £1.7 billion in initiatives to ensure that everyone is able to reap the rewards of the digital revolution.

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

    We are taking specific action to tackle the difficulties that a significant number of adults and communities currently face in accessing ICT. On 11 September the Prime Minister set out the Government's agenda to get the UK online. We have pledged that by the end of 2002 there will be around 6,000 UK online centres throughout England with access points in many public libraries, colleges and within local communities. The Prime Minister also announced over 600 successful applications in the first phase of UK online centres funded through the Capital Modernisation Fund (CMF). These centres are specifically focused on the most deprived urban and rural areas. 50,000 free computer training courses are being made available for jobless people across the country under our UK online computer training scheme. We are also piloting an initiative to wire up homes and schools in some of the most disadvantaged communities in England, and we are introducing the "Computers within Reach" pilot scheme. In the period up to the end of March 2001, we intend to provide up to 35,000 subsidised computers in local pilots in deprived communities.

    Mr. Jim Murphy
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement about the Government's policy on widening access to information technology within local communities. [139194]

    Mr. Wills
    [holding answer 29 November 2000]: The Prime Minister has given a commitment that, by 2005, all those who want it will have the opportunity to access the internet. Responsibility for ICT access in Scotland has been devolved, so for information on these issues in the Scottish context, I refer my hon. Friend to the Scottish Executive.
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    The position in England is that we are currently investing more than £1.7 billion in initiatives to ensure that everyone is able to reap the rewards of the digital revolution.

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

    We are taking specific action to tackle the difficulties that a significant number of adults and communities currently face in accessing ICT. We have pledged that by the end of 2002 there will be around 6,000 UK online centres throughout England with access points in many public libraries, colleges and within local communities. In September the Prime Minister also announced over 600 successful applications in the first phase of UK online centres funded through the Capital Modernisation Fund (CMF). These centres are specifically focused on the most deprived urban and rural areas in England. We are also piloting an initiative to wire up homes and schools in some of the most disadvantaged English communities. And we are introducing the "Computers within Reach" pilot scheme. In the period up to the end of March 2001, we intend to provide 35,000 subsidised computers in local pilots in deprived communities. In addition, up to 50,000 free computer-training courses are being made available for jobless people across the country under our UK online Computer Training scheme.

    Child Care
    Ms Julie Morgan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what financial assistance is available for child care for parents in(a) training and (b) full-time education; and what plans he has to make more such resources available. [140356]

    Ms Hodge
    [holding answer 27 November 2000]: Child care support for parents in learning is a key component of Government action to increase participation in education and training. Those in training in Great Britain are primarily assisted by the New Deal programme, including the New Deal for Lone Parents, and through Career Development Loans. Where trainees receive a wage, they are eligible, under the normal rules, for Working Families Tax Credit. Students in full-time further education may also be assisted by these two schemes and through the Access Funds and the Childcare Support Fund (England only). For students in higher education, this year we have introduced a Mature Students Bursary, paid through universities' and colleges' Access Funds, of up to £1,000 a year, which is intended for the additional costs such as child care or travel that mature students incur. Students with children are also eligible for age-related child dependants grants and for the institutions' Hardship Funds which provide sources of funding for child care costs.

    Expenditure for 2001–2002 on the schemes of support for those in training and in further education will be announced shortly. For higher education we plan to introduce next year a new child care grant for full-time students with dependent children. The grant, paid as a

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    statutory entitlement, will be based on actual costs of £100 a week for one child in registered or accredited child care, with a higher costs ceiling for more than one child.

    Statistics
    Mrs. May
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the publication dates of statistics to be released by his Department and agencies in the next 12 months. [140363]

    Mr. Wicks
    [holding answer 27 November 2000]: A copy of the monthly release schedule for statistical publications for the period October 2000 to September 2001 has been placed in the Library. Alternatively, it can found on the Department for Education and Employment statistical website (http://www.dfee.gov.uk/statistics/DB/SFR/s0200/). In total there are some 82 statistical publications planned over this period. The website also provides the exact dates for publications that will be released shortly (http://www.dfee.gov.uk/statistics/whatsnew.html).

    Special Needs Education (Lancashire)
    Mr. Jack
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what(a) proposals and (b) reports he has received in the last 12 months from Lancashire County Council in connection with their plans to reorganise education provision for those with special needs or severe learning difficulties; and if he will place copies of them in the Library. [140385]

    Jacqui Smith
    [holding answer 29 November 2000]: Lancashire Local Education Authority published a document, "Review of Special School Provision in Lancashire", in May this year. Consultation on this document ended on 31 August. If, as a result of consultation, the authority decides to reorganise any of its special needs provision, it will have to publish formal proposals. A statutory two-month period will follow, during which objections to the proposals may be submitted to the authority. Responsibility for deciding school reorganisation proposals transferred from the Secretary of State to local School Organisation Committees on 1 September 1999.

    Copies of the Lancashire consultation document can be obtained from the local education authority.

    Industrial Relations
    Mr. Boswell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what recent consultations he has held with employers and staff in(a) higher education and (b) further education into the state of industrial relations in these sectors. [140393]

    Mr. Wicks
    [holding answer 29 November 2000]: My right hon. Friend meets higher and further education employers and staff from time to time to discuss a variety of topics. Staff matters were included on the agenda when he last met HE union representatives on 29 November.

    Individual Learning Account
    Ms Kelly
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people have(a) opened an individual learning account and (b) used their individual learning account, broken down by (i) age and (ii) occupation. [139497]
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    Mr. Wicks
    To date 448,228 people have opened an Individual Learning Account in England.

    The further information requested is contained in the following tables. This relates solely to accounts opened under the national framework of individual learning accounts and reflects account usage from September 2000. The breakdown is not available nationally in relation to the 192,615 accounts opened through Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs)/Chamber of Commerce Training and Enterprise (CCTE) before the national framework was launched. Of the 255,613 accounts opened under the national framework, 78,314 account holders are currently using their accounts. This understates the position as there are two factors which result in a difference between the number of accounts opened and the number being used. People need to open their accounts before booking their learning, and learning providers have up to 42 days in which to notify the Individual Learning Account Centre of learning being undertaken by ILA holders.

    Broken down by age

    Age group

    Number of individual learning accounts opened

    Number of individual learning accounts used for learning

    19–30

    71,032

    21,394

    31–40

    80,370

    24,469

    41–50

    58,195

    17,526

    51–60

    33,277

    10,508

    60+

    12,739

    4,417

    Total

    255,613

    78,314

    Broken down by occupation

    Occupation

    Number of individual learning accounts opened

    Number of individual learning accounts used for learning

    Housewife/Homemaker

    23,859

    8,255

    Manual/Factory worker

    13,375

    4,397

    Owner Manager 2501 staff

    7,884

    2,072

    Office/Retail worker

    54,328

    17,014

    Senior Manager/Professional

    24,639

    14,781

    Skilled worker/Tradesperson

    18,948

    6,618

    Teaching/Lecturer

    12,555

    5,893

    Other

    47,405

    3,062

    Not allocated to occupational sector

    52,620

    16,222

    Total

    255,613

    78,314

    1Less than

    Note

    Figures apply to England only.

    Teacher Numbers
    Mr. Edwards
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many teachers were made redundant in England as a result of falling school rolls in 1999–2000. [140605]

    Ms Estelle Morris
    The number of teachers made redundant as a result of falling school rolls is not held centrally.

    The full-time equivalent number of regular teachers in the maintained sector has increased by 6,900 since January 1998.
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    Mr. Prior
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many qualified teachers have stopped teaching within five years in each of the last five years. [138902]

    Ms Estelle Morris
    I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    Mr. Allan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many teachers there are in each local education authority; and how many of them have applied for the performance related pay threshold assessment in(a) actual terms and (b) as a percentage of the number of teachers in each LEA. [140775]

    Ms Estelle Morris
    I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    Dr. Stoate
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many teachers were employed in(a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each of the last five academic years in (i) England and (ii) Kent. [139478]

    Ms Estelle Morris
    I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    Ms Kelly
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many teachers left the profession in each year since 1990,(a) due to ill health, (b) to pursue other careers and (c) as a direct result of disciplinary action. [139500]

    Ms Estelle Morris
    I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    Accident Prevention
    Mrs. Spelman
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much was spent by his Department on(a) research into the prevention of accidents on school premises and playing fields and (b) public awareness campaigns on road safety in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [140661]

    Jacqui Smith
    [holding answer 28 November 2000]: We have not commissioned research in this area. On the second part of the question I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, my hon. Friend the Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin), of 28 November 2000, Official Report, column 554W.

    Parental Leave Directive
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the annual cost of the Parental Leave Directive to his Department. [134691]

    Mr. Wills
    Under the Statutory arrangements staff in the Department can take 13 weeks parental leave. Parental leave is unpaid and there has been no annual cost to the Department.

    E-learning
    Mr. Allan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will provide a list of the Government initiatives to improve information and communications technology infrastructure in schools for 808W
    each of the years 2000–01 to 2003–04; indicating in each case how much (a) public funding and (b) private funding will be provided. [140777]

    Mr. Wills
    Our investment in education includes several initiatives that will help to support the improvement of schools' ICT infrastructure. Our main programme is the National Grid for Learning, which is supporting a total of over £1 billion of publicly funded expenditure, including £657 million between 1998 and 2002 (including £205 million in 2000–01, and £245 million in 2001–02), and a further £710 million between 2002 and 2004. This will ensure that all schools are able to reach a common threshold of access to ICT, and to progress beyond this.

    In addition, several other initiatives support ICT-related expenditure, including technology colleges and City Learning Centres (which provide state-of-the-art ICT-based learning opportunities for pupils and the wider community) and Education Action Zones and Excellence Clusters (which may use ICT as part of a package of measures to address under-performance). With the exception of City Learning Centres, private sector sponsorship supports each of these initiatives, but it is not possible to predict how much sponsorship will become available during this period.

    Mr. Allan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what interest the private sector has shown in his proposals to establish e-learning foundations; and if he will make a statement; [140776]

    (2) what role local education authorities will play in the process of establishing and maintaining e-learning foundations; [140778]

    (3) what targets have been set for private sector contributions to e-learning foundations; [140773]

    (4) how the national e-learning foundations will relate to the National Grid for Learning; and if he will make a statement. [140772]

    Mr. Wills
    The e-Learning Foundation will help the Government's drive to bridge the digital divide by providing children from low income families and in disadvantaged areas with portable computers and internet access to learning materials. The initiative runs in parallel with the National Grid for Learning's programme of connecting all schools to the web by 2002 and improving pupil/computer ratios in schools. 98 per cent. of all secondary schools and 86 per cent. of all primary schools are already connected to the internet.

    The initiative is a partnership between Government, community groups and the private sector. Local e-Learning Foundations across the country will engage parents, the local business community and other major sponsors in funding equipment for disadvantaged children in that community. The national e-Learning Foundation is charged with brokering contributions from the corporate business sector.

    Specific targets for private sector contributions will be agreed between the national e-Learning Foundation and my Department's officials in due course.

    E-Learning Foundations can operate at a range of different levels; for example, an individual school, a group of schools, or a wider community foundation. LEAs may wish to run their own foundation, as has happened in the case of Nottingham local authority.

    Schools (Internet)
    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make it his policy to allow local education authorities to act as monitors of minimum standards for internet service providers to schools and to stop non-monitored access of chatrooms in schools. [140785]

    Mr. Wills
    [holding answer 29 November 2000]: Policies on students' access to chatrooms and the services provided by internet service providers are a matter for each school. However, access to unsuitable materials is something we take very seriously and we have issued advice to schools and local education authorities on all aspects of internet safety. The Department's Superhighway Safety Guide includes advice on filtering software, monitoring student access, acceptable use policies and the use of chatrooms.

    Named Person Scheme
    Mr. Edwards
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the aims of the named person scheme are for children with special educational needs; and what assessment he has made of the scheme. [140858]

    Jacqui Smith
    The aim of the named person scheme is set out in the Code of Practice on the Identification and Assessment of Special Educational Needs, paragraphs 4:70 to 4:73. The named person is intended to be someone, named by the authority when a statement of special educational needs is served on parents—someone who can give the parents advice and information about their child's special educational needs. The scheme has been subject to assessment by my Department, and new arrangements are being proposed in the draft revised Code of Practice, issued for consultation by my Department earlier this year, and separately for Wales by the Office of the Welsh Assembly, for a new Independent Parental Supporter who would replace the named person.

    Work-related Studies
    Mr. Win Griffiths
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the local education authorities involved in the work-related studies project, indicating in each case the value of the project and the progress in meeting their objectives. [140941]

    Mr. Wicks
    The Department is providing funding to local education authorities in 2000–01 to support locally derived and delivered work-related learning projects under two initiatives:

    Key stage 4 demonstration projects grants in 2000–01

    LEA

    £

    Barking and Dagenham

    18,000

    Barnsley

    25,000

    Camden

    28,000

    Cheshire

    31,000

    Coventry

    20,000

    Croydon

    20,000

    Gloucestershire

    28,000

    Greenwich

    12,000

    Kirklees

    15,000

    Lewisham

    24,000

    Merton

    24,000

    Newham

    22,000

    810W

    Key stage 4 demonstration projects grants in 2000–01

    LEA

    £

    Sheffield

    19,920

    Shropshire

    18,000

    Southwark

    20,000

    St. Helens

    14,000

    Stoke-on-Trent

    18,000

    Trafford

    18,000

    Wigan

    27,000

    Worcestershire

    20,000

    Action research projects grants in 2000–01

    LEA

    £

    Barnsley

    60,000

    Coventry

    61,000

    Derbyshire

    63,000

    Devon

    65,000

    Dudley

    50,000

    Islington

    65,000

    Lancashire

    65,000

    Leicester

    65,000

    Manchester

    65,000

    Portsmouth

    58,000

    Rochdale

    27,000

    Sheffield

    77,000

    Solihull

    65,000

    Southwark

    66,000

    Tower Hamlets

    53,000

    Wakefield

    60,000

    Warwickshire

    53,000

    Wigan

    65,500

    York

    50,000

    The aim of the programmes is to develop work-related opportunities which are relevant to all 14 to 16-year-olds, but with the disaffected and underachievers a priority. The projects seek to encourage schools to pursue innovative approaches to vocational and work-related education that also help pupils make a successful transition to adult and working life.

    An independent national evaluation is being carried out on these projects on behalf of the Department. The Key Stage 4 Demonstration Projects evaluation has been completed and the report is currently being made ready for publication. The evaluation found that projects made good progress against key objectives during the two years they were evaluated, with project participants showing improving attendance and behaviour and helping with attainment and progression.

    The Action Research Projects evaluation is still under way, with outcome data being collected. This should be complete by the end of this year, with a report ready in early 2001.

    Teachers (Remuneration)
    Ms Kelly
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what recent research his Department has undertaken on salary and employment comparisons between teachers and other professions. [141220]

    Ms Estelle Morris
    My Department has published research this month by the University of Cambridge on ill health retirement and absenteeism among teachers, which includes comparisons with other professions.
    811W
    Pay comparisons are available from a number of sources such as the New Earnings Survey, and these are taken into account as appropriate by the School Teachers' Review Body and by my right hon. Friend in their annual consideration of the level of teachers' pay.

    Mr. Nigel Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list for each local education authority(a) in receipt of area cost adjustment and (b) not in receipt of area cost adjustment, the average teacher salary in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [140518]

    Ms Estelle Morris
    Average salaries of full-time qualified teachers (including heads and deputy heads) in the maintained schools sector at 31 March of each year 1990 to 1999, by local education authorities, are contained in tables, copies of which have been placed in the Library. Local authorities created by local government reorganisation are shown below their parent authorities.

    Reforms of teachers' pay, implemented in full from September 2000, will mean that good teachers will benefit from the new post-threshold pay scale and the new upper pay scale.

    Mrs. May
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many teachers are eligible to apply to cross the threshold to the upper pay scale in each of the local education authorities in Berkshire. [140585]

    Ms Estelle Morris
    [holding answer 28 November 2000]: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    Ghausia Girls High School
    Mr. Gordon Prentice
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when the Ghausia Girls High School in Nelson was inspected by Ofsted; how long the inspection took; how many inspectors were involved; and when the report will be published. [140969]

    Ms Estelle Morris
    This is a matter for Ofsted and I have asked HM Chief Inspector of Schools to write to my hon. Friend and to place a copy of his letter in the Library.

    Higher Education Funding
    Mrs. May
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will set out the unit of student funding in higher education for each of the next three financial years.[140364]

    Mr. Wicks
    [holding answer 27 November 2000]: Between 1989–90 and 1996–97, under the previous Government, the unit public funding for higher education students in England fell by 36 per cent. In 1997, the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education chaired by Lord Dearing stated that planned further rapid reductions in unit funding were not achievable without putting quality unacceptably at risk, and that efficiency improvements should be limited to 1 per cent. a year for the following two years. The present Government agreed with and followed Lord Dearing's recommendation. Now, for the first time in over a decade, there will be a real-terms increase in funding per student in 2001–02, and that level of funding will be sustained in the following two years.

    Teacher Training
    Mr. Willis
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the cost in real terms was of training a teacher for each of the years from 1990 to 2000. [140771]

    Ms Estelle Morris
    Teacher training takes many forms and funding comes from a number of sources. In addition to Government grants to institutions to run ITT courses, ITT providers receive public and private fee income and many ITT students will be receiving support in the form of grants, loans or the newly introduced training salaries for postgraduate trainees. No figures are available centrally of the total cost, including all of these factors, of training a teacher.

    Mr. Llwyd
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many students failed to complete their teacher training courses; and what percentage of all the students on such courses this represented in the most recent academic year for which figures are available.[134911]

    Ms Estelle Morris
    I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    Mr. Willis
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if he will list for each UK teacher training institution the number of(a) target and (b) actual acceptances for (i) PGCE courses and (ii) BEd courses for each of the years 1997 to 2000 for (A) secondary teaching, broken down by subject specialism, and (B) primary teaching; [140784]

    (2) how many people entered initial teacher training courses for (a) primary and (b) each secondary subject through (i) undergraduate, (ii) postgraduate and (iii) employment-based routes in each academic year from 1992–93 to 2000–01; and how many people in each intake have gained qualified teacher status to date. [140854]

    Ms Estelle Morris
    I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    Ms Kelly
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what measures he has introduced to encourage professionals from the private sector to enter the teaching profession; and how many people from the private sector have trained as teachers in each year since 1990; [141221]

    (2) how many students undertook teacher training in (a) BEd and (b) PGCE courses, and how many of these were mature students, in each year since 1990. [141222]

    Ms Estelle Morris
    I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    Connexions Service
    Mr. Boswell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidance is being made available to local Connexions services in connection with the development of their business plans. [140391]

    Mr. Wicks
    [holding answer 29 November 2000]: Planning guidance was issued on 23 October to the 16 Connexions Partnerships who have been invited to prepare business plans to introduce the Connexions service

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    in 2001. Supplementary guidance, e.g. on Personal Advisers, will be issued shortly. Guidance for partnerships starting in 2002 will be made available next year.

    New Technologies in Schools
    Mr. Allan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what his Department's definition is of high specification computers; and if he will list the machines that are so categorised. [140432]

    Mr. Wills
    The Department does not use the phrase "high specification" computers or provide a minimum technical specification of computers suitable for use in schools since this will change continually as technology develops. It is also important that schools are able to choose the ICT that they consider most appropriate to improve educational opportunities for their pupils. The Department therefore provides schools with advice and guidance so that they are able to plan, procure and use ICT effectively. In doing so they are able to make reference to appropriate functional specifications for networking, hardware, software and content, training and support that have been agreed as the basis for NGfL (National Grid for Learning) Managed Services.

    Pre-school Playgroups
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many pre-school playgroups closed in(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999-–2000. [134777]

    Ms Hodge
    I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    University of Buckingham
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to visit the University of Buckingham. [136461]

    Mr. Wills
    I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    Schools (Sutton)
    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will estimate spending per pupil in secondary schools in the London Borough of Sutton for each year from 1985–86 to 1999–2000, expressed in 1997–98 prices; and if he will make a statement. [134884]

    Ms Estelle Morris
    [holding answer 6 November 2000]: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    Sport England (Planning Application)
    Dr. Tonge
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many planning applications were(a) received and (b) rejected by Sport England in each of the last 12 months. [136753]

    Jacqui Smith
    [holding answer 6 November 2000]: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    Leeds LEA
    Mr. Hilary Benn
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the total spending was on schools in Leeds local education authority in each of the last 10 years in(a) cash and (b) real terms; and what was the spending per pupil on the same basis in that period. [137367]

    Ms Estelle Morris
    Spending on schools in Leeds, from 1990–91 to 1998–99, the latest year for which this information is available, is set out in the following table. The figures are based on Net Institutional Expenditure and expressed in cash terms and at 2000–01 prices.

    Net Institutional Expenditure

    Per pupil

    (a) cash £000

    (b) real terms £000

    (a)cash £

    (b) real terms £

    1990–91

    172,020

    230,710

    1,670

    2,240

    1991–92

    194,360

    245,580

    1,870

    2,360

    1992–93

    203,800

    257,510

    1,920

    2,350

    1993–94

    205,810

    245,320

    1,900

    2,270

    1994–95

    213,080

    250,470

    1,940

    2,280

    1995–96

    219,810

    251,160

    1,990

    2,270

    1996–97

    228,860

    253,340

    2,060

    2,280

    1997–98

    226,080

    243,370

    2,030

    2,180

    1998–99

    248,240

    259,640

    2,220

    2,320

    The following table sets out the resources made available to Leeds local education authority since 1995–96. The special and specific grant totals include the money for schools announced in the Budget on 21 March 2000. These figures are not directly comparable with the net institutional expenditure figures set out: they show an increase in funding per pupil of £60 in real terms between 1995–96 and 1997–98; with a much larger real terms increase over the last three years of £430 per pupil.

    Funding per pupil at 2000–01 prices1

    £ per pupil

    Standard Spending Assessment

    Special and Specific Grants

    SSA and Special/ Specific Grants

    1995–96

    2,440

    30

    2,470

    1996–97

    2,470

    30

    2,490

    1997–98

    2,490

    40

    2,530

    1998–99

    2,550

    40

    2,590

    1999–00

    2,610

    120

    2,730

    2000–01

    2,680

    280

    2,960

    1Figures have been rounded to the nearest £10.

    It is not possible to provide comparable figures from before 1995–96, because of changes to the SSA methodology between 1994–95 and 1995–96.

    Departmental Directorates
    Mrs. May
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many staff are employed in the Schools Directorate of his Department; and what the establishment is for that directorate; [137306]

    (2) how many staff are employed in the Lifelong Learning Directorate of his Department; and what the establishment is for that directorate; [137307]
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    (3) how many staff are employed in the Employment, Equality and International Relations Directorate of his Department; and what the establishment is for that directorate; [137308]

    (4) how many staff are employed in the Legal Adviser's Office of his Department; and what the establishment is for the directorate; [137309]

    (5) how many staff are employed in the Government Offices for the Regions on business relating to his Department; [137310]

    (6) how many staff are employed in the Strategy and Communications Directorate of his Department; and what the establishment is for that directorate; [137311]

    (7) how many staff are employed in the Personnel and Support Services Directorate of his Department; and what the establishment is for that directorate; [137312]

    (8) how many staff are employed in the Finance and Analytical Services Directorate of his Department; and what the establishment is for that directorate. [137313]

    Mr. Wills
    [holding answer 8 November 2000]: This is a breakdown of the work covered by the following Directorates in DfEE:

    Schools Directorate:
    The Schools Directorate deals with most aspects of education policy for children up to 16 years, including early years. The aim of the Directorate is to transform standards in schools, enabling all children to fulfil their potential, to make an effective transition to adulthood and the world of work and to develop an appetite for lifelong learning.

    Corporate Services and Development Directorate:
    The Corporate Services and Development Directorate is responsible for the delivery of value-for-money services within the Department, covering information technology, human resources, facilities management and procurement. It fosters and supports the modernisation of DfEE by implementing policies and practices which encourage and facilitate new ways of working.

    Employment, Equality and International Relations:
    Is responsible for developing a programme of labour market interventions—including the New Deals—designed to help people to move from welfare into work; Developing policies to combat discrimination in employment, based on gender, race, disability and age; Designing and implementing the National Childcare Strategy; and influencing EU and other international partners, so that their policies and initiatives support domestic policies.

    Government Offices for the Regions:
    The role of Government Offices is to manage programmes on behalf of parent Departments, to support and facilitate effective linkages between partners and programmes and to inform the development of Departments' policies from the regional perspective.

    Legal Adviser's Office:
    The Legal Adviser's Office is responsible for providing legal advice to the Department for Education and Employment.

    Lifelong Learning Directorate:
    The Lifelong Learning Directorate is responsible for supporting Ministers in creating policies aimed at developing in everyone a commitment to lifelong learning, so as to enhance their lives, improve their employability in a changing labour market and create the skills that our economy and employers need. The Directorate supports the modernisation of the DfEE through the introduction of new ways of working.
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    Finance and Analytical Services Directorate:
    The Finance and Analytical Services Directorate covers a broad range of work aimed at ensuring good value for money from the Department's resources. This includes securing and allocating the resources needed to deliver the Department's overall aim and objectives through the regular Spending Reviews. Policy work is also supported by the analytical teams who produce statistical reports, including production of the school performance tables on which school improvement is measured; provide an evidence base on which the whole Department can depend; and commission and manage research aimed at informing policy development. All of this will help us to get our priorities right and ensure that we make the most of our limited resources.

    Strategy and Communications Directorate:
    SCD is responsible for effectively developing the Department's strategy at national, regional and local levels, and ensuring that it is communicated with target audiences across everything DfEE does. SCD manages DfEE policy interests with Government Offices and Regional Development Agencies, and sponsors closer working by the rest of DfEE with employers. It also has responsibility for cross-Government initiatives including those on social exclusion and regeneration, and manages relationships with the public whether through correspondence, telephone or Internet.

    The Department aims to deliver high quality public services as part of a modernised civil service. Against this background we have created a unit to drive forward a continuous improvement strategy that encompasses: a programme of Better Quality Services reviews to assess whether our current delivery arrangements are the best available; "Identifying Efficiency Action" reviews which are incisive scrutinies of a range of the Department's activities that offer scope for efficiency action; and the promotion of the European Foundation For Quality Management Model and Benchmarking in the development of Divisional Improvement Plans. These reviews are key in moving resources to deal with new pressures.

    A breakdown of staffing figures for the Department is shown in the following table.

    Directorate

    Staffing figures as of 1 July 2000

    Schools Directorate

    1,247

    Corporate Services and Development Directorate

    954

    Employment, Equality and International Relations

    643

    Government Offices for the Regions

    1753

    Legal Adviser's Office

    10

    Lifelong Learning

    11,013

    Strategy and Communications

    231

    Finance and Analytical Services

    586

    1Some functions currently carried out in these areas will transfer in April 2001 to the Learning and Skills Council.

    Statisticians
    Mrs. May
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many(a) statisticians and (b) economists have been employed in his Department in (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000 and (d) 2000–01. [137305]

    Mr. Wills
    [holding answer 8 November 2000]: The Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) employed 33 economists in each of the years 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000 and 2000–01.
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    The number of statisticians employed by DfEE in each of the four years in question was:

    Number

    1997–98

    39

    1998–99

    41

    1999–2000

    44

    2000–01

    52

    The increase between 1999–2000 and 2000–01 includes regrading of staff as statisticians.

    Departmental Employees (HIV)
    Mr. Wigley
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will take steps to ensure that people who are HIV-positive do not suffer discrimination as a result of employment practices followed by his Department. [137786]

    Ms Hodge
    I will write to the right hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    Nursery Places
    Mr. Ruane
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many nursery places were available in each of the last 20 years; and if he will estimate the number of such places in the next three years. [137823]

    Ms Hodge:
    [holding answer 10 November 2000]: I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    Training Schemes
    Mr. Ruane
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people were on training schemes in each of the last 15 years. [137731]

    Ms Jowell
    [holding answer 10 November 2000]: I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    Jobseeker's Allowance
    Mr. Willetts
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many recipients of Jobseeker's Allowance have been(a) disqualified and (b) sanctioned for refusing offers of employment in each quarter since the introduction of the benefit. [138308]

    Ms Jowell
    Firstly, can I make clear that claims for Jobseeker' s Allowance (JSA) are not subject to disqualifications. Sanctions replaced disqualifications when JSA replaced Unemployment Benefit (UB) in 1996.

    Information on the numbers and types of decisions given by Employment Service Officers on labour market questions are published in the "Analysis of Sector Decision Making" (formerly known as the "Analysis of Adjudication Officers' Decisions"), copies of which are held in the House of Commons Library.

    The number of sanctions imposed for Refusal of Employment (RE) in each quarter since the introduction of JSA on 7 October 1996 are as follows. I should point out that the figures relate to the number of "sanctions",
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    rather than the number of "recipients", as it is possible that some jobseekers have been sanctioned more than once in the course of one claim.

    Refusal of employment sanctions imposed

    Quarter

    Number

    1 October 1996 to 31 December 1996

    1,189

    1 January 1997 to 31 March 1997

    3,097

    1 April 1997 to 30 June 1997

    5,894

    1 July 1997 to 30 September 1997

    6,889

    1 October 1997 to 31 December 1997

    6,198

    1 January 1998 to 31 March 1998

    3,749

    1 April 1998 to 30 June 1998

    2,581

    1 July 1998 to 30 September 1998

    2,751

    1 October 1998 to 31 December 1998

    3,163

    1 January 1999 to 31 March 1999

    2,947

    1 April 1999 to 30 June 1999

    3,691

    1 July 1999 to 30 September 1999

    4,497

    1 October 1999 to 31 December 1999

    5,342

    1 January 2000 to 31 March 2000

    6,215

    1 April 2000 to 30 June 2000

    5,653

    You may wish to note a number of factors underlying the figures set out in this letter. First, the total number of JSA claimants was falling over the period set out. Secondly, during the period October 1996 to March 1997 a number of claimants continued to receive UB as a transitional arrangement, and were liable to disqualification rather than a JSA sanction.

    From the introduction of JSA in October 1996 to September 1997, the Employment Service Annual Performance Agreement (APA) included a target for referrals to adjudication officers on a number of grounds including Refusal of Employment. After a period of piloting, this was replaced in April 1999 by a new Labour Market Activity Target which, among other factors, measured the extent to which possible cases of RE had been appropriately followed up. The higher figure in the first quarter of 2000 reflects a period when a backlog of cases from the previous quarter was identified and referred for a formal decision. Figures for RE sanctions imposed during the period July to September 2000 are due to be lodged in the Library of the House by the end of December.

    Skills Training
    Mr. Ruane
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the total budget for skills training was in each of the last 15 years; and what is the estimated budget for the next three years. [137732]

    Mr. Wicks
    I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    New Deal Gateway
    Mr. Brady
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many people have entered the New Deal gateway(a) once, (b) twice and (c) three times or more in respect of the (i) New Deal for Young People, (ii) New Deal for the over 25s, (iii) New Deal for the over 50s and (iv) New Deal 25-plus pilots; [138093]

    (2) when he will answer the questions tabled by the hon. Member for Altrincham and Sale, West for answer on 8 November. [140889]
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    Ms Jowell
    [holding answer 13 November 2000]: The latest figures show that to the end of August 2000:

    (i) New Deal for Young People

    (a) 408,845 young people had entered the Gateway period of New Deal once;

    (b) 40,542 young people had entered the Gateway period of New Deal twice; and

    (c) 1,242 young people had entered the Gateway period of New Deal three or more times.

    Young people entering for a second or third time had not necessarily been through the full Gateway period before.

    (ii) New Deal 25+

    (a) 198,769 people aged 25+ had entered the advisory interview process period of New Deal once;

    (b) 29,913 people aged 25+ had entered the advisory interview process period of New Deal twice; and

    (c) 8,008 people aged 25+ had entered the advisory interview process period of New Deal three or more times.

    We cannot provide figures for the number of people who have entered New Deal 50+ or 25+ pilots more than once. In practice very few people have had time to enter New Deal 50+ twice. It has been running nationally only since April 2000, and a client needs a full six months without a job before re-entering.

    Education Funding (Wandsworth Borough)
    Mr. Cox
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if he will list the sums given by his Department for education in the London Borough of Wandsworth in each of the last three years; [138665]

    (2) if he will list the school education projects which have received his Department's support in the Tooting parliamentary constituency in each of the last three years. [138666]

    Ms Estelle Morris
    I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    New Deal for Young People
    Mr. Allan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many benefit sanctions were imposed on participants in the New Deal for Young People scheme in each year since its introduction(a) nationally and (b) by region, broken down between each of the four options. [138353]

    Ms Jowell
    [holding answer 17 November 2000]: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    Research Organisations
    Mr. Page
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what research organisations are owned by his Department; and what their budgets are for the year 2000–01. [R] [140159]

    Mr. Wicks
    I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    School Closures
    Mr. Gordon Prentice
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many primary schools have closed in each year since 1990; and if he will indicate the reasons for closure in each case. [140331]

    Ms Estelle Morris
    I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    Labour Market Access
    Mr. Alexander
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to introduce measures to tackle labour market access for the most disadvantaged groups; and if he will make a statement. [140832]

    Ms Hodge
    I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    National Qualification for Headteachers
    Mr. Willis
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many teachers have started the National Qualification for Headteachers course, broken down by(a) Government office region, (b) gender and (c) ethnic background in each recruitment cycle, from (i) primary, (ii) secondary including middle schools where appropriate and (iii) special schools; and how many in each group have (A) completed the course, (B) are continuing with the qualification and (C) have withdrawn. [140855]

    Ms Estelle Morris
    I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    NUS Publication
    Mr. Boswell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what reply he has sent to the recent publication by the National Union of Students `Equal Access or Elitist Entry'. [140397]

    Mr. Wicks
    [holding answer 29 November 2000]: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    Key Stage 1
    Mr. Brady
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many children at Key Stage 1 are being taught in classes of(a) under 25, (b) under 20, (c) under 15, and (d) under 10. [140861]

    Ms Estelle Morris
    I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    Student Jobs
    Mr. Boswell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what recent assessment he has made of the weekly hours worked for remuneration which are not directly connected with their study programmes by full-time students in(a) higher and (b) further education. [140870]

    Mr. Wicks
    I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    Carers
    Ms Julie Morgan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what help is available to help carers return to employment after the death of the person they have cared for. [140891]

    Ms Jowell
    I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    Disability Discrimination Act
    Ms Julie Morgan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what measures he is taking to publicise the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. [140925]

    Ms Hodge
    I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    Comparative Spending Statistics
    Mr. Win Griffiths
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list for(a) 1997–98, (b) 1987–88, (c) 1979–80 and (d) 1974–75 the amount spent and the spending per head on (i) under fives at schools, (ii) further education and (iii) higher education. [141044]

    Ms Estelle Morris
    I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    Education Maintenance Allowance
    Mr. Nigel Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to ensure that the education maintenance allowance will be available nationwide; and when that availability will be achieved. [141047]

    Mr. Wicks
    I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    Departmental Liaison
    Mr. Win Griffiths
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the meetings held during the last 12 months between his and other departments to discuss the education and employment of children and young people, indicating which other departments were in attendance. [141115]

    Mr. Wills
    I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    Education Funding (Leicestershire)
    Mr. Reed
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if he will list the(a) cash and (b) percentage increase in education funding for Leicestershire County Council in (i) each year from 1997–98 to 2000–01 and (ii) 2001–02 based on the provisional standard spending assessment; [141176]

    (2) if he will list in (a) cash and (b) percentage terms the extent to which funding of Leicestershire County Council (i) varied from the county council standard spending assessment average in each year from 1997–98 to 2000–01 and (ii) will vary in 2001–02 based on provisional standard spending assessment figures; [141175]
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    (3) what the average standard spending assessment funding is per (a) primary pupil and (b) secondary pupil for (i) English counties and (ii) Leicestershire, based on provisional educational standard spending assessment, for 2001–02. [141177]

    Ms Estelle Morris
    I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    National Grid for Learning
    Mr. Allan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many(a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools have entered into contracts for National Grid for Learning managed services. [141200]

    Mr. Wills
    I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    Training Schemes (Fatalities)
    Mr. Ruane
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many young people were accidentally killed while on Government training schemes in the last 10 years; and what percentage this represents of young people on such schemes. [141210]

    Mr. Wicks
    I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    Training Budget
    Mr. Ruane
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the employment training budget was for the long-term unemployed for each of the last 20 years. [141211]

    Mr. Wicks
    I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    Student:Teacher Ratios
    Mr. Willis
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the average student:teacher ratio for school sixth forms, further education colleges and sixth form colleges for students aged 16 to 19 was in each year from 1992–93 to 1999–2000. [141266]

    Mr. Wicks
    I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    Funding (16 to 19-year-olds)
    Mr. Willis
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the average revenue resource from public funds was to support full-time students aged 16 to 19 in(a) school sixth forms, (b) further education colleges and (c) sixth form colleges in each year from 1992–93 to 1999–2000. [141267]

    Mr. Wicks
    I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    Learning and Skills Councils
    Fiona Mactaggart
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the progress being made on the appointment of the board members of the local learning and skills councils. [141260]
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    Mr. Boswell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will now list appointments to the local learning and skills councils. [140871]

    Mr. Wicks
    Bryan Sanderson, Chairman of the Learning and Skills Council, has today announced the appointment of the members of the local learning and skills councils. Each local LSC chair will be writing to Members of Parliament whose constituencies are within their areas with full details of the relevant councils. A list of all successful candidates has been placed in the Library.

    Mr. Chope
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidance issued to learning and skills councils on arrangements for 16 to 19-year-olds for 2001–02. [140914]

    Mr. Wicks
    My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State published his remit letter for the Learning and Skills Council on 9 November. This set out the Government's key priorities for the first three years of the council's operation, including maximising the levels of participation and attainment for 16 to 19-year-olds. Copies have been placed in the Library. My right hon. Friend will also be issuing his first annual grant letter to the Council shortly, and this will include key objectives for young people's learning for 2001–02. Copies of this letter will also be placed in the Library.

    Mr. Chope
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when the learning and skills councils will issue letters of interest to providers showing indications of funding allocations in 2001–02. [140915]

    Mr. Wicks
    The Learning and Skills Council will issue indicative funding allocation in February 2001 to further education colleges in respect of the 2001–02 academic year and to other providers in respect of the 2001–02 financial year. This is in line with the timetable previously operated by the Further Education Funding Council and the training and enterprise councils.

    Mr. Chope
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when local learning and skills councils will be fully operational. [140916]

    Mr. Wicks
    Local learning and skills councils will have taken responsibility for their full range of activities, other than the funding of school sixth forms, by 1 April 2001. Responsibility for school sixth form funding will pass to the local councils in April 2002.

    Sure Start
    Charlotte Atkins
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many Sure Start programmes have been(a) established and (b) proposed by local district authorities in England and Wales; and which of these address (i) urban deprivation, (ii) rural deprivation and (iii) semi-rural deprivation. [140675]

    Yvette Cooper
    I have been asked to reply.

    This answer refers to England only, as Sure Start in Wales is a devolved issue and a matter for the Welsh Assembly. To date in England, 122 Sure Start programmes have been established in areas of disadvantage, with a further 72 under development. Sure Start programmes are not 'proposed' by local district authorities. Rather, districts with high levels of deprivation are identified and local partnerships in these
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    areas, comprising of representatives from statutory, voluntary and community bodies, are invited to develop a Sure Start programme in their area. The 194 programmes referred to above are in the 152 local authority districts in England listed and are located in all types of area: urban; semi-urban; semi-rural and rural. Sure Start programmes are targeted on the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods and thus all address deprivation. The following table indicates the type of district in which Sure Start programmes are located, although the nature of the Sure Start catchment area may differ from that of the district as a whole.

    District

    Number of Sure Start programmes to date

    District Type

    Birmingham

    3

    Urban

    Bradford

    3

    Urban

    Kingston Upon Hull

    3

    Urban

    Leeds

    3

    Urban

    Leicester

    3

    Urban

    Liverpool

    3

    Urban

    Manchester

    3

    Urban

    Sheffield

    3

    Urban

    Barnsley

    2

    Coalfields

    Blackburn with Darwen

    2

    Urban

    Brent

    2

    Urban

    Bristol

    2

    Urban

    Camden

    2

    Urban

    Derby

    2

    Urban

    Doncaster

    2

    Urban

    Hackney

    2

    Urban

    Halton

    2

    Urban

    Haringey

    2

    Urban

    Hartlepool

    2

    Urban

    Knowsley

    2

    Urban

    Lambeth

    2

    Urban

    Middlesbrough

    2

    Urban

    Newcastle

    2

    Urban

    Newham

    2

    Urban

    Nottingham

    2

    Urban

    Rotherham

    2

    Urban

    Salford

    2

    Urban

    Sandwell

    2

    Urban

    Sefton

    2

    Urban

    Southwark

    2

    Urban

    Stoke-on-Trent

    2

    Urban

    Sunderland

    2

    Urban

    Tower Hamlets

    2

    Urban

    Wolverhampton

    2

    Urban

    Allerdale

    1

    Semi-urban

    Ashfield

    1

    Semi-urban

    Barking and Dagenham

    1

    Urban

    Barrow-in-Furness

    I

    Urban

    Bassetlaw

    1

    Semi-urban

    Berwick-upon-Tweed

    1

    Rural

    Blackpool

    1

    Urban

    Blyth Valley

    1

    Semi-urban

    Bolsover

    1

    Coalfield

    Bolton

    1

    Urban

    Boston

    1

    Rural

    Bournemouth

    1

    Urban

    Brighton and Hove

    1

    Urban

    Bromley

    1

    Urban

    Burnley

    1

    Urban

    Bury

    1

    Urban

    Calderdale

    1

    Urban

    Cannock Chase

    1

    Semi-urban

    Chesterfield

    1

    Coalfields

    Chester-le-Street

    1

    Coalfields

    Copeland

    1

    Coalfields

    Corby

    1

    Coalfields

    Coventry

    1

    Urban

    825W

    District

    Number of Sure Start programmes to date

    District Type

    Croydon

    1

    Urban

    Darlington

    1

    Urban

    Derwentside

    1

    Coalfields

    Dover

    1

    Urban

    Dudley

    1

    Urban

    Ealing

    1

    Urban

    Easington

    1

    Coalfields

    East Lindsey

    1

    Rural

    East Riding of Yorkshire

    1

    Rural

    East Staffordshire

    1

    Semi-Urban

    Ellesmere Port and Neston

    1

    Semi-Urban

    Enfield

    1

    Urban

    Fenland

    1

    Rural

    Gateshead

    1

    Urban

    Gloucester

    1

    Urban

    Great Yarmouth

    1

    Urban

    Greenwich

    1

    Urban

    Hammersmith and Fulham

    1

    Urban

    Harlow

    1

    Urban

    Hastings

    1

    Urban

    Havant

    1

    Urban

    Havering

    1

    Urban

    Herefordshire

    1

    Rural

    Hillingdon

    1

    Urban

    Hounslow

    1

    Urban

    Hyndburn

    1

    Urban

    Ipswich

    1

    Urban

    Isle of Wight

    1

    Semi-Rural

    Islington

    1

    Urban

    Kensington and Chelsea

    1

    Urban

    Kerrier

    1

    Semi-rural

    Kings Lynn and West Norfolk

    1

    Rural

    Kirklees

    1

    Urban

    Lancaster

    1

    Semi-rural

    Lewisham

    1

    Urban

    Lincoln

    1

    Urban

    Luton

    1

    Urban

    Mansfield

    1

    Coalfields

    Medway Towns

    1

    Urban

    Milton Keynes

    1

    Urban

    Newark and Sherwood

    1

    Semi-Urban

    North Devon

    1

    Rural

    North East Lincolnshire

    1

    Urban

    North Lincolnshire

    1

    Urban

    North Tyneside

    1

    Urban

    Northampton

    1

    Urban

    Norwich

    1

    Urban

    Nuneaton and Bedworth

    1

    Semi-Urban

    Oldham

    1

    Urban

    Oswestry

    1

    Rural

    Oxford

    1

    Urban

    Pendle

    1

    Urban

    Penwith

    1

    Semi-rural

    Peterborough

    1

    Urban

    Plymouth

    1

    Urban

    Portsmouth

    1

    Urban

    Preston

    1

    Urban

    Reading

    1

    Urban

    Redbridge

    1

    Urban

    Redcar and Cleveland

    1

    Coalfields

    Restorme

    1

    Semi-rural

    Rochdale

    1

    Urban

    Rossendale

    1

    Semi-Urban

    Scarborough

    1

    Semi-rural

    Sedgefield

    1

    Coalfields

    Sedgemoor

    1

    Rural

    Shepway

    1

    Urban

    Slough

    1

    Urban

    Solihull

    1

    Urban

    South Tyneside

    1

    Urban

    Southampton

    1

    Urban

    Southend-on-Sea

    1

    Urban

    826

    District

    Number of Sure Start programmes to date

    District Type

    St Helens

    1

    Urban

    Stockport

    1

    Urban

    Stockton-on-Tees

    1

    Urban

    Swindon

    1

    Urban

    Tameside

    1

    Urban

    Telford & Wrekin

    1

    Urban

    Tendring

    1

    Semi-rural

    Thanet

    1

    Semi-rural

    Thurrock

    1

    Urban

    Torbay

    1

    Semi-rural

    Wakefield

    1

    Urban

    Walsall

    1

    Urban

    Waltham Forest

    1

    Urban

    Wandsworth

    1

    Urban

    Wansbeck

    1

    Coalfields

    Warrington

    1

    Urban

    Waveney

    1

    Semi-rural

    Wealden

    1

    Semi-rural

    Wear Valley

    1

    Coalfields

    West Lancashire

    1

    Semi-urban

    Westminster

    1

    Urban

    Wigan

    1

    Urban

    Wirral

    1

    Urban

    Note:

    The district classification used is based on a simplified version of the ONS classification of districts

    Charlotte Atkins
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what evaluation he has made of the Sure Start programme. [140677]

    Yvette Cooper
    I have been asked to reply.

    The Sure Start programme is based on evidence of what works in improving the health and well-being of young children, so that they will be ready to succeed when they start school. It is a cornerstone of the Government's drive to tackle child poverty and long term social exclusion. The evidence for Sure Start has been drawn from other countries, as there has been no other similar programme in this country.

    The Government are committed to undertaking a long term, wide ranging national evaluation of the Sure Start programme in England. The Sure Start Unit is in the process of commissioning this from independent, external experts and work will begin in January 2001. The evaluation will look at the extent to which Sure Start makes a difference to children, families and communities in the short, medium and long term. It will attempt to establish what works, why, how and under what circumstances. The evaluation will also look at how cost effective the Sure Start programme is. A large sample of children will be tracked over time to see whether and how Sure Start has improved outcomes for them in later life.

    In addition, each local programme will evaluate its own activities and monitor its progress towards national targets and objectives. These local evaluations will feed back into the on-going development of the programme and also inform the national evaluation.

    Sure Start is a very new programme but there is already significant enthusiasm for the programme by parents in Sure Start areas and signs of better co-ordination of services for young children and their families at local level.

    New Deal
    Mr. Goggins
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people aged 18 to 25 years completed the Gateway Stage of New Deal for each year since the programme was introduced. [140867]

    Ms Jowell
    The figures requested are contained in the following table:

    Total leavers from Gateway

    January to March 1998

    2,665

    April 1998 to March 1999

    163,730

    April 1999 to March 2000

    183,776

    April 2000 to March August 2000

    70,405

    Total

    420,576

    Mr. Brady
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the total expenditure to date on the(a) New Deal for Young People, (b) New Deal for the over 25s, (c) New Deal 25-plus pilots and (d) New Deal for the over 50s. [138092]

    Mr. Andrew Smith
    I have been asked to reply.

    The outturns of Windfall Tax financed expenditure across New Deal Programmes for 1997–98, 1998–99 and 1999–2000 are as set out in table 4.1 a of the 2000 Pre-Budget Report "Building Long-term Prosperity For All", Cm4917.

    Between 1998 and 2000, New Deal 18-24 and 25-plus participants also benefited from funding of £140 million and £35 million respectively from within DfEE's DEL, for programmes for which they would otherwise have been eligible.

    Further Education (IT)
    Mr. Boswell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what action he is taking to encourage the development of managed learning environments based on IT in further education. [140869]

    Mr. Wicks
    The further education sector is currently working with learndirect and private sector suppliers of managed learning environments. These suppliers are being encouraged to work towards common standards for their managed learning environments, so that their products will meet the needs of the sector. It is anticipated that the specification work for this will be completed in the summer of 2001.

    Further Education Funding Council
    Mr. Win Griffiths
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list from the earliest and most recent years for which figures are available the(a) amount and (b) percentage of total expenditure spent on (i) staff costs, (ii) operating expenses and (iii) other expenses of the Further Education Funding Council. [141042]

    Mr. Wicks
    For the first and last years of available data for the Further Education Funding Council for England, expenditure on pay costs and non-pay costs and the percentage of total expenditure that represents were as 828W
    follows (the figures for staff costs include all staff and agency employees. Contract staff are included in operational costs):

    1993–941

    1999–2000

    Staff costs (£)

    8,607,000

    13,421,000

    percentage of total expenditure

    0.32

    0.40

    Operational costs (£)

    13,134,000

    11,779,000

    percentage of total expenditure

    0.49

    0.35

    1 16 months

    Higher Education Funding Council
    Mr. Win Griffiths
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list from the earliest and most recent years for which figures are available the(a) amount and (b) percentage of total expenditure spent on (i) staff costs, (ii) operating expenses and (iii) other expenses of the Higher Education Funding Council. [141043]

    Mr. Wicks
    For the first and last years of available data for the Higher Education Funding Council for England, expenditure on pay costs and non-pay costs and the percentage of total expenditure that represents were as follows:

    1995–96

    1999–2000

    Staff costs (£)

    5,127,000

    6,395,000

    Percentage of total expenditure

    0.14

    0.15

    Other costs (£)

    6,748,000

    5,340,000

    Percentage of total expenditure

    0.19

    0.13

    For the first two years of its operation (1993–94 and 1994–95) the HEFCE's administration costs were not split. From the 1995–96 financial year, the administration budget was split only into pay and non-pay costs. Staff costs include all staff, agency employees and contract staff.

    Employment and Social Policy Council
    Mr. Hood
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the outcome was of the Employment and Social Policy Council held in Brussels on 27 to 28 November; and if he will make a statement. [141136]

    Ms Jowell
    Along with my hon. Friend the Minister for Competitiveness, I represented the UK at the Employment and Social Policy Council held in Brussels on 27 to 28 November.

    This was a busy Council, the most significant item being the agreement brokered on the Social Policy Agenda, which identifies the main priorities in the field of social policy for the next five years. The agreed text, to be sent to the Nice European Council for adoption, emphasises the goals agreed at the Lisbon Council in March, in particular in the areas of employment, social inclusion and the use of the open co-ordination approach.

    Council agreed the three elements of the Autumn Employment Package: the draft Employment guidelines; Recommendations on member states' employment policies and the Joint Employment Report for 2000, prior to the European Council at Nice.
    829W
    The Presidency made a progress report on a proposal for a decision on a community programme providing analytical support for the European Employment Strategy which is being negotiated in working group.

    The Presidency presented its progress reports on the work undertaken on simplifying the legislation co-ordinating social security systems for migrant workers and on this year's miscellaneous amendments to Regulation 1408/71. It also presented an interim report on the future of social protection. Council agreed an action programme to tackle social exclusion, providing funding for exchanges of information and best practice in this area.

    Council discussed both information and consultation and the European Company Statute; the Presidency published its conclusions on these dossiers without any agreement being reached.

    The Council agreed to adopt the community action programme on gender equality and also agreed conclusions on balancing work and family life, following up the Beijing platform for action.

    The Council reached political agreement on a compromise proposal on the Physical Agents (Vibrations) Directive, which seeks to protect workers from the effects of vibrations and also agreed to invite the Commission to monitor scientific developments in this field.

    Music Tuition (Schools)
    Mr. Jenkins
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the opportunities for children in state schools to learn to play musical instruments.[139875]

    Jacqui Smith
    I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    Rural Deprivation
    Charlotte Atkins
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps the Government are taking to address(a) poor health outcomes and (b) low educational aspirations amongst children in (i) rural and (ii) semi-rural areas. [140676]

    Jacqui Smith
    I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

    Special Advisers
    Mr. Tyrie
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 5 June 2000,Official Report, column 45W, on special advisers, if he will list the destination and the total cost, including travel, accommodation and subsistence allowance, on each of the occasions when departmental or non-departmental special advisers travelled abroad in an official capacity. [135248]

    Mr. Robin Cook
    I will write to the hon. Member shortly and place a copy of the letter in the Libraries of the House.

    Sri Lanka
    Mr. Love
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the prospects for a resolution of the divisions in Sri Lanka following the recent elections; and if he will make a statement. [139416]

    Mr. Hain
    We are appalled at the devastation and misery caused by the conflict in Sri Lanka.

    During my recent visit to Sri Lanka on 22 and 23 November, I was able to meet, among others, many Government Ministers, the opposition leader and figures from minority parties. I got the impression that most people are war-weary. I noted that there now seems to be a willingness to take the peace process forward. We urge both sides to work with Norway to achieve a peaceful resolution of the conflict through negotiation. The Secretary of State made the same points to President Kumaratung when they met on 28 November.

    We stand ready to help, in whatever way we can.

    World Trade Organisation
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the effect of the new draft Protocol on arrangements for participation by the EU in WTO proceedings on Government practice; and to what Article 7.3 refers. [139902]

    Mr. Vaz
    The purpose of the draft Protocol is to establish a single procedure for the EU' s (the Community and the member states) participation in the WTO. The Protocol is one of several suggestions put forward by the Presidency on the reform of the Common Commercial Policy. We are considering it along with others.

    Article 7.3 is intended to ensure that, in a dispute settlement case against one or more member states, the Commission and the member states involved will take steps to avoid calling into question or jeopardising the benefits accruing to the Community and/or the other member states from their membership of the WTO.

    EU Intergovernmental Conference
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy towards the last resort clause in the IGC enhanced co-operation discussions, and on how co-operation will be challenged under this principle. [139915]

    Mr. Vaz
    The Government see a positive role for enhanced co-operation in an enlarged European Union, provided that it is open to all and does not undermine the coherence of the EU, in particular the Single Market.

    We have also made clear that it should be the exception, not the rule: and therefore we support a last resort clause. It is for the ECJ to ensure that in the interpretation and application of the EU Treaties the law is observed.

    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if French Presidency IGC draft, Article 93 TEC, section 4, permits the establishment of corpus juris by qualified majority voting. [139920]
    831W
    Mr. Vaz
    As soon as the information can be compiled I will write to the hon. Member, and place a copy of my letter in the Libraries of the House.

    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on(a) the operations of and (b) his policy on Article 300(6) TEC of the Progress report of the IGC. [139913]

    Mr. Vaz
    As soon as the information can be compiled I will write to the hon. Member, and place a copy of my letter in the Libraries of the House.

    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what definition of discrimination and double taxation is used in Article 93 as referred to in the Progress report of the IGC. [139922]

    Mr. Vaz
    Article 93 TEC of the Progress report on the IGC does not define discrimination and double taxation.

    The Government have made clear that they will not accept QMV for tax.

    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those organisations already extant which could be absorbed into the EU under the principle of enhanced co-operation. [139964]

    Mr. Vaz
    Enhanced co-operation is intended to allow a group of countries to undertake a particular activity together. It cannot affect the institutional framework of the EU.

    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy towards including the concept of risk of serious breach, in lieu of actual breach, by a member state of the principles set out in Article 6(1) TEU, as established in Article 7 TEU of the IGC proposals; and if voting rights may be suspended consequently without such breach having occurred. [139904]

    Mr. Vaz
    There have been various proposals for a new early warning mechanism for Article 7 TEU in the event of a risk of a breach by a member state of fundamental rights. The latest Presidency proposal provides for the Council to address recommendations to the State in question. As in the current Treaty, any suspension of voting rights could take place only if the Council determined that such a breach had taken place. The Government are considering the scope for change to this article.

    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what definition is used of fundamental freedoms in subsection 1 of Article 181 of the Progress report of the IGC. [139923]

    Mr. Vaz
    Article 181a of the Progress Report on the IGC does not define fundamental freedoms.

    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the term "organised civil society" in the context of Article 257 TEC of the Progress report of the IGC. [139921]

    Mr. Vaz
    The term "organised civil society" has been inserted with the intention of widening the scope of representatives on the Economic and Social Committee.
    832W
    The Government support amendments of the article that will make the Committee more representative of modern society.

    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on participation by devolved Governments in the IGC. [139781]

    Mr. Vaz
    The devolved governments have been fully involved in the preparation of the Government's IGC position and have been consulted at every key stage in the negotiations process.

    EU Passports
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the European Commission's plans for a new design for EU passports. [139785]

    Mr. Vaz
    The European Commission is studying whether there are ways of improving the security of travel documents, including passports. No official proposals have yet been put forward. The Commission have made it clear that they have no intention of proposing the replacement of national emblems with EU stars. The Government will look at any proposals to improve security on their merits, and will oppose any ideas that have no practical security justification.

    EU Voting Procedures
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the implications of Article 207(2) TEC section 2 of the draft Treaty of Nice, on the removal of individuals from posts; and if the section applies to other posts identified as subject to QMV. [139917]

    Mr. Vaz
    Article 207(2) would have no implications for individuals already in post. Were it to be adopted by the Conference it would mean qualified majority voting being used for the appointments of their successors.

    Sierra Leone
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations were made to the Sierra Leone Government to accept those elements of the Lomè peace accords over which it expressed doubt; and if he will make a statement. [139847]

    Mr. Hain
    We were in close and regular touch with the Government of Sierra Leone during the Lomè peace negotiations, in Lomè itself and in Freetown. The Government of Sierra Leone had to make a number of difficult choices in the negotiations. But it negotiated and signed the Lomè Peace Agreement freely in the expectation that it would form the basis for lasting peace and stability in Sierra Leone.

    European Council
    Mr. Mitchell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if decisions of the European Council which require unanimous agreement require the assent of representatives of(a) all member states or (b) only those member states present at the meeting. [139971]
    833W
    Mr. Vaz
    Decisions of the European Council require unanimous agreement of all member states. In practice Heads of State and Government are always represented at the European Council.

    Mr. Mitchell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will request the members of the European Council to instruct its Secretariat to publish as soon as is practicable after the conclusion of the Nice Summit, the text of the Treaty agreed and the text of current EU treaties as they would be following its ratification; and to make such publications available for an appropriate period prior to the formal signing of the Treaty.[140524]

    Mr. Vaz
    All key papers put to the Intergovernmental Conference are published on the Council Secretariat website www.europa.eu.int. The Treaty agreed at Nice will be presented as soon as possible to Parliament in the form of a Command Paper.

    EU Transparency
    Mr. Llew Smith
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to encourage his counterparts to increase transparency and openness in the European Union; what proposals have been put forward to increase access to papers and deliberations of the Council of Ministers; what mechanisms exist for the public to find out what documents are discussed in(a) council meetings and (b) Coreper; and if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's position on the report by Michael Cashman MEP on transparency in EU institutions. [140551]

    Mr. Vaz
    A new Regulation on public access to Council, Commission and European Parliament documents is currently being negotiated, and is due to be adopted by May 2001. The Government are pushing for the easiest possible access to the widest range of documents. The report by Michael Cashman MEP set out the European Parliament's proposed amendments to the Commission's proposal. The UK can support many of these. Council documents are listed on a public register which is available on the internet at www.ue.eu.int.

    Peacekeeping College
    Ms Oona King
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made with establishing the Peacekeeping College in Britain; and if he will make a statement. [140845]

    Mr. Hain
    The establishment of a UN Military Staff college is one of a number of reforms of UN peacekeeping which we have been pursuing with UN partners and the UN Secretariat. In October, the UN Secretary-General directed the Secretariat to produce concrete recommendations based on the proposals put forward by member states for such a college. Officials in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence are now liaising on the practicalities of how to take forward the UK proposal with the Secretariat.

    Qualified Majority Voting
    Mr. Spring
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, for the purposes of the Government's policy on qualified majority voting, Treaty Articles 24 TEU; 62(2)(a) TEC; 62(2)(b)(ii) TEC;834W
    62(2)(b)(iv) TEC; 62(3) TEC; 63(2)(a) TEC; 63(3)(b) TEC; and 66 TEC fall within the definition of border controls. [140966]

    Mr. Vaz
    The Government consider border controls to be the ability to control the flow of persons across the UK's frontiers. We have made clear we will insist on retaining unanimity for frontier controls.

    Iraq
    Mr. Alan Campbell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what(a) qualifications and (b) experience are required of his Department's civil servants dealing with claims to the United Nations Compensation Commission regarding Iraq; and what changes have been made to the requirements in the last 10 years. [141153]

    Mr. Hain
    I shall write to my hon. Friend shortly, and place a copy of my letter in the Libraries of the House.

    Middle East
    Mr. Clappison
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of(a) Syrian control and influence in Lebanon and (b) Syria's role in respect of terrorist violence to be directed against Israel by Hezbollah and other groups in the vicinity of the Israel-Lebanon border. [141092]

    Mr. Hain
    Relations between Syria and Lebanon are a matter for their respective governments. We condemn all acts of terrorism whatever their origin, cause or motive and are also greatly concerned by any violations of either Israeli or Lebanese sovereign territory across the UN `Blue Line'. We continue to urge the Lebanese government to re-establish its control in the south and call on all parties to exercise restraint and to refrain from acts of provocation. We have encouraged Syria to use the influence it has to support regional calm.

    Mr. Clappison
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Iran concerning(a) its policy on Israel and (b) the Middle East Peace Process. [141093]

    Mr. Hain
    We regularly discuss the Middle East Peace Process with the Iranian Government, and continue to encourage them to play a constructive role in the region.

    Mr. Clappison
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the supply of arms and materials to Hezbollah(a) from Syria and (b) from Iran through Syria. [141091]

    Mr. Hain
    We have serious concerns about the continuing activity of Hezbollah as an armed faction in South Lebanon and their attacks across the UN-designated `Blue Line'. We have strong counter-proliferation concerns over arms supplies of any sort to paramilitary groups and bring these concerns regularly to the attention of governments in the region, including Syria and Iran.

    Mr. Clappison
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent
    835W
    representations he has made to Syria concerning (a) Hezbollah violence against Israel and (b) the Middle East Peace Process. [141090]

    Mr. Hain
    The Secretary of State raised both of the issues to which the hon. Member refers at his meeting with President Bashar Al-Asad in Damascus on 12 October.

    Mr. Clappison
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the Government of Iran's policy on supply of arms to Hezbollah paramilitary forces in Lebanon. [141087]

    Mr. Hain
    We have a long-standing concern about Iran's record of support for terrorist groups, which we regularly raise with the Iranian Government.

    Mr. Clappison
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of Iranian policy in respect of the Middle East Peace Process. [141094]

    Mr. Hain
    Iran has recently publicly adopted a more moderate stance towards the Middle East Peace Process. We continue to urge it to do so.

    Mr. Clappison
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of links between the Government of Iran and Hezbollah. [141089]

    Mr. Hain
    The Iranian Government maintain high level political contacts with Hezbollah.

    Mr. Clappison
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent attacks have been mounted by Hezbollah paramilitary forces against Israeli military and civilian targets in the vicinity of the Israel-Lebanon border. [141088]

    Mr. Hain
    The Government condemn all breaches of either Lebanese or Israeli sovereign territory and call upon all sides to respect the UN delineated "Blue Line" and continue to urge all parties to exercise restraint and to refrain from acts of provocation.

    Since Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon on 24 May there have been several minor infringements of the Blue Line by both sides.

    In addition Hezbollah have carried out two significant attacks against Israeli forces. These attacks took place in territory occupied by Israel in 1967 and not in Israel itself. On 7 October Hezbollah fired mortars at Israeli positions near Mount Dov as cover for the operation to kidnap three IDF soldiers. On 26 November Hezbollah detonated a roadside bomb about 1 km from the Blue Line in the Occupied Golan. Since 7 October Israeli forces have regularly violated Lebanese airspace, including high altitude observation flights as far north as Beirut and low level helicopter flights over the south, one of which landed in a Lebanese village. In response to the two Hezbollah attacks, Israeli forces have also mounted operations against targets in south Lebanon.

    Ahmadi Muslims
    Mr. Colman
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Pakistan Government in respect of the(a) independence and (b) openness of the judicial inquiry into the murders of Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan. [140920]

    Mr. Hain
    We are aware that the local authorities in Pakistan have begun judicial inquiries into the disturbing recent attacks on Ahmadis in Punjab, Pakistan. We will continue to follow the progress of these inquiries closely, emphasising to the Pakistani authorities that it is in Pakistan's interest that they are seen to be transparent and independent.

    Mr. Colman
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received concerning recent murders of Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan; and if he will make a statement. [140760]

    Mr. Hain
    We are deeply concerned at reports of recent attacks on Ahmaddiyas in Ghatalian and Takht Hazara, Punjab, which resulted in the death of 10 Ahmadiyya worshippers and the wounding of many more.

    We regularly raise our concerns about the position of Pakistan's Ahamdiyya community with the Pakistani authorities, most recently with the new Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK on 24 November.

    I also wish to applaud the important contributions made by supporters of the Ahmadiyya to British Society.

    The Ilois
    Mr. Dalyell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment Her Majesty's Government have made of the distribution of £4 million given to the Mauritius Government in 1982. [141065]

    Mr. Battle
    Under a 1982 Agreement between HMG and the Government of Mauritius, the £4 million paid by HMG was placed in a Trust Fund for the benefit of the Ilois. Power over the distribution of the funds rested with the Fund's Board of Trustees, made up of representatives of the Government of Mauritius and Ilois.

    No recent assessment has been made of how the board distributed those funds.

    Mr. Dalyell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what offer has been made by the US Government on compensation to the Ilois. [141052]

    Mr. Battle
    None that we are aware of but this is a matter for the US Government.

    Mr. Dalyell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Her Majesty's Government will complete the feasibility study of the return of the Ibis to the island of Diego Garcia. [141053]

    Mr. Battle
    The feasibility study covers the outer islands, not Diego Garcia. It is too early to specify when the study will be completed. But the terms of reference for the studies, drawn up by independent consultants, make clear that it will not be in less than a year.
    837W
    Mr. Dalyell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans Her Majesty's Government have to restore land to former inhabitants, under Clause 4 of the British Indian Ocean Territory Ordinance (2000). [141058]

    Mr. Battle
    In line with the recent court judgment, section 4 of the BIOT Immigration Ordinance 2000 allows the Ibis to visit and remain on the islands of the Territory, excluding Diego Garcia where access will continue to be controlled strictly and will be by permit only. Studies are in hand on the feasibility of resettlement of the outer islands of the territory.

    Mr. Dalyell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions Her Majesty's Government have had with the US Administration over the return of the Ibis to Diego Garcia; and if he will make a statement on their employment prospects.[141059]

    Mr. Battle
    The stated hope of Ilois representatives to return to live on Diego Garcia has been discussed with US officials. While there are no plans for them to do so, there are no impediments in BIOT law or policy preventing Ilois from being employed by the contractors on Diego Garcia.

    Mr. Dalyell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what air access and port facilities are to be made available on Diego Garcia to the Ilois; and at what cost. [141056]

    Mr. Battle
    Our discussions with the Americans in the light of the court judgment indicate that these facilities will not be made available as a matter of course.

    Mr. Dalyell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government are planning to offer British citizenship to the Ilois on the same basis as other British Dependent Territory citizens. [141054]

    Mr. Battle
    This matter is being reviewed in the light of the recent court judgment.

    Mr. Dalyell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans Her Majesty's Government have to facilitate the return of the people of the Ilois to their homeland. [141055]

    Mr. Battle
    The purpose of the feasibility study is to investigate to what extent the outer islands can be re-inhabited. Any further work will be subsequent to the outcome of this study.

    Mr. Dalyell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will establish a committee of inquiry to determine levels of compensation to be paid to the Ilois.[141064]

    Mr. Battle
    HMG have paid over £4.5 million for the direct benefit of the Ilois. There is no intention to make any further similar payments. But HMG are undertaking a comprehensive feasibility study, the results of which will give us a better idea of what is possible and what will need to be provided by way of physical and social infrastructure. The costs in terms of public funding will need to be considered at that point.
    838W
    Mr. Dalyell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what training and educational programmes Her Majesty's Government will finance for the Ilois. [141066]

    Mr. Battle
    The feasibility studies will consider what development activities could sustain a new civilian population in BIOT, and identify current skills among the Ibis population who wish to return to the territory. Only when these studies are complete will we be able to assess what is possible.

    Mr. Dalyell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans Her Majesty's Government have to facilitate the development of improved economic conditions for the Ilois; and what is the time-frame. [141057]

    Mr. Battle
    The remit of the feasibility studies include economic, financial and social development issues.

    Kosovo
    Mr. Dalyell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response he has sent to the letter from Sir Arnold Wolfendale, sent to him on 17 October, on the subject of Kosovo. [141060]

    Mr. Vaz
    I will write to my hon. Friend shortly and place a copy of this letter in the Libraries of the House.

    Avrupa Newspaper
    Mr. Dismore
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the attack on the Avrupa newspaper in Northern Cyprus on 27 November.[R] [140879]

    Mr. Vaz
    The Government are aware of a fire at the Avrupa newspaper printing house in northern Cyprus. The police are currently investigating the cause. We will continue to monitor the situation.

    Dora Johnson
    Mr. Fitzpatrick
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs upon what basis the refusal of entry clearance for Dora Johnson from Lagos, Nigeria was made. [141132]

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

    Anti-ballistic Missile Treaty
    Mr. Flynn
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reason it is his policy to preserve and strengthen the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty; and how his Department intends to give effect to this policy. [141032]

    Mr. Vaz
    I will write to my hon. Friend shortly and place a copy of the letter in the Libraries of the House.

    Mr. Flynn
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty prohibits the deployment of anti-ballistic missile systems for nationwide defence. [141033]

    Mr. Vaz
    I will write to my hon. Friend shortly and place a copy of the letter in the Libraries of the House.

    International Criminal Court Bill
    Mr. Keetch
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the responses to the consultation on the draft International Criminal Court Bill; and if he will make a statement. [141046]

    Mr. Hain
    The Government received 45 submissions giving comments on the draft International Criminal Court Bill. Submissions were invited and received from parliamentarians, academics and lawyers as well as human rights, religious and professional organisations. Valuable suggestions were received. We will issue in due course a summary of the main points raised, together with our response.

    Adrian Thorpe
    Mr. McNamara
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 24 November 2000,Official Report, column 344W, if the written comments by Adrian Thorpe in the manuscript referred to reflected the departmental position on this issue. [141206]

    Mr. Vaz
    No. Nor is there any record of a departmental position having been taken on this issue.

    Lloyd Pinnock
    Mr. Laurence Robertson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Spanish authorities in respect of Mr. Lloyd Pinnock, held in custody in Ibiza; what charges have been brought against him; for what reason bail was rescinded; and if he will make a statement. [141041]

    Mr. Hain
    Lloyd Pinnock was arrested on 18 August in San Antonio, Ibiza, on drugs charges. Bail was set at 2.5 million pesetas (approximately £8,620). The court revoked bail in October after making further inquiries. Mr. Pinnock' s defence is a matter for his lawyer in Ibiza.

    Our Consulate in Ibiza is responsible for ensuring the well-being of Mr. Pinnock and other British prisoners in Ibiza. Our Vice-Consul in Ibiza visits the prisoners on a monthly basis and last visited Mr. Pinnock on 29 November. Mr. Pinnock was in good health and had no welfare problems.

    Rebuttal Unit
    Mr. Steen
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date the Rebuttal Unit in his Department was set up; what its terms of reference are; how many staff are employed in it; what the annual costs of the unit have been since its establishment; and if the unit is(a) permanent or (b) temporary. [141051]

    Mr. Vaz
    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for West Suffolk (Mr. Spring) on 9 November 2000,Official Report, column 367W.

    Angel Quintero and Claudia Monslave
    Dr. Tonge
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has 840W
    made to the Colombian Government concerning the disappearance of Colombian human rights workers Angel Quintero and Claudia Monslave. [140815]

    Mr. Battle
    The British Embassy in Bogota has made representations to the Colombian Government about the disappearance of Angel Quintero and Claudia Monslave. HM Ambassador also made our concern clear to the local authorities in Medellin during a recent visit to that city. FCO officials have raised this matter with the Colombian Ambassador to London and have asked to be kept informed of developments.

    We remain very concerned about the safety of all human rights defenders in Colombia. We will continue to do what we can to assist them. We will continue to monitor this case and keep in close contact with the Colombian authorities and others about it.

    Warsaw Pact
    Dr. Julian Lewis
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of(a) Soviet and (b) other Warsaw Pact countries' contingency plans for possible military attacks on NATO states on the basis of archives discovered since the end of the Cold War. [135043]

    Mr. Spellar
    I have been asked to reply.

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

    Armed Forces (European Communities)
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the(a) ranks and (b) positions of the officers assigned to the Council Secretariat referred to in his answer of 14 November 2000, Official Report, columns 608–09W, on Armed Forces (European Communities); on what areas and to whom they offer advice; who funds their pay and expenses; and if he will make a statement. [139905]

    Mr. Hoon
    I have been asked to reply.

    The two United Kingdom officers on secondment to the Council Secretariat are a Major General, who is Head of the interim Military Staff and a Wing Commander, who is a staff officer. The interim Military Staff serve the Council of the European Union. The United Kingdom pays the salaries of the two officers on secondment.

  SOCIAL SECURITY

    Incapacity Benefit
    Mr. Pickles
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the number of people receiving Incapacity Benefit, or its equivalent, on the grounds of dependency on(a) drugs and (b) alcohol for each year since 1990. [139322]

    Mr. Bayley
    Incapacity Benefit replaced Sickness Benefit and Invalidity Benefit in April 1995. As separate figures for Sickness Benefit are not available, the table shows the number of people with a diagnosis of alcoholism or drug abuse as the main medical condition
    841W
    who, at a date in each year since 1990, were entitled to Invalidity Benefit or the Incapacity Benefit equivalent (either short-term higher or long-term rates).

    Thousand

    Alcoholism

    Drug abuse

    31 March 1990

    4.3

    *0.8

    30 March 1991

    5.0

    *1.0

    4 April 1992

    5.6

    *1.6

    3 April 1993

    7.3

    *1.6

    2 April 1994

    8.6

    2.6

    12 April 1995

    8.7

    2.8

    29 February 1996

    9.0

    2.8

    28 February 1997

    10.3

    2.9

    28 February 1998

    11.3

    3.8

    28 February 1999

    11.8

    4.1

    29 February 2000

    12.7

    4.4

    Notes:

    1. Diagnosis codes are coded from the International Classification of Diseases, 9th edition up to 1995, and the 10th edition from the introduction of IB. If there is more than one diagnosis, only the first shown is coded. It should also be noted that some doctors may be reluctant to show these diagnoses on medical certificates.

    2. Figures for Sickness Benefit recipients are excluded as they cannot be separated from claims to National Insurance credits only.

    3. Numbers marked * are taken from very few sample cases and are therefore subject to a high degree of error, they should therefore only be used as an indication of the situation. Numbers are expressed as thousands and are rounded to the nearest hundred.

    Sources:

    Figures from 1990 to 1995 are taken from a 1 per cent. sample of IVB claimants.

    1996 figures are taken from a 5 per cent. sample of the benefit computer system and exclude a small number of cases held clerically.

    Asbestos-related Diseases
    Mr. Clapham
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people were in receipt of disablement awards for asbestos-related diseases in each(a) county and (b) district in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what change there was in the number of awards in the last 12 months from the previous year. [140727]

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

    The tables compares the number of newly diagnosed Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit asbestos-related assessments from July 1998 to June 1999 and from July 1999 to June 2000.

    Diagnosed in the period July 1998 to June 1999

    D1

    D3

    D8

    D9

    All

    All Regions

    376

    631

    38

    206

    1,251

    North East

    27

    52

    5

    21

    105

    North West

    80

    81

    4

    34

    199

    Yorks and Humber

    6

    22

    2

    8

    38

    East Midlands

    39

    56

    4

    20

    119

    West Midlands

    22

    47

    4

    21

    94

    East

    20

    83

    5

    10

    118

    London

    14

    39

    1

    4

    58

    South East

    26

    94

    4

    39

    163

    South West

    43

    63

    3

    21

    130

    Wales

    27

    18

    4

    14

    63

    Scotland

    69

    69

    2

    12

    152

    Overseas

    3

    7

    —

    2

    12

    842W

    Diagnosed in the period July 1999 to June 2000

    D1

    D3

    D8

    D9

    All

    All Regions

    428

    623

    35

    231

    1,317

    North East

    26

    47

    5

    18

    96

    North West

    97

    87

    3

    35

    222

    Yorks and Humber

    20

    41

    3

    15

    79

    East Midlands

    28

    59

    1

    15

    103

    West Midlands

    42

    50

    3

    25

    120

    East

    8

    53

    1

    13

    75

    London

    14

    41

    4

    8

    67

    South East

    37

    65

    7

    20

    129

    South West

    67

    81

    1

    44

    193

    Wales

    16

    17

    5

    27

    65

    Scotland

    66

    70

    2

    10

    148

    Overseas

    7

    12

    —

    1

    20

    Diagnosed in the period—percentage change

    D1

    D3

    D8

    D9

    All

    All Regions

    14

    -1

    -8

    12

    5

    North East

    -4

    -10

    0

    -14

    -9

    North West

    21

    7

    -25

    3

    12

    Yorks and Humber

    233

    86

    50

    88

    108

    East Midlands

    -28

    5

    -75

    -25

    -13

    West Midlands

    91

    6

    -25

    19

    28

    East

    -60

    -36

    -80

    30

    -36

    London

    0

    5

    300

    100

    16

    South East

    42

    -31

    75

    -49

    -21

    South West

    56

    29

    -67

    110

    48

    Wales

    -41

    -6

    25

    93

    3

    Scotland

    -4

    1

    0

    -17

    -3

    Overseas

    133

    71

    —

    -50

    67

    Notes:

    1. Information is collected on first diagnosed assessments, based on 100 per cent. count, involving asbestos-related prescribed diseases and is analysed by Government Office Region (GOR).

    2. Industrial Injuries Disablement Pension is paid for asbestos-related diseases from 1 per cent. disability assessment for Pneumoconiosis (D1) and Diffuse Mesothelioma (D3) and from 14 per cent. for Primary Carcinoma of the lung with accompanying evidence of one or both (a) asbestos (b) unilateral or bilateral diffuse pleural thickening (D8), and for unilateral or bilateral diffuse pleural thickening (D9). Prescribed Diseases D3, D8 and D9 are always regarded as asbestos-related, the tables also show D I cases where asbestos is identified as the attributable agent.

    Far East Prisoners of War
    Mrs. Lait
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if(a) widows and (b) widowers who were Far East prisoners of war are also entitled to the ex-gratia payment for their spouse in cases where the spouse was also a Far East prisoner. [140929]

    Mr. Bayley
    Yes. In such a case the claimant would satisfy the criteria for payment on two counts—first, as a surviving member of one of the British groups held captive by the Japanese during the second World War and, second, as the surviving spouse of someone who would otherwise have been entitled to an ex-gratia payment.

    Winter Fuel Payments
    Mr. Webb
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 24 November 2000,Official Report, column 348W, on Winter Fuel Payments, when he will complete his assessment of the administrative costs of the change; and on what date his Department printed the first Winter Fuel Payment cheques for this winter. [140980]
    843W
    Mr. Rooker
    Invoicing and allocation of administrative costs are not yet complete. The first of this winter's Winter Fuel Payment girocheques were printed on 11 and 12 November, the weekend before the issuing of payments began on 13 November.

    Disability Living Allowance
    Mr. Wigley
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the(a) care component and (b) mobility component for those in receipt of Disability Living Allowance at the latest date for which figures are available, broken down by the nations and regions of the United Kingdom. [141012]

    Mr. Bayley
    The information is in the table.

    Disability Living Allowance awards current at 31 May 2000 by country, region and component

    Thousand

    All awards

    Care component only

    Mobility component only

    Care and mobility component

    Great Britain

    2,130.5

    286.9

    587.8

    1,255.8

    England

    1,717.0

    240.7

    466.9

    1,009.5

    Wales

    176.1

    20.5

    54.4

    101.2

    Scotland

    237.3

    25.7

    66.5

    145.1

    North East

    139.8

    18.6

    45.6

    75.6

    North West

    344.6

    43.5

    99.1

    202.0

    Yorkshire and Humberside

    209.6

    26.7

    61.7

    121.1

    East Midlands

    151.6

    20.2

    41.2

    90.2

    West Midlands

    207.3

    28.4

    53.5

    125.5

    East

    144.2

    22.0

    36.5

    85.7

    London

    198.8

    33.1

    41.9

    123.8

    South East

    181.5

    28.0

    49.3

    104.2

    South West

    139.6

    20.1

    38.2

    81.3

    Note:

    Figures are for Great Britain only. Figures for Northern Ireland are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

    Source:

    DSS (Analytical Services Division-Information Centre) 5 per cent. sample

    Mr. Flight
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of Disability Living Allowance claims are referred to appeal; what are the key issues considered in appeals; and if he will make a statement. [140875]

    Mr. Bayley
    The administration of Disability Living Allowance is the responsibility of Alexis Cleveland, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. She will write to the hon. Member.

    Letter from Charlie MacKinnon to Mr. Howard Flight, dated 29 November 2000:

    The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked Alexis Cleveland to respond to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what percentage of disability living allowance claims are referred to appeal; what are the key issues considered in appeals; and if he will make a statement. Due to annual leave I am replying on her behalf.

    Appeals can arise from any decision given during the life of a Disability Living Allowance (DLA) claim and it is therefore not possible to provide statistics which relate solely to appeals which are received against new and renewal claims. However, the attached table of figures gives an indication of the ratio of appeals to all appealable decisions.
    844W
    DLA has two separate components, mobility and care, which are based upon the claimant's care and mobility needs arising from a medical condition. There are two rates of mobility component and three rates of the care component and entitlement depends on the level of the claimant's needs.

    Decision-makers assess entitlement to DLA based on all the evidence presented in support of an individual claim against the criteria for each component. If a claimant is unhappy with a decision, he has the right to request a reconsideration. If the decision-maker finds no evidence to revise the decision at the reconsideration stage, the dispute process allows the claimant to appeal to an independent appeal tribunal. The main issues which tribunals are asked to consider are dissatisfaction with decisions which do not award any rate of DLA or those where the level of benefit which has been awarded is disputed, and dissatisfaction with the period of an award.

    I hope this information is helpful.

    Disability Living Allowance

    Total of new claims, renewals and s/sessions cleared

    Appeals received

    Ratio of appeals to claims, renewals and s/sessions (Percentage)

    2000

    April

    56,505

    7,009

    12.40

    May

    71,705

    9,061

    12.64

    June

    81,268

    9,913

    12.20

    July

    89,575

    10,431

    11.64

    August

    71,427

    11,177

    15.65

    September

    66,185

    8,695

    13.14

    October

    67,107

    9,048

    13.48

    Year to date total

    503,772

    65,334

    12.97

    Household Incomes
    Mr. Ruane
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many households had an income below the average household income in each of the last 20 years. [141205]

    Mr. Bayley
    Such information as is available can be found in the following publications, copies of which are held in the Library:

    Households Below Average Income 1979 to 1988–89

    Households Below Average Income 1979 to 1990–91

    Households Below Average Income 1979 to 1991–92

    Households Below Average Income 1979 to 1992–93

    Households Below Average Income 1979 to 1993–94

    Households Below Average Income 1979 to 1994–95

    Households Below Average Income 1979 to 1996–97

    Households Below Average Income 1994–95 to 1997–98

    Households Below Average Income 1994–95 to 1998–99.

    Pensioners (Benefit Payments)
    Mr. Cousins
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the number of pensioners in(a) actual terms and (b) as a percentage of the total number who receive (i) Housing Benefit and (ii) Council Tax Benefit at (A) the full rate and (B) less than the full rate in each of the nations and regions of the UK. [140648]

    Mr. Rooker
    The information is in the tables.
    845W

    Housing Benefit recipients aged 60 and over on full rate or part rate by Government Office Region—May 1999

    All Housing Benefit recipients aged 60 and over by Government Office Region—May 1999

    All Housing Benefit recipients aged 60 and over on full rate or less than full rate by Government Office Region—May 1999

    Government office region

    Number

    Full rate Percentage

    Number

    Part rate Percentage

    Numbers

    Percentage

    Great Britain

    1,769,000

    100

    1,054,000

    60

    715,000

    40

    North East

    109,000

    6

    62,000

    4

    47,000

    3

    North West

    221,000

    12

    141,000

    8

    80,000

    5

    Yorkshire and Humberside

    178,000

    10

    110,000

    6

    68,000

    4

    East Midlands

    111,000

    6

    61,000

    3

    49,000

    3

    West Midlands

    176,000

    10

    112,000

    6

    64,000

    4

    East

    144,000

    8

    83,000

    5

    61,000

    3

    London

    233,000

    13

    139,000

    8

    94,000

    5

    South East

    179,000

    10

    93,000

    5

    86,000

    5

    South West

    121,000

    7

    71,000

    4

    50,000

    3

    England

    1,472,000

    83

    873,000

    49

    599,000

    34

    Wales

    81,000

    5

    54,000

    3

    28,000

    2

    Scotland

    216,000

    12

    128,000

    7

    88,000

    5

    Source:

    Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System, Annual 1 per cent. sample, taken in May 1999.

    Council Tax Benefit recipients aged 60 and over on full rate or part rate by Government Office Region—May 1999

    All Council Tax Benefit recipients aged 60 and over by Government Office Region—May 1999

    All Council Tax Benefit recipients aged 60 and over on full rate or less than full rate by Government Office Region—May 1999

    Government office region

    Number

    Full rate Percentage

    Number

    Part rate Percentage

    Number

    Percentage

    Great Britain

    2,542,000

    100

    1,497,000

    59

    1,046,000

    41

    North East

    149,000

    6

    82,000

    3

    67,000

    3

    North West

    337,000

    13

    202,000

    8

    135,000

    5

    Yorkshire and Humberside

    253,000

    10

    150,000

    6

    103,000

    4

    East Midlands

    173,000

    7

    97,000

    4

    76,000

    3

    West Midlands

    270,000

    11

    164,000

    6

    106,000

    4

    East

    208,000

    8

    121,000

    5

    86,000

    3

    London

    290,000

    11

    183,000

    7

    107,000

    4

    South East

    252,000

    10

    136,000

    5

    115,000

    5

    South West

    184,000

    7

    111,000

    4

    74,000

    3

    England

    2,115,000

    83

    1,245,000

    49

    870,000

    34

    Wales

    129,000

    5

    87,000

    3

    42,000

    2

    Scotland

    299,000

    12

    164,000

    6

    134,000

    5

    Notes:

    1. The data refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.

    2. The figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

    3. The percentages have been rounded to the nearest whole number.

    4. Pensioner cases have been identified as those where the claimant is aged 60 and over.

    Source:

    Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System, Annual I per cent.

    Child Support
    Mr. Win Griffiths
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many people in paid employment in each CSA administrative region were being assessed for child support payments, but subsequently lost the source of income on which the assessment was being made in the last 12 months; and what proportion this represents of the total number of persons in paid employment; [139392]

    (2) how many people in each CSA administrative region have received requests for child support payments, broken down by (a) self-employed, (b) PAYE employees, (c) unemployed and (d) receiving benefit not connected with unemployment; and what proportion this represents of persons in each case. [139393]
    846W
    Angela Eagle
    [holding answer 27 November 2000]: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to my hon. Friend.

    Letter from Mr. Doug Smith To Mr. Win Griffiths, dated November 2000:

    I am replying to your Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the Child Support Agency.

    You ask how many people there were in paid employment who had been assessed for child maintenance but who have, during the last 12 months, lost their source of income.

    The information is not available in the format requested. Such information that is available is shown in Table 1 in the attached annex. This shows those who were employed as at 31 August 1999 and their employment status as at 31 August 2000 by CSA Business Unit.
    847W
    You also ask about the number of people in each CSA Business Unit who have received requests for child support payments, broken down into status, and what proportion this represents of persons in each case. Table 2 provides this information and gives the latest data available. The table includes cases where child support liability was assessed but no payment was requested because the

    Table 1. Number of non-resident parents who were in employment at 31 August 1999 and were still in employment at 31 August 2000, by CSA Business Unit: all cases1

    Agency Business Units

    Number in employment2 at 31 August 1999

    Number still in employment2 at 31 August 2000

    Number not in employment at 31 August 2000

    Midlands

    80,000

    71,000

    5,000

    South Eastern

    67,000

    63,000

    3,000

    Scotland and North East England

    87,000

    80,000

    6,000

    South Western

    86,000

    78,000

    4,000

    Wales and North West

    83,000

    70,000

    6,000

    Eastern

    89,000

    83,000

    5,000

    All

    491,000

    3445,000

    328,000

    Number of population in paid employment4

    27.5 million

    28 million

    28 million

    Percentage of CSA customers in paid employment against population as a whole

    1.78

    1.59

    —

    1All cases include employed and self-employed with full and interim assessments

    2Those cases that are still employed as at August 2000 may have had periods of unemployment during the year

    318,000 cases not accounted for in August 2000 are no longer on the Child Support Computer System (CSCS) indicating that they are no longer liable for child support, or their cases have been suspended for some reason.

    4NRP benefit status is more indicative of the case at take-on rather than at the current time

    Notes:

    Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand; therefore totals may not tally

    Figures are based on a 5 per. cent. sample of CSCS

    Source:

    Labour Force Survey (seasonally adjusted) rounded to the nearest half million.

    Table 2. Number of non-resident parents in each CSA Business Unit who were charged during quarter ending 31 August 1999

    Agency

    Total number of cases

    Number of cases where payment is requested

    Percentage of cases where payment is requested

    Self-employed

    52,000

    33,000

    63.46

    Employed

    440,000

    275,000

    62.50

    JSA/IB

    99,000

    12,000

    12.12

    Income Support

    218,000

    8,0000

    3.67

    JSA (Cont)

    19,000

    11,000

    57.89

    Incapacity/Disabled

    31,000

    4,000

    12.90

    Other

    116,000

    46,000

    39.66

    Midlands

    Self-employed

    6,000

    3,000

    50.00

    Employed

    73,000

    43,000

    58.90

    JSA/IB

    15,000

    2,000

    13.33

    Income Support

    36,000

    1,000

    2.78

    JSA (Cont)

    3,000

    2,000

    66.67

    Incapacity/Disabled

    4,000

    0

    0.00

    Other

    20,000

    8,000

    40.00

    South Eastern

    Self-employed

    16,000

    12,000

    75.00

    Employed

    50,000

    29,000

    58.00

    JSA/IB

    16,000

    2,000

    12.50

    Income Support

    33,000

    2,000

    6.06

    JSA (Cont)

    2,000

    1,000

    50.00

    Incapacity/Disabled

    4,000

    1,000

    25.00

    Other

    24,000

    9,000

    37.50

    Scotland and North East England

    Self-employed

    6,000

    4,000

    66.67

    Employed

    82,000

    54,000

    65.85

    JSA/IB

    21,000

    3,000

    14.29

    Income Support

    38,000

    1,000

    2.63

    JSA (Cont)

    4,000

    2,000

    50.00

    Incapacity/Disabled

    7,000

    0

    0.00

    Other

    17,000

    7,000

    41.18

    848W
    non-resident parent was either paying child maintenance direct to the parent with care or where their maintenance assessment was calculated as nil.

    The Department produces a CSA Quarterly Summary of Statistics that is available in the House of Commons Library and you may find the information it contains of further interest.

    Table 2. Number of non-resident parents in each CSA Business Unit who were charged during quarter ending 31 August 1999

    Agency

    Total number of cases

    Number of cases where payment is requested

    Percentage of cases where payment is requested

    South Western

    Self-employed

    10,000

    5,000

    50.00

    Employed

    76,000

    48,000

    63.16

    JSA/IB

    13,000

    2,000

    15.38

    Income Support

    25,000

    1,000

    4.00

    JSA (Cont)

    2,000

    1,000

    50.00

    Incapacity/Disabled

    3,000

    0

    0.00

    Other

    15,000

    5,000

    33.33

    Wales and North West

    Self-employed

    8,000

    5,000

    62.50

    Employed

    55,000

    29,000

    52.73

    JSA/IB

    16,000

    2,000

    12.50

    Income Support

    48,000

    3,000

    6.25

    JSA (Cont)

    2,000

    1,000

    50.00

    Incapacity/Disability

    8,000

    1,000

    12.50

    Other

    21,000

    9,000

    42.86

    Eastern

    Self-employed

    7,000

    4,000

    57.14

    Employed

    81,000

    50,000

    61.73

    JSA/IB

    18,000

    2,000

    11.11

    Income Support

    41,000

    2,000

    4.88

    JSA (Cont)

    2,000

    1,000

    50.00

    Incapacity/Disabled

    4,000

    0

    0.00

    Other

    20,000

    9,000

    45.00

    Dr. Godman
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many parents caring for children have been penalised by way of a reduction in income support for failing, or refusing, to provide information concerning an absent parent to the Child Support Agency in
    849W
    (a) Inverclyde and (b) Scotland in the past four years; what was the average amount of reduction; and if he will make a statement. [140550]

    Angela Eagle
    The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to my hon. Friend.

    Letter from Mr. Doug Smith to Dr. Norman A. Godman, dated November 2000:

    I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the Child Support Agency.

    We do not have an accurate figure for the number of Reduced Benefit Directions imposed in the Inverclyde area. Based on a 5% sample of the whole national caseload, we would estimate there to have been around 100 cases over the last 4 years, but you will appreciate that this is an estimate and may not be accurate.

    The following figures represent the number of lone parents claiming Income Support in Scotland who had a Reduced Benefit Direction. Because the Income Support data is only extracted once a month, there may be a small number of claimants who have had a Reduced Benefit Direction for a short period of time that are not included in these figures:

    Year

    Number

    1996–97

    1,700

    1997–98

    1,600

    1998–99

    2,200

    1999–2000

    600

    The latest average reduction for parents with care on Income Support is £20.99 per week. This figure is based on an average of two quarters, May 2000 and August 2000. Other years' average reductions for Scotland are:

    Year

    £

    1997–98

    18.23

    1998–99

    18.46

    1999–2000

    20.28

    A reduced Benefit Direction will not be made when a lone parent has good cause for not seeking maintenance. Good cause is accepted where there are reasonable grounds to believe that the parent or any child living with her would suffer harm or undue distress as a result of pursuing child maintenance. Reductions will not be implemented if the parent with care is in a vulnerable group such as where there is a Disability Premium in payment.

    Benefits Agency staff now visit the parent with care and help her complete an application form. This has led to a significant increase in the number of parents co-operating. Some 90% of parents with care co-operate now, compared to 30% in 1997, and there has also been a 72.7% reduction in the number of Reduced Benefit Directions imposed in 1999/2000 against 1998/1999 figures.

    Data have been provided by DSS Analytical Services Division (ASD) using a quarterly 5% sample of cases on the Income Support Computer System. These figures, which are rounded to the nearest thousand. may be unreliable because they are subject to sampling error.

    I hope this is helpful.

    Dr. George Turner
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how his Department has utilised the power to incur expenditure on child support reform provided under the terms of section 82 of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999; and if he will set out the procedures that have been developed in relation to this and future uses of the section 82 power. [141294]
    850W
    Angela Eagle
    Section 82 of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act allows my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to seek the approval of the House for expenditure in preparation for a change in the law ahead of the law receiving Royal Assent, where, without such advance expenditure, it would not be possible to deliver a service for which he is responsible by the due date. Section 82 requires a report to be laid before the House and the House to approve the report by resolution before expenditure can commence.

    In addition to the specific procedures and controls specified in the legislation, the Government have already given a commitment that the Social Security Select Committee and the Committee for Public Accounts will be provided with copies of drafts of such reports, before they are formally laid before the House—19 May 1999, Official Report, columns 1337–38. This will enable both Committees to have an input into the process and, in particular, to ensure that the use of this power is only for the purposes stated to Parliament by Ministers.

    We can now give a further undertaking, to provide the House with an outturn report setting out the actual expenditure incurred under the terms of section 82 for each use of the power, either at the end of the specific period to which the power relates or following the termination of its application by the receipt of Royal Assent to the related Bill, whichever is earlier.

    The first, and so far the only, use of the power was in respect of Child Support reform. On 11 April 2000 the House approved expenditure of up to £45 million divided into two elements:

    (i) a maximum of £6 million for expenditure by the Child Support Agency on the legislative-dependent elements of the child support reform process;

    (ii) a maximum of £39 million of accruing liability under a PFI contract, also on the legislative-dependent elements of child support reform.

    At the time of the approval of the report it was not clear whether the related legislation, the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act would secure Royal Assent ahead of or following the parliamentary summer recess. In the event. Royal Assent was secured on the last day before the recess, 28 July 2000. Equally, the timing of the signing of the PFI contract with Affinity was not clear at the time of the preparation of the report, but in the event took place in early August.

    The actual expenditure relying on section 82 was therefore confined to £2.66 million, spent by the Child Support Agency on the early costs of reform implementation. In the event it was not necessary to incur any liability under the PFI contract ahead of the Act passing into law.

    Housing Benefit Fraud
    Mr. Webb
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many housing benefit best value inspections the Benefits Fraud Inspectorate has carried out in the current financial year; and which local authorities were inspected. [140963]

    Mr. Rooker
    The Best Value arrangements came into force from April this year requiring local authorities to arrange reviews of their services, including those relating to Housing Benefit. The BFI will be involved in
    851W
    inspections of those Best Value reviews that cover Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. The BFI has recently received details of those local authorities that are planning reviews over the coming year and is now involved in its first best value inspection.

    Mr. Willetts
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to alter the appointment process for local authority fraud investigators. [141082]

    Mr. Rooker
    None.

    Mr. Willetts
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate of total benefit fraud has been made by the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate for each of the local authorities which it has inspected. [141084]

    Mr. Rooker
    The information requested is available in the reports of the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate for each local authority, which have been placed in the library. The BFI estimates are derived from calculations made in the Department of Social Security's report: National Housing Benefit Accuracy Review 1997–98, published in July 1998.

    Pensioner Benefit Units
    Mr. Field
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioner benefit units(a) received and (b) were entitled to but did not receive, (i) Income Support, (ii) Housing Benefit and (iii) Council Tax Benefit in 1998–99; and what percentage of all pensioner benefit units this represented. [141141]

    Mr. Rooker
    Estimates of the number of pensioners entitled to but not receiving income related benefits in 1998–99 will be published on 8 December in "Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-up in 1998–99".

    Child Benefit
    Mr. Matthew Taylor
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the distribution of changes in net incomes from a £5 increase in Child Benefit by(a) gross income bands, (b) equivalised gross income bands and (c) equivalised net income bands of recipient families using each band of £5,000 (i) up to £40,000 and (ii) over £40,000; and if he will make a statement. [140864]

    Angela Eagle
    It is not possible to provide the information requested as a wide range of assumptions would have to be made.

    We are committed to eradicating child poverty in 20 years and halving it in 10. To this end, we have already taken wide-ranging action, including measures to improve family incomes and help parents into work.

    Significant rises in Child Benefit now mean that £15 a week is paid for the eldest child (up by 26 per cent. in real terms since 1997) and £10 a week for all other children. The introduction of the Working Families Tax Credit alongside the National Minimum Wage guarantees families with children with one person in full-time work, a minimum income of £208 per week (from October 2000), which rises to £214 from April 2001.

    Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority
    Dr. George Turner
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has appointed a new Chairman of the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority. [141293]

    Mr. Darling
    I am pleased to announce that following the recommendation of the selection panel I have appointed Harriet Maunsell OBE to serve as Chairman of the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority (OPRA) for a period of five years from 1 April 2001. Mrs. Maunsell has been a member of OPRA since 1997 and was for five years Deputy Chair of the Occupational Pensions Board.

    Minimum Income Guarantee
    Mr. Flynn
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioner households and individual pensioners are(a) entitled to and (b) receiving the minimum income guarantee; to what levels these numbers are expected to increase in (i) 2001–02, (ii) 2002–03 and (iii) 2003–04; and how many, in addition to these, he expects to benefit from the pension credit in 2003–04. [141160]

    Mr. Rooker
    Currently around two million pensioners and pensioner couples benefit from the Minimum Income Guarantee. As a result of the measures outlined in the pre-Budget report, over two million pensioners will benefit in 2001–02, this will increase to 2.2 million in 2002–03.

    From 2003 the Pension Credit will be introduced. We estimate that half of all pensioner households, comprising 5.5 million pensioners, will benefit from the Pension Credit.

    Notes:

    1. The numbers currently receiving the Minimum Income Guarantee are based on administrative data on current claims to the Minimum Income Guarantee, from the Quarterly Statistical Enquiry for August 2000. This includes RCNH and RA cases.

    2. We are unable to give forecasts on future MIG entitlement.

    3. The Pension Credit is made up of the guaranteed income top-up and the savings credit.

    4. All figures have been rounded to the nearest 100,000 cases.

    5. Pension Credit figures have been calculated using the Policy Simulation Model for Income Related Benefits. This models the benefits system and is based on data from the Family Resources Survey (FRS) for 1997–98. The FRS survey does not contain any information on RCNH or RA cases.

    6. The Pension Credit is a new benefit and therefore we have provided estimates of entitlement.

    7. The estimates are done on a benefit unit rather than a household basis. A benefit unit is a single pensioner or a pensioner couple. It is possible that more than pensioner benefit unit could live in the same household but in general the benefit unit is a reasonable approximation for a household for pensioners.

    Mr. Willetts
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Knowsley, South (Mr. O'Hara) of 23 March 2000,Official Report, column 661W, if he will estimate the (a) gross and (b) net cost of raising the minimum income guarantee (i) to £92.15 a week for single pensioners and £140.55 a week for married couples in 2001, (ii) to the expected level for 2002 and (iii) to £100 a week for single pensioners and £154 a week for married couples by 2003; and if he will estimate how many more people will be eligible for the main income-related benefits at each of these levels. [139253]
    853W
    Mr. Rooker
    The increases to the Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) rates will benefit nearly two million pensioners. From April 2001 the new MIG rates will be £92.15 for all single pensioners-a real terms increase of £12.45 a week. The new MIG for couples will be £140.55 a week—a real terms increase of £16.65 for the poorest couples.

    The expected cost of this for income-related benefits over the next three years will be around £420 million annually and is included in the forecasts of expenditure. The number of additional pensioners that will be eligible for the main income-related benefits as a result of the new MIG rates will be around 300,000 a year.

    Ex-service Men
    Ms Kelly
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent discussions he has had on the issue of treatment for ex-service men suffering from severe post traumatic stress disorder; and if he will make a statement. [141219]

    Mr. Bayley
    As with other psychological illnesses, treatment for people, including ex-service men with severe post traumatic stress disorder is a matter for the Department of Health and the National Health Service. Earlier in the year (March 2000) I launched an international, multi-disciplinary conference on "Psychological Injury: Understanding and Supporting". Among the delegates were representatives of ex-service organisations. The meeting included presentations and syndicate discussion on treatment effectiveness in post traumatic stress disorder. The proceedings will be published shortly.

    Ms Kelly
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what studies his Department has undertaken on the funding of treatment for ex-servicemen suffering from a psychiatric disability. [141290]

    Mr. Bayley
    The Department has not undertaken any studies on the funding of treatment for ex-servicemen suffering from a psychiatric disability.

    State Pension
    Mr. Field
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the reasons for the difference between the expected level of basic state pension given in the consultation paper on the Pension Credit (Cm 4900) and the expected level of basic state pension given in his answer to the right hon. Member for Birkenhead on 27 November 2000,Official Report, column 433W. [141139]

    Mr. Rooker
    I refer my right hon. Friend to page 19 of Chapter 4 of the Pension Credit consultation document (Cm 4900), which clearly states that all pension and benefit rates are illustrative.

    Mr. Matthew Taylor
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to Cm 4917, if he will update his answer on the costs of changes to pensions to the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb) of 3 July 2000,Official Report, column 15W; and if he will make a statement. [138339]

    Mr. Webb
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer, net of savings in means-tested benefits and of additional income tax revenue, of an increase of £5 per week in the basic state pension together with the introduction of age 854
    additions of £5 per week at age 75 and £10 per week at age 80 years if such a policy were to be implemented in April 2001 and was in addition to the increases already announced for that date. [139073]

    Mr. Rooker
    Revised estimates indicate that the gross costs of the spending proposals set out by the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb) are £0.1 billion lower in 2001–02, 2002–03, 2004–05 and 2005–06 than estimated in my written answer of 3 July 2000,Official Report, column 15W. The estimate for 2003–04 is unchanged. If the consequential effects on Incapacity Benefit assumed in my answer of 3 July are excluded, the estimated gross cost is reduced further by £0.4 billion in 2001–02 and 2002–03, by £0.5 billion in 2003–04 and by £0.4 billion in 2004–05 and 2005–06. The effect of offsetting income-related benefits is to reduce costs by another £1.1 billion each year. Excluding tax effects as well reduces costs by £0.3 billion on top of that in the three years for which estimates are available.

    Mr. Field
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the additional cost in each of the next five years, (1) net of means tested benefits and taxation, of an increase in the single person's basic state retirement pension in April 2001 by(a) £5 for 75 to 79-year-olds and (b) £10 for 80-year-olds and above; [140950]

    (2) net of taxation and reduced expenditure on means tested benefits, of an increase in the basic state pension of (a) £5 for 70 to 79-year-olds and (b) £10 for those aged 80 years and over. [141140]

    Mr. Rooker
    The information is in the table.

    The cost of a flat rate addition to the basic state pension of £5 for those aged 75–79 and £10 for those aged 80 and above

    Gross cost (£ billion)

    Net cost(IRB and tax savings)

    Net cost (IRB only)

    2001–02

    1.9

    1.1

    1.2

    2002–03

    2

    1.2

    1.3

    2003–04

    2.1

    —

    1.3

    2004–05

    2.1

    —

    1.4

    2005–06

    2.2

    —

    1.4

    Notes:

    1. Figures are rounded to the nearest £0.1 billion.

    2. Gross costs of pension increase estimated by the Government Actuary's Department.

    3. Income tax revenue estimated by the Inland Revenue, and income-related benefits savings, are estimated using the Policy Simulation Model.

    4. Estimates of income tax revenue are not available beyond 2002–03.

    5. Costs are given in cash terms.

    6. Legislation and computer systems would not allow for the implementation of this.

    7. Figures are illustrative.

    Pensioners
    Mr. Field
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will estimate, using the assumptions used to calculate the number of pensioners eligible for the pension credit, how many pensioner couples in 2003 will have a pre-credit weekly income(a) below £123, (b) £123 to £153, (c) £154 to £200 and (d) over £200; [140952]
    855W
    (2) if he will estimate, using the assumptions used to calculate the number of pensioners eligible for the pension credit, how many single pensioners in 2003 will have a pre-credit weekly income (a) below £77, (b) £77 to £100,
    (c) £100 to £134 and (d) over £134. [140951]

    Mr. Rooker
    I refer my right hon. Friend to the written answer I gave him on 28 November 2000,Official Report, columns 487–88W.

    Mr. Alexander
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he has taken to increase the disposable income of pensioners since 1997. [141268]

    Mr. Rooker
    Since 1997 we have introduced the Winter Fuel Payment, the Minimum Income Guarantee and, from April 2001, transitional arrangements for Retirement Pension. Changes to tax and benefits during this Parliament will mean that pensioner households will on average be £580 a year better off.

    Our additional discretionary spending on pensioners will reach over £4 billion extra in the last year of this Parliament.

    Mr. Boswell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many occupational pensioners in receipt of incapacity benefit will(a) receive that benefit in full, (b) suffer a partial benefit abatement and (c) suffer a full abatement, on account of their pension. [139624]

    Mr. Bayley
    [holding answer 23 November 2000]: Incapacity Benefit recipients who have an occupational or personal pension at the point of change (6 April 2001) will not be affected.

    Existing recipients and anyone with a pension of less than £85 will not be affected.

    The information on Incapacity Benefit (IB) for the next three years is as follows.

    Thousands

    2001–02

    2002–03

    2003–04

    Partial abatement

    20

    40

    65

    Full abatement

    *

    5

    5

    Receiving IB in full

    1,630

    1,635

    1,635

    Notes:

    1. Case loads have been rounded to the nearest 5,000 and may not sum due to rounding (⋆ denotes a case load of less than 2,500).

    2. Abatements have been calculated from data taken from the 1996–97 Family Resources Survey. Case loads are consistent with September 1999 GAD forecasts of IB case loads.

    Wales
    Mr. Win Griffiths
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much was spent by his Department in Wales in each of the last five years on(a) the elderly, (b) people with long-term illnesses or disabilities,(c) families, (d) unemployed people, (e) children and (f) other categories of people, indicating the percentage of the budget spent on each group. [141172]

    Mr. Bayley
    I will write to my hon. Friend.

    Mr. Win Griffiths
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much was spent on disability living allowance by his Department in Wales in each of the last five years. [141173]
    856W
    Mr. Bayley
    The administration of Disability Living Allowance is the responsibility of Alexis Cleveland, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. She will write to my hon. Friend.

    Letter from Charlie MacKinnon to Mr. Win Griffiths, dated 29 November 2000:

    The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked Alexis Cleveland to respond to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how much was spent on disability living allowance by his Department in Wales in each of the last five years. Due to annual leave I am replying on her behalf.

    The relevant information is as follows:

    Year

    £ million

    1995–96

    313

    1996–97

    375

    1997–98

    421

    1998–99

    451

    1999–2000

    474

    I hope this information is helpful.

    Mr. Wigley
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much of the Sure Start budget has been spent in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [141029]

    Angela Eagle
    We will write to the right hon. Member.

    Mr. Wigley
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many homes in Wales are defined as fuel poor households. [141030]

    Mr. Rooker
    We will write to the right hon. Member.

    Benefit Fraud (Wales)
    Mr. Llwyd
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many cases of benefit fraud were discovered in each constituency in Wales in each of the last five years. [140123]

    Mr. Rooker
    The information is not available by constituency.

    We have instituted a regular series of measurement exercises to provide an up to date estimate of the level of fraud in Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance. The results of this exercise are published regularly by the Government Statistical Service.

    Pensioner Incomes
    Mr. Webb
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the value in(a) 2030, (b) 2040 and (c) 2050 of the full basic state pension combined with a full state second pension as a percentage of the rate of minimum income guarantee, assuming that the MIG is indexed to earnings and the basic state pension and state second pension are indexed to prices from their levels announced for 2003. [140459]

    Mr. Rooker
    We cannot estimate this at present as the total income gained by State Second Pension recipients will be affected by the proposed Pension Credit. The value and structure of the Pension Credit so far in to the future is not yet known. This is one of the issues we are consulting on at present.

    Carers
    Ms Julie Morgan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what financial help is available for carers who reach retirement age. [140890]

    Mr. Bayley
    Carers of retirement age may be entitled to a number of social security benefits depending on their individual circumstances, primarily retirement pension and income related benefits including the Minimum Income Guarantee.

    Entitlement to Invalid Care Allowance, if determined before age 65, continues afterwards, which allows many low income carers to continue to benefit from the carer premium paid as part of the income related benefits.

    On 3 October, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security, announced the intention to extend the opportunity to claim Invalid Care Allowance to carers aged over 65 years. Some older carers will thereby be able to receive Invalid Care Allowance for the first time, and many more carers on low incomes will hence gain access to the carer premium. We intend to introduce this change as soon as the legislative timetable permits.

    My right hon. Friend also announced on 9 November that the carer premium will be increased by £10 a week on top of the normal uprating from April 2001, an increase of over 70 per cent.

    Mr. Sheerman
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) at what age the Invalid Care Allowance ceases for(a) a woman caring for a sick husband and (b) a man caring for a sick wife; [140767]

    (2) what steps he is taking to ensure that provision for carers of Alzheimer patients continues after the carers reach pensionable age. [141170]

    Mr. Bayley
    The rules for Invalid Care Allowance (ICA) are the same for men and women. For people under 65, entitlement to ICA continues for as long as the conditions of entitlement are met. Entitlement, once determined, continues beyond age 65.

    The rules relating to overlapping benefits mean that after state pension age (65 for a man and 60 for a woman), Invalid Care Allowance may no longer be payable, or payable in full, if Retirement Pension is in payment.

    On 3 October, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security announced the intention to extend the opportunity to claim Invalid Care Allowance to over-65-year-old carers. Some older carers will thereby be able to receive Invalid Care Allowance for the first time, and many more carers on low incomes will hence gain access to the carer premium. We intend to introduce this change as soon as the legislative timetable permits.

    My right hon. Friend also announced on 9 November that the carer premium will be increased by –10 a week on top of the normal uprating from April 2001, an increase of over 70 per cent.

    Disabled People
    Mr. Alexander
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the measures in his welfare reform programme which will assist disabled people to take up work. [141224]
    858W
    Mr. Bayley
    The New Deal for Disabled People is a joint initiative between this Department and the Department for Education and Employment which has been testing a range of approaches—a personal adviser service, innovative schemes and benefit changes—to find out which approaches are more helpful for disabled people.

    We have announced that a national network of Job Brokers will be set up to offer people receiving incapacity benefits the support, guidance and preparation they need to find paid work and move off benefit dependence.

    Budget 2000 also announced plans to test the effectiveness of helping people when they become ill in work, with job retention and rehabilitation pilots. These pilots, beginning from 2001, will test the effectiveness of early work-focused help, involving health, employment and other services.

    Disabled Claimants
    Mr. Willetts
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost of introducing an all savings disregard for all benefit claimants with disabilities, broken down into the cost associated with each benefit. [141086]

    Mr. Bayley
    It is not possible to estimate the cost of introducing an all savings disregard for all benefit claimants with disabilities, without specifying more fully the underlying assumptions.

    Pension Credit
    Mr. Willetts
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he will take to distinguish between the pension credit allocating pension rights after divorce and the pension credit announced by the Chancellor in his Pre-Budget report. [141031]

    Mr. Rooker
    They are clearly distinguishable.

    Mr. Flynn
    To ask the Secretary of State for SocialSecurity, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Newport, West on 20 November 2000,Official Report, columns 67– 68W, on pensioner income, if he will provide an amended version of the table on page 30 of the consultation paper on the Pension Credit indicating how it will reward savings income of up to £135 a week in the case of a single pensioner with a full basic state pension. [140625]

    Mr. Rooker
    This information is available in the table on page 30 of the Pension Credit consultation document (Cm 4900). This table assumes a full basic state pension of £77. This shows how the credit rewards savings, second pensions and earnings up to incomes of £135 a week for a single pensioner.

    Benefit Errors
    Mr. Field
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on how many occasions in the past three years a
    859W
    computer error has led to duplicate payments of benefit amounting to £1 million or more; and how many benefit claims were affected on each occasion. [140947]

    Mr. Rooker
    We will write to my right hon. Friend.

    Claimants (Police Information)
    Mr. Pickles
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will make a statement on the level of discretion available to officials in his Department to disclose information to the police on claimants under the new guidance, indicating the extent to which the discretion differs from previous guidance; [138700]

    (2) what discussions he has held with the Home Secretary on the new guidance issued to officials in his Department on the disclosure of information on claimants to the police;[138699]

    (3) if he will place a copy in the Library of the (a) new guidance and (b) previous guidance issued to officials in his Department on the disclosure of information on claimants to the police; [138697]

    (4) what definition he applies to serious and minor crimes in his new guidance issued to officials in his Department on co-operation with the police on the disclosure of information on claimants; [138698]

    (5) what representations he has received from the Police Federation on the new guidance issued to officials in his Department on the disclosure of information on claimants to the police.[138696]

    Mr. Rooker
    Guidance on the level of discretion available to officials in this Department and other matters relating to disclosure of information to the police is contained in the Protection of Customer Information Guide. This was published in April 2000, to replace previous guidance which had been issued in 1992 and which had become out of date. The level of discretion available to officials was unaffected by the revision of the guidance.

    We have had an exchange of correspondence with ministerial colleagues in the Home Office about the guidance and officials have had discussions with the Association of Chief Police Officers. We have received no representations from the Police Federation about it. A copy of the new guidance has been placed in the Library. The new guidance can also be viewed on the DSS homepage at www.dss.gov.uk. The previous guidance was withdrawn when the new guide was published, but I am arranging to place a copy in the Library for comparison purposes until the end of 2000.

    Asylum Seekers (Benefits)
    Mr. Lidington
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what his Department spent on social security benefits for asylum seekers in the financial year 1999–2000; what his estimate is of the amount paid in social security benefits to asylum seekers in 2000–01 to date; what his estimate is of the likely total of such expenditure for the entire financial year 2000–01; if he will show for each period(a) the total estimated expenditure, (b) expenditure on Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance, (c) expenditure on Housing Benefit and(d) expenditure on Council Tax Benefit; and if he will make a statement. [139373]
    860W
    Angela Eagle
    [holding answer 20 November 2000]: Information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.

    Estimated expenditure for Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance (income-based), combined

    £ million

    1999–2000

    136

    2000–01

    157

    1To date

    Notes:

    1. Expenditure for 2000–01 to date covers the period April to September 2000 and does not include Jobseeker's Allowance (income-based). Jobseeker's Allowance expenditure on Asylum Seekers is, however, negligible.

    2. Estimates are based on the Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiries from May 1999 to August 2000, and the Jobseeker's Allowance Quarterly Statistical Enquiries from May 1999 to February 2000.

    3. The amounts shown reflect the revised figures for Asylum Seekers receiving Income Support published in table 7.1 of the August 2000 Quarterly Statistical Enquiry. Figures previously published and used as the basis for previous calculations of expenditure were incorrect due to a tabling error.

    4. Housing Benefit (HB) and Council Tax Benefit (CTB) expenditure on Asylum Seekers in 1999–2000 cannot be estimated until the May 2000 1 per cent. sample of HB and CTB claims has been published (spring 2001).

    5. Responsibility for the costs of asylum seeker support passed to the Home Office in April 1999 following the Comprehensive Spending Review. The Department is reimbursed by the Home Office for the costs of social security benefits paid to asylum seekers.

    Social Fund
    Fiona Mactaggart
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of applicants to the Social Fund received(a) loans, (b) grants and (c) refusals in the last 12 months. [139713]

    Angela Eagle
    The information is in the table.

    The proportions of discretionary Social Fund applicants who received an award and whose applications were refused between November 1999 and October 2000

    Percentage of applications on which an initial award was:

    Made

    Refused

    Community Care Grants

    37

    63

    Budgeting Loans

    67

    30

    Crisis Loans

    72

    27

    Notes:

    1. The number of awards after review are not included in the table; if these awards were included then the percentage of applications resulting in an award would be Community Care Grants 46 per cent., Budgeting Loans 68 per cent. and Crisis Loans 72 per cent.

    2. Percentages may not sum due to rounding, applications being withdrawn, applicants not responding to loan offers and applications not decided at the time of the count.

    Compensation Recovery Unit
    Mr. Wigley
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of the compensation package for sick miners the Compensation Recovery Unit expects to(a) deduct and (b) retain. [140448]
    861W
    Mr. Bayley
    The amount recovered is in respect of benefits already paid to the miners in consequence of their illness and is recovered direct from the Department of Trade and Industry not from the miners themselves. At present, this stands at £14,868,340.07.

    Child Support Agency
    Mr. Hunter
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will take measures to ensure that complaints awaiting investigation by the Independent Case Examiner for the Child Support Agency are investigated more promptly; and if he will direct more resources towards achieving this; [140469]

    (2) what the backlog of complaints awaiting investigation by the Independent Case Examiner for the Child Support Agency was in (a) November 1999, (b) May 2000 and (c) November 2000. [140468]

    Angela Eagle
    In November 1999 there were 170 cases awaiting investigation. By May 2000, this had risen to 204 cases and by November 2000 there were 218 cases in this category. Overall, the percentage of cases referred to the Independent Case Examiner as a percentage of the Child Support Agency caseload has fallen from 0.17 per cent. in 1989–99 to 0.11 per cent. in 1999–2000

    Additional funding was allocated in September 2000 which will mean a 17 per cent. increase in investigative resources.

    Benefit Savings Thresholds
    Mr. Webb
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out the weekly benefit savings thresholds allocated to each local authority in(a) 1998–99, (b) 1999–2000 and (c) 2000–01. [141007]

    Angela Eagle
    The information has been placed in the Library.

    Mr. Webb
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the local authorities that were allocated weekly benefit savings thresholds below £60,000 in(a) 1998–99, (b) 1999–2000 and (c) 2000–01. [141009]

    Angela Eagle
    The information is in the table.

    Local authorities with weekly benefit savings thresholds below £60,000

    1998–99

    1999–2000

    2000–01

    Alnwick

    yes

    yes

    yes

    Berwick-upon-Tweed

    yes

    yes

    yes

    Blaby

    yes

    yes

    yes

    Bridgnorth

    yes

    yes

    yes

    Bromsgrove

    no

    yes

    yes

    Castle Morpeth

    yes

    yes

    yes

    City of London

    yes

    yes

    yes

    Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

    yes

    yes

    yes

    Daventry

    yes

    no

    yes

    Derbyshire Dales

    yes

    yes

    yes

    Forest Heath

    yes

    yes

    yes

    Harborough

    yes

    yes

    yes

    Isles of Scilly

    yes

    yes

    yes

    Melton

    yes

    yes

    yes

    Oadby and Wigston

    yes

    yes

    yes

    Orkney

    yes

    yes

    yes

    Oswestry

    no

    yes

    yes

    Ribble Valley

    yes

    yes

    yes

    Richmondshire

    yes

    yes

    no

    Rutland

    yes

    yes

    yes

    862W

    Local authorities with weekly benefit savings thresholds below £60,000

    1998–99

    1999–2000

    2000–01

    Shetland

    yes

    yes

    yes

    South Bucks

    yes

    no

    no

    South Holland

    no

    no

    yes

    South Northants

    yes

    yes

    yes

    Teesdale

    yes

    yes

    yes

    Tynedale

    yes

    no

    no

    Mr. Webb
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will(a) list the local authorities that failed to meet at least 75 per cent. of their weekly benefit savings thresholds and (b) detail the penalties incurred by each of those local authorities in (i) 1998–99 and (ii) 1999–2000. [141008]

    Angela Eagle
    The information is in the table.

    Local authorities that failed to meet at least 75 per cent. of their weekly benefit savings thresholds

    £

    Authority name

    Penalties 1998–99

    Penalties 1999–20001

    Allerdale

    —

    5,958

    Aylesbury Vale

    —

    1,648

    Barnet

    3,795

    79,247

    Basingstoke

    4,589

    —

    Breckland

    —

    9,306

    Brighton and Hove

    —

    54,819

    Bromley

    —

    12,382

    Canterbury

    69,002

    69,317

    Ceredigion

    84,200

    40,941

    Charnwood

    44,384

    16,847

    Clackmannanshire

    2,962

    —

    Colchester

    —

    47,927

    Copeland

    —

    37,998

    Croydon

    —

    48,854

    Darlington

    —

    8,673

    Dundee

    —

    33,634

    East Devon

    —

    39,882

    East Hampshire

    —

    3,678

    Glasgow

    —

    10,678

    Greenwich

    —

    12,388

    Hackney

    418,365

    500,998

    Hambleton

    —

    6,195

    Harrow

    6,494

    176,712

    Hart

    —

    16,459

    Knowsley

    —

    87,318

    Leicester

    —

    99,747

    Mansfield

    24,270

    —

    Neath Port Talbot

    —

    38,125

    Newham

    —

    335,293

    North Ayrshire

    100,060

    —

    North Norfolk

    16,854

    —

    North Wiltshire

    —

    9,461

    Norwich

    21,050

    47,601

    Plymouth

    —

    53,196

    Reading

    105,580

    —

    Renfrewshire

    10,497

    —

    Salisbury

    69,644

    13,357

    Sandwell

    —

    21,011

    Scottish Homes

    197,639

    67,846

    Sevenoaks

    —

    23,356

    Solihull

    —

    7,912

    South Ayrshire

    39,905

    —

    South Buckinghamshire

    —

    168

    South Gloucestershire

    —

    11,468

    South Norfolk

    15,599

    —

    Southend on Sea

    —

    4,653

    Southwark

    —

    140,929

    863W

    Local authorities that failed to meet at least 75 per cent. of their weekly benefit savings thresholds

    £

    Authority name

    Penalties 1998–99

    Penalties 1999–20001

    Stevenage

    —

    24,256

    Suffolk Coastal

    —

    2,520

    Swansea

    26,009

    —

    Taunton Deane

    —

    9,490

    Tendring

    —

    126,116

    Waltham Forest

    —

    13,075

    Wandsworth

    108,809

    —

    Wealden

    56,078

    14,789

    West Dunbartonshire

    37,305

    —

    West Lothian

    —

    28,948

    West Somerset

    —

    2,339

    Westminster

    —

    120,211

    Windsor and Maidenhead

    —

    34,459

    Wirral

    421,401

    142,853

    1Figures for 1999/2000 are unaudited and are subject to change.

    Housing Benefit
    Mr. Webb
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claims for housing benefit have not been processed within 14 days since 1 April. [140962]

    Angela Eagle
    The information is not yet available.

    Mr. Webb
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many amendments have been made to Housing Benefit regulations since 1 January. [140961]

    Angela Eagle
    I refer the hon. Member to my written answer to the hon. Member for Havant (Mr. Willetts) on 6 November 2000,Official Report, column 95W.

    Mr. Coleman
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list for(a) England and (b) London for each of the years 1990 to 2000 the number of private rented tenants claiming Housing Benefit for the years 1990–91 to 2000–01 inclusive, (i) the average eligible rent, (ii) the average amount of Housing Benefit paid per tenant and (iii) the total of Housing Benefit paid to private tenants. [140996]

    Angela Eagle
    The available information is in the tables.

    Private tenants case load, average eligible rent and Housing Benefit for England and London 1990–2000

    Private tenants

    Average eligible rent (£)

    Average Housing Benefit (£)

    England

    1990–91

    929,000

    30.40

    26.20

    1991–92

    958,000

    36.50

    33.10

    1992–93

    1,195,000

    44.20

    40.50

    1993–94

    1,379,000

    49.10

    45.50

    1994–95

    1,497,000

    53.20

    49.50

    1995–96

    1,614,000

    56.60

    52.50

    1996–97

    1,653,000

    58.90

    54.30

    1997–98

    1,609,000

    60.80

    55.80

    1998–99

    1,570,000

    62.50

    56.90

    1999–2000

    1,543,000

    63.90

    58.20

    London

    1990–91

    188,000

    40.80

    35.90

    1991–92

    202,000

    46.30

    42.80

    1992–93

    267,000

    54.80

    50.90

    1993–94

    307,000

    61.50

    58.20

    1994–95

    340,000

    67.90

    64.60

    864W

    Private tenants case load, average eligible rent and Housing Benefit for England and London 1990–2000

    Private tenants

    Average eligible rent (£)

    Average Housing Benefit (£)

    1995–96

    362,000

    72.60

    68.90

    1996–97

    360,000

    75.70

    71.50

    1997–98

    339,000

    78.10

    73.50

    1998–99

    323,000

    80.00

    74.60

    1999–2000

    303,000

    82.60

    77.00

    Notes:

    1. The data refer to households, which may be a single person, couple or a family.

    2. The caseload figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

    3. The average cash amounts have been rounded to the nearest ten pence.

    4. The Private Tenant figures include cases that are classified as Registered Social Landlords/Housing Association.

    5. Figures from the Quarterly 100 per cent. caseload stock-count for any non-responding authorities will have been estimated. Private Tenant figures exclude any Extended Payment.

    Source:

    1. Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System, annual 1 per cent. sample, taken in May 1990 and May 1991.

    2. Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System Quarterly 100 per cent. caseload stock-count taken in each quarter from May 1992 to February 2000.

    Annual Housing Benefit rent allowance expenditure in respect of private tenants for England and London from 1990 to 1999

    £ million

    England

    London

    1990–91

    1,565

    —

    1991–92

    2,167

    —

    1992–93

    2,934

    —

    1993–94

    3,809

    —

    1994–95

    4,432

    —

    1995–96

    4,946

    1,495

    1996–97

    5,272

    1,557

    1997–98

    5,125

    1,460

    1998–99

    5,095

    1,410

    Notes:

    1. The rent allowance expenditure information includes the expenditure in respect of registered Social Landlords/Housing Association tenants.

    2. Information for London is not available before 1995–96.

    Source:

    Housing Benefit Subsidy claim forms from local authorities and Housing Revenue Account data from the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions.

    Mr. Alasdair Morgan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will further amend the Housing Benefit (General) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 1998, part 3(h), to take account of individuals whose financial circumstances have changed between selling the property they continue to reside in and making a claim for Housing Benefit; [140437]

    (2) for what reason the amendment of Regulation 7 of the Housing Benefit Regulations excluded from benefit people who had previously owned their home. [140438]

    Angela Eagle
    The intention of the provision was to halt the abuse where an owner-occupier transfers ownership of his or her home without money changing hands, or for less than the market price, and rents it back. Housing Benefit is still available to anyone who can prove that he or she was forced to transfer or sell because of, for example, mortgage arrears.
    865W
    We are also aware of some cases where people sold their properties on a commercial basis some time ago and are now renting them. There is no evidence to suggest that such transactions took place to enable the seller to take advantage of the Housing Benefit scheme. We are proposing, therefore, to introduce regulations shortly which will enable an ex-owner to claim Housing Benefit provided five years have elapsed since he or she ceased to own the property.

    Dr. Iddon
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what impact the transfer of local authority housing stock into other control has had on expenditure on Housing Benefit to date. [141193]

    Angela Eagle
    The information is not available. This is because the data local authorities provide on Housing Benefit spending do not enable us to distinguish between spending on tenants who live in stock that has been transferred and those who live in other stock.

    Mr. Love
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent meetings he has had with interested parties on the subject of Housing Benefit; and if he will make a statement. [141104]

    Angela Eagle
    In recent months I have, on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security, met with local councillors, local authority representatives and Members of the House who have an interest in Housing Benefit.

    We are always keen to listen to the views of people with an interest in Housing Benefit. To this end, we are currently studying the consultation responses to the Housing Green Paper and we will take decisions on how to proceed in the light of them. We will announce our intentions shortly.

    Mr. Willetts
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 20 November 2000,Official Report, column 67W, to the hon. Member for West Chelmsford (Mr. Burns) on Housing Benefit, if he will provide the same information concerning the proportion of Housing Benefit claims that are cleared within 14 days of receipt for each other local authority. [141083]

    Angela Eagle
    The available information has been placed in the Library.

    Independent Living Fund
    Mr. Andrew George
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the(a) number of recipients of, (b) total expenditure on and (c) upper and lower payments made by his Department from the Independent Living Fund for each of the last three years. [141144]

    Mr. Bayley
    The Independent Living Funds (ILFs) operate on a UK basis and the number of recipients of payments from the ILFs for the last three years was as follows:

    31 March 1998: 15,575

    31 March 1999: 15,189

    31 March 2000: 15,262.

    The total UK expenditure for the last three years was:

    Year ending 1997–98: £113,655,548

    Year ending 1998–99: £117,745,387

    Year ending 1999–2000: £126,154,830.

    866W
    The maximum sums payable by the Funds remained unchanged since their inception in 1993 until 27 January 2000. From 1993 the maximum payment paid by the Independent Living (Extension Fund) was £560 per week and for the Independent Living (1993) Fund £300 per week. In January these amounts were increased to £625 for the Extension Fund and £375 per week for the 1993 Fund. The lowest payment made in an individual case in each of the last three years was £1 per week.

    Mr. Andrew George
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost to his Department of removing the means test from the Independent Living Fund. [141145]

    Mr. Bayley
    Up to date information is not available. I will write to the hon. Member shortly with the information.

    Benefit Fraud
    Mr. Willetts
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which of the principal and supplementary recommendations in the Scampion report on organised benefit fraud(a) have been accepted, (b) are being considered and (c) have been rejected; if local authorities have been notified of the Scampion report; and if he will place the full text of the report on the internet. [141049]

    Mr. Rooker
    Following the Scampion Report work is under way in the following main areas:

    strengthen the central organised fraud investigation service

    establish a National Benefits Intelligence Unit

    set up joint working agreements with LAs

    replace Weekly Benefit Savings

    take forward and provide an audit trail for supplementary recommendations.

    Local authorities have been notified of the Scampion report and have been involved in the consultation process for joint working and the review of subsidy arrangements.

    The report will be available on the internet shortly.

    Mr. Pickles
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what working estimate was used by his Department for Housing Benefit fraud; what the level was of detected housing benefit fraud in each year since 1990; and if he will make a statement. [139329]

    Angela Eagle
    Housing Benefit fraud was not measured prior to 1993. The method of measurement was changed in 1998 as a result of reports by the National Audit Office and Audit Commission. This makes it impossible to make a meaningful comparison across the period.

    Mr. Webb
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 17 November 2000,Official Report, column 807W, on benefit fraud, if he will set out the specific measures of the direction issued to Northampton Borough Council. [141006]

    Mr. Rooker
    I have placed a copy of the direction in the Library.

  NORTHERN IRELAND

    Hamill Case
    Mr. William Ross
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland under what powers the Police Ombudsman in Northern Ireland has commenced an investigation into the Hamill case. [141161]

    Mr. Ingram
    The Police Ombudsman is supervising the investigation into the complaint against the police made in relation to the murder of Robert Hamill under the provisions of Part VII of the Police (NI) Act 1998. The Commencement Order signed by the Secretary of State on 4 November 2000 provides that complaints which were made under the 1987 Police (NI) Order shall continue to be dealt with under Part VII of the Police (NI) Act 1998.

    Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust
    Mr. Field
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will set out the criteria by which funds for the Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust are distributed; [139814]

    (2) if he will break down the geographical distribution of funds for the Northern Ireland Victims Trust to date. [139813]

    Mr. Ingram
    The Core Funding for Victims/Survivors Groups Grant Scheme is administered by the Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust (NIVT) on behalf of the Victims Liaison Unit in the Northern Ireland Office. The criteria used by NIVT are set out in the Guidance for Applicants brochure produced by NIVT. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

    The geographical distribution of funding is given in the following table by District Council area. In addition, a number of the groups which have received funding provide services on a regional basis.

    District council area

    £

    Armagh

    2,000

    Belfast

    576,398

    Coleraine

    73,660

    Cookstown

    3,100

    Craigavon

    80,000

    Derry

    7,550

    Down

    87,800

    Dungannon

    10,000

    Fermanagh

    81,346

    Newry and Mourne

    1,070

    North Down

    88,718

    Omagh

    44,190

    Strabane

    86,000

    Regional

    985,787

    Total

    2,127.619

  WALES

    Children's Commissioner for Wales
    Mr. Edwards
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the establishment of a Children's Commissioner for Wales. [139934]
    868W
    Mr. Paul Murphy
    The office of the Children's Commissioner for Wales is being established under the Care Standards Act, which received Royal Assent on 20 July. The role of the Commissioner reflects Sir Ronald Waterhouse's first recommendation in his report "Lost in Care".

    The Commissioner's functions will extend to all social care services for children regulated by the Act: children's homes, residential family centres, local authority fostering and adoption services, fostering agencies, voluntary adoption agencies, domiciliary care, private and voluntary hospitals and clinics, the welfare aspects of daycare and childminding services for all children under the age of eight, and the welfare of children living away from home in boarding schools.

    The Commissioner's functions include the review and monitoring of arrangements by the service providers above for dealing with complaints, whistle-blowing and advocacy; the provision of advice and information; the examination, where the Commissioner considers appropriate, of the cases of particular children to be defined in regulations who are receiving or have been in receipt of such services; the provision of assistance, including financial assistance, and representation, in respect of proceedings or disputes or in relation to the operation of procedures and arrangements monitored by the Commissioner; and making reports, including an annual report on the exercise of his/her functions to the National Assembly for Wales.

    Dee Estuary
    Mr. Ben Chapman
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what arrangements are being put in place for the maintenance of the ecology of the Dee Estuary in advance of the forthcoming water framework directive and the Dee Estuary Strategy. [140430]

    Mr. Paul Murphy
    In relation to that part of the Dee Estuary falling in Wales, this is a matter for the National Assembly.

    Special Educational Needs
    Mr. Win Griffiths
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by local education authority the number of cases taken to the Tribunal for Special Educational Needs each year from its inception until July 1999, indicating the number of cases in which the tribunal ruled that additional support should be provided for children with special needs. [140567]

    Mr. Paul Murphy
    I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Minister for School Standards on 28 November 2000,Official Report, column 583W.

    Child Protection Registers
    Mr. Win Griffiths
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list, for each local authority area, how many children there were on child protection registers broken down, by type of abuse, in(a) 1990, (b) 1997 and (c) 2000; and what was the rate of abuse per 10,000 children for Wales. [140565]

    Mr. Paul Murphy
    Figures for 1990 and 1997 are set out in the table. Since 1 July 1999, this has been a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.
    869W

    Children on Child Protection Registers

    Neglect, Physical and sexual abuse

    Neglect and physical abuse

    Neglect and sexual abuse

    Physical abuse and sexual abuse

    Neglect (only)

    Physical abuse (only)

    Sexual abuse (only)

    Emotional abuse (only)

    Grave concern: household contains known abuser

    Grave concern: other

    Total

    Rate per 10,000 Population aged 0–17 Year

    at 31 March 1990

    Clwyd

    1

    4

    0

    1

    19

    83

    54

    16

    107

    86

    371

    39

    Dyfed

    0

    25

    3

    2

    37

    60

    26

    25

    68

    109

    355

    45

    Gwent

    0

    9

    0

    1

    61

    122

    32

    14

    36

    92

    367

    35

    Gwynedd

    0

    1

    1

    1

    8

    10

    2

    0

    15

    20

    58

    11

    Mid Glamorgan

    0

    5

    0

    0

    12

    61

    23

    15

    35

    28

    179

    14

    Powys

    0

    0

    1

    0

    20

    10

    9

    2

    21

    22

    85

    33

    South Glamorgan

    1

    8

    2

    5

    106

    112

    26

    34

    144

    315

    753

    78

    West Glamorgan

    0

    1

    2

    1

    12

    23

    8

    2

    64

    21

    134

    16

    Wales

    2

    53

    9

    11

    275

    481

    180

    108

    490

    693

    2,302

    35

    at 31 March 1997:

    Isle of Anglesey

    0

    0

    0

    0

    7

    4

    4

    2

    1—

    1—

    17

    11

    Gwynedd

    0

    5

    5

    4

    16

    24

    15

    13

    1—

    1—

    82

    32

    Conwy

    0

    5

    0

    1

    18

    27

    1

    2

    1—

    1—

    54

    24

    Denbighshire

    0

    1

    0

    0

    9

    16

    3

    8

    1—

    1—

    37

    18

    Flintshire

    0

    2

    0

    0

    3

    12

    12

    2

    1—

    1—

    31

    9

    Wrexham

    0

    3

    2

    0

    6

    10

    3

    7

    1—

    1—

    31

    11

    Powys

    0

    2

    3

    0

    12

    1

    6

    19

    1—

    1—

    43

    16

    Ceredigion

    0

    0

    0

    0

    7

    9

    9

    8

    1—

    1—

    33

    24

    Pembrokeshire

    0

    1

    1

    0

    26

    13

    13

    19

    1—

    1—

    73

    28

    Carmarthenshire

    0

    6

    0

    2

    54

    27

    12

    24

    1—

    1—

    125

    34

    Swansea

    0

    0

    0

    0

    32

    36

    33

    22

    1—

    1—

    123

    24

    Neath Port Talbot

    0

    0

    0

    0

    60

    42

    16

    40

    1—

    1—

    158

    50

    Bridgend

    0

    0

    0

    2

    4

    22

    1

    8

    1—

    1—

    37

    12

    The Vale of Glamorgan

    0

    6

    0

    4

    13

    44

    8

    33

    1—

    1—

    108

    37

    Cardiff

    4

    35

    5

    6

    143

    109

    48

    112

    1—

    1—

    462

    61

    Rhondda, Cynon, Taff

    0

    8

    2

    0

    47

    30

    12

    36

    1—

    1—

    135

    24

    Merthyr Tydfil

    1

    7

    0

    0

    22

    12

    12

    14

    1—

    1—

    68

    46

    Caerphilly

    5

    12

    1

    4

    31

    50

    30

    19

    1—

    1—

    152

    36

    Blaenau Gwent

    0

    0

    2

    0

    23

    10

    8

    7

    1—

    1—

    50

    29

    Torfaen

    0

    2

    0

    0

    10

    19

    6

    2

    1—

    1—

    39

    18

    Monmouthshire

    0

    0

    0

    1

    16

    16

    5

    7

    1—

    1—

    45

    23

    Newport

    0

    3

    6

    6

    55

    29

    19

    8

    1—

    1—

    126

    37

    Wales

    10

    98

    27

    30

    614

    562

    276

    412

    1—

    1—

    2,029

    30

    1Not applicable

    Note:

    Comparisons between abuse categories for these years are not possible as the category 'Grave concern' was discontinued in 1993. Continuing Grave concern cases were assigned to another category.

    Farm Incomes
    Mr. Win Griffiths
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the(a) average annual income of farmers in each of the last 10 years prior to devolution and (b) the average annual direct subsidy per farm in Wales

    £000

    1993–94

    1994–95

    1995–96

    1996–97

    1997–98

    1998–99

    LFA farms

    Net farm income

    16.0

    7.0

    18.4

    14.3

    8.1

    4.4

    Total direct subsidies

    21.7

    20.2

    27.3

    26.4

    22.7

    28.4

    Lowland farms

    Net farm income

    10.4

    8.5

    16.0

    10.3

    3.3

    -1.3

    Total direct subsidies

    7.1

    7.7

    11.5

    11.4

    10.5

    13.0

    NHS Dentists
    Mr. Win Griffiths
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for each health authority area in Wales the ratio of NHS dentists to the population in each of the 10 years prior to devolution, indicating for each year the areas where there has been a shortage of NHS
    870W
    distinguishing between those which (i) are and (ii) are not in less favoured areas. [140569]

    Mr. Paul Murphy
    Following is the available information. Data cannot be provided on a consistent basis before 1993.

    dentists and the number required to make up the shortfall in each case. [140640]

    Mr. Paul Murphy
    The numbers of NHS dentists, and rates per 10,000 population in each year, are set out in the table. The 1990 count was taken on 30 September; those for later years on 31 March. It is for individual health
    871W
    authorities to determine whether the level of dental manpower in their area is adequate in the light of local needs.

    General Dental Practitioners in Wales

    1990

    Number

    Rate1

    1990

    Clwyd

    11

    2.7

    Dyfed

    98

    2.8

    Gwent

    125

    2.8

    Gwynedd

    69

    2.9

    Mid Glamorgan

    134

    2.5

    Powys

    34

    2.9

    South Glamorgan

    131

    3.2

    West Glamorgan

    135

    3.6

    Wales

    837

    2.9

    1991

    Clwyd

    110

    2.7

    Dyfed

    97

    2.8

    Gwent

    136

    3.0

    Gwynedd

    63

    2.6

    Mid Glamorgan

    133

    2.5

    Powys

    38

    3.2

    South Glamorgan

    131

    3.2

    West Glamorgan

    134

    3.6

    Wales

    842

    2.9

    1992

    Clwyd

    116

    2.8

    Dyfed

    101

    2.9

    Gwent

    134

    3.0

    Gwynedd

    65

    2.7

    Mid Glamorgan

    140

    2.6

    Powys

    34

    2.9

    South Glamorgan

    131

    3.2

    West Glamorgan

    135

    3.6

    Wales

    853

    2.9

    1993

    Clwyd

    108

    2.6

    Dyfed

    103

    2.9

    Gwent

    133

    3.0

    Gwynedd

    65

    2.7

    Mid Glamorgan

    128

    2.4

    Powys

    34

    2.8

    South Glamorgan

    131

    3.2

    West Glamorgan

    129

    3.5

    Wales

    831

    2.9

    1994

    Clwyd

    119

    2.9

    Dyfed

    104

    3.0

    Gwent

    142

    3.1

    Gwynedd

    66

    2.7

    Mid Glamorgan

    122

    2.2

    Powys

    32

    2.7

    South Glamorgan

    135

    3.3

    West Glamorgan

    138

    3.7

    Wales

    858

    2.9

    1995

    Clwyd

    118

    2.8

    Dyfed

    100

    2.8

    Gwent

    140

    3.1

    Gwynedd

    65

    2.7

    Mid Glamorgan

    128

    2.4

    Powys

    33

    2.7

    South Glamorgan

    138

    3.3

    West Glamorgan

    128

    3.5

    Wales

    850

    2.9

    872W

    General Dental Practitioners in Wales

    1990

    Number

    Rate1

    1996

    Clwyd

    115

    2.7

    Dyfed

    99

    2.8

    Gwent

    137

    3.0

    Gwynedd

    64

    2.7

    Mid Glamorgan

    123

    2.3

    Powys

    35

    2.9

    South Glamorgan

    149

    3.6

    West Glamorgan

    133

    3.6

    Wales

    855

    2.9

    1997

    Bro Taf

    221

    3.0

    Dyfed Powys

    143

    3.0

    Gwent

    174

    3.1

    Morgannwg

    176

    3.5

    North wales

    199

    3.0

    Wales

    913

    3.1

    1998

    Bro Taf

    226

    3.1

    Dyfed Powys

    146

    3.0

    Gwent

    175

    3.1

    Morgannwg

    176

    3.5

    North Wales

    207

    3.1

    Wales

    930

    3.2

    1999

    Bro Taf

    237

    3.2

    Dyfed Powys

    158

    3.3

    Gwent

    184

    3.3

    Morgannwg

    184

    3.7

    North Wales

    211

    3.2

    Wales

    974

    3.3

    1Per 10,000 Population

    Note:

    Principals, assistants and vocational trainees treating at least some NHS Patients

    Mr. Win Griffiths
    To ask the Secretary of State for wales if he will list by health authority area the number and percentage of(a) adults and (b) Children registered with NHS dentists in Wales in each of the last 10 years prior to devolution. [140639]

    Mr. Paul Murphy
    Patients have been required to register with a dentist only since 1 October 1990. Following are the figures requested, as at 30 September of each year.

    children

    Adults

    Number

    Percentage population

    Number

    percentage Population

    1991

    Clwyd

    48,791

    51.7

    126,816

    39.8

    Dyfed

    38,809

    50.3

    107,701

    39.6

    Gwent

    52,600

    49.9

    138,659

    40.6

    Gwynedd

    25,946

    49.6

    76,889

    41.2

    Mid Glamorgan

    57,899

    44.3

    140,996

    34.4

    Powys

    12,257

    46.9

    36,177

    39.3

    South Glamorgan

    53,281

    56.0

    134,443

    43.1

    West Glamorgan

    48,912

    58.8

    129,699

    45.2

    Wales

    338,495

    50.9

    891,380

    40.2

    873W

    Children

    Adults

    Number

    Percentage population

    Number

    Percentage population

    1992

    Clwyd

    56,166

    59.5

    171,558

    53.6

    Dyfed

    47,371

    61.3

    151,635

    55.4

    Gwent

    66,770

    63.0

    202,095

    58.9

    Gwynedd

    30,766

    58.7

    101,082

    54.0

    Mid Glamorgan

    74,767

    57.1

    217,466

    52.8

    Powys

    15,817

    60.3

    50,538

    54.4

    South Glamorgan

    65,247

    67.9

    191,728

    61.0

    West Glamorgan

    59,404

    71.1

    184,076

    64.0

    Wales

    416,308

    62.4

    1,270,178

    56.9

    1993

    Clwyd

    60,114

    63.7

    181,750

    56.5

    Dyfed

    47,050

    60.8

    151,768

    55.4

    Gwent

    68,429

    64.3

    196,546

    57.1

    Gwynedd

    30,746

    58.7

    89,561

    47.7

    Mid Glamorgan

    77,687

    59.2

    221,993

    53.7

    Powys

    17,195

    65.5

    49,994

    53.4

    South Glamorgan

    68,100

    69.9

    187,850

    59.5

    West Glamorgan

    61,811

    74.2

    187,747

    65.2

    Wales

    431,132

    64.5

    1,267,209

    56.6

    1994

    Clwyd

    61,728

    65.2

    186,729

    57.9

    Dyfed

    47,422

    61.2

    153,942

    56.0

    Gwent

    68,603

    63.9

    194,788

    56.5

    Gwynedd

    30,194

    57.4

    78,361

    41.7

    Mid Glamorgan

    77,328

    58.8

    221,218

    53.5

    Powys

    16,237

    61.7

    46,627

    49.7

    South Glamorgan

    67,713

    68.6

    183,673

    58.1

    West Glamorgan

    62,433

    74.8

    188,568

    65.6

    Wales

    431,658

    64.2

    1,253,906

    56.0

    1995

    Clwyd

    59,713

    63.1

    172,131

    53.3

    Dyfed

    46,266

    59.7

    141,089

    51.3

    Gwent

    68,696

    64.0

    186,866

    54.2

    Gwynedd

    27,539

    52.4

    67,084

    35.7

    Mid Glamorgan

    75,446

    57.4

    217,194

    52.6

    Powys

    15,999

    60.8

    45,104

    48.0

    South Glamorgan

    70,058

    71.0

    180,564

    57.1

    West Glamorgan

    61,791

    74.0

    186,886

    65.0

    Wales

    425,508

    63.3

    1,196,918

    53.4

    1996

    Bro Taf

    107,700

    60.9

    288,840

    52.0

    Dyfed Powys

    62,194

    59.6

    182,223

    48.9

    Gwent

    85,019

    62.8

    221,675

    52.7

    Morgannwg

    83,034

    73.3

    246,481

    63.8

    North Wales

    88,419

    60.0

    237,897

    46.8

    Wales

    426,366

    63.0

    1,177,116

    52.5

    1997

    Bro Taf

    109,512

    61.6

    288,695

    51.7

    Dyfed Powys

    62,420

    60.0

    173,903

    46.5

    Gwent

    86,119

    63.6

    220,162

    52.2

    Morgannwg

    83,885

    74.3

    248,644

    64.3

    North Wales

    92,562

    62.9

    252,151

    49.6

    Wales

    434,498

    64.2

    1,183,555

    52.6

    1998

    Bro Taf

    100,975

    56.9

    245,417

    43.7

    Dyfed Powys

    56,965

    55.0

    148,573

    39.5

    Gwent

    80,728

    59.9

    196,336

    46.5

    Morgannwg

    76,968

    68.8

    219,309

    56.5

    North Wales

    89,408

    61.0

    233,645

    45.7

    Wales

    405,044

    60.1

    1,043,280

    46.2

    Miners' Compensation
    Mr. Wigley
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many centres for assessing the compensation claims of former miners for chest disease there are in Wales. [141037]

    Mr. Byers
    I have been asked to reply.

    There are currently five MAP centres operational in Wales, located in Swansea, Mountain Ash, Newport and Wrexham—Mountain Ash has two sets of testing equipment and is therefore counted as a double centre. The Department is planning to open two further centres in South Wales, located in Ystrad Mynach and Ammanford. The centres are also equipped to carry out spirometry assessments, along with an additional centre in Cardiff.

    Floods
    Mr. Martyn Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to discuss with the Association of British Insurers problems relating to the insurability of homes and businesses at risk of flooding. [139462]

    Miss Melanie Johnson
    I have been asked to reply.

    Both I and the Minister responsible for flood and coastal defence have recently held meetings with representatives of the insurance industry to discuss how the industry is responding to the floods and also to discuss issues of insurability for homes and businesses at risk of flooding.

    We urged the insurance industry to continue to give maximum priority to dealing with flood and other severe weather-related claims. We were assured that claims are being—and would continue to be—dealt with as speedily and effectively as possible. The Government will be looking to the whole industry to deliver on this commitment, and encourage all insurers to aim to meet the highest possible standards.

    Looking to the future, industry representatives made it clear that the industry is keen to provide continued insurance cover for homes and businesses around the country, and would be encouraging individual companies not to make hasty judgments on large premium increases or future insurability. Government and industry will need to work closely in partnership to deliver continuing protection for homeowners and businesses at risk of flood damage, to ensure that issues of vital importance are taken forward effectively and speedily (including the appropriate development of planning policies, building regulations, sustainable construction practice and design, farming practice and flood defence policy).

  AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

    Correspondence
    Sir Brian Mawhinney
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire will receive a reply to his letter of 25 May on behalf of Mr. Penn. [135789]

    Mr. Nick Brown
    (holding answer 30 October 2000]: A response to the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire was originally sent on 23 June but due to

    875W
    a regrettable failure in recent months by the external courier firm contracted by MAFF to deliver certain mail to the House, it was not delivered. The Department's contract with the courier firm has been terminated. A response was re-sent to the right hon. Member on 27 November.

    Departmental Policies
    Mr. Kaufman
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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. [136151]

    Mr. Nick Brown
    Since May 1997 my Department has undertaken a volume of work which will, both directly and indirectly, benefit the constituents of Manchester, Gorton. Among many other things:

    MAFF prepared the foundations for the creation of the independent Food Standards Agency (FSA) which was established on 3 April 2000. The FSA is now up and running as an independent champion for consumers.

    The Department played a leading role in the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy; this means savings equivalent to £65 on the typical family's annual food bill.

    MAFF launched the Pet Travel Scheme; for the first time in over 100 years pets have been able to enter the country without quarantine. The scheme is expected to be completely up and running by April next year.

    We have sought to protect the interests of consumers of basmati rice, both with regard to its labelling and in negotiations on the Commission's proposals for reform of the EU rice regime.

    There has been work on better labelling of food, and improved EU-wide labelling on GM content of food. We have also issued tough new guidance on misleading country of origin labelling.

    We have put in place powerful measures to protect the public against BSE, and have taken steps to ensure that British beef is now among the safest in the world.

    Further details of the work of my Department can be found on our website www.maff.gov.uk.

    Primates
    Mr. Baker
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many primates have been imported into the UK for research purposes for each month since October 1999; of these, how many were imported through the Port of Dover; and if he will make a statement. [137292]

    Ms Quin
    The figures requested are detailed in the table.

    Month

    Number of primates imported for research purposes

    Number imported through Dover

    October 1999

    25

    0

    November 1999

    5

    0

    December 1999

    109

    44

    January 2000

    200

    200

    February 2000

    200

    200

    March 2000

    48

    48

    April 2000

    48

    0

    May 2000

    234

    1174

    June 2000

    172

    142

    July 2000

    239

    239

    876W

    Month

    Number of primates imported for research purposes

    Number imported through Dover

    August 2000

    39

    39

    September 2000

    302

    302

    October 2000

    168

    168

    Total

    1,789

    1,556

    1These figures adjust those provided in the answer given to the hon. Member for Sittingbourne and Sheppey of 17 July 2000, Official Report, column 6W. It is now clear that fewer animals were actually imported in these months than import licences were issued for.

    BSE
    Mr. Breed
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice his Department publishes regarding the likelihood of the BSE prion remaining in soil treated with infected blood and bonemeal fertilisers. [139134]

    Ms Quin
    Mammalian meat and bone meal may not be used in fertilisers for agricultural land. Fertilisers for non-agricultural use may include mammalian meat and bone meal only if it has first been treated to the pressure-cooking standard.

    In June 1996, SEAC considered the disposal of blood and gut contents from abattoirs. The Committee noted that the spreading of blood and gut contents on land had been normal practice. They noted that concern had been expressed about the practice; however, given that no BSE infectivity had ever been detected in blood, and that there was no evidence of horizontal transmission of disease which would suggest that cattle wastes were directly infective to cattle, they saw no reason to recommend that this practice should be prohibited.

    Mr. Breed
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what recent advice his Department has published regarding the safe disposal of packs of blood, fish and bonemeal which may contain the BSE prion; [139135]

    (2) what recent advice his Department has published regarding the use of fertilisers containing blood, fish and bonemeal extracts. [139136]

    Ms Quin
    In January 1998, SEAC examined the practice of feeding fishmeal to farmed fish. They concluded that there was no reason to prohibit the practice.

    The Committee also considered the use and disposal of bovine blood and concluded there was no significant risk associated with disposal of bovine blood on agricultural land.

    Mammalian meat and bonemeal and blood meal derived from animals not slaughtered under the over-30-months-scheme (providing it is not from BSE suspects or SRM) can be legally incorporated into pet food production and non-agricultural fertiliser. Blood meal from such animals can also be included in animal feed. However, most blood and bonemeal is incinerated or landfilled.

    SEAC reviewed the use of dried mammalian blood in animal feed on 29 September 2000. They agreed that there was no evidence to suggest the presence of BSE infectivity in cattle blood and concluded that there was no compelling need to change previous advice.
    877
    Ms Walley
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee to discuss proposed regulations relating to liquid condensate. [139151]

    Ms Quin
    Ministers have not personally discussed this matter with SEAC. However, at its meeting on 3 June 1999 SEAC clarified its earlier advice by confirming that rendering condensate should no longer be spread on any land, and not just those fields where cattle might graze. SEAC considered this issue on 28 November and a public summary will be published on 19 December.

    Mr. Drew
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what additional help he plans to offer British beef farmers affected by a loss in consumer confidence caused by the recent discovery of BSE cases in France and Germany. [141129]

    Ms Quin
    At its meeting on 4 December the EU Agriculture Council will consider a number of proposals from the Commission. Full details of these are not yet available but we understand that they are designed both to restore consumer confidence in the beef market and to ease cash-flow problems faced by beef producers.

    Mr. Drew
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent discussions he has had with his EU colleagues with regard to an EU-wide labelling of beef. [141130]

    Ms Quin
    I refer to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister to my hon. Friend the Member for Clydesdale (Mr. Hood) on 21 July 2000,Official Report, columns 372–73W. Regulation 1760/2000 of the European Parliament and the Council subsequently came into effect and introduced an EU-wide compulsory system for the labelling of fresh, chilled, frozen and minced beef.

    Farm Incomes
    Mr. Baker
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the average farmer's income was in(a) England and (b) the smallest regional level applicable to the Lewes constituency for which figures are available, in each of the last 10 years. [139037]

    Ms Quin
    [holding answer 20 November 2000]: The information requested is given in the table. The eastern region is the smallest regional level covering the Lewes constituency for which figures are available. However, the east covers a large area of England from Lincolnshire to Hampshire and therefore is not necessarily representative of farming in the Lewes constituency. Data for 1999–2000 for England will be published in March.

    Average net farm income for all full-time farm businesses in England and the east (real-terms, 1999 prices)

    £000/farm

    Year

    England

    East

    1989–90

    24.7

    26.9

    1990–91

    21.3

    24.9

    1991–92

    21.5

    25.0

    1992–93

    26.5

    28.0

    1993–94

    28.0

    30.0

    1994–95

    33.2

    38.4

    1995–96

    42.4

    51.9

    878W

    Average net farm income for all full-time farm businesses in England and the east (real-terms, 1999 prices)

    £000/farm

    Year

    England

    East

    1996–97

    32.3

    39.7

    1997–98

    14.5

    17.1

    1998–99

    10.5

    13.4

    Source:

    Farm Business Survey

    Mr. Ben Chapman
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on farm incomes. [141283]

    Mr. Nick Brown
    I am disappointed to announce to the House that predictions for farm incomes this year suggest a further significant fall of 27 per cent. by comparison with 1999. A statistical press release has been placed in the Library of the House.

    The Government remain committed to helping farmers through these difficult times; last December I announced the Government's long-term strategy for agriculture, which aims to help secure a more competitive and sustainable farming industry, with a stronger market orientation.

    This commitment is underpinned by a comprehensive range of initiatives including: reform of the Common Agricultural Policy; significant increases in expenditure on rural development and agri-environment schemes; new measures to reduce the burden of regulation on farming; promotion of increased co-operation and collaboration across the food supply chain; and targeted financial support to the sectors in greatest difficulty.

    IACS
    Mr. Breed
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the length of the IACS form filled in by farmers; and if he will make a statement. [140405]

    Ms Quin
    The report of the IACS and Inspections Red Tape Working Group found that:In general the (IACS) forms and guidance notes (issued in other member states) are of a similar level of complexity … with the exception of the Republic of Ireland.

    The Government have listened to industry concerns about the volume of red tape which farmers have to face, and we are taking steps to review the IACS forms and guidance, in the light of the Group's recommendations about the readability, familiarity and appearance of the IACS scheme literature, so as to achieve not only simpler English and clearer communication, but also a common format with other MAFF documentation. Consultation with industry during the drafting stages remains a key feature. From 2001, we plan to make it possible for all farmers submitting claims in England to complete and submit the IACS form electronically. These 'intelligent' forms will both save time for farmers, and also lessen the possibility of making inadvertent errors, since inconsistencies will be highlighted and totals calculated automatically.
    879W
    Miss McIntosh
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he will take to speed up the payment of IACS to cereal growers; and if he will make a statement. [140882]

    Ms Quin
    Under the EU' s Arable Area Payments Scheme (AAPS) most payments to cereal growers in respect of this year's harvest are required to be made between 16 November 2000 and 31 January 2001. In England the Ministry's Regional Service Centres commenced payments on 16 November and estimate that over 70 per cent. of claims will have been cleared for payment in the first two weeks of processing. It is hoped that the exercise will be completed by the end of December.

    GM Crops
    Mr. Llwyd
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if the Chardon LL crop will be placed on the national seed list following the completion of the one-year tests;[140441]

    (2) what further tests there will be on the Chardon LL crop following the completion of the one-year tests. [140440]

    Ms Quin
    Chardon LL was proposed for addition to the National List in March 2000. Information has come to light recently that the testing of this variety for distinctness, uniformity and stability (DUS) by the French authorities was based on one year's data from accredited breeders' trials and one year's data from Government run trials. This may not have complied with EC requirements. MAFF is seeking the views of the European Commission on the legal status of the DUS testing procedures used by the French authorities for this variety. The UK authorities are not seeking further tests on Chardon LL pending receipt of the European Commission's views. Chardon LL will be added to the UK National List only if all the legal requirements have been met in full.

    Arable Farming
    Mr. Cotter
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish details of the Government's application for EU aid in the form of agrimoney compensation for the UK's arable farmers. [140680]

    Ms Quin
    I have today placed in the Libraries of the House a copy of the notifications of schemes for the arable and flax and hemp sectors sent to the European Commission on 2 November. These may be subject to amendments in the light of the Commission's comments.

    Mr. Cotter
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of trends in cereal growers' incomes during 2000–01; and if he will make a statement.[140679]

    Ms Quin
    I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Vale of York (Miss McIntosh) on 16 November 2000,Official Report, column 780W.

    Mr. Martyn Jones
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the recent changes announced by the EU allowing arable farmers in the UK to continue to claim subsidy payments based on the total area of their fields. [141154]
    880W
    Ms Quin
    I refer my hon. Friend to the replies given to my hon. Friend the Member for Denton and Reddish (Mr. Bennett) on 7 November, 2000,Official Report, column 150W, and to the hon. Member for Tewkesbury (Mr. Robertson) on 24 November, Official Report, column 325W.

    Biomass Production
    Mr. Win Griffiths
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the support provided by his Department for biomass projects in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement on trends in the amount of land devoted to biomass production over this period. [140992]

    Ms Quin
    I have written to my hon. Friend with details, and copies of the letter have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

    Common Agricultural Policy
    Mr. Baker
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the impact of the CAP on intensification in the(a) beef and veal and (b) dairy sectors; and if he will make a statement. [140786]

    Ms Quin
    [holding answer 29 November 2000]: The CAP has increased unit returns from the production of beef and milk (among other products). This has encouraged the use of a greater volume of inputs per unit of output and some increase in stocking rates. In recognition of this the EU has introduced measures to begin to mitigate these effects—extensification payments for beef and agri-environmental schemes in other sectors.

    Animal Welfare
    Mr. Baker
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 21 July 2000,Official Report, columns 373–74W, on animal welfare, if he will make a statement on the work of the Interdepartmental Ministerial Group on Animal Welfare and its progress in meeting its objectives. [140795]

    Mr. Morley
    [holding answer 29 November 2000]: The Interdepartmental Ministerial Group on Animal Welfare met formally for the first time on 20 July this year. Ministers with animal welfare responsibilities from the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, the Home Office and the Department for Agriculture and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland, and officials from the other devolved Administrations discussed and agreed the terms of reference of the Group. They also discussed matters of current interest to each Department, as well as a number of cross-cutting issues. Members of the Group issued a joint statement (MAFF News Release 243/00), highlighting their aim of ensuring that the UK's animal welfare strategy is effectively co-ordinated. The next meeting of the group will take place in the early part of next year.

    Shellfish Dredging
    Sir Richard Body
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations he has had with Eastern Sea Fisheries about the proposal to allow one particular boat to dredge for shellfish out of season. [141198]
    881W
    Mr. Morley
    The Eastern Sea Fisheries Joint Committee (ESFJC) administer the fishery under the terms of the Wash Fishery Order 1992. There has been no consultation between the ESFJC and my Department on this particular issue.

    Pithing
    Mr. Letwin
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the proportion of animals which remain conscious after being stunned in slaughterhouses.[141194]

    Mr. Morley
    No assessment has been made of the number of animals which remain conscious after being stunned in slaughterhouses, and the information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) conducts a biennial review of animal welfare in slaughterhouses, and the latest review indicated that in 0.6 per cent. of slaughterhouses some bovines, and in 0.3 per cent. of slaughterhouses some sheep, were stunned ineffectively.

    Legislation protecting the welfare of livestock at slaughter requires that any animal inadequately stunned must be re-stunned immediately. The legislation is monitored and enforced on a daily basis in licensed slaughterhouses by Official Veterinary Surgeons of the MHS.

    River Flooding
    Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to alleviate and prevent the flooding of non-main rivers. [141138]

    Mr. Morley
    The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has policy responsibility for flood and coastal defence, while operational responsibility for delivering the service falls to the operating authorities: the Environment Agency, local authorities and internal drainage boards. The Environment Agency has a general supervisory duty over all matters relating to flood defence. Local authorities and internal drainage boards are empowered to undertake work on non-main rivers. The Ministry provides grant aid for capital flood defence schemes. To be eligible for Ministry grant, schemes must meet specific economic, environmental and technical criteria and achieve an appropriate "priority score" (derived from an assessment of ministerial priorities, urgency and benefit:cost ratio).

    Veterinary Dispensing
    Mrs. Ray Michie
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations he has received from(a) farmers and (b) veterinary surgeons in Scotland regarding his consultation on the reform of the dispensing of veterinary products; and if he will make a statement. [141028]

    Ms Quin
    The group carrying out an independent review of dispensing as part of the Action Plan for Farming has received written representations from the National Farmers Union of Scotland and one individual farmer. The group has also received 32 representations from veterinary surgeons in Scotland. The chairman and a member of the Independent Review Group have met the National Farmers Union of Scotland and attended 882W
    a meeting of the Northern and Scottish Veterinary Action Group in Edinburgh during November. These representations, along with those received from elsewhere in the United Kingdom, are being carefully considered by the review group, which will report to my right hon. Friend the Minister by 31 March 2001.

    Sugar Beet
    Miss McIntosh
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will postpone(a) proposed increases in price and (b) reductions in quotas for sugar beet pending further reform of the common agricultural policy; and if he will make a statement. [140899]

    Ms Quin
    The Government have made it clear that they would like to see further reform of the EU sugar regime, and a review in two years would coincide with other reviews of agricultural sectors in the EU. We are not in favour of price increases or quota cuts.

    Growth Promoters
    Ms Jenny Jones
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the antibiotics approved for use as growth promoters in farm animals in the(a) United Kingdom and (b) EU member states. [140898]

    Ms Quin
    Antimicrobial growth promoters are authorised as feed additives throughout the European Union under procedures set out in Council Directive 70/524 EEC as amended. The four growth promoters currently authorised are Avilamycin, Flavophospholipol, Monensin Sodium and Salinomycin Sodium. None of these antimicrobial compounds is authorised or is in a class of antibiotics authorised for the treatment of humans or animals.

    Expenditure
    Mr. Yeo
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the departmental expenditure limits for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Intervention Board and the Forestry Commission for the period covered by the last three spending reviews, calculated according to the(a) cash and (b) resource budgeting method. [134009]

    Mr. Nick Brown
    [holding answer 23 October 2000]: There have been only two spending reviews as such; the first was the Comprehensive Spending Review in 1998 and the second was the 2000 Spending Review. The relevant total MAFF, Intervention Board and Forestry Commission departmental expenditure limits are as follows:

    £ million

    1998 spending review

    2000 spending review

    Year

    Cash

    Resource

    Cash1

    Resource

    1999–2000

    1,344

    1,385

    —

    —

    2000–01

    1,265

    1,314

    —

    —

    2001–022

    1,303

    —

    —

    1,258

    2002–03

    —

    —

    —

    1,328

    2003–04

    —

    —

    —

    1,348

    1Departmental plans are currently being finalised. Cash requirements will not be available until that process is complete.

    2Changes in the 2001–02 figures between the 1998 spending review and the 2000 spending review are explained in the answer to PQ 134008, Official Report, 31 October 2000, at column 377W.

    Departmental Employees (HIV)
    Mr. Wigley
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to ensure that people who are HIV-positive do not suffer discrimination as a result of employment practices followed by his Department. [137785]

    Ms Quin
    The Ministry aims to create and promote an environment in which all staff are treated fairly and with respect and have equality of opportunity for employment and advancement solely on the basis of their suitability for the work.

    Beef Imports
    Mr. Robert Jackson
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what restrictions are imposed on the import of beef for processing and re-export; and what quantities of beef have been imported from France for such purposes in the last 12 months. [138777]

    Ms Quin
    [holding answer 17 November 2000]: The re-export of beef and beef products produced in Great Britain from imported beef is subject to the restrictions of the XAP scheme as set out in the Bovines and Bovine Products (Trade) Regulations 1999. All establishments involved in the production chain from initial import through to final re-export must be officially approved under this scheme and under official veterinary supervision. They must also have a system of tracing and segregation in place and comply with strict requirements on labelling, storage, sealing and certification.

    2,722 tonnes of beef carcase meat was imported from France during the 12 months ending August 2000. However, official overseas trade statistics do not record the end use of imported goods, and data on any re-export of this beef under the XAP scheme are not available.

    Better Regulation Task Force
    Mr. Steen
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to hold meetings with representatives of the farming industry in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) Devon following the publication of the Better Regulation Task Force report on Environmental Regulations and Farmers. [139316]

    Ms Quin
    [holding answer 22 November 2000]: I and my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment are considering the report very carefully. It was also discussed at the Agriculture Industry Forum on 23 November. We are now considering how to build on this, and what further discussions will be helpful to further work to reduce unnecessary burdens on fanning while giving proper protection to the environment.

    Mr. Steen
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which regulations will be repealed as a result of the Better Regulation Task Force's review of environmental regulations and farmers. [140833]

    Mr. Steen
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which regulations will be repealed following Better Regulation Task Force review of environmental regulations and farmers. [140872]
    884W
    Ms Quin
    I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 27 November 2000,Official Report, column 402W.

    French Beef
    Mr. Edwards
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the volume of French beef imported into the UK in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [140852]

    Ms Quin
    The volume of beef imported into the UK from France in the 12-month period from September 1999 to August 2000, as recorded by the Overseas Trade Statistics, is approximately 5,500 tonnes. The country from which these imports originated is not recorded in the Overseas Trade Statistics; therefore not necessarily all beef shown as being imported from France will be of French origin. Similarly, this figure will exclude any beef of French origin imported from other member states.

    Salmon
    Mr. Ruane
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what levels of(a) dichlorvos, (b) carithaxanthin and (c) oxytetracycline have been found in salmon in the United Kingdom in the last 12 months. [141183]

    Ms Quin
    The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) operates a statutory national surveillance scheme, which implements Directive 96/23. Under the scheme a wide range of home-produced animals and animal products, including farmed fish, are analysed to monitor residue levels for a large number of veterinary medicines and environmental contaminants. These include dichlorvos and oxytetracycline.

    In 1999, 22 samples of farmed salmon were tests for organophosphates and 160 samples were tested for tetracyclines. Up to 11 September 2000, 16 samples of farmed salmon have been tested for organophosphates and 122 samples tested for tetracyclines. No residues of organophosphates or tetracyclines were detected. Results of completed analyses are published on a quarterly basis in the VMD's Medicines Act Veterinary Information Service (MAVIS) and in the VMD's annual report.

    Canthaxanthin is a carotenoid pigment permitted as an additive in feed for salmon and trout. We do not have data for levels of canthaxanthin found in salmon in the United Kingdom for the last 12 months. However, in its report of June 1997 the European Commission's Scientific Committee for Food stated that a representative level of the substance in salmon would be 0.1mg canthaxanthin per 100g of fish.

  HEALTH

    Flu Vaccine
    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each health authority(a) the number of people eligible for the flu vaccine, (b) the number of shots

    885W
    of vaccine available, (c) whether it has reported a shortage in supply and (d) the take-up of vaccine to date. [135153]

    Yvette Cooper
    [holding answer 30 October 2000]: The number of people over 65 eligible for flu vaccine is shown in table 1. The number of shots of vaccine available to each health authority is not held centrally. Health authorities are currently collating the latest information on uptake rates so far to submit to the Department and we will release these figures in due course.

    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. Table 2 shows the main health authorities affected, all of which will receive the full supplies by the end of November.

    Table 1: Health authority flu uptake rates as at 31 October

    Region/HA

    Number of 65 and over per HA1

    Eastern

    Bedfordshire

    72,759

    Cambridgeshire

    102,828

    East and North Hertfordshire

    74,134

    Norfolk

    155,515

    North Essex

    150,827

    South Essex

    113,328

    Suffolk

    118,562

    West Hertfordshire

    80,437

    Northern and Yorkshire

    Bradford

    68,842

    Calderdale and Kirklees

    86,578

    County Durham

    98,024

    East Riding

    95,057

    Gateshead and South Tyneside

    60,662

    Leeds

    109,718

    Newcastle and North Tyneside

    77,097

    North Cumbria

    55,690

    North Yorkshire

    133,554

    Northumberland

    52,840

    Sunderland

    44,378

    Tees

    82,885

    Wakefield

    46,803

    South East

    Berkshire

    99,821

    Buckinghamshire

    87,158

    East Kent

    117,048

    East Surrey

    71,266

    East Sussex, Brighton/Hove

    155,188

    Isle of Wight

    29,008

    North and Mid Hampshire

    74,982

    Northamptonshire

    87,515

    Oxfordshire

    85,950

    Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

    89,786

    Southampton and South West Hampshire

    92,134

    West Kent

    142,844

    West Surrey

    99,662

    West Sussex

    151,876

    886W

    Table 1: Health authority flu uptake rates as at 31 October

    Region/HA

    Number of 65 and over per HA1

    North West

    Bury and Rochdale

    55,189

    East Lancashire

    75,668

    Liverpool

    66,656

    Manchester

    55,442

    Morecambe Bay

    56,851

    North Cheshire

    42,415

    North West Lancashire

    87,998

    Salford and Trafford

    70,525

    Sefton

    54,453

    South Cheshire

    109,557

    South Lancashire

    46,398

    St. Helen's and Knowsley

    48,286

    Stockport

    47,797

    West Pennine

    66,737

    Wigan and Bolton

    82,301

    Wirral

    57,312

    London

    Barking and Havering

    63,319

    Barnet

    45,446

    Bexley and Greenwich

    61,926

    Brent and Harrow

    56,405

    Bromley

    50,246

    Camden and Islington

    43,475

    Croydon

    42,466

    Ealing, Hammersmith, Hounslow

    76,641

    East London and City

    63,468

    Enfield and Haringey

    60,214

    Hillingdon

    34,408

    Kensington, Chelsea, West

    46,953

    Kingston and Richmond

    46,165

    Lambeth, Southwark and Lew

    84,388

    Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

    79,603

    Redbridge and Waltham Forest

    59,525

    South West

    Avon

    160,918

    Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

    98,842

    Dorset

    150,916

    Gloucestershire

    96,867

    North and East Devon

    99,794

    Somerset

    95,242

    South and West Devon

    114,099

    Wiltshire

    93,707

    Trent

    Barnsley

    36,067

    Doncaster

    45,779

    Leicestershire

    138,709

    Lincolnshire

    119,534

    North Derbyshire

    64,172

    North Nottinghamshire

    63,871

    Nottingham

    99,105

    Rotherham

    38,682

    Sheffield

    85,312

    Southern Derbyshire

    89,391

    South Humber

    51,099

    West Midlands

    Birmingham

    145,501

    Coventry

    46,559

    Dudley

    50,031

    Herefordshire

    32,279

    North Staffordshire

    76,207

    Sandwell

    45,996

    Shropshire

    69,229

    Solihull

    33,045

    887W

    Table 1: Health authority flu uptake rates as at 31 October

    Region/HA

    Number of 65 and over per HA1

    South Staffordshire

    87,173

    Walsall

    41,455

    Warwickshire

    80,244

    Wolverhampton

    39,636

    Worcester

    88,251

    Grand total—England

    7,780,879

    1Population data taken from mid-year resident population estimates for 1999 by health authorities, for 65 and over

    Note:

    Uptake data taken from flu co-ordinators monitoring returns

    Table 2: Health authorities reporting vaccine supply problems

    Region

    Health authority

    Northern and Yorkshire Region

    North Cumbria

    South East Region

    East Sussex, Brighton/Hove

    North West Region

    Salford and Trafford

    London

    Brent and Harrow Croydon East London and City Hillingdon Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

    West Midlands

    Walsall

    Meat Inspection Charges
    Mr. Gill
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was(a) the cost of and (b) the length of time taken to produce the Maclean report on meat inspection charges. [137565]

    Ms Stuart
    I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that the total cost of the Meat Inspection Charges Task Force was approximately £44,250. The Task Force's deliberations took approximately two and a half months. The initial meeting of the Task Force took place on 6 April 2000 and its final report and recommendations were published by the Food Standards Agency on 26 June.

    Mr. Gill
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the organisations that have made representations regarding meat inspection charges within the past 12 months. [137566]

    Ms Stuart
    I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that a large number of organisations have made representations regarding meat inspection charges within the past twelve months. A full list is being placed in the Library.

    Care Homes
    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has received over the last six months from local authorities and health authorities regarding(a) capacity in nursing homes and residential care homes, (b) changes in time taken to find suitable care home spaces for patients discharged from hospital and (c) local and regional variations in (i) care home capacity and (ii) hospital discharge times. [137121]

    Mr. Hutton
    [holding answer 9 November 2000]: National Statistics, relating to 31 March 2000, on the number of residential care and nursing home places/ registered beds were published in the Statistical Bulletin "Community Care Statistics 2000: Residential Personal
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    Social Services for Adults, England" on 28 November. As part of securing effective planning for the coming winter the social services inspectorate has asked directors of social services for an indication of changes in the supply of residential care and nursing home places available in their areas.

    Information on the length of delay in discharging patients to care homes is not collected centrally. Information is collected for England on the percentage of over-75s whose discharge is delayed awaiting a care home placement, some of whom will be exercising their right to await a place in a home of their choice. For the second quarter of 2000 (the latest figures available) this was 3.8 per cent., a total of 1757 individuals.

    The community care statistics 2000 referred to show the breakdown of residential care and nursing home places/registered beds at health and local authority level. Laing and Buisson's Care of Elderly People Market Survey 2000 shows the occupancy rate in private nursing and residential homes, by region, in March 2000.

    Information on hospital discharge times is not collected centrally.

    Abattoirs
    Mr. Paterson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he has received from the Food Standards Agency about the Restriction on Pithing (England) Regulations 2000 with particular reference to the impact on working practices in abattoirs. [139649]

    Ms Stuart
    The Food Standards Agency has advised that many abattoirs may have to modify their current working practices to compensate for the ban on pithing. I understand that to minimise the risk of injury to staff from involuntary kicking by stunned animals, abattoirs will need to hoist and slaughter animals very quickly after stunning. To achieve a short stun to slaughter time modifications may be required to enable staff to operate out of the range of kicks. In some cases this may mean abattoirs will have to adapt buildings and/or equipment.

    The Food Standards Agency is undertaking a consultation exercise on the introduction of the Restriction on Pithing (England) Regulations 2000. One of the main purposes of the consultation exercise is to obtain information, direct from stakeholders, on the potential effects the new legislation will have. The Agency will advise me if any additional information is obtained by this exercise which closes on 30 November.

    Mr. Paterson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate has been made as to the likely rise in the number of days employees in abattoirs may be absent as a result of the prohibition on pithing. [139617]

    Ms Stuart
    [holding answer 22 November 2000]: No estimate has been made as to the possible rise in employee absence in abattoirs following the introduction of the pithing ban.

    The Food Standards Agency is leading the consultation exercise on the introduction of the Restriction on Pithing Regulations (2000). One of the main purposes of the consultation exercise is to obtain information, direct from stakeholders, on the potential effects the new legislation will have. Once the consultation exercise ends on 30 November more information may be available.
    889W
    Mr. Paterson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact on the commercial liability of abattoirs of the Restriction on Pithing (England) Regulations 2000 with specific reference to(a) small abattoirs and (b) large abattoirs; and if he will make a statement. [139619]

    Ms Stuart
    [holding answer 22 November 2000]: The Food Standards Agency is conducting a consultation exercise on the introduction of the Restriction on Pithing (England) Regulations 2000.

    One of the main purposes of the consultation is to obtain information, direct from those most affected, on the possible impact of the new legislation. The consultation documents specifically request information on the financial implications to both small and large abattoirs, and in particular asks if modifications to slaughterline procedures will be required.

    Once the consultation exercise ends on 30 November, the Agency will closely examine the responses it has received and make an assessment on the commercial impact on abattoirs of all sizes.

    Mr. Paterson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate has been made as to the number of employees in abattoirs likely to suffer injury as a result of the prohibition on pithing; [139620]

    (2) if the prohibition of pithing under the Restriction on Pithing (England) Regulations 2000 will create a significant increase in risk to the safety of employees in abattoirs. [139622]

    Ms Stuart
    [holding answer 22 November 2000]: The Food Standards Agency is conducting a consultation exercise on the introduction of the Restriction of Pithing Regulations (2000). As part of this exercise the Agency is seeking information on the potential impact of the Regulations including any possible impact on worker safety.

    Pithing is currently practised in many abattoirs to immobilise stunned animals to reduce the risk of worker injury through involuntary kicking.

    Safety in the workplace is the responsibility of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). I understand the HSE is, in collaboration with the meat industry, developing guidelines and procedures that will help to minimise any potential risk to abattoir employees.

    Mr. Paterson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the basis is for his policy forbidding the use of pithing in abattoirs; [139618]

    (2) if the practice of pithing bovine animals in abattoirs gives rise to a significant risk to human health. [139623]

    Ms Stuart
    [holding answer 22 November 2000]: The ban on pithing is being introduced as part of a wider package of measures which implement European Union Decision 2000/418/EC. The Food Standards Agency advises me that, overall, these measures will provide benefit to consumers in terms of further reducing the risk of possible exposure to BSE infectivity. This is also the view of the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee.
    890W
    The ban was included in the EU Decision on the advice of the Commission's Standing Veterinary Committee, following research that found that pithing could give rise to the contamination of blood with small fragments of brain tissue. This, in turn, could lead to the contamination of the edible parts of the carcase.

    Deaf People
    Ms Oona King
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what funding is available to health authorities and primary care groups specifically to enable deaf people to access counselling services throughout the National Health Service; [139788]

    (2) what funding is available to health authorities, and primary care groups to facilitate the provision of general medical services for deaf people. [139789]

    Mr. Hutton
    Services for deaf people are funded in the same way as for other groups of the population. All key local stakeholders are involved in the planning, prioritisation and delivery of the local health improvement programmmes and service agreements, which provide the means for addressing local issues, such as services for deaf people.

    Family Data
    Mr. Nigel Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the number of man-hours per year it will take local authority social services departments to collect and process the core data set of information on children and families required by the draft Children's Social Services Core Information Requirements Data Model.[140520]

    Mr. Hutton
    The children's social services core information requirements do not impose new tasks on councils. They were developed collaboratively with representative local authorities and published for consultation on 18 October. They are the Department's response to long-standing requests from local authority social services that a "minimum data set" for children's services be mapped and published. The core requirements comprise statistical information collected by central Government and the additional information that local authorities need themselves to plan and manage children's social service effectively. Most authorities do already collect the bulk of the specified information, either routinely or as and when required. The requirements are intended to assist local authorities in their negotiations with software suppliers to commission information systems that best suit their needs and promote the greatest possible efficiency in children's services.

    NHS Dentistry
    Mr. Win Griffiths
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of NHS dentists needed to ensure that everyone has access to an NHS dentist. [140636]

    Mr. Hutton
    It is not possible to estimate with accuracy the number of National Health Service dentists needed to ensure that everyone has access to a NHS dentist. There are now 17,692 dentists in the General Dental Service (traditional, high street dentists) in England compared to 16,303 in 1997.
    891W
    Although the number of dentists has consistently risen, the amount of time they spend treating NHS patients has dropped. This is because, on average, dentists have increased the amount of time that they devote to private practice and more are working part-time.

    Mr. Win Griffiths
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for health authority area the ratio of NHS dentists to the population in each of the last 10 years, indicating for each year the areas where there has been a shortage of NHS dentists and the number required to make up the shortfall. [140641]

    Mr. Hutton
    The information for England has been placed in the Library.

    This information does not necessarily reflect whether there was a shortage of National Health Service dentists. A number of other factors also have a strong bearing. Such factors include the varying level of commitment of dentists to the NHS and different levels of demand.

    Mr. Win Griffiths
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list, by health authority area, how many(a) adults and (b) children registered with NHS dentists in each of the last 10 years; and what percentage this represents of the total number of adults and children respectively. [140638]

    Mr. Hutton
    The information for England has been placed in the Library.

    The information shows that the number of patients registered with a dentist has declined since 1993. This is mainly due to dentists choosing to increase their private practice, to more dentists working part-time, the reduction in the registration period in 1996 and a drive to eliminate duplicate registrations.

    Comparable data for 1991 are not available because registration was only introduced in October 1990 and the number of patients registered was still growing until 1992.

    Mr. Win Griffiths
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many students are undertaking dental studies; and how many new students entered dental schools in each of the last 10 years.[140637]

    Mr. Hutton
    In January 2000 there were 4,185 students in training in the United Kingdom. The table shows the number of new pre-clinical students entering dental schools in the United Kingdom for the academic years 1991–92 to 2000–01.

    UK dental schools—admissions to dental schools in the United Kingdom

    Academic year

    Actual intake of pre-clinical students

    1991–92

    870

    1992–93

    849

    1993–94

    891

    1994–95

    936

    1995–96

    924

    1996–97

    937

    1997–98

    888

    892W

    UK dental schools—admissions to dental schools in the United Kingdom

    Academic year

    Actual intake of pre-clinical students

    1998–99

    866

    1999–2000

    877

    2000–011

    915

    1Provisional data

    Source:

    Higher Education Funding Council for England Universities and Colleges Admissions Service

    Visudyne
    Mr. Amess
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ensure that Visudyne is made available to NHS patients. [140575]

    Ms Stuart
    Visudyne (Verteporfin) received its marketing authorisation from the European Commission on 27 July. It may be prescribed for National Health Service patients when it is clinically appropriate to do so.

    Child Abuse
    Mr. Mackinlay
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research has been commissioned and evaluated into the extent of child abuse and its causes; and if he will make a statement. [140002]

    Mr. Hutton
    [holding answer 27 November 2000]: The Government are committed to researching into the nature and extent of child abuse and its causes. In 1995, they published key findings from a programme of 20 pieces of research, undertaken at the time of the implementation of the Children Act 1989, which came into force in October 1991. "Child Protection: Messages from Research" is available from The Stationery Office; it served to make the lessons of research accessible to professionals working with children and to demonstrate their relevance for policy and practice.

    The Government acknowledge the value of the study published this week by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, "Child Maltreatment in the United Kingdom", as an authoritative contemporary prevalence study of abuse and neglect.

    This latest research follows the important work of the NSPCC-supported independent National Commission of Inquiry into the Prevention of Child Abuse, chaired by Lord Williams of Mostyn, published as "Childhood Matters" in 1996, and available from The Stationery Office.

    We continue regularly to commission research into the needs of children and the impact of services which aim to promote and safeguard the welfare of children. Projects considering the causes, directly or in part of child abuse include; a study aimed at advancing knowledge about the psychological maltreatment of a specific group of children and the comparative costs and outcomes of different interventions for sexually abused children.

    Nursing Care
    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 22 November 2000, Official Report, column 209W, concerning nursing care, if he will
    893W
    make available in the Library the methodology and data used to calculate the differences in the average costs of residential and nursing care. [140488]

    Mr. Hutton
    [holding answer 28 November 2000]: The "Care of Elderly People, Market Survey 2000", published by Laing and Buisson (available in the Library), found that in March 2000 the average difference in fees for elderly people in private nursing homes and private residential homes was just over £100 a week. This formed the basis of the estimation of the costs of nursing care.

    Learning Disabilities
    Mr. Boswell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish a strategy document on people with learning disabilities. [140394]

    Mr. Hutton
    [holding answer 29 November 2000]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced in October 1999 that work was to start on developing a new national learning disability strategy. Work has been taken forward in six working groups—children, family carers, supporting independence, health, partnerships, workforce planning and training—whose membership included representatives of central and local government, the health service, academic interests, voluntary organisations, service users, their families and carers. Seven regional seminars held between March and May provided occasions for local organisations—local authorities, health authorities, service providers, service users, and carers—to hear about and contribute to the strategy.

    I announced in October that the strategy is to be published as a White Paper in the early months of next year.

    Nursing Home Care
    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what circumstances NHS trusts will top up the fees of a social services department-funded nursing home placement; how many NHS trusts are topping-up; and how much trusts have spent on topping-up in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [140793]

    Mr. Hutton
    [holding answer 29 November 2000]: The National Health Service cannot top up the fees for a basic package of nursing home care funded by social services. However, the NHS will provide services which are additional to the basic package of nursing home care, such as continence advice or chiropody. Information is not collected centrally on the separate costs of these services, which form part of normal community health service and other NHS provision.

    War Pensioners
    Mrs. Lait
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his policy towards the access to treatment by the NHS for war pensioners. [141010]

    Mr. Hutton
    We have made it clear that National Health Service hospitals should give war pensioners priority treatment for those conditions for which they receive a pension or have received a gratuity. In the past three years we have reminded NHS trusts of the arrangements for priority treatment of war pensioners (Health Service Guidance 97/31). I have placed copies of these documents in the Library.

    Community Health Councils
    Mr. Bob Russell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the oral answer of the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr. O'Brien) of 15 November 2000,Official Report, column 937, what action he has taken to ensure full consultation with the Association of Community Health Councils for England and Wales as regards the future role of community health councils in respect of the National Plan. [R] [1409451]

    Ms Stuart
    Over the past few months we have held a series of stakeholder seminars both nationally and locally involving key patient, user and voluntary sector organisations to develop the detail of the new arrangements for public and patient involvement. The Association of Community Health Councils for England and Wales (ACHCEW) has been a key player in the national seminars and has separately met health Ministers and officials. ACHCEW have also undertaken to conduct their own exercise to take the views of community health councils locally, and a major national event for these purposes will be held on 4 December.

    The output from the seminars, and from the event to be hosted by ACHCEW will be taken into account when developing the guidance for the new arrangements, which will be launched at a national event in the New Year.

    MRSA Infection
    Ms Jenny Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assess the public health implications of the use of antibiotic growth promoters in farm animal feed in relation to the efficacy of the treatment of MRSA infections. [140897]

    Mr. Denham
    An in-depth review of microbial antibiotic resistance in relation to food safety was undertaken by the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF) and published in September 1999. The Government's response to the ACMSF's recommendations was published on 24 March 2000. Copies of the report and our response are available in the Library.

    We are committed to a co-ordinated research programme to investigate problems associated with resistance to antimicrobials in the context of public health. This programme is being co-ordinated by an interdepartmental steering group on resistance to antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents. The steering group carries out this work as part of the implementation of the Government strategy to combat antimicrobial resistance which was published in June. Infection control, including MRSA, is one of the key parts of this strategy. Copies are available in the Library.

    Antimicrobial growth promoters are authorised as feed additives throughout the European Union under procedures set out in Council Directive 70–524 EC as amended. None of these antimicrobial compounds is authorised or is in a class of antibiotics authorised for the treatment of humans or animals, and as such would not directly affect the treatment of MRSA infections.

    Infertility Treatment
    Ms Keeble
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for tackling variations in access to treatment for infertility; and if he will make a statement. [141284]

    Yvette Cooper
    The provision of infertility services causes concern to many couples.

    We have listened carefully to the representations we have received from couples seeking infertility treatment, and from their Members of Parliament and interested bodies working in the field. And we have been considering how we can best respond to these very genuine concerns about variations in provision. We are placing in the Library a report on a baseline survey of infertility services in the National Health Service in 1997 conducted by the Department.

    The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has produced three sets of guidelines for the management of infertility treatment. We are therefore asking the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) to consider and update these documents to ensure that clinical guidelines, based on the latest knowledge and best practice are available for use throughout the NHS.

    We want to see an improved service and greater efficiency for the benefit of patients. We see the referral of these guidelines to NICE as a major step forward in infertility treatment by which we can act positively to improve services and reduce the postcode lottery in this area of health care.

    Parliamentary Questions
    Mr. Paterson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will answer the questions tabled by the hon. Member for North Shropshire for answer on 22 November on the subject of pithing (Refs. 13617–20, 139623, 139649 and 139683). [141298]

    Ms Stuart
    I replied to the hon. Member today,Official Report, columns 888–90W.

    Ambulance Service
    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each of the last three years and for each NHS region the average number of 999 calls placed to the ambulance service in each month from December to March. [141003]

    Ms Stuart
    The information requested is not available on a monthly basis. Information about the number of 999 calls to National Health Service ambulance trusts in each NHS region for each of the last three years is contained in the Department of Health Statistical Bulletin "Ambulance Services, England 1999–2000". A copy is in the Library and available on the website www.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0014.htm.

    Zanamivir
    Dr. Tonge
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what contraindications there are to healthy adults taking zanamivir for influenza. [140826]
    896W
    Ms Stuart
    Relenza (zanamivir) is for the treatment of both influenza A and B in adults and adolescents of 12 years and over who present with symptoms typical of influenza when influenza is circulating in the community. It is contraindicated in patients who are hypersensitive to any ingredient of the preparation.

    Dr. Tonge
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to make zanamivir available over the counter in pharmacies for self treatment of influenza. [140827]

    Ms Stuart
    Relenza (zanamivir) is classified as a Prescription Only Medicine under criteria embodied in United Kingdom and European Community legislation. We have taken steps to allow for the direct supply of zanamivir by health professionals (including pharmacists and nurses) under the generalised directions of a doctor through patient group directions. There are no proposals to change the legal status of zanamivir to pharmacy only.

    Overseas Healthcare Charges
    Fiona Mactaggart
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what means UK residents travelling abroad are informed about charges for healthcare in other countries. [141045]

    Ms Stuart
    For countries with which the United Kingdom has reciprocal health arrangements, information about patient charges is included in the public information leaflet "Health Advice for Travellers", copies of which are available in the Library. Information about charges in non-reciprocal agreement countries is not routinely collected.

    Shipman Case
    Mr. Brady
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what legal costs have been incurred by his Department in contesting the judicial review of his Department's decision not to allow a full public inquiry into the Shipman case. [140892]

    Mr. Denham
    The legal costs incurred by the Department in contesting the judicial review of the decision to take evidence in private were £53,025 (this includes the cost of the original Laming Inquiry which has now been abandoned). In addition we have agreed to pay the applicants' legal costs which are currently subject to the detailed assessment of the court.

    English Abattoirs (Inspection Charges)
    Mr. Mitchell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has for extending the type of financial help with inspection charges made available in the Welsh Assembly's draft agricultural budget to English abattoirs; and what discussions he has held with the Commission about the acceptability of such help. [136661]

    Ms Quin
    I have been asked to reply.

    As announced in the Rural White Paper published on 28 November, Agriculture Departments in England, Scotland and Wales have agreed to transfer £8.7 million to the Food Standards Agency for the three financial years 2001–02 to 2003–04; this will enable the FSA to implement the principal recommendation of the Task Force chaired by Colin Maclean to revise the method of charging for Meat Hygiene Service inspections in

    897W
    abattoirs and cutting plants. The FSA will be consulting the industry shortly on its proposals. Implementation of the Maclean recommendation will significantly reduce inspection charges levied on many small and medium-sized meat plants and thus be of considerable benefit to the rural economy.

    Water Fluoridation
    Mr. Win Griffiths
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the levels of tooth decay among(a) children and (b) adults in areas where fluoride (i) is and (ii) is not present in drinking water. [145000]

    Mr. Hutton
    The recent independent systematic review of water fluoridation conducted by the University of York Centre for Reviews and Dissemination confirmed that fluoridation reduces tooth decay by, on average, 2.25 teeth per child, and increase by 15 per cent. the proportion of children completely free from tooth decay.

    Adults living in fluoridated areas have less tooth decay and keep more of their own teeth for longer than those living in non-fluoridated areas.

    Mr. Win Griffiths
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce legislation to allow local communities to take decisions on the fluoridation of drinking water in their areas.[140564]

    Mr. Hutton
    Section 89 of the Water Industries Act empowers health authorities to consult on the fluoridation of their water supplies but Section 87 gives the water undertaker discretion over whether or not to accept a request to add fluoride.

    We will be discussing the research report of the systematic review of water fluoridation undertaken by the National Health Service Centre for Reviews and Dissemination at the University of York with representatives of the water industry. The Medical Research Council is establishing a working group to advise on whether further research in the area of water fluoridation and human health is required. We will review the need for any changes in the legislation when this action is complete.

    Cancer
    Mr. Fearn
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) female and (b) male cancer sufferers there are in England and Wales. [139664]

    Miss Melanie Johnson
    I have been asked to reply.

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

    Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Ronnie Fearn, dated 30 November 2000:

    As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question on the numbers of female and male cancer sufferers in England and Wales. (139663)

    The latest available estimate is for 1993(a) In that year there were about 600,000 females (2.3 per cent. of the female population) and 365,000 (1.5 per cent. of the male population) in England and Wales who had been diagnosed with cancer(b).

    (a) Patients diagnosed from 1971 (when records began) to 1992 who were still alive in 1993.

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    (b) All malignant neoplasms (International Classification of Diseases Tenth Revision (ICD10) codes C00-C97, excluding non-melanoma skin cancer (ICD10 C44).

    These results were published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in the article 'Cancer trends in England and Wales, 1950–1999' in Health Statistics Quarterly No.8 earlier this month. This is the first reliable information on cancer prevalence to be produced. A copy of this publication has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

  CABINET OFFICE

    Investors in People
    Miss McIntosh
    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office who is responsible for administering Investors in People. [139118]

    Mr. Stringer
    The Department for Education and Employment is responsible for the administration of IIP at national level, with IIPUK as the standard setting body. The Cabinet Office maintain a strategic overview for the administration of IIP in the Civil Service although individual Departments and agencies are responsible for their own achievement.

    Chequers
    Mr. Lidington
    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many helicopter flights to and from Chequers there have been on Government business since 2 May 1997. [139339]

    Mr. Stringer
    As far as I am aware, between 2 May 1997 and 20 November 2000 there were three flights to and from Chequers on Government business, all of which involved the transport of foreign leaders visiting Britain.

    Departmental Policies
    Mr. Kaufman
    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she 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. [136150]

    Mr. Stringer
    The policy recommendations in Cabinet Office reports relate to England as a whole and it is therefore not possible to say what their specific impact is on the Manchester, Gorton constituency. Additionally any policy changes arising from Cabinet Office units, such as the Social Exclusion Unit and the United Kingdom Anti-Drugs Co-ordination Unit, reports are implemented by the appropriate Government Department rather than by the Unit itself.

    Cabinet Committee on Rural Affairs
    Mr. Breed
    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what level of civil service staff support is provided to the Cabinet Committee on rural affairs; and what the approximate annual cost is of this support. [140404]

    Mr. Stringer
    It is established practice under exemption two of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information not to disclose information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet Committees.

    People's Peerages
    Mr. Gordon Prentice
    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if it is a condition of appointment to a people's peerage that the applicant sits on the Cross Benches; and if she will make a statement. [140330]

    Mr. Stringer
    I understand that the House of Lords Appointments Commission has made clear that it is looking to recommend non-party political members of the House of Lords. Membership of a party or past political activity is not a bar to nomination but the Commission will seek to assure itself that the nominee, if recommended for appointment, will act independently of the political parties. However, once created, where a peer sits in the House of Lords is a free choice of the peer and the party whose whip he or she wishes to take.

    Mr. Gordon Prentice
    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will publish a breakdown of the applications for a people's peerage by(a) gender, (b) age, (c) ethnic background, (d) place of residence, (e) employment status and (f) occupation. [140326]

    Mr. Stringer
    I understand that the House of Lords Appointments Commission is still analysing the applications which it has received but hopes to make this information available soon.

    Mr. Gordon Prentice
    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when candidates for the people's peerages will have their names submitted to Her Majesty the Queen. [140327]

    Mr. Stringer
    I understand that the House of Lords Appointments Commission hopes to be in a position to pass its recommendations to the Prime Minister in the first three months of 2001.

    Mr. Gordon Prentice
    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if unsuccessful applicants for a people's peerage are to be given reasons for their rejection. [140328]

    Mr. Stringer
    I understand that the House of Lords Appointments Commission has not undertaken to give reasons as to why a nominee has been unsuccessful.

    Mr. Gordon Prentice
    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many applicants for a people's peerage are to be invited for interviews. [140329]

    Mr. Stringer
    I understand that the House of Lords Appointments Commission has not yet reached a decision on this.

    Mr. Gordon Prentice
    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if rejected applicants for a people's peerage will be allowed to re-apply. [140325]

    Mr. Stringer
    I understand that the House of Lords Appointments Commission will assess all nominations on individual merit, guided by the published assessment criteria drawn up by the Commission. Some nominees will not meet these criteria but it is of course open to them to resubmit their nominations.

    NDPBs (North-East)
    Mr. Beith
    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will list those non-departmental public bodies(a) which have (i) headquarters and (ii) administrative offices within the area covered by the Government Office
    900W
    for the North East, (b) whose remit covers broadly the same area as that of the Government Office for the North East and (c) have members appointed following consultations involving the Government Office for the North East. [140699]

    Mr. Stringer
    This information is not held centrally. However, the annual "Public Bodies" publication provides general information on the location, remit and membership of all non-departmental public bodies. Copies of "Public Bodies 1999" have been placed in the Libraries of the House. "Public Bodies 2000" is due to be published next month.

    Civil Service (Sickness)
    Mr. Matthew Taylor
    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when she plans to publish the Cabinet Office annual report on sickness in the Civil Service. [141085]

    Mr. Stringer
    The report on sickness absence in the Civil Service in 1999 is currently being finalised and is expected to be published shortly. A further announcement will be made at that time and copies of the report will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

    Business Regulation
    Mr. Clappison
    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent representations she has received about the level of regulation on business. [139570]

    Mr. Stringer
    My ministerial colleagues and I have sought and received representations from a wide range of business organisations. I have met most recently with the Industry Forum and the Chemical Industries Association and have also visited local Chambers of Commerce in many parts of the country. My officials in the Regulatory Impact Unit meet regularly with the Institute of Directors, the Confederation of British Industry, the Federation of Small Businesses, the Forum of Private Business, the British Chambers of Commerce and the TUC.

    Constitutional Convention
    Mr. Matthew Taylor
    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what guidance is provided to Departments on what constitutes a constitutional convention for the purposes of the Civil Service Code; and if she will make a statement. [141246]

    Mr. Stringer
    The Civil Service Code explains the key constitutional principles that govern the Civil Service.

    Civil Servants
    Mr. Livsey
    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will remove the restrictions on civil servants employed in the intermediate grades to permit them to stand as parliamentary candidates. [141034]

    Mr. Stringer
    The rules on the conduct of civil servants with respect to political activities are set out in the Civil Service Management Code. Their scope is under review.

    Better Regulation Task Force
    Mr. Steen
    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what have been the administrative and running costs of the Better Regulation Task Force in each of the last three years. [140873]

    Mr. Stringer
    I refer the hon. Member to the answer
    I gave him on 29 November 2000, Official Report, column 671W.

    Departmental Employees (New Deal)
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many staff her Department employs under the New Deal for Young People. [137958]

    Mr. Stringer
    [pursuant to his reply, 13 November 2000, c. 551W]: As at 1 October 2000, the information on all Civil Service Departments (including their agencies) participating as employers in the New Deal is as follows:

    New Deal starts as at 1 October 2000

    Main department (including agencies)

    Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

    58

    Intervention Board

    3

    Cabinet Office

    13

    Privy Council Office

    1

    Charity Commission

    25

    Culture, Media and Sport

    4

    Ministry of Defence

    118

    Education and Employment

    2,182

    Office for Standards in Education

    1

    Environment, Transport and the Regions

    63

    Export Credits Guarantee Department

    4

    Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    8

    Government Communications Headquarters

    1

    Government Offices for the Regions

    8

    Health

    39

    Home Office

    89

    International Development

    7

    Law Officers' Departments

    15

    Lord Chancellor's Department

    38

    National Assembly for Wales

    36

    Northern Ireland Office

    11

    Scottish Executive

    54

    Registers of Scotland

    1

    Social Security

    603

    Trade and Industry

    51

    HM Treasury

    3

    Office of Government Commerce

    1

    HM Customs and Excise

    73

    Inland Revenue

    317

    Office for National Statistics

    10

    Royal Mint

    3

    Total

    3,840

  LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

    Judges' Lodgings
    Mr. Dismore
    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list(a) the locations of judges' lodgings and (b) the number of nights each lodging was occupied in each of the last five years. [139153]

    Jane Kennedy
    The information requested for the three years 1997–98 to 1999–2000 is set out in the table.902W
    Prior to 1997 lodgings were administered locally and the requested information could be provided for the two years before 1997 only at disproportionate cost.

    Judges lodgings—number of nights occupied

    Number/lodgings name

    1997–98

    1998–99

    1999–2000

    1 Birmingham

    630

    695

    585

    2 Bristol

    430

    378

    323

    3 Caernarfon

    10

    16

    13

    4 Cardiff

    360

    335

    331

    5 Carlisle

    60

    43

    59

    6 Chelmsford

    68

    98

    113

    7 Chester

    175

    187

    198

    8 Exeter

    110

    118

    73

    9 Leeds

    480

    480

    509

    10 Leicester

    100

    45

    62

    11 Lewes

    170

    155

    120

    12 Lincoln

    60

    65

    42

    13 Liverpool

    430

    400

    529

    14 Maidstone

    140

    165

    120

    15 Manchester

    605

    565

    492

    16 Mold

    25

    50

    23

    17 Northampton

    20

    25

    23

    18 Norwich

    115

    155

    130

    19 Nottingham

    195

    345

    201

    20 Oxford

    35

    45

    72

    21 Plawsworth

    560

    470

    554

    22 Plymouth

    40

    23

    15

    23 Preston

    210

    240

    274

    24 Reading

    115

    99

    110

    25 Sheffield

    205

    257

    230

    26 St. Albans

    105

    120

    165

    27 Stafford

    130

    135

    146

    28 Swansea

    145

    90

    147

    29 Truro

    25

    46

    20

    30 Warwick

    10

    10

    38

    31 Winchester

    340

    295

    370

    32 Worcester

    40

    35

    29

    Mr. Dismore
    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) in respect of the Crown courts situated at(a) St. Albans, (b) Reading, (c) Chelmsford, (d) Colchester and (e) Maidstone (i) how many sitting days were held at each court in each of the last five years, (ii) how many nights the judges' lodgings were occupied in each of the last five years, (iii) how may High Court judges sitting at each of the courts (A) regularly made use of the lodgings, and (B) habitually commuted from their own residence to court and (eave) what was the annual cost of each of the lodgings for each of the last five years [139156]

    (2) what assessment he has made of the value of judges' lodgings and associated expenditure as a benefit in kind for income tax purposes. [140787]

    Mr. Lock
    I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before prorogation. I shall write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

    Mr. Dismore
    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will place in the Library the guidance agreed with the judiciary on the use of lodgings. [140804]

    Jane Kennedy
    Copies of the general guidance on the use of lodgings agreed with the judiciary in 1997 have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
    903W
    It should be noted that the single judge allowance (referred to in the guidance as being £280 per judge week) was raised to £310 from the beginning of 2000.

    Mr. Dismore
    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will issue guidance to(a) High Court and (b) circuit judges on when it is appropriate to commute to court from home; and if he will make a statement. [140806]

    Current rates of accommodation allowances paid to circuit judges staying away from home

    Subsistence1

    Hotels and private clubs in London

    Actual expenditure up to a ceiling of £100 for bed and breakfast costs plus 24 hour allowance of £21 and personal incidental expenditure allowances of £5

    Hotels and private clubs elsewhere

    Actual expenditure up to a ceiling of £80 for bed and breakfast costs plus 24 hour allowance of £21 and personal incidental expenditure allowance of £5

    Staying with friends/relatives in London

    £32.45

    Staying with friends/relatives elsewhere

    £31

    Own property in London (e.g. town flat)

    Reimbursement of certain expenses necessarily incurred up to a limit of £32.45

    Own property elsewhere (e.g. country cottage)

    Reimbursement of certain expenses necessarily incurred up to a limit of £31

    Rented accommodation in London

    Actual expenditure up to a ceiling of £60 for rental costs plus 24 hour allowance of £21 and personal incidental expenditure allowance of £5

    Rented accommodation elsewhere

    Actual expenditure up to a ceiling of £50 for rental costs plus 24 hour allowance of £21 and a personal incidental expenditure allowance of £5

    Hotels, private clubs and rented accommodation in London as an alternative to the above

    £65.15 plus a personal incidental expenditure allowance of £5

    Hotels, private clubs and rented accommodation elsewhere as an alternative to the above

    £62.40 plus a personal incidental expenditure allowance of £5

    1Night subsistence per night

    Mr. Dismore
    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list for each judges' lodgings(a) whether it is (i) rented, (ii) leased and (iii) owned by the Crown, (b) in the case of the lodgings which are rented or leased (i) what the length of the lease is, (ii) what the cost per annum is of (x) rent, (y) service charges and (z) rates, (iii) if the lease is a full repairing lease and (iv) whether the lease is subject to the Landlords and Tenants Act 1954, in respect of business

    Judges lodgings

    Property

    Tenure

    Lease expiry

    Repairing lease

    Landlord and Tenants Act

    Comments

    Birmingham

    Leasehold

    29 September 2074

    Yes

    Yes

    —

    Bristol

    Leasehold

    31 December 2016

    Yes

    Yes

    6 months notice

    Caernarfon

    Hiring

    n/a

    —

    —

    —

    Cardiff

    Freehold

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Carlisle

    Hiring

    n/a

    —

    —

    —

    Chelmsford

    Leasehold

    Licence

    No

    No

    12 months notice

    Chester

    Freehold

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Exeter

    Hiring

    n/a

    —

    —

    —

    Leeds

    Leasehold

    Holding over

    Yes

    Yes

    —

    Leicester

    Hiring

    n/a

    —

    —

    —

    Lewes

    Leasehold

    30 August 2006

    Internal only

    Yes

    6 months notice

    Lincoln

    Hiring

    n/a

    —

    —

    —

    Liverpool

    Leasehold

    31December 2010

    Yes

    Yes

    Break option in 31 December 2003

    Maidstone

    Freehold

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Manchester

    Freehold

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Mold

    Leasehold

    31 March 2017

    Yes

    Yes

    Break option in 2004 and 2011

    Northampton

    Hiring

    n/a

    —

    —

    —

    Norwich

    Freehold

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Nottingham

    Freehold

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Oxford

    Leasehold

    Holding over

    No

    No

    —

    Plawsworth

    Freehold

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Plymouth

    Hiring

    n/a

    —

    —

    —

    Preston

    Freehold

    —

    —

    —

    —

    904W
    Mr. Lock
    No. Such guidance is not required. I refer my hon. Friend to the written answers given to him by my hon. Friend the Member for Wyre Forest (Mr. Lock) on 24 November 2000,Official Report, column 343W.

    Mr. Dismore
    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the allowances for accommodation expenses paid to circuit judges staying away from home.[140812]

    Mr. Lock
    The table sets out the allowances, and the current rates at which they are paid.

    tenants; and (c) in the case of those that are owned (i) what the current capital value is of the property, (ii) what the cost is for each of the last three years of maintenance and (iii) what the cost is for each of the last three years of rates. [140813]

    Jane Kennedy
    The information requested is contained in the tables. While the capital values of the individual freehold lodgings are classified as "Commercial in Confidence", I can confirm that the estimated total capital value of the freehold lodgings estate is £10.84 million.
    905W

    Judges lodgings

    Property

    Tenure

    Lease expiry

    Repairing lease

    Landlord and Tenants Act

    Comments

    Reading

    Freehold

    —

    —

    —

    —

    St. Albans

    Freehold

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Sheffield

    Freehold

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Stafford

    Hiring

    n/a

    —

    —

    —

    Swansea

    Freehold

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Truro

    Hiring

    n/a

    —

    —

    —

    Warwick

    Hiring

    n/a

    —

    —

    —

    Winchester

    Leasehold

    28 September 2896

    Yes

    Yes

    —

    Worcester

    Hiring

    n/a

    —

    —

    —

    £

    CILOR/Rates

    Property

    Rent

    Service charge

    Hiring charge

    1998–99

    1999–2000

    2000–01

    Birmingham

    550.00

    560.36

    —

    4,426.34

    5,037.88

    —

    Bristol

    26,000.00

    —

    —

    11,873.70

    9,844.54

    13,904.41

    Caernarfon

    —

    —

    4,838.00

    —

    —

    —

    Cardiff

    —

    —

    —

    8,597.16

    8,593.16

    8,034.00

    Carlisle

    —

    —

    22,718.00

    —

    —

    —

    Chelmsford

    25,000.00

    42,195.00

    —

    —

    —

    38,272.00

    Chester

    —

    —

    —

    10,448.86

    10,779.52

    10,604.43

    Exeter

    —

    —

    33,930.00

    —

    —

    —

    Leeds

    25,000.00

    24,999.25

    —

    8,382.83

    8,648.11

    —

    Leicester

    —

    —

    25,449.00

    —

    —

    —

    Lewes

    30,000.00

    —

    —

    2,828.99

    3,138.47

    3,008.33

    Lincoln

    —

    —

    21,411.00

    —

    —

    —

    Liverpool

    14,000.00

    —

    —

    18,272.99

    9,742.71

    —

    Maidstone

    —

    —

    —

    10,923.80

    11,269.49

    8,736.00

    Manchester

    —

    —

    —

    25,202.20

    28,609.54

    32,876.65

    Mold

    10,000.00

    25,029.31

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Northampton

    —

    —

    11,967.00

    —

    —

    —

    Norwich

    —

    —

    —

    9,356.48

    9,652.57

    —

    Nottingham

    —

    —

    —

    8,657.43

    7,594.66

    8,620.74

    Oxford

    15,975.00

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Plawsworth

    —

    —

    —

    21,335.74

    7,594.66

    6,968.00

    Plymouth

    —

    —

    8,467.00

    —

    —

    —

    Preston

    —

    —

    —

    6,649.27

    6,859.69

    7,786.47

    Reading

    —

    —

    —

    2,469.43

    2,549.09

    2,704.00

    St. Albans

    —

    —

    —

    14,248.44

    22,187.34

    14,976.00

    Sheffield

    —

    —

    —

    6,293.06

    6,492.21

    7,369.34

    Stafford

    —

    —

    60,897.00

    —

    —

    —

    Swansea

    —

    —

    —

    4,943.37

    5,104.69

    4,330.33

    Truro

    —

    —

    13,623.00

    —

    —

    —

    Warwick

    —

    —

    1,254.00

    —

    —

    —

    Winchester

    17.50

    —

    —

    9,973.91

    10,289.54

    10,122.41

    Worcester

    —

    —

    11,399.00

    —

    —

    —

    Note:

    Prior to 1999–2000 Government Departments were not liable to pay non-domestic rates. A charge in lieu of rates (CILOR) was paid to the Crown Property Unit.

    £

    Maintenance

    Council Tax

    Property

    1997–98

    1998–99

    1999–2000

    1998–99

    1999–2000

    2000–01

    Birmingham

    —

    —

    —

    423.00

    446.26

    468.76

    Bristol

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Caernarfon

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Cardiff

    15,473.00

    35,142.59

    38,186.25

    —

    —

    —

    Carlisle

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Chelmsford

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Chester

    16,145.00

    46,096.10

    31,672.51

    —

    —

    —

    Exeter

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Leeds

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Leicester

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Lewes

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Lincoln

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Liverpool

    —

    —

    —

    107.00

    390.51

    390.51

    Maidstone

    30,273.00

    119,359.31

    46,415.00

    —

    —

    —

    906W 907W

    £

    Maintenance

    Council Tax

    Property

    1997–98

    1998–99

    1999–2000

    1998–99

    1999–2000

    2000–01

    Manchester

    17,435.00

    34,287.17

    44,964.24

    356.92

    381.19

    401.82

    Mold

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Northampton

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Norwich

    38,312.00

    26,893.83

    21,275.00

    —

    —

    —

    Nottingham

    10,527.00

    12,957.55

    20,469.01

    —

    —

    —

    Oxford

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Plawsworth

    74,026.00

    87,993.19

    53,722.41

    —

    —

    —

    Plymouth

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Preston

    24,072.00

    103,722.34

    31,557.10

    —

    —

    —

    Reading

    35,223.00

    19,650.69

    7,122.00

    —

    —

    —

    St. Albans

    40,303.00

    42,623.45

    26,603.00

    —

    —

    —

    Sheffield

    117,904.00

    123,353.04

    137,003.24

    —

    —

    —

    Stafford

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Swansea

    39,568.00

    90,937.31

    43,161.53

    —

    —

    —

    Truro

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Warwick

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Winchester

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Worcester

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Mr. Dismore
    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list, for judges' lodgings, what in each case, is(a) the geographical distance between the lodging and the court it serves and (b) the average time taken to travel from (i) lodgings to court and (ii) court to lodgings, by chauffeur-driven car in time for the start of proceedings each day, and to return at the end of the day; and if he will make a statement.[140805]

    Jane Kennedy
    The information requested is contained in the following table. Where lodgings service more than one court, the figure quoted represents the estimated distance/travelling time between the lodgings and its principal court centre.

    Distance and travelling time between courts and judges' lodgings

    No.

    Lodgings name

    Distance (miles)

    Estimated time taken to and from lodgings and court (minutes)1

    1

    Birmingham

    4.0

    15–20

    2

    Bristol

    2.5

    10

    3

    Caernarfon

    2.0

    10

    4

    Cardiff

    6.0

    15

    5

    Carlisle

    10.0

    20–30

    6

    Chelmsford

    275

    32

    7

    Chester

    4.0

    10

    8

    Exeter

    1.0

    10

    9

    Leeds

    4.0

    15

    10

    Leicester

    2.0

    10

    11

    Lewes

    5.0

    12

    12

    Lincoln

    2200

    35

    13

    Liverpool

    2.5

    20

    14

    Maidstone

    6.0

    20

    15

    Manchester

    4.0

    15

    16

    Mold

    40.0

    32

    17

    Northampton

    1.0

    5

    18

    Norwich

    2.0

    15

    19

    Nottingham

    2.0

    10

    20

    Oxford

    10.0

    30

    21

    Plawsworth

    14.0

    30

    22

    Plymouth

    1.0

    5

    23

    Preston

    8.0

    20–30

    24

    Reading

    2.0

    10

    25

    Sheffield

    5.0

    20

    26

    St. Albans

    4.0

    10

    27

    Stafford

    2200

    35

    28

    Swansea

    5.0

    20

    908W

    Distance and travelling time between courts and judges' lodgings

    No.

    Lodgings name

    Distance (miles)

    Estimated time taken to and from lodgings and court (minutes)1

    29

    Truro

    7.0

    20

    30

    Warwick

    40.0

    32

    31

    Winchester

    0.5

    10

    32

    Worcester

    17.0

    15

    1Based on estimated travelling times and subject to the vagaries of traffic conditions

    2 Yards

    3 Walk

    4Within the precincts of the court

    Mr. Dismore
    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department on which circuits and at which lodgings circuit judges are accommodated under arrangements made on those circuits; if, when circuit judges are accommodated in judges' lodgings, they are entitled to(a) no allowance in addition, (b) a lesser allowance than High Court judges and (c) the same allowance as High Court judges; and if he will make a statement. [140811]

    Jane Kennedy
    The network of judges' lodgings is primarily provided for High Court judges when they try serious criminal and civil cases on circuit in the principal towns and cities outside London, although occasionally circuit judges also reside there. When they do, they are charged a nominal £31 per night.

    Mr. Dismore
    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department on how many occasions in the last three years circuit judges' overnight hotel accommodation expenses were met, when there were vacant facilities available in judges' lodgings within reasonable travelling distance of the court where the judge concerned was sitting; and if he will make a statement. [139734]

    Jane Kennedy
    To provide the information requested would require a search of data held in manual form at local level and would incur disproportionate cost.

    Court Houses
    Mr. Townend
    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will review the decision of the Humberside Magistrates Courts Committee to close the court houses in east Yorkshire and change the petty sessions areas. [140562]

    Jane Kennedy
    The Justices of the Peace Act 1997 provides that decisions concerning magistrates courts and petty sessions areas are for the local magistrates courts committee.

    I have received three appeals against proposed courthouse closures in the Humberside Magistrates Courts Committee area. When the parties have completed their representations, I will decide the appeals. I have one application to reorganise petty sessions areas in the same area. I will consider this application when it is complete.

    Criminal Cases Review Commission
    Mr. Wigley
    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the impact on the number of firms that will be able to put in applications to the Criminal Cases Review Commission into legal aid support following the introduction of the changes to the franchise requirements in April 2001. [140836]

    Mr. Lock
    In order to ensure, minimum quality standards for firms providing publicly funded defence services, from 2 October 2000, only those firms with a Crime Franchise were entitled to carry out work funded by the Legal Services Commission. This includes applications to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC). Although the number of offices of legal firms doing criminal work reduced from some 6,500 to 3,300, these 3,300 offices represented over 90 per cent. of expenditure for criminal legal aid in the previous 12 months.

    In order to accommodate those firms which specialised in CCRC work, special arrangements were introduced in March 2000 to enable them to obtain a Crime Franchise.

    From April 2001 all work funded by the LSC will be under contract and all firms with a Crime Franchise will be eligible. It is expected that the 3,300 quality assured firms currently working in this area will apply for a contract and continue to provide services after April 2001.

    Mr. Wigley
    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how much legal aid was paid for appeals to the Criminal Cases Review Commission in each of the past three years. [140842]

    Jane Kennedy
    Criminal legal advice and assistance is available to make applications before the Criminal Cases Review Commission. However, the Legal Services Commission does not keep central records at the necessary level of detail to readily identify expenditure on these cases. The information requested could therefore be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

    Judicial Appointments
    Mr. Sayeed
    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many(a) barristers and (b) solicitors have been appointed Circuit Judges in the last five years who have not sat previously as recorders.[140847]
    910W
    Jane Kennedy
    During the period 27 November 1995 to 28 November 2000 the total number of circuit judge appointments was 186. Out of this figure,

    (a) three barristers, and

    (b) four solicitors

    had not sat previously as recorders, although all but one had other judicial experience prior to appointment.

    Lawson Case
    Mr. Duncan Smith
    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will place in the Library a transcript of the case of Rev. Paul Lawson and Harry Lawson, 4 August 1998 to 13 August 1998. [140838]

    Jane Kennedy
    Paul and Harry Lawson were acquitted and as a result no transcript of the case was ever prepared. I am therefore unable to place a copy in the Library.

    Marshals
    Mr. Dismore
    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department in relation to the High Court judges marshall when on circuit (1)(a) what are the duties of the marshal, (b) who appoints the marshal, (c) who pays the wages and fees of the marshal, (d) what was the total cost of the marshal service to public funds for each of the last three years, (e) what uniform, dress code or badge of office distinguishes the marshal, (f) how many marshals there are and (g) what are the qualifications and experience required to be a marshal; and if he will make a statement; [140808]

    (2) (a) what is the selection or appointment procedure is followed in choosing a marshal, (b) what training is given to ensure the marshal is appointed in accordance with equal opportunities legislation, (c) for each of the last two years, how many marshals were (i) men, (ii) women and (iii) from ethnic minority backgrounds; and if he will make a statement. [140807]

    Mr. Lock
    I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before prorogation. I shall write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

    Fast-track Cases
    Mr. Dismore
    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what monitoring of costs in fast-track cases has taken place; what data relating to costs in fast track-cases have been collected; and if he will make a statement. [140816]

    Mr. Lock
    None.

    Mr. Dismore
    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to introduce benchmark costs for fast-track civil cases; and if he will make a statement.[140817]

    Mr. Lock
    The Government have no plans at present to introduce benchmark costs for fast-track civil cases.

    Mr. Dismore
    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what consultations he has held on the issue of benchmark costs in fast-track cases; and if he will make a statement. [140822]

    Mr. Lock
    Following consultation with senior judiciary, my Department commissioned a scoping study to identify the existing sources and quality of data that
    911W
    could be accessed in order to assist judges to take a consistent approach when carrying out summary assessment of costs for pre-trial proceedings in fast-track cases and selected proceedings in multi-track cases, and to propose a method of gathering data and analysing it in order to provide a basis for benchmarking.

    The study found that fixed and benchmarking exercise could not be developed from historical data and recommended that a sampling exercise be carried out to obtain and analyse reliable data to inform any decisions on the establishment of fixed and benchmark costs.

    The findings of the study were discussed with the senior judiciary. They felt that guidelines should be developed using the expert knowledge of the judiciary and in consultation with the professions, on the basis that actual data might only produce figures reflecting the current inconsistent approach to assessment.

    The Senior Costs Judge has, through consultation with designated civil judges, district judges and representatives of the legal profession, collected and published guideline rates for solicitors throughout the country, to assist judges and practitioners when carrying out summary assessment. The Senior Costs Judge, at the request of the Master of the Rolls, is consulting widely with judges, the legal profession and other groups in order to develop benchmark figures for a limited range of procedures in both the fast track and the multi-track. The senior judiciary envisage that the benchmark figures might be applied to those procedures, while at the same time retaining the discretion of the court to depart from them in out of the ordinary cases. The senior judiciary wish to see how the benchmark scheme operates in practice before it is extended to other procedures or further developed for the fast-track.

    Civil Procedure Rules
    Mr. Dismore
    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many cases have been issued in the County Court since the Civil Procedure Rules were introduced solely to determine the issue of assessment of costs. [140818]

    Mr. Lock
    The numbers of requests for detailed assessment hearings are set out in the following table.

    Requests for detailed assessment hearings

    Month/year

    County court1

    District Registry2

    1999

    April

    16

    0

    May

    62

    0

    June

    163

    4

    July

    179

    30

    August

    191

    57

    September

    379

    64

    October

    267

    61

    November

    379

    70

    December

    410

    85

    2000

    January

    334

    77

    February

    509

    75

    March

    618

    117

    April

    419

    73

    May

    377

    84

    912W

    Requests for detailed assessment hearings

    Month/Year

    County court1

    District Registry2

    June

    807

    91

    July

    578

    75

    August

    536

    79

    September

    626

    61

    October

    522

    69

    1BMS Task JH75

    2BMS Task DR55

    Legal Costs
    Mr. Dismore
    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department for each of the last two years, what was(a) the longest, (b) the shortest and (c) the average wait for an assessment appointment before a taxing master in London; and what is the current expected time scale for obtaining an appointment. [140809]

    Mr. Lock
    Figures are not available in the format requested. However, over the last two years, bills up to £35,000 in value have been subject to an average wait of six to eight weeks and bills over £35,000 between three and five months. Currently, bills up to £50,000 are subject to an average delay of six weeks and bills over £50,000, five months.

    Mr. Dismore
    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, for each of the last two years how many district judges have referred, from their county courts, cost assessments to the Supreme Court Costs Office; and if he will make a statement. [140810]

    Mr. Lock
    Statistics are not kept in the form requested, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

    Mr. Dismore
    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the procedures he has assessed as suitable for benchmarking of costs; and if he will make a statement. [140820]

    Mr. Lock
    None.

    Mr. Dismore
    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what arrangements are in place to collect information about summary assessments of costs after(a) interim and (b) final hearings; and if he will make a statement. [140821]

    Mr. Lock
    While details of these assessments should be retained on court files there are no arrangements in place at present for central collation and processing of the information they contain.

    Mr. Dismore
    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he plans to introduce benchmarking of costs; and if he will make a statement. [140819]

    Mr. Lock
    The Government have no plans at present to introduce benchmarking of costs.

    Court Judges
    Mr. Dismore
    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many court judges are in post in(a) London and (b) elsewhere; how many court judges' vacancies there are in (i) London and

    913W
    (ii) elsewhere; how long the longest vacancy has (A) lasted and (B) is expected to last; and if he will make a statement. [140814]

    Mr. Lock
    High Court Judges are not posted to a particular location. There are currently 104 High Court Judges in post. One High Court Judge, Mr. Justice Bratza, is a Judge of the European Court of Human Rights and is based in Strasbourg. There are at present no vacancies on the High Court Bench.

    Child Contact Centres
    Mrs. Brinton
    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations he has received on the effectiveness of child contact centres in facilitating contact between children and non-residential parents and other family members. [141187]

    Jane Kennedy
    I have received a number of representations about the effectiveness of child contact centres both from hon. Members and from others. The Government greatly value the work of contact centres and the service they provide for children, their parents and other family members. We firmly believe that it is for the benefit of children as well as parents to remain in contact with each other unless there is some reason why this would be unsafe or inappropriate in a particular case.

    Mrs. Brinton
    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which agency will(a) have responsibility for and (b) bear the cost of, police checks on volunteer workers in Child Contact Centres. [141186]

    Jane Kennedy
    Police checks on volunteer workers in Child Contact Centres are currently the responsibility of the probation service. Consideration is being given to the future responsibility for these checks. I shall write to my hon. Friend with these details shortly and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House of Commons.

    Legal Aid
    Mr. Simon Hughes
    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department in each of the last three years, what disciplinary inquiries he has made into the inappropriate granting of legal aid in criminal cases; what the value was of payments recovered; and if he will make a statement. [140943]

    Jane Kennedy
    Earlier this year, the Court Service instigated a disciplinary investigation into one case, that of the granting of legal aid to Kenneth Noye. Three members of staff were involved: one person resigned before the disciplinary process was complete; a second has had a disciplinary penalty imposed, which is currently subject to appeal within agreed procedures; and the third has been found not culpable. There were no investigations in either of the previous two years.

    No payments have been recovered in this case. Even if it could be proved that Mr. Noye has misrepresented his financial position on his legal aid form, the Department is unlikely to consider undertaking civil action for damages to recover the costs of legal aid. It would be an unwarranted use of public funds to take such an action where the prospect of recovering any significant sum of money is remote, bearing in mind Mr. Noye's status as a bankrupt and the competing claims of other creditors.

  HOME DEPARTMENT

    Closed Circuit Television
    Dr. Julian Lewis
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he has made in providing that business premises open at unsocial hours must protect purchasers of those goods by CCTV as a condition of being licensed to trade at such times. [136234]

    Mr. Charles Clarke
    Under the Crime Reduction Programme Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Initiative, businesses may join crime and disorder reduction partnerships to bid for funding for external CCTV systems as a deterrent, and to help identify offenders entering or leaving their premises. The current bidding round under the initiative, which closes on 22 December, specifically encourages bids from small shopping centres to deal with this kind of problem. Protection of goods and persons on these premises falls within the general duty of care owed by employers and service providers towards their staff and customers, and the requirements of Health and Safety legislation. Internal CCTV systems are widely used for this purpose, but since business premises do not require a licence to trade at unsocial hours, their use cannot be a condition of licensing.

    Departmental Policies
    Mr. Kaufman
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. [136170]

    Mr. Charles Clarke
    The Home Office is working to build a safe, just and tolerant society in which the rights and responsibilities of individuals, families and communities are properly balanced, and the protection and security of the public are maintained. Detailed information on the impact of the Home Office policies across the full range of responsibilities is set out in Home Office Annual Reports. A copy of the most recent report, Home Office Annual Report 1999–2000, is available in the Library.

    The impact of Home Office policies and actions is not normally examined by constituency and the statistics which the Department collects cannot be matched in the way requested although set out as follows are examples relating to Manchester, Gorton constituency or the immediate locality:

    Crime data for all recorded offences are collected centrally at police force area level. Manchester, Gorton forms part of "C" Division of the Greater Manchester police, who have provided the following information on the overall number of recorded crimes in this division:

    year ending March 1997–41,373; and

    year ending March 2000–53,475.

    These figures are not, however, directly comparable as there was a change in counting rules for recorded crime on 1 April 1998 and the earlier figure excluded minor criminal damage.

    A £47,000 burglary reduction project is focusing on students in Rusholme.
    915W
    A £500,000 targeted policing project is looking at offending behaviour among armed criminals in South Manchester.

    Gorton have a successful neighbourhood wardens bid of £185,000 to provide warden coverage in three parts of Gorton, namely Gorton North, South and West, using five wardens. This project aims to provide a visible, accessible presence in the area, with wardens having a crime prevention focus, complementing other services such as the police. There will also be work around the support of vulnerable people, such as the elderly, environmental and housing management issues.

    More generally, all of the policies of the Home Office will impact on the residents of Manchester, Gorton to a greater or lesser extent. For example:

    376 Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships have been established;

    the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 ensures greater protection for victims in rape trials;

    Ministers have taken proper responsibility for the Prison Service;

    racial harassment and racially motivated crimes have been made criminal offences by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998;

    the asylum backlog has been cut from over 102,000 in January this year to below 76,000 by the end of September; and

    good progress is being made in reducing the incidence of fire related deaths in the home.

    Civil Servants (Relocation)
    Mr. Hunter
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. [137193]

    Mrs. Roche
    The current contract for relocation services for the Home Office and Prison Service is held by Hambro Countrywide Relocation (HCR) Ltd. The tender was advertised in the Official Journal of the European Community (OJEC) and the competitive tendering process resulted in a contract for the period 16 June 1995 to 30 November 2000. The value of the relocation business for this period is estimated at £5 million, which includes the basic management fee charged for each case handled by the relocation company but paid for by the Home Office and prison service for the relocation case, such as legal fees, valuations and bridging costs.

    The service was advertised again in the OJEC on 23 February 2000. Following a competitive tendering exercise the contract is to be awarded to Cendant Relocation (UK) Ltd. for a maximum contract period of five years, commencing 1 December 2000.

    Reporting of Crimes (Internet)
    Mr. Edward Davey
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what preparations his Department has made to allow members of the public to report crimes via the Internet and email; and if he will make a statement. [137602]

    Mr. Charles Clarke
    I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    Asylum Seekers (Liverpool)
    Mrs. Ellman
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what communications were received from Liverpool City Council concerning the suitability of the Landmark and the Inn on the Park in Liverpool for asylum seekers prior to his Department signing a contract with the management of these premises. [138750]

    Mrs. Roche
    I understand that Liverpool City Council wrote to my officials in the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) on 29 February. Unfortunately this correspondence was not taken into account before the contract with Landmark was signed because it was not seen by the team handling the negotiation of the contract. It is not clear whether the letter went astray before arrival or within the NASS. The communication from Liverpool City Council will be taken into account in ongoing contractual negotiations.

    Prisons
    Jackie Ballard
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average number of days spent in hospital post-birth was by prisoners before return to prison in the last 12 months; and what special arrangements exist for granting additional time in hospital if mother and baby are to be separated. [137807]

    Mr. Boateng
    The average number of days spent in hospital post-birth by prisoners before return to prison in the last 12 months was three days. In cases of separation, each case is assessed on individual circumstances; there are no set time scales for remaining in hospital.

    Special Constables
    Mr. Edwards
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to pay special constables for their work; and if he will make a statement about their role. [140457]

    Mr. Charles Clarke
    The Special Constabulary is a voluntary body designed to assist the regular police. Its members are drawn mainly from the communities served by each local force. Special Constables perform constabulary duties and exercise constabulary powers under the supervision of, and supported by, regular officers. They play an invaluable role by assisting regular police officers to tackle crime and the fear of crime.

    We have no current plans to pay special constables for the work they do. But we are looking at a range of ideas for improving recruitment and retention within the Special Constabulary.

    Holocaust Memorial Day
    Dr. Tonge
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Government will include reference to the massacre of Armenians in 1915–16 in the commemoration of the Holocaust Memorial Day in January 2001. [140369]

    Mr. Mike O'Brien
    [holding answer 27 November 2000]: Holocaust Memorial Day is focused on learning the lessons of the Holocaust and other more recent atrocities that raise similar issues. We took a conscious decision to focus on events around the Holocaust and thereafter, although we did examine requests to consider

    917W
    the atrocities and other events that preceded the Holocaust. (Examples include the Crusades, slavery, colonialism, the victims of Stalin and the Boer War.) It is always difficult to draw a line and wherever it is drawn it runs the risk of being misinterpreted.

    A particular focus on events around the period 1939–45 and thereafter should not be seen as failing to acknowledge, sympathise and respect the concerns about prior events.

    The massacres of Armenians in 1915–16 were an appalling tragedy condemned by the Government of the day and now. We understand the strength of feeling about this terrible period and extend our sympathies to the descendants of the victims.

    The Government's decision to give a particular focus to Holocaust Memorial Day does not prevent recollection by the Armenian community of these appalling events. Others may also seek to highlight other atrocities.

    Horse Racing
    Mr. Robertson
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will introduce legislation to(a) change the status of the Tote, and (b) abolish the horse racing levy system; and if he will make a statement. [R] [140345]

    Mr. Mike O'Brien
    [holding answer 27 November, 2000]: We will bring forward legislation when the necessary parliamentary time can be found. I hope to make a statement shortly explaining in more detail our thinking on how the Horserace Betting Levy Board's current responsibilities would be dealt with after its abolition.

    Asylum Seekers
    Mr. Hancock
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have(a) lost their appeals, (b) been removed from the UK after losing an appeal and (c) left the UK voluntarily after losing an appeal in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [140709]

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

    Asylum Appeals (excluding dependants) dismissed1 by adjudicators of the Immigration Appellate Authority, 1994 to 2000

    Year

    Number2

    1994

    1,935

    1995

    5,565

    1996

    10,785

    1997

    18,145

    1998

    21,195

    1999

    11,135

    2000, January to October

    11,450

    1Excludes the outcome of subsequent appeals

    2Provisional figures rounded to the nearest 5

    918W

    Removals and voluntary departures of asylum applicants1, excluding dependants, 1994 to 2000

    Year

    Number

    1994

    2,108

    1995

    3,171

    1996

    4,845

    1997

    7,160

    1998

    6,910

    19992

    7,645

    2000, Jan to Oct2

    7,605

    1Including applicants who had not appealed against an initial refusal

    2Includes persons returned under the Voluntary Assisted Returns Programme

    Mr. Hancock
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for asylum have been processed in each of the(a) last six months and (b) last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [140902]

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

    Applications, excluding dependants, received for asylum in the United Kingdom, and decisions made for the period May 2000 to October 20001

    Applications2

    Decisions2,3,4

    May

    6,185

    10,765

    June

    5,900

    10,470

    July

    6,255

    8,855

    August

    6,430

    9,770

    September

    6,435

    8,145

    October

    6,970

    8,180

    1Provisional figures

    2Figures rounded to the nearest 5.

    3Decisions include cases decided under the backlog criteria.

    4Decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same period and exclude the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.

    Applications, excluding dependants, received for asylum in the United Kingdom, and decisions made 1990 to 1999

    Applications1

    Decisions1,2

    1990

    26,205

    4,025

    1991

    44,840

    6,075

    1992

    24,605

    34,900

    1993

    22,370

    23,405

    1994

    32,830

    20,990

    1995

    43,965

    27,005

    1996

    29,640

    38,960

    1997

    32,500

    36,045

    1998

    46.015

    31,570

    19993,4

    71.160

    33,720

    1Figures rounded to the nearest 5.

    2Decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same period and exclude the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.

    3Decisions include cases decided under the backlog criteria.

    4Provisional figures.

    Sir John Stanley
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his estimate is of the number of individuals believed still to be in the UK but whose whereabouts are unknown,(a) who have applied for asylum but whose applications have not yet been finally determined and (b) whose applications for asylum have been refused. [140765]
    919W
    Mrs. Roche
    I regret that we are not able to provide a reliable estimate because the information required to make an estimate is not available.

    Miss Widdecombe
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers whose claims were made(a) prior to 1 July 1993 and (b) between 1 July 1993 and 31 December 1995 have been granted leave to remain, and for what periods, under the backlog clearance exercise; how many granted leave to remain had their asylum applications considered under normal procedures and refused; how many did not receive an initial determination of their asylum application; and if he will make a statement. [134877]

    Mrs. Roche
    [pursuant to her reply, 10 November 2000,c. 425W]: The figure 6,135 is the number of applications lodged prior to July 1993 and the figure 15,400 is the number of asylum applications lodged between 1 July 1993 and 31 December 1995. The number of applications still not determined under the backlog clearance exercise is now negligible.

    Bail Supervision Schemes
    Mr. Win Griffiths
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the trend in(a) court case adjournments and (b) the use of secure accommodation following the introduction of bail supervision schemes. [140646]

    Annex B—Remand decisions/episodes by age and gender—total population

    1 July to 30 September 2000

    10 yrs

    11 yrs

    12 yrs

    13 yrs

    14 yrs

    Remand

    Male

    Female

    Male

    Female

    Male

    Female

    Male

    Female

    Male

    Female

    Unconditional Bail

    57

    1

    167

    25

    401

    34

    742

    141

    1546

    290

    Conditional Bail

    20

    1

    73

    2

    169

    21

    367

    70

    821

    178

    Bail Supervision and Support

    1

    0

    9

    0

    8

    2

    31

    6

    58

    10

    Local Authority Accommodation

    2

    0

    14

    0

    35

    0

    66

    13

    161

    42

    Court Ordered Remand

    0

    0

    0

    0

    7

    1

    21

    0

    50

    10

    Remand in Custody

    0

    0

    1

    0

    3

    0

    5

    0

    17

    4

    Total

    80

    2

    264

    27

    623

    58

    1232

    230

    2653

    534

    15 yrs

    16 yrs

    17 yrs

    Total

    Remand

    Male

    Female

    Male

    Female

    Male

    Female

    Male

    Female

    Unconditional Bail

    2,458

    400

    3,052

    457

    3,826

    495

    12,249

    1,843

    Conditional Bail

    1,350

    220

    1,685

    273

    2,101

    275

    6,586

    1,040

    Bail Supervision and Support

    96

    23

    171

    30

    252

    23

    626

    94

    Local Authority Accommodation

    202

    23

    277

    34

    18

    3

    775

    115

    Court Ordered Remand

    25

    9

    35

    10

    21

    0

    159

    30

    Remand in Custody

    133

    1

    287

    5

    742

    43

    1,188

    53

    Total

    4,264

    676

    5,507

    809

    6,960

    839

    21,583

    3,175

    1 April to 30 June 2000

    10 yrs

    11 yrs

    12 yrs

    13 yrs

    14 yrs

    Remand

    Male

    Female

    Male

    Female

    Male

    Female

    Male

    Female

    Male

    Female

    Unconditional Bail

    43

    10

    169

    21

    406

    73

    866

    181

    1,655

    398

    Conditional Bail

    19

    6

    51

    10

    169

    43

    470

    124

    841

    250

    Bail Supervision and Support

    1

    2

    0

    0

    2

    1

    22

    4

    54

    9

    Local Authority Accommodation

    4

    1

    5

    3

    19

    4

    85

    16

    148

    29

    Court Ordered Remand

    0

    0

    0

    0

    17

    0

    19

    1

    40

    6

    Remand in Custody

    0

    0

    1

    0

    0

    0

    4

    1

    13

    0

    Total

    67

    19

    226

    34

    613

    121

    1,466

    327

    2,751

    692

    920W
    Mr. Charles Clarke
    Figures from the Lord Chancellor's Department showing the average number and length of adjournments in the youth court since February 1999 are at annex A. Statistics are not collected centrally on the various reasons for adjournments.

    Annex B summarises returns from youth offending teams on the number of remands made between 1 January 1999 and 31 March 1999, 1 April 2000 and 30 June 2000 and 1 July 2000 and 30 September 2000.

    The Youth Justice Board are supporting some 120 bail supervision and support projects across England and Wales. We await full evaluation reports, but expect the schemes progressively to improve young defendants' responses to bail and hence courts' confidence in it.

    Annex A

    Average number of adjournments

    Average length of adjournments (days)

    1999

    February

    2.5

    23

    June

    2.3

    21

    October

    2.5

    22

    2000

    February

    2.4

    23

    June

    2.5

    23

    September

    2.6

    23

    921W

    15yrs

    16 yrs

    17 yrs

    Total

    Remand

    Male

    Female

    Male

    Female

    Male

    Female

    Male

    Female

    Unconditional Bail

    2,641

    482

    3,511

    557

    4,146

    476

    13,437

    2,198

    Conditional Bail

    1,556

    329

    2,046

    347

    2,471

    251

    7,623

    1,360

    Bail Supervision and Support

    138

    13

    167

    24

    177

    19

    561

    72

    Local Authority Accommodation

    201

    32

    271

    37

    24

    2

    757

    124

    Court Ordered Remand

    60

    5

    35

    20

    29

    2

    200

    34

    Remand in Custody

    139

    6

    228

    8

    801

    48

    1,186

    63

    Total

    4,735

    867

    6,258

    993

    7,648

    798

    23,764

    3,851

    1 January to 31 March 1999

    10 yrs

    11 yrs

    12 yrs

    13 yrs

    14 yrs

    Remand

    Male

    Female

    Male

    Female

    Male

    Female

    Male

    Female

    Male

    Female

    Unconditional Bail

    32

    5

    149

    8

    425

    67

    722

    128

    1,537

    320

    Conditional Bail

    23

    2

    64

    4

    161

    10

    416

    59

    943

    165

    Bail Supervision and Support

    0

    0

    3

    1

    6

    3

    19

    1

    58

    16

    Local Authority Accommodation

    6

    0

    17

    0

    38

    7

    145

    19

    353

    29

    Court Ordered Remand

    0

    0

    0

    0

    2

    0

    22

    1

    44

    3

    Remand in Custody

    1

    0

    1

    0

    0

    0

    5

    0

    10

    0

    Total

    62

    7

    234

    13

    632

    87

    1,329

    208

    2,945

    533

    15yrs

    16 yrs

    17 yrs

    Total

    Remand

    Male

    Female

    Male

    Female

    Male

    Female

    Male

    Female

    Unconditional Bail

    2,528

    457

    3,771

    492

    4,327

    511

    13,491

    1,988

    Conditional Bail

    1,505

    257

    2,418

    280

    2,589

    274

    8,119

    1,051

    Bail Supervision and Support

    69

    22

    144

    12

    100

    15

    399

    70

    Local Authority Accommodation

    368

    72

    497

    57

    46

    25

    1,470

    209

    Court Ordered Remand

    26

    3

    63

    6

    17

    0

    174

    13

    Remand in Custody

    171

    9

    480

    2

    1,186

    53

    1,854

    64

    Total

    4,667

    820

    7,373

    849

    8,265

    878

    25,507

    3,395

    Domestic Violence and Fire-related Deaths
    Mrs. Spelman
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent by his Department on(a) research into the prevention of (i) domestic violence and (ii) fire-related deaths and injuries and (b) public awareness campaigns to prevent fires in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [140659]

    Mr. Boateng
    The Home Office spent a total of –8,769 on research into the prevention of domestic violence in the 12 months up to 31 October 2000. In the same period, a total of £856,463 was spent on research into the prevention of fire related deaths and injuries and £3,787,657 was spent on public awareness campaigns to prevent fires.

    Young Offenders
    Mr. Win Griffiths
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by police authority area the percentage of those(a) on remand and (b) in prison who are (i) black children and (ii) young people in each of the last 10 years. [140588]

    Mr. Boateng
    I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

    Mr. Win Griffiths
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each police force area, for each of the last 10 years, the average time from arrest to sentence of persistent young offenders. [140647]
    922W
    Jane Kennedy
    I have been asked to reply.

    Arrest to sentence times for persistent young offenders in England and Wales are available from 1996 only, and by police force area from 1997 only. Arrest to sentence times by police force area can be found in the Lord Chancellor's Department Press Notice (issue 154–99–table 2) for 1997 and 1998 and the Lord Chancellor's Department Statistical Bulletin (issue 3/2000–table 2) for 1999 and the first two quarters of 2000. Copies have been placed in the House of Commons Library.

    Mr. Win Griffiths
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are in custody in each youth offenders' institution broken down by the counties, county boroughs and boroughs from which they come; and what percentage of them come from homes which are over 100 miles away from the institution concerned. [141174]

    Mr. Boateng
    I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible, and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

    Blantyre House
    Mr. Llwyd
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many former prisoners from Blantyre House re-offended in each of the last five years. [140934]

    Mr. Boateng
    The information is not available in the form requested. I shall write to the hon. Member, as soon as possible, and place a copy of the letter in the Library.
    923W
    Mr. Llwyd
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the annual cost was per prisoner of running Blantyre House in each of the last three years. [140972]

    Mr. Boateng
    The annual cost per prisoner at Her Majesty's Prison Blantyre House for the last three financial years is set out in the table:

    £

    Cost per prisoner (cash terms)

    1997–98

    17,700

    1998–99

    17,957

    1999–2000

    20,010

    Data for cost per prisoner place reflect establishment costs only and does not include Head Quarter overheads. These figures are not comparable with the Prison Service cost per prisoner Key Performance Indicator.

    Mr. Llwyd
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the annual cost of running Blantyre House was in each of the last three years. [140933]

    Mr. Boateng
    Expenditure by Blantyre House in the last three years, covering both current and capital expenditure, was as follows:

    £

    1997–98

    2,196,753

    1998–99

    2,188,236

    1999–2000

    2,396,923

    Criminal Records Bureau
    Mr. Chope
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to carry out a regulatory impact assessment into the impact of fees to be charged by the Criminal Records Bureau on voluntary and charitable organisations working with young people; and if he will make a statement. [140937]

    Mr. Charles Clarke
    I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Erdington (Mr. Corbett) on 20 November 2000,Official Report, column 87W.

    Murder (Prisons)
    Mr. Llwyd
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many murders in prisons in England and Wales in each of the last 10 years were found to be racially motivated; [140957]

    (2) how many murders have been recorded in prisons in England and Wales for each of the last 10 years. [140930]

    Mr. Boateng
    The numbers of homicides between prisoners over the period requested, and the ethnicity of those who died, is given in the table. Information about the racial motivation of those convicted of murder is not recorded. In one of this year's cases evidence of the accused's racial attitudes was a prominent feature of the evidence presented at the trial.
    924W

    Homicides between prisoners in HM prison service establishments England and Wales 1991–2000 (October) calendar years

    Year

    Total

    Ethnicity

    1991

    2

    2 x White

    1992

    2

    2 x White

    1993

    3

    3 x White

    1994

    3

    2 x White; 1 x Black Caribbean

    1995

    2

    2 x White

    1996

    2

    1 x Asian Pakistani; 1 x White

    1997

    2

    2 x White

    1998

    5

    5 x White

    1999

    0

    —

    2000

    3

    1 x Asian-Pakistani; 2 x White

    Prison Suicides
    Mr. Llwyd
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many suicides there were in prisons in England and Wales for each of the last 10 years. [140960]

    Mr. Boateng
    The information requested is given in the table.

    Self-inflicted deaths in HMP establishments England and Wales, 1990–20001

    Calendar year

    Male

    Female

    Total

    1990

    49

    1

    50

    1991

    42

    0

    42

    1992

    39

    2

    41

    1993

    46

    1

    47

    1994

    61

    1

    62

    1995

    57

    2

    59

    1996

    62

    2

    64

    1997

    65

    3

    68

    1998

    79

    3

    82

    1999

    86

    5

    91

    2000

    69

    8

    77

    Total

    655

    28

    683

    1Count as at 28 November 2000

    Prisons (Cell Sharing)
    Mr. Llwyd
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the risk assessment of inmates who share cells. [140932]

    Mr. Boateng
    The Prison Service is committed to preventing loss of life or injury to prisoners who are required to share cells.

    Improvements have been made to the way in which prisoners are risk assessed—a revised Prisoner Escort Record (PER) that accompanies individuals during court or prison moves and highlights specific risk factors, including violence, racist behaviour and sexual offences, now in use estate-wide. Accompanying guidance reinforces the importance of passing PER information to the staff involved in, for example, first-night risk assessment and accommodation issues.

    Work has also been undertaken to develop a Safer Prisons initiative. The Prison Service will shortly be introducing a Safer Prisons Standard that will encourage a 'whole-prison' approach. As well as setting out actions to reduce violence and bullying in establishments, it also focuses on prisoner care and staff/prisoner relationships.

    Prison Training
    Mr. Llwyd
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to provide prison employees with(a) racial and (b) sexual orientation awareness training; and if he will make a statement. [140931]

    Mr. Boateng
    Prison Service employees have access to equal opportunities training for both staff and prisoner issues. Prison Service Orders have also been issued to assist staff.

    Equal Opportunities Officers who deal with staff issues and Race Relations Liaison Officers who deal specifically with prisoners are appointed and trained in each establishment. The role of Equal Opportunities Officer includes raising awareness in discrimination and harassment. In addition, race relations training is provided as part of the Prison Officer Induction Training course.

    Police Numbers
    Mr. Loughton
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers(a) left and (b) joined the profession in each of the last 10 years. [140797]

    Mr. Charles Clarke
    [holding answer 29 November, 2000]: The information requested is set out in the table. Before April 1995 information was collected on a calendar year basis. From April 1995 it has been done on a financial year basis. The table reflects the different collection periods.

    Year

    Total police recruitment

    Total police wastage

    1990

    3,044

    2,738

    1991

    4,933

    5,005

    1992

    5,863

    4,993

    1993

    5,131

    5,490

    1994–951

    6,409

    6,989

    1995–96

    6,014

    6,421

    1996–97

    6,523

    5,951

    1997–98

    6,543

    6,657

    1998–99

    5,391

    6,104

    1999–2000

    4,535

    5,948

    1The figures for 1994–95 cover 15 months to take account of the change from calendar year to financial year.

    Sir Patrick Cormack
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many serving officers were in the police forces of England and Wales on(a) 1 May 1997 and (b) 31 October 2000. [141036]

    Mr. Charles Clarke
    Information on police numbers is collected twice a year in March and September. Police numbers for March 1997 are set out in the table.

    Police numbers for September 2000 are currently being validated and we hope to publish them within the next few weeks.

    Police numbers in England and Wales

    Force

    Total strength at 31 March 1997

    Avon and Somerset

    2,989

    Bedfordshire

    1,094

    Cambridgeshire

    1,302

    Cheshire

    2,046

    926W

    Police numbers in England and Wales

    Force

    Total strength at 31 March 1997

    City of London

    859

    Cleveland

    1,459

    Cumbria

    1,144

    Derbyshire

    1,791

    Devon and Cornwall

    2,865

    Dorset

    1,284

    Durham

    1,461

    Dyfed-Powys

    1,005

    Essex

    2,961

    Gloucestershire

    1,133

    Greater Manchester

    6,922

    Gwent

    1,243

    Hampshire

    3,452

    Hertfordshire

    1,759

    Humberside

    2,045

    Kent

    3,260

    Lancashire

    3,247

    Leicestershire

    1,949

    Lincolnshire

    1,196

    Merseyside

    4,230

    Metropolitan Police

    26,677

    Norfolk

    1,432

    Northamptonshire

    1,177

    Northumbria

    3,677

    North Wales

    1,369

    North Yorkshire

    1,338

    Nottinghamshire

    2,323

    South Wales

    2,976

    South Yorkshire

    3,159

    Staffordshire

    2,211

    Suffolk

    1,180

    Surrey

    1,620

    Sussex

    3,085

    Thames Valley

    3,695

    Warwickshire

    926

    West Mercia

    2,040

    West Midlands

    7,113

    West Yorkshire

    5,209

    Wiltshire

    1,154

    Total

    125,057

    Speed Cameras
    Dr. Stoate
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the eight pilot schemes introduced in January allowing police forces to retain income from speeding fines in order to finance the operation and provision of speed cameras in their areas; and what plans he has to introduce the scheme nationwide. [140973]

    Mr. Charles Clarke
    The pilots were launched in April for a two-year period and the six monthly evaluation is nearing completion. The success of the pilots is to be judged primarily on casualty reduction; early indications are encouraging. The Government Departments concerned and the Association of Chief Police Officers are considering the issue of a national rollout in the light of the emerging information from the pilots.

    Police and Prison Services (Wales)
    Mr. Wigley
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much of the budget for the(a) Police Service and (b) Prison Service was spent in Wales in the last 12 months for which figures are

    927W
    available (i) in actual terms, (ii) as a percentage of total expenditure on these services and (iii) per head of population in Wales. [141011]

    Mr. Charles Clarke
    In 1999–2000 revenue spend by police authorities on the police service in Wales, supported by Government grants, in actual terms was £375.438 million. This is 5.04 per cent. of total police net revenue expenditure in England and Wales and £127.83 per head of population in Wales.

    The only information available for the Prison Service in respect of spend in Wales for the financial year 1999–2000 is the expenditure by Cardiff, Prescoed/Usk and Swansea Prisons and the payments made to the operators of Parc Prison. Spend in 1999–2000 was £54.753 million in actual terms. This represents 2.97 per cent. of the total Prison Service expenditure in 1999–2000 or £18.64 per head of population in Wales. However, because many Welsh prisoners, particularly from North Wales, are held in prisons in England this does not give a true reflection of the impact of Wales on Prison Service costs.

    Anti-social Behaviour Orders
    Mr. Chaytor
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to collect information on anti-social behaviour orders by subdivision within each police authority. [140846]

    Mr. Charles Clarke
    I refer to the answer given to my hon. Friend by my hon. Friend the Minister of State on 23 October 2000,Official Report, column 47W. We have no plans to collect information in the way he suggests.

    Bramshill
    Ms Roseanna Cunningham
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what discussions there have been between his Department and the Justice Department of the Scottish Executive on the merits of promoting Bramshill and the Scottish Police College for the proposed training centre for senior police officers in Europe; and which Ministers were involved in the discussions; [141286]

    (2) what external accreditation process has been undertaken for the command course conducted at Bramshill; [141291]

    (3) what assessment of candidates is undertaken and what accreditation and qualifications are available for successful students of the command course at Bramshill. [141285]

    Mr. Charles Clarke
    I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

    Poll Tax
    Mr. Trickett
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have served prison sentences following poll tax related offences in each of the last five years; and what his estimate is of the total cost to his Department of such imprisonments. [141261]

    Mr. Boateng
    I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    Police
    Ms Roseanna Cunningham
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria in respect of(a) education and (b) training were used in selecting a candidate for the European training centre for senior police officers. [141292]

    Mr. Charles Clarke
    I will write to the hon. Member, and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

    ACPO
    Ms Roseanna Cunningham
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who conducted the last independent evaluation of the extended interview process used for the assessment of prospective ACPO and ACPOS rank police officers; when the evaluation was completed; and if he will make a statement. [141287]

    Mr. Charles Clarke
    I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

    Released Murderers
    Mr. McLoughlin
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people convicted of murder have been released from prison; and what was the length of sentences served in each of the last five years. [141295]

    Mr. Boateng
    I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    Hilda Murrell
    Mr. Dalyell
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the outcome of recent DNA tests found in connection with the killing of Miss Hilda Murrell. [141061]

    Mr. Charles Clarke
    I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    Isiko Immigration Case
    Mr. Hancock
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he plans to take following the recent High Court decision on the Isiko immigration case; and if he will make a statement. [141150]

    Mrs. Roche
    My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary's appeal against the judgment of Mr. Justice Hidden was heard by the Court of Appeal on 23 November. Judgment was reserved. Action in cases which raise similar issues have been suspended pending the Court of Appeal judgment.

    Departmental Liaison
    Mr. Win Griffiths
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the meetings held during the last 12 months between his and other departments to discuss family and children policies and services, indicating which other departments were in attendance. [141113]

    Mr. Boateng
    Ministers and officials from the Home Office have held many meetings over the last 12 months to discuss family and children policies and services.
    929
    The detailed information requested is not listed because it falls within the exemptions provided by the Code of Practice on Access to Government Initiatives.

    Mr. Tuazon
    Mr. Chope
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department will respond to the request for advice made by the British Embassy in Manila in relation to the entry clearance application of Mr. Arsenio J. Jacinto Tuazon; and if he will make a statement. [140912]

    Mrs. Roche
    We have confirmed with the British Embassy in Manila that no advice has been sought from the Home Office with regard to Mr. Tuazon's application for entry clearance. The application is being considered by an entry clearance officer and the Joint Entry Clearance Unit is writing to the hon. Member about the case.

    London Fire Service
    Mrs. Dunwoody
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what consultations have taken place between the Health and Safety Executive, his Department, and elected Greater London Authority members about the proposed deal to hand control of the London Fire Service to The Leasing Group (Lattice plc); [141148]

    (2) if he will place in the Library details of the arrangements entered into by The Leasing Group (Lattice plc) and the Greater London Authority to take control of the Fire Service; and if he will list all the fire engines and fire stations included in these arrangements. [141149]

    Mr. Mike O'Brien
    Statutory responsibility for the provision of, and any contractual arrangements to secure, an efficient fire service in London rests with the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority. The contract signed between the Authority and The Leasing Group Fire Services on 16 November 2000 is for the provision, management and maintenance of the Authority's operational and non-operational vehicles and fireboats and some operational equipment. It does not include fire stations. The Home Office is supporting the project through the provision of notional credit approvals under the Private Finance Initiative.

    Extradition (Scotland)
    Dr. Godman
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Scottish Executive concerning Crown representation at cases involving extradition applications for persons resident in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [140549]

    Mr. Charles Clarke
    I have had no such discussions with representatives of the Scottish Executive.

    HMP Blakenhurst and HMP Manchester
    Mr. Simon Hughes
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Prison Service Evaluation Panel's recommendations were concerning the future 930W
    management of HMP Blakenhurst and HMP Manchester; when the panel's reports were made; when the panel's recommendations will be made public; and if he will make a statement. [140944]

    Mr. Boateng
    The Evaluation Panel has not yet finalised its recommendations. The Prison Service Management Board considered the Panel's provisional report on 17 November and endorsed the Panel's requirement for further clarification. It is anticipated that the result of the competition will be announced before Christmas.

    Representation of the People
    Ms Glenda Jackson
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when he will lay regulations to bring into force section 6 of the Representation of the People Act 2000; [140876]

    (2) when he will lay regulations to bring into force section 1(2) of the Representation of the People Act 2000. [140877]

    Mr. Mike O'Brien
    The regulations are available in draft form on the Home Office website (www.homeoffice.gov.uk) and comments are invited. I intend to lay them so that they come into force on 16 February 2001, immediately after the new electoral registers are published and in good time for the local elections to be held in May 2001.

    Convicted Ex-servicemen
    Ms Kelly
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many ex-servicemen have been convicted of a criminal offence in the last five years; and how many of these have been homeless. [141218]

    Mr. Charles Clarke
    The Home Office Court Proceedings Database does not identify offenders to the detail required.

    Police Cautions
    Mr. Laurence Robertson
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cautions were given by the police to offenders(a) in Gloucestershire and (b) in England and Wales, in each of the last five years for which figures are available; what percentage of the total number of crimes committed these figures represent; and if he will make a statement. [141124]

    Mr. Charles Clarke
    Information, taken from the Home Office Cautions Database, on the number of offenders cautioned by the police(a) in Gloucestershire and (b) in England and Wales for the last five years for which figures are available, and the percentage of crimes recorded by the police which were dealt with by a caution is given in the table. Offenders may have been cautioned for more than one offence.
    931W

    Number of offenders cautioned1 within Gloucestershire and England and Wales by type of offence, 1995–96

    Area and type of offence

    Indictable offences

    Gloucestershire Summary non-motoring

    Total

    Indictable offences

    England and Wales Summary non-motoring

    Total

    1995

    2,745

    93

    2,838

    202,585

    88,657

    291,242

    1996

    2,410

    48

    2,458

    190,810

    95,383

    286,193

    1997

    2,283

    48

    2,331

    189,358

    92,729

    282,087

    1998

    2,457

    440

    2,897

    191,722

    96,162

    287,884

    1999

    2,083

    671

    2,754

    170,576

    95,550

    266,126

    1Offenders may be cautioned for more than one offence.

    Crimes recorded by the police—proportion dealt with using a caution

    Percentages

    Gloucestershire

    England and Wales

    1995

    4

    4

    1996

    3

    3

    1997

    4

    4

    1998–99

    5

    5

    1999–2000

    5

    4

    Traffic Wardens
    Mr. Bob Russell
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police forces have transferred duties previously undertaken by traffic wardens to local authorities; and if he will make a statement. [140979]

    Mr. Charles Clarke
    The information requested is not held centrally.

    Mrs. Farmer
    Mr. Sanders
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what he will make a decision on the application to remain in the UK from Mrs. Farmer of Babbacombe Road, Torquay, Ref D 259977. [141103]

    Mrs. Roche
    Mrs. Farmer's application will be considered under policies currently the subject of Judicial Review in the case of Isiko, which was heard by the Court of Appeal on 23 November. As soon as the judgment has been handed down and examined, consideration of Mrs. Farmer's application will proceed without delay.

    Cannabis
    Dr. Tonge
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what volumes of(a) cannabis and (b) skunk cannabis have been seized in each of the last 10 years. [140860]

    Mr. Charles Clarke
    Drug seizure returns do not usually distinguish 'skunk' from other types of herbal cannabis. Cannabis is classified into four categories—herbal, liquid (oil), resin, and plants. Information for the quantities of cannabis seized in the United Kingdom for the last 10 years for which data are available is given in the table. This is taken from the Home Office Bulletin on Drug Seizure and Offender Statistics.
    932W

    Quantities of cannabis seized in the United Kingdom 1989–98

    Herbal(kgs.)

    Plants(no.)

    Resin(kgs.)

    Liquid(kgs.)

    1989

    6,780.9

    6,263

    52,577.9

    10.4

    1990

    9,337.5

    34,299

    21,549.5

    1.6

    1991

    9,525.1

    8,896

    22,676.0

    2.5

    1992

    11,391.1

    11,839

    39,705.3

    6.8

    1993

    11,976.0

    40,589

    41,584.8

    13.2

    1994

    11,578.9

    57,846

    51,430.1

    11.8

    1995

    13,871.5

    94,202

    44,607.0

    5.6

    1996

    34,189.1

    116,218

    66,936.7

    17.5

    1997

    31,120.2

    114,988

    118,849.2

    26.6

    1998

    21,659.5

    71,970

    85,822.9

    7.4

    Source:

    Drugs Research Unit, Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate

    Drug Convictions
    Dr. Tonge
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the prison population has been imprisoned in each of the last 10 years as a result of crimes committed to support the use of(a) heroin, (b) tobacco, (c) cocaine and (d) cannabis. [140859]

    Mr. Boateng
    The information requested is not available. No statistics are collated centrally on offences committed to support the use of illegal drugs and tobacco. However, information on persons who have been convicted of drug offences is contained in the Home Office Bulletin on Drug Seizure and Offenders, a copy of which is in the Library. Reference was made in a written answer on 27 November 2000,Official Report, column 441W, to the hon. Member about information bearing on the relationship between drug use and crime that is becoming available through Home Office's programme of interviewing and drug testing arrestees.

    Home Detention Curfew Scheme
    Miss Widdecombe
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if prisoners serving their sentences on the home detention curfew scheme are disqualified from(a) voting at and (b) standing in elections; and if he will make a statement. [140878]

    Mr. Boateng
    Prisoners who are released on home detention curfew are eligible to vote in all elections and to stand for election to the House of Commons, the National Assembly for Wales and the European Parliament. They are disqualified from standing for membership of a local authority in England and Wales if they have been convicted and sentenced to a term of imprisonment of more than three months in the five years preceding the date of the election.

    Bingo
    Mr. Fearn
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will propose legislation to remove limits on the level of prizes and the frequency of games for linked and multiple bingo games in the Gaming Act 1968; [141070]

    (2) if he will propose legislation to remove limits on added prize money from the Gaming Act 1968; [141072]

    (3) if he will propose legislation to extend the term of a bingo club licence from one year to three years; [141076]

    (4) if he will introduce legislation to simplify the system of charges in the Gaming Act 1968; [141071]

    (5) if he will introduce legislation to remove existing restrictions on bingo; [141075]

    (6) if he will introduce legislation to remove the 24 hour time limit before new members can play bingo. [141069]

    Mr. Mike O'Brien
    I announced on 6 November 2000 that the Government were publishing a consultation document on proposals to deregulate certain aspects of the bingo industry. Our paper makes three proposals. It suggests abolishing the current requirement for licensed bingo clubs to notify the licensing authority of changes in their charges to players 14 days in advance; allowing clubs to have a mixture of jackpot and lower prize gaming machines; and amending the law on multiple bingo so that it can offer more than one national, regional and house prize.

    The consultation period for these proposals ends on 16 February 2001. Subject to comments received, the Government plan to lay a draft Order under the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994 to give effect to them, for scrutiny by Parliament.

    Earlier this year, we amended the statutory regulations which govern the charges which licensed bingo clubs may make to their players. This change has considerably simplified these arrangements.

    In February this year, we announced an overall review of the controls on gambling in Great Britain. The review, chaired by Sir Alan Budd, is proceeding and it will report to the Home Secretary next summer. Aside from our proposed Order under the 1994 Act the Government have no plans to make any other changes to the Gaming Acts as they relate to licensed bingo prior to receiving this report.

    Children's Manifesto
    Ms Shipley
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received on "Our Children, Their Future—A Children's Manifesto" published by NSPCC, Barnardos and the Child Poverty Action Group. [140415]

    Mr. Boateng
    [pursuant to his reply, 28 November 2000, c. 517W]: It should also be noted that I will shortly be meeting senior representatives of the Child Poverty Action Group to discuss the main recommendations in the Manifesto.

  TREASURY

    Marriages (Immigration)
    Mr. Crausby
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many marriages suspected to be solely for immigration purposes were reported by registrars to the Registrar General in(a) 1996, (b) 1997, (c) 1998 and (d) 1999, separated by registration area; and how many of these marriages were reported to the Home Office in (i) 1996, (ii) 1997, (iii) 1998 and (iv) 1999; [134762]

    (2) how long it has been the practice of the Registrar General to report to the Home Office marriages suspected to be solely for immigration purposes; on what authority the practice was commenced; and what is its purpose. [134761]

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

    Letter from Len Cook to Mr. David Crausby, dated 30 November 2000:

    As Registrar General I have been asked to reply to your recent questions on the practice of reporting marriages to the Home Office suspected to be solely for immigration purposes and the numbers of these marriages reported between 1996 and 1999. (134761, 134762)

    Arrangements for the reporting of suspected marriages of convenience by the Registrar General were introduced in 1925 at the request of the Home Secretary. The purpose of these reports is to identify marriages suspected to have been arranged for the sole purpose of evading statutory immigration controls. The reporting is on a non-statutory basis.

    During 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999 Superintendent Registrars reported 607, 421, 467 and 315 cases to the Registrar General. Of this number, information in respect of 519, 294, 344 and 267 reports respectively were passed to the Home Office.

    Details of the reports received by registration district are shown in the attached tables. These tables are too large to be reproduced in Hansard and I have therefore made arrangements for them to be placed in the House of Commons Library. Figures for 1996 marriages reported to the Home Office are not available by registration district.

    Brussels (Official Visits)
    Dr. Julian Lewis
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the occasions he has visited Brussels on official business since May 1997. [134969]

    Miss Melanie Johnson
    The Chancellor has travelled to Brussels on numerous occasions for meetings of ECOFIN and for other engagements.

    Official Diary
    Mr. Matthew Taylor
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library his official diary for the month of July. [134459]

    Miss Melanie Johnson
    During the month of July my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer attended a number of meetings with ministerial colleagues and others, carried out duties in the House of Commons, gave several speeches and undertook a number of engagements in his constituency.

    General Insurance Reserves
    Mr. Matthew Taylor
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will issue draft regulations on general insurance reserves. [135897]

    Miss Melanie Johnson
    The draft regulations were issued on 17 November. The Government will ensure that adequate time is made available for comments to be made on the draft, before the statutory instrument containing the final regulations is laid before Parliament.

    Overseas Investment
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the trends in the proportion of the overseas assets of the United Kingdom which are invested outside the European Union. [136405]

    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. John Bercow, dated 30 November 2000:

    As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question on the proportion of the United Kingdom's assets invested outside the European Union. (136405)

    The Office for National Statistics (ONS) does not compile a geographical breakdown of the United Kingdom's total external assets although some information is available. A geographical breakdown of direct investment abroad is published annually in Overseas Direct Investment (ISSN 1369–1538)

    Cross-border Shopping
    Mr. Öpik
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what his latest estimate is of the impact on net tax revenue of the purchasing abroad of(a) fuel for heavy goods vehicles operating in the UK, (b) tobacco products for consumption in the UK and (c) alcoholic beverages for consumption in the UK; and if he will make a statement; [138014]

    (2) what his latest estimate is of the percentage of (a) fuel used in heavy goods vehicles, (b) tobacco products consumed and (c) alcoholic beverages consumed in the United Kingdom which are purchased abroad; and if he will make a statement. [138013]

    Dawn Primarolo
    For the most recently published estimates of the revenue loss from cross-border shopping for alcohol and tobacco I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 26 November 1999,Official Report, columns 254–55W. New figures for the overall revenue loss from cross-border shopping are in the process of being produced and will be published in due course. There are no figures for cross-border shopping for fuel for use in certain types of vehicle.

    ECOFIN Council
    Mr. Hood
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the outcome of the ECOFIN Council held in Brussels on 7 November; and if he will make a statement. [137764]

    Miss Melanie Johnson
    I attended the meeting of the Economic and Finance Council of Ministers.
    936W
    The Commission presented its report on implementation of the Risk Capital Action Plan and a Review of Specific Community Financial Instruments for SMEs, which it was agreed will form the basis of a joint Council/Commission report to the Nice European Council.

    The Commission agreed that their Communication on structural indicators can be reconciled with the work of the Economic Policy Committee (EPC) to allow for a single set of indicators to act as a base for the synthesis report for the Stockholm European Council in March 2001.

    The Commission presented a progress report on the contribution of public finances to growth and employment. The EPC presented a report on the impact of aging populations on public pension schemes. The Presidency asked the EPC to continue its work, widening it to include the impacts of aging on financing public health care.

    ECOFIN discussed the report of the Economic and Financial Committee (EFC) on exchange rate strategies for accession countries. The report will be submitted to the Nice European Council.

    The Commission presented its proposal for recasting the Financial Regulation. The Presidency thanked the Commission and remitted the detailed work to the Budget Committee.

    Mr. Hood
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the outcome was of the ECOFIN Council held in Brussels on 26 to 27 November; and if he will make a statement. [140888]

    Miss Melanie Johnson
    The Chancellor attended the meeting of the Economic and Finance Council of Ministers.

    Agreement was reached on the substantial content of the Directive on taxation of savings based on the UK proposal of exchange of information rather than a withholding tax on cross-border savings income. The UK policy objective of securing an agreement consistent with the outcome of the Feira European Council—including the requirement for all member states to move to full exchange of information no later than seven years after adoption of the Directive—was achieved. The agreement will enhance the effectiveness of tackling tax evasion, minimise the administrative burden on the City and maintain the competitiveness of UK and EU financial markets.

    Agreement was also reached on further work under the Code of Conduct and on the timetable for the rollback of harmful measures.

    The salient points of the Wise Men's initial report on the Regulation of European Securities Markets were presented. Ministers asked the group to continue its work and report finally in February. Their conclusions support the Chancellor's strategy for a more dynamic and efficient single market in financial services, published in July 2000.

    On the question of VAT registration of non-EU suppliers of e-commerce services Ministers asked for further work on all possible options and for a revised draft directive to be presented to ECOFIN before June 2001.
    937W
    On the economic and financial stability of accession countries it was agreed the Commission would prepare annual macroeconomic analysis for discussion at the high level group with accession countries, followed by ECOFIN conclusions. Ministers emphasised that these arrangements impose no new criteria upon the candidate countries and will promote a dialogue that will facilitate the transition process.

    The European Court of Auditors presented its Annual Report for 1999. Ministers noted the Report. They will consider discharge on the basis of this report in March 2001.

    The Council examined and agreed conclusions on updated Stability Programmes for Germany, the Netherlands and Finland.

    Price Indices
    Mr. Edward Davey
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will review the methodology for adjusting for quality improvements in the calculation of the Retail Prices Index; and if he will make a statement; [137865]

    (2) what research his Department has undertaken on the matter of hedonic price indices; and if he will make a statement. [137864]

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

    Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Edward Davey, dated 30 November 2000:

    The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent questions on the methodology for adjusting for quality improvements in the Retail Price Index (RPI) (137865) and hedonic price indices (137864). I am replying in his absence.

    The Office for National Statistics (ONS) does not currently use hedonic regression techniques to correct for changes in quality of new goods in the RPI sample. However, changes in quality are allowed for in two ways. Firstly, explicitly using option costs for computers. In this case the actual costs of individual changes of specification in the computer are recorded, and 50 per cent of this cost is applied to the price of an item as the value of the quality change. Secondly, for all other items, we make an implicit adjustment. In this case when a new item is selected during price collection, to replace an item no longer available, any price change, above that seen in other goods of this type, is assumed to be related to quality changes.

    However the ONS is actively participating in discussions about which methods are most appropriate for quality adjusting price indices. As part of the ongoing methodological research programme for the RPI, the ONS is looking closely at the question of adjustments for quality changes in new goods introduced into the index, whether these be improvements or reductions in quality. This work involves a technical assessment of the current methodology used in the RPI, comparing this with practices in other countries and evaluating which methodology is most appropriate for the UK.

    As part of this work we are examining techniques either used by other National Statistics Offices, or recommended by academics, to see if they are of potential use in the UK. In particular, we are looking at whether the hedonic regression techniques adopted in the USA, and other countries, would be suitable for the UK, both theoretically and practically. The research will not, necessarily, recommend a single quality adjustment technique, but rather may recommend different solutions for different product groups.
    938W
    This work is taking place in close collaboration with Eurostat, other National Statistical Offices, and the academic community to ensure that results are based on a strong foundation, and can be used to allow International comparisons to be made.

    The results will also be taken into account in the work on methodological improvements for the Producer Price Index (PPI).

    This work is progressing, and the results will be published when reliable conclusions have been reached.

    NIRS2
    Mr. Webb
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) when he expects the problems with the NIRS2 computer system to be resolved; [138257]

    (2) if he will estimate the total cost to date of the work carried out to rectify the problems with the NIRS2 computer system; [138255]

    (3) if he will detail the total amount of compensation that has so far been paid as a result of the problems with the NIRS2 computer system; [138253]

    (4) if he will estimate the total cost of the work required to fully rectify the problems with the NIRS2 computer system; [138256]

    (5) if he will estimate the total amount of compensation that he expects to be paid as a result of the problems with the NIRS2 computer system. [138254]

    Dawn Primarolo
    [holding answer 13 November 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him and the hon. Member for Havant (Mr. Willetts) on 31 October 2000, Official Report, column 409W.

    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the cost to date to the taxpayer of the NIRS2 computer problem. [136140]

    Dawn Primarolo
    [holding answer 13 November 2000]: I refer to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Havant (Mr. Willetts) on 19 June 2000, Official Report, column 106W.

    Fuel Duties
    Mr. Matthew Taylor
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his oral statement of 8 November 2000,Official Report, columns 315–27, on the pre-Budget report, and the document "Building Long Term Prosperity for All", Table 6.2, what estimate he has made of the carbon savings per annum from a 1 per cent. cut in fuel duties in real terms; and if he will make a statement. [138283]

    Mr. Timms
    [holding answer 14 November 2000]: In the PBR the Chancellor announced that duty would be frozen in real terms, the duty on ultra low sulphur petrol would be cut by 2p a litre subject to there being nationwide access, and in those circumstances the duty on ultra low sulphur diesel would be cut by 3p a litre.

    The impact on CO2 emissions from any duty charge introduced at the Budget will be published in the Budget Red Book.

    Minimum Wage
    Mr. Peter Bradley
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of workers in the rural economy who have benefited from the introduction of the statutory minimum wage, broken down by employment sector. [139024]

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

    Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Peter Bradley, dated 30 November 2000:

    The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your parliamentary question on the number of workers in the rural economy who have benefited from the introduction of the national minimum wage (NW) (139024). I am replying in his absence.

    The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has no estimates of employees in the rural economy that have benefited from the NMW. ONS does have estimates of people with pay less than NMW rates. These can be found on the National Statistics website, reference:

    http://www.statistics.gov.uk/themes/labour-market/nmw-lowpay-tables.asp

    They are based on an improved methodology which uses data from both the New Earnings Survey (NES) and the Labour Force Survey (LFS).

    The estimates cannot be used as a measure of non-compliance with NMW legislation because it is not possible from either the LFS or the NES to identify whether an individual is eligible for NMW rates. For example it is not possible to identify people such as apprentices and those undergoing accredited training who are exempt from the minimum wage or are entitled to lower rates.

    Economically Inactive People
    Mr. Field
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many constituencies there was a rise in the numbers of economically inactive people between(a) 1997 and 1998, (b) 1998 and 1999 and (c) 1997 and 1999. [138501]

    Miss Melanie Johnson
    [holding answer 16 November 2000]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

    Inactive people by regions (SSR)1, spring (March to May) 1984–2000

    Thousand

    Spring

    United Kingdom

    Great Britain

    England

    North

    Yorkshire and Humberside

    East Midlands

    East Anglia

    South East

    1984

    16,608

    16,148

    13,690

    961

    1,482

    1,103

    569

    4,715

    1985

    16,634

    16,171

    13,693

    987

    1,457

    1,141

    575

    4,774

    1986

    16,718

    16,267

    13,774

    969

    1,480

    1,101

    587

    4,829

    1987

    16,672

    16,208

    13,692

    944

    1,473

    1,136

    577

    4,815

    1988

    16,453

    15,994

    13,514

    944

    1,487

    1,132

    552

    4,675

    1989

    16,214

    15,757

    13,339

    944

    1,475

    1,082

    559

    4,614

    1990

    16,198

    15,745

    13,337

    967

    1,459

    1,104

    538

    4,592

    1991

    16,413

    15,957

    13,503

    971

    1,457

    1,122

    577

    4,661

    1992

    16,728

    16,269

    13,842

    974

    1,473

    1,141

    590

    4,803

    1993

    16,954

    16,461

    13,939

    979

    1,470

    1,145

    581

    4,860

    1994

    17,032

    16,526

    14,055

    981

    1,497

    1,182

    574

    4,929

    1995

    17,155

    16,657

    14,162

    1,001

    1,486

    1,177

    599

    4,929

    1996

    17,172

    16,675

    14,151

    990

    1,507

    1,164

    612

    4,919

    1997

    17,184

    16,687

    14,198

    995

    1,529

    1,166

    647

    4,15

    1998

    17,361

    16,855

    14,318

    1,027

    1,515

    1,183

    630

    4,974

    1999

    17,237

    16,728

    14,193

    1,019

    1,519

    1,193

    631

    4,917

    2000

    17,169

    16,637

    14,140

    1,000

    1,488

    1,169

    631

    4,949

    940W
    Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Frank Field, dated 30 November 2000:

    The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question about the numbers of economically inactive people in parliamentary constituencies (138501). I am replying in his absence.

    Estimates of the number of people economically inactive are not available at constituency level.

    However, information on economic activity rates at parliamentary constituency level can be derived on an annual basis from the Labour Force Survey (LFS), which is the main source of labour market data on individuals. The inactivity rate for all aged 16 and over is available for each constituency, for the periods March 1997 to February 1998 and March 1998 to February 1999.

    As with any sample survey, LFS estimates are subject to sampling variability. The smaller the estimate the larger the variability relative to the size of the estimate. For this reason comparisons between small areas such as parliamentary constituencies should be treated with caution.

    Inactive people are those who are neither employed or unemployed. This group includes for example all those who were looking after a home or retired.

    Mr. Ruane
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many economically inactive people there were in each region of the United Kingdom in each of the last 20 years. [140486]

    Miss Melanie Johnson
    [holding answer 27 November 2000]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

    Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Chris Ruane, dated 30 November 2000:

    As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question about the number of economically inactive people in each region of the UK in each of the last 20 years. (140486)

    The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is the main source of labour market data on individuals used by National Statistics. Estimates of the number of economically inactive people are only available since 1984 when the International Labour Organisation (ILO) definition of unemployment came into use. The attached table shows the estimates of the number of people economically inactive in each Standard Statistical Region in the UK since spring 1984.

    People aged 16 or over are classed as economically inactive by the LFS if they are neither employed or ILO unemployed. This groups includes for example all those who were looking after a home or retired.
    941W

    Thousand

    Spring

    Greater London

    Rest of South East

    South West

    West Midlands

    North West

    Wales

    Scotland

    Northern Ireland

    1984

    1,918

    2,797

    1,401

    1,530

    1,929

    926

    1,533

    460

    1985

    1,908

    2,866

    1,380

    1,506

    1,872

    949

    1,530

    462

    1986

    1,958

    2,870

    1,415

    1,486

    1,907

    939

    1,555

    451

    1987

    1,926

    2,889

    1,369

    1,497

    1,882

    976

    1,540

    464

    1988

    1,902

    2,773

    1,381

    1,487

    1,855

    958

    1,522

    458

    1989

    1,854

    2,759

    1,354

    1,462

    1,849

    918

    1,499

    458

    1990

    1,837

    2,755

    1,370

    1,445

    1,862

    917

    1,491

    453

    1991

    1,902

    2,759

    1,367

    1,476

    1,872

    939

    1,515

    455

    1992

    1,976

    2,827

    1,401

    1,530

    1,932

    957

    1,469

    459

    1993

    1,937

    2,923

    1,412

    1,540

    1,952

    989

    1,533

    493

    1994

    1,990

    2,937

    1,411

    1,513

    1,967

    971

    1,500

    506

    1995

    1,993

    2,937

    1,415

    1,543

    2,013

    966

    1,529

    498

    1996

    1,981

    2,938

    1,445

    1,544

    1,972

    973

    1,552

    497

    1997

    1,963

    2,951

    1,408

    1,555

    1,983

    956

    1,532

    497

    1998

    2,038

    2,936

    1,420

    1,538

    2,032

    1,000

    1,537

    506

    1999

    1,967

    2,948

    1,400

    1,533

    1,982

    980

    1,555

    509

    2000

    1,998

    2,948

    1,419

    1,572

    1,915

    982

    1,514

    533

    1Standard Statistical Regions (SSR) have been used for consistency as they are available since 1984

    Source:

    ONS—Labour Force Survey

    Average Wages (Financial Services Sector)
    Mr. Wigley
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of the average weekly gross wage of(a) men and (b) women in the financial services sector. [139154]

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

    Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Dafydd Wigley, dated 30 November 2000:

    The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question about the average gross weekly earnings of men and women in the financial services sector (139154). I am replying in his absence.

    The New Earnings Survey (NES) provides earnings data for different industry sectors based on the 1992 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC92). Estimates for full-time employees are published for all industry sectors when there is a sufficiently large sample of employees and the statistics have an acceptable level of accuracy. I have provided data for the SIC92 'financial intermediation' industry sector in the attached table including previously unpublished estimates for part-time employees and for all males and all females. The figures are for Great Britain and are based on the 2000 NES, the latest survey for which data are available.

    The NES is based on a one per cent sample of employees in the PAYE system and is therefore likely to under-represent low paid staff earning below the tax threshold and in particular those who work part-time. Averages will be affected by a relatively small number of employees earning very high gross weekly earning.

    Average gross weekly earnings of employees in financial intermediation industry sector

    £

    Gross weekly earnings

    Males

    Full-time

    653.9

    Part-time

    1—

    All

    644.1

    942W

    Average gross weekly earnings of employees in financial intermediation industry sector

    £

    Gross weekly earnings

    Females

    Full-time

    379.3

    Part-time

    170.1

    All

    323.4

    1Denotes that a reliable estimate is not available

    Note:

    2000 NES, Great Britain: Employees on adult rates, whose pay for the survey period was unaffected by absence

    Immigration (Registration Officers)
    Mr. Lidington
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if it is his policy that registration officers should check(a) the passports and (b) the validity of visas of persons intending to marry; and if he will make a statement; [139342]

    (2) what guidance he (a) has issued and (b) plans to issue to registration officers about sharing information with the immigration authorities; [139341]

    (3) what training he is providing for registration officers about their duties under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. [139340]

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

    Letter from Len Cook to Mr. David Lidington, dated 30 November 2000:

    As Registrar General for England and Wales I have been asked to reply to your three recent questions about the arrangements for the coming into force on 1 January 2001 of section 24 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (the 1999 Act). As you know, section 24 is concerned with the duty on registration officers to report suspicious marriages. Specifically you asked about registration officers checking passports and visas and their training and guidance to be issued. (139340/1/2)
    943W
    Under current legislation, registration officers need to ensure the accuracy of information contained in the notice of intention to marry. To achieve this they may examine a variety of documents. The person giving notice of marriage may be asked to provide documentary evidence showing use and spellings of names and details of age and marital status in order to verify the particulars. A variety of documents, including a passport, may be produced.

    I have not issued any policy guidance to registration officers regarding checks on passports on the validity of visas of persons intending to marry. However, the 1999 Act places a duty on registration officers to report to the Home Office marriages they reasonably suspect as being sham marriages. If, in the course of examining a passport, a registration officer discovers the visa of a part to a marriage has expired this may be taken into account, together with other factors, in assessing whether the marriage is a sham.

    Registration officers in England and Wales have been invited to attend a seminar arranged to address both the impact on their statutory duties and the consequential amendments to marriage law arising from the 1999 Act.

    The Reporting of Suspicious Marriages and Registration (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2000 are to be laid before Parliament shortly. They set out the procedure for reporting sham marriages to the Secretary of State for the Home Department where it is suspected that the marriage is or has been entered into for the purpose of avoiding the effect of United Kingdom immigration law. The regulations specify that reports are made direct to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate and stipulate the information to be contained in reports.

    A copy of these regulations will be issued to every superintendent registrar in England and Wales. They will also receive written guidance and revised instructions for inclusion in the Handbook for Registration Officers that will contain advice about reporting arrangements. I have no plans to issue further guidance on sharing information with the immigration authorities.

    Heroin (Deaths)
    Mr. Flynn
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the trend has been in the number of deaths in the UK resulting from heroin use between 1990 and the most recent year for which figures are available. [137468]

    Miss Melanie Johnson
    [holding answer 20 November 2000]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

    Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 30 November 2000:

    The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question on the trend in the number of deaths in the UK resulting from heroin use between 1990 and the most recent year for which figures are available (137468). I am replying in his absence.

    Methods for identifying deaths related to heroin differ among the constituent countries of the UK. Figures on the basis currently used in all countries are only available from 1994 onwards.

    For Britain (England & Wales and Scotland), these figures represent the number of deaths where the underlying cause of death is regarded as resulting from drug-related poisoning, according to the current National Statistics definition, and heroin or morphine were either mentioned on the death certificate, or in additional available information. As heroin breaks down in the body into morphine, the latter may be detected at post mortem and recorded on the death certificate. Figures are therefore provided for deaths with a mention of either substance.

    Figures for Northern Ireland represent deaths where the underlying cause was due to poisoning by opiates and related narcotics, code N965.0 in the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Division, (ICD9).
    944W
    The figures requested are presented in the table below:

    Deaths with a mention of heroin or morphine1 in Britain, and in Northern Ireland those due to poisoning by opiates and related narcotics2, 1994–98

    Year

    Number

    1994

    336

    1995

    439

    1996

    557

    1997

    525

    1998

    764

    Total

    2,621

    1 Deaths with underlying cause codes 292, 304, 305.2–305.9, E850-E858, E950.0-E950.5, E962.0 and E980.0-E980.5, using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, (ICD9), where heroin or morphine was mentioned on the death certificate.

    2Deaths with an underlying cause of ICD9 N965.0

    Workless Households
    Mr. Denzil Davies
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of the percentage of workless households in(a) England and (b) Wales. [139453]

    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. Denzil Davies, dated 30 November 2000:

    As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question on the percentage of workless households in England and Wales. (139453)

    The most recent estimates are that, in spring (March to May) 2000 the percentage of workless households in England was 14.9 per cent and in Wales it was 21.2 per cent.

    These estimates refer to working age households, which are defined as households with no-one in employment, that include at least one person of working age, i.e. a woman aged between 16 and 59 or a man aged between 16 and 64. Households with economically inactive people on disability benefit are included in these estimates.

    Household Incomes
    Mr. Denzil Davies
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the disposable household income, after housing, fuel and travel costs, per head in Wales as a percentage of an English average of 100 at the most recent date for which figures are available. [139459]

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

    Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Denzil Davies, dated 30 November 2000:

    The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question on disposable household income (139459). I am replying in his absence.

    Information on income and expenditure is available from the Family Expenditure Survey, taking the three years 1996–97 to 1998–99 together. Over that period disposable income, after deducting housing, fuel and travel costs, per head in Wales was estimated to be 83 per cent of the figure for England.

    The sample of about 300 households in Wales each year is too small to give a reliable estimate so three years are combined. The estimate is still subject to sampling variability, like all estimates from sample surveys. For the estimate based on three years data the estimated upper and lower bounds for the percentage (90 per cent confidence) are 77 per cent to 88 per cent.

    Registered Disabled Persons
    Mr. Wigley
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of registered disabled persons in each nation and region of the UK were in(a) part-time and (b) full time employment at the latest date for which figures are available. [139780]

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

    Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Dafydd Wigley, dated 30 November 2000:

    The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question about the percentages of registered disabled persons by nation and region (139780). I am replying in his absence.

    Estimates on the number of registered disabled people are not available. However, the Labour Force Survey (LFS) which is the main source of labour market data on individuals used in National Statistics does contain information on disability.

    Canada (Visits)
    Mr. Field
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the dates and purposes of visits to Canada by(a) himself, (b) Treasury Ministers and (c) Treasury officials since 1 May 1997. [139815]

    Miss Melanie Johnson
    [holding answer 23 November 2000]: The Chancellor visited Canada on 30 September 1998 to attend the Commonwealth Finance Ministers' Meeting and on 24 October 2000 to attend a meeting of G20 Finance Ministers. On both occasions he had a number of additional bilateral meetings. No other Treasury Ministers have visited Canada since May 1997. The information requested on visits by officials is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

    Unemployment/Vacancy Ratio
    Mr. Cousins
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Pre-Budget report, if he will list the unemployment to vacancy ratio in each(a) nation and (b) Government office region of the United Kingdom. [140540]

    Estimated resident population mid-I971 to mid-1999 for Government Office Regions

    1971 (Thousand)

    1999 (Thousand)

    Population change (Thousand)

    Percentage

    England and Wales

    49,152.0

    52,689.9

    3,537.9

    7.2

    North East

    2,678.5

    2,581.3

    -97.2

    -3.6

    North West

    7,107.8

    6,880.5

    -227.3

    -3.2

    Yorkshire and Humberside

    4,902.3

    5,047.0

    144.7

    3.0

    East Midlands

    3,651.9

    4,191.2

    539.3

    14.8

    West Midlands

    5,146.0

    5,335.6

    189.6

    3.7

    East

    4,454.3

    5,418.9

    964.6

    21.7

    London

    7,529.4

    7,285.0

    -244.4

    -3.2

    South East

    6,829.7

    8,077.6

    1,247.9

    18.3

    South West

    4,111.8

    4,935.7

    823.9

    20.0

    Wales

    2,740.3

    2,937.0

    196.7

    7.2

    Source:

    Office for National Statistics Crown Copyright 2000
    946W
    Miss Melanie Johnson
    [holding answer 27 November 2000]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

    Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 30 November 2000:

    The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question regarding the unemployment to vacancy ratio in each nation and Government Office region of the United Kingdom (140540). I am replying in his absence.

    The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is the main source of labour market data on individuals used by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The official measure of unemployment is derived from the LFS and is defined on a consistent and internationally recognised basis set out by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). It counts as unemployed people who are a) without a paid job, b) available to start work within the next two weeks and c) have either looked for work in the last four weeks or are waiting to start a job already obtained.

    ONS also publishes the monthly number of people who are claiming unemployment-related benefits, also known as the claimant count.

    The only figures available on vacancies are those notified to Jobcentres. It should be borne in mind that Jobcentre vacancies represent only a proportion of all vacancies in the economy, broadly a third overall. This proportion is also likely to vary across regions and between different skills and occupations.

    Demographic Changes
    Mr. Win Griffiths
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on demographic changes in each standard planning region since 1970. [140568]

    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. Win Griffiths, dated 30 November 2000:

    As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question concerning demographic changes in each standard planning region since 1970 (140568).

    There are two tables attached, the first shows the total change in population from mid-1971 to mid-1999 for Government Office Regions (GORs). To allow comparisons to be made, the 1971 data in this table are expressed in terms of GOR boundaries in existence in 1999.

    Population change can be broken down into the two main components of natural change (which is the difference between births and deaths) and migration and other changes. The second table shows these components of population change from 1981 to 1999 for GORs. Data are not readily available prior to 1981 for the breakdown of the components of population change in the regions.
    947W

    Estimated population change, 1981 to 1991 and 1991 to 1999—England, Wales by Government Office Region

    Thousand

    Change 1981–91

    Change 1991–99

    Area

    Resident Population mid-1981

    National change

    Migration(and other changes)1

    Resident Population mid-1991

    Natural change

    Migration(and other changes)1

    Resident Population mid-1999

    England and Wales

    49,634.3

    885.2

    580.0

    51,099.5

    779.4

    811.0

    52,689.9

    England

    46,820.8

    860.2

    527.0

    48,208.1

    773.0

    771.9

    49,752.9

    North East (GOR)

    2,636.2

    22.2

    -55.9

    2,602.5

    3.8

    -25.0

    2,581.3

    North West (GOR)

    6,940.3

    83.6

    -138.6

    6,885.4

    51.6

    -56.4

    6,880.5

    Yorkshire and the Humber (GOR)

    4,918.4

    65.1

    -0.7

    4,982.8

    58.1

    6.1

    5,047.0

    East Midlands (GOR)

    3,852.8

    76.4

    106.2

    4,035.4

    51.1

    104.7

    4,191.2

    West Midlands (GOR)

    5,186.6

    138.3

    -59.5

    5,265.5

    92.8

    -22.6

    5,335.6

    Eastern (GOR)

    4,854.1

    127.5

    168.3

    5,149.8

    97.1

    172.0

    5,418.9

    London (GOR)

    6,805.6

    242.0

    -157.6

    6,889.9

    315.6

    79.5

    7,285.0

    South East (GOR)

    7,245.4

    111.2

    322.3

    7,678.9

    110.0

    288.6

    8,077.6

    South West (GOR)

    4,381.4

    -6.1

    342.5

    4,717.8

    -7.0

    224.9

    4,935.7

    Wales

    2,813.5

    25.0

    53.0

    2,891.5

    6.5

    39.1

    2,937.0

    1The other changes component of net civilian migration and other changes is made up of a number of factors, the main one of which at GOR level is changes over time in the number of armed forces personnel resident in areas.

    Note:

    Figures may not add due to rounding

    Source:

    Office for National Statistics Crown Copyright 2000

    Working Hours
    Mr. Ruane
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average number of hours worked each week by British workers was in each of the last 20 years. [140482]

    Miss Melanie Johnson
    [holding answer 27 November 2000]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

    Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Chris Ruane, dated 30 November 2000:

    As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question about the average number of hours worked each week by British workers in each of the last 20 years.

    The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is the main source of labour market data on individuals used by National Statistics. The table overleaf shows the average actual weekly hours worked, in the reference week in the United Kingdom from spring (March to May) 1979 to spring 2000.

    Average actual weekly hours1 of work; spring (March to May) 1979–2000; United Kingdom Not seasonally adjusted

    All persons

    1979

    35.7

    1981

    32.3

    1983

    36.8

    1984

    33.4

    1985

    34.0

    1986

    36.8

    1987

    33.8

    1988

    34.6

    1989

    34.4

    1990

    36.9

    1991

    34.0

    1992

    32.9

    1993

    33.2

    1994

    33.4

    1995

    33.6

    1996

    33.5

    1997

    33.1

    1998

    33.0

    1999

    33.1

    2000

    32.9

    1Average hours actually worked in the reference week. Total hours include overtime (paid and unpaid) and exclude lunchbreaks

    Source:

    ONS—Labour Force Survey

    VED (Lorries)
    Mr. Lansley
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the transitional payments for vehicle excise duty for lorries differ from those to be introduced next year. [140651]

    Mr. Timms
    A consultation document asking for views on how lorry vehicle excise duty should be reformed was published alongside the pre-Budget report. As a transitional arrangement, the Chancellor also announced that up to 50 per cent. of lorry vehicle excise duty paid in this financial year will be rebated. The Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions has announced further details of the transitional arrangements in News Release 698 dated 14 November 2000.

    Married Couple's Allowance
    Mr. Robertson
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer in the 2001–02 tax year of re-introducing the married couple's allowance, without its related allowances, at(a) the April 1993 rate up-rated to 2000–01 prices, (b) the April 1995 rate up-rated to 2000–01 prices and (c) the April 1998 rate up-rated to 2000–01 prices. [140342]

    Dawn Primarolo
    [holding answer 27 November 2000]: The full year costs of re-introducing the married couple's allowance in 2001–02 would be, approximately:

    (a) £5.0 billion;

    (b) £2.6 billion; and

    (c) £2.6 billion.

    These estimates are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes and are consistent with the November 2000 pre-Budget Report.

    Ultra-low Sulphur Fuel
    Mr. Matthew Taylor
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 22 November 2000,Official Report, column 246W, on ultra low sulphur fuel, for what reason he is unable to provide estimates of costs for future years. [140779]
    949W
    Mr. Timms
    As announced on page 127 of the pre-Budget Report, the announced cuts in ultra low sulphur road fuels are conditional on the oil companies guaranteeing nationwide access
    to ultra low sulphur petrol (ULSP). The cost of the cuts will depend on the speed with which the oil companies now respond. An indicative estimate of the likely cost in 2001–02 was contained in the pre-Budget Report. Costings for 2001–02, 2002–03 and 2003–04 will be published in Budget 2001, if the cuts are implemented.

    G3
    Mr. Matthew Taylor
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer at what time and on what date(a) the Treasury and (b) the Bank of England were informed of the intention of the G3 group of countries to intervene in support of the euro on 22 September. [140780]

    Miss Melanie Johnson
    The United Kingdom took part in the G7 intervention on 22 September 2000. Full details were set out in the Treasury press notice of 4 October and the Pre Budget Report (Cm 4917) on 8 November.

    Capital Gains Indexation
    Mr. Matthew Taylor
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answers of 9 November 2000,Official Report, column 343W and 21 November 2000, Official Report, column 144W, concerning capital gains tax indexation, if he will make a statement on capital gains tax indexation for future years. [140547]

    Dawn Primarolo
    [holding answer 28 November 2000]: An update of the answers will be available after the Budget forecast in spring 2001.

    Mr. Matthew Taylor
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost of capital gains taper relief to the Treasury for the five financial years from 2001–02. [140487]

    Dawn Primarolo
    [holding answer 28 November 2000]: The costs of structural reliefs (including capital gains tax taper) for 1999–2000 and 2000–01 are given in the Tax Ready Reckoner and Tax Reliefs, which was published on 9 November 2000. These are £130 million and £310 million respectively. Estimates for future years are highly dependent on assumed growth in asset values.

    The capital gains tax taper was introduced in Budget 1998 and amended in Budget 2000. The capital gains tax taper and associated changes in Budget 1998 were introduced on a broadly revenue neutral basis. The costs of the changes in Budget 2000 are given in the Financial Statement and Budget Report 2000.

    Pensioner Price Indices
    Dr. George Turner
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list for the period which determined the changes in the rate of the state pension, the annual movement in(a) the RPI and (b) the Pensioner Price Indices in each of the last five years; [140671]

    (2) when the items included in the Pensioner Price Indices were last reviewed; [140672]
    950W
    (3) what steps he has taken to ensure that the items included within the Pensioner Price Indices reflect the needs of the average pensioner. [140673]

    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. George Turner, dated 30 November 2000:

    As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your three recent questions asking:

    1) for the annual movement in (a) the RPI and (b) the Pensioner Price Indices in each of the last five years, for the period which determined the changes in the rate of the state pension;

    2) when items included in the Pensioner Price Indices were last reviewed; and

    3) what steps have been taken to ensure that the items included within the Pensioner Price Indices reflect the needs of the average pensioner.

    In response to question one, it is the annual percentage increase in the September RPI that is used to uprate state pensions. The Pensioner Prices Indices are only published quarterly so I have chosen to list figures for the third quarter, that is the quarter July to September. Pensioner Indices are only calculated for one person pensioner households and two person pensioner households.

    Percentage annual increase in

    RPI

    One pensioner Household

    Two pensioner Household

    Year ending

    September to September

    Q3-Q3

    Q3-Q3

    1996

    2.1

    2.2

    2.5

    1997

    3.6

    1.0

    1.6

    1998

    3.2

    1.3

    1.6

    1999

    1.1

    1.4

    1.5

    2000

    3.3

    1.1

    1.5

    In response to question two, the items contained in the basket of goods, which is used to calculate both the RPI and the Pensioner Price Indices are reviewed annually.

    In answer to your third question, the Pensioner Price Indices relate to pensioner households whose income is mainly (at least 75%) dependent on state benefit. The Pensioner Price Indices are effectively a subset of the RPI as the same price data is used to produce both, however the Pensioner Price Indices exclude certain items that the RPI includes, such as housing costs, school meals and NHS prescription charges. For items where pensioners receive special rates (such as rail and bus fares), we produce special pensioner indices that differ from those in the RPI. In addition, there are various items and sections where pensioner expenditure patterns differ greatly from those used in the RPI—these include milk, soft drinks, footwear, fees and subscriptions, takeaways, T.V. licences, beer and wine sales (both 'on' and `off), tobacco, domestic services, chemists' goods, maintenance of motor vehicles, and books and newspapers. The weights used to construct the Pensioner Price Indices are therefore adjusted accordingly to take these different spending patterns into account.

    Dr. George Turner
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what(a) representations and (b) consultations he has had on the Pensioner Price Indices. [140674]

    Miss Melanie Johnson
    None.

    Pay
    Mr. Ruane
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what percentage the pay of(a) manufacturing and (b) service industry employees has changed in each of the last 20 years. [141214]
    951W
    Miss Melanie Johnson
    The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

    Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Chris Ruane, dated 30 November 2000:

    The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question about the percentage change of earnings in the manufacturing and service sectors in the past 20 years (141205). I am replying in his absence.

    The Average Earnings Index (AEI)is the Office for National Statistics preferred method for measuring changes in average earnings. The attached table shows annual growth rates in average earnings for each of the past 20 years in services and manufacturing.

    Census Data
    Mr. Oaten
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will publish the census data collected in 2001. [141137]

    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. Mark Oaten, dated 30 November 2000:

    As National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking when the 2001 Census data will be published (141137).

    Mid 2001-population estimates for local authority areas for England and Wales, based on the 2001 Census, are planned to be published in late summer 2002.

    More detailed figures from the 2001 Census are planned to be released towards the end of 2002 and during 2003. These will provide information for the local parts of the country and up to national level.

    Working Families Tax Credit
    Mr. Willetts
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the passported benefits to which recipients of the working families tax credit are entitled and the conditions attached to their receipt. [141050]

    Dawn Primarolo
    The Working Families Tax Credit is used by a wide range of Government, devolved administrations, local authorities and non-Government organisations as a gateway to the help that they provide. A complete list of all benefits made available by others, and the entitlement conditions they set could only be provided at disproportionate cost. The Inland Revenue includes information about the major types of help provided by other departments as part of information given to applicants.

    Financial Services and Markets Act 2000
    Mr. Flynn
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes his Department has made in the last three years to the number of legal advisers it employs to deal with the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and consequent secondary legislation. [141196]

    Miss Melanie Johnson
    A team was employed full-time on preparation of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 until Royal Assent in June 2000. Thereafter additional members have been added for the secondary legislation required to implement the Act.
    952W
    Mr. Flynn
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the preparation of secondary legislation relating to the introduction of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. [141195]

    Miss Melanie Johnson
    The Treasury is currently consulting on a number of statutory instruments, including the Financial Promotion Order, and the Regulated Activities Order (which defines the scope of financial regulation), and will be starting consultation shortly on several other instruments.

    Civil Servants
    Mr. Matthew Taylor
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list constitutional conventions that civil servants in his Department are expected to comply with when undertaking their duties; and if he will make a statement. [141245]

    Dawn Primarolo
    I refer the hon. Member to the reply which the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office is giving him today.

    Sickness Absence
    Mr. Matthew Taylor
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 6 November 2000,Official Report, column 78W, on sickness absence, how often managers are required to submit information on sickness absence; and in what form. [141081]

    Miss Melanie Johnson
    Managers complete a sickness absence notification form in line with the July 1998 report on Managing Attendance in the Public Sector.

    Income Tax
    Mr. Matthew Taylor
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the revenue yield, on a national accounts basis, of increasing the basic rate of income tax by 1p for the three financial years commencing in 2003–04; and if he will make a statement. [141189]

    Dawn Primarolo
    Estimates for changing the basic rate of income tax by 1p on a National Accounts Basis are given in table 4 of the "Tax Ready Reckoner and Tax Reliefs" (HM Treasury, November 2000).

    Mr. Matthew Taylor
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many income tax payers have an income tax liability of(a) less than £40 and (b) more than £40 per annum; and what the average income tax liability is of somebody with an income tax liability of less than £40 per annum. [140862]

    Dawn Primarolo
    In 2000–01 some 0.8 million taxpayers are liable to less than £40 income tax out of 27.9 million. The average income tax liability of those 0.8 million is around £20.

    This information is based on the Survey of Personal Incomes and is consistent with the November pre-Budget Report.

    Civil Service Costs
    Mr. Laurence Robertson
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total(a) salary cost and (b) non-salary cost of the civil service in the last year for which figures are available. [141026]
    953W
    Mr. Andrew Smith
    The information requested is set out in Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2000–01 (Cm 4601), a copy of which is in the Library.

    Bingo
    Mr. Fearn
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce legislation to reduce the level of duty on bingo. [141077]

    Mr. Timms
    The Chancellor reviews all duty rates in the run up to the Budget.

    Expenditure
    Mr. Win Griffiths
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list by standard planning region the spending per head in(a) 1997–98, (b) 1987–88, (c) 1979–80 and (d) 1974–75 on (i) health and personal social services, (ii) education, (iii) transport, (iv) housing, (v) agriculture, (vi) social security, (vii) law, order and protective services, (viii) environmental services and (ix) trade, industry, energy, employment and training; and the total amount spent in each sector. [141110]

    Mr. Andrew Smith
    I refer my hon. Friend to tables F 1 and F2 of Public Expenditure Analyses to 1993-94 (CM 1520) for 1987–88 and tables 8.9 and 8.10 of Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2000–01 (CM 4601) for 1997–98. Regional information prior to this is not available. The tables are not fully comparable because of changes in definitions of the spending aggregates, and functional sectors and in the boundaries of regions. Data on spending levels in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are not available on a comparable basis.

    Petrol Smuggling
    Mr. William Ross
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the quantity of petroleum products smuggled from(a) the Irish Republic and (b) other countries into Great Britain in each of the last five years up to the latest date for which information is available. [141048]

    Dawn Primarolo
    No such estimates are available.

    Mr. William Ross
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the sums lost to the Revenue in(a) 1999 and (b) the financial year 1999–2000 due to the smuggling of petroleum products from the Irish Republic into Northern Ireland. [141067]

    Dawn Primarolo
    HM Customs and Excise has responsibility for excise revenues. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) on 20 March 2000,Official Report, column 442W.

    Export Credits Guarantee Department
    Mr. Ian Stewart
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he plans to review the implementation of the recommendations made by KPMG in December 1999 on the adequacy of the risk management systems and processes of the Export Credits Guarantee Department. [141296]

    Mr. Timms
    On 25 July this year my right hon. friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry published the ECGD Risk Management Review [Cm 4792], which was jointly commissioned from KPMG by HM Treasury 954W
    and ECGD. Alongside the Review HM Treasury and ECGD Ministers also published an Action Plan to address all the recommendations made in KPMG's report.

    The Government, in their response to the Trade and Industry Committee's report on the future of ECGD, noted that they intended to commission a follow-up, independent report to assess progress in addressing the recommendations made by KPMG.

    KPMG have been re-engaged to undertake this follow-up review. It is to be undertaken in two stages with the following Terms of Reference:

    Stage I

    The consultants are required to examine progress in addressing the recommendations set out in sections 1, 2, 3 and 5 of the KPMG report. In particular the consultants should: comment on the adequacy and effectiveness of the actions taken in remedying the shortcomings identified in the KPMG report; examine and report whether each KPMG recommendation has been sufficiently addressed; and where further progress is deemed necessary, recommend what action should be taken, its priority and the timescale within which it should be addressed.

    The consultants should also examine ECGD's proposals to develop a capital-based portfolio management system (PMS 3) at whatever stage its development has reached by Stage I of this follow-up study. The consultants are required to comment on whether the proposals are likely to address the recommendations made in section 4 of the KPMG report and, where they might not, recommend changes to the framework under development accordingly.

    The consultants will be required to begin the assessment of Stage I by end-October 2000. This stage should be completed within a four-week timescale.

    Stage II

    The consultants will be required to: assess whether ECGD's systems and procedures, following measures taken, constitute an effective pro-active risk management system envisaged in sections 3 and 4 of KPMG's report which delivers real control over risk. This should not conflict or duplicate with ECGD's current invitation to tender for consultancy on portfolio management; examine any area(s) where further progress was deemed necessary during Stage I of the study, and report whether the relevant KPMG recommendation(s) have been subsequently addressed; discuss and recommend (on the basis of the above analysis) whether the operating environment is now such that restoration of high level delegated authorities from HM Treasury to ECGD would be appropriate and whether ECGD should have full operational autonomy.

    It is envisaged that the consultants will begin the Stage II assessment in spring 2001, to be completed within a two-week timescale.

    The consultants will need to verify that agreed changes to operations and procedures are implemented in practice throughout the risk management process. They can expect to have unrestricted access to Government papers relevant to the study and to be able to question such employees of ECGD or other Government Departments as they judge necessary.
    955W
    The output from this project will be a report at the end of Stage I and a second one at the end of Stage II, addressing the relevant issues set out in these Terms of Reference.

    VAT (Charitable Almhouses)
    Mr. Bob Russell
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will reduce to 5 per cent. the VAT payable for repairs and modernisation of charitable almshouse property. [R] [140978]

    Dawn Primarolo
    The modernisation of a listed almshouse may be zero-rated provided that the work is an alteration which requires listed building consent. Also, in the Pre-Budget Report we announced plans for a reduced rate of VAT for the conversion of a residential property into a different number of dwellings.

    Hypothermia Statistics
    Mr. David Taylor
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many deaths in England and Wales in 1998–99 and 1999–2000 hypothermia was registered as the direct cause of death on the death certificate broken down by those aged(a) 60 to 74 years, (b) 75 to 84 years and (c) 85 years and over. [140917]

    Miss Melanie Johnson
    I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 22 November 2000,Official Report, columns 248–49W.

    Incontinence Pads
    Dr. Tonge
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will reduce VAT on incontinence pads available in shops to 5 per cent. [140825]

    Dawn Primarolo
    Incontinence pads can already be zero-rated by retailers supplying incontinent people living in their own homes. They are exempt from VAT when provided as part of the care incontinent people receive in nursing and residential homes.

    Individual Pension Accounts
    Mr. Willetts
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it remains his policy that individual pension accounts will be available from April 2001. [140754]

    Miss Melanie Johnson
    The Government are considering responses to the document "Individual Pension Accounts" published in July and a further announcement will be made in due course.

    National Investment and Loans Office
    Barbara Follett
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to assess the past performance of, and future options for, the National Investment and Loans Office. [141279]

    Miss Melanie Johnson
    The National Investment and Loans Office fulfils an important role at the heart of Government. It comprises three bodies: the National Debt Office (NDO) administers departmental investment funds, including the National Insurance Fund and the National Lottery Distribution Fund. These funds are invested in gilts and other government securities; the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) makes and administers loans (drawn 956W
    on the National Loans Fund) to local authorities; and the Office of the Paymaster General (OPG) holds balances and provides a banking service to Government Departments and other public bodies.

    I have asked Treasury officials to conduct a review of NILO's operations, working closely with NILO's senior management, and consulting NILO's customers and other interested stakeholders. The objective is:
    To review the management performance of the National Investment and Loans Office since it absorbed the Office of the Paymaster General in 1996, and to advise Treasury Ministers on the options to improve future delivery of Government objectives.

    The review will conclude by spring 2001.

    Child Tax Credit
    Mr. Matthew Taylor
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of child tax credit forms have been returned since they have been issued. [141280]

    Dawn Primarolo
    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Havant (Mr. Willetts) on 24 November 2000,Official Report, column 341W.

    IR35
    Mr. Brady
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 24 November 2000,Official Report, column 340W, on IR35, what legal costs have been incurred to date by Her Majesty's Government in defending the action for judicial review of IR35 brought by the Professional Contractors Group. [140976]

    Dawn Primarolo
    I cannot add anything to my previous reply.

    National Insurance
    Mr. Field
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the main areas of investment of the excess surplus in the National Insurance Fund were in the past five years; and what proportion of the excess surplus was invested in each area. [140949]

    Dawn Primarolo
    Details of investments appear in the National Insurance Fund Accounts prepared by the Department of Social Security and published annually by The Stationery Office.

    Mr. Field
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the National Insurance Fund's excess surplus has been invested in the past five years; and what the annual rate of return was in each year. [140948]

    Dawn Primarolo
    Investments are set out in the National Insurance Fund Accounts published annually by The Stationery Office.

    Petrol Prices
    Miss McIntosh
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on the increased cost of petrol; and if he will make a statement. [135795]

    Mr. Timms
    Treasury Ministers receive representations on a wide range of issues. The Chancellor made a statement on fuel duties in his pre-Budget statement on 8 November.

    Spending Review 2000
    Mr. Matthew Taylor
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) which environmentally damaging subsidies Departments have committed themselves to reducing or eliminating during the review of spending before the publishing of Spending Review 2000 (Cm 4807); and if he will make a statement; [137857]

    (2) which environmentally damaging subsidies Departments have committed themselves to (a) reducing and (b) eliminating during the review of spending before the publishing of Spending Review 2000 (Cm 4807); and if he will make a statement. [141225]

    Mr. Andrew Smith
    During the course of SR 2000, the Financial Secretary reminded Green Minister colleagues of the need to look carefully to ensure that their Departments' subsidies remain justifiable. For example, there will be better protection of the countryside through the shift from production subsidies to deliver environmental improvements in agriculture as set out in the England Rural Development Plan.

    Post Offices
    Mr. Home Robertson
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what extra funding has been made available to the Department of Trade and Industry for the development of post office counter services in rural and deprived urban areas; and what consequential allocation was made to the Scottish Executive. [139068]

    Mr. Andrew Smith
    The Government's plans to modernise the Post Office Network in the UK are set out in "Spending Review 2000: New Public Spending Plans 2001–03". As set out in the Supplementary Memorandum submitted by DTI to the Trade and Industry Select Committee, included in the Committee's thirteenth report on the Post Office and the Future of the Network, this included provision of £220 million for DTI for a UK wide programme. Copies of both can be found in the Library of the House.

    Road Haulage Industry
    Dr. Julian Lewis
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had in the past year with representatives of the road haulage industry; and on what dates. [134964]
    958W
    Mr. Timms
    Treasury Ministers have had a number of discussions with representatives of the road haulage industry. I attended meetings of the Road Haulage Forum, which includes representatives of the Freight Transport Association, Road Haulage Association and Transport and General Workers Union, on 8 December 1999, 9 February 2000, 17 April 2000, 26 July 2000, 19 October 2000 and 14 November 2000.

    Special Advisers
    Dr. Julian Lewis
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many special advisers are currently employed in the Treasury; and what their duties in each case are. [134968]

    Miss Melanie Johnson
    I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 28 July 2000,Official Report, column 972W.

    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the annual salary cost of his Department's special advisers. [134698]

    Miss Melanie Johnson
    I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 12 July 2000,Official Report, column 605W.

    Mr. Tyrie
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 18 July 2000,Official Report, columns 111–12W, on special advisers, if he will list the destination and the total cost, including travel, accommodation and subsistence allowance, on each of the occasions when the Treasury's special advisers travelled overseas on Government business. [135247]

    Miss Melanie Johnson
    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 18 July 2000,Official Report, columns 111–12W. The cost of these visits were accounted for in expenditure on Ministers' travel overseas published by the Prime Minister on 28 July 2000, Official Report, column 969W.

    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions his Department's special advisers have travelled abroad at public expense and at what cost since May 1997. [136389]

    Miss Melanie Johnson
    I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 18 July 2000,Official Report, columns 111–12W and to the answer given by my hon. Friend the then Economic Secretary to the Treasury on 27 July 1999, Official Report, columns 403–04W.

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