Written Answers of 15 February 2001

DEFENCE

  Department Expenditure Limit
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total expenditure and the breakdown of

  £ million

  Financial year

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  PR Marketing and business support service

  0.733

  0.502

  0.844

  1.114

  2.834

  Central PR Services

  2.243

  2.267

  2.328

  2.741

  2.183

  National Employers Liaison Committee (Tri- Service Reserve Forces)

  1.098

  1.089

  1.055

  0.877

  1.000

  Scholarships

  10.730

  4.720

  4.371

  0.751

  0.700

  Sales Promotion (DESO)

  1.408

  3.299

  1.064

  1.819

  1.600

  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals there are to amend his Department's Departmental Expenditure Limit for 2000–01. [151190]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Government have decided that, subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate for Class VI Vote 1 Defence for 2000–01, the following change should apply:the Ministry of Defence Departmental Expenditure Limit will be increased by £781.341 million from £22,820.341 million to £23,601.683 million.

  This will cover additional expenditure incurred by UK forces on operations in Kosovo and Bosnia during the current financial year of £220 million and £100 million respectively and Sierra Leone at just under £8 million. The figure also includes full take-up of the Ministry of Defence's entitlement to end year flexibility of £241 million plus additional funding from the 2000 spending review (£200 million) and for capital and civil service modernisation (£10 million). There are also a number of transfers between MOD, DETR, DfEE, FCO and Cabinet Office.

  The Supplementary Estimates will also provide for changes in the general pattern of expenditure, including adjustments between the Defence Procurement Agency's equipment programme and operating costs programmes.

  As the increase in the defence expenditure limit will be met from the reserve, it will not add to the planned total of public expenditure in the current year.

  Defence Medical Services
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many serving medical officers in each specialty are not fully fit for deployment; for what reasons; and if he will make a statement. [149892]
  192W
  expenditure was in his Department for the financial years (a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99 and (d) 1999–2000 and what the planned expenditure and breakdown of expenditure for 2000–01 is on (i) public opinion research,(ii)television, radio and newspaper advertising and (iii)direct mail. [149261]

  Dr.Moonie
  [holding answers 8 February 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 2000, Official Report, column 135W,to the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham (Mr.Loughton)on a similar subject. The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, excluding recruitment costs, the table gives details of expenditure against areas identified.

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 13 February 2001]: The medical downgrading categorisation system with the armed forces covers a wide range of different levels of medical downgrading. Personnel recorded as medically downgraded may still, therefore, be capable of undertaking their full duties, albeit with restrictions, for example to their geographical location. To give an indication of this, of the 42 Army personnel included in the totals, only seven are assessed to be undeployable. Against this background, the number of medical officers, including trainees, who are medically precluded from unlimited deployment is shown by speciality. The particular nature of medical downgrading could not be provided without disproportionate effort.

  Number of medical officers medically precluded from unlimited deployment

  Specialty

  Number

  Anaesthetics

  7

  General Medicine

  5

  Orthodontics

  1

  Paediatrics

  1

  Psychiatry

  7

  Occupational Medicine

  10

  General Duties Medical Officers

  2

  General Practice

  29

  Genito-Urinary Medicine

  1

  General Surgery

  3

  Rheumatology and Rehabilitation

  1

  Public Health Medicine

  1

  Pathology

  1

  House Officers

  7

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military medical posts in each of the specialties in defence of secondary care are filled by civilian doctors; what percentage of the establishment figure for each specialty this represents; and if he will make a statement. [149893]
  193W
  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 13 February 2001]: I will write to the right hon. and learned Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Chinook Crash
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many helicopters, broken down by type, other than Chinooks, were stationed in Northern Ireland in May and June 1994; and where they were based; [150405]

  (2) what other helicopters were available at the base in Northern Ireland from which Chinook DZ 576 departed on its last flight on 2 June 1994; how many of each type there were; and how many passengers each type could have transported from RAF Aldergrove to the destination of ZD 576. [150407]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 14 February 2001]: Figures for the number of helicopters stationed in Northern Ireland in May and June 1994 are no longer held. However, details of the notional number of helicopters available for tasking in December 1994 are shown. Notional numbers of helicopters available for tasking in May and June 1994 would have been very similar. Figures for the number of passengers which each aircraft can transport are also shown.

  11 Gazelle (2 passengers)

  7 Lynx (9 passengers)

  2 Sea Kings (17 passengers)

  7 Wessex (6 passengers)

  7 Puma (12 passengers).

  Gazelle and Wessex helicopters would need to refuel during a sortie from RAF Aldergrove to Fort George.

  All of these aircraft were based at RAF Aldergrove except for the following:

  Armagh—2 Lynx

  Belfast—1 Gazelle

  Bessbrook—2 Lynx, 1 Puma, 1 Sea King

  Dungannon—1 Wessex

  Omagh—1 Gazelle, 1 Puma, 1 Wessex

  Portadown—1 Gazelle.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance was given to his Department by the Boeing company in investigating the crash of helicopter ZD 576. [150408]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 14 February 2001]: The air frame manufacturers, Boeing Helicopters, provided on site assistance to the Air Accidents Investigation Branch Inspector. Subsequently, between June and December 1994 Boeing also provided extensive assistance with the investigation of the wreckage while it was laid out at DRA Farnborough and further specific assistance was provided on items returned to Boeing Helicopters Philadelphia for examination and testing.

  The RAF Board of Inquiry into the accident consulted Boeing and obtained computer simulations of possible flight paths and associated data concerning flight control parameters.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the sound levels in decibels are inside the passenger area of a Chinook helicopter. [150402]
  194W
  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 14 February 2001]: The noise in the passenger cabin of a Chinook Mk1 aircraft was measured over a series of 25 sorties during August 1993 and the mean levels were 103.5 decibels and 87.8 decibels. Such measurements are not available for the Chinook Mk2 aircraft, but would not be significantly different.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many of the passengers who were killed in the Chinook helicopter crash on the Mull of Kintyre travelled by aircraft to the base from which they departed in Chinook ZD 576; [150404]

  (2) on how many occasions Flight Lieutenants (a) Cook and (b) Tapper had flown helicopters and of what types over or adjacent to the Mull of Kintyre between 1 June 1993 and 2 June 1994. [150406]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 14 February 2001]: The details requested in these two questions are not known.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Chinook helicopters were flown(a) into and (b) out of Northern Ireland on 2 June 1994; and what their flight times and routes were. [150410]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 14 February 2001]: No Chinook helicopters flew into Northern Ireland on 2 June 1994. One flew out, that being Chinook ZD 576 which left RAF Aldergrove at 17.42 hours, en route to Fort George.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1)(a) when, (b) where and (c) by whom helicopter ZD 576 was fitted with FADEC; and when the aircraft (i) entered service with the armed forces and (ii) was built; [150414]

  (2) if he will list the way points of the flight of Chinook helicopter ZD 576 on 2 June 1994, indicating the altitude which the aircraft was supposed to maintain between each way point. [150412]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 14 February 2001]: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for how long tasking records of helicopter flights are normally retained; in what form they are stored; how long they are retained in the case of an accident; and if the tasking records of the last flight of helicopter ZD 576 have been retained. [150409]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 14 February 2001]: Tasking forms recording helicopter flights in Northern Ireland are retained for six years. However in the case of an accident the relevant tasking record for the day it occurred will normally be held as part of the Board of Inquiry papers, for as long as it is necessary to retain the latter. The 2 June 1994 tasking record for Chinook ZD 576 is still retained with the RAF Board of Inquiry report.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and which Chinook helicopters were stationed in Northern Ireland in the months of May and June 1994; and from which bases they operated. [150403]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 14 February 2001]: At that time two Chinook helicopters were detached to Northern Ireland. In May 1994 these were Mk1s until

  195W
  31 May when ZD 576, the first Chinook Mk2 to operate in Northern Ireland, was delivered to RAF Aldergrove, and one of the Mk1s was flown back to RAF Odiham. All the Chinook aircraft in Northern Ireland operate out of RAF Aldergrove and return there at the end of the day's tasking.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when it was decided, and by whom, that Chinook helicopter ZD 576 would be used on the flight on which it crashed on 2 June 1994. [150411]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 14 February 2001]: The flight was tasked by the Joint Air Tasking Operations Centre (JATOC) in Northern Ireland on 1 June 1994.

  Depleted Uranium
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock), of 5 February 2001,Official Report, column 358W, what steps have been taken to recover the depleted uranium munitions test-fired into the Adriatic Sea. [149649]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Royal Navy uses depleted uranium (DU) in its Phalanx close-in weapon systems fitted to some ships for anti-missile and aircraft defence. Each round contains only a small quantity of DU. We know from our monitoring of substantial quantities of DU fired into the Solway Firth over many years that this has no detectable impact on uranium levels in sediment or marine life. There are significant amounts of natural uranium in seawater, and the firing of a few Phalanx rounds containing small quantities of DU will have minimal impact on the marine environment of the Adriatic.

  Malaria
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what medical advice was given to members of the armed forces deployed on Operation Palliser prior to deployment regarding the risks of malaria; what anti-malarial protection precautions were taken with regard to armed forces kit and equipment for Operation Palliser(a) before deployment and (b) in theatre; and if he will make a statement. [149178]

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

  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department maintains sufficient supplies of anti-malarial and other drugs to provide maximum protection for members of the armed forces who might be deployed at short notice. [149889]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 12 February 2001]: The Medical Supplies Agency (MSA) has arrangements in place for the provision of medical supplies in support of operations, across a wide range of contingencies. These arrangements include stock held by the MSA and stock held by private vendor contractors that can be made available at short notice (within 24 hours). There have been occasional problems with some vaccines that have a limited shelf life. Last year, for example, there was a national shortage of Yellow Fever vaccine. Despite this, MSA procurement staff were able to put in place arrangements to meet operational requirements.
  196W
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy not to send UK forces into tropical areas if they are not adequately protected against malaria and other tropical diseases. [150214]

  Dr. Moonie
  Medical issues are taken into account during the process of planning for any deployment of UK forces. It is our policy to provide all reasonable protective measures to prevent malaria and other infectious diseases, which troops might be exposed to during an overseas deployment to the tropics.

  Press Releases
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many press releases were issued by his Department in the financial years(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99 and (d) 1999–2000; how many have been issued in the current financial year; and what his estimate is of the total number for the current financial year. [149252]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 8 February 2001]: The number of press releases issued by the Ministry of Defence between the financial years 1996 to 2000 are indicated in the table:

  Ministry of Defence press releases

  Number issued

  April 1996-March 1997

  239

  April 1998-March 1998

  384

  April 1998-March 1999

  315

  April 1999-March 2000

  362

  Between April 2000 to January 2001 the MOD issued a total of 266 press releases. The current rate of issue is expected to continue to the end of the current financial year.

  Far East Prisoners of War
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for children of far east internees to receive compensation in cases where neither parent is alive. [150099]

  Dr. Moonie
  The ex gratia payment scheme, which I announced in the House on 7 November 2000,Official Report, columns 159–70, is for the surviving members of the British groups who were held prisoner by the Japanese during the Second World War. Where a person who would have been eligible for the scheme has died, his or her surviving spouse is entitled to receive it instead. The children of former prisoners are not eligible for the scheme unless they were themselves interned by the Japanese.

  RAF Fylingdales
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many US military personnel have been stationed at RAF Fylingdales for each of the last three years. [150474]

  Mr. Hoon
  One.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the costs to the United Kingdom of installing National Missile Defence facilities at RAF Fylingdales. [150478]
  197W
  Mr. Hoon
  None. Any estimate would be made in light of a request from the United States to install facilities at RAF Fylingdales. No such request has been received.

  Warcop Common
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what restrictions on access to Warcop will result from his Department's plan to buy out the commoners. [150267]

  Dr. Moonie
  The proposals will lead to some restrictions but greater certainty of access. Mondays would be lost, but there would be guaranteed access on 12 non-firing weekends programmed across the year, linked where possible to public holidays. Furthermore, access will be available each Sunday from 13.00 hours. It is also intended to create new routes in the locality. The proposals are still being developed in discussion with English Nature, the Countryside Agency and local representatives of user groups such as the Rambler's Association.

  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for how many days a year his Department closes its land at Warcop for grouse shooting. [150268]

  Dr. Moonie
  None. Grouse shooting takes place only when the ranges are closed for maintenance.

  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how often grouse shooting at Warcop prevents MOD training. [150269]

  Dr. Moonie
  Grouse shooting at Warcop does not, and never has, prevented the Army from training there.

  Royal Fleet Auxiliary Vessels (Rosyth)
  Ms Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the proposed refit and repair work for Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels, with particular reference to the share of this work, that will be allocated to Rosyth dockyard. [150120]

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

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Warwick University
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what discussions(a) he and (b) his officials have had with the University of Warwick regarding the university's requirement that students own or lease a computer as a condition of entrance; and what assessment he has made of the implications for the take up of courses of this policy. [150534]

  Mr. Wicks
  No discussions have taken place with the University of Warwick about this matter. The Department has, however, received a copy of the University's consultation document on their proposed e-strategy and has been invited to comment. The Government have made it clear, in regulations and guidance issued to higher education institutions in August 1999, what charges may be levied without breaching the proscription on top-up fees.

  Cheshire and Halton LEAs
  Mr. Derek Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what has been the average expenditure per pupil in (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools in(a) Halton and (b) Cheshire local education authorities in (1) 1997–98, (2) 1998–99 and (3) 1999–2000; and what the amount is for 2000–01. [148847]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 14 February 2001]: The following table sets out the overall resources per pupil made available to Halton and Cheshire local education authorities for compulsory primary and secondary education, in both cash and real terms.

  Standard spending assessment and special/specific grants 1

  £ per pupil

  Primary (5–10) (cash)

  Secondary (11–15) (cash)

  Primary (5–10) (real terms)

  Secondary (11–15) (real terms)

  Halton

  1997–982

  2,160

  2,840

  2,320

  3,050

  1998–99

  2,280

  2,980

  2,380

  3,110

  1999–2000

  2,480

  3,130

  2,530

  3,200

  2000–01

  2,780

  3,430

  2,780

  3,430

  Cheshire

  1997–982

  1,990

  2,570

  2,140

  2,760

  1998–99

  2,100

  2,700

  2,190

  2,810

  1999–2000

  2,280

  2,840

  2,330

  2,890

  2000–01

  2,480

  3,050

  2,480

  3,050

  1 Rounded to nearest £10

  2 Notional figures assuming an apportionment, in accordance with post April 1998 local government re-organisation

  Under this Government, funding per pupil has already increased by over £300 nationally in real terms, and it will increase by a further £150 per pupil for 2001–02. Under the last Government, funding per pupil fell by £60 in real terms between 1994–95 and 1997–98. There will be further increases in funding following the year 2000 spending review, a further £370 per pupil over the three-year period, taking the total increase to nearly £700 between 1997–98 and 2003–04. The following table shows the average net institutional expenditure per pupil in pre-primary/primary and secondary schools in Halton and Cheshire, for the financial years 1997–98 and 1998–99, the latest year for which this information is currently available. These figures are not comparable with the funding figures above. They cover school based outturn expenditure, but not the cost of meals, or of centrally run activities such as home to school transport and certain special educational needs services.

  Halton local education authority became a local education authority from April 1998. The figures shown here for 1997–98 are for Cheshire prior to the reorganisation.

  £ (cash)

  1997–981

  1998–991

  Halton

  Pre-primary/primary

  —

  1,870

  Secondary

  —

  2,490

  Cheshire

  Pre-primary/primary

  1,710

  1,770

  Secondary

  2,320

  2,360

  1 Rounded to the nearest £10

  North Southwark Education Action Zone
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what reasons underlay the delay in presenting the North Southwark Education Action Zone account for 1998–99 to Parliament. [150350]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 13 February 2001]: Zone accounts are laid before Parliament by the National Audit Office (NAO) once they are satisfied that they can give a full opinion. The NAO found that North Southwark EAZ had difficulty in providing evidence to support some zone transactions and needed to strengthen financial controls. Once these issues had been successfully resolved the accounts were laid before Parliament.

  Student Debt
  Mr. Wood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the average value is of the debt owed by a student leaving university. [150422]

  Mr. Wicks
  The average debt of a borrower with a mortgage-style student loan entering repayment at the start of the financial year 1999–2000, the latest date for which data are available, was £3,210

  Information on private sector debt such as overdrafts and other commercial loans is not available centrally.

  Funding allocations to Cumbria

  £000

  Programme

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  Education Standard Spending Assessment

  170,602

  170,400

  186,100

  195,500

  205,834

  Schools Capital

  6,175

  4,920

  7,680

  10,254

  19,764

  Standards Fund

  1,550

  1,985

  2,884

  5,309

  11,316

  School Standards Grant

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3,399

  School Budget Support Grant

  —

  —

  —

  —

  571

  Nursery Education Grant

  —

  1,951

  557

  601

  804

  Schedule 32 Grant

  —

  —

  —

  107

  73

  Insurance Grant for former GM Schools

  —

  —

  —

  28

  24

  Transitional Grant for former GM Schools

  —

  —

  —

  —

  199

  Teachers Pay Reform Special Grant: Threshold

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2,604

  Schools in the Copeland constituency received £462,000 School Standards Grant (SSG) in 2000–01, with an estimated SSG of £860,000 for Copeland schools in 2001–02. Final allocations for 2001–02 will depend on pupil numbers as reported in the Annual Schools Census.

  The table shows the schools in the Copeland constituency which have benefited from investment

  New Deal for schools—allocations to schools in the Copeland constituency

  £

  School

  Project details

  Grant awarded

  1997–98

  St. Bridget's Primary

  Replacement of temporary classrooms

  1598,000

  Millom Schools

  ICT Room

  All county and voluntary controlled primary schools which have no fire alarm system

  Provision of fire alarm systems

  Whitehaven School

  Upgrade laboratories

  New Deal (Over-50s)
  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people aged over 50 years in(a) Yorkshire and Humberside and (b) the city of York are eligible to apply for the New Deal for the over 50s. [149448]

  Ms Jowell
  At December 2000, 7,565 JSA recipients in the Employment Service region of Yorkshire and the Humber, and 105 people in the unitary authority area of York, were eligible for New Deal 50 plus. It is not possible to provide figures for eligible people in receipt of non-JSA benefits.

  School Funding (Copeland)
  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if he will list the additional resources he has made available to schools in Copeland; under which(a) schemes and (b) funds they are provided; and if he will make a statement; [149173]

  (2) if he will estimate the cash resources to be paid directly to Copeland schools in 2001–02 on the basis of his proposals in the pre-Budget report; and if he will list the schools to benefit, giving the sum in each case. [149296]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  Most funding for schools is distributed via local education authorities. Many funding allocations can be given only at local education authority level, not constituency level. Listed are the Department's funding allocations for education in Cumbria for each year since 1996–97. The figures for 2000–01 are the total grants currently estimated to be paid.

  through the New Deal for Schools programme which commenced in 1917–98. This is the only constituency level information for capital expenditure which is readily available. These allocations formed part of the £ 10.877 million investment made so far in schools in Cumbria under the New Deal for Schools programme, and are included in the total schools capital funding allocations for Cumbria already listed.
  201W

  New Deal for schools—allocations to schools in the Copeland constituency

  £

  School

  Project details

  Grant awarded

  1998–99

  St. Benedict's RC High School

  Refurbishment of six science laboratories

  204,336

  1999–2000

  Captain Shaw's CofE School

  Repair and remodelling of school building

  256,205

  St. Benedict's RC High School

  Fire precautions

  22,248

  Ehenside School

  Fire precautions

  20,000

  Brookwell Primary School

  Replacement of temporary classroom

  103,110

  Millom School

  Remodelling of science laboratories

  123,852

  2000–01

  St. Benedict's RC High School

  Drainage, levelling and resurfacing school playing fields

  146,575

  Refurbishment of food technology areas

  49,890

  Ehenside School

  Refurbishment of labs

  27,588

  Window replacement

  146,300

  Gym and changing area refurbishment

  60,610

  Replacement of hall floor and associated walkway

  24,200

  Remodelling of CDT and art facilities

  200,000

  Whitehaven School

  Refurbishment of labs

  90,134

  Ennerdale and Kinniside CofE Primary School

  Millennium extension project

  50,500

  Wyndham School

  Library block refurbishment

  68,200

  Remodelling/upgrading of laboratories

  75,000

  Thornhill Primary School

  Re-roofing

  104,500

  Distington Infant School

  Renewal of defective flat roofs

  17,875

  1 Denotes total allocation made to all projects

  Under this Government, funding per pupil has already increased by over £3,000 in real terms, and it will increase by a further££150 per pupil for 2001–02. Under the last Government, funding per pupil fell by £60 in real terms between 1994–95 and 1997–98. There will be further increases in funding following the year 2000 spending review: a further £370 per pupil over the three year period, taking the total increase to nearly £700 between 1997–98 and 2003–04.

  Learning and Skills Councils
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many students he has appointed to Learning and Skills Councils. [148982]

  Mr. Wicks
  [holding answer 7 February 2001]: The information requested is not available as applicants for positions with the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and the local LSCs were not asked to declare whether they are currently or have been students.

  However, we recognise that to be successful, the LSC must be fully responsive to the needs of learners and potential learners. Learning Partnerships are already charged with ensuring that consultative mechanisms are

  Leavers 1994–95

  Less than 1 year1,2

  One but less than 2 years2

  Two but less than 3 years2

  All leavers3

  Nursery and primary

  610

  610

  600

  15,500 (8 per cent.)

  Secondary

  Mathematics

  80

  80

  70

  n/a

  English

  80

  90

  80

  n/a

  Science

  80

  120

  100

  n/a

  Languages

  80

  100

  100

  n/a

  Technology and Art

  110

  130

  70

  n/a

  History

  30

  30

  30

  n/a

  Geography

  10

  30

  30

  n/a

  202W
  in place to capture and articulate the views and opinions of young and adult learners, and feed these back to the LSC.

  The LSC itself is also considering what further mechanisms it needs to put in place at national and local levels to ensure that young people are effectively engaged in the new arrangements, and to advise on young people's learning needs and expectations.

  Newly Qualified Teachers
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many newly qualified teachers employed in(a) the primary and (b) the secondary sector, have left their posts within (i) one year. (ii) two years and (iii) three years in each of the past five years, broken down in the case of secondary school teachers by the subject of their qualification. [147636]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 29 January 2001]: The number of leavers in each year as a proportion of the appropriate cohort of new entrants has remained reasonably constant throughout the five year period and the proportion of leavers from the overall number of teachers in service fell in 1998–99.

  New full-time and part-time qualified teachers from the nursery, primary and secondary schools sector in England who left the maintained schools sector in their first three years, and all leavers, are as follows.
  203W

  Leavers 1994–95

  Less than 1 year1,2

  One but less than 2 years2

  Two but less than 3 years2

  All leavers3

  Music

  20

  30

  30

  n/a

  Religious education

  20

  20

  20

  n/a

  Physical education

  30

  30

  50

  n/a

  Other subject or subject not known

  90

  90

  100

  n/a

  Total secondary

  620

  750

  660

  15,600 (8 per cent.)

  Total nursery, primary and secondary

  1,230

  1,360

  1,260

  31,100 (8 per cent.)

  Leavers as a proportion of the appropriate cohort of new entrants (per cent.)

  6.9

  8.4

  8.2

  Leavers 1995–96

  Less than 1 year1,2

  One but less than 2 years2

  Two but less than 3 years2

  All leavers3

  Nursery and primary

  680

  640

  620

  15,800 (8 per cent.)

  Secondary

  Mathematics

  80

  120

  70

  n/a

  English

  70

  120

  90

  n/a

  Science

  120

  160

  130

  n/a

  Languages

  80

  130

  110

  n/a

  Technology and Art

  130

  150

  110

  n/a

  History

  40

  40

  30

  n/a

  Geography

  20

  40

  30

  n/a

  Music

  20

  30

  20

  n/a

  Religious education

  20

  30

  30

  n/a

  Physical education

  60

  40

  50

  n/a

  Other subject or subject not known

  90

  90

  80

  n/a

  Total secondary

  720

  920

  730

  16,600 (8 per cent.)

  Total nursery, primary and secondary

  1,400

  1,560

  1,340

  32,400 (8 per cent.)

  Leavers as a proportion of the appropriate eohort of new entrants (per cent.)

  7.3

  8.8

  8.3

  Leavers 1996–97

  Less than 1 year1,2

  One but less than 2 years2

  Two but less than 3 years2

  All leavers3

  Nursery and primary

  650

  650

  620

  16,400 (9 per cent.)

  Secondary

  Mathematics

  80

  100

  80

  n/a

  English

  80

  100

  100

  n/a

  Science

  120

  130

  130

  n/a

  Languages

  90

  100

  100

  n/a

  Technology and Art

  120

  120

  140

  n/a

  History

  40

  30

  30

  n/a

  Geography

  20

  40

  40

  n/a

  Music

  20

  30

  20

  n/a

  Religious education

  20

  20

  20

  n/a

  Physical education

  50

  40

  60

  n/a

  Other subject or subject not known

  70

  50

  60

  n/a

  Total secondary

  700

  760

  790

  15,900 (8 per cent.)

  Total nursery, primary and secondary

  1,350

  1,410

  1,400

  32,400 (8 per cent.)

  Leavers as a proportion of the appropriate cohort of new entrants (per cent.)

  7.0

  7.3

  7.9

  Leavers 1997–98

  Less than 1 year1,2

  One but less than 2 years2

  Two but less than 3 years2

  All leavers3

  Nursery and primary

  730

  730

  690

  17,700 (9 per cent.)

  Secondary

  Mathematics

  70

  100

  80

  n/a

  English

  100

  120

  100

  n/a

  Science

  110

  140

  130

  n/a

  Languages

  80

  110

  120

  n/a

  Technology and Art

  100

  130

  120

  n/a

  History

  40

  40

  30

  n/a

  Geography

  30

  30

  40

  n/a

  Music

  20

  30

  30

  n/a

  Religious education

  20

  30

  30

  n/a

  204W 205W

  Leavers 1997–98

  Less than 1 year1,2

  One but less than 2 years2

  Two but less than 3 years3

  All leavers3

  Physical education

  70

  50

  40

  n/a

  Other subject or subject not known

  60

  50

  50

  n/a

  Total secondary

  710

  820

  760

  17,700 (9 per cent.)

  Total nursery, primary and secondary

  1,440

  1,550

  1,460

  35,100 (9 per cent.)

  Leavers as a proportion of the appropriate cohort of new entrants (per cent.)

  7.2

  8.0

  7.6

  Leavers 1998–99

  Less than 1 year1,2

  One but less than 2 years2

  Two but less than 3 years22

  All leavers 33

  Nursery and primary

  580

  760

  770

  13,500 (7 per cent.)

  Secondary

  Mathematics

  80

  100

  100

  n/a

  English

  120

  130

  120

  n/a

  Science

  130

  170

  140

  n/a

  Languages

  90

  130

  130

  n/a

  Technology and Art

  130

  150

  120

  n/a

  History

  40

  40

  40

  n/a

  Geography

  40

  60

  30

  n/a

  Music

  20

  40

  30

  n/a

  Religious education

  30

  40

  20

  n/a

  Physical education

  70

  70

  50

  n/a

  Other subject or subject not known

  50

  50

  40

  n/a

  Total secondary

  790

  970

  820

  14,000 (7 per cent.)

  Total nursery, primary and secondary

  1,380

  1,730

  1,580

  27,500 (7 per cent.)

  Leavers as a proportion of the appropriate cohort of new entrants (per cent.)

  6.4

  8.6

  8.2

  1 Includes those who entered and left within a year.

  2 Excludes those who left but returned to service within the same financial year.

  3 All full-time and part-time qualified teachers from the nursery, primary and secondary schools sector in England who have left teaching or left the maintained schools sector. The figure in brackets is all leavers as a percentage of full and part-time teachers in service at the start of the financial year. Subject of qualification is not available for leavers who qualified before 1985.

  The full-time equivalent number of regular teachers in the maintained sector has increased by 6,900 between January 1998 and January 2000.There was a growth of 2,000 in the number of people training to be teachers between 1999–2000 and 2000–01, the first such increase since 1992–93.

  From April 2001 new graduate recruits can expect to earn £17,000 a year (up from 6 per cent. from the previous year) and starting salaries in inner London will rise to £20,000 (up 9 per cent. from the previous year).

  Employment Service Overheads (New Deal)
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which overheads incurred by the Employment Service are attributable to the implementation of the New Deal. [141694]

  Ms Jowell
  [holding answer 11 December 2000]The Employment Service funding for all New Deals is determined on a marginal cost basis on the assumption that these programmes will be delivered through the existing ES infrastructure of offices and IT. The Employment Service overheads which are attributable to the implementation of the New Deals are therefore those specific costs related to project design; implementation; marketing and publicity and limited refurbishment in some offices for the individual New Deals.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Departmental Expenditure Limit
  Dr. Naysmith
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what changes will be made to the Departmental Expenditure Limit and Running Costs Limit for her Department in 2000–01. [151103]

  Clare Short
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, for Class VIII, Vote 1: Department for International Development, the Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) for 2000–01 will be increased by £68,000,000 from £2,121,732,000 to £2,189,732,000 for voted expenditure giving a total of voted and non-voted expenditure of £2,827,768,000. The increase is the net effect of: an increase of £59,000,000 End Year Flexibility from an underspend against the 1998 EC Attributed Aid:
  an increase of £9,000,000 from the Reserve in respect of humanitarian assistance in response to the earthquake in India.

  The increase will be met by a claim on the DEL Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Housing Investment Programmet (Wandsworth)
  Mr. Linton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how much the Government Office for London allocated to Wandsworth Council's housing investment programme for(a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02; and if he will make a statement; [148139]

  (2) how much the Government Office for London has allocated to Wandsworth council for major repairs (a) through the major repairs allowance for 2001–02 and (b) through the housing investment programme for 2000–01; and if he will make a statement. [148124]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  The allocations made to Wandsworth to support the authority's housing capital programmes in 2000–01 and 2001–02 are as follows:

  £ million

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Housing annual capital guidelines

  20.592

  11.386

  Private sector renewal

  1—

  1.500

  Disabled facilities grants

  0.240

  0.237

  Total housing investment programmes allocations

  20.832

  13.123

  Major repairs allowance (MRA)

  1—

  14.773

  Total

  20,832

  27.896

  1 Not applicable

  The MRA, which was introduced for 2001–02, is ring-fenced for works on council housing. The resources allocated through housing annual capital guidelines provide unhypothecated support for authorities' housing capital programmes which cover expenditure on private sector renewal and support for new provision by housing associations as well as work on council housing.

  Allocations made to Wandsworth doubled between 1997–98 and 2001–02.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the special advisers working for him will relinquish their posts on the dissolution of Parliament. [149318]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 13 February 2001,Official Report, column 130W.

  Planning Appeals
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many planning appeals were lodged with his Department against decisions of(a) Brentwood council and (b) planning authorities in Essex in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and how many such appeals were dismissed by his Department in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [149811]
  208W
  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The provision of information on planning appeals is the responsibility of the planning inspectorate. I have asked the Inspectorate's chief executive, Mr. Chris Shepley, to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from C. J. Shepley to Mr. Eric Pickles, dated 12 February 2001:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your Question about planning appeals in Brentwood and other local authorities in Essex.
  Statistics at this level are only available from 1994. The table attached gives the number of appeals received in each year from then and, of those, the number dismissed for Brentwood Council and other planning authorities in Essex.

  Year/ Local Planning authority

  Appeals received

  Appeals determined

  Appeals dismissed

  Brentwood

  1994

  54

  47

  23

  1995

  40

  38

  23

  1996

  52

  46

  34

  1997

  69

  63

  44

  1998

  85

  75

  46

  1999

  77

  72

  40

  2000

  55

  38

  25

  Basildon

  1994

  58

  53

  37

  1995

  54

  48

  31

  1996

  51

  42

  31

  1997

  40

  33

  24

  1998

  58

  58

  44

  1999

  46

  41

  28

  2000

  51

  33

  25

  Braintree

  1994

  29

  26

  17

  1995

  35

  22

  20

  1996

  34

  32

  26

  1997

  35

  30

  21

  1998

  33

  31

  23

  1999

  30

  30

  25

  2000

  46

  26

  16

  Castle Point

  1994

  45

  41

  24

  1995

  41

  42

  24

  1996

  49

  43

  20

  1997

  51

  46

  24

  1998

  51

  49

  22

  1999

  61

  57

  35

  2000

  35

  22

  12

  Chelmsford

  1994

  68

  60

  43

  1995

  82

  70

  49

  1996

  103

  90

  58

  1997

  81

  70

  40

  1998

  95

  86

  53

  1999

  105

  95

  58

  2000

  107

  68

  43

  Colchester

  1994

  59

  42

  36

  1995

  66

  52

  30

  1996

  67

  52

  35

  1997

  59

  55

  30

  1998

  69

  56

  30

  1999

  53

  45

  25

  2000

  51

  26

  14

  209W

  Year/ Local planning authority

  Appeals received

  Appeals determined

  Appeals dismissed

  Epping Forest

  1994

  107

  90

  58

  1995

  91

  80

  51

  1996

  89

  68

  44

  1997

  88

  77

  56

  1998

  88

  78

  52

  1999

  105

  89

  55

  2000

  110

  76

  54

  Essex

  1994

  5

  3

  2

  1995

  5

  3

  2

  1996

  8

  3

  2

  1997

  2

  0

  0

  1998

  1

  1

  1

  1999

  0

  0

  0

  2000

  4

  1

  0

  Harlow

  1994

  13

  10

  6

  1995

  5

  5

  3

  1996

  10

  6

  3

  1997

  4

  3

  2

  1998

  10

  10

  8

  1999

  5

  5

  3

  2000

  2

  2

  1

  Maldon

  1994

  45

  36

  27

  1995

  43

  37

  23

  1996

  33

  31

  18

  1997

  37

  31

  12

  1998

  26

  22

  14

  1999

  51

  40

  27

  2000

  56

  44

  28

  Rochford

  1994

  29

  26

  14

  1995

  34

  28

  16

  1996

  51

  45

  31

  1997

  39

  31

  16

  1998

  40

  33

  23

  1999

  28

  21

  13

  2000

  38

  32

  20

  Southend

  1994

  0

  —

  0

  1995

  0

  —

  0

  1996

  2

  2

  0

  1997

  1

  1

  1

  1998

  29

  27

  16

  1999

  29

  28

  16

  2000

  41

  26

  16

  Southend-on-Sea

  1994

  45

  41

  25

  1995

  29

  25

  16

  1996

  36

  33

  17

  1997

  36

  30

  18

  1998

  2

  2

  2

  1999

  0

  0

  0

  2000

  0

  0

  0

  Tendring

  1994

  64

  56

  39

  1995

  45

  39

  26

  1996

  24

  39

  26

  1997

  55

  47

  35

  1998

  47

  43

  28

  1999

  46

  43

  29

  2000

  56

  37

  23

  210W

  Year/ Local Planning authority

  Appeals received

  Appeals determined

  Appeals dismissed

  Thurrock

  1994

  24

  22

  16

  1995

  40

  35

  23

  1996

  38

  26

  19

  1997

  26

  21

  12

  1998

  37

  27

  15

  1999

  43

  39

  23

  2000

  43

  32

  19

  Uttlesford

  1994

  39

  35

  31

  1995

  54

  54

  39

  1996

  43

  40

  30

  1997

  42

  40

  26

  1998

  58

  54

  30

  1999

  64

  59

  33

  2000

  54

  36

  29

  Planning
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make it his policy to provide a bias in favour of conservation in future planning legislation. [150026]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Our planning policy guidance note 1 "General Policy and Principles" reflects the Government's commitment to the principles of sustainable development. It advises that a sustainable planning framework should include provision for the nation's economic and social needs while conserving the cultural and natural heritage. Other planning policy guidance notes advise planning authorities on the extent to which they should take conservation issues into account in preparing development plans and in reaching decisions on planning applications. The weight that should be given to conservation issues relative to other material considerations in deciding a planning application is for the planning authority to determine in the first instance and will depend on the circumstances of the particular case.

  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 23 January 2001, Official Report, column 528W, if he will review the operation of planning legislation with particular reference to the rights of objectors. [150129]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  We have no immediate plans to change planning laws that would affect the current rights of objectors.

  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will issue guidance to local authorities on making public pre-application discussions between planning officers and applicants or their representatives. [150128]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to his previous questions on 13 February 2001,Official Report, column 115W.

  Ailesey Flood Plain
  Sir Nicholas Lyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment Transport and the Regions what
  211W
  representations he has received concerning his Department's decision to permit building on the flood plain at Arlesey, Bedfordshire. [149879]

  Mr. Raynsford>
  The original decision to grant outline planning permission was made by a planning inspector. I have therefore asked the planning inspectorate's chief executive to write to the right hon. and learned Member. A copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

  Highways Agency (Hindhead)
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many properties are owned by the Highways Agency in the Hindhead area. [150303]

  Mr. Hill
  The Highways Agency currently owns 16 residential properties and one commercial property in the Hindhead area.

  Aircraft Noise
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to reduce disturbance from aircraft noise in the Waverley area; what representations he has received from the Quieter Skies Campaign with regard to the situation at Gatwick; and if he will make a statement. [150310]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  The Secretary of State regulates noise from operations at Gatwick under section 78 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982. These regulations include night restrictions, noise preferential routes, departures noise limits and operational procedures. They are reviewed as necessary, and we consult widely on any proposals for major change.

  My officials have responded to a number of letters and calls from members and supporters of the Quieter Skies Campaign. My predecessor, the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin), responded to points the right hon. lady raised on behalf of QSC in the Adjournment debate on 11 January last year, and in correspondence. More recently, on 1 February, officials attended a noise and track seminar organised by Gatwick Airport, at which Mr. John Burgess of QSC gave a presentation on the campaign's concerns, and I understand that a constructive discussion ensued.

  Traffic
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many lorries used major roads in(a) north-west England and (b) Merseyside on the most recent date for which figures are suitable. [150181]

  Mr. Hill
  The average daily flow of heavy goods vehicles on major roads in the north-west region in 1999 was about 1,700. The equivalent figure for the Merseyside region was 1,430.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the change in traffic speed on the trunk road network in the north-west of England over the last 12 months. [150092]
  212W
  Mr. Hill
  No systematic survey of trunk road speeds has been carried out over the past 12 months and it is not therefore possible to provide the information requested.

  A national survey of trunk road speeds was last carried out in 1998. The DETR publication, "Traffic Speeds on English Trunk Road: 1998", reported an overall reduction in speeds on the network, including the north-west, since a previous survey in 1995.

  The next survey is due to be undertaken this summer 2001 and results will become available in winter 2001. This will allow comparison of average speed in 2001 with those previously observed in 1998. It should be noted that the survey allows comparison of average speeds across the region. Due to the way the speeds are collected, however, the survey does not allow statistically reliable comparison at the detailed level of individual junctions on the network.

  Car Ownership
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the percentage of householders on Merseyside who own and use(a) a car and (b) more than one car. [150132]

  Mr. Hill
  Averaged over the period 1997–98 to 1999–2000,(a) 71 per cent of households in the north-west have access to one or more cars, and (b) 27 per cent, have access to more than one car.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the average expenditure on cars by households in Merseyside was in(a) 1999 and (b) 2000. [150094]

  Mr. Hill
  The average expenditure on motoring per car per week for people living in the north-west region was £51.10, averaged over the period 1979–98 to 1999–2000. Data are not available for Merseyside, or for single years, because of small sample sizes.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Michael J. Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what is the value of the area cost adjustment, in calculating the education Standard Spending Assessment, for each local education authority in England; [150189]

  (2)pursuant to the answers of 8 February 2001, Official Report, columns 646–47W, how many and what proportion of (a) children of lone parents and (b) children of Income Support and income based Job Seeker's Allowance claimants are used in the education SSA calculation for local authorities in England; [150299]

  (3)pursuant to the answers of 8 February 2001, Official Report, columns 646–47W, what ethnicity indicator was used in the education SSA calculation, for local authorities in England. [150298]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The information has been placed in the library.

  Mr. Michael J. Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to the answers of 8 February 2001, Official
  213W
  Report, columns 646–47W, which service provision costs are higher in London and the south-east than in Worcestershire. [150300]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The higher cost of service provision in London and the south-east are reflected in the area cost adjustment, which takes into account the higher employment costs and rate costs there compared to the rest of the country, including Worcestershire.

  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the SSA per head of population for Cambridgeshire, expressed in real terms, for each year since 1990–91. [150802]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  SSA per head figures for the old county council, the new county council and the unitary authority of Peterborough, in real terms, are as follows:

  SSA per hand (in real terms)

  Cambridgeshire

  Year

  (Old)

  (New)

  Peterborough

  1990–91

  639.66

  —

  —

  1991–92

  705.04

  —

  —

  1992–93

  724.13

  —

  —

  1993–94

  662.30

  —

  —

  1994–95

  677.27

  —

  —

  1995–96

  623.54

  —

  —

  1996–97

  634.57

  —

  —

  1997–98

  619.26

  —

  —

  1998–99

  —

  586.50

  874.07

  1999–2000

  —

  594.58

  893.25

  2000–01

  —

  601.27

  918.87

  2001–02

  —

  608.21

  939.64

  There are a number of discontinuities in the figures. The most important changes are the transfer of funding of colleges of further education and sixth-form colleges from local authorities to the Further Education Funding Council on 1 April 1993, the transfer of policing responsibilities from county councils to the new police authorities on 1 April 1995 and the establishment of the Peterborough unitary authority on 1 April 1998. The figures for Peterborough cover both lower and upper tier services; in the remainder of Cambridgeshire lower tier services are provided by the district councils.

  Higher Education (Access)
  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what information he received on the contents of the Education and Employment Committee's report on access to higher education, and the proceedings of the Committee prior to the publication of the report. [150053]

  Ms Beverley Hughes>
  [holding answer 12 February 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by the Under-Secretary of State for Education and Employment, my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, North (Mr. Wicks), on 14 February 2001, Official Report, column 162W.

  Road Safety and Cycling
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the Government's policies to promote(a) cycling and (b) road safety. [150317]
  214W
  Mr. Hill
  The Government are committed to tripling the number of cycling trips from a 2,000 base by 2010 and quadrupling them from a 1996 base by 2012. £8.4 billion of Government funding has been provided to local authorities in the recent local transport settlement. This will help to promote sustainable transport measures, including cycling. The cycling strategies included in the authorities' local transport plans (LTPs) should identify gaps in the local cycle network and improvements to the cycling infrastructure. Initial monitoring suggests that the strategies will result in considerable additional provision for cycling.

  We have taken the initiative in marketing the main messages of the national cycling strategy. Early outcomes are the launch of an NCS website, development of a promotional video and, during spring 2001, a number of cycling seminars throughout England aimed at local authorities, major employers and health and education practitioners.

  We set out our policies for pursuing the Government's road safety strategy in "Tomorrow's Roads—Safer for Everyone", which was launched on 1 March last year. It sets a new target to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on the roads by 40 per cent. by the year 2010, a separate target of 50 per cent. for children, and a 10 per cent. reduction in the slight casualty rate.

  Special measures for cyclists are detailed in chapters two and nine of the strategy, but measures described elsewhere, particularly on driver training, will be to their benefit.

  Copies of "Tomorrow's Roads—Safer for Everyone" are in the Library and the Vote Office.

  Greenbelt Land
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many planning applications for developments involving the loss of green belt land were(a) notified to him and (b) called in for his own decision in each year since 1992. [150198]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mobile Phone Base Stations
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the revised guidelines governing the planning process for mobile phone base stations will be published. [150180]

  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 possible.

  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations have been received in response to his Department's consultation on the scope of possible changes to the planning process for mobile phone base stations. [150179]
  215W
  Ms Beverley Hughes
  In response to the recent consultation exercise seeking views on possible changes to the planning laws relating to telecommunications masts and associated guidance my Department received 365 responses from hon. Members, members of the public, local authorities, mobile phone companies and associated businesses, and other interested organsations.

  Policy and Strategy Units
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when his policy strategy integration division was established; which of its reports are placed in the public domain; how many departmental or non-departmental special advisers participate in its work; how many. Regular(a) non-departmental and (b) departmental staff participate in its work; and how many of these work for the unit on a full-time basis. [150363]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The policy strategy integration division was established in September 1998. It presently has a full-time staff of seven, including one secondee from a local authority and one agency secretary. No special advisers participate in its work. The aim of the division is to facilitate a cross-cutting approach to issues which span policy areas, both within DETR and between DETR and others, rather than to produce reports. It has, however, led a review of the organisation of transport safety, and an account of the consultation and of the review group's analysis was placed in the House Libraries and made available on request. Also in the libraries is a report which the division prepared on transport links between the UK and Ireland for the British-Irish inter-parliamentary body. A memorandum on DETR's role in relation to public health was co-ordinated by the division and sent to the Health Committee in January this year.

  Farm Accidents (Lancashire)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many accidents occurred on farms in Lancashire involving the(a)death and (b) injury of a (i) farm w orker and (ii) member of the public in each year since 1995. [150200]

  Mr. Meacher
  Injuries on farms in Lancashire as reported to HSE and local authorities:

  Employment status

  Fatality

  Major/hon fatal injury

  Over 3 day injury

  Total

  1996–97

  Workers

  2

  21

  22

  45

  Members of the public

  0

  1

  4—

  1

  1997–98

  Workers

  1

  18

  22

  41

  Members of the public

  0

  0

  4—

  0

  1998–99

  Workers

  0

  14

  27

  41

  Members of the public

  1

  0

  4—

  1

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  Employment status

  Fatality

  Major/non fatal injury

  Over 3 day injury

  Total

  1999–20001

  Workers

  0

  17

  18

  35

  Members of the public

  1

  3

  4—

  4

  2000–011

  Workers

  2

  3—

  3—

  2

  Members of the public

  0

  3—

  3—

  0

  Grand total

  7

  74

  89

  170

  1 Provisional

  2 To 31 December 2000—highly provisional

  3 Not available

  4 Not applicable

  Petrol
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research his Department has commissioned into the factors considered by consumers when choosing whether to buy standard unleaded petrol or low sulphur petrol. [150111]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 13 February 2001]: My Department has not commissioned any specific research into consumer purchasing decisions concerning cleaner specifications of petrol. However, market research by oil companies and consumer organisations—confirmed by the experience of introducing ultra-low sulphur diesel—indicates that most road users will not choose a cleaner specification of fuel if it has a higher retail price then the conventional specification.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what incentives the Government have provided to consumers to buy low sulphur petrol in preference to standard unleaded petrol. [150112]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 13 February 2001]: A 1 p/1 fuel duty differential for ultra-low sulphur diesel (ULSP) relative to conventional unleaded petrol was introduced in October 2000. The Chancellor announced in the November 2000 pre-Budget report that this duty differential would be increased to 3 p/1 in the 2001 Budget, subject to oil companies ensuring nationwide availability.

  Air Transport Policy
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had in the EU about proposals for new taxes on(a) aviation fuel, (b) airport departures and landings and (c) air traffic movements. [150399]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  Possible measures to encourage the reduction of emissions from aircraft, including the possibility of a fuel tax, have been discussed in the EU within the last two years. No proposals have been tabled on this, nor have new taxes been proposed on the other aviation activities cited.

  Urban Regeneration
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what criteria he will use in determining the selection of urban regeneration companies; and what timetable has been adopted. [150395]
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  Ms Beverley Hughes
  New criteria are being drafted to set out the principles guiding the effective structure and operation of urban regeneration companies (URCs). These criteria have been issued in draft to the regional development agencies (RDAs) and others and will be finalised shortly taking into account comments received. The criteria are based on the lessons identified from the monitoring and evaluation of the three pilot URCs in Liverpool, Manchester and Sheffield. RDAs and their partners will use the criteria and accompanying guidance to consider whether a URC might be appropriate for key regeneration areas within their regions. Proposals for new URCs will be considered by the Department against these criteria. The urban White Paper announced a rolling programme of around 12 new URCs over the next two to three years.

  Road Crash Victims
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will list the organisations to which he gave grants for the support of those killed as a result of road crashes, and the amount per organisation, for each of the last three years for which figures are available; [150560]

  (2) if he will list the organisations he gave grants for the support of those injured in road crashes, and the amount per organisation, for each of the last three years for which figures are available. [150561]

  Mr. Hill
  Section 40 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 gives the Secretary of State for Transport powers to grant-aid bodies, other than local authorities, to promote road safety. The legislation does not provide powers for the Secretary of State to give grants to support those affected by deaths or injuries as a result of road traffic accidents.

  Home Energy Efficiency
  Paddy Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the extent is of delays for the installation of new central heating systems under the home energy efficiency scheme; what the reasons are for such delays; and if he will make a statement. [150416]

  Mr. Meacher
  The new home energy efficiency scheme (HEES) for England was launched on 1 June 2000. It is managed by two regional scheme managers who are responsible for marketing the scheme and surveying homes to identify the improvements required. Once these are agreed with the householder, a works order is placed with local contractors. The time taken between the date of survey and the actual installation of gas central heating systems varies across the country, although in most parts it is less than three months.

  The reason for the delay is the national shortage of qualified heating engineers which has severely affected the rate at which central heating systems are being installed under HEES. To address the problem, scheme managers both continue to seek additional qualified heating installers and to encourage existing installers to increase the number of installation teams dedicated to HEES.
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  While these efforts have cut waiting times, the referral-based nature of the scheme means that this period can change rapidly. For example a large number of applications from a locality can substantially increase waiting times in the area. Both scheme managers continue to advise local groups of the period of delay in each area, and to display this information on their websites.

  The longer-term solution to the problem is to increase the number of trained gas engineers. In conjunction with Transco plc and the gas industry national training organisation, we have introduced training programmes to provide an additional 400 gas engineers each six months to work under HEES. As these engineers become available, so the present delays should be reduced substantially and the scheme be better able to cope with short-term fluctuations in demand.

  Capital Debt (London Boroughs)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list, for each London borough, the level of capital debt held for housing purposes. [150548]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  Local authorities generally pool their debt across services but are required to calculate a notional credit ceiling for housing for the purposes of maintaining a separate housing revenue account (HRA). The table shows the provisional HRA figures for 2000–01.

  £

  Authority

  Mid-Year HRA Credit Ceiling

  2000–01

  Barking and Dagenham

  0

  Barnet

  49,400,000

  Bexley

  0

  Brent

  277,886,205

  Bromley

  68,895,835

  Camden

  503,204,837

  City of London

  13,274,131

  Croydon

  94,300,000

  Ealing

  158,924,209

  Enfield

  78,870,754

  Greenwich

  403,379,530

  Hackney

  637,640,950

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  220,335,811

  Haringey

  392,220,652

  Harrow

  41,398,133

  Havering

  16,500,114

  Hillingdon

  39,943,958

  Hounslow

  161,259,467

  Islington

  710,121,313

  Kensington and Chelsea

  130,004,049

  Kingston upon Thames

  16,844,159

  Lambeth

  623,053,791

  Lewisham

  407,284,864

  Merton

  21,200,414

  Newham

  433,684,444

  Redbridge

  16,081,636

  Richmond upon Thames

  0

  Southwark

  732,105,357

  Sutton

  20,256,848

  Tower Hamlets

  533,646,000

  Waltham Forest

  181,085,745

  Wandsworth

  116,373,024

  Westminster

  171,500,000

  Road Accidents
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many(a) fatalities and (b) injuries have been caused by road accidents in the United Kingdom as a result of drivers being under the influence of illegal substances, broken down by each illegal substance used. [150454]

  Mr. Hill
  There are no reliable statistics available that show the number of fatalities and injuries caused by road accidents as a result of drivers being under the influence of illegal substances. However, we will shortly publish the findings of a 3-year survey into the incidence of drugs in road accident fatalities, which will provide data on this subject.

  Wafic Said Business School
  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations were received by(a) him and (b) his officials from (i) other Government Ministers and (ii) their officials over (A) his decision and (B) the time scale of his decision, on whether to call in the proposal to build the Wafic Said business school in Oxford. [150360]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Our records include no representations from other Government Ministers or officials about the Wafic Said business school in Oxford.

  National Air Traffic Services
  Mr. Paul Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what advice he has received from the Economic Regulation Group of the Civil Aviation Authority on the economic regulatory regime for the services which will be provided in the Oceanic sector by the National Air Traffic Services Ltd. public-private partnership; and if he will make a statement. [151110]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  Air traffic services in Oceanic airspace are provided on a monopoly basis. When the National Air Traffic Services Ltd. public-private partnership is established, charges for these services will be subject to price regulation by the RPI-X method, which is the standard model for monopoly regulation in the United Kingdom. The charge cap, or "X" factor, will be set for a period of five years and will, for the first five year-period only, be set by the Government.

  We received advice from the CAA in August, which set out how they proposed to approach the economic regulation of NATS and recommended that the "X" factor for NATS' Oceanic services be set at 10 per cent. for the first year and 2 per cent. for each of the next four years. We have considered the CAA's advice carefully, alongside representations from air users who will pay these charges and from NATS, who have also provided revised estimates of traffic levels and system costs which have a significant effect on the first year of the quinquennium. We have consequently decided to set a cap of 2 per cent. for each of the five years, and that there should be no delay penalty term for the present.

  The Government regard investment in the Oceanic sector as important and believe that the approach to charge control should reflect this We have therefore agreed with the CAA that they should be receptive to any
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  proposals, made with the support of air users, to revisit the price cap when investment is made with a view to significant improvements in the service.

  Bus Subsidies
  Miss Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the outcome of the latest round of the rural bus challenge competition and on allocations to local authorities of rural bus subsidy grant for the coming year. [151108]

  Mr. Hill
  My right hon. Friend will be making an announcement on these matters next week. Copies of the announcement will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Local Authority Publicity
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to lay before Parliament proposed alterations to the code of recommended practice on local authority publicity. [151192]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Following consultation with the Local Government Association, we have today laid before the House a draft of the proposed alterations to the code of recommended practice on local authority publicity. These proposed alterations reflect the new council constitutions and the introduction of referendums and petitions under the Local Government Act 2000.

  We also intend in the future to review further the code, having regard to councils' experiences of operating their new constitutions over a reasonable period of time. This further review will also cover the code's application to those authorities—such as police authorities—which are not adopting new constitutions.

  Ordnance Survey
  Ms Kelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when a quinquennial review of Ordnance Survey will be conducted. [151233]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  All executive agencies and non-departmental government bodies are subject to a review of their organisation every five years to examine and recommend the most appropriate organisation for delivering the functions and services currently carried out by the Department.

  The last such review of Ordnance Survey reported in 1994 and recommended that Ordnance Survey should continue to deliver its functions and services as an executive agency and Government Department in its own right.

  A Quinquennial Review of Ordnance Survey was due to take place in 1999. However, the Secretary of State at that time agreed that the review should be postponed until now to allow for Ordnance Survey's new trading fund status to bed in.

  The review of Ordnance Survey commences today and is expected to last for three months. The review team, CMG Admiral, has been appointed following a competitive tendering process. A steering group, chaired

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  by the principal finance officer of my Department, will oversee the review and recommendations will be made to me in due course. I will report back to the House on its findings before the summer recess.

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

  Millennium Dome
  Ms Dari Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he has reached a decision on the continuation of the preferred bidder status of Legacy plc. [151234]

  Ms Armstrong
  Legacy's preferred bidder status gave them exclusive negotiating rights up to 14 February. While their bid has made progress towards meeting the preferred bidder terms, they have not met them. Legacy's exclusivity has therefore expired and the Government have decided to terminate the existing competition.

  During the period of Legacy's preferred bidder status, the Government have not sought any alternative proposals for the dome. The Government would now like openly to test the market and will therefore ask English Partnerships to invite any interested parties to lodge with them expressions of interest for the dome and the regeneration of the peninsula. The Government, like the Mayor of London and the London borough of Greenwich, believe the dome should be retained as part of the regenerated peninsula, and offers will be invited on this basis. There have been considerable expressions of interest from other parties, which have been logged by English Partnerships.

  Within this framework, Legacy will of course be able to put forward their proposals, which will be fully considered on merit alongside others.

  Expressions of interest will be assessed by an advisory team, which will report to English Partnerships. They will shortly publish details of the arrangements and rules for this process.

  Railway Bridges
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what funding has been made available to Railtrack to repair unsafe railway bridge structures in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [150107]

  Mr. Hill
  In the past five years, the only grant paid direct to Railtrack was £34 million towards the cost of maintaining level crossings, paid in 1995–96 when the company was still in the public sector. Since its privatisation in 1996, the company has recovered that cost, and other costs including the cost of repairing unsafe railway bridge structures, through access charges paid by passenger train operating companies and freight operating companies. So, although no grant has been paid direct to 222W
  the company since 1996, its profitability is contingent on public money. Some 90 per cent. of its income is paid to it in access charges, a substantial proportion of which are supported by public money.

  Hinduja Brothers
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what contacts(a) he and (b) his officials had with the Hinduja family and their business associates during his visits to India in March and December 1999. [148509]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 2 February 2001]: My right hon. Friend's visits to India in March and December 1999 promoted Indo-British bilateral relations, business and trade co-operation, and the sharing of experience on environment and urban issues. On both visits my right hon. Friend met the Indian Prime Minister, other Indian Ministers and a number of British and Indian business men and women. This included a courtesy meeting between my right hon. Friend, accompanied by officials, and Messers. G. P. and S. P. Hinduja in Mumbai in March 1999.

  Public Relations (Expenditure)
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the total expenditure and the breakdown of expenditure was in his Department for the financial years(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99 and (d) 1999–2000, and what the planned expenditure and breakdown of expenditure for 2000–01 is on (i) public opinion research, (ii) television, radio and newspaper advertising and (iii) direct mail. [149271]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 8 February 2001]: The Department's financial year starts 1 April and runs to 31 March. For each financial year from 1996 the advertising and public opinion research spend are set out. There was no expenditure on direct mail.

  £

  Television Advertising

  1996–97

  3,836,887

  1997–98

  3,154,027

  1998–99

  3,449,938

  1999–2000

  7,457,172

  2000–011

  9,858,387

  Radio Advertising

  1996–97

  461,937

  1997–98

  926,232

  1998–99

  1,048,951

  1999–2000

  661,303

  2000–011

  2,163,822

  Press Advertising

  1996–97

  1,741,197

  1997–98

  1,559,001

  1998–99

  861,097

  1999–2000

  1,059,974

  2000–011

  663,396

  Other Advertising (eg posters, leaflets)

  1996–97

  1,178,979

  1997–98

  860,740

  1998–99

  640,014

  1999–2000

  2,821,551

  2000–011

  1,314,395

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  £

  Total Advertising Spend

  1996–97

  7,219,000

  1997–98

  6,500,000

  1998–99

  6,000,000

  1999–2000

  12,000,000

  2000–011

  14,000,000

  Public Opinion Research

  1996–97

  264,492

  1997–98

  299,358

  1998–99

  281,379

  1999–2000

  801,600

  2000–01 1

  357,410

  1 planned

  The increased expenditure on advertising and research in 1999–2000 results from:

  (i) An increase of £3.6 million on the "Are you doing your bit" campaign to help people to take action to protect the environment; and

  (ii) £2.9 million spent on a campaign to encourage voting in the Greater London Authority elections.

  The increase in planned expenditure in 2000–01 results from:

  (i) An additional increase of £2 million on the "Are you doing your bit" campaign; and

  (ii) A £4 million increase on the campaign aimed at further reducing deaths and serious injuries on our roads.

  Government Initiatives (Pendle)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what initiatives embarked upon since May 1997 have benefited Pendle; and if he will make a Statement. [149906]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The constituency of Pendle has benefited from a range of Government Initiatives since May 1997, including:

  Capital allocations for housing

  Year

  £ million

  1997–98

  2.0

  1998–99

  2.3

  1999–2000

  2.4

  2000–01

  3.0

  2001–02

  3.6

  Under the Government's first comprehensive spending review, Pendle received significantly more resources for housing. For the years 1998–99 and 1999–2000 the authority received more than £1.5 million over and above its normal HIP allocation through the capital receipts initiative (when resources distributed under the CRI were identified separately) and in the current year the authority's total allocation rose again by a further 27 per cent. Following the spending review 2000, the amount allocated to the authority for housing next year totals over £3.7 million. This compares to a figure of £2.015 million which had been allocated in 1997–98.

  Also in 2000, measures were announced enabling authorities to support the renovation and improvement of private sector housing in a more targeted way. We also announced our intention to proceed with more
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  fundamental reforms to the legislation to give authorities more effective powers to turn around areas of low demand and unpopular housing.

  Single Regeneration Budget:

  SRB Round 2—The Way Ahead—Pendle

  A six-year strategy to arrest decline caused by contraction of the manufacturing industry. The two main themes are for developing business opportunities and developing people. With diversification the aim is to create a stronger, less vulnerable economy. A private sector-led partnership with involvement of the community.

  SRB total—£9.3 million (scheme period 1996–97 to 2001–02)

  SRB Round 4—Pendle Youth Focus—Kick Start for jobs

  A seven-year scheme to tackle low educational attainment and high unemployment among 16–24-year-olds in Pendle by working with local employers to identify skill needs. It will provide dedicated training and assistance in accessing jobs.

  SRB total £2.6 million (scheme period 1998–99 to 2004–05)

  SRB Round 5—Pendle—Opening Doors, Unlocking Opportunities

  This seven-year scheme targets the five most deprived wards in Pendle. It aims to support community capacity building and enterprise, improve skill levels, health and access to jobs.

  SRB total—£16 million (scheme period 1999–2000 to 2005–06)

  SRB Round 6—The Time is Now for Nelson, Pendle

  A seven-year scheme targeting Central Nelson and Brierfield. It aims to support planning housing improvements in Nelson with a package of measures to improve health, reduce crime, improve the local environment and encourage new small business.

  SRB total—£12 million (scheme period 2000–01 to 2006–07)

  Local Transport Plans

  Year

  £million

  1997–98

  111

  1998–99

  18

  1999–2000

  110

  2000–01

  211

  2001–02

  28

  1 These figures are for Lancashire County Council's Transport Policies and Programmes allocation.

  2 This figure is from Lancashire County Council's Provision Local Transport Plan settlement.

  It is not possible to determine exactly how much of these amounts has been spent on the Pendle constituency. The constituency has benefited from Lancashire County Council's integrated transport policies.

  European Funding

  The East Lancashire Partnership (ELP) comprises representatives interest from the six local authority districts of East Lancashire, including Pendle.

  Under the GMLC programme, ELP was allocated some £10.65 million grant (European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and European Social Fund (ESF)) for

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  a range of business support and vocational training activities. Pendle was a significant beneficiary of this overall resource.

  In addition, Pendle was allocated a £5 million ERDF grant for Nelson town centre initiatives.

  Community economic development support totalling £1.2 million grant has been allocated for Nelson and the Waterside and Brierfields Wards.

  The resources detailed must be drawn down by the end of December 2001.

  Neighbourhood Renewal Fund

  Pendle will receive the following indicative funding over the next three years:

  Year

  £ million

  2001–02

  0.98

  2002–03

  1.47

  2003–04

  1.96

  New Commitment to Regeneration

  There is one pathfinder in East Lancashire, which includes Pendle.

WALES

  Departmental Expenditure Limit
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to introduce proposals to amend the Wales departmental expenditure limit for 2000–01. [151101]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The Wales Departmental Expenditure Limit will be increased by £18,450,000 from £7,808,235,000 to £7,826,685,000. The increase is a result of:

  (i) the take up of end year flexibility entitlement of £5,408,000

  (ii) net transfers from other Government Departments of £1,645,000

  (iii) additional support for flood defence of £118,000 resulting from the Environment, Transport and Regions Minister's autumn 2000 statement, an additional £10,195,000 for education resulting from the Chancellor's pre-Budget statement, and take up of an allocation of £1,084,000 from the Modernising Government Fund

  The increase includes the following transfers:

  (i) £112,000 from Home Office for the Partnership Development Fund;

  (ii) £131,000 from Home Office for the Drug Prevention Advisory Service;

  (iii) £57,000 to Scottish Executive for Out of Area Treatments;

  (iv) £512,000 from Department of Health for Out of Area Treatments;

  (v) £92,000 to Department of Health for Medical Training Costs;

  (vi) £1,000 from the Northern Ireland Executive for Out of Area Treatments:

  (vii) £19,000 from Home Office for Youth Justice Board work;

  (viii) £146,000 from Intervention Board for Slaughter Premium inspection costs;

  (ix) £10,000 from Home Office for Youth Justice Board inspection costs;

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  (x) £43,000 to Home Office for the Crime Reduction Team; and

  (xi) £906,000 from DTI for the Phoenix Fund

  The increase in DEL will be offset by transfers from other Departmental Expenditure Limits or from the DEL Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Steel Industry
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly concerning the future of steel production at Llanwern; and if he will make a statement. [149923]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I regularly meet the First Secretary to discuss a range of issues including the future of the Llanwern plant.

  It is well known that I believe the proposal to end steelmaking at Llanwern is a short-sighted one. I have urged the company to reconsider its position and I know that the Trade Unions are presenting their own proposals for the company's consideration. However, if the threatened closures go ahead, the Government and the National Assembly have made it clear that we shall both take appropriate steps to assist those affected.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will provide details of the assistance package offered to the Corns Steel company, prior to the announcement of job losses on 1 February; and if he will make a statement. [150251]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  [holding answer 13 February 2001): The UK Government and the Assembly indicated a willingness to talk to Corns about whether any action on their part would assist the company. As Corus did not wish to engage in such discussions, the Government were unable to make any offer of assistance.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Departmental Expenditure Limit
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Solicitor-General what plans he has to amend the Law Officers' Department's Departmental Expenditure Limit and Running Costs Limit for 2000–01. [151100]

  The Solicitor-General
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimates for Class V, Vote 4 (The Crown Prosecution Service), Class V, Vote 5 (Serious Fraud Office) and Class V, Vote 6 (HM Procurator General and Treasury Solicitor) the Attorney-General's Departments Departmental Expenditure Limit for 2000–01 will be increased by £8,823,000 from £369,547,000 to £378,370,000.

  The Crown Prosecution Service's Departmental Expenditure Limit will increase by £4,438,000 from £343,790,000 to £348,228,000. The running costs limit will be increased by £2,504,000 from £245,165,000 to £247,669,000. This increase is required to fund delivery of the pledge on persistent youth offenders, deployment of Higher Court Advocates in the Crown court, diversity and equality issues and achieve improvements against

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  CPS and CJS targets. An increase in capital expenditure of £500,000 will be used to fund the introduction of joint CPS/police criminal justice and trial units.

  The Serious Fraud Office's Departmental Expenditure Limit will increase by £17,486,000 from £1,833,000 to £19,319,000. The Running Costs Limit will increase by £611,000 from £11,324,000 to £11,935,000. The increase is required to fund the impact in 2000–01 of the decision to increase the office's targeted case load to 100 cases in 2003–04; to meet the cost of trials held over from 1999–2000; and to offset reductions in police resources available to combat serious and complex fraud. Capital expenditure will increase by £34,000.

  HM Procurator General and Treasury Solicitor's Departmental Expenditure Limit will increase by £552,000 from £8,271,000 to £8,823,000. The Running Costs Limit will increase by £1,550,000 from £6,432,000 to £7,982,000. The increase in net running costs is due to an increase in capital charge following a revaluation of TDS's premises (Queen Anne's Chambers). The increase is offset by a matching non-running cost receipt. Capital expenditure will increase by £294,000.

  A transfer of £250,000 will be made to the Attorney-General's Departments Departmental Unallocated Provision from the Modernising Government Fund and a transfer of £1,750,000 will be made to the Attorney-General's Departments Departmental Unallocated Provision from the Capital Modernisation Fund.

  The increases will be partly offset by transfers totalling £1,206,000 from the Home Office, surrender of £4,565,000 of the Attorney-General's Departments end year flexibility, an allocation of £500,000 from the Capital Modernisation Fund and an allocation of £250,000 from the Modernising Government Fund.

  The remainder of the expenditure will be charged to the Reserve and will not, therefore, add to the planned total of public expenditure.

SCOTLAND

  Benefit Statistics
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will publish for each constituency in Scotland her latest estimate of the number of(a) male and (b) female (i) lone parents, (ii) pensioners, (iii) people in receipt of DSS benefits, and (iv) female unemployed persons, (A) under the age of 18 years, (B) aged 18 to 24 years and (C) aged over 24 wears, (I) pensioners qualifying for the free TV licence and (II) households qualifying for the £200 winter fuel allowance. [146986]

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

  Departmental Expenditure Limit
  Mr. Russell Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals there are to amend the Scotland Office Departmental Expenditure Limit for 2000–01. [151111]
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  Mrs. Liddell
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate for Class XIII, Vote 1, Scotland and Transfers to the Scottish Consolidated Fund, the Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) for 2000–01 will be increased by £77,265,000 from £15,305,728,000 to £15,382,993,000.

  The changes in the DEL include the following:

  a draw forward of £32,000,000 from 2001–02 for European structural funds;

  an increase of £23,031,000 for the cost of the Lockerbie trial; an increase of £2,300,000 for additional funding for forestry;

  £206,000 for the cost of flood damage and coastal work;

  £1,738,000 from the Civil Service Modernisation Fund;

  £40,000 for the Employment coalition;

  £800,000 for the costs of Kosovo refugees; and

  £17,893,000 previously announced in the Pre-Budget Report for education.

  Also included in the revised Departmental Expenditure Limit are transfers to and from other Government Departments amounting to a net decrease of £743,000. These include:

  (i) £5,100,000 from the Home Office for the costs of asylum seekers;

  (ii) £1,576,000 from DTI for the Phoenix fund;

  (iii) £5,014,000 to INEE for Open University payments;

  (iv) £1,870,000 to MAFF for the cattle traceability scheme;

  (v) £1,250,000 to the Department. of Health for Reserved Health bodies;

  (vi) £252,000 from the Northern Ireland Executive for Out of Area treatments;

  (vii) £289,000 from the Cabinet Office for telecommunications costs;

  (viii) £160,000 to DSS for intercalating students;

  (ix) £57,000 from National Assembly for Wales for Out of Area treatments;

  (x) £78,000 to the Home Office for the Animal Rights index;

  (xi) £342,000 to MAFF for the BSE inquiry;

  (xii) £46,000 to MAFF for the Marine Coastguard agency;

  (xiii) £750,000 from DETR for track access grants; and

  (xiv) £7,000 to Home Office for GRECO (European Commission for the Prevention of Corruption).

  The increase in DEL will be offset by transfers from other Departmental Expenditure Limits or from the DEL reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

ADVOCATE-GENERAL

  International Criminal Court
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Advocate-General for Scotland what advice she has given on the development of the proposed International Criminal Court. [149841]

  The Advocate-General
  This Government have strongly supported the establishment of an International Criminal Court. I cannot, however, give the information requested. By long-standing convention, followed by successive Governments, neither the existence nor content of Law Officers' advice is normally disclosed outside Government. There seems no reason to depart from the convention on this occasion.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Policy and Strategy Units
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when his planning department was established; which of its reports are placed in the public domain; how many departmental or non-departmental special advisers participate in its work; how many regular(a) non-departmental and (b) departmental staff participate in its work; and how many of these work for the department on a full-time basis. [150371]

  Mr. Lock
  The Lord Chancellor's Department has carried out a planning function in some form for many years. Since 1998 the planning branch has been a discrete unit within the Department's Finance Division. Prior to that it was part of a separate Planning and Communications Division. The planning branch writes the Department's annual departmental report, which is published by the Stationery Office and placed on the Department's website. In spring 2001 it will produce the departmental business plan.

  No departmental or non-departmental advisers participate in this work. There are no non-departmental staff involved in this work. The planning branch consists of five full-time departmental staff and one part-timer.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if the Special Adviser working for the Lord Chancellor will relinquish his post when the next general election is called. [149313]

  Mr. Lock
  I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 13 February 2001,Official Report, column 130W.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when her Department expects(a) to reply to letters of 27 October 2000, 13 November 2000 and 12 December 2000 from Beeney and Co., Reigate, on behalf of Mrs. Nicola Morrison, a constituent, and (b) to achieve enforcement of the maintenance order given under case no. 1988-D-257 in Australia under the terms of the Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1972. [150201]

  Jane Kennedy
  The Reciprocal Enforcement of Maintenance Orders section of the Department forwarded the letters of 27 October 2000, 13 November 2000 and 12 December 2000 from Messrs. Beeney and Co. to the Australian authorities asking for news of the case, in the usual manner. Unfortunately, notification of this was not given to Beeney and Co. The Department has now acknowledged receipt of the correspondence.

  It is for the Australian authorities to decide how to enforce this maintenance order in Australia.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Bermuda
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the President of the Council what representations she has received from the Government of Bermuda about proposed constitutional changes; and if she will make a statement. [149996]

  Mr. Battle
  I have been asked to reply.

  In December 2000, HMG received a list of proposed constitutional changes from the Government of Bermuda, through the Governor's Office. These, and suggestions for amendments to the constitution from other sources, are under consideration. HMG takes their responsibility to the people of Bermuda seriously and will not agree to changes to the constitution without due deliberation.

  People's Peerages
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Council if she will list the ethnic backgrounds of applicants for a people's peerage. [150918]

  Mrs. Beckett
  I understand that the information requested is as follows:

  Indian origin—4 per cent.

  Pakistan origin—2 per cent.

  Bangladeshi—less than 1 per cent.

  East African—less than 1 per cent.

  Chinese—less than 1 per cent.

  Other Asian—1 per cent.

  Caribbean—1 per cent.

  African—1 per cent.

  Other Black origin—less than 1 per cent.

  White—85 per cent.

  Other ethnic origin—2 per cent.

  Not Specified—1 per cent.

  The 15 per cent. non-white applications compares with 2.6 per cent. ethnic minority representation in the present House of Lords, and 5.5 per cent. in the population as whole.

  Crown Appointments
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the President of the Council, pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2001,Official Report, column 332W, to the hon. Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore) if, in the discussion with the Shrievalty Association, she will seek arrangements to ensure (a) that in the cases of nominations for High Sheriff of persons who have been politically active, those nominations do not arise predominatly from any one political party and (b) that those nominated are not required to have sufficient means to meet the expenses of the office from their own resources. [149564]

  Mrs. Beckett
  The Shrievalty is a non-political office, and any person nominated who has been politically active is required to refrain from local or national political activity during his or her year as Sheriff. Provision is made for funding statutory functions performed through Under-Sheriffs and for certain other functions. There are no plans to fund further the non-statutory activities of
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  Sheriffs from public resources. The extent to which Sheriffs wish to incur personal expenditure on additional activities is a matter for individual decision.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if the Special Advisers working for him will relinquish their posts when the next general election is called. [149321]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 13 February 2001,Official Report, column 130W.

  Millennium Dome
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if Millennium Commission funds may be used to pay compensation for costs incurred in bidding for the dome site in the event of the failure of negotiations. [149342]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 7 February 2001]: The Millennium Commission, as providers of grant from the national lottery to the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC), has not underwritten bidders costs in relation to the competition for the sale of the dome. The rules of that competition makes no provision for meeting the costs of unsuccessful bidders.

  Departmental Grants (Vale of Clwyd)
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what grants his Department has made to organisations in the Vale of Clwyd since the general election. [149786]

  Kate Hoey
  [holding answer 9 February 2001]: This Department has made no grants to organisations in the Vale of Clwyd since the general election. However, according to the information supplied to us by the distributing bodies for the national lottery awards database, there have been 101 national lottery awards to the Vale Clwyd, totalling £6,607,271, since 1 May 1997. I have placed copies of a table showing the details of these awards in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Tourism
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what incentives the Government make available to farmers to encourage tourism in the English countryside. [150131]

  Janet Anderson
  The England rural development programme's rural enterprise scheme will help farmers and others to develop tourism and craft initiatives in order to assist in the development of more sustainable, diversified and enterprising rural economies and communities. Rural England will receive, in total, around £152 million of rural enterprise scheme funding from April 2001 to the end of 2006. The programme's agri-environment measures also help to promote tourism by encouraging farmers to conserve and enhance the 232W
  intrinsic attractiveness of English landscapes. Similar funding arrangements exist for areas classified as objective 1 for European structural funds support.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what incentives are provided to local residents in rural tourist resorts to encourage them to promote tourism in their town; and to whom these incentives are targeted. [150093]

  Janet Anderson
  A range of funding bodies and sources is available to assist rural communities and the rural economy, including in relation to tourism. The regional development agencies support a broad range of projects generated by local partnerships and voluntary groups to address regeneration through the single regeneration budget, the capital investment fund and their rural development programme. Support is also available from the Countryside Agency and the European structural funds. The EU LEADER+ programme will complement these mainstream programmes by piloting integrated bottom-up rural development strategies developed and implemented by local community action groups. The programme aims to help rural communities to help themselves in developing a sustainable rural economy, which may include sustainable tourism based on local distinctiveness. Rural England will receive around £32 million of LEADER+ funding from 2001 to the end of 2006.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money was spent by tourists visiting rural areas of north-west England in(a) 1998, (b) 1999 and (c) 2000. [150133]

  Janet Anderson
  Spending by domestic and overseas tourists visiting the two regional tourist board areas in north-west England was as follows:

  £ million

  1998

  1999

  North West Tourist Board

  1,393

  1,595

  Cumbria Tourist Board

  429

  600

  Separate figures for rural areas are not kept, but the North West Tourist Board estimates that approximately 56 per cent. of spend was in rural areas, while the Cumbria Tourist Board estimates that approximately 79 per cent. of spend was in rural areas.

  Figures for 2000 are not yet available.

  Wembley Stadium
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the prospects for opening the new stadium at Wembley. [150337]

  Kate Hoey
  [holding answer 13 February 2001]: I understand the Football Association and Wembley National Stadium Ltd. are currently holding discussions with their financial advisers on when to restart the process of loan syndication. The timing of this is entirely a matter for them.

  Regional Film Theatres
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to
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  ensure that publicly funded regional film theatres do not compete unfairly with the purely commercial sector; and if he will make a statement. [150544]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  Regional film theatres tend to show a wider range of films than commercial cinemas. Public funds also support screenings for minority audiences or for educational purposes and in rural areas. There are also initiatives between public and commercial sectors aimed at making available a broader programme at mainstream cinemas. I am not aware of any difficulties arising from these longstanding policies. The Film Council is developing a strategy for cinema exhibition which it aims to complete by September, building on the work of the British Film Institute.

  Digital TV (Audio-described Programmes)
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he plans to make available to blind and partially sighted people equipment for the reception of audio described programmes for digital TV. [150270]

  Janet Anderson
  No. The Government's role is to set the legislative framework within which audio description and other services for people with sensory impairments can be provided. Requiring broadcasters to meet statutory targets is the most effectve and practicable way to ensure the provision and expansion of these services. We have recently announced plans to increase the target for subtitling on digital terrestrial television (DTT) to 80 per cent. of programming and to extend the current targets for subtitling, signing and audio description on DTT to digital cable and digital satellite when legislation permits. We also introduced half-price television licences for the blind last April.

  Creative Partnerships
  Valerie Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to make an announcement on creative partnerships. [151191]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  On Wednesday 21 February, I will announce the locations in which my Department plans to develop creative partnership pilots: an initiative which will provide sustained opportunities for schools to work in partnership with creative arts organisations and individuals. I will also give details of the local consultation that will begin in these areas to determine the partners involved. Copies of this announcement will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Flood Defences (Leicestershire)
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the total expenditure on improving flood defences in the Soar Valley since the Easter 1998 floods. [149998]

  Mr. Morley
  In addition to their own expenditure of £156.000, the Environment Agency estimates that local authorities have spent approximately £1 million on improving flood defences in the Soar Valley since Easter 1998.
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  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Fooc how much has been spent by the Environment Agency on improving the flood defences in(a) Leicestershire and (b) the Soar Valley since Easter 1998. [149997]

  Mr. Morley
  I understand that since Easter 1998 the Environment Agency has spent some £840,000 on improving flood defences and warnings in Leicestershire, of which £156,000 was spent in the Soar Valley. In addition some £350,000 a year is spent on maintenance.

  Fishing
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the annual revenue generated by commercial fishing in the west country in each of the last three years. [149549]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 12 February 2001]: Following are the landings by the UK fleet into Devon, Cornwall and the Scilly Isles for the calendar years 1998–2000.

  Year

  £ million

  1998

  67.34

  1999

  53.79

  2000

  58.49

  Departmental Expenditure Limit
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals there are to amend the Forestry Commission Departmental Expenditure Limit for 2000–01. [151102]

  Mr. Morley
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate for Class X, Vote 3 (Forestry Commission), the Forestry Commission Departmental Expenditure Limit for 2000–01 will be increased by £4,100,000, form £76,065,000 to £80,165,000. The increase is required to meet the net cost of a fall in receipts from sales of timber offset by savings in other net expenditure. The increase will be a charge on the DEL Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what changes are proposed to the gross running cost control and Departmental Expenditure Limits for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Intervention Board for 2000–01. [151232]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  The Gross Running Cost Control Limit for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will be decreased by £9,605,000 from £316,371,000 to £306,766,000 and the Gross Running Cost Control Limit for the Intervention Board will be increased by £954,000 from £70,092,000 to £71,046,000.

  The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Intervention Board's joint Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) will be increased by £101,326,000 from £1,362,859,000 to £1,464,185,000.

  The increase is the net effect of an Intervention Board (IB) increase of £83,884,000 comprising administration transfers of £980,000 from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and £120,000 from HM Customs and

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  Excise and a transfer of £146,000 to the National Assembly for Wales Agriculture Department; and increases in programme provision of £71,489,000 for the Over Thirty Months Scheme (BSE), £398,000 for the Selective Cull Scheme (BSE) and £11,043,000 for Dairy Agrimonetary Compensation; and a net MAFF increase of £17,442,000 comprising an increase of £1,646,000 for the BSE Inquiry—funded by transfers from the Department of Health, the Scottish Executive, the Northern Ireland Executive and the National Assembly for Wales; £2 million for flood defence works—being part of the £51 million Flood Defence package announced on 23 November 2000; £1.87 million from the Scottish Executive as a contribution to the development costs of web-based access to Cattle Traceability Scheme data; and £14.5 million in respect of the Agrimonetary Compensation scheme for Arable Area Payments announced on 2 November 2000. These increases are offset by net transfers to the DETR of £41,000 in respect of work carried out by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA); £654,000 to the Department of Health in respect of surveillance work on Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs); £470,000 to the Cabinet Office for Government Pathway costs; and a decrease of £429,000 in net provision for the Centre for Environment. Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) resulting from projects under the Wider Markets Initiative.

  Within the DEL there will be a transfer of £980,000 from MAFF to IB to cover the cost of administrative work on Pig Welfare Disposal, Modernising Government and the Over Thirty Months Scheme (OTMS).

  The Supplementary Estimate also provides a transfer of £5.691 million Supplementary Credit Approvals capital and £1.35 million programme provision from the MAFF non-voted DEL to voted DEL.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Departmental Expenditure Limit
  Mr. Burgon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for changes to the Departmental Expenditure Limits and Running Costs Limits for 2000–01. [151099]

  Mr. Straw
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimates, the Departmental Expenditure Limit, which covers Class IV Vote 1 (Home Office administration, police, probation, immigration and other services, England and Wales) and Vote 2 (Prisons, England and Wales), will be increased by £66,499,000 from £8,867,256,000 to £8,933,755,000. The Running Costs Limit will be decreased by £6,000 from £2,353,684,000 to £2,353,678,000.

  The changes are the net effect of the following transfers: £200,000 from the Lord Chancellor's Department (Class V Vote 1) and £70,000 from the Crown Prosecution Service (Class V Vote 4) in respect of contributions for the Integrated Business Information Systems Unit; £130,000 to the Department of Health (Class II Vote 2), £29,000 to the National Assembly for Wales (Class XIV Vote 1), £23,000 to the Lord Chancellor's Department (Class V Vote 1) and £76,000 to the Crown Prosecution Service (Class V Vote 4) in connection with Youth Justice Board inspections;
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  £3,000,000 to the Lord Chancellor's Department (Class V Vote 1) in respect of the reorganisation of responsibility for the Children and Family Court Advisory Services; £23,000 from the Lord Chancellor's Department (Class V Vote 1), £7,000 from the Scottish Executive and £3,000 from the Northern Ireland Office (Class XV Vote 1) towards membership costs of the Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO); £3,500,000 from the Department of Social Security (Class XII Vote 2) in connection with housing benefit for residents in approved hostels; £32,000 from the Capital Modernisation Fund and £32,000 to the Lord Chancellor's Department (Class V Vote 1) for criminal justice system interface development; £112,000 to the National Assembly for Wales (Class XIV Vote 1) for the partnership development fund; £150,000 to the Department of Health (Class II Vote 2) in support of the project "communicating with professional audiences"; £43,000 from the National Assembly for Wales (Class XIV Vote 1) for crime reduction costs: £39,000 to the Department of Health (Class II Vote 2) for the funding of the drug service commissioners handbook and the Methadone Alliance and £120,000 in respect of the training of drug workers; £131,000 to the National Assembly for Wales (Class XIV Vote 1) in respect of drug projects to be supported by the Confiscated Assets Fund; £404,000 to the Single Intelligence Vote (Class XVII Vote 2) in respect of drug projects to be supported by the Confiscated Assets Fund; £21,700,000 from the Capital Modernisation Fund in respect of the Airwave project; £50,000 to the Department for Education and Employment (Class I Vote 1) for the Connexions Direct project; £99,000 from HM Customs and Excise (Class XVI Vote 4) £99,000 from the Department for Education and Employment (Class I Vote 1) and £221,000 from the Department of Health (Class II Vote 2) towards the costs of drug action teams; £315,000 from the Department of Health (Class II Vote 2) for the recruitment of drug action teams; £1,130,000 to the Single Intelligence Vote (Class XVII Vote 2) as a contribution towards three overseas drugs prevention projects; £78,000 from the Scottish Executive as a contribution to the animal rights national index; £95,000 from the Electoral Commission (Class XVIIIC Vote 1) in respect of set up costs; £5,100,000 to the Scottish Executive in respect of local authority asylum support costs; £38,000,000 from the Department of Social Security (Class XII Vote 2) in respect of closure of the housing benefit loophole; £1,200,000 to the Crown Prosecution Service (Class V Vote 4) and £467,000 to the Lord Chancellor's Department (Class V Vote 1) in respect of the youth justice pledge; £559,000 to the Cabinet Office (Class XVII Vote 1) to resource the news co-ordination centre; £860,000 from the Lord Chancellor's Department (Class V Vote 1) following postponement of the transfer of warrant enforcement from the police; £306,000 from the DEL Reserve in respect of free travel for Metropolitan police officers; £14,200,000 in respect of expenditure from the Capital Modernisation Fund for an increase in prison capacity; £1,400,000 in respect of expenditure from the Capital Modernisation Fund on the video links project; and £2,000,000 from the Departmental Unallocation Provision to cover additional non-Voted expenditure on the 1999 European Parliamentary Elections.

  The increase in the Department's running costs limit is the net effect of the following transfers: £200,000 from the Lord Chancellor's Department and £70,000 from the

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  Crown Prosecution Service in respect of contributions for the Integrated Business Information Systems Unit; £130,000 to the Department of Health, £29,000 to the National Assembly for Wales, £23,000 to the Lord Chancellor's Department and £76,000 to the Crown Prosecution Service in connection with Youth Justice Board inspections; £112,000 to the National Assembly for Wales for the partnership development fund; £50,000 to the Department of Health in support of the project "communicating with professional audiences"; £43,000 to the National Assembly for Wales for crime reduction costs; £95,000 from the Electoral Commission in respect of set up costs; £2,263,000 from capital expenditure provision in connection with the costs of the Sirius programme; £1,200,000 to the Crown Prosecution Service and £467,000 to the Lord Chancellor's Department in respect of the youth justice pledge; £465,000 to the Cabinet Office to resource the news co-ordination centre; and £125,000 from the Departmental Unallocated Provision to cover additional non-Voted expenditure on the 1999 European Parliamentary Elections.

  These changes will be offset by transfers or a charge on the Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Race Equality
  Ms Blears
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish his proposals for implementation of the duty to promote race equality under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000, and the second annual report on progress implementing the Stephen Lawrence Action Plan. [151106]

  Mr. Straw
  The second annual report on progress in implementing the Stephen Lawrence Action Plan and the consultation document on implementation of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 will be published on Thursday 22 February 2001, to mark the second anniversary of the publication of the Report of the Lawrence Inquiry. Copies of these documents will be placed in the Library and the consultation document will be circulated widely among the public bodies that are likely to be affected and to other interested parties for comments.

  The consultation document will provide information about timing of the implementation of the 2000 Act. It will, in particular, seek views on the introduction of a number of specific duties to help public bodies better fulfil their obligations under the general duty to promote race equality. It will also seek views on extending the list of public bodies that are subject to the general duty to promote race equality.

  Mr. Pond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the second edition of the basket of race equality performance indicators which he has developed. [151107]

  Mr. Straw
  I have today placed in the Library a copy of the document "Race Equality in Public Services". The document sets out performance data in a number of key areas which are of interest to minority ethnic communities, and provides a quantifiable way of demonstrating the Government's progress in promoting race equality.

  Criminal Records Bureau
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will announce the registration fees to be charged by the Criminal Records Bureau. [151198]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Applications to the Criminal Records Bureau for Standard and Enhanced Disclosures need to be counter-signed by a person registered in advance with the Bureau for this purpose. Often this will be the employer or voluntary organisation. We have concluded that the fee for registration should be a one-off payment of £300, with a one-off charge of £5 for each additional counter-signatory nominated by the registered person. These fees reflect the cost to the Bureau of the processes in question. Regulations will be laid accordingly.

  Terrorism Act
  Mr. Paul Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will bring the Terrorism Act 2000 into force. [151105]

  Mr. Straw
  In answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Ellesmere Port and Neston (Mr. Miller) on 31 October 2000,Official Report, column 419W, I indicated that we were working towards an implementation date for the Terrorism Act 2000 of 19 February 2001. I can now confirm that, by virtue of a Commencement Order which I have made under the Act, the date of implementation will be Monday 19 February 2001. On that day, the Terrorism Act 2000 will replace the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 and the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1996. As a consequence of the new judicial extension of detention arrangements which will come into force on 19 February, the United Kingdom will be in a position to lift the derogations entered under Article 15 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Article 4 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and I can confirm it is our intention to deposit notifications with the Council of Europe and the United Nations to this effect early next week. To take account of any detentions under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 made up to midnight on 18 February, these notifications will lift the derogations as of 26 February 2001.

  Hinduja Brothers
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which Ministers and officials in his Department have(a) been contacted by and (b) contacted (i) Mr. G. P. Hinduja and (ii) Mr. S. P. Hinduja since 2 May 1997; if he will list the occasions on which there was such contact; and if he will make a statement. [148074]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 31 January 2001]: My Department has had contact with Mr. G. P. Hinduja and Mr. S. P. Hinduja in respect of their applications for naturalisation and in respect of immigration matters. Information about contacts concerning their applications for naturalisation will be made available to Sir Anthony Hammond as part of his review of the possibility of an application for naturalisation by Mr. S. P. Hinduja in 1998. Sir Anthony's report will be published and copies placed in the Vote Office and the Library. It would

  239W
  be inappropriate for me to pre-empt the outcome of this review. Information about contact in respect of immigration matters can be produced only at disproportionate cost.

  Neither I, nor any of my Ministers, have had any official meetings with either Mr. G. P. Hinduja or Mr. S. P. Hinduja.

  My right hon. Friend the Member for Brent, South (Mr. Boateng) received a letter at his constituency office from Mr. S. P. Hinduja in September 2000 in his capacity as a local MP about parking facilities for people visiting the Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir in his Brent, South constituency. This was dealt with by my right hon. Friend in the usual way and referred to his local authority. Otherwise, neither I, nor my Ministers, recall having been contacted by or having contacted either Mr. G. P. Hinduja or Mr. S. P. Hinduja in the period from 2 May 1997, although we may have been present at functions at the same time as Mr. G. P. and Mr. S. P. Hinduja. For example, the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, my hon. Friend the Member for North Warwickshire (Mr. O'Brien), believes that when he spoke, by invitation, as a Minister at the Sikh Forum Dinner on 18 October 1999, Mr. S. P Hinduja was a guest on the platform table and that at a reception organised by my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, Southall (Mr. Khabra) on 3 July, which he attended, Mr. S. P. Hinduja was also present. I understand that Mr. G. P. Hinduja was present at the Asia Light evening held in Brighton last year and that Mr. S. P. Hinduja and Mr. G. P. Hinduja were present at the Labour Party's Annual Gala Dinner on 15 April 1999. I was present at both these events. My hon. Friend the Member for North Warwickshire and I received invitations to the Hinduja Foundation Diwali Gala evening on 3 November 1999. We did not attend; officials from the Home Office Race Equality Unit attended the event.

  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the allegations against G. P. Hinduja and S. P. Hinduja respectively of which his Department was aware when the decisions to award citizenship to each of them were made. [150377]

  Mr. Straw
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the right hon. Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Miss Widdecombe) and the hon. Members for Aylesbury (Mr. Lidington) and for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Ruffley) on 30 January 2001,Official Report, column 166W.

  Domestic Violence
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Government's policies to tackle domestic violence. [150588]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Domestic violence is a serious and abhorrent crime which the Government are determined to tackle effectively. We have emphasised that the domestic context in which it occurs is an aggravating not a mitigating factor and that it is an issue which we expect local crime reduction partnerships to cover in their audits of local problems and strategies for addressing them.
  240W
  Since coming to office, we have undertaken a broad range of measures to reduce the level of domestic violence and strengthen support for victims. That is why we have provided £7 million for a violence against women initiative within the Crime Reduction Programme. That initiative is currently funding for development and evaluation 34 projects that will help us identify what interventions in what circumstances are the most effective and cost-effective.

  Among other significant measures within the last year are: the issue of multi-agency guidance to agencies dealing with domestic violence and of specific guidance to Health Service professionals; the issue of a new Home Office circular to the police; the inclusion of domestic violence within police Best Value performance indicators; the provision of £120 million additional capital funding for a new Safer Communities Supported Housing Fund for specified vulnerable groups, including the survivors of domestic violence; and increased funding for Victim Support.

  Other current initiatives include work with the Association of Chief Police Officers on a circular on effective use of provisions in the Protection from Harassment Act 1997; the evaluation of probation service domestic violence perpetrator programmes; the development of a domestic violence toolkit on the Home Office's crime reduction website; research on possible future publicity work; and, the inclusion in the British Crime Survey 2001 of a special module on domestic violence.

  Essex Constabulary
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) funded and (b) actual police officers were in post in the Essex constabulary on (i) 31 March 1997 and (ii) the latest date for which figures are available. [148699]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 6 February 2001]: The information requested has been provided by the chief constable of the Essex police.

  Essex police

  Year

  Funded officer numbers

  Actual Police number

  31 March 1997

  2,944

  2,952

  7 February 2001

  2,955

  2,907

  Mr.Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civilian staff were employed by Essex constabulary(a) on 31 March 1997 and (b) at the latest date for which figures are available. [148701]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 6 February 2001]: On 31 March 1997 the Essex police had 1,199 civilian support staff. This had increased by 273 to 1,472 civilian staff on 30 September 2000. Many of the extra civilian support staff have, I understand, been used to free police officers from paperwork and from jobs that can be as effectively undertaken by civilians.

  Endangered Species
  Sir Paul Beresford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police units there are in
  241W
  the United Kingdom to enforce international obligations on the protection of endangered species; and what budget has been set aside for this purpose in each of the last five years. [147715]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 29 January 2001]: There is, in England and Wales, a network of Police Wildlife Liaison Officers, the vast majority of whom carry out this role in addition to their other police duties and responsibilities.

  Six police forces in England and Wales have a full-time Wildlife Liaison Officer. Only a small part of the work of Wildlife Liaison Officers would deal with enforcing international obligations in respect of endangered species.

  There are no figures available in respect of the budgetary provision for this work as that is a matter for individual chief officers.

  Police figures in England and Wales

  Recruitments

  Retirements

  Resignations

  Other1

  Police force

  September 1999

  March 2000

  September 1999

  March 2000

  September 1999

  March 2000

  September 1999

  March 2000

  Avon and Somerset

  60

  44

  43

  61

  13

  8

  4

  17

  Bedfordshire

  37

  0

  19

  20

  6

  5

  6

  2

  Cambridgeshire

  23

  0

  21

  16

  4

  9

  3

  1

  Cheshire

  25

  11

  31

  36

  6

  11

  2

  4

  City of London

  0

  0

  20

  9

  3

  3

  8

  7

  Cleveland

  9

  59

  29

  24

  3

  0

  2

  1

  Cumbria

  15

  8

  28

  22

  4

  5

  3

  4

  Derbyshire

  34

  45

  14

  22

  2

  1

  5

  3

  Devon and Cornwall

  42

  32

  56

  56

  5

  12

  4

  1

  Dorset

  15

  72

  22

  27

  9

  7

  5

  5

  Durham

  15

  36

  15

  17

  6

  8

  4

  8

  Dyfed Powys

  38

  16

  17

  14

  2

  6

  0

  0

  Essex

  41

  52

  72

  27

  13

  4

  14

  39

  Gloucestershire

  29

  30

  23

  13

  6

  7

  1

  3

  Greater Manchester

  159

  127

  118

  117

  23

  12

  14

  12

  Gwent

  49

  33

  29

  20

  4

  5

  7

  3

  Hampshire

  61

  91

  71

  58

  17

  15

  23

  6

  Hertfordshire

  88

  79

  33

  34

  17

  13

  0

  18

  Humberside

  37

  54

  38

  38

  4

  9

  6

  0

  Kent

  107

  67

  43

  59

  14

  20

  7

  13

  Lancashire

  51

  48

  44

  34

  9

  22

  1

  1

  Leicestershire

  38

  29

  21

  25

  15

  8

  0

  0

  Lincolnshire

  0

  34

  26

  32

  2

  6

  1

  0

  Merseyside

  39

  2

  71

  45

  10

  7

  4

  8

  Metropolitan police

  566

  428

  409

  406

  182

  184

  124

  172

  Norfolk

  19

  24

  19

  26

  6

  1

  3

  2

  Northamptonshire

  11

  8

  9

  16

  6

  4

  1

  2

  Northumbria

  87

  34

  43

  60

  9

  19

  10

  10

  North Wales

  40

  39

  24

  25

  0

  4

  2

  1

  North Yorkshire

  1

  9

  25

  26

  5

  6

  3

  1

  Nottinghamshire

  43

  61

  34

  33

  6

  5

  5

  9

  South Wales

  81

  43

  83

  22

  7

  7

  5

  7

  South Yorkshire

  67

  61

  42

  58

  13

  9

  8

  7

  Staffordshire

  21

  1

  23

  28

  10

  13

  6

  1

  Suffolk

  2

  15

  20

  17

  5

  6

  4

  4

  Surrey

  87

  96

  27

  27

  8

  18

  0

  0

  Sussex

  70

  31

  50

  57

  22

  25

  16

  15

  Thames Valley

  88

  102

  57

  52

  29

  25

  4

  22

  Warwickshire

  24

  35

  12

  13

  7

  2

  2

  2

  West Mercia

  13

  2

  45

  34

  10

  10

  2

  1

  West Midlands

  160

  95

  90

  94

  39

  75

  28

  1

  West Yorkshire

  1

  60

  80

  73

  13

  21

  12

  10

  Wiltshire

  20

  9

  17

  23

  7

  18

  1

  0

  Total all forces

  2,413

  2,122

  2,013

  1,916

  581

  655

  360

  423

  1 "Other" includes death, dismissals and departures for other reasons.

  Police Statistics
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officers(a) were recruited to and (b) retired, resignted or were dismissed from each police force and in total between (i) April and September 1999 and (ii) October and March 2000. [148013]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 30 January 2001]: The information in the table sets out the number of officers who wen recruited, retired or resigned for the six monthly periods 1 April 1999 to 30 September 2000 and 1 October 1999 to 31 March 2000. The category for "other wastage" includes death, dismissals and departures for other reasons. Because of the way in which the statistics are collected we are unable to provide a breakdown of each of the sub-categories in the "other wastage" column.

  Police Numbers (North Yorkshire)
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what means the increase in the number of police officers in North Yorkshire will be funded. [149453]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 15 February 2001,Official Report, column 174W.

  Arrests
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many arrests were made on average per police officer for each force area in England in each year since 1990. [150104]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Information given in the table is for arrests for notifiable offences and for the year 1999–2000 only. Information for earlier years is not available on a consistent basis.

  Number of arrests for notifiable offences and average arrests per police officer by police force area in England, 1999–2000

  Police force area

  Total arrests

  Total police officers1

  Average arrests

  Avon and Somerset

  21,856

  2,934

  7

  Bedfordshire

  13,011

  1,028

  13

  Cambridgeshire

  12,418

  1,237

  10

  Cheshire

  18,202

  2,011

  9

  Cleveland

  20,521

  1,404

  15

  Cumbria

  15,568

  1,084

  14

  Derbyshire

  18,499

  1,777

  10

  Devon and Cornwall

  24,609

  2,841

  9

  Dorset

  12,472

  1,306

  10

  Durham

  2—

  1,558

  2—

  Essex

  24,405

  2,806

  9

  Gloucestershire

  11,352

  1,114

  10

  Greater Manchester

  69,317

  6,795

  10

  Hampshire

  42,598

  3,419

  12

  Hertfordshire

  14,111

  1,767

  8

  Humberside

  2—

  1,932

  2—

  Borough

  September

  October

  November

  December

  Total

  Barking and Dagenham

  0

  4

  5

  3

  12

  Barnet

  4

  6

  1

  3

  14

  Bexley

  3

  2

  2

  1

  8

  Brent

  8

  3

  4

  1

  16

  Bromley

  2

  1

  3

  4

  10

  Camden

  7

  3

  1

  0

  11

  Croydon

  2

  3

  3

  2

  10

  Ealing

  6

  2

  2

  7

  17

  Enfield

  5

  1

  4

  9

  19

  Greenwich

  2

  1

  1

  2

  6

  Hackney

  5

  2

  5

  3

  15

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  2

  3

  1

  2

  8

  Haringey

  6

  10

  5

  4

  25

  Harrow

  1

  2

  1

  0

  4

  Havering

  1

  2

  4

  2

  9

  Heathrow Airport

  0

  2

  0

  0

  2

  Hillingdon

  2

  6

  6

  1

  15

  Hounslow

  2

  3

  3

  4

  12

  Islington

  4

  7

  0

  1

  12

  Kensington and Chelsea

  4

  5

  3

  1

  13

  Kingston-Upon-Thames

  0

  3

  1

  2

  6

  Lambeth

  2

  3

  2

  3

  10

  Lewisham

  2

  1

  5

  5

  13

  Merton

  1

  2

  1

  0

  4

  Newham

  1

  6

  3

  5

  15

  Redbridge

  6

  4

  4

  6

  20

  244W

  Number of arrests for notifiable offences and average arrests per police officer by police force area in England, 1999–2000

  Police force area

  Total arrests

  Total police officers1

  Average arrests

  Kent

  34,684

  3,204

  11

  Lancashire

  37,535

  3,179

  12

  Leicestershire

  18,000

  1,993

  9

  Lincolnshire

  20,700

  1,115

  19

  London, City of

  4,726

  732

  6

  Merseyside

  44,315

  4,085

  11

  Metropolitan police

  202,218

  25,485

  8

  Norfolk

  16,313

  1,381

  12

  Northamptonshire

  12,730

  1,117

  11

  Northumbria

  47,295

  3,788

  12

  North Yorkshire

  20,353

  1,283

  16

  Nottinghamshire

  33,001

  2,204

  15

  South Yorkshire

  34,727

  3,163

  11

  Staffordshire

  2—

  2,170

  2—

  Suffolk

  10,787

  1,145

  9

  Surrey

  12,993

  1,785

  7

  Sussex

  24,183

  2,822

  9

  Thames Valley

  43,605

  3,740

  12

  Warwickshire

  8,376

  900

  9

  West Mercia

  21,172

  1,887

  11

  West Midlands

  78,592

  7,194

  11

  West Yorkshire

  44,800

  4,822

  9

  Wiltshire

  10,498

  1,118

  9

  1 Police officer strength as at 31 March 2000.

  2 Not available

  Police (Immediate Calls)
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Metropolitan police response vehicles have been involved in accidents while attending immediate response calls, broken down by borough, since September 2000. [150285]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has informed me that the numbers of police response vehicles involved in accidents while attending immediate response calls, broken down by borough, since September 2000 were:
  245W

  Borough

  September

  October

  November

  Total

  Richmond-Upon-Thames

  3

  0

  2

  0

  5

  Southwark

  3

  4

  5

  6

  18

  Sutton

  2

  0

  0

  2

  4

  Tower Hamlets

  3

  6

  5

  5

  19

  Waltham Forest

  5

  8

  6

  3

  22

  Wandsworth

  7

  5

  3

  18

  Westminster

  5

  2

  5

  2

  14

  Metropolitan Police Service

  106

  112

  96

  92

  406

  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list, on a borough-by-borough basis, the percentage of immediate calls which were met within the target time for the Metropolitan police since September 2000. [150284]

  Percentage

  Borough

  September

  October

  November

  December

  January

  Barking and Dagenham

  72.6

  80.1

  78.2

  80.2

  74.3

  Barnet

  74.5

  71.2

  70.3

  72.5

  71.7

  Bexley

  79.9

  79.2

  81.5

  84.8

  83.3

  Brent

  70.1

  69.0

  70.2

  70.9

  70.0

  Bromley

  76.2

  78.0

  77.9

  76.4

  76.2

  Camden

  66.5

  66.7

  69.4

  70.1

  69.9

  Croydon

  73.7

  73.6

  72.8

  73.6

  75.2

  Ealing

  79.1

  75.4

  76.7

  83.0

  79.5

  Enfield

  74.6

  74.5

  69.9

  72.3

  77.1

  Greenwich

  69.0

  72.3

  69.2

  72.4

  75.1

  Hackney

  80.9

  84.5

  88.9

  88.2

  85.7

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  84.7

  83.8

  87.3

  87.2

  88.9

  Haringey

  74.5

  74.4

  74.8

  76.4

  79.6

  Harrow

  77.7

  78.7

  80.l

  79.8

  77.2

  Havering

  69.4

  71.8

  71.6

  69.7

  70.5

  Heathrow Airport

  92.9

  89.3

  91.1

  89.1

  94.1

  Hillingdon

  72.4

  70.8

  70.4

  75.2

  77.2

  Hounslow

  74.0

  76.3

  73.9

  76.0

  76.5

  Islington

  70.2

  70.1

  70.9

  72.5

  74.3

  Kensington and Chelsea

  81.8

  82.7

  84.1

  84.0

  83.2

  Kingston-Upon-Thames

  83.7

  83.3

  83.2

  80.5

  85.6

  Lambeth

  74.5

  75.1

  72.6

  76.2

  76.1

  Lewisham

  75.9

  78.5

  77.3

  76.5

  80.1

  Merton

  80.0

  77.7

  77.0

  77.8

  73.6

  Newham

  68.8

  71.3

  70.5

  68.3

  76.3

  Redbridge

  73.4

  70.5

  68.6

  69.6

  73.9

  Richmond-Upon-Thames

  79.6

  79.2

  76.1

  81.1

  81.6

  Southwark

  79.0

  76.7

  78.1

  79.4

  80.9

  Sutton

  84.7

  87.0

  86.4

  86.3

  82.4

  Tower Hamlets

  69.1

  68.9

  68.5

  70.0

  73.0

  Waltham Forest

  73.7

  81.1

  12.2

  80.7

  82.7

  Wandsworth

  81.4

  81.1

  78.4

  82.4

  79.5

  Westminster

  82.6

  84.2

  83.9

  83.6

  85.3

  Violent Offences (Waverley)
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reported offences involving violence there were in Waverley in the past three years; and how many of those involved(a) village shops and (b) post offices. [150309]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Totals of violent crimes in Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership areas were not collected centrally prior to September 1999, and are not collected by location of offence. The table gives the number of violent offences recorded in Waverley in the year to September 2000 in the three categories of violent crime. There are no previous comparable year data held
  246W
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has informed me that the Metropolitan Police Service's charter standard is to attend 80 per cent. of immediate calls within 12 minutes. The percentage of immediate calls which were met within the target time for the Metropolitan police since September 2000 were:

  centrally. This information, with that on all other Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships, was published in table 5 of the Home Office Statistical Bulletin 1/01, "Recorded Crime England and Wales October 1999 to September 2000", which is available in the Library.

  Waverley crime and disorder reduction partnership

  Notifiable offences recorded by the police

  Number

  October 1999 to September 2000

  Violence against the person

  665

  Sexual offences

  65

  Robbery

  23

  Metropolitan Police
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department since the introduction of the new allowances for housing for police officers in London,(a) how many officers joined the Metropolitan police from other police forces and (b) how many left the Metropolitan police to join other police forces; and if he will make a statement. [148650]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  No new allowances for housing have been introduced for police officers in London. The London Allowance paid to those police officers recruited into the Metropolitan police since 1 September 1994 who are not in receipt of housing allowance was increased with effect from I July 2000.

  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that between 1 July 2000 and 31 January 2001, 68 police officers joined the Metropolitan police from other forces and 245 left the Metropolitan police for other forces.

  Departmental Policies (Tooting)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Tooting parliamentary constituency the effect of his Department's policies and actions since 1 May 1997. [149862]

  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 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, such as recorded crime, cannot be matched in the way requested although following are examples relating to the Tooting constituency or the immediate locality:

  Crime Reduction Programme (CRP):

  Targeted Policing Initiative:
  Round 2: Understanding and Responding to Hate Crime—A Metropolitan Police Project seeking to tackle domestic violence and racially motivated crime in all London boroughs within their policing area. Scheme seeks to develop a data system that will inform the investigation of hate crime; create a system for training and support for those dealing with hate crime' and improve the understanding of different forms of hate crime and how to respond to it. Also aims to find more effective ways of identifying both new and repeat victims. Allocated funding of £287,000 for a 22 month project.

  Closed Circuit Television (CCTV):

  Three schemes approved under the CCTV initiative 1999–total £327,500
  Lennox Estate—15 CCTV cameras and related equipment which will provide coverage around the Lennox Housing Estate with the aim of targeting criminal damage, vandalism, anti-social behaviour and attempted burglaries.
  St. George's Hospital—providing 11 cameras and associated equipment the scheme seeks to facilitate coverage around St George's Hospital, focusing primarily on the car park area,
  248W
  which has experienced relatively high levels of vehicle crime. The scheme will also target burglary, bicycle theft and anti-social behaviour.
  Battersea Park Extension—four CCTV cameras and associated equipment have been funded to provide further coverage of the Battersea Park area and the vicinity of Prince of Wales Drive. This will enable the Metropolitan police and the Wandsworth Parks Constabulary to respond to incidents quickly and control public events more effectively. The scheme also seeks to reduce motor vehicle crime, which has been a problem affecting off-street parking around Prince of Wales Drive.

  Wandsworth has recently submitted six bids under round two of the CCTV Initiative. The funding requested from the CRP is £530,299. These bids have been submitted to the Home Office Crime Reduction Programme Unit (CRPU) and a decision is awaited.

  Reducing Burglary Initiative:

  There are three initiatives at present within the borough:
  Round 2: Over 60's—The Metropolitan police in partnership with Wandsworth Borough Council have been allocated funding for a project covering the over 60's. The main interventions proposed are target hardening for repeat victims, particularly among elderly households. Allocated Crime Reduction Programme funding of £7,100.
  Round 2: Balham Ward—The project encompasses the Balham area. Main interventions proposed are raising awareness, roadshow and watch link, target hardening and a property accreditation scheme for an area with large numbers of flats and houses in multiple occupation. Allocated Crime Reduction Programme funding of £19,400.
  Round 2: West Putney Ward—Main interventions proposed are target hardening, awareness raising and direct offender targeting in areas with large detached properties and council estates. Allocated Crime Reduction Programme funding of £25,100.

  Wandsworth has submitted a bid under round 3 of the Reducing Burglary Initiative. The bid covers a significant proportion of the borough and asks for funding of £526,100. The bid has been submitted to the Home Office Crime Reduction Programme Unit (CRPU) and a decision is awaited.

  Drug Arrest Referral Initiative:

  A drug arrest referral scheme has been established in Wandsworth. The scheme aims to reduce drugs misuse and drug related crime by providing treatment options for problem drug users, who are arrested. A specialist drugs worker is employed to identify, assess and refer people to treatment who have been arrested and want help in relation to problem drug use. The cost of employing Arrest Referral Workers is being matched jointly by the Metropolitan Police until April 2002. Under the Crime Reduction Programme, the Joint Finance Initiative additionally provides a contribution towards local treatment of problem drug-users. The CRP allocation of funding for arrest referral is £25,974 and for treatment is £21,468.

  More generally, all of the policies of the Home Office will impact on the residents of Tooting to a greater or lesser extent. For example:

  376 Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships have been established;

  Racial harassment and racially motivated crimes have been made criminal offences by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998;
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  The asylum backlog has been cut from 103,495 at the end of January 2000 to 66,195 by the end of December 2000; and

  Good progress is being made in reducing the incidence of fire deaths in England and Wales. They have dropped from 605 in 1997 to 534 in 1999.

  Asylum Seekers
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum claims have been refused because the applicants did not submit their SEF within the two-week deadline. [150098]

  Mrs. Roche
  Information relating to asylum applicants who did not submit their Statement of Evidence Form (SEF) within the 10 working day deadline is not currently routinely collected so could only be obtained through examination of individual case records and is therefore available only at disproportionate cost.

  The available information relates to total refusals of asylum on non-compliance grounds; comprising failure to provide further evidence as required and failure to respond to invitations for interview to establish identity as well as failure to complete a SEF correctly and within the time allowed.

  The information that is available is given in the table.

  Refusals of asylum on non-compliance grounds in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, April—December 20001,2

  Of which on no compliance grounds:

  Month

  Total refused

  Cases under normal procedures

  Cases under backlog criteria3

  April

  4,205

  1,165

  —

  May

  5,780

  1,655

  255

  June

  6,740

  2,135

  380

  July

  6,575

  2,015

  230

  August

  7,680

  3,125

  170

  September

  6,785

  2,885

  75

  October4

  7,250

  3,110

  5—

  November

  10,105

  4,425

  5—

  December

  7,850

  2,840

  5—

  1 Provisional figures (other than percentages) rounded to the nearest 5

  2Information is for initial decision, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions

  3Includes cases decided under measures aimed at reducing the pre 1996 asylum application backlog

  4 Cases considered under normal procedures may include some cases decided under the backlog criteria

  5 Nil

  Note:

  Includes some cases where the application has been refused on substantive grounds

  Information on the number of refusals, and the number of refusals on non-compliance grounds is published regularly on the Department's website at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/index.htm.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum cases have been dispersed under the terms of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999; how many of these were(a) single adults and (b) couples without children; and if he will make a statement. [150039]
  250W
  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 12 February 2001]: As at the end of December 2000, 16,5901 bedspaces in National Asylum Support Service (NASS) accommodation were allocated to asylum seekers and their dependants. The number of bedspaces allocated to single adults and to couples without children is not available.
  1 Figures rounded to the nearest ten.
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in each of the past three years(a) how many failed asylum seekers were removed from the United Kingdom and (b) how many asylum applications were refused; and if he will make a statement. [150076]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 12 February 2001]The information is given in the table.

  Year

  Total refusals 1,2

  Asylum seekers removed3

  1998

  22,315

  6,990

  19991

  12,300

  7,660

  2000 4

  78,180

  8,970

  1 Initial decision outcome

  2 Figures rounded to the nearest 5

  3 Figures rounded to the nearest 10

  4 Provisional figures

  The Government are determined to increase substantially the number of failed asylum seekers who are removed.

  We are taking additional measures, including expanding the number of detention places, to increase and speed up the removal of failed asylum seekers. The programme of works to deliver around 2,000 new detention places by the end of 2001 is well on track. In addition to the current facilities at Tinsley House, Gatwick, Campsfield House, Oxford and Harmondsworth, near Heathrow, we have successfully let contracts to deliver 900 places at Yarl's Wood in Bedfordshire by May 2001 and 550 places at Harmondsworth, to replace the current facility by the end of June 2001. We are also tendering a contract to deliver up to 150 places on the old Dungavel House prison site in Lanarkshire, Scotland by the autumn of 2001 and progressing plans to deliver 300 places at Aldington in Kent. An agreement is also in place with the Prison Service to allow us to use 112 places at Her Majesty's Prison Lindholme and up to a further 500 prison places throughout England for Immigration Act detainees, while the new facilities are under construction.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what average payments were made to each London borough per asylum seeker for housing allowance for the latest year for which information is available. [150547]

  Mrs. Roche
  It is not possible to give separate figures for housing allowance. The table gives the information that is available and shows the actual average amounts paid by the Home Office to each London borough for families and single adults for the year 1999–2000. The amount covers accommodation, support and administration costs.
  251W

  Average unit costs for 1999–2000

  Adults

  Families

  Barnet

  134.5

  243.5

  Barking and Dagenham

  134.5

  245.2

  Bexley

  141.2

  231.1

  Brent

  119.2

  240.1

  Bromley

  140.0

  240.0

  Camden

  140.0

  240.0

  Corporation of London

  140.0

  240.0

  Croydon

  110.6

  194.5

  Ealing

  136.2

  242.4

  Enfield

  142.1

  226.5

  Greenwich

  83.3

  221.0

  Hackney

  137.2

  158.4

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  140.0

  240.0

  Haringey

  155.7

  197.5

  Harrow

  140.0

  240.0

  Havering

  140.0

  240.0

  Hillingdon

  124.9

  240.0

  Hounslow

  130.4

  247.9

  Islington

  140.0

  240.0

  Kensington and Chelsea

  140.0

  240.0

  Kingston upon Thames

  141.2

  222.5

  Lambeth

  137,6

  215.4

  Lewisham

  91.1

  180.3

  Merton

  142.8

  230.7

  Newham

  127.1

  191.4

  Redbridge

  110.3

  224.0

  Richmond upon Thames

  78.4

  243.6

  Southwark

  140.0

  240.0

  Sutton

  140.0

  240.0

  Tower Hamlets

  140.0

  240.0

  Waltham Forest

  75.5

  233.2

  Wandsworth

  132.7

  241.8

  Westminster

  140.0

  240.0

  Naturalisation Applications
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for naturalisation(a) he has determined personally and (b) have been determined personally by other Ministers in his Department (i) in total since 2 May 1997 and (ii) in (1) 1997, (2) 1998, (3) 1999 and (4) 2000. [149572]

  Mrs. Roche
  This information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The overwhelming majority of decisions are taken by officials.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which hon. Members made representations to his Department between 2 May 1997 and 28 July 1998 in support of relaxing the residence requirement for applicants for naturalisation. [150040]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 12 February 2001]: None so far as we can determine. It would entail disproportionate cost for us to check for any representations made in the context of individual cases.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the residence requirements are with which an applicant for naturalisation is expected to comply; what is the legal basis for these requirements; and if he will make a statement. [149575]

  Mrs. Roche
  I refer the hon. Member to Schedule 1 to the British Nationality Act 1981 where the residency requirements are set out. Schedule l is the legal basis for the requirements.

  Prison Statistics
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners(a) were in category B prisons, (b) escaped from category B prisons and (c) absconded from category B prisons in each year between 1990 and 2000. [149916]

  Mr. Boateng
  Available statistics show the category B prison population at the end of June for each year was:

  Year

  Number

  1995

  5,274

  1996

  8,162

  1997

  9,016

  1998

  7,181

  1999

  7,396

  2000

  7,763

  I am unable to provide figures for 1990–1994 in the time available.

  Determining the number of prisoners who have either escaped or absconded from category B prisons over the 10 year period can be supplied only at disproportionate cost. However, I can advise the House that there has not been an escape from a category B establishment since September 1999.

  Police (Avon and Somerset)
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate(a) the total number of police officers and (b) the number of frontline officers in the Avon and Somerset area in each year since 1978–79. [148739]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Information on police numbers in Avon and Somerset constabulary from December 1978 is provided in the table. However, it is only possible to provide information from December 1990 on the number of operational (frontline) officers. The information on operational officers has been provided by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary.

  Data on operational numbers were collected on a calendar year basis between 1990 and 1993. Police numbers prior to 1994–95 have therefore been provided on the same basis so that the data are comparable. From 1994–95 all data are on a financial year basis (ie as at 31 March of each year).

  Avon and Somerset Constabulary police numbers since 1978 and operational numbers since 1990

  Year

  Total number of police officers

  Number of operational police officers

  19781

  2,775

  n/a

  1979

  2,861

  n/a

  1980

  2,962

  n/a

  1981

  3,014

  n/a

  1982

  2,996

  n/a

  1983

  2,985

  n/a

  1984

  2,979

  n/a

  1985

  2,965

  n/a

  1986

  2,982

  n/a

  1987

  3,021

  n/a

  1988

  2,975

  n/a

  1989

  3,055

  n/a

  1990

  3,059

  2,599

  253W

  Avon and Somerset Constabulary police numbers since 1978 and operational numbers since 1990

  Year

  Total number of police officers

  Number of operational police officers

  1991

  3,072

  2,640

  1992

  3,065

  2,379

  1993

  3,034

  2,286

  1994–952

  3,000

  2,262

  1995–96

  2,981

  2,277

  1996–97

  2,989

  2,378

  1997–98

  2,976

  2,417

  1998–99

  2,999

  2,394

  1999–2000

  2,934

  2,777

  2000–013

  2,941

  3n/a

  1 Figures between 1978 and 1993 are on a calendar year basis.

  2 Figures from 1994–95 are on a financial year basis.

  3 Total police numbers for 2000–01 are those for 30 September 2000. Information on the force's operational numbers for 31 March 2001 will not be available until the middle of the year.

  Victim Support
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what sums of money his Department will in future make available each year for independent charities providing support for victims by victims; and what procedures there will be for applying for such funding. [150457]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Government are considering the allocation of grant to victims programmes and hope to make an announcement shortly.

  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what sums of money his Department has given each year, from 1995 to date to(a) Victim Support, (b) other independent victim charities, and the amounts per charity, and (c) other victim support organisations with non-charitable status, and the amounts per organisation; and what proportion of the above amounts had gone to provide support for bereaved and injured road traffic victims (i) via Victim Support, (ii) via the independent victim charities and (iii) via the other victim support organisations with non-charitable status. [150458]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The available information about Home Office grant given to victim support organisations since 1995 is summarised in the table.

  Victim Support (£ million)

  Support after murder and manslaughter (£)

  Other victim support organizations (£)

  1995–96

  10.817

  0

  0

  1996–97

  11.682

  0

  0

  1997–98

  12.682

  0

  0

  1998–99

  12.682

  43,000

  0

  1999–2000

  17.500

  100,000

  0

  2000–01

  18.600

  100,000

  0

  Information about the proportion of such grant which might have gone to provide support for victims of road traffic incidents is not available.

  Since 1999 the Home Office has also provided £23,000 a year to the road safety organisation, BRAKE, for the supply of the booklets 'Coping with grief' and
  254W
  'Procedures following a death on the road in England and Wales'. The booklets are distributed free of charge by the police to the families of those killed in road crashes.

  New Prison, Peterborough
  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when he expects work to start on demolishing existing buildings to make way for the new prison in Peterborough; [150536]

  (2) for what reason the demolition of existing buildings prior to the building of the new prison in Peterborough has been delayed. [150538]

  Mr. Boateng
  There has been no delay. The Prison Service carried out its own investment appraisal as to whether to demolish the existing buildings before appointing a preferred supplier to construct and operate the new prison at Peterborough. Discussions took place with the city council, demolition contractors and the consortiums bidding for the new prison. At the conclusion of these discussions it was decided that the best option was to incorporate the demolition work into the PFI construction contract.

  Work on demolishing the existing buildings on the site of the new prison to be built at Peterborough is expected to commence in late 2001.

  Work on demolishing the existing building on the site of the new prison to be built at Peterborough is expected to commence in late 2001.

  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when he expects the new prison to be operational in Peterborough; [150535]

  (2) when he will announce funding details for the new prison in Peterborough. [150537]

  Mr. Boateng
  Details of contract costs and funding will be announced to coincide with contract signature which is expected in late 2001. The new prison at Peterborough is expected to take its first prisoners in early 2004.

  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received from the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mrs. Brinton) on behalf of her constituents(a) for and (b) against the new prison in Peterborough. [150546]

  Mr. Boateng
  My hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Mrs. Brinton) has made representations on behalf of three constituents, one of whom was against the prison proposal with the other two being respectively against the proposed location within Peterborough and the access route into the prison.

  Offences against Children
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the Government's policy on offenders who commit offences against children. [150569]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Government believe those who offend against children should be dealt with severely by the courts and appropriate action taken to prevent their re-offending. Recent measures include the provisions in Part II of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 to prevent people who commit serious offences
  255W
  against children from subsequently working with them; to raise the penalties for the offence of possession of child pornography to five years' imprisonment or an unlimited fine or both, and for the making and distributing of child pornography to 10 years' imprisonment or an unlimited fine or both; and to raise the age limit for the offence of indecent conduct towards a child to protect children up to 16. All these measures came into force on 11 January 2001. They form part of a programme of work we have undertaken to increase protection for children from those who may harm them.

  Assaults on Police Officers
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on assaults on police officers. [150570]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Assault is a serious offence and assaults on the police are deplorable. The Government are committed to reducing the number of assaults on police officers as part of their overall strategy to reduce violent crime, as set out in "fighting violent crime together: an action plan" published in January. We are determined to support the right of every law-abiding individual to go about his or her daily life without the fear of falling victim to crime. We recognise our responsibility in supporting the police to protect the community. That is why we are increasing police funding significantly and in real terms.

  The Government are determined to ensure that all police officers are protected in carrying out their duties. We support the use of the best available means to protect our police officers. In addition to the development of protective clothing to guard against knife or gun attack, police now have access to the up-to-date extendable side handled batons and the CS incapacitant spray, which help to protect them from assault. The Home Office's Police Scientific Development Branch continues to monitor developments in this area, in order to provide the police service with advice on the most effective equipment available.

  We recognise the importance of high quality training in protecting police officers in carrying out their duties. In May 2000 the Government published "Police Training:

  Number of parenting, child safety and sex offender orders (as introduced under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998) made, discharged or breached within pilot areas and nationally up to 30 September 20001

  Made

  Type of order and police force area

  Number up to 31 May 2000

  Nationally from 1 June to 30 September 20001

  Discharged

  Breached (up to June 2000)1

  Sex Offender Order2

  332

  11

  4n/a

  n/a

  Greater Manchester

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Metropolitan police

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Lancashire

  —

  2

  —

  —

  Northamptonshire

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Nottinghamshire

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Suffolk

  —

  1

  —

  —

  West Yorkshire

  —

  2

  —

  —

  Dyfed-Powys

  —

  1

  —

  —

  North Wales

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Parenting Order5

  6284

  740

  n/a

  81

  of which given at:

  Civil and family proceedings courts

  —

  18

  n/a

  —

  Cleveland

  10—

  1

  —

  —

  Greater Manchester

  10—

  6

  —

  —

  Metropolitan police

  —

  5

  —

  —

  256W
  The Way Forward" which set out a range of proposals to ensure common national standards in police training and life-long learning for staff.

  In order to allow the identification of the level of recorded assaults on the police, in 1998 we introduced assault on a constable as one of the new elements in the recording of crime figures. Assault carries a range of sentences depending on the seriousness of the incident. We expect the courts to use their full powers when considering sentences in cases where the police are assaulted.

  Departmental Business (Overseas Travel)
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visits abroad have been made by Home Office officials on departmental business(a) since 1 May 1997 and (b) in the last 12 months. [149042]

  Mr. Straw
  The information which has been requested is not held centrally and would incur disproportionate cost to obtain.

  Orders
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many sex offender orders have been made to date in each police force area in England and Wales; how many have been(a) discharged and (b) breached; and if he will make a statement; [149162]

  (2) how many child safety orders have been made to date in each police force area in England and Wales; how many have been (a) discharged and (b) breached; and if he will make a statement; [149164]

  (3) how many parenting orders have been made to date in each police force area in England and Wales; how many have been (a) discharged and (b) breached; and if he will make a statement. [149163]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [pursuant to his replies, 8 February 2001, c. 674W]: The information given in the table covering the number of Parenting Orders and Child Safety Orders made up to 31 May 2000 was incorrect. An updated table with amendments is given.
  257W

  Number of parenting, child safety and sex offender orders (as introduced under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998) made, discharged or breached within pilot areas and nationally up to 30 September 20001

  Made

  Type of order and police force area

  Number up to 31 May 2000

  Nationally from 1 June to 30 September 20001

  Discharged

  Breached (up to June 2000)1

  Northumbria

  —

  4

  —

  —

  Suffolk

  10—

  1

  —

  —

  West Sussex

  10—

  1

  —

  —

  Criminal courts

  6284

  227

  n/a

  —

  Bedfordshire

  48

  —

  —

  —

  Devon and Cornwall

  12

  —

  —

  —

  Durham

  10—

  2

  —

  —

  Greater Manchester

  10—

  4

  —

  —

  Hampshire

  44

  —

  —

  —

  Lancashire

  10—

  6

  —

  —

  Leicestershire

  10—

  1

  —

  —

  Merseyside

  27

  —

  —

  —

  Metropolitan police

  24

  1

  —

  —

  Northumbria

  96

  —

  —

  —

  Nottinghamshire

  10—

  2

  —

  —

  South Yorkshire

  12

  1

  —

  —

  Warwickshire

  10—

  2

  —

  —

  West Midlands

  21

  3

  —

  —

  Child Safety Order5

  2

  —

  9n/a

  10—

  Northumbria

  2

  —

  —

  —

  Care Order for Non-Compliance with Child Safety Orders

  —

  —

  n/a

  10—

  1 Provisional.

  2 Implemented on 1 December 1998.

  3 Data by area for Sex Offender Orders only available from 1 June 2000.

  4 Subsection 2(7) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 provides that "except with the consent of both parties, no sex offender order shall be discharged before the end of the period of five years beginning with the date of service of the order".

  5 Piloted from 30 September 1998 and implemented nationally from 1 June 2000.

  6 An actual breakdown by type of court is not readily available for parenting orders made within the piloting period. Information suggests that 62 per cent. were made by criminal courts, 37 per cent. by civil courts and 1 per cent. at family proceedings courts.

  7 Data for parenting orders given at criminal courts up to 30 June 2000 only.

  8 Breach recorded in Dyfed-Powys police force area in 1999.

  9 If the child fails to comply with any requirement, the court may, on application of the responsible officer, discharge the order and make in respect of him a care order under s31(10(a)) of the Children Act 1989.

  10 Not applicable.

  n/a = not available

  Departmental Policies (Pendle)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what initiatives embarked upon since May 1997 have benefited Pendle; and if he will make a statement. [149910]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Under round one of the Crime Reduction Programme Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Initiative, £201,000 was awarded to the Pendle Community Safety partnership in January 2000, for a CCTV scheme in Nelson town centre. The scheme proposes to reduce violent crime, vehicle crime, burglary and fear of crime.

  The Youth Justice Board has also invested £228,018 on two development projects in Lancashire, including Pendle. The projects cover a victim/offender mediation service and a community bail support scheme.

  £14,000 has also been invested in Pendle under the Youth Inclusion "Summer Splash" Scheme, aimed at 13 to 17-year-olds at risk of offending during the Easter and Summer school holidays.

  Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme
  Mr. Burgon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will announce his response to the consultation exercise on the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme. [151098]

  Mr. Straw
  I will shortly be announcing details of a wide-ranging package of improvements to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme, based on the outcome of the public consultation exercise that we launched in 1999. This package has been drawn up in the light of careful analysis of all the responses to the exercise, and in consultation with Scottish Ministers. Details will be placed in the Library.

  Airwave Radio System
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what concerns were raised by Lancashire constabulary regarding health and safety matters in relation to its pilot of the Airwave radio system; and if he will make a statement; [150571]

  (2) if he will make a statement on interference caused by the Airwave radio system with other electronic equipment, with particular reference to equipment at

  259W
  (a) hospitals and (b) airports; and what guidance has been issued to officers regarding the use of Airwave equipment where it might cause such interference; [150568]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the health and safety risks associated with the Airwave radio system and TETRA radio signals. [150567]

  Mr. Straw
  Health and safety considerations have been of paramount importance in the development of Airwave, a system which should in itself contribute to a safe and effective working environment for the police. The system has been designed to enable the use of terminals which comply with guidelines issued by the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) and the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) on exposure to electro-magnetic fields.

  The Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones, which reported in May 2000, included in its report reference to the possible effects of radio frequency emissions at or near a modulation of 16Hz on the release of calcium from brain tissue. This may be of significance in relation to Airwave given that it uses the Terrestrial Trunk Radio System (TETRA) which modulates at 17.6Hz. No obvious health risks were suggested although the report concluded that as a precautionary measure, amplitude modulation around 16Hz should be avoided, if possible, in future developments in signal coding. The first, core parts of the TETRA standard were adopted as European Telecommunications Standards on 12 January 1996.

  The best advice I have received is that no obvious health risks have been identified; in these circumstances and in the light of the benefits that Airwave will bring to the police service, I have concluded that its roll-out should continue according to the planned timetable. However, I have also agreed that the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency and the NRPB should conduct a review of the relevant science.

  In addition I understand that the Lancashire Police Federation has raised with senior officials in Lancashire concerns about the possible harmful effects of pulsed radio waves at 17.6Hz. These concerns arose following media reports. I have also received a letter from the Police Federation at the national level about the safety implications if Airwave radios are required to be switched off in circumstances where interference might be at issue.

  Police radio terminals (hand-held radios and radios installed in vehicles), when transmitting, are capable of interfering with sensitive equipment in hospitals. This is not a new problem and is not an issue confined to police radios. Guidance was issued in 1997 restricting the use of public radios in hospitals (Home Office Communications Advisory Panel Guidance Note HGN(P)33).

  Police radio terminals are used at airports with the normal operational precautions. This means that, when close to any sensitive equipment (eg the Instrument Landing System at the end of a runway) or near hazardous areas (eg for re-fuelling), police officers currently refrain from making calls. When using Airwave (TETRA) radios, which can transmit autonomously to keep in contact with the network, officers would have to switch them off in such circumstances. Guidance is being prepared in Lancashire on the use of TETRA radio terminals in airports. Work is also being carried out to develop a
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  transmit-inhibit mode of operation for TETRA terminals so that they will transmit only when calls are being made, as is the case with current police radios.

  Police radio terminals can also interfere with traffic law enforcement devices (TLEDs). Guidance was issued in 1989 (Home Office circular 39/1989) advising that radios should not be used close to breath testing equipment. Further operational guidance will be prepared in the light of research currently being carried out into the susceptibility of TLEDs to frequency interference from a TETRA or GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) terminal.

  The Home Office is writing to Chief Constables (copied to the Police Federation) advising them of the action being taken in relation to interference and health issues. Copies of that letter will be placed in the Library.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Hon. Member for Leicester, East
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the occasions upon which the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the hon. Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz), met in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office individuals and organisations over issues not related to his ministerial duties, and the names of those persons and bodies and the purposes for which the meetings were held. [149803]

  Mr. Vaz
  Very occasionally, and because of parliamentary or ministerial commitments, meetings scheduled to be held outside the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have had to be transferred to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office at short notice. No other official resources are involved, nor are central records kept of such meetings.

  Iraq
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will make representations to the UN Sanctions Committee for the early release of(a) food-testing equipment and (b) equipment to combat cancer, which is being held from entry into Iraq. [147375]

  Mr. Wilson
  The UK works consistently in the UN Sanctions Committee to facilitate the export to Iraq of humanitarian goods such as those described by the hon. Member. We will continue to do so.

  If the hon. Member, or any other hon. Member, is aware of any specific examples of such goods on hold by any member of the Sanctions Committee, we are prepared to look into the matter and, where appropriate, make representations bilaterally and in the Sanctions Committee.

  The UK only places holds on goods where there is insufficient information about the goods or their intended end-use or because the goods have military as well as civilian applications. The hold is lifted as soon as we receive the information required to reassure us that the goods will not be used for purposes prohibited by Security Council resolutions.
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  I am anxious further to refine this process in any way which is consistent with UN Security Council resolutions and also the humanitarian interests of the Iraqi people.

  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide details of the current contracts on hold in respect of permitted supplies to Iraq; and for what reason 26 per cent. of goods under agreed oil spares contracts to Iraq have so far been received. [150195]

  Mr. Wilson
  The UN Sanctions Committee has approved 82 per cent. of the contracts submitted for the export of goods to Iraq under the UN oil for food programme. The UK puts on hold only about 2 per cent. of all contracts submitted to it for approval and then usually only on a temporary basis until concerns about the nature or end-use of the goods have been met. Details of all oil for food contracts are available on the UN website at www.un.org/Depts/oip.

  The UN continues to streamline its procedures to accelerate the export of goods to Iraq. The Sanctions Committee has therefore agreed lists of items, including oil spare parts, which no longer need to be referred to the UN for approval. At the same time Iraq continues to hamper the UN's efforts. Delays in the issue of letters of credit by the Central Bank of Iraq, for example, have prevented the delivery at one time of up to $1.1 billion worth of goods already approved by the UN.

  MOX Fuel
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests have been received from the United States nuclear authorities in respect of the construction of lead test assemblies of mixed oxide nuclear fuel in British fabrication plants. [149761]

  Mr. Wilson
  As part of its agreement with Russia to dispose of TN 34 of plutonium declared surplus to its military requirements, the US has undertaken to immobilise TN 25.5 through irradiation in a reactor.

  We have not received any request from the US to construct "lead test assemblies" for this programme in UK fabrication plants.

  Korea
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make a statement on the prospects for the reunification of Korea; [149906]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the implementation of the Joint Declaration between North and South Korea. [149907]

  Mr. Battle
  The UK welcomed the signing by President Kim Dae-Jung and Chairman Kim Jong Il of a joint declaration on reunification, family reunions, economic co-operation and future dialogue when they met in Pyongyang in June last year.

  North-south dialogue on implementing the joint declaration has continued to develop since the summit. So far there have been four rounds of ministerial level talks and five rounds of military contacts. Land mine clearance operations are under way and a road and rail link across the demilitarised zone is being rebuilt. Three rounds of
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  talks between the Red Cross societies on both sides have resulted in two rounds of separated family visits with a further round scheduled for the end of February. Commercial links have continued to develop in a number of sectors, including the signature of investment protection and double taxation agreements. Both the ROK and DPRK have continued to express their commitment to further reconciliation and to eventual reunification.

  It was in support of these positive developments that the UK established diplomatic relations with the DPRK in December. However, long-term improvement of north-south relations also depends on the eventual resolution of issues such as human rights, weapons of mass destruction, nuclear proliferation, and the development and exports of missiles. Establishing diplomatic relations with the DPRK should provide a more effective channel for pressing UK concerns on these issues.

  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the prospects for a reduction of North Korean exports of arms. [150282]

  Mr. Wilson
  We are concerned by North Korea's past record of exporting arms, especially ballistic missile systems and their related technology. We were encouraged by talks held last year between the DPRK and the US. In the context of those talks, the DPRK said they would be willing to stop exporting missiles if they could be compensated for the loss of foreign earnings.

  We have raised our concerns on this issue during our discussions on the establishment of diplomatic relations between the UK and the DPRK. We will continue to use our diplomatic relations with the DPRK to reinforce the need for them to stop destabilising arms exports. We have also drawn the DPRK's attention to the draft international code of conduct against ballistic missile proliferation.

  Indonesia
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Indonesian Government concerning the continuing forced conversion of Christians to Islam in the Moluccas. [150203]

  Mr. Battle
  We are deeply concerned by recent reports of attempts to force Christians to convert to Islam in Maluku and our ambassador has raised this with senior officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jakarta.

  Both the Secretary of State for International Development and I visited Indonesia in October 2000 and discussed the situation in Maluku with President Wahid and senior Ministers. We urged tolerance and restraint and made clear to them the Indonesian Government's responsibility to maintain law and order and take immediate steps to bring the perpetrators of the violence to justice. I also discussed events with Alwi Shihab, the Indonesian Foreign Minister, in the margins of the EU-ASEAN meeting in Vientiane on 12 December.

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Indonesian Government about attacks on Christians. [150103]
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  Mr. Battle
  We continue to urge the Indonesian Government to exercise tolerance and restraint and remind them of their responsibility to maintain law and order and to take immediate steps to bring the perpetrators of the violence to justice.

  Both the Secretary of State for International Development and I visited Indonesia in October 2000 and discussed the situation in Maluku with President Wahid and senior Ministers. We urged tolerance and restraint and made clear to them the Indonesian Government's responsibility to maintain law and order and take immediate steps to bring the perpetrators of the violence to justice. I also discussed events with Alwi Shihab, the Indonesian Foreign Minister, in the margins of the EU-ASEAN meeting in Vientiane on 12 December.

  Qualified Majority Voting
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reason the Government supported the provisions in the treaty of Nice relating to the extension of qualified majority voting. [150194]

  Mr. Vaz
  The decision to agree to qualified majority voting was made on a case-by-case basis. The Government agreed to majority voting where this will be of benefit to Britain and where it promotes efficient decision making in the institutions of the EU. But the Government made it clear before the Nice European Council that they would insist on unanimity in areas of overriding national interest, such as taxation, social security, defence, treaty change and own resources.

  Embassies
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the benefits of sharing premises used as embassies with other EU member states. [150196]

  Mr. Battle
  Since 1992, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has actively pursued opportunities to share embassy premises with out EU partners. We are already co-located with EU partners in Almaty, Lima, Minsk, Quito and Reykjavik and are in the construction phase of a major co-location project in Dar es Salaam. A further four possible sites for co-location are also currently under consideration.

  Panikos Tsiakourmas
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made on the case of Mr. Panikos Tsiakourmas, a Greek Cypriot; and if he will make a statement. [150394]

  Mr. Vaz
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has sent messages to both Mr. Denktash and Turkish Foreign Minister Cem about the circumstances of Mr. Tsiakourmas' arrest, emphasising the importance we attach to a resolution of this very serious matter. Our high commissioner in Nicosia also continues to make strong and regular representations to Mr. Denktash. We will continue to pursue this matter until it is resolved satisfactorily.

  Nice Treaty
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what powers under the treaty of Nice exist to enable a member state of the European Union to have its voting rights forfeited. [150116]

  Mr. Vaz
  [holding answer 13 February 2001]: There are no new powers in the treaty of Nice that provide for the suspension of voting rights.

  Article 7 of the Treaty of Amsterdam, amending the treaty on European Union, introduced the possibility for the Council to suspend certain rights under that treaty, including voting rights, where a member state is found to have seriously and persistently breached the founding principles of the Union set out in article 6 (1). The treaty of Nice amends article 7 TEU to introduce an early warning mechanism where there is a clear risk of those principles being breached. This mechanism allows for the Council to make recommendations to be made to the member state concerned, having listened to its views.

  UN Education Rapporteur
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 2 February 2001,Official Report, column 357W. on the UN special rapporteur on right to education, if he will make a statement on the outcome of his meeting on 7 February. [150384]

  Mr. Battle
  The UN special rapporteur on the right to education was due to meet with my right hon. Friend the Minister for School Standards and the Minister of State, Home Office on 7 February to discuss the report of her previous visit in 1999.

  Unfortunately, the special rapporteur was unable to travel from Sweden to the UK due to adverse weather conditions. We are in contact with her office with a view to her visiting the UK at a later date.

  Congo
  Mr. Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the nature and extent of the continuing violence in the region of Bunia in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and what representations he has made to the Government of Uganda about its responsibility for restoring peace to that region. [150471]

  Mr. Wilson
  We have received distressing reports about continuing inter-ethnic violence in and around Bunia. The conflict is complex, but seen by many as a violent extension of the local administration's inability to manage long-standing tensions between communities in the province. There are also accusations that the Ugandan forces, who effectively control eastern DRC, have been guilty of failing to prevent the violence. In some cases, Ugandan officers have been accused of participating in the killings.

  Tension remains high, and humanitarian agencies have moved their staff to Bunia town for safety. Humanitarian access in the rest of the region is extremely difficult.

  From the first reports of killings last year, our high commissioner in Kampala maintained a close dialogue with the Ugandan Government and army command. He

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  urged them to restore calm in the region and to defuse the situation, ensure humanitarian access, and check any action by the Ugandan army that may be contributing to the conflict. We continue to monitor the situation closely and remain in close contact with humanitarian NGOs working in the region. In addition to bilateral contacts, we maintain close contact with the UN on these issues.

  Mr. Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Rwandan Government about the involvement of their armed forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo. [150469]

  Mr. Wilson
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development met President Kagame on 28 January. She encouraged him to seize the opportunity to move the Lusaka peace process forward. The UK permanent representative to the United Nations in New York also encouraged President Kagame to ensure Rwandan participation in the forthcoming meetings of signatories to the Lusaka agreement (12 and 15 March) during bilateral discussions in New York on 7 February, and urged him to engage in further dialogue with the other parties.

  Mr. Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 23 January 2001,Official Report, column 557W, and his answer to the hon. Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd) of 24 January 2001, Official Report, column 593W, what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to encourage dialogue between the parties to the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. [150467]

  Mr. Wilson
  The Secretary of State's special representative for the Great Lakes and the UK permanent representative to the United Nations met President Kabila in New York on 2 February. They assured him of Britain's readiness to help, including through contacts with other parties to the conflict, and urged him to show the political will to make real progress on implementing the Lusaka agreement. Our ambassador in Kinshasa has spoken similarly to the Congolese Foreign Minister. We have taken similar action with all the other parties to the conflict in recent weeks. We have also been working with our UN, EU and African partners on moving the peace process forward.

  Burma
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Burmese regime concerning the treatment of the Chin, Kachin and Naga ethnic minority groups in Burma. [150585]

  Mr. Battle
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs. Gillan) today,Official Report, column 266W.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions took place about atrocities against the Karen, Karenni and Shan people during the recent European Union fact-finding mission to Burma; and if this mission visited Karen, Karenni and Shan states. [150573]
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  Mr. Battle
  EU Troika representative visited Rangoon on 29–31 January and had meetings with the regime, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic minority representatives. They discussed a wide range of issues, including human rights.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made during the last 12 months to the Government of Burma regarding atrocities against the Karen, Karenni and Shan people. [150575]

  Mr. Battle
  We remain deeply concerned about human rights violations of all Burma's peoples, including ethnic minorities, and take every opportunity to highlight our concern. I raised our concerns at the EU-ASEAN ministerial meeting in Vientiane, Laos, in December 2000. The Burmese Foreign Minister was present. I have also raised them with the Burmese ambassador in London. We also raise our concerns through our embassy in Rangoon and visiting officials from London, most recently with the Deputy Foreign Minister on 19 January 2001; with EU partners through the recent EU Troika mission and the EU Common Position on Burma, which was strengthened in April 2000 and subsequently renewed in October; and with co-sponsorship of UN resolutions condemning the abuses at the UN Commission on Human Rights in April 2000, and most recently at the UN General Assembly in November 2000.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government have taken to build a consensus at the United Nations Security Council in support of the establishment of an International Criminal Tribunal on Burma; and if he will make a statement. [150574]

  Mr. Battle
  We have raised our concerns over Burma with our Security Council partners, but there is no consensus at the moment for Security Council engagement on Burma issues, including that of establishing an international criminal tribunal.

  Ministerial/EU Commission Meetings
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many working meetings have been held between Ministers and members of the European Commission since 1 July 1999; and if he will list the(a) dates of, (b) subjects discussed and (c) Ministers and Commissioners involved in these meetings. [150265]

  Mr. Vaz
  [holding answer 14 February 2001]: UK Ministers routinely meet members of the Commission at all meetings of the Council of Ministers and other occasions and discuss a wide range of issues.

  National Missile Defence
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans(a) he and (b) his NATO counterparts have to propose amendments to the outer space treaty to take account of national missile defence; and if he will make a statement. [150803]

  Mr. Vaz
  The Government have no plans to propose amendments to the outer space treaty, nor are we aware of any such plans by NATO counterparts.

  US-UK Relations
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the US-UK relations following the decision to sell RR Spey turbofan engines to China; and if he will make a statement. [150572]

  Mr. Battle
  The matter has not been raised by the US Administration. US-UK relations are excellent.

PRIME MINISTER

  Departmental Expenditure Limit
  Maria Eagle
  To ask the Prime Minister what proposals he has to change the Cabinet Office: Security and Intelligence Services Vote Departmental Expenditure Limit for 2000–01. [151189]

  The Prime Minister
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the Departmental Expenditure Limit for Class XVII, Vote 2 will be increased by £6,417,000 from £789,586,000 to £796,003,000 and the gross running cost limit will be increased by £2,121,000 from £422,648,000 to £424,769,000.

  The change is to effect transfers of £2,878,000 from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Class VII, Vote 1), £1,534,000 from the Home Office (Class IV, Vote 1) and £289,000 to the Scottish Executive, the take up of running costs end year flexibility of £2,065,000 and of current end year flexibility of £229,000 being partial take up of the entitlements announced in Table 7 of the Public Expenditure Outturn White Paper (CM 4812) published on 18 July 2000.

  The increase will be offset by transfers and a charge to the DEL reserve and will not, therefore, add to the planned total public expenditure.

  Chester Street Holdings Limited
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will instruct the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to collate a joint response to the collapse of Chester Street Holdings and its impact on sufferers from asbestos-related diseases; and if he will make a statement. [148918]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 5 February 2001]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer the Economic Secretary gave to him on 14 February 2001, Official Report, columns 181–82W.

CABINET OFFICE

  Honours System
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what criteria are applied to the selection of those who will be recognised by award of an honour. [149273]

  The Prime Minister
  I am replying to this question as it relates to matters for which I am responsible.
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  Candidates for honour are selected on merit based upon their achievements and quality of service in a wide range of areas of our national life.

  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans she has to modify the system of nominations for honours. [149166]

  The Prime Minister
  I am replying to this question as it relates to matters for which I am responsible.

  There are currently no plans to modify the system. The honours nomination process is kept under review.

  Government IT Projects
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much was paid to Compaq during its unsuccessful bid for the Government Gateway project; how much has so far been paid to Microsoft for services related to the project; and what the expected cost of the project is. [148656]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  Compaq undertook work for the Cabinet Office and a final settlement figure of £5.6 million, including VAT, has been agreed. This includes £2.2 million worth of hardware that is to be redeployed throughout Government Departments.

  Details of specific payments to Microsoft and other suppliers remain commercially confident at this stage. We expect the first phase of the project to cost an additional £18.3 million, including VAT. This is within the project budget.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) how many official visits were carried out in the United Kingdom by Cabinet Ministers in(a) January 2000 and (b) January 2001; if she will list the location of each visit; and if she will make a statement; [150425]

  (2) how many ministerial visits have been made within London since January; on what dates and to which locations; which Ministers attended; and if she will make a statement; [150427]

  (3) if she will make a statement on the procedure used to decide the location of official ministerial visits; [150426]

  (4) what ministerial visits are planned in the next month; which Ministers will take part; and if she will make a statement. [150428]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  Detailed information in the form requested for Ministers visits within the United Kingdom is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  I and ministerial colleagues in the Cabinet Office aim to visit all regions of the country in support of Government policies that are national.

  Regulatory Impact Assessments
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans her Department has to place all regulatory impact assessments on a single website. [150476]

  Mr. Stringer
  At present a list of regulatory impact assessments published since 1998 is available on the regulatory impact unit's website. We are currently
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  developing plans to enable visitors to the regulatory impact unit's website to access RIAs via links to departmental websites.

  Central Office of Information
  Ms Perham
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans she has for a review of the Central Office of Information. [151195]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The last comprehensive review of the Central Office of Information (COI) was carried out in 1996–97. I have decided the next review of this agency should be completed early in 2001–02 and should be started as soon as possible. It will be conducted by Cabinet Office in close consultation with the chief executive and staff of the COI, under the general direction of a steering group.

  The COI is responsible for procuring communications for Government Departments and advising on media relations in the regions. This quinquennial review will follow Cabinet Office guidelines, which require the examination of prior options for the delivery of COI's services taking into account the performance of the agency and the views of its customers, suppliers and staff. It will assess the added value of COI, its role in relation to other Departments and arrangements for funding.

  The standard options are: continued agency status, privatisation, abolition, merger, contracting out and market testing. Each option will be considered on its merits and the preferred option will be the one that offers best value for money.

  Civil Service (Sickness Absence)
  Mrs. Fitzsimons
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the overall level of sickness absence in the civil service was in 1999. [151194]

  Mr. Stringer
  The report "Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service 1999", prepared for my Department by Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland (BioSS), shows that by applying the same methodology as in previous years the average level of sickness absence was 10.1 days per staff year. Calculated on the basis of absence per person, the figure for the civil service was 8.5 days. The report contains a comprehensive analysis of the 1999 figures.

  The figure of 10.1 days sickness absence per staff year represents an increase over the equivalent figure of 9.8 days set out in the report for 1998. However, as I explained in the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stevenage (Barbara Follett) on 11 May 2000, Official Report, column 433W, a more accurate comparator for 1998 is the figure of 10.3 days which emerged after Departments own audits of their sickness absence systems had revealed an element of under-recording. On that basis, the figures show that there has been a small decrease in sickness absence per staff year in 1999 as compared with 1998.

  Departments have now published service delivery agreements which contain their individual targets for reducing sickness absence. Overall, the civil service has been targeted to reduce sickness absence by 20 per cent. for 2001 and by 30 per cent. for 2003 against the 1998
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  baseline. My Department is continuing to work with other Departments and agencies as they take forward their plans to reduce sickness absence.

  I have placed copies of the BioSS report in the Libraries of the House.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Consumer Protection
  Mr. Dobbin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department has taken to increase consumer protection. [149012]

  Dr. Howells
  Taking forward our consumer White Paper proposals we have already increased consumer protection, particularly in areas such as distance selling and e-commerce. We are taking forward further measures now, including "stop now" orders and legislation for the full pint of beer

  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the levels of spending on consumer protection per head of population in(a) Staffordshire and (b) each other county of England (i) in the current year and (ii) in each of the last three years. [150013]

  Dr. Howells
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 9 February 2001,Official Report, columns 701–02W.

  Earthquake (Gujarat)
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the UK construction industry about making a trade visit to Gujarat to investigate how British companies may participate in the rebuilding programme there. [149013]

  Mr. Caborn
  There is still an emergency in Gujarat. The immediate priority is to ensure that the needs of the survivors for food, shelter and medical assistance are met. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development has established an emergency assistance allocation of £10 million. Future planning for reconstruction of the affected area is essential and can begin once the requirements have been fully assessed. At this stage, it would be premature for the Government to promote commercial visits by UK construction companies, but we are keeping the situation under review, including through our small commercial team based in Ahmedabad, and are in close touch with the Indian authorities about their future requirements.

  Confidential Business Information
  Mr. Grieve
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received concerning the disclosure of confidential business information to other countries. [149014]

  Dr. Howells
  I have received representations from the Confederation of British Industry on this subject.

  Universal Bank
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions he has held with the Post Office concerning the universal bank. [149015]
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  Mr. Alan Johnson
  I regularly meet with the Post Office to discuss a range of issues.

  Manufacturing
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the competitiveness of British manufacturing. [149016]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  Manufacturing industry makes a vital contribution to the economy. We are helping manufacturing industries to be more competitive by creating a stable macroeconomic climate and by pursuing policies which help firms to innovate, to develop the skills of their work force and to grow.

  Company Directors' Liabilities
  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legislation to make company directors personally liable if they continue to trade while they are aware that their company is unable to honour contracts. [149017]

  Dr. Howells
  No. There are already provisions in the Insolvency Act 1986 under which directors of companies in insolvent liquidation may be ordered to contribute personally to the company's assets. This may arise, for example, where the company's business has been carried on with intent to defraud creditors or where the directors have carried on business when they knew or ought to have known that there was no prospect of the company avoiding liquidation.

  BAE Systems
  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions have taken place between his Department and BAE Systems concerning the restructuring of the company. [149019]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  My Department maintains a regular dialogue with BAE Systems on a wide range of issues. Following BAE Systems financial announcement to the stock exchange, I met with the chief executive of the company on 23 January.

  Miners' Compensation
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the progress being made in settling miners' claims for respiratory disease compensation. [149020]

  Mr. Hain
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Easington (Mr. Cummings),Official Report, column 446W. In Wales alone, we paid out £1 million in mining compensation last week. In Bridgend alone, we have already paid out over £5.5 million.

  Earlier this week, I attended a meeting of the Welsh sub-group of the national monitoring group. The sub-group is looking at ways of speeding up the process and the payment of compensation specifically in Wales.

  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people have benefited from the compensation scheme for former mineworkers. [149029]
  272W
  Mr. Hain
  To date, some 43,100 claimants have received full and interim settlements in relation to claims for vibration-related diseases. In addition, a further 30,700 claimants have received full and interim settlements in relation to claims for respiratory disease.

  In total to date, the Department has paid out £332.5 million in coalmining compensation, and continues to pay out around £1 million a day.

  Exports (China)
  Mr. Tynan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to encourage UK exports to China. [149021]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Government, through Trade Partners UK, recently announced for 2001–02 the largest programme of supported activity ever for British companies in the China market. This will consist of 17 trade missions, 30 trade fair groups and eight sector-specific seminar initiatives during the year. This increased activity is in addition to the regular exchanges of ministerial visits to and from China of which my own visit earlier this month and that of the Deputy Prime Minister last October formed part. The Minister for Small Business and E-Commerce visited China last month.

  Our activity in China is complemented by awareness-raising activity in the UK. Trade Partners UK, in close co-operation with the China-Britain Business Council (our official trade advisory group on China), is engaged in a two-year programme of events around the country to draw the attention of UK companies to business opportunities in China. These events are held in close co-operation with local partners such as trade associations and chambers of commerce.

  UK exports to China rose by 40 per cent. in 1999 over 1998 and by a further 22 per cent. in the first 11 months of 2000. 1 hope that the continued efforts I have described will improve on this performance still further.

  Manufacturing (South-West)
  Mrs. Organ
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the state of manufacturing in the south-west. [149023]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The performance of manufacturing industry in the south-west region has most recently been assessed by the CBI in its business strategies regional trends survey, dated November 2000.

  The Government office for the south-west is in regular contact with local and regional partners about business matters in the region.

  Centres of Expertise
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department is taking to encourage business collaboration and to develop centres of expertise. [149024]

  Ms Hewitt
  In the White Paper "Opportunity for All in a World of Change", published earlier this week, the Department demonstrated its continuing commitment to supporting collaborative activity and centres of expertise.
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  We announced support valued at £30 million over the next three years for five new regionally based university innovation centres, including one at the university of Warwick focusing on business-to-business e-commerce.

  We also announced the establishment of a new manufacturing advisory service in partnership with the regional development agencies, consisting of regional centres of manufacturing excellence and a supporting national network, to provide practical advice on manufacturing issues.

  Hinduja Brothers
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the contacts he has had with members of the Hinduja family. [149026]

  Mr. Byers
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Miss Widdecombe) on 2 February 2001,Official Report, column 336W.

  Energy Market Liberalisation
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures he is taking to liberalise the energy market at(a) UK and (b) EU level. [149027]

  Mr. Hain
  UK electricity and gas markets are already liberalised. In addition, my Department is working closely with the regulator to reform the wholesale electricity market in England and Wales by replacing the electricity pool with more competitive trading arrangements. The target implementation date for the new electricity arrangements is 27 March.

  In Europe, the Commission will soon be proposing a new directive to accelerate the liberalisation of European electricity and gas markets. The UK Government will be urging a rapid move to a properly open and competitive electricity and gas market in Europe.

  National Minimum Wage
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what abatement is available in the national minimum wage to those employers who provide board and lodging. [149030]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  Following the recommendations of the Low Pay Commission, there is no offset allowed for the provision of board when calculating whether the national minimum wage has been paid. There is a limited offset of up to £19.95 a week allowed against the national minimum wage to recognise the benefit of the provision of accommodation. I have asked the commission, as part of the terms of reference for its third report, to consider whether there is a case for making any change to the maximum accommodation offset. It is due to report its findings by July.

  Mr. Ennis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many enforcement notices have been issued to employers to help enforce the national minimum wage. [150447]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  Since the national minimum wage was introduced on 1 April 1999, the Inland Revenue, who enforce the minimum wage on behalf of the DTI, have issued 328 enforcement notices against employers.
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  Mr. Ennis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many enforcement officers, region by region, are employed to police employers who pay less than the national minimum wage. [150446]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The allocation of resources to enforce the national minimum wage is agreed between the DTI and the Inland Revenue, and is covered by a service level agreement between the two Departments. There are presently 77 enforcement officers based in 14 teams across the United Kingdom. In addition there are a further 10 staff at the national minimum wage helpline and seven at the central information unit, both based in Longbenton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

  The number of enforcement officers can be broken down into the following Inland Revenue regions:

  Inland Revenue Regions

  Number

  East Region

  6

  London Region

  13

  Northern Ireland

  5

  North Region

  7

  North West Region

  7

  Scotland

  8

  South East Region

  10

  South West Region

  5

  South Yorkshire Region

  6

  Wales and Midlands

  10

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many workers have benefited from the introduction of the national minimum wage in the Tooting parliamentary constituency; [144576]

  (2) how many workers in the Greater London area have benefited from the introduction of the national minimum wage. [144577]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  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. Tom Cox, dated 15 February 2001:
  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent questions about the number of workers in Tooting and Greater London who have benefited from the national minimum wage (NMW) (144576,144577).
  The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published estimates of the number of jobs paid at less than NMW rates for 1998, 1999 and 2000. These are based on an improved methodology using data from both the New Earnings Survey and Labour Force Survey. Estimates for the United Kingdom and Government Office Regions, including Greater London, are available on the National Statistics website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/nsbase/themes/labour—market/nmw—1 owpay—tables.asp
  No estimates are available for Parliamentary Constituencies.

  Nuclear Power
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what decline his Department forecasts in nuclear power output over the next 20 years as a result of planned nuclear power station closures. [149032]

  Mr. Hain
  The DTI has recently published UK energy projections for the period up until 20201. The baseline projections embody a rundown in nuclear output and

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  capacity between 2000 and 2020 as existing stations reach the end of their lives. On an assumption of no new nuclear build, the projections are that by 2020 nuclear capacity will have fallen to 4GW and the annual electricity generated by the nuclear sector will have fallen to 27TWh. These translate into falls from current levels of 69 per cent. and 66 per cent. respectively.

  There is, of course, great uncertainty about the lifetimes of existing plant and hence future output levels. Plant lives will depend on the economics of continued production, which in turn will depend on the actions required of their owners to ensure safe operation.
  1 Energy Projections for the UK, 2000–20. Energy Paper 68. Published November 2000.

  Steel Industry
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will made a statement on the latest position in talks between the Government and owners of steel production companies. [149033]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The Government have had discussions with Corns on a wide range of issues and have assured the company of the Government's continuing support for the steel industry. In the period before Corus' recent announcement of 6,050 job cuts in the UK, the question of a package of support measures from the Government was raised with Corus, but the company made it clear that this would not change its decisions. The Government will continue to work with Corus and all parts of the steel industry to ensure the future competitiveness of the sector.

  Ms Dari Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to maintain and enhance steel production in Britain. [149034]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The steel industry is a vital part of UK manufacturing and the Government will continue to work closely with all parts of the industry to ensure its future competitiveness. The Government stand ready to work alongside Corus, the trade unions and the National Assembly for Wales to identify a way forward that builds on the strengths of the industry and secures a long-term future for it in the UK.

  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with Corus plc about Government support for the steel industry. [149036]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The Government continue to talk to steel companies about a wide range of issues. Specifically in relation to Corus, the largest UK steel production company, the Government are continuing to press the company to engage in constructive dialogue with the trade unions and others affected by the 1 February announcement of 6,050 job cuts in the UK.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his oral statement of 1 February 2001,Official Report, column 458, on the steel industry, what powers he will use to require Corus to pay the costs of the clean-up of the sites affected by its decision to close plants. [149760]

  Mr. Meacher
  I have been asked to reply.
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  Where any land, including sites where an industry has closed, poses unacceptable risks to humans or the environment in the light of the current use of the site, local authorities and the Environment Agency (or, in Scotland, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency) have duties under Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to enforce remediation. Those who have caused or knowingly permitted the pollution are liable to carry out that remediation. Ministers have only appellate powers. In Wales, the National Assembly exercises these ministerial powers.

  When this new regime came into force, I wrote to top UK-registered companies asking about their plans to deal with contamination for which they are responsible, and was told by the chairman of Corus that they are committed to the economic redevelopment of brownfield sites.

  We therefore look forward to learning of Corus' proposals for ensuring that the sites affected by any closures are appropriately remediated and brought rapidly back into beneficial economic use and do not become derelict.

  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will meet the Dutch Minister for Foreign Affairs to discuss the restructuring of Corus. [150207]

  Mr. Byers
  I would be happy to meet the Dutch Minister for Foreign Affairs.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received from Corus about the long-term future of steel production at the plants in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [150232]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 13 February 2001]: I have had discussions with senior representatives of Corus on a number of occasions when we have discussed, among other issues, the long-term future of steel production at plants in Wales, Scotland and England.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will provide a breakdown by region of the job losses in the steel industry announced by Corus on 1 February; and if he will make a statement. [150229]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 13 February 2001]: Following Corus's announcements about its planned restructuring of the company, I made a full statement to the House on 1 February 2001.

  A breakdown of job losses by business unit, indicating the location affected, based on information supplied by Corns is as follows.

  Plant/location

  Number of job losses

  Corus Strip, Llanwern, Wales

  1,540

  Corus Colours, Shotton,

  319

  Bryngwn, Wales

  127

  Corus Strip, Lackenby, Teesside

  234

  Corus Construction and Industrial Teesside

  648

  Scunthorpe

  436

  Dalzell, Scotland

  2

  Engineering Steels Rotherham

  87

  Stocksbridge

  45

  West Midlands and others

  1258

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  Plant/location

  Number of job losses

  Construction and Industrial and Corus Engineering Steels Head Office/shared services (Teesside, Scunthorpe and Rotherham)

  400

  Stockholding (various locations)

  1292

  Rail, Workington

  27

  Special Profiles, Workington

  46

  Tubes Corby

  141

  Hartlepool/Stockton

  142

  West Midlands

  15

  Packaging Plus, Ebbw Vale

  780

  European Electrical Steels

  2276

  Special Strip Products Rotherham, Newport, West Midlands

  235

  Corporate Centre/Central Functions (various locations)

  2200

  1 Split across locations.

  2 Split across locations, breakdown not known

  Utility Charges
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on gas and electricity charges for pre-payment meter customers. [149035]

  Mr. Hain
  Charges for pre-payment meter customers are generally higher than those for direct debit and standard credit customers. This reflects the additional costs of supplying and maintaining the meters and the infrastructure that supports them.

  The Government recognise that pre-payment meter use is concentrated among the poorest members of society (although pensioners, who make up half of the fuel poor, are low pre-payment meter users). They attach considerable importance to reducing these costs and have put in place a number of measures to drive down prices. The Utilities Act 2000 gave Ofgem and the new Gas and Electricity Consumer Council a specific responsibility to have regard to the interests of vulnerable individuals, including those on low incomes. The Act also provides a reserve power to take action if some groups of customers are not benefiting to the same extent as others from the competitive market.

  The regulator, the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem), has taken a number of measures to assist pre-payment meter customers following the publication of its social action plan last year. In April 2000, Ofgem introduced a licence condition that limited to £15 the surcharge that public electricity suppliers can charge to cover the cost of supplying electricity through prepayment meters. Ofgem's proposals for removing suppliers' rights to block transfers on the ground of debt are designed to improve access to the competitive market for pre-payment meter customers.

  Energy companies are developing programmes aimed at low income and disadvantaged customers. Some of these, including reduced charges, new energy efficiency programmes and improved access to other payment methods, will directly benefit pre-payment meter customers.

  Environmentally Friendly Policies
  Dr.Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress he is making in encouraging UK industry to adopt environmentally friendly policies. [149037]

  Ms Hewitt
  As demonstrated by the increased investment and other measures announced in the White Paper "Creating Opportunities", the Government are committed to providing the conditions and, where appropriate, the support that will enable the UK to become a leading player in the new markets for green energy and products, waste minimisation, recycling and re-use.

  Late Payment
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received from business organisations concerning late payments of bills. [149038]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government are committed to improving the payment culture in the UK and aim to build on the package of measures that have already been established.

  Departmental officials continue to work with business organisations and representatives from the banking, factoring, accountancy. trade credit insurance and credit management sectors on this issue through the better payment practice group.

  The Small Business Service has recently published a consultation document on changes to legislation required following the adoption of the directive on combating late payment in commercial transactions. Responses from business to that consultation will inform how the directive is best implemented.

  Regeneration (Clay Cross)
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he has taken since the closure of the former Biwater works at Clay Cross to help create alternative employment in the area and to regenerate the local economy; and if he will make a statement. [149018]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The Government Office for the East Midlands is co-ordinating the work of regional and local partners to ensure that effective support is being given to those made redundant. So far. over 150 have found jobs and a further 133 are being retrained to improve their employment prospects. A new business centre at Coney Green providing space for up to 50 businesses has been opened and phase 2 of this development has started. Plans to redevelop Clay Cross town centre are well advanced and this will provide further job opportunities.

  Miners' Pensions
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what surpluses have been received by the Government in each of the past five years from the British Coal staff superannuation scheme. [148130]

  Mr. Hain
  Under the terms of the guarantee/surplus sharing arrangements agreed with the trustees of the British Coal staff superannuation scheme (BCSSS) in 1994, the Government are entitled to receive 50 per cent.
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  of any scheme surpluses. Annual Government receipts following surpluses at BCSSS valuations in 1995 and 1997 are as follows:

  Year

  £ million

  1994–95

  0

  1995–96

  0

  1996–97

  39.5

  1997–98

  39.5

  1998–99

  107.1

  1999–2000

  107.1

  2000–01

  53.9

  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much was paid to the Government from the mineworkers' pension scheme surplus in each year since 1994. [148129]

  Mr. Hain
  Under the terms of the guarantee/surplus sharing arrangements agreed with the trustees of the mineworkers' pension scheme (MPS), the Government are entitled to receive 50 per cent. of any scheme surpluses. Annual Government receipts following surpluses at MPS valuation in 1996 and 1999 are as follows:

  Year

  £ million

  1994–95

  0

  199596

  0

  1996–97

  0

  1997–98

  113

  1998–99

  113

  1999–2000

  0

  2000–01

  257

  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the surpluses to be paid to the Government from(a) the mineworkers' pension scheme and (b) the British Coal staff superannuation scheme, this year and in each of the next five years. [148131]

  Mr. Hain
  Prior to the privatisation of British Coal in 1994, the trustees of the two British Coal pension schemes (the mineworkers' pension scheme and the British Coal staff superannuation scheme) reached agreement with HMG whereby the schemes were given HMG solvency guarantees that ensured that pension entitlements at privatisation would rise at least in line with inflation. As part of these arrangements the trustees receive, for distribution to scheme members, a 50 per cent. share of surpluses from periodic valuations usually carried out every three years. The remaining 50 per cent. is paid to HMG over a 10 year period.

  Current provisional estimates of surplus payments to Government from the coal pension schemes are as follows:

  £ million

  Mineworkers' Pension Scheme

  2000–01

  257

  2001–02

  180

  2002–03

  180

  2003–04

  180

  2004–05

  180

  2005–06

  180

  280W

  £ million

  British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme

  2000–01

  53.9

  2001–02

  c.200

  2002–03

  c.200

  2003–04

  c.200

  2004–05

  c.200

  2005–06

  c.200

  Research and Development
  Mrs. Gilroy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much was spent on research and development in each of the last 10 years. [149305]

  Mr. Hain
  I understand that this request refers to research and development in the gas industry. Unfortunately, the UK business enterprise research and development survey (carried out by the Office for National Statistics) does not collect information at this level. The survey collects aggregated information for business R&D performed in the electricity, gas and water supply industry (£137 million in 1999). Information on the topic is regularly published in "MA14: Research and Development in UK Business", a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Disused Mineshafts
  Mr. Bruce George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his Department has received the report commissioned from Heriot-Watt University into the relationship between house values and mineshafts in Stoke. [149446]

  Mr. Hain
  My Department has received a near-final draft of the report by Heriot-Watt University, but there remain a few points which require clarification.

  Mr. Bruce George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of the recommendations made by the Trade and Industry Committee in its Seventh report of Session 1995–96(a) have been implemented and (b) are being implemented. [149445]

  Mr. Hain
  Recommendations 1, 2, 9, 11 and 12 of the Committee's report have been implemented. I am awaiting the outcome of the research by Heriot-Watt University on the relationship between former coal mineshafts and property values in Stoke-on-Trent before deciding whether to reconsider the remaining recommendations rejected by the previous Government, along with recommendation 8, which is dependent on the way in which the other recommendations are acted upon.

  Mr. Bruce George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to compensate home owners whose properties are unsaleable or have suffered undue financial loss in value due to their proximity to disused mineshafts. [149510]

  Mr. Hain
  Where damage has been caused to property by disused coal mineshafts, home owners are entitled to have the damage made good, at no cost to themselves or their insurers, under the Coal Mining Subsidence Act 1991. I intend to consider whether there are any steps which the Government might be able to take to deal with other forms of loss connected with disused mineshafts in
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  the light of the final report from Heriot-Watt University on the relationship between coal mineshafts and property values in Stoke-on-Trent.

  Mr. Stevenson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he intends to publish and respond to the report of the inquiry commissioned by his Department from. Edinburgh University into housing blight due to abandoned mineshafts. [149639]

  Mr. Hain
  My Department has received a near-final draft of the report from Heriot-Watt University on the relationship between former coal mineshafts and property values in Stoke-on-Trent, but there remain a few points which require clarification. I intend to publish and respond to the final report when I have had an opportunity to consider its findings.

  BNFL
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry who the employer was of the quality control official at Sellafield who first detected the falsification of quality control data at the MDF plant at Sellafield. [149632]

  Mr. Hain
  As noted in the Health and Safety Executive's report published on 18 February 2000 on the events and issues surrounding the falsification of quality control data at BNFL's MOX Demonstration Facility (MDF), it was a member of BNFL's quality control team at MDF who first identified, and brought to the attention of quality control managers, similarities between successive sets of records for secondary MOX pellet diameters. I understand from BNFL that the individual concerned was, at that time, employed as a contractor to BNFL through the Employment Agency NRL. The individual has subsequently joined BNFL as a permanent member of staff.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the reasons were for the dismissal from BNFL last year of(a) Mr. John Taylor, (b) Mr. Ross Chiese, (c) Mr. David Coulston, (d) Mr. Roger Leek and (e) the non-executive directors; and what compensation terms they received. [149633]

  Mr. Hain
  I understand that Messrs Taylor, Chiese, Coulston and Leek left the company by mutual agreement following a review of management conducted by the chairman of BNFL designed to ensure greater management focus, transparency and accountability. As part of that review, the chairman announced that he was looking to refresh and strengthen his team of non-executive directors in the light of the different future needs of the company. All six of his then non-executive directors have now left the company.

  As members of the BNFL board, payments to John Taylor and Ross Chiese are published in the company's annual report and accounts and are therefore a matter of public record. They received £300,000 and £270,000 compensation respectively for termination of their employment. David Coulston and Roger Leek were employees of the company, but not members of the board. As such, any compensation was entirely a matter between the company and those individuals. The departing non-executive directors were not entitled to compensation for loss of office.
  282W
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many BNFL(a) non-management employees, (b) managers, (c) senior managers and (d) directors who were granted voluntary severance terms were subsequently re-employed by BNFL as (i) consultants, (ii) contractors and (iii) employees; [149871]

  (2) how much money has been paid by BNFL under its voluntary severance terms in each year that the terms have been available; [149870]

  (3) how many BNFL (a) non-management employees, (b) managers, (c) senior managers and (d) directors applied for voluntary severance terms in (i) 1998. (ii) 1999 and (iii) 2000; and how many of these applications have been granted. [149873]

  Mr. Hain
  These are matters for the company's management. I have asked the chief executive of BNFL to write to the hon. Member and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Electricity Industry
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will publish a draft order under section 59(1) of the Utilities Act 2000 relating to the provision in section 27A(8) and (9) of the Electricity Act 1989. [149661]

  Mr. Hain
  My Department plans to publish a draft order for consultation shortly.

  Legal and Accountancy Professions
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has received the report of the Office of Fair Trading into the legal and accountancy professions; when he will publish the report; and if he will make a statement. [150002]

  Dr. Howells
  I have received the report. It is for the Director General of Fair Trading to decide when it is to be published.

  Fireworks
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received about the sale of fireworks; what plans he has further to restrict the sale and use of fireworks; what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of current legislation on the control and use of fireworks; and if he will make a statement. [150022]

  Dr. Howells
  I have received a total of 361 representations on firework safety matters during the period 1 September 2000 to 31 January 2001, comprising 155 letters from parliamentary colleagues, six parliamentary questions and 200 letters from the public.

  The Consumer Protection Act 1987 provides powers to deal with the intrinsic safety of goods, including fireworks, but not to regulate when they are sold or used. The Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997 introduced comprehensive controls on the types and sizes of fireworks which can be sold to the public. I have made no formal assessment of the effectiveness of the 1997 regulations, but my Department continues to monitor movements in the annual firework injury statistics.

  Post Office Services
  Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Girobank contract with Post Office Counters Ltd. prevents POCL giving better prices to clients wishing to use bill payment services for their customers at post office counters. [149846]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The Post Office is in partnership with Girobank for the provision of over-the-counter bill payment services. The terms of this contractual relationship are commercially confidential under exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Coal Mine Methane
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the potential for energy generation from coal mine methane. [150101]

  Mr. Hain
  The Coal Authority monitors for methane emissions at over 100 sites and this information is made available to coal mine methane operators and other interested parties on request.

  Operators have shown considerable interest in several of the sites and are currently evaluating the potential for commercial gas extraction. To date, schemes are operational at five Coal Authority sites:

  Shirebrook

  Markham

  Steetley

  Hinkleton

  Sliverdale.

  Enterprise Skills and Innovation
  Mr. White
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement concerning the publication of the White Paper on enterprise skills and innovation "Opportunity for all in a world of change" (Cm 5052). [150692]

  Mr. Byers
  The White Paper on enterprise, skills and innovation "Opportunity for all in a world of change", was published jointly by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment and me on 13 February 2001.

  At the request of Mr. Speaker, I have investigated a number of matters.

  It appears that elements of a draft version of the text of the White Paper—but not the final version—were obtained by the Financial Times prior to publication. I share Mr. Speaker's concern about this matter. However, I have investigated this and can confirm that no advance copies of the White Paper were made available to the media by my Department or by the Department for Education and Employment prior to the day of publication.

  The House was informed of the publication of the White Paper in a written parliamentary question at 8.30 am on 13 February. Publication of the White Paper was announced to the media at a press conference which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment and I held at 12.30 pm on 13 February.
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  The White Paper was laid before Parliament at 11.00 am. Copies of the White Paper were due to be delivered to the Vote Office of the House for release at 11.00 am. Unfortunately, these were delivered late by The Stationery Office with the result that copies were not available in the House until noon. The delay in delivering copies of the White Paper to the House was very regrettable and my Department has asked for procedures to be put in place by The Stationery Office to ensure that such a delay is not repeated in future.

  Solar Energy
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assistance the Government give to(a) householders and (b) businesses towards the installation of solar energy devices. [150266]

  Mr. Hain
  [holding answer 14 February 2001]: The White Paper on enterprise, skills and innovation, published on 13 February, includes a major initiative for a solar photovoltaic (PV) demonstration programme to bring us in line with those of our main competitors. The aim is to support the installation of PV arrays on the roofs and walls of domestic homes and medium and large-scale non-domestic buildings. This should enable the establishment of a high-tech industry of the future in the UK with the potential to challenge our main competitors in this field, Japan, Germany, and the US.

  The new proposal complements current Government support for field trials for domestic and large-scale building-integrated PV systems. In addition, since April 2000, a reduction of VAT from 17.5 per cent. to 5 per cent. has been available for professionally installed solar panels.

  Writers Copyright
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what steps he is taking to ensure an equitable return to writers for the re-use of their work; [150543]

  (2) what representations he has made to the European Commission regarding provisions in the draft copyright directive affecting the interest of writers in the re-use of their material by broadcasters. [150542]

  Dr. Howells
  The Council of Ministers reached a common position on this draft directive last September on the basis of a text which we fully support and which was also endorsed by the Commission. This does not contain any provision addressing re-use of material by broadcasters, but the directive is currently undergoing its Second Reading in the European Parliament, where an amendment has been proposed which would permit member states to provide an exception to rights allowing broadcasters to use archive material in new services without right owners' consent, provided they receive remuneration. We do not consider this amendment appropriate or desirable, and we believe that writers and other right owners should continue to be able to exercise their rights to control re-use of their material in order that they can obtain a fair return for this. The Council has also to agree on the content of the directive before it can be finally adopted.

  Objective 1
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the four European objective 1 regional programme delivery bodies. [149005]

  Mr. Caborn
  Neither my right hon. Friend nor I has received any recent request to meet representatives of the objective 1 delivery bodies. However, our Department is in touch with the English objective 1 regions through the Government offices and regional development agencies, and also liaises with the devolved Administrations.

  Public Relations (Expenditure)
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total expenditure and the breakdown of expenditure was in his Department for the financial years(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99 and (d) 1999–2000, and what the planned expenditure and breakdown of expenditure for 2000-01 is on (i) public opinion research, (ii) television, radio and newspaper advertising and (iii) direct mail. [149266]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 8 February 2001]: The information is as follows:

  Direct mail expenditure excluding postage through COI

  £ (ex VAT)

  Financial year

  Amount

  1997–98

  19,081.00

  1998–99

  34,628.00

  1999–2000

  1150,018.66

  2000–01

  6,375.00

  1 Includes costs of £119,831.66 for direct mail campaigns to promote export awareness of information technology among small businesses

  2 As up to 31 January 2001

  Direct mail costs were not separately identified before 1997–98.

  It is not possible to identify a separate figure for public opinion research.

  Television, radio and newspaper advertising through COI

  £ (ex VAT)

  Period

  TV1

  Radio

  Press

  1996–97

  —

  477,697.00

  1,190,332.00

  1997–98

  —

  320,319.00

  1,987,233.00

  1998–99

  —

  136,613.00

  2,008,075.00

  1999–2000

  15,250.00

  242,166.00

  842,027.00

  2000–012

  1,919,559.00

  792,044.00

  2,147,097.00

  1 All TV advertising relates to the National Minimum Wage campaign

  2 As up to 31 January 2001

  Departmental Expenditure Limit
  Ms Moran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what changes will be made to the Departmental Expenditure Limit and Running Costs Limit for his Department, British Trade International and the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets. [151104]

  Mr. Byers
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimates, the voted element of the Departmental Expenditure Limit for the Department of Trade and Industry will be increased by £92,052,000 286W
  from £3,591,516,000 to £3,683,568,000. In addition, the gross Running Costs Limit will be increased by £771,000 from £412,915,000 to £413,686,000.

  The net provision of Class IX, Vote 1, which falls within the Departmental Expenditure Limit, will be increased by £62,751,000, which results from:

  (i) the take up of end year flexibility of £70.498,000 comprising £8,000,000 for capital expenditure and £62,498,000 for current expenditure, of which £45,340,000 will be added to the provisions for Coal Operating Subsidy, £9,000,000 for Employment Relations, £8,000,000 for Regional Selective Assistance, £5,000,000 for the Regional Development Agencies, £1,750,000 for Invest UK and Aid in Yugoslavia, and £1,408,000 for consultancy advice on implementing the Postal Services Act;

  (ii) the transfer of £1,583,000 in running costs and £190,000 in capital expenditure provision from the Department of Trade and Industry's Science Vote (Class IX, Vote 2);

  (iii) the transfer of £700,000 in gross provision from British Trade International (Class IX, Vote 4) in respect of the expenditure of Simpler Trade Procedures Board (SITPRO);

  (iv) the transfer of £105,000 in running costs from MAFF (Class X, Vote 2) for the administration of the Farm Business Advice Service;

  (v) the transfer of £8.000,000 to Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Class III, Vote 1) to enable Advantage West Midlands to take forward work in connection with the Rover Task Force;

  (vi) the transfer of £1.750,000 to British Trade International (Class IX, Vote 4) for claims for additional expenditure for Invest UK and for assistance to Yugoslavia;

  (vii) the transfer of £500,000 to Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Class III, Vote 3) in respect of the Fuel Poverty Scheme;

  (viii) the transfer of £75,000 to the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Class IX, Vote 10) to cover the costs for implementing the Climate Change Levy exemption for electricity from renewable sources during this financial year;

  (ix) an increase of £1,257,000 in running costs and capital expenditure provision in respect of expenditure incurred on behalf of the Postal Services Commission before 6 November 2000, offset by an equivalent amount in appropriations in aid;

  (x) an increase of £2,097,000 in the gross expenditure provision, which is offset by an equivalent increase in appropriations in aid which relates to increased lease fees paid by the Department on capital assets and an increase in the sales of scientific equipment to Royal Bank Ltd.;

  (xi) other minor movements within and between Sections of the Vote.

  The net provision of Class IX, Vote 2, which falls within the Departmental Expenditure Limit, will be increased by £1,000, which results from:
  (i) the take up of end year flexibility of £1,774,000 in current expenditure, which is offset by the transfer of £1,583.000 of running cost and £ 190.000 of capital expenditure from Sections I and J to the Department of Trade and Industry's Programmes and Administration Vote (Class IX, Vote 1);
  (ii) increases in provision of £11,071,000 for Section K (Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council); £3,900,000 for Section 0 (Natural Environment Research Council); £3,900,000 for Section S (Science Enterprise Challenge Scheme). These increases are offset by reductions in provision for Section F (University Challenge Fund); Section G (Synchrotron Radiation Source); and Section H (Cambridge/Massachusetts Institute of Technology);
  (iii) further minor movements of programme provision between Vote Sections.
  287W
  In addition, the Departmental Expenditure Limit of the Department of Trade and Industry will be increased by a further £29,300,000 through take up of part of the EYF entitlement of £147,680,000 announced for European Structural Funds expenditure for the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions in Table 7 of the Public Expenditure Outturn White Paper Cm 4812 published on 18 July 2000. This will meet DTI's share of the additional expenditure now forecast for 2000–01 on projects funded from the European Regional Development Fund.

  Also, subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the Departmental Expenditure Limit for British Trade International, Class IX, Vote 4, will be increased by £1,050,000 from £85,643,000 to £86,693,000. This gives effect to the following changes of provision relating to

  (i) the transfer of £700,000 in gross provision to the Department of Trade and Industry (Class IX, Vote 1) in respect of the expenditure of the Simpler Trade Procedures Board (SITPRO);

  (ii) the transfer of £1,750,000 from the Department of Trade and Industry (Class IX, Vote 1) for claims for additional expenditure for Invest UK (formerly the Invest in Britain Bureau) and to provide assistance to Yugoslavia via the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Task Force.

  In addition, subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the Departmental Expenditure Limit for the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem), Class IV, Vote 1) to fund work on the Climate Change Levy. Ofgem is also reflecting in its spring Supplementary Estimate, the transfer of functions, assets and liabilities from the Director General of Gas Supply and the Director General of Electricity Supply to the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority, under the provisions of the Utilities Act 2000. Provision is also made for payments to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in respect of the creation of the authority, and the transfer of responsibility for the Electricity Consumer Committees to Energywatch, which is funded from DTI's Programmes and Administration Vote (Class IX Vote 1).

  All of the increases will either be offset by transfer or charged to the reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Industrial Clusters
  Mr. Healey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his policy of support for industrial clusters. [149028]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government recognise the importance of clusters and networks and are working closely with the RDAs to identify and remove barriers to their growth and development. In the White Paper "Opportunity for all in a world of change", published on 13 February, the Government set out their proposals to promote the growth of successful clusters by asking the RDAs to develop strategies for success for their regions, building on their existing strengths. They will do so with the assistance of a clusters map and consultants' report, "UK Business Clusters: A First Assessment", which was also published on 13 February.
  288W
  Government funding for cluster development will continue to be provided to RDAs via the regional innovation fund. Continued work on clusters will be undertaken by Lord Sainsbury's clusters policy steering group.

  Better Regulation Task Force
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 23 January 2001,Official Report, column 499W, when the index of regulation on small business will be published. [150475]

  Mr. Byers
  When a number of outstanding issues have been resolved.

  Post Office Closures
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices closed in(a) the third quarter of 2000–01 and (b) cumulatively in 2000–01. [149888]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 12 February 2001]: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for South-West Hertfordshire (Mr. Page) on 14 February 2001, Official Report, column 136W.

  Textile Industry
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he is taking to deal with the difficulties faced by the textile industry in the United Kingdom. [149022]

  Ms Hewitt
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced a package of support for the textiles and clothing industry in the form of a 12-point plan on 6 June 2000. This was an initial response to the report of the textile and clothing strategy group and included:

  The establishment of a major new supply chain initiative for the 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;

  A major programme of re-skilling for the textiles and clothing industry;

  Support for up and coming new designers.

  In addition, the Government provide a wide range of support for industry, including regional selective assistance and SMART awards. This support is available to textiles and clothing companies.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the programme of visits to central and eastern Europe planned for Ministers in his Department. [149011]

  Ms Hewitt
  My noble Friend the Minister for Science will visit Poland on 19–20 February. The overseas visit programme for DTI Ministers for the second half of this year is currently under consideration.
  289W
  The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Cunninghame, North (Mr. Wilson), will be visiting Lithuania in March on trade and investment issues.

  Goodyear (Wolverhampton)
  Mr. Purchase
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from Goodyear Wolverhampton in respect of Government assistance; and if he will make a statement. [149001]

  Ms Hewitt
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has received no representations from Goodyear in Wolverhampton in respect of Government assistance. Currently, the management and unions at Goodyear are involved in discussions that offer the prospect of improving the cost base of the plant.

  EU Trade Balance
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on trends in the trade balance with the European Union. [149025]

  Mr. Caborn
  The EU is the most important market for UK exports of goods and services. The EU accounts for over 50 per cent. of total UK exports. During 2000, the UK's bilateral trade (in goods) with the rest of the EU was broadly in balance. This contrasts with a modest deficit which prevailed for much of the 1990s.

  Working Time Directive
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what resources are available to enforce the working time directive. [149031]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The working time regulations, which implement the European working time directive, provide for the entitlements to daily, weekly and in-work rest and paid annual leave to be enforced through the Employment Tribunals. The working time limits are enforced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and local authorities. There is a network of local authority enforcement officers who enforce the working time regulations and other health and safety legislation. The HSE have regulatory teams based throughout the country, which include specialist working time officers who work solely on working time enforcement. Any significant risks to health and safety revealed by their investigations are referred to HSE inspectors.

  Offshore Oil and Gas
  Ms Rosie Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he is taking in relation to access to offshore oil and gas infrastructure to promote exploration and development in the United Kingdom continental shelf. [151187]

  Mr. Hain
  I have today placed in the Library of the House a copy of a consultation document from my Department dealing with access to oil and gas infrastructure, which:consults on the effectiveness of the industry's code of practice on third party access to offshore infrastructure;
  seeks evidence of any anti-competitive behaviour in relation to third party access to oil and gas infrastructure;
  290W
  provides informal guidance which the industry has sought to meet a requirement of the 1998 gas directive to publish main commercial conditions for access to onshore gas terminals;
  makes proposals for publication of guiding principles on the use of legal powers to settle disputes over access by third parties to oil and gas upstream infrastructure, which will reduce industry uncertainty about the regulatory regime.
  My Department's proposals in the consultation document are intended to encourage a pro-competitive environment in relation to third party access to oil and gas transportation and processing.

  We believe it is important to establish whether there are any barriers to development of new and marginal fields and, if so, to address them. The consultation on the effectiveness of the industry's voluntary code of practice gives an opportunity to see if the negotiation and level of third party tariffs is causing problems. If, as a result of this greater clarity, future tariffs are better aligned with costs, there will be better use of the UK's oil and gas infrastructure, which will increase the exploitation of our reserves, enhancing security of supply for consumers.

  SOCIAL SECURITY

    Pensions (Overseas Residents)
    Mr. Willetts
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Jones), of 15 January 2001,Official Report, column 79W, if he will break down by each country of residence the number of pensioners living abroad who receive (a) a frozen pension, and (b) an annually up-rated pension. [148504]

    Mr. Rooker
    Retirement pension can normally be paid anywhere. However, annual upratings have never been generally paid abroad. The exception is those countries with which we have reciprocal arrangements, that is EEA countries and countries covered by the appropriate legislation.

    Retirement pensioners by overseas country with annually uprated pension at 31 March 2000

    Thousand

    All cases

    All

    377.7

    Austria

    4.3

    Barbados

    3.6

    Belgium

    4.1

    Bermuda

    0.7

    Channel Islands

    13.3

    Cyprus

    6.1

    Denmark

    0.9

    France

    16.2

    Germany

    25.0

    Gibraltar

    0.7

    Greece

    1.7

    Ireland, Republic of

    84.1

    Israel

    3.0

    Italy

    25.7

    Jamaica

    22.0

    Malta

    2.6

    Netherlands

    5.7

    Norway

    0.8

    Portugal

    3.9

    Spain

    39.4

    Sweden

    1.2

    291W

    Retirement pensioners by overseas country with annually uprated pension at 31 March 2000

    Thousand

    All cases

    Switzerland

    3.1

    USA

    107.0

    Rest of the world

    2.8

    Retirement pensioners by overseas country with frozen rate pension at 31 March 2000

    Thousand

    All cases

    All

    460.9

    Australia

    213.9

    Bangladesh

    3.0

    Canada

    137.9

    Dominica Commonwealth

    1.2

    Ghana

    0.5

    Grenada

    1.3

    Hong Kong

    1.0

    India

    4.2

    New Zealand

    33.7

    Nigeria

    1.1

    Pakistan

    6.1

    Poland

    2.0

    South Africa

    34.1

    St. Kitts-Nevis

    0.6

    St. Lucia

    1.2

    St. Vincent and Grenadines

    0.7

    Trinidad and Tobago

    0.9

    Yemen, Republic of

    2.8

    Zimbabwe

    5.0

    Rest of the world

    9.8

    Notes:

    1. The figures quoted are rounded to the nearest hundred.

    2. Information is taken from a 5 per cent. sample of the Pension Strategy Computer System arid therefore may not include all countries.

    3. Countries with fewer than 500 rated cases have been added together and shown under? Rest of the world'.

    Source:

    5 per cent. sample from the Pension Strategy Computer System at 31 March 2000.

    Council Tax Benefit
    Mr. Charles Kennedy
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will alter the formula for calculating interest on capital in determining an individual's eligibility for Council Tax Benefit so that it more accurately reflects the interest that might reasonably be expected to be earned from that capital; and if he will make a statement. [147578]

    Angela Eagle
    We have already made arrangements to increase the lower capital limit from £3,000 to £6,000 from April 2001 for those on the Minimum Income Guarantee, and for those aged 60 or over on Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. This is part of our commitment to continue the drive to end pensioner poverty. With the introduction of the proposed Pension Credit from 2003, we propose to abolish both the current capital limits and the assumed £1 a week rate of return for every £250 of capital, and to replace this with a system that ensures that those who have saved are rewarded for their efforts in their retirement.
    292W
    At the same time, we will also be looking at the treatment of income and capital in assessing entitlement to support for working-age families, including those on Council Tax Benefit, as part of our programme of modernising the social security and tax credit system.

    Special Advisers
    Mr. Tyrie
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the Special Advisers working for him will relinquish their posts when the next general election is called. [149309]

    Mr. Darling
    I refer the hon. Member to the written answer from my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 13 February 2001,Official Report, column 130W.

    Winter Fuel Payments
    Mr. Derek Twigg
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners in Halton have received the £200 Winter Fuel Payment. [150292]

    Mr. Rooker
    Winter Fuel Payments are made on a household basis. For the latest information available on the number of payments made in Halton, I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb) on 31 January 2001,Official Report, column 238W.

    Mr. Maclennan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many winter fuel applications were received from those aged 60 years or over on 19 September 1999; how many were received from 24 September 2000 to 31 January 2001; and how many had been processed by 31 January 2001; [150590]

    (2) what the processing time is of applications made for a Winter Fuel Payment in respect of this and previous years; [150592]

    (3) how many winter fuel applications were received between April 2000 and 22 September 2000; how many were received (a) from those reaching the age of 60 years between 27 September 1999 and 24 September 2000 and (b) from those aged 60 years or over on 19 September 1999; and what was the total processed in both categories. [150589]

    Mr. Rooker
    The administration of Winter Fuel Payments is a matter for Alexis Cleveland, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. She will write to the right hon. Member.

    Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Mr. Robert Maclennan, dated 15 February 2001:
    The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking how many Winter Fuel applications were received from those aged 60 or over on 19 September 1999; how many were received from 24 September 2000 to 31 January 2001; and how many had been processed by 31 January 2001. How Many Winter Fuel applications were received between April 2000 and 22 September 2000; how many were received (a) from those reaching the age of 60 years between 27 September 1999 and 24 September 2000 and (b) from those aged 60 years or over on 19 September 1999; and what was the total processed in both categories. Also what is the processing time of applications made for a winter fuel payment in respect of this and previous years.
    The information is not available in the format requested. Information that is available is as follows.

    293W
    Between April 2000 and 22 September 2000 1,185,131 claims forms were received and between 24 September 2000 and 31 January 2001 156,104 claims forms were received.
    As of 31 January 2001, approximately 1.1 million claims in respect of previous years and approximately 1.2 million winter 2000 claims had been processed. The total number of claims processed is higher than the number of forms received as a single claim form can potentially be a claim for both a Winter 2000 payment and payment for previous years.
    A straightforward Winter Fuel claim takes up to 10 days to process from the date of receipt by the Department.
    I hope this is helpful.

    Mr. Chope
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when Mr. James Little will receive his Winter Fuel Payment. [150346]

    Mr. Rooker
    The administration of Winter Fuel Payments is a matter for Alexis Cleveland, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. She will write to the hon. Member.

    Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Mr. Christopher Chope, dated 14 February 2001:
    The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent parliamentary question regarding Mr. James Little and when he will receive his Winter Fuel Payment (WFP).
    My enquiries into this matter have revealed that Mr. Little had not been sent his WFP at the correct time. This was due to a clerical oversight and I have written to Mr. Little to apologise for any inconvenience caused by the delay.
    I have, after the matter was brought to my attention, taken steps to ensure that Mr. Little's payment has been dealt with promptly and I can now confirm that it was posted (by first class mail) on 9 February.

    Mr. Maclennan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will undertake additional national advertising to alert men who on 24 September 2000 were over 60 years of age of their possible entitlement to Winter Fuel Payments for this and past years; and if he will make a statement. [150591]

    Mr. Rooker
    I refer the right hon. Member to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale (Mr. Morgan) on 15 January 2001,Official Report, column 79W.

    Pensioners (Benefits)
    Mr. Rapson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the number of retirement pensioners who are expected to be entitled to the pension credit; and of those, how many are also expected to be(a) entitled to (i) Housing Benefit, (ii) Council Tax Benefit and (iii) both and (b) liable to pay income tax. [150066]

    Mr. Rooker
    Over half of all pensioners, 5.5 million individual pensioners and pensioner couples, will benefit from the pension credit.

    The detailed design and coverage of the pension credit are being considered in the light of the current consultation exercise.

    Mr. Rapson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many retirement pensioners are currently 294W
    (a) entitled to income-related benefits but not liable to income tax and (b) entitled to income-related benefits and liable to pay income tax. [150067]

    Mr. Rooker
    The informatton is not available.

    War Pension Scheme
    Mr. Key
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the seven-year rule relating to the war pension scheme was introduced; and how it was announced to the House. [150532]

    Mr. Bayley
    The seven-year rule was introduced in May 1947 as an amendment to the 1946 Royal Warrant under Command Paper 7124.

    Far East Prisoners of War
    Mr. Bob Russell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many(a) former UK military personnel and (b) civilians imprisoned by the Japanese during the second world war have applied for the ex-gratia payment; and how many have been refused in each category; [150577]

    (2) how many civilian internees imprisoned by the Japanese during the second world war, who at the time were not UK citizens but who subsequently were given British nationality, have been refused the ex-gratia payment. [150578]

    Mr. Bayley
    The information is not yet available. Figures will be available in due course.

    Mobility Benefit
    Mr. Wigley
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security from what date applications can be lodged for the higher rate mobility component for children aged three and four years; and who is entitled to this benefit from 9 April. [149914]

    Mr. Bayley
    I refer the right hon. Member to the written answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Hillsborough (Helen Jackson) on 9 January 2001,Official Report, column 477W. From 9 April 2001, the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance will be extended to severely disabled three and four-year-old children who are unable, or virtually unable, to walk.

    Claims can be made at any time on or after 9 January. Almost all the children most likely to benefit from this welcome change are already receiving DLA in respect of their care needs, and they will all be sent a letter by the end of February inviting them to apply for the higher rate mobility component.

    Child Support
    Ms Osborne
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many parents with care who are eligible for maintenance payments through the Child Support Agency receive the Working Families Tax Credit; [149850]

    (2) how many parents with care in receipt of maintenance payments through the Child Support Agency are non-resident parents who are liable to pay maintenance for children of previous relationships. [149851]
    295W
    Angela Eagle
    The information Is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.

    There are 234,000 parents with care with a current full maintenance assessment who are receiving the Working Families Tax Credit. This represents around 24 per cent. of all such parents with care on the Child Support Agency's books.
    Notes:
    1. Information on the number of parents with care who are also non-resident parents is not available since there is no facility on the existing child support computer system for linking data in this way.
    2. Figures are taken from 5 per cent. scan of the Child Support Computer System and are rounded to the nearest hundred.
    Source:
    Child Support Agency Quarterly Summary of Statistics—August 2000, Department of Social Security Information Centre, Analytical Services Division.

    Appeal Tribunals
    Mr. Healey
    To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many social security appeal tribunal hearings concerning cohabitation or living together as man and wife cases there were in each of the last five years; and in what percentage the tribunal found in favour of the client. [149450]

    Angela Eagle
    The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.

    Appeals heard in the periods shown with an issue code of "Living Together" from 1 October 1998

    Appeals cleared at hearing

    Appeals decided in favour of the appellant

    1 October 1997 to 30 September 1998

    n/a

    1 October 1998 to 30 September 1999

    874

    354 (40.5 per cent.)

    1 October 1999 to 30 September 2000

    1,311

    681 (51.9 per cent.)

    Notes:

    1. Issue codes were only added to the GAPS system in November 1999, although some earlier cases have been coded.

    2. Figures are provisional and are subject to change.

    Source:

    100 per cent. download from the Appeals Service GAPS computer system.

    Gross weekly earnings for unitary authorities in Scotland

    £

    Median1

    Lowest decile2

    Highest decile3

    Full-time

    Non-manual

    Aberdeen City

    404.8

    227.5

    844.4

    Aberdeenshire

    396.6

    191.9

    738.6

    Angus

    368.5

    201.0

    550.3

    Dundee City

    347.4

    205.9

    638.3

    East Ayrshire

    381.6

    186.3

    584.8

    Edinburgh, City of

    379.3

    211.2

    706.7

    Falkirk

    322.7

    204.3

    681.4

    Fife

    348.2

    195.3

    592.6

    Glasgow City

    359.2

    205.4

    690.6

    Highland

    316.3

    183.3

    592.9

    Midlothian

    398.6

    243.7

    617.5

    North Ayrshire

    381.0

    192.1

    571.0

    North Lanarkshire

    359.9

    212.7

    608.8

    Perth and Kinross

    332.0

    183.9

    526.1

  TREASURY

    Earnings Statistics
    Mr. Alasdair Morgan
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for Scotland and each local authority area in Scotland(a) the weekly median earnings and (b) the amount of median earnings for those in the first and ninth deciles for (i) all manual, (ii) all non-manual and (iii) all workers. [146247]

    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. Alasdair Morgan, dated 15 February 2001:
    As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question on weekly earnings for workers in Scotland and the local authorities in Scotland (146247).
    The New Earnings Survey (NES) can provide earnings data for small geographical areas. However, the NES has incomplete coverage of those on low pay because the sample is limited to people earning above the income tax threshold. The release of NES data is restricted to figures that are derived from a sufficiently large sample of employees, and have an acceptable level of accuracy. I have provided the available data for Scotland and the unitary authorities in Scotland in the attached tables, only where the samples are large enough and have an acceptable level of accuracy. These are based on the 2000 NES, the latest survey for which data are available.

    Gross weekly earnings for Scotland

    £

    Median1

    Lowest decile2

    Highest decile3

    Full-time

    Non-manual

    363.2

    202.8

    673.3

    Manual

    289.3

    171.5

    479.0

    All Employees

    330.0

    190.0

    608.3

    Part-time

    Non-manual

    123.9

    51.9

    270.1

    Manual

    91.0

    39.2

    159.7

    All Employees

    108.8

    45.2

    233.4

    All

    Non-manual

    301.6

    112.5

    619.5

    Manual

    250.0

    77.6

    447.7

    All Employees

    280.8

    99.1

    564.9

    1 50th percentile

    2 10th percentile

    3 90th percentile

    297W

    Gross weekly earnings for unitary authorities in Scotland

    £

    Median1

    Lowest decile2

    Highest decile3

    Renfrewshire

    379.6

    180.7

    648.7

    South Ayrshire

    369.7

    206.3

    681.5

    South Lanarkshire

    367.7

    191.9

    706.4

    West Lothian

    393.6

    192.2

    780.3

    Manual

    Aberdeen City

    325.0

    180.0

    603.7

    Aberdeenshire

    277.0

    150.0

    464.8

    Scottish Borders, The

    246.9

    173.3

    358.5

    Dumfries and Galloway

    275.0

    155.7

    397.2

    Dundee City

    271.7

    176.4

    439.0

    East Ayrshire

    294.3

    168.3

    443.2

    Edinburgh, City of

    275.5

    159.4

    477.5

    Falkirk

    336.0

    162.2

    574.1

    Fife

    287.0

    171.7

    449.1

    Glasgow City

    292.3

    176.5

    464.3

    Highland

    287.9

    192.6

    512.1

    Inverclyde

    308.3

    185.1

    445.8

    North Ayrshire

    295.3

    161.5

    451.1

    North Lanarkshire

    294.6

    180.9

    481.4

    Perth and Kinross

    274.3

    180.5

    466.8

    Renfrewshire

    327.7

    173.5

    528.5

    South Ayrshire

    300.4

    188.6

    499.9

    South Lanarkshire

    308.3

    188.7

    522.5

    Stirling

    285.8

    164.5

    392.5

    West Lothian

    300.0

    177.1

    510.8

    All Employees

    Aberdeen City

    376.1

    203.8

    762.2

    Aberdeenshire

    308.3

    168.7

    630.8

    Angus

    302.2

    182.8

    536.3

    Argyll and Bute

    345.8

    188.9

    602.0

    Scottish Borders, The

    276.6

    176.3

    528.5

    Dumfries and Galloway

    291.4

    172.4

    510.4

    Dundee City

    322.3

    195.3

    565.7

    East Ayrshire

    328.1

    182.3

    569.6

    East Lothian

    345.3

    198.9

    561.6

    Edinburgh, City of

    345.5

    198.7

    679.9

    Falkirk

    325.0

    189.1

    621.7

    Fife

    311.9

    181.6

    537.2

    Glasgow City

    339.3

    194.9

    646.1

    Highland

    304.2

    188.3

    564.1

    Inverclyde

    323.3

    194.8

    592.5

    Midlothian

    350.7

    201.5

    562.1

    North Ayrshire

    321.5

    178.3

    540.2

    North Lanarkshire

    323.0

    202.9

    575.8

    Perth and Kinross

    294.3

    182.3

    491.4

    Renfrewshire

    355.9

    179.6

    626.4

    South Ayrshire

    344.7

    203.7

    640.8

    South Lanarkshire

    334.4

    190.8

    638.8

    Stirling

    297.1

    176.8

    497.2

    West Lothian

    332.7

    189.3

    614.7

    Part-time

    Non-manual

    Edinburgh, City of

    124.0

    43.7

    269.3

    Glasgow City

    116.6

    56.0

    237.2

    Manual

    Glasgow City

    94.1

    42.6

    156.5

    All Employees

    Edinburgh, City of

    106.9

    38.4

    229.3

    Glasgow City

    106.3

    48.6

    217.4

    South Lanarkshire

    112.2

    50.2

    194.2

    All

    Non-manual

    Aberdeen City

    345.5

    118.9

    767.8

    Angus

    270.7

    113.1

    535.7

    Dundee City

    294.0

    112.0

    577.6

    Edinburgh, City of

    327.9

    138.7

    687.0

    Falkirk

    268.7

    113.8

    621.7

    Fife

    286.6

    105.4

    567.3

    Glasgow City

    307.1

    115.3

    652.4

    Highland

    264.9

    117.4

    550.9

    North Ayrshire

    306.8

    91.4

    541.6

    North Lanarkshire

    313.2

    129.7

    583.4

    Perth and Kinross

    260.3

    97.3

    483.3

    298W 299W

    Gross weekly earnings for unitary authorities in Scotland

    £

    Median1

    Lowest decile2

    Highest decile3

    Renfrewshire

    327.2

    137.2

    629.6

    South Ayrshire

    322.6

    90.1

    646.9

    South Lanarkshire

    287.9

    113.9

    639.7

    West Lothian

    333.5

    140.4

    658.7

    Manual

    Aberdeen City

    249.0

    77.5

    529.1

    Aberdeenshire

    210.7

    55.4

    390.9

    Dumfries and Galloway

    251.1

    82.7

    387.0

    Dundee City

    244.1

    89.6

    424.4

    Edinburgh, City of

    230.0

    73.0

    453.3

    Fife

    250.5

    92.3

    432.0

    Glasgow City

    249.6

    79.4

    429.1

    Highland

    260.8

    64.3

    470.2

    North Lanarkshire

    256.7

    73.7

    448.5

    Renfrewshire

    287.1

    92.0

    503.6

    South Lanarkshire

    261.8

    76.9

    491.5

    West Lothian

    287.2

    115.2

    471.7

    All Employees

    Aberdeen City

    317.5

    104.9

    695.2

    Aberdeenshire

    249.2

    66.8

    558.2

    Angus

    248.6

    103.6

    499.0

    Argyll and Bute

    261.0

    74.0

    546.1

    Scottish Borders, The

    236.6

    85.1

    490.4

    Dumfries and Galloway

    257.3

    88.9

    475.9

    Dundee City

    275.0

    106.1

    521.1

    East Ayrshire

    276.4

    87.6

    541.0

    Edinburgh, City of

    296.4

    107.6

    634.9

    Falkirk

    283.5

    95.1

    574.5

    Fife

    266.0

    99.2

    508.7

    Glasgow City

    285.3

    100.3

    588.8

    Highland

    262.7

    88.4

    517.1

    Inverclyde

    265.0

    89.9

    490.2

    Midlothian

    294.5

    101.9

    548.0

    North Ayrshire

    278.6

    84.9

    490.4

    North Lanarkshire

    286.3

    105.0

    551.7

    Perth and Kinross

    253.8

    85.8

    475.9

    Renfrewshire

    312.2

    121.0

    602.0

    South Ayrshire

    284.7

    74.1

    564.8

    South Lanarkshire

    269.0

    102.8

    591.1

    West Lothian

    297.2

    132.6

    578.3

    1 50th percentile

    2 10th percentile

    3 90th percentile

    Mr. Grieve
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average weekly earnings are(a) including and (b) excluding overtime, for part-time workers in (i) Scotland, (ii) each of the local t nitary local authority areas in Scotland and (iii) the UK, broken down by (A) men and (B) women in (1) manual employment, (2) non-manual employment and (3) all employment [145664]

    Mr. Andrew Smith
    This information falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

    Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Dominic Grieve, dated 15 February 2001:
    As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your question on weekly earnings for workers in Scotland, the unitary authorities in Scotland and the United Kir gdom (145664).
    The New Earnings Survey (NES) can provide earnings data for small geographical areas. However, the NES has incomplete coverage of those on low pay, because the sample is largely limited to people earning above the income tax threshold. This under-coverage will particularly affect results for part-time workers. The release of NES data is restricted to figures that are derived from a sufficiently large sample of employees and have an acceptable
    300W
    level of accuracy. The data for the United Kingdom is not yet available. I have provided the available data for Scotland, the unitary authorities in Scotland and Great Britain in the attached tables, where the sample sizes are large enough and have an acceptable level of accuracy. These are based on the 2000 NES, the latest survey for which data are available.

    Average weekly gross earnings including overtime for part-time employees for Great Britain

    £

    Male:

    Non-manual

    163.6

    Manual

    114.3

    All

    142.3

    Female:

    Non-manual

    144.5

    Manual

    94.2

    All

    129.7

    All employees:

    Non-manual

    147.2

    Manual

    98.8

    All

    131.8

    301W

    Average weekly gross earnings including overtime for part-time employees for Scotland

    £

    Male:

    Manual

    106.5

    All

    123.7

    Female:

    Non-manual

    146.4

    Manual

    94.8

    All

    129.0

    All employees:

    Non-manual

    145.6

    Manual

    97.1

    All

    128.2

    Average weekly gross earnings including overtime for part-time employees for unitary authorities in Scotland

    £

    Edinburgh, City of

    Glasgow City

    South Lanarkshire

    Female:

    Non-manual

    142.3

    136.4

    —

    All

    126.8

    124.6

    118.6

    All employees:

    Non-manual

    143.4

    134.9

    —

    Manual

    —

    98.7

    —

    All

    128.5

    122.7

    118.3

    Average weekly gross earnings excluding overtime for Great Britain

    £

    Male:

    Non-manual

    155.8

    Manual

    104.8

    All

    133.7

    Female:

    Non-manual

    137.7

    Manual

    89.2

    All

    123.5

    All employees:

    Non-manual

    140.2

    Manual

    92.7

    All

    125.2

    Average weekly gross earnings excluding overtime for Scotland

    £

    Male:

    Manual

    97.1

    All

    113.9

    Female:

    Non-manual

    140.4

    Manual

    88.9

    All

    123.0

    All employees:

    Non-manual

    139.1

    Manual

    90.5

    All

    121.7

    302W

    Average weekly gross earnings excluding overtime for unitary authorities in Scotland

    £

    Edinburgh, City of

    Glasgow City

    South Lanarkshire

    Female:

    Non-manual

    136.5

    132.0

    —

    Manual

    —

    92.9

    —

    All

    121.4

    120.2

    113.1

    All employees:

    Non-manual

    136.7

    130.2

    —

    Manual

    91.8

    92.3

    —

    All

    122.4

    117.4

    111.4

    Pensioners (Tax Returns)
    Mr. Rapson
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many retirement pensioners completed a tax return in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what proportion they represent of total retirement pensioners. [150064]

    Dawn Primarolo
    It is estimated that about 1.3 million (around 12 per cent.) pensioners completed a tax return for 1998–99.

    Taxation
    Mr. Simon Hughes
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he plans to be the national revenue from taxation in each of the next five years. [150119]

    Mr. Andrew Smith
    Forecasts of tax revenues were published in Tables B8 and B11 of the pre-Budget report. Updated forecasts will be published in the Financial Statement and Budget Report.

    Departmental Expenditure Limit
    Mr. Russell Brown
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if there are any proposals to amend the Inland Revenue Departmental Expenditure Limit and Running Costs Limit for 2000–01. [151115]

    Dawn Primarolo
    The Inland Revenue Departmental Expenditure Limit for 2000–01 will be decreased by £411,000 from £2,230,571,000 to £2,230,160,000. The Inland Revenue Running Cost Limit will also be reduced by £2,911,000 from £2,373,579,000 to £2,370,668,000.

    The reduction in DEL and running cost limit reflect an inter-departmental transfer of £450,000 running costs provision to Customs and Excise to enable Customs to meet its main commitments from the Grabiner report into the hidden economy. This is partially offset by a £39,000 transfer from the Department of Social Development (Northern Ireland) for a bookkeeping service they provide in respect of the national insurance fund.

    In addition, there is a further reduction in Inland Revenue's Running Cost Limit of £2,500,000 in respect of an intra-departmental transfer to the Valuation Office agency, to deal with more appeals than anticipated arising from the 2000 revaluation and increased legal costs.

    Barbara Follett
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes are proposed to Her Majesty's Treasury's Departmental Expenditure Limit and Running Costs Limits for 2000–01. [151114]
    303W
    Dawn Primarolo
    Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate for Class XVI Vote 1 (HM Treasury) and class XVI Vote 2 (HM Treasury: UK Coinage), the Departmental Expenditure Limit for 2000–01 will be increased by£12,940,000 from £264,023,000 to £276,963,000.

    The increase for Class XVI Vote 1 (HM Treasury) is the net effect of the take up of running costs EYF (£3,400,000) to meet the additional costs of the Treasury's planned programme of work, and to cover the custody charges for holding collateral on debt management office's behalf generated as part of the investment of the Spectrum proceeds; provides for the transfer of provision from other current to running costs for payments under the framework agreement for Partnerships UK (£4,000,000); and an increase in running costs of £540,000 to draw down the moneys allocated from the civil service modernisation fund for the Royal Mint Trading Fund. The running costs limit for HM Treasury will accordingly be increased by £7,940,000 from £64,064,000 to £72,004,000.

    The increase for Class XVI Vote 2 (HM Treasury: UK Coinage) is the net effect of the take up of other current EYF (£9,000,000), to meet the increased demand for UK coins.

    The increases will be offset by transfers or charged to the reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

    Mrs. Lawrence
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if there are any proposals to amend the Office for National Statistics Departmental Expenditure Limit and Running Costs Limit for 2000–01. [151113]

    Miss Melanie Johnson
    Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate for Class XVI, Vote 12 (Office for National Statistics), the DEL will increase by £5,000,000 from £135,166,000 to £140,166,000 and the Running Costs Limit will increase by £5,000,000 from £132,161,000 to £137,161,000.

    The changes in Vote 12 are the result of the take up of £5,000,000 of the end-year flexibility entitlement announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in Table 7 of the 1999–2000 Public Expenditure Outturn White Paper (CM 4812) published on 18 July 2000.

    The overall increase is made up of increases in running costs provision in Section A of the Vote of £5,000,000; increases in running costs provision in Section B of £2,500,000 to reflect increased demand for certificate sales and surveys, which will be fully met by additional receipts of £2,500,000; and increases in anticipated EC receipts in Section C of £500,000.

    Mr. Ian Stewart
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes are proposed to Her Majesty's Customs and Excise Departmental Expenditure Limit or Running Costs Limit for 2000–01. [151112]

    Dawn Primarolo
    Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate for Class XVI, Vote 4 (HM Customs and Excise: administration), the Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) will be increased by £9,319,000 from £886,858,000 to £896,177,000 and the Running Costs Limit will be decreased by £9,219,000 from £860,957,000 to £851,738,000.
    304W
    The increase in DEL consists of:
    an additional £450,000 running costs transferred from joint provision held by the Inland Revenue to implement recommendations of the Grabiner report into the hidden economy;
    an additional £1,550,000 running costs from Customs' share of the civil service modernisation fund; and
    an additional £1,538,000 other current and £6,000,000 capital from the take up of part of the Department's entitlement to end-year flexibility.

    These increases are partly offset by:
    a decrease in running costs of £99,000 transferred to the Home Office for development funding for drug action teams.

    The Department is also proposing a number of other changes within its DEL, including increases in expenditure sub-heads which are entirely matched and offset by additional appropriations in aid, as well as virement of £11,000,000 from running costs and £3,000,000 from capital to cover increased legal and investigative expenditure.

    There are no changes to the overall levels of public expenditure as a result of this Supplementary Estimate.

    Brewing
    Mr. Cousins
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many jobs in brewing there were in each region and nation of the United Kingdom for each year since 1995. [147009]

    Mr. Andrew Smith
    [holding answer 24 January 2001]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

    Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Jim Cousins dated 15 February 2001:
    As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question about the number of people employed in brewing in each region of the UK since 1995 (147009).
    The Annual Employment Survey (AES) provides information on employment for 1995 to 1998 for each region and nation of Great Britain. The AES may be accessed from the NOMIS database in the House of Commons Library.

    Urban Migration
    Mr. Pickthall
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the net migration from urban and suburban to rural areas of England and Wales in the past 10 years. [150359]

    Mr. Andrew Smith
    The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

    Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Colin Pickthall, dated 15 February 2001:
    As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question about estimates of net migration from urban and suburban to rural areas of England and Wales over the last ten years. (150359)
    The Office of National Statistics produces quarterly estimates of migration using the movement of NHS doctor's between the former Family Health Service Authorities. They should not be regarded as an exact measure of migration particularly because there is variation in the delay between a person moving and registering with a new doctor.

    305W
    The attached table shows migration from metropolitan areas (including London) to shire county areas. Migration estimates are only available for the last ten years for these administrative areas.

    Movements1 between London and metropolitan districts and the Shire countries of England and Wales during the years 1989 to 1999

    Thousand

    Year

    From London and metropolitan districts to shire countries

    From shire countries to metropolitan districts and London

    Net migration from metropolitan districts and London to shire countries

    1989

    347.2

    277.5

    69.6

    1990

    296.2

    235.5

    60.6

    1991

    331.3

    254.7

    76.7

    1992

    337.8

    260.5

    77.3

    1993

    341.8

    257.7

    84.2

    1994

    354.1

    266.1

    88.0

    1995

    364.1

    282.0

    82.2

    1996

    372.9

    279.8

    93.1

    1997

    385.4

    282.7

    102.7

    1998

    376.0

    289.9

    86.1

    1999

    384.1

    285.0

    99.2

    1 Based on NHS patient re-registration

    Source:

    Office for National Statistics

  HEALTH

    Pharmacists (Reimbursement)
    Mr. Todd
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions during each of the last three years pharmacists were denied prescription reimbursement by the NHS because they had submitted forms for prescription charge exemption that had been erroneously completed by patients; and what was the estimated cost of these erroneously completed forms to pharmacists in each of those years. [149063]

    June

    July

    August

    September

    Items on forms submitted as exempt without a declaration

    118,013

    107,911

    105,822

    104,025

    Items to which concession applied for patients under 16 or 60 and over

    37,965

    35,834

    36,583

    35,290

    Charges deducted from payments—line one less line two x £6.00 (£)

    480,288

    432,462

    415,436

    412,410

    Total items dispensed

    45,049,254

    42,314,572

    43,062,881

    42,518,754

    Percentage of items on forms submitted as exempt without a completed declaration—line one/line four

    0.26

    0.26

    0.25

    0.24

    If previous patterns of submitting forms without declarations of exemption were similar, then adjustments to payments would have been around £7 million in 1997–98, £7.4 million in 1998–99 and £7.8 million in 1999–2000.

    Older People (Services)
    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out for the years(a) 2001–02, (b) 2002–03 and (c) 2003–04 how the £1.4 billion announced in the NHS plan for services for older people will be allocated; how much will be available through (i) NHS bodies and (ii) personal social services; and of the sums allocated through social services how much is made up of specific grants and how much is SSA. [150030]
    306W
    Ms Stuart
    No pharmacy contractors have been denied reimbursement because they have submitted prescription forms which have been incorrectly completed by patients claiming exemption from charges.

    Pharmacists are required to collect a charge in respect of each chargeable item supplied unless a declaration of entitlement to exemption or remission is completed on the prescription form by or on behalf of the patient. This has been a requirement since 1968.

    Pharmacists are also required to sort forms into "exempt" and "non-exempt" groups before submitting them to the Prescription Pricing Authority (PPA) for payment. When a form is submitted as exempt from charges but without a completed declaration, it will be treated as non-exempt. Forms submitted as exempt but showing a charge are also treated as non-exempt. Forms submitted as non-exempt are treated as exempt if they bear a completed declaration. In each case these forms are processed according to the declaration, as required by law, rather than according to the group in which the pharmacist has submitted them.

    A temporary concession has been introduced for prescriptions dispensed from June 2000 onwards to encourage pharmacists and their staff to improve the completion rate. Under the concession, no adjustment is made in respect of forms for patients aged less than 16 or 60 or over on which the patient's age has been printed by the prescriber, even if the declaration required by law has not been completed. In conjunction with this, information is now routinely provided to pharmacists by the PPA about the number of forms which have been submitted as exempt but treated as non-exempt; which would have been treated as non-exempt but for the concession; or have been treated as exempt when submitted as non-exempt.

    Information about forms submitted as exempt without a completed declaration of exemption prior to June 2000 is not available. Information about exempt and non-exempt forms since then is in the table.

    Mr. Hutton
    [holdiag answer 12 February 2001]: As stated at paragraph 15.2 of the NHS plan, from 2004 we are making available annually an additional £1.4 billion for new investment in health and social services for older people. The disposition of the funding for services to elderly people, including intermediate care and related services, within the national health service and: the personal social services has been set out in two circulars, copies of which are available in the Library. They are:
    Health Service Circular (2001) 01/Local Authority Circular (2001) 01; and
    Local Authority Social Services Letter (2000) 13;

    together with a reply from my noble Friend Lord Hunt of Kings Heath to Lord Lipsey on 12 October 2000, Official Report, House of Lords, column WA51.

    Organ Donation
    Mr. Hilary Benn
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many organs were offered for donation for

    Organs offered for transplant and 'donor'1 in UK, February 2000-January 2001, by month

    Month

    Kidneys

    Livers

    Hearts

    Lungs

    Pancreatic

    Total solid organs

    Corneas

    Solid organ 'donors'1

    Cornea-only 'donors'1

    February 2000

    110

    49

    39

    70

    7

    275

    225

    57

    118

    March 2000

    163

    77

    61

    122

    15

    438

    323

    84

    149

    April 2000

    120

    65

    56

    104

    10

    355

    348

    69

    179

    May 2000

    116

    59

    48

    92

    17

    332

    347

    67

    181

    June 2000

    113

    63

    50

    82

    16

    324

    275

    66

    131

    July 2000

    111

    65

    53

    104

    16

    349

    306

    68

    143

    August 2000

    137

    69

    57

    108

    19

    390

    288

    77

    138

    September 2000

    85

    46

    42

    66

    8

    247

    276

    47

    141

    October 2000

    134

    69

    52

    100

    21

    376

    262

    75

    124

    November 2000

    128

    60

    49

    102

    20

    359

    243

    68

    113

    December 2000

    138

    67

    55

    106

    21

    387

    259

    72

    124

    January 2001

    136

    65

    56

    104

    18

    379

    278

    71

    136

    Total

    1,491

    754

    618

    1,160

    188

    4,211

    3,430

    821

    1,677

    1 'Donors' here means potential donors ie they did not necessarily end up donating.

    Note:

    These are counts of separate whole organs offered from cadaveric donors. Some were not accepted and some were offered in combination (double lungs, heart/lungs) and livers in some cases were subsequently split or reduced.

    Departmental Expenditure Limit
    Mr. Andy King
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to amend the Department of Health and Food Standards Agency Departmental Expenditure Limit and Running Costs Limit for 2000–01. [151196]

    Mr. Milburn
    Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimates for Class II, Votes 1 and 2., the overall Departmental Expenditure Limit for Class II, which includes the Department of Health and the Foods Standard Agency, will be increased by £196,888,000 from £45,090,755,000 to £45,287,643,000.

    Of this increase the Department of Health Departmental Expenditure Limit for 2000–01 will be increased by £196,888,000 from £44,997,888,000 to £45,194,776,000. The increase is the net effect of changes to Class II, Vote I (Hospital, community health, family health and related services, England) of £156,025,000 made up of £74,977,000 in respect of take up of end year flexibility, (£35,217,000) for capital and (£39,760,000) for family health services as set out in Table 7 of the Public Expenditure Outturn White Paper Cm4812, published on 18 July 2000, and £82,214,000 Trust end year flexibility; transfers from Northern Ireland of £1,373,000 (£1,307,000) for Out of Area Treatments and (£66,000) for contributions to medical training costs of Royal Colleges; £144,000 from the Scottish Executive for contributions to medical training costs of Royal Colleges; £92,000 from the National Assembly for Wales for contributions to medical training costs of Royal Colleges and £88,000 from Class III, Vote 1. (Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions) for the Rough Sleepers Unit; partially offset by transfers of £512,000 to the National Assembly for Wales for Out of Area Treatments; £1,065,000 to Class XII, Vote 2 (Department of Social Security: administration) for operating costs of the Road Traffic Accident element of the Compensation
    308W
    each of the last 12 months for which information is available. [150100]

    Mr. Denham
    The information requested is in the table.

    Recovery Unit; £536,000 to Class IV, Vote 1 (Home Office administration, police, probation, immigration and other services. England and Wales) (£221,000) for Drug Action Teams Development funding and (£315,000) for Drugs Action Teams Recruitment Initiative and £750,000 to Class I, Vote 1 (Department for Education and Employment: programmes and central services) for the Institute of Psychiatry new research facilities.

    An increase of £1,352,000 for Class II, Vote 2 (Department of Health, administration, miscellaneous health and personal social services, England) is the net effect of transfers (detailed below) and the take-up of £4,000,000 (running costs) end year flexibility as set out in Table 7 of the Public Expenditure Outturn White Paper Cm4812, published on 18 July 2000. Transfers of £1,106,000 from the Scottish Executive (£141,000 running costs) for reserved health bodies; £19,000 (running costs) from Northern Ireland for reserved health bodies; £459,000 from Class IV, Vote 1 (Home Office administration, police, probation, immigration and other services, England and Wales) £130,000 (running costs) for the Youth Justice Board inspections and (£329,000) for drug grants and drug related initiatives; £200,000 from Class XII, Vote 3 (Department of Social Security: administration) for the teenage pregnancy campaign; offset by net transfers of £464,000 to Class X, Vote 1 (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food) (£1,118,000) for the BSE Inquiry, less (£654,000) for research into BSE; and £388,000 to Class 1, Vote 1 (Department for Education and Employment: programmes and central services) (£455,000) for the drug advisers project, less (£67,000) for Protection of Children's Act Tribunal costs; and transfers of £3,000,000 to Class V, Vote 1 (Lord Chancellor's Department) for start up costs for the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Services (CAFCASS) and £580,000 to Class III, Vote 1 (Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions) for the Rough Sleepers budget.
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    Within the departmental DEL there is also a net transfer of £308,000 from Class II, Vote 2 (Department of Health, administration, miscellaneous health and personal social services, England) to Class II, Vote 1 (Hospital, community health, family health and related services, England) of which £500,000 is reclassified as running costs following agreement by HM Treasury that Mental Health Review Tribunal clerk costs should no longer be classified as programme costs. There is no increase in Mental Health Review Tribunal costs as a result of this change.

    The Department of Health's gross Running Cost Limit will be increased by £4,790,000 from £302,490,000 to £307,280,000 as detailed above.

    The external finance limit for NHS trusts has decreased by £140,242,000 from £451,000,000 to £310,758,000 comprising of a reduction in voted trust loans of £173,853,000 partially offset by a take up of £33,611,000 (non-voted) from HM Treasury for Public Finance Initiative schemes.

    The external finance limit for the Medicines Control Agency has increased by £5,900,000 from £700,000 to £6,600,000 in respect of take up of end year flexibility entitlement as mentioned above.

    There are no changes to the Food Standards Agency element of the DEL.

    All increases will either be offset by transfers to or from other Departmental Expenditure Limits (detailed) or charges to the DEL reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

    Medical Negligence
    Mr. Webb
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the expenditure on insurance against medical negligence claims by(a) North Bristol NHS trust and (b) all NHS hospital trusts in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [150566]

    Ms Stuart
    The clinical negligence scheme for trusts (CNST) commenced on 1 April 1995. This is not insurance, but rather a risk-pooling arrangement within the national health service administered by the NHS Litigation Authority. The size of an individual trust's contribution will depend on a number of factors including their claims history and excess level.

    North Bristol NHS trust's net contribution to the CNST for 2001–02 was £342,956 with an excess level of £50,000; and for 2000–01 was £382,369 with an excess level of £100,000. This trust formed as a result of a merger between Frenchay and Southmead NHS trusts in April 1999, and so no directly comparable information is available before that date.

    Figures for CNST contributions for all NHS trusts are available for each year back to 1995–96. Tables setting out this information will be placed in the Library in due course.

    As the CNST did not exist before April 1995, no comparable figures are available before that date.

    Correspondence
    Mr. Whittingdale
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health when a reply will be sent to the letters from the 310W
    hon. Member for Maldon and East Chelmsford to his Department, dated 11 September 2000 and 26 October 2000. [150593]

    Ms Stuart
    A reply to the hon. Member was sent on 12 February.

    Consultants (North Cumbria)
    Dr. Jack Cunningham
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many vacancies there are for consultants, by specialty, in hospitals in the North Cumbria health authority area; and if he will make a statement. [150459]

    Mr. Hutton
    The national health service trusts within the North Cumbria health authority currently have 11 vacancies for consultants. The Carlisle Hospitals NHS trust has vacancies for consultants in oncology, orthodontics, anaesthetics, histopathology, clinical radiology and neurology. The North Lakeland healthcare NHS trust has a consultant vacancy in child and adolescent mental health services. The West Cumbria Health Care NHS trust has consultant vacancies in endocrinology, gastroenterology, paediatrics and breast surgery.

  NORTHERN IRELAND

    Departmental Expenditure Limit
    Mr. Pickthall
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals there are to amend the Departmental Expenditure Limits and Running Costs Limits for the Northern Ireland Office expenditure and the Northern Ireland Executive for 2000–01. [151005]

    Dr. Reid
    Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate for Class XV, Vote 1 the Northern Ireland Office Departmental Expenditure Limit for 2000–2001 will be increased by £16,667,000 from £1,121,564,000 to £1,138,231,000. The running costs limit will be increased by £12,147,000 from £264,861,000 to £277,008.000.

    The increase reflects is the take-up of end year flexibility of £20,407,000 (£9,340,000 running costs, £10,263,000 other current and £804,000 capital), an increase of £140,000 in respect of Housing Benefit for occupants of bail hostels, £215,000 from the civil service modernisation fund, £610,000 from the capital modernisation fund, net transfers of £4,702,000 to the Northern Ireland Executive and a transfer of £3,000 to the Home Office (Class (IV, Vote 1).

    The Departmental Expenditure Limit for the Northern Ireland Executive 2000–01 will be increased by £172,993,000 from £5,199,903,000 to £5,372,896,000. The increases reflect:

    The take up of end-year flexibility of £147,554,000;

    £166,000 allocated in the pre-Budget report for e-learning;

    Additional provision of £5,556,000 allocated in the pre-Budget report for Schools;

    £8,826,000 for support to the farming industry;

    £66,000 as part of the recently announced package to improve flood defences;

    £916,000 from the invest to save budget;

    £6,500,000 to enable a programme of welfare reform to be undertaken;

    311W

    net transfers of £4,702,000 from the NIO;

    transfer of £10,000 to DETR;

    transfer of £1,392,000 to the Department of Health;

    transfer of £99,000 from the Department of Social Security;

    transfer of £266,000 from the Department of Trade and Industry for the Pheonix fund;

    additional funding of £229,000 for the Pheonix fund;

    transfer of £39,000 to the Inland Revenue;

    transfers of £193,000 to MAFF;

    transfer of £252,000 to the Scottish Executive; and

    transfer of £1,000 to the National Assembly for Wales.

    The Northern Ireland Executive's welfare to work provision increases by £1,753,000 from £74,846,000 to £76,599,000.

    These increases will be offset by a charge on the Departmental Expenditure Limit reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

    Prisoner Releases
    Mr. William Ross
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many members of each terrorist organisation were released under the terms of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998; and how many of those have subsequently been(a) arrested and charged with offences of a terrorist nature, (b) arrested for other criminal activity and (c) convicted of activity of the nature set out in (a) and (b). [150306]

    Mr. Ingram
    Information is held, for management purposes, in relation to the perceived paramilitary association of prisoners in Northern Ireland. The following table sets out details of the perceived association of the 434 individuals released under the terms of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998.
    312W
    Details are held only in relation to those early release prisoners who come to the attention of the police while they are still under licence. At 14 February 2001, 18 of the 434 persons released under the terms of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998 were arrested and charged with further offences while under licence.

    Two early release prisoners were charged with offences of a terrorist nature and 16 were arrested for other criminal activity. Neither of the two cases in the former category have yet been dealt with by the courts. Of the other 16, eight were convicted, three had their charges withdrawn or were found not guilty and five have yet to have the charges against them resolved.

    Perceived association

    Number

    PIRA

    195

    INLA

    24

    Former INLA

    7

    Republican association

    3

    UDA

    87

    UFF

    14

    UVF

    67

    RHC

    3

    LVF

    16

    Loyalist association

    6

    Criminal or No association

    12

    Grand total

    434

    Hospital Violence
    Mr. William Ross
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions the RUC have been called to the accident and emergency and casualty departments of each hospital in Northern Ireland in(a) each month in 2000 and (b) January 2001 to deal with incidents of violence by patients and their visitors towards hospital staff and damage to equipment. [150294]

    Mr. Ingram
    The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

  Millennium Dome: Sale
  Millennium Dome: Sale
  Race Equality
  Race Equality
  Terrorism Act 2000
  Terrorism Act 2000
  Criminal Records Bureau: Fees
  Criminal Records Bureau: Fees
  Strategic Rail Authority
  Strategic Rail Authority
  Rail Freight Grants
  Rail Freight Grants
  London Underground: Escalator Replacement
  London Underground: Escalator Replacement
  London Underground: Delays to Trains
  London Underground: Delays to Trains
  Bond Street Underground Station: Line Interchange
  Bond Street Underground Station: Line Interchange
  NATS: Oceanic Sector Services
  NATS: Oceanic Sector Services
  Local Authority Publicity
  Local Authority Publicity
  Variant CJD: Compensation Scheme
  Variant CJD: Compensation Scheme
  Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Expenditure Limits
  Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Expenditure Limits
  Overseas Workers: Wages
  Overseas Workers: Wages
  Prison Education and Training
  Prison Education and Training
  ECGD: Operating Policy
  ECGD: Operating Policy
  MAFF: Regulatory Burden
  MAFF: Regulatory Burden
  Private Bills and Human Rights Legislation
  Private Bills and Human Rights Legislation
  Law Officers' Departments: Expenditure Limits
  Law Officers' Departments: Expenditure Limits
  War Widow's Pension
  War Widow's Pension