Written Answers of 17 January 2001

NORTHERN IRELAND

  RUC
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in implementing a sickness management policy for the RUC and the RUC Reserve; what quality controls are in place; and what have been the results on levels of absence owing to sickness in the RUC. [144386]

  Mr. Ingram
  A sickness management policy was approved by the Chief Constable's Policy Group in December 2000 subject to minor amendments which have now been implemented. The policy is being introduced during January 2001 with management of it devolved to supervisors supported by advice from the Personnel Department. It is not yet possible to determine the effect on absence due to sickness but this will be closely monitored.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many police officers in Northern Ireland there are in each rank; and how many posts there are in each rank. [141940]

  Mr. Ingram
  The following table shows the established and actual strengths of the Royal Ulster Constabulary as at 3 January 2001:

  Rank

  Established

  Actual

  Secondments1

  Chief Constable

  1

  1

  —

  Deputy Chief Constable

  2

  1

  —

  Assistant Chief Constable

  9

  7

  —

  Superintendent ranks

  161

  163

  6

  Chief Inspector

  168

  169

  2

  Inspector

  490

  493

  5

  Sergeant

  1,414

  1,382

  19

  Constable

  6,243

  6,053

  49

  Total

  8,488

  8,269

  81

  Full-time Reserve

  3,202

  2,554

  —

  Part-time Reserve

  1,765

  1,097

  —

  1 Not included in actual figures

  Special Branch
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with the Chief Constable of the RUC about plans to reduce the establishment of Special Branch; to what extent his plans are based on(a) political considerations and (b) research into the potential for both terrorist and organised crime; and if he will make a statement. [144682]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Secretary of State discusses a broad range of policing issues with the Chief Constable on a regular basis. Changes will be implemented in the light of assessments of the security situation.

  Police Ombudsman
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland has declared a personal interest in the(a) Hamill Inquiry and (b) the Rosemary Nelson Inquiry. [144679]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Police Ombudsman has declared no personal interest in either the Hamill or Rosemary Nelson Inquiries.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Millennium Dome
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what information he received from(a) Mr. Pierre-Yves Gerbeau, (b) Mr. David James and (c) related parties concerning an offer to buy the site of the Millennium Dome. [144711]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 11 January 2001]: The Government are currently in negotiation with Legacy plc, the second placed bidder in the competition for the future use of the Dome. If all goes well we hope to be in a position to exchange contracts in February. No offer has been received from Mr. Pierre-Yves Gerbeau, Mr. David James or any other related party to buy the site of the Dome. The Government have received an expression of interest from Mr. Gerbeau, but the rules of the competition do not allow the Government to treat with third parties while Legacy plc continue to have preferred bidder status.

  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the ownership of each of the Millennium Dome's zones, together with his plans for their disposal, listing the beneficiaries of any sale proceeds in each case. [144715]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 11 January 2001]: All except two of the Millennium Dome's zones are owned by the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC). The two not in NMEC's ownership are 'Journey' and 'Talk' which are owned by Ford and BT respectively. The content of the zones is a mixture of items owned outright by NMEC and items hired from third parties. The latter are being returned to their owners as the first priority of decommissioning. A range of NMEC assets are subject to private treaty sale and public auctions which are currently intended to be held between 27 February 2001 to 2 March 2001 at the Dome. The aim is that zone structures and assets not sold by private treaty or auction will be dismantled and disposed of during March, subject to the negotiations with Legacy plc proceeding to timetable and plan. The beneficiary of income from the asset disposals owned by NMEC will be NMEC. Any surplus achieved by NMEC, having regard to its assets and liabilities as a whole, will be passed to the Millennium Commission as repayment of Lottery grant.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many visitors to the Millennium Dome(a) paid full prices, (b) paid a reduced price and (c) entered free in (i) November and (ii) December. [144709]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 11 January 2001]: The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) has advised that it will be publishing full visitor attendance

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  numbers later in the year once the final accounts for the operational year and all the associated data have been audited. At this stage the NMEC has provided the following statistics, but the hon. Member will wish to note the caveats which have been set out in the footnotes.

  November 2000

  December 2000

  Total free 1

  54,446

  145,749

  Total discounted2

  250,312

  371,614

  Total sponsors from discounted3

  16,284

  17,540

  Full price tickets 4

  82,358

  219,681

  Total attendance5

  387,117

  737,044

  1 Includes free school visits, carers for disabled people, sponsor ticket allocation, accompanying teachers on paying school visits, coach drivers, Greenwich residents, NMEC guests and VIPs. November Free Schools=22,500, December Free Schools=89,500.

  2 This reflects a range of promotions and offers which are normal for the visitor attraction business and which are factored into the company's business strategy. For example, NMEC ran a number of offers and promotions with its sponsors for their customers and also ran a special ticket price for entry after 4.00pm. Key promotions with M&S, Boots, Tesco and BT have been undertaken. The Tesco half price promotion was redeemed in October, BT was redeemed in November and December.

  3 Sponsor tickets were purchased and allocated per each individual sponsorship contract.

  4 This number is an approximation and as such should be used for review purposes only. There is insufficient accuracy for them to be regarded as audited or validated information.

  5 Total attendance does not take into account non-attendance by ticket purchasers. It represents visitor footfall via the admission system and not total tickets sold.

  Note:

  NMEC operated two different systems, one for Ticket Sales (Enta) and one for Admissions (ACS). The admissions system recorded total attendance, but did not show details of the attendance, i.e. purchase source of admission or monetary value of admission. Consequently figures for Free and Discounted tickets are derived from the ticketing system, whereas Total attendance is derived from the admission system.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what independent valuations of the site of the Millennium Dome have been initiated by his Department. [145412]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 16 January 2001]: My Department has undertaken no independent valuations of the Millennium Dome site. A pre-sale valuation of the Dome site has been undertaken in the context of the competition to identify a sustainable long term use for the Dome. This exercise has been led by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. The Government estimate of the financial value of the site is commercially confidential while the process to secure a buyer continues.

  Unlicensed Televisions
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many prosecutions for the use of TV equipment without a licence there were in(a) 1998, (b) 1999 and (c) 2000; and what the monthly trend is. [144939]

  Janet Anderson
  The number of prosecutions for the use of television receiving equipment without a licence was 104,000 in 1998, 78,000 in 1999 and 144,000 in the year 2000. The BBC, which has responsibility for the administration and enforcement of the television licensing system, has indicated that there is no underlying monthly 226W
  trend and that prosecution rates tend to be fairly even across the year, except following specific enforcement initiatives.

  National Foundation for Youth Music
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what support his Department gives to the National Foundation for Youth Music in respect of its youth music action zones. [145431]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  My Department set up the National Foundation for Youth Music as an independent charity. Youth Music was launched by the Prime Minister in 1999, with £30 million of Arts Council Lottery funds to ensure that every child has the opportunity to make music. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State launched the Youth Music Action Zones initiative in December. The £10 million Action Zones initiative will enable young people living in areas of social and economic need to experience music and develop their musical talent. My Department continues to pursue a good working relationship with Youth Music and I look forward to seeing the benefits of this new initiative.

  Digital Broadcasting
  Mr. Lammy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he will publish for public consultation the BBC's proposals for new licence fee-funded digital television and radio services. [146228]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  The BBC has sought my approval, under clause 2.3 of the Agreement between the BBC and the Government, to replace BBC Choice and BBC Knowledge with four new digital television services, to start five new digital radio services and to make the World Service available in the UK. Under the arrangements set out in my Department's revised guidelines for assessing new BBC public services, which were published on 10 January, I intend to publish the BBC's submission tomorrow for public consultation and will place copies in the Library of the House. This consultation is in addition to the consultation carried out by the BBC itself last year, the results of which are attached to the BBC's submission. The closing date for responses is 28 February.

DEFENCE

  Harriers
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has selected an aircraft to meet the requirement to replace the Sea Harrier FA2 and Harrier GR7 aircraft of the joint force Harrier; and if he will make a statement. [146335]

  Mr. Hoon
  The MOD noted in the Strategic Defence Review that the US Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) was a strong contender to meet the requirement to replace the Sea Harrier FA2 and Harrier GR7 aircraft of the joint force Harrier in the early years of the next decade.

  In the light of further work on the various alternatives to meet the Future Carrier Borne Aircraft requirement, and of the successful progress of the JSF Concept Development phase, it has now been concluded that JSF is the option with the best potential to meet our needs. It

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  has accordingly been decided to join the US as a collaborative partner in the next stage of the programme (Engineering and Manufacturing Development)—subject, of course, to the decisions of the incoming US Administration on the future of the programme.

  JSF is a single seat, supersonic aircraft, incorporating advanced 'stealth' technology, that is capable of performing multi-role operations from aircraft carriers and land base. Analysis of the available options demonstrated that, on a through life basis, JSF should meet most cost-effectively our military requirements. It promises to be an outstanding aircraft.

  The UK has been a full collaborative partner with the US in the Concept Development it phase of the JSF programme since 1996. Today in Washington, the Minister for Defence Procurement has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the US Government that covers the next phase of the programme, Engineering and Manufacturing Development.

  On current plant, contracts are expected to be awarded for this phase of the programme later this year. Signature of the MoU will enable the UK to participate in the selection of the prime contractor, for which two consortia, one led by Boeing and the other by Lockheed Martin, are competing. Demonstrator aircraft from both consortia have successfully completed a series of initial flight trials.

  The MoU covers only the next development phase of the programme. Defense Secretary Cohen and I have therefore agreed a set of principles that will provide a framework for UK involvement in the JSF programme in the longer term. The principles we have agreed will safeguard UK national interests, ensuring that we retain the military and industrial capability to manage the aircraft effectively through life.

  UK participation as a full collaborative partner in the JSF programme will represent a significant opportunity for UK industry. UK companies have already played a significant role in the programme to date. They are well placed in both of the bidding consortia to win, on merit, substantial high quality work, both in the next phase and over the life of potentially the largest military procurement programme ever. Some 70 British companies including BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Smith Industries, Messier Dowty International, Cobham PLC, TRW ASG (Lucas Aerospace) and the Martin-Baker Aircraft Company are well placed in the bidding consortia to win subcontracts on merit.

  The cost to the UK of the next programme phase will be of the order of £1.3 billion, plus a further £600 million worth of work to meet UK national, requirements.

  A number of our European allies are considering participation in the JSF programme. JSF will play a crucial part in developing the transatlantic partnership, in enhancing NATO interoperability and in improving European military capability.

  JSF will form a major part of the UK's future offensive air capability, along with Eurofighter and other air systems, for several decades to come. It has not yet been decided how the total capability requirement will be met over that period. Nor has the JSF variant been decided at this stage that will best meet the UK's requirements, nor the numbers of aircraft that might eventually be
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  purchased. For the Future Offensive Air Systems project, the MOD is continuing to study a range of options, including manned aircraft, cruise missiles and uninhabited combat air vehicles. Allied to these studies will be a programme of technology demonstration, some of which may be collaborative, offering scope for work by the UK aerospace industry.

  I shall place in the Library, and on the MOD website, copies of the MoU relating to the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase of JSF, and of my exchange of letters with Defense Secretary Cohen.

  RAF Logistics
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to improve the logistics support for the Royal Air Force on deployed operations. [146336]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Strategic Defence Review identified the need for reinforcements of logistics support to the armed forces. As part of the continuing work to provide this, I have recently approved the expansion of 2 Mechanical Transport Squadron at RAF Stafford and the basing of the new Tactical Provost Wing of the RAF police at RAF Henlow.

  2 Mechanical Transport Squadron will be expanded by up to an additional 120 Service personnel during financial year 2001–02. These resources will enhance the RAF's capability to deploy its own force by surface means, and, in particular, to establish and operate on a Joint, in-theatre Line of Communications.

  The creation of Tactical Provost Wing at RAF Henlow will involve the recruitment of an extra 150 RAF police, 50 of them reserves, giving the capability to provide simultaneous coverage of two lines of communication in separate operational theatres. Their task will entail traditional military police skills involving reconnaissance, traffic control and policing of the supply routes, such as those used by 2 Mechanical Transport Squadron, into the operational theatre. The new wing is expected to be fully operational by spring 2002.

  The expansion of 2 Mechanical Transport Squadron and the formation of the Tactical Provost Wing is good news for defence as they will make a significant contribution to improving the sustainability of our armed forces, particularly the Royal Air Force, on deployed operations. The creation of additional posts at RAF Stafford and RAF Henlow also makes good news for the stations and the local economics.

  House Purchase Advance
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel take advantage of the Long Service Advance of Pay for house purchase; and what the current year's annual budget is for long service advance of pay. [145146]

  Mr. Spellar
  At present there are 13,757 personnel on the Long Service Advance of Pay (LSAP) scheme. In 1998–99, 2,711 advances were made; in 1999–2000, 2,876 were made; and during the period from April to December 2000, 2,015 have been made.

  It is estimated that during 2000–01, long service advances of pay totalling £20.556 million will be made.
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  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many homes in Scotland are funded by means of the Long Service Advance of Pay. [145147]

  Mr. Spellar
  This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

PRIME MINISTER

  In-patients (Treatment Disparity)
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions he has received letters from the right hon. Member for South-west Surrey concerning the disparity in waiting times for NHS in-patient treatment between South-west Surrey and Durham in the past year; on how many occasions he has read the letters; and on how many occasions he has replied personally. [143892]

  The Prime Minister
  My Office has received three letters on this subject from the right hon. Member. On each occasion the right hon. Member received a reply either from myself or a Minister in the Department of Health.

  Prime Ministerial Correspondence
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Prime Minister if it is his policy to reply personally to letters from Back-Bench hon. and right hon. Members concerning issues raised with him at Prime Minister's Questions. [143891]

  The Prime Minister
  Where I undertake to provide hon. and right hon. Members with information on matters raised with me during Prime Minister's Questions it is my usual practice to write to the Member concerned personally.

  Ministerial Code of Conduct
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to reform procedures for enforcing the Ministerial Code of Conduct. [144199]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him in the House today,Official Report, column 340.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Public Meetings Guidelines
  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what guidelines he follows for using civil servants' time to arrange public meetings between Ministers in his Department and prospective parliamentary candidates in that candidate's prospective constituency; [144658]

  (2) what his policy is towards ensuring political balance in public meetings with representatives of opposition parties organised and paid for through the civil service. [144659]

  Mr. Vaz
  We arrange such events in accordance with the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Code. If the hon. Member has specific concerns, perhaps he would like to tell me.
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  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what guidelines were followed by his Department when they issued an invitation to a public meeting on 18 December 2000 in Henley between the Minister for Europe, the hon. Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz), Mr. Boris Johnson, the Conservative Party prospective parliamentary candidate for Henley-on-Thames, and a leading representative from the Liberal Democrats. [144660]

  Mr. Vaz
  Participation in this event was conducted in accordance with the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Code.

  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the cost, of publicity and civil servants time, setting up the debate on 18 December 2000 in Henley between the hon. Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz) and the Conservative Party prospective parliamentary candidate. [144661]

  Mr. Vaz
  We estimate that the cost of publicity and civil servants' time for the debate came to less than £300.

  War Criminals
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many suspected war criminals have been arrested by UK forces in Bosnia. [144946]

  Mr. Vaz
  UK forces serving with SFOR have successfully detained 10 war crimes suspects indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. They have supported Dutch SFOR troops in the arrest of a further two suspects. An indictee was also shot dead by British SFOR personnel acting in self-defence during a detention operation.

  Cyprus
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many chapters of the European Union application for membership by the Republic of Cyprus have been successfully negotiated; how many remain to be discussed; and if he will make a statement. [144907]

  Mr. Vaz
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply of 15 January 2001,Official Report, column 28W.

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the rate of remuneration of Sir David Hannay in respect of his work in Cyprus. [145567]

  Mr. Vaz
  Sir David Hannay works on a part-time basis and receives a per diem remuneration which is commensurate with his expertise. I am very grateful for his considerable contribution to the settlement process over the last four and a half years.

  SES Translators
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the(a) average starting salary and (b) current average salary for London-based translators working for the Secret Intelligence Service. [145349]
  231W
  Mr. Robin Cook
  In accordance with long-standing policy, it is not the Government's practice to comment on the details of the salaries of staff of the security and intelligence agencies. Salaries are, however, broadly in line with those of equivalent staff grades within other Government Departments.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many London-based translators with the Secret intelligence Service have(a) been recruited or (b) resigned and retired in each of the last five years. [145350]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  In accordance with long-standing policy, it is not the Government's practice to comment on details of the staffing of the security and intelligence services.

  Exports (Iraq)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the applications for exports to Iraq submitted in the last year which have been blocked in the 661 UN Committee by(a) Her Majesty's Government's representative and (b) other members of the Committee; and if he will indicate the value of the exports concerned. [145430]

  Mr. Hain
  The UK currently has on hold less than 2 per cent. of contracts, worth $595 million, circulated to the UN Iraq Sanctions Committee We only put contracts on hold where there are serious concerns that the goods could be used in Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction programmes. Holds are generally placed temporarily until assurances have been received about the end-use or in-country monitoring of these goods. By comparison, at the end of October 2000, Iraq's bureaucracy was holding back the delivery of US$1.1 billion worth of goods already approved by the Sanctions Committee.

  As for holds placed by other members of the Sanctions Committee I would refer my hon. Friend to the detailed information on contracts processing which can be found on the Office For Iraq Programme's website: http://www.un.org/Departments/oip/.

  MOX Fuel
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which date he first received advice from the British Embassy in Japan that discussions should begin with the Japanese on returning the Takahama MOX fuel to the UK, following the discovery of the data falsification at Sellafield. [145693]

  Mr. Hain
  We and the Japanese Government regularly discuss all aspects of the disposal of MOX fuel. The British Embassy in Tokyo routinely played a role in this process along with other sections of HMG. Such internal consultations form a necessary part of the business of government, and the preparation of advice for Ministers. The possible return of MOX fuel was one of a number of issues relating to the nuclear industry in which the Embassy was involved.

  Christians (India)
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received 232W
  concerning (a) violence directed against the Christian minority in India and (b) the recent abduction and beating of two Christian priests in Gujarat. [145759]

  Mr. Hain
  We are aware of continuing incidents of religious intolerance in India, including reports of an attack in Rajasthan on two priests from Gujarat in early January. We have regularly raised our concerns over such incidents with the Indian Government, including during my visit to India in November.

  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to support the Prime Minister of India's recent reaffirmation of his commitment to secularism and religious toleration in India. [145760]

  Mr. Hain
  India is a secular country where the right to freedom of religion is enshrined in the Constitution. We support the Indian Prime Minister's commitment to these principles and we will continue to urge him to ensure that the rights of minorities are upheld.

  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Indian authorities concerning the recent incidents of violence directed against the Christian minority in India, including attacks on churches in Vyara Taluka, Jwalapur and Bokaro, and a serious assault on a Catholic priest in Gwalior. [145758]

  Mr. Hain
  We are aware of reports of attacks on Christians in India, including those in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh mentioned. We continue to raise our concerns over such incidents with the Indian authorities. I discussed this issue with my counterpart, Ajit Panja, during my visit to India in November. The Indian Government can be in no doubt of our concern.

  Hurriyat Conference
  Mr. Woolas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of India in respect of the issuing of passports to the proposed delegation to Pakistan of the All Party Hurriyat Conference. [145533]

  Mr. Hain
  Our High Commissioner in India, Sir Rob Young, has raised this issue with the Indian Government. He has made it clear that we hope the Indian Government will respect the right to travel to All Party Hurriyat Conference members.

  Cornish Language
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the case for(a) Welsh, (b) Scottish Gaelic, (c) Irish, (d) Cornish, (e) Scots and (f) Ulster-Scots to be specified for the purposes of (i) Part II and (ii) Part III of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. [145868]

  Mr. Vaz
  The Government are required to apply the provisions of Part II of the Charter in respect of all the languages which meet the Charter's definition of a regional or minority language. The Government have decided to recognise that this definition embraces Welsh, Scottish-Gaelic, Irish, Scots and Ulster-Scots. The Department of the Environment, Transport and the
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  Regions is, through the Government Office of the South West, co-ordinating an assessment of whether Cornish also meets the definition, with the help of the findings of an independent academic study completed last year.

  The Government have decided that the language whose use in public life should be promoted under the provisions of Part III of the Charter are Welsh, Scottish-Gaelic and Irish.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Carpet Manufacturers
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the support provided by his Department for British carpet manufacturers. [145773]

  Mr. Byers
  My Department is in regular contact with the British Carpet Manufacturers' Association on a wide range of industry issues and, the full range of support schemes operated by the DTI is available to the industry.

  More specifically, my Department, through Trade Partners UK, the joint Department of Trade and Industry/Foreign and Commonwealth Office organisation responsible for export promotion, provides export promotion services to the carpet sector, including assistance through Support for Exhibitions and Seminars Abroad (SESA). For instance, we are supporting 15 UK carpet companies who are exhibiting at DOMOTEX in Hanover this month.

  Direct Mail
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received about the regulation of direct mail; and if he will make a statement. [144957]

  Mr. Byers
  My Department receives correspondence on matters concerning postal regulation, including some with reference to direct mail. This has included representations on the European Commission draft directive on postal services (where it is proposed that direct mail be subject to the same limits as other mail) and on consumer issues, for example concerning the volumes of unsolicited mail.

  Textile Industry (Job Losses)
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of the workers who were declared redundant at the Dewhirst Clothing Factory in Peterlee have been assisted into work by the Textile Taskforce; and if he will make a statement. [144297]

  Mr. Caborn
  On 23 March 2000, Dewhirst made 504 staff redundant. It is not the responsibility of my Department to monitor their subsequent employment route but I have consulted colleagues at the Employment Service. Despite an extensive tracking exercise it is not possible to produce definitive figures. The latest information available showed 66 former Dewhirst staff had found employment, 68 were still registered as unemployed and the balance have accessed training opportunities. The protocol established by the North East Textiles Taskforce was immediately brought into effect 234W
  to ensure immediate access to rapid response funding. A strategic response group was set up, led by Easington district council, to co-ordinate the resources available.

  Regional Selective Assistance
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those projects which have been allocated funding from the regional selective assistance originally offered to BMW, indicating the amount given in each case. [144824]

  Mr. Caborn
  The following is a list of projects which have been approved by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and which will count against the £129 million (originally offered to BMW for investment at Longbridge) which was made available to support good quality projects in the West Midlands:

  £

  Estimated costs

  Initial actions and administrative uplift for Advantage West Midlands (AWM)

  300,536

  Total

  300,536

  Projects arising from the Rover Taskforce interim report 1,2: Modernisation of the automotive base:

  Supplier Scheme

  12,000,000

  Extend Autolean

  250,000

  Extend Accelerate

  1,750,000

  Online learning

  100,000

  Promoting regional suppliers

  250,000

  Diversifying the economy:

  Attracting inward investment

  500,000

  Regeneration:

  High tech Corridor study

  250,000

  Support to the workforce:

  Publication of a redundancy booklet

  35,000

  Support to families and the community:

  Advice Support and Counselling services

  270,000

  Total

  15,405,000

  Grants offered to firms under the Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) scheme:

  Marconi

  25,000,000

  H&R Johnson

  1,600,000

  Total

  26,000,000

  Total approved against the £129 million

  42,305,536

  1 These figures are based on the Rover Taskforce Interim Report: the supplier scheme has since been re-estimated at £8 million.

  2 Further proposals based on the Rover Taskforce final report are expected to be submitted shortly.

  Post Office Network
  Mr. Grieve
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what powers he has to require the Post Office to keep open(a) rural and (b) urban sub-post offices; and if he will make a statement. [145897]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 16 January 2001]: Under successive Governments, no Minister has had the power to require the Post Office to keep open sub-post offices. However because of this Government's commitment to the network, the Post Office have accepted a formal

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  requirement to maintain the rural network and to prevent any avoidable closures of rural post offices placed on them in my letter dated 17 November to the Chief Executive.

  Bass plc
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from the Belgian Economics Minister relating to his decision to block the acquisition by Interbrew SA of the brewing interests of Bass plc. [145390]

  Dr. Howells
  The Belgian Economics Minister, Charles Picque, wrote to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 8 January raising a number of points about my right hon. Friend's decision on Interbrew's acquisition of Bass Brewers. Mr. Picque argued that my right hon. Friend's decision did not affect the interests of Scottish & Newcastle and that an

  Innovation Budget

  £000

  Financial year1

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  England

  80,536

  147,207

  268,582

  144.704

  98,580

  91,370

  90,729

  55,026

  106,037

  56,064

  48,969

  East

  19,335

  17,287

  28,286

  17,573

  8,872

  10,897

  5,987

  4,405

  5,611

  4,322

  4,777

  East Midlands

  7,198

  10,282

  9,036

  6,711

  8,155

  5,264

  4,351

  4,165

  3,260

  3,749

  2,787

  London

  7,353

  74,850

  126,064

  37,549

  27,830

  16,812

  50,852

  21,960

  71,894

  29,190

  25,467

  Merseyside

  2,053

  2,992

  5,401

  2,741

  1,089

  1,666

  2,227

  2,207

  3,236

  1,478

  641

  North East

  1,434

  1,120

  4,929

  1,738

  3,029

  2,087

  1,083

  1,886

  1,157

  1,012

  2,278

  North West

  4,967

  5,855

  8,198

  5,529

  3,171

  2,248

  2,366

  3,246

  3,829

  826

  1,068

  South East

  16,184

  14,184

  58,060

  45,443

  26,266

  40,463

  10,816

  8,116

  8,444

  5,485

  3,834

  South West

  7,894

  6,439

  9,211

  11,221

  7,520

  3,120

  4,236

  3,244

  2,227

  2,663

  1,959

  West Midlands

  10,207

  9,479

  14,718

  8,742

  6,549

  4,715

  5,052

  2,706

  3,347

  3,645

  1,588

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  3,911

  4,719

  4,679

  7,457

  6,099

  4,098

  3,759

  3,091

  3,032

  3,694

  4,570

  Scotland

  2,233

  4,784

  27,061

  6,641

  15,646

  3,752

  4,900

  16,084

  5,372

  5,764

  13,423

  Wales

  1,153

  1,859

  4,472

  2,646

  3,561

  2,728

  3,313

  2,417

  2,749

  2,057

  1,902

  Northern Ireland

  356

  569

  506

  421

  515

  298

  501

  310

  590

  38

  521

  Not Applicable2

  14,892

  30,416

  29,686

  36,222

  21,137

  38,130

  27,811

  39,715

  24,694

  17,103

  11,598

  Work Done Abroad

  147

  424

  650

  1,383

  164

  181

  67

  —

  142

  19

  115

  Work Being Subcontracted

  221

  —

  —

  —

  24

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  99,538

  185,259

  330,957

  192,017

  139,627

  136,459

  127,321

  113,552

  139,584

  81,045

  76,528

  1 The data have been extracted from the Department's Selective Assistance Management Information System (SAMIS) database

  2 The 'Not Applicable' figures relate to awareness projects, the costs of which benefit nationwide and therefore cannot be broken down further by individual region

  Department of Trade and Industry—Grants—Regional Selective Assistance and Regional Enterprise Grants Expenditure

  £000

  Financial year1

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  England

  106,433

  97,252

  81,588

  76,891

  102,812

  124,866

  126,977

  110,739

  125,765

  114,288

  89,379

  East2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  33

  641

  2,066

  1,510

  2,114

  691

  546

  East Midlands

  1,315

  1,645

  994

  937

  1,484

  5,283

  7,245

  10,535

  10,535

  7,055

  3,982

  London2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  64

  576

  1,724

  2,961

  2,692

  3,196

  2,269

  North East

  34,406

  30,049

  29,122

  28,810

  33,608

  36,397

  45,257

  23,637

  36,789

  19,989

  17,477

  North West3

  32,922

  29,069

  25,535

  20,263

  22,269

  34,112

  25,106

  23,847

  22,227

  28,233

  25,571

  South East2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  36

  921

  4,127

  4,092

  4,382

  3,240

  5,020

  South West

  5,030

  5,150

  6,437

  5,895

  7,220

  9,147

  7,567

  7,541

  4,463

  9,354

  4,160

  West Midlands

  20,146

  17,512

  8,721

  10,733

  14,356

  14,799

  14,247

  25,434

  29,816

  30,595

  20,569

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  12,614

  13,827

  10,779

  10,253

  23,742

  22,990

  19,638

  11,182

  12,747

  11,935

  9,785

  Scotland

  39,260

  69,594

  66,231

  61,939

  72,540

  79,167

  73,087

  74,743

  77,747

  74,449

  52,043

  Wales

  35,896

  31,738

  56,534

  59,490

  50,646

  58,158

  54,613

  48,479

  76,820

  81,219

  46,456

  Northern Ireland4

  127,100

  132,100

  138,000

  105,600

  117,600

  132,900

  131,200

  137,100

  156,100

  153,300

  133,000

  Total

  308,689

  330,684

  342,353

  303,920

  343,598

  395,091

  385,877

  371,061

  436,432

  423,256

  320,876

  1 Data have been extracted from the Industrial Development Act 1982 Annual Report for the Financial Years 1992–93 to 1999–2000

  2 Regional Selective Assistance was not available in the East, London and the South East before 1993–94

  3 The figures for the North West include data for Merseyside-these data cannot be broken down further

  4 Northern Ireland operate their own scheme and the grants provided have a different range of financial incentives to those provided in the rest of the United Kingdom

  236W
  alternative decision could have been taken which would not have penalised Interbrew so heavily. My right hon. Friend will reply as soon as is practicable.

  Grant Aid
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for each year between 1989–90 and 1999–2000, how much DTI grant aid was awarded(a) within each of the regions of England, (b) to Scotland, (c) to Wales and (d) to Northern Ireland. [145208]

  Mr. Caborn
  A detailed breakdown of the Department's grants by regions is given in the following annexes for the Innovation Budget, for Regional Selective Assistance and Regional Enterprise Grants.

  The Department of Trade and Industry does not collate information on a regional basis for other grant schemes and such information could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.

  Export Licence Applications
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what issues are involved in the decision on whether to grant export licence application 16047 from Aylesbury Automation; and to which other Government Departments he has circulated this export licence. [145333]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 15 January 2001]: Licences to export arms and other goods whose export is controlled for strategic reasons are listed by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry acting through DTI's Export Control Organisation (ECO). All relevant individual licence applications are circulated by the DTI to other Government Departments with an interest as determined by those Departments in line with their policy responsibilities. Licence application 16047 was circulated to FCO and MOD.

  All applications, including ELA 16407, for a licence to export arms and other goods on the Military List (Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994) are considered against the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria, as announced by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Hain), on 26 October 2000, Official Report, column 199–203W.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many export licence applications were received by the Export Control Organisation in August 2000; how many of those applications are still awaiting a decision; and if he will make a statement. [145331]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 15 January 2001]: In August 2000, the Export Control Organisation (ECO) received 927 applications for a Standard Individual Export Licence (SIEL). On 11 January 2001,86 of these applications were awaiting a decision.

  The ECO also received 35 applications for an Open Individual Export Licence (OIEL) in August 2000. On 11 January, 15 of these applications were awaiting a decision. It is to be expected that these cases will take longer to process than SIELs because of the potentially wide variation in the goods and country coverage of OIELs.

  Postal Services Commission
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the duties of the Postal Services Commission in respect of the United Kingdom; who its members are; by whom they were appointed; when next they will report; and to whom. [144828]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The duties of the Postal Services Commission are set out in the Postal Services Act 2000. These include the responsibility to: exercise its functions in the manner which it considers is best calculated to ensure the provision of a universal postal service at a uniform tariff; further the interests of users of postal services, wherever appropriate by promoting effective competition between postal operators; promote efficiency and economy on the part of postal operators; and have regard to the need to ensure that licence holders are able to finance activities authorised or required by their licences.
  238W
  The Postal Services Commission was initially established as an advisory body. Its membership was announced in the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for South Ribble (Mr. Borrow) on 6 June 2000, Official Report, columns 186–87W. On 6 November 2000 the independent Postal Services Commission was established as announced in the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for South Ribble, 6 November 2000, Official Report, column 18W. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry made these appointments. In accordance with section 45 of the Postal Services Act 2000, the Commission is required to make annual reports to the Secretary of State on its activities after the end of each financial year (which runs to 31 March each year). The Secretary of State is required to lay a copy of each annual report before Parliament and to publish each report.

  EU Postal Monopolies
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what draft legislation is under consideration by the institutions of the European Community concerning upper limits to state postal monopolies; what alternative limits are being proposed; and what parliamentary proceedings(a) have taken place and (b) need to take place prior to imposition of such limits. [144827]

  Mr. Byers
  On 30 May 2000, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a Draft Directive, COM (2000) 319, to amend the existing Directive 97/67/EC, to further open up to competition the European market for Postal Services. The key element of the Commission's proposal is to reduce the price/weight limit from the current level of 350 grams/5 times the standard letter tariff at the fastest category, to 50 grams/2.5 times the standard letter tariff in 2003, and then to do a review before deciding on the next steps for further market opening to take effect in 2007.

  The European Parliament has considered COM(2000)319 and has proposed a number of amendments to the European Commission proposal—including an alternative weight formula of 150 grams. Member states have discussed the European Commission proposal in the Council but have not reached any agreement.

  This proposal is subject to Parliamentary scrutiny and is being considered by House of Commons and House of Lords Scrutiny Committees. An Explanatory Memorandum (10544/00) and the European Commission proposal, were submitted to Parliament on 9 November 2000, followed by a supplementary Explanatory Memorandum (10433/00) on 11 December 2000. The House of Lords Select Committee on the European Union has examined the proposals and issued a report (Session 2000–01, HL Paper 6).

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the references in the Official Journal of the European Community and Union concerning the lowering of the permitted upper ceiling on state monopoly postal services, indicating the parliamentary proceeding in respect of each, and the limits so imposed in grams and ounces. [144826]
  239W
  Mr. Byers
  The proposed Directive is document COM (2000) 319, and has yet to be published in the Official Journal. This is the first proposal to lower the permitted upper ceiling agreed in Directive 97/67/EC. The changes to the permitted price and weight limits and the requirement for parliamentary scrutiny are detailed in my previous answer which was answered early today, PQ No. 144827.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will tabulate the successive upper limit required by European Union legislation on permitted national monopoly letter delivery indicating the date of commencement of each, the weight in grams and ounces and the inland stamp value in the United Kingdom at the end of each period. [144825]

  Mr. Byers
  The EU 1997 Directive 97/67/EC on common rules for the development of the internal market of community postal services and the improvement of quality of service set limits on the postal services which may be reserved to items weighing less than 350 g and costing less than five times the standard letter tariff in the fastest category. The then UK monopoly limit of £1 by value was within this threshold. In September 1999 the Postal Services Regulations (S.I. 1999/2107) defined the UK limits £1 and 350 g in line with the Directive.

  Knight Piesold
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the applications by Knight Piesold for export guarantees in the last 20 years and the projects subsequently approved. [145315]

  Mr. Caborn
  ECGD has received from Knight Piesold over the last 20 years the following applications in respect of capital goods, projects and related services which have been the subject of an ECGD guarantee.

  Exporter

  Details of project

  Guarantee issue date

  Value of guarantee £ million

  Vosper Thomeycroft

  Develop and Extend Naval Base at Mombassa

  27 May 1987

  20

  Kvaerner

  Installation of Gas Turbine Generator

  31 July 1986

  8.7

  Knight Piesold

  Design and Construction of a hydro Electric Dam

  14 August 1986

  17.5

  Knight Piesold

  Hydro Electric Power Project (Ewaso Ngiro)

  4 October 1990

  21

  Crown Agents

  Pipeline Equipment to Import White Oil Products

  1 July 1988

  1.7

  Crown Agents

  Spur Pipeline to Moi Inter Airport

  24 March 1986

  2.4

  M. J. Gleeson

  Rehabilitation of Jomo Kenyatta Int. Airport

  2 August 1990

  33.5

  A&T

  Supply of a Rural Telecommunications System

  20 July 1990

  13

  BOC Ltd.

  Oxygen Producing Plant

  16 June 1982

  2

  British Rail Board

  Supply 74 Railway Coaches

  16 April 1982

  27.9

  Crown Agents

  Supply of Plant and Equipment

  30 April 1982

  22.4

  Line of Credit

  Various

  29 October 1982

  3.5

  Line of Credit

  Various

  22 August 1985

  3.6

  Airbus

  Two A310–300 Airbus

  9 May 1986

  23.9

  Vosper Thorneycroft

  Fast Patrol Craft

  1 August 1984

  108.2

  Vosper Thorneycroft

  Patrol Craft Refit

  19 December 1988

  11.6

  Short Brothers

  12 Tucano Aircraft

  13 September 1988

  31.2

  Crown Agents

  Salvage and Berthing Tugs

  3 November 1982

  13.6

  Details of applications which have not been the subject of a guarantee are subject to legitimate confidentiality and are not included in the table.
  240W

  Country/Project

  Guarantee issue date

  Papua New Guinea

  Goods and services for gold/copper mine

  18 February 1982

  Goods and services for gold/copper mine

  10 July 1986

  Australia

  Kenya

  Hydro Electric Dam (Turkwell Gorge)

  14 August 1986

  Hydro Electric Power Project (Ewaso Ngiro)

  4 October 1990

  Pending the issue of a guarantee, details of applications are subject to legitimate confidentiality.

  ECGD
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on how many occasions paperwork for applications for export credit guarantees received by the ECGD has gone astray in the last 20 years; and what procedures are in place to prevent this from happening. [145317]

  Mr. Caborn
  ECGD has no record of such instances. ECGD believes its procedures for handling applications are entirely adequate.

  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the applications for credit guarantees relating to Kenya received by the ECGD in the last 20 years, indicating the companies, amounts and projects in Kenya involved. [145314]

  Mr. Caborn
  Over the last 20 years, ECGD has issued 27 guarantees worth £381 million in respect of exports of capital goods, projects and related services to Kenya.

  Details of the project are no longer held on nine of these guarantees worth £12 million which were issued between 1982 and 1988 and which have since lapsed. Five of these guarantees were issued to Booker Agriculture, two to Marconi, and one each to Cable & Wireless and Slough Smith Rail.

  Details of the remaining 18 guarantees are as follows:

  Ewaso Ngiro Dam
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what export credit was given in relation to the building, construction and consultancy work associated with a concrete arch dam in Ewaso Ngiro, Kenya. [145316]

  Mr. Caborn
  ECGD's records show that they have provided support for two projects involving the construction of dams in Kenya.

  In August 1986, ECGD supported a £10.8 million loan between ANZ Banking Group and the Government of Kenya to assist in the financing of a contract between The Kerio Valley Development Authority and Knight Piesold for the provision of services in relation to the construction of a hydro-electric dam.

  In 1990, ECGD supported a £37 million loan between ANZ Grindlays Bank and the Government of Kenya. The purpose of the loan was to assist in the financing of a contract between Knight Piesold and the Kenya Power Company. Under the contract, Knight Piesold would provide various services in relation to the Ewaso Ngiro (South) hydroelectric project.

  Ilisu Dam
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects the full environmental impact assessment report on the Ilisu dam to be completed. [145924]

  Mr. Caborn
  We understand that the revised environmental impact assessment report was presented to the Turkish authorities in December. The Export Credits Guarantee Department is awaiting an invitation to a presentation of the report to the export credit agencies involved in the project. We do not yet know when this will take place. We have said that the report will be made publicly available before a decision is taken regarding ECGD support. However the report is not our property, and we cannot make it available without permission of the owners, Sulzer, the Swiss main contractor. The Export Credits Guarantee Department has written to Sulzer recommending that the report should be made publicly available as soon as possible.

  Minimum Wage (Vale of Clwyd)
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many workers have benefited from the introduction of the minimum wage in the Vale of Clwyd. [144453]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 8 January 2001]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mr. Chris Ruane, dated 17 January 2001:
  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question about the number of workers in Vale of Clwyd who have benefited from the National Minimum Wage (NMW) (144453). I am replying in his absence.
  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 (NES) and Labour Force
  242W
  Survey (LFS). Estimates for the United Kingdom and Government Office Region are available on the National Statistics website at: littp://statbaseinsbase/themes/labour_market/nmw_lowpay_tables.asp
  No estimates are available for Parliamentary Constituencies.

TREASURY

  Wales (GDP)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans the Office for National Statistics has to provide monthly GDP statistics for Wales; and if he will make a statement. [144055]

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

  Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Elfyn Llwyd, dated 17 January 2001:
  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question on monthly GDP statistics for Wales (144055). I am replying in his absence.
  The Office for National Statistics (ONS) does not publish monthly GDP statistics for Wales ONS is currently discussing with the National Assembly for Wales (NAW) ways of improving the statistics for Wales over a range of different areas. It is also producing a report on the provision of economic statistics by the ONS for the NAW, which will be made publicly available on the NAW website as soon as possible, hopefully by the end of January.

  Unemployment Rates (Greater London)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the current level of unemployment within the Greater London area is among(a) men and (b) women. [144135]

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

  Letter from John Kidgell to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 17 January 2001:
  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question about the level of unemployed men and women in Greater London (144135). I am replying in his absence.
  The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is the main source of labour market data on individuals used by National Statistics. Seasonally adjusted International Labour Organisation (ILO) unemployment within the Greater London area was 150,000 (7.3%) among men and 105.000 (6.5%) among women between August-October 2000.
  The measure of unemployment derived from the LFS is defined on a consistent and internationally recognised basis set out by the ILO. It counts as unemployed people who are (a) without a paid job (b) available to start work within the next two weeks and (c) have either looked for work in the last four weeks or are waiting to start a job already obtained.

  Darwin House, Shrewsbury
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review his decision not to donate Darwin House, Shrewsbury to the National Trust; and if he will make a statement. [144099]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 8 January 2001]: Darwin House is currently occupied by the Valuation Office Agency. The building is not surplus to the Agency's requirements and the Agency has no plans, at present, to vacate the building.

  Economic Activity (Scotland)
  Mr. Grieve
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the economic activity rate in Scotland is for(a) men, and (b) women, for age groups (i) 16 and 17, (ii) 18 to 24, (iii) 25 to 34, (iv) 35 to 49, (v) 50 to 59, (vi) over 60 and (vii) 16 and over in each year from 1995 to 2000. [145662]

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

  Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mr. Dominic Grieve, dated 17 January 2001:
  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question about the economic activity rate in Scotland for men and women in various age groups for 1995–2000 (145662).
  The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is the main source of labour market data on individuals used by National Statistics. The table overleaf shows the economic activity rate in Scotland for men and women in the age groups for 1995–2000.
  According to the LFS definition, the economically active are people aged 16 and over who are either in employment or International Labour Organisation (ILO) unemployed.

  Percentages economically active—Scotland by age and sex; spring 1995 to spring 2000; not seasonally adjusted

  Year1

  All 16 and over

  16–17

  18–24

  25–34

  35–49

  50–59

  60 and over

  All persons

  1995

  62.0

  55.8

  77.6

  83.8

  83.2

  66.6

  11.9

  1996

  61.5

  58.0

  75.6

  83.3

  82.4

  67.3

  11.2

  1997

  62.0

  59.2

  76.7

  82.3

  83.8

  66.7

  12.6

  1998

  61.9

  59.6

  76.3

  84.1

  83.2

  68.5

  11.0

  1999

  61.5

  60.6

  69.7

  83.5

  83.9

  69.5

  11.4

  2000

  62.5

  57.7

  75.7

  84.5

  85.0

  68.3

  12.2

  Men

  1995

  71.2

  58.1

  82.1

  93.0

  91.4

  73.8

  17.8

  1996

  71.1

  59.7

  81.4

  92.8

  89.3

  77.2

  18.4

  1997

  70.7

  56.0

  80.2

  91.9

  89.9

  77.1

  18.6

  1998

  70.4

  61.9

  81.6

  91.6

  89.0

  77.4

  17.5

  1999

  69.7

  61.5

  74.9

  91.7

  90.1

  76.2

  17.7

  2000

  71.0

  58.4

  82.0

  91.7

  90.6

  77.1

  19.5

  Women

  1995

  53.6

  53.4

  72.9

  74.4

  75.1

  59.9

  7.6

  1996

  52.6

  56.1

  69.7

  73.8

  75.7

  57.9

  6.0

  1997

  53.9

  63.0

  73.2

  72.6

  77.8

  56.8

  8.2

  1998

  54.0

  57.1

  70.9

  76.6

  77.5

  60.1

  6.2

  1999

  53.9

  59.4

  64.5

  75.2

  77.8

  63.0

  6.8

  2000

  54.6

  57.0

  69.3

  77.1

  79.6

  59.8

  6.8

  1 Spring

  Source:

  ONS Labour Force Survey

  Mortgage Tax Relief (Scotland)
  Mr. Grieve
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total cost of mortgage tax relief was in Scotland in(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99 and (d) 1999–2000; and what the estimated cost is in 2000–01. [145667]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The total cost of tax relief on mortgage interest repayments in Scotland in 1996–97 to 1999–2000 is published in table 5.3 of "Inland Revenue Statistics", copies of which are held in the House of Commons Library. The total cost of mortgage interest tax 244W
  relief in Scotland in 2000–01 will be published in "Inland Revenue Statistics" by October 2001. The estimated cost of mortgage interest tax relief in the United Kingdom for 2000–01 is in the Tax Ready Reckoner and Tax Reliefs booklet published by HM Treasury in November 2000.

  Rail Disruptions
  Mr. Grieve
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the cost to the Scottish economy of the recent rail disruptions. [145660]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Huddersfield (Mr. Sheerman) on 28 November 2000,Official Report, column 582W.

  Euro
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his assessment is of the degree of convergence between the UK and economies in the euro zone between 1992 and 2000; and what his estimate is of the degree of convergence between 2001 and 2004. [145635]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Sustainable convergence between Britain and the economies of a single currency is one of the five economic tests set out by the Government. The Chancellor of the Exchequer has said we will make another assessment of the five economic tests early in the next Parliament.

  Mr. Grieve
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the attitude of Scottish business towards(a) entering and (b) staying out of the euro. [145658]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The determining factor underpinning any Government decision on joining the single currency is whether the economic case is clear and unambiguous. Because of the magnitude of the decision, the Government believe that, if a decision to enter is taken by Government, it should be put to a referendum of the British people.

  Gold
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what average price per ton was secured by the Bank of England for the recent sale of gold which he instructed them to carry out. [145631]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 15 January 2001]: As stated in the National Audit Office report on "The Sale of Part of the UK Gold Reserves", published on 12 January, the average price secured for the gold sold at the nine auctions held to date is $275.01 per ounce (paragraph 8 and 2.16).

  Service Industries
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the average growth in earnings for service industries in each year from 1974, at 2000 prices. [145741]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 16 January 2001]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
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  Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mr. Phil Willis, dated 17 January 2001:
  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question about the average growth in earnings for service industries in each year from 1974 (145741). I am replying in his absence.
  The Average Earnings Index (AEI) is the Office for National Statistics' preferred method for measuring changes in average earnings. Annual growth rates in average earnings for services are not available before 1982, the attached table shows this data from 1982.

  Annual growth rates in average earnings for service industries AEI, Great Britain

  Percentage

  Year

  Service1

  1982

  7.9

  1983

  8.9

  1984

  6.3

  1985

  6.3

  1986

  7.8

  1987

  7.6

  1988

  8.8

  1989

  8.8

  1990

  9.7

  1991

  7.4

  1992

  5.9

  1993

  2.5

  1994

  3.2

  1995

  2.6

  1996

  3.3

  1997

  4.5

  1998

  5.1

  1999

  5.1

  20002

  4.5

  1 Not seasonally adjusted

  2 The most recent data available are from October 200. Therefore the annual growth rate for 2000 is based on data from January to October for 1999 and 2000.

  Debt Relief (HIPC)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many countries are receiving debt relief through the Highly Indebted Poor Countries initiative. [145849]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 16 January 2001]: So far 22 countries have reached Decision Point under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. This is the point where debt relief has been agreed; 100 per cent. relief in the case of the UK.

  The Chancellor announced on 2 December last year that the UK would no longer benefit from the historic debts of the 41 HIPC countries. This means that, for those countries yet to secure debt relief because of civil wars, external conflict, or absence of a poverty reduction programme, all payments will be held in trust for the day that they become eligible for debt relief.

HEALTH

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth Health Authority (Funding)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how much funding in each of the last three years he has given to the Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth Health Authority; [145158]
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  (2) what funding his Department has given to St. George's Hospital, Tooting, in each of the last three years. [145440]

  Mr. Denham
  The table outlines cash funding from the Department to Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth Health Authority in the three year period 1997–2000. The funding is broken down into cash limited and non-cash limited services.

  Funding for Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth, 1997 to 2000

  £000

  Cash limited1

  Non-cash limited

  1997–98

  402,653

  32,800

  1998–99

  422,066

  30,010

  1999–2000

  495,416

  33,380

  1 Includes payments made on HAs behalf

  The figures given in the second table are for total income of the St George's Hospital National Health Service Trust from the Department. However, it should be noted that this includes income other than that received from the Department (via health authorities and primary care groups) by means of contracts.

  St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust—total income from Department of Health

  Year

  £

  1997–98

  173,135,000

  1998–99

  185,927,000

  1999–2000

  227,622,000

  Source:

  St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust summarisation schedules 1997–98, 1998–99 and 1999–2000

  NHS Costs
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost per annum to the NHS is of(a) all public relations staff, materials and related expenditure including external contracts and (b) annual reports of health authorities, trusts and PCGs. [144934]

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Nursing Home Charges
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what impact his proposals for the NHS to pay for nursing care in nursing homes from October 2001 will have on the amount residents are charged when they are being helped with their fees by the social services. [144922]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 15 January 2001]: There will be no change in their personal contribution for most people currently receiving means-tested nursing home care through social services, because their incomes will not be high enough for them to be contributing to the cost of their nursing care. Any personal contribution they make to their care will go towards the cost of the services provided by social services.

  Nursing home fees are made up of three components—nursing care, personal care and accommodation costs (accommodation, heating, food etc). Subject to legislation, the National Health Service will become responsible for the nursing care provided by a registered nurse. This will

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  reduce the proportion of the fees for which social services are responsible. The proportion of the fees for which a means-tested contribution may be made will be reduced by the amount paid by the NHS. Where people's personal contribution means they are currently' paying towards their nursing care, they will in future receive their nursing care free through the NHS.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account was taken in respect of payment of fees for services in nursing homes, of the high level of fees paid by self-funders, and of the likely change in fee levels over the period covered by the Comprehensive Spending Review. [145870]

  Mr. Hutton
  The spending review has included provision for forecast future inflation, including fee levels in residential and nursing homes. It has also made provision for the introduction of free nursing care in nursing homes from October 2001. The main beneficiaries of this change will be the people who currently pay all their care costs.

  Day Care (Elderly People)
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what statistical data he collects on the provision of local authorities of day care for the elderly. [145580]

  Mr. Hutton
  Annual information is collected from local authorities in England on the number of clients aged 65 or over who, following an assessment of needs, are receiving day care provided by or on behalf of the local authority. Detailed statistics are available in the statistical report "Community Care Statistics 1999–2000—Referrals, Assessments and Packages of care for adults". Data on expenditure by local authorities in England on non-residential services for the elderly are also collected annually and are published in the Statistical Bulletin "Personal Social Services current expenditure in England: 1998–99". Copies of both publications are available in the Library.

  Mental Health Patients
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to change the guidelines on the use of general wards in hospitals for patients with mental disabilities; and if he will make a statement. [145452]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 15 January 2001]: The Department does not issue guidelines on the use of general wards in hospitals for patients with mental disabilities. In common with any case involving co-morbidity, we would expect local services to develop appropriate liaison services to ensure the patient is treated in the setting which meets his or her priority needs.

  A thorough assessment of a patient's risk and attention to their individual care needs should be carried out when first being admitted into hospital; this is particularly important where a patient possibly has dementia or is otherwise confused.

  National Institute for Clinical Excellence
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has been notified by NICE of the date for completing its technology appraisals of beta interferon and glatiramer; and if he will make a statement [145722]
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  Mr. Denham
  We expect the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) to consult on draft guidance later in the year, following the development of further economic modelling on beta interferon and glatiramer acetate (Copaxone). Subsequently, NICE plans to issue its guidance to the National Health Service by November 2001, unless there are appeals against the outcome of the appraisal.

  Hospital Cleanliness
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the link between hospital cleanliness and the frequency of occurrence of infection in patients; and if he will make a statement; [145743]

  (2) what cost savings he estimates the NHS will make by reason of a reduction in the frequency of occurrence of infection in patients as a result of his recent initiative on hospital cleanliness; and if he will make a statement. [145787]

  (3) what estimate he has made of the future costs to the NHS of an increased frequency of occurrence of infection in patients as a result of a lack of hospital cleanliness. [145744]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 16 January 2001]: Recent research at Thames Valley University has identified, through clinical evidence, links between poor environmental hygiene and the transmission of microorganisms causing hospital-acquired infection. It has not been possible to make any meaningful assessment relating to cost savings, because of the lack of clear evidence on the connection between dirty hospitals and the rates of hospital-acquired infection.

  Patients have a right to be treated in a hospital that has a high standard of cleanliness. No one should be treated, or, have to recuperate, in a dirty or uncared for environment. An initiative to improve standards of cleanliness in hospitals is now well underway. An inspection of 405 National Health Service acute trusts was carried out last year. Unannounced visits to these trusts are taking place now and will be completed by the end of February. These visits will help us establish what has been done and what improvements still need to be made. We will ensure that standards of cleanliness are improved, and more importantly, that they are maintained in the future.

  Substance Misuse Treatment Orders
  Ms Blears
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for improving the delivery of substance misuse treatment orders. [145940]

  Ms Stuart
  The cross-departmental review of illegal drugs that reported as part of last summer's spending review 2000 concluded that a new national treatment agency should oversee a pooled treatment budget for substance misusers, with the aim of increasing the numbers treated and raising the standard of that treatment.
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  The Department of Health has published a consultation document containing proposals, drawn up in collaboration with other interested Departments, for setting up such an agency. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  Hospital Discharges
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 9 January 2001,Official Report, column 538W, concerning hospital discharges, if he will publish the results of the survey completed on 11 December 2000 in the same format. [145871]

  Mr. Denham
  These data have not yet been collated centrally; they will be published in due course.

  Number of pupils aged 11–15 in each local education authority with a selective admission system January 2000

  Number of pupils aged 11–15 in maintained secondary schools1

  Percentage of pupils aged 11–15 in grammar schools

  Percentage of pupils aged 11–15 in modern schools

  Percentage of pupils aged 11–15 in comprehensive schools

  Barnet

  17,432

  10.5

  0.0

  89.5

  Bexley

  14,722

  21.5

  33.3

  18.1

  Bromley

  16,817

  7.1

  0.0

  92.9

  Enfield

  17,151

  5.4

  0.0

  94.6

  Kingston upon Thames

  6,951

  18.9

  51.4

  19.0

  Redbridge

  14,716

  8.1

  0.0

  91.9

  Sutton

  11,556

  28.7

  0.0

  71.3

  Birmingham

  61,558

  7.9

  0.0

  92.1

  Walsall

  18,391

  5.1

  0.0

  94.9

  Wolverhampton

  14,052

  3.8

  0.0

  96.2

  Liverpool

  29,083

  2.1

  0.0

  94.8

  Wirral

  20,556

  21.9

  16.2

  57.2

  Trafford

  14,049

  36.2

  55.5

  3.0

  Calderdale

  12,775

  11.7

  0.0

  88.3

  Kirklees

  23,425

  3.2

  0.0

  90.5

  North Yorkshire

  34,056

  4.3

  3.8

  85.9

  Buckinghamshire

  26,783

  39.1

  58.1

  0.0

  Poole

  6,402

  20.0

  0.0

  33.8

  Bournemouth

  8,628

  17.6

  0.0

  13.7

  Stoke-on-Trent

  14,242

  3.2

  0.0

  96.8

  Wiltshire

  23,496

  5.0

  8.5

  81.3

  Reading

  5,380

  20.1

  0.0

  79.9

  Slough

  6,522

  37.0

  29.1

  26.5

  Devon

  34,949

  1.6

  0.0

  98.4

  Plymouth

  15,629

  13.0

  0.0

  87.0

  Torbay

  7,335

  26.6

  0.0

  73.4

  Essex

  76,006

  2.8

  0.0

  97.2

  Southend-on-Sea

  9,622

  28.9

  33.0

  24.3

  Kent

  76,810

  28.1

  34.1

  28.5

  Medway

  16,810

  22.1

  35.9

  20.3

  Lancashire

  70,252

  3.7

  2.4

  93.9

  Telford and Wrekin

  9,675

  6.9

  0.0

  85.9

  Cumbria

  29,261

  2.1

  0.0

  97.9

  Gloucestershire

  32,310

  12.7

  0.0

  87.3

  Lincolnshire

  37,734

  24.1

  43.6

  32.3

  Warwickshire

  28,778

  6.8

  23.6

  65.3

  1 Including grammar, modern, comprehensive, technical, middle deemed and other secondary schools

  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list, for each local authority retaining a selective admission system, the name of each grammar school and its legal status and for each school(a) the total number of pupils, (b) the number of pupils in the sixth form and (c) the number of pupils in the sixth form as a percentage of the total number of pupils. [145026]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 16 January 2001]: The schools specified in The Education (Grammar School Designation) Order 1998 No. 2219 as amended by The

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Selective Admissions
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list for each local authority retaining a selective admissions system(a) the total number of pupils in years seven to 11 in maintained schools and (b) the percentages of this total in the schools designated by his Department as (i) grammar, (ii) modern and (iii) comprehensive. [145028]

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

  Education (Grammar School Designation)(Amendment) Order 1999, No. 2456 are those designated as grammar schools for the purposes of Chapter II of Part III of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. The list of schools and subsequent amendments can be found in the Statutory Instruments 1998 No. 2219 and 1999 No. 2456 on the following Government website www.legislation.hm so.gov.uk.

  Information about individual schools is not normally published. Where individual school information is published as in the School Performance tables, the

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  information is first checked with the schools concerned. These data on (a) the total number of pupils, and (b) the number of pupils aged 16+ are available in the performance tables which can be accessed on the Department's website www.dfee.gov.uk/perform.

  New Deal for Schools
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the schools in the Leeds, Central parliamentary constituency which have received funding under the New Deal for schools since May 1997, showing the amount of funding in each case. [145341]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 15 January 2001]: The following table shows those schools in the Leeds, Central constituency which have benefited from investment

  New Deal for Schools—allocations for schools in the Leeds, Central constituency

  Year/school

  Project

  Total allocation (£)

  1997–98

  Included within packages:

  General maintenance

  11,402,000

  Copperfield College

  Agnes Stewart CE High

  Blenheim Primary

  Grafton School

  Merlyn Rees High

  Mount St. Mary's RC High

  Toilet provision/refurbishment

  1998–99

  Included within a two school package:

  Replacement of dangerous staircases

  1146,625

  Mount St. Mary's RC High

  Included within a five school package:

  Implementation of Fire Officer's safety recommendations

  184,000

  Matthew Murray High

  Primrose High

  Included within a five school package:

  Implementation of Fire Officer's safety recommendations

  168,250

  Merlyn Rees High

  St. Francis of Assisi RC

  Replacement of old boilers

  82,500

  St. Joseph's Primary

  Included within a two school package:

  Replacement of old boilers

  154,000

  Merlyn Rees High

  1999–2000

  Included within an eight school package:

  Fire Officer's safety recommendation package

  115,000

  Copperfield College

  Included within a 10 school package:

  Fire Officer's safety recommendation package

  115,000

  Grafton School

  Included within a 10 school package:

  Replacement of boilers and heating plant

  428,950

  Hugh Gaitskell Primary

  2000–01

  Matthew Murray High

  Electrical refurbishment

  701,500

  Mount St. Mary's RC High

  Science facility refurbishment

  538,301

  Mount St. Mary's RC High

  Maths faculty refurbishment

  301,684

  Included within a six school package:

  Heating improvements

  329,588

  Rosebank

  Included within a seven school package:

  Heating improvements

  336,050

  Corpus Christi

  Rosebank

  Included within an eight school package:

  Electrical works

  675,625

  Cottingley

  Included within a 15 school package:

  Kitchen refurbishment

  405,375

  Richmond Hill

  1 Denotes allocations made to package projects. Leeds local education authority will be able to advise the value of investment made in these schools.

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  through the New Deal for Schools programme, which commenced in 1997–98. These allocations formed part of the £16.5 million investment made in schools in Leeds local education authority under the New Deal for Schools programme.

  In total, since 1997, Leeds local education authority has received some £98.6 million of funding for capital investment in school buildings.

  Nationally, investment in school buildings has tripled from £683 million a year in 1996–97 to over £2 billion in 2000–01. It will be £3.2 billion in 2003–04, including grant, credit approvals and Private Finance Initiative credits. There will be central Government investment of £7.8 billion in school buildings in England from 2001–02 to 2003–04.

  Youth Consultation
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to consult young people about Government policy. [144201]

  Mr. Boateng
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 8 January 2001,Official Report, column 395W.

  Steiner Education Techniques
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans the Government have to fund the provision of Steiner education techniques in maintained schools. [145723]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  We have been considering with the Steiner Waldorf Schools Fellowship what the scope might be for providing public funding to Steiner schools. These discussions continue and no conclusions have yet been reached.

  Personal and Social Education
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will issue new guidelines on the provision of appropriate education on

  £million

  1996–97

  1997–98

  (a)1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  (b)2001–02

  (i) Standing Spending Assessment

  214.883

  216.529

  221.852

  229.205

  240.298

  245.944

  (i) Revenue Support Grants1

  139.547

  142.351

  141.390

  143.336

  146.390

  (1) 151.853

  (2) 149.746

  (iii) Education Special Projects: Education Action Zone

  —

  —

  —

  0.500

  0.500

  0.500

  (ii) Housing Investment Programme

  0.014

  9.996

  8.170

  9.816

  28.557

  12.863

  (iv) Single Regeneration Budget2

  0.526

  2.995

  7.961

  8.279

  8.447

  35.944

  (v) Crime Prevention

  —

  —

  —

  0.977

  0.790

  4—

  1 We are currently consulting on two options for 2001–02. The first option (1) proposes the introduction of a 'floor and ceiling', the second option (2) proposes using the same damping rules as 2000–01.

  2 These are the SRB figures for the Kings Cross Partnership scheme. There are two other SRB schemes from which Islington benefit, however it is not possible to identify the spend in Islington as they are multi-borough schemes.

  3 Estimated.

  4 Not yet known.

  Notes:

  1. The Education Standard Spending Assessment allocation, which provides for some education special projects, is included in the figures at (i). Information on funding for individual education special projects cannot be aggregated centrally.

  2. The Crime Reduction Programme is funded by the Home Office. It started in April 1999 and is due to end in 2002. Figures include those for the Targeted Police Initiative, CCTV, Youth Inclusion Programme, Drug Arrest Referral Initiative and the Crime Reduction in Secondary Schools Initiative.

  ACRE
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how he proposes to ensure that, where the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment provides advice to him that will rely on research which has not been peer reviewed or previously published, the wider scientific and research community is informed of it in order to provide a check on the advice to Government. [142570]

  Mr. Meacher
  I ensure that the wider scientific and research community is informed by making the documents and advice available to the public as outlined. Later this year we plan to improve availability by placing copies of applications for consent, including the supporting research results, on the Department's website.
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  health, relationships and sexual orientation for pupils aged 16 and over. [144088]

  Mr. Wicks
  We have no current plans to issue guidelines on health, relationship and sexual orientation for pupils over 16. However, the DfEE does provide Sex and Relationship Education Guidance which applies to pupils aged five to 16 in maintained schools.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Islington
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what total Government expenditure on the London Borough of Islington(a) was for each of the past five years and (b) is planned for 2001–02, broken down into (i) revenue support order Standard Spending Assessment (ii) education special projects, (iii) housing capital spending, (iv) single regeneration budget and (v) crime prevention. [143399]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 20 December 2000]: The information requested is, as far as possible, given in the table:

  The Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE.) provides statutory advice to Government on applications for consent to release genetically modified organisms for research purposes or for placing on the market as products. The information in the applications has to be based on the results of research that must either be included with the application or available in the public domain. Specific information from the application is placed on the statutory public register held in my Department and the entire application, including research results, is available on request. ACRE's advice is also placed on the public register and their advice and minutes of their meetings are on the Department's website. The entire process is therefore open to scrutiny.

  However, the European and domestic legislation make provision for the applicant to request that certain

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  information to be deemed commercial in confidence and not disclosed. This cannot apply to information about environmental risks, which cannot be kept confidential. In this country we endeavour to ensure that commercial in confidence information submitted in applications is kept to a minimum and only permit specific information to be withheld while it is the subject of an application for intellectual property rights. Thereafter that information is also made public.

  Where another member state is the lead competent authority dealing with an application to place a GMO product on the market, the status of the information submitted is a matter for that lead member state to decide. In the past this has resulted in some documents submitted to support applications being withheld.

  Environment Council
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the outcome was of the Environment Council held in Brussels on 18 and 19 December; and if he will make a statement. [143755]

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the matters discussed and issues decided upon at the Ministerial Environment Council on 18 and 19 December 2000. [145277]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Deputy Prime Minister and I represented the UK at the Environment Council in Brussels on 18 and 19 December 2000. One Common Position was agreed, one proposal was adopted at First Reading in agreement with the European Parliament, and three sets of Council Conclusions were agreed.

  The Council expressed its willingness to meet in Oslo for discussions on climate change with the Umbrella Group (including the US, Japan, Canada and Australia). After a lunchtime telephone discussion between the Troika and representatives of the Group, the Presidency reported that the Oslo meeting would not take place as the Group felt there to be insufficient common ground at the present time. Council Conclusions broadly reflect the outcome of these discussions, although the UK made a minutes statement to clarify one part of the Conclusions.

  Council reached agreement on a Community Frame work for co-operation to promote sustainable urban development. The Council agreed on a budget of euro 14 million over a four-year period from 2001, the same figure as finally proposed by the European Parliament in amending the Commission's original proposal of euro 12.5 million over the same period. Since Council agreed the proposal in the same terms as voted by the European Parliament it was adopted without the need for a second reading.

  Council reached Common Position on the proposed Framework Directive on Assessment and Management of Environmental Noise. This will introduce a common EU standard for noise measurement, harmonised noise level monitoring and mapping, along with a new EU noise indicator, but does not impose an EU wide limit value for ambient noise. Council also invited the Commission to make proposals for new or more stringent binding noise emissions limits from specific sources, including vehicles and outdoor machinery.
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  Conclusions were agreed on global environmental governance, essentially to strengthen the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and improve the co-ordination of international environmental institutions. The EU will look into the possibilities of increasing its contribution to UNEP providing other contributors do likewise. Detailed proposals on these issues will be developed for discussion at the European Council in Gothenburg next June, in preparation for the Rio + 10 Conference in 2002.

  Proposals for Directives on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and Restriction of use of certain Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS) were discussed. The Presidency explained that the EP had not given its opinion so Common Position was not achievable, but it aimed to develop a view on a common approach. I made it clear that the proposals had not cleared Parliamentary Scrutiny and I could not, therefore, agree a text. However, a useful discussion enabled a clearer view to emerge of the possible range for agreement on the timetables for producer responsibility, and for recovery and recycling targets.

  Council adopted, without debate, brief Conclusions on the Commission's review of the Auto Oils II programme calling for further proposals on fuel specifications and the control of vehicle emissions. Orientation debates were held on: the application of the Aarhus Convention to European Institutions, as regards access to environmental information; the Commission's white paper on Environmental Liability; and on traceability and labelling of GMOs.

  Over dinner Ministers received informal progress reports from the Commission on the following, as there had been no time for taking these items during Council: Sixth Environmental Action Plan; the review of the EU chemical legislation; the planned Green Paper on Integrated Product Policy; Community guidelines on State Aid for the Environment; international negotiations on the Persistent Organic Pollutants Convention; and the Resolution adopted by the General Affairs Council on 4–5 December on the Precautionary Principle.

  Sefton Borough
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he has taken to ensure that the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton has acted to meet the criticisms of the Local Government Commission concerning its efforts in serving the various communities within the borough. [144933]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  As we made clear to Sefton when announcing our decision on the Commission's recommendations, it is for the council to improve its services throughout the borough and to ensure that it is more in touch with its local people.

  With the enactment of the Local Government Acts 1999 and 2000, Sefton, as all other councils, are under a duty to obtain best value in their service delivery and to come forward with a new constitution ensuring more efficient, transparent and accountable decision taking.

  Beaches (Radioactivity)
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many beaches are regularly monitored for radioactivity in the North West Region. [144943]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Environment Agency monitors more than 70 publicly accessible sites along the North West Coast including beaches, mud flats, salt marshes and harbours. The results of this monitoring are published annually in the Agency's report "Radioactivity in the Environment". The latest report covering 1999 results will be published at the end of January. Copies will be placed in the Library of the House. The Agency requires nuclear site operators to undertake monitoring of the environment in the vicinity of their site. Monitoring is also undertaken by the Food Standards Agency and some local authorities.

  Scrap Tyres
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what his Department's policy is on the land filling of scrap tyres; and if this activity will be prohibited from 2003 in line with the EC Landfill Directive. [144931]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Landfill Directive requires landfill sites opened after 16 July 2001 to cease accepting whole used tyres from 16 July 2003 and shredded tyres from 16 July 2006. For existing landfill sites the requirement is that they cease to accept whole used tyres and shredded tyres "as soon as possible" in accordance with the site conditioning plan agreed with the Environment Agency and, in all cases, no later than 15 July 2009. The Government intend to transpose these requirements into domestic legislation later this year.

  Millennium Dome
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which Ministers(a) discussed and (b) decided how the Dome sale should proceed. [144766]

  Ms Armstrong
  [holding answer 11 January 2001]: The ministerial team considering the Legacy bid includes:
  The Deputy Prime Minister;
  Lord Falconer, Minister of State at the Cabinet Office and Shareholder of the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC);
  Andrew Smith, Chief Secretary to the Treasury;
  Hilary Armstrong, Minister for Local Government and the Regions and
  Janet Anderson, Minister for Tourism, Film and Broadcasting.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport was involved during the early part of the competition, but on advice from officials he withdrew from any part of the consideration of the qualifying bids and from the subsequent decisions on shortlisting and granting of preferred bidder status for the reasons set out in his reply to an answer given to the hon. Member for East Surrey (Mr. Ainsworth) on 16 January 2001, Official Report, column 135W.
  258W
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions officials in his Department have had with representatives of(a) Lattice Properties and (b) British Gas with regard to the sale of the site of the Millennium Dome. [145418]

  Ms Armstrong
  [holding answer 16 January 2001]: Officials from my Department were present at one meeting in November 2000 between English Partnerships and Lattice Properties, concerning the potential sale of the Dome and contractual issues related to such a sale. Those contractual issues relate to the original purchase of the land from British Gas by English Partnerships, and therefore will be matters for discussion between English Partnerships and Lattice Properties and/or British Gas.

  May I also take this opportunity to inform the House about the respective roles of the New Millennium Experience Company and English Partnerships in selling the Dome.

  Now that the Millennium Experience has finished, the prime focus of the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) is on discharging their outstanding obligations and achieving an efficient wind-up.

  English Partnerships (EP) continues to manage, on behalf of Government, the process of selling the Dome, in close conjunction with NMEC.

  To facilitate a smooth sale process, and rationalise the arrangements within the public sector, a new agreement was signed by NMEC and EP on 12 January, to vary the original agreement to lease between the two bodies.

  The new agreement provides for NMEC to terminate its occupancy of the site after it has returned all items owned by third parties. English Partnerships will then carry out the remainder of the work necessary to sell the site.

  The agreement reflects the Government's decision about how the proceeds from the sale of the Dome are to be divided. In making this decision the Government have had regard to the need to balance the reasonable interests of the taxpayer and the lottery player respectively. The Government expect to apply these principles to any future sale of the Dome, irrespective of whether the current negotiations with Legacy plc are successful. The proceeds are to be divided in the following way:
  The competition and other costs will be deducted from the payments for the Dome site made on Completion and the ground rent later payable on the Dome site. Of the remainder, half will be paid to English Partnerships as owners of the land, and half to the New Millennium Experience Company as owners of the Dome structure. Once NMEC has been wound up, it is intended that any remaining share of the proceeds will pass to the Millennium Commission.
  The same split will be applied in principle to payments made in respect of the land adjacent to the Dome which is also included in the sale, up to a threshold fixed in monetary terms. Above that threshold all payments will go to English Partnerships.
  The precise figures involved in any division of proceeds will not be known until a sale is finalised and costs ascertained. Certain further details, eg relating to clawback/profit share, are bound up with the current negotiations with Legacy plc, and are therefore commercially confidential; however, it is expected that broadly the same principles outlined above will apply. Currently Forecast costs to be deducted as explained above include about £15 million in relation to certain decommissioning requirements and approximately £7 million for the Dome competition.

  Torbay Unitary Authority
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what funding has been provided by his Department to the Torbay Unitary Authority in each of the last three years. [144908]

  £million

  Nature of funding

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  Revenue Support Grant

  45.489

  46.700

  46.209

  Income from National Non-Domestic Rates

  29.087

  31.366

  35.416

  Local Government Re-organisation Supplementary Credit Approval

  5.611

  3.305

  —

  Housing Investment Programme1

  1.172

  1.242

  2.463

  Housing Revenue Account Subsidy

  1.470

  41.287

  51.299

  Capital Receipts Initiative2

  0.720

  0.644

  —

  Cash Incentive Scheme3

  0.075

  —

  —

  Loan Charges: Defective Housing

  0.007

  40.007

  50.007

  Transport Supplementary Grant

  0.042

  0.329

  —

  Transport Annual Capital Guideline

  0.042

  0.329

  —

  Transport Block Supplementary Credit Approval

  0.062

  0.698

  1.272

  Rural Bus Challenge Grant

  —

  0.143

  —

  Rural Bus Subsidy Grant

  0.008

  0.008

  0.008

  Capital Challenge (Supplementary Credit and Basic Credit Approvals)

  0.600

  1.016

  —

  1 Including Disabled Facilities Grant and Private Sector Renewal Support Grant.

  2 Included in Housing Investment Programme from 2000–01

  3 No allocations made to local authorities under this scheme since 1998–99

  4 Provisional

  5 Estimated

  CAA Pension Scheme
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about the impact of the Transport Act 2000 on the CAA pension scheme. [145401]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Transport Act 2000 enables the Secretary of State to make an order providing for the allocation of assets, rights, liabilities or obligations between different sections of the Civil Aviation Authority Pension Scheme, subject to consultation with the Scheme Trustees. The provisions require the Secretary of State, in making an order, to secure that every potential beneficiary is in materially at least as good a position, as respects pension arrangements, as a result of the order. The Secretary of State proposes to exercise the power before the establishment of the Public Private Partnership for National Air Traffic Services, in order to ensure an equitable division of the fund between separate CAA and NATS sections.

  Warnborough College Site
  Dr Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when his Department received the latest planning application for the development of the former Warnborough College site in Boars Hill, Oxford; and when he expects to make a decision. [145746]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The application was received just before the Christmas holidays on 15 December. A decision on whether to call in the application will be made as soon as possible, hopefully within the next few weeks.

  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what inquiries and research his Department is undertaking as part of
  260W
  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The principal kinds of funding which this Department has provided to the Torbay Unitary Authority in 1998–99,1999–2000 and 2000–01 are shown in the table. These include grants and borrowing approvals for revenue and capital expenditure.

  its consideration of the latest planning application regarding the Warnborough College site in Boars Hill, Oxford. [145747]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  None. The Secretary of State had all the information he requires to decide whether he ought to call in the application for his own determination.

  Planning Decisions
  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what targets there are for the speed of decision-making in his Department on planning applications. [145748]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Government expect local planning authorities to determine 80 per cent. of planning applications within eight weeks. We have set a Best Value Performance Standard for 15 authorities with the poorest record on processing planning applications, who will be required to determine a minimum of 65 per cent. of applications within eight weeks in 2001–02. A small number of planning applications are called in by the Secretary of State for his own decision. Government Offices for the Regions are asked to issue 80 per cent. of call-in decisions within 13 weeks of receipt of the inspector's report and 100 per cent. within 20 weeks.

  Waste Incineration (Essex)
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the planning status is of each site in the county of Essex which has been identified as a possible location for a waste incinerator. [145845]

  Mr. Mullin
  The sites at Whitehall Road, Colchester; North Weald Airfield, Epping Forest; and Courtauld Road, Basildon; have been identified in the draft Essex and Southend Waste Local Plan as potential locations for
  261W
  major waste management facilities, but the waste planning authorities recognise that they may be developed for alternative industrial uses. The other five identified sites at Rivenhall Airfield, Silver End, Braintree; land east of Warren Lane, Stanway; Pitsea Landfill site, Basildon; Rayleigh sub-station, Al29/A130, Rayleigh; and Sandon, Chelmsford are exclusively allocated for major waste management facilities only. The draft Waste Local Plan does not indicate a preference for a particular type of facility at any of these sites, but states that incinerators with energy recovery may be permitted provided that certain specified criteria are met.

  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received from Essex county council about the county's draft Waste Local Plan; and if he will make a statement. [145847]

  Mr. Mullin
  The draft Essex and Southend Waste Local Plan was the subject of a lengthy public inquiry at which all objections were considered by an independent Inspector. The Inspector's report is currently being considered by the waste planning authorities, and in due course they will publish their response to the Inspector's findings and their proposed modifications to the plan.

  When this matter was debated in the House on 12 December 2000, I explained that, in view of the Secretary of State's quasi-judicial role, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the merits of the Essex and Southend Waste Local Plan. I also gave my assurance that we will carefully examine the proposed modifications published by the waste planning authorities in the light of the Inspector's recommendations, the Government's waste strategy and national policies on waste disposal.

  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will seek medical and scientific evidence from the World Health Organisation and the European Union on the use of incinerators to burn waste in other countries; and if he will make a statement. [145844]

  Mr. Mullin
  Incinerators emit a variety of pollutants, of potential concern on health grounds, as indeed do many industrial processes. Our regulation of incinerators therefore requires emissions to be tightly controlled, at a minimum consistent with the limit values prescribed in EU legislation. These regulatory decisions, and the limit values themselves, are based on the best evidence from the scientific and medical community on the effects of air pollutants, including WHO and EU sources, (who commissioned work explicitly for the recently adopted Waste Incineration Directive).

  Any new information from the World Health Organisation or the European Union, and any substantial scientific studies of the health impacts of waste incinerators to be published in the scientific literature are kept under review by officials. If necessary this can be referred for consideration by expert advisory committees such as the Committee on Medical Effects of Air Pollutants.

  Water (Access)
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what 262W
  recent discussions his Department have had with national park authorities about access to water for non-powered craft; and if he will make a statement. [145438]

  Mr. Mullin
  My officials have had discussions on access to water for non-powered craft with a number of park authorities in the normal course of business. In addition, we expect shortly to commence a research project on access to water, in which the researchers are likely to consult the park authorities.

  Butterflies
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to introduce stricter controls governing the transportation of butterflies and their larvae between farms; and if he will make a statement. [145867]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 is the principal legislation in the UK governing the protection of wildlife and sets out comprehensive statutory protection for endangered wild species and their habitats. Section 9 of the Act prohibits the unauthorised killing, injuring, taking, possession, sale or disturbance in a place of shelter or protection, of any wild animal listed on Schedule 5 to the Act. Certain species are protected only in respect of certain activities.

  There are 25 butterflies and fritillaries listed on Schedule 5 of the Act. Six of these are afforded full protection and the rest are protected under section 9(5) which prohibits unauthorised sale. There are also eight moth species listed on Schedule 5, all of which are afforded full protection.

  The Government's statutory adviser undertakes a quinquennial review of Schedule 5 and recommends additions and deletions. Any changes from the next quinquennial review are likely to be introduced in 2002–03.

  Rail Safety
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what studies he has commissioned in respect of the reliability and robustness of train protection warning system loop aerials. [145027]

  Mr. Hill
  My right hon. Friend has commissioned no such studies. The Train Protection Warning System (TPWS) aerial loops form part of the equipment fitted to the track. The reliability and durability of this equipment has been demonstrated by factory tests and by extensive trials involving traffic loads. I understand that both Railtrack and the Health and Safety Executive's Railway Inspectorate have accepted the basic design.

  Cornish Language
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what timetable he has set for the assessment of the case for Cornish to be specified for the purposes of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. [145869]
  263W
  Ms Beverley Hughes
  We will complete our assessment of Government's position on Cornish in relation to the Charter as quickly as possible, with the help of the findings of the independent academic study completed last year.

  Rail Subsidies
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what conditions he has attached to public money given to the railway industry as subsidy in relation to the priority for its repayment before dividends are paid to shareholders. [145925]

  Mr. Hill
  Subsidy is paid to the railway industry in recognition of benefits which cannot be captured through the passenger fare box or freight charges. The conditions attached define what is to be delivered. Passenger franchise agreements provide for penalties for poor performance by train operators. There is a penalty and incentive regime for Railtrack and the Rail Regulator has powers, strengthened by the Transport Act 2000, to enforce Railtrack's compliance with the conditions in its licence to operate the rail network. Dividends for shareholders are for the companies to decide.

  Barn Owls
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to improve the labelling of rodenticide products in respect of the danger they pose to barn owls; and if he will make a statement. [145456]

  Mr. Mullin
  The use of rodenticides is controlled to limit the risk to birds of prey, including barn owls. The labels of all anticoagulant products require users to prevent access to bait by birds and non-target animals, and to search for rodent bodies and the remains of baits and to dispose of them safely. The use of the more potent products is restricted to professional users, for indoor use only. The independent Advisory Committee on Pesticides recently agreed that the current labelling policy should continue.

  HSE has produced a guidance sheet on the safe use of rodenticides, and MAFF is currently preparing a guidance document on rodenticide use. MAFF is also funding research into the effects on predatory birds from the use of anticoagulant rodenticides in rural areas, which should provided a better basis for assessing the potential for secondary poisoning. HSE is conducting discussions with interested parties, including English Nature and the RSPB, on action that might be taken to protect further birds of prey.

  Cyclist Deaths
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many cyclists have died from head injuries in each of the last 20 years. [R] [144820]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
  264W
  Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mr. Richard Page, dated 17 January 2001:
  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question on the number of cyclists who have died from head injuries in each of the last 20 years (144820). I am replying in his absence.
  The information requested is provided in the attached table.

  Number of cyclist deaths1 due to head injuries2 in England and Wales, 1979–1999

  Year

  Number of deaths

  1979

  177

  1980

  169

  1981

  103

  1982

  157

  1983

  160

  1984

  186

  1985

  154

  1986

  148

  1987

  156

  1988

  131

  1989

  132

  1990

  127

  1991

  120

  1992

  98

  1993

  89

  1994

  86

  1995

  127

  1996

  108

  1997

  97

  1998

  77

  1999

  92

  1 Cyclist deaths are classified according to the International Classification of disease, ninth edition, and are selected using ICD9 codes E810–E825, E800–E807, E8261.

  2 Head injuries have been selected using ICD9 codes for secondary cause of death N800–N804, N850–N854, N870–N873.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Ruminant Animal Feed
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what estimate he has made of the quantity of ruminant meat and bonemeal exported from the United Kingdom between 18 July 1988 and 20 March 1996; [142893]

  (2) what meat and bonemeal has been exported from the United Kingdom since 20 March 1996. [142895]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 20 December 2000]: Ruminant meat and bonemeal is not specifically identified in the official overseas trade statistics. The nearest equivalent is:
  Flours, meals and pellets, of meat or meat offal (including tankage), unfit for human consumption; greaves
  which includes poultry-based material. It is not possible to provide the actual quantity of MBM exported during the periods in question as these figures can not be extracted from the totals which include exports of other materials including non-MBM poultry-based products such as feathermeal.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what official advice the Government have received on the impact of fishmeal used in ruminant animal feed in the United Kingdom on human or animal health. [144343]
  265W
  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 8 January 2001]: Recent independent advice is that fishmeal is a desirable ingredient in high quality ewe rations because of its blend of proteins, amino and fatty acids, although there are examples of such rations where fishmeal is not included. In its recent review of BSE controls, the Food Standards Agency has not identified fishmeal as posing a risk to human health.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment the Government have made of the impact of the EU ban on fishmeal in ruminant animal feed on conventional and organic livestock farming in Britain. [144329]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 8 January 2001]: This issue will be considered in light of responses to the consultation exercise on the wider EU feed ban which issued on 12 January.

  French Beef
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he requested advice from the Food Standards Agency concerning the safety of French beef imported into the United Kingdom; what advice he has received; and if he will publish it. [144335]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 8 January 2001]: In response to requests from my Department and elsewhere, last autumn the FSA advised that there is no scientific justification for a ban on imports of legally sold French beef in view of the levels of incidence of BSE in France, the specified risk material controls and the ban on the sale of over-thirty-months-old beef. The agency regularly publishes information on its internet site—http://www.foodstandards.gov.uk/.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the quantity of beef produced from French cattle imported into Britain from other EU countries in the last 12 months. [144319]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 8 January 2001]: Following the introduction of the single market, official overseas trade statistics on intra-Community trade are compiled from the Intrastat Survey of traders run by HM Customs and Excise.

  While all traders provide the country of despatch of imports into the UK, the country of origin is provided only on a voluntary basis by a minority of traders.

  As a consequence, we do not have reliable statistical information on the quantity of French beef imported from other member states.

  Cod Quota
  Mr. Alan Campbell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of its cod quota was caught by the UK fleet in the North Sea in 2000. [145576]

  Mr. Morley
  The UK's final cod quota in the North Sea for 2000 was 34,149 tonnes. Total landings by UK vessels, as known to Departments at 11 January 2001, was 27,131 tonnes. This represents an uptake of 79.4 per cent.

  Common Fisheries Policy
  Mr. Alan Campbell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps are being taken to improve regional management of the Common Fisheries Policy. [145573]

  Mr. Morley
  We consider regional management to be a priority issue to be addressed as part of the review of the common fisheries policy. The Irish Sea cod recovery programme represents a significant step forward in bringing together fishermen, managers and scientists from the member states concerned to help develop the programme and review its operation. We are following a similar approach for the North Sea cod recovery programme. This indicates the direction in which we want the common fisheries policy to develop.

  Fishing Management
  Mr. Alan Campbell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with representatives of the regional development agencies regarding the improvement of regional management of fishing. [145572]

  Mr. Morley
  We plan to consult fully with all interested parties, including the regional development agencies, on the forthcoming review of the common fisheries policy, including options to improve its regional dimension.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Immigration and Nationality Directorate
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to require all correspondence sent to IND to be acknowledged. [145457]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Home Office's service delivery agreement for 2001–04, which commits all Home Office directorates, including the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND), to replying to 95 per cent. of public correspondence within 20 working days by the end of 2001–02, does not require that such correspondence also be acknowledged. However, it is the policy of IND's integrated casework directorate to acknowledge the receipt of applications and other casework-related correspondence where an acknowledgement is requested.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many files under the control of IND went missing in each of the last five years; and how many of these subsequently have been found. [145458]

  Mrs. Roche
  The information is not available in the format requested. At present, out of a total file holding of approximately 4.1 million, 15,855—or less than 0.4 per cent.—are recorded as lost. 7,507 of these have become lost since 1 January 1996 and have not yet come to light.

  Many of the files recorded as lost have had new sub-files created on which action has continued.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to improve the response times of IND to correspondence. [145459]
  267W
  Mrs. Roche
  The Home Office's published service delivery agreement for 2001–04 commits all Home Office Directorates, including the immigration and nationality directorate (IND), to replying to 95 per cent. of public correspondence within 20 working days and 95 per cent. of ministerial correspondence within 15 working days by the end of 2001–02. Improving performance against published targets for dealing with correspondence will be a key aim of the customer communications foundation project, which will form part of the SIRIUS programme for modernising business processes across the Home Office, including IND.

  IND has established two dedicated ministerial correspondence units within its integrated casework directorate in order to improve the service provided to MPs on casework-related correspondence.

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in the introduction of the casework programme of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate; and if he will make a statement. [144494]

  Mrs. Roche
  I refer my hon. friend to the first part of my answer to his question on 23 November 2000,Official Report, column 293W.

  Human Rights Act
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the guidance his Department issues to Government Departments on the effects of the Human Rights Act 1998. [144196]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The principal published guidance is:Guidance for Departments (developed by the Cabinet Office Constitution Secretariat);
  Core Guidance for Public Authorities (produced by the Human Rights Task Force); and
  Putting Rights Into Public Service (produced by the Human Rights Task Force).

  All this material has been made widely available in printed and electronic form and is accessible, along with the other guidance on the Human Rights Act, via the Home Office website. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  Probation Service
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) probation officers and (b) probation service officers retired, per service, in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [145699]

  Mr. Boateng
  The centrally available information is as follows:

  Probation officers retired each year

  Service

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  20001

  Avon

  2

  2

  3

  4

  1

  Bedfordshire

  3

  3

  1

  1

  —

  Berkshire

  3

  1

  8

  —

  —

  Cambridgeshire

  2

  1

  5

  2

  2

  Cheshire

  6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  268W

  Probation officers retired each year

  Service

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  20001

  Cornwall

  3

  —

  —

  2

  —

  Cumbria

  3

  2

  4

  2

  —

  Derbyshire

  7

  3

  2

  1

  —

  Devon

  6

  2

  3

  5

  4

  Dorset

  4

  —

  2

  1

  1

  Durham

  1

  2

  1

  2

  —

  Essex

  5

  3

  3

  3

  1

  Gloucestershire

  2

  2

  1

  1

  —

  Hampshire

  8

  4

  4

  —

  Hereford and Worcester

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Hertfordshire

  5

  —

  1

  3

  1

  Humberside

  4

  6

  5

  —

  2

  Kent

  11

  2

  5

  3

  1

  Lancashire

  9

  5

  3

  4

  2

  Leicestershire

  1

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Lincolnshire

  1

  —

  1

  2

  1

  Greater Manchester

  6

  6

  4

  6

  —

  Merseyside

  14

  4

  8

  4

  1

  Norfolk

  3

  2

  3

  2

  1

  Northamptonshire

  2

  1

  2

  2

  —

  Northumbria

  6

  3

  1

  2

  2

  Nottinghamshire

  2

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Oxford/Buckinghamshire

  5

  2

  5

  7

  2

  Shropshire

  —

  —

  1

  2

  —

  Somerset

  2

  1

  —

  1

  —

  Staffordshire

  5

  8

  5

  2

  3

  Suffolk

  2

  1

  5

  3

  —

  Surrey

  3

  —

  1

  1

  —

  East Sussex

  1

  1

  —

  —

  1

  West Sussex

  1

  —

  1

  3

  —

  Teesside

  3

  1

  3

  —

  2

  Warwickshire

  4

  —

  —

  2

  2

  West Midlands

  24

  5

  16

  9

  3

  Wiltshire

  2

  1

  1

  —

  —

  North Yorkshire

  2

  4

  —

  1

  —

  South Yorkshire

  5

  5

  3

  7

  3

  West Yorkshire

  8

  1

  14

  10

  2

  Inner London

  16

  18

  17

  8

  6

  North East London

  2

  —

  4

  2

  2

  South East London

  1

  —

  2

  1

  —

  South West London

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Middlesex

  12

  3

  3

  3

  —

  Dyfed

  —

  1

  4

  4

  —

  Gwent

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  North Wales

  3

  —

  1

  2

  —

  Powys

  —

  —

  3

  —

  —

  South Glamorgan

  1

  —

  7

  —

  —

  Mid Glamorgan

  1

  —

  —

  —

  2

  West Glamorgan

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  England and Wales

  223

  107

  170

  122

  50

  1 January-June

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) probation officers and (b) probation staff (i) were recruited, (ii) retired, (iii) resigned and (iv) were dismissed, in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [145701]

  Mr. Boateng
  The available information is as follows:

  Probation officers

  Number of staff

  England and Wales

  Recruited1

  Retired

  1996

  277

  223

  1997

  337

  107

  1998

  561

  170

  1999

  722

  122

  269W

  Probation officers

  Number of staff

  England and Wales

  Recruited1

  Retired

  20002

  3—

  50

  1 Recruited

  2 January-June

  3 Not available

  Note:

  Information is not collected centrally on the categories 'dismissed' or 'resigned', nor is any information available centrally on recruitment etc. for probation staff as a whole.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total case load undertaken by probation services was and what the average case load per probation officer was in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [145698]

  Mr. Boateng
  The information is as follows:

  Case load and case load per officer

  Number of persons

  England and Wales

  Total case load (Thousand)1

  Case load per officer2

  1995

  161

  25.0

  1996

  171

  27.7

  1997

  185

  31.1

  1998

  204

  34.4

  1999

  218

  36.6

  1 At 31 December

  2 Per maingrade probation officer (whole-time equivalent of maingrade probation officers, excluding temporary and trainee, on fieldwork duties at 31 December). Excludes community service orders.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many full-time probation officers were in post(a) in each of the last five years and (b) at the latest date for which figures are available. [145700]

  Mr. Boateng
  The information requested is as follows:

  Full-time probation officers in post at 31 December (30 June)1

  England and Wales

  Number

  19951

  6,994

  19961

  6,817

  19971

  6,631

  19981

  6,624

  19991

  6,920

  20002

  6,772

  1 Includes temporary and trainee staff. The 1995 figure includes Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire as at 30 June 1995.

  2 December

  3 June

  Prison Population
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the current prison population in England and Wales is; what the(a) maximum operational capacity and (b) certified normal accommodation is; and if he will make a statement. [145848]

  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 16 January 2001]: The prison population in England and Wales on 12 January 2001 was 62,386. On the same date, the total in-use certified normal accommodation was 63,285 and the total certified operational capacity was 70,883.

  Prison Suicides
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of suicide were recorded in prison establishments in England and Wales from April 2000 to date; and if he will make a statement. [145850]

  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 16 January 2001]: There have been 63 self-inflicted deaths in prisons since 1 April 2000 (including two this year). The Prison Service is reconsidering with Ministers its suicide/self-harm strategy and an announcement will be made in February.

  Immigration Detainees
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department as what category of inmate people detained in prison for immigration irregularities will be held; and if he will make a statement. [145163]

  Mr. Boateng
  Persons who are detained in prison by reason only of a recommendation for deportation are treated as unconvicted prisoners for the purpose of prison management and, like unconvicted prisoners, are categorised category U (unclassified).

  The majority of detainees are held in category B establishments although some are detained in category C prisons. They are not required to mix with unconvicted prisoners.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department from what prison budget funding is provided for the cost of detaining people in prison for immigration reasons. [145164]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Prison Service baseline funding includes provision to cover the cost of providing around 500 places for immigration detainees. For operational reasons, these are accommodated principally at Rochester and Lindholme prisons and Haslar holding centre, but local prison places are also used. There is no separately identified budget for this. The Prison Service has agreed to provide accommodation for up to a further 500 places until the end of 2001 from within existing capacity.

  Escaped Prisoners
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many escaped prison inmates there are, indicating(a) from which prison they escaped and (b) on what dates. [144906]

  Mr. Boateng
  There are currently seven prisoners at large having escaped from prisons since January 1998. The details can be found in the table. Information from previous years can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
  271W

  Prison

  Date of escape

  Littlehey

  30 December 1998

  Wormwood Scrubs

  31 January 1999

  Littlehey

  26 November 1999

  Blantyre House

  30 August 2000

  Brinsford

  29 December 2000

  Down view

  5 January 2001

  Kirklevington

  10 January 2001

  Police Manpower (Merseyside)
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his estimate is of the net effect of his Department's recent grant to Merseyside police under the organised crime initiative on police numbers in the county. [144941]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Merseyside police will receive £1,020,000 under the targeted policing initiative, part of the crime reduction programme, to buy technical equipment to confront and tackle criminal networks across the county. Merseyside police inform me that the money will improve the capability and resilience of existing internal structures and will bring benefits in terms of crime reduction.

  Early Retirement
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of the south-east regional crime squad retired on grounds of ill health between 1995 and 2000. [145242]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Data are not collected centrally on ill-health retirements of officers on central service. However, I understand that one member of the south-east regional crime squad retired on grounds of ill-health between 1995 and 2000.

  The south-east regional crime squad became part of the national crime squad (NCS) on 1 April 1998. Officers are seconded to NCS from their home force. NCS may return an officer to a force on medical grounds, but the decision on whether or not to retire on medical grounds lies solely with the home force.

  Prisoner Releases
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were released on temporary licence(a) in total and (b) broken down by type of licence, in 2000. [144951]

  Mr. Boateng
  There were 244,000 releases on temporary licence in 2000. This includes prisoners who were released on more than one occasion. The total is broken down as follows:

  Number

  Local visits

  44,100

  Resettlement licence

  66,100

  Facility licence

  125,700

  Compassionate release

  8,100

  Total

  244,000

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of those asylum seekers processed at the Oakington detention centre have been denied entry to the UK; and how many of those refused entry have been removed from the UK. [144916]

  Mrs. Roche
  As at 5 January 2001, 2,572 asylum seekers whose cases have been processed at Oakington have had an initial decision refusing asylum and 343 have so far been removed from the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum vouchers were issued in each week of December 2000. [145769]

  Mrs. Roche
  The number of vouchers issued in each week of December 2000 is given in the following table:

  Week commencing

  Number of vouchers issued

  4 December 2000

  273,831

  11 December 2000

  322,125

  18 December 2000

  345,186

  25 December 2000

  325,659

  Drug Misuse (Prisons)
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 10 January 2000,Official Report, column 573W, if he will list the prisons where (a) he and (b) the governors are aware of an obviously significant level of dealing in unlawful drugs; and if he will review the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 to provide a valid defence to (i) prison governors and (ii) others in a relevant management position against charges under section 8. [145569]

  Mr. Boateng
  Covert activity such as drug trafficking is by nature very difficult to quantify. All prisons are required to have in place a robust and proportionate drug strategy to tackle both the supply and demand for drugs. Prisons act firmly whenever there is evidence of drug trafficking.

  Section 8 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 makes it an offence for an occupier or person concerned in the management of any premises knowingly to permit certain activities to take place there, including the supply of a controlled drug.

  The courts have made it clear that this means that those in a management position who are aware of drug dealing on their premises must take all reasonable steps to stop it. The decision on what is "reasonable" is for a jury to decide, in all the circumstances and taking into account the level of the defendant's knowledge of the drug dealing taking place and the steps available to him or her to stop it. I am satisfied therefore that the law already allows an appropriate and valid defence.

  Prostitution
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the age of the youngest person taken into custody by the Metropolitan police for prostitution was in the last 12 months. [145427]
  273W
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The youngest person to be taken into custody by the Metropolitan police in the last 12 months because of suspected involvement in prostitution was 12 years of age. She was taken into protective custody and, in accordance with the joint Home Office and Department of Health guidance "Safeguarding Children Involved in Prostitution", a referral was made to the Social Services Department.

  Prison Officers
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officers are suspended from duty at each prison in England and Wales. [145762]

  Mr. Boateng
  The table provides the information requested.

  Suspended prison officers in England and Wales by prison as at 15 January 2001

  Prison

  Number

  Birmingham

  1

  Bristol

  1

  Brixton

  1

  Brockhill

  1

  Bullingdon

  1

  Bullwood Hall

  1

  Canterbury

  1

  Durham

  1

  Eastwood Park

  1

  Elmley

  5

  Erlestoke

  3

  Feltham

  3

  Frankland

  1

  Full Sutton

  1

  Gloucester

  1

  Grendon and Spring Hill

  1

  Haverigg

  1

  High Down

  3

  Hindley

  1

  Huntercombe

  1

  Lancaster Castle

  1

  Littlehey

  1

  Liverpool

  1

  Long Lartin

  1

  Lowdham Grange

  1

  Northallerton

  1

  Norwich

  1

  Nottingham

  1

  Onley

  2

  Parkhurst

  1

  Pentonville

  2

  Portland

  7

  Preston

  2

  Send

  2

  Stafford

  1

  Stocken

  1

  Stoke Heath

  1

  Swaleside

  1

  The Mount

  1

  The Verne

  1

  Wakefield

  2

  Wandsworth

  5

  Whitemoor

  2

  Woodhill

  2

  Wormwood Scrubs

  28

  Total

  99

  Public Enquiry Office
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what facilities the public enquiry office of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate offers private solicitors for dealing with immigration and asylum applications; how many practices are offered this facility; and what criteria they must meet. [145529]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Public Enquiry Office (PEO) does not deal with asylum applications. Applications for asylum are dealt with in the asylum screening unit where legal representatives may accompany applicants.

  The PEO deals with personal callers wishing to make straightforward non-asylum applications for leave to remain in the United Kingdom. The PEO also offers a postal service for legal representatives for urgent straightforward applications for leave to remain. These applications are dealt with by return of post. Any representative can apply for inclusion in this service. The number of representatives currently using this service is 289, which represents a possible total of 309 applications each week.

  Emergency Calls (Mobile Telephones)
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department(a) how many and (b) what proportion, of 999 calls to the Metropolitan police were made from mobile telephones in each of the last five years; and what the proportion of serious calls was from (i) mobile and (ii) other telephones in the same period. [145344]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 15 January 2001]: The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that the information relating to the number and proportion of 999 calls attributable to mobile phones in each of the last five years cannot be provided in the time available. I will write to my right hon. Friend when it becomes available. 999 calls made to the Metropolitan police are not categorised as serious or non-serious.

  Police Pay and Conditions
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce local determination of police pay and conditions. [145551]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 15 January 2001]: There are no present plans to introduce local determination of police pay and conditions.

  The police negotiating board is currently looking at whether there should be an allowance for officers in forces outside of London. I await any recommendation it may make on this or any other issue in relation to police pay and allowances.

  Police Numbers
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his projections are for total police numbers at(a) March 2001 and (b) March 2002. [145558]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 15 January 2001]: Projecting police numbers is difficult. Apart from special arrangements like the crime fighting fund (CFF)—where money is provided specifically for additional recruitment—Ministers have no control over local

  275W
  decisions on the mix of officer strength and other resources that police authorities and chief constables may consider best for their police forces.

  Through the CFF, we are providing new money—£454 million over the three years 2000–03—to ensure that there is a step change in the number of officers in the police service. Assuming forces' current projections for recruitment and wastage hold good, police numbers should reach 126,000 by March 2001, and 128,000 by March 2002. There may be some slippage, but the aim is to ensure a significant change in the number.

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimates he has received from each police force for the three years commencing in April

  Police officer projected wastage 2000–03

  (a) Projected wastage in terms of losses to each force and the service

  Projected transfers

  Force

  2000–01

  2000–02

  2000–03

  Total

  2000–01

  2000–02

  2000–03

  Total

  Avon and Somerset

  115

  111

  111

  337

  5

  10

  10

  26

  Bedfordshire

  45

  49

  57

  151

  9

  4

  5

  18

  Cambridgeshire

  63

  62

  57

  182

  5

  5

  5

  15

  Cheshire

  78

  90

  102

  270

  6

  6

  6

  18

  City of London

  40

  39

  39

  118

  14

  13

  13

  40

  Cleveland

  53

  58

  53

  164

  6

  6

  6

  18

  Cumbria

  57

  57

  57

  171

  6

  6

  6

  18

  Derbyshire

  73

  74

  73

  220

  4

  3

  3

  10

  Devon and Cornwall

  132

  84

  96

  312

  6

  4

  4

  14

  Dorset

  81

  72

  61

  214

  1

  1

  1

  3

  Durharn

  49

  56

  54

  159

  5

  5

  5

  15

  Dyfed-Powys

  40

  42

  40

  122

  4

  4

  4

  12

  Essex

  114

  115

  117

  346

  8

  8

  8

  24

  Gloucestershire

  36

  50

  50

  136

  2

  2

  2

  6

  Greater Manchester

  278

  279

  257

  814

  15

  15

  15

  45

  Gwent

  59

  51

  54

  164

  3

  3

  3

  9

  Hampshire

  150

  152

  170

  472

  15

  15

  15

  45

  Hertfordshire

  93

  105

  95

  293

  21

  23

  21

  65

  Humberside

  89

  94

  80

  263

  6

  6

  6

  18

  Kent

  150

  141

  145

  436

  20

  19

  19

  58

  Lancashire

  102

  100

  116

  318

  2

  2

  2

  6

  Leicestershire

  75

  83

  94

  252

  9

  9

  9

  27

  Lincolnshire

  63

  63

  52

  178

  3

  3

  3

  9

  Merseyside

  145

  155

  165

  465

  15

  15

  15

  45

  Metropolitan

  11,270

  11,454

  1,541

  4,265

  200

  200

  150

  550

  Norfolk

  53

  63

  62

  178

  3

  3

  3

  9

  North Wales

  59

  59

  59

  177

  3

  3

  3

  9

  North Yorkshire

  56

  58

  59

  173

  6

  5

  5

  16

  Northamptonshire

  43

  54

  58

  155

  3

  3

  3

  9

  Northumbria

  124

  124

  118

  366

  13

  10

  13

  36

  Nottinghamshire

  78

  78

  78

  234

  6

  6

  6

  18

  South Wales

  152

  152

  152

  456

  4

  4

  4

  12

  South Yorkshire

  102

  102

  99

  303

  11

  11

  11

  33

  Staffordshire

  81

  81

  81

  243

  8

  8

  8

  24

  Suffolk

  54

  52

  55

  161

  3

  2

  5

  10

  Surrey

  142

  242

  105

  489

  25

  20

  25

  70

  Sussex

  185

  185

  185

  555

  15

  15

  15

  45

  Thames Valley

  164

  181

  195

  540

  25

  25

  25

  75

  Warwickshire

  46

  49

  47

  142

  5

  5

  5

  15

  West Mercia

  104

  94

  94

  292

  6

  6

  6

  18

  West Midlands

  312

  312

  312

  936

  43

  43

  43

  129

  West Yorkshire

  190

  209

  197

  596

  10

  11

  11

  32

  Wiltshire

  41

  48

  48

  137

  4

  4

  4

  12

  Total

  5,436

  5,779

  5.740

  16,955

  583

  571

  531

  1,685

  1 Wastage figures for MPS assume that officers currently seconded to county forces following 1 April 2000 boundary changes will return to the force during 2000–01 and 2001–02.

  276W
  2000 of (a) wastage in terms of losses to each force and the police service as a whole and (b) projected transfers between forces. [145556]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 15 January 2001]: In their bids for a share of the recruitment scheme of the crime fighting fund made in January 2000, forces provided information on their projected wastage over the following three years. The Metropolitan police service (MPS) has subsequently provided revised figures for total wastage, but not for transfers from the force.

  The table shows the estimates forces have given for (a) wastage in terms of losses to each force and the Police Service as a whole; and (b) projected transfers (i.e. transfers from each force into another), for the three years commencing April 2000.

  Police Dogs
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) dog handlers and (b) dogs were in the police service in (i) 1997, (ii) 1998, (iii) 1999 and (iv) 2000. [145546]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 15 January 2001]: This information is not held centrally.

  The Association of Chief Police Officers police dogs sub-committee has informed me that this information was not collected in 1997 and 1999.

  The numbers for 1998 and 2000 are:

  Dog handlers

  Dogs

  1998

  1,996

  2,447

  2000

  1,743

  2,431

  Police Constables
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) police constables and (b) special constables in the police service in England and Wales there were on 31 March for each year since 1990; and if he will list (a) the figures for 30 September 2000 and (b) his projected figures for 31 March 2001. [145562]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 15 January 2001]: The table sets out overall constable numbers since 1990 which includes officers on secondment to the national crime squad, the national criminal intelligence service and central services. Data on the number of special constables have been centrally collected on a regular basis only from September 1995.

  We have no projections from forces on the number of constables they are likely to have at the end of March 2001. As part of the bidding process for funding from the crime fighting fund (CFF), forces were asked to provide their projections of appointments on probation (ie new recruits to the force and the police service) and for their projections of wastage (all ranks) excluding transfers between forces. These show that forces hope to recruit about 7,000 new recruits in the current year. This number includes the officers to be funded by the CFF. All of these will enter the service in the rank of constable. But, as we do not have a breakdown of projected wastage by rank, no projection can be made of total constable numbers on 31 March 2001.

  Assuming forces' current projections of recruitment and wastage hold good, police numbers (all ranks) should reach 126,000 by 31 March 2001.

  The special constabulary is a volunteer service and no projections on its likely strength have been sought.

  Constable and special constable numbers since 1990

  Year (as at 31 March)

  Constables

  Special constables

  1990

  95,167

  n/a

  1991

  95,609

  n/a

  1992

  95,662

  n/a

  1993

  96,591

  n/a

  1994

  97,010

  n/a

  1995

  97,107

  n/a

  1996

  97,672

  19,775

  1997

  98,132

  19,874

  278W

  Constable and special constable numbers since 1990

  Year (as at 31 March)

  Constables

  Special constables

  1998

  98,312

  18,256

  1999

  98,520

  16,484

  2000

  95,917

  14,347

  30 September 2000

  96,499

  13,528

  North Wales Police
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many racially motivated crimes were committed in the North Wales police area in(a) 1999, (b) 1994 and (c) 1997. [145392]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Information recorded centrally shows that the number of racially motivated incidents recorded by the police in North Wales for 1994–95 was three, for 1997–98 was 12 and for 1998–99 was 36. Information for 1999–2000 will be published on 18 January 2001 in "Statistics on Race and the Criminal Justice System", a copy of which will be placed in the Library. These are incidents recorded either under the Association of Chief Police Officers' definition of a racial incident:any incident in which it appears to the reporting or investigating officer that the complaint involves an element of racial motivation: or any incident which includes an allegation of racial motivation made by any person.
  which applied until February 1999 or under the new simplified definition of a racist incident proposed by the Lawrence Inquiry which was adopted at that time:
  any incident which is perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person.

  Incidents included here are therefore wider than the normal definition of a crime in the crime statistics and include low level harassment.

WALES

  Legislation
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has discussed with the Welsh Cabinet the possibility of a fast-track procedure for Welsh legislation. [144068]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I regularly discuss a wide range of issues with the First Secretary, including the progress through Parliament of primary legislation affecting Wales.

  The current procedure for progressing Welsh legislation through Parliament since the establishment of the National Assembly is working very well and I see no need for change at present. There are already procedural options for dealing with Welsh-only primary legislation and each piece of legislation will be considered on its merits.

  Child Detention
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Walse (1) how many children under 16 years of age are detained at He Majesty's pleasure in Wales; [145884]

  (2) how many children aged 16 and 17 years are detained at He Majesty's pleasure in Wales. [145883]

  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 16 January 2001]: I have been asked to reply.
  279W
  No child or young person under the age of 18 is currently detained at Her Majesty's pleasure in Wales.

  Child Statistics
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many children are ordinarily resident in Wales. [145885]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Based on the Registrar General's mid-year estimate, there were, in Wales, 596,800 persons under the age of 16 in 1999.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Social Fund
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) successful and (b) unsuccessful applications were made to the Social Fund in each of the last three years; and of (a) how many resulted in crisis loans in (i) Inverclyde and (ii) Scotland. [144499]

  Angela Eagle
  The administration of the Social Fund is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. She will write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Dr. Norman A. Godman, dated 17 January 2001:
  The Parliamentary Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to respond to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful applications were made to the Social Fund in each of the last three years; and of (a) how many resulted in crisis loans in (i) Inverclyde and (ii) Scotland.
  The information is not available in the format requested. Social Fund data is collated by Benefits Agency District Office areas rather than by constituency areas. The constituency of Inverclyde is included within the Clyde Coast and Renfrew District Office area.
  The attached appendix shows details of the numbers of Budgeting Loans, Community Care Grants and Crisis Loans awarded and refused for the last three years for Scotland and the District Office Area for Clyde Coast and Renfrew.
  The data provided for the number of Crisis. Loans awarded, cannot be broken down to identify Crisis Loans awarded due to the result of the refusal of another loan from the Social Fund.
  Figures for 2000–01 are for the period April 2000 to December 2000 only as this is the latest available data.
  I hope this reply is helpful.

  Appendix: Community Care Grants

  Scotland

  Clyde Coast and Renfrew

  1997–98

  Awarded

  44,892

  3,990

  Refused

  142,187

  11,828

  1998–99

  Awarded

  42,589

  4,052

  Refused

  141,529

  11,867

  1999–2000

  Awarded

  44,421

  4,151

  Refused

  69,723

  5,229

  2000–011

  Awarded

  34,619

  3,059

  Refused

  43,245

  3,189

  1 The data are for the period April 2000 to December 2000

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  Budgeting loans

  Scotland

  Clyde Coast and Renfrew

  1997–98

  Awarded

  128,660

  9,389

  Refused

  82,323

  7,833

  1998–99

  Awarded

  132,886

  9,749

  Refused

  75,283

  7,319

  1999–2000

  Awarded

  144,057

  12,771

  Refused

  94,215

  8,163

  2000–011

  Awarded

  130,816

  9,445

  Refused

  53,786

  5,041

  1 The data are for the period April 2000 to December 2000

  Crisis loans

  Scotland

  Clyde Coast and Renfrew

  1997–98

  Awarded

  150,333

  22,050

  Refused

  69,391

  8,202

  1998–99

  Awarded

  178,400

  28,794

  Refused

  78,489

  13,069

  1999–2000

  Awarded

  201,071

  31,903

  Refused

  114,737

  17,525

  2000–011

  Awarded

  141,973

  23,631

  Refused

  73,698

  10,913

  1 The data are for the period April 2000 to December 2000

  Disability Benefits (Scotland)
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people with disabilities in Scotland are claiming state benefits. [145145]

  Mr. Bayley
  Information is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available is as follows. At May 2000, about 623,000 people (across all age groups) in Scotland were receiving one or more of the following benefits: Attendance Allowance; Disability Living Allowance; Severe Disablement Allowance or Incapacity Benefit including 'credits only' cases; Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance with a disability-related premium; Retirement Pension with an invalidity addition or a reduction.

  Travel Allowance
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what factors determined the cost limit of 80p on the travel allowance for claimants attending benefit offices; and what plans he has to review the limit. [143285]

  Mr. Bayley
  If customers are required to attend a benefit office in connection with their claim, their reasonable travelling expenses can be reimbursed. This is not limited to 80p.

  Winter Fuel Payments
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many Winter Fuel Payments were paid in each of the last two years in(a) the parliamentary constituency of Greenock and Inverclyde and (b) Scotland. [144500]

  Mr. Rooker
  Last winter (1999–2000) around 900,000 Winter Fuel Payments were made in Scotland, of which 11,944 were made to those entitled in the parliamentary constituency of Greenock and Inverclyde.

  Latest information for this winter shows that, of around 1 million payments made in Scotland, 12,881 have been in Greenock and Inverclyde.

  Figures cannot be precise because the scheme has been extended to make payments to those entitled from the age of 60—some of whom need to claim. Claims are still being received.

  Pensions (Scotland)
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people of pension age in Scotland are claiming the state pension. [145144]

  Mr. Rooker
  At 31 March 2000, there were 900,700 pensioners residing in Scotland in receipt of a state pension.

  Source:

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

  Correspondence
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he plans to answer Mr. Steven Burton's letter of 28 November 2000. [145880]

  Benefits Agency information by Scottish district as at 31 December 2000

  District

  Staff in post1

  Staff costs2 (£ million)

  Non-staff costs2 (£ million)

  Argyll and West

  381

  4.78

  2.04

  Clyde Coast and Renfrew

  448

  6.05

  2.09

  Glasgow East

  320

  4.09

  1.66

  Glasgow North

  508

  6.40

  2.67

  Glasgow South

  615

  7.60

  2.60

  Highlands and Islands

  329

  4.06

  1.67

  South West Scotland

  518

  6.44

  2.38

  East Edinburgh and Borders

  444

  5.43

  0.42

  Lothian West and North Edinburgh

  371

  4.51

  0.43

  Fife

  304

  3.95

  0.31

  Tayside

  381

  4.74

  0.45

  Grampian and Shetland

  289

  3.60

  0.35

  Lanarkshire

  521

  6.68

  0.40

  Forth Valley

  256

  3.28

  0.34

  Area Directorate Support

  119

  2.18

  17.20

  Central Support Unit Scotland

  82

  1.06

  0.71

  Operational Support Satellite Unit

  19

  0.25

  0.20

  Benefit Fraud Investigation Service

  492

  7.58

  0.65

  Office Support Services

  345

  3.64

  1.08

  1 Rounded to nearest whole number

  2 Rounded to nearest £10,000

  Notes:

  1. Information excludes Northgate, Glasgow which provides support only to London officers

  2. Area Directorates Support expenditure includes Out of hours Service, internal Security, PRIME, IMAPACT and Accommodation and Office Service

  3. Expenditure costs are year to date as at 31 December 2000
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  Angela Eagle
  A reply to Mr. Stephen Burton's letter was sent on 12 January.

  Agency Staff (Scotland)
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many staff there are at the(a) Independent Tribunal Service office in Glasgow, (b) Information Technology Services Agency offices in Livingstone, (c) Child Support Agency offices in Falkirk and (d) Benefits Agency in the (i) South East of Scotland, (ii) South West of Scotland. (iii) West of Scotland, (iv) Central Scotland, (v) North East Scotland and (vi) the Highlands and Islands of Scotland; and what the (A) wage and (B) running costs of each are in the current financial year. [145148]

  Angela Eagle
  The Independent Tribunal Service is now known as the Appeals Service Agency. At present there are 99 full or part-time staff employed by the Appeals Service Agency in Glasgow. Salary costs in the current financial year to 31 December 2000 were £1.75 million. Running costs for the same period were £2.36 million.

  The Information Technology Service Agency (ITSA) no longer exists.

  The Child Support Agency currently employs 1,180 full or part-time staff at Falkirk. Information on wages and running costs is not available as the Scotland and North East Business Unit, which has its main base in Falkirk, also has staff located in North East England. Budgets are allocated to the business unit as a whole and it is therefore not possible to break down the wage and running costs associated with the Falkirk site.

  The information requested on the Benefits Agency is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the table.

  Agency Property (Scotland)
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many personal computers, printers, faxes and vehicles are based at the(a) Independent Tribunal Service office in Glasgow, (b) Information Technology Services Agency in Livingstone and (c) Benefits Agency in the (i) South East of Scotland, (ii) South West of Scotland, (iii) West of Scotland, (iv) Central Scotland, (v) North East Scotland and (vi) Highlands and Islands of Scotland and (d) the Child Support Agency in Falkirk. [145149]

  Angela Eagle
  The Independent Tribunal Service is now known as the Appeal Services Agency.

  The Information Technology Services Agency (ITSA) no longer exists.

  The available information for Scotland is in the following table.

  Agency

  PCs

  Printers

  Faxes

  Vehicles

  Appeals Service Agency

  139

  47

  8

  0

  Benefits Agency

  5,020

  1,242

  336

  121

  Child Support Agency

  490

  52

  40

  0

  Note:

  The figures for Benefits Agency are for Scotland as a whole, but exclude Northgate, Glasgow, which provides support to London offices only.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications for Disability Living Allowance(a) care component, (b) mobility component and (c) care and mobility components were received in each quarter of the last three years; how many of these were (i) successful, (ii) unsuccessful, (iii) subject to review, (iv) successful at review, (v) unsuccessful at review, (vi) subject to reconsideration, (vii) successful at reconsideration, (viii) unsuccessful at reconsideration, (ix) subject to appeal and (x) successful at appeal; what was the average number of days taken to process applications; and how many decisions had not been reached at the end of each quarter for (A) first claim, (B) review, (C) reconsideration and (D) appeal stages. [144846]

  Mr. Bayley
  Information is not available in the form requested.

CABINET OFFICE

  Anti-drugs Strategy
  Gillian Merron
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment she has made of the impact of the Government's anti-drugs strategy programmes aimed at children. [144205]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  One of our key targets is to reduce the proportion of young people under the age of 25 reporting the use of illegal drugs by 50 per cent. by 2008. To support this objective we have announced plans to increase the amount of spending on education and prevention from £63 million this year to £120 million in 2003–04.
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  There are already encouraging signs of progress. The most recent Ofsted survey shows that in 1999, 93 per cent. of secondary schools and 75 per cent. of primary schools had policies compared to 86 per cent. and 61 per cent. in 1997.

  In addition, other research indicates a levelling off, or even a drop, in the reported use of illegal drugs by young people.

  Angela Smith
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress is being made towards achieving the Government's targets on combating drug misuse. [144206]

  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on cross-departmental progress on reducing drug use. [144218]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator published his Annual Report for 1999–2000 on 7 November 2000.

  The report shows that we are making progress towards meeting the challenging targets we have set as part our 10-year anti-drugs strategy.

  Most of our annual targets were met in full and we are on track to deliver published targets for 2002.

  My hon. Friend will be pleased to know that all Basildon schools now have a drugs policy in place—indeed, Basildon was the first area of Essex to pilot a programme of focusing school based standards funds and the efforts of the local education authority drugs adviser into one district base, in collaboration with the district drug reference group.

  I am also pleased to report that Basildon enjoys strong crime reduction links, through the implementation of the Essex arrest referral schemes and drug treatment and testing orders.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what account the Government's anti-drugs strategy takes of the drugs trade in Bolivia. [144215]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  In order to achieve our target of halving the availability of Class A drugs by 2008, the Government focus their overseas efforts on those countries which pose the greatest threat to the UK. As Bolivia is not only a producer of coca leaf but of cocaine itself, it is an important part of our drugs strategy.

  We welcome the considerable efforts that the Bolivian Government have made in eradicating illicit coca and we continue to provide support to their counter-drugs efforts. Since April 1997, the UK Government have provided almost £1.2 million worth of counter-drugs assistance to Bolivia. This has included training, equipment and support to alternative development projects.

  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what role the drug action teams are playing in the delivery of the Government's anti-drugs strategy. [144220]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  Drug action teams (DATs) have a crucial role in the delivery of the national drugs strategy. They are the main mechanism for delivery on the ground and work as a local partnership of the agencies involved in tackling drugs including probation, health, education, police and local authorities. All drug action teams are required to plan and deliver an effective programme of activities in line with the national drugs strategy.
  285W
  St. Helens DAT have recently separated from St. Helens and Knowsley DAT. They have developed their links with crime and disorder strategies, have established a needs assessment of young people and reviewed the services to respond to the area of need. There is partnership working between the DAT, the youth offending team and local drugs services. The arrest referral scheme has been established and the DAT are looking to strengthen communication links with community safety and social exclusion units.

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on the work of the drug and alcohol action teams. [144221]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for St. Helens, North (Mr. Watts). As alcohol is not covered by the Government's anti-drug strategy, drug action teams are not required to co-ordinate anti-alcohol activities, although some have chosen to do so. The Department of Health is working on a national strategy to tackle alcohol misuse and a consultation document will be issued shortly. The Department will be implementing the strategy by 2004.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment she has made, as part of the Government's anti-drugs strategy, of the impact on the use of Class 1 drugs that would follow from the decriminalisation of cannabis. [144213]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Government's policy towards all illicit drugs is based on the scientific evidence of the harm they cause. It is on the basis of this evidence that cannabis remains a controlled drug.

  While the Government have therefore not made a detailed assessment of the impact of decriminalisation of cannabis on the use of Class A drugs, a number of studies have made it clear that most users of Class A drugs have previously used cannabis as well as tobacco and alcohol, and that early use of cannabis is strongly linked to drugs dependence.

  The Government will continue to evaluate all new research as it becomes available.

  Modernising Government
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on progress on the modernising government agenda. [144207]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  We are making excellent progress as our report, "Citizens First", shows. My hon. Friend will be aware that in his constituency Thameside NHS trust holds Chartermarks, both for its learning disability and continuing care services—just two examples of the Government's determination to reward and promote excellence in public services.

  We have a clear framework for investment in services, based on the Government's policy goals. We are focusing on the user of public services and setting targets to drive forward change and delivery. We are becoming an e-Government, not for its own sake but to make life easier for people, as UK Online is doing. And we are restoring the value of public service. We are delivering modernisation with a purpose, delivering results that matter and make a difference.

  Regulatory Impact Assessment
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on the development of the regulatory impact assessment system. [144208]

  Mr. Stringer
  This Government are determined that regulations should not be introduced unless they are really necessary and the benefits justify the costs. A thorough regulatory impact assessment is required for all new regulations that impact on business. Over the last two years, we have introduced a number of initiatives to support and strengthen this process such as the panel for regulatory accountability, a minimum three-month consultation period and a revised assessment of costs and benefits with a greater emphasis on the impact on small businesses.

  Independent Government Agencies
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps she is taking to enhance the accountability of operationally independent Government agencies. [144209]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  Within the last 12 months the Cabinet Office has published revised guidance on quinquennial reviews of Executive agencies. This guidance reiterates the need for transparency and accountability both to Parliament and to the public in the review process.

  EU Regulations
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans she has to issue guidelines to Government Departments for the co-ordination of implementation programmes for European Union regulations in 2001. [144210]

  Mr. Stringer
  The "Guide to Better European Regulation" was published in 1999. This brings together guidance on assessing proposals for, negotiating, implementing, monitoring and reviewing EC legislation. I am keeping under review as to when or how it should be revised.

  Commissioner for Public Appointments
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on the work of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. [144211]

  Mr. Stringer
  The Commissioner for Public Appointments, Dame Rennie Fritchie, regulates ministerial appointments to public bodies within her remit. Her work and advice is highly regarded and respected by the Government.

  Drug Mortality Rates
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many deaths from illegal drugs there were in 1989; and what the estimated number is for 2001. [144212]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  For the year 1989, the published Home Office Statistical Bulletin reveals some 1,191 deaths due to controlled drugs. This figure includes poisonings, suicides and those dying from AIDS acquired through injecting drug use, as well as the dependent and
  287W
  non-dependent use of controlled drugs. There are no official estimates for the number of drug-related deaths for 2001.

  However, latest figures indicate that there are over 3,000 drug-related deaths annually within the United Kingdom. As part of the Government's 10-year strategy for reducing drugs misuse, we are committed to reducing the number of these tragedies. We have made available the resources to make this possible and will shortly be announcing our response to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs report "Reducing Drug Related Deaths".

  Social Exclusion Unit
  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps she is taking to monitor the impact of the work of the social exclusion unit in relation to tackling poverty. [144214]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office chairs the ministerial network on social exclusion which chases progress on implementation of the social exclusion unit's existing reports on specific aspects of social exclusion. Previous projects have been on truancy and school exclusion; rough sleeping; teenage pregnancy; new opportunities for 16 to 18-year-olds not in education, employment and training and poor neighbourhoods. These reports have all led to tangible change, both within Government and on the ground.

  The unit underwent an external review in 1999 when its project-based approach and working methods were widely welcomed. The Prime Minister announced to Parliament in December 1999 that the SEU should continue its work and be reviewed again by the end of 2002.

  Current projects

  Indeed, on Monday this week, my right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and the Regions informed the House of the publication of the unit's latest report which set out the Government's "National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal: A New Commitment to Neighbourhood Renewal".

  The new strategy has been developed in a response to previous social exclusion unit reports on the poverty suffered by residents of deprived areas and will be implemented by a new unit, based in DETR.

  The social exclusion unit is currently working on a project to cut rates of reoffending by ex-prisoners and has been asked to report to the Prime Minister by spring 2001.

  Government Machinery
  Mr. Baldry
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what percentage of her time is spent on issues relating to the machinery of Government. [144216]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has overall responsibility for machinery of government issues.

  As Minister for the Cabinet Office, I am responsible for the effective co-ordination and presentation of the Government's policies. This includes responsibilities in the areas of biotechnology; combating drug misuse; overall responsibility for the work of the Cabinet Office; and discharging the day-to-day responsibilities of the Minister for the Civil Service. As Chancellor of the
  288W
  Duchy of Lancaster, I also have responsibility to Her Majesty the Queen for the general administration of the Duchy.

  E-services
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment she has made of progress in achieving the Government's targets in use of information technology within the civil service, with special reference to the provision of forms for the use of the public. [144217]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Government continue to make strong progress towards the Prime Minister's target that by 2005 all Government services should be available online.

  We have a good story to tell: for central Government we have identified 451 services to the citizen and to business and already one third of them are available online. Many of these replace simple forms to request information, and some Government forms are now fully downloadable, such as those for the Court service.

  Things you can do online now include:
  ordering and paying for a company's financial returns,
  checking to see if you need hospital treatment,
  find out if it is safe to visit foreign countries,
  fill out a tax form,
  The public can also keep up to date with what is happening in Parliament and contact the Ombudsman online,
  Employees and employers can interactively calculate pay rates and entitlements under the National Minimum Wage regulations with further interactive guides to employment law to follow,
  and get a local weather forecast to help plan your day using your mobile phone (SMS or WAP).

  Much more detail about Government service than I can give here may be found in the reports monitoring progress towards the targets for electronic service. These include details of the innovative approaches that Departments have planned for future services.

  The spring 2000 report has been placed in the Libraries of the House. My Department is preparing the autumn 2000 monitoring report which I will be also placing in the Libraries of the House.

  Online information is available from "things you can do online now" www.e-envoy.gov.uk/online_now.htm

  Dr. George Turner
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment she makes of progress towards Government targets for the use of information and communications technology in transactions with the public. [144222]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Government continue to make strong progress towards the Prime Minister's target that by 2005 all Government services should be available online.

  We have a good story to tell: for central Government we have identified 451 services to the citizen and to business and already one third of them are available online
  289W
  Things you can do online now include:
  ordering and payment for a company's financial returns,
  checking to see if you need hospital treatment,
  find out if it is safe to visit foreign countries,
  fill out a tax form,
  the public can also keep up to date with what is happening in Parliament and contact the Ombudsman online,
  employees and employers can interactively calculate pay rates and entitlements under the national minimum wage regulations with further interactive guides to employment law to follow,
  and get a local weather forecast to help plan your day using your mobile phone (SMS or WAP).

  Much more detail about Government service than I can give here may be found in the reports monitoring progress towards the targets for electronic service. These include details of the innovative approaches that Departments have planned for future services.

  The spring 2000 report has been placed in the Libraries of the House. My Department is preparing the autumn 2000 monitoring report which I will be placing in the Libraries of the House.

  Focus 5000 Group
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office who decides which policy initiatives are tested on the Focus 5000 Group. [144219]
  290W
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  I take it that my hon. Friend is referring to the People's Panel. The panel may be used by any Government Department or publicly funded body and it is for them to decide whether to use the panel to test policy initiatives. Five major waves of quantitative research and several qualitative research projects have been carried out using the People's Panel. These have supported a number policy initiatives, for instance, the first wave of research was used to examine attitudes to a wide range of public services and the women's unit commissioned research using the People's Panel as part of a wider programme of consultation with women. Summaries of the research results have been placed in the House Library and published on the internet. I shall send copies to my hon. Friend.

  Magistrates
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on the age criteria for applying to be a magistrate in Lancashire. [144223]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  My directions for advisory committees on justice of the peace state that I will not generally appoint a candidate under the age of 27 or over the age of 65. This is the same criteria used by the Lord Chancelor in the remainder of England and Wales. In 1998, the age limit was raised to 65 by the Lord Chancellor and the then Chancellor of the Duchy in order to allow more people taking early retirement to apply for the magistracy.

  Standards of Conduct in the House of Lords
  Standards of Conduct in the House of Lords
  GM Seeds in Conventional Variety Seeds
  GM Seeds in Conventional Variety Seeds
  Environment Council, 18 and 19 December 2000
  Environment Council, 18 and 19 December 2000
  Human Cloning
  Human Cloning
  Substance Misuse Treatment Services
  Substance Misuse Treatment Services
  Water Fluoridation
  Water Fluoridation
  Millennium Dome: Division of Sale Proceeds
  Millennium Dome: Division of Sale Proceeds