Written Answers of 31 January 2001

DEFENCE

  Barrack Accommodation (Scotland)
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to(a) alter and (b) expand barrack accommodation in Scotland; and at which locations. [146175]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 22 January 2001]: The major barracks in Scotland are:

  Fort George, near Inverness;

  Redford Barracks, Edinburgh;

  Dreghorn Barracks, Edinburgh;

  Army Training Regiment and Recruitment Selection Centre at Glencorse, near Edinburgh;

  Royal Marines Base Condor, Arbroath;

  HMS Neptune, Faslane;

  RNAS Prestwick;

  RAF Kinloss, Moray;

  RAF Lossiemouth, Moray.

  Apart from routine property maintenance, the only plans for significant alterations to, or expansion of, accommodation at these sites involve:
  The expansion of both administrative and Junior Ranks Single Living Accommodation at Faslane, with the relocation of the Fleet Royal Marine Protection Group from Royal Marine Base Condor.
  The building of barrack accommodation to replace an existing facility at RAF Lossiemouth in Moray.
  The Royal Navy will be converting RNAS Prestwick to a Forward Operating Base with effect from April 2002 and in so doing has plans to dispose of one of the two sites at Prestwick, which is known as the Greensite and is surplus accommodation.

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if a cost-benefit analysis under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 was conducted for the recent chemically evoked seizure experiments conducted on guinea pigs; and if he will make a statement; [147181]

  (2) if he will make it his policy to apply the same cost-benefit analysis requirements in respect of animal experiments as apply to industry under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. [147180]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 25 January 2001]: Under the terms of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 all proposals for licences to undertake work involving animals have a requirement to have determined the cost-benefit analysis of the research.

  This type of analysis is undertaken as part of the formal ethical review procedure required by the Home Office. It assesses all proposals in detail, prior to submission to the Home Office, to determine whether the benefits likely to result from the project outweigh the cost in suffering to
  184W
  the animals to be used. This assessment includes the appropriateness of the animal use and the measures to be taken to minimise suffering. It thus demonstrates that as much as possible has been done to replace the procedures with alternatives not using living animals, to reduce numbers of animals used in particular studies; and, to refine the procedures to minimise pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm, a process known in animal welfare circles as the 3Rs.

  The chemically evoked seizure research involving guinea-pigs was conducted under a project licence that had been through this rigorous review process. The research was required to provide UK Service Personnel with the best possible medical countermeasures against nerve agent poisoning. To do this it is essential to understand the actions of nerve agents and test possible therapeutic drugs. This research has provided a better understanding of nerve agent-induced seizures, and suggested approaches to their prevention or reversal by the use of anticonvulsant drugs. In addition, the methods developed during this research led to a significant advance, in that many parameters were able to be assessed within the same animal, reducing the number of animals required.

  Type 45 Destroyers
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1), pursuant to his answer of 21 December 2000,Official Report, column 249W, on Type 45 destroyers, if the DFM contract resolves conflicts between (a) the prime contractor's incentives to deliver the first batch at a price below the maximum price, (b) the additional cost of employing two yards to design and assemble the first three ships and (c) an unsolicited proposal from BAE Systems Marine for sole sourcing of the assembly of the Type 45 ships; and if he will make a statement; [147531]

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 21 December 2000, Official Report, column 248W, on the Type 45 destroyer, what incentives there are in the DFM contract for BAE Systems Electronics to deliver below the maximum price; and if he will make a statement. [147528]

  Mr. Hoon
  This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Sir Robert Walmsley to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 31 January 2001:
  I am replying to your questions to the Secretary of State for Defence about the Type 45 Destroyer Demonstration and First of Class Manufacture (DFM) contract. This matter falls to me to answer within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.
  The DFM contract has a successive target arrangement which incentivises the Prime Contractor to deliver below the maximum price by increasing the profit he can earn as his costs decrease. This contract does not envisage an alternative procurement strategy or the unsolicited bid. The pricing of this contract matches the existing procurement strategy, in which there is an integrated project design team composed of personnel from Vosper Thornycroft and BAE Systems Marine, with work on the first three ships distributed among the two companies. Although it could be argued that there is some additional cost for the first three ships inherent in this strategy.

  185W
  we believe this to be easily outweighed by the benefits of subsequent competition for which it provides. Any alternative procurement strategy would have to be judged against these broader criteria, not just the price of the DFM contract. Any change to the procurement strategy would need to be approved by the Ministry of Defence and would require the contract to be re-negotiated.

  Haslar Hospital
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many consultants have resigned from service at Haslar Hospital in each of the last three years. [146708]

  Dr. Moonie
  The numbers of consultants who left the armed forces on premature voluntary retirement in each of the last three years while serving at the Royal Hospital Haslar are as shown. The period between the acceptance of an application to leave and the date of leaving may be up to 18 months.

  Year

  Consultants

  1998

  2

  1999

  6

  2000

  8

  Army Personnel (Scotland)
  Mr. Grieve
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about trends in the number of regular soldiers stationed in Scotland since 1995. [145899]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 16 January 2001]: The Ministry of Defence produces figures showing the numbers of Regular Army personnel based in Scotland as at 1 July each year. The latest available official figures are shown in the table.

  Number of UK Regular1 Army personnel in Scotland: 1 July 1995 to 2000

  Date

  Officers

  Soldiers

  All ranks

  1 July 1995

  243

  2,344

  2,587

  1 July 1996

  292

  3,161

  3,453

  1 July 1997

  351

  2,602

  2,953

  1 July 1998

  388

  3,367

  3,755

  1 July 1999

  373

  3,441

  3,814

  1 July 20002

  2422

  23,739

  24,161

  1 Figures exclude Gurkhas, Full-time Reserve Service Personnel, Home Service Battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment and mobilised reservists

  2 1 July 2000 figures for Scotland are provisional

  JSF Aircraft
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what protections he has negotiated with the US Department of Defense for the eventuality that the new US Administration cancel the JSF project. [147567]

  Mr. Hoon
  Any decision by either JSF partner to withdraw from the programme is covered by the standard conditions in the JSF MOU. A copy of this document is available in the House of Commons Library.

  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much will be paid, and over what period, to the US Department of Defence as the British contribution to the EMD phase of the Joint Strike Fighter project. [147565]
  186W
  Mr. Hoon
  The UK contribution to the US for the EMD phase of the JSF programme amounts to some £1.3 billion. This will be paid over the 12 year period October 2001 to March 2013. A further £600 million will be spent, some in the US, on UK specific requirements outside of the EMD activity.

  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what implications the privatisation of New DERA will have for the UK participation in the JSF project; and if he will make a statement. [147569]

  Mr. Hoon
  None. The arrangements for UK participation in the JSF programme take into account the creation of New DERA.

  Malaria
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel deployed to Sierra Leone have been diagnosed with malaria or admitted to hospital for investigation since May 2000; what percentage of deployed forces this represents; what his Department's estimate was, previous to deployment, of the percentage effectiveness of protection against malaria the preferred anti-malaria treatment afforded; what percentage of forces deployed to Sierra Leone were administered with anti-malarial treatment before deployment; and if he will make a statement. [147595]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 29 January 2001]: As of 25 January, there have been 112 confirmed cases of malaria and three suspected cases among Service personnel who have served in Sierra Leone. These figures include personnel who have been referred to hospital for investigation. They represent 1.5 per cent. of deployed forces; 97 per cent. of personnel deployed to Sierra Leone were issued with anti-malarial tablets prior to deployment. It is not normal practice in the field of travel medicine to quote the percentage efficacy of different anti-malarial prophylactic drugs, since the degree of protection can be subject to a wide range of factors; for example, the geographical location, the season, the activities undertaken by the individuals concerned and other types of protection or environmental controls used. Mefloquine is the preferred drug for Sierra Leone as it is more effective than chloroquine and proguanil, and Sierra Leone is a chloroquine-resistant area.

  Hinduja Brothers
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Ministers and officials in his Department have(a) been contacted by and (b) contacted (i) Mr. G. P. Hinduja and (ii) Mr. S. P. Hinduja since 2 May 1997; if he will list the occasions on which there was such contact; and if he will make a statement. [148080]

  Dr. Moonie
  It is not the normal practice of the Government to release details of meetings or discussions with private individuals or companies.

  All relevant papers will be made available to the Inquiry being conducted by Sir Anthony Hammond QC.
  187W

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  First Group and Arriva
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the Office of Fair Trading's investigation into the First Group and Arriva. [147472]

  Dr. Howells
  On 10 October 2000, officers of the Director General of Fair Trading visited offices of First Group and Arriva under the powers in section 28 of the Competition Act 1998. The exercise of the Director General's powers of investigation under the Act are a matter for him.

  European Trades Union Confederation
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met representatives from the European Trades Union Confederation; and if he will make a statement on the issues discussed. [147519]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  Mr. right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has not met representatives from the European Trades Union Confederation. I had an introductory meeting with the Secretary General of the Confederation, Emilio Gabaglio, on 11 November 1999 at which we exchanged views on current employment relations issues.

  Departmental Projects
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the projects undertaken for his Department by(a) outside consultants, (b) academic researchers and (c) university departments since 1 May 1997, giving the total expenditure incurred in each category. [144078]

  Dr. Howells
  The information requested is not held centrally by the Departments' Directorates and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  However, the majority of the Office of Science and Technology's (OST SEB) programme expenditure is channelled through the Research Councils as annual grant-in-aid. The Councils then pay a large number of grants to universities. Providing full details would involve disproportionate cost. In summary, main grants-in-aid are as follows.

  Grant-in-aid paid to Research Councils in 1997–98 to 2000–01

  £000 (net)

  Research Council

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–011

  BBSRC

  183,042

  182,762

  194,182

  202,420

  ESRC

  65,227

  67,506

  70,872

  71,300

  EPSRC

  386,276

  379,444

  404,796

  412,026

  MRC

  289,078

  284,098

  304,538

  319,151

  NERC

  166,150

  173,967

  176,715

  181,450

  PPARC

  197,869

  207,418

  186,680

  205,774

  CCLRC

  1,206

  1,462

  2,000

  2,000

  1 Estimate for year

  OST SEB does commission a small number of consultancies directly. Details are as shown.
  188W

  Consultancy paid by OST SEB

  £

  1 May 1997 to 31 March 1998

  consultants

  Preparation of SET statistics and Web production

  4,829

  Academic researchers

  —

  University departments

  —

  Total

  4,829

  1 April 1998 to 31 March 1999

  Consultants

  Poster project—Women's Unit

  11,000

  Public Consultation on Development in the Biosciences

  130,000

  Preparation of SET statistics and Web production

  15,176

  Consultancy assistance with personnel framework

  12,843

  Consultancy assistance with senior Council appointments

  35,218

  Academic researchers

  —

  University departments

  —

  Total

  204,237

  1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000

  Consultants

  Poster project—Women's Unit

  7,000

  Public Consultation on Developments in the Biosciences

  208,000

  Review of Science Communication and Public Attitudes to Science in Britain

  75,000

  Preparation of SET statistics and Web production

  35,000

  Consultancy assistance with senior Council appointments

  20,423

  Academic researchers

  —

  University departments

  —

  Total

  345,423

  31 March 2000 to 31 December 2000

  Consultants

  Research into Women returners to science

  30,000

  Consultancy assistance with senior Council appointments

  101,906

  Academic researchers

  —

  University departments

  —

  Total

  131,906

  Note

  Year defined by when payment made

  Electricity Trading
  Mrs. Gilroy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the timetable for the implementation of the New Electricity Trading Arrangements. [148481]

  Mr. Hain
  The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) today announced that 27 March remains the target implementation date for the New Electricity Trading Arrangements (NETA). This follows a review of progress by the NETA programme and reflects the fact that the programme is on schedule to meet the timetable announced last October.

  Public Interest Immunity Certificates
  Sir Nicholas Lyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many public interest immunity certificates(a) he, (b) Ministers of State, (c) junior Ministers and (d) civil servants in his Department have signed in each calendar year from 30 May 1997. [147729]
  189W
  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 30 January 2001]: My Department's records show that, since 30 May 1997, two public interest immunity certificates have been signed by Ministers of this Department, both in 1998. One was signed by a Minister of State and one by a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State. No certificates were signed by civil servants.

  Treaty of Nice
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list his responsibilities in international bodies represented by the European Commission which, under the Treaty of Nice, will be determined by(a) unanimity and (b) qualified majority voting. [146001]

  Mr. Caborn
  My hon. Friend appears to be referring to the amendments to Article 133 concerning the common commercial policy. This article extends qualified majority voting in principle to the negotiation and conclusion of agreements relating to trade in services and the commercial aspects of intellectual property. However, unanimity will be retained for certain specified matters (i.e. where unanimity is required for the adoption of equivalent internal EU rules, or where the Community has not exercised related internal rule-making powers).

  On certain other matters where competence will continue to be shared between the Community and member states (i.e. trade in cultural, audio-visual, educational, social and human health services) decisions will continue to be reached by consensus. There will be no change to the current arrangements for transport.

  The article also makes clear that member states will still be able to negotiate agreements in international organisations, in so far as such agreements respect Community law and other relevant international agreements.

  Ofcom
  Mr. Olner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which of the proposals of Ofcom detailed in the Communications White Paper require legislation to incorporate agencies overseen by his Department; if Ofcom will operate in shadow form; and if he will make a statement. [147615]

  Ms Hewitt
  Legislation is required to transfer the functions of the Radiocommunications Agency and of Oftel to Ofcom, as proposed in Chapter 8 of the White Paper. The Government will consider whether to set up a shadow Ofcom before Royal Assent. In the meantime, we are working closely with all the regulators concerned to plan a smooth transition to the new regulatory regime.

  ECGD
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the operational committees which are responsible to the Management Board of the Export Credits Guarantee Department for overseeing the business functions and operations of the Export Credits Guarantee Department; and on what dates each of these committees was set up. [146646]
  190W
  Mr. Caborn
  The following is the information:

  Operational committees

  Date

  Underwriting Committee

  1992

  Underwriting Technical and Policy Committee

  1992

  Claims and Recoveries Management Committee

  1992

  Tactical Recoveries Committee

  1992

  Cardiff Claims Committee

  1994

  Debt Conversion Committee

  1992

  Market Committee

  1998

  IT Scrutiny Committee

  1997

  Treasury Management Committee

  1999

  Audit Committee

  1994

  Euro
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the recent report of the Centre for Economics and Business Research into the impact of the euro on employment and unemployment; and if he will make a statement. [146947]

  Mr. Byers
  The Government have said that they will make an assessment of the five economic tests early in the next Parliament.

  Manufacturing and Business Skills
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he plans to publish a White Paper on manufacturing and business skills. [148070]

  Mr. Byers
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment and I intend to publish a White Paper on business (including manufacturing) and skills in the near future.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Hardship Fund
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, how much money is allocated to the Hardship Fund for the current financial year; which dioceses have been given help from the Hardship Fund; what criteria are applied when distributing the Hardship Fund money; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the Hardship Fund for the next financial year. [148031]

  Mr. Stuart Bell
  The hon. Member refers to the funds the Church Commissioners provide to the Archbishops Council for selective allocation to dioceses to support the cost of parish ministry. The Commissioners must determine annually the total sum available for this purpose, taking into account the other statutory duties laid upon them by this House and by the General Synod of the Church of England.

  In 2001 the Council will allocate £14.9 million provided by the Commissioners for stipend support to thirty dioceses, nearly two-thirds of which will be targeted on dioceses whose financial need is greatest. In addition the Commissioners provide more that £5 million in direct payments to clergy in all dioceses.
  191W
  The dioceses receiving allocations in 2001 are:

  Birmingham

  Blackburn

  Bradford

  Canterbury

  Carlisle

  Chelmsford

  Chester

  Coventry

  Derby

  Durham

  Exeter

  Hereford

  Leicester

  Lichfield

  Liverpool

  London

  Manchester

  Newcastle

  Norwich

  Portsmouth

  Ripon and Leeds

  St. Albans

  St. Edmundsbury and Ipswich

  Sheffield

  Southwark

  Southwell

  Truro

  Wakefield

  Worcester

  York.

  The current allocation formula takes into account diocesan socio-economic factors such as potential income, unemployment and OxLIP (a low income predictor) together with diocesan resources from historic endowments. It is under review and after revision will place greater emphasis on expected levels of giving by parishioners. It is expected that the new proposals will be introduced in 2002.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Waste Disposal
  Mr. Temple-Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance he has issued concerning the temperature at which combustion of polychlorinated biphenyl should occur in incinerators in order to minimise the emission of dioxins and dibenzofurans. [147512]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Environment Agency has issued a Technical Guidance Note (S2 5.01) for waste incinerators regulated under Part A of the Environmental Protection (Prescribed Processes and Substances) Regulations 1991/SI No. 472, and a guidance note to its inspectors on the requirements of the EC Directive on the incineration of hazardous waste. These notes summarise both the statutory requirements of the Directive and the techniques available for incineration. As a minimum, a combustion 192W
  temperature of 850 deg C in the presence of 6 per cent, oxygen for a period of two seconds after the last injection of combustion air is required, unless it can be shown that the Directive emission limit values are complied with and the levels of dioxins and furans emitted are lower or equivalent to those obtained by applying the temperature and residence time requirements laid down in the Directive. However, if the waste stream contains more than 1 per cent, of halogenated organics (which may include polychlorinated biphenyls) a temperature of 1,100 deg C is required in order to minimise emissions of dioxins and dibenzofurans.

  Road Schemes
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the road schemes(a) approved and (b) provisionally approved in (i) the targeted programme of improvements, (ii) multi-model studies and (iii) the local transport settlement, where the primary objective is economic regeneration. [147316]

  Mr. Hill
  "Regeneration and integration" was stated in "A New Deal for Trunk Roads in England" as the primary objective of the following schemes in the targeted programme of improvements:

  Road

  Scheme

  A5

  Weeford-Fazeley Improvement

  A11

  Roudham Heath-Attleborough Dualling

  A27

  Polegate Bypass

  A46

  Newark-Lincoln Improvement

  A120

  Stansted Braintree

  A249

  Iwade-Queenborough Improvement

  A500

  Basford, Hough, Shavington Bypass

  A500

  City Road/Stoke Road Junctions

  Regeneration featured strongly in the cases made by authorities for the following schemes accepted as part of the local transport settlement announced on 14 December 2000.

  City

  Scheme

  Accepted schemes

  Leeds

  East Leeds Link Road

  Provisionally accepted schemes

  Birmingham

  A38 Northfield Regeneration Scheme

  Darlington

  Darlington Eastern Transport Corridor

  Dorset

  Weymouth Relief Road

  Durham

  A688 Wheatley Hill to Bowburn

  Norfolk

  Nar Ouse Regeneration Route

  Sandwell

  Cradley Heath Town Centre

  Staffordshire

  Biddulph Bypass

  Staffordshire

  Rugeley Bypass

  Thurrock

  West Thurrock Riverside Regeneration Scheme

  Wakefield

  Hemsworth—A1 Link

  Wakefield

  Glasshoughton Link Road

  Multi-modal studies are not a mechanism for approving road schemes. They are designed to examine options for dealing with transport problems and informing subsequent decisions on investment in transport projects. To date only one report on a multi-modal study, 'Access to Hastings', has been received and is under consideration.
  193W

  Fuel Poor Households
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Nottingham, South (Mr. Simpson), on 18 January 2001,Official Report, column 294W, on fuel poor households, if he will estimate on the same basis the number of fuel poor households in each nation and region of the United Kingdom in 1996. [147247]

  Government Office region

  (a) Income including Housing Benefit and Income Support for Mortgage Interest (£000)

  (b) Income excluding Housing Benefit and Income Support for Mortgage interest (£000)

  (c) Income excluding housing expenditure (£000)

  North East

  330

  370

  470

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  560

  650

  770

  West Midlands

  550

  640

  820

  North West

  700

  890

  1,080

  South West

  440

  520

  710

  East Midlands

  360

  440

  560

  Greater London

  480

  670

  930

  Eastern

  360

  450

  630

  South East

  450

  580

  830

  England (£ million)

  24.3

  25.3

  26.8

  1 Assumes fuel costs include those for non-heating purposes.

  2 Due to the manner in which these data are processed and rounded, the total reported nationally differs very slightly from the sum of the individual regions.

  Fuel poverty is a devolved matter and it is the responsibility of the respective Parliament and Assemblies to comment on the situation in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

  Motorway Service Areas
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what criteria his Department uses for determining need for motorway service areas. [147419]

  Mr. Hill
  Proposals for new motorway service areas (MSAs) are subject to the normal operation of the land use planning system. It is therefore for local planning authorities—or the inquiry Inspector in the event of an appeal—rather than my Department to weigh the need for a proposed MSA. Guidance to planners on how to assess that need is contained in Circular Roads 1–94 and a policy statement which the then Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Hampstead and Highgate (Ms Jackson), made to the House on 31 July 1998,Official Report, column 611W. Copies of both documents are available from the Library.

  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if it remains the policy of his Department that a motorway service area is required on the south-western quadrant of the M25 motorway; [147418]

  (2) if he will make it his policy that in future considerations of planning applications and appeals in respect of motorway service areas on the M25 south western quadrant, each application and appeal is considered without a presumption that at least one of the proposed sites must be successful. [147624]
  194W
  Mr. Meacher
  The common definition of a fuel poor household is one that needs to spend in excess of 10 per cent, of household income in order to maintain a satisfactory heating regime. Using data from the latest English House Condition Survey, the following table shows the effect of different options for calculating household income on the number of households defined as fuel poor by Government Office region in 19961.

  Mr. Hill
  The statement to the House by the then Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Hampstead and Highgate (Ms Jackson), on 31 July 1998,Official Report, column 611W, described the Government's policy on the spacing of motorway service areas (MSAs). It explained that this policy was likely to mean that there would be either one or two MSAs on the western side of the M25. The policy did not, and does not, necessarily require an MSA on the south-western sector. Proposals will therefore be considered on their individual planning merits and there is no presumption that either a site within this sector, or any other currently proposed M25 MSA, must be successful.

  Homes Bill
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when, where and for how long(a) the Housing Minister and (b) his officials have met the Council of Mortgage Lenders to discuss the Homes Bill, and if he will indicate the names and titles of those attending the meetings. [147799]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Since publication of the Homes Bill on 13 December 2000, I have not met the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). My last meeting with the CML took place on 4 December, when I addressed their Annual Conference.

  The CML have been involved from the outset in the Home Buying and Selling Advisory Group, which assists the Government in developing its proposals. The Group comprises the major representative bodies with an interest in home buying and selling (including consumers), and officials from DETR and other Departments. It is chaired by Michael Gahagan, Director of Housing at DETR. The Group has met once since publication of the Bill, on 12 January.
  195W
  The CML and the Department have attended two sub-committees of the Advisory Group since publication of the Bill: the Home Condition Report Working Group, at RICS, Great George street, London, on 8 January 2001; and the Home Inspectors Certification Board Steering Group Meeting on Thursday 11 January 2001. Both these meetings were also attended by other stakeholders in the home buying and selling process.

  My officials have had two meetings recently with the CML about our home buying and selling proposals. The first was on 22 November; the second was on 15 December 2000. Both meetings lasted about one and a half hours. Full details of attendees are as follows.

  Meeting at DETR with CML—22 November 2000

  DETR

  Michael Gahagan—Director, Housing Directorate

  David Woodward—Housing Policy, Renewal and Ownership Division

  Steve Nuttall—Principal Research Officer

  Andrew Hannan—Superintending Estates Officer

  Jacqui Marriott—Assistant Policy Adviser

  CML

  Michael Coogan—Director General, CML

  Fiona Hoyle—Senior Legal Adviser

  Shaun Stevens—Housing Policy Adviser

  Meeting to discuss the Homes Bill, at CML, 3 Savile Row, London on 15 December 2000

  DETR

  Michael Gahagan—Director, Housing Directorate, DETR

  Martin Jones—Divisional Manager, Housing Policy, Renewal and Ownership, DETR

  Steve Nuttall—Principal Research Officer, DETR

  Andrew Hannan—Superintending Estates Officer, DETR

  CML

  Michael Coogan—Director General, CML

  Peter Williams—Deputy Director General, CML

  Fiona Hoyle—Senior Legal Adviser, CML

  Shaun Stevens—Housing Policy Adviser, CML.

  Rough Sleepers Unit
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the names and salaries of the three most senior staff at the Rough Sleepers Unit. [147800]

  Ms Armstrong
  Louise Casey, the Director of the Rough Sleepers Unit, is a member of the Senior Civil Service on fixed-term contract whose salary is within the band £70,000 to £75,000. Gordon Campbell the Deputy Director of the Unit is on secondment from London Borough Grants and DETR reimburses LBG for his employment costs which currently are £54,000. The third most senior member of staff Carol Sweetenham is a band 7 civil servant whose salary is within the pay range for this grade, which is currently £45,526 to £60,095.

  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the annual budget is of the Rough Sleepers Unit. [147797]
  196W
  Ms Armstrong
  The Rough Sleepers Unit was established in April 1999 and has a three-year programme expenditure budget up to 31 March 2002 of just over £198 million. This includes a number of funding streams previously administered by other Government Departments, most notably the Department of Health and the Department of Social Security. Almost £73 million of the available funding is capital expenditure administered on the Unit's behalf by the Housing Corporation to provide a range of temporary and permanent accommodation for rough sleepers. The remainder meets the on-going costs of a range of accommodation and support services throughout England to help rough sleepers move away from the streets and to rebuild their lives. The Unit has the ability to use its three-year budget in a flexible manner. Therefore it would not be appropriate to give an annual budget figure.

  Over the same three-year period, the Rough Sleepers Unit has an administration budget of £3.641 million.

  Home Energy Efficiency Scheme
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance has been issued to managing agents of the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme(a) on the need to publish analysis of works carried out under the scheme (b) the frequency and format of publication and (c) to whom this information should be made available. [147811]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 29 January 2001]: As part of their contracts for managing the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme, Eaga Partnership Ltd. and Eastern HEES Ltd. are required to collect energy efficiency data in regard to homes improved through the programme. This information will be provided annually free of charge to all local authorities in England1. Summary monthly reports will be posted on the scheme managers' internet websites to reach all those who have an interest. We are currently in discussion with the scheme managers about the exact format of the data collected.
  1 HEES is a devolved scheme run in England since 1 June 2000. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own separately funded grant programmes.

  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many households have benefited from grants paid under the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme for(a) insulation improvements only, (b) heating improvements only and (c) heating and insulation improvements; and how many households have benefited under New HEES plus from grant assistance for, (i) insulation improvements only, (ii) central heating installation only and (iii) central heating installation and insulation improvements. [147812]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 29 January 2001]: The new Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) was launched on 1 June 2000 and is run by two scheme managers in England: Eaga Partnership Ltd. and Eastern HEES Ltd. with the actual work carried out by independent installers. The table as shown identifies the number of households, which have received either (a) insulation, (b) heating or (c) insulation and heating measures through either HEES or HEES Plus and where the invoice for the work has been received and paid.
  197W

  Measure

  HEES

  HEES plus

  Total

  Insulation only

  31,000

  19,800

  50,800

  Heating only

  400

  1,700

  2,100

  Insulation and Heating

  400

  1,250

  1,600

  Total

  31,800

  22,750

  54,500

  A further 82,000 works orders have been placed with installers. At present it is taking installers up to six weeks to send in their invoices from the date of actual installation. It is therefore, likely that a significant proportion of these orders have been completed but not as yet invoiced.

  Sport
  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the cost is of exempting sporting rights in 1998–99 from the valuation role in(a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland. [147889]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Sporting rights have not been rateable in England and Wales since 1 April 1997. This was estimated to cost £4 million to £5 million in 1997.

  Sporting rights have been exempt from valuation rolls in Scotland since 1 April 1995. This was estimated to cost £2 million to £3 million in 1997.

  Sporting rights have not been rateable in Northern Ireland since 1 April 2000. Before then, certain recreational sporting rights would have been eligible for 65 per cent, rate relief, while commercial sporting rights would not have had such relief. Costs for 1998–99 are not readily available.

  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions have taken place with the Better Regulation Task Force about the proposals for rate relief for voluntary sports clubs in the Green Paper for Local Government Finance. [147891]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Better Regulation Task Force responded to the Green Paper and raised a number of issues, although it did not comment on the proposed rate relief for small businesses and non-profit making bodies including sports clubs. These proposals would provide additional rate relief for qualifying sports clubs. We do not expect them to increase the administrative requirements that clubs meet at present in applying for discretionary rate relief under the current system.

  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions have taken place between his Department and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport regarding the Green Paper on Local Government Finance and the Government's Sports Strategy. [147892]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Green Paper "Modernising Local Government Finance" is a Government publication and as such reflects the collective views of Ministers. There were detailed discussions and agreement of its content before publication and there will be further discussions at both official and ministerial level to discuss the responses we have received to the Green Paper and the way forward. We will publish our conclusions in a White Paper later this year.
  198W

  Strategic Rail Authority
  Mr. Best
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Strategic Rail Authority will be established; and if he will make a statement. [148392]

  Mr. Hill
  The Strategic Rail Authority was formally established as an executive non-departmental public body of my Department on 15 January 2001. Members of its Board were appointed on this day. The Authority will commence operation on 1 February when the main provisions of Part IV of the Transport Act 2000 come into force.

  My Department has prepared a financial framework, in accordance with paragraph 16 of schedule 14 to the Transport Act, and a management statement for the Authority. I have arranged for copies to be placed in the House Library. These are working documents, which are likely to be amended as my Department's relationship with the Authority develops. If either document is revised significantly, a new version will be placed in the House Library. Copies of the latest version of both documents are available from my Department's Railways Sponsorship Division.

  Air Quality
  Mr. Burgon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to announce his conclusions from the review of the Air Quality Strategy objective for particles. [148393]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland was published on 19 January 2000 following an extensive review of the original Strategy. This sets air quality objectives for eight air pollutants that have the potential for significant health effects. These objectives are to be achieved between 2003 and 2008.

  The new Strategy replaces the original objective for particles with new objectives derived from the EU Stage 1 limit values for 2005. This was considered to be the only realistic option in view of the latest information that showed that the original objective would not be achievable in the short term, even with the most ambitious emission reduction measures. The Strategy explains that the new objectives for particles are seen as a staging post and not a final outcome. It goes on to say that the Government are concerned to set their sights beyond the immediate need to comply with the EU limit values, and that work has been set in hand which will enable the prospects for strengthening these objectives to be assessed before the next general review of the Strategy.

  This work is nearing completion. The most significant area of work is likely to be advice from the Department of Health's Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollution (COMEAP) on the chronic effects of air pollution. To date, the health implications of particle air pollution have tended to focus on the acute, short-term effects. COMEAP's 1998 report suggested that the deaths of over 8,000 vulnerable people may be brought forward and over 10,000 hospital admissions and re-admissions may be associated with short-term air pollution each year. Evidence is now beginning to emerge which suggests that the long-term chronic effects of particle air pollution may

  199W
  be considerably more significant. COMEAP has been asked by the Department of Health to consider the evidence and the Committee is expected to report shortly.

  Advice from COMEAP may, if relevant, be used to support a quantification of the benefits to health from reducing concentrations of particles. These health benefits, along with the information that we already have on the acute health effects of particle pollution, can be considered alongside the latest information on the measures to reduce particle concentrations. A comprehensive study of the costs of emission reduction measures is in hand, as is further modelling work, that will show the impact that recently announced policy measures are likely to have on concentrations of particles over the next few years.

  I now intend the review of the objectives for particles to commence in March, to allow time for these various pieces of work to be completed. I expect to be in a position to consult on proposals for a new objective for particles by the end of June.

  It is not intended to propose a change to the existing objective for particles. It is important that local authorities have a period of stability as they take forward the local air quality management process. Any new objective will be for the longer term.

  In the meantime, the trend in urban air quality is continuing to improve. I announced earlier this month that in 2000 in urban areas there were 17 days of moderate or higher air pollution on average per site, the lowest figure recorded since the series began in 1993. Days of moderate or higher air pollution caused by particles have fallen steeply since 1993.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to respond to the Audit Commission's report into the cost of supporting asylum seekers in London boroughs; and if he will make a statement. [147131]

  Mrs. Roche
  I am not aware that the Audit Commission has published any recent report on the cost of supporting asylum seekers in London boroughs.

  I will, of course, give any such report by the Audit Commission careful consideration once it is received.

  Child Curfew Orders
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his original estimate was of the number of local child curfew orders that would be enforced annually. [148066]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  We did not make estimates of the number of local child curfews that would be applied for under the powers introduced in 1998. They are a discretionary matter for local authorities, to be considered in the light of wider strategies to deal with disorder in their areas. The need will depend on local circumstances.
  200W

  Criminal Justice Act
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he plans to introduce legislation further to extend the exemptions in section 34A(2) of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 to include additional categories of offender; and if he will make a statement. [148062]

  Mr. Boateng
  Section 62 of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 added offenders subject to the notification requirements of Part I of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 to the list of those excluded from Home Detention Curfew. I have no plans at present to add any further categories of offender to the 10 categories already excluded.

  Hinduja Brothers
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when, and by whom, he was first informed of the citizenship applications submitted by(a) Mr. G. P. Hinduja on 5 March 1997 and (b) Mr. S. P. Hinduja on 20 October 1998; and if he will make a statement; [148093]

  (2) what discussions the hon. Member for Warwickshire, North (Mr. O'Brien) had with ministerial colleagues concerning the application for citizenship by Mr. S. P. Hinduja following the conversation the hon. Member had with the right hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson); and if he will make a statement; [148034]

  (3) when he was first informed of the contact between the right hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson) and the hon. Member for Warwickshire, North (Mr. O'Brien) regarding the application for citizenship from Mr. S. P. Hinduja; and if he will make a statement; [148035]

  (4) if he received any representations from ministerial colleagues or other hon. Members regarding the application for citizenship by Mr. G. P. Hinduja; and if he will make a statement; [148036]

  (5) if (a) Mr. G. P. Hinduja and (b) Mr. S. P. Hinduja satisfied all the requirements for naturalisation when the decision was taken to grant them citizenship; if exceptions to the requirements were made in either case; and if he will make a statement. [148094]

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

  Young Offenders
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his target date is for achieving the Government's pledge of halving the national average time from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders; what progress has been made; and when he expects the target to be achieved. [148064]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  In 1996 the average time from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders was 142 days. Working with the local youth justice services,
  201W
  the Government's target is to halve this by March 2002. Substantial progress has already been made—the national average fell to an estimated 94 days by October 2000.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many offenders under the age of 18 years were sentenced in(a) the magistrates court, (b) the youth court and (c) the Crown court, broken down by type of sentence, indicating in particular how many were given a (i) absolute discharge, (ii) conditional discharge, (iii) fine, (iv) community sentence and (v) custodial sentence in each of the last five years for which figures are available; [147604]

  (2) what (a) custodial and (b) non-custodial disposals are available to the youth court; and on how many occasions each type of disposal has been used by the youth court in respect of young offenders in each of the past five years. [147605]

  Table A: Number of offenders aged 10–17 sentenced at the magistrates court, broken down by type of sentence, England and Wales, 1995–99

  1995

  1996

  1997

  19981

  19991

  Total Sentenced

  5,365

  5,348

  5,301

  5,613

  5,516

  Absolute Discharge

  87

  91

  85

  87

  70

  Conditional Discharge

  1,799

  1,834

  1,805

  1,938

  1,967

  Fine

  2,101

  2,234

  2,056

  2,137

  2,062

  Probation Order

  141

  100

  129

  140

  122

  Supervision Order

  383

  323

  362

  409

  379

  Community Service Order

  182

  151

  195

  177

  176

  Attendance Centre Order

  214

  191

  214

  267

  269

  Combination Order

  68

  49

  68

  59

  69

  Curfew Order

  2—

  2

  1

  5

  11

  Total Community Sentence3

  988

  816

  969

  1,057

  1,026

  Secure Training Order

  2—

  2—

  2—

  4

  5

  Young Offender Institution

  202

  202

  209

  219

  191

  Total Immediate Custody4

  202

  202

  209

  223

  196

  Otherwise Dealt With5

  188

  171

  177

  171

  195

  Table B: Number of offenders aged 10–17 sentenced at the youth court, broken down by type of sentence, England and Wales, 1995–99

  1995

  1996

  1997

  19981

  19991

  Total Sentenced

  59,470

  65,345

  38,869

  75,907

  79,883

  Absolute Discharge

  558

  716

  772

  716

  662

  Conditional Discharge

  20,479

  21,508

  22,308

  23,986

  24,649

  Fine

  12,258

  14,707

  16,376

  18,887

  18,609

  Probation Order

  1,820

  2,235

  2,405

  2,700

  2,813

  Supervision Order

  9,300

  10,013

  10,068

  11,158

  11,442

  Community Service Order

  2,974

  3,269

  3,435

  3,604

  4,114

  Attendance Centre Order

  6,376

  6,366

  6,569

  6,965

  7,542

  Combination Order

  798

  1,127

  1,354

  1,523

  1,625

  Curfew Order

  2—

  11

  36

  149

  300

  Total Community Sentence3

  21,268

  23,021

  23,867

  26,099

  27,836

  Secure Training Order

  2—

  2—

  2—

  94

  173

  Young Offender Institution

  3,592

  3,900

  3,920

  4,198

  4,560

  Total Immediate Custody4

  3,592

  3,900

  3,920

  4,292

  4,733

  Otherwise Dealt With5

  1,315

  1,493

  1,626

  1,927

  3,394

  Table C: Number of offenders aged 10–17 sentenced at the Crown court, broken down by type of sentence, England and Wales, 1995–99

  1995

  1996

  1997

  19981

  19991

  Total Sentenced

  2,965

  3,904

  4,922

  4,774

  4,761

  Absolute Discharge

  4

  7

  4

  6

  6

  Conditional Discharge

  116

  113

  144

  136

  110

  Hospital Order Mental Health Act 1983 S37(l)

  2

  4

  7

  12

  11

  Restriction Order Mental Health Act 1983 S41

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  202W
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 29 January 2001]: Available information, taken from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database, showing the number of offenders aged under 18 years sentenced and the sentences imposed in (i) the magistrates court, (ii) the youth court and (iii) the Crown court are given in the tables for the period 1995 to 1999 (the most recent year for which data are available).

  The custodial and non-custodial disposals available to the youth court, and the number of occasions each type of disposal has been used over the past five years by the youth court are also listed in the tables. A number of new orders became available for juveniles in 2000. A new custodial order, the Detention and Training Order was introduced on 1 April 2000 and replaces the secure training order (for 12 to 14-year-olds) and detention in a Young Offender Institution (for 15 to 17-year-olds). New non-custodial disposals, the reparation order and the action plan order, were introduced in June 2000.
  203W

  Table C: Number of offenders aged 10–17 sentenced at the Crown court, broken down by type of sentence, England and Wales, 1995–99

  1995

  1996

  1997

  19981

  19991

  Fine

  21

  21

  28

  26

  24

  Probation Order

  194

  197

  192

  244

  245

  Supervision Order

  460

  580

  819

  867

  858

  Community Service Order

  272

  299

  389

  368

  380

  Attendance Centre Order

  69

  74

  79

  72

  62

  Combination Order

  87

  136

  215

  233

  207

  Curfew Order

  2—

  2—

  2—

  1

  9

  Total Community Sentence3

  1,082

  1,286

  1,694

  1,785

  1,761

  Detained Under S.53 Children and Young Person Act 1933

  401

  635

  748

  603

  631

  Secure Training Order

  2—

  2—

  2—

  4

  17

  Young Offender Institution

  1,269

  1,760

  2,206

  2,095

  2,076

  Total Immediate Custody4

  1,670

  2,395

  2,954

  2,702

  2,724

  Otherwise Dealt With5

  69

  78

  91

  106

  125

  1 Orders under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (examples include Reparation Order, Action Plan Order, Parenting Order and Drug Treatment and Testing Order), were piloted in selected areas in late 1998 and 1999, and are recorded as 'otherwise dealt with'.

  2 Not applicable.

  3 Community Sentence comprises: Probation Order, Supervision Order, Community Service Order, Attendance Centre Order, Combination Order and Curfew Order.

  4 Immediate Custody comprises: Secure Training Order and Young Offender Institution.

  5 Otherwise Dealt With includes: Compensation, Hospital or Guardianship Order under the Mental Health Act 1983, Police Cells, Recognizance, Parents to pay fine or compensation or costs, Parents bound over etc.

  Disposals available to the youth court for offenders aged 10–17, England and Wales, 1995–99

  Non-custodial

  Absolute Discharge

  Conditional Discharge

  Fine

  Probation order

  Supervision Order

  Community Service Order

  Attendance Centre Order

  Combination Order

  Curfew Order

  Custodial

  Secure Training Order

  Young Offender Institution

  Otherwise Dealt With1

  1Includes Compensation, Hospital or Guardianship Order under the Mental Health Act 1983, Police Cells, Recognizance, Parents to pay fine or compensation or costs, Parents bound over etc.

  Professional Witnesses
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on the use of professional witnesses to gather information; what his estimate is of the increased use of such witnesses since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [148065]

  Mr. Straw
  The report "Speaking up for Justice", published in June 1998, recommended that good practice guidelines for the use of professional witnesses in criminal cases should be developed by the Local Government Association in conjunction with the Association of Chief Police Officers. We hope to be in a position to issue such guidelines shortly.

  I understand that records are not kept of the number of occasions on which professional witnesses are used.
  204W

  Anti-Social Behaviour Orders
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many anti-social behaviour orders have been issued to date in respect of(a) juveniles and (b) adults; how many are in force; and if he will make a statement. [148073]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  At least 150 anti-social behaviour orders have been made since the provision came into force on 1 April 1999. Since the minimum duration of an order is two years, and we are not aware of any orders being discharged, we understand that all of these remain in force.

  It is not possible from the figures available to give an exact breakdown between adults and juveniles. We are, however, aware of at least 50 orders which have been made against persons under 18.

  Emergency Services
  Mr. Dobbin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will require the same communications technology to be used across the three emergency services; [147626]

  (2) if he will assess the project work undertaken by the Greater Manchester Fire and Civil Defence Authority when determining future radio strategies for emergency services. [147629]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Joint working is one of the Government's core principles for delivering efficient and modern public services. The communications systems of each of the emergency services need to be able to meet the particular operational requirements of that service. But the systems also need to support effective interworking between the services. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has therefore asked representatives of the police, fire and emergency ambulance services to put proposals by Easter 2001 to him and to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health on how collaboration between those services in communications and in other areas can be encouraged and improved.
  205W
  I would encourage and indeed expect these proposals to take account of project work already in hand by emergency services in different parts of the country.

  Immigration
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for indefinite leave to remain under the concession to those who have suffered domestic violence have been received since its introduction; and how many of those applicants were granted settlement in the UK. [147560]

  Mrs. Roche
  To date, we have recorded 77 applications made under the terms of the concession, of which 47 have been granted settlement. In the other cases, there was insufficient evidence fully to meet the terms of the concession.

  Lieutenant Governor of Jersey
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people applied for the advertised job of Lieutenant Governor of Jersey; how many applicants were women; how many were shortlisted and how many of these were women. [147847]

  Mr. Straw
  58 applications were received for the post of Lieutenant Governor of Jersey, of which two were from women. 14 applicants, all male, were shortlisted.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will extend to Guernsey the responsibilities of the new Lieutenant Governor of Jersey. [147846]

  Total incidents of self harm in Her Majesty's prison establishments for women

  Prison

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998–99

  1999–20001

  Askham

  0

  5

  4

  4

  0

  0

  Brockhill

  0

  1

  11

  69

  67

  0

  Bullwood Hall

  126

  312

  0

  97

  234

  46

  Cookham

  32

  49

  46

  23

  15

  0

  Drake Hall

  7

  5

  14

  9

  9

  46

  East Sutton

  0

  3

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Eastwood

  0

  61

  176

  95

  154

  24

  Holloway

  386

  192

  139

  252

  250

  240

  New Hall

  325

  260

  116

  190

  180

  412

  Styal

  156

  108

  92

  96

  144

  12

  Total

  103

  996

  599

  835

  1,053

  780

  1Until 31 March 2000

  The table lists figures of self-harm incidents for all female establishments since 1994–95, but does not, for example, include figures for women's units currently in use in other establishments.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into deaths and incidents of self-harm in women's prisons. [147470]

  Mr. Boateng
  There is a wide range of research studies covering many aspects of self-harm and suicidal behaviour in women's prisons. The Prison Service is planning a new research and evaluation strategy for self-inflicted deaths and self-harm in custody and will take into account the learning from these and other studies.
  206W
  Mr. Straw
  No. The Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey are separate jurisdictions, with their own legislatures, legal systems and judiciaries. Each has its own Lieutenant Governor, who is the personal representative of Her Majesty The Queen. It would not be appropriate to have a single Lieutenant Governor for the two Bailiwicks.

  Female Prisoners
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what analysis he has made of the ethnic origin of girls sentenced to detention and training since April 2000. [147455]

  Mr. Boateng
  Eighty-nine girls were received into custody under detention and training orders in their first three months, April to June 2000. One was Asian, four were black, five were of mixed race, 76 were white and three were of other ethnic origin.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of self-harm have taken place among(a) females, (b) females under 21 and (c) females under 18 serving custodial sentences in each year since 1995, broken down by establishment in which the incidents occurred. [147469]

  Mr. Boateng
  Figures for self-harm incidents for all female prisoners held in establishments designated as prisons for women since 1994–95 are given in the table. They are given by financial year so as to include the most up to date figures available. Those for the period since March 2000 are being collated and should be available in May. I regret that these self-harm figures are not available for female prisoners by age.

  Previous projects include research into the institutional factors of self-harm at Bullwood Hall prison; the management and recording of suicidal behaviour at Styal prison; and the management of self-harm, characteristics of those who self-harm, and evaluation of intervention effectiveness at Holloway prison. Current projects include a study of women life sentence prisoners and suicidal behaviour at Highpoint prison. All generic studies of self-inflicted deaths include women prisoners.

  All research is evaluated so that it informs and contributes to the development of suicide and self-harm prevention policies and practices.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the
  207W
  factors underlying the recent increase in the number of women sentenced to imprisonment. [147457]

  Mr. Boateng
  The number of women prisoners increased by 100 per cent. from 1993 to 1998, compared with a 45 per cent. increase in the number of men. The increase is due to more women going through the courts, and more women getting custodial sentences and for longer periods. In 1999, 70,800 women were proceeded against for indictable offences compared with 68,500 in 1998. Since 1997 the custody rate for women has increased by just over a quarter compared with a 9 per cent. increase for men. In the last five years, 50 per cent. of the rise is due to more women being convicted of drugs offences.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to remove 15 and 16-year-old girls from the prison system. [147456]

  Mr. Boateng
  In March 2000, 40 of the 130 girls sentenced and remanded to custody were held outside the Prison Service. Following the Government's changes to the sentencing, remand and placement arrangements last year this total has increased to 60. We aim to increase it further but as the total of girls in custody is rising we cannot set a date for removing 15 and 16-year-olds completely from Prison Service accommodation.

  Graffiti
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received regarding the restriction on the sale of spray paints to minors. [147593]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 29 January 2001]: I have received several representations of late from Members of Parliament and from members of the public calling for restrictions on the sale of spray paints to minors. There are, however, no plans to introduce such restrictions at present. I refer the hon. Member to the closing statement I gave to the Adjournment debate 'Graffiti and Vandalism' on 27 March 2000, Official Report, column 195.

  Appointments on probation—1 April to 15 December 20001,2

  April

  May

  June

  July

  August

  Forces

  Deemed CFF

  Others

  Deemed CFF

  Others

  Deemed CFF

  Others

  Deemed CFF

  Others

  Deemed CFF

  Others

  Avon and Somerset

  3

  3

  0

  0

  7

  6

  8

  8

  9

  9

  Bedfordshire

  0

  0

  2

  9

  0

  0

  2

  7

  0

  0

  Cambridgeshire

  3

  13

  3

  8

  2

  9

  3

  13

  3

  8

  Cheshire

  2

  4

  0

  0

  2

  4

  2

  6

  1

  4

  City of London

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  10

  Cleveland

  3

  9

  3

  7

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  9

  Cumbria

  0

  0

  0

  0

  7

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Derbyshire

  0

  0

  6

  4

  5

  4

  0

  0

  10

  8

  Devon and Cornwall

  7

  8

  7

  7

  8

  9

  8

  10

  9

  10

  Dorset

  4

  6

  0

  0

  0

  0

  4

  6

  4

  7

  Durham

  0

  0

  5

  8

  0

  1

  5

  7

  4

  6

  Dyfed Powys

  4

  6

  0

  0

  4

  8

  0

  0

  4

  5

  Essex

  0

  12

  0

  8

  0

  10

  0

  16

  0

  12

  Gloucestershire

  5

  9

  0

  0

  4

  8

  5

  9

  0

  0

  Greater Manchester

  11

  16

  16

  30

  3

  6

  5

  10

  9

  14

  Gwent

  12

  0

  0

  0

  10

  0

  9

  0

  0

  0

  208W

  Police Recruitment
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the planned police recruitment intakes in England and Wales for the remainder of 2000–01, broken down by force, differentiating recruits under the Crime Fighting Fund initiative and those who would otherwise be recruited; [146290]

  (2) if he will list the (a) planned and (b) actual police recruitment intakes in England and Wales in 2000–01 to date, broken down by force, differentiating recruits under the Crime Fighting Fund initiative and those who would otherwise have been recruited. [146289]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 22 January 2001]: The only information collected centrally about force recruitment by intake is that required for the purposes of monitoring the Crime Fighting Fund (CFF) and calculating CFF grant. Forces are not asked for details of all planned and actual recruits, only for the number of appointments on probation. For CFF purposes any officer appointed on transfer from the Royal Ulster Constabulary is also counted in this category. The figures provided by forces are the source of the information given in this answer.

  Individual force plans for particular recruitment intakes have changed frequently according to the success of the force in attracting and processing applications. The table sets out the actual recruitment, month by month, reported by each force for the period 1 April to 15 December 2000. This was the cut-off date for the most recent payment of CFF grant. The table shows separately the number of officers deemed to be CFF recruits and other appointments on probation. The number of recruits deemed to be CFF officers is calculated as a proportion of the force's projected total appointments on probation. If the total of these appointments for the year varies from a force's projections, the number of recruits deemed to be CFF officers may also change.

  In view of the frequent changes to force plans for the number of recruits on each intake, it is difficult to offer a meaningful force by force projection for each intake for the remainder of 2000–01. However, returns from forces suggest that by 31 March 2000 a total of 7,250 appointments on probation will have been made in the financial year 2000–01. Of these 2,750 will be deemed to be CFF recruits.
  209W

  Appointments on probation—1 April to 15 December 20001,2

  April

  May

  June

  July

  August

  Forces

  Deemed CFF

  Others

  Deemed CFF

  Others

  Deemed CFF

  Others

  Deemed CFF

  Others

  Deemed CFF

  Others

  Hampshire

  2

  16

  1

  15

  2

  19

  1

  16

  2

  15

  Hertfordshire

  0

  12

  0

  16

  0

  13

  0

  9

  0

  11

  Humberside

  8

  0

  0

  0

  11

  0

  5

  0

  7

  0

  Kent

  7

  13

  7

  11

  10

  18

  10

  17

  9

  15

  Lancashire

  8

  8

  7

  7

  8

  8

  7

  7

  8

  9

  Leicestershire

  7

  10

  0

  0

  6

  10

  0

  0

  7

  10

  Lincolnshire

  0

  0

  4

  8

  4

  8

  8

  16

  5

  9

  Merseyside

  14

  6

  14

  6

  0

  0

  8

  3

  11

  4

  Metropolitan

  42

  57

  42

  57

  41

  55

  36

  49

  0

  0

  Norfolk

  6

  4

  6

  3

  4

  2

  0

  0

  8

  4

  North Wales

  4

  8

  2

  4

  4

  8

  0

  0

  8

  13

  North Yorkshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  11

  3

  9

  0

  0

  Northamptonshire

  1

  1

  9

  8

  8

  6

  3

  3

  6

  5

  Northumbria

  4

  10

  6

  12

  6

  12

  8

  17

  9

  19

  Nottinghamshire

  4

  6

  5

  8

  4

  7

  5

  7

  5

  7

  South Wales

  4

  11

  4

  14

  4

  14

  5

  18

  8

  25

  South Yorkshire

  5

  7

  5

  7

  11

  13

  5

  7

  11

  13

  Staffordshire

  0

  0

  8

  2

  8

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Suffolk

  0

  0

  7

  3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Surrey

  7

  22

  5

  15

  4

  14

  6

  20

  4

  13

  Sussex

  2

  8

  2

  8

  4

  11

  5

  16

  6

  18

  Thames Valley

  4

  14

  5

  18

  4

  18

  6

  26

  5

  22

  Warwickshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  5

  10

  0

  0

  4

  8

  West Mercia

  0

  0

  11

  7

  6

  3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  West Midlands

  14

  27

  13

  25

  24

  45

  24

  46

  24

  45

  West Yorkshire

  8

  7

  7

  6

  8

  7

  9

  9

  11

  11

  Wiltshire

  0

  0

  4

  4

  0

  0

  4

  5

  0

  0

  September

  October

  November

  December

  Forces

  Deemed CFF

  Others

  Deemed CFF

  Others

  Deemed CFF

  Others

  Deemed CFF

  Others

  Avon and Somerset

  10

  10

  10

  10

  0

  0

  10

  10

  Bedfordshire

  0

  0

  1

  6

  2

  7

  2

  10

  Cambridgeshire

  0

  0

  2

  9

  2

  9

  3

  13

  Cheshire

  0

  0

  2

  5

  4

  9

  0

  0

  City of London

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  8

  0

  10

  Cleveland

  0

  0

  3

  9

  3

  9

  0

  0

  Cumbria

  0

  0

  0

  0

  7

  1

  7

  1

  Derbyshire

  0

  0

  9

  7

  8

  6

  0

  0

  Devon and Cornwall

  0

  0

  9

  9

  8

  10

  0

  0

  Dorset

  0

  0

  8

  12

  0

  0

  6

  8

  Durham

  0

  0

  3

  4

  4

  4

  4

  6

  Dyfed Powys

  0

  0

  3

  4

  4

  3

  0

  0

  Essex

  0

  0

  0

  22

  0

  22

  0

  0

  Gloucestershire

  0

  0

  4

  9

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Greater Manchester

  0

  0

  12

  23

  12

  23

  21

  39

  Gwent

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Hampshire

  0

  0

  2

  22

  1

  17

  0

  0

  Hertfordshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  13

  0

  0

  Humberside

  0

  0

  0

  0

  12

  0

  4

  12

  Kent

  0

  0

  10

  19

  11

  19

  12

  20

  Lancashire

  0

  0

  8

  9

  8

  8

  8

  8

  Leicestershire

  5

  9

  0

  0

  5

  7

  2

  4

  Lincolnshire

  0

  0

  5

  9

  0

  10

  0

  0

  Merseyside

  0

  0

  14

  5

  14

  6

  0

  0

  Metropolitan

  41

  55

  52

  70

  57

  77

  0

  0

  Norfolk

  0

  0

  6

  3

  1

  8

  0

  0

  North Wales

  0

  0

  8

  13

  0

  0

  0

  0

  North Yorkshire

  0

  0

  3

  7

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Northamptonshire

  0

  0

  5

  5

  0

  13

  0

  6

  Northumbria

  0

  0

  7

  16

  7

  14

  8

  18

  Nottinghamshire

  0

  0

  4

  7

  3

  6

  10

  18

  South Wales

  0

  0

  7

  23

  7

  21

  0

  0

  South Yorkshire

  0

  0

  4

  5

  11

  13

  0

  0

  Staffordshire

  0

  0

  7

  1

  7

  2

  0

  0

  Suffolk

  0

  0

  9

  5

  0

  0

  11

  6

  Surrey

  7

  20

  8

  25

  0

  0

  4

  15

  210W 211W

  September

  October

  November

  December

  Forces

  Deemed CFF

  Others

  Deemed CFF

  Others

  Deemed CFF

  Others

  Deemed CFF

  Others

  Sussex

  0

  0

  5

  15

  7

  21

  7

  21

  Thames Valley

  0

  0

  5

  19

  3

  12

  4

  14

  Warwickshire

  0

  0

  4

  8

  4

  8

  4

  9

  West Mercia

  0

  0

  9

  5

  6

  3

  9

  6

  West Midlands

  0

  0

  24

  45

  24

  46

  0

  0

  West Yorkshire

  0

  0

  8

  8

  10

  10

  0

  0

  Wiltshire

  0

  0

  7

  7

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1 Based on force returns for CFF purposes

  2 Force returns cover appointments on probation, except that any officer transferring to a force in England and Wales from the RUC would also be counted among 'others'

TREASURY

  Export Credits Guarantee Department
  Mr.Russell Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about progress on implementing the recommendations made by KPMG in December 1999 on the adequacy of the risk management systems and processes of the Export Credits Guarantee Department. [148480]

  Mr.Timms
  The Government, in their response to the Trade and Industry Committee's report on the future of ECGD, noted that it intended to commission a follow-up, independent report to assess progress in addressing the recommendations made by KPMG in 1999 [Cm 4792]. I announced the Terms of Reference for this follow-up review to the House on 30 November 2000. KPMG have been re-engaged for this review which is to be undertaken in two stages. The first stage is now complete and I have placed a copy of KPMG's report in the Library of the House. KPMG's conclusions were as follows:"A significant volume of work has been undertaken in addressing the recommendations set out in the original KPMG report. Most of the recommendations have been addressed, although there are still some areas outstanding. However, in most cases, the implementation of the proposals made to address the recommendations is still in course.
  As a result, the majority of steps taken to address the recommendations could only be reviewed through studying the so called Product Papers relating to each area of the Action Plan, and the practical effectiveness could not be reviewed. Many of the findings of this report have, therefore, stated a requirement for further review in Phase 2 of the review. In many cases, it will be necessary for ECGD to revise the processes proposed by the Action Plan Products to fit the PMS3 framework and this is likely to involve a considerable volume of work.
  Therefore, as regards Section 5 of the original KPMG report, we believe that there is a need for ECGD to formally monitor the implementation of the Product Papers and their associated recommendations, in order to maintain the momentum required to ensure full implementation in advance of Phase 2 of the review.
  As regards Section 4 of the original report and progress towards capitalisation, there was found to be a high degree of commitment within ECGD to the development of the PMS3 framework. There has been considerable progress in the high level design of the constituent elements of a capitalisation framework comparable to best practice in the commercial sector. However, in most cases, the detailed design of the various elements is still in course and was not therefore ready for review.
  The high level review of the elements in place revealed that significant progress has been made towards the development of the PMS3 framework, but that there is also a great deal more work to be completed for ECGD to successfully meet the April 2001 implementation date. This is particularly the case regarding
  212W
  the development of the operational framework within which PMS3 will work. It is recommended that fulfilment of the criteria set out in Annex B of this report should be reviewed in Phase 2 to more fully assess the potential effectiveness of the PMS3 framework.
  Overall, therefore, whilst we believe that significant progress has been made in addressing the recommendations, it is clear that there is still a considerable amount of implementation work to be completed before the operating environment will be appropriate for the delegation of full operational autonomy to ECGD and the adoption of the purely strategic relationship proposed in Product E4 of the Action Plan".

  Special Shares
  Mr.Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the special shares he holds in former nationalised companies; what value is placed on those shares based on resource accounting procedures; and what market value is attached to those shares. [147251]

  Mr.Andrew Smith
  HM Treasury does not hold special shares in any former nationalised companies.

  For figures on the numbers of special shares held by the Government, I refer to the answer my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary gave to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) on 21 February 2000, Official Report, column 764W. Since 21 February, the Government have redeemed their special share in both PowerGen plc and National Power plc and have obtained a special share in Lattice plc following the restructuring of British Gas plc.

  Special shares are not marketable and are not assigned a value within departmental resource based accounts.

  Children's Tax Credit
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families in the constituency of Glasgow, Pollok he estimates will be eligible to claim the children's tax credit. [148119]

  Dawn Primarolo
  An estimate of the number of families in the constituency of Glasgow, Pollok who will be eligible to claim the children's tax credit (CTC) is unavailable, but an estimate of the number of families in Scotland who will be eligible to claim CTC is 400,000.

  Unemployment Costs
  Mr. Rammell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average annual cost to public funds is in terms of benefits payments and lost revenue of each unemployed person; and how this varies between employment sectors. [147721]
  213W
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The extent to which unemployment affects Government revenues and spending depends on a number of assumptions, in particular the extent to which unemployment reflects permanent changes in output growth. Treasury research on this is included in "Fiscal policy: public finances and the cycle" (March 1999). As a result of falling levels of unemployment, social security expenditure to the unemployed is forecast to be £4 billion lower, in real terms, in 2000–01 than in 1996–97. DSS ready reckoners estimate that an increase of 100,000 in claimant unemployed would lead to an increase in expenditure of around £500–£550 million a year. Public revenue and spending effects of unemployment in different employment sectors are not available.

  Drug Smuggling
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many employees of HM Customs and Excise(a) are predominantly involved in tackling importation of illegal drugs and (b) have some responsibility for tackling importation of illegal drugs and how many employees there are in total; [146301]

  (2)what proportion of the resources deployed by HM Custonms and Excise are involved in dealing with the importation of illegal drugs. [146302]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 24 January 2001]: This information for resources deployed to the Protection of Society is contained within HM Customs & Excise's Annual Report 2000, a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library. The majority of these staff will be deployed on anti-drugs work.

  Insurance Regulation
  Mr.Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to investigate the regulatory performance of his Department and its predecessors in respect of insurance providers and appointed actuaries on the issue of(a) guaranteed annuity policies, (b) with profits funds and (c) policyholders' reasonable expectations in the period leading up to 1 January 1999. [145695]

  Mr.Ottaway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will conduct an inquiry into his Department's regulation of Equitable Life during 1997 and 1998. [146685]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 16 and 22 January 2001]: The Financial Services Authority is preparing a report on the events leading to the closure of Equitable Life to new business. As the FSA said on 22 December the report will set out the background and events leading up to the FSA assuming responsibility for prudential insurance regulation. The report is likely to take some months and it will be published.

  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 8 January 2000,Official Report, column 462W, if he will make it his policy to provide compensation to Equitable Life policy holders who acted on the guidance issued by his Department. [145570]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 15 January 2001]: As I announced in the Westminster Hall Adjournment debate on 19 December 2000, Official Report, column 56WH, compensation for the customers of financial services firms is available if a firm becomes insolvent. As I also reported in that debate, the FSA said
  214W
  when the firm closed to new business that the Equitable Life was not insolvent. In the case of insolvent insurance firms, the relevant compensation scheme is that provided for under the Policyholders Protection Act 1975. The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, when implemented, will bring these arrangements into the single Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

  Tax Law Rewrite Project
  Barbara Follett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if there have been further developments on the Tax Law Rewrite project. [148479]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I am pleased to be able to tell the House that the Tax Law Rewrite project is continuing to make good progress. The rewritten Capital Allowances Bill was introduced in this House earlier this month and the Inland Revenue today publish the project's eleventh Exposure Draft, containing draft clauses rewriting a second group of the employment income provisions. Copies of the Exposure Draft are being placed in the Libraries of the House.

HEALTH

  National Institute for Clinical Excellence
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if all NICE appraisal determinations on health technologies are submitted to him for final approval prior to their dissemination to the NHS. [146388]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 22 January 2001]: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) issues its appraisal guidance directly to the National Health Service and is solely responsible for the content of the appraisal determination on which it is based. In accordance with its directions, the dissemination of the final guidance is subject to the approval of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. The Department, in common with other consultees, has the opportunity to comment on the content of the draft guidance before the final guidance is drawn up by NICE.

  Prescription Drug Prices
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the level of change in the price of drugs prescribed genetically by the NHS was during 2000; if he will list the 10 drugs which have shown the highest rate of increase and what that rate has been in each case. [146453]

  Mr. Denham
  The prices paid by the National Health Service for the main medicines prescribed and available generically fell by around 30 per cent. overall in 2000, with most of the falls occurring in anticipation of and in response to the introduction of our maximum price scheme for generics in July 2000. This represents an estimated saving to the National Health Service in 2000 of some £170–£180 million compared to prices in January 2000.

  The table lists the 10 presentations of the main medicines prescribed and available generically which recorded the highest price increases in 2000. The cost of the increases is taken into account in the estimated savings figure for 2000 and had a marginal effect on it.
  215W

  Percentage

  Name of presentation

  Increase in price

  Digoxin—Tab 62.5mcg (28-pack)

  73

  Loperamide HCl—Cap 2mg (30-pack)

  46

  Aspirin—Tab E/300mg (100-pack)

  40

  Co-Codamol Eff—Tab 8mg/500mg (100-pack)

  39

  Digoxin—Tab 125mcg (28-pack)

  29

  Digoxin—Tab 250mcg (28-pack)

  29

  Paracetamol—Tab 500mg (100-pack)

  22

  Lorazepam—Tab 2.5mg (100-pack)

  19

  Clomipramine HCl—Cap 10mg (28-pack)

  15

  Dothiepin HCI Cap 25 mg (28-pack)

  13

  Notes:

  The main medicines prescribed and available genetically, on which the price index is based and from which the data on increases is taken, are defined as the generic preparations subject to the Government price control measures introduced in July 2000 and any other preparations in the top 200 generic medicines in terms of net ingredient cost in the first six months of 2000, the latest period for which comprehensive information is available. Together they represent around 90 per cent. of total net ingredient cost of medicines prescribed and available generically. The price index is based on the average unit Drug Tariff price of each preparation weighted according to quantities (includes estimates for months for which actual data are not yet available) dispensed in 2000–01.

  Internet Adoption
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the statutory provisions which apply to(a) the adoption of children through the internet and (b) adoption agencies' use of the internet. [146602]

  Mr. Hutton
  Only councils and approved voluntary adoption agencies may advertise (on the internet and elsewhere) children for the purposes of adoption. Anyone else who does this is committing an offence under section 58(1) of the Adoption Act 1976.

  Section 58(1) of the Adoption Act 1976 provides that it is unlawful for any advertisement to be published indicating:

  (a) that the parent or guardian of a child desires to cause a child to be adopted;

  (b) that a person desires to adopt a child; or

  (c) that any person (not being a local authority or voluntary adoption society approved by the Secretary of State) is willing to make arrangements for the adoption of a child.

  Making arrangements for the adoption of a child is defined in section 72(3) of the Adoption Act 1976 as amended by section 13 of Adoption (Intercountry Aspects) Act 1999.

  Section 58(2) provides that any person who causes to be published or knowingly publishes an advertisement in contravention of section 58(1) is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale. The law applies equally to the internet as it does to any other medium.

  I wrote to the United Kingdom Internet Service Providers Association on 19 January, informing them that if they become aware of any material on one of their Internet Service Providers advertising children for adoption that is not run by a local authority or approved adoption agency, they must remove it. If they failed to do so then they will be committing an offence and may face prosecution.
  216W

  Beta Interferon
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action the Government are taking in response to the views of the beta interferon appeal panel on selecting patients for treatment with beta interferon. [147036]

  Mr. Denham
  The panel was set up to examine specific procedural points relating to the determination of the Appraisal Committee on beta interferon. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) asked the Appraisal Committee to reconsider the matters in the light of the appeal panel's decision.

  NICE has now extended the timescale for its appraisal of both beta interferon and glatiramer acetate to enable further research to be undertaken on their cost effectiveness. NICE will review the outcome of the new modelling in the summer and unless there are further appeals would expect to issue its guidance by this November.

  Haemophilia
  Dr. Naysmith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to provide genetically engineered recombinant treatment products in place of blood products for people with haemophilia in the United Kingdom. [147042]

  Mr. Denham
  We have already instructed National Health Service trusts to provide recombinant clotting factors to new haemophilia patients and those under age 16. We have recently met representatives from the Haemophilia Society, the United Kingdom Haemophilia Doctors Association and the Royal College of Nursing Haemophilia Nurses Association to discuss the case for extending this provision to all haemophilia patients in England, and are giving careful consideration to the points they made.

  Dr. Naysmith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will hold a public inquiry into the infection of people with haemophilia, HIV and hepatitis through contaminated blood products; and if he will make a statement. [147041]

  Mr. Denham
  The technology to make blood products free from HIV and hepatitis C in sufficient quantities to treat all haemophilia patients in the United Kingdom was not available until the mid 1980s. Once it was, the National Health Service introduced it. All this information is in the public domain and we do not believe that anyone's interest would be best served by a public inquiry.

  Mr. Pollard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to enable adults with haemophilia to be offered treatment with genetically engineered recombinant and to establish a no-fault compensation scheme for people with haemophilia who have been infected with hepatitis. [147265]

  Mr. Denham
  We have already instructed National Health Service trusts to provide recombinant clotting factors to new haemophilia patients and those under age 16. We have recently met representatives from the Haemophilia Society, the United Kingdom Haemophilia Doctors Association and the Haemophilia Nurses
  217W
  Association to discuss the case for extending this provision to all haemophilia patients in England, and are giving careful consideration to the points they made.

  We have reviewed the previous Government's decision not to offer financial assistance to haemophilia patients infected with hepatitis C through blood products. We concluded that an exception could not be made to the general rule that compensation or financial help is only given when the NHS, or individuals working in it, have been at fault.

  Fluoride
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the relative benefits to dental health of(a) calcium fluoride and (b) sodium fluoride. [147258]

  Mr. Denham
  The use of sodium salts to deliver fluoride to benefit dental health is more appropriate than the use of calcium salts.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the report into the safety and efficacy of fluoride in drinking water carried out by the National Health Service Centre for Reviews and Dissemination at the University of York; and what plans he has to establish a public inquiry into the issue. [147259]

  Mr. Denham
  We accept the findings of the York report that more high-quality research is required and have asked the Medical Research Council to consider how the research base may be strengthened. We do not consider that a public inquiry would be appropriate.

  Hospital Cleanliness
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those hospitals in Cornwall and Devon which failed to meet basic cleanliness standards according to the recent survey by NHS Estates. [147249]

  Mr. Denham
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave on 23 January 2001,Official Report, column 508W.

  Nurses
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many agency nurses were employed in the NHS in December 2000; and what the total cost of that employment was. [147242]

  Mr. Denham
  Information about the number of agency nurses is not collected centrally. Information on the annual costs of employing agency nurses is collected centrally after the end of each financial year. Information on the cost of employing agency nurses during individual months of the year is not collected centrally.

  Computer Systems
  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to carry out a value for money and operational effectiveness audit of the NHS computer systems purchased through the South West regional procurement following full implementation, before employing this procurement methodology elsewhere. [147139]
  218W
  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 25 January 2001]: The South West procurement exercise is a pilot from which lessons will be learned and applied elsewhere in the country to help implement acute EPR. Once the systems and services have been implemented, a post-implementation review will be carried out by each local community taking part and will be published, as required by the conditions of the business case approval.

  Food Safety
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what foods which have gone past their sell by date are routinely reprocessed by the food industry and sold to the public in another form; and if he will make a statement. [147382]

  Ms Stuart
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Whether or not the date mark on a food has expired, and whether or not a food has been reprocessed, it is an offence under the Food Safety Act 1990 to sell, or possess for sale, food that does not comply with food safety requirements. These are that food, not only for retail sale but throughout the food chain, must not have been rendered injurious to health, be unfit, or be so contaminated that it would be unreasonable to expect it to be eaten. The Act also makes it an offence to render food injurious to health, to sell to the purchaser's prejudice food which is not of the nature or substance or quality demanded, or to describe or present food falsely or misleadingly.

  Orthopaedic Surgeons
  Ms Rosie Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost of the education and training of a qualified orthopaedic surgeon is. [147268]

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested is not collected centrally in the form requested.

  In order to qualify as an orthopaedic surgeon, a doctor would have to complete a medical degree, one year of general clinical training, a minimum of two years as a senior house officer and six years as a specialist registrar.

  The costs to the National Health Service and Higher Education Funding Council in England of a five year undergraduate medical course plus a year of general clinical training are in the region of £160,000 to £200,000. The health service makes a significant investment in postgraduate medical education. Doctors in postgraduate training follow an apprenticeship model where their training is inextricably bound up with the service they provide. Even within specialties the length and type of training will vary according to the particular career path an individual chooses and their rate of progress. For these reasons it is not possible to put a meaningful figure to the cost of training individuals to completion of specialist training.

  Food Standards Agency
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 18 December 2000,Official Report, column 41–42W, if he will list the amendments to directives and proposed future directives the Food Standards Agency is seeking to allow food products to

  219W
  carry consumer information about disease risk exposure reduction; and if he will make a statement on the progress so far made in achieving these objectives. [147745]

  Ms Stuart
  The Food Standards Agency has made specific representations to the European Commission arguing for establishment of an effective and practical system for the verification and approval of health claims at European Union level. It has made the case for allowing valid disease risk reduction claims as an integral part of these arrangements. These initiatives form part of the Food Standards Agency's wide-reaching food labelling action plan to improve the quality and clarity of information available to consumers.

  I understand the Commission is now reviewing this area of legislation with a view to making proposals later this year.

  A summary of the changes being pursued has been published by the FSA in its action plan on food labelling, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Children (Medicines)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to establish a centrally- held record of suspected adverse reactions among children to medicines. [147772]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 29 January 2001]: The Medicines Control Agency and its independent scientific expert advisory committee, the Committee on Safety of Medicines, have responsibility for monitoring the safety of medicines in the United Kingdom.

  One of the key data sources used in monitoring is the yellow card scheme. This scheme receives spontaneous reports of suspected adverse drug reactions, including those in children, from doctors, dentists, coroners and pharmacists. All reports are entered on the adverse drug reactions on line information tracking database maintained by the MCA.

  MRSA
  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to reduce infection by Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus in NHS hospitals. [147873]

  Mr. Denham
  The recently published NHS Plan implementation programme makes it very clear that, as a core requirement, National Health Service organisations must have effective systems in place to prevent and control hospital acquired infection (HAI), including methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

  New evidence-based multi-professional guidelines commissioned by the Department for the prevention of HAI, including multi-drug resistant organisms, were published in January 2001 as a supplement to the Journal of Hospital Infection.

  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are taken to test-screen possible carriers of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus in NHS hospitals. [147836]
  220W
  Mr. Denham
  There are different patterns of MRSA incidence throughout the country. Expert opinion is that it is not desirable or practical to screen all patients for MRSA but this is a matter for local determination. Mandatory surveillance of blood stream infections, including those caused by MRSA, is to be introduced from April 2001. This will enable National Health Service trusts more effectively to target interventions at patients most at risk.

  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the incidence of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus infection in NHS hospitals. [147842]

  Mr. Denham
  Aggregate data on numbers of incidents of methicillin resistant "Staphylococcus aureus" (MRSA) voluntarily submitted by trusts for specialist microbiological tests since 1996 are given in the tables. These data are routinely available on a regional basis only. Data on "Staphylococcus aureus" bacteraemias (blood infections) showing the proportion resistant to methicillin in England and Wales are published quarterly by the Public Health Laboratory Service in the Communicable Disease Report, copies of which are available in the Library. More comprehensive information about bacteraemias, including MRSA, will be collected from all acute trusts from 1 April 2001 and data will be published from 1 April 2002.

  Incidents of MRSA 1996–2000

  Incidents of MRSA

  1996

  1997

  1998

  Anglia and Oxford

  237

  297

  223

  North Thames

  539

  544

  289

  North West

  176

  259

  215

  Northern and Yorkshire

  150

  224

  202

  South and West

  206

  254

  101

  South Thames

  421

  385

  220

  Trent

  99

  123

  109

  West Midlands

  121

  102

  69

  Wales

  158

  176

  169

  Total

  2,107

  2,364

  1,597

  Incidents of MRSA

  1999

  2000

  Eastern

  80

  60

  London

  290

  170

  Northern and Yorkshire

  170

  70

  North West

  180

  90

  South East

  170

  100

  South West

  40

  10

  Trent

  100

  30

  West Midlands

  30

  50

  Wales

  130

  40

  Total

  1,190

  620

  Notes:

  1.For 1996 and the first half of 1997 data have been amalgamated to the approximate boundaries of the new Regional Office areas. This allows for comparison with subsequent years.

  2.An incident is three or more patients infected or colonised by the same strain of MRSA in the same month from the same hospital.

  3.The criteria for submission of isolates of MRSA (and other isolates of staphylococcus aureus) to the PHLS for specialist tests have been revised twice since 1996 (in January 1998 and in January 2000).

  4.These revised criteria have led to a fall in the number of incidents of MRSA that were reported to the PHLS and cannot be used as a reliable estimate of the total number of cases of MRSA.
  221W

  London Hospitals
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding his Department has given to(a) Camden and Islington NHS Trust, (b) The Royal Free Hospital and (c) The Whittington Hospital since May 1997. [147878]

  Total revenue income

  £000

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  Camden and Islington Community Health Services NHS Trust

  100,547

  106,089

  114,939

  The Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust

  178,839

  216,825

  246,209

  Whittington Hospital NHS Trust

  71,247

  75,007

  81,485

  Source:

  Camden and Islington Community Health Services NHS Trust, The Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust and Whittington Hospital NHS Trust Summarisation Schedules 1997–98, 1998–99, and 1999–2000.

  Lymington Community Hospital
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the conclusions he has drawn regarding the future of Lymington Community Hospital. [146156]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 30 January 2001]An announcement will be made in due course.

  Body Parts (Regulation)
  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines his Department has published to control and regulate the sale of(a) human organs and (b) other body parts to third parties, (i) inside and (ii) outside the NHS. [148097]

  Mr. Denham
  A letter from the Department to directors of paediatric cardiothoracic units in 1996 stated that the supply of surgical tissues for research or commercial purposes should meet the criteria of consent, safety and cost recovery.

  Directions by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health under section 25 of the National Health Service Act 1977 (paragraph 9.9) restrict charges made by blood transfusion centres for blood and blood derivatives to reasonable handling charges, with no charge to be made for the blood or derivatives.

  The Human Organ Transplants Act (1989) prohibits commercial dealing in human organs. "Organ" is defined in the Act as "any part of a human body consisting of a structured arrangement of tissues which, if wholly removed, cannot be replicated by the body".

  The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act (1990) says that "no money or other benefit may be given or received in respect of any supply of gametes or embryos unless authorised by directions."

  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS hospitals have sold(a) thymus glands and (b) other body tissues to third parties, (i) inside and (ii) outside the NHS in each of the last three years; and how much money is involved. [148096]

  Mr. Denham
  As long as consent is properly obtained and ethical standards adhered to, it is appropriate for the National Health Service to supply human tissues to pharmaceutical companies for the development of new
  222W
  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 30 January 2001]The figures given in the table are for total revenue income of the trusts. 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.

  vaccines and medicines. As this involves a cost to the NHS, which would otherwise have to be met by funds provided for patient care, it is legitimate for these costs to be recovered from the companies concerned.

  Information is not held about the supply of thymus glands and other body tissues for such purposes.

  Animal Experiments
  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what press releases were issued, speeches and other public statements supporting animal testing for medical research purposes were made by him and his Ministers in the year to 18 January. [147409]

  Yvette Cooper
  In the year from 19 January 2000 to 18 January 2001, written answers were given by Department of Health Ministers to six parliamentary questions from my hon. Friend the Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) on this and related subjects. These answers were given on 8 March 2000,Official Report, column 760W; on 5 April 2000, Official Report, column 509W; on 3 May 2000, Official Report, column 169W; on 15 May 2000, Official Report, column 19W; on 13 July 2000, Official Report, column 683W; and on 30 October 2000, Official Report, column 254W.

  In the first of these answers I made clear that we are concerned to ensure that research in animals is undertaken only when necessary to fulfil statutory obligations. In the last of these answers I said that my noble Friend Lord Hunt of Kings Heath had explained to my hon. Friend the Member for Linlithgow at a meeting on 25 July 2000 that we fully support the need to raise public awareness of the benefits of animal testing.

PRIME MINISTER

  Standards in Public Life
  Mr. Plaskitt
  To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to announce the conclusion of the Quinquennial Review of the Committee on Standards in Public Life; and if he will make a statement. [148394]

  The Prime Minister
  I am pleased to announce that the Report of the Quinquennial Review of the Committee on Standards in Public Life is published today. Copies are being placed in the Libraries.
  223W
  The Report recommends that the Committee should continue in its present form for the time being. It notes that there may not always be a need for the Committee to be continuously involved in a full-time inquiry but that in the future less active periods of monitoring may be called for. It recommends that the Committee should react flexibly to requirements and developments in the field of standards in public life. I am grateful to Lord Neill and his Committee for the work they have done in this area. I agree with the Report, which concludes that the Committee has itself become a part of the fabric of public life.

  Peter Mandelson
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish the exchanges between him and the right hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson), concerning the latter's resignation as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. [148126]

  The Prime Minister
  There were none.

  Hinduja Brothers
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister on what date(a) discussions first took place between a Minister and the Hinduja brothers, (b) correspondence was sent by a minister and (c) correspondence was received by a minister concerning the possible sponsoring of the Faith Zone in the Millennium Dome by the Hinduja Brothers; and if he will make a statement. [147176]

  The Prime Minister
  [pursuant to his reply, 29 January 2001, c. 70W]: Owing to an administrative error the answer printed in Hansard gives the same answer to the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) (UIN 147176) and the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Lidington) (UIN 147718). The answer given only related to the question from the hon. Member for Aylesbury. My office informed the hon. Member for Lewes of the error and a substantive reply to his question is given below.

  It was the responsibility of the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC), as the operator of the Dome, to negotiate and secure sponsorship for the Dome.

  I understand from NMEC, that the Hinduja Foundation first approached NMEC in February 1997 about the possibility of incorporating the "Concordia Project" into the Dome. This was to be an interactive visitor education centre focusing on the world's different cultures.

  On 24 February 1998, together with several other Ministers, I launched the public appeal for sponsorship at a televised public event at which the Hinduja Foundation, among many other companies and organisations, were present. At the launch they reiterated their desire to be involved in the Millennium project.

  They then wrote to me on 25 February 1998 and the Minister without Portfolio on 26 February 1998. Further negotiations were conducted by NMEC.

  On 3 June 1999 NMEC announced that the Faith Zone would receive £4 million in sponsorship—£2 million from the Laing Family Trusts (Christian charitable foundations); £1 million from the Hinduja Foundation and £1 million from other Christian trusts including the Jerusalem trust.
  224W
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Prime Minister when, and by whom, he was first informed of the possibility that the Hindujas might provide sponsorship for the Millennium Dome; and if he will make a statement. [148095]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I have given today to the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker).

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will invite the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to investigate the activities of the Hinduja brothers under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906 in relation to their passport applications; and if he will make a statement. [148098]

  The Prime Minister
  No. I have set up an inquiry.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Prime Minister what gifts have been received since 2 May 1997 from the Hindujas by(a) Ministers and (b) other persons representing the Government. [148067]

  The Prime Minister
  The rules on the acceptance of gifts by Ministers and civil servants are set out in the "Ministerial Code" and "Departmental Handbooks". Details of gifts received by Ministers and civil servants are not held centrally.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Prime Minister which officials in his office have(a) been contacted by and (b) contacted (i) Mr. G. P. Hinduja and (ii) Mr. S. P. Hinduja since 2 May 1997; if he will list the occasions on which there was such contact; and if he will make a statement. [148075]

  The Prime Minister
  It is not the normal practice of the Government to release details of meetings or discussions with private individuals or companies.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Prime Minister on what occasions since 2 May 1997 he has met(a) Mr. G. P. Hinduja and (b) Mr. S. P. Hinduja; and if he will make a statement. [148069]

  The Prime Minister
  It is public knowledge that I have met members of the Hinduja family. Subject to that it is not the normal practice of Government to release details of meetings with private individuals or companies.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions since 2 May 1997 he has discussed matters relating to the Hinduja brothers with(a) the right hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson), (b) the right hon. Member for Blackburn (Mr. Straw), (c) the hon. Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz), (d) the hon. Member for North Warwickshire (Mr. O'Brien), (e) other Ministers. [148068]

  The Prime Minister
  A central record is not maintained of each and every conversation that I have with Ministerial colleagues.

  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Prime Minister when, and by whom, he was first informed of the citizenship applications submitted by(a) Mr. G. P. Hinduja on 5 March 1997 and (b) Mr. S. P. Hinduja on 20 October 1998; and if he will make a statement. [148092]

  The Prime Minister
  Applications for citizenship are a matter for the Home Office.
  225W

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Auld Report
  Mr. Sawford
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he plans to announce the results of Lord Justice Auld's review of the criminal justice system. [147691]

  Jane Kennedy
  Lord Justice Auld is currently drafting his final report. It will be published once it is available.

  Magistrates Courts Service (Northamptonshire)
  Mr. Sawford
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what funding has been provided for the Northamptonshire magistrates courts service for each year from 1990. [147704]

  Jane Kennedy
  The Lord Chancellor's Department provides separate grants for revenue and capital (buildings and IT) to local authorities for magistrates courts costs. Grant is paid at 80 per cent. of expenditure/costs of scheme or item, with the remaining 20 per cent. met by local authorities.

  The total funding provided to Northamptonshire magistrates courts committee was:

  Year

  £million

  1992–93

  3.74

  1993–94

  3.41

  1994–95

  3.72

  1995–96

  3.61

  1996–97

  3.66

  1997–98

  3.55

  1998–99

  3.75

  1999–2000

  4.03

  2000–01

  13.55

  1 The 2000–01 figure is an estimate, as revenue grant costs will not be certain until the end of this financial year

  The Lord Chancellor's Department became responsible for magistrates courts from 1 April 1992. Funding figures prior to this are unavailable.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  TV Licensing
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many representations(a) his Department and (b) TV Licensing have received from (i) hon. Members and (ii) members of the public on the conduct of TV Licensing. [147609]

  Janet Anderson
  The Department does not record the subject matter of correspondence received in such a way as to enable the information requested to be provided in full. However, during the calendar year 2000 the Department received over 80 representations from hon. Members about correspondence received from TV Licensing or the activities of that organisation. A number of representations were also received from members of the public on these subjects.

  TV Licensing carries out the administration of the television licensing system as an agent for the BBC. According to information provided by the BBC, during
  226W
  the calendar year 2000 TV Licensing received 45,095 representations. Separate figures for Members of Parliament are not readily available.

  National Waterways Museum
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what support his Department has given to the National Waterways Museum in the years(a) 1998, (b) 1999 and (c) 2000. [147620]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  My Department does not provide core funding for the National Waterways Museum which is governed by the Waterways Trust, an independent charitable trust. However, the Museum has received financial support from organisations directly and indirectly sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

  From the Designated Museums Challenge Fund, the Museum received £53,080 in 1999–2000, and £116,608 in 2000–01. From the South West Museums Council, which is funded by Re:Source: The Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries, the Museum received grants totalling £2,424 in 1998–99, and £2,571 in 1999–2000. The Museum was also awarded a grant of £502 in 1999–2000, and has been offered a grant of £5,000 in 2000–01, from the PRISM (Preservation of Scientific and Industrial Material) Fund administered by the Science Museum on behalf of Re:Source.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Farm Incomes
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on farm incomes. [148535]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  Revised estimates of farm income during 2000 were published this morning. These confirm the significant reduction forecast last November, and indicate a fall of 25 per cent.

  This fall is largely due to pressure on prices for agricultural outputs caused by a further rise in sterling against the euro, as compared to 1999.

  The Government remain committed to providing a framework within which the industry may react to the challenges presented by the current situation.

  Detailed estimates of the income, output and productivity of agriculture in the United Kingdom in 2000 have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Hazard Analysis
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received concerning the impact of hazard analysis critical control points on official control of meat inspection. [146981]

  Ms Stuart
  I have been asked to reply.

  Representations on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) and the future control of meat inspection have been received from UNISON and hon. Members on behalf of constituents. I am advised that UNISON and the Association of Meat Inspectors (AMI) have also been holding discussions on this issue with the

  227W
  Food Standards Agency (FSA). The concerns expressed relate to an unfounded view that the FSA would countenance a change to the present system of meat inspection which did not fully protect the public.

  A European Commission working document, made available by the FSA earlier this month to a wide range of interests, including UNISON and the AMI, sets out some initial ideas on what might form the main elements of a future risk-based meat inspection system. Among other things, the document discusses the possibility that operators who demonstrate a high degree of commitment to good hygiene practice including consistently good microbiological test results, who train their own staff to the same level as official inspectors and who wish to take on the responsibility, might be permitted to carry out on-line meat inspection subject to official scrutiny and enforcement, as long as those high standards are maintained. Other, non-European Union, countries have already adopted or are piloting such an approach because of perceived consumer benefits.

  Any legislative proposals that flow from the Commission's working document would be subject to formal public consultation in the UK, negotiations with other member states, and both EU and UK Parliamentary scrutiny, before any changes could be implemented.

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate his Department has made of the cost of introducing hazard analysis critical control point. [146982]

  Ms Stuart
  I have been asked to reply.

  I am advised that the Food Standards Agency is in the process of gathering information on the cost implications of implementing the changes to European Union food safety legislation proposed by the European Commission last July. This includes information on the likely costs of introducing in full the hazard analysis and critical control point food safety management system. The agency invited comments on the likely costs of meeting the new legal requirements in the initial regulatory impact assessment (RIA) which formed part of its public consultation on the Commission's proposals. An updated RIA will be made available when the European Scrutiny Committee debates the proposals.

  Smallholdings
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many agricultural holdings were registered as at 1 January; and of that number how many were classified as smallholdings. [146641]

  Ms Quin
  [pursuant to her reply, 23 January 2001, c 515W]: I regret an error has been discovered in the numbers previously provided.

  The correct number of agricultural holdings in England registered at 1 January 2001 is:

  Main holdings—151,121

  Minor holdings—31,012.

  It should also be noted that there has been an increase of 4,800 holdings on the register since June 2000 largely as a result of the register improvement exercise currently taking place, and the total figures are subject to change.
  228W
  Notes:

  A holding is classified as minor if all the following criteria are true:

  a. the total area is less than six hectares

  b. there is no regular whole-time farmer or worker

  c. the estimated annual labour requirement is less than 100 days (of eight hours' productive work by an adult worker under average conditions)

  d. the glasshouse area is less than 100 square metres

  e. the occupier does not farm another holding.

  If any of these conditions is not satisfied, the holding is categorised as "main".

  Fishmeal
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the impact of the proposed EU-wide ban on fishmeal in animal feed on Britain's livestock farmers. [146407]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 22 January 2001]: I have asked my officials to consult the UK agriculture industry on the impact of the introduction of the new EU-wide feed controls, including the ban on fishmeal. A consultation paper including a draft Regulatory Impact Assessment has been sent to representative organisations for comments by 2 February. It is also available on the MAFF website http://www.maff.gov.uk and in the Libraries of the House.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Departmental Projects
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the projects undertaken for his Department by(a) outside consultants, (b) academic researchers and (c) university departments since 1 May 1997, giving the total expenditure incurred in each category. [144076]

  Mr. Wills
  This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Early Years Education (Somerset)
  Paddy Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what his estimate is of the proportion of three-year-olds in Somerset who will have a free early years place by(a) spring 2001, (b) spring 2002 and (c) spring 2003; and if he will make a statement. [144606]

  Ms Hodge
  [holding answer 18 January 2001]: By September 2004, there will be a free early education place in Somerset for every three-year-old whose parents want one.

  To move towards this achievement, the Government have allocated to Somerset funding for 1,704, 2,262 and 2,786 places for the three financial years to 2004 (allocations for the last two years are indicative). The LEA is already funding further places in the maintained sector.

  Our experience tells us that some parents do not take up places as soon as their children are three and do not always want a full-time place. Building that knowledge into our assumptions, over the three financial years

  229W
  in question there will be free places for 47 per cent., 60 per cent. and 70 per cent. of three-year-olds in Somerset. These figures are averages based on the number of places available for the year as a whole. Local education authorities have been asked to increase places on a term by term basis to build up to universal provision, therefore the figures in the spring term are likely to be higher than the annual average.

  In 1997, about 8.5 per cent. of Somerset's three-year-olds had places in local education authority maintained nurseries.

  Since September 1998, all four-year-olds have been able to access a free, part time, early education place.

  Departmental Policies (Slough)
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Slough constituency, the effects on Slough of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [146929]

  Mr. Wills
  Outlined are details of the effect on the Slough constituency and Slough LEA of a range of the Department's policies.

  Sure Start

  There is a Sure Start programme centred in the Britwell and Northborough area of Slough. There is a strong emphasis on parental involvement with equal representation on the partnership board. The programme addresses the need to reshape existing services as well as offering a wide range of new activities including support to teenage parents and a new Community Parents project to promote and enable positive health and parenting skills through local community involvement.

  The programme has been granted funding of £1,643,508 until March 2003.

  Education Action Zones

  There is a large EAZ in Slough: 'Heart of Slough' Education Action Zone. EAZ grant payments to Slough EAZ comprise:
  contributions.

  £

  1999–2000

  169,000

  2000–01

  1627,000

  2001–02

  750,000

  1 i.e.the zone forecast to need this amount this FY.

  2 This figure assumes the EAZ raises &250,000 of private business contributions.

  Beacon Schools

  The LEA has one Beacon school—Priory School (awarded Beacon status in September 1998).

  Specialist Schools

  There is one Specialist School in Slough—Herschel Technology College. The additional funding made available to Herschel (because of its Specialist School status) since 1997 comprises:

  £

  1997–98

  73,370

  1998–99

  74,910

  1999–2000

  78,500

  230W

  £

  2000–01

  87,680

  2001–02

  188,560

  1 Estimate-calculated from pupil numbers each year. This figure assumes same pupil numbers as 2000–01.

  Class sizes

  Class sizes—Slough LEA

  £

  Revenue

  Capital

  1998–99

  88,000

  0

  1999–2000

  301,000

  113,000

  2000–01

  322,721

  676,000

  The September 2000 figure shows that there are now only 95 (2.7 per cent.) pupils remaining in infant class sizes of 31 or more. The figure in January 1997 was 713 (19.8 per cent.).

  Key Stage 2 results

  Percentage of pupils achieving level 4 or above in Key Stage 2 tests in Slough LEA:

  English

  Maths

  Science

  2000

  74

  70

  84

  1999

  68

  63

  72

  1998

  65

  53

  63

  GCSE/GNVQ results

  Percentage 5 or more A*-C

  Percentage no passes

  1998

  1999

  2000

  1998

  1999

  2000

  Slough

  42.9

  48.1

  51.3

  3.5

  3.3

  4.2

  England

  46.3

  47.9

  49.2

  6.6

  6.0

  5.6

  Funding

  Capital (excluding NDS)

  £000

  2001–02

  2000–01

  1999–2000

  1998–99

  ACG

  375

  246

  180

  74

  SCA

  0

  70

  50

  45

  VA Grant

  407

  118

  80

  60

  Seed

  —

  109

  0

  0

  Capital Formula

  0

  796

  0

  0

  NGfL

  0

  362

  284

  176

  Science Labs

  105

  105

  0

  0

  SSLUs

  25

  29

  0

  0

  Access

  116

  0

  0

  0

  Security

  0

  39

  38

  27

  Outside toilets

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Energy

  0

  0

  0

  20

  AMP assistance

  0

  0

  17

  0

  New Deal for Schools

  £

  (As Berkshire)

  NDS 1 (1997–98)

  761,000

  NDS 2 (1998–99)

  385,000

  NDS 3 (1999–2000)

  644,000

  NDS 4 (2000–01)

  1,622,000

  231W
  School projects are described in the following table.

  £

  Name of school

  Project

  Allocation

  NDS 1

  James Elliman Middle, Arbor Vale Special, Our Lady of Peace RC First, Slough and Eton CE Secondary, Montem Infants, Wexham Secondary, Baylis Court Nursery, Godolphin Infants, Littledown School

  Large package for urgent Health and Safety works

  1761,000

  NDS 2

  Godolphin Infants

  Heating improvements

  37,254

  Lea Infants

  Heating improvements

  18,576

  Lea Middle

  Heating improvements

  104,975

  Montem Middle

  Heating improvements

  18,576

  Our Lady of Peace RC First

  Heating improvements

  13,473

  Our Lady of Peace RC Middle

  Heating improvements

  30,875

  Baylis Court

  Heating improvements

  24,700

  Beechwood

  Heating improvements

  49,400

  St. Bernard's Convent

  Heating improvements

  23,465

  NDS 3

  Wexham Secondary, Slough and Eton CE Secondary

  Two school package for replacement of defective window frames

  210,381

  Marish Infant, William Penn Primary

  Two school package for replacement of defective and rotten windows

  219,048

  Arbor Vale Special

  Early years provision

  17,028

  NDS 4

  Godolphin Junior

  Replacement of temporary classrooms

  121,560

  1 Total Berkshire LEA NDS 1 allocation

  Student numbers at all FEFC funded institutions Where home postcode is in the local authority district of Slough, 1996–97 to 1999–2000

  FEFC funded

  Non-FEFC funded

  16–18

  Adult

  16–18

  Adult

  Year

  FT

  PT

  FT

  PT

  FT

  PT

  FT

  PT

  1996–97

  1,175

  371

  242

  4,725

  19

  34

  35

  121

  1997–98

  1,138

  340

  243

  4,533

  11

  86

  32

  163

  1998–99

  1,082

  380

  449

  4,325

  38

  113

  67

  909

  1999–2000

  974

  453

  552

  4,385

  16

  123

  46

  732

  Modern apprenticeships

  Since 2 May 1997, we know of 801 starts on Modern Apprenticeships in the Slough constituency (as at 31 October 2000). Broken down by financial year these are:

  Financial year

  Foundation modem apprenticeships1

  Advanced modern apprenticeships2

  Total

  1997–98

  1

  127

  128

  1998–99

  27

  134

  161

  1999–2000

  115

  150

  265

  2000–01 (to date)

  157

  90

  247

  Total

  300

  501

  801

  1 Foundation Modern Apprenticeships, formerly known as National Traineeships, were introduced nationally in September 1997.

  2 Advanced Modern Apprenticeships, formerly known as Modern Apprenticeships, were introduced nationally in September 1995.

  Note:

  1. The Trainee Database System (TDS), from which these data are taken, is less complete than Management Information supplied to the Department by Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs) (around 95 per cent.)

  2. In addition, the postcode information on the TDS, from which parliamentary constituency data are compiled, are 95 per cent. complete.

  3. TEC Management Information does not provide information at parliamentary constituency level.

  Source:

  WBTYP trainee database
  232W
  Labour market

  The working age employment rate in Slough UA in autumn 2000 was 77.8 per cent., above the UK rate of 74.7 per cent. The rate in autumn 1997 was 78.9 per cent., in autumn 1998 was 71.4 per cent., and in autumn 1999 was 77.7 per cent. As can be seen, these data are volatile and our best interpretation of the trend in the employment rate for Slough since 1997 is that it has been broadly flat.

  The claimant unemployment rate has fallen from 3.2 per cent. in December 1997 to 2.1 per cent. in December 2000 in the constituency of Slough.

  To the end of October 2000, 824 young people have joined the New Deal, with a total of 371 entering employment. 280 of these entered into sustained employment.

  Pupil Funding
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list, for each English local education authority,(a) the amount spent per primary pupil, (b) the amount spent per secondary pupil and (c) the amount spent per primary pupil as a percentage of the amount per secondary pupil for each of the past three years. [145029]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 18 January 2001]: The information on funding per pupil is contained in tables, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

  233W
  These figures are based on education Standard Spending Assessments combined with central Government grant. They demonstrate a trend showing gradual convergence between overall primary and secondary funding. It is, of course, for each local education authority ultimately to decide the balance between primary and secondary funding for its schools.

  Under this Government, funding per pupil has already increased by over £300 in real terms, and it will increase by a further £150 per pupil for 2001–02. Under the last Government, funding per pupil fell by £60 in real terms between 1994–95 and 1997–98. There will be further increases in funding following the year 2000 spending review: a further £370 per pupil over the three year period, taking the total increase to nearly £700 between 1997–98 and 2003–04.

  Ministerial Travel
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the cost of ministerial travel was(a) within the UK and (b) outside the UK for his Department for each of the last three years. [147232]

  Mr. Wills
  [holding answer 25 January 2001]: The cost of overseas travel by Ministers in this Department for the last three financial years is as follows:

  2 May 1997 to 31 March 1998: £79,171

  1 April 1998 to 31 March 1999: £116,886

  1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000: £88,168.

  These costs were included in the figures on Ministers visits overseas published by the Prime Minister on 28 July 2000, Official Report, column 969W. Travel within the United Kingdom is undertaken by a variety of means— car, rail and air. Information on the cost of such travel is not held centrally. All travel complied with the requirements of the "Ministerial Code" and "Travel by Ministers".

  Child Minders
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will broaden the criteria for the registration of child minders to enable nightworkers and lone parents working unsocial hours to benefit from the Working Families Tax Credit. [147422]

  Ms Hodge
  All working parents, subject to their income, are eligible to receive Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC). The Childcare Tax Credit (CTC) element of WFTC can meet up to 70 per cent. of eligible child care costs.

  WFTC helps with the cost of overnight care where it is done by a child care provider who is registered under the Children Act. But we recognise that some parents, with certain working hours or particular needs, have little option except to employ child care providers who fall outside the eligible arrangements. We are looking at the scope to extend access to the CTC for these groups and what quality assurance arrangements would be appropriate.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when the Minister with 234W
  responsibility for School Standards will reply to the hon. Member for Hertsmere's letter of November 2000, concerning teacher recruitment. [147471]

  Ms Estelle Morris
  The reply to the hon. Member's letter has been issued today.

  Acquired Brain Injury
  Ms Blears
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what support his Department offers to people with acquired brain injury; [147957]

  (2) what plans he has to help individuals with acquired brain injury back into work. [147958]

  Ms Hodge
  The Employment Service provides a range of services which support people with acquired brain injury. It provides a network of Disability Employment Advisers, who, in addition to providing advice about job opportunities, act as the gateway to specialist programmes aimed at securing a return to work. One of these is Work Preparation, for which the Employment Service contracts with local providers who deliver flexible programmes tailored to the needs of each individual. Other measures which can be used to help people with acquired brain injury are the Access to Work Programme and the Job Introduction Scheme.

  Ms Blears
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidance he gives to local authorities in Greater Manchester on support for vocational rehabilitation for individuals with acquired brain injury. [147959]

  Ms Hodge
  My Department does not give any guidance to local authorities. Support for vocational rehabilitation, including support for those with acquired brain injury, is provided by the Employment Service, which contracts with various providers to deliver services to meet local needs.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Romania
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will publish the exit strategy report produced by her Department concerning the Romania Information Centre. [147211]

  Clare Short
  The report entitled "Romanian Information Centre—Appraisal Report" produced by an independent consultant and funded by my Department will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which non-governmental organisations and charities her Department supports in Romania. [147210]
  235W
  Clare Short
  At present, my Department is providing support to the following non-governmental organisations and charities in Romania:

  1. Groundwork Blackburn

  2. Romanian Association for Community Development

  3. Emergency Services Despatch Centre

  4. Casa loana—ACASA Project

  5. Support To Enlaka Rural Community

  6. Assistance To CIER Constanta

  7. Nursing School—Dr. Sofaer

  8. ASHR Centre For Handicapped Women

  9. CDM—Strategic Planning For Local Admin

  10. Perspective Magazine

  11. Rehabilitation Centre For Handicapped People

  12. CODECS—Open University

  13. Light Into Europe—Air Ambulance

  14. Clean Coal Technologies

  15. CIR—Central De Informare Roman

  16. Fire Aid International

  17. Hawkesley Trust

  18. Info-Crafts Project

  19. Lamont Centre—Cluj

  20. Romani Criss

  21. Memory Centre

  22. Craft Foundation

  23. SENSE International

  24. Unicul Sens—Kindergarden

  25. ICAR Foundation

  26. Children Of The Future

  27. Transrural Trust

  28. Romani Coneci

  29. ANHR Arad

  30. Project Ruth

  31. The Ellenor Foundation

  32. Ungureni Orphanage Trust

  33. Ian 2001.

  India
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions she has had with the Indian Government concerning the treatment of religious minorities in India. [147215]

  Clare Short
  I recently visited Madhya Pradesh and discussed this issue with the Chief Minister. On my previous visits to India I discussed the issue with Federal Ministers in Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. UK development assistance to India is targeted on poor people. Ethnic and religious minorities tend to be disproportionately poor. Our efforts are focused on improving their livelihoods and respect for their rights.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the meetings she attended with Indian Government officials during her recent visit to India. [147214]

  Clare Short
  In Delhi, I met the Union Ministers for Finance, Mr. Yashwant Sinha; for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. C. P. Thakur; and for Power, Mr. Suresh Prabhu. In Madhya Pradesh, I met the Chief Minister,236W
  Mr. Digvijay Singh and the Minister of Finance, Col. Ajay Mushran, as well as the Chief Secretary, Mr. K. S. Sharma, and other senior officials.

  Departmental Surveys
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list for(a) 1992–93, (b) 1993–94, (c) 1994–95, (d) 1995–96, (e) 1996–97, (f) 1997–98, (g) 1998–99, (h) 1999–2000 and (i) 2000–01, (I) her Department's total spending on quantitative and qualitative surveys of policy issues by focus groups, opinion polling, task forces or other means and (II) the cost of each individual project. [146592]

  Clare Short
  We carry out regular monitoring of public attitudes to development in order to inform and monitor the impact of the public education work of the Department.

  The details requested are as follows: a study of public attitudes was undertaken in 1997–98 at a cost of £43,000; there was no expenditure on surveys in 1998–99; and further studies costing a total of around £45,000 were undertaken in 1999–2000.

  These consisted of: a general public attitudes survey costing £28,200; a schoolchildren's attitudes survey costing £14,700; and a readership survey of "Developments" magazine costing £1,804.

  In financial year 2000–01 we have undertaken a general public opinion study costing £33,000. A schoolchildren's survey is currently under way at an estimated cost of £9,800. The results of all these surveys are available on the DFID website.

  We do not hold information on any surveys carried out between 1992–93 and 1996–97.

  Cancer Rates (Southern Iraq)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she has received the conclusions of the World Health Organisation study on the possible increase of cancer rates in southern Iraq; and if she will make a statement. [146383]

  Clare Short
  The World Health Organisation (WHO) have not yet undertaken this study. WHO's Head of Non-Communicable Diseases is in Baghdad this week, leading a team of experts in reviewing the Iraqi Ministry of Health's capacity in epidemiological surveillance, including their ability to monitor and register cancer, including leukaemia, across Iraq.

  We have offered WHO support for improving health information systems in Iraq and are discussing funding their proposed programme to build Iraqi capacity to monitor cancer epidemiology.

  Nigeria
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what requests her Department has received for assistance for Nigeria's Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission. [146830]

  Clare Short
  We have received no requests for assistance for Nigeria's Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission.
  237W

  Reproductive Health Policy
  Ms McCafferty
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has made to her American counterpart concerning the USA's international reproductive health policy. [147596]

  Clare Short
  I have as yet had no contact with the new US Administration. The implications of the decision announced by President Bush on 22 January will become clearer as new guidance is issued. This decision by the US Administration will make no difference to the commitment of our Government to helping poor people access good quality family planning and sexual and reproductive health services.

  Hinduja Brothers
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which Ministers and officials in her Department have(a) been contacted by and (b) contacted (i) Mr. G. P. Hinduja and (ii) Mr. S. P. Hinduja since 2 May 1997; if she will list the occasions on which there was such contact; and if she will make a statement. [148078]

  Clare Short
  I met one of the Hinduja brothers at a dinner in honour of President Carter on 7 October 1999. Mr. S. P. Hinduja had two days before contacted the Head of DFID India about possible co-operation with the Hinduja Foundation. Mr. S. P. Hinduja wrote to me on 19 October 1999 suggesting a meeting with me about possible co-operation which I declined and suggested a meeting at official level. Following a meeting with a representative of the Hinduja Foundation at official level on 23 November 1999, I and one of my officials accepted an invitation by Mr. S. P. Hinduja and Mr. G. P. Hinduja to a lunch on 11 January 2000 at which co-operation between DFID and the Hinduja Foundation on HIV/AIDS work in India and a possible publication with the Hindi community on the 2015 International Development targets was discussed.

  I have had no further contact with the Hinduja brothers. No concrete proposals for co-operation between DFID and the Hinduja Foundation were identified.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Far East Prisoners of War
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement about the funding of ex-gratia payments to former Far Eastern prisoners of war or their surviving spouses. [148536]

  Mr. Bayley
  The authority to make these payments will rest entirely on the Appropriation Act. Parliamentary approval for this new scheme will be sought in a Supplementary Estimate for the Central Government Administered Social Security Benefits and Other Payments Vote (Class XII Vote 1).

  Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £190 million will be met by repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund.
  238W

  Winter Fuel Payment/Free Television Licence
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will place in the Library an estimate for each parliamentary constituency of(a) the number of beneficiaries from the Winter Fuel Payment and (b) the number of recipients of free television licences. [147806]

  Mr. Rooker
  The information is not available in the format requested. The latest figures for Winter Fuel Payments and estimates of the over-75 population who may benefit from a free television licence for each constituency in Great Britain have been placed in the Library.

  TV Licensing administers the free television licence scheme for the BBC. I understand that geographical breakdowns of the number of free licences are not available.

WALES

  Policing
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent meetings he has had with the First Secretary to discuss policing in Wales. [146524]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I meet the First Minister regularly to discuss a number of issues, including policing in Wales. In addition, I meet, from time to time, the four Welsh Chief Constables.

  Census
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary with regard to the census in Wales. [146525]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I have regular meetings with the First Minister to discuss a range of subjects, including this one.

  NHS Waiting Lists
  Sir George Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary with regard to the progress of the Government's commitment to reduce health service waiting lists. [146526]

  Mr. Hanson
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I meet regularly with the National Assembly's First Minister and the Assembly Health and Social Services Minister to discuss the NHS in Wales. The subject of waiting lists is, of course, often on the agenda.

  Benefit Recovery
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met the Secretary of State for Social Security to discuss the impact of the Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) Regulations 1997 upon the people of Wales; and if he will make a statement. [146527]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I have met my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security regarding this issue. He is now examining, with the claimants' solicitors, ways of speeding up and simplifying the system, and is proposing to issue "nil" certificates when interim
  239W
  payments are made, to extend the time for which recovery certificates are valid, and to accept sworn statements from former miners when they become ill.

  Optical Electronics
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he plans to meet representatives of businesses involved in optical electronics in North Wales. [146528]

  Mr. Hanson
  My right hon. Friend visited Avimo Optical Imaging, Prestatyn in September and is due to visit Thales Optronics, Llandudno Junction (formerly Pilkington Optronics) next week.

  Dairy Farming
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary on dairy farming in Wales. [146530]

  Mr. Hanson
  My right hon. Friend discusses a range of issues in his weekly meetings with the First Minister. I also regularly meet the Assembly Agriculture Minister to discuss a variety of issues.

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary concerning prospects for manufacturing industry in Wales, with particular reference to the future of the steel industry. [146531]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I regularly meet the First Minister and discuss a wide range of issues including manufacturing and the steel industry.

  The UK steel industry is among the most productive in the world. Each steelworker today is four times more productive than he or she was 20 years ago. Seventy per cent. of steel qualities available today have been developed in the last 10 years to meet increasing demands for stronger, lighter materials. Those are the reasons why, despite its current difficulties, I firmly believe that the UK steel industry has a future in today's knowledge driven economy.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what meetings he has had with the First Secretary to discuss manufacturing industry in Wales. [146542]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I regularly meet the First Minister and discuss a wide range of issues including manufacturing.

  Manufacturing is a key part of the economy. The Government appreciate the difficulties facing manufacturers in some sectors and are supporting them by providing macro-economic stability. Low inflation, low interest rates and sound public finances will help UK manufacturers in the long term.

  Dee Estuary
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Assembly Environment Secretary on cross-border concerns relating to the environment of the Dee Estuary. [146532]
  240W
  Mr. Hanson
  My right hon. Friend has regular discussions on environmental issues with the First Minister, and I have regular meetings with the Assembly Minister for Transport, Planning and the Environment to discuss a range of environmental matters.

  In the vast majority of cases such decisions as they affect Wales are a matter for the National Assembly for Wales, in discussion with the lead Whitehall Department and the Environment Agency where appropriate.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary about current unemployment levels in Wales. [146533]

  Mr. Hanson
  My right hon. Friend regularly meets the First Minister and I hold regular meetings with the Assembly Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning, when we discuss a wide range of issues including unemployment levels in Wales. I also addressed the Wales New Deal Task Force in November on the Government's future plans for the New Deal.

  Since the Government's New Deal was launched throughout Wales, there has been a 73 per cent. fall in the number of 18–24 year olds unemployed and claiming the Jobseeker's Allowance for six months or more from 6,555 in April 1998 to 1,774 in October 2000.

  Mr. John Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary about unemployment levels in Wales. [146521]

  Mr. Hanson
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State regularly meets the First Minister and I hold regular meetings with the Assembly Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning, when we discuss a wide range of issues including employment levels in Wales.

  This Government's continued firm handling of their sound economic policy has seen a significant reduction in the number of people claiming benefits in Wales, with a fall in the claimant count from 4.7 per cent. in December 1999 to 4.3 per cent. in December 2000.

  Sports Council
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Sports Council for Wales about encouraging artistic and sporting talent in Wales. [146534]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I have met the Chairman of the Sports Council for Wales to discuss general issues affecting sport in Wales.

  Wales has an excellent record of achievements in many activities, and I am keen to encourage opportunities for all people to take part in sport within the community.

  Environmental Issues
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the process for deciding cross-border issues relating to the environment. [146535]
  241W
  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The bilateral concordat between the Assembly and the DETR sets out the principles for dealing with cross-border environmental issues and the arrangements for joint sponsorship of the Environment Agency.

  Garment Manufacturing
  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last had discussions with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on the future of garment manufacturing in Wales. [146536]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I regularly meet my ministerial colleagues and discuss a wide range of issues.

  Welsh companies can benefit from the Government's 12 point plan to help the industry improve its competitive position in the global market.

  Steel Industry
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the future of the steel industry in Wales. [146537]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Over the past weeks, I have discussed the future of the steel industry with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. I have also held numerous meetings with my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and the First Minister of the National Assembly for Wales.

  In addition, I have met Sir Brian Moffat, the Chairman of Corus, twice.

  I have to tell the House that the Government have not been given any detail about the forthcoming re-structuring of the British steel industry, much of which is based in Wales. The company has not engaged with the Government. I regret this, and I urge Corus to recognise the record of our steel works and steelworkers, and not to take any short term decisions.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent representations he has made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer about the steel industry in Wales. [146543]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I regularly meet ministerial colleagues and discuss a wide range of issues including, of course, the steel industry in Wales.

  Prisoner Release Scheme
  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department with regard to the early prisoner release scheme in Wales. [146538]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I meet the Home Secretary regularly to discuss a range of issues.

  Social Exclusion
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the level of social exclusion in Wales. [146540]
  242W
  Mr. Hanson
  The National Assembly for Wales published a reported entitled "Mapping social exclusion in Wales", 1999 Edition. The report contains 50 indicators related to aspects of social exclusion and maps their concentration across Wales. Copies of the report are available in the Library of the House.

  In December, the National Assembly published a consultation paper entitled "Regenerating Our Most Disadvantaged Communities, Communities First". Copies of the consultation paper will be placed in the Library of the House as soon as possible.

  In addition, the Welsh Affairs Committee published a report on social exclusion in Wales on 15 January. The report acknowledged that social exclusion affects people of many different kinds and that it is not unique to Wales; it is a fact of life across the United Kingdom.

  This Government are committed to tackling social exclusion and I welcome the high priority that the National Assembly places on bridging the gap between the most deprived communities in Wales and the more affluent ones.

  Crime and Resources
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he next intends to meet the chief constables of Wales to discuss crime and police resources in Wales. [146541]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I met all four Welsh chief constables on 15 January to discuss a number of issues affecting policing in Wales, including crime and police resources.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he plans to meet the First Secretary and chief constables to discuss police funding and crime levels in Wales. [146546]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I met all four Welsh chief constables on 15 January to discuss a number of issues affecting policing in Wales, including police funding and crime levels. I meet the First Secretary regularly to discuss a range of issues, including this one.

  Miners' Compensation
  23. Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Department of Trade and Industry on the number of miners' compensation claims which have been (a) made and (b) settled in Wales. [146544]
  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I have discussed this issue on several occasions with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and with ministerial colleagues.

  The number of claims made for respiratory disease in Wales is 27,446 while the total number of claims in Wales settled in full and final terms is 861.

  The number of claims made for vibration white finger in Wales is 15,533 while the total number of claims in Wales settled in full and final terms is 3,674.

  The Government are determined to see all claims settled as quickly as possible and my ministerial colleagues and I are giving this very full attention. For

  243W
  example, on 4 January I chaired a very constructive first meeting of a Welsh sub-group of the Coal Health Claims Monitoring Group which I established specifically to address coal health issues in Wales. The group will meet on a regular basis and will discuss progress made and ways of further speeding up the processing of coal health claims.

  New Deal
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the operation of the New Deal in Wales. [146545]

  Mr. David Hanson
  The Government are committed to creating employment opportunity for all to fulfil our long-term employment ambition that, by the end of the decade, there will be a greater proportion of people in work than ever before.

  The New Working Age Agency, to be set up in 2001, will bring together parts of the Employment Service and Benefits Agency to give greater support to people of working age.

  The Government announced on the 30 November that we had reached our New Deal target for getting 250,000 people off welfare and into work. Over 17,000 18 to 24-year-olds in Wales have obtained employment since the New Deal was introduced and, there has been a 73 per cent. fall in the number of 18 to 24-year-olds unemployed and claiming the Job Seeker's Allowance for six months in Wales over the same period.

  Police Funding
  Mrs. Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary and the Home Secretary on the funding of the police in Wales. [146547]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I meet both the First Secretary and the Home Secretary regularly to discuss a range of issues, including the funding of police in Wales.

  Mrs. Betty Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he plans to meet chief constables in Wales to discuss police funding and crime levels. [146539]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I met all four Welsh chief constables on 15 January to discuss a number of issues affecting policing in Wales, including police funding and crime levels.

  Digital Broadcasting
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on the funding of S4C2, the Digital BBC channel for Wales. [146549]

  Mr. Hanson
  I meet my right hon. Friend regularly and we discuss a range of issues.

  Birth Certificates
  Mr. Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will introduce legislation to allow children of Welsh parents born in England to be entitled to a Welsh birth certificate. [146548]
  244W
  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The rules on birth certificates are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  European Security and Defence Policy
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the Dutch Presidency's proposal for a parliamentary dimension for the oversight of the ESDP. [146456]

  Mr. Vaz
  [holding answer 29 January 2001]A copy was placed in the House Libraries on 26 January.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the Government's response to the proposals of the Dutch Presidency for the parliamentary oversight of the ESDP. [146457]

  Mr. Vaz
  [holding answer 29 January 2001]The Dutch proposal was circulated as a basis for discussion and as such does not require a formal response.

  Hinduja Brothers
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Ministers and officials in his Department have(a) been contacted by and (b) contacted (i) Mr. G. P. Hinduja and (ii) Mr. S. P. Hinduja since 2 May 1997; if he will list the occasions on which there was such contact; and if he will make a statement. [148076]

  Mr. Wilson
  It is not the normal practice of the Government to release details of meetings or discussions with private individuals or companies.

  All relevant papers will be made available to the inquiry being conducted by Sir Anthony Hammond QC.

  European Disability Forum
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funding from(a) EU and (b) UK Government sources is available to the European Disability Forum; and when he last received representations from them. [147458]

  Ms Hodge
  I have been asked to reply.

  The European Disability Forum received 750,000 euro from the European Commission for the period 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001 plus 100,000 euro for co-ordination of the European Day of Disabled People. The provisional budget for 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 is 900,000 euro (inclusive of funding for the European Day of Disabled People 2001).

  I am not aware of any UK Government funding for this organisation.

  Democratic Republic of Congo
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many export licences for military dual-use equipment have been refused to
  245W
  (a) Angola, (b) Namibia, (c) Zimbabwe, (d) Rwanda, (e) Uganda and (f) Burundi on the grounds that there was a possibility it would be used in the Democratic Republic of Congo. [146831]

  Mr. Wilson
  Details of export licensing decisions between 2 May 1997 and 31 December 1999 have been set out in the Government's Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls. These reports list by country of destination the numbers of export licences issued and refused in each equipment category and give details of the military equipment for which licences have been granted.

  Between August 1998, when the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) started, and 9 February 2000 one application for a Standard Individual Export Licence (SIEL) was refused to Zimbabwe. This application was set out in the 1999 Annual Report and was refused against Criterion 4 (preservation of regional peace, security and stability) of the EU Code of Conduct. We judged it highly probable that the equipment would be used by Zimbabwean forces deployed in the DRC.

  Between when the Prime Minister set out the basis of our new tighter policy on arms sales to countries intervening in the DRC, 9 February 2000, Official Report, columns 184–85W, and 17 January 2001, two applications for a SIEL were refused to Uganda. These applications were refused on the grounds that there was a clear risk that the equipment would be used in the DRC. These will be set out in the 2000 Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls in due course.

  UN Compensation Fund
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the relationship is between(a) Iraq's unutilised oil for food moneys and (b) reparations via the UN Compensation Fund; and if he will make a statement. [147216]

  Mr. Wilson
  Of the nearly $12 billion in the UN Iraq account as of 19 January 2001, $4.5 billion of "oil for food" revenue remains unallocated by Iraq, depriving its people of much needed humanitarian relief. This money remains available to be spent by Iraq under future phases of the "oil for food" programme. There is no relationship between this money and reparations under the UN Compensation Fund. However, it is worth noting that as a measure to give further support to the Iraqi people, the UN Compensation Commission agreed to reduce from 30 per cent. to 25 per cent. the proportion of revenue dedicated to the UN Compensation Fund under Phase IX of the "oil for food" programme, so releasing more money for food, medicines and other humanitarian relief.

  Brussels Council
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the outcome was of the General Affairs Council held in Brussels on 22 and 23 January; and if he will make a statement. [147160]

  Mr. Vaz
  The General Affairs Council (GAC) on 22 January adopted the "A" points listed in document No. 5419/01. It also noted the resolutions, decisions and opinions adopted by the European Parliament in its session of 29–30 November in Brussels listed in document No. 12940/00. Copies of these documents will 246W
  be deposited in the House Libraries as soon as they are available. The European Parliament did not transmit a record of its resolutions, decisions and opinions at its 11–15 December session in Strasbourg in time for adoption by the GAC on 22 January; they will go forward for adoption at the GAC on 26 February 2001.

  Open debate on conflict prevention

  In open debate, the Council agreed that the EU possessed appropriate resources and instruments to play a major role in conflict prevention, but needed to manage them more coherently and systematically.

  Orientation debate on strengthening the EU's external action

  The Council held its first ever debate on the priorities and quality of the EU's external actions, including external assistance.

  The Council expressed broad support for Commission reforms covering both the process and the implementation of external assistance, and hoped that they would continue. The Council also agreed on the need for greater coherence, focus, flexibility and consistency in the use of external relations instruments. The Presidency concluded that Council views were converging on priorities for external action, namely: neighbouring countries (including the accession countries), poverty reduction, conflict prevention, and co-operation with major international actors. In addition, external actions needed to be responsive to both new expenditure pressures and to long-term priorities. These conclusions, together with the discussion itself and the Presidency paper on external action reforms would provide general guidance for the Commission in preparing the 2002 budget. (The Council remitted to COREPER further work on common strategies and other suggestions which arose during the debate, including the Foreign Secretary's proposal that the GAC hold a follow-up debate later in the year in connection with the draft budget).

  Western Balkans

  The GAC welcomed the free and fair elections in Serbia in December. It underlined the need for the FRY to co-operate fully with the ICTY and comply with its obligations under UNSCR 1244 and the Dayton and Paris agreements. The Council agreed to send an EU ministerial troika to Belgrade in early February. The GAC urged the authorities in Serbia and Montenegro to agree on a new constitutional arrangement, within a federal framework. The GAC also called for the speedy release of Kosovo Albanian and other prisoners held without charge or on political grounds. It strongly condemned terrorist acts by ethnic Albanians in southern Serbia, while welcoming the FRY authorities' commitment to UNSCR 1244. The Council thanked Mr. Kouchner for his work as UNMIK Special Representative in Kosovo and pledged its support for his successor, Mr. Haekkerup.

  The Council approved the terms of reference for the high level EU/Albania Steering Group, which is to help Albania meet the requirements of the Stabilisation and Association agreement.

  The GAC also discussed the use of depleted uranium in the Balkans. It agreed that this issue must be dealt with transparently, and that NATO would remain in the lead.
  247W
  Middle east peace process

  The GAC welcomed President Clinton's efforts to seek a breakthrough in the peace process, and stated the EU's wish to work closely with the Bush Administration on the issue. It also expressed its support for the current negotiations in Taba, Egypt. The Council called on Israel to end its withholding of revenue payments due to the Palestinian Authority.

  Democratic Republic of the Congo

  The Council condemned the assassination of President Kabila, and called for all parties to the Lusaka Agreement to respect their commitments under this agreement.

  El Salvador

  The Council expressed its deepest sympathy to the victims and families of those lost in the El Salvador earthquake, and called for efficient donor co-ordination, both immediately and in the longer-term. It recalled the support being provided by the Community and member states.

  Nice follow up: IGC/Nice Treaty

  The Presidency announced that the Nice Treaty will be signed by Ministers in Nice on 26 February 2001. The Foreign Secretary welcomed the Presidency's plans for broad consultation involving all relevant actors, including national Parliaments.

  Nice follow up: EU enlargement

  The Presidency presented their work programme and emphasised their intentions to keep to and, where possible, proceed more rapidly than the Commission's timetable for negotiations agreed at Nice.

  Any other business: Bananas

  A discussion on the EU's banana import regime is now remitted to a future Council.

  "Your Britain, Your Europe"
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the(a) past and (b) future venues of the "Your Britain, Your Europe" roadshow; and what have been its costs to date. [147460]

  Mr. Vaz
  Since the launch of the "Your Britain, Your Europe" information initiative, I have visited the following cities, towns and boroughs: Newcastle; Sunderland; Hull; Rotherham; Manchester; London; Bristol; Bath; Nuneaton; Birmingham; Leicester; Leeds; Liverpool; Norwich; Southampton; Edinburgh; Glasgow; Rosyth; Cardiff; Newport; Reading; Newbury; Swindon; Oxford; Slough; Henley on Thames; Wolverhampton; Loughborough; Northampton; Brent; and Tower Hamlets.

  In the next two months, I plan to visit Newcastle, Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Sheffield, Cambridge, Huntingdon, Peterborough, Brighton, Hove and Hastings.

  So far, the total cost of my programme of visits has been about £100,000.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many responses were received to the questionnaire attached to the "Your Britain, Your Europe" leaflet; how many leaflets have been distributed; at what cost; and if he will make a statement. [147466]

  Mr. Vaz
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 10 April 2000,Official Report, column 77W.
  248W
  We have now distributed all 17,000 copies of the "Your Britain, Your Europe" leaflet. The total design and printing costs came to £3,862.51.

  European Women's Lobby
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last(a) met and (b) received representations from the European Women's Lobby; and if he will make a statement. [147514]

  Mr. Vaz
  The Secretary of State has not met the European Women's Lobby. Relevant officials come into contact with the Lobby during regular European-level meetings and the Lobby circulates publications on women's issues to interested parties in all member states.

  Euro
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on planned information campaigns for UK embassy and consulate staff on the euro. [147463]

  Mr. Vaz
  I refer the hon. Member to the Treasury's "Fourth Report on Euro Preparations", copies of which have been deposited in the Library of the House.

  Iraq
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the outcomes of the oil-for-food programme for Iraq. [147374]

  Mr. Wilson
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer the then Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Neath (Mr. Hain) gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) on this subject on 22 January 2001,Official Report, column 405W.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much of the money from the Iraqi "oil-for-food" programme, held in a UN administered account, was spent on(a) food and medicine, (b) war reparations and (c) payments to the UN in the last 12 months. [147370]

  Mr. Wilson
  During the last 12 months the UN has continued to direct 66 per cent. of "oil for food" revenue to the UN's humanitarian programme in Iraq, 30 per cent. to the UN Compensation Fund and 4 per cent. to UN administration of the programme. However, for the current phase of "oil for food" (December 2000-June 2001) the UN has agreed to reduce the UN Compensation Fund share to 25 per cent. and increase the humanitarian programme share to 71 per cent. as a gesture to the Iraqi people.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received concerning the ending of sanctions against Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [147381]

  Mr. Wilson
  In response to recent representations by the Government of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, we have given assurances that the process leading to the suspension and eventual lifting of sanctions on Iraq can begin when Iraq chooses to co-operate. SCR1284—a UK
  249W
  initiative—continues to offer Iraq the opportunity to make quick progress in this process. We continue to urge Iraq to accept this resolution.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to combat the smuggling of embargoed goods to and from Iraq; and what role Turkey plays in this process. [147025]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 30 January 2001]: The UN sanctions regime continues to be largely effective in controlling the flow of embargoed goods into and out of Iraq and denying the Iraqi regime of funds outside UN control. However we remain concerned about breaches of sanctions, in particular the smuggling of Iraqi oil through the Gulf and across Iraq's land borders, which has the effect of depriving the Iraqi people of humanitarian aid under the UN "oil for food" programme.

  Where we have firm evidence that embargoed goods are being smuggled, we press Governments, including that of Turkey, both bilaterally and through the UN Sanctions Committee to take action against the smugglers. We also continue to play an active role in the Multinational Interception Force, which through its regular patrolling, helps to deter smuggling through the Gulf.

  Iran
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations with Iran. [147255]

  Mr. Wilson
  The Foreign Secretary last met his Iranian counterpart Dr. Kharrazi at UNGA on 15 September last year and reaffirmed our commitment to constructive engagement with Iran.
  250W
  Our policy, in line with that of our EU partners, remains to encourage the reforms already under way in Iran while pressing for improvements in those Iranian policies that are of concern.

  Ecuador
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what aid the British Government have provided to help Ecuador deal with the oil spill off the Galapagos Islands. [147373]

  Mr. Battle
  We are providing £50,000 to help Ecuador protect the integrity of this flagship World Heritage Site; and we have informed the Government of Ecuador that we are ready to share the UK's experience in contingency planning to avoid or repair damage to sensitive marine environments. At an international co-ordination meeting in Quito on 24 January the Ecuadorean Environment Minister expressed publicly his warm appreciation of support from the UK.

  Drugs Control
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the management of United Nations Drugs Control Programme funds. [148058]

  Mr. Battle
  We have, with a number of other donors, raised concerns about UNDCP programme management. In light of recent press reporting on this issue, I wrote to Mr. Arlacchi on 23 January seeking his assurance that UK contributions have been managed properly and used effectively, and encouraging early progress towards a more transparent system of project management and evaluation. In his reply of 24 January, Mr. Arlacchi assured me that he had invited a management audit of the UNDCP by the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services in New York, and that UK funds had been properly managed. In response to requests from donor countries, Mr. Arlacchi has also produced a paper on management reform which we and other donors are studying.

  Commonwealth Scholarship Commission Report
  Commonwealth Scholarship Commission Report
  Naval Vessels Under Repair
  Naval Vessels Under Repair
  EU Military Operations and NATO Assets
  EU Military Operations and NATO Assets
  British Defence Industry Catalogue
  British Defence Industry Catalogue
  Hatfield Rail Crash
  Hatfield Rail Crash
  Royal Parks: Cleansing of Footpaths and Cycle-ways
  Royal Parks: Cleansing of Footpaths and Cycle-ways
  Internet Service Providers: Communications Data Provision to Police
  Internet Service Providers: Communications Data Provision to Police
  Asylum Applications
  Asylum Applications
  Asylum Control: Costs
  Asylum Control: Costs
  Asylum Seekers: One-Stop Services
  Asylum Seekers: One-Stop Services
  Immigration Act Detainees in Prison
  Immigration Act Detainees in Prison
  Robberies and Assaults: Assailants
  Robberies and Assaults: Assailants
  Illegal Immigrants: Estimated Numbers
  Illegal Immigrants: Estimated Numbers
  Parole Board
  Parole Board
  New Criminal Offences
  New Criminal Offences
  Criminal Records Bureau: Charges
  Criminal Records Bureau: Charges
  Immigration Act Detainees
  Immigration Act Detainees
  Water Fluoridation
  Water Fluoridation
  Bovine Tuberculosis: Food Standards Agency Study
  Bovine Tuberculosis: Food Standards Agency Study
  Health Development Agency
  Health Development Agency
  HIV/AIDS: Public Education Spending
  HIV/AIDS: Public Education Spending
  Farm Incomes
  Farm Incomes
  Committee on Standards in Public Life
  Committee on Standards in Public Life
  Education Funding per Pupil
  Education Funding per Pupil