Written Answers of 6 March 2001

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Correspondence
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the representations to him from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Mohammed Rafiq. [152452]

  Mr. Straw
  I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 1 March.

  Immigration Advisers
  Mr. Pond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he has made in establishing the scheme of regulation for immigration advisers and service providers; and if he will make a statement. [152674]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Office of The Immigration Services Commissioner published a Code of Standards, Guidance to Advisers on Competencies, The Commissioner's Rules and a Complaints Scheme in October 2000. An office has been established at 6th floor, Fleetbank House, 2–6 Salisbury Square, London EC4Y 8JX. Application packs for registration and exemption have also been sent to advisers and organisations known to the Commissioner?s office. The Commissioner is about to start a publicity campaign designed to ensure that those who are required to make an application to him know of the need to do so.

  I am pleased to announce that, following discussion with the Commissioner, I propose to bring the remaining provisions of Part V of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 into force on 30 April 2001.

  The Commissioner has, however, made representations to me about a large number of voluntary organisations which provide immigration advice and services and are committed to applying for the Community Legal Services Quality Mark. Organisations which have gained this Quality Mark are regarded as having met some of the Immigration Services Commissioner's requirements as set out in the Code of Standards. The Government have no wish to impose unnecessary regulatory demands on voluntary organisations which are already committed to a recognised quality programme and we propose to make an order under section 84(4)(d) of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. As a result of this order, voluntary bodies which commit themselves to the Community Legal Services Quality Mark before 30 April 2001 will not breach the general prohibition on providing immigration advice or services which will come into force on that date. The protection for qualifying voluntary bodies will cease to have effect on 31 January 2002. The understanding will be that, by this date, the voluntary bodies will have applied to the Office of the Immigration Services
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  Commissioner for exemption from the regulatory scheme and that successful applicants will be included in the Commissioner's list of exemptions.

  Other candidates for inclusion in a section 84(4)(d) order remain under consideration.

  Training Police
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what average sum of money is allocated per serving police officer for training within the Metropolitan police force in the current financial year. [151614]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that as training is provided on the basis of need, it is not possible to provide an average sum of money allocated per serving officer for training. The Metropolitan police service has allocated £99.5 million for training both police officers and civilian staff for the current year.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training police staff are required to undertake prior to being involved in child abuse inquiries. [151615]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  All child abuse inquiries are undertaken by specially trained officers. Training in each force is a matter for the chief officer concerned but would generally entail a minimum of five days of joint training with social workers.

  Football-related Offences
  Ms Perham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many football-related offences there were in each of the last six years. [151626]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The data requested are not available. However, information on the number of arrests in connection with football-related offences for the last six seasons is set out in the table:

  Data on football-related arrests between seasons 1994–95 and 2000–011

  Season/year

  Total arrests

  2000–012

  1,834

  1999–2000

  3,137

  1998–99

  3,341

  1997–98

  3,307

  1996–97

  3,577

  1995–96

  3,441

  1994–95

  3,850

  1 Provided by the National Criminal Intelligence Service and the Football Banning Orders Authority

  2 As at 26 February 2001

  Special Constables
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special constables applied(a) successfully and (b) unsuccessfully to become full-time police officers in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [151757]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The information requested is not collected centrally. However, my hon. Friend may like to know that some Home Office funded research completed
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  in May 2000 on wastage in the special constabulary in five forces found that of the 293 former specials questioned, 18.8 per cent. (55 people) had left the Specials in order to join the regular force.

  Suicide (Prisons)
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many self-inflicted deaths there were in each year since 1992 in(a) all prisons, (b) young offender institutions, (c) male prisons and (d) female prisons; and if he will make a statement. [151747]

  Mr. Boateng
  The figures requested are given in the table. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced on 5 February 2001,Official Report, column 441W, a suicide prevention strategy to be implemented progressively from April 2001. The strategy will invest most resources where the risks are highest and aim for year on year reductions in prisoner suicide and self-harm.

  Self-inflicted deaths in Her Majesty?s Prison establishments in England and Wales, by establishment type, 1992–20011

  Year

  Total

  (a) All prisons

  1992

  41

  1993

  47

  1994

  62

  1995

  59

  1996

  64

  1997

  68

  1998

  82

  1999

  91

  2000

  81

  2001

  110

  Total

  1605

  (b) Young offender institutions

  1992

  4

  1993

  1

  1994

  1

  1995

  2

  1996

  7

  1997

  7

  1998

  2

  1999

  8

  2000

  6

  2001

  12

  Total

  140

  (c) Male prisons

  1992

  35

  1993

  45

  1994

  60

  1995

  55

  1996

  55

  1997

  58

  1998

  67

  1999

  78

  2000

  67

  2001

  18

  Total

  1538

  (d) Female prisons

  1992

  2

  1993

  1

  1994

  1

  1995

  2

  1996

  2

  1997

  3

  1998

  3

  1999

  5

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  Self-inflicted deaths in Her Majesty's Prison establishments in England and Wales, by establishment type, 1992–20011

  Year

  Total

  2000

  8

  2001

  10

  Total

  127

  1 As at 27 February 2001

  Office of Surveillance Commissioners
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what system is in place to ensure democratic accountability of the Office of Surveillance Commissioners. [152122]

  Mr. Straw
  The Chief Surveillance Commissioner appointed under the Police Act 1997 has a statutory responsibility to make an annual report to the Prime Minister on the exercise of his functions under the 1997 Act, and since 25 September 2000, of his additional functions as described in section 62 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA). This report must be laid before Parliament. A copy of the Chief Surveillance Commissioner's most recent report is available in the Library. (Police Act 1997 Chapter 50 Report of the Chief Surveillance Commissioner for 1999–2000—Cm 4816).

  The responsibility for appointing the Chief Surveillance Commissioner rests with the Prime Minister who is also responsible for appointing such Surveillance Commissioners and Assistant Surveillance Commissioners as he thinks fit.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the annual budget is of the Office of Surveillance Commissioners. [152124]

  Mr. Straw
  The Office of Surveillance Commissioners (OSC) was allocated £405,000 for the financial year 2000–01. The regional offices of the OSC were allocated £84,000 by the Nothern Ireland Office and £41,000 by the Scottish Executive for the year 2000–01.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been employed by the Office of Surveillance Commissioners in each year since its inception. [152123]

  Mr. Straw
  The Office of Surveillance Commissioners was set up in 1998. It currently has four support staff in the Central Office in London, a part-time member of staff in Northern Ireland and a part-time member of staff in Scotland. The staff joined between November 1998 and February 1999.

  A Chief Surveillance Commissioner was appointed in July 1998. He is supported by six part-time Surveillance Commissioners appointed in November 1998. One Commissioner resigned in April 2000 and was replaced in February 2001.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the(a) aims and (b) work programme are of the Office of Surveillance Commissioners. [152125]

  Mr. Straw
  The aims and present work programme of the Office of Surveillance Commissioners (OSC) are twofold:
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  First, for the Chief Commissioner to keep under review the performance of functions under Part III of the Police Act 1997 and, so far as they are not required to be kept under review by the Interception of Communications Commissioner, the Intelligence Services Commissioner or the Investigatory Powers Commissioners for Northern Ireland, the exercise and performance, by persons on whom they are conferred or imposed, of the powers and duties conferred or imposed by Part II of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA), and the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act 2000 (RIP(S)).

  Secondly, for the Surveillance Commissioners to carry out their statutory functions of (a) scrutinising and considering whether to give their prior approval to decisions to grant or renew grants of authorisations for property interference and intrusive surveillance and (b) scrutinising decisions to cancel authorisation for property interference and intrusive surveillance.

  The work programme is currently being reviewed to incorporate oversight of directed surveillance and the use of covert human intelligence sources by the public authorities listed in Schedule 1 to RIPA and section 8 of RIP(S). A team of Assistant Commissioners and inspectors is to be recruited to assist with this.

  Elections (Postponement)
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps would need to be taken to postpone the elections scheduled for 3 May; and when an announcement would be made to the House. [152609]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  We have no current plans to postpone the local elections schedules for 3 May. To do so would require changes to the current law.

  Departmental Policies (Stroud)
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effects on the Stroud constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [152401]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Home Office is working to build a safe, just and tolerant society in which the rights and responsibilities of individuals, families and communities are properly balanced, and the protection and security of the public are maintained. Detailed information on the impact of Home Office policies across the full range of responsibilities is set out in Home Office Annual Reports. A copy of the most recent report, Home Office Annual Report 1999–2000, is available in the Library. Information on recorded crime and policing is also published. 'Recorded Crime England and Wales, 12 months to September 2000' and 'Police Service Strength England and Wales, 30 September 2000' can be found in the Library. The recorded crime statistics include information on recorded crime by Basic Command Unit and Crime and Disorder partnerships.

  The impact of Home Office policies and actions is not normally examined by constituency and the statistics which the Department collects, such as recorded crime, cannot be matched in the way requested although set out are examples relating to the Stroud constituency or the immediate locality:
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  Two Intervention Schemes and two Bail Supervision Schemes are being funded by the Youth Justice Board (YJB) in Gloucestershire that includes coverage of Stroud.

  Intervention Schemes

  (a) Gloucestershire Mentoring Scheme.

  This is a mentoring project which is targeting 14–16 year olds causing concern to partner agencies by way of offending behaviour and disaffection with the education system. The objectives include supporting and re-focusing the young people through the provision of adult mentors and to re-engage these young people in education and training through intervention.

  The YJB contribution is approximately £76,000 (September 1999 to March 2002).

  (b) Developing Skills Accredited Community Service (Education, Training and Employment)

  This project provides support to parents of young people who are offending so that they may help their child reduce offending.

  The YJB contribution is approximately £357,000 (September 1999 to March 2002).

  Two Bail Support Schemes

  >(a) South Gloucestershire Bail Supervision and Support Scheme

  The main objectives of the project are to reduce the incidence of custodial/secure remands and/or to reduce to a minimum the length of time young people spend on such remands.

  The YJB contribution is approximately £59,000 (April 1999 to March 2002).

  (b) Gloucestershire Secure in the Community Scheme

  This project aims to identify young people who meet the criteria for remand to secure accommodation. Then to provide robust and acceptable alternatives to Magistrates that will ensure that these young people remain in the community in appropriately supervised accommodation.

  The YJB contribution is approximately £123,000 (April 1999 to March 2002).

  Youth Offending Teams (YOT)

  In conjunction with Police and Courts, Gloucestershire YOT, which includes Stroud, is reducing the time from arrest to sentence for all Persistent Young Offenders.

  Having now established the interagency YOT model, developments in 2000 have established the beginnings of a working model between the YOT and local District Crime and Disorder strategies. Using the Data Protection legislation, information is shared on Young Offenders and local Peer Group with a view to jointly reduce local crime and target key indicators to prevent the development of criminal behaviour in younger children subject to delinquent influences.

  The application of the Final Warning Scheme is demonstrating a 10 per cent. reduction so far in the number of repeat offences by young people. This compares with the previous application of re-offending when looking at the use of Cautions in 1998–9.

  With the application of Reparation Orders and Action Plan Orders, written evidence from victims and local commercial sector indicates improved satisfaction.

  The re-organisation of the local Attendance Centre by the YOT has reduced re-offending rates from 73 per cent. in 1999 to 51 per cent. by November 2000.

  Gloucestershire YOT is assisting local police in the preparation, and in some cases the prevention, of Anti Social Behaviour Orders. This is achieved by closer liaison and examination of public complaints into anti-social behaviour by young people. A joint plan of prevention and enforcement is then initiated, which via the police is fed back to the general public.

  Gloucestershire YOT has commissioned the support of Parent Line Plus to provide training for the parents of teenage offenders. We are targeting up to 100 parents. There is growing evidence of satisfaction both by the courts and parents as a result of this initiative.

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  More generally, all of the policies of the Home Office will impact on the residents of Stroud to a greater or lesser extent. For example:
  376 Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships have been established;
  racial harassment and racially motivated crimes have been made criminal offences by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998;
  the asylum backlog has been cut from 103,495 at the end of January 2000 to 66,195 by the end of December 2000;
  good progress is being made in reducing the incidence of fire deaths in England and Wales. They have dropped from 605 in 1997 to 534 in 1999.

  Information on the Home Office and its policies is also published on its website. (www.homeoffice.gov.uk).

  Masonic Membership
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has decided to make registration of Masonic membership compulsory for police officers; and if he will make a statement. [152451]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary will make a decision when he has completed his consideration of certain issues raised during consultation with the police service. In particular he wishes to give further consideration to whether compulsory registration would be compatible with the Human Rights Act 1998.

  Foot and Mouth
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make extra funds available to the police in order to meet the extra demand on police resources following the outbreak of foot and mouth disease. [152612]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Government are concerned to ensure that all relevant bodies who face additional work as a result of undertaking their responsibilities to cope with the outbreak of foot and mouth disease are able to discharge those responsibilities comprehensively. We will be keeping under review all aspects of this, including funding.

  Departmental Policies (Warrington, North)
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Warrington, North constituency, the effects on Warrington, North of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [152319]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Home Office is working to build a safe, just and tolerant society in which the rights and responsibilities of individuals, families and communities are properly balanced, and the protection and security of the public are maintained. Detailed information on the impact of Home Office policies across the full range of responsibilities is set out in Home Office Annual Reports. A copy of the most recent report, "Home Office Annual Report 1999–2000", is available in the Library. Information on recorded crime and policing is also published. "Recorded Crime England and Wales, 12 months to September 2000" and "Police Service Strength England and Wales, 30 September 2000" can be 128W
  found in the Library. The recorded crime statistics include information on recorded crime by Basic Command Unit and Crime and Disorder partnerships.

  The impact of Home Office policies and actions is not normally examined by constituency and the statistics which the Department collects, such as recorded crime, cannot be matched in the way requested although set out are examples relating to the Warrington, North constituency or the immediate locality:

  Closed Circuit Television (CCTV)
  One scheme, "Warrington Action Toward Community Harmony", was awarded approximately £32,000 under the first round of the CCTV Initiative, for a mobile scheme covering areas of Warrington, North and Warrington, South. The system is a mobile unmarked vehicle that will be used to address a variety of problems, including; car park or neighbourhood hotspots for car crime, for use in surveillance operations where there is suspected drug dealing and to record incidents of anti-social behaviour.

  There is one Intervention Scheme and one Bail Supervision Scheme being funded by the Youth Justice Board (YJB) within the Warrington area.

  Intervention schemes
  (a) Facing Up (Restorative Justice Project)
  The project will use three different but interlinked approaches to reducing offending:

  1. Enabling young offenders to face up to the consequences of their behaviour by making amends to their victims

  2. Involving young peoples' supporters in making plans to reduce their offending behaviour

  3. Providing additional support and supervision to the most vulnerable young offenders

  The YJB contribution in is approximately £203,000 (September 1999 to March 2002).

  Bail Support Scheme
  The bail placement support project provides accommodation, care, support and guidance to young people who have been remanded by the courts in connection with criminal offences. The projects main objective is to reduce the incidence of custodial remands for 10 to 17-year-olds.
  The YJB contribution is approximately £110,000 (April 1999 to March 2002).

  Youth Offending Teams (YOT)

  The following in formation is taken from Halton and Warrington's Youth Offending Team Youth Justice Plan for April 2001–02.
  The YOT is now fully staffed, including representatives from Education, Health, Police, Probation and Social Services.
  Priority developments include Connexions, Teenage conception and health issues, substance misuse, youth nuisance and fear of crime. The time from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders in the Warrington Youth Court averages 89 days. In Halton, the average is 127 days. The YOT manager is represented on the Cheshire Youth Justice working group which is especially addressing this issue, and YOT pre-sentence reports for persistent young offenders are prepared within 10 days in order to speed up the process.
  A survey conducted in both Halton and Warrington courts sought views on the quality of pre-sentence reports being submitted. In all cases, magistrates stated that they were satisfied or very satisfied with the overall quality of the reports. In all but two of the reports, they were described as clear and concise in all aspects, with risk assessments and victim impact particularly well covered.
  Early results from the ASSET assessment process show improved scores in relation to education, cognitive skills, attitudes and motivation.
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  More generally, all of the policies of the Home Office will impact on the residents of Warrington, North to a greater or lesser extent. For example:
  376 Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships have been established;
  Racial harassment and racially motivated crimes have been made criminal offences by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998;
  The asylum backlog has been cut from 103,495 at the end of January 2000 to 66,195 by the end of December 2000.

  Information on the Home Office and its policies is also published on its website. (www.homeoffice.gov.uk).

  Terrorist Organisations
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 28 February 2001,Official Report, columns 708–09W, on terrorist organisations, which of the organisations listed is primarily active (a) against a democratically elected Government, (b) to achieve secession from a UN member state and (c) in resisting illegal occupation by a foreign power; if he will list his criteria for selecting the organisations listed; and if he will indicate for each organisation which of these criteria are met. [152630]

  Mr. Straw
  I refer my hon. Friend to the letter and accompanying paper which I sent to all Parliamentary colleagues on 28 February at the same time as I announced that a draft Order had been laid listing organisations intended for addition to Schedule 2 of the Terrorism Act 2000. Copies of this letter and paper were also placed in the Vote office and in the Library.

  Sex Offenders
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce public notification of sex offenders being released into the community. [151871]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  We have no plans to introduce measures which would require the police automatically to inform the public of the identities and addresses of sex offenders. We do not believe that this would enhance our ability to protect children. The police already have powers to inform any individual or organisation about the presence of a dangerous person in the vicinity, if they believe it would be in the interests of the public to do so.

  We have, however, introduced a package of measures to improve public protection in the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2001. Those measures build upon arrangements which were already in place and include, among other matters, a specific duty on the police and the probation service to establish local arrangements for assessing and managing the risks posed by sexual and violent offenders and powers to issue guidance to those agencies about the information which they should publish about the arrangements.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ensure the availability and use of sex offender treatment programmes for offenders convicted of offences relating to the viewing and distributing of child pornography including via the internet; and if he will make a statement. [151622]
  130W
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Under the Crime Reduction Programme, the Probation Service in England and Wales has been developing three programmes for sex offenders based on evidence of what is known to be effective (the What Works Initiative). The three sex offender programmes will be developed to the standard set by the Joint Prison and Probation Accreditation Panel. Once accredited, they will be rolled out across the Probation Service nationally. The quality of delivery will be audited by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation on behalf of the Accreditation Panel. Implementation of the first programmes to be accredited will begin this summer.

  The three sex offender programmes aim to reduce the risk of re-offending by men who have committed any type of sexual offence such as rape, child abuse, viewing and distributing child pomography including via the internet. The programmes take between nine months and two years to complete and accept men on Probation Orders and post-custodial licences, providing the licence is sufficiently long to enable the programme to be completed.

  In addition, the Prison Service Sex Offender Treatment Programme is available to men serving a prison sentence for a sexual offence or any offence with a sexual element. Similar treatment methods are used in both the prison and community programmes.

  Police Manpower
  Paddy Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) police officers, (b) civilians and (c) special constables were available to each police force in England and Wales for each quarter from 1992 to 2001; and if he will make a statement. [150417]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 15 February 2001]: Information on police strength is collected twice a year (March and September). Copies of tables showing police officer and civilian strength on a force by force basis for six monthly intervals from March 1992 to September 2000 will be placed in the Library.

  Officer numbers are for those available to each force for normal duty. Secondments to central and other duties are excluded.

  Statistics of the strength of the Special Constabulary have only been collected twice yearly since 1995. Before 1995, figures were collected annually. The figures for 1992 and 1993 were compiled at the end of the calendar year, the next collection was at the end of the 1994–95 financial year in March 1995. Copies of tables showing Special Constable strength from December 1992 to September 2000 will be placed in the Library.

  Departmental IT Projects
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the IT projects currently undertaken in his Department; and if he will state the(a) expected completion date and (b) cost of each project. [151515]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 26 February 2001]: I refer my right hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Southwark, North and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) on 30 January 2001, Official Report,

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  column 165W. The reply contained a list, in table format, of the current major Information Technology (IT) projects within my Department and its Agencies (excluding non-departmental public bodies). This has been placed in the Library.

  Further information on the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) casework programme was given in a parliamentary reply to my hon. Friend the Member for West Lancashire (Mr. Pickthall) on 6 February 2001, Official Report, column 497W.

  The following provides an update on the details contained in the list on the Asylum Support project. The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) is developing the Asylum Support IT by taking a step by step approach, building on the minimal "day one" system implemented in time for the start of the National Asylum Support Service on 4 April 2000. One possible area for

  Police force

  1 May 1994 to 30 April 1995

  1 May 1995 to 30 April 1996

  1 May 1996 to 30 April 1997

  1 May 1997 to 30 April 1998

  1 May 1998 to 30 April 1999

  1 May 1999 to 30 April 2000

  Since 1 May 20001

  Essex

  1

  2

  4

  41

  19

  34

  31

  Hampshire

  55

  17

  28

  36

  14

  33

  8

  Hertfordshire

  15

  11

  0

  0

  106

  141

  34

  Kent

  35

  61

  64

  44

  25

  32

  13

  Surrey

  0

  0

  42

  34

  30

  16

  12

  Sussex

  0

  93

  151

  97

  35

  56

  15

  Thames Valley

  0

  94

  127

  19

  46

  33

  21

  1 As at 16 February 2001

  Information relating to the other forces in England and Wales is currently being obtained from them. I shall write to my hon. Friend when the information is available.

  Mr. Salter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review his policy on the sale of police housing. [151121]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The disposal or redevelopment of police dwellings is a matter for Police Authorities. Individual Authorities take various factors into account when developing policies in this area. These include the age and suitability of the buildings forming part of the police estate. And, following its recent launch, the Government's Starter Homes Initiative which aims to help 10,000 key workers including police officers buy their own homes in urban and rural areas where high prices would otherwise prevent them from living in or near the community they serve

  Prison Education
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the(a) education service

  11997–98

  11998–99

  11999–2000

  22000–01

  Ford

  Education and library services (£)

  248,350

  237,268

  247,731

  236,296

  Education materials (£)

  26,887

  22,805

  27,827

  11,397

  Average population

  448

  422

  371

  378

  Average cost of services per head (£)

  554

  562

  668

  625

  Average cost of materials per head (£)

  60

  54

  75

  30

  Brixton

  Education and library services (£)

  410,479

  297,719

  491,919

  396,850

  Education materials (£)

  28,804

  14,851

  10,233

  11,143

  Average population

  598

  659

  785

  776

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  enhancement is in the use of software to develop document scanning and workflow techniques allowing case data to be passed electronically.

  Police Houses
  Mr. Salter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police houses were sold in the periods(a) 1 May 1994 to 30 April 1995, (b) 1 May 1995 to 30 April 1996, (c) 1 May 1996 to 30 April 1997, (d) 1 May 1997 to 30 April 1998, (e) 1 May 1998 to 30 April 1999, (f) 1 May 1999 to 30 April 2000 and (g) since 1 May 2000, (i) in England and Wales, (ii) by Surrey police force, (iii) by Kent county constabulary, (iv) by Thames Valley police force, (v) by Hertfordshire constabulary, (vi) by Essex police force, (vii) by Hampshire constabulary and (viii) by Sussex police force. [151116]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The information requested in respect of the individual police forces has been supplied by those forces. It is as follows:

  budget and (b) the budget for education materials for (1) Ford, (2) Altcourse, (3) Brixton, (4) Wormwood Scrubs and (5) Walton prisons expressed as (i) total figures and (ii) expenditure per head for each year from 1997 to 2001. [151928]

  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 5 March 2001]: The information available is set out in the table and how the spend on (a) education and library service providers and (b) the purchase of education materials for the years 1997–to 1999–2000 and forecast spend for 2000–01. The figures for 1999–2000 and 2000–01 are on a different accounting basis to earlier years in that they do not include Value Added Tax refunds. The information for Altcourse is only available for the 2000 calendar year.

  The expenditure per head has been calculated by dividing the costs by the average annual population but because not all prisoners are engaged in education, particularly in the four local prisons which hold large numbers of prisoners on remand, this will not give a realistic indication of the average education spend per prisoner.

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  11997–98

  11998–99

  11999–2000

  22000–01

  Average cost of services per head (£)

  686

  452

  627

  511

  Average cost of materials per head (£)

  48

  23

  13

  14

  Liverpool (Walton)

  Education and library services (£)

  310,118

  341,823

  416,214

  423,867

  Education materials (£)

  22,364

  24,047

  36,242

  65,500

  Average population

  1,460

  1,447

  1,420

  1,252

  Average cost of services per head (£)

  212

  236

  293

  339

  Average cost of materials per head (£)

  15

  17

  26

  52

  Wormwood Scrubs

  Education and library services (£)

  274,137

  264,243

  353,023

  425,994

  Education materials (£)

  15,393

  16,709

  26,552

  18,547

  Average population

  1,333

  1,122

  725

  794

  Average cost of services per head (£)

  206

  236

  487

  537

  Average cost of materials per head (£)

  12

  15

  37

  23

  1 Spend

  2 Forecast

  Note:

  1999–2000 and 2000–01 services spend includes VAT payments but not refunds.

  Altcourse

  £

  Main education contract

  453,000

  Materials budget

  28,000

  Librarians

  46,000

  Books and other publications

  20,000

  Security supervision

  48,700

  Total

  1595,700

  1 For the period 1 January to 31 December 2000. There were no VAT payment and no refunds.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Mongolia
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations her Department has received from Mongolia for assistance arising from the impact of severe winter conditions; what response has been made; and if she will make a statement. [152265]

  Mr. Mullin
  Mongolia has been hit by two consecutive winter disasters or 'dzuds' (1999–2000 and 2000–01) caused by severe and widespread drought in the summer, unusually cold temperatures in the autumn and heavy snow fall in winter. These conditions are seriously affecting both animal and human welfare. Last year's dzud affected 450,000 herders and killed approximately three million livestock. Compared with the same period last year the current situation is much more severe in terms of the impact of the disaster on people and livestock and on the national capacity to respond. Over 300,000 herders are affected in 20 out of 21 provinces and 600,000 livestock have already died.

  The Government of Mongolia have been active in disaster preparedness and relief assistance in dzud affected areas. However the two consecutive dzud have overstretched national capacity. The Government have therefore requested international relief assistance following a needs assessment, in which my Department was involved. An appeal for $11.8 million has been launched by the Government of Mongolia through the United Nations.
  134W
  The appeal aims to target vulnerable groups in the most severely affected provinces and seeks to fulfil unmet relief needs. It focuses on building the disaster management of the Mongolian State Emergency Commission and other relevant national partners to enhance preparedness and future response.

  We have offered US $1 million for the provision of emergency relief under the framework of the UN appeal to be channeled through humanitarian agencies working in Mongolia.

  Tuberculosis
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the outcome of the WHO Bellagio meeting on tuberculosis and the launch of a global TB drug facility. [152188]

  Mr. Mullin
  The first meeting of the co-ordinating board of the Stop TB Partnership took place in Bellagio, Italy from 21–22 February. There was wide representation, including from high burden countries.

  The meeting was a success and reached agreement on the mission, priorities and mechanisms for governance for STOP TB and the Global TB Drug Facility (GDF). The GDF will be formally launched on World TB Day (24 March 2001). The outcome of the meeting lays the foundation to accelerate the collective and co-ordinated response to the Amsterdam Declaration, to build on the commitment of existing partners and encourage others to join this global movement to stop TB.

  Aid Projects
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid projects were supported by her Department, and what financial help has been given to,(a) India, (b) Pakistan, (c) Sri Lanka and (d) Kenya, during each of the last three years. [1518691]

  Mr. Mullin
  We have given Kenya debt relief and financed projects targeted on poverty reduction, in natural resources; rural and urban development; private sector and trade development; economic governance including public sector and law reform, and the fight against corruption; political empowerment and legal rights; education; health and population; and for relief of the
  135W
  country's worst drought in 40 years. We have also part-financed the development of Kenya's Poverty Reduction Strategy, and given budgetary assistance in support of the reform programme agreed with the World bank and the IMF.

  Our assistance to India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Kenya over the last three years has been:

  £ million

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  India

  81.0

  90.0

  106.0

  Pakistan

  27.9

  24.3

  22.7

  Sri Lanka

  4.8

  6.0

  6.1

  Kenya

  29.4

  33.1

  27.1

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Retail Petrol Industry
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on recent changes in the degree of competition(a) nationally and (b) locally in the retail petrol industry. [152102]

  Dr. Howells
  Under UK competition legislation, the Director General of Fair Trading is responsible for monitoring markets and considering allegations of anticompetitive behaviour.

  The Director General has investigated the petrol retail industry a number of times in recent years and has found it to be competitive. He has said that he will continue to monitor this market very closely.

  NERC Studentships
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of NERC studentship awards went to(a) the less prosperous UK regions, (b) North-East England, (c) North-West England, (d) East Kent, (e) Humberside and (f) South West England. [151912]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The information is as follows:

  Percentage

  North-East England

  21

  North-West England

  17

  Humberside

  0

  East Kent

  0

  South West England

  15

  This includes PhDs, MSc and MRes.

  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how NERC have met the Government's requirements for transparent decision making in awarding its recent round of studentships. [151908]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The vast majority of our students are allocated via an algorithm, which takes into account research funding (through grants, staff and fellowships) provided by NERC to all university departments with an RAE (research assessment exercise) score of 3 and above. We have been using essentially the same algorithm for six years and it is therefore well known to the departments. Not only do we provide the heads of department with a136W
  letter each year outlining the algorithm and any minor changes that have taken place since the previous year, but we publish it on the Internet. During the summer months we provide the departments with the information that will be used to generate their allocation. They are asked to check that they agree with the information. We also allow them to challenge any decisions once they have been publicised.

  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of NERC's recent awards of studentships were awarded for work on contamination and land remediation. [151914]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  It is for the universities to decide in what areas the students conduct their research.

  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of MSc studentships awarded by NERC go to new universities. [151913]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  There are no NERC MSc studentships at "new" universities.

  Miners' Compensation (Erewash)
  Liz Blackman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many former miners in Erewash have(a) claimed and (b) received payments in compensation for (i) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (ii) vibration white finger. [151651]

  Mr. Hain
  In the area of South Derbyshire, as defined by the postcodes DE7, DE72, NG9 and NG10, which encompasses the Erewash constituency, IRISC, the Department's claims handlers, have registered 551 claims in respect of compensation for respiratory disease and 391 claims in relation to vibration white finger—VWF. To date, there have been 113 individual payments totalling £599,702 in respect of respiratory disease and 97 individual payments in respect of VWF amounting to £502,933.

  Depleted Uranium
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the value of sales of depleted uranium materials by BNFL was in each year since 1990. [151042]

  Mr. Hain
  [holding answer 26 February 2001]: I understand from BNFL that prior to 1992, it made sales of machined components made from depleted uranium to the Ministry of Defence. BNFL has also, since 1990, made sales of depleted uranium to a number of industrial customers and universities for a variety of research and commercial purposes. Details of individual contracts are a commercial matter between BNFL and its customers.

  Objective 1 Funds
  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much in(a) European regional development funds, (b) European Social Fund, (c) European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund and (d) other relevant European structural funds has been (i) committed to and (ii) received by projects in each of the EU objective I regions. [152014]

  Mr. Caborn
  The figures in the table show the latest commitments and r payments made under each of the EU structural funds for the three objective 1 areas of
  137W
  England. Payments under these programmes lag behind commitments because the fund regulations require ERDF expenditure to be defrayed before it is claimed. ESF projects may receive an advance payment at the beginning of the project but subsequent ESF payments take place after expenditure has been defrayed.

  Objective 1 programmes in England

  £000

  Programme

  ERDF

  ESF

  EAGGF

  FIFG

  Total

  Commitments to projects

  Cornwall and the Scilly Isles

  9,000

  16,900

  400

  0

  26,300

  Merseyside

  15,581

  32,062

  0

  0

  47,643

  South Yorkshire

  16,000

  8,000

  0

  0

  24,000

  Total

  40,581

  56,962

  400

  0

  97,943

  Payments to projects

  Cornwall and the Scilly Isles

  0

  800

  0

  0

  800

  Merseyside

  711

  7,028

  0

  0

  7,739

  South Yorkshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Total

  711

  7,928

  0

  0

  8,539

  Note:

  Responsibility for the implementation of the West Wales and the Valleys objective 1 programme rests with the National Assembly for Wales.

  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much regional selective assistance is available for objective 1 projects in Cornwall for(a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02. [152011]

  Mr. Caborn
  In principle, the whole of the RSA spend in Cornwall is available for match funding of objective 1 projects. Because spend on the scheme is demand led, the Department has recommended that the local partners plan on the basis of the average spend over the previous three years.

  Mr. Andrew George
  To ask the secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what recent assessment he has made of the number of public match funds available to applicants for EU objective 1 funds; and if he will list those funds allocated by(a) Government Departments and (b) other sources; [152012]

  (2) if he will indicate the level of funds available for this and each of the next two financial years in each of the public match funds available to applicants for EU objective 1 funds in the areas of (a) Merseyside, (b) South Yorkshire, (c) Cornwall and (d) West Wales and the Valleys. [152013]

  Mr. Caborn
  In October 2000 the Government published a revised list of potential central Government sources of match funding in England. It is available at www.dti.gov.uk/europe/mf1.htm on the internet. Copies of the document have also been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  The Government are unable to quantify the amount of match funding available in particular English regions or objective 1 areas because many sources are national programmes which are not regionally allocated but respond to demand. Moreover, the Government do not have information on match funding provided by local authorities and other non-central Government public bodies.

  Administration of the structural funds in Wales is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.

  BNFL
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 15 February 2001,Official Report, column 281W, on BNFL, how many (a) non-management employees, (b) managers, (c) senior managers and (d) directors were (i) dismissed and (ii) disciplined by BNFL as a result of the MDF data falsification at Sellafield. [151663]

  Mr. Hain
  The detail of the changes made and actions taken by BNFL in response to the MOX data falsification issue is a matter for the company. The Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) report on the MDF data falsification incident, published on 18 February 2000, included 15 recommendations which BNFL had to address to HSE's satisfaction. A number of the HSE recommendations related to identifying and dealing with specific workforce problems and improving management arrangements. A copy of the HSE report is in the Library of the House. A copy of BNFL's response to the HSE report, which was published on 18 April 2000, is also in the Library of the House. That response set out details of the programme of work through which BNFL planned to address HSE's recommendations. On 18 December 2000, HSE closed out its 15 recommendations, since they had been satisfactorily addressed by BNFL. On 22 February 2001, HSE published a further report updating the progress made by BNFL in responding to the three HSE reports published in February 2000. A copy of this report is also in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 15 February 2001,Official Report, column 281W, on BNFL, when he was first informed that the quality control worker who discovered the falsification of data at the Sellafield MDF plant was a non-BNFL employee; and for what reason this information was not included in the Health and Safety Executive's report published on 18 February 2000. [151664]

  Mr. Hain
  I first received information about this matter when receiving advice on how to respond to the hon. Gentleman's previous question on the same subject, which I answered on 15 February 2001,Official Report, column 281W.

  The question of whether to record in the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) report, published on 18 February 2000, the fact that the member of BNFL's Quality Control Team at MDF to whom you refer was, at that time, employed as a contractor to BNFL through the Employment Agency NRL, is a matter for HSE. I understand that HSE will be writing to the hon. Member shortly on this matter in response to his recent letter to it.

  Glass Industry
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications for regional selective assistance grants for the glass industry were received by his Department during February. [152447]

  Mr. Caborn
  No applications for regional selective assistance grants for the glass industry were received by this Department during February.
  139W
  However, an application was received in January, though rules on commercial confidentiality prevent my identifying the names of applicants without first obtaining their approval for disclosure.

  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will publish the review of the British glass industry being undertaken by his Department. [152445]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry hopes to release the results of new market research commissioned by the Department into the glass packaging industry later this month.

  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what criteria have been included in the review of the British glass industry being undertaken by his Department. [152446]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The review concerns only the UK glass packaging industry and is focused on the market prospects for the industry.

  Rural Petrol Stations
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many rural filling stations closed in 2000; and what action he is taking to ensure the viability of rural petrol stations. [152363]

  Mr. Hain
  [holding answer 5 March 2001]: The Institute of Petroleum's (IP) UK Retail Marketing Survey (last published in March 2000) shows that the total number of petrol retail outlets in the UK in 1999 was 13,716, a reduction of 42 compared to 1998. The IP survey for 2001 will be published shortly.

  On 1 March, the Government announced their implementation plan for the Rural White Paper "A Fair Deal for Rural England". In the plan, the Government stated that they intended to extend the village shop rate relief scheme to certain food shops, pubs and garages in small rural settlements as soon as parliamentary time allowed. This would give many petrol retail outlets mandatory rate relief of 50 per cent. provided their rateable value was less than £6,000.

  Departmental Policies (Warrington, North)
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Warrington, North constituency, the effects on Warrington, North of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [152321]

  Mr. Caborn
  My Department does not maintain statistical information at constituency level.

  My hon. Friend's constituents, like many others throughout Warrington, will have benefited from our employment rights policies, which include the national minimum wage, the working time directive, part-time working regulations and improved maternity leave.

  In addition, the ward of Burtonwood is eligible for regional selective assistance and the enterprise grant scheme.
  140W
  In the north-west region, my Department's policies have contributed to growth in employment by 107,000 and a fall in unemployment by 63,000, and to reductions in youth unemployment by 75 per cent. and long-term unemployment by 54 per cent.

  Fireworks
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many commercial fireworks were imported into the United Kingdom in the last 12 months for which figures are available; what controls apply as to their end use; and if he will make a statement. [152369]

  Dr. Howells
  The overseas trade statistics do not separately identify commercial fireworks or provide numbers imported. The value and weight of fireworks imported into the United Kingdom during the 12 months from December 1999 to November 2000 are £22.4 million and 12,575 metric tons respectively.

  The Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997 introduced comprehensive controls on the types and sizes of fireworks which can be sold to the public.

  Provincial Newspapers
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what investigations he has undertaken into monopolies in provincial newspapers; and if he will make a statement. [152292]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 5 March 2001]: Under UK competition legislation, the Director General of Fair Trading is responsible for monitoring markets and considering allegations of anti-competitive behaviour including abuse of monopoly position. Any evidence of abuse or anti-competitive behaviour should be passed to the Director General of Fair Trading.

  E-mail Procedures
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in what way his Department is revising its internal guidance to staff for writing and distributing e-mails for what reasons his Department is revising this guidance; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the current internal guidance on e-mail procedures. [151903]

  Dr. Howells
  My Department regularly reviews its internal guidance on e-mail procedures. This is to ensure that e-mail is used effectively to meet the business needs of the Department and its customers including the need to keep accurate records and to take account of advances in technology and best practice in the private and public sector.

  I have arranged for a copy of the current internal guidance on e-mail procedures to be placed in the Library of the House.

  PetroChina
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the recent discussions held with his Chinese counterparts concerning BP's stake in PetroChina. [151594]
  141W
  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 1 March 2001]: HM Government have had no recent discussions with the Government of the People's Republic of China about BP's stake in PetroChina. However, during his recent visit to China, my right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade emphasised to his counterparts the importance of incorporating the best modern environmental and social standards into the development of major projects in China. He also pointed out that the best British companies operate to those standards.

  Community Finance Initiative
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set out(a) the timetable and (b) the criteria for the introduction of funding to support businesses in deprived areas under the Community Finance Initiative; and if he will make a statement. [152147]

  Ms Hewitt
  I am pleased to be able to report that the chief executive of the Small Business Service announced on 1 March 2001 that 15 organisations have been successful in securing awards from the first round of Phoenix Fund support for Community Finance Initiatives (CFIs). These awards amount to £5.5 million over the next three years.

  CFI support from the Phoenix Fund is allocated on a competitive challenge basis. The assessment process has two elements being, (i) review by SBS against key criteria stated in the bidding guidance, (ii) an independent assessment panel to advise the SBS Chief Executive on the final award of Phoenix Fund support. In reviewing the bids the panel was concerned with the soundness of each proposal, its impact on entrepreneurship in areas of disadvantage, impact on the growth of the CFI sector in the UK and development of appropriate models and good practice.

  Bidding guidance for the first round of Phoenix Fund support for CFIs was issued in June 2000 and copies are held in the Library of the House.

  Timber
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much certified timber has been purchased over the past six months; and what proportion of total timber purchases this represents. [152044]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Department of Trade and Industry has an environmental management system in place accredited to BSEN ISO 14001. Within that system DTI has "opted in" to include the procurement of timber and timber products to ensure that such items are procured in accordance with the Government's commitment on buying from sustainable and legal sources.

  The interdepartmental timber working group is working to develop a common reporting template which will form the basis for future reporting by all Departments on timber procurement. However, that system is not yet in place, and DTI is unable to provide data on the proportion of certified timber purchased over the last six months without incurring disproportionate costs.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his Department's annual report on timber procurement to the Committee of Green Ministers will be published. [152046]
  142W
  Ms Hewitt
  No. The DTI will report through the next Green Ministers Annual Report, which is expected to be published in November 2001.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Road Schemes
  Mrs. Brinton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if it is his policy that alternative options should be considered in undertaking an appraisal under the Government's new approach to appraisal for major road schemes; [150897]

  (2) how many of the bids for major schemes submitted by local authorities in their full local transport plans contained appraisal summary tables for each of the alternative options which had been considered. [150898]

  Mr. Hill
  Consideration of alternative options is part of the New Approach to Appraisal.

  Authorities (including the Highways Agency) submitting proposals for all major road schemes as part of their plans were required to follow the Guidance on the New Approach to Appraisal (GNATA). The GNATA appraisal summary table (AST) includes a box for a statement of other options considered when putting forward a road proposal.

  Where major public transport schemes formed part of plans, authorities were asked to include an appropriate assessment of the proposed scheme against alternative options, including an AST for each. However, production of separate ASTs was not considered necessary where the choice between options was clear-cut or the scheme was in relative terms small, so in practice ASTs for alternative options were prepared for about half of the major public transport schemes given full or provisional approval in the local transport settlement.

  Regional Development Agencies
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many staff are employed by regional development agencies in offices outside the United Kingdom; at which locations; and at what cost; [149505]

  (2) which non-UK based regional development agency maintained offices share facilities with (a) each other and (b) other Government agencies or local authority offices. [149506]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 26 February 2001]: The table sets out the offices currently maintained by the regional development agencies outside England, with details of how many staff are employed by regional development agencies in offices outside the United Kingdom; where; and at what cost and where facilities are shared with each other and other Government agencies or local authority offices.

  The table has been updated since the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and Regions on 25 January 2001, Official Report, columns 667–70W. Yorkshire Forward has opened an

  143W
  office in Brussels since the original question was answered. In addition, the information given for North West Development Agency and One NorthEast in the previous answer was not complete and this has been corrected in the table.

  RDA/Office location

  Opened

  Number of employees

  Annual cost to RDAs (£)

  Other comments

  Yorkshire Forward

  Asia Pacific

  Japan

  1983

  2 full-time

  130,000

  Europe

  Brussels

  February 2001

  3 full-time

  30,000

  Yorkshire Forward contributes to costs. Office is run and staff are employed by Regional Assembly

  North West Development Agency

  Asia Pacific

  Japan

  Late 1980s

  2 part-time

  50,000

  Also have Marketing Agents since 1993 operating in Taiwan (£20,000)

  Europe

  July 2000

  1 full-time

  45,000

  Co-funded by the Regional Assembly in an office co-habited by Sub Regional Officers (Lancashire, Cheshire, Manchester, Merseyside)

  Advantage West Midlands

  Europe

  Brussels

  November 2000

  6 full-time

  170,000

  The West Midlands in Europe Office is a joint office with the West Midlands Local Government Association, Higher Education, the CBI, NEC Group, Engineering Employers Federation, Chambers of Commerce, Voluntary Sector, Further Education and has close links with Eversheds and PWC The total cost is £500,000 of which the RDA contributes £170,000 One rep in Germany since September 2000, that incurs salary costs only of £80,000. One part-time rep in Taiwan since April 1998, incurring salary costs only of £40,000 Two part-time agents in Korea since April 1996, incurring salary costs of only £20,000 From January 2001 six month contract for one rep in Australia incurring salary costs of £65,000

  East of England Development Agency

  Europe

  Contribute 4 per cent. of total cost of office to East of England European Partnership Office in Brussels. The office is sponsored by local authorities and the seven TECS in the region. EEDA's contribution is £12,000

  North America

  East of England Investment Agency, who carry out inward investment on behalf of EEDA, have a number of strategic alliances overseas, but at negligible cost. There is one part-time marketing agent in the USA at an annual cost of £5,000

  East Midlands Development Agency

  Europe

  (Germany)

  2 part-time agents

  28,000

  Asia Pacific

  1 part-time agent

  50,000

  2 part-time agents

  South East of England Development Agency

  Europe

  Brussels

  September 2000

  1 full-time1

  79,000

  Collaborative office with South East Local Authorities and Regional Assembly

  South West of England Regional Development Agency

  Asia Pacific

  Japan

  1990

  3 full-time

  174,0002

  North America

  Also have five staff working from their homes in Sonoma California, Chicago, and Boston The total cost of American and Japanese operations is £565,000 (£391,000 from public and private sector partners)

  144W
  A condition of funding for 2001–02 will be that ministerial prior approval will be required for any proposal to extend or create new RDA overseas offices involved in inward investment or trade promotion activities.

  145W

  RDA/Office location

  Opened

  Number of employees

  Annual cost to RDAs (£)

  Other comments

  One North East

  Asia Pacific

  Japan

  1974

  2 full-time

  200,000

  Korea

  1990

  1 x 0.5

  30,000

  Taiwan

  1989

  1 full-time

  45,000

  275,000

  Europe

  Brussels

  September 1992

  43,0003

  The Agency makes a financial contribution towards the running costs, including staff costs of the North of England Office in Brussels, which is a partnership for the region

  50,0004

  The office also receives funding from the North East Regional Assembly

  North of England Collaborative Office

  North America

  (Chicago, Boston5, Atlanta5, West Coast)

  October2000

  15 full-time6

  500,000

  Joint operations between; One NorthEast, North West Development Agency and Yorkshire Forward Official Launch February 2001 Total cost of the Collaborative Office is £1 million. 50 per cent, of costs come from other public and private sector funding Balance met equally between the three RDAs

  Midlands Collaborative US Office

  North America

  Chicago

  October 2000

  2 full-time

  448,0007

  Pre-September 2000 EMDA had office in Virginia at annual cost of £90,000

  San Diego

  October 2000

  2 full-time reps

  Joint operation between East and West Midlands

  Pittsburgh

  May 1992

  Cost is shared between each RDA

  Midlands Collaborative Japanese Office

  Asia Pacific

  Japan

  1997

  2 full-time

  200,000

  As above

  1 part-time

  London First Centre

  Asia Pacific

  Please note that London First Centre are a private company limited by guarantee, and they carry out inward investment promotion on behalf of London Development Agency.

  North America

  No overseas offices, however do use consultants/agents in selected locations 0.5 of two people in Taiwan since 1998, cost £22,500

  0.5 of one person in Korea since 1998, cost £7,500 Two agents in USA since 1996, cost £165,000

  1Regional Assembly contributes 50 per cent. to salary of full-time officer.

  2 Combined cost of American and Japanese operations.

  32000–01

  42001–02

  5 Operations in Boston and Atlanta predate the establishment of the Collaborative Office

  6 Projected

  7 Includes UK seconded staff costs

  Housing (Repairs)
  Mr. McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the impact of changes in the regulations governing the major repairs allowance for local authorities on the ability of local authorities to provide accommodation through housing associations. [152047]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  Council housing is a major public asset which needs to be maintained and modernised. The introduction of the Major Repairs Allowance will provide local authorities with the resources they need to meet the on-going capital costs of maintaining their housing stock. This and the virtual tripling of resources 146W
  provided to authorities for housing investment between May 1997 and 2003–04, are central to delivering our commitment to bring all social housing up to a decent standard by 2010.

  The provision of additional affordable housing in areas of high demand is also a priority. Within the same period, we are nearly doubling resources for the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme.

  Housing Health and Safety Rating System
  Ms Rosie Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will consult on his proposals to replace the housing fitness standard with the new rating system. [152676]
  147W
  Mr. Raynsford
  My Department has today published a consultation paper setting out a framework of legislation and guidance within which local authorities would use the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) as the basis for action against unacceptable housing conditions.

  We published a report on the development of the rating system in July. The system will bring a modern, risk-based approach to health and safety in the home and will underpin our commitment to improving the housing conditions of the most vulnerable people.

  The HHSRS illustrates our recognition of the close relationship between housing and health. Considerable steps have already been taken to familiarise local authorities with the new system and we now want to hear their views, as well as those of landlords' and tenants' organisations, on the enforcement proposals. The system will also underpin our licensing scheme proposals for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO).

  Legislation to allow authorities to use the rating system as a basis for their enforcement decisions will be introduced as soon as the opportunity arises.

  Copies of the consultation paper have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Habitats Directive
  Dr. Naysmith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with his counterparts in European Union maritime member states to establish the scientific basis on which these states have excluded navigational channels and working port areas from designation under the European Union habitats directive. [151998]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  Most member states have yet to complete the assessment and selection of possible sites to be designated. All should be using the same guidance offered by the European Commission's Interpretation Manual. Opportunity for collective consideration of the outcomes will occur at the next moderation meeting for the Atlantic biogeographic region, scheduled for September in Amsterdam.

  Dr. Naysmith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he has taken to ensure that English Nature has acted under the terms of the European Union habitats directive regarding the protection of estuarial features under the terms of the European Union habitats directive where their action leads to the designation of an entire estuary; and if he will make a statement. [151989]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  English Nature were asked by Government to identify sites hosting habitats listed in Annex I of the habitats directive; estuaries are one of the listed habitats. In considering such sites English Nature has used the European Commission's own Interpretation Manual for guidance. The nature conservation agencies' advice is that estuaries are complex ecosystems containing many interdependent components within which other. Annex I listed habitats are represented. Consequently,148W
  boundaries have been drawn to protect the form and function of the entire estuarine ecosystem necessary for its long-term maintenance.

  Dr. Naysmith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he last met the chairman and chief executive of English Nature to discuss its interpretation of its designation requirements under the European Union habitats directive and that of other member states; what steps he is taking to ensure that there is consistency of interpretation of the habitats directive across all member states; and if he will make a statement. [151997]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  No meeting has taken place. English Nature is following the European Commission's own guidelines pertaining to the interpretation of the habitats directive. It is for the European Commission and member states collectively to ensure that there has been a consistent scientific approach adopted by all member states in the selection and designation of Natura 2000 sites. Opportunity to do so will occur at the next moderation meeting for the Atlantic biogeographic region, scheduled for September in Amsterdam. The UK will question any instances where there appears to have been inconsistency of approach.

  Dr. Naysmith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what criteria have been applied by English Nature in evaluating those sites which it has recommended for designation as special areas of conservation under the European Union habitats directive programme; what steps he takes to ensure that its evaluations are scientific; and if he will make a statement. [151987]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  In advising Government, the statutory nature conservation agencies, including English Nature, must apply the criteria set out in Article 4 and Annex III of the habitats directive, and that given additionally at EU moderation meetings. In this process they may only use relevant scientific information to identify sites eligible for selection as Special Areas of Conservation. The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) acts with the other statutory nature conservation agencies in collating information, moderating and providing quality assurance on recommended sites before providing formal advice to Government.

  Dr. Naysmith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make available the list of European Union member states that have complied with the requirements of the European Union habitats directive in designating navigational channels and working port areas as being outside environmental designations. [151901]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  Member states are still in the process of revising and submitting new designated sites. No lists have yet to be circulated and there has not, therefore, been any opportunity to examine final designations. Site details proposed by member states in the Atlantic Biogeographical Region will be circulated by the European Commission in advance of the next moderation meeting for that region, scheduled for September in Amsterdam.
  149W
  Dr. Naysmith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps English Nature has been asked to take to ensure that the basis of their scientific evaluation of sites for designation under the European Union's Natura 2000 programme is consistent with the evaluations of other member states; and if he will make a statement. [151988]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  It is for the European Commission and member states collectively to ensure that there has been a consistent scientific approach adopted by all member states in the selection and designation of Natura 2000 sites under the Habitats. Directive. English Nature's role, through the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, is to advise Government on the scientific merits of sites in England they consider meet the criteria in Article 4 and Annexe III of the Habitats Directive.

  Dr. Naysmith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the extent to which the recommendations of English Nature concerning the designation of sites as special areas of conservation under the European Union's Natura 2000 programme is consistent with the Government's sustainable development guidelines; and if he will make a statement. [151990]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  In May 1999 the Government published "A better quality of life; a strategy for sustainable development for the UK". One of the four main objectives that together underpin the Government's view of sustainable development is"effective protection of the environment"
  The Natura 2000 programme contributes in part to the achievement of that goal.

  Planning (Sites and Monuments)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make it his policy to require planning authorities to include data from their sites and monuments record to be incorporated into their development plans. [151866]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  We advise local planning authorities in Planning Policy Guidance Note 16 "Archaeology and Planning" to incorporate in their development plans policies for the protection, enhancement and preservation of sites of archaeological interest and of their settings. The proposals map should define the areas and sites to which the development plan policies and

  £ million

  Nature of funding

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Revenue support grant

  100.7

  109.0

  112.6

  111.1

  117.5

  Income from national non-domestic rates

  57.9

  60.4

  65.6

  74.5

  72.7

  Housing investment programme

  6.5

  6.0

  7.0

  15.9

  17.9

  Capital receipts initiative

  —

  3.3

  3.8

  —

  —

  SRB funding (see note 1)

  4.2

  3.4

  3.5

  —

  —

  Neighbourhood renewal fund

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2.7

  ERDF funding (see note 2)

  —

  0.4

  1.4

  1.6

  —

  Transport supplementary grant

  0.3

  0.6

  1.8

  —

  —

  Transport annual capital guideline

  0.1

  0.7

  1.8

  —

  —

  Transport block supplementary credit approval

  1.5

  0.6

  0.8

  2.9

  6.5

  150W
  proposals apply. It is for individual authorities to determine the extent to which they draw upon their sites and monuments records in preparing their development plan policies.

  E-mail Procedures
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in what way his Department is revising its internal guidance to staff for writing and distributing e-mails; for what reasons his Department is revising this guidance; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the current internal guidance on e-mail procedures. [151902]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  General advice to staff on the use of e-mail is contained within the Staff Handbook, in particular rules governing inappropriate use of Departmental resources, and is supported by guidance. It is being reviewed to ensure it remains appropriate and conforms to recent legislation on human rights, data protection and regulation of investigatory powers. When the review is completed the resulting policy, procedures and guidance will all be placed in the Staff Handbook.

  Concern about the effects of information overload on the work of the Department has led to some simple 'golden rules' that help everyone to handle e-mail efficiently. An expanded set is to be considered by the Departmental Board for issue shortly.

  I am arranging to place a copy of this material in the Library.

  Departmental Policies (Bolton, West)
  Ms Kelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Bolton, West constituency, the effects on Bolton, West of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [150606]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 5 March 2001]: The principal kinds of funding which this Department has allocated to Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council in 1997–88 to 2001–02 are shown in the table. These include grants and borrowings approvals for revenue and capital expenditure.

  It is not possible to determine how much money has been spent on Bolton, West. It is for the local authority to decide where within its boundary these resources are invested.
  151W
  Notes

  1. Derby, Daubhill and Dean, Bolton

  A four-year scheme from the local authority-led partnership. A holistic approach to regeneration in an area with a significant proportion of ethnic residents.

  SRB total is £11.8 million.

  Scheme total £80 million.

  2. European Funding

  The Bolton partnership received approvals between March 1998 and November 1999 for five action plans and one free standing project with a total grant of £9.6 million against a total eligible expenditure of £31.6 million. To date they have claimed £3.4 million, but are expected to claim the remainder by the end of the programme in December 2001.

  Building Regulations
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects part L of the building regulations to come into force. [152172]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning to my hon. Friend the Member for Warwick and Leamington (Mr. Plaskitt) on 5 March 2001,Official Report, columns 60–61W, in which he announced the intention to amend Part L of the Building Regulations in August this year. These amendments should come into force six months later, in February 2002.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what the average consumption is of energy in kilowatt hours per square metre of new homes built to existing building regulations in(a) England and Wales, (b) Sweden, (c) Germany, (d) Denmark and (e) the Netherlands; and what will happen in England and Wales following the proposed changes to Part L of the building regulations; [152170]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the most recent changes to energy conservation standards in building regulations in each EU member state. [152171]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  My Department does not systematically collect data on the development of energy efficient building regulations in all member states. However, in 1998, a study of the standards in Denmark, Germany, Holland and Sweden was commissioned as a preliminary to the current review of energy conservation standards in England and Wales. The results of these investigations were published in January 1999. Our proposals for improving standards published in last summer's consultation document took these results into account, and would keep us broadly in line with NW Europe while remaining proportionate in our national efforts to control carbon emissions from buildings without running excessive risks of construction defects.

  We do not have data on the average consumption of energy in kilowatt hours per square metre of new homes built to existing building regulations in Sweden, Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands. With regard to England and Wales, and in answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Warwick and Leamington
  152W
  (Mr. Plaskitt) on 5 March 2001, Official Report, columns 60–61W, my right hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning indicated the fabric insulation performance standard we propose to introduce as a result of the review of Part L of the Building Regulations. The table gives an indication of the average energy consumption of an indicative new home in the UK built to the current Building Regulations, and of one built to the proposed new standards.

  For a new semi-detached dwelling in England and Wales having a floor area of 80 m2 and gas fired central heating

  Requirements

  Average annual delivered energy consumption per square metre of floor area for heating and hot water kWh/m2 pa

  Current (1995)

  136.6

  As announced on 5 March as intended to come into effect in February 2002

  103.4

  Hydropower
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he is examining to extend the length of the licence period for hydro schemes. [152176]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  The Environment Agency has recently announced that time limits for abstraction licences will generally be for 12 years, striking a fair balance between environmental protection and abstractors' needs for stability. There will be a presumption of renewal of licences, so that where sufficient water resources are available licences will be renewed.

  Time limits longer than 12 years may be given in particular circumstances, such as for infrastructure investments, subject to detailed economic and environmental appraisal. The Agency works closely with abstractors to take into account their particular circumstances, and will implement the new arrangements in a way which minimises the disruption to business.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to change the powers of the Environment Agency so that it can actively promote hydropower schemes. [152174]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  The British Hydropower Association has made the same proposal. Officials from my Department are meeting representatives of the association on 8 March to discuss the proposition.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with the British Hydropower Association concerning the draft Water Bill. [152173]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  At the request of the British Hydropower Association, officials from my Department are due to meet represntatives of the association on 8 March to discuss among other issues the draft Water Bill.
  153W
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to end the requirement for low-head hydro schemes across existing weirs to have to apply for an abstraction licence. [152175]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  Low-head hydro schemes, while they do not consume water, can affect river flows and other river users. We therefore have no plans to end the requirement for low-head hydro schemes across existing weirs to have an abstraction licence. Each case needs to be considered on its merits.

  Sewerage Charges
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to review the legislation under which community residents who rely upon septic tanks for the removal of sewerage still have to pay the same increase in charges as those on main sewers. [152169]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  The charges made for the removal, transport or disposal of septic tank waste or cesspit waste are a commercial matter between the customer and the sewerage undertaker or other firm employed to undertake these services. It is not within the scope of the price regulation administered by the Office of Water Services (Ofwat).

  The suggestion has been made, in response to the public consultation on the draft Water Bill that Ofwat should be able to regulate these prices. This suggestion will be considered alongside other comments on the draft Water Bill before its is introduced.

  Local Government Ombudsman
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to change the powers of the local government ombudsman with regard to complaints of maladministration, and to ensure more rapid response to complaints. [152177]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  We have now completed our consultation on the organisation and operation of the public sector ombudsmen in England, including the Local Government Ombudsman. This consultation was announced to the House on 15 June 2,000,Official Report, columns 722–23W by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office, and we expect to announce our conclusions shortly on how best to improve public access to the ombudsmen and their efficiency in dealing with complaints.

  Foot and Mouth
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make extra funds available to local authorities in order to meet the extra demands on resources following the outbreak of foot and mouth disease. [152613]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Government are concerned to ensure that all relevant bodies who face additional work as a result of undertaking their responsibilities to cope with the outbreak of foot and mouth disease are able to discharge those responsibilities comprehensively. We will be keeping under review all aspects of this, including funding.

TREASURY

  Foot and Mouth
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the census is to be postponed as a result of the foot and mouth outbreak. [151885]

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

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Gordon Prentice, dated March 2001:
  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question on the possible postponement of the census due to the foot and mouth outbreak (151885).
  I am continuing to monitor the impact of the foot and mouth outbreak, and the possible implications for the Census in England and Wales.
  No one can ignore the foot and mouth outbreak. Census activities will be in accordance with whatever else is happening in the areas affected by the outbreak, including restrictions on travel and contact.
  Delivery of forms to individual households is not due to start until April 9. It is not currently possible to assess what the situation in rural areas will be at that time. I will monitor the situation on a daily basis, but I recognise that it may be necessary to alter some aspects of the practical operation in rural areas, possibly at very short notice.
  High quality enumeration is crucial to the Census. The Census rests on the goodwill and trust of the people across all communities. In the past the rural population has been well motivated to complete their forms. To enable them to do so on this occasion I will be looking at any practical options including, for example, whether the enumeration period around Census day (April 29) should be extended. I will continue to discuss what changes and precautions for staff may be necessary with the relevant agencies, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and other interested parties.

  Working Families Tax Credit
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate how many earners receive working families tax credit in each unitary metropolitan authority and county of the North East region; and if he will estimate the proportion of earners in the region who are(a) in part-time work and (b) also in receipt of the childcare supplement. [152056]

  Dawn Primarolo
  For estimates of the number of families in each local authority in receipt of the Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC), I refer my hon. Friend to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Lancaster and Wyre (Mr. Dawson) on 22 January 2001,Official Report, column 425W.

  There is no single definition of what comprises full-time work. The table shows an analysis by hours worked of families in the North East region receiving WFTC at August 2000, split also between those families whose awards include the childcare tax credit and other families.

  Thousand

  Hours normally worked per week by main earner

  Families whose awards include the childcare tax credit

  Other families

  Total

  16 less than 20

  0.8

  15.2

  16.0

  20 less than 24

  0.8

  7.5

  8.3

  24 less than 30

  1—

  4.3

  4.6

  155W

  Thousand

  Hours normally worked per week by main earner

  Families whose awards include the children tax credit

  Other families

  Total

  30 less than 36

  0.9

  8.4

  9.3

  36 less than 40

  1.4

  13.9

  15.3

  40 and over

  1—

  12.0

  12.3

  All cases

  4.5

  61.3

  65.8

  1 Estimates based on less than 25 sample cases.

  Note:

  Estimates based on 5 per cent. sample of awards, and therefore subject to sampling error. Estimates based on less than 25 sample cases.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many firms paying working families tax credit to their employees the payment of credits exceeds the amount they collect in national insurance and income tax; and how many employees in these companies receive the working families tax credit. [149858]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Employers whose prospective payments of tax credits in any period (up to six months) exceed the PAYE tax and national insurance contributions that they expect to deduct can apply to Inland Revenue for the additional funding required over that period. One sixth of employers paying tax credits at 31 August 2000 received funding for payment periods that spanned that date. Fur such employers, the average number of employees with awards which include payment via the employer is about 1.5.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employers(a) are administering the Working Families Tax Credit and (b) will be administering the employment credit. [152513]

  Dawn Primarolo
  At the end of August 2000 about 120,000 employers were paying Working Families Tax Credit or Disabled Person's Tax Credit to their employees.

  The numbers of employers involved in payment of the employment tax credit will depend on its detailed design.

  Children's Tax Credit
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families in Warrington, North constituency he expects to receive the children's tax credit. [151946]

  Dawn Primarolo
  An estimate of the number of families in the Warrington, North constituency who will be eligible to claim the children's tax credit (CTC) is unavailable, but an estimate of the number of families in the North West region of England who will be eligible to claim CTC is 625,000.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 10 January 2001 to the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb),Official Report, column 568W, on children's tax credit, how many taxpayers would be affected by changing the tapers in each of the options. [151017]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The estimated number of taxpayers affected by reducing the annual threshold at which the Children's Tax Credit (CTC) begins to be tapered away for 2001–02 is given in the table:
  156W

  Reduction to CTC threshold

  Estimated number of taxpayers affected

  £1,000

  500,000

  £2,000

  600,000

  £3,000

  700,000

  £4,000

  800,000

  £5,000

  900,000

  Imports (Israel)
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when, in response to the communication of April 2000 from the EU Commission, Her Majesty's Customs and Excise requested certificates of origin from the Israeli authorities for(a) Ahava cosmetics, (b) dates, (c) carpets from Barkan, (d) wines and (e) any other items; how many such requests were made for each item; how many responses have been received; and if he will list those products on which the European Commission requested a posteriori verification of certificates of origin with the Israeli authorities. [151134]

  Dawn Primarolo
  UK Customs has initiated the following verification inquiries:

  (a) Ahava Cosmetics—13 certificates of preferential origin were returned to Israel for verification on 11 August 2000.

  (b) Dates—72 certificates were returned for verification on 31 October 2000.

  (c) Carpets from Barkan—nine certificates were returned on 17 August 2000.

  (d) Wines—18 certificates were returned between 1 September and 13 November 2000.

  (e) Other items—between 22 June and 20 November 2000: 1 certificate was returned for brandy and liqueurs; eight certificates were returned for pencils; 58 for plastic household items; 22 for key blanks and locks; three for electrical products; and seven for other bath and skincare products.

  To date, no responses have been received to these inquiries.

  In addition to the products listed above the EC Commission has requested that the customs authorities initiate inquiries in respect of biscuits and Soda Stream drinks makers, where the products have been imported from Israel into the member state concerned.

  NIRS2 Computer
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the cost to public funds of the NIRS2 computer problem; and when the backlog of payments arising from this will be cleared. [150502]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 5 March 2001]: The compensation payments made by Inland Revenue and DSS to pension providers and benefit recipients, was £62.6 million to 31 January 2001.

  The arrears of work in both DSS and Inland Revenue caused by the delay continue to be cleared as quickly as possible.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the average change in annual gross income tax paid in absolute terms about a 1 per cent. change in the basic rate of income tax in 2000–01 by income tax payers with

  Change in 200–01

  Average change in gross income tax paid in absolute terms from a 1 per cent. change in income tax (£)

  For taxpayers with taxable income exceeding £1,520 and lower than £28,400

  90

  For taxpayers with taxable income exceeding £28,400 and lower than £100,000

  260

  For taxpayers with taxable income exceeding £100,000

  265

  The estimates are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes and consistent with the November 2000 pre-Budget report.

  Heavy Goods Vehicles
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the revenue lost to the Exchequer from United Kingdom-based heavy goods vehicles being licensed abroad in each of the last three years. [151883]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 5 March 2001]: No such estimate is available.

  Departmental Policies (Warrington, North)
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Warrington, North constituency, the effects on Warrington, North of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [152322]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Warrington, North, along with the rest of the United Kingdom, is benefiting from the long-term action we have taken to build economic stability and secure high and stable levels of growth and employment. Since the General Election, claimant unemployment in the constituency has fallen by 638, or 29 per cent., youth unemployment is down by 60 per cent., and long-term unemployment has fallen by 63 per cent.

  Macro-economic stability is being complemented at the micro-economic level by the Government's policies to ease the transition from welfare into work and to make work pay. To the end of December 2000, the New Deal for 18 to 24-year-olds had helped 836 young people in the Warrington, North constituency gain valuable skills and experience—382 (46 per cent.) of whom had moved into employment. The Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC), introduced in October 1999, is helping to make work pay for low and middle income families. In August 2000, 2,400 families in the constituency were benefiting from WFTC.

  Lead partner

  Title

  Central Government-led projects

  Cabinet Office

  e-learning for the voluntary sector

  Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)

  British Library—Citizenship in Schools

  DCMS

  Sport via the internet

  Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR)

  Waterways license database

  DETR

  Air Quality Forecasts for Health

  DETR

  National Height Model

  DETR

  Net based Control of Hazards

  DETR

  Chemical Control for Health and Safety

  158W
  taxable incomes (a) exceeding £1,520 and lower than £28,400, (b) exceeding £28,400 and lower than £100,000 and (c) exceeding £100,000 a year. [151632]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 5 March 2001]: The full year income tax effects in 2001–02 of making the change is set out in the table.

  The Government are also committed to developing policies which enable all pensioners to share in the country's rising prosperity. As a result of the recent pre-Budget report, all pensioners, including 14,400 in Warrington, North, will receive an above-inflation increase in the basic state pension from April 2001. Single pensioners will receive an extra £5 per week, and couples will receive an extra £8 a week. All pensioners aged 75 or over have also been entitled to a free TV licence since November 2000—including around 9,400 in Warrington, North.

  Unemployment Costs
  Mr. Rammell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 31 January 2001,Official Report, column 213W, on unemployment costs, what the cost is to the Exchequer per unemployed person per year in terms of all forgone taxes where the calculation assumes (a) the person to have been on average earnings and (b) the person to have been on average earnings for the manufacturing sector. [152468]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  As the extent to which unemployment affects Government revenues depends on a number of assumptions, in particular the extent to which unemployment reflects permanent changes in output growth, no estimates of the effects of unemployment on taxes forgone are available.

  Invest to Save Budget
  Mr. Ian Stewart
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress is being made on the Government's Invest to Save Budget. [152739]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  I am pleased to announce that 123 bids from across the public sector have been successful in Round 3 of the Invest to Save Budget, at a cost of £37.0 million in 2001–02, including consequential funding for the devolved Administrations, and £68.4 million in total over the three years to 2003–04. The table describes the winners of this round:
  159W

  Lead partner

  Title

  DETR

  Rent Service e-applications

  Department for Education and Employment (DfEE)

  Testing for dyslexia

  DfEE

  Time for citizenship

  DfEE

  Internet Service Provider

  DfEE

  Electronic Marking pilots for QCA

  DfEE

  Interactive Learning Authority

  DfEE

  Tameside Passport to Learning

  Department of Social Security

  Appeals Service on Video

  Department of Social Security

  Document Scanning and e-mail

  Department of Social Security

  Internet benefit advice

  Department of Social Security

  Digital TV E-mail Benefit advice

  Department of Trade and Industry

  Official Receivers Office video link with the Courts

  Department of Trade and Industry

  Debt Advice Pilots

  Department of Trade and Industry

  Biotechnology portal

  Department of Trade and Industry

  Export licensing on-line

  Department of Trade and Industry

  Metrology Connect

  HM Customs and Excise

  Drug Detection Pilot

  Home Office

  National Internet Portal for the Police

  Home Office

  Policing Online in Avon and Somerset

  Home Office

  Arson reduction initiative

  Home Office

  Equality Response

  Home Office

  Criminal Case Review e-links

  Home Office

  Data fraud and personal information

  Home Office

  Distraction and Bogus Official Burglaries

  Home Office

  Tackling anti-social behaviour

  Home Office

  Alcohol and Community Safety Proposal

  Home Office

  Truancy-Causes-Impact-Cure

  Home Office

  Mobile Rural Contact Facility

  Home Office

  Internet Police Services in Northumbria

  Home Office

  Targeting vulnerable groups using GIS

  Home Office

  Tracking identity through the CJS

  Home Office

  Short Term Offenders Programme

  Home Office

  Net Drug Training

  Home Office

  Video Conferencing Facilities

  Home Office

  Restorative justice for schoolkids

  Home Office

  Newham Domestic Violence

  Inland Revenue

  Tracing NINO information and preventing fraud

  Lord Chancellor's Department

  Just Ask Consultancy

  Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF)

  Use and discharge of chemicals in off-shore industry

  MAFF

  e-Navigation for Fishermen

  MAFF

  Joint Marine Regulation

  MAFF

  Electronic Pesticide Regulation

  Ministry of Defence

  NHS Forecasting Model

  Ministry of Defence

  Skill Force youth initiative

  Ministry of Defence

  Disposal sales

  Office of Fair Trading

  Competition Act pilot website

  Office of Fair Trading

  Shared Information on Consumer Regulations

  Ordnance Survey

  Data Integration for Coastal Mapping

  Other public authority-led projects

  Ashfield Primary Care Group

  Interlinked teams for older people

  Association of London Government Transport and Environment Committee

  e-Parking and Traffic Appeals

  Barking and Havering Health Authority

  Electronic register of young people who harm

  Barnet Health Authority

  Joined up advice for medical and social problems

  Birmingham City Council

  Foster Carers

  Bradford City Council

  Consumer focused database

  Brent and Harrow Health Authority

  On-line drug and alcohol service

  Brighton and Hove Council

  City Wide Portal

  Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council

  Multi lingual community information system

  Cambridgeshire County Council

  Piloting e-government

  Cambridgeshire Health Authority

  National advice service for relatives of prisoners

  Cheltenham Borough Council

  Gateway to Public Services in Gloucestershire

  Coventry City Council

  Performance Management Database in Coventry

  Croydon Health Authority

  Safety.net

  Dartford Borough Council

  On Line licensing process

  Department of Health

  Pilot tool for communications to deaf-blind

  Devon County Council

  Career Portal

  Doncaster Health Authority

  Primary Care as a Community Resource

  Dudley Health Authority

  Pilot arrest scheme for offenders

  East Riding of Yorkshire Council

  Web Portal for Young People's views

  Essex County Council

  Live Community Networks

  Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council

  Seamless process for Discharge of Patients

  Isle of Wight Council

  Autistic Children

  Kennet District Council

  BITE IT—Tidworth

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  Lead partner

  Title

  Kent and Medway Drug Action Team

  IT network for drug misuse

  Kent County Council

  Child/Youth Oriented

  Kirklees Metropolitan Council

  Trialling information to citizens via cable TV

  Legal Services Commission for Merseyside

  Community Legal Service Provision

  Leicester City Council

  E-facilities for Consultation

  Leicestershire County Council

  E-delivery for people with disabilities

  Lincolnshire County Council

  Road Safety Project

  Liverpool City Council

  The Children's Network Online Service

  London Borough of Barnet

  Barnet web portal for local community access

  London Borough of Camden

  Portal for Advice

  London Borough of Croydon

  Ambassador One-Stop

  London Borough of Hackney

  Anti-fraud computer

  London Borough of Newham

  Smart Card for identity and access to services

  Drug and Alcohol Action Teams Kingston and Richmond

  ABC Project to minimise substance misuse

  London Borough of Southwark

  Engage Young People in services

  London Borough of Sutton

  e-delivery to socially excluded groups

  Manchester City Council

  e-delivery for maintenance services

  North Norfolk District Council

  Extension of Council website

  North Nottinghamshire Health Authority

  Multi-agency teams for children with disabilities

  North Primary Care Group

  Demand Responsive Transport Services

  Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council

  Independent living for older people

  Reading Borough Council

  e-database for property of all tenures

  Rotherham Health Authority

  Community services for older people

  Rotherham Metropolitan Borough

  Health/advice for Rotherham Youngsters

  Royal Borough of Kingston

  Single Public Access

  Somerset County Council

  Multi Agency call centres

  South Norfolk Council

  Communication between district and parish council

  South Staffs Health Authority

  Reducing risks of unplanned teenage pregnancy

  Southern Derbyshire Health Authority

  Drug Market Response Group

  Substance Misuse Advisory Service

  Advisory service for primary care drug treatment

  Surrey County Council

  Work/training for the disabled

  Swale Borough Council

  One Stop for Police Services

  Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council

  e-delivery for vulnerable people

  Tees Health Authority

  Shared system on substance misuse

  Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council

  Dedicated peripatetic home

  Wakefield Health Authority

  Wakefield e-Health

  Wakefield Health Authority

  Immediate Support at Home Service

  Wakefield Health Authority

  Electronic care planning

  Warwickshire County Council

  Information service for the Aged

  West Devon Borough Council

  Link social exclusion to community work

  Wiltshire County Council

  Quality of Life in Wiltshire

  Wolverhampton Metropolitan Borough Council

  Single contact for vulnerable adults at risk of abuse

  Worecstershire County Council

  Data Sharing Portal

  Coroners' Certificates (Drugs)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many deaths recorded on coroners? certificates in the past 10 years mentioned(a) heroin, (b) methadone, (c) cocaine, (d) ecstasy, (e) anti-depressants, (f) painkillers and (g) anti-inflammatories. [151773]

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

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated February 2001:
  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking for the most recent estimate of the total number of deaths recorded or coroners? certificates in the past 10 years in which heroin, methadone, cocaine, ecstasy, anti-depressants, painkillers and anti-inflammatories were mentioned (151773).
  The information requested is only available on a comparable basis from 1993, when text from death certificates was first stored electronically. This enables named drugs to be identified. The most recently available figures are for 1999.
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  The figures in the table show the numbers of deaths where specific substances were mentioned on death certificates.

  Number of deaths due to poisoning by selected substances in England and Wales 1993–1999

  Drug

  Number of deaths

  Heroin and/or morphine1

  3,131

  Methadone

  2,259

  Cocaine

  263

  Ecstasy

  113

  Antidepressants

  3,502

  Painkillers2

  10,771

  Non-opioid analgesics

  4,067

  Opioid analgesics

  7,130

  Anti-inflammatory drugs3

  366

  1 Deaths mentioning heroin and/or morphine, as opposed to heroin alone, are given. This is because heroin breaks down in the body into morphine, and it is the latter which may be detected at post mortem.

  2 Painkillers comprise substances identified in Chapter 4.7 of the British National Formulary (BNF). Opioids and non-opioids are given separately because heroin and morphine are opioids.

  3 Anti-inflammatories comprise substances identified in Chapter 10.1.1 of the BNF.

  Note:

  According to the BNF, aspirin is both a painkiller and an anti-inflammatory as it appears in both Chapters 4.7 and 10.1.1.

  ECOFIN
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Clydesdale (Mr. Hood), on 29 January 2001,Official Report, columns 42–43W, on ECOFIN, if he will place a copy of the compromise proposal on the excise duties and mineral oils in the Library. [150061]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 12 February 2001]: Yes. Copies of Presidency proposal SN 1272/01 will be deposited in the House of Commons Library today.

  Ofgem
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 8 February 2001,Official Report, column 682W, if he will provide a breakdown of the expected merger expenditure of £14 million broken down between (a) redundancy, (b) refurbishment costs, (c) dilapidation and (d) other. [150187]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Of Ofgem's forecast merger expenditure of, £14 million it is estimated that(a) £4.4 million will be spent on redundancy and severance, (b) £4.7 million on refurbishment, (c) nil on dilapidations and (d), £4.9 million on other costs.

  Chester Street Insurance Holdings
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the distribution of post-and pre-1990 cases is between Chester Street Insurance Holdings and Iron Trades Holdings Ltd; and which company has responsibility for pre-1972 cases; [150323]

  (2) what the (a) estimated asset value and (b) estimated liabilities are of Chester Street Insurance Holdings; and how they are divided between post and pre-1972 cases. [150322]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The provisional liquidators are currently assessing the information available about existing and potential claims.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to ensure that pre-1972 cases held by Chester Street Insurance Holdings Limited are protected; and if he will make a statement. [150324]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  It is important to remember that it is the employer who holds the policy with Chester Street Insurance Holdings Limited not the employee, and the employer remains liable for claims made against them by their employees or former employees. The Government are aware of the issue raised by pre-1972 cases and are considering this issue carefully.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value was of the bonuses paid to the directors of Chester Street Insurance Holdings Limited in each of the last three years. [150325]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  This is a matter for the management of Chester Street Insurance Holdings Limited, but I understand that this concern has already been brought to the attention of the provisional liquidator, who will look into such issues as part of the job in winding-up the affairs of the company.
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  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about Chester Street Holdings Ltd., formerly known as Iron Trades Holding Ltd.; and if he will make a statement. [150320]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I have received a number of representations from hon. Members and others on behalf of those suffering asbestos-related disease as a consequence of the employment in firms whose employers' liability insurance is provided by Chester Street Insurance Holdings.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the reasons underlying the economic failure of Chester Street Insurance Holdings Ltd.; and if he will make a statement. [150321]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Under the scheme of arrangement, the provisional liquidators are required to conduct a review of the affairs of the company, and the actions of both the directors and other parties.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  First Estates Commissioner
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment he has made of the work of the First Estates Commissioner; and if he will make a statement in respect of the role he anticipates him undertaking in future. [151855]

  Mr. Stuart Bell
  The role of the First Church Estates Commissioner is to chair the Church Commissioner's Assets Committee which, subject to any general rules made by its Board of Governors, has an exclusive power and duty to act in all matters relating to the management of the Commissioners' assets. No change in that role is envisaged.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Higher Education
  Ms Kelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much funding was given to the higher education sector in each year since 1990(a) in total and (b) per student. [151001]

  Mr. Wicks
  [holding answer 28 February 2001]: The information is in the tables:

  Table 1: Higher education publicly planned funding in England

  £ million

  1990–01

  3,266

  1991–92

  3,679

  1992–93

  3,976

  1993–94

  4,291

  1994–95

  4,559

  1995–96

  4,718

  1996–97

  4,627

  1997–98

  4,686

  1998–99

  4,834

  1999–2000

  5,153

  2000–01

  5,414

  2001–02

  5,826

  2002–03

  6,094

  2003–04

  6,392

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  Table 2: Publicly planned funding per full-time equivalent higher education student in England at constant 1999–2000 prices

  1 £

  1990–91

  6,935

  1991–92

  6,585

  1992–93

  6,090

  1993–94

  5,745

  1994–95

  5,585

  1995–96

  5,335

  1996–97

  4,980

  1997–98

  4,845

  1998–99

  4,820

  1999–2000

  4,785

  2000–01

  4,750

  1 Unit funding per student is rounded to the nearest £5.

  Between 1989 and 1997, publicly planned funding per full-time equivalent higher education student fell by over 36 per cent. from just under £7,600 to just over £4,800. As a result, Lord Dearing's National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education concluded in 1997 that higher education institutions could not absorb a further reduction of over 6 per cent. in funding which was planned for 1998–99 and 1999–2000.

  The Government accepted the recommendation of the Inquiry. Higher education institutions were asked to deliver no more than a 1 per cent. reduction in unit funding in both 1998–99 and 1999–2000. This was later extended for a further year.

  The Government announced last November cash increases in publicly planned funding of £412 million, £268 million and £298 million over the three years to 2003–04. Coupled with planned increases in student numbers this implies estimated annual increases in publicly planned unit funding of 3.2 per cent., 2.5 per cent. and 2.9 per cent. which themselves imply estimated real-terms increases in funding per full-time equivalent student of 0.7 per cent., 0 per cent. and 0.4 per cent. over the next three years.

  Learning and Skills Councils
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much local discretionary funding was allocated to each of the Learning and Skills Councils for 2001–02; and what proportion of total funding allocated to each Learning and Skills Council this amount represents. [151667]

  Mr. Wicks
  There is no single definition of local discretionary funding. After the current transition period, local LSCs will have the decisive role in the allocation to providers of the vast bulk of the LSC's mainstream budgets, including those for further education and work-based training (although prices paid per individual learner will be determined by a national formula).

  For a range of other activities which total 10 per cent. to 15 per cent. of LSC overall funds, and for which there will be no national formula, local LSCs will determine both the allocations and the prices paid. One element within that 10 per cent. to 15 per cent. category is the Local Initiatives Fund (LIF), offering maximum flexibility for the local LSC to support local projects which would not otherwise be funded through mainstream programme budgets. The total LIF budget for 2001–02 is
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  £90.3 million, of which almost 90 per cent. has so far been allocated. The table shows initial LIF allocations to local LSCs for 2001–02.

  Decisions about the allocation of LSC overall funding to each local LSC have yet to be made by the national LSC. When they have been made, I shall write to my hon. Friend.

  Local Initiatives Fund: LLSC initial allocation (December 2000)

  £

  LLSC

  2001–02

  East Midlands

  Derbyshire

  1,538,498

  Nottinghamshire

  1,848,478

  Lincolnshire and Rutland

  858,230

  Leicestershire

  1,383,212

  Northamptonshire

  890,796

  Eastern

  Norfolk

  1,157,665

  Cambridgeshire

  949,765

  Suffolk

  894,042

  Bedfordshire

  815,356

  Hertfordshire

  1,288,419

  Essex

  2,057,655

  London

  London North

  1,875,419

  London West

  2,279,819

  London Central

  4,257,799

  London East

  4,268,075

  London South

  1,718,457

  North East

  Northumberland

  520,986

  Tyne and Wear

  2,387,779

  County Durham

  801,459

  Tees Valley

  1,518,689

  North West

  Cumbria

  748,602

  Lancashire

  2,032,225

  Greater Merseyside

  3,433,319

  Greater Manchester

  4,276,348

  Cheshire and Warrington

  1,161,393

  South East

  Oxford, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire

  1,637,128

  Bracknell Forest/West Berkshire

  1,070,636

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight

  2,324,637

  Surrey

  1,143,987

  Sussex

  1,992,704

  Kent and Medway

  2,163,569

  South West

  Devon and Cornwall

  2,151,591

  Somerset

  605,899

  Dorset

  823,870

  Avon

  1,365,864

  Wiltshire

  743,296

  Gloucestershire

  764,412

  West Midlands

  Shropshire

  602,964

  Staffordshire

  1,572,865

  Black Country

  2,335,377

  Birmingham and Solihull

  2,990,819

  Herefordshire and Worcestershire

  935,019

  Coventry and Warwickshire

  1,246,575

  Yorks and the Humber

  North Yorkshire

  929,946

  West Yorkshire

  3,857,355

  South Yorkshire

  2,385,990

  Humberside

  1,693,012

  Student Debt
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the reviews his Department is conducting of(a) tuition fees and (b) student debt; and what the average estimated level of debt per student was in each of the last 10 years. [151831]

  Mr. Wicks
  [holding answer 1 March 2001]: We are not currently conducting any such reviews. The student support arrangements we have introduced are working well and share the costs of higher education fairly between students, parents and the taxpayer and we are monitoring the impact of the new arrangements. From September this year, because we have raised the income contribution thresholds, around 50 per cent. of all English and Welsh higher education students liable for fees under the Education (Student Support) Regulations will not have to make any contribution to their tuition fees. In 2001–02 new additional targeted support, in particular opportunity bursaries and a child care grant based on actual costs, will help students with dependants and those from poorer backgrounds. Annual figures on student finances are not collected. However, the average level of student debt was £840 in 1995–96 and £2,530 in 1998–99 for full-time students in higher education in the UK after their savings had been taken into account, according to data from the Department's periodic Student Income and Expenditure Survey.

  Early-years Inspectors (Homeworking)
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what discussions he has had with Ofsted on the decision to organise the Early Years Inspectorate on the basis of homeworking by inspectors; what representations he has received on this decision; and if he will make a statement; [151937]

  (2) what risk assessments have been undertaken of members of the Early Years Inspectorate who will work from home; [151938]

  (3) what procedures will be put in place to ensure that (a) early years inspectors working from home have (i) ready access to their line managers and (ii) adequate means of liaison with other child care professionals and (b) proper child protection procedures are adhered to. [151939]

  Ms Hodge
  The organisation of Ofsted's Early Years Inspectorate is a matter for Ofsted. I have, therefore, asked HM Chief Inspector of Schools, Mike Tomlinson, to write to my hon. Friend and to place a copy of his letter in the Library.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  NIRS2 Computer
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claims outstanding resulting from failures in the NIRS2 computer system remain to be processed; and what his estimate is of the time scales within which these will receive attention and payments be made. [151147]
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  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 26 February 2001]: As at 31 January 2001. Benefits Agency offices had less than 3 per cent. of the total number of cases they had received from NIRS2 waiting to be reviewed

  The outstanding cases will be processed as quickly as possible.

  Income Support
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the number of families with dependent children who have been in receipt of Income Support for one year or more. [152010]

  Mr. Bayley
  As at November 2000 there were 896,000 families with dependent children who had been receiving Income Support for one year or more.

  Notes:

  1. Dependent children are defined as aged 0–15 years.

  2. Figure is based on a 5 per cent. sample and is therefore subject to a degree of sampling error.

  3. Figure is rounded to the nearest thousand.

  4. Claimants may have more than one dependent child.

  Source:

  Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, November 2000

  Benefit Fraud (Liverpool)
  Mr. Goggins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will publish the inspection report of the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate in respect of Liverpool city council. [152672]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Benefit Fraud Inspectorate report was published today in respect of Liverpool city council and copies of the report have been placed in the Library.

  The report makes recommendations to help the authority address weaknesses and to improve the administration of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, as well as its counter fraud activities.

  Overall, inspectors found a number of weaknesses and poor standards of performance in benefit administration and counter fraud work that needed immediate attention. Inconsistent and ineffective work practices were found and there were substantial backlogs of work affecting over 30,000 benefit claims which had led to lengthy delays in claims processing.

  The BFI reports the authority's lack of effective performance standards and targets, inadequate management information, weaknesses in checks and controls, poor management and recovery of benefit overpayments and no formal assessment of the risks of benefit fraud.

  The report notes that although there is some good counter fraud work, it is not focused and significant effort is being wasted. Where management checking exists it is largely ineffective and provides little assurance.

  The report concludes that BFI has serious concerns about Liverpool's recent performance in managing and delivering a secure benefits service. More positively, however, the report notes that the authority has recognised the significant challenges it faces and is strongly committed to a significant change programme that will involve overhauling its systems, structures and processes.

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  While BFI recognises the size of the task and that the necessary changes will be difficult, inspectors are encouraged by the authority's commitment to tackle these issues.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is now considering the report and will be asking the authority for its proposals in response to the findings and recommendations of the BFI.

  Bilateral Concordat (Northern Ireland)
  Mr. Goggins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will publish the bilateral concordat between the Department of Social Security and the Northern Ireland Department for Social Development. [152673]

  Mr. Darling
  The Northern Ireland Minister for Social Development and I have agreed the text of the concordat between the Department of Social Security and the Department for Social Development. Copies of the concordat have been placed in the Library and the text will be available on the internet at www.dss.gov.uk.

  Departmental Policies (Stroud)
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effects on the Stroud constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [152399]

  Angela Eagle
  The Department's policies and initiatives have made a significant contribution to the Government's overall objectives of:Eradicating child poverty in 20 years, and halving it within 10;
  Promoting work as the best form of welfare for people of working age while protecting the position of those in greatest need; and,
  Combating poverty and promoting security and independence in retirement for today's and tomorrow's pensioners.

  These goals are being pursued nationwide and our achievements are set out in our annual "Opportunity for all" reports. Our second report, "Opportunity for all—One year on: making a difference" (CM4865, September 2000), sets out what progress has been made in the past year, as well as highlighting what more needs to be done. Nationwide statistical information is necessarily more complete than constituency level data, but the following provides a comparative guide to the effect of the Department's policies and actions in Stroud since May 1997.

  Measures in our first four Budgets will lift over 1 million children out of poverty. These include record increases to Child Benefit, Working Families Tax Credit, increases in the income-related benefits, the minimum wage and tax changes.

  Child Benefit will be worth £15.50 a week for the eldest child and £10.35 a week for other children from April 2001: nationally about 7 million families receive child benefit, and in Stroud 11,870 families benefit.

  We now have the lowest unemployment rate in 25 years. The New Deals have helped lone parents, the young unemployed, the long-term unemployed, the over-50s and partners of the unemployed to move from benefit into work. In the period since May 1997 the
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  number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance nationally has reduced from 1,562,400 to 1,044,900; in Stroud the number has reduced from 1,400 to 1,100. Since May 1997 the number of lone parents who claim Income Support has decreased from 1,013,500 to 894,100 nationally; in Stroud the number has increased from 900 to 1,000.

  Older people are disproportionately affected by fuel poverty, so we have introduced Winter Fuel Payments to help with their heaviest fuel bill. This winter, the payment is £200 for households who qualify. Over 20,500 older people in Stroud have received a Winter Fuel Payment for this winter.

  To demonstrate our commitment to combating pensioner poverty, this year we will spend £4.5 billion extra in real terms on pensioners. Some 20,200 pensioners in Stroud will benefit from the substantial increases in the basic State pension this April and next; this year's increase is £5 a week for single pensioners and £8 for couples. In addition we have introduced free TV licences for the over-75s of whom we estimate there are about 9,000 in Stroud. 2,500 pensioner families in Stroud are receiving the Minimum Income Guarantee, which we introduced in April 1999 to help our poorest pensioners. From April they will be at least £15 a week, or £800 a year, better off in real terms as a result of Government measures since 1997.

  Other reforms in the pipeline include: the new Pension Credit in 2003 designed to ensure that pensioners benefit from their savings; the launch of Stakeholder Pensions in April this year; and the introduction of the State Second Pension in April 2002 both of which will help provide greater security for tomorrow's pensioners.

  Departmental Policies (Warrington, North)
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Warrington, North constituency, the effects on Warrington, North of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [152318]

  Angela Eagle
  The Department's policies and initiatives have made a significant contribution to the Government's overall objectives of:Eradicating child poverty in 20 years, and halving it within 10;
  Promoting work as the best form of welfare for people of working age while protecting the position of those in greatest need; and,
  Combating poverty and promoting security and independence in retirement for today's and tomorrow's pensioners.

  These goals are being pursued nationwide and our achievements are set out in our annual Opportunity for all reports. Our second report, "Opportunity for all—One year on: making a difference" (Cm 4865, September 2000), sets out what progress has been made in the past year, as well as highlighting what more needs to be done. Nationwide statistical information is necessarily more complete than constituency level data, but the following provides a comparative guide to the effect of the Department's policies and actions in Warrington, North since May 1997.
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  Measures in our first four Budgets will lift over one million children out of poverty. These include record increases to Child Benefit, Working Families Tax Credit, increases in the income-related benefits, the minimum wage and tax changes.

  Child Benefit will be worth £15.50 a week for the eldest child and £10.35 a week for other children from April 2001: nationally about seven million families receive Child Benefit, and in Warrington, North 12,778 families benefit.

  We now have the lowest unemployment rate in 25 years. The New Deals have helped lone parents, the young unemployed, the long-term unemployed, the over-50s and partners of the unemployed to move from benefit into work. In the period since May 1997 the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance nationally has reduced from 1,562,400 to 1,044,900; in Warrington, North the number has reduced from 2,000 to 1,700. Since May 1997 the number of lone parents who claim Income Support has decreased from 1,013,500 to 894,100 nationally and in Warrington, North from 1,700 to 1,300.

  Older people are disproportionately affected by fuel poverty. So we have introduced Winter Fuel Payments to help with their heaviest fuel bill. This winter, the payment is £200 for households who qualify. Around 16,300 older people in Warrington, North have received a Winter Fuel Payment for this winter.

  To demonstrate our commitment to combating pensioner poverty, this year we will spend £4.5 billion extra in real terms on pensioners. Some 14,400 pensioners in Warrington, North will benefit from the substantial increases in the basic State pension this April and next; this year's increase is £5 a week for single pensioners and £8 for couples. In addition we have introduced free TV licences for the over-75s of whom we estimate there are about 5,700 in Warrington, North. 2,500 pensioner families in Warrington, North are receiving the Minimum Income Guarantee, which we introduced in April 1999 to help our poorest pensioners. From April they will be at least £15 a week, or £800 a year, better off in real terms as a result of Government measures since 1997.

  Other reforms in the pipeline include: the new Pension Credit in 2003 designed to ensure that pensioners benefit from their savings; the launch of Stakeholder Pensions in April this year; and the introduction of the State Second Pension in April 2002 both of which will help provide greater security for tomorrow's pensioners.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what progress is being made to speed up the decision-making process on CSA departures. [152397]

  Mr. Bayley
  A parent may apply for a departure where they feel they have exceptional circumstances that should be taken into account in their maintenance assessment. The process by which the Child Support Agency deals with these exceptional cases includes gathering information from one or more sources. Details of the 172W
  application are then sent to the other party, giving them the opportunity to comment. Complex cases may be referred to the Appeals Service for determination. This process can often be time consuming especially when the information required is difficult to obtain.

  The reformed child support scheme, which we plan to introduce for new cases by April 2002, will not include any provision for departures. However, either parent will be able to apply for the child support rates to be varied in specified, exceptional cases. The decision-making process for variations will be streamlined. Applications for a variation will be accepted before the maintenance calculation has been made, thus enabling the system to operate more quickly.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what changes will be made to the Child Support Agency's procedures on disclosure following the proposed changes to the Child Support Agency to be introduced after April 2002; [152182]

  (2) if he will make a statement on Child Support Agency procedures for the disclosure of information on one partner to another; [152180]

  (3) what advice he has taken since the coming into force of the Human Rights Act 1998 on the Child Support Agency's approach to disclosure of information. [152181]

  Mr. Bayley
  The Child Support Agency treats the protection of personal information very seriously. A parent's details will not normally be disclosed by the Agency to anyone unless that parent consents. However, where a court makes an order requiring child support information to be disclosed, the Agency must comply with that order. The Agency also has the power to give any information it holds to a court or tribunal when child support cases are being considered, or to the appropriate authority for the calculation of Housing or Council Tax Benefits.

  Regulation 10 of the Maintenance Assessment (Procedure) Regulations 1992 sets out the information which the Agency is required to provide when telling parents about a new maintenance assessment, or a revision or supersession of an existing assessment. This information includes the net and assessable income of both parents, and the non-resident parent's housing and travel costs allowed in the assessment. This information will not include details of addresses unless permission is given.

  In the event that a parent appeals against a decision, they have the opportunity to opt into a confidentiality agreement so that any information which might lead to their whereabouts is not passed to the other parent.

  In the new scheme, less information will be required to make a maintenance calculation and consequently, less information will be communicated in explaining that calculation. Regulation 23 of the Maintenance Calculation and Procedure Regulations 2000 provides that the notification of a maintenance calculation will set out a limited range of information, including the non-resident's net weekly income

  Provisions for the disclosure of information are entirely compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  "Your Britain, Your Europe"
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the constituencies(a) visited and (b) to be visited as part of the "Your Britain, Your Europe" roadshow. [151654]

  Mr. Vaz
  Since the launch of the "Your Britain, Your Europe" initiative in November 1999, I have visited over 30 towns and cities comprising the following constituencies: Norwich, South; Norwich, North; Edinburgh, North and Leith; Glasgow, Govan; Glasgow, Shettleston; Kirkcaldy; Cardiff, Central; Cardiff, South and Penarth; Islwyn; Reading, East; Swindon, North; Swindon, South; Oxford, East; Henley; Leeds, Central; Leeds, North-East; Elmet; Southampton, Itchen; Southampton, Test; Liverpool, Garston; Liverpool, Wavertree; Liverpool, Walton; Brent, North; Regent's Part and Kensington, North; Leicester, South; Northampton, North; Northampton, South; Birmingham, Ladywood; Wolverhampton, South-West; Poplar and Canning Town; Bethnal Green and Bow; Middlesbrough; Sunderland, North; Newcastle, Central; Gateshead, East and Washington, West; Houghton and Washington, East; Rotherham; Bath; Nuneaton; Hull, North; Manchester, Blackley, and Manchester, Central.

  I plan to visit Cambridge, Bedford, Brighton, Hove, Hastings and Twickenham later this month. We have not yet confirmed my appointments in each venue.

  China
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 16 January 2001,Official Report, column 172W, if the issue of freedom of religious belief was discussed at the UK/China Human Rights Dialogue in Beijing on 12 to 14 February; and if he will make a statement. [151823]

  Mr. Battle
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ayr (Ms Osborne) on 5 March 2001,Official Report, column 100W. Freedom of religious belief was an important part of the discussions at the sixth round of the UK/China Human Rights Dialogue on 12–14 February, which included a visit to Wenzhou to investigate reports of the destruction of churches and temples there.

  UK/India Round Table
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the work programme of the UK/India Round Table. [151852]

  Mr. Wilson
  The UK/India Round Table was established by the Foreign Secretary and the Indian Minister for External Affairs in April 2000. It has met twice so far (April 2000 in India, October 2000 in the UK), and is due to meet again in India in April. The Round Table has produced a series of constructive recommendations for enhancing the bilateral relationship between the UK and India.

  Guinea
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his UN and EU counterparts on the refugee situation in Guinea. [152189]

  Mr. Wilson
  We are in close contact with the UN and EU on the refugee situation in Guinea. Our UN Permanent Representative in Geneva discussed the issue with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees on 23 February. The UK has committed £12 million in humanitarian assistance to Guinea and the region since December 2000. We have also sent a career diplomat to Conakry to strengthen the bilateral relationship and to ensure that our response to the refugee crisis is effective and well-targeted.

  Compensation Claims
  Mr. Alan Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Foreign Office assessment of claims for compensation prior to the transmission of such claims to the United Nations Compensation Commission was taken with the approval of the United Nations Compensation Commission. [151907]

  Mr. Wilson
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not assessed and does not assess claims prior to their transmission to the UN Compensation Commission. However, as the FCO was aware that the Commission had set a number of basic conditions that had to be met before claims could be accepted, claims were checked prior to dispatch to ensure that they met the known conditions.

  Northern Cyprus
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to meet mayors from the occupied towns in Northern Cyprus during his visit to Cyprus in March; and if he will make a statement. [151870]

  Mr. Vaz
  The programme for my visit to Cyprus on 14 March is already extremely full. I regret therefore that on this occasion I will not be able to meet any of the mayors in Cyprus. I have written to my hon. Friend about the programme for my visit.

  COREPER
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he received the document SN1247 of 30 January made available by COREPER; and when his Department placed it in the Public Paper and Vote Offices of each House. [152040]

  Mr. Vaz
  Document SN1247 containing the text of the Treaty of Nice was received by the Department on 30 January. On 6 February it was sent to the Libraries of each House and made available to Members, as were previous and subsequent revisions of the text. All up-to-date versions of the Treaty text have also been available on the Website www.europa.eu.int.

  Nice Treaty
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when and where his Department received the final text of the treaty of Nice. [152039]
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  Mr. Vaz
  The final text of the treaty of Nice (document CONFER 4820/00), as signed in Nice on 26 February, was received by this Department on 23 February. This version is identical to document SN1247/01 in all but layout.

  On 26 February it was sent to the Libraries of each House and made available to hon. Members.

  Departmental IT Projects
  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the IT projects currently undertaken in his Department; and if he will state the(a) expected completion date and (b) cost of each project. [151500]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 26 February 2001]: The following IT projects are currently underway:

  Firecrest
  We are continuing the deployment of Windows-based Office Automation to all FCO Posts and Departments. The expected completion date is spring 2002. The total cost is £80 million.

  FTN
  The provision of a global data and voice network, through a 10-year PFI contract to spring 2010. The roll out is due for completion in spring 2002. The contract value is £165 million.

  Prism
  The change programme to deliver improved management of finances and staff resources, through new integrated personnel, finance, payroll and procurement processes. The expected completion date is autumn 2003. We are currently in the procurement phase—financial information is therefore commercially sensitive.

  Internet project
  The aim is to provide a new UK portal website, and kiosks overseas, linked to the portal, and upgraded FCO site and Posts' websites. The expected completion date is spring 2003. The present contract value is £6.4 million. There is support from our Capital Modernisation Fund towards full project costs up to £12 million.

  Entry Clearance system
  This is to provide a standard entry clearance management system at all entry clearance Posts. We expect this to be completed by autumn 2001. The estimated cost is £1.4 million.

  Digital Passports system
  Providing the 12 busiest passport-issuing Posts with machine readable passport equipment and software to enable the production of digital passports. The estimated completion date is summer 2001, at a cost of £2.8 million.

  Global Consular Database system
  Providing a global database to meet the rising demand for improved consular services to the public. We expect to complete this by summer 2002. We are currently at the procurement phase—financial information is therefore commercially sensitive.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the IT projects his Department plans to undertake in the next year; and if he will state in each case the(a) expected date of commencement and completion and (b) cost. [151477]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 26 February 2001]: The following projects are being planned:

  Confidential Firecrest
  A confidential version of the FCO's Windows Office system. Starting Spring 2001. Completion planned end 2002.
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  High-classification networks
  A separate network to handle material classified higher than Confidential, where possible making appropriate use of the FCO's FIRECREST/FTN infrastructure. Starting Summer 2001. Completion anticipated Spring 2002.

  Firecrest future options
  Technology refresh and new support arrangements for the FCO's Window Office system. Detailed project planning starting Spring 2002. Contract anticipated from late 2001-early 2003.

  Entry Clearance Modernisation
  The Joint Entry Clearance Unit has applied for Capital Modernisation Funding for the modernisation of entry clearance at Posts and links to the Home Office's systems. Completion anticipated in 2004.

  Visa Warnings Index
  The current warnings index system at overseas Posts is reaching the end of its supportable life. Options are being explored. Starting Spring 2001. Completion spring 2002.

  Digital Passports
  The delivery of digital passport systems to other passport issuing Posts, beyond the top 12 which are being equipped by an existing project. Beginning Summer 2001. Completion Summer 2004.

  Consular Contact Centre
  An out-of-hours contact facility for British nationals overseas. No firm time-scales yet.

  No firm commitment has been made by the FCO to proceed with the above projects yet. Timings represent current projections only.

DEFENCE

  US-UK Strategic Defence Initiative Memorandum of Understanding
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the titles of the Letters of Offer and Acceptance agreed under the auspices of the 1985 US-UK Strategic Defence Initiative Memorandum of Understanding since 1 May 1997, specifying when each one was signed and the name of the United States Government agency involved in each case. [152051]

  Mr. Hoon
  Five Letters of Offer and Acceptance have been agreed since May 1997. All have been signed on behalf of the US Ballistic Missile Defence Organisation. US Federal Acquisition Regulations do not now require titles but contract numbers only. The five Letters of Offer and Acceptance were signed on 1 September 1998, 12 December 1998, 30 June 1999, 5 December 2000 and 1 May 2000.

  Dartmore Training Area
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to find alternative sites for dry military training on Dartmoor when the present licence expires. [151691]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 5 March 2001]: Dartmoor Training Area covers an area of approximately 30,000 acres, of which 3,442 are the freehold property of the Ministry of Defence. The remainder is licensed from three landlords: the Duchy of Cornwall, the Maristowe Estate and South West Water. The Duchy and Maristowe licences do not expire until 2012 and we have not yet, therefore, begun exploring the possibility of alternative

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  sites. The licence for the land on Cramber Tor and Combshead owned by South West Water does, however, expire later this year but the training currently conducted in this area could not be absorbed elsewhere within the Dartmoor Training Area, nor on other land in the vicinity. The Ministry of Defence has work in hand to extend its rights to train on this land.

  Explosions (Foulness Island)
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the noise, shockwaves and vibration caused by the detonation of high explosives at Foulness Island upon those living in Herne Bay suffering from terminal cancer. [152134]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 5 March 2001]: Two vibration assessments have been carried out between 30 January and 28 February 2000 and between 5 October and 5 November 2000.

  Both studies concluded that at no time during the survey period did any of the vibration levels, ground or airborne, approach those levels necessary for the possible onset of the most cosmetic of damage. The reports also highlighted that there seemed to be no correlation between events at Shoeburyness, recordable vibration levels and complains, and that passing traffic produced greater vibration levels.

  The reports did not cover the impact of noise and vibration levels on specific susceptible individuals; nor have any other assessments been made of effects on cancer sufferers.

  Veterans' Assessment Centre
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to establish a veterans' assessment centre. [151689]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 5 March 2001]: There is already a Ministry of Defence Medical Assessment Programme for Gulf Veterans and Porton Down Volunteers. The possible requirement for a Veterans' Assessment Centre to deal with health concerns that arise from time to time is addressed in the consultation document entitled "Introduction of a Voluntary Screening Programme Following Health Concerns in Respect of Depleted Uranium", published on 13 February. We will consider the merits of a veterans' assessment centre as part of our evaluation of the responses received.

  Departmental Estate (Plymouth)
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) which of his Department's properties and lands(a) are in the process of being sold in Plymouth and (b) are being considered for sell off; and what their value is; [152539]

  (2) which of his Department's properties and lands have been sold in Plymouth since 1997; and what their value was. [152538]

  Dr. Moonie
  Properties and lands sold by my Department since 1997 are provided in list 1. The value of each sale remains commercially confidential and is therefore withheld under exemption 13 of the Code of 178W
  Practice on Access to Government Information, unless the purchaser provides agreement to its disclosure. However, the total receipts from these sites were over £10 million. The properties and lands in the process of being sold in Plymouth and being considered for sell off are provided in list 2. Disclosing the valuations of such sites in disposal would not assist my Department in securing the best value for the taxpayer from the market.

  List 1—Sites sold in Plymouth

  1997–98

  Former Dockyard School, Devonport

  Royal Naval Engineering College Manadon (Part)

  Royal Navy Supply Depot, Crapstone, Roborough

  37, 39 and 49 Poole Park Road, St. Budeaux

  Harrowbear Storage Depot, Roborough

  Royal Marines Coypool Depot, Plympton

  Bowden Park, Eggbuckland

  16 Garages, Leatfield Drive, Looseleigh

  34 Highclere Gardens, Widewell

  1998–99

  Goschen Centre, Devonport

  Mount Wise Slopes, Devonport

  Royal Naval Engineering College Manadon

  Royal Marines Barracks Seaton

  100 Granby Street, Devonport

  1999–2000

  Oil Fuel Depot Radford Woods, Plymstock

  Barcote Walk, Eggbuckland

  Land at Weston Mill, Devonport

  Poole Farm, Estover

  2000–01

  Old Boiler House, Devonport

  Brickfields, Devonport

  List 2—Properties in the process of being sold in Plymouth

  Coleridge Training Area, Estover

  Ernesettle Lane, Ernesettle

  Oil Fuel Depot Turnchapel, Plymstock

  Alexandra House, St. Budeaux

  Furniture Store, St. Budeaux

  Mount Wise, Devonport

  Agricultural Land, Coleridge

  Agricultural Land, Coleridge

  Agricultural Land, Coleridge

  Sennen Place Car Park

  52 Married Quarters, St. Budeaux

  Millbay Park, Millbay

  Land at Mutton Monster, Devonport

  South Yard Sites, Devonport

  Land at Foulston Avenue, St. Budeaux

  Sites being considered for sell-off

  Bull Point Barracks, St. Budeaux.

  Defence Bills Agency
  Mr. John Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what performance targets have been set for the Defence Bills Agency for the financial year 2001–02. [152675]
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  Dr. Moonie
  Targets have been set for the Defence Bills Agency for the financial year 2001–02 in accordance with the Agency's Service Level Agreement with the Ministry of Defence. The key targets build on the already high standards of service provided by the Agency since its formation in January 1996 and are as follows:

  (a) By the end of the financial year 2001–02 to reduce transaction costs by a further 6 per cent. for bills and a further 7 per cent. for invoices over the targets set in 2000–01.

  (b) Produce financial and accounting information to the ISO 9001/03 quality standard and to the times set out in the Service Level Agreement.

  (c) Pay 100 per cent. of correctly presented bills within 11 calendar days of receipt.

  (d) Raise 95 per cent. of invoices within four working days of receipt of a correctly presented claimable document.

  (e) Within the permitted tolerances, meet the performance targets prescribed in the Service Level Agreement.

  (f) Achieve during 2001–02 an improvement of at least one percentage point in the overall level of customer satisfaction compared with 2000–01.

  Depleted Uranium (Iraq)
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many weapons dropped by the RAF on Iraqi installations since the UK began patrolling the no-fly zone have had depleted uranium tips; and what the total estimated amount of radioactive dust generated was; [152079]

  (2) pursuant to his oral statement of 26 February 2001, Official Report, columns 620–21, if the two weapons dropped by the RAF were tipped with depleted uranium. [152078]

  Mr. Hoon
  None of the weapons dropped by the RAF on Iraqi installations since the UK began patrolling the no-fly zone have had depleted uranium tips.

  Devonport Dockyard
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the demolition of part of Devonport Dockyard wall; and if he will make a statement. [152540]

  Dr. Moonie
  Preliminary plans have been drawn up to build a new single distribution facility, which will then enable the South Yard Wall of HM Naval Base Devonport to be realigned and thus some of the peripheral land to be given back to the local community.

  While no funds have yet been allocated for this project, and it must be judged against other pressing requirements, a number of potential funding routes are being explored.

  Beef Purchases (South Africa)
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what tonnage of beef from South Africa was purchased in(a) 1998–99 and (b) 1999–2000 for consumption by the armed forces; at which ports and airports it was landed; at which bases the beef was consumed; and how the swill was disposed of, and at which locations. [152614]

  Dr. Moonie
  No beef was purchased by "3663", the Ministry of Defence food supply contractor, from South Africa during 1998–99, or 1999–2000. There is a remote 180W
  possibility that a Royal Navy/Royal Fleet Auxiliary Ship may have purchased a small amount of beef while visiting a South African port. However, in the unlikely event that any such beef remained, it would be disposed of in accordance with the directives of the relevant Local Authority Environmental Health Officer on return to a UK port.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the special advisers working for him will relinquish their posts when the next general election is called. [149323]

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

  Fur Farming
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the European Court of Justice ruling on the requirement of public morality in each member state as it applies to fur farming. [150415]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  [holding answer 14 February 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 22 June 2000, Official Report, columns 300–01W.

  Over-30-months Scheme
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of the cost of the dispersal of(a) cattle from the over-30-months scheme and (b) the rendered material is recovered from the EU; and at what stage of the dispersal process the Government are entitled to the money. [152069]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 5 March 2001]: The EU regulation governing the OTMS provides for compensation to be paid to producers on the basis of the weight of their cattle and for the UK to be reimbursed on the basis of a flat rate per head of cattle purchased and subsequently destroyed.

  No contribution is made towards the subsequent disposal costs.

  Animals which are consigned directly to incineration after purchase attract the full 100 per cent. of the amount claimable, currently 291 euros for cows and 328 euros for other cattle. The Government are entitled to claim reimbursement from the EU in respect of the payment made to the producer for the animal when the carcase has been incinerated.

  Animals which are consigned to rendering after purchase initially attract an 80 per cent. advance of the full amount claimable. The Government are entitled to claim reimbursement from the EU in respect of the payment made to the producer for the animal when its carcase has been rendered. The balance of 20 per cent. is

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  claimable by the Government once the meat and bonemeal and tallow produced from the rendering process has been incinerated.

  Small Abattoirs
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will provide financial assistance to small abattoirs; and if he will make a statement. [152295]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 5 March 2001]: As announced in the Rural White Paper published on 28 November 2000, Agriculture Departments in England, Scotland and Wales have agreed to transfer £8.7 million to the Food Standards Agency for the three financial years 2001–02 to 2003–04; this will enable the Food Standards Agency to implement the principal recommendation of the Task Force chaired by Colin Maclean, to revise the method of charging for Meat Hygiene Service inspections in abattoirs and cutting plants. The Food Standards Agency has consulted the industry on its proposals. Implementation of the Maclean recommendation will significantly reduce inspection charges levied on many small and medium-sized meat plants and thus be of considerable benefit to the rural economy.

  Farm Produce Retailers
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he plans to introduce a code of practice for retailers of farm produce; and if he will make a statement. [152301]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 5 March 2001]: The Ministry has no plans to introduce a code of practice for retailers of farm produce. However, last October my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry asked the Director General of Fair Trading to seek the agreement of the major supermarkets to a binding Code of Practice that addressed the specific concerns identified by the Competition Commission in their report on the supply of groceries from multiple stores. These concerns dealt with the relationship between the supermarkets and their suppliers, including farmers. The Office of Fair Trading is taking this forward and has recently sent a draft Code to representatives of suppliers for comment.

  BSE
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent discussions he has had with EU ministers about preventing the export of meat from other EU countries with recorded BSE; and if he will make a statement. [152286]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 5 March 2001]: The Agriculture Council takes advice on BSE from the Scientific Steering Committee (SSC). On 29 November 2000 the SSC published its opinion on the scientific basis for import bans proposed by three member states with regard to BSE risks in France and the Republic of Ireland. The SSC advised that BSE incidence figures, at that time, did not require modification of the BSE risk of France and Ireland. However the SSC is reviewing this position regularly in the light of BSE surveillance results.

  Foot and Mouth
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the potential impact on human health of burning in the open air the carcases of animals carrying BSE in response to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease. [151683]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 1 March 2001]: The key arrangements for dealing with BSE and scrapie suspects have not changed as a consequence of the recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease. Carcases of animals slaughtered because of suspicion of BSE or scrapie will continue to be destroyed at incinerators. The movement of such carcases for disposal is exempt from the movement restrictions we have introduced in the response to the foot and mouth disease outbreak.

  For non-BSE or scrapie suspects, pyres are being designed in a way to maximise good combustion, which will help to minimise air emissions and minimise incomplete burn-out and therefore potentially contaminated residues.

  We are currently assessing the implications of the possibility that small numbers of cattle affected by the FMD outbreak may be in the pre-clinical stage of BSE and may harbour some of the BSE agent. A previous independent risk assessment undertaken for the Environment Agency in 1997 indicated that any such risk was very low and the incidence of BSE is now considerably lower than in 1997. Nevertheless, we are revisiting these conclusions in the light of the current circumstances, and hope to receive a preliminary independent assessment shortly.

  Farm Investment
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the level of investment on farms in the last four years. [152300]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 5 March 2001]: Statistics on the level of farm investment for the period 1995 to 1998 are presented in the table. Figures for 1999 and any revisions of previous years' figures will be published on 15 March 2001. Figures for 2000 will not be available until next year.

  Annual level of investment (gross capital formation) in the agricultural and horticultural sector: United Kingdom 1995–98

  £ million

  Year

  Investment

  1995

  2,620

  1996

  2,557

  1997

  2,544

  1998

  2,037

  Source:

  Agriculture in the United Kingdom 1999

  Suckler Cows
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what payments from public funds are currently being made to farmers with suckler cows; and if he will make a statement. [152163]
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  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 5 March 2001]: The payments directed specifically at farmers with suckler cows are suckler cow premiums and related agrimonetary compensation payments. Farmers who keep suckler cows in the less-favoured areas are also eligible for Hill Farm Allowances. We are currently paying advance payments of premium to farmers whose claims are submitted toward the end of the 2000 application period. We intend to pay Hill Farm Allowances later this month and suckler cow premium balance payments early next month.

  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many suckler cows there are in(a) the UK and (b) Gloucestershire. [152289]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 5 March 2001]: The information is as follows:

  Number of suckler cows at June 2000 on main holdings

  Number

  UK

  1,829,464

  Gloucestershire

  15,388

  Notes:

  1. Gloucestershire excludes South Gloucestershire Unitary Authority (formerly part of Avon)

  2. Suckler cows are all cows and heifers in the beef herd that have calved

  Source:

  June agricultural and horticultural censes

  Farm Diversification
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what business rate relief is available to farmers who diversify their businesses; and if he will make a statement. [152305]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 5 March 2001]: As part of their programme to assist farming and help the agricultural industry, the Government have recently consulted on introducing rate relief for new non-agricultural business on farms. Legislation will be introduced as soon as parliamentary time allows.

HEALTH

  BCG Vaccine
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to target BCG vaccine towards areas with a particularly high incidence of TB when the vaccine is in short supply. [146326]

  Yvette Cooper
  It is our policy to direct BCG supply to those most at risk.

  BCG vaccine against tuberculosis is currently available for those individuals at higher risk of tuberculosis. Routine immunisation of all school children at age 10–14 was suspended in September 1999 following manufacturing problems encountered by the sole United Kingdom licensed source, Celltech Medeva. By the autumn school term last year sufficient supplies were available to allow health authorities to restart school immunisations in the London region, as the area with the highest rates and number of tuberculosis cases.
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  Although stocks are now being delivered, we need to be assured that we have sufficient amounts to restart and support the routine schools programme in all parts of the country without further interruption.

  We are currently in the process of writing to all district immunisation co-ordinators to identify how much vaccine will be needed to restart the schools programme. Once this information is known, we will be able to make a judgment on when the programme can resume, and make an announcement.

  Beef
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he has sought on the statistical risks involved in eating(a) French beef products and (b) beef-on-the-bone in the period leading up to the ban on beef-on-the-bone. [146402]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 22 January 2001]: Responsibility for the provision of advice on food safety matters rests with the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

  The FSA commissioned Dr. Christl Donnelly to research the risks associated with French beef and her paper was published in Nature on 14 December 2000, as was a letter from the FSA Chairman Sir John Krebs. Dr. Donnelly estimated that the risk from imported French beef from cattle aged no more than 30 months old at slaughter is essentially zero (no cattle within 12 months of developing clinical BSE). If the Over-30-Month-Rule is not fully enforced, the risk rises in proportion to the frequency of the breach. Dr. Donnelly estimated that if compliance with the Rule is 75 per cent., which Sir John Krebs considered to be reasonable on the basis of informal indications to the FSA from local authorities, the risk from French imports would be of the same order of magnitude as the current estimate for Britain's domestic beef.

  The FSA estimated that comparable if not greater risks to United Kingdom consumers could arise from imported meat products that contain French beef.

  The risk that applied in the period leading up to the UK's ban on beef-on-the-bone was estimated by the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC) at its 2 December 1997 meeting. At that meeting, SEAC considered the experimental finding in BSE infected cattle that dorsal root ganglia (DRG) became infective in the pre-clinical phase of the disease and that in one experiment bone marrow appeared to be infective. SEAC reviewed a risk assessment which estimated that 24 per cent. of the total infected DRG were attributable to bone-in beef. The remaining DRG related to infectivity arises from the ganglia that cannot be removed from cuts of joints of meat in the normal boning out process. The Committee estimated the risk to people from DRG in food to be "very small", and commented that
  "there was a 95 per cent. chance of no case of nvCJD arising as a result of this exposure and a 5 per cent. chance of one case arising".
  However, the Committee also noted that given the major uncertainties about many aspects of the transmission of the disease in cattle to humans the actual figure could be anywhere between 0 and 10 nvCJD cases being induced by eating infected DRG.
  185W
  The risk from UK beef has declined since 1997. In July 1999 the Chief Medical Officer assessed the additional risk of lifting the UK's bone-in beef ban as
  "tiny and unquantifiable in any meaningful way".

  Consultants and Advisers
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on external consultants and advisers in each year since 1979. [150479]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 15 February 2001]: Departmental expenditure on external consultants and advisers, by financial year since 1992–93 is in the table.

  £ million

  Financial year

  Expenditure

  1992–93

  21.936

  1993–94

  19.097

  1994–95

  20.766

  1995–96

  20.564

  1996–97

  15.789

  1997–98

  13.480

  1998–99

  7.181

  1999–2000

  8.717

  2000–01

  14.428

  1 This figure covers the period April 2000 through January 2001

  Figures for the period 1979 to 1992 are no longer held locally and retrieving the figures from central archives would incur delay and disproportionate cost.

  The trend for the Department is downward but part of the explanation for the decreasing trend in departmental expenditure is the adoption of a new definition of consultancy, agreed by Ministers during 1997–98 and implemented in-year. This definition removed confusion between contracted services and consultancy proper; the figures for earlier years are therefore artificially inflated by including some doubtful categories. The significant reduction in 1998–99 is explained by being the first full year in which this distinction had been made.

  Resuscitation Policies
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will (1) instruct the National Care Standards Commission to inspect all establishments for which it is responsible to ensure that(a) resuscitation policies which respect the rights of clients for whom they are responsible are in place, (b) such policies are understood by relevant staff and accessible to them and (c) such policies are subject to robust audit and monitoring arrangements; [151465]

  Date of visit

  Minister

  Visit

  Hon. Member met

  14 March 2000

  Mr. Denham Minister of State

  North Peterborough Primary Care Trust Peterborough Walk in Centre

  Helen Brinton

  14 March 2000

  Mr. Denham Minister of State

  South Peterborough PCT

  None

  1 August 2000

  Lord Hunt of King's Heath Parliamentary Under-Secretary

  Peterborough Hospital

  None

  186W
  (2) extend the remit of the requirement outlined in National Health Service Circular 2000/028, to require social services departments and private and voluntary providers to ensure that (a) all appropriate resuscitation policies which respect the rights of clients for whom they are responsible are in place, (b) such policies are understood by relevant staff and accessible to them and (c) such policies are subject to robust audit and monitoring arrangements. [151464]

  Mr. Hutton
  The National Care Standards Commission will regulate a wide range of social care and independent healthcare providers. Regulations and national minimum standards are being developed to reflect the different nature of each of the services to be regulated. Depending on the nature of the service being provided, a resuscitation policy will be required for some providers but not others. For example we will require independent healthcare providers to have a resuscitation policy in which patients' rights are central, which is readily available to staff, patient's relatives and carers, and of which staff are informed. These policies will have to be kept under review to ensure their continued effectiveness.

  We published the national minimum standards for "Care Homes for Older People" on 2 March. These require care home providers to discuss with service users their wishes concerning terminal care. The standards also require them to provide staff with first aid training or employ nurses who will have basic life support training.

  There will, however, be providers for whom a resuscitation policy will not be necessary, such as fostering agencies or voluntary adoption agencies.

  It will not be necessary to extend the requirements in National Health Service Circular 2000–028 to local authority social services departments as the providers they contract with will have to be registered by the commission and therefore required to meet the relevant standards. This new regulatory framework will also require local authority owned care homes to be registered for the first time and these too will be required to meet the national minimum standards.

  Ministerial Visits (Peterborough)
  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the Ministers in his Department who visited any of the constituencies which are in the Peterborough Unitary Authority area between 1 January 2000 and 14 February 2001, indicating in each case(a) the date of the visit, (b) the constituencies included in the visit and (c) if the local Member met the Minister. [151026]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 26 February 2001]: The available information is given in the table:

  Pigmeat
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress there has been on enforcing accurate labelling of pigmeat products. [151671]

  Ms Stuart
  Legislation on false and misleading labelling is enforced by local authorities. We have issued guidelines to help enforcement officers tackle misleading origin labelling. We have also appointed a pigmeat verification officer to investigate misuse of 'British' labels on pork and pigmeat products. He has dealt with over 20 cases considered to be misleading to the consumer; in almost all cases the retailer and processor have either removed the product from the shelves or changed their labelling policy in line with Government guidelines.

  Abattoir Closures
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the proportion of abattoirs which have closed since 1 May 1997 due to costs of meat inspection. [151815]

  Ms Stuart
  No such estimate has been made. However, the Meat Inspection Charges Task Force says that it appeared to them that the main reason for small and medium-sized abattoirs going out of business at that time was the level of meat inspection charges.

  The level of meat inspection charges has not been the only reason for business closures. Other factors, such as market changes, would be a more likely explanation for the long-term decline in the number of red meat abattoirs (which in England and Wales fell from 1,056 in 1979 to 410 in 1997 and 351 at the end of last year).

  Runaway Children
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that the needs of runaway children are provided for; and if he will make a statement. [152020]

  Mr. Hutton
  We will, jointly with the Home Office, shortly be issuing guidance to local authorities with social services functions and to the police, aimed at ensuring that services for children and young people who run away from home or care are developed and provided on a multi-agency basis.

  NHS/Social Services Care
  Mr. Best
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the further guidance on the joint NHS/social services funding for respite care, nursing care and long-term care of the elderly will be issued to health authorities. [151906]

  Mr. Hutton
  Revised guidance for National Health Service responsibilities on continuing health care will be issued shortly. Guidance on NHS responsibilities for nursing care in nursing homes will be issued shortly. Relevant aspects of respite care will be covered in these two pieces of guidance.

  Health and Social Services Recruitment
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to publish(a) a code of practice for health authorities on the recruitment of nursing and
  188W
  medical staff from overseas and (b) guidance for local authorities on the recruitment of trained social workers from overseas. [151788]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 1 March 2001]: The Department issued guidance on international nurse recruitment in November 1999. A further code for international recruitment will be published shortly. The code will apply to the recruitment of doctors and dentists, nurses and midwives, allied health professions and scientists and technicians.

  We have not issued any guidance to local authorities about the overseas recruitment of social workers. We have, however, advised the two local authorities who approached the Department for advice about the recruitment of social workers from abroad to adopt the principles of the National Health Service guidance.

  Infant Mortality
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the risk to children and babies of parents sharing the same bed as their children; and what guidance he issues on this matter. [151897]

  Yvette Cooper
  My Department provided funds for the "Sudden Unexpected Deaths in Infancy" study. A copy of the ensuing report has been placed in the Library. The study evaluated risk factors associated with bed-sharing, the broad conclusions of which are reflected in our leaflet "Reduce the Risk of Cot Death". This advises against adults bed-sharing with a baby if one or both are smokers, take any form of drugs or medication which makes them sleep more heavily, have recently taken alcohol or are extremely tired.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he is taking to develop an agreed protocol for the review of child deaths; [151940]

  (2) what steps he is taking to ensure that the deaths of children which do not result from a clear organic cause are adequately reviewed. [151941]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Department provided funding for the "Sudden Unexpected Deaths in Infancy" study published last year. This report advocated a protocol for the review of child deaths, including those for which there is no clear organic cause for death. We are exploring the implementation of recommendations arising from this source together with those aspects of the recently available advice from the Chief Medical Officer's review of the approach to post-mortem examination, "The Removal, Retention and Use of Human Organs and Tissue from Post-mortem Examination", where this advice has a bearing on the review of death in childhood. Copies of both these documents are available in the Library.

  Child Abuse
  Mr. Horam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action the social service inspectorate is taking in response to accusations of child abuse at the National Children's Home at Bourne Place and the home at Betts Way run by Bromley council and the Ravensbourne NHS trust; if the inspectorate is taking action in respect of officials employed by Bromley council; and if he will make a statement. [151996]
  189W
  Mr. Hutton
  We are aware of the two separate investigations into allegations of child abuse, at Bourne Place and Betts Way. The investigation into the allegations at Bourne Place School is continuing. The Betts Way investigation is drawing to a close. We will take the appropriate action when the investigations are completed.

  Porton Down
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department made an assessment of the report produced by the US Institute of Medicine in 1993 entitled, "Veterans at Risk-the health effects of mustard gas and lewisite", while compiling the published message (CEM/CM0/2000/15) on the Porton Down's medical assessment programme from his Department's deputy chief medical officer on 21 November 2000. [152001]

  Yvette Cooper
  No assessment was made of the report from the United States Institute of Medicine (1993).

  The Department's message was aimed at providing general practitioners and health professionals with urgent information on the medical assessment programme, since those seeking to use these facilities would need to be referred by their general practitioners. It was based on recent authoritative reviews, but it was not intended to provide a comprehensive review of the international literature. The names of two consultants in clinical toxicology were given as a source of direct specialist advice for health professions.

  Universal Neonatal Hearing Screening
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when universal neonatal hearing screening will be piloted; in which health authorities it will be piloted; and how long it will be piloted before the Government announce the timetable for the national implementation of UNHS. [151925]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 5 March 2001]: Universal neonatal hearing screening is due to be piloted, initially in 20 health authorities. This phase will start in March 2001 and will be staged over 12 months. An announcement will be made early next year about a timetable for national implementation taking account of the initial findings of the pilot. The first 20 health authorities are:

  Avon HA

  Bradford HA

  Buckinghamshire HA

  Calderdale & Kirklees HA

  Camden & Islington HA

  East London HA

  East Sussex, Brighton & Hove HA

  Manchester HA

  Norfolk HA

  North Cheshire HA

  North Staffordshire HA

  North Trent Consortia (including: Barnsley, North Derbyshire & Sheffield HAs)

  Northumberland HA

  Nottingham HA

  Oxfordshire HA

  190W

  Redbridge & Waltham Forest HA

  Shropshire HA

  Southampton & South West Hampshire HA

  Stockport HA

  Wiltshire HA.

  Hearing Aids
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when Coventry will be included in the Modernising NHS Hearing Aid Services Project. [152323]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Department will study the results of the "Modernising National Health Service hearing aid services" project at the 20 participating NHS trusts to determine how changes to hearing aid services should be rolled out to the NHS. Pending the outcome of the project, other hospitals with the appropriate staff, training, equipment and experience are already able to access the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency contract for digital hearing aids.

  Physical Activity Promotion
  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made by health authorities in developing policies for promoting physical activity as required by the National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease. [152528]

  Yvette Cooper
  Policies for promoting physical activity are being developed locally. The National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease requires that by April 2001 all National Health Service bodies, working closely with local authorities, will have agreed and be contributing to the local programme of effective policies on increasing physical activity. The Department will assess progress after April.

  Children on Adult Wards
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of children in each health authority area who are currently being nursed on adult wards. [151943]

  Yvette Cooper
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Heart Disease
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what targets he has set to reduce heart disease over the next 10 years. [152624]

  Yvette Cooper
  We have set a target to reduce the death rate from coronary heart disease and stroke and related diseases in people under 75 by at least two fifths by 2010. The National Service Framework for coronary heart disease sets out a 10-year programme to transform the prevention and diagnosis of heart disease and the care and treatment of patients.

  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list in descending order the health authorities with the highest incidence of heart disease; and if he will include the budget allocated for reducing the number of heart attacks in each of these authorities. [152623]
  191W
  Yvette Cooper
  Information on the incidence of heart disease is not routinely available. Data are available showing admissions for heart disease and these provide some indication of levels of heart disease in the population. The health authorities which show the greatest number of hospital admissions for heart disease are shown in the table.

  It is for health authorities in partnership with primary care groups/trusts and other local stakeholders to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health, tackling health inequalities and modernising services. In addition to existing resources in unified allocations, extra funding made available in 2000–01 includes £100 million for heart disease.

  Finished consultant episodes (FCEs) where ischaemic heart disease is the main diagnosis (ICD10 codes 120–125), by HA of residence NHS hospitals, England 1999–2000

  Health authority of residence

  FCEs

  QD9 Birmingham HA

  7,210

  QET Norfolk

  7,027

  QD8 Avon

  6,716

  QCL Leicestershire

  6,297

  QAM East Sussex Brighton and Hove

  6,015

  QCM Lincolnshire

  6,015

  QDP Tees

  5,965

  QAX North Essex

  5,938

  QDE County Durham

  5,925

  QDH Leeds

  5,677

  QER Cambridge

  5,630

  QAF West Kent

  5,598

  QDW Dorset

  5,401

  QC2 Liverpool

  5,336

  QAY South Essex

  5,003

  QDV Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  4,921

  QAN West Sussex

  4,903

  QDR North Yorkshire

  4,876

  QDT Calderdale and Kirklees

  4,873

  QCF Suffolk

  4,816

  QCP Nottingham

  4,750

  QDA Wigan and Bolton

  4,724

  QCJ South Derbyshire

  4,709

  QAW East London and The City

  4,704

  QD6 South and West Devon

  4,532

  QCW South Cheshire

  4,527

  QAE East Kent

  4,487

  QCX East Lancashire

  4,457

  QC5 St. Helens and Knowsley

  4,375

  QDF East Riding

  4,363

  QAV Ealing Hammersmith and Hounslow

  4,266

  QDJ Newcastle and North Tyneside

  4,234

  QCR Sheffield

  4,207

  QCC Northamptonshire

  4,135

  QD3 Southampton and South West Hampshire

  4,036

  QCY North West Lancashire

  3,953

  QDX North and East Devon

  3,936

  QEJ South Staffordshire

  3,891

  QC6 Salford and Trafford

  3,872

  QC9 West Pennine

  3,822

  QA8 Buckinghamshire

  3,765

  QDG Gateshead and South Tyneside

  3,702

  QCN North Nottinghamshire

  3,691

  QA7 Berkshire

  3,655

  QD5 Somerset

  3,627

  QD7 Wiltshire

  3,594

  QAL West Surrey

  3,561

  QC3 Manchester

  3,524

  QD2 Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  3,500

  QAH Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  3,427

  QA5 Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  3,413

  QCT Bury and Rochdale

  3,410

  192W

  Finished consultant episodes (FCEs) where ischaemic heart disease is the main diagnosis (ICD10 codes 120–125), by HA of residence NHS hospitals, England 1999–2000

  Health authority of residence

  FCEs

  QEL Warwickshire

  3,401

  QDY Gloucestershire

  3,398

  QAJ Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  3,384

  QDD Bradford

  3,361

  QEH North Staffordshire

  3,361

  QEQ West Hertfordshire

  3,314

  QEN Worcestershire

  3,262

  QAR Brent and Harrow

  3,258

  QEP East and North Hertfordshire

  3,219

  QDC Wirral

  3,097

  QD1 North and Mid Hampshire

  3,091

  QCE Oxfordshire

  3,077

  QCG Barnsley

  2,989

  QCK Doncaster

  2,941

  QA6 Bedfordshire

  2,886

  QEA Coventry

  2,847

  QDQ Wakefield

  2,842

  QCH North Derbyshire

  2,817

  QDM Northumberland

  2,811

  QDN Sunderland

  2,718

  QAA Bexley and Greenwich

  2,671

  QDL South Humber

  2,642

  QCV North Cheshire

  2,614

  QC1 South Lancashire

  2,550

  QA4 Enfield & Haringey

  2,524

  QDK North Cumbria

  2,468

  QEF Shropshire

  2,464

  QAP Barking and Havering

  2,438

  QC7 Sefton

  2,341

  QEE Sandwell

  2,268

  QC4 Morecambe Bay

  2,173

  QEK Walsall

  2,125

  QC8 Stockport

  2,116

  QEC Dudley

  2,062

  QCQ Rotherham

  2,051

  QAQ Barnet

  1,906

  QAD Croydon

  1,901

  QAK East Surrey

  1,878

  QA3 Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  1,870

  QAT Camden and Islington

  1,851

  QEM Wolverhampton

  1,823

  QAC Bromley

  1,755

  QAG Kingston and Richmond

  1,561

  QA2 Hillingdon

  1,450

  QEG Solihull

  1,388

  QED Herefordshire

  889

  QD4 Isle of Wight

  808

  Scotland

  254

  Wales

  2,396

  Not known

  1,812

  Northern Ireland

  55

  Total

  364,168

  Notes:

  An FCE is defined as a period of patient care under one consultant in one health care provider.

  The figures do not represent the number of patients, as one person may have several episodes within the year.

  The main diagnosis is the first of seven diagnosis fields in the HES data set, and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital.

  Figures in this table are provisional (version 2) and have not yet been adjusted for shortfalls in data.

  Source:

  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health

  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list in descending order the 100 council wards with(a) the highest rate of heart disease and (b) the highest rates of death due to heart disease. [152622]
  193W
  Yvette Cooper
  Information on the incidence of heart disease is not routinely available. We recognise the importance of better information, not least to ensure that we are able to identify and treat those with heart disease. That is why one of the early priorities for the National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is the systematic development and maintenance of practice-based CHD registers.

  Data for the 25 health authorities with the highest rates of mortality from all circulatory disease, which includes all forms of heart disease, for men and women, are shown in the table. Information at council ward level on rates of death from specific causes is not collected.

  Last week my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced new national health inequalities targets to reduce the health gap between children in different social classes and to reduce the difference in life expectancy between areas with the lowest life expectancy and the national average. This is not a short term process, but it is only by tackling inequalities now that we can impact on the incidence of disease in the future.

  Standardised Mortality Ratio (SMR) for all circulatory disease (ICD9 390–459), 1997–99: 25 health authorities with highest (worst) mortality rates

  Health authority

  SMR

  Men

  West Pennine

  130

  Manchester

  128

  Rotherham

  128

  Liverpool

  125

  Sandwell

  124

  Wigan and Bolton

  122

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  122

  East Lancashire

  121

  County Durham

  119

  Bury and Rochdale

  118

  Northumberland

  118

  Barnsley

  117

  Wolverhampton

  116

  Tees

  116

  Gateshead and South Tyneside

  114

  North Staffordshire

  114

  Doncaster

  113

  Salford and Trafford

  113

  Sunderland

  113

  Birmingham

  112

  East London and the City

  112

  Bradford

  111

  Coventry

  110

  Wakefield

  110

  North Cheshire

  110

  Women

  West Pennine

  128

  East Lancashire

  126

  Bury and Rochdale

  123

  County Durham

  123

  Northumberland

  122

  Doncaster

  121

  Wigan and Bolton

  120

  Rotherham

  119

  Manchester

  119

  North Cumbria

  119

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  116

  Gateshead and South Tyneside

  116

  North Cheshire

  116

  Tees

  114

  North Derbyshire

  113

  Sunderland

  113

  194W

  Standardised Mortality Ratio (SMR) for all circulatory disease (ICD9 390–459), 1997–99: 25 health authorities with highest (worst) mortality rates

  Health authority

  SMR

  Sandwell

  112

  Barnsley

  112

  Morecambe Bay

  111

  Coventry

  111

  South Lancashire

  111

  North Staffordshire

  111

  South Staffordshire

  110

  Liverpool

  110

  Dudley

  110

  Source:

  Data from Department of Health Compendium of Clinical and Health Indicators 2000

  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in reducing avoidable heart disease for under-65s; and if he will make statement. [152616]

  Yvette Cooper
  The number of deaths from coronary heart disease for the under-65s in England has decreased from 17,140 in 1995 to 14,158 in 1999 (the latest year for which figures are available). Advances in technology, new investment and an increased focus on prevention should reduce this number still further.

  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to use the findings of the genome project to identify and reduce the risks of heart disease. [152621]

  Yvette Cooper
  As indicated in the NHS Plan, the Department, in association with the Medical Research Council and the Wellcome Trust, is planning to establish a prospective survey to investigate genetic and environmental influences on the development of the commoner diseases of adult life, including heart disease.

  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of familial and hereditary factors in the occurrence of heart disease; and what measures he intends to introduce to reduce these factors. [152618]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Department, in association with the Medical Research Council and the Wellcome Trust, is planning to establish a prospective survey to investigate genetic and environmental influences on the development of the commoner diseases of adult life, including heart disease.

  Heart disease risk is cumulative. The risk of heart disease can be significantly reduced, even for those individuals with a family history of heart disease, by stopping smoking, eating a low fat, low cholesterol diet and exercising regularly.

  Many of the factors which influence the occurrence of heart disease are linked back to inequalities. Last week my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced new national health inequalities targets to reduce the health gap between children in different social classes and to reduce the difference in life expectancy between areas with the lowest life expectancy and the national average. This is not a short-term process—but it is only by tackling inequalities now that we can impact on familial and hereditary factors in the future.

SCOTLAND

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans she has to meet representatives of the Engineering Employers Federation in Scotland to discuss manufacturing industry. [150740]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I shall be meeting representatives of Scottish Engineering, the Engineering Employers Federation in Scotland, on 16 March.

  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she last met representatives of business and trade unions to discuss manufacturing in Scotland; and if she will make a statement. [150757]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I have frequent meetings with representatives of business and trade unions to discuss issues of relevance to manufacturing and other sectors of the Scottish economy. We shall continue to provide the sound economic foundation to provide the best environment for Scottish business.

  Chester Street Insurance Holdings
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on her discussions with the Clydeside Action on Asbestos Campaign concerning the firm, Chester Street. [150741]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I had a very useful meeting with Clydeside Action on Asbestos, the Scottish Trades Union Congress and Thompsons, solicitors, on 12 February. Thompsons have now provided detailed information on the number of claims that might be affected by the liquidation of Chester Street.

  Tourism
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she next plans to meet the British Tourist Authority to discuss the promotion of Scotland overseas. [150743]

  Mr. Foulkes
  I shall be meeting the Chairman, his Deputy and the Chief Executive of the British Tourist Authority tomorrow to discuss a range of issues, including the promotion of Scotland overseas.

  Drugs
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to her answer of 30 January 2001,Official Report, column 155W, on anti-drugs strategy, if she will make a statement on the progress made with matters raised in her meetings with the First Minister. [150744]

  Mr. Foulkes
  Progress has been made on a range of topics in my right hon. Friend's meetings with the First Minister.

  Effective co-operation between the Government and the Scottish Executive is vital to tackle the scourge of illegal drugs. Quarterly meetings of the relevant Ministers with the UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator now take place, most recently on 19 February in Edinburgh, to review progress within the framework of objectives and priorities set out
  196W
  in the White Paper "Tackling Drugs to build a Better Britain" and the Scottish Executive's report "Tackling Drugs in Scotland: Action in Partnership".

  Single Currency
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent advice she has received from the European Commission regarding the impact of a single European currency on the Scottish economy. [150745]

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment she has made of the impact of future UK membership of the single European currency on manufacturing industry in Scotland. [150748]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The determining factor underpinning any Government decision to join the single currency is whether the economic case is clear and unambiguous. The Government have said that they will make another assessment of the five economic tests early in the next Parliament.

  Climate Change Levy
  Mr. Swinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she last discussed with the Chancellor of the Exchequer the likely impact of the climate change levy on Scottish industry and business. [150746]

  Mr. Foulkes
  My right hon. Friend has regular contact with the Chancellor of the Exchequer to discuss a wide range of matters. The climate change levy will raise an estimated £1 billion in its first year, all of which will be recycled back to business by a 0.3 percentage point cut in employers' National Insurance contributions and £150 million of spending on energy efficiency. The Government expect the levy to be broadly neutral between services and manufacturing.

  The effect on any specific business, sector or region will depend on a number of factors, including their future energy consumption the level of employment, eligibility for discounts, use of renewable or combined heat and power energy, and take up of enhanced capital allowances.

  Textile Industry
  Mr. Russell Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement about the implications of the disagreements on tariffs between the United States of America and the European Union on the Scottish textile industry. [150747]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Kilmarnock and Loudoun (Mr. Browne) on 30 January 2001,Official Report, column 158W.

  Block Grant
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions she has had with the First Minister regarding the method for calculating the Scottish block grant. [150749]
  197W
  Mrs. Liddell
  I have regular discussions with the First Minister on a range of matters. Details of the method of calculating the Scottish Assigned Budget were set out in the Statement of Funding Policy, which was published by HM Treasury on 17 July 2000.

  Shipbuilding
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on the Scottish shipbuilding industry. [150750]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Shipbuilding in Scotland remains competitive. Orders for Landing Ships and First Class Type 45 destroyers for the Ministry of Defence and also orders for merchant ships for Stirling Shipping will all result in work for Clyde yards. Nevertheless, each year will have to continue to work hard to win orders. For my part, I will continue to do all I can to support shipbuilding on the Clyde.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on recent trends in unemployment in Scotland. [150751]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The latest labour market figures show that there are 2,391,000 people in work in Scotland, the highest level since 1960. The employment rate stands at 73.8 per cent., the highest level since 1975. Claimant count unemployment in Scotland is at its lowest level since January 1976 and has fallen by 49,900 since spring 1997.

  Fuel Taxes
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she last discussed with the Chancellor of the Exchequer the impact of fuel taxes on the rural economy of Scotland. [150752]

  Mr. Foulkes
  My right hon. Friend has regular contact with the Chancellor of the Exchequer to discuss a wide range of issues affecting the Scottish economy.

  The Chancellor announced a variety of measures in his pre-Budget report in November last year which will help mitigate the effect of fuel prices on rural areas. These include: the reduction in Vehicle Excise Duty for cars up to 1500cc; the abolition of Vehicle Excise Duty for tractors and agricultural vehicles; a transitional rebate of 50 per cent. for HGV Vehicle Excise Duty; a 2p per litre cut in cleaner ultra-low sulphur petrol and a 3p per litre cut for ultra-low sulphur diesel. He has also announced more recently that any reduction in duty on ultra-low sulphur petrol that is announced in the Budget will be matched by a reduction in duty on unleaded petrol for a temporary period until 14 June 2001.

  Television Licences
  John Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many pensioners in Scotland are benefiting from the free television licences for over-75s. [150753]

  Mr. Foulkes
  Around 340,000 pensioners in Scotland aged 75 and over are benefiting, including an estimated 40,000 in accommodation for residential care.

  Ultra-low Sulphur Fuel
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry about levels of provision of ultra-low sulphur fuel in Scotland. [150754]

  Mr. Foulkes
  My right hon. Friend has regular contact with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to discuss a wide range of matters.

  The continued roll out of ultra-low sulphur fuel across the country is being monitored regularly by the Department of Trade and Industry. The Government's objectives are to ensure that everyone should be able to share the environmental benefits of ultra-low sulphur fuel, and the benefits of the duty cut associated with it. The Government intend to match any reduction in duty on ultra-low sulphur fuel that is announced in the Budget with a reduction in duty on unleaded petrol for a temporary period until 14 June 2001 while ultra-low sulphur fuels are rolled out across the country.

  Working Families Tax Credit
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many families in Scotland are estimated to have benefited from the Working Families Tax Credit. [150755]

  Mr. Foulkes
  This information is contained in the Working Families Tax Credit Quarterly Enquiry for August 2000, a copy of which is in the House Library. The Quarterly Enquiry shows that Working Families Tax Credit is paid to an estimated 108,000 families in Scotland.

  Economic and Social Policy
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she last met the Scottish First Minister to discuss the impact of the Government's economic and social policy on Scotland. [150756]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I have regular discussions with the First Minister on a wide range of issues. The Government are pursuing a comprehensive and co-ordinated strategy to fulfil Britain's economic potential, building a stronger economy and a fairer society in which everyone can contribute to and share in rising prosperity. Scotland is benefiting and will continue to benefit from this comprehensive strategy.

  Oil and Gas Industry
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on the future of oil and gas industry businesses in Scotland. [150738]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Government and industry are working together through PILOT to ensure that Scotland and the UK remains a centre of profitable activity well into the new century.

  The Oil and Gas industry continues to be a major contributor to the Scottish Economy. Renewed confidence in the UK Continental Shelf as a place to do business is leading to increased investment intentions. The major package of investment projects announced by the oil companies in December last year will generate 2500 jobs across the UK, around half of which will be in Scotland.

  199W
  These projects are excellent examples of how new ideas and initiatives—such as sharing knowledge on new technologies, improving communication across the supply chain, facilitation of asset trading technologies and commercial co-operation—are enabling access to previously undeveloped fields.

ADVOCATE-GENERAL

  Brown Judgment
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Advocate-General for Scotland what advice she has given on the Brown case judgment and implications for road traffic and other cases in Scotland. [150760]

  The Advocate-General for Scotland
  As the hon. Lady will be aware, I give advice to Departments on various matters. In relation to the Brown case, I presented arguments to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in November of last year. Their Lordships decided that the current legislation was compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.

PRIME MINISTER

  Taoiseach
  Mr. Grieve
  To ask the Prime Minister when Her Majesty's Government were consulted by the Office of the Irish Taoiseach concerning his planned visit to Scotland on 11 February. [150822]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 26 February 2001]: The Government were not consulted. However I understand that the Scotland Office, the Northern Ireland Office, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office were aware of the visit.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Summer Recess
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the President of the Council what representations have been received about changing the summer recess dates to more closely mirror school summer holidays. [150782]

  Mr. Tipping
  I have received no recent representations, although I am aware this is a matter which concerns many Members.

  Regional Select Committees
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the President of the Council what proposals she has for establishing Select Committees for the regions. [150785]

  Mrs. Beckett
  I have no proposals to add to the establishment of the Standing Committee on the Regions.

  Modernisation Committee
  Mr. David Taylor
  To ask the President of the Council what further proposals she plans to bring before the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House. [150786]
  200W
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the President of the Council what further proposals she plans to bring forward to the Select Committee on the Modernisation of the House of Commons. [150789]

  Mrs. Beckett
  I have little to add to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary on 19 December 2000,Official Report, column 204.

  Information Technology
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the President of the Council when she expects to(a) receive and (b) implement the SSRB report on the supply to and use of information technology by hon. Members. [150788]

  Mrs. Beckett
  The report is made to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and it will be dealt with in the normal way.

  Programming of Legislation
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the President of the Council what assessment she has made of the progress on the programming of legislation. [150790]

  Shona McIsaac
  To ask the President of the Council if she will make a statement on progress on the programming of legislation. [150792]

  Mrs. Beckett
  I refer my hon. Friends to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Dartford (Dr. Stoate),Official Report, column 145.

  House of Lords Reform
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Council what progress is being made on setting up the Joint Committee on the reform of the House of Lords. [150791]

  Mr. Tipping
  My right hon. Friend the President of the Council announced on 3 July 2000,Official Report, column 92W, that the Government aimed to establish a Joint Committee of both Houses to consider the parliamentary implications of the Royal Commission on Reform of the House of Lords so that it should begin work as soon as possible after the summer recess.

  Unfortunately, discussions with the other parties in both Houses on the membership and precise terms of reference failed to reach agreement. We have therefore concluded that there is little present prospect of setting up a Joint Committee in the present Parliament.

  Business Co-ordination Unit
  Gillian Merron
  To ask the President of the Council if she will make a statement on progress with the Government's Business Co-ordination Unit. [150787]

  Mr. Tipping
  Following its launch in September I am very pleased to report that the Unit has made good progress. In just a short space of time it has improved access to Ministers for the business community, through its co-ordination of invitations received across Whitehall.

  The initiative has been extremely well received both by the business community and the agencies that represent business. I am also pleased to say that this initiative is an

  201W
  excellent example of Government working together—the support the Unit has received from Regional Government Offices has been a key factor in its success.

  Paper Recycling
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what plans she has to set targets for the recycling of paper. [150781]

  Mrs. Roe
  This is a matter for the Serjeant at Arms. I have asked him to write to the hon. Member.

  House of Commons Envelopes
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee how many pre-paid House of Commons envelopes have been supplied to hon. Members since May 1997. [150783]

  Mrs. Roe
  This is a matter for the Serjeant at Arms. I have asked him to write to my hon. Friend.

  Messages from Her Majesty
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the President of the Council if she will put proposals before the Select Committee on the Modernisation of the House of Commons to allow messages from Her Majesty no longer to be communicated to the House by the Vice-Chamberlain of the Household. [152456]

  Mrs. Beckett
  I have no such plans, but my hon. Friend may wish to raise the matter with the Procedure Committee.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Millennium Dome
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money has been allocated to clear the dome site. [150929]

  Janet Anderson
  As indicated in the New Millennium Experience Company's (NMEC) October 2000 forecast, which was placed in the Libraries of both Houses on 26 October, decommissioning costs being borne by the company are estimated at £7.5 million. Further potential costs of approximately £15 million relating to certain decommissioning requirements will be borne by English Partnerships as indicated in the agreement of 12 January 2001 between English Partnerships and NMEC. English Partnerships are to be reimbursed from sale proceeds. I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and the Regions on 17 January 2001,Official Report, column 258W, which gives details of that agreement.

  Dancing Schools
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his estimate is of the number of dancing schools in(a) London and (b) England and Wales; if he will break them down by styles of dance predominantly taught; what funding is available for ethnic minority schools of dancing; and what the level of public expenditure was on each variety of dance in each of the past five years. [151627]
  202W
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The Council for Dance Education and Training (CDET), an independent body representing dance training providers, accredits courses at vocational dance training schools. CDET's membership includes 24 vocational dance schools in England: 13 in London, five more in the south-east, and six in the midlands or north-west. Ten of these focus on musical theatre (dance), six on ballet, four on contemporary dance, three on both musical theatre and ballet, and one on these three styles. In addition, the CDET is aware of at least 10 other schools in England which say they offer vocational training. Information on Welsh schools is a matter for the devolved Administration.

  Funding for dance is provided through a range of public and private sources, at central Government and local levels. DCMS support for dance is undertaken by the Arts Council of England and the regional arts boards. The information is not readily available in the form requested, but the Arts Council has provided the following breakdown of grant in aid for specific dance causes, and headline figures for Arts Lottery expenditure on dance, as follows:

  Grant in aid

  £

  Year

  Total

  Ballet

  Contemporary

  African/Asian

  1997–98

  23,548,016

  17,425,531

  2,354,803

  941,920

  1998–99

  23,165,756

  17,142,659

  2,316,576

  1,158,289

  1999–2000

  27,264,356

  19,902,979

  2,726,435

  1,363,217

  2000–01

  25,895,815

  18,903,944

  2,589,581

  1,297,790

  Arts Council Lottery dance expenditure/awards total £133,074,167. It includes:

  New Audiences Programme: £698,000;

  Regional Arts Lottery Programme: £4,850,109;

  Interim Funding Scheme £19,114,413 (includes awards to drama colleges, and a 50 per cent. grant from the DfEE).

  Sport England provides some support for ballroom and Latin dancing, and some physical movement related dance forms. Grant in aid provision totalled over £300,000 in the last five years, with Lottery awards of at least £420,000, although the overall figure is likely to be higher where dance has featured as part of broader Lottery applications.

  Sites and Monuments Records (Internet)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to ensure local authorities maintain and develop comprehensive sites and monuments records and post them on the internet. [151865]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  A recommendation that the Government should ensure that local authorities have access to comprehensive records of the historic environment and that such information should be widely available through the electronic media was included in English Heritage's recent report "Power of Place". The Government are considering all the recommendations made in that document and plan to issue a policy statement during the spring.

  Football Supporters Trusts
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what financial and other
  203W
  resources the Government have provided for the establishment of football supporters trusts in England; to whom the Government provided such resources; and on what dates. [152071]

  Kate Hoey
  [holding answer 5 March 2001]: Supporters Direct was established last year to offer advice to those wishing to form supporters trusts. Supporters Direct receives no funding from the Government. The Football Foundation has allocated funding of £250,000 to Supporters Direct for 2000–01, and funding arrangements for 2001–02 and subsequent years are under discussion.

  Timber
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if his Department's annual report on timber procurement to the Committee of Green Ministers will be published. [152103]

  Janet Anderson
  In common with all other Government Departments, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport will submit details of timber procurement to the Committee of Green Ministers. The Green Ministers' report is published annually and will make specific reference to timber procurement.

  East England Arts

  East Midland Arts Board

  London Arts

  Northern Arts Board

  North West Arts Board

  Southern Arts Board

  South East Arts Board

  Arts Board South West

  West Midlands Arts Board

  Yorkshire Arts Board

  Average

  1996–97

  Total administration and overheads

  1,172,567

  907,999

  1,788,826

  1,153,409

  1,346,020

  987,085

  837,920

  1,062,346

  1,163,108

  1,098,290

  —

  Total expenditure

  5,672,041

  5,039,043

  14,864,120

  8,267,016

  9,667,594

  4,396,563

  3,386,680

  4,980,592

  6,468,162

  7,641,412

  —

  Admin. and overheads as percentage of total expenditure

  21

  18

  12

  14

  14

  22

  25

  21

  18

  14

  18

  1997–98

  Total administration and overheads

  1,306,192

  1,022,998

  2,148,360

  1,191,143

  1,467,866

  1,152,545

  1,105,794

  1,076,834

  1,222,727

  1,232,622

  —

  Total expenditure

  5,921,244

  5,168,319

  14,872,438

  7,891,794

  11,219,265

  4,503,999

  3,615,520

  5,238,197

  6,822,659

  7,774,146

  —

  Admin. and overheads as percentage of total expenditure

  22

  20

  14

  15

  13

  26

  28

  21

  18

  16

  19

  1998–99

  Total administration and overheads

  1,356,880

  1,122,304

  1,967,743

  1,153,409

  1,548,197

  1,214,485

  1,133,405

  1,278,564

  1,277,346

  1,315,188

  —

  Total expenditure

  5,639,774

  5,365,203

  14,811,118

  8,267,016

  10,078,239

  5,079,650

  3,761,861

  5,297,039

  7,000,927

  8,021,625

  —

  Admin. and overheads as percentage of total expenditure

  24

  21

  13

  14

  15

  24

  30

  24

  18

  16

  20

  1999–2000

  Total administration and overheads

  1,627,448

  1,674,667

  2,329,840

  1,304,918

  1,685,940

  1,447,191

  1,474,50

  1,843,841

  1,480,836

  1,464,843

  —

  Total expenditure

  6,293,572

  7,006,544

  16,015,916

  9,405,899

  11,546,441

  5,819,415

  4,398,127

  6,183,189

  8,145,266

  8,814,294

  —

  Admin. and overheads as percentage of total expenditure

  26

  24

  15

  14

  15

  25

  4

  30

  18

  17

  22

  2000–011

  Total administration and overheads

  2,028,838

  1,534,075

  3,214,962

  1,407,115

  2,071,889

  1,565,038

  1,642,93

  1,426,484

  1,637,777

  1,665,275

  —

  Total expenditure

  9,690,169

  9,598,019

  31,498,337

  12,623,240

  18,643,253

  11,278,692

  7,210,107

  9,266,951

  13,766,026

  12,775,457

  —

  Admin. and overheads as percentage of total expenditure

  21

  16

  10

  11

  11

  14

  23

  15

  12

  13

  15

  1 Forecast

  Notes:

  1. Total administration and overheads figure includes staffing costs, costs related to premises, office costs, travel and subsistence and company costs. It excludes everything which may be considered to be direct arts spend.

  Source:

  All figures are taken from RAB audited accounts, with the exception of 2000–01 which are taken from RAB business plans
  204W
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much certified timber has been purchased by his Department over the past six months; and what proportion of total timber purchases this represents. [152119]

  Janet Anderson
  To answer the parliamentary question would incur disproportionate cost. Departments do not yet have systems in place to provide the data on the proportion of certified timber purchased over the last six months. The interdepartmental working group on timber procurement is working to develop a common reporting template, which will form the basis for the future reporting on timber procurement.

  Regional Arts Boards
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the administration costs as a percentage of total expenditure were of each of the regional arts boards in each of the last three years; and what the forecast figures are for the current year, including the underlying data, on which the calculations are based. [152620]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  The information requested is in the table:

  Television Audio-description Services
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the level of audio-description services available to blind people with television sets. [151849]

  Janet Anderson
  The Broadcasting Act 1996 sets a 10 per cent. target for audio description to be reached by the 10th anniversary of the start of the digital terrestrial television (DTT) service. The Independent Television Commission (ITC) has set an interim target for at least 2 per cent. of programmes on DTT to be audio described by the start of the second year of the service. The BBC's policy is to at least match these targets. I understand from the ITC that the 2 per cent. target has been met, except by those channels which have been granted special exemption.

  Television Subtitling
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if the powers of Ofcom as proposed in the White Paper, "A New Future for Communications", will include the provision to ensure that television advertisements are accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing people through the provision of closed caption subtitles. [151850]

  Janet Anderson
  It is intended that Ofcom will have the same general powers in respect of the provision of programmes for deaf and hard-of-hearing people that the Independent Television Commission (ITC) currently possesses under section 20 of the Broadcasting Act 1996. There are at present no statutory requirements for advertisements to be subtitled on digital terrestrial television; indeed they are specifically excluded from the definition of "programme" under section 20(14). The ITC does not therefore monitor the level of subtitling in advertisements but has advised my Department that about 50 to 60 per cent. of advertisers currently subtitle advertisements voluntarily.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he expects the Independent Television Commission to commence its review on the feasibility of(a) Channel 3 and (b) Channel 4 increasing beyond 80 per cent. the target for subtitling on digital terrestrial television; and when this review is expected to be completed. [151851]

  Janet Anderson
  My Department recently published the results of a review of the statutory requirements for the provision of subtitling, sign language and audio description services on digital terrestrial television(DTT), which included our intention to raise the level of subtitling on DTT from 50 per cent. to 80 per cent. The Independent Television Commission, which is responsible under the Broadcasting Act 1990 for setting targets on analogue services, have separately undertaken to review the feasibility of Channel 3 and Channel 4 increasing subtitling beyond 80 per cent. in respect of these services before the end of 2001.

  Athletics Championships (Funding)
  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding guarantees his 206W
  Department has given to the organisers of (a) Manchester 2002 and (b) the World Athletics Championships in 2005. [152519]

  Kate Hoey
  The Government have not given any funding guarantees to the organisers of the 2002 Commonwealth Games or the 2005 IAAF World Athletics Championships. However, the Government are providing £10.5 million towards the costs of the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

  Physical Activity Promotion
  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what plans he has to appoint a joint special adviser between his Department and the Department of Health; [152536]

  (2) what plans he has to encourage physical activity (a) among young people and (b) in society to tackle increasing levels of obesity; [152531]

  (3) if he will set joint targets with the Department for Health for the promotion of physical activity. [152535]

  Kate Hoey
  My Department is working closely with the Department of Health to encourage physical activity, and we will consider the potential for developing joint targets and joint appointments. We have also been working together with the Department for Education and Employment to develop a number of initiatives to improve opportunities for children to enjoy sport in schools including an intention to offer school children an entitlement to two hours per week of high-quality PE and sporting activity within and around the school day. We are consulting on how best to do this. In addition, DCMS is part of the Inter-Ministerial Group to Improve Children's Diet and Activity which is considering cross-departmental action to promote the health benefits of physical activity and to tackle the increasing levels of obesity.

  Register of Exercise Professionals
  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what arrangements have been made for funding the Register of Exercise Professionals. [152532]

  Kate Hoey
  Sport England has commissioned a feasibility report into the operation and funding of a Register of Exercise Professionals. Any decision on funding arrangements for the register will be made after the report has been completed and consideration has been given to its findings.

  Logos and Branding
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been spent by his Department on departmental and agency logos and associated branding since 1 May 1997. [152646]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  Following the introduction of the Department's new name in July 1997, a detailed review of all of the Department's internal and external communications processes was undertaken.

  Part of this review included the production of a new visual identity or logo to replace the Government roundel which had previously been used.
  207W
  The cost of this element of the review was £26,000. The work included the development of the logo and the layout of all internal and external documents and stationery.

  Improvements identified during the process achieved a 25 per cent. saving on the purchase of the Department's printed stationery bill. Further efficiency gains have been achieved from the wider communications improvements put in place following the review.

CABINET OFFICE

  Timber
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) if her Department's annual report on timber procurement to the Committee of Green Ministers will be published; [152111]

  (2) how much certified timber has been purchased by her Department over the past six months; and what proportion of total timber purchases this represents. [152118]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The Cabinet Office purchases timber wherever possible from sustainably managed sources. To quantify the proportion of certified timber that the Department has purchased over the last six months would incur disproportionate cost. The Cabinet Office will take advice from the interdepartmental timber working group on timber procurement monitoring and reporting arrangements, and in line with Government guidance to Departments, the Cabinet Office will report details of its timber purchases through the annual Green Ministers' report.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the total cost was of pension contributions paid by the Government(a) to special advisers and (b) into the pension schemes of special advisers, during the period 1 April 1999 to 30 March 2000. [152062]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  (a) None. Pension contributions are paid direct by Departments into the individual special advisers' pension schemes.

  (b) Provision has been made for a maximum of £476,000 to be paid into the pension schemes of special advisers for the year 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000.

  In addition, National Insurance contributions are paid at the contracted-in rates.

  Civil Service Pensions
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the employers' contribution will be to the new civil service pension scheme due to be introduced in October 2002. [151867]

  Mr. Stringer
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 7 February 2001,Official Report, column 542W. The aim is a new scheme which better reflects employment costs. The new scheme will have an important part to play in supporting the wider corporate objectives and reward strategies of the civil service reform programme.
  208W
  Employer contributions are set on advice from the Government Actuary. Salary-banded contributions averaging 13.5 per cent. of pensionable pay are paid by employers for staff in the existing defined benefit scheme.

  The first strand of the new arrangements is an improved defined benefit scheme. Employer contributions to this will be the same as for the existing defined benefit scheme, with the entire cost of the changes met through an increase in the member contribution rate. The second strand of the new arrangements is a defined contribution plan (delivered through stakeholder pension products). Employers will make contributions to this according to the age of the scheme member. In addition to the age-related contribution, the employer will match employee contributions to a maximum of 3 per cent. of pensionable pay. The Government Actuary has not yet finalised the contribution scale for the defined contribution plan, but the scale will be commensurate with the costs to employers of the new defined benefit option for those expected to be attracted to the defined contribution plan.

  Press Releases
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many press releases were issued by her Department in the financial years(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99 and (d) 1999–2000; how many have been issued in the current financial year; and what her estimate is of the total number for the current financial year. [149254]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The total number of press releases issued each financial year by my Department is as follows:(a) 180 in 1996–97; (b) 253 in 1997–98; (c) 264 in 1998–99; and (d) 412 in 1999–2000. In this financial year (up until the end of January) my Department has issued 281 press releases. On a purely statistical basis I estimate that for the current financial year my Department will issue approximately 337 press releases.

  My press office also issues releases on behalf of the Privy Council Office.

  The figure for 1999–2000 includes press releases issued by the Year 2000 Media Co-ordination Unit, which also operated from the Cabinet Office.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Magistrates Courts
  Mr. Prior
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what estimate she has made of the effects of the European convention on human rights on the operation of magistrates courts in England and Wales. [150769]

  Jane Kennedy
  My Department will shortly publish an update on the early impact of the European Convention on Human Rights on all courts and tribunals for which the Department is responsible.

  Data provided by the magistrates courts in the period October to December 2000 show that there has been no significant impact so far on the operation of the magistrates courts as a result of the ECHR.
  209W
  Mr. Shepherd
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on protecting local magistrates courts from closure. [150772]

  Jane Kennedy
  It is the Government's policy that decisions on the number and location of magistrates courts is best made by the local Magistrates Courts Committee.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what recent assessment she has made of the compatibility of the operation of magistrates courts in England and Wales with the provisions of the European convention on human rights. [150774]

  Jane Kennedy
  The responsibility for ensuring that magistrates courts meet the requirements of the Convention lies with the Magistrates Courts Committees in consultation with local paying authorities. The Lord Chancellor's Department has encouraged the Magistrates Courts Committees to review their courts in the light of the Convention.

  Data provided by the magistrates courts in the period October to December 2000 show that there has been no significant impact so far on the operation of the magistrates courts as a result of the ECHR.

  Sentencing Standards
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps he is taking to ensure(a) consistency of sentencing standards and (b) full information about evaluation of possible disposals of judges and magistrates. [150770]

  Mr. Lock
  On the assumption that the hon. Member's question relates to disposals of cases by judges and magistrates I refer him to the oral answer given to the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington (Mr. Brake) on 30 January 2001,Official Report, columns 164–65.

  Bail
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what guidance is given to judges on granting bail in cases where the defendant is accused of murder. [150773]

  Jane Kennedy
  Bail in all criminal proceedings is governed by the provisions of the Bail Act 1976. A defendant accused of any offence punishable with imprisonment need not be granted bail if the court is satisfied that one or more factors set out in paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 to the Bail Act apply in his case. A person charged with murder who has a previous conviction for murder, manslaughter or rape may only be granted bail if the court is satisfied that there are exceptional circumstances which justify it (section 25 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994)

  Solicitors
  Mr. David Heath
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the contractual arrangements for criminal defence solicitors. [150775]
  210W
  Mr. Lock
  The Criminal Defence Service (CDS) will be implemented on 2 April 2001, when the provisions of the Legal Aid Act 1988, which provide for the current system of criminal legal aid, will be repealed.

  Within the CDS, the primary mechanism for providing services to those being investigated for, or charged with, a criminal offence will be through private practice lawyers operating under contract to the Legal Services Commission.

  A draft contract for consultation was published at the end of August 2000, and a revised contract, significantly amended following detailed discussions with the Law Society, at the end of December.

  The Commission has invited firms to sign contracts, and signed contracts are now being returned to it.

  From 2 April, only solicitors' firms with a contract will be able to undertake criminal defence work funded by the Commission.

  County Courts
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the closure of county courts. [150776]

  Mr. Lock
  I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave him on 30 January 2001,Official Report, column 154W, to his previous question on this subject. Responses to the consultation paper "Modernising the Civil Courts", which I mentioned in that answer, should be returned to the Court Service Agency by 21 April 2001.

  Lay Magistracy
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on her plans to reform the lay magistracy. [150777]

  Jane Kennedy
  The report by Rod Morgan and Neil Russell, "The Judiciary in the Magistrates' Courts", published on 14 December, concluded that to abolish or greatly diminish the role of the lay magistracy would not be widely understood or supported in the country, and the Government agree with that view.

  Lord Justice Auld is currently conducting his independent review of the criminal courts. It would be premature to comment on that until he submits his report.

  Departmental Policies (Warrington, North)
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if she will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Warrington, North constituency, the effects on Warrington, North of her Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [152320]

  Jane Kennedy
  The Lord Chancellor's Department is responsible for the administration of the courts and for legal services. We have taken steps to improve the management and effectiveness of the services we provide and to meet customer needs, including working closely with other agencies to provide a fair, swift and effective
  211W
  system of justice, improve the availability of affordable and good quality legal services and to improve the lives of children and help build and sustain strong families.

  In particular, the Warrington, North constituency is covered by the Warrington Community Legal Service Partnership (CLSP). This has recently formed its Executive and met initially on 8 February 2001. There are currently 165 CLSPs throughout England and Wales.

  Across Warrington Borough Council, 15 agencies (13 solicitors, one Law Centre and one District CAB) have been awarded contracts with the Community Legal Services (CLS). The suppliers are located mainly in the centre of Warrington and this includes Warrington, North wards. The total 12-month value of contracts awarded amounts to over £249,000, and these cover categories including primarily family, but also debt, housing and welfare benefits.

  Legal Services Commission
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what decisions have been made on the changes proposed to the financial conditions for funding civil and family cases by the Legal Services Commission. [152740]

  Mr. Lock
  We have today published a report giving details of the Government's conclusions following consultation on these proposals. The introduction of these changes to the financial eligibility tests for funding in civil cases will move towards alignment of the eligibility limits for all levels of publicly funded legal services, provide simplified means testing arrangements for both applicants and suppliers and ensure a fair balance between publicly and privately funded litigants.

  We are raising the income and capital threshold for legal help so that an estimated 5 million more people can get the advice and assistance on everyday problems that they need. We will not be introducing contributions for legal help so all eligible clients will be able to receive legal advice entirely free of charge.

  We have listened carefully to the responses and we will not be introducing capital contributions from equity at the present time. We believe the implementation of these proposals might deter low-income homeowners from seeking legal advice.

  We will fully equalise the income eligibility limit for legal help with legal representation as soon as it is financially prudent to do so. This will bring a further 2 million people into the scope of the Community Legal Service Fund.

  The cost of these changes is £30 million over three years. We have been able to spend this money on increasing eligibility because of the success of our legal aid reforms in controlling and refocusing expenditure on priorities.

  We undertook to consult on the new eligibility limits for all levels of service once they were available and a consultation paper has been published today. Consultation will run until 1 May 2001. These changes will be implemented on 1 October 2001.

  Court Service Annual Report
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when she will publish the Court Service annual report for 1999–2000. [152741]

  Jane Kennedy
  The Court Service annual report for 1999–2000 has been published today and copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Law Commission Report No. 251
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when she will make an announcement on Law Commission Report No. 251, "The Rule against Perpetuities and Excessive Accumulations". [152742]

  Jane Kennedy
  The Government accept the Law Commission's recommendations in Report No. 251 "The Rule against Perpetuities and Excessive Accumulations" and will legislate when parliamentary time allows.

  Review of Civil Enforcement
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what progress has been made on Phase Two of the Review of Civil Enforcement. [152743]

  Mr. Lock
  We have been engaged in a comprehensive review of the enforcement of civil court judgments since 1998. I announced by way of a written answer on 26 July 2000,Official Report, column 715W, the completion of Phase One of the review. The rules of court arising from this phase are currently being drafted.

  I also announced on 26 July last year the terms of Phase Two of the review. These were:
  To implement costed recommendations, including the production of a unified set of rules of court for enforcement, and
  To identify, in the light of the amended procedures and revised powers of bailiffs, the type of agent or form of agency, which should be responsible for carrying out those enforcement procedures, and to make costed recommendations.

  I am pleased to announce that Phase Two of the review of enforcement procedures will now be broadened to include structures for, and the regulation of, civil enforcement agents generally, not just within the High Court and the county courts.

  It would be a wasted opportunity not to attempt to go further and devise a single model encompassing not just civil court warrant enforcement agents, but other private sector civil enforcement agents collecting money for central or local government. This will involve my officials exploring systems across all areas of enforcement, and they will now examine various possible options, including issues surrounding a new class of enforcement agents who would be officers of but not necessarily employees of, the court.

  For this reason we will publish in late Spring 2001 a Green Paper on the structure and regulation of enforcement, and a single piece of bailiff law, followed by a White Paper later in the year, setting out our proposals for legislation.
  213W
  This approach offers the best prospect of ensuring that there are real gains from the Review. Continuing with the narrower focus would pass up the opportunity of achieving a fundamental improvement in our enforcement system.

  Departmental Policies (Vale of Clwyd)
  Mr. Ruane
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Vale of Clwyd constituency, the effects on the Vale of Clwyd of the Lord Chancellor's Department's policies since May 1997. [151933]

  Mr. Lock
  The Lord Chancellor?s Department is responsible for the administration of the courts and for legal services. We have taken steps to improve the management and effectiveness of the services we provide and to meet customer needs, including working closely with other agencies to provide a fair, swift and effective system of justice, improve the availability of affordable and good quality legal services and to improve the lives of children and help build and sustain strong families.

  The Vale of Clwyd is covered by Denbighshire Community Legal Service Partnership (CLSP). There are currently 165 CLSPs throughout England and Wales. Fifteen of these are based in Wales.

  Within Denbighshire 10 solicitor firms and two not-for-profit organisations have been awarded contracts whose total value amounts to over £273,000. The contracts cover a range of categories, including family, debt, housing and welfare benefits.
  214W
  Eleven of the organisations are based within the Vale of Clwyd constituency area and predominantly provide services to residents covered by the towns of Rhyl and Denbigh. Although one provider, South Denbighshire CAB, is based outside the Vale of Clwyd, its services can still be accessed by people living within the Vale of Clwyd.

  All 12 organisations above are holders of the Community Legal Service Quality Mark. In addition, the award of a specialist level Quality Mark is imminent for the Welfare Rights Unit at Denbighshire County Council, and should be issued no later than May 2001. North Denbighshire CAB has submitted an application at the General Help level and is due to be audited at the beginning of April 2001.

  Community Legal Service
  Maria Eagle
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the changes which would be required in the budget of the Community Legal Service for civil cases for each 5 per cent. increase in solicitors' remuneration in criminal cases; and how many people requiring support for civil cases would be affected by each 5 per cent. increase. [152063]

  Mr. Lock
  Each 5 per cent. increase in remuneration for all categories of criminal legal aid would cost around £42 million, and would reduce the ability of the Legal Services Commission to support about 75,000 acts of assistance in civil matters.

  Southern Africa: Peacekeeping
  Southern Africa: Peacekeeping
  Foreign Secretary's Discussions USA
  Foreign Secretary's Discussions USA
  British Council, Quito, Ecuador
  British Council, Quito, Ecuador
  QCs and Judges: Appointments
  QCs and Judges: Appointments
  Royal Commissions and Committees of Inquiry Appointments
  Royal Commissions and Committees of Inquiry Appointments
  Perpetuities and Excessive Accumulations: Law Commission Report
  Perpetuities and Excessive Accumulations: Law Commission Report
  Civil Court Judgment Enforcement: Review
  Civil Court Judgment Enforcement: Review
  Civil and Family Legal Aid
  Civil and Family Legal Aid
  Court Service Annual Report
  Court Service Annual Report
  Contaminated German Meat: Returned Consignment
  Contaminated German Meat: Returned Consignment
  EU Economic and Monetary Policy Controls
  EU Economic and Monetary Policy Controls
  Weapons Collection and Combatant Reintegration Programmes
  Weapons Collection and Combatant Reintegration Programmes
  Medicine Prices in Developing Countries
  Medicine Prices in Developing Countries
  China: Population Control
  China: Population Control
  Donations to Political Parties: Disclosure
  Donations to Political Parties: Disclosure
  Immigration Advisers and Service Providers: Regulation
  Immigration Advisers and Service Providers: Regulation
  Prisoners: Facilitation of Family Contact
  Prisoners: Facilitation of Family Contact
  Turkish Refugees and Interpol
  Turkish Refugees and Interpol