Written Answers of 2 May 2001

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Rapid Reaction Force
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 10 April 2001,Official Report, column 532W, on the rapid reaction force, if a representative of the Danish Government was (a) present at and (b) participated in the discussion of the Presidency report on European security and defence policy; and how much time the Council spent discussing the report. [158815]

  Mr. Vaz
  Representatives of the Danish Government were present at and participated in discussion of the Nice Presidency report on European defence. Competent bodies of the Council discussed this report at length in the weeks leading up to the Nice European Council.

  Israel
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library the agenda for the meeting of the EU Association Committee in May to review the operation of the EU-Israel Association agreement. [158804]

  Mr. Vaz
  A copy of the provisional agenda, agreed by the EU and Israel, was deposited in the Library on 26 April.

  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the EU Association Committee will consider at its meeting in May to stop the import into the EU under preferences of goods labelled "made in Israel" which originate in Israeli settlements in the occupied territories. [158807]

  Mr. Vaz
  The EU-Israel Association committee will discuss goods from settlements under the agenda item entitled "Rules of Origin". We expect the EU to raise the post-verification requests for certificates of origin and to remind the Israelis that they have until June 2001 to respond.
  In consultation with the European Commission, the UK and other members states are carrying out a post-verification exercise in relation to a number of goods exported to the EU and described as Israeli. These are goods which benefit from preferential access to the EU under the origin protocol in the EU-Israel Association agreement.
  The UK continues to support the Commission's efforts to establish whether any infringement of the EU-Israel Association agreement has taken place.
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  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who will represent the British Government at the meeting in May of the EU Association committee reviewing the EU-Israel Association agreement. [158805]

  Mr. Vaz
  The EU-Israel Association agreement states that "the Association Committee shall meet at official level". The UK will be represented by an official from the UK permanent representation to the EU.

  Iraq
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received concerning industrial activities undertaken at the Al Daura plant, near Baghdad. [159729]

  Mr. Wilson
  The Iraqi acting Minister for Foreign Affairs wrote to the UN Secretary-General on 28 March requesting that funds from the UN oil-for-food programme be used for the reactivation of the Al Daura facility for the production of foot and mouth vaccine.

  In the continuing absence of UN monitors, the United Kingdom has opposed this request for reactivation of a plant known to have been used for biological weapons production in the past.

  Gibraltar
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to(a) the European Commission and (b) the Government of Spain regarding the handling of internationally dialled telephone calls routed through Spain destined for Gibraltar. [156134]

  Mr. Vaz
  This matter was raised with the Spanish Government on 20 March, and with the Commission on 30 March.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received regarding using the Gibraltar international direct dialling code prefix 350. [156131]

  Mr. Vaz
  The Government of Gibraltar have brought to our attention various issues related to the use of Gibraltar's international direct dialling code.
  As my hon. Friend the Minister for Small Business and E-Commerce made clear in her answer of 6 April 2001, Official Report, column 305W, we remain deeply concerned about the unsatisfactory situation. We will continue to pursue the issue as a matter of urgency.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom Government's relations with Spain regarding the freedom of movement of trade and services in relation to Gibraltar. [156132]

  Mr. Vaz
  When Gibraltar became part of the European Community upon the United Kingdom's accession in 1973, Gibraltar did not join the Customs Union. This is recognised by all member states. Subsequent EU legislation concerning the free movement of goods has not therefore been applied in relation to Gibraltar. EU legislation concerning the free movement of services has been applied.

  Clemency Pleas
  Mrs. Humble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is Her Majesty's Government's policy to support a plea for clemency from a British national imprisoned overseas. [160352]

  Mr. Wilson
  Our objective is to support pleas for clemency in deserving cases, while respecting the sovereign right of foreign Governments to sentence prisoners according to their own laws. Following an internal review, we have decided to widen our existing criteria for supporting clemency pleas. We will now consider supporting clemency pleas from British nationals imprisoned overseas in the following cases:in compelling compassionate circumstances, such as where a prisoner is chronically ill or dying (particularly when prison conditions overseas are poor) or when a close family member is chronically ill or dying; where continued incarceration is likely to endanger life or is likely to reduce life expectancy significantly;
  in cases of minors imprisoned overseas;
  as a last resort, in cases where we have prima facie evidence of a denial or miscarriage of justice, where we have made representations, but where those representations have failed to secure a remedy. In these cases, our reasons for supporting a plea would not normally be mentioned explicitly in the plea itself.

  We will also take the prisoner's family circumstances into account when considering whether to support a plea for clemency. We will examine all pleas on a case-by-case basis.
  Our previous policy was to support clemency pleas in compelling compassionate circumstances, such as where a prisoner was terminally ill, or where the death of a spouse would leave young children with no one to care for them. The new policy demonstrates our commitment to protecting the human rights of British nationals.

  Humanitarian Crises
  Mr. David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in Her Majesty's Government's consultations with international partners on UK proposals for international action in response to humanitarian crises. [160353]

  Mr. Battle
  We firmly believe that we have a shared responsibility to respond when confronted with massive violations of international humanitarian law and crimes against humanity. The UK has played a leading role in this continuously evolving debate. We have spent the past year trying to build the broadest possible consensus around a set of ideas on the conditions and circumstances that make international action appropriate. We believe such a consensus could strengthen the Security Council's ability to respond effectively and promptly to humanitarian crises. Our ideas have been framed as policy guidelines to help the international community decide when it is right to act.
  The key elements of our ideas are:
  that any intervention is by definition a failure of prevention. Force should always be the last resort;
  that the immediate responsibility for halting violence rests with the state in which it occurs;
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  but when faced with an immediate humanitarian catastrophe and a Government who have demonstrated themselves unwilling or unable to halt or prevent it, the international community should take action;
  any use of force in this context must be collective, proportionate, likely to achieve its objective, and carried out in accordance with international law.
  Our consultations will continue, but progress has proved difficult. Many countries have reservations about the concepts involved, fearing that their endorsement would undermine the principle of state sovereignty.

  Copies of our set of ideas have been placed in the Libraries of the House of Commons and House of Lords.

  MV Etireno
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures were taken by his Department during the recent hunt for the MV Etireno; and what steps his Department(a) has taken and (b) intends to take, to combat the trade in child slavery. [159859]

  Mr. Wilson
  The UK was the first to respond to the Benin authorities' request for help to search for the Etireno. HMS Glasgow was in the area and we offered her services. This offer was declined when it became clear that the Etireno had returned to Benin.

  The UK is firmly committed to eradicating slavery and bonded labour worldwide. We played a leading role in drafting and securing agreement to the International Labour Convention 182 on the worst forms of child labour. We are working with international and non-governmental organisations and industry to address the problem of child slavery, and are looking at what we can do to increase these efforts.

  I am meeting industry representatives, and also Ministers from the Government of Cote d'Ivoire, on 4 May.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Recycled Waste
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the deliveries of(a) incinerator ash, (b) mixed waste containing organics and (c) compost to (i) Burnside Farm at Heddon-on-the-Wall and (ii) other farms by (1) Newcastle Council's Waste Department, (2) City Works and (3) Associated Waste Services from (A) domestic, (B) commercial and (C) institutional premises; and what tests have been carried out on animal feed for dioxin, furan and PCB content. [155313]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 26 April 2001]: Section 34 of the Environment Protection Act 1990 imposes a duty of care on waste producers and others who have control of waste. The parties to the transfer of waste are required to keep records but information on waste

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  transfers is not held centrally. Duty of care records can, of course, be sought locally through the Environment Agency's serving a notice on the parties concerned.

  The Environment Agency advises that it has not carried out tests on animal feed and holds no information on any such tests carried out by others. In my reply of 30 March 2001, Official Report, column 818W, I have separately provided the hon. Member with a list of the sites which have received ash from the Byker Reclamation Plant—including farms.

  £ million

  1997–981

  1998–991

  1999–20001

  2000–011

  2001–021

  General Fund revenue account

  Total revenue expenditure4

  484

  522

  563

  575

  632

  Central Government support

  General grants

  Revenue support grant

  263

  285

  297

  298

  312

  National non-domestic rates

  103

  107

  114

  128

  124

  Ring fenced grants5

  18

  20

  20

  29

  71

  Total central Government support5

  384

  412

  431

  455

  507

  Housing revenue account (HRA)

  Total revenue expenditure4

  182

  182

  171

  160

  183

  Central Government support

  HRA subsidy6

  101

  94

  91

  85

  98

  Capital account

  Total capital expenditure4

  57

  73

  76

  146

  8—

  Central Government support

  Capital grants7

  19

  24

  24

  46

  8—

  Credit approvals

  18

  28

  31

  39

  8—

  1 Outturn

  2 Estimated outturn

  3 Proposed

  4Total expenditure is from all sources including central Government support and local sources such as Council Tax.

  5 Revenue account expenditure and central Government support figures are net of grants/loans outside aggregate exchequer finance (AEF) which flow through local authorities (eg rent allowances and rebates and mandatory student awards.) The revenue expenditure totals exclude capital expenditure financed from the revenue account (CERA).

  6 From 2001–02 housing subsidy includes the major repairs allowance (MRA) (£16 million in 2001–02). This is paid through the HRA but is intended to finance capital expenditure. Capital expenditure financed from the HRA (including from the MRA) has been excluded from total housing revenue expenditure.

  7 Including capital grants from non-departmental public bodies and the national lottery.

  8 Not yet available from a comparable source (i.e. local authority)

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent representations his Department has received in respect of the safety standards at, and hazards posed by, the high activity radioactive waste storage tanks at Sellafield. [156397]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions has received two written representations on this issue within the past six months. In addition, the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee presented a Report, published in November 2000, on the Radioactive Waste Implications of Reprocessing. In their report, the Committee noted that the reduction of HAL stocks to buffer levels was extremely important and that HSE had set a target date of 2015 for this. The Committee recommended that progress

  Local Government Services (Liverpool)
  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much(a) capital and (b) revenue has been made available for local government services in Liverpool since 1997. [157443]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The capital and revenue made available for local government services in Liverpool since 1997—in total and from central Government sources—are as follows.

  towards this objective should be kept under close review and I have pressed for this time scale to be brought forward.

  Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the locations of each development on areas of outstanding natural beauty that he has given permission for since 1 May 1997. [158708]

  Mr. Raynsford
  [holding answer 23 April 2001]: The information is as follows:
  Site Location
  Gun Hill Industrial Estate, Blackbrook Hill, Langham, Essex
  Folly Lane, Buckland St. Mary, Chard, Somerset
  Former RAF buildings, RAF Little Rissington, Cheltenham, Gloscestershire
  Binderton House, Binderton, West Den, Chichester, West Sussex

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  Spread Eagle Hotel, South Street, Midhurst, West Sussex
  Wrens Warren, Hartfield Lane, East Sussex
  Oakley Court, Nuffield, Oxfordshire.

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Mr. Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the locations of each development on sites of special scientific interest that he has given permission for since 1 May 1997. [158707]

  Mr. Raynsford
  [holding answer 23 April 2001]: The information is as follows:
  Site Location
  Bank Farm, Wyre, Lancashire.

  A3 (Hindhead Improvement)
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the timetable for completing A3 Hindhead improvement; what priority his Department is according to the project; and what measures remain to be taken prior to commencement of the scheme. [158926]

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

  Letter from Tim Matthews to Mrs. Virginia Bottomley, dated 2 May 2001:
  I have been asked by the Transport Minister, Keith Hill, to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the A3 Hindhead Improvement.
  The scheme was added to the Government's Targeted Programme of Improvements last March.
  Our first task is to appoint agents to carry out the detailed design of the scheme. After that we will have to complete the statutory procedures including an environmental assessment, a possible public inquiry and land acquisition.
  Subject to completing the design process and obtaining the necessary statutory approvals, we expect to begin construction within seven years.

  Railways
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will establish a common standard of training through the Rail Industry Training Board for all personnel in the train operating companies, Railtrack and companies providing personnel with access to the railway; and if he will ensure that an independent audit of such training is carried out on a regular basis. [158825]

  Mr. Hill
  Late last year a Joint SRA/DfEE Working Group was established to look at the current and future skills needs of the rail industry. The Joint Working Group recently published an 18-Point Action Plan which provides a strategic approach to recruitment, training, assessment and competence of key staff. The Plan is being taken forward and monitored by the high level Rail Industry Group, chaired by Sir Alastair Morton, which had also identified the need for action and had set up its own cross-industry group to tackle the issues. Initial outcomes of the various initiatives are expected to be seen in the autumn.
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  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place in the Library a copy of the Strategic Rail Authority's template Franchise Agreement. [158833]

  Mr. Hill
  I am arranging to place in the Library a copy of the Strategic Rail Authority's latest template franchise agreement together with a list of amendments yet to be incorporated. The template is subject to development as franchise replacement progresses. When actual franchise agreements are entered into, the Strategic Rail Authority is required by statute to make them available on its public register.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will instruct the Strategic Rail Authority to extend the Service Quality Incentive Regime beyond those services provided by the Passenger Transport Authorities to all services provided by franchisees. [158827]

  Mr. Hill
  No. The detailed provisions of franchise agreements are for the Strategic Rail Authority to decide. I understand that the Authority does not consider that SQUIRE, which involves direct checking of inputs by PTE inspectors, is the most suitable or efficient way to control standards. It prefers to measure service quality through the National Passenger Survey, Customer Satisfaction Surveys and Mystery Traveller Surveys which reflect passengers' opinions. Bidders for replacement franchises are being asked to demonstrate how they will develop and deliver a step-change in customer service.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to consult the railway industry on the proposed EU directive on railway safety; which Departments are involved in discussions with the Commission; and how many British representatives are on the working party to consider railway safety. [158824]

  Mr. Hill
  We will consult widely on the proposed EU directive on railway safety regulation once it is published by the Commission. We currently expect publication to be at the end of this year, as part of a broader package of proposed measures taking forward completion of the single market in the railway sector. My Department will co-ordinate the UK Government's input to any discussions convened on this directive, with support from all relevant bodies.

  A180
  Shona McIsaac
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on replacing the concrete road surface on the A180 with low-noise surfacing. [159355]

  Mr. Hill
  My hon. Friend's question relates to an operational matter on the A180 Trunk Road. I have accordingly asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Tim Matthews, to write to my hon. Friend.
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  Letter from Tim Matthews to Shona McIsaac, dated 2 May 2001:
  The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question on resurfacing of the concrete section of the A 180 with low noise surfacing.
  On 29 December 2000 the Agency wrote to all English local highway authorities, and other interested organisations, seeking their views on its proposed criteria for prioritising the resurfacing of concrete trunk roads. We also published the consultation letter and the proposed criteria on our website inviting comments. The closing date for receiving comments was 23 March 2001 and we are currently giving careful consideration to all the responses that we have received.
  It is anticipated that the final set of criteria will be announced this summer and will then be applied to determine the priority of concrete trunk roads, including the A180, for resurfacing.
  The Agency will write to you as soon as the final set of criteria have been finalised.

  Al2
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the accident rate on the Al2 Brentwood—Ipswich in the last 12 months; and what was the average accident rate on motorways carrying a similar volume of traffic in the same period. [159008]

  Mr. Hill
  [holding answer 26 April 2001]: The table shows the number of injury accidents per month on the Al2 between its junctions with the M25 and the A14 in 1999, for the last 12 months for which national statistics are available. Monthly traffic flow data are not readily available for this stretch of road and therefore it is not possible to present accident rates for comparison with other roads.

  Month

  Number

  January

  20

  February

  8

  March

  22

  April

  15

  May

  21

  June

  17

  July

  12

  August

  19

  September

  22

  October

  20

  November

  22

  December

  28

  Airport Provision
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what his policy is towards the predict and provide approach to airport provision in the south-east of England. [159250]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  Our policy is one of sustainable development, applying the principles set out in the New Deal for Transport White Paper (Cm 3950) to airports in all parts of the United Kingdom. We are currently studying a wide range of options for the future development of airports in the south-east of England. When we announced this study, we said that it would assess the economic, environmental and social impacts of the options, and that we would balance all these before 636W
  coming to a view about whether additional capacity should be provided, either at a particular site or at all. This remains our position.

  Commercial Property Market
  Mr. Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what plans he has to address the issues of choice, flexibility and provision of information in the commercial property market; [159934]

  (2) what plans he has to introduce greater flexibility into the commercial property market; [159929]

  (3) what plans he has to review the 1995 code of practice for commercial property leases. [159930]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Reading, East (Jane Griffiths) on 23 April 2001.Official Report, columns 5–6W.

  Crash Barriers
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 23 March 2001,Official Report, column 391W, if he will identify the type of crash barrier in use at the time for each of the fatalities that were involved in accidents involving vehicles crossing over the central reservation on (a) motorways and (b) trunk roads in each year since 1992–93. [160114]

  Mr. Hill
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Animal Welfare
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the independent research to find alternatives to animal products used in traditional medicine, with special reference to bile from Asiatic black bears. [160073]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  My Department has commissioned research from Dr. Henry Lee, Head of Chinese Medicine Development at Middlesex University, to identify plant substitutes for four key animal species used in traditional medicine—Asiatic black bears, tigers, and white and black rhinos. The research, which is expected to report in early 2004, will identify the active chemical components of these animals, determine equivalent chemical substances from plant sources, and develop an appropriate strategy for introducing and encouraging the use of those plant alternatives. The total cost of this research is £135,472, towards which my Department is contributing £67,500. The remainder is being met by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the average Band D council tax was in the north-west for each of the years from 1997 to date. [160078]
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  Ms Beverley Hughes
  Average Band D council tax levels in the north-west between 1997–98 and 2001–02 are given in the table:

  £

  Average council tax for a Band D dwelling in the north-west

  1997–98

  798

  1998–99

  856

  1999–2000

  901

  2000–01

  943

  2001–02

  991

  Malewick Lane Waste Transfer Station
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he intends to publish the inspector's report on the Malewick Lane Waste Transfer Station, Sompting, West Sussex, planning application before 7 June. [160106]

  Ms Beverley Hughes
  The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions will publish the inspector's report when he determines the planning application for a waste management centre at Halewick Lane, Sompting, West Sussex. This decision will be issued as soon as possible.

  Incinerators
  Mr. St.Aubyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) when his Department intends to require incinerator plant permit holders(a) under the IPC regime and (b) under the IPPC regime to adopt the environmental standards being proposed by the EU; [160111]

  (2) what guidance his Department will issue to (a) planning authorities and (b) the Environment Agency on the latest EU proposals for environmental regulation of incinerator plants in respect of current projects; [160108]

  (3) what his Department's policy is relating to the latest proposals for environmental regulation of incinerator plants. [160109]

  Mr. Hill
  The UK Government are committed to transposing the EU Waste Incineration Directive (WID) and the provisions therein, into UK law by 28 December 2002.

  The new WID will apply to all new incinerators within its scope by 28 December 2002, and to existing plant by 28 December 2005. Incinerators are currently regulated under the Integrated Pollution Control or Local Authority Pollution Control systems.

  This directive updates the two Municipal Waste Incineration Directives of 1989. The Environment Agency is of the opinion that all new Municipal Solid Waste Incinerator (MSWI) projects can already meet the requirements of the new Directive without excessive cost and therefore will apply these standards as a "minimum" requirement. The Agency intends to review the performance of existing plant before the Directive applies.

  In addition, the Agency has already been setting limits for oxides of nitrogen and for dioxins for MSWIs. Most existing MSWIs already achieve dioxin release
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  concentrations of 0.1 ng/m3 and collectively the sector has shown almost a 30 fold fall with a share of UK emissions down from over 50 per cent. to under 5 per cent. since 1995.

  In transposing the WID into UK law the Government will consider whether further guidance for planning authorities and the Environment Agency is necessary. Planning guidance on incineration is contained within PPG 10 "Planning and Waste Management", which as with all planning guidance documents is periodically reviewed.

  Heathrow
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what conditions and guarantees were imposed upon(a) BAA and (b) Heathrow Airport by his Department after granting permission for Terminal 4 at Heathrow Airport. [159824]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  The information provided has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what factors were taken into account when final descent paths for aircraft approaching Heathrow were altered in 1995; [159826]

  (2) what plans he has to alter the final descent paths for aircraft approaching Heathrow. [159827]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  The final approach tracks followed by aircraft approaching Heathrow to land have to be aligned with the runways in order to comply with long established internationally agreed standards. They have not changed and cannot be changed unilaterally.

  The paths that aircraft follow before aligning with the runway are not fixed, in order to allow for safe tactical integration of up to four streams of traffic, but the area of airspace used for this purpose has been established in its present form for about 30 years. An "early morning landings trial" commenced in September 1995, which required aircraft during westerly operations at night (before 6.00am) to join the 3° glideslope of the instrument landing system (ILS) at or above 3,000 ft (instead of 2,500 ft) and to join the final approach track at not less than 10 nautical miles (18½km) from touchdown. The trial was evaluated and a summary of the findings was published in the November 1998 consultation paper on night restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports (copies of which were placed in the Libraries of the House). It was found that the trial procedure produced a reduction in noise exposure in the area between 16½ km and 31½ km from touchdown. Some noise increases were caused in parts of Clapham, Deptford, Lewisham and Blackheath because more aircraft joined the ILS final approach track further from touchdown. A redistribution of traffic over built-up areas can result in gains and losses but may be justified, as in this case, where the gains substantially outweigh the losses. The study also found a small increase in the achievement of the noise reducing continuous descent approach (CDA) procedure even though the CDA instructions were not changed for the trial.
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  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measurements his Department takes of the impact of aircraft noise on residents in south-east England during the(a) day and (b) night. [159825]

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  My Department publishes annual daytime noise contours for Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports. These contours cover the 16 hour day from 0700 to 2300 BST, averaged for the relatively busy period 16 June to 15 September. The contours for 2000 are about to be published by the CAA on the Department's behalf; and the explanatory booklets, including small-scale versions of the contours, will be placed on the DETR website shortly. All take-offs are monitored for compliance with the departure noise limits. The new daytime and night-time limits announced by my hon. Friend on 18 December 2000,Official Report, columns 11–12W, have come into effect. Readings from these and other noise monitors (covering both arrivals and departures) are used, along with radar data on the dispersion of aircraft tracks, to validate the model used to generate the contours. Other measurements are taken, and contours produced from time to time for various studies on behalf of the Department and of the airports.

  We do not routinely publish contours for aircraft noise at night at these airports, as research has suggested that, because of the uneven and distinct patterns of operation, these would not be sufficiently well correlated with sleep disturbance and annoyance. However, operations at night are subject to the restrictions, including movement limits and noise quotas made, after consultation, by Notice under s.78 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982; and are monitored and reported by the airports accordingly.

  Elsewhere in the South East, noise measurement and contouring are the responsibility of the individual airports. However, noise measurements collated from other airports will help inform the current South East and East Regional Airports Study (SERAS).

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Decommissioning
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent reports he has had from General de Chastelain on progress on arms decommissioning. [159633]

  Mr. Ingram
  On 22 March this year, the Independent Commission on Decommissioning issued a report stating that they believe progress on actual decommissioning can be made.

  I look forward to early and positive reports from the Decommissioning Commission that progress is being made.

  Royal Ulster Constabulary
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many completed applications for the most recent Royal Ulster Constabulary recruiting campaign were received by 30 March; and how many 640W
  were received from (i) Northern Ireland, (ii) the Republic of Ireland, (iii) Great Britain and (iv) outside the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. [158822]

  Dr. Reid
  I am advised that 7,843 completed applications have been received in response to the on-going Police Service of Northern Ireland recruitment competition. Analysis, in terms of applications received from addresses in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Great Britain or elsewhere is as follows:

  Number

  Northern Ireland

  7,208

  Republic of Ireland

  332

  Great Britain

  262

  Elsewhere

  41

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of the completed applications for the Royal Ulster Constabulary received by 30 March were from(a) Northern Ireland Protestants, (b) Northern Ireland Roman Catholics and (c) persons of no religion and from other religious backgrounds with addresses in Northern Ireland. [158823]

  Dr. Reid
  Equal opportunities analysis of the applications has yet to be undertaken.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood), representing the House of Commons Commission, (1) when the Commission was advised of assessments by(a) the House personnel staff and (b) formal staff inspections of the overworking in the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards; [159203]

  (2) what the policy of the Commission is on acting on assessments of overload in support staff to departments of the House and in the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards; [159204]

  (3) if he will estimate the under-resourcing of staff assisting the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards; when the Commission was informed of the problem; what information it has on it; and if he will make a statement on the publication of this information. [159202]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  Officials carried out a preliminary review of the staffing of the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards in spring 2000, because of concerns which had arisen over the office's work load. The outcome of this work was reported to the House of Commons Commission on 3 July 2000, and temporary additional secretarial support was provided, pending a more thorough review of work load to be carried out by the staff inspector from the internal review service (IRS).

  The findings of the IRS review were reported to the Commission late in 2000. The Commission referred the matter to the Finance and Services Committee whose

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  advice was considered and agreed to in April 2001. The Committee's advice was that the case for permanent additional staffing had not been clearly established, and that the work load should be monitored over the early months of a new Parliament to ascertain what the long-term needs were. The temporary additional secretarial support would remain in place for the time being.

  Commission meetings are deliberative and it is not the practice to publish papers relating to them.

DEFENCE

  Type 45 Destroyer
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 20 March 2001,Official Report, column 105W, on type 45 destroyers, if a contract has been placed with Vosper Thornycroft; and if he will make a further statement. [157749]

  Mr. Hoon
  [holding answer 24 April 2001]: No shipbuilding sub-contracts for the type 45 destroyer have yet been let by the prime contractor, BAE Systems Electronics. Under the procurement strategy I announced to the House in July last year for the type 45 programme, the prime contractor is working to a target of September 2001 for a commitment to Vosper Thornycroft.

  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Grantham and Stamford of 24 April 2001,Official Report, columns 232–33W, what lessons he has drawn from such ships. [159777]

  Mr. Hoon
  Our close co-operation with allies such as the United States in the development and operation of warships continues, particularly through visits and naval officer exchange postings. This type of co-operation will ensure that we continue to share best practice with our allies to mutual benefit.

  There has been no significant direct read across between the Arleigh Burke class, which includes the USS Winston Churchill, and our more recent type 45 programme. Although similar in size to the Arleigh Burke class, the type 45 anti-air warfare destroyer, equipped with the principal anti-air missile system, offers, we believe, significant acquisition and through-life cost benefits over earlier generations of destroyers.

  Army Training Estate
  Mrs. Gilroy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Army training estate site utility review. [160354]

  Dr. Moonie
  As I said in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Wigan (Mr. Turner) on 23 May 2000,Official Report, column 459W, the Ministry of Defence has been conducting a site utility review (SUR) of the Army training estate to identify training areas, camps and ranges which are no longer required in order that they can be closed or sold, thereby saving maintenance costs and where possible generally revenue.
  642W
  The SUR has now been completed, and 21 sites have been identified for disposal. They are as follows:

  Site for disposal

  Location

  Nesscliffe—Brooklea

  West Midlands

  Nesscliffe—Tanglewood

  West Midlands

  Caerwent—surrounds

  Wales

  Kinmel Park (part of)

  Wales

  Hamsterley Forest

  North East

  Langdale Forest

  North East

  Ripon South Parks

  North East

  Stang Forest

  North East

  Fridaywood Farm Buildings

  East

  Stonebridge Camp

  East

  Flat 1 & 2, Grooms Cottage, Hawley

  Home Counties

  Rand Plantation, Ash

  Home Counties

  Land at Foxhills, Ash

  Home Counties

  Land at Junction 4a, M3

  Home Counties

  Binhill Range

  Scotland

  Marne Training Area

  North East

  Rowlston Range

  North East

  Halton Training Camp

  North West

  Pilning Range

  South West

  Wyke Regis Tented Camp Area2

  South West

  Quorn Terrace/Entrance Longmoor Camp

  Home counties

  1Part of

  2Tented camp area only

  The Ministry of Defence expects to receive between £10 million and £18 million for the sale of the sites listed. A proportion of this, some £6.8 million, will be used to replace training facilities currently at Rowlston range, Halton training camp and Longmoor camp.

  Reserve Forces (Pensions)
  Mr. Cawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when regulations A will be made governing the entitlement of members of the reserve forces to attributable pensions benefits. [160355]

  Dr. Moonie
  My hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces announced on 18 May 2000,Official Report, columns 2000–01W, that the Department had been reviewing its policy on attributable benefits for members of the reserve forces, in particular with regard to those who served in the Gulf conflict. Under the existing regulations, awards are made to individuals who were medically discharged when demobilised from active service. As a result of the review, it was agreed that the eligibility would be extended to reservists who were medically discharged from the reserve forces at other times.

  I am therefore pleased to announce that the new regulations, entitled the "Reserve Forces (Attributable Benefits Etc) Regulations 2001", have now been made and came into force on 30 April 2001. We will make payments under these regulations as soon as practicable after this date.

  Defence Geographic and Imagery Intelligence Agency
  Mr. Michael J. Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Defence Geographic and Imagery Intelligence Agency for 2001–02. [160356]
  643W
  Mr. Spellar
  The role of the Defence Geographic and Imagery Intelligence Agency is to provide imagery intelligence and geographic support to defence policy, operations and training; to meet customer requirements for imagery intelligence and geographic support in accordance with defence priorities; to maintain and develop agency capabilities and readiness in line with future defence requirements; and to become progressively more efficient, while improving the quality and delivery of our products and services. The key targets for the agency for the 12 months from April 2001 are:Key Target 1:
  To satisfy operational requirements for imagery intelligence and geographic support within timescales and to standards agreed between the agency and its customers.

  (a) For imagery intelligence, by providing at least 95 per cent. of requirements overall, while delivering not less than 98 per cent. of priority 1 tasks.

  (b) For geographic support, by providing 100 per cent. of geographic products and services essential to support current and potential operations, both from the agency's UK-based capabilities and its deployable units

  Key Target 2:
  To achieve the required levels of operational readiness in line with defence planning assumptions while continuing to meet those deployable element outputs required under key target 1.
  To maintain agreed states of readiness as set by PJHQ for all contingency forces (JRRF)
  Key Target 3:
  To satisfy strategic and contingency requirements for imagery intelligence and geographic support within time scales and to standards agreed between the agency and its customers.

  (a) For imagery intelligence, by providing at least 80 per cent. of requirements overall, while delivering not less than 92 per cent. of priority 1 tasks.

  (b) For geographic support, completing at least 90 per cent. of a customer endorsed programme of work for geographic products and services.

  Key Target 4:
  To demonstrate a 1 per cent. improvement in the coverage of geographic information holdings in comparison with the baseline established in 1999 and to maintain their quality for defence use.
  Maintain the MOD map library collection at the agreed level of readiness and achieve a 1 per cent. improvement in coverage of geographic information holdings.
  Key Target 5:
  To achieve a 2.5 per cent. improvement in efficiency.
  Achieve departmental efficiency targets by identifying efficiency measures which, taken together across the agency, deliver the required savings target (2.5 per cent.—cash based).

  Chilean Military
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all visits to the UK since October 1998 by Chilean military officers. [158990]

  Mr. Hoon
  [holding answer 26 April 2001]: We do not hold records of visits which Chilean military officers may have made to the UK for private purposes. Since October 1998, there have been four official visits to the UK by Chilean military officers which included contact with the UK Government. These are:
  A Chilean Navy ship visited the UK and made a port call in London in October 1998;
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  A Chilean delegation attended Farnborough international air show in July 2000;
  A Chilean delegation also visited RAF Cranwell on 31 October 2000;
  A senior Chilean Naval Officer visited the UK for discussions with Ministry of Defence officials this month.

  In addition, since October 1998 four Chilean officers have been present in the UK for various lengths of time attending military training courses.

  Nuclear Defence Policy
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) of 23 April 2001,Official Report, column 97W, on UK nuclear defence policy, if he will place in the Library the material on which he based his reply on the compatibility between the non-proliferation treaty and the 1958 agreement. [159756]

  Mr. Hoon
  Copies of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) and the UK/US mutual defence agreement (MDA), with its subsequent amendments, are already held in the Library of the House.

  Article I of the NPT states that
  "each nuclear-weapon State Party to the Treaty undertakes not to transfer to any recipient whatsoever nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices or control over such weapons or explosive devices directly, or indirectly, and not in any way to assist, encourage or induce, any non-nuclear weapon State to manufacture or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices, or control over such weapons or explosive devices".

  The terms and conditions of the 1958 UK/US MDA, and subsequent amendments, allow for the transfer of special nuclear materials between the UK and US. These movements are carried out in accordance with stringent safety procedures and, since they do not involve nuclear weapons or devices, they do not contravene the NPT.

  Foot and Mouth
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date veterinary surgeons from the RAVC were first made available for duties related to foot and mouth disease; and how many Army veterinary surgeons were made available(a) on that date and (b) subsequently. [159818]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 1 May 2001]: The first deployment of armed forces personnel in support of MAFF was of two Royal Army Veterinary Corps vets and a small number of logistics advisers on 16 March. The number of vets was subsequently increased to four. The current number deployed is three.

  MV Etireno
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what resources from his Department were put at the disposal of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office during the recent hunt for the MV Etireno. [159860]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Benin Government issued a request for assistance in searching for the MV Etireno on 16 April. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office asked the Ministry of Defence what assets were available. We were able to offer the services of HMS Glasgow, a type 42 destroyer, and RFA Black Rover, a small ship tanker.
  645W
  This response was provided on the same day. The vessels were in the area as part of their patrol programme. Before they could reach the search area, the MV Etireno docked in Cotonou in the early hours of 17 April. We were subsequently informed by the Benin authorities that there was no further requirement for HMS Glasgow and RFA Black Rover.

HEALTH

  Quality Protects
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the outcome is of the evaluation of the quality protects management action plans submitted to his Department by local authorities; and if he will make a statement. [160257]

  Mr. Hutton
  All local authorities with social services responsibilities submitted their "Quality Protects" management action plans (MAPs) to the Department of Health by the end of January. The Social Services Inspectorate has now completed its evaluation of the MAPs and I have considered their findings. The MAPs from all 150 local councils have reached an acceptable standard. I have today written to the chief executives of the authorities to confirm that, subject to normal grant procedures, they will receive payment of their allocation of the children's services grant for 2001–02.

  The evidence nationally shows that "Quality Protects" is beginning to make a real difference to children's lives. Children who are looked after are experiencing fewer placement moves; more of them are finding new permanent families through adoption; and fewer are leaving care prematurely when they reach 16. We shall be publishing a national overview report on the evaluation of MAPs in the summer.

  Porton Down
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 6 March 2001,Official Report, columns 188–89W, on Porton Down, if he will request officials in his Department to conduct an evaluation of the 1993 report by the US Institute of Medicine entitled, "Veterans at Risk - the Health Effects of Mustard Gas and Lewisite". [157402]

  Yvette Cooper
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 6 March 2001,Official Report, columns 188–89W. As I made clear, the purpose of the Department's message was only to make general practitioners aware of the Ministry of Defence's medical assessment programme. The Department has no plans to review in detail the health effects of the chemicals that may have been used at Porton Down or international reports on such chemicals as this is a matter for the MOD.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many visits abroad were made by his Department's Ministers on departmental business(a) in the three years up to 30 April 1997 and (b) in the 12 months up to 30 April 1997. [157616]
  646W
  Ms Stuart
  The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Non-departmental Public Bodies
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total gross running costs were to his Department of the NDPBs accountable through his Department in the financial year 1996–97. [157615]

  Ms Stuart
  The table is extracted from data in "Public Bodies l997" and shows a total departmental contribution of £118.6 million to the gross expenditure of Department's executive non-departmental public bodies in the financial year 1996–97.

  NDPBs—gross expenditure funded by Government, 1996–97

  £ million

  Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work

  37.7

  English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting

  6.6

  Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority

  1.8

  Medical Practices Committee

  0.5

  National Biological Standards Board

  10.4

  National Radiological Protection Board

  6.2

  Public Health Laboratory Service Board

  55.4

  Total

  118.6

  Running Costs
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total gross running cost to his Department was in the 12 months ending 30 April 1997 of(a) stationery and (b) printing and publishing. [157623]

  Ms Stuart
  During the financial year 1996–97 the Department spent £3.175,246 on printing and publishing and £1,589,895 on stationery.

  Sefton Health Authority
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people aged over 60 years have had eye tests in each year since 1995–96 in Sefton health authority. [158529]

  Mr. Denham
  From information obtained on the age of patients from an annual, national sample survey of opticians' work load, we estimate that the following numbers of sight tests were carried out among the 70,500 people, aged 60 and over, whom we estimate are resident in Sefton.

  Year

  Number of sight tests

  1995–96

  26,200

  1996–97

  27,000

  1997–98

  29,700

  1998–99

  28,100

  1999–2000

  32,500

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many individuals within the Sefton Health Authority have had(a) hip replacements, (b) knee replacements, (c) hernia operations and (d) cataract

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  operations each year since 1996–97; what the age profile was of the people undergoing these operations; and what the average cost of these operations is in the private sector. [158515]

  Finished consultant episodes by operation and age where the patient was resident in Sefton health authority NHS hospitals, England 1996–97 to 1999–2000

  Age

  Year/operation

  0.4

  10–14

  15–44

  45–64

  65–74

  75–84

  85 and over

  Total

  1996–97

  Hip replacement

  0

  0

  —

  82

  123

  127

  64

  400

  Knee replacement

  0

  0

  —

  40

  64

  51

  6

  161

  Hernia

  36

  27

  7

  143

  89

  52

  14

  437

  Cataract

  2

  3

  2

  112

  277

  477

  224

  1124

  1997–98

  Hip replacement

  0

  0

  —

  85

  131

  136

  79

  440

  Knee replacement

  0

  0

  —

  29

  66

  45

  9

  149

  Hernia

  39

  20

  9

  145

  108

  54

  8

  465

  Cataract

  4

  0

  —

  109

  251

  479

  224

  1074

  1998–99

  Hip replacement

  0

  0

  1

  87

  116

  133

  69

  418

  Knee replacement

  0

  0

  —

  33

  84

  63

  3

  184

  Hernia

  31

  29

  8

  148

  88

  66

  4

  449

  Cataract

  0

  1

  1

  137

  362

  616

  274

  1403

  1999–2000

  Hip replacement

  0

  0

  —

  71

  113

  138

  81

  410

  Knee replacement

  0

  0

  —

  45

  76

  53

  7

  181

  Hernia

  37

  20

  9

  133

  103

  64

  13

  461

  Cataract

  3

  0

  2

  137

  374

  576

  257

  1369

  Note:

  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.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many qualified nurses are working in the NHS in Sefton health authority; and what the number was in 1997. [158510]

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested is given in the table.

  National health service hospital and community health services: Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff and general medical service practice nurses employed within the Sefton health authority area as at 30 September each year

  Headcount

  Whole-time equivalents

  1997

  Total Qualified Nurses

  2,420

  1,840

  Of which:

  HCHS Nurses

  2,360

  1,790

  60

  40

  2000

  Total Qualified Nurses

  2,160

  1,970

  Of which:

  HCHS Nurses

  2,080

  1,940

  Nurses

  80

  30

  Notes:

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10

  2. Figures exclude learners and agency staff

  Source:

  Department of Health non-medical workforce census

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doctors worked in Sefton health authority in(a) 1996–97 and (b) 2000–01; and what the forecast is for 2001–02. [158511]
  648W
  Mr. Denham
  Consultant episodes by operation and age for the period 1996–97 to 1999–2000, the latest data available, are shown in the table. Data on private sector costs are not available.

  Mr. Denham
  The number of all National Health Service doctors in the Sefton health authority as at 1 October 1996 and 30 September 2000 is shown in the table. The Department does not currently produce projections of total doctor numbers for individual health authorities.

  All NHS doctors in the Sefton health authority 1996 and 2000

  Headcount

  1996

  2000

  All NHS doctors

  660

  820

  Of whom:

  General Medical Practitioners1,2

  160

  160

  HCHS3 medical and dental staff4

  510

  650

  Of whom:

  Consultants

  210

  270

  1General Medical Practitioners includes UPEs, Restricted Principals, Assistants, GP Registrars, Salaried Doctors (para 525FA), and PMS others

  2Excluding GP Retainers

  3Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Service staff

  4Excludes Hospital Practitioners and Clinical Assistants who are normally GMPs and has already been counted

  Note:

  Figures rounded to the nearest 10

  Sources:

  Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics as at 1 October 1996 and 30 September 2000

  Department of Health medical and dental workforce census as at 30 September
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  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many consultants were working in the NHS in Sefton health authority in 1996–97; and what the number is for 2000–01. [158512]

  Mr. Denham
  The number of all National Health Service doctors, including consultants, in the Sefton health authority as at 1 October 1996 and 30 September 2000 is shown in the table. The Department does not currently produce projections of total doctor or consultant numbers for individual health authorities.

  All NHS doctors in the Sefton health authority, 1996 and 2000

  Headcount

  1996

  2000

  All NHS doctors

  660

  820

  of whom:

  General Medical Practitioners1 (excluding GP Retainers)

  160

  160

  HCHS2 medical and dental staff3

  510

  650

  of whom:

  Consultants

  210

  270

  1General Medical Practitioners includes UPEs, Restricted Principals, Assistants, GP Registrars, Salaried Doctors (para. 525FA), and PMS others

  22 Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Service staff

  3Excludes Hospital Practitioners and Clinical Assistants who are normally GMPs and has already been counted

  Note:

  Figures rounded to the nearest ten

  Sources:

  Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics as at 1 October 1996 and 30 September 2000

  Department of Health medical and dental work force census as at 30 September

  Fluoridation
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the health data for the fluoride compounds used in artificial fluoridation procedures. [158441]

  Mr. Denham
  Fluoride compounds used for artificial fluoridation break down to release fluoride and other ions when mixed with water. These ions occur naturally in water supplies. The recently published review by York University found no evidence of any harmful effects on systemic health from drinking fluoridated water and acknowledged benefits in reducing tooth decay. However, as the review was critical of the quality of the research available, we have asked the Medical Research Council how the evidence base might be strengthened.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on dental fluorosis with specific regard to links to systemic toxicity. [158440]

  Mr. Denham
  Dental fluorosis is considered to be an effect seen in teeth and is due to the presence of fluoride in the body while teeth are being formed. Its presence does not necessarily imply any harm to health or that fluoride is having any effect, good or bad, on any other part of the body.

  Cord-stem Cell Bank
  Mr. Wood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for establishing a cord-stem cell bank and offering the facility to the mothers of all new-born children. [158783]

  Mr. Denham
  There are already three cord blood banks run by the National Blood Service in London, Newcastle and Bristol where mothers volunteer to donate their cord blood for the benefit of others. There are no plans to collect cords from mothers of all new-born children.

  Bone Marrow
  Mr. Wood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) children and (b) other patients requiring a bone marrow match railed to find such a match in the year 2000–01. [158782]

  Mr. Denham
  This information is not collected centrally. Information from the experts indicates that between 70 per cent. and 80 per cent. of all people requiring bone marrow transplantation find a match. Newer technology is increasing the availability of bone marrow suitable for transplantation, especially in children.

  Health Budgets
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what discussions have taken place between his Department and the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust and the East and North Hertfordshire division of the Hertfordshire health authority about the current and underlying deficits in the local NHS in East and North Hertfordshire; and if he will make a statement; [158947]

  (2) if there will be cuts in health services in East and North Hertfordshire in order to reduce the current and underlying budget deficits in the local NHS; and if he will make a statement; [158948]

  (3) what steps he intends to take to reduce the underlying and current budget deficits of the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust and the East and North Hertfordshire division of the Hertfordshire health authority; and if he will make a statement; [158940]

  (4) if he will make further funding available to the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust and the East and North Hertfordshire division of the Hertfordshire health authority in order to reduce the respective deficits. [158949]

  Mr. Denham
  holding answer 26 April 2001]: The Eastern Regional Office of the National Health Service Executive is working closely with the East and North Hertfordshire NHS trust and Hertfordshire health authority to address deep seated and longstanding financial and service challenges going back at least a decade. For 2001–02 the health authority received additional funding of £26.5 million (8.25 per cent.) to enable it to meet waiting time targets, to effect service improvements to deliver the NHS Plan, and to meet cost and service pressures.

  At the end of March 2001, as a result of reallocation of funding within the Department, the regional office was able to allocate a further £6.5 million to East and North Hertfordshire. In addition, two reviews on financial

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  management and on the management of waiting lists within that health system have just been concluded. The extra funding and the recommendations from the reviews for the more effective management of services will allow financial balance to be achieved alongside the significant service improvements outlined by the Government in the NHS Plan.

  Community Health Councils
  Mr. Hurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the Government's consultations regarding community health councils. [159367]

  Ms Stuart
  Chapter 10 of the NHS Plan proposed that community health councils be abolished and new structures set in place to increase patient and public empowerment across all sectors of the health service. Following the launch of the NHS Plan in July 2001 a public undertaking was given to involve national and local stakeholder groups in developing the detail of the new structures. A series of seminars was held in November and December 2001 and focused on the various elements of the new arrangements and involved key representative groups. Since then the proposal for abolition of CHCs and the development of the new structures have been subject to debate through the introduction of the Health and Social Care Bill. Key stakeholder groups have continued to be involved in the development of the new arrangements.

  NHS Beds
  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average number of beds is in NHS hospitals(a) built, (b) commissioned and (c) planned since 1 May 1997. [159438]

  Mr. Denham
  The physical stock of beds (defined as number of staffed in-patient and day case beds) in the major acute hospitals (capital value over £25 million) in England is as follows:

  Number of beds

  (a) Built and operational since 1 May 1997

  Carlisle

  444

  Dartford and Gravesham

  402

  South Buckinghamshire

  542

  Greenwich

  571

  Rochdale

  492

  Central Sheffield University Hospital (Stonegrove—maternity only)

  119

  (b) In the process of being constructed since 1 May 1997

  Norfolk and Norwich

  953

  North Durham Healthcare

  524

  Calderdale

  614

  South Manchester University Hospitals

  1,031

  Bromley Healthcare

  525

  Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals

  459

  Worcester Royal Infirmary

  474

  Hereford Hospitals

  340

  South Durham Healthcare

  347

  South Tees Acute Hospitals

  1,060

  Swindon and Marlborough

  594

  King's Healthcare

  902

  St. George's Hospital

  1,123

  University College London Hospitals

  664

  West Middlesex University Hospitals

  434

  Hull and East Yorkshire Maternity

  150

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  Number of beds

  (c) Planned since 1 May 19971

  Barts and The London

  21,200

  Central Manchester/Manchester Childrens Hospitals

  1,178

  Dudley Group of Hospitals

  830

  West Berkshire Priority Care

  203

  Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals

  1,890

  Walsgrave Hospitals/Coventry Healthcare

  969

  Leeds Teaching Hospitals

  3—

  Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals

  207

  Havering Hospitals

  798

  Portsmouth Hospitals

  908

  Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley

  274

  Southern Debyshire Acute Hospitals

  1,127

  University Hospital Birmingham/South Birmingham Mental Health

  1,128

  Bradford Hospitals

  1,791

  Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health

  605

  North West London Hospitals

  214

  East Kent Hospitals

  1,720

  University Hospitals of Leicester

  2,545

  Lewisham Hospital

  572

  Peterborough Hospitals

  716

  Salford Royal Hospitals

  1,014

  Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells/Invicta Community Care

  852

  Pinderfield and Pontefract Hospitals/Wakefield and Pontefract Community/Dewsbury Health Care

  1,686

  Forest Healthcare

  783

  Brighton Healthcare

  100

  United Bristol Healthcare

  1,261

  Sherwood Forest Hospitals

  921

  Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals

  566

  Mid Essex Hospitals

  973

  Essex Rivers Healthcare

  844

  Hull and East Yorkshire

  1,533

  North Middlesex Hospitals

  482

  North Staffordshire Hospital

  1,442

  Plymouth Hospitals

  1,432

  St. Helens and Knowsley Hospitals

  1,278

  Walsall Hospitals/Walsall Community

  749

  Paddington Basin

  3—

  Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals

  1,162

  Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals

  117

  Southampton University Hospitals

  112

  South Devon Healthcare

  939

  Tameside and Glossop Acute

  670

  Gloucestershire Royal

  3—

  Royal Berkshire and Battle Hospital

  806

  Guy's and St. Thomas'

  1,150

  1Numbers at this stage are provisional and may change

  2Approximate

  3Under review

  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds there are per head of population in(a) the National Health Service and (b) private facilities. [159559]

  Mr. Denham
  During 1999–2000, in the National Health Service in England, there were 3.74 beds per 1,000 population. Information on bed capacities at private facilities is not centrally collected.

  www.nhsonline.net
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what endorsement has been given by his Department to the website www.nhsonline.net. [159193]

  Mr. Denham
  The Department has given no endorsement for nhsonline.net.

  Mental Health White Paper
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to publish the statutory guidance relating to residential options and refusals referred to in paragraph 7.12 (page 73) of the Mental Health White Paper. [159536]

  Mr. Hutton
  We intend to issue the guidance referred to in paragraph 7.12 of the White Paper "Valuing People: A New Strategy for Learning Disability for the 21st Century" in summer 2001.

  Vitamins and Minerals
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the progress being made by his Ad Hoc Expert Advisory Group on Vitamins and Minerals; and if he expects the group to produce its final report before the publication of the report by the European Commission's Scientific Committee for Food on the safety of vitamins and minerals; [159539]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the ability of the Ad Hoc Expert Advisory Group on Vitamins and Minerals to produce its report according to the timetable originally envisaged with its present level of resources; [159541]

  (3) what steps he is taking to ensure that the work of his Ad Hoc Expert Advisory Group on Vitamins and Minerals progresses with sufficient speed as to inform his input into the work of the European Scientific Committee for Foods. [159540]

  Ms Stuart
  The Ad Hoc Expert Advisory Group on Vitamins and Minerals have published the reviews of individual vitamins and minerals on the Food Standards Agency website at www. Foodstandards.gov.uk as the work has progressed. At the same time copies have been sent to the secretariat of the Scientific Committee on Food.

  The Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals expect to complete considering the reviews of the relevant scientific information on the safety of individual vitamins and minerals by July 2001. The group's risk assessments for the vitamins and minerals reviewed will be issued for public consultation later this year. After the consultation process the group will publish its final report, a copy of which will be sent to the Scientific Committee on Food.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress being made by the European Commission's Scientific Committee for Food in reviewing the safety of vitamins and minerals; when he expects that Committee will adopt upper safe levels; and for which nutrients. [159538]

  Ms Stuart
  The European Commission's Scientific Committee for Food have expressed opinions on the tolerable upper intake levels of beta-carotene, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folate, manganese, selenium, molybdenum and vitamin B2 which are available on their website. Opinions on the remaining vitamins and minerals are being prepared by the Committee and will be published in due course. The timetable for the adoption of tolerable upper intake levels is not known.

  NHS Restructuring
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the net number of administrative, clerical and managerial jobs lost in the NHS Executive, Department of Health and health authorities will be, as a result of the reorganisation announced by him on 25 April,(a) within the next 12 months and (b) upon full implementation of the restructuring he has outlined. [159603]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 30 April 2001]: By 2004 control of 75 per cent. of the National Health Service budget will be devolved to frontline staff in primary care trusts and care trusts. The number of health authorities will be cut by around two thirds, and it is expected that around half of the posts currently in regional offices will go. Net savings will be at least £100 million. Precise staffing arrangements will be for local decision. Where possible, job reductions will be achieved by natural turnover.

  Correspondence
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his target time is for replying to letters from hon. Members; and what his policy is on the issuing of acknowledgement letters from the Ministerial Correspondence Unit. [159792]

  Ms Stuart
  The Department has a Service First target of 20 working days to reply to correspondence from hon. Members. It is the Department's policy to issue acknowledgement letters to all correspondence received from hon. Members. Unfortunately, the Department had to suspend this practice in late 2000 due to problems with the system producing incorrect dates on acknowledgement letters. The problem has now been resolved and all correspondence is now being acknowledged.

  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire will receive a reply to his letter of 23 March on behalf of his constituents, Mr. and Mrs. McGuire. [159870]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 1 May 2001]: A reply to the right hon. Member's letter concerning his constituents Mr. and Mrs. McGuire was sent on 30 April 2001.

  Bed-and-Breakfast Accommodation
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his assessment is of the average cost of bed-and-breakfast accommodation per night for the relatives and friends of in-patients at(a) Harefield Hospital, Middlesex and (b) St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington, London. [158605]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 30 April 2001]: The information requested is not held centrally.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many special advisers worked in his Department from 1997 to date. [160022]

  Ms Stuart
  [holding answer 1 May 2001]: Since 3 May 1997, no more than two special advisers have been in post at any one time.

  Child Protection
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how compliance with the "Working Together" guidelines for child protection is monitored and inspected; which agencies are monitored; and which inspectorates discharge this function. [158888]

  Mr. Hutton
  The social services inspectorate social care regions and inspection groups and the SSI/Audit Commission joint review team all contribute to the assessment of the performance of each local council with social services responsibilities. Their work is informed by the performance information collected by the local council, through the performance assessment framework. Some inspections cover broad areas of services, such as children's services. Others focus on more specific tasks, such as monitoring the performance of authorities which are subject to special measures.
  The SSI social care regions monitor the progress made by all councils in implementing the "Government's Objectives for Children's Social Services", progress on major initiatives such as "Quality Protects", and action plans to address the recommendations of inspections and joint reviews.

  Many agencies beyond social services departments have child protection responsibilities. These responsibilities are set out in detail in "Working Together to Safeguard Children". For the first time ever, beginning later this year, there will be a programme of children's safeguards inspections. These inspections will focus on the working of area child protection committees in their implementation of "Working Together to Safeguard Children", and the inter-agency arrangements to assess and address the risks posed by dangerous adults. They will be undertaken by a team of inspectors drawn from each of the inspectorates for the range of agencies with regular contact with children, and will be led by the SSI. It will therefore include inspectors from Ofsted, the Commission for Health Improvement, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, HMI Prisons, and will be supported by the Magistrates Courts Service Inspectorate and the Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Tourism
  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the interim marketing budgets of the regional tourist boards for the next 12 months. [159345]

  Janet Anderson
  Regional tourist boards (RTBs) in England will receive £5.5 million during the current financial year. The funding, allocated to the RTBs by the English Tourism Council (ETC), is provided for work that complements the ETC' s role in delivering national and regional programmes—in line with "Tomorrow's Tourism", the Government's tourism strategy—rather than for direct marketing.

  However, the ETC have received an additional allocation of £3.8 million to fund a national and regional information and promotion campaign as part of the foot and mouth recovery plan. More than half of this additional money is being passed to the RTBs to help fund specific
  656W
  regional promotions and information campaigns. RTBs will also benefit from the additional funding which regional development agencies (RDAs) will allocate for promotional work to support tourism. I do not yet have detailed information about this funding.

  Sports Funding
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many young people from(a) the south-east, (b) London and (c) the UK have been given financial assistance for training for national squads in (i) boxing, (ii) cricket and (iii) football in the current financial year. [158210]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  The financial assistance provided by Sport England to assist young people with the potential to reach the national squads is currently provided through the lottery funded world class programmes: performance, potential and start.

  The funding is provided to both the national governing body for the main costs associated with the programmes and also to individual athletes included in the plans.

  In the current financial year, boxing has been awarded funding for world class performance, potential and start. The potential squad includes 14 young people around the ages of 18/19 who are receiving individual financial assistance. Two are from the south-east, one of whom is from London. Cricket similarly has been awarded financial support for its world class programmes. However, while no young people currently receive individual assistance they will benefit from the £2 million programme award. Football does not have a world class programme due to the lack of financial need, which therefore means that no young people currently receive financial assistance through the world class programmes.

  Helplines
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what telephone helplines to assist the public are administered by his Department and its agencies. [159507]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  My Department operates a public enquiry unit to assist the public. The unit can be reached on 020 7211 6200 or at enquiries@culture.gov.uk.

  The Department and the Royal Parks Agency operate no other helplines.

  Creative Industries Task Force
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the membership and terms of reference of the creative industries taskforce; what publications and reports have been completed to date; what work is under way; and what measures the group has taken to promote creative works among members of ethnic minorities, including the Irish community in Britain. [159554]

  Janet Anderson
  The creative industries taskforce was established in 1997. Its terms of reference were"to provide a forum in which Government Ministers could come together with a few senior industry figures to assess the value of the creative industries, analyse their needs in terms of Government policies and identify ways of maximising their economic impact".
  657W
  It commissioned the first creative industries mapping documents, published in November 1998, and agreed a work programme in December 1998 to analyse key generic issues impacting on the creative industries.

  The reports and publications commissioned by the creative industries task force were:
  Creative Industries Mapping Document, November 1998
  Exports: Our Hidden Potential, November 1999
  UK Television Exports Inquiry, November 1999
  Internet Inquiry: Snapshot of a Rolling Wave, February 2000
  The Regional Dimension: the Report of the Regional Issues Working Group, February 2000
  Report from the Intellectual Property Group of the Creative Industries Task Force, March 2000
  Your Creative Future, April 2000
  Report on the Finance Conference: Connecting Creativity with Capital, May 2000
  Creative Industries Mapping Document, March 2001.

  Having fulfilled its initial remit, the taskforce was wound up in June 2000. The work of ensuring its analysis is turned into action is now being carried forward by the ministerial creative industries strategy group, whose current membership is:

  Right hon. Chris Smith, MP

  Right hon. Hilary Armstrong, MP

  Patricia Hewitt, MP

  Stephen Timms, MP

  Janet Anderson, MP

  Dr. Kim Howells, MP

  Michael Wills, MP

  Baroness Scotland of Asthal

  Michael McGimpsey, MLA

  Jenny Randerson, AM

  Allan Wilson, MSP.

  In terms of activities currently under way, we are working with Universities UK towards establishing a creative industries higher education forum to promote better communication between education and industry; we are encouraging the development of innovative approaches to funding creative businesses and are planning a finance good practice workshop this summer; we are examining the possibility of organising a workshop on creative industries in a rural environment to be held this autumn; we will shortly report to the better regulation taskforce on the regulatory burden facing creative businesses; Scottish Enterprise has identified the creative industries as a key industry cluster and announced a £25 million support programme over five years; the Department for Culture, Arts and Leisure, in partnership with three other Departments in the Northern Ireland Assembly, has launched a consultation exercise called "Unlocking Creativity" providing a career path from school to work; and we have established a creative industries statistical review group to consider how to improve data collection on the creative industries.

  We are also encouraging regional players such as the regional development agencies and cultural consortiums to work together to maximise the potential of the creative industries in their area, and similarly with local authorities, in terms of developing their cultural strategies.
  658W
  Through efforts at these levels, we look to promote creative opportunity for all, including the Irish community in Britain.

  Analogue Switchover
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make it his policy to include in the forthcoming communication Bill a statutory duty on OFCOM to promote(a) take up of digital television and (b) early analogue switchover date. [159600]

  Janet Anderson
  [holding answer 30 April 2001]: The Government are committed to encouraging the take-up of digital television and the early switchover from analogue to digital television so that the benefits of digital broadcasting can be universally available. Many responses to the communications White Paper, "A New Future for Communications", argued that we should place a specific duty on OFCOM to achieve this. We are currently considering them.

  World Cup 2002
  Dr. Whitehead
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has held with the Kirch group about their proposals to restrict the viewing of World cup 2002 matches to pay-per-view only. [159830]

  Kate Hoey
  We understand that the Kirch group intends to hold an open auction for the live UK broadcasting rights to the 2002 World cup finals tournament but that they intend to comply with the UK listed event legislation. Through correspondence and a meeting with officials, we have made the Kirch group fully aware of the extent of this legislation: that the whole of the World cup finals tournament (all 64 matches) is a listed event, and that any broadcaster purchasing live rights from Kirch would have to comply with the provisions of the 1996 Broadcasting Act.

  Regional Arts Councils
  Dr. Whitehead
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has held with the Arts Council about their proposals to reorganise regional arts councils. [159831]

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  My right hon. Friend and I were consulted by the chairman and chief executive of the Arts Council prior to the recent announcement of the proposed changes and further discussion will occur as the proposals develop.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many special advisers worked in his Department from 1997 to date. [160030]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  [holding answer 1 May 2001]: Since 3 May 1997, no more than two special advisers have been in post at any one time.

  Inheritance Tax
  Maria Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the allocations of items accepted in lieu of inheritance tax, made in the financial
  659W
  year 2000–01 under sections 9(3) and (4) of the National Heritage Act 1980. [160256]

  Allocations made under National Heritage Act 9(3) of items accepted in lieu of tax in the financial year 2000–01—permanent allocations

  Item

  To whom permanently allocated

  Paintings by Jan Steen, Aelbert Cuyp and Adriaen van Ostade

  The National Trust for display at Waddesdon Manor and Ascott

  A collection of mostly 18th and 19th century architectural drawings

  Victoria and Albeit Museum

  A pair of rococo silver candelabra and a 17th century silver tankard

  Victoria and Albert Museum

  A group of Limoges Renaissance enamels

  The National Trust for display at Waddesdon Manor

  Paintings by Jan van Goyen

  National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside (Walker Art Gallery)

  Five sculptures by Barbara Hepworth

  Fitzwilliam Museum (three on display at Snape, Suffolk and one at Church College)

  A silver-gilt William and Mary communion set

  Winchester Cathedral

  Two paintings by William Gear

  Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art

  Four portraits of the Meynell family by Francis Grant and John Hoppner

  Temple Newsam House, Leeds

  Two Longton Hall 'Snowman' figures

  Stoke on Trent, Potteries Museum

  Cimabue: Virgin and Child Enthroned

  National Gallery

  Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger: Portrait of an Unknown Woman

  Tate

  The Dacre Beasts

  Victoria and Albert Museum

  Henry Moore: Mother and Child

  Leeds City Art Gallery

  William Gomm Library Furniture

  Stoneleigh Abbey Preservation Trust

  Richard Wilson: Landscape

  National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside (Walker Art Gallery)

  George Romney: Viscountess Bulkeley as Hebe

  National Museum and Gallery, Cardiff

  Thomas Jones: Landscape

  National Museum and Gallery, Cardiff

  Allocations made under National Heritage Act 9(4) of items accepted in lieu of tax in the financial year 2000–01—temporary allocations (and not yet superseded by a permanent direction)

  Item

  To whom temporarily allocated

  Chippendale and Adam Chairs

  National Gallery of Scotland for Duff House

  The archive of Sir Ernest Makins and Baron Sherfield

  Bodleian Library, Oxford University

  Three mediaeval books

  The National Library of Scotland

  Walter Smith: The Wydow Edith (1525)

  British Library

  The Wentworth Muniments

  Sheffield Record Office and North Yorkshire Record Office

  A 14th century ivory mirror back

  Victoria and Albert Museum

  John Crome: Fishmarket at Boulogne

  Norwich, The Castle Museum

  Metsu: Lady at a Spinet

  English Heritage for display at Kenwood

  Tinteretto: Portrait of an Unknown Man

  Leighton House, Kensington

  George Stubbs: Lord Rockingham's Arab Stallion

  National Gallery of Scotland

  George Ehret: Deliciae Botanicae

  National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside

  Hendrick Goltzius: Drawing

  National Gallery of Scotland

  Three mediaeval books

  National Library of Scotland

  A collection of 18th century Scottish silver

  National Museum of Scotland

  A Norwegian 14th century ivory crozier head

  Victoria and Albert Museum

  Land at Ham Hill, Somerset

  South Somerset District Council

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Departmental Policies (Sherwood)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effects on the Sherwood constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [158859]

  Mr. Wills
  [holding answer 26 April 2001]: Details of the effects of a range of the Department's policies on the Sherwood constituency and Nottinghamshire LEA have been placed in the Library.

  Departmental Policies (Wellingborough)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to
  660W
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The information that my hon. Friend requests is as follows:

  the constituency, the effects on the constituency of Wellingborough of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [158858]

  Mr. Wills
  [holding answer 26 April 2001]: Details of the effects of a range of the Department's policies on Wellingborough constituency and Northamptonshire LEA have been placed in the Library.

  Departmental Policies (Bristol, South)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effect on the constituency of Bristol, South of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [158857]

  Mr. Wills
  [holding answer 26 April 2001]: Outlined are details of the effects of a range of the Department's policies on Bristol, South constituency and City of Bristol LEA.
  661W
  Sure Start

  Bristol has one Sure Start scheme in the Bristol, South constituency. A trailblazer project in the Hartcliffe, Highridge, and Withywood area of the city has been allocated £3,161,682 (to March 2002) towards offering increased play and family learning opportunities and will benefit the 1,328 under-fours in the area.

  The Knowle West area of Bristol also has a scheme to enable a comprehensive care and education service for children aged 0 to four to be created, a grant of

  Schools with specialist status

  City of Bristol

  Specialist School

  Designated

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Speedwell

  September 1997

  57,480

  95,100

  107,856

  121,944

  123,000

  Capital

  100,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cotham Grammar

  September 2000

  —

  —

  —

  74,000

  124,845

  Capital

  —

  —

  —

  100,000

  —

  Totals

  Recurrent

  57,480

  95,100

  107,856

  195,944

  247,845

  Capital

  100,000

  —

  —

  100,000

  —

  157,480

  95,100

  107,856

  295,944

  247,845

  There are no Specialist Schools in the Bristol, South constituency.

  School Achievement Awards

  £

  Novers Lane Junior School

  5,950

  Weston Park Primary School

  7,000

  Hareclive Primary School

  9,450

  St. Bernard's Catholic Primary School

  2,800

  Total

  25,200

  With the exception of Weston Park Primary School, all are in the Bristol, South constituency.

  Excellence in Cities

  Bristol LEA was included in the second phase of Excellence in Cities, announced on 23 March 2000. All 22 maintained mainstream secondary schools in Bristol are involved in the EiC programme, and special schools have been involved in the partnership planning process too.

  There are seven EiC secondary schools in Bristol, South constituency:

  Hengrove School

  Ashton Park School

  Bedminster Down School

  Withywood Community School

  Hartcliffe Secondary School

  Merrywood School

  St. Bernadette Catholic School.

  These have all benefited proportionately to need from Excellence in Cities but individual school allocations are determined within local partnerships.

  Small EAZs

  Bristol Excellence in Cities has approval for two small EAZs with a proposed starting date of September 2001 for both. One is in the Bristol, South constituency, covers
  662W
  £2.5 million was approved for the first three years and will benefit the 990 under-fours living in the catchment area.

  Beacon schools

  There are three Beacon schools within Bristol local education authority St. Mary Redcliffe and Temple School, Hotwells Primary and Ilminster Avenue Specialist Nursery School. Of these only Illminster School is in the Bristol, South constituency.

  the Withywood area and is based at the Withywood Community School, and the other is the North Bristol Achievement Partnership which is based at Henbury School.

  Education Action Zone

  A group of 17 schools in the east of the city are included in the Bristol Education Action Zone formed in September 2000.

  Key activities:
  Teaching and learning
  Pupil engagement—setting up groups within schools to support young people in establishing their cultural and gender identity
  Children as effective communicators
  Parental engagement—developing groups to support parents from minority ethnic backgrounds
  Participation and progression
  Developing effective urban leaders and managers
  ICT—providing networked computers, free training for teachers, out of hours access for community use.

  Support from the Arts Council of England means that arts will form part of each of these strands.

  Infant class sizes

  Progress in implementing plan:

  KSI pupils in classes of 31 or more

  January 1997

  Number

  3,708

  Percentage

  29

  January 1998

  Number

  3,770

  Percentage

  29.5

  January 1999

  Number

  3,763

  Percentage

  29.5

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  KSI pupils in classes of 31 or more

  January 2000

  Number

  2,382

  Percentage

  19

  January 2001

  Number

  444

  Percentage

  3.7

  In Bristol, South constituency the number has declined from 1,091 (26.7 per cent.) to 126 (3.3 per cent.).

  Funding revenue and capital

  Financial year

  Revenue (£)

  Number of teachers

  Capital (£)

  Number of classrooms

  1998–99

  0

  0

  203,000

  3

  1999–2000

  231,000

  14

  303,256

  3

  2000–01

  675,000

  40

  95,000

  1

  2001–02

  702,313

  19

  0

  0

  2002–031

  201,875

  19

  0

  0

  1Provisional summer costs only

  Performance Data (England averages include independent schools)

  Key Stage 2 test results: pupils achieving level 4 or above

  Percentage

  2000

  1999

  1998

  1997

  English

  Bristol LEA

  66

  62

  55

  54

  England average

  75

  71

  65

  63

  Maths

  Bristol LEA

  63

  59

  47

  52

  England average

  72

  69

  59

  62

  LEA capital funding

  £000

  2001–02

  2000–01

  1999–2000

  1998–99

  1997–98

  Total

  Credit approvals

  Annual Capital Guideline (ACG)

  3,952

  2,914

  1,422

  437

  174

  8,899

  Supplementary Credit Approval (SCA)

  1,783

  1,453

  1,712

  3,357

  162

  8,467

  PFI credits

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Grants

  NDS Devolved Capital

  2,007

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2,007

  NDS Condition

  1,155

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,155

  NDS

  —

  4,457

  2,026

  355

  620

  7,458

  NGfL

  1,631

  1,099

  1,229

  764

  —

  4,723

  Voluntary Aided (VA) Grant

  256

  827

  251

  351

  165

  1,850

  Schools' Devolved/Formula Capital

  —

  2,417

  —

  —

  —

  2,417

  Science labs

  177

  177

  —

  —

  —

  354

  Nursery provision

  —

  75

  —

  —

  —

  75

  Energy

  —

  —

  —

  99

  —

  99

  Assist Management Plan (AMP) support

  —

  —

  46

  —

  —

  46

  SEED challenge

  234

  207

  —

  —

  —

  441

  Infant Class Size

  —

  5

  298

  203

  —

  506

  Outside toilets

  —

  —

  —

  40

  —

  40

  Access Initiative

  349

  —

  —

  —

  —

  349

  Security

  81

  116

  119

  117

  94

  527

  SSLU's

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Early Excellence Grant

  —

  210

  —

  —

  —

  210

  Total

  11,625

  13,957

  7,103

  5,723

  1,215

  —

  664W

  Key Stage 2 test results: pupils achieving level 4 or above

  Percentage

  2000

  1999

  1998

  1997

  Science

  Bristol LEA

  78

  71

  59

  56

  England average

  85

  78

  69

  69

  GCSE and GNVQ results

  Percentage

  2000

  1999

  1998

  1997

  5+ A*-C passes

  Bristol LEA

  31.2

  31.0

  29.0

  32.1

  England average

  49.2

  47.9

  46.3

  45.1

  5+ A*-G passes

  Bristol LEA

  81.1

  80.5

  80.4

  81.2

  England average

  88.9

  88.5

  87.5

  86.4

  No passes

  Bristol LEA

  10.4

  10.7

  10.9

  10.9

  England average

  5.6

  6.0

  6.6

  7.7

  GCE A/AS examinations and advanced GNVQs

  Percentage

  2000

  1999

  1998

  1997

  Average points for fewer than two A/AS levels

  LEA

  2.6

  2.5

  2.4

  2.9

  England average

  3.0

  3.0

  3.0

  2.9

  Average points for two or more A/AS levels

  LEA

  15.4

  13.8

  13.6

  13.7

  England average

  18.5

  18.2

  17.8

  17.3

  Advanced GNVQs

  LEA

  9.4

  8.8

  9.1

  —

  England average

  10.1

  9.9

  9.6

  —

  665W
  Funding per pupil

  In City of Bristol LEA, funding per pupil has increased by £590 in real terms between 1997–98 and 2001–02.

  Further education

  Student numbers at all FEFC funded institutions where home postcode is in the local authority district of Bristol.

  1996–97 to 1999–2000

  16–18

  Adult

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  FEFC funded

  1996–97

  3,174

  1,115

  2,500

  20,718

  1997–98

  3,228

  1,113

  2,515

  21,140

  1998–99

  2,999

  1,269

  2,219

  20,904

  1999–2000

  3,192

  1,218

  2,102

  22,657

  Non-FEFC funded

  1996–97

  53

  262

  101

  933

  1997–98

  72

  395

  138

  770

  1998–99

  85

  430

  245

  1,231

  1999–2000

  82

  388

  424

  1,825

  Modern apprenticeships

  Information on Modern Apprenticeships for all English constituencies were placed in the Library of the House of Commons on 30 March 2001.

  New Deal for Young People

  In the Bristol, South constituency, 1,221 young people have joined the New Deal to end January 2001. 637 have found jobs, 479 of which are sustained.

  Labour market statistics

  The working age employment rate in City of Bristol in winter 2000–01 was 79.4 per cent., above the UK rate of 74.5 per cent. The rate in winter 1996–97 was 71.7 per cent.

  The claimant unemployment rate has fallen from 9.8 per cent. in March 1997 to 3.8 per cent. in March 2001 in the Bristol, South constituency.

  Children's Fund
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what arrangements have been made for the administration of Children's Fund moneys in Staffordshire. [159194]

  Mr. Boateng
  I hope to be able to make an announcement about the second and third wave children's fund areas before the end of this year. An announcement on the areas to receive first wave children's fund local network funding will be made shortly. All areas of England will have access to the children's fund by 2003–04.

  Education Rights (UN)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what the conclusions of his meeting were with the UN special rapporteur on the right to education on 7 February; [159564]

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 5 February 2001, Official Report, column 419W, on education rights, what the conditions of the meeting were with the special rapporteur on 7 February. [159575]
  666W
  Jacqui Smith
  I was scheduled to meet the special rapporteur on the right to education during the morning of 7 February but the meeting was cancelled at the special rapporteur's request owing to adverse weather conditions in Sweden.

  Individual Learning Accounts
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on plans for opening individual learning accounts by March 2002. [160197]

  Mr. Blunkett
  I am pleased to announce that nearly a year ahead of target the manifesto commitment has been met. There are now. over 1 million individual learning accounts in the UK, with over 3,000 opened every day.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Porton Down
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many times since 1 March 1998 the War Pension Agency has requested information from the Chemical Defence Establishment, Porton Down, with regard to former service personnel who are claiming disablement as a result of experiments at Porton Down. [159810]

  Mr. Bayley
  The information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Occupational Pension Schemes
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to reform the system for appointing members of occupational pension schemes to serve as trustees. [159362]

  Mr. Rooker
  The Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 includes changes to the current legislation governing the nomination and selection of member-nominated trustees and directors. We are currently working on the supporting regulations and aim to bring the new provisions into force in October this year.

  The new provisions will ensure that employers can no longer "opt out" of having member nominated trustees, and will be easier and more flexible to implement than the current arrangements.

  Social Inclusion
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how the Government measure the impact of their policies on social inclusion. [159107]

  Mr. Bayley
  Poverty and social exclusion are multi faceted problems. Therefore, we do not use a single definition but instead use a range of indicators to monitor the progress of our strategy. Information relating to the indicators can be found in the second Government "Opportunity for all" report on tackling poverty and social exclusion, "One year on: making a difference" (Cm 4865). The report also describes and monitors the impact of policies we have already introduced, and sets out our plans for the future.

  Unmarried Partners
  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will allow the payment of widows/widowers benefit to be based on the national insurance contributions of deceased unmarried partners;[159950]

  (2) what steps he is taking to ensure that unmarried partners are given the same recognition as married couples in all aspects of social security legislation. [159949]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 1 May 20011 A founding principle of the social insurance system is that all rights to benefit derived from another person's

  Helpline

  Description

  Benefits Agency Publicity Register

  For advisers to join the mailing list for information and receive a newsletter

  Benefit Enquiry Line

  Information and advice on disability benefits

  Child Benefit Enquiry Line

  Advice and information on Child Benefit and Guardian's Allowance

  Child Support Literature Line

  —

  CSA National Enquiry Line

  General advice on child maintenance and maintenance estimates

  Disability Living Allowance Customer Care helpline

  Advice on existing DLA claims

  Inherited SERPS Enquiry line

  For public to ask questions about the new plans

  Medical Benefits Direct

  Advises on the repayment of medical costs incurred by UK residents on a temporary visit overseas to another European Economic Area country and health cover for people getting UK Retirement Pension, widow's benefits, bereavement benefits or Incapacity Benefit who live permanently in another EEA country

  MIG (Minimum Income Guarantee) claimline

  For people aged 60 or over to apply for the Minimum Income Guarantee (paid as Income Support)

  Mortgage Payment Protection leaflet orderline

  —

  National Benefit Fraud Hotline

  For public to report suspected benefit fraud

  New Deal for Lone Parents helpline

  For public and advisers to request literature and ask questions about the programme

  Overseas customer service helplines

  Advice on transfer of pensions overseas, medical cover and making claims overseas

  Pensioners' guide orderline

  —

  Pensions Direct

  General advice about state Retirement Pension or widow's benefits paid directly into a bank or building society account

  Pensions Info-Line

  Leaflets orderline, primarily pensions education leaflets

  Print Direct Customer Services helpline

  For advisers to inquire about the progress of bulk literature orders and other miscellaneous queries

  Public Enquiry Office

  —

  Retirement Pensions Forecasting and Advice Service

  For public to make inquiries about their pensions forecast

  Retirement Pension Tele-claims line

  To make a claim for state Retirement Payment over the phone or to ask for a state Retirement Pension form to be issued to be completed at home

  War Pensions Agency Customer Services Unit

  For public inquiries and complaints

  War Pensions freeline

  Provides information and advice on all aspects of war pensions

  Welfare Reform leaflets orderline

  Stocks various leaflets

  Winter Fuel Payments leaflets orderline (seasonal)

  Primarily for advisers

  Winter Fuel Payments claimline

  Public can ask questions of Winter Fuel Payments or request a claim form

  In addition, there are a number of regionally based helplines administered by the Department or one of its agencies.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Refrigerants
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development to what extent her Department's headquarters buildings use hydrofluorocarbons for(a) refrigeration and (b) air conditioning; what amounts of hydrofluorocarbons have been purchased in each year since 1995; and what plans she has to phase out the (i) purchase and (ii) use of hydrofluorocarbons. [160012]

  Clare Short
  My Department's London buildings, all of which are leased, do not currently use hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), but there is limited use of HFCs in our East 668W
  contributions are based on the concept of legal marriage. This principle applies equally to bereavement benefits. We have no plans to change the current arrangements.

  Helplines
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what telephone helplines to assist the public are administered by his Department and its agencies. [159504]

  Mr. Rooker
  The following national helplines and orderlines are administered by this Department or one of its agencies.

  Kilbride office. In our new London headquarters building, which we are due to move into later this year, we are replacing the old hydrochlorofluorocarbon-based (HCFC) systems with a HFC alternative, "134A", which has zero ozone depletion potential. This follows a detailed evaluation of the most appropriate system given the requirements and constraints of the existing building. We will also actively consider using hydrocarbon (HC) systems for smaller uses such as catering and small refrigerators wherever possible.

  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her Department's policy is regarding the purchase of(a) hydrocarbons and (b) other environmentally benign refrigerants to meet the refrigeration and other relevant energy needs of buildings and premises owned and leased by her Department; and if she will make a statement. [160016]
  669W
  Clare Short
  My Department already actively considers the use of appropriate alternative refrigerants, and leakage control systems, for our main headquarters buildings. For instance, we will be relocating to a new London headquarters building at the end of this year, and as part of the refurbishment works a wide range of refrigerants were considered for both their ozone depletion potential (ODP) and global warming potential (GWP). We have decided to replace the current hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) refrigerant—R22—with a modern HFC alternative, "134A", which has zero ODP. This will meet the requirements under the Montreal protocol to phase out the use of R22. We will also carry out a review of the suitable refrigerant alternatives for a second much smaller London building, for which we have just taken responsibility.

  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which London headquarters building or premises owned or leased by her Department use(a) chlorofluorocarbons and (b) hydrochlorofluorocarbons for refrigeration and other relevant energy needs. [160020]

  Clare Short
  DFID currently has a main London building at 94 Victoria street, SW1, and two much smaller offices at 20 Victoria street and Glen House, Stag Place SW1, all of which are leased. Information provided from the Landlords confirms that all of these make use of HCFCs in the air conditioning/refrigeration systems.

  West Timor
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps are being taken to provide humanitarian relief to the refugees in West Timor; and what discussions he has had with the Indonesian Government over ensuring a secure environment for refugees and humanitarian agencies in West Timor. [159927]

  Clare Short
  Accurate information on conditions in the refugee camps in West Timor remains difficult to obtain, following the withdrawal of UN staff and international NGOs in the aftermath of the killing of three UN workers in Atambua last September. The Indonesian Government appear to be managing the situation relatively well, and there have been no reports of widespread hunger, or appeals for humanitarian assistance.

  Staff from my Department and from the Embassy in Jakarta participated in a meeting last week at which a draft Government of Indonesia plan to resolve the refugee situation in West Timor was discussed. This included a discussion of security, particularly ensuring a secure environment for the planned registration of refugees due

  Project

  Date

  £ million

  Sexual and Reproductive Health Phase 2

  2000–04

  20

  Rural District Councils Capacity Building Programme

  1996–2001

  10.6

  Civil Society Land Resettlement Challenge Fund

  2000–04

  5

  Integrated Poverty Monitoring and Analysis System

  2000–03

  1.06

  Wills and Inheritance Laws

  2000–02

  0.86

  Bikita and Lupane Integrated Rural Water Supply and Sanitation projects

  1995–2002

  6.27

  Social Marketing of Condoms

  1996–2001

  2.8

  Small Dams Rehabilitation

  1997–2001

  1.96

  670W
  to take place in late May. A UN mission to review security conditions in West Timor is expected to visit in mid May.

  Fish (Research)
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her answer of 25 April 2001,Official Report, column 300W, on genetically modified fish, if she will identify the two environmental impact assessments referred to in her answer, indicating where the reports are available. [159864]

  Clare Short
  Results of the first study are described in "Transgenic fish: an evaluation of benefits and risks" published in Fish and Fisheries. Results of the second study are described in "Growth and nutritional trials on transgenic Nile tilapia containing an exogenous fish growth hormone gene". This paper has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Fish Biology.

  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what contractual relationship exists between her Majesty's Government and fish geneticists at the University of Wales; and what returns her Department has had to date from the profit-sharing agreement. [160059]

  Clare Short
  The University of Wales was contracted to manage my Departments fish genetics research programme until 31 March 2001 when the contract ended. From 1 April 2001, the programme has merged with the aquaculture research programme managed by the University of Stirling.

  Fishgen Ltd., a company established by the University of Wales to market the products of fisheries research, uses a proportion of its profits to supplement funding from my Department for fisheries research of benefit to the needs of poor people in developing countries.

  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her answer of 10 April 2001,Official Report, column 547W, if she will list Departmental staff involved at the Hanoi conference in November 2000 other United Kingdom participants who attended and those assisted to do so by Her Majesty's Government's funding; and where the conference report and papers are available. [160058]

  Clare Short
  I shall send my hon. Friend a summary note of the meeting and a list of participants. A report of the proceedings is in preparation.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Wells
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the projects funded by her Department in Zimbabwe. [159567]

  Clare Short
  DFID is currently operating the following projects in Zimbabwe:
  671W

  Project

  Date

  £ million

  Empowerment of Farm Worker Communities

  1999–2002

  1.6

  Credit for the Informal Sector

  1995–2002

  1.3

  Agribusiness Entrepreneur Network and Training Development

  1997–2001

  0.49

  Bulilima-Mangwe Water Supply and Environmental Rehabilitation project

  1998–2001

  0.31

  Election monitoring

  2000–01

  0.25

  Community Based Maintenance of Water Points in Binga

  1998–2001

  0.24

  Food security Risk Mapping

  1997–2001

  0.23

  Dynamics of Rural Poverty study

  1999–2001

  0.2

  Emergency Preparedness

  2000–01

  0.17

  Education sector HIV/AIDS impact assessment

  2001

  0.13

  Emergency cholera control

  2001

  0.05

  I have closed 12 development projects and suspended or substantially modified five others over the last 12 months. I continue to keep the Zimbabwe programme under regular review to ensure it is still effective and appropriate in the current difficult circumstances.

  Vision 2020
  Mr. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support her Department has given to the Vision 2020 proposals for agricultural reform in Andhra Pradesh, India. [159759]

  Clare Short
  DFID is providing £15 million over seven years to support a major rural livelihoods project in Andhra Pradesh. A key objective is to support the development of agricultural productivity in the state's rain-fed drylands. Another objective is to support the state Government's capacity to address key policy issues in agriculture, natural resources management and rural development.

  We are also currently financing a review of public expenditure in the state. This review will assist the state Government in reallocating resource s to meet the Vision 2020 objectives, including those in the agricultural sector.

  With the World Bank, we are considering budgetary assistance to Andhra Pradesh. In the rural sector, the proposed programme would help the state Government provide the necessary enabling environment for faster agricultural growth.

TREASURY

  Minimum Wage
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people between the ages of 18 and 21 years are entitled to receive the minimum wage in(a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom. [159853]

  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. Alex Salmond, dated 2 May 2001:
  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question about the number of 18 to 21 year olds in Scotland and the United Kingdom who are entitled to receive the minimum wage (NMW) (159853).
  672W
  All 18 to 21 year olds who are in employment are entitled to NMW rates, except those on apprenticeships. For people aged 19 and above, exemption from the NMW is only for the first year of the apprenticeship.
  The latest Labour Force Survey (LFS) estimates, for winter 2000 (not seasonally adjusted), show that there are 1,800,000 18 to 21 year olds in employment in the UK and 169,000 in Scotland. Among these, further LFS estimates available for the UK, but not for Scotland, show that 43,000 18 year olds on apprenticeships would not be entitled to receive NMW rates. A further 73,000 19 to 21 year olds in the UK were on apprenticeships, but no information is available about the number of these in the first year of their apprenticeship who would not be entitled to receive NMW rates.

  Foot and Mouth
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) pursuant to his answers of 26 April 2001,Official Report, column 341W, if he will list by valuation office area the number of appeals (a) made and (b) decided at the most recent date for which the information is available; [160065]

  (2) on what date the Valuation Office agency began its consultation on the approach and timetable for determining appeals for a temporary reduction in rating assessments on the grounds of the impact of foot and mouth disease; and when the consultation will be complete;[159961]

  (3) what additional resources are being made available to the Valuation Office Agency to enable appeals for a temporary reduction in rating assessments on the grounds of the impact of foot and mouth to be decided quickly. [159962]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 1 May 2001]: The Valuation Office agency opened consultations about FMD with the national ratepayers valuation forum on 30 March 2001.

  As I said in my answer of 26 April 2001, Official Report, column 341W, the Valuation Office is continuing to receive appeals. It is not possible to give a final figure.

  The need for additional resource is being considered.

  Stamp Duty
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will present his detailed proposals for the operation of differential stamp duty rates in areas of deprivation. [160107]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Government are working closely with the devolved authorities to ensure that the stamp duty relief for disadvantaged communities is
  673W
  targeted at the most disadvantaged areas in all parts of the UK. The areas to qualify will be published as soon as possible.

  Fuel Smuggling
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the estimated loss to the Treasury was in unpaid duty arising from fuel smuggling from the Irish Republic into Northern Ireland; and if he will publish the tonnage of legitimate fuel deliveries on which duty has been paid in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years. [159819]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 1 May 2001]: For an estimate of the revenue lost through oils fraud and legitimate cross-border shopping in Northern Ireland, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Lagan Valley (Mr. Donaldson) on 21 March 2001, Official Report, column 233W.

  For the tonnage of fuel deliveries in Northern Ireland I refer the hon. Member to "Digest of UK Energy Statistics", table 3.9, published annually by the Department of Trade and Industry, which sets out these estimates.

  Research and Development
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to increase research and development tax credits for large firms. [159670]

  Mr. Timms
  The Government have already introduced an R&D tax credit for smaller firms, in order to address the particular difficulty that these firms face in accessing capital to invest in innovation and R&D. In order to complement this measure and further to improve the UK's innovation performance, the Government have published a consultative document, "Increasing Innovation", which sets out the Government's proposals for a new tax credit to encourage R&D among larger firms and consults on the design of such a measure.

  The consultation document was published at the time of Budget 2001 and can be found on the Inland Revenue internet site at the following address:
  www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/consult new/index.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to increase support for near-market high-technology research and development, with particular reference to technology demonstration projects designed to prove concepts and to reduce technical and financial risk. [159672]

  Mr. Timms
  The Government have in place a range of measures aimed at enhancing the innovative capacity of the UK through investing in, facilitating and regulating innovation and R&D, as set out in the 2001 White Paper on enterprise, skills and innovation, "Opportunity for all in a world of change".

  An R&D tax credit for small firms was introduced in April of last year, and all companies are entitled to an immediate 100 per cent. tax allowance for capital investment in R&D. In addition, the Government published a consultation document in March 2001, entitled "Increasing Innovation", which sets out the Government's proposals for a new tax credit to encourage R&D and innovation among larger firms and consults on the design of such a measure.

  Petrol and Diesel
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total combined tax revenue from petrol and diesel was for each of the years from 1997 to date. [160077]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The amount of excise duty raised from petrol and diesel for each of the financial years from 1997 to 1999–2000 is published on the HM Customs and Excise webside www.hmce.gov.uk/general/about/ ann-report-conts.htm.

  Fiscal Incentives
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what fiscal measures he is planning to shift resources from household consumption to business investment. [159668]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Government keep all taxes under review, and changes are considered as part of the Budget process. New measures to build opportunity and prosperity for all were set out in the Economic and Fiscal Strategy report and Financial Statement and Budget report March 2001, which can be found in the Library.

  Public Investment
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his measures to increase investment in(a) infrastructure, (b) lifelong learning and (c) research and development. [159669]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The Government's plans for investment in infrastructure, lifelong learning and research and development are detailed in "Spending Review 2000—Prudent for a Purpose: Building Opportunity and Security for All", published in July 2000, as Command Paper 4807.

  Climate Change Levy
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to review(a) the impact of the climate change levy and (b) negotiated agreements associated with the levy. [159674]

  Mr. Timms
  As with any tax, the Chancellor will keep the climate change levy under review as part of the normal Budget process.

  For the levy negotiated agreements, the first review of performance against targets will take place at the end of 2002. The first review of the targets themselves will take place at the end of 2004.

  Free TV Licences
  Mr. Russell Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many households are entitled to free TV licences in each parliamentary constituency. [160357]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Information concerning the number of pensioners aged 75 or over by parliamentary constituency, given in written answers by Treasury Ministers between 14 December 2000 and 2 April, was derived from estimates published by the Department of Social Security. These estimates were incorrect. The Department of Social Security has corrected the error and published revised and updated statistics in "Retirement
  675W
  Pensioners, by Parliamentary Constituency and Age in Great Britain—at 30 September 2000", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Correspondence
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Putney will receive a reply to his series of letters on behalf of his constituent Mrs. Truong (Ref. P402281). [158889]

  Mrs. Roche
  I replied to my hon. Friend on 2 May 2001.

  Sham Marriages
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many suspected sham marriages reported under section 24 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 he has accepted as sham marriages; [159840]

  (2) how many marriages have been reported by registrars as sham marriages since the introduction of section 24 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999; and from which registration district they were reported [159839]

  Mrs. Roche
  Since 1 January this year, superintendent registrars have reported a total of 201 marriages which they suspect to have been contracted solely for immigration purposes. These figures cannot be broken down into registration districts. However, of the total number reported, 115 were from the London metropolitan district, 20 from the midlands, 14 from the south-west, 12 from the north-west, 11 from the south-east, 10 from the south and seven from Wales. Figures are not available for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

  Good grounds have been given in these reports to suggest that the relationship may not be genuine, but many of the cases are still under investigation.

  Lord Birt
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, (1) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Taunton (Jackie Ballard), of 27 March 2001,Official Report, column 594W, what the nature of the work undertaken by Lord Birt was; and if he will make a statement; [159978]

  (2) if he will place in the Library copies of the research on crime undertaken by Lord Birt in his capacity as the Government's adviser on crime; [159982]

  (3) pursuant to his answer of 25 April 2001, Official Report, column 285W, what were the conclusions of Lord Birt's analysis of existing data on offenders, offences, victims and crime reduction; and if he will place them in the Library;[159979]

  (4) what work Lord Birt has undertaken in his role as the Government's adviser on crime other than that which contributed to "Criminal Justice: The Way Ahead" (Cm 5074); and if he will make a statement on work being undertaken by Lord Birt. [159868]
  676W
  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 1 May 2001]: Lord Birt's work has ranged widely over the criminal justice field. His advice, research and analysis are reflected in the Government's strategy document, "Criminal Justice: The Way Ahead" (Cm 5074). Lord Bin continues to provide advice on issues as requested by the Prime Minister.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have been issued by the National Asylum Support Service with a Department of Health certificate HC2 entitling them to free NHS services in the last 12 months; and what services are available with an HC2 certificate. [159836]

  Mrs. Roche
  33,0001 asylum seekers have been provided with National Asylum Support Service (NASS) support during the period 3 April 2000 to 28 February 2001. All principal NASS applicants are issued with a HC2 on successful application to NASS for support. Details of dependants, if any, are included on the certificate. The HC2 lists the services available. This includes free NHS prescriptions, free NHS dental treatment and free NHS sight tests.
  1Figures rounded to the nearest 10.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what opportunities for appeal(a) local authorities and (b) local electors have against the designation of their areas as a cluster for asylum seekers; [159678]

  (2) how many places have had their designation as cluster areas for asylum seekers removed; and for what reasons. [159740]

  Mrs. Roche
  The National Asylum Support Service consults regional consortiums which are local authority-led about the identification of cluster areas. Any evidence put forward about the suitability of the area for the accommodation of asylum seekers received as part of this consultation process will be taken into account. Once an area has been identified as a cluster area there is no formal appeal process against its use for accommodating asylum seekers, but any evidence put forward as to why a particular area should no longer be a cluster would be given due consideration. No area has had their designation as a cluster area removed.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether North-East Lincolnshire council was consulted about the suitability of Springfield hostel, Grimsby for asylum seekers; and to whom it can now make representations on the suitability of that location. [159763]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Springfield hostel Grimsby has not been presented to the national asylum support service (NASS) as possible accommodation for asylum seekers by any of its providers. In the event that it is presented to NASS it will, if it contains more than six bed spaces, be subject to a 28-day consultation period with the local authority.
  677W
  If North-East Lincolnshire council wishes to make representations to NASS about the potential use of this property in advance of its possible future presentation it should contact the NASS regional manager for Yorkshire and Humberside.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many places have been designated as cluster areas for asylum seekers; and if he will list them, giving the area covered by each. [159747]

  Mrs. Roche
  To date 71 cluster areas have been identified throughout the United Kingdom. These areas are recorded by region:

  Region

  East of England

  Ipswich

  Norwich

  Cambridge

  Great Yarmouth

  Peterborough

  East Midlands

  Leicester

  Nottingham

  Derby

  South Central and East

  Brighton and Hove

  Hastings and St. Leonards

  Portsmouth

  North East

  Newcastle

  Middlesborough

  Sunderland

  North Tyneside

  Gateshead

  South Tyneside

  Redcar and Cleveland

  Hartlepool

  Darlington

  Stockton on Tees

  North West

  Manchester (Greater Manchester)

  Bolton (Greater Manchester)

  Bury (Greater Manchester)

  Oldham (Greater Manchester)

  Rochdale (Greater Manchester)

  Salford (Greater Manchester)

  Stockport (Greater Manchester)

  Tameside (Greater Manchester)

  Trafford (Greater Manchester)

  Wigan (Greater Manchester)

  Burnley

  Blackburn

  Liverpool

  Nelson

  Scotland

  Edinburgh

  Glasgow

  South West

  Bristol

  Gloucester

  Swindon

  Taunton and Bridgewater

  Exeter

  South Gloucestershire

  Torbay

  Plymouth

  North Somerset

  Bath

  Wales

  Cardiff

  Newport

  Swansea

  Wrexham

  Bridgend and Porthcawl

  678W

  Region

  West Midlands

  Birmingham

  Coventry

  Wolverhampton

  Dudley

  Sandwell

  Solihull

  Walsall

  Stoke on Trent

  Yorkshire

  Sheffield

  Bradford and Keighley

  Leeds

  Rotherham

  Wakefield

  Hull

  Kirklees

  Doncaster

  Halifax

  Barnsley

  Grimsby

  Destitute asylum seekers may also be accommodated in Northern Ireland, although they are not dispersed there.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the membership and location are of each regional consortium for the dispersal of asylum seekers; and how the members were appointed. [159736]

  Mrs. Roche
  Regional consortiums have been established through out the United Kingdom as follows:

  London

  South East and Central

  North East

  North West

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  West Midlands

  East Midlands

  East of England

  Scotland

  Wales

  Northern Ireland

  Arrangements exist for the South West of England.

  Each consortium is responsible for appointing its own members, but it is recognised that no one agency or organisation is equipped to deliver the full range of services. Accordingly, they should have a structure that enables input from a wide range of agencies such as local authorities, the police, health and education authorities, the voluntary sector, accommodation providers and other organisations with in interest.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what account is taken of local(a) unemployment rates, (b) health services and (c) education provision in the designation of cluster areas and the allocation of asylum seekers to them; [159733]

  (2) how he intends to secure a fair and equitable dispersal of asylum seekers between areas designated and areas not designated as cluster areas; [159749]

  (3) what control (a) the local authority, (b) the Health Service and (c) the education authority have on the number of asylum seekers allocated to a cluster area; and how their views are taken into account; [159725]
  679W
  (4) if the Commission for Racial B quality is consulted about the dispersal of asylum seekers, the designation of cluster areas for their reception and he numbers sent to each area. [159726]

  Mrs. Roche
  The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) conducts research to identify cluster areas. Information is received from the local authority led regional consortiums, voluntary groups and other organisations with an interest in asylum. There is a consultation process in place to seek advice from local health and education authorities. Any information received will be taken into account, and this can include information about unemployment rates, health services and education provision. The Commission for Racial Equality is consulted on specific issues.

  Ideally, NASS aims to establish cluster areas where there is suitable and available accommodation and where it would be possible to link with existing communities and to develop the support of voluntary and community groups. In some cases not all of the above criteria will be in place before asylum seekers are dispersed and it is recognised that some support structures are unlikely to develop until asylum seekers are actually located in an area.

  NASS is continuing its research to identify further cluster areas to ensure that dispersal is fair and equitable.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the(a) total population and (b) ethnic minority percentage are of each cluster area for dispersal of asylum seekers; [159744]

  (2) what the criteria are for the designation of luster areas for the reception of asylum seekers; [159745]

  (3) what weighting is given to the size of the ethnic minority population as a factor designating cluster areas for asylum seekers; and what racial or ethnic affinities are taken into account; [159750]

  (4) in taking account of the size of the local ethnic minority population in designating cluster areas for the reception of asylum seekers, whether asylum seekers already there are included; and what part the numbers of the latter play in the decision to locate further asylum seekers there. [159751]

  Mrs. Roche
  The identification of cluster areas follows research conducted centrally by the National Asylum Support Service and on information fed through by the local authority led regional consortiums, voluntary groups and other organisations with an interest. When considering if an area is suitable for accommodating asylum seekers a number of factors are taken into account. These include the make up of the local population, the number of asylum seekers already present in the area and the effect on the local area of placing additional asylum seekers there. The weight given to actual numbers will vary between areas. Information on the total population and percentage from ethnic minorities in individual cluster areas is not recorded centrally.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what grounds and when Grimsby was designated a cluster area for the reception of asylum seekers; and if he will set out the consequences of this designation. [159746]
  680W
  Mrs. Roche
  The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) consulted all regional consortiums to identify suitable cluster areas for the accommodation of asylum seekers before Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 came into force. As part of this consultation process NASS sought the views of the Yorkshire and Humberside regional consortium, of which Grimsby is part. The consortiums provided a list of towns and cities that were considered suitable to accommodate asylum seekers and the list from the Yorkshire and Humberside regional consortium included Grimsby. Grimsby has been designated as a cluster area since 3 April 2000, when the new support arrangements came into force.

  Designation as a cluster area means that an area is deemed suitable to send asylum seekers under the dispersal arrangements operated by the National Asylum Support Service. Further, schools with asylum seeking children dispersed to the area by NASS on their registers were able in the last financial year 2000–01 to apply for additional grant of up to £500 per pupil. This grant could be used to assist the child to settle quickly into school. In addition the grant to the local authority is based on the standard spending assessment which takes account of rises in the local population.

  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applications made in each year since 1996 are yet to be determined by his Department. [159581]

  Mrs. Roche
  The information is not readily available, and could be obtained only by examination of individual case records, and is, therefore, available only at disproportionate cost.

  Information on the total number of applications awaiting an initial decision is published monthly on the web page: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/ immigrationl.html

  The provisional number of applications awaiting an initial decision at the end of March 2001 was 36,390.

  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many asylum applicants whose applications were refused for non-compliance were subsequently granted(a) refugee status and (b) exceptional leave to enter or remain in each month of (i) 1999, (ii) 2000 and (iii) 2001; and what proportion this represents of the total numbers refused on that basis;[159586]

  (2) in how many cases where asylum applications were refused for non-compliance those decisions were subsequently withdrawn in each month of (a) 1999, (b) 2000 and (c) 2001. [159585]

  Mrs. Roche
  The information is not readily available. Reliable data could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case files.

  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were granted(a) refugee status and (b) exceptional leave to enter or remain in (i) 1999, (ii) 2000 and (iii) 2001, including those granted such status following an initial refusal of asylum. [159584]
  681W
  Mrs. Roche
  The information requested is not readily available and would be obtained only by examination of individual case files relating to the outcomes of initial decisions and of appeals, which would incur disproportionate cost.

  Information on the outcomes of initial decisions, and on the outcomes or appeals determined by the immigration appellate authority, is published monthly on the Department's website at:
  www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/index.htm.

  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons whose asylum applications were refused in each month of(a) 1999, (b) 2000 and (c) 2001 were refused for (i) failing to return a statement of evidence within the time specified, (ii) returning a statement of evidence in a language other than English and (iii) returning a statement of evidence on time but inadequately completed. [159583]

  Mrs. Roche
  Information relating to asylum applicants who did not submit their statement of evidence form (SEF) within the 10 working day deadline, or submitted it within the time specified but inadequately completed or in a language other than English, is not currently routinely collected and so could be obtained only through examination of individual case records and is therefore available only at disproportionate cost.

  The available information relates to total refusals of asylum on non-compliance grounds (failure to comply with our procedures and regulations) including failure to provide further evidence as required, failure to respond to invitations to interview to establish identity, failure to complete a SEF correctly and within the time allowed.

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

  The statistics show that at least three quarters of applicants do complete their SEFs in time.

  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department makes a decision to refuse an asylum application on non-compliance grounds and later withdraws that decision to grant or refuse asylum in that case, if the second decision on that case is included as a decision made in the monthly statistics published by his Department. [159582]

  Mrs. Roche
  A small number of refusals on non-compliance grounds are reconsidered for a variety of reasons. Those cases are granted asylum, exceptional leave to remain or are refused based on the individual merits of each case. If in due course we find that a significant number of those cases result in the grant of asylum or exceptional leave to remain, we will consider what is the best way to publish the data on the outcomes of reconsidered decisions once we are satisfied that it is reliable.

  The monthly statistics published by the Home Office are based on initial decision only.

  Ms Rachel Akuary
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to be able to 682W
  confirm the identity of Ms Rachel Akuary of the Leeds, Central constituency in respect of her claim for income support. [158941]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 26 April 2001]: I understand that Alexis Cleveland, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, will be writing to my hon. Friend shortly regarding Ms Akuary's claim.

  Immigration Detainees
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the date and place of all suicide attempts by persons held under immigration law for each year since 1992. [158971]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 26 April 2001]: Central records are not maintained specifically for suicide attempts by individuals detained under Immigration Act powers. Information is, however, maintained on actual self-inflicted deaths. In terms of immigration service detention centres, there has been one such incident: this occurred in January 2000 at Harmondsworth detention centre. Similarly, in terms of immigration detainees held in Prison Service accommodation, there has been one incident of self-inflicted death: this was in August 1995 at Her Majesty's prison, Norwich.

  Asylum and Immigration Act
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been under section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 in(a) 2000 and (b) the period to April 2001; and if he will make a statement. [159441]

  Mrs. Roche
  For the year 2000, provisional data from the Home Office Court Proceedings database show that for the first three quarters of the year there were eight cases.

  Data are not yet available about the number of section 8 prosecutions in the first quarter of 2001. The latest provisional information is that there have been 18 prosecutions to date under section 8 of the 1996 Act.

  We are aware of the problem caused by unscrupulous gangmasters, and by others who commit offences under this section. Operation Leighton is a recent example of our commitment to combat illegal working and the exploitation of vulnerable people. Conducted on the morning of 24 April, it resulted in the arrest of 18 people on suspicion of involvement in facilitation, production of false documents and organising labour and the arrest of a further 107 people on suspicion of entering the United Kingdom illegally, overstaying or working in breach of entry conditions. To date, 111 people have been removed. The arrests mark the outcome of a comprehensive investigation demonstrating the value of a multi-agency approach against highly sophisticated and organised criminal activity.

  Licensing Laws
  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will announce the outcome of consultations on the proposals for reform of the licensing laws set out in the White Paper, "Time for Reform". [160121]
  683W
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  We are grateful for all the responses to our proposals. We have concluded that they confirm the case for comprehensive modernisation of the alcohol and entertainment licensing laws in England and Wales. They show that the White Paper proposals represent a sound basis for legislation and strike the right overall balance between the needs of business, the enlargement of consumer choice, and the interests of local residents.

  Two issues raised by the White Paper attracted most comment: which body should be responsible for the new integrated licensing arrangements and whether licensing hours should be extended.

  As to the former, the responses to the White Paper showed a great divergence of opinion. We have considered with care the views of those who argued that the new licensing authorities should be based on magistrates courts. However, there remains a clear need to bring greater democratic accountability to licensing, and we remain persuaded that local authorities are the right bodies for this purpose. It will of course be important for all licensing decisions to be taken, as the White Paper stressed, in accordance with fair and consistent procedures.

  The balance of opinion among those who commented specifically on licensing hours in responding to the White Paper clearly supported our proposals for more flexible arrangements. They will make an it important contribution to dealing with the problems of alcohol-related crime and disorder, alongside the provisions in the Criminal Justice and Police Bill.

  The responses to the White Paper include a number of reservations or suggestions which are helpful, and which we shall want to pursue as we work up the detail of legislative proposals to bring before Parliament in due course. There is, however, one major point on which we have been persuaded by the consultations that a substantive change to the White Paper proposals is required.

  The appeal arrangements described in the White Paper gave rise to considerable anxiety for many interested parties. We now intend to provide in legislation that appeals against licensing decisions should go to local magistrates courts on both law and merits, rather than to the Crown court.

  We will continue to consult closely with all the interested parties as work on preparing the necessary legislation proceeds.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Electrical Goods
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in what respects average prices for each of the categories of electrical goods subject to the Restriction on Agreements and Conduct (Specified Domestic Electrical Goods) Order 1998 have altered in each of the last five years in(a) cash terms and (b) real terms. [159963]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 1 May 2001]: The Office for National Statistics does not publish retail prices for individual goods. Rather, official retail price statistics are
  684W
  compiled in categories. The categories which include those electrical goods covered by the Restriction on Agreements and Conduct (Specified Domestic Electrical Goods) Order 1998 are:
  audio-visual equipment (includes TVs, video recorders and hi fi systems);
  household electrical appliances (includes washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers and cold food storage equipment); and
  toys, photographic and sports equipment (includes camcorders).

  The following table lists the year on year nominal and real price changes for these categories.

  Percentage

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  Audio visual

  Nominal

  -5.1

  -62.

  -12.6

  -16.9

  -13.6

  Real

  -7.3

  -9.1

  -15.5

  -18.2

  -16.1

  Electrical appliances

  Nominal

  -2.9

  -3.5

  -2.4

  -2.9

  -4.9

  Real

  -5.2

  -6.5

  -5.6

  -4.4

  -7.6

  Toys, photographic and sports equipment

  Nominal

  0.5

  -0.4

  -1.4

  -2.7

  -4.3

  Real

  -1.9

  -3.4

  -4.7

  -4.2

  -7.1

  Engineering
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to protect employment levels in engineering. [159837]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  Our framework for encouraging macro-economic stability, together with our policies to help manufacturing and engineering companies to invest, innovate and to grow, are the best way to facilitate the long-term success of the UK engineering sector and enhance the job prospects of those within it.

  Internet Access (Merseyside)
  Mr. Hesford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken to increase internet access for businesses in the Merseyside sub-region. [159561]

  Ms Hewitt
  Options for high-speed internet access for businesses in Merseyside have increased significantly in the last year.

  BT have been upgrading exchanges across the UK to deliver ADSL services. Some 839 exchanges, serving over 50 per cent. of households and businesses, have been upgraded, a number of which are in Merseyside. Cable modem services are also being rolled out, and on Merseyside are available from the cable operator, Telewest.

  Last November the Government auctioned licences in the 28 Ghz radio spectrum band which will enable the delivery of internet and multimedia services using wireless technology. Three licences were awarded for the region encompassing Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire.

  Post Offices
  Mr. Hurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much financial assistance will be made available to those post offices identified by the Government as most vulnerable. [158767]
  685W
  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The Cabinet Office PIU report on modernising the post office network identified post offices in the rural network and in deprived urban areas as in need of special protection.

  The Government have accepted all the recommendations of the PIU report on the post office network and under the spending review 2000, as the first stage of modernising the post office network, have ring-fenced support of £270 million over the next three years for new investment to start the implementation of the PIU report. £15 million of this ring-fenced funding has been allocated specifically to help sustain and improve post offices in deprived urban areas. A report from the Postal Services Commission advising the Government on the best way to channel financial assistance to rural post offices is expected in the autumn, following consultations and discussions with the Consumer Council for Post Services, the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters and other key post office network stakeholders.

  In addition, a fund of £2 million has been set up to support relocation and refurbishment initiatives by volunteer or community groups to maintain or reopen post office facilities in areas where the traditional post office is closing.

  Export Licences
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Government will respond to the Defence, Foreign Affairs, International Development and Trade and Industry Committees' revised proposals for prior parliamentary scrutiny of export licences. [159708]

  Dr. Howells
  We will be publishing our official response to the quadripartite committee in due course.

  World Trade Organisation
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the use of World Trade Organisation-sponsored trade sanctions against developing countries which produce and export generic medicines used in the treatment of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis and other diseases. [159706]

  Mr. Caborn
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) on 27 March 2001,Official Report, columns 585–86W.

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if it is his policy to support the reform of the World Trade Organisation's TRIPS agreement to improve poor people's access to essential drugs and medicines. [159705]

  Mr. Caborn
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Clydebank and Milngavie (Mr. Worthington) on 9 March 2001,Official Report, column 348W.

  Export Control and Non-proliferation Bill
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, in developing the proposals in the draft Export Control and Non-Proliferation Bill, the Government will be evaluating measures to monitor the use of controlled goods once they have been exported from the UK. [159709]
  686W
  Dr. Howells
  The Government keep all export control procedures under continuous review, including the need for monitoring, where appropriate, the use of controlled goods once they have been exported from the UK. The Government will consider carefully any comments received on the issue of end-use monitoring during the current public consultation on the draft Export Control and Non-Proliferation Bill, which ends on 24 May.

  Rural Post Offices
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will respond to the recommendations of the PostComm inquiry into the future of the rural post office network. [159936]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  The recent responses to the PostComm discussion paper on preserving access to post offices in rural areas will feed into PostComm's annual report on the rural post office network and their advice to the Government in the best way to channel financial assistance to rural post offices due later in the year. The Government will then respond to the report's findings and to PostComm's advice.

  Miss McIntosh:
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the rural post office network. [153643]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  [pursuant to his reply, 22 March 2001, c. 480W]: The reversal of the recent year-on-year trend of increasing rural closures is both welcome and important. However, I now realise that I was mistaken in claiming, as I did in response to the hon. Lady's supplementary question, that the 20 per cent. reduction in rural post office closures in the nine months to December 2000 compared with the corresponding period of the previous year was the first reduction of any sort in the past 18 years. I apologise for the error.

  Universal Bank
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will announce the final details of the proposed universal bank; and when he expects the new accounts to become available to post office users. [159935]

  Mr. Alan Johnson
  Our intention is to sign a memorandum of understanding with the banks on universal banking services shortly. Detailed implementation is for the longer term and subject to further negotiations between the Post Office and the banks, and between the Post Office, their clients and potential suppliers. Universal banking services are scheduled to come on stream either before or at the time of transfer of benefit payments to ACT in 2003.

  Helplines
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what telephone telephones to assist the public are administered by his Department and its agencies. [159502]

  Dr. Howells
  My Department operates an enquiry unit, which refers those members of the public contacting our general enquiry number 020 7215 5000 (Minicom for the hearing impaired: 020 7215 6740) to the range of sources of help and advice provided by the Department. DTI's website: www.dti.gov.uk also provides a number of links to such sources of information and advice.
  687W
  A list of those individual helplines currently operated by the Department, which have been notified to the enquiry unit, as well as those provided by Companies House, the Employment Tribunals Service, the Radiocommunications Agency and the Small Business Service has been placed in the Library of the House.

  The chief executives of the Insolvency Service and the Patent Office will reply direct to my hon. Friend.

  Trade Partners UK, which brings together the work of my Department and the FCO in support of British trade and investment overseas, operates an UK enquiry service—020 7215 5444/5445—to assist UK businesses to find the appropriate contact within their network.

  Individual Government offices for the regions also advertise their main contact points on their websites and in selected directories and publications.

  Miners' Compensation
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps are being taken to secure access to the health records of retired miners when the holders of these records refuse access. [159742]

  Mr. Hain
  Assessing compensation is part of an on-going legal process and they are required by law to release the records.

  If there are difficulties of non-co-operation, Healthcall (who manage the medical assessment process for the Department) in liaison with the Department, issue two warning letters in sequence. If there is no satisfactory response within one week of the second letter, the Department will begin court proceedings. It has not been necessary to go beyond the second warning letter to date.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Wells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the projects funded by his Department in Zimbabwe. [159569]

  Mr. Caborn
  My Department is not currently funding any projects in Zimbabwe.

  Appointments (Age Limits)
  Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what age limit is placed on appointments to public bodies in his Department; if this limit is mentioned in advertisements for such posts; and what the basis for this limit is. [158107]

  Dr. Howells
  As a general rule, none of the public appointments made by my Department has age limits, whether upper or lower, attached to them. The only exceptions to this general rule are a number of judicial appointments. They are:Employment Tribunals and the Employment Appeal Tribunal
  The retirement age is 70 for current members of these tribunals and will be 65 for all members appointed after 2000. Advertisements generally specify that applicants should be in a position to serve a full three year term before reaching the retirement age. This is based on the need to obtain a reasonable return of service for the investment in recruitment and training of the successful applicants.
  688W
  Central Arbitration Committee
  The current CAC Chairman is a High Court Judge and is therefore subject to arrangements for the judiciary. In the last recruitment round for Deputy Chairmen and Members no age limit was stipulated in the advertisement.

PRIME MINISTER

  Lord Birt
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) how the work on crime undertaken by Lord Birt contributed to his speech "Improving Your Local Environment", delivered on 24 April; and if he will make a statement; [159967]

  (2) which of the proposals in his speech "Improving Your Local Environment", delivered on 24 April, were put forward by Lord Birt in his capacity as the Government's adviser on crime; and if he will make a statement. [159966]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 1 May 2001]: The proposals in my 24 April speech which related to crime reduction drew on the Government's strategy document "Criminal Justice: The Way Ahead" (Cm 5074).

  Global Health Project
  Mr. Browne
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the performance and innovation unit's progress on the global health project. [159113]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Clydebank and Milngavie (Mr. Worthington) on 19 March 2001,Official Report, column 9W.

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Prime Minister if the Performance and Innovation Unit's global health project will examine the issue of patents protection and its impact on access to medicines; [159608]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the PIU's progress on their global health project. [159609]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Clydebank and Milngavie (Mr. Worthington) on 19 March 2001,Official Report, column 9W. The project includes consideration of intellectual property protection.

  Sanctions
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will discuss with President Bush the consequences of sanctions against(a) Libya and (b) Iraq on the availability of oil supplies to the West. [159171]

  The Prime Minister
  UN sanctions against Libya have been suspended since April 1999. Therefore, they have no impact on the availability of oil supplies from Libya to the West.

  Following the adoption of UN Security Council resolution 1284 (1999), Iraq is permitted to export unlimited amounts of oil under the UN oil-for-food programme.

  Laeken Summit
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Prime Minister what the conclusions were of his recent discussions with the Belgian Prime Minister on the preparations for the Belgian Presidency of the EU Council and the Laeken Summit. [159862]

  The Prime Minister
  Mr. Verhofstadt and I had useful discussions on a range of issues likely to feature during the Belgian Presidency of the European Union. We agreed to work closely together throughout the Presidency.

WALES

  GM Crops
  Mrs. Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Secretary for Rural Affairs of the National Assembly for Wales about the proposed trial growing of GM maize at Mathry, Pembrokeshire. [159996]

  Mr. Hanson
  I have regular discussions with the Secretary for Rural Affairs of the National Assembly for Wales on a variety of issues, including GM issues.

  The decision on locations for the trials was taken by the scientific steering committee, on the basis of advice from the research consortium and information about the availability of sites from the supply chain initiative on modified agricultural crops (SCIMAC).

  Mrs. Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the Cabinet Office concerning the National Assembly for Wales's policy on GM crops. [159993]

  Mr. Hanson
  As a member of the Ministerial Committee on Biotechnology and Genetic Modification, I have regular discussions with the Minister of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, and the Minister of State, Cabinet Office, on policy on GM crops.

  European Directive 90/220/EEC governs the release and marketing of GMOs in the European Union. It recognises two broad categories of release of GMOs into the environment: part B releases for research trials and part C releases for marketing purposes.

  Applications for part C consents in any EU member state are circulated to the European Commission and to all other member states, who forward them to their experts and competent authorities (including the devolved Administrations in the case of the UK). When all member states have commented and if there are no objections, then the application will proceed. Once a part C consent has been approved in any one member state of the European Union, it is valid throughout the European Union. GM Maize already has a part C consent.

  However, the Government have negotiated a voluntary written agreement with the industry biotechnology body, SCIMAC, that there will be no commercial growing of GM crops for a three-year period during which farm scale evaluations (FSEs) are undertaken. This means there will
  690W
  be no widespread planting leading to general market access of GM crops grown in the UK until the FSEs are complete.

  In Great Britain, directive 90/220 has been implemented by part VI of the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) 1990 and the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 1992, as amended in 1995 and 1997. The functions of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food under part VI of the EPA have been transferred to the National Assembly for Wales. The Assembly has now recognised that it does not have a sufficient basis for the exercise of its powers under section 110 of the EPA 1990 to restrict the planting of GM crops on the sites currently proposed. It now proposes to place existing separation distances between sites of GM and non-GM means of production on a statutory basis. This will trigger a notification to Europe under article 16 of European directive 90/220, affording the Assembly an opportunity to take its concerns directly to the European Commission.

  UK Ministers continue to keep the issues under review and are committed to ensuring the coexistence of different types of farming.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Helplines
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what telephone helplines to assist the public are administered by her Department and its agencies. [159499]

  Jane Kennedy
  The departmental headquarters operates a general telephone helpline facility for members of the public. The Court Service headquarters operates two helplines; a general customer service line and one that deals specifically with disability issues. The Crown court at Blackfriars operates a jury summoning helpline, Central London county court and Birmingham county court operate general helplines, as does the Immigration Appellate Authority in Loughborough. Most of the associated offices operate general inquiry lines that are manned during normal working hours; the judge Advocate General's office (four lines), the Public Guardianship Office (four lines), the Official Solicitor's Office (two lines), the Legal Services Ombudsman (one line) and the Council on Tribunals (one line). The Public Record Office has a contact centre to respond to inquiries from the public that uses an automated system with the option to speak to a member of staff The 24 district land registries along with the Land Registry headquarters and land charges department operate a mixture of automated and manned helplines to assist the public.

  Domestic Boundary Dispute
  Mr. Laxton
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many(a) double registration and (b) other domestic boundary disputes were handled by the Land Registry in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) 2000; of these, how many were (i) the subject of court action, (ii) resolved in court and (iii) settled in court on the basis of (A) loser pays winner's costs, (B) each party pays its own costs and (C) other

  691W
  arrangements for bearing costs; how long on average it took to settle such disputes; and what the average legal costs were for both parties combined. [159676]

  Jane Kennedy
  The Land Registry does not keep a record of the total number of boundary disputes which arise in cases it handles. It does, however, maintain a record of those cases in which an error in the extent of a registered title leads to the payment of indemnity under the Land Registration Act 1925. The figures for the last four financial years are as follows:

  Number of cases

  1997–98

  231

  1998–99

  288

  1999–2000

  359

  2000–01

  329

  To determine how many of these related to (a) double registrations and (b) domestic properties would be possible only at disproportionate cost.

  Immigration Appeals Tribunal
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans she has to review the Immigration Appeals Tribunal established in Scotland in February 1997. [159858]

  Jane Kennedy
  There are no current plans to review the tribunal in Scotland. In view of the impending move of the tribunal tier of the Immigration Appellate Authorities to a new premises in London later this year it is intended to undertake a review of the administrative process of the tribunal. The review will be carried out in consultation with users and will consider the most effective and fair way to deal with the increase in work resulting from the Government's dispersal initiative.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many special advisers worked in her Department from 1997 to date. [160037]

  Jane Kennedy
  The Lord Chancellor's Department has one special adviser, who joined the Department on 5 March 1998.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the total cost was of employing special advisers in her Department from 1997 to date. [160046]

  Jane Kennedy
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 1 May 2001,Official Report, column 607W.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  BSE
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the results from the second BSE survey of cattle aged over five years begun in may 2000 are available. [160400]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  Yes, 9,256 samples taken from cattle 692W
  over five years old slaughtered in Great Britain under the over-30-months scheme (OTMS) between May and December 2000 were tested for BSE by histological examination of the brain. Of these 0.41 per cent. (39) tested positive. This compares with 0.45 per cent. (18) positive results by the same method of examination in the first survey in 1999 when 3,951 cattle aged over five years old were tested. These brain samples, and others that proved unsuitable for examination by histological examination are being further tested by means of a rapid test, and results will be reported as soon as they are available.

  These results will be used to evaluate results of additional surveys of fallen stock or casualties, and to enable the decline of the BSE epidemic in Great Britain to be more fully analysed. Because of the OTMS none of these cattle would have gone into the food chain.

  Foot and Mouth
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out his policy in respect of the vaccination of rare breeds during the present foot and mouth outbreak. [159591]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 30 April 2001]: The chief scientific adviser's foot and mouth disease science group said last month that it did not recommend a vaccination programme for rare breeds. In the light of this, the Government have not sought EC approval to vaccinate rare breeds. Following consultations, my right hon. Friend announced measures to protect rare breeds of sheep in his statements to the House on 26 April and these were covered in the joint instruction on slaughter policy on contiguous premises issued by the Ministry on 27 April.

  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what his estimate is of the number of dairy herds unable to be inseminated for the purposes of continuing milk production. [156914]

  Ms Quin
  [holding answer 5 April 2001]: We are aware that the current ban on artificial insemination (AI) by technicians in infected areas will pose problems for some farmers, although we are not in a position to quantify the extent. On 29 April there were around 8,000 dairy holdings (as classified in the June 2000 agricultural census) in the infected areas in England. Not all of these will use AI; some will own a bull. Of those that do use AI, some will use the DIY method (where licensed movement of semen is permitted, subject to certain conditions) and others AI companies. We have already taken some action to alleviate the problems faced by farmers and we are actively considering other ways in which we can provide assistance in this area.

  Flood Defences
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list local authorities which have(a) indicated that they are unwilling or unable to inspect flood defences and critical watercourses and (b) failed to respond to the Environment Agency's inquiries on this. [159351]

  Mr. Morley
  The Environment Agency has provided the following information:
  693W
  (a) local authorities who have so far indicated that they are unwilling or unable to inspect flood defences and critical watercourses.
  Local authorities not prepared to inspect defences

  Bedford Borough Council

  Forest Heath District Council

  Haringey London Borough Council

  North Hertfordshire District Council

  Reading Borough Council

  South Cambridgeshire District Council

  South Oxfordshire District Council

  Local authorities not prepared to inspect but have informed where defences are

  Ellesmere Port and Neston Borough Council

  Gedling Borough Council

  Merton London Borough Council

  Newark and Sherwood District Council

  Oxford City Council

  Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council

  Rushcliffe Borough Council

  Wandsworth London Borough Council

  Woking Borough Council

  Wokingham Council

  Local authorities willing but unable1

  Alnwick District Council

  Ashford Borough Council

  Bath and North Somerset Council

  Barnet London Borough Council

  Basildon District Council

  Baskingstoke and Deane Borough Council

  Berwick upon Tweed Borough Council

  Borough of Blyth Valley Council

  Bournemouth Borough Council

  Bracknell Forest Borough Council

  Bromley London Borough Council

  Bromsgrove District Council

  Broxbourne District Council

  Bury Borough Council

  Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council

  Cannock Chase District Council

  Canterbury City Council

  Carrick District Council

  Castle Morpeth Borough Council

  Chester le Street District Council

  Christchurch Borough Council

  Coventry City Council

  Crawley District Council

  Croydon London Borough Council

  Dacorum Borough Council

  Dartford Borough Council

  Derwentside District Council

  Dover District Council

  Dudley Metropolitan Council

  Durham City Council

  Easington District Council

  East Dorset District Council

  694W

  East Hampshire District Council

  East Hertfordshire District Council

  East Northamptonshire District Council

  Eastleigh Borough Council

  Elmbridge Borough Council

  Enfield London Borough Council

  Epsom and Ewell Borough Council

  Greenwich London Borough Council

  Hackney London Borough Council

  Harlow District Council

  Hart District Council

  Hillingdon London Borough Council

  Ipswich Borough Council

  Kent County Council

  Kerrier District Council

  Kington upon Thames Royal Borough Council

  Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

  Lewisham London Borough Council

  Maidstone Borough Council

  Maldon District Council

  Malvern District Council

  Medway Council

  Mendip District Council

  Newcastle upon Tyne City Council

  North Dorset District Council

  North Norfolk District Council

  North Shropshire District Council

  North Somerset Council

  Penwith District Council

  Plymouth City Council

  Poole Borough Council

  Purbeck District Council

  Reigate and Banstead Borough Council

  Richmondshire District Council

  Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council

  Rushmoor Borough Council

  Salisbury District Council

  Sedgemoor District Council

  Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council

  Sevenoaks District Council

  Sheffield City Council

  South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council

  Southend on Sea Borough Council

  St. Albans District Council

  St. Helens Borough Council

  Stafford Borough Council

  Stevenage Borough Council

  Stoke on Trent City Council

  Stratford on Avon District Council

  Stroud District Council

  Suffolk Coastal District Council

  Sunderland City Council

  Sutton London Borough Council

  Swale Borough Council

  Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council

  Tamworth Borough Council

  Taunton Deane Borough Council

  Telford and Wrekin Council

  Test Valley Borough Council

  Three Rivers District Council

  695W

  Tonbridge and Mailing Borough Council

  Wakefield City Council

  Waltham Forest London Borough Council

  Wansbeck District Council

  Watford Borough Council

  West Berkshire Council

  West Dorset District Council

  West Somerset District Council

  West Wiltshire District Council

  Weymouth and Portland Borough Council

  Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council

  Wrexham Borough Council

  Wyre Forest District Council

  1Have identified where defences are and some are actively seeking resources to carry out inspections
  (b) local authorities who have so far foiled to respond to the Environment Agency's inquiries regarding these inspections:

  Breckland District Council

  Castle Point Borough Council

  Ealing London Borough Council

  East Cambridgeshire District Council

  East Lindsey District Council

  Fenland District Council

  Huntingdonshire District Council

  King's Lynn and West Norfolk District Council

  Lambeth London Borough Council

  Milton Keynes District Council

  North East Lincolnshire Council

  Norwich City Council

  Shepway District Council

  Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.

  Animal Welfare
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out, with statistical information, the effects of his Department's policies and actions in relation to animal welfare since 2 May 1997. [158904]

  Mr. Morley
  This Department has concluded a range of measures since May 1997 to improve farm animal welfare, both at EU level and domestically. We have successfully negotiated a protocol to the treaty of Rome that recognises animals as sentient beings; agreed minimum EU welfare standards for all farm animals; and secured detailed EU rules for the welfare of laying hens. At home, we have introduced an updated code of recommendations on the welfare of sheep; continued our advisory campaigns for farmers on welfare issues; and committed substantial sums to farm animal welfare research and development. Full details of these, and many other, measures may be obtained from the Department's website http://www.maff.gov.uk/.

  Environmental Impact Assessment Directive
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will publish proposals on implementing the uncultivated land provisions of the environmental impact assessment directive. [159350]
  696W
  Mr. Morley
  The Rural White Paper gave an undertaking that MAFF would consult on the application of environmental impact assessment procedures to projects intended to make more intensive agricultural use of uncultivated land. The consultation paper will be published today.

CABINET OFFICE

  Positive Futures
  Ms Blears
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans she has to involve more young people in Positive Futures projects in the north-west region. [159100]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  We have set aside an extra £5 million over two years to help expand the scope and scale of Positive Futures. Up to 80 new projects will be set up and we aim to expand those already in place including Blackburn, Bolton and Salford.

  To help with this expansion major sports stars, including Sir Alex Ferguson, Tammi Grey Thompson and Andy Cole, have offered their support and will act as role models for the kids. There is no doubt that the participation of heroes from the world of sport can make all the difference in helping a vulnerable young person reach their potential.

  The areas being earmarked for expansion include Coventry, Leicester, Sunderland, Liverpool, Leeds, north London, Brighton, the West Country, Essex and South Wales.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on the Government's policy on employing special advisers during a general election. [159102]

  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on the Government's policy towards employing special advisers. [159106]

  Mr. Day
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on the Government's policy towards employing special advisers. [159110]

  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on the Government's policy towards employing special advisers. [159112]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The rules are unchanged from the previous Administration. Special advisers who remain in post during the election period will continue to be governed by the Model Contract for Special Advisers. Guidance has also been issued to them on their activities during the election period. The Guidance that will be issued to all civil servants as soon as the election is announced will also apply.

  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the salary bill for special advisers will be for the 2001–02 financial year assuming they all receive the maximum performance increments during this financial year. [159103]
  697W
  Marjorie Mowlam
  The estimated salary bill for special advisers for 2001–02 is £4.4 million.

  European Regulatory Environment
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress she has made on reform of the European regulatory environment; and if she will make a statement. [159104]

  Mr. Stringer
  We have worked closely with other member states for instance through joint statements and initiatives, such as the Mandelkern Group and the Commission to achieve the real progress my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister reported to this House on 26 March following the Stockholm European Council.

  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what action her Department has taken to tackle the problem of drug misuse in South Ribble; and if she will make a statement. [159105]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  We are making good progress nation-wide in all areas of the Government's anti-drugs strategy as reported in the UK Anti-Drugs Coordinator's Annual Report for 1999–2000, published on 7 November 2000.

  South Ribble lies within the boundary of the Lancashire Drug Action Team—one of the largest DATs in the country. To date, over 230 individuals have benefited from Arrest Referral Services.

  New Government resources are being targeted at increasing GP shared care, service capacity and child specific services.

  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much the Government are spending in the financial year 2001–02 on misuse of drugs across all its Departments and agencies. [159114]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The Government have made available substantial resources for directly tackling the problem of drug misuse. These are planned to increase from £700 million in 2000–01 to over £1 billion in 2003–04.

  Details for 2001–02 are set out in the tables.

  Key expenditure figures:

  2000 spending review—resources directly allocated for tackling drug abuse (by main aim of the national anti-drugs strategy)1

  £million

  2001–02

  Drug Treatment2

  328

  Protecting Young People

  90

  Safeguarding Communities

  79

  Reducing Availability3

  373

  Total

  870

  1Excludes expenditure by devolved Administration

  2Comprises mainstream spending by Department of Health, local authorities and the pooled National Treatment Agency budget. Excludes additional Prison Service treatment spend, brigaded under Communities

  3Based on projected anti-drugs allocation from anti-Organised Crime shared funding

  698W

  2000 spending review—new resources provided for related programmes1

  £ million

  2001–02

  Criminal Justice System

  1,420

  Neighbourhood Renewal Fund

  200

  Children's Fund

  100

  Connexions2

  77

  1Excludes expenditure by devolved Administration

  2This was added to existing provision for the careers service. Funding will go to the careers services in areas where Connexions is not yet running

  Budget 2001—new resources for anti-drugs measures1

  £ million

  2001–02

  Strengthening communities

  50

  Extending drug testing in the CJS

  0

  Providing more help to find jobs

  5

  Strengthening DATs

  5

  Expanding Positive Futures

  2

  1Excludes expenditure by devolved Administration

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress has been made in multi-agency co-operation in tackling drug abuse problems in the last year. [159123]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  Co-operation between agencies is essential to the success of the Government's anti-drugs strategy, particularly at local level. The Lancashire Drug Action Team is working closely with 12 Community Safety Partnerships on a Lange of initiatives designed to tackle drug misuse in the area. Examples in Burnley include targeting action to increase child specific services, reducing waiting times for specialist treatment, auditing service provision to ensure new resources are targeted where they are most needed, and encouraging opportunities for residents to voice their views on substance misuse.

  We have also made available nationwide an additional £220 million to Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships working with Drug Action Teams to build stronger community links and help police and local communities tackle neighbourhood drug problems and the crime associated with them. Partnerships will be free to use this money imaginatively on what will work in their own areas—for example, CCTV in key places, better street lighting or other environmental initiatives that improve visibility and make people feel safer, or to fund police actions against crime associated with drugs.

  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress has been made on establishing baseline figures for measuring the Government's targets on reducing drug use. [159118]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The Government have set demanding targets in all four areas of their 10 year anti-drugs strategy—halving drug use among young people, halving re-offending by drug-misusing offenders, doubling the numbers of people entering treatment and halving the availability of Class A drugs—and have put in place comprehensive research and information projects to measure progress.
  699W
  In one of the areas—halving drug misuse among young people—a baseline figure has been established using the 1998 British Crime Survey. This showed that the proportion of 16 to 24-year-olds reporting use of Class A drugs in the last years was 8.3 per cent. and in the last month was 3.4 per cent.

  Baselines for the other areas will be established within the next 12 months.

  Mrs. Gilroy
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment she has made of the impact of the Government's anti-drug policies on the south-west. [159124]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  We review the progress of local Drug Action Teams annually, through their reports and plans. Reports for 2000–01 are due from Drug Action Teams by the end of April, which will allow us to assess progress of the Government's anti-drugs strategy nationally, regionally and locally.

  Emerging information indicates that all Drug Action Teams in the south-west have submitted treatment plans. In addition, a Public Health Observatory has been established to assess the health impact of drug use in the region; Arrest Referral Schemes have been implemented in custody suites in all police force areas; and Drug Treatment and Testing Orders continue to be rolled out across the region.

  Departmental Advertising
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on her departmental budget for advertising. [159108]

  Mr. Stringer
  The UK Online project has a budget for Marketing Communications, including advertising, in the current financial year of £5 million. Apart from that, the departmental budget for advertising in the current financial year is under £200,000, most of which is for civil service recruitment.

  Senior Civil Service
  Mr. Derek Twigg
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what percentage of the Senior Civil Service has been recruited from the private sector. [159109]

  Mr. Stringer
  In 1996, 23 people were recruited from the private sector into the Senior Civil Service. In 1999–2000 this had increased to 44 (27.9 per cent. of appointments made). 158 vacancies in the Senior Civil Service were filled by open competition
  in this period, and nearly two-thirds of them were filled by people from outside the civil service. In addition people are brought in on secondment; last year there were 354 from other sectors into the Senior Civil Service

  Public Appointments Commission
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office on how many occasions since May 1997 the Public Appointments Commission has rejected candidates on the grounds of political affiliation. [159115]

  Mr. Stringer
  The Commissioner for Public Appointments is responsible for overseeing the process for appointments to public bodies. She has no involvement in individual appointment decisions.

  Modernising Government
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent progress has been made on items contained in the latest annual report on modernising Government. [159116]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  I have been impressed with the progress I have seen since the publication last September of the Modernising Government annual report, "Citizens First". For example:Employment Service Direct, which featured in "Open All Hours", our "Citizens First" report on extended hours services published in March, is available for anyone looking for a full or part-time job. And a network of employer service centres will be running by October to help employers advertise their vacancies quickly and easily.

  In my hon. Friend's own constituency, modernisation is going well. For example, the Thurrock Youth Service is supporting young people in the period of their transition from dependence to independence by offering a wide-ranging curriculum that facilitates personal and social development and enables young people to gain a voice, influence and place in society.

  Better Regulation Taskforce
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on the work of the better regulation taskforce. [159119]

  Mr. Stringer
  Further to my reply of 21 March to the hon. Gentleman, the Better Regulation Taskforce studies of the economic regulators, the impact of Housing Benefit on lone parents, and regulations affecting local shopkeepers will be published over the course of the summer.

  Rough Sleepers Strategy
  Mr. Hope
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent meetings she has had with charities and local service providers to discuss the Government's rough sleepers strategy. [159125]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  In the past six months I have met with or had visits to the following organisations involved with helping rough sleepers: Huge Move, Help the Aged, Look Ahead, St. Thomas's Nightshelter, Brighton Housing Trust, Passage House Nightshelter, Bethnal Green Training Centre for the homeless.

  I also regularly meet my right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and the Regions, the Minister responsible for the Government's strategy on rough sleeping, and Louise Casey, Head of the Rough Sleepers' Unit, who is in contact with charities and local service providers on a day-to-day basis.

  Regulatory Burden (Public Sector Workers)
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps are being taken to reduce the burden of regulation on public sector workers. [159126]
  701W
  Mr. Stringer
  In November 1999 the Minister for the Cabinet Office established a Public Sector Team within the Regulatory Impact Unit with the remit of cutting red tape and burden in the public sector.

  The team has focused on reducing the burden on frontline public sector workers and in the last 12 months has produced reports on:
  the police saving an estimated 166,000 hours annually;
  headteachers saving an estimated 200 hours per school annually; and
  most recently GP doctors, launched by the Prime Minister, saving an estimated 7.2 million appointments and 750,000 hours annually.

  The reports were widely welcomed among public sector workers and the Public Sector Team is continuing with this work. There are plans for a further three reports during the next 12 months.

  NHS Appointments
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when she last met the Commissioner for Public Appointments to discuss NHS appointments. [159127]

  Mr. Stringer
  NHS appointments are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health.

  Government Websites
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps her Department has taken to co-ordinate the development of protocols for providing content for Government websites. [159097]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  In 1999 my Department published a Framework for Information Age Government Websites. Included within these guidelines is information on the type of content to be expected on Government sites.

  The websites are subject to the conventions on Government publicity. Basically they require that information should:
  be relevant to Government responsibilities; be objective and explanatory;
  not be, or be liable to misrepresentation as being, party political; and
  be conducted in an economic and appropriate way, having regard to the need to be able to justify the costs as expenditure of public funds.
  702W
  These guidelines are available on the Cabinet Office website.

  Rural Affairs Committee
  Mr. St. Aubyn
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many meetings of the Government's Rural Affairs Committee she has attended in the last 12 months. [159101]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  It is established practice under exemption two of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information not to disclose information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet Committees.

  Iran
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to her answer of 21 March 2001,Official Report, column 325, what action she has taken following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Iran on drugs co-operation; and if she will make a statement. [159111]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  Since signing the Memorandum of Understanding on drugs co-operation on 27 February, UK and Iranian specialists have commenced a UNDCP facilitated technical mission to examine ways of sustaining the reduction of opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan. We are also discussing ways of furthering our bilateral assistance with the Iranian customs. Both the UK and Iran are committed to vigorous anti-drugs efforts.

  Departmental Policies (Amber Valley)
  Judy Mallaber
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Amber Valley constituency, the effects on Amber Valley of her Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [157136]

  Mr. Stringer
  The Cabinet Office is responsible for a range of functions which cover England as a whole, or in relation to non-devolved matters, Great Britain or the United Kingdom. It is therefore not possible to say what their specific impact is on a particular constituency. Additionally any policy changes arising form reports by Cabinet Office units, such as the Social Exclusion Unit and the United Kingdom Anti-Drugs Co-ordination Unit, are implemented by the appropriate Government Department, rather than by the Unit itself.

  Victoria Climbié Inquiry
  Victoria Climbié Inquiry
  Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Bill
  Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Bill
  Foot and Mouth Disease: Tea Tree Oil
  Foot and Mouth Disease: Tea Tree Oil
  Beef Exports to France: Farmers' Compensation
  Beef Exports to France: Farmers' Compensation
  Foot and Mouth Disease: Disinfection of Carcasses
  Foot and Mouth Disease: Disinfection of Carcasses
  Foot and Mouth Disease: Quicklime
  Foot and Mouth Disease: Quicklime
  Foot and Mouth Disease: Vaccine Stocks
  Foot and Mouth Disease: Vaccine Stocks
  Foot and Mouth Disease: Napalm
  Foot and Mouth Disease: Napalm
  Foot and Mouth Disease in Kent: Serology
  Foot and Mouth Disease in Kent: Serology
  Foot and Mouth Disease: Wild Deer
  Foot and Mouth Disease: Wild Deer
  Slaughtermen
  Slaughtermen
  Meat and Meat Products: Import Monitoring
  Meat and Meat Products: Import Monitoring
  BSE Survey of Cattle Over Five Years Old
  BSE Survey of Cattle Over Five Years Old
  Palestinian Authority: Aid
  Palestinian Authority: Aid
  British Railways Board: Transfer of Liabilities to SRA
  British Railways Board: Transfer of Liabilities to SRA
  Merseyrail Electric Services
  Merseyrail Electric Services
  Planning Enforcement
  Planning Enforcement
  East and West Timor
  East and West Timor
  Council of the European Union: Forthcoming Business
  Council of the European Union: Forthcoming Business
  British Nationals Imprisoned Overseas: Clemency
  British Nationals Imprisoned Overseas: Clemency
  Humanitarian Crises: Proposals for International Action
  Humanitarian Crises: Proposals for International Action
  Public Service: Ill Health Retirement
  Public Service: Ill Health Retirement
  Licensing Laws: Reform Proposals
  Licensing Laws: Reform Proposals