To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances communication costs for a blind, visually impaired or deaf person standing in (a) European, (b) parliamentary and (c) local authority elections may be exempted from the limits from the candidate's personal election expenses. [7087]

There is no statutory provision to exempt such costs at parliamentary or European parliamentary elections. The limit of £600 on a candidate's personal election expenses does not apply at local elections.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice is given to chief immigration officers on the handling of representations from hon. Members on deportation cases; and when this was last amended. [7767]

Guidelines for hon. Members making representations in immigration cases have been published by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate and were most recently updated in April 1994. Officials who handle immigration cases raised by hon. Members are trained and have instructions about these guidelines. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and I are currently considering issuing new guidance and will be holding a seminar for hon. Members who would like a more detailed explanation of immigration work.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his letter of 14 May, ref. 7870/97. [7456]

I replied to the hon. Member's letter on 7 July.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions were given to Leeds/Bradford Airport immigration officers following the telephone conversation with his private office by the hon. Member for Bradford, North on 4 July concerning Zaffer Iqbal, Home Office ref. J270919. [7768]

I am given to understand that, following the hon. Member's telephone call to my private office on 4 July, it was agreed that he would discuss Mr. Iqbal's immigration status with Mr. Iqbal himself and members of his family on 5 July and make further contact with my private office if he wished to make representations about the case. No agreement was given to defer arrangements for Mr. Iqbal's removal to Pakistan as an illegal entrant, which had been arranged for 16.40 hours on Sunday, 6 July.My private office advised the Immigration Service at Leeds/Bradford airport of the hon. Member's interest in this case and that there might be further contact as a result.In the event, I understand that the hon. Member did not make further contact with my private office and that his office did not make contact with the Immigration Service at Leeds/Bradford Airport before Mr. Iqbal's departure.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he intends to give as to the meaning of the word "urgency" in section 97(3) of the Police Act 1997. [6924]

The urgency of any case will depend upon individual circumstances and commonsense. It will be a matter for the authorising officer to assess whether the authorisation needs to become effective immediately and the Commissioner notified subsequently. The Commissioner will consider the reasonableness of that decision and may quash any authorisation or renewal which he believes has not reasonably been given.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 1 July, Official Report, column 77, on what date Mr. Jonathan Aitken was interviewed by police officers in connection with his alleged perjury in his discontinued libel action against The Guardian. [7787]

The Commissioner informs me that the investigations into the alleged offences by Mr. Aitken are continuing. This investigation is an operational matter for the Commissioner. I am therefore unable to comment on the details.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the savings there would be to the Exchequer if all theft cases including less than £500 were dealt with by summary trial. [7470]

Court proceedings data collected centrally do not record the amount or value of items stolen. Therefore it is not possible to estimate the savings that would accrue if all theft cases involving less than £500 were dealt with summarily.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many theft cases involving under £500 were disposed of in the Crown court in 1996; and how many of them resulted in a custodial sentence. [7487]

Court proceedings data collected centrally do not record the amount or value of items stolen.In 1995, there were 10,219 cases dealt with at the Crown Court for offences of theft. Of these, 4,430 resulted in a custodial sentence.1996 data will not be available until the autumn.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when model byelaws will be in place to enable local authorities to control drinking in public places. [7440]

A model byelaw, prohibiting the consumption of intoxicating liquor in designated places within a local authority area after a request to stop by a police officer, has been available to local authorities since October 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many probation officers there are; how many are currently seconded to the Prison Service; and what are the projected figures over the next five years. [7216]

The number of probation officers at 31 December 1996 (the latest date for which figures are as yet available) was 7,313, of which 543 were working in prisons. The previous Government's spending plans for the probation service, as set out in the Home Office Annual Report 1997, envisaged expenditure of £428 million in the present financial year, falling to £425 million next year and £417 million in 1999–2000. We shall maintain central government support at the planned level this financial year, and consider what level of funding the probation service needs in future years, in order to provide community sentences which are effective and which command public confidence, as part of the comprehensive review of spending on Home Office services. It is then for individual probation committees to determine the number of probation officers which they can employ within total available provision to carry out their responsibilities under the Probation Service Act 1993.The number of probation officers seconded to the Prison Service in future years will depend on the outcome of the comprehensive spending review and of discussions between governors and chief probation officers about the number of officers necessary to support effective throughcare in prisons, within governors' overall budgets.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the employment generated (a) directly and (b) indirectly by hunting with hounds. [7836]

A Private Member's Bill to ban hunting with hounds is currently before the House. This will provide the opportunity for Parliament to consider all the effects of a ban.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to continue the work of the interdepartmental working group on obscenity. [5654]

[holding answer 7 July 1997]: The Government attaches great importance to the work of the Interdepartmental Group on Obscenity which was established in 1995 and consists of officials from various Government Departments, the police and the Crown Prosecution Service with the task of monitoring developments in the area of obscenity, with particular reference to emerging trends in child and computer pornography; to identify any difficulties in enforcement or weaknesses in the relevant law; and to consider ways of overcoming them.Up to now, the main subjects the Group has discussed have been the availability of pornographic material on the Internet and self-regulation by Internet service providers; police enforcement of the law on obscenity and child pornography; the display of indecent publications in newsagents; guidance on the sexual content of teenage magazines; international treaties on obscenity; the workings of the Obscene Publications Act 1959; unlicensed sex establishments; satellite pornography; the Home Office research study "Testing obscenity; an international comparison of laws and controls relating to obscene material"; and Lord Halsbury's Bill on obscenity.

To ask the President of the Council if she will list the benefits and the monetary value of benefits granted to the official Opposition, other than those funded from the Short allocation to Opposition parties, with special reference to (a) salaries of Opposition Leader and Whips, (b) salaries and costs of civil servants attached to the Opposition Whips' Office, (c) the provision of a car and driver to the Leader of the Opposition and (d) the supply of newspapers to the Opposition Whips' Office. [6930]

The information requested is as follows. All figures are per year.

(a) Salaries:

• Leader of the Opposition: £55,000
• Opposition Chief Whip: £31,125
• Opposition Deputy Chief Whip: £20,029
• Assistant Opposition Whip: £20,029
• Total: 126,183

(b) The total salary bill is: £88,657

(c) £58,095

(d) The House authorities supply the Office with three copies of each of 12 daily newspapers for each day the House is sitting. An exact figure for the total cost is not readily available.

To ask the President of the Council if she will give for the review of the workings of the House of Commons (a) the expected completion date and (b) the cost of conducting the review. [8244]

The House has ordered that the Select Committee on the Modernisation of the practices and procedures of the House should seek to make a first report to the House before the Summer Adjournment and I expect it to do so. It is not yet possible to estimate the timing of future reports or the costs of the Committee's work.

To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what is the Commission's policy on parental leave for staff. [6663]

The Commission's policy on parental leave is set out in the Staff Handbook. Parental leave covers entitlements to maternity leave as well as a range of discretionary provisions covering such circumstances as short term domestic crises, marriage, paternity leave, and a career break scheme which includes provision for the care of young children.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will constitute a committee to consult other interested bodies, including the ex-service men's organisations, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Armistice on 11 November 1998; and if he will make a statement. [7273]

There are currently no plans to constitute a consultative committee for the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Armistice on 11 November next year.The Government will continue to support the national Service of Remembrance held in London at the Cenotaph.

To ask the Prime Minister what budget exists for hairdressing for (a) the Prime Minister and (b) members of his family accompanying him on official visits overseas; and what payments were (i) initially authorised and (ii) paid for such expenses during the Prime Minister's recent visit to the United States for (1) the Prime Minister and (2) members of his family accompanying him. [7695]

The Government would in the normal way meet necessary expenses connected with official visits overseas. The costs of hairdressing during the Denver Summit were met privately.

To ask the Prime Minister which Ministers or their staff gave information to the media in advance of the Budget speech by the Chancellor. [7815]

To ask the Prime Minister (1) what is the Government's policy on disclosure of information about the Budget prior to a Budget statement; [7072](2) what is his Government's policy on press briefing before the Budget statement. [7076]

I have nothing further to add to the replies that I gave to the Right hon. Member, the Leader of the Opposition, on 2 July, Official Report, columns 288–89.

To ask the Prime Minister when he plans to visit the People's Republic of China. [7168]

When we met in Hong Kong, the Chinese President, Jiang Zemin, invited me to visit China. I have no immediate plans to take advantage of the invitation, which I have accepted, but I would like to do so soon.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his discussions in Hong Kong with the Chinese President Jiang Zemin. [7167]

My meeting in Hong Kong was the first with the Chinese President since taking office. This was an historic occasion and provided a unique opportunity to set the tune for future relations. I emphasised the importance of the Joint Declaration to Hong Kong's future. We both expressed a wish to improve and broaden bilateral relations.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on Anglo-Chinese relations. [7169]

We aim to build a new, broad and forward-looking relationship with China. Britain and China have substantial common interests, including a special interest in Hong Kong. We look forward to dialogue and closer co-operation across a full range of bilateral and global issues.

To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to visit India in connection with the 50th anniversary of independence. [7170]

None at present, but I look forward to seeing the Indian Prime Minister at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Edinburgh in October. Her Majesty the Queen will make a State Visit to India earlier that month.

To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to visit (a) Pakistan, (b) Bangladesh and (c) Sri Lanka. [7171]

None at present. I look forward to meeting the Heads of Government of all three countries at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Edinburgh in October. Earlier that month Her Majesty the Queen will make a state visit to Pakistan to mark the 50th anniversary of independence.

To ask the Prime Minister what measures have been taken during the past five years to improve the energy efficiency of 10 Downing Street; at what point on the National Home Energy Rating Scheme 10 Downing Street lies; and what future measures are planned to increase its energy efficiency. [7104]

Over the past five years, the Cabinet Office Estate, including 10 and 11 Downing Street, has had in place a programme to maximise energy efficiency and minimise waste. A reduction of 15 per cent. in energy consumption has been achieved over the period. The programme of work in support of increasing energy efficiency will continue.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the division of responsibilities between the Secretary of State for National Heritage and the Minister without Portfolio in respect of the Millennium Exhibition at Greenwich. [4432]

[holding answer 23 June 1997]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for National Heritage has responsibility overall for arrangements to mark the Millennium nation-wide. The shares in Millennium Central Limited, the Millennium Exhibition operating company, are being transferred to my hon. Friend, the Minister without Portfolio. As sole shareholder, he will have detailed responsibility for preparation of the Exhibition.

To ask the Prime Minister if the decision to proceed with the Millennium Experience was taken by a vote within Cabinet. [6886]

[holding answer 7 July 1997]: Details relating to proceedings of Cabinet and Cabinet Committees are not published.

To ask the Prime Minister for what reason membership of the Ministerial Committee on the Environment does not include the Secretary of State for Education and Employment. [6889]

[holding answer 7 July 1997]: The Ministerial Committee on the Environment considers environmental policy issues. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment is invited to attend or be represented for items in which he has a departmental interest.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Defence Medical Training Organisation. [8516]

The Defence Medical Training Organisation (DMTO), which formed initially on 1 April 1996 and brought together the provision of individual medical services training previously provided on a single Service basis, was established as a joint Service Agency on 1 April 1997 under the control of a Chief Executive. The Headquarters of the DMTO will be based initially in Portsmouth, moving to HMS DOLPHIN in late 1998. The DMTO consists of the following:

(a) The Royal Defence Medical College, currently on two sites at Millbank, London and HMS DOLPHIN, Gosport. The London element will move to HMS DOLPHIN later this year.

(b) The Defence Medical Services Training, Keogh Barracks, Aldershot.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what performance targets have been set for the Medical Supplies Agency for 1997–98. [8517]

Key Targets have been set for the Chief Executive of the Medical Supplies Agency for financial year 1997–98. The targets build on the progress already made by the Agency since it formed in March 1996 and are as follows:

(a) By 31 October 1997, to agree quantifiable performance standards for building, holding, maintaining and supplying the agreed number of kits, outfits and associated items of equipment, as defined in endorsed Equipment Tables. To set challenging targets for the remainder of 1997–98 with a view to improving standards in 1998–99.

(b) To meet 100 per cent. of the Services requirements for stocked medical material and blood products for operations, training and exercises as defined by the Service Level Agreements.

(c) To ensure, in conjunction with HQ Land and the single Service manning branches, 100 per cent. provision of professional and militarily trained personnel for 84 FMED.

(d) During financial year 1997–98, to meet 95 per cent. of the timeliness and quality targets using JSP 336 Pam (1996 Standard Priority System) as the minimum benchmark standard.

(e) To deliver efficiency savings to a value of £4.6 million in 1997–98.

(f) As an integral part of the Surgeon General's Information Strategy, to publish the Agency's Information Strategy by January 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what performance targets have been set for the Defence Dental Agency for 1997–98. [8562]

Key Targets have been set for the Chief Executive of the Defence Dental Agency for financial year 1997–98. The targets build on the progress already made by the Agency since it formed in March 1996 and are as follows:

(a) From within available personnel resources, to achieve 100 per cent. of required professionally and militarily trained personnel, at the specified readiness required for deployment in support of the National Contingency Force.

(b) For each Service, to maintain the agreed dental fitness targets of 75 per cent. of all Service personnel and 90 per cent. in priority groups, to be fit for deployment.

(c) By 28 February 1998 to have developed a performance indicator to measure the outstanding treatment need and have set a baseline of performance to enable challenging targets to be set for 1988–99 onwards.

(d) By 28 February 1998 to have developed a performance indicator to measure the improvements in the failure to attend rate and have set a baseline of performance to enable challenging targets to be set for 1988–99 onwards.

(e) By 28 February 1998 to have developed a performance indicator to measure the improvement in dental morbidity and have set a baseline of performance to enable challenging targets to be set for 1988–99 onwards.

(f) To complete all Service Level Agreements with major customers and other Agencies by 31 December 1997, and develop a system of ongoing review to allow maintenance of SLAs in successive years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what performance targets have been set for the Defence Secondary Care Agency for 1997–98. [8563]

Key targets have been set for the Chief Executive of the Defence Secondary Care Agency for financial year 1997–98. The targets build on the progress already made by the Agency since it formed in April 1996 and are as follows:

(a) From within available personnel resources, to meet 100 per cent. of the Services' requirements for secondary care skill mix in support operations.

(b) To ensure that 50 per cent. of Service patients are offered a first outpatient appointment within 4 weeks of receipt of a referral, and 90 per cent. within 13 weeks.

(c) To ensure that 75 per cent. of Service patients are offered a treatment date that is within three months of the decision to give inpatient treatment.

(d) To reduce average DSCA Finished Consultant Episodes (FCE) costs by 3 per cent. over the course of the year.

(e) By 31 March 1998, to develop and implement a co-ordinated quality strategy for patient care and a mechanism for assessing performance against the strategy.

(f) To ensure that 80 per cent. of all DSCA Service personnel, whose medical category permits it, receive the annual military training which is mandatory within their Service.

(g) To ensure that 80 per cent. of places on all exercises covered by relevant Service Legal Agreements with Commanders in Chief are filled by DSCA staff within the appropriate specialities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) actual and (b) percentage change was in the Government funding of regimental museums between 1997–98 and 1998–99. [7113]

We have advised museum trustees that there will be an overall reduction of 12.7 per cent. in the contribution the Ministry of Defence makes to the funding of regimental and corps museums from April 1998. At current prices, this will mean that the 65 regimental and corps museums in mainland Britain will be required to share a reduction of £138,466 per annum from that date.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the regimental museums currently maintained out of public funds. [7112]

The Ministry of Defence contributes some funding to 69 regimental and corps museums. They are listed below:

Museum	Location
Queen's Dragoon Guards	Cardiff
Royal Scots Dragoon Guards	Edinburgh
Royal Dragoon Guards	York
Queen's Royal Hussars	Eastboume
	Warwick
9th/12th Royal Lancers	Derby
King's Royal Hussars	Preston
Light Dragoons	Newcastle upon
	Tyne
Queen's Royal Lancers	Belvoir Castle
Royal Armoured Corps and Royal Tank Regiment	Bovington
Royal Regiment of Artillery	Woolwich
Corps of Royal Engineers	Chatham
Royal Corps of Signals	Blandford
Foot Guards	London
Royal Scots	Edinburgh
Royal Highland Fusiliers	Glasgow
King's Own Scottish Borderers	Berwick upon
	Tweed
Black Watch	Perth
Highlanders	Aberdeen
	Fort George
Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment	Dover
	Winchester
	Guildford
Royal Regiment of Fusiliers	Alnwick
	Warwick
Royal Anglian Regiment	Bury St. Edmunds
	Norwich
King's Own Royal Border Regiment	Carlisle
Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire	York
Green Howards	Richmond
York and Lancaster Regiment	Rotherham
Devonshire and Dorset Regiment	Dorchester
Cheshire Regiment	Chester
Royal Welch Fusiliers	Caernarfon
Royal Regiment of Wales	Cardiff
	Brecon
Royal Gloucester, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment	Gloucester
	Salisbury
Worcester and Sherwood Foresters Regiment	Worcester
	Nottingham
Staffordshire Regiment	Lichfield
Light Infantry	Winchester
	Bodmin
	Shrewsbury
Royal Green Jackets	Winchester

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration is being given to his Department's procurement plans in the Strategic Defence Review. [8518]

One of the aims of the Strategic Defence Review is to ensure that the Armed Forces are properly equipped to undertake the tasks asked of them. Our procurement plans will therefore be considered as part of the Review, including projects already on contract.However, during the review there will be no moratorium and projects where contracts have already been placed will continue. Decisions on major equipment programmes not yet under contract will be considered on their individual circumstances in relation to progress with the Review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the property and assets owned, leased or rented by his Department and its agencies at home and overseas, stating their current value and their current use. [7151]

The information requested is not yet available. As part of the Department's preparation for the introduction of Resource Accounting on 1 April 1998 an exercise to identify, register and value departmental assets is currently being undertaken. However, the scale of the exercise is considerable and the work will not be concluded until next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the chief executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency about the Government's Review on Open Government. [7251]

None. The Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, like all my Department's Agencies, is, of course, subject to the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's policy towards the presentation of the Royal Yacht Britannia. [7579]

The Government is considering the future of Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia in the light of proposals for preservation submitted by several organisations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list, for each regiment, the number by which it was below complement on 30 April; and what plans he has to bring each up to its complement. [6817]

[pursuant to his answer, 8 July 1997, c. 422–24]: I regret that the information on the manning level against the complement within the Household Cavalry and Royal Armoured Corps (RAC) were omitted in error. The information is set out in the following table.

Regiment	Manning level
Household Cavalry
Household Cavalry Regiment	-22
Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment	-38
Total	-60
Royal Armoured Corps
Queens Dragoon Guards	-23
Scots Dragoon Guards	-38
Royal Dragoon Guards	-4
Queens Royal Hussars	-51
9/12 Lancers	-45
Kings Royal Hussars	-42
Light Dragoons	-5
Queens Royal Lancers	-39
1st Royal Tank Regiment	-39
2nd Royal Tank Regiment	+28
Total	-258

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the report following the Review of Officer Prisoners of War Protected Personnel Pay Deductions will be published. [7556]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale (Mr. Morgan) on 11 June (Official Report), column 485.

To ask the Secretary for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the report on the strategic review initiated by the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency in 1996 into the Defence Test and Evaluation Organisation; and if he will make a statement. [6429]

There has not been a "strategic review" of DTEO but in 1996 there was a review of the mixture of contracts that were in place to support the DTEO ranges. The outcome of this review was made public in December 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the estimated costs for the next 10 years for the replacement maritime patrol aircraft. [6752]

The total procurement cost of the Nimrod 2000 replacement maritime patrol aircraft is around £2 billion. The Department's internal plans represent projections and assumptions which inform advice to Ministers on the affordability of particular elements of the Defence programme. Accordingly, I am withholding the information requested under exemption two of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. In addition, disclosure of some elements of this information could prejudice the competitive position of the Department in future negotiations with contractors and reveal commercially confidential data. Accordingly, exemptions 7 and 13 of the Code also apply.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many meetings he has had with ministerial colleagues at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department of Trade and Industry on the defence sales policy review. [6650]

My right hon. Friend Secretary of State for Defence has had a number of formal meetings with my right hon. Friends the Foreign Secretary and the President of the Board of Trade at which the criteria used in considering licence applications for the export of conventional arms were discussed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's timetable for dealing with the year 2000 computer problem; who is in charge of the project; how many staff are working on it; what is the projected cost of resolving the problem; and whether the project is on schedule. [7132]

The Ministry of Defence programme for dealing with the Year 2000 Computer Problem is led by the Director General Information and Communication Services (DGICS). The programme complies with guidelines issued by the Cabinet Office and CCTA Year 2000 Public Sector Group which call for costed programmes to modify or replace affected systems to be in place by October of this year with all work on critical systems completed by 31 December 1998. DGICS heads a coordination group of MOD Top Level Budget Holders to direct the programme. Projet managers have been appointed throughout the Department to oversee work on systems in their respective areas of responsibility. A Year 2000 awareness campaign has been mounted and private sector computing assistance is being provided to Year 2000 projects. It is too early to say what the final costs might be, but work to identify and cost the necessary remedial measures is on schedule to be completed by October, when the results will be reported to the Cabinet Office in accordance with the overall Government timetable.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the analysis by Professor Graham Rook and Dr. Alimuddin Zumla of University College, London, published in The Lancet, on the relationship between vaccines, exposure to insecticides and Gulf War illness. [6949]

Officials in my Department have held discussions with Professor Rook and Dr. Zumla concerning their hypothesis. Whenever my Department receives suggestions for additional research into subjects which could have a bearing on Gulf veterans' illnesses, our advice is always that the researcher(s) should submit a formal proposal to the Medical Research Council. I understand that Professor Rook and Dr. Zumla intend to submit a proposal for work to test their hypothesis in due course and we therefore await the MRC's advice.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 5 June, Official Report, columns 220–21, for what reasons (a) Algeria, (b) Belgium, (c) Russia and (d) Sri Lanka have not been invited to send delegations to the forthcoming Royal Navy and British Army Equipment Exhibition in Farnborough. [7324]

[holding answer 8 July 1997]: Invitations to the Royal Navy and British Army Equipment Exhibition are influenced by a number of factors including our perception of market opportunities for British defence companies as well as our political, strategic and security interests. Taking into account all of these factors, Algeria, Russia and Sri Lanka were not seen as priority candidates on this occasion; Belgium has now been invited.

To ask the Attorney-General what proportion of those employed by the Crown Prosecution Service are qualified (a) solicitors and (b) barristers. [7472]

As at 30 June 1997, the Crown Prosecution Service employed 2,106 qualified lawyers. Of those, 1,520 (72 per cent.) are employed as solicitors and 586 (28 per cent.) are employed as barristers.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what measures he plans to cut the criminal legal aid bill. [7471]

Sir Peter Middleton has been appointed to undertake a review of civil justice and legal aid reforms. The review will cover criminal legal aid. Sir Peter is to produce a preliminary report by the end of September. No decisions about legal aid will be made in advance of the report.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the cost to the Exchequer in legal aid in the Crown Court of (a) barristers and (b) instructing solicitors, in the most recent year for which figures are available. [7466]

The cost to legal aid in the Crown Court for 1996–97 was as follows:

1996–97
	£ million
Solicitors	141.85
Barrister1	172.93
Total	314.78
1 The expenditure on barristers includes £0.25 million in respect of graduated fees which may include a small proportion of costs for solicitor advocates.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when his Department will allow consumer protection bodies to seek injunctions to stop traders contravening consumer protection rights. [7781]

On the 23 May the Lord Chancellor announced that he had decided that a change in the law was needed to open up the courts in England and Wales to allow representative actions. This would allow an organisation such as a consumer group to take action on behalf of an individual whose rights had been infringed. A working group is being set up to consider to whom the new rights and duties night extend and to work on the new procedures and rules.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the amount transferred from Mid Glamorgan to the Gwent magistrates' courts following the change in boundaries; and how much of that money has been spent to date and upon which projects. [6836]

The South Wales and Gwent Magistrates' Courts Committees notified the Lord Chancellor's Department in February 1997 that the amount required to be transferred from the South Wales Magistrates' Courts Committee to the Gwent Magistrates' Courts Committee in respect of the transfer of the Upper and Lower Rhmney Valley Petty Sessional Division areas from the former Mid Glamorgan Magistrates' Courts Committee to the Gwent Magistrates' Courts Committee should be £456,805 for 1996–97 and £460,072 for 1997–98. No information is held nationally on how much of that transfer has been spent to date or how it has been spent.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the present annual cost of (a) the Gwent Justices' chief executive and his staff and (b) of the lease and accommodation of the chief executive and staff. [6835]

(a) In its annual magistrates' courts revenue grant claim return to the Lord Chancellor's Department for 1995–96, the Gwent County Council reported that total expenditure by it on salaries, special or additional allowances and national insurance and superannuation contributions for the Gwent Magistrates' Courts Committee was £1,722,568 of which £66,250 was in respect of the Justices' Chief Executive. 1995–96 is the most recent financial year for which such expenditure information is currently available. No breakdown is available between expenditure on staff working directly and immediately to the Justices' Chief Executive and between other staff employed by the Gwent Magistrates' Courts Committee.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what percentage of the cases heard in the Crown Court in 1996 were heard there at the defendants' request. [7486]

The question concerns a matter which has been assigned to the Court Service under the terms of its framework document. I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proportion of all Crown Court cases in 1996 resulted in a non-custodial disposal. [7468]

The question concerns a matter which has been assigned to the Court Service under the terms of its framework document. I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the average cost per day to the Exchequer of each Crown Court. [7469]

The question concerns a matter which has been assigned to the Court Service under the terms of its framework document. I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement concerning the computer problems at the United Kingdom post at Islamabad. [6589]

We have recently been carrying out urgent work to improve the handling of very large volumes of data held on the computer system in the Visa Section of the British High Commission in Islamabad. Unfortunately, a number of technical difficulties have caused that system to crash several times during that period. This has prevented staff from gaining access to data bases to carry out the necessary checks on applications. We are making every effort to ensure that the system functions properly. In the meantime, the Section is running a restricted service, dealing with compassionate cases and applications for settlement from those joining family already in the UK. We also have in hand arrangements for the installation of a completely new system, which we intend will come into operation within a few weeks.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what position has been reached by the Indian authorities in investigating the murder of Mr. Eamon Peter Helly in Goa on 8 November 1991; and if he will urge the Indian authorities to proceed with their inquiries and bring charges without delay. [6885]

I would like to express my sympathy to Mr. Helly's family over this tragic case. The Indian authorities are still investigating.DNA tests have been conducted. A suspect was arrested but subsequently released on bail.

To ask the Secretary of State Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent discussions between his Minister of State and the Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka. [7175]

I met the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister, Mr. Kadirgamar, on 5 June. We discussed bilateral relations and the current situation in Sri Lanka, including the Sri Lankan government's effort to find a resolution to the ethnic conflict.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals Her Majesty's Government have advanced regarding the possibility of playing a mediating role in the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. [7176]

We have said publicly that we stand ready to help in the resolution of the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka if both sides ask us to play a role.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to visit Sri Lanka. [7177]

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, has no plans to visit at present, but I hope to do so before very long.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Anglo-Chinese relations. [7179]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave today.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if members of the News Department at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are required to assist Mr. David Mathieson with his work. [7696]

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for international Development if she will list the dates and attendees, by department and grade, of meetings of officials which have taken place in her Department on the strategic defence review. [7152]

Development issues of relevance to the Strategic Defence Review have been discussed on a number of occasions in my Department. My officials are also involved as appropriate in inter-departmental consultations on the Review.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what further consideration she has given to the needs of the people of Montserrat following the recent volcanic eruptions. [8564]

Immediately following the volcanic activity two weeks ago, my department gave immediate approval for vital emergency work such as transport services, communications equipment and maintaining of fuel and food supplies and sanitation.We have also been looking urgently at the best way of providing temporary shelter and upgrading health care for those displaced on Montserrat. I have now approved a further £6.5 million to help build emergency shelter for those left homeless. I also approved £450,000 for emergency repair work on the hospital at St. Johns.At the same time we want to give the people of Montserrat real choices about their future; and will be undertaking a full consultation process within weeks.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what progress has been made in his review of the sporting events listed for live television broadcasting purposes; and if he will make a statement. [8410]

We announced on 16 May that we would review the list of events which must be made available for general free to air broadcast under the 1996 Broadcasting Act, in line with our policy of ensuring that broadcasts of events of genuine national interest are available to the many not the few. As part of that review we are developing criteria to help decide which events fall into this category. We believe that an agreed set of criteria would make the listing process more consistent and more transparent; and would be helpful to broadcasters, sports bodies and viewers; and would assist my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in considering which events should be listed. My right hon. Friend wrote today to sports bodies, broadcasters and organisations representing viewers and listeners to seek their views on these listing criteria.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on the extent of the control still exercised by Her Majesty's Government on the management of the BBC; if he was consulted over the pay rises for chief executives of the Corporation; and if he will make a statement. [7794]

Under the terms of its Royal Charter, rates of remuneration and conditions of employment for BBC employees are a matter for the Corporation itself. The Government has no locus to intervene. It is for the BBC Governors to ensure that they are delivering good value for money and paying only what is necessary, in a competitive market, to attract and retain the staff needed to maintain high quality services.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what proposals he has to increase Britain's share of world tourism. [6576]

We set out our main priorities for tourism in the "Breaking New Ground" document. These include: a positive approach from government to the industry; effective marketing of Britain overseas; reinvigorating domestic tourism; improving the quality of the product; jobs, training and investment in people; and sustainable development. We will work in partnership with the industry and others to pursue these priorities and ensure that Britain has a world class tourism industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list each person advising or assisting his Department who has (a) membership of and (b) involvement in (i) the European Round Table of industrialists, (ii) the European Centre for Infrastructure Studies, (iii) the Competitiveness Advisory Group, (iv) Transatlantic Business Dialogue, (v) the Association for the Monetary Union of Europe, (vi) Union of Industrial and Employers Confederations of Europe, (vii) Europa Bio and (viii) the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. [5309]

Membership of the European Round Table of Industrialists, the Competitiveness Advisory Group and the Transatlantic Business Dialogue is on a personal basis. No-one who presently advises or assists in this Department is a member of any of these groups.Membership of the European Centre for Infrastructure Studies, the Association for the Monetary Union of Europe, the Union of Industrial and Employers Confederations of Europe, Europe Bio, and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development is on a corporate basis. Representatives from companies and organisations involved with these groups may advise Departments from time to time.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will include in the legislation for the creation of regional development agencies proposals to allow those regions he considers have the necessary expertise and experience to become shadow agencies or pilot schemes in advance of 1 April 1999. [6641]

On 11 June the Government launched a wide-ranging consultation on our proposals for setting up regional development agencies in England. It is too early to say what transitional arrangements might he made in advance of the agencies beginning operation, but we have invited views on this. Any such arrangements will build on the good work already being done at the regional level.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the future of national non-domestic rates. [7347]

We have said in our Manifesto that there are sound democratic reasons why business rates should be set locally. We are currently considering the options to achieve this. No changes will be made until we have fully consulted businesses, local authorities and other interested parties.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his letter of 20 May on valuation tribunals. [7457]

A letter was sent to the hon. Member on 9 July 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to lay regulations before Parliament under the Environment Act 1995 to introduce local authority powers for air quality management. [7583]

An announcement on the commencement of local authority duties under Part IV of the Environment Act will be made in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on the payment of council tax by residents who live in mobile homes. [7592]

The council tax is payable in respect of all chargeable dwellings include mobile homes and caravans which are a person's sole or main residence. All dwellings are placed into a valuation band determined by their open market value on 1 April 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if his Department defines a publicly funded body with a contract under a compulsory competitive tendering project as being in the public sector; and if he will make a statement. [7586]

A local authority may undertake a defined activity if it has satisfied the six competition conditions set out in the legislation governing compulsory competitive tendering. A joint venture company or other local authority company may also undertake a defined activity and, if the company is controlled or influenced by the authority, as defined in Part V of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, it is regarded as being in the public sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in what accommodation he proposes to locate the Regional Development Agency and the Regional Representative Body for East Anglia; and what assessment he has made of the potential of City House, Cambridge, in this respect. [7485]

On 11 June the Government launched a wide-ranging consultation on its proposals for setting up regional development agencies in England. It is too early to say where the head offices of the agencies will be located.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people are classified by his Department as homeless in (a) Newham (b) Tower Hamlets, (c) Hackney, (d) Redbridge, (e) Waltham Forest and (f) Barking and Dagenham; what this figures is as a proportion of the population; and what are the corresponding figures for the United Kingdom. [6857]

[holding answer 7 July 1997]: Local authorities in England report to my Department, on their quarterly P1E return, the number of households for which they accept responsibility to secure accommodation under the homelessness provisions of the Housing Act 1985. The latest report date for 1996 for the Boroughs listed are as follows:

London borough	Households accepted as homeless	Annual acceptances per 1,000 households
Barking and Dagenham	170	2.7
Hackney	1830	213.5
Newham	3224	210.5
Redbridge	324	3.6
Tower Hamlets	1536	210.5
Waltham Forest	771	8.3
1 Part-year information for 3 quarters only.
2 Scaled up to an annual rate.
3 Part-year information for 1 quarter only.

The corresponding estimates for England are total acceptances in 1996 of some 116,870 households and 5.9 acceptances per 1,000 households. For information about other parts of the United Kingdom, I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland, for Wales and for Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions by what means his Department intends local authorities should control the use of (a) jet skis and (b) other powered boats in the vicinity of bathing beaches in the absence of a general registration system. [6951]

[holding answer 7 July 1997]: As I said in my reply to the hon. Member for Southport (Mr. Fearn) on 27 June 1997 Official Report, column 672, local authorities already have powers to make byelaws to regulate seaside pleasure boats for the prevention of danger, obstruction or annoyance to persons bathing in the sea or using the seashore.The safe use of recreation craft is promoted by the Coastguard Agency and other bodies including the Sea Safety Liaison Group established by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. The Coastguard Agency is analysing the response to the consultative document it issued on "Non-legislative measures for the improvement of safety of non-regulated pleasure vessels".

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to relocate staff presently working in Government offices at Brooklands Avenue, Cambridge, in order to free the site for suitable redevelopment. [7484]

The buildings on the Brooklands Avenue site, Cambridge, are of temporary wartime construction and are now reaching the end of their lives. We are therefore looking to provide suitable accommodation for the staff who work on the site. Proposals are being prepared to redevelop the site, in accordance with the Cambridge City Local Plan.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the relationship between the use of organophosphates in the treatment of cattle and the incidence of BSE. [7352]

The original epidemiological investigation into BSE carried out in 1987 considered any possible association between the use of agricultural chemicals, including organophosphate insecticides, and the occurrence of BSE. None was found.More recently, SEAC invited Mr. Purdey, a leading proponent of the theory of a link between the use of organophosphates and the occurrence of BSE, to address their meeting of 15 April 1997. The meeting was also attended by experts from the Advisory Committee on Pesticides and the Veterinary Products Committee. They did not form a view on the validity of the theory, but they did agree further avenues of enquiry into this issue. They will consider the matter again when additional data are available.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the reliability of the documentation accompanying imported beef in respect of its description and its health status. [7351]

All consignments of beef imported from third countries are subject to veterinary checks, including a documentary check in all cases, at the point of entry into the Community. Centrally held records of veterinary checks on all imports of fresh meat and meat products (beef is not separately identified), revealed documentary irregularities in only 0.6 per cent. of all consignments during 1996.Production of beef in Member States is governed by harmonised rules which places the onus on the Member State of origin to ensure that the beef has been produced in compliance with those rules. On arrival at a GB premises, Community beef is subject to document and health mark check, either by the Official Veterinary Surgeon or by the owner of the premises, to ensure that the goods have been produced in accordance with these rules. There is no centrally held record of this trade which is governed by Single Market principles.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by how much he plans to reduce BSE compensation payments; and what assessment he has made of the effect of this proposal on farmers who rear late developing store cattle. [7321]

The European Commission, with the support of the Government, has decided with effect from 4 August to reduce Over Thirty Months Scheme (OTMS) compensation payments for cull cows from 0.9 ECU (around 65p) per kilogram to 0.8 ECU (around 58p) per kilogram liveweight. Compensation payments for all other cattle, including clean cattle, remain at 0.9 ECU per kilogram. Compensation for all OTMS cattle will be subject to a limit of 560 kilograms per animal.Clean cattle (including the late developing store cattle to which the hon. Member refers) will be the principal animals affected by this limit as these tend to be slaughtered at weights above 560 kilograms. However, we believe that farmers should be looking to finish their clean cattle at under 30 months of age and thus to sell them onto the market rather than into the OTMS. The Beef Assurance Scheme nevertheless provides an outlet for clean cattle from low risk, late maturing herds to be finished and sold at up to 42 months of age.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what volume of beef imported into the United Kingdom in 1996 was seized as being suspected of being unfit for human consumption; if he will list the countries of origin of such beef indicating the volume from each country; and if he will make a statement. [4652]

[holding answer 20 June 1997]: All consignments of beef imported from third countries are, on entry to the Community, subject to veterinary checks at border Inspection Posts specifically approved for this purpose. GB's border inspection posts are operated by local authorities. Production of beef in Member States is governed by harmonised rules which place the onus on the Member State of origin to ensure that the beef has been produced in compliance with those rules. On arrival of the consignment, documentation and health marketing, to show the goods have been produced in accordance with these rules, are required to be checked by the Meat Hygiene Service or, if they are not responsible for the plant (such as a meat product plant), by the owner of the premises. Any irregularity should be reported to MAFF. Additionally an officer of the Ministry or local Authority is empowered to inspect a consignment, imported from another Member States, either in transit or at its destination if it is suspected that the consignment presents a threat to public or animal health. I can confirm that beef imports are stopped where they are identified as not meeting import requirements, including being unfit for human consumption. However, no separate figures are held centrally regarding the volume or origin of such trade. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider providing the resources to enable the supportive flatmate scheme in the Rock Trust's Bedrock Project to be developed as a model for supported accommodation. [6630]

Projects such as the Rock Trust's Bedrock Project provide accommodation and support for homeless young people who often have a range of problems. I understand that there are a number of such projects operating in Scotland, however, and it would therefore be inappropriate to single out any particular one for central Government support. Projects of this type necessarily work closely with their local authority, and it is from that source that they should seek funding.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the timetable for future capital investment for the hospital building programme for Scotland. [6759]

The following amounts will be available for spending on capital projects in Scotland over the next three years.

• 1997–98: £140,930,000
• 1998–99: £178,707,000
• 1999–2000: £178,272,000.

These figures are net of capital receipts. Included in this expenditure is spending on large capital schemes at the Western General Hospital NHS Trust in Edinburgh, Dundee Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, and the Glasgow Royal Infirmary NHS Trust.In addition, a number of major capital schemes are being taken forward under the Private Finance Initiative.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his Department's timetable for dealing with the Year 2000 Computer Problem; who is in charge of the project; how many staff are working on it; what is the projected cost of resolving the problem; and whether the project is on schedule. [7131]

A Year 2000 compliance programme is underway within my Department with the objective of identifying and ensuring the correct operation of all critical systems by 31 December 1998. The review is on schedule.The Director of Telecommunications is in overall charge of the programme and has the full time support of a Project Manager. They provide the central operational contact for all Year 2000 compliance issues. The programme of work in hand covers all Scottish Office IT systems, and although my Department is in a relatively sound position, owing to the recent redevelopment of many of its IT systems, we are nonetheless devoting significant effort to ensuring Year 2000 compliance. A detailed, costed project plan is being developed, which we expect to have in place by October, in line with the guidance issued by CITU and CCTA. At this stage, therefore, it is not possible to say precisely how much the work involved will cost, but it is expected that the costs will be contained within my Department's existing IT budget.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what change there has been in the financial terms, or repayment period, in respect of the Skye Bridge; and if he will make a statement; [7707](2) what has been the cost to public funds of the decision to change the tolls on the Skye Bridge; and from which vote additional moneys will be provided. [7708]

The measures to alleviate the impact of the Skye Bridge tolls on regular users, set out in my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Ross, Skye and Inverness, West on 4 July, are intended to have a neutral effect on the financial terms and the repayment period. The cost of the measures to public funds remains a matter of negotiation with the bridge operator, Skye Bridge Limited. It is proposed that any costs in the current financial year will be met from within Class XIII, Vote 2, in common with all other expenditure on Scotland's trunk road network.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what provision had been made by the previous administration in its capital budget for dualling the A1 road between Dunbar and Haddington; and if he will make a statement on his plans for the application of those funds. [7689]

It is estimated that the A1 Dunbar-Haddington project would have cost £40 million over the 2 financial years beginning 1998–99. It would not be appropriate to anticipate the outcome of the review of the Scottish trunk roads programme, or my right hon. Friend's decisions on expenditure priorities within the Transport programme as a whole.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland for what reasons a spokesman for the Scottish Law Officers stated on Monday 7 July that the allegations in the Der Spiegel magazine about the Lockerbie bombing having been commissioned by the Ayatollah were the first occasion that the Office had been advised of such an allegation; and if he will make a statement. [7793]

The statement issued by the Crown Office was to the effect that this was the first time that they had been made aware of these allegations, namely the allegations which were being made by a person named as Abolghasem Mesbabi which had been reported in Der Spiegel magazine.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost to his Department of undertaking and publishing a research study on local authority traveller sites in Scotland. [7473]

The contract for the research study recently published about local authority sites for travellers was awarded by The Scottish Office Development Department to a private research consultancy on the basis of competitive tenders. The contract price was £9,999.25 and the additional cost to the Department of printing 140 copies of the research report and 160 copies of a summary was £443.38.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what targets have been set for performance by the Scottish Court Service and Sheriff Courts for 1997–98. [8409]

Criminal cases at Lerwick and Kirkwall sheriff courts
	1990		1994		1995		1996
	Called	Evidence led	Called	Evidence led	Called	Evidence led	Called	Evidence led
Lerwick
Summary	151	32	81	11	112	14	139	22
Sheriff and Jury	1	1	1	0	2	1	1	0
Kirkwall
Summary	141	36	46	10	49	12	53	19
Sheriff and Jury	2	2	0	0	1	1	1	1

The targets I have set for performance by the Scottish Court Service in the Supreme Courts and Sheriff Courts for 1997–98 are set out below.Performance against these targets will be published in the Annual Report of the Scottish Court Service.

Targets for performance 1997–98
	Per cent.
Number of time limited cases falling as a result of SCS action/inaction	0
Percentage of Court of Session Diets allocated within waiting periods set by Lord President	90
Percentage of solemn and summary appeals allocated to rolls within waiting periods set by Lord Justice-General	70
Percentage of Sheriff Courts meeting summary criminal waiting periods agreed with Sheriffs Principal	80
Percentage of Sheriff Courts meeting ordinary civil waiting periods agreed with Sheriffs Principal	95
Percentage of Sheriff Courts with 5 per cent. or less lack of time adjournments	80
Percentage achievement of administrative standards set by Lord President/Lord Justice-General	90
Percentage of Sheriff Courts achieving administrative standards agreed with Sheriffs Principal	95
Percentage of courthouses meeting "Coming to Court" standards	85
Staff, accommodation and administrative costs per court sitting day	£1,010
Percentage cost recovery (including judicial costs) for civil business	90

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many (a) summary trails and (b) sheriff and jury trials took place in Kirkwall Sheriff Court in (i) 1987, (ii) 1990 and (iii) each year since 1994; [6046](2) how many

[holding answer 2 July 1997]: This is a matter for the Scottish Court Service. I have asked the Chief Executive, Michael Ewart, to reply.

To ask the Minister without Portfolio what are his responsibilities in respect of the Millennium Exhibition at Greenwich. [4433]

[holding 23 June 1997]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimates he has made of future teacher numbers in (a) primary and (b) infant schools; and if he will make a statement. [6674]

Local education authorities and schools are responsible for the employment and deployment of teaching staff to deliver the National Curriculum and we are making additional resources available to assist them in this role. The Government also has a role in ensuring that there is a sufficient number of suitably qualified teachers from whom they can recruit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects the welfare to work taskforce to visit locations in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [6679]

The Director of the Employment Service in Wales is currently organising three consultation events to take place in locations throughout Wales at the end of July. I expect the taskforce members to play a prominent role in these events.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received on the welfare to work taskforce. [6678]

None, but my right hon. Friend hopes to announce the membership of the taskforce later this month.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to assist unskilled manual workers. [6668]

The minimum wage, the social chapter, the working hours directive and statutory recognition of trade unions are all of immediate relevance. The fiscal measures we announced in the Budget will help with workers' household finances. The Education and Training Action Group, supporting our objective of lifelong learning, will help people acquire skills which will lead to more highly paid employment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the adequacy of resources available to increase the number of skilled people in employment on Deeside; and if he will make a statement. [6670]