To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his Department's plans to introduce a fast-track approach to bringing young offenders to court. [7526]

The Government are committed to halving the time from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders and tackling delays throughout the youth justice system. We are taking immediate action to speed up proceedings against young offenders. My right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor has already written to the chairman of every youth panel in magistrates courts throughout England and Wales encouraging them to deal swiftly and effectively with persistent young offenders and to minimise the granting of adjournments. We intend to follow this up with good practice guidance to all relevant agencies. The Crime and Disorder Bill will also include reforms to the youth justice system designed to ensure that young offenders are dealt with more speedily.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms he plans to establish for consultation on the incorporation of the European convention on human rights into (a) English and Welsh law, (b) Scots law and (c) Northern Irish law. [7527]

We published a consultation document on incorporation—"Bringing Rights Home"—in December 1996. We are now developing proposals for legislation in the light of the responses to that document and further discussions we have had since then. We will announce our conclusions in a White Paper later this year and are happy to consider any representations made in response to it.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what date he intends to have the European convention on human rights introduced into United Kingdom law. [7529]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Government's proposals to incorporate the European convention on human rights into domestic law. [7537]

We will introduce a Bill for this purpose in this Session of Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the mechanisms for appeals against coroners' decisions; and if he will make a statement. [7535]

Concerns have been expressed at the need to resort to the High Court for any review of a coroner's decision. This is one of a number of matters that we keep under review, but we have no present plans to change the legislation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the policy of his Department on the timely payment of debts; and what is his Department's record on the payment of debts in the current financial year. [9529]

All Departments are required to pay their bills within agreed contract terms, or 30 days from receipt of goods or service or a valid invoice where no such terms exist, whichever is the later. Information on payment performance for the current financial year is not immediately available, but I shall write to the hon. Member with the information as soon as possible. The Government will publish a league table of departmental payment performance for 1996–97 in the autumn.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to restrict the advertising and promotion of alcohol; [9216](2) what plans he has to prevent alcohol abuse among young people. [9217]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Selby (Mr. Grogan) on 16 July, Official Report, column 173, and to the letter I sent to all hon. Members on 17 July.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons section 7 of form A for use when surrendering items covered by the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 requires the person surrendering an item to agree to accept any payment rather than the sum specified in the compensation terms. [9670]

Payments will be made only in accordance with the terms of the compensation scheme as approved by Parliament. Valid claims under options A or B will result in the payments agreed in the scheme. The claim form asks claimants to declare that they will

"accept any payment made in relation to any items claimed for under Options A or B as a settlement of"

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what will be done with items surrendered under the terms of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 prior to the completion of the action being taken by owners in the European Court of Justice. [9668]

With the exception of the items that are retained for police training purposes or acquired for public display in museums, all surrendered items will be destroyed. We are satisfied that the compensation scheme is in line with our obligations under European law and the disposal of surrendered items will proceed as described.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if late payment of compensation under the terms of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 will attract interest. [9669]

Payments will be made under the published terms of the scheme. There is no provision to include interest as part of these payments, but payments will be made as swiftly as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what paperwork a handgun owner is required to complete when handing in to the police any item required to be surrendered under the terms of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997. [9671]

When making a claim for a handgun or accessories, applicants must complete and submit a claim form provided by their police force. Those submitting a claim under option C must attach documentary evidence as to the value of their items. Claimants must also produce their firearm certificate, temporary permit or certificate of registration as a firearms dealer and dealer's record of transactions, as appropriate. It will also be necessary to produce evidence of lawful ownership of the items as at 16 October 1996, as specified in the compensation scheme itself.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who will be the legal owner of handguns handed in to the police under the terms of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997. [9667]

Items surrendered under the terms of the compensation and ex gratia schemes will become the property of the Secretary of State.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will be tabling the draft compensation order for .22 calibre pistols and equipment. [9100]

Under the terms of clause 2 of the Firearms (Amendment) Bill there is no requirement for details of the compensation arrangements for small-calibre pistols and ancillary equipment to be tabled. Small-calibre pistol owners have already received details of the ex gratia scheme. As I informed the House during the debates on 9 June, copies of the scheme had been placed in the Library a few days beforehand. The scheme sets out the terms of payment for pistols and equipment that are surrendered voluntarily. It is intended that this ex gratia scheme will become the formal compensation scheme following the passing of the Bill. This, too, was explained fully to the House on 9 June.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of employees, in each pay band, in the quangos for which his Department is responsible, are of (a) Asian origin and (b) Afro-Caribbean origin. [8950]

From the available information, the breakdown of employees of Asian and Afro-Caribbean origin employed in the Home Office non-departmental public bodies is as follows:

• Senior grades: 20 per cent.—Asian¹;—15 per cent.—Afro-Caribbean²
• Executive grades: 29–11 per cent.—Asian; 46–18 per cent.— Afro-Caribbean
• Administration and Support grades: 34–12 per cent.—Asian; 58–21 per cent.—Afro-Caribbean

¹ Figure five or fewer.

² These figures refer only to the Commission for Racial Equality as this is the only NDPB that currently employs ethnic minorities in senior grades.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civil servants there are on each pay band in his Department. [8951]

The Home Office has not yet adopted a pay band system. The number of serving civil servants¹ managed by the Home Office by grade equivalents is set out in the table. Although there is not as yet an agreed equivalency structure for all Prison Service grades, the following table is based on the current understanding.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 30 June, Official Report, column 11, how many in-country asylum applicants were detained under Immigration Act powers for one night or longer in (a) 1995 and (b) 1996. [8926]

I regret that reliable information on the number of in-country asylum applicants placed in detention for one night or longer could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to implement section 20 of the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997. [9310]

We will make an announcement shortly about the implementation of provisions of the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997 as well as a wider package of measures reflecting our approach to sentencing.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of foxes killed per year (a) in total, (b) by shooting, (c) by hunting with hounds, (d) by road accidents and (e) other causes. [8577]

We have made no such estimate and the information requested could not be determined except at disproportionate cost. Various estimates have been provided by organisations that support or oppose fox hunting.It will be for Parliament to decide how any further detailed work—such as an estimate of this kind—should be taken forward.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department spent on stationery provision in respect of paper items in each of the last five years. [8867]

This information is not separately recorded in the Home Office accounting system, but details provided by our two main suppliers of general stationery indicate that approximately £600,000, excluding value added tax, was spent on paper items in the calendar year 1996.Additional, but smaller, orders would have been placed with various other suppliers, but details of these and information about previous years are not available except at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review (a) the law of consent regarding rape and (b) the use of the victim's sexual history in rape trials. [8801]

[holding answer 16 July 1997]: We are very concerned to ensure that the law on rape is effective in punishing and deterring crime and fair to victims. We have in the past laid down amendments aimed at reforming the law in this area and this remains our commitment. We have a number of competing priorities in this parliamentary Session and will need to look carefully as to when we could deal with this issue.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 10 July, Official Report, column 523, for what reasons his Department is unable to calculate the employment generated by hunting with hounds. [8702]

[holding answer 15 July 1997]: Such information is not currently held centrally and could not be obtained except at disproportionate cost. Various estimates have been provided by organisations supporting or arguing against hunting with hounds. However, it will be for Parliament to determine how to take forward any further detailed work on the likely effects of a decision to ban hunting with hounds.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what will be the role of civil servants in the referendum campaigns on devolution. [10247]

The Government have today issued guidance to civil servants on their role and conduct during the devolution referendum campaigns. The guidance provides a generic set of principles which individual Departments can incorporate into guidance tailored to their particular needs and situations. It stresses that civil servants should conduct themselves in accordance with the civil service code, and is based on the need to maintain the political impartiality of the civil service and to ensure that public resources are not used for party political purposes. Copies of the guidance have been placed in the Libraries of the House, and are also available from the Vote Office.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to publish the second annual "Civil Service Fast Stream Recruitment" report. [10246]

The annual "Civil Service Fast Stream Recruitment" report was placed in the Libraries of the House earlier today. It covers the year to 31 March 1997, reporting the results of fast stream competitions completed during that period and action undertaken for future competitions.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many and what percentage of employees in the Government Car and Despatch Agency are (i) of Asian origin and (ii) of Afro-Caribbean origin. [8930]

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated under the terms of the framework document to the Government Car and Despatch Agency. I have asked its chief executive, Mr. Nick Matheson, to write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many and what percentage of civil servants in each of grades one to five in his Department are of (a) Asian origin and (b) Afro-Caribbean origin. [9569]

No employee in these grades in my Department has registered his or her origin as being Asian or Afro-Caribbean.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many civil servants there are on each pay band in his Department. [8942]

This answer covers the Cabinet Office—Office of Public Service—and its executive agencies. Staff below the senior civil service are employed by grade and are shown as such. The figures at 1 July are as follows:

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what guidelines exist to ensure that civil servants cannot work on a party political basis. [9071]

Civil servants are under a duty, laid down in the civil service code, to conduct themselves with integrity, impartiality and honesty, and in such a way as to deserve and retain the confidence of Ministers and to be able to establish the same relationship with those whom they may be required to serve in some future Administration. Ministers are also under a duty not to use public resources for party political purposes, to uphold the political impartiality of the civil service, and not to ask civil servants to act in a way that would conflict with the civil service code. In their private lives, civil servants must comply with restrictions on their political activities as set out in the civil service code and the civil service management code.

To ask the Minister without Portfolio what research has been carried out into the number of visitors likely to attend the millennium experience. [6466]

Consultants to the Millennium Commission and the New Millennium Experience Company Ltd. have produced a broad range of estimates of visitor attendance. The limit on capacity is 17.7 million visits, a National Opinion Polls survey in December 1996 predicted 14 million visits by United Kingdom residents and the target in the current business plan is 12 million.

To ask the Minister without Portfolio how much money from private sector sponsorship has been raised for the millennium exhibition at Greenwich. [8028]

This information is currently commercially confidential. The New Millennium Experience Company Ltd. will publish a full account in due course.

To ask the Minister without Portfolio what contingency plans exist for the millennium experience budget in the event that ticket sales fail to reach £135 million. [6906]

[holding answer 7 July 1997]: As already announced, we are extending the life of the Millennium Commission to enable it to meet its existing commitments to the millennium experience. Should these commitments unavoidably increase in the future, we will take further steps to ensure—through the lottery—that the commission is able to meet them. But it is our firm resolve that such action should not prove necessary; the Millennium Commission shares this resolve.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of (a) the average class size in schools in Warrington, North and (b) the number of primary school children in Warrington, North being taught in classes of more than 30 pupils. [9211]

For maintained primary schools in the Warrington, North parliamentary constituency in January 1997, the provisional estimates of the average class size and the number of pupils in classes of 31 or more pupils taught by one teacher were 27.9 and 3,822 respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the Government's response to the second report of the Education and Employment Committee "Security of Staff in Jobcentres", HC 149, Session 1996–97. [10248]

A Command Paper outlining the Government's response has been published today and copies have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he expects to announce the pilot areas for welfare to work. [9877]

The Secretary of State will announce the pathfinder areas for the new deal for 18 to 24-year-olds shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if public sector bodies will be eligible for the wages subsidy element of his Department's welfare-to-work proposals. [9817]

The success of the new deal will depend on effective partnerships in which all sections of local communities, including the private, public and voluntary sectors, play a full and relevant part. The precise role of the public sector in the employment option of the new deal is one of a number of issues we are currently considering. We will announce the outcome shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will examine the potential role of horticultural training within the welfare-to-work programme; and if he will make a statement. [8486]

In our new deal for young and long-term unemployed people, we intend to offer the widest possible range of opportunities for people to gain skills and improve their employability. Education and training will be guaranteed for all those participating in any of our four options of help. We want organisations from all sectors to join in our crusade to get people off benefits and into jobs, and I hope that the horticultural sector, like all others, will respond to this challenge. It is also possible under current arrangements to train to national vocational qualification level 2 and above in horticulture, under training for work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people in the boroughs of Newham and Tower Hamlets will benefit from the welfare-to-work initiative. [9006]

It is not possible to give an accurate estimate of the number who will benefit from the new deal over the period of its implementation. All young people who are eligible, or who become so, will be offered opportunities to participate in a job, training or useful work experience.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many children with statements of special educational needs were permanently excluded from schools in England in (a) 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95; and what each figure was as a proportion of the total number of children permanently excluded from schools. [8725]

Returns to the Department recorded a total of 1,287 pupils with statements of special educational needs as having been permanently excluded from mainstream schools during the 1994–95 school year; a further 477 pupils with statements were excluded from special schools. These figures represent 12.6 per cent. of the exclusions from mainstream schools and 96.8 per cent. of the exclusions from special schools.Information on how many pupils with a statement of special educational needs were permanently excluded in 1993-94 is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the time scale for the establishment of the university for industry; what is the process for evaluation of bids; if it will be a single or multi-site operation; and which officials in his Department are charged with bringing it into effect. [9912]

I hope to make an announcement shortly about our plans for developing the university for industry. The process for taking forward the development work, including any possible bidding procedures, has yet to be determined. The university for industry is a virtual institution and will not have a headquarters in the conventional sense. It is likely to have a core administrative centre, but it is too early to say where this might be located. Responsibility for work on the university for industry rests with my individual learning division.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list for each of the last five years the standard spending assessment per pupil for education for each local education authority. [7366]

The information requested is contained in a number of tables, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many pupils were accepted into each university from (a) private schools and (b) state schools for each year since 1970. [8772]

The information requested is not compiled centrally. Available information at the sector level is published in the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service annual report, the latest of which shows the following:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many claimants were postal claimants and what percentage this was of the whole in each standard region in each quarter since April 1995. [7764]

[holding answer 10 July 1997]: Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proposals he has to end mandatory maintenance grants for students. [8648]

The national committee of inquiry into higher education has been considering possible future arrangements for student support and is due to report shortly. The Government will set out their detailed proposals in the light of the committee's recommendations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Turkey on their policy on human rights. [9189]

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met the new Turkish Foreign Minister at the NATO Madrid summit, on 8 July. They discussed a broad range of issues, including a long exchange on human rights. He was encouraged by Mr. Cem's recognition of the need for progress on this issue.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the United Kingdom will accede to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the law of the sea; and if he will make a statement. [10101]

We have decided to accede to the convention later this month. The convention has many advantages for the United Kingdom as a maritime nation with worldwide trading and other interests. The convention includes important environmental provisions. Accession will enable the United Kingdom to play a leading role in the institutions established under the convention.The United Kingdom's fishery limits will need to be redefined based on St. Kilda, since Rockall is not a valid base point for such limits under article 121(3) of the convention. An Order in Council will be made at the first opportunity. Thereafter we shall seek to agree a fisheries boundary with the Republic of Ireland.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer of 16 July, Official Report, columns 387–88, for what reasons the letter from the Governments of the United Kingdom, France and the United States of America in reply to that from the Secretary-General of the Arab League, the Organisation of African Unity and the UN Security Council was not in the Library at 4 pm on 16 July; when he requested the letter be forwarded to the House; and when the letter was dispatched. [9797]

A copy of the letter is available in the Library. The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd), has written to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will transfer overall governmental responsibility for issues connected with horse racing to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport; and if he will make a statement. [9842]

I have no plans to do so.

To ask the Prime Minister when he plans to reply to the question of 10 June from the hon. Member for Chichester on the appointment of political advisers not paid from public funds. [9601]

I will be in a position to reply to the hon. Member's previous question shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civil servants there are on each pay band in his Department. [8966]

This is a matter for the chief executive of the Pay and Personnel Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those surface vessels of the Royal Navy which will need replacing in the next five years; and what the estimated replacement costs are. [8182]

Over the next five years, we plan to bring into service three type 23 frigates to replace two type 22 frigates, HMS Boxer and HMS Beaver, and one type 42 destroyer, HMS Birmingham. The value of the contract for these vessels is estimated at around £450 million. We will also bring into service two auxiliary oilers at the turn of the century. These vessels, for which the contract is worth around £200 million, will replace the aging 0 class fuel replenishment ships, RFA Olna and RFA Olwen. The two amphibious ships, HMS Fearless and HMS Intrepid, will be replaced early next century by HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark; the value of the contract for these vessels is estimated at £450 million.We are considering how to replace the capabilities currently provided by the survey vessels HMS Herald, HMS Roebuck, HMS Bulldog and HMS Beagle and by two of our landing ships logistic, RFA Sir Geraint and RFA Sir Percivale.HMY Britannia will be decommissioned at the end of this year. The Government are currently considering the requirement for a replacement royal yacht and will announce their decision in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Defence Export Services Organisation will be included in the strategic defence review. [6840]

Consideration of the support to defence exports will form part of the strategic defence review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the British contribution to NATO's Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps is in cash terms in the current financial year; and what it is as a proportion of the defence budget. [8185]

The estimated cost of UK forces assigned to the ARRC, and the headquarters costs, is some £2 billion in the current financial year, or some one tenth of the defence budget. These forces include 1 and 3 Divisions, 24 Airmobile Brigade and support troops, which could contribute to a number of missions, under both NATO and non-NATO command, in support of the Government's security and defence policies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the ethnic minorities have been appointed to the ranks of one, two, three or four-star officers in the (a) Royal Navy, (b) Royal Marines, (c) Army and (d) Royal Air Force since 1967. [7829]

There is currently one one-star officer from the ethnic minorities in the RAF and none in the Royal Navy, Royal Marines or Army, although a one-star officer recently retired from the Army. This reflects the under-representation of the ethnic minorities in the armed forces, a position we are seeking to redress. A new management-led, self-classification survey of the ethnic origin of serving personnel was introduced in July 1996. Prior to this date records cannot be relied on.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many dwellings owned by the Ministry of Defence in the Rosyth and Pitreavie area are currently vacant; of these how many have been vacant for (a) less than six months, (b) six to 12 months, (c) up to two years and (d) over two years; and what are his Department's plans for the disposal of these properties, and over what period. [8990]

All but one of the 81 houses of the service families accommodation site at Pitreavie are empty, due to the closure in July 1996 of RAF Pitreavie Castle and RAF Turnhouse. Forty-three houses have been empty for 12 months and 37 for 18 months.The Ministry of Defence originally planned to market the houses with the RAF station as a package. More recently, and because no prospective purchaser has been found, it has been decided to market the houses individually and sales will proceed as quickly as possible.The Rosyth estate comprises 269 houses of which 147 are empty. One hundred and four have been empty for between one and two years and 43 have been empty for over two years. A total of 108 of the 147 are currently being advertised for sale in blocks or on an individual basis. These sales will take place as market demand permits.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many payments he has made to employers following call-out or recall of reserves in the last year for which figures are available. [9417]

Provisions for making payments to the employers of reservists were introduced under regulations which came into force on 1 April this year. Since then, 10 payments have been made to employers, and a further 12 are being processed. Up to 16 July, claims had been agreed for some £7,000. Further claims amounting to some £14,000 are being considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current strength of the reserve forces by type. [9418]

The most recent complete figures are for 1 April 1997. These are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how often since 1992 his Department has been responsible for employment advertisements which contained age restrictions on those who could apply. [9507]

It is my Department's policy that age limits must not appear in external recruitment advertisements for civilian personnel. Exceptions to this rule are references to retirement ages or where a minimum recruitment age can be fully justified in terms of allowing the Department time to benefit from the expected training investment. The Department does not hold a central database of employment advertisements for civilians and it is therefore not possible, except at disproportionate cost and effort, to check whether any of these may have contained an age restriction other than the permitted exceptions.As a general principle, the armed forces require recruits aged between 16 and 26 years, although in some trades older applicants are acceptable. Approximately 90 per cent. of advertising for recruiting individuals into the services make references to these age restrictions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the location of each of the 12 British anti-personnel land mines known still to be in Iraq following the Gulf conflict; what is their type and specification; what steps he is taking to ensure they are cleared; and what estimate he has made of the total number unaccounted for in Iraq. [9665]

According to currently available information, 12 C3A1 anti-personnel land mines, commonly known as Elsies, were used in Iraq and not subsequently recovered. Consistent with the provisions of international law current at the time, details of their precise locations were not recorded in view of the nature of the operations. Given the current circumstances in Iraq, it would not be practical to attempt now to clear them. My Department is trying urgently to establish whether any further anti-personnel land mines used by British forces in the Gulf conflict remain unaccounted for.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service men and women have been (a) killed and (b) seriously injured in road traffic accidents while serving in Bosnia since the end of hostilities following the Dayton accord. [9315]

Since the deployment of the implementation force on 20 December 1995, three British soldiers have died and six have been listed as seriously ill or very seriously ill as a result of road traffic accidents in Bosnia. With treacherous weather and poor roads, conditions are very challenging, demanding a high degree of skill from drivers. Those military personnel required to drive vehicles in Bosnia undertake pre-deployment driving training to prepare them for the conditions there. The dangers are taken very seriously and an active information campaign ensures that all personnel are reminded of the need to drive with great care.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what measures he proposes to reduce delays in the criminal justice system; and if he will make a statement. [7530]

The introduction of plea and directions hearings in the Crown court continues to reduce delays. In the magistrates courts, the Magistrates' Courts (Procedure) Bill introduced recently by the Lord Chancellor will speed up the progress of half a million minor motoring cases per year. Generally, the Government are considering the scope for reductions in delays in the criminal courts suggested by the review of delay in the criminal justice system, and there will be a further announcement in due course.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has for the reorganisation of magistrates courts in West Sussex. [7536]

I have no such plans.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on his Department's criteria relating to the merger of magistrates courts. [7540]

Magistrates courts are locally managed by magistrates courts committees under the provisions of the Justices of the Peace Act 1997. Decisions concerning the future and number of magistrates courts in their area for the relevant MCCs to determine. A local authority that contributes financially may appeal to the Lord Chancellor against a proposed closure. The procedure for such appeals is set out in section 56 of the Justices of the Peace Act 1997. Accordingly, as with any appellate authority, each case is dealt with on its merits.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the number of magistrates courts in the county of Essex. [7533]

There are 13 court houses and 13 petty sessional divisions in Essex. Decisions concerning the future and number of magistrates courts in the area are for the relevant magistrates courts committees to determine. Essex MCC has issued a consultation document to magistrates and to the paying authority to review the arrangement of petty sessional divisions in the county.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if the Essex magistrates courts committee will be permitted to specify when embarking on a PFI initiative the broad geographical location and number of court houses it requires from those providing the PFI initiative. [9876]

It is an important principle of the PFI process that potential providers are given as much freedom as is possible to develop their ideas on how best to meet the operational requirements of the magistrates courts committee. The MCC will be able to indicate the broad geographical areas in which court houses should be located, but as far as is possible should refrain from specifying the number of court houses to be provided.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 10 July, Official Report, column 535, on consumer protection rights, if he will list the members of the working group on rights and duties in respect of representative actions. [9703]

Invitations to join the working group have been sent out. Copies of the list of members of the working group will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses as soon as acceptances to invitations have been received and the membership of the group finalised.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what are the names, qualifications and relevant experience of the members of the Civil Procedure Rules Committee. [8579]

The members of the Civil Procedure Rules Committee are:

• Lord Woolf, Master of the Rolls, chairman.
• Sir Richard Scott, Vice-Chancellor
• Mr. Justice Anthony May
• Judge Richard Holman
• District Judge Godfrey Gypps
• Master Harman John Leslie
• Henrietta Manners
• David Foskett QC
• Nicholas Chambers QC
• Peter Howarth
• Peter Watson
• David Greene
• Harriet Kimbell
• Olivia Morrison-Lyons

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list those organisations which are funded by his Department to (a) promote marriage, (b) carry out marriage counselling, (c) provide mediation services and (d) carry out research into the causes of marital breakdown, giving the total funding in each case and indicating which projects are pilot projects under the Family Law Act 1996. [8786]

The tables show my Department's provision of core funding, pilot funding and research funding by way of grant in aid in the current financial year to marriage support and research organisations.All projects for the provision of publicly funded mediation services under the Act are the responsibility of the Legal Aid Board. The overall funding commitment is not yet settled as schedules of payment are currently being negotiated with 37 mediation services and solicitors' practices.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the proposed commencement dates of each section of the Family Law Act 1996; and if he will make a statement. [8787]

Sections 65 and 67 came into force on the passing of the Act.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many medical negligence cases have been (a) commenced and (b) finalised under the Birmingham county court medical negligence cases pilot scheme; and if he will make a statement. [8586]

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 assessment the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committee on Ancillary Relief has made of the applicability to England and Wales of the system of divorce settlements, which currently operates in Scotland. [8790]

The Lord Chancellor's Advisory Group on Ancillary Relief discussed the extension of the Scottish system of financial provision on divorce to England and Wales at a meeting at the end of May 1996. At that meeting, the group concluded that it was not in a position to undertake a more comprehensive review. The Lord Chancellor's Department is assessing how further consideration can now most effectively be given to this matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement setting out the timetable he will now be following to introduce the pilot schemes under primary care legislation. [6748]

We propose to establish a range of pilots concerned with improving the direct provision of personal medical services from 1 April 1998. In order to give everyone equal opportunity to consider how local initiatives can be best taken forward, we have extended the closing date by which formal applications have to be with health authorities by one month. We also propose to establish a number of personal dental services pilots in October 1998 to test new ways of delivering primary care dentistry and addressing local oral health priorities.The revised timetable for the implementation of the personal medical services pilots is given in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department collates on the sums of money held at the year end by each fundholding practice. [7725]

Fundholding practices' saving balances are published in their fund accounts. The Department draws on this information as necessary, but does not routinely collate it at practice level.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will carry out an inquiry into the number of people in England and Wales involuntarily addicted to benzodiazepines; and if he will make a statement. [8498]

There are currently no plans to carry out such an inquiry. The principal focus of the Department's action in this area has been to try to prevent addiction occurring by warning general practitioners and other prescribers of the dangers of involuntary addiction to benzodiazepines. The Department funds a number of publications that are available to general practitioners, pharmacists and other health professionals—for instance, the British National Formulary and a Medicines Resource Centre monthly bulletin, which give information on the treatment of various conditions and the drugs involved in such treatment.In 1994, the Department agreed to fund a helpline run by the Council for Involuntary Tranquilliser Addiction, a voluntary organisation which aims to support those who wish to withdraw from tranquillisers and sleeping tablets. CITA was provided with funding of £10,000 in 1994–95, £10,000 in 1995–96 and £10,000 in 1996–97. In addition, the Department continues to fund the mental health charity MIND, which operates local self-help groups for people dependent on tranquillisers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list each health authority's expenditure plans in respect of family planning for the current financial year, indicating the percentage difference from expenditure in the previous financial year. [8848]

Information on the detail of health authority expenditure plans is not collected centrally. Information on expenditure by trusts and directly managed units is available and figures for 1994–95 and 1995–96, the latest years for which data are available, have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the public health initiatives planned by his Department (a) in Stoke-on-Trent, North and (b) nationally. [8877]

In Stoke-on-Trent, North, the health authority has established a locality approach to developing healthy communities through involving a wide range of statutory and local community organisations. The report of the director of public health this year will focus on "determinants of health". A wide range of public health initiatives is already under way in North Staffordshire, and many more have been identified as priorities by the health authority for 1997–98.Key priorities include:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the submissions made to him under the quinquennial review from the Microbiological Research Authority Board and the management of the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research; and if he will make a statement. [9096]

The management of the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research will send a copy of the final submission to the hon. Member when it is ready. This may take another week or so.My announcement of the review of the centre mentioned that the views of the key organisations and individuals would be sought. Letters of consultation have now been sent out. A scientific team including expert external members will visit the centre at the end of this month to assess the research work commissioned by the

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many sets of (a) twins, (b) triplets, (c) quadruplets, (d) quintuplets and (e) sextuplets were born in England in each year since 1990; and how many multiple births in each category were conceived as a result of (i) in vitro fertilisation, (ii) gamete intra-fallopian transfer and (iii) other forms of assisted conception. [8175]

The information is not available in the form requested. The number of multiple maternities in England for the period 1990 to 1996 is shown in table 1.Details of pregnancies achieved and births in the UK for the same period as the result of in vitro fertilisation or donor insemination, including gamete intra-fallopian transfer, are shown in tables 2 to 5.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people work for the chief medical officer in Stockport health authority; and what is the average figure for similar-sized health authorities. [8694]

The director of public health in Stockport is supported by a team of three consultants in public health medicine, two trainees on rotation and three and a half—whole-time equivalent—secretarial-support staff. This team has developed an extensive network of links with, for example, NHS trusts, the local authority, other government agencies and voluntary organisations, which contributes to health promotion and activities and public health issues. There are no comparable figures available for other authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many free domiciliary sight test visits there were in (a) 1992–93, (b) 1993–94, (c) 1994–95 and (d) 1995–96, broken down by health authority. [8828]

The information is given in the table. It reveals marked variations between years for some authorities for which no explanation was provided. This suggests that some returns may not have been audited and some data for individual authorities may be subject to error.