To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was (a) the total revenue raised by his Department through fees for civil work in each of the last two years and (b) the total expenditure of the court services for civil work in each of the last two years. [36437]

(a) The total revenue raised through fees for csivil work in 1996–97 was £264.4m and in 1997–98 was £323.lm. This includes forecast revenue for March 1998, (b) the total expenditure of the Court Service for civil work in 1996–97 was £321m and in 1997–98 was £3 27m. This also includes forecast expenditure for March 98.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was (a) the target percentage of the costs of civil courts to be recovered through fees and (b) the actual percentage of the costs of the civil courts recovered through fees in each of the last two years. [36438]

(a) The amount planned to be recovered through fees for 1996–97 was £260m (81 per cent. of the total cost) and for 1997–98 was £314m (96 per cent.); (b) the actual percentage of the costs recovered through fees in 1996–97 was 82 per cent. and in 1997–98 was 99 per cent. This includes forecast data for March 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many visitors to Britain arrived through north-west airports during 1997. [36848]

Data from the International Passenger Survey for 1996 shows that 767,000 overseas visitors to the UK used Manchester Airport. During the first three quarters of 1997, 606,000 overseas visitors used Manchester Airport, an increase of 19,000 on the same period in 1996. Figures for overseas visitors are not available for other airports in the North West.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer of 26 February 1998, Official Report, column 322, what were (a) the level of membership of each of the shooting organisations listed and (b) the level of public funding in each of the last three years; and what is the projected funding for the next three years. [33543]

The relevant governing body for England is the English Shooting Council (ESC) whose approximate 1997 membership stands at 18,000 and consists of 4 member organisations: the English Pistol Association; English XX(2) Club; the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association; and the English Small Bore Shooting Union.The UK-wide body is the Great Britain Target Shooting Federation (GBTSF), whose approximate 1997 membership is broken down as follows:

	Clubs	Members
National Pistol Association	500	100,000
National Rifle Association	1,000	57,000
British International Clay Target Shooting Federation	700	28,000
National Small Bore Rifle Association	18,000	296,000

The level of grant to each organisation is as follows:

	£
	English Shooting Council	GB Target Shooting Federation
1995–96	11,000	240,785
1996–97	10,000	330,215
1997–98	18,000	288,120
1998–99	6,500	1239,370
1999–002	16,500	not yet available
2000–012	4,500	not yet available
1 Planning figure subject to further discussion with the Federation.
2 No firm projections can be made beyond 1998–99. The level of funding is subject to review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what was the total grant-in-aid made available by the Great Britain Sports Council to governing bodies of sport for the financial years 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96. [34253]

The information requested is set out in the table. Many governing bodies also benefited from a number of services and programmes provided by the Sports Council or organisations funded by them, and from the use of facilities and services provided by the six National Sports Centres.

£000
Year	Grant-in-aid
1992–93	8,974
1993–94	9,603
1994–95	9,997
1995–96	10,956

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what was the total grant-in-aid made available by the English Sports Council to governing bodies of sport for the financial years 1996–97 and 1997–98; and what it is projected to be for the next three financial year [34264]

The information requested is set out in the table. Projections have not yet been made for 1999–2000 and 2000–2001.

£000
Year	Grant-in-aid
1996–97	11,574
1997–98	24,782
1998–99	35,535
1 The English Sports Council became fully operational on 1 January 1997. The figure, therefore, covers the period 01–01–97 to 31–03–97. The total grant-in-aid made available to governing bodies by the GB Sports Council during the period 01–04–96 to 31–12–96 was £8.126m.
2 Forecast outturn.
3 Budget figure. From 01–04–98, the governing body budget will include funding for sport specific developments in the ESC regions which previously were included in the individual regional budgets. When the regional element is included, the total governing body budget for 1998–99 will be £6.2m.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list, by individual governing body, the grant-in-aid made available by the English Sports Council to governing bodies of sport for the financial years 1996–97 and 1997–98. [34268]

The information requested is set out in the table. The English Sports Council became fully operational from 1 January 1997. The United Kingdom Sports Council assumed primary responsibility for UK/GB governing bodies on the same date. The 1996–97 figures include grant-in-aid payments made by the GB, English and UK Sports Councils during 1996–97.

£
Governing body	1996–97	11997–98
National Federation of Anglers	25,000	25,000
National Federation of Sea Anglers	30,000	30,000
Salmon & Trout Association	17,500	17,500
Grand National Archery Association	60,000	20,000
Football Association	45,000	45,000
Amateur Athletics Association of England	20,000	10,000
British Athletics Federation	306,500	50,000
Badminton Association of England	247,000	262,000
British Badminton Olympic Committee	70,000	0
English Schools Badminton Association	15,000	0
British Baseball Federation	45,900	16,000
English Basketball Association	296,500	361,324
British Bobsleigh Association	100,000	2—
English Bowls Coaching Scheme	22,000	22,000
Amateur Boxing Association	108,500	148,500
British Amateur Boxing Association	20,000	0
British Canoe Union	320,000	112,000
National Caving Association	23,750	3,600
England and Wales Cricket Board	297,950	207,750
English Schools Cricket Association	20,000	5,000
Women's Cricket Association	32,500	37,500
Croquet Association	21,000	9,450
British Curling Association	40,000	2—
British Cycling Federation	377,500	52,500
Cyclists Touring Club	25,000	2—
British Cyclo-Cross Association	77,500	14,950
British Cycle Speedway Council	15,500	12,900
English BMX Association	5,000	0
English Schools Cycling Association	2,500	2,000
Road Time Trials Council	10,000	6,750
British Paralympic Association	178,000	42,533
British Blind Sport	40,500	2—
British Deaf Sports Council	55,000	40,000
Disability Sport England	195,000	195,000
English Sports Association for People with Learning Disability	111,500	111,500
UK Sports Association for People with Learning Disability	65,650	2—

£
Governing body	1996–97	11997–98
British Equestrian Federation	113,162	12,930
British Horse Society	49,250	39,000
British Fencing Association	175,000	45,000
British Gliding Association	29,250	12,000
English Golf Union	30,000	32,500
British Amateur Gymnastics Association	403,500	2—
British Schools Gymnastics Association	26,500	2—
British Handball Association	18,910	4,360
British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association	70,000	2—
All England Women's Hockey Association	185,000	131,250
English Hockey Association	0	164,300
Great Britain Olympic Hockey Board (men & women)	176,000	2—
Hockey Association	195,000	95,000
British Ice Hockey Association	37,500	0
National Ice Skating Association	120,000	24,750
British Judo Association	459,375	9,375
English Karate Governing Body	67,500	35,000
English Lacrosse Association	145,834	150,000
Royal Life Saving Society UK	30,000	2—
British Model Flying Association	15,000	0
Modern Pentathlon Association of Great Britain	70,000	9,000
Auto Cycle Union	10,125	2—
British Mountaineering Council	216,250	42,500
English Amateur Dancesport Association	7,500	0
English Folk Dance and Song Society	20,000	20,000
Exercise Association of England	75,000	50,000
Health & Beauty Exercise	22,665	20,335
Keep Fit Association	45,000	31,250
Margaret Morris Movement	9,375	14,375
Medau Society	26,750	22,250
All England Netball Association	173,750	270,000
British Orienteering Federation	124,750	90,800
British Parachute Association	93,500	18,700
British Petanque Association	21,000	2,470
Tennis and Rackets Association	17,500	20,000
National Roller Hockey Association	18,000	0
British Federation of Roller Skating	28,000	0
National Rounders Association	14,250	15,000
Amateur Rowing Association	447,500	89,500
British Amateur Rugby League Association	160,000	160,000
English Schools Rugby League	7,500	5,000
Rugby Football Union	0	27,000
Rugby Football Union of Women	45,000	45,000
National Schools Sailing Association	3,750	7,500
Royal Yachting Association	457,000	2—
British Federation of Sand amp; Land Yacht Clubs	23,085	1,300
English Shooting Council	10,000	18,000
GB Target Shooting Federation	330,215	2—
British Ski Federation	200,000	2—
English Ski Council	75,000	70,000
British Softball Federation	17,000	18,000
Squash Rackets Association	300,000	240,000
British Surfing Association	25,000	2—
Surf Life Saving Association of GB	38,250	7,500
Amateur Swimming Association	154,000	212,000
Amateur Swimming Federation of GB	162,500	2—
English Schools Swimming Association	2,500	0
British Olympic Table Tennis Committee	35,000	2—
English Schools Table Tennis Association	3,500	3,500
English Table Tennis Association	279,000	279,000
British Tenpin Bowling Association	39,000	17,000
British Triathlon Association	48,500	3,000
Tug of War Association	9,375	9,375
British Volleyball Federation	60,000	2—
English Volleyball Association	215,000	215,000
British Water Ski Federation	195,000	29,700
British Amateur Weight Lifters' Association	145,000	35,000
British Amateur Wrestling Association	45,833	10,000
English Olympic Wrestling Association	4,000	0
1 Forecast outturn
2 Governing bodies receiving grants from the UK Sports Council in 1997–98

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list, by individual governing body, the grant-in-aid made available by the United Kingdom Sports Council to governing bodies of sport for the financial years 1996–97 and 1997–98. [34267]

The information requested for 1997–98 is set out in the following table. The figures do not include grants to governing bodies under the United Kingdom Sports Council's grant scheme for international representatives.The United Kingdom Sports Council became fully operational on 1 January 1997. The total amount of grant-in-aid made available by the GB, UK and English Sports Councils during 1996–97 is given in my other reply of today concerning the English Sports Council (PQ No-34268).

£
Governing body	11997–98
Grand National Archery Association	109,000
UK Athletics '98	256,500
British Baseball Federation	22,790
British Biathlon Union	12,000
British Bobsleigh Association	100,000
British Canoe Union	240,500
National Caving Association	15,150
Croquet Association	18,000
British Curling Association	57,500
British Cycling Federation	273,750
Cyclists Touring Club	12,000
British Cyclo-Cross Association	40,500
British Cycle Speedway Council	800
Road Time Trials Council	1,000
UK Sports Association for People with Learning Disability	65,500
British Paralympic Association	129,950
British Blind Sport	41,625
British Deaf Sports Council	45,000
British Equestrian Federation	113,908
British Horse Society	9,250
British Fencing Association	110,000
British Gliding Association	10,750
British Amateur Gymnastics Association	356,400
British Schools Gymnastics Association	23,400
British Handball Association	8,730
British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association	63,000
Great Britain Olympic Hockey Board	119,750
National Ice Skating Association	120,200
British Judo Association	203,750
Royal Life Saving Society UK	17,500
Great Britain Luge Association	8,000
Modern Pentathlon Association of Great Britain	46,000
Auto Cycle Union	13,125
British Mountaineering Council	175,875
British Orienteering Federation	65,700
British Parachute Association	57,175
British Petanque Association	16,530
Amateur Rowing Association	179,500
Royal Yachting Association	411,300
British Federation of Sand & Land Yacht Clubs	11,438
GB Target Shooting Federation	288,120
British Ski Federation	150,000
British Surfing Association	18,000
Surf Life Saving-Association of GB	22,375
Amateur Swimming Federation of GB	143,500
British Olympic Table Tennis Committee	10,000
British Tenpin Bowling Association	9,000
British Triathlon Association	74,800
British Volleyball Federation	43,500
British Water Ski Federation	183,300
British Amateur Weight Lifters' Association	55,348
British Amateur Wrestling Association	30,000
1 Forecast outturn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list, by individual governing body, the grant-in-aid projected to be made available by the United Kingdom Sports Council to governing bodies of sport for the next three financial years. [34251]

The information requested for 1998–99 is set out in the following table. The figures do not include grants to governing bodies under the United Kingdom Sports Council's grant scheme for international representatives. Projections have not yet been made for 1999–2000 and 2000–2001.

£
Governing body	11998–99
Grand National Archery Association	30,000
UK Athletics '98	320,000
British Badminton Olympic Committee	40,000
British Baseball Federation	19,780
British Biathlon Union	12,000
British Bobsleigh Association	100,000
British Amateur Boxing Association	10,000
British Canoe Union	225,000
National Caving Association	15,641
British Curling Association	11,000
British Cycling Federation	270,000
British Cyclo-Cross Association	51,000
British Cycle Speedway Council	800
Cyclists Touring Club	14,000
Road Time Trials Council	1,000
UK Sports Association for People with Learning Disability	65,500
British Paralympic Association	100,00
British Blind Sport	40,875
British Deaf Sports Council	45,000
British Equestrian Federation	110,431
British Horse Society	6,938
British Fencing Association	110,000
British Gliding Association	15,375
British Amateur Gymnastics Association	356,400
British Schools Gymnastics Association	23,400
British Handball Association	11,640
British Gang Gliding and Paragliding Association	63,000
Great Britain Olympic Hockey Board	118,250
British Ice Hockey Association	18,000
National Ice Skating Association	112,700
British Judo Association	250,000
Royal Life Saving Society UK	7,500
Great Britain Luge Association	8,000
Modern Pentathlon Association of Great Britain	50,000
Auto Cycle Union	12,000
British Mountaineering Council	119,125
British Orienteering Federation	150,000
British Parachute Association	70,000
British Petanque Association	12,350
Amateur Rowing Association	179,500
Royal Yachting Association	411,300
British Federation of Sand and Land Yacht Clubs	7,354
GB Target Shooting Federation	239,370
British Ski Federation	200,000
British Surfing Association	15,000
Surf Life Saving Association of GB	22,000
Amateur Swimming Federation of GB	150,000
British Olympic Table Tennis Committee	10,000
British Triathlon Association	90,000
British Volleyball Federation	25,000
British Water Ski Federation	149,000
British Amateur Weight Lifters' Association	55,348
British Amateur Wrestling Association	40,000
1 Budget figures only.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list, by individual governing body, the grant-in-aid projected to be made available by the English Sports Council to governing bodies of sport for the next three financial years. [34269]

£
Governing body	11998–1999	1999–2000	2000–2001
National Federation of Anglers	18,750	—	—
National Federation of Sea Anglers	22,500	—	—
Salmon and Trout Association	18,750	—	—
Football Association	53,000	33,750	—
British Athletics Federation	40,000	4,500	2,250
Badminton Association of England	12,000	—	—
British Baseball Federation	14,000	16,000	16,000
English Basketball Association	386,500	360,000	360,000
English Bowls Coaching Scheme	10,000	—	—
Amateur Boxing Association	24,000	—	—
British Canoe Union	160,000	160,000	160,000
England and Wales Cricket Board	350,750	352,050	—
Croquet Association	14,550	—	—
British Cycling Federation	24,000	—	—
British Cyclo-Cross Association	10,750	10,000	10,000
British Cycle Speedway Council	5,625	—	—
British Horse Society	40,000	40,000	30,000
British Fencing Association	45,000	—	—
English Golf Union	17,500	—	—
British Gymnastics	88,780	—	—
British Handball Association	4,360	—	—
English Hockey Association	464,000	460,000	460,000
National Ice Skating Association	14,850	19,800	—
British Judo Association	12,900	—	—
English Karate Governing Body	35,000	35,000	20,000
English Lacrosse Association	135,000	135,000	—
Lawn Tennis Association	37,000	—	—
British Mountaineering Council	50,000	50,000	50,000
English Folk Dance and Song Society	17,000	17,000	17,000
Exercise Association of England	50,000	50,000	50,000
Health and Beauty Exercise	15,000	7,500	—
Keep Fit Association	8,750	—	—
Margaret Morris Movement	5,000	—	—
Medau Society	20,000	15,000	—
All England Netball Association	361,110	—	—
British Petanque Association	650	—	—
Tennis and Rackets Association	5,000	—	—
National Rounders Association	15,000	18,000	7,500
Amateur Rowing Association	3,000	—	—
British Amateur Rugby League Association	3,500	—	—
Rugby Football Union	28,500	—	—
Rugby Football Union of Women	45,000	11,250	—
Royal Yachting Association	22,750	—	—
English Shooting Council	6,500	16,500	4,500
English Ski Council	37,500	—	—
British Softball Federation	13,750	11,250	—
Squash Rackets Association	180,000	60,000	—
English Surfing Federation	5,000	—	—
Surf Life Saving Association of GB	5,625	—	—
Amateur Swimming Association	215,000	280,000	280,000
English Table Tennis Association	511,000	470,000	460,000
British Tenpin Bowling Association	5,000	—	—
British Triathlon Association	3,000	—	—
Tug of War Association	5,625	5,625	—
British Water Ski Federation	15,000	—	—
British Amateur Weight Lifters' Association	40,000	40,000	30,000
British Amateur Wrestling Association	10,000	10,000	7,500
1 From 1 April 1998, the governing body budget includes provision for funding sport specific developments in the ESC regions, which previously were included in the individual regional budgets.

The information requested is, where available, set out in the following table. The figures include the committed expenditure only for those governing bodies which have received an offer letter giving indicative planning figures for the remainder of their four-year plans.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the (i) location of, (ii) running costs of, (iii) salary costs of and (iv) number of staff based at the head office of the (a) National Lotteries Charity Board, (b) Lottery Sports Fund, (c) Arts Lottery Fund and (d) Heritage Lottery Fund; and for each of these bodies what percentage of (1) staff, (2) salary costs and (3) running costs are based in (A) London and (B) Scotland. [36127]

[holding answer 26 March 1998]: All the following figures are for 1996–97 and relate to the organisations' Lottery opeations. Figures given for running costs include salary costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what specific changes to departmental transport arrangements have to date been implemented following the receipt of the green transport plan; [36651](2) on what date he plans to introduce a green commuting plan. [36655]

[holding answer 27 March 1998]: The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions circulated to all Departments in September last year a "Guide to Green Transport Plans". My Department has started work on preparing green transport plans for key headquarters buildings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many tickets to Scotland's matches in World Cup 1998 have been obtained by his Department; and to whom these tickets have been distributed. [36805]

[holding answer 30 March 1998]: None, nor do we intend to obtain any.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on his plans to improve the regulation of the National Lottery. [37663]

It is the Government's intention to ensure that the public has complete confidence in the operation and regulation of the National Lottery. To that end, the National Lottery Bill, which will shortly receive its Second Reading in the House, contains provisions to establish an advisory panel to help the Director General select the operator of the National Lottery.While this panel would bring collective expertise to the selection of the operator, the final decision would remain in the hands of an individual—the Director General.I have therefore been considering whether there is more we could do to broaden and strengthen the regulatory structure. I believe that there is a case for establishing a permanent collective body to bring a wider range of expertise and experience to the task of ongoing regulation as well as selection of the operator.I therefore plan to introduce amendments to the Bill to replace the post of Director General, and the advisory panel, with a National Lottery Commission. The Commission, which will have the same statutory functions and duties as the Director General, will have five members and will be serviced by OFLOT. Its introduction will reduce the risk, actual or perceived, of conflicts of interest and regulatory capture, and remove the focus on an individual, while ensuring that a breadth of knowledge, experience and expertise is brought to bear on the regulation of the National Lottery. The necessary amendments will be introduced before the Bill is considered in Committee.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what changes he proposes to make to his Department's non-voted cash limit for 1997–98. [37664]

As announced by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 17 July 1997, Official Report, columns 245–50, the DCMS/ERDF non-voted cash limit covering the payment of European Regional Development Fund grants, including supplementary credit approvals in respect of capital expenditure by local authorities, is eligible for an increase of £14,517,000 under the end year flexibility scheme for structural funds expenditure. The cash limit for 1997–98 has therefore been increased by £11,000,000 from £34,000,000 to £45,000,000 reflecting partial take up of the announced EYF amount to finance additional payments to approved projects.The increase will be charged to the Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if the Minister for Sport has visited the national mountaineering centres at (a) Glenmore Lodge, (b) Plas-y-Brenin, (c) Tollymore and (d) Plas-y-Menai since 1 May 1997. [36620]

My hon. Friend the Minister for Sport has not visited the national mountaineering centres at Glenmore lodge, Plas-y-Brenin, Tollymore and Plas-y-Menai.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what procedures he will put in place to allow all sports access to the expertise in sports medicine and science of the UK Sports Institute. [36619]

The UKSI's mission is to put the UK at the top of world sport by providing quality services that athletes will want to use. This will require access to the best possible expertise wherever in the world people are located.All sports, including major spectator sports, will be able to connect into the support services throughout the UKSI network, locally, regionally and at the Headquarters.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the proposal by the English tourist board to set up an annual tourism conference from 1999, under their strategy Action 2000; and if he plans to attend the 1999 conference. [36849]

I welcome the English Tourist Board's commitment to a partnership approach with the industry. I understand that they are now working on ideas for such a conference early next year and will soon be in a position to announce further details.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will set out the UK's proposed target for carbon dioxide reductions under the Kyoto protocol before entering into negotiations with other European Union countries. [36383]

The starting point for the sharing out with other European Union countries of the EU's legally binding 8 per cent. Kyoto Protocol target is the provisional agreement reached in March 1997, under which the previous Government committed the UK to a 10 per cent. reduction. We indicated before Kyoto that we were prepared to consider doing more than this as a legally binding target: but we would not do so simply to enable other EU countries to reduce their efforts.Separately from whatever legally binding target is agreed for the UK, we retain our aim of a 20 per cent. reduction in CO

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the number of railway stations that opened (a) nationally and (b) in Shropshire for each year since 1979. [36473]

The table gives the number of railway stations that the British Railways Board opened between 1979 and 1993. None were in Shropshire. Since 1994, the opening of new stations has been the responsibility of Railtrack. I understand that a total of 30 stations have opened in the last four years, but that Railtrack have no central record of station openings by year or by region.

Year	Stations opened (nationally)
1979	9
1980	5
1981	6
1982	9
1983	9
1984	15
1985	19
1986	4
1987	6
1988	23
1989	15
1990	20
1991	6
1992	15
1993	14

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many prosecutions there have been for unlawful levels of emission for goods vehicles in each of the last 15 years; [36598](2) how many local authority weighing stations for the checking of loading of goods vehicles are currently in operation; [36597](3) how many prosecutions there have been for overloading of goods vehicles in each of the last 15 years. [36596]

I have asked the Chief Executive of the Vehicle Inspectorate Executive Agency, Mr. Ron Oliver, to write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to reverse the decline in bird populations on the North Staffordshire moors; and if he will make z statement. [36764]

In response to a decline in certain bird populations, the South West Peak Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA), part of the North Staffordshire Moor, was set up in 1993. This ESA included management guidelines specifically aimed at birc protection by minimising the risk of disturbance and nest damage. The 1997 Quinquennial Review of the ESA considered a further range of options for habitat management and creation. As a result, further measures have been taken to encourage the regeneration of extensive pasture land and recreation of traditional meadows, as well as supplementary payments designed to encourage farmers to follow a drainage management plan This enables the creation of areas of wet land as suitable habitat for feeding and nesting birds.In addition, other areas of the moor are designated as Special Protection Areas under the EC Wild Birds Directive 79/409/EEC.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will assess the impact on bird life on the North Staffordshire moors of agricultural developments over the last 20 years; and if he will make a statement. [36763]

Declines in the populations of some species of birds in the North Staffordshire moorland area in particular ground nesting waders such as curlew and lapwing, as well as the skylark and twite, have been shown by a number of surveys which have been carried out since 1984.The reasons for the declines may be linked to breeding failure caused by predation and changes in fanning practices. Measures have been put into place which may help to reverse the decline in the population of these bird species.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 19 March 1998, Official Report, column 692, if he will instigate an independent appeals process over decisions taken by the Public Carriage Office not to allow advertisements on licensed taxi vehicles. [36823]

I have no plans to change the present arrangements. However, I understand that the Public Carriage Office, and the Metropolitan Police of which they form part, are willing to discuss questions of taxi advertising with the agencies concerned, and that liaison meetings for that purpose are already planned.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the total cost of producing his Department's publication, "Europe's Shared Environment: The Work of the European Union in Environment Protection"; and what assessment he has made of the appropriateness of its size. [36803]

[holding answer 30 March 1998]: The total cost of the production (design and print) of 20,000 copies of the publication "Europe's Shared Environment: The Work of the European Union in Environment Protection" was £17,429. The A4 landscape format was selected for its attractiveness and to ensure that text was clear and uncramped. This did not affect the design or print costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for then Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made by Government departments towards the target of improving energy efficiency by 20 per cent. in the nine years to 31 March 2000. [37355]

By 31 March 1997, energy efficiency in Government Departments had improved by just over 15 per cent. since 1990–91.Full details are given in tables, copies of which have been deposited in the Library. The overall improvement is shown in Table 4. The tables include revisions to figures for earlier years revealing better performance than previously reported. All results reported here relate to periods before this Administration took office. Energy management in individual Departments is a matter for those Departments and their Green Minister. The Government aim to be at the forefront of good practice to improve energy efficiency, and will be looking to ensure that momentum is maintained through the strengthened role of Green Ministers under the Chairmanship of my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment. We are also working on the development of new performance indicators which will, for the first time, enable comparisons with independent standards of good practice across the economy.The results for the former Department of the Environment in 1996–97 were affected by relocation and rationalisation of its accommodation in London and elsewhere. This resulted in the need to run a number of old and new buildings while changes took place. The Department's two new headquarters buildings at Eland House and Ashdown House will be fully occupied by the end of March 1998. Both include a number of energy efficient measures including a combined heat and power system and a displacement cooling system.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received concerning the planning application for a drive-through fast-food restaurant on the London Road, North Cheam. [37170]

I have asked the Chief Executive of the Planning Inspectorate, Mr. Chris Shepley, to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to introduce labelling for cleaning materials to identify their content for those who suffer from allergic reactions to certain solvents. [35806]

The current UK and EU law dealing with the labelling of chemicals, including cleaning products, obliges suppliers to assess whether the chemical will cause sensitisation by inhalation or skin contact. If a product has this property it has to be labelled with a warning symbol and written advice including the chemical identity of the active chemical. I have no plans to introduce more specific legislation of the type described.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how he intends the new approach to planning for future housing requirements to be taken into account in existing reviews of regional planning guidance and development plans. [37596]

The statement "Planning for the Communities of the Future", Cmnd 3885, points out, in paragraph 33, the need for an orderly transition from the old to the new policy. The new approach will be introduced, as soon as possible, through reviews of Regional Planning Guidance. We will discuss with the Regional Planning Conferences how far it will be possible to introduce the new arrangements into existing review processes, some of which are likely to be completed next year. In the meantime, where development plans are being replaced or altered, they should continue to have regard, inter alia, to existing regional guidance. However, in considering whether to object to proposals put forward in development plans, the Secretary of State will treat each case on its merits, taking account of national policy, including that in the statement. A more detailed note on the transitional position has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will publish the Government's consultation paper following the review of water charging in England and Wales. [37660]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I are publishing today our water charging proposals. The driving principles behind our policy on water charging are to have a system which provides for fair water charges and gives customers more choice in the way they pay for water. That system has to look after vulnerable customers. It also has to help ensure that water is used efficiently. We propose four key measures:

(i) Those who currently pay on an unmeasured basis and use water only for essential domestic purposes should be able to continue to do so in their present home.

(ii) We should remove the threat of disconnection from domestic customers.

(iii) Domestic customers should have the choice of a meter, free of charge, if it suits their needs.

(iv) Targeted help should be available for consumers with special needs.

For the foreseeable future, the majority of customers will pay their water charges on an unmeasured basis. We remain firmly of the view that customers should not, in future, be obliged to start paying for water in their present home on a measured basis, where they are not using significant amounts of water for non-domestic purposes like garden watering using a sprinkler. To allow this, we propose a change in the law to allow rateable value charging to continue beyond the year 2000.We also propose to remove the powers of water companies to disconnect domestic water supplies in the event of non-payment. This will be particularly reassuring to those who are most vulnerable. Access to water is essential to the maintenance of general good health and well being, and the water charging arrangements need to reflect that. Of course, water companies are entitled to be paid for the services they provide, but other debt recovery procedures are available to them. Our concern about public health demands that we maintain the flow of water supplies to households in all circumstances.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about the problems associated with the thaumasite form of sulphate attack on concrete. [37704]

During recent strengthening operations on two of the older overbridges on the M5 in Gloucestershire, an unexpected deterioration was noted in some of the concrete columns below ground level. Consultations with BRE identified this as the thaumasite form of sulphate attack. Foundations on a further three bridges were examined and were found to be exhibiting similar deterioration.The Highways Agency's view is that this does not pose a threat to the structural stability of the bridges, nor is there any risk to the safety of road users. The Agency are drawing up a programme to identify which bridges might be subject to this form of problem and to investigate those bridges.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to lay the regulations under section 58 of the Environment Act 1995 for mine operators to notify the Environment Agency before abandoning a mine or part of a mine. [37705]

I am today laying before the House, together with the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales, my hon. Friend the Member for Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths), The Mines (Notice of Abandonment) Regulations 1998. The Regulations will come into force on 1 July 1998. On 4 March, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Wallasey (Angela Eagle) made the necessary Commencement Order to bring the remainder of section 58 and 60 of the Environment Act 1995 into force on 1 July. This period of notice will allow mine operators time to put in place the necessary steps to avoid a criminal liability for failing to notify the Agency of proposed abandonment.These Regulations are being introduced following extensive consultation with interested parties. Copies of the responses received are available from the Departments' libraries. The Regulations will help the Environment Agency ("the Agency") avoid an unexpected minewater breakout resulting in serious contamination of controlled waters by enabling the Agency to identify appropriate action to prevent pollution or treat minewaters when a mine or part of a mine is abandoned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are taken to ascertain the accuracy of information supplied by another country suggesting that an individual applying for a visa to enter the United Kingdom may be a security risk to that other country; and what account is taken of such information in determining an individual's visa application. [36851]

Any information supplied by another government in relation to a United Kingdom visa application at the respective British Mission would be carefully evaluated, including against the background of the information available on the visa application. Any information would be given appropriate weight when deciding the application under the requirements of the Immigration Rules.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the Government have to (a) establish permanent diplomatic representations in the Republic of Moldova or (b) move Moldavian accreditation from Moscow. [37210]

There are no plans to open a British Embassy in Moldova. We have no plans to transfer accreditation from the British Embassy, Moscow. We are however hoping to appoint an Honorary Consul in Chisinau by the end of this year. The question of diplomatic coverage of Moldova is kept under regular review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the (a) purpose and (b) budget of the People's Europe Project. [37072]

The aim of the People's Europe 98 conference is to promote and widen public debate on the challenges facing Europe; in this way to help make the EU more open and closer to the citizen; and to provide a means to promote the views of civic society within the European Union. The budget for the project is the responsibility of the organisers. My Department is providing £70,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what European Communities funding will be available to support the People's Europe Project. [37096]

The European Commission intends to provide about £70,000 from the EC budget toward the cost of the People's Europe 1998 conference. The European Parliament is likely to make a further, smaller contribution. It is possible that EC funds may be available to Non-Governmental Organisations that are contributing to the conference.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff of the European Commission based in London possess diplomatic immunity [37165]

Under the 1965 Protocol on Privileges and Immunities of the European Communities, 26 members of staff at the European Commission based in London enjoy Diplomatic Immunity. This is only in respect of acts carried out in their official capacity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial contribution the UK has made to UNICEF in each of the last five years. [37060]

I have been asked to reply.Total UK contributions to UNICEF were as follows:

Year	£ million
1993–94	12
1994–95	25
1995–96	27
1996–97	22
1997–98	110
1 Provisional

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) projects and (b) financial aids are provided to help reunite refugee children with their families in areas of conflict. [37054]

I have been asked to reply.The Department for International Development (DFID) supports a number of organisations which help to reunite refugee children with their families. Prominent among these is the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) who work in most of the world's crisis affected countries and whose mandate includes protection and tracing. We have recently agreed a core contribution of £15 million (1997/98 financial year) for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). We support and work closely with the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), whose mandate is the protection of children's rights: in 1996/97 DFID provided a core contribution of £8.5 million. We have also contributed a sum of £200,000 in support of the work of the United Nations Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict to ensure protection, healing and rehabilitation of war affected children.Additionally, DFID supports bilaterally a number of NGOs who work with refugees. Many of these projects are aimed at the most vulnerable members of the community and often have children as major beneficiaries. For instance we have given specific support to the UK NGO Children in Crisis to fund an orphan reunification project in Afghanistan. We are also funding a Save the Children programme in Liberia which aims to assist unaccompanied children, family tracing and reunification/rehabilitation work.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of the animal tests for cosmetics in 1996 were for non-legislative purposes. [36424]

In 1996, there were 101 animal tests for cosmetics involving a total of 2,803 individual procedures on 2,791 animals. Of these, one test (1 per cent.) was for non-legislative purposes. It involved 45 rats (1.6 per cent. of the total number of animals). The test was carried out because of doubts about the safety of an ingredient which was to be used in trials involving human volunteers.The figures given are not consistent with the figures in table 11 of the report "Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain, 1996" which was published in July 1997. The "All species" row in table 11 indicated that 620 cosmetic testing procedures had been carried out for non-legislative purpose. Inquiries since the statistics were published showed most of these procedures were, in fact, carried out to comply with health and safety or consumer protection legislative requirements.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will outline his proposals relating to animal experimentation during the United Kingdom's presidency of the European Union. [36428]

The United Kingdom has used its Presidency of the European Union to seek agreement for the European Commission, and those member states which have not done so, to conclude by January 2000 the European Convention for the protection of vertebrate animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes. This will allow the United Kingdom to ratify the Convention, to which it has been a long-standing signatory. We have also clearly signalled our support for the Commission in its approach to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development for a review of its requirements for safety testing (including the LD50 test) and to pursue a vigorous policy over the use of non-human primates in the European Union.In addition, the Home Office is collaborating with other Government Departments to organise a workshop in May. This will be jointly funded by the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods and the United Kingdom Government. The aim is to explore advances in safety testing which will allow refinement of existing tests or a reduction in the number of animals used.My noble Friend, the Lord Williams of Mostyn, is also to visit the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods to explore the possibility of setting up a European database to promote the use of alternatives to animals in scientific experiments.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the proportion of (a) heroin and (b) cocaine seized in the last 12 months for which figures are available, with a degree of purity of (a) less than 20 per cent., (b) 20 to 30 per cent., (c) 30 to 40 per cent., (d) 40 to 50 per cent., (e) 50 to 60 per cent. and (f) 60 per cent. and above: and what quantity was seized in each band. [36480]

In 1997 where the Forensic Science Service was asked to test for purity of police seizures of heroin and cocaine, the purities were as follows:

Heroin purity	Percentage of cases	Cocaine purity	Percentage of cases
Less than 5		Less than 5 and
and 5–10	2	5–10	2
10–20	12	10–20	4
20–30	21	20–30	10
30–40	23	30–40	12
40–50	23	40–50	13
50–60	15	50–60	13
More than 60	5	More than 60	43

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the proportion of amphetamines seized in the last 12 months for which figures are available, with a degree of purity of (a) less than 5 per cent., (b) 5 to 10 per cent., (c) 10 to 20 per cent., (d) 20 to 30 per cent., (e) 30 to 40 per cent., (f) 40 to 50 per cent., (g) 50 to 60 per cent., (h) 60 to 70 per cent. and (i) 70 per cent. and above; and what quantity was seized in each band. [36479]

In 1997, where the Forensic Science Service was asked to test for purity of police seizures of amphetamine, the purity was as follows:

Purity	Percentage of cases
Less than 5	36
5–10	24
10–20	17
20–30	10
30–40	6
40–50	3
50–60	2
60–70	2
More than 70	1

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the average potency per unit seized in the last twelve months of (a) LSD and (b) ecstasy. [36481]

In 1997, the Forensic Science Service was not asked by the police or Her Majesty's Customs and Excise to determine the drug content of any LSD seizures.In 1997, where the Forensic Science Service was asked to test for drug content in police seizures (22 cases), the average content of MDMA tablets was 66 milligrams; the average content for MDEA tablets and tablets containing a mixture of MDMA and MDEA was around 80 milligrams.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many children are currently held in detention in connection with asylum applications; what are their nationalities; how many have been held for more than two months; and if he will list the detention establishments where they are held; [36587](2) how many children who made applications for asylum at the port of entry in

It is our policy not to detain persons under the age of 18 save only in exceptional circumstances, such as when an unaccompanied minor arrives at a port of entry late at night and the Immigration Service is unable to make immediate contact with the local social services, or when the child's parent is detained, usually immediately prior to removal. The normal procedure is to grant temporary admission/release wherever possible, either into the care of a close relative or friend, or into the care of social services.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the number of persons who have claimed asylum in the United Kingdom in each of the last six months. [36996]

The information requested is given in the table.

Applications1 received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, September 1997 to February 1998
	Number of principal applicants
1997
September	2,850
October	2,990
November	2,345
December	3,120
1998
January	2,860
February	2,650
1 Figures are provisional and rounded to the nearest five.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons who are claiming asylum have been convicted of criminal offences, other than motoring, in the last 12 months. [36995]

Regrettably, the information requested is available only at disproportionate cost.The available information, relating to persons who had applied for asylum at some stage is that, in 1997, 11 such persons were recommended for deportation by a court, and a further four were issued with notices of intention to deport on grounds conducive to the public good, following conviction for a criminal offence. The data are provisional and may include persons who have been convicted of motoring offences.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost to public funds in the last week for which figures are available in respect of those currently claiming asylum in the United Kingdom. [36994]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson) on 13 November 1997, Official Report, column 652, which gave the available information for 1996. More recent information from the Department of Social Security is not yet available. The Department of Health has estimated that, in 1997/98, grants to local authorities are likely to be in the region of £40 million for single adult asylum seekers and £28.5 million for families with children.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum claims have been made in the United Kingdom in the last 10 years; how many have been determined; and how many are outstanding. [36993]

During the period 1 January 1998 to 28 February 1998, approximately 278,000 asylum applications, excluding dependants, were lodged in the United Kingdom. In the same period in the order of 207,000 initial decisions were made.As at 28 February 1998, there were estimated to be 50,960 asylum applications, excluding dependants, awaiting an initial decision.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many detainees in Campsfield House have been transferred to prison establishments in each month since January 1997. [37106]

The numbers of detainees transferred from Campsfield House to Prison Service establishments in each month since January 1997 are given in the table. These figures include transfers to the dedicated Immigration Service detainee accommodation at Her Majesty's Holding Centre at Haslar, and the detention wings at Her Majesty's Prison Rochester. The figures for August 1997 include those transferred as a result of the disturbance.

Number
1997
January	2
February	12
March	1
April	7
May	9
June	1
July	4
August	69
September	2
October	1
November	4
December	0
Total	112

Number
1998
January	2
February	2
March (to date)	5

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps he has taken (a) to identify good practice at Colchester YOI and (b) to disseminate it to other YOIs; [36703](2) when he expects the reconviction rate for Colchester YOI to be ascertained; and what provisional estimate he has made of it; [36708](3) what is his estimate of when the research carried out by Dr. Kate Painter of Cambridge University into the experimental regime at Colchester Young Offender Institution will be published; [36709](4) what research his Department has commissioned or evaluated on the number of former inmates at Colchester YOI obtaining employment following the completion of their sentence; [36706](5) how many incidents of absconding have taken place at Colchester YOI; [36707](6) how many incidents of self-harm have been reported from the Colchester Young Offender Institution; [36710](7) what assessment he has made of

(i) Colchester Young Offender Institution has been closely monitored by all those involved in the project, either directly or indirectly. Ministers have been regularly updated on progress, and I have had the opportunity to visit both Colchester and Thorn Cross to see their operation at first hand. The Prison Service is currently reviewing regimes for young offenders, and this will incorporate the learning from good practice identified at Colchester. The outcome of the review will be disseminated to all establishments.(ii) Preliminary reconviction data should be available at the end of 1998. No provisional estimate of the reconviction rate has been made.(iii) An evaluation report containing a qualitative analysis of the Colchester experiment should be available in the autumn. A further report, including reconviction data will be produced when the data are available.(iv) The offenders' supervising probation officers record information on employment; this will be assessed as part of the evaluation process.(v) There have been no reported incidents of absconding from Colchester, but one prisoner did breach a temporary release licence by failing to return from a community visit. This prisoner was taken back into custody after two days.(vi) There have been no reported incidents of self-harm.(vii) The Colchester evaluation includes an assessment of attitude and behaviour changes among young offenders during their time at Colchester. This includes measures relating to discipline. The regime was highly structured with constructive activities and full participation was a basic requirement.In other Young Offender Institutions assessment of needs and participation in appropriate regime activities is part of young offenders' sentence management. Discipline and behaviour are regularly monitored as part of the incentives and earned privileges scheme which determines the inmates' level of privileges.(viii) There have been 66 young offenders at Her Majesty's Young Offender Institution Colchester. The table lists the proportion and numbers who attended courses and obtained certificates.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will assess the (a) benefits and (b) disadvantages of transferring the cost of remand places for juveniles facing criminal charges from local authority social services departments to his Department's budget; [37028](2) if he will assess the

Juveniles held in custody on remand or sentenced can be placed in secure accommodation provided by the local authority, within its secure estate, or by central Government in Prison Service facilities, Secure Training Centres or in the Youth Treatment Centre.At present, when juveniles—that is those between the ages of 10 and 16—are charged and not released on bail they have to be remanded to local authority accommodation under section 23 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1969. The local authority may, if it can satisfy certain strict conditions, return to court and seek a secure accommodation order under section 25 of the Children Act 1989 to place the juvenile in local authority secure accommodation. The cost of such remands in these circumstances is met by the local authority and there are no proposals to change these payment arrangements.Currently there are also special arrangements for 15 and 16-year-old boys who may be remanded to prison if the strict conditions set out in section 23 of the 1969 Act are met. The costs for these prison remands are met centrally and there are no proposals to change these payment arrangements.The Government intend to add to the existing remand powers so that courts will have the power to remand certain juveniles direct to local authority secure accommodation. Powers are contained in the Crime and Disorder Bill which will allow for the process of implementing the Government's commitment in this area to begin. This process will be implemented in stages with priority concentrated on the youngest and most vulnerable juveniles, because there is a limited number of available local authority secure places. The powers will apply, in the first instance to 12 to 14-year-olds, 15 to 16-year-old girls and some 15 and 16-year-old boys who are adjudged by the court to be vulnerable and where a local authority secure place has been identified. The costs of such secure remands once implemented will be met centrally.The costs of all sentenced juveniles and young offenders, irrespective of where they are held, are met centrally and there are no proposals to change these arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people in the last 12 months he estimates have entered the United Kingdom illegally via Eurostar; [36997](2) what estimate he has made of the number of persons entering the United Kingdom illegally in each of the last six months. [37011]

There is no estimate of the total number of persons who enter the United Kingdom illegally since, by the very nature of the problem, it is not possible to establish that a person is here illegally until they have been traced and interviewed.The available information, relating to the total number of persons detected and served with papers as illegal entrants in 1997, is given in the table. I regret that information concerning the numbers of illegal entrants detected who had arrived, or had claimed to have arrived, via the Eurostar service, could be obtained only at disproportionate cost through the examination of individual case records.

Persons served with papers as illegal entrants1 by month papers served, 19972
Month	Number of persons2
January	1,410
February	1,200
March	1,130
April	1,180
May	1,080
June	1,060
July	1,100
August	1,100
September	1,160
October	1,280
November	1,340
December	1,110
Total	14,150
1 Covers persons served with papers and dealt with as illegal entrants as defined in section 33 (1) of the Immigration Act 1971.
2 1997 figures are provisional and rounded.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase the number of police constables in (a) the West Mercia Constabulary and (b) the Shrewsbury Division; and if he will make a statement. [36757]

Ministers have no direct control over police numbers or their deployment. Under legislation passed by the previous Government in 1994, it is for individual chief constables to determine the number of police officers in their force, within the total resources available to them. For 1998–99, West Mercia Constabulary will be able to increase its spending by £4.1 million, or 3.8 per cent. giving it a total spending power of £112.2 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of cases of domestic violence prosecuted by the police in the last 12 month period in the West Midlands Region. [36978]

Information collected centrally on court proceedings is not held in sufficient detail to distinguish domestic violence from other violent offences. The four police forces within the West Midlands region (Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Mercia and West Midlands) do not maintain counts of prosecutions involving domestic violence.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assets will be transferred to the Police Information Technology Organisation on its establishment as a non-departmental public body under the Police Act 1997. [37555]

Under the provisions of Article 4(1)(a) of the Police Act 1997 (Commencement No. 5 and Transitional Provisions) Order 1998, I have given notice to the Police Information Technology Organisation that certain Crown assets will be transferred to it, with effect from 1 April 1998, to coincide with its establishment as a Non-Departmental Public Body. The transfer will be free of charge. The assets concerned comprise:

£000
Assets	Estimated value
Hendon Data Centre	12,023
Information Technology (IT) equipment and software associated with the Police National Computer	21,287
Other office IT equipment and software	2,277
Furniture and miscellaneous items of office equipment	742
Vehicles	23
Total	36,352

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assets will be transferred to the Service Authority for the National Criminal Intelligence Service on its establishment as a body corporate under the Police Act 1997. [37556]

Under the provisions of Article 4(1) of the Police Act 1997 (Commencement Number 5 and Transitional Provisions) Order 1998, I have given notice to the Service Authority for the National Criminal Intelligence Service that certain Crown assets will be transferred to it, with effect from 1 April 1998. The transfer will be free of charge. The assets comprise:

£000
Assets	Estimated value
Information technology and communications equipment	3,147
Vehicles	1,049
Furniture and miscellaneous items of office equipment	313
Technical equipment	208
Total	4,717

In addition, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has given notice to the Service Authority for the National Criminal Intelligence Service that he will transfer to it, on the same day and free of charge, vehicles with an estimated value of £301,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what timescale he has agreed with the Chief Inspector of Prisons for the publication of reports following a visit to (a) a prison and (b) a detention centre. [37120]

[holding answer 31 March 1998]: On 29 September 1997, my right hon. Friend announced a new protocol for dealing with the publication of inspection reports on Prison Service establishments by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons. The protocol procedures seek to ensure expedited publication of the Chief Inspector's inspection reports 10 weeks after the inspection of a Prison Service establishment is completed, and once any issues of factual accuracy have been resolved between the Prison Service and the Chief Inspector.These procedures do not extend to the inspection reports of Immigration Service detention centres. However, the Government would look to the early publication of such reports once any issues about factual inaccuracy have been resolved.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons the report of the Chief Inspector of Prisons to Featherstone Prison in 1996 was not published. [37124]

[holding answer 31 March 1998]: Her Majesty's Chief Inspector withdrew his draft report of the 1996 inspection of Featherstone Prison because of delays in agreeing a publication date. At the time the Chief Inspector submitted his report, it was the practice of the Prison Service to provide Ministers with full and detailed advice on all aspects of an inspection report prior to its publication. This process could take a number of months and, on occasions, led to a delay in publication.In order to expedite matters and ensure transparency in the process, my right hon. Friend announced, on 29 September 1997, a new protocol for handling the publication of the inspection reports. The protocol seeks to ensure the publication of the reports ten weeks after the inspection of an establishment, unless there are unresolved issues of factual accuracy raised by the Prison Service. The protocol has the full agreement of the Director General of the Prison Service and the Chief Inspector.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information the French authorities have provided to him about the proportion of tickets which will be checked against identification at the turnstile during the forthcoming World Cup. [37166]

[holding answer 31 March 1998]: We are assured by the French authorities that supporters attending matches during France '98 will be subject to a range of security checks by police authorities and stewards before entering stadiums to ensure that they hold valid tickets, and to further checking following entry to the ground. This will include stewards conducting checks on the validity of tickets prior to entry to the ground and again before the person takes up his or her seat. All ticket holders will be subject to a search outside the stadium by the police or gendarmerie, providing a further opportunity to check on the validity of tickets.The French authorities have not stated that any specific proportion of tickets will be checked against identification. That is an operational matter for the French authorities. They have indicated that checks against identity will be carried out in any circumstances which give rise to suspicion. Verification checks will also be carried out on a random basis.There is strict ticketing legislation in place in France and the authorities have undertaken to apply this rigorously.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many claims have been made for increased compensation payments to former owners of handguns handed in under the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997; and how many (a) have been settled and (b) are outstanding. [37294]

The levels of compensation under Options A and B of the compensation scheme and the evidence required in support of claims under Option C are prescribed in the scheme booklet approved by Parliament. There is no provision for making increased payments outside the terms of the scheme, and so the question of claims for such payments does not arise.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the regulations covering military aircraft breaking the sound barrier above (a) urban and (b) other areas. [36406]

The following regulations, which are an extract from Military Flying Regulations, apply to supersonic flying by military aircraft in UK airspace:

In the United Kingdom Flight Information Region (FIR), all medium and high level supersonic flights are to be made over the sea. Aircraft heading directly out to sea may accelerate to supersonic speed when at least 10 nautical miles (nm) out to sea and along a flight of at least 20° divergent from the mean line of the coast; the angle of dive is not to exceed the minimum necessary. Supersonic flights with the aircraft pointing towards the land, turning or flying parallel to the coast are to take place at least 35nm from the nearest coastline.

Supersonic flying at low level over the sea within UK FIR may take place provided that the above rules are followed and that, in addition, a radar/visual search is maintained in order to avoid the following by the margins indicated:

(a) Shipping and fixed or mobile oil and gas installations: 3nm.

(b) Civilian or military transport aircraft: a minimum of 6nm.

(c) Helicopter main routes and corridors: 6nm.

With the exception of Air Defence missions, operating authorities are to notify the appropriate radar station of all planned supersonic flights in advance. Radar stations are to maintain a permanent record of supersonic flights carried out under their control.

If any captain knows or suspects that his aircraft has inadvertently made a supersonic flight he is to enter details in the Flight Authorisation Book. In addition, it is the responsibility of the station concerned to notify the appropriate radar station of the flight within 30 minutes of the aircraft's landing. The radar station is to maintain a special record of all such occurrences.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will contact the customers using the facilities at the firing ranges operated by DERA before coming to a decision on the transfer of work from Shoeburyness to Eskmeals. [36389]

[holding answer 26 March 1998]: As part of the DERA land ranges rationalisation study, customers were and continue to be consulted about their future requirements for test and evaluation capabilities, the likely volume of the work, and the funding available for this work over the next five years. Once the current consultation phase has finished, all contributions will be considered openly and fairly before a decision is made on how best to meet the needs of the Department in the most cost effective way.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the future reductions in spending which will arise at DERA in Shoeburyness in consequence of the management reorganisations. [36386]

[holding answer 26 March 1998]: The land ranges rationalisation study recommends changes that, in a full financial year, will produce savings in operating costs at Shoeburyness of some £8.9 million per year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the expenditure involved in operating the DERA range facility at Shoeburyness in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what savings in annual administrative costs have accrued from management reforms in respect of the facility and from the changes introduced in consequence of the first stage of the reorganisation of the ranges. [36387]

[holding answer 26 March 1998]: The cost of operating the Shoeburyness site in FY 1996–97, the last year for which full figures are available, was £21.1 million. The forecast cost for FY 1997–98 is £20 million. The changes made in staff numbers during October 1997, along with other efficiency measures at the site, will reduce operating costs by approximately £2 million per year. The level of saving achieved from October 1997 to date is consistent with this.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the (a) percentage and (b) total amount of grant in aid awarded by his Department to museums and galleries in (i) London, (ii) England and (iii) Scotland. [36131]

[holding answer 26 March 1998]: The total amount of Grants in Aid estimated to be paid to Museums and Galleries by the Ministry of Defence during 1997–98 is £9,625,000 which represents about 0.05% of the Defence budget.Of the total, £6,878,000 (71%) is paid to the National Army and Royal Air Force Museums in London; £2,747,000 (29%) is paid to the Royal Air Force, Royal Marine, Royal Navy, Royal Navy Submarine and Fleet Air Arm Museums in England (Hampshire, Shropshire and Somerset); and none is paid in Scotland.In addition to Grant in Aid, the Ministry of Defence also funds Regimental and Corps Museums, in partnership with the Trustees of the Regimental and Corps Associations. The total funding provided by the Ministry of Defence in 1997–98 is £2,021,000, which represents about 0.1% of the Defence budget.Of the total, £286,000 (14%) is paid to museums in London; £1,411,000 (71%) to museums in England; and £160,000 (8%) to museums in Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what plans he has to use the Public Private Partnership to procure new vessels for the Hydrographic Survey Squadron; and what assessment he has made of the suitability of such procurement for front-line vessels; [37206](2) if he will make a statement on the progress of the procurement of new ships for the Hydrographic Survey Squadron; [37207](3) what assessment he has made of the impact of the delay in procuring new ships for the Hydrographic Survey Squadron on the Squadron's operational affectiveness; and if he will make a statement. [37208]

Plans to replace the surveying capability currently provided by vessels of the Hydrographic Survey Squadron include the possibility of a Private Finance Initiative, PFI, solution to the requirement. We are nearing completion of the evaluation of PFI proposals, which includes an assessment of the operational implications of procuring an Oceanographic and Hydrographic capability through such Private Partnership arrangements rather than through direct procurement of survey vessels by the MOD. A decision should be made on the preferred procurement route within the next few months. In the meantime, although limited by age and weather, the current ships continue to carry out their tasks effectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what negotiation he has had with the US Government on replacements for the Type 42 destroyers; and what plans he has for their future. [37238]

No negotiations have been held with the US Government regarding replacement of the capability currently provided by the Type 42 destroyers. It is currently planned that the Type 42 capability will continue until replaced early in the next century by the Common New Generation Frigate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on upgrades and enhancements to Jaguar aircraft in Royal Air Force service in each of the last 10 years. [36445]

Details of expenditure on upgrades and enhancements to Royal Air Force Jaguar aircraft for the last four financial years are provided below. Before that time expenditure was minimal, and retrieval and collation of the relevant information could be achieved only at disproportionate cost.

Financial year	£ million VAT included
1994–95	1.89
1995–96	24.25
1996–97	27.07
1997–98	18.59

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average cost per flying hour of operating in Royal Air Force service (a) Jaguar aircraft and (b) Tornado GR1 aircraft. [36447]

The average cost, (at current prices) per flying hour of operating a Royal Air Force Jaguar is approximately £13.3K and for a Royal Air Force Tornado GR1 is approximately £23.3K. This includes the variable flying costs and the apportionment of the station's fixed costs and overheads.