To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to reply to Wirral Metropolitan Council's request to review the licence given to Cable and Wireless to provide cable television services in the Wirral. [66653]

Neither my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions nor my Department has received a request from Wirral Metropolitan Council to review the licence granted on 16 January 1991 to Britannia Cablesystems (Wirral) Limited, (a subsidiary of Cable and Wireless Communications plc).

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to ensure that telecommunications companies advertise the rate which they are charging on telephone numbers found in advertisements and say whether callers are being charged whilst held in a queue; and if he will make a statement. [66955]

The regulation of telecoms operators is a matter for Oftel. Oftel requires all operators to publish their tariffs. In addition, the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services (ICSTIS) has a Code of Practice under which the costs of calls to Premium Rate Services must be given in advertisements.Information given to callers by queuing systems is a matter for businesses running those systems, not the telecoms operators, and Oftel has no powers to regulate how such end users operate their systems. However, Oftel has encouraged the drawing up of a Code of Practice for such businesses which answer calls from the public. This Code recommends that messages on call queuing systems should tell callers when their call has been answered. The callers should then realise that the call is being charged.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to restrict the prices charged by telecommunications companies for their premium rate calls. [66956]

The Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services (ICSTIS) has responsibility for Premium Rate Services (PRS) in its capacity as the regulator for the Premium Rate Industry. It publishes and enforces a Code of Practice which has provisions limiting the time spent by callers on these services. This has the effect of limiting the cost of calls, and some services are required to be terminated automatically after a given period. The Code also has provisions limiting the total amount of money spent on certain services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the regulation of the telecommunications industry's call charges. [66954]

Oftel sets and is responsible for enforcing the current price controls on the telecommunications industry.Competition in the telecommunications industry continues to develop and, while it does, Oftel directly regulates the prices of BT, the dominant provider of telecoms services in the UK. In relation to residential consumers and small businesses, BT is required to reduce its main prices by 4.5 per cent. below the rate of inflation, and to focus this control on protecting the first 80 per cent. of residential customers by bill size. Thus consumers who are on a lower income are protected more formally than those higher spending customers who are more likely to have benefited significantly from deep price cuts in international calls. This price control will remain in place until July 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what transitional support will be available to rural areas upon losing Objective 5b status. [67120]

The Commission have proposed transitional periods of four years for areas losing Objective 2 and 5b funding. Current Objective 5b covers rural areas. The Government are pressing for equal transitional periods of six years for ex-Objective 2 and 5b areas as for Objective 1. The transitional arrangements for regions losing Objective 5b status will not be known until the new Structural Funds regulations are agreed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list his Department's responsibilities and policies in relation to genetically-modified crops and the departments with which he liaises on this issue. [67665]

DTI has no direct responsibility for policy relating to genetically modified crops.The Government's over-riding priority is protection of human health and the environment. They also seek to promote conditions which ensure that the UK derives the maximum quality of life and economic benefits from biotechnology. The DTI has responsibility for policy on science and technology. DTI also has responsibility for those industry sectors sponsored by the Department whose competitiveness may be enhanced through biotechnology. In addition, DTI has the lead role in Government on trade issues.Policy on biotechnology, including genetically modified crops, is co-ordinated by the Ministerial Group on Biotechnology, as announced by the Prime Minister on 21 October 1998,

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what measures the Government are taking to ensure that the new entrants to the electricity supply market will promote energy efficiency in the domestic sector; [67963](2) what measures the Government are taking to ensure that the liberalised energy market delivers higher energy efficiency in the domestic sector. [67964]

In the response to consultation on the Green Paper "A Fair Deal for Consumers, Modernising the Framework for Utility Regulation", the Government made it clear that Ministers would issue Statutory Guidance on the social and environmental objectives relevant to regulation for each utility sector. Regulators will be placed under a duty to have regard to such guidance in the exercise of their statutory functions. In addition, the Government are exploring, with the energy industry and others, the possibility of using a new standards of performance scheme to promote energy efficiency, and the options for how standards could work in the context of the liberalised energy markets.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with ministers of the German Government concerning the termination of contracts with BNFL for the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel; and if he will make a statement. [67706]

[holding answer 27 January 1999]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 21 January 1999, Official Report, column 547.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will announce his decision on Fleetwood Power Ltd's application to build a new gas-fired power station. [68572]

I have decided, after careful consideration of all the relevant factors, that Fleetwood Power's application for a 1,000 MW combined cycle gas turbine power station at Fleetwood should not be granted. The application will be put on hold unless an interested party satisfies me that it should be determined at this stage.I have taken this decision in accordance with the policy set out in the White Paper entitled "Conclusions of the Review of Energy Sources for Power Generation and Government response to fourth and fifth Reports of the Trade and Industry Committee" (Cm 4071).The White Paper stated the Government's commitment to electricity market reforms, including reform of the electricity trading arrangements and that until such reforms were substantially completed there would be a stricter power station consents policy with a presumption against the building of new gas-fired generating capacity.Decisions on other applications under consideration will be announced in due course.Copies of the Press Notice and the decision letter are being placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made on implementing the recommendations on electricity system security and stability made by the consultants Merz and McLellan in the White Paper, "Conclusions of the Review of Energy Sources for Power Generation and Government Response to the Fourth and Fifth reports of the Trade and Industry Committee", published in October 1998. [68539]

In the White Paper, the Government proposed a two-tier approach: an open consultancy group open to all interested parties, and a smaller steering group which would carry out most of the detailed work allocation and progress chasing. The steering group met on 21 December 1998, to discuss its terms of reference, which are set out, and to consider the way forward. The meeting was chaired by my Department: the members of the Steering Group are also listed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate the quantities of (a) low, (b) intermediate and (c) high level radioactive waste which will arise from the reprocessing of Swiss irradiated oxide nuclear fuel at Sellafield; what negotiations have been held to date with Swiss authorities concerning the repatriation of the waste; and if Switzerland has indicated whether it would accept its waste to be returned following the application of substitution. [67708]

BNFL has signed contracts with all four Swiss utilities for the reprocessing of a total of 422 tonnes of spent nuclear fuel. Under the terms of those contracts BNFL has had discussions with each company on the return of wastes, including substitution. I understand that, although Switzerland is still pursuing the development of deep waste disposal facilities, it has almost completed an interim storage facility capable of accepting the wastes returned under the terms of the above mentioned contracts, whether as a result of substitution or not.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the report of the Safeguards Office study of the nuclear materials accountancy aspects of the UKAEA report, Dounreay Shaft Inventory will be made public. [68538]

The Government have today published in full the Safeguards Office review of the nuclear materials accountancy aspects of UKAEA's Dounreay Shaft Inventory report.The main findings of the review are as follows. No evidence was found to support suggestions that have been made following the publication of the UKAEA's Dounreay Shaft Inventory (DSI) report that high enriched uranium has been lost from Dounreay, i.e. that it has been stolen, diverted for military purposes or somehow removed from the site using an unidentified route.The false impression given by the DSI report that there had been a loss of 170kg U-235 over the period 1 April 1965 to 30 September 1968 was the result of a misinterpretation of 30-year old UKAEA records, arising from a misunderstanding of the nuclear materials accountancy terminology in use at that time.If the nuclear material inventories over this period had been taken according to modern nuclear materials accountancy practices, the material unaccounted for (MUF) would have been significantly less than 86 kg U-235. Even a MUF of 86kg U-235, at less than 1 per cent. of the amount of material processed at Dounreay over the period, would be considered acceptable against present day international standards of nuclear materials accountancy.Review of the DSI report by nuclear materials accountancy specialists would have provided explanations for and clarifications of information contained in early UKAEA nuclear materials accountancy reports, and thus could have helped avoid the understandable concerns raised by the report as published.Copies of the report have been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the total expenditure and the breakdown of expenditure in his Department since May 1997 on (a) public opinion research, (b) television, radio and newspaper advertising and (c) direct mail. [63917]

Expenditure from centrally-managed budgets on advertising and direct mail where separately identifiable has been £2.18m and £56k respectively. It is not possible to identify a separate figure for public opinion research.

To ask the Prime Minister what classification is given to the minutes of meetings of the JCC; and if copies are circulated to Liberal Democrat hon. Members of the JCC. [67474]

Minutes of the JCC are classified according to their content.Members of the Committee of course receive the minutes of the meetings of the Committee.

To ask the Prime Minister what the Government's policy is with regard to employees who are found to have made false or misleading declarations on (a) internal documents and (b) external documents when seeking loans. [67286]

[holding answer 27 January 1999]: The Theft Acts 1968 and 1978 apply to employees and other persons alike.

To ask the Prime Minister what total costs borne by the public purse have been for security, administration and other costs related to his overseas holidays since 1 May 1997. [67323]

[holding answer 27 January 1999]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to his right hon. Friend the Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood) on 9 February 1998, Official Report, column 15.

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will set a retirement age for QCs; and if he will make a statement. [67656]

My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor has no jurisdiction regarding the age at which Queen's Counsel retire. He has no plans to make a statement.

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has for departmental (a) White and (b) Green Papers to be made available on floppy disk format in a form which facilitates access for the visually impaired. [67842]

The Lord Chancellor's Department has no plans to make White or Green Papers available on floppy disks but all Departmental White and Green Papers are published on the LCD Internet website which allows the visually impaired to increase text size.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list, for each of the last 10 years, the percentage of live births delivered by caesarean section within each health authority in Northern Ireland. [67704]

The percentage of live births delivered by caesarean section in each Health and Social Services Board area in the years 1992 to 1997 are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the number of (a) pensioners, (b) single pensioners and (c) pensioners in couples in Stoke-on-Trent; and what estimate he has made of the number of (i) single pensioners and (ii) pensioners in couples in Stoke-on-Trent who will qualify for the minimum pension guarantee. [67101]

Figures for the number of pensioners are not available at Local Authority level.As at May 1998 (the latest figure) there were 9,100 pensioner benefit units in receipt of Income Support in Stoke-on-Trent of which 7,800 were single pensioners and 1,300 were couples.Estimates suggest that approximately 1.5 million pensioners nationally will receive payments from the Minimum Income Guarantee when it is introduced in April 1999. Some 65,000 people not already entitled to Income Support are expected to qualify for the Minimum Income Guarantee. The figures are not available by Local Authority area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what the target times are for the CSA to deal with applications for compensation; and what are the actual times; [67228](2) how many applications for compensation, received by the Child Support Agency before 1 May 1998, are still awaiting determination; [67131](3) what is the average time taken for the CSA to determine applications for compensation; [67227](4) how many applications for compensation received by the Child Support Agency in the last two years have been determined within 30 days. [67132]

The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mrs. Faith Boardman. She will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many letters he has received since May 1997 from (a) hon. Members and (b) others on the war disablement pension paid to ex-service men and women suffering from noise induced hearing loss. [67564]

Records have been kept since 9 October 1998. Since then 74 letters from hon. Members and 6 letters from other sources have been received.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost of abolishing the 20 per cent. threshold for war disablement pensions and gratuities paid to ex-service men and women suffering from noise-induced hearing loss. [67567]

The cost would be approximately £250 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many ex-service men and women suffering from noise-induced hearing loss have been refused a war disablement pension or gratuity due to their level of disablement being assessed to be below the 20 per cent. threshold in each of the last 10 years. [67478]

A War Disablement Pension may be awarded for disablement due to service assessed at 20 per cent. or more. In general a gratuity may be awarded for disablement assessed at less than 20 per cent. However, since 1993, no award has been payable in respect of noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss due to service assessed at less than 20 per cent. This change aligned the War Disablement Pension scheme rules with those under the Industrial Injuries scheme for occupational deafness.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for what reasons funding has not been made available to allow further research into noise-induced hearing loss in respect of war pension claimants; and if he will make a statement. [67361]

There is a long standing and proven mechanism in place under the War Pension Scheme to monitor any published scientific evidence which might affect entitlement to a War Pension. The Department does not, therefore, normally fund medical research in this area.For noise induced sensorineural hearing loss this process was validated by the expert review of the evidence in 1998, which came to the same conclusions as previously reached by the war pensions medical adviser.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many people received overpayments as a result of the loss of contribution records following the shut down of the NIRS2 computer system; what is the total cost of these overpayments; and what action he proposes in respect of recouping these overpayments; [67638](2) how many people whose national insurance contribution records were lost as a result of the shut down of the NIRS2 computer system, have not yet received those payments due to them which are reliant on contribution records; and what is the total amount in payments which is outstanding. [67637]

During the NIRS2 Migration period, the period from 19 June 1998 to 13 July 1998 during which the transfer of information from NIRS1 to NIRS2 was completed, no contribution records were lost and therefore no payments are due or outstanding as a consequence.It is too early to give an indication of the number of individuals who have been overpaid benefit as a result of the problems with the introduction of NIRS2. However, all claims on which interim or emergency payments have been made will be subject to review once NIRS2 is fully operational which is expected to be April 1999. All overpayments will be considered on their own merits according to the Department's standard procedures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by what date the NIRS2 computer will be fully operational; by what date all contribution records will be restored; and by what date payments reliant on contribution records will be brought up to date. [67639]

The contractor has advised that the NIRS2 system is expected to be fully operational by April 1999. No contribution records have been lost and as a consequence there is no requirement to restore contribution records.Those Age Related Rebate payments that are dependent upon information held on contribution records are expected to be brought up to date by April 1999.Contributory Benefits that are paid as a result of information held on National Insurance accounts are expected to be reviewed within a six month period once all the necessary 1997–98 information is held on NIRS2. The Benefits Agency expects to commence work on these reviews in April 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the Benefit Integrity Project will cease operation; and if he will make a statement. [68603]

The Benefit Integrity Project will end on 31 March 1999, to be replaced by a new and fairer system. No new cases will be selected for the project after this date. Cases where action has already started will continue to be processed through the remaining stages of adjudication, including review and appeal, in the normal way.We are determined to ensure that people are receiving the correct amount of benefit. However, there is currently no automatic review mechanism within Disability Living Allowance (DLA). Therefore, from April a new system of periodic review will be introduced. It will incorporate the lessons already learned and will be continually evaluated and refined as it develops. Staff involved in the new processes will receive full training before commencing this new work.Initially, the new system will exclude DLA recipients whose cases were examined by the Benefit Integrity Project. People with a fixed period award due to end within the next three years will also be excluded. The review process will involve gathering information by postal inquiry and home visits; these methods of approach will be applied across a range of people on all rates and components of DLA contacted to help identify the best means of approach in individual cases. The process will be evaluated after six months of operation and the findings used to continue to improve the process to make it more sensitive to the circumstances of the individual contacted. In addition, we will be testing new ways of gathering evidence in connection with DLA claims. This, plus information from the new review activity, will be used to help shape an active modern service for the future.We are already talking to disability groups about ways to ensure the new system is sensitive to people's circumstances, and that it is both fair and effective.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether those widows now over the age of 45 who were widowed before the age of 45 will continue to receive the widow's pension at age 60 following the implementation of his reform proposals; and what will be the basis of the calculation of their pension entitlement. [67674]

The proposals set out in the consultation document, "Support in Bereavement", would have no effect on current widows.A woman who was widowed before age 45 and who is receiving a Widow's Pension on reaching age 60, either because she qualified for a Widow's Pension when her Widowed Mother's Allowance ceased or because she was widowed before April 1988, will be able to continue to receive it up to age 65. Alternatively, she can claim Retirement Pension, in which case her Widow's Pension will be carried forward and paid as Category B pension. It may be paid in combination with any Category A pension to which she is entitled on her own contribution record. But in these cases, the basic pension cannot be more than the full rate for a single person and the SERPS cannot be more than the maximum payable to a single person reaching pension age.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what were the flight number, date, time and place of departure and destination, class travelled, cost and purpose of each flight by senior civil servants in the course of their duties, including attendance at foreign conferences, symposiums and other meetings, between 1 May 1998 and the present; and what were the total costs of the flights of each of the 10 senior civil servants whose flights cost the most between 1 May 1998 and the present. [67263]

This information is not held centrally for all Departments and could be obtained to only disproportionate cost.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what targets he has set for the Buying Agency for 1999. [68541]

I have set the Agency the following targets for 1999.

Financial: To generate a return on capital employed of 8 per cent. (excluding costs of restructuring).

Productivity: To reduce the cost per pound of savings by 2.5 per cent. on 1998 outturn.

Customer Satisfaction: To raise customer satisfaction by 5 percentage points over the year.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he intends to publish results from the second wave of research using the People's Panel; and if he will make a statement. [68540]

The Government are to publish a White Paper at Easter setting out their vision for public services into the next millennium. The People's Panel has an important part to play in this initiative. By listening to, and learning from, people's views, the Government will be better able to provide the services that people want.The second wave of results from the People's Panel covers pubic attitudes to a wide range of public services, with a particular focus on transport, local democracy and complaints handling. I will, tomorrow, place in the Library of the House a copy of the results from this second wave of research.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he expects to announce the results of his consultation on the restrictions on participation in companies holding local radio multiplex licences; and if he will make a statement. [68537]

The Government consulted on proposed changes to the restrictions on shareholdings in companies which hold local multiplex licences last November. Having reviewed the responses, we accept that there is a clear case for changing the limits at paragraph 11(4) of part III of Schedule 2 to the Broadcasting Act 1990 (as amended).Although we still need restrictions in the interests of plurality of ownership, and the diversity of content which such plurality can bring, we accept that larger radio groups must be allowed more freedom to invest across the country if digital is to be a success. We must also ensure that local companies have the opportunity to invest in companies or consortia holding local multiplex licences.The Government therefore intend to lay an order under paragraph 11(5) of part III of Schedule 2 to the 1990 Act (as amended) before Easter. This will allow investors to hold unlimited shareholdings in up to five companies or consortia holding digital licences. In addition we intend to increase the percentage limit on holdings over and above that limit from 10 per cent. to 20 per cent.We believe that these changes will address the needs of all parts of the radio industry—both larger radio groups and those companies wishing to make small but meaningful investments in a wide range of digital licences. We will look very closely at the effects of the revised restrictions as more multiplex licences are advertised by the Radio Authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the ecclesiastical exemption from listed building and conservation area controls. [68601]

My Department and that of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales have now completed a programme of discussions with denominations and other organisations to consider the recommendations in Mr. John Newman's review of the exemption. I am today placing in the Libraries of the House a document which gives details of the changes in denominations' procedures agreed in the course of the discussions. Copies will be circulated to interested bodies.Against this background my right hon. Friend and I are satisfied that the six denominations which currently enjoy the ecclesiastical exemption should retain it for the time being. This includes the Baptist Union, which Mr. Newman recommended should be the subject of a further review after a year and whose internal procedures have therefore been re-examined by the two Departments. We would envisage a further review of the exemption regime as a whole during the life of this Parliament. Meanwhile we look to the denominations to keep up the momentum of change as required and expect to see substantive progress in all areas where the need for further work has been identified.We have also reviewed the position regarding the various categories of building (such as those within Church of England peculiars) which at the time of the 1994 reform were outside the scope of the relevant denomination's own procedures and which retained exemption on an interim basis pending satisfactory long-term arrangements. Action is in hand within the denominations to establish such arrangements and the Government want to see these brought fully into effect as a matter of urgency. The Government aim shortly to consult on a draft amendment to the Ecclesiastical Exemption (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Order 1994, the effect of which will be to remove the exemption from any ecclesiastical building not fully covered by an appropriate control procedure and place it under normal secular controls.The booklet "The Ecclesiastical Exemption—What it is and how it works" will be revised to take account of these developments and reissued during 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each health authority the average wage according to the market forces staff factor of the weighted capitation formula. [66095]

The table gives average wages for health authorities compiled from the source data used to calculate the staff market forces factor.In calculating the staff market forces factor, the data are adjusted in two ways. First, to isolate the effect of geographical location from other factors, for example gender and occupation; and secondly, to reflect the location of the National Health Service trusts from which the health authorities commission their services.There is to be a wide ranging review of the formula used to make cash allocations to health authorities and primary care groups.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for departmental (a) White and (b) Green Papers to be made available on floppy disk format in a form which facilitates access for the visually impaired. [67840]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office on 27 January 1999, Official Report, column 296.As the Department responsible for health issues, we aim to make our documents available to the widest possible audiences. The Green Paper, "Our Healthier Nation", included versions in Braille, audio tape and large print and the Social Services White Paper versions in Braille and audio tape.Texts of Green and White Papers are also available on The Stationery Office website, which many people with less severe visual impairments find very convenient, since they can adjust their own browser software to as large a type as they require.It has not been our usual practice to offer texts on floppy disks because there has not been significant demand. Availability of texts via the internet may now be satisfying that demand but, if we receive an ad-hoc request for a text on disk, we are happy to produce and supply it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to review the list of exemptions from prescription charges; [66066](2) what plans he has to review the operation of exemptions from prescription charges; and if he will make a statement. [66067]

[holding answer 26 January 1999]: The current prescription charge exemption arrangements were reviewed as part of the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review. Following the Review, all current prescription charge exemptions will be protected for the rest of the Parliament and existing patient charges will rise by no more than the rate of inflation over the next three years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list, for each of the last 10 years, the percentage of live births delivered by caesarean section within each health authority in England. [67673]

Information about emergency and total caesarean deliveries by hospital/trust for 1989–90 to 1994–95 is contained in table 31 of the Statistical bulletin "NHS Maternity Statistics 1989–90 to 1994–95". Copies of the bulletin are available in the Library. It is planned to publish a further bulletin with more up to date information in spring 1999. Information about live births delivered by caesarean section within each health authority could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the total NHS budget (a) in 1996–97 and (b) 2000–01, in 1998–99 prices. [66525]

The total National Health Service budget in 1998–99 prices for the years 1996–97 and 2000–01 is contained in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions have taken place between the Ministry of Defence and the NHS on the planned closure of the Royal Hospital, Haslar; and what plans he has to ensure the maintenance of hospital provision on the Gosport Peninsular. [68073]

Following the Strategic Defence Review, the Ministry of Defence decided to close Royal Hospital, Haslar. The local health authority will now be exploring with Royal Hospital, Haslar and colleagues in the Defence Secondary Care Agency the options for the provision of the most effective healthcare for the local population. In the meantime the Ministry of Defence has made a commitment to maintain the service currently provided by Royal Hospital, Haslar until 2002 at the earliest.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Solihull to ministers in his Department dated 19 November and 16 September 1998. [67975]

My noble Friend, the Baroness Hayman, replied to the hon. Member on 26 January 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. and learned Member for North-East Fife (Mr. Campbell) of 16 December 1998, Official Report, columns 526–28, if he will provide a breakdown of the expenditure under the Defence Military Assistance Fund relating to Indonesia in each of the last three years, indicating separately the amounts used to support defence sales. [66623]

The total committed expenditure for Indonesia under the Defence Military Assistance Fund, DMAF, for the last two years, and the cost of assistance waived under its predecessors, the Defence Policy Fund and the Defence Sales Fund, is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel, and at what ranks, are currently attached to (a) HMS Ark Royal and (b) HMS Intrepid in Portsmouth Dockyard; and at what annual cost per ship. [67248]

I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave him on 27 January 1999, Official Report, columns 265–66.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is his forecast for the longevity of the tritium production facility at Chapelcross; [67210](2) what discussions his Department has had with BNFL about extending the life of the Chapelcross and Calder Hall reactors; and if he will make a statement. [67209]

The productive life of Chapelcross is a matter for BNFL, subject to its meeting the relevant regulatory requirements of the independent regulator, the Health and Safety Executive HSE. I understand, however, that in 1996 the HSE's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate agreed that the reactors could continue to operate for another ten years from 1998, up to a potential age of 50. This agreement was subject to satisfactory results from the normal programme of inspections and some work being undertaken to plant and procedures which was already planned and being implemented.The Ministry of Defence is currently in the very early stages of discussions with BNFL about the prospects for a further extension of the life of Chapelcross beyond the period quoted.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the report arising out of the review into CS gas holdings. [67649]

The review includes a substantial amount of material the disclosure of which would be harmful to defence, national security or international relations. I am, therefore, withholding the review material in accordance with the terms of Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 17 December 1998, Official Report, column 657, regarding CR gas, if he will list the (a) dates and (b) circumstances of each occasion on which the possible use of CR gas by the armed forces was authorised following a request for assistance for law enforcement purposes from the civil power. [67629]

The use of CR gas has been authorised on two instances in the past two years where the Armed Forces have responded to a request for assistance for law enforcement purposes from the civil power. I am withholding the details of the circumstances in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a list of the unclassified reports in the CDB Technical Notes series. [67600]

I assume my hon. Friend is referring to the CDB Technical Notes series which was started in April 1995 when the then Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment became part of DERA. Since that date 13 unclassified technical reports have been produced.I have made arrangements for a list of the titles to be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if depleted uranium shells were used in the air strikes by Britain and the USA on Iraq in December. [67453]

No depleted uranium based ammunition was used by US or UK forces during Operation Desert Fox.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for departmental (a) White and (b) Green Papers to be made available on floppy disk format in a form which facilitates access for the visually impaired. [67837]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office, yesterday, 27 January 1999, Official Report, column 296.In my Department we currently aim to meet requests on demand for the production of departmental documents in alternative formats such as floppy disk for the benefit of those with a visual impairment whenever it is reasonable to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the operating costs for 101 Battalion REME based at Queensferry for the next five years. [68153]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 17 December 1998, Official Report, column 656.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the interval of time between the decision to move 101 Battalion REME from Chorley Barracks to Queensferry and the announcement of the future structure of the Territorial Army on 17 November 1998. [68112]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 26 January 1999, Official Report, column 164.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 15 December 1998, Official Report, column 450, what definition of South Lancashire his Department uses. [68159]

For the purpose of the question to which my hon. Friend refers, the definition used was the area of the county covered by the Lancashire South European Constituency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide details of the cost of the transfer of computer equipment from Chorley to Queensferry 101 Battalion Headquarters. [68155]

No such details are available at this time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the additional travelling costs that will be incurred by detachments travelling to Queensferry instead of Chorley when the 101 Battalion is transferred. [68156]

We anticipate that any increase in travelling costs incurred by units in Manchester and Grangemouth travelling to Queensferry, will be offset by reductions in such cost incurred by units travelling from Prestatyn and Coventry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the Cadet Force in Chorley. [68158]

My Department is still assessing the options for the Cadet Force in Chorley. I can confirm that any Cadets, whose current accommodation is affected by the restructuring of the Territorial Army, will not be obliged to move until suitable alternative accommodation has been provided.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the Territorial Army centres which he had planned to close or transfer as part of the Strategic Defence Review but which will now remain open; and if he will make a statement. [68072]

Of the Territorial Army Centres that we announced on 17 November 1998 were to close or transfer as part of the Strategic Defence Review none are now to remain open.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 17 December 1998, Official Report, column 656, on REME (Chorley), if he will set out the basis of his estimate of 25 per cent. saving in operating the 101 Battalion REME out of Queensferry instead of Chorley. [68154]

The assessment has been made on the basis of a comparison of the estimated running and maintenance costs of the two sites.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times Exemption 2 in the Code of Practice on access to Government information was used by his Department in replying to parliamentary questions to justify withholding information in the last 12 months. [681601

Of 2,731 questions answered by all Ministers in this Department in the year ending 22 January 1999, some or all of the information requested was withheld under exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (Internal discussions and advice) on 13 occasions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of accidents caused by drivers being distracted by mobile telephones in each of the last five years. [65487]

Information on the number of accidents caused by drivers or other road users being distracted by mobile phones is not collected because of the difficulty of establishing exactly when a road traffic accident took place and whether a mobile phone was in use at the time. However, my Department is aware of a number of media reports over the last few years of road fatalities where the use of a mobile phone was alleged to be a factor.We continue to warn of the dangers of using a mobile phone while driving. The Transport Research Laboratory report "The use of mobile phones while Driving: a review" shows that hand held mobile phones are inappropriate for use while driving and even hands-free mobile phones cause distraction from the driving task.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which measures of local deprivation his Department and its agencies use in considering allocation of funds to local projects. [66717]

My Department allocates funds for a range of local projects, but usually through third parties such as local authorities. In making allocations to local level we use local deprivation indices appropriate to the expenditure concerned. The main ones are:

Housing—the annual allocation of housing capital resources to local authorities (apart from private sector renewal and disabled facilities grants) and registered social landlords uses Needs Indices which involve an element of targeting to areas of high deprivation as measured by the Index of Local Conditions.

Regeneration—the 1998 Index of Local Deprivation is used to target regeneration funds on the most deprived areas in England.

Rural Regeneration—funding provided through the rural regeneration programmes currently operated by the Rural Development Commission is targeted on the priority Rural Development Areas. These areas were designated in 1994 using a specific set of indicators to identify the key economic and social problems facing rural communities in England.

Local Government—the allocation of revenue support grants to local authorities is governed by formulae which include a number of measures of social and economic deprivation. The details are set out in The Local Government Finance Reports for each year, as approved by the House.

European Structural Funds—the Department manages the English Objective 1,2 and 5b Structural Funds Programmes. The programme areas eligible to receive Structural Funds are determined by socio-economic factors which include measures of deprivation. However, measures of local deprivation are not used by this Department when considering the allocation of funds to specific local projects within Objective 1, 2 and 5b areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to paragraph 1.43 of the White Paper, "A New Deal for Transport", what additional measures he proposes for the impounding of illegally operating lorries. [67615]

[holding answer 25 January 19991: We remain committed to introducing a scheme for the impounding of illegally operated heavy goods vehicles. The consultation exercise carried out last year showed that there was overwhelming support for such a scheme. We believe that detaining illegally operated heavy goods vehicles would provide an effective sanction against unlicensed operators by preventing them from continuing to operate and by acting as a deterrent to discourage other hauliers from ignoring the laws on operator licensing.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on progress on hazard scoring with regard to the taxing of pesticides. [67715]

The Government have been exploring the possibility of introducing a pesticide tax as a component of its pesticide minimisation policy. As part of this work, consideration has been given to the relative environmental hazard of the active ingredients contained in different pesticides.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many man hours are spent by officials at the Health and Safety Executive on monitoring and enforcing the regulations and guidelines covering genetically modified organisms; what estimate he has made of the expected growth in this amount of working time should the United Kingdom allow the expansion to commercial growing; and what is his estimate of the costs involved. [67753]

The regulations and guidelines in Great Britain covering genetically modified organisms can be divided into those covering deliberate releases (typically the controlled growing of crops on designated sites) and those covering contained use (typically developmental work involving organisms, animals and plants in laboratories or glass houses).The Health and Safety Executive inspects and enforces the regulations covering the deliberate release of genetically modified organisms under an agency agreement with the Department of the Environment, Transport and Regions (DETR). In the current working year, 888 hours (120 days or 0.57 person/years) are allocated for inspection and enforcement.For contained use, in the current year, 1,665 hours (225 days or 1.07 person/years) are allocated for inspection and enforcement. Contained use work will not be affected by any expansion in commercial growing.If the UK proceeds to commercial cultivation of genetically modified crops, the resources will be increased proportionally to take into account any additional inspection and enforcement duties.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list his Department's responsibilities and policies in relation to genetically-modified crops and the departments with which he liaises on this issue. [67664]

DETR has responsibility in England for all issues concerned with genetically modified organisms (GMOs) which may affect the environment and is responsible for reviewing all environmental risk assessments in respect of GM crops.DETR has lead responsibility for the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 1992, as amended, which in conjunction with Part VI of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the European Communities Act 1972, give effect to Council Directive 90/220/EEC on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically Modified Organisms, as amended by Commission Directive 97/35/EC.DETR is lead competent authority for the purposes of EC Directive 90/220/EEC and in the wider international field has lead responsibility for taking forward the UK line in the negotiation of a Biosafety Protocol under the Convention on Biological Diversity.The Health and Safety Executive's (HSE's) specialist inspectors enforce those sections of Part VI of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, and associated Regulations, which concern deliberate release of GMOs into the environment. The enforcement is undertaken on behalf of the Secretary of State and is under the terms of an Agency Agreement.The human safety aspects of the contained use of genetically modified crops are covered by the Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 1992, as amended. HSE is responsible for and enforces those Regulations. Environmental aspects are covered by Part VI of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and associated Regulations—the Genetically Modified Organisms (Risk Assessment) (Records and Exemptions) Regulations 1996, as amended in 1997—for which DETR is responsible. HSE specialist inspectors enforce that legislation on behalf of DETR under an Agency Agreement.Arrangements between Departments on the control and regulation of the contained use and deliberate release of GMOs is covered by a Memorandum of Understanding between DETR, HSE, MAFF, Scottish Office and Welsh Office and by an agreement between DETR and DOE(NI). Policy on biotechnology, including genetically modified crops, is co-ordinated by the Ministerial Group on Biotechnology, as announced by the Prime Minister on 21 October 1998,

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the terms of reference of the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment were last reviewed. [68061]

The terms of reference of the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) have not changed since the committee was established in 1993. The remit of the committee was last reviewed and changed in October 1998 when the Secretary of State asked ACRE in future to advise not only on the direct and indirect effects of genetically modified organisms in the environment but on the possible changes in agronomic practice and subsequent effects on biodiversity.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment his Department has made of the effect on the number of accidents and injuries of making compulsory some form of motorway tuition; and if he will make a statement. [67736]

Since it would not be practicable to make motorway tuition compulsory because many learner drivers are not within reasonable distance of a motorway, we have made no detailed assessment of the likely impact. However, Transport Research Laboratory research¹ based on a large sample of drivers who passed their test in 1988 and 1989 estimates that the accident rate for male drivers in their first three years of driving is about four accidents per million miles on motorways compared to over 18 on major roads away from town centres and over 24 on quiet country or rural roads.Changes to the practical driving test have been announced which will take effect in the Spring. The test will be longer to allow candidates to be assessed in situations more representative of modern driving conditions, including higher-speed roads. That will mean that their training will have to equip them to meet those conditions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will list the occasions on which he has taken an RAF flight since May 1997; and for what purpose; [67413](2) if he will list the occasions on which he has used a helicopter at public expense since May 1997; and for what purpose. [67415]

[holding answer 25 January 1999]: I refer to the answers given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Transport in London, on 19 November 1998, Official Report, columns 838–39, and 27 November 1998, Official Report, column 41. The RAF flights undertaken by me personally were those on 3 May and 23 July 1997 and 22 January, 23 March, 16 and 22 August and 26 September 1998. Of those, the flight on 3 May 1997 was made by helicopter, as were parts of the journeys from Belfast to Omagh and return on 16 and 22 August 1998. In addition I have made helicopter trips on 14 July 1998 to the opening of Capital One Bank in Nottingham, and on 7 October 1998 on a tour of emergency towing vessels as part of the launch of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the financial cost to the packing industry of complying with EU law relating to recoverable packaging waste. [67682]

An assessment of the cost implications of the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997, which implement the EC Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste (94/62/EC) was published when the Regulations came into force in March 1997. This assessment will be updated when measures to amend the Regulations are introduced in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the outcome of his review of the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) regulations 1997. [68346]

I have considered the conclusions of the Advisory Committee on Packaging as set out in Sir Peter Parker's letters to me of 24 June and 22 December 1998, together with the other representations that were made to me in the course of the review. Subject to Parliamentary approval and, in the case of certain matters, the conclusion of the period for consulting European Union colleagues, I propose to make a number of changes to the Regulations as follows. As these changes are intended to take effect this year, I will introduce measures as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the offices at which work related to the licensing of lorry and bus companies (a) currently takes place and (b) took place prior to 1996. [67452]

In respect to Wales prior to April 1996, administrative support for the Traffic Commissioner for South Wales, the licensing authority for operators of buses, coaches and heavy lorries, was provided by staff from the Department of Transport based in Cardiff. The northern counties of Wales are currently the responsibility of the Traffic Commissioner for the North Western Traffic Area, then supported by an office in Manchester. Administrative services are now provided by offices in Birmingham and Leeds respectively. My noble Friend the Minister for Roads and Road Safety has today announced that, subject to Parliamentary approval, a new traffic area for Wales will be established with effect from 1 April 1999. The new traffic area will be administered from Birmingham, although the Traffic Commissioner will continue to hold his public inquiries in Wales as appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what amount has been spent to date on bridge strengthening to implement EU Directive 85/3/EEC; and how much he estimates will be spent to complete implementation, expressed in each case at November 1987 prices. [67595]

[holding answer 26 January 1999]: On Highways Agency bridges, the estimated expenditure to 31 March 1999 on the current assessment and strengthening programme is £200m at November 1987 prices. The estimated cost to complete the work is £83m.The Directive requires strengthening to take place only on routes of strategic importance for HGVs. We are not able to separate expenditure by local authorities for these purposes from more general expenditure on bridge works.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the total costs to highway authorities as a result of bridge strengthening works undertaken to implement EU Directive 85/3/EEC, excluding moneys provided to highway authorities from central Government under TPP allocations. [67593]

[holding answer 26 January 1999]: I refer to the previous answer, which provides details of Highways Agency costs to implement bridge strengthening in 1987 prices. We cannot identify local authorities expenditure required for implementation of Directive 85/3/EEC. Not all bridge strengthening work being undertaken by local authorities is a requirement of the Directive.The assessment programme has provided for a review of the condition and load bearing capability of all local authority bridges in England. Although a proportion of the works planned by authorities are on routes of the greatest strategic importance for HGVs, other works have been identified which authorities wish to undertake to meet the need of their local communities. Authorities also have discretion within their annual capital settlement to adjust the funding given between that for bridge works and that structural maintenance of principal roads.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many miles of motorway were open at the end of (a) 1979 and (b) 1997. [68125]

The information that the hon. Gentleman seeks is available only for financial years, not calender years. On 1 April 1979, there were 1,339 miles of motorway open in England, and on 1 April 1997, the corresponding figure was 1,759 miles. The figures include both trunk road motorways and those for which the local highway authority is responsible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the outcome of the OSPAR meeting on radioactive emissions held in Dublin this month; and if he will place in the Library copies of the United Kingdom and other submissions made to the meeting. [67703]

The OSPAR technical working group on radioactive substances met in Dublin from 19 to 22 January. It made progress on a range of issues related to radioactive substances in the marine environment of the north-east Atlantic. Copies of UK papers submitted to the meeting have been placed in the Library. It would be for other OSPAR Contracting Parties to make available copies of their papers. A summary record of the meeting will shortly be available from the OSPAR Secretariat, New Court, 48 Carey Street, London WC2A 2JQ.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with ministers of the German Government concerning the termination of contracts with BNFL for the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel; and if he will make a statement. [67705]

My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment met Jürgen Trittin, the German Environment Minister, on 20 January to discuss the Environmental Council Programme during the German Presidency of the EU. There was no substantive discussion about the termination of reprocessing contracts between German Utilities and BNFL. Such discussions were held earlier that day between my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, and Herr Trittin. I refer to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 21 January 1999, Official Report, column 547.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to make a response to the Environment Agency's proposed decision on the BNFL Mixed Oxide Fuel Plant. [67707]

I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 11 November 1998, Official Report, column 189.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will make a statement on his policy towards the Crossrail project; [67973](2) when his predecessor asked Railtrack to prepare a report on the Crossrail project; and when he expects to receive this report. [67974]

In response to a written Parliamentary Question the then Secretary of State for Transport told the House on 2 April 1996, Official Report, columns 129–30, that he had invited the Chairman of Railtrack to consider the Crossrail project with his Board. Railtrack has not responded to this invitation.The Government's priority is to upgrade the existing Underground: the Public Private partnership will achieve that. It will be for the Mayor to take decisions on the future of the project as part of his or her integrated transport strategy for London, in the light of his or her priorities and the funds available. Meanwhile, the Crossrail route remains safeguarded.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to expand membership of the West Midlands Regional Development Agency to include a representative from (a) Worcestershire and (b) the business community of the region; and if he will make a statement. [68109]

We have in mind to appoint another member to the West Midlands RDA and hope to make an announcement shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if all revenues raised from congestion charging or private non-residential parking charges will be ring-fenced and re-invested in transport. [66526]

The Government's proposal, set out in its consultation document, "Breaking the Logjam" is that 100 per cent. of the net revenues in pilot charging schemes will be retained by local authorities for at least 10 years for spending only on transport-related projects. They will be obliged to set up ring-fenced accounts for this purpose. The Government will have to approve all pilot schemes and will ensure that the proposed spending of the revenues in each scheme represents value for money.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 8 December 1998, Official Report, column 135, if he has commissioned an independent review of alternative proposals for regional Eurostar services; and if he will make a statement. [68573]

I have today announced a competition to seek a consultant to undertake a review of alternative proposals for regional Eurostar services. In addition to addressing itself in particular to the study completed by Inter-Capital and Regional Rail Ltd., and the alternative proposals put forward by the Virgin Group, the review will include a thorough examination of a broad range of key elements including the points to be served, infrastructure requirements in terms of both rolling stock and track, wider social and economic benefits to the regions of having such services, and the case for carrying domestic passengers. These terms of reference have been informed by the recent report of the Transport Sub-Committee, for which I am grateful. I have asked for a thorough report to be presented to Government as soon as practicable. It is likely to take some months.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on Railtrack's application for an order under the Transport and Works Act 1992 in respect of the Thameslink 2000 Project. [68604]

We have been advised by Railtrack that they intend making a supplementary Order application which will revise the scope of the proposed works at a number of locations, in particular at Farringdon and London Bridge. These changes arise from Railtrack's consideration of objections made to the original application. The supplementary application is expected to be made by the end of September. To allow time for objections to this application to be taken into account, the Secretary of State has decided to defer until 9 December 1999 the date by which he must give notice of an intention to hold a public inquiry into the proposed Railtrack (Thameslink 2000) Order. We will take a decision before that date if possible but this will depend on when the supplementary application is made.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on what occasions Ministers in his Department have made journeys by aeroplane funded by third parties since 1 May 1997. [66464]

[holding answer 18 January 1999]: My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has made five such journeys: to address the joint Conference of the North West Regional Association and North West Partnership in Windermere; to visit a Freight Distribution Centre in the Midlands; to open the extension to Humberside Airport; to tour the P&O container port in Southampton and to visit Norwich Airport and Felixstowe Port. My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment, made two journeys: one to deliver the key note speech at the Institute of Wastes Management conference in Plymouth and the other as part of the International Marine Biodiversity Workshop in Jamaica. My hon. Friend the Minister for the Regions, Regeneration and Planning made two journeys: one to tour Great Yarmouth regeneration projects and the other on a fact finding tour of a quarry. My hon. Friend the Minister for London and Construction also made two such journeys: a tour of Barking Reach housing development and a fact finding visit to a quarry.I visited the General Lighthouse Authority's Pharos Lightship ship and in addition, I visited Australia in September 1998, not in my Ministerial capacity, to speak to and meet women's organisations interested in increasing the participation of women in Parliament and public life. My visit, including travel costs, was sponsored by Emily's List of Australia as recorded in the Parliamentary Register of Members' Interests. While in Australia, I attended a number of meetings in my official capacity, including an International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled People.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on Railtrack's position as regards planning legislation, with particular reference to demolition of property. [67097]

The carrying out of development of land generally requires planning permission. This normally entails a planning application but the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 grants a general permission (through permitted development rights) for various types of development. Where Railtrack carried out works which fall within the definition of permitted development under Class A of Part II or Part 17 of Schedule 2 to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995, it will enjoy permitted development rights and will not need to submit a planning application.Demolition of property requires planning permission where it meets the definition of development. Under the Town and Country Planning (Demolition—Description of Buildings) Direction 1995, planning permission is only required for the total demolition of dwellinghouses and buildings adjoining them outside conservation areas, and for the demolition of the whole or part of a gate, fence, wall or other means of enclosure within conservation areas. Part 31 of Schedule 2 to the General Permitted Development Order then grants permitted development rights for the demolition of these descriptions of buildings, subject to certain conditions. However, listed building consent or conservation area consent for the total or substantial demolition of buildings may also be required. These provisions apply to Railtrack as they do to other prospective developers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the cost to public funds of compiling the planning league table. [67876]

The cost to the Department of producing Tables 5 to 9 of the Planning Performance Checklist published on 12 January 1999 was approximately £180.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many motor vehicle accidents occurred in the last year for which figures are available on (a) motorways, (b) other trunk roads and (c) other roads; and if he will make a statement. [67735]

The information requested is shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to make a decision on the salary of the Mayor of London. [67880]

I will be inviting the Senior Salaries Review Body to advise me on the salaries for the Mayor of London and the London Assembly Members. We will announce our decision when we have had an opportunity to consider its recommendations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is proposing to accelerate the processing of planning applications. [67879]

Local planning authorities handle some half a million planning applications every year. It is essential that these are processed efficiently and effectively.In his Modernising Planning Statement, published on 15 January 1998, my hon. Friend, the Minister for the Regions, Regeneration and Planning, set out a range of measures designed to make the planning system operate more efficiently and effectively. This included initiatives to improve the handling of planning applications.In April 1998, the Government published good practice guides on development briefs and the one stop shop approach to development-related approvals. Other initiatives include funding of a good practice guide on ?Best Value? in planning being drawn up by the Planning Officers' Society; a review of consultation procedures for planning applications; and a review of procedures for handling listed building consent applications.The Government are continuing to monitor closely local authorities? performance in reaching decisions on planning applications and publishes regular Planning Performance Checklists. My hon. Friend is currently holding a series of meetings with a selection of local authorities in each English region to discuss handling of planning applications as well as development plan preparation. These meetings are part of our wider commitment to work in partnership with local government to improve the planning system as part of the Modernising Planning initiative and provide an opportunity to share good practice experience.

To ask the Attorney-General what plans he has for departmental (a) White and (b) Green Papers to be made available on floppy disk format in a form which facilitates access for the visually impaired. [67843]

My department has not recently published a White or Green Paper. However, the independent report of the Review of the Crown Prosecution Service (the Glidewell Report) published on 1 June 1998 was made available on the Internet and could therefore be converted for use by the visually impaired.My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office confirmed in his reply on 27 January 1999,

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has had regarding EU tax harmonisation; and if he will make a statement. [66528]

The Chancellor gets a large number of representations on many subjects, particularly in advance of a Budget. The Government's position on EU tax issues was set out on 9 December 1998, Official Report, columns 388–422, by me and my hon. Friend the Member for Tyneside, North (Mr. Byers) when he was Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the preparations needed for United Kingdom entry into the single European currency. [66531]

The UK economy needs a period of stability and settled convergence before we could join the single currency. The Government are committed to a programme of economic reforms which are both in the national economic interest and which should help to deliver the stability needed to prepare us for membership.In addition we will issue an outline National Changeover Plan early this year which will set out the practical steps that would need to be taken if the UK decides to join.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the amount to be raised by the windfall tax in the current year. [66532]

The second and final instalment of the Windfall Tax was due in December and £2.6 billion was collected. In total, the Windfall Tax raised £5.2 billion.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further plans he has for the proceeds of the windfall tax on the privatised utilities. [66538]

The Windfall Tax has enabled the Government to embark on the New Deal—the biggest ever programme to get unemployed and economically inactive people into work. Over 300,000 people have already benefited from the New Deal so far, and over 60,000 have found jobs.The Government have constantly extended and developed programmes under the New Deal since taking office. Its purpose is to give people new hope and new chances, and a route out of poverty and benefit dependency. This principle will guide future policy development, as resources allow.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress is being made towards the implementation of the working families tax credit. [66533]

The Inland Revenue is leading a joint project team with the Benefits Agency which is developing the detailed administrative arrangements for the new tax credit in time for its introduction later this year.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy with regard to orphan assets. [66534]

The Treasury's policy on orphan assets (inherited estates) of insurance companies was set out in the Treasury's response to the Treasury Select Committee report on personal pension misselling. This was published in the Committee's First Special Report (session 1998–99) on 18 January.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on discussions he has had with colleagues in Japan and Germany in advance of the G7 Finance Ministers meeting next month relating to the HIPC initiative. [66535]

The HIPC initiative was discussed with all G7 partners, including Germany and Japan, and with other countries at the Annual Meetings of the IMF/World bank in Washington in October. The Chancellor also discussed the initiative with German Finance Minister Oskar Lafontaine in November. The HIPC initiative will next be discussed at the G7 Finance Ministers? and Central bank Governors? meeting in Bonn on 20 February following Chancellor Schroeder?s announcement last week of a new German initiative on debt.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to enable the Royal National Lifeboat Institution to recover value added tax on the cost of maintenance work to boathouses. [66536]

In common with all individuals and organisations, charities, including the RNLI, cannot reclaim VAT on the things that they buy which relate to their non-business activities.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he made of the impact on the contingency reserve of recent military action against Iraq. [66537]

The cost of overseas operations will be considered against the Defence budget as a whole when agreeing the Spring Supplementary Estimates.