To ask the President of the Council if she will list the total number of occasions when (a) departmental and (b) non-departmental special advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity since 2 May 1997. [76824]

Between 2 May 1997 and 28 February 1999, special advisers in my Department have made one visit overseas in an official capacity. All travel complied with the requirements of the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Management Code.

To ask the President of the Council if she will name the Ministers in her Department who are regular users of electronic Red Boxes. [76181]

I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office gave on 16 March 1999, Official Report, column 651. Neither I nor the Parliamentary Secretary use an electronic box.

To ask the Attorney-General when he was first notified of (a) the libel claim by Neil Hamilton and (b) the Court of Appeal hearing on appeal from the Queen's Bench Division; when he first responded to Mr. Hamilton's solicitors; when he decided to intervene in the case; when he first notified the House that he was intervening; and for what purpose. [77125]

The Attorney-General was first notified that Mr. Neil Hamilton was pursuing a libel action against Mr. Al Fayed in a letter from Mr. Hamilton's solicitors dated 30 June 1998. A response was sent to Mr. Hamilton's solicitors on 7 July 1998 saying that the Attorney-General did not propose to be represented at the hearing. the Attorney-General was notified that the Court of Appeal had granted leave to Mr. Al Fayed to appeal against the decision of Mr. Justice Popplewell in a letter from Mr. Al Fayed' s Solicitors dated 24 November 1998.Following consultations with the House Authorities, the Attorney-General decided to seek to intervene in the action in December 1998. A letter recording that decision was sent to the Clerk to the House on 7 December 1998.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will place in the Library the Solicitor General's skeleton argument and appendices used in the Hamilton v Al Fayed case, together with a transcript of proceedings. [77126]

I have arranged for a copy of my skeleton argument, together with its appendices, to be placed in the Library. It is important to note, however, that there were several modifications to the argument when presented orally. I have also placed in the Library a note prepared for the Court on the role of HM Attorney-General as intervenor in these proceedings. I am afraid that a transcript of the proceedings is not available and would take some weeks to prepare and approve. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment in the matter, but as soon as an approved version of the judgment is available I will arrange for that, too, to be placed in the Library.

To ask the Attorney-General how many secondments have been arranged in each year since 1995, between staff employed by the Serious Fraud Office and the relevant Financial Services Regulator. [76971]

No secondments were arranged in 1995. One secondment to a regulator or disciplinary body has been arranged in each subsequent year. In addition, one secondment was arranged prior to 1995 and was in place in 1995, and one secondment to the Financial Control Directorate General of the European Commission took place between 1994 and 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on how many occasions the Minister for Science has met officers or representatives of (a) Diatech Ltd., (b) Innotech Ltd., (c) Floranova Ltd., (d) Floranova Service Corp America, (e) Elite Seeds, and (f) Floranova s.a., Costa Rica, since becoming a Minister. [73134]

[holding answer 25 February 1999]: I am informed that on no occasion has Lord Sainsbury met with officers or representatives of any of these companies acting in an official capacity since his appointment. I understand that he has met with Christopher Stone of Diatech Ltd. on a number of times on a personal basis, but on no occasion were any aspects of the work or investments of any of the companies placed in the blind trust discussed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the Government's support for shipbuilding in the United Kingdom, with particular reference to the Kvaerner Govan yard. [74881]

To support the UK shipbuilding industry, I established in July 1998 the Shipbuilding Forum whose membership comprises representatives of the shipbuilding industry, its unions, equipment suppliers and customers, both private and public sector. Also involved are the training organisations and relevant Departments. The Forum's terms of reference from me were to consider the current situation of the shipbuilding industry and how to improve its competitiveness so as to increase its share of the European market, leading to increased output, profitability and employment. The Forum is currently preparing an Implementation Plan which it plans to deliver to me within the next few months. These Recommendations—currently more than 40—are to all the participants, not just to the Government. The Forum believes that these Recommendations will go a long way towards a marked improvement in the fortunes of the UK shipbuilding industry and I look forward to reading their Implementation Plan.My Department gives Shipbuilding Intervention Fund grants to eligible UK yards, including Kvaerner Govan, at the maximum level permitted by the European Union's Shipbuilding Regulation and the Scottish Office made an offer to Govan of a grant under the Regional Selective Assistance programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his policy in respect of the appeal by Italy and the Netherlands to the European Court of Justice against the EU Life Patents Directive. [74827]

[holding answer 5 March 1999]: It is primarily a matter for the Council and European Parliament (as the institutions who adopted the Directive) to lodge the defence against the Netherlands' application seeking to annul Directive 98/44/EC on the Legal Protection of Biotechnological Inventions. EU member states had the opportunity to intervene in this case. The Government have carefully considered the terms of the Dutch action before the European Court of Justice and a decision has been taken not to intervene. We do not wish to add anything to the Council's arguments already lodged before the Court in response to the Dutch action.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if (a) he, (b) civil servants in his Department or (c) special advisers in his Department have (i) had sight of drafts of select committee reports, in whole or in part, or (ii) been informed of conclusions of select committee reports prior to their publication by the select committees. [75882]

[holding answer 10 March 1999]: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Spelthorne (Mr. Wilshire) on 1 March 1999, Official Report, column 531. There have been no instances of members of Select Committees giving me drafts of Select Committee reports, or parts of reports including their conclusions, before publication. Nor, to the best of my knowledge, have there been any occasions on which members of Select Committees have given such material to civil servants or special advisers in my Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the European Commission on the impact of the current value of the euro on British exporters. [76253]

I have had no such discussions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if BMW has applied to his Department for grant to make a new (a) Mini and (b) Rover 35 at Longbridge. [76259]

(a) No. (b) Yes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those people he has appointed to public bodies since 1 November 1998, indicating the positions to which they have been appointed and if they receive remuneration. [76461]

Appointments made to my Department's public bodies since 1 November 1998 are shown on the attached tables with their positions and an indication of whether they receive remuneration.

Department of Trade and Industry appointments to public bodies from 1 November 1998
Public body and name of appointee	Position	Remuneration
Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council
Dr. John Padfield	Member	Yes
Coal Authority
Eric Hassall	Deputy Chairman	Yes
Malcolm Edwards	Executive Member	No
Albert Schofield	Executive Member	No
Design Council
Hamish Brice	Member	No
Penny Egan	Member	No
Dick Powell	Member	No
Sir William Stubbs	Member	No
Roy Williams	Member	No
Hearing Aid Council
Alan Rudge	Member	Yes
Gillian Booth	Member	Yes
Janice Barnett	Member	Yes
Monopolies and Mergers commission
Professor J. Beatson	Member	Yes
David Jenkins	Member	Yes
Roger Munson	Member	Yes
Linda Christmas	Newspaper Panellist	Yes
Professor Donald Trelford	Newspaper Panellist	Yes
Charles Wilson	Newspaper Panellist	Yes
Sarwar Ahmed	Newspaper Panellist	Yes
William Gibson	Newspaper Panellist	Yes
Gerald Holbrook	Newspaper Panellist	Yes
Joyce Hopkirk	Newspaper Panellist	Yes
Eve Pollard	Newspaper Panellist	Yes
Gill Owen	Newspaper Panellist	Yes
G. H. Stacy	Member	Yes

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the members of the working group of the Human Genetics Advisory Commission and the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority that recently considered issues relating to human cloning; if he will list in the case of each of those members the outside interests that were declared; and if he will indicate which of those members have academic qualifications in (a) ethics, (b) psychology, (c) philosophy and (d) sociology. [76240]

The members of the joint working group were nominated by the Human Genetics Advisory Commission (HGAC) and the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). The group was chaired by the Reverend Dr. John Polkinghorne (HGAC). It also comprised Dr. George Poste (HGAC), Professor Christine Gosden (HFEA) and Dr. Anne McLaren (HFEA).All members of the HFEA and HGAC, whose membership covers a wide range of experience and backgrounds including ethicists, psychologists, philosophers and sociologists, made full contributions to the report and approved it in its final form for publication.The declarations of interest of all members of the HGAC and HFEA are available for public inspection in accordance with, "Quangos—Opening the Doors", Cabinet Office Guidance (June 1998). Full details of members' academic qualifications are not held centrally, and will not indicate all relevant experience. Requested information held for members of the working group is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to respond to the report on human cloning from the working group of the Human Genetics Advisory Commission and the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. [76238]

The Government are giving careful consideration to the report of the Human Genetics Advisory Commission and the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, "Cloning Issues in Reproduction Science and Medicine", and will publish its response as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry with effect from what date Sir Colin Campbell resigned as Chairman of the Human Genetics Advisory Commission; and what reasons he gave for his resignation. [76236]

Sir Colin Campbell resigned as Chairman of the Human Genetics Advisory Commission on 5 February 1999, as he was anticipating non-executive responsibilities with a major insurance company, and in case HGAC should in future return to consider genetics and insurance wished to remove himself from any possible future conflict of interest.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the review of the Assisted Areas map and the timing of its conclusions. [76666]

[holding answer 15 March 1999]: Under the European Guidelines, a new Assisted Areas map for the UK must operate from 1 January 2000. Changes to the Assisted Areas map must be agreed with the Commission, and they have asked for proposals from member states by 31 March. Ministers are currently considering which proposals they will put forward.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the annual additional number of claims for unfair dismissal that will be made as a result of the reduction in the length of the qualifying period of employment to one year. [76669]

[holding answer 16 March 1999]: We shall be publishing estimates in the Regulatory Impact Assessment once the order has been laid before Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made for (a) small and medium enterprises and (b) larger companies of the average cost resulting from an employee taking maternity leave. [76674]

[holding answer 16 March 1999]: The cost to an employer from an employee taking maternity leave will depend on many factors, most significantly, how many weeks of maternity leave are taken and what the employee's length of service is.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact of the minimum wage on organisations which offer board and lodging as part of their remuneration package. [75577]

The impact of the national minimum wage on organisations which provide board and lodgings as part of their remuneration package will vary in the light of their particular circumstances.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received on the provision of foreign language broadcasting in the United Kingdom (a) on television and (b) on radio; and if he will make a statement. [72628]

The Independent Television Commission and the Radio Authority license a number of channels which provide foreign language services to UK audiences. The television channels are available on the satellite and cable medium, whilst the radio channels are aimed at local audiences.My Department has not received any representations on the provision of foreign language broadcasting in the UK for either television or radio where the target audience is principally within the UK. I have received several representations in respect of foreign language satellite television stations broadcasting from within the UK but aimed primarily at audiences abroad.I am writing to the hon. Member with details of the licensed services and will place copies of my reply in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) when the contract to establish the Wembley Trust with the FA and the English Sports Council will be announced; [75852](2) how much money has been spent on the purchase of Wembley plc by

Lottery funding of £120 million has been awarded by the English Sports Council towards the purchase of the existing Wembley stadium from Wembley plc, and its reconstruction as a National Stadium for football, rugby league and athletics. No Government funding has been provided.The English National Stadium Development Company is responsible for taking reconstruction work forward. The English National Stadium Trust, which already exists as a charitable company limited by guarantee, will act as a watchdog for the public interests in the project.The Wembley sale was finalised on 15 March. We now have a firm foundation from which to drive the National Stadium project forward which is great news for the 2006 World Cup bid, and our efforts to bring major international sporting events to this country.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will announce the ticket prices for the Millennium Experience at Greenwich. [78042]

The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) has today announced the pricing structure for entrance to the Millennium Experience at Greenwich. This includes attractive discounts for families and groups. I have placed the full text of the NMEC's News Release in the Libraries of the House.Prices for the Millennium Experience at the Dome were confirmed as:

£
Group rates
'Family Five' ticket: (2 adults + 3 children or 1 adult + 4 children)	57.00 (@ 11.40 each)
Senior Citizens Groups (of 15 or more)	12.00 each
Adult Groups (of 15 or more)	17.50 each
Individual rates
Single adult	20.00 each
Children under 5	Free of charge
Children ages 5 to 15 inclusive	16.50 each
Student card holders	16.50 each
Senior Citizens	18.00 each
JS40 holders	12.00 each
Education rates
Student group/college group visits	14.50 each
School visits (all ages)	8.00 each
Education Tours Scheme for Schools (ages 8 to 16)	1Free of charge
1 As part of the NMEC's pricing strategy up to 1 million free tickets will be made available for children through the Education Tours Scheme for schools

The NMEC has announced the prices seven months ahead of tickets going on sale to the public to allow the travel industry to finalise its prices. The NMEC is also in detailed negotiations with rail and coach operators about discounted travel to the Dome. National Express coach operators have confirmed that they are proposing to offer, subject to negotiation, a discount travel deal offering a combined return coach ticket and admission to the Dome for £29.99 from anywhere in England, Scotland or Wales.The Government agree with the NMEC that these prices represent value for money and will enable the Company to achieve its forecast 12 million visitors to what will be the largest concentration of educational, inspirational and entertaining attractions under one roof anywhere in the world during 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proposals he has for the World Class Performance Programme for the United Kingdom's top athletes. [78043]

The Sports Cabinet met for the second time on Wednesday last week and decided on a package of Lottery support to back our top sportsmen and women.The Government will shortly lay before Parliament an Order which will make the UK Sports Council a Lottery distributor and earmark a percentage of the Lottery Sports Fund for them to distribute for the UK's best sportsmen and women for them to train and prepare for competition.A joint scheme has already been pioneered by the four Sports Councils for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of applicants' passports held at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate awaiting a decision; what arrangements he will make for temporary travel documents to be issued for those whose applications are delayed as a result of reorganisation at IND; and what proposals he has for offering compensation to those who are disadvantaged as a result of the delays. [76615]

The Immigration and Nationality Directorate has estimated the approximately 22,000 passports are currently being held. Travel Documents will be issued only to people who have valid leave to remain in the United Kingdom. It is, therefore, not possible to issue documents where an application for leave remains outstanding, although passports will be returned to applicants when they need to travel. Compensation will

Year	Number of SIDs in prisons of persons aged under 21 years	Number of SIDs in remand centres of persons aged under 21 years	Number of SIDs in young offender institutions of persons aged under 21 years	Total number of SIDs	Number of SIDs of prisoners aged under 21 years
1988	8	—	1	37	9
1989	9	1	2	48	12
1990	5	3	2	50	10
1991	1	—	4	42	5
1992	1	2	4	41	7
1993	1	1	1	47	3
1994	6	3	1	62	10
1995	4	2	2	59	8
1996	5	1	6	64	12
1997	—	4	5	68	9
1998	6	3	5	83	14
SIDs—self-inflicted deaths

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons Thomas Tangney was considered suitable for transfer to Ford Open Prison. [77321]

Mr. Tangney met the criteria which need to be satisfied before a transfer to open prison conditions takes place. These criteria were set out in my reply to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) on 11 March 1999, Official Report, column 332. The decision to transfer Mr. Tangney to open prison conditions was taken by Ministers on the recommendation of the Parole Board in line with normal practice in these cases.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 10 March 1999, Official Report, columns 267–68, if the National Criminal Intelligence Service can access the Schengen Information System without the unanimous agreement of the Schengen states. [77165]

Direct access to the Schengen Information System (SIS) by the National Criminal Intelligence Service and other law enforcement agencies could be secured only if the United Kingdom was a member of the SIS. The SIS is part of the Schengen acquis, which will be incorporated into the European Union on the entry into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam. In accordance with be paid only in cases of maladministration where the costs are reasonable and have been actually and necessarily incurred: each case will be treated on its merits.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many suicides there have been in prisons, remand centres and youth detention centres in each of the last 10 years; and how many were of persons under the age of 21 years. [76936]

The information is given in the table.Article 4 of the Schengen Protocol, any request by the United Kingdom to take part in some or all of the existing provisions of the Schengen acquis is subject to the agreement of the thirteen Schengen states. As my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary stated in his reply to the right hon. Member on 12 March 1999,

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 10 March 1999, Official Report, columns 267–68, what initial increased use of Europol facilities and sharing of information has taken place since the signing of the Treaty of Amsterdam. [77166]

Although the Treaty of Amsterdam was signed on 2 October 1997, it has not yet been ratified by all member states. It is not therefore in force.As I indicated in my reply of 10 March 1999,

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when he expects to make an announcement about his proposal to build a new prison in Peterborough; [77446](2) on whose authority labour councillors in Peterborough have been informed that an announcement on a proposed new prison in Peterborough will be delayed until after the European election in June. [77447]

I understand that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions expects to determine within the next three weeks the Prison Service's appeal against Peterborough City Council's refusal to grant planning permission for the construction of a new prison in Peterborough. I am not aware that any information about that decision has been given to local councillors.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if each of the prisoners appearing in the BBC1 documentary, Jailbirds: Through the Gates, on 15 March, had individually given permission to be filmed; and if he will make a statement. [77463]

Yes. Prisoners individually featured in the programme gave their written consent. Prisoners were warned, where possible, prior to filming taking place and all prisoners were given the opportunity not to appear.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will pay compensation to those whose applications to the Immigration and Nationality Department have been delayed by the failure to operate the full casework information technology application and changeover to the new system. [76442]

We very much regret the current delays to applications being considered in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. It has always been our practice to consider making ex gratia payments in individual cases where applicants are able to demonstrate, with full supporting evidence, that they have actually and necessarily incurred additional costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 16 February 1999, Official Report, column 651, what has been the extent of the temporary reduction in service standards and numbers of casework decisions in the Immigration and Nationality Department; and when he expects the full casework information technology application to be operational and the previous throughput of casework to be achieved. [76441]

The temporary reduction in service standards does not apply to all areas in the new Directorate. The Public Caller Unit, for example, has been able to maintain productivity throughout the reorganisation, and indeed it is now exceeding previous productivity rates. However, in other areas there has been a fairly significant reduction in service and productivity during the months of January and February, when we were moving offices. Now that much of the move has been made, the position is improving: productivity has been rising and we are mounting special exercises to target priority cases such as work permits. Our aim is to reach the levels of throughput previously achieved within a few weeks.In recent discussions with my officials, Siemens Business Services have maintained that the revised schedule for introduction of the full Information Technology solution will be achieved. This would mean pilot implementation beginning in the summer with roll-out being completed early next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the extra time applicants are having to wait for the Immigration and Nationality Department to resolve their cases as a result of the failure to operate the full casework information technology application. [76443]

The disruption caused by the reorganisation of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) has meant some temporary delay in the processing of cases, particularly during the months of January and February. The position is improving: productivity has been rising and we are mounting special exercises to target priority cases. In the majority of straight forward cases, the delay is now a matter of weeks only. The expectation is that the situation will continue to improve.We do, however, recognise that there is a large backlog of IND cases, the great majority preceding the reorganisation. There are, for example, currently 104,356 cases in IND' s central Work in Progress Store, many of which are over five years old. Our plans for dealing with this backlog are set out in the Government's White Paper "Fairer, Faster and Firmer—A Modern Approach to Immigration and Asylum".

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he is proposing to tackle the devices used by companies to avoid making contributions under the packaging waste regulations; and if he will make a statement. [76382]

The Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency have a duty to monitor compliance with the packaging Regulations. In the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Elmet (Mr. Burgon) on 28 January 1999, Official Report, columns 335–37, I welcomed the efforts being made by the Agencies to strengthen their enforcement programmes and I understand that the Environment Agency has started the process for taking proceedings against a number of companies which failed to register in 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received over his proposed changes to the share out of the percentage activity obligations within the packaging industry; and what plans he has to review the percentages. [76383]

As I stated in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Elmet (Mr. Burgon) on 28 January 1999, Official Report, columns 335–37, my Department will very shortly be issuing a consultation document on the proposed changes to the percentage activity obligations. All responses to the document will then be taken into consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many urban parish councils he has approved within the boundaries of unitary councils; if he will list the council areas concerned; and if he will make a statement on the statutory powers given to the urban parish councils. [76619]

Under the Local Government and Rating Act 1997, the Secretary of State has approved 8 new parishes within unitary authority areas: Allerton Bywater, and Horsforth in Leeds; Southsea in Portsmouth; Beverley, and Cottingham in the East Riding of Yorkshire; Headland in Hartlepool; East Cowes on the Isle of Wight; and Mossley in Tameside. Using the Department's standard statistical definition of urban areas and population from the 1991 census, with the exception of Allerton Bywater, all the new parishes can be defined as urban. These parishes have the same statutory powers as any other parish council.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance his Department has issued to planning authorities about their consideration of new telecommunications developments and the controls which they have over their siting. [76628]

Planning policy guidance on telecommunications development is set out in Planning Policy Guidance note 8 (revised December 1992), supplemented by Appendix E to DoE Circular 9/95 and by the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Regions, Regeneration and Planning on 4 November 1997, Official Report, columns 152–53. Copies of that answer were circulated to local planning authorities at that time. In addition, my Department has published in March 1996 a Code of Best Practice for local planning authorities and telecommunications code system operators on telecommunications prior approval procedures as applied to mast/tower development. We intend to consult shortly on draft guidance to accompany the changes to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 announced by my right hon. Friend in a written answer on 16 November 1998, Official Report, columns 343–44.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to announce proposals to extend access to the countryside for horse riders, cyclists and recreational vehicles; and if he will make a statement. [76613]

The Government's "Framework for Action" for improving access to the countryside, which I announced to the House on 8 March 1999, Official Report, columns 21–33, comprises a package of measures intended to benefit all those who enjoy informal recreation in the countryside. Horse riders, cyclists and users of recreational vehicles gain access mainly through the rights of way network and the improvements proposed to the network will therefore be of particular interest to them. We are keeping their interests in mind in developing detailed proposals.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many civil servants in his Department have been invited to waive the Working Time Directive requirement to work less than 48 hours a week on 17 consecutive weeks; how many civil servants in his Department have refused to waive the requirement; and what is the total cost of compliance with the Directive. [76809]

As the Secretaries of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, for Trade and Industry, and for Education and Employment share responsibility for the Government Offices in England, this answer also covers the Government Offices.The following numbers of staff in DETR(C) and its Agencies, and in the Government Offices, have signed an agreement to disapply the 48 hour limit:

	Number of staff
DETR(C)	37
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency	28
Driving Standards Agency	0
Highways Agency	10
Maritime and Coastguard Agency	1
Planning Inspectorate	1
Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre	49
Vehicle Certification Agency	0
Vehicle Inspectorate	0
Government Office for the East of England	0
Government Office for the East Midlands	3
Government Office for London	1
Government Office for the North East	0
Government Office for the North West	4
Government Office for the South East	3
Government Office for the South West	0
Government Office for the West Midlands	3
Government Office for Yorkshire and the Humber	7
1 Currently ten staff are discussing whether there are sound operational reasons to sign a waiver

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the implications of the High Court judgment of November 1998 on the dispute between the Environment Agency and Mayer Parry Recycling Ltd.; and if he will make contact with representatives of the waste paper processing industry on this matter. [76968]

A statement on the High Court judgment in the Mayer Parry case, which took account of judgments by the European Court of Justice, was issued by the Environment Agency on 16 November 1998. As matters stand, we do not have anything to add to that statement. We have no plans to make contact with the waste paper processing industry on this matter but we are considering representations which this industry has made about the implications of the judgment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has (a) to approve and (b) to initiate developments relating to airports before the completion of the economic impact studies covering airports and air services announced in "A New Deal for Transport"; and if he will make a statement. [76986]

Airport development is promoted by developers through the normal planning process, though major schemes will usually be decided by the Secretary of State following a public inquiry. Airports projects for which planning applications have already been made, or are expected to be made shortly, will not be within the scope of the Regional Air Services studies, because it would cause duplication and delay if we were to study projects which are being considered in the land use planning system at the same time; the study will therefore examine a range of scenarios based on those projects either going ahead or not going ahead, and will concentrate on strategic medium and long term issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made on the study of the economic impact of regional airports and regional air services announced in "A New Deal for Transport"; when these studies will be completed in the (a) North of England, (b) Midlands and (c) South West; and if he will make a statement. [76985]

The studies of regional airports and air services in the North of England, Midlands and South West announced in the "A New Deal for Transport" White Paper have all now been commissioned and are expected to report in the summer. In line with our White Paper commitments, each study will include an examination of the link between air services, economic growth and regeneration in the regions concerned. In accordance with our integrated transport policy, the studies will also consider surface access to the airports concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of (a) the level of mercury pollution in groundwater, (b) its source and (c) the remedial action needed. [76952]

Environment Agency monitoring of groundwater has not shown concentrations above the analytical detection limit, and mercury is generally not present in groundwater. However, there may be sites where processes using mercury (including parts of the millinery and electrical industries) have resulted in contamination, with consequent risks to groundwater, although mercury contamination from such sites would not be widespread. The Groundwater Regulations 1998 prohibit the discharge of mercury to groundwater, and provide for controls over activities which might result in the discharge of mercury to groundwater.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many incidents classified as air rage there have been on UK carriers in each year since 1990; and if he will make a statement. [76949]

Under the Mandatory Occurrence Report Scheme currently established by article 106 of the Air Navigation (No. 2) Order 1995, the commander of a UK registered or operated aircraft must report to the Civil Aviation Authority any incident

"endangering, or if not corrected would endanger, the aircraft, its occupants or any other person".

The CAA's MORS database does not have a classification of "air rage" and it is therefore not possible to provide the figures requested. However, we have recently reviewed the 1997 MORS reports relating to passenger behaviour. This revealed some 88 incidents of disruptive behaviour by passengers which had actual or potential safety implications. Of these, some 24 incidents involved physical violence or the need by the crew to restrain a passenger.It is because of the lack of accurate information on the scale of the problem that we have established a new system for airlines to report to the CAA all incidents of disruptive behaviour by passengers on board UK aircraft. The first figures from this new reporting system should be available later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many responses he has received to his consultation document on leasehold reform; and if he will publish them. [77123]

We had received 643 responses to the consultation paper by the requested date of Friday 12 March, and we are likely to receive some additional late ones. All responses will be made available to the public, barring those which we have been asked to treat as confidential. We will announce the arrangements for their inspection in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what incentives the Government are providing to increase the use of waste incinerators. [75962]

[holding answer 16 March 1999]: The Government are considering the role of waste incinerators with energy recovery as part of the review of the waste strategy for England and Wales. Their consultation paper Less Waste: More Value published in June 1998 said:

The Government's view is that, alongside a move to a higher level of recycling, a move to a higher level of incineration with energy recovery is necessary over the next 10–15 years in order to move to a more sustainable waste management system.

They also sought views on this approach and asked how the role of energy recovery as part of an integrated approach to waste management could be enhanced.A draft of the new waste strategy which takes into account the responses to the consultation document will be published later in the spring.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with bus manufacturers on the development of buses to provide improved facilities for (a) elderly and (b) disabled people. [77274]

Manufacturers have been closely involved throughout the process of developing standards for accessible buses. Meetings have taken place with a cross section of representatives of industry and with individual bus manufacturers on both technical and operational matters. An informal consultation on regulations under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to require improved access to buses and coaches took place in 1998, and a formal consultation on the draft regulations is planned for this year.The regulations will progressively require a lower first step height, provision for wheelchair users and other passengers with a wide range of disabilities, starting in January 2000. End dates are also being proposed for all regulated buses and coaches to ensure that over a reasonable timescale they all become fully accessible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to announce his response to the Countryside Commission's report on the future funding and management of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. [77272]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to make a decision about the future status and management of the South Downs. [77313]

We are still looking carefully at the issues dealt with in the Countryside Commission's advice relating both to Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty generally and to the South Downs in particular. We hope to announce some conclusions soon.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the (a) borrowings and (b) borrowing limits of each local authority for each year for which figures are available since 1990. [77440]

The latest information on levels of debt outstanding for each local authority in England relates to 31 March 1997. I have today placed this information in the Library of the House. Information for earlier years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.Under Part IV of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, local authorities may borrow for any purpose relevant to their statutory functions. Their total liabilities in respect of outstanding borrowing and other forms of credit must not exceed their Aggregate Credit Limit. The main effect is that authorities may borrow for capital expenditure up to the amount of the credit approvals issued to them by the Government. They may also undertake very limited temporary borrowing for revenue purposes. The Aggregate Credit Limit changes frequently and figures are not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects the public inquiry on Heathrow's proposed Terminal 5 to reach a decision. [77310]

The public inquiry closed on 17 March and the Inspector has said that he expects to take up to two years to produce his report. The Secretary of State will need to give the report full consideration before reaching a decision.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many representations he has received from hon. Members concerning planning matters in 1999. [77309]

Comprehensive information is not available in the form requested and could not be provided except at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many acres of Green Belt there were in Leicestershire at the latest available date. [77311]

There is no designated Green Belt land in Leicestershire.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he made during his visit to India of the prospects for the future of the Bengal tigers and the steps India is taking to protect them. [75690]

During my visit to India I addressed the Millennium Tiger Conference and, as a guest of the Indian Government, visited Ranthambore Tiger Reserve where tiger numbers are slowly recovering as a result of positive protection and co-operation to meet the needs of local people.I was impressed by the clear commitment to tiger conservation shown by the Indian Government and in particular, by Suresh Prabhu, the Indian Environment Minister, and Director of Project Tiger, Mr. P. K. Sen. However, in spite of their efforts, and those of many committed Indian officials, reserve wardens and NGOs, tigers in India still face serious threats. These are set down in the Millennium Tiger Conference's final communiqué and include the loss of habitat to large scale development projects; habitat degradation from livestock grazing and increased human population; and poaching to supply the continuing demand for tiger body parts.The Conference agreed to address these by recommending that land use policies recognise the importance of tiger habitats and that revenues from Protected Areas be reinvested in tiger conservation. The meeting also emphasised the importance of improving legislation and strengthening enforcement. The Declaration calls for more effort from consumer countries in controlling domestic trade in tiger parts and derivatives, an issue that the CITES Tiger Missions, launched in London by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett), will pursue when visiting range states including India, and consuming countries such as Japan, in the early summer.Whilst in India, I announced the UK's intention to join the Global Tiger Forum, together with a new grant of £50,000 to go towards enforcement work in India and an Indonesian project to protect the Sumatran tiger. This brings the UK's total contribution to tiger conservation to £200,000 over the past two years.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his discussion with Vice-President Gore about protecting the world's oceans. [75692]

During Vice-President Gore's visit to London on Saturday 30 January 1999, we discussed protection of oceans. I stressed to him the opportunity offered by this year's consideration of oceans and seas by the UN Commission on Sustainable Development to make progress both on the protection of the world's marine environments and the way in which the UN system handles the issue.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if the Housing Policy Green Paper will consult on proposals to help homeless people; and if he will make a statement; [77303]

The Housing Policy Green Paper will be published later this year. It will consult on a number of proposals to help meet our objective to offer everyone including homeless people the opportunity of a decent home.As I indicated in my earlier reply to a Question from my hon. Friend on 1 March 1999,

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if his Department, in conjunction with the Ministry of Defence, will carry out an audit of sites within the ownership of the Crown which could be made available for the temporary encampment of travellers over the period of Christmas 1999 and the millennium celebrations; [77478](2) how many authorised sites for travellers exist within England and Wales large enough to accommodate more than 150 caravans and several hundred people over the period of Christmas 1999 and the millennium celebrations; [77477](3) what arrangements are in hand within his Department, the Home Office and the Welsh Office jointly to identify sites which could offer temporary provision for large gatherings of travellers over the period of Christmas 1999 and the millennium celebrations; [77476](4) what arrangements his Department and the Welsh Office have made to use

There are over 300 authorised local authority Gypsy caravan sites in England and Wales although we know of none which would accommodate more than 150 caravans. My Department does not hold data on the capacity of privately owned Gypsy caravan sites. The Government have no plans to make Crown land available specifically for Gypsies and Travellers proposing to celebrate the millennium.My Department and the Home Office have recently published joint good practice advice for local authorities and the police for managing unauthorised camping by travellers generally. The good practice was developed with the assistance of a number of groups representing Gypsy/Traveller interests, including the National Gypsy Council.We want local authorities and the police to develop joint protocols to ensure proper and sensitive management of traveller encampments, including effective handling of any problems of crime and disorder which may arise particularly with large encampments. As part of this exercise, local authorities should be identifying acceptable stopping places for travellers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the request by the British Carpet Manufacturers Association for a delay in making a decision on the European Classifications of Floorcoverings for reaction to fire. [77298]

The decision on the reaction to fire for floorcoverings was postponed in December 1998 to permit consultation with industry and will be tabled again in April 1999. In the meantime, I have met the British Carpet Manufacturers Association and they are aware that a further delay is unlikely to be supported by the European Commission or other Member States.

To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood), representing the House of Commons Commission, what was the annual cost of running the House of Commons in each of the last five years; and what was the cost excluding major new building work for the latest available period. [76937]

The administrative cost of running the House of Commons is given in the table.

Costs of running the House of Commons 1993–98
£000
Vote	1993–94	1994–95	1995–96	1996–97	1997–98
Administration	62,738	65,302	68,190	68,290	72,878
Works	23,762	26,497	28,416	31,900	35,068
Sub Total	86,500	91.799	96,606	100,190	107,946
Porticullis House	7,662	6,292	15,633	30,002	37,281
Total	94,162	98,091	112,239	130,192	145,227

Figures are outturn figures. This excludes the cost of the pay and allowances of Members of Parliament.

To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what, in each of the three most recent years for which figures are available, were (a) the total costs relating to early day motions and (b) the average cost of the reprinting of individual motions when names were added. [77436]

I have been asked to reply.I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she will lay before Parliament the 1998 Annual report of the Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement. [77926]

The 1998 Annual Report of the Independent Commission for Police Complaints is being laid before Parliament today. The Report, which follows the format of previous years, comments on the work of the Commission in 1998, its 11th year dealing with alleged complaints against the RUC.I should like formally to record the Government's thanks to the Chairman and Members of the Commission and to the staff for their continued excellent work during this past year and for producing this Report. In this respect, I would like to highlight and endorse the Chairman's introduction to the Report in which he says that in spite of the already heavy workload of (Commission members and) staff, and the extra demands on them in facilitating the transition to the establishment of the Ombudsman's office, their

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will announce the names of the two newly appointed members of the Northern Ireland Boundary Commission. [77927]

I am pleased to announce that I have recently issued warrants of appointment for the Northern Ireland Boundary Commission to Mrs. Joan Elizabeth Ruddock and Richard McLaughlin QC. I have also been informed by the Lord Chief Justice for Northern Ireland that he has appointed hon. Mr. Justice Coghlin to the position of Deputy Chairman of the Commission.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many beds dealing with incontinence are available in Northern Ireland in (a) all service hospitals, (b) general hospitals, (c) specialist hospitals, (d) teaching hospitals and (e) hospitals in other categories. [77032]

The information requested is not collected.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the preliminary view of the coming year's parades is to be published by the Parades Commission; to whom the preliminary view of the coming year's parades is formally submitted; to whom the Parades Commission is formally accountable; on what parades the Parades Commission has issued a formal determination since its inception; how many parades have taken place which have contravened rulings made by the Commission; and if she will make a statement on the work of the Parades Commission over its first 12 months. [76930]

[holding answer 16 March 1999]: The current text of the Procedural Rules, one of the three statutory documents published under the Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998, indicates that the Commission will

"express an informal broad view of the overall pattern of parades in the areas in which they are contentious" (Procedural Rules, p1, para. 1.2).

The Commission is currently reviewing the Procedural Rules, together with the Code of Conduct and the Guidelines, in line with its statutory remit, and has issued its proposed changes to the documents in draft form for consultation. One of the proposed changes to the Procedural Rules is the removal of the requirement to make a preliminary view. In reaching its decisions in respect of contentious parades in the 1998 season, the Commission set out clearly the action it considered necessary by parties to parades disputes in order to remove the need for Commission involvement. Therefore, it considers that to issue a preliminary view in 1999 would simply be to restate what is already in the public domain.The Chairman and his colleagues on the Commission will, of course, consider carefully the responses they receive in relation to the documents, including proposals relating to the preliminary view. The revised documents are, as the hon. Gentleman knows, subject to Parliamentary approval before publication.In relation to accountability, the Commission was established by Parliament under the Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 as an independent body. In addition to the statutory requirements in relation to the Code of Conduct, Procedural Rules and Guidelines, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is required to present to Parliament the Commission's Annual Report on the discharge of its functions for that year.I have placed in the Library of the House a list of parades in relation to which the Parades Commission has issued a determination since receiving its statutory powers enabling it to impose conditions on parades.Statistics on the number of parade which have contravened the Commission's rulings are not available.Finally, I wish to congratulate the Parades Commission for their integrity and commitment over the last year. They have a difficult job and they have carried out their role in a totally fair and impartial manner in the best interests of all the people of Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the waiting periods for (a) angioplasty, (b) angiogram procedures and (c) heart by-pass surgery in each health trust. [74887]

Available information on the number of patients waiting for angioplasty and heart by-pass surgery by health authority is shown in the table.An angiogram or angiography is the main means of investigating the need for these procedures. Dye is injected into the blood stream and radiology is used to view the vessels. This is not a surgical procedure and information on waiting lists is not available centrally.