To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on his Department's policy when (a) conducting legal proceedings and (b) seeking legal advice as to the circumstances in which Queen's Counsel should be instructed; and for each of the last three years (i) on how many occasions his Department instructed Queen's Counsel and (ii) what was the total cost of instructing Queen's Counsel. [81771]

The Crown Prosecution Service, the Treasury Solicitor's Department, the Serious Fraud Office and the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers predominantly use junior counsel when it is necessary to instruct counsel to provide legal advice or to conduct legal proceedingsIn civil cases, the two First Treasury Counsel are both junior counsel and they will advise and represent the Government without a Queen's Counsel in many of their important cases. In addition, the Attorney-General maintains four panels of junior counsel whom Departments are expected to use for the majority of the Government's civil litigation. The Attorney-General's approval, or mine, is required before a Queen's Counsel can be instructed to appear for any Department in civil litigation.A panel of Senior Treasury Counsel and Junior Treasury Counsel, who are all junior counsel, exists in London to provide advice in more significant criminal case work, and to handle the most serious and complex work at the Central Criminal Court. More generally, the Crown Prosecution Service maintains circuit-based lists of junior counsel to conduct almost all its criminal case work in the Crown Court in England and Wales. Outside London, Queen's Counsel are instructed in all contested murder cases, and occasionally in other very serious or complex case work prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service.Given the complexity and seriousness of its cases, the Serious Fraud Office usually instructs Queen's Counsel to advise and conduct its prosecutions.In determining the level of counsel to use, the Department will consider the individual circumstances of each case. It will take into account, inter alia, the importance and sensitivity of the case, the complexity of the law, the weight and complexity of the evidence, and the degree of experience and expertise required before deciding whether to instruct Queen's Counsel or junior counsel.However, records are not maintained in a form which would enable the number of occasions on which the Attorney-General's Department instructed Queen's Counsel in the last three years, and the cost of doing so, to be given without incurring disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee when she expects the Committee's proposals for re-opening the Line of Route during the Summer Adjournment to be made available to the House. [81905]

I am pleased to advise the hon. Lady that the First Report from the Administration Committee, "Proposal to re-open the Line of Route during the Summer Adjournment", which details the Committee's findings and recommendations on this matter, was published by the Stationery Office at 3.30 pm today. The Report, HC(1998–99) 394 is available to hon. Members from the Vote Office; in view of her interest in this matter, I have arranged for a copy to be sent to the hon. Lady.

To ask the President of the Council how many early-day motions have been debated since 1 May 1997. [81386]

The information is set out below:

EDM number and title	Date debated
Session 1997–98
590 Food (S.I., 1997, No. 2959)	10 February 1998
1661 Terms and Conditions of Employment
(S.I., 1998, No. 1833)	27 October 1998
1729 Income Tax (S.I., 1998, No. 1869)	10 November 1998
Session 1998–99
56 Pensioners and Dividend Tax Credits	18 January 1999
362 Income Tax (S.I., 1998, No. 3175)	1 March 1999

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will pay the postal costs of voluntary bodies and registered charities requested to respond to Government consultation documents; and if he will make a statement. [80917]

[holding answer 22 April 1999]: Policy on the payment of grants to voluntary organisations will, from 1 July 1999, be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the cost of the development plan produced by Railtrack to public funds; and if he will make a statement. [81973]

Railtrack's 1999 Network Management Statement, published on 25 March, announced their plans for investment in the network totalling some £27 billion over the next ten years. That figure includes some £11 billion of investment on enhancements to the network. Not all of that £11 billion is Railtrack money: it includes proposed Government and other third-party funded schemes. Some £6 billion of it is shown as being either new "partnership" schemes or new "contractor" schemes, both of which would appear to involve at least some public sector funding, but no breakdown of funding sources is given.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his Department's policy towards planting and protecting urban trees; and if he will make a statement. [82044]

My Department encourages local authorities to develop long-term strategies to promote the planting, maintenance, conservation and replacement of all trees in their areas.Local authorities have powers to protect selected trees and woodlands under the tree preservation order system. Our proposals for reforming that system were set out in a consultation paper issued last July.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many staff by grade are employed as professional statisticians in his Department; how many of these staff have been accepted as fast stream by the Civil Service Selection Board; and how many have been granted chartered statistician status by the Royal Statistical Society; [81201](2) how many staff who have worked as professional statisticians in his Department and its predecessors have left on early retirement in each of the past 10 years. [81181]

Statistical work is undertaken by a range of specialisms such as Research Officers, Social Survey Officers and Economists. Within this Department there are 6 Senior Civil Servants, 1 Grade 6 Statistician, 37 Grade 7 Statisticians, 13 Assistant Statisticians employed as "professional" Statisticians, all of whom have been recruited via CSSB. In addition our Department employs 4 Statistical Officers.The number of "professional statisticians" who have left on early retirement in the last ten years is 6.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in each of the last five years, what proportion of vessels travelling coastwise between ports and harbours in the United Kingdom were (a) registered in the United Kingdom, (b) registered in member states of the (i) European Community and (ii) European Economic Area and (c) registered under flags of convenience; and what weight of cargo was so carried. [81429]

Information is not available in the form requested. However, Table 2.15 of Waterborne Freight in the United Kingdom 1996, and a similar table in earlier issues of this annual publication, which are all available in the Library, contains information on the flag shares of vessels engaged in the United Kingdom's coastwise traffic in terms of tonnes lifted and tonne-kilometres moved. The tonnages of coastwise cargo carried by UK registered vessels and by all vessels for years 1993 to 1997 are as follows:

million tonnes
	Coastwise cargo carried by UK registered vessels	Total coastwise cargo
1993	20.8	60.2
1994	19.5	61.2
1995	18.7	67.7
1996	17.3	70.9
1997	not available	71.1

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proportion of cargo vessels, not carrying passengers, travelled between members states of (a) the European Economic Area and (b) the European Union in each of the last five years which were not registered in one of the members states; and what (i) formal and (ii) informal agreements exist between those states prohibiting use of their (1) ports and (2) harbours by vessels registered under flags of convenience with inferior safety standards to those set by the member states. [81435]

Data on cargo vessel movements between member states of the European Economic area and the European Union are not held by the Department, and no formal or informal agreements exist between those states that prohibit the use of their ports and harbours by vessels registered under flags of convenience.Ships flying flags with poor safety records in the European port state control region (as measured by an above average detention rate) are targeted for inspection by the UK and its European partners. Individual ships can be banned if they fail to comply with release conditions following detention or if they do not carry certification required under the International Safety Management Code.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 8 March 1999, Official Report, column 38, on CR gas, when the prescribed rules of engagement of the use of CR gas by the armed forces were formulated. [80828]

Rules of engagement are considered and approved for specific operations. Their formulation varies according to the particular circumstances of an operation. The precise rules of engagement that govern the use of CR gas are thus approved on each occasion that its use is authorised. Rules of engagement for the use of CR are consistent with the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention, which explicitly permits the use of toxic chemicals for law enforcement purposes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff who have worked as professional statisticians in his Department have left on early retirement in each of the past 10 years. [81189]

Early retirement for professional statisticians from the Ministry of Defence in the last 10 years has been as follows:

• 1989: 0
• 1990: 0
• 1991: 0
• 1992: 0
• 1993: 1
• 1994: 1
• 1995: 2
• 1996: 0
• 1997: 0
• 1998: 0.

There have been no early retirements in 1999. The early retirement figures include those professional statisticians who retired early on medical grounds.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff by grade are employed as professional statisticians in his Department; how many of these staff have been accepted as fast stream by the Civil Service Selection Board; and how many have been granted chartered statistician status by the Royal Statistical Society. [81194]

The Ministry of Defence employs a total of 20 professional statisticians in the following grades:

• Senior Civil Service: 4
• Grade 6: 2
• Grade 7: 12
• Assistant Statistician: 2.

All were accepted as fast streamers by the Civil Service Selection Board.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons the Defence Estates Organisation was relaunched on 29 March. [81630]

The Strategic Defence Review considered how it might improve the management of the defence estate. The review made a number of important recommendations over the Defence Estate Organisation's role. These were that the Chief Executive be made accountable to Ministers, for working with users to ensure the defence estate is managed efficiently and effectively as a whole to support the delivery of defence capability; that DEO should assume responsibility for all aspects of the disposal of surplus property programme and that the DEO should develop proposals for a new model for construction and procurement.This places an increased burden, and a greatly enhanced role, on an organisation created in 1995 and launched as an Agency in April 1997. Following a fundamental review, in which I have been closely involved, major changes are taking place in DE to enable it to take on these new tasks, placing it at the centre of my Department's estate management matters. Most significantly, the Agency will play a key role in carrying forward the Deputy Prime Minister's rethinking construction initiative, in which the MOD will play a major part.The programme I have endorsed will bring out major process changes that will focus the Agency on the services that it delivers to customers elsewhere in the MOD, in the process setting the Agency challenging objectives and outputs. This will provide the necessary impetus for initiatives on estate management to be developed and implemented across the MOD, with enhanced value for money from the Department's substantial investment in its estate, as a primary goal. Savings will undoubtedly accrue from this process, but at this early stage it would be imprudent to set a figure upon achievable levels. This will become more apparent as DE leads MOD through this transition period and will be reported to Parliament, year by year, as a series of targets and achievements.We attach great importance to sending out a strong message to the MOD, the industry and others across Government, and outside, that the nature of the Agency has changed. To this end it was believed appropriate to mark this evolution by relaunching as Defence Estates, supported by a new Framework Document and Corporate Plan.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures he is taking to prioritise the targeting of Serbian units engaged in war crimes over other Yugoslav National Army units; and if he will make a statement on the prospects for a policy distinguishing between the two. [81453]

It is for the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in The Hague to seek indictments against individuals she believes have been responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law during the Kosovo crisis. NATO's military campaign is explicitly designed to damage and disrupt the capability of the government in Belgrade to carry out repressive operations in Kosovo. Yugoslav decision-makers and commanders have been put on notice that their conduct is being scrutinised, and that information linking them to atrocities committed in Kosovo will be forwarded to the Tribunal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of the environmental damage done to (a) Serbia, (b) Montenegro and (c) Kosovo as a result of the bombing conducted by NATO forces; and what assessment has been made of the environmental destruction perpetrated by Yugoslav forces. [81580]

Environmental considerations are taken fully into account when targeting decisions are made; and the United Kingdom will comply with its obligations under the First Geneva Protocol, including Article 55, which concerns the protection of the natural environment. It is not currently possible to undertake an assessment of the environmental impact of NATO air strikes or the actions of Yugoslav forces.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps have been taken by NATO military planners to ensure no bombs hit the RA Research Nuclear Reactor at Vinca near Belgrade; and what quantities of (a) nuclear fuel and (b) radioactive waste are held at the Vinca site. [81581]

The need to avoid dangerous emissions from plants such as Vinca is taken fully into account in making decisions on targeting; and the UK will comply with its obligations under the First Geneva Protocol 1977.Questions about the quantity of fuel and waste at Vinca are a matter for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of (a) his daily press briefing in London, (b) the daily battle damage assessment and (c) the daily NATO briefing in Brussels in respect of the military action against Yugoslavia, (i) for each day since the action began and (ii) for each day until the military conflict ends. [81570]

Copies of my daily press briefing, which includes declassified information on battle damage, will be placed in the Library of the House as requested. The daily NATO briefing from Brussels is available on the internet at http\\ www.nato.int\kosovo\speeches.htm.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many free-fall bombs have been dropped on Yugoslavia in the last month; and what assessment he has made of the reliability of tail-fin guided direction. [81971]

A total of 242 unguided bombs have been dropped by British aircraft in support of Operation Allied Force up to 22 April. They are assessed to have performed reliably and within design specifications.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the locations of the following NATO headquarters (a) Headquarters Allied Forces North Western Europe, (b) Headquarters Allied Forces Air North Western Europe, (c)Headquarters Allied Naval Forces North Western Europe, (d) Headquarters Maritime Air Forces North West, (e) Head quarters Submarine Forces North West, (f) Headquarters Allied Forces Eastern Atlantic Area, (g) Headquarters Maritime Air Forces Eastern Atlantic Area, (h) Headquarters Submarine Forces Eastern Atlantic Area, (i) Headquarters United Kingdom-Netherlands Amphibious Force, (j) Headquarters United Kingdom-Netherlands Landing Force, (k) the NATO Airborne Early Warning Force Headquarters and (l) the NATO E-3A Component. [81926]

[holding answer 23 April 1999]:

• (a) and (b) High Wycombe, United Kingdom
• (c) to (h) Northwood, United Kingdom
• (i) and (j) Plymouth, United kingdom
• (k) Mons, Belgium
• (l) Geilenkirchen, Germany.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the external audit of the Gulf Veterans' Medical Assessment Programme to be completed; and if he intends to publish the audit report. [82471]

My Department has now received the final report of the audit of the Gulf Veterans' Medical Assessment Programme (MAP) undertaken by the King's Fund Health Quality Service. I am pleased to report that the auditors were impressed with the organisation of the Medical Assessment Programme and the enthusiasm and commitment of the staff to the provision of a high-quality service. Nevertheless, the auditors also made a number of specific recommendations for improving the service and, because of the importance which we attach to the MAP, these have been accepted in full and work has already begun to implement them. The process of implementation is expected to be completed by November of this year. A copy of the report will be placed in the Library of the House and it will also be published on the Ministry of Defence Gulf Veterans' Illnesses website.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment he has made of (a) the damage inflicted on the Basra Pumping Station and (b) the effect it has had on the pumping station; [81932](2) what the purpose was of dropping the bombs which fell on date palm trees in Abu Al-Kasib, south of Basra; and what military installation was intended as the target of the bombs. [81933]

UK aircraft have not been involved in any attack on a Basra pumping station. I am not aware of any bombs falling on palm trees in Abu Al-Kasib.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the military situation in relation to Iraq since 24 March, with particular reference to the allies' capability in the region of Iraq and Iraqi military action. [82030]

We remain fully committed to our policy of containing the threat posed by Iraq. We are continuing to enforce the Iraqi no-fly zones and maintain an appropriate military capability to ensure that Saddam Hussein does not rebuild his WMD capability or otherwise threaten his neighbours. Our naval forces continue to participate in multi-national efforts to enforce sanctions. We will continue to take appropriate defensive measures against Iraqi threats to coalition forces.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in selecting the contractor to manage the Atomic Weapons Establishment sites from April 2000; and what is the timetable for selecting the contractor. [80825]

This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what requirements he places on (a) contractors and (b) sub-contractors regarding ISO 9002 certificates. [81642]

The requirement for Quality Management System certification is dependent on the nature of the contractual requirement. Where the requirement is for a product or service of a non-technical nature, and acceptability can be confirmed by a non-technical customer on receipt, no certification is required as a condition of contract. In all other cases, the Department's policy is to award contracts only to suppliers whose Quality Management System aligns with the appropriate ISO 9000 series standard. Prime contractors are responsible for the selection and management of sub-contractors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many contractors currently employed by his Department do not have ISO 9002 certification. [81643]

This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the units of British armed forces deployed around the former Yugoslavia; and if he will make a statement. [80927]

The following units, or elements thereof, are currently deployed around the former Yugoslavia:

• Royal Navy
• HMS Invincible
• HMS Newcastle
• HMS Iron Duke
• HMS Grafton
• HMS Splendid
• RFA Fort Austin
• RFA Fort Grange
• 845 NAS
• Army (in Bosnia/Croatia)
• Headquarters 1 Mechanised Brigade
• Queen's Royal Lancers
• 1st Battalion Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment
• Light Dragoons
• Gurkha Coy 2 Para
• 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
• 21^st Regiment Royal Engineers
• 215 Signal Squadron
• 669 Squadron Army Air Corps
• 10^th Transport Regiment Royal Logistic Corps
• 4^th Field Ambulance
• 5^th Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
• Royal Military Police
• 34 Field Hospital
• 21 Sig. Regt.
• 30 Sig. Regt.

• Army (in Macedonia/Greece)
• Headquarters Allied Rapid Reaction Force
• 1^st Signals Brigade
• 16^th Signals Regiment
• 2 Signals Regiment
• 7 Signals Regiment
• 3^rd Armoured Division Signals Regiment
• 30 Signals Regiment
• 14^th Topographical Squadron Royal Engineers
• 659 Squadron Army Air Corps
• Headquarters 4^th Armoured Brigade
• 21^st Regiment Royal Engineers
• 2^nd Armoured Field Ambulance
• King's Own Royal Border Regiment
• King's Royal Hussars
• 4^th Regiment Royal Artillery
• Headquarters (UK) Combat Service Support Group
• 17 Port and Maritime Regiment
• 29^th Regiment Royal Logistics Corps
• 28^th Regiment Royal Engineers
• 27^th Regiment Royal Logistics Corps
• Royal Military Police
• Irish Guards
• Royal Air Force
• 12 Harrier GR7s from No. 1 Squadron
• 5 Chinook Helicopters from No. 7 Squadron
• 3 E3s from No. 8 Squadron
• 2 Puma Helicopters from No. 33 Squadron
• 1 Nimrod R from No. 51 Squadron
• 3 Tristars from No. 216 Squadron

In addition, although not deployed to the region, 8 Tornado GR1 s and 3 VC1Os are participating in NATO's air campaign, operating from their home bases of RAF Bruggen and RAF Brize Norton respectively.

To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will list the sources which enabled him to identify articles he had written for publication by the foreign media; and if he will make a statement on the means by which the use of these sources could be expanded; [81235](2) what is his estimate of the cost of keeping a record of articles written in his capacity as Prime Minister for publication by the foreign media; [81233](3) if he will estimate the man hours required by

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Penrith and The Border (Mr. Maclean) of 8 March 1999, Official Report, column 14, for what reason it would not be practicable to make systematic arrangements to place in the Library copies of articles which he writes for publication in overseas journals and newspapers. [80181]

I refer the right hon. Member and the hon. Member to the answers I gave on 3 February 1999, Official Report, columns 642-43; 26 February 1999, Official Report, column 474; 8 March 1999, Official Report, column 14; 22 March 1999, Official Report, column 8; and 31 March 1999, Official Report, column 718. It would involve disproportionate cost to identify, translate where necessary and record every such article that is published in the foreign media.

To ask the Prime Minister if the will make a statement on progress made at EU level on (a) the Joint British-German statement on EU taxation, (b) the Joint British-Swedish statement on social inclusion and opportunity in Europe and (c) the Joint Anglo-Spanish statement on employment; and for what reasons each country was selected as the partner for a joint statement in this field. [80046]

The Government seek actively to build alliances with other Member States on a range of issues under discussion in the EU. The European Defence initiative with France, and our joint statements with Germany on tax, Sweden on social inclusion and opportunity, and Spain on employment and economic reform are recent examples. This approach both deepens our bilateral relations with EU partners, and influences the wider EU debate.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list those areas for which EU funding has been reduced as a consequence of the Berlin Summit. [81042]

Berlin set ceilings for spending commitments on each main policy category for the period 2000–06. The ceiling for the existing EU for 2006 is nearly 7 per cent. lower in real terms than the EC Budget for 1999. For comparison, in 1992, an increase in spending of over 30 per cent. was agreed for the period to 1999.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 31 March 1999, Official Report, columns 716-17, if he will indicate those sections of his oral statement of 29 March 1999, Official Report, columns 732-47, which answered the questions tabled by (a) the right hon. Member for Penrith and the Border, (b) the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce), and (c) the hon. Member for Christchurch (Mr. Chope), with regard to the EU budget negotiations at Berlin. [81385]

In my Statement to the House on 29 March 1999, Official Report, columns 732-33, I said:

"On the abatement, I am delighted to report that the presidency conclusions say in terms that the UK abatement will remain. In line with the 1988 and 1992 European Council conclusions, the UK accepted that we should not make a windfall gain out of changes to the method of EU financing … The result is that there will be no reduction in the United Kingdom's rebate."

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the contracts offered by the Government to KPMG since 1 May 1997. [81452]

Contracts for Government work are awarded within a policy and legal framework which requires the process to be fair and objective and deliver value for money. However, responsibility for any contract rests with the individual Department concerned. Information for the Government as a whole is therefore not held centrally. However, 14 Government Departments have made information available about KPMG contracts to the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Ruffley), and the hon. Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin) in previous written answers.

To ask the Prime Minister what is his estimate of the total number of deaths of (a) Albanians due to war crimes and (b) combatants since NATO bombing began. [81654]

It is not possible to put a precise figure on the number of deaths sustained by the Kosovar Albanians as a result of President Milosevic's campaign of brutality, both before and after the NATO air campaign began. However, it is clear from eye witness accounts that these are likely to be considerable and a stain on humanity. We are of course providing relevant information on the brutality of Milosevic's forces to the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia.

To ask the Prime Minister what requests the Government have received for the systematic identification of specific Yugoslav units perpetrating war crimes. [81656]

The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia has asked the Government for any material they may have concerning, among other things, the role of individuals in atrocities committed in Kosovo, and concerning police or military units in areas where atrocities are being committed. The Government will hand over as much information as they can that will be relevant to the Tribunal's investigations.

To ask the Prime Minister what discussions on Kosovo he has had with (a) the Prime Minister of, and (b) other political figures in Greece. [82222]

Kosovo was discussed at the European Heads of Government meeting on 14 April. As a member of NATO, Greece is fully involved in consultation on all matters relating to the military action taken by the North Atlantic Council.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many awards have been won by the British Tourist Authority's overseas offices in the last 12 months; and if he will provide details in each case. [77998]

[holding answer 22 March 1999]: The British Tourist Authority inform me that their overseas offices have won the following awards in the last 12 months:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer of 22 March 1999, Official Report, columns 19-21, how many times Ministers in his Department met their counterparts in the US Administration between 1 January 1998 and 1 June 1998, indicating the dates and locations of each meeting, the Ministers involved and the name of the US counterpart. [80822]

Under the US political system, there are no exact counterparts for DCMS Ministers. However, between the period 1 January to 1 June 1998 neither myself nor any of my Ministers met the equivalents of their counterparts in the US administration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he expects all parts of east Lancashire to be able to receive digital terrestrial television. [81912]

Responsibility for the delivery of digital terrestrial television (DTT) services in the UK rests with the BBC and ITC. Under plans for the launch phase, which comprises 81 transmitter sites, the Commission predicts that DTT services will be available to 250,000 people from the Pendle Forest transmitter, which covers a large proportion of east Lancashire. In addition, the Winter Hill main transmitter, of which Pendle Forest is a relay, also provides a service into parts of the region.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial assistance the United Kingdom Government have provided to (a) Albania, (b) Macedonia and (c) Montenegro since 24 March. [82062]

Since 24 March, the British Government has allocated £20 million for the provision of humanitarian assistance for the refugees from Kosovo. This funding has been used to support the work of the United Nations, the Red Cross, and Non-Governmental Organisations. A detailed country-by-country breakdown of expenditure is not currently available—many of the programmes supported cover more than one country. We are currently considering, in concert with the International Financial Institutions and other key partners, the provision of broader macro-economic assistance to countries hosting the refugees. The EU has committed £100 million to Macedonia and Albania. The UK share of the EU commitment is approximately £15 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the (i) need and (ii) estimated costs of providing water, electricity and sanitation to the refugee camps in (a) Albania and (b) Macedonia; and if she will make a statement. [82160]

We are not, of course, responsible for running the camps in Macedonia and Albania, but we obviously recognise the vital importance of providing adequate water, sanitation, electricity and other services to the refugee camps. Our military and civilian personnel have been actively involved in planning and establishing, and ensured adequate provision. Detailed information about the costs of providing these utilities is not currently available.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how support for refugees in Macedonia and Albania is being co-ordinated amongst EU member states. [82157]

There have been meetings in Brussels, Geneva, and London, over the last three weeks, to co-ordinate international action to provide humanitarian assistance for the refugees. In particular, an extraordinary meeting of the EU Humanitarian Aid Committee was called to discuss Kosovo on 9 April.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to provide basic education for child refugees in Albania and Macedonia. [82158]

We are not, of course, running the refugee camps in Macedonia or Albania, but our programme of assistance for the refugees includes funding for education projects. We have, for example, contributed £300,000 to the Save the Children Fund appeal, which includes plans for non-formal educational activities in Macedonia and Albania.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the countries which have received refugees as a result of the Kosovo crisis. [82064]

According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the following countries or states have received refugees from Kosovo in recent weeks: Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Turkey, France, Poland, Israel, Norway, Belgium, Croatia, Germany, Iceland, Switzerland and Austria. The UK has agreed to UNHCR's request to grant temporary protection to Kosovar refugees—the first group are expected to arrive in the UK on 25 April.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement about the ways in which the £20 million of financial help from her Department for Kosovar refugees is being spent. [82161]

The UK has made a major contribution to trying to increase the effectiveness of the UN-lead on humanitarian effort. We are funding airlifts and the necessary logistical support to overcome the constraints on delivering international assistance to those in need. So far, we have funded 32 flights, a truck convoy in Albania, personnel, and aircraft handling equipment for Tirana and Skopje airports. Our offices in Tirana and Skopje are working with NATO and UNHCR to establish refugee centres in Albania and Macedonia. We are strengthening agency capacity through the provision of key personnel, and making cash grants to international agencies and NGOs.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment her Department has made of the medical needs of the refugees in Macedonia and Albania; and what provisions her Department has made to meet these needs. [82159]

We are in close touch with the World Health Organisation (WHO), who are taking the lead responsibility for the medical needs of the refugees. At present, the health status of refugees in both Macedonia and Albania is judged to be reasonably good, with no major epidemics, though recent arrivals have been in poorer condition as a result of spending several days on the road.We have placed health experts in our offices in Tirana and Skopje. We are also providing a public health expert for WHO in Tirana. We have funded the purchase and transportation of 14 WHO emergency health kits to Macedonia, and seven kits for Albania—these will cover the needs of 210,000 people for 3 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has prepared to maintain support for refugees in Macedonia and Albania over the next few months. [82156]

Our overriding aim is to enable the refugees to return to their homes as soon as possible. We recognise, however, that the refugees will require continuing support for some time to come, and are planning accordingly. We have established field offices in Tirana and Skopje, with experts in areas such as health and camp planning, to identify and respond to needs, both immediate and long term. We are strengthening the capacity of the humanitarian agencies themselves through secondment of expert personnel; and a DFID liaison officer is working with General Reith, the Commander of the British forces in Albania, to maximise the effectiveness of the humanitarian assistance they can provide. We have also begun, with the US, Germany, France and Italy, the planning for refugee returns to Kosovo.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many arms export licence applications her Department (a) has examined and (b) advised against granting since September 1997; and how many arms export licence applications have been granted by the Department for Trade and Industry since September 1997 against the advice of her Department. [71055]

[holding answer 16 February 1999]: Licences to export arms and other goods controlled for strategic reasons are issued by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. All relevant licence applications are circulated by DTI to other Departments with an interest. These include the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Ministry of Defence and, since August 1997, the Department for International Development. Since August 1997, DFID has been consulted on 2,609 individual licence applications circulated to DFID by DTI. I am advised that views expressed by my Department fall under the description of "internal discussion and advice", the disclosure of which would, in this case, harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion. The information is therefore being withheld on the basis of Exemption 2 of Part II of Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will pay the postal costs of voluntary bodies and registered charities requested to respond to Government consultation documents; and if he will make a statement. [80919]

We have received numerous responses to our consultation documents and we are grateful to the many organisations and individuals who have taken the time to let us have their views. We have no plans to pay postal costs incurred by organisations who responded.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the Accommodation and Office Services project authorised the PRIME contract in 1997; how many bidders were allowed, after the time limit had expired, to modify their bids; if the successful bidder's modified bid was significantly different from his original bid; and what assessment was made of the prospects for the successful bidder's first bid. [81602]

Accommodation and Office Services (AOS) consists of post opening and post dispatch, messenger services, stationery, typing, secretarial, reprographics, fleet administration, switchboard, and shuttle bus services.These services, previously supplied to the Benefits Agency under 48 separate contracts and service level agreements, were tendered in eight large geographical lots. Invitations to tender for AOS were issued on 20 February 1998 to five bidders.The deadline for bids was 20 March 1998 and five bids were received within this deadline. No bids were received or accepted outside this deadline. The bids were valid for a period of 90 days from date of receipt.Owing to the complexity and range of the services, the evaluation of bids was not completed until after the 90-day period. This meant that bidders were able to reconsider their bids for specific, identified reasons. One bidder exercised their right to do so. Whilst all other bidders had the same opportunity, none did so. There were two successful bidders for the services. Three lots were awarded to one bidder and two lots to the other; the remaining three lots were retained in-house on grounds of best value for money. Neither of the two successful bidders modified their bids.It would not be proper to comment on the hypothetical status of a bid at any stage of the evaluation process other than the final decision.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he takes to ensure that contracts for work formerly carried out in the public sector are awarded fairly. [81603]

All Departmental Procurement is conducted under Government Procurement Policy guidelines and in accordance with the EC Public Procurement Directives (the Directives). The Directives were developed to ensure that: all potential tenderers get the opportunity to bid; there are clear and common evaluation criteria (the criteria); and the criteria are applied to all suppliers with impartiality.Where the Directives apply, all contracts are advertised in the

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what additional financial resources his Department has provided to the Independent Tribunal Service to handle the appeals resulting from the Benefit Integrity Project. [82020]

	postal	Per cent. of Postal appeals	Visit	Per cent. of visit appeals	Total	Per cent. of total appeals
Total appeal decisions	1,223	—	331	—	1,554	—
Increased from original award	58	4·74	0	0	58	3·73
Original award extended	288	23·54	99	29·90	387	24·90
Increased from BIP decision	637	52·08	193	58·30	830	53·41
BIP award extended	22	1·79	10	3·02	32	2·05
Increased from 2nd tier review decision	627	51·26	185	55·89	812	52·25
2nd tier review award extended	37	3·02	18	5·43	55	3·53

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what has been the average clearance time for appeals arising from the Benefit Integrity Project since its commencement; [82021]

The Department has not provided any additional financial resources to the Independent Tribunal Service (ITS) specifically to handle appeals resulting from the Benefit Integrity Project. However, additional funding, both this year and in previous years, has been provided in-year on the basis of workload and performance trends, and to a level of maximum productivity in terms of ITS' s ability to clear appeals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the expected date by which all appeals arising from the Benefit Integrity Project will have been heard. [82024]

It is not possible for the Independent Tribunal Service (ITS) to give an expected date by which all appeals arising from the Benefit Integrity Project will have been heard, as these appeals are still being received by ITS. ITS is, however, committed to reducing the time which all appellants must wait for their appeals to be heard.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security since the commencement of the Benefit Integrity Project, (a) how many people have requested an expedited appeal hearing on the grounds of hardship, (b) how many of these requests have been accepted by the Independent Tribunal Service and (c) what steps have been taken to inform people that they may request an expedited appeal hearing. [82023]

The information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.The Independent Tribunal Service does not routinely advise people that they may request an expedited appeal hearing but will consider any written requests received.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of appeals decisions made under the Benefit Integrity Project based on (a) postal questionnaires and (b) home visits, have led to benefit being increased or extended for a longer period. [82067]

The information is not available in the format requested as the Independent Tribunal Service does not separately identify Benefit Integrity Project (BIP) appeals cases. Such information as is available is in the table.(2) what progress his Department has made in reducing the average clearance time for appeals arising from the Benefit Integrity Project through speeding up the preparation of appeals. [82022]

The action taken to reduce average clearance time for appeals arising from the Benefit Integrity Project (BIP) falls into two areas: the preparation of appeals submissions by the Benefits Agency and the processing of the appeal by the Independent Tribunal Service (ITS).The Independent Tribunal Service (ITS) does not separately measure clearance times for appeals arising from the Benefit Integrity Project and so the information cannot be provided in the format requested.Benefits Agency statistics indicate that the average clearance time for appeals arising from the Benefit Integrity Project since its commencement is 163.5 days, from receipt of the appeal in the Agency to determination of the appeal by the ITS.The Independent Tribunal Service (ITS) has raised awareness of BIP appeals among its staff and tribunal members and procedures are in place to expedite these appeals where necessary. ITS is committed to reducing waiting times for all appellants and has a clear strategy for this. An increase in average clearance times will be seen, however, as older cases are resolved although within this, individual appellants will be receiving an improved service. During the second half of 1999, we will introduce changes to the appeals process which are designed to streamline the process and provide a more efficient and speedier service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the amount paid annually in war widows pensions (a) on average to each war widow and (b) in total to all recipients living in Scotland. [81276]

Questions on operational matters concerning the War Pensions Agency are for the Chief Executive, Mr. Gordon Hextall. I have asked him to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what would be the cost of designating recipients of tax credits and their families as people entitled to passported benefits under the National Health Service (Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges) Regulations 1988. [69748]

The additional costs (compared with the current passporting of Family Credit and Disability Working Allowance) are (for England) estimated to be £48 million in 1999–2000, £113 million in 2000–01 and £125 million in 2001–02 in total in respect of National Health Service prescriptions, NHS dental treatment, NHS sight tests and optical vouchers. Costs in respect of wigs and fabric supports and patients' travel hospital expenses would also be incurred by NHS trusts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 30 March 1999, Official Report, columns 656-57, on Lamotrigine, if he will list for each of the 35 inquiries referred to (a) the incident or event which gave rise to the inquiry, (b) the name and address of the person who generated the inquiry, (c) details of the nature of the inquiry and (d) the steps which (i) his Department and (ii) the Medicines Control Agency have taken in response to the inquiry. [80231]

[holding answer 13 April 1999]: Details of the 35 inquiries received by the Medicines Control Agency relating to lamotrigine from health professionals and members of the public since the marketing authorisation was granted are shown in the table. In many cases, the incident or event which gave rise to the inquiry is not known. Under the Data Protection Act the names and addresses of the inquirers have been withheld and cannot be provided without the written permission of the individuals concerned. In most cases, the nature of the inquiries was to seek information on adverse drug reactions to lamotrigine, which is routinely provided on request to health professionals and members of the public by the Medicines Control Agency.

Inquiries relating to lamotrigine received by the Medicines Control Agency up to April 1999
Reason for inquiry	Inquirer	Nature of inquiry (information requested)	Response
Not known	Doctor	Information on reduced white blood cell count with carbamazepine and lamotrigine	Drug Analysis Prints1 (DAPs) provided
A patient with hair loss	Doctor	Information on hair loss with lamotrigine	DAP and details of reports of hair loss provided
An ADR reporting study	Doctor	Information on ADR reports in the Grampian Region for citalopram, gabapentin, lamotrigine, moclobemide, nefazodone, tramadol, venlafazine, topiramate and fentanyl patches	Details of reports provided

Inquiries relating to lamotrigine received by the Medicines Control Agency up to April 1999
Reason for inquiry	Inquirer	Nature of inquiry (information requested)	Response
A Pathologist had carried out an autopsy on patient who had taken lamotrigine	Doctor	Information on deaths reported in association with lamotrigine	DAP and details of fatal reports provided
Not Known	Doctor	Information on ADRs with lamotrigine (Particularly aggression)	DAP provided
Not Known	Pharmacist	Information ADRs to lamotrigine (Particularly liver reactions)	DAP provided
The doctor was reporting a patient with dizziness and vomiting on lamotrigine	Doctor	Information on ADRs to lamotrigine	DAP provided
The inquirer was editing a textbook	Doctor	Information related to psychiatric ADRs with gabapentin, lamotrigine, vigabatrin, topiramate, clobazam and felbamate	DAP provided
Not Known	Doctor	Information on ADRs with lamotrigine	DAP provided
Not Known	Doctor	Information on ADRs with lamotrigine	DAP Provided
The inquirer was carrying our research on ADRs with antiepileptics	Doctor	Information on ADRs with lamotrigine, vigabatrin, gabapentin	DAPs provided
The inquirer needed information for a court report	Doctor	Information on cases of aggression, agitation, confusion, personality change and restlessness	Information on reports provided
Not Known	Pharmacist	Information on ADRs with lamotrigine	DAP provided
Not Known	Doctor	Information on yellow macular pigment with carbamazepine and lamotrigine	DAPs provided
Not known	Doctor	Information on uveitis with lamotrigine and sodium valproate	DAPs provided
Not known	Pharmacist	Information on lamotrigine and carbamazepine and ecchymoses and capillary fragility	DAPs provided
Not Known	Doctor	Information on ADRs with lamotrigine	DAP provided

Inquiries relating to lamotrigine received by the Medicines Control Agency up to April 1999
Reason for inquiry	Inquirer	Nature of inquiry (information requested)	Response
Not known	Pharmacist	Information on lamotrigine and hormone replacement therapy when used together	DAPs provided
Concern over press coverage of lamotrigine and skin reactions	Doctor	Further information requested	Information provided over telephone
Not known	Pharmacist	Information on pruritus and rashes with lamotrigine	DAP provided
Not known	Pharmacist	Information on gastrointestinal blockage vigabatrin, carbamazepine and lamotrigine	DAPs provided
Two patients on sodium valproate developed thrombocytopenia when lamotrigine was added	Pharmacist	Information on any other reports involving sodium valproate and lamotrigine	Details of relevant reports provided
Not known	Pharmacist	Information on visual hallucinations with lamotrigine	DAP and details of reports provided
Not known	Doctor	Information on hypogammaglobinaemia with lamotrigine and vigabatrin	DAPs provided
Not known	Pharmacist	Information on urinary incontinence with lamotrigine	DAPs provided
Not known	Pharmacist	Information on ADRs with lamotrigine	DAP provided
Not known	Doctor	Information on ADRs with gabapentin, vigabatrin and lamotrigine	DAPs provided
Not known	Pharmacist	Information on raised liver enzymes with lamotrigine	DAP provided
Not known	Pharmacist	Information on ADRs with lamotrigine and haloperidol	DAPs provided
Not known	Pharmacist	Information on ADRs indomethacin and diclofenac	DAPs provided
Not known	Doctor	Information on psychiatric ADRs with lamotrigine	DAP provided
Issue of skin reactions	Regulatory authority	Information on serious skin reactions with amotrigine	Details of reports provided

Inquiries relating to lamotrigine received by the Medicines Control Agency up to April 1999
Reason for inquiry	Inquirer	Nature of inquiry (information requested)	Response
Not known	Member of the public	Information on ADRs with lamotrigine	DAP provided
Confusion over the brand names Lamicta and Lamasil	GP Practice Manager	Inquiry as to whether there was a list of drugs with similar names which could cause confusion	No such list was known
Parliamentary question	Martin Redmond MP	What research his Department has carried out into a comparison of lamotrigine and valproate monotherapy in patients with primary generalised seizures; with what findings	Hansard reference 263 c922-3W
1A Drug Analysis Print (DAP) gives a complete list of all suspected adverse reactions reported through the Yellow Card Scheme to the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM)/Medicines Control Agency (MCA) in association with the named drug substance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost to the Gloucestershire Health Authority of the pay award to all NHS employees for 1999–2000. [80401]

[holding answer 13 April 1999]: Gloucestershire Health Authority, working closely with local National Health Service trusts, estimate that £6.6 million will be required to meet the costs of the pay award for NHS employees for 1999–2000. Pay awards for certain staff groups have yet to be announced.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the patient base at Biggleswade and Steppingley hospitals is comprised of people originating outside Mid-Bedfordshire. [80476]

The information requested is not normally available centrally; however, I am informed by the health authority that at Biggleswade Hospital, of the 20 admissions over the past two months 10 have been for patients outside the Mid-Bedfordshire area. At Steppingley Hospital, 8 out of the 27 patients admitted within the last two months were from out of the Mid-Bedfordshire area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the salary increase for speech therapists in the NHS in each of the last five years (a) in real terms and (b) as a percentage. [81065]

[holding answer 16 April 1999]: The information requested is in the table.

Speech and language therapists' pay settlements 1994–98
Year	Total increase per cent.
1994–95	2·4	Paid in full from 1 April: 0.1 per cent. in real terms.
1995–96	3·0	Paid as 1 per cent. national from 1 April 1995. Further 2 per cent. paid as local settlement: 0.4 per cent. in real terms.
1996–97	2·8	Paid as 2 per cent. national from 1 April 1996 and further 0.8 per cent. as average local pay settlement:—0.1 per cent. in real terms.
1997–98	3·3	Paid as 2 per cent. from 1 April 1997 and further 1.3 per cent. from 1 December: 0.8 per cent. in real terms.
1998–99	3·8	Paid as 2 per cent. from 1 April 1998 and further 1.8 per cent. from I December: 0.8 per cent. in real terms.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the provision of mental health treatment for members of the (a) black and (b) ethnic minority communities; and if he will make a statement. [81409]

Our assessment is that, in common with other client groups suffering from mental health problems, the concerns and needs of people from black and ethnic minority communities have not been met under the system of care we inherited. That is why we have taken a fresh look at the provision of mental health services and produced a new strategy document entitled Modernising Mental Health Services: safe, sound and supportive, which was distributed to every Health Authority in December 1998, and backed it up with an additional investment of £700 million over three years for better treatment and care. This new strategy makes clear the Government's commitment to ensuring that everyone with mental health problems is treated fairly, on the basis of need, in a manner which preserves their autonomy, and which promotes opportunity for choice, and this includes people from black and ethnic minority communities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the appraisal process for the National Institute for Clinical Excellence following the consultation on the document, "Faster Access to Modern Treatment". [81229]

Ministers are considering the response to the discussion document "Faster Access to Modern Treatment: how NICE appraisal will work" and further announcements will be made shortly.The National Institute for Clinical Excellence will carry out 30 to 50 appraisals each year. My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Health and for Wales, along with the board of NICE, are responsible for deciding which appraisals NICE will commission each year. This year's work programme for NICE has yet to be finalised.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what money his Department has provided for research into the study of liver disease in each of the last three years; what assessment he has made of the need for further research into liver disease; and if he will make a statement. [81631]

The Government fund health and medical research in a number of ways. The Department funds research and development to support its work on policy development and evaluation in health and social care. The Department also manages the National Health Service research and development levy, which is used to support research and development of relevance to the National Health Service in hospitals, general practice and other health care settings, and to fund the NHS research and development programme. In addition, the Medical Research Council (MRC)—which receives most of its income via grant-in-aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry—funds medical research as part of the Government's funding of the science and engineering base.Priorities for departmental research and development support for the development of policy are determined through discussion with policy colleagues, the Departmental Research Committee and Ministers. In the NHS R&D programme, priorities take account of widespread consultation with those using, delivering and managing services, within a framework overseen by the Central Research and Development Committee for the NHS. In all cases, priorities for our budgets reflect analysis of the burden of disease, potential benefits, and Government priorities, and take account of the responsibilities and work of other funders.The Department's policy research programme spent £285,000 on research into liver disease in 1996–97; £506,000 in 1997–98; and £662,000 in 1998–99.A further £500,000 has been made available for a Hepatitis C research initiative, and commissioning will take place towards the end of this year.Management of much of the research supported by the NHS R&D Levy is devolved and details of expenditure at project level are not collected routinely by the Department.Project details of work directly funded by the Department or supported through the NHS R&D Levy can be found on the National Research Register (NRR). This is available in the Library and most medical libraries on CD Rom, and on the Internet: http://www.doh.gov.uk/nrr.htm. The NRR also contains many details of projects/trials funded by the MRC and other funders.The MRC spent approximately £3.1 million on research on liver disease and liver function in 1995–96; and £3 million in both 1996–97 and 1997–98.The MRC also funds basic research including the study of molecules and cells, genetics and infections and immunity, which will inform research in this area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has commissioned into (a) refusal and (b) delay of treatment for patients aged over 50 years in the NHS on grounds of their age; and if he will make a statement. [81658]

The Department has not commissioned any formal research into age discrimination in the provision of health services.The fundamental principle of the National Health Service is to provide services for everybody on the basis of clinical need. We are putting in place a number of measures which should improve fair access to services, including national service frameworks, the Commission for Health Improvement, local clinical governance, and a new performance assessment framework.We are taking a number of steps specifically to improve the health of older people. For example, this year, for the first time, all people over 75 have been targeted for influenza vaccination. We are also in the process of developing the national service framework (NSF) for the care of older people. It is anticipated that emerging findings will be published in the autumn, and that the NSF will be published in April 2000. The NSF will enable us to drive up the quality of and reduce variations in the care older people receive from the NHS and its partners.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the extra costs per annum of implementing the report on NHS superannuation for (a) 2000–01 and (b) 2000–02, indicating when these costs were first known. [81797]

[holding answer 23 April 1999]: Increases in the employer contribution rate to the National Health Service Pension Scheme are expected to cost £165 million in 2000–2001 and £495 million in 2001–2002. These costs were anticipated and fully taken into account in the Department's comprehensive spending review settlement, in the light of findings emerging from the Government Actuary's actuarial investigation into the NHS Pension Scheme. Publication of the Government Actuary's Report has now been announced and I refer the right hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Heywood and Middleton (Mr. Dobbin), 9 March 1999, Official Report, column 204.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to receive the report of the panel set up by the National Radiological Protection Board to examine the health effects of mobile phones. [81972]

The Chairman, members, terms of reference and time-scale for reporting will be announced shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list, for each health authority and NHS trust, the projected budget surplus or deficit planned by that authority or trust for the financial year 1999–2000. [82069]

The financial plans of health authorities and trusts for financial year 1999–2000 have not yet been finalised.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the sums available to the unitary authorities in Berkshire this year and in each of the next two financial years as part of the £140 million available under the Government's strategy for carers. [82018]

A Special Grant Report (No. 44) giving details of the allocation for 1999–2000 was approved by Parliament on 20 April 1999. Copies are available in the Library. The allocations to individual local authorities of the funding of £50 million for 2000–01 and £70 million for 2001–02 will be determined according to a formula, using the most recent data available at the time the grants are calculated. It is therefore not possible to confirm detailed final allocations for future years at this stage. Allocations for subsequent years will also be subject to Parliamentary approval at the relevant time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will establish an independent panel to inform the deliberations of the Medicines Control Agency under the procedures set out in the consultation document MLX 249; and if he will make a statement. [82046]

How the review panel is constituted, and its terms of reference, form an important part of the proposals. We will consider carefully all responses on this and other issues before deciding whether and what legislation should be brought before Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will report the current progress of the clinical trials regarding the treatment of oesophageal cancer relating to chemotherapy (0E02). [81750]

I have been asked to reply.The clinical trial on pre-operative chemotherapy for oesophageal cancer conducted by the Medical Research Council closed to new patients in June 1998. The trial recruited 800 patients across a large number of centres.The data from the trial are currently being analysed and validated. It is anticipated that the research results will be published next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many visa applications from Chinese nationals for one-year study courses were made in each year since 1989; and what were the numbers (a) approved, (b) rejected and (c) subject to appeal in each year. [80784]

The figures requested are not collected by my Department and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he intends to open a trade mission in Libya; and if he will make a statement. [80808]

[holding answer 16 April 1999]: We offer limited trade services to UK companies. But the resumption of more normal relations with Libya, including the expansion of our presence in Tripoli, depends in the first instance on satisfactory co-operation from Libya over the WPC Fletcher case.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff by grade are employed as professional statisticians in his Department; how many of these staff have been accepted as fast stream by the Civil Service Selection Board; and how many have been granted chartered statistician status by the Royal Statistical Society. [81203]

There is one Home Civil Service Grade 7 statistician in the FCO. The person concerned joined the Civil Service as a fast stream entrant. Although not having chartered statistician status, the statistician is a Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society and has an MSc in Statistics.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff who have worked as professional statisticians in his Department have left on early retirement in each of the past 10 years. [81183]

One statistician left the FCO in 1997 on early retirement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the countries (a) from which police officers have visited the UK and (b) have been visited by UK military or police personnel to receive training under the assistance for in-service training scheme since 1 April 1998. [81376]

The countries from which police officers have visited the United Kingdom to receive training under the Assistance to Support Stability with In-Service Training (ASSIST) scheme since 1 April 1998 are: Argentine, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Bermuda, Chile, Cyprus, Fiji, Ghana, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Lebanon, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, St. Lucia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia and Zimbabwe.The countries whose police officers have been visited by UK military or police personnel to receive training under ASSIST since 1 April 1998 are: Brazil, China, El Salvador, Fiji, Kenya, Philippines, Turkey and Zimbabwe.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the countries from which police officers (a) have visited the United Kingdom and (b) have been visited by United Kingdom military or police personnel to receive training under the United Kingdom military training assistance scheme in the financial year 1997–98. [81377]

The countries from which police officers have visited the United Kingdom to receive training under the United Kingdom Military Training Assistance Scheme (UKMTAS) in the financial year 1997–98 are: Anguilla, Antigua, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Fiji, Gibraltar, Grenada, Hungary, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Lebanon, Lesotho, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Montserrat, Mozambique, Namibia, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, St. Christopher and Nevis, St. Vincent, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, Vanuatu, Virgin Islands, Zambia and Zimbabwe.The countries from which police officers have been visited by United Kingdom police or military personnel to receive training under UKMTAS in financial year 1997–98 are: Bosnia, Czech Republic, Fiji and Mongolia.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will meet his counterpart in the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia to discuss the situation in East Timor. [81709]

We are in regular contact with the Australian government about East Timor. I will be doing so again following my visit to Indonesia and East Timor this week.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement concerning reports of a massacre of Timorese people by armed civilians on 16 and 17 April. [81710]

We are appalled at the recent killings in East Timor. We have called on the Indonesian government to rein in the militias. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister sent a strong message to President Habibie on 19 April. The violence must not be allowed to derail the UN process at this crucial time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made to the Indonesian Government following the recent killing of people in East Timor by soldiers of the Indonesian Government. [81896]

[holding answer 23 April 1999]: We are appalled at the recent killings in East Timor. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister sent a strong message to President Habibie on 19 April.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the (a) nature, (b) length, (c)location, (d) means and (e) time of his communication with Hashim Thaqi of the Kosovo Liberation Army urging restraint. [81653]

In a letter addressed to Mr. Thaqi, jointly signed by the French Foreign Minister and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on the adjournment of the talks on Kosovo at the Kleber Centre in Paris on 19 March, they emphasised the importance of the Kosovo Albanian side avoiding provocations and respecting the commitment they had made to a peaceful solution. The letter was delivered to the Kosovo Albanian delegation in Paris on 19 March. We believe that Mr. Thaqi has indeed shown commendable restraint, despite the worsening situation in Kosovo.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the state of relations with the French Government over the Guernsey court case involving the French vessel La Confiance 2; what representations he has received; and what is his policy on the jurisdiction over the waters concerned. [81652]

The Master of La Confiance 2 was arrested on 26 August last year on suspicion of fishing illegally within Guernsey's fishing limits. He was convicted on 7 April by a Guernsey court. Our Ambassador in Paris discussed the case with the French authorities on 19 April. Sir M. Jay made clear that we considered the arrest had been made in accordance with UK and international law.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list, for each British post abroad which operates a pre-sift system for people applying for visit visas, how many people (a) were advised to withdraw their applications and (b) followed that advice, in (i) 1998 and (ii) 1999 to the latest convenient date.[81688]

During 1998, a total of 44,031 applicants withdrew their application at the Preliminary Assessment Stage. 52 posts operated a pre-sift system in 1998. They were as follows:

Post	Applications withdrawn
Abuja	1,862
Accra	1,038
Abu Dhabi	28
Addis Ababa	1,179
Amman	1,507
Amsterdam	790
Ankara	4
Bahrain	7
Baku	13
Bangkok	66
Banjul	545
Beirut	3
Belgrade	532
Bombay	4,302
Calcutta	20
Cairo	1,422
Casablanca	421
Colombo	80
Copenhagen	44
Damascus	92
Dar es Salaam	9
Dhaka	1,158
Dubai	3
Dublin	177
Dusseldorf	312
Geneva	29

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what factors underlie the decisions on which posts abroad operate a pre-sift system in dealing with applications for visit visas. [81689]

The decision to introduce a "sift" at any post can be taken only with the agreement of Migration and Visa Division. The factors taken into account will include overall numbers of applicants and the time each has to wait. Where a post experiences a large number of inadequately documented applications or visit visa applicants who have no connection with the UK or who are unclear about what they intend to do there, a "sift" may be introduced. The benefits of the "sift" procedure are that it prevents unnecessary work for the Entry Clearance Officer (ECO) and saves time, money and the disappointment of a refusal for the applicant. In addition, it shortens the waiting time for the well-prepared and well-supported applicant.Any decision not to proceed is the applicant's. If he/she wishes to pursue the application it will be accepted on payment of the appropriate fee.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Governments of Uruguay and Brazil about their decision to withdraw diversion rights for RAF Tristars flying to the Falkland Islands; and if he will make a statement. [81869]

There has been no withdrawal of diversion rights by the Governments of Uruguay or Brazil for RAF Tristars flying to the Falkland Islands.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Pakistan concerning reports of infringement of the rights of workers and trade unionists. [81857]

We have noted the concerns expressed by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions about the position of trade unions in Pakistan. In association with international labour organisations, we will continue to monitor carefully the rights of workers and trade unionists in Pakistan.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Governments of India and Pakistan following the missile tests on 11 and 14 April; what progress he has made in persuading both Governments to sign up to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty; and if he will make a statement. [81855]

We have expressed regret that India and Pakistan have chosen to conduct missile tests and continue to believe that restraint in developing nuclear weapons and delivery systems is in both countries' long-term interests. We welcome positive indications by both India and Pakistan that they will sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty in time to allow entry into force by September this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy on the public release of intelligence reports on atrocities committed by foreign Governments; and if information provided to the International War Crimes Tribunal in the Hague will be released to Parliament. [81942]

It is not the Government's practice to publish intelligence material. Given the exceptional circumstances in Kosovo, the decision was made to release classified information to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, in order to assist the investigation. It would not be appropriate to make this classified information more widely available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on political and diplomatic developments in relation to Iraq since 24 March.[82029]

Three panels established by the Security Council issued their reports on 30 March. We have now tabled a draft Security Council resolution, with the Netherlands as co-sponsors, which attempts to translate the work of the panels into action.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy that opt-in proposals by Her Majesty's Government into parts of the Schengen Agreement will only be made on the basis that Gibraltar will also have the same opportunity. [82036]

At this stage, details of which aspects of the Schengen Agreement Gibraltar would wish to participate in are still under discussion with the Government of Gibraltar.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons the White Paper on Overseas Territories did not propose the granting of full British passports to those Chagossiens who had British citizenship before being resettled. [82035]

British citizenship did not come into being until 1 January 1983. The Ilois ( who were at that time citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies) left the Territory 30 years ago. We have to deal with the situation now; the vast majority of the Ilois are citizens of other sovereign states, (either Mauritius or the Seychelles), in addition to holding British Dependent Territory citizenship, and have been for a generation. This is in contrast to other British Dependent Territories citizens who are solely British.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice he has received about the basis in international law for the military action by the United Kingdom and its NATO allies against Serbia. [82068]

The action being taken is an exceptional measure to halt an overwhelming humanitarian catastrophe.Every means short of force was tried to avert this situation. In these circumstances, and as an exceptional measure on grounds of overwhelming humanitarian necessity, military intervention is legally justifiable under international law.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he discussed with the Secretary of State of the United States of America United Kingdom support for the USA's draft resolution on China and Tibet at the 55 United Nations Commission on Human Rights. [82182]