To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what means his Department makes available its publications in (a) Braille, (b) audio tape and (c) large print; and how this is publicised. [1671]

Publications for those with special needs, including people who are sensorily impaired, are generally distributed through agencies that have regular contact with such people. The Department sends mail shot samples and bulk orders on demand to these specialist agencies.This is backed up by distributions via public libraries, Citizen's Advice Bureaux and other advice centres, local authorities and patient waiting areas in family doctor surgeries and hospitals.Where an advertising campaign is associated with the topic concerned, the special versions of a publication may be offered through press advertisements. The publications are also available via the Department's literature response lines.The Department is in the process of building its own direct mail database which will allow precise targeting of agencies and individuals who will act as channels through which this kind of information can be passed to the end user.The Department's Internet site is being used increasingly to publicise the existence of its publications, including those for people 7with special needs, and additional publicity routes, such as public information kiosks, are currently being investigated.Examples of the types of publication available are given in the following list:TITLE/TYPE OF PUBLICATION

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he took to comply with the consultation requirement of the Osteopaths Act 1993 in respect of the nomination of the General Osteopathic Council; [1836](2) for what reason principals and vice-principals of osteopathic training institutions are excluded from membership of the General Osteopathic Council; and when the decision was made to exclude them; [1837](3) if directors of companies engaged in the registration and training of osteopaths are excluded from membership of the General Osteopathic Council; and if he will make a statement. [1838]

The nominations exercise leading to the appointments of the Chairman and members of the first General Osteopathic Council was conducted by the previous administration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Chairman of the General Osteopathic Council is a lay member; and if he will make a statement. [1776]

The Chairman of the General Osteopathic Council, Mr. Simon Fielding OBE, is one of the eight lay members of the Council. Under the transitional provisions of the Osteopaths Act 1993, a lay member of the initial Council is defined as 'a person not appearing to the Privy Council to be a practising osteopath'. Although originally qualified as an osteopath, Mr. Fielding has not been able to practise as an osteopath since September 1988, as a result of injuries sustained in a violent assault. Under the transitional provisions described above, he therefore qualified for appointment as lay member of the Council.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received regarding the composition of the General Osteopathic Council. [1834]

We have received several letters of support from osteopathic organisations for the Chairman and members of the new General Osteopathic Council, and expressing appreciation of their work towards full implementation of the Osteopaths Act.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to make the General Osteopathic Council more representative of the profession. [1835]

The Osteopaths Act 1993 makes provision for 12 osteopathic members on the General Osteopathic Council. Arrangements to fill the current vacancy in the osteopathic membership of the Council will be commenced shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the link between the E4 gene and increased risk of neurological damage; and if he will make a statement. [2116]

The APO E4 allelle is associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease. However, this risk is not absolute with only half of those with Alzheimer's disease having E4 and not everyone with E4 developing Alzheimer's. APO E4 is not the only risk factor associated with the disease. There is considerable medical research ongoing in this field including work sponsored by the Medical Research Council which receives its grant-in-aid from the Department of Trade and Industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the key business targets for the Medicines Control Agency for 1997–98. [2255]

We have today placed a copy of the 1997–98 key business targets of the Medicines Control Agency in the Library. We shall, of course, be reviewing the Agency's plans and targets for the longer-term.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what combination therapies are available for prisoners being treated for HIV/AIDS. [1155]

The issue of which therapies to prescribe in combination for individuals with HIV/AIDS is a matter for the treating clinician in consultation with the patient, and taking into account clinical circumstances. Clinical Guidelines outlining the circumstances in which combination therapies would be suitable have recently been published. They are "The British HIV Association Guidelines for Antiretroviral Treatment of HIV Seropositive Individuals", and "The PACT (National Association of Providers of AIDS Care and Treatment) Framework for Antiretroviral Therapy," copies of which are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those areas of the European convention on human rights which he proposes to incorporate into UK law; and if he will make a statement. [1580]

We propose to incorporate all the rights and freedoms guaranteed under the convention and the First Protocol to it. Some of the provisions in the Convention, such as those relating to the composition of the European Court of Human Rights, are purely procedural and therefore of no domestic relevance.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was his Department's total expenditure on assisted prison visits for people in receipt of specified benefits for the latest year for which figures are available; how many individuals were assisted by such payments; and if he will make a statement. [1569]

The total cost of assisted visits to prisons in England and Wales for 1996–97 was £3,824,324.It is not possible to specify the actual number of individuals who received assistance. The Assisted Prisons Visits Unit computer system records only the number of claims forms received and paid (or rejected) but a person eligible for payment under the scheme is entitled to a maximum of 26 assisted prison visits each year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many visits were made between September and November 1996 by the Named Veterinary Surgeon appointed under section 6(5)(b) of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 to monitor the welfare of the beagle dogs kept in the Dog Toxicology Unit at Huntingdon Life Sciences; [1761](2) on how many occasions between September and November 1996 the named day-to-day care person appointed under section 6(5) of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 to be responsible for the welfare of the protected animals being held in the Dog Toxicology Unit at Huntingdon Life Sciences, notified personal licence holders that they were concerned for the health or welfare of an animal, in accordance with the procedure laid down in section 6(6)(a) of the Act. [1762]

These figures are not recorded.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the project licences issued under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 which are currently valid at Huntingdon Life Sciences cover procedures classified as being of (a) mild, (b) moderate and (c) substantial severity. [1765]

Nineteen of the current licences are rated as mild, 27 as moderate and two as substantial. The classification of individual procedures is not recorded on the central database.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the project licences issued under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 to carry out scientific procedures at Huntingdon Life Sciences were subject to the scrutiny of the Animal Procedures Committee. [1763]

Two of the current licences were considered by the Animal Procedures Committee prior to granting.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the project licences authorising the carrying-out of scientific procedures at Huntingdon Life Sciences have been issued under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. [1764]

There are currently 48 project licences issued under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 at that establishment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions between September and November 1996 the Home Office Inspectorate visited Huntingdon Life Sciences, under section 18(2) of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; how many of these visits were to monitor scientific procedures in the Dog Toxicology Unit; what reports were made to him in accordance with section 18(2)(e); and how many animals were considered to be undergoing excessive suffering and dealt with in accordance with the procedure laid down in section 18(3) of the Act following these visits. [1760]

Six inspectorate visits were made to the establishment in that period. Dog Toxicology Units were visited on three occasions; on two of these, the performance of regulated procedures was observed. One visit involved two Inspectors.Reports on each of these visits were produced and forwarded to the Chief Inspector.No excessive suffering, requiring animals to be put down, was observed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what grounds an exemption was granted under section 10(3) of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 to allow the use of non-purpose bred dogs in scientific procedures in 1995. [1740]

The grounds were that suitable dogs were not available from designated sources.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the source and breed of the 66 non-purpose bred dogs acquired from non-designated sources in the United Kingdom used in scientific procedures in 1995. [1741]

The dogs were provided by their owners who gave informed consent. A range of crossbred and pedigree animals was used.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what means his Department makes available its publications in (a) Braille, (b) audio tape and (c) large print; and how this is publicised. [1683]

For all publications, consideration is given at an early stage to the needs of the blind and partially sighted.My Department has produced the fire safety publication `Fire Safety in the Home' in Braille, on audio tape and in large print. These are publicised in a catalogue made available to all fire brigades in England and Wales which can order supplies for free distribution to the public. Copies have also been supplied to the Royal National Institute for the Blind for distribution on request.Audio cassette versions of 'Your Practical Guide to Crime Prevention' and 'Domestic Violence—Don't Stand For It' have been produced. These are publicised in a catalogue sent to all Crime Prevention Officers in England and Wales, through whom copies are made freely available to the public.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inspections were carried out by his Department's inspectors under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 at each of the Ministry of Defence establishments conducting animal experiments under the Act in each year since 1993. [1877]

Two Ministry of Defence establishments are designated under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. In each respective year since 1993, the Inspectorate has carried out three, two, six and five visits to one establishment and seven, six, 13 and 13 to the other. In the first five months of 1997, one and four visits (respectively) have been carried out.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances reports arising from Home Office inspections under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 are available to the public. [1878]

The role of the Inspectorate is to advise the Secretary of State. Section 24 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 prohibits the publication of any information which has been given in confidence. Reports from visits of inspection are not therefore made public.

To ask the Prime Minister what steps he will be taking to improve national competitiveness. [557]

My right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Trade, has set out today our plans for a competitive economy.

1. We will ensure that our workforce is equipped with the skills necessary in a modern, competitive economy.

2. We will reform Britain's competition laws because we know more competitive markets are a spur to firms to become more competitive.

3. We will cut unnecessary "red tape" and simplify government to reduce burdens on business.

4. We will legislate on late payment because we know late payment hurts small firms and thriving small firms will be the foundation of a more competitive Britain.

5. We will set a deadline for the completion of Europe's Single Market, clearing away trade barriers and unfair state aids, to give Britain's business access to the world's largest market.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer of 21 May, Official Report, column 706, if his words mean that no one on his behalf gave an indication that British Telecom would not be included in the windfall tax. [1707]

No undertakings have been given to any individual company.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those countries which are currently in arrears with their dues to the United Nations; and if he will make a statement. [1883]

On 30 April 1997, 79 Member States owed assessed contributions for prior years to the UN regular budget. These Member States are listed below. We urge all Member States to follow the UK example and pay their UN dues promptly and in full, in accordance with their legal obligation to do so.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on her plans to promote competitiveness. [2121]

As a first step, I intend to publish an audit of the UK's competitiveness to provide an objective benchmark of how well the UK is performing in every factor of competitiveness.This will be followed by a period of extensive consultation with people who play a leading role in business, beginning with a Competitiveness Summit in July.I am also setting up an Advisory Group on competitiveness, which I will chair and which will comprise leading business figures, people from small firms and representatives of the workforce. This Group will be assisted by a number of working groups which will examine specific aspects of competitiveness. Its remit will be to report to me on all aspects of the competitiveness agenda, including giving advice on policy development for a White Paper on Competitiveness to be published early next year.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will publish the representations she has received from the small business sector regarding the implications of a statutory national minimum wage; and if she will make a statement. [846]

A majority of members at the annual conference of the Federation of Small Businesses recently voted for a motion in support of the National Minimum Wage. The independent Low Pay Commission will undertake a wide ranging consultation exercise seeking the views of employers, including small businesses, on the National Minimum Wage and related issues.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will use the Treasury model to estimate the impact on employment of the introduction of a statutory national minimum wage at (a) £4.00 per hour, (b) £4.25 per hour and (c) £4.60 per hour; and if she will make a statement. [845]

We will ask the independent Low Pay Commission, before it reaches a recommendation on the level at which the National Minimum Wage might be set, to take into account all the economic circumstances, including its likely impact. Any model will be sensitive to the assumptions put into it and I will not speculate about the possible effects of hypothetical levels before the Commission has had a chance to consider the issues.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to advise the Low Pay Commission to consider a regional element to the minimum wage; and if she will make a statement. [1278]

[holding answer 3 June 1997]: The Government has made clear its intention to introduce a National Minimum Wage.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what were the amounts of ECGD exposure in each member country of the present Gulf Co-operation Council in each year since 1983. [1344]

ECGD is currently in the process of migrating its business database to a new computer system and for this reason exposure figures can be provided immediately for the last two years only:

Amounts at risk
£ million
	31 March 1996	31 March 1997
Saudi Arabia	976	976
UAE	270	148
Bahrain	179	167
Qatar	362	544
Oman	677	603
Kuwait	509	348

I shall write to my hon. Friend with fuller details next month and place a copy of that letter in the Library of the House.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the total outstanding sum of ECGD (a) exposure and (b) amounts (i) recovered, (ii) not recovered, (iii) written off and (iv) rescheduled in each year since 1987–88 for (A) Iraq, (B) Jordan and (C) Nigeria. [1343]

ECGD is currently in the process of migrating its business database to a new computer system and for this reason I am not immediately in a position to provide the details my hon. Friend has requested.These details will be available next month and I will write to my hon. Friend with them as soon as possible thereafter and place a copy in the Library of the House.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will produce a retail prices index for Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [1581]

There are no plans to produce an RPI for Scotland.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider imposing a windfall tax when Green Belt land is rezoned for development; and if he will make a statement about the removal of incentives for the owners of such land to seek such rezoning. [1888]

It would not be appropriate to comment on any possible tax changes during the run up to the Budget.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the implications of the United States/United Kingdom Tax Treaty and Totalisator Agreement on the payment of a windfall tax by United States entities; with which other countries similar agreements exist; and if he will make a statement. [1736]

The treatment under the United States/United Kingdom Tax Treaty and Totalisation Agreement of a windfall tax paid by United Kingdom companies can be determined only when the details of the tax are announced and can be considered by the United States authorities. The United Kingdom has similar tax treaties with around 100 other countries worldwide. I understand that the Totalisation Agreement concerns social security matters which do not appear relevant to a windfall tax.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy in respect of the contractual arrangements for catering for No. 11 Downing Street. [1468]

There are no contractual arrangements for catering at No. 11, as the choice of caterers used is a matter of personal preference. Those used at official functions are security cleared and chosen by officials. Organisers of non-official functions are also strongly advised to use caterers with security clearance.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the estimated average savings per week produced by the reduction in VAT on domestic fuel from 8 per cent. to 5 per cent. for (a) the average household, (b) those in the lowest decile of income distribution, (c) those in the highest decile of income distribution and (d) old age pensioners. [1880]

A reduction in VAT on domestic fuel and power from 8 per cent. to 5 per cent. would result in estimated savings in 1997–98 of about:

• 35p per week for the average household; and
• 35p and 40p per week for those in the lowest and highest deciles respectively. The deciles are based on net income adjusted for household size.
• 30p per week for households with a pensioner head.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to allow the holders of additional voluntary contributions to delay receiving their annuity from additional voluntary contributions beyond their retirement; and if he will make a statement. [1802]

The payment of benefit from additional voluntary contributions is under review.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many political and personal appointments he has made; and at what cost to public funds. [1116]

Treasury Ministers have appointed four Special Advisers to be paid from public funds. No salaries have yet been agreed. I will write to the right hon. and learned Member with information about the cost to public funds at a later date.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which lead indicators the Treasury evaluated in March 1997 in determining whether interest rates should be eased, tightened or remain the same. [1873]

[holding answer 2 June 1997]: The minutes of the Monthly Monetary Meeting held on 5 March between the previous Chancellor and the Governor of the Bank of England were published on 23 April 1997.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his oral statement of 20 May, Official Report, column 508, (1) what is his definition (a) descriptively and (b) numerically of price stability; [1861](2) over what time scale the Bank of England will be expected to achieve new inflation targets when they are set. [1870]

[holding answer 2 June 1997]: The Chancellor will set out the Government's approach to monetary policy in his Mansion House speech on 12 June.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his oral statement of 20 May, Official Report, column 508, what factors could prejudice the Bank of England's ability to achieve price stability whilst supporting the Government's economic policy. [1862]

[holding answer 2 June 1997]: The Government believe that low inflation is an essential precondition for high and stable levels of growth and employment. However, as we have seen over the past 18 years, excessively loose monetary policies have encouraged short but unsustainable booms, followed by higher inflation, recessions and unemployment. The Chancellor will set out the Government's approach to monetary policy in his Mansion House speech on 12 June.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total sum provided in grants, loans and subsidies to the United Kingdom over the past five years from the European Union; and what part of the total was given to bodies within the borough of Southend on Sea. [1692]

[holding answer 2 June 1997]: The United Kingdom's total public sector receipts from the European Community, together with details of grants from the European Coal and Steel Community, for the financial years 1992–93 to 1996–97 are set out in the following table:

£ million
	Public sector receipts	ECSC grants
1992–93	2,810	47
1993–94	3,865	13
1994–95	3,603	42
1995–96	3,783	51
1996–97	4,542	28

In addition to public sector receipts there are certain receipts, for research and development, which are mainly paid direct to the private sector and are not covered here.European Investment Bank loans to projects within the United Kingdom over the period 1992 to 1995 were as follows:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the average percentage reduction in household income which would result from the withdrawal of mortgage interest relief for home-owning households with income in each of the ten deciles of household income. [1852]

[holding answer 2 June 1997]: Information for 1997–98 is given in the table. The estimates are based on information projected from the 1994–95 Family Expenditure Survey and are therefore provisional.

Average percentage reduction in households income1 as a result of withdrawing mortgage interest relief
Household income decile group	Average percentage reduction for households with a mortgage
Lowest ten per cent.	2—
Second	1.3
Third	1.6
Fourth	1.9
Fifth	1.9
Sixth	1.6
Seventh	1.4
Eighth	1.2
Ninth	0.9
Highest ten per cent.	0.7
1 Household income is defined as income from all sources less income tax payments and National Insurance Contributions.
2 Insufficient data to provide a reliable estimate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service men and women were made redundant in the armed services in each year since 1992; and if he will make a statement. [1884]

I will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to ensure that his Department's computer systems will be millennium compliant; and if he will make a statement. [1252]

Since early last year the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has been embarked on a programme to tackle the Year 2000 problem across all aspects of Defence, from routine support systems through to front line operational equipment.My Department is managing its Year 2000 programme under the auspices of guidelines set by the Cabinet Office IT Unit (CITU) and is working closely with the Government Centre for Information Systems (CCTA) as a member of its Year 2000 Public Sector Group. Guidance which details the actions that need to be taken has been made widely available within the Department. All candidate systems are being surveyed and any necessary corrective action is being planned/undertaken. To ensure that suitable skilled resources are available without delay, "enabling" contracts have been placed with a number of companies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the homes owned by his Department on the Isle of Wight are currently empty. [1773]

My Department has just one house on the Isle of Wight and this is underleased from Annington Homes Ltd. The house is presently occupied.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is his policy towards unemployed young people; and what will be the maximum period of being out of education and training yet seeking work which will not count as unemployment. [1646]

Our policy is to help young people gain the skills and experience they need to enable them to find and sustain employment.The precise way in which measures of unemployment and labour market activity should be treated as the subject of public consultation by the Office for National Statistics.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many unemployed claimants for the north London district of the Employment Service have (a) been issued with warning letters for not actively seeking work, (b) had their claim referred to an adjudicating officer for not actively seeking work, (c) had their claims allowed or disallowed for not actively seeking work and (d) had their claim referred to an adjudicating officer for refusing suitable employment; and how many of those in (d) have had their benefit (i) disqualified and (ii) not disqualified in each year since 1989; [828](2) how many employers have participated in job interview guarantee work trials in respect of the north London district of the Employment Service in each year since 1991; how many claimants have participated in such work trials; how many claimants are currently participating in work trials; and how many participants have obtained full-time employment with their work trial employer; [829](3) how many people have joined job clubs in each year since 1991 in respect of the north London district of the Employment Service; how many have left; how many leavers obtained jobs; what were the other outcomes of leavers broken down by

Responsibility for the subject of the questions has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the way in which pupil:teacher ratios and class sizes are currently calculated by his Department. [1538]

The pupil:teacher ratios (PTRs) within schools are calculated by dividing the total number of pupils on school registers (counting each part-time pupil as 0.5) by the total number of qualified teachers (adjusted to reflect the part-time working of some teachers).Class sizes are calculated by dividing the numbers of pupils being taught together in classes at a particular point in the school timetable by the number of teachers, qualified or unqualified, deployed in such classes. Average class sizes are normally calculated for those classes involving only one teacher.Both measures are derived from information collected from the annual count of pupils and teachers in schools in January each year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many places, at which schools and at what cost were provided under the assisted places scheme in Northamptonshire in (a) 1995–96 and (b) 1996–97. [1808]

The number of assisted places taken up and the cost of those places for each participating school in Northamptonshire in academic years 1995–96 and 1996–97 are given in the following table:

Assisted places schemes: Northamptonshire
School name	Academic year
	1995–96	1996–97
Laxton (Oundle) School
Number of assisted pupils	8	8
Cost of places £000s	20	20
Northampton High School for Girls
Number of assisted pupils	168	174
Cost of places £000s	564	628
Wellingborough School
Number of assisted pupils	65	71
Cost of places £000s	277	301

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many places, at what schools and at what cost were provided under the assisted places scheme in Derbyshire in 1995–96 and 1996–97. [1534]

The number of assisted places taken up and the cost of those places for each participating school in Derbyshire in academic years 1995–96 and 1996–97 are given in the following table:

Assisted places scheme: Derbyshire
	Academic year
School name	1995–96	1996–97
Derby High School
Number of assisted pupils	30	39
Cost of places £000s	98	141

Assisted places scheme: Derbyshire
	Academic year
School name	1995–96	1996–97
Mount St. Mary's College
Number of assisted pupils	71	68
Cost of places £000s	309	294
Repton School
Number of assisted pupils	64	73
Cost of places £000s	429	512
Trent College
Number of assisted pupils	137	136
Cost of places £000s	608	636

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make it his policy to adopt a social model of disability in framing all future and amending previous relevant legislation and guidance; and if he will make a statement. [1682]

Our manifesto commits us to establishing "comprehensive, enforceable civil rights for disabled people against discrimination in society or at work, developed in partnership with all interested parties." We shall be consulting widely and developing our proposals in partnership with disability organisations, employers, employers organisations, trade unions and others. An essential issue will be the definition of disability. It is not appropriate for me to pre-empt the outcome of that consultation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to ensure the provision of nursery places for children in Dorset who would have been eligible for nursery vouchers in the September term 1997. [1777]

All Local Education Authorities in England have been invited to submit an interim Early Years Development Plan to secure places for all eligible four year olds in their area for the period until April 1998. LEAs will be expected to consult and co-operate with the private and voluntary sectors in these arrangements.Where interim Early Years Development Plans are approved, recognised places in all sectors filled by eligible four year olds will be funded by grant provided by the Secretary of State. Where LEAs are unable to bring forward an acceptable interim plan, recognised places chosen by parents in the private and voluntary sectors will be funded by grant from the Secretary of State by reference to certificates of eligibility issued to those parents.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many teaching redundancies are expected in each local education authority at the end of the present academic year; how many there were in each local education authority in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [1370]

This information is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many newly qualified teachers failed to gain employment on leaving college in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [1371]

The following table shows the number of students who successfully completed initial teacher training and their employment status at 31 March in the year after completion, for the most recent years available.

Position of BEd and PGCE completers at 31 March following calendar year of completion2
	Calendar year of completion
	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994
Total completers in England and Wales	15,830	17,300	20,700	23,340	25,440
In service3at 31 March of year following completion in England and Wales:
Maintained schools	12,080	13,240	14,550	16,240	17,290
Other service4	520	460	750	880	980
Never in service1 in England and Wales	3,160	3,520	5,320	6,150	7,110

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to make available hard copies of Ofsted reports to (a) hon. Members and (b) members of the public. [2139]

At present each inspected school is responsible for making its Ofsted inspection report available to parents and others. Each report is freely accessible on the internet. Hon. Members can obtain hard copies through the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list for each local education authority in England and Wales how many classes for five to seven-year-olds had more than 30 children as at Easter 1997. [2219]

Information on class sizes for local education authorities in England is not available in the form requested.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he is taking to increase openness in government. [527]

In our manifesto, the Government were clear in their commitment to the regeneration of our democratic process. Central to that is the White Paper on New Government I announced yesterday.This will set out how we will deliver accountable, accessible, responsive and efficient Government.These proposals alongside our Freedom of Information Act will bring an agenda of openness to our system of Government at all levels.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to introduce a freedom of information Bill; and if he will make a statement. [533]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier to my hon. Friend, the Member for Clwyd, South (Mr. Jones).

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to publish his proposals relating to freedom of information. [535]

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he is taking to promote open government. [538]

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on his proposals in respect of open government. [540]

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what initiatives he is taking to promote open government. [541]

I refer hon. Members to the answer I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Delyn (Mr. Hanson).

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what timetable he proposes for (a) reducing the number of quangos and (b) making the remaining quangos more democratic. [531]

The Government propose to undertake a review of quangos with a view to reducing their numbers. The issue of making the remainder more democratic will be addressed in the context of the forthcoming White Paper on Better Government, announced yesterday by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proposals he has to ensure that issues of commercial confidentiality do not restrict the scope of freedom of information legislation. [536]

Provision to protect genuine commercial confidentiality is necessary in freedom of information legislation but this must be kept to the minimum consistent with the public interest in openness.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to introduce greater electronic access by citizens to Government Departments. [539]

Government are determined to use the tremendous potential of IT to bring government closer to the people and provide them with a more direct and accessible service for the 21st century.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will meet representatives of civil service unions to discuss conditions of service. [542]

I have already met civil service union representatives and morale and conditions of service were among the issues raised.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proposals he has to review the relationship of Government agencies with (a) Government Departments, (b) Ministers and (c) Parliament. [543]

In the first instance, it is for the Minister responsible for each particular agency to keep these important relationships in good order but we are considering whether there are any matters of general application that need to be addressed. We will do this in the context of our commitment to modernising Government services and making them more responsive.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what new procedures he proposes for the appointment to paid posts nominated by the Government. [544]

The Government will continue to support the principle of selection based on merit. Ministerial appointments to executive non-departmental public bodies and NHS bodies have been subject to the Commissioner for Public Appointments' Code of Practice since 1 July 1996. The Government will be considering with the Commissioner whether his remit should be extended to other public bodies.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on his policy towards deregulation. [545]

Our aim is to create the economic conditions in which business can flourish. We want to modernise Government for business—particularly small firms—and citizens. That is why we have undertaken to cut unnecessary red tape and not to impose burdensome new regulations.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what role he has in relation to Her Majesty's Government's proposals for Scottish devolution. [546]

I will take part in collective discussion of the issues with my colleagues, especially in relation to those issues which fall within my departmental responsibilities.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he intends to continue to implement government.direct. [532]

The Green Paper government.direct contained many good ideas. The Government will harness the power of IT to bring government closer to the people and provide better services for everybody. We will consult interested parties on a range of ideas for taking this forward, including those in government.direct and the paper responding to the initial comments on it.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he intends to meet representatives of the civil service unions to discuss staff morale. [537]

I have already met civil service union representatives and morale and conditions of service were among the issues raised.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals she has to increase the number of ethnic minority employees in her Department. [739]

The Department supports the Cabinet Office Programme for Action on Race and is fully committed to developing a culturally diverse workforce. Its recruitment procedures are designed to encourage people from ethnic backgrounds to be successful in job applications. Recruitment is by fair and open competition and selection is based on merit. Advertisements are placed in the ethnic minority press and with Local Racial Equality Councils and we also undertake outreach projects. Recruitment exercises are monitored to ensure equal treatment for all applicants and to ensure that those involved in the monitoring process have all received equal opportunities awareness training.In addition the Department sponsors 20 Windsor fellows a year, which is an opportunity for ethnic minority undergraduates to undertake work placements within the DSS.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to review the working of current rules governing the consequences of long-term unemployed people obtaining temporary work and then returning to benefits; and if she will make a statement.[840]

Our New Deal measures will offer new opportunities to the long-term unemployed of all ages. Employers who take on long-term unemployed people aged over 25 will receive a subsidy of £75 per week, and the employee will receive an opportunity to demonstrate both their existing skills and their potential for acquiring new ones.Over the next few months we shall be looking closely at all the features of the benefit system which might have an impact on work incentives.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will review the existing operation of appeals tribunals for applicants to (a) the jobseekers allowance and (b) incapacity benefit. [858]

We intend to bring forward legislation to improve current decision making and appeals arrangements for all social security benefits. Further details will be announced in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will list the number and percentage of Child Support Agency cases in which the absent parent is in arrears (a) in total and (b) by regional office for each year since the establishment of the agency. [1359]

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