To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will issue guidance to planning inspectors to ensure that applications for BSE incinerators are not granted approval on appeal where they will destroy business confidence in a locality. [2477]

A number of recent planning applications have related to the construction of incineration facilities for the destruction of cattle slaughtered as part of the over 30 months scheme, rather than to those which show clinical signs of BSE for which provision exists already. Planning inspectors reach decisions on the basis of submitted evidence and published Government Planning Guidance. It is not appropriate to aim guidance solely at Planning Inspectors and on a single issue. Consideration is being given currently to whether there is a need to issue planning advice, to a wider audience, on facilities required to deal with wastes arising from the over 30 months scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will review the funding allocated to Sefton Metropolitan borough council in the 1997–98 revenue support grant in respect of care of the elderly. [2480]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Colchester (Mr. Russell) on 10 June 1997, Official Report, column 405

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will include in his review of the abstraction licensing system new measures to ensure that water companies manage their aquifer resources sustainably; and if he will make a statement. [2789]

A key aim will be to ensure that the environment is properly protected, while providing fair and flexible arrangements for access to water resources by water companies to meet properly managed demands in a sustainable way. Amongst the possible measures which will be studied are economic instruments in relation to abstraction.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and Regions what specific measures he plans to achieve the Government's target of a reduction in CO₂ emissions by 20 per cent. from 1990 levels by 2010. [2678]

We are reviewing the United Kingdom's Climate Change Programme looking at policies and measures across all sectors which could contribute to a 20 per cent. reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from 1990 levels by 2010. These include improvements in areas such as domestic and industrial energy efficiency, measures to tackle emissions from the transport sector as part of the integrated transport strategy, and a large increase in the amount of electricity generated from renewable sources and combined heat and power schemes. We shall produce a revised programme after Kyoto.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment Transport and the Regions (1) if he will bring forward a comprehensive policy for domestic waste reduction, with special reference to control of packaging, reuse of materials and recycling, developed within local authorities and voluntary groups in partnership; and if he will make a statement; [3001](2) if he will review all current proposals for waste incineration plants to establish

The Government will be looking carefully at existing practice and policy in the field of waste management, to see how the contribution from recycling and other means of recovering value from waste can be maximised. At present, only 6.5 per cent. of household waste is recycled, and only 12 per cent. of municipal waste has some value recovered from it. Local authorities, voluntary groups, households and businesses all have a vital contribution to make in improving the sustainability of our waste management practices. Reduction of waste at source has an important part to play, and we hope to see the development of imaginative and effective initiatives to encourage it.Current proposals for incineration plants will be considered, in the normal way, under the existing planning framework. We will keep under review the evidence on emissions from incinerators. It is essential that both new and existing incinerators meet stringent emissions standards to protect public health and the environment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make it his policy to ensure that rateable businesses which temporarily cease to pay non-domestic rates due to the inability to trade for reasons of natural disasters are not treated as new accounts, which do not receive transitional relief, once they restart trading. [2824]

Properties removed from the rating list because they have been rendered incapable of occupation, for whatever reason, will necessarily require refurbishment or reconstruction, possibly to a higher standard than was the case before. We have no proposals to change the rule that such properties on re-entering the list should be denied transitional relief.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many and what percentage of properties in Burnley are in (i) council tax band A and (ii) council tax band B. [2887]

The information requested is as follows:

Burnley: Dwellings on the Valuation List as at 16 October 1996
Band A	Per cent. of total	Band B	Per cent. of total
26,358	65.7	4,084	10.2

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which 50 local authorities in England have the highest percentage of properties in (i) council tax band A and (ii) council tax band B; and which 50 local authorities have the lowest percentage in those bands. [2888]

I have today placed the information in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his Department's policy regarding development west of Stevenage. [3058]

Planning Policy Guidance Note 2 states that releases of land from the Green Belt—like the proposals in Hertfordshire County Council's Structure Plan Review for development west of Stevenage—should take place only in exceptional circumstances. It will be for the County Council to respond to the recommendations of the independent Panel who conducted an examination in public of the Structure Plan Review proposals in March. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minster will consider that response before taking a view on whether the case for any Green Belt releases has been made.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to meet the chief executive and chairman of the Housing Corporation; and if he will make a statement. [3059]

My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Local Government and Housing and I met the Chief Executive and Chairman of the Housing Corporation on 2 June. We had a fruitful and informative discussion about the work and role of the Corporation and we look forward to working together in the coming months.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the current level of set-aside capital receipts derived from the sale of council houses for each local authority in Essex. [3010]

The amounts of housing capital receipts which were set aside by each local authority in Essex between 1990–91 and 1995–96 are set out in the table. However, individual authorities may have used these set-aside receipts to repay debt or in lieu of further borrowing, and so may no longer retain them in the form of cash and investments.

	Receipts setaside from sales of Housing Revenue Account assets 1990–91 to 1995–96 £000s
Basildon	10,465
Braintree	13,072
Brentwood	5,404
Castle Point	2,588
Chelmsford	13,172
Colchester	11,629
Epping Forest	14,694
Harlow	27,644
Maldon	15,346
Rochford	2,295
Southend-on-Sea	7,330
Tendring	4,588
Thurrock	17,017
Uttlesford	6,931

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what financial support he is giving in the current year to English local authorities and to the Environment Agency to meet capital costs of site investigation and remediation of contaminated land. [3183]

The Department of the Environment's Contaminated Land Supplementary Credit Approval programme, which has a budget of £14 million in the current financial year, provides support for capital costs incurred by English local authorities where they are responsible for the investigation or remediation of contaminated land. The programme also is able to provide support, in the form of additional grant-in-aid, to the Environment Agency where it is carrying out works to deal with water pollution from contaminated land.The programme is aimed at tackling problems on sites owned by local authorities or those where authorities or the Environment Agency have responsibility to take action and cannot recover their costs from third parties. The Department operates an assessment and prioritisation procedure to ensure that the available funding goes to projects representing the greatest threat to health or the environment.Some authorities have already been notified of support, where this is to meet on-going contractual commitments for projects funded in previous years. The Department of the Environment has today written to local authorities with successful bids for new projects and to the Environment Agency, notifying them of the financial allocations which are being made.The following table sets out the allocations which have been made for the current financial year.

Local Authority	Number of sites	Total allocation (£)
Bassetlaw DC	1	120,000
Birmingham City	2	35,000
Blackburn and Darwen BC	2	20,000
Blackpool BC	1	1,000
Bradford MBC	1	30,000
Brighton and Hove C	1	30,000
Bury MBC	1	492,000
Cambridgeshire CC	2	89,000
Cheltenham BC	1	293,000
Cheshire CC	2	170,000
Chorley BC	3	22,000
Cornwall CC	2	42,000
Croydon LB	2	157,000
Cumbria CC	2	75,000
Darlington BC	1	279,000
Devon CC	2	445,000
Dudley MBC	4	193,000
Essex CC	2	410,000
Gateshead MBC	4	765,000
Greater Manchester WDA	1	99,000
Guildford BC	2	147,000
Hampshire CC	2	408,000
Hartlepool BC	1	9,000
Hereford and Worcester CC	2	91,000
Hounslow LB	5	313,000
Knowsley MBC	1	171,000
Leicester City	5	582,000
Leicestershire CC	1	880,000
Merseyside WDA	3	510,000
Middlesbrough BC	1	250,000

Local Authority	Number of sites	Total allocation (£)
Newcastle City	1	56,000
Norfolk CC	2	188,000
Northamptonshire CC	2	675,000
North East Lincolnshire C	1	136,000
North Lincolnshire C	1	770,000
Northumberland CC	2	12,000
Norwich City	1	1,789,000
Nuneaton and Bedworth	3	90,000
Oldham MBC	1	10,000
Oxford City	1	1,271,000
Oxfordshire CC	1	5,000
Portsmouth City	4	163,000
Redbridge LB	1	22,000
Rotherham MBC	3	348,000
St. Helens MBC	1	23,000
Sandwell MBC	20	277,000
Sheffield City	1	559,000
Solihull MBC	1	535,000
Stafford BC	1	25,000
Stockton-on-Tees BC	1	12,000
Surrey CC	6	1,278,000
Tameside MBC	1	67,000
Three Rivers DC	1	4,000
Trafford MBC	3	77,000
Walsall MBC	3	205,000
Warwickshire CC	1	450,000
West Yorkshire WDA	6	651,000
Weymouth and Portland BC	1	750,000
Worcester City	1	26,000
Environment Agency	6	500,000

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will consider changes to the law to prevent gazumping and the late withdrawal from house purchase agreements. [2478]

I have been asked to reply as responsibility for this topic lies with the LCD.Work will shortly be under way across a number of Government Departments co-operating together which will look closely at the problem of gazumping and will lead to detailed proposals which will be in the interests of everyone involved in the sale and purchase of homes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the number of prosecutions which the Health and Safety Executive has brought against each local authority in England in the last three years; and how many have resulted in convictions. [3252]

In the three years from 1993–94 to 1995–96, the Health and Safety Executive prosecuted local authorities in England 44 times for 51 alleged breaches of health and safety law and secured 50 convictions. Details from HSE records are shown in the table. Figures for the year April 1996-March 1997 are not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will review the arrangements in place currently for claims handling in respect of claims against operators of rail services, with particular reference to the experiences of those persons submitting claims arising out of the Rickerscote rail crash at Stafford on 8 March 1996. [2862]

The arrangements for claims handling are governed by the Claims Allocation and Handling Agreement (CAHA), which is currently being reviewed by the Rail Industry Disputes Resolution Committee—a committee of industry representatives with an independent Chairman. Their proposals for changes to the Agreement will be submitted to the Rail Regulator for approval.The Rail Regulator has initiated a separate review of third party liability insurance in relation to "privately owned rail vehicles" (defined as ones which are both owned by a company outside the licensing regime of the Railways Act 1993 and which are operated without the benefit of a lease or other agreement which transfers liability for the vehicle to a licensed train operator). He believes that it is in the interests of both the rail industry and third parties that a practical solution is found to the third party liability issues surrounding such vehicles. I understand the Rail Regulator intends to publish a consultation document later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what public liability insurance is required of (a) Railtrack plc, (b) licensed operators of rail services and (c) other operators of rail services. [2861]

Licensed operators, including Railtrack, are required by the Rail Regulator to carry third party liability cover of at least £155 million, unless the Regulator agrees a lower figure in specific circumstances. In the case of companies providing services to the rail network who fall outside the Regulator's licensing powers, the level of third party liability insurance is a matter of commercial judgment. However, in the case of unlicensed contractors and sub-contractors, the Regulator has required licensed operators to provide, in their own insurance, cover for the difference between the contractor's insurance and £155 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what regulatory framework governs claims procedures in respect of the franchised railway companies; and what role the Rail Regulator has in respect of them. [2863]

All licensed railway operators, including Railtrack, are required by their licences to be a party to claims handling arrangements approved by the Rail Regulator. The railway industry established the Claims Allocation and Handling Agreement (CAHA) in early 1994. This continues to be the means by which all operators fulfil this licence obligation. The Rail Regulator is responsible for enforcing licence conditions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what policies are being pursued by the Government to encourage cycling; and if he will make a statement. [3049]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 3 June, Official Report, column 165: to the hon. Member for Rotherham (Mr. MacShane).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will meet the Rail Regulator to discuss whether adequate provision for the transport of cycles should be added to the obligations of train operators; and if he will make a statement. [3048]

The provision of capacity for the carriage of bicycles is a matter for the Franchising Director. Franchise operators are required by their Franchise Agreements to ensure that facilities are made available for the carriage of cycles on trains, so far as is reasonably practicable and subject to the availability of appropriate space on their rolling stock.The Government are keen to see proper facilities for cyclists who wish to use the railway. We are currently reviewing the Franchising Director's Objectives, Instructions and Guidance. As part of our review, we will be considering what action the Franchising Director should take to encourage increased carriage of cycles on trains.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to help businesses protect themselves against the losses caused by fraudulent credit card usage, with particular reference to telephone transactions. [2816]

I understand that the banks are actively working with retail organisations to investigate methods of preventing all types of credit card fraud, including telephone transactions, and I strongly welcome this initiative.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage and how many documents in 1996 she estimates were (a) passed on to the Public Record Office intact, (b) passed on to the Public Record Office in censored form, (c) retained by her Department in full, (d) retained by her Department in part, (e) destroyed, (f) otherwise disposed of, and (g) otherwise unaccounted for. [2506]

[holding answer 11 June 1997]: No document falls due for transfer to the Public Record Office until it is 30 years old. The suitability of a document for selection for permanent preservation under the terms of the Public Records Act 1958 will be reviewed during that period.The Act does not require statistics to be kept in the form requested. To do so would incur disproportionate cost. However, in order to comply with their duties under the Act, departments are obliged to make arrangements for the safekeeping of their records, with a view to their possible selection and transfer to the Public Record Office and eventual release to the public. The general arrangements for extended closure or retention of public records are set out in Chapter 9 of the White Paper Open Government of July 1993 (CM.2290).

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will review the decision of the last Government not to hold an independent judicial inquiry into the financial affairs of Lloyd's of London. [2962]

[holding answer 11 June 1997]: I have given careful consideration to the question of an enquiry into the past problems of Lloyd's of London ("Lloyd's").I recognise the hardship suffered by many underwriting members of Lloyd's ("Names") as a result of the losses at Lloyd's in the late 1980s and early 1990s, despite suggestions that for the most part, the losses can be attributed to a series of natural and man-made disasters. Moreover, a number of adverse rulings in the courts in the United States extended the scope of policies underwritten at Lloyd's to cover certain asbestosis and pollution risks which were never envisaged when the policies were written. The position was worsened by the so-called "LMX" spiral, where syndicates and reinsurance companies in the London Market repeatedly reinsured one another at a time of poor market conditions. The various losses have been thoroughly investigated in some 27 independent reviews. Under the circumstances, it seems unlikely that further investigations will identify any information beyond that which is already known.Some Names have suggested that they were the victims of fraud. None of the independent loss reviews, or the investigations carried out by my Department and the Serious Fraud Office, has uncovered any evidence sufficient to justify the institution of proceedings. Although people have claimed to have such evidence, they have consistently refused to make it available to my Department for examination. Of course, if anyone provides any new evidence to me, I shall consider it very carefully and act accordingly.There are a number of other practical considerations which I have taken into account.As the Companies Acts are not relevant to the Society of Lloyd's, the only powers available to instigate an investigation are powers under the Tribunals of Enquiry (Evidence) Act 1921. This is an extremely costly procedure which cannot be justified on the basis of the hearsay evidence available to me and when previous investigations, conducted much nearer the time, failed to produce any proper evidence. I also note that, given the complexity of the Lloyd's market, it could take many years to complete the process. The alternative would be an administrative enquiry which would have no powers to require the production of evidence and would therefore have to rely on the goodwill of the people against whom the allegations have been made.With regard to improved regulatory standards for the future, I note there have been substantial changes to the regulatory arrangements since the events in question. The Government will be considering further the future regulatory arrangements for Lloyd's but I am afraid I do not believe that a further enquiry into past events will materially help that consideration.Under the circumstances, I do not, therefore, propose to establish a public enquiry.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how she plans to counteract the effect on fuel consumption and emissions of the promised reduction in VAT on fuel. [2677]

We have already announced a review of policy to see what would be necessary and practicable to achieve 10 per cent. of UK's electricity needs from renewables by the year 2010. We have also announced a fundamental transport policy review and the need to promote energy conservation. We are reviewing the United Kingdom's Climate Change Programme, looking at policies and measures across all sectors which could contribute to a 20 per cent. reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from 1990 levels by 2010.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade for what reasons Her Majesty's Government are not bringing forward legislation to vary the qualifying period for unfair dismissal in the current session of Parliament. [2997]

The Government has no plans at present to change the qualifying period for unfair dismissal. The House of Lords has referred to the European Court of Justice questions relating to whether the qualifying period for unfair dismissal is indirectly discriminatory against women.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations her Department has received about one day sales; what plans she has to introduce regulations to control such sales; and if she will make a statement. [2279]

My Department has received representations about one day sales from trading standards departments, chambers of commerce, the Association of Metropolitan Authorities and LACOTS (the Local Authorities Co-ordinating Body on Food and Trading Standards). I know they cause considerable concern and have instituted an urgent review. My officials will shortly be meeting representatives of LACOTS to discuss proposals they have made for tackling the problem.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what powers she has to order a fresh investigation into the dealings in Anglia Television shares by Lord Archer. [2994]

The Secretary of State may appoint inspectors if there are circumstances suggesting that an insider dealing offence may have been committed. As inspectors have already been appointed and reported in this case a fresh investigation would be appropriate only if new information came to light.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimates she has made of the numbers of people in one year who would be eligible for parental leave from their employer and of the average duration of such leave taken at any one time. [2968]

Research shows that many companies offer some form of parental leave to their employees, but we do not know how many people are covered by such arrangements in any one year or the average length of leave taken.The Government intends to accept the Social Chapter including the Parental Leave Directive, which entitles employees to a minimum of three months' unpaid parental leave. The precise effects of the directive will depend on how it is implemented and we are not yet able to give estimates of the kind requested.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to introduce a standard pint measure mark as a requirement for glasses in which beer is served in public houses; and if he will make a statement. [3293]

My Department is discussing this matter with interested parties and I hope to make a statement shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement about the extent to which her Department will carry out human rights appraisal, monitoring and evaluation in respect of all aid projects; and what account her Department will take of human rights reports in carrying out such appraisal, monitoring and evaluation. [2277]

My Department's goal is the achievement of human rights for all and we will adopt a human rights based approach to development which may include, political, social and economic rights.DFID's distinct contribution will be to focus on those rights which are important for the eradication of poverty and the dignity of the disadvantaged and will be related to the circumstances of the country and its people.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the current level of United Kingdom aid to (a) the Palestine National Authority and (b) Sierra Leone. [3057]

UK bilateral assistance to the Palestinian National Authority is expected to total nearly £10 million in the current financial year, in addition to our one-sixth share of the European Union's 50 million ecu (£35 million) programme. Spending on aid to Sierra Leone in the UK financial year 1996–97 was an estimated £10.3 million and £1.4 million to UN organisations. Spending in the current financial year will depend on developments following the military coup on 25 May.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to review the role of rural community hospitals; and if he will make a statement; [2489](2) if he will make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to rural community hospitals; and if he will make a statement. [2488]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the right hon. Member for Devizes (Mr. Ancram) on 2 June, Official Report, column 41

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the bed-types on which the efficiency of hospitals is assessed, with particular reference to community hospitals; and what plans he has to increase the variety of bed-types used in that assessment; [2486](2) if he will list the criteria used by his Department in assessing the efficiency of hospitals, with particular reference to rural community hospitals. [2487]

We measure the efficiency of health authorities, not hospitals, centrally. Activity is at present measured by the number of episodes of care, not the number or type of bed used. Where a health authority commissions inpatient care from a community hospital then this activity will at present be measured in the efficiency index for that authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many patients resident at Wythenshawe Hospital on 1 June had been forced to remain in hospital for longer than their treatment required because suitable residential or day care support was not available; how many such patients had been resident at the hospital for up to (a) one week, (b) two weeks, (c) one month, (d) two months and (e) three months or more; and what estimate he has made of the additional financial costs to the NHS of these extended periods of care; [2554](2) how many patients admitted to Wythenshawe Hospital in

Health and social services are working hard across the country to resolve the difficulties caused by delayed discharges. In Manchester, the National Health Service trusts, health authority and social services are currently working together to understand the reason for delayed discharges and what they can do to resolve the problems this causes in terms of patient care and cost to the NHS. Officials have already been asked urgently to address this issue in terms of revised guidance on hospital discharge.Patients in the South Manchester area are admitted to both Withington and Wythenshawe Hospitals and many from the Wythenshawe area are transferred to Withington as this is where the trust's rehabilitation and care of the elderly wards are located. The information given relates to both hospitals.

Length of wait (months)	Wythenshawe	Withington
6–8	—	6
5	5	7
4	3	3
3	4	10
2	4	4
1	3	4
Total number of patients accepted for placement	19	34
Total number of patients waiting for assessment	14	231
1 total wait = 242 days
2 total wait = 1,437 days.

There are also 17 patients in the elderly mental health unit at Withington whose discharges are delayed. These people have been in-patients for between one and four months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps his Department is taking to eliminate the damage caused by (i) Erb's palsy and (ii) brachial plexus injuries during the birth process; [2885](2) if he will list the incidence of

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to raise national awareness of Erb's palsy. [2878]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce a programme (a) for the recording of every incidence of (i) Erb's palsy and (ii) brachial plexus injuries and (b) to raise the general awareness about Erb's palsy. [2930]

We are of course concerned about the damage to babies caused by Erb's palsy and brachial plexus injuries during birth. The safety of the mother and her unborn child are of paramount importance and childbirth is safer now than at any other time. Most cases of Erb's palsy and brachial plexus injuries arise spontaneously but are also considered to be influenced by misplacement of the shoulders in the birth canal. In recognition of this problem, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologist has issued guidelines stating that every maternity unit should have agreed protocols for the management of shoulder malpresentations to minimise the risk of these conditions. We are not aware of any evidence to suggest that obstetric intervention contributes to the incidence.Information on the number of finished consultant episodes of those patients admitted to hospital with primary diagnosis "Erb's Palsy" and "brachial plexus" injuries in NHS hospitals in England up to 1994–95 is available through HES (Hospital Episode Statistics) data and is shown in the attached table. The definition of a consultant episode is the period that a patient spends under the continuous care of a specific consultant in a specific health care provider. A hospital provider spell can comprise one or more consultant episodes. Hospital Episode Statistics will therefore pick up cases where the diagnosis was not made at birth and the baby was subsequently re-admitted. Information prior to 1989–90 recorded discharges and deaths and is therefore not directly comparable to Hospital Episode Statistics Data.

Primary diagnosis—of Erb's palsy (ICD9 code 767.6) and brachial plexus injuries (ICD9 code 953.4)
Ordinary admissions and day cases combined NHS hospitals, England
Estimated number of Finished Consultant Episodes (FCEs)
	1989–90	1990–91	1991–92	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95
Erb's palsy/Klumpke's palsy	142	158	202	240	370	330
Injury to brachial plexus	337	191	181	149	135	148

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department (a) has commissioned and (b) plans to commission on the health problems facing carers. [2963]

In recent years the Department of Health has funded a substantial body of research on carers and caring which has looked, inter alia, at the health of carers. The completed research has been published and widely disseminated.Research currently in progress includes a major evaluative research study on community care for very dependent older people, which will investigate outcomes for both users and carers. A developmentally focused programme of research to develop and test new approaches to assessing community care outcomes for users and carers is currently being taken forward in collaboration with two local authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make the existing National Breast Implant Registry compulsory; and if he will make a statement. [3170]

We have no plans at present to make the National Breast Implant Registry compulsory. Any changes to the policy on breast implants must await the report of the Independent Review Group set up recently by the Chief Medical Officer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make pen system needles for insulin dependent diabetics available on prescription; and if he will make a statement. [3171]

We are currently considering whether general practitioners should be allowed to prescribe insulin injection pen needles on the National Health Service.

To ask the Prime Minister when the Annual report of the Commissioner appointed under section 8(1) of the Interception of Communications Act 1985 will be laid before the House; and if he will make a statement. [3812]

A copy of Lord Nolan's annual report for 1996 has been laid before the House today in accordance with section 8(7) of the Interception of Communications Act 1985. The confidential annex to the report has been excluded from that copy in accordance with section 8(8) of the 1995 Act. I am grateful to the Commissioner for his work in reviewing the issue of warrants and in providing assistance to the Tribunal as provided for in the Act. I note in particular the Commissioner's view that interception of both postal and telecommunications remains both an effective and an essential operation in the interests of national security and the economic well-being of the United Kingdom, and the prevention and detection of serious crime.

To ask the Prime Minister when the Annual report of the Commissioner appointed under the Intelligence Services Act 1994 will be laid before the House; and if he will make a statement. [3905]

A copy of Lord Justice Stuart-Smith's annual report, for 1996, has been laid before the House today in accordance with section 8(6) of the Intelligence Services Act 1994. The confidential annex to the report has been excluded from that copy in accordance with section 8(7) of the 1994 Act. I am grateful to the Commissioner for his work in reviewing the issue of warrants and authorisations, and in providing assistance to the Tribunal as provided for in the Act. I note that he was satisfied that the former Secretary of State had properly exercised his powers under the two sections of the 1994 Act.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the proportion and number of Service personnel on the electoral register who do not exercise their vote. [3201]

My Department does not keep records of those Service personnel who exercise their rights to vote. This is a private matter for the individual. However, it is possible to ascertain the percentage of Service personnel who are registered to vote. As at 1 April 1997, 72.5 per cent. of Service personnel were so registered. Comprehensive measures are taken by the Services to ensure that all personnel are given the necessary information to enable them to register as Service voters.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's policy on the conclusions of the US Department of State report on the Enlargement of NATO, with particular reference to the responsibility for bearing the costs associated with improving NATO's regional reinforcement capabilities. [3180]

The report to Congress by the US Administration on the enlargement of NATO provides a useful assessment of the relevant issues. In the current and foreseeable security environment, the Alliance will carry out the collective defence of both existing and new members and other missions by ensuring the necessary interoperability, integration and capability for reinforcement. On that basis, we do not expect NATO enlargement of itself to require significant changes to the capabilities already determined collectively by the Alliance as necessary to fulfil this strategy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the financial cost to Britain of NATO expansion up to the year 2001. [3181]

No decisions have been taken on which countries will accede to NATO membership, when, or on what terms. The costs of enlargement, which will fall both on the countries which join and on the existing members of the Alliance and which will be incurred over a long period, will depend on those decisions. Subject to that caveat, we expect the costs of enlargement to be manageable.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has to revise NATO's Strategic Concept agreed in 1991. [3182]

The Alliance's Strategic Concept, adopted by NATO's Heads of State and Government at their meeting in Rome in 1991, sets out the principal aims and objectives of the Alliance. Recognising the changes in the strategic environment since 1991, the Alliance has decided to examine the Strategic Concept to ensure that it is fully consistent with Europe's new security situation and challenges. NATO Foreign Ministers decided, at their meeting in Sintra on 29 May, to recommend to NATO's Heads of State and Government that they should decide the way ahead at their Summit in Madrid on 8 and 9 July.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many compensation claims from former service men who suffer from asbestos-related illnesses have been turned down by his Department; [1896](2) what estimate he has made of the number of former service men suffering from asbestos-related diseases who are not covered by the change in the law in 1987 which gave service personnel the same rights as civilian employees to obtain compensation; [1897](3) how many cases of asbestos-related disease in former service personnel have been reported to his Department. [1898]

Unfortunately, we have no means of knowing how many cases of asbestos-related disease in former service personnel have ever been reported to my Department. Nor does my Department hold data which could be used to estimate how many former service personnel may be suffering from such diseases. However, my Department's computer records on claims for compensation show that since 23 October 1986 we have been notified of 100 claims from former service personnel suffering from an asbestos-related illness due to their time in the Armed Forces. All of these claims for compensation had to be repudiated on the basis of Section 10 of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947 because they related to exposure before May 1987. The repeal of Section 10 in 1987, which first gave members of the Armed Forces the right to claim common law damages from their employer, was not retrospective.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will introduce a scheme to provide compensation for former service personnel and workers at defence installations who are suffering asbestos-related diseases as a result of exposure to asbestos during their employment. [3036]

I have asked for advice on the issue of compensation for former service personnel and civilian workers who are suffering from an asbestos-related disease as a result of exposure to asbestos during their employment with my Department; and I will consider what options to provide assistance may be available.

To ask the Attorney-General if the Crown Prosecution Service is subject to the requirements of the Welsh Language Act 1993 in the preparation of official reports and other publications. [3167]

The provisions of the Welsh Language Act 1993 do not apply to servants or agents of the Crown. They do not, therefore, apply to the Crown Prosecution Service. If a Crown servant or agent chooses voluntarily to adopt a Welsh language scheme, certain provisions of the Act concerning the preparation of a scheme and the investigation of alleged failure to comply with it do apply. The CPS is currently considering the preparation of a detailed formal scheme in accordance with the Welsh Language Board's guidance.

To ask the Attorney-General what was the cost of producing the bilingual 1996 annual report of the Mid-Glamorgan CPS. [3169]

The production cost of the bilingual Branch annual report for the Crown Prosecution Service Mid-Glamorgan was approximately £1,145.

To ask the Attorney-General if CPS branches in Wales have (a) sought and (b) been given professional advice by the Welsh Language Board about the grammatical accuracy of their official reports and other publications. [3168]

The hon. Member may be referring to the report of the Mid-Glamorgan branch of the Crown Prosecution Service. For this report a professional translator was used. Unfortunately on return of final proofs from the printers grammatical errors in the Welsh language version went uncorrected. However steps will be taken in future to seek to avoid any such re-occurrence.

To ask the Attorney-General what progress has been made in establishing the proposed review of the Crown Prosecution Service to which he referred in his written answer to the hon. Member for Salford (Ms Blears) on 21 May, Official Report, columns 73–74. [3979]

I am extremely pleased that Sir Iain Glidewell, a retired Lord Justice of Appeal, has agreed to chair the independent Review of the Crown Prosecution Service. He will be assisted by Sir Geoffrey Dear who retires at the end of this week as HM Inspector of Constabulary and (a person with management and organisational experience). Sir Iain proposes to commence work on Monday 16 June 1997. The Review will examine closely the internal structures of the Crown Prosecution Service, together with its policies and procedures. It will also consider ways to enable the Crown Prosecution Service to inform victims of crime about prosecutions decisions. The Review will have the following terms of reference:Against the background of the decision that the CPS should in future be divided so that there are Chief Crown

Prosecutors in all police force areas but within a national framework, to:

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the NFU on the decline in the price of beef in the UK market. [3038]

The matter of beef prices was most recently discussed when our right hon. Friend, the Minister, met the NFU on 3 June.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are his Department's forecasts of the amount of beef that it is expected will be held in intervention in each of the next four years. [3039]

The extent to which UK beef will be purchased into intervention over the next four years will depend upon the state of the EU and UK beef markets and the rules governing access to intervention. The Department has not attempted to make forecasts over such a long timescale in this difficult area.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the environmental hazards associated with organophosphates. [2827]

(a) The Ministry has commissioned no research into the environmental hazards associated with organophosphates (OPs).

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to simplify and rationalise the forms that farmers are obliged to complete. [3074]

An Efficiency Scrutiny on Simplifying Farmers' Paperwork was conducted last year by my and the Welsh Office Agriculture Departments, with the assistance of working farmers. These recommendations are being implemented subject to compatibility with legislation and further views of the industry.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of approved abattoirs operating within England for each year from 1975 to date. [1572]

At 1 June 1997 there were 381 licensed red meat slaughterhouses in England. The table below gives figures for each year from 1975 to 1996. Prior to 1993 red meat slaughterhouses in England were licensed not by MAFF but by local authorities. The figures for 1975 to 1992 have therefore been derived from records of State Veterinary Service visits during each year and are approximate.

Year	Numbers
1975	1,385
1976	1,320
1977	1,280
1978	1,145
1979	975
1980	960
1981	910
1982	840
1983	875
1984	860
1985	850
1986	815
1987	795
1988	780
1989	690
1990	645
1991	595
1992	1540
19932	434
19942	424
19952	402
19962	384
1 At the end of 1992, 455 applications had been made to MAFF for licences under the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1992.
2 As at 31 December.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to minimise journey times for animals between point of production and place of slaughter; and if he will make a statement. [1573]

The rules on journey times for live farm animals are laid down by EU Directive 91/628, as amended in 1995. We shall be seeking improvements, especially in relation to slaughter animals, when these rules come up for review in 1999. In the meantime we have made the new Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997 to bring about overdue implementation of the 1995 EU rules and to enable controls on the welfare of animals in transit to be tightened. We will not compromise on these rules.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to return the functions currently exercised by the Meat Hygiene Service to local authority control; and if he will make a statement. [1574]

The Government has published for consultation Professor James's report into the establishment of an independent Food Standards Agency and will look carefully at the options for the future of the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) following the consultation exercise. Professor James himself states in his report that the arguments for dismantling the MHS and redistributing its responsibilities to Local Authorities are unconvincing, and that the new Agency should take over responsibility for the MHS.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reports his Department obtains regarding prosecutions by local authorities for offences under the Bovine Animals (Records, Identification and Movement) Order 1995; and if he will make a statement. [2805]

The Department obtains quarterly reports from local authorities regarding prosecutions under the Animal Health Act 1981 for offences under the Bovine Animals (Records, Identification and Movement) Order 1995.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reports his Department obtains regarding prosecutions by local authorities for offences under the Heads of Sheep and Goats Order 1996; and if he will make a statement. [2806]

The Heads of Sheep and Goats Order is made under the Animal Health Act 1981. Local authorities are required to inform the Ministry of any prosecutions taken in 1996, including by local authorities, are contained in the "Return of Expenditure Incurred and Prosecutions taken under the Animal Health Act 1981, and Incidence of Disease in Imported Animals for the Year 1996" made to Parliament under Section 80 of the Act. That shows no prosecutions taken in 1996 under this Order and we are aware of none so far this year.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reports his Department obtains regarding prosecutions by local authorities for offences under the SBM Order; and if he will make a statement. [2810]

The SBM Order is made under the Animal Health Act 1981. Local authorities are required to inform the Ministry of any prosecutions taken under Orders made under the Act. Details of prosecutions taken in 1996, including by local authorities, are contained in the "Return of Expenditure Incurred and Prosecutions taken under the Animal Health Act 1981, and Incidences of Disease in Imported Animals for the Year 1996" made to Parliament under Section 80 of the Act. They are also reported in the monthly BSE Enforcement Bulletin, copies of which are available in the Library of the House, and the latest of which was sent by me to every Right hon. and hon. Member last week.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reports his Department obtains regarding prosecutions by local authorities for offences under the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995; and if he will make a statement. [2811]

Local authorities have no enforcement responsibilities under the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995. These Regulations are enforced by the Meat Hygiene Service, an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, created in 1995. Details of any prosecutions under these Regulations will be reported in the monthly Meat Hygiene Enforcement Report which was first published at the end of May 1997, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. A copy was also sent by me to all hon. Members last week.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reports his Department obtains regarding prosecutions by local authorities for offences under the Fresh Meat (Beef Control) Regulations 1996; and if he will make a statement. [2812]

There is no statutory requirement for local authorities to notify my Department of prosecutions they make under the Fresh Meat (Beef Controls) Regulations 1996. However, the Ministry obtains as much information as possible on such prosecutions by other means, including the BSE Regulatory Forum which is attended by local authority representatives to co-ordinate enforcement activity, and from day to day contacts between local authorities and Ministry staff around the country. Details are reported in the monthly BSE Enforcement Bulletin, copies of which are available in the Library of the House, the latest of which was sent to all hon. Members last week.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reports his Department obtains regarding prosecutions by local authorities for offences under the Over 30 Months Slaughter Scheme; and if he will make a statement. [2807]

The Over 30 Months Scheme (OTMS) provides for compensation payments to producers for animals which can no longer be taken into the food or feed chain. There are no specific offences under the scheme for which local authorities have prosecuting responsibility although the movement of animals and the handling and processing of material arising from the scheme is governed by a range of more widely applicable legislation in which local authorities may have an enforcement role. No prosecutions have been brought by this Department for offences specific to the scheme and no central records are maintained from which local authority prosecutions under other legislation but relating to OTMS material could be extracted.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reports his Department obtains regarding prosecutions by local authorities for offences under the Beef Stocks Transfer Scheme; and if he will make a statement. [2808]

The Beef Stocks Transfer Scheme is a non-statutory scheme administered by the Intervention Board and enforceable on claimants by contract. The Scheme contains no offence provisions. Activities of companies engaged by the Board in connection with its administration responsibilities are covered by normal criminal law. To date we have had no reports of any prosecutions.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reports his Department obtains regarding prosecutions by local authorities for offences under the Calf Processing Aid Scheme; and if he will make a statement. [2809]

The Calf Processing Aid Scheme provides for payments to be made to slaughterers of eligible calves. There are no specific offences under the scheme for which local authorities have prosecuting responsibility although the movement of animals and the handling and processing of material arising from the scheme is governed by a range of more widely applicable legislation in which local authorities may have an enforcement role. No prosecutions have been brought by this Department for offences specific to the scheme and no central records are maintained from which local authority prosecutions under other legislation but relating to the scheme animals or material could be extracted.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the locations and number per location of BSE diagnosed cattle landfill in Britain. [612]

[holding answer 21 May 1997]: The Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC), which advises Ministers on BSE, considered the issue of BSE and the environment in May last year, including the past disposal of the carcases of cattle affected, or suspected of being affected, with BSE to landfill sites. It considered that although the spongiform encephalopathy agent was not yet fully characterised, there was good evidence to believe that individual molecules were not infectious and that infectivity was associated with macro molecular agglomerations indeed possibly with tissue fragments, albeit small ones. On this basis it concluded

"it was unlikely that leachate from landfill sites would present a significant risk and there was certainly no justification for taking heroic measures to excavate sites, even those which had previously been used for material such as BSE-confirmed cattle".

The Environment Agencies took over responsibility for the safe regulation of landfill sites in April 1996, and under Part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 they monitor ground and surface water quality in the vicinity of licensed landfill sites to check for leachate contamination. The Agencies have carried out a qualitative assessment of all the sites concerned taking into account the number of carcases buried, the degree of containment and the proximity of water sources. They have also carried out a further more detailed quantitative assessment of a selection of sites which were judged from the qualitative assessment to be typical of those sites that appeared to be most vulnerable. The results show that potential risks to be very low, less than one in a million years.The conclusions of the assessment are in line with the advice previously given to Ministers by SEAC. The Committee has been given the opportunity to comment on the quantitative assessment and has given it its endorsement. The Environment Agencies are now considering how best to publish the report, and related work, and aim to do so shortly.A list of the locations of the sites concerned and numbers per location is below. No BSE suspects have been disposed of by landfilling since 1991, when sufficient carcase incineration capacity came on stream to process the number of cases that were coming forward:

Number of BSE suspects carcases disposed of	Site	County	Comment
1001–1200	Everleigh Tip, Everleigh, Pewsey	Wiltshire	Closed
501–1000	Stoney Hill Landfill, Horsehay, Telford	Shropshire	Closed
401–500	Hill and Moor Landfill Site, Pershore	Hereford and Worcester