To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the overall level of sickness absence in the Civil Service. [5469]

The average number of working days sickness absence per staff-year in 1995 was 10.7.I have placed in the house Libraries copies of the report prepared for my department by OHSA Limited on Sickness Absence in the Civil Service during 1995, which contains a comprehensive analysis of the figures about the Civil Service. That report also contains corrections to some of the figures about sickness absence in the Civil Service for previous years.My Department regularly encourages Departments and agencies to review their approaches to sickness absence management.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proposals there are to change the 1997–98 cash limit or running cost limit for the Office of Public Service. [5470]

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the cash limit for the Office of Public Service (Class XVII, Vote 1) will be increased by £74,000 from £140,987,000 to £141,061,000 and the gross running cost limit will be decreased by £411,000 from £80,886,000 to £80,475,000.The changes reflect the transfer of responsibility for the Hardcopy Publications function from the Lord Chancellor's Department (Class VIII, Vote 1); the transfer of Competitiveness Unit to the Department of Trade and Industry (Class IV, Vote; the creation of the Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA); provision for the introduction of trade between The Buying Agency (TBA) and the Republic of Ireland Civil Service; provision for TBA loan repayments; re-classification of CCTA marketing and research expenditure; and provision for the residual costs of the privatisation of executive agencies in 1996–97. The increase in the cash limit will be offset by a transfer in and will not, therefore, add to the total of planned expenditure. The GCDA will have a net running cost limit of zero.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what changes he proposes to make to his Department's cash limits for 1997–98. [5550]

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the cash limit for Class X, Vote 1 will be increased by £1,523,000 from £866,330,000 to £867,853,000. This is to increase provision for transfers from the Department for Education and Employment (Class IX, Vote 1) for awards to dance and drama students, and from the Ordnance Survey (Class VI, Vote 8) to the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England for rent on a property; and a machinery of government change transferring voluntary services to the Home Office. The increases will be offset by transfers and savings, and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how much (a) was expected and (b) has been realised to date (i) for good causes and (ii) in tax from the national lottery. [3778]

Camelot's original forecasts for turnover from the start of the licence to the end of March 1997 suggested that £2,228.8 million would be raised for good causes and that £955.2 million would be paid in lottery duty. In fact £3,212.6 million was raised for the good causes and £1,324.3 million was paid in lottery duty during that period.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when the Government were first informed of arrangements for bonuses for Camelot directors. [3777]

The bonus arrangements for the directors of Camelot were set out in their 1995 and 1996 annual reports. The scale of the current bonuses was drawn to my attention after reports appeared in a magazine on 28 May.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what progress he has made to rationalise accommodation grading schemes throughout the United Kingdom. [3092]

[holding answer 23 June 1997]: So far as England is concerned, the AA, RAC and ETB announced in February plans for a new harmonised scheme which for the first time would give a single rating for hotels according to both the quality of their service and the facilities they offer. They will be consulting the industry on the details of this and on a scheme covering non-hotel serviced accommodation, such as guest houses, B&Bs, farmhouses and inns.Responsibility for accommodation rating schemes in Scotland and Wales rests with my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for those countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the results of the review of the Royal Navy's Fleet Maintenance and Repair Organisation, Portsmouth and the Tidworth/Bulford and Salisbury Garrisons and on his Department's approach to efficiency in the Army Individual Training Organisation. [5475]

Against the yardstick of our approach to securing best value for money for the taxpayer explained in my hon. Friend's answer to my hon. Friend the member for Leicester, South (Mr. Marshall) on 19 June, Official Report, column 264–65, we have now considered the results of two recently completed market tests, of the Royal Navy's Fleet Maintenance and Repair Organisation (FMRO) and of support services at the Tidworth/Bulford and Salisbury Garrisons.At the FMRO, I am pleased to announce that Fleet Support Limited (FSL) a joint venture company formed by Vosper Thorneycroft and VSEL (GEC Marine), is the preferred bidder for the operation of the facility and, subject to a satisfactory conclusion of detailed discussions on terms and conditions, we will shortly place a five year contract for the management of the FMRO, with a vesting day this autumn. We are confident that the FMRO under commercial management will continue to provide a first class service to the Fleet. Additionally, FSL has guaranteed to attract a minimum level of commercial work into the FMRO and will maintain the apprentice training scheme. Although there will initially be some redundancies, FSL's bid provides the most promising set of arrangements for the future of the FMRO and its workforce, and for the people of Portsmouth. It offers excellent value for money, with savings of over 30 per cent.At the Tidworth/Bulford and Salisbury Garrisons, I am pleased also to announce that the market test of support services has been won by the in-house team supported by a commercial partner, in competition with four commercial consortia. We expect shortly to put in place a service level agreement with the in-house team, providing savings of over 25 per cent. through rationalisation and reorganisation of the wide range of support services covered by the market test. Job losses will occur but redundancies will be kept to a minimum.In addition, we have reviewed previous plans to conduct market tests at establishments throughout the Army Individual Training Organisation (ALTO), a Defence Agency. A new approach has been developed based on the concept of wider partnering with the private sector. We expect to introduce this programme progressively in the majority of AITO establishments. Previously planned market tests at some establishments have been abandoned in favour of programmes to achieve efficiencies in-house, with the prospect that these establishments will join the partnering programme at a later stage.The establishments include the Army Training Regiments at Bassingbourn, Glencorse, Lichfield, Purbright and Winchester; the Infantry Training Centre at Catterick; the Royal School of Artillery Larkhill; and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. We will complete the contractorisation project at the Royal Armoured Corps Centre, Bovington, and issue invitations to tender for a market test at the School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering at Bordon, and for the renewal with wider scope of the support contract at the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers at Arborfield.These specific announcements underline our determination to adopt, in each area of our business, the approach best calculated to maximise the value we obtain from defence resources.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if the Defence Review will include a reappraisal of the proposal to transfer the Science and Technology Division from Colchester to Bicester; [4476](2) what the current estimated capital cost is of the proposed transfer of the Science and Technology Division from Colchester to Bicester; and if he will make a statement;[4475](3) if he will postpone preparations for the transfer of the Science and Technology Division from Colchester to Bicester until the conclusion of the Defence Review. [4477]

Any outcome of the Defence Review will retain a requirement for the Armed Forces to be clothed. As a consequence, we assess that there will be an on-going need for the continuing activity of the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency (DCTA) and the need to retain a research and development capability.A number of studies have examined the most cost effective way for this capability to be provided. These include the Prior Options Study that preceded the formation of the Agency, specific scrutiny in the Defence Cost Studies and most recently by consideration of private finance involvement in the Agency. Further studies have specifically addressed the collocation of the Agency, including the transfer of the Science and Technology Division from Colchester. These have identified considerable savings and business benefit from collocation. The Strategic Defence Review will not look specifically at the Science and Technology Division of the DCTA, and there are no plans to postpone its transfer from Colchester to Caversfield.The transfer of the Science and Technology Division from Colchester to Bicester is part of a single project for the collocation of laboratories and workshops of the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency on a single site. Further laboratories and workshops will transfer from the Quality and Product Support Division currently at Didcot. A major benefit from the collocation plan is to merge the currently duplicated facilities at each site and the project is costed on the basis of providing dual use facilities. Because of this joint development I regret it is not possible to identify separately the capital costs of the transfer for the Colchester element alone.The cost of the total project has been revalidated recently by a firm of consultants employed by the Defence Estates Organisation. Their report dated 13 June 1997 indicated a cost of £5.9 million for the total project the figure remains very close to the last costing of £5.1 million when savings were forecast at £17.7 million over the Investment Appraisal period of 20 years, in addition to the £6 million per year savings predicated on the new businesses practices that the DCTA can introduce by collocating.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what were the capital and running costs of the Polaris fleet in each year from 1967; [4837](2) what was the annual running and maintenance cost in each year when the four boat Polaris fleet was fully operational. [4838]

Full details of capital and running costs for the Polaris fleet over the 30-year period in question are not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Expenditure on Polaris running costs for the years 1980–81 to 1996–97 at historic prices are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what remediation and post-operational monitoring has taken place at the British overseas chemical weapons test sites at (a) Rawalpindi, Wellesley barracks, Cannanore Porkal and Kumbla, India, (b) Sorbo Plain Near Sapele, Nigeria and (c) Pualo Tenggol, Dungun, Malaysia. [4301]

We are unable to find any records that document remediation work of post-operational monitoring at the sites listed other than for Obanokoro where it is stated that all efforts were made to retrieve any unexploded munitions. The information we do have suggests that usage of these sites was relatively small scale and would not have been expected to leave any traces.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his current estimate of the total cost of the four boat Trident fleet. [4839]

The latest estimate of the total acquisition cost of the Trident programme is £12.57 billion at 1996–97 economic conditions. This is over £3.6 billion less in real terms than the original 1982 estimate. Operating costs are estimated to be some £200 million per annum over a 30-year in-service life.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how his Department intends to reconstruct records of the ex-Chatham dockyard workers who may have been exposed to radiation. [4787]

As required by legislation, dose records are kept for former Chatham dockyard radiation workers who were designated as classified persons because their work led to higher annual radiation exposures. Many, but not all, records relating to the radiation exposure of non-classified workers have also been retained.Where no dose record exists, my Department is examining methods of dose reconstruction based on employment history, radiation exposure information from surveys, and the exposure of comparable workers for whom there are dose records.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has the cost of maintaining the Falklands garrison in each of the last three years. [4862]

The outturn cost to the Ministry of Defence of the Falkland Islands Garrison, in each of the past three years, is as follows:

• 1994–95: £65.5 million
• 1995–96: £70 million
• 1996–97: £81 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the accident records of nuclear submarines whilst they were undergoing maintenance at Chatham dockyard. [4786]

There have been no nuclear reactor accidents involving HM submarines. However, my Department does have records of a number of less serious incidents at Chatham dockyard involving the exposure of personnel to radiation and/or unauthorised discharges to the environment which warranted investigation at the time.The reports of these incidents contain reference to individuals who may have been involved and to others who may have contributed information, sometimes in confidence, to the investigation. This precludes the release of the reports as they stand. I am seeking information from my officials as to the practicability of providing summaries of those incidents, and will write to the hon. Member in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the empty service quarters for families which his Department (a) identified for disposal and (b) classed as empty and under review in March have been sold to private buyers

A total of 159 of the 1,755 family quarters identified for disposal in March, have been sold. The 3,740 empty properties are still under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy with regard to on-the-spot fines for speeding offences administered by police officers; and if he will make a statement. [4622]

There is no system of on-the-spot fines for the enforcement of road traffic offences but drivers who are stopped by the police for alleged speeding may be issued with fixed penalty notices requiring payment of a set sum of £40 to a court within 28 days and have their licence endorsed with three penalty points. Police officers have no authority to demand or accept payment of a fixed penalty on the spot.Payment of the fixed penalty discharges the offender's liability to conviction by a court. It is open to a driver to decline to accept a fixed penalty and instead request a court hearing in respect of the alleged offence.Policy on the circumstances in which fixed penalty notices are used for enforcing road traffic law is an operational matter for individual chief officers of police. Guidance has been issued to forces by the Association of Chief Police Officers, with the aim of promoting a uniformity of approach to enforcement.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement about the future of the Tote; [4771](2) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) of 12 June,

I hope to appoint the new chairman of the Tote shortly.The competition for the post is being conducted in accordance with the Nolan procedures for public appointments, including advertising the post and consideration by a Home Office advisory panel. I am considering a short list of candidates. It would be premature to make any further comment at this stage.There are no plans at present to change the statutory arrangements governing the Tote. The new chairman will be tasked with a wide-ranging review of the Tote's operations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning animal welfare standards in puppy farms. [4768]

Representations have been received from hon. Members, members of the public and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the recent fire on HM prison, Weare. [4767]

There was no fire on the Weare. On the morning of Thursday 12 June, staff on board the Weare saw smoke and immediately activated the fire alarms. Staff and contractors were quickly evacuated and the fire brigade called, no prisoners were on board the vessel. The fire brigade found no evidence of any fire and have classed this as a false alarm. Staff believe the smoke came from welding work flushed out when the air conditioning system was tested.The smoke alarms were also activated in the evening of Tuesday 17 June. The ship was again quickly evacuated and the fire brigade called. The fire brigade found no fire and confirmed that the alarm had been activated because of smoke from welding work.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the animal welfare implications of selling animals to children under the age of 16 years; and if he will make a statement. [4769]

The Pet Animals Act 1951, as amended, prohibits the sale of animals as pets to persons under the age of 12 years. No assessment has been made as to whether the current age limit has implications for animal welfare.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for changes to the 1997–98 cash limits within his responsibilities. [5474]

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for Class VII, Vote 1 (Home Office administration, police, probation, immigration and other services, England and Wales) will be increased by £127,000 from £4,729,044,000 to £4,729,171,000. This increase is the net effect of a transfer of running costs from the Cabinet Office, and from non-voted fire credit approvals. This transfer from non-voted provision reduces the non-voted cash limit (HO/LACAP) by £60,000 from £89,606,000 to £89,546,000. The Supplementary Estimate will also cover the transfer of responsibility for voluntary services from the Department of National Heritage.In consequence of the above changes, the Home Office gross running cost limit will be increased by £67,000 from £1,887,613,000 to £1,887,680,000.The increases will be offset by transfers and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to re-examine the apportionment of police grant to shire and metropolitan authorities. [4998]

We will be looking carefully at the funding formula by which resources are allocated between police authorities, to consider what modifications might be made both for the short and the longer term.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what use he plans to make of the Internet to make government more open. [5095]

My Department will continue to pursue its programme of publishing material on the Internet whenever suitable opportunities arise.The Home Office site

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the UK Passport Agency performed against its targets in 1996–97; and what performance targets he has set for the Agency in 1997–98. [5553]

I am pleased to say that the UK Passport Agency achieved all its targets in 1996–97. The targets for processing properly completed straightforward applications were met with demand for passport services at its highest recorded level. The average turnround time for the whole year was 6.3 working days. The Passport Agency's financial target was to reduce its unit cost by three per cent. in real terms. The latest indications are that the agency has achieved an 8.5 per cent. real terms reduction in its unit cost. Customer satisfaction levels remain very high.During 1997–98, I expect the Passport Agency to continue to improve its standard of service to the public and manage a predicted reduction in demand as efficiently as possible.I have set the agency the following key targets:-

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what means he ensures that each police authority follows a consistent policy on cautioning persons for possession of cannabis; and if he will make a statement on the practice of multiple cautioning. [4793]

It is for the police to decide whether to caution a person found in possession of a controlled drug, in light of the circumstances of the individual case and in accordance with the guidance on the cautioning of offenders in Home Office Circular 18/1994. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary examines forces' overall cautioning policy and determines whether the policy is being observed in practice.In 1995, the Association of Chief Police Officers issued further guidance on cautioning which encourages the use of gravity factors to ensure consistent identification of aggravating and mitigating circumstances in the decision-making process.The Government intend to tackle the lack of consistency in cautioning and to reduce repeat cautions in respect of all offences. This is why we have pledged to replace repeat cautions with a single final warning for young offenders.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the total amount (a) spent and (b) allocated by his Department on tackling problems relating to drugs in respect of (i) improving international co-operation to reduce supplies from abroad, (ii) increasing the effectiveness of police and Customs enforcement, (iii) maintaining effective deterrents and tight domestic controls, (iv) developing prevention publicity, education and community action and (v) improving treatment and rehabilitation, for (1) 1994, (2) 1995, (3) 1996 and (4) 1997. [4784]

Information on total Government and individual Departments' expenditure on tackling drug misuse is not recorded on an annual basis. The most recently available estimates were published in the White Paper, "Tackling Drugs Together" in May 1996. They show that at least £526 million of expenditure in 1993–94 could be directly attributable to drug programmes and activities across the United Kingdom.The Government will be appointing a "drug czar" to co-ordinate action against drugs, working to the President of the Council as Chair of the Cabinet's co-ordinating committee on drug misuse. One of his or her first tasks will be to review urgently the existing drugs strategy, and put forward proposals for tackling the problem with renewed vigour. This review will include current Government expenditure

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by type of drug the number of persons for each police authority in England and Wales (a) cautioned, (b) proceeded against in a magistrate's court and (c) tried at the Crown Court for possession of a proscribed drug in (i) 1994, (ii) 1995 and (iii) the last 12 month period for which figures are available. [4794]

Details of the numbers of persons cautioned, proceeded against in a magistrates' court or tried at the Crown court for possession of a controlled drug in 1994 and 1995, by type of drug and police force area, are given in the tables, copies of which have been placed in the Library. Data for 1996 will not be available until the late autumn.