To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list (a) the items of emergency and development aid being provided by the British Government to Sierra Leone and (b) their value. [7801]

My Department is not currently providing aid to Sierra Leone. However, we are supporting relief for Sierra Leonean refugees in Guinea (£217,000) and the Gambia (£35,000).

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is the value of the aid that the British Government have committed themselves to provide to Sierra Leone under the Quick Action Programme. [7802]

My Department has pledged £6 million for the Quick Action Programme. Implementation is however suspended following the military coup on 25 May.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment by what dates (a) results of key stage 3 English SAT scores were intended to be returned to schools, (b) the last results were returned to schools and (c) schools are expected to return the results to the national data collection centre; and if he will make a statement. [7931]

Results of the key stage 3 English tests were due to have been returned to schools by 27 June. The majority were returned by that date; the remainder were returned during the first two weeks of July as the scripts were cleared through the final checks put in place by the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority. The test results are returned to the national data collection agency by the markers and not by schools.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment by what date he intends to publish an analysis of the results of key stage 3 English SATs. [7932]

We aim to publish the national results of this year's National Curriculum assessments by the end of September.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the abolition of the binary divide in higher education and its performance. [7459]

Our policy is to foster diversity of missions among institutions within a unified higher education sector so that they can offer a range of choice, meet a variety of needs among students as participation widens, and be genuinely responsive to students, staff and wider community interests. We shall of course wish to consider carefully any relevant recommendations of the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education under Sir Ron Dearing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement about the future of the modern apprenticeship scheme. [7214]

We have no doubt that the training of young people in the workplace to meet the needs of employment has a vital and increasing role to play in sustaining competitiveness to 2000 and beyond. Modern apprenticeships are a key component of this and are making a vital contribution to raising skills. Evaluation studies have consistently shown that Modern apprenticeships are highly popular, of high quality, and meeting the expectations of both employers and young people.We want to sustain and build on this success and intend to develop modern apprenticeships in every sector where there is a demand. There are currently 70 sector frameworks approved with more expected in the next 12 months. Since modern apprenticeships began, over 100,000 young people have started training. There is every sign that employers' demand for Modern Apprentices will continue to grow and we and Training and Enterprise Councils will work together on how best to respond to that demand.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement concerning Government policy on public interest immunity. [8777]

In accordance with the approach adopted by the last Government and set out in the paper placed in the Libraries of the House on 18 December 1996, public interest immunity will not be asserted by the Government unless the relevant Minister believes that disclosure of a document or piece of information will cause real damage to the public interest. The test will be applied rigorously.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will announce the key performance targets for the Treasury Solicitor's Department for 1997–98. [8776]

The Treasury Solicitor's Department was established as an executive agency on 1 April 1996.The following key performance targets have been set for the year 1997–98:

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many 16 and 17-year-olds have received severe hardship allowance in each year since their entitlement to benefit in respect of unemployment was withdrawn. [7891]

Our objective is to reduce poverty and welfare dependency and to promote work incentives. We will develop a system that supports work, savings and honesty. One of our first steps is to focus on helping people off welfare and into work.Unemployed 16 and 17-year-olds who register for work and training can exceptionally apply for benefit if they would otherwise face severe hardship. The number of such young people receiving benefit fluctuates throughout the year but the latest estimate is that some 12,000 receive it at any one point in time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in the Warrington, North constituency have transferred from unemployment related benefits to invalidity or incapacity benefit in the last (a) five years and (b) 12 months. [6661]

[holding answer 10 July 1997]: Modernising the Social Security system is a key priority of this Government. We are committed to a review with the objective of reducing poverty and welfare dependency and promoting work incentives. Support for sick and disabled people will form part of that review.The information requested for the last five years is not available, and the information requested for the last 12 months could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when she plans to restore the Benefits Agency Freephone Hotline; and if she will make a statement. [6980]

Modernising the Social Security system is a key priority of this Government. We will streamline services to provide better, simpler more efficient services to claimants and other customers. There are no plans to restore the Benefits Agency Freeline service. I have asked Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency to write directly and for his reply to be published with this answer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much child support maintenance has been assessed to date but not paid; and what proportion of this is currently assessed to be collectable. [5437]

We expect the Child Support Agency to provide an efficient and effective service to all its clients throughout the child support assessment process. We are looking for substantial and sustained operational improvements from the Agency, in particular on getting more maintenance paid, reducing the backlog and improving customer service.The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mrs. Faith Boardman. She will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what steps he takes to ensure that the rules regarding all-party groups and committees are properly observed. [7819]

This is a matter for the Administration Committee.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what response he intends to make to proposals in the Council of Europe to set international standards for the farming of mink. [6572]

The Standing Committee of The European Convention on the Protection of Animals Kept for Farming Purposes is currently reviewing its 1991 recommendation on the welfare of animals farmed for fur. We shall he pressing for adoption of the highest possible standards, paying proper regard to the welfare of the animals concerned. We will not support any convention that weakens present welfare standards. This does not affect the Government's commitment to bringing an end to fur farming in this country: we are urgently considering how this is to be achieved.

To ask the Ministers of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if information on design flood levels is required to be made freely available to design professionals by the responsible authority. [7248]

The Environment Agency collects information on the risk of flooding from rivers or the sea. I am advised that readily available information on design flood levels can be obtained from the relevant Region of the Agency. Internal Drainage Boards may hold similar information about their districts and I would expect this to be made available on request.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which authority is responsible for confirming design flood levels, particularly flood levels in East Anglia. [7247]

The Environment Agency (and in areas where they exist, Internal Drainage Boards) provide advice to local planning authorities on risks of flooding from rivers or the sea when they are consulted in connection with development plans or planning applications. They also determine the design flood levels for new and improvement flood defence works that they are themselves empowered to construct on rivers or on the coast.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the results of his Department's investigation into the Channel 4 programme "Bringing Home the Bacon". [7706]

This investigation has resulted in prosecution proceedings being taken in Thetford Magistrates Court on Friday 1 August and it would be inappropriate to comment any further whilst criminal proceedings are pending.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food it he will relax the conditions under which licences are issued for the culling of cormorants on inland waterways in circumstances where fish are subject to intense predation. [7933]

Cormorants are protected by the 1979 EC Birds Directive, implemented in the UK by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This Act provides for them to be shot under licence in strictly limited numbers in cases where they are causing serious damage to a fishery and where there is no other satisfactory solution. There are no powers to undertake a general cull.As a licensing authority under the 1981 Act, the Ministry must issue licences in accordance with the requirements of the Act and I cannot, therefore, relax the conditions under which they are issued.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the number of victims of crime who are intimidated by prisoners by (a) letter or (b) telephone; and if he will make a statement. [6606]

Statistics are not currently held centrally on the number of victims of crime who are contacted by prisoners Following the unauthorised use of cardphones and correspondence which may result in disciplinary or criminal proceedings being taken against the prisoner concerned. Such information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by a detailed inspection of prisoners' records.Latest figures obtained from the Prison Service Victim Helpline referred to in the Victim's Charter, a copy of which is in the Library, indicate that in 1996 the Helpline received 11 complaints from victims about written communications from prisoners and 5 complaints about contact using a cardphone for prisoners' use.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the ACPO guidelines for the use of plastic bullets are a classified document; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [8277]

The guidelines are Home Office guidelines which have in the past been classified. The Code of Practice on Access to Government Information exempts from disclosure information that would harm national security or defence but I do not believe the guidelines come within this category. I am therefore placing a copy of the relevant part in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 19 June, Official Report, columns 275–76, when he expects the review of guidelines on the use of plastic baton rounds to be completed. [8269]

The Association of Chief Police Officers, together with the Royal Ulster Constabulary, are currently considering the guidelines. When this review is complete, we will consider any proposals that they wish to make. It will be for Ministers to decide whether any changes in the guidelines should he made. I understand that the review is likely to be completed towards the end of the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of Crown court cases in 1996 resulted in a disposal which could have been imposed by a magistrates court. [7467]

[holding answer 10 July 1997]: Information for 1995 is given in the table below. Data for 1996 will not be available until the autumn.

Proportion of Crown court cases which resulted in a disposal which could have been imposed at a magistrates' court by offence group
England and Wales 1995
Offence Group	percentage
Indictable only	30
Triable either way	62
All offences1	59
1 Including summary offences.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many call-outs were made during the last five years to (a) the Bargoed fire station and (b) the Cefn Forest fire station, Gwent. [6417]

The information requested is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been imprisoned by magistrates courts for non-payment of (a) fines, (b) council tax and (c) community charge in England and Wales in each of the last three years. [6445]

The available information on receptions into prisons in England and Wales of fine defaulters, and those committed for non-payment of council tax/community charge by magistrates or other courts, are given in the attached table. This information is also published in "Prison Statistics, England and Wales" (tables 1.12 and 6.3 of the 1995 edition, Cm 3355), a copy of which is in the Library. No information is available by type of court for persons committed to custody for non-payment of council tax or community charge, as in nearly all cases no court code had been recorded centrally.

Fine defaulters and those committed for non-payment of community charge/council tax received into prisons in England and Wales by type of court, 1994–1996
	Fine defaulters
Year	Crown Court	Magistrates' Court	Other Court	Committed for non-payment of Council tax/Community charge (All Courts)
1994	90	22,342	37	1,363
1995	87	20,035	35	812
19961	59	8,472	24	459
1 Provisional figures.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many mandatory drugs tests have been made on prisoners since the inception of the scheme; how many tests have proved positive; in how many cases where a positive test has arisen the prisoner has challenged the findings with legal aid; in how many cases the prisoner has been discharged from prison before his challenge to the positive test has been processed; and if he will make a statement. [7320]

Between April 1996 and March 1997, the first year in which all establishments undertook mandatory drug tests, almost 57,700 samples were taken under the random testing programme. Of these, some 24 per cent. tested positive for drugs. Information on the number of cases in which legal aid has been granted pursuant to challenging a mandatory drug test result, and on the number of prisoners discharged before a challenge is completed, is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to regulate the recruitment of security guards and night club bouncers; and if he will make a statement. [8004]

We intend to introduce statutory regulation of the private security industry. We will not be able to bring forward legislation in our first year of office, but will use the time to consult with the industry and others on the best way to provide a comprehensive, effective and streamlined system. We want to look beyond the narrow proposals put forward by the previous Government, which focused only on licensing for the contract guarding sector of the industry. In Opposition, we welcomed the recommendations of the Home Affairs Select Committee on regulation. However, the Committee did not offer a detailed blueprint and we will therefore consider the industry as a whole to decide what action is needed. Recruitment of guards and bouncers will certainly be considered as part of this process.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is his Department's policy to release all probation circulars to the press. [6898]

[holding answer 7 July 1997]: Probation circulars are always made available to the media on request. Where they involve matters judged to be of particular public interest, steps are taken to give them to the media, sometimes with a Home Office press notice.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on his Department's timetable for dealing with the Year 2000 Computer Problem; who is in charge of the project; how many staff are working on it; what is the projected cost of resolving the problem; and whether the project is on schedule. [7143]

I take a close personal interest in the progress of the Year 2000 Compliance Projects within the Department and the Agencies and Associated Departments which report to the Lord Chancellor. Senior officials within each organisation have day to day responsibility for the successful resolution of the Year 2000 problem and mechanisms are in place to ensure regular progress reports are submitted to me.Each organisation's Year 2000 Project follows the comprehensive guidance issued by the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency. All are on target to reach the two remaining key milestones set by CCTA and the Central IT Unit: the delivery of prioritised and fully costed plans to CCTA by October 1997 and the completion of modification and testing of all systems by 31 December 1998. Figures for the cost of resolving the Year 2000 problem will, therefore, be available in October. The plans will also detail the managerial, technical and business resources required to achieve compliance. My officials are well aware of the need to develop cost effective solutions met from existing provision.The Chief Land Registrar will be replying directly to the Question on behalf of the Land Registry.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to change the age limits for magistrates. [6922]

The Lord Chancellor announced on 4 July that with immediate effect, he intends to increase the upper age limit for the appointment of lay magistrates to 65. He has no plans to change the lower age limit of 27.

To ask the Secretary of state for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what investigations his Department has undertaken into the use of Hawk aircraft by the Government of Indonesia against its own citizens; [7940](2) if Hawk aircraft have been used by the Government of Indonesia against its own citizens. [7939]

To ask the Secretary of state for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether Hawk jets have been used in East Timor. [7938]

We are looking into allegations of past misuse of certain UK-supplied defence equipment in Indonesia. We have not yet drawn firm conclusions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 30 June. Official Report, column 37, relating to departmental advisers, if Mr. Mathieson has unescorted access to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; what security vetting he has received; and who will pay for the vetting. [7755]

Mr. Mathieson has received a security briefing so that he can enjoy unescorted access to Foreign and Commonwealth office buildings. He has not been vetted and does not have access to protectively marked papers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken by the British Government since 1992 to support democracy and free and fair elections in Sierra Leone. [7800]

We contributed £3 million towards the 1996 electoral process and sent five observers to join the UN election monitoring group.Baroness Chalker visited Sierra Leone in January 1996 and met with the Sierra Leone government, opposition parties and NGOs. We have actively supported NGOs in the promotion of good governance.We have strongly condemned the 25 May coup and are pressing for a peaceful solution to the crisis. We are active within the international organisations that have a role to play, including the United Nations, the Commonwealth and the EU. We support the efforts of regional states to restore the democratically elected government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of allegations of human rights abuses in the Diyarbakir region of Kurdistan by agencies of the Turkish Government; and if he will make a statement. [7462]

Our embassy in Ankara monitors all such allegations of abuses in Turkey, including the province of Diyarbakir. We have consistently reminded the Turkish authorities of their obligation to deal with the problems in the south-east with respect to human rights.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his assessment of the safety of Rwandan refugees in Kenya; and if he will make a statement. [7545]

We are not aware of any grounds for believing that Rwandan refugees in Kenya may be in danger.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Romanian President's comments on NATO's decision to exclude Romania from early admission to NATO. [7260]

We are well aware of the seriousness with which the President and people of Romania have pursued Romania's application to join NATO. Romania's application is a matter for members of the Alliance collectively. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told the House on 9 July, column 937, we see Romania as a strong candidate for any future enlargement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received regarding the search by an inspection team of the UN Special Commission of the St. Paul's Chaldean Church in Baghdad on 18 June. [7161]

On 18 June an official of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) briefly visited two convents and a church which were in an area designated for inspection by a joint team of the UN Special Commission and the IAEA. Under Security Council Resolutions, the Special Commission has the right to designate for inspection any site in Iraq. I am arranging to place in the libraries of the House, copies of a letter from the IAEA to the President of the UN Security Council describing this incident in detail.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the recent article in the Der Spiegel magazine on the Lockerbie bombing; and if he will make a statement. [7792]

[holding answer 10 July 1997]: The Lord Advocate reconfirmed on 25 June— Official Report, House of Lords, columns 1571–73 that he is satisfied on the information available to him that there is no reason not to proceed with the petitions against the Libyans accused of the Lockerbie bombing.The charges against the accused are based on evidence collected by Dumfries and Galloway Police and anyone with any new evidence should make it available to them. The investigation remains open. We have contacted the German authorities for further information on these allegations. They are pursuing their enquiries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will undertake an independent threat assessment study in the context of the Strategic Defence Review. [7261]

I have been asked to reply.The Strategic Defence Review draws on assessments of risks and challenges from a variety of sources, both inside and outside Government. We are therefore measuring Our classified assessments against a range of independent outside views.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to publish his Department's White Paper on New Government. [7573]

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for the City of Durham (Mr. Steinberg), Official Report, 3 June 1997, columns 19–20.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer of 3 July, Official Report, column 221, what meetings he has attended with his European counterparts to ensure that the European Social and Employment Chapters ensure better quality regulation at the European level; and if he will make a statement. [7661]

It is important for us to ensure that European regulations are clear, focused and accessible without imposing unnecessary burdens on business and citizens.On 9 July in Vienna, I met Dr. Hannes Farnleitner, Austrian Minister for Economic Affairs, and Dr. Klaus Bünger, State Secretary in the German Economics Ministry, to discuss ways of working together to improve the quality of European regulation during our consecutive EU Presidencies.I plan to visit other Member States and the European Commission in the Autumn.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if the Property Advisers to the Civil Estate have assessed the potential of City House, Cambridge, as accommodation for Government purposes. [7483]

[holding answer 10 July 1997]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated under the terms of the Framework Document to the Property Advisers to the Civil Estate. I have asked its acting Chief Executive, Mr. Malcolm Bowles, to write to the hon. member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on which occasions the British side of the Anglo-Irish Secretariat has provided information to the Irish side on the Irish Government's nominees for public appointments. [5572]

Under Article 6 of the Anglo-Irish Agreement, the Irish Government may put forward proposals for membership of public bodies in Northern Ireland. The role of the British side of the Secretariat is confined to receiving any such names put forward by the Irish side and, once a decision has been made in relation to a particular appointment, informing the Irish side of the success or otherwise of any candidate they had put forward.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has to increase the funding available to the education sector in Northern Ireland in the next financial year. [5979]

Schools will benefit by £35.4 million in 1998–99 as a result of the recent budget statement by my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Overall allocations for education in 1998–99 and beyond will be informed by decisions on the Comprehensive Spending Review.The recently announced £140 million Welfare to Work programme in Northern Ireland will also benefit the education sector as each of the four new options on offer to unemployed people taking up the programme will include an education or training element. More details about this programme will be announced later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on her Department's timetable for dealing with the Year 2000 Computer Problem; who is in charge of the project; how many staff are working on it; what is the projected cost of resolving the problem; and whether the project is on schedule. [7136]

The individual Departments within the Northern Ireland Civil Service, together with the Northern Ireland Office, have their own programmes of action to overcome the Year 2000 problem and these are being progressed. Northern Ireland Departments are following the guidance issued recently by the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency within OPS. They are working towards a deadline of 1 December 1997 to have fully costed and prioritised plans in place. Accurate figures for the work therefore will be available towards the end of the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Crown premises have fire certificates. [8635]

Following acceptance of Sir Reginald Doyle's Report into the fire at Parliament Buildings, a 2 year target was set for complete certification coverage of the Northern Ireland Government Estate.As at 11 June 1997 there are 239 certifiable premises.Certificates have been issued in respect of 200. In a further 6 buildings, only parts of which are occupied by the Crown, all necessary work in the Crown portion has been completed to the satisfaction of the certifying authority. Certificates will be issued once landlords have completed the necessary work in their portions.Fire safety measures are ongoing at 12 buildings, including some where the work forms part of a major repair and refurbishment scheme.In a further 15 cases the implementation of the work has been deferred because of significant operational requirements or imminent vacation of the premises.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of jobs provided by the construction of wings and fuselage for the Raytheon Hawker Executive Jet Aircraft at the British Aerospace (AIRBUS) site, Broughton, Flintshire. [8290]

I understand that 440 people are currently employed on this work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of jobs at the British Aerospace (AIRBUS) factory in Flintshire. [8289]

I understand that 2,876 people are currently employed at British Aerospace (including 440 employed on the construction of wings and fuselage for the Raytheon Hawker Jet Aircraft).

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the allegations relating to the North Wales Tec (CELTEC); and what action he proposes to take. [7894]

Various anonymous allegations have been received by the Welsh Office which I have asked officials to pursue. I will write to the hon. Member when their enquiries have been completed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 4 July, Official Report column 294, who provided the legal opinion; who conducted the economic analysis on the barrage; and if he will place copies of the reports in the Library. [7784]

[holding answer 10 July 1997]: My officials have on my behalf undertaken a review of the barrage project. I have also considered fresh legal advice, particularly on the status of the project in relation to European Directives.Their advice to me included an assessment of potential financial costs. Committed expenditure on the scheme is around £140 million. Failure to proceed, involving clearance of the Bay and contractual penalties, could add over £30 million to this. None of these amounts would be recoverable and would represent fruitless expenditure if the project were abandoned.I also gave weight to the legitimate expectations of those who have invested in the Bay—and are still doing so—in the belief that the barrage was a key priority in the regeneration of South Cardiff and would be completed, creating the waterfront that has been central to the Bay's investment promotion strategy. Setting aside estimates of future growth, ventures recently announced or at an advanced stage of discussion alone involve investment of some £200 million, bringing major development and employment benefits to the area.The Commission have accepted that the compensation measures proposed would be adequate to meet the requirements of Article 6(4) of the Habitats Directive.For these reasons, I have felt bound to conclude that the only proper course open to me was not to intervene and to allow the project to proceed.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals for harmonised energy taxation are currently under discussion at European Union level. [6091]

The Energy Products Directive is currently under discussion. An explanatory memorandum on the proposal, COM(97)30—full name "Proposal for a Council Directive Restructuring the Community Framework for the Taxation of Energy Products"—was deposited in the House of Commons Library on 21 May.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will publish the statement on the 1997 European Community Budget. [8726]

I have today laid before Parliament the Statement on the 1997 Community Budget, entitled "European Community Finances". This White Paper is the seventeenth in the series. As in the past, it covers annual budgetary matters and includes details of recent developments in European Community financial management and in countering fraud against the Community Budget. It also describes the budget for 1997 as adopted by the European Parliament and the United Kingdom's gross and net contributions to the Community Budget over the years 1994 to 1997.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the additional revenue which will be raised by the increase in hydrocarbon oil duty from an imposition up to the end of November. [7386]

[holding answer 8 July 1997]: The revenue yield from starting the announced Budget measures on road fuels, gas oil and fuel oil duties on 2 July instead of end November 1997 is approximately £695 million.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures have been taken during the past five years to improve the energy efficiency of 11 Downing Street; at what point on the National Home Energy Rating Scheme 11 Downing Street lies; and what future measures are planned to increase its energy efficiency. [7103]

I have been asked to reply.I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 10 July 1997

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish his Department's submission to the Review on Open Government. [7250]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Hereford (Mr. Keetch) on 4 July, Official Report, column 294.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the role of the Defence Committee in the Strategic Defence Review. [6665]

The role of the Defence Select Committee is to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of the Ministry of Defence. In this context, I expect the Defence Select Committee, once established, to take a constructive and close interest as the Review progresses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of his Department's (a) military and (b) civilian employees in Northern Ireland, indicating those whose function will be covered by the Strategic Defence Review. [6753]

As at 1 April 1997 there were:

(a) 11,822 members of the Regular Forces plus 2,818 Home Service full-time and 2,006 Home Service part-time members of the Royal Irish Regiment.

(b) 3,184 MOD civilian employees

in Northern Ireland. The Strategic Defence review will cover all aspects of how our Armed Forces should be structured, equipped and deployed. It is too soon to comment on particular issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are being made to invite submissions in connection with the Defence Review from informed commentators outside his Department. [7061]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence invited all those with an interest in defence to submit contributions to the Strategic Defence Review when he launched the Review on 28 May. Many have been received, including from informed commentators, and they are being taken into account in work on the Review. Outside contributions are also being made through the joint Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Ministry of Defence seminars on the Review policy baseline, in which a wide cross-section of expertise has been involved.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in respect of his Strategic Defence Review (a) those subjects which are excluded and (b) those on which he has invited observations, submissions and evidence. [7376]

No subjects are excluded from the Strategic Defence Review. It is, however, based on the policy principles on which the Government was elected. In addition, some issues such as Service personnel policy will be considered as a matter of routine and not form a specific part of the Review process, although the impact on them of decisions taken in the Review may need to be considered.We have invited inputs from all those with good ideas on policy and the best use of defence resources.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress he has made in arranging for input to the Strategic Defence Review to he developed on an all party basis. [7350]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence wrote to Opposition Defence Spokesmen on 28 May informing them of the proposed conduct of the Strategic Defence Review and inviting their contributions to the debate. He has also written to every right hon. and hon. Member and spokespersons of all UK parties in the European Parliament inviting their inputs into the Review process. My noble Friend the Minister of State for Defence Procurement has written similarly to interested Peers. Contributions are also being made by invited representatives from the Opposition Parties at the joint Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Ministry of Defence seminars on the Review policy baseline.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which departmental meetings concerned with the Strategic Defence Review have been filmed for a television documentary. [7892]

No departmental meetings concerned with the strategic Defence Review have yet been filmed for a television documentary. A BBC TV documentary team has, however, filmed the first open seminar on the Strategic Defence Review, held at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 3 July.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received regarding the search by an inspection team of the UN Special Commission of the St. Paul's Chaldean Church in Baghdad on 18 June. [7162]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him today by my hon. Friend, the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett).

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the minimum number of Eurofighter aircraft needed to meet the RAF's operational requirement. [7893]

The minimum number of Eurofighter aircraft required to replace our Tornado F3 and Jaguar aircraft is 232.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the responsibilities of the British tobacco industry in respect of public health, following the agreement in the United States concerning tobacco industry funding of health care for sufferers of smoking-related diseases. [5955]

The full details of the United States settlement will be studied as they become available. All aspects of tobacco control strategy, including this development, will be examined at our Summit meeting of national and international experts on 14 July.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the implications for the NHS of the increasing use of the Internet in informing patient choices of the nature and range of treatment available to those suffering from specific complaints. [5949]

Sharing information about health and healthcare is central to the National Health Service Executive's Information Management and Technology Strategy for the NHS. The establishment of a networking infrastructure makes it possible to examine the potential for telemedicine and online booking of appointments, together with the electronic transfer of test requests and results. The network can also be used to deliver multimedia training material to clinicians, together with health educational and informative material that can be targeted at specific groups of patients and the public—for example, on smoking—that could be made available through general practitioner surgeries and clinics.Scope for direct public access to health information is clearly more limited—it is paramount that there should be no compromise to the security and confidentiality of clinical information systems. Nevertheless there is considerable opportunity for the Department, the NHS Executive, and the NHS to make available generic health information and information about the NHS; an increasing number of trusts and health authorities are already creating publicly accessible websites on the Internet. There is interest within the Department and the NHS on extending these as communications possibilities open up through public library networks and the proposed public access kiosk.Department of Health officials maintain liaison with industry to ensure their support and co-operation in exploiting the potential of electronic communications in the delivery of responsive and efficient healthcare, and take part in the Department of Trade and Industry's "IT for All" initiative.

To ask the Secretary or State for Health what is the value of PFI projects above which NHS trusts must seek approval to proceed from his Department. [6823]

The table shows the value of Private Finance Initiative projects above which National Health Service trusts must seek approval from the NHS Executive. This value is dependent on turnover.

Total Capital Cost/Whole Life Cost1	Outline and full business case approval must be sought from the NHS Executive if NHS trust turnover is:
Over £250.000	Under £30 million
Over £600,000	£30 million to £80 million
Over £1 million	Over £80 million
1 Whole Life Cost relates to information Management & Technology projects.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which of his approved PFI hospital projects have (a) outline planning permission and (b) full planning permission. [8148]

"Approved" means that all the parties involved in the project (officials, Ministers, consortia and financiers) have reached agreement to the point where a commercial contract has been signed, thereby ensuring that the project can proceed successfully to financial close.Two schemes, at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust and Norfolk and Norwich Healthcare NHS Trust, have reached this stage and both have full planning permission.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is for each of the approved PFI hospital projects the amount expended to date on legal and financial advice and other consultancy fees by the relevant NHS trust. [8153]

Information is now collected centrally on total expenditure on fees for external consultants involved in major Private Finance Initiative schemes. Two schemes, at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust and Norfolk and Norwich Healthcare NHS Trust have reached agreement to proceed to financial close. The figures for the amounts expended to date by these two trusts on legal and financial fees is as follows:

• Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust—£1,990,000
• Norfolk and Norwich Healthcare NHS Trust—£2,200,000

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what amount was spent on Community Dental Services (a) nationally and (b) broken down by health authority in 1995–96 and 1996–97. [7382]

The level of expenditure on the Community Dental Service is decided by individual health authorities. For 1995–96, we have only information provided by National Health Service trusts on their expenditure on Paediatric Dental Community Services. This expenditure in England was £88.295 million. Information for 1996–97 will not be available until the end of the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which health authorities have, during the last five years, asked the Secretary of State to use his powers under section 56 of the National Health Service Act 1977 over the provision of the general dental service and of the Community Dental Service in their areas. [7381]

Where there is evidence of inadequate provision of general dental services in any area or part of an area, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health may use his powers under Section 56 of the National Health Service Act 1997 to help health authorities secure the adequate provision of services. This section does not apply to the Community Dental Service. The health authorities who have applied to the Secretary of State for Health since 1992 under Section 56 are shown in the table. The table is based on the new health authority boundaries which came into effect on 1 April 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if, under the guidelines set out in section D2 of the health service guidelines on primary care dental services (HSG (97) 4) of 14 March, anyone refused NHS dental treatment on the NHS because of a shortage of NHS dentists in their area will be entitled to use the Community Dental Service. [7385]

Health authorities are expected to look first to the Community Dental Service to act as a safety net for patients unable to secure National Health Service treatment, before any alternative measures are considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements his Department has made for monitoring the quality of the meals supplied by meals-on-wheels services. [7191]

"Caring for Quality in Day Services" is a standard which applies as part of an inspection process, copies of which are available in the Library. It encourages agencies to review their day service provision and offers guidance on how best to provide positive packages which include appropriate provision of meals services.We would expect local authorities and health authorities to ensure that when providing meals services the preparation and delivery arrangements comply with proper hygiene and health standards. Nursing and care staff in hospital, residential and nursing home settings are expected to ensure that people in need of assistance with eating receive it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average net ingredient cost per course of treatment was in each of the last 10 years for the British National Formulary Chapters in respect of infections, immunological products and vaccines, skin, the gastro-intestinal system and the respiratory system. [7232]

The information requested is shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements he is introducing to ensure that the additional resources for the NHS in the year 1998–99 released in his Budget are equitably distributed across health authorities throughout the United Kingdom. [7724]

An announcement will be made about 1998–99 allocations in the autumn. We are committed to allocating resources as fairly as possible fully to reflect local population needs.Questions relating to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland, for Wales and for Northern Ireland, respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the amounts of additional funds that NHS hospital trusts would receive in 1998–99 using allocations for 1997–98 as the pro rata basis for this calculation. [7448]

National Health Service trusts receive most of their income through contracts with health authorities and general practitioner fundholders. They are not directly funded by the Department of Health.An announcement will be made about 1998–99 allocations to health authorities in the Autumn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a list of staff grades employed in the NHS on hourly rates indicating hourly rates for those jobs for 1997–98. [7455]

The pay of National Health Service staff on national terms and conditions of service is generally expressed on an annual or weekly basis. The current national pay rates for staff employed in the NHS are published in the various Advance Letters for each staff group, copies of which are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what legal fees have so far been paid to consultants in respect of PFI proposals in North Staffordshire. [7450]

North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare National Health Service Trust have incurred costs of £26,000 to date relating to fees paid to external legal consultants engaged as part of the Private Finance Initiative scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for the review of health care in London (a) the expected completion date and (b) the cost of conducting the review. [8262]

The Independent Advisory Panel undertaking the London review have been asked to report by the end of October this year. The cost of the review will be low.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the advisory panel on health services in London is empowered to review and make recommendations on any future service changes in London currently planned to take place after the period of the review. [7879]

Decisions on all service changes in London after the completion of the review will take into account the recommendations of the panel.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if the advisory panel on health services in London is required to work in partnership with the NHS Executive to establish the financial implications of all the currently proposed service changes at (a) Guy's hospital, (b) St. Thomas's hospital, (c) King's College hospital and (d) Lewisham hospital, including in each case their impact on other services; [7880](2) if the advisory panel on health services in London is required to consider the coherence of all current plans, including for capital investment of

The panel has been asked to ensure coherence in health authority and National Health Service trust plans, including proposals for capital investment, and to review health authority plans for 1998–99. The panel will consider plans for services by these health authorities and trusts within this context.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the criteria by which the future of St. Bartholomew's hospital, Queen Mary's Roehampton and Harold Wood and Oldchurch hospitals were singled our for specific reference in the terms of reference of the advisory panel on health services in London. [7882]

It is not too late to review these proposals and we want to be sure that the right decisions are taken in terms of meeting the needs of local people. Changes currently proposed in these three areas are of genuine concern to the public and to health professionals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he classifies haemodialysis as a clinical service; [8152](2) if he will publish a full list of clinical services available through the national health service; [8150](3) what is his definition of a clinical service. [8149]

I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 10 July 1997, column 579.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list each of the clinical services which will be available at each of the PFI hospitals on his approved list of PFI projects. [8151]

As part of the review of the Private Finance Initiative, officials will be considering what services may be included in PFI projects and are aiming to produce a list of these by the end of the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Department's letter of 20 June, POH (3) 5437/5 if he will assess the advantages of requiring airlines to add (a) glutaralydehyde and (b) other water-soluble oils active against viruses, to aircraft disinfectant tanks. [7934]

There would be no advantage in adding glutaraldehyde, or similar disinfectants, to aircraft sewage tanks because the normal processes for treating such sewage are considered adequate for the protection of public health.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for mergers of NHS trusts in the Birmingham area; and if he will make a statement on their effect on the future of Solihull hospital. [8157]

There are currently no proposals for trust mergers in the Birmingham area. In April 1996, Solihull hospital merged with Birmingham Heartlands NHS Trust to form Birmingham Heartlands and Solihull NHS trust (Teaching). The merger secured the future of Solihull Hospital and local services for the people of Solihull. There are no plans to change this arrangement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the non-construction costs were of the last district general hospital to be built; and which it was. [8146]

There is no recognised definition of non-construction costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the average cost of the professional work involved in preparing the plans and relevant project details for a district general hospital valued at (a) £50 million, (b) £100 million, (c) £150 million and (d) £200 million. [8154]

Costs vary depending on whether the scheme is new build or refurbishment, the method of fee acceptance and other factors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average time taken by his Department from project inception to formal approval for the last five district general hospitals to he built. [8147]

Project inception is not a standard term, so the information requested is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions the construction consortium negotiating the PFI contract for the Norfolk and Norwich hospitals prevented commercial close being achieved by a request for further contractual negotiations. [8156]

The procurement has been conducted using the negotiated procedure of the European Union procurement regulations. Commercial close cannot be achieved until all negotiations have been concluded to the satisfaction of both parties.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for each road scheme under construction the projected costs and the actual costs in the same format as in the answer of 16 October 1995, Official Report, columns 75–80. [6871]

I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency to write to my right hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research his Department (a) is undertaking, (b) has evaluated and (c) has conducted into the effects on pedestrians of the positioning of exhaust outlets of heavy goods vehicles and public service vehicles at ground level; if he will introduce legislation to require repositioning of exhaust outlets at the top of vehicles, along the lines of that introduced in the United States; and if he will make a statement. [7460]

The Government is not aware of any research into the effects on pedestrians of the positioning of exhaust outlets of heavy goods and public service vehicles and has not considered making it mandatory to reposition exhaust outlets at the top of vehicles. It is however a requirement that buses have their exhaust pipes at the rear or on the off side of the vehicle.Exhaust emissions from heavy vehicles are being addressed through a series of improvements in vehicle design and exhaust after-treatment systems, together with in-service enforcement measures, which are aimed at achieving a general standard of air quality. Although, against this background, it would not appear that the position of the exhaust pipe will have any significant impact on health, it is nevertheless a factor which we shall take into account as we explore with industry how even cleaner and more efficient vehicles may be produced.