To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are being used to evaluate the options for Operation Quantum. [10100]

The suppliers' proposals were evaluated using a number of criteria under the headings business fit, viability and commercial assessment.The criteria for the evaluation of the options within the proposals remain to be defined. They will include the closest attention to the proposals' impact on Prison Service staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many options are currently being considered in regard to Operation Quantum which are either (a) privately run, (b) mixed economy and (c) in partnership; and what assessment he had made of the most cost-effective option. [10090]

This information is treated as commercial in confidence, being part of a competitive procurement between a number of suppliers.No assessment has yet been made of the cost-effectiveness of any of the options.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received on the status of HM Prison Service as a service provider under the terms of the Disability Discrimination Act 1996. [10396]

I have no record of having received such representations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the effects which implementation of EC directives 80/181 and 89/617 has had on the ability of the police to identify suspects. [10335]

The implementation of these directives represented the final stage of the process of replacing imperial units with metric units as the primary system of measurement. We have no evidence that the adoption of metric units has affected the ability of the police to identify suspects.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average time between a stalking complaint being made to the police and a prosecution being brought. [10368]

Information is not held centrally on the time taken by the police to investigate reported breaches of the criminal law. The length of time taken to conduct an investigation will vary depending on the circumstances of the case. There are non-statutory time guidelines agreed by all the criminal justice agencies that cover each stage of the process from granting of police bail to commencement of a Crown court trial. Where a person is granted police bail with a duty to return to the police station, the maximum time guideline is three weeks unless a protracted investigation or other compelling consideration is involved. The Government are determined to cut delays in the criminal justice system, starting with a speeding up of youth justice.The new criminal offences created by the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 came into force on 16 June 1997 and it is too soon to make any assessment of the time taken to deal with offences under the Act.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what guidelines his Department issues to pet shops and traders on the sale of exotic pets; and if he will make a statement; [10787](2) what plans he has to introduce licences for those keeping exotic animals not defined by statute as dangerous; and if he will make a statement. [10784]

The Department has not issued guidelines to pet shops about the sale of exotic pets. The Pet Animals Act 1951, as amended in 1983, controls the sale of all animals as pets from pet shops. The Act requires any person keeping a pet shop to be licensed by the local authority.Before granting a licence, the authority must satisfy itself that the animals are kept in accommodation that is suitable and clean, that they are supplied with appropriate food and drink and that they are protected from disease and fire. The local authority may inspect licensed premises at all reasonable times.There are no plans to introduce licences for those keeping animals, including exotic animals. The welfare of exotic animals kept as pets is provided for under the Protection of Animals Act 1911, which makes it an offence to ill treat or cause any unnecessary suffering to any domestic or captive animal.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what grounds the letter dated 20 July 1996 supplied by the assistant registrar Mohammedan of marriage and divorces, Nairobi is considered deficient as documentary evidence of the divorce in Kenya of Fatuma Njoki Ali Juma; and what further documentary evidence he requires. [10988]

The immigration and nationality directorate has no reason to doubt the genuineness of the divorce certificate in question, but inquiries have been complicated by the fact that when Fatuma Juma applied for entry clearance to join her current husband she told the entry clearance officer in Nairobi that she had not previously been married.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been admitted to the country since 5 February 1996 on the basis of a written sponsorship undertaking. [10288]

I regret that the information requested is not available because it is not compiled.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Government's proposals for incorporation of the European convention on human rights into British law will empower the judiciary to overturn parliamentary statutes. [10400]

We are still considering the detail of the incorporation scheme, but we attach great importance to maintaining parliamentary sovereignty and note the difficulties with the idea that the courts should be able to set aside Acts of Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many British citizens M15 holds information. [10449]

It has been the practice of successive Governments not to disclose information about operational matters relating to the Security Service.I do not propose to depart from that practice.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce measures to ensure blood samples are taken from those dying after (a) ecstasy and (b) other illegal substance use. [11013]

Coroners are responsible for investigating the sudden, violent and unnatural deaths reported to them and already have powers to request the testing of blood samples in order to establish the medical cause of death.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will establish a system whereby released prisoners who have served long sentences prior to the Court of Appeal finding them to have been wrongfully convicted may receive counselling and other help in making necessary readjustments following their release. [7399]

[holding answer 14 July 1997]: Following their release from prison in any circumstances, the responsibility for meeting the health care needs of individuals lies with the national health service. It is open to anyone wishing to receive counselling support following release to seek a referral through his or her general practitioner. Alternatively, in cases of wrongful conviction where it has been established that an individual qualifies for payment of compensation, he or she may apply for an interim payment to help alleviate any immediate financial difficulties or to pay for private counselling or other care. Prison Service discharge procedures include giving prisoners advice about the support services available to them and the probation service is expected to provide resettlement advice or help to released prisoners who ask for it.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list each local authority police committee and community police consultative group in England and Wales. [10470]

Under the Police and Magistrates' Courts Act 1994, now consolidated in the Police Act 1996, the 41 local authority police committees outside London were replaced on 1 April 1995 by police authorities which are free-standing corporate bodies.The 41 police authorities in England and Wales as listed in schedule 1 to the Police Act 1996 are:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what studies his Department has evaluated into the correlation between attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder and juvenile crime; if he will make it his policy to ensure that juveniles convicted of more than three crimes should be assessed for ADHD by a medical practitioner competent in the pharmacological treatment of this condition; and if he will make a statement; [10506](2) if he will introduce measures to ensure that

The incidence of hyperactivity, attention deficit and impulsivity at ages eight to 10 years has been found independently to predict future juvenile convictions. This finding arises from work by the Cambridge study of delinquent development, which was largely funded by the Home Office. Of course, the causes of juvenile delinquency are complex and wide ranging and hyperactivity is only one of many indicators. Research indicates that the following factors are particularly significant: being male; being brought up by a criminal parent or parents; living in a family with multiple problems; experiencing poor parenting and a lack of supervision; poor discipline in the family and at school; experiencing failure and disaffection at school; associating with delinquent friends; and having brothers and sisters who offend.However, the Government are developing policies to bring about early identification of social and medical factors which may act as a trigger to delinquent behaviour or increase the likelihood of misbehaviour, not least by the inquiries at the "final warning" stage which we intend should lead to targeted intervention. The findings of the Cambridge study and other evidence of delinquent development will be taken into account as we draw up plans for the final warning which we intend to include in the Crime and Disorder Bill later this Session.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the degree of correlation between emotional disturbance among young people and committal to detention centres; what estimate he has made of the proportion of the cost of detention centres accounted for by such young people; and if he will make a statement. [10538]

Detention centres and youth custody centres were replaced by young offender institutions in 1988.No such assessment has been made. The reports of two surveys of prisoners' mental health undertaken by the Institute of Psychiatry include findings about the prevalence of mental disorder in young men, although data on young women were not collated separately from data on adult women.The first survey, the report of which was published by the Home Office in 1991 and entitled "Mentally Disordered Prisoners", estimated that 33 per cent. of sentenced male young offenders could be diagnosed as suffering from some form of mental disorder, including harmful or dependent use of substances, excluding cannabis. The corresponding figure for unsentenced young men in the report of the second survey, published by the Home Office in 1996 as "Mental Disorder in Remand Prisoners", was 53 per cent.No statistics are available centrally on which to estimate the additional costs of caring for, and treating, prisoners with emotional or mental health problems, as distinct from those who do not have such problems.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make it his policy to seek to amend the Official Secrets Act 1989 by the insertion of a public interest defence; [10608](2) what plans he has to repeal the Official Secrets Act 1989. [10612]

[holding answers 25 July 1997]: The Official Secrets Act 1989 protects only a very narrow range of information and only if the disclosure is likely to cause damage. We have no plans to repeal the Act since this would risk allowing disclosures which might harm the national interest.With regard to a public interest defence, the 1989 Act is not concerned with embarrassing disclosures; it is concerned with disclosures that give rise to specific kinds of harm to the national interest. It is difficult to envisage how a public interest defence could be appropriately deployed in this narrow and specific set of circumstances. A person who knowingly harms the public interest so seriously that a prosecution under the Act would be justified should be criminally liable and it is difficult to see circumstances in which that harm could be disregarded because of the motives of the individual. If a prosecution is brought, the court is able to consider all the circumstances of the case in imposing an appropriate sentence and motivation would be a factor to be included in that consideration.There is no question of a Crown servant needing to risk criminal penalties to bring suspicions of wrongdoing to the attention of higher authorities. Under the civil service code, introduced with effect from 1 January 1996, civil servants are required to report wrongdoing to the appropriate authorities. Where a civil servant has reported such a matter and believes that the response does not represent a reasonable response to the grounds of his or her concern, he or she may report the matter in writing to the civil service commissioners.

To ask the Attorney-General when he expects (a) to lay before Parliament and (b) to publish the report and accounts of the Government Property Lawyers for 1996–97. [11416]

The annual report and accounts of the Government Property Lawyers were laid before Parliament on Friday and are now published.Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people subscribed to cable or satellite television in each year since 1979. [10831]

I understand from the Independent Television Commission that data were not collected consistently until 1986. Cable data from the commission for years from 1986 are given in the table. The ITC does not collect data directly on the number of satellite subscribers, but survey estimates of the number of satellite homes from 1989 available from the Broadcasters Audience Research Board are also given:

Cable		Satellite
Year	Homes connected	Year	Homes connected
January 1986	127,481	—	—
January 1987	188,459	—	—
January 1988	249,642	—	—
January 1989	272,559	March 1989	67,000
January 1990	302,438	March 1990	681,000
January 1991	422,705	January 1991	1,312,000
January 1992	490,059	February 1992	1,783,000
January 1993	652,366	January 1993	2,297,000
January 1994	783,089	January 1994	2,664,000
January 1995	1,055,362	January 1995	2,970,000
January 1996	1,419,865	January 1996	3,472,000
January 1997	1,965,911	January 1997	3,734,000

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many satellite television channels were available in the United Kingdom in (a) 1979 and (b) 1996. [10832]

No satellite channels were available in the UK in 1979. By the end of 1996, the Independent Television Commission had granted licences for 150 satellite television services. The commission estimates that about two thirds of these were operational. Viewers in the UK with the necessary reception equipment could also receive a similar number of services from overseas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to provide lottery funding for local authorities to support extra-curricular (a) arts, (b) dance and (c) music classes; and if he will make a statement. [10375]

In the White Paper my Department launched on 21 July, we outlined plans for out-of-school activities which would allow local education authorities and others to seek lottery funding to support a wide range of creative projects. We also gave a specific example of how the new opportunities fund might support schools programmes in music teaching.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the quangos within his Department's responsibility which he has to date announced his intention (a) to abolish and (b) to make subject to a significant element of democratic accountability. [9673]

[holding answer 25 July 1997]: My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has announced a review of quangos with the aim of reducing their overall number and proposes to issue a discussion paper on how democratic oversight of unelected public bodies might best be enhanced. We shall consider the future of all the bodies in the responsibility of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport as part of the departmental spending review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the attendance figures for the financial year ended 31 March reported by the national museums and galleries for which he is responsible, broken down into the individual institutions, including their outstations, with figures in each case of the percentage change on the attendance figures for the preceding year. [8976]

[holding answer 21 July 1997]: The table lists the number of visits to the 12 national museums and galleries in England for the financial year ended 31 March 1997. The information has been provided by the institutions. The year-on-year changes are affected by a number of factors, including variations to the exhibition programmes of each of the institutions and closures to gallery spaces due to major refurbishments.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when legal aid fees for advice and assistance were last set; what the hourly rate is; and what the hourly rate would currently be if it had been uprated in line with (a) inflation and (b) increases in average professional civil service pay rates. [10165]

The present remuneration rates for legal aid advice and assistance were set in April 1996. It is not possible to provide figures adjusted by the increase in professional civil servant pay rates because pay levels are determined by Departments. Central figures are not kept and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

	Green form rates £	Uprated by GDP £	Uprated by increase in public administration earnings1£
FIRMS HOLDING A FRANCHISE FROM THE LEGAL AID BOARD
London
Preparation	48.25	49.26	49.07
Travelling and waiting	25.50	26.14	25.93
Letter and telephone calls	3.70	3.79	3.76
National
Preparation	45.50	46.64	46.27
Travelling and waiting	25.50	26.14	25.93
Letter and telephone calls	3.55	3.64	3.61
ALL OTHER FIRMS
London
Preparation	46.50	47.66	47.29
Travelling and waiting	24.50	25.11	24.92
Letter and telephone calls	3.55	3.64	3.61
National
Preparation	44.00	45.10	44.75
Travelling and waiting	24.50	25.11	24.92
Letter and telephone calls	3.40	3.49	3.46
1 Source: Employment Gazette.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how much was paid out by the Legal Aid Board in respect of medical negligence legal actions brought against NHS trusts and health authorities in irrecoverable costs; and what was the total sum recovered in damages in such cases in the last three years. [10084]

Information in the form requested is not available because the Legal Aid Board's database does not record the name or status of the assisted party's opponent. However, the total paid out of the legal aid fund and recoveries in medical negligence cases in each of the last three years was as follows:

	Gross payments £	Damages recovered £	Costs recovered/set off £	Net costs to fund £
1994–95	38,563,724	41,411,411	13,341,879	23,920,296
1995–96	50,199,270	65,809,664	22,035,516	26,856,210
1996–97	54,331,152	74,186,110	25,846,020	27,207,573

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if the estate of the late Frederick West is now solvent. [10136]

The Government have no involvement with the West estate. The Official Solicitor, who is independent of the Government, has been appointed as administrator of the West estate by the court. Like any other administrator, he is accountable only to the court and, through the court, to the beneficiaries. The distribution of The table shows the current rates and the rates uprated by inflation and by the increase in public administration earnings.the estate and any income derived from it is a matter of law. Any questions on the estate should be addressed to the Official Solicitor.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set up a register of interests for the members of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England. [10378]

The Chancellor's letter of 6 May to the Governor setting out the new monetary policy framework states that the four members of the Monetary Policy Committee appointed from outside the Bank will be allowed to engage in other activities only if they do not give rise to a conflict of interest and that they must seek the Chancellor's approval before so doing. They will provide the Bank with a full list of any outside activities. All the other members of the committee are subject to the Bank's terms and conditions of service for staff, which prohibit any activities that might lead to a conflict of interest. In the light of these provisions, there is no need for a register of interests for the members of the committee.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what ways the Treasury is contributing to the forthcoming White Paper on international development. [10440]

The Treasury is one of a number of Government Departments consulted by the Department for International Development on the White Paper, and our contributions will be set out in that document.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many litres of (a) unleaded and (b) four-star petrol were sold in each of the last five years; and how much he estimates the reduced rate of excise on unleaded petrol, relative to that of four-star petrol, cost the Exchequer over the same period. [10253]

The amount of (a) unleaded petrol and (b) four-star petrol released for consumption in the last five years was:

align="right">Million litres
	Unleaded petrol	Leaded petrol
1992–93	15,415	16,485
1993–94	16,928	14,154
1994–95	18,070	12,583
1995–96	19,177	10,843
1996–97	20,552	9,198

On the assumption that the unleaded share has not increased after 1992–93 in the absence of the duty differential, the cost to the Exchequer of the unleaded rate being less than the leaded rate would have been approximately £4.5 billion. This is an estimate because factors other than the duty differential would have affected the unleaded share.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress he has made in obtaining the necessary authorisation at EC level for reducing the duty on ultra-low-sulphur diesel. [10254]

The necessary EC derogation has now been obtained. A reduced rate of excise duty on ultra-low-sulphur diesel will be introduced as soon as possible after Royal Assent to the current Finance Bill.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the Government's policy on maintaining the percentage differential on the rate of excise between unleaded petrol and four-star petrol. [10250]

The Government remain committed to a tax incentive to discourage drivers from switching from unleaded to leaded petrol. The Chancellor took the view in his last Budget to leave the differential unchanged in cash terms.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 1 July, Official Report, column 105, if the latest estimated figures of duty revenues lost as a result of cross-border shopping include VAT. [9942]

Figures given in the answer of 1 July were for excise duty only and did not include any amounts for VAT.Customs' estimate of excise duty and VAT revenues lost from legitimate cross-border shopping for alcohol and tobacco products for the year ending 30 June 1996 is given in the table.

Revenue losses from cross-border shopping (£ million)
Product type	Excise duty	VAT	Total revenue
Beer	25	15	40
Wine	75	35	105
Spirits	45	15	60
Tobacco products	55	15	70
Total	200	75	275

Figures have been independently rounded to £5 million. Figures in this answer assume that 50 per cent. of alcohol purchased is additional consumption; this assumption is currently under review.Customs' estimate of total revenue evasion—excise duty and VAT—through smuggling of alcohol and tobacco products, excluding any losses from commercial fraud, is set out in the table. The actual loss to the Exchequer will be less than the amount of revenue evaded, as some smuggling is likely to represent additional consumption rather than substituting for similar goods bought in the UK.

Revenue evaded through smuggling (£ million)
Product type	Excise duty	VAT	Total revenue
Beer	75	35	110
Wine	35	15	50
Spirits	40	10	50
Hand-rolling tobacco	335	85	425
Cigarettes and other tobacco products	110	25	135
Total	590	175	770

Figures have been independently rounded to £5 million. Components may not therefore sum to the totals given.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what plans he has to legislate against tax avoidance schemes relating to offshore trusts in Jersey; [10078](2) what is his Department's policy towards British companies setting up employee offshore trusts with the intention of avoiding capital gains tax. [10077]

The Chancellor announced in his Budget a wide-ranging review of all areas of tax avoidance.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list his targets for savings in the Ministry of Defence in connection with his comprehensive spending review. [8188]

The scope of the strategic defence review was announced on 28 May. It will be integrated with our wider comprehensive spending review announced on 11 June, which is addressing priorities across all Government expenditure.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the real reduction in NHS expenditure for (a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99, excluding allocations from the reserve, consequential on the higher GDP deflator announced in the Budget. [8141]

[holding answer 11 July 1997]: On the basis of the inflation forecast published in the Budget, the expenditure plans set by the last Government for the NHS provided for real-terms growth across the UK of 0.8 per cent. in 1997–98 and a real-terms fall of 0.5 per cent. in 1998–99. However, the additional sums allocated to the NHS in the Budget will result in a real increase of 21/4 per cent. next year.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate, in 1995–96 prices, the change in real value of the control total for public expenditure in (a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99 relative to the forecast in the November 1996 Budget, as a consequence of the new estimates of the GDP deflator contained in his Budget; and if he will make a statement. [9483]

[holding answer 21 July 1997]: We are keeping to the inherited control totals for 1997–98 and 1998–99 as promised in the manifesto. There have been no cuts in the cash programmes set out in the 1996 Budget.As set out in the 1996 and the 1997 Budgets, the real values of the control total, in 1995–96 prices, for the next two years respectively are £254.8 billion and £256.6 billion; and £252.3 billion and £252.2 billion.In his Budget announced on 2 July, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor announced significant real increases for key priorities in 1998–99—NHS spending of 21/4 per cent. and for current spending on UK schools of 23/4 per cent. despite the higher inflation we inherited from the previous Government. We have also provided extra resources, as we also promised, under welfare to work and the capital receipts initiative which, as we have always made clear, would be additional to the control totals.We will meet our obligations on these key priorities, but we will not lose sight of the need to keep a firm grip on inflation through the new framework for monetary policy and a close control on how we, as a Government, spend people's money. Cash planning without automatic inflation adjustments has been a key principle of spending control for two decades. It is not right to accommodate higher inflation by automatically increasing cash plans.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each departmental policy review presently in progress or scheduled, (a) a description of the purpose of the review and (b) its expected date of completion. [10193]

[holding answer 22 July 1997]: Below is a list of policy reviews in progress or scheduled by the Chancellor's departments:

Comprehensive review of all Government spending, covering all Departments;

To ensure that public spending decisions reflect the Government's long-term priorities and meet the country's long-term needs. The conclusions will inform public spending plans for the rest of this Parliament.

The review will take 12 months to complete and will include separate reviews of the Treasury, the revenue departments and the Office for National Statistics.

Review of the Bank of England's financial arrangements

The Bank's finances will be reviewed to ensure that they are in line with the Bank's new responsibilities and best practice of transparency and accountability.

The review is under way and will be completed as soon as possible.

Review of the North sea fiscal regime

To ensure that an appropriate share of North sea profits are being taxed while continuing to maintain a high level of oil industry interest in the future development of the UK's oil and gas reserves.

The review will be completed in time for the spring Budget.

Review of capital gains taxation

To consult industry widely on the reform of capital gains tax.

The findings of the review will be reported in the next Budget.

Review of charities taxation

To explore the options for a simpler, more coherent system of tax reliefs which is better suited to the way charities work today.

Charities will be asked to send their initial views by 1 December 1997 and these will be worked into a consultation paper for publication in spring 1998.

Review of leakage and avoidance of direct taxes

To identify situations in which significant amounts of tax are, or are at risk of, leaking from the Exchequer and to consider how the Inland Revenue approaches the defeat and deterrence of tax avoidance schemes.

An outcome of the rolling review is expected to be proposed for legislation to counter tax leakage in future Finance Bills. The first results will be available in time for a spring budget.

Review of alcohol and tobacco duties

To reduce losses to Government and industry revenue through alcohol and tobacco fraud, smuggling and cross-border shopping. The review will also look at health and law and order issues.

Trade associations and other interested parties will be consulted at an early stage and their views sought on the extent of the problem and practical ways in which it can be tackled. A report is due by the end of 1997.

Review of the venture capital trust scheme and enterprise investment scheme

To take views from interested parties on the exclusion of arrangements where a substantial part of the return to investors is guaranteed, or which are backed by property, from the venture capital trust scheme and enterprise investment scheme.

The Government will publish draft legislation on guarantee arrangements for the Finance Bill following a spring Budget and will lay regulations in Parliament on asset-backed arrangements. It is expected to be ready by autumn 1997.

Tax benefit review

To explore the scope for the tax and benefit systems to act as an incentive to move off benefit and into work.

The project is expected to last for about a year.

Review of the landfill tax

To review the operation and level of the tax.

The project is expected to be complete by January 1998.

Report to Parliament on the revenue effect of a reduced rate of VAT for energy-efficient materials and alternative options for targeted relief to help those on low incomes to save energy

Section 111 of the Finance Act 1997 commits the Treasury to report by March 1998 on the consequences to the Exchequer of a reduced rate of VAT for energy-saving materials. This review broadens the scope of that study so that it will also look at the best way of giving help where it is needed.

It is expected to be complete by the end of October 1997.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the assumption in the Red Book, page 108, that unemployment will remain at 2 million until 2001–02. [8619]

[holding answer 24 July 1997]: The figures on page 108 of the Red Book illustrate the impact of changing the assumptions underlying the public finances projections. Had the long-standing convention of assuming unemployment would remain flat at recent levels been used in the November 1996 Budget, unemployment would have been projected at 2 million, adding £500 million to the public sector borrowing requirement in 1996–97, rising to £1 billion in 1999–2000. The July 1997 Budget returned to the convention of assuming flat unemployment. As set out in paragraph 4.28, unemployment was assumed constant at its recent level of 1.65 million. This assumption was approved by the National Audit Office as

"consistent with the available independent estimates".

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list (a) the chairpersons, and (b) the chief executives, of (i) the Equal Opportunities Commission (North West), (ii) the East Manchester Partnership, (iii) Kirkby Stephen Economic Development, (iv) the Mersey Partnership, (v) Moss Side and Hulme Business Support, (vi) North West Partnership, (vii) Preston Partnership, (viii) Ribble Valley Partnership, (ix) Inward (North West), (x) Merseyside development corporation, (xi) Derbyshire enterprise board, (xii) Furness Enterprise, (xiii) Trafford Park development corporation, (xiv) West Cumbria development corporation, (xv) Central Manchester development corporation, (xvi) Hulme city challenge, (xvii) Bolton city challenge, (xviii) Blackburn Partnership, (xix) Wigan city challenge, (xx) Sefton city challenge, (xxi) Liverpool city challenge, (xxii) Wirral Citylands, (xxiii) St. Helens First, (xiv) Ribble Valley enterprise agency, (xxv) English Estates (North West), (xxvi) National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside, (xxvii) Furness Enterprise Ltd., (xxviii) West Cumbria development agency, (xxix) English Partnerships, (xxx) CEWTEC Ltd., (xxxi) Rochdale development agency, (xxxii) Merseyside training and enterprise council and (xxxiii) Liverpool housing action trust. [10267]

Details of appointments to the boards of executive non-departmental public bodies—such as English Partnerships, National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside, housing action trusts and Merseyside and Trafford Park development corporations—are freely available on the Internet, www.open.gov.uk/pau/paupoint.htm. For ease of reference, however, I have listed the names of chairmen of these bodies:

Organisation	Chairman
English Partnerships	Lord Walker
Liverpool housing action trust	Mrs. Paula Ridley

Organisation	Chairman
Merseyside development corporation	Sir Desmond Pitcher
National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside	David McDonnell
Trafford Park development corporation	J. W. Morgan

Information on chief executives and on membership of local public bodies is not held centrally.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on (a) co-operation and (b) joint initiatives between his Department and the Department for International Development. [10236]

The two Departments work closely together on matters of mutual interest, including the effects of agricultural policies on developing countries. We are collaborating on a study to examine how reform of the common agricultural policy can be of benefit to developing countries.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will oppose any ban on the use of phenylbutazone imposed by the European Union. [11007]

Phenylbutazone is currently being evaluated within the European Union for the purpose of fixing a maximum residue limit. If an MRL cannot be set, in principle the administration of phenylbutazone to a food-producing animal would not be permitted. However, in that event, the United Kingdom would use a procedure agreed with the European Commission—if a horse is not destined for human consumption, an MRL will not be required. Phenylbutazone could therefore continue to be authorised for use in horses in the United Kingdom. There would be a requirement that the product should be clearly marked to indicate that it cannot be used in any animal intended for human consumption.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken to ensure that sheep exported from the United Kingdom are identified in such a way that they can be traced back to the farm of birth to comply with the requirements of EC directive 92/102; and if he will make a statement. [10278]

For sheep and goats, EC directive 92/102 has been implemented by the Sheep and Goats (Records, Identification and Movement) Order 1996. This legislation requires that sheep and goats going for export must have an ear tag or tattoo indicating their country of origin and a flock or herd mark either of the consignor of the sheep for export or of a previous keeper of the animal. The legislation provides for a system of identification and movement records for tracing sheep and goats. We are currently reviewing pre-export procedures for live animals.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will press the European Commission to reimburse nursery owners for the cost of alternations to the wording on plant passports since 1993. [10338]

It is unlikely to be in the United Kingdom's interest to press for additional European Community expenditure of this kind. EC requirements on the wording of plant passports have not altered since 1993, but separate EC legislation on suppliers' documents for certain plant material was implemented in 1995. This is being applied flexibly by allowing suppliers to choose the most appropriate way of providing the information that is not already given on plant passports, in order to minimise costs.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the United Kingdom's milk quota in the last three years; and what was the United Kingdom milk consumption in the same period. [10359]

The United Kingdom's milk quota in the three-year period starting April 1994 was about 14.2 billion litres. Our total liquid milk consumption was about 5.5 billion litres. However, taking account of processed dairy products, we were about 90 per cent. self-sufficient in butter fat.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of cattle slaughtered under the over-30-months cattle slaughter scheme during 1997 were cull cows. [10161]

Abattoir returns indicate that around 90 per cent. of animals slaughtered under the over-30-months scheme so far this year were cull animals—cull cows and bulls.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the savings achieved by the imposition of a maximum weight limit on cattle entering the over-30-months cattle slaughter scheme. [10162]

The average weight of cattle entering the scheme to date has been of the order of 580 to 590 kg. On that basis, a saving of around £12 to £18 per animal could result from the imposition of the maximum weight limit. However, the actual savings that arise will depend on the weight and number of animals entering the scheme in the future.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations he undertook with the farming industry before imposing the recently announced price reductions and maximum weight limit under the over-30-months cattle slaughter scheme. [10163]

My colleagues and I have had several meetings with representatives of the farming industry since 1 May. There was no specific consultation on the reduction in the compensation rate for cull cows and the introduction of a maximum weight limit before the European Commission made its proposals, which the Government supported. However, Ministers are fully aware of farmers' concerns over the state of the industry and their views on the over-30-months scheme in particular.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the reduction in public expenditure from the introduction of reduced grants for the slaughter of over-30-month-old cattle in each of the next three years; and what assessment he has made of the effect of the reduction on farmers. [10632]

The effect of the change in the over-30-months scheme will depend on the number of animals entering the scheme and their payable weights. Gross scheme expenditure is likely to be reduced by £35 million to £40 million in a full year.The effect on individual farmers will depend on individual circumstances, including their culling programmes and the weight of animals presented for slaughter.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those abattoirs in the Wessex region eligible to slaughter under the over-30-months scheme (a) on 1 May 1996, (b) on 1 May 1997 and (c) at present. [11055]

The information requested is as follows:

Date	Abattoir
1 May 1996	Southern Counties Fresh Foods, Langport
1 May 1997	Southern Counties, Fresh Foods, Langport Bridgewater Beef, Taunton S. J. Norman and Son, Bridport Wholesale Meat Traders, Bath
Present	Bridgewater Beef, Taunton S. J. Norman and Son, Bridport Alec Jarrett, Bristol

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the consultations which he carried out prior to his decision to limit the level of vitamin B6 in dietary supplements; when he expects to complete the consultations currently under way; when he expects to consult other EU members on his proposals; and if he will invite the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment to review the evidence which led to his decision, with particular reference to research which produced different results to that on which his decision was based. [10631]

The Government's decision to limit the level of vitamin B6 in dietary supplements sold under food law was based on advice from two independent committees, the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment—COT—and the Food Advisory Committee. In formulating this advice, the committees took account of information supplied and views expressed by organisations with an interest in the subject matter. The organisations were invited to submit data on the safety of vitamin B6 to the COT which were considered before the committee finalised its advice. Their views on the possibility of a voluntary limit of 10 mg of vitamin B6 per daily dose were sought by officials from this Department as part of the FAC's consideration.The Government were aware of the views that had been expressed by interested organisations when we considered the advice of the FAC. Our decision to accept that advice was announced on 4 July. On 23 July, my hon. Friend the Minister for Public Health and I met representatives of organisations who were unhappy with the proposed limit to listen to their concerns. I have also written to the National Consumer Council, the Consumers Association and the National Food Alliance, none of which had expressed reservations about the decision, to give them the opportunity to comment.Further consultation with interested parties will take place once the regulations required to implement the proposed limit have been drafted. The European Commission and other member states of the European Union will be given an opportunity to comment on the proposed regulations at the same time.The COT has already considered this issue twice: I have no plans to invite it to undertake a further review.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the circumstances in which individual EU states are permitted to prohibit the importation of genetically modified food. [10969]

Article 12 of EC regulation 258/97 concerning novel foods and novel food ingredients provides that member states may restrict or suspend the trade of such foods—those containing, consisting of, or produced from, genetically modified organisms—within its territory, where, as a result of new information or a reassessment of existing information, that state has detailed grounds for considering that the use of such food endangers human health or the environment. There are similar provisions in article 16 of EC directive 90/220 on the deliberate release of genetically modified organisms.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations his Department has made to the European Commission regarding the declaration of interests of members of the Scientific Committee for Food. [10977]

There is already a requirement for members of the European Commission's Scientific Committee for Food to declare interests, direct or indirect, on all items on their agendas.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of total EU expenditure has been accounted for by the CAP in each year since 1979. [10964]

The information is as follows:

Year	Total CAP expenditure (EAGGF guarantee) as a percentage of total EC expenditure
1979	73
1980	69
1981	62
1982	61
1983	65
1984	67
1985	70
1986	65
1987	65
1988	67
1989	63
1990	62
1991	59
1992	55
1993	55
1994	55
1995	52

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much money has been saved within the CAP as a result of changes negotiated during the 1992 CAP negotiations. [10965]

The 1992 reforms resulted in a shift from end-price support to direct payments to farmers. This benefited consumers, but there were no savings to the EU budget.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to publish the Government's recommendations concerning badgers and the spread of bovine tuberculosis. [11056]

After Professor Krebs has reported later this year.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the rate of food sample testing in each year since 1992. [10974]

In 1993, around 130,000 food chemical analyses were carried out by the Department. Approximately 142,800 analyses were carried out in 1994 and in excess of an estimated 145,000 in 1995 and 1996. Comparable data are not available for 1992.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what representations he has received from (a) local authorities and (b) other bodies regarding landfill sites in which BSE carcases have been disposed of since 1988; and if he will make a statement; [9180](2) what discussions he has had with

This Department has received a number of letters, including from local authorities, about the licensed landfill sites in which the carcases of cattle suspected of being affected with BSE—heads previously removed for diagnosis and subsequent incineration—were disposed of between 1988 and 1991. 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.The Environment Agency has responsibility for the supervision of landfill sites in England and Wales which are licensed under part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The objective of the licensing system is to ensure that waste is disposed of without harming the environment or human health. In fulfilment of its supervisory role, the Environment Agency has carried out a qualitative assessment of all the landfill sites that took BSE suspects, taking into account the number of carcases buried, the degree of containment and the proximity of water sources. On the basis of those findings, it then carried out a further, more detailed quantitative assessment of a selection of sites which were judged to be typical of those sites judged to be most vulnerable.The study calculations show that the likelihood of the most exposed individual ingesting, in one year, sufficient material to cause infection as a result of the landfilling that took place ranges from one in 1 million years to one in 10,000 million years, depending on local circumstances. In reality, however, the risk to the general public in each case will be well below the level of risk to the most exposed person. The agency believes that the risks assessed for the six sites studied in the quantitative assessments should be representative of the full range of risks posed by all 59 sites. A list of these was sent to each of the relevant Members of Parliament.The results of the Environment Agency's landfill risk assessment were published by the agency at a press conference on 25 June. Copies of this, and related risk assessments, are available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the capital cost will be of moving his offices to Nobel house, Milibank; and what the additional revenue costs will be to his Department, including the costs of rehousing the civil servants he displaces. [10134]

£000
	Provision
	Actual 1995–96	Provisional outturn 1996–97	Estimate 1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000
Payments to fanners	38,477	50,193	63,007	74,152	89,418
Departmental running costs	2,631	3,932	4,593	4,849	4,980
Payments to FRCA	7,206	9,616	9,389	9,820	9,820
Monitoring and other support costs	4,670	3,319	2,988	2,162	2,027
Total	52,984	67,060	79,977	90,983	106,245
1 Environmentally sensitive areas scheme, countryside stewardship scheme from 1996–97, nitrate sensitive areas scheme, habitat scheme, organic aid scheme, moorland scheme, countryside access scheme, farm woodland scheme and farm woodland premium scheme.

The estimated cost of moving offices to Nobel house, which is within the MAFF estate, is £120,000. The additional estimated revenue costs to the Ministry, including the costs of rehousing civil servants, is £947,000. This includes an occupancy charge of £367,000 for additional accommodation which is payable to the Property Advisers to the Civil Estate, an executive agency of the Cabinet Office. Expenditure of this order would have been incurred anyway within the next few years when the Ministry renovated its Whitehall place offices, and is therefore not additional, taking a medium-term view.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make representations to other EU countries urging them to persuade eastern European countries to end the export of live animals to the EU; and if he will make a statement. [10295]

The Government have declared our strong preference for exports of meat to take place on the hook rather than on the hoof, and we shall seek to convince our EU partners that the European Union should pursue this principle.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the British Stickmakers Guild about the classification of rams' horns as animal offal; and if he will make a statement. [10556]

I have received no written representations from the British Stickmakers Guild about the classification of rams' horns as animal offal.Under the Heads of Sheep and Goats Order 1996, the heads—excluding the tongue—of sheep and goats of any age other than those born, reared and slaughtered in Australia and New Zealand must be disposed of as specified waste material. This would include the horns if still attached to the head. However, horns themselves are not considered to be a risk, provided that they are removed without breaking into the cranial cavity in order to ensure that there is no risk of contamination with brain material.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what public funding was allocated to schemes to promote more sensitive use and maintenance of agricultural land, before May. [10986]

Details of recent and planned future departmental expenditure on agri-environment and woodland schemes' are contained in the table.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by what percentage total real income from farming changed between May 1979 and April 1997. [10978]

Total income from farming in the United Kingdom is not yet known for 1997. However, in 1996 it was 25 per cent. higher in real terms than in 1979.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many applications were received for the countryside stewardship scheme; and how many were successful in the last year for which figures are available; and how many of those applications are still outstanding. [11335]

A total of 2,099 applications were received for the countryside stewardship scheme in 1997, the closing date for which was 31 May. In 1996, 1,115 applicants accepted agreement offers. In addition, there are still 19 offers outstanding due to continuing negotiation on the details of the agreements.

To ask the Minister without Portfolio what proportion of the cost of his recent visit to France was met out of (a) public and (b) Labour party funds. [10773]

The costs were met out of public funds.

To ask the Minister without Portfolio if he will list each journey he has undertaken at public expense since 2 May. [10778]

I have travelled at public expense wherever this has been necessary to the fulfilment of my ministerial responsibilities.

To ask the Minister without Portfolio if he will estimate the percentage of his working time since 2 May spent on (a) ministerial duties and (b) other matters. [10772]

I devote whatever time I judge necessary to the fulfilment of my ministerial and other duties.

To ask the Minister without Portfolio if he will place in the Library a copy of his speech to the British Council in Paris on 17 July. [10777]

I spoke extempore, to a seminar arranged by the British Council.

To ask the Minister without Portfolio if he will list (a) the contracts let so far and (b) those proposed to be let in the next two years in connection with the millennium experience. [6442]

The New Millennium Experience Company has entered into a range of contracts for the supply of goods and services, including those for steelwork and fabric for the construction of the dome to a value in excess of £20 million and into a number of other performance and target-led contracts. The NMEC expects to commit the majority of its expenditure within the next two years. All contracts will be subject to normal Official Journal of the European Communities procedures. The NMEC will publish full accounts of its expenditure in the usual way in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with Britain's defence industrial partners about his proposed policy for defence exports. [10643]

We have discussed with several of our partners at ministerial and official level our commitment to work for an EU code of conduct setting high common standards to govern arms exports from all EU member states. We shall be reinforcing these initial contacts in the weeks and months to come with a view to agreeing a code during the UK presidency.We have also been working to strengthen the UN register of conventional arms, encouraging greater disclosure of information on arms exports and arms transfers by all countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his interim policy on the licensing of defence exports pending the completion of the review of licensing policy. [10640]

During the review of the criteria used in considering licence applications for the export of conventional arms, individual export licence applications have been considered on a case-by-case basis. Officials have been instructed to consult Ministers whenever export licence applications may cause concerns about human rights or international stability.My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has today announced the results of the review in his written answer to my hon. Friend the Member for East Ham (Mr. Timms).

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria will be used in considering licence applications for the export of conventional arms; and if he will make a statement. [11461]

The Government are committed to the maintenance of a strong defence industry which is a strategic part of our industrial base as well as of our defence effort. Defence exports can also contribute to international stability by strengthening bilateral and collective defence relationships in accordance with the right of self-defence recognised by the UN charter, but arms transfers must be managed responsibly, in particular so as to avoid their use for internal repression and international aggression.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the British Government have been consulted on the US Administration's proposal for the Baltic action plan. [10441]

The USA is discussing with the Baltic states the possible conclusion of a charter as part of a process further to develop co-operation between the USA and the Baltic states. This is a matter between the USA and the Baltic states. We have, however, been kept informed of progress in these talks.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the impact of the provisions of the Baltic action plan currently being negotiated on British commitments towards the Baltic states. [10442]

The USA is discussing with the Baltic states the possible conclusion of a charter as part of a process further to develop co-operation between the USA and the Baltic states. The charter will not affect British relations with the Baltic states.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the Government's objectives for the first meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation-Russia permanent joint council on 22 September. [10443]

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's objective at the first ministerial meeting of the permanent joint council will be to consult the Russian Foreign Minister on a range of security issues of common interest and to begin to establish a new mechanism for building greater trust and co-operation between Russia and NATO. The first meeting is expected in September; no date has been confirmed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the potential impact of NATO enlargement on the future of arms control with special reference to START 2, START 3—the strategic arms reduction talks—and the conventional forces in Europe treaty. [10444]

START 2 and START 3 remain bilateral US-Russian negotiations to which President Clinton and President Yeltsin recommitted themselves in March this year in the run-up to the NATO summit and the announcements made there about NATO enlargement. I welcome their continued commitment to progress.The CFE treaty is being adapted by all 30 state parties. On 23 July, after the NATO summit and enlargement decisions, agreement was reached on the basic elements of an adapted treaty. This was a very welcome sign of progress.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the negotiations in Vienna on adapting and modernising the CFE treaty. [10445]

On 23 July, NATO allies and the other 14 CFE states adopted an outline agreement for modernising the CFE treaty. This is good news for European security. CFE states have agreed to abolish the old bloc-to-bloc structure of the treaty and to set lower maximum equipment levels; maintain regional limits, including in the flank zone of south-east and north-east Europe; improve the transparency of our military activity, including the exacting inspections which have been one of the treaty's greatest strengths.Negotiations will resume in Vienna in September on the basis of this outline agreement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to ratify the Council of Europe's charter for regional or minority languages; and if he will make a statement. [10372]

We are currently examining what the implications of signing and ratifying the charter would be. Once this examination is complete, we will be in a better position to take a decision on the matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 22 July, Official Report, column 519, what is the closing date for representations to be made under stage 1 of the strategic defence review. [10837]

The closing date for written comments on all stages of the strategic defence review was 30 June 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what responsibilities he has (a) generally for electoral arrangements and (b) for setting the terms of reference of commissioners determining constituency boundaries in Bermuda. [10821]

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has ultimate responsibility for electoral arrangements in Bermuda which are determined by the relevant provisions of the Bermudian constitution. However, questions on electoral boundaries would in the first instance be matters for the Bermuda Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures his Department is taking to ensure compliance with copyright law; and what progress it is making towards taking out a photocopying licence with the Copyright Licensing Agency. [10992]

This Department takes its responsibilities under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 seriously and is already party to the Central Office of Information agreement with the Newspapers Licensing Agency in respect of systematic copying of newspapers.The copying of Crown copyright material is not a matter for licensing for use by Crown servants.Representatives of the Copyright Licensing Agency and this Department most recently met on 30 April 1997 and we are assessing the position in respect of non-newspaper copying in the light of that meeting.An agreement with the CLA is not necessarily required in order to comply with UK copyright legislation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current position with regard to the United Kingdom ratifying the Europe agreement with Slovenia; and if he will make a statement. [10792]

The UK is strongly committed to early and successful enlargement of the European Union. An important aspect of the preparation for this is the ratification of the Europe agreements. We are determined to ensure that the UK ratifies the EU-Slovenia Europe agreement as soon as possible. Subject to the availability of the necessary parliamentary time, we expect to complete our parliamentary procedures within the next four months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of staff normally working at (a) Dover house, (b) St. Andrew's house and (c) Leith. [10167]

The number of permanent staff working at Dover house, St. Andrew's house and Victoria quay, Leith are shown in the table. Figures relate to the position at 1 April 1997 and are a head count of full-time and part-time staff, rounded to the nearest 10.

Building	Headcount
Dover house	30
St. Andrew's house	410
Victoria quay, Leith	1,160

The number of staff currently working in St. Andrew's house is low at present and is normally around the 800 level. Due to refurbishment work, however, many have been decanted temporarily to other buildings, other than Victoria quay. In addition, there are approximately 60 contracted staff for facilities management who work in Victoria quay.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if each group campaigning in the referendum will be permitted a free delivery of a leaflet to (a) each elector entitled to vote in the forthcoming referendum or (b) each household in Scotland. [10073]

The Government have made it clear during the debates on the Referendums (Scotland and Wales) Bill that no state aid will be provided to any party or organisation for the purposes of campaigning at the referendum.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the proposed timetable for the review of further education in Scotland. [10173]

The review of further education colleges' funding methodology, currently under way, is expected to be completed in September.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases of prostitution have been recorded among juveniles in detention in the past year. [9258]

[holding answer 23 July 1997]: In the past year, no cases of prostitution have been recorded among children in secure accommodation. No cases of prostitution have been recorded by the Scottish Prison Service among young prisoners under 16 during the same period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many incidents of (a) protest movements, (b) mutinies or rebellions, (c) hunger strikes, (d) cases of self-mutilation, (e) cases of suicide and (f) prison escapes or attempted escapes affecting (i) male and (ii) female juveniles in detention have been recorded in the past year. [9286]

[holding answer 23 July 1997]: There were no such incidents involving young prisoners under 16 recorded by the Scottish Prison Service in the past year. In secure accommodation for children, there were no cases of protest movements, mutinies, rebellions or hunger strikes. Three cases of self-mutilation and two attempted suicides were recorded. There were four attempted escapes—four boys and two girls—and three boys escaped.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the incidence of physical and sexual abuse by inmates in respect of juveniles in detention in the last year. [9259]