To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action has been taken following the unlawful killing verdict at the inquest of Ibrahim Sey; and if he will make a statement. [14481]

An inquest jury concluded that Mr. Sey's death was by unlawful killing. The cause of the death was found to be postural asphyxia and excited delirium. Concern about the use of CS gas has been expressed in press reports, and Counsel for Mr. Sey's family expressed concern about the possible role of CS but no evidence was submitted to show that CS contributed to Mr. Sey's death. There is nothing in the Coroner's comments to attribute Mr. Sey's death to the use of CS. The Coroner recommended changes to training, and that all police forces should review the use of CS sprays.The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that the Metropolitan Police have taken note of and reviewed the Coroner's recommendations and responded positively and immediately to them. This includes issuing clear instructions on how to deal with postural asphyxia and acute exhaustive mania in the near future.After considering the implications, including the safety of the public and his officers, the Commissioner has decided that it is appropriate for CS spray to be issued to all Metropolitan Police officers. The use of CS spray will be carefully monitored by the Metropolitan Police.In view of the large number of officers involved in the incident, the Metropolitan Police are considering to whom the verdict applies. This is complicated by the fact that it is not the role of an inquest to apportion blame to individuals. The Metropolitan Police have removed ten police officers from operational duty until their individual positions can be established.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his letter of 4 June (Ref. 5345038). [15351]

I sent an interim reply to my hon. Friend on 25 June and a final reply on 10 November.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the regulation of advertising by the casino industry. [14917]

Under section 42 of the Gaming Act 1968, casinos may not advertise their location or facilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the expansion of the casino industry into other geographical areas in the United Kingdom. [14918]

Regulations made under the Gaming Act 1968 confine the licensing of casinos to 53 permitted areas in Great Britain; 116 casinos were operating there on 31 March 1997.The previous Government consulted on proposals to designate additional permitted areas. We are considering whether new permitted areas are desirable in principle. We will make our conclusions known in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement concerning the level of trade union organisation in the casino industry. [14916]

The Government have no separate figures on trade union organisation or membership in the casino industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the decision was taken to end the Home Office Exports Initiative; and when it will be terminated. [14960]

The decision to end the Home Office Exports Initiative was taken in July. It was terminated at the end of October.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of companies which will be affected by the decision to terminate the Home Office Exports Initiative. [14961]

During the period of the Exports Initiative, it is estimated that the Home Office Exports Promoter had dealings with some 80 companies, including those who participated in trade events sponsored by the Initiative. These companies, together with others in the policing and security sector, will continue to have access to the full range of overseas trade services of the Department of Trade and Industry and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the savings which will be made by abolishing the Home Office Exports Initiative. [14963]

The initiative had an annual budget of £100,000; approximately £40,000 of this will be saved in the current financial year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has made for a scheme to replace the Home Office Exports Initiative. [14962]

The trade associations and companies in the policing and security sector will continue to have access to the full range of overseas trade services of the Department of Trade and Industry and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade is considering what specific additional support for exporting may be provided for this sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the costs of false burglar alarm call-outs for each police force in England and Wales in each of the past three years. [14829]

The information requested is not collected centrally. I understand that last year the Association of Chief Police Officers introduced a policy to reduce false alarms by 10 per cent. per year over four years. In 1996–97, false calls fell by 12.2 per cent. and the target is likely to be met again in 1997–98.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a list of the responses to the consultation paper, "Data Protection: the Government's Proposals." [14834]

I have placed the list in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the proposal in the report of the Gaming Board for 1996–97 that there is a need for substantial reform of the Gaming Act 1968. [14915]

We are carefully considering this. The Government will make their intentions known in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the staffing complement of the P2 branch of the Metropolitan Police service's equal opportunities unit; and if he will make a statement on its current level of staffing. [15024]

The Commissioner informs me that there are five staff allocated to the Equal Opportunities Unit in the Metropolitan Police, P2 branch. I am told that the Unit is not carrying any vacancies and that the current level of staffing is considered appropriate to the work of the branch.

Police strength, England and Wales, 31 March 1997 (excluding secondments)

Rank

Male

Female

White

Black

Asian

Other

Total

Number

Per cent.

Number

Per cent.

Number

Per cent.

Number

Per cent.

Number

Per cent.

Number

Per cent.

Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Ranks

184

94·8

10

5·2

193

99·5

0

—

1

0·5

0

—

194

Superintendent

1,248

96·9

40

3·1

1,286

99·8

1

0·1

1

0·1

—

—

1,288

Chief Inspector

1,611

95·6

74

4·4

1,675

99·4

5

0·3

2

0·1

3

0·2

1,684

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 28 July, Official Report, columns 3–4, if he will review the provision of post-release support services for long sentence prisoners whose convictions have been overturned by the Court of Appeal. [13088]

[holding answer 6 November 1997]: The support services to which my hon. Friend the Minister of State referred in his reply to a question from my hon. Friend on 28 July, Official Report, columns 3–4, are national and local voluntary organisations which provide help to prisoners on release. It is for those organisations, which are independent from government, to decide what services they are able to offer.As my hon. Friend also mentioned, probation services are able to help with resettlement problems experienced by released prisoners. Since those who have had their convictions overturned would be free of any ties with the criminal justice system and its agencies, there is no statutory obligation for probation services to provide assistance to people in these circumstances. However, probation services can, and do, provide help on a voluntary basis. Again, it would be for the service concerned to decide what help it is able to offer in the particular circumstances. The Government currently have no plans to introduce any legislative requirements to compel probation services, or any other organisation, to provide support services to prisoners whose convictions have been overturned.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a breakdown of (a) the numbers and (b) the percentages, of police officers according to their grade, by (i) gender and (ii) ethnic origin. [14979]

The latest available information is given in the table.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proposals he has to make quangos more open, accountable and effective. [15848]

The Government are determined to make quangos more accountable for what they do, more open in how they do it and more effective in achieving their aims. I am pleased to announce the publication today of the consultation paper "Opening up Quangos", which builds on the valuable work done by the Committee on Standards in Public Life under Lord Nolan's chairmanship.Our proposals mark a new phase in opening up quangos to public scrutiny and making them more accountable to the people they serve. The Government's devolution policy will help to bring quangos in Scotland and Wales under the proper level of scrutiny that a modern democracy demands. Our purpose is the same for public bodies which operate on a United Kingdom or Great Britain basis, or an England or England and Wales basis. The proposals in the consultation paper will help to achieve this.Copies of the consultation paper are being widely circulated and placed on the Internet, as well as in the House libraries. Copies will be sent personally to all right hon. and hon. Members. The results of the consultation exercise will be taken into account in the preparation of the Government's White Paper on Better Government, due to be published next year.I am also pleased to announce the publication today of "The Executive Non-Departmental Public Bodies 1997 Report", which summarises for the first time the main objectives and achievements of the larger executive non-departmental public bodies, charting their performance against key targets. This is the first of a series of annual publications that will develop in detail and coverage in future years and improve measurement of the performance of public bodies.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list (a) the nature and value of contracts his Department has entered into and (b) discussions ministers or officials have held with the Monitor Consultancy since 1990. [14958]

[holding answer 7 November 1997]: The Cabinet Office, including the Office of Public Service and its agencies (Civil Service College, Property Advisers to the Civil Estate, Security Facilities Executive, the Buying Agency, Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency and Government Car and Despatch Agency) and the Central Office of Information, have no record of entering into any contracts or of holding any discussions with Monitor Consultancy since 1990.

To ask the Prime Minister what is the composition of the United Kingdom delegation to the Climate Change Conference at Kyoto; and if he will make a statement. [15589]

My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the Minister for the Environment, accompanied of officials, will represent the United Kingdom at the third Conference of the Parties to the Climate Change Convention.

To ask the Prime Minister what monitoring is undertaken of the ethnic balance among staff whose salaries are paid from the Civil List; and what estimate he has made of the proportion of such staff who are from ethnic minorities. [15432]

The Personnel Office at Buckingham Palace maintains records of the ethnic origin of all Royal Household employees including those whose salaries are paid from the Civil List. Currently approximately 3 per cent. of Civil List employees are from ethnic minorities. The Royal Household is an equal opportunities employer (that is to say appointment and promotion are on ability without regard to sex, ethnic origin or religion).

To ask the Prime Minister if the forthcoming White Paper on Freedom of Information will consider the answering practices of the Minister without Portfolio. [14515]

[holding answer 10 November 1997]: No.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the decision of the Minister without Portfolio to give no information in respect of conversations, meetings or other engagements undertaken in pursuance of his duties as Minister without Portfolio and its consistency with parliamentary accountability. [14523]

[holding answer 10 November 1997]: No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list all (a) secondary, (b) other delegated legislation and (c) all deregulation orders his Department made during the summer adjournment. [14377]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 5 November 1997, Official Report, column 216.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the educational benefits of the millennium projects. [13396]

The Millennium Commission has always been committed to supporting projects which provide access to information and sources of learning, and education has emerged as one of five key themes in the Commission's grant programmes. For example, over £33 million has been offered in grant to the new University for the Highlands and Islands, and most of the larger funded projects have a major educational element. The Government intends that the Millennium Experience and its associated national programme will have a significant educational aspect for visitors and participants, as well as being entertaining. It is envisaged that the Dome at Greenwich will become the hub of a new national digital network for learning.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received concerning changes to the listing of sports events for broadcast on terrestrial television channels; and if he will make a statement. [14982]

Since the current review of the listed events was announced in May, some 609 representations have been received on this subject, including 18 letters from hon. Members. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will be making a statement shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received on the showing of violent films on national television, with particular reference to "Natural Born Killers"; and if he will make a statement. [14812]

The Department has received 17 letters about violence on television in the last three months. One of the letters received this month referred specifically to the film "Natural Born Killers" to be shown on Channel 5 on 8 November.A working party established by the broadcasting regulators is currently pursuing initiatives to meet public concern about the portrayal of violence and I understand that it is likely to report its conclusions early in the new year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps the Government are taking to support National Libraries Week. [14980]

The Government wholeheartedly supports National Libraries Week and has been actively involved with the preparations for it. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State wrote to all MPs to publicise National Libraries Week, and to encourage them to become involved in library events in their constituencies. He also launched the Week at the House of Commons on Monday 3 November. DCMS Ministers have subsequently been involved in a number of other related events during the Week.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list (a) the nature an value of contracts his Department has entered into and (b) discussions Ministers or officials have held with the Monitor Consultancy since 1990. [14947]

[holding answer 7 November 1997]: My Department was established in 1992 and since that date has not let any contracts, nor held any discussions, with the Monitor Consultancy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the number of tennis clubs in England during each of the last 25 years. [15147]

According to the Lawn Tennis Association's (LTA) Survey of 1996, there are a total of 3,200 tennis clubs in England of which 2,400 are affiliated to the LTA. This compares against 2,700 LTA affiliated clubs 25 years ago.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much lottery funding has been provided to local tennis clubs to secure the freehold purchase of their existing grounds. [15151]

The English Sports Council has made awards totalling £184,649, to two tennis clubs to assist with the freehold purchase of their existing grounds.

To ask the Secretary of State for culture, Media and Sport how many people in England he estimates play tennis; and what have been the trends over the last 25 years.[15150]

According to the Lawn Tennis Association's (LTA) Survey of 1996, there are 4.5 million people who play tennis in England, of which 1.75 million play regularly (once a fortnight or more). I understand that the LTA have not kept records of tennis participation levels for the last 25 years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is the minimum length of tenancy a sports club is required to hold in order to qualify for national lottery funding for capital projects. [15148]

The minimum length of leasehold required is dependent on the size of the award, as follows:

	Years
Up to £5,000	3
£5,001–£10,000	5
£ 10,001–£ 15,000	7
£15,001–£25,000	10
£25,001–£35,000	12
£35,001–£50,000	15
More than £50,000	21

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he plans to announce the location of the British Academy for Sport. [14420]

We hope to make an announcement on the location shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on anomalies within the current concessionary television licence scheme. [14435]

The regulations governing the concessionary scheme give rise to a number of real and perceived anomalies. However, changes at the margins of the scheme, to address such anomalies, would most likely create new ones and would do little to improve the public acceptability of the scheme. The current Agreement between the Government and the BBC specifies that the licence fee system will continue until 2002. In reviewing the arrangements for funding the BBC after the year 2002 we shall also comprehensively examine the concessionary arrangements. In the meantime, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has produced a simplified explanatory leaflet on the concessionary scheme, which explains the qualifying criteria for the concession and answers some common questions about the scheme. Copies of the leaflet have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the impact of withdrawal of tobacco sponsorship on sport; and if he will make a statement. [14904]

We are looking very carefully at how best to achieve an end to the advertising and promotion of tobacco at sports events in a way which will minimise any damage to the sports concerned. Discussions are underway within Government on how best to achieve this and I am consulting the sports concerned. Plans include a transitional period. The Government will publish a White Paper next year setting out measures to tackle tobacco consumption.After considering the issue of sponsorship in great depth the Government has proposed excluding Formula One from the scope of the proposed EU Directive on tobacco advertising and sponsorship which is currently being negotiated. We have always made clear that we are pursuing twin objectives of reducing smoking and of safeguarding sport from any effects arising from the loss of tobacco sponsorship. The fact is that a blanket Europe-wide ban on Formula One sponsorship would not only mean fewer Grand Prix in Europe, but also, perversely, more tobacco advertising on our TV screens beamed in from events outside the European Union.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) how many hotel television licences have been issued in each year since 1990; and what was the total revenue received by the BBC from hotel television licences for each of these years; [14566](2) what steps his Department is taking to prevent the evasion of television licensing regulations by the proprietors of hotels; [14568](3) what estimate he has made of the revenue lost to the BBC through the evasion of television licensing regulations by hotels. [14567]

[holding answer 10 November 1997]: Records of television licence fee revenue received from hotels are available only from 1991. Licence fee revenue from hotels since 1991 is:

Year	Number of hotel licences issued (000s)	Revenue (£ million)
1991–92	60	4·6
1992–93	58	4·7
1993–94	61	5·0
1994–95	65	5·5
1995–96	65	5·3
1996–97	66	6·1

Under the Broadcasting Act 1990, the BBC has been responsible for the administration of the television licensing system since April 1991. We understand from the BBC that no separate estimate is available of the cost of television licence fee evasion by the hotel trade. The BBC's agent, TV Licensing, makes use of a national hotels database, in addition to standard enforcement procedures, to ensure compliance by hotels with the licensing regulations, and new guidance issued to TV Licensing's enquiry officers includes specific instructions on hotels.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the guidelines or directives issued by the European Commission on the millennium computer problem; and if she will make a statement. [13156]

No guidelines have been issued by the Commission.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate she has made of the call on departmental budgets required to carry out the adjustments of their computers to cope with the Year 2000 problem. [14910]

Each department is responsible for dealing with the Year 2000 problem affecting its own computers. Within core DTI the cost of dealing with the problem is estimated at £2.7m which will be found from existing PES provision. Agencies are responsible for their own programmes of work.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list those organisations which have responded to the draft Bill on competition policy. [12986]

The organisations and individuals who have responded to the consultation document "A prohibition approach to anti-competitive agreements and abuse of dominant position: draft Bill" to date are as follows:

• Allen & Overy
• Anderson & Company
• Anti Copying in Design
• Ashurst Morris Crisp
• Association Gas Supplies Ltd.
• Association for Payment Clearing Services
• Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry
• Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
• Association of Consulting Engineers
• A.T. & T. (UK) Ltd.
• Baker & McKenzie
• B.A.T. Industries
• BATMark
• Berwin Leighton
• B.G. plc.
• Bishop & Robertson Chalmers
• B.L.W.A.-Association of The Laboratory Supply Industry
• Lord Borrie Q.C.
• Brewers & Licensed Retailers Association
• British Alcan Aluminium plc.
• Bristows Cooke & Carpmael
• British Brands Group
• British Broadcasting Corporation
• British Energy
• British Insurers' International Committee
• British Music Rights
• British Petroleum
• The British Phonographic Industry
• British Printing Industries Federation
• British Property Federation
• British Retail Consortium
• British Standards Institution
• British Steel
• British Telecom
• Burger King
• Burness
• Michael Burnside Esq.
• Mr. Justice Buxton
• Cable & Wireless
• Campaign For Real Ale
• Centrica
• Channel Four Television
• Chartered Institute of Patent Agents/Mills & Reeve

• Chemical Industries Association
• The Cinema Exhibitors' Association
• City of London Law Society
• Professor Roger Clarke
• Clifford Chance
• B. Colgate Esq.
• Combined Merchants (UK) Ltd.
• Commercial Radio Companies Association
• The Community Pharmacy Action Group
• Competition Law Association
• Confederation of British Industry
• Confederation of Passenger Transport UK
• Conoco Europe Gas Ltd.
• Construction Confederation
• Construction Industry Council
• Consumers' Association
• The Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine
• Cooper & Lybrand
• Coudert Brothers
• Dairy Industry Federation
• Professor Steve Davies
• Dawson, Mason & Carr
• Dibb Lupton Alsop
• Dixons Group plc/S. J. Berwin & Co.
• The Document Company: Xerox
• Jonathan Downing Esq.
• Electricity Industry/Eversheds
• Energy Intensive Users Group
• English Welsh & Scottish Railway
• Enron Europe Ltd.
• Esso
• Eversheds
• F. J. Cleveland & Company
• Federation of Agricultural Co-operatives (UK) Ltd.
• The Federation of Environmental Trade Associations
• Federation of Small Businesses
• Finance & Leasing Association
• Food & Drink Federation
• The Forum of Private Business
• Mark Furse Esq.
• Garretts
• Gas Consumers Council
• General Cable
• General Dental Council
• GKN Plc.
• Herbert Smith
• Holman, Fenwick & Willan
• Simon Hossack Esq.
• Clive Howard-Luck Esq.
• Martin Howe Esq.
• Independent Television Association
• The Insolvency Council
• The Institute of Chartered Secretaries & Administrators
• Johnsons News Group
• Kingfisher
• The Law Society
• The Law Society of Scotland
• Licensing Executives Society

• Linklaters & Paines
• Lloyd's
• London International Insurance & Reinsurance Market Association
• London Transport
• Lovell White Durrant
• McCullochs
• Marks & Spencer
• Mars/Lovell White Durrant
• Music Industries Association
• National Association of Master Bakers
• The National Association of Estate Agents
• National Consumer Council
• National Federation of Retail Newsagents
• National Food Alliance
• National Power
• The Newspaper Publishers Association Ltd.
• Newspaper Publishing plc.
• The Newspaper Society
• Northern Ireland Electricity
• Norton Rose
• NTL (UK)
• Office of the Rail Regulator
• Office of Telecommunications
• One 2 One
• Passenger Transport Executive Group
• Peachey & Co.
• Pinsent Curtis
• The Post Office
• Leolin Price C.B.E Q.C.
• Producers Industrial Relations Service Ltd.
• Proprietary Association of Great Britain
• Rt. Hon. John Redwood M.P.
• Regulatory Policy Institute
• Retail Motor Industry Federation
• Reuters
• Jonathan Rickford Esq.
• The Royal Institution Of Chartered Surveyors
• Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain
• Scottish Association of Master Bakers
• Scottish Power
• Thomas Sharpe Q.C.
• Shell International Ltd.
• Simmons & Simmons
• Singletons
• Slaughter and May
• The Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders Ltd.
• Somerset County Council
• The Takeover Panel
• The Telecommunications Managers Association
• Tesco
• Trade Marks Patents And Designs Federation
• Travers Smith Braithwaite
• UK Offshore Operators Association Ltd.
• UK Petroleum Industry Association Ltd.
• UK Steel Association
• The Union of Independent Companies
• Unisys Ltd.

• Professor John Vickers
• The Water Companies Association
• Water Services Association
• Derek Webb Esq.
• Wedlake Bell
• Tony Weir Esq.
• Whitbread Plc.
• Nicholas Williams Esq.
• Wragge & Co.

The Department of Trade and Industry has also been engaged in detailed exchanges about the Bill with other public bodies, including the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, the Office of Fair Trading, 0FTEL, ORR, OFGAS, OFFER, OFWAT and OFREG (NI).

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what meetings have taken place between members of her Department and representatives of the United Bank Ltd. in 1997 to date; [14971](2) what meetings have taken place between members of her Department and representatives of the Banking Insurance and Finance Union to date. [14972]

Members of my Department hold meetings with a wide range of organisations. Details of these meetings and the matters discussed are not held centrally. The information requested could therefore only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations she has received regarding the industrial dispute in the United Bank Ltd. [14970]

My Department has received some representations from the Banking Insurance and Finance Union about this dispute.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the Government's policy towards employment relations in banks. [14976]

Employment relations in banks, as elsewhere, are a matter for the management and employees concerned.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many proposals were patented in each year since 1990; and how many have been taken up. [15165]

Since 1990 the United Kingdom Patent Office has granted patents as follows:

Year	Total	UK applications
1990	9,396	3,265
1991	9,346	3,307
1992	9,421	3,331
1993	8,330	3,019
1994	9,530	3,517
1995	9,475	3,648
1996	7,132	2,737

To ask the President of the Board of Trade for what reasons the Institute of Financial Accountants qualifications were not included in the list of professional qualifications in the European Communities (Recognition of Professional Qualifications) Regulations 1991; and if she will list (a) those professions and (b) professional qualifications which are recognised in EU countries under the Regulations.[14934]

Statutory Instrument 1991 No. 824 lists professions which are regulated by law or public authority in the UK and professional titles awarded by bodies incorporated by Royal Charter. Since the Institute of Financial Accountants does not fall within those categories it is not necessary for its qualifications to be listed in the Statutory Instrument.The list of professions and titles in Statutory Instrument 1991 No. 824 is not intended to be exhaustive. The EU Directives dealing with mutual recognition of professional qualifications lay down rules which apply to the recognition of all professional qualifications (including those relevant to the Institute of Financial Accountants) whether or not listed in internal legislation of Member States.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list each of the overseas trips made by himself and other members of his ministerial team since 2 May, specifying in each case (a) the participating Minister or Ministers, (b) the destination of the trip, (c) the purpose of the trip and (d) the cost of the trip; and if he will make a statement. [15256]

The following overseas visits have been made by Ministers in the Lord Chancellor's Department since 2 May:

1. (a) participating Minister: The Lord Chancellor, accompanied by a Private Secretary and Press Officer

(b) destination: Hong Kong

(c) purpose of trip: to express confidence in the HKSAR's enthusiasm to continue the Basic Law as expressed in the Joint Declaration in 1984. This stated that:

"The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will be vested with executive, legislative and independent judicial powers, including that of final adjudication. The laws currently in force in Hong Kong will remain basically unchanged".

In particular, the Lord Chancellor discussed with the Chief Justice of Hong Kong arrangements for making sitting Law Lords available from the UK to sit judicially in Hong King. He also met leading politicians representing all the main interests in Hong Kong.

(d) cost of the trip: £17,186.53

2. (a) participating Minister: Mr. Geoff Hoon, accompanied by a Private secretary and an official.

(b) destination: Strasbourg and Potsdam

(c) purpose of the trip: to participate in discussions on the European Court of Human Rights following implementation of Protocol 11 to the ECHR and to have discussions with MEPs and others on legal matters concerning the forthcoming UK Presidency of the EU.

(d) cost of the trip: £2,560.30

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many documents deemed appropriate for release for public scrutiny are currently withdrawn from the Public Record Office by the Department of origin. [14451]

The Question concerns a specific operational matter on which the Chief Executive of the Public Record Office is best placed to provide an answer and I have accordingly asked the Chief Executive to reply direct.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the inspector's report on the Kirkby Stephen bypass was seen by Ministers before publication was abandoned. [14172]

[holding answer 3 November 1997]: The inspectors report on the Kirkby Stephen Bypass proposal is still under consideration by the Secretary of State as he has received no formal notification that the proposal has been abandoned.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what communication or discussion there has been between Ministers or officials in his Department and councillors or officials of Cumbria County Council over the handling of the inspector's report on the Kirkby Stephen bypass. [14171]

[holding answer 3 November 1997]: There has been no communication or discussion between Ministers and representatives of Cumbria County Council. County Council officials have recently enquired of my officials the position regarding the Inspector's report in the event of the statutory Orders for the scheme being withdrawn. My officials are awaiting formal notification from the County Council of its intentions in relation to the future of the scheme. However, I can tell the right hon. Member that, in the event of the statutory Orders being withdrawn, in line with Departmental policy the Secretary of State would propose to publish the report.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations his Department received relating to publication of the inspector's report on the Kirkby Stephen bypass. [14173]

[holding answer 3 November 1997]: My Department has received a verbal representation from Cumbria County Council officials in relation to this matter. No other representations have been received.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when was the last occasion on which his Department did not publish the report of an inspector following a public inquiry. [14170]

[holding answer 3 November 1997]: The Government have never failed to publish an Inspectors Report following a Public Inquiry into Local Highway Authority Orders.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what compensation payments would have been required to have been made, and to whom, had the decision to proceed with the Birmingham Northern Relief Road not been taken. [13778]

[holding answer 3 November 1997]: As Section 1(4) of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 requires, the Birmingham Northern Relief Road Concession Agreement makes provision in certain circumstances for compensation payments to the Concessionaire. Under the Agreement signed in February 1992 by the previous Government the detailed provisions about compensation payments were agreed to be commercially confidential.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what compensation payments are payable to the Government in the event that Midland Expressway Ltd. decide to withdraw from the concession agreement to construct and operate the Birmingham Northern Relief Road. [13777]

[holding answer 3 November 1997]: As Section 1(5) of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 requires, the Birmingham Northern Relief Road Concession Agreement makes provision in certain circumstances for compensation payments to the Government. Under the Agreement signed in February 1992 by the previous Government the detailed provisions about compensation payments were agreed to be commercially confidential.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if it is his policy (a) to return to a needs-based capital approvals allocation system and (b) that any increased capital allocation will be made to local authorities via basic credit approvals. [14196]

The Government are carrying out a Comprehensive Spending Review, a root and branch review of public spending in all Government Departments. Conclusions will emerge in new spending plans and in new policies reflecting the Government's priorities next year. In parallel with this, we have set up a review to look at the future arrangements for local authority finance, in close collaboration with local government and representative organisations. This will include consideration of capital allocation systems and options for local authority support for capital expenditure. We will be consulting widely from late Autumn on particular aspects of the system and plan to issue a White Paper in the Spring on our policies for local government in England, including finance, best value and democratic renewal.In 1998–99 we have agreed that the HIP allocations will be based on 50 per cent. on need, whereas previously it had been intended that 100 per cent. of the allocation would be subject to ministerial discretion. We have also agreed that the allocation of Supplementary Credit Approvals under our Capital Receipts Initiative should be made on the basis of 66 per cent. reflecting need.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the likely date for completion of the channel tunnel rail link; and if he will make a statement. [14555]

Under the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Development Agreement, the construction of the CTRL is the responsibility of London and Continental Railways Ltd. I understand from LCR that they expect to complete the CTRL during 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to make the first payment to London and Continental Railways under the agreement under the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Act 1996. [14551]

The Government's contract with LCR provides for the first instalment of capital grant to be paid when LCR have completed 68 per cent. of the CTRL by value. I understand from LCR that they expect the first instalment of grant will fall due during 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the difference between the actual passenger numbers on Eurostar in 1996–97 and the Government's estimate for that period when it was handed over to London and Continental Railways. [14552]

In the 1996 calendar year Eurostar carried 4.9 million passengers on the London-Paris/Brussels routes and in the first nine months of 1997 they have carried 4.54 million passengers. This represents a 20 per cent. increase on the same period for 1996. The previous Government made no estimates of future Eurostar patronage at the time of transfer of the business to London and Continental Railways.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to extent Part M of the Building Regulations. [14497]

I plan to make a statement shortly on the extension of Part M of the Building Regulations to new dwellings.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many homes have been constructed in each of the last five years that do not meet the standards set out for accessibility by disabled people under the terms of the changes proposed in 1995 to Part M of the Building Regulations. [14498]

It is not possible to give a full assessment of how many homes do, or do not, meet the standards of accessibility proposed in 1995 as it is not possible to quantify homes constructed in the private sector which have incorporated accessibility for disabled people on a voluntary basis. As a broad indication, however, a comparison can be made between total housing completions in Great Britain and homes completed by Housing Associations, or registered social landlords, where Housing Corporation Housing Development Scheme Standards will have applied. Those standards provide accessibility for disabled people comparable to the changes proposed to the Building Regulations in 1995. The relevant figures for the last five years are:

	Total completions (thousands)	Housing Association completions (thousands)
1992	171·9	26·3
1993	178·5	35·4
1994	186·0	36·7
1995	190·7	38·4
1996	179·0	31·5
1997 (Q1, 2 and 3)	133·9	20·2

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the average waiting time for social housing for people requiring a home built to wheelchair standards. [14500]

Information on average waiting times for social housing is not collected centrally.In 1991, the former Department of the Environment carried out research into access into local authority housing. The research included a very small number of applicants requiring a home built to wheelchair standards. Their average waiting time was 21 months.However, the research did not cover access to housing association accommodation. Since 1988, housing associations have been key providers of homes built to wheelchair standards.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the percentage of homes to be constructed using the capital receipts that will (a) be accessible to disabled people and (b) meet wheelchair standards under the terms of the extension proposed in 1995 of Part M of the Building Regulations. [14499]

It is not possible to estimate the percentage of homes constructed using capital receipts that will be accessible to disabled people as the use made of capital receipts is at the discretion of local authorities. However, where local authorities choose to use capital receipts to support registered social landlords normal Housing Corporation Development Scheme Standards will apply. Those standards provide accessibility for disabled people comparable with the 1995 proposals for extending Part M of the Building Regulations to new dwellings, including accessibility for wheelchair users for the purposes of visitability.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the Government's plans for the future of London Underground. [14701]

The Government are considering a wide range of options for public-private partnerships for London Underground, while ruling out wholesale privatisation. The options being considered were detailed in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Crewe and Nantwich (Mrs. Dunwoody), Official Report, 3 November 1997 column 67.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the towns and cities outside the United Kingdom visited by the Minister for London and Construction and the dates on which the visits took place since 1 May. [15025]

From 27 to 31 August, I visited New York, Boston and Washington, USA on a fact finding trip to learn about the US experience of Mayoral systems and to speak at the American Political Science Association Conference. On 24 and 25 September, I attended the EU Housing Ministers' meeting in Amsterdam. Between 3 and 10 October, I led a construction trade delegation of 17 British companies to promote British trade overseas. The delegation visited Amman and Aqaba in Jordan and Sharm El Sheikh and Cairo in Egypt. On 17 October, I visited Cologne in Germany to meet the Mayor of Cologne and discuss German Mayoral systems, from 6 to 9 November, I visited Madrid and Barcelona in Spain to learn about Spanish experiences of Mayoral systems and also to speak at the 1st Conference of the European Federation of Town Centres on Town centre management.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will issue guidance to local authorities concerning the exercise of their powers to keep pavements free of advertising boards and goods for sale. [14839]

There is sufficient guidance to local planning authorities on control of outdoor advertisements in the Department's Circular 5/92, using powers in the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 1992. Local highway authorities have powers in the Highways Act 1980 to remove obstructions on pavements. Both planning and highway authorities must consider whether to exercise these powers on a case-by-case basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the consultancy firms and the directors of consultancy firms who are employed to work on best value pilots for local councils; and if he will make available details of these contracts. [14767]

Following a competitive tender, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions has awarded a research contract worth £⅓ million to the Local Government Centre at Warwick University's Business School to conduct an evaluation of all the Best Value pilot schemes. The study, which will be directed by Dr. Steve Martin, with Professor John Benington in support, started in October of this year and will finish in Autumn 2000. Principal researchers on the study include Dr. Mike Geddes and Dr. Jean Hartley (of the Local Government Centre), Dr. Ian Sanderson (of the policy Research Institute, Leeds Metropolitan University) and Tony Bovaird (Aston Business School).The details of any contracts entered into by individual local authorities are matters for those authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many road accidents over the most recent annual period for which figures are available were (a) drink related and (b) drugs related. [14557]

[holding answer 6 November 1997]: In 1996 there were 10,850 accidents involving death or injury in which at least one driver or motorcycle rider was over the legal limit. No comparable figures are available for drugs-related accidents. However the Department is currently one year into a three-year research programme to assess the incidence of drugs-driving and its implications for road safety.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what support he is giving to local authorities to develop road schemes using private sector finance. [14774]

[holding answer 7 November 1997]: My Department has taken a number of measures to facilitate local authority PFI projects, including highway and other transport schemes. These include the introduction of a Bill to clarify local authorities powers to enter into PFI contracts, consultation on a draft instrument to permit local authorities to delegate a range of highway functions and the release of model contract documents developed for Highways Agency roads.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what assessment he has made of the estimates of the financial costs of the changes made to ACT in July 1997 budget made by (a) Chelmsford Borough Council and (b) Essex County Council; [15071](2) what representations his Department has received in respect of making full compensation available to

Representations have been received from the Local Government Association and several local authorities, including Essex County Council and Chelmsford Borough Council. The Local Government Association, with the support of my Department and the United Kingdom Steering Committee on Local Authority Pensions, is establishing by means of a national survey the impact of the Budget changes on local authority employers' pension costs. This information will be used to inform the actuarial valuations of each fund and how future employers' pension costs in Essex and elsewhere are affected. These factors, and any others which will emerge from the 1998 actuarial valuations, will be taken into account when the level of local authority provision is determined for 1999–2000 and for subsequent years.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what his Department's policy is towards existing planning guidance in relation to large out of town leisure complexes which may impact on existing facilities; and what plans he has to issue new planning guidance to cover out-of-town leisure complexes; [14739](2) what plans he has to issue new planning guidance to minimise the disturbance to local residents caused by large out-of-town leisure complexes. [14738]

The Government are firmly committed to the objectives of Planning Policy Guidance Note 6: "Town Centres and Retail Developments", which seeks to sustain and enhance the vitality and viability of our existing city, town and district centres by making them the focus for investment, particularly in retail, office, leisure and other appropriate developments.The Government propose to ensure that the approach in PPG6 is applied just as firmly to leisure developments as to retail developments. In applying the sequential approach to selecting sites, the Government will expect developers to demonstrate why they could not develop elements of a large scheme on more central sites, with less on-site car parking.The current policy for leisure developments, therefore, consists of PPG6 and the Government Response to the Report of the Environment Committee (Cm 3729). We have no current plans to issue further guidance.The Department will shortly be commissioning research on planning and leisure development. We will want to consider the implication of that research before considering whether guidance on this aspect needs to be amended.Local planning authorities are required to determine planning applications in accordance with their development plans, unless other material considerations indicate otherwise. Factors such as the impact of large out-of-town leisure complexes on the neighbourhood are capable of being material planning considerations, and where appropriate, local planning authorities can impose conditions on planning permission to minimise such impacts.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will assess the hardship caused to pensioner one-person households who are unable to have water meters installed due to technical difficulties but are not entitled to rebates on their water rates; and if he will make a statement. [14097]

The Government are undertaking a review of the water charging system in England and Wales to ensure that it operates in a fair and equitable way. We have made clear our opposition to compulsory metering for essential household use under current arrangements, but we shall be looking at metering policy including the availability of meters to customers who wish to pay on a measured basis. The review will pay particular attention to the effect of present charging methods on special cases such as large households, single persons and low income households including pensioners.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what has been his Department's role in developing the Government's proposals for health action zones. [14586]

We have been working closely with the Department of Health to encourage positive links between health action zones and other area-based programmes such as the Single Regeneration Budget Challenge Fund. An official from the Department will sit on a national reference panel to advise on the bids.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate his Department has made of the total cost to date of all stages of the local government review process for (a) his Department (b) local councils in England.[14588]

The cost of the Local Government Commission, which undertook the structural review of Local Government between 1992 and 1997, was £21.261 million. Under the Local Government Re-organisation Costs Scheme the most recently available bids for transitional costs submitted by all reorganising authorities in respect of expenditure incurred between 1994–95 and 1997–98 total £439·152 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will review the impact of unregulated utility trenching on the environment in the west midlands. [14725]

Under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, local highway authorities have a duty to co-ordinate utility street works and the utilities have a duty to co-operate with the highway authorities and with each other. The Act also imposes requirements as to the standard of reinstatements and as to signing and guarding of works in progress. The Government keep the working of the Act under review and expect to make changes to the associated secondary legislation from time to time.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he will take to include the voluntary sector in the preliminary planning for a Regional Development Agency in the west midlands. [14724]

In taking forward our proposals for Regional Development Agencies in England, we have closely involved all the key stakeholders in each region, including those from the voluntary sector. Detailed arrangements for the Regional Development Agencies will be set out in a White Paper on England's regions to be published in the next few weeks.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of the uniform business rate was paid by small and medium enterprises; and what was the uniform business rate per employee paid by (a) small and medium enterprises and (b) large companies in the last year for which figures are available. [14805]

This information is not held by the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much revenue was raised by the uniform business rate in the last year for which figures are available. [14886]

Total contributions paid into the non-domestic rating pool for distribution back to local authorities was £11,471 million for 1995–96, the last year for which figures are available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will introduce an environmental impact appraisal system to assess the damage to trees on streets caused by (a) utility trenching, (b) roadworks, and (c) traffic disruption. [14726]

I have no plans to introduce a general requirement for environmental appraisal in relation to street trees. However, in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive (85/337/EEC), certain projects undertaken by utilities and highway authorities require such assessment where they are judged likely to have significant effects on the environment. In such cases, the developer must provide an Environmental Statement which includes, amongst other things, a description of any likely significant effects on trees and other flora.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what investigations he has undertaken into the environmental consequences of the entry of manufactured sucrose polymers into the Untied Kingdom food chain. [14937]

As far as I am aware, no investigations have been undertaken by this Department into the environmental consequences of the entry of manufactured sucrose polymers into the United Kingdom food chain.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to change the requirement for areas which consist mainly of green belt land to take their full quota of the requirement for new homes. [14763]

Government polices encourage local authorities to make full and effective use of land within existing urban areas. The Government have a national target of 50 per cent. of all new housing to be built on previously used land.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will exempt from the trunk road review the scheme to detrunk the A40 through Cheltenham; and if he will make a statement. [14903]

The consultation exercise at present taking place as part of the trunk road review specifically invites views on the size and role of the network and whether some trunk roads should be transferred to local authorities or vice versa. In these circumstances I think that I would be premature to proceed with consideration of a specific proposal, such as detrunking the A40 through Cheltenham, before we have concluded the review.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the directors of the Housing Corporation, indicating the tenure of their directorships, their remuneration and the qualifications which led to their appointments. [14730]

In making appointments to the Board of the Housing Corporation, candidates are sought who, in addition to their individual areas of expertise and knowledge, are able to take a broad view of housing policy and related issues. Candidates should be able to contribute usefully in directing a major Non-Departmental Public Body and to make constructive contributions to the development of social housing policy at the national level. The Board needs members with a range of skills and expertise extending from knowledge of finance and regulation to an understanding of how housing policy impacts on other areas of social welfare.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much more of its own reserves Bromsgrove district council will be permitted to spend on council house improvements in the current financial year and in each of the next three years under the terms set out in the Local Government Finance (Supplementary Credit Approvals) Bill. [14762]

The Local Government Finance (Supplementary Credit Approvals) Act 1997 provides for a local authority's set-aside capital receipts to be taken into account when Supplementary Credit Approvals are distributed. The Act underpins the Government's Capital Receipts Initiative under which Bromsgrove District Council is entitled to receive Supplementary Credit Approvals to the value of £188,000 in 1997–98, and £564,000 in 1998–99. These resources may be used to support housing and housing associated regeneration works. In the first instance, however, it is for individual councils to decide on priorities in their area. Longer-term funding arrangements under the Initiative are being considered in our Comprehensive Spending Review.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of the transposition of European Council directive 96/29/Euratom on basic radiation safety standards on the current nuclear waste management strategy of the United Kingdom. [14715]

Directive 96/29/Euratom lays down basic safety standards for the health protection of the general public and workers against the dangers of ionising radiation. It updates standards set for these areas by previous Directives. The new Directive is required to be implemented into United Kingdom law by 13 May 2000. The precise manner of implementation is currently being considered by Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many housing associations have been registered by the Housing Corporation since May 1992; and what proportion of them were housing co-operatives. [14709]

Since May 1992 a total of 163 social landlords have been registered with the Housing Corporation; 16 per cent. (26) of these were housing co-operatives.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will introduce a lower permitted maximum alcohol blood level for drivers of road vehicles.[15038]

We are currently considering a number of measures to combat drink-driving, including the case for reducing the present maximum permitted blood-alcohol level for drivers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimates he has made, by county, of the number of derelict sites in England; and how many of these sites were formerly used for (i) sport and (ii) recreation. [15155]

The latest information is from a survey of derelict land undertaken in 1993, which provides estimates of the area of derelict land by type of dereliction at county and district level. This information is included in Table 5 of "Survey of Derelict Land in England 1993 Volume 2-Reference Tables", a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library. There is no information available on the number of derelict sites at county level.Derelict land is defined as

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the breakdown was by region of (a) freight facilities grants and (b) track access grants in the most recent available year; and if he will make a statement. [15313]It is not possible to allocate track access grants to specific regions since the grant aided traffic traverses more than one region and, in one case, all regions. Awards of track access grant are paid over a number of years; in 1996–97 £12.3 million was paid to five claimants.The Government are committed to encouraging greater take-up of grants from all regions.

In the 1996–97 financial year seven rail and one inland waterways freight facilities grants were awarded in England:

Region	Number of awards	Value of awards £
East Midlands	2 (rail)	1,335,472
Yorkshire and Humber	2 (rail)	509,787
North West	1 (rail)	230,805
North East	1 (rail)	402,029
London	1 (rail)	1,904,032
South East	1 (Inland Waterways grant)	47,338

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what the total amount of money available is under the home energy efficiency scheme in the current winter to help meet the cost of loft, tank and pipe insulation, draught proofing and energy advice; [15177](2) what is the maximum award available under the home energy efficiency scheme. [15176]

[holding answer 10 November 1997]: The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme helps vulnerable families keep warmer and use less energy by paying grant, to a maximum of £315, towards the cost of improving the energy efficiency standards of their homes. The measures available are loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, controls for heating systems, draught proofing, energy efficient lamps and water tank insulation. In addition, personal advice on energy use is offered. The scheme is open to householders who receive income-related benefits, disability allowances or are aged 60 or over; £75.1 million has been allocated to it in 1997–98. Expenditure is spread evenly throughout the year formaximum efficiency. I shall review the scheme shortly to check that it is helping the people who need it most. I will also ensure that it complements effectively the home insulation schemes to assist pensioners which I expect to emerge from our Capital receipts and Environment Task Force initiatives.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the landfill sites where disposal of (a) clinical waste, (b) radioactive waste and (c) special waste is permitted, and where no liner is in place within the landfill site. [14525]

Site licences and supporting information is available on the public register. The information is not available in the form requested. However, the Environment Agency is undertaking work to provide a fuller response, and I will write to the hon. Member.

To aske the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many landfill sites have been in operation in England in each of the last 10 years; and how many, in each year, have operated with no liner in place on all part of the site. [14526]

There are currently a total of 1,838 sites of which 256 are notes as lined or leachate managed and 1,582 where liner and leachate management is not mentioned. Some of these sites may, however, be lined or leachate managed. Data for site licences prior to 1997 are also publicly available, but additional time would be needed to undertake the numerical analysis as these data were originally collected by the individual waste regulation authorities-prior to the establishment of the Environment Agency in April 1996. The information could not, therefore, be obtained other than at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions at what percentage of landfill sites in England the methane produced is used to feed electricity into the national grid. [14530]

The Environment Agency is responsible for waste regulation in England and Wales. Separate figures are not immediately available for England. However, 499 landfill sites in England and Wales accept significant amounts of biodegradable waste which will generate methane; 108 of these sites extract the methane gas and flare it; 52 sites utilise the methane they extract to produce electricity. This represents 10.4 per cent. of the sites that are capable of producing methane.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in what circumstances landfill sites are allowed to operate with no liner. [14531]

Any planning permission or site licence granted for landfill in the past 10 years will have been based on a site specific risk assessment, which will have established the need for, and specification and performance standard of, a liner system. This accords with the guidance provided in Waste Management Paper 26B. There will be examples where the risk assessment confirms that no liner or specific containment system is necessary in order to achieve the required environmental protection. In these cases the site can operate without a liner. Considerations will include the nature of the wastes and prediction of degradation processes (inert or biodegradable wastes), site characteristics (natural clay containment of fissured limestone) and proposed after use. The approach is therefore based on the concept of deriving design performance standards through the use of probabilistic risk assessment, to estimate an acceptable impact on the surrounding environment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list (a) the total waste disposal in each year since 1986 (i) in absolute terms and (ii) per head of population and (b) the percentage of waste in each year since 1986 which has been (1) landfilled, (2) incinerated and (3) recycled. [14527]

Annually updated information has not been collated centrally on a regular basis for the disposal of all controlled waste streams. Best estimates of the proportion of controlled wastes, excluding sewage sludge and dredged spoils going to each of the main waste management options in 1990 are given in the table:

Type of waste	Landfill	Incineration	Recycled/re-used
Household	90	5	5
Commercial	85	7·5	7·5
Construction and demolition	63	0	30
Other industrial	73	1	18
Total	70	2	21

In a new survey of household and municipal waste carried out by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the Welsh Office, local authorities in England and Wales reported that 83 per cent. of municipal waste was disposed of to landfill, almost 10 per cent. was incinerated, about half of that with energy recovery and about 7 per cent. was recycled.Information on the disposal of sewage sludge is published annually in the "Digest of Environmental Statistics". Typically in recent years approximately 10 per cent. of sewage sludge was disposed of to landfill and around 5 per cent. was incinerated. A further 8 to 10 per cent. was used beneficially in land reclamation and soil and compost products.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his policy in respect of mandatory deposits on containers. [14528]

The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 were introduced earlier this year to implement the requirements of Directive 94/62/EC on Packaging and Packaging Waste, including the achievement of the recovery and recycling targets it sets down. Based on the "polluter pays" principle, the UK Regulations therefore place obligations on producers of packaging waste to ensure the recovery and recycling of a proportion of the UK's packaging waste to meet a minimum recovery target (including recycling) of 50 per cent. and minimum recycling targets for each material of 15 per cent. by 2001.Deposit and return systems are one means by which producers of packaging can ensure access to reusable or recoverable packaging in order to discharge their obligations under the Regulations. However, the Government has no plans to make this mandatory.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent assessment he has made of the net environmental impact of using new as against recycled paper. [14532]

There is a substantial amount of research into this issue. We shall be assessing the results of this research in due course.