To ask the Secretary of State for International Development on what projects the current United Kingdom bilateral aid to the Government of Kenya is being spent. [15013]

Major projects (with commitments of £1 million or over) implemented in partnership with the Government of Kenya are:

£ million
Education
Primary School management Project	4.8
Strengthening of Primary Education Phase II	18.9
Health
Kenya Family Health Programme	11.5
HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care Project	8.9
Family Planning Interim Support Project	3.5
Natural Resources/Environmental Protection
National Agricultural Research Programme Phase II	10.6
Kenya Trypanosomiasis Research Institute Phase III	2.4
Protected Areas and Wildlife Support Project	2.9
Small Enterprise Development
Improving the Regulatory Environment Phase II	1.0

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what safeguards are currently in place within her Department to prevent the misuse of aid provided directly to the Kenyan Government. [15015]

Project funds are not normally provided directly to the Kenyan Government, but are controlled and disbursed by project management agents appointed by the British Government, and are subject to independent audit.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what recent investigations her Department has undertaken into the misuse of aid provided by the United kingdom to the Kenyan Government; [15018](2) what estimate she has made of the amount of aid provided by the United Kingdom to the Kenyan Government which is misused. [15019]

We know of no misuse of our development assistance funds by the Kenyan Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid has been offered to non-governmental organisations in Kenya to assist with an election-observing programme. [15020]

My Department has offered up to £264,000 for this purpose.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list those compliance cost assessments published during the latest six-month period. [16904]

The Government are committed to ensuring that regulations are necessary, fair to all parties and properly costed. In accordance with this, we require Departments to produce and publish CCAs for all regulatory proposals likely to have an impact on business, charities and the voluntary sector.I have presented to Parliament today a Command Paper listing 90 CCAs published between 1 January 1997 and 30 June 1997 plus 1 CCA published in December 1996 which was omitted from the previous Command Paper. Copies of the CCAs listed have been placed in the Libraries of the House. This is the seventh such Command Paper.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many films were produced in the United Kingdom in each of the last six years broken down by production type. [15448]

Total production figures for the six years are as follows:

• 1996: 128
• 1995: 78
• 1994: 84
• 1993: 67
• 1992: 47
• 1991: 59

Classification by the production types used by the British Film Institute is available only for the last four years:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what procedures he proposes that lottery funding bodies should adopt to take account of public opinion when considering grant applications; and if he will make a statement. [15605]

In the White Paper "The People's Lottery" we announced our intention to ensure that lottery money is spent according to a strategy which reflects distributors' assessment of need in their sectors. These strategies should take account of public opinion. It is for distributors to determine the means by which they intend to assess public opinion and reflect it in their strategies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the English Tourist Board review of the Crown Scheme will be completed; if he will support changes to the scheme to allow resorts which choose not to have telephones in their lodges to be granted a Five Key rating; and if he will make a statement. [15309]

The English Tourist Board, the AA and the RAC are now considering the responses from the industry consultation on their proposals for replacing the existing Crown and Star schemes. They intended to make a final announcement about the new schemes, which will cover serviced accommodation, before the end of the year.The English Tourist Board will be reviewing their separate Key Scheme for self-catering accommodation in the spring. The first stage will be to commission research into consumer expectations about this sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what plans he has to include team sports in the British Academy of Sport; [16567](2) when he expects to make an announcement on the location of the British Academy of Sport. [16568]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State met the United Kingdom Sports Council on 14 November and agreed the basis on which the competition will be completed. I have arranged for copies of his announcement and the paper which was considered at that meeting to be placed in the Library. I expect an announcement on the location of the United Kingdom Sports Institute to be made before Christmas. Team sports will be embraced by the Institute. The distribution of training facilities for team sports between the Headquarters, sports specific institutes, and network institutes, will be decided over time with the governing bodies concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what financial contribution his Department has made towards the costs of the Arts Council for England interim scheme for students of dance and drama; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of this expenditure. [15599]

I have been asked to reply.The Department will be contributing a minimum of £9 million of new funds to the interim bursary scheme over the four academic years the scheme will run. £15 million has been made available in the current year. We are currently assessing the impact of the scheme with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Arts Council of England.

To ask the Minister without Portfolio how many accidents have been recorded at the dome site since construction began. [15730]

There have been three minor accidents, involving three people in all, since construction started at the dome site. None of the incidents were classed as "major" injuries under RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries; Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995). Although all those involved were back at work within a week or less, all three incidents were reported to the HSE as the time off work in each case exceeded three days.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his Department's definition of a cleared-up crime; and if he will make a statement. [16547]

The full details of the Home Office definition of a cleared-up crime are set out on page 9 of Volume IV of the "Criminal Statistics Instructions, Annual and Miscellaneous Returns", last issued in Janaury 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many experiments on animals took place

Grants to police authorities 1996–97
	Police revenue grant (Home Office)1 £	Police capital grant (Home Office) £	Other grants (Home Office, DETR, Welsh Office) 2 £	Total £
Avon and Somerset	77,278,260	2,351,000	25,030,505	104,659,765
Bedfordshire	28,811,092	1,167,000	9,252,820	39,230,912
Cambridgeshire	33,348,537	629,000	8,821,067	42,798,604
Cheshire	49,500,131	961,000	14,065,961	64,527,092
City of London3	27,831,884	421,000	203,269	28,456,153
Cleveland	36,816,273	740,000	18,685,068	56,241,341
Cumbria	28,688,560	585,000	11,833,101	41,106,661

The "Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain, 1996" were laid in the House in July. These show that 2,716,587 procedures were carried out on animals. Of these, 252 were for the purpose of safety testing of finished cosmetic products, the category of tests covered by the voluntary ban.The ban on cosmetic product testing is an important first step. We announced on 6 November that we would also be exploring a ban on the testing of ingredients for "vanity" products and finished household products.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the companies licensed to carry out experiments on animals with their addresses and, where appropriate, the name of the holding company. [16653]

Section 24 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 prohibits the disclosure of information given in confidence. This includes the details of establishments designated under the Act as places where animal experiments may be carried out.Publication of such information would increase the risk to establishments, and those who work in them, of attack by animal rights extremists.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each police force area (a) the total police revenue grant, (b) the total capital grant, (c) other grants to police authorities from central funds and (d) the total capital and revenue grants from central funds, for each of the last two financial years for which figures are available; what is the planned total capital and revenue expenditure from central funds for each of the next two financial years; and if he will make a statement. [16553]

The information requested in respect of 1996–97 and 1997–98 is set out in the tables.Present planned Home Office support for the police for the next two financial years is set out in the "Home Office Annual Report 1997" (CM 3608), table 5.1, page 37, a copy of which is in the Library. This shows that planned support, in the form of specific current, capital and special grants and credit approvals to police authorities, is £3,761 million in 1998–99 and £3,756 million in 1999–2000. The provisional police funding settlement for 1998–99 is likely to be announced next month.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the (a) conviction rate and (b) clear-up rate for each category of crime (i) in total and (ii) as a percentage change, per area, in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.[16549]

The information requested is given in the tables, copies of which have been placed in the Library. Figures for clear-ups and convictions are not directly comparable because clear-ups and convictions are not directly comparable because clear-ups relate to offences and convictions relate to offenders.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what are the detailed procedures for following up asylum seekers after their entry into the United Kingdom;[15081](2) who is responsible for following up asylum seekers after their entry into the United Kingdom.[15084]

Asylum seekers granted temporary admission by the Immigration Service may be required to report to the police or the Immigration Service on specified dates. It remains, however, the responsibility of all asylum seekers to maintain contact with the Immigration and Nationality Directorate and to inform the Directorate of any change of address or representative or of any other relevant change in circumstances.A failure to attend for interview, to respond promptly to written inquires, or otherwise to comply in full with the procedures or the terms of temporary admission, may result in the application being refused.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for reports on the cost of the complaints and discipline departments for the current year of the police forces of (i) Manchester, (ii) Liverpool, (iii) the West Midlands and (iv) Northumbria.[16127]

The forces concerned have supplied the information set out below, which may not necessarily be directly comparable. The estimated costs for the current financial year are:

	£ million
Greater Manchester Police	2.05
Merseyside Police	1.6
West Midlands Police	1.7
Northumbria	0.86

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 4 November, Official Report, column 119, if the absolute requirement to obtain the authority of a warrant to carry out intrusive surveillance involving entry on to, or interference with, property also applies to surveillance carried out from without a property. [15953]

[holding answer 14 November 1997]: The statutory provision is to be found in sections 5 and 6 of the Intelligence Services Act 1994. The requirement to obtain a warrant applies to all operations which involve entry on or interference with property, or with wireless telegraphy.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many requests for phone tap warrants were made by MI5 in 1996; how many were (a) agreed and (b) refused.[15721]

[holding answer 17 November 1997]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 3 November. Official Report, column 26, where I explained that, in accordance with the practice adopted by successive Interception Commissioners, I considered that it would be prejudicial to national security to publish figures for the number of telephone warrants issued to each individual agency.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if phone taps authorised for numbers allocated to public phone boxes are included in the figures given to Parliament in respect of the numbers of phone taps authorised. [15704]

[holding answer 17 November 1997]: The information published in the Annual Report of the Interception Commissioner includes all telecommunications warrants issued by the Home Secretary and the Secretary of State for Scotland, irrespective of the type of telephone which is intercepted.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many warrants authorising phone taps related to (a) an individual and (b) two or more individuals, including organisations, for each year since 1986. [15717]

[holding answer 17 November 1997]: It would not be in the public interest to publish this information.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many directives have been issued to British Telecom under section 94 of the Telecommunications Act 1984 for each year since its inception.[15724]

[holding answer 17 November 1997]: Section 94(4) of the Telecommunications Act 1984 requires the Secretary of State to lay before the House a copy of every direction given under section 94 unless he is of the opinion that disclosure of the direction is against the interests of national security. No directions have been laid before Parliament. It follows that any directions which may have been issued by the Secretary of State for the Home Department could not be disclosed, in the interests of national security.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many items of mail were legally intercepted and opened for each year since 1986; and in respect of how many persons.[15697]

[holding answer 17 November 1997]: The available information is published in the annual reports of the Interception Commissioner, which list the number of postal warrants issued each year by the Home Secretary and the Secretary of State for Scotland. Figures for the numbers of postal warrants issued by the Home Secretary in each year since 1986 are as follows:

Postal warrants issued by the Home Secretary
Year	Number of warrants
1985	40
1986	95
1987	34
1988	48
1989	31
1990	42
1991	62
1992	118
1993	105
1994	76
1995	87
1996	69
Total	807

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances monitoring of international communications terminating within the United Kingdom is subject to approval by warrant. [15681]

[holding answer 17 November 1997]: The requirement to obtain a warrant under the Interception of Communications Act 1985 applies in relation to the interception of any communication in the course of its transmission by means of a public telecommunications system.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will amend the terms of the Interception of Communications Act 1985 to comply with (a) Article 13 and (b) Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.[15711]

[holding answer 17 November 1997]: We shall, in due course, bring forward proposals to amend the Interception of Communications Act 1985 so as to bring it into line with the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of HaIford v. the United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances calls made by prisoners from Her Majesty's prisons are monitored.[15684]

[holding answer 17 November 1997]: All telephone calls made by prisoners, other than in open establishments, are recorded and are liable to be monitored. Calls made by high and exceptional risk category A prisoners are simultaneously monitored. Monitoring of other prisoners' calls takes place on a selective basis where there is justifiable suspicion of abuse, supplemented by random monitoring to the extent to which it is considered operationally necessary for the purposes of security, control and the detection of crime.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which recommendations of the Birkett Report are not presently effective.[15727]

[holding answer 17 November 1997]: I refer the hon. Member to the report by Lord Diplock on the interception of communications in Great Britain, which was published in March 1981 (Cmnd 8191). In the fourth paragraph, Lord Diplock recorded that all of Lord Birkett's recommendations had subsequently been adopted and had been followed ever since. Following a White Paper published in 1985, the Interception of Communications Act 1985 was enacted and this Act provides the current statutory basis for lawful interception of communications.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of the MI5 budget is currently spent on counter-subversion.[15679]

[holding answer 17 November 1997]: In the current financial year, the Security Service expects to spend less than 1 per cent. of its budget on residual work on counter subversion.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the present terms of reference for MI5.[15720]

[holding answer 17 November 1997]: The functions of the Security Service are prescribed in the Security Service Act 1989, as amended by the Security Service Act 1996. They are, in summary, as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons are employed in reviewing and destroying files now deemed inappropriate to be held by MI5.[15696]

[holding answer 17 November 1997]: The review of Security Service files is an integral part of the duties of records management staff within the Security Service. Successive Governments have deemed it inappropriate to provide a breakdown of staff allocated to these tasks. Total staff at the Security Service at 4 November 1997 was 1,860.5 (full-time equivalent).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances MI5 uses persons external to MI5 to carrying out tapping or other covert surveillance tasks.[15699]

[holding answer 17 November 1997]: It has been the policy of successive Governments not to discuss operational matters relating to the work of the security and intelligence services.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his oral answer of 27 October 1997, Official Report, column 574, which department will be responsible for the campaign against drug misuse in Scotland.[15764]

I have been asked to reply.As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department indicated in his reply of 27 October, the Scottish Executive will assume the current responsibilities of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Advocate. The reply made it clear that these responsibilities would include drug misuse issues such as health, treatment and education and enforcement of drug misuse legislation in Scotland. Responsibilities on education would cover advertising and prevention campaigns on drug misuse.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications for visitors' visas to the United Kingdom have been received at the New Delhi embassy since January; and how many of the applications were refused.[159301

Between 1 January and 31 October 1997, 46,799 applications to visit the United Kingdom were received at the British High Commission in New Delhi of which 6,064—13 per cent.—have been refused.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will review the geographical location of the United Kingdom's embassies in India with particular reference to giving adequate coverage to the northern states.[15931]

We regularly keep under review the size and location of diplomatic posts around the world. We have no current plans to open further posts in India. Our present Missions in India are the High Commission in New Delhi, the Deputy High Commissions in Bombay, Calcutta and Madras and the British Trade Office in Bangalore.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the initiatives taken by his Department to improve export promotion.[16357]

This Department and the Department of Trade and Industry launched the Export Forum in June to look at ways to enhance the effectiveness of current government support for UK exporters. The Forum met between July and October, and my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade welcomed its recommendations in her written announcement to the House on 4 November 1997, Official Report, columns 127–28.In July we also announced a rolling programme of attachments of business men and women to work on specific promotions or projects overseas for periods of a few months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what obstacles remain to the United Kingdom indicating its adherence to the Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials adopted by the 8th UN Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders in September 1990; [15888](2) what obstacles remain to the United Kingdom indicating its adherence to the UN Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty adopted by the General Assembly Resolution 45/113 of 14 December 1990;[15889](3) what obstacles remain to the United Kingdom indicating its adherence to the United Nations Principles on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extra-Legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions recommended by the Economic and Social Council Resolution of 24 May 1989;[15890](4) what obstacles remain to the United Kingdom indicating its adherence to the United Nations Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment adopted by the General Assembly Resolution of 9 December 1988;[15891](5) what obstacles remain to the United Kingdom indicating its adherence to the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, approved by the Economic and Social Council of 13 May 1977.[15892]

We support the broad intentions of the important human rights standards contained in these United Nations texts. The United Kingdom joined consensus on their adoption. However, these instruments are not legally binding. As their wording shows, they are recommendatory in nature. There is therefore no mechanism by which States can become party to them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he made of the human rights situation in Indonesia when deciding to continue to export arms to Indonesia; and in what circumstances he would ban arms sales.[16420]

We will not issue an export licence if the arguments for doing so are outweighed by the need to comply with the UK's international obligations and commitments, or by concern that the goods might be used for internal repression or international aggression, or by the risks of regional stability, or other considerations as described in the new criteria for defence sales announced by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 28 July 1997, Official Report, columns 26–29. These factors will be taken into account when considering an export licence for any country, including Indonesia.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the present terms of reference for MI6.[15707]

[holding answer 17 November 1997]: The principle role of the Secret Intelligence Service is the production of secret intelligence in support of the security, defence, foreign and economic policies within the framework of requirements laid upon us by the JIC and approved by Ministers. The functions of SIS are set out in section 1 of the Intelligence Services Act 1994.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list each of the overseas trips made by herself and other members of her ministerial team since 2 May, specifying in each case (a) the participating Minister of Ministers, (b) the destination of the trip, (c) the purpose of the trip and (d) the cost of the trip; and if she will make a statement.[15212]

[holding answer 11 November 1997]: DTI Ministers have undertaken the following visits since taking office on 2 May. In respect of the cost estimates, those relating to more recent visits may incur some additional charges which have not yet been booked to the Department.

£
President of the Board of Trade
25–28 May Japan	Inward Investment and Trade Promotion	29,150
15–16 June Paris	Attend Airbus Ministerial Meeting and Paris Airshow	830
01 July Brussels	Meeting with EU Commissioner Van Miert	850
10–11 September Washington DC	Trade Policy	15,320
13 October Brussels	Meetings with Commissioners Wulf-Mathies and Bangemann	960
12–13 November Brussels	Attend Industry Council	1,170
Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe: Lord Simon of Highbury
20–21 May Brussels	Attend Internal Market Council	750
25–26 May Amsterdam	European Round Table	710
3–5 September Germany and Austria	Series of bilaterals with European Counterparts	1,320
3–4 October Luxembourg	Attend Internal Market Council	860
Minister for Small Firms Trade and Industry: Barbara Roche
5–6 June Munich, Germany	Attend Bavarian Innovation and Research Fair	1,160
15–20 June Brazil	Trade Promotion	12,780
26–27 June Luxembourg and Brussels	Attend Telecoms Council	810
17 July Brussels	Meeting with EU Commissioner for Small Firms	430
10–11 September Hanover, Germany	Speak at Machine Tools and Technologies Exhibition	1,170
Minister for Trade: Lord Clinton-Davis
16–19 May	New York and Trade Promotion Washington DC	11,480
25–26 May Paris	OECD Ministerial	1,830
14–19 June South Africa	Trade Promotion	9,570
21–27 June Thailand and Malaysia	Trade Promotion	11,650
20–21 July France	Trade Promotion and Trade Policy	1,040
24–25 July Ireland	Trade Promotion and Trade Policy	560
9–17 September Argentina and Chile	Trade Promotion	15,050
21–29 September Korea/Japan	Trade Promotion and ASEM	18,760
15 October Paris	Trade Promotion	'300
17–22 October Indonesia	Trade Promotion	13,320

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent discussions her Department has had with the Scottish Office in respect of Locate in Scotland.[15628]

My officials have regular contact with both the Scottish Office and Locate in Scotland on the handling of inward investment projects in the UK. My Department's Invest in Britain Bureau continues to work in partnership with, amongst others, the investment agency for Scotland under the Committee on Overseas Promotion arrangements.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimates she has made of the current number of people who have taken out critical illness insurance; and what the figure was in 1987.[15970]

I understand that the Association of British Insurers estimate that in 1996 some 93,000 new policies for critical illness insurance were written in the UK, and that some £50 million of premium was paid for them. No other estimates, or corresponding ones for 1987, are available.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what research her Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the link between patents on genes and research into new cures; and if she will place a copy of such research in the Library.[16389]

[holding answer 17 November 1997]: My Department has not commissioned research into the link between patents on genes and research into new cures.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on her policy on the levying of royalties by patent holders on crops to which patented genes have spread through horizontal gene transfer. [16152]

[holding answer 17 November 1997]: The current legislation (The Patents Act 1977) details the act which constitute infringement of a patent for an invention. Where the invention is a product, these acts include making, disposing, offering to dispose, using or importing the product without the consent of the patent holder.Application of these provisions in any given circumstance is for a Court to determine. To date there has been no litigation on the levying of royalties by patent holders on crops to which patented genes have spread through horizontal gene transfer.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress she has made in her review of Post Office services, with particular reference to Crown post office closures; and if she will make a statement.[16560]

The first stage of our review of the Post Office has taken the form of a scoping study and has comprised extensive consultations with the main interested parties in the postal sector. Our aim is to develop a comprehensive policy programme for the Post Office in the context of our manifesto commitment to grant the Post Office greater commercial freedom. Decisions on the future of the Post Office policy of converting Crown post offices to agency status, which has been suspended since May, will be taken within the wider framework of the review.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what changes she has made since 1 May to the reporting relationship between regional inward investment attracting organisations and his Department.[16646]

My Department's Invest in Britain Bureau continues to work with all its regional partners under the Committee on Overseas Promotion on arrangements to ensure that the UK remains the Number 1 location in Europe for attracting inward investment.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how the decision-making powers of (a) Scottish Enterprise, (b) the Welsh Development Agency, (c) the Northern Ireland Industrial Development Board and

My Department's Invest in Britain Bureau will continue to work in partnership under the Committee on Overseas Promotion arrangements with the inward investment agencies of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the English regions to maintain the UK as the Number 1 location in Europe for foreign direct investment.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is her policy in respect of the faxing of press releases on the day of release to Opposition party spokesmen; what changes have been introduced since I May; and if she will make a statement.[16309]

It has been the Department's practice for some years to fax, on request, its press releases to Opposition party spokesman on the day of release.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the names of those employers who have been found to have breached the anti-discrimination legislation at an industrial tribunal, indicating the amount of compensation awarded, since 1 May.[16481]

Since 1 May 1997, there have been 86 successful applications made against employers at Industrial Tribunal hearings in the United Kingdom where the main jurisdiction fell within anti-discrimination legislation. In 28 of these cases, awards were made to the applicants.The detailed information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Full details of each tribunal application, the tribunal's decision and the names of respondents in particular cases can be found on the Public Register at Bury St. Edmunds, unless the case involves an allegation of a sexual offence.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many (a) tobacconist shops and (b) public houses will be affected by the Competition Bill. [163541

Agreements which fulfil the criteria for exemption under European block exemption regulations, including those relating to beer tie agreements and exclusive distribution, will be automatically exempt from the prohibition of anti-competitive agreements.The Competition Bill will apply to agreements or conduct which are anti-competitive.

The Government are actively considering the issue. We wish to see competition sustained and developing further in all areas of the market and in the consumer interest. We intend, as soon as possible, to publish for consultation our proposals on the way forward on this issue.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what qualifications are needed and what licensing is required of persons who engage in body piercing.[15975]

I have been asked to reply.There are no statutory qualifications for cosmetic body piercers. Local authorities in London have powers either to license or to register cosmetic body piercing businesses. The majority of London local authorities have adopted licensing powers which enable them to set licensing conditions, including the qualifications of persons offering cosmetic body piercing. Local authorities outside London do not have similar powers. In October 1996, the Department consulted on a proposal to give local authorities outside London powers to control cosmetic body piercing businesses. We are currently considering the outcome of the consultation exercise.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to the answer of 10 November from the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Official Report, column 441, if he will list the e-mail addresses of (a) Ministers, (b) senior officials and (c) chief executives of agencies for which he is responsible.[15866]

[holding answer 13 November 1997]: My Department is in the process of determining the most cost-effective way of using Internet e-mail, and we expect that we will start to do so early in 1998. At that point e-mail addresses of Ministers and senior officials will be made public.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what new proposals he has to promote innovation in the Welsh economy.[14791]

In our recently published Economic Strategy Statement we are consulting on various measures to realise the potential of new technology and are meanwhile taking forward our Wales Information Society and Regional Technology Plan initiative.

To ask the President of the Council, pursuant to the oral Statement by the Secretary of State for International Development, Official Report, 5 November, column 332, if she will instruct officials to serve coffee and tea furnished by suppliers who adhere to fair trade standards in her Department.[15496]

The Privy Council Office has no official catering facilities of its own. Beverages served at meetings are supplied under Cabinet Office arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the Department for Education plans to fund all four years of study by students from Northern Ireland at Scottish Universities; how many students from Northern Ireland are currently in the fourth year of a degree course at a Scottish University; and what assessment he has made of the cost of funding this fourth year.[16093]

[holding answer 14 November 1997]: The issue is the subject of Ministerial discussion. In 1996–97 there were around 900 Northern Ireland domiciled students on the fourth year of a full-time first degree course at Scottish Higher Education Institutions. The estimate of costs is currently being examined.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans there are to develop the Springvale University campus project; what have been the main determining factors underlying the project's development; and if she will make a statement about revenue funding implications for higher education provision in Northern Ireland over the next decade. [16450]

[holding answer 17 November 1997]: Discussions, including consideration of new style further and higher education provision at Springvale, are currently taking place between the Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education and the University of Ulster. Proposals arising from these discussions, including the revenue funding implications, are subject to economic appraisal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate she has made of the increase in the number of jury trials formerly held by Diplock courts as a result of the proposed changes to the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Acts.[15902]

It is not possible to predict the number of cases which will be heard before a jury as a result of the proposed changes to the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1996. It will be for my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General to determine, on the merits of each individual case before him, whether or not to certify it out.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what co-operation she will offer the Irish Government to assist investigation into allegations of the unlawful involvement of British military intelligence in bomb attacks in Dublin and Monaghan in May 1974.[15908]

If the Irish Government have any evidence to substantiate allegations about the bomb attacks in Dublin and Monaghan in May 1974 the Government will support investigations to establish the validity of such evidence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will place the initial report of the International Decommissioning Commission in the Library.[15895]

The International Decommissioning Commission is an independent body established jointly by the British and Irish Governments. It has not yet finalised its initial report. The Governments will keep under review in consultation with the Commission and the other participants in the political negotiations, the handling of reports produced by the Commission on the difficult and sensitive issues entrusted to it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the terms of reference of the Commission established to look at ways of recognising the suffering of victims of violence in Northern Ireland.[15909]

The terms of reference for the Commission are to look at ways of recognising the suffering of victims of violence in Northern Ireland and:

to examine the feasibility of providing greater recognition for those who have become victims in the last thirty years as a consequence of events in Northern Ireland, recognising that those events have also had appalling repercussions for many people not living in Northern Ireland,

to consult the various organisations concerned with Welfare of the bereaved and disabled,

to consult community groups, churches, political parties; and to make recommendations to the Secretary of State.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on what funding provision has been made to accommodate the expenditure needed to resolve the computer millennium problem; and if he expects to have sufficient funding to pay for the work necessary to achieve complete millennium compliance by 1 January 2000.[13564]

[holding answer 4 November 1997]: Within the Treasury, most of the required compliance can be achieved by upgrading proprietary software or hardware, which would have formed part of the normal development of the department's IT systems. Costs will largely be related to time spent by staff testing their systems. Any costs associated with this work will be met from within existing plans.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what allocations from the Contingency Reserve have been made for (a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99; what is the value of the remaining unallocated component of the Contingency Reserve in (1) 1997–98 and (2) 1998–99; and if he will make a statement.[13284]

[holding answer 6 November 1997]: The Reserve announced in November 1996 for 1997–98 was £2,5 billion. The main Estimates included allocations of £200 million from the Reserve to departments and the summer Supplementary Estimates included allocations of a further £52 million. The winter Supplementary Estimates to be presented on 13 November will include allocations of a further £234 million. The Reserve for 1998–99 will be £2.8 billion reflecting the allocations in my reply to the hon. Member of 30 July Official Report, column 347.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations his Department has received from United States (a) Government bodies, (b) trade associations and (c) major corporations regarding the reduction of the tax credit on dividends.[14689]

[holding answer 6 November 1997]: Full details of the changes to tax credits were given immediately after the Budget, as a matter of course, to treaty partners concerned, including the United States Government. In that regard, we have responded to a small number of requests for technical clarification, and received a few representations from trade associations and major corporations.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of people of pensionable age who have retired but who have not purchased an annuity with the accumulated capital from their pension fund.[14757]

The information is not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to mitigate the impact of the abolition of ACT recovery on pension funds, in respect of people of pensionable age who have not purchased an annuity. [14756]

None.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list (a) his Department's policies and initiatives designed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and (b) the departmental policies and initiatives designed to reduce other greenhouse gases; if he will estimate for each the annual reduction in tonnage of greenhouse gas emissions

£000
Year	Treasury	Inland Revenue (Inc VOA)	Royal Mint	Customs and Excise	National Savings	Office for Nat. Stats.
1980–81	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
1987–88	9.9	(1)	(1)	(1)	1.9	(1)

I refer the hon. Member to the United Kingdom's Second Report under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change which was published in February 1997. It reports the UK's progress in implementing its programme for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and gives a projection of what the programme is expected to deliver by 2000. The report projects forward what the current program is expected to achieve to 2020.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 1 July, Official Report, columns 74–76, concerning the Customs Information convention of the European Community, by what means the convention was ratified by the United Kingdom; and what was the date of the relevant parliamentary proceedings.[15567]

The Convention on the use of Information Technology for Customs Purposes (the Customs Information System Convention) was ratified by the United Kingdom in accordance with the agreed practice and procedure for the ratification by the United Kingdom of international agreements, known as the Ponsonby Rule. The procedure provides Parliament with the opportunity to consider the text of any agreement which requires ratification, acceptance, approval or accession by the United Kingdom by laying before Parliament a text of the agreement at least 21 sitting days before ratification can be effected. Provided that Parliament does not seek a debate on the agreement, the Foreign Secretary signs the instrument of ratification which is subsequently deposited with the Secretary General of the Council.In the case of the Convention on the use of Information Technology for Customs Purposes; the Command Paper was laid before Parliament on 13 November 1996, no Parliamentary debate was sought and the Convention was ratified on 18 June 1997—the date when the United Kingdom instrument of ratification was deposited with the Secretary General to the Council.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the expenditure by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies on official hospitality for (i) 1980–81, (ii) 1987–88, (iii) 1990–91, (iv) 1991–92, (iv) 1992–93, (vi) 1993–94, (vii) 1994–95, (viii) 1995–96, (ix) 1996–97 and (x) 1 May to 30 September 1997. [15238]

[holding answer 11 November 1997]: Expenditure on hospitality by Ministers and officials is shown in the following table:

£000
Year	Treasury	Inland Revenue (Inc VOA)	Royal Mint	Customs and Excise	National Savings	Office for Nat. Stats.
1990–91	30.4	(1)	35.0	241.0	5.8	(1)
1991–92	35.2	43.0	33.0	255	3.6	(1)
1992–93	41.2	41.0	28.0	386.0	10.2	(1)
1993–94	27.3	26.0	40.0	300.0	10.0	(1)
1994–95	40.5	27.0	39.0	266.0	8.4	(1)
1995–96	41.1	18.0	40.0	267.0	13.3	(1)
1996–97	49.5	14.0	40.0	273.0	17.5	33.1
1997–98 May-September	11.0	9.0	24.0	120.0	5.5	22.7
1 Figures unavailable.
2 Figures for overseas hospitality are unavailable for these years.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the expenditure by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies on overseas travel for (i) 1980–81, (ii) 1987–88, (iii) 1990–91, (iv) 1991–92,

£000
	Treasury	Inland Revenue		Custom and Excise	Office for National Statistics
		(including Valuation Office Agency)
		All	Of which Air Fares
1980–81	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
1987–88	299	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
1990–91	519	n/a	n/a	1,214	n/a
1991–92	598	313	213	1,557	n/a
1992–93	652	307	222	1,850	n/a
1993–94	796	242	85	2,425	n/a
1994–95	677	472	169	2,766	n/a
1995–96	667	928	174	3,089	n/a
1996–97	775	468	139	3,551	510
1997–98 (May-September)	307	78	69	1,565	144

n/a: These figures are not available.Figures for the Royal Mint are not available, except at disproportionate cost. Expenditure by National Savings on overseas travel is estimated to be less than £1,000 in each year, but more precise figures are not available, except at disproportionate cost.Inland Revenue aside, expenditure for airfares is not separately identifiable.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the total expenditure on all forms of publicity and advertising by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies for (i) 1993–94, (ii) 1994–95, (iii) 1995–96,

£000
	Treasury1	Inland Revenue2	Customs and Excise	Royal Mint3	National Savings	Office for National Statistics
1993–94	122	865	922	958	15,419	4—
1994–95	121	948	840	794	13,567	4—
1995–96	96	8,128	729	2,012	12,975	4—
1996–97	121	7,637	1,329	1,879	10,799	369
1997–98 (year to date)	41	5,900	602	1,557	5,476	144
1997–98 (full year)	5—	7,900	1,400	5—	9,389	297
1 In 1993–94 and 1994–95, the Treasury included all recruitment expenditure (advertising and expenses) in the same account code. Form 1995–96 recruitment advertising was separated. The earlier figures have been adjusted to provide a series on a consistent basis.
2 These figures include spending by the Valuation Office Agency. The recent increase reflects publicity for the move to self assessment.
3 Figures for the Royal Mint for 1993–94 and 1994–95 are higher than those given in previous answers. This is due to a change of policy by the Mint regarding the treatment of commercial information held in confidence.
4 The ONS was created on 1 April 1996 following the merger of the Central Statistical Office and the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. Information for previous years is not readily available.
5 The only figures currently available for 1997–98 are spend to date.
Detailed budgets for 1998–99 have yet to be agreed.