To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide funds to support a memorial to commemorate allied service men who, while prisoners of war, died during the construction of the Burma railway; and if he will make a statement.[14490]

The Government are very aware of the hardships and suffering endured by prisoners of war who were forced by their captors to build the Burma-Siam Railway during the Second World War.While we have the greatest sympathy for those men and their families and acknowledge the need for remembrance and commemoration, it has been a long-standing policy of successive Governments that the cost of memorials is not usually met from public funds, but from private donations or public subscription.The Ministry of Defence is, therefore, unable to assist with the funding of the memorial.The organisers intend to site the memorial in Thailand and the Ministry of Defence would be happy to provide representation at any dedication ceremony, should the necessary funding be raised.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the hon. Member for Salisbury can expect a reply to his letter to the Minister of State for the Armed Forces, dated 24 July, about the closure of the Army Base Repair Organisation depot at Ludgershall.[16947]

I replied yesterday to the hon. Member's letter. I regret not having done so sooner.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will further review the (a) number of and (b) timetable for its delivery of Eurofighter 2000.[17006]

I refer the right hon. Member to the answers I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Dr. Jones) on 4 November 1997, Official Report, column 111.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many research projects concerned with aspects of gene science have been commissioned by his Department in each year since 1987; and if he will list these in date order.[16789]

My Department commissions research into a wide variety of what might be called genetic science applications, mainly in support of chemical and biological defence. Examples range from the use of gene probes to develop improved detection of biological warfare agents, to the use of genetic engineering for research into new vaccines. Most of this research is conducted at Porton Down, where an initial survey indicates that the number of genetic engineering projects undertaken since 1987 is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Army's engineer resources.[17550]

My predecessor announced in August 1995 that the Army Engineer Resources Organisation, based at Long Marston in Warwickshire, would collocate with another Royal Engineers organization—the Military Work Force—on a single site at Chilwell near Nottingham. A number of subsequent developments have led to a review of this decision.In order to ensure that the Engineer Resources organisation was configured in the most efficient way for the transfer to Chilwell and subsequent Market Testing, a comprehensive business review of this organisation was carried out. This concluded that many of the Engineer tasks—notably storage, provisioning and repair—could be carried out more efficiently by other parts of the Army support organisation, for which they are core business.In parallel, further work was undertaken on the Army's overall storage requirement. The Storage Rationalisation Study, about which we made a separate announcement on 13 November 1997,

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will reduce the number of penalty points that result in disqualification; and if he will make a statement.[16344]

There are no present plans to reduce the number of points which would result in disqualification. However, with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, I keep under review the number of points which may be imposed for individual offences.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Government have to increase the penalties for poaching.[16627]

The Government have no plans to increase the penalties for poaching. Penalties were last amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures the Government will take to encourage and support Rural Watch and Farm Watch schemes.[16630]

The Government recognise that, in rural areas, the police response to crime cannot always be as quick as they or the public would like and it is imperative that people take reasonable precautions against becoming victims of crime.The most effective response to rural crime is a partnership approach between the police and local communities. We encourage schemes such as Farm Watch and Rural Watch which enable members of the public—with the support of the local police—to do something positive in the fight against crime.In the Crime and Disorder Bill, we will introduce a new statutory duty for the police and local authorities jointly to analyse and identify local problems of crime and disorder and, together with the local community, draw up and implement strategies for tackling such problems. Schemes such as Farm Watch and Rural Watch will play a positive role in this partnership. The support of local communities will make a significant impact on crime in the countryside.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals the Government have to tackle rural crime.[16629]

Rural communities suffer from most of the same types of crime as, but have different needs from, urban communities. The most effective answer to rural crime is a partnership between the police and local communities.The Crime and Disorder Bill will provide for new statutory duties for local authorities and the police jointly to analyse and identify local problems of crime and disorder. With input from local communities, a strategy will be drawn up and implemented to tackle those problems. This will apply in both rural and urban areas.The partnership ideal is already evident in many rural communities, and the creation of many and diverse "Watch" schemes are testimony to the efficacy of this approach.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide additional financial assistance to North Yorkshire Police for radio communications in remote areas.[16631]

North Yorkshire Police Authority's spending capacity increased by £2.8 million (4%) to £72.4 million in 1997–98, which was an increase above the national average. The provisional police revenue settlement for 1998–99 is likely to be announced in December, along with capital funding allocations. Once the allocations have been made, it is entirely for individual chief constables and their police authorities to determine their spending priorities. This Government have undertaken to keep within the public expenditure limits we inherited from the previous Government and no allowance has been made for additional capital funding to be provided to North Yorkshire Police for radio communications in remote areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what (a) amount and (b) percentage of his Department's expenditure, in (i) the current and (ii) the next financial year, will be spent on crime prevention.[16540]

Home Office expenditure specifically allocated to crime prevention in 1997–98 is £19.3 million. That figure is additional to £7.2 billion public expenditure on the police service. The prevention of crime is one of the key functions of the police service and the Government are committed to encouraging a partnership approach to crime prevention.It is not possible to identify the level of public expenditure on the police service or other programmes within the Home Office budget which is devoted to crime prevention. Therefore, it is not possible to provide a percentage of the overall budget devoted to crime prevention.Detailed expenditure plans for 1998–99 have yet to be finalised.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures the Government will take to tackle alcohol abuse by young people.[16635]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Selby (Mr. Grogan) on 16 July, Official Report, column 173, and to the letter which I sent to all hon. Members on 17 July.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to contract out the Prison Enterprise Services to the private sector; and if he will make a statement.[16552]

[holding answer 18 November 1997]: There are no plans to contract out Prison Enterprise Services (which provides advice and support to prisons in managing their industrial and commercial activity) or to contract out industrial activity in other prisons.My right hon. Friend and I have agreed to a partnership between Wackenhut United Kingdom and the Prison Service under which the company will manage the industrial work at Coldingley prison although the governor will be involved in decisions on major new lines of production and there will be a profit-sharing arrangement with the prison.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce regulations for strengthened beer glasses for use in public houses.[16912]

I have no present plans to do so. I understand that approximately one third of straight-sided beer glasses in pubs are already made of toughened glass. The recommendation on 22 October by the Brewers and Licensed Retailers Association that its members should use toughened glasses will very significantly increase their use. The Government will be monitoring developments closely.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the effect of the Amsterdam Treaty on the status under national law of (a) churches, (b) religious associations and (c) organisations which his Department classifies as cults in the United Kingdom.[16985]

Declaration 11 to the Treaty of Amsterdam refers to the status of churches, religious associations and non-confessional organisations. It is non-binding and has no effect on national law.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effect of the terms of the Treaty of Amsterdam on the death penalty in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) her dependencies.[17016]

The Treaty of Amsterdam has no effect on the position in the United Kingdom or her dependencies so far as the death penalty is concerned. The policy of the Government remains that it is for Parliament to decide on the reintroduction or abolition of the death penalty in the United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish a report on the progress of his Department's Drugs Prevention Initiative.[17438]

I am publishing tomorrow the Drugs Prevention Initiative's seventh annual progress report. The report summarises encouraging progress. An extensive and innovative programme is now providing some useful findings about effective community-based drugs prevention work. The programme aims to show more fully by March 1999 what action communities themselves can take to tackle local drugs problems. I am placing a copy of the report in the Library tomorrow at 10.30 am.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances a licence can be awarded under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in respect of a product or ingredient of a product already freely available on the United Kingdom market.[16458]

Other than finished cosmetic products, for which no new authorities to test will be issued, such authorities under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 are issued for testing only when there is a specific regulatory requirement: for example, to meet the requirements of the Dangerous Substances Directive, the Biocidal Products Directive or the Medical Devices Directive.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase the availability of public information under section 24 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.[16459]

There are no plans to change section 24 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. It will therefore remain an offence to disclose information given in confidence. Such information includes the details of establishments and individuals licensed under the Act, and details of licence applications.We do, however, plan to make more information available on how the Act is operated. The policy and procedures for handling infringements were described in the 1996 annual report of the Animal Procedures Committee. The Committee is also planning to produce an extended statement on the cost-benefit assessment required under section 5(4) of the Act and I understand that this will describe the process by which programmes of work are assessed. A revised and updated version of the "Guidance on the Operation of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986" is also being produced.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many project licence applications put before the Animal Procedures Committee in 1996 were (a) approved and (b) refused.[16460]

During 1996, the Committee considered two new project licence applications.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the circumstances under which Alice, the Macaque monkey at the Institute of Neurology, died; which procedures were authorised to be undertaken on the animal; and what assessment he has made of the extent to which the evidence given in application for a project licence to use Alice met the requirements of section 5(5) of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.[16461]

Alice was used in a non-recovery procedure under anaesthesia in February 1996.After craniotomy and laminectomy under general anaesthesia, her brain was stimulated electrically and recordings were made from spinal nerves. (The purpose was to investigate the way in which cells in the motor cortex address motoneurones controlling hand and forearm activity.) Alice was then given an overdose of anaesthetic.Section 5(5) of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 requires that applicants give adequate consideration to the feasibility of achieving the purposes of the programme of work by means not involving protected animals. This work could only be undertaken in living animals because the complexity of the neurological processes cannot be reproduced by other means.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will place in the Library a copy of the internal departmental guidance on the dissemination of information; and if he will make a statement.[16286]

The Code of Practice on Access to Government Information applies in relation to my own office and to the Treasury Solicitor's Department, for which I have responsibility. In the light of the exemptions from disclosure under the Code and the nature of the work we do, requests falling within the Code are unlikely. Internal guidance prepared by the Treasury Solicitor's Department none-the-less exists and is being updated. A copy of the new guidance will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Attorney-General what is his policy in respect of the faxing of press releases on the day of release to Opposition party spokesmen; what changes have been introduced since 1 May; and if he will make a statement.[16285]

It has not been my practice to fax press releases to Opposition party spokesmen on the day of release and this has not changed since 1 May. However, I would willingly do so in future if requested.

To ask the Attorney-General what consideration has been given to proceedings under the Official Secrets Act 1989 in relation to disclosures contained in the book "The Last Governor."[17551]

The Director of Public Prosecutions was asked to consider whether the circumstances disclosed a possible offence under the Official Secrets Act 1989 such as to require a criminal investigation. She therefore sought my views on the public interest aspect of the case because any prosecution would by statute have required my consent.I considered the matter with the DPP and I then invited relevant colleagues to draw to my attention matters which the public interest required be taken into account in accordance with the long-standing procedures described to the House by my predecessor on 29 January 1951,

To ask the Minister without Portfolio in respect of which sections of the Treaty of Amsterdam his Office contributed to drafting.[17014]

The United Kingdom position on the draft Treaty of Amsterdam was reached after consultation between relevant Government Departments.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is his policy in respect of the faxing of press releases on the day of release to Opposition party spokesmen; what changes have been introduced since 1 May; and if he will make a statement.[16293]

Press notices are not routinely faxed to Opposition spokesmen. They are available on request and are automatically posted to individuals who have asked to be put onto the Cabinet Office press notice mailing list. There has been no change since 1 May.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the expenditure on the Government Car Service for the last year for which figures are available, and separately identifying the cost of ministerial cars.[16995]

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated under the terms of the Framework Document to the Government Car and Despatch Agency. I have asked its Chief Executive, Mr. Nick Matheson, to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will estimate the percentage of the farmed area in the United Kingdom which is in foreign ownership.[15968]

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

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if those attending pilot group divorce information meetings under the Family Law Act 1996 received the full range of divorce information referred to in Section 8(9) of the Act at such meetings.[16079]

With the exception of marriage counselling and support services, attendees at group information presentations receive the full range of information. Information on marriage support is additionally given in individual meetings.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the total cost of the research into the pilot projects for the provision of divorce information under the Family Law Act 1996.[16072]

Negotiations are continuing in relation to further pilots and disclosure of costings would be likely to affect our negotiating position with potential pilot providers. Therefore, this information must remain confidential at present.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when it is proposed to produce Welsh language leaflets to be distributed to attendees at divorce information meetings under the Family Law Act 1996.[16081]

All leaflets specially commissioned for the information meetings pilots are available in Welsh for those attending meetings organised by the pilot project in South Wales and have been from its commencement in June 1997.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the budget for producing and distributing the leaflets given to attendees at the pilot divorce information meetings under the Family Law Act 1996; and if he will make a statement. [16080]

Negotiations are continuing in relation to further pilots and disclosure of costings would be likely to affect our negotiating position with potential pilot providers. Therefore, this information must remain confidential at present.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the overall budget is for piloting arrangements for the provision of divorce information under section 8 of the Family Law Act 1996; and if he will make a statement.[16085]

Negotiations are continuing in relation to further pilots and disclosure of costings would be likely to affect our negotiating position with potential pilot providers. Therefore, this information must remain confidential at present.

To ask the Parliamentary Sectary, Lord Chancellor's Department if alternatives to meetings for the provision of divorce information under the Family Law Act 1996 have been piloted; and in what form. [16071]

Both models being currently tested in the pilots involve personal attendance at meetings.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the relationship is between the pilot group divorce information meetings for married and unmarried individuals and the statutory framework under the Family Law Act 1996 of one to one meetings for married individuals; and if he will make a statement.[16083]

Information presentations to a number of attendees constitute one of the models of information meetings currently being piloted. For married persons, these presentations are preceded by an individual information meeting. The individual meetings are within the statutory framework of the Family Law Act. Non-married persons do not first attend an individual meeting.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the cost was of producing the video being shown at the pilot group divorce information meetings under the Family Law Act 1996; and if he will make a statement.[16082]

Negotiations are continuing in relation to further pilots and disclosure of costings would be likely to affect our negotiating position with potential pilot providers. Therefore, this information must remain confidential at present.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what arrangements exist for consultation on the contents of phases II and III of the divorce information pilot projects under the Family Law Act 1996; when and with whom this consultation will take place; and if he will make a statement.[16078]

All aspects of the pilot projects are being objectively tested through research. The views of the public who attend meetings, those involved in organisation and delivery of the pilots and all professionals and organisations within the pilot areas are being sought. Consultation on the content of the leaflets took place with relevant organisations. As required by section 8 (10) of the Family Law Act, before making any regulations under subsection (6) of section 8, the Lord Chancellor must consult such persons concerned with the provision of relevant information as he considers appropriate. The Lord Chancellor will do so.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the total cost of the tendering process for research into the pilot projects for the provision of divorce information under the Family Law Act 1996; and if he will make a statement. [16073]

There was no competition for the evaluation element of the pilots as opposed to the pilot provision itself which was subject to competition. In the course of this competition the Department received a manifestly suitable set of proposals for the evaluation and an application for a grant in aid. No separate competition for the evaluation element was therefore necessary.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the budget is for providing pilot group divorce information meetings for married and unmarried individuals under the Family Law Act 1996.[16084]

Negotiations are continuing in relation to further pilots and disclosure of costings would be likely to affect our negotiating position with potential pilot providers. Therefore, this information must remain confidential at present.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the ratio between the cost of maintaining courts in (a) rural and (b) urban areas.[15945]

The Lord Chancellor's Department does not hold information on the comparative cost of maintaining individual magistrates courts. Expenditure information is only collected at magistrates committee level and this will, in many cases, cover more than one court.The Court Service does hold information on the maintenance cost of individual crown and county court centres but does not classify them as either rural or urban.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor' s Department what account was taken of representations received from courts committees in formulating the strategic plan for 1997 to 2007; and what savings will be made as a result of the closure of court houses under the strategic plan.[15977]

The Lord Chancellor's Department has not formulated a strategic plan for the years 1997 to 2007. The Dorset Magistrates Courts Committee has drawn up a plan covering those years. The Lord Chancellor's Department was not consulted about the content of the plan and there is no statutory requirement for the Committee to have done so. It is for the Committee itself to determine what account should be taken of any representations received during the formulation of its plan.The strategic plan makes no specific reference to the level of savings that could be achieved through the closure of court houses.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will review the practice whereby individuals representing themselves at court in civil cases, who win their cases, are not entitled to claim for costs other than travel expenses.[15947]

Under the Litigants in Person (Costs and Expenses) Act 1975, litigants in person are entitled to recover costs other than travel expenses, including disbursements incurred and time for preparing their case. However, as part of the civil justice reform programme, my Department issued a consultation paper in August 1997, on the general provisions relevant to taxation of costs, including the costs of litigants in person.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the insurers and insurance companies with whom the Lord Chancellor or his officials have held discussions about the Government's legal aid reform proposals, indicating in each case where and when the discussion took place and who was present.[16321]

Officials of the Lord Chancellor's Department have had contact with various insurers and their representatives for some years. However since my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor, announced his intentions to reform legal aid on 18 October 1997, his officials have met a delegation from the Association of British Insurers on 29 October 1997. The meeting took place at the Lord Chancellor's Department Headquarters (Selborne House). The Lord Chancellor also met James Innes of Abbey Legal Protection Ltd. on 14 November 1997 in the Lord Chancellor's office in the House of Lords. Those meetings have been in addition to less formal contact over the telephone and in correspondence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what part his Department played in the formulation of the Treaty of Amsterdam material concerning (a) qualified majority voting in employment matters and (b) the treatment of employment as a matter of common concern; and if he will make a statement. [17017]

The Department for Education and Employment played a full part in the formulation of the UK position on the new Employment Chapter in the Amsterdam Treaty, in conjunction with other interested Departments.The Government's objectives at the Amsterdam European Council in relation to employment were: to agree a new Employment Chapter; to ensure that tackling unemployment is a priority for the EU; and to secure recognition of the importance of employability and flexible labour markets in any employment strategy.All these objectives were met.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the total net revenue cost to the Exchequer in 1998–99 of (a) introducing a new rate of income tax of 50 per cent. on taxable income of over f100,000 per annum, (b) abolishing mortgage interest tax relief, (c) abolishing the married couple's tax allowance, (d) restricting the value of the personal tax allowance to the basic rate of income tax, (e) applying tax on savings at the marginal rate of income tax, (f) abolishing the lower rate of income tax, (g) abolishing the capital gains tax annual exempt amount and (h) raising the value of the personal income tax allowance to £10,000 per annum.[13249]

[holding answer 5 November 1997]: The latest available information is for 1997–98. Separate costs or yields for each of the individual measures are given in the table. The combined cost of all of the measures may differ significantly from the sum of the figures for the individual measures. The estimates do not allow for any behavioural changes.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will estimate the percentage change in after-tax income per income decile as a consequence of announced changes to direct and indirect taxation over the period 1998–99 to 2000–01; and if he will make a statement.[13280]

[holding answer 6 November 1997]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the right hon. member for Wells (Mr. Heathcoat-Amory) on 11 July, Official Report, column 167–68.Estimates of the impact on after-tax per income decile in 1998–99 will depend on measures announced in the spring Budget.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance he has issued to (a) the Inland Revenue and (b) HM Customs and Excise in respect of bankruptcy orders in business insolvency cases. [16196]

The Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise have a statutory duty to collect tax that is legally due. It is their responsibility, to the Exchequer and to taxpayers generally, to do so speedily and effectively, taking the action they consider appropriate to obtain payment. However both Departments recognise the need to balance their duty to collect tax with the proper concern for the taxpayer to continue in business. Insolvency proceedings are only taken as a last resort, after all other attempts to secure payment within a reasonable time-scale have failed.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the number of people in North Norfolk over the ages of (a) 65 and (b) 75 years in (i) 1977, (ii) 1987, (iii) 1997, (iv) 2007 and (v) 2017.[16533]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to reduce the burden of United Kingdom airport taxes on foreign children making flights on medical grounds to the United Kingdom.[16916]

Cases of this type are usually administered by UK registered charities which already benefit from a range of tax reliefs such as gift aid and the payroll scheme. These encourage donations to charity by focusing on what people give rather than what charities spend. Additionally, in his last Budget, the Chancellor announced a review of the taxation of charities and invited contributions from interested parties. Although the main focus of the review will be the current VAT arrangements, all aspects of the tax system will be taken into consideration.The Government receive many appeals of this nature for relief of taxes and duties. While we are sympathetic to the causes it would be difficult to justify discrimination by granting relief in some cases but not in others.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce a progressive duty in respect of the brewing industry.[15414]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received about the England v. Australia Rugby Union international on Saturday 15 November not being available live to terrestrial viewers.[16569]

Mr right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received one representation on the subject of the coverage of this particular match. He has received eight representations on the subject of the coverage of England Rugby Union matches in general. This match was shown live by BSkyB under the terms of its contract with the English Rugby Football Union. Coverage of the whole match was transmitted by ITV later on the same afternoon, and I understand that this will be the arrangement for television coverage of all home England internationals until 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the value of the tourism industry to (a) the East Midlands, (b) Leicestershire and (c) Loughborough.[16571]

In 1996, the tourism industry generated an estimated £1,700 million in the East Midlands and an estimated £370 million in Leicestershire.Official data sources do not provide reliable estimates of tourism expenditure in Loughborough or other sub-county local authority areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if grant in aid per visitor is a factor he is taking into account in his current review of Tyne and Wear museums funding; and if he will make a statement.[16516]

The main focus of the Department's current review of the funding arrangements of the Tyne and Wear Museums Service is on whether the annual grant from the Museums and Galleries Commission should continue in the light of the Department's wider spending review. The review will take into account relevant factors including value-for-money considerations such as cost per visitor from all funding sources, and TWMS's record of achievement in the delivery of public services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what factors have been taken into account in his review of Government direct funding of the Tyne and Wear Museums Service; and if he will make a statement.[16625]

The Department is reviewing the current funding arrangements for the Tyne and Wear Museums Service as part of the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review. That Review, embracing all aspects of the Government's public expenditure programmes, includes a consideration of the Department's funding of the museums sector overall. The grant to TWMS cannot be exempt from that consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he has received Mr. John Newman's report on the ecclesiastical exemption from listed building and conservation area controls.[17573]

Mr. Newman has completed his review of the ecclesiastical exemption and copies of his report have been placed in the Library. His overall conclusion is that the six denominations should continue to enjoy the exemption for the time being. He none the less proposes a number of changes to procedure within each of the denominations and recommends that a further formal review be conducted after a year in the case of the Baptist Union and after three years in the case of the other denominations.Copies of the report are today being sent to all the exempt denominations and other interested bodies with an invitation to comment on its conclusions. The Government look to each of the denominations to give serious consideration to those recommendations which relate to it. My Department and that of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales propose to have discussions with each denomination on the action needed in the light of Mr. Newman's report. The Government propose to accept Mr. Newman's recommendation concerning the need for further reviews.Written comments submitted to Mr. Newman in the course of his review are open to inspection in the Libraries of my Department and of the Welsh Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he will publish his response to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee's report "The BBC and the Future of Broadcasting".[17574]

The Government welcome the Culture, Media and Sport Committee's report "The BBC and the Future of Broadcasting" and are grateful to the Committee for its inquiry into this area. I have today published Command Paper 3799, which constitutes the Government's response to the report. Copies were laid before Parliament earlier today.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to encourage all remaining British dependent territories to seek their independence; and if he will make a statement.[16675]

We shall not seek in any way to influence opinion on independence, but will respond positively wherever this is the clearly and constitutionally expressed wish of the citizens of a Dependent Territory, and where it is an option.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the legal authority of the letter from the President of the European Commission, agreed at Amsterdam, on quota hopping.[16945]

The letter records the interpretation of the Commission of how a Member State may, within the rules of the Single Market, establish an economic link between fishing activity and fishing communities. Under Article 155 of the EC Treaty the Commission is the guardian of the Treaty, and the letter carries that authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his Department's officials were first notified that the presidency of the European Union had accepted the non-participation of the United Kingdom within the relaxation of border controls set out in the Amsterdam Treaty.[16942]

The decision to include an explicit recognition in the Amsterdam Treaty of the UK's right to maintain internal frontier controls was one which had to be taken by all Member States. No such decision was taken until the Amsterdam Summit. It was not a decision which the EU presidency alone could have taken.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to discuss with the Spanish Foreign Minister the voting arrangements for the United Kingdom opt-in to border controls.[16941]

I have no such plans.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the reforms required to European Union institutions to enable enlargement to take place.[16943]

Under the provisions of the protocol on the Institutions in the Amsterdam Treaty, the EU Member States are committed to seeking a resolution to the issues of Commission size and the reweighting of votes in Council prior to enlargement.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy on those reforms to the voting arrangements of the European Union required to enable enlargement to proceed. [16944]

We welcome the commitment contained in the Protocol on the Institutions in the Amsterdam Treaty to tackle the issues of the size of the Commission and the Weighting of the votes in Council.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to change (a) procedures and (b) staff involved in media relations; and if he will make a statement.[17001]

None, but I would expect to implement any new procedures which might result from the current review of the Government Information Service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the legal status of a declaration to the Treaty of Amsterdam.[16946]

The Conference declarations annexed to the Final Act of the Treaty of Amsterdam are not part of the Treaty. They comprise political commitments or exhortations, interpretative statements and statements of fact of which the Conference takes note. They form part of the context of the Treaty for the purpose of its interpretation, including in the European Court of Justice and the Court of First Instance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Brazil concerning the threat to indigenous peoples of the rain forest arising from logging and other developments.[16678]

I have been asked to reply.We regularly raise the interests of indigenous peoples with the Government of Brazil, at Ministerial and other levels, We also work closely with the Government of Brazil on projects to conserve the environment and improve people's livelihood, with a particular focus on the Amazon rain forest. Our technical co-operation programme tackles issues such as sustainable forest management and conservation of plant and animal wildlife. The expressed needs of local people, including indigenous people, form an integral part of such projects. These aim to involve indigenous people in the decision-making process and thereby help to preserve their traditional way of life while enhancing their social, political and economic circumstances.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will encourage the police forces in Scotland to include in accident reports information as to whether the pass-plus course has been taken.[16037]

No. This information is not routinely available to the police. It would need to be specifically requested by the officers attending the scene of the accident, and then verified, all at additional cost. I understand that it would not be possible to draw statistically valid conclusions from such information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of the additional £8.9 million allocated to local authorities in the current financial year and the extra £26.7 million allocated for each of the following four years for capital expenditure on the repair and replacement of school buildings, will be allocated to Argyll and Bute.[16409]

£202,000 in the current financial year and £607,000 in each of the following four years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of the additional £59 million to be allocated to local authorities for general education current spending in the next financial year will be allocated to Argyll and Bute.[ 16410]

These funds will form part of the local government current expenditure settlement, and will be included in the Grant-Aided Expenditure Assessment arrangements. Each council's share of this will be announced in the settlement in the normal way.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of the additional £15 million to be distributed to local authorities for general spend-to-save measures through capital expenditure will be allocated to Argyll and Bute.[16412]

£341,000. The Council was also successful in its application for £440,000 of a further £15 million which has been set aside to support school rationalisation on a spend-to-save basis. These figures will be included in the local government finance settlement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to ensure that adequate housing is available for evacuees from Montserrat.[17519]

Local authorities need to be able to respond as flexibly as possible to the needs of Montserratians arriving under the Government's Montserrat Assisted Passage Scheme (MAP Scheme), which provides for voluntary evacuation.We recognise that authorities will incur additional costs when bringing accommodation into use for Montserratian evacuees. We must do our best to ensure that evacuees coming to Scotland under the MAP Scheme are given as smooth and welcoming a reception as possible.We are proposing to offer a special grant to encourage local authorities to make vacant property available more quickly to house evacuees who have chosen to come to Scotland under the MAP Scheme and who have nowhere to stay. The grant will also be payable to housing associations which offer accommodation. The special grant to local authorities would be provided for under section 108A of the Local Government Act 1992. Payments to housing associations would be made direct by Scottish Homes.The Scottish Office Development Department has written today to local authorities, Scottish Homes, and the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations setting out details of the scheme and arrangements for making claims. Copies of the letter have been placed in the Library. Subject to approval of the House, grants will be made available for each unit of accommodation provided for qualifying households placed with local authorities or housing associations under the MAP Scheme between 27 August 1997 and 31 January 1998, at a rate of £500 or £1,500 depending on the costs involved. The grant scheme has been drawn up after consultation with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland in respect of which sections of the Treaty of Amsterdam his Department contributed to the drafting. [17013]

The United Kingdom position on the Draft Treaty of Amsterdam was reached after consultation between relevant Government Departments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to ensure that Gaelic is carried on digital terrestrial television; and if he will make a statement. [16579]

I have been asked to reply.Scottish Television and Grampian Television are required to broadcast on Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) their existing terrestrial analogue services, which must include at least one hour a week on average of programmes in Gaelic. S4C Digital Networks (SDN) have been awarded the licence to operate the DTT multiplex which will carry Channel 5 and S4C. SDN are also required to broadcast on that multiplex in Scotland a minimum of half an hour each day of programmes in Gaelic during peak time—between 6 pm and 10.30 pm, and the BBC, Scottish Television and Grampian are each required to make at least 30 hours of Gaelic programming a year available to SDN, free of charge, for re-broadcasting as part of their programme service. These provisions, taken together with the increase in capacity which digital terrestrial television will bring, should provide the opportunity for an increase in the amount of Gaelic programming available on television services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has for the head injury rehabilitation section at Clydach Hospital; and if he will make a statement. [16074]

This is a matter for the Health Authority and Morriston Hospital NHS Trust. However, I understand that Clydach Hospital is temporarily closed due to the sick absence of the Consultant in Rehabilitation who is responsible for Neuro-rehabilitation. Patients are currently receiving treatment at Morriston Hospital, where a new ward facility has been opened as a contingency measure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what measures he has taken since 2 May to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy; and if he will make a statement; [16106]

I have set in train a number of measures that will reduce unnecessary bureaucracy and lead to better services for patients, business and the general public. These include:

NHS: Management cost savings of £6 million this year; a White Paper to come on abolishing the internal market; a review of Trust configuration.

Quangos: The creation of a single Economic Powerhouse for Wales and the absorption of Tai Cymru and 2 Special Health Authorities into the Assembly.

Education: Abolition of the nursery voucher scheme.

Local Government: Consultation on proposals to give local authorities more flexibility when conducting tendering exercises.

TECs: Planned reduction in the number of Training and Enterprise Councils from 6 to 4.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy regarding his aim to bring about a reduction in smoking in Wales with particular reference to children of school age. [16102]

My right hon. Friend has set NHS Wales a number of targets to improve health and health services. These include a reduction in the number of people in Wales who smoke, including teenagers. Responsibility for achieving the targets to reduce smoking rests with Health Authorities working closely with the activities of other agencies such as the Health Promotion Authority for Wales.

To ask the Secretary for Wales if he will place in the Library a copy of the internal departmental guidance on the dissemination of information; and if he will make a statement. [16300]

Departmental guidance on the dissemination of information is contained within the Welsh Office Handbook. Copies of this guidance have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the average funding per student in further education in each of the last five years. [16508]

The average funding per Further Education Funding Council for Wales-funded full-time equivalent student in further education over the last four years (the 1992–93 figure is not on a comparable basis), including capital, was as follows:

• 1993–94: £3,038
• 1994–95: £3,366
• 1995–96: £3,220
• 1996–97: £3,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales in respect of which sections of the Treaty of Amsterdam his Department contributed to the drafting. [17011]

The United Kingdom position on the draft Treaty of Amsterdam was reached after consultation between relevant Government Departments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many (a) injuries and (b) fatalities were caused through fires in (i) houses in multiple occupation, (ii) the rest of the private rented sector, (iii) council houses and (iv) other social housing in Wales in each of the past 10 years; [16513]

I have been asked to reply.The readily available information on fires in dwellings in Wales is given in the tables.Casualties from carbon monoxide poisoning cannot be identified centrally. The data for 1994 and 1995 do not reliably distinguish houses in multiple occupation from other types of dwelling, such as flats and maisonettes.Information for 1987 and earlier years is not available. Information for 1996 will be available early in 1998.

To ask the Prime Minister 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. [15276]

[holding answer 11 November 1997]: The overseas visits I have made since 2 May are listed below. The costs given represent the costs brought to account to date and may not be the final cost to my office of the visit.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the answer of 10 November from the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Official Report, column 441, if he will make it the Government's policy to ensure that e-mail addresses for all Ministers are available to all hon. and right hon. Members.[15845]

[holding answer 13 November 1997]: E-mail can be an effective additional way of communicating between Ministers, officials and the public.It is up to individual Ministers to decide whether to establish and publish e-mail addresses.My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is willing to provide a central list of e-mail addresses along the lines indicated in his reply of 10 November, Official Report, column

To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of his meeting with Mr. Bernie Ecclestone held on 16 October. [16319]

To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish the minutes of the meeting he held with Mr. Ecclestone and Mr. Mosley on 16 October; which ministers were present; and where it took place. [16740]

Because of the level of public interest in this matter, and as an exception to the normal practice, I have released the notes of the meeting which I held with Mr. Ecclestone and Mr. Mosley on 16 October at 10 Downing Street. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Prime Minister (1) when he informed the Secretary of State for Health of his decision to exempt Formula 1 from the proposed ban on tobacco sponsorship; and by what means he notified him of the decision; [16744](2) when the decision was made to exempt Formula 1 from the proposed ban on tobacco sponsorship; and what factors led him to conclude that there was an appearance of conflict of interest between the donation the Labour Party received from Mr. Ecclestone and the decision to exempt Formula 1 from the ban on tobacco sponsorship; [16737](3) what criteria he used in making his decision to refer the donation from Mr. Eccelstone to Sir Patrick Neill. [16743]

I refer the hon. Member to the oral answer I gave in the House on 12 November, Official Report, columns 898–99.

To ask the Prime Minister what criteria he used when deciding to meet representatives from sporting organisations affected by the proposed ban on tobacco sponsorship. [16742]

I refer the hon. Member to the oral answer I gave in the House on 12 November, Official Report, column 900.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list those sports where representatives met Ministers to discuss the impact of a ban on tobacco sponsorship on their sports, indicating the date of appointment, and the names of those he saw and the organisations they represent. [16753]

On 24 June, the Minister for Sport met Maurice Lindsay of the Rugby Football League, Richard Little of the England and Wales Cricket Board, Jonathan Ashman of the RAC Motorsports Association and Martyn Blake of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association.In addition, the Minister for Sport was present when the Minister for Public Health met Max Mosley of the Federation Internationale de L'Automobile on 23 September.

To ask the Prime Minister what factors he took into account when deciding to publish the letter that was sent at his request to Sir Patrick Neill on 4 November and his subsequent reply.[16738]

The decision to publish the letter was taken by the author, the General Secretary of the Labour Party, with my agreement. The main factor I took into account in giving my agreement was transparency.

To ask the Prime Minister how many meetings his Chief of Staff has attended with Mr. Bernard Ecclestone since his appointment; and if he will give their dates.[16851]

One. On 16 October he attended my meeting with Mr. Ecclestone together with a Private Secretary.

To ask the Prime Minister what criteria he uses to determine which Government policies are referred to full Cabinet for discussion and decision.[16681]

Paragraph 3 of the Ministerial Code, copies of which are available in the Library, states:

"Cabinet and Ministerial Committee business consists, in the main, of:

questions which significantly engage the collective responsibility of the Government, because they raise major issues of policy or because they are of critical importance to the public;

questions on which there is an unresolved argument between Departments."

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it one of his recommendations to the Neill Committee that political parties which have received substantial donations from animal rights organisations return such donations, together with an appropriate amount in interest.[16636]

No.

To ask the Prime Minister what criteria he uses to determine whether potential conflicts of interest exist between Government policy decisions and political donations from companies subsequently affected. [16739]

General advice on the avoidance of potential conflicts of interest between a Minister's private interests and his or her official duties is set out in the Ministerial Code, a copy of which was placed in the Library in July. I have also asked the Committee on Standards in Public Life to review and make recommendations on the complex issues relating to Party funding.

To ask the Prime Minister what factors were taken into account in the decision to use Canary Wharf rather than buildings in public ownership to host the recent Anglo-French summit.[16752]

The Canary Wharf Tower was chosen to reflect the modern and forward-looking partnership between Britain and France. The setting provided opportunities for the Government to work with the private sector in promoting an area of London of growing importance, and contemporary British design.

To ask the Prime Minister what account was taken of the public contract for tendering provisions of the European Union in awarding the contracts for furnishing and decorating the Canary Wharf venue for the Anglo-French summit.[16581]

[holding answer 19 November 1997]: We were not required to take account of European Union tendering provisions since Government expenditure was below the threshold.

To ask the Prime Minister how many days he has spent in residence at Chequers since 1 May. [16116]