To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about departmental responsibility for co-ordinating and promoting bids to host expos within the United Kingdom. [19155]

[holding answer 8 December 1997]: A town or city wishing to bid for an Expo would need to obtain the support of the relevant sponsoring Department, and, depending on the nature of the Expo proposed, that of other Whitehall Departments, in order to obtain Government endorsement for the project. Once obtained, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office would be responsible for lodging the formal application with the International Bureau of Expositions, the governing body for Expos. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office would provide tactical advice and assistance with lobbying.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he plans to meet the Chairman and trustees of the Greenwich Foundation for the Royal Naval College; and if he will make a statement. [19024]

I met the Chairman and the Director of the Greenwich Foundation for the Royal Naval College when I visited the College on Friday 28 November. The Greenwich Foundation is working closely with Government and Greenwich Hospital to conclude arrangements that will allow it to take responsibility for the site as Defence use ceases.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders aged 10 to 19 years to whom one caution has already been administered have received (a) a second and (b) more than two cautions in respect of further offences in each year since 1994. [19815]

Data routinely available centrally do not include details of repeat cautions.For a sample of offenders cautioned for standard list offences in ten police forces during one week in November 1991, a record was submitted centrally on their first subsequent caution over the next two years.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the media representatives who were invited by Sussex Police to be present at the raid on the rectory at Donhead St. Andrew on 21 November; and if he will make a statement. [20538]

I am told by the forces concerned that neither the Wiltshire Constabulary, which carried out the search at Donhead St. Andrews, nor the Sussex Police, invited any media representatives to attend.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Sussex Police requested Wiltshire Constabulary to raid the rectory at Donhead St. Andrew on 21 November; and if he will make a statement. [20537]

I am told by the forces concerned that this operation was part of an inquiry involving a number of forces in which the Wiltshire Constabulary was requested to participate by the Sussex Police, but the decision to conduct the search at the rectory rested with the Wiltshire Constabulary.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many outstanding unpaid claims there were for compensation under the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 on 30 November. [20480]

At the end of November, there were 23,243 claims under options A and B awaiting processing, and an additional 6,479 claims awaiting payment under option C, consisting of option C only claims and mixed claims on which an option A or B payment had been made.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the joint Prison Service/Department of Health working group set up in response to the 1996 Report "Patient or Prisoner" to complete its work; and if he will publish its conclusions. [20387]

The joint Prison Service/Department of Health Working Group is expected to put forward options and recommendations by May 1998 for consideration by Ministers. The Working Group's conclusions will be published in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the names of those serving on the joint Prison Service/Department of Health working group set up in response to the 1996 Report by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons, Patient or Prisoner. [20386]

The membership of the joint Prison Service/Department of Health working group is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what percentage of prosecutions on the charge of manslaughter have resulted in a conviction in each of the last three years; [19248]

Data are not available on the basis of prosecutions. However, the numbers of defendants convicted of these offences as a percentage of defendants tried at the Crown Court for those offences plus those proceeded against in magistrates' courts for these offences whose cases were discontinued, withdrawn or otherwise abandoned in each of the last three years are as follows:

Per cent.
Offence	1994	1995	1996
Causing death by reckless driving	87	85	89
Manslaughter1	91	85	85
1 Includes offences under sections 5, 9 and 10 of the Common Law and Offences against the Person Act 1861 and section 2 of the Homicide Act 1957.

The difference between numbers of defendants prosecuted and those tried or proceeded against by type of offence is that defendants may be prosecuted for a more serious offence but convicted of a lesser offence, and the data on court proceedings collected by the Home Office record the offence for which

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what provision has been made in the current year to train serving teachers in information and communication technology. [19106]

Under the Grants for Education Support and Training programme, £296.8 million has been made available in 1997–98 to support training for serving teachers in all National Curriculum subjects. A subject by subject breakdown is not yet available for this year, but information collected for 1996–97 suggests that approximately 5 per cent. of the funding is spent on IT courses.In addition, £1.2 million has been provided to fund this year's Multimedia Portable Computers for Teachers pilot, which is aimed at improving serving teachers' competence and confidence in the use of Information and Communications Technology in the classroom.From early 1999 the first tranche of funds from the People's Lottery will become available to train the UK teaching force in the use of information and communication technologies. This initiative will meet one of the key recommendations of the Stevenson Committee report "Information and Communications Technology in UK Schools" and will be the first attempt to train all teachers in the use of IT.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many (a) special advisers, (b) task force members and (c) review body members his Department employs; what is the total salary and benefits of (a) to (c); and what was the equivalent cost prior to 1 May. [19319]

On the question of Special Advisers, I refer the hon. Member to the answers given on 13 November 1997, Official Report, columns 615–17, and on 25 November 1997, Official Report, columns 472–73.The Department has six Task Forces which currently have a total of 93 members; no appointments have yet been made to the Skills Task Force. No salary or benefits are paid to members of these bodies. The Department is not responsible for any review bodies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many after-school clubs there were on (a) 1 May and (b) 27 November. [20051]

The Department makes funds available for after-school clubs in England under the Out of School Childcare Initiative (OSCI). The initiative is

Name	Position	Remuneration
Centre for Information on Language Teaching
Derek Winslow1	Governor	None
Andrew Yeomans	Governor	None
Richard Bunker	Governor	None
Jeremy Arliss	Governor	None
Anthony Lunch	Governor	None
Construction Industry Training Board
Michael Fitchett	Board member	None
Herbert Baggaley	Board member	None
Stewart Tilley	Board member	None
Oliver Robbins	Board member	None
Engineering Construction Industry Training Board
Norman Dunlop	Chairman	None
Equal Opportunities Commission
Ms Anne Gibson1	Commissioner	£123 per day
Richard Grayson1	Commissioner	£123 per day
Funding Agency for Schools
Sir Anthony Tippet	Chairman	£30,000 p. a.
Robert Lloyd	Board member	£155 per meeting
Professor David Johns	Board member	£155 per meeting
Miss Louise Anne Kidd	Board member	£155 per meeting
Roy Jobson	Board member	£155 per meeting
The Revd Dr. Alan Billings	Board member	£155 per meeting
Robin Wendt	Board member	£155 per meeting
Further Education Funding Council
Lord Davies of Oldham	Chairman	£37,000 p.a.
Further Education Funding Council—Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Committee
David Wille	Board member	None
Yvonne Rose	Board member	None
Professor Robert Fryer	Board member	None
Higher Education Funding Council for England
Dorma Urwin	Board member	£4,000 p.a.
Professor Ron Cooke	Board member	£4,000 p.a.
Dr. Keith Taylor	Board member	£4,000 p.a.
Mrs. Joan Bingley1	Board member	£4,000 p.a.
Caroline Neville	Board member	£4,000 p.a.
Professor Sir Gareth Roberts	Board member	£4,000 p.a.
Dr. David Potter CBE	Board member	£4,000 p.a.
Professor Marilyn Butler	Board member	£4,000 p.a.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will publish the names of all those people who he has appointed to public bodies since 1 May, indicating the positions to which they have been appointed, and whether they receive remuneration. [19976]

The information requested is given in the table. My hon. Friend will wish to note that this information will be in the Department's Annual Report when it is published next year, and is also accessible through the Public Appointment Unit's Internet Website.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what sums each Scottish local authority (i) has budgeted to spend in 1997–98 and (ii) has spent in each of the five previous years in (a) grants to voluntary organisations and (b) purchasing services from voluntary organisations in respect of (1) youth work, sport, adult education and community education, (2) social work, (3) Citizens Advice Bureaux and other advice giving services and (4) others. [19761]

Information is not held centrally in the form requested at present, although the collection of statistics on local authority expenditure on the voluntary sector is being reviewed.The funding of local voluntary organisations is a matter for local authorities. The Scottish Office has, however, issued guidance to local authorities requesting them to produce policy statements on working with and supporting the voluntary sector in their area. Scottish Office funding of £240,000 over three years has been granted to the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations to provide information and support to voluntary bodies building partnerships at local level. As a result, 22 new partnerships agreements are in place between local authorities and their local voluntary sector.The Scottish Office has joined COSLA's Task Group on the voluntary sector to take forward good practice guidance on positive partnerships and funding.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the cost of the North Wales child abuse inquiry. [20253]

The cost to the Welsh Office of running the Tribunal is not expected to exceed £10 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if his Department has current dealings with (a) non-governmental organisations and (b) suppliers which are not millennium compliant; and on what date his Department will cease to deal with (i) non-governmental organisations and (ii) suppliers which are not millennium compliant. [20532]

The degree of the year 2000 date change problem for my Department depends on a number of factors including the nature and relative importance of non-governmental organisations and suppliers to the business of the Welsh Office. My Department is following the guidance issued by the central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA) on the action to be taken to deal with the problem. The Welsh Office will assess the nature of its contractual relationships with non-governmental organisations and suppliers to establish the impact of non-compliance.All non-governmental organisations and suppliers will need to show that their relevant systems are millennium compliant wherever these would have a significant impact on the business of the Department. If they cannot do so by 31 March 1998 we will review the contractual arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the forecast level of spending by local authorities for 1998–99; and what is the percentage change in real terms compared to 1997–98. [20549]

The provisional capping plans that I announced on 10 December will increase Welsh local authorities spending power by over 4.5 per cent. My capping plans are not spending targets, however, and I cannot predict local authorities spending decisions for 1998–99. They have until March 1998 to set budgets.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with Rail Franchise holders on rail links with (a) Cardiff and (b) Swansea; and if he will make a statement. [20407]

The train operating companies are represented on the Welsh Transport Advisory Group which my hon. Friend the Member for Neath (Mr. Hain) has recently established. In addition, he has already met the Franchising Director to discuss the scope for improved rail services between North and South Wales, and plans to have separate discussions with the main operators shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to improve road communications between Deeside and (a) Cardiff and (b) Swansea; and if he will make a statement. [20406]

The extent to which improvements are needed to the road network between north and south Wales was one of the main issues raised for consideration in the recent consultation exercise on the review of the Welsh trunk road programme. The review process is still at an early stage and it is not possible to say when we will be able to give any indications as to the size and composition of the future trunk road programme.A number of organisations and individuals submitted representations in support of improved links between north and south Wales during the review consultation period; and we will consider these very carefully before making any final decisions on the strategy to be adopted for the trunk road network.

To ask the President of the Council what estimate she has made of the costs which will be incurred as a result of the decision that the House should sit on a single day in the week beginning Monday 22 December. [20519]

It is not possible to provide a realistic estimate of the travel cost of one day's travel to and from Westminster.

To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what representations she has received in respect of the changes to the supply of stationery. [20888]

One, from the hon. Member for Nuneaton (Mr. Olner), which has been drawn to the attention of the Serjeant at Arms.

To ask the President of the Council how many (a) special advisers, (b) task force members and (c) review body members her Department employs; what is the total salary and benefits of (a) to (c); and what was the equivalent cost prior to 1 May.

The Privy Council Office employs no task force members or review body members. I have one Special Adviser, Mr. Ian McKenzie. Additionally, I have appointed Mr. Keith Hellawell as the UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator (from 5 Janaury 1998) and Mr. Michael Trace as Deputy UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator on special adviser terms. As regards costs, I refer the hon. Member to the Answers given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to the hon. Members for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr. Davey) and for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 25 November 1997, Official Report, columns 472–73.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he now expects to publish the strategic defence review. [20483]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend, the Member for Walsall, South (Mr. George) on 25 November 1997, Official Report, columns 499–500.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to meet the Greek Defence Minister to discuss the forthcoming Greek presidency of the Western European Union. [20080]

I held a meeting with the Greek Defence Minister during the Western European Union Ministerial meeting at Erfurt on 18 November. We discussed a number of issues of common interest, including the forthcoming Greek Presidency of the Western European Union.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what in the life expectancy of Type 23 frigates and Type 42 destroyers; and when the (a) first and (b) last of each class entered service with the Royal Navy. [20073]

The life expectancy of the Type 23 Frigates and Type 42 Destroyers is expected to be in the order of 25 years, although this will be kept under review. The first Type 23 Frigate, HMS Norfolk, entered service in 1989. HMS Portland, the final ship of the last batch, which is currently under construction at Yarrow Shipbuilders, is due to enter service in 2001. The first type 42 Destroyer to enter service was HMS Birmingham in 1976 and the last HMS Edinburgh in 1985.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the LPH HMS Ocean and the LPDs HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark have the capability to operate (a) Sea Harriers and (b) RAF Harrier GR7s. [20086]

Neither the Helicopter Carrier, HMS Ocean, nor the Amphibious Assault ships, HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark, will have the capability to operate Sea Harriers or RAF Harrier GR7S. HMS Ocean will be able to transport up to 20 of these aircraft but not to act as their operational base.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the advantages of replacing the use of frigates as West Indies guard ships or anti-drugs patrols with a smaller class of vessel. [20074]

The Strategic Defence Review is examining the whole range of Defence capabilities and activities, including the role of the West Indies' Guard Ship. Once all the work on the Review has been considered by Ministers, we will publish a White Paper setting out our overall conclusions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Sea Harriers were delivered to the Royal Navy; and what is the life expectancy of a single aircraft of the class. [20077]

The Sea Harrier entered service in 1979. Since its entry to service the Sea Harrier has undergone a mid-life update to give it an increased capability. The currently planned out of service date for the Sea Harrier is 2012 although the aircraft will be phased out over a 3-year period, ending in 2015, during which time the aircraft will retain an operational role.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many incidents of uncommanded flying manoeuvres have been reported by RAF pilots in (a) fixed wing aircraft and (b) helicopters in each of the past five years. [19840]

[holding answer 9 December 1997]: The table gives the number of uncommanded movements on flying controls for RAF fixed wing aircraft and helicopters in the past five years.

	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996
Fixed Wing	95	83	42	39	61
Helicopters	51	43	40	35	30

Uncommanded movements cover movements of flying controls including primary surfaces, trimmers, flaps, airbrakes and spoilers, and any induced by malfunctions of autopilots. They also include any found on pre-flight checks.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the cost of the proposed Scottish Parliament will be met exclusively from the Scottish block grant; and if he will make a statement on the availability of extra funds for this purpose from the Treasury. [18222]

The costs of the proposed Scottish Parliament will be met exclusively from the Scottish block grant.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if the Paymaster General's wife or children have any interest in any offshore trusts apart from the Orion Trust; [20661](2) When he was informed about the transfer of 2.95 million TransTec shares into the Orion Trust; [20664](3) if he will publish the trust deed of the Orion Trust; [20665](4) who informed the Orion Trust that 2.95 million TransTec shares should have been legally settled in the trust; [20663](5) who the non-resident settlor was who transferred 2.95 million TransTec shares into the Orion Trust in 1997; [20662](6) if he will publish the letter of wishes from the settlor to the trustees of the Orion Trust

I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave on 10 December 1997, Official Report, columns 575–76.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures his Department is taking to ensure that organisations wishing to contribute to employee childcare facilities are given clear instructions on how to implement section 155A of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988. [19926]

[holding answer 9 December 1997]: Guidance on when Section 155A applies to childcare facilities is given in the Inland Revenue information leaflet IR115, Tax and Childcare, which is available from Tax Inquiry Centres or Tax Offices. Organisations may also consult their Tax Office.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures his Department is taking to ensure that the public are accurately informed of the issues relating to EMU. [19928]

[holding answer 9 December 1997]: In July, the Treasury published two booklets, "EMU—Practical Information for Business", and "The Pros and Cons of EMU", of which about 60,000 and 21,000 copies have been distributed respectively. In October, the Treasury published "UK Membership of the Single Currency: An Assessment of the Five Economic Tests", about 6,000 copies of which have been distributed.Separately, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor has set up a Business Advisory Group on the strategic and practical implications of EMU, and a Standing Committee on preparations for EMU. A summary of the findings of the Business Advisory Group will be published in early 1998 and will include recommendations on the information required by business about EMU. The Government have also announced plans for a series of regional conferences to be held early in the New Year to ensure that all regions and sectors of the economy are aware of the need to prepare.Copies of a folder titled "Business Preparations for the Euro", containing all the information published, including a note on Government activities, have been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ensure that reforms of capital gains tax encourage long-term investment. [19927]

[holding answer 9 December 1997]: In his Pre-Budget Report of 25 November, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor made it clear that he remains attracted to a system of capital gains tax that encourages long-term investment. Work to examine the scope for such a system is continuing.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is responsible for ensuring that the contracts under which his special advisers work are complied with. [18862]

[holding answer 2 December 1997]: The lines of responsibility are set down in their contracts, a model copy of which is in the House of Commons Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what steps his special advisers are required to take to obtain authorisation before talking to members of the Press; [18864](2) with whom his special advisers' contracts of employment have been made. [18854]

[holding answer 2 December 1997]: The terms under which special advisers work are set out in the schedule to their contract, a model copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library. These build upon rules in force under previous Administrations.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to establish the source of disclosure of market sensitive information in the last week of September. [18863]

[holding answer 2 December 1997]: Market sensitive information was not disclosed.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update table B8, of the "Pre-Budget Report November 1997", to allow for the revenues which would accrue to the Exchequer if the measures included in the Treasury's Report "A Modern System for Corporation Tax Payments" are implemented. [19958]

[holding answer 10 December 1997]: The net revenue effects of the measures proposed in "A modern system for corporation tax payments" would have negligible impact on the estimates in Table B9 which gives government expenditure and receipts up to 1998–99.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action the Government intend to take against tax avoidance schemes; and if he will make a statement. [19955]

[holding answer 10 December 1997]: The Government are determined to stem tax leakage by detecting, deterring and defeating tax avoidance. The last Budget included a package of anti-avoidance measures, and more are likely to be announced in the next Budget. Since the summer, the Inland Revenue have been carrying out a wide-ranging review of avoidance. Both the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise are also looking at the possibility of introducing a General Anti-Avoidance Rule.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce legislation to allow those without a residential qualification to join credit unions. [19858]

[holding answer 11 December 1997]: The existing legislation already allows a number of ways for those without a residential qualification to join credit unions.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the role of the Treasury Committee in respect of monitoring the Government's adherence to a Code of Fiscal Stability; and if he will make a statement. [19964]

[holding answer 11 December 1997]: The Chancellor's proposal for a Code for Fiscal Stability will commit the Government to a set of principles of fiscal policy management, transparent fiscal reporting and best-practice accounting methods. This open approach will allow the Treasury Committee to play an important role in the external scrutiny of the Government's fiscal policy.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met Lord Sainsbury in an official capacity; and what subjects were discussed. [19535]

[holding answer 8 December 1997]: I have met Lord Sainsbury on occasions such as seminars at 11 Downing Street which I have attended in my capacity as Chancellor.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had and with whom on the recommendation made in the Madrid Summit in July 1997, in respect of relationships between Greece and Turkey; and what initiatives have been taken under this agreement. [20081]

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has on a number of occasions discussed this subject with ministerial colleagues, including the Greek and Turkish Foreign Ministers. Diplomatic contacts to build on the agreement made in Madrid in July 1997 will continue during our EU Presidency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the British High Commissioner for Cyprus or his officials last visited the Greek Cypriot community living in the Karpas area of Cyprus; what reports he has received in respect of the living conditions; and if he will make a statement. [20082]

A number of the British High Commission last visited the Greek Cypriot community in the Karpas on 4 November as part of a regular series of visits to that area. The High Commission reports no significant changes in living conditions since the previous visit in May.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has received relating to the misdirection of funds for the construction of the European Parliament buildings in the Espace Leopold; and if he will request an investigation by the Court of Auditors. [20258]

We are aware that allegations have been made of impropriety relating to the construction of the new European Parliament building in Brussels. We understand that the Belgium judicial authorities are conducting an inquiry. Decisions on appropriate follow-up action will be taken when the facts of the case are clear.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the statement of the Minister of State of 4 December 1997, Official Report, column 567, where, when and between whom the exchanges in private relating to the agreement between Spain and the Dutch presidency took place. [20580]

This is not a matter on which we can give precise answers, since by definition, no representative of the Government was present.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the statement of the Minister of State of 4 December 1997, Official Report, column 567, when the attempt to clarify the mix-up over the Spanish amendment to the Treaty of Amsterdam was made. [20579]

We first contacted the Presidency about this matter on 20 June.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the statement of the Minister of State of 4 December 1997, Official Report, column 567, when the bilateral understanding between the Dutch presidency and the Spanish government was reached. [20581]

I refer the right hon. and learned Member to the reply I gave him on 2 December 1997, Official Report, columns 122–23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department has current dealings with (a) non-governmental organisations and (b) suppliers which are not millennium compliant; and on what date his Department will cease to deal with (i) non-governmental organisations and (ii) suppliers which are not millennium compliant. [20527]

This Department deals with many non-governmental organisations and suppliers. Where we identify that such organisations have a millennium problem, which could have a negative impact on this Department, we take appropriate action. Depending on the scale of the problem, and the nature of the organisation, this may result in this Department ceasing to deal with the organisation at an appropriate time, which we anticipate would be no later than 31 December 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress he expects to achieve during the United Kingdom Presidency of the EU on the implementation of Security Council Resolution 425 of 19 March 1978. [20546]

During our Presidency we will be working to re-inject momentum into the Middle East peace process on all its tracks. We will continue to stress to parties in the region our support for the full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 425 and withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the consequences of the recent attempted coup in Zambia. [20594]

We welcome the prompt restoration of civilian government. We hope the State of Emergency will soon be lifted. We have expressed concern to the Zambian authorities at the numbers in detention and at reports of torture, most recently when I met the Zambian High Commissioner on 10 November. We welcome the Zambian Permanent Human Rights Commission's statement condemning torture and calling for the officers concerned to be arrested, as well as President Chiluba's support for their stance. We are monitoring developments closely and I will visit Zambia from 7 to 9 January.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many clerical officers and clerk/typists are employed in each of the offices of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive; and what is the breakdown by gender in each case and in total. [19574]

This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, who has advised me that the information is not held in the form requested, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons applied for posts of clerk/typist and clerical officer with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in each of the last three years and the current year to the latest available date; and in each year how many (a) applicants and (b) appointees were (i) male, (ii) female, (iii) Protestant, (iv) Roman Catholic and (v) others. [19576]

This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive who has advised me that the Housing Executive has not recruited staff to the Clerical officer or Clerk/typist posts over the past three years, other than through temporary contracts arranged through Job Centres. The Executive is currently in the process of recruiting staff to these posts and hopes to have completed the exercise by January 1998. The impact of the recruitment exercise on the composition of the Executive's work force as a whole, will be reflected in the annual monitoring return to the Fair Employment Commission (FEC).

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to her answer of 2 December, Official Report, column 128, what estimate has been made of the number of staff required to support the new consultancy in non-surgical oncology; and what plans are in place to recruit and train them. [19751]

[holding answer 9 December 1997]: Assessment of the need for suitably trained staff, to support additional consultants in clinical oncology, will be carried out by the relevant HSS Trusts as this service develops. Recruitment and training will be taken forward in the light of purchasers' requirements and the resources available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made towards introducing a best value regime for district councils in Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement. [20738]

Following our announcement on 20 June of the decision to extend the existing Compulsory Competitive Tendering timetable until 1 November 1998, good progress has been made in developing a suitable Best Value regime for District Councils in Northern Ireland. In developing our plans we have been able to draw on the experience of other parts of the country but it has also been necessary to tailor our proposals to local circumstances.The Government wish actively to involve local government and to draw on their experience in developing a suitable Best Value regime for District Councils in Northern Ireland. In order to facilitate this process, we are today publishing a Consultation Paper, setting out our proposals and inviting comments form interested parties. A copy of the Consultation Paper has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how expenditure by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland on the purchase of archives of historical/research importance will be funded. [20739]

The Department of the Environment has recently concluded that the Public Records Act (NI) 1923 does not empower the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland to purchase archives. Parliamentary approval for such purchases in the current financial year will be sought in a Supplementary Estimate for the Environmental and Other Services Vote (Department of the Environment Vote 4) Pending that approval, expenditure up to an estimated £120,000 will be met by repayable advances from the Civil Contingencies Fund to ensure that Northern Ireland's archival heritage will be saved for posterity.I am also examining the possibility of seeking Parliament's approval for new legislation which will specifically authorise such expenditure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will publish the report of the Chief Electoral Officer in Northern Ireland for 1996–97. [20740]

The Chief Electoral Officer's annual report was laid before parliament on Tuesday 9 December, and copies are available in the Library.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the extent to which meat and bonemeal is fed to livestock in other European Union countries; and if he will make a statement. [20249]

We are not in a position to make such an assessment.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects the IACS and BSPS payments to be made to farmers. [20535]

All main payments under the Arable Area Payments Scheme in England, except those subject to query, are expected to be made by the EU deadline of 31 December 1997. BSPS advance payments are under way with some £46.5 million distributed to date. BSPS balance payments will be made by the statutory deadline of 30 June 1998.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his Department has current dealings with (a) non-governmental organisations and (b) suppliers which are not millennium compliant; and on what date his Department will cease to deal with (i) non-governmental organisations and (ii) suppliers which are not millennium compliant. [20529]

The position in the Department is that all dependencies on non-governmental organisations and/or suppliers who may not be millennium compliant are being examined, and associated risks and contingency requirements identified (these will be different from case to case). Assurances regarding millennium compliance are being sought and appropriate contingency action (which could, for example, entail switching to another supplier and product) will be initiated as necessary.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many inspectors' visits to check that the conditions of the Mink Keeping Order 1992 and the Mink Keeping Regulations 1975 (as amended) were being adhered to were carried out in (a) 1993, (b) 1994, (c) 1995, (d) 1996 and (e) 1997; [20638](2) how many inspectors were employed to ensure the implementation of the Mink Keeping Order in

Inspections of mink farms are carried out by advisers from the Farming and Rural Conservation Agency (FRCA), an Executive Agency of MAFF, as part of their statutory duties as the Department's wildlife advisers. FRCA are resourced to carry out all necessary visits to mink farms to ensure that the security arrangements in place meet the requirements laid down in the Mink Keeping Regulations 1975. Until recently, only one site visit was normally made each year at the time of the issue of the licence. However, to ensure that the necessary security standards are maintained throughout the year, an additional unannounced inspection will now be made to each farm during the year. As before, inspections will also be carried out following any reports of escaped mink.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) when the Mink Keeping Order licences next come up for renewal for each of the farms currently licensed; and for what period of time licences are issued; [20642](2) how many mink farms were issued licences under the Mink Keeping Order in

The number of mink farms issued licences over the last five years are as follows:

Period/Year ending issued licences	Number of mink farms
31 March 1993	19
31 March 1994	13
31 March 1995	13
31 March 1996	14
31 March 1997	13

Where a mink farmer holds a licence to keep mink, a separate licence is not required for the specific action of transporting live mink.The mink farms currently licensed are located in the following counties:

County	Number of licensed mink farms
Cornwall	1
Dorset	1
Hampshire	1
Isle of Wight	1
Lancashire	6
Northumberland	1
South Yorkshire	1
Staffordshire	1
West Yorkshire	3
Total	16

The Department's policy is not to disclose the exact location of fur farms but to give only the county in which a licence is applicable. This is to protect mink fur farmers from the attentions of individuals or organisations who might seek to disrupt by unlawful means the activity of licensed fur farming.Licences are valid for twelve months and the number expiring in each month is as follows:

Month	Number of licences expiring
December 1997	6
Janaury 1998	—
February 1998	1
March 1998	1
April 1998	3
May 1998	1
June 1998	1
July 1998	—
August 1998	—

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what estimate his Department has made of the numbers of mink that have escaped into the wild from mink farms in (a) 1993, (b) 1994, (c) 1995, (d) 1996 and (e) 1997; [20641](2) how many mink farms had a licence revoked or suspended in

I am not aware of any unlicensed mink farms being allowed to operate. All mink farm licensees are sent reminder letters before their licence expires and the Department will chase licensees who do not respond. Where an existing licence holder ceases to keep mink, the Department asks for information on the arrangements for the disposal of the mink. Where mink have been sold to other farms, the Department will check that the new owner is licensed to keep mink. Any reports of unlicensed farms are referred to the Investigation Branch of theDepartment's Legal Division for consideration. Since 1993, one prosecution has been undertaken for keeping mink on unlicenced premises. No licences have been revoked or suspended during that period.Licensed mink fur farmers are required to report any escapes to the Department; the numbers of mink reported to the Department as having escaped from fur farms are detailed. All were the result of reported vandalism to licensed mink farms:

Period	Number of mink reported to have escaped
Year ending 31 March 1994	nil
Year ending 31 March 1995	nil
Year ending 31 March 1996	3,005
Year ending 31 March 1997	nil
Eight months to end November 1997	300

Under the Destructive Imported Animals Act 1932, anyone failing to comply with the conditions of a licence may be subject to a fine not exceeding level 1 on the standard scale, currently £200 and to a further penalty of £2 for every day on which the offence continues after conviction. In addition, licences can be revoked.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will introduce his proposed changes to beef labelling; and what factors underlie the delay in their introduction. [20489]

The Beef Labelling Scheme, which implements EC Regulation 820/97, was introduced in the United Kingdom on 9 October with applications invited from 1 November. The Regulation was due to come into full force from 1 January 1998, but the European Commission has recently decided to postpone entry into force until 31 March 1998. The reason for this postponement was delay in implementing the Regulation in other member states.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the impact on public health from the importation of honey from countries where bees are treated with anti-varroa products not approved in the United Kingdom. [20576]

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate tested samples of honey for flumethrin as part of its non-statutory residues surveillance programme in 1996. Approximately 70 per cent. of the samples collected at random from retail outlets were imported. None of the samples was positive. Results for this year are not yet available.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Facers and Food what representations he has received from beekeepers with regard to the control of varroa mite by products approved in other EU countries but not approved in the United Kingdom; what response he has given; what is his assessment of the impact on United Kingdom beekeepers of the resistance of bees to the only United Kingdom approved product; and if he will take steps to approve the use of those other products in the United Kingdom. [20577]

I have received a number of letters from hon. Members and Secretaries of beekeeping associations on this subject, and they will all receive full responses to the points they have made about the import and administration of unauthorised products.We are not aware of any incidence of varroa mite resistance in the UK.The question of any applications for authorisation of new veterinary medicines to control varroa mites is one for the pharmaceutical industry. No veterinary medicines is authorised unless it satisfies the statutory criteria of safety, quality and efficacy.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he intends to permit button plastic tags as a secondary tag as from 1 January 1998. [20547]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Wealden (Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith) on 11 December 1997, Official Report, column 682.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will prevent the importation of all meat from countries where BSE is present and where mammalian meat and bone meal is included in animal feed. [20574]

No. There is no reasonable basis on which I could take such action.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he has taken to ensure (a) that all beef entering the United Kingdom for human consumption is less than 30 months old and (b) that over 30 month old beef imported into the United Kingdom to be processed for pet food does not enter the human food chain. [20490]

The Fresh Meat (Beef Controls) (No. 2) Regulations 1996 prohibit the sale for human consumption of bovine meat from animals over 30 months old. Responsibility for enforcement falls to Local Authorities.It is not an offence to import meat from animals more than 30 months old.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ban the import of beef from cattle aged over 30 months from countries where BSE is present. [20573]

Action to prohibit the sale of human consumption of meat derived from bovine animals born, reared and slaughtered in any country was taken by the previous Government on 28 March 1996 in the Beef (Emergency Control) Order 1996. This prohibited the sale for human consumption of meat derived from bovine animals slaughtered on or after 29 March 1996 which "showed signs of more than one pair of permanent incisors". (This test is used to identify animals aged over 30 months). The prohibition was subsequently modified to exclude beef from certain countries where BSE is not known to occur, and is now contained in the Fresh Meat (Beef Controls) (No. 2) Regulations.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for what reasons poultrymeat is permitted to be imported from countries where BSE has been reported and where mammalian meat and bone meal is permitted in poultry feed. [20575]

Because it is perfectly safe. The prohibitions on the use of meat and bone meal in poultry feed are to avoid cross-contamination with feed for ruminants and not because of concerns in relation to the safety of the poultrymeat.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of the value of claims made on Export Credits Guarantee Department funds related to arms sales in each of the last three years; and what was the total value of claims relating to arms sales in each of those years. [12725]

ECGD does not use the term "arms" to identify business. Records are maintained on a buyer basis and any business with a Defence Ministry is described as "defence related". This can cover a wide range of equipment and services.From the information currently available the claims figures on defence related business are as follows:

	Total value/Percentage
Financial year 1994–95
Total value of claims paid on Defence related business:	£133.2 million
Value of claims paid on Defence related business as a percentage of total claims paid:	32 per cent.
Financial year 1995–96
Total value of claims paid on Defence related business:	£107.3 million
Value of claims paid on Defence related business as a percentage of total claims paid:	36 per cent.
Financial year 1996–971
Total value of claims paid on Defence related business:	£49.7 million
Value of claims paid on Defence related business as a percentage of total claims paid:	21 per cent.
1 Figures for 1996–97 are currently being audited.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the current level of British investment in Yemen. [14974]

At the end of 1995, the latest year for which figures are available, the net book value of direct investment by UK firms in Yemen was £15 million. This represents the cumulative value of investment after allowing for depreciation. During 1995, the flow of direct investment by UK firms in Yemen was less than their disinvestment, resulting in net direct investment of minus £36 million.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps the Government will take to ensure that the public acceptance of biotechnology features in the discussions of the European Commission relating to its ethical implications. [15339]

The debate which has surrounded the European Commission's proposal for a Directive on the legal protection of biotechnological inventions has highlighted a number of ethical issues which surrounded this technology. Therefore, I announced on 24 November that my Department would be sponsoring a consultation initiative to seek public views on biological research.My ultimate goal is to engage members of the public in debate to enable us to assess the issues that are of concern to a lay audience. However, I feel that an important pre-cursor to this is to involve interested parties active in the debate to add to the credibility that an inclusive approach will offer.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council's progress in addressing the shortage of biochemical engineers. [19238]

Last year, the Office of Science and Technology, the Research Councils and The Royal Society commissioned a survey of postgraduate career paths to contribute to the forward planning of training needs. This will be published in the near future, and the sponsors will be considering its results. The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) is also undertaking its own research programme on the needs of particular industrial sectors. In all subject areas, the supply of first degree graduates is a factor.The BBSRC supports postgraduate and postdoctoral training to meet the needs of its research, industrial and educational user communities for highly trained scientists and engineers. The Council has fixed the current level of its overall postgraduate provision at 2,000 studentships which it considers to be in line with those communities' needs. The BBSRC's scientific committees, which comprise experts from both industry and academia, advise on the needs for trained personnel in specific sectors of science and engineering, and allocate research studentships accordingly on an annual basis. The BBSRC also makes awards under the CASE and Industrial CASE schemes which link industry and academia in training and ensure that training is directly relevant to the needs of user industry. Further opportunities for training in biochemical engineering are available through the Council's participation in, and promotion of, the Teaching Company Scheme, Integrated Graduate Development Scheme and joint Industrial Fellowships scheme with EPSRC and the Royal Society, all of which are market driven by the needs of the user community.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the members of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council who are members of the Council's (a) Engineering and Biological Systems Committee and (b) Strategy Board, giving their engineering or biological science background. [19239]

No members of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) are also members of the Engineering and Biological Systems Committee. There are no Council members on any of the BBSRC's science Committees and Directorates.Three members of the Council are members of the Strategy Board. Professor Sir Brian Follett, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Warwick, has led research teams and taught at the Universities of Bristol, Leeds, Wales and Washington State and published over 250 papers on biological clocks and reproductive physiology. Mr. Guy Walker has been employed in the food industry since 1961, most recently as National Manager for Unilever in the UK. He is also President of the Food and Drink Federation. The BBSRC's Chief Executive, Professor Ray Baker, is a Council member and chairman of the Strategy Board. He is an organic and medicinal chemist with careers in both academia and industry. Prior to joining BBSRC he was Executive Director of Medicinal Chemistry at the Neurosciences Centre of Merck Sharp and Dohme at Harlow, Essex.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many applications for licences for the export of military equipment to Indonesia have been (a) granted, (b) refused and (c) revoked since 1 May. [19206]

With regard to the numbers of applications refused or licences granted for the export to Indonesia of goods controlled under Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to the hon. Member for West Dorset (Mr. Letwin) on 2 December 1997, Official Report, columns 124–26.Between 2 May and 13 November no such licences were revoked.However, this information should be considered in light of my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint) on 30 October 1997,

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many (a) special advisers, (b) task force members and (c) review body members her Department employs; what is the total salary and benefits of (a) to (c); and what was the equivalent cost prior to 1 May. [19313]

My Department employs three special advisers. Two are paid and one is unpaid. The level of salary is a private matter for the individuals concerned but I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 25 November 1997, Official Report, columns 472–73. The previous Administration employed one special adviser in this Department before the election.Since the election, the following bodies have been established to advise Ministers: The President of the Board of Trade's Advisory Group on Competitiveness, the Export Forum, the External Group on Competitiveness in Europe and the Interdepartmental Task Force on Competitiveness in Europe. A total of forty-one representatives from outside of Government have been appointed to these bodies none of whom receive payment other than expenses in some cases. I shall be announcing the membership of five Competitiveness Working Parties shortly. Again the members will be unpaid other than expenses in some cases.The Government have established the independent Low Pay Commission with nine members from outside Government. None is employed or receives payment other than expenses. I have also appointed the Chairman of Action 2000, my Department's new initiative to tackle the century date change problem. Mr. Cruickshank's appointment will involve one day per week from March 1998 at a rate comparable with his current position as Director General OFTEL.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to her letter of 3 September, how many applications for export licences her Department has (a) granted and (b) refused under Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order in each month of 1997. [19283]

In due course, statistics of such export licences issued and refused from 1 January up to and including 1 May will be placed in the Library of the House. In addition, the Government will report annually on the state of strategic export controls and their application since 2 May.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will provide details of how many United Kingdom exporters have been visited by her Department's inspectors in relation to the use of Open General Export Licences; and if she will place details of these inspections in the Library. [20032]

Two hundred and eighty one UK exporters have been visited by Export Control Organisation Compliance Offers in relation to the use of Open General Export Licences in the period between 1 April 1995 and 12 November 1997. These statistics were only consistently recorded separately after 1 April 1995.Disclosure by the Government of the outcome of these visits could reasonably be expected to harm the competitive position of the companies concerned. Therefore this information comes within the category of information "third party's commercial confidences" which is exempt from the commitments to provide information in the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what support the United Kingdom Government are giving to United Kingdom companies planning to attend the Indonesia Air Show being held in Jakarta in June 1998. [19946]

My Department has offered support under the Trade Fair Support Scheme for the Society of British Aerospace Companies to organise a group of UK companies to exhibit at the show. Eligible companies will receive a grant towards the cost of space rental, stand construction and travel, if the Society is able to recruit a group of at least 10 firms.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to the answer of 1 December 1997, Official Report, column 15, to what extent section 2.1 of the Information Report of the Economic and Social Committee on territorial employment pacts (Reg/121, CES 656/97) will apply to the United Kingdom-nominated schemes; and if she will make a statement. [20536]

The Government proposed the ten UK pilot projects for Territorial Employment Pacts on the basis of their likely local and regional impact on economic development and job creation. The Economic and Social Committee's report provides interesting background on the potential of Pacts throughout the EU, which local partnerships may wish to take into account as they develop their activities.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she plans to adopt the proposed Multilateral Agreement on Investment in its current form; and if she will make a statement. [15180]

[holding answer 10 November 1997]: The Government support the general aims of the proposed MAI. Many issues remain to be resolved. We are working hard to achieve a successful outcome to the negotiations by April 1998.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how her proposals for dealing with problems arising from late payment will protect small firms from immediate cash flow problems. [19864]

[holding answer 11 December 1997]: The Government are determined to ensure that small firms benefit from the increased competitiveness that a healthy cash flow can bring. That is why we are committed to changing the payment culture in the UK by bringing forward a comprehensive range of new proposals to tackle the late payment of commercial debt including legislation to give business a right to claim interest. The legislation, introduced on 10 December, will provide suppliers with a statutory right to claim interst on commercial debt.The Government also recognise the importance of effective credit management in reducing the incidence of late payment and are working with all the main small firms organisations and representatives from the credit management, factoring and trade credit banking and insurance sectors to encourage business support organisations and others to assist small firms with their credit management procedures and to promote a better payment culture.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is her estimate of the expenditure by (a) her Department, (b) it agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies on overseas travel for (i) 1980–81, (ii) 1987–88, (iii) 1990–91, (iv) 1991–92, (v) 1992–93, (vi) 1993–94, (vii) 1994–95, (viii) 1995–96, (ix) 1996–97 and (x) 1 May to 30 September 1997; and if she will provide a breakdown to show (1) air fares and (2) other expenditure relating to overseas travel. [15211]

[holding answer 11 November 1997]: Disaggregated information in the form requested is not available for the Department and the non-departmental public bodies and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.I have asked Agency Chief Executives to reply to the hon. Member as they have their own budgetary responsibility for travel and subsistence costs.