To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will amend the Building Regulations to comply with section 104 of the Water Industries Act 1991 to ensure that all sewers are built by developers to an adoptable standard. [22841]

There are no plans to amend the Building Regulations to require that all sewers are built to a standard necessary for them to be adopted under an agreement made under section 104 of the Water Industry Act 1991. However, in 1986, the Department of the Environment in conjunction with the Welsh Office carried out a review of water and sewerage law and considered the automatic adoption of all new sewers undertakers. It was concluded that this could not be implemented as it would have involved vesting existing private sewers with the water authorities of the time and would have placed an undue financial burden on them and hence their customers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for each of the last five years (a) the number of penalty fares issued by London Underground Ltd. and (b) the income generated by penalty fares issued by London Underground Ltd. [23217]

The operation of the Penalty Fares Scheme is a matter for London Underground. The table details the information provided by London Underground for the completed years since the scheme was launched on 4 April 1994.

Year	1994–95	1995–96	1996–97
Number of penalty fares issued	173,899	145,410	203,650
Income from penalty fares	£1.1 million	£1 million	£1.5 million

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many appeals against penalty fares issued by London Underground Ltd. were made in each of the last five years; and what proportion of these were successful in each of those years. [23218]

The operation of the Penalty Fares Scheme is a matter for London Underground. The table details the information provided by London Underground for the completed years since the scheme was launched on 4 April 1994.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the effect of the abolition of duty free on the cost of air travel and ferry travel. [23200]

We are currently in the process of examining the possible effects of abolition of duty free sales, including the implications for air travel and ferry travel.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the number of accidents involving staff and contractors working on the West Coast Main Line for each of the last five years. [23205]

I regret that this information is not available in the format requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The accident reporting regime changed in 1996 when the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 came into effect. In addition, accidents are recorded not by train route but by which company reported the accident. In the majority of cases, this is Railtrack, as infrastructure controller, even where Railtrack staff were not involved in the accident. Accidents are recorded against relevant Railtrack zones. The West Coast Main Line covers several such zones and some of the boundaries have changed since the creation of Railtrack in April 1994.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of the recommendations made by the Gatwick Airport close parallel runway study group; [23202](2) what work his Department is currently undertaking in relation to the possibility of a close parallel runway at Gatwick Airport. [23201]

My Department is not undertaking any work in relation to the possibility of developing a close parallel runway at Gatwick Airport. The work which the previous administration asked BAA to undertake into this concept following publication of the report on Runway Capacity to Serve the South East (RUCATSE) is not yet complete. We have asked BAA to put the work on hold so that we can consider how to take this issue forward in the light of the integrated transport White Paper, which we expect to publish in the Spring.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list by train operating company the punctuality and reliability figures compiled by OPRAF for each of the last 12 months. [23204]

This information is included in the quarterly bulletins of franchise operators' performance issued by the Franchising Director, the most recent of which was published on 15 January. The bulletins are in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many local authorities are expected to be brought into liability for VAT by exceeding the 5 per cent. de minimis partial exemption limit; and how he intends that the additional cost to such authorities will be funded. [22992]

The provisional Local Government Revenue Finance Settlement for 1998–99 takes into account local authorities' VAT liability for their statutory responsibilities. The previous Government introduced a change in VAT partial exemption rules which affected VAT liability on local authorities' exempt business activities. This came into effect on 1 April 1997, in order to ensure that local authorities accurately account for VAT and are treated on a similar basis to the private sector. Local authorities calculate the extent to which they have exceeded the 5 per cent. limit on an annual basis, and must make an adjustment in the next VAT return after the year end. The effects of the change in VAT partial exemption rules will not therefore be known until 1998–99.We expect councils to find the budget for any effects of this change from within their provision for 1998–99.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidelines exist for the provision of a lost property service in railway stations. [23195]

The adoption of a voluntary code of practice aimed at improving the level of service to those customers who lose property in the course of a rail journey is currently being considered by the train operating companies who lease the majority of stations, and by Railtrack who manage the 14 major stations on the network. It is expected that it will come into operation in the spring.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what level of grant support is envisaged for the Staying Put scheme; and if he will make a statement. [23100]

Government funding for home improvement agencies, also known as "Staying Put" or "Care and Repair" schemes, has been increased by £¾ million (17 per cent.) to £5.214 million for 1998–99. Bids for funding for individual agencies are currently being assessed and we expect to announce the outcome next month.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he is taking to review the work of Leasehold Valuation Tribunals. [23328]

We are monitoring closely the work of the Leasehold Valuation Tribunals in relation to their new jurisdiction for determining disputes over service charges and applications for the appointment of a manager which commenced on 1 September. We will consider carefully whether any changes in procedure are needed in the light of experience.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Government expect to bring forward a consultation paper on options for leasehold reform. [23663]

We are currently considering the scope and practicability of possible new measures to assist leaseholders. We expect to make an announcement about our proposals and invite comments from interested parties in the Spring.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the withholding of information from the public register of applications for consent to release genetically modified organisms on the grounds of prevention of damage to the environment. [22881]

[holding answer 15 January 1998]: Under the current legislation, information may be withheld from the public register on the grounds of prevention of damage to the environment. To date, no information has been withheld from the public register on these grounds. We would consider any requests to withhold information on this basis extremely carefully, with safety to the environment as the primary concern.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to visit China. [23561]

I hope to visit China in the early part of the summer.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the projects within the Northumberland County Council area that have received European Regional Development Funding in the last three years. [24019]

Projects within the Northumberland County Council's area have to date received £26,377,479 from the Regional Development Fund (EDRF) in the last three years. A total of 170 projects have been supported under the following European Structural Funds Programmes: North East of England Objective 2, Northern Uplands Objective 5b, PESCA Community Initiative and RECHAR II Community Initiative. Regional projects approved under the aforementioned programmes have also provided assistance in the Northumberland area.The Northumberland area has also benefited from support from the European Social Fund (ESF) and the European Agricultural Guidance Guarantee Fund (EAGGF).Tables on projects in Northumberland that have received support from the EDRF have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the current value of the local authority occupational pension funds. [23791]

The most recent date for which we hold information relating to local authority pension funds in England and Wales is 30 June 1997, when the market value totalled £61.5 billion.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had, and with whom, to seek to improve travelling conditions in motor coaches for disabled people. [23800]

The Department has held extensive informal discussions, both with their statutory advisers on disability, the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) and with representatives of both manufacturing and operating industries. On the basis of these preliminary discussions, we published on 19 December, for widespread public consultation, our proposals for making both buses and coaches accessible to disabled people in compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act. Twelve thousand copies of the consultation document have been issued to disability organisations and other consumer groups as well as to all bus and coach operators and manufacturers. The consultation document has been placed in the House Library.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will assess the availability of water supplies for the planned new households when ruling on plans to expand Stevenage. [23729]

No. It is for the water companies concerned to quantify and provide the water supplies required to support new housing developments. This is a normal part of the planning process.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make it his policy to ban all sales of CFCs. [23410]

My Department, in collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry, is currently undertaking a study to look at the environmental and economic costs and benefits of tighter controls on ozone depleting substances, including a possible ban on the sale of CFCs, which may be included in proposals which the European Commission are expected to bring forward to amend EC Regulation 3093/94 on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. We will consider the issue fully when the study is completed and in the light of discussion with European colleagues of whatever proposals the Commission bring forward.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent figures he has obtained in respect of the number of wild-caught birds imported into the United Kingdom; and what percentage of wild-caught birds imported into the United Kingdom in the last year for which figures are available are estimated to have been dead on arrival. [22969]

The Department maintains records of trade only in the species listed in the Annexes to Council Regulation (EC) No. 338/97, which govern the import into EU Member States. At present, these records do not include data on the number of birds that were dead on arrival but we intend to gather mortality statistics when systems can be put in place. From the data returned so far, some 4,598 wild-caught birds were imported in 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the Government's policy on EU Directive 96/29 in respect of the recycling of radioactive waste in consumer goods. [23618]

Directive 96/29/Euratom lays down revised European Union basic safety standards for the protection of the health of workers and the general public against the dangers arising from ionising radiation. It must be implemented into UK legislation by May 2000.The Directive effectively sets levels of radioactivity above which radioactive materials must be the subject of regulatory control. The Directive, however, gives Member States discretion in setting levels for the release from regulatory control of materials for disposal, recycling and re-use.The Government are giving careful consideration to this matter and their proposals will be the subject of full public consultation planned for later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much has been spent to date in total on the proposals to build the new A27 Polegate bypass, broken down into (a) land acquisition, (b) public consultation, (c) design costs, (d) compensation payments to tenderers and (e) others. [23409]

I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to review (a) the National Conditions of Carriage in general and (b) clause 45 of the conditions. [23393]

At the request of the Rail Regulator, the Association of Train Operating Companies is currently conducting a review of the National Conditions of Carriage and consulting the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising, the Office of the Rail Regulator, the Central Rail Users' Consultative Committee and the train operating companies.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the contributions in the last five years from the Environment Agency and its predecessors to the "Eager Beaver" River Tyne Debris Clearance vessel; and what are his reasons for discontinuing this contribution in the next financial year. [23647]

The contributions made to the "Eager Beaver" River Tyne Debris Clearance vessel in the past five years by the Environment Agency from 1996–97 and the National Rivers Authority before it, are as follows:

• 1993–94: £4,000
• 1994–95: £4,000
• 1995–96: £2,000
• 1996–97: £2,000
• 1997–98: £2,000

The Environment Agency is an executive non-Departmental public body, free to manage its day to day business within the framework provided by the Government. Any decision about its future funding contributions to the "Eager Beaver" is therefore a matter for the Agency.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what are the latest results of his Department's research into rain penetration in cavity walls. [24238]

On behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions the Building Research Establishment has undertaken research into water penetration in cavity walls filled with insulation.As part of my Department's ongoing programme of research into rain penetration in cavity walls, I have, in consultation with my hon. Friends the Minister for London and Construction and the Minister for Local Government and Housing, asked for precautionary checks to be carried out on the condition of galvanised steel wire wall ties in a representative sample of homes with cavity walls filled with insulation. This follows the preliminary results of research which indicate that there is a possibility that the life expectancy of green coloured galvanised steel wire wall ties might be shortened when used in conjunction with Urea Formaldehyde foam cavity fill. The tests were undertaken on dwarf walls without the protective features found in real houses. I wish, therefore, to establish whether the effects indicated in the BRE research occur in real houses.I want to stress that there is no conclusive evidence of a safety risk involving galvanised steel wire wall ties in cavity wall insulation. But it would be wrong if, as a result of the preliminary findings, we did not investigate quickly and thoroughly whether or not the possible problems with green coloured galvanised steel wire wall ties in some cavity fills were occurring in people's homes. This is a prudent, precautionary measure and I have asked that further research be carried out as soon as possible.The expert, independent, advice I have received from the BRE is that, while it believes that its initial findings indicate the need for a wider study, it is strongly of the view that it would be premature to place any firm interpretation on its findings until it can be established whether they are representative of conditions in the UK housing stock.While the number of homes containing galvanised wire wall ties with a green film, in cavity wall insulation, is a small portion of the housing stock, it is prudent to carry out these precautionary checks which will be extended to examine other forms of galvanised wire wall ties in cavity fill.BRE' s test results show:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 12 January 1998, Official Report, column 111, on ferry crews, if he will set out the criteria which the Marine Safety Agency uses in assessing the ability of passenger ferry crew members to communicate in English. [23725]

I have asked the Chief Executive of the Marine Safety Agency, Mr. Bradley, to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will advise the managements of all railway and underground stations not to rely on charity registration as an indication of respectability. [22886]

Applications for charity collections on railway and underground stations are considered by the operators on an individual basis and do not solely rely on the fact that an organisation is registered with the Charity Commission.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will advise the management of railway and underground stations to require a recommendation from an independent source before permitting charity collections on station land and premises. [22884]

Permission for charity collections on railway and underground stations is a matter for the individual operator, in this case Railtrack, the train operating company or London Underground Ltd. Charities are advised to seek permission from them in advance to enable applications to be considered and collection times to be allocated.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the Government's policy on the purchasing for use by Government departments and agencies of (a) Brazilian mahogany and (b) other endangered timber; how the policy is implemented and monitored; in what form the results of that monitoring are published; and if he will make a statement. [23847]

Decisions on the procurement of goods and services, including timber or related products, are the responsibility of individual Departments. Departments must have regard to the need to secure best value for the taxpayers' money, to EU and other international rules on procurement and to their strategies for environmentally friendly housekeeping. In pursuing these aims, Departments can be expected to seek timber from sustainable sources where practicable. My Department's Green Guide for Buyers Part 1: Policy and Practice, which I have commended to Green Ministers in other Departments, requires minimum use of virgin materials, and the Department seeks as far as possible to purchase wood only from sources verified as sustainable. Costa Rica and Bolivia have listed their populations of Brazilian Mahogany in Appendix III of CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) and Brazil has consulted on a proposal to do the same. The importation of this species into the EU requires an export permit or a certificate from the country of origin. Importers are required to complete a notification in order to help monitoring of the levels of trade.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the funding for implementation of the Pennington Report, announced on 19 August 1997, will count against local authority spending limits. [22948]

[holding answer 16 January 1998]: In line with the announcement made on 19 August 1997 by my hon. Friend the Minister for Public Health, £3.75 million of extra funding has been provided to English local authorities to contribute towards the additional costs of inspecting food premises more frequently. This will assist in implementing the Government's response to the Pennington report. As a rule, expenditure for which provision is made within an authority's Standard Spending Assessment (SSA) is included in an authority's budget requirement for capping purposes. Authorities are able to increase their budgets by at least the increase in their SSA, except where it would take their budget more than 12.5 per cent. above SSA or where their budget is already more than 12.5 per cent. above SSA.

To ask the President of the Council how many questions have been tabled since 1 May for answer on the following day by (a) Labour hon. Members and (b) hon. Members from other parties; and how many in each case were subsequently answered the following day. [23407]

The number of such Questions tabled by Labour hon. Members was 766, of which the POLIS database records 690 as having been answered on the day on which they appeared on the Order Paper and the number tabled by hon. Members of other parties was 10, of which the POLIS database records 2 as having been answered on the day on which they appeared on the Order Paper. These figures are from 1 May 1997 to 15 January 1998 (inclusive).

To ask the President of the Council when the decision was taken to employ an assistant Drugs Tsar; and how the job was advertised. [23391]

The decision to appoint Mike Trace as the Deputy UK Anti-Drugs Coordinator was taken in the light of the Ministerial interviews of the short-listed candidates, which I chaired and it was ratified by the Prime Minister before appointment in October 1997.The Deputy Coordinator acts in support of the full range of the Coordinator's responsibilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will publish all the correspondence between his Department, the Metropolitan Police, the Nigerian Police and Interpol concerning Abdul Oudigo in 1995 and 1996; [23026](2) if he will publish the contents of the Interpol report on Abdul Oudigo that was received by his Department in 1996. [23027]

Interpol London has no record of Mr. Oudigo, either on paper or on any of its databases. Nor is there any record on the Police National Computer or at the Interpol Headquarters in Lyon.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department at what time CS spray was used on Peter San Pedro of London; at what time Mr. San Pedro was released; at what time Mr. San Pedro died in a road accident; and if he will make a statement. [23107]

I understand from Kent County Constabulary that an officer sprayed Mr. San Pedro with CS during an incident which began at 11.33 am on 3 April 1997; that he was released from custody at 12.30 pm that day; and that at 6.23 pm an emergency call was received to say that he had been struck by a lorry. The incident has been investigated by the Police Complaints Authority and an inquest took place on 4 and 5 December. The cause of death was recorded as multiple injuries and the jury returned an open verdict. The Crown Prosecution Service is currently considering matters arising out of the incident.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons the police installed road blocks around the headquarters of the Flying Squad in Walthamstow during the weekend of 20 and 21 December. [23043]

This is an operational matter for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. However, he tells me that no road blocks were installed around the regional Flying Squad office at Rigg Approach, Walthamstow, during the weekend of the 20 and 21 December. On that date, the office was searched by officers from the Metropolitan Police's Complaints Investigation Bureau following the arrest of former officers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many dogs have been (a) seized and (b) destroyed under the provisions of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 to date. [23018]

Information on the numbers of dogs which have been seized by the police and local authorities under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 is not collected centrally.Information on the number of dogs destroyed under the dangerous dogs legislation is not collected in the form requested.In the period 1992–1996, a total of 977 people were convicted either of offences under section 1 of the 1991 Act or of aggravated offences under section 3. In each of these cases, the court would have had no option but to order the destruction of the dog concerned. This figure, therefore, is likely to be close to the actual number of dogs put down under the Act over that period.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what licences for animal breeding are currently held by Hillgrove Farm, Witney, Oxfordshire; when the provision of these licences was last reviewed; and what assessment he has made of the justification for their issue. [22863]

Hillgrove Farm is designated under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 as a breeder and supplier of animals for use in scientific procedures. The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 does not require that Certificates of Designation be renewed or formally reviewed. However, inspectors visit all establishments and will, where necessary, recommend the amendment of Certificates.Hillgrove Farm was inspected three times in 1997. The purpose of these inspections was to assess compliance with the conditions set out on the Certificate of Designation.I am satisfied that the establishment is operating within the terms and conditions of the 1986 Act and of its Certificate of Designation. There are no grounds, therefore, to revoke the Certificate.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what dates officers from the Metropolitan Police travelled to Paris to interview staff at the Ritz in connection with the alleged perjury of Mr. Jonathan Aitken. [23112]

This investigation is an operational matter for the Commissioner. However, he tells me that two officers from the Metropolitan Police travelled to Paris on 12 January 1998 in connection with this investigation.

Table 1: Number of offenders convicted of offences of supply, importation1 and production of a Class A controlled drug by result, 1993–96
England and Wales
				Immediate custody
Offence	Year	Cautioned	Total sentenced	Non-custodial sentences	Determinate sentences	Life sentences	Total sentenced and cautioned
Supply of a Class A controlled drug	1993	91	740	267	473	—	831
	1994	84	796	270	529	—	880
	1995	70	952	251	701	—	1,022
	1996	73	1,306	309	995	—	1,379
Importation1	1993	6	1,156	381	777	—	1,162
	1994	5	1,179	840	836	—	1,184
	1995	7	1,025	288	736	—	1,032
	1996	7	1,129	260	869	—	1,136
Production of Class A controlled drug	1993	25	34	25	9	—	59
	1994	48	44	34	10	—	92
	1995	58	59	38	22	—	117
	1996	15	57	43	15	—	72
1 Importation of any controlled drug—cannot identify by class type.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to conclude his investigation into the alleged perjury of Jonathan Aitken. [21606]

The Commissioner informs me that inquiries are continuing. These inquiries have been protracted due to the legal necessity to seek evidence from foreign jurisdictions. The investigation is being pursued as expeditiously as possible and will be concluded as soon as practicable. This investigation is an operational matter for the Commissioner.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the average determinate sentence of imprisonment or detention in a young offender institution received by offenders convicted of the supply, importation or production of Class A controlled drugs in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; [23123](2) how many offenders convicted of offences related to the supply, importation or production of Class A controlled drugs received (a) a life sentence,

[holding answer 15 January 1998]: The offences referred to cover a wide range of circumstances and seriousness. Some cases may attract a caution if the offender has admitted guilt and the police decide that the offence is at the lower end of seriousness. On conviction, the maximum sentence available to the court for these offences is life imprisonment.Table 1 shows the respective number of offenders cautioned, given a non-custodial sentence and given a custodial sentence since 1993. Table 2 shows the average sentence lengths given to those given a custodial sentence. Prior to 1993, information held centrally for offences of supply and production does not identify controlled drugs by type or class.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people sought relocation in 1997 under the witness protection scheme; and how many were successfully rehoused, by borough. [23960]

There is no national scheme for the protection of witnesses in this country and information relating to those on police witness protection schemes is not collected centrally. Whether to offer protection in any particular case and the form that protection should take, including whether the person should be relocated, is a decision for the police force concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of, and how many, asylum seekers were (a) granted asylum and (b) given exceptional leave to remain for each year from 1985 to 1997 inclusive. [23489]

During 1997, a total of 36,045 initial decisions, excluding dependants, were made on asylum applications. Of these, 3,985 (11 per cent.) were to recognise the applicant as a refugee and grant asylum, 3,115 (9 per cent.) were to refuse asylum but grant exceptional leave to enter (or remain) and 28,945 (80 per cent.) were to refuse both asylum and exceptional leave.Equivalent information for the years 1986 to 1996 is given in table 1.2 of the Home Office statistical bulletin "Asylum Statistics United Kingdom 1996" (issue 15/97). Table 1.2 of issue 9/96 of this publication provides similar data for 1985. Copies of both publications are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) applications for asylum awaiting an initial decision and (b) appeals by asylum seekers against refusal to grant leave to stay were outstanding on 1 January. [23540]

Information on the number of outstanding cases relates to the position at the end of the month rather than the beginning.As at 31 December 1997, there were 51,795 applications for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, awaiting an initial decision. As at the same date, there were 25,555 asylum related appeals awaiting determination.The number of applications awaiting an initial decision has fallen by 5,600 (from 57,405) since the end of 1996. The total number of asylum related appeals outstanding has arisen over the same period by 3,215. However, over the last 5 months, this figure has shown a slight but consistent fall.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visits were carried out last year by his Department's inspectors to establishments authorised to undertake animal procedures; and how many of these were unannounced. [22957]

Figures for 1997 have not yet been finalised. I will write to the hon. Member when they are available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are taken to ensure animals held in captivity for use in experiments are allowed to follow normal behavioural patterns so far as possible; and on how many occasions in 1996 his Department's inspectors have required changes to be made to conditions of captivity. [22952]

The environmental conditions required for animals used in scientific procedures are set out in the Code of Practice for the Housing and Care of Animals used in Scientific Procedures and reflected in the conditions set out in the establishment's Certificate of Designation. As far as possible, account is taken of species specific behaviour patterns and needs.Central records are not kept of how many times inspectors have required changes to be made at designated establishments to meet the conditions set out in the Certificate of Designation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what opportunities exist for pooling of data and other information obtained from animal experimentation between the United Kingdom and other countries; and what steps he is taking to encourage this. [22954]

There are no powers under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 to require scientists to share data obtained from animal experimentation. Scientists are, however, expected by the Home Office to publish the results of their research.Under certain circumstances, where animal test data are submitted to regulatory authorities, there may be statutory obligations to share this data with third parties. The Home Office has encouraged this, as such sharing may reduce the number or scope of regulatory tests involving the use of animals.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the percentage of animal procedures carried out in 1996 which replicated procedures already undertaken previously (a) within the United Kingdom and (b) elsewhere. [22955]

This information is not available.On occasion, replication or duplication of procedures may be essential to establish the reliability of previous data and findings. Unless there are valid reasons for replicating work already undertaken, the Inspectorate will not recommend that a licence be granted.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been initiated in each year since 1987 for offences under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; and what was the outcome in each completed case. [22960]

Two prosecutions have been initiated since 1987. In 1991, an individual was convicted of breeding and supplying animals for use in scientific procedures while not being designated under section 7 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. In the other instance, charges were brought in 1997. This case is still before the courts.Prosecutions for cruelty in designated establishments have also been pursued under the Protection of Animals Act 1911.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to reconcile respect for commercial confidentiality with his stated policy to seek to reduce the numbers of procedures carried out. [22956]

We assume the question relates to scientific procedures involving animals.We have already announced our intention to investigate the possibility of a European database on alternative methods and to make applicants for project licences declare what consideration they have given to alternatives which reduce the number of animals used or replace them entirely (as well as refining procedures to minimise suffering).The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate will continue to assess licence applications to ensure that alternatives are used wherever possible. I do not accept that there is a conflict between commercial confidentiality and efforts to minimise the number of animals used in scientific procedures.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes will be required to the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 to comply with the terms of the Government's White Paper on Freedom of Information. [22958]

The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 is one of a number of Acts which contain statutory bars to the disclosure of information. Section 24 of the Act prevents the disclosure of information given in confidence. The Government have announced that they will be reviewing such statutory bars to decide whether they should remain or should be amended to bring them into line with the "substantial harm" and "public interest" tests proposed in the White Paper on Freedom of Information: "Your Right to Know" (Cm 3818). No decisions have yet been made concerning individual Acts.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to increase substantially the penalties available for failure to adhere to the conditions laid down as part of project licences under the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. [22959]

The available penalties are set out in the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. These include variation or revocation of licences (section 11); suspension of licences (section 13); and, upon conviction under section 22 of the Act, imprisonment or a fine. The maximum term of imprisonment is two years on conviction on indictment or six months on summary conviction. Variation of a licence may include changes to the authorities granted (such as removing authority to carry out certain protocols) or the addition of special conditions. We have no plans to change these provisions of the Act.In addition to these penalties, administrative measures can be taken such as admonition, or a requirement that licensees attend a training course. The latter can be formalised by the variation of the licence by the addition of a special condition.All infringements of the Act are reported to the Animal Procedures Committee which reviews the level of penalties imposed and advises on whether these were appropriate. It remains Home Office policy to impose penalties primarily to prevent recurrence of the infringement of the Act.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many animals bred or otherwise obtained for use in animal experimentation in 1996 were subsequently killed without being so used; and what this was as a percentage of animals used. [22951]

Animals which are bred in designated establishments for use in scientific procedures under the terms of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 but which are not so used can be killed by Schedule 1 or other approved methods without licence authority under the Act.Types of animal which are not listed in Schedule 2 to the 1986 Act can be bred within non-designated establishments. Surplus animals can be humanely killed in such establishments without authority under the terms of the 1986 Act.The Home Office cannot therefore collate, or even estimate, the number of animals bred for use in scientific procedures but which were killed without being used.Changes to the Act would be needed if statistics of this nature were to be collected and there are no plans to make any such changes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking (a) within the EU and (b) within the UN to discourage animal experimentation. [22953]

The United Kingdom takes an active role with its partners in Europe to ensure the implementation of the provisions of European Directive 86/609/EEC on the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the member states regarding the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes.There is no forum within the United Nations for discussing the use of animals in scientific procedures. However, links with other countries (including a number of non-European Union countries) exist through the Council of Europe and the European Convention ETS 123 for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals used for Experimental and other Scientific Purposes.The Directive, the Convention and the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 require that animals be used only where this is justified and where alternative methods of achieving the objective of the programme of work are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated concerning the reliability of the results derived from animal testing and their applicability in respect of humans. [22963]

No research has been commissioned by the Home Office, but account is taken of species differences in the design of experiments, in the range of animal species used, and in the correlation of animal-based data with other experimental data. This includes, where appropriate, that produced in human trials.The requirement to carry out safety tests using animals, the nature of the tests and the way the results are analysed and interpreted are the responsibility of other Government Departments and other international regulators, not the Home Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to end the practice of holding males aged under 18 years in adult prisons while on remand. [23726]

The Government are concerned about the continued remand of boys to prison which is a long-standing issue which the last Government failed to resolve. This Government's policy is to move to a situation where it is no longer necessary to remand 15 and 16 years olds to prison. I set out the background in detail in my answer to the hon. Member for Hertsmere (Mr. Clappison) on 12 January 1998, Official Report, columns 64–66. We have reviewed this whole difficult area and decided that the priority is to give the courts the right range of powers to remand juveniles to secure accommodation, and there are provisions within the Crime and Disorder Bill to achieve this. The proposals do not apply to 17 year olds who are treated as adults for remand purposes. There is no proposal to change the remand arrangements for this older age group.We hope that the outcome of the current review of the secure juvenile estate and the work which the Prison Service is currently doing will enable us to end the practice of detaining juveniles with adults.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has conducted into the effect of legislation to facilitate the civil recovery of damages from criminals on the level of crime against businesses. [23949]

No such research has been conducted by the Home Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the quantity of illegal arms in circulation in England and Wales and on the impact on the illegal arms trade of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997. [23490]

There is no reliable estimate of the number of illegal firearms in this country. The primary purpose of the 1997 legislation, especially the banning of handguns, is to provide greater safeguards for the safety of the public, given that the shootings at Dunblane and Hungerford were committed using lawfully held weapons. In 1996, there were 294 incidents in which handguns were stolen or otherwise misappropriated so the ban will remove a significant supply of weapons for use in crime.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his current estimate of the sums paid under the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 Compensation Scheme to handgun owners (a) since the commencement of the scheme and (b) once full compensation has been paid. [23544]

On 6 January 1998, £30.3 million had been paid out under the Firearms Compensation Scheme. The latest total estimate for the Scheme, including payments for small-calibre pistols and ancillary equipment to be surrendered during February, is £166 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the totals of those (a) held in custody and (b) who received jail sentences subsequently following allegations that they have been dealing in (i) heroin, (ii) ecstasy and (iii) cannabis in each of the last eight years; and what proportion they represent of the totals charged in each category. [23387]

Information for those appearing at the Crown Court in 1996 is given in the table. Crown Court data for earlier years and data for magistrates' courts are not sufficiently robust to allow for this level of detail.

Defendants who appeared at the Crown Court in 1996 on charges of dealing1 in heroin, ecstasy and cannabis
	Dealing in:
	Heroin	Ecstasy	Cannabis
Dealt with2	992	839	2,720
Held in custody	625	343	794
Percentage held in custody	63 per cent.	41 per cent.	29 per cent.
Held in custody and sentenced to immediate custody	538	301	578
Percentage of those held in custody sentenced to immediate custody	86 per cent.	88 per cent.	73 per cent.
1 dealing includes offences of supply and possession with intent to supply.
2 includes all those acquitted or sentenced.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received concerning the funding of projects organised and administered by community and voluntary organisations. [21443]

We receive grant applications from a wide range of community and voluntary organisations. In addition, we are in frequent discussion with representatives of voluntary and community organisations about matters of mutual interest, including funding.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice his Department issues to the owners of premises approached by charities for permission to make collections who wish to verify the standing of the charity; and if he will make a statement. [22885]

I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 12 November 1997, Official Report, columns 558–59.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the appointment of Ms Perkins as a non-executive director of Littlewoods. [24237]

My wife's unpaid appointment as a non-executive director of Littlewoods was made in July 1997, as part of a long-standing scheme for establishing better understanding between senior civil servants and the private sector. I am informed that 119 senior civil servants had appointments as non-executive directors in 1996–97. As a precaution against any appearance of conflict of interest, when my wife's appointment was made I arranged for any matters affecting the interests of Littlewoods to be considered by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Home Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Knowsley, North and Sefton, East (Mr. Howarth). This is in accordance with the Guidance for Ministers and precedent. No conflict of interest therefore arises.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what account she takes of the threats which exist to the future of the tiger population in India in deciding her Department's policy towards India. [22949]

Protection of the natural environment is one of the priorities for Department for International Development set out in the recent White Paper. All projects are screened for their environmental impact. We are supporting the Indian Government's efforts to save the tiger with a £50,000 grant to the Global Tiger Forum, £1 million to the Indira Gandhi Conservation Monitoring Centre (a non-governmental organisation), and contributions to multilateral agencies with global environmental agendas.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made about the levels of poverty in the former Eastern bloc states with particular reference to Bulgaria. [23015]

The transition to democratic systems of government and market economies in the Eastern bloc has undoubtedly been accompanied by an increase in the incidence of poverty, particularly in Bulgaria. Our future work will place increased emphasis on trying to ensure that support to transition takes full account of the need to protect poor and vulnerable groups and to spread more widely the benefits from economic development.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement about British assistance towards development projects in Eastern Europe, with particular reference to Bulgaria. [23016]

Our assistance to Eastern Europe is directed through the Know How Fund, which supports transition to pluralist democracy and market economies. We are reshaping Know How Fund programmes to give greater emphasis to protecting the poorest and to enabling the widest number of people to share in the fruits of change, as described in our pamphlet "Support for Transition Countries: A New Strategy", a copy of which I am placing in the Library of the House. In Bulgaria, we shall support the encouraging reforms being pursued by the new government, paying particular attention to the needs of poor and vulnerable groups.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the Bulgarian state orphanage system. [23017]

We have discussed this issue with UK-based agencies working with Bulgarian orphanages. We conclude that we should help relieve the very poor conditions found in orphanages, and also assist the Bulgarian authorities to investigate community-based alternatives to institutional care. We are funding a £250,000 project with this aim, to be managed by the Save the Children Fund (UK). We have provided a total of £359,000 to UK-based agencies and the Bulgarian Red Cross for relief programmes with vulnerable families and institutions and are supporting social homes and orphanages through small grants. We have also contributed about £2 million to the European Union's Emergency Social Assistance and Humanitarian Office Programmes in Bulgaria.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the Adverse Incident Centre. [23012]

The Adverse Incident Centre is managed by the Medical Devices Agency. It is the first point of contact for reporting adverse incidents involving medical devices used in the National Health Service.All reports are analysed and those involving death or serious injury, or with the potential to cause it, are investigated fully. Where appropriate, the agency issues a Hazard or Safety Notice to the NHS advising of hazardous products or unsafe procedures and the actions that should be taken.In many other cases, the manufacturer is asked to investigate the incident. The agency reviews the manufacturer's response and, where appropriate, notifies the reporter of the outcome.The agency publishes an annual survey of reported incidents as part of its efforts to increase awareness of the importance of reporting them.The Adverse Incident Centre database holds over 32,000 incident records, dating back to 1987. Over 5300 adverse incident reports were received in 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what cost benefit analysis has been conducted into the privatisation of travel vaccinations for infectious diseases. [22906]

The non-availability or unreliability of data on travel vaccines given in the United Kingdom makes formal cost-benefit analysis difficult. We recognise that inconsistencies and ambiguities have arisen over the years in the arrangements for travel vaccines and the way they are interpreted and are seeking to resolve these anomalies as part of an ongoing, internal review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has given to health authorities to ensure a more consistent provision of infertility services across the country. [23913]

The White Paper "The New National Health Service" outlines a number of steps which the Government will be taking to improve the consistency of service provision throughout the National Health Service. We will challenge and address variations which are not based on the health needs and wishes of local people. We will aim for maximum consistency while still allowing appropriate local and individual responsiveness. We are currently considering what further advice the NHS should be given on infertility service provision.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the areas where his Department's report, Policy Research Programme: providing a knowledge base for health, public health and social care, has provided the basis for improvements in information to disabled people. [23357]

The Department of Health has funded improvements to information databases on disability equipment maintained by the Disabled Living Foundation and the Royal National Institute for the Blind. This followed evaluations in the Policy Research Programme suggesting that the European Union's Handynet system was not meeting the needs of users in the United Kingdom.A range of other research is commissioned which relates to policy on physical disability, sensory impairment, learning disability and the health of older people. It covers a broad spectrum of acute care and continuing health and social care including work of community nurses and therapy professions. The broad aim of the research programme is to provide information that will assist in the policy formulation on integrated services to meet the needs of elderly, disabled or vulnerable people and to enable them to live in the community where possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his policy on the level of prescription charges and the availability of multiple prescriptions at discounted prices. [23395]

All aspects of prescription charges are being examined as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review which will report in the summer. The Review in the Department of Health is being undertaken in the context of our manifesto commitment:

"if you are ill or injured there will be a national health service there to help; and access to it will be based on need and need alone—not on your ability to pay, or on who your general practitioner happens to be or on where you live".

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his estimate of the proportion of medicinal drugs that are prescribed in order to counteract the consequences of other medicinal drugs. [23389]

It is not possible to estimate the proportion of medicines prescribed to counteract the consequences of other medicinal drugs. However, medicinal drugs are often appropriately prescribed in combination, so that one drug may counteract the unwanted side-effects of another clinically necessary drug.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the method of licensing for people performing ear-piercing and body piercing; and what plans he has to review the licensing procedure. [23318]

The current registration and licensing provisions for ear-piercing and cosmetic body piercing business provisions are described in "Regulation of Skin Piercing: a Consultation Paper" issued jointly by the Department of Health and the Welsh Office in October 1996. Copies are available in the Library.This consultation paper reviewed the current legislation which gives local authorities powers to control skin piercing businesses.We are considering our response to the consultation exercise.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the delivery of Hawk Jets to Indonesia has been made; how much the Export Credits Guarantee Scheme has contributed to the sale; and, following the economic problems in Indonesia, what assessment he has made of the likelihood of full payment being received at the expected time. [23102]

16 of the 40 aircraft remain to be delivered.ECGD has guaranteed two loans valued at US$530 million and £13.4 million for a contract for Hawk Aircraft made with the Indonesian Government in 1993 and one loan valued at £280 million in respect of a further contract made in 1996.In view of the recent financial turbulence in Asia, ECGD is monitoring the situation closely. Payments under the above mentioned loans are up to date.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will introduce legislation for a new Credit Act. [23331]

While I have no immediate plans to introduce legislation for a new Credit Act, I shall shortly issue a consultative paper on proposals for simplifying and clarifying aspects of Consumer Credit legislation.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will arrange for the Office of Fair Trading to place in the Library its evidence to the European Commission and the results of its survey of finance directors on the proposed merger of KPMG and Ernst and Young; and if she will make a statement. [23682]

Member States have a formal role in EC competition investigations. During an EC investigation, publication by the UK of views submitted to the Commission, or of the results of any surveys or work undertaken by the UK authorities, would compromise the effectiveness and integrity of that investigation. Such information could also be market sensitive.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to ensure that on-line service and access providers, including telecommunications companies, take legal and administrative responsibility for ensuring that material which is transmitted or delivered by them does not infringe copyright or consumer protection legislation. [23575]

The general principle is that the law applies on-line in the same way that it does off-line. Under United Kingdom copyright law, on-line service or access providers are legally responsible for copyright infringement if they themselves incorporate copyright material into transmissions without the consent of copyright owners. Existing consumer law covers electronic commerce in the same way as it covers face to face transactions and other forms of distance communications (e.g. mail order).

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many awards of over £50,000 were made by employment tribunals in cases of unfair dismissal in each of the last three years; and how many of these remain unpaid. [23462]

Awards for unfair dismissal are made up of two elements: a basic award and a compensatory award. The current maximum basic award for unfair dismissal case is £6,300, based on the statutory maximum of £210 per week, together with a maximum of £11,300 for the compensatory element. Section 125 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 provides for special awards in cases of unfair dismissal for Trade Union activities and in cases where the employer has failed to comply with an order for reinstatement. There have been no awards of over £50,000 in unfair dismissal cases in the last three years.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to make the payment of employment tribunal awards compulsory. [23461]

The payment of industrial tribunal awards is governed by similar procedures to other awards made by the civil courts. Employers who do not observe industrial tribunal monetary awards can be required to do so by court order.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade on what date she last used a train in the course of her official duties. [22926]

[holding answer 15 January 1998]: I last used a train in the course of my official duties on Monday 8 December 1997 travelling to London following a regional visit to Nottingham and Lincoln.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is her current estimar>Mrs. Gillante of the cost of millennium compliance to United Kingdom businesses. [23593]

[holding answer 16 January 1998]: I have made no such estimate. The cost will depend on many factors, including the extent to which businesses decide to fix, replace or abandon systems, and the speed with which they act. We believe that acting early will reduce the cost.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the engagements she has undertaken directly in connection with millennium compliance issues since 1 November. [23591]

[holding answer 16 January 1998]: Ministers in my Department have undertaken numerous engagements directly in connection with millennium compliance since 1 November. These include:

• meetings with the Chairman of Action 2000;
• meetings with industry;
• speaking engagements;
• press interviews;
• the European Telecoms Council;
• bi-laterals with European counterparts.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will give details of the full staffing plan for Action 2000. [23630]

[holding answer 16 January 1998]: Action 2000's Chairman and Director will be supported by three Team Leaders and an office manager, together with suitable clerical and administrative support. Action 2000, under its Chairman and Acting Director, is already co-ordinating detailed work under way by a number of teams dealing with the "year 2000" problem.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the impact on and cost to business of dealing with the date change problem and the introduction of the euro over the next two years. [23595]

[holding answer 16 January 1998]: In respect of the date change problem, I have made no estimate. The cost will depend on many factors, including the extent to which businesses decide to fix, replace or abandon systems, and the speed with which they act. We believe that acting early will reduce the cost. The cost to business of the introduction of the Euro over the next two years will depend on many factors including how quickly and widely the Euro is actually used by business in the EU.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the issues currently being considered by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. [23802]

The Monopolies and Mergers Commission (MMC) are currently considering three references which have been made to it. These are Underwriting Services, a monopoly reference, Bird's Eye Walls, a reference made under the Competition Act 1980, and Fresenius/Caremark, a merger reference.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when she intends to publish the latest payment times of Government Departments; and if she will list them against the previous figures. [23795]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs. Gillan) on 12 January 1998, Official Report, column 28–29.I will list the previous figures when I publish the payment performance figures for the financial year ending 31 March 1998.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to appoint a government chief engineering adviser; and from whom Her Majesty's Government receive engineering-related advice at present. [23818]

The Government already have a Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir Robert May, whose responsibilities include fostering Science, Engineering and Technology throughout Whitehall. In addition, there are a number of officials and other bodies such as the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council whose responsibilities include the provision of engineering-related advice.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to ensure that accountancy audits assess operational dependence on information systems. [23812]

It is the responsibility of the auditor in forming an opinion on whether a company's financial statements give a true and fair view to consider the entity's ability to continue as a going concern. This involves considering both the current and possible future circumstances of the business and the environment in which it operates.In the context of potential systems failures caused by the Year 2000 problem, we are encouraging the profession to consider their role, and the Accounting Practices Board, which sets the standards for auditors, is on the point of issuing a bulletin providing preliminary guidance to auditors in respect of their consideration of the Year 2000 issue in the audit of financial statements. The Audit Faculty of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales has already published a Technical Release providing guidance to its members, and the Urgent Issues Task Force of the Accounting Standards Board is also in the process of developing proposals in respect of some aspects of the Year 2000 problem.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many cubic metres of Brazilian mahogany were imported into the United Kingdom from Brazil in (a) 1996 and (b) 1997. [23518]

I have been asked to reply.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what was his role in arranging meetings between the Chief Executive of Caerphilly County Council and others over the conduct of the count of the referendum vote in Caerphilly; [23741](2) what information he received, and at what time, in respect of the count relating to the Blackwood Box during the referendum on a Welsh Assembly. [23742]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which section of which regulation provides the statutory basis for the appointment of a chief executive to an NHS trust in Wales. [23543]

Regulations 3, 4(1)(a) and 17 of the National Health Service Trusts (Membership and Procedure) Regulations 1990 (SI 1990 No. 2024), as amended, apply to the appointment of chief executives to NHS trusts in Wales.

To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will meet the all-party group on disablement issues to discuss the scope and possible outcomes of the official and ministerial reviews of disability allowances, benefits and income support; [22582](2) if he has read the notes of the ministerial meeting with officers and members of the parliamentary all-party group on disablement issues on Thursday 18 December 1997. [22581]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security is in charge of the Comprehensive Spending Review for her Department. She met with representatives of the all party disablement group on 18 December 1997 to hear their views on welfare reform and has offered to meet them again. I am aware of the views expressed by the group.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his discussions with President Daniel arap Moi. [22811]

To ask the Prime Minister what matters he discussed with President arap Moi of Kenya during his recent brief meeting. [22818]

I had a useful, private discussion with President Moi on 4 January 1998, which included the future challenges facing Kenya.I made clear to the President that these challenges—which include constitutional review, action on corruption and other governance issues—should be addressed in an open and democratic framework.

To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to modify the code of conduct and guidance for Ministers. [23035]

None.