To ask the Prime Minister what has been the cost of media presentations and press conferences given by the Prime Minister, other than those held at No. 10 Downing Street. [25184]

[holding answer 23 January 1998]: The Prime Minister has held press conferences outside Downing Street at a number of international events—the Summit of the Eight in Denver, European Councils, the launch of the UK Presidency and the Anglo French Summit, for example. Information about the cost of these events could only be provided at disproportionate cost to the taxpayer.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it Government policy that no (a) assistance, (b) trade deals and (c) armament sales, be provided to Afghanistan while it remains in the control of the Taliban regime. [23982]

[holding answer 28 January 1998]: In view of the continued fighting between the Taliban and the Northern Alliance trade between the UK and Afghanistan is negligible. There is an EU arms embargo on sales of military equipment to Afghanistan. At the instigation of the UK Presidency, the EU adopted a new Common Position on Afghanistan on 26 January which calls on Afghanistan's neighbours to halt the supply of arms to the factions and support the UN's peace efforts.

to ask the Prime Minister by what means an individual can establish whether he is the subject of an MI5 file in cases where the category of the file is no longer the subject of security service interest. [26228]

In order to safeguard the operational effectiveness of the Security Service it has been the policy of successive Governments not to disclose information about the operations of the Security Service including about whether the Service holds or has held files on any individual.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the reports and recommendations of the pay review bodies. [26729]

The 1998 reports of the five pay review bodies have been published today. Copies are available in the Vote Office and the Library of the House. I am grateful to the Chairmen and Members of the pay review bodies for the work they have put into them.

To ask the Prime Minister if (a) he or (b) his office were consulted by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on the possible appointment of Ms Regan to the Foreign Secretary's Private Office. [26308]

No.

To ask the Prime Minister if his office was consulted by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on the terms of the agreement which terminated Miss Bullen's appointment. [26317]

No.

To ask the Prime Minister what was the purpose of the Minister without Portfolio's recent visit to a coal mine. [25428]

I have been asked to reply.I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude) on 16 January 1998,

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of Civil Service staff of grade 5 and above within his Department, (a) have spent their entire civil service career within his Department, (b) have had secondments to (i) the private sector and (ii) other departments and (c) have come from other departments. [26023]

[holding answer 28 January 1998]: Of civil service staff at the equivalent of Grade 5 and above within the Treasury, 30 per cent. have spent their entire civil service career within the department, 19 per cent. have had secondments to the private sector, 52 per cent. have gone on loan to other departments and 45 per cent. have come from other departments.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the financial crisis in Asia; and if he will make a statement. [23871]

[holding answer 28 January 1998]: The financial turbulence in Asia was discussed at length by European Finance Ministers at the ECOFIN meeting on 19 January, which the Chancellor chaired. HM Treasury, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Bank of England continue to monitor developments in the region very closely.Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors of the potential participants in the supplemental finance assistance package for Korea—the UK, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States—issued a statement on 24 December 1997, welcoming the Korean authorities' announcement of additional measures to strengthen macroeconomic policy and accelerate structural reforms, and the disbursement of US$5 billion by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.The potential participants stated that they would be prepared to support action to advance by early January existing commitments of official finance, including the acceleration of IMF disbursements, and the disbursement of a substantial portion (US$8 billion) of the supplemental financial commitments made bilaterally—in the context of a significant voluntary extension of the maturities of existing claims by international banks on Korean financial institutions. The UK's share of this US$8 billion would be US$440 million.Following discussions between the major commercial banks involved, the IMF and the Korean authorities, I understand major commercial banks are generally rolling over their short term lending to Korea. Discussions are under way on a medium term agreement providing for a significant extension of the maturity of this debt. Bilateral official finance, including the UK's facility, has not yet been disbursed.The IMF also released a statement on 24 December, which welcomed Korea's intensification and acceleration of its macroeconomic policy adjustments and structural reforms, and indicated the IMF's intention to accelerate the resources available to Korea under the existing stand-by credit.Since these statements were made, the IMF disbursed US$2 billion on 30 December 1997, and a further US$2 billion on 7 January 1998. This brings the total IMF disbursement to US$13.1 billion.The financial turbulence in Asia is of global concern and requires a global response. As an open economy, the UK is deeply interested in economic prosperity in Asia.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the percentages of those in receipt of annual incomes of (i) between (a) £5,000 and £10,000, (b) £10,000 and £15,000, (c) £15,000 and £20,000, (d) £20,000 and £25,000, (e) £25,000 and £30,000, (f) £30,000 and £35,000, (g) £35,000 and £40,000, (h) £40,000 and £45,000, (i) £45,000 and £50,000, (j) £50,000 and £55,000, (k) £55,000 and £60,000, (l) £60,000 and £100,000 and (ii) over £100,000. [24740]

[holding answer 29 January 1998]: The percentage of taxpayers in 1998–99 by range of annual total income is given in the table.

Range of annual total income (£)	Percentage of taxpayers
5,000–10,000	28
10,000–15,000	23
15,000–20,000	17
20,000–25,000	11
25,000–30,000	6
30,000–35,000	4
35,000–40,000	2
40,000–45,000	1
45,000–50,000	under 1
50,000–55,000	under 1
55,000–60,000	under 1
60,000–100,000	1
Over 100,000	under 1

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of government spending is allocated to the welfare state in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) each European Union country and (c) each G7 country. [23359]

[holding answer 19 January 1998]: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) regularly publishes the available statistics for member states. The latest edition of the OECD book "National Accounts", published in 1997, contains separate sections on each country to a consistent format. In each, Table 5 covers total government outlays by function and type. A copy is available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the tax treatment of a United Kingdom resident beneficiary in respect of capital payments received by the beneficiary in the United Kingdom from a non-UK resident discretionary trust of which the settlor has never been resident or domiciled in the United Kingdom. [25283]

[holding answer 26 January 1998]: I refer the right hon. Member to the last of my answers given to him on 10 December 1997, Official Report column 576.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he will reply to the letters of 18 September, 23 June and 30 July 1997 from the hon. Member for Twickenham. [25219]

The hon. Gentleman should by now have received a reply, dated 28 January, from my right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor to his letter of 18 September which referred to letters to the Lord Chancellor from his constituent of 23 June and 30 July. The officials involved in handling correspondence are aware how seriously the Lord Chancellor regards complaints against the judiciary, and the consequent need to deal promptly and properly with such correspondence. Steps have been taken to avoid such delays in future.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the Law Society's ability to ensure that when a solicitor acting as a trustee has been negligent, those concerned will be compensated for resulting losses whenever they occur; and if he will make a comment. [24806]

I have not made such an assessment. This is a matter for the Law Society. If the negligence or the quantum of the negligence is disputed, it would be a matter for the courts.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department in what languages small claims leaflets and county court forms are printed. [24961]

At present the small claims leaflets are available only in English and Welsh. By April 1998 they will also be available in Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu. Court forms are available only in English.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps have been taken following the National Audit Office report, "Handling Small Claims in the County Courts" (HC 271, of Session 1995–96), to make the small claims procedure more accessible for (a) non-English speaking litigants and (b) the disabled. [24872]

(a) A contract has been let to translate all seven small claims leaflets into the following languages: Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu. It is expected they will be available to court users from April 1998. (b) Court users are now asked to let the court know if they need special facilities so that arrangements can be made to accommodate them. Some courts have installed Minicom and loop systems and the Court Service will pay the cost of interpreters for deaf litigants and witnesses in civil hearings. A review will also commence in April 1998 which will look at disabled provision in all the courts to identify what needs to be done to improve access and facilities in line with the Disability Discrimination Act.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what percentage of county courts provide (a) wheelchair access, (b) disabled toilet facilities and (c) facilities for persons with seeing and hearing disabilities. [24960]

This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what interpreting facilities are provided in county courts for non-English speaking litigants. [24962]

There is a National Register of Public Service Interpreters, which provides a list of qualified interpreters who adhere to a code of conduct and a standard of service delivery. Civil courts do not however, provide interpreters. It is for the parties to obtain, and pay for, any such requirements.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he plans to announce his decision on the issue of fixed costs in personal injuries claims; and if he will make a statement. [25002]

I intend to issue a consultation paper about costs in the fast track after Easter.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations he has received in respect of the piloting of the fast track regime prior to any introduction of fixed costs; and if he will make a statement. [25003]

Some support for the idea of piloting the fast track was expressed in response to the Working Paper "Judicial Case Management", published in July 1997. In line with Lord Woolf's recommendations hypothetical case studies are in hand but no final decision about the basis for a fixed-costs regime has yet been taken.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the titles of those files from 1967 which were not released on the 1 January for public scrutiny (a) in whole and (b) in part. [26276]

The documentation of withheld records kept by the Public Record Office, and in particular of withheld extracts from documents, is not in a form which would enable a listing of unavailable records from 1967 to be produced by their titles, within the time available and without disproportionate cost.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will establish which common law jurisdictions have abolished the institution of Queen's Counsel. [25621]

I have been asked to reply.Detailed information is not readily available. But in general terms, only Her Majesty's Realms retain the institution of Queen's Counsel.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport by what procedures the Millennium Commissioners are accountable to him with respect to those millennium projects experiencing financial problems. [24447]

As Chairman of the Millennium Commission, I, in conjunction with my fellow Commissioners, have overall responsibility for monitoring the flow of grant to projects to ensure continued cost effectiveness and value for money. The Commission submits its annual report and accounts for Parliamentary scrutiny.As Secretary of State I am responsible to Parliament for funds made available to the Commission, and have to satisfy myself that financial and other management controls applied by the Commission conform with the requirements of propriety, regularity and good financial management. The Accounting Officer of the Commission is accountable to the Accounting Office of my Department for the proper stewardship of the Commission's share of the National Lottery Distribution Fund.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans Ministers in his Department have to visit the Cannes Film Festival in May. [25552]

[holding answer 26 January 1998]: There are as yet no firm plans for a Minister from my Department to visit the Cannes Film Festival, but Ministerial attendance at this event is customary.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many local authorities have completed large-scale voluntary transfers of their housing stocks; and if he will list (a) those authorities and (b) those other authorities which have now expressed an interest in this process. [24818]

Sixty-one local authorities in England have completed sixty-five transfers comprising over 252,000 properties since 1988. All but one of those transfers was to a Registered Social Landlord. A list of the authorities who have completed a full or partial stock transfer is at table A. Thirty-two authorities have either expressed an interest in transferring all or part of their stock or are in the process of completing a transfer. They are listed at table B.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on guidance given by his Department to utility companies which engage in trenching in urban areas, to encourage the preservation of mature street trees; and what monitoring takes place of the impact of trenching activities on mature trees. [24871]

The Specification for the Reinstatement of Openings in Highways, issued under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, advises utility undertakers executing street works to avoid damage to tree roots, where practicable. Practical guidance on how to minimise damage to trees by utilities' works was issued subsequently by the National Joint Utilities Group in Guidelines for the Planning, Installation and Maintenance of Utility Services in Proximity to Trees (NJUG 10).No central monitoring of the impact of trenching activities on mature trees is undertaken.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimates he has of the numbers of (a) village stores and (b) sub-post offices in Lancashire which are likely to benefit from the 50 per cent. reduction in business rates. [24845]

We have insufficient data on which to make a reliable estimate of the numbers of general stores and post offices in Lancashire that will benefit from the 50 per cent. mandatory rate relief under the village shop rate relief scheme. Nationally we expect about 6,000 businesses to qualify for the new mandatory relief.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received from local authorities about the cost of satisfying requests for access under legislation relating to access to personal files; and if he will make a statement. [25448]

None.The Access to Personal Files (Housing) Regulations 1989 allow local authorities to charge a fee—of no more than £ 10—to respond to requests for access to information. Circular advice from my Department is that the amount charged in each case should reflect the costs incurred.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received from local authorities about the cost of compliance with the Data Protection Act 1984; and if he will make a statement. [25447]

I have received no representations. I am aware that the Home Office have prepared a Compliance Cost Assessment estimating the financial implications to local authorities, amongst others, of the Data Protection Bill currently before Parliament. This estimates that there will be recurring costs of £29 million and non-recurring costs of £104 million for local government. The Government took all pressures on councils into account in the provisional local government finance settlement for 1998–99.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many responses his Department received to the consultation paper on the review of policy towards opencast coal; if he will list the respondents; and if he will place copies of the responses in the Library. [25330]

My Department has received 396 responses to the consultation paper. I have placed a list of the respondents in the Libraries of the House. Copies of the responses will be available in my Department's library on Monday 9 February.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will review the discharge of sewage waste into coastal waters so as to make secondary treatment a mandatory minimum. [25256]

This matter is already under review. The Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive sets secondary treatment as the norm for coastal discharges, unless it can be shown, through "comprehensive studies", that primary treatment only can be provided without any adverse environmental impact. The Environment Agency is responsible for certifying comprehensive studies. We have asked the Agency to ensure that the scientific basis for these studies is rigorously tested. We have also asked the Agency to keep us in touch with developments.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made for each relevant local authority in England of the number and length of bridleways (a) recorded on the definitive map, (b) under consideration for registration on the definitive map and (c) eligible for consideration for registration. [25324]

Information is available only on the length of bridleways, as follows:

Highway authority	Bridleways (km)
Avon	200
Bedfordshire	1,400
Berkshire	260
Bolton	2
Buckinghamshire	649
Calderdale	—
Cambridgeshire	430
Cheshire	124
Cleveland	200
Cornwall	522
Cumbria	1,878
Derbyshire	494
Devon	570
Dorset	1,600
Durham	573
East Sussex	678
Enfield	—
Essex	680
Gloucestershire	360
Hampshire	850
Herefordshire	358
Worcestershire	648
Harrow	—
Hertfordshire	576
Humberside	453
Isle of Wight	266
Kent	694
Kingston on Thames	—
Kirklees	—
Lancashire	388
Leeds	148
Leicestershire	584
Lincolnshire	770

Highway authority	Bridleways (km)
Norfolk	443
Northamptonshire	600
Northumberland	1,295
North Yorkshire	1,609
Nottingham	799
Oxfordshire	970
Shropshire	795
Solihull	7
Somerset	927
Staffordshire	355
Suffolk	553
Surrey	1,045
Tameside	6
Warwickshire	460
Waltham Forest	—
West Sussex	1,006
Wiltshire	1,540
Wirral MBC	30
	28,795
Total	(17,882 miles)

Countryside Commission data from 1991 and 1996 surveys; data for Cambridgeshire and Dorset are for 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what level of funding he has allocated to (a) the maintenance of existing bridleways and (b) the creation of new bridleways and new bridleway links; and if he will make a statement. [25321]

A specific figure for the funding of the bridleway network is not available. Revenue expenditure for local authorities on public rights of way, including bridleways, is taken into account in the calculation of local authorities' standard spending assessments (SSAs), as used in the distribution of revenue support grant. It is not covered by a distinct SSA component, but is included together with expenditure on many other services within the district level sub-block—"All Other Services".

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made on modification of the definitive map of bridleways; when this is planned to be completed; and if he will make a statement. [25323]

The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 requires highway authorities to prepare and maintain a definitive map for their areas, showing all classes of public rights of way, including bridleways. They must keep their definitive maps under continuous review and modify them when appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment and the Regions what is the current number of (a) exclusive cycle routes, (b) cycle routes combined with bridleways and (c) canal towpaths combined with bridleways in England and Wales; and what plans he has to increase that number. [25322]

I regret that information on the numbers of routes is not readily available. I will write to my hon. Friend about what is available. Local authorities should consider the provision of recreational facilities (including cycle routes) in drawing up their structure and local plans.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how the Government plan to ensure that the matter of global warming is addressed by the (a) WTO, (b) IMF, (c) G7 and (d) OECD. [25480]

Global warming, or climate change, is already discussed at Ministerial and official meetings of the OECD, and was a feature of the G7 discussions in Denver last year. The Government are committed to taking forward further discussions regarding action arising from the Kyoto Protocol in these fora.The WTO Committee on Trade and Environment held useful and informative discussions with the secretariats of a number of multilateral environmental agreements last summer, and intends to repeat the exercise this year; we hope very much that the secretariat to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change will be able to participate.The IMF aims for sustainable development for all of its members. It does not, however, have a specific mandate to deal with global warming.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the contribution of the draft European Union Energy Products Directive to the United Kingdom climate change strategy; and if he will make a statement. [25757]

The Energy Products Directive is still under discussion within Europe, and its final form, if agreed, is unlikely to be identical to the draft. It is, however, clear that the measures in the directive would make a small but significant contribution towards delivering the UK's climate change objectives.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to ensure that the Environment Agency levies charges that recover fully the costs of its services to companies. [25519]

The Environment Agency's charges to companies are subject to annual Ministerial review. The Agency will shortly be submitting to Ministers charging proposals for 1998–99, following consultation with companies and their representatives. Ministers will examine the charges to see that they recover relevant costs in accordance with the legislation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what amounts were allocated to housing associations for aids and adaptations for disabled tenants in each of the last five years; and what will be the funding for 1998–99. [25803]

Allocations to housing associations for aids and adaptations for disabled tenants are made from the Housing Corporation's overall budget for works to existing properties, which is part of their Approved Development Programme. Eventual out-turn of both the overall works budget and the component for aids and adaptations may vary from initial allocations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to permit the use of Warfarin for the control of grey squirrels in areas where there are populations of reds; and if he will make a statement. [25640]

There are no plans to permit the use of Warfarin for the control of grey squirrels in any further areas than those which are currently being assessed as part of carefully controlled scientific research. I am aware of no plans to request a change to the current controls on the use of Warfarin for grey squirrel control.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he intends to take to tackle the problem of unreliable and ineffective builders. [25649]

I intend to work with all sections of the construction industry, its customers and consumer bodies, to develop a coherent package of measures aimed at improving consumer protection in this areas. I shall be issuing a discussion document shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimates he has made of the percentage of the ingredients of cemfuel which have their source in (a) Lancashire, (b) the rest of the United Kingdom and (c) overseas. [25620]

None. It is the role of the Environment Agency, rather than the Secretary of State, to regulate the import and use of waste for secondary liquid fuels. The Agency does this through the Waste Management Licensing and Integrated Pollution Control regimes, and also through UK and EC legislation on the transboundary movement of waste.The Agency has advised that it does not have the information to provide a breakdown of the geographical origins of secondary liquid fuels.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many tonnes of crushed and carbonised cattle bones for use in water treatment plants were imported from South Asia in the last year for which figures are available. [25834]

During 1997, 243 tonnes of charcoal derived from carbonised cattle bones were used as filter media at water treatment plants in England and Wales.The charcoal is made from certified processed cattle bones imported only from India and Pakistan. It has been approved for use in the treatment of drinking water under the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will commission an inquiry into the running of Sanctuary Housing, with particular relevance to its administration and financial controls; and if he will consult residents currently living in its West Country sheltered housing developments on the conduct of the present management. [25341]

[holding answer 26 January 1998]: As a registered social landlord, Sanctuary Housing Association is regulated by the Housing Corporation which monitors compliance with its regulatory standards.The Housing Corporation is investigating some matters relating to sheltered housing schemes in North Devon. I have asked the Chairman of the Housing Corporation to write to the hon. Member on completion of these investigations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much (a) oil, (b) gas powering of accommodation occupied by his Department within the United Kingdom in each year since 1989–90; and what was the total cost in real terms for (a) to (c) in each year. [25790]

The answer is as follows:

	Oil		Gas		Electricity
	MWh	£000	MWh	£000	MWh	£000
1990–91	67,967	658	94,776	1,126	86,566	4,976
1991–92	52,543	594	95,086	1,370	85,902	5,712
1992–93	29,393	419	101,132	1,334	86,907	5,860
1993–94	24,971	265	100,918	1,185	84,615	5,248
1994–95	17,528	282	83,549	911	65,774	4,531
1995–96	18,667	260	83,063	847	67,686	4,422
1996–971	17,729	259	69,571	833	66,362	3,963
1 Provisional outturn.

The information covers former Departments of Environment and Transport and the Health and Safety Executive.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the total real terms value of (a) staff car mileage claims paid and (b) staff rail fares paid by his Department; for what amount of staff car mileage reimbursement was made, and what was the percentage change over the previous year for each year since 1989–90. [25789]

I regret that this information is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many staff were employed by his Department; and what percentage of them were eligible to claim a care mileage allowance on 31 March in each year since 1990. [25792]

The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions came into existence on 16 June 1997. Figures for the numbers of staff employed by the former Departments since 1990 are not available, although a breakdown for each year covering the then structures of the former departments was set out in the Departmental Reports, which are available in the Library. All staff may claim car mileage allowance if they are required to travel on official business and otherwise meet the criteria.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what mechanisms he has put in place to ensure the Government's objective of promoting sustainable development is reflected in the outcome of the comprehensive spending reviews for his Department. [25936]

The overarching Terms of Reference for DETR's CSRs include a requirement to take particular account of the policy aim of sustainable development. Individual CSRs are reflecting that, and other policy aims, in their work. One of the Department's CSRs is also looking specifically at environment policy.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which Government Departments were not represented at Ministerial level at the last meeting of the Green Ministers. [25939]

All Government Departments were represented at the last meeting of Green Ministers on 18 December. Most were represented at Ministerial level, but because of unavoidable other commitments the Lord Chancellor's Departments, the Home Office, the Departments of Trade and Industry and of Social Security and the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food were represented by officials.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the consultation paper on measures to increase public access to the countryside will be published. [25930]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friends the Members for Wirral, West (Mr. Hesford) and for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) on 22 January 1998, Official Report, column 614.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 20 January 1998, Official Report, column 465, (1) when discussions began in his Department concerning the non-statutory agreement with the Scottish Executive; on what dates discussions took place; and who was present at such meetings; [25581](2) if he will publish the most recent drafts of non-statutory agreements with the Scottish Executive; when he proposes to publish the final document; and if the agreement will operate in the first instance for a trial period; [25582](3) in what areas a non-statutory agreement between his Department and the Scottish Executive will give the lead role in policy formation to his Department; to what extent it will include mechanisms to harmonise policy between Scotland and his Department on devolved matters; and if he will make a statement; [25583](4) what representations he has received from other government departments concerning the format and aims of a non-statutory agreement between his Department and the Scottish Executive; if he will list the number of representations from each department; and if he will make a statement. [25584]

[holding answer 27 January 1998]: Discussions are being held between departments, both at official level and Ministerial level, on all matters relating to non-statutory agreements between the UK Government and the Scottish Executive. In most cases, these discussions are in their early stages in the light of the fact that such agreements cannot be finalised until the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Executive are established. Parliament will be kept informed of progress on these matters.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research his Department has evaluated on, and with which bodies his Department has discussed, the high dispersal classification of the proposed Yaverland, Isle of Wight, long raw sewage outfall. [25478]

[holding answer 28 January 1998]: Under the terms of the EC Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, Areas of High Natural Dispersion (HNDAs) were identified by the Secretary of State in 1994, on the basis of recommendations by the then National Rivers Authority, using criteria agreed following public consultation.The Environment Agency has recently reviewed HNDA designations, as required by the Directive and has submitted preliminary recommendations to the Department.The proposed outfall at Yaverland will receive a minimum of primary treatment, subject to the outcome of a comprehensive study into the impact of the discharge on the receiving waters. The Environment Agency is responsible for assessing the comprehensive study. This process includes consultation with the Isle of Wight Council, Bembridge Harbour Company, Southern Sea Fisheries Committee, English Nature and MAFF/CEFAS. Copies of the study are available for public inspection at the Environment Agency's Isle of Wight office. We have asked the Agency to ensure that the scientific basis for these studies is rigorously tested. We have also asked the Agency to keep us in touch with developments.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for each local authority with responsibility for education the amount by which the increase in revenue support grant adjusted for changes in nursery voucher funding and increased NNDR differs from the amount that has been passported through the capping regime to raise standards in schools; and what is the total figure for all local authorities. [25981]

[holding answer 28 January 1998]: I have placed the figures requested in the Library of the House. It is not possible to adjust revenue support grant in isolation from national non domestic rates, so the figures are expressed in terms of the sum of revenue support grant and non domestic rates, adjusted for changes in nursery voucher funding.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proportion of Civil Service staff of grade 5 and above within his Department (a) have spent their entire civil service career within his Department or its predecessor Departments, (b) have had secondments to (i) the private sector and (ii) other Departments and (c) have come from other Departments. [26024]

[holding answer 28 January 1998]: There are currently 264 staff in the Senior Civil Service (grade 5 and above) in the DETR and its Agencies. Of these, fewer than 10 per cent. have spent their entire careers in the Departments or its predecessors. Some 63 per cent. have had experience outside the civil service either before they joined the Department or as a secondment. In addition, some 70 per cent of the staff in the senior civil service have had loans to, or have worked in, other Government Departments. There are currently two senior civil servants on loan to DETR from other Government Departments.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he intends to take in relation to speed limits on Lake Windermere. [26221]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Tewkesbury (Mr. Robertson) on 12 January 1998, Official Report, column 14.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place in the Library a copy of the compliance cost assessment and the EU Fiche D-impact relating to the intended proposal for a council directive for the registration of persons sailing on passenger ships. [26311]

A Fiche D'impact was included in the European Commission's document 12395/96 which proposed a Council Directive on the registration of persons sailing on board passenger ships. A copy of this Document has already been placed in the House Library.A copy of the UK's draft compliance costs assessment will be placed in the House Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will call in the Wychavon Local Plan for determination; and if he will make a statement. [26217]

The Wychavon Local Plan has already been determined. It was adopted by the Council on 21 January 1998 and the Secretary of State cannot now intervene. We gave careful consideration to the plan proposals throughout each stage of the process leading to adoption and we are satisfied that there was no justification for intervention by the Secretary of State.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Transport and the Regions how many recent representations he has received from residents of Fernhill Heath, Worcestershire concerning the Wychavon Local Plan; and if he will make a statement. [26216]

Recently, one representation, dated 23 December 1997, was received from the hon. Member on behalf of one of his constituents in respect of Fernhill Heath. Prior to this, eight representations have been received, all during 1996. The Wychavon Local Plan was adopted by the district Council on 21 January 1998. We gave careful consideration to the plan proposals throughout each stage of the process leading to adopt and we are satisfied that there was no justification for intervention by the Secretary of State.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the cost of the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal Service has been in each year since its establishment, at 1997 prices. [25778]

The cost of Leasehold Valuation Tribunals is not separately identifiable within the overall cost of Rent Assessment Panels. The estimated cost of the Panels in 1997–98 is £5.5 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact on the rated enfranchisement of the establishment of the Leasehold Enfranchisement Advisory Service. [25779]

It is difficult to assess what impact the Leasehold Enfranchisement Advisory Service, and its successor organisation, the Leasehold Advisory Service have had on the rate of enfranchisement. In many cases enfranchisement is achieved by agreement, even where statutory rights are invoked, and no central record of such transactions exists. However, in the period from February 1994 until June 1997 the Leasehold Advisory Service responded to 11,399 queries relating to enfranchisement.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what has been the cost of the Leasehold Enfranchisement Advisory Service in each year since its inception. [25780]

The Leasehold Enfranchisement Advisory Service received funding from my Department through the special grants programme from April 1993 to December 1996. Grant paid to them in each year was as follows:

	£
1993–94	27,575
1994–95	75,000
1995–96	78,711
1996 (April-December)	83,748

In January 1997 the Leasehold Enfranchisement Advisory Service was relaunched as the Leasehold Advisory Service with a remit extended to providing advice on any aspect of residential long leasehold. Since January 1997 they have received grant of £269,537 under section 94 of the Housing Act 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to evaluate the effectiveness of the Leasehold Enfranchisement Advisory Service; and if he will make a statement. [25781]

A programme of work, with performance indicators where appropriate, is agreed with the Leasehold Advisory Service each year to assist in evaluating their effectiveness against their objectives.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on Government policy towards leasehold enfranchisement. [25782]

We are committed to simplifying the rules governing the purchase of freeholds by leaseholders and we intend to bring forward a new package of reforms to assist leaseholders. We are currently considering the scope and practicability of possible new measures. 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 what is his present estimate of the limit of capacity for storage of intermediate level nuclear waste at Sellafield; and what criteria are used to assess this capacity. [25065]

[holding answer 23 January 1998]: I have been asked to reply.The current capacity of intermediate level waste storage facilities at Sellafield is 45,000m

To ask the Minister without Portfolio how many journalists accompanied him on his recent visit to Disney World in the United States; and what was the total cost to public funds of their accompanying him. [26179]

My recent visit was covered by a number of journalists. They were not invited by me, and there was no cost to public funds.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the costs over the last year, for each Government Department, of satisfying requests for access by the public to information under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information; what estimate he has made of the costs for each Department over the same length of time of satisfying such requests under his freedom of information proposals; and if he will make a statement. [25444]

Costs of dealing with requests under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information are not monitored centrally. Based on experience in my Department an the total number of registered Code requests for 1996 (2033), I estimate that the total cost to Government Departments of operating the Code is in the order of £2 million per annum.There is no precise method of quantifying the estimated cost of FOI—it will clearly be dependent on the number of requests—but using comparators such as the costs of FOI overseas, the costs of the Code of Practice and the estimated costs of the new Data Protection regime, I estimate that the total public sector costs (including provision for an appeals mechanism) would be £26.5 million 'start-up' costs, and an annual cost of £23.5 million thereafter.The factual and background information on the development of the White Paper, which I intend to publish shortly, will contain a more detailed account of how these estimates were arrived at.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what mechanisms he has put in place to ensure the Government's objective of promoting sustainable development is reflected in the outcome of the comprehensive spending reviews for his Department. [25897]

The Comprehensive Spending Review for the Office of Public Service is being conducted within terms of reference that were announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 24 July 1997. A set of the Terms of Reference for all departmental spending reviews may be found in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proportion of Civil Service staff of grade 5 and above within his Department (a) have spent their entire civil service career within his Department, (b) have had secondments to (i) the private sector and (ii) other Departments and (c) have come from other Departments. [26034]

[holding answer 28 January 1998]: Eighteen per cent. of Civil Service staff of grade 5 and above have spent their entire civil service within my Department and seventy four per cent. have come from other Government Departments. Figures detailing secondments by staff of grade 5 and above to either the private sector or other Departments are not centrally held.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he will reach a decision on the establishment of a panel for consulting people about pubic services; and if he will make a statement. [26914]

I have today decided to set up a Panel to consult people about public services, and appointed MORI and the School of Public Policy at the University of Birmingham to set up and run it. The People's Panel will be used to find out what members of the public think about the services for which they pay for and use every day.We want to put people first as we develop our Better Government programme to modernise public services. The Panel will be consulted on a range of matters relating to public services, such as service delivery, the use of IT, awareness of the Charter programme, and complaints handling procedures. We will make the results public.This is a unique development, and one which underlines the Government's commitment to providing better government through listening to the views of people in all walks of life about their experiences of public services.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when Civil Service Statistics 1997 will be published. [26915]

Civil Service Statistics 1997 was published today and copies have been placed in the Library. This publication highlights key trends in Civil Service staffing for the period up to 1 April 1997.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what will be the level of public access to the contents of the database Agenda. [26220]

The Agenda system, which is designed to replace the existing CAB-E-NET, will be an inter-Departmental strategic media information tool. The system will handle and store information based upon confidential communications between Departments; it will not, therefore, be available for access by the public.

To ask the Minister without Portfolio in what capacity he attended Club of Three meetings in September; what public expenditure was incurred by his participation; and if he will make a statement. [25928]

I attended the Club of Three meetings in Munich in my Ministerial capacity following an official visit to Bonn. The cost to public funds of my visit to Germany was approximately £535.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met representatives of the farming industry to discuss income levels; and if he will make a statement. [25317]

My right hon. Friend and I, either together or individually, met farmers' leaders in Wales on several occasions last month and this month, most recently on 20 January, to discuss matters of mutual interest concerning agriculture in Wales, including farm incomes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many environmental health officers (a) are in post currently and (b) were in post in each year since 1990. [25311]

This information is not held centrally. Chief Environmental Health Officers are listed in the Municipal Yearbook. Copies of the 1990 edition onwards are available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he has taken to raise standards in schools in Wales. [25310]

Our broad and vigorous standards agenda was set out in "Building Excellent Schools Together" (BEST), the Education White Paper for Wales, published in July last year.We have introduced legislation to realise our objectives. The Schools Standards and Framework Bill proposes the legislative measures necessary to raise standards at primary and secondary level in both Wales and England. Amongst other things it provides for smaller infant classes, places a duty on local education authorities to support schools in raising educational attainment standards and secures the basis upon which these authorities will act to support schools in setting and meeting targets for continuous improvement. The Teaching and Higher Education Bill (currently in the House of Lords) will give teachers scope to lift professional standards through a General Teaching Council for Wales. The legislation proposed will also allow local education authorities LEAs and further education institutions to make provision for post-16 students jointly to better meet students' needs and to reduce duplication of courses.We have set out a range of challenging new all-Wales targets through BEST aimed at raising standards in schools in Wales across the board. Working in partnership with ACCAC and OHMCI the Welsh Office is also implementing an all-Wales strategy to raise levels of achievement in literacy and numeracy. We are providing additional resources to support schools in this work—£50.267 million for recurrent costs in schools within the 1998–99 local government revenue settlement, and £65 million of capital funding over the lifetime of this Parliament for much needed school renovation and repair work. We will also be making nearly £30 million available in 1998–99 through the Grants for Education Support and Training (GEST) programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the yearly costs to the NHS of meeting the nursing costs of long-term care. [25912]

None, but the costs of long term care are a matter of concern to this Government and one of our manifesto commitments was the establishment of a Royal Commission to work out a fair system for funding long term care of the elderly across the UK. The Commission was established last December and will report in 12 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the proposed changes to the formula funding arrangements for voluntary grammar schools in Northern Ireland were subjected to a policy appraisal and fair treatment analysis; and what were the results. [22252]

Before reaching decisions on the changes to be introduced next year, the implications for each school of a number of models were examined, and I am satisfied that there is no unjustified re-distribution of resources. The longer-term objective of full commonality will ensure equity of treatment in funding for all schools, regardless of the area or the school sector in which they are located, and is therefore in line with policy appraisal and fair treatment principles.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the impact on pig prices of the importation of pigmeat from countries where (a) meat and bone meal is not banned as pig food and (b) sow stalls and tethers will be legal after 1 January 1999. [22904]

It is not possible to calculate the impact on pig prices of the importation of pigmeat from countries where (a) meat and bone meal is not banned as pig food and (b) sow stalls and tethers will be legal after 1 January 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the number of inspections of plants of manufacturers of animal meal to detect the use of banned bone meal, the results of these inspections and the number of prosecutions. [25019]

The inclusion of the mammalian meat and bone meal in livestock feed has been prohibited since 29 March 1996, and since that date a total of 2,430 visits have been made to feedmills for the purpose of taking samples of ruminant feed for testing for the presence of mammalian protein.Of a total of 3,394 samples taken, five samples have given apparently positive results. On further investigation, one positive sample was in material imported from another member state, and the authorities were informed. It was established that the positive results in three samples were not due to the presence of mammalian protein, and the other positive sample proved negative on retesting.There have therefore been no prosecutions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what criteria are used in approving the establishment of nursery units to new or existing primary schools. [25021]

Recent expansion of nursery provision has occurred under the aegis of the "making Belfast work" and Londonderry regeneration initiatives and, more recently, the EU special support programme for peace and reconciliation. Nursery provision approved by the Department of Education under these initiatives must:

be sited where it will have maximum educational impact, through targeting areas of greatest social and educational need;

create access for as many children as possible; and

represent good value for money.

Under the Government's planned expansion of pre-school education provision, new nursery provision will only be approved if it is included in an education and library board's pre-school education development plan. These plans will target places initially on children from socially disadvantaged circumstances and the oldest four-year-olds—those with July and August birthdays.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will place in the Library a paper summarising the responses to the consultation exercise on the Drug Treatment and Testing Order provisions in the Crime and Disorder Bill [Lords]. [26730]

The paper summarising the responses to the consultation exercise has now been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimates for staff reductions were included in the business case for the new computer system at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate; and what revisions have been made to take account of the delays in the programme for installation. [26074]

The estimated savings projected in the business case were based on staff reductions of 898 by 2001–2002. The business case estimated the benefit of the Programme to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate by balancing the savings against the charges which would be payable to Siemens Business Services. The majority of these charges are directly geared to the savings and do not become payable until the new computer system is operational. No revision to the business case will be made until revised dates for the installation and piloting of the solution have been agreed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 22 January 1998, Official Report, column 633, on the Immigration and Nationality Directorate, how many compulsory redundancies he expects to be required at the Directorate offices at Croydon in the years 1998–99 and 1999–2000. [26075]

I do not expect any in the sense that they are planned. While it is not possible at this stage to rule out the need for compulsory redundancies, present indications are that compulsory redundancies are very unlikely.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure that the destruction of files by MI5 will not (a) destroy material of historical importance and (b) prevent instances of error by MI5 from emerging. [26277]

I rely on the Director General of the Security Service to ensure the proper operation of the Service's record management system, including the system for reviewing files in accordance with the criteria described in my reply to the hon. Member for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis) on 20 January 1998, Official Report, column 519–20.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to complete his review into providing information relating to the number of individuals on whom MI5 holds files. [26280]

I have nothing to add to my letter of 23 December 1997 in which I informed the hon. Member that, for the present, I proposed to continue the practice of successive Governments in not disclosing such information but that I was reviewing the matter and that it might be that we should, in due course, feel able to provide some information on the subject. I shall keep the matter under review and, if there are to be any changes to the present arrangements, I shall make an announcement.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will amend Section 10(1) of the Interception of Communications Act 1985 to require a separate warrant for each line intercepted. [26279]

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to his question on 4 December 1997, Official Report, column 299, where I said that the question whether to amend the legislation relating to Interception of Communications beyond the measures required to comply with the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights, and if so what the amendments should comprise, was under consideration. That remains the case.

Table 1: Asylum applications1 received in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, initial decisions1 2 3 on applications, and removals1 4, 1996 and 1997 by month, nationals of Czech Republic5
	Applications		Decisions			Removals
		Total decisions	Grants of asylum	Grants of ELR	Total refusals6
1996
January	*	*	—	—	*	5
February	5	5	—	—	5	*
March	10	—	—	—	—	*
April	10	*	—	—	*	5
May	*	5	—	—	5	5
June	5	5	—	—	5	5
July	—	*	—	—	*	5
August	5	5	—	—	5	5
September	5	5	—	—	5	10
October	5	5	—	—	5	5
November	5	5	—	—	5	5
December	5	5	—	—	5	5
Total (1996)	55	50	—	—	50	55
1997
January	5	5	—	—	5	*
February	10	10	—	—	10	5
March	5	10	—	—	10	*
April	*	*	—	—	*	*
May	5	5	—	—	5	—
June	15	15	—	—	15	15
July	30	20	—	—	20	5
August	30	35	—	—	35	15
September	15	5	—	—	5	*
October	85	20	—	—	20	30
November	20	60	—	—	60	15
December	15	25	—	—	25	10
Total (1997)	240	210	—	—	210	100
1 Figures rounded to nearest five with * = 1 or 2. 1997 data are provisional.
2 Information is of initial decisions and excludes the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.
3 Decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same time period.
4 Includes voluntary departures apart from those made by in-country applicants prior to the initiation of enforcement action.
5 Removals data include persons recorded as nationals of the former Czechoslovakia.
6 Includes safe third country refusals and refusals made on grounds of non-compliance.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the future of Section 11 funding to support the teaching of English. [24215]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, South (Mr. Marshall) on 16 December 1997, Official Report, columns 86–87.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Roma people from the Czech and Slovak republics have sought asylum in the United Kingdom in each month since January 1996; and of these (a) how many have been granted asylum, (b) how many were held in detention and (c) how many have been removed from the United Kingdom. [26018]

[holding answer 28 January 1998]: Czech and Slovak Roma are not separately identifiable in the statistics. The available information on all asylum applications lodged in the United Kingdom by nationals of Slovakia and the Czech Republic, and on removals of such persons, is given in tables 1 and 2. Information on the number of Czech and Slovak asylum seekers detained, as at selected dates during 1996, 1997 and 1998, is given in table three.

Table 2: Asylum applications1 received in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, initial decisions1 2 3 on applications, and removals1 4, 1996 and 1997 by month, nationals of Slovakia
Principal applicants
	Applications		Decisions			Removals
		Total decisions	Grants of asylum	Grants of ELR	Total refusals5
1996
January	*	*	—	—	*	—
February	*	*	—	—	*	—
March	10	15	—	—	15	—
April	5	15	—	—	15	—
May	—	5	—	—	5	*
June	5	10	—	—	10	—
July	*	5	—	—	5	—
August	5	10	—	—	10	*
September	5	*	—	—	*	—
October	5	20	—	—	20	*
November	10	15	—	—	15	5
December	10	10	—	—	10	5
Total (1996)	55	110	—	—	110	15
1997
January	*	*	—	—	*	5
February	*	5	—	—	5	*
March	5	15	—	—	15	5
April	5	10	—	—	10	10
May	15	15	—	—	15	10
June	25	25	—	—	25	5
July	20	25	—	—	25	5
August	50	45	—	—	45	15
September	55	10	—	—	10	5
October	85	75	—	—	75	10
November	20	120	—	—	120	25
December	15	30	—	—	30	20
Total (1997)	305	375	—	—	375	105
1 Figures rounded to nearest 5 with * = 1 or 2. 1997 data are provisional.
2 Information is of initial decisions and excludes the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.
3 Decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same time period.
4 Includes voluntary departures apart from those made by in-country applicants prior to the initiation of enforcement action.
5 Includes safe third country refusals and refusals made on grounds of non-compliance.

Table 3: Number of person recorded as detained, who have sought asylum at some stage, as selected dates in 1996 and 19971, nationals of the Czech Republic and Slovakia2
Detained as at	Number detained
31 January 1996	4
29 February 1996	3—
29 March 1996	10
30 April 1996	12
31 May 19964	6
27 June 1998	6
31 July 19965	6
4 September 1996	5
1 October 1996	—
5 November 1996	5
11 December 1996	3
31 January 19976	—
27 March 1997	—
30 April 1997	—
31 May 1997	—
30 June 1997	3
31 July 1997	3—
29 August 19977	11
30 September 1997	14
31 October 1997	39
28 November 1997	38
5 January 19988	25
1 No figures are available for August 1996, February 1997 or December 1997.
2 Includes persons recorded as nationals of the former Czechoslovakia.