To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the results of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies hypothetical exercise on fast track costs will be published; and if he will make a statement. [26255]

I expect to publish the research in conjunction with a consultation paper on costs in the fast track after Easter.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which firms are participating in the KPMG research on legal services without the benefit of legal aid; when the research will be published; and if he will make a statement. [26256]

A number of firms were randomly selected to be consulted by KPMG in the preparation of the business case for a solicitor's firm to undertake money claims under conditional fee agreements without requiring their clients to pay money in advance. The firms were asked to participate in strict confidence and I cannot, therefore, name them.When KPMG's report has been received, a decision will be taken about publication.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will review the statutory time limit on the right of mortgagors to pursue shortfall debts after judgment. [27423]

The Government do not intend to conduct a separate review of the statutory time limit applicable to mortgage debts. A Comprehensive review of the law of limitation periods has already been undertaken by the Law Commission, with a view to simplification and rationalisation of the law. In January this year, the Commission published a Consultation Paper seeking the views of interested parties on its provisional proposals for reform. We will consider the recommendations made when the Law Commission completes its Report. The Government do not plan to modify the law relating to limitation of actions before then.

To ask the Attorney-General what approach prosecutors take to reliance on evidence obtained through the exercise of compulsory powers having regard to the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in Saunders v. United Kingdom. [27920]

The Government propose to bring forward legislation when a suitable opportunity arises to ensure that the domestic law which was in issue in Saunders v. United Kingdom is fully compatible with our obligations under the European convention on human rights. As an interim measure, I have today promulgated to prosecuting authorities guidance about the handling of cases where the evidence available to the prosecution includes answers obtained by the exercise of compulsory powers.A copy of the Guidance has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Its effect is that answers obtained pursuant to a procedure which includes the power to compel answers, whatever the investigative or regulatory regime, cannot be used in subsequent criminal proceedings as part of the prosecution case except for the very limited purposes of proceedings for offences arising out of the giving of the evidence (eg. perjury). The Guidance therefore covers not only evidence obtained by the exercise of powers under Section 434 of the Companies Act 1985, which was in issue in Saunders v. the UK, but also evidence obtained under analogous powers. In addition, the guidance restricts the use by prosecutors of compulsorily acquired answers for the purpose of cross-examination.The Lord Advocate is to issue similar guidance in Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what changes have been made to the (a) powers and (b) responsibilities of Green Ministers since 1 May; [25938](2) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Ceredigion (Mr. Dafis) of 9 June 1997,

As I set out in the Press Notice I released on 30 July, having received the network of Green Ministers following the Election, we gave them the following powers and responsibilities:

they now support the Cabinet Committee on the Environment (ENV) chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister;

they now have a strategic role to secure environmental appraisal in all Government policy-making, as well as responsibility to green Government operations;

individually, their role is to consider the environmental impacts of their Departments' policies and programmes, and to review the management of their Departments to ensure that they operate as sustainably as possible in terms of energy efficiency, waste minimisation and so on.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many railway stations are unstaffed overnight; and if he has any plans to require railway stations to be staffed at night. [26244]

Comprehensive details of station staffing are not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. All train operating companies are signatories to the industry wide Ticketing and Settlement Agreement (TSA) which includes the ticket office opening hours for staffed stations. Operators' licences and the franchise agreements require compliance with the TSA. The TSA specifies 14 stations where ticket offices are open for 24 hours a day. There are no requirements on operators to staff areas of stations other than the ticket offices specified in the TSA. The Government's proposals for the long term reform of the railways will be set out in our White Paper to be published later in the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures the Government are taking to encourage development on brownfield sites in the North-West Region. [26495]

The Government encourage development and re-use of brownfield sites in the North West region principally through the application of Regional Planning Guidance (RPG13) which informs the production of development plans within the region.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the cause of the recent pollution incident affecting a stretch of the River Darwen near Blackburn; and if he will make a statement. [26406]

Following a report by a member of the public of a fish kill in Hoghton Bottoms on 24 January, the Environment Agency undertook an investigation and confirmed the kill, the location of which has been identified as a point immediately downstream of industrial premises. The reaction of the fish indicates that they were killed by toxic material but the Agency is carrying out a full investigation to identify the nature and source of the incident. On completion of that investigation, the Agency will consider further action and will issue a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he plans to take during the United Kingdom presidency in respect of procedures relating to the marketing and release of genetically modified organisms. [26361]

We have considerable concerns about the current procedures relating to the marketing and release of genetically modified organisms as laid down in Council Directive 90/220 EEC, and in particular about the shortcomings in the operation of the regulatory committee set up under Article 21 of this Directive.Following the European Commission's presentation at the last Environment Council, we look forward to seeing the formal proposals for revision of this Directive, and hope to have a preliminary discussion of this at the June Environment Council. I shall be pressing for ethical and wider public interest considerations to be taken properly into account in authorisation procedures.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects the Air Accident Investigation Branch to complete its report on the Airprox incident which occurred at Heathrow Airport on 27 August. [27012]

The Air Accident Investigation Branch report on the Airprox incident which occurred at Heathrow Airport on 27 August is expected to be published in July this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the number and details of the incidents where electronic equipment has affected aircraft controls on United Kingdom registered aircraft during each of the last five years. [27008]

Incidents of suspected electronic interference with the instruments and controls of UK registered aircraft in the last five years are detailed in the following table:

Date	Aircraft Type	Details of Incident
2 March 1993	MD-80	Interference with omega navigation equipment. Interference ended when computer games used by 2 passengers were switched off.
11 March 1993	MD-80	Interference with omega navigation equipment. Interference ended when various items of electronic equipment used by passengers were switched off.
21 May 1993	SD 360	Incorrect oil pressure gauge reading due to suspected interference from high power ground source.
9 June 1993	HS125	Numbers 1 and 2 compasses split and autopilot engaged. All systems recovered when a passenger's lap top computer was switched off.
17 January 1994	B767	Interference from a passenger's lap top computer suspected of activating emergency lights in passenger cabin.
21 April 1994	B767	A passenger's CD player caused interference on all VHF channels.
5 September 1994	SD360	Significant interference with flight deck instruments in the vicinity of Skelton high intensity radio mast.

Date	Aircraft Type	Details of Incident
2 November 1994	B747	Interference with navigation equipment. Systems returned to normal when a passenger's camcorder switched off.
5 December 1994	B747	Interference with number 1 compass. Interference ended when 2 passenger's lap top computers were switched off.
11 January 1995	L188	Numbers 1 and 2 slaved compasses gave erroneous reading due to interference from electronic components in the hold.
13 March 1995	MD-80	Interference with omega navigation equipment. Interference ended when passenger lap top computer was switched off.
16 March 1995	B757	Electrical interference from aircraft's Terrestrial Flight Telephone System caused left hand air data computer to fail and flight deck instruments to give erroneous indications.
1 May 1995	Augusta A109	Significant interference with flight deck instruments 3 miles east of Skelton high intensity radio mast.
13 September 1995	B747	Pressurisation fluctuations due to the recommended operation of outflow valves near passengers using a video Walkman and an electronic game. Fluctuations ceased when equipment was switched off.
26 October 1995	B737	Sudden change to selected altitude on Auto-pilot Flight Direction System. Interference from passenger personal stereos suspected.
19 March 1996	B737	Flight Management System failed for several seconds. Interference from a portable computer suspected.
21 July 1996	B767	Failure of Flight Management System. Interference from passenger electronic equipment suspected although none identified as being in use.
8 October 1996	SD360	Suspected interference with oil pressure and temperature gauges in vicinity of Skelton high intensity radio mast.
9 January 1997	SD360	Aircraft deviation from desired track. A passenger computer is believed to have interfered with navigation equipment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many civil servants in his Department at grade 3 or above have (a) resigned, (b) retired before pensionable age and (c) moved to different responsibilities within the Department since 1 May 1997; if he will indicate the Ministers to whom each was responsible; and if he will make a statement. [26934]

Since 1 May 1997, (a) no civil servants at grade 3 or above have resigned, (b) two senior civil servants have retired before pensionable age and, (c) a number of senior civil servants have moved to different responsibilities as a result of the merger of the Department of the Environment and the Department of Transport which took place in June 1997. All the individuals concerned work for the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list (a) those local authorities which do not use housing revenue account surplus to fund rent rebates, (b) the proportion of local authorities where rent was paid out of the housing rent account surplus for each year since 1990 and (c) the total transferred out of the housing rent surplus account for each year since 1990. [27000]

In 1997–98 the following housing authorities do not use housing revenue account surpluses to fund rent rebates:

• Blackburn
• Brent
• Camden
• City of London
• Ealing
• Greenwich
• Hackney
• Hammersmith and Fulham
• Haringey
• Hounslow
• Islington
• Kensington and Chelsea
• Lambeth
• Lewisham
• Liverpool
• Manchester
• Newcastle Upon Tyne
• Newham
• North Tyneside
• Oldham
• Rochdale
• Salford
• Sheffield
• Southwark
• Tower Hamlets
• Waltham Forest
• Westminster

The following table shows for England for each year since 1990 the number of housing authorities, the number that have a housing element surplus and the number that have a housing element surplus as a proportion of all housing authorities. All authorities with a housing element surplus make a contribution from their housing revenue account to the costs of rent rebates. The table also shows the total amount of that contribution in each year.

Financial year	(1) Total number of housing authorities	(2) Number with housing elements surplus	(2)(1) Proportion of housing authorities with housing element surplus percentage	Contributions to rent rebates £ million
1990–91	366	169	46.2	198.211
1991–92	366	242	66.1	319.952
1992–93	366	269	73.5	512.840
1993–94	366	296	80.9	703.082
1994–95	366	299	81.7	871.433
1995–96	365	301	82.5	1,045.265
1996–97	358	296	82.7	1,172.383
1997–98	357	286	80.1	1,228.616

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which organisations (a) he and (b) his Ministers have met since 1 May 1997, in respect of his review of the planning system. [26759]

We have met many organisations with an interest in town and country planning. These include professional institutions, representatives of local government, industry, the professions, voluntary organisations, regional and local amenity societies.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the percentage of new housing which was built on brown-field sites in each year since May 1979. [26762]

There is no specific definition of brown-field land but it is usually taken to mean land previously developed for urban uses. These uses include residential, transport and utilities, industry and commerce, community services, previously developed vacant land and derelict land. The table gives estimates for England of the proportion of land for new housing that was previously developed for urban uses, for each year from 1985 (the earliest available) to 1995. The average figure for the period was 42 per cent.

Percentage of land for new housing that was previously developed for urban uses: England
Year	Percentage of land area
1985	38
1986	37
1987	36
1988	40
1989	42
1990	43
1991	44
1992	47
1993	48
1994	45
1995	50

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list, by local authority, the time taken to prepare and approve the most recently approved or emerging development plan; and if he will make a statement. [26758]

The progress each local planning authority has made towards adoption of its Local Plan or Unitary Development Plan is given in the "Progress on Adoption of Area Wide Local Plans and UDPs" report, produced by my Department. Copies of the report, published on 16 January 1998, are available in the Library of the House.Information on the time taken to prepare and approve the most recently approved or emerging development plan is not held centrally and could be made available only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many planning permissions were granted for major out-of-town retail developments between (a) January 1988 and December 1992 and (b) January 1993 and June 1996. [26764]

The majority of such decisions are taken by local planning authorities. The information required is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to consult on a new United Kingdom sustainable development strategy. [27866]

I have today launched consultation on a new UK Sustainable Development Strategy in a document titled "Opportunities for Change". The consultation will run to the end of May 1998. Copies of the document, and of an accompanying leaflet prepared for the general public, have been placed in the Library.Sustainable Development is about ensuring a better quality of life for everyone, now and for generations to come. The consultation is designed to stimulate a national debate on priorities for the forthcoming strategy, which will set objectives for sustainable development and targets and time scales for achieving them. The consultation is about finding common ground and building consensus.I will be launching a series of regional consultative events in Scarborough on 6 February. Consultation in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be promoted by their respective Secretaries of State.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the organisations, local authorities and associations he and his ministerial colleagues have (a) met and (b) declined to meet to discuss representations concerning the provisional local government settlement for 1998–99. [27283]

The table lists those organisations, local authorities and associations which came to see Ministers at the Department during consultation on the provisional local government finance settlement 1998–99. We met delegations from 95 local authorities and one special interest group during the consultation period which ended on 13 January. We then met the Local Government Association and the Association of London Government on 14 January.We met the special interest group of municipal authorities (SIGOMA) in response to an undertaking I gave in the House, but concluded that there would not be time to meet other similar groups in view of the large number of authorities who had requested a meeting. We did not therefore meet the Major Cities Group of Authorities, the County Councils Network and the Unitary Authorities Group who all asked for meetings within the consultation period.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the £168 million surplus arising from the break-up of the National Bus Company in 1986 will be returned to the Bus Employees Superannuation Trust (BEST) for the benefit of BEST pensioners; and if he will make a statement. [27391]

This is currently the subject of a legal action commenced by the NBC pension trustees. We hope the matter will be satisfactorily resolved as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will introduce changes in the appeal procedure for driving instructors who have failed their check-tests to ensure that it is (a) fully independent of the Driving Standards Agency and (b) provides driving instructors with full rights and facilities in presenting their appeals. [27052]

The Motor Cars (Driving Instruction) (Appeals) Rules 1969 provide for the Secretary of State to appoint an appeal board to hear cases brought by driving instructors who fail a check-test, and that the board report their findings and make recommendations to him. Schedule 3 to the Road Traffic Act 1988 provides that the members of such an appeals board must be independent of the Department.In practice, the board submits a report to the Chief Executive of the Driving Standards Agency, who is authorised to issue a decision only in accordance with the report's recommendation. If he does not accept the board's recommendations, the case is decided by Ministers in person. The appeals rules already allow for an appellant to appear in person and to be represented by legal counsel or a solicitor.I am satisfied that the appeals procedure represents a fair and independent process, and I have no current plans to change it. However, my Department has recently commissioned a research project to look at the way driving instructors are trained and tested. I will look carefully at any conclusions, including those relevant to appeals procedures, when the findings are available in two to three years' time.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 29 January 1998, Official Report, column 326, on nursery voucher funding and revenue support grant, if he will list for each LEA the (a) amount at Band D council tax that would have to be paid as a result and (b) amount that this represents per capita. [27422]

It is not possible to forecast the council tax levels which individual authorities will set.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to make a statement on future integrated transport policies. [27431]

My Department is currently concluding the fundamental review of transport. The outcome of this review will be published in a White Paper on integrated transport policy in the Spring.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the total payment of money to London and Continental Railways to date; and if he will list and value each of the assets transferred to them. [27432]

As the Explanatory Memorandum on the contracts with London and Continental Railways Ltd. (LCR)—which was placed in the Library of the House in 1996—explains, the first instalment of capital grant to LCR for the CTRL is not to be paid until LCR have themselves spent at least 68% of the expected outturn construction cost. To date, therefore, other than agreed payments relating to contractual claims and obligations amounting to some £17 million, no payments have been made to LCR.The assets specifically transferred to LCR in 1996, and their values then, were as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what are his projections for the next five years of (a) local authority, (b) housing associations and (c) co-operative housing provision for each London borough. [27430]

The Government do not produce projections of new housing as such. Strategic Guidance for London Planning Authorities (RPG3), published in May 1996, included a London-wide figure of 234,100 households as the minimum level of housing to be provided over the period 1992–2006. This figure is broken down by Borough, but not by tenure or source of provision. RPG3 also indicates that it is for Boroughs to assess housing need in their area, including affordable housing need, and then to set out strategic policies in their Unitary Development Plans indicating how this need will be met over the plan period.

Table 1: Blood alcohol levels of fatalities aged 16 and over 1991–95
	Percentage over blood alcohol levels (mg/100ml)
Year		9	50	80	100	150	200	Sample size
1991	Motor cycle riders	28	19	17	15	10	6	335
	Car drivers	31	23	20	18	14	9	888
1992	Motor cycle riders	39	28	26	23	16	7	267
	Car drivers	29	20	17	16	11	7	820
1993	Motor cycle riders	29	19	15	15	11	8	247
	Car drivers	29	21	20	18	14	8	720
1994	Motor cycle riders	31	22	18	17	13	8	245
	Car drivers	35	24	22	21	15	8	677
1995	Motor cycle riders	31	16	15	13	8	2	261
	Car drivers	33	23	20	19	14	8	698

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the current (a) drink-drive limits and (b) penalties for the member states of the European Community. [27354]

The current legal drink-drive limits for the member states of the European Community, defined as milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, are listed in the table. A number of member states are likely to reduce their limit from 80 to 50mg per 100m1 in the near future. The Danish Parliament has passed the necessary legislation but not yet brought it into force; in Germany, legislation is currently before the Federal Parliament and we understand that Spain is also considering such a reduction.

Legal drink-drive limits in EC member states
Member States	Legal blood/alcohol limit (mg/100ml)
Austria	80
Belgium	50
Denmark	80
Finland	50
France	50
Germany	80
Greece	50
Ireland	80
Italy	80
Luxembourg	80
Netherlands	50
Portugal	50
Spain	80
Sweden	20
United Kingdom	80

My Department does not hold comprehensive information on penalties in other member states.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what has been the alcohol content of drivers killed in road accidents where the content is (a) under the legal limit, (b) marginally over the legal limit and (c) substantially over the legal limit in each of the last five years. [27350]

Exact figures are not available. However, Table 1 provides an indication of the distribution of blood alcohol content in car and motorcycle fatalities aged 16 and over from 1991–95. Figures for later years are not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will commission research into detecting impairment in drivers other than impairment caused by the presence of substances taken by the driver. [27351]

Driver fatigue is the main cause of impairment other than that caused by substances taken by the driver.The Department has a continuing programme of research into driver fatigue which is seeking to determine the best counter measures to tiredness, so that drivers have the best advice on how to minimise the risk due to fatigue.A full list of road safety research is published annually. Copies are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make it his policy that he and his Ministers personally read the letters sent to them by hon. Members on constituency matters. [27670]

It is already policy within my Department that one of my Ministers or I always read all correspondence sent to us by hon. Members.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he plans to amend the Highways Agency's 1997–98 Key Business Plan Targets. [27924]

We have reviewed the Highways Agency's key targets and have decided that, in the light of the Roads Review, the Business Plan should be amended.The following 1997–98 targets will not now be appropriate and should therefore be deleted from Annex D of the plan: "Roads Programme Completions, Starts and other Milestones":

To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee when he expects work to commence on the building of additional office accommodation for hon. Members. [27636]

I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 10 December 1997, Official Report, column 578. The House took possession of the site on 5 January 1998. The Speaker unveiled the foundation stone on 3 February 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plan she has to promote the use of British beef in the armed forces and the agencies for which he is responsible. [25328]

Officials from my Department recently met with farmers' representatives to explain our procurement policy. We have agreed to establish a joint Working Group with them and our food supply contractor to explore, within the framework of our policy of seeking best market prices, the scope for increasing the percentage of British beef we are able to buy competitively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 26 January 1998, Official Report, column 27, for what reasons he decided that details of the number of warheads deployed on Trident should be covered by exemption 1 of the code of Practice on Access to Government Information relating to defence, security and international relations; and if he will make a statement. [26569]

Maintaining some uncertainty about our precise nuclear capabilities enhances deterrence. Disclosure of the details of the exact number of warheads deployed on Trident would therefore harm our defence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 26 January 1998, Official Report, column 27, if Trident requires more warheads than Chevaline in order to maintain the ability of the United Kingdom's strategic deterrent to overcome anti-missile systems. [26568]

Trident's greater payload capacity helps to give it a capability to overcome ballistic missile defences against which Chevaline had become less effective.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 26 January 1998, Official Report, column 30, if he will list the factors which his Department takes into account when assessing the United Kingdom's deterrence requirements with regard to the destructive effect that would result from the use of a nuclear weapon. [26570]

Factors that determine the destructive effect of a nuclear weapon are: the yield and design of the weapon; the accuracy of the delivery system; the nature and construction of the target; the geographical characteristics of the surrounding terrain; geological conditions in the target area; the height of weapon burst; the weather conditions at the target. The United Kingdom would only ever contemplate the use of nuclear weapons in extreme circumstances of self-defence.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which countries she proposes to exclude from the development assistance programme on human rights grounds. [26746]

We are looking for constructive and open partnerships with Governments overseas. Decisions on my Department's resource allocations are taken on the basis of a range of criteria, including a recipient country's commitment to human rights. In a few cases, the behaviour of Government so offends against the interests and rights of their people that we will not work with the offending regime. Instead, we will focus our support on those within government and civil society who are working for change. Our primary concern must be to continue to deliver support direct to the poor and to help them realise their rights.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what current and planned aid programmes her Department has established for the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if she will make a statement. [27435]

Britain has contributed almost £40 million (including the UK share of EU assistance) in emergency assistance to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since January 1994. We are ready to commit further emergency resources as new needs arise.DRC's long-term development needs are enormous. Peace, stability, appropriate economic policies and respect for human rights will be crucial. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development discussed this with Foreign Minister Karaha when she met him last week. Britain will not be a major bilateral donor. But we will work with the International Finance Institutions, the EU and others to facilitate the major international effort needed to support the Government of DRC's own reconstruction plans.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made by the Government in the Council of Donor Agencies at the Microcredit Summit, in drawing up an institutional plan for reaching the objectives of the Summit. [27298]

My Department has been a member of the Council of Donor Agencies of the Microcredit Summit since June 1997. Our Institutional Action Plan for reaching the objectives of the Summit has been prepared and will be sent to the Summit organisers before the end of February.A paper has also been prepared on the Department's policy on microfinance. This will also be finalised before the end of February and will be available for general information.The Department for International Development's support for microfinance, which continues to grow, takes four basic forms: strengthening the capacity of microfinance institutions; contributing to operational costs as institutions grow towards financial sustainability; investing in the loan capital fund of microfinance institutions; and financing research on best practice in microfinance, especially the impact on the poor.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the Government are doing to implement the goals of the World Summit for Children relating to providing access to safe sanitation for people in Sub-Saharan Africa. [27299]

While access to safe water supply has increased steadily over the last 25 years, adequate sanitation coverage in developing countries has remained roughly constant with more than half the population lacking the most basic provision. The health implications are severe; there are more than 3.3 million deaths each year due to diarrhoea, most of these are children under five. This equates to one child dying every ten seconds.We welcome the new emphasis being put on sanitation and hygiene awareness by the World Health Organisation, UNICEF and others. My Department is fully behind this initiative. This year we have agreed to provide an additional one million pounds to UNICEF for water and sanitation projects in Africa. Our expenditure on water and sanitation is increasing but we do need to put more emphasis on sanitation. New guidance on water and sanitation programmes, which stresses the importance of integrating water, sanitation and hygiene education, is under preparation. These efforts directly support the achievement of the goals of the World Summit for Children relating to providing universal access to safe sanitation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures the Government will be taking to promote a strict code of conduct on arms sales during Britain's presidency of the European Union. [26743]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer which the Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd), gave to the hon. Member for Westbury (Mr. Faber) on 2 February 1998, Official Report, columns 542–43.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date Ms Anne Bullen's contract of employment was due to end; on what date she was dismissed; and how many months severance pay she was given. [27071]

[holding answer 2 February 1998]: Miss Bullen's contract ended on 7 November 1997. She was told on 21 May of my decision to replace her. She ceased to work in my office on 27 June. She continued to be paid to the end of her contract and received no severance pay.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) verbal and (b) written warnings were given to Ms Anne Bullen concerning her performance prior to her dismissal. [27070]

[holding answer 2 February 1998]: I decided to replace Miss Anne Bullen as my Diary Secretary when it became apparent that we could not establish a relationship of trust and that I could not have confidence in her. It would not have been appropriate, in those circumstances, for her to have continued to work in my office. Miss Bullen ceased to work as my Diary Secretary on 27 June, but her contract was not terminated. She was paid up to its expiry on 7 November.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) for what reasons he did not ask his Principal Private Secretary to appoint his new diary secretary; [26969](2) on how many occasions in the last five years the Permanent Secretary has taken charge of the appointment of ministers' diary secretaries; [26964](3) if he will make a statement on the role of the Permanent Secretary in the appointment of diary secretaries. [26965]

[holding answer 2 February 1998]: To the best of my knowledge, never. Final decisions on such appointments are for the Secretary of State.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those officials who submitted advice on the possible appointment of Ms Regan as diary secretary. [26966]

[holding answer 2 February 1998]: None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which (a) officials or (b) special advisers issued briefings to the media on the dismissal of Miss Anne Bullen. [26967]

[holding answer 2 February 1998]: Both the Foreign Office News department and the departmental special advisers handle media inquiries, including on this issue.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice he received from (a) the Prime Minister and (b) his officials on the possible appointment of a Ms Regan as his diary secretary. [26968]

[holding answer 2 February 1998]:(a) None. (b) None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Penrith and The Border (Mr. Maclean) of 29 January 1998, Official Report, column 388, when he informed his Principal Private Secretary of his intention to appoint Ms Regan as his diary secretary. [27365]

21 May.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information was given to him after 21 May to cause him to conclude that it would not be right to appoint Gaynor Regan as his diary secretary. [27420]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information was given to him by officials at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office about Gaynor Regan after 21 May. [27421]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 30 January 1998, Official Report, column 440, on his private office, what factors led him to revise his opinion that Gaynor Regan was an obvious candidate for the post of diary secretary between 21 May and 30 May. [27419]

I refer the right hon. and learned Member to the answer I gave him on 30 January 1998, Official Report, column 440.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has during the United Kingdom presidency of the EU to promote arms control measures. [27252]

We are committed to the elimination of all weapons of mass destruction, and to the strengthening of the relevant arms control and non-proliferation regimes.Strengthening the Biological and Toxic Weapons Convention, through a legally binding Protocol containing verification and compliance measures, is a high priority: we shall use our EU Presidency to press for accelerated progress in the negotiations on such a Protocol.We shall also promote action by the EU to urge the ratification of or adherence to the Chemical Weapons Convention by those States which have not done so.With regard to our goal of the elimination of nuclear weapons, we are considering how to take forward action in the Strategic Defence Review and elsewhere.During our EU Presidency, we shall further pursue a number of measures to control conventional arms proliferation. These include the adoption of an EU Code of Conduct setting high common standards for arms exports from all member states; an EU-wide ban on the export and transhipment of electro-shock equipment and devices designed for the restraint of a human being; and work under the EU Programme for Combating Illicit Trafficking in Conventional Arms.We are continuing to discuss with other countries how to secure further progress towards making a global ban on anti-personnel land mines a reality, including encouraging ratification by those who have signed the Ottawa Convention, and urging as many as possible of those who have not yet done so to sign it. We shall press for complementary action to promote a global ban of anti-personnel land mines in international forums, including the CD in Geneva. We shall also promote further EU work on demining during our Presidency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the factors taken into account in appointing non-career civil servants. [26970]

[holding answer 2 February 1998]: The factors taken into account are laid down in the Civil Service Commissioner's Recruitment Code and the Diplomatic Service Order in Council 1991 (as amended by the Diplomatic Order in Council 1994 and 1995). Copies of the Code and the 1991 Order in Council are available in the Library. I will arrange for the other Orders in Council to be placed there.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list each of the European Council meetings to be chaired by the appropriate Ministers under the United Kingdom presidency which will be open (a) in full or (b) in part to the media and general public. [27141]

As part of the UK Presidency initiative on openness, eight Council debates during the Presidency have been or will be open in full to the media and general public during the following Council meetings:

Council	Date
Ecofin	19 January 1998	Presidency Work Programme
General Affairs Council	26 January 1998	Presidency Work Council
Telecoms Council	26 February 1998	Regulatory framework for telecoms, audiovisual and information technology
Environment Council	23 March 1998	Air Quality Directive
Agriculture Council	March, April or May	Reform of agricultural commodity regimes
Social Affairs Council	6 April 1998	Regulation 1408/71 on Social Security
Energy Council	11 May 1998	Energy and the Environment
JHA Council	28–29 May 1998	Organised crime

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the engagements he fulfilled between 8 and 13 October 1997. [27192]

[holding answer 3 February 1998]: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs (Mr. Flight) on 30 January 1998, Official Report, columns 438–39.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list on how many occasions he has used a helicopter on United Kingdom internal flights, the points of embarkation and disembarkation in each case and apart from the crew the names of those who accompanied him since 1 May. [27193]

[holding answer 3 February 1987]: Since 1 May 1997 I have used a helicopter for internal flights in the United Kingdom on one occasion. The journey was from HRH The Prince of Wales's Residence at Highgrove to Battersea on 21 July 1997. I was accompanied by my wife and one close protection officer.I returned to London to attend a series of meetings, including:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Gosport (Mr. Viggers) of 19 January 1998, Official Report, column 438, on ministerial travel, what factors required him to be in the United Kingdom on 9 to 12 October in order to make effective use of his time. [27194]

[holding answer 3 February 1998]: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my official residence, my colleagues and my constituency are all in the UK. It is not practical to maintain effective contact with them from South Asia.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been held with the Government of Sudan concerning human rights and the armed conflicts in the south of the country; and if he will make a statement. [27437]

We regularly make our concerns known to the Government of Sudan, both in London and in Khartoum. Human rights and the civil war in Sudan are prominent in the contacts which the British Ambassador in Khartoum has with the Government of Sudan. He discussed both subjects with the Sudanese Foreign Minister when he saw him on 5 January.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been held with the Government of Uganda concerning human rights and the armed conflict in the north of the country; and if he will make a statement. [27436]

We are appalled at the reports of the atrocities committed by the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) against the Acholi people in the north of Uganda. We condemn these atrocities unreservedly. We recognise the right of the Government of Uganda to conduct legitimate security operations to protect its people from LRA terrorism, provided that these operations are conducted with due respect for internationally recognised standards for human rights. We believe there is not a purely military solution to the problems of northern Uganda. At a meeting with President Museveni in June 1997, the Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd), urged him to pursue opportunities for dialogue as a means of ending the conflict. We repeated this message in bilateral contacts with the Ugandans during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in October 1997. The President has since announced an intention to table legislation which would permit an amnesty for anti-government forces that lay down their weapons. We welcome such a step which could be a valuable contribution to encouraging a peaceful end to the conflict.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions have been held by his Department with representatives of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement. [27434]

On 19 January the British Ambassador called on President Kabila in Kinshasa and on 27 January the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Foreign Minister, Bizima Karaha, called on the Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd).At both meetings we expressed our desire for a close relationship with the DRC and welcomed their commitment to democratisation and in particular the establishment of a Constitutional Commission. We emphasised the need for further progress in this direction. We encouraged greater respect for the rule of law and human rights, and in particular, we encouraged the Government to co-operate fully with the UN human rights inquiry team. The Government of the DRC assured us that the team is free to carry out its work anywhere in the country and that the Government are ready to take whatever responsibility the inquiry imputed to it.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if staff of her Department and its agencies will be allowed to submit in-house bids when contracted out operations come up for contract renewal. [24395]

Options for achieving better quality at optimal cost will be considered on their merits in each case.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list those areas of operation which have been contracted out within her Department and its agencies, and the (a) name of the private sector company, (b) duration of contract, (c) cost and (d) number of employees involved; and when the contract will be due for renewal. [24396]

I have placed in the Library of the House information on my Department's contracted out activities.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the average level of regional selective assistance grant made in Thanet during 1997; how many such grants were made; and how many were at the maximum level. [25749]

There were no offers of Regional Selective Assistance grant made at the maximum limit in 1997. During 1997, 22 offers of Regional Selective Assistance were made to companies in Thanet. The total amount of grant offered was £1,279,600. 208 jobs were to be created and 30 safeguarded, representing an average cost per job of £5,376.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what priority she gives to the development of brown-field sites in allocation of regional selective assistance. [26081]

Regional Selective Assistance is available in the assisted areas which contain many brown-field sites. Applications for RSA are judged on a case-by-case basis.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Nottingham, South (Mr. Simpson) of 26 January 1998, Official Report, column 59, if payments due on arms sales to all Far Eastern countries are due in sterling. [27059]

Payments are mainly due in sterling or US Dollars.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what ECGD cover has been provided in respect of the Hawk Jet contract to Indonesia since 1 May. [26385]

[holding answer 30 January 1998]: EGCD has not supported any new contracts for the sale of Hawks to Indonesia since 1 May 1997.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action she has taken to ensure her (a) Parliamentary and (b) DTI office machines are millennium compliant. [26394]

[holding answer 30 January 1998]: Computer systems in my Parliamentary office are millennium compliant. My Department is pursuing a programme designed to ensure that DTI computer systems are millennium compliant. It aims to identify instances of non-compliance and resolve them as necessary via correction or replacement.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the growth rate of trade between Poland and the United Kingdom in each year since 1990; and what assessment she has made of the prospects for trade over the next five years. [26812]

The growth rate of trade (in goods and services) between Poland and the United Kingdom since 1990 has been as follows:

UK-Poland bi-lateral Trade—percentage change over previous year
Year	Trade in goods and services
1990	10.7
1991	14.5
1992	38.7
1993	20.7
1994	7.2
1995	24.6
1996	22.1
1997	n/a

I anticipate that UK-Poland trade will continue to remain healthy: Poland has been identified by the Export Forum as a priority market and will begin negotiations for accession to the European Union on 31 March this year.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the current tariff regime between Poland and the United Kingdom. [26813]

As for all other EU Member States, trade relations between the UK and Poland are governed by the EU/Poland Europe Agreement. The Agreement provides the framework for Poland's gradual integration into the EU. The trade provisions of the Agreement have been in force since March 1992.Under the terms of the Agreement, the EU and Poland will gradually establish a free trade area, within a ten year period, and in accordance with the provisions of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The Agreement is subject to periodic examination by the WTO' s Committee on Regional Trade Agreements.Tariffs are being dismantled asymmetrically, reflecting the different levels of economic development of the two parties. While Poland has until the end of 1999 to abolish tariffs on EU industrial products, Polish goods already enter the EU duty free.Trade in agricultural products is subject to different arrangements, based on increasing mutual concessions on a product-by-product basis.The Department attaches considerable importance to the strict implementation of the provisions of the Europe Agreement in order to reduce the barriers to trade between the UK and Poland. This is essential in order to assist Poland with the completion of its economic transition and its preparations for accession to the EU.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the impact of the Multilateral Agreement on Investment on (a) the ability of local authorities to direct local economic development and (b) the poorest countries of the developing world. [26989]

The MAI concerns discrimination against enterprises on the grounds of nationality, which is not generally a factor in local authority decisions. Therefore, there is no reason to believe that the Agreement will cause problems for local government policies.The Department for International Development is commissioning a study on any implications the MAI may have for developing countries.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will convene a meeting of representatives of her Department, the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, the Treasury and the Department for International Development, to discuss the Multilateral Agreement on Investment in advance of the High Level meeting of OECD Ministers on 16 and 17 February. [27277]

My officials are in constant contact with those from other Government departments on the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI), including the issues likely to arise at the High Level Meeting.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans her Department has to investigate the circumstances leading to Hollis Industries plc going into receivership. [27001]

[holding answer 2 February 1998]: An administration order under the provisions of the Insolvency Act 1986 was made in respect of Hollis Industries plc on 11 December 1991. It is my department's long established position not to comment on the affairs of individual companies but if the right hon. Gentleman has any information concerning the company which he considers justifies an investigation he will no doubt forward it to me.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when she plans to bring forward legislation based on the Green Paper regarding small firms charging interest on their debts. [26827]

[holding answer 2 February 1998]: The Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Bill was introduced, in the other place, on 10 December. It had its Second Reading on 12 January and was subject to committee consideration on 28 January.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to protect micro-firms against the practices of larger debt holding companies. [26829]

[holding answer 2 February 1998]: The Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Bill proposes to provide small businesses, including micro-businesses, with the statutory right to claim interest from large businesses and the public sector on late paid commercial debts. After two years, it is proposed to expand the right to claim so that all businesses may be subject to claims for interest from small businesses, including micro-businesses. After a further two years, the Government have proposed that all businesses and the public sector will have the statutory right to claim interest from all businesses and the public sector.The Bill is currently being considered in the other place, after which time it will be discussed in this House.The Government are also working in partnership with the Better Payment Practice Group, which includes small firms representative organisations, to promote a better payment culture and to ensure that small firms are able to manage their credit effectively. We will also publish a free guide to credit management and debt recovery and ensure that small businesses can access credit management information and advice through the Enterprise Zone. In addition Business Links, and the equivalent organisation in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have been encouraged to assist small businesses with their credit management procedures.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the benefits of allowing small firms to charge interest on moneys owed by late payers. [26828]

[holding answer 2 February 1998]: The Regulatory Appraisal of the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Bill details, among other things, the benefits of the legislation. The legislation:

will allow a small business supplier to claim recompense for the cost of late payment;

may reduce business risk caused by cash-flow uncertainty resulting from late payment;

will make it uneconomic for debtors to withhold payment;

will reduce the number of cases which need to go to court for settlement, as the right to interest will be statutory;

will encourage creditors and debtors to agree credit periods and to resolve disputes quickly;

will result in less valuable management time and resources being spent on chasing tardy debtors.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if she will amend Part III of the Fair Trading Act 1973, to extend the definition of unfair conduct to actions which may not amount to a civil or criminal offence but still oppress and mislead the consumer; [26830](2) if she will remove the condition of persistence of unfair practice, in respect of prosecutions of rogue traders. [26831]

[holding answer 2 February 1998]: Active consideration is being given to the reform of Part III of the Fair Trading Act 1973. I have received a number of recommendations for changes including the removal of the condition of persistence of unfair practice, in respect of prosecutions of rogue traders.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much extra coal will be burnt in April to June 1998 in British power stations as a result of the Government's recent action in response to the expiry of coal contracts with generators. [26832]

[holding answer 2 February 1998]: Following discussions between the electricity generators and RJB Mining in December 1997, National Power and Eastern Electricity agreed with RJB Mining to accelerate deliveries of 600,000 tonnes between them in the April-June quarter of 1998. PowerGen agreed to purchase 1.1 million tonnes from RJB in this period. The volumes of coal burned in the quarter will depend upon the decisions of the individual generating companies.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the impact of European Commission proposals to continue access to the Cohesion Fund, for those countries currently with such access, which join the single currency system. [27311]

[holding answer 3 February 1998]: The Government believe that, since one of the main reasons for establishing the Cohesion Fund was to help poorer Member States to achieve economic convergence, there is a strong case for ending access to the Fund for those which have met the macroeconomic criteria for joining the single currency. The Government will argue for the Cohesion Fund to be subject to the same overall budget stringency as the Structural Funds.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many compensatory (a) refunds and (b) free searches have been given to subscribers to the new on-line Companies House information system since its inception. [27313]

[holding answer 3 February 1998]: Companies House has granted refunds of a month's subscription charge, in the form of a free subscription for the forthcoming month, to 1,240 subscribers. Subscribers have also been given 3,800 free screens which would otherwise be charged for, and almost 8,000 free searches.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the impact of the draft European Union Energy Products Directive on United Kingdom manufacturers, retailers and consumers; and if she will make a statement. [25758]

I have been asked to reply as the Minister responsible.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations she has received about errors in conversion tables in the DTI publication "The Euro: Redenomination of Share Capital", a DTI consultation paper; and if she will make a statement. [26784]

[holding answer 2 February 1998]: Two. An incorrect conversion rate was used in an illustration of the conversion of sterling nominal or par values of shares into euro. However, the point of the illustration, that some fractional sterling par values could round to zero on conversion and application of rounding rules, remains valid.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the impact on global free trade agreements of the proposed new restrictions on the retail sale of vitamin B6; and if she will make a statement. [26358]

I have been asked to reply.The regulations required to implement the proposed controls on dietary supplements containing vitamin B6 will be the subject of consultation with interested parties. Nevertheless, the Government consider that the proposals are based on sound scientific principles, are non-discriminatory, and are therefore fully consistent with World Trade Organisation rules.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the potential impact on global free trade agreements of the proposed new European Directive on dietary supplements; and if she will make a statement. [26359]

I have been asked to reply.The European Commission has issued a discussion document on the possible harmonisation of controls on dietary supplements but has made no proposal for a new Directive on this subject.If the Commission were to make a formal proposal, the Government will wish to ensure that any measures adopted respect the EU' s obligations under World Trade Organisation rules.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will visit the Kingsbridge NFU branch in south Devon. [25401]

I have no plans to do so.

To ask the Prime Minister when he expects next to visit south Belfast. [25402]

To ask the Prime Minister when he plans next to visit Cunninghame, South. [25403]

I have no immediate plans to do so.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the occasions on which he has given permission for partners of Ministers other than their spouses to accompany Ministers on overseas visits at public expense. [23722]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Spelthorne (Mr. Wilshire) on 3 February 1998, Official Report, column 581.

To ask the Prime Minister what steps he has taken to ensure that the output of the Central Media Monitoring Unit cannot be used for party political advantage. [24240]

[holding answer 20 January 1998]: The Media Monitoring Unit is staffed by civil servants who are under a duty set out in the Civil Service Code to conduct themselves with integrity, impartiality and honesty. The Unit operates strictly within the Guidance on the Work of the Government Information Service which specifies that work carried out by the Service should not be, or be liable to misrepresentation as being, party political. Ministers are also under a duty in the Ministerial Code to uphold the political impartiality of the Civil Service and not to use public resources for party political purposes.

To ask the Prime Minister what is the projected annual cost of the Central Media Monitoring Unit. [24239]

[holding answer 20 January 1998]: The Media Monitoring Unit is currently operating as a pilot. Decisions on its permanent staffing and range of services have not been made. It is not yet possible, therefore, to provide a meaningful projection of costs for full operation. However, all the Unit's set-up and running costs have been contained within Departments' current budgets, as will all future costs.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make available to all hon. Members the output of the Central Media Monitoring Unit. [24241]

[holding answer 20 January 1998]: The Media Monitoring Unit is currently operating as a pilot. When it is fully operational, I will arrange for the Unit's regular output to be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 4 February. [25681]

This morning I had meetings with Ministerial colleagues and others. Later today I go to the United States of America.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the annual traffic census figures for 1992 to 1997 on (a) Mallusk Road from the junction with Hydepark Road to Bernice Road, (b) Hydepark Road, (c) Park Road, (d) Bernice Road and (e) Sealstown Road. [27136]

[holding answer 3 February 1998]: The subject in question has been delegated to the Roads Service under its chief executive, Mr. W. McCoubrey. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she intends to publish the code of practice governing the silent video recording of police interviews with terrorist suspects. [27984]

I have today placed in the Library a draft of the code of practice, as amended following the consultation exercise undertaken last year. An Order bringing the code into operation will be laid in due course.

NHSiS—In-patient day case discharges from non-obstetric or non-psychiatric specialties. Selected diseases of the respiratory system. Years ended 31 March 1993–97 by month of discharge
Year	Month of discharge	Bronchitis	Influenza	Pneumonia	Hypothermia	Asthma
1992–93	April	238	6	737	14	700
	May	209	4	649	8	745
	June	234	8	732	7	807
	July	190	8	621	12	768
	August	182	8	509	13	728
	September	168	9	553	2	1,161
	October	234	10	629	14	929
	November	199	13	666	16	838

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost to public funds of grant aid by Historic Scotland for hailing the walls of Bankton House, Prestonpans, using lime mortar in (a) 1994 and (b) 1997; and what estimate was made of the cost of the same work if cement were to be included in the mortar. [22144]

The proportion of the total grant of £358,500 awarded by Historic Scotland in 1994 which related to the cost of lime harling was £2,068. This sum excludes preliminaries, preparation work, professional fees and VAT. A final account is not yet available for the remedial work which commenced in 1997 supported by the award of a further grant of £101,190. However, the tender cost indicates that the comparable cost of lime harling is £25,644. No estimate was made of the cost of including cement in the lime harl mix as this was considered an inappropriate material on the very soft original sandstone walling of this building.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the occasions since 1980 when nuclear reactors have been shut down for safety reasons, indicating in each case the date of shut down, the reason for the shut down and the date on which power generation recommenced. [24752]

[holding answer 22 January 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Science, Energy and Industry, on 29 January 1998, Official Report, column 357.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people received treatment from (i) general practitioners and (ii) NHS hospitals in Scotland for (a) bronchitis, (b) influenza, (c) pneumonia, (d) hypothermia and (e) asthma for each month in the last five years. [25823]