To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Paymaster General intends to take legal action against Business Age relating to the article about him on Friday 30 January. [28038]

This is not a matter for me.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many companies have paid foreign income dividends since 2 July 1997. [27720]

About 500 companies have paid foreign income dividends (FIDs) since 2 July 1997. This includes companies without an overseas source of income of their own but who have received FIDs from companies in which they have an equity holding.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the effect on revenue from ACT consequential on the abolition of foreign income dividends in July 1997. [27719]

Since July 1997 when my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced the abolition of foreign income dividends (FIDs) in April 1999 and the ending of payable tax credits for pension funds and UK companies, FIDs have increased to cost about £1 billion a year in lower advance corporation tax (ACT). This loss will be subsumed in the Pre-Budget Report proposals for a modern system of corporation tax payments which include the abolition of ACT on dividends paid after 6 April 1999.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what was the total amount collected by smaller quoted companies on behalf of the Government through PAYE during 1997 or the most recent year for which figures are available; [27109](2) what contribution was made by smaller quoted companies in terms of

I regret that this information is not vailable.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the future of the London Stock Exchange's role as the competent authority for listing. [28633]

The London Stock Exchange (LSE) is currently, under the Financial Services Act 1986, the competent authority for listing in the United Kingdom. I have considered future arrangements against the background of our decision to have a single statutory regulator, the Financial Services Authority, for financial services.I have concluded that the case for change at this stage is not made. The LSE is operating satisfactorily in creating and enforcing listing rules in a way which gives confidence to investors, while meeting the commercial needs of users. Before any change were made we would need to be sure that this was fully justified on the balance of the arguments, and that arrangements for satisfactory transition were in place.Accordingly this will be a matter kept under review. Among the factors which may be relevant to any decision to transfer functions could be the institutional arrangements for tackling market abuse and the impact of increased competition in the UK's securities markets.The new Bill to reform the 1986 Act will therefore name the LSE as competent authority. However, I also intend that the Bill will include a power for the Treasury to transfer the competent authority functions, in part or in whole, to another body by secondary legislation.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the tax treatment of transactions in futures and options designed to produce a guaranteed return. [28677]

The Government have already announced their intention to act against leakages of tax from artificial avoidance devices. Last year's Finance Act included legislation designed to counter tax avoidance schemes which used options or futures to convert income into capital gains. But it did not cover every possible device.The Inland Revenue have been instructed to prepare legislation for inclusion in the next Finance Bill which will counter, with effect from today, one class of avoidance devices which is not covered by the Finance Act 1997 and from which significant amounts of tax may be at risk. Details of the device concerned, and the proposed legislation, are included in an Inland Revenue Press Release which is published today.

To ask the Attorney-General what assessment he has made of the scrutiny carried out by the Charity Commission of the actions of the trustees of the French Convalescent Home with regard to the sale of the home. [27358]

None: it is not for me to assess any scrutiny that may have been carried out by the Charity Commissioners into the actions of Charity trustees.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the extent to which trustees should be required to exercise duties and responsibilities before the Charity Commission exercises its discretion under the Charities Act 1993. [27359]

The Charity Commission, in pursuit of its statutory responsibility for promoting the effective use of charitable resources, makes guidance available to all charity trustees on the exercise of their duties. This explains that trustees must at all times act reasonably and prudently in matters relating to the charity and that they must always bear in mind the interests of the charity.While charity trustees remain responsible for the administration of their charity within its existing trusts, the Commission has the power to establish a scheme for the future administration of a charity where it is clear that the charity's trusts have ceased to provide a suitable and effective method of using the available assets. It is the duty of the trustees to consider seeking such a scheme in those circumstances or where there are other difficulties in giving effect to the charity's original objectives.

To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if the Committee has yet reviewed the current regulations on use of House of Commons post paid envelopes and stationery referred to in Early Day Motion 597 (Conduct of the hon. Member for Bassetlaw and use of House of Commons post paid envelopes); and if she will make a statement. [28632]

At its meeting on 27 January the Administration Committee reviewed the current regulations on House stationery and post paid envelopes, taking into consideration the points made in the hon. Gentleman's Early Day Motion.The Committee accepted the implications contained in the Early Day Motion, that it was not the intention of the existing regulations that hon. Members should be prevented from using this stationery in order to write to each other on legitimate Parliamentary business; the Committee accepted also that the circumstances surrounding the hon. Gentleman's letter that he referred to, and that from the hon. Member for Worcester (Mr. Foster), which was also mentioned, were such that those letters should be properly regarded as having been sent on an essentially Parliamentary matter.In order to clarify the existing rules on House stationery and post paid envelopes, the Committee has determined that paragraph 4 (Original House stationery) should be amended to read as follows:

To ask the President of the Council what plans the Government have to restore Cabinet salary differentials over junior Ministers; and over what timescale. [28193]

The Government's position on ministerial salaries after 1 April 1999 will be announced nearer the time.

To ask the Prime Minister what was the cost to public funds for travel and accommodation for the staff, Prime Minister and Mrs. Blair on their trip to Japan. [23477]

[holding answer 16 January 1998]: Details of costs are not yet available.

To ask the Prime Minister when he gave written permission to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, North (Mr. Henderson) to take Miss Geraldine Daly to an EU meeting in Luxembourg. [26248]

[holding answer 29 January 1998]: It is not the practice to publish exchanges of ministerial correspondence.

To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to appoint an independent representative of the housing professions to the Social Exclusion Unit; and if he will make a statement. [25786]

None. Members of the Social Exclusion Unit are not chosen to act as representatives of any particular field. Given the need to keep the Unit to a sensible size it is not possible to select from every relevant background. We have selected members with a wide range of experience, who will work proactively to draw in the views and expertise of people from other backgrounds, including housing.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners expressed an interest or applied for a transfer to the Republic of Ireland (a) between 1 November and 31 December 1996 and (b) in 1997; and how many of these transfers have been completed. [27408]

Between 1 November and 31 December 1996, four prisoners held in England and Wales applied for transfer to the Republic of Ireland. In 1997, 39 prisoners applied for transfer to the Republic of Ireland. Six of these 43 prisoners have now been repatriated to prisons in the Republic.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners expressed an interest or applied for a transfer from the Republic of Ireland to the United Kingdom (a) between 1 November and 31 December 1996 and (b) in 1997; and how many of these transfers have been completed. [27411]

The date on which prisoners seeking repatriation from the Republic of Ireland to England and Wales expressed an interest or applied for repatriation is not held by the Prison Service. However, since 1 November 1995, five prisoners have been repatriated from the Republic of Ireland to England and Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the (a) annual cost and (b) total value of the empty properties owned by (i) his Department, (ii) his agencies and (iii) other public bodies for which he has responsibility, in (A) 1995–96, (B) 1996–97, (C) 1997–98 to date and (D) 1997–98 full year. [26677]

[holding answer 5 February 1998]: My Department's estimate of the annual cost and total value of the empty properties (excluding empty homes) it owns for each of the financial years requested is as follows:

£000
	1995–96	1996–97	1997–98 to date	1997–98 full year
Total costs	925	914	227	254
Total value	6,081	6,045	4,480	4,480

These figures do not take account of the empty homes owned by my Department for which central records are not held. A meaningful estimate could therefore be made only at disproportionate cost. Progress in reducing the number of these is reported annually.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 2 February 1998, Official Report, column 529, on expenditure on police, by how much his proposals for the overall spending of police authorities for 1998–99 increase the proposed budget under the previous administration's spending plans. [27814]

[holding answer 5 February 1998]: Under plans announced by the previous Administration in the 1997 Annual Report of the Department of the Environment (Cm 3607), police Total Standard Spend (TSS) in England was expected to be £6.576 billion in 1998–99. TSS is the level of revenue spending which the Government consider appropriate for police authorities to spend in aggregate. Comparable figures for Welsh police authorities were not made available.Following publication of the Police Grant Report (England and Wales) 1998–99 (HC492), which was laid in the House on 2 February, and under the capping proposals for police authorities announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on 2 December and re-stated on 2 February, the overall spending power of police authorities in England in 1998–99 will increase to around £6.788 billion.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what strategies he has put in place since 1 May 1997 (1) to support successful local projects involving police, local government, schools and businesses aimed at curbing the activities of dealers in illegal drugs; [26298](2) how many joint programmes to promote the education of young people as to the dangers of illegal drugs have been (i) undertaken and (ii) planned for since 1 May 1997 between his Department and

I have been asked to reply.Since 1 May the Government have supported a range of existing activities against dealers through, for example, the Home Office Drug Prevention Initiative.The police service has always taken a leading role in the fight against drugs. To reinforce this the Home Secretary, on 4 November 1997, set as one of the key objectives for policing in 1998–99

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the nominal pay loads, ranges, speeds and cargo space dimensions for (a) C130, (b) FLA and (c) C-17 transport aircraft. [27507]

Manufacturers" brochure figures for the aircraft in question are:

• (a) C-130J-30
• Design payload (2.5g manoeuvre limits)—16.3 Tonnes
• Range at design payload (2.5g manoeuvre limits)—2,400
• Nautical Miles
• Cruise speed—0.52 Mach
• Maximum cargo floor length (excluding ramp)—16.76m
• Maximum cargo floor width—3.12m
• Cargo hold height—2.74m.
• (b) FLA
• Design Payload (2.5g manoeuvre limits)—25.0 Tonnes
• Range at design payload (2.5g manoeuvre limits)—2,100
• Nautical Miles
• Cruise speed—0.68 Mach
• Maximum cargo floor length (excluding ramp)—17.25m
• Maximum cargo floor width—4.00m
• Cargo hold height—3.85m to 4.00m
• (c) C-17
• Design payload (2.5g manoeuvre limits)—55.4 Tonnes
• Range at design payload (2.5g manoeuvre limits)—3,300
• Nautical Miles
• Cruise speed—0.74 Mach to 0.77 Mach
• Maximum cargo floor length (excluding ramp)—20.78m
• Maximum cargo floor width—5.49m
• Cargo hold height—3.76m to 4.11m

Performance figures will have been based on detailed technical assumptions made by the individual manufacturers and will not be, in all respects, directly comparable. Additionally, aircraft payload/range performance will vary depending on a number of factors such as mission profile, fuel reserves, manoeuvring limits and atmospheric conditions.Comparisons between aircraft types would normally take into account a much wider range of performance characteristics and other factors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at which locations he is undertaking research into (a) laser, (b) x-ray and (c) other radiological weapon systems. [26944]

The employment of laser weapons designed to cause permanent blindness in unenhanced vision is banned by Protocol IV to the UN Weaponry Convention, to which the UK is a signatory. The UK therefore does not carry out research into such weapons. However, research into other laser systems to counter enemy weapons and to define protection measures for our own forces is carried out by the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency at Farnborough, Fort Halstead, Portsdown, Malvern and Pershore.The UK does not carry out any research into x-ray weapons, nor into weapon systems whose primary effect is radiological, although nuclear weapons research is undertaken at the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy on the clearance of minefields in the Falkland Islands; and if he will make a statement. [28222]

The Government are committed to meeting their obligations under the Ottawa Convention. They are currently considering how best to achieve this with regard to the mined areas on the Falkland Islands. Comprehensive clearance work on the minefields was stopped soon after the conflict following a number of serious incidents involving clearance personnel. While all but one British laid mines have been cleared a large number of Argentine laid mines remain. Currently the areas in which mines remain are marked and fenced off, to ensure that they are not a threat to the people living on the Islands.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the latest military situation in the Gulf. [28888]

Our aim is to secure a diplomatic solution to the current crisis and we continue to work to that end. However, in view of the continuing refusal of the Iraqi regime to comply fully with the requirements of the United Nations Security Council, I have reviewed the United Kingdom's military presence in the region and concluded that, as a further precautionary measure, we should deploy 8 Tornado GR I aircraft, with support, to Kuwait. With the agreement of the Government of Kuwait, appropriate planning is in hand and the Tornados will deploy in the next few days.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what steps she is taking to ensure that absent parents and parents with care are informed that they may have face-to-face interviews with Child Support Agency staff at local offices; [26207](2) how many face-to-face interviews were conducted with absent parents and parents with care during

Children are entitled to the financial and emotional support of both parents wherever they live. We are looking closely at all aspects of the child support scheme to see where improvements can be made. We aim to bring forward proposals by the Summer.The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mrs. Faith Boardman. She will write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many telephone inquiries have been handled by the family credit helpline in each month since January 1996; [25638](2) what method the family credit unit has of recording how many callers failed to get through to the family credit helpline; and how many unsuccessful attempts were made to call the helpline in each month since January 1996. [25635]

The administration of Family Credit is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to change the number of waiting days for jobseeker's allowance. [28887]

In the Welfare State review which the Prime Minister has set up, the Government will be considering the issue of waiting days in Jobseeker's Allowance. As it is part of the review, the Government will not therefore be proceeding with the previous proposal to extend the number of waiting days in Jobseeker's Allowance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to prohibit discrimination in (a) employment and (b) other fields on the grounds of age. [26273]

I have been asked to reply.The Government deplore unjustified age discrimination and are committed to ensuring that all people are treated fairly, whatever their age. The Government are actively considering how best to tackle issues affecting older people and, at this stage, have no plans to legislate against age discrimination. However, I plan to consult on developing an effective Code of Practice on age discrimination in employment to promote fair recruitment and selection practices. This Department does not have responsibility for the second part of this question.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is her estimate of the cost of buildings refurbishment carried out by her Department in (a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97, (c) 1997–98 to date and (d) 1997–98 full year; and if she will make a statement. [26597]

[holding answer 5 February 1998]: The amounts for my Department and its Agencies (excluding refurbishments funded by landlords) are as follows:

Year	£
1995–96	11,638,000
1996–97	7,400,000
1997–98 to date	3,304,000
1997–98 full year estimate	4,691,000

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the last ECGD risk assessments were made for Singapore; and what changes were made to the premium rates as a result. [27858]

[holding answer 5 February 1998]: The last formal ECGD risk assessment for Singapore was made in February 1993. As a result, premium rates were reduced. The precise amount will vary according to the terms of support for individual transactions.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the latest Hawk jet order was granted ECGD cover before the December 1997 re-assessment of Indonesian risk. [27859]

[holding answer 5 February 1998]: Yes.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations she has received on the bid by Nomura International for the Energy Group plc, with particular reference to matters relating to documentation. [28236]

Nomura International has announced publicly that it is in talks with The Energy Group which may lead to a bid for The Energy Group. I have seen the Early-Day Motion No. 710 on a possible bid tabled by my hon. Friends the Members for Norwich, North (Dr. Gibson) and for Harrow, West (Mr. Thomas).

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to her answer of 22 January 1998, Official Report, column 656, how much has been paid out by the Export Credits Guarantee Department to British defence contractors in default of payment for defence exports to Malaysia in each year since 1990. [27424]

[holding answer 4 February 1998]: No claims have been paid in respect of exports of defence equipment to Malaysia since 1990.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to her answer of 22 January 1998, Official Report, column 656, how much has been paid out by the Export Credits Guarantee Department to British defence contractors in default of payment for defence exports to South Korea in each year since 1990. [27427]

[holding answer 4 February 1998]: No claims have been paid in respect of exports of defence equipment to South Korea since 1990.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to her answer of 22 January 1998, Official Report, column 656, how much has been paid out by the Export Credits Guarantee Department to British defence contractors in default of payment for defence exports to Singapore in each year since 1990. [27428]

[holding answer 4 February 1998]: No claims have been made in respect of exports of defence equipment to Singapore since 1990.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to her answer of 22 January 1998, Official Report, column 656, how much has been paid out by the Export Credits Guarantee Department to British defence contractors in default of payment for defence exports to Thailand in each year since 1990. [27426]

[holding answer 4 February 1998]: No claims have been made in respect of exports of defence equipment to Thailand since 1990.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to her answer of 22 January 1998, Official Report, column 656, how much has been paid out by the Export Credits Guarantee Department to British defence contractors in default of payment for defence exports to China in each year since 1990. [27425]

[holding answer 4 February 1998]: No claims have been paid in respect of exports of defence equipment to China since 1990.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement about the operation of the Chemical Weapons Act 1996. [27986]

As required by the Act, a report on its implementation during 1997 has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to ensure that annual inspections of 33kV power lines are carried out by electricity companies. [27496]

Regulation 24 of the Electricity Supply Regulations 1988 (as amended) (SI 1988 No. 1057) states the

"The Supplier shall take all reasonably practicable steps to inspect his installations and works to ensure compliance with these regulations".

In carrying out these inspections they will have regard to various regulations which cover overhead lines and the height of conductors, anti-climbing guards and safety signs, sky wires and insulators and general design requirements for sufficiency for purpose.Therefore, companies inspect lines at different frequencies dependent on several factors including the voltages involved and the risk of unauthorised climbing and interference.I have no plans at present to change these arrangements.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many representations her Department has received from independent electrical retailers and trade bodies in respect of the Government's competition policy. [27684]

My Department has received representations from some 160 independent electrical retailers and trade bodies, which have written a total of around 260 letters, concerning my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade's proposals on domestic electrical goods

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps she plans to take to assist the marketing of a Fair Trade labelled banana in the United Kingdom. [24822]

[holding answer 23 January 1998]: The Department for International Development is currently considering the possibility of some assistance for the marketing of "Fair Trade" bananas in the United Kingdom. In general, Fair Trade labels are a market response to consumer demand, and industry is in the best position to consider the commercial desirability of such labels. Any assistance offered by the Government would have to be compatible with the United Kingdom's obligation under World Trade Organisation agreements.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what quantities of plutonium separated from Swedish spent fuel have been reprocessed to date at Sellafield; and when this fuel was reprocessed. [27142]

All 140tU of Swedish fuel contracted for reprocessing in the Thorp baseload was reprocessed during 1997. Details of plutonium separated during reprocessing contracts are commercially confidential between BNFL and its customers.Information relating to the UK's holdings of separated plutonium, including Pu belonging to overseas customers, is published annually. A copy of the latest figures, covering such holdings as at 31 December 1996, was placed in the Library of the House on 2 December 1997.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many contracts, covering what quantities or mixed-oxide nuclear fuel, have been signed to date to make use of the MOX demonstration facility at Sellafield. [27166]

BNFL has signed contracts for its MOX demonstration facility with electric power companies in Switzerland, Germany and Japan. The details of these contracts are commercially confidential between BNFL and its customers.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations she has received about the removal of wealth warnings from radio advertisements relating to financial services products and consumer credit; and if she will make a statement. [27107]

None, however I will publish a consultation paper on simplification and clarification of some aspects of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 this month. This will include a proposal on wealth warnings.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will list for each year since 1987 the number of incidents where monitoring has shown that safe levels of lubricant in food processing have been exceeded; [27957](2) if he will list those lubricants licensed for direct contact with food; [27958](3) if he will make a statement on the criteria that apply to

The Government do not operate a product approval or licensing system for lubricants used by the food industry. All lubricants which contain mineral hydrocarbons are controlled, under the Mineral Hydrocarbons in Food Regulations 1966 (SI No. 1966/1073 as amended). These Regulations generally prohibit the direct or indirect use of mineral hydrocarbons in food, but recognise that contact between lubricants and food during processing is sometimes unavoidable. Food is therefore permitted to contain a very limited quantity of mineral hydrocarbon, as specified in the Regulations, arising as a result of such contact.In the case of all other lubricants, public protection is afforded by the Food Safety Act 1990 which makes it an offence to sell food which is (i) injurious to health, (ii) not of the nature, substance or quality demanded, (iii) unfit for human consumption, or (iv) misleadingly or falsely labelled. Enforcement of the Act and the Regulations is the responsibility of local authorities.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he will take to ensure that additional payments are made to farmers who will receive less green pound compensation under the scheme of 3 February 1998 than under the scheme of 22 December 1997; and if he will make a statement. [28263]

While I recognise that the effective distribution of the aid package announced on 3 February is slightly different from that which would have resulted from the implementation of the package announced on 22 December, I would emphasise that the vast majority of the revised package will still be paid to livestock farmers in the hills and uplands. There are no plans to make any other additional payments to supplement the payments made via this package to producers in the hills.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate how many farmers in (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland will receive (i) additional, (ii) lower and (iii) the same level of compensation under the package announced on 3 February 1998 compared to the package of 22 December 1997; how many of these will lose (1) more than £5,000, (2) between £1,000 and £5,000 and (3) less than £1,000; and if he will make a statement. [28262]

The analysis requested cannot be undertaken without making hypothetical assumptions about the rates of payment which might have been set for the 1998 Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances Scheme consequential to my right hon. Friend's statement of 22 December. In the UK as a whole the revised package will provide for payments to lowland sheep farmers who would not otherwise have benefited and for higher payments to lowland suckler cow farmers. Sheep and cattle farmers in the Less Favoured Areas will receive about 10 per cent. less of the total £85 million in the revised package.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list by county (a) the number of dairy herds, (b) the number of tuberculosis herd tests in 1997 and (c) the target intended for testing herds. [28032]

Census data show holdings on which there are dairy herds. Some holdings may have more than one dairy herd and this will not be reflected in the figures at (a) below. For England the data relate to June 1996; for Wales they also relate to June 1996 and to Government Office Regions, not counties. Census data for Scotland relate to June 1997.TB herd tests at

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the cost of compensation payments to farmers for cattle infected with tuberculosis in each of the last five years. [28030]

Compensation paid in Great Britain in respect of animals slaughtered as TB reactors or contacts was as follows:

• 1993—£2.18 million
• 1994—£2.02 million
• 1995—£1.99 million
• 1996—£2.28 million
• 1997—£2.22 million.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list by county the total number of herds affected by tuberculosis outbreaks in 1997, separately identifying those where no previous outbreak had been recorded for 10 years. [28029]

The information listed reflects the number of herds which have been confirmed as being affected by tuberculosis in 1997. The figures are not complete, since we do not yet have laboratory culture confirmations for all herds which were suspected of having bovine tuberculosis in 1997. The figures include those herds which continued to be affected (during at least part of 1997) with confirmed disease from previous years and those newly affected in 1997.In the time available, it has not been possible to identify those herds in which no previous outbreak has been recorded for 10 years, but I will write to the hon. Member with the information when it is available.

County	1997 total confirmed TB herd breakdowns
Northumberland	7
Durham	0
Cumbria	1
Cheshire	4
Merseyside	0
West Yorkshire	1
Humberside	0
Nottinghamshire	1
Leicestershire	2
Staffordshire	35
Hereford and Worcester	198
Warwickshire	1
Suffolk	0
Bedfordshire	0
Essex	3
Surrey	0
East Sussex	10
Hampshire	0
Oxfordshire	1
Berkshire	0
Wiltshire	84
Somerset	63
Devon	251
Isles of Scilly	0
Powys	29
Clwyd	0
Mid Glamorgan	3
Gwent	139
Tyne and Wear	0
Cleveland	0
Lancashire	1
Greater Manchester	0
North Yorkshire	0
South Yorkshire	0
Derbyshire	5
Lincolnshire	2
Northamptonshire	3
Shropshire	6
West Midlands	0
Norfolk	1
Cambridgeshire	0
Hertford	0
Greater London	0
Kent	0
West Sussex	1
Isle of Wight	0
Buckinghamshire	1
Gloucestershire	230
Avon	60
Dorset	33
Cornwall	283
Gwynedd	2
West Glamorgan	5
South Glamorgan	0
Dyfed	92
Aberdeenshire	8
Kincardine	1
Orkney	0

County	1997 total confirmed TB herd breakdowns
Caithness	2
Inverness-shire	1
Ross and Cromarty	0
Angus	1
Dumbartonshire	1
Kinross	0
Perthshire	0
Stirling	0
Dumfriesshire	4
East Lothian	1
Lanarkshire	1
Midlothian	0
Wigtown	4
Selkirk	0
Banffshire	1
Moray	0
Argyll	1
Shetland	0
Nairn	0
Sutherland	0
Clackmannan	0
Fife	0
Ayrshire	4
Bute	2
Berwickshire	0
Dumbartonshire	0
Kirkcudbright	6
Renfrew	0
Peebles	1
Roxburgh	0
West Lothian	0

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimates he has made of the cost of implementing the recommendations contained in the Krebs Report on badgers and bovine TB. [28028]

The Government have indicated that they are disposed to accept the recommendations of the Krebs Report on TB in cattle and badgers subject to further consideration of the public expenditure, legal and practical implications. We are consulting on how the recommendations should be implemented. The cost implications are potentially substantial. We are currently assessing these.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he proposes to take to assist poultry farmers in respect of increases in costs arising from the ban on the use of mammalian meat and bone meal in poultry feed. [28031]

It is appreciated that the March 1996 extension of the ban on the feeding of mammalian meat and bonemeal to all farmed livestock, including poultry, has meant that producers have faced increased feed costs. It is, however, a long standing principle of public policy that the Government do not compensate for financial loss resulting from legislation.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for what reasons he has postponed the implementation of the prohibition of green top milk; what is the nature of his review of green top milk; and if he will make a statement. [27963]

The consultation period on the proposal to ban the sale of raw cows" drinking milk has been extended by three weeks to 24 February 1998, at the request of producers, so that they would have longer to make their views known. At the end of the consultation, we will consider all the responses and all other factors, including the risk to public health, before deciding how to proceed.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many consignments of beef from the United Kingdom have been rejected as a result of the meat being over 30 months old since 1 August 1996. [25503]

[holding answer 27 February 1998]: None. The only beef exports from the UK which are permitted at present are the re-export of imported material. Such consignments must conform with Community standards for placing meat on the market and any national rules in the receiving country. There are no Community requirements in respect of age of meat nor are we aware of any national rules.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a list of measures which his Ministry has required to be implemented in order to safeguard the public's health since BSE was first identified in the United Kingdom. [25252]

[holding answer 26 January 1998]: A list of measures taken to protect public health since BSE was first identified in November 1986, is given in the most recent publication of the BSE Progress Report which was placed in the Library of the House on 23 July 1997. This covered the period up to the end of June 1997. Subsequent measures are as follows:

Date	Legislation
1 August 1997	The Bovine and Bovines Products (Despatch Prohibition and Production Restriction) Regulations 1997 (SI 1997/1905), revoke and replace the Bovine Products (Production and Despatch) Regulations 1997. Regulations fully implement the requirements of Decision 96/239/EC, as amended by Decision 96/362/EC, on emergency measures to protect against BSE.
21 September 1997	The Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) (Amendment) Regulations 1997 amend the 1995 Regulations, remove the provision for the slaughter of private kill animals, thereby ensuring that all red meat animals killed in slaughterhouses for human consumption are subject to full meat inspection.
21 September 1997	The Animal By-products (Identification) (Amendment) Regulations 1997 (SI 1997/2073) amends 1995 Regulations, adding a category to the animal by-product definition to include meat from a bovine animal presented for slaughter for human consumption and subsequently found to be from an animal over 30 months old.

Date	Legislation
24 October 1997	BSE (No. 2)(Amendment) Order 1997 (SI 1997/2387) amends provisions of the BSE (No. 2) Order 1996 in respect of exposed animals, to allow certain notices to be served by an Inspector of the Minister, as well as by a veterinary inspector.
16 December 1997	The Beef Bones Regulations 1997 (SI 1997/2959) regulate the sale of bone-in-beef derived from bovine animals aged over six months at slaughter.
1 January 1998	The Specified Risk Material Order 1997 (SI 1997/2964) replaces the existing SBM Order and the Heads of Sheep and Goats Order and introduces controls on specified risk material on the lines of those in Commission Decision 97/534.
December 1997 and 1 January 1998	The Specified Risk Material Regulations 1997 (SI 1997/2965) provides for controls on specified risk material, continuing the provisions on food in the SBM Order 1997 and the Heads of Sheep and Goats Order 1996.
1 January 1998	The Specified Risk Material (Amendment) Regulations 1997 (SI 1997/3062) amend regulations 7 and 19 of the SRM Regulations 1997.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will make a statement on the measures taken by his Department in respect of the enforcement of the ban on imports of beef from European Union member states which do not comply with United Kingdom standards on the removal of specified risk materials with particular reference to (a) the extent of reliance on the authorities in exporting countries to indicate that the necessary certification is satisfactory and (b) the application of spot checks at the point of final destruction; [25442](2) if he will assess the advantages of banning all beef imports from countries where the removal of specified risk materials is not a legal requirement. [25443]

The Specified Risk Material Order 1997 requires a number of imported animal products for food or feed use to be accompanied by certification confirming that they do not contain and were not derived from specified risk material (SRM). The required certification must be completed by the official veterinary service in the country of origin. Commercial documentation is not acceptable irrespective of whether the authorities in the country of origin have indicated that it is satisfactory.All consignments of animal products imported directly into the United Kingdom from outside the European Union (EU) are subject to checks at designated Border Inspection Posts (BIPs), including checks on the certification relating to specified risk materials. Single Market rules only permit random spot-checks at destination on animal products traded within the Community. Consistent with those rules, a daily sample of randomly selected consignments arriving from or via other EU member states are subject to documentary checks by Ministry officials for conformity with the new unilateral controls relating to specified risk material.The imposition of a ban on the import of beef, rather than specified risk materials, from certain other countries which do not have specified risk controls would be contrary to Community law. In introducing the ban on SRM imports, the UK is relying on a provision which permits importing Member States to take "interim protective measures" on serious public or animal health grounds. Particularly since this provision is an exception to the usual single market rules and the harmonised regime applying to beef, action taken under it must be no more than is necessary to protect health, and must be proportionate to the risks involved. Since beef itself is not a risk, banning its import cannot be justified.

UK imports of bovine meat, meat preparations and offal from the USA: June 1988 to October 1997
	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997
January	—	1,806	127	191	243	157	225	311	367	227
February	—	402	4	65	61	133	178	289	418	327
March	—	79	24	19	79	229	188	385	445	123
April	—	19	60	77	188	173	225	261	382	207
May	—	25	5	5	73	231	221	417	709	118
June	2,166	13	43	39	142	310	167	145	528	138
July	2,166	24	53	39	85	149	99	388	297	68
August	2,649	24	23	3	102	146	200	357	212	157
September	2,673	3	37	6	139	140	197	319	145	135
October	2,644	111	90	33	201	194	383	470	213	151
November	3,327	17	109	108	235	186	258	450	137	—
December	3,834	62	169	20	278	210	427	491	140	—

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent measures he has taken to end the European ban on United Kingdom beef. [27023]

The Commission has approved a draft Decision, based on UK proposals for an Export Certified Herds Scheme, to permit exports of deboned beef from Northern Ireland. The Standing Veterinary Committee is examining the proposal and is expected to vote on it this month. This major step forward is the result of months of constructive dialogue with the Commission.In October 1997 the UK submitted proposals for a scheme to export beef from cattle born after 1 August 1996 (the Date Based Export Scheme). The Scientific Steering Committee gave a positive response to the principle of a Date Based Export Scheme on 9 December. Following further discussion with the Commission a formal response was submitted on 29 January and we await the Commission's views.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the herds registered with the beef assurance scheme on a county basis. [26837]

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the feeding of meat and bonemeal to cattle in ruminant rations was made illegal in the United States; and if he will estimate the total tonnage of beef imported into the United Kingdom from the USA, between the date of the implementation of the feed ban in the UK and that in the USA. [27065]

The United States" Food and Drug Administration prohibited the use of protein derived from mammals in ruminant animal feed from 4 October 1997. Official Overseas Trade Statistics for imports from the USA of beef, beef preparations and beef offal from June 1988, when the original prohibition on the feeding of ruminant protein to ruminants in the UK came into effect, until October 1997 are set out in the following table.

[holding answer 4 February 1998]: The herds registered under the Beef Assurance Scheme are as follows (listed on a county basis):

County	Herds
Avon	2
Berkshire	1
Cambridgeshire	1
Cornwall	10
Cumbria	1
Devon	8
Dorset	1
Durham	2
Dyfed	4
Essex	2
Gloucestershire	1
Grampian	1
Gwent	1
Gwynedd	3
Hampshire	2
Highland	3
Kent	1
Lancashire	1
Leicestershire	2
Lincolnshire	2
Norfolk	2
North Yorkshire	6
Nottinghamshire	1
Orkney	1
Pembrokeshire	1

County	Herds
Powys	1
Shropshire	1
Somerset	2
South Glamorgan	1
Staffordshire	1
Suffolk	2
Surrey	2
Tayside	3
Warwickshire	1
West Glamorgan	1
West Midlands	1
West Sussex	2
West Yorkshire	1
Wiltshire	1
Worcestershire	2

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the expenditure per pupil on (i) text and library books and (ii) educational tools, equipment and materials in each of the present council areas in (1) 1995–96 and (2) 1996–97 in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools. [24953]

Details of expenditure on schools for financial year 1996–97 are not yet available. The information for 1995–96, under the council areas then applicable, is given in the following table which has been compiled from local authority financial returns. There can be variations in the recording of expenditure under these two headings. It is, therefore, possible that some expenditure on books may be included under expenditure on equipment or vice versa.

Expenditure per pupil on text and library books and on educational tools, equipment and materials
£ (outturn prices)
Year 1995–96	Primary		Secondary
Region	Books	Equipment	Books	Equipment
Borders	0.00	52.39	0.00	152.73
Central	0.69	34.32	2.65	90.92
Dumfries and Galloway	13.49	57.87	8.51	121.30
Fife	24.88	4.88	67.13	24.97
Grampian	0.00	61.01	0.00	135.61
Highland	32.23	26.48	54.89	40.52
Lothian	19.85	40.87	12.20	80.89
Strathclyde	2.09	49.18	4.70	91.56
Tayside	12.81	32.37	9.55	67.31
Orkney	0.00	66.52	0.00	100.07
Shetland	0.00	92.30	0.00	178.47
Western Isles	32.07	71.78	50.35	83.92

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to assist the Glasgow Regeneration Alliance; and if he will make a statement. [25131]

The Glasgow Regeneration Alliance brings together all the key agencies concerned with the long term regeneration of Glasgow. Making the most of the city's many opportunities while regenerating its most deprived communities will require a comprehensive long term strategy for Glasgow. I have held discussions with the Alliance partners about how The Scottish Office can best support the Alliance in preparing and implementing such a strategy.I have agreed that The Scottish Office should now formally join the Alliance, to work with the partners to make the most of Glasgow's opportunities. As a demonstration of commitment to this partnership approach, I am announcing today the offer of direct financial support to the Alliance of £500,000 for 1998–99, to help with the employment of staff and other resources to develop and implement the strategy for the city. Senior officials have been appointed to serve on the Board and Directors" Group. Finally, I am making arrangements for The Scottish Office to handle issues concerning Glasgow in a more co-ordinated way when they cut across Departmental boundaries. I am confident that these measures will assist the Alliance in its immediate task of preparing a comprehensive plan for the renewal of the city, and in its longer-term objective of regenerating Glasgow.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what opportunities for scrutiny of the final decision on the Cairn Gorm funicular railway project will be available to (a) the Edinburgh Parliament, (b) the Westminster Parliament and (c) the European Environment Commission. [25882]

The final decision on whether to proceed with the Cairn Gorm funicular railway project rests with the Cairn Gorm Chairlift Company. That decision will in turn depend upon the decisions of those public sector organisations from which a financial contribution to the project has been sought, including Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the European Commission. There are well-established procedures to ensure the accountability of these organisations for the decisions they take.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the effect on the provision of EC funding to the Cairn Gorm funicular railway of its alleged incompatibility with community environmental guidelines. [25881]

The local members of the Highlands and Islands Partnership were fully aware, when they expressed their recommendation for the award of European Structural Funds for the Cairn Gorm funicular railway, of the need for resolution of questions about the project's compatibility with EC environmental legislation being fully resolved by the European Commission. In accepting the Partnership's advice on the award, I have taken the view that resolution of those questions can be achieved within a timescale compatible with that for drawing upon EC funds under the current Objective 1 programme for the Highlands and Islands.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the projected Cairn Gorm funicular railway is to be regarded as a reserved category under the Scotland Bill. [25880]

The development and operation of the Cairn Gorm funicular railway by private promoters touches on several aspects of central Government functions. In practice, most of those aspects are likely to be dealt with prior to the provisions of the Scotland Bill coming into effect. However, the aspects associated with the environmental impact, the planning considerations and the public sector financial support for the project would in general be devolved responsibilities under the proposals in the Scotland Bill; but health and safety at work aspects would be reserved matters.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the expenditure of his (a) Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies on external consultants in (i) 1995–96, (ii) 1996–97, (iii) 1997–98 to date and (iv) 1997–98 full year; and if he will also estimate the cost savings resulting from the employment of such consultants for each of the above years. [26640]

[holding answer 5 February 1998]: Expenditure by my Department and its agencies on external consultants in 1995–96 and 1996–97 was as follows:

Year	£
1995–96	5,440,000
1996–97	3,520,000

Information is not yet available centrally on expenditure in 1997–98.Expenditure on external consultants by non-departmental public bodies could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.The Scottish Office follows the guidance given in the August 1994 report of the Cabinet Office Efficiency Scrutiny on the use of External Consultants. External consultants are engaged only when internal resources are not available; best procurement practices are followed to ensure that value for money is obtained; and all consultancy assignments are subject to post-contract reviews. Not all consultancy projects lend themselves to analysis in terms of resultant savings, but I am satisfied that the intelligent and selective use of consultants has delivered worthwhile solutions and benefits for The Scottish Office in recent years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those items valued at more than £25 stolen or lost from his Department since 1 May 1997; and if he will make a statement. [27768]

[holding answer 5 February 1998]: A variety of items are periodically reported missing. Security procedures in The Scottish Office, its Agencies and Associated Departments remain under constant review and revised procedures introduced as necessary. The following items valued at more than £25 have been formally recorded since May 1997 as losses due to theft.

Month	Item	Value (£)
May	Laptop Computer	1,727
July	Personal Computer	1,100
	Printer	500
	Disk Drive	200
	Hard Disk	179
	Agricultural Netting	3,000
August	Microwave Oven	200
	Multimedia Speakers	65
	Mobile Phone	33
	Laptop Computer (2)	3,500
	Park Bench	400
September	PC Trackball	106
	Answerphone	60
	Modem	170
	Laptop Computer and Printer	1,949
	Dictation Machine	350
October	PC Motherboard	70
	Modem	132
	PC CD(2)	280
	Pager	80
	Car	1,275
	Laptop Computer	1,500
	Agricultural Netting	2,000
	Trailer	1,800
November	Printer	250
	Laptop Computer	3,000
	Modem	100
	Laptop Computer	2,500
	Modem	200
December	Car	3,975
	PC Keyboard	41
	Carpet Tiles	100
	Numerator Stamp	60
	Soldering Iron	93
January 1998	Dictaphone	42
	Electronic Labelmaker	151

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by grade the number of officials in his Department at grade 3 or above who have (a) taken early retirement, (b) taken official leave, (c) been dismissed, (d) changed jobs within the Department, (e) moved to another Department and (f) been offered and rejected an alternative position (i) within the Department and (ii) in another Department since 1 May. [27456]

[holding answer 5 February 1998]: Since 1 May 1997, no civil servants in my Department at the equivalent of the former Grade 3 or above have taken early retirement or official leave, been dismissed, moved to another Department or been offered or rejected an alternative position, either within the Department or another Department. Three have changed jobs within the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the projected annual budget of the Scottish representative office in Brussels; and under whose instructions it will operate. [27518]

[holding answer 5 February 1998]: The Scottish Executive will decide whether it wishes to have a representative office in Brussels. The Executive would decide the budget for any such office, taking into account such factors as location and functions; and they would be responsible for its operation.