Written Answers

Cannabis

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of those under the age of 21 years in the Metropolitan Police area whose first offence is connected to cannabis were (a) charged, (b) cautioned, (c) convicted and (d) imprisoned in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [28725]

This information is not available since data are not routinely collected on whether a particular offence is the first or a subsequent one committed by an individual.

Correspondence

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire of 18 December on behalf of Mr. Turner. [28733]

I regret that there is no record of the letter dated 18 December from the right hon. Member being received in the Home Office. A letter dated 14 December from Mr. Turner was received in the Home Office on 18 December. He will receive a reply very soon. I will ensure that a copy of that reply is sent to the right hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Minister intends to answer the letters from the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Capell, 8 Wedgewood Road, St. Austell, dated 27 November and 22 December. [27953]

The reply was incorporated in my composite letter of 30 January to each hon. Member about the present position on the firearms compensation scheme. I regret that the volume of correspondence received about the progress of individual claims had prevented an earlier reply from being sent.

Official Cars

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many official cars are available for use by Ministers in his Department; and how many new cars have been acquired for the use of Ministers in his Department since 1 May. [25150]

[holding answer 23 January 1998]: Eight cars are available for use by Home Office Ministers, the same number as were available before 1 May 1997. Two new cars have been paid for by the Department since 1 May 1997, one ordered prior to that date and one since.

Overseas Visits

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times his wife has accompanied him on overseas visits; and what was the cost of her travel and other expenses. [25148]

[holding answer 23 January 1998]: None.

Official Entertainment

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many receptions have been held (a) in his Department and (b) at his official residence since he took office; how many people have attended; and what was the total cost of these events. [25186]

[holding answer 23 January 1998]: Since 1 May 1997, I have hosted four receptions attended by approximately 300 people at a cost of £3,700. I do not have an official residence. Three of the receptions were held at the Home Office. The fourth, a reception for the recipients of police gallantry awards, was held at the House of Commons and accounted for 150 of the guests and for £1,870 of the costs.

Ethnic Minorities

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are his plans for the extension of Section 11 funding for schools with ethnic minorities; and if he will make a statement. [27706]

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

Periodicals

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the expenditure of his Department on newspapers and magazines in (a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97, (c) 1997–98 to date and (d) 1997–98 full year; and if he will list the newspapers and magazines purchased or subscribed to on a regular basis. [26678]

[holding answer 5 February 1998]: The information requested is as follows:

1995–96: £135,000
1996–97: £166,000
1997–98(to 31 December 1997): £112,000
1997–98(estimated full-year expenditure): £135,000

These figures relate to expenditure on newspaper and magazines purchase on subscription by the Home Office's information and library services (from 1 July 1997, by Home Office Communication Directorate's Resource Management Group), and include expenditure for the Prison Service and the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. These figures also include expenditure for the Forensic Science Service. No central record is held of materials purchased from Directorates' budgets, or for non-departmental public bodies (other than the Forensic Science Service) for which my Department is responsible.My Department purchases or obtains free of charge a wide range of newspapers and periodical publications. A list of the titles taken by the central Home Office, including the Prison Service and Immigration and Nationality Directorate, together with a list of titles taken by the Forensic Science Service, has been placed in the Library.

Ministerial Travel

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the cost of (a) Ministerial cars and drivers and (b) the Department's bill for taxis in (i) 1995–96, (ii) 1996–97, (iii) 1997–98 to date and (iv) 1997–98 full year. [27786]

[holding answer 5 February 1998]: The estimates available to me for the costs, borne by the Home Office, of Ministers' cars are as follows:

Year	£000
1995–96	296,752
1996–97	323,900
1997–98 to date	417,963
1997–98 estimate	503,963

Some years, the figures will of course include the cost of the periodic replacement of cars as well as their maintenance and other running costs. This is the case in 1997–98: costs for two new cars have been incurred in 1997–98, one ordered before 1 May 1997 and one since. The information available to me about the Department's use of taxis is incomplete and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Stolen Property

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will review the powers of the courts to retrieve stolen property where it has inadvertently been returned to the offender and not to the owners; [27996](2) how many incidents there have been in the past year where the police have returned stolen property to the offender and not to the owner of the property; and what action has been taken to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future. [27995]

The Police (Property) Act 1897 provides that any person claiming ownership of property seized and retained by the police may make an application to a magistrates' court for ownership to be determined and for delivery of that property to the person appearing to the court to be the owner. The Act maintains the right of any person to seek an order for recovery of property within six months after the date of the legal proceedings but any such right will cease at the expiry of that period of time. It is also open to the police to make application under the Act to determine ownership.Property seized and retained by the police and subsequently used as evidence in connection with a person's conviction is not returned to the offender but is disposed of in accordance with the Act. Property retained by the police and unclaimed after a period of 12 months, or, in the case of forfeited property, six months, may be sold at auction and the proceeds of sale placed in the Police Property Act Fund. Moneys from the Fund are, among other things, donated to local good causes and victim support groups.I am satisfied that these arrangements are fair and that they generally work well. Information is not held centrally on the number of occasions the police have mistakenly returned property to the wrong person and the relevant time for correcting the mistake has passed. Where this happens, the police would be expected to pay compensation to the rightful owners.

Cs Gas Canisters

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what medical advice he has received in relation to the use of gas canisters by the police since their introduction; [28161](2) what assessments of injuries sustained by members of the public he has evaluated since the introduction of CS gas canisters; [28163](3) what plans he has to review the use of CS gas canisters by the police; [28164](4) what medical advice his Department obtained prior to introducing the use of CS canisters by the police. [28162]

All available scientific and medical data were evaluated by experts from the Home Office Police Scientific Development Branch, the Department of Health and the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment before operational trials of CS spray were undertaken between 1 March and 31 August 1996. It was found during the trials that the risk of injury from the use of CS spray was much lower than that from police batons. Of the 99 injuries believed to have been caused by CS, six resulted in subjects being taken to hospital, although none was detained there more than briefly. There has been no subsequent centrally co-ordinated assessment of injuries sustained as a result of exposure to CS spray.My right hon. Friend studied all of the pathologists' reports and other medical and toxicological evidence submitted to the inquest which was held last year into the death of Mr. Ibrahima Sey. In the light of reading that material, my right hon. Friend confirmed his full support for the operational use of CS spray by the police. The use of CS spray and other equipment is kept under review by the Self Defence and Restraint Committee of the Association of Chief Police Officers.

Asylum Seekers

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy that asylum seekers should have a right to legal representation at appeal hearings. [28185]

Asylum appellants already have the right, under section 23(3) of the Immigration Act 1971 and Rule 26 of the Asylum Appeals (Procedure) Rules 1996, to be legally represented at appeal hearings.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what financial provision he is making to ensure that asylum appellants may receive legal representation for their appeals. [28186]

In the current year, a total of £6,737 million has been made available to the Refugee Legal Centre (RLC) and the Immigration Advisory Service (IAS) under section 23 of the Immigration Act 1971, as follows:

		£ million
	RLC	IAS
Core Funding	3.082	2.592
Spend to Save	0.563	0.500

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effect on asylum appellants of his withdrawal of special funding from (a) the Immigration Advisory Service and (b) the Refugee Legal Centre. [28187]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to a question from the hon Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr. Allan) on 9 February 1998, Official Report, columns 24–25.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have successfully appealed against the refusal of asylum since 1992. [28184]

During the period 1 January 1994 to 31 December 1997, a total of 44,360 appeals against the refusal of asylum were determined by Adjudicators of the Immigration Appellate Authority. Of these, a total of 2,030 were allowed. I regret that equivalent information for years prior to 1994 is not available.

Handguns (Compensation)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the anticipated average period from receipt of claims for payment of compensation for handguns surrendered (i) under section (a), (ii) under section (b), (iii) under section (c) and (d) for. 22 handguns. [28280]

The present average processing time for claims under Options A and B of the compensation scheme for large calibre handguns and for applications under the voluntary ex gratia payment scheme for small calibre pistols is around 22 weeks from the date of receipt in the Firearm Compensation Section. Regular processing of claims and applications under Option C of the schemes has begun, starting with those received at the beginning of July.

Eu Immigration And Nationality Department

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people on average were employed in the EC group of the Immigration and Nationality Department between 1 February 1996 and 31 January 1997; and how many are currently employed in the group. [28292]

On 1 February 1996, 20 members of staff were employed in the European Community Group of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. On 31 January 1997, the number was 20 and on 31 January 1998, 26. These figures are on a head count basis and do not take account of part-time working or job sharing.

Turkish Workers

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps have been taken in the UK to give legal effect to the right of Turkish workers as regards residence and employment in accordance with Article 6 (3) of the Association Council Decision 1/80 adopted under the Turkey/EC Association Agreement 1963 and its Protocol. [28291]

Effect is given to Article 6 through instructions to caseworkers which ensure that Turkish nationals who are able to benefit from rights under the Agreement are granted leave to remain in the United Kingdom where appropriate.

Residence Documents

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for residence documents or endorsements by third country national spouses of Community nationals exercising Treaty rights have been refused on the basis that the Secretary of State considered the marriage to be one of convenience since 1 February 1997. [28293]

This information is not available. Statistics for the refusal of a residence document do not distinguish between reasons for refusal.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the length in time of residence documents or endorsements given to third country national spouses of EC nationals exercising Treaty rights who have been granted ILR. [28305]

Where a European Economic Area(EEA) national has been granted indefinite leave to remain, the third country national spouse may apply either for leave to remain under the Immigration Rules on the basis of marriage to a person present and settled in the United Kingdom or for a residence document in accordance with European Community law. In the former case the applicant, if successful, would be granted 12 months' leave to remain in the first instance in the latter case, the third country national spouse may apply for a residence document which, if issued, would have the same validity as any extant residence permit issued to the EEA spouse. If the EEA spouse no longer holds a valid residence permit, one would be issued with five years' validity as the basis for the issue of a residence document of the same validity to the third country national.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate how many EC nationals have exercised Treaty rights of residence in the UK since 1 February 1997. [28307]

European Economic Area nationals who enter the United Kingdom in order to exercise a Treaty right are not required to apply for a residence permit. It is therefore not possible to provide an estimate.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for residence permits for EC nationals exercising Treaty rights have been issued for a period of less than five years in the last five years. [28295]

Under European Community law, a residence permit is normally issued with a validity of five years. In the case of students and members of their family, however, a residence permit is issued with a validity of 12 months or, where the course of study is for a longer period, for the duration of the course. Information is not held as to how many residence permits with a validity of less than five years have been issued.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the average time for consideration of applications for (a) residence documents for EU nationals and (b) residence documents or evidence of residence made by third country national family members of EC nationals exercising Treaty rights in the United Kingdom since 1 February 1997. [28299]

The timeliness of completion of residence permits and residence document applications is expressed as a proportion of cases completed within one, two and six months. From 1 February 1997 to 31 January 1998, the averages were as follows:

	Per cent.
Residence permits
within 1 month	26
within 2 months	48
within 6 months	73
Residence documents
within 1 month	16
within 2 months	33
within 6 months	53

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for residence documents by (a) EC nationals and (b) third country national family members of EC nationals exercising Treaty rights have been (i) made and (ii) granted since 1 February 1997. [28304]

	Made	Granted
Residence permit applications	2,848	1,819
Residence document applications	1,850	2,664

Note:

In the case of a residence document application an accompanying residence permit application is required, except in certain specific circumstances involving British or Irish nationals. Such residence permit applications are not separately recorded. The data for residence permit applications relate to those cases where an European Economic Area national applies for a residence permit without any application for a residence document being made by a third country national.

Eu Nationals

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many letters have been sent to European Community nationals in the United Kingdom advising them that they are no longer considered to be exercising Treaty rights and should therefore leave the United Kingdom since 1 February 1997. [28298]

None.

Coroners

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 15 January 1998, Official Report, column 280, how many full-time coroners are women. [28899]

There is one full-time coroner who is female—the coroner for Inner London South.

Visa Appeals

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to restore the right of appeal to those who are refused visas when applying to visit close relatives. [26456]

We are committed to providing a streamlined right of appeal for visitors denied a visa and we are examining the options for achieving this.

European Court Of Human Rights Rulings

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has (a) taken and (b) intends to take to comply with the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of (i) McCann and others v. UK and (ii) Murray v. UK. [27410]

I have been asked to reply.We paid the applicants' costs in the case of McCann, as required by the judgment of the Court. No further measures needed to be taken by the Government as a result of the judgment. The Committee of Ministers' Deputies adopted a resolution on 20 March 1996 stating that the United Kingdom had complied with the terms of the judgment. In the case of John Murray, we have paid the costs and expenses of the applicant as required by the judgment of the Court. Further measures in response to the breach found by the Court are under consideration.

Duchy Of Lancaster

Benevolent Fund

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what are the (a) assets and (b) annual income of the Duchy of Lancaster's Benevolent Fund; and which (i) individuals and (ii) organisations have received money from the fund since 1992. [27630]

I am not a trustee of the Duchy Benevolent Fund. As it is a registered charity, details of the charity's income and donations are submitted to the Charity Commissioners each year and I have asked the Secretary of the Fund to send my hon. Friend the details he requires.

Property (Public Access)

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the property owned by the Duchy of Lancaster which is (a) open to and (b) not open to the public. [27631]

The Duchy owns Tutbury Castle and Halton Castle which are open to the public. The Duchy owns other historical monuments which are in the Guardianship of, or are leased to, local authorities or to English Heritage. These are also open to the public.The majority of the property owned by the Duchy comprises tenanted farms, woodland, private houses, and commercial properties such as shops and offices. Much of the farmland and woodland is accessible to the public by rights of way or by voluntary access arrangements: the property is not "open to the public" in the literal sense of the term.

Intestacy

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what changes there have been since 1992 in respect of the treatment of the estates of people who die intestate in the Duchy of Lancaster. [27629]

There has been no change since 1992 in the treatment of the estates of people who die intestate in the County Palatine of Lancaster.

Environment Information

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the principal points of difference between the rights of access to information provided for at present under (a) the non-statutory Code of Practice on Open Government and (b) the statutory right of access to information on environmental matters contained in the Environment Information Regulations 1992. [28924]

The principal differences between the access provisions under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information and under the Environmental Information Regulations 1992 (which give effect to EC Directive 90/313) are as follows:

(a) the Code of Practice is non-statutory; the Regulations have the force of law;

(b) appeals against non-disclosure under the Code of Practice are referable to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration; the appeals mechanism for the Regulations would be by judicial review;

(c) the formal coverage of the Code of Practice is determined by the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration; the coverage of the Regulations is determined by the definition of "relevant person" in Regulation 2(3);

(d) the Code of Practice applies to all information held by the bodies concerned; the Regulations apply only to information which relates to the environment, as defined in Regulation 2(2);

(e) there are some minor differences in the wording of the exemptions from disclosure, although in practice the exemptions cover similar areas;

(f) the exemptions in the Code of Practice are discretionary i.e. they allow certain information to be withheld from disclosure; the Regulations contain provision for certain mandatory exemptions i.e. they require that certain information must be withheld from disclosure.

The Government are considering how best to incorporate the requirements of the Environmental Information Directive 90/313 into the wider Freedom of Information policy proposed in the White Paper "Your Right to Know". Our aim will be to simplify and streamline the present arrangements for both applicants and holders of environmental information.

Civil Service (Sickness)

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the overall level of sickness absence in the Civil Service. [29153]

The average number of working days sickness absence per staff-year in 1996 was 10.2.I have placed in the Libraries of the House copies of the report prepared for my Department by OHSA Limited on Sickness Absence in the Civil Service during 1996, which contains a comprehensive analysis of the figures about the Civil Service.My Department regularly encourages Departments and agencies to review their approaches to sickness absence management.

Freedom Of Information

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list those individuals or organisations who requested that their submission to the consultation document "Your Right to Know", should not be published; and if he will indicate the reasons given by the submitting parties for the withholding from publication. [28170]

By Friday 6 February I had received 107 submissions from individuals and organisations in response to the White Paper Your Right to Know. Only two correspondents so far have requested that their submission be treated in confidence. In accordance with their wish for confidentiality, I do not intend to publish any details about these submissions.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will ensure that departmental submissions to the White Paper "Your Right to Know", will be published on the appropriate website on receipt. [28171]

The White Paper Your Right to Know contains the Government's collectively agreed proposals for a Freedom of Information Act and is the result of detailed discussion within Government. The current period of consultation on the White Paper is therefore designed to enable the public, not Government Departments, to submit their views on the Government's proposals. Except in those cases—so far only two out of 107—where confidentiality is requested, these submissions will be published on the "Informing Government" website (http://foi.democracy.org.uk).

Northern Ireland

Unemployment

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she will publish the results of the Government's review of long-term unemployment in Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement. [28624]

Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Training and Employment Agency under its Chief Executive, Mr. Ian Walters. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Ian Walters to Mr. Harry Barnes, dated 10 February 1998:

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me, as Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency, to reply to your question about the current consultation process on long-term unemployment in Northern Ireland.

Work on the review of long-term unemployment was temporarily overtaken during the Autumn by the overriding priority of the New Deal. We have been examining how existing programmes for the long term unemployed could be best aligned with the New Deal while taking account of the outcome of last year's consultation exercise. I expect an announcement will be made shortly on the future shape of existing programmes and services.

Correspondence

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is her policy for responding to letters received in the (a) Scottish Gaelic, (b) Welsh, (c) Urdu, (d) Hindi and (e) Chinese language. [28061]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not sought to establish a policy for responding to letters received in the languages specified in the question because Northern Ireland Departments and Agencies have not indicated a need for such guidance.

Minister Without Portfolio

Millennium Dome

To ask the Minister without Portfolio what plans are being made for disabled access to the Millennium Dome. [28141]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Erith and Thamesmead (Mr. Austin) on 29 October 1997, Official Report, column 822. Since then, the Advisory Group has met four times; most recently on 29 January 1998.

To ask the Minister without Portfolio if the entry price for the Millennium Dome will exceed £10. [28923]

There will be a full range of entrance ticket prices covering adults, senior citizens, children, students, families and group rates. The detailed definitions and prices will be determined and announced in due course.

Northern Ireland Environment, Transport And The Regions

Car Driving Test Failures

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the percentage failure rate in 1997 for car driving tests; and of the total failed, what percentage were attributed in whole or part to (a) speeding and (b) driving too slowly. [27475]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 21 January 1998,Official Report, column 549. Statistics for overall pass/fail rates for the remainder of 1997 will not be available until March.An analysis of faults committed on a sample of 420,000 tests conducted between 1 June 1997 and 31 January 1998 shows that inappropriate use of speed was wholly or partly the reason for a candidate being failed 0.5 per cent. of tests. The computerised fault analysis system does not record whether a candidate was assessed as driving too quickly or too slowly.

Copthall Stadium

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will announce his decision on whether to call in the proposed Copthall Stadium development, Mill Hill. [27828]

Very shortly.

Millennium Compliance

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to ensure that local authorities prepare contingency plans for the provision of services to vulnerable groups in the event of the failure of computer systems to be millennium compliant; and if he will make a statement. [28237]

Each local authority is responsible for ensuring its own millennium compliance. Authorities have access to high quality advice on this issue through the Local Government Management Board, the professional body of local government IT officers (SOCTIM) and other professional bodies. During the course of their last annual audit programmes authorities' external auditors were advised by the Audit Commission to evaluate the plans authorities had in place to identify the extent of the year 2000 problem and for any necessary remedial action.

Biodiversity

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what steps the Government have taken to meet their obligations under the Action Plan for 1996 to 2000 for the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy; what further action will be taken in the period to 2000; and if the Government will make an annual report on progress to the House; [27976](2) to what extent the Government have participated in international monitoring of the implementation of the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy. [27977]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what action the Government have taken to meet their obligations under the Action Plan for 1996–2000 for the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy; [28316](2) in what manner and with what frequency he will report to Parliament on the actions taken to meet the Government's obligations under the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy; [28317](3) if he will make a statement on participation in the international institutional arrangements for the implementation of the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy. [28318]

The Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy is non-binding and does not lay down specific obligations. The Government are nevertheless strongly supportive of the Strategy process. In November we hosted the 'Planning for Biodiversity' Workshop for Central and Eastern European countries, providing a forum for the exchange of knowledge, experience and expertise in the development and implementation of national biodiversity strategies and action plans, and for discussion on other primary elements of the Strategy.The Government have participated in international monitoring of the Pan-European Strategy through its membership of the Executive Bureau set up to guide and review the implementation of the Strategy process. The Government are also a member of the Council for the Strategy which is responsible for devising a policy to direct, guide, support and co-ordinate its implementation and further development.The Government will continue to participate fully in the further development and implementation of the Strategy, and will play a leading role in the 'Environment for Europe' Ministerial Conference at Aarhus in June, which will review progress and take decisions about the way forward for the Strategy process to 2000. The Government will inform the House of the outcome.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps the Government have taken in furtherance of (i) the Convention on Biological Diversity, (ii) the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, (iii) the Bonn Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, (iv) the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance and (v) the EU Habitats Directive. [27975]

The steps taken by the Government in relation to the Conventions and Directive mentioned are set out in the United Kingdom's First National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity dated 31 December 1997, a copy of which is available in the Library.

Radioactive Waste

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps Her Majesty's Government have taken to implement the decision taken by the International Maritime Organisation in December 1997 to make mandatory the INF code for the safe carriage of irradiated nuclear fuel, plutonium and high-level radioactive waste in flasks on board ships; and if he will make a statement on the implications for the safety arrangements for such nuclear shipments of implementation of the INF code. [27987]

While the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has decided to make the INF Code mandatory, the work to give effect to this decision has yet to be completed. The Government support the IMO' s decision and are participating actively in the work to implement it.In the meantime, compliance with the INF Code remains voluntary. However, UK registered ships engaged in the carriage of relevant cargoes have documents of compliance issued by my Department's Marine Safety Agency. All foreign ships carrying INF Code materials to or from the UK have had similar documents issued by the appropriate maritime administration.Making the code mandatory will ensure that all ships engaged in the trade meet the high safety standards currently met by UK ships and will enhance our enforcement powers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what quantities of radioactive waste have been returned to Spain since 1980 as a result of the processing of uranium-contaminated filter papers for the Spanish National Uranium Company; what forms of transport have been used for these shipments; how many such shipments have taken place; and what indication he has received as to plans by BNFL to increase the imports of such uranium residues. [27990]

The commercial and operational arrangements between BNFL and its customers are a matter for the companies involved, subject to meeting the relevant regulatory requirements. However, I understand from BNFL that they do provide a service to a number of customers for the recovery of uranium residues from various materials. I am satisfied that the transport of these materials and the return of any wastes are carried out in accordance with the appropriate regulations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith), of 4 November 1997,Official Report, column 147, concerning the International Atomic Energy Agency annual general conference, what indication he has received as to when the report on the transport of radioactive materials will be available from the International Atomic Energy Agency. [28227]

As called for in IAEA General Conference resolution GC(41)/RES/12, the IAEA report on legally binding and non-binding instruments and regulations concerning the safe transport of radioactive material is expected to be available for the 8–12 June 1998 meeting of the Board of Governors. The usual practice is for Board documents to be circulated to Member States of the Agency approximately one month in advance of the meeting.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans the Government has to construct a long-term underground storage facility for radioactive waste. [28277]

The Government have been considering radioactive waste management in the light of the former Secretary of State's decision to dismiss Nirex's appeal against the refusal of planning permission for a rock characterisation facility at Longlands Farm, near Sellafield. The House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology has now started an inquiry into nuclear waste management. The Government will want to see the Select Committee's report, which is expected in the summer, and to undertake widespread consultation, before coming to a firm view about the construction of a long term underground storage facility for radioactive waste.

Housing (Easington)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the number of empty housing units in the district of Easington in (a) 1995, (b) 1996 and (c) 1997 (i) in total and (ii) by sector. [28243]

The numbers of vacant local authority and housing associations dwellings in Easington 1 April are set out below alongside the local authority's estimates of private and other public sector vacant dwellings.

	1995	1996	1997
Local authority¹	433	495	579
Housing association²	74	36	49
Other public sector¹	126	3	0
Private sector¹	1,089	1,095	1,096
Total	1,722	1,629	1,724

¹ Source: Annual Housing Investment Programme(HIP1) returns.

² Source: Annual HAR10/1 returns.

Telecommunications Licences

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the environmental impact of licences granted to code system operators under the Telecommunications Act 1984. [27942]

My Department is aware that code system operators licensed under the Telecommunications Act 1984 are required to develop a telecommunications network under the terms of their licence. The potential impact on the environment of the different forms of development involved is a key factor in forming Government policy on telecommunications planning. This is set out in my Department's Planning Policy Guidance note 8, supplemented by Appendix E to Circular 9/95 and by the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Regions, Regeneration and Planning on 4 November 1997Official Report, columns 152–53. The general policy is to facilitate the growth of such systems while protecting the environment. It is important that operators and local planning authorities work together to ensure that network rollout is not carried out at disproportionate environmental cost.

Sheffield Supertram

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will instigate a review of the financial history of the Sheffield supertram project. [28235]

Financial approval for Sheffield Supertram was given in December 1990. Government grant under Section 56 of the Transport Act 1968 was provided, together with borrowing approval for other approved costs. The scheme was built on time and to budget.The High Court ruling on 19 January 1998 made it clear that the Government were not committed to funding outstanding Supertram debt. It will be for the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority, who co-ordinate public transport in their area, to decide whether a financial review should be undertaken.

Sellafield

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will assess the advantages of creating a joint environmental bilateral inspectorate with the Irish Republic to monitor the activities at radioactive discharges from Sellafield. [28172]

While the regulation of discharges from UK nuclear installations must remain a matter for the UK competent authorities, a UK-Irish Contact Group meets biannually to provide a forum for officials from both countries to discuss matters relating to radioactivity. This includes the exchange of monitoring data on levels of radioactivity in the Irish Sea.In addition, Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty requires the European Commission to determine whether the implementation of any plan for the disposal of radioactive waste is liable to result in the radioactive contamination of the water, soil or airspace of another Member state.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for (a) 1970, (b) 1980, (c) 1990 and (d) 1997 the volume of (1) highly active, (2) intermediate level and (3) low level radioactive waste stored at Sellafield. [28276]

Apart from 1980, we do not have estimates of the volumes of wastes stored at Sellafield for the years requested. Data for the years 1974, 1980, 1984, 1989 and 1994 are given in cubic metres in the table.

	¹1974	²1980	³1984	⁴1989	⁵1994
High-level waste	550	900	1,100	1,317	⁶1,476
Intermediate-level waste	12,000	23,320	27,514	30,543	⁷39,997
Low-level Waste	n/a	n/a	n/a	601	1,633
¹ Cmnd 6618, Sixth Report of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, HMSO, 1976
² Duncan, A G and Brown, SRA. Nuclear Energy Vol 21, 3 p161–166, 1982
³ Fairclough, M P et al DOE/RW/85.009, The joint DOE/Nirex Radioactive Waste Inventory: January 1984, 1985
⁴DOE/RW/89.110, The 1989 United Kingdom Radioactive Waste Inventory, 1990
⁵ DOE/RAS/96.001, The 1994 United Kingdom Radioactive Waste Inventory, 1996
⁶includes 78m³ of conditional waste
⁷includes 2,179m³ of conditional waste.

A copy of the summary of The 1994 United Kingdom Radioactive Waste Inventory called

Radioactive Waste Arisings in the UK - A Summary is in the Library. The next inventory—for 1998—will be published in 1999.

Rural Poverty

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will take steps to make the Index of Local Conditions more sensitive to rural poverty. [28373]

My Department is currently consulting with a wide range of external organisations, including local authorities, on proposals put forward by Professor Brian Robson of the University of Manchester to update the Index of Local Conditions to a 1996 base and to incorporate methodological improvements. Professor Robson's recommendations include a number of changes to the Index which will make it more sensitive to the identification of deprivation in rural areas and which have been proposed by groups and individuals concerned with rural regeneration. These proposed changes include removing indicators on car ownership and children in flats, adding a new indicator on the receipt of housing benefit and council tax benefit and changing the way that the overall index value is calculated so that high levels of deprivation on certain indicators are not cancelled out by low levels on other indicators. It is hoped to publish the new Index of Local Deprivation in the Spring.

Housing (Hampshire)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received in the last three years from (a) public bodies, (b) voluntary organisations, (c) the private sector and (d) local associations in the Portsmouth City Council area about housing needs in that area. [27550]

[holding answer 6 February 1998]: The Secretary of State receives a number of representations from groups and information is not held centrally in the format requested about housing needs.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment. Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the number of properties that are under-occupied in Portsmouth; and if he will make a statement. [27898]

[holding answer 6 February 1998]: Neither the Secretary of State nor the Local Authority has made any robust assessment of the number of properties that are under-occupied in Portsmouth.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received in the last three years from (a) public bodies, (b) voluntary organisations, (c) the private sector and (d) local associations in the Southampton City Council area about housing needs in that area. [27559]

[holding answer 9 February 1998]: The Secretary of State receives a number of representations from groups and information is not held centrally in the format requested about housing needs.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many units of social housing have been built in the Southampton City Council area in each of the last five years. [27556]

[holding answer 9 February 1998]: The table shows figures of housebuilding completions (i.e. new build only) as reported to the Department by Southampton City Council and the National House Building Council.

Southampton City Council: social housing new build: completions
Numbers of dwellings
	Registered Social Landlords: Housing Associations	Local authority
1993	18	21
1994	37	0
1995	0	0
1996	5	0
1997	8	0

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the number of properties that are under-occupied in Southampton City; and if he will make a statement. [27900]

[holding answer 9 February 1998]: Neither the Secretary of State nor the Local Authority have made any robust assessment of the number of properties that are under-occupied in Southampton City.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many units of social housing have been built in the East Hampshire District Council area in each of the last five years. [27562]

The table shows figures of housebuilding completions (i.e. new build only) as reported to the Department by East Hampshire District Council and the National House Building Council:

East Hampshire District Council: social housing new build: completions
Number of dwellings
	Registered Social Landlords: Housing associations	Local authority
1993	16	28
1994	25	0
1995	25	0
1996	88	0
1997	45	1

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received in the last three years from (a) public bodies, (b) voluntary organisations, (c) the private sector and (d) local associations in the East Hampshire District Council area about housing needs in that area. [27563]

The Secretary of State receives a number of representations from groups and information is not held centrally in the format requested about housing needs.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many properties formerly owned by Government Departments have been made available to (a) the council and (b) housing associations in the East Hampshire District Council area. [27564]

This information is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people are on the housing waiting list of East Hampshire District Council; and what were the equivalent figures at the same time in each of the last five years. [27566]

The table shows figures of housebuilding completions (i.e. new build only) as reported to the Department by Southampton City Council and the National House Building Council:

Southampton City Council: Social housing new build: Completions
Numbers of dwellings
1993	18	21
1994	37	0
1995	0	0
1996	5	0
1997	8	0

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what is the total number of registered homeless people in the East Hampshire District Council area; [27567](2) how many people have been accepted on to the homeless register of East Hampshire District Council in each of the last five years. [27568]

The table provides the available data on the numbers of households accepted as homeless and in priority need under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 and 1996 Housing Acts in East Hampshire for the calendar years 1992 to 1996 and the first nine months of 1997.

	Homelessness acceptances
1992	109
1993	75
1994	71
1995	164
1996	113
1997¹	119
¹ data for the first 3 quarters only.

Under Part VI of the Housing Act 1996 authorities must establish and maintain a housing register for the purpose of allocating their housing accommodation but there is no statutory obligation for local housing authorities to hold a register of homeless applicants. Accommodation secured as a discharge of a homelessness duty need not be a tenancy allocated under Part VI of the 1996 Act.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the number of properties that are under-occupied in East Hampshire District; and if he will make a statement. [27914]

Neither the Secretary of State nor the Local Authority have made any robust assessment of the number of properties that are under-occupied in East Hampshire District.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people are on the housing transfer list of the East Hampshire District Council, and what were the equivalent figures at the same time in each of the last five years. [27915]

The information requested is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people have been accepted on to the homeless register of New Forest District, (b) Eastleigh Borough, (c) Havant Borough and (d) Test Valley Borough councils in each of the last five years. [28148]

The table provides the available data on the numbers of households accepted as homeless and in priority need under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 and 1996 Housing Acts for the calendar years 1992 to 1996 and the first 9 months of 1997.

Homelessness acceptances
	New Forest	Eastleigh	Havant	Test Valley
1992	366	231	262	197
1993	360	176	289	152
1994	279	186	220	163
1995	273	166	277	161
1996	304	142	318	180
1997¹	207	80	231	85
¹ data for the first three quarters only.

Under Part VI of the Housing Act 1996 authorities must establish and maintain a housing register for the purpose of allocating their housing accommodation but there is no statutory obligation for local housing authorities to hold a register of homeless applicants. Accommodation secured as a discharge of a homelessness duty need not be a tenancy allocated under Part VI of the 1996 Act.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many properties formerly owned by Government departments have been made available to (a) the council and (b) housing associations in the Hart District Council area. [28360]

This information is not held centrally.

Trains (Power Failures)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many incidents there were in 1997 of power failure aboard trains (a) nationally and (b) in the Connex South Central region. [28607]

This is an operational matter for train operating companies. We do not collect the information centrally. Connex South Central have given my officials to understand that the Company reported 64 instances of total power loss on its trains in 1997. We understand further that there were 355 instances where one or another on-train system was affected by some form of power loss, but this did not in all cases cause delays.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many incidents of electricity failures there were on Railtrack-owned track in 1997. [28606]

This information is not available in the form requested. Operational matters such as this are a matter for Railtrack, which has published information relating to the causes of train delays. From that I understand that, for the 24 weeks commencing 30 March 1997, out of a total of 301,974 delays to trains exceeding three minutes, 951 were attributed to causes connected with power supply maintenance and renewal for which Railtrack is responsible.

Public Opinion Research

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the companies which bid for each public opinion research contract awarded since 1 May 1997; and what was the value and duration of each contract. [28876]

Details of the companies which bid for public opinion research contracts and the duration of these contracts are not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.However, details of all market research commissioned by the Department since I May 1997 and the value of such contracts are lodged in the House of Commons Library in response to a question from the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) answered on 5 February 1998,

Official Report, column 728.

Public Investment

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the levels of public investment in the constituencies of (a) Birmingham, Ladywood, (b) Liverpool, Riverside and (c) Tottenham for the last three years for which figures are available, excluding social security payments. [27967]

Information on public expenditure is not held at constituency level.

Keighley Driving Test Centre

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the long-term future of the Keighley Driving Test Centre. [28043]

[holding answer 9 February 1998]: The Keighley Driving Test Centre will close at the end of February while detailed inspections and essential repairs are carried out on the building. A search for alternative premises in the town is underway. In the meantime, driver testing operations will be transferred to Skipton; however, the intention is to retain a driver testing service in Keighley in the long term.

Correspondence

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Minister of the Environment plans to answer the letter of Mr. Keith Duell dated 5 December 1997 regarding Verely Lake. [28862]

The Government Office for the South East replied to Mr. Duell's letter on 30 January 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his policy for responding to letters received in the (a) Scottish Gaelic, (b) Welsh, (c) Urdu, (d) Hindi and (e) Chinese language. [28050]

The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions has a translation service for incoming correspondence of all languages into English, and replies can be made in the language of the original letter.

Greater London Assembly

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will publish (a) details of money paid by his Department to the yes campaign for a London mayor, (b) details of meetings between yes campaign officials and ministers, including names and dates and (c) details of contracts which his Department has with (i) individuals who hold positions on the yes campaign and (ii) companies which employ individuals who hold positions on the yes campaign. [28833]

On parts (a) and (b) of the question, I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to the hon. Member for Lichfield (Mr. Fabricant) on Friday 6 February 1998,Official Report, columns 835–36.On part

(c) of the question, although I am aware of the existence of putative "Yes" and "No" campaigns, my Department does not have access to comprehensive details of those companies or individuals which may or may not be associated with, employed by or hold positions in those campaigns.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place the first version of the report on the electoral system for the Greater London Assembly commissioned from Professor Patrick Dunleavy in the Library. [28687]

Copies of the report we received from Professor Patrick Dunleavy and Dr. Helen Margetts—"Electing the London Mayor and the London Assembly"—were placed in the Library on Tuesday 3 February as I said in the House on 3 February 1998,Official Report, column 624. In line with usual practice, we do not propose to make available incomplete and uncorrected earlier drafts of the report.

Transport Expenditure

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the expenditure by the Exchequer through central Government agencies in the current financial year, expressed in terms of money per estimated passenger mile, on (a) motorways,(b) railways and (c) ferries. [28046]

Mode	Description of Expenditure	1997–98 (estimated outturn) £m¹	Estimated passenger miles
Motorways and Trunk Road	Highways Agency Programme Expenditure	1,473	120bn in 1996²
National Railways	Office of Passenger Rail Franchising support to train operating companies	1,434	20bn in 1996–97
	DETR Grants to English Passenger Transport Executives	250
	Support to local authority heavy rail schemes³	10
London Underground	Grant to London Underground	543	4bn in 1996–97
Urban Light Rail	Support for urban light rail schemes	128	282m in 1996–97
Ferries	Woolwich Ferry	5	680,000 in 1997–98
Other than the Woolwich Ferry service, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions does not financially support the cost of operating ferry services. In 1996 an estimated 342 million passenger miles were undertaken on all domestic ferry routes (including inter island and river crossings and the Woolwich Ferry).
¹ Rounded to the nearest £1 million.
² This figure has been estimated for 1996 using figures from Table 1.1 and 4.9 in Transport Statistics Great Britain (1997 Edition)—the implied occupancy rate (passenger miles divided by vehicle miles) has been applied to mileage on motorways and trunk roads for buses and coaches, cars and vans, and motorcycles.
³ Figures do not include support towards local authority heavy rail projects from the Single Regeneration Budget, Capital Challenge and TPP "Package" strategies, figures for which are not held centrally.
⁴ Government pays grant to London Transport, who are responsible for allocating resources as between London Underground and other businesses.

Mines And Minerals (North Yorkshire)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will issue new planning guidelines to take account of the recent court decision involving North Yorkshire County Council on the subject of mines and minerals; and if he will make a statement. [28675]

I assume that the hon. Gentleman is referring to the "Wensley Quarries case"—ex parte Brown. I will decide whether any action is needed, and if so, what form it should take, when I have been able to consider the full judgment in this case.

Railway Safety

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will ensure that automatic train protection is introduced as soon as possible on high speed lines. [28830]

I am advised by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) that Automatic Train Protection (ATP) schemes are installed on the Chiltern and Great Western Lines and on the Heathrow Express. Versions of ATP will be fitted to the West Coast Main Line and the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. Railtrack is considering alternative train protection measures for other lines and HSE is monitoring progress with Railtrack's strategy for the provision of these measures.

The information is not available in the format requested. The table shows the resources which the Department is providing towards motorways and trunk roads, railways and ferries in the current financial year, and the estimated volume of traffic on those modes:

Local Government Finance

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many and which councils have (a) written off and (b) not written off arrears of community charge in each of the last three years; and if he will assess what factors have led them to do so. [28200]

The Department does not collect information about the amounts of community charges written off by local authorities, and I have no plans to carry out an assessment of the factors which would led them to do so. Local authorities should only write-off debts where they are uneconomic to pursue.The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy Statistical Information Service publish figures each year for the amounts of community charges written off by those authorities which respond to their survey. Copies of the publications for the last three years are available in the Library.

Vessels (Health And Safety)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps were taken by his Department to ensure that the penalties imposed by the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) Regulations 1997 (SI 1997/2962) are consistent with those imposed by the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 and regulations under it. [28686]

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

Letter from R. M. Bradley to Mr. David Tredinnick, dated 10 February 1998:

The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has asked me to reply to your question about consistency between the penalties imposed by the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) Regulations 1997 and those imposed by the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

The Regulations were copied to other interested departments during their preparation, and the differential was pointed out at that stage. However, our priority was to ensure compatibility of the penalties imposed with those to which employers are subject under other merchant shipping legislation.

Housing Fitness Standard

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress his Department is making in reviewing the housing fitness standard. [28988]

My Department has today issued a consultation paper on the housing fitness standard to seek the views of the local government associations and other relevant bodies on a range of proposals and options for change. The proposals have been drawn up taking into account responses received to an earlier initiating discussion paper; the results of research undertaken by Warwick University and the Building Research Establishment; and discussions with practitioner bodies and housing professionals.It should be the aim of any housing fitness standard to provide a means for identifying, and thereby enabling action to be targeted on, those sections of the housing stock where the health and safety risks are the greatest. The main proposal, outlined in more detail in the consultation paper, is for a fitness rating approach to be developed and tested as a successor to the current standard. This would given an overall rating to a property based on an assessment of a range of housing characteristics, rather than the current pass/fail on one or more requirements. A fitness rating approach would surpass the existing standard by encompassing all the important health and safety risks in the home but also by distinguishing the varying severity of those risks. As a result it would have the potential for providing a more effective mechanism for the evaluation of the housing stock, both nationally and locally, and for the targeting of resources as well as for determining where intervention and public resources are needed most.I have arranged for copies of the consultation paper and the research to be placed in the Library of each House.

Emergency Towing Vessels

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what his intentions are for the future provision of emergency towing vessels around the United Kingdom; and when he will publish the trials report and the cost benefit analysis report on emergency towing vessels. [29037]

The Government will continue to station, for winter periods only, three Emergency Towing Vessels around the UK. Emergency Towing Vessels are seationed in the Dover Strait, the Minches and the South Western Approaches. My officials are arranging new contracts to cover the next few winters. These contracts will commence in October 1998.The report of the three year trial (1994 to 1997) and the report of the cost benefit analysis on Emergency Towing Vessels are both released today. Copies have been placed in the Libraries.

Driving Licences (Diabetes)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Wakefield (Mr. Hinchliffe) of 1 December 1977,Official Report, column 48, on driving licences for insulin dependent diabetics, if he will establish a compensation scheme for those insulin dependent diabetics who were previously employed as drivers of vehicles in Category C1. [26191]

[pursuant to her reply, 6 February 1998, c. 833–34]: The Government sympathise with any insulin-treated diabetics who lose their jobs as drivers following the expiry of their entitlement to drive category C1 vehicles. The change in legislation has been made in the interests of road safety, and it is not normal to provide compensation for those who may be affected by such changes.

Treasury

Dorneywood

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions Dorneywood has been used by Ministers since 1 May; if he will list in each case (a) the Ministers present, (b) the dates in question and (c) the purpose of the visit; and if he will make a statement. [25769]

[holding answer 27 January 1998]: Neither I nor any Treasury Ministers have used Dorneywood since 1 May. It has been used by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister on several occasions.

Income Tax

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the cost benefits of introducing a 10 pence tax rate (a) assuming revenue neutrality in means tested benefits and (b) assuming adjustments in means-tested benefits to pass the full benefit to claimants in bands of income of £500, assuming that the 10 pence rate (i) is in addition to the existing 20 pence tax rate and that the starting rate of tax is the same and (ii) substitutes for the existing 20 pence tax rate and (iii) is additional for the first £1,000 and then substitutes for the 20 pence tax rate; and if he will estimate the distribution of revenue forgone in each decile of income tax payers ranked by income. [26939]

I regret that such an analysis could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost to the Treasury last year of maintenance allowance in relation to income tax. [27492]

The cost of tax relief in respect of maintenance payments in 1996–97 is estimated at £80 million.

Inheritance Tax

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all (a) buildings, (b) works of art, (c) land and (d) other property in (i) the Brighton Pavilion constituency and (ii) East and West Sussex which are subject to public access or examination by the public as a condition of exemption from inheritance tax; what steps have been taken to inform the public about access to these; and what is the value of conditional exemption from inheritance tax for each year between 1979–80 and 1996–97 relating to (a) to (d) in (i) and (ii). [23938]

The statutory rules on taxpayer confidentiality prevent me from listing the specific details requested about conditionally exempt assets.Owners of conditionally exempt assets are primarily responsible for publicising the arrangements for public access to such assets according to the terms of the relevant undertakings. In general, steps required to publicise access may include, for example, advertising in an appropriate national publication, in the local tourist office or town hall, or in the case of scenic land in England, displaying a map board at all points of entry on to the land showing the agreed public access.For conditionally exempt works of art and other objects to which public access is by appointment only the Inland Revenue's Register provides relevant details. The computerised Register is available on the Internet at www.cto.eds.co.uk. Copies of the Register may be purchased from the Inland Revenue, and are also available for consultation at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, the National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh, the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff, and the Ulster Museum, Belfast.The Inland Revenue have published a leaflet about the Register, "Our heritage—your right to see tax exempt works of art", IR 156, and a related poster. The leaflet is available from Tax Inquiry Centres.I regret that information about the value of conditional exemption for each year between 1979–80 and 1996–97 is not readily available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish by county the names of landowners who receive conditional exemption from inheritance tax because they allow public access. [24575]

I refer to the reply I gave my hon. Friend on 6 June 1997,Official Report, column 278.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of landowners who restrict public access to their land despite receiving conditional exemption from inheritance tax. [24577]

The Inland Revenue is not aware of any landowners of conditionally exempt land who restrict public access to the land contrary to the terms of their undertakings. If my hon. Friend has any information on this issue, the Inland Revenue would be pleased to receive the details.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the names of individuals and the location of the land and buildings which are conditionally exempt from inheritance tax by reason of public access will be included in the scope of the proposed Freedom of Information legislation. [24667]

As explained in the White Paper "Your Right to Know", the proposed Freedom of Information Act will contain provision for access to official information generally. It will not list particular types of information. The information that my hon. Friend mentions will be within the scope of the Act. Its disclosure would depend, as for all information, (a) on decisions on the continuation of any relevant statutory prohibitions to disclosure and (b) on the substantial harm and public interest tests integral to the Act's access provisions.

Tax Relief (Pension Contributions)

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the reduction in Government spending which would have occurred in 1997–98 if tax relief on pension contributions had been restricted to the basic rate of taxation. [25754]

Information for 1998–99 was given in my reply to the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb) on 27 January 1998,Official Report, column 148.

Sustainable Development

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what mechanisms he has put in place to ensure the Government's objective of promoting sustainable development is reflected in the outcome of the comprehensive spending reviews for his Department. [25898]

The Treasury's aim is to raise the rate of sustainable growth, and achieve rising prosperity, through creating economic and employment opportunities for all. Sustainable development is an important factor in framing the Government's economic priorities. The comprehensive spending review of the Treasury will report on how the Department's organisation and resources are to be devoted to the achievement of this aim and its other objectives.

Ministers (Company Directorships)

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which Ministers in his Department have held company directorships since 1 May 1997; and if he will make a statement. [26722]

[holding answer 3 February 1998]: The Ministerial Code says that

"Ministers must resign any directorships they hold when they take up office".

All Treasury Ministers have complied with the Ministerial Code.

Tax Changes

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what (a) short run and (b) long run price elasticity of demand is assumed by the Treasury in its analysis of the impact of tax changes in respect of (i) cigarettes, (ii) beer, (iii) wine, (iv) spirits, (v) petrol, (vi) domestic gas, (vii) domestic electricity and (viii) domestic energy as a whole. [27476]

The costings for tax changes for the current year and the following two years are published in the Financial Statement and Budget Report. In preparing these costings, Customs and Excise use the following elasticities: cigarettes -0.201, beer -0.963, wine -1.048, spirits -1.070 and petrol -0.272. Domestic gas, domestic electricity and domestic energy as a whole are grouped under domestic fuel and power. All use an elasticity of -0.187.

Foreign Income Dividends

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the effect on the income of charities of the increase in the number of foreign income dividends since July 1997. [27721]

This information is not available.

Advance Corporation Tax

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the likely change in the capital structure of companies following the reform of advance corporation tax. [27723]

I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the response I gave the hon. Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton (Mr. Gibb) on 20 January 1998,Official Report, column 476.

Corporation Tax

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the effect on companies with seasonal profits of a move to quarterly payments of corporation tax. [27722]

We have received representations on this issue as part of the consultation on quarterly instalment payments of corporation tax. We shall carefully consider those and other representations that have been made, and my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will announce the outcome in his Budget.

Insurance Premium Tax

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of jobs lost in (a) travel agency sector and (b) retail sector since the introduction of higher rate insurance premium tax; and if he will make a statement. [22623]

The effect of the introduction of the higher rate of insurance premium tax on all sectors is being monitored.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total revenue raised for each year since its introduction of (a) insurance premium tax and (b) higher rate insurance premium tax. [22619]

Receipts of insurance premium tax since its introduction on 1 October 1994 are as follows:

Year	£ million total	of which at higher rate
1994–95	117	n/a
1995–96	635	n/a
1996–97	671	n/a
1997–98 (to November)	745	65

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates he has for the proportion of higher rate insurance premium tax revenue raised from travel insurance. [22621]

It is not possible to estimate accurately the actual yield of Insurance Premium Tax from the separate sectors.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the monitoring by Customs and Excise of the introduction of the higher rate of insurance premium tax relating to the travel industry to reach its conclusions; if he will publish those conclusions; and if he will make a statement. [27346]

I have not set an end date for the monitoring, and I would expect Customs and Excise to continue to keep the higher rate of insurance premium tax under review. The findings of Customs will not be published since they contain commercially sensitive material.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make its his policy to charge a flat rate of IPT on all insurance on motor vehicles, travel and electrical retail goods; and if he will make a statement. [28137]

[holding answer 9 February 1998]: I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget Statement.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rate of IPT applies to guarantees for (a) motor vehicles and (b) electrical retail products provided by the sellers of the product; and if he will make a statement. [28136]

[holding answer 9 February 1998]: IPT applies only to contracts of insurance. Guarantees do not constitute such contracts and are therefore outside the scope of the tax.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what meetings he has held with representatives of (a) the travel sector, (b) the electrical retail and rental sectors and (c) the motor vehicle sector to discuss the impact of higher rate IPT on their businesses; if he will meet representatives of these industries prior to the Budget to discuss higher rate IPT; and if he will make a statement. [28138]

[holding answer 9 February 1998]: I have met with representatives of the travel industry to discuss their concerns regarding higher rate IPT. I have no plans currently to meet further with industry representatives but I have asked officials in Customs and Excise to monitor the effect of higher rate IPT which has involved them in maintaining contact with trade bodies.

Excise Duty

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his current estimate of excise duty forgone by the successful smuggling or bootlegging of (a) alcohol and (b) tobacco and its products in each year since 1991.[27932]

HM Customs and Excise estimates of the revenue lost to the Exchequer through cross-Channel smuggling of alcohol and tobacco products in 1996 and 1997 are set out in the table:

£ million
Product type	Excise duty	VAT	1996 Total	Excise duty	VAT	1997 Total
Alcoholic drinks	135	60	195	135	65	195
Tobacco products	510	130	640	550	135	690
Total	645	190	835	685	200	885

Figures have been independently rounded to £5 million. Components may not therefore sum to the totals shown.Figures for estimated revenue losses use Customs assumption that 70–80 per cent. of smuggled alcoholic drinks substitute for similar products in the UK. Effectively 100 per cent. of smuggled tobacco is assumed to substitute for UK purchases.The above estimates exclude any amounts for revenue lost on alcoholic drinks and tobacco products involved in commercial fraud, smuggling in freight consignments or by air passengers. There are no official estimates for the extent of these activities. Similarly, there were no official estimates for the extent of smuggling prior to 1996.

Governor Of The Bank Of England

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will announce a new contract for the Governor of the Bank of England. [28241]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Economic Secretary on 22 January to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce),Official Report, column 642.

Bonus Payments

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the present arrangements for the taxation of bonus payments made to United Kingdom nationals by international banks operating in London but headquartered overseas in the light of recent cases. [28230]

The policy for the taxation of employees is kept under constant review. There are no plans to carry out a specific review into the taxation of bonus payments.

Low Pay

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the Canadian scheme for special tax credits for low-income working families; and if he will make a statement. [27688]

[holding answer 5 February 1998]: As the Chancellor of the Exchequer said in his Pre-Budget Statement, the Government are considering the introduction of a "Working Families Tax Credit" to help make work pay for families on low incomes. And systems used in other countries, including Canada, have been looked at as part of that process.

Mr Gavyn Davies

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what role Mr. Gavyn Davies of Goldman Sachs has in the formulation of the Government's economic policy; and if he will make a statement; [27694](2) what meetingshe has had with Mr. Gavyn Davies of Goldman Sachs in the last three months; what meetings are scheduled over the next three months; and if he will make a statement; [27692](3) what meetings with Mr. Gavyn Davies of Goldman Sachs have taken place over the last three months at which one or more of his special advisers were present; and if he will make a statement. [27693]

[holding answers 5 February 1998]: During the course of my duties I meet a wide range of economists and business people, including Mr. Gavyn Davies.

Minimum Wage

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, following the setting of a minimum wage, the public sector will buy goods and services from overseas companies paying their employees less than the United Kingdom minimum wage. [28127]

[holding answer 6 February 1998]: The Government's policy on public procurement is to obtain value for money for the taxpayer. The public sector will buy the goods and services which provide the optimum combination of whole-life cost and quality.

Lord Chancellor's Department

Correspondence

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is his policy for responding to letters received in the (a) Scottish Gaelic, (b) Welsh, (c) Urdu, (d) Hindi and (e) Chinese language. [28051]

The Lord Chancellor's Department does not have a written policy for responding to letters received in languages other than English and Welsh, other than that every effort should be made to respond to them. In cases where letters are written in Welsh, the practice of the Lord Chancellor's Department is to respond in Welsh to the same standards as if the reply was in English.

Eu Conventions

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to the answer of 17 November 1997,Official Report, column 57, on the European draft convention concerning harmonisation of court documents and procedures, what changes of Rules of Court will be required; with whom discussions took place in March and April 1997; what parliamentary procedure will govern the ratification of revised Rules of Court; and what discussions he (a) has held and (b) proposes to hold on their implementation; and with which bodies. [28948]

A Consultation Paper was issued in March 1997 to 50 individuals and organisations, representing a wide range of interests. Further consultation will take place before implementation with a similarly wide range of bodies. Until our plans for implementation have been finalised it is not known what changes to rules of Court might be required. Under section 3 of the Civil Procedure Act 1997, any changes would be made by Statutory Instrument, subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Exports

10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of the Government's ethical foreign policy on British exports since 1 May 1997. [26440]

Since this Government took office, we have stepped up Foreign Office support for British exports and I have lobbied on behalf of British Companies from Central Europe to South-East Asia. We have responded to the report of the Export Forum, introduced a new scheme of short-term secondment of business executives to our embassies, and invited Chief Executives of 30 major companies to undertake promotional events for British business while abroad. We see no conflict between our drive to expand British exports and trade, and commitment to preventing British arms from being used to repress human rights and democracy.

27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the ways in which his Department assists the sales of British-manufactured goods abroad. [26458]

We assist the sale of British-manufactured goods abroad through the work of our 217 commercial posts in 140 markets. They provide information on overseas markets and help British companies to find local business contacts. They help promote products and services, and assist British companies who wish to participate in trade fairs and missions. Posts also give political and economic briefings.

International Criminal Court

20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy in respect of excluding crimes involving the use of (a) nuclear weapons and (b) land mines from the remit of the proposed international criminal court. [26450]

The UK supports proposals for the Court to be able to try war crimes which are recognised under customary international law. The use as such of nuclear weapons or land mines does not come into this category. But nuclear weapons and land mines, like any other weapon, might be used in a way that would contravene international law. Under the proposals we support, this could well lead to the user being prosecuted at the International Criminal Court.

Israel

21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Britain's relations with Israel. [26451]

We enjoy friendly relations with Israel.

34.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Britain's relations with Israel. [26464]

Britain enjoys friendly relations with Israel.

Algeria

22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the European Union's role in Algeria during the course of the United Kingdom presidency. [26452]

I refer my hon. Friend to the oral answer I gave earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for Clwyd, West (Mr. Thomas).

26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit Algeria before 30 June. [26457]

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no current plans to visit Algeria.

Bbc World Service

27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans next to meet representatives of the BBC World Service to discuss (a) future funding and (b) future language transmission policy. [26453]

Officials regularly meet with World Service to discuss such matters. My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and I have had several discussions recently with the Managing Director. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary hopes to do so in the near future.

Iraq

24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on developments in Iraq. [26454]

22

We and our Security Council partners are actively pursuing a diplomatic solution to the crisis. But we cannot rule out a resort to force if our diplomatic efforts fail to shift Saddam's intransigent stance.

Saddam Hussein has a horrifying arsenal of Weapons of Mass Destruction and we know from past experience that he is prepared to use them. It is vital for regional and international peace and security that UNSCOM be allowed full and unrestricted access to all suspected WMD sites and that his WMD capability is destroyed. A paper detailing UNSCOM' s achievements and the need for its continuing unrestricted operation has been placed in the Library of the House and sent to all Members.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date his Department's officials were first informed of the use of chemical weapons at Halabja in Iraq. [26399]

[holding answer 3 February 1998]: According to Foreign Office files, the FCO first became aware of the use of chemical weapons at Halabja on 19 March 1988.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports Her Majesty's Government have received of the terms of negotiations between Russian Foreign Minister Primakov and the Iraqi regime in the last six months; what reference was made to the prospect of the ending of sanctions in return for compliance with UN resolutions with particular reference to access for weapons inspectors; what agreement was reached; what consideration Her Majesty's Government gave to this; and if he will make a statement. [28588]

We welcome the initiatives of Russian envoys and others in trying to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis with Iraq.The Iraqi regime has offered a one-off inspection of Presidential sites to be conducted by UNSCOM and representatives of the P5. This offer falls short of the Security Council's demand for full and unrestricted access to UNSCOM for all sites that it wishes to inspect. It is not for Iraq to set conditions for its co-operation with UNSCOM.All Council members agree that the process of ending sanctions cannot begin until Iraq complies with relevant Security Council resolutions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral answer of 2 February 1998,Official Report, column 719–20, what progress has been made in tabling the draft Security Council resolution; and what is the current text of the resolution. [28884]

We continue to take the lead in discussions with Security Council partners. Our aim remains to send a tough and united message to Saddam Hussein. It would not be right to make public the precise text before we have discussed it with Council partners.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will establish an independent inquiry into the activities of (a) British banks and (b) subsidiaries of foreign banks based in Britain in the funding of the sale of British manufactured military or military capable technology to Iraq since 1980. [28168]

No. But we would be interested to see any information that my hon. Friend feels should be brought to our attention.

China

28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's relations with China. [26459]

As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary said when he visited China in January, there is new life in Britain's relations with China. We have made a fresh start down a broad road. We need a healthy relationship which allows us to address together the full range of issues, including difficult areas such as human rights.

Camilla Carr And Jon Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has obtained about the whereabouts of Camilla Carr and Jon Jones; and if he will make a statement. [26460]

We do not know where or in what conditions Camilla Carr and Jon James are held. With the Centre for Peacemaking and Community Development, we are doing all we can to bring about their safe release. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has raised the case several times—most recently with President Yeltsin on 9 January. The President promised that Russia would do all it could to help. My right hon. Friends the Foreign Secretary and the Home Secretary have also contacted their Russian counterparts. The British Ambassador in Moscow is in frequent contact with the Russian and Chechen authorities to emphasise the high priority we attach to resolving this distressing case, swiftly and peacefully. A British police team visited Moscow and Nazran in December for discussions with the Russian and Chechen security authorities.

United States Of America

30.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's relations with the United States. [26461]

The United Kingdom's relations with the United States are excellent.

Middle East

31.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his Department's assessment of likely progress in the middle east peace process. [26462]

33.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his Department's assessment of likely progress in the middle east peace process. [26463]

I refer my hon. Friends to the oral answer my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, South (Mr. Marshall).

35.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about the middle east peace process. [26465]

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister met President Arafat on 26 January. He reaffirmed the EU/UK view that the parties must respect their commitments under existing agreements, particularly with regard to Israeli redeployments from the West Bank. I visited Israel and the Occupied Territories on 14–16 January. In Israel I met Netanyahu, Mordechai (Defence Minister), Bentsur (MFA PUS-equivalent), and senior Labour politicians. On the Palestinian side, I met Arafat, Sha'ath (Minister of Planning and International Cooperation) and Faisal Husseini.

Arms Trade

32.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what mechanisms for consultation between EU member states on granting and denying export licences are proposed in the United Kingdom's text on an EU code of conduct on arms sales. [26512]

Under our draft text, any state denying an export licence according to the Code of Conduct would circulate details of the denial to other Member States. Partners would then be required to consult the denying state before deciding whether to issue a licence for essentially the same goods to the same destination.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to introduce a central database of accredited arms dealers from whom the Government purchase equipment. [27884]

I have been asked to reply.The MOD has no current plans to introduce a central database of defence suppliers.

Eu Delegations

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list for each mission sent by the European Union to (a) India, (b) Nepal, (c) Sri Lanka, (d) Pakistan, (e) Afghanistan, (f) Bangladesh and (g) other South Asian countries (i) who was on the delegation, (ii) who led the delegation and (iii) what were the activities of the delegation. [27948]

There have been no special EU Ministerial missions in the past twelve months.

Schengen Agreement

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 30 January 1998,Official Report, column 439, which member states United Kingdom officials approached on the issue of Schengen opt-in procedures; and what exchange of documents took place. [28513]

It would not be appropriate for Ministers to report the details of all diplomatic contacts between officials of the UK and other Governments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 30 January 1998,Official Report, column 439, for what reasons Coreper discussed the opt-in procedure to Schengen on each occasion; at whose instigation; and on what dates. [28515]

Coreper discussed this matter on 2, 10, 17 and 25 July as part of its work, under the chairmanship of the Luxembourg Presidency, to finalise the text of the draft Treaty of Amsterdam.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his meeting at Denver with the Dutch Foreign Minister concerning the opt-in procedures for Schengen countries. [28571]

It would not be appropriate for me to comment in detail on the content of every meeting which my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary or I have with another Foreign Minister.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 30 January 1998,Official Report, column 439, for what reasons he consulted the Irish Foreign Minister on the issue of the Schengen opt-in procedure; if any joint approach was agreed; if there was agreement on the version of events; and if he will make a statement. [28514]

I consulted with the Irish Foreign Minister on the Schengen opt-in procedure as a matter of mutual interest. It would not be appropriate to publish details of our discussions.

Ms Gaynor Regan

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs from what budget the cost of the flight which Mrs. Regan took from Heathrow to Edinburgh on 9 October was originally met. [28331]

The ticket for the flight was purchased privately by myself and at no stage was payment made from this Department's budget.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 19 January 1998,Official Report, column 439, to the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham (Mr. Loughton), concerning overseas visits by Ms Gaynor Regan, if the permission from the Prime Minister was given in writing in each case. [28395]

The only occasion when I was accompanied on a visit overseas at public expense by my spouse or partner was when Mrs. Margaret Cook went with me to Hong Kong from 27 June to 1 July. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's permission was given in writing on 25 June. Ms Regan has never accompanied me on an overseas trip at public expense.

European Union

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to provide information to those under 18 years old on the European Union and its institutions. [28375]

This Department worked with the DfEE on an information and curriculum pack which has been sent to all schools, giving a basic introduction to the EU and its institutions and explaining our plans for the UK Presidency. This department is also running a Presidency website, which schools and others can access for further information.

European Economic Area (Permits)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the average processing time of applications by non-EEA national family members applying for EEA permits since 1 February 1997. [28300]

Statistics recording average processing times for EEA family permit applications are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many EEA family permits have been granted to non-EEA family nationals since 1 February 1997. [28290]

Between 1 February and 31 December 1997, 9,019 applications for EEA family permits were issued at entry clearance Posts overseas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many non-EEA family member nationals have applied for EEA family permits since 1 February 1997; and how many were refused. [28297]

Between 1 February and 31 December 1997, 9,127 applications for EEA family permits have been received and 105 applications were refused at entry clearance Posts overseas.

Brazilian Mahogany

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what amount of Brazilian mahogany has been (a) acquired and (b) specified by his Department in (i) 1996 and (ii) 1997; and for what purpose. [28378]

No Brazilian mahogany has been (a) acquired or (b) specified by this Department in (i) 1996 and (ii) 1997.

Execution (Texas)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received over the decision of the US state of Texas to execute Karla Tucker. [28572]

This Department received three telephone calls from members of the public on 4 February protesting about the decision of the US State of Texas to execute Karla Tucker. One of these callers also wrote to his MP, who has written to my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State about the case.

Sri Lanka

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations between Britain and Sri Lanka. [28592]

The UK has had a long and close relationship with Sri Lanka. We look forward to maintaining and expanding our links on every level.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on British policy towards the civil conflict in Sri Lanka. [28574]

We believe a lasting solution to this tragic conflict can only be achieved through a political settlement. We have said publicly that we stand ready to help in the resolution of the conflict if both sides ask us to play a role.

Chagos Archipelago

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the numbers of native Chagossians at present in exile due to the existence on the Chagos Archipelago of a USA military base. [28829]

According to our records approximately 1,200 'Ilois' left the British Indian Ocean Territory for Mauritius, and a 'handful' for the Seychelles, between 1965 and 1973. We do not know how many are still alive.

Brazilian Rainforest

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to discuss the activities of Malaysian logging companies in the Brazilian rainforest areas with the Malaysian Government. [27094]

I have been asked to reply.I have taken no such steps. However, as members of the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO), both Malaysia and Brazil are committed to the Year 2000 Objective, which states that all tropical timber entering international trade shall, by the year 2000, come from sustainably managed sources. Both countries have also subscribed to ITTO' s recently revised Action Plan, which, among other things, calls for member countries to estimate the extent of undocumented trade and prepare national codes of conduct for all types of forestry operations.

Scotland

Compulsory Competitive Tendering

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the amount of money saved to date by (a) each of the current unitary and island local authorities in Scotland and (b) the former regional, district and island councils in Scotland as a result of compulsory competitive tendering. [23828]

This information has not been collected centrally for Scotland.

Non-Career Civil Servants

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many non-career civil servants have been appointed to his Department since 1 May 1997. [25842]

The number of casual, fixed-term appointees and Special Advisers appointed to my Department and its Agencies since 1 May 1997 is 870.

Benefit (False Declarations)

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons were prosecuted for making a false declaration in respect of benefit in (a) 1986 and (b) 1996. [25643]

The available information is set out in the table. Prior to 1989, information held centrally does not separately identify the relevant statutory offences and information for 1996 is not yet available. In addition to prosecutions for the statutory offences listed in the table, some prosecutions under the common law offence of fraud involved an offence of making a false declaration in respect of benefit.

Persons proceeded against by main offence, Scotland, 1989 and 1995
Main Offence	Date of sentence/ acquittal
	1989	1995
Social Security Act 1975, Section 146	78	1
Supplementary Benefits Act 1976, Section 21	240	0
Social Security Act 1986, Section 55	604	26
Social Security Administration Act 1992, Section 112	—	1,328

Domestic Violence

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the research report commissioned by his Department on service provision for women experiencing violence will be published. [26418]

[holding answer 30 January 1998]: We hope to publish the report in early March.

Tuition Fees

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the gross cost of setting up mechanisms for the means testing of citizens of other EU member states to assess their eligibility to pay tuition fees. [27715]

In Scotland it is not proposed to set up a separate mechanism for the means testing of EU students' eligibility to pay tuition fees. It will be carried out alongside the means testing of tuition fee support for Scottish domiciled students. The additional costs cannot be separately identified, but are minimal.

Export Market Development

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what powers, and under which statutory provisions, the Scottish Office has which enable it or its agencies to help firms located in Scotland to develop export markets overseas. [27641]

My Department, through Scottish Trade International, a joint organisation between The Scottish Office and Scottish Enterprise, assists the delivery to Scottish-based companies of support from the Government's Overseas Trade Service, funded by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade. In addition, Scottish-companies benefit from export advice and assistance from Scottish Enterprise on the basis of section 1(a) of the Enterprise and New Towns (Scotland) Act 1990 and from export advice now funded by my own Department under the Industrial Development Act 1982.

Local Authority Boundary Review

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to proceed with the boundary review for Scottish local authority elections; and if he will make a statement. [28124]

[holding answer 6 February 1998]: The Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland (LGBC) are currently reviewing local authority electoral boundaries, as required by legislation. So far, the LGBC have sent the Secretary of State reports for Angus and East Lothian and we are expecting them to send in reports for all other authorities within the next few months. We will consider all these reports and decide whether to implement them as they stand or with modifications.

Transport Expenditure

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the expenditure by the Exchequer is in the current financial year, expressed in terms of money per estimated passenger mile, on (a) motorways, (b) railways and (c) ferries. [28045]

It is not possible to provide the information precisely in the form as requested. The table shows:

expenditure by The Scottish Office on motorways and an estimate of expenditure per passenger mile in the current year based on vehicle miles travelled and estimated vehicle occupancy figures.

the Franchise payment to ScotRail (who operate 96 per cent. of all passenger rail services in Scotland including the Anglo-Scottish Sleeper) and an estimate of expenditure per passenger mile for ScotRail services;

expenditure by The Scottish Office on ferry services provided by Caledonian MacBrayne Co (Clyde and Hebrides) and P&O Scottish Ferries Ltd (Northern Isles), and estimated cost per passenger mile information. The subsidy provided by The Scottish Office supports, as well as passengers, the carriage of accompanied cars and, in the case of Caledonian Macbrayne, commercial vehicles, buses coaches, livestock and freight also. In producing this estimate, Revenue Deficit Grant, capital grants for vessels, piers and harbours grants, and National Loan Fund repayments have all been taken into account.

Mode	1997–98 (estimated outturn £m)	Estimated cost per passenger mile 1997–98 (£)
Motorways Railway Ferries	37.114	0.012
Railway	280.0	0.11
Ferries	32.218	0.45

The information on railways concerns only ScotRail. The same information for cross border services operated by Great North Eastern Railway and Virgin Rail cannot be apportioned separately for Scotland.Similarly, information on ferries is confined to those directly funded by central government. Some local ferry services are also supported by certain local authorities in Scotland.

Public Investment

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the levels of public investment in the constituencies of Glasgow (a) Maryhill, (b) Shettleston and (c) Springburn for the last three years for which figures are available, excluding social security payments. [27968]

Information on public expenditure is not held at constituency level.

Health

Health Authorities Programme

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the cost to the NHS of purchasing and maintaining the new Health Authorities Programme and the number of eligible schemes that have yet to have access to the new Health Authorities Programme; and what plans he has to improve the access and efficiency of the new Health Authorities Programme. [27027]

The New Health Authorities Programme was created to re-align health authorities' primary care systems, and the data held within them, with their new boundaries created in April 1996. The resultant changes will be implemented between July 1998 and July 1999.The total cost of this work programme is £3.85 million, spread across 1996–97, 1997–98 and 1998–99. The outcome is a set of one-off changes to meet the requirements of primary legislation, but the software developed will enable any further health authority boundary changes to be implemented more quickly and at less cost.

Information Management

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the cost to the NHS of the measures to improve information management in the NHS announced in the White Paper, the New NHS; when he expects these measures to be fully operational; and if he will estimate how much of the NHS will be covered by these new measures. [27024]

The overall cost of the wide range of measures mentioned in the White Paper will depend on the outcome of our Information Management and Technology strategy for the National Health Service. This will provide the necessary planning framework.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the review on the role of the Information Management Group will report; if he will list the members of the review committee and publish its remit; and if he will make a statement on information management in the NHS. [27022]

The review of the Information Management and Technology (IM&T) strategy for the National Health Service is being carried out by Mr. Frank Burns who has been seconded to the NHS Executive for 12 months from his substantive appointment as Chief Executive of the Wirral Hospital NHS Trust.

started his review in June 1997 under the auspices of the NHS Executive Board and its IM&T Policy Sub-Committee. His review is based on extensive and direct personal consultation with all the major NHS and public 'stakeholders'.We expect to receive his report within the next 2 months.

Administrative Register

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the cost to the NHS of purchasing and maintaining the Administrative Register and the number of eligible schemes that have yet to have access to the Administrative Register; and what plans he has to improve the access to and efficiency of the NHS Clearing Service. [27025]

National Health Service Administrative Register functions will be offered to NHS organisations through the NHS Strategic Tracing Service. The purpose of the tracing service is to enable any NHS organisation, within agreed access and security protocols, to determine a patient's NHS number and other related administrative data.The tracing service is currently the subject of a public and private partnership procurement, with the expectation that a contract will be awarded early in the next financial year. It is not possible to publish the costs of using the tracing service, and its integral administrative register functions, until the procurement process is complete. The tracing service will bring to fruition the successful pilot operation of the NHS administrative register throughout the NHS in Wales.The Department is working closely with NHS trusts to ensure that they all submit complete, timely and accurate data to the NHS Clearing Service, and that full use is made of electronic transfer of data via the NHS-wide network, NHSnet.

Exeter System

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the cost to the NHS of purchasing and maintaining the Exeter system and the number of eligible schemes that have yet to have access to the system; and if he will give details of future plans he has to improve access to and the efficiency of the system. [27026]

The Exeter System is supported by the Family Health Systems (FHS) organisation, which is part of the National Health Service Executive. The cost of maintaining and supporting the system for all health authorities in England and Wales was £5.8 million for 1997–98. Development costs vary annually according to business requirements stemming from legislative and policy changes.We will be considering the longer term future of the Exeter System in the context of the changes set out in "The New NHS, Modern and Dependable" White Paper.

Dental Services

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much additional Government money is available to Shropshire Health Authority for establishing extra NHS dentists. [27154]

We have made £9 million available to health authorities in England for Investing in Dentistry schemes in 1997–98 and a further £10 million for 1998–99. This is not apportioned to health authorities, but will be spent according to need as proposals are received and considered. Shropshire Health Authority has submitted eight Investing in Dentistry proposals, of which one has so far been approved at a cost of £45,000.

Meningitis

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of meningitis have been reported in the Northumberland Health Authority area since 1991. [28208]

The cases of meningitis reported in the Northumberland Health Authority area since 1991 are as follows:

	All Meningitis
1991	11
1992	25
1993	8
1994	8
1995	19

Source:

Public Health Laboratory Service.

Ambulance Service (Northumberland)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff were employed by the Northumberland Ambulance Service in each year since 1991. [28210]

National Health Service Hospital and Community Health Services: all staff directly employed by Northumbria Ambulance Service as at 30 September for each year
	Whole-time equivalent
1991	680
1992	700
1993	680
1994	730
1995	750
1996	730

Note:

Figures are rounded to the nearest ten.

Source:

Department of Health non-medical workforce census.

Registered Mental Health Nurses

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many registered mental nurses were employed by Northumberland Health Authority in each year since 1994; and what was the percentage change in each year. [28211]

It is not possible separately to identify registered mental health nurses from other qualified nurses working in the mental health area of work in the Department of Health's annual non-medical workforce census. The figures for all qualified nurses working in the mental health area of work are in the table.

National Health Service Hospital and Community Health Services qualified nurses working in the mental health area of work employed by Northumberland Health Authority as at 30 September 1996.
Year	Whole-time equivalents
1994	270
1995	290
1996	270
Percentage change
1994–95	¹—
1995–96	-6.3
¹ Not applicable.
1. Whole-time equivalents are rounded to the nearest ten; per cent. changes were calculated using unrounded figures.
2. Due to the introduction of new occupation codes in 1995, figures for 1995 and 1996 are not directly comparable with earlier years.

Source:

Department of Health annual non-medical workforce census.

Beta Interferon

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the district health authorities which provide to NHS trusts earmarked funding for the prescription of the drug Beta Interferon; and if he will make a statement; [28021](2) what research his Department has

(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the effectiveness of Beta Interferon in the treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis; and if he will increase the resources available to district health authorities to fund the provision of Beta Interferon to patients with multiple sclerosis; [28020]

(3) how many patients with multiple sclerosis in each district health authority he estimates might benefit from the provision of Beta Interferon. [28019]

Details of all the health authorities which have earmarked funding for National Health Service trusts for the treatment of multiple sclerosis patients with Beta Interferon are not available. Health authorities determine their own priorities with regard to funding particular treatments, including whether to ring-fence resources for prescribing particular treatments. The Department does not usually allocate funding to health authorities for specific drug treatments, but allocates funding according to a formula calculated to meet expected patient need in each health authority.As part of the Department's health technology assessment programme, an evaluation and pharmaco-economic analysis project is being undertaken on Beta Interferon. It is not possible to estimate at this stage how many patients might benefit from treatment with the drug.

Nhs Anniversary

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the charge upon public funds that will be made to mark the 50th year of the National Health Service. [28608]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Falkirk, West (Mr. Canavan) on 19 December 1997,Official Report, columns 389–90.

Public Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his oral answer of 5 February 1998,Official Report, columns 1229–30, if he will list, for each of the target headings listed in the Green Paper, "Our Healthier Nation", the target reduction in mortality, expressed as a percentage, contained within the Green Paper and the corresponding target or targets, where sub-headings are applicable, for those headings within the White Paper, "The Health of the Nation". [28852]

Although there are similarities between the priority areas covered in "Our Healthier Nation" and the old key areas in "The Health of the Nation", the targets differ because they cover different time periods, different combinations of diseases, different age groups (for cancers) and, in the case of accidents, a morbidity measure rather than one for mortality. "Our Healthier Nation" focuses on health outcome measures, while "The Health of the Nation" targets contained a mixture of outcomes and determinants.

Circulatory diseases

Our Healthier Nation target proposed:

To reduce the death rate from heart disease and stroke and related diseases (i.e all circulatory diseases combined) among people aged under 65 by at least one third (33 per cent.) by the year 2010 from a baseline at 1996.

Related Health of the Nation targets:

To reduce the death rate from coronary heart disease among people aged under 65 by at least 40 per cent. by the year 2000 from a baseline at 1990.

To reduce the death rate from stroke among people aged under 65 by at least 40 per cent. by the year 2000 from a baseline at 1990.

Cancers

Our Healthier Nation target proposed:

To reduce the death rate from all cancers combined among people aged under 65 by at least one fifth (20 per cent.) by the year 2010 from a baseline at 1996.

Related Health of the Nation targets:

To reduce the death rate from breast cancer in the population invited for screening (measured using females aged 50–69) by at least 25 per cent. by the year 2000 from a baseline at 1990.

To reduce the death rate from lung cancer by at least 30 per cent. in men aged under 75 by 2010 from a baseline at 1990.

To reduce the death rate from lung cancer by at least 15 per cent. in women aged under 75 by 2010 from a baseline at 1990.

Suicide and undetermined injury

Our Healthier Nation target proposed:

To reduce the rate of suicide and undetermined injury deaths for all ages by at least one sixth (17 per cent.) by the year 2010 from a baseline at 1996.

Related Health of the Nation target:

To reduce the rate of suicide and undetermined injury deaths for all ages by at least 15 per cent. by the year 2000 from a baseline at 1990.

Accidents

Our Healthier Nation target proposed:

To reduce the rate of occurrence of "major" accidents (defined as those accidents requiring medical attention at a hospital or by a family doctor) for all people aged 2 and above by at least one fifth (20 per cent.) by the year 2010 from a baseline at 1996.

The Health of the Nation targets on accidents were in terms of mortality, not morbidity, and so no direct comparisons are possible.

In each case, the baseline "at 1996" means the three year average mortality rate (adjusted to account for differences in the age structure of the population) for the years 1995/96/97, and the Health of the Nation baselines "at 1990" were the three year average mortality rates for the years 1989/90/91.

Turnberg Report

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Turnberg Report, which he published on Tuesday 3 February, was exactly the same as the text of the report originally submitted to him in November by Professor Turnberg. [28674]

Yes. The Turnberg Report was submitted to Ministers on 18 November 1997. It was published in its original form, subject to minor typographical amendments.

Wales

Nurses

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many qualified nurses are employed in (a) trusts and (b) private health establishments. [27271]

At 30 June 1997, there were approximately 16,900 whole-time equivalent qualified nurses, midwives and health visitors directly employed by NHS Trusts in Wales. The latest detailed information provided by private health establishments indicated that there were about 2,700 whole-time equivalent qualified nurses at 31 March 1995, although it is believed that this may be an under-estimate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he has taken to improve the morale of nurses. [27270]

I hope that nurses will have been heartened by the steps the Government have taken to cut back on unnecessary bureaucracy, by the ending of divisive local pay for staff on national contracts, by our search for a better, more robust approach to NHS pay in the longer term, and by the publication of our White Paper "Putting Patients First". This sets out plans for replacing the wasteful internal market, and includes commitments to involve community nurses more in organising health services for their patients and to develop a Strategic Framework for Nursing and a new Human Resources Strategy.I am glad that we have been able to accept the recommendations of the independent Nurses' Pay Review Body for a rise of 3.8 per cent., the highest for six years. Nurses stand to receive 2 per cent. from 1 April, rising to 3.8 per cent. from 1 December.By staging the increase, we can meet pay costs within the resources available to the NHS without prejudicing the planned level of service delivery.

Nhs Internal Market

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much money he estimates will be saved in Wales by the abolition of the internal market in the NHS; and how much of this sum will be spent on building community hospitals in Wales. [27147]

Together with the proposed reconfiguration of NHS trusts in Wales, the abolition of the NHS internal market will create estimated savings of up to £50 million over the lifetime of the current Parliament. These savings will be reinvested in frontline patient care, including services in community hospitals where appropriate. Individual capital projects are judged on their own merits and against the framework of commissioning authorities; strategic plans. Generally, capital schemes will be developed through the Private Finance Initiative.

New Deal (Older Unemployed People)

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what skills training older unemployed people entering the New Deal will receive; and if he will make statement. [27647]

From June, people aged 25 and over who have been unemployed for two years or more will be able to train towards an approved, employment-related qualification for up to a year while remaining on Jobseeker's Allowance.In addition, an employer subsidy of £75 a week for up to six months will be made available to people from this group. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor recently announced his intention to pilot measures by which employers facing skills shortages will be able to receive up to 75 per cent. of this subsidy as an up-front payment towards training costs.Both of these measures are designed to work in tandem with existing ES and TEC provision.We announced on 5 January our intention to invest more money from the windfall levy to enable us to develop Gateway opportunities for the older unemployed who have been out of work for a year or 18 months. Variants of the New Deal approach will be introduced through pilots, trying proposals out in selected areas.

Diabetes

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of people currently suffering from diabetes; and if he will make a statement. [27650]

A health survey of adults was carried out in Wales during 1995 and one of the questions asked was 'Are you being treated for diabetes?'. The results showed that diabetes was reported by 3.2 per cent. of the adult population. Respondents were also asked if any children, under the age of 18 years, in their household were being treated for diabetes and the responses suggested that this was the case for approximately 0.3 per cent. of children.

Apprenticeships

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many apprenticeships he estimates the New Deal will provide in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [27646]

It is not possible to give an accurate estimate of the number of apprenticeships that will be made available under the New Deal over the period of its implementation. Some young people will access to apprenticeship-type training as part of the New Deal employment option and others will progress onto apprenticeships when completing their period on the New Deal. All young people will have access to quality training to improve their skills and employment prospects.

Welsh Development Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what powers the Welsh Development Agency has to assist companies in Wales to develop export markets; and if he will make a statement. [27478]

Section 1 of the Welsh Development Agency Act 1975 provides the necessary statutory powers for the activities of the Agency. The Agency has a number of initiatives and schemes which assist companies in Wales to develop overseas business opportunities. I will arrange for the Chief Executive of the Agency to write to the right hon. Member with details of these initiatives and schemes. A copy of his letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

North-South Road Links

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to upgrade north-south road communications within Wales; what plans are being developed to accelerate such a programme following the establishment of the national assembly; and if plans to upgrade north-south road communications will be material to his decision on the location of the national assembly's permanent home. [27642]

The extent to which improvements are needed to the road network between north and south Wales was one of the main issues raised for consideration in the recent consultation exercise on the review of the Welsh trunk road programme. The review process is still at an early stage and it is not possible to say when we will be able to give any indications as to the size, composition and overall strategy of the future trunk road programme. Given this, it would not be appropriate to draw any connection between an, as yet, undetermined strategy for the trunk road network in Wales and the current debate on the location of the National Assembly.

Crickhowell House

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much rent his Department currently receives from Crickhowell House in Cardiff; and if he will make a statement. [27481]

My department receives no rent from Crickhowell House. The Welsh Office is the leaseholder of the property which is occupied by the Welsh Health Common Services Authority who are responsible for the payment of rent to the landlord, Grosvenor Waterside Ltd.

Teachers

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many teachers in each local education authority in Wales have had their employment terminated during the past year. [28011]

The information requested is not collected centrally.

Casualty Units

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to reduce the waiting times in casualty units in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [27970]

Latest available information to the end of September 1997 shows that 94 per cent. of patients at Accident & Emergency departments were assessed within 10 minutes of arrival; 95 per cent. of patients were admitted into the main hospital within 2 hours of the decision to admit; and 95 per cent. of patients received treatment within 4 hours.Further improvements to this performance will be considered during the development of a new NHS Charter for Wales which is currently the subject of consultation in the NHS in Wales.

Local Government Finance

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received on the impact of the changes in the distribution formula for the Welsh Office's funding of local government in Wales from the poorest unitary authorities, with particular reference to social deprivation and council tax income; and what further consideration he is giving to this matter. [27997]

My hon. Friend has received 27 representations. He and the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) accepted the recommendations of the joint review group instigated at the request of the WLGA, following an eighteen month examination of the issues that drive the need for local authority expenditure on services. Acceptance was conditional upon the commissioning of a joint independent review of the concept of local authority spending need in readiness for the National Assembly for Wales. The review will be commissioned shortly.

Learning Difficulties

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people with learning difficulties will have places in the New Deal; and if he will make a statement. [27645]

It is not possible to give an accurate estimate of the number of people with learning difficulties who will benefit from the New Deal over the period of its implementation. All young people who are eligible, or who become so, will be offered opportunities to participate in a job, training or useful work experience.Young people who have special needs, including those with reading, writing and numeracy problems, will be able to join the New Deal early (ie they will not have to be unemployed for 6 months). They will have access to the help they need to improve their skills and employment prospects.

Teacher Training Students

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many students are currently in teacher training; and how many of them are men. [27644]

The latest available figures for the number of students on courses of Initial Teacher Training at higher education institutions in Wales relate to the academic year 1996/97. There were 6,022 students on courses of initial teacher training as at 1 December 1996, of whom 1,581 were male.

National Assembly For Wales

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what evidence he has assessed on the campaigning activities of senior civil servants for the location of the National Assembly. [28312]

I have not asked Welsh Office officials to campaign for any particular location for the National Assembly for Wales, and I have no evidence of them doing so.

Household Population Growth

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the predicted total growth in the all-Wales private household population over the period 1998 to 2016 (a) as a percentage and (b) as a numerical value. [28143]

It is estimated from the 1994 based household projection that the total private household population in Wales will rise from 2,889,000 in 1998 to 2,913,000 in 2016. This represents a growth of (a) 0.8 per cent. (b) 24,000 compared with 1998. Details of the method used in the projection and notes on the reliability of the estimates can be found in 1994 Based Household Projections for Wales, a copy of which is in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the projected annual private household numbers for the county of Monmouthshire each year from 1994 to 2019–20. [28147]

Household estimates from the 1994 based household projection for the county of Monmouthshire for each year from 1994 to 2016, the last year of projection, are shown in the following table. Details of the method used in the projection and notes on the reliability of the estimates can be found in 1994 Based Household Projections for Wales, a copy of which is in the Library.

Projected households for county of Monmouthshire
Year¹	Number
1994	33,400
1995	34,000
1996	34,500
1997	35,500
1998	35,500
1999	36,100
2000	36,600
2001	37,100
2002	37,600

Projected households for county of Monmouthshire
Year¹	Number
2003	38,100
2004	38,600
2005	39,200
2006	39,700
2007	40,200
2008	40,700
2009	41,200
2010	41,700
2011	42,200
2012	42,600
2013	43,100
2014	43,600
2015	44,000
2016	44,400
¹ At 30 June each year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the predicted total growth in the private household population in Monmouthshire over the period 1998 to 2016 (a) as a percentage and (b) as a numerical value. [28146]

It is estimated from the 1994 based household projection that the total private household population in Monmouthshire will rise from 85,800 in 1998 to 97,700 in 2016. This represents a growth of (a) 13.8 per cent., (b) 11,900 compared with 1998. Details of the method used in the projection and notes on the reliability of the estimates can be found in 1994 Based Household Projections for Wales, a copy of which is in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the projected annual net migration rates into Wales for the private household population for each of the years 1990–91 to 2019–20. [28144]

The available estimates from the Office for National Statistics' mid-year estimates and the Government Actuary's Department's 1996-based population projections relate to all civilian migration, not just private households. The figures are shown in the following table:

Estimated net civilian migration into Wales¹
Year	Net inward migrants
1991	9,000
1992	1,800
1993	2,200
1994	3,800
1995	3,500
1996	5,700
1997	7,000
1998	6,000
1999	5,500
2000	5,500
2001	5,500
2002	5,500
2003	5,500
2004	5,500
2005	5,500
2006	5,500
2007	5,500
2008	5,500
2009	5,500
2010	5,500
2011	5,500
2012	5,500
2013	5,500

Estimated net civilian migration into Wales¹
Year	Net inward migrants
2014	5,500
2015	5,500
2016	5,500
2017	5,500
2018	5,500
2019	5,500
2020	5,500
¹ In 12 months to 30 June each year.

Sources:

1990–91 to 1995–96: Office for National Statistics' mid year estimates.

1996–97 to 2019–20: Government Actuary's Department's 1996-based national population projections.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales in what circumstances a unitary authority would be permitted to provide for substantially less new housing than is predicted in the Welsh Office household apportionment. [28145]

The Welsh Office's 1994 Based Household Projections for Wales are essentially trend based and do not make allowances for the effects of local or central government policies. They should be used as a base for policy projections.Where a local planning authority's policy based provisions differ from these projections the differences should be fully justified in the development plan. The Secretary of State will consider intervening where the justification for the development plan figures is either unsound or unacceptable.

Public Opinion Research

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many contracts for public opinion research his Department has awarded since 1 May; if he will indicate the (a) purpose, (b) cost, (c) value and (d) duration of each contract; and which companies (i) bid for and (ii) were awarded each contract. [28880]

The following contracts for public opinion research have been awarded by my Department since 1 May 1998:

Business and Environment Campaign—Phase 2: Telemarketing Exercise

Purpose: Telemarketing research exercise to around 3,000 decision makers within Welsh SMEs to gauge their awareness of the Department's Business and Environment Campaign.

Cost: £18,071 plus VAT
Value: £18,071 plus VAT
Duration: 5 February to 20 March 1998

Two companies submitted formal bids for the contract—Golley Slater Telephone Marketing Ltd. and Pell and Bales Ltd. The contract was awarded to Golley Slater Telephone Marketing Ltd.

Contracts Awarded by Central Office of Information on Behalf of the Welsh Office

Understanding Devolution

Purpose: To inform development of the "Voice for Wales" white paper

Cost: £12,986 including VAT
Value: £12,986 including VAT
Duration: July 1997

The project was not competitively tendered as the timetable did not allow it. The project was awarded directly to Andrew Irving Associates because of their established record of researching in Wales and evidence of adequate recruitment resources.

Devolution Campaign Evaluation

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of the Welsh Office's campaign to promote the referendum
Cost: £23,148 including VAT
Value: £23,148 including VAT
Duration: August 1997

The project was not competitively tendered because there was insufficient time. The contract was awarded to Beaufort Research, the only contractor offering an omnibus service within Wales.

Both these contracts were one off projects, completed within 4–6 weeks of commissioning. The costs shown include management time.

Ministerial Travel

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the engagements he undertook in the United Kingdom in the course of his duties during January indicating in each case which were accessed by (a) car, (b) train, (c) aeroplane and car, (d) aeroplane and train and (e) other means. [28941]

I undertook the following engagements, outside the Office, during January:

2 Business Dinners in Cardiff.
1 Business Lunch in Cardiff.
Meeting with European Commissioners at Lancaster House, London.
Presentation at Hydro Aluminium Alupres at Bedwas, Caerphilly.
Economic Social Committee Dinner at Cardiff Castle.
Dinner with Transport and General Workers Union (Wales) at House of Commons.
1 Business Lunch in London.
Official opening of Hydro Power at Elan Valley, Powys.
Visit to Red Kite Centre and Farmtrail at Gigrim Farm, Powys.
Opening of Golwg Magazine Offices, Lampeter.

On each occasion I travelled by official car.I frequently use the train to travel between Gwydyr House in London and the Welsh Office in Cardiff.

International Development

Public Opinion Research

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many contracts for public opinion research her Department has awarded since 1 May; if she will indicate the (a) purpose, (b) cost, (c) value and (d) duration of each contract; and which companies (i) bid for and (ii) were awarded each contract. [28873]

The Department engaged Opinion Leader Research Ltd. to carry out public opinion research in the autumn. The purpose was to test public attitudes towards and awareness of what the Department is doing and what we are trying to achieve. It repeated a similar exercise undertaken under the previous Administration. There was no Ministerial involvement in the design or awarding of the contract.No other bids for this work were invited. The work was carried out over a period of a few weeks at a cost of around £43,000.A summary document of the research has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Papua New Guinea

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance her Department has provided to Papua New Guinea to relieve the effects of the drought and prevent starvation; and if she will make a statement. [28610]

We have contributed over £400,000 to assist those affected by the drought. These funds have been channelled through Non-Government Organisations such as World Vision UK, Christian Aid, UK Foundation for the South Pacific and the Salvation Army and have concentrated mainly on the provision of food and water. We will continue to monitor the situation closely through our High Commission in Port Moresby and the Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Geneva.

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Ministerial Meetings

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers' meetings Ministers have attended since 1 May. [22646]

I and my Ministerial team have attended a total of 76 farmers' meetings since 1 May.

Beef Imports

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what quantity of beef imports into the United Kingdom was physically examined for compliance with the SRM ban and the OTMS requirements in the period 1 to 16 January; what were the countries of origin of the inspected meat; which organisations undertook each of these checks; and if he will publish the results of these examinations; [25460](2) how many individual shipments of beef to the United Kingdom there were in the period 1 to 16 January; how many such shipments received only a documentary examination; what the countries of origin of these shipments were; and if he will publish the results of these examinations; [25461](3) what quantities of beef were imported into the United Kingdom in the period 1 to 16 January; from which country they came; and what were the quantities in the same period in 1997; [25459](4) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for North Tayside (Mr. Swinney) on 20 January 1998,

Official Report, column 495, how he is notified about checks made on beef imports into the United Kingdom; [25500]

(5) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for North Tayside (Mr. Swinney) on 20 January 1998, Official Report, column 495, what information he collates to ascertain that checks are being made to ensure that beef coming into the United Kingdom complies with the (a) SRM and (b) OTMS requirements and is microbiologically safe; and for what reason his Department keeps no central records of the number and results of checks made on beef imports into the United Kingdom; [25498]

(6) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for North Tayside (Mr. Swinney) on 20 January 1998, Official Report, column 495, where the records of its checks made on beef imports into the United Kingdom are held; [25499]

(7) if he will list the points of entry to the United Kingdom where checks have been carried out since 1 January to ensure that beef coming into the United Kingdom complies with the (a) SRM ban and (b) OTMS requirements; [25501]

(8) what physical checks are made on beef coming into the United Kingdom to establish that it is not over 30 months old and meets the SRM requirements; [25504]

(9) how many consignments of beef have been rejected on the grounds that they did not comply with the (a) OTMS Scheme and (b) SRM ban since 1 January; [25502]

(10) for what reasons the proposal to lift the beef ban in Northern Ireland has been based upon beef off the bone. [28533]

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the inspection of imported beef. [26688]

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Taunton (Mrs. Ballard) of 26 January 1998,Official Report, column 98, how many random checks were carried out on consignments of beef imported to the United Kingdom from EU and non-EU countries on each day since 1 January 1998 at ports in (a) England, (b)Scotland, (c)Wales and (d)Northern Ireland; and how many consignments failed to meet the Government's unilateral controls in relation to specified risk material. [26862]

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many consignments of beef imported from other European Union member states were inspected between 1 and 22 January to ensure that they did not contain specified risk materials and that their import certification was accurate, and in accordance with the Specified Risk Material Order 1997. [27003]

[holding answers 26 and 27 January 1998]: Official Overseas Trade Statistics on the quantities and country of origin of beef imported into the United Kingdom are available only for complete calendar months. Statistics for January 1998 are not yet available. Official Overseas Trade Statistics for January 1997 are set out in the table.All consignments of animal products imported directly into the United Kingdom from outside the European Union (EU) are subject to documentary checks at designated Border Inspection Posts (BIPs), including checks on the certification relating to specified risk materials. Some consignments are also subject to physical checks, the levels of which are laid down in Community law. Most Border Inspection Posts are operated by local authorities. At those which are not, checks are carried out by the State Veterinary Service.Single Market rules permit only random spot-checks at destination on animal products traded within the Community. Consistent with those rules, a daily sample of randomly selected consignments from EU member states are subject to documentary checks by Ministry officials for conformity with the new unilateral controls relating to specified risk material.Data on the number, type and results of veterinary checks on beef consignments at Border Inspection Posts, and on the number and outcome of the random documentary spot-checks on beef consignments arriving from or via other EU Member States, are being collated on a monthly basis from 1 January 1998, the date when the Specified Risk Materials Order came into force. No data are available yet. They will be published in the Department's BSE Enforcement Bulletin which is place in the Library of the House.There are no resrictions on the import of beef from animals over 30 months of age. The Fresh Meat (Beef Controls) (No.2) Regulations 1996 prohibit the sale for human consumption of all meat derived from bovine animals which at the time of slaughter were more than 30 months old. This measure applies to all bovines slaughtered on or after 29 March 1996, whether in the UK or overseas, other than those born, reared and slaughtered in those third countries specifically excluded by the Regulations and UK animals from the Beef Assurance Scheme.

UK imports of fresh beef and beef offal: January 1997
	Tonnes
European Community
Irish Republic	4,896
Netherlands	1,325
France	608
Germany	596
Spain	149
Belgium-Luxembourg	105
Other	87
Total EC Imports	7,764
Non-European Community
Uruguay	954
Australia	518
Argentina	720
Zimbabwe	341
Brazil	218
USA	172
Namibia	161
New Zealand	245
Other	22
Total Non-EC Imports	3,352
Total Imports	11,116

Notes:

All data are provisional and subject to amendment.

The above data include an estimate of below threshold exclude an estimate for non-response.

Source:

Business and Trade Statistics Limited

Ministerial Engagements

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list his official engagements during the period of the United Kingdom presidency of the European Council of Ministers. [26935]

My diary for the duration of the Presidency is, of necessity, incomplete and provisional. It would serve no purpose to provide details of meetings which might or might not take place.

Small Holdings

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to give direct financial aid to farmers of small holdings; and if he will make a statement. [26994]

None. It is not our policy to discriminate between farms on the basis of size of holding.

Civil Servants

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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. [26922]

Since 1 May 1997 there have been no resignations. One member of the Senior Civil Service in the Department retired before pensionable age; he had responsibilities to my noble Friend the Minister responsible for Farming and the Food Industry, Lord Donoughue, and myself. No senior staff have changed responsibility.

Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowance

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when before Easter farmers will receive their HLCA and enhanced suckler cow payments. [25675]

[holding answer 28 January 1998]: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for High Peak (Mr. Levitt) on 3 February 1998,Official Report, columns 591–92.

Ritual Slaughter

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many animals were killed for ritual slaughter in the United Kingdom during 1997. [26052]

Information is not held separately on the numbers of animals killed without prior stunning by the Jewish or Muslim methods.

Farming Co-Operatives

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the impact of the provisions of the Competition Bill [Lords] on farming co-operatives. [26000]

[holding answer 28 January 1998]: An amendment has been tabled by my noble Friend, Lord Simon of Highbury, for discussion at Lords Report Stage on 9 February which would provide an exclusion from the Chapter I prohibition under the Bill for this type of co-operative along the lines of EC Regulation 26/62.

Calshot Oyster Fisheries

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when his Department received the second application from Calshot Oyster Fishermen Ltd for extension of the Calshot Oyster Fishery Order submitted on 7 September 1996; and when his Department authorised newspaper advertising of it. [27377]

The application was received by the Department on 11 September 1996. Following preparation of the draft Order and map and consultation with interested parties, including other public bodies, my officials wrote to Calshot Oyster Fishermen Ltd. on 6 June 1997 requesting that it should be advertised.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what factors underlay his Department's decision to remove a discretionary area from the Variation Order for the Calshot Oyster Fisheries notified to Calshot Oyster Fisherman Ltd on 16 December 1994; and what representations he received in support of the removal. [27361]

The Department of Transport and the Deputy Harbour Master, Associated British Ports in Southampton, advised that the Calshot Oyster Fishery should not be extended into the Thorn Channel, a narrow navigation channel for large vessels entering the port of Southampton, because of the risk of small fishing boats interfering with safe navigation.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what correspondence his Department has had with objectors to the extension of the Calshot Oyster Fisheries since 1 June; what was the nature of the correspondence; what are the bases for the objections; and if he will make the correspondence available to the Calshot Oyster Fishermen Ltd. [27388]

The objections to the proposed Calshot Oyster Fishery (Variation) Order are primarily concerned with the potential loss of earnings, although there were also objections on the grounds that it would make enforcement more difficult and also to the principle of such fishery Orders.My officials wrote to the 7 objectors requesting further information. Three replies were received, one of which was considered irrelevant. The two other letters contained a more exact figure of the potential loss of earnings as a result of the extension of the fishery. The author of one of these letters expressed the wish for it to be kept confidential whilst the other letter will be made available to Calshot Oyster Fishermen Ltd.

Food Safety

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food under what statutory authority any food found in a food retailer's premises is deemed intended for human consumption. [27335]

[holding answer 5 February 1998]: Section 3 (3) of the Food Safety Act 1990.

Pear Producers (Ccc)

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for what reasons the chemical CCC cannot be used by United Kingdom pear producers; and what investigations he is conducting in this matter. [27343]

[holding answer 5 February 1998]: The use of CCC (or chlormequat) on pears is not approved in the United Kingdom. An application for approval of this use was made on behalf of UK growers, but this was rejected in October 1995 because sufficient safety data was not provided.Retail samples of pears were collected in 1997 as part of the annual surveillance programme for pesticide residues. These samples are being analysed for CCC and other pesticide residues and the results will be published later this year.

Beef On The Bone

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will publish the advice given to him by local environmental health officers about their assessment of the enforceability of the ban on beef on the bone; [27339](2) how many representations he has received from local environmental health officers concerning the enforceability of the ban on beef on the bone. [27338]

[holding answer 5 February 1998]: Since the Regulations came into effect, I have received one letter from a local authority environmental health department about their assessment of the enforceability of the ban on beef on the bone. This was a notification that the authority's Environment Sub-Committee felt the Regulations would prove difficult to enforce effectively, and a request for guidance on enforcement. In addition, officials of my Department have responded freely to telephone requests for advice received from individual environmental health officers. They have also discussed the Regulations and their enforcement with representatives of local authority organisations, including the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to publish his advice on the interpretation and operation of his Beef on the Bone Order. [27333]

[holding answer 5 February 1998]: Initial guidance on the interpretation and operation of the proposed ban on bone-in beef was published on the Department's Internet site on 3 December 1997, and subsequently updated a number of times during that month. A further update is now being prepared. Advice has also been given to individual telephone callers on the proposed ban and subsequently on the Beef Bones Regulations 1997 following their coming into effect on 16 December 1997. Draft guidance to local authorities on the interpretation and operation of the Regulations was circulated to local authority representative bodies, including the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, on 12 January 1998 and discussed at a meeting between their representatives and my officials on 16 January. A revised version was circulated on 28 January for final comment and was issued to all local authorities today. I have arranged for a copy to be sent to the right hon. Member. A copy has also been placed in the Library of the House and on the Department's Internet site.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice or information he has received from Mr. Simon Williams about his assessment of the enforceability of the ban on beef on the bone. [27337]

[holding answer 5 February 1998]: None.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement listing the ways in which, as a result of the beef deboning process, dorsal root ganglia could enter the food chain. [27342]

[holding answer 5 February 1998]: Dorsal root ganglia lie close to the bones of the vertebral column, which is required to be removed under the Beef Bones Regulations 1997 and disposed of in accordance with the Animal By Products Order 1992. The Regulations require that deboning of bone-in beef at food premises is carried out in a hygienic manner, in particular so as to avoid the risk of contamination of any food or ingredient.

Certified Herd Scheme

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for what reasons the proposal for an export certified herd scheme in Northern Ireland did not include a measure to allow beef on the bone to be exported from herds with no record of BSE. [27341]

[holding answer 5 February 1998]: The decision to propose the deboning of all beef exports under the Export Certified Herds Scheme follows a recommendation from the European Commission's Scientific Veterinary Committee.

Lost And Stolen Items

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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. [27773]

[holding answer 5 February 1998]: The items valued at £25 or more that have been reported stolen or lost from the Department since 1 May 1997 are as detailed:

Number	Description	Amount (£)
1	Theft of mobile phone and one tone pad	350.00
2	Loss of pocket memo and four calculators	122.31
3	80 cage traps stolen or damaged beyond repair	2,800.00
4	Theft of video camcorder and polaroid camera	1,300.00
5	Theft of Siemens Nixdorf Laptop PC	2,893.40
Total		7,465.71

Theft And Fraud

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the cost of theft and fraud to (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies, in (i) 1995–96, (ii) 1996–97 and (iii) 1997–98 to date. [27772]

[holding answer 5 February 1998]: The hon. Member will wish to know that the cost of theft and fraud to the Department and its Agencies was as follows:

Financial year	Number of cases	Value£	Amount recovered £
1995–96	28	115,891.00	26,025.00
1996–97	17	29,735.00	2,500.00

Analysis of 1995–96 shows that 22 cases relate to theft or attempted theft of Departmental assets by persons unknown. 6 cases relate to false claims or thefts by the Department's staff. The value of these cases was approximately £12,800 of which £2,000 has been recovered. For 1996–97, only 2 cases involved the Department's staff; the total loss was £585, of which £560 was recovered.Figures have not yet been collated for 1997–98. The Department's non-departmental public bodies have a duty to report any cases of fraud to the Department, but none have been reported.

Fisheries Council

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 22 December 1997,Official Report, column 493, in what areas he judged it necessary to invoke the Hague Preference on stocks at the last Fisheries Council; in which areas it could have been invoked and was not held to be necessary; and if he will press for an extension of the Hague Preference to other areas of the United Kingdom. [27532]

[holding answer 5 February 1998]: At the December 1997 Fisheries Council, the UK invoked Hague Preference in respect of stocks of West of Scotland saithe and whiting, North Sea whiting and Irish Sea cod and whiting. This was the first occasion that Hague Preference had been invoked for North Sea whiting.In view of the Council's decision to maintain national quotas for West of Scotland herring at levels agreed in previous years, the UK did not invoke Hague Preference for this stock and, in line with longstanding practice, the UK did not invoke it for North Sea mackerel; nor did we invoke Hague Preference in respect of North Sea sprat or Norway pout for which the Council allocated the full total allowable catches to Member States for the first time.Hague Preference may be invoked only for certain stocks of importance to fisheries dependent communities in Ireland and the northern parts of the UK. Its use is opposed by some other Member States and I do not see any prospect of Member States with fisheries dependent areas which do not benefit from Hague Preference agreeing to its being made available for other stocks and other areas of the United Kingdom.

Fisheries

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the anticipated additional tonnage of (a) cod, (b) plaice, (c) saithe and (d) whiting that will be discarded from British-registered fishing vessels as a result of (i) recent changes in enforcement measures and (ii) the proposed restrictions on the landing of black fish. [28123]

[holding answer 6 February 1998]: From 1 January this year it has been a requirement of UK fishing vessel licences such that any fish subject to quota which are retained on board should not subsequently be discarded. This, and other enforcement measures, which are currently being considered and about which the fishing industry will be consulted, should not result in additional fish being discarded at sea.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the effort limitation controls applied to pelagic fisheries in EU member states. [28047]

Council Decision 97/413/EC which set objective and detailed rules for the fourth series of fisheries Multi-Annual Guidance Programmes (MAGP IV) required Member States to submit fishing effort limitation programmes to the European Commission by 30 June 1997 as a basis for the formal adoption of individual national programmes by 30 November 1997. The European Commission announced on 17 December 1997 that it had duly adopted these programmes, but the resulting Decisions have still to be published in the Official Journal. Details of the expected United Kingdom Decision were given in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Enfield, North (Ms Ryan) on 22 December 1997,Official Report, column 494.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the resources dedicated by each EU member state to enforce the effort limitation controls for pelagic fisheries. [28048]

A summary of the resources dedicated by each Member State to the monitoring, surveillance and control of fishing activities is contained in a European Commission report to the Fisheries Council under Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2847/93. The latest such report (Com(97)226 final) covers 1995 and a copy is in the Library of the House. A report on 1996 is expected shortly. It is the responsibility of the individual Member States concerned to determine how their resources should be deployed to ensure compliance with EU controls, including new effort limits for pelagic fisheries under MAGP IV.

Relative Stability Principle

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the operation of his Department's policy regarding the application of relative stability (a) up to the end of and (b) beyond 2002. [28119]

[holding answer 6 February 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for East Yorkshire (Mr. Townend) on 28 January 1998,Official Report, column 301.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the Government's policy towards the principle of relative stability. [28122]

[holding answer 6 February 1998]: The Government support the principle of relative stability under the Common Fisheries Policy.

Horticulture

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the (a) strengths and (b) weaknesses of the United Kingdom horticulture industry; and if he will make a statement. [28540]

[holding answer 9 February 1998]: British growers have well developed production and marketing skills, and a system of traceability and product assurance, which makes them second to none in the European market place. There are still too many

£ million
	Fresh fruit (apples, cherries, pears, plums and strawberries)	Fresh field and protected vegetables	Potatoes	Ornamentals	Hops
Exports and re-exports	20.3	33.3	105.8	36.4	5.0
Imports	423	806.1	316.3	468.3	7.2
Balance of payments	-402.7	-772.8	-210.5	-431.9	-2.2

Fuller details can be found in the

Basic Horticultural Statistics for the United Kingdom (1986–1996), published by the Department's Statistics Division.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what help his Ministry is providing to the horticulture industry to (a) increase consumption of any of its outputs, (b) improve the industry's marketing and (c) develop new forms of technology beneficial to the industry; what expenditure is available for such programmes for (i) 1997–98, (ii) 1998–99 and (iii) 1999–2000; and what were the expenditure levels on the equivalent assistance in (1) 1994–95, (2) 1995–96 and (3) 1996–97. [28543]

[holding answer 9 February 1998]: My noble Friend Lord Donoughue recently attended the launch of the Fresh Produce Consortium's Campaign "Give me Five" and strongly endorsed their message that people should eat more fruit and vegetables each day. The Department also encourages and co-ordinates applications for EU funding under Apple Promotion and Flower promotion scheme.The Department has worked closely with fruit and vegetables producer organisations to ensure that they take full advantage of EU funding for operational programmes. The objectives of the programmes include planning and adjusting production to meet demand, particularly in terms of quality and quantity.The Department has a horticulture research programme that is directed primarily towards strategic underpinning work to improve the competitiveness and market responsiveness of the sector and the industry's interaction production units in relation to the number of customers for horticultural produce. A stronger role for producer organisations is part of the solution.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what projects to benefit United Kingdom horticulture are currently being funded by his Ministry as part of the Technology Foresight Programme. [28548]

[holding answer 9 February 1998]: A technology foresight exercise is currently underway covering the hardy nursery stock sector. Reports have already been produced on apples, strawberries and mushrooms.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list by product type details of the balance of payments deficit for United Kingdom horticulture, excluding those products which cannot normally be grown in the United Kingdom because of climatic factors. [28539]

[holding answer 9 February 1998]: The balance of payments for the main groups of horticultural products in 1996 are as follows:with the environment. Priority areas are those showing most potential for growth and added value, especially where there is a clear trade gap opportunity. Work covered by the Department's Research and Development programme includes breeding for improved quality; pest and disease resistance; crop production, including improving crop uniformity and scheduling; crop protection, with work covering the epidemiology of pests and diseases as well as biological and integrated pest management; the improvement of storage and shelf life. The Department's funded work provides a strong underpinning base from which the levy-funded bodies, such as the Apple and Pear Research Council and the Horticultural Development Council, pick up and the results and develop them through to industry application.The Department's expenditure available for horticulture research is:

(i) 1997–98 = £11,255k

(ii) 1998–99 = £11,294k (provisional), and

(iii) 1999–2000 = £11,294k (provisional)

The Department's expenditure on horticulture research is:

(1) 1994–95 = £11,760k

(2) 1995–96 = £11,761k

(3) 1996–97 = £11,833k

In addition to these figures, there are a number of cross-sector projects which will have a bearing on horticulture R&D.

The Department is also lead sponsor of the Horticulture LINK programme. The aim of the programme is to encourage collaborative funding of research by industry and government to enable and accelerate the exploitation of new products, processes and systems in all areas of the horticulture industry.(MAFF HortLINK spend: 1997–98 = £500k, 1998–99 = £870k, 1999–2000 = £950k).

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what policies his Ministry is pursuing to help increase exports of United Kingdom horticultural production. [28547]

[holding answer 9 February 1998]: I want to see a strong British horticultural sector, taking up the growth in consumption here and producing for the single market rather than exporting occasional surpluses. The strengthening of producer organisations will help to achieve this objective.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish for each of the last five years for which information is available (a) consumption per head in terms of value and weight of fruit, salad and vegetables, and (b) purchases per head of flowers, ornamentals and plants, in (i) the United Kingdom, (ii) the Netherlands, (iii) France, (iv) Germany, (v) Italy, (vi) Sweden and (vii) Belgium. [28545]

[holding answer 9 February 1998]: Details of consumption of fruit and vegetables per head in terms of weight are as follows. Data on the value of consumption per head are not readily available.

Average annual consumption (kg/head) Vegetable and vegetable products
	1995	1994	1993	1992	1991
UK	87.21	92.44	94.30	98.40	93.99
Netherlands	76.57	74.64	81.58	81.92	66.06
Germany	77.84	79.74	78.21	86.16	82.04
France	125.12	120.91	118.75	115.34	123.97
Italy	149.50	162.60	150.49	177.75	171.37
Sweden	60.70	67.28	63.54	64.33	59.94
Belgium/Luxembourg	123.20	109.17	117.88	112.14	104.44

Fruit and fruit products (excluding wine)
	1995	1994	1993	1992	1991
UK	80.88	82.64	80.45	78.76	76.51
Netherlands	155.56	145.05	140.06	177.47	143.53
France	100.71	97.27	90.05	98.19	83.92
Germany	109.86	123.06	121.96	155.31	121.25
Italy	126.04	141.76	142.55	149.23	134.03
Sweden	99.66	104.19	98.99	96.36	101.27
Belgium/Luxembourg	118.15	139.17	103.88	172.68	139.50

Source:

FAO

There is no information available on purchases per head of flowers, ornamentals and plants. A separate figure for salads is not readily available.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the areas of horticultural production in which the United Kingdom has a natural advantage compared to the rest of Europe. [28538]

[holding answer 9 February 1998]: British growers have a temperate climate, production skills, a strong research base and a supportive Government.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reforms to the European Union horticulture regime have been introduced since 1 January 1995; and if he will make a statement on his assessment of the impact that these changes have had on the United Kingdom horticulture industry. [28542]

[holding answer 9 February 1998]: The reform of the EU Regimes for Fresh and Processed Fruit and Vegetables came into effect on 1 January 1997. The objective of reform is to bring about far greater market orientation among EU growers while reducing reliance on intervention. Money saved on intervention is being made available to Producer Organisations (POs) for approved multi-year operational programmes. A total of 65 programmes have been approved in the UK in 1997, with a potential for grant of £10.3 million in 1998.In addition, the EU Hop Regime was amended in July 1997 and the EU Flower and Plant Promotion Fund was introduced in 1996. Under the hop reform, producers will receive their income aid payments more quickly. The promotional fund is intended to increase the purchase of flowers and plants, and I want British growers to supply up the extra production needed.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are his Ministry's main priorities for the horticulture industry; and if he will make a statement. [28546]

[holding answer 9 February 1998]: The Government wish to see a successful, competitive horticulture industry, together with an increase in the production and consumption of fruit and vegetables, increased production and use of ornamental plants and flowers and an ever stronger relationship between producers, retailers and consumers.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which representative bodies from each part of the horticultural trade he and his Ministers have met with since 2 May 1997. [28541]

[holding answer 9 February 1998]: I had the opportunity to meet a number of representatives of the industry when I attended the Royal Agricultural Show last July. My noble Friend Lord Donoughue has met the NFU Horticultural Executive, NFU Horticulture advisers, representatives of the Fresh Produce Consortium, the Horticultural Export Bureau, the Horticultural Trades Association, the Royal Horticultural Society and East Malling Trust for Horticultural Research. My hon. Friend the Minister of State met representatives of the National Association of British Market Authorities and the Birmingham Wholesale Fresh Produce Association when he visited Birmingham Wholesale Markets. And my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary has met Bedfordshire Growers and will shortly visit a pot plant nursery in South Lincolnshire. My noble Friend Lord Carter met industry organisations when he attended Marden Fruit Show last October. Further visits are planned.

Beef

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when in December his Ministry received a request for more information from the Commission on the workings of the data based beef scheme; when he undertook to reply; and when he did reply. [28532]

[holding answer 9 February 1998]: I received the European Commission Scientific Steering Committee's Opinion on the Date Based Export Scheme proposal from Commissioner Bonino on 11 December 1997 with an invitation to comment.Extensive discussions with the Commission quickly followed, and my officials formally responded to the Opinion on 29 January.

Wholesale Markets

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his Ministers' current policy on the

	1995		1996		1997
Country	Possible expenditure MECU	Actual expenditure MECU	Possible expenditure MECU	Actual expenditure MECU	Possible expenditure MECU	Actual expenditure MECU	Maximum possible future expenditure MECU¹
Germany²	218.5	217	145.6	144.7	—	—	Nil
Netherlands	99	49.3	66	32.8	—	—	Nil
Austria	38	18.9	25.36	12.6	—	—	Nil
Denmark	7.6	3.9	5.1	2.6	—	—	Nil
Luxembourg³	3.1	3.1	2.1	2.1	—	—	Nil
Belgium⁴	39.5	25.8	26.3	13.3	—	—	Nil
Sweden	—	—	54.2	27.8	12.5	6.6	6.25
Ireland	—	—	—	—	170.8	91.2	170.8
Italy	—	—	—	—	—	—	495
¹ Ireland and Sweden have indicated plans to pay some of the outstanding aid available.
² 50 per cent, of actual expenditure in 1995 and 1996 was nationally funded.
³ 50 per cent, of actual expenditure in 1995 and 1996 was nationally funded.
⁴ Approximately 20 per cent, of actual expenditure in 1995 was nationally funded.

Education And Employment

New Deal (Employer Agreement)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if a participant in the employment option of New Deal for 18 to 24 year olds will have a good cause for leaving if the employer fails to comply with the employer agreement. [25563]

[holding answer 26 January 1998]: We have put into place procedures to ensure that employers do comply with the terms of the agreement. They will be monitored, and, where the terms and conditions of the Employer Agreement are not being met, the New Deal caseworker will intervene and attempt to resolve the situation.If a person leaves a New Deal option, the Adjudication Officer will take all circumstances into account in deciding whether the person had good cause. In doing this, they can call upon evidence from the caseworker.

findings of the Strathclyde Report on Wholesale Markets; and what current help his Ministry is giving to assist with the implementation of its principal findings. [28544]

[holding answer 9 February 1998]: The Government accept the recommendations in the Strathclyde Report. However it is for those directly involved to make their decisions in the light of the Strathclyde Report and their own commercial assessment. My Department is ready to consider ways in which we can assist the process.

Agrimonetary Compensation

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list for the last three years for each member state of the European Union the amount in ecu they have been entitled to claim in monetary compensation for exchange rate changes; how much they have claimed; and how much is outstanding. [28354]

[holding answer 9 February 1998]: As at July 1997, aid notified to the Commission for the nine other EU Member States entitled to pay agrimonetary compensation between 1995–97 was as follows:Guidance to Adjudication Officers, prepared by the independent Central Adjudication Services, specifically cites the standard of provision as a possible relevant circumstance.

Disabled Staff

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on encouraging employers to employ disabled staff. [27255]

The Disability Discrimination Act makes it unlawful for employers with 20 or more employees to discriminate against disabled employees and job applicants. It ensures that, if a disabled person has a particular disadvantage in doing a job, the employer may have to help to overcome it. We are consulting on the small firms threshold to see whether it should be reduced. We are also looking at how to secure comprehensive and enforceable civil rights for disabled people through the establishment of a Disability Task Force which will look at, among other issues, the setting up of a Disability Rights Commission.

There is a wide range of help available from the Employment Service to employers to help them employ and retain disabled people.

Employers who make positive efforts to recruit disabled people are able to demonstrate their commitment to good practice through the use of the disability symbol in their recruitment advertisements and other literature.

Disability Benefits Claimants

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has for re-training for work claimants of disability benefits who lose their entitlement. [27256]

There is a range of help available to unemployed disabled people through programmes delivered by the Employment Service (ES) and through training programmes delivered through the Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs). Both the employment and the training measures pay specific regard to the needs of disabled people.Specialist advice is available form Disability Employment Advisers in local ES offices.

School Exclusion

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will issue guidance to schools on the use of permanent exclusion in cases where students are due to take GCSE examinations. [27357]

We will shortly be consulting on new guidance to schools and LEAs on the use of exclusion. This will emphasise that permanent exclusion should be avoided wherever possible, and draw attention to the particular problems exclusion causes for pupils studying for public examinations.

Nursery Vouchers

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many nursery vouchers were taken up in schools which took part in the scheme. [27940]

The nursery education voucher scheme operated in England for the summer term of 1997 only. During that period, some 450,000 vouchers were redeemed in maintained schools and 24,000 in independent schools.

Ofsted Inspections

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if it is part of the official remit of OFSTED to ascertain from inspection whether schools are satisfying the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum. [28521]

Inspectors evaluate and report on the extent of schools' compliance with statutory requirements, as required by the Framework for the Inspection of Schools. The Framework is determined by HM Chief Inspector of Schools. I have asked him to write to my hon. Friend and to place a copy of his letter in the Library.

Lifelong Learning

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will publish a White Paper on lifelong learning; and if he will make a statement. [28722]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment plans to publish a consultation paper on lifelong learning on 25 February, together with our responses to the reports from the Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education and the Further Education Funding Council's Widening Participation Committee.

Correspondence

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is his policy for responding to letters received in the (a) Scottish Gaelic, (b) Welsh, (c) Urdu, (d) Hindi and (e) Chinese language. [28056]

The policy is to reply in the language of the original letter whenever possible.

Ministerial Travel

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the engagements he undertook in the United Kingdom in the course of his duties during January indicating in each case which were accessed by (a) car, (b) train, (c) aeroplane and car, (d) aeroplane and train and (e) other means. [28933]

Details of the engagements undertaken by the Secretary of State in the United Kingdom during January 1998, and the mode of transport used, are set out in the following table.

Engagements undertaken in the United Kingdom during January 1998 by the Secretary of State for Education and Employment
Date	Destination of Journey	Mode of Transport
7 January 1998	Interview for Radio Sheffield (Sheffield)	Car
	Launch of the New Deal Programme (Sheffield)	Car
	Meeting with senior departmental staff (Sheffield)	Car
8 January 1998	Cabinet meeting (London)	Train and Car
	Visit of the EU Commissioner (London)	Car
13 January 1998	Interview with ITN (London)	Train and Car
	Interview with Sky News (London)	Car
14 January 1998	BETT '98 conference (London)	Car
15 January 1998	Strategies to promote effective parenting skills conference (Sheffield)	Train and Car
19 January 1998	WH Smith "Ready Steady Read" photocall (Sheffield)	Car
20 January 1998	National Conference on lifelong	Car
	learning (Sheffield)	Car
Visit to Earl Marshal School	Train and Car (Sheffield)	Train and Car
	Meeting with Shrewsbury
	Headteachers (London)

Engagements undertaken in the United Kingdom during January 1998 by the Secretary of State for Education and Employment
Date	Destination of Journey	Mode of Transport
21 January 1998	Launch of the family circle bullying campaign (London)	Car
22 January 1998	Camberwell after school club(London)	Car
	Guest speaker at the kids club network Car conference (London)	Car
	Cabinet meeting (London)	Car
26 January 1998	Discussion with the Chancellor of the Exchequer (London)	Train and Car
27 January 1998	Senior Civil Service conference (London)	Other (on foot)
	GL Cabinet Committee (London)	Car
	Standards Task Force meeting (London)	Car
29 January 1998	Launch of the National Year of Reading (London)	Car
	Speaker and host at the Fulbright Commission (London)	Car

Education Ssa (North Yorkshire)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the education SSA for North Yorkshire for (a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99. [28198]

The education SSA for North Yorkshire in 1998–99 is some £206.7 million. This represents an increase of some £13.6 million or 7 per cent. over the comparable figure for 1997–98.

Standards And Effectiveness Unit

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many posts have been created within the Standards and Effectiveness Unit in his Department; and what is his estimate of the cost of this unit in 1998–99. [28197]

The Standards and Effectiveness Unit was set up in May 1997 to be the focus for the Department's work on raising standards in schools. It covers a wide range of functions including literacy and numeracy, performance measurement and target-setting, inspection of schools and LEAs, Education Action Zones, Education Development Plans, the Standards Task Force and the National Year of Reading. Its current complement of 95 staff are drawn very largely from existing staff together with some ten experienced practitioners with recent experience as headteachers, inspectors, researchers and advisers. The costs of the Unit for 1998–99 have yet to be finalised but will be met within the running costs of the Department's Schools Directorate.

Schools Budget

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list for each local education authority in England, the total aggregated schools budget for the financial year 1997–98. [28270]

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Foster) on 9 February 1998, Official Report, column 82.

Job Clubs

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people are presently attending job clubs in Kingston-upon-Hull; how many jobs have been secured by people using job clubs (a) in total, (b) by gender and (c) by each year since the job clubs were established; and if he will list the estimated consequent fall in the number of clients. [27966]

Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Kevin McNamara, dated 10 February 1998:

The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question relating to how many people are currently attending Jobclubs in Kingston-upon-Hull; how many jobs have been secured by people using Jobclubs (a) in total, (b) by gender and (c) by each year since Jobclubs were established; and if the estimated consequent fall in the number of clients can be estimated. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Employment Service Chief Executive.

In January of this year 449 people were attending Jobclubs in Kingston-upon-Hull.

Information on the numbers of people securing jobs through Jobclubs is, unfortunately, only available for 1996 and 1997 and is not available by gender as gender based information is not collected. The available information is as follows:

Year

Number of people finding work through Jobclubs in Kingston-Upon-Hull

1996

1,221

1997

1,323

It is not possible to estimate the consequent fall in the number of unemployed people since the total figure will be affected by many other factors influencing the inflows to, and outflows from, unemployment.

I hope this is helpful.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many and which job clubs in Kingston-upon-Hull are (a) to be closed and (b) to have their staff or hours reduced as a result of the transferring of funds to the Welfare to Work scheme. [27965]

Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Kevin McNamara, dated 10 February 1998:

The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question relating to how many and which Jobclubs in Kingston-upon-Hull are to be closed and have their staff or hours reduced as a result of the transferring of funds to Welfare to Work. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Employment Service Chief Executive.

The Employment Service District Manager in Kingston-upon-Hull is currently consulting local partners on the future provision of Employment Service programmes including Jobclubs in the Hull Employment Service District. The partners include a wide variety of local organisations such as Local Authorities, Training and Enterprise Councils, and voluntary groups. This consultation exercise is due to end on 11 February after which decisions on future provision will be taken as soon as possible. Separately, one existing Jobclub provider has given notice that they wish to terminate their contract from 31 March.

Adapt Training Programme

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many bids were made in 1997 in the United Kingdom under the ADAPT training programme to run from 1997 to 1999; how many bids were successful; and what proportion of the United Kingdom allocated budget has been committed to United Kingdom projects. [14264]

[pursuant to his reply, 12 November 1997, c. 556]: Unfortunately the correct reply was not sent: the answer should have read:In the United Kingdom, 344 bids were assessed in 1997 under the ADAPT Programme. Of these 185 were successful. The UK Programme budget for ADAPT for the period 1995 to 1999 is 316,812,000 ECU of which 192,174,790 ECU (60.7 per cent.) has been committed to projects. 12,695,706 ECU has been allocated to Technical Assistance.

Social Security

Maternity Pay

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to her answer of 15 January 1998,Official Report, column 314, what proportion of recipients of statutory maternity pay fall within the weekly earnings bands (a) under £100, (b) £100 to £199, (c) £200 to £299,(d) £300 to £399, (e) £400 to £499, (f) £500 to £599 and (g) £600 or more. [24741]

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb) of 15 January 1998,Official Report, column 314, on statutory maternity pay, if she will list the numbers of claimants in each of the bands of income specified. [25011]

[holding answer 22 January 1998]: The information requested is set out in the table.

Number of recipients of Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP), proportion of recipients with SMP, total amounts of SMP and average amounts of SMP by amount of weekly earnings for GB, 1995–96¹
Weekly earnings	Number in receipt of SMP (000's)²	Proportion of SMP recipients percent	Total amount of SMP' £million³	Average amount of SMP⁴ £
under £100	26	16.3	25.4	1,000
£100 to £199	57	35.5	83.1	1,400
£200 to £299	39	24.0	75.9	2,000
£300 to £399	23	14.4	58.2	2,500
£400 to £499	9	5.3	26.0	3,000
£500 to £599	3	1.9	11.0	3,500
£600 and more	4	2.5	19.6	4,800
¹ The figures are based on an estimate of those whose whole period of SMP is within the 1995/96 tax year and
excludes those whose claim straddles two tax years. The total number in receipt of SMP in that year was around 321,000.
² Rounded to the nearest thousand.
³ Rounded to the nearest hundred thousand.
⁴ Rounded to nearest hundred.

Source:

The Lifetime Labour Market Database (LLMDB), a 1 per cent. sample of the National Insurance Recording System taken at February 1997.

Housing Benefit

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the total bill for housing benefit payments in each of the last five years in the Portsmouth City Council area. [27545]

[holding answer 6 February 1998]: The information requested it set out in the table.

Year	£000
1992–93	39,200
1993–94	46,000
1994–95	48,770
1995–96	52,570
1996–97 (provisional out-turn)	56,430

Sources:

1. Department of Social Security Planning and Finance Division.

2. Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what has been the total bill for housing benefit payments in each of the last five years in the East Hampshire District Council area; [27569](2) what has been the bill for housing benefit payments in each of the last five years in the Hart District Council area. [28362]

The information requested is set out in the table:

£000
District council area	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95	1995–96	¹1996–97
East Hampshire	7,980	9,470	10,520	11,150	11,630
Hart	4,270	5,280	5,430	5,570	5,690
¹ Provisional out-turn

Sources:

1. Department of Social Security Planning and Finance Division.

2. Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Disability Living Allowance

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when she expects the appeal of Mrs. G. J. Archer of 7 Queens Road, Brixham, Devon TQ5 8BG, against the withdrawal of her disability living allowance to be resolved. [27822]

One of our key aims is to rebuild integrity in, and support for, the Social Security system and the way in which public money is spent. This is why we have continued with the Benefit Integrity Project (BIP).The administration of the Benefit Integrity Project is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Anthony Steen, dated 9 February 1998:

The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking when she expects the appeal of Mrs. G J Archer, of Brixham, Devon, against the withdrawal of the Disability Living Allowance (DLA), to be resolved.

Mrs. Archer's DLA was withdrawn following a postal enquiry by the Benefit Integrity Project. Following the application made by Mrs. Archer to review her entitlement to benefit, a different Adjudication Officer reviewed the decision to withdraw DLA. The revised decision was despatched to Mrs. Archer by first class post on 4 February.

I apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused.

I hope you find this reply helpful.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to her answers to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, Central (Mr. Cousins) of 30 January 1998,Official Report, columns 421–22, on disability living allowance by disability and region, if she will provide the same information for Scotland; if she will list the number of claimants in each category (i) for the United Kingdom and (ii) for Scotland who have had their disability living allowance benefit payments (a) set aside, (b) reduced and (c) increased; and if she will make a statement. [27906]

The administration of Disability Living Allowance is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. John Swinney, dated 9 February 1998:

The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking pursuant to her Answer to the honourable Member for Newcastle upon Tyne Central of 30 January on Disability Living Allowance by disability and region. You asked if she would provide the same information for Scotland; if she will list the number of claimants in each category (i) for the United Kingdom and (ii) for Scotland who have had their Disability Living Allowance benefit payments (a) set aside, (b) reduced and (c) increased; and if she will make a statement.

The information is not available in the format requested as figures for benefit payments of DLA which have been set aside are not held.

The information which is available is shown in the attached tables.

I hope you find this reply helpful.

Payments of disability living allowance
	United Kingdom		Scotland
Disabling condition	Awards reduced	Awards increased	Awards rediced	Awards increased
Arthritis	4,230	36,330	420	2,680
Muscle/joint/bone disease	2,430	13,180	270	750
Blindness	510	5,840	60	500
Stroke related	1,960	10,060	170	850
Learning difficulties	2,360	45,330	120	850
Other mental health causes	3,760	12,610	460	1,080
Epilepsy	1,520	5,040	100	170
Deafness	460	1,810	20	80
Malignant disease	620	3,620	20	170
Chest disease	740	9,590	40	850
Back ailments	2,800	13,560	170	1,020
Heart disease	1,430	10,750	150	1,230
Parkinsons Disease	20	1,440	20	120
Diabetes Melitus	990	3,060	100	190
Renal Disorders	200	780	20	40
AIDS	20	340	0	20
Skin diseases	400	460	20	40
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome	420	570	60	60
Limb loss	40	140	0	20
Other	6,090	27,100	520	2,100
All Disabling Conditions	30,990	201,630	2,740	12,820

Notes:

Figures are provisional and subject to change.

The figures provided are rounded to the nearest ten units and relate to 12 months ending on 30 November 1997 for Great Britain and to 12 months ending 31 August 1997 for Northern Ireland.

The figures for United Kingdom include those for Scotland

Disability living allowance for Scotland by disability
Main disabling conditions	Awards care	Awards mobility
Arthritis	30,170	44,070
Muscle/joint/bone disease	10,330	13,730
Blindness	4,710	5,020
Stroke related	9,370	10,060
Learning difficulty	15,770	17,250
Other mental health causes	15,900	16,640
Epilepsy	5,100	4,350
Deafness	1,270	1,020
Malignant disease	2,480	2,840
Chest disease	7,210	12,630
Back ailments	8,470	13,960
Heart disease	8,620	19,530
Parkinsons disease	870	980
Diabetes Melitus	2,850	2,560
Renal disorders	620	670
AIDS	390	480
Skin diseases	790	230
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome	1,150	1,280
Limb loss	40	50
Other	24,020	28,450
All disabling conditions	150,090	195,730

Notes:

Figures are provisional and subject to change.

The figures provided are rounded to the nearest ten units and relate to 12 months ending on 30 November 1997 for Great Britain and to 12 months ending 31 August 1997 for Northern Ireland.

Benefits Integrity Project

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what requirements are placed on assessment officers involved in the Benefits Integrity Project in respect of informing claimants of the possibility of (a) benefit loss and (b) appeal against that loss arising out of interviews as part of the project; what steps have been taken to ensure that assessment officers engaged in the Benefits Integrity Project make clear their involvement in this project when making home visits; and if she will make a statement; [27861](2) what is the number of assessment officers involved in the Benefits Integrity Project by

(a) region and (b) parliamentary constituency in Scotland; [27862]

(3) if she will place in the Library a copy of the guidelines issued to assessment officers involved in the Benefits Integrity Project; [27863]

(4) what are her criteria for assessing suitability or availability for work under the Benefits Integrity Project; [27864]

(5) how many terminally ill recipients of disability living allowance have had their benefit (a) set aside, (b) reduced and (c) increased as a result of the Benefits Integrity Project; and if she will make a statement; [27865]

(6) pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Preston (Audrey Wise) of 30 January 1998, Official Report,columns 420–21,how many people with multiple sclerosis have had their benefits reviewed under the Benefits Integrity Project; how many of these had payments (a) set aside, (b) reduced and (c) increased; and if she will make a statement; [27907]

(7) in how many cases reductions in benefit as a result of the Benefits Integrity Project have been advised against in writing to (i) the assessment officer and (ii) the appeals officer by a qualified medical practitioner; in how many of these cases the reduction was confirmed; and if she will make a statement. [27909]

One of our key aims is to rebuild integrity in, and public support for, the Social Security system and the way in which public money is spent. Benefits should go to those who are properly entitled to benefit. This is why we have continued with the Benefits Integrity Project.The administration of this programme is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with further details.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. John Swinney, dated 9 February 1998:

The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to respond to recent Parliamentary Questions regarding the Benefit Integrity Project (BIP).

As announced by the Secretary of State today, it is important that decisions about benefit entitlement are made fairly and are seen to be fair. In future, no decision made by the project resulting in reduction or removal of entitlement to Disability Living Allowance (DLA) will be made solely on the evidence provided by the claimant—there will always be additional evidence to support the decision.

We have been liaising closely with organisations of and for disabled people from the early stages of the Project. This new initiative underlines our determination to act properly to get the benefit right and to listen and act upon any concerns. We will continue to involve these groups in the evaluation of the Project as it develops.

This project continues to operate under the normal assessment and adjudication rules that are applied to all DLA cases. Adjudication Officers (AOs) who are responsible for assessing cases referred to them under the BIP follow exactly the same guidelines as those applying to all other DLA cases. No special guidance has been issued to AOs involved in the BIP. A copy of the AOs Guide, which provides general information about legislation affecting DLA, is held in the Library.

To minimise unnecessary distress to individuals receiving DLA and to avoid nugatory enquiries people with certain conditions will not be contacted directly by the BIP. This includes recipients of DLA who are terminally ill, defined in DLA legislation as having a life expectancy of less than six months.

The BIP visiting officers are required to explain to customers, at the time of the visit, that the purpose of gathering the information contained in the questionnaire, is to ensure that the correct amount of benefit is in payment. They also explain the length of time it is likely to take for a decision to be made on their case. When the decision is notified, the customer is given information about how to request a review or appeal against the decision should they wish to do so. The customer should request a review within three months of the decision.

All cases are sent to Blackpool for adjudication where the cases are dealt with on an alphabetical basis in chronological order, by approximately 80 AOs. The information is not available broken down into regions or parliamentary constituencies. At present, there are 139 visiting officers employed nationally on the BIP of which 14 are based in Scotland.

The criteria used to determine entitlement to DLA relate to the mobility and care needs arising from a person's disability; their ability to, or suitability for work is not relevant. People in receipt of DLA can work without it having an effect on their entitlement.

A special exercise was conducted to identify customers suffering from multiple sclerosis whose awards were looked at under the BIP. Of the 1,706 cases examined, 22 awards have been set aside, 114 reduced, 59 increased and 1,511 remain unchanged.

The information is not available for the number of medical practitioners who have written to assessment and appeals officers. It may help if I explain. AOs decide on entitlement to benefit taking into account the information before them. They can request information from any source if they think it necessary to enable them to make the correct decision. The AOs may ask for information from qualified medical practitioners which they will take into account when making their decision but the medical practitioners do not give advice about whether or not benefit should be awarded.

I hope you find the reply helpful.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many people assessed to date will receive (a) increased, (b) unchanged and (c) lower levels of benefit as a result of the Benefits Integrity Project; and if she will make a statement; [27535](2) if she will provide a breakdown by benefit category of the change in the number of people in receipt of each benefit as a result of the Benefits Integrity Project; and if she will make a statement; [27536](3) how many appeals are in progress following benefit re-assessments under the Benefits Integrity Project; and if she will make a statement; [27537](4) if she will estimate the savings achieved

(a) in total and (b) by benefit category, as a result of the Benefits Integrity Project; and if she will make a statement. [27538]

One of our key aims is to rebuild integrity in, and public support for, the Social Security system and the way in which public money is spent. Benefits should go to those who are properly entitled to benefit. This is why we have continued with Benefits Integrity Project.The administration of this programme is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with further details.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mrs. Margaret Ewing, dated 9 February 1998:

The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions regarding the Benefit Integrity Project (BIP).

The figures provided represent the position as at 31 December 1997.

A total of 40,615 cases, have been examined as part of the BIP. Of the total cases dealt with 978 have had their benefit increased, 31,920 have been unchanged and 7,717 have had their benefit reduced/or stopped. These include 7,462 renewal cases of which 242 have had their benefit increased, 3,868 remain unchanged and 3,352 have had their benefit reduced or stopped.

The project is looking again at DLA awards. The two categories are those awards of the higher rate for the mobility component combined with either the highest or middle rate of the care component. 10,960 claims, with the higher rate mobility component combined with the highest rate of care component, have been examined of which 8,676 were unchanged and 2,284 were reduced. There is no scope for increase in these awards. 29,655 claims, with the higher rate of the mobility component combined with the middle rate of the care component, cases, have been examined of which 978 were increased, 23,244 were unchanged, and 5,433 were reduced.

311 appeals have been received following re-assessment under the BIP.

Using the Benefits Agency's standard method of calculating savings, the amount of savings attributable to the BIP, after taking into account increases in benefit, in this financial year is £15,798,836.60. The amount attributable to awards of the higher rate of mobility combined with the highest rate of care is £5,025,665.60 and to awards of the higher rate of mobility linked to the middle rate of care is £10,773,171.00.

I hope you find the reply helpful.

Ministerial Travel

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will list the engagements she undertook in the United Kingdom in the course of her duties during January indicating in each case which were accessed by (a) car, (b) train, (c) aeroplane and car, (d) aeroplane and train and (e) other means. [28943]

My engagements in January were all within London and I travelled to them by car.

Correspondence

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is her policy for responding to letters received in the (a) Scottish Gaelic, (b) Welsh, (c) Urdu, (d) Hindi and (e) Chinese language. [28063]

The Department and its Agencies will, whenever possible, respond to letters in the language in which they are written.The Department publishes leaflets in up to 16 different languages including Welsh, Urdu, Hindi and Chinese.

Estimated additional revenue raised in a full year by increasing employer contribution rates and number of employees for whom they would pay more
Additional Revenue (£ million)
(a)	(b)					(c)
	Employers' contribution rates in respect of employees with weekly earnings above the amounts in column (a)
Employees weekly earnings above	12 per cent.	15 per cent.	20 per cent.	25 per cent.	30 per cent.	Number of employees
465	750	1,875	3,750	5,650	7,525	3,450,000
500	650	1,600	3,200	4,775	6,375	2,850,000
600	425	1,050	2,100	3,150	4,175	1,600,000
700	300	725	1,450	2,175	2,900	950,000
750	250	625	1.225	1,825	2,450	750,000
800	200	525	1,050	1,575	2,100	600,000
900	150	400	800	1,175	1,575	400,000
1,000	125	300	600	925	1,225	300,000

Source:

Government Actuary's Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will estimate the cost of increasing the amount an employee may earn before his employer pays National Insurance contributions from £62 a week to (a) £70, (b) £75, (c) £80, (d) £85, (e) £90, (f) £95 and (g) £100 a week. [28689]

The information requested is in the table.

Reduction in revenue from Class I National Insurance contributions
	Weekly lower earnings limit £	¹Full year effect £ million
(a)	70	-55
(b)	75	-95
(c)	80	-115
(d)	85	-135
(e)	90	-155
(f)	95	-180
(g)	100	-205
¹ Gross of contracted-out rebates.

Note:

Assumes that there are no changes to the other earnings brackets for employer National Insurance contributions.

National Insurance Contributions

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if she will estimate how many companies would have to pay more in employer National Insurance contributions if the Government were to increase the rate of employer NICs on incomes above (a) £465, (b) £500, (c) £600, (d) £700, (e) £750, (f) £800, (g) £900 and (h) £1,000 a week; and in respect of how many employees they would have to pay more; [28688](2) if she will estimate the revenue which would be raised by increasing the rate of employer National Insurance contributions on incomes above

(a) £1,000, (b) £900, (c) £800, (d) £750, (e) £700, (f) £600, (g) £500 and (h) £465 a week from 10 per cent. to (i) 12 per cent., (ii) 15 per cent., (iii) 20 per cent., (iv) 25 per cent. and (v) 30 per cent. [28690]

The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will estimate the cost of abolishing the 3 per cent. band of employer National Insurance contributions. [28691]

Employers currently pay secondary Class 1 National Insurance contributions at the rate of 3 per cent. in respect of employees who have gross earnings between £62 and £109.99 a week. If this band were abolished, so that no employers' contributions were paid on earnings of less than £110 a week, the estimated loss of contribution revenue would be around £260 million in a full year.

Source:

Government Actuary's Department

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will estimate how many companies would have to pay less in employer National Insurance contributions if the Government were to increase the amount an employee may earn before his employer is liable to pay NICs from £62 a week to (a) £70, (b) £75, (c) £80, (d) £85, (e) £90, (f) £95, (g) £100 and (h) £110 a week; and in respect of how many employees they would have to pay less. [28692]

Information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the table.The number of employees in respect of whom employers would pay less in National Insurance contributions in an average week.

	Weekly lower earnings limit (£)	Number of employees
(a)	70	550,000
(b)	75	900,000
(c)	80	1,050,000
(d)	85	1,200,000
(e)	90	1,350,000
(f)	95	1,600,000
(g)	100	1,700,000
(h)	110	2,050,000

Note:

Details of the number of employers who would pay less are not available.

Source:

Government Actuary's Department.

Defence

Joint Strike Fighter

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what modifications will be required to the dimensions of the Joint Strike Fighter to permit it to be operated from Invincible class aircraft carriers. [26775]

The operational requirements document for the Joint Strike Fighter incorporates Royal Navy requirements, which are very similar to those of the US Marines. Royal Navy requirements include the ability for the Short-Take Off, Vertical Landing variant to operate from the invincible class aircraft carriers without modification to the aircraft.

Us-Uk Mutual Defence Agreement

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 23 January 1998, Official Report, column 719, what factors underlay his decision to designate exports of nuclear materials to the United States after 1979 as a matter covered by Category 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. [27249]

To disclose details of individual transfers of special nuclear materials between the United States and the United Kingdom, other than aggregated information of transfers during the period covered by the Barter arrangements, could reveal information which both the UK and US regard as classified because, if revealed, it could be of benefit to a potential enemy.

Large Calibre Guns

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many individual test firings of large calibre guns for the purposes of proof and evaluation took place on United Kingdom ranges operated by the Defence Evaluation Research Agency and its predecessor in each of the last five years; and what is the projected number in the current year and in each of the next five years; [27263]

(2) what was the annual income for the proof and evaluation of large calibre gun firings to the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency and its predecessor in each of the last five years; and what is the projected income for the current year and each of the next five years. [27261]

[holding answer 3 February 1998]: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA). I have asked the Chief Executive to write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Nick Ainger, dated 10 February 1998:

I have been asked to reply to your questions about the number of, and derived income from, test firings of large calibre guns at the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency's ranges over the last five years, for the current year and for the next five years. I am answering both questions in this letter.

Data on the firing is collected as the number of firing days rather than actual rounds fired. While this information could be compiled from range and trials records it is not readily available. Numbers of rounds actually fired on a day vary greatly from one or two if the work is of an experimental nature, involving complex instrumentation, to over 100 for proofing type activities. Data on firing days for the past five years by range is:

Year	Eskmeals	Shoeburyness
1993	241	243
1994	206	245
1995	215	246
1996	228	225
1997	299	246

Both ranges have more than one firing site that could be in use on the same day.

The future number of firing days depends on the long term requirements of the Ministry of Defence and other customers. While it is expected that work will reduce in this area over the next few years, large calibre gun firing will remain the dominant activity on the ranges.

The income from large calibre gun firings since 1995 is given below. Information on a comparable basis prior to the inclusion of the ranges in the Trading Agency is not available.

1995–96: £4,024k
1996–97: £3,367k

The projected income for the current year, 1997–98, is £6,376k. Future income will depend on the requirements of the Ministry of Defence and other customers for the facilities but an income of £4,970k is expected for 1998–99.

I hope this information is helpful.

Dera Test Ranges

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what are the dimensions of the Sea Danger Area around the Eskmeals DERA test range; [27266](2) what are the dimensions of the Sea Danger Area around

(a) Pendine and (b) Aberporth; [27260]

(3) what are the dimensions and total acreage of the Eskmeals range operated by the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. [27264]

[holding answer 3 February 1998]: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA). I have asked the Chief Executive to write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Nick Ainger, dated 10 February 1998:

I have been asked to reply to your questions about the dimensions of the sea danger areas around the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency's ranges at Eskmeals, Pendine and Aberporth, and the dimensions and total acreage of the Eskmeals range. I am answering all three questions in this letter.

The current sea danger area at Eskmeals extends to a maximum of approximately 49 kilometres with an area of 1038 square kilometres. It is intended to extend this danger area in the near future. The danger area has a height of 50,000 feet.

Pendine has a sea danger area that extends to a maximum of approximately 18 kilometres with a total area of 230 square kilometres. The danger area has a height of 27,000 feet.

Aberporth has a sea danger area that extends to a maximum of approximately 105 kilometres by 88 kilometres with a total area of 8074 square kilometres. The range has unlimited height.

The Eskmeals range has a maximum length of approximately 3.5 kilometres and a maximum width of approximately 1.5 kilometres. The total land area, excluding foreshore, is 1604 acres. The range has firing rights over land for rear safety of an additional 500 metres in width.

I hope this information is helpful.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many complaints about noise pollution from the Eskmeals test range have been received in each of the last five years and this year to date; [27267](2) how many complaints about noise pollution have been received concerning

(a) Pendine and (b) Aberporth ranges in each of the last five years. [27259]

[holding answer 3 February 1998]: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA). I have asked the Chief Executive to write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Nick Ainger, dated 10 February 1998:

I have been asked to reply to your questions about the number of complaints about noise pollution received at the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency's ranges at Eskmeals, Aberporth and Pendine. I am replying to both questions in this letter.

The number of complaints about noise pollution received in each of the last five years are as follows

	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997
Eskmeals	0	1	3	0	2
Pendine	9	23	20	25	20
Aberporth	2	0	1	0	0

There have been no complaints about noise pollution at the Eskmeals ranges during the current year to date.

I hope this information is helpful.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what test, evaluation and research work is currently carried out at the Eskmeals DERA test range; [27265](2) what was the annual income for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency and its predecessor from the depleted uranium facility at Eskmeals in each of the last five years; and what is the projected income for the current year and each of the next five years. [27262]

[holding answer 3 February 1998]: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA). I have asked the Chief Executive to write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Nick Ainger, dated 10 February 1998:

I have been asked to reply to your questions about the work carried out at the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency's (DERA) range at Eskmeals; and the annual income from the depleted uranium facility at Eskmeals over the last five years and projected income for the current year and the next five years.

The range at Eskmeals carries out test and evaluation work in support of MOD projects and commercial programmes for a wide range of systems including:

Proof of

Ordnance
Ammunition
Explosives
Gun components Fuses
Armour and armour systems

Trials of

Long range ballistics
Gun components
Ammunition
Attack of armour systems
Demolition and disposal
Clearance trials for aircraft
Ordnance
Complete gun systems
Free flight rockets
Armour research and development
Ship sea trials.

The income for the DU firing facility at Eskmeals since 1995 is given below:

Year	£000
1995–96	700
1996–97	615
1997–98	623

Information on a comparable basis prior to the inclusion of Eskmeals in the Trading Agency in 1995 is not available. Future income will depend on the requirements of the Ministry of Defence for the facility but an income of approximately £600k is expected for 1998–99.

I hope this information is helpful.

To ask the Secretary of the State for Defence what was the total (a) income and (b) costs for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency ranges at (i) Pendine, (ii) Eskmeals and (iii) Shoeburyness in each of the last five years. [27366]

[holding answer 4 February 1998]: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA). I have asked the Chief Executive to write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Nick Ainger, dated 10 February 1998:

I have been asked to reply to your question about the income and costs of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency's ranges at Pendine, Eskmeals and Shoeburyness in each of the last five years.

The income and costs of the three ranges since 1995–96 is given below. Information on a comparable basis prior to the inclusion of the ranges in the Trading Agency is not available.

	1995–96 £k	1996–97 £k	1997–98 £k (forecast)
Pendine
Income	4,092	8,075	5,360
Costs	6,274	7,050	6,741
Eskmeals
Income	5,365	5,180	8,101
Costs	8,450	8,537	8,210
Shoeburyness
Income	25,603	17,886	22,247
Costs	26,108	21,105	20,012

The Ministry of Defence has provided £8.7 million in strategic pricing to land ranges at Shoeburyness for 1997/98.

I hope this information is helpful.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the merger of the management and administration of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency land, sea and air ranges will take place. [27695]

[holding answer 5 February 1998]: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA). I have asked the Chief Executive to write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Nick Ainger, dated 10 February 1998:

I have been asked to reply to your question about the merger of the management and administration of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency's (DERA) land, sea and air ranges.

The management and administration of DERA's land, sea and air ranges were merged into a single sector within the Agency on 1 April 1997. There will be a further realignment of senior management responsibilities within the ranges on 1 April 1998.

I hope this information is helpful.

Type 23 Frigates

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what complements of crew Type 23 frigates (a) carried when first commissioned and (b) carry currently. [27508]

When first commissioned the complement of crew carried by Type 23 frigates was 173. The current complement is 171.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans exist to reduce the complement of Type 23 frigates by refitting with less manpower-intensive equipment; and if he will make a statement. [27887]

There are no plans to reduce the complement of Type 23 frigates by refitting with less manpower-intensive equipment. Manning implications are taken into consideration when the Operational Requirement for future ships is considered; however, the size of the complement is affected by other considerations such as the manpower needed for damage control and fire-fighting.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the average availability of Type 23 frigates for operational service in each of the last five years. [27504]

Type 23 frigates achieved approximately 85–89 per cent. average availability for operational service in each of the last five years with the exception of 1996 when the figure dropped to just over 80 per cent. due to a number of ships experiencing a particular defect. This discounts time spent in planned maintenance.

Type 42 Destroyers

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to reduce the complement of Type 42 destroyers by refitting with less manpower-intensive equipment; and if he will make a statement. [27883]

There are no plans to reduce the complement of Type 42 destroyers by refitting with less manpower-intensive equipment. Manning implications are taken into consideration when the Operational Requirement for future ships is considered; however, the size of the complement is affected by other factors such as the manpower needed for damage control and fire-fighting.

Military Assistance Overseas

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answers of 8 July 1997,Official Report, column 422, and 28 January 1998,Official Report, column 244, on military assistance provided to other countries, who is conducting the review; when the review started; and when he expects it to be completed. [27979]

The review of our practice on the release of information on military assistance provided to foreign countries has been carried out jointly by my Department and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, in consultation with other affected Government Departments. The review was announced in a written answer on 28 January 1997,Official Report, column 141, by the then Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. I hope to announce its outcome soon.

Strategic Defence Review

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the annual forgone efficiency saving resulting from the delay to new construction at Ministry of Defence (P E) Abbey Wood caused by the Strategic Defence Review. [28323]

Decisions on the new construction planned at Abbey Wood have been delayed to keep options open while we re-examine the prospects for greater efficiencies overall in the Strategic Defence Review. Since final decisions on the Review have yet to be taken, I cannot give details of future efficiency savings or the impact of the Review on previously planned savings. I am, however, confident that the outcome of the Review will result in improved efficiency throughout my Department.

Export Contracts

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the value of new export contracts secured by the British defence industry between 1 May and 31 December 1997. [28311]

Information on defence related exports, which include support and infrastructure as significant elements as well as defence equipment, is recorded by the Defence Export Services Organisation. It includes information on contracts signed in each year, supplied by British industry on a voluntary basis. Every effort has been made to make the following information accurate, but the reports on which figures are based may not be complete.The information is recorded on a quarterly basis. For the last three quarters of 1997 (ie 1 April-31 December 1997), the total value of new contracts recorded as signed was £4.73 billion.

Tank Transporters

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the consortia bidding for the supply of tank transporters; and if he will make a statement on the progress of this project. [28338]

[holding answer 9 February 1998]: As announced in the MOD Contracts Bulletin Volume 12, No 8 of 10 December 1997, an invitation to submit outline proposals to meet this Department's requirement for heavy equipment transportation has been issued to:

Econofreight Heavy Transport
Consortium headed by:
Mercedes-Benz(UK) Ltd
Consortium comprising:
Serco Ltd and MAN Truck & Bus (UK) Limited
Consortium comprising:
Alvis Unipower plc, Ryder plc, PHH Vehicle Management Service plc
Multidrive Ltd.
Consortium headed by:
Lex Service plc
A joint venture comprising:
Brown & Root Ltd./Oshkosh Truck Corporation

Econofreight Heavy Transport and Multidrive Ltd. have subsequently withdrawn from the competition.The remaining consortia are due to submit their outline proposals later this month.

Fox Hunting

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the number of army personnel, both staff and civilian, involved in the hunting of foxes with hounds on the defence estate. [28912]

I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many hounds are maintained at (a) the Salisbury Plain training area and (b) the Otterbum training area for the purpose of hunting foxes. [28913]

The Royal Artillery Hunt keeps a pack of some 80 hounds on Salisbury Plain Training Area. The Hunt is, however, a private organisation and kennels in which the hounds are kept were built by and belong to the Hunt and not the Ministry of Defence.No hounds are kept at Otterbum Training Area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the cost to public funds of the use of army vehicles and equipment in connection with the hunting of foxes with hounds on the defence estate. [28918]

As with Army horses, Army vehicles and equipment may be used in connection with fox hunting, when they are not required for Army duties. However, individuals using Army vehicles and equipment for this purpose pay to do so, so that no cost is incurred by the public purse.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the number of reported injuries to (a) army personnel and (b) horses involved in the hunting of foxes with hounds on the defence estate in each of the last five years. [28915]

My Department does not hold records of the number of injuries sustained by Army personnel when hunting foxes with hounds on the Defence estate. No central records are held of injuries sustained by Army horses involved in fox hunting on the Defence estate, and this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. My Department holds no records of injuries sustained by privately owned horses involved in hunting on the defence estate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by rank the number of army and civilian personnel who are involved (a) full-time and (b) part-time in maintaining stables of horses and kennels of hounds for the purpose of hunting foxes on the defence estate. [28916]

No Army or MOD civilian personnel are employed to maintain stables of horses or kennels of hounds for the purpose of hunting foxes on the defence estate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the cost to public funds of the maintenance of (a) stables of horses and (b) kennels of hounds for the purpose of hunting foxes on the defence estate. [28919]

The Ministry of Defence does not maintain stables of horses and kennels of hounds for the purpose of hunting on the defence estate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by name those army units which maintain horses and hounds for the purpose of fox hunting on the army estate. [28917]

No Army units maintain horses and hounds for the purpose of fox hunting. Members of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery participate in various hunts throughout the country, and may use their Army horses to do so. However, as with other non-military equestrian activities, Army horses may be used for hunting only if it does not impede military or ceremonial duties, and any additional costs incurred are borne privately by the rider.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many army personnel have (a) been hospitalised for more than 24 hours and (b) taken sick leave of more than three days following injuries sustained while involved in hunting with hounds on the defence estate in each of the last five years. [28914]

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

Raf Chivenor

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military units are currently based at RAF Chivenor; and what plans there are to transfer other military units to the base. [28676]

Chivenor became an establishment of the Royal Marines Command within the organisation of Commander-in-Chief Fleet in Autumn 1995. The units based at RM Barracks Chivenor are: The Commando Logistic Regiment Royal Marines; 59 Independent Commando Squadron Royal Engineers; the Squadron Headquarters and "A" Flight of 22 (Search and Rescue) Squadron RAF; and 642 Volunteer Glider School RAF. There are no current plans to transfer other military units to the base.

Trade And Industry

Radio Communications Agency

To ask the President of the Board of Trade on what date the Radio Communications Agency was last subject to an audit by the National Audit Office. [24687]

[holding answer 26 January 1998]: The National Audit office undertook an audit at the Radio Communications Agency during 1997. The assignment, which involved auditing the Agency's annual accounts for 1996–97, was completed prior to the issue of the Certificate and Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General to the House of Commons on 7 November 1997 (prepared in accordance with the Agency's Accounts Direction of 21 July 1993). The Agency Annual Report and Accounts for 1996–97 containing these audited accounts is available in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what (a) rental, (b) leased and (c) freehold property assets are held by the Radio Communications Agency. [24689]

[holding answer 26 January 1998]: The following figures are the latest available for a full financial year. This information covers only properties for which the Agency was then required to disclose asset details in its audited balance sheet. At that time, the Agency did not include in its balance sheet capital values for freehold, long leasehold or rented properties or related land which it occupied, except where it had incurred capital costs itself in acquiring or improving those properties. At 31 March 1997, the carrying value of such costs was £2,420,000, relating almost exclusively to fitting out its leased temporary headquarters at London Blackfriars.The position will change with effect from 31 March 1998 when PRS rents are abolished. Property values will subsequently be included in the balance sheet where the Agency is the sole or major occupier. The fixed asset carrying values of such properties that would have applied at 31 March 1997, if PRS rents had already been abolished, was £819,000.

The details have been taken from the Agency's Annual Report and Accounts 1996–97 which is available in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of the budget of the Radio Communications Agency is spent on overseas visits. [24688]

[holding answer 26 January 1998]: The following figures are the latest available for a full financial year.

£000
	1996–97
Overseas travel spend	715
Total Agency spend	40,587
Overseas travel spend %	1.76%

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the total annual revenue raised by the Radio Communications Agency; and from what sources. [24691]

[holding answer 26 January 1998]: The following are the latest available figures for a full financial year:

Sources	Income £000
Licensing:
Statutory (see breakdown below)	36,127
Interdepartmental	3,838
Other:
Examination work	383
Typing testing and certification work	477
Miscellaneous income¹	1,783
Total Income	42,608
Licensing: Statutory breakdown
Aeronautical	937
Amateur and Citizen's Band	1,579
Broadcast	4,179
Fixed Services	5,886
Maritime	1,987
Private Business Radio	10,922
Programme making and special events	1,070
Public mobile communications	7,248
Space services	2,224
Technology Development	98
Total	36,127
¹ Miscellaneous income consists principally of income from investigation of domestic interference complaints.

These figures are taken from the Agency's Annual Accounts and Reports for 1996–97, a copy of which is available in the House's library.

Multilateral Agreement On Investment

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment her Department has made of the impact of the Multilateral Agreement on Investment on the Government's efforts to assist poor countries; and if she will make a statement. [26716]

[holding answer 30 January 1998]: The Department for International Development is commissioning a study on any implications the MAI may have for developing countries. We support continued consultation with developing countries on this matter.

Empty Properties

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is her estimate of the (a) annual cost and (b) total value of the empty properties owned by (i) her Department, (ii) agencies and (iii) other public bodies for which she has responsibility, in (a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97, (c) 1997–98 to date and (d) 1997–98 full year. [26595]

[holding answer 5 February 1998]: Government property is held in the name of the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions. However, for those properties for which my Department is administratively responsible, my best estimates are as follows:

Year	Department	Agencies	Other
1995–96
Cost	172,824	—	2,458,000
Value	—	—	32,202,000
1996–97
Cost	325,743	55,000	2,756,000
Value	75,000	100,000	34,102,000
1997–98 (to date)
Cost	604,236	45,833	2,341,000
Value	3,450,000	100,000	28,570,000
1997–98 (full year)
Cost	786,518	55,000	3,166,000
Value	3,450,000	205,000	26,070,000

Notes:

1. Building earmarked for demolition have not been valued.

2. Developed land with no buildings on it has been excluded from the figures.

Conferences

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the conferences held by her Department since 1 May 1997, giving in each case the (a) purpose and (b) estimated cost. [27779]

[holding answer 5 February 1998]: Information in the form requested is not held centrally within the Department, which has held many conferences since 1 May 1997. It could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Official Hospitality

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is her current estimate of the expenditure of her Department, its agencies and non departmental public bodies on hospitality since 1 May 1997. [27780]

[holding answer 5 February 1998]: Disaggregated information in the form requested in respect of non-departmental public bodies and the Government Offices could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The other information is as follows:

	£000
Central Department	508,403
Companies House	19,000
National Weights and Measures Laboratory	3,875
Patent Office	14,199
Radiocommunications Agency	62,853
Total	608,330

Blind Trust

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the compatibility of paragraph 114 of the Ministerial Code with the membership of her blind trust for research expenses. [28126]

[holding answer 6 February 1998]: I am satisfied that I have complied with paragraph 114 of the Code.

Engineers

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions she had during her recent visit to Land Rover regarding the recruitment of skilled engineers; and if she will make a statement. [28530]

Land Rover did not raise this matter during my right hon. Friend's recent visit.The Government attach a high priority to raising skill levels in the workforce. DTI is closely involved, along with the local partners and vehicle manufacturers, in several initiatives to increase the supply of skilled engineers in the automotive sector.

Renewable Energy

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will assess the advantages of increasing the level of the fossil fuel levy with a view to encouraging renewable energy services. [28320]

The rate of the fossil fuel levy is set in response to expected demand on levy funds. My Department is currently reviewing what would be necessary and practical to achieve 10% of the UK's electricity needs from renewable sources by the year 2010. I will publish the outcome of that review later this year.

Independent Retailing

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will commission an Office for National Statistics research paper on all aspects of independent retailing in the United Kingdom.[28478]

The Department of Trade and Industry has no plans to commission a research paper from the Office for National Statistics on independent retailing.

Respiratory Diseases (Coalminers)

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the estimated total legal bill for the Government for the recent coalminers' respiratory diseases action. [28267]

[holding answer 9 February 1998]: The Government took over this liability from British Coal on 1 January 1998. Total costs of defending the litigation are approximately £10 million to date, with the vast majority of costs having been met by British Coal. In addition, the Government will meet the plaintiffs' costs, as instructed by the High Court on 6 February, as and when they are presented and finalised.

Energy Industries (Employment)

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the number of persons employed in the United Kingdom in the energy industries by sector in each of the last three years. [28344]

[holding answer 9 February 1998]: Figures separately identifying components of the energy industries such as electricity and gas are not readily available; however, estimated figures for these sectors for 1980, 1990 and provisional figures for 1996 were published in Volume 1 of the 1997 Energy Report "Shaping Change". These estimates are based on detailed Annual Employment Survey data which have been revised since publication of the Energy Report. For this reason, the ONS figures, which are more up to date than those in the Energy Report, are given.The latest available comparable figures for employment in the energy industries in Great Britain are as follows:

Employees in employment in the energy industries
Thousands
	¹1995	¹1996	¹1997
Mining of coal, lignite, peat extraction	10.9	10.5	9.6
Extraction of crude petroleum and natural gas⁴	25.3	30.8	33.7
Electricity, gas steam and hot water supply⁵	117.8	99.8	98.7
Manufacture of coke, refined petroleum products and nuclear fuel⁶	30.0	33.6	33.2
Total	184.0	174.8	175.2

Source:

Office for National Statistics

¹ Annual Employment Survey figures, based on September. Figures exclude contractors.

² Short term Survey data, based on September 1997. Figures exclude contractors.

³ Corresponds to Standard Industrial Classification 1992 (SIC92) code 10.

⁴ SIC92 11

⁵ SIC92 40

⁶ SIC92 23

Fuels (Consumption)

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will estimate the proportionate share of British fuel consumption represented by the major fuels in (a) 1995, (b) 1996 and (c) 1997; and what estimate she has made of these relative shares for 1998. [27981]

[holding answer 9 February 1998]: Estimates for 1998 are not available. Updated energy projections are currently being prepared by the DTI and will be published later in the year. The available figures for the share of primary energy consumption due to each of the main fuels in the UK are as follows:

UK inland consumption of primary fuels and equivalents for energy use, percentage share of total primary energy consumption
	1995	1996	1997 (provisional)	⁵2000
Coal¹	22.7	20.2	18.8	12.9
Petroleum²	34.7	33.9	34.0	36.4
Natural gas³	31.9	35.6	36.3	39.7
Primary electricity⁴	10.5	10.3	10.9	11.0
Total (per cent.)	100	100	100	100
Total (million tonnes of oil equivalent)	219.5	231.6	222.4	234.2
¹ Includes other solid fuels and solid renewables (wood, waste etc.).
² Excludes petroleum for non-energy use and international marine bunkers.
³ Includes colliery methane, gaseous renewables (landfill gas, sewage gas).
⁴ Mainly nuclear electricity, but includes hydro and net imports of electricity.
⁵ DTI forecast as published in EP65 "Energy Projections for the UK" in March 1995 but modified to reflect the current methodology for calculating nuclear fuel inputs. Forecast based on central GDP growth and low fuel prices. For the year 2000 renewable sources are included under primary electricity, they are projected to account for 0.6 per cent. of primary energy consumption in 2000.

Companies House

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to her answer of 4 February 1998,Official Report, column 666, if she will indicate the cost of the (a) refunds, (b) free screens and (c) free searches given to subscribers to the new on-line Companies House information system; and if the cost has been refunded to Companies House by ORT. [28920]

Refunds and free searches on Companies House on-line information system are as follows:The indicative costs:

(a) Refunds on subscriptions: £9,300

(b)Free screens: £3,800

(c)Free searches: £32,400

Discussions are continuing between Companies House and ORT and their network provider over refunds to Companies House.

Defence Export Licences

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on delays in the application process for export licences for defence equipment made by British companies. [26431]

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on delays in the application process for export licences for defence equipment made by British companies. [26439]

Licences to export strategic goods are issued by the President of the Board of Trade and the Export Control Organisation of the Department of Trade and Industry is the licensing authority. Relevant individual licence applications are circulated by the DTI to other Government Departments with an interest, as determined by them in line with their policy responsibilities. These include the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Ministry of Defence and the Department for International Development.In his announcement last year of new criteria of the assessment of export licence applications on 28 July 1997,

Official Report, columns 26–29, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made clear that the criteria would not be applied mechanistically and that individual applications would be considered case by case. In the months following the announcement, this led to an increase in the time taken to assess some applications. The Government appreciate the inconvenience and uncertainty that results from any delay in the processing of individual

applications and my department, together with the other departments involved, is continuing to work to reduce processing timescales generally.

Radioactive Waste

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment is made of the likely incidence of sham recovery, as defined by the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee, in its October 1997 report on the import and export of radioactive waste, when considering application from nuclear reprocessors to import spent nuclear fuel. [28468]

The UK has no facilities for the direct disposal of spent nuclear fuel and therefore "sham recovery", as defined by the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee, is not a practical option.

Volume 306: debated on Tuesday 10 February 1998

Written Answers To Questions

Attorney-General

Ministerial Travel

Culture, Media And Sport

Computer Systems

National Heritage Memorial Fund

Heritage Projects

Brazilian Mahogany

Royal Opera House

Appointments

Museum Admissions Policy

Lyric Theatre

Home Department

Cannabis

Correspondence

Official Cars

Overseas Visits

Official Entertainment

Ethnic Minorities

Periodicals

Ministerial Travel

Stolen Property

Cs Gas Canisters

Asylum Seekers

Handguns (Compensation)

Eu Immigration And Nationality Department

Turkish Workers

Residence Documents

Eu Nationals

Coroners

Visa Appeals

European Court Of Human Rights Rulings

Duchy Of Lancaster

Benevolent Fund

Property (Public Access)

Intestacy

Environment Information

Civil Service (Sickness)

Freedom Of Information

Northern Ireland

Unemployment

Correspondence

Minister Without Portfolio

Millennium Dome

Northern Ireland Environment, Transport And The Regions

Car Driving Test Failures

Copthall Stadium

Millennium Compliance

Biodiversity

Radioactive Waste

Housing (Easington)

Telecommunications Licences

Sheffield Supertram

Sellafield

Rural Poverty

Housing (Hampshire)

Trains (Power Failures)

Public Opinion Research

Public Investment

Keighley Driving Test Centre

Correspondence

Greater London Assembly

Transport Expenditure

Mines And Minerals (North Yorkshire)

Railway Safety

Local Government Finance

Vessels (Health And Safety)

Housing Fitness Standard

Emergency Towing Vessels

Driving Licences (Diabetes)

Treasury

Dorneywood

Income Tax

Inheritance Tax

Tax Relief (Pension Contributions)

Sustainable Development

Ministers (Company Directorships)

Tax Changes