To ask the President of the Council how many hon. Members have used up all of their office costs allowance to date. [30307]

To date, no Members have used up all of their Office Costs Allowance.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he proposes to publish the revised guidance in WMP4; and if he will make a statement on its impact on rural areas. [29547]

Section 51 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 places a duty on waste disposal authorities (eg County Councils) to arrange for places to be provided at which persons resident in their area may deposit their household waste free of charge. The fulfilment of this duty is a matter for each authority.The previous Government initiated a consultation exercise on a proposal to amend the guidance in Waste Management paper No. 4 (WMP4) as it relates to the waste management licensing of sites provided under section 51 of the 1990 Act. These sites are known as "civic amenity sites". The effect of the proposal would be to give the Environment Agency, in England and Wales, and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, in Scotland, discretion to license un-manned civic amenity sites in rural and remote areas in certain circumstances. The representations made in response to the consultation exercise are being considered and our conclusions on the proposal to amend WMP4 will be announced as soon as we are in a position to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to encourage a reduction in the amount of container refuse distributed by fast food outlets. [29701]

Fast food outlets are likely to incur an obligation to contribute to the cost of disposing of the containers which they sell as a consequence of the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 which came into force in March last year. The regulations place obligations on producers of packaging, from raw materials manufacturers to sellers, to recover and recycle specified tonnages of packaging waste based on the amount of packaging they handle. The targets set by these Regulations, taken from the EC Directive on packaging and packaging waste, will require the UK rate of packaging waste recovery to almost double to 50% by 2001 (it is currently around 27%).To be obligated, businesses must have a turnover of more than £5 million and handle more than 50 tonnes of packaging annually. In 2000, the former threshold will go down to £1 million. These Regulations therefore ensure that businesses that place packaging on the market, including fast food outlets, make a substantial contribution to the costs of disposal of these products and this obligation acts as an incentive to minimise the weight of packaging used.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many road deaths were attributable to drink driving in the last year; and in how many of those cases the driver was above the 80 milligram limit by a factor of two or more. [29764]

It is provisionally estimated that, in 1996, there were 540 deaths in a drink-drive accident, defined as a road accident in which at least one driver failed a breath or blood alcohol test, or refused to provide a test specimen. In drink-drive accidents where the driver was killed and subjected to a blood alcohol test, it is estimated that about half the drivers involved exceeded the 80 milligram limit by a factor of two or more. Information is not available on the extent to which drivers who were involved in fatal accidents but were not themselves killed, and who failed a breath test, exceeded the legal alcohol limit.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the cost of providing all year round cover with emergency tugs for the Western approaches to the Pembrokeshire coastline. [29686]

A table giving the estimate of costs for the provision of Emergency Towing Vessels is included in the Cost Benefit Analysis (paragraph 9), which was undertaken by the Coastguard Agency. A copy was placed in the House Library on 10 February 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of the total land area of the United Kingdom is taken up by roads. [29808]

The land take of roads is estimated to be approximately 1.4 per cent. of the total land area of the United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he is taking to ensure the continuation of monitoring and research into the long-term effects and impact of oil spillages on the British coastline. [29818]

The UK Government have recognised the need for a plan to minimise the effects of oil spills since 1967. This National Contingency Plan was developed in consultation with all interested parties and is operated by DETR's Marine Pollution Control Unit.In the event of a major spill, the Marine Pollution Control Unit establish, in consultation with the various authorities, whether to initiate sampling of sea water, sediments and flora/fauna over an extended period to determine the long-term fate of the oil and its consequences for the environment. They also recommend if resources need to be made available for longer-term ecological studies (including the shoreline) if appropriate.The Government have been alive to the need to develop a comprehensive view of the environmental impacts of major oil spills. Following the wreck of the

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many Prosecutions have been brought and convictions secured for assaults committed on trains in each year since 1990. [29861]

The numbers of Prosecutions for assault on railway property, including trains, for the years 1991 to 1997 are provided in the table. I am unable to provide the number of convictions as the British Transport Police do not hold the figures in this form.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if his Department will review the appropriateness of the predict and provide approach to airport infrastructure planning and provision. [29931]

Integration between the Government's transport policies, including those on aviation, and the Government's environmental policies will be one of the central themes in the Integrated Transport White Paper.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many houses his Department owns, by county, which were originally subject to compulsory purchase or otherwise acquired to facilitate road-building schemes which (a) have definitely been cancelled and (b) are subject to the present Trunk Roads Review. [30303]

On 1 February, the Highways Agency owned the following residential properties which have been acquired by compulsory or discretionary purchase to facilitate road building schemes. Properties held for cancelled schemes will generally be sold over a three-year period, to avoid adversely affecting the local housing market and maximise benefits to the taxpayer.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 16 February 1998, Official Report, column 462, if he will take steps to ensure that the British Rail land for sale in Newhaven is sold only to a party with railway interests. [30408]

No; that would effectively entail a subsidy by the taxpayer. But British Rail would welcome bids from railway interests.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what provision his Department makes for child care facilities for staff; what subsidy is provided for (a) nursery places and (b) holiday play schemes; if he will list the organisations used by his Department for child care; and if child care vouchers are made available to staff. [30011]

Child care provision enables staff to combine their work and domestic responsibilities and helps promote and sustain equal opportunities policies. My Department supports child care facilities in accordance with existing central guidance. Parents are required to make a contribution towards the costs but subsidies up to a maximum of 50 per cent. of the cost of places are provided. Child care vouchers are not currently made available to staff. Current support for places at inter-departmental nurseries is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many district auditors' public interest reports were published last year; and on which local authorities. [30306]

I understand from the Audit Commission that during 1997 district auditors published a total of twenty public interest reports. The local authorities concerned were:

• Allerdale Borough Council
• Bassetlaw District Council
• Bristol City Council
• Bath and North East Somerset Council
• Coggeshall Parish Council
• Denbighshire County Council
• Doncaster MBC
• Hemsworth Town Council
• Hertfordshire County Council
• Lambeth LBC
• Middlesborough Borough Council
• Newark and Sherwood District Council
• Nottinghamshire County Council
• Redbridge LBC
• St. Neots Town Council
• Sheffield City Council
• Walsall MBC
• Waltham Forest LBC
• West Wiltshire District Council
• Whitworth Town Council.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to release the report commissioned by his Department on the cost benefit analysis of reducing lead in drinking water. [30917]

This report has now been published and I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library of the House. This is an interesting study which attempts to cost the health and non-health benefits associated with reducing levels of lead in drinking water to the 25 µg/1 and 10 µg/1 levels required by the new EC Drinking Water Directive.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 4 February 1998, Official Report, columns 641–42, if he will make a statement on the ethical and wider public interest considerations which he wishes to be taken into account in the revision of Directive 90/220/EEC on the deliberate release of genetically modified organisms; and if he intends to press for a requirement to show a need for the genetically-modified organism. [29712]

The report of the 1997 National Biotechnology Conference published in September last year highlighted that some aspects of the development of biotechnology raise wider issues, including ethical concerns. These included concerns about the spread of genes into wild populations and the effects of the introduction of genetically modified crops into our natural and agricultural environment. Other concerns include whether social need justifies the risk being taken in developing a GMO and whether the technology employed is appropriate and the safest available. The Government are preparing their response to the report of the conference, which should be published shortly. In responding, we shall be considering both how best to address these concerns and the constraints on action and their relevance to the revision of the directive 90/220.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 4 February 1998, Official Report, columns 641–42, if he will list the Government's concerns about the current procedures relating to the marketing and release of genetically modified organisms as laid down in Council Directive 90/220/EEC. [29711]

My concern has been partly over comitology and the lack of a timetable and transparency of the decision making process, but also about the failure for wider aspects of the public interest to be taken into account.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which firms were invited to bid for the provision of pre-fabricated units for Montserrat. [29988]

The following firms were invited to bid for the supply of pre-fabricated units for Montserrat:

• UK
• Conport Structures Ltd.
• Ecometal-Ecohome Ltd.
• Emergency Housing Int'l Ltd.
• Evotec
• ISO Homes
• Kalliope Ltd.
• Kudos 2000 Ltd.
• Landbase International Ltd.
• Multipurpose Int'l Ltd.
• PDQ Emergency Homes Ltd.
• Premier Transline Building Systems Ltd.
• Tilden Industries Ltd.
• US
• Horton Homes Inc.
• H. R. Lubben
• International Building Systems Inc.
• Sun Formula Inc.
• Universal Services Inc.
• Jamaica
• Areocon
• Quality Affordable Homes Ltd.
• West Indies Home Contractors Ltd.
• Canada
• Digigraph Inc.
• Germany
• MAGU Gmbh

• UK
• Conport Structures Ltd.
• Ecometal-Ecohome Ltd.
• Evotec
• Kalliope Ltd.
• Kudos 2000 Ltd.
• PDQ Emergency Homes Ltd.
• Stonebridge Facilities
• Tilden Industries Ltd.
• US
• International Building Systems Inc.
• H. R. Lubben
• Horten Homes Inc.
• Sun Formula Inc.
• Universal Services Inc.
• Jamaica
• Quality Affordable Homes Ltd.
• West Indies Home Contractors Ltd.
• Canada
• ATCO Structures Inc.

• UK
• Conport Structures Ltd.
• Denholm Coates and Co. Ltd.
• Ecometal-Ecohome Ltd.
• Elliott Group Ltd.
• Emergency Housing Int'l Ltd.
• Evotec
• Horsfall International Ltd.
• John Reid and Sons Ltd.
• Kalliope Ltd.
• Kudos 2000 Ltd.
• Multipurpose International Ltd.
• PDQ Emergency Homes Ltd.
• Premier Transline Building Systems Ltd.
• Tilden Industries Ltd.
• US
• H. R Lubben
• Horton Homes Inc.
• International Building Systems Inc.
• Universal Services Inc.
• Canada
• ATCO Structures Inc.
• Netherlands
• Transmo Special Products

• UK
• Conport Structures
• Kalliope Ltd.
• Tilden Industries
• US
• International Building Systems Inc.
• Austria
• Containex Gmbh
• Canada
• ATCO Structures Inc.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance programmes her Department is currently funding in Russia. [30200]

The Department for International Development's programme of bilateral assistance to Russia is channelled via the Know How Fund. This strategic technical assistance is provided across a variety of sectors. We expect expenditure in the 1997–98 financial year to be approximately £28 million.The Department also contributes substantially to the support provided to Russia by the multilateral agencies, in financial terms most conspicuously via the European Union's TAC IS programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what consultation she has held with relevant non-governmental organisations in advance of the signing of the Multilateral Agreement on Investment. [30229]

I met representatives of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in July to discuss the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) and will be doing so again shortly, before the negotiations are concluded in April. My officials have been in contact with NGOs throughout the intervening period. My Department has also consulted with NGOs on our study of the development implications of the MAI.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of programme bilateral developmental assistance, excluding emergency assistance, will go to (a) upper middle income groups, (b) lower middle income groups and (c) low income groups in (i) 1997–98 and (ii) 1988–99. [30195]

Expenditure for 1997–98 will be reported by the Department in British Aid Statistics around November 1998. Future allocations are currently being considered in the Department's resource allocation round. An objective is to re-direct more of the available resources to poverty elimination.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what percentage of bilateral programme development assistance will be devoted to (a) non-project technical co-operation, (b) CDC exchequer advances, (c) emergency aid, (d) mixed credits, (e) financial aid, (f)programme aid and (g)technical co-operation excluding mixed credits in (i) 1997–98 and (ii) 1998–99; [30196](2) what percentage of her Department's budgets for

The Department's estimated outtum in 1997–98 will be published in the Departmental Report in late March. Plans for future years are currently being considered in the Department's resource allocation round.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 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. [28944]

I had many engagements within my Department which required no transport. Those outside the Department are listed below.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development in which states her Department has assisted anti-corruption activities during the current financial year; and what are her plans for 1998–99. [30199]

I will write to the right hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what provision her Department makes for child care facilities for staff; what subsidy is provided for (a) nursery places and (b) holiday play schemes; if she will list the organisations used by her Department for child care; and if child care vouchers are made available to staff. [30007]

The Department for International Development operates holiday play schemes at both its locations in East Kilbride and London.In East Kilbride, the play scheme is operated by a partnership of DFID, the Inland Revenue and Scottish Nuclear. DFID does not subsidise the scheme, which costs £6.50 per day.In London the play scheme is operated by Kinderquest. The scheme costs £16.10 per day. Parents pay 50% of the costs.The Department does not provide nursery places nor does it make child care vouchers.

To ask the Prime Minister how long on average it takes his Department to answer letters from hon. Members; what target date his Department sets; what percentage receive replies within the target date; and what assessment he has made of how long it takes to deliver a letter after it has been typed. [27044]

[holding answer 2 February 1998]: It is not possible for me to deal personally with all of the letters I receive and I must therefore refer most of them to the Minister and Department with responsibility for the policy or matter in question.My office aims to acknowledge Members' correspondence within three working days and, where a reply is due from my office, to provide a substantive response within 15 days. My office estimates that 98 per cent. receive acknowledgement within target and 45 per cent. receive substantive reply within target.We are aiming to improve the performance against the target for a substantive reply. The delays have been caused by the significant increase in the amount of correspondence received by my office. Currently, my office receives an average of some 8,000 letters a week compared with 3,000 before 1 May.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 3 February 1998, Official Report, column 582, for what reasons a record was not kept of the registered letter sent to him on 17 August 1997, and sent by fax that day at 10.52 am by Mr. Graham Horwood of 66 St. Andrews Road, Shoeburyness; and if he will review the procedures for dealing with mail from the general public. [29005]

My office currently receives some 8,000 letters per week. It is not physically possible to track each and every item once it has been sent to a Department for reply. As I said in my previous answer, on receipt of Mr. Horwood's later letter, further action was initiated and a response sent.

To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he had with President Clinton regarding the effects of the Helms-Burton Act on United Kingdom citizens and their families. [29291]

I have raised US extraterritorial legislation with President Clinton on a number of occasions. My colleagues and I continue to take every opportunity to make it clear to the US Administration and Congress that we reject such legislation.

To ask the Prime Minister if the year 2000 problem was discussed at the meetings between President Clinton and the Prime Minister; and if he will make a statement. [29504]

[holding answer 13 February 1998]: I discussed the problem briefly in a private meeting I had with President Clinton. We agreed on the need to raise awareness of this problem and to co-operate internationally on efforts to solve it.

To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to publish an annual poverty report to measure the performance of the Social Exclusion Unit. [29822]

The Government's annual report will include passages on what has been achieved in tackling poverty, and what more needs to be done. I have asked the Social Exclusion Unit to draw up key indicators of social exclusion and recommend how these can be tracked.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, (1) pursuant to his answer of 21 January 1998, Official Report, column 539, if he will publish the programme of Mrs. Derek Fatchett when she accompanied her husband to Australasia and the Pacific from 12 to 22 September 1997 at public expense; [25817](2) if he will publish the programme of Miss Geraldine Daly when she accompanied the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, North (Mr. Henderson) to Luxembourg from 25 to 26 October at public expense. [25818]

[holding answer 27 January 1998]: Mrs. Fatchett undertook a programme which included visits in the fields of healthcare and culture, as well as accompanying Mr. Fatchett to a number of official engagements. Miss Daly took part in the programme organised by the Luxembourg Presidency for partners of Ministers attending, which included cultural and social visits. It is normal practice and a courtesy to the host nation that those accompanying Ministers on visits take part in official programmes organised by the host country or the Embassy. This is in line with the previous Administration's practice.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the oral answer of the Prime Minister of 28 January 1998, Official Report, column 342, what was the expenditure of his Department on entertaining from (a) 1 May 1997 to 1 February 1998 and (b) the equivalent period in 1996–97. [26854]

[holding answer 2 February 1998]: The cost of official hospitality given by Foreign and Commonwealth Ministers from 1 May 1997 to 1 February 1998 was £157,850: the cost of such hospitality given from 1 May 1996 to 1 February 1997 was £163,474.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. [26664]

[holding answer 5 February 1998]: This Department purchases a range of newspapers and magazines. Expenditure on these was as follows:

• 1995–96: £102,109
• 1996–97: £115,322
• 1997–98: £95,934: year to 31 December 1997
• 1997–98: £119,000: full year estimate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what recent research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated regarding the Chinese judicial system; [30219]

My Department regularly monitors developments in the judicial system in China, such as the recent revision of criminal laws. Both we and the EU have training and exchange programmes for Chinese lawyers and judges which aim to assist in the development of the judicial system.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to encourage the Chinese Government to implement legislation to allow non-governmental organisations to operate legally without a permit from governmental departments. [30221]

We have no such plans. Nonetheless we value and support the work of NGOs in China.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to encourage the Chinese Government to strengthen the powers of the National People's Congress and local government in China. [30220]

We would welcome closer contact between British parliamentarians and the National People's Congress. The EU has agreed a programme of technical assistance which aims to support and develop China's system of village governance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that British embassies present an approachable and accessible profile to individuals and businesses seeking to develop better trade links. [30217]

Providing effective support to British business abroad is one of our key aims. 217 posts provide a global network of commercial services. We issued guidelines in October last year to posts on best practice. These include ideas on how best to provide an accessible service which meets the customer's needs. Our programme of attachments of business people to posts is also helping to create a more business-like culture.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to secure during the British Presidency of the EU the appointment of the EU/Tibet co-ordinator proposed in the recent resolution adopted by the European Parliament. [30407]

A delegation of EU Troika Ambassadors and the European Commission will visit Tibet during the UK Presidency in order to make an assessment of the situation. Neither we nor our EU partners could realistically consider the appointment of a co-ordinator ahead of that visit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what provision his Department makes for child care facilities for staff; what subsidy is provided for (a) nursery places and (b) holiday play schemes; if he will list the organisations used by his Department for child care; and if child care vouchers are made available to staff. [30015]

This Department currently subsidises nursery places for 23 children (aged three months to five years) of FCO staff as well as places at a holiday play scheme which are available to all staff.The Department subsidies places by 50 per cent. at two nurseries in London run by the Westminster Children's Society. It subsidises places at an in-house nursery in Hanslope Park by 30 per cent. and subsidises places at the Civil Service Westminster Holiday Play Scheme, run by Kinderquest Ltd, by 50 per cent.The provision of subsidised child care by this Department is one of a number of family policies designed to promote the retention of staff during their child caring years. The Department does not provide child care vouchers to staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many non-career civil servants have been appointed to her Department since 1 May 1997. [25846]

In the Northern Ireland office and the Northern Ireland Departments, the number of people appointed on fixed-term contracts or as casuals since 1 May 1997 is 1,335.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what amount of Brazilian mahogany has been (a) acquired and (b) specified by her Department in (i) 1996 and (ii) 1997; and for what purpose. [28389]

The information for the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Departments is as follows:

(i) Nil.

(ii) Two pairs of fire doors and fire extinguisher cover boxes at Hillsborough Castle; sixteen computer workstations finished in mahogany to match existing suites of furniture as part of the Parliament Buildings refurbishment project; the replacement of one mahogany bookcase which was lost in a fire; and a suite of mahogany finished reproduction office furniture.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how long on average it takes her Department to answer letters from hon. Members; what target date her Department sets; what percentage receive replies within the target date; and what assessment she has made of how long it takes to deliver a letter after it has been typed. [27032]

[holding answer 2 February 1998]: When answering Ministerial Correspondence, a standard 10 day turn around target is set. Of the 2,603 Ministers cases dealt with in 1997, 1,684 were answered within the target time which is an average success rate of 65 per cent. The main reasons for missing the target were the time taken for transmitting papers to and from the Minister/Minister not in NI and difficulties in obtaining information from various sources. No information is available regarding delivery times for letters.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what monitoring of the impact of synthetic pyrethroid sheep dips on (a) the aquatic environment, (b) the soil environment and (c) fisheries (i) has been carried out and (ii) is planned by her Department; and if she will make a statement. [29730]

[holding answer 16 February 1998]: The level of use of synthetic pyrethroid sheep dips in Northern Ireland has been low and there are no recorded incidents of environmental pollution from that source.DOE and DANI officials are aware of the particular risk posed to the environment by inappropriate disposal of synthetic pyrethroid sheep dips and are keeping the situation, particularly regarding levels of usage, under review. If appropriate, specific monitoring of the impact of those sheep dips on the environment will be arranged.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what advice her Department gives to farmers on the disposal of synthetic pyrethroid sheep dips. [29729]

[holding answer 16 February 1998]: The Department of Agriculture of Northern Ireland gives advice to farmers on the handling and disposal of sheep dips, including synthetic pyrethroid sheep dips, through booklets, TV and radio programmes, newspaper articles and farm visits. The current advice covers the circumstances in which used dip may be spread on suitable land at low application rates. As regards synthetic pyrethroid sheep dips, emphasis is given to the need for particular care in handling and disposal in view of the risk which that material poses for the environment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many civil servants currently on the list of transfer applicants, have indicated Newry as their preferred location for employment. [29034]

[holding answer 16 February 1998]: 124 non-industrial staff on the Northern Ireland Civil Service Central Transfer List have indicated Newsy as their first preference for relocation.