To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what account Her Majesty's Government will take of US Government policy in determining their policy towards (a) lifting and (b) amending UN sanctions against Iraq. [31763]

The criteria for lifting sanctions are set out in paragraphs 21 and 22 of United Nations Security Council Resolution 687; they relate to the policies and practices of the Government of Iraq and implementation of the Security Council Resolutions. The Security Council cannot consider lifting sanctions until the Government of Iraq have shown themselves willing to meet those criteria.We do not wish to see sanctions maintained for any longer than is necessary. We have welcome the recent Memorandum of Understanding between the United Nations and the Government of Iraq. In it, the Government of Iraq reconfirm their acceptance of all relevant UN resolutions and undertake to co-operate fully with UNSCOM and the IAEA. When the Government of Iraq comply with the relevant Security Council Resolutions, sanctions can be relaxed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria govern the (a) lifting and (b) amending of United Nations sanctions imposed against Iraq; and what factors will influence the timing of such action. [31760]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave today to his question 31763.United States policy on sanctions is a matter for the US Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the use of qualified majority voting as permitted under Article 34(2)(c) of the Treaty on European Union. [32000]

Article 34(2)(c) of the Amsterdam Treaty provides for the adoption, by unanimity, of decisions within the scope of Title VI on any matters other than the approximation of laws. Measures to implement these decisions are to be adopted by qualified majority voting. Under the Maastrict Treaty (Article K.3.2(b) measures implementing Third Pillar joint actions may be adopted by qualified majority voting.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the Vietnamese Foreign Minister. [31976]

The Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mr. Nguyen Manh Cam, called on me on 6 February as part of his Guest of Government visit to the United Kingdom from 5–6 February.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations on the case of Mr. Thich Sue he has made to the Government of Vietnam. [31977]

Human rights issues were raised during Ministers' discussions with the Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mr. Nguyen Manh Cam, during his visit to the UK from 5–6 February. We passed to Mr. Cam a list of specific cases of concern, including the case of Mr. Thich Sue Sy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if representatives of his Department have asked to review the General Secretariat's tapes of the Amsterdam Treaty in relation to the Schengen opt-in procedure; and which other bodies have done so. [32235]

The Secretariat's tapes are for the use of the Secretariat, who assist the Presidency of the day, and who do not constitute an official record. They are not available to Member States.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he was first informed of the existence of tapes of the Amsterdam negotiations held by the General Secretariat of the European Council. [32234]

It is normal practice for the proceedings of such meetings to be recorded by the Secretariat General of the Council for their own internal use. These tapes are not available to Member States.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the average waiting time for a Chinese passport holder to receive a United Kingdom visa from the Embassy in Beijing; and what percentage of applications were refused in the last available year. [31958]

Where an application is straightforward, a Chinese passport holder applying for a UK non-settlement visa in Peking could expect to be issued with a visa on the same day. Where a further interview is required, the applicant may have to wait up to 12 weeks for an appointment. Where an application is for settlement, there is also a 12 week queue for an interview appointment.In 1997, the non-settlement refusal percentage was 9.13 per cent. and the settlement refusal percentage was 7.75 per cent. The overall refusal percentage was 9.1 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the changes which have been made to European Union foreign policy objectives as a result of the UK's commitment to an ethical foreign policy. [32601]

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made clear in his speech on 6 December launching the Presidency, we are using the UK Presidency to promote an ethical EU foreign policy. This is a theme which will run through all the work of the Presidency. Some specific examples included: work towards an EU Code of Conduct on arms sales; a tough, pragmatic approach to the forthcoming meeting of the UN Commission on Human Rights; EU work on freshwater management at the forthcoming meeting of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development; and EU anti-narcotics programmes in Central Asia and the Caribbean.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those occasions on which the United Kingdom Government have raised the issue of enfranchisement of Gibraltarians in Europe since 1 May; and if he will make a statement. [32044]

As my hon. Friend knows, we well recognise the importance of this issue for Gibraltar; and have looked hard at the scope for change. Our approach, including in any contacts with other Governments, however, reflects the clarity of the legal advice on the issue.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his oral statement of 26 February 1998, Official Report, column 545, if he will make available the results of the study which he commissioned in respect of electors' views on voting systems. [32956]

I have arranged for a copy of the results to be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Minister of State with responsibility for prisons visited the unit or wing of Low Newton prison containing 15 and 16 year olds on remand during her visit on 20 February. [31334]

During my visit to Low Newton on 20 February, I visited D wing, one of the wings which holds 15 and 16-year-old male remand prisoners. I also met prisoners of this age group during my visit to the educational facilities. Low Newton holds 15 and 16-year-old female remand prisoners within its female wing, and I also visited that part of the establishment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions for possession of cannabis in England and Wales in the years 1992 to 1997 were sentenced alone and without convictions simultaneously for other offences. [31639]

Information from the court proceedings database for 1993 to 1996 (latest available) is given in the table. Prior to 1993, the offence of possession of cannabis could not be identified separately by the statistics collected on indictable drug offences.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the method used for distributing resources to local victim support schemes from the national fund. [31647]

Last June, we increased Victim Support's annual grant by one million pounds, from £11.7 million to £12.7 million. The additional grant is being used partly to establish a national telephone helpline and partly to assist the general work of Victim Support. In 1996–97 some 11 per cent. of the annual grant went towards the cost of Victim Support's National Office, with the remainder being allocated to local schemes and witness services by Victim Support's Local Funding Panel.The funding panel is a sub-committee of Victim Support's National Council, and is independent of both local groups and the Home Office. It considers applications from local groups in accordance with grant criteria agreed annually between Victim Support and the Home Office. This means that the allocation of Home Office funds and the priorities which guide that funding are matters for Victim Support.Many local groups also raise income, in cash and in kind, from local sources, including local authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of domestic violence were reported in the Greater London area during 1997. [31657]

Statistics on crime are recorded by offence type and not by the relationship between the victim and the offender, so there is therefore no definitive figure for the number of violent crimes which were domestic in nature.The Metropolitan police, whose force area is broadly co-terminous with Greater London, have been noting offences which appear to them to be of a domestic nature. Their information for 1997 is attached.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding was made available by his Department for dealing with domestic violence during 1997. [31719]

While the Home Office has responsibility for co-ordinating policy on combating domestic violence, most funding from central Government is channelled through the Single Regeneration Budget Challenge Fund and budgets which reflect the specific responsibilities of other Departments. While the responsibility at a local level lies with local agencies, the Home Office Programme Development Unit has provided funds for local projects in the past. Domestic violence was not selected in 1995 when the themes for its last three years funding round were decided.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of arson were carried out by people under the age of 18 years, in each of Wales' police authorities, in the last five years. [31364]

It is impossible to answer the question as asked because the age of the arsonist will be known only where there has been a detection. Available information on the number of persons aged under 18 years who have been cautioned, prosecuted and convicted for arson offences is given in the tables.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to extend the fixed penalty notice system to cyclists in respect of all traffic signs or orders. [31585]

There is no need to extend the fixed penalty system in the way that is suggested in the question. Cyclists, in the same way as drivers of motor vehicles, can already be issued with fixed penalty notices for failing to comply with traffic signs, such as Stop and No Entry signs or automatic traffic signals, or with traffic "orders". By "orders" we mean "traffic regulation orders" made by local authorities under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose of controlling the use of roads by traffic, including pedestrians.Contraventions of traffic signs and traffic regulation orders are fixed penalty offences under provisions of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988. Bicycles are "vehicles" in the context of road traffic legislation and the police can therefore issue fixed penalty notices to cyclists (aged 16 or over) who do not comply with the traffic signs described in section 36 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, such as those mentioned above, or with traffic regulation orders made under the 1984 Act.Other offences by cyclists which come within the fixed penalty system include cycling without lights and failing to stop for a police constable.It has been decided that cycling on the pavement, and the riding by more than one person of a bicycle not constructed or adapted for the purpose, should be made fixed penalty offences later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures the Metropolitan Police have taken to police the flow of information about levels of local crime between members of the Metropolitan Police and local journalists; and if he will make a statement. [31543]

The Commissioner tells me that no specific directions have been passed to members of the Metropolitan Police regarding their dealings with local journalists about local crime levels, but that there is a clear expectation that information will be treated openly while being handled sensitively where appropriate. The principles which underpin the guidance that is given to officers about handling the media in connection with major crime investigations apply also to the handling of crime information.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officers in the Metropolitan Police have been disciplined for unauthorised contact with local journalists; and if he will make a statement. [31544]

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that no Metropolitan Police officers have been formally disciplined for improperly passing information to a journalist, local or otherwise, in the last three years. He tells me that an officer who improperly discloses information in their possession as a member of a police force, to a journalist or anyone else, could be guilty of an offence under Code 6 of the Discipline Code which reads as follows:

"Improper disclosure of information, which offence is committed where a member of a police force:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the space allowance for cats kept at Hillgrove Farm. [31644]

The space allowance exceeds the requirements of the Code of Practice for the Housing and Care of Animals Used in Scientific Procedures (published in 1989) and the European guidelines.There are no indications of any welfare problems, but a programme of improvements to bring the facilities up to the standards of the "Code of Practice for the Housing and Care of Animals in Designated Breeding and Supplying Establishments" (published in 1995) has been agreed.One significant difference between the two Codes is that shelf space cannot be taken into account in the breeders' code. If shelving is included in the calculation, the accommodation approximates to the space allowances in the breeders' code.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if Hillgrove Farm has a Named Veterinary Surgeon. [31643]

Yes. Section 7(5)(b) requires that Certificates of Designation for breeding establishments specify a veterinary surgeon or other suitable qualified person to provide advice on the animals' health and welfare. In the case of Hillgrove, this person is a veterinary surgeon. He visits the establishment regularly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inspections have Home Office inspectors made at Hillgrove Farm in Oxfordshire in the last 12 months; and how many of these visits were unannounced. [31642]

In the last 12 months, five visits of inspection were made, of which three were unannounced.The cats are kept in units designed to ensure they remain specific pathogen free. This places restrictions on entering the units, but the inspector has observed the cats on all occasions and has twice entered the specific pathogen free areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis has taken to ensure that crime levels are accurately reported in the local press; and if he will make a statement. [31545]

The Commissioner tells me that the Metropolitan Police's Performance Information Bureau (PIB) collates information centrally including divisional crime statistics. If journalists contact the Metropolitan Police to request crime figures they should be dealt with by the press bureau at New Scotland yard or be referred to one of the five area press offices, which will liaise with PIB. Figures would be given out automatically if they were already in the public domain, for example in one of the Metropolitan Police's publications, or have been given out by local police commanders at public meetings or to Police Community Consultative Groups. From time to time, senior officers take the initiative personally to brief local media about their crime figures. The accuracy of the reporting of the information given to them is the responsibility of the journalists concerned, but the press bureau would seek to correct any inaccuracies or misinterpretations which came to their attention.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of prosecutions of (a) heterosexuals beneath the age of 16 and (b) homosexuals beneath the age of 18 years for breaching the legal age of sexual consent in England and Wales over the last five years. [31459]

The specific information requested is given in the table, which does not include offences such as rape, indecent assault on a male or female or gross indecency with children.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many project licences issued under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 involve interference with either organs of special sense or the brain of cats; and of those how many were carried out on (a) conscious cats, (b) decerebrate cats and (c) cats under terminal anaesthesia, in the last available year. [31646]

During 1996, 17 project licence holders reported carrying out procedures using cats and involving organs of special sense or the brain. Of these, none involved conscious cats.Information which might distinguish those involving decerebrate cats from those carried out under terminal anaesthesia is not kept centrally. In total, 15 of the projects involved either decerebrate cats or terminal anaesthesia.In the remaining two projects, general anaesthesia was used and the cats were allowed to recover consciousness.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many project licences issued under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 that are currently in force and involve the use of cats have (a) mild severity bandings, (b) moderate severity bandings, (c) substantial severity bandings and (d) unclassified severity bandings. [31645]

Central records show that the total number of current project licences authorising the use of cats is 110. The number in each severity category is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he appointed a Green Transport co-ordinator; and on what date the appointment took effect. [32472]

The role of Green Transport co-ordinator is undertaken by the Home Office's Environmental Issues Manager who was appointed in March 1997. The Home Office has been represented at inter-departmental meetings on green transport plans since their inception in 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has (a) to reduce the number of car parking spaces available for use by staff and (b) to introduce charges for staff using workplace car parking spaces. [32454]

At present, the Home Office has no plans to reduce the number of, or introduce charges for, car parking spaces for staff. However, as part of our environmental strategy, those with responsibility for the larger buildings on the estate will be asked to review their car parking policy. The scope for reducing, or charging for, car parking spaces will be dependent on local circumstances and, in particular, the availability of adequate public transport. It is also important that any car parking policy takes into account equal opportunities, including the needs of staff with child care responsibilities or medical conditions which preclude their use of public transport. The current policy for the Home Office Central London Estate reflects this by allocating regular car parking spaces for commuting purposes only to staff falling into these categories.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many extra police officers could have been established in Essex in 1997–98 as a result of the extra funding made available to meet the target of 5,000 extra police officers in the United Kingdom over three years; and how many extra officers will actually be recruited in 1997–98 in Essex. [32340]

Ministers have no direct control over police numbers. Under legislation passed by the previous Government in 1994, it is for individual chief constables to determine the number of police officers in their force.For 1997–98, Essex Police received £1.1 million in what was described by the previous Government as funding for extra officers. At the end of September 1997, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 2,944 officers in the force, 17 fewer than at 31 March 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to enable blind and partially sighted people to vote in person and unaided in the European elections in 1999. [32804]

This is a matter which is being considered by my Working Party on Electoral Procedures.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects his Department's working party on electoral procedures to report. [32805]

The Working Party has a full programme of work which will take it into the new year. A report on its findings and recommendations will be placed in the Library when the programme has been completed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice he has issued to the Metropolitan Police concerning enforcement of parking restrictions in bus lanes and at bus stops; and if he will make a statement. [31494]

No Home Office guidance has been issued. Parking enforcement in London, where it is carried out by the Metropolitan Police and traffic warden, is an operational matter for the Metropolitan Police Commissioner.The main responsibility for parking enforcement in London rests with the London local authorities and their parking attendants. Metropolitan Police enforcement of parking offences in bus lanes and at bus stops is largely limited to offences committed on the priority "Red Routes".The Metropolitan Police are working closely with the Traffic Director for London on a project to develop cameras to enforce bus lane restrictions on moving and stationary vehicles. A pilot scheme to test the cameras is currently running in North London, and if successful will be extended on a London-wide basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to extend the protection given to witnesses into a more formal framework allowing local authorities to relocate witnesses to, and victims of, crime. [31710]

On 13 June last year, we announced a wide ranging review of the way in which vulnerable and intimidated witnesses are treated in the criminal justice system. The review, which is nearing completion, is examining measures to assist intimidated witnesses from the investigation stage through to the trial itself and beyond. The existing housing legislation already enables a local housing authority to allocate accommodation to witnesses and victims who need to be relocated.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to support and protect witnesses to crimes during and after giving evidence. [32045]

We wish to offer greater protection to vulnerable or intimidated witnesses and means of doing so are being considered by the inter-departmental review of vulnerable or intimidated witnesses, which was announced by my right hon. Friend on 13 June 1997. The review, which is nearing completion, is wide ranging and is examining procedures to assist witnesses from the investigation stage through to the trial itself and beyond.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what data his Department has collated concerning addiction rates amongst (a) 16 to 18 year olds and (b) those aged over 18 years for (i) amusement with prizes machines, (ii) scratchcards and (iii) on-line lotteries. [32660]

The report Oflot published on 26 February covers gambling by 11–15 year olds on the National Lottery on-line draw, scratchcards and amusement-with-prizes machines.There is no equivalent Government study of adults. Oflot has published regular research into player behaviour on the National Lottery.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the advice given to him by Dr. Mark Griffiths in respect of on-line frequent lotteries. [32661]

A submission by Dr. Mark Griffiths on the social impact of on-line lotteries was sent to the Home Office on 13 February. We are carefully considering this, along with the other responses to our consultation paper.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many organisations responded to his consultation process on the Draft Lotteries (Frequent Draws) Bill; how many supported his proposals; how many did not; and if he will publish a list of all responding organisations. [32659]

We have received 116 responses. I refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz) on 20 January 1998, Official Report, column 513, and the hon. Member for Torbay (Mr. Sanders) on 19 February 1998, Official Report, column 791.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce a licensing system for private detectives. [32589]

We intend to introduce statutory regulation of the private security industry, including private detectives, as soon as possible. We will not be able to bring forward early legislation, as we warned before the election, but we have recently completed a consultation exercise with the industry and others on the best way to provide a comprehensive, effective and streamlined system. We want to look beyond the narrow proposals put forwards by the previous Government, which focused only on criminal record checks for the contract-guarding sector of the industry and to put in place regulations which will protect the public by ensuring basic standards of probity, training, supervision and good practice within all sectors of the industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letters dated 10 September and 20 November 1997 and 8 January 1998 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr. Mohammed Amin, husband of Mrs. Stazin Amin, 2 Fir Grove. [32592]

The correspondence was transferred to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 20 August 1997. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs will respond to my right hon. Friend's letters, and I am sure he will do so without any further delay.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letters dated 11 November and 18 December 1997 and 22 January 1998 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mrs. Haslin Nasrin, 58 Clitheroe Road. [32593]

I have now replied to my right hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to be able to reply to the letter sent to him by the hon. Member for Solihull, dated 23 February 1998, concerning his constituent Dr. Zaw, Dr. Zaw's mother and their passports. [32314]

Shortly. Dr. Zaw's mother's case has been decided.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the Church of England regarding the incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law; what further meetings he expects to hold with representatives of the Church; and if he will make a statement. [31733]

A meeting was held on 22 December 1997 between Home Office officials and representatives of the Church of England and other Churches, at which a number of points of concern to the Church were discussed. My noble Friend the Lord Williams of Mostyn also had discussions with the right Rev. Prelate, the Bishop of Ripon. Following those meetings, and debates in Another Place, the Government brought forward an amendment to the Human Rights Bill to remove the ability of Ministers to make remedial orders amending Church Measures. The Other Place also passed a number of other amendments relating to Church matters, against the advice of the Government. In the debate on the Second Reading of the Bill on 16 February 1998, Official Report, columns 779–80,my right hon. Friend announced that before coming to a final conclusion on those amendments, he would be happy to discuss the questions at issue further with representatives of the Churches. A meeting has been arranged for next week.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of adult prisoners who are functionally illiterate; and if he will make a statement. [32100]

Knowledge about literacy rates among prisoners is derived from the results of the basic skills screening test for numeracy and literacy which prisoners are invited, but not required, to take. These suggest that, while very few prisoners are actually illiterate, 60 per cent. of the prison population need help to improve their communication skills.The Prison Service strives to improve levels of literacy among prisoners by focusing its education provision on the core curriculum of key basic education skills (reading, writing and numbers) life and social skills and information technology skills.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many seats were won by the Labour Party in (a) the Scotland region and (b) England and Wales in his Department's simulation of the 1994 European elections using the d'Hondt divisor and the Ste-Lague divisor. [30825]

[holding answer 23 February 1998]: Home Office officials calculated the effect of using different divisors, based on the results of the 1994 European Parliamentary elections, in six of the eleven proposed electoral regions. In five of them, the Labour Party would have won the same number of seats using the d'Hondt and Sainte-Lague divisors. They were:

East Midlands: 3 seats

London: 6 seats

North East: 3 seats

South West: 2 seats

Wales: 3 seats.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list treatment programmes for sex offenders funded by his Department; what assessment he has made of their effectiveness; what proportion of (a) convicted child sex abusers, (b) convicted rapists and (c) those convicted of other sexual abuses of adult women receive treatment; and what plans he has to extend the provision of sex offender treatment programmes. [31085]

Sex offender treatment programmes are run, and funded, by both the Prison Service and the Probation Service. The Prison Service sex offender treatment programme (SOTP) consists of four elements: the core programme for all sex offenders; the booster programme, a follow-up to the core programme; the adapted programme for sex offenders with learning difficulties; and the extended programme for offenders who are at highest risk. The latter two programmes are an extension to the original SOTP which are being introduced in 1998–99. The recently appointed Director of Regimes is examining future work in this area.Records are not available centrally as yet which list by offence the numbers of sex offenders who have completed the SOTP.The Home Office probation unit provides funding for the Wolvercote sex offenders clinic. This centre provides a national residential treatment service. It has 21 places, 16 of which are reserved for referrals from the Probation Service. The Home Office pays the full weekly charge of £595 for parole board referrals, and £405 per week for Probation Service referrals. The local probation service pays the balance of the fee.Most treatment for sex offenders is arranged locally by individual probation services. Probation services run these sex offender treatment programmes in co-operation with adjacent services or in partnership with specialist organisations. Treatment programmes arranged by probation services are available to sex offenders on release from imprisonment and to those on community supervision. Programme content and delivery are evolving in the light of inspection and research into both prison-based and community provision and an accreditation process for community based programmes is being considered.The Home Office is committed to a long-term evaluation of the effectiveness of sex offender treatment programmes. To this end, it funds the sex offender treatment evaluation project (STEP) team, based at the Wolvercote Clinic. Results are not expected for some time, but similar programmes in the United States and Canada have reduced the rate of offending by about 25 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what (a) loan guarantees and (b) increased borrowing approvals the Tote has received in the last three months. [32690]

The Tote has neither sought nor received any external loan guarantees. In the last three months, it has negotiated increased borrowings with its bankers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the current status of the all-Ireland Institute of Public Health, agreed to in December 1995 by the then Minister for Health in Northern Ireland and the Government of the Irish Republic. [30806]

The Institute of Public Health will become operational following the appointment of a Director. An advertisement for the recruitment of the Institute's Director has been placed in newspapers and professional journals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what factors led to her recent decision to appoint as Under-Secretary in her Department a candidate not proposed by the Appointments Board convened for that purpose; which individuals in which Civil Service positions constituted that board; and if she will make a statement. [31317]

[holding answer 26 February 1998]: The appointment in question was a transfer to a new senior post in Central Secretariat to meet the growing and prospective workload generated by the political talks and the associated need to prepare for a devolved administration. Given that the responsibilities of the post include the provision of support and advice to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and her Ministers, it was decided, exceptionally, that the appointment would be subject to her endorsement. After an interview with the candidate recommended to me the Secretary of State decided not to endorse his appointment. The Chairman of the selection panel then submitted the name of a second suitable candidate whom the Secretary of State also interviewed. The Secretary of State then endorsed his appointment. The selection panel was chaired by John Semple (Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service), and its members were Pat Carvill (Permanent Secretary, DENI) and Clive Gowdy (Permanent Secretary, DHSS).

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made to date regarding the request for extradition of Finbar Ross from the United States of America. [31996]

It is the practice of the relevant authorities not to give details of the actions being taken to secure the apprehension of wanted persons or the progress thereof. To do so could undermine the effectiveness of those actions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many works of art she has borrowed for use in her offices; which organisations she has borrowed these works from; what the insurance value is of these works; what guidance she received on the acquisition of these works; if the works have yet been removed for temporary public exhibition elsewhere; and if the works have been or will be replaced on a regular basis. [31567]

[holding answer 27 February 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on 27 February 1998, Official Report, columns 388–89.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the issue of age-related registration numbers for (a) vintage cars and (b) other vintage vehicles. [32062]

Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to Driver and Vehicle Licensing Northern Ireland under its chief executive, Mr. Brendan Magee. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on recent inward investment to Northern Ireland from (a) Japan, (b) South Korea, (c) Taiwan, (d) Hong Kong, (e) China and (f) Singapore. [31962]

Details of externally owned investment projects from the six locations which have been assisted by the Industrial Development Board to locate or invest in Northern Ireland in each of the last three financial years are set out in the tables.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the names of the members of Parades Commission since its establishment, the dates of their appointments and where appropriate resignations, the length of the normal period of service and the salaries to be paid to the Chairman and to each member. [32256]

On 26 March 1997 the previous Government appointed Mr. Alistair Graham as Chairman, and Mr. David Hewitt, Rev. Roy Magee, Mr. Frank Guckian and Mrs. Berna McIvor as members of the Parades Commission. The appointments were for a period of two years. Rev. Magee resigned with effect from 31 December 1997 and Mrs. McIvor with effect from 18 February 1998.On 19 February 1998 my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State appointed Mr. Alistair Graham as Chairman of the Parades Commission for a period of one year. She also appointed as members Mr. David Hewitt and Mr. Frank Guckian for a period of one year; and Mr. Tommy Cheevers, Mr. Glen Barr, Mr. Aidan Canavan and Mrs. Rose Anne McCormick for a period of two years. The Chairman of the Parades Commission receives remuneration of £30,000 per annum, which is paid to his employer; and each of the members £25,000 per annum.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the sums paid to date to each member by the Parades Commission and under such headings as may be convenient other sums paid to such members which have arisen in respect of their work. [32257]

In the period 26 March 1997 to 26 January 1998, the Chairman of the Parades Commission received remuneration of £11,750. In the same period two of the three members who are paid on a monthly basis, received £20,833 each, and the third, £18,750; while the other, who is paid on a quarterly basis, also received £18,750. The amount paid to the Chairman is relatively low because payment is made on the basis of invoices received from his employer. In the same period, a total of £6,963 was paid to the Chairman and members by way of travel, subsistence and other incidental expenses.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the adequacy of strategic stocks of petroleum products. [31695]

[holding answer 2 March 1998]: The oil crises of the 1970s, and the economic damage caused by the two oil price hikes, led to the creation of the International Energy Agency and international agreements on holding stocks of oil and procedures to deal with an oil supply disruption. These arrangements were restricted to oil because of its key role in energy supply and because a large proportion of reserves were located in potentially less stable areas. European legislation based on Article 103 (difficulties in supply of certain products) of the Treaty led to provisions for individual countries to hold oil stocks. These provisions remain in place and the UK is required to keep stocks of oil equal to or above 76 days worth of consumption at any one time. The latest provisional data for stocks as at 1 January 1998 show the UK as having 13.2 million tonnes of oil products (including the product equivalent of stocks of crude oil), equal to 78 days worth of consumption. This is considered to be more than adequate, especially given the level of our indigenous resources, to meet the UK's contribution towards an international response to an oil supply shortage.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what current guidance is given to British firms wishing to export to Iran. [32573]

The Department of Trade and Industry provides advice and information to UK firms on opportunities for business in Iran together with guidance on UK strategic export controls.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action she will take to encourage retailers of electricity to promote energy saving. [32270]

The Director General of Electricity Supply sets standards of performance requiring Regional Electricity Companies to promote the efficient use of electricity. The standards require the companies to undertake, before April 1998, projects designed to save over 6,000 gigawatt hours of electricity. The Review of Utility Regulation being undertaken by my Department is considering, among other matters, the environmental aspects of utility regulation and a Green Paper will be issued in the near future.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the estimated costs of work still to be carried out in relation to preparing UKAEA's D2670 plant at Dounreay Nuclear Establishment to enable the reprocessing of spent fuel from the ICI TRIGA reactor at Billingham. [31734]

The costs for modifying the D2670 plant are covered by the contractual arrangements between UKAEA and ICI and are therefore commercially confidential.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when she plans to publish the proposed draft concordat on inward investment. [32202]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to the right hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood) on 3 December 1997, Official Report, column 255.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the total complement of staff in the Radio Communications Agency, at what grades; and at which locations. [24690]

[holding answer 26 January 1998]: The table shows the Radiocommunications Agency's complement for 1997–98.1.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the possibility that the multilateral agreement on investment may lead to an increase in litigation. [32094]

The dispute settlement provisions of the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) are the method by which it will be enforced, if necessary. If signatories apply their MAI obligations in good faith, dispute settlement cases should be rare, as they are under the similar provisions of the many bilateral investment treaties which already exist both for the UK and world-wide.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the potential for increased power to be given to large multinational companies through the MAI. [32095]

The Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) would benefit all investors, large and small. All, however, remain subject to the national laws of the countries in which they operate.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations she has received about the multilateral agreement on investment; and if she will make a statement. [31975]

We have received representations from many interested parties, including Members of Parliament, members of the public, business, unions and non-governmental organisations.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the total cost to public funds of holding industrial tribunals in each of the last five years. [31999]

The administration of industrial tribunals in Great Britain became the responsibility of an executive agency, the Employment Tribunals Service, on 1 April 1997. Details of its expenditure for 1997–98 and beyond will be published in the Agency's annual report and accounts. Expenditure on the running costs of industrial tribunals in Great Britain in each of the last five years was as follows:

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the (a) amount and (b) proportion of overall budget spent by each business link on administration in (i) 1994–95, (ii) 1995–96 and (iii) 1996–97. [32085]

The information requested is not available. Business Links take a number of different forms. For example, some operate as separate entities jointly owned by their local partners while others operate as subsidiaries of their local partners. We thus do not manage Business Links directly but make a contribution to the cost of the services they provide, including a provision for reasonable over-head costs. But we do not collect detailed information on the costs of administering the services they provide.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what advice and facilities are available to British businesses regarding the Rajin-Sonbong free economic and trade zone in North Korea. [31957]

There are no diplomatic relations between the UK and North Korea and no British representation in North Korea. We are thus unable to offer advice to British businesses about it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on when the Radio Authority is expected to announce the successful bid for the Mid-Essex local radio licence applications. [32038]

[holding answer 2 March 1998]: Decisions on the award of licences to operate commercial radio stations, including the timing of announcement of such decisions, are wholly a matter for the Radio Authority. However, I understand that the Radio Authority expect to announce their decision on the award of a small-scale independent local radio licence within Mid-Essex on Thursday 5 March 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is his estimate of the cost of Ministerial overseas travel in his Department in (a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97 and (c) 1997–98 to date. [26631]

[holding answer 5 February 1998]: In 1996–97 the cost of Ministerial overseas travel was £50,385. Figures for the financial year to date are £36,776. Information is not readily available for Ministerial overseas travel in 1995–96, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much public funding was given to touring opera companies in the last three available years; what was the breakdown of this funding; and if he will make a statement. [31398]

[holding answer 2 March 1998]: The table gives a breakdown of grant-in-aid allocated by the Arts Council of England to touring opera companies operated in England for the most recent three years for which figures are available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is his estimate of the (a) annual cost and (b) total value of the empty properties owned by (i) his Department, (ii) his agencies and (iii) other public bodies for which he has responsibility, in (A) 1995–96, (B) 1996–97, (C) 1997–98 to date and (D) 1997–98 full year. [26628]

[holding answer 5 February 1998]: The information is given in the following tables.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations his Department has received regarding the future of the high speed Channel Tunnel rail link: and if he will make a statement. [31838]

This Department has not received any representations regarding the future of the high speed Channel Tunnel rail link.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what analysis his Department has made of the number of additional tourists to and from Europe, and the value of any additional inward tourism to the United Kingdom that would arise from the introduction of a high speed Channel Tunnel rail link;[31840]

My Department has conducted no analysis into the potential effects on the United Kingdom tourist industry arising from the introduction of a high speed Channel Tunnel rail link.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy on the vaccination of HM forces against anthrax bacteria. [31472]

[holding answer 26 February 1998]: The measures being taken at any given time to protect UK forces against chemical and biological weapons are based upon the prevailing operational circumstances and the latest threat assessment. In the light of Iraq's failure to account properly for its acknowledged programmes to acquire weapons of mass destruction, a range of equipment—chemical and biological agent detectors, warning and reporting systems, individual and collective protection, decontamination equipment, and medical countermeasures—has already been sent to the Gulf theatre for use by UK forces if necessary.In order that MOD has access to the best possible medical and scientific advice, I have established an independent Advisory Group on Medical Countermeasures, chaired by Professor Peter Blain of Newcastle University and made up of leading outside medical experts. Having sought and received advice from the new Group on the current situation, I have decided that UK service personnel and MOD civilians in the Gulf region should be strongly recommended to accept immunisation against anthrax. The vaccination programme will commence later this week and involve personnel receiving three injections over the next six weeks and a fourth injection after a further six months, using the UK manufactured and licensed anthrax vaccine. No other vaccine will be co-administered with the anthrax vaccine and special arrangements have been made to ensure that the medical records of all those involved are properly annotated to register whether they receive the vaccine.The US and Canadian Governments are providing vaccination for their forces in the region in the same timescale, and are making similar announcements.I have written to those Service and civilian personnel who are being advised to accept anthrax immunisation explaining the background to this decision. A copy of the test of my letter and the accompanying information leaflet are being placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times the spouses of Ministers in his Department have accompanied Ministers on overseas visits; and what was the cost of their travel and other expenses. [25168]

[holding answer 23 January 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Spelthorne (Mr. Wilshire) on 15 January 1998, Official Report, column 278.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the risks of disturbing material containing Cobalt 60 and PCB in the Holy Loch during clean-up operations. [31871]

An extensive environmental radioactivity survey, which focused on Cobalt-60, was conducted jointly by the MoD and US Navy in 1992. This concluded that there was no radiological hazard to the public in the Holy Loch area. An Environmental Assessment Report commissioned by my Department from independent specialist consultants, published in early 1997, concluded that seabed clearance was unlikely to cause a measurable increase in exposure.The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency undertook a study last year on the potential for contamination, including by PCBs, which concluded that disturbance of sediment during clearance was unlikely to result in significant toxicity. Other work by the Centre for Environmental, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science at Burnham supported this view.Clearance will be governed by a comprehensive environmental protocol. Ecotoxicology studies form a constant component in the monitoring regime. Indications of a rise in toxicity will result in the lifting of debris being suspended.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what funding the American Government will provide for the removal of waste from the site of their previously occupied Scottish naval base. [31964]

I assume the question refers to Holy Loch in Scotland. The terms of occupation of the site place no obligation on the American Government to fund the clearance of waste.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons Group Captain Lagle's request for redress of grievance was rejected; and what factors underlay the length of time taken to reach this decision. [32268]

I assume that the question refers to Group Captain Ingle. It would not have been possible to grant Group Captain Ingle's request for consideration of redress without a waiver of the normal time limits. A waiver was not given because his concerns had been addressed by the review of POW pay deductions, the results of which were notified to the House on 24 July 1997, Official Report, column 722. The decision on the waiver was not taken until this review was completed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the construction projects and work conducted at RAF Menwith Hill since 1 January 1994 and paid for under the bilateral cost-sharing arrangement between the United Kingdom Government and the United States Government. [30470]

Construction Projects at RAF Menwith Hill conducted under the bilateral cost-sharing arrangement for which detailed planning clearance has been sought and received since 1 January 1994 are listed:

(1) Projects in progress or completed:

• Refurbish Water Tower
• Upgrade Sewage Works
• Replace Security Fence
• Bus Layby
• Relocate two Guard Towers and Erect one
• High Level Gantry to Cooling Towers
• Army and Air Force Exchange Service Mini Mall
• Chapel Extension
• Replacement Building 36H
• Erect Covered Walkway Building 25
• Building 20 Laundry Extension
• Shredder
• Provision Temp Classrooms
• Access Road
• Lighting Near Building 48
• Replacement Chain Link Fence (Interceptor 1)
• Provision Flammable/Chemical Storage
• Facility Support Contractor Additional Portakabins
• Erection All Weather Enclosure Armed Forces Network Antennas
• Spectator Seating Two Sportsfield
• Building 45 Entrance Porch
• Building 30 Compressor House
• Building 15 Community Centre Extension
• Building 21 Cafetorium Extension
• Automated Teller Machine
• Smokers Shelters
• Building 31A Pitched Roof
• Ops Security Lighting Esso 29 Radome
• Grapnel Radomes—infrastructure only
• Ops Support Buildings
• Building 25 Pitched Roof
• Building 45 and Castlemaine
• Portakabin adjacent Building 33B
• Dog Kennel and Handler Facility
• Skate Pad
• Building 17 Extension
• Nessfield Gate
• Youth Playground
• New High School.

(2) Projects cancelled:

• Construct Impound Car Lot
• Construct PC6.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if the DERA Land Ranges Rationalisation Study Stage 2 requested information from MoD departments about re-provisioning of work carried out at Pendine;[30821](2) what submissions have been sought from MoD departments on the re-provisioning of small and medium calibre work carried out at Pendine;[30823](3) if the DERA Land Ranges Rationalisation Study Stage 2 only requested information from MoD departments on re-provisioning of work carried out at Eskmeals and Shoeburyness. [30820]

[holding answer 23 February 1998]: As part of the second phase of its land ranges rationalisation study last year, the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency consulted both the Ministry of Defence and British industry to assess the total volume of work likely to be available over the next five years. The data were gathered on a project-by-project basis, on both the technical requirements and the funding available for the proposed testing over the next five years, including small and medium calibre work conducted at Pendine.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the conferences held by his Department since 1 May 1997, giving in each case the (a) purpose and (b) estimated cost. [27764]

[holding answer 5 February 1998: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what minimum standards of qualification have been set by the DEO(W) for EPO and PMO graded staff. [31938]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the establishments which are being considered for the NATO European Regional Test Centre for small and medium calibre weapons. [30822]

[holding answer 23 February 1998]: The land ranges rationalisation study, compiled by the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, makes no specific recommendations on the relocation of the NATO European Regional Test Centre for small and medium calibre weapons. Some facilities exist at the DERA establishments at Fort Halstead and West Freugh. Royal Ordnance has sites at Nottingham and Foldingworth that offer a capability comparable with that at DERA Pendine. Ely Cartridges have a range at New Radnor currently owned by MoD.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment was made by his Department, when compiling the report on the pay of prisoners of war during World War II, of the true value to the individual prisoners of war of services supplied to them by the enemy during World War II. [32267]

The task of the Review was to examine the policy decisions taken during and immediately after the Second World War in respect of the pay of officer prisoners of war and protected personnel, particularly in relation to pay deductions, and to see if these were properly taken at the time. It found that the question of the value which those in captivity could obtain for their money, and the complaints received that this was inadequate, were properly understood and considered at the time and that where possible and appropriate, measures were taken to adjust pay matters accordingly. This subject is addressed in the report of the Review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Chinese nationals are currently working in (a) the MoD and (b) its agencies; and if he will list them and give details of the work which they are carrying out. [32346]

My Department does not keep central records of the nationality of civilian staff and the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.