To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what contingency plans have been made in case of failure of (a) the CAA's suppliers to complete year 2000 compliance changes and (b) the year 2000 compliance changes of CAA's suppliers during live running. [32633]

For some equipment, National Air Traffic Services Ltd. (NATS) relies on external support and there are some cases where NATS, at this stage, is not adequately assured of completion. These suppliers are being urged to respond. Where such systems are identified as an on-going risk, a solution involving a method of working around the system or backing it up will be included in contingency plans.Efforts are being made to gain assurance from suppliers that services can be relied upon. NATS aims to involve suppliers in validation tests, where that is feasible, in order to increase the level of confidence. Where there is a lack of assurance, there may be alternative sources of supply, but this may not always be the case. An example is telecommunications services—NATS uses several suppliers and it might be possible to change supplier over time. Contingency plans will be drawn up in full after the validation tests have been completed, when more will be known about the nature of the risks.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress reports his Department has sought in respect of the CAA's millennium compliance; and if he will place these in the Library. [32720]

Officials in my Department first wrote to the Civil Aviation Authority on 14 March 1997 in pursuit of the Department-wide initiative to approach sponsored bodies about their work on resolving the millennium problem. Since then, my Department has contacted the Civil Aviation Authority and National Air Traffic Services (NATS) regularly to obtain progress reports and information on specific points. On each occasion, the Authority or NATS has sent a progress report or a position statement setting out how the work is progressing. In addition, officials are keeping in touch with the CAA Board in order to obtain regular overviews of how the work is progressing.A memorandum by the CAA's Science and Technology Committee, entitled "Year 2000 and Computer Compliance Enquiry" (7 January 1998), and a copy of NATS' "millennium problem action plan" (26 February 1998) have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 21 January 1998, Official Report, column 553, when checking of (a) non-National Air Traffic Service and (b) National Air Traffic Service operational items for millennium compliance began; how many items in each category have been checked to date for year 2000 compliance; how many have been found to be year 2000 (i) compliant and (ii) non-compliant; how many of the items which are not year 2000 compliant have been fixed and satisfactorily tested; how many man days were required to complete and test these changes; when integration testing is to start; and what contingency plans have been made in the case of failure (1) to complete year 2000 compliance changes and (2) of the year 2000 compliance changes during live running. [32719]

National Air Traffic Services Ltd. (NATS) began initial study work to address the year 2000 compliance issue in April 1996.A total of 582 operational in-service items have been checked, of which 483 have been found to be compliant; 99 items have been found to be non-compliant. Fixing and testing of the non-compliant items is expected to be completed by July 1998. The work to implement any necessary changes is not accounted for centrally. Systems are fixed and tested individually and are then reintegrated into operational service as part of the existing process for change implementation. A wider set of cross-system and cross-site year 2000 validation tests will then take place between September and December this year. Estimating the number of man days used to complete the changes would involve disproportionate cost.Changes required to ensure year 2000 compliance are generally of a minor nature and there are none that it is considered will not be completed in time. Ways of working around the system would be developed in the event of non-compliance. The purpose of the validation testing exercise is to identify residual risk areas which will be fed into the development of operational contingency plans in the early part of 1999.With regard to non-NATS systems, I would refer the hon. Member to the memorandum placed in the Library by the CAA's Science and Technology Committee (Year 2000 and Computer Compliance Inquiry, dated 7 January 1998).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment the CAA has made of the year 2000 compliance of CAA suppliers which exchange data with the CAA electronically; and what independent assessment of the year 2000 compliance of CAA's suppliers will be conducted. [32632]

The process of identifying suppliers and dependencies in order to find out what plans they have to deal with this issue, to ask for evidence of progress and tests carried out, and to arrange for testing in conjunction with National Air Traffic Services' (NATS) systems at a suitable stage has been underway since 1996. These interfaces have been identified, and dialogue with suppliers is at an advanced stage.NATS is currently planning an independent audit of its year 2000 activities which will take place later this year. The audit will also consider the adequacy of the compliance assurances that suppliers have provided.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when (a) each of his Department's agencies and (b) the Government Offices for the Regions estimate their millennium compliance programmes will be completed. [32613]

The estimates are provided in the latest returns released by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 3 March 1998, Official Report, columns 621–22, and placed in the libraries of both Houses and published on the Internet.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when (a) each of his Department's agencies and (b) the Government offices for the regions will have completed their examination of the available options for achieving millennium compliance. [32614]

Five of the Department's Agencies have completed their examination of the options for achieving millennium compliance, and the remainder aim to complete their examination by the end of April 1998. Within the Government Office for the Regions it is anticipated that the examination of the available options will be completed by June 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what contingency plans have been made in the event of a failure due to Year 2000 computer problems for (a) each of his Department's agencies and (b) the Government offices for the regions. [32612]

The position on contingency plans is included in the latest returns released by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 3 March 1998, Official Report, columns 621–22, and placed in the Libraries of both Houses and published on the Internet.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if IT contracts for millennium compliance for (a) each of his Department's agencies and (b) the Government offices for the regions will be put out to tender. [32610]

Most Agencies have existing contracts which will be used for millennium compliance. Where extra support is required this will be subject to competitive procurement procedures. The Government Office for the Regions will look to existing IT service suppliers to address millennium compliance issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the millennium compliance of the data processing systems (a) at the London Air Traffic Control Centre and (b) due to be introduced at Swanwick Air Traffic Control Centre. [32726]

National Air Traffic Services (NATS) has been running a year 2000 project since 1996, and included within the scope of the project is the London Area and Terminal Control Centre and its supporting infrastructure. All in-service operational systems have been checked, and NATS is now in the middle of a comprehensive update programme to correct faults or replace sub-systems which might be affected by the millennium bug. NATS expects to be fully compliant by the end of 1998 and this timescale includes extensive testing at all levels of their systems.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what revisions to the cost estimates in the Summary of Departmental and Agency Plans as received by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster dated November 1997 have been made for (a) each of his Department's agencies and (b) the Government offices for the regions. [32611]

The cost estimates are provided in the latest returns released by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 3 March 1998, Official Report, columns 621–22, and placed in the Libraries of both Houses and published on the Internet.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of trees in England which are subject to tree preservation orders; and how many have been designated primarily because of their age. [32652]

Tree preservation orders are made and administered by local planning authorities. Information on the number of orders currently in force, or estimates of the number of trees protected by these orders, is not held centrally. My Department advises authorities to use tree preservation orders to protect selected trees which, if removed, would have a significant impact on the local environment and its enjoyment by the public. Age may therefore be a contributory but should not be the primary reason for designation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many prosecutions have been brought in each year since 1990 for felling trees subject to a tree preservation order. [32653]

This information is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the number and surface area of business parks that have been built on (a) green-field land excluding Green Belt, (b) Green Belt land and (c) recycled land in each of the last 12 years by (i) county and (ii) region in England. [32855]

The information requested is not held centrally. Most decisions on planning applications for business park developments are taken by local planning authorities. They provide statistical returns of all major applications which they handle, in order to provide an overall picture of planning activity. These data do not classify applications by location. It is, therefore, not feasible at the moment to assemble such information, except at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions his Department has had with the Institute of Chartered Accountants to ensure that full disclosure of certified accounts is made by landlords to leaseholders under section 21 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985; and if he will make a statement. [31131]

No such discussions have taken place. It does however appear that some clarification may be needed of the duties of a qualified accountant certifying a summary of costs under section 21 of the Act, and we are considering the best way to take this forward.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to increase the number of hedgerows which are protected. [32390]

On 29 May 1997, the Government announced a review to consider how the Hedgerows Regulations 1997 might be strengthened so that they give better protection for hedgerows. The review is being undertaken by a group which includes nominees of the statutory agencies, local authorities and the main farming and conservation bodies. It is expected to complete its work shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with (a) Railtrack and (b) Virgin Trains about improvements to services on the West Coast Main Line. [32864]

I met with Railtrack on 27 January to discuss their plans to upgrade the West Coast Main Line. Railtrack have agreed to provide regular updates on their progress with the modernisation programme.I met with Richard Branson on 10 July 1997 to discuss general rail and aviation issues. However, the Franchising Director is responsible for monitoring the performance of Virgin Trains. He has regular meetings with Virgin Trains and has impressed on them the importance that the Government place on improving services on the West Coast Main Line.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the cost of acquiring the Jaguar 4.01 LWB for the use of the Deputy Prime Minister and the subsequent cost of conversion to an alternative fuel system. [32991]

The cost to the Government Car Service (GCS) of acquiring the second hand P registered Jaguar which I currently use was £35,000. For technical reasons, Jaguar Cars Limited advise that this car cannot be converted economically to operate on alternative fuels and the cost of its conversion does not therefore arise.Following several months of discussion between the GCS and Jaguar Cars Ltd., the company has offered the GCS the opportunity to replace the current car with a similar, P registered ex-test vehicle which can be converted easily to run on LPG. This car will be made available by Jaguar Cars Ltd. at no change in cost to the public purse.The proposed arrangement represents an excellent opportunity for the Government to work with a major British engineering company to achieve a showcase environmentally friendly vehicle development. The replacement car will therefore be brought into service as soon as possible and will be exhibited at a Green Car Exhibition which I will be opening in Chester on 25 April on occasion of the Informal Meeting of the EU Environment and Transport Councils.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number and surface area of business parks that have been built on (a) greenfield land excluding Green Belt, (b) Green Belt land and (c) recycled land in each of the last 12 years by (i) county and (ii) region in Scotland. [32853]

This information is not held centrally although the results of more general research commissioned by the Scottish Office on current and future trends in office development and location in Scotland should be available shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations calling for financial assistance he has received on behalf of people with haemophilia infected with Hepatitis C through their NHS treatment. [32048]

Departmental records show that since 2 May 1997 eleven representations (four of these from hon. Members) concerning financial assistance have been received by the Secretary of State on behalf of people with haemophilia who have been infected with Hepatitis C through their NHS treatment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what investigation the Chairman of the Scottish Ambulance Service NHS Trust has made of concerns raised about management practices in the service; what conclusions and recommendations he has reached; and if he will make a statement. [33282]

Mr. Clarke has carried out what I believe to be an exhaustive investigation into the matters raised as I had asked him to do and has produced a Report dealing with them honestly and frankly. The Report has identified shortcomings of practice and procedure in relation to the handling of certain personnel matters. It recommends various changes that are designed to prevent any recurrence of these shortcomings. I met Mr. Clarke recently to discuss his findings and recommendations, which I have accepted in full. I know that the right hon. Member and other right hon. and hon. Members have been taking a close interest in this matter on behalf of constituents. I hope that those concerned will, on reading the report in its entirety, feel able to accept that their legitimate claims have been fairly and objectively dealt with. I have made arrangements for copies of the Report to be sent to the right hon. and hon. Members involved and the relevant constituents and for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House.It has emerged in the course of the investigations conducted by Mr. Clarke that information provided by the Scottish Ambulance Service NHS Trust and used by the then Minister during the Adjournment Debate on 26 November 1996,

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total financial contribution of non-Scottish United Kingdom students to the Scottish higher education sector for each of the last five years. [25347]

[holding answer 26 January 1998]: Information in the form requested is not readily available. Estimates of the tuition fee payments made by Local Education Authorities to the Scottish higher education sector to support study by non-Scottish United Kingdom students in the latest available years are provided in the table.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the occasions since 1 May 1997 when (a) he and (b) officials in his Department have had discussions with (i) Mr. Rupert Murdoch and (ii) senior representatives of News International; and what matters were discussed. [31109]

[holding answer 24 February 1998]: My staff and I have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on discussions relating to the Single Currency during his recent visit to Japan separately identifying discussions between industrialists. [32988]

I discussed the United Kingdom's policy towards Europe and the Single Currency with a large number of business leaders and politicians during my recent visit to Japan, including during a dinner on 9 January at which I gave a speech to over 300 representatives of Japanese Government and industry. I also set out the EU's approach to the Single Currency at the EU/Japan summit on 12 January.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his role and that of Government Ministers in respect of the booklet, "Britain in Europe". [32965]

The Government have no formal involvement in the production of this booklet, neither in exercising editorial control nor making any financial contribution. The booklet contains articles from across the political spectrum expressing a wide range of opinion.I think it is important to take suitable opportunities to explain to people this Government's new, more constructive approach to Europe; and the unique opportunity provided by our Presidency of the EU to rebuild Britain's standing. This booklet is one such opportunity and I and my right hon. Friends the Foreign and International Development Secretaries contributed on that basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which non-governmental organisations her Department is currently funding in Iraq; what activities they are conducting; and if she will make a statement. [32289]

The Government are deeply concerned about the suffering of the people of Iraq. The UK co-sponsored UN Security Council Resolutions 986 in 1995 and 1153 on 20 February 1998 (oil-for-food scheme). The benefits to the people of Iraq have been less than intended as a result of Iraqi Government action. We are currently reviewing what we can do to help ease the suffering of the Iraqi people.Our current bilateral programme of humanitarian aid to Iraq through NGOs consists of:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what security advice has been given by the Government to British citizens working for non-governmental organisations funded by her Department working in Iraq. [32288]

Department for International Development officials discuss security in their regular contacts with NGOs and in consultation with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office maintain up-to-date lists of British citizens and their contact numbers. They make a particular point of discussing security of NGO expatriate and local staff when visiting them in Iraq.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent representations she has received regarding the situation of the homeless in Russia. [32966]

We have played a significant part in raising awareness of the plight of the homeless in Russia through our support for the prominent St. Petersburg organisation, Nightshelter.This Know How Fund project, which began in 1996, is due to run for two years and costs £100,000, collaborates with

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her Department's work in respect of homelessness in Russia. [32964]

Following a request from the Directors of The Big Issue magazine, my Department is supporting a two-year project to provide technical assistance to a Russian counterpart publication set up to help the homeless in St. Petersburg. This support is provided through the Know How Fund.Last month we responded encouragingly to a further request for assistance for a similar project in other cities in Russia. We are waiting for a more detailed proposal.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list each information, promotional, marketing and opinion survey contract, with its value, concluded by her Department and its agencies for the years (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000, (d) 2000–01 and (e) 2001–02. [32023]

The Department for International Development has concluded one contract, with Opinion Leader Research, for around £43,000, during 1997–98. It has not concluded any contracts for subsequent years.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what position Her Majesty's Government took at the meeting of donors in Dhaka on 23 February on the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord; and what undertakings Her Majesty's Government made. [31972]

The meeting on 23 February was called by the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) to discuss with donors how best to co-ordinate and deliver appropriate development assistance in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. A list of possible projects was also presented by GoB but not discussed. Her Majesty's Government played an active part in the meeting which concluded that a core team of donors, led by the United Nations Development Programme, should work with GoB to identify priority needs, develop plans for co-ordinating the overall donor effort and identify appropriate implementation arrangements. This approach was proposed by GoB and is intended to provide a framework for assistance from donors, including Department for International Development.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current level of funding from his Department under section 11 for the employment of teachers. [31745]

Information is not readily available in the form requested. But, in the current financial year, nearly £78.6 million is allocated under section 11 grant to support the cost of employing teachers and other staff (including bilingual assistants, nursery nurses and home/school liaison workers) on projects to address additional needs of ethnic minority school pupils.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many remand prisoners died in custody in the years 1992 to 1997. [31640]

[holding answer 26 February 1998]: The information requested is given in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) prosecutions have been brought and (b) convictions secured for killing protected birds of prey in each year since 1990. [32212]

All indigenous birds of prey are protected from being killed, taken or injured by section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The table shows the number of defendants prosecuted and convicted under this Act from 1990 to 1996 (latest available) for offences related to birds, according to our Court Proceedings database. Information is not collected centrally on the species involved.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the licensing law in relation to the prosecution of people selling alcohol to persons aged under 18 years, where the person selling the alcohol is not the actual licensee or directly employed by the licensee; and if he will make a statement. [32578]

I am aware of this issue and am considering what action is necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the allowances and special payments available to (i) police force employees, (ii) Fire Service employees, (iii) Probation Service employees, and (iv) Prison Service employees; and what was the total amount spent on each type of allowance and payment in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [32407]

The main allowances and payments made to police officers, probation officers and prison officers are shown in the tables. Not all the allowances are paid to each category of officer referred to in the tables. Each of the allowances and payments is subject to certain conditions being met before they are paid. Information on the total expenditure on these allowances and payments is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.The allowances and special payments applicable to fire service employees is a matter for the National Joint Council (NJC) for Local Authorities Fire Brigades, and information about the level of such payments is not held centrally. Particulars are given in sections VI, VII and IX of the NJC's Scheme of Conditions of Service. Copies of the relevant extracts from the Scheme have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are in force to ensure that criminal offences committed by staff in privately-managed prisons are referred to the police and reported to the Prison Service; how many reports of such offences have been made; and if he will make a statement. [32577]

It is for the contractor, as the employer of staff at privately managed prisons, to refer to the police any criminal offence which the contractor suspects an employee of having committed in the course of duty. The Director is also under a general statutory obligation to assist the Prison Service Controller to discharge his or her duty to keep the operation of the prison under review.This is given additional force by a contractual requirement for the contractor to notify the Controller of any behaviour by a prisoner custody officer which casts doubt on his or her fitness for certification as a prisoner custody officer. The Prison Service Controller is required by statute to investigate complaints made against prisoner custody officers. If, in the course of an investigation, the Controller considers that a criminal offence has been committed, he or she may refer the matter to the police. The Director is also expected to inform the Controller of any criminal offence alleged to have been committed by other staff that may have a bearing on their suitability to work in a prison.The number of reports of such incidents is not recorded centrally for any prisons.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on proposals to provide IT links between the Crown Prosecution Service, the police and magistrates courts. [32793]

The new information technology systems and services currently being planned for use by the Crown Prosecution Service, the police and magistrates courts will incorporate electronic links that will significantly improve the efficiency with which information is shared and exchanged throughout the criminal justice process.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how often individuals convicted of football-related offences will be required to report to designated police stations in Britain during the World Cup. [32408]

The Football Spectators Act 1989 provides that a person convicted of a football-related offence and made subject to a restriction order by the court is required to report to a police station at times that would prevent him travelling to key designated football matches outside England and Wales involving teams from England or Wales. Failure to comply with the order without reasonable excuse is a criminal offenceThe Restriction Orders Authority will be writing in advance of World Cup matches to individuals subject to restriction orders informing them of their attendance times at the police station.The 1991 Act extends to England and Wales only. There is no similar provision in Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of those who landed at (a) Dover and (b) Ramsgate during 1997 have claimed the right to remain in the UK under asylum regulations; what was their country of origin; and what is their current status. [32551]

The available information is given in the table and relates to those persons who applied for asylum on their arrival at the ports of Dover or Ramsgate.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has received Sir Donald Acheson's Second Report on the Effects on Health of the Regimes in Special Secure Units; and if he intends to make the results public. [33456]

We have now received Sir Donald Acheson's second report on the Special Secure Unit (SSU) at Whitemoor. His report acknowledges that significant progress has been made in implementing his previous recommendations. In particular, a series of regime improvements have been made, and a robust system of regular health reviews for all SSU prisoners has been introduced.With regard to closed visits, the report accepts that the improved regime and atmosphere within the SSU is, at least in part, attributable to the confidence which closed visits give to staff. Accordingly, there is no call for a change to the visits policy.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made towards the introduction of a nursing-led service within the Prison Medical Service; and if he will make a statement. [32866]

Between 1991 and 1997, the proportion of nurses in the health care workforce increased from 14 per cent. to 44 per cent.The Prison Service issued a consultation paper on 21 October 1997 seeking views from a wide spectrum of interested parties on proposals whose effect would be, if implemented, to ensure that, in due course, all patient care would be nurse-led. The outcome of that consultation is currently being considered and the results will help inform the deliberations of the joint Prison Service and National Health Service Working Group on the future organisation of prisoners' health care established last autumn.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received in favour of retaining closed lists in the proportional system for the European elections; and if he will list the organisations submitting such representations. [32893]

We have received a number of letters from members of the public in favour of closed lists for elections to the European Parliament but no organisations have submitted such representations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the governments of (a) Yemen, (b) India, (c) Pakistan, (d) Bangladesh and (e) Sri Lanka regarding the present crisis in the Gulf. [31959]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will press the Abu Dhabi authorities to restrict the use of children as camel jockeys; and what representations his Department has received on this matter. [32815]

We have taken this matter up with the UAE authorities, who have assured us that the necessary Federal Law to prevent such practices already exists, and will be applied rigorously.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will be supporting at the forthcoming session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights a resolution identical or similar to that introduced by Denmark at the 53rd Session in Geneva headed, "Situation of Human Rights in China"; and if he will make a statement. [32075]

European Union Foreign Ministers decided on 23 February that neither the Presidency nor Member States should table or co-sponsor a draft resolution on China at this year's Commission on Human Rights. We support that decision and will continue to pursue our human rights concerns through dialogue and co-operation.

To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee what the cost was of the new curtains installed in the Members' Tea Room. [33040]

The cost of the seven pairs of curtains and the pelmets was £9,443.17, excluding VAT.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if it is his Department's policy that legal aid should be provided under the terms of Regulation 14 (1) of the Civil Legal Aid (General) Regulations 1989 to overseas citizens whose Governments fail to provide legal aid on the same terms to UK citizens in child abduction cases; and if he will make a statement. [32074]

It is the Government's policy that any person whose case is accepted by the Central Authority under the Hague or European Child Abduction Conventions will receive legal aid. This is because of the vital importance of cases affecting the residence of children litigated before the English and Welsh courts. The availability of legal aid in other countries is not considered. The award of legal aid to foreign nationals is perfectly proper under the terms of the existing legal aid scheme. Many applicants under the Conventions are United Kingdom citizens.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list in respect of each country that is a signatory to the Hague Convention on Child Abduction, the number of cases where the judicial or administrative authority of the requested state has (a) ordered the return of the abducted child and (b) declined to order the return of the abducted child when requested to do so by the UK Central Authority. [31932]

Hague Convention cases are not recorded separately. For the calendar year 1997, the outcome of applications by the Central Authority for England and Wales under the 1980 Hague and European Child Abduction Conventions is shown in the table.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list (a) the number of unresolved cases of child abduction from the United Kingdom, (b) the countries in which the children concerned are believed to be residing and (c) the number of children concerned in each country. [31933]

Applications made by the Central Authority for England and Wales in cases under the Hague and European Conventions which were pending on 26 January 1998, the latest date for which figures are available, are shown in the table. Hague Convention applications are not recorded separately. Cases may involve more than one child. It is not possible to identify unresolved cases in respect of non-Convention countries.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many representations he has received concerning the imprisonment of Guardsmen Fisher and Wright; how many were answered by him; and how many were referred to the Northern Ireland Court Service. [31729]

I have received 5 representations concerning the imprisonment of Guardsmen Fisher and Wright; one was answered by me and 4 were dealt with by Northern Ireland Court Service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport from which budgetary sub-head the costs of millennium computer compliance will be met by his Department. [32722]

Costs will be met from the IT/Telecoms running costs and capital budget sub-headings:

• Class X, Vote 1, Subheading 11 running costs,
• Class X, Vote 1, Subheading 13 capital costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) when all testing on Year 2000 computer compliance will be completed within his Department; [32649](2) what is his estimate of

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 3 March 1998, Official Report, columns 621–22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many officials or individuals within his Department on millennium computer compliance have (a) given notice of their intention to leave or (b) left his Department in the last six months. [32641]

IT provision in my Department, including millennium compliance work, is outsourced to Sema Group Plc. Two individuals working for Sema Group have left in the last six months, but they were not working solely on millennium computer compliance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he last met the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to discuss his Department's progress towards millennium computer compliance. [32651]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not met my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to discuss the Department's progress towards millennium computer compliance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he last met a Treasury Minister to discuss the cost of millennium computer compliance in his Department. [32640]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not met any Treasury Ministers to discuss the cost of millennium computer compliance in the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the answer of 27 February 1998, Official Report, column 388, how many works of art borrowed since 1 May 1997 for the offices and official residences of Ministers derived from (a) the National Galleries of Scotland and (b) Glasgow Museums and Galleries; what is the insurance value of these as registered with the Government Indemnity Scheme; and if he will make a statement. [33014]

Since 1 May 1997, seven works of art have been borrowed via the Government Art Collection from the National Galleries of Scotland, and six from Glasgow Museums and Galleries. Works from National Collections, which include the National Galleries of Scotland, are borrowed at the Government's own risk and so do not have either insurance or indemnity values. The total indemnity value of the six works on loan from Glasgow Museums and Galleries is £500,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he appointed a Green Transport co-ordinator; and on what date the appointment took effect. [32480]

[holding answer 3 March 1998]: The guide to Green Transport Plans circulated last September by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions encouraged Departments to appoint green transport co-ordinators. My Department appointed a co-ordinator in February this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when regulations will be laid to bring into effect the television licence fee increases announced last December and due to come into force on 1 April. [33360]

On 11 December 1997, Official Report, column 636, I announced that, from 1 April 1998, the fee for a colour television licence would increase to £97.50 and that for a black and white licence to £32.50. I have today laid before Parliament the regulations necessary to bring these fees into force.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of non-United Kingdom based EU companies which have been liable to pay higher rate insurance premium tax on their products in 1997. [31122]

[holding answer 25 February 1998]: The information held centrally by Customs and Excise categorises insurers registered for insurance premium tax (IPT) only into UK and non-UK. Of the non-UK insurers approximately 77 have indicated on their IPT returns that their payments include some tax at the higher rate. Customs are however aware that some insurers have used "higher rate" box on their IPT returns to declare tax due at the standard rate of 4 per cent. rather than the previous standard rate of 2.5 per cent.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated cost to public funds of introducing for the next financial year (a) a single lower rate insurance premium tax for all insurance products at (1) 4 per cent., and (2) 5 per cent., and (b) a higher rate of insurance premium tax for all insurance on motor vehicles, travel and electrical retail goods at (i) 10 per cent. and (ii) 17.5 per cent.; and if he will make a statement. [31115]

[holding answer 25 February 1998]: The cost, in a full financial year, of introducing a single rate of insurance premium tax on all insurance products currently liable to the tax, is estimated at £255 million for a 4 per cent. rate.Introducing a single rate of 5 per cent. as you propose is estimated to yield £45 million.(i) The full year cost from introducing a new rate for both direct and indirect sales of:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 16 February 1998, Official Report, columns 478–79, which of the European Commission Tax Directorates Customs and Excise officials have met to discuss higher rate insurance premium tax; if she will list the dates of such meetings and who was present; if she will place in the Library copies of the information provided by HM Customs and Excise to the Commission; and what discussion took place over (a) the cross-border impact of higher rate insurance premium tax and (b) the treatment in law of higher rate insurance premium tax and VAT; and if he will make a statement. [31121]

[holding answer 25 February 1998]: The discussions referred to in my answer of 16 February took place at a meeting on 22 January between Customs and Excise officials from VAT Policy Directorate and officials from the Competition directorate (DGIV) of the European Commission. The United Kingdom Permanent Representation to the EU(UKREP) was also represented. DGIV had received representations from certain UK trade bodies about the impact of the higher rate of insurance premium tax and had sought information on this subject from the appropriate UK authorities. The information provided by Customs officials was in response to the requests from DGIV for background information. Copies of letters sent to DGIV via UKREP have been placed in the Library. Although the meeting was informal, Customs officials made clear the Government's view that the higher rate of insurance premium tax would have no effect on cross-border trade and fully complied with both UK and EC law.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the readiness of the Inland Revenue to administer the mechanisms relating to taxation set out in the Scotland Bill, by the financial year 2000–2001.[31384]

[holding answer 26 February 1998]: The Government intend to make the tax-varying power proposed in the Scotland Bill available to the Scottish Parliament from the year of assessment 2000/01. In order to achieve this, the Inland Revenue has set up a project which will implement a system to enable them to collect income tax at any varied rate set by the Parliament, pay into the Scottish Consolidated Fund the amounts due to the Parliament, and account for tax collected on the Parliament's behalf. This system will, among other things, enable Scottish taxpayers to be identified and enable tax at the correct rate to be collected from them. The Scottish Office are represented on the Board overseeing the project. There will also be close consultation with representatives of employers and others to ensure that the system is in place by April 2000.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the report by the SIB into the administration of the Melton Medes (Fletchers) pension fund. [31071]

No. Information obtained from investigations by the SIB (now the Financial Services Authority) into the conduct of individual firms is restricted information under section 179(2) of the Financial Services Act 1986 and may be disclosed by the FSA only in the circumstances prescribed by section 180 of the Financial Services Act.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research his Department has evaluated into the advantage of exempting artisan golf associations from VAT. [32803]

[holding answer 3 March 1998]: Customs and Excise previously concluded in 1995 that the normal tax rule should apply to artisan golf associations. Membership fees charged by artisan golf clubs are exempt from VAT; but charges made by other (host) golf clubs to artisan golf clubs and their members are taxable at the standard rate. This is because no membership facilities are extended by the host club to "artisan" golfers, and the normal rules for green fees charged to non-members are appropriate.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he appointed a Green Transport co-ordinator; and on what date the appointment took effect. [32479]

[holding answer 3 March 1998]: The Guide to Green Transport Plans circulated last September by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions encouraged Departments to appoint green transport co-ordinators. This function naturally falls to an existing post within the Treasury, and since September 1977 the occupant of this post has explicitly included co-ordination of green transport in the Department within her duties.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of allowing income tax relief on computers and software purchased by teachers for use at home indicating his assumptions in calculating these figures. [32317]

[holding answer 3 March 1998]: No reliable estimate can be made because no information is available about the number of teachers who purchase their own computer equipment to work at home.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Government's proposal to introduce resource accounting includes accruing for the Government's unfunded liabilities for pay-as-you-go state pensions. [32794]

[holding answer 3 March 1998]: The Government propose to publish separate scheme statements for the main departmentally administered occupational public service pension schemes alongside departmental resource accounts. The schemes include the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme, the Armed Forces Pension Scheme, the Teachers' Superannuation Scheme and the NHS Superannuation Scheme. Although the Statement of Recommended Practice "Financial Reports of Pension Schemes" does not apply to unfunded pension schemes, its recommendations represent best practice for pension scheme accounting in the UK and the Treasury is developing with departments scheme statements which conform as far as appropriate to this best practice. The unfunded liabilities of these schemes will be disclosed as part of the Actuary's Report. For these schemes, contributions (or any government finance out of which contributions are paid) to meet the accruing cost of pensions will be included in departmental resource accounts and budgets.The Government do not propose to include state pension liabilities in departmental resource accounts because they do not believe that it is meaningful to do so in order to provide a realistic balance sheet at departmental level. However, the Government recognised at an early stage in the development of resource accounting and budgeting that potentially different arguments might apply in considering the production of a balance sheet for the public sector as a whole.The Government are currently carrying out a joint scoping study with the National Audit Office into the desirability, practicalities, timescale and resource and other implications of preparing a consolidated set of financial statements for the public sector as a whole ("whole of government accounts"). In assessing the case for proceeding within the preparation of whole of government accounts, the study will consider whether the coverage of such accounts should include Government liabilities, including state pension liabilities. The report of the scoping study will be published in the summer.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the annual cost of the Exchequer of reducing VAT on house renovation to the lowest level permissible under European Union law. [32073]

[holding answer 3 March 1998]: The lowest rate of VAT permissible under European Union law for house renovations is 5 per cent. The cost of reducing VAT on all house repair and maintenance to 5 per cent. is estimated to be £1.1 billion. From the source data it is not possible to separate renovations.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the annual cost to the Exchequer of reducing the level of betting duty from 6.75 per cent. to 5 per cent. [32046]

[holding answer 3 March 1998]: The full year revenue cost in 1998–99 of reducing the level of betting duty from 6.75 per cent. to 5 per cent. is £120 million.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what involvement his Department has had in the Department of Health's review of the funding implications of the removal of VAT zero-rating for home-delivered continence products. [31868]

[holding answer 2 March 1998]: The Treasury and Customs and Excise have not been involved in the NHS Executive's review of funding, but are being kept in touch with progress.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his Department's estimate of the impact on the total taxes paid by business before April 2002 of the changes to (a) corporation tax, (b) the utilities tax, (c) the pensions tax and (d) the radio spectrum charges so far announced. [20894]

[holding answer 15 December 1997]: Figures available for the effects of tax changes announced in July 1997 are given in table 2.2 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report". The Government are currently consulting on corporation tax measures set out in the Pre-Budget Report; estimated effects of those proposed changes are on page 19 of the Inland Revenue's consultative document, "A modern system for corporation tax payments". The planned introduction of Radio spectrum pricing is not comparable with the tax changes discussed above. The primary purpose of spectrum charges is to encourage the more efficient use of the radio spectrum. Charges, whether through fees or auctions, will be in respect of licences for access to the spectrum. Estimates of the financial effects are given in the Explanatory and Financial Memorandum to the Wireless Telegraphy Bill.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the cost in a full year of widening the 23 per cent. income tax band to £30,000, assuming no changes in rates or allowances. [32401]

The full year cost for 1998-99 would be £2.2 billion.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cash value, in pounds per month, of converting (a) £1,000, (b) £2,000, (c) £3,000 and (d) £4,100 of the 20 per cent. income tax band to 10 per cent. for (i) a single person and (ii) a married couple in each decile of the income distribution. [26204]

Information for 1997–98 is shown in the tables.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of converting (a) £1,000, (b) £2,000, (c) £3,000 and (d) £4,100 of the 20 per cent. income tax band to 10 per cent. and, in each case, the proportion of the cash gains made by each income decile. [26203]

Information for 1997–98 is shown in the table.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Inland Revenue will complete its remedial work to ensure its computer systems are fully millennium compliant. [32618]

The remedial work needed to ensure the Inland Revenue's computer systems are fully millennium compliant will be completed by April 1999.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if future discussions in ECOFIN about tax harmonisation will include discussion of income tax rates. [30603]

The Government's firm view is that decisions on income tax is a matter for national Governments.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson) of 12 February 1998, Official Report, column 536, which areas of tax have been covered by discussions in ECOFIN regarding aspects of tax harmonisation. [30693]

A variety of tax proposals have been discussed at ECOFIN since May 1997 including Taxation of Savings, Internet and Royalties for cross border payments. Reduced Rates of VAT for labour intensive industries and the Energy Products Directive. The outcome of each ECOFIN has been reported to the House and all the Commission's proposals on tax matters discussed have been the subject of Explanatory Memoranda.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the United Kingdom has taken during the EU presidency to address concerns about the abolition of duty free within the EU in 1999. [32278]

The issue of abolition of duty free within the EU in 1999 has not been raised in ECOFIN so far during the UK Presidency. However, as the Government have previously said, the UK will not stand in the way of any proposal for a Commission study particularly if this were also to examine the nature of any successor regime to duty free.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the spending allocations of estimated windfall tax receipts in (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000 and (d) 2000–01 in terms of (i) welfare to work programmes, (ii) other identified programmes and (iii) receipts not yet allocated. [31264]

The Windfall Tax is expected to raise £5.2 billion to finance the Welfare to Work programme over the course of this parliament. Estimates of the allocation of the Windfall Tax between programmes and between financial years was set out in Table 2.1 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1997, "Equipping Britain for our long-term future". Further details of estimated expenditure in respect of 1997–98 was set out by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Education and Employment in the answers to the parliamentary questions from my hon. Friend the Member for Plymouth, Sutton (Mrs. Gilroy) on 5 November 1998, Official Report, column 228, and from my hon. Friend the Member for Amber Valley (Judy Mallaber) on 23 February 1998, Official Report, column 109. A revised allocation for future years, taking into account developments since the last Budget, will be published in the forthcoming Budget.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what funds Her Majesty's Treasury (a) has received and (b) expects to receive as a result of salvage claims on vessels listed in the report on the Sea Empress incident. [32002]

I have been asked to reply.None. The Government do not expect to be involved in any salvage claims relating to the Sea Empress. However, the Government will shortly submit a claim for around £11.5 million for their costs on clean-up operations following the Sea Empress to the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the (a)approved enrolment numbers, (b) numbers currently enrolled and (c) numbers used by DENI on 31 October 1997 for the purpose of school funding for (i) Down High School, (ii) Grosvenor Grammar School, (iii) Hunterhouse, (iv) Knockbreda High School, (v) Methodist College, Belfast, (vi) Newtownbreda High School, (vii) RBAI, (viii) Victoria College and (ix) Wellington College. [31668]

All of the figures shown in the tables relate to pupil numbers in secondary departments (ie pupils in preparatory departments are not included).

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will provide guidance to doctors on the known chronic effects of organophosphate poisoning.[31994]

Guidance on the effects of organophosphate poisoning on health has been issued to doctors on a number of occasions. The first advice to GPs and A&E consultants was issued on 20 July 1993. This was followed by further advice contained in a book on Pesticide Poisoning which was issued in April 1996. In addition, in June 1996, an article on this subject was included in the CMOs Update which is circulated to all doctors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will ensure that licensing of organophosphates is not carried out by bodies relying exclusively on research data supplied by chemical companies. [31995]

The licensing authorities responsible for the approval for use of organophosphate products employ expert scientific staff to assess all data available to them. Advice is also given to them by independent panels of experts, the Veterinary Products Committee, the Committee on the Safety of Medicines and the Advisory Committee on Pesticides, and only when all safety and efficacy criteria are met will a product be approved.