To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will instruct OPRAF to carry out an urgent investigation into the recent performance of Great Western Trains, with particular reference to (a) punctuality and (b) overcrowding. [33145]

The Franchising Director monitors the performance of train operating companies under the terms of the franchise agreement, and he has wide ranging powers under the franchise agreement and the Railways Act 1993 where performance fails to meet the required standards. These powers have been increased following the offer by First Group PLC, a shareholder in the Great Western franchisee, Great Western Holdings Ltd, to buy out the other share holders.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many of the appointments to public bodies which he has made since 1 May 1997 have been from the Public Appointments Unit list. [33257]

Up to now, no central record has been maintained of the source of candidates for the public appointments made by my Department. Potential candidates are identified from a wide range of sources, including the Public Appointments Unit and advertising. I regret that the information cannot be provided in the form requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the location and method of disposal of the contaminated soil removed from the Greenwich Millennium Experience site, indicating the tonnage involved; and what was the total cost to public funds of the site clearance. [33201]

The statutory remediation of the Greenwich Peninsula has been undertaken by British Gas as the original polluter. Following the completion of the statutory work English Partnerships has undertaken the development remediation to restore the site to a condition fit for its intended end use.Contaminated soil which cannot be reused on site is disposed of at licensed landfill sites. The contractors employed by English Partnerships are responsible for selecting the location of the landfill sites and a number of different sites have been used. Around 200,000 tonnes of material from the site to be leased to the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) has been disposed of off-site.The total cost of the remediation work carried out by English Partnerships on the NMEC site is £13.3 million, of which £3.4 million has been contributed by NMEC.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many hectares of green-field land, not classified as Green Belt but currently available for building, there are in England; [33477](2) how many hectares of green field land not classified as Green Belt, but available for building, there were in England on 1 May. [33482]

There is no specific definition of 'green-field' land, but it could be interpreted as 'land not previously developed'. This would include land under rural uses (e.g. agriculture, forestry) and also vacant land in urban areas that was not previously developed. Information on the amount of such land available for housing is not held centrally. My Department is currently working with the Local Government Management Board, local authorities, English Partnerships, and others to provide, by early 1999, a consistent assessment of previously developed land available for housing. This will be the first stage of a comprehensive Land Use Database for England, which will in due course provide a basis for assessing other types of land available for development.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many hectares of green-field land not classified as Green Belt have been built on since 1 May. [33476]

There is no specific definition of 'green-field' land, but it could be interpreted as 'land not previously developed'. This includes land under rural uses (e.g. agriculture, forestry) and also vacant land in urban areas that was not previously developed. The Department's Land Use Change Statistics provide information on the amount of land not previously developed that has changed to developed uses. Current developments of these statistics will enable separate identification of land inside and outside adopted green belt; estimates for changes that happened in 1994 should be available by mid-1998 and will be updated annually thereafter.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Chipping Barnet (Sir S. Chapman) of 11 February 1998, Official Report, column 234, on the Green Belt for what reasons figures are not available for Green Belt recovery before 1 May 1997. [33484]

Information in the form requested is not collected centrally. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Chipping Barnet (Sir S. Chapman) on 11 February 1998, Official Report, column 234; the information relating to the period before 1 May 1997 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the next figures will be published for the amount of Green Belt land in England. [33479]

There is no specific definition of 'green' land, but it could be interpreted as 'land not previously developed'. This would include land under rural uses (e.g. agriculture, forestry) and also vacant land in urban areas that was not previously developed. The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions has recently commissioned a major new survey of the British countryside. Countryside Survey 2000, as it is known, will provide figures on the amount of different rural land types and habitats. Results will be published in the year 2000.Some land under rural uses is protected against development, as designated Green Belts. The most recent authoritative figures for the amount of land designated as Green Belt were for 1993. More up to date information will be available by summer 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what account he takes of expenditure by local education authorities on the cost of home-to-school transport in determining the standard spending assessment for those authorities; [33492](2) what account he takes of expenditure by local authorities on the additional costs of educating pupils in village schools with below average pupil numbers in determining the standard spending assessment for those authorities. [33493]

In determining the total amount of education standard spending assessments, account is taken of the national costs of schooling including those costs related to home-to-school transport.In setting the weight to be given to the sparsity factor in allocating the total of education standard spending assessments between authorities, account is taken of small schools with below average numbers of pupils for each teacher and of the costs of transport between home and school.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for each London borough the capital receipts (a) released in 1997–98 and (b) to be released in 1998–99, giving for each year the proportion used on new building and capital repairs. [30770]

[holding answer 24 February 1998]: The available information is as follows:

		Proportionate planned spend on:
1997–98	Total capital receipts initiative resources	LA stock1%	New build/acquisition2%
Barking and Dagenham	1,320	100	—
Barnet	1,147	37	63
Bexley	602	—	100
Brent	1,827	81	—
Bromley Camden	523	—	91
City of London	80	100	—
Croydon	1,385	35	65
Ealing	1,757	63	37
Enfield	1,114	9	91
Greenwich	2,137	100	—
Hackney	3,282	66	32
Hammersmith and Fulham	1,718	100	—
Haringey	2,273	100	—
Harrow	633	57	40
Havering	787	94	—
Hillingdon	1,255	—	100
Hounslow	1,351	100	—
Islington	2,848	98	—
Kensington and Chelsea	1,095	50	—
Kingston upon Thames	470	100	—
Lambeth	3,317	100	—
Lewisham	2,542	80	—
Merton	729	66	—
Newham	2,282	100	—
Redbridge	888	54	—
Richmond upon Thames	646	100	—
Southwark	3,215	100	—
Sutton	580	not available
Tower Hamlets	2,576	61	39
Waltham Forest	1,289	100	—
Wandsworth	2,727	100	—
Westminster	2,039	—	100
London total3	53,092	77	20

		Proportionate planned spend on:
1998–99	Total capital receipts initiative resources	LA stock1%	New build/acquisition2%
Barking and Dagenham	4,713	100	—
Barnet	3,362	37	54
Bexley	1,998	—	21
Brent	5,577	37	41
Bromley	1,272	—	78
Camden	8,612	95	4
City of London	263	35	65
Croydon	3,726	25	65
Ealing	5,410	54	21
Enfield	3,145	82	18
Greenwich	6,555	90	—
Hackney	9,298	86	8
Hammersmith and Fulham	5,428	100	—
Haringey	6,754	94	—
Harrow	1,789	68	22
Havering	2,421	93	3
Hillingdon	3,508	7	90
Hounslow	3,871	87	13
Islington	9,168	100	—
Kensington and Chelsea	3,959	40	27
Kingston upon Thames	1,275	77	21
Lambeth	11,075	100	—
Lewisham	8,610	68	6

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to publish the University of Cambridge Department of Applied Economics study on the need for social housing, referred to in paragraph 19 of "Planning for the Communities of the Future" (Cm 3885). [33829]

This report was published in January 1998. A copy of the report 'An Economic Model of the Demand and Need for Social Housing' published by DETR has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the proportion of the total number of new homes required between 1991 and 2011 which are for existing households migrating to other parts of England. [33820]

The household projections are not an estimate of the number of new homes that are required. However, it is possible to identify how much of the projected change in household numbers for each region is due to migration of households into or out of the region.The latest household projections show that between 1991 and 2016 the number of households in England is projected to increase by 4.4 million. The table shows the projected change in households for each Government Office Region, together with the amount of change that is due to net migration of households into and out of the region (including migration to and from the rest of the world). Equivalent estimates for the period 1991 to 2011 are not available.

Household Growth and Migration Component 1991–2016
Government Office Region	Total growth in households	Thousands due to migration
North East	166	1
North West	412	–8
Merseyside	71	—42
Yorkshire and the Humber	387	28

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what Government grants are available to Railtrack for investment in rail freight facilities. [33702]

Any company, including Railtrack, wishing to move freight by rail rather than by road is eligible to apply for freight facilities grant. The grant is awarded where the environmental benefits of avoiding road transportation justify Government support.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will make it his policy to oppose the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species proposals on the ivory trade; [33617](2) what recent representations he has received regarding the resumption of the ivory trade. [33616]

A number of individuals and organisations have expressed concern about the decision taken by a large majority at the CITES Conference in June 1997 to open the way for a limited resumption of trade in ivory. Many have also acknowledged the role played by the UK and other EU Member States in securing a deferral of commercial trade until essential safeguards are in place, including the establishment of systems for monitoring poaching and illegal trade. The EU abstained in the final vote but Member States have agreed to respect the majority will of the CITES Parties on a matter which is central to the basis of cooperation on which the future of CITES depends. Conservation of the elephant requires maximum effort to implement the full package agreed by the Conference which goes wider than commercial trade in ivory.At its meeting in London last week, the CITES Standing Committee, under the UK's chair, reviewed progress. The Committee agreed proposals to allow audited ivory stockpiles to be sold for non-commercial purposes, and the proceeds used for conservation and related work in Africa. CITES representatives also endorsed proposals for two new systems for monitoring elephant poaching and trade. To assist further work, my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment announced a contribution of £175,000. The Committee also allocated additional funds from the Convention's central budget.Next year's meeting of the Standing Committee will decide whether the conditions which the Parties attached to the decision in 1997 have been met, and whether limited commercial trade can resume between three southern Africa countries and Japan.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the names of the consultants appointed to assist his Department's Salisbury Transport Study and their terms of reference. [33954]

Consultants, to carry out the main work of the Study, have not yet been appointed. A competitive tendering process will be carried out at the end of this month to decide which consultants to appoint. We hope to announce the name of the successful bidders in May.The terms of reference for the consultants are due to be finalised within the next two weeks.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the spring deadline for the completion of the upgrade to the A406 at Sterling Way and Fore Street will be met; and what steps he is taking to ensure that there will be no further delay to the completion of these works. [33714]

[holding answer 10 March 1998]: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, to write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will establish how many items of correspondence the Rail Regulator recorded as missing in the last year. [33690]

The Rail Regulator has not recorded any items of correspondence missing in the last year. I understand, however, that he has assisted in the resolution of a complaint from one of the hon. Member's constituents, during which the train operator involved mislaid some earlier correspondence.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to announce his decision in respect of endangered species status for the basking shark; and if he will make a statement. [34009]

Consultations have now concluded on the Joint Nature Conservation Committee's recommendations regarding species which should be afforded protection by their listing on Schedules 5 and 8 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Preparations for an Order to implement the necessary protection are underway, and an announcement of the levels of protection to be afforded to all the species subject to current review, including the basking shark, is expected to be made before the end of March 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about the external financing limit for the British Waterways Board. [34327]

The 1997–98 External Financing Limit for the British Waterways Board will be increased by £1,000,000 from £51,360,000 to £52,360,000. This will enable them to carry out additional major repairs to the canal network and other urgent maintenance. It will be funded by an increase in grant-in-aid to the Board arising from savings elsewhere on Class VI, Vote 3.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the Government propose to continue to have separate Government offices for the North-West and Merseyside. [34328]

We have decided to merge the Government Offices for the North-West and Merseyside. Links between the Government Office and the proposed Regional Development Agency for the North-West will be simpler if they, like those in the rest of England, cover the same geographical area.The intention is to establish the single Government Office by about October 1998. We will consult the unions before the merger takes effect. We intend the new Government Office, whose title will be the Government Office for the North-West, to retain premises in Manchester and Liverpool. The Liverpool office has a particularly important role in the administration of Objective 1 European funding and the associated programmes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how he intends to handle applications from bodies seeking Approved Inspector status under part II of the Building Act 1984. [34329]

I intend to make regulations further amending the Building (Approved Inspectors etc.) Regulations 1985. These amendment regulations will provide that, with effect from a date later this year, applications from corporate bodies seeking approved inspector status shall be made to a designated body, not, as now, to the Secretary of State. I intend that the Construction Industry Council will be designated for this purpose. The CIC is already the designated body for applications from individuals seeking approved inspector status.In preparation for this change, I am arranging for the CIC to undertake assessment of all new applications from corporate bodies received by my Department from now on. I will decide such applications in the light of the CIC's advice, in cases where the CIC's assessment is complete before the coming into effect of the amendment regulations. In cases where assessment is not complete when the amendment regulations take effect the decision will become the responsibility of the CIC.There are a number of applications currently with the Department from companies seeking approved inspector status. I have decided to approve an application from RBC Ltd. This approval will take effect from 1 April 1998. My Department is notifying local authorities of this approval, in accordance with the Approved Inspectors Regulations. Subject to consultation with the applicants, the Department will arrange for the CIC to take forward the assessment of some of the remaining applications currently with the Department on the same sort of basis as for new applications.Wider competition between approved inspectors and local authority building control should be a stimulus to greater efficiency and higher standards of service to the customer. To help bring about this result, I am working to devolve the setting of charges for local authority building control to individual local authorities. I also wish to see arrangements put in place for setting and monitoring compliance with common standards of building control applicable across the public and private sectors. I therefore welcome the establishment by the Local Government Association, the Construction Industry Council and the Association of Corporate Approved Inspectors of a Steering Group to draw up recommended standards and monitoring arrangements. The Steering Group will be holding its first meeting shortly.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is his current estimate of the expenditure of his Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies on hospitality since 1 May 1997. [27795]

£98,313.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is his estimate of the expenditure of his (a) Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies on external consultants in (i) 1995–96, (ii) 1996–97, (iii) 1997–98 to date and (iv) 1997–98 full year; and if he will also estimate the cost savings resulting from the employment of such consultants for each of the above years. [26668]

The table shows the estimated expenditure figures for External Consultants during the required periods:

£
	Department	Agencies	NDPBs
(i) 1995–96	1,231,000	645,000	64,260
(ii) 1996–97	397,662	1,836,793	104,615
(iii) 1997–98 to date	415,274	1,446,467	33,541
(iv) 1997–98 (full year estimate)	783,179	2,423,730	66,595

The Agencies with expenditure were the Court Service, Public Record Office, Public Trust Office, Land Registry and Northern Ireland Court Service. The NDPBs with expenditure were ACLEC, Legal Aid Board, Law Commission, Court Service Tribunals and the Legal Aid Department for Northern Ireland. In many cases consultants are employed to contribute particular skills to an element of a much larger process. As a result their work will be only one of several factors leading to the eventual outcome. There is therefore no ready way of apportioning their particular contribution to savings achieved. Those specialists were not available from within Departmental resources.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many rooms there are in the Lord Chancellor's official accommodation; and how many will be fully open to the public. [32953]

There are nine rooms in the Lord Chancellor's official residence, not including utility or bath rooms. Five of these rooms, the dining room, drawing room, principal bedroom, and the River Room, together with its Study Annex, will be open to the public.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will take measures to enable a vendor to recover from a potential purchaser conveyancing costs incurred at the request of the potential purchaser if the latter withdraws their offer before completion. [32961]

It would not be appropriate to take such a step in advance of the report of the consultants who are currently undertaking a detailed study of the house buying process on behalf of the Government. However, this is one of many helpful suggestions which have been made with a view to making the process more certain, and each will be considered carefully in the light of the report by the consultants.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if (a) solicitors and (b) banisters will be permitted to use the conditional fee arrangement proposals announced on 4 March for actions for (i) defamation, (ii) passing off, (iii) malicious falsehood, (iv) false imprisonment, (v) malicious prosecution, (vi) breach of confidence and (vii) breach of copyright claims. [33896]

The Government see no reason to limit the types of proceedings for which conditional fees should be available other than where there are statutory prohibitions. Conditional fee agreements would therefore be available for the matters mentioned by the hon. and learned Member if the Government's proposal was implemented. I would welcome views on the proposal during the consultation period which ends on 30 April.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the appointments to public bodies which he has made since 1 May 1997 have been from the Public Appointments Unit list. [33245]

MOD seeks nominations of candidates for appointments to public bodies using a wide range of sources, including the Public Appointments Unit and advertising, to ensure that there is the widest possible dissemination of information about vacancies. Since 1 May 1997, 4 appointments to public bodies have been made from the Public Appointments Unit list. In addition, a further 11 have been considered for appointment but were not successful.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many applications for export licences were circulated to his Department by the Export Control Organisation during each of the four week periods beginning (i) 3 May 1997, (ii) 31 May 1997, (iii) 28 June 1997, (iv) 26 July 1997, (v) 23 August 1997, (vi) 20 September 1997, (vii) 18 October 1997, (viii) 15 November 1997, (ix) 13 December 1997, (x) 10 January 1998 and (xi) 7 February 1998. [33374]

The information requested is set out in the table:

Four week period beginning	Number of applications received
3 May 1997	724
31 May 1997	765
28 June 1997	715
26 July 1997	939
23 August 1997	775
20 September 1997	768
18 October 1997	865
5 November 1997	864
13 December 1997	501
10 January 1998	789
7 February 1998	968

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many notices of intention to claim compensation for their illnesses have been received so far by his Department from service personnel who served in the Gulf War; and how many writs have so far been received from such personnel. [33844]

Up to 6 March 1998 the Ministry of Defence had received a total of 1,751 notices of intention to claim in respect of Gulf related illness. 93 have been withdrawn, leaving a total of 1,658 current notices of intention to claim held by my Department. Of these, 260 are in respect of civilians or the children of Service personnel and civilian Ministry of Defence employees. No writs have yet been served against the Ministry of Defence in respect of any of these cases.In addition to these 1,658 notices of intention to claim, the Ministry of Defence is investigating 10 claims alleging negligence in the diagnosis and treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder said to have arisen from service in the Gulf. 5 of these claimants have issued proceedings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he intends to publish the section on riot control agents which was included in the United Kingdom's initial declaration to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons; and if he will make a statement. [33845]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 28 January 1998, Official Report, columns 247–48, on nuclear weapons, at which of his Department's properties the five station nuclear accident response teams are based; and when, and for what reasons, the name of the teams was changed from special safety teams. [33854]

The five RAF nuclear accident response teams are based at RAFs Honington, Marham, Brize Norton, Lyneham and St. Athan. Their title was changed from special safety teams to nuclear accident response teams in 1996 as it was felt the new term was more definitive.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 26 January 1998, Official Report, columns 32–33, on RAF Menwith Hill, how many reviews of breaches of security at RAF Menwith Hill have been carried out by the National Security Agency since 1990; and on how many occasions his Department received copies of the reports resulting from such reviews. [33857]

Two reviews of breaches of security have been conducted by the National Security Agency at RAF Menwith Hill since 1990. One was conducted in October 1993, as the hon. Member is already aware, and the other in April 1997. My Department was made aware of the contents of both reports at the time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the Fisheries Protection Service. [33999]

The Royal Navy's involvement in Fishery Protection is currently being examined within my Department's Strategic Defence Review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many sticks of plastic explosive were removed from the Sennybridge Infantry Training Centre, Wales in the period June to September 1997. [33685]

Five sticks of plastic explosive were stolen from the Army Training Centre, Sennybridge last year. The individual responsible for the theft has since been sentenced to seven years' imprisonment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the findings of the board of inquiry review into the theft of explosives from the Sennybridge Infantry Training Centre. [33687]

Boards of Inquiry are investigations internal to the Ministry of Defence and their findings are not normally published under exemption 2 of the Code of Access to Government Information. I will, however, write to the hon. Member when the Board of Inquiry has reported, with its findings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many incidents of (a) explosives and (b) detonators being removed or stolen from army bases were reported in the period September 1996 to March 1998. [33684]

Between September 1996 and March 1998 one case of explosives and detonators being removed or stolen from an Army establishment was reported. This was the case involving the Army Training Centre, Sennybridge.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the security lapses which allowed plastic explosives and detonators to be stolen from Sennybridge Infantry Training Centre in 1997. [33686]

A Board on Inquiry has been instigated to investigate the theft of explosives from the Army Training Centre, Sennybridge.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Mr. Clifford Hughes can expect to receive an amended firearm certificate, number 97/1143. [33976]

The processing of applications for firearms certificates, including amendments to those certificates, is a matter for the police force in whose area the applicant resides or works. No record is kept centrally of certificates granted or amended.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish the Manwaring Report on Campsfield House. [33977]

The Manwaring Report on Campsfield House was not intended for publication. This report was a management document to assist in dealing with the immediate aftermath of the disturbance on 20 August 1997. The report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons, which covers similar ground, will be published shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions were issued prior to 9 September 1994 to senior officers at HMP Whitemoor concerning the completion of written reports following serious incidents at the prison. [32778]

Instructions issued to officers prior to 9 September were those contained in Circular Instruction 18/1988, a copy of which is in the Library. This instruction to governors, which was issued on 12 May 1988, revised earlier guidance to staff on the reporting of incidents.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff attended the training session held on how to behave in court for HMP Whitemoor personnel due to give evidence at the January 1997 trial of those accused of the HMP Whitemoor escape; who conducted the training session; and what subjects were covered in the training session. [32780]

All staff required to attend court hearings were invited to attend a general training session on court procedures. No training was provided in respect of the presentation of evidence connected with the specific trial itself. Training in court procedures using hypothetical cases, including the practice of giving evidence, was provided by a designated governor at Whitemoor who had responsibility for court liaison.The governor also produced a training pack to assist officers called to give evidence at court. In the course of the trial proceedings, a copy of this training pack was supplied to the defence.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what disciplinary action was taken against staff at HMP Whitemoor assessed by his Department to have given misleading information to the Woodcock Inquiry. [32781]

No formal disciplinary action was taken against any staff in respect of matters arising out of the Whitemoor escape.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what dates between 24 April 1994 and 8 September 1994 the HMP Whitemoor Governor visited the special secure unit within the prison. [32782]

Records are incomplete in terms of detailing visits to the Unit. The then Governor believes he visited the Unit on three to six occasions in the period April 1994 to September 1994.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) on what date metal detecting portal equipment was (a) delivered to and (b)installed at the visitors' entrance at HMP Whitemoor; [32783](2) on what date an x-ray machine was

The metal detecting portal equipment was delivered and installed in May 1995. The x-ray equipment was delivered and installed in May 1995. No metal detecting portal equipment or x-ray equipment was in place in the Special Secure Unit in September 1994.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions between I May 1994 and 9 September 1994 searches were carried out of HMP Whitemoor staff arriving for work; and if it was possible for staff approaching the prison to see in advance that such searches were being carried out. [32786]

Regular searching of staff was not carried out before September 1994 and records of searches of staff were not maintained. It would have been possible for staff approaching the prison to see that such searches were in progress.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library transcripts of interviews with prison staff conducted by Sir John Woodcock and his inquiry team into the 9 September 1994 escape from HMP Whitemoor. [32787]

The Woodcock investigation into the escape from Whitemoor was an independent inquiry commissioned by the then Home Secretary. Sir John Woodcock made it clear in the introduction to his report that all information provided to the inquiry would be treated with total confidentiality. Staff and others were told that the information provided would not be released without their consent or by order of a court.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of advice issued in 1991 to prison governors encouraging them to provide training to staff on being a witness in court; and what monitoring is carried out to assess the effectiveness of such training. [32779]

Circular Instruction 7/91 gives guidance to governors and staff in order to alleviate anxieties about the experience of appearing as a witness in court, and to avoid possibly prejudicing the outcome of a trial due to inappropriate behaviour. It was issued following the serious disturbances during April 1990 which resulted in unprecedented numbers of prison staff and prisoners being called as prosecution witnesses in criminal trials. Part 1 deals with prison staff appearing as prosecution witnesses and Part 2 relates to prisoners appearing as prosecution witnesses against other prisoners. A copy is available in the Library.The Prison Service, in response to this Circular Instruction, provides staff with cards which give useful information to witnesses preparing to give evidence in court. No formal monitoring has been carried out to assess the effectiveness of such guidance.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average sentence for a person convicted of manslaughter in the last year for which figures are available. [33496]

In 1996, 232 offenders were sentenced at the Crown Court for manslaughter offences—an offence under Common Law or the Offences against the Person Act 1861, sections 5, 9 and 10. Of these, 13 were given hospital or restriction orders under the Mental Health Act 1983, sections 37(1) and 41, five a community sentence, three a fully suspended sentence and six were detained under section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933. The remaining 205 were given a custodial sentence, of which 13 were life sentences. The average sentence length (excluding life) was 61.2 months.Manslaughter due to diminished responsibility is an offence under the Homicide Act 1957, section 2.Of the 22 offenders sentenced at the Crown Court in 1996 for this offence, 15 were given hospital restriction or guardianship orders under the Mental Health Act 1983, sections 37(1) and 41. The remaining seven were given a custodial sentence, including one life sentence. The average sentence length (excluding life) was 61 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the range of sentences available for those convicted of manslaughter. [33473]

The maximum penalty for manslaughter is life imprisonment and under section 2 of the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997 the courts must impose a life sentence on offenders convicted of manslaughter committed after 1 October 1997 who have a previous conviction for a serious offence (as defined in the 1997 Act), unless there are exceptional circumstances.Subject to the requirements of the 1997 Act, sentences in individual cases are a matter for the courts to decide from the full range of sentences available, taking into account the seriousness of the offence, including whether the offence is so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified. The range of sentences available to the courts include: absolute or conditional discharges; fines; community sentences; hospital orders; suspended sentences; or immediate custody.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 2 March 1998, Official Report, columns 468–69, what were the reasons for the increase in the value of contracts placed with the Laboratory of the Government Chemist in 1996 and 1997. [32998]

Two high value contracts have been let since 1996 with the Laboratory of the Government Chemist (LGC).The Prison Service (Supply and Transport Services) initiated a competitive tender in late 1995 for a single contract to replace large numbers of small contracts with various suppliers because they were not cost effective. LGC won this competition (but has in a subsequent competition lost it to a competitor with effect from April 1998).The Police Information Technology Organisation had previously let a competitive contract to University Diagnostics Ltd. which was subsequently bought by LGC (in early 1997).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what authority officers of the Metropolitan police perform the duties of immigration officers on Eurostar services between Brussels and London, Waterloo. [33363]

Metropolitan Police officers do not perform the duties of immigration officers on any Eurostar services. Officers can carry our frontier controls in order to operate the requirements of Prevention of Terrorism legislation. Metropolitan Police officers do work jointly with other control authorities, including the Immigration Service. On occasions when Metropolitan Police officers operate on board trains without an immigration officer the police officers are asked that they clearly show their police warrants to ensure passengers identify them as police officers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to appoint a human rights commissioner; and if he will make a statement. [33341]

We have no plans at present to appoint a human rights commissioner. Our position on the appointment of a commissioner or the establishment of a commission remains as set out in the White Paper "Rights Brought Home: the Human Rights Bill" (Cm 3782) which we published on 24 October 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what capacity Mr. Brodie Clarke currently serves in the Prison Service. [32788]

Mr. Clarke is Head of the Pay and Industrial Relations Group.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the conclusions and recommendations of the further review by Sir Donald Acheson of the effect upon prisoners' health of detention in the special secure units; and if he will place a copy of the review in the Library. [32812]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Enfield, Southgate (Mr. Twigg) on 5 March 1998, Official Report, columns 709–10. A copy of Sir Donald Acheson's report was placed in the Library on 5 March.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the conclusions and recommendations of the review evaluated by his Department into strip searching procedures; and if he will place a copy of the review in the Library. [32813]

The Prison Service's review of strip searching is now expected to be completed by May. A copy will be placed in the Library when it is completed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officials or individuals, working within his Department on millennium compliance have (a) given notice of their intention to leave and (b) left the Department in the last six months. [32311]

[holding answer 3 March 1998j: Two members of staff working on millennium compliance have left the Department in the last six months. No other members of staff have given notice of their intention to leave.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list each information, promotional, marketing and opinion survey contract, with its value, concluded by his Department and its agencies for the years (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000, (d) 2000–2001 and (e) 2001–2002. [32011]

Information in the form requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will propose EU legislation to protect the welfare and safety of animals in circuses during the United Kingdom's presidency of the EU. [33915]

We have no plans for such a proposal during the United Kingdom's Presidency.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been initiated in respect of cruelty inflicted on animals in the course of approved experiments for each year since 1980; and if he will make a statement. [33017]

[holding answer 6 March 1998]: Prosecutions for such an offence would be instigated under the Protection of Animals Act 1911 offences of cruelty to animals. The Court Proceedings database, held centrally, can identify only the number of prosecutions brought under the Act irrespective of circumstances. However, further sources of information suggest that there have been no prosecutions, in England and Wales, for cruelty to animals during the course of approved experiments.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have been detained in Scotland under Immigration Act powers in each of the past five years; what is the (i) longest, (ii) shortest and (iii) average time for which they have been detained in each year; and how many cases each year resulted in the asylum seekers being (a) deported, (b) released and (c) dealt with otherwise. [33460]

Regrettably, the information requested is available only at disproportionate cost through examination of individual case records.My officials are currently engaged in an exercise to determine the status and length of detention of persons detained under Immigration Act powers in Scottish prisons at a particular point in time. I will let the hon. Member have a summary of the findings when that exercise has been completed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Dr. Jones) of 2 March 1998, Official Report, column 466, on secure accommodation for juveniles, how many of the 460 places in local authority secure accommodation which he expects to be available by the end of 1998 were initially planned for after 1 May 1997. [33319]

I have been asked to reply.The 460 total includes six places which have been planned for since 1 May 1997.

To ask the President of the Council how many and what percentage of written parliamentary questions asked in the current Session have received a holding answer, broken down by Department. [31850]

The number of holding answers given by each Department and the percentage this represents up to 25 February 1998 are as follows:

Department	Holding answers	Percentage
Attorney-General	0	0
CDL	14	4.58
Culture, Media and Sport	144	19.12
Defence	176	9.93
DTI	642	29.38
Education and Employment	115	6
Environment and Transport	235	7.97
FCO	129	8.74
Health	70	2.68
Home	286	11.62
International Development	16	3.51
Lord Chancellor	6	1.12
MAFF	264	16.25
Northern Ireland	170	22.28

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many of the appointments to public bodies which he has made since 1 May 1997 have been from the Public Appointments Unit list. [33242]

My Department seeks candidates from a range of sources including the Public Appointments Unit, the Department's own register of people who have expressed an interest in public service, through advertising and executive search. Of those appointed since 1 May, eight were on the PAU list, although in each case they had first come to our attention from other sources.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport from what budget the financial settlement to Mr. Peter Davis in respect of his resignation as Director-General of the National Lottery will come. [28601]

Payments to the former Director-General of the National Lottery will be met from the Oflot Vote. The Consolidated Fund will be reimbursed for these voted costs in the normal way from the National Lottery Distribution Fund.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what account he will take of the conclusions of the investigation by the Director-General of Oflot into whether Camelot remains a fit and proper body to run the Lottery in asses sing its role as a sponsor of the New Millennium Experience and distributor of tickets for that event. [32233]

The proposal that Camelot use their network of National Lottery ticket machines to distribute tickets for the Millennium Experience at Greenwich is a matter for the Acting Director General of the National Lottery. He gave his approval to the proposal which has been agreed in principle between Camelot and the New Millennium Experience Company on 19 February 1998.The Acting Director General of the National Lottery's investigation into the fitness and propriety of GTech Holdings Corporation to be involved in and benefit from the National Lottery is a separate matter and has not yet been concluded

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many of the appointments to public bodies which he has made since 1 May 1997 have been from the Public Appointments Unit list. [33244]

None. As I announced in a press release on 13 June 1997, it is my general policy to advertise appointments to attract a wide field of candidates. My Department is in the process of setting up a new list of potential candidates drawn from responses to these advertisements and other nominations received. This list will be used in conjunction with advertisements in future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many private finance initiative projects there are in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [33532]

There are 11 signed Private Finance Initiative projects that fall to my area of responsibility. Together, these projects have an expected capital value of some £33 million and include a £6 million Community Hospital in Chepstow, a contract for which was signed last month.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received on the impact of current sterling levels upon the exporting industries in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [33538]

I have received two such representations. The Government recognise the difficulties for exporters and manufacturers affected by the strong pound. The effect on exchange rates and exports is a factor that the Bank of England takes into account in determining interest rates.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the number of jobs lost by companies in Wales because of the changes in exchange and interest rates since 1 May 1997 (a) in the current financial year and (b) in each of the next two financial years. [33620]

I have been asked to reply.The economic effects of exchange rate and interest rate changes are difficult to isolate, especially at the regional level. The claimant unemployment rate in Wales fell from 6.6% to 5.7% between May 1997 and January 1998. Low inflation and responsible wage bargaining will be key factors in securing healthy longer term job prospects.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he will announce the venue for the National Assembly for Wales. [33897]

I hope to announce my decision shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what categories of classified documents or other information will be made available to (a) all members of the National Assembly for Wales, (b) members of the Executive Committee and (c) members of other committees. [33932]

Final decisions have not yet been reached on this matter. The categories of classified documents and other information extend beyond those dealing with subjects covered by the Official Secrets Act 1989. It will be important for those charged with making decisions on behalf of the Assembly to have available to them such documents or information as are necessary for the proper discharge of their functions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment (i) he has made and (ii) his Department has made, of the practical effects of making members of an elected assembly Crown servants for the purposes of the Official Secrets Act 1989. [33930]

The practical effects are likely to be limited, given that the Official Secrets Act 1989 is concerned with the unauthorised disclosure of information on matters which generally will not relate to the Assembly's functions. Ministers of the Crown, who are members of an elected Parliament, are Crown servants for the purposes of the Official Secrets Act 1989.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether refusal to accept being made a Crown servant for the purposes of the Official Secrets Act 1989 will disqualify an otherwise duly elected member of the National Assembly for Wales from being an Assembly member. [33929]

The effect of clause 79 of the Government of Wales Bill is that a member of the National Assembly for Wales would automatically be a Crown servant for the purposes of the 1989 Act. There would therefore be no question of a member being disqualified for refusing to accept such a status.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if a candidate for the National Assembly for Wales will be required to indicate their agreement if elected to being made a Crown servant for the purposes of the Official Secrets Act 1989; and whether failure so to do would be a bar to candidature. [33931]

No.

To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to pay an official visit to South Derbyshire. [32169]

I have no immediate plans to do so.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the number of his Department's employees by UK region, indicating the wage bill (a) in total and (b) by region in the last year for which figures are available and separately identifying the costs of London allowances and weightings. [30085]

[holding answer 18 February 1998]: For this purpose, my office is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service, on 9 March 1998, Official Report, columns 66–67.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the location and running costs in the last year for which figures are available of each of his Department's buildings. [30086]

[holding answer 18 February 1998]: For this purpose, my office is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service, on 9 March 1998, Official Report, columns 67–68.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the possible impact of the introduction of the Individual Savings Account on the older saver. [32125]

[holding answer 5 March 1998]: This will depend on a number of factors, including the choices savers make about how to invest their savings. However, the Government's aim with the ISA is to introduce a simple, flexible, accessible and fair tax-free savings environment and to spread the benefit of tax relief on savings to many more savers. We propose not to require cash investors to lock their savings away in order to qualify for tax relief.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to allow older investors who have more than £50,000 in PEPs and TESSAs to transfer the whole value of their PEPs and TESSAs into an individual savings account. [32126]

[holding answer 5 March 1998]: The Government will announce their proposals in due course.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the additional cost of the tax relief planned for the individual savings account in (a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (c) 2001–02, if the overall ISA investment limit of £50,000 is increased to (i) £60,000, (ii) £75,000 and (iii) £100,000, assuming no change in the annual investment limits; and if he will make a statement. [24570]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the approximate number of people that would lose tax exemption, and what is the estimated tax revenue which would be achieved, if the upper savings limit under the ISA scheme were set at (a) £50,000, (b) £75,000, (c) £100,000 and (d) £200,000. [25262]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of tax relief per annum of raising the transfer limit from TESSAs and PEPs to the new individual savings account to (a) £60,000, (b) £100,000 and (c) £150,000. [26231]

[holding answer 22 January 1998]: This would depend on how investors decided to invest their capital.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the additional cost of tax relief on the individual savings account, for each of the next five years, of altering the proposals as set out in his consultative document of December 1997 so as to allow total individual holdings of PEPs and TESSAs as at 1 December 1997 to be transferred into the new individual savings account without regard to the £50,000 overall investment limit; and if he will make a statement. [24553]

[holding answer 22 January 1998]: The effect on the cost of allowing investors to transfer all their PEP and TESSA investments into individual savings accounts would depend on how investors invest their capital.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the additional cost of allowing all existing personal equity plans to continue alongside the new individual savings accounts without being counted towards the £50,000 limit on investments. [31551]

[holding answer 26 February 1998]: This would depend on how people decided to invest their capital in PEPs and TESSAs.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are his estimates for the cost of tax relief under (a) the new individual savings account and (b) the continuation of PEPs and TESSAs, for (i) 2000–01, (ii) 2001–02 and (iii) 2002–03; and if he will make a statement. [24569]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates he has made of the cost to the Treasury of the tax exemptions under the proposed system of ISAs (a) in each of the 10 years following introduction and (b) according to (i) sex, (ii) the age groups 21 to 30, 31 to 40, 41 to 50 and 51 to 60 years, (iii) marital status,(iv) employment in the categories (1) working full-time, (2) part-time, (3) housewife and (4) unemployed,(v) number of dependent children aged 0 to 4, 5 to 10 and 11 to 16 years and (vi) socio-economic group; and if he will indicate the assumptions used to calculate the estimates. [27319]

[holding answer 22 January 1998]: The estimated cost to the Exchequer of the ISA proposals is broadly similar to the combined cost of TESSAs and PEPs, but estimates are sensitive to assumptions made, e.g. how people decide to invest their capital.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what assessment his Department has made of the advantages of making the annual limits for ISAs divisible by 12; [28727](2) what are the monthly limits for individual savings accounts for those contributing monthly by standing order. [28726]

[holding answer 10 February 1998]: No monthly limits are proposed.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ensure that copies of all the responses to the individual savings account consultation process are placed in the Library. [29185]

[holding answer 12 February 1998]: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham (Mr. Loughton) on 5 February 1998, Official Report, columns 775.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the revenue cost of introducing individual savings accounts with no limit on the total amount that may be invested in such accounts. [26350]

It is not possible to estimate the cost because this would depend on the way in which people decide to invest their capital.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the amount needed to invest in a tax-free savings account, at current rates of interest, in order to generate a yearly interest income equivalent to (a) the state pension for a single person, (b) the average income for a single pensioner, (c) the average income for a pensioner couple, (d)£10,000 per annum, (e)£15,000 per annum and (f)£20,000 per annum. [26233]

The Government are committed to spreading the savings culture; that is why we are introducing individual savings accounts. However, the Government believe that pensions are, on the whole, the better vehicle for providing a secure income in retirement.We are reviewing the current pension arrangements in the Pensions Review and plan to introduce Stakeholder Pensions in the near future.ISAs are designed to complement pensions; they are not a substitute for them.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many representations he has received critical of the proposed £50,000 limit on ISAs. [27724]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the £50,000 limit on transfer of funds from PEPs and TESSAs to the new ISAs. [27640]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) individuals and (b) bodies have written to his Department about his proposals to limit tax relief on TESSAs and PEPs in connection with the establishment of ISAs. [32035]

[holding answer 2 March 1998]: We have received a large number of representations, making helpful comments on our proposals for individual savings accounts, which comment on a number of different areas including the £50,000 limit. The consultation period has now finished and, as I made clear in the House on 3 March 1998, Official Report, columns 868–75, we are considering the responses received.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the estimated cost of tax relief on PEPs on the assumption that tax credits are not paid and single company PEPs are abolished. [28728]

[holding answer 10 February 1998]: This would depend on how much investors decided to invest their capital in PEPs.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the assumptions underlying estimates that tax relief on PEPs and TESSAs was £800 million and £450 million in 1997–98 and would be £1,150 million and £550 million in 2000–01 if the current tax reliefs remained. [32060]

The Exchequer cost of tax relief for PEPs for 1997–98 of £800 million includes a cost of £300 million for capital gains tax, and £500 million for income tax, of which basic rate repayments are £400 million (including some £300 million relating to the payment of tax credits on dividends on shares of UK companies) and £100 million is higher rate relief. The estimated cost for 2000–01 of £1,150 million assumes that the scheme would continue with the current tax reliefs. The capital gains tax cost is estimated to be £375 million, and the income tax cost £775 million, of which basic rate repayments are £575 million (including some £450 million relating to the payment of tax credits on dividends on shares of UK companies) and £200 million is higher rate relief.The cost of tax relief for TESSAs for 1997–98 of £450 million includes basic rate relief of around £400 million and higher rate relief of £50 million. The estimated cost for 2000–01 of £550 million includes basic rate relief of around £500 million and higher rate relief of £50 million.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much he estimates tax relief would be reduced as a result of applying annual and overall limits of £5,000 and £50,000 to PEPs and TESSAs if those schemes kept their current tax reliefs. [32061]

This would depend on how individuals invested their capital.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people made use of the system of carry back, carry forward provisions for contributions to personal pension plans in each of the last three years for which figures are available, broken down by (a) sex, (b) the age groups 21 to 30, 31 to 40, 41 to 50 and 51 to 60 years, (c) marital status, (d) employment in the categories (i) working full-time, (ii) part-time, (iii) housewife and (iv) unemployed, (e) number of dependent children aged 0 to 4, 5 to 10 and 11 to 16 years and (f) socio-economic group; and what estimates he has made of future changes in these figures, with particular reference to the introduction of ISAs. [27315]