To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his assessment of the improvement in air quality in relation to (a) benzene, (b) oxides of sulphur, (c) lead, (d) PM_10,(e) volatile organic compounds, (f) oxides of nitrogen and (g) ozone which will be achieved by the specifications for fuel quality and emissions (i) contained in the common position agreed by the Council of Ministers on the proposed Auto-Oil Directive and (ii) proposed by the European Parliament to the proposed Auto-Oil Directive. [33933]

[holding answer 12 March 1998]: Explanatory Memoranda 9856/96, 8827/97 and 8939/97 explain that the standards agreed in the common positions on the Auto-Oil fuels and cars directives will deliver very significant reductions in road transport emissions. They will make an important contribution to improving air quality and to achieving and maintaining our National Air Quality Strategy objectives, especially in urban areas. The European Parliament's proposals for more stringent standards would make a further contribution to improving air quality, not least by facilitating the uptake of cleaner vehicle technologies. The extent of the further reductions has not yet been evaluated.The table gives a snapshot of the estimated emission reductions in the UK which would result from the Auto-Oil fuels and cars common positions. The benefits will continue to grow beyond 2010 as cars achieving these emissions standards represent a greater proportion of the vehicle fleet. These reductions are in addition to those which are already forecast as a result of existing emissions standards and other measures, which are shown as a "base case" figure. They take into account expected traffic growth, as predicted in the 1997 National Road Traffic Forecasts.

Estimated emissions reductions (thousands of tonnes)
	Pollutant
	NOx	VOCs	CO	PM10
Base case emission levels in 2005	222	170	1,625	12.4
Emission levels in 2005 with implementation of 2000 standards	201	155	1,430	11.2
Percentage change	9	9	12	10
Base case emission levels in 2010	183	135	1,530	14
Emission levels in 2010 with implementation of 2000 and indicative 2005 standards	125	99	930	9.4
Percentage change	32	27	39	33

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many cases of freehold purchase are being currently pursued under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 in the Leasehold Valuation Tribunals and in the Lands Tribunal. [34740]

As at 30 November 1997 there were 858 outstanding cases at leasehold valuation tribunals relating to the purchase of freeholds of leasehold houses and flats. This total includes 39 cases where the original landlord had failed to comply with the right of first refusal provisions of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 and the tenants were acquiring the freehold from the subsequent purchaser.As at 16 March 1998 there were 48 outstanding appeals against decisions of leasehold valuation tribunals at the Lands Tribunal.' Information as to the subject matter of these appeals is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many of those in the local government pension scheme retired before 5 April 1978 by local authority; how many contributed to provision for a widow's pension; and how many of these widow's pensions are being taken. [35062]

The information requested is not held centrally. Individual pension fund authorities may be able to provide it.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what are (a) the number of staff employed in (b) the salary bill for and (c) the administration costs of his Core Policy and Administration Group. [34779]

At 1 January 1998, the number of staff in the Headquarters element of my Department is £3,586 and the 1997–98 forecast outturn for the salary and other running costs is £211,644,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the total area of common land in England; and what is the total area of common land over which the public has rights of access by (a) statute and (b) individual access agreements. [34605]

The total area of common land in England is approximately 370,000 hectares. Members of the public have statutory access rights to about 20 per cent. of this land. We do not have details of the area of common land subject to individual access agreements.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the total area of each national park and within those national parks the total area of (a) common land and (b) common land covered by agri-environmental schemes. [34606]

The total area of each National Park, the total area of common land and the total area of common land covered by agri-environmental schemes in each Park is set out in the table.

Square kilometres
National Park	Total area	Total area of common land	Total area of common land covered by agri-environmental schemes
Exmoor	693	46.3	46.1
Dartmoor	953	349.7	349.7
Lake District	2,292	620	618
Northumberland	1,050	0	0
North York Moors	1,436	233.8	222.1
Peak District	1,438	15.3	13.2
Yorkshire Dales	1,769	468.1	102.2

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will estimate the total value of works of art held by the Government. [34516]

[holding answer 13 March 1998]: No complete valuation exists of works of art held by the Government. Monetary values for works of art are generally assessed for the purposes of purchase, sale or insurance. This does not apply to the Government, because, in general, works of art held by the Government are neither traded nor insured.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been spent by the Government since 1 May 1997 on acquiring works of art; and how much has been realised from the sale of works of art. [34468]

[holding answer 13 March 1998]: Since 1 May 1997 the Government Art Collection has spent £98,041 on purchases of works of art. No works of art have been sold from the Government Art Collection. The Foreign Office has spent approximately £20,000 on purchases.We have not been notified of any other purchases or sales by other Government departments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations he has received from organisations concerned with (a) sport, (b) tourism, (c) the arts, (d) museums and galleries, (e) libraries, (f) royal palaces and parks, (g) the built heritage and (h) film requesting increases in Government funding. [34731]

[holding answer 16 March 1998]: I am in regular contact with, and receive a great many representations from, all parts of my Department's sectors. A number of them touch on the issue of funding.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list those Government initiatives which (a) have been and (b) have been proposed to be funded by the National Lottery. [34962]

[holding answer 17 March 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend the Minister for Sport gave on 9 March 1998, Official Report, column 23. My hon. Friend made clear that Lottery money will not fund Government spending programmes. The initiatives to be funded under the new good cause proposed in the National Lottery Bill will be determined by Order subject to the affirmative resolution procedure in both Houses of Parliament. Subject to the approval of Parliament, the first three initiatives will support healthy living centres; out of school hours activities, including childcare; and the provision of information and communications technology training for serving teachers and librarians. These initiatives were widely welcomed and supported in the responses to the White Paper, "The People's Lottery" (CM3709).

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will publish a list of non-departmental public bodies (a) he has abolished since 1 May 1997 and (b) he has established since 1 May 1997; and what are the planned annual running costs of those that have been established since 1 May 1997. [34827]

[holding answer 17 March 1998]: The information is as follows:

• a. NDPBs abolished since 1 May 1997
• Treasure Trove Reviewing Committee¹
• b. NDPBs established since 1 May 1997
• Treasure Valuation Committee¹
• Annual running costs—1997–98 £1,049; 1998–99 £4,550
• Football Taskforce² £100,000—This is the total amount that has been allocated to the Taskforce. It is not possible to split the total between running costs and non-running costs ie research.
• ¹The Treasure Trove Reviewing Committee was reconstituted as the Treasure Valuation Committee in September 1997 as a result of the Treasure Act 1996.
• ²The Football Taskforce has been set up with a specific remit with funds provided by the Department (£50,000) and the English Sports Council (£50,000).

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the future of the British Council. [34619]

As the United Kingdom's principal agency for cultural relations overseas, the British Council will continue to contribute to the achievement of the Government's foreign policy objectives including the enhancement of the United Kingdom's influence and prestige overseas, the spread of good government and the promotion of exports in the cultural and education and training fields.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the extent to which article K7, if incorporated into United Kingdom law, would be binding on future parliaments. [34795]

The European Communities (Amendment) Bill will not incorporate Article K7 into UK law.There is no question of Article K7 binding future Parliaments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has sought and obtained from the Chinese Government about the fate of the Panchen Lama. [35044]

Concerns for the whereabouts and welfare of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the Dalai Lama's choice of Panchen Lama, have been raised at successive rounds of EU/China human rights talks, and by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary when he visited China in January. The Chinese Government have replied that the child is living with his family and going to school.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 9 March 1998, Official Report, column 22, if he will list those societies and groups which have made written requests to visit the Lord Chancellor's official residence; if he proposes to accommodate these requests; what his policy is in respect of future requests; and if he will make a statement. [35031]

Since 6 March, the number of requests to visit the Residence has grown. By 13 March 1998, 58 letters have been received. The Groups and Societies which have made written requests to visit the Residence are as follows:

• Barbican Tuesday Club
• Clapham Common Architectural Society
• Evesham Art Society
• Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom
• Friends of Dulwich Picture Gallery
• Friends of the Whitworth Gallery, Manchester
• Hadlow Women's Institute
• Heart of England Heritage
• Kensington and Chelsea National Trust Association
• London Appreciation Society
• National Trust for Scotland
• Sheffield 41 Club
• South West London Decorative and Fine Arts Society

• Staines Ladies
• University of the Third Age in Cambridge
• Unnamed art group
• Unnamed group of senior citizens
• Unnamed theatre group.

All letters requesting visits to the Residence are acknowledged, and when the final arrangements for opening the Residence are made, information on these arrangements will be sent to all who write on the subject to the Lord Chancellor or his officials. They will then be able to arrange visits to the Residence.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the amount of legal aid recovered as a percentage of the amount paid out during each of the last three years where (a) non-franchised firms of solicitors were acting for the assisted persons and (b) franchised firms of. solicitors were acting for the assisted persons. [34135]

The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Legal Aid Board records show only those solicitors' offices which hold a franchise and do not specify whether the franchise was in force when the work carried out on a closed case was undertaken. To answer the question would require the checking of individual case payment records across England and Wales.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the amount of legal aid recovered by the Legal Aid Board from successful injury claimants during each of the last three full years. [34134]

The amount of legal aid recovered by the Legal Aid Board from successful personal injury claimants, in respect of cases closed during each of the last three full financial years for which records are available, was as follows:

Year	£ million
1994–95	145.64
1995–96	184.36
1996–97	212.36

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the total amount of legal aid paid to assisted persons for personal injury work during each of the last three full years for which records are available. [34132]

The total gross amount of legal aid paid to lawyers representing assisted persons in personal injury work (including medical negligence), in respect of cases closed during the last three full financial years for which information is available, was as follows:

Year	£ million (gross)
1994–95	190.08
1995–96	239.57
1996–97	274.18

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what management resources he is planning to make available to the development of the primary care trusts; and what estimate he has made of the costs of management that will be needed to (a) develop and (b) service these at each stage. [34231]

Primary care trusts will be funded from within the overall health authority/primary care group management cost envelope. Where a primary care trust merges with a community National Health Service trust the management cost envelope will be further adjusted.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will state (a) the turnover among physiotherapists in the National Health Service and (b) the vacancy rates for such physiotherapists. [34545]

The information requested is not collected centrally. For the information that is available on turnover and vacancies for physiotherapists in the National Health Service I refer the hon. Member to the reports of the Review Body for Nursing staff, Midwives, Health Visitors and Professions Allied to Medicines, copies of which are in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the present waiting lists for those waiting for treatment within the NHS from physiotherapists. [34544]

The information requested is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what means his Department is monitoring the millennium compliance of the computer systems involved in the provision of care services by health authorities and trusts; and if he will make a statement on progress. [34806]

The National Health Service Executive, through its regional offices, is closely monitoring the progress of health authorities and trusts on their millennium compliance work. An executive letter, EL(97)59 issued in October 1997 to all chief executives, set deadlines for completing stages of the compliance work against which performance is monitored.Year 2000 projects are now fully underway in all NHS organisations and it is anticipated that all will complete detailed project plans, inventories of systems and resource plans by the second deadline of 31 March 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he (a) has held and (b) plans to hold with the private health sector on the need for computer systems to be millennium compliant. [34805]

Discussions on the millennium issue have been ongoing since November 1997 with one of the largest companies in the private health sector. It is hoped that these discussions will be broadened to include all major health sector companies in the near future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 11 March 1998, Official Report, column 203, where the six new places in local authority secure accommodation planned for since 1 May 1997 will be provided; and how many places have been planned for since 1 May which will become available after the end of 1998. [34867]

The six places comprise 2 at Dyson Hall (Liverpool) and 4 at Thornbury House (Oxfordshire).We have instituted a review of the whole range of secure accommodation for young people held on remand, including the local authority secure estate. The review is examining how to make better use of the existing and planned accommodation to ensure that provision is more consistent and coherent, and that regimes tackle criminality and meet the educational and other needs of these young people. We will be considering the outcome of the review, which is due to report shortly, when planning the implementation of these proposals. The review will help inform whether there should be a further expansion of the secure estate.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the current criteria for admittance to a local authority secure unit; and what plans he has to change these. [34802]

I have been asked to reply. Local authority secure accommodation is provided for young people generally between the ages of 10 and 18 who are likely to cause serious injury to themselves or others if placed in other forms of accommodation. Section 25 of The Children Act 1989 sets out the criteria which must be met before a child being looked after by a local authority can be placed, and if placed, kept in secure accommodation. We have no plans at present to change these criteria. Additionally, children sentenced under Section 53 of The Children and Young Persons Act 1933 may be kept in secure accommodation where my right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary considers that to be the most appropriate placement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what time scale he has given for health authorities to provide all under 16 year olds and new patients requiring the synthetic version of blood product Factor VIII with this treatment; and what advice he has given to those authorities which previously restricted its availability because of budgetary constraints. [34957]

Health Service Circular HSC 033 requests chief executives of health authorities and trusts to take the necessary steps to ensure that new patients and patients under the age of 16 have access to recombinant Factor VIII as soon as supplies allow after 1 April this year, if their clinicians recommend this treatment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total capital expenditure by leagues of hospital friends on capital projects for the National Health Service in financial years (a) 1995, (b) 1996 and (c) 1997; and for each year what was the value added tax paid for those projects by (i) the NHS Executive, (ii) NHS Trusts and (iii) the leagues of friends. [34838]

Information about donations to the National Health Service is recorded in NHS trusts annual accounts. The amounts donated by the leagues of hospital friends is not, however, separately disclosed.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much her Department will spend on bilateral development assistance programmes through UK NGOs for development and relief activities in (a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99. [34972]

Information on spending through UK NGOs for development and relief activities funded by the Department for International Development's (DFID) bilateral development assistance programmes is not held centrally in the format requested. A full answer to the question could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for international Development how much her Department expects to spend on bilateral emergency assistance in (a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99 and in respect of how many countries this expenditure will be incurred. [34976]

In 1997–98 we estimate that expenditure on bilateral emergency aid will be around £65 million. Over 60 countries have received assistance. Provision for 1998–99 is currently being considered within the Department's resource allocation round.Details of bilateral emergency aid are published each year in the British Aid Statistics. The next issue, which will include final expenditure figures for 1997–98, is due for publication in December 1998. Copies will be made available to the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much her Department expects to spend in (a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99 through NGOs to alleviate suffering in respect of disaster, refugee and emergency situations. [34971]

In 1997–98 we estimate that expenditure on bilateral emergency aid will be around £65 million. Although we are unable to say currently how much of that will be spent through particular channels, over the previous three years around a fifth of bilateral emergency aid has been channelled through NGOs. Provision for 1998–99 is currently being considered within the Department's resource allocation round.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what sums her Department will provide in (a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99 to volunteer sending agencies; how many will receive funding in each year; and in how many countries. [34973]

Final figures for 1997/98 are not yet available.My Department estimates that £23.844 million will be provided to the 4 main UK volunteer sending agencies [Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO), International Corporation for Development (ICD) and United Nations Association for International Service (UNAIS) and Skillshare Africa] in 1997/98. This will help fund the work of approximately 2,080 volunteers in around 60 countries.Future years allocations are being considered within the Department's Resource allocation round.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with the UN concerning assistance to the people of Kosovo. [34858]

To date, I have not held any discussion with the UN on this issue.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she will next meet her EU counterparts to discuss assistance for Kosovo; and if she will publish the agenda of the meeting. [34852]

I shall next be meeting EU counterparts at the Development Council in Brussels on 18 May. At present, assistance to Kosovo is not on the agenda.The European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO) are continuing to monitor the situation in Kosovo and have already decided on a small increase to Kosovo under their global plan for 1998 agreed on 5 March.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department has taken to assess the aid needs of Kosovo. [34854]

Officials of my department are meeting representatives of NGOs active in Kosovo on 19 March to receive an update of their recent activities and to exchange assessments of the current situation and needs.Our current assessment is that although the situation is extremely serious, it does not constitute an humanitarian crisis.We will continue to monitor the situation carefully.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she plans to meet officials from the OSCE to discuss the assistance needs of Kosovo. [34853]

At present, I have no plans to meet Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) officials.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much her Department expects to spend in (a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99 on projects relating to the conservation and management of wildlife; and in respect of how many countries this expenditure will be incurred. [34975]

Information can be provided in terms of our expected expenditure in 1997–98 for biodiversity as a total, but no separate figures are available for conservation and management of wildlife. I regret that figures are also not available on the number of countries in which this expenditure will be incurred.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to support multi-party democracy in Uganda. [34893]

My Department is continuing to work closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to ensure that the Government of Uganda are aware of the importance Her Majesty's Government place on multipartyists being given an adequate opportunity to present their case in the run up to the 2000 Referendum.In Uganda itself we are funding a £250,000 civic and votes education project to improve Ugandans' awareness of their democratic rights and responsibilities, and to strengthen the capacity of the Ugandan Electoral Commission.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much she estimates her Department will spend in (a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99 on joint funding schemes; how many development projects will be financed through these schemes; and how many United Kingdom NGOs will be involved. [34974]

My Department estimates that £36.156 million will be spent on development projects through the Joint Funding Scheme in 1997–98. This will involve approximately 1,780 projects managed by around 128 UK NGOs.Future years allocations are being considered within the Department's Resource allocation round.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the future of the United Kingdom's aid programme to Macedonia. [34856]

The United Kingdom has spent almost £4 million in Macedonia since 1993–94 when assistance was first provided through the Know How Fund. We expect to spend around £600,000 in 1997–98 and will expand the programme significantly in 1998–99.Following discussions with other donors and local partners we will focus on the priority sectors of Small and Medium Enterprise Development, Good Government (initially focusing on media and police training) and the Financial Sector.The main project planned for the next two to three financial years will be to develop three regional small and medium enterprise development centres in Western and Southern Macedonia; two of the three are planned for the ethnic majority Albanian towns of Tetevo and Gostivar.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the United Kingdom's aid programme for Albania. [34855]

The United Kingdom's bilateral developmental assistance to Albania has totalled over £5,700,000 since 1992/93. This sum includes bilateral emergency aid, but most of this funding has been disbursed through the Know How Fund in the form of technical assistance.In 1996/97 the Know How Fund spent some £937,000 in assistance to support Rural Development, Good Government/Public Administration and the Health and Financial Sectors.The disturbances in the first half of 1997 disrupted Know How Fund activity severely and the programme effectively restarted only in the autumn of last year. We expect to have spent around £400,000 in 1997/98.More funds will be made available in 1998/99 with the focus continuing to be Health, Rural Development, Good Government and the Financial sector (with a particular emphasis on strengthening regulatory frameworks).Economic and political transformation in Albania will take some time. We aim to support the reformist Government of Prime Minister Fatos Nano, as well as private organisations and NGOs, with carefully targeted support in key areas which will benefit the widest range of individuals and groups.Over £292,000 of bilateral emergency aid to Albania in 1997/98 was in support of organisations providing relief following civil unrest. This was primarily disbursed through the International Committee of the Red Cross and non-governmental organisations.We also remain in close contact with other multilateral donors to which we contribute, such as the World Bank and the European Union Phare programme, to influence, monitor and co-ordinate activities. Through our membership of the EU we contribute approximately 15 per cent. of the Phare programme in Albania.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Scottish students at Scottish universities did not receive payment of grants awarded to them by the SAAS within (a) one week, (b) two weeks, (c) four weeks and (d) eight weeks of their course commencing; and for each figure, what percentage of Scottish students at Scottish universities this represents. [26055]

The table shows, in relation to Scottish students¹, the numbers of applications not processed' within the time parameters specified and the percentages of students this represents. It is important to recognise that these figures take no account of when individual applications were actually received by the Agency. The figures therefore do not indicate how long the Agency took to process applications, nor do they provide an accurate measure of the number and proportion of applications which were not processed within the Agency's target time.

Weeks after the start of courses	Number of applications from Scottish students not processed	Percentage of Scottish students
1	25,114	34.8
2	22,810	31.6
4	17,637	24.5
8	8,545	11.9
1For the purposes of this answer, Scottish students are defined as Scottish domiciled students in receipt of an award at a Scottish university.
2The information relates to the date of processing, rather than date of receipt of the payment, because the former is known while the latter can vary. (Students who did not receive their payments at the start of the academic year would receive their payment 3 to 4 days after processing).

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with Highland Council regarding their cost estimates for the establishment of a land information register in their region; and if he will make a statement. [34123]

The Government have had no specific discussions with Highland Council regarding the establishment of a land information register in its region, though we are aware of this initiative.The Land Register of Scotland operated by the Registers of Scotland Executive Agency is a modern map-based register of title, which gives details of ownership of properties which have been sold after individual counties become operational in the Register. It will be extended to all the counties of Scotland by 2003. In those areas for which Highland Council is the responsible authority, there already exists substantial ownership and other information available to the public in the Register of Sasines which is the national register of deeds and has recorded property transactions in Scotland since 1617.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what forecast his Department has made of the number of pre-school children in each of the next five years. [34019]

Estimated numbers of pre-school year children in each of the next five years are given in the table. These estimates are based on the Registrar General's latest (1996) mid-year population estimates and the 1996-based projected number of births produced by the Government Actuary's Department. These have been adjusted to show ages as at 28 February. No account has been taken of future deaths or migration, or of children whose entry into the pre-school session or primary one may be deferred.

Pre-school session	Number of pre-school year children1
1998–1999	61,371
1999–2000	59,303
2000–2001	59,559
2001–2002	58,283
2002–2003	58,107
1The figures for 1998–99 and 1999–2000 are based on the 1996 mid-year population estimates adjusted to show ages as at 28 February 1996. Figures for the remaining years are based on the 1996-based projected number of births and adjusted to 28 February. These adjustments are calculated by subtracting one third of the mid-year population at a specific age and adding in its place one third of the mid-year population one year older.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was spent per pupil at primary schools in Scotland in real terms in (a) 1979, (b) 1989 and (c) the most recent year for which figures are available. [34020]

The information is given in the table. 1995–96 is the latest financial year for which information is currently available. The figures, which are derived from local authority financial returns, do not include the cost of home to school transport, school meals, education authority central administration costs and loan charges.

£
Year	Amount
1979–80	1,203
1989–90	1,780
1995–96	1,866

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what studies his Department has commissioned to ascertain what amount of crime is drug-related in Scotland. [34017]

The Scottish Office commissioned research on "Heroin Use and Crime" by the Addictions Research Group of the University of Strathclyde, which was published in 1990. We are currently funding a collaborative study, which is being carried out at Ruchill Hospital, to assess whether methadone prescribing in Glasgow is associated with changes in drug injecting, crime, health and social functioning. The relationship between crime and substance misuse remains a priority area for future research.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those wards proposed under the Third Statutory Review of Electoral Arrangements which include electors in more than one parliamentary constituency; and if he will make a statement on the need for special arrangements to be adopted by returning officers to deal with elections at the same polling station on the same day. [34234]

The third Statutory Review of Electoral Arrangements is not yet complete. The information requested is not held centrally; however, inquiries are currently being made to see if this information can be obtained for those reports already submitted and 1 will write to my hon. Friend. Where local government and Parliamentary elections are held on the same day, returning officers will need to ensure that sufficient equipment and staff are provided for polling stations within the polling places designated by local authorities. Returning officers are entitled to recover any such costs under Section 15(4) of the Representation of the People Act 1985.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money was spent on (i) capital projects, (ii) training, and (iii) pension provision (a) by each police force and (b) in total, in each of the last three years; and what is the amount allocated for each of the forthcoming years for which plans have been made. [34704]

The information on capital and pensions expenditure for the last three years is set out in the tables. Expenditure figures for training by forces are not held centrally.

£000
	1994–95	1995–96	1996–97
Police capital expenditure
Central	1,883	1,446	1,514
Dumfries and Galloway	519	1,069	2,543
Fife	5,681	4,969	1,240
Grampian	2,495	4,127	2,756
Lothian and Borders	3,489	2,914	3,001
Northern	1,775	1,429	2,027
Strathclyde	7,880	9,801	12,708
Tayside	1,414	1,507	2,009
Total	25,136	27,262	27,798
Net expenditure on police pensions
Central	1,450	2,437	2,722
Dumfries and Galloway	1,470	1,535	1,535
Fife	2,897	3,080	4,574
Grampian	3,160	5,811	6,863
Lothian and Borders	10,010	12,384	14,683
Northern	2,725	2,749	3,404
Strathclyde	28,338	37,178	43,227
Tayside	4,806	6,267	6,917
Total	54,856	71,441	83,925

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of the external legal advice, based on two opinions by Patrick Elias QC, on the subject of the Jepson case and proposals to amend sex discrimination legislation; [34878](2) what external legal advice he has sought from persons with relevant expertise in Scotland on sex discrimination in relation to the Scotland Bill; and if he will list the persons consulted and make a statement on the advice received. [34880]

[holding answer 17 March 1998]: The Government do not ordinarily disclose the terms of legal advice and do not consider that it is appropriate to disclose any specific legal advice received in relation to the matters referred to in the question.

To ask the Secretary of for Scotland if he Will list the member of the Boundary Commission for Scotland. [35530]

I have reappointed Dr Charles M Glennic CBE and Professor Urlan A Wannop to the Boundary Commisson for Scotland from 1 January 1998 to 31 Deacember 1998.The other members of the Commission are:

:To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland When the revised Framework Document for the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency Will be published. [35531]

The revised Framework Document has been published today and a copy has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is his estimate of the cost of buildings refurbishment carried out by his Department in (a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97, (c) 1997–98 to date and (d) 1997–98 full year; and if he will make a statement. [26686]

[holding answer 5 February 1998]: The estimates detailed in the following table are for DfEE HO buildings only.

Year	£
(a) 1995–96	4,271,081
(b) 1996–97	4,195,382
(c) 1997–98 to date	2,255,263
(d) 1997–98 full year	2,507,281

All of the refurbishment work was part of the Department's long-term plan to ensure the operational efficiency of the offices concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is his estimate of the (a) annual cost and (b) total value of the empty properties owned by (i) his Department, (ii) his agencies and (iii) other public bodies for which he has responsibility, in (A) 1995–96, (B) 1996–97, (C) 1997–98 to date and (D) 1997–98 full year. [26684]

[holding answer 5 February 1998]: The following is a breakdown of costs and values:

£
Financial year	Property owner	(a) Costs	(b) Values
1995–96	DfEE HO	2,834,468	7,935,850
	Employment Service	8,600,000	4,100,000
	Other Public Bodies	444,000	272,000
Total		11,878,468	12,307,850
1996–97	DfEE HO	2,811,928	3,135,850
	Employment Service	7,900,000	3,600,000
	Other Public Bodies	445,000	847,000
Total		11,156,928	7,582,850
1997–98 to date	DfEE HO	see full year	see full year
	Employment Service	see full year	see full year
	Other Public Bodies	203,000	see full year
Total		203,000	see full year
1997–98 full year	DfEE HO	2,312,576	1,700,000
	Employment Service	6,100,000	4,800,000
	Other Public Bodies	418,963	430,000
Total		8,831,539	6,930,000

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will provide a breakdown of patterns of expenditure in 1998–99 on (a) young and (b) long-term unemployed participants in the New Deal by travel to work area or other suitable locality. [29689]

I have placed in the Library a list of the client volume planning assumptions for each New Deal unit of delivery which the Employment Service is using to plan provision for young unemployed people aged 18–24. However, actual take-up of each element of the New Deal for 18–24 year olds will be determined by the needs of individual clients, and it is not therefore possible to predict what the precise pattern of expenditure will be. Similarly, actual take-up of particular elements of provision will determine expenditure within the New Deal for long-term unemployed people aged 25 or over.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much of the windfall tax proceeds devoted to the New Deal will be used (a) to employ staff in the Employment Service, (b) to purchase computers or furniture for the Employment Service, (c) for advertising; (d) for employment of staff or purchase of furniture or equipment by TECs, (e) for pay in respect of New Deal participants and (f) for employment subsidies. [32789]

The windfall tax proceeds devoted to the New Deal programmes for unemployed people aged 18–24 and for long-term unemployed people aged 25 or over will provide help in making the move from benefit into work for the whole of this Parliament. Each programme will offer help to everyone who becomes eligible. Everyone who joins the New Deal for 18–24 year olds will receive help tailored to individual circumstances. Accordingly, total expenditure in each year will be determined by the number of people who actually join the programme and the precise pattern of help they require, and cannot be predicted in advance.A large part of the New Deal for 18–24 year olds will be delivered through partnership arrangements rather than by Employment Service (ES) staff. These arrangements are currently being finalised before the programme's national launch in April, and it is therefore not yet possible to determine the overall impact on ES staffing.Changes to the ES infrastructure in terms of accommodation, furniture and IT equipment will also depend on local delivery arrangements and their impact in each Jobcentre. Expenditure on each of these items will be known only when these plans are finalised and linked to the numbers of young people actually joining the programme.The New Deal programmes have a total marketing budget for the life of this Parliament of up to £24 million.As far as advertising is concerned the current programme of marketing to employers is aimed at raising interest to provide unsubsidised vacancies in the Gateway and subsidised places for the Employment Option. There will also need to be further advertising to launch the New Deal for those above 25 years of age as well as continuing to maintain employer involvement after the initial phase of interest. The amount of future advertising—over the life of the Parliament—will need to be assessed once we have established how much additional marketing is required to encourage further employer participation or to communicate other key New Deal messages. The TECs in many of the Delivery Units are working alongside the ES as key strategic partners. Where they take responsibility for managing some elements of the programme (such as one or more of the options) then they may need to employ staff and may even require some infrastructure investment. However, while the delivery arrangements are still being negotiated it is not possible to anticipate this impact.The fact that the New Deal programme is demand led and largely determined by client choices means that there is no fixed split between expenditure on employment subsidies and New Deal participants. This flexibility which New Deal clients will have is a very important feature of the programme and it means that expenditure on particular elements is difficult to forecast at the outset.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what estimate he has made of the cost of extending student loans to part-time students in (a) further and (b) higher education; [32822](2) what plans he has for further assistance for students in part-time education. [32823]

We agree with the Dearing Committee's recommendation that extending loans to part-time students in higher education should not be a priority. The Department estimates that the costs of extending loans to part-time students in higher education would be of the order of £350 million per year in the short term, depending on take-up. No estimates have been made of the costs of extending student loans to part-time students in further education.We do recognise the needs of part-time students and have taken positive steps to ensure that they are not financially disadvantaged. Students in higher education who are unfortunate enough to lose their jobs, through no fault of their own, will be able to have their fees remitted. Eligibility for Access Funds will be extended to part-time students in higher education from 1998–99. In addition, the Department for Education and Employment and the Department of Social Security are reviewing, as the Dearing Committee recommended, the interaction between benefit entitlement and part-time study.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what recent representations he has received from Her Majesty's Chief Inspector on the state of physical education and sport in schools; and when he expects next to receive a report on this matter. [34737]

Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools reports annually to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on the standards and quality of physical education and other subjects taught in schools. His Annual Report for 1996–97, published on 3 February, also reported on extra-curricular sporting activities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what recent representations he has received from teacher training institutions on the state of physical education and sport within the Initial Teacher Training Scheme. [34739]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he has taken to encourage schools to extend sporting opportunities outside school hours. [34220]

[holding answer 16 March 1998]: The Department works closely with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and with other agencies to provide a range of sporting opportunities within and beyond the school curriculum. The Government are also keen to encourage out of school hours clubs in schools and in other community premises, including sports clubs. We will shortly publish a national framework for out of school hours learning, which will acknowledge the valuable work already done to motivate young people and help them become more active learners, and suggest ways in which this can be developed. The New Opportunities Fund will administer £200 million of Lottery funding for out of school hours learning, including sporting activities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he has taken since I May 1997 to encourage greater co-operation between schools and local communities in sports matters. [34207]

[holding answer 16 March 1998]: Co-operation between schools and their communities is always important, and particularly so where such co-operation leads to the more effective use of resources and the development of school-community links. The Government will shortly publish a national framework for out of school hours learning, which will acknowledge the valuable work already done by schools and youth and community workers, as well as others, to motivate young people and help them become more active learners through a variety of different activities, including sport.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Ministerial visits to schools have taken place since 1 May indicating the number to (a) controlled schools, (b) integrated schools, (c) Catholic maintained schools and (d) voluntary grammar schools. [34416]

There. have been 13 Ministerial visits to schools since 1 May:

(a) controlled schools—8 visits

(b) integrated schools—2 visits

(c) Catholic maintained schools—2 visits

(d) voluntary grammar schools—1 visit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the amounts paid for the years 1994–95, 1995–96 and 1996–97 to the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools under paragraphs (a) 11, (b) 13, (c) 14 and (d) 15 of Schedule 8 of the Education Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 1989. [34415]

The information is as follows:

£
	1994–95	1995–96	1996–97
Paragraph 11	964,621	963,233	1,136,183
Paragraph 13	35,542	32,064	38,020
Paragraph 15 recurrent	1,204,000	1,257,975	1,465,000
Paragraph 15 capital	54,391	114,959	147,927

No grants are paid under paragraph 14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate she has made of the cost of financing tuition fees for the fourth year of study for Northern Ireland domiciled students studying at Scottish universities; and if she will make a statement. [34125]

[holding answer 12 March 1998]: The estimated cost is about £550,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list for each police division in Northern Ireland the number of (i) full-time and (ii) part-time RUCR officers. [34004]

[holding answer 12 March 1998]: The numbers of Full-Time and Part-Time Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve Officers in each Division as at 10 March 1998 are shown in the table:

Tally of RUCR FT and RUCR PT by financial division details as at 10 March 1998
Financial Division	R Con FT	R Con PT	Grand Total
A	229	196	425
B	378	45	423
D	358	270	628
E	376	198	574
G	163	142	305
H	232	29	261
J	145	110	255
K	161	17	178
L	263	104	367
N	235	23	258
0	179	60	239
P	115	109	224
S (HQ)	68	0	68
X (MSU)	68	0	68
Z (TRAINING)	29	0	29
Grand Total	2,999	1,303	4,302

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many meetings have been requested with his Department's Ministers by (a) Labour and (b) Conservative hon. Members; and how many meetings have been granted in each category. [31293]

It is not our normal practice to refuse requests for meetings with hon. Members although on occasions it has been suggested that a meeting would be either untimely or unnecessary, or should be held with a Minister other than the Minister to whom the request had been made.In addition to regular meetings with Ministerial colleagues our Departmental records show that Ministers have had meetings with the following numbers of hon. Members from the Labour and Conservative parties.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the cost of employee travel on office business, broken down into (a) fuel allowances, (b) unproductive time during travel, (c) other costs related to car transport and (d) costs related to public transport, for (i) 1994–95, (ii) 1995–96, (iii) 1996–97 and (iv) 1997–98. [32443]

[holding answer 3 March 1998]: The information is not held in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The only figures readily available relate to Motor Mileage Allowances paid to MOD Civilians using their private cars for official business during the financial year 1996–97. These amounted to £8.76 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the recent discussions on the millennium compliance of computer systems at the US Department of Defense at which his Department was represented; which other countries were invited or were represented; and what the outcome was. [33380]

The US Department of Defense hosted a meeting in Washington on 18 February 1998 to discuss the impact of the Year 2000 problem on interchange of Defence-related electronic information between Allied Nations and on equipment that is in common service with a number of Nations. In addition to the US and UK, Canada and Australia were also represented. It was agreed that a senior level steering group would be set up to review progress on ensuring that interconnections between Allied Nations were Year 2000 compliant, to ensure that Year 2000 modifications made to an equipment by a Nation were notified to other Nations using the same equipment and to consider the inclusion of "Year 2000 tests" within multinational military exercises.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the latest estimate of the cost of maintaining the British military presence in the Gulf. [34464]

The costs incurred to the end of February amounted to some £3 million. The current estimate of the total additional cost for the preparation, deployment and recovery of forces is £12 million, and an additional £0.5 million per month to maintain the forces while in theatre.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many loan service officers are currently stationed in (a) Qatar, (b) Oman, (c) Bahrain, (d) Kuwait and (e) the United Arab Emirates. [34711]

As at 12 March 1998, the total number of UK loan service personnel stationed in the countries listed was:

Country	Total
Qatar	0
Oman	102
Bahrain	1
Kuwait	58
UAE	11

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the Berlin Airlift. [34762]

I am glad to say that the courage of those who took part in the Berlin Airlift, and the success of the operation to sustain the people of Berlin and their freedom, will be celebrated by a series of events in Berlin over the summer.RAF bands will play at the traditional wreath laying ceremony and at various concerts. The Queen's Colour Squadron and aircraft from squadrons associated with the airlift will participate in events and ceremonies marking the 50th anniversary of the start of the airlift. The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Dakota will fly in the colours of a squadron that flew in the airlift.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the new evidence he has received concerning the involvement of a second aircraft in the crash of an Aer Lingus Viscount in the Irish Sea on 24 March 1968. [34809]

[holding answer 17 March 1998]: I have received no new evidence about the involvement of a second aircraft in the crash of the Aer Lingus Viscount in the Irish Sea on 24 March 1968.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received, and discussions he has had, concerning the Aer Lingus Viscount crash in the Irish Sea on 24 March 1968; and if he will undertake to discuss the matter with his counterparts in the Irish Government. [34812]

[holding answer 17 March 1998]: The Ministry of Defence has received a number of questions from the media and a letter from the Celtic League on this subject. I have not received representations from the Irish Government, but would be happy to respond if there were to be any.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the exercises in the Irish Sea on the day of the Aer Lingus Viscount crash in March 1968; if RAF or other aircraft participating in those exercises are recorded as having been lost; and if United Kingdom naval vessels picked up any person, dead or alive, from the Irish Sea on the day of the crash. [34881]

[holding answer 17 March 1998]: There is no indication of any UK military exercise in the Irish Sea on the day of the crash. No person, dead or alive, was picked up by British naval vessels in the Irish Sea on that day.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many recorded incidents of self-injury there were in each (a) public and (b) private prison in (i) 1995, (ii) 1996 and (iii) 1997. [32102]

[holding answer 2 March 1998]: The numbers of incidents of self harm reported by Prison Service establishments in the relevant years are set out in the table. There are a number of factors that are responsible for the uneven pattern of the figures in the table, across establishments and time.Local prisons, owing to their role as reception and allocation centres, tend, in general, to have to deal with more difficult prisoners, including those likely to self harm. Also a single prisoner can generate a large number of self harm incidents in any one year. The table shows that the rise in the number of incidents from 1994–95 to 1995–96 had been partly reversed in the following year.

Incidents of self harm 1994–95 to 1996–97 in prison service establishments directly managed
Establishment	1994–95	1995–96	1997–98
Acklington	27	20	23
Albany	7	4	11
Aldington	0	0	0
Ashwell	1	3	1
Askham Grange	0	5	4
Aylesbury	31	21	18
Bedford	14	0	18
Belmarsh	34	138	26
Birmingham	43	238	77
Blantyre House	0	0	0
Blundeston	13	10	24
Brinsford	237	301	157
Bristol	11	53	19
Brixton	24	53	19
Brockhill	0	1	11
Bullingdon	0	49	43
Bullwood Hall	126	312	0
Camp Hill	19	15	11
Cardiff	39	123	78
Castington	24	12	4
Channings Wood	14	17	10
Chelmsford	0	56	147
Coldingley	2	0	2
Cookham Wood	32	49	46
Dartmoor	47	44	47
Deerbolt	170	109	114
Dorchester	5	0	28
Dover	15	8	9
Downview	3	2	4