To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what estimate he has made of the current annual loss to the income stream resulting from the Ashford Great Park development project. [35147]

The Commissioners, like any investment organisation, have a spread of investments. At any one time there are many alternatives available. It is

£
	1995–96 (actual)	1996–97 (actual)	1997–98 (spend to date)	1997–98 (estimate)
Department for Culture, Media and Sport	304,632	448,931	429,396	460,000
Historic Royal Palaces Agency	506,000	296,000	225,000	258,000
Royal Parks Agency	771,986	819,551	356,644	581,000
Non-departmental public bodies	20,136,168	33,970,571	35,015,744	n/a

n/a = Not applicableConsultants contribute to the Department's output and efficiency by bringing in specialist skills and improving the Department's effectiveness.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received from (a) the public and (b) commercial broadcasters about the scale and cost of the BBC's promotion of (i) BBC channel services and its corporate image and (ii) the licence fee; and if he will make a statement. [34113]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received representations from three members of the public and from the Commercial Radio Companies Association about the BBC's promotion of its public service programmes. He has received a number of representations from members of the public about the BBC's promotion of the licence fee, but our records do not provide an exact figure. No representations on this subject have been received from commercial broadcasters.The Government believe that the BBC should be allowed restricted use of free airtime to promote the licence fee and its public service programmes, provided such promotion meets the requirements of fair competition. The use of such airtime informs licence fee payers of the range and type of public services available, assisting them to get full value from the licence fee. not realistic to put a hypothetical income stream on individual investments on the premise that they might have performed differently or different investments might have been preferred.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 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. [26626]

[holding answer 5 February 1998]: My Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies use consultants for a wide variety of tasks. The available expenditure information is given in the following table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if he will make a statement on the Government's policy towards the retention of the Elgin Marbles in the United Kingdom; [34024](2) if he will make a statement on the Government's policy towards the repatriation of antiquities from UK national museums and galleries to their country of origin; [34022](3) if the Government will make it their policy not to allow the Elgin Marbles to leave the custody of the British Museum. [34023]

It is for the Government's policy that the Parthenon sculptures should remain in the British Museum. More generally, the retention or disposal of objects in our national museums and galleries is a matter for the trustees of those institutions. However, the trustees can only dispose of objects within the scope of their statutory powers, and in many cases those powers limit trustees' discretion to the dispersal of articles which have become useless by reason of damage or are otherwise unsuitable for retention in the collection. The Government have no powers to intervene and no plans to change the law.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations the Government have received regarding the Elgin Marbles. [34025]

I regularly receive representations about the Parthenon sculptures. Most of these are from individual members of the public either directly or via their Member of Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list those parliamentary questions he has taken eight weeks or more to answer since 1 May 1997. [32714]

[holding answer 12 March 1998]: No parliamentary question tabled to this Department since 1 May 1997 has taken more than eight weeks to answer.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of GNP the construction industry represents in each OECD and EU country. [34243]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is Government policy not to concede taxation matters to qualified majority voting in the EU. [34171]

[holding answer 12 March 1998]: Decisions on tax are subject to Unanimity.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the estimated gross domestic product per head for (a) each United Kingdom nation, (b) each English region and (c) the UK, expressed in current prices, for (i) 1970, (ii)1979, (iii) 1989 and (iv) the last two years for which figures are available. [34877]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to recast GDP to take account of environmental factors. [35318]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what targets he has set Customs and Excise to assess their success rate in confiscating smuggled or bootlegged tobacco and alcohol; and if he will report their success in achieving these targets to Parliament annually. [34800]

For 1997–98 Customs planned to make detections of cross Channel smuggled excise goods worth £36.7 million in revenue. Results for the first 10 months (up to 31 January 1998) are £40.6 million.Customs publicise their achievements against plans in their Annual Report, copies of which are placed in the House of Commons Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to review the independence of independent financial advisers; and if he will make a statement. [35100]

None. That is a matter for the regulators.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his oral answer of 12 March 1998, Official Report, column 743, concerning continence products, what factors led the VAT Tribunal in July 1996 to rule that such products should be zero rated. [34889]

[holding answer 17 March 1998]: The factors which the Tribunal took into account were the precise terms of the individual contracts, and the arrangements under which the supplies actually took place. Based on that examination, the Tribunal decided that VAT relief applied in some cases, but not in others.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what position was taken by Her Majesty's Government during the Council of Ministers' discussion of the Court of Auditors' report on 9 March; what conclusions were reached by the Council of Ministers; and if he will make a statement. [34821]

[holding answer 17 March 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire (Ms Lawrence) on 12 March 1998, Official Report, column 319.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to respond to the Pre-Budget report from the Environmental Audit Committee, Session 1997–98, HC 547. [35027]

[holding answer 17 March 1998]: The Environmental Audit Committee's report on the implications of the Pre-Budget Report on environmental protection and sustainable development was published on 10 March. I expect to respond to the report within 2 months of that date.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy in respect of the environmental impact of his Budget. [35033]

[holding answer 18 March 1998]: The Financial Statement and Budget Report includes an environmental assessment of the Budget measures which will have a significant effect on the environment. The Government are committed, more generally, to ensuring that policy appraisal includes an assessment of the environmental impacts.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was his response to the request by the General Synod to lower the rate of VAT on repairs to historic and religious buildings. [35060]

[holding answer 18 March 1998]: The Chancellor has received no direct communication from the General Synod to lower the rate of VAT on repairs to historic and religious buildings, although he is aware that a resolution was passed by the Synod.A relief of the kind envisaged is not possible under European law.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he intends that the Resource Accounts to be produced by Government will include an evaluation of the present value of United Kingdom state pension liabilities; and when he intends that these accounts will first be published. [34697]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Paymaster General to the hon. Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton (Mr. Gibb) on 5 March 1998, Official Report, columns 718–19.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about his proposals for the design of the banknotes for the proposed European single currency. [34791]

The EMI is responsible for supervising the technical preparations of euro banknotes, in accordance with Article 109f(3) of the Treaty. The initial designs for euro banknotes were unveiled at the European Council in Dublin in December 1996. Final decisions on the technical specifications of euro banknotes will be taken by the ECB once it is established.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate he has made of the proportion of British businesses which account to six places of decimals; [35217](2) if British companies dealing with European companies which are using the euro will be required to change their accounting systems to use the triangulation method and six places of decimals. [35220]

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer that I gave on 12 March 1998, Official Report, column 309. Businesses accounting in euro do not need to follow the triangulation method, which only concerns the conversion from one national currency unit of a country participating in the single currency to the national currency unit of another such country. There is no requirement to account in euro to six significant figures.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what regulations there will be, after the exchange rates of the euro-participating currencies are locked in May, to prevent different prices, spreads or commissions in dealings in these currencies [35219](2) what decisions

Bilateral conversion rates between currencies of countries participating in the single currency will form the basis for the conversion rates between national currencies and the euro, in accordance with Article 1091(4) of the Treaty on 1 January 1999. These bilateral rates will be announced on 3 May 1998. There will be no regulations on spreads or commissions covering the period from 3 May 1998 to the start of stage three.Conversions from the euro unit to the national currency units of participating countries from 1 January 1999 and vice versa will be required to use the special conversion rate in accordance with council regulation (EC) No. 1103/97 of 17 June 1997.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Government plan to legislate to abolish the ecu. [35216]

No. The ecu, as referred to in Article 109g of the EC Treaty and defined in Council Regulation (EC) No 3320/94 of 22 December 1994, will become the single currency on 1 January 1999, in accordance with Article 1091(4) of the EC Treaty, and will be called the euro. Council Regulation (EC) No 1103/97 of 17 June 1997 which will be applicable in all member states, including the United Kingdom, provides confirmation that references to the Ecu in contracts and other legal instruments, including legislation, will be presumed to refer to the euro.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Government plan an Act of Parliament to legalise (a) the euro as a foreign currency and (b) the compulsory conversion of other European currency contracts into euros. [35215]

It is a rule of the conflict of laws, applied by courts in the various jurisdictions in the United Kingdom, that a foreign currency has the status accorded to it by the law governing that currency. Courts in the United Kingdom will therefore recognise the status that the euro will have under EC law, including Council Regulation 1103/97 of 17 June 1997 which confirms that references in contracts to national currencies replaced by the euro will be interpreted to refer to the euro. Domestic legislation will not be required in the United Kingdom.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give details of the Government's borrowing programme in 1998–99. [35689]

The Government have today published the 1998–99 Debt Management Report. This sets out the Government's debt management policy, reviews the Government's borrowing programme in 1997–98, and gives details of the Government's borrowing programme in 1998–99, including remits for the Debt Management Office and National Savings. This is the first remit for the UK Debt Management Office, which takes on responsibility for debt management from 1 April 1998, following the decision to transfer Government debt management responsibilities from the Bank of England to the Treasury. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) when he expects to reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire of 3 February on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Harradine; [35311](2) when he expects to reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire of 2 February on behalf of Ms Chetwood; [35326](3) when he expects to reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire of 2 February on behalf of Mr. Sandercock. [35319]

Interim replies have been sent today, and I will respond in more detail to the right hon. Member shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is her policy towards the funding of police training in Indonesia. [35046]

We are not funding any such training, and have no intention to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimates she has made of the impact of sanctions on (a) child mortality and (b) child malnourishment in Iraq since 1990. [34958]

The UK Government are not in a position to make reliable estimates of the impact of sanctions on Iraq. However, we take seriously disturbing reports from international humanitarian organisations suggesting that the people of Iraq are suffering deprivation and hardship.The issue is complex, given the many influences that bear upon the well-being of the population, of which sanctions are one. Numerous attempts have been made, e.g., under the auspices of the UN, to estimate the impact of sanctions on Iraq, but the findings are open to differences of interpretation. In addition, there are practical difficulties. UK missions to Iraq attempt to monitor the situation, but are currently restricted to the north of the country. We do not have independent access to Baghdad-controlled Iraq.

To ask the Minister without Portfolio what representations he has received from British theme park owners on the Millennium Dome project. [29864]

I have received representations from various organisations from the leisure industry, including theme park operators. The New Millennium Experience Company and I will continue to seek advice, as and when necessary, from a range of experts in this field.

To ask the Minister without Portfolio when he plans to provide the full details of the contents of the Millennium Experience. [31202]

On 24 February, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister presented an outline of the Dome's contents and details of seven zones. The New Millennium Experience Company will announce details of the remaining exhibits in due course.

To ask the Minister without Portfolio what assessment he has made of the risk of terrorist attacks on the Millennium Dome at Greenwich. [33993]

The New Millennium Experience Company have had discussions with the relevant bodies and agencies to ensure that security measures taken during construction and operation minimise this risk.

To ask the Minister without Portfolio how many works of art he estimates will be exhibited in the Millennium Dome. [34787]

The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) is currently considering its policy and strategy on displaying works of art within the Dome. It is therefore too early to say how many such works might be exhibited.

To ask the Minister without Portfolio what (a) the BAA, (b) the Corporation of London, (c) Tesco, (d) British Telecom, (e) BSkyB, (f) Manpower, (g) British Airways and (h) Camelot will receive in return for their sponsorship of the New Millennium Experience. [32231]

I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 9 March 1998, Official Report, column 59. Details of specific sponsorship arrangements between the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) and individual companies are subject to ongoing negotiations and contractual arrangements.

To ask the Minister without Portfolio how many bids he received for the staffing contract for the Millennium Experience; whether the contract was advertised in the Journal of the European Communities; and what the criteria were for a successful bid. [33835]

[holding answer 10 March 1998]: The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) have not placed any advertisements for the supply of operational staff at this stage.

To ask the Minister without Portfolio if he will list the new games which will be included in the Millennium Experience, indicating in each case (a) the expenditure by the New Millennium Experience Company on their development, (b) the rights acquired by the Company, and (c) the individuals, organisations or companies with which the Company has been associated. [34860]

The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) have not taken any final decisions about the inclusion or otherwise of new games within the individual exhibits.

To ask the Prime Minister how much his Department (a) has spent since 1 May and (b) is planning to spend on focus groups. [34969]

For the purpose of this answer, my office is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service, to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 5 March 1998, Official Report, columns 763–65.

To ask the Attorney-General what steps he has taken to encourage disclosure by freemasons in the Crown Prosecution Service; and if he will make a statement. [33790]

The Crown Prosecution Service, in conjunction with other interested parties, will now be taking forward implementation of the Government's response to the Home Affairs Committee.

To ask the Attorney-General what initiatives have been taken to reduce delays within the Crown Prosecution Service. [33781]

The Government are determined to tackle delays across the criminal justice system and have in hand a range of measures in the Crime and Disorder Bill. The Crown Prosecution Service is fully involved with the development of these measures which will reduce delay.

To ask the Attorney-General, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Nottingham, South, (Mr. Simpson) on 27 February 1998, Official Report, column 394, if he will review the convention that advice given by Law Officers is not disclosed outside Government. [33789]

The convention was considered during the preparation of the White Paper on Freedom of Information. The conclusion in the White Paper is that legal advice to Government from any source should not be covered by the proposed legislation. The Government believe that it is appropriate to continue to observe the convention.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the Department for International Development concerning the provision of aid to Kosovo. [34857]

I understand that officials from the Department for International Development (DFID) will be meeting with representatives of those British charities which are already active in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia today. The meeting will enable DFID officials to assess the current situation in Kosovo and its people's needs. I am further informed that the Department for International Development is currently funding Oxfam's work in providing a centre for disabled children and health education for rural women in Kosovo.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice on ethical issues is available from his Department to individuals, organisations and companies considering trade or investment projects in (a) Algeria, (b) North Korea, (c) Burma, (d) Indonesia, (e) Libya, (f) Colombia, (g) Syria, (h) Iraq, (i) Saudi Arabia and (j) China. [35043]

This Department, together with the DTI, provides advice on all aspects of doing business overseas, including relevant export controls and any commitments made by HMG regarding the application of the controls to the particular country concerned. This Department is ready to offer advice on ethical issues, and regularly provides advice on the political situation in particular markets, to companies considering or involved in trade overseas. This Department works with DTI and DfID to encourage all British companies to set the highest ethical standards in their overseas activities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the completion date of the accession negotiations relating to applicant countries for the EU; and if he will make a statement. [35098]

The Luxembourg European Council established a framework which will allow Cyprus and the ten applicant countries of Central Europe to join the EU as soon as they are ready. We shall launch accession negotiations with six of these countries on 31 March. The speed of each applicant's progress will depend on its preparations for membership. So it would be misleading to set any deadlines for the completion of accession negotiations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the matters in respect of Tibet which he raised with the Chinese Ambassador at their last meeting; and if he will make a statement. [35314]

The right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary did not discuss Tibet when he last met the Chinese Ambassador on 9 January. When he met Chinese leaders in Beijing on 19–20 January, he discussed the forthcoming EU Troika Ambassador's visit to Tibet, raised certain individual cases of concern and urged the Chinese authorities to enter into dialogue with the Tibetan people.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what procedures are in place to monitor Chinese adherence to treaties and agreements signed which have human rights considerations. [35315]

Amongst the United Nations human rights treaties, China has ratified the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD); the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC); the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW); and the Convention against Torture (CAT). States parties are required to submit periodic reports to the respective treaty monitoring bodies of the UN in respect of all of these. These monitoring bodies are responsible for examining states' adherence to their commitments under the treaties.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what factors he takes into account before deciding to what extent constructive engagement is likely to be bring about an improvement to the human rights situation in (a) China and (b) Tibet. [35316]

Since the resumption of the EU-China dialogue in October 1997, China has taken some positive steps towards closer cooperation with the UN's human rights mechanisms. In addition the EU and China have agreed a programme of assistance designed to improve China's human rights performance in concrete ways. We believe this approach is the best way to bring about real improvements in China, including Tibet.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish (a) the number of places on each of his Department's non-departmental public bodies, (b) the number of places that are currently unfilled on each non-departmental public body, (c) the total number of members that have resigned since 1 May 1997, (d) the total number that have retired since 1 May 1997, (e) the total number that have not had their contracts renewed since 1 May 1997, (f) the total number that have remained in place since 1 May 1997 and (g) the total number that have been appointed since I May 1997. [35276]

The FCO has responsibility for 7 Non Departmental Public Bodies: Marshall Aid Commemorative Committee (MACC), Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), Commonwealth Institute (CI), British Council (BC)', Britain Russia Centre (BRC)2, British Association for Central and Eastern Europe (BACEE)12, Great Britain China Centre—this has no public appointments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if there have been any new exceptions to the arms embargo on Argentina. [35500]

We have recently granted an exception to the embargo relating to the sale of spare parts for the Argentine icebreaker, the Almirante Irizar. This represents an exception but not a change to the embargo.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the United Kingdom will continue to impose an arms embargo on Afghanistan in line with the EU' s Common Position of 17 December 1996. [35501]

We remain committed to the EU arms embargo against Afghanistan which the UK interprets as covering all goods and technology entered on Part III to schedule 1 to the Export of Goods Order 1994, as amended.Following consultation with this Department and the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Trade and Industry recently approved a licence for the export of mine clearance equipment for use by the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Assistance to Afghanistan in its demining operations. The grant of this licence is for humanitarian purposes, and is consistent with the purpose of the embargo.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire of 19 January 1998, forwarded to him from the Home Office on 4 February, on behalf of Mr. Johnson. [35324]

A reply was sent to the right hon. Member on 17 March.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what factors determined which contact points were listed in the Partners in Europe pamphlet, "Resources and Contacts". [32963]

I have been asked to reply.The Department asked the Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges to provide details of contact points for the organisations which can provide schools with information and advice; and funding for developing European partnerships and projects.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what date he expects to halve the time from arrest to sentencing for persistent young offenders; what monitoring of timings is undertaken; what representations he has received concerning the definition of persistent young offenders; and if he will make a statement. [34683]

Halving the time between arrest and sentence for persistent young offenders is our top law and order priority, and we intend to achieve this objective as soon as possible. We have already encouraged all youth justice agencies to take action within the current statutory framework to tackle unnecessary delays, including establishing fast track arrangements for persistent young offenders.Ministers from all the relevant Departments joined my right hon. Friend and my right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor to promote this initiative and it is clear that real efforts are being made at a local level to respond. In addition, the Crime and Disorder Bill, currently before Parliament, includes a range of important measures to streamline the system, improve case management and provide for statutory time limits.Since coming to office, the Government have carried out a survey of persistent young offenders dealt with by the youth justice system in 1996. That survey indicated that in 1996 the average time between arrest and sentence for persistent young offenders was 142 days. The Government are committed to halving that figure to 71 days. To monitor progress towards that pledge, we are ensuring that systems are put in place to produce regular data on the time between arrest and sentence for persistent young offenders. During this month, we are contacting youth justice agencies to find out what progress has been made locally to tackle delays and to establish fast tracking arrangements for persistent young offenders.In response to the consultation paper "Tackling Delays in the Youth Justice System" we received 48 representations concerning the Government's proposed definition of persistent young offenders. Nine respondents welcomed the definition of persistent young offender. 25 respondents suggested that a range of different definitions of persistent young offender should be used, or that there should be no standard definition at all. Others commented more generally on the proposed definition. The definition is intended primarily for monitoring purposes, and is not intended to exclude others from being fast tracked. Local areas may use their discretion in deciding which additional cases to fast track, including spree offenders and others.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to prevent the sale of tobacco to those aged under 16 years. [34620]

The Government are keen to protect children from the dangers of smoking. A White Paper on tobacco control will be published later this year by the Department of Health, setting out a comprehensive strategy to tackle smoking, particularly among young people.It is illegal to sell tobacco to a person under the age of 16, whether or not he or she appears to be so. The Children and Young Persons (Protection from Tobacco) Act 1991 places the responsibility on the retailer to take steps to ensure that the individual is aged 16 or over before the sale is made. If in doubt, the retailer should ask for identification. Guidelines were issued to local authorities in 1992 on the application of the Act, including particular types of enforcement activity. Local authority enforcement of the Act is the responsibility of local trading standards officers.We are monitoring the effectiveness of the Act. In 1996 (the latest year for which figures are available) there were 140 prosecutions of individuals and companies, 119 of which resulted in findings of guilt.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what regulations govern the placing of CCTV cameras on private property such that passage along a public footpath is monitored. [35317]

The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 grants a general planning permission for the installation, alteration or replacement of closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras on shops, flats, houses and other buildings, subject to specified limits on size and numbers. Planning applications are required for development proposals above the limits specified in the Order. Listed building consent may also be required for the installation of a CCTV camera on a listed building.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will allow those asylum applicants whose claims have remained undecided for 10 years or more to remain in the UK exceptionally. [35714]

Whilst each asylum claim is considered on its individual merits, it has been a long-standing practice (since the early 1990s) to consider the grant of exceptional leave, on account of the length of stay here, in those asylum cases where a decision had not been taken seven years after the application was made. There are criteria for considering such cases and the grant of exceptional leave is not an automatic outcome. We will publish the relevant guidance to caseworkers shortly and a copy will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to amend the law in relation to rape. [33788]

The Government keep the law on rape under review to ensure that it is effective in punishing and deterring crime and is fair to victims.A wide ranging inter-departmental review of the way in which vulnerable and intimidated witnesses are treated by the criminal justice system is currently being conducted. Amongst other things, this review is looking at ways to prevent unrepresented defendants from personally cross-examining victims in rape and other serious sexual offence cases, curbs on cross-examining victims about their previous sexual history and the more widespread use of the power to hear similar fact trials together as well as other measures to assist vulnerable or intimidated witnesses, including victims of rape. The review is nearing completion and we will be considering its recommendations very carefully.In addition, the Home Office has commissioned a research study to discover what factors influence whether or not a recorded rape leads to a conviction and whether such factors have changed since a similar study of 1985 cases. This arises from concern that despite a significant increase in the number of reported rapes, the proportion of convictions have declined. The final report of this study will be available later this year. The Government will consider whether changes to the law are required in the light of these research findings.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 16 March 1998, Official Report, column 514, for what reasons it was never intended that the Teesside University Criminology Department's research on anti-drugs campaigns should be published. [35289]

The research was commissioned to inform the development of local prevention activities of the then Newcastle Drug Prevention Team and other local agencies and the report includes the account of interviews which the research team carried out on a confidential basis. I shall, however, write to my hon. Friend with a summary of the report's recommendations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has evaluated on the extent to which anti-drug campaigns lead to (a) increased and (b) decreased levels of drug use. [35290]

Emerging evidence from work done by the Home Office Drug Prevention Initiative suggests that information can play an important part in drugs prevention when it is tailored to a specific local audience and linked with other ventures.The Department of Health contracted the Health Education Authority to carry out a national publicity campaign between 1995 and 1998 to raise awareness of the risks associated with drug misuse. This includes provision for evaluation which should be available towards the end of this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to make a decision following the adjudicator's recommendation in the case of Mrs. Beatrice Day of 24 Garlick Rea, Brixham; and if he will make a statement. [34959]

A decision was made on 17 February 1998. I am now having it reviewed in the light of the hon. Member's representations and will write to him in due course when representations on this matter have been given full and proper consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to reply to the hon. Member for Walsall, North in respect of his letter of 16 February regarding a constituent. [35134]

I replied to my hon. Friend on 16 March 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he anticipates that the first payments of £1,000 for the purchase of books under the National Year of Reading will be made to schools in Scotland. [32798]

[holding answer 3 March 1998]: The policy to which the right hon. Member refers relates to schools in England only. I have made separate arrangements reflecting the circumstances that exist in Scotland. On 8 March I announced that grants totalling £400,000 were being made available to education authorities as part of the Early Intervention Initiative. This will enable the purchase of additional reading materials to help reading in primary schools and boost their supply of books in the approach to the National Year of Reading.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the reports that he has received from the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland arising from the third statutory review of electoral arrangements for local council areas; and when he expects to receive reports for the remaining areas. [34233]

To date the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland has submitted reports on two council areas, namely Angus and East Lothian. We expect it to submit reports for all other authorities within the next few months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what assessment he has made of the effect of the use of split-ticket voting in the election for a Scottish Parliament under the provisions of the Scotland Bill on the objectives of Government policy as set out in the White Paper, Scotland's Parliament (Cm 3658); [34582](2) what measures he is taking to prevent or discourage split-ticket voting in the elections for the Scottish Parliament in 1999. [34583]

[holding answer 16 March 1998]: It will be for the electorate to decide how they wish to use their votes in the elections to the Scottish Parliament and it would be pointless to speculate on whether voters may cast their votes for different parties. Ultimately, it is for the political parties to persuade voters to cast both their votes for the same party.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list planned expenditure on hospitality for April and May, indicating the date, location and purpose of each event. [35125]

The main events planned for April and May are a reception in Edinburgh Castle on 3 April for key overseas delegates attending the Royal College of Nursing International Research Conference in Edinburgh; a reception in Bute House on 7 April to mark the 10th Edinburgh International Science Festival; a reception in Stirling Castle on 16 April for delegates attending a Scottish Office and Department for Education and Employment conference on EU Language Learning; and a reception in Edinburgh Castle on 13 May for delegates attending the Annual Meeting of the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland. The total cost of these events is estimated at £7,000. It is not, however, possible to provide a comprehensive estimate of total expenditure on hospitality as some events will not be finalised until nearer the time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to increase public access to Forestry Commission land; and if he will make a statement on the future of the moratorium on large-scale sales of Forestry Commission land. [35835]

We have made it clear that we are determined to increase public access to the countryside, including woodlands. As Britain's largest landholder, and as the country's largest single provider of outdoor recreation, the Forestry Commission has an important role to play in this; one of its key objectives is the development of opportunities for woodland recreation.We are still considering the Commission's future activities as part of its Comprehensive Spending Review. Nevertheless, we have agreed that in the coming year the Commission should offer to buy suitable areas of land where it can provide additional public access and recreation facilities, especially in the National Forest, the Community Forests and the Central Scotland Forest. In addition, we wish to ensure that as many of the Commission's woods as possible are open to the public, and so the Commission will also offer to buy out freeholds where the leases currently restrict access to its existing woods.The Forestry Commission, like any large landowner, needs to be able both to buy and to sell land in order to manage its estate efficiently and effectively, and to carry out its activities within its budgetary provision.For the coming year, therefore, while the moratorium on large scale sales of forest land will stay in place, the Commission will be able to sell a small amount of land which is surplus to its requirements. This will include agricultural land, unplantable land, and relatively small and isolated blocks of forest land which do not make a significant contribution to the Commission's objectives. Areas of forest land which are important for public access will not be sold unless an access agreement is in place. The Commission will also be prepared to sell areas for development where this is in the public interest.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the expenditure incurred by the former Dumfries and Galloway Regional Council after severe weather in early 1996, and for Moray Council as a result of flooding in July 1997; and if he will make a statement. [35836]

I am glad to announce that Dumfries and Galloway Council is eligible for a payment of £136,553 under the Bellwin Scheme. The Scheme was triggered twice in 1996, firstly for severe weather in late December 1995 and early January 1996 for the whole of Scotland, and again in February 1996 for heavy snowfalls in the Dumfries and Galloway region alone. The Council's costs were in clearing main roads of snow to keep key communications open and in decanting motorists to temporary shelter.I am also pleased to announce that we have decided that Moray Council is eligible for a payment of £623,206 under the Bellwin Scheme. The Scheme was triggered in July 1997 for severe flooding in the Moray area. For the most part this payment will reimburse the council for the costs of providing alternative accommodation for evacuees made homeless by the flooding and for addressing the immediate effects of flood damage to roadways, footpaths and bridges.Both Councils' claims have been subject to detailed scrutiny.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to reduce waiting lists in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [35529]

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on Tuesday 17 March 1998, Official Report, column 1112, that additional funds would be allocated to the National Health Service including £44.5 million in Scotland specifically aimed at tackling the problem of waiting lists.We shall be allocating £20 million of that money at the beginning of April to Health Boards in Scotland with a request that they should draw up comprehensive plans for tackling waiting lists. The initial priority will be to tackle the number of people waiting for in-patient treatment, but I shall also expect them to look at out-patient referrals.In order to push forward this work, I shall be appointing a Support Force under the Chairmanship of Mr. Tom Divers, General Manager, Lanarkshire Health Board and including as members Mr. Douglas Harper, Medical Director, Falkirk and District Royal Infirmary NHS Trust; Mrs. Lesley Summerhill, Director of Nursing, Dundee Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; Dr. Erik Jespersen, General Practitioner, Oban; and Mr. Dermot McKeown, Consultant Anaesthetist, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh NHS Trust. The Support Force will be asked to review the plans to be submitted by Health Boards, to pursue particular problem areas, to monitor the progress of Health Boards and Trusts towards reducing waiting lists and to identify and disseminate good practice in managing waiting lists wherever possible.Of the remaining resources, £4.5 million will be retained as moneys to be paid to Trusts which perform well and achieve their targets quickly and efficiently. The money would be available for purchases of equipment and other facilities in line with strategic requirements for the Trust.The remaining £20 million will be used to fund particular initiatives or resolve particular problems identified by the Support Force which require additional funding, and to influence more strategic change in service delivery to achieve long-term reductions in waiting lists.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what programmes his Department has initiated since 1 May 1997 to explore the opportunities for wood recycling and to broaden the use of wood as a recyclable raw material. [33887]

The Government are keen to see an increase in the amount of waste which is recycled, and are exploring measures to increase collection of recyclable materials and to stimulate and develop the market for recycled goods generally. The Construction Directorate of my Department invests around £4.4 million in a programme of research and innovation aimed at improving the environmental performance of the construction industry and the industry's contribution to sustainable development. One of the initiatives in this area is directed at increasing the usage of renewable materials (mainly timber) in construction. As part of the programme my Department has recently started to fund a project in collaboration with industry which aims to encourage the adoption of best practice in wood residue management by the UK timber industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assumptions the Government have made in their calculations concerning the reduction of greenhouse gases about the growth in air traffic during the next 20 years; and if it is Government policy that other industry sectors shall have to make disproportionate reductions in their greenhouse gas emissions to accommodate the projected increase in air traffic. [34129]

Air traffic is forecast to grow at around 5–6 per cent. per year between 1996 and 2015. The amount of fuel used is expected to increase by about 3–4 per cent.The Government are developing a balanced package of measures to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. They expect all sectors, including aviation, to play their part in meeting their climate change targets.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the potential for date-related problems with the Global Positioning Satellite (a) during 1999 and (b) at the turn of the century; how they are being resolved; and if he will make a statement. [34508]

As the Global Positioning System (GPS) is a US military system, date-related problems with it are primarily a matter for the US Department of Defense. The US GPS Joint Program Office has issued advice about 1999 (known as the GPS End of Week (EOW) rollover issue) and Year 2000 date-related issues. The US maintains that there are no problems with the system but the timing mechanism within GPS satellites may cause a problem with some older generation GPS civil receivers. Although manufacturers are aware of the problems and have taken, or are taking, action to remedy them, users are recommended to check with the manufacturer of the equipment that they own or use.In the UK, as precautionary measures, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Marine Safety Agency (MSA—as from 1 April 1998 the Maritime and Coastguard Agency) are planning to issue advice to the aviation and maritime communities. The CAA is planning to publish an Airworthiness Notice specifically on the 1999 EOW rollover issue and is considering the dissemination of further advice on the Year 2000 issue. The MSA is planning to publish a Marine Guidance Note on issues relating to the Year 2000 and this will include advice about both GPS date-related issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish his Department's evaluation of the Bristol scheme for allowing motorcycles to use bus lanes. [34248]

The Transport Research Laboratory undertook a short video survey of the Bristol scheme for the then Department of Transport in 1996. This was of course early in the life of the project. The report of this survey was not published at the time, but I have now asked the Laboratory to make it available. A copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will undertake a fully monitored experiment to assess the advantages of allowing motorcycles to use bus lanes. [34247]

If a local traffic authority were to come forward with a proposal for such an experiment, my Department would be interested in assisting with the monitoring.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what factors he will take into account when assessing the advantages of extending the use of tachographs to (a) drivers and (b) vehicles other than those already covered by regulations; [34334](2) if he will assess the advantages of tightening the regulations to limit the number of hours per day that a professional courier may drive a vehicle. [34333]

We shall be considering the practical and legal implications of bringing some or all of the types of vehicle operation currently subject to the United Kingdom national rules on drivers' hours within the scope of the European Union rules. Such a change would require primary legislation and we would consult operators and their employees before making it. Any change would need to strike a reasonable balance between road safety and operational flexibility. Subject to the outcome of any consultation, it is unlikely that we would extend the requirement to fit tachographs to vehicles of less than 3.5 tonnes.There is also the possibility that European Union proposals to extend limits on working time to the road transport sector will apply to vehicles of less than 3.5 tonnes. The aim will be to ensure that workers are protected against adverse effects on their health and safety caused by working excessively long hours, inadequate rest or disruptive working patterns. We expect an initial proposal on working time in road transport from the European Commission later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what is the size of the smallest vehicles that are presently required to use tachographs; [34331](2) what regulations presently limit the number of hours per day that a professional courier may drive a vehicle, other than those covered by tachograph regulations. [34332]

The European Union regulations which require the fitting and use of tachographs apply to most vehicles used for the carriage of goods where the maximum permissible gross weight of the vehicle, including any trailer, exceeds 3.5 tonnes. Separate UK national legislation contained in Part VI of the Transport Act 1968, as amended, applies to those categories of goods vehicle which are exempt from the European Union regulations but it does not require the fitting of tachographs.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what penalties apply to employers who require employees to drive small vehicles for an unreasonably long period of time in a 24 hour period. [34335]

Part VI of the Transport Act 1968, as amended, details the infringements and penalties that can be incurred on conviction for a drivers' hours related offence. Where it can be proven that an employer caused or permitted an employee to break the drivers' hours rules, that employer is liable to a maximum fine of £2,500 (level 4).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the number of rural railway stations that closed (a) nationally and (b) in Shropshire for each year between 1979 and 1997. [34270]

We do not have station closure statistics broken down into rural and non-rural categories. However, the table gives the total number of railway stations closed between 1979 and 1997.

Year	Stations closed (nationally)	Stations closed (Shropshire)
1979	—	—
1980	—	—
1981	6	—
1982	—	—
1983	16	—
1984	1	—
1985	7	1
1986	7	—
1987	1	—
1988	2	—
1989	9	—
1990	2	—
1991	3	—
1992	3	—
1993	2	—
1994	3	—
1995	5	—
1996	1	—
1997	1	—

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent discussions his Department has had with the Environment Agency regarding emissions from the National Power Drax Power Station; and if he will make a statement. [34242]

The Environment Agency has advised my officials that the flue gas desulphurisation ("FGD") equipment at Drax is currently out of action following the discovery of cracks in the FGD fans. As a consequence, National Power has applied to the Environment Agency for variation of its Integrated Pollution Control authorisation to increase the limit on the power station's sulphur dioxide emissions. The Agency is considering the application and has advised my officials that there will be a public consultation upon it, commencing with a public meeting on 19 March.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what undertakings he has received from First Group concerning their future intentions for North Western train services in Lancashire. [34462]

Following the offer by First Group PLC to buy out the other shareholders of Great Western Holdings Ltd, the Franchising Director has secured a package of passenger benefits and investments which include, for the North Western Trains network: £1 million to be spent on additional passenger benefits, following consultation with the local Passenger Transport Executives, passengers' representatives and other interested bodies as to what the money should be spent on; CCTV cameras to be fitted to the 70 new trains North Western Trains are providing as part of their franchise commitments; and £100,000 to be spent on providing wheelchair access at core stations by the time that the new trains are introduced.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the contributions made by each of the train operating companies to British Transport Police in each of the last two years and their required level of contribution; and if he will make a statement. [34755]

The payments required from the train operating companies for the financial years 1996–97 and 1997–98 to the British Railways Board for the provision of services by the British Transport Police are provided in the table. In 1996–97 the required payments were received. No arrears are expected for 1997–98.

£ million
	1996–97	1997–98
LTS Rail	0.8	0.8
Connex South Eastern	3.7	3.8
Connex South Central	3.0	3.0
Thameslink	1.3	1.3
South West Trains	4.0	4.1
Great North Eastern Railway	2.1	2.2
Virgin West Coast	2.6	2.6

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will remove the presumption in favour of granting planning applications which is currently enjoyed by applicants to local planning authorities. [34760]

Planning Policy Guidance Note 1, 'General Policy and Principles', explains that

'Owners of land and property properly expect to be able to use or develop their land as they judge best unless the consequences for the environment or the community would be unacceptable.'

The Planning system seeks to strike the right balance between the interests of those wishing to undertake development and the wider community through the 'plan led' system. Under section 54A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, planning applications must be decided in accordance with development plans produced by local authorities, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. We have no proposals to change this presumption in favour of the development plan.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the work to date of his Department's Sustainable Development Unit. [34990]

The Sustainable Development Unit was set up within ETR in July 1997. It provides advice on sustainable development matters to all parts of DETR and to other Departments. It provides support for the network of Green Ministers and is the focal point for Government contact with the Environmental Audit Committee. It has taken the lead in the consultation, launched on 4 February, which will lead to a new sustainable development strategy; in producing, jointly with the Local Government Association and the Local Government Management Board, the guidance "Sustainable Local Communities for the 21st century", published on 14 January; in preparing Policy Guidance on Environmental Appraisal, to be published very shortly; in responding to the third annual report of the Government Panel on Sustainable Development (published on 18 December) and the second annual report of the UK Round Table on Sustainable Development published on 23 February; and in negotiating for the UK on the UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what criteria, with reference to advertising experience, are applied to the appointment of Public Carriage Office employees. [34947]

The appointment of Public Carriage Office staff is an administrative matter for the Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police to whom the Secretary of State's London taxi licensing function has been delegated.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what appeals process is available on decisions taken by the Public Carriage Office not to allow advertisements on licensed taxi vehicles. [34946]

The Public Carriage Office will review any decisions when requested to do so by the advertiser or advertising agency concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the Public Carriage Office's policy on licensed taxi advertising in London; and if he will review this policy. [34945]

The Public Carriage Office consider applications for advertisements against the criteria set out in their publication "Advertising On Licensed London Taxis. Consolidated Guidelines". I have no plans to review the matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will assess the impact of wage levels in the bus industry in London on the provision of bus services; and if he will make a statement. [34948]

No. The provision of bus services in London is the responsibility of London Transport.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of the growth rate of traffic on child pedestrian death rates. [34040]

[holding answer 16 March 1998]: The death rate for children aged 0–15 has gone down by 66 per cent. between 1981–1985 and 1996. Over the same period the volume of traffic on the road has increased by 38 per cent. Although children are now walking less, there appears to have been an overall reduction in the rate of child pedestrian accidents in that period.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what contributions have been or are being made by his Department towards (a) the water authority responsibilities of the Council of the Isles of Scilly and (b) the operation of South West Water. [34792]

The Water Industry Act 1991 provides for the Secretary of State to pay grant to water and sewerage undertakers, in certain limited circumstances, in respect of the provision of their services. In 1997–98 grants totalling £196,963 have been made to South West Water to help safeguard their water supplies and sewerage services and to help defray the expenses of providing first time water and sewerage services in rural areas. The Department does not make contributions to the Council of the Isles of Scilly, but does make available Supplementary Credit Approvals enabling them to finance capital expenditure on their water and sewerage functions. The Department has issued an Approval of £41,500 in the current financial year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the number of bus routes in Shropshire for each year since 1979. [34869]

My Department does not collect this information in the form requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much his Department plans to spend on focus groups. [34978]

The Department does not make a forward plan for focus groups. Focus groups are commissioned within the Department to research specific issues as the need arises.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate his Department has made of the number of miles of hedgerow removed by farmers since the enactment of the Hedgerows Regulations 1997. [34938]

The information requested is not available. We are considering, in consultation with representatives of local government, what information should be collected centrally in relation to the operation of the Hedgerows Regulations 1997.A survey of hedgerow stock will be undertaken this year as part of the Countryside Survey 2000. This will provide a basis for analysing changes which have occurred since the last comparable survey, which covered the years 1990 to 1993.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the number of rail projects that have been affected by the sale of British Rail land since 1 May. [35029]

[holding answer 17 March 1998]: While a number of promoters of schemes have lobbied the Department in respect of planned rail projects using surplus land that British Rail has put up for sale, we are not aware of any case in which a firm proposal has been prevented solely by the sale of that land.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what level of capital receipts is anticipated in 1997–98 from the sale of land held by British Rail; what was the estimated level of receipts in respect of 1997–98; and if he will make a statement. [35030]

[holding answer 17 March 1998]: The level of capital receipts anticipated in 1997–98 from the sale of land held by British Rail is £75 million. The estimated budget at the beginning of the year was £78 million.