To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 12 March 1998, Official Report, column 261, if he will enable the Drinking Water Inspectorate to seek financial authorisation for water companies from Ofwat to enable water companies to carry out remedial works which will prevent a breach of standards before that breach occurs. [35299]

It is the duty of water companies to supply drinking water which complies with the Water Quality Regulations. The financial regime operated by Ofwat already allows companies money to maintain their systems at the levels required to meet current water quality standards. Allowing companies further money for such works would not be appropriate. If unforeseen circumstances arise, or new standards are introduced which result in water companies needing to carry out works or install new treatment plant, the mechanism already exists for this expenditure to be certified as necessary by the DWI and taken into account by Ofwat in the next price review.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the Suzy Lamplugh Trust's Secure Stations Initiative; and if he will make a statement. [35127]

The Suzy Lamplugh Trust has worked with the Department in the development of the Secure Stations initiative which we will be launching shortly. We are also aware of a research project put forward by the Trust into Safety at Stations for Disabled People with North West Trains but we understand that it is not yet underway. We greatly value the work of the Trust in these and other areas of personal security in public transport.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what are the outstanding arrears for each London borough with respect to (a) domestic rates, (b) community charge, (c) council tax and (d) rents. [35211]

Information on outstanding arrears with respect to domestic rates is not available.Information on community charge and cumulative council tax arrears for local authorities is not collected centrally. However, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) regularly publishes estimates for individual authorities. The information shown is provisional and relates to the position at 31 March 1997, and will be available in its Revenue Collection Statistics 1996–97 publication which is expected to be available from May 1998.The information collected on rent arrears for English authorities is based on the cumulative total of rent arrears at the end of the financial year, and is reported to the Department on Housing Subsidy Claim returns.

			Rent arrears
	Community charge Arrears1 outstanding at 31.3.97 £000	Council tax Arrears 1 outstanding at 31.3.97 £000	Cumulative Arrears 1 outstanding at 31.3.97 £000	Arrears as a percentage pf rent roll for 1996–97 per cent
London
Corporation of London	n/a	n/a	313	4.7
Inner London
Camden	6,087	13,231	7,921	8.8
Greenwich	7,454	7,186	14,772	17.5
Hackney	2,080	27,395	35,087	30.1
Hammersmith and Fulham	4,800	8,618	5,786	12.6
Islington	n/a	n/a	16,854	15.6
Kensington and Chelsea	21,314	3,289	2,422	8.7
Lambeth	54,314	41,426	30,186	26.0
Lewisham	25,261	16,469	9,007	10.8
Southwark	24,608	13,508	23,500	16.7
Tower Hamlets	24,841	25,128	4,278	4.9
Wandsworth	29	7,857	5,679	8.4
Westminster	5	3,797	3,041	5.8
Outer London
Barking and Dagenham	845	2,100	1,949	3.6
Barnet	8,952	8,731	1,167	3.1
Bexley	1,989	1,680	795	3.3
Brent	19,927	13,198	13,500	24.4
Bromley	1,649	2,933	30	0.0
Croydon	3,604	9,793	2,907	5.4
Ealing	n/a	n/a	10,549	20.3
Enfield	2,661	10,828	3,054	7.1
Haringey	10,948	23,393	13,715	22.3
Harrow	n/a	n/a	912	4.2
Havering	2,221	3,581	893	2.9
Hillingdon	n/a	n/a	981	2.3
Hounslow	14,046	7,789	3,659	8.4
Kingston upon Thames	708	1,630	667	3.7
Merton	4,265	3,981	1,149	4.2
Newham	23,427	214,898	6,126	10.2
Redbridge	2472	24,722	859	3.8
Richmond upon Thames	2,376	2,422	1,243	5.8
Sutton	590	1,224	1,592	6.1
Waltham Forest	8,478	11,949	4,442	11.2
1Comparisons of amounts of arrears can be misleading as authorities' figures reflect decisions about when to write off arrears, and the amounts of debts originally debited.
2 Where 31 March 1997 information is not available, the previous year's figures (where available) have been substituted.
3 Local authority has made a large scale transfer of dwellings to a Housing Association.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which substitutes for Chrysotile the EU Scientific Committee on Toxicology, Ecotoxicology and the Environment identified on 11 February as being more hazardous than Chrysotile. [35300]

The report the European commission presented to its Scientific Committee included a review of the main substitutes for white asbestos such as polyvinyalcohol, para-Aramid and cellulose fibres. The Scientific Committee's interim opinion was that insufficient evidence had been provided to justify a conclusion that substitute fibres had been proven to be safer. The Committee did not conclude they were more hazardous. Nor did it argue that the categorisation of Chrysotile Asbestos as a category 1 carcinogen was wrong.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with countries that have bans on Chrysotile concerning the lifting of such bans on the basis of the report by the EU Scientific Committee on Toxicology, Ecotoxicology and the Environment. [35301]

There have been no discussions whatsoever about lifting existing bans on white asbestos.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many members there are on the EU Scientific Committee on Toxicology, Ecotoxicology and the Environment; and how many of them are specialists in asbestos-related illness. [35302]

There are 15 members of the European Commission's Scientific Committee on Toxicology, Ecotoxicology and the Environment. Members are appointed by the European Commission as independent specialists. I understand that the European Commission considered the range of expertise necessary in making its appointments.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what toxicological effects other than those of Chrysotile were considered at the 11 February meeting of the EU Scientific Committee on Toxicology, Ecotoxicology and the Environment; and if he will make a statement. [35303]

The European Commission's Scientific Committee on Toxicology, Ecotoxicology and the Environment has a wide remit. The meeting on 9 February considered several issues in addition to white asbestos and its substitutes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish figures on Government investment in social housing, giving the numbers of beds for each year since 1994–95 in (a) London and (b) the United Kingdom. [35128]

Investment by Registered Social Landlords in new social housing in England is funded by the Housing Corporation through its Approved Development Programme (ADP) and by local authorities under the Local Authority Social Housing Grant (LASHG) scheme.The table shows the number of new social homes approved under these programmes in London and England

in each year since 1994/95 together with the number of people they can accommodate. Additional social lettings are also provided through grants to tenants to help them buy a new home and vacate their existing dwelling for reletting, and the Housing Corporation's Do-It-Yourself Shared Ownership scheme for tenants (DIYSO). The social lettings provided by these home ownership schemes are not included in the figures.

	1994/95		1995/96		1996/97
	ADP	LASHG	ADP	LASHG	ADP	LASHG
London
Units	11,064	2,379	8,025	1,876	10,279	1,434
Persons	36,640	8,713	28,06	27,034	37,126	5,448
England
Units	46,196	17,155	29,789	11,736	41,176	10,763
Persons	164,327	63,061	105,256	41,763	148,970	39,947

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will make a statement on his policy on aircraft noise nuisance; [35400](2) if it is his policy to continue to reduce aircraft noise after 2002. [35399]

The Government's policy is to minimise the impact of airports on the environment while ensuring that land use planning and conservation policies take account of the economic benefits of maintaining a strong and competitive British airline industry and providing sufficient airport capacity where it is economically and environmentally justified. This necessarily involves striking a balance between the needs of an efficient aviation industry, providing jobs and serving the local, regional and national economy and the need to minimise the impact on the environment and the communities around airports. There has been a substantial improvement in the noise climate around Heathrow over the past two decades, which has been accelerated since 1990 by the compulsory progressive phase-out of Chapter 2 jet aircraft, a process due to be completed by 31 March 2002. While this makes the securing of further improvement all the more challenging, the Government are committed to doing everything practicable to ensure that the noise climate around the airport continues to improve after 2002. We have given local people around Heathrow an additional commitment to take all practicable steps to prevent a deterioration in the noise climate after the Chapter 2 phase-out is complete.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how often he meets the BAA and airline representatives to discuss aircraft noise from planes using Heathrow Airport. [35398]

DETR Ministers meet with airline representatives and BAA plc from time to time to discuss a wide range of matters, including the nuisance caused by aircraft landing and taking off at Heathrow.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what plans he has to ensure that water companies meet their water leakage targets and maintain enough water pressure for fire fighting; [35388](2) what statutory obligations are placed on water companies to maintain adequate water pressure for fire fighting; [35387](3) which water companies in respect of which areas have reduced the mains water pressure since 1991. [35386]

Water companies continually monitor and alter the water pressures in their systems to meet prevailing circumstances in their areas. Under section 65 of the Water Industry Act 1991, water companies have a duty to ensure that water in mains which serve domestic properties or have fire hydrants fixed on them will normally be supplied at sufficient pressure to reach the top most storey of every building within their area. The Director General of Water Services has a duty to ensure that companies meet these provisions of the 1991 Act. Where water companies reduce pressure as one means of reducing leakage, they must still meet the requirements of the Act.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what is (a) the average pressure in water supplies made available to the London Fire Brigade by Thames Water and (b) the (i) optimal and (ii) minimum required level for operational efficiency; [35351](2) what was the average pressure in water supplies made available by Thames Water to the London Fire Brigade in each of the last 10 years. [35352]

The average pressure of water in the mains in London is between 15 and 30 static head. There has been no appreciable variation in the pressure in the last 10 years.For operational purposes, the London Fire Brigade requires a minimum flow rate from a hydrant of approximately 760 litres per minute. At present, they do not have any difficulty with flow rates.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received on the cleaning of vessel tanks off the coast of Wales and its impact on the marine environment. [35520]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what submissions concerning traffic management as a means of road traffic reduction he has received in respect of his consultation document, "Developing an Integrated Transport Policy"; and if he will place a copy of these in the Library. [35637]

A large number of the 6,500 responses received mentioned ways of making better use of the existing network and urban traffic management although not always explicitly in the context of seeking road traffic reduction. A report of the views expressed in the consultation is being prepared for publication with the White Paper on Transport policy. I will ensure copies of that report are placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the public inquiry into plans to build Junction 8 on the M62 will take place. [35422]

The public inquiry for this scheme is planned for this Autumn. We have yet to fix a precise date for its opening, but I will ensure that my hon. Friend is notified as soon as we have.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the impact of the 1998–99 rate support grant on the provision of social services in rural areas. [34065]

The impact of the 1998–99 revenue support grant settlement on the provision of social services in rural areas depends upon local authorities' decisions on the size and allocation of their budgets.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to make a decision regarding air service access to regional airports. [35424]

Liberalisation of air services agreements to permit the operation of international services to regional airports is considered during many air services talks. Air services within the European Economic Area are already fully liberal. The airlines of a further 66 countries have access to any regional point in the UK, and the airlines of a further 21 countries have access to some regional points.We are reviewing the responses to the informal consultation on international access to regional airports and are also mindful of the current deliberations of the Environment and Transport Select Committee on access to regional airports. A decision will be made when all the relevant information and advice has been considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish figures for band D council taxes in England in 1998–99, showing (a) figures for each notifiable authority excluding parish precepts, (b) figures for each notifiable authority including parish precepts, (c) the percentage increase in council tax for each notifiable authority including parish precepts, (d) council tax for the area of each billing authority, (e) the percentage increase in council tax for the area of each billing authority and (f) equivalent figures for each class of authority. [35660]

The information requested will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when plans by First Group plc to take over Great Western Holdings were submitted to the Director General of Passenger Rail Franchising; what powers the Director General has in such cases to prevent takeovers; what range of conditions he can impose on such takeovers; what are the duties of consultation of the Director General before determining such conditions; and if he will make a statement. [35419]

[holding answer 20 March 1998]: The first intimations that First Group were considering the takeover of Great Western Holdings Ltd. (GWHL) were given to the Franchising Director orally in the latter part of January 1998. The Franchising Director confirmed to the First Group that any change of control would require his approval; that in considering his approval he would take into account the Objectives, Instructions and Guidance (OIG) issued to him on behalf of the Secretary of State on 6 November 1997 (a copy is in the Library of the House) which, in his view, obliged him to ensure that benefits were secured for passengers if the change of control were to be allowed; and that the Office of the Rail Regulator and the Office of Fair Trading would deal with competition aspects of the proposed takeover. He was not party to the properly private discussions between First Group and GWHL. He heard from First Group on the evening of 3 March that, in view of Press speculation, they wished to announce on 4 March that they were in advanced discussions with GWHL. On 4 March the Franchising Director met First Group to discuss the passenger benefits to be provided under the 3 franchises involved, Great Western Trains and North Western Trains (which First Group seek to acquire) and Great Eastern (which First Group already own).The Franchising Director's powers are contractual. Under the franchise agreements for Great Western Trains and North Western Trains his prior consent to change of control must be obtained. He has unfettered contractual discretion to refuse or attach conditions to his consent.Having taken the view that, as a result of the proposed takeover none of the terms and condition of the franchise agreements would be changed the OIG obliged him to ensure that additional benefits were secured for passengers if the takeover were to be allowed. The Franchising Director announced on 6 March 1998 various benefits on the basis of which, subject to contract, he proposes to approve the takeover. These will include additional rolling stock; station improvements, including the provision of wheelchair access and bicycle facilities; security cameras and greater bus/rail through-ticketing. He is discussing details of the package with PTEs who, as parties to the North Western Trains franchise agreement, he is required to consult on issues affecting them. The Franchising Director has general obligations under his OIG to consult and liaise with other bodies. He has no specific duties of consultation about conditions to his consent to a change of control.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the number of non-governmental groups that have to date shown an interest in participating in the Environmental Task Force within the New Deal welfare to work programme; and what responses he has received from these organisations. [33113]

I have been asked to reply.Many non-governmental groups have shown great interest in the Environment Task Force option of the New Deal. However, the contracting process for this option is currently underway and the numbers participating are now yet available. Responses from non-governmental groups have been varied, ranging from comments on the design and implementation of the option to expressions of interest in tendering for delivery.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if current holders of TESSAs and PEPs will be required to transfer their investments to ISAs from April 19990; [33270](2) what assessment he has made of the impact on existing holders of TESSAs and PEPs of the replacement of TESSAs and PEPs by ISAs in April 1999. [33271]

[holding answer 10 March 1998]: As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor announced in his Budget, 17 March 1998, Official Report, column 1102, all PEPs held at 5 April 1999 can continue to be held as PEPs, outside the new savings account, but with the same tax advantages as the new account. TESSAs held at 5 April 1999 can run to maturity outside the new account, and the capital from maturing TESSAs can be rolled over into the new account without counting against the annual subscription limit.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Government will require providers of ISAs to submit sufficient information to provide a breakdown of how many people invested (a) up to £1,000, (b) £1,001 to £2,000, (c) £2,001 to £3,000, (d) £3,001 to £4,000, (e) £4,001 to £5,000 and (f) £5,001 to £6,000 in the most recent year for which figures are available. [34961]

[holding answer 17 March 1998]: Precise details of the information to be submitted will be for discussion with industry representatives when drafting detailed regulations for the ISA.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the estimated cost of tax relief on PEPs in (a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98 and (c) 2000–1, as calculated in the consultative document on ISAs, is attributable (i) to CGT exemption and (ii) income tax relief. [33510]

[holding answer 9 March 1998]: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary gave on 11 March 1998, Official Report, column 210, and to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, Central (Mr. Cousins) on 3 February 1998, Official Report, column 574.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the most recent statistics collated by his Department on the distribution, by income, of the benefits from tax relief on contributions to occupational and personal pensions. [34339]

The distribution of tax relief by income of participants in occupational and personal pension schemes is not available, but the total cost of tax relief, based on aggregate information from a variety of sources, is published annually in table 1.6 of "Inland Revenue Statistics".

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list for each year since 1991 those medicines and medical equipment seized from passengers at airports, who were travelling to Baghdad via Amman; and if he will make a statement; [31678](2) if medicines seized at Heathrow on 6 February from Amman-bound passengers will be returned to them; [31677](3) what medical materials were seized at Heathrow airport on 10 February from passengers bound for Baghdad via Amman. [31674]

[holding answer 27 February 1998]: No medical materials were seized at Heathrow airport on 10 February from passengers bound for Baghdad via Amman. Certain items understood to be destined for Iraq were detained pending further inquiries.Following the adoption of the UN Security Council Resolution 661 (1990) the export to Iraq of any goods, unless under the authority of an export licence, has been prohibited under the Export of Goods (Control) (Iraq and Kuwait Sanctions) Order 1990 [SI 1990/1640], which came into force on 9 August 1990. No seizures of medicines and medical equipment from passengers at airports travelling to Baghdad via Amman have been made as a consequence of these restrictions.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received urging him to introduce a progressive beer duty. [35516]

The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) is a trade association which represents the smaller breweries. SIBA sent a detailed representation about the introduction of a progressive rate of duty to me on 9 March 1998. I have also received a number of letters from SIBA members urging me to consider SIBA's proposals and I have agreed to do so.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of proposals for the introduction of a progressive beer duty; and if he will make a statement. [35515]

I received proposals for a sliding scale of beer duty from The Society of Independent Brewers on 9 March 1998. I have asked Customs and Excise to examine them and to provide me with advice in good time for the next Budget.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the current regime for co-operatives and other industrial and provident societies. [36181]

The Treasury and the Registry of Friendly Societies have issued a consultation document today inviting views on what changes to the existing legislation would be desirable if a suitable opportunity were to arise. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what targets will be set for the Valuation Office Executive Agency for the year 1998–99. [36182]

I have set the following key targets for the Valuation Office in 1998–99:

• Operational
• to clear 275,000 appeals in aggregate against the 1995 and earlier rating lists
• to clear 83,500 appeals against the council tax valuation lists; with the aim, in co-operation with the valuation tribunals, of clearing all cases within 6 months of receipt
• to clear Inland Revenue cases equal to the number received up to a maximum of 57,000—with the aim of clearing 90 per cent. of cases within:
• 42 days where a valuation only is requested
• 6 months where negotiation with the parties is required
• Quality of service
• to provide a substantive reply to:
• 90 per cent. of correspondence within 15 working days of receipt
• the remaining 10 per cent. within 20 working days of receipt
• to see all callers to our offices within 5 minutes
• to achieve a further improvement against our indicator for valuation accuracy—by 1 per cent. to 87 per cent.
• to maintain performance against our indicator for timeliness at 98 per cent.
• Finance and cost efficiency
• to break even overall after charging for the full cost of chargeable services including notional interest of 6 per cent on the average working capital
• measurement will be within a tolerance of the greater of 2 per cent. of relevant turnover or £1 million
• to achieve financial efficiency gains of 4.6 per cent.

Further details are contained in the Valuation Office's Forward Plan, copies of which will be placed in the Library of the House on publication.

To ask the Minister without Portfolio if it will be the responsibility of companies contributing to the Millennium Experience to finance and create exhibits in their section. [31524]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 9 March 1998, Official Report, column 59.

To ask the Minister without Portfolio what estimate he has made of the additional tourist revenue which will be generated by the Millennium Experience. [31878]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply 1 gave to the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) on 17 November 1997, Official Report, column 77.

To ask the Minister without Portfolio if he will publish a full list of proposals for the content of the Millennium Experience (a) he and (b) the New Millennium Experience Company has rejected. [34789]

All proposals which come direct to me are passed to the New Millennium Experience Company for consideration. To date, the Company have received over 1,220 ideas from the public, interests groups, voluntary organisations and businesses, and they continue to receive a steady flow.All unsolicited proposals received by the Company are subject to review and assessment. To date about 340 have been rejected following this review process.

To ask the Minister without Portfolio what assessment he has made of public reaction to the Millennium Dome to date. [31965]

The presentation of content, launched by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, on 24 February has prompted a very positive response from the public.

To ask the Minister without Portfolio whom he has appointed as creative director of the Millennium Dome; and who has overall creative responsibility for the Dome. [31968]

This is a matter for the New Millennium Experience Company. They are currently considering whether a single creative director is required or whether the current arrangements whereby the creative team report to the Directors of the Company remains the best way forward.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what dates his Department received certificates of conformity for the Brazilian mahogany purchased from Parker Kislingbury Ltd; and if he will place copies of the certificates in the Library. [34449]

[holding answer 13 March 1998]: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Ships Support Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many United States personnel have been based at (a) RAF Menwith Hill and (b) RAF Croughton in each year since 1987; and what was the maximum number present at one time in each year. [35602]

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

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to introduce legislation on freedom of information. [35088]

I expect to publish a draft Bill later in the year, which will continue the consultation process started with the White Paper "Your Right to Know". In the light of comments on this, a Bill will be introduced into Parliament as soon as the legislative timetable permits.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her answer of 9 March 1998, Official Report, column 25, if Pakistan falls within her category of countries diverting limited resources into excessive military expenditure. [35241]

Pakistan has traditionally spent a high proportion of its national budget on defence. We understand and welcome the fact that defence spending measured as a percentage of GDP has been declining steadily in recent years. The UK's bilateral development co-operation programme with Pakistan focuses particularly on working to improve basic social services which benefit the poor.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support her Department is giving to the work of the UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict. [35203]

We contributed £200,000 in November 1997 to support the work of the new UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict and intend to continue to work closely with him to ensure the protection, healing and rehabilitation of war affected children world-wide. We recognise that children who find themselves in the unique situation of caring for younger children, possibly because parents have died in conflict or from conditions such as AIDS, are particularly vulnerable. We are trying to address these issues in our development programmes and will highlight our concerns to Mr. Otunnu when his proposals for international action on children and armed conflict are discussed with our European partners at a ministerial meeting in London on 23 June 1998 which my Department will host.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many British-based aid agencies are currently undertaking work in Afghanistan; and if she will name them. [35712]

The Department for International Development (DFID) works with a number of British and international aid agencies in Afghanistan and funds projects in a variety of sectors including demining, health, community development and education. The British based Agencies which are funded by DFID are as listed. There may be other British NGOs working independently within Afghanistan supported by other donors.

• Afghanaid
• Agency Co-ordinating Body for Afghan Refugees (ACBAR)
• British Agencies Afghan Group
• British Red Cross Society
• CAFOD
• CARE
• Children in Crisis

Non-Departmental Public Body	(a)	(b)	(c)	(d)	(e)	f	g
Commonwealth Scholarships Commission	10–15	0	0	1	0	11	4
Crown Agents Holding & Realisation Board	7	0	0	0	0	7	0
Economic and Social Committee for Overseas Research	10	2	1	0	0	8	3
Indian Family Pensions Fund Body of Commissioners	10	1	0	0	0	9	0
Know How Fund Advisory Board	20	5	1	0	0	14	0
Overseas Pensions Scheme Advisory Board	4	2	1	0	0	2	0

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current average time taken for the Metropolitan Police to amend and return firearms certificates. [35239]

• Christian Aid
• Halo Trust
• Medair
• Merlin
• Ockenden Venture
• OXFAM
• Support for Afghan Further Education
• Sandy Gall's Afghanistan Appeal
• Save the Children
• TEAR Fund.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her answer of 9 March 1998, Official Report, column 25, if it is her policy that sponsoring terrorism in other countries is not a bar to countries receiving development assistance from the United Kingdom. [35240]

This Government like all responsible governments condemn state sponsorship of terrorism. Where the policies of other governments make a development partnership with them impossible, but where effective help can be given directly to poor people, it is my Department's policy to deliver development assistance through alternative channels, including community based and non-governmental organisations.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will publish (a) the number of places on each of her 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 1 May 1997. [35284]

[holding answer 19 March 1998]: The information is as follows:

The arrangement for processing firearm certificates in the Metropolitan Police area is an operational matter for the Commissioner. We understand that the average time for processing routine amendments to firearm and shotgun certificates is between two and three weeks.Following the surrender of handguns under the Firearms (Amendment) Acts 1997, some former handgun owners have sought variations to their certificates in order to permit them to take up new shooting sports. No fee is payable by handgun owners in respect of amendments involving replacement, rather than additional, firearms. However, the proposed acquisition of new firearms may involve the police in inspecting the applicant's security arrangements and confirming the details of his proposed shooting activities. For these reasons, the time taken to deal with amendments and return certificates to their owners may take several months. While the Metropolitan Police have confirmed that they are seeking to deal with any backlogs as a matter of urgency, this will have to depend to some extent on the urgency of competing demands.As well as dealing with variations to firearm certificates recently, police firearms licensing departments have dealt with the considerable volume of work relating to the surrender of handguns and the processing of compensation claims, as well as routine licensing and firearms matters.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for British citizenship by (a) naturalisation on the grounds of residence, (b) naturalisation on the grounds of marriage, (c) registration as an adult and (d) registration as a child were made in (i) 1994, (ii) 1995, (iii) 1996, (iv) 1997 and (v) 1998 to the latest convenient date; and what was the average length of time taken to deal with each application in each of the years listed. [35130]

The number of applications received in each category in the years 1994 to 24 February 1998 are as follows. We do not record the average time taken to deal with each application within a calendar year. The figures in brackets show the average number of months taken to consider applications as at 31 December each year with the exception of 1998 when the position at the end of February is shown.

	Registrations		Naturalisation
Year	Adult	Minor	Residence	Marriage
1994	3,630	6,355	21,835	16,586
	(6)	(8)	(14)	(13)
1995	3,646	11,339	21,470	17,822
	(5)	(6.3)	(14.2)	(13.5)
1996	3,694	12,673	23,758	19,580
	(7)	(7.4)	(16.1)	(15.3)
1997	4,003	11,407	20,140	16,266
	(6.6)	(7.1)	(20.8)	(20.1)
1998	85	208	104	124
	(7.5)	(6.7)	(20.5)	(20.6)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many United Kingdom citizens have been prosecuted and convicted of committing an offence on board a commercial airliner in each year since 1990; and if he will make a statement. [35195]

Under Part IV of the Civil Aviation Act 1982, as amended by the Civil Aviation (Amendment) Act 1996, and Part I of the Aviation Security Act 1986, criminal proceedings can be brought if an offence takes place on board a commercial British-controlled aircraft, or a foreign commercial aircraft while in flight to the United Kingdom. However, although the Home Office Court Proceedings database records all prosecutions in England and Wales, the data held centrally do not identify whether the offence took place on board an airliner, nor the defendant's nationality.Court proceedings data for offences including the hijacking of an aircraft are given in the table.

Number of defendants prosecuted at magistrates' courts and convicted1 at all courts for offences under Sections 1–3 and 6(2) of the Aviation Security Act 1982, 1990–1996
England and Wales
Offence	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	21995	21996
Hijacking; destroying, damaging or endangering safety of aircraft; other acts endangering or likely to endanger safety of aircraft; and ancillary offences
Sections 1–3 and 6(2)
Prosecutions	—	4	6	3	2	5	15
Committed for trial	—	2	3	3	—	5	13
Convictions	3	2	2	—	3	2	1
1 Includes persons proceeded against in earlier years
2 From 1995 onwards data also include offences under the Channel Tunnel (Security) Order 1994 Articles 4,5,7 and 8 (Sec 1(7) Channel Tunnel Act 1987)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list planned expenditure on hospitality for April and May, indicating the date, location and purpose of each event. [35117]

Events planned so far for April and May for which expenditure on hospitality will be incurred are as follows:

date	Location	Purpose	Estimated expenditure (£)
7 April	Yet to be decided	Dinner for Canadian Prisons Minister	150
16 April	Police Training Centre, Ashford	Dining-in guests	85
16 April	Police Training Centre, Ryton	Passout parade	127
21April	Vienna	Dinner for United Nation Crime Commission	2,500
23 April	Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre	Seminar on prison health care	4,960
23 April	Goring Hotel, London	Dinner for Community Fire Safety Task Force	400
30 April	Police Staff College	International Commanders Programme course dinner	60
21 May	Police Training Centre, Ryton	Passout parade	145
21 May	Police Training Centre, Ashford	Dining-in guests	85
23 May	Police Training Support, Harrogate	Dining-in guests	60

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to reply to the letter dated 17 November 1997 concerning Mr. and Mrs. Utting from the hon. Member for North Wiltshire. [35771]

I replied to the hon. Member on 18 March 1998. The Home Office has received a lot of correspondence on the subject of law and order in recent months; this has meant that not all letters have been answered as quickly as we would have liked. We have also put measures in hand to improve the Home Office correspondence system in order to provide speedier, high quality responses in future.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what definition his Department applies to hard and soft gambling; and if his Department defines slot machines as a form of hard gambling. [35765]

We regard as hard gambling those forms likely to cause problem gambling among customers—for example, because of high frequency combined with high staking.We regard as soft gambling low stake, long odds forms where it is very difficult to chase losses.There are various types of gaming machines. How hard and how soft they are depends on their stake limits, prize levels and, to some extent, their locations and numbers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends next to publish recorded crime figures; and if he will make a statement on the methodology used to compile them. [34686]

The next recorded crime figures for England and Wales, covering the calendar year 1997, will be published in a Home Office Statistical Bulletin on 7 April 1998.The recorded crime figures are based on statistical returns provided by the 43 police force areas in England and Wales. The data are compiled using rules for classification and counting issued by the Home Office to maintain the consistency of recording some of the more complex and potentially difficult offences, such as multiple, continuous and repeated offences.Periodically, the Home Office rules and police recording practices are reviewed to ensure consistency and to determine whether updates are necessary. Recently, both Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and a joint Home Office/Association of Chief Police Officers working party have undertaken such reviews. Their recommendations are being adopted in a package of measures for implementation on 1 April 1998, which were announced initially by my right hon. Friend on 1 October 1997. More detail was given by the Home Office's Director of Research and Statistics on 14 October 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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 1 May 1997. [35275]

[holding answer 19 March 1998]: The information requested is not held centrally within the Department. When it has been assembled and collated I will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many psychologists and assistants are currently in post at each Young Offenders Institution in (a) London and (b) the Home Counties; what is the full complement for each unit; and what were the number in post for each of the last five years. [34794]

The number of psychologists and psychological assistants in post in Young Offender Institutions and the current complement of these units are:

	Current	Complement
London
Feltham	5	6
Home Counties
Aylesbury	4	5

A visiting psychology service is provided to young offenders at Bullwood Hall, Dover and Reading, East Sutton Park can call upon the services of a psychologist when necessary.Additionally, there are psychology units at Highpoint, Rochester and Woodhill. They provide a service to adult offenders but not to the young offender unit. The number of psychologists and pschological assistants in post and the complement of the psychology units in these three establishments are:

	Current	Complement
Home Counties
Highpoint	3	3
Rochester	1	1
Woodhill	5	5

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young offenders in young offenders units are assessed to be suffering from mental health problems; and how many are awaiting placement in a secure psychiatric hospital.[34804]

A study conducted by the Institute of Psychiatry for the Prison Service in 1988–89 indicated that a psychiatric diagnosis, including substance dependency or abuse, could be given to 33 per cent, of sentenced male youths, wherever detained. Data on female young offenders were not collated separately from data on adult women.On 18 March 1998 the Mental Health Unit of the Home Office, which authorises transfers to hospital exercising the warrant of the Secretary of State, had no cases outstanding on which medical reports had been submitted by Young Offender Institutions recommending transfer to hospital under section 47 of the Mental Health Act 1983.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the training and qualification requirements for staff of young offenders units (a) prior to employment and (b) during their term of employment [34803]

Individuals who want to join the Prison Service as prison officers require five GCSEs or the equivalent. All newly recruited prison officers attend an eleven week course to equip them to work in a variety of prison establishments. Prison officers who will be working in Young Offender Institutions are also required to attend a specific module on the course which deals with issues related to working with young offenders.The Prison Service, working with the Trust for the Study of Adolescence, has produced a specialist training pack "Working with Young People in Custody". This specialist training pack is delivered in the workplace and external accreditation is now being sought. The Senior Command Course, aimed at Governors who will be taking up their first 'in charge' post, deals with issues of governing a Young Offender Institution.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of young offenders on remand in Young Offenders Units were in the care of the local authority prior to remand in each of the last five years. [34793]

It is not known what percentage of young offenders on remand in Young Offender Institutions were in the care of the local authority prior to remand in each of the last five years as this information is not held centrally. However, according to the 1991 National Prison Survey, 43 per cent. of young offenders on remand said that they had been in the care of the local authority at some time in their childhood.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to alter legislation regarding the certification of shotguns. [35377]

There are no current proposals to alter legislation regarding the certification of shotguns.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current estimate by the Metropolitan Police of the number of participants in the Countryside March in London on 1 March. [35360]

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis estimates that 250,000 people participated in the Countryside March in London on 1 March.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish HM Chief Inspector of Prisons' report on the Campsfield Detention Centre. [35551]

The date for the publication of the report on Campsfield House Immigration Detention Centre has not yet been announced, but it is expected to be published shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department at what date seasonal staff employed as immigration officers were informed of his Department's new retirement policy for seasonal staff. [35391]

In October 1996, seasonal immigration officers at ports were advised that, with effect from 1 November 1997, the normal retirement age would be sixty to bring them into line with the rest of the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many seasonal staff in the Immigration Department will reach the age of 60 years during the next year and have their contracts terminated under the age retirement policy for seasonal staff. [35390]

In the year up until 31 March 1999, three seasonal immigration officers who are currently on the Home Office payroll will reach the age of sixty and are liable to have their contracts terminated under the age retirement policy for seasonal staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will evaluate the reports concerning an asteroid on a near-collision course with the Earth; and if he will make a statement; [34873](2) what contingency plans have been made in the event of a threat arising from asteroids colliding with the Earth; and if he will make a statement; [34874](3) what provision exists for international consultation and co-operation over potential dangers arising from asteroids striking the Earth; and if he will make a statement. [34875]

I have been asked to reply.The asteroid 1997 XF11, which was discovered last year, has an orbit around the Sun which crosses the Earth's orbit. It will pass by the Earth in 2028. Computations made by American scientists earlier this month indicated that the asteroid could come within 30,000 miles of the Earth. However, I understand that scientists from the American space agency NASA have now been able to locate pre-1997 images of the asteroid. This has enabled them to calculate a more precise orbit for 1997 XF11 which indicates that it will Miss the Earth by a much larger margin of 600,00 miles (or about 2.5 times the distance to the Moon).The probability of a major impact from an asteroid is extremely low, but the emergency services and the emergency planning community in the UK prepare for a wide range of disasters and scenarios and they would respond if the need arose.International co-operation and consultation on this issue are taken forward in Europe through the European Space Agency and globally through the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS). The UK is involved in both.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what public money has been paid in

Sports council for Northern Ireland Grant aid to governing bodies 1992/93–2000/2001
£
Governing body	1992/93	1993/94	1994/95	1995/96	1996/97	11997/98
Aeromodelling	1,009.75	1,900.00	1,000.00	725.00	—	2,489.98
Aikido	—	—	1,044.48	121.71	—	1,000.00
Angling (inc Sea)	8,563.19	5,101.83	8,518.25	6,329.50	1,043.90	5,000.00
Archery	2,453.06	5,637.41	3,184.23	3,547.77	3,625.60	2,500.00
Athletics	50,836.01	39,403.71	57,907.90	57,396.44	75,885.51	70,204.20
Badminton	21,867.32	31,598.33	18,855.83	24,277.18	33,832.74	—
Basketball	284.49	2,435.61	1,196.60	1,904.49	9,223.80	16,401.00
Billiards/Snooker	5,928.58	1,800.51	5,679.72	2,624.97	3,517.32	3,500.00
Bowling (men)	5,424.92	9,453.48	6,441.37	10,377.44	8,959.52	5,500.00
Bowling (women)	429.79	6,046.05	5,560.07	6,093.07	4,097.89	2,500.00
Bowling (indoor)	5,649.24	2,852.51	4,503.61	4,375.21	1,203.62	2,000.00
Boxing	4,204.29	11,305.00	19,625.90	9,698.23	10,326.37	6,380.00
Camogie	—	365.00	1,000.00	8,784.00	3,500.00	10,000.00
Canoeing	1,355.05	10,108.59	5,327.19	4,148.05	6,344.42	—
Caving	—	—	—	—	—	2,000.00
Coarse Fishing	3,220.00	1,626.00	1,574.00	1,632.80	1,500.00

To date a total of £5,811.50 has been spent on transportation costs conveying representatives from parties participating in talks to London for meetings with the Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to her answer of 11 March 1998, Official Report, column 251, what account she took of the involvement of the IRA in the murder of Kevin Conway in confirming the invitation to Sinn Fein to rejoin the peace talks on 6 March. [34863]

The invitation to rejoin the talks issued to Sinn Fein on 6 March took into account all aspects of the state of the IRA ceasefire.By confirming the invitation to Sinn Fein, the two Governments demonstrated that they were satisfied the IRA ceasefire was being observed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the Government's policy in respect of the way in which the future structures for government within Northern Ireland will be determined with particular reference to methods of voting. [32960]

It is for the multi-party talks to reach agreement on new structures of government within Northern Ireland, and the method of voting by which they are elected. We shall do all in our power to facilitate such agreement in the coming weeks.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list, by individual governing body, the grant-in-aid made available by the Sports Council for Northern Ireland to governing bodies of sport for each of the financial years 1992 to 1998. [34246]

The information is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total grant-in-aid made available by the Sports Council of Northern Ireland to governing bodies of sport for each of the financial years 1992 to 1998; and what it is projected to be for the next three financial years. [34244]

The information is as follows:

Year	£
1992–93	537,767.86
1993–94	613,212.24
1994–95	625,720.48
1995–96	656,606.06
1996–97	658,953.43
1997–981	630,000
1998–991	620,000
1 Estimate.

It will not be possible to project figures beyond 1998–99 until the results of the Comprehensive Spending Review are known.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list, by individual governing body, the grant-in-aid projected to be made available by the Sports Council for Northern Ireland to governing bodies of sport for the next three financial years. [34245]

It is not possible for the Sports Council for Northern Ireland to project grant-in-aid allocations to individual governing bodies, as these will depend on the nature of individual grant applications submitted.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment she has made of the implications for Short's share of the Bombardier Aerospace Group's research, development and design work of the commitments made by Bombardier at the time of privatisation. [35534]

Bombardier has fulfilled the undertakings provided in relation to Shorts when it acquired the business in October 1989. From the reports I have received from both Bombardier and Shorts on the future plans for the business I have no reason to doubt their assurances that Shorts will remain an integrated design and manufacturing operation within Bombardier Aerospace.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will provide a breakdown of the amount of public funds given to Shorts since privatisation, including a breakdown of the privatisation package into (i) projected losses, (ii) launch aid, (iii) additional capital expenditure and (iv) training. [35537]

The cost to Government of the financial terms of the sale of Shorts to Bombardier in October 1989 was £780 million less £30 million paid by Bombardier for the share capital of Shorts. The £780 million included £665 million for the restructuring of the company's balance sheet which included projected losses on existing contracts and £115 million for future Government support including £79 million grant towards capital expenditure, £18 million for training and other costs and £18 million towards the non-recurring costs of developing components for the Regional Jet. No launch aid was provided at this stage. The grant aid has been fully paid and the conditions applied to it have been met.In addition to the privatisation package, Shorts has received the following grant assistance from the Department of Economic Development's agencies since October 1989:

Agencies	£ million
Industrial Development Board	13.93
Industrial Research & Technology Unit	14.57
Training and Employment Agency	5.79

The company also received £17.72 million launch aid from the Department of Trade and Industry (£15 million) and Industrial Development Board (£2.72 million) towards the cost of the development of the Learjet 45 aircraft.