To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in how many fatal road accidents in the last three years over-tiredness has been assessed to be a contributory factor. [34336]

Information is not at present collected on the causation of injury road accidents on a national basis. However, research commissioned by the Department estimated that tiredness is a principal contributory factor in around 10 per cent. of road accidents. Details of this research were published in TRL Report 169 (1995), Driver sleepiness as a factor in car and HGV accidents.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to publish the findings of the English House Condition Survey 1996; and if he will publish a summary of its main findings. [35710]

The findings of the 1996 English House Condition Survey will be published through a detailed and priced report. There will also be a separate summary document of key findings available free of charge. Publication is expected within the next two months.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for local authorities in each of the years 1994–95, 1995–96 and 1996–97 (a) the total number of statutory notices served under section 189 of the Housing Act 1985, (b) the total expenditure on grants made to owners of properties on whom section 189 notices were served, (c) the total number of statutory notices served under section 352 of the Housing Act 1985 and (d) the total expenditure on grants made to owners of properties on whom section 352 notices were served. [35707]

The Department does not hold information in the form requested. Such information as we do hold is set out in Housing and Construction Statistics 1985–1995, Table 7.9 (Unfit dwellings, England), a copy of which has been placed in the House Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the housing figures to be used by strategic planning authorities in the West Midlands for the period up to 2011 will be those contained in the answer to the hon. Member for Dudley, South (Mr. Pearson) of 4 December 1997, Official Report, column 288. [35857]

Yes. We will issue amended housing policy guidance for the West Midlands shortly setting out clear policies that authorities should pursue in their development plans to increase the amount of housing on previously developed land to make provision for affordable housing and to ensure sustainable locations for development within transport corridors.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the current regulations controlling the nature, size and location of highway signs in areas of outstanding natural beauty and National Parks; and if he will make a statement. [35948]

The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 1994 were framed, and are currently being updated, to balance the interests of road safety, efficient traffic management and the environment in the design and use of signs so that traffic authorities can, as far as practicable, provide signs appropriate to local conditions. My Department has published guidance on designing signs effectively so that they are not larger than they need to be for the information they contain. We are also actively supporting the Countryside Traffic Measures Group's initiative to investigate the extent to which local traffic management and traffic calming schemes—and associated signs—can be effective in meeting their traffic objectives, whilst being designed with sensitivity to the countryside environment in which they are set. This includes projects in two National Parks.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 16 March 1998, Official Report, column 438, if he will request the Rail Regulator to discuss with (a) Railtrack and (b) TOCs the public provision of national time tables for future years. [36081]

Railtrack meets the train operating companies to discuss bids for train services which are subsequently incorporated into the national timetable. The Rail Regulator is also involved in the process and he can be approached by either party if they were dissatisfied with the outcome of the discussions. Demand for future services is subject to fluctuation and discussions therefore tend to focus on services that are to be included in the next edition of the timetable rather than for many years ahead.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what provision he is making for the cost of rail services secured by English Passenger Transport Executives in 1998–99. [36330]

A special grant Report has been laid before the House today for the payment of Metropolitan Railways Passenger Services Grant in 1998–99 to English Passenger Transport Authorities (PTAs). The main purpose of the grant is to provide support to those PTAs for the local rail services secured by the PTAs' Passenger Transport Executives under the terms of franchise agreements with franchise operators and the Director of Passenger Rail Franchising.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions by what means and according to what timetable his Department is proposing to consult regional authorities regarding their views on international air service access to regional airports. [35437]

The Department is already aware of the support of a broad spectrum of regional interests for a greater degree of liberalisation of international air services to regional airports.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the (i) location of, (ii) running costs of, (iii) salary costs of and (iv) number of staff based at the Head Office of the (a) Planning Inspectorate and (b) Building Research Establishment; and for these bodies if he will list the percentage of (1) staff, (2) salary costs and (3) running costs which are based in (A) London and (B) Scotland. [36108]

The Planning Inspectorate is an Executive Agency of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and of the Welsh Office. As of 2 March 1998, the Planning Inspectorate had 440 staff based at its Headquarters offices in Bristol and Cardiff. The Inspectorate's gross running cost allocation for the current year is £29.254 million. Forecast outturn for the paybill is £18.895 million. None of the staff are based in offices in London or Scotland. The Planning Inspectorate has no jurisdiction for planning appeals and other statutory functions under the Planning Acts in Scotland, for which there is a separate Inquiry Reporters Unit, which is part of the Scottish Office Development Department in Edinburgh.The Building Research Establishment was privatised in March 1997; the Department therefore no longer has responsibility for its operations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the result of the Transport Council held in Brussels on 17 March. [36417]

The first Transport Council of the current UK Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers met under my Chairmanship in Brussels on 17 March. My hon. Friend the Minister for Transport in London represented the United Kingdom.I particularly welcome the progress the Council was able to make on proposals for establishing a new European Aviation Safety Authority. There is strong support among Member States for these proposals, and it was agreed that work should continue with the aim of adopting a Council decision in June. The Council also took note of progress on a draft negotiating mandate for Community membership of the EUROCONTROL air traffic management organisation, again with a view to adoption in June.The Council discussed the Community's role in EC/US air transport negotiations, in the light of the Commission's existing mandate and a recommendation by the Commission for supplementary negotiating directives. It was agreed that officials should undertake further technical work with a view to more extensive discussion at the June Council. Several Ministers expressed regret that the Commission has recently sent Reasoned Opinions to a number of Member States.The Council reached a common position on a Regulation on vehicle national identification signs, under which Member States would not require a separate national sign where on is already included (in specified form) in the vehicle number plate, and (with Germany abstaining) adopted a Regulation on the harmonisation of statistics on the movement of freight by road. The council agreed Conclusions welcoming the Commission's recent Communication on satellite navigation systems.The Council made significant progress in its consideration of the proposed directive on heavy goods vehicle taxation and charging. The Presidency put forward a compromise proposal, with further modifications in response to concern expressed by delegations, but agreement proved beyond reach.The Commission reported on its negotiations with the Swiss Government on proposals for a land transport agreement between the Community and Switzerland. Following clarification of some outstanding points, a substantial number of delegations were broadly supportive. Presidency Conclusions reflecting the Council discussion were drawn. The General Affairs Council will take the final decision for the Community on a series of proposed agreements with Switzerland.Several delegations requested a study into the employment effects of the abolition in 1999 of duty-free sales for intra-Community travel. I agreed to forward the comments raised to the Chairman of ECOFIN.I made a short statement on the Presidency's plans to present a paper to the June Council on the subject of transport safety across the modes. This will set out proposals for exchanges of information and regular reporting by the Commission on safety in all modes and in all EU Member States.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the impact on litigants involved in expensive, lengthy or complex cases of the introduction of contracting between the Legal Aid Board and legal service providers. [35237]

Contracting is a flexible tool, which will allow the Legal Aid Board to test different arrangements to determine which are most suitable for different types of case. We believe that individual negotiated contracts are likely to prove most appropriate in expensive cases.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps his Department is planning to concentrate the legal aid budget on promoting access to the judicial system for the poorest and on cases which raise issues of wider public interest. [35236]

We are consulting on our proposals to begin:

to focus on the priority needs of the poor by concentrating legal aid more tightly on cases that cannot be funded in the private sector and which are of high priority;

to support cases which have a significant public interest and might otherwise not be brought.

These are the first two steps in the Government's plans to modernise legal aid which are set out in the consultation paper, "Access to Justice with Conditional Fees", which was published on 4 March.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list planned expenditure on hospitality for April and May, indicating the date, location and purpose of each event. [35120]

There is no expenditure currently planned for Ministerial hospitality for April or May 1998. It is not, however, possible to provide a comprehensive estimate for total expenditure on Ministerial hospitality as the majority of events and meetings will not be finalised until nearer the time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by (a) craft or speciality and (b) unit the numbers of territorial army personnel serving in Bosnia. [35381]

There are currently 380 members of the Reserve Forces (including the Territorial Army and Individual Reservists), serving in Bosnia. They are drawn from the following specialisations:

Unit	Number
Royal Armoured Corps	9
Royal Artillery	18
Royal Engineers	46
Royal Signals	26
Infantry	100
Army Air Corps	1
Royal Army Chaplains' Department	1
Royal Logistic Corps	107
Royal Army Medical Corps	7
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers	25
Adjutant-General's Corps	37
Intelligence Corps	2
Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps	1

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has to alter access to military ranges for civilian shooters for target shooting purposes. [35378]

There are no proposals to alter the current arrangements for civilian use of military firing ranges for marksmanship practice, which are designed to ensure appropriate access to these ranges and proper safety.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many nuclear weapon accident exercises entitled Senator have taken place since 1985; and where and when each exercise took place. [35366]

Two exercises entitled Exercise SENATOR have taken place since 1985. The details are as follows:

	Date	Exercise
SENATOR 96	20 May 1996 to 24 May 1996	Army Training Area Otterburn
SENATOR 97	22 September 1997 to 25 September 1997	Prince William of Gloucester Barracks Grantham, with the Strategic Co-ordination Group meeting at Lincolnshire Fire Bridgade HQ, Lincoln.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer on 5 March 1998, Official Report, columns 761–62; what will be the scenario of the Diagonal Glance exercise; on which of his Department's properties the exercise will take place; how many of his Department's personnel will take part in the exercise; and if the media will be invited to the exercise. [35365]

Exercise DIAGONAL GLANCE will test the procedures in place for responding to the crash of a US transport aircraft carrying nuclear weapons. RAF Locking will be used as a convenient location to base elements of the MoD response forces. There will also be exercise activity in Main Building, Whitehall and at AWE Aldermaston. Approximately 300 personnel from my Department will participate. A press statement about the exercise will be issued, but it is not intended to invite members of the media to the exercise.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 5 March 1998, Official Report, columns 761–62, what are the definitions of Grade B and Grade C nuclear weapon accident exercises; and if his Department has other categories of nuclear weapon accident exercises. [35363]

Prior to March 1997, nuclear accident response exercises were categorised as major, medium and minor; descriptions of the scales of these exercises were given in the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1995. They were then recategorised as Grade A, B, C and D. This was done to give external agencies a better understanding of the levels of our exercises by reference to the co-ordination levels detailed in the Home Office publication "Dealing with Disaster". The definitions of these exercises are:

Grade A—A demonstration exercise of all phases of the response in which live play and the participation of all MoD and external agencies is maximised at the national strategic, local strategic, tactical and operational levels.

Grade B—A demonstration exercise focusing on medium and long term phases of the response in which live play and the participation of MoD and external agencies is maximised at the local strategic and tactical levels.

Grade C—A demonstration exercise focusing on immediate and medium term phases of the response in which live play and the participation of MoD and external agencies is maximised at the tactical and operational levels.

Grade D—An exercise of the MoD response only, involving live play at levels appropriate to the exercise and its duration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will open for public inspection files concerning Admiralty Intelligence papers with the classmarks ADM 223/719 to ADM 223/734 at the Public Record Office. [35499]

In line with our commitment to greater openness, arrangements are being made to review the papers listed at the Public Record Office under references ADM 223/719 to ADM 223/734 to see whether release into the public domain is now possible. I will write to the hon. Member on completion of the review process.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost has been to his Department in each of the last 10 years of the charter of heavy lift cargo aircraft from civilian operators. [34890]

[holding answer 23 March 1998]: The costs of the charter of heavy lift cargo aircraft from civil operators for 1996, 1997 and 1998 (to date) are set out below. It is not possible to provide figures for years before 1996 without disproportionate cost.

£ million
1996	1.60
1997	3.30
1998 (to date)	1.32

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the types of civilian heavy lift cargo aircraft chartered by his Department over the last 10 years; their country of registration and the names of the air carriers by which they were operated. [34891]

[holding answer 23 March 1998]: The details of the types of heavy lift cargo aircraft chartered by the Ministry of Defence from civil operators for 1996, 1997 and 1998 (to date) are set out in the table. It is not possible to provide the information required for the years before 1996 without disproportionate cost.

	Aircraft type	Country of registration	Operators
1996:	AN-124	Russia	Heavylift
	IL-76	Russia	Heavylift
	Belfast	UK	Heavylift
1997:	AN-124	Russia	Heavylift
	AN-124	Ukraine	Air Foyle
	IL-76	Russia	Heavylift
	DC8	Zimbabwe	Heavylift
	Belfast	UK	Heavylift
1998 (to date):	AN-124	Russia	Heavylift
	AN-124	Ukraine	Air Foyle
	IL-76	Russia	Heavylift
	IL-76	Ukraine/Latvia	Air Foyle
	Belfast	UK	Heavylift

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the purpose of the recent Tartan Strike exercise; which countries took part; how many (a) UK personnel and (b) US personnel were involved; who was the identified enemy; and if he will make a statement. [35603]

[holding answer 23 March 1998]: The purpose of the recent Tartan Strike exercise was for the Armed Forces personnel involved to practise basic counter-insurgency skills. The participating countries were the United Kingdom and United States, with some 105 UK personnel (a number of whom acted as unidentified enemy) and some 55 US personnel involved.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 15 December 1997, Official Report, column 6, if he will publish the results of his inquiries into dead animals found and analysed during the Gulf War; and if he will make a statement. [35423]

[holding answer 23 March 1998]: I expect to publish the outcome of MOD's research into this matter by Easter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the functions undertaken at (a) RAF Croughton and (b) West Ruislip station. [35604]

[holding answer 23 March 1998]: RAF Croughton is home to the US 422nd Air Base Squadron whose mission is to manage, operate and maintain communications computer facilities and systems for theatre-wide support of the Defense Information Infrastructure, US Department of Defense airborne missions and the Air Weather Network. The squadron also provides all base facilities, support and services for over 700 military and civilian personnel. West Ruislip is a US storage and support facility for the US Navy in Europe and covers 81 US housing units, a commissary (food store), US shopping facilities, a medical and dental clinic, welfare services and a US community school for children of serving US personnel.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 19 June 1997, Official Report, column 265, if he will make a statement about the key targets for the Meteorological Office for 1997–98. [36301]

The targets I gave on 19 June have not changed but two of them require clarification as follows:Performance Target (b)—Numerical Weather Prediction Index for the UK (UKNWP). This performance target is intended to be a three year target, which will be set annually for the following three years. However, an adequate baseline is not available on which to set targets for intermediate years. The first target is therefore to improve the UKNWP index by four index points by March 2000 from a baseline of 100.00 in March 1997.

To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if the Committee has considered any requests to make a documentary series about the House; and if she will make a statement. [35606]

Since November the Committee has been considering two proposals, one from the BBC and one from Channel 4, to make a documentary series about the work of the House. I wish to advise the hon. Gentleman that the Committee has agreed that such a series might be useful in helping to give a clearer idea of Parliamentary practice and procedure, explain the legislative process and to give an insight into the work of hon. Members.Of the two options, the Committee considered that the Channel 4 proposal was the more appropriate, as the way the series would be structured offered less disruption to the work of the House.The House authorities are therefore beginning detailed negotiations with Channel 4 and Partners in Production, who will make the series. Subject to a successful outcome to these negotiations, it is envisaged that filming will commence at the time of the Queen's Speech this year, and continue throughout 1999.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the (a) location and (b) costs of each refurbishment programme undertaken in each year since 1994 by (i) the Farming and Rural Conservation Agency, (ii) the Centre for Environmental, Fisheries and Agriculture Science, (iii) the Central Science Laboratory, (iv) the Veterinary Laboratory Agency and (v) the Pesticides Safety Directorate. [34776]

[holding answer 18 March 1998]: In financial year 1997–98, the first since its formation in 1997, a total of £1,351,000 was spent on a refurbishment programme for the Farming and Rural Conservation Agency. In the main this covered refurbishment of buildings at Aberystwyth, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Crewe, Leeds, Northallerton, Nottingham, Preston and Wye.The figures for the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) are: 1995–96 £50,000; 1996–97 £401,000; and 1997–98 £14,000 for work on the CEFAS laboratories at Lowestoft and Burnham-on-Crouch, and for the CEFAS Lowestoft lecture theatre.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the (a) location of and (b) costs of each refurbishment programme undertaken by the Agricultural Development Advisory Service in each year from 1994 until privatisation. [34781]

[holding answer 18 March 1998]: From 1994 until its privatisation on 1 April 1997, expenditure on a refurbishment programme for the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service involved a total of £170,000 in financial year 1994–95 on work at Boxworth and Oxford Spires and a total of £138,000 in 1996–97 for work at Bridgets Experimental Husbandry Farm, Oxford Spires and Penrith. There was no refurbishment work for ADAS in 1995–96.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will commission research on the impact of EU regulations on the quantity of edible food thrown away by British supermarkets; what estimate he has made of the quantity they disposed of in the last twelve months; and if he will make a statement. [34757]

No estimates are available to the department, and I do not at this stage regard this as a priority research topic in the light of other pressures on our scarce resources. The firms concerned can be expected to keep wastage to a minimum for economic reasons, and a number of them participate in a voluntary scheme for the distribution of surplus food to charitable bodies caring for the disadvantaged.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to extend the use of public and private partnerships to conduct his Department's business and deliver services to the public; and if he will make a statement. [35137]

[holding answer 19 March 1998]: Competitive tenders have been sought for the redevelopment of the Department's Cambridge Regional Service Centre site.In addition, the Environment Agency, in liaison with the Department, are in discussion with selected consortia, in advance of a formal notice of Intention to Negotiate, on pilot projects for Hood and Coastal Defence works at Pevensey and Broadland.Plans to extend the use of public and private partnerships to conduct the Department's business and deliver services to the public are also being considered as part of the Department's Comprehensive Spending Review. As part of its procurement policy, the Department has already entered into key supplier relationships with a number of private sector suppliers. It intends to develop these further and with others as appropriate, subject to the value for money and transparency requirements of the public procurement rules.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the safety of canthaxanthin for use in animal feed insofar as it affects eggs and farmed fish consumed by the public; and if he will make a statement. [36345]

I am grateful for the Food Advisory Committee's advice that there are no consumer safety concerns associated with the use of this pigment in animal feed. I conclude that it may therefore continue to be used in accordance with its long-standing authorisation in Directive 70/524/EEC concerning additives in feedingstuffs.We nevertheless propose to seek a reduction under the Directive to the maximum permitted level (MPL) for use of the substance in feed for laying hens. The levels used are, for technological reasons, far below the current MPL.I also intend to ask the new Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs, when it is established, to consider whether, despite the lack of current safety concerns, it would be prudent to monitor the degree to which this colourant is used in the future.Finally, I note that the FAC wishes to review the need for labelling of animal products coloured in this way. I believe this is an important matter for consumer information and I look forward to receiving its advice in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proposals she will be making during the United Kingdom presidency of the European Union to safeguard the interests of Caribbean banana producers; and if she will make a statement. [35760]

Proposals to revise the EU banana regime to bring it into conformity with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruling and at the same time to provide assistance to traditional African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) banana producers have been prepared by the European Commission and are currently under discussion by Member States.As a leading advocate of the legitimate interests of those developing countries in the Caribbean who have traditionally supplied the UK market, the Government intend to play a major role in developing a solution to the problem that meets our obligations to both our traditional suppliers of bananas and the WTO. The UK is well placed to do this as it currently holds the Presidency of the EU.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her policy towards the European Commission proposals for a new agreement on development partnerships with the ACP. [35727]

The Lomé Convention has been an important basis for trade, development and political relations between the EU and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries of the alliance for over 22 years. The current Lomé Convention expires in 2000, and the Government hope that, during the UK Presidency, the EU's negotiating mandate for the successor arrangements will be agreed. The Commission's proposals provide a very good basis for discussion. They contain much the Government agree with, including a commitment to the international poverty eradication emphasis on partnerships and a simplification of the range of aid instruments.Trade is the most difficult and complex area. The challenge is to design arrangements which will support the integration of the ACP economies into the world economy. The Commission has proposed a 5 year roll-year of current preferences from 2000–05, followed by either Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) or integration into the Generalised System of Preferences, with a special window for the least developed. The Government welcome the roll-over period, but wish to see greater emphasis on enhancing the Generalised System of Preferences, in order to promote a genuine alternative to FTAs for the non-least developed ACP countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funds her Department has committed to the eighth European Development Fund; and if she will make a statement. [35724]

My Department committed 1.63 billion ecu (£1.08 billion at the current exchange rate) to the eighth European Development Fund. The resources will be used to promote development and poverty eradication in the 71 African, Caribbean and Pacific States with which the EU has aid, trade an political relations under the Lomé Convention.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has made to those European Union Member states who have not ratified the current Lomé IV bis Convention. [35726]

I am very concerned by the delay in the ratification of the Mid-Term Review of the Lomé IV Convention. The issue has been raised by the UK, as Presidency, at working level meetings in Brussels and my officials and I will continue to press those Member States who have yet to ratify the Review to do so as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance her Department is giving the People's Republic of China; and if she will make a statement on the amount of funding provided. [35729]

In 1996/97 (the latest year for which complete statistics are available), total British assistance to China came to some £32 million. China has about a third of the world's poorest people and a good record of pro-poor growth since the start of the economic reforms in 1979. We have a substantial co-operation programme. Priority sectors are education, health, the environment and economic and administrative reform.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance her Department is giving to Belarus. [35730]

The Department for International Development's programme of bilateral assistance to Belarus is channelled via the Know How Fund. We expect expenditure in this financial year to be approximately £800,000. The Department is also contributing to the EU's 5 mecu programme for the development of civil society.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when and by whom he was invited to be the President of the Foreign Policy Centre, 29 Tufton Street, London SW1P 3QL. [32857]

I was invited to be President of the Foreign Policy Centre in June 1997 by the Directors of the Centre.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 12 March 1998, Official Report, column 276, on Indonesia, what assessment he has made of the Indonesian Government's implementation of the IMF programme. [35357]

Indonesia has not yet fulfilled all elements of the IMF package. We hope the ongoing negotiations between the IMF and Indonesia reach a satisfactory outcome.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 12 March 1998, Official Report, column 277, on Indonesia, what assessment he has made of the standard of governance in Indonesia. [35370]

I have nothing further to add to my earlier reply to the hon. Member of 12 March 1998, Official Report, column 277.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 12 March 1998, Official Report, column 276, on Indonesia, what assessment he has made of the Indonesian Government's response to the British Government's requests that they exercise restraint during periods of civil unrest. [35358]

We continue to follow closely reports of incidents of social unrest in Indonesia.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to raise human rights issues at the forthcoming Asia-Europe meeting in London; and if he will make a statement. [35746]

The agenda of the Second Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM 2) will be finalised by the Leaders themselves. We look forward to a wide-ranging, informal and productive discussion. We expect it to touch on human rights. Leaders at the first ASEM in Bangkok made it clear that political dialogue, including consideration of fundamental rights, was one of the key dimensions of ASEM. The successful seminar on Human Rights and the Rule of Law held in Lund, Sweden in December 1997 is an encouraging example of the ASEM dialogue in this area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek UNSCOM's permission to publish the names received from UNSCOM of British companies who supplied components of Iraq's (a) chemical and (b) biological warfare programmes. [35849]

I have nothing further to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Blaeneau Gwent (Mr. Smith), on 16 February 1998, Official Report, column 489.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representation the Government plans to make during the UN Commission on Human Rights meeting in Geneva concerning the current human rights situation in Turkey. [35764]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what assessment he has made of the current human rights situation in Turkey; and what plans he has to express concern about human rights in Turkey in his statement to the forthcoming UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva; [35762](2) what recent representations the Government have made to the Turkish Government on human rights. [35763]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if the Government will urge the UN Commission on Human Rights to press the Turkish Government to facilitate the visits of, and cooperate with, the Working Group on Involuntary and Enforced Disappearances and the Special Rapporteur on Torture in 1998; [35883](2) if the Government will, in their statement to the UN Commission on Human Rights, urge the Turkish Government to prosecute all those responsible for human rights violations; [35885](3) what proposals the Government intend to make at the UN Commission on Human Rights meeting in Geneva to deal with human rights problems in Turkey; [35886](4) what recent representations the Government have made to the Turkish Government on human rights; [35887]

I refer my hon. Friends and the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Walthamstow (Mr. Gerrard) on 23 March 1998, Official Report, column 29.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to encourage Turkey to improve its record on human rights abuses. [35293]

In addition to raising the issue of human rights on a regular basis with the Turkish authorities, we are offering significant practical assistance to help Turkey fully meet its international obligations. This includes the package of human rights projects I announced on my visit to Ankara last October. These projects, involving UK experts, will cover areas such as police training, establishment of a police complaints authority and a network of citizens' advice bureaux, and inter-agency training on women's rights. We remain committed to working closely with the Turkish authorities on such matters.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the linkage between Turkey's application for membership of the EU and its policies towards Cyprus. [35294]

The European Council has agreed that Turkey's application to join the European Union will be judged on the basis of the same criteria as those used for all other applicants. The Council has noted that the strengthening of Turkey's relations with the EU also depends upon other factors, including Turkey's support for negotiations under the aegis of the UN on a political settlement in Cyprus on the basis of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the risk that (a) light weapons and (b) armoured vehicles exported to Turkey could be used for internal repression. [35884]

All licence applications for the export of conventional arms to all countries, including Turkey, are considered against the criteria announced by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 28 July 1997, Official Report, columns 26–29. A licence will not be issued if there is a clearly identifiable risk that the proposed export might be used for internal repression or international aggression.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Britain's relations with Armenia. [35756]

We enjoy excellent relations with Armenia. A British Embassy opened in Yerevan in July 1995 and we hope to increase the number of staff later this year. Although UK exports to Armenia increased 86% from 1996 to 1997, we are not satisfied with the relatively low level of trade and the DTI continues to encourage more British companies to export goods and services. In January this year, the Embassy held a very successful British Week, which coincided with a small trade mission. As well as providing substantial humanitarian aid, a programme of technical assistance through the Know How Fund has operated for a number of years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contacts his Department has had with organisations within Algeria which campaign for human rights. [35705]

During the EU mission to Algeria in January, my Troika colleagues and I met with the Human Rights Observatory's Director, with whom the British Embassy in Algiers has regular contact. In the course of its operation in Algeria, the Embassy has contact with a number of organisations which work across the spectrum of human rights, including women's issues and counselling for victims of terrorism.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent progress has been made towards a peaceful settlement in Algeria. [35709]

There have been no large-scale terrorist attacks in Algeria since the end of Ramadan, although sporadic killing continues. Hope for progress towards a peaceful settlement rests with furthering of the democratic process. The Algerian Government have already made some progress in this area, but we believe that the further strengthening of democratic institutions, supported by increased transparency and openness, offers the greatest chance of bringing peace.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what negotiations are in progress with the Venezuelan authorities concerning an extradition treaty between Britain and Venezuela. [35868]

It is not our practice to comment on whether extradition treaties with other countries are under discussion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to visit Venezuela. [35870]

My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he is considering for an exchange of prisoners between Britain and Venezuela. [35869]

We have no plans for an exchange of prisoners. We are, however, seeking to negotiate a Prisoner Transfer Agreement with Venezuela. I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to his question on 5 February 1998, Official Report, column 752.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the British Ambassador in Caracas last visited Mr. Loseby and Mr. Miles. [35873]

Our Ambassador in Caracas has not visited Mr. Miles and Mr. Loseby. They were last visited, by the Deputy Head of our Embassy, on 19 January.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the number of UN Security Council Resolutions of which Israel is in breach; and what issues they cover. [35970]

There are over 200 UN Security Council resolutions concerning aspects of Israel's dispute with its neighbours. These are publicly available. We continue to support them. We believe that the framework for negotiations laid down at Madrid and Oslo, based on these resolutions and the principle of "land for peace", offers the best prospect of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are made for trades union representation in each of the private sector prisons; what arrangements are planned for future private prison projects; and if he will make a statement. [32576]

Trade union representation at privately managed prisons for both custodial and non-custodial staff is a matter for their employer, subject to the law governing trade union recognition, and to section 127 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.Premier Prison Services, which manages Doncaster and Lowdham Grange prisons, have works councils elected by staff.At Altcourse, Buckley Hall and the Wolds prisons, staff may join the APEX Partnership, which is recognised by Group 4, the contractor. The APEX Partnership is a sister union of the General Municipal Boilermakers and Allied Trade Union.At Pare prison, managed by Securicor, there is a staff association.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners per 1,000 population there are in England; and what assessment he has made of the factors underlying the differences in the number of prisoners per 1,000 population in (a) England and (b) Scotland. [35193]

The latest available provisional information is for 1 September 1996 and shows that in England and Wales there were 1.07 prisoners per 1,000 population compared with 1.15 in Scotland. Within the sentencing framework set by Parliament, who is sent to prison and for how long is a matter for the courts. Different legal systems operate in England and Wales and in Scotland. The respective sentencing framework of each legal system may be a contributory factor in the difference between the countries in the number of prisoners per 1,000 population.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether (a) local probation officers and (b) social workers will be involved in the supervision of young offenders sentenced to a period at a secure training centre; and if he will make a statement. [35342]

Until such time as the proposed Youth Offending Teams are in place, supervision of those juvenile offenders subject to the secure training order will be the responsibility of Directors of Social Services. In practice, this will mean that supervising officers are mainly social workers but it need not preclude the involvement of probation officers in appropriate cases where inter agency youth justice teams are already in place.Supervision will be carried out in accordance with procedures set out in a National Standard which sets out the objectives of supervision and the requirements for the involvement of the supervising officer throughout the sentence.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many cases of compensation for handguns under (i) Option A, (ii) Option B and (iii) Option C are currently outstanding in the Northumbria Police Area; [35373](2) when he expects all claims for compensation for handguns under options (i) A, (ii) B and (iii) C to have been completed in the Northumbria Police Area. [35374]

At 20 March, over £480,000 had been paid in compensation to 704 claimants in Northumbria, mainly under Options A and B of the compensation scheme. 132 claimants from Northumbria registered on the Firearms Compensation Section (FCS) computer system have not yet received payment and a proportion of around 3,500 claims not yet registered will also be from Northumbria. In addition, 412 Northumbria claimants have outstanding claims under Option C of the compensation scheme, the great majority of which will have already received a payment under Options A and B.The FCS expects to complete all payments under Options A and B of the large calibre handgun compensation scheme by about the end of May, and the aim is to complete most, if not all, payments under Option C by the end of the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what representations he has received from (a) the police and (b) other organisations on black powder guns; [35375](2) what proposals he has to alter legislation regarding black powder guns. [35376]

The Government have received representations on black-powder guns, that is to say muzzle-loading guns using black powder as a propellant, from the Association of Chief Police Officers and from the Muzzle-Loaders Association of Great Britain. The Home Office has met representatives of both these bodies to discuss the proper regulation of shooting clubs at which muzzle-loading guns are used.At present, the Government have no plans to introduce any further legislation on firearms controls but will keep under close scrutiny the way in which muzzle-loading weapons are used.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people with psychiatric health problems are currently being held in prison cells. [35538]

Studies conducted for the Prison Service by the Institute of Psychiatry have indicated that a psychiatric diagnosis, including substance dependency or abuse, could be given to nearly 40 per cent. of the sentenced prison population of England and Wales and some 66 per cent. of remand prisoners. This would suggest that around 20,000 sentenced and 8,300 remand prisoners have some kind of mental disorder.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision is made for mental health care for people in prison. [35539]

Procedures are in place to identify prisoners who need in-patient treatment for mental disorder and to effect their transfer to a psychiatric hospital. The care and treatment of mentally disordered prisoners who do not require in-patient treatment in hospital is generally undertaken by prison healthcare staff or by visiting National Health Service specialists, either on a sessional basis or in some cases as part of a contracted-in comprehensive psychiatric service.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what strategies his Department is following to tackle the problem of alcohol misuse amongst young people. [35292]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 7 July 1997, Official Report, column 362, and 9 December 1997, Official Report, column 503. The Ministerial Group will be meeting in the autumn to review progress.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the recent reports he received from the Board of Visitors of Wormwood Scrubs Prison. [36042]

It is a matter for Boards of Visitors at each prison establishment to decide whether they wish to publish their Annual Report to the Home Secretary. The Board at Her Majesty's Prison Wormwood Scrubs published their 1997 report on 19 March 1998. I have arranged for a copy of the report to be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what external legal advice he has taken on the National Lottery's television Dreams Game in which one draw qualifies participants for participation in a further draw; and if he will make a statement. [34426]

[holding answer 13 March 1998]: None. Under section 6 of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993, the Director-General of the National Lottery is responsible for licensing new National Lottery games. The BBC Governors are responsible for ensuring that all programmes broadcast on the BBC are in line with their Royal Charter and Agreement and Producers' Guidelines. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has written to the BBC chairman asking him to confirm that the new National Lottery programme does indeed comply with these obligations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of the sums allocated by the Sports Lottery Fund has been allocated to Wales. [35579]

Under the National Lottery etc. Act 1993, 20 per cent. of the proceeds for good causes goes to sport. 5 per cent. of this is distributed by the Sports Council for Wales. So far, this has made available over £51 million pounds for sports projects in Wales. In addition, the Millennium Commission has awarded £46 million to support the new national stadium in Cardiff.Subject to approval by Parliament, the National Lottery Bill will reduce the percentage allocation to sport to 16 per cent., but there will be no reduction in the £1.8 billion originally forecast to be raised for sport by 2001. The percentage of this for Wales will be unchanged.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what were the total costs incurred between 1992 and May 1997 in establishing ministerial offices for the Department of National Heritage at 2 Cockspur Street. [34481]

[holding answer 13 March 1998]: The total costs incurred by my Department from 1992 to date are set out in the following table.

Refurbishment of Ministerial offices
Year	Redecoration and furniture	Provision of new facilities	Total
1992–93	—	—	0
1993–94	—	—	0
1994–95	19,574	28,150	47,724
1995–96	—	—	0
1996–97	—	—	0
1 April 1997 to date	27,180	17,002	44,182

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list planned expenditure on hospitality for April and May, indicating the date, location and purpose of each event. [35114]

No major events are planned for April and May. It is not, however, possible to provide a comprehensive estimate for total expenditure on Ministerial hospitality as the majority of events and meetings will not be finalised until nearer the time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to extend the scheme of concessionary television licences to housing association properties housing both qualifying and non-qualifying residents. [35837]

The Government have no plans at present for any changes to the concessionary television licence scheme. However, the Government's Agreement with the BBC provides for a review of future funding arrangements prior to March 2002. We shall conduct that review in good time to allow decisions to be taken before then. It will include a detailed consideration of licence fee concessions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the (i) location of, (ii) running costs of, (iii) salary costs of and (iv) number of staff based at the head office of the British Tourist Authority, the percentage of staff based in (a) head office, (b) London and (c) Scotland and the percentage of salary and running costs incurred in (1) London and (2) Scotland. [36105]

The head office of the British Tourist Authority is located in Hammersmith, London. Its head office running costs in 1996–97 were £10.2 million, including salary costs of £4.7 million. There are 194 posts at the BTA's head office, which equates to 44% of the Authority's total staff. BTA staff based in London (at its head office and the British Travel Centre in Regent Street) represent 47% of total BTA staff—the remaining 53% being based in BTA offices in 37 countries around the world. London based staff account for 39% of the Authority's salary budget. The BTA has no offices, and no staff, in Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the responsibilities of the British Tourist Authority in Scotland. [36106]

Under the Development of Tourism Act 1969, the British Tourist Authority (BTA) is responsible for marketing Britain overseas. This responsibility covers Scotland, and the Chairman of the Scottish Tourist Board (STB) is a member of the Board of the BTA. The Tourism (Overseas Promotion) (Scotland) Act 1984 gave overseas marketing powers to the STB.The BTA has offices in 37 countries around the world, and in all of these it promotes and provides information about Scotland to potential visitors. The STB works directly with the BTA in a more limited number of markets and the two Boards work closely together in planning campaigns each year in these markets. A new protocol is now being drawn up between the BTA and the other national tourist boards to strengthen and formalise inter-Board co-operation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make representations to Bradford Metropolitan District Council not to sell off a section of the Boiling Road School playing field in Ilkley for housing development. [25639]

[holding answer 12 February 1998]: I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State currently has no powers to intervene in the disposal of school playing fields owned by local education authorities (LEAs), unless pupils would no longer have access to the minimum areas prescribed in the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1996. During the Commons Report stage of the School Standards and Framework Bill, an amendment was accepted which will, when enacted, prevent local authorities from disposing of school playing fields without the prior consent of the Secretary of State. In the meantime, the Government expect local education authorities to take fully into account the sporting and recreational needs of local schools and communities before disposing of any playing field.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have died in Northern Ireland as a result of alleged paramilitary activity since the 1994 ceasefire; and which organisation is thought to be responsible for which deaths [33323]

[holding answer 10 March 1998]: The table lists the murders as a result of paramilitary activity since 1 September 1994 until 1 March 1998:

Organisation	Number
Loyalist	33
Republican	26

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will publish a list of non-departmental public bodies (a) she has abolished since 1 May 1997 and (b) she has established since 1 May 1997; and what are the planned annual running costs of those that have been established since 1 May 1997. [34825]

[holding answer 17 March 1998]: The information for the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Departments is as follows:

(a) The Northern Ireland Citizen's Charter Advisory Panel was disbanded in May 1997.

(b) The Commission for Racial Equality for Northern Ireland (CRENI) was established in June 1997 and came into operation in August 1997. Estimated running costs in its first full year will be some £277,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on the prospects for farmers with flagged herds. [33759]

[holding answer 19 March 1998]: The Government are aware of the difficulties being experienced by farmers with flagged herds. The Export Certified Herd Scheme [which has now been approved in Brussels] will help to some extent as the reference to "holding" will be changed to "herd". The Date Based Export Scheme, which is also under discussion in Brussels, should be of some further help. The Department of Agriculture will also be reviewing the flagging system, in consultation with the industry, when the ECHS is up and running. My officials are keeping in close contact with representatives of the flagged procedures to explore what other means may be available to help them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will ask the Chairman of the Northern Ireland Talks Process to prepare and present a statement for the 23 March session of the talks outlining the extent to which he is satisfied that the International Commission's criteria for a parallel track approach has been met by all parties at the negotiating table. [35658]

[holding answer 23 March 1998]: I do not intend to make any such request. The procedural motion agreed in the talks on 24 September 1997 makes provision for regular plenary meetings to enable the participants collectively to review progress across the entire spectrum of the negotiations and to consider whether the necessary confidence and momentum towards agreement is being maintained.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what functions the Northern Irish Privy Council currently performs. [35596]

[holding answer 23 March 1998]: None. The Northern Ireland Privy Council no longer has any functions and, under the NI Constitution Act 1973, no further appointments may be made to it.

To ask the Prime Minister what changes he has made in the composition of the Political Honours Scrutiny Committee. [36244]

Members are traditionally Privy Counsellors who are not members of the Government. I have appointed the right hon. Baroness Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde to be a member of the Committee in place of Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos who has resigned. She joins Lord Pym (Chairman) and Lord Thomson of Monifieth.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the cost of employee travel on office business, broken down into (a) fuel allowances, (b) unproductive time during travel, (c) other costs related to car transport and (d) costs related to public transport, for (i) 1994–95, (ii) 1995–96, (iii) 1996–97 and (iv) 1997–98. [32447]

:[holding answer 3 March 1998]: The information sought is not all available. The information given relates only to travel on official business by staff of The Scottish Office:

• (a) No fuel allowances are paid.
• (b) No central record is kept of time spent travelling, whether productive or unproductive.
• (c) Car hire and fleet car running costs for 1996–97 and 1997–98 (11 months) are £537,855 and £434,826 respectively.
• (d) Official travel costs incurred in using public transport for 1996–97 and 1997–98 (11 months) are £1,952,125 and £1,904,759 respectively.

Comparable figures for 1994–95 and 1995–96 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if his Department will have introduced resource accounting in time for its use in the Scottish Parliament's first budget. [34939]

[holding answer 23 March 1998]: The Scottish Office will produce "dry-run" resource accounts for the year 1998–99 and fully audited and published resource accounts for the year 1999–2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to tighten the rules governing waste disposal in Scotland. [35191]

Activities involving the disposal of waste are subject to control under the amended EC Framework Directive on waste. The waste management licensing system established under Part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994, as amended, are the main means by which the requirements of the Framework Directive have been transposed into national law. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency, as regulator, enforces the Regulations.The Government will review the current exemptions from licensing for waste recovery by landspreading in the light of research currently under way. The research is expected to be completed by the end of April.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 16 March 1998, Official Report, columns 451–52 on Dounreay, by what means the Health and Safety Executive undertakes its regulatory role in respect of possible hazards to workers and members of the public from work carried out on the site of Dounreay, with particular reference to the accumulation and storage of radioactive waste. [36142]

Before anyone, other than the Crown, can use a site for the purpose of installing or operating a nuclear installation as defined in the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 (as amended) they must be in possession of a licence granted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Dounreay is such a site and a licence has been issued to the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority.The Nuclear Installations Act provides HSE with the power to attach conditions to a licence which are in the interests of safety. The Act also gives HSE the power to attach conditions which it sees fit with respect to the handling, treatment and disposal of nuclear matter. Through such conditions, HSE regulates the management of radioactive waste on licensed nuclear sites. This includes the generation of wastes, on-site storage of raw and treated wastes, on-site transport, waste processing and long term storage of waste and spent fuels, which are all integral parts of nuclear site operations licensed by HSE.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to assist students over the age of fifty years by means of (a) grants and (b) the waiving of fees; and if he will make a statement. [36110]

Students currently in full-time higher education who were aged over 50 at the start of their course are eligible for free tuition and a means-tested grant towards their living costs; that will continue for the duration of their continuous programme of study.Those aged 50 and over who begin courses in the academic year 1998–99 will be eligible for a maintenance grant at a reduced rate for that year only. Under the arrangements which will apply to new entrants to higher education from 1998–99 onwards, all eligible students, irrespective of age, will also be entitled to receive means-related help towards the contribution to their tuition costs.We have no plans to extend the eligibility for loans to those aged 50 and over for 1998–99, but we intend to review the position for 1999–2000 and subsequent years when maintenance grants will no longer be available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many meetings of the committee set up to review the work of the Student Awards Agency for Scotland have taken place; whether the committee has recommended an increase in (a) staff and (b) funding; on what date the findings of the committee will be published; and if he will make a statement. [36111]

The Steering Committee which has been established to oversee the Review of the Student Awards Agency for Scotland has met on three occasions. The Committee will be meeting again to consider the report of the Review and what conclusions and recommendations it wishes to make. I expect to receive the report during April and will arrange for its conclusions to be made public as soon as possible thereafter. I cannot at this stage anticipate the Committee's conclusions although I am aware that it has taken a close interest in resource issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 16 December 1997, Official Report, column 131, if he has made a decision on whether to implement the Garrick recommendation to establish a Scottish forum for higher education. [36112]

The decision is set out in the Government's response to the Garrick Report, which was published on 25 February 1998. My answer of 25 February 1998, Official Report, column 273, indicated that copies have been placed in the libraries of both Houses.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the impact of the GATT on the EU ban on the import of furs from countries using leghold traps. [34798]

The EU ban on the import of furs from countries using leghold traps has not been challenged under GATT rules.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to commission independent research into the consequences for business and public services of the need for computer systems to be millennium compliant. [27878]

The Ministerial Group chaired by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade is gathering information and consultants may have a part to play in advising the Government.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) when she last met a Treasury Minister to discuss the costs of millennium compliance in her Department; [32355](2) when she last met the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to discuss her Department's progress towards millennium compliance. [32354]

:[holding answer 3 March 1998]: A Ministerial Group on the Millennium Date Change, chaired by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, has been set up. A Ministerial sub-Group, chaired by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, has also been set up to discuss aspects of millennium compliance relating, inter alia, to Government Departments. Ministers from this Department and the Treasury attend meetings of both these groups.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when she expects to wind up Action 2000; and if she will make a statement. [35102]

Don Cruickshank has been appointed as Chairman of Action 2000 until 31 March 2000. I expect that there will continue to be a need beyond 1 January 2000 to provide advice to businesses which have failed to act in time, or whose actions have not proved to be completely successful, but it is too early to predict how long this requirement might last. I urge all businesses to decide now what steps they need to take and act without further delay.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the Government's policy on the costs of the use of mobile telephones. [30191]

Ministers take advice from the Director General of Telecommunications on questions relating to the provision of telecommunication services, including pricing. The Director has recently referred the prices of calls to mobile phones to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations she has received on the impact of the GATT on EU animal welfare directives. [34797]

The Department of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food have received representations from several animal welfare organisations, including, most recently, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the International Fund for Animal Welfare and Compassion in World Farming.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will raise the issue of the effect of the GATT on EU animal welfare directives during the World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference in Geneva in May; and if she will make a statement. [34796]

The European Communities' final position for the World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference in May is still under internal EU discussion.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what advice on ethical issues is available from her 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. [35045]

The Department, with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, 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. Detailed advice on the political situation in a country is provided by the FCO. The Department works with the FCO and the Department for International Development to encourage all British companies to set the highest ethical standards when trading overseas.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent initiatives have been taken under the auspices of the Environmental Technology Best Practice Programme to provide educational and technology support materials to assist companies to reduce costs through waste reduction. [35757]

The Environmental Technology Best Practice programme is continuing to encourage companies to reduce their costs and improve their competitiveness through waste reduction and improved environmental performance. The programme provides case studies of firms already engaged in waste reduction or other cost saving environmental good practice, benchmarking studies using environmental performance guides to enable companies to compare their performance, and guides to help companies adopt better environmental practices which reduce their costs.In addition to numerous articles in trade and other media, since 1 May 1997, the programme has published 51 case studies, environmental performance or benchmarking studies, and guides to good practice; held 40 workshops, seminars and site visits for industry participants; responded to almost 25,000 calls to the Environmental Helpline (a freephone inquiry service); given counselling visits to more than 250 small enterprises; and added the engineering and ceramics sectors to its main themes on waste minimisation and cleaner technology and its focus on volatile organic compounds and the foundries, metal finishing, textiles, printing, paper and board, chemicals, glass, food and drink industry sectors.This year, the programme will expand further its specific areas of interest to include the plastics sector and packaging.The programme is also working with trade, local business support organisations and other intermediaries to disseminate waste minimisation and clean technology information to companies. In Wales, for example, the programme is working closely with the Welsh Business and Environment Campaign.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what initiatives her Department has taken to promote markets for British environmental technologies (a) within the United Kingdom and (b) abroad. [35754]

The Government fully recognise the enormous potential of the UK environmental industry to create jobs, win exports and protect the environment. Support for the industry is provided through the Joint Environmental Markets Unit (JEMU). On 18 March, at a launch event I attended with my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment, we published JEMU's business plan for the next three years, setting out how JEMU will be working with the industry to pursue its mission

"to nurture the development of a strong, competitive and world-class UK environmental industry capable of competing successfully in the world market place".

The Business Plan details planned activities under eight main objectives—activities designed to raise the profile of the industry both at home and overseas. It indicates that JEMU will be focusing attention on a number of key areas including export promotion in selected overseas markets, and also sets out the range of support services available to the industry across government.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will ask the Council for Science and Technology to investigate the technical, economic, environmental and security status of plutonium used as a nuclear fuel. [35759]

There are currently no plans for the Council for Science and Technology to investigate the technical, economic, environmental and security status of plutonium. However, as the re-launched CST deliberates upon its future work programme, it will be open to the Council to consider this issue. It is for the owners of spent nuclear fuel, including plutonium, to choose their preferred management options subject to meeting the necessary environmental and regulatory requirements. It remains the responsibility of the Government to ensure that all civil plutonium continues to be subject to rigorous physical protection measures and safeguards in accordance with international non-proliferation obligations.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what environmental appraisal will be undertaken to assess the environmental implications of her reviews of (a) renewable energy and (b) utility regulation. [35636]

Environmental considerations are an integral part of the continuing reviews of renewables and utility regulation. One of the stated aims of the Renewables Review is to consider the potential contribution which new and renewable energy technologies can make to meeting future greenhouse gas reduction commitments and the terms of reference of the Review of Utility Regulation include consideration of changes to the system of utilities regulation to ensure regulation which promotes the Government's objectives for sustainable development and the environment. The need for, and nature of, specific environmental appraisals will depend on the final outcomes of the reviews.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the recent report of Valuplast on the extent of recovery and recycling of plastics. [35758]

I am aware of a number of reports and presentations by Valuplast in recent months concerning the UK's recovery and recycling of plastics. I believe that these show steady growth, but that industry investment will be needed to achieve the targets in the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will introduce additional controls on the mergers of supermarket companies; and if she will make a statement. [35947]