To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the impact on the public finances of (a) the introduction of self-assessment and the six month advance in payments by the self-employed and (b) the moving forward of corporation tax. [39561]

Self-assessment has not led to an advance in payment dates for the self-employed. The payment dates for the tax due for any year were previously the 1 January of that year and the 1 July immediately following. The position is much the same under self-assessment, with payments on account due on the 31 January and 31 July. The balance of the tax due for the year is then payable on the following 31 January. The overall effect on tax yield of self-assessment compared to the old system is very much a matter of speculation because of changes in taxpayer behaviour. However, it seems likely that the main behavioural effect of self-assessment has been to encourage taxpayers to bring their tax affairs up to date, and has led to some previously undeclared income being declared to the Inland Revenue.The changes to payment arrangements for corporation tax will first take effect in 1999. The estimated revenue effects of the abolition of ACT and the introduction of quarterly payments of corporation tax are set out in Table C.1. and paragraph C.87 of The Financial Statement and Budget Report March 1998.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will raise the issue of the proposed abolition of duty free sales at the meeting of Ecofin on 19 May. [39887]

There are no plans at present to raise this issue at the 19 May Ecofin. However, in the light of the comments made in the Transport Council on 17 March, consideration is currently being given to how best to progress the issue bearing in mind the heavy anticipated agendas of future Ecofin meetings and the fact that this matter was discussed over lunch in Ecofin as recently as 9 March where there was no enthusiasm for reopening the issue.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the European Parliament's resolution on the abolition of duty free sales. [39886]

I have noted the European Parliament's resolution on the abolition of intra-EU duty free sales.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total value of H. M. Tax Inspector's Estates; and what percentage of the accommodation is not presently occupied. [40126]

The total value of the Inland Revenue's estate is £225 million. Some 2.7 per cent. of available space is vacant.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons he has not applied to the EU for the discretion to apply a reduced rate of value-added tax for selected labour-intensive industries in respect of restoration and repairs of (a) churches and (b) historic buildings. [39872]

[holding answer 29 April 1998]: There is currently no provision in the relevant EC legislation for an optional reduced rate for labour-intensive services. The European Commission has floated the idea of such an experimental reduced rate for a limited range of such services, which would not include restoration and churches or most historic buildings. Adoption of this proposal would require unanimity and Member States remain divided as to the merits of this initiative, so there is little prospect of it being pursued.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce exemptions in respect of VAT for students in sixth form colleges when purchasing musical instruments. [40576]

Musical instruments when supplied by a VI form college to its own students for use in a course of instruction are outside the scope of VAT when provided at or below cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what policies are applied by HM Customs when deciding which passengers to search in the green channel. [40430]

Passengers are searched only where Customs have reasonable grounds to suspect that they are carrying smuggled goods.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans his Department has to review the legal definition of a bank deposit to reflect the current electronic purse developments. [40756]

None.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the zero-rating of value added tax on international passenger transport. [40379]

[holding answer 5 May 1998]: It is the Government's policy to maintain the current zero rate on international passenger transport.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the measures to be included in the proposed Bill reforming the regulation of financial services which are aimed at sustaining confidence in United Kingdom financial markets. [41214]

The financial markets play a pivotal role in ensuring the efficient allocation of resources within the economy. This is at the heart of growth and continued prosperity—resources going where they are best employed. It is vital that these markets are a fair and clean place to do business. The Financial Services Authority's (FSA) objectives will include sustaining confidence in the UK financial sector and markets and assisting in the detection and prevention of financial crime.I intend that the new bill will equip the FSA with all the necessary powers to enable them to fulfil these objectives. As the Economic Secretary said in answer to a question by my hon. Friend on 7 April 1998,

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what quantities of waste have been imported for disposal, broken down by type, and origin, for each year since 1983. [39972]

[holding answer 29 April 1998]: Information relating to transnational shipments of waste into and out of England and Wales is collected on behalf of my Department and the Welsh Office by the Environment Agency. Information on such shipments into and out of Scotland and Northern Ireland is collected annually by my Department from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Environment and Heritage Service respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will require local authorities to use a proportion of their capital receipts to renovate and refurbish existing housing stock to accessible standards. [40337]

We have given local authorities flexibility to apply the additional resources made available under the Capital Receipts Initiative to meet local priorities for investment in housing and housing related regeneration. The works they undertake may include improving accessibility as part of renovations and refurbishments of existing stock where that is a local priority.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions his Department conducts with the Department of Health concerning the impact on traffic levels of the closure of local hospital facilities. [40475]

The Department is in regular contact with the Department of Health on policy issues which have a possible impact on transport, including traffic levels. These issues are currently being considered in the development of the Integrated Transport White Paper which will be published later this year. The town planning and transport aspects of local hospital facility closures is primarily a matter for the relevant NHS Trust and the local authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what life-cycle analysis his Department has carried out on disposable nappies. [40601]

My Department has not carried out any life cycle analysis on disposable nappies. The Environment Agency are aware of a number of inconclusive studies comparing the merits of disposable and non-disposable nappies. They are developing computer software to enable industry to conduct life cycle analyses for individual waste streams, and will be encouraging industry to use it.Guidance on the handling of disposable nappies will be set out in a revised version of the Health and Safety Advisory Commission document, entitled "Safe Disposal of Clinical Waste", which is due to be published later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what life-cycle analysis has been carried out on female sanitary products. [40602]

I am not aware of any life-cycle analysis having been carried out on these products. Guidance on the handling of sanitary products will be set out in a revised version of the Health and Safety Commission document, entitled "Safe Disposal of Clinical Waste", which is due to be published later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to ensure that development in sequence is made an integral part of the planning process. [40436]

Development in sequence, the process by which development proceeds to an orderly timetable, has been an integral part of the planning system for many years. Local authorities are required to draw up development plans for their areas which establish a framework for future development.Our document "Planning for the Communities of the Future" indicated that we will consult on the development of a sequential approach to selecting locations for new housing.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to allow the introduction of genetically manipulated potatoes into the United Kingdom; and which modifications will be permitted. [40418]

No applications have been made to place genetically modified potatoes on the market or grow them commercially. Twenty-two approvals have been granted for research trials to grow genetically modified potatoes. The genetic modifications made to the potatoes have included altered sugar and starch metabolism, nematode and virus resistance and selectable marker genes used in the genetic modification process.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 3 July 1997, Official Report, column 243, when he expects his Department's review of issues relating to mobile homes to be concluded; and if he will make a statement. [40575]

[holding answer 5 May 1998]: As part of our review, we are setting up a working party comprising representatives from national residents' groups, the two main trade associations, local authorities and officials from my Department. The first meeting of the working party will take place later this month. Once it has agreed its terms of reference and programme of work, we will have a clearer idea of the timetable for competing our review.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the (a) transitional and (b) future costs of the London Mayor and Assembly; and what savings or additional costs will be incurred in comparison with the cost of quangos and central Government responsibilities the London Mayor and Assembly will be replacing. [40858]

We have estimated that the Government may need to spent up to £20 million on preparing for the GLA. We have also estimated that the Mayor and Assembly and new central GLA services would cost around £20 million a year. We expect this cost to be offset over time through savings in the Government Office for London, other Government Departments, and the London Boroughs from eliminating wasteful duplication and conflicting activities across London, and efficiencies within the GLA and the bodies and authorities which will come within its remit.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many watch officers are currently employed at Forth and Tyne-Tees coastguard stations. [40902]

There are currently 17 watch-keeping Officers employed at both Forth Coastguard Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre and Tyne Tees Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre. The grades included in these totals include: Watch Managers, Senior Watch Officers, Watch Officers and Watch Assistants.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will reply to the Fourth report of the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee, Session 1997–98, on Air Traffic Control. [40643]

We hope to respond quickly to the report on air traffic control and we expect to do so within the usual two-month period for responses to Select Committee reports.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he plans to take to include representatives of people from ethnic minority communities on public bodies covering the Greater London area. [40911]

The Government are committed to providing equality of opportunity to all members of our society. Ethnic minorities occupy some 3.6% of the appointments to the boards of public bodies many of which are based in London. Appointments to these bodies are made in accordance with the guidance issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. This emphasises appointments on merit using fair selection procedures. But it is equally clear that ethnic minorities are not applying for these posts in sufficient numbers. To redress this as part of a general awareness-raising exercise, the Government Office for London recently wrote out to all the Single Regeneration Budget funded partnerships operating in London to invite them to put forward names to the Cabinet Office's Public Appointments Unit and to respond to individual departmental trawls as vacancies arise. The PAU Register currently carries some 5,500 names, of which around 6% are of ethnic minorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many and what proportion of his Department's appointees to non-departmental public bodies are (i) aged under 25, (ii) aged 25 to 30 and (iii) aged 31 to 35 years. [40747]

No central record is maintained of the age of current appointees to non-departmental bodies sponsored by my Department. I regret, therefore, that the information cannot be provided in the form requested.The Government are committed to encouraging a wide range of candidates to apply for positions on the boards of public bodies, reflecting the diverse society in which we live. This includes encouraging more young people to put themselves forward as potential candidates for public appointments. All appointments are made on merit, and candidates must demonstrate that they have the necessary skills and experience to match the needs of the public body on which they wish to serve.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received from organisations in the West Midlands in support of a voluntary regional chamber in the region. [40229]

The Department has received a number of representations about a regional chamber in the West Midlands following publication of the Government's White Paper "Building Partnership for Prosperity" in December last year. The West Midlands Local Government Association has now produced a consultation paper on a regional chamber and is currently seeking the views of regional organisations. I look forward to receiving a final proposal later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he is taking to improve the accessibility of new-built private sector homes for people with disabilities. [40231]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon (Angela Smith) on 9 March 1998, Official Report, columns 11–12.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will introduce fiscal discrimination to encourage the development of regional airports. [40232]

We have no plans to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to encourage the scope for more flexible public-private partnerships to facilitate greater investment at those regional airports owned by local authorities. [40233]

We have recently published a consultation document on local government capital finance. Chapter 8 discusses the private finance initiative and public/private partnerships. We will welcome views on our approach to the longer term development of the private finance initiative and the wider role of partnerships for local authorities, including local authority airports.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) which certifying authorities operating under his authority to ensure compliance with the Code of Practice for the Safety of Small Commercial Motor Vessels through the survey and certification of vessels operate in the North of Scotland; [40856](2) what qualifications are required for approval as a certifying authority authorised to undertake survey and certification of vessels for compliance with the Code of Practice for the Safety of Small Commercial Motor Vessels. [40857]

There are 11 Certifying Authorities (CA), in addition to the MCA, with the authority to survey and certificate vessels for compliance with the Code of Practice (see Annex A). These authorities cover the UK and are not exclusive to the North of Scotland.The CAs must be able to demonstrate that they:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he has completed his review of the implications of the failed prosecution of South West Water in relation to the outbreak of cryptosporidium in the Torbay area in 1995; and if he will make a statement. [41216]

I have concluded that there is a case for increased monitoring at water treatment plants that are most at risk of releasing Cryptosporidium into drinking water supplies. I propose therefore to begin consultations on amendments to the Regulations on drinking water quality to require continuous monitoring of the treated water to detect Cryptosporidium at such plants. If this monitoring detects the presence of the organism at an unacceptable level, the Drinking Water Inspectorate will consider prosecution of the company. There would be a new criminal offence of failing to treat water to adequately remove Cryptosporidium oocysts. On conviction in a Crown Court, the offence would carry a penalty of an unlimited fine. The intention is to encourage the operation of water treatment plants in line with best practice, which should prevent Cryptosporidium in drinking water causing illness. I have arranged for a copy of the consultation paper on my proposals to be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to remove the prohibition on Church of England and Roman Catholic priests standing for election to Parliament. [40246]

We have no plans to do so and have had no request from the Churches to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) Malaysians, (b) Jamaicans, (c) Barbadians, (d) Zimbabweans, (e) Ghanians, (f) Bangledeshis, (g) Indians, (h) Pakistanis, (i) Russians, (j) Poles, (k) United States citizens and (/) Canadians were (i) granted leave to enter the United Kingdom as visitors and (ii) refused leave to enter the United Kingdom in 1997 to the latest available date. [40307]

Data for the whole of 1997 are given in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions since it opened, and on what dates, Parc Prison, Bridgend, has called upon neighbouring prisons for help with disturbances; which prisons responded sending how many prison officers and at what cost; and on how many occasions Parc Prison has reciprocated. [40390]

Parc prison has requested assistance from neighbouring prisons for help with disturbances on two occasions since it opened on 17 November 1997. On both occasions, a total of 43 staff were provided by other establishments. On 20 February, 14 staff from Swansea, 14 from Cardiff and 15 from Usk attended at a total cost of £1,788. On 18 April, 14 staff from Cardiff, 14 from Swansea and 15 from Bristol provided assistance at a total cost of £1,806.There has been no request to date for Parc to reciprocate under these mutual aid arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reviews his Department has carried out of the maximum sentence of custody which can be imposed by (i) a magistrates' court and (ii) a youth court. [40185]

The Magistrates' Association has proposed a change in the sentencing powers of magistrates' courts to allow them to impose up to 12 months' imprisonment, instead of the current six months' maximum. We are considering whether there are some circumstances in which such a change might be appropriate, but any change of this type would need very careful consideration of its effect on the prison population and on the rest of the criminal justice system.We have set out our proposals for imposing custody on juveniles in Chapter 6 of the White Paper 'No More Excuses—A New Approach to Tackling Youth Crime in England and Wales' published in November last year. We intend to replace the existing custodial sentences of Detention in a Young Offenders Institution (15–17 year olds) and the Secure Training Order with a new Detention and Training Order. The Detention and Training Order will be available to all criminal courts on a similar basis and sentences of up to two years will be possible; half the term of the Order will normally be spent in custody while the remainder will be spent in the community under supervision. The Detention and Training Order is being introduced in the Crime and Disorder Bill.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discretion exists to allow new information to be considered by the appeal tribunal in immigration cases. [40205]

In immigration appeals, the appellate authorities may take into account only those facts which were in existence at the time the decision was taken or which could have reasonably been expected to happen. In asylum appeals, the appellate authorities may take into account any facts in existence at the time of the hearing of the appeal.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average length of time between the original request for leave to remain in the United Kingdom and the appeal stage in immigration cases. [40201]

The available information is that, for non-asylum immigration cases decided in 1997, the average length of time between the request for leave to remain in the United Kingdom and being refused in which there was a right of appeal was 246 days. To this is added the time taken to lodge an appeal, which is a maximum of 14 days.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 8 April 1998, Official Report, column 259, if his Department will assess the advantages of recording separately court proceedings relating to domestic violence. [40577]

As part of developing our strategy on domestic violence, we have been looking at how best to define domestic violence, whether it is possible to collect statistics in a form which would be more helpful in illustrating its prevalence and nature, and how any such statistics might be collected and recorded. In the meantime, statistics on court proceedings will continue to be based on the specific offence in respect of which proceedings were brought, rather than the context in which that offence was committed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the funding of victim support schemes in North Wales. [40532]

Home Office grant to local victim support schemes and witness services is allocated by Victim Support's Local Funding Panel. The Panel is a sub-committee of Victim Support's National Council and is independent of local groups. It considers applications from local schemes and witness services in accordance with grant criteria, agreed annually between Victim Support and the Home Office.In 1996–97 (the last year for which full figures are available), the Home Office provided a grant of £11.7 million to Victim Support. Some £10.4 million of this was channelled to local schemes and witness services via the Local Funding Panel. The North Wales Victim Support Scheme received a grant of £41,208.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prescriptions for benzodiazepine drugs were issued by the Prison Medical Service in 1996. [40455]

The information sought could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.There is pharmacy information relating to a sample of prisons. However, it is not possible to disaggregate these data reliably to estimate the number of benzodiazepine prescriptions. A specific survey would be needed involving a representative sample of prisons.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the revenues raised by seizing the assets of criminals in (a) 1994–95, (b) 1996–97 and (c) 1997–98; and if he will make a statement. [40236]

[holding answer 30 April 1998]: Between April 1994 and March 1997, the following sums were remitted to the Consolidated Fund under the confiscation legislation which applies in England and Wales:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the regulations concerning pet boarding establishments. [40533]

The operation of the Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963 is kept under consideration. There are no plans at present to review the legislation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance his Department gives to police authorities with regard to insuring special constables; and if he will make a statement. [40859]

Arrangements to compensate special constables who are injured on duty are contained in the Special Constables Regulations. The courts have held that, where a statutory scheme exists, supplementary payments are unlawful because the statutory scheme is exhaustive. The Police (Insurance of Voluntary Assistants) Act 1997, which came into effect on 21 March last year, specifically excluded special constables for this reason.The 1995–96 Special Constabulary Working Group reviewed the compensation arrangements and recommended a number of changes to the regulations. The Group considered the question of compensation through insurance but was not convinced that private insurance would provide any better cover than could be provided under suitably amended regulations.Proposals for new regulations were set out in a consultation paper which was sent to the police staff associations, the Association of Police Authorities and the special constabularies last December. Comments received from those bodies are currently under consideration and we aim to lay new regulations before Parliament later this year.A copy of the consultation paper was placed in the Library in December 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will investigate the role of (a) the Probation Service and (b) his Department in the publication of the book "Cries Unheard"; and if they were aware in advance of any proposed payment to Mary Bell. [41060]

I have asked the Permanent Secretary of the Home Office to investigate the circumstances in which Home Office officials became aware that Mary Bell, convicted for manslaughter and released on life licence, was proposing to co-operate with Gitta Sereny in the writing of a book about her life, to establish what procedures and instructions were in place to guide proper consideration of the case, and to make recommendations for improvement in handling such cases in future. I have asked for a report by the end of June, with the intention of making the main findings public.The Probation Service is separately reviewing their involvement in events leading up to the publication of the book and I have asked for a report on the outcome.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 24 April 1998, Official Report, column 703, when he expects to publish figures for the number of police officers in England and Wales on 31 March. [41011]

This information is currently being collected in accordance with routine procedures. Once all the returns have been received from the police and validated, the statistics will be placed in the Library. I expect this information to be available in early June. The figures for the year to March 1997 were published on 10 June 1997.

To ask the Prime Minister how many and what percentage of the (i) paid and (ii) unpaid appointments which he has made to non-departmental public bodies since 1 May 1997 were women. [39402]

[holding answer 29 April 1998]: Since 1 May 1997, I have appointed or re-appointed 62 men and 24 women to serve on the boards of non-departmental public bodies. Of these, 22 men (81 per cent.) and 5 women (19 per cent.) have been appointed to paid posts and 40 men (68 per cent.) and 19 women (32 per cent.) have been appointed to unpaid posts. The Figures given in this answer include all appointments and re-appointments directly within my gift, made by officials and Ministers on my behalf, and made by Her Majesty The Queen on my advice.The Government are committed to increasing the representation of women in public life. In support of this, all Departments are currently drawing up action plans for increasing the number of women and ethnic minorities holding public appointments.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 6 May. [40630]

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. Later today, together with the right hon. Member for Huntingdon, (Mr. Major), I will be paying a visit to Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) when the decision will be taken on the level of capitation grant for supported employment placements for 1999–2000; [39637](2) what is the projected level of funding available to the Sheltered Employment and Procurement Consultancy Services for capital grants for 1999–2000 and for 2000–01; [39638](3) what assessment he has made of the impact on income levels of people with disabilities who have approved placements at supported factories of the freeze on the capitation grant for supported employment placements; [39639](4) what assessment his Department has made of the effect on supported factories of the freeze of the capitation grant for supported employment placements; [39640](5) when the decision was taken to freeze the capitation grant for supported employment placements. [39641]

The Employment Service works closely with supported employment providers on the operation, and factors affecting delivery, of their contracts including capitation needs, and advises and assists them in devising strategies for improving business efficiency.Wages rates are a matter between employer and employee and, where an industry has agreed rates, these will apply in workshops.The Supported Employment Consultative Group was advised formally of the grant rate in March 1998 and all contract managers were written to on 6 April.In common with other Departments, the Department for Education and Employment has undertaken a comprehensive spending review of all areas of its spending. Announcements will be made in the summer. Capitation grant levels for future years will be set following decisions about the Department's overall base lines.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proposals he has to ensure that students in the age group 16 to 18-year-olds attending schools with sixth forms are funded at the same level as students attending colleges in the further education sector. [39952]

We are looking at the scope for greater equity of funding between school sixth forms and Further Education colleges as part of the Department's Comprehensive Spending Review. We expect that announcements will be made in the Summer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what checks are made to ensure that schools for 11 to 18- year-olds do not reallocate resources from pupils in the 11 to 16- years-age group to their sixth form students. [39953]

None, since to do so would be incompatible with the philosophy behind Local Management of Schools (LMS). Under LMS, the governing body of a school with a delegated budget may deploy the resources provided by the Local Education Authority as it thinks fit. This is subject to any restrictions contained in the Authority's LMS scheme and to the overriding requirement that the budget share may be spent only for the purposes of the school.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidelines his Department issues to further education colleges in England with regard to advertising their courses in Wales. [40013]

The Department has not issued guidance on this.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what additional resources will become available to the Government as a result of introducing a system of formal resource accounting and budgeting in 2001 and 2002, under which student loans will be treated as a balance sheet asset; and what additional resources will be available to higher education. [40123]

The treatment of student loans under resource accounting is still under discussion. The resources which will be available to higher education are currently being considered as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he expects to complete the sale of the remaining student loan debt portfolio; and which institutions are bidding for the remaining portfolio. [40122]

We made a commitment in our election manifesto to staying within the published spending plans of the previous Government for the first two years of our term. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer made it clear in his statement, on 10 July 1997, Official Report, columns 607–08, that the student loan debt sales planned for 1997–98 and 1998–99 had a role to play in enabling us to keep that pledge. The debt sales also reflect our commitment to the development of a wide range of public-private partnerships which involve the transfer of risk to the private sector.Current plans are for a second sale, involving part of the remaining student loan debt, to get under way shortly and to be completed within the 1998–99 financial year. We will again hold a competition and expect a wide range of prominent financial institutions to participate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has for proposals on Lifelong Learning; and if he will make a statement. [40129]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment published his proposals for lifelong learning in the Green Paper, The Learning Age (Cm 3790), on 25 February. The consultation period lasts until 24 July. Meanwhile, we have issued several of the "Learning Age Papers" foreshadowed in the Green Paper:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the schools which qualify for allocations from the New Deal for schools in 1998–99 for replacement or repair, indicating the new schools to be built. [40208]

I have placed in the Library a list of the projects which received allocations on 16 April. The allocations in respect of the following schools will result in the schools being replaced:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if the recent comments to Politeia by the Chief Inspector of Schools represent the Government's policy on education funding. [40821]

The Government have a commitment to increase the proportion of national income spent on education. The additional funding made available in 1998–99 is the first step in delivering this pledge.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to review the range and quality of music teaching in primary schools; and if he will make a statement. [40779]

Music is a National Curriculum foundation subject and must be taught in all primary schools. The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority is currently advising my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on the broad nature and scope of a review of the National Curriculum for the year 2000. In addition, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools reports annually to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on the range and quality of teaching in all National Curriculum subjects in primary schools, including music.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of her Department's 1997–98 budget for the generation and dissemination of knowledge was spent in the United Kingdom. [40617]

Final figures of expenditure on knowledge generation and dissemination by my Department in 1997–98 are not yet available but are estimated at some £84 million. Data are not maintained of the percentage spent in the United Kingdom. Much of the work was commissioned from United Kingdom institutions which will have incurred expenditure both in this country and in developing countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many and what proportion of her Department's appointees to non-departmental public bodies are (i) aged under 25, (ii) aged 25 to 30 and (iii) aged 31 to 35 years. [40748]

I regret that none of the appointees of DFID to non-departmental public bodies is aged under 35. The Government are committed to encouraging more young people to put themselves forward as potential candidates for public appointment. All appointments are made on merit, and candidates must demonstrate that they have the necessary skills and experience to match the needs of the public body on which they wish to serve.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the measures her Department has taken to promote the education of children about their rights in Indonesia. [40621]

UNICEF takes the lead in the international community in promoting the rights of children as set out in the International Convention on the Rights of the Child. As the major advocate for the rights of the child in Indonesia, UNICEF is working with the Government on legal reforms relating to the elimination of hazardous employment of children, juvenile justice, child abuse and neglect, as well as sexual exploitation.The Department for International Development is preparing a regional strategy to help tackle the problem of child labour in South East Asia. The need for children to be educated about their rights will be assessed during the preparation of this strategy.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made on a multilateral commitment to eliminate tariffs for the least developed countries. [40620]

UK policy towards elimination of barriers to trade for Least Developed Countries (LDC) is set out in the Government's White Paper on International Development published in November 1997. The UK has agreed strongly within Europe and internationally (including through the G8) in pushing for the elimination of tariffs on imports from the LDCs and for eventual agreement to eliminate tariffs within a bound WTO scheme.Some progress has been made towards this end: a number of member states made commitments to extend their market access for LDCs at the WTO hosted High Level Meeting for LDCs in October last year. Progress will be reviewed at the WTO Ministerial in May this year.Under the UK Presidency, agreement has been reached within the EU to extend market access to the imports of the nine non-African, Caribbean and Pacific LDCs on terms similar to those available under the Lomé Convention. The UK see this as a first step and will continue to press for duty-free access to the EU market for all Least Developed Countries. In addition, the UK recognises that complex rules of origin can act as a constraint on taking up preferential access. The UK is therefore pressing for an EU commitment to simplify and harmonise the EU preferential origin rules.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations her Department has made to developing country research institutions; and what sums were spent on development research carried out in partnership with developing country research institutions in each of the last three years. [40625]

My Department works closely with national research systems in developing countries to help generate and apply solutions to the problems which constrain sustainable development. Separate data are not maintained of sums spent on partnerships with developing country research institutes. Available data are in Table 12, page 83, of British Aid Statistics, 1992/93-1996/97, copies of which are in the Library of the House.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list those visits made within the United Kingdom since 1 May on which (a) he and (b) other Ministers within his Department have been accompanied under Rule 83 of the Ministerial Code indicating (i) those persons accompanying and (ii) the cost to public funds. [23757]

[holding answer 19 January 1998]: Since 1 May 1997 I have undertaken no accompanied visits covered under Rule 83 of the Ministerial Code. Lady Irvine has accompanied the Lord Chancellor on the following official visits within the United Kingdom since 1 May 1997:

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is his estimate of the cost of Ministerial overseas travel in his Department in (a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97 and (c) 1997–98 to date. [26673]

[holding answer 5 February 1998]: The total expenditure on travel by Ministers in my Department for these periods is as follows:

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what has been the longest interval between the close of a trial and the delivery of the written judgment of the court since 1987. [38207]

[holding answer 20 April 1998]: In the vast majority of cases judgments are delivered immediately at the end of trial. Where judgments are reserved, the average period before delivery varies, but, for example, the most recent figure in the Chancery Division is 15 working days and in the Queens Bench Division is 10 working days. The available information indicates that the longest delay in recent years, which was wholly exceptional, was 22 calendar months in the case of Goose v Wilson Sandford (Court of Appeal, 13 February 1998).

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will review whether legislation is needed to clarify, for contracts and other legal purposes, the definition of the terms (a) millennium, (b) eve of the millennium and (c) similar phrases. [40314]

The Government have no intention of doing so. It is for those drawing up legal documents to ensure that the meaning of any terms which they use denoting times or dates is clear.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what progress has been made in enforcing the payment of fines levied as a consequence of the prosecutions in respect of the Ramsgate walkway disaster of 14 April 1994; and what he intends to do to ensure the compliance of the Swedish companies, Fartgsentreprendar A.B. and Fartygskonstruktioner A.B., with the sentences imposed on them. [40339]

The Port of Ramsgate Ltd. and Lloyds Register of Shipping have both paid the fines and costs imposed upon them. The two Swedish companies, Fartgsentreprendar A.B. and Fartygskonstruktioner A.B. have not. Enforcement action against the two Swedish companies has not been successful. Distress warrants were issued but could not be executed because neither company had assets in this country. Unlike the civil jurisdiction there is no convention between the countries of the European Union allowing one country to enforce criminal penalties enforced in another.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will endorse the 1994 Brighton Declaration on Women in Sport. [24701]

The Government support the aims of the 1994 Brighton Declaration on Women and Sport. The UK and home country Sports Councils already undertake a number of activities in support of these aims to help women in sport.We are considering formal adoption of the declaration and hope to make an announcement in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) how many projects applying for Lottery funds have been turned down because of inadequate matching funds; [40240](2) what research his Department has conducted into

The Lottery distributors do not keep records of how many applications for Lottery funding are turned down because of lack of partnership support. Neither the Department nor the distributors have conducted any research into the extent to which applications are not made because of difficulties in securing such support.I am nevertheless concerned about the ability of some applicants to raise partnership support. As a result, the new package of draft Policy Directions governing the distribution of Lottery funds, on which my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Culture, for Scotland, for Wales and for Northern Ireland are consulting, require distributors to take into account the extent to which applicants can realistically expect to raise partnership support. These Directions make it clear that volunteer time and support in kind are as acceptable as cash for this purpose. It is for individual distributors to set detailed partnership requirements and to monitor their impact.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on his plans to improve the audit of the National Lottery Distribution Fund. [41095]

It is Government's intention that the financial arrangements governing the National Lottery should be as transparent as possible. I have therefore tabled an amendment to the National Lottery Bill to allow the Comptroller and Auditor General access to those records of the National Lottery operator that are necessary for the purpose of his office's audit of the National Lottery Distribution Fund under section 33 of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993. This will deal with the concerns of the Public Accounts Committee as set out in their 20th Report in 1996–97. In exercising this access, the C&AG will have to take account of the work carried out by the Director General. This change does not provide a wider right of access for the purposes of value for money reviews of the private sector operator.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what were (a) the total value in real terms of staff car mileage claims paid, (b) the total value in real terms of staff rail fares paid, (c) the total amount of staff car mileage for which reimbursement was made and (d) the percentage change from the previous year in each case, for his Department in each year since the Department was created. [40441]

The information is not readily available and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what quantity of (a) oil, (b) gas and (c) electricity, was purchased for the heating, lighting and powering of all accommodation occupied by the Department in each year of its and its predecessors' occupation; and what was the total cost in real terms for (a) to (c) in each year. [40411]

My Department was created in April 1992 by transferring certain areas of responsibility from six Departments. However, the following details of energy consumption and costs are available only from 1993 when the Department commenced occupation of its own buildings:The necessary amendment will be tabled in the Committee that is presently sitting.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the overall costs in (a) 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98 of (i) regular forces and (ii) reservists in (1) the Royal Navy, (2) the Army and (3) the Royal Air Force. [39619]

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 Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions since 1 May 1997 he has invoked exemption 14 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information in respect of selling or disposing of land to private individuals or consortia. [40087]

There has been one occasion when exemption 14 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information has been used in respect of selling or disposing of land to private individuals or consortiums since 1 May 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the liquid compounds of the COMBOPENS Autoject Nerve Agent Antidote L4AI produced by Duphar International Research BV of the Netherlands and supplied to the British Army in the Gulf War. [40143]