To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in relation to the Review of Trust Ports in Northern Ireland announced on 26 August 1997; and if she will make a statement. [41803]

The Review of Trust Ports in Northern Ireland which I announced last year has now been concluded. In general, the review findings serve to reinforce the strategic importance of the commercial Trusts Ports in relation to the Northern Ireland economy. However the review has identified the need to broaden and extend the powers of the commercial Trust Ports and to ease the financial controls under which they currently operate, to enable them to meet the challenges of the future. Further detailed consideration will now be given to these recommendations with a view to bringing forward suitable legislation at the earliest opportunity.During the course of the review, Belfast Harbour Commissioners submitted to the Department of the Environment (NI) a proposal for the future development of the Port of Belfast. This followed careful consideration by the Commissioners of a range of possible future options. BHC's preferred option envisaged the transfer of the Port to the private sector by means of a placed flotation and the establishment of a public/private partnership, through the retention by the Government of a golden share in the successor company.The Harbour Commissioners consider that such a change to the status of the port is necessary to assure its long-term viability and competitive position, and offers the benefit of enabling the successor company to raise private equity and debt to finance its future development. The golden share arrangement is intended to ensure that the wider interests of the Northern Ireland economy are safeguarded.The Department accepts that transfer of the port to the private sector and the establishment of a public/private partnership, as outlined in BHC's proposal, represents the best option for the future and will enable the port to realise its full commercial potential. Accordingly the Department has today conveyed to BHC its agreement, in principle, to the proposal (subject to certain conditions) and invited the Commissioners to further develop the proposal with a view to bringing forward a Scheme for the Department's detailed consideration. Under the Ports (NI) Order 1994, any such Scheme will be subject to public consultation.There are no plans to change the current status of any other Trust Ports in Northern Ireland. However, following the review, in addition to widening the powers and easing the financial controls on the other commercial Trust ports, further consideration will now be given to improving their accountability by increasing District Council representation on the boards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has to introduce legislation for Northern Ireland containing provisions similar to those of the Crime and Disorder Bill [Lords]. [40635]

Different local administrative and legislative arrangements limit the applicability of much of the Crime and Disorder Bill to Northern Ireland. However, a small number of provisions will be introduced to Northern Ireland by means of a negative resolution clause in the Bill. These are the sex offender order, the drug treatment and testing order, TV links for pre-trial hearings, the abolition of doli incapax and powers for youth courts to deal with unrelated charges. In addition, should Parliament decide to retain the clause, introduced in the House of Lords, which abolishes the death penalty in respect of treason and piracy, then the relevant legislation in respect of Northern Ireland will be repealed by the Bill.The potential impact of the remaining provisions will be assessed, taking account of experience in England and Wales, in order to determine whether similar measures should be incorporated in future Northern Ireland legislation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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. [40734]

The information requested is not available. Dates of birth of appointees were not recorded before 1 July 1996, the date on which the Guidance of the Commissioner for Public Appointments took effect. Details covering the period 1996–97 are available in the Secretary of State's First Annual Report on Public Appointments, copies of which have been placed in the Libraries of the House.The Government are committed to encouraging a wide range of candidates, including young people, to apply for positions on public bodies. 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 Northern Ireland how many visits to each district council area by potential inward investors were arranged by the Industrial Development Board between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998. [40927]

The information requested is as follows:

Visits to district council areas by potential investors 1 April 1997–31 March 1998
District council	Number of visits
Antrim	21
Ards	1
Armagh	2
Ballymena	5
Ballymoney	2
Banbridge	1
Belfast	82
Carrickfergus	15
Castlereagh	2
Coleraine	7
Cookstown	9
Craigavon	16
Derry	14
Down	3
Dungannon	3
Fermanagh	5
Larne	9
Limavady	2
Lisburn	23
Magherafelt	1
Moyle	0
Newry & Mourne	5
Newtownabbey	19
North Down	4
Omagh	5
Strabane	2
Total	258

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many grants have been made from the National Lottery (a) to encourage walking and footpath development and restoration and (b) to increase access to the countryside. [40431]

The Lottery distributors estimate they have awarded some £440 million to projects designed to encourage walking, footpath development and restoration, and access to the countryside. The distributors do not however record these awards separately. Details are set out in the table:

Distributor	Number of awards	Value of awards (£)
Arts Council for England1	0	0
English Sports Council	389	51,593,435
Scottish Arts Council	0	0
Scottish Sports Council	27	1,954,154
Arts Council for Wales	0	0
Sports Council for Wales	5	159,327
Arts Council for Northern Ireland	0	0
Sports Council for Northern Ireland	0	0
Heritage Lottery Fund	356	153,679,679
Millennium Commission	33	232,991,684
National Lottery Charities Board	12	554,215
Total	822	440,932,494
1 ACE has made some 375 capital grants totalling £370 million to rural projects. Some of these will cover the areas specified but they cannot be precisely identified.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what response he has made to the Football Task Force report into racism in football. [41866]

I welcome and fully support the practical recommendations made in the Task Force's report, which I believe can make a significant contribution to eliminating racism within the game. I have written today to the bodies identified in the report, asking them how they intend to take the measures relevant to them forward, and seeking a clear timetable for action.There are two specific recommendations that fall to Government: that the Football Offences Act 1991 should be amended to make racist abuse by individual spectators an offence; and that schoolchildren should have access to playing fields on a regular basis.The Government will be amending the Football Offences Act 1991 as soon as legislative priorities allow. There is no suitable legislative opportunity available at this time. In the meantime, the Home Office has written to all chief police officers in England and Wales reminding them of existing powers under the Public Order Act 1986, which makes it an offence to use threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with the intention of causing harassment, alarm or distress to the person to whom such words or behaviour are directed.The Government recognise that schoolchildren should have access to playing fields to enable them to participate in a range of sports. We recently announced how we will protect existing playing fields needed by schools and communities through new legislation requiring schools to seek consent for the sale of playing fields and by tightening planning controls.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will require local authorities to build new housing which is funded by capital receipts to those standards for accessibility which are proposed to be included in an extension of Part M of the building regulations. [40336]

We announced on 9 March 1998, Official Report, columns 12–13, that Part M of the Building Regulations would be extended to include new dwellings. Part M will cover all new dwellings, including those built as a result of the additional resources released under the Capital Receipts Initiative. Amendment Regulations will be laid later this year and will come into force 12 months after publication.New housing built by Registered Social Landlords has to meet standards prescribed by the Housing Corporation which already covers most of the requirements of Part M.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will re-activate the Newcastle diving registry records as a basis for a comprehensive database of divers. [41128]

The Health and Safety Executive has no plans to re-activate the Newcastle diving registry, but is investigating whether the information collected in the registry can provide information which could be useful in the proposed research project into the long-term health effects associated with diving.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action was taken by the Health and Safety Executive in response to the Offshore Technology report, OTO 94 009 Neurological and Cerebrovascular Abnormalities in Divers, issued in August 1994, in respect of its findings relating to damage caused to the central nervous system by diving. [41127]

In my written reply, given on 22 January 1998, Official Report, columns 614–15, to one of the hon. Friend's earlier questions, I explained that HSE was commissioning research into the long-term health effects associated with diving. This was, partly, in response to the report referred to.The initial advertisement and tendering exercise for this research project was not concluded successfully and so the scope of the project is being reconsidered with a view to readvertising it.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many professional divers he estimates there were in each year since 1979; and how many have had their medical certificates revoked or not reissued due to medical conditions directly attributable to diving. [41130]

The best estimates of the numbers of active professional divers in Great Britain come from the numbers of medical examinations notified to the Health and Safety Executive by approved medical examiners of divers under the Diving Operations at Work Regulations 1981 and the Diving at Work Regulations 1997. These figures are readily available only from 1989 and are shown in the table. Information for the period between 1985 and 1989 could be obtained only at disproportionate expense.The medical condition causing divers to fail their medicals is reported to the Health and Safety Executive, but not the cause of that condition. The conditions are often those prevalent in the general population, for example hypertension, which may, or may not, be attributable to diving. It is not, therefore, possible to state which of the failures were the result of conditions caused by diving. The numbers of divers failing their medicals from 1989 is shown in the table.Since 1995, only one medical certificate has been revoked. The diver concerned had a serious medical condition, unrelated to diving, which was not disclosed to the examining doctor. This condition put the diver at a serious risk. Information on other revocations is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate expense.

Year	Medicals	Failures
1989–90	3,943	30
1990–91	4,746	33
1991–92	4,749	60
1992–93	5,054	43
1993–94	4,984	78
1994–95	4,911	23
1995–96	4,867	54
1996–97	4,780	34
1997–98	4,889	36

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the development of pipelines for the movement of fluids and freight in the United Kingdom. [41102]

There are a number of pipeline networks in the UK for the transport of gases and liquids such as oil and water. I am not aware of any major movements of freight by pipeline, but if my hon. Friend has a particular issue in mind, perhaps she could write to me.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he plans to take to protect wildlife sites affected by abstraction and sewage effluent. [41201]

After consulting interested parties, my right hon. Friends the Deputy Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Wales will publish in July their guidance to the Director General of Water Services on the environmental obligations which they will expect the water companies to meet during the period covered by the Director's current water price review—that is, the years 2000 to 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment his Department has made of the effect on Warrington's economic development of (a) building and (b) not building a new Junction 8 on the M62. [40897]

[holding answer 7 May 1998]: This scheme is being considered as part of the Government's strategic Roads Review. The economic impact of the scheme is being assessed as part of the new appraisal technique that has been developed as part of that Roads Review.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what estimate he has made of the level of traffic-related pollutants on the A49 in Warrington over the next five years (a) if a new Junction 8 is built on the M62 and (b) if no new junction is constructed; [40896]

[holding answer 7 May 1998]: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, to write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to give effect to the Local Government Commission's recommendations for electoral arrangements in North Somerset. [41527]

We are currently considering the representations which we have received on the Commission's recommendations, and intend to announce our preliminary response to those recommendations as soon as practicable.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the Government's policy towards the levels of freight transported internationally. [41457]

International freight movements are a reflection of economic activity. While growth in this area is evidence of a healthy economy, such traffic should take place efficiently and with regard to its environmental impact.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list air services operated by Bangladeshi-registered airlines operating to or from the United Kingdom. [41557]

Biman Bangladesh Airlines is the Bangladeshi-registered airline designated to operate scheduled services to and from the UK. It currently operates five passenger services per week between Dhaka and London Heathrow using DC-10 aircraft.In addition, any airline registered in Bangladesh may apply to the Department for permission to operate ad-hoc charter services.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many miles of cycle way have been introduced since May 1997; and what (a) encouragement and (b) support is given to local authorities to introduce cycle ways. [41589]

Information about the lengths of cycle tracks or cycle routes provided in local authority areas in England is not held centrally. We encourage all local authorities to respond to the National Cycling Strategy by establishing local cycling strategies, and by setting local targets for increases in cycle use. We support local authorities efforts with funding from the annual local transport budget, based on their Transport Policies and Programme submissions. This year, over 70 package bids are being supported, all containing cycling measures. We also provide technical support through an extensive range of Traffic Advisory Leaflets and other publications on cycling, and in response to day-to-day inquiries.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the total level of grants made to convert housing to enable people with spinal cord injury to live in their own homes; and how many properties were converted in each year since 1990–91. [40865]

Information on the level of disabled facilities grants given to those suffering from spinal cord injuries, and the number of homes converted, is not collected by the Department. However, research published by the Department in 1996 estimates that in 1993–94, such grants were given to 1,141 people with spinal problems.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which body is responsible under section 89 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 for the clearance of litter in Cambridgeshire on (a) the M11, (b) the All, (c) the A 1 4 and (d) the A10. [41604]

Under Section 89 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the Highways Agency are responsible for the clearance of litter on the M11. Responsibility for litter clearance on the All, A14 and A10 falls to the relevant district councils along those routes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many applications were made under section 91 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 for the issue of litter abatement orders in (a) Cambridgeshire, (b) the Eastern Region and (c) England in the last year for which figures are available; and how many orders were made in each case. [41605]

These figures have not been collected centrally. However, the Tidy Britain Group will be requesting information on applications for litter abatement orders and the number that are issued when they carry out their local authority enforcement survey later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to standardise the lifebelt regulations for inshore fishing boats which also operate as pleasure boats. [41606]

Inshore fishing boats which also operate as boats used commercially for sport or pleasure must comply with safety requirements depending on the distance they operate from a safe haven.Boats operating more than 3 miles out to sea or more than 15 miles from a nominated departure point must comply with a Code of Practice—The Safety of Small Commercial Motor Vessels, which sets out the standard safety requirements including those relating to the carriage of life jackets and lifebuoys.Boats operating less than 3 miles out to sea and less than 15 miles from a nominated departure point must comply with safety requirements laid down by local authorities. A draft safety code which will standardise safety requirements for these vessels has been developed, and Ministers have agreed that public consultation on this code may take place.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish the HSE Working Party on Freedom of Information Memorandum on Persistent Inquirers for Information, Special Monitoring, dated 18 December 1997. [41601]

I have placed a copy of the memorandum in the library, anonymised to protect personal privacy. The purpose of the memorandum is to ensure that the named inquirers get all the information to which they are entitled in a consistent, fully explained and usable form.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the future financial support from his Department for disabled persons and disability groups through the Access Committee for England. [40558]

The question is taken to refer to funding for the Access Committee for England (ACE), for which this Department's involvement has always been peripheral, confined normally to occasional research projects. In the event of the Department inviting ACE to bid, in accordance with the Department's specification, for any future project requirements, a bid from ACE would be considered on its merits alongside other bids invited for that work.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received on the Government's proposals for implementing the requirements of the amended Environmental Impact Assessment Directive (97/11/EC); and if he will make a statement. [41888]

Following an initial consultation last Summer, a second consultation paper on the implementation of the amended EIA Directive was issued on 19 December 1997. It set out our detailed proposals for refining the way in which the need for EIA is determined in the UK. To date, 195 responses have been received from business, government and environmental organisations across the UK, as well as members of the public. In addition, one response was submitted on a confidential basis. A list of responses received has been placed in the Library of the House. Copies of the responses themselves have been placed in my Department's library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what targets he has set for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. [41925]

The following key targets have been set for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). The targets are set out in MCA's Business Plan, copies of which will be placed in the Library.

ensure that at least 60 per cent. of operators and crew of UK registered fishing vessels are aware of the safety standards promulgated by MCA.

follow up at least 95 per cent. of significant breaches of safety and environmental aspects of Merchant Shipping legislation to determine whether prosecution is appropriate.

decide on the search and rescue (S AR) response to accidents and life-threatening situations, and to initiate action, if necessary, within 5 minutes of being alerted in at least 95 per cent. of cases.

complete at least 90 per cent. of key tasks and also complete at least 95 per cent. of the agreed planned programme of inspections and surveys.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans his Department has to expand on previous guidance on the application of Articles 6(3) and (4) of the Habitats Directive to sites which have been submitted to the European Commission as candidate special areas of conservation under the Habitats Directive and classified as special protection areas under the Birds Directive. [42065]

I have today restated our commitment to carrying out our legal obligations to implement the EU Habitats and Wild Birds Directives and, as part of that process, to contribute to the Natura 2000 network by designating Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and provides further guidance to competent authorities on the application of Articles 6(3) and 6(4). I have given a clearer policy lead to local planning authorities on how issues should be resolved where obligations to review extant planning permissions arise under the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 and guiding principles for all competent authorities on what might constitute overriding public interest.A paper setting out the Government's outline position has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the research report on Inclusive Regeneration: Local Authorities' Corporate Strategies for Tackling Disadvantage will be published. [41889]

I am today placing in the Libraries of the House copies of the research report by Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Lincolnshire and Humberside.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he plans to implement measures to ensure that an economic link exists between UK-flagged vessels and the fishing communities in the UK intending to benefit from quotas allocated to the UK under the Common Fisheries Policy; and if he will make a statement. [41893]

There has been extensive consultation with the various interests affected and we have also been having detailed discussions with the European Commission on the basis of the guidance contained in the exchange of letters between the Prime Minister and the President of the Commission which took place at the Amsterdam meeting of the European Council last year.Specific proposal by the UK are currently under consideration by the Commission and we expect to receive their advice on them shortly so that we can make early progress with implementation.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to review approvals of pesticides; and if he will make a statement. [41892]

As part of the national arrangements for the running review of past approvals of pesticides, I have agreed with my colleagues in the other regulatory Departments that there should be a review of those organophosphate pesticides approved for agricultural use under the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986. The review will not extend to sheep dips and other veterinary medicines which are authorised and subject to scrutiny under separate legislation. On the advice of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides (ACP) the review will also cover carbamate pesticides as these have similar modes of action.I welcome the ACP's intention that the review should be informed by all relevant sources of information.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department for what reason the United Kingdom has not ratified the European Convention on the Exercise of Children's Rights. [40371]

The European Convention on the Exercise of Children's Rights was opened for signature on 25 January 1996 and has not yet been ratified by sufficient states to bring it into force. The Government will give this matter careful consideration as soon as their programme of business permits.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the public holding arrangements for the Great Seals for the period 1617 and 1831 concerning patents granted. [40133]

Copies of letters patent issued over the great seal between 1617 and 1831 could be enrolled in the Chancery patent rolls. Under the Public Records Act 1958, these patent rolls are open for consultation by the public in the Public Records Office.Not all letters patent were thus enrolled and the system of enrolment broke down between 1648 and 1659, for which period few rolls survive. Original letters patent over the great seal were issued to the person to whom the grant was made. They thus passed into private hands, and were not subject to public holdings arrangements.The matrix for a new seal is cast at the beginning of the reign of each Sovereign or when the Seal wears out. In the past, the old Seal was broken into several pieces but more recently, it has been the custom for the Sovereign to 'damask' (deface) the old Seal by means of a special hammer, to render it unfit for use. The old Seal is then presented to the Lord Chancellor as a personal gift of the Sovereign.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make it his policy to deny prisoners serving custodial sentences access to civil justice in matters relating to the conduct of the Prison Service unless they have first exhausted all internal grievance procedures and taken their case to the Prisons Ombudsman; and if he will make a statement. [41022]

It is not legally possible to interfere with a person's right of access to the civil courts solely because they are in custody. Where alternative procedures exist, however, it is in order for these to be brought to the attention of the individual.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many representations he has received from interested parties which were supportive of his proposals for contingency fee payments to lawyers; and if he will make a statement. [40933]

The Government have not made any proposals for contingency payments to lawyers. We have received 233 responses to the Consultation Paper Access to Justice with Conditional Fees by the closing date of 30 April 1998. These are currently being analysed.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department to what extent his Department uses political affiliation as a criterion in the selection of justices of the peace for advisory committees; and if he will make a statement. [40863]

The Lord Chancellor requires that the composition of Advisory Committees should broadly reflect the communities which they serve and should include at least one acknowledged supporter of each of the main political parties. Both magistrate and non-magistrate members of committees are asked to declare their political affiliation when applying for appointments and this, together with age, gender, ethnic origin, place of residence and occupation, is taken into account in the appointment of suitable candidates.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what guidelines his Department has published for judges in respect of deaf jury members receiving communication support in (a) open court and (b) the jury room. [40819]

Judicial training is the responsibility of the Judicial Studies Board (JSB) which is a non-departmental government body. The JSB has an advisory committee whose remit has recently been extended to cover all aspects of equal treatment training, including training on increasing awareness of the needs of people with hearing difficulties, including jury members. The Committee will be considering guidance for members of the judiciary on handling those with hearing difficulties.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department on how many occasions in the last year a judge has permitted a deaf person carrying out jury service to receive communication support from (i) a palantypist and (ii) a sign language interpreter. [40818]

Palantypists are not available in the Crown Court. Details of those jurors using the support of a sign language interpreter are not held centrally and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department 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. [40744]

The information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. 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 Home Department if he will publish the guidance which will be given to governors concerning the assessment of the suitability of eligible prisoners for home detention curfew. [41865]

We have today placed in the Library a draft version of the guidance to governors which would be used in assessing prisoners' suitability for Home Detention Curfew. A final version of the guidance will be included in a Prison Service Order which the Prison Service expects to issue to governors in October. Copies of that Order will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 5 May 1998, Official Report, columns 359–61, on prisoners, to what dates in 1998 the figures in Table A are provided. [41354]

The 1998 figures in table A of my reply of 5 May 1998, Official Report, columns 359–61 refer to the period 1 January to 31 March.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy in respect of the disbursement of revenues from prison work. [40234]

[holding answer 30 April 1998]: Planned income generated by activities in prison industries and farms is included in the voted provision contained in the annual Supply Estimate for the Prison Service as part of the receipts appropriated in aid of the gross expenditure borne on the Estimate. The relevant level of appropriations in aid is included in the budget allocated to each prison. We are shortly to issue guidance on new arrangements which will give governors greater flexibility to take up commercial opportunities which develop during the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 26 November 1997, Official Report, column 542, on firearms compensation claims, when all compensation claims made under the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 under (a) options A and B and (b) option C, will be complete. [41225]

The estimated timetable for completion of compensation payments under the large calibre handgun compensation scheme remains as set out in the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 6 April 1998, Official Report, columns 19–20, that is to say, completion by around the end of May for payments under Options A and B and by the end of the year for most, if not all, payments under Option C.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many women who are British Overseas citizens have been admitted for settlement under the quota voucher system in each year since quota vouchers were introduced; [41148](2) how many women British Overseas citizens would qualify for admission to the United Kingdom for settlement, if women were treated in the same way as men under the quota voucher system; [41150](3) under what circumstances a woman who is a British Overseas citizen can be admitted for settlement under the quota voucher system; [41147](4) what assessment he has made of the advantages of treating women British Overseas citizens in the same way as men under the quota voucher system. [41149]

The Immigration Rules, set out in House of Commons Paper 395, provide for a British Overseas citizen to be granted indefinite leave to enter the United Kingdom if he or she is in possession of a special voucher. This provision applies equally to both men and women.A British Overseas citizen may be issued with a special voucher if he or she fulfils a number of requirements, one of which is that the person concerned is the head of their household. Women will be considered to be the head of their household if they are single, widowed, divorced or married to a man who is incapable of fulfilling the role of head of household for medical reasons, in accordance with a House of Lords ruling that this is not unlawful under the Sex Discrimination Act 1975.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ratify Protocol 4 of the European Convention on Human Rights. [41754]

We have no plans to ratify Protocol 4 at present. Ratification will be possible only if potential conflicts with our domestic laws can be resolved. There is a particular concern in relation to Article 3(2) of the Protocol, which protects the right of nationals not to be excluded from their home state. This could be taken as conferring the right of abode in the United Kingdom on various categories of British nationals who do not have it.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to which optional provisions under UN and Council of Europe human rights agreements he is reviewing possible UK accession; which reservations to human rights treaties he is assessing the advantages of lifting; to which additional conventions he is assessing the advantages of acceding; and if he will make a statement. [41153]

The Government announced on 3 July 1997, Official Report, column 221, that they intended to review the United Kingdom's position under various international human rights instruments. This includes the question of whether to accept the right of individuals to submit complaints under the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, under Article 22 of the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Forms of Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and under Article 14 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The review is in progress and the outcome will be announced when it has been concluded.In preparing the Human Rights Bill, we also reviewed the United Kingdom's position on Protocols 4, 6 and 7 to the European Convention on Human Rights. Our conclusions were set out in the White paper "Rights Brought Home" (CM 3782).In addition, the Government have a commitment to review unratified International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions. The Government fully support the principles embodied in the core ILO Conventions and are currently reviewing the United Kingdom's position with regard to ratification of the Conventions on minimum age and discrimination in employment.

Name of APC member	January	March	May	June	July	September	November	December
(a) 1996
Prof. Brazier	+	+	+	+	+	+	-	+
Prof. Anderson	+	+	-	-	+	+	+	-
Prof. Boden	+	+	-	+	-	-	+	+
Prof. Bridges	+	+	-	+	+	+	+	+
Prof. Broughton Pipkin	+	-	+	+	-	+	+	+
Dr. Christopher	+	+	+	+	+	+	-	+
Dr. Cripps	+	-	-	+	-	-	-	+
Dr. Flack1	+	+
Prof. Flecknell	+	-	+	+	-	+	+	+
Prof. Iversen	+	-	-	-	+	-	+	+
Mrs. Macarthur Clark	+	-	+	-	-	+	-	-
Miss Milburn	+	-	+	-	+	+	+	+
Dr. Purchase	+	-	-	+	-	-	+	+
Dr. Southee	+	-	+	+	+	+	+	+
Prof. Spyer	-	-	-	+	-	+	+	-
Dr. Suckling	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+
Mr. Ward	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+
1 Dr. Flack resigned from the Committee in March 1996

Name of APC member	January	February	April	May	June	July	September	October	November	December
(b) 1997
Prof. Brazier	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	-	+	+
Prof. Anderson	+	+	+	-	+	+	+	+	+	+
Prof. Boden	+	+	+	+	-	-	+	+	+	-
Prof. Bridges1	+	+	+	+	-	+	+	+	-	+
Prof. Broughton Pipkin1	+	-	+	+	+	+	-	+	-	+
Dr. Christopher2	+	+	-	-	-	-
Dr. Cripps	-	+	-	-	-	-	-	-	+	-
Prof. Dunbar3	+	+	+	+	+	+	-	-	+	-
Prof. Flecknell	-	-	+	+	-	+	+	-	+	+
Mr. Gregory3	+	+	+	+	-	+	+	+	+	-
Prof. Iversen1	-	+	+	+	-	-	+	+	+	-
Mrs. Macarthur Clark	-	-	+	+	+	+	-	+	-	-
Miss Milburn	+	-	-	+	+	-	-	+	+	+
Dr. Purchase	-	-	-	+	-	-	-	+	+	+
Dr. Southee	+	+	+	-	-	+	+	+	-	+
Prof. Spyer1	+	+	+	+	-	-	-	+	+	+
Dr. Suckling	-	+	+	+	+	-	+	+	+	+
Prof. Turner3	-	+	+	-	-	-	+	+	+	+
Mr. Ward	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+
1 Professors Bridges, Broughton Pipkin, Iversen and Spyer retired from the Committee in December 1997.
2 Dr. Christopher resigned from the Committee in August.
3 Professors Dunbar and Turner and Mr. Gregory were appointed to the Committee with effect from 1 January 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to eliminate fraud in respect of proxy voting. [41584]

The Working Party on Electoral Procedures, which I chair, will be examining both proxy and postal voting. We will pay particular attention to the need to achieve a balance between accessibility and the prevention of abuse.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the members of the Animal Procedures Committee, and their records of attendance for each of the meetings in (a) 1996, (b) 1997 and (c) 1998. [41343]

The membership of the Animal Procedures Committee and records of attendance have been as follows (attendance is signified by + and their absence by -):

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to publish members' attendances at future meetings of the Animal Procedures Committee. [41342]

I will ask the Animal Procedures Committee to consider publishing this information in its annual report.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the possible incapacitant agents which were assessed before the CS sprays were adopted for police use; [38609](2) how many published and internal papers have been written by his Department on the health effects of CR gas sprays since 1991; and what are the current security classifications of the internal reports. [38608]

CR (Dibenz (b.f)-1:4-oxazepine) was considered in a report by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, commissioned by the Home Office, which reviewed the toxicology of CS (Orthochlorobenzylidene Malonitrile). The report, which was produced in December 1994, is unclassified and copies have been placed in the Library. The Home Office has not produce any other published or internal reports on CR.Incapacitants considered in the 1994 report apart from CS and CR were CN (chloroacetophenone, commonly known as Mace) and oleoresin capsicum (commonly known as pepper spray). None of the alternatives to CS is considered to be an appropriate incapacitant for use by police officers in this country.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of (a) 4 star, (b) 3 star, (c) 2 star and (d) 1 star officers in respect of the (i) Royal Navy, (ii) Army, (iii) Royal Marines and (iv) Royal Air Force and the total number of service personnel based in each of the Government's standard regions of England and in Scotland and in Wales at the latest date for which figures are available. [40997]

The number of 1 to 4 star officers, by Service, and the total number of Service personnel, based in each of the Government's standard regions of England, Scotland, and Wales, as at 1 July 1997 (the latest breakdown figures available) are set out in the tables.

Number of 1 to 4 star officers by region
	All services	Royal Navy	Royal Marines	Army	RAF
North West
4 star	—	—	—	—	—
3 star	—	—	—	—	—
2 star	—	—	—	—	—
1 star	1	—	—	1	—
Yorks & Humberside
4 star	—	—	—	—	—
3 star	—	—	—	—	—
2 star	1	—	—	1	—
1 star	5	—	—	5	—
East Midlands
4 star	—	—	—	—	—
3 star	—	—	—	—	—
2 star	1	—	—	—	1
1 star	4	—	—	1	3
West Midlands
4 star	—	—	—	—	—
3 star	—	—	—	—	—
2 star	1	—	—	1	—
1 star	3	1	—	2	—
Eastern
4 star	2	1	—	—	1
3 star	3	2	—	1	—
2 star	7	1	—	—	6
1 star	27	8	1	4	14
London
4 star	6	1	—	2	3
3 star	7	—	—	4	3
2 star	29	7	—	10	12
1 star	64	20	1	24	19
South East
4 star	3	1	—	—	2
3 star	4	2	—	1	1
2 star	21	7	2	7	5
1 star	86	25	5	42	14
South West
4 star	3	—	—	3	—
3 star	4	1	—	2	1
2 star	26	7	—	10	9
1 star	81	17	2	41	21
Wales
4 star	—	—	—	—	—
3 star	—	—	—	—	—
2 star	—	—	—	—	—
1 star	2	—	—	1	1
Scotland
4 star	—	—	—	—	—
3 star	—	—	—	—	—
2 star	3	1	—	2	—
1 star	6	1	—	4	1

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many former Royal Marines personnel (a) above the rank of captain and (b) at or below the rank of captain are currently employed by his Department on a (i) full-time, (ii) part-time and (iii) consultant basis. [39936]

The number of former Royal Marines service personnel above the rank of captain employed by the Ministry of Defence on a full-time basis is 10; none is employed on a part-time basis. The number at or below the rank of captain employed on a full time basis is 174; none is employed on a part time basis.The number of former Royal Marines service personnel employed by the Ministry of Defence on a consultant basis is not held centrally and could be made available only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many former Royal Navy service personnel (a) above the rank of lieutenant commander and (b) at or below the rank of lieutenant commander are currently employed by his Department on a (i) full-time, (ii) part-time and (iii) consultant basis. [39934]

The number of former Royal Navy service personnel above the rank of lieutenant commander employed by the Ministry of Defence on a full-time basis is 69; the number employed on a part-time basis is one. The number at or below the rank of lieutenant commander employed on a full-time basis is 953; the number employed on a part-time basis is seven.The number of former Royal Navy service personnel employed by the Ministry of Defence on a consultant basis is not held centrally and could be made available only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many former RAF service personnel (a) above the rank of squadron leader and (b) at or below the rank of squadron are currently employed by his Department on a (i) full-time, (ii) part-time and (iii) consultant basis. [39933]

The number of former RAF service personnel above the rank of squadron leader employed by the Ministry of Defence on a full-time basis is 122; the number employed on a part-time basis is two. The number at or below the rank of squadron leader employed on a full-time basis is 1,598; the number employed on a part-time basis is 19.The number of former RAF service personnel employed by the Ministry of Defence on a consultant basis is not held centrally and could be made available only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many former army personnel (a) above the rank of major and (b) at or below the rank of major are currently employed by his Department on a (i) full-time, (ii) part-time and (iii) consultant basis. [39935]

The number of former army service personnel above the rank of major employed by the Ministry of Defence on a full-time basis is 514; the number employed on a part-time basis is two. The number at or below the rank of major employed on a full-time basis is 2,404; the number employed on a part-time basis is 11.The number of former army service personnel employed by the Ministry of Defence on a consultant basis is not held centrally and could be made available only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) serving and (b) retired field marshals there are; and, in respect of the latter, what continuing duties or obligations they have. [41223]

One of the recommendations made in the Independent Review of the Armed Forces' Manpower, Career and Remuneration Structures by Sir Michael Bett was that promotion to 5-star rank should cease in peacetime. There is now no serving officer at Field Marshal rank. There are, however, eight retired Field Marshals retained on the active list. In terms of continuing duties and obligations some have retained honorary appointments connected with the Army which tend to be ceremonial and do not involve official commitment. These are: Constable Tower of London, Master Gunner St. James's Park, Vice Lord Lieutenant Wiltshire and Lord Lieutenant Greater London. In addition, two members of The Royal Family hold the honorary rank of Field Marshal, as does HM The King of Nepal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer on 16 February 1998, Official Report, column 483, what was the nature of the exercises conducted by the Royal Navy with Indonesian forces in the South China Sea in 1997; and what was the cost of those exercises. [41551]

HMS Richmond visited Jakarta from 9 to 12 April 1997 as part of the Royal Navy's Ocean Wave 97 deployment to the Asia-Pacific region. She participated in a low-key, passing exercise (PASSEX) with a ship from the Indonesian Navy as she left Jakarta following the visit. The PASSEX comprised a communications exercise and practice approaches for replenishment at sea. HMS Richmond also gave a demonstration of her Lynx helicopter as she left port. Exercises of this type are routinely undertaken with host navies by Royal Navy ships either at the beginning or upon completion of a visit to an overseas port. No separate costings of this activity were made.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 4 March 1998, Official Report, column 664, if he will place in the Library his Department's latest assessment of the effect of the sale of excess reserves of (a) gold and (b) foreign currency by central banks participating in EMU on (i) world gold prices and (ii) international exchanges; and what assessment his Department has made of the need to modify Bank of England holdings of such prior to the settling of the Frankfurt reserves of the Central Bank. [41509]

No.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the quarterly growth rate of the combined industrial, construction and agricultural sector of the United Kingdom economy in (a) the fourth quarter of 1997 and (b) the first quarter of 1998; and if he will make a statement. [41162]

[holding answer 11 May 1998]: Output in the combined industrial, construction and agricultural sector fell by 0.5 per cent. in the fourth quarter of 1997. Estimates for the first quarter of 1998 will be published by the Office for National Statistics on 22 May.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the progress of the Comprehensive Spending Review. [41163]

[holding answer 11 May 1998]: The CSR is proceeding to timetable. It is on schedule for completion this Summer.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if flying instructors registered with the Inland Revenue as training providers under the NVQ scheme will be able to continue to provide to existing clients training at a cost reduced by the standard rate of income tax beyond 30 June; and if he will make a statement. [41351]

[holding answer 11 May 1998]: Vocational training relief, the tax relief for certain training expenses, is available on payments for training which can count towards a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) or a Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ). Notice has been given by the Qualifications Authorities that the Piloting Transport Aircraft and Piloting Rotary Wing Transport Aircraft qualifications will cease to be accredited as NVQs or SVQs from 30 June 1998. Trainees who have registered with an Awarding Body for these qualifications before 30 June 1998 will be able to complete their training towards the NVQ or SVQ during the three years after 30 June (four years in Scotland). These trainees will be able to continue to obtain vocational training relief on the cost of training which takes place after 30 June 1998. The Inland Revenue is writing to all training providers who operate vocational training relief to explain the arrangements for giving tax relief on flight training after 30 June 1998.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will publish his consultation paper on the North Sea fiscal regime; and if he will make a statement. [41575]

[holding answer 12 April 1998]: The consultative document on the North Sea fiscal regime is expected to be issued shortly.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much in debt service is expected to be paid by Mozambique, in US dollars, in each year from 1998 to 2002, following the recent agreement under the HIPC initiative, according to (a) the HIPC final document, and (b) the latest estimates. [41207]

[holding answer 8 May 1998]: The HIPC Final document produced by the IMF does not give figures of debt service after full debt relief under the HIPC initiative.The latest estimates of the debt service that Mozambique will have to pay after receiving debt relief under the HIPC initiative are:

Year	Debt service $ million
1998	124
1999	147
2000	97
2001	101
2002	97

Debt relief under the HIPC initiative will reduce Mozambique's stock of debt by $1,487 million in Net Present Value terms. Without this debt relief, Mozambique would have been due to pay an average of over $450 million a year in debt service over this period.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was paid in debt service by Mozambique, in US dollars, in each year from 1995 to 1997. [41206]

[holding answer 8 May 1998]: The debt service paid by Mozambique between 1995 and 1997 was:

Year	Debt service paid $ million
1995	112
1996	131
1997	97

The debt service paid in these years was, however, only a fraction of the total debt service due, which was some $375 million a year.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect on (a) income and (b) employment, in manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom of the abolition of internal European Union tax-free sales in 1999, with particular reference to the Scotch whisky sector; and if he will make a statement. [41171]

No assessment has been made of the effect on income or employment in the Scotch Whisky sector in the United Kingdom of the abolition of intra-EU duty and tax-free sales in 1999.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the advantages to the United Kingdom of the abolition of internal European Union tax-free sales in 1999. [41174]

Customs and Excise have advised me that the abolition of intra-EU and duty-free sales in 1999 may result in an increase in Customs' receipts of about £100 million in a full year. This is very much a provisional estimate.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ensure that the abolition of internal European Union tax-free sales will be on the agenda of the next ECOFIN meeting. [41172]

This issue is on the agenda for the next ECOFIN Council meeting to be held on 19 May 1998.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with European finance ministers regarding possible structural assistance to industries and areas which face a loss of business as a result of the abolition of internal European Union tax-free sales; and if he will press for such financial assistance to be given. [41173]

I have had no such discussions with European finance ministers regarding possible structural assistance to be given to industries or areas which face a loss of business as a result of the abolition of intra-EU duty and tax-free sales in 1999.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact on patterns of tourism to and from the United Kingdom of the abolition of internal European Union tax-free sales in 1999; and if he will make a statement. [41170]

No assessment has been made of the impact on patterns of tourism to and from the United Kingdom of the abolition of intra-EU duty and tax-free sales in 1999.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to respond to the resolution of the Transport Ministers Council on 17 March calling on ECOFIN to ensure that a study is undertaken of the impact of abolition of duty free within the European Union. [41222]

This matter is on the agenda for the next ECOFIN Council meeting to be held on 19 May 1998.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to state which exemption of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information is being invoked to prevent the release of information in answer to parliamentary questions. [40873]

Treasury Ministers would expect to explain the reasons why information could not be provided in answer to parliamentary questions.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) pursuant to his answer of 6 March 1998, Official Report, column 817, which exemption in the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information makes publication of the correspondence inappropriate; [40870](2) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Bolton, South-East (Dr. Iddon) of 12 March 1998,

Exemptions 1 and 2 apply.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many answers to parliamentary questions his Department has declined to provide information because it was inappropriate under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information since 1 May 1997; and what subjects those questions concerned. [40867]

Treasury records show that in the case of some 19 of the 3,500 or so parliamentary answers given by Ministers in the present Parliament the information sought was not made available as is permitted under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. These questions concerned such matters as individuals' tax affairs, personal information relating to officials, representations made to Ministers in confidence on commercial and other matters and internal discussions and advice on various policy issues.Additionally, Treasury Ministers have traditionally declined to disclose in advance information relating to the Chancellor' s Budget statement. In innumerable other instances, statistical and other information either is not available or cannot be presented in the form requested.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he will take to improve access to historic registration records. [41349]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has for allowing free public access to the records of civil registration of births, marriages and deaths. [41341]

I refer to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) on 7 May 1998, Official Report, column 455.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date the Office for National Statistics first proposed that Cornwall should be considered as a NUTS 2 area in its own right for Eurostat purposes; and on what date his Department notified Eurostat that such a unit should be considered for structural fund purposes. [41106]

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

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 26 March 1998, Official Report, column 278, if the Financial Secretary will in future keep a record of the number of letters sent to hon. Members which are not personally signed. [38186]

Treasury Ministers see no need to maintain such a record.