To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the aims of the Government at the Conference of the Parties to the Biodiversity Convention meeting in Bratislava. [41455]

The UK, along with other Member States of the European Union, has already taken steps to implement the CBD at a national and European level. We are pressing for this Conference to agree further action at all levels in a number of areas. These include decisions on: inland water ecosystems; marine and coastal ecosystems; agricultural biodiversity; forests; benefit sharing; and the Biosafety Protocol. We are also striving to improve the operation of the Convention so that it becomes a much more effective force in the world. I represented the UK at a ministerial Roundtable at the start of negotiations which made recommendations on private sector activities, sustainable tourism, and the integration of biodiversity into policy decisions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for each year since its creation the number of warning letters issued by HM Railway Inspectorate to Railtrack plc. [41564]

The Health and Safety Executive's (HSE's) Railway Inspectorate advise that the information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for each year since its creation prosecutions taken by HM Railway Inspectorate against Railtrack plc. [41563]

The Health and Safety Executive's (HSE's) Railway Inspectorate has initiated two prosecutions against Railtrack plc since its creation. The first followed an electrical burns incident at Hatton in Warwickshire on 24 July 1995. Railtrack pleaded not guilty but were found guilty. The second prosecution followed a derailment at Bexley on 4 February 1997. This is expected to be heard on 26 May 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place in the Library a copy of the letter issued by HM Railway Inspectorate to Eurotunnel as detailed in Paragraph 63 of the Annual report of the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority 1996–97. [41560]

It is not the practice of Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate to make public the contents of private correspondence with duty holders.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place in the Library a copy of the report produced by the Rail Safety and Technology Working Group relating to signals passed at red in the Channel Tunnel. [41559]

I am not in a position to do so.This report was a working document produced by the Rail Safety and Technology Working Group to inform the Safety Authority and contains information supplied by Eurotunnel. Disclosure would be a breach of Clause 33 of the Concession Agreement of 1986 concerning intellectual property and confidentiality.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the main contractors employed by Railtrack to undertake maintenance work, and the names of any contractors or sub-contractors removed from any approved lists since the creation of Railtrack. [41568]

This is a commercial matter for Railtrack.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for each year since its creation the number of occurrences where unqualified staff or contractors have been found undertaking work on railway property on behalf of Railtrack plc. [41566]

The Health and Safety Executive has no records of the numbers of such occurrences.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for each of the last five years the number of derailments officially notified to HM Railway Inspectorate and the train operating companies involved. [41567]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, West (Mr. Thomas) on 7 May 1998, Official Report, columns 441–42.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to introduce a comprehensive requirement for secondary treatment to be provided for significant sewage discharges to high natural dispersion areas; and what estimate he has made of the cost. [42033]

Under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, secondary treatment of sewage discharges is the norm but coastal discharges may receive primary treatment if comprehensive studies establish that there would be no adverse environmental effect. We are, however, very aware of the concerns being expressed by those who are not convinced that anything less than secondary treatment will afford the necessary level of environmental protection and are giving further consideration to the Government's policy options. Decisions will have to be taken in the context of the current Periodic Review of water company price limits, which is the process of balancing the environmental obligations to be placed on water companies in England and Wales with the consequent effect on water bills.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place in the Library the programme of development work within the terms of paragraph 6 of the Annexe to the Commission Decision 94/730/EC of 4 November 1994 in respect of GMO release consent reference 95/R13/6. [42091]

The programme of development work for GMO release consent reference 95/R/13/6, to which the hon. Member refers, is entirely covered by information which was supplied in support of that particular application for a release consent, which was made under the first simplified procedure regulated by Commission Decision 94/370/EC. This information, as with all release applications in the UK, can be viewed either on the public register at Ashdown House, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions or at the relevant Regional Office in the vicinity of the release. Details can also always be requested from the Biotechnology Unit, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.The information available includes details of the risk assessment; the sites of the releases; the conditions of the releases; and, in fact, all the other information contained on the file which has not been deemed to be commercially confidential. Therefore, as this information is freely and widely available, I do not consider it appropriate to put the programme of development work for GMO release consent reference 95/R/13/6 into the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what statutory provisions govern the conduct of tests and trials in respect of genetically modified seeds; and if he will make a statement. [41517]

All releases of GMOs into the environment are subject to Part VI of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 1992 as amended (1995 and 1997). Accordingly, genetically modified seeds can enter trials and tests only if they have been granted a consent by the Secretary of State. The conduct of each trial is subject to the limitations and conditions of the consent in addition to the general conditions set out in section 112 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 in respect of GMOs, and the general conditions relating to National List Trials for any seed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will prevent planting of genetically engineered maize at Hood Barton, near Totnes in Devon, to avoid possible contamination of the neighbouring organic farm. [42089]

Even if sown now, the genetically modified crop will not be in a condition to produce pollen until July at the earliest and there is therefore no need to prevent planting. If in the light of any new information it appears necessary to terminate the trial this can and will be done before the flowers produce pollen.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if companies releasing genetically modified organisms into the environment are required to pay for post-release monitoring, including the effects within the wider biological environment. [41481]

Companies holding a consent to release a genetically modified organism are required to pay the full costs of all monitoring of the release, annual subsistence charges to cover inspection by Health and Safety specialist inspectors, and any enforcement costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has (a) to improve public participation in and (b) to increase the transparency of the regulatory procedure for consenting to the release of GMOs. [42090]

The Government are currently considering several options to improve public participation in, and transparency of, the regulatory procedure for consenting to the release of GMOs. First, in connection with the forthcoming quinquennial review of the Advisory Committee on Releases into the Environment, the Government will be considering how the deliberations of this Committee might be made more transparent.Secondly, the Department of Trade and Industry is preparing to undertake a substantial public consultation exercise on the wider—including ethical—issues raised by recent advances in the biosciences, one aspect of which is likely to be the regulatory procedures.Thirdly, the Government are also looking at improving and increasing the information they place on the Internet in relation to the regulatory procedure for consenting to the release of GMOs, and in doing so, hope to allow greater access to this information. It should also be noted that the current regulatory procedure is already extremely open, with the public able to have access to most of the information supplied in release consent applications.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Hazel Grove (Mr. Stunell), of 11 February 1998, Official Report, column 228, when he expects to (a) publish and (b) implement secondary legislation in respect of 20 mph speed limits. [42111]

Consultation on the details of a new system for making 20 mph speed limits was launched on 12 May. Copies of the paper detailing and seeking comments on the proposal have been placed in the Library of the House. Subject to the views of consultees, we will bring forward secondary legislation as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to table an order giving effect to the decision to establish a parish for Beverley. [41909]

We intend to consult shortly on a draft of an Order establishing a parish for Beverley. Our intention is to make the Order, which is not subject to parliamentary procedure, to enable elections for the new parish council to be held in May 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will publish the report and recommendations of the review by the Advisory Committee on Packaging of the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997. [41851]

The Advisory Committee on Packaging will complete its review of the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 at the end of May. Their report and recommendations to Ministers will be available, as before, to members of the public. A copy will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if support will be given in the current financial year to English local authorities and to the Environment Agency to meet the capital costs of dealing with contaminated land. [42344]

The Department is continuing the Contaminated Land Supplementary Credit Approval programme this financial year with a budget of £15 million. It provides support for English local authorities for the capital costs they incur in dealing with contaminated land. The programme also supports, in the form of additional grant-in-aid, the Environment Agency where it is carrying out works to deal with water pollution caused by contaminated land.Most authorities with on-going contractual commitments for projects funded in previous years have already received notification that support will be available. The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions has decided many of the bids it has received to date for new projects and has written today to the successful authorities and to the Environment Agency notifying them of the financial allocations which are being made.The Department is discussing some bids with the authorities concerned and expects to make some further allocations. It will also decide new bids when they are received.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cattle passports are issued each week by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [40658]

On average Welsh Office Agriculture Department Divisional Offices issue 1,890 cattle passports each week.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many and what proportion of his Department's appointees to non-departmental public bodies are aged (a) under 25, (b) 25 to 30 and (c) 31 to 35 years. [40733]

Of the 625 people in appointments for which I have either sole or joint responsibility none are aged under 25; 3 (0.5!) are aged between 25 and 30; and 4 (0.6!) are aged between 31 and 35 as at 5 May 1998.I am keen to encourage applications for public appointments from a wide range of candidates who are representative of the communities they serve, which includes young people. All appointments are made on merit. Candidates must demonstrate that they meet the criteria set out for each appointment, including the relevant skills and experience.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he plans to announce the results of the review into planning policy for opencast coal in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [41645]

Responses to the 1997 Consultation Paper are currently being analysed. I should soon be in a position to announce the way in which the review of opencast coal planning policy guidance in Wales will be taken forward.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will conduct a full review of Minerals Planning Guidance Note 3, on coal mining and colliery spoil disposal, in conjunction with the present review of energy policy in Wales. [41644]

The review of UK energy policy is underway. In parallel with that review, consideration will be given to the review of Minerals Planning Guidance Note 3.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received concerning his plans to restructure NHS Trusts in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [41648]

I have received 2,843 letters and 15,114 petition signatures in respect of plans to restructure NHS trusts in Wales. In March, I announced a proposed new shape of trusts on which formal consultation will take place over the summer. Consultation documents are currently being prepared for each Health Authority area in Wales. These will explain the proposed changes in detail and the benefits for patients which are expected to arise as a result of the proposed changes. The consultation period is planned to start in early June and will last for three months. All comments received as part of this process will be considered before the Secretary of State makes his final decision in the Autumn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to appoint the Standing Orders Commission in preparation for the opening of the Assembly for Wales. [41650]

I expect to appoint the Standing Orders Commission in the Summer, subject to Royal Assent to the Government of Wales Bill.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to publish a further draft of the Transfer of Functions (National Assembly for Wales) Order; and if he will make a statement. [42425]

I have published a second draft of the order today and have placed copies in the Library of the House. I will be publishing a full draft in the autumn for consultation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he proposes to take to improve public health in Wales. [42216]

Today I have launched the public health Green Paper, "Better Health—Better Wales" which takes account of Government aims to tackle the underlying causes of ill-health by identifying a wide range of social, economic and environmental factors which impact on health. The paper proposes a broad range of areas where new and concerted action could make a significant difference to health and well-being. It addresses the implications of issues specific to Wales, including the significant health inequalities, the reforms proposed in the Wales NHS White Paper and the preparations for the National Assembly for Wales."Better Health—Better Wales" has drawn on advice from both the Welsh Office and a wide range of key organisations in the public and voluntary sectors. The purpose of the forthcoming consultation period is to engage as many as possible in debate about the best ways to improve people's health in Wales. We hope that individuals, community leaders, employers and those responsible for services will participate.The Welsh Office will publish an Action Plan in Autumn 1998 based on the framework outlined in this document and informed by responses to the consultation.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the international agreements which prohibited the Government from giving advance notice to the House of the recent transport of enriched uranium to Dounreay from Georgia; and what advice was taken on the interpretation of the relevant agreements. [40644]

The Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material requires states who are parties to take measures to protect the confidentiality of information relating to the international transportation of nuclear material of the type imported from Georgia. The United Kingdom also follows the internationally agreed guidance in the document "The Physical Protection of Nuclear Material" published by the International Atomic Energy Agency. This recommends that advance knowledge of transport information should be limited to the minimum number of persons necessary. Advice on these international requirements and recommendations is routinely sought from the Director of Civil Nuclear Security who is the designated central authority for the UK on the physical protection of nuclear material, under the Convention. Furthermore, in this particular case, as I told the House on 22 April 1998, Official Report, column 818, it would have been most unwise to draw attention to the existence of this material before it could be secured and safely removed from Georgia.

To ask the Prime Minister what is the purpose of the Strategic Communications Unit; if he will list the unit's employees; if he will estimate the annual cost of the unit; and if he will make a statement. [41115]

[holding answer 11 May 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Erdington (Mr. Corbett) on 14 January 1998, Official Report, columns 233–34, and to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) on 20 January 1998, Official Report, column 484. In addition, the Unit has been responsible for the launch of the No.10 website.

To ask the Prime Minister what steps are being taken to ensure that software used by the security services obtained from outside the United Kingdom does not contain trapdoors, allowing unauthorised access to sensitive information. [41193]

[holding answer 8 May 1998]: In common with other Government Departments, the intelligence and security services, when procuring software to process sensitive information, evaluate it against criteria which include its ability to deny unauthorised access.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he intends to publish his annual report on judicial appointments. [41226]

As indicated by the Lord Chancellor in his statement of 9 October 1997, the first Annual Report to Parliament on the operation of the judicial appointments system will cover the period April 1998 to March 1999. It will contain statistics and information about judicial appointments made during that period and will be published in the summer of 1999.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to review the level of compensation for loss of earnings provided to magistrates. [41862]

The payment of financial loss allowances to magistrates is governed by the provisions of Section 10 of the Justices of the Peace Act 1997 and the Justices' Allowances Regulations 1976. The rates are reviewed annually and new rates will be introduced in September 1998. Responsibility for decisions on individual claims rests with the local paying authorities.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will conduct an assessment of the ways in which magistrates can be assisted with child care costs; and if he will make a statement. [41863]

Under Section 10(1)(b) of the Justices of the Peace Act 1997, magistrates are entitled to receive payments by way of Financial Loss Allowance for loss of earnings and any other expenditure incurred as a result of performing the duties of a Justice of the Peace. This can include claims for the cost of child care. Allowance is subject to the specified maximum limit.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps he is taking to ensure that employers give support to employees who wish to become magistrates. [41864]

The Lord Chancellor's Department is working with the Magistrates Association on a project directed at encouraging employers to release staff to serve as magistrates. In addition, the Lord Chancellor has commissioned the Central Office of Information to advise him on ways in which he may secure the support of employers in releasing staff to serve as magistrates.

To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee how the building of Portcullis House has been funded; to which Vote on Account the expenditure is being charged; what was the original estimated cost of this building; and what is the estimated final outcome cost. [41080]

[holding answer 11 May 1998]: The House of Commons Commission approved the final sketch design estimate in 1993 at the prices then prevailing with an allowance forecasting the possible rate of inflation in construction costs until the work is completed. Since 1993 changes to the brief and the cost of the delayed handover of the site by London Underground Ltd. have accounted for the difference between the 1993 forecast of £219m and the current figure of £250m. The work is funded from Class 18A Vote 2, House of Commons Works Services.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has made a decision on the future of the Security Facilities Executive. [41926]

I have decided that SAFE is no longer a financially viable organisation, and that it should cease to be an executive agency from 1 July. From that date, its services will be provided from within the Cabinet Office (Office of Public Service), with a view, thereafter, to transferring SAFE's essential functions and associated staff to the other Government Departments as soon as it is practicable to do so. I also propose that over the next three years its remaining services should be run down. This process will be completed no later than 31 March 2001.This decision is, I believe, the one which best meets my three criteria of:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will publish the memoranda negotiated by the then Secretary of State of the Department of National Heritage relating to the purchase of the freehold property near Chancery Lane formerly known as the Great Seal Patent Office and Library by the British Library. [40144]

The Minute which transferred the freehold of 25 Southampton Buildings, London WC2, from the Department of National Heritage to the British Library was laid before the House by the then Secretary of State on 4 July 1996. It is available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the costs of the development of the British Library's INSIDE CD-ROM products have been since 1984; and how much sales revenue has been generated from these products. [40112]

A series of four inside current awareness CD-ROMs have been published since 1993. The total development costs and revenues relating to them are:

• Total development costs: £127,000
• Total revenue: £684,125.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the contracts with publishers which the British Library has entered into (i) by value and (ii) by publisher in the last 10 years. [40135]

I have placed in the Library of the House a list of such contracts which the British Library has entered into over the last ten years and their respective values.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the costs of the British Library's digital library programme are for the current year; what they are estimated to be in future years; and how many British Library staff are presently engaged in the programme. [40131]

The cost of the British Library's digital library programme for the current year is planned at £639,000. The costs for future years are projected to decline as follows:

• 1999–2000: £488,000
• 2000–2001: £388,000
• 2001–2002: £388,000.

There are eight staff dedicated to the digital library programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received on visitors' visa applications and the introduction of an appeal procedure. [41594]

I have received no recent representations on visitors' visa applications and the introduction of an appeal procedure. We are committed to introducing a streamlined right of appeal for visitors refused a visa.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his timetable is for the introduction of an appeal procedure in relation to visitors' visa applications; and if he will make a statement. [41595]

Our manifesto commits us to introducing a streamlined right of appeal for visitors refused a visa. We are considering the options for achieving this and we will make an announcement as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many handguns are held as personal protection weapons in each region of the United Kingdom. [41797]

In England, Scotland and Wales there are no handguns held as personal protection weapons. Handguns are prohibited under the terms of section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968 (as amended) and as such may be held only with the express authority of the Secretary of State. It is not the policy to issue that authority for firearms for personal protection.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the current

Original offence1,2	Total sampled	Percentage reconvicted for any offence3	Percentage reconvicted for any drugs offence
Numbers and two year reconviction rates for drug offences for prisoners discharged in 1994
Dealing in cannabis	678	34	18
Dealing in ecstacy (MDMA)	120	28	13
Possession of heroin	172	64	32
Dealing in heroin	125	35	18
All drugs offences	2,722	37	17
Numbers and two year reconviction rates for drug offences for offenders commencing community penalties4in 1994
Other drugs offence	511	49	27
Dealing in cannabis	190	41	25
Possession of heroin	250	65	33
All drugs offences	1,000	51	28
1 Figures are given only for categories of offence where there were at least 50 offenders in either sample whose original offence was possession of cannabis. Possession with intent to supply has been included in dealing offences
2 The original offence is based on the most recent offence recorded prior to discharge from prison. The data for the detailed categories of drugs offence relate to those sentenced from 1 January 1993, the date on which the categories presented here were first used
3 Reconviction for a standard list offence. This includes all indictable and some of the more serious summary offences
4 This sample was drawn from offenders commencing probation, community service and combination orders

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the advantages of harmonising licensing hours across continental Europe. [42038]

I have not considered such a proposition. On 5 May, I announced a review of liquor licensing law for England and Wales. This will take appropriate account of experience elsewhere in Europe.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 6 April 1998, Official Report, column 26, what were the exceptional and specific justifications established for the use of wild-caught baboons in regulated procedures since 1996. [42113]

The wild-caught baboons are used in important heart xenotransplantation research. Baboons are used because of their physiological similarity to humans and because primates of a particular size (over 6kg) are essential. Extensive efforts have been made, by the research team, to find suitable sources of captive-bred baboons, but captive-bred animals are not available in sufficient quantities.

The most recently available relevant information relates to reconvictions in samples of prisoners discharged from prison in 1994 and of offenders commencing community penalties in 1994.The source of this information on reconvictions is the Home Office Offenders Index. This does not contain information on cautioning of offenders. It should be borne in mind that this information relates to reconviction rather than reoffending and is restricted to offenders who have been sentenced to custody or a community penalty.All applications to use wild-caught primates are referred to the Animal Procedures Committee. In this case, the Committee advised in 1994 that there was justification for allowing their use. The Committee has closely monitored and reviewed the work involving these baboons since the licence was granted.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he discharged the transgenic pigs exported by their owners Imtran for use in experimentation in Holland from the protection of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; and if he will make a statement; [42076](2) how many animals intended for use in experiments were exported, and to which countries, for the latest year for which figures are available; [42112](3) what controls his Department exercises in the regulation of the export of animals for intended use in experiments. [42075]

The export and transportation of animals is primarily a matter for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The Home Office does not keep central records of the number of animals exported, nor the purpose for which they were exported.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his oral answer of 11 May 1998, Official Report, column 3, what response he has received from the Foreign Secretary in response to his letter relating to the latest position on the police investigation into the death of WPC Fletcher. [42086]

I minuted my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 20 April. The purpose of my minute was to inform him of the latest position on the police inquiries and to bring to his attention those concerns raised by my hon. Friend on 30 March 1998, Official Report, column 887, which relate to the Foreign Secretary's responsibilities. As such, my minute did not require a reply.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 24 February 1998, Official Report, column 181, if he will make a statement on his discussions with ACPO and the BMA on the problem of police surgeons refusing to carry out intimate body searches on those suspected of carrying drugs. [41884]

On 17 April representatives from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Drugs Committee, the British Medical Association, the Association of Police Surgeons and the Medical Defence Union met Home Office officials to discuss the difficulties encountered by some police forces in getting doctors to carry out intimate body searches for concealed drugs. It emerged that information and understanding on all sides needs to be improved: the information from police forces about the number of times they would like an intimate search to be carried out but encounter problems is unreliable; but also the understanding of many police surgeons about the full legal and ethical issues involved is unclear. A number of helpful action points aimed at taking matters forward were agreed at the meeting. These include ACPO asking police forces to review their statistics of intimate searches to provide fuller information and the medical bodies reviewing their current guidance and reconsidering the ethical issues. A further meeting to take stock of progress is planned for the autumn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioner households received double the proper payment under the Pensioner Fuel Bills Special Payment Scheme. [39853]

Winter Fuel payments are one of a number of initiatives the Government have taken to help vulnerable people, especially the elderly, keep warm in the winter. A total of £400 million has been committed for two years (97/98 and 98/99), to help pensioners with fuel bills to pay. This is the first time any Government have provided additional help with heating costs to all pensioners living in the United Kingdom who receive a Retirement Pension or one of a number of other qualifying benefits.The making of this year's payments has been an enormous and unprecedented exercise. In order to establish all eligible pensioners, correctly identify pensioner households, and determine the amount each should receive, it was necessary to correlate data in around 15 million computer records, involving 15 qualifying benefits, across nine computer systems. Overall, almost ten million pensioners, in over seven million households, have received a payment.The administration of Winter Fuel Payments is a matter for Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has held about the proportion of (a) the Commonwealth Fund for technical co-operation and (b) other Commonwealth activity financed by the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement. [41807]

The Government are a strong supporter of the Commonwealth, contributing an annual total of some £18 million from the aid programme to a wide range of Commonwealth development programmes, including the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation. We are the largest contributor to these programmes traditionally providing 30 per cent. of all contributions. In addition, we pledged an extra £4 million at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting for Commonwealth Secretariat programmes.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development for what social and developmental purposes the Crown Agents Foundation will use profits derived from the Crown Agents; and under what guidelines. [41747]

Ownership of the Crown Agents transferred from Her Majesty's Government to an independent Foundation in March 1997. The right hon. Gentleman may wish to pursue this matter with the Foundation.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when Mr. Peter Pursglove was employed by the Crown Agents; and on what terms he was seconded to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. [41348]

Ownership of the Crown Agents transferred from Her Majesty's Government to an independent Foundation in March 1997. My hon. Friend may wish to pursue this matter with the Foundation.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of her Department's expenditure through non-governmental organisations in 1997–98 was applied to (a) the Joint Funding Scheme, (b) emergency relief, (c) volunteers and (d) other areas; and what are the comparable planned figures for 1998–99. [41365]

Details of bilateral development assistance are published each year in the British Aid Statistics. The next issue, which will include final expenditure figures for 1997–98, is due for publication in December 1998.Information on planned spending through UK non-governmental organisations for 1998–99 is not held centrally in the format requested. I regret that a full answer to the question could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much of the bilateral development assistance programme was channelled through United Kingdom non-governmental organisations for development activities in 1997–98; and what is the planned figure for 1998–99. [41366]

The information requested for 1997–98 will not be available until later this year. Details of bilateral development assistance are published each year in the British Aid Statistics. The next issue, which will include final expenditure figures for 1997–98, is due for publication in December 1998.Information on planned spending through UK nongovernmental organisations for development activities for 1998–99 is not held centrally in the format requested. I regret that a full answer to the question could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much her Department spent under the Joint Funding Scheme in 1997–98; on how many projects; and what are the planned figures for 1998–99. [41368]

My Department spent £36,139,087 on development projects through the Joint Funding Scheme in 1997–98. This involved some 1,700 projects managed by 128 UK NGOs. Our planned figure for 1998–99 is £36,156,000. It is expected that the number of projects and agencies will be equivalent to last year.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much her Department spent on the Volunteer Programme in 1997–98; how many volunteers were sent; to how many countries; and what are the planned figures for 1998–99. [41367]

In 1997–98 my Department provided £23,932,580 to the four main volunteer sending agencies Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), International Co-operation for Development (ICD), United Nations Association for International Service (UNAIS) and Skillshare Africa. This helped to fund the work of approximately 2,080 volunteers in around 60 countries.Our planned figure for 1998–99 is £25,533,124. It is expected that the number of volunteers will be maintained at the current level in the same number of countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans her Department has over the next year to provide (i) aid and (ii) assistance for de-mining projects, to the people of Western Sahara with particular reference to Saharawi refugees. [39981]

The majority of UK assistance to the Sarahawi is provided via the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). A proposal from ECHO for a 7.2 mecu (£4.8m) programme of assistance to the Saharawi refugees in Southern Algeria for 1998 has recently been approved—the UK share of this will be approximately £670,000. Under this programme, funding will be provided to NGOs, UN agencies and the Red Cross for food aid, medical and sanitary assistance and improving drinking water supply. For UNHCR, the UK recently announced a £10m package of support for 1998, of which £7m will go to general programmes which include assistance to Saharawi refugees.We are also supporting some NGO programmes directly—my Department is providing £50,000 to War on Want for the improvement of food storage facilities for the refugees, and £30,000 to Action Water to improve water supply and distribution in the refugee camps.We understand from the UNHCR that there are problems with mines in the vicinity of the refugee camps. Mines awareness training is carried out by the UNHCR. De-mining is the responsibility of the UN Department of Peace Keeping Operations but no demining operations have been carried out to date. DFID has not been approached to provide any funds for demining but we are ready to look sympathetically at any such requests.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has received on the diverting of humanitarian aid to Bosnia to Swiss bank accounts. [41459]

I have not received any representations about the diverting of humanitarian aid to Bosnia to Swiss bank accounts. The Government's humanitarian aid to Bosnia is subject to strict financial controls.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has made to the International Monetary Fund in connection with the recent external review of the external structural adjustment facility; and if she will make a statement. [41745]

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has an important role to play in helping to eradicate poverty in developing countries, and I have taken a close personal interest in the external evaluation of the IMF's Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility (ESAF). I have discussed the report with the Managing Director of the IMF, and other senior Staff on a number of occasions, and pressed them to ensure that key recommendations are adopted. The recommendations include the development of a closer working relationship with the World Bank in the design of ESAF programmes, encouragement of stronger local ownership of such programmes through national consensus building and by offering different policy options, and better monitoring of the impact of ESAF programmes on the poor. We have already taken a leading role in promoting greater collaboration between the World Bank and the IMF. The IMF will shortly be setting out how it plans to operationalise these recommendations.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many joint ventures the British Investment in South Africa scheme helped and at what cost to her Department during 1997–98. [41744]

The British Investment in South Africa Promotion Scheme helps to promote investment in South Africa by making available Pre-Investment Feasibility Study (PIFS) grants to small and medium sized British and South African companies. Training grants are also available but have not yet been used. In 1997–98 the scheme disbursed grants worth £296,761 to seven applicants, with a projected investment value of more than £13 million. A further £473,933 was committed to 13 new applicants during the year but this has not yet been spent. The cost of administering the scheme during the year was £74,951. Since the start of the scheme, a total of 29 grants have been awarded and a further five are at an advanced stage of consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to provide for the basic needs of the urban poor affected by the economic crisis in Indonesia. [41743]

The most immediate need in limiting the impact of the crisis on the poor is to restore confidence in the Indonesian economy. To help achieve this the Government of Indonesia must implement the programme now agreed with the IMF. In addition, the UK is contributing £5 million to the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) Trust Fund which will help affected Asian Governments, including Indonesia, to design interventions to combat the social effects of the crisis as well as to reform their financial sectors. We are exploring urgently other possible opportunities for effective help to those poor in Indonesia suffering the effects of the crisis.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department will take to assist in ensuring an adequate food supply in Indonesia following the shortfall in this year's rice crop. [41742]

Our normal practice is to provide food aid through international agencies, and we stand ready to provide help if needed. We have received a food situation report from the World Food Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organisation and are awaiting a further report from the European Commission which is due shortly. It is possible that the real problem is one of logistics and markets, rather than absolute food shortage. Food aid can damage local production; it is therefore important that we make a proper assessment. Once we have full details we shall take a decision on whether and how best the UK can assist.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has made in connection with a possible increase in the capital of the African Development Bank; and if she will make a statement. [41749]

Negotiations on a fifth general capital increase for the African Development Bank have been in progress since February 1997 and were virtually concluded at a meeting on 23–24 March in Abidjan. The increase is not required for lending purposes but to strengthen the Bank's financial base. For non-regional shareholders, such as the UK, the capital increase will provide greater influence in the Bank through an increase in the non-regional shareholding from 33 1/3 per cent. to 40 per cent., and changes to the voting rules. Governors will be invited to adopt a draft Resolution on the capital increase at the Bank's Annual Meeting on 27–29 May. The capital increase will then come into effect in 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance her Department is currently providing to Mongolia. [41356]

We provide bilateral assistance to Mongolia under the Department for International Development (DFID) Small Grants Scheme, administered by the British Embassy in Ulaanbaatar. Support is currently going to a range of small-scale, poverty-related initiatives in education, social welfare and income generation. Expenditure in the current year is likely to be of the order of £250,000. Assistance is also provided through multilateral channels, including the European Union, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what consultations her Department has held or plans to hold with ICF Kaiser on the scope of their environmental assessment of Sombrero Island in the Caribbean; and if she will make a statement on the scope and content of the assessment. [41624]

I have been asked to reply.I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him today.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of the change in the proposals for PEPs, TESSAs and ISAs in the Budget on the Government's target of attracting six million new savers. [36801]

[holding answer 30 March 1998]: At present half the adult population has less than £200 saved. The new account will provide savers with an attractive tax-free savings opportunity which will be more widely available, will have no minimum investment requirement and will not lock up their money. Savers will have an unprecedented guarantee of stability as the scheme will run for at least ten years. We anticipate that these features will make the new account very attractive to those who are new to tax-free saving, as well as providing ample reason for existing savers to continue and increase their savings.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance he has given to district councils, Department of Environment Planning and Road Services and Customs and Excise regarding control of diesel-only supply outlets reselling illegally imported diesel fuel from the Irish Republic. [41378]

It would not be appropriate for the Chancellor of the Exchequer to issue guidance to district councils or the Department of Environment. However the Government, Customs and Excise and the other authorities in Northern Ireland are aware of the problem of smuggling of duty paid fuel across the border into Northern Ireland for onward sale.Customs are deploying resources and actively mounting investigations against those involved to counter the threat posed to the revenue and to the Northern Ireland business community. Customs are taking the lead on this issue but are acting in conjunction with other authorities, including the Royal Ulster Constabulary, to make seizures of oil tankers and vehicles carrying oil tanks filled with illegally imported fuel for resale. Wherever possible, cases are progressed with a view to criminal prosecution of the individuals concerned.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the Petrol Retailers Association about the illegal importation of petroleum products into Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [41549]

The Chancellor has received representation from the Petrol Retailers Association via Northern Ireland MPs. The letters have received replies explaining the measures which are being taken to counter the threat posed by this illegal trade.There is evidence of smuggling of duty paid fuel across the border into Northern Ireland for onward sale. The Government recognise that this is a serious problem which disadvantages legitimate traders. Customs are aware of the problem and are active in mounting investigations against those involved.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with HM Customs and Excise about the illegal importation of petroleum products into Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [41554]

The Government and Customs are aware of the problem of smuggling of duty paid fuel into Northern Ireland for onward sale and recognise that it is a serious problem which disadvantages legitimate traders. Customs are deploying resources and actively mounting investigations against those involved to counter the threat posed to the revenue and to the Northern Ireland business community.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated loss of revenue through the illegal importation of petroleum products into Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [41535]

There are no estimates available of this illegal activity.There is a problem with illegal importation of duty paid fuel across the border into Northern Ireland for resale. Both the Government and Customs are aware of this situation and recognise that it seriously disadvantages legitimate traders. Customs are deploying resources and actively mounting investigations against those involved to counter the threat posed to the revenue and to the Northern Ireland business community.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the pump price per litre of (a) unleaded petrol and (b) derv in (i) Northern Ireland and (ii) the Republic of Ireland, indicating the percentage of duty and VAT in the total cost of each. [41534]

The pump prices of unleaded petrol and diesel in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are as follows:

Pence per litre
	Northern Ireland	Republic of Ireland
Unleaded petrol	66.4	55.73
Diesel	66.4	54.87

Duty (and VAT) represent the following percentages of these prices.

Percentage
	Northern Ireland		Republic of Ireland
	Duty	VAT	Duty	VAT
Unleaded petrol	66.25	(14.88)	43.57	(17.35)
Diesel	67.76	(14.88)	38.55	(17.35)

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will exempt from VAT charitable gifts from the National Association of Leagues of Hospital Friends to NHS hospitals; and if he will make a statement. [41362]

If a League of Hospital Friends is not VAT registered, any gift it makes to a NHS Trust will be VAT free. Where a VAT registered organisation makes a gift of an asset that has not been used in its business, then the gift is outside the scope of VAT. A gift made for business purposes, where the cost to the donor was not more than £15, is also outside the scope of VAT, but not gifts which form a part of a 'series or succession' of gifts from time to time.It is also possible for Leagues of Hospital Friends to buy specific categories of goods VAT free for donation to NHS Trusts when using funds, provided either by a charity or from voluntary contributions. The list of goods covered by this relief includes ambulances and medical, scientific, computer, video, sterilising, laboratory and refrigeration equipment used for medical research, training, diagnosis or treatment.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Council meetings of the Economic and Finance Ministers of the European Union held on 1 and 3 May. [41657]

I chaired the Economic and Finance Council—ECOFIN—of the European Union in Brussels on 1 May, and again on 3 May. The Council also met (in the composition of Heads of State or Government) on Saturday 2 May. The Prime Minister has already reported on this to the House in his statement of 5 May 1998, Official Report, columns 563–65. The Economic Secretary represented the UK.On 1 May, the Council began by considering the Commission's Recommendations on the abrogation of excessive deficits. The Council concurred with the Commission's Recommendations, and agreed unanimously to decisions abrogating the deficits of Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Portugal and the UK. These decisions were then formally notified to the relevant delegations, to allow the Council to move to its next business.As laid down in Article 109j(2), the Council then discussed its Recommendations on those countries fulfilling the necessary conditions for the adoption of the single currency. We agreed without dissent that Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain and Portugal met those conditions. We agreed to attach to our Recommendation a declaration on the importance of fiscal consolidation and structural adjustment.On 3 May, we approved two important A-points (on the technical specifications of euro coin, and the legal framework for the euro). Finance Ministers from the participating Member States then went on to sign formal receipts of the notification of the Heads' decision on those countries which fulfilled the necessary conditions for the adoption of the single currency.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much, in each year since 1990, has been raised by the amusement machine licence duty on (a) club machines and (b) amusement with prize machines; and how much he estimates will be raised in each category after the announced increases are implemented. [41506]

[holding answer 11 May 1998]: The government do not have a breakdown of actual receipts from particular types of machine. The Government have full official data only on total receipts from machine licence duty. Amusement Machine licence duty was introduced in 1995. Prior to that, the figures relate to Gaming Machine Licence Duty.

000s
Year	Receipts
1990	98,491
1991	97,187
1992	93,844
1993	95,347
1994	104,372
1995	113,014
1996	129,719
1997	132,943

The announced increases in duty rates are expected to yield an additional £15 million in 1998–99 and £20 million per annum thereafter.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in each year since 1990, how many (a) club machines and (b) amusement with prize machines were subject to amusement machine licence duty; and what estimate he has made of the impact of his proposed tax increases on the number of machines which will be operated in future years. [41505]

[holding answer 11 May 1998]: The Government do not hold official data on the number of machines of a particular type subject to amusement machine licence duty. Although any tax increase is likely to have some impact on demand, our calculations suggest that there is not likely to be a significant effect on the number of machines made available for play. This is particularly so as those machines which the industry claim to be most price sensitive—those in the lower duty band—have not been subjected to any increase.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about funding to continue HM Customs and Excise work to enforce legislation controlling wildlife trade; and what plans he has to expand this area of work. [41623]

HM Customs and Excise do not fund enforcement activity specifically in this area. Frontline anti-smugglers, investigation and intelligence staff tackle a wide range of prohibited and restricted goods, both at import and export, including species covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora (CITES). The detection of commercial smuggling of endangered species, and goods derived from them, is a priority for Customs, and this will continue to be so.There are no plans to expand Customs activity in this area of work.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what requirements in respect of the protection of individual consumers will be placed on the Financial Services Authority. [41390]

[holding answer 12 May 1998]: The Government intend that the Financial Services Authority's statutory objectives will include the protection of consumers by ensuring that firms are competent and financially sound and that they give customers confidence in their integrity, while recognising consumers' own responsibility for their financial decisions. Draft statutory objectives will form part of the draft legislation which the Government plan to publish for consultation in the Summer.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the National Consumer Council regarding the establishment of the Financial Services Authority. [41391]

[holding answer 12 May 1998]: The Government have received a number of representations from the National Consumer Council covering a number of different matters.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the meeting of the EU Committee on Harmful Tax Competition held on 8 May. [42052]

The first meeting of the EC Code of Conduct Group on 8 May covered the chairmanship of the Group and initial plans for a work programme to review Member States' business tax measures which may be harmful within the meaning of the Code.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the impact on Exchequer revenue of the one per cent. reduction in the main rate of corporation tax after taking into account the introduction of quarterly corporation tax payments. [41847]

The estimated costs of 1 per cent. cut in the main rate of corporation tax from 1 April 1999 after taking account of quarterly payments are:

Year	£ million
1998–99	negligible
1999–00	250
2000–01	900

In table C1 of the 1998–99 "Financial Statement and Budget Report", the costs of the rate change are estimated before allowing for the introduction of quarterly instalments. The overall revenue effects of the changes to corporation tax remain the same.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 8 April 1998, Official Report, columns 241–42, on the taxation of savings, if he will break down the total yield from taxes on savings for the last three years into the yield from (a) bank and building society interest and (b) dividends. [41371]

[holding answer 13 May 1998]: Estimates for the last three years are given in the table. Taxpayers over retirement age include women aged 60 and over and men aged 65 and over.

Full year yield from taxing savings income
£ billion
	1996–97	1997–98	1998–99
All taxpayers
Bank and building society interest	2.3	2.5	3.0
Dividends	3.2	3.8	3.6
Other	0.4	0.4	0.4
Taxpayers over retirement age
Bank and building society interest	1.1	1.2	1.4
Dividends	0.8	1.0	0.9
Other	0.2	0.2	0.3

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will make a statement on her plans for an increase in the number of Irish language schools. [40663]

Any increase in the number of Irish Language Schools will be determined by parental choice. The Government will continue to support proposals for new Irish language schools provided they are viable, provide effective education and are cost effective.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in what circumstances her Department may place a child in a training school other than the one recommended by the court; in how many cases this power has been used in the past five years; and for what reason. [41075]

The courts do not recommend the Training School in which a child is to be placed.When a Training School Order is made under section 74 of the Children and Young Persons Act (Northern Ireland) 1968, the School in which he is to be detained is determined by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the 1973 classification for the reception of non-Roman Catholic boys changed; and for what reason. [41076]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 27 February 1998, Official Report, column 414.However, I would add that Lisnevin was "approved" as a non-denominational training school on 24 September 1973 and there has been no change to its status since then.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the statutory basis for the secure custody provisions in Lisnevin, and what criteria her Department uses in directing the courts to (a) use Lisnevin for placement and (b) use the other training schools when transferring from Lisnevin. [41077]

A Training School Order (made under section 74 et seq of the Children and Young Persons Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 and defined by Article 2 of the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) (Order 1996) provides authority for the detention in custody in secure accommodation of a child who has been found guilty of serious or persistent offending and can be made only by a court. Nevertheless, it is policy to use 'open' accommodation if practicable. However, a child will be placed in, or returned to, secure accommodation if the seriousness or nature of his offending, or absconding or other behaviour while in 'open' accommodation, indicates that he may present a risk to himself or others.My Department does not direct the courts to use a particular Training School for the placement or transfer of any child within the Training School system.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what were the average total National Curriculum levels, rounded to 3 decimal places, attained by all 11 year old (a) male, (b) female and (c) male and female pupils in all maintained schools in each LEA at Key Stage 2 in (i) English, (ii) Maths, (iii) Science and (iv) English, Maths and Science for (1) 1995, (2) 1996 and (3) 1997, on the basis of teacher assessment of the numbers of pupils attaining each level from level 1 upwards; and if he will list the number of pupils for each LEA area. [38418]

The information requested is shown in tables, copies of which have been placed in the Library. It is not possible to present information for English, mathematics and science together as matching of pupils' results across subjects is not possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the beacon schools. [41621]

There are no beacon schools at present. I have invited those schools identified by HMCI as 'best performing' to consider beacon school status. Most of these are listed in HMCI's Annual Report for 1996–97.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many children were involved in Operation Charlie; over what period it was conducted; and how its value was assessed. [41619]

The Project Charlie (Chemical Abuse Resolution Lies in Education) programme was evaluated soon after its implementation in two primary schools in Hackney over the period 1990–1992. The children who were involved in the programme at this time were followed-up in 1996 and compared with children who did not receive Project Charlie. A number of different comparisons were made involving more than 300 pupils and, among the findings of the evaluation study highlighted in a recent Home Office Drug Prevention Initiative study paper, are the positive effects the programme appears to have on pupils' skills, attitudes and reported drug use.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he expects to respond to the interim report of the advisory group on independent/state school partnerships. [42399]

I am writing today to the Chairman welcoming the interim report of the Advisory Group. The full report, including my response, will be published tomorrow. Copies will be placed in the Library.I am also laying before Parliament tomorrow the Education (Partnership Grant) Regulations 1998 and announcing the allocation of grant for 1998–99.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has for the private sector to lead partnerships for the organisation and delivery of the New Deal to those unemployed adults covered by the pilot initiatives due to commence in November. [42545]

The Government wish to build on the experience gained from New Deal for 18-24-year-olds in taking forward the pilots of enhanced provision for those aged 25 and over, which were announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the budget and which are due to start in November.Accordingly we have decided that around a third of the pilots which we intend to establish later this year should be taken forward by private sector led partnerships and that these should be in the areas where the private sector has been invited similarly to lead on the New Deal for 18-24-year-olds. The areas concerned are, Bridgend and Glamorgan Valleys, Colchester, Exeter and East Devon, Forth Valley, Hackney and City, Leicestershire, Solihull, South Humber, Tyneside North and West Lancashire.Advertisements seeking expressions of interest in these pilots will appear in the national and local press shortly. We aim to announce the successful bidders in each locality by the end of August.The remainder of the pilots will be led by local New Deal partnerships. We will be announcing plans to select these areas in due course.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on levels of investment in the United Kingdom relative to those elsewhere in the EU. [40968]

In 1996, fixed investment accounted for 15½ per cent. of Gross Domestic Product in the United Kingdom and almost 19 per cent. in the rest of the EU.