To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the outcome of discussions with the Home Department on the regulation of the wheel clamping industry. [43193]

The Government intend to include a statement on this subject in their forthcoming Transport White Paper.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the current backlog in road maintenance on (a) trunk roads and (b) other adopted roads. [43188]

In December last year, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced an increase of 50% in the Highways Agency's provision of capital maintenance on trunk roads and motorways to £300m for 1998–99. It is estimated that this will overcome underfunding in recent years and hold the trunk road network in a steady state condition. There is currently no central government estimate of maintenance backlog for local authority roads. Road maintenance for the future is an issue which we are considering in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on Government policy in relation to proposals from the Water Companies Association to increase abstraction to meet demand in areas of water shortage. [43548]

Proposals for new or increased abstractions of water to serve the needs created by development must be discussed with the Environment Agency which regulates abstractions through its licensing system. A review of that licensing system was announced at the water Summit last May and we shall shortly be publishing a consultation paper on a range of proposals for change. Water companies have duties to maintain and develop efficient and economical water supply systems to meet the needs of their areas, and to promote the efficient use of water by their customers. They are currently preparing water resource plans to maintain a balance between demand and supply over the next 25 years.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to the letter of 10 November 1997 from the Minister for Transport in London to the hon. Member for Linlithgow (J/P50/10405/97), what is her Department's latest assessment of the development of air-bags for aircraft. [44064]

There have been no further developments to those outlined in my letter of 10 November 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to announce a decision on the A41 No Man's Heath bypass; and if he will make a statement. [43382]

The Inspector's report on the public inquiry into the proposed A41 No Man's Heath and Macefen bypass was received on 3 December 1997. My right hon. Friend will announce his decision in the light of the Inspector's recommendations as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the proportion of households formed in each region between 1991 and 1996 which were single-person households. [43858]

There are no suitable survey sources for the information requested. However, my Department makes annual estimates of the total number of households by applying household information derived from recent censuses and the Labour Force Survey to the annual mid-year population estimates produced by the Office for National Statistics.Using these figures for 1991 and 1996, the net change in the number of one person households as a percentage of the net change in total households is as set out.

Government office region	Net increase in the number of one person households (thousands)	Net increase in the total number of households (thousands)	Percentage of total net increase that is one person households
North East	34	34	102
North West	71	87	82
Merseyside	15	10	149
Yorkshire and the Humber	64	84	76
East Midlands	59	95	62
West Midlands	69	90	77
Eastern	85	135	63
London	112	158	71
South East	122	194	63
South West	73	110	66
England	702	996	71

In some areas the net growth in one person households exceeds the net growth in total households. This can be explained by, for example, one person households being formed when one member of a couple dies. This increases the number of one person households by one but the overall number of households remains unchanged.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to review proposals for improvements to the A49 between Ludlow and Shrewsbury. [43383]

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 what representations he has received about the operations of the NHBC. [43868]

In the last year I have received representations concerning some 35 cases involving the NHBC Buildmark warranty scheme, some of which also involved NHBC in its capacity as an approved building control inspector. From these representations and other sources I am aware of the dissatisfaction with the way the Buildmark scheme sometimes operates. That is why, on three occasions in the past year, I have met the Chief Executive and other senior staff of the NHBC to hear progress with their Buildmark review. I am awaiting a further update from them on action to improve the operation of the scheme. As regards building control, I have welcomed the setting up by the Construction Industry Council, the Local Government Association and the Association of Corporate Approved Inspectors of a steering group to draw up recommendations on a common performance standard applicable to private sector approved inspectors and to local authority building control officers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the wild boar population in (a) East Sussex, (b) Kent, (c) Dorset and (d) elsewhere in the United Kingdom; what is his policy in respect of these animals; and if he will make a statement. [43217]

The Central Science Laboratory has recently completed a review of the current status and potential impact of wild boar on the English countryside. This Department and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food are currently considering the review and a statement will be made in the near future.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the progress being made to move the Driving Test Centre in Beeches Road, Chelmsford, to an alternative site in the town; and if he expects the move to be completed prior to 31 December. [43165]

Planning approval has recently been granted for the building of a new driving test centre at the Chelmer Business Park. We are confident that we shall be able to switch driver testing to there and cease at the current premises in Beeches Road, by the end of this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the effect on weekend traffic conditions on the A49 and on Cromwell Avenue in Warrington of building a new Junction 8 on the M62. [43385]

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 what he is doing to educate all road users to be aware of vulnerable road users, in order to reduce two-wheeler, horse-riding and pedestrian casualties. [42334]

The Highway Code contains advice for road users and aims to help prevent accidents by ensuring that all road users follow the same rules. The Code is being revised. We are considering how to highlight the need for motorists to be aware of vulnerable road users. In July there will be a 25 per cent. increase in the number of questions on driver awareness of all vulnerable road users in the driving theory test question bank. We also provide a wide range of publicity and information material for use by Road Safety Officers, police, schools and others to promote consideration for vulnerable road users. Examples include the Horse Sense for Motorists and the Drive Safe Cycle Safe leaflets.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if it is his policy that steps to restrain motor car use should not apply automatically to powered two wheelers. [42335]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 20 May 1998, Official Report, column 365.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the updated Index of Local Deprivation will be published. [44135]

I am today placing in the Library copies of a summary of the 1998 Index of Local Deprivation. The Index of Local Deprivation combines 12 up to date measures on different aspects of deprivation into a single indicator for all local authority districts in England. The Index will be used as background information for the development of regeneration policy and programmes. A further review of the Index will be commissioned later this year to take account of new data sources relevant to deprivation which will include income support statistics for areas smaller than local authority districts.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action the Government are proposing to take to control and eradicate the infestation of termites at Saunton, North Devon; and if he will make a statement. [44136]

The Government are determined to do everything possible to contain and destroy the termite infestation at two properties in Saunton, North Devon. Our priority is to stop the infestation spreading and to destroy it at source.I can therefore announce that the Government will fully fund a 12 year eradication and control programme, costing some £190,000, which will start immediately the consent of the affected owners has been received.As my noble Friend Baroness Hayman indicated in Another Place on 28 April 1998,

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a further commencement order in respect of the Housing Act 1996, enabling disputes over the reasonableness of service charges between landlords and long leaseholders on which court proceedings began before 1 September 1997 to be transferred to leasehold valuation tribunals. [44137]

Today my Department is publishing for consultation proposals which should be welcome to a number of those leaseholders who have not so far been able to take advantage of the improved arrangements for dealing with service charge disputes under the Housing Act 1996.Section 83 of that Act allows a residential tenant or landlord to go to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal (LVT) rather than to a civil court when seeking a decision on whether or not service charges are reasonable. It also gives the court discretion to transfer to the LVT any question relating to the reasonableness of service charges which falls within the Tribunal's jurisdiction. This provision came into effect on 1 September 1997 but it has not so far been applied to cases where court proceedings had begun before that date. Representations have been made that this exclusion is unfair.Under the further Commencement Order proposed today, the court's discretion would also apply to cases where proceedings had begun before 1 September 1997. This would allow the courts to consider whether the interests of justice would best be served by transferring a service charge dispute in such a case to the LVT.Subject to consultation, the proposed further Commencement Order should bring these new measures into effect in August 1998. Tenants involved in proceedings which started before 1 September 1997 may wish to take legal advice about the implications of these proposals.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to simplify the procedures in the Reservoirs Act 1975 for making appointments to panels of civil engineers and for enforcing the safety provisions of the Act. [44121]

I am today issuing a consultation paper, jointly with the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales, setting out the Government's proposals to amend the Reservoirs Act 1975. These proposals involve the transfer of the Secretaries of States' responsibilities for making appointments to the President of the Institution of Civil Engineers and the transfer of local authorities' enforcement duties in England and Wales to the Environment Agency. I am satisfied that these measures will result in the procedures being made less burdensome both for candidates for appointment and for reservoir undertakers. The amendments would be made by an Order under section 1 of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994. I have today placed a copy of the consultation paper in the Library of the House.

To ask the President of the Council on how many occasions since the House adopted the recommendations of the report of the Select Committee on the Sittings of the House business was concluded by 7 pm on Thursdays. [43286]

The House has risen before 7 pm on Thursdays on three occasions since January 1995 and on a further 15 occasions the business under consideration at that time was the half-hour adjournment. My hon. Friend will be aware that the original Sittings of the House Report in 1991–92, known as the Jopling report, recommended that, on the Thursdays immediately preceding non-sitting Fridays, the House should complete its main business by 7.00 pm and rise after the adjournment at 7.30 pm. The Committee also said that 7.00 pm on the other Thursdays should be the normal time for completion of main business. On the 26 Thursdays before non-sitting Fridays since January 1995, the House rose before 8 pm on 11 occasions and before 9 pm on eight other evenings. On the 83 Thursdays preceding sitting Fridays since then, the House rose between 10 and 10.30 pm on 44 occasions, later than that on eight occasions and adjourned before 9 pm on 26 evenings.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the members of the Post Office Users National Council and their terms of office. [43327]

The current members of the Post Office Users National Council, who are generally appointed for individual terms of 3 or 4 years, are:

Member	Appointment expiry date
John Hackney (Chairman)	30 September 1999
Eric Diston	31 December 1998
Rodger Gooding	31 December 1998
Gary Hepburn	31 December 1998
David Morris	31 December 1998
Edward V idler	31 December 1998
Dennis Wilson	31 December 1998
Dr. Stephanie Stray	31 December 1999
Frederick Bell	31 December 2000
Keith Hitchings	31 December 2000
Andrew Robertson1	30 September 1999
Eifion Pritchard1	30 September 2000
Gerard Trainor1	31 August 2000
1 Sit on the National Council by virtue of their appointments as Chairmen of the Post Office Users Councils for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

In the current round of appointments, I am seeking a more balanced representation in terms of gender and ethnic origin on all the Consumer Councils.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what the procedures are for nomination and appointment of members to the Post Office Users National Council. [43328]

The procedures for appointments to the consumer councils for which I am responsible have been drawn up since Lord Nolan published his report and are fully compliant with the Guidance of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. An advertisement for appointments to a number of consumer councils, including the Post Office Users National Council, appears in the press annually. At the time of advertising we also seek nominations from a number of sources including the Council Chairmen, the Public Appointments Unit and all consumer representative organisations and minority groups. Applications are considered by an interview panel, which includes an independent representative, and a short list of candidates is interviewed. Thereafter Ministers select appointees from among all those successful at interview on the basis of merit. This year I expect to be able to confirm the appointments to the Post Office Users National Council by October. I am seeking to ensure that this recruitment provides for better representation of gender and ethnic minorities.The procedures outlined above were drawn up by a Departmental Appointments Panel which has five independent members.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the regulations that have been removed or amended to help small businesses since 1 May 1997. [42777]

[holding answer 1 June 1998]: Between 1 May 1997 and 31 May 1998 my Department has laid 8 amending regulations which resulted in compliance cost savings to business. These are as follows:

• The Wireless Telegraphy (Network User Stations) (Exemption) Regulations 1997;
• The Gas Act 1986 (Exemption) Order 1997;
• The Insurance Companies (Accounts and Statements) (Amendment) Regulations 1997:
• The Restrictive Trade Practices (Non-Notifiable Agreements) (Sale and Purchase, Share Subscription and Franchise Agreements) Order 1997;
• The Restrictive Trade Practices (Non-Notifiable Agreements) (Turnover Threshold) Amendment Order 1997;
• The Cosmetic Products (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 1997;
• The Wireless Telegraphy (Licence Charges) (Amendment) Regulations 1998; and The Trade Marks (Amendment) Rules 1998.

Regulations to reduce the burdens on business are not necessarily targeted on businesses of a particular size. The regulations listed are expected to reduce burdens on business irrespective of size.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of the United Kingdom population reside in areas in receipt of Objective 1 Funding. [43440]

Of the United Kingdom's population, 6.0 per cent. reside in areas in receipt of Objective 1 Funding.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what further action is being taken to improve consumer protection in the funeral industry. [43476]

The Director General of Fair Trading announced on 15 May that he is to instigate an inquiry into the 'at need' funeral industry. I very much welcome this initiative. I share his concern about any allegations of malpractice and aggressive selling techniques in the funerals industry and call upon the industry to raise standards of consumer service.I am also urgently considering measures to ensure that consumers who purchase their funerals in advance are properly protected. My Department is in regular contact with interested parties.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to her answer of 14 May 1998, Official Report, column 193, on Business Link, London North West, (1) on what basis the committed and actual partner contributions figures include in kind contributions; [43992](2) if she will provide a detailed breakdown of the forecast figure of £160,000 partnership income for the financial year 1998–99. [43993]

[holding answer 1 June 1998]: For the financial year 1997–98 Business Link North West London received £150,000 as a partnership contribution. Of this sum £25,000 was allocated to the salary of a North West London TEC contracts manager who had the specific duty of servicing the Business Link.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how retailers are to dispose of their stocks if the Fireworks Bill is enacted. [43669]

The Fireworks Bill is a Private Member's Bill which, if enacted, would provide the capability to deal with issues which cannot be addressed under the presently available powers. However, the fact of the Bill reaching the statute book would not of itself result in any new controls on fireworks being introduced. A key element in the Bill is a provision which would allow for the introduction of a training regime for the organisers of firework displays.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what changes have been made to import controls on fireworks since November 1996; and what plans she has for further changes. [43389]

There have been no changes to import controls on fireworks since November 1996.The Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997, which I made in September 1997, introduced a number of firework safety measures including banning bangers, flash bangers, fireworks with erratic flight, aerial shells, maroons and other large fireworks from sale to the public. The Regulations also place limits on the size of certain fireworks—such as Roman Candles—which can be sold to the public. These restrictions apply both to imported fireworks and to those manufactured in the United Kingdom.I am currently discussing with the firework industry the "traceability" of imported fireworks to improve the interception of dangerous ones.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will publish the figures for the United Kingdom's stock of civil plutonium as at 31 December 1997. [44282]

I have today placed in the Library of the House figures for the United Kingdom under the new format showing national holdings of civil plutonium as at 31 December 1997. These figures are published as part of the UK's renewed commitment to improve transparency and openness in its management of our national holding of civil plutonium. This follows the same format as that announced on 2 December 1997 for holdings as at 31 December 1996. In accordance with the requirements of the 'Guidelines for the Management of Plutonium', I have today sent a copy of the figures to the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, who will be circulating it to Member States in due course.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the outcome of the EC Telecommunications Council on 19 May. [44281]

I chaired the Telecommunications Council held in Brussels on 19 May.Substantial progress was made towards agreement on two decisions: on the further development of mobile and wireless communications in Europe (universal mobile telecommunications system); and on a multi-annual programme to promote safe use of the internet. Both decisions will be finalised once the European Parliament has given its first reading.Following a presentation of the report from the ad hoc Working Group on electronic commerce, which examined the Commission Communication on Globalisation and the Information Society, the Council adopted conclusions on this subject. The Commission gave oral presentations of a draft Directive on a European framework for electronic signatures, and a Communication on the radio frequency requirements for Community policies in the context of the World Radiocommunications Conference 1999. The

Film title	Lottery award	Budget	Release date	Number of screens	Total box office to date (£)
Glastonbury The Movie Limited	36,061	125,000	Released 12.6.96	Opened on 3; played up to 75	£
True Blue	1,000,000	3,500,000	Released 15.11.96	108 screens	152,042
Crimetime	302,421	3,817,755	Released 29.11.96	23 screens	13,127
A Midsummer Nights Dream	750,000	2,300,000	Released 29.11.96	6 screens	25,859
Frantz Fanon	84,000	320,000	Released 27.6.97	1 screen, ICA	2,180
The Slab Boys	520,000	2,500,000	Released 29.8.97	8 screens	15,911
Gallivant	170,000	334,366	Released 19.9.97	3 screens	21,000
Photographing Fairies	890,000	3,620,000	Released 19.9.97	60 screens	81,609
Shooting Fish	980,000	2,135,000	Released 17.10.97	206 screens	4,023,915
Wilde	1,500,000	6,000,000	Released 17.10.97	53 screens	1,746,912
The Tango Lesson	690,000	2,700,000	Released 28.11.97	60 screens	207,120
Keep the Aspidistra Flying	1,000,000	2,750,000	Released 28.11.97	9 screens	105,163
The Woodlanders	1,400,000	4,300,000	Released 6.2.98	18 screens	177,442
Downtime	768,898	1,956,495	Released 13.2.98	42 screens	28,135
Bent	561,000	2,154,183	Released 6.3.98	3 screens	27,962
My Son the Fanatic	750,000	2,134,800	Released 1.5.98	16 screens	60,084
Amy Foster	2,000,000	10,500,000	Released 8.5.98	39 screens	20,371
Love and Death on Long Island	750,000	2,300,874	To be released 3.7.98
The Land Girls	1,500,000	5,800,000	To be released 28.8.98
Love is the Devil	364,551	1,119,364	To be released 9.98
The Governess	907,075	2,803,000	To be released 10.98
The Revengers Comedies	950,000	4,000,000	Release date tbc
Among Giants	665,000	2,479,000	Release date tbc
Divorcing Jack	800,000	3,350,000	To be released autumn 98
Metroland	865,000	2,953,347	Release date tbc
A Kind of Hush	750,000	2,215,287	Release date tbc
Food of Love	800,000	2,100,000	UK Distributor tbc
Peggy Sue	500,000	1,130,000	UK Distributor tbc
Sixth Happiness	469,727	976,081	UK Distributor tbc
Nana	160,000	320,000	UK Distributor tbc
Get Real	800,000	1,808,000	UK Distributor tbc

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will ensure that future cable television licensing agreements require the provision of high quality local programming by franchise operators and that that provision be monitored by the ITC. [43109]

The award and regulation of cable television licences is, by statute, a matter for the

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list those films which have received lottery funding indicating (a) how much lottery money each received, (b) their total budgets, (c) their release dates, (d) the number of screens on which they opened and (e) their takings to date. [41802]

[holding answer 13 May 1998]: The table shows the information available as provided by the Arts Council of England.Independent Television Commission (ITC). The terms of the Broadcasting Act 1990 require that licences awarded by the ITC under that Act contain no positive requirements for specific programming categories or quality. The ITC will however continue to monitor conditions relating to local programming in cable licences issued by the Cable Authority under the Cable and Broadcasting Act 1984, for which the Commission is now responsible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what public money is being provided to help libraries take advantage of new technology. [41985]

[holding answer 1 June 1998]: The Government published their plans for the development of an IT Public Libraries Network on 16 April. £70 million of Lottery funding will be made available from the New Opportunities Fund for the development of new digital resources and the provision of ICT training of public library staff, together with £6 million to support the development of infrastructure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what was the outcome of the Culture Council on 28 May. [44192]

EU Ministers of Culture met on 28 May 1998 in Brussels. Ministers agreed a common position regarding the proposed European Parliament and Council decision establishing a Community action for "The European City of Culture" event for the years 2005 to 2019. Ministers also agreed the cities to be offered the title "European City of Culture" and "European Cultural Month" for the years 2001 to 2004.The European Commission presented its proposal for a new culture framework programme. Ministers held an exchange of views on the Commission's proposal.The Presidency provided the Council with information about an informal meeting between the Cultural Affairs Committee and representatives of the Council- of Europe which took place on 16 April and focused on the impact of new technologies upon culture.The Commission provided the Council with a progress report on its study on cross border fixed book prices in the European Union.Ministers also held an exchange of views on culture and employment.Ministers agreed a draft recommendation concerning the protection of minors and human dignity in audiovisual and information services.The Presidency gave a report on the European Audiovisual Conference, "Challenges and Opportunities of the Digital Age", which was held in Birmingham on 6–8 April. The Council adopted Council conclusions on the outcome of the Conference.Ministers discussed a proposal to establish a European Film Award and the Commission agreed to undertake a study. Under any other business, access to archives in the European Union, the importance of music and music sector, and Weimar's plans as City of Culture 1999 were mentioned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when up-to-date figures will be available on the incidence of breast cancer among women by unitary authority area and by age. [43473]

The Welsh Cancer Intelligence and Surveillance Unit is dealing with the registration backlog at the rate of one year's data every four months.This means incidence data for the current calendar year (1998) should be available by February 2000. For 1999 and subsequent years, data will be available in the following September.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to assist the work of the Football Trust in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [44053]

I have no such plans but discussions are ongoing between the Sports Council for Wales, the Football Association of Wales and the Football Trust on how they might make the best use of their joint resources to develop football in Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the year end financial position of each NHS trust in Wales. [44193]

The table shows the unaudited end year financial position of NHS trusts in Wales. Twenty one of the 29 trusts improved on their projected year end position provided in their December quarter returns. The efforts made by the trusts are appreciated.

£000
Trust	Unaudited year end position	December quarter projected figures
Bridgend and District	25	0
Cardiff Community	315	259
Carmarthen	-1,557	-1,659
Ceredigion	-918	-1,100
Clwydian Community	179	187
East Glamorgan	168	92
Glan Y Mor	13	0
Glan Clwyd	167	127
Glan Hafren	330	330
Gwent Community	66	66
Gwynedd Community	63	97
Gwynedd Hospitals	198	-92
Llandough Hospital	-1,346	-1,822
Llanelli/Dinefwr	-646	-800
Mid Glamorgan Ambulance	69	49
Morriston	-1,667	-2,691
Nevill Hall and District	18	-82
North Glamorgan	54	-308
North Wales Ambulance	4	56
Pembrokeshire and Derwen	-2,039	-2,097
Powys	-900	-1,278
Rhondda	132	116
SEWAT	58	0
Swansea	49	60
University Dental Hospital	7	-92
University Hospital of Wales	-1,462	-4,574
Velindre	23	87
West Wales Ambulance	0	0
Wrexham Maelor	-87	-737
Total	-8.684	-15,806

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to conclude his review of immigration cases where domestic violence is involved; and if he will make a statement. [43200]

The review is nearing its conclusion and I hope to be able to make an announcement shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how often Reginald Kray has been found in possession of alcohol in the last 12 months; and what is its source. [42139]

While Mr. Kray has not been found in possession of alcohol during the last 12 months, reports prepared for his most recent Parole Board review in March of this year referred to admission by him that he continued to drink illicit alcohol.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to ensure uniformity of sentences for similar offences in different areas; and if he will make a statement. [43610]

Provisions in the Crime and Disorder Bill [Lords] place a statutory duty on the Court of Appeal to consider producing sentencing guidelines. The Bill also establishes a new sentencing advisory panel which will offer advice to the Court of Appeal. Taken together, we are confident that these measures will help to ensure greater consistency in sentencing.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions he has issued to the Immigration Service regarding arrangements for asylum seekers to be represented at interviews held at ports. [43464]

Current and longstanding instructions to the Immigration Service about representation at interviews of passengers at ports have not altered significantly in recent times.All passenger interviews, including those of asylum seekers, are conducted under Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971. It is not a mandatory requirement for a representative to be present at any interview. However, at the discretion of the immigration officer, representatives are usually admitted to interviews once their bona fides have been established and provided that no unreasonable delay is involved.On arrival in the United Kingdom, all port asylum seekers are given written information about access to legal advice including details of the Refugee Legal Centre and The Immigration Advisory Service.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the proposed temporary prison at Middleton Sands, Morecambe will close. [43663]

A condition of the planning clearance is that the period between the opening and closing of the prison should not exceed three years; and the prison should close prior to 31 December 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he received a request from the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the hon. Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, North (Mr. Henderson), to reply to a query regarding visas for Turkish Cypriots entering the United Kingdom; when he received a letter on the same subject dated 4 February from the right hon. Member for Strangford; and if he will make a statement. [44030]

I have received a number of representations on this issue, including a letter from the right hon. Member for Strangford (Mr. Taylor) received on 30 April, and will write to the hon. and right hon. Members concerned as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to prevent indoor retail outlets trading on Easter Sunday. [44031]

Under the Sunday Trading Act 1994, only those shops with a relevant floor area of more than 280 square metres are prohibited from trading on Easter Sunday. Local authorities are responsible for enforcing the Act's provisions. Contravening the shop opening hours provisions can attract a fine of conviction of up to £50,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total value in real terms of (a) staff car mileage claims paid and (b) staff rail fares paid in each year since 1989–90; and what was the total amount of staff car mileage for which reimbursement was made and the percentage change in each year since 1989–90. [42551]

The information required to answer this question is not readily available and to obtain it would involve disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance has been given to the Thailand Government to prevent cross-border incursions by the Burmese military. [43470]

We have received no request from the Thai authorities for assistance to prevent incursions from Burma. As EU Presidency, we have condemned recent incursions and highlighted their impact on refugees along the Thai-Burma border. Our Embassies in Rangoon and Bangkok have raised our concerns with their host governments at a high level.Most recently, I raised the issue of Burmese refugees in Thailand with General Chettla Thanajaro, Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Army, in Bangkok on 29 May.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the extra funding provided to the NHS for coping with winter pressures was spent on projects involving joint working with social services. [42190]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the extra funding provided to the NHS for coping with winter pressures was spent on projects involving joint working with social services. [42198]

Of the £159 million allocated to health authorities in England, over one fifth (some £35 million) was transferred to social services departments for projects where the need was specifically for social care. Details of the precise spend on other projects which involved joint working with social services is not available centrally. However, we made it clear that all projects funded by the additional resources should be developed in consultation with local social services departments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to improve mechanisms within the NHS for the introduction of more demanding quality standards. [42191]

Our White Paper "The New NHS", published last December, set out a range of proposals for driving and supporting quality improvement in the National Health Service. We shall shortly be publishing a consultation paper which sets out some of our key proposals in more detail.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his review of the case of Mrs. X of Workington, whose name has been supplied to him. [42192]

I understand that this case is about a woman who has not been able to obtain in-vitro fertilisation treatment in Cumbria as she is not eligible under the North Cumbria Health Authority's criteria for infertility treatment. Like most National Health Service treatments, infertility treatment is funded through the general funding of health authorities, and decisions about the allocation of resources and about who should be eligible for treatment are the responsibility of individual authorities. We are determined to address concerns that the NHS should provide equality of access to services throughout the country and are currently considering what further advice the NHS should be given on infertility service provision.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money he is making available to support the development of health action zones. [42193]

We are making £5.3 million in 1998/99 and £30 million from 1999/2000 available to support the first wave of Health Action Zones.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the reorganisation of health authorities and community trusts in West Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement. [42194]

We have received no proposals to reorganise health authorities or community trusts in West Yorkshire.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department is taking to provide improved health information to men over 40 years of age. [42195]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department is taking to provide improved information on health to men over 40 years of age. [42208]

I refer my hon. Friends to my oral reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Heywood and Middleton (Mr. Dobbin) today, Official Report, column 161.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department is taking to ensure patients aged over 75 years are not discharged without adequate social services available for their care. [42196]

The Department is undertaking a number of relevant activities. Guidance on hospital discharge is under review. Social services inspectors are about to publish a report on local authorities' hospital discharge arrangements. The Department is working with health and social services authorities to develop assessment and care management, including written care plans for all patients on discharge from hospital, rehabilitation and recuperation services and joint investment plans.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to improve mechanisms within the NHS for the introduction of more demanding quality standards at Grimsby hospital. [42197]

Our White Paper "The New NHS", published last December, set out a range of proposals for driving and supporting quality improvement in the National Health Service. We shall shortly be publishing a consultation paper which sets out some of our key proposals in more detail. The proposals for hospitals will apply to all hospital trusts and therefore to Grimsby hospital.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Government have to enforce NHS guidance on the clinical effectiveness of treatments. [42200]

In the White Paper "The New NHS" we announced the end of the internal market in the National Health Service. The new National Institute for Clinical Excellence will set the standards of care that must be equally available to all. For the first time, the Government will require managers throughout the NHS to give as much attention to the effectiveness of treatments as to efficiency and cost. We will develop and publish National Service Frameworks which will make it clear what patients can expect from the NHS, and we will use the Service Frameworks to drive up quality through our management of NHS performance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new NHS hospitals have been announced since 1 May 1997. [42201]

Thirty hospital schemes have been given the go ahead since 1 May 1997. Twenty-five of these were under the Private Finance Initiative and five publicly funded.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will encourage cancer treatment in hospitals with specialist cancer research facilities. [42202]

The Calman/Hine report on cancer services recognises the importance of high quality research and recommends that this is carried out throughout the cancer care network—in cancer units, cancer centres; primary care and within the voluntary sector. This means that the necessary population is available for research; there is close liaison between the service and the research; and the results leading to improved care can be disseminated quickly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure consistency between health authorities in respect of the prescription of certain drugs. [42203]

We will work with the professions to produce National Service Frameworks and clinical guidelines which will be relevant to all health authorities. We will challenge and address variations in the provision of clinically and cost effective treatments not based on the health needs and wishes of local people.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to reduce the incidence of heart disease. [42204]

Coronary heart disease is one of the biggest killers in this country. It accounts for some 120,000 deaths a year including premature deaths. Its incidence shows marked social class inequality. For example, men of working age in the bottom social classes are more than 50 per cent. more likely to die of coronary heart disease than men in the overall population.The Government are undertaking a variety of initiatives to tackle the risk factors for coronary heart disease. These include the forthcoming White Paper on tobacco control, a major campaign, called "Active for Life" to publicise the significant health benefits of moderately intense physical activity, a review, last year, of effective interventions in the prevention and treatment of obesity, and a directory of weight management services available across the National Health Service in England. We also launched a rolling programme of National Service Frameworks including the development of a framework for the prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease, which will set national standards; put in place strategies to support implementation; and establish performance measures against which progress in reducing preventable death, tackling inequalities, and ensuring consistency of treatment, will be measured. The emerging findings from this work are expected in the autumn, and will be published and disseminated.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he will ensure community and mental health services in Leeds receive an adequate share of the Government's extra investment in the NHS. [42205]

I am pleased to say that Leeds Health Authority will receive a general allocation of £339.93 million in 1998/99, which is a total cash increase of £15.89 million over 1997/98.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the provision of long-stay beds for the mentally ill in (a) the North West Region, (b) the county of Cheshire and (c) East Cheshire NHS Trust. [42187]

North West Region has resettled almost all long stay residents from the large institutions which provided treatment and care for people with mental health problems. There are still some final moves from some of the sites yet to be achieved. The whole of this was subject to a report submitted to the Independent Reference Group in 1997.At Winwick Hospital, the local mental health services are still in the process of moving to newly developed areas on the Winwick site and also to a purpose built mental health unit at Halton General Hospital, Runcorn. These moves have been notified to the health authority concerned and will be monitored closely by the North West Regional Office of the National Health Service Executive.In East Cheshire NHS Trust, patients previously at Parkside Hospital (the largest institution of its type in South Cheshire) have been reprovided for in a range of community based facilities, mostly within their home areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to support the role of small pharmacies in delivering health care. [42206]

All pharmacies which provide National Health Service services receive a fair and appropriate level of remuneration for the work they carry out. We have in place special arrangements—the Essential Small Pharmacies Scheme—to guarantee a minimum NHS income for certain smaller pharmacies which might not otherwise be viable. We plan to continue both these forms of support.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research he has commissioned into health inequalities. [42207]

We recently announced eight research projects at a cost of £1.7 million on inequalities in health. This round of commissioning has focused on important areas to do with children and young people as well as health service mechanisms. All the projects are geared to answering the question: what actions on the part of health and other services can be effectively taken to reduce inequalities in health? In addition the Independent Inquiry into Inequalities in Health is reviewing existing research on this issue. Further research will be commissioned in the light of the Inquiry's report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he has taken to introduce national service frameworks in the NHS. [42209]

The annual programme of national service frameworks was launched on 16 April 1998. The initial programme of work will take forward the existing frameworks for cancer and paediatric intensive care, and will begin to develop new national service frameworks for mental health and coronary heart disease.Each national service framework will be developed with the assistance of an expert reference group which will bring together health professionals, service users and carers, health service managers, partner agencies, and other advocates. The reference groups for mental health and coronary heart disease will be established during the next few weeks, and will begin work in the early summer.Emerging findings will be published in the autumn and the frameworks in spring 1999. The National Health Service, working with partner agencies, will be expected to begin to plan for implementation from April 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made in respect of primary care groups. [42210]

A great deal of work has been done since publication of the White Paper "The New NHS: Modem—Dependable" to establish Primary Care Groups. We are on course to have Primary Care Groups in place and operational by April 1999.Local discussions are now well under way to agree Primary Care Group configurations by July this year. We have also been consulting various interested bodies nationally on implementation issues. We have made £22 million available to help get Primary Care Groups off the ground. This £22 million will be deliberately targeted to areas with higher numbers of non-fundholding general practitioners in recognition of the fact that they do not have the resources of the fundholder management allowances to draw on. It takes account of the fact that primary care management resources—including GP computing cash—has been unevenly distributed in the past. This is a first step to restoring equity across practices. It will be for local doctors and nurses to decide with their health authority how this money is best spent. This additional support will help family doctors and community nurses get their local Primary Care Group right so that patients get the maximum benefit from the new arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on Government funding for hospices. [42211]

It is the duty of health authorities to arrange the provision of specialist palliative care services (including hospice care) commensurate with the assessed health needs of their populations, in the same way as for other health services. Since 1994/5, funding for this purpose has been built into health authorities' general allocations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase confidence among parents in the role of the Health Service Commissioner with respect to the NHS complaints procedure. [42212]

As an Officer of Parliament the Health Service Commissioner is independent of the Government and it is not for Ministers to intervene in the way he operates. However, we have every confidence that the Commissioner carries out his role in an entirely appropriate manner.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to involve young people in care in consultations on the provision of that care. [42213]

Children Act Regulations prescribe that local authorities shall seek and take account of the views of a child before conducting any review of his case.Guidance on children's services planning highlights the importance of local authorities seeking children's views and giving due weight to them alongside those of parents and carers.A care leaver is one of the members of the Ministerial Task Force on children's safeguards, and the Department will be providing funding for the establishment of a new national organisation for young people in care and for care leavers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to appoint (a) a United Kingdom children's rights commissioner and (b) an English children's rights commissioner. [24346]

We have no plans to establish an office of Children's Rights Commissioner. During 1998 the Government will be preparing the Second United Kingdom Report to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child in accordance with the requirements of Article 44 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989. We will take into account possible advantages of such an Office and note progress in other countries where such an Office has been established.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many medical and nursing staff have worked in occupational health in the National Health Service for the last five years for which figures are available; and what were the grades of those employees. [42460]

The available information is given in the tables. The introduction of a new method of classifying staff from 1995 means that nursing staff working in occupational health can no longer be separately identified.

Hospital and community health services (HCHS) nursing staff working in occupational health in England as at 30 September each year
Whole-time equivalents
	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994
Total	630	610	590	600	640

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to ensure that the guidance, Occupational Health Services for NHS staff 94(51), is being implemented in each NHS trust. [43598]

Occupational Health Services for National Health Service Staff 94(51) has been superseded by the Management of Health, Safety and Welfare issues for NHS Staff 98(64). This guidance, issued on 18 May 1998 to all chief executives and human resource directors in health authorities and NHS trusts, covers all aspects of health and safety and occupational health.The NHS Executive is currently working on a new human resources strategy for the NHS. Taking forward occupational health provision will be a priority area for action requiring demonstrable year on year progress.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to make occupational health services available to staff working in primary care. [43601]

The National Health Service Executive is working with representatives of interested parties to examine ways of extending occupational health provision to staff working in primary care, in the light of changes currently taking place in primary care provision.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what representations his Department has received in the last year on the extension of glaucoma testing as part of the NHS standard sight test; and if he will make a statement; [42368](2) what estimates he has made of

Information from the College of Optometrists, which regularly reviews current practice among its members, suggests that, in testing patients over 40 and other patients predisposed to glaucoma, virtually all optometrists examine the optic disc and measure intra-ocular pressures, and over half routinely undertake a visual field assessment. These data are not broken down between private and National Health Service sight tests, but we would expect optometrists to adopt common practices for both groups of patients.We have not received representations on this subject.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evaluation he has made of (a) the increased cost of ensuring that every NHS periodic sight test includes all three glaucoma detection tests and (b) the additional number of early-stage glaucoma cases that would be detected with universal three test procedures; and if he will make a statement. [42367]

We are aware of research which suggests that the accuracy of referrals could be improved from 60 to 80 per cent. by the combined use of the 3 tests on patients at risk of glaucoma. There is a single fee for undertaking National Health Service sight tests which is set through negotiations between the Department and representatives of optometrists and ophthalmic medical practitioners. Clinical developments are among the factors taken into account, but it is not possible to isolate their impact.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many people with spinal cord injury have not received specialist treatment at a spinal injuries unit in each of the last three years; [42653](2) how many people with acute spinal cord injury are awaiting admittance to a spinal injuries unit; [42649](3) how many people diagnosed with spinal cord injury died before reaching a spinal injuries unit, in each year since 1990–91. [42652]

The information requested is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what studies have been undertaken or commissioned by his Department on (a) the quality of life and (b) the long term cost of care of people with spinal cord injury who (i) received treatment and (ii) did not receive treatment at a spinal injuries unit; [42650](2) what research his Department

The Department's policy research programme and the central National Health Service research and development programmes are not currently supporting any research into spinal cord injuries. However, many NHS trusts support programmes of research and development, some of which are considerable. The NHS supports clinical trials in spinal injuries which are conducted within its facilities. A comprehensive database for the projects funded under these programmes is currently under development.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people with spinal cord injury are currently being treated in (a) spinal injuries units and (b) non-specialist hospitals. [42651]

We do not collect the information in the form requested. However, information for in-patient treatment, for the latest year available, 1995–96, is shown in the tables, copies of which have been placed in the Library, and is based on finished consultant episodes, which represent the number of episodes of care under individual consultants.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms exist to assess, monitor and regulate price increases in drugs used by the NHS. [43030]

The prices of branded medicines sold to the National Health Service are regulated through the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme (PPRS), which is a voluntary agreement between the health departments and the pharmaceutical industry. The scheme sets for each major company a profit cap (with various cost allowances), based on return of capital employed, within which the company is allowed to establish the price of new medicines it proposes to sell to the NHS. Increases in the price of medicines have to be agreed by the Department. Small companies (sales below £20 million per annum to the NHS) are not required to supply such detailed information as a matter of routine, but remain subject to the price restraint provisions of the scheme.Generic products are not included in the PPRS. We do not control their prices which are determined by competitive market forces.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the increase in the price of slow sodium tablets per 100 to the NHS between March and May 1998 in actual and percentage terms. [43032]

The list price to the National Health Service of this product increased during this period from 55p to £6.05 per 100, an increase of 1,000 per cent. Officials wrote to HK Pharma specifically on this issue on 28 April. So far they have not replied.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when he will announce detailed plans for user representation on the Commission for Health Improvement; [43156](2) what remit the National Institute for Clinical Excellence and the Commission for Health Improvement will have to encourage the spread of good practice in wheelchair services; [43157](3) when he will announce detailed plans for user representation on the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. [43155]

We will be consulting shortly on our detailed proposals for the Commission for Health Improvement and the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the number of midwife vacancies in the NHS by health authority and NHS trust; [43150](2) if he will list the number of midwives employed in the NHS by health authority and NHS trust; [43152](3) if he will list the number of whole-time equivalent midwifery posts in the NHS by health authority and NHS trust.[43154]

The National Health Service Executive does not collect information on the number of vacancies or posts (counted as the sum of staff in post and vacancies) in the hospital and community health services. For the information that is available on midwife vacancies and posts in the NHS, I refer my hon. Friend to the reports of the Review Body for Nursing Staff, Midwives, Health Visitors and Professions Allied to Medicine, copies of which are available in the Library.Information on the number of midwives employed in English health authorities and NHS trusts is given in a table, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made towards the completion of the private finance initiative project to replace Loughborough's general hospital. [43185]

The National Health Service Executive is expecting to receive a revised full business case (FBC) from Fosse Health NHS Trust for the scheme to replace Loughborough's general hospital under the private finance initiative scheme in June 1998. The FBC will then be considered for approval.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he will take to ensure that those patients who need assistance in feeding themselves obtain it; and if he will make a statement. [43459]

It is the responsibility of clinical staff in hospitals to identify the needs of individual patients, including identifying people who need help with eating and drinking, for whatever reason, and the Department has issued guidance on meeting the dietary needs of people in hospital.The Department commissioned further work by the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne to look at the whole issue of meeting the dietary needs of people in hospitals. We issued this work, "Eating Matters", in November 1997 and it was sent to all National Health Service trusts.We are strongly committed to improving the health and social care services provided to older people. In response to the recent "Dignity on the Ward" campaign by

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of United States pilot projects allowing pharmacists to prescribe emergency contraception within protocols agreed with local doctors. [43456]

No such assessment has yet been made. The review of prescribing, supply and administration of medicines is considering whether and in what circumstances health professionals other than doctors and dentists should be able to prescribe. We await its report later this year and will then consider our response.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 19 May 1998, Official Report, column 352, what percentage of the total number of drug users of (a) cannabis, (b) ecstasy and (c) heroin he estimates are in contact with drug treatment services. [43890]

Because of the covert and illegal nature of drug taking it is impossible to measure the number of people who take drugs in the general population and therefore to estimate the percentage who attend drug treatment services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the average hours worked each week by hospital doctors in (a) the North Thames Region and (b) the South Thames Region in (i) the last year for which figures are available and (ii) each of the previous 10 years. [43688]

Figures are not collected on average hours worked each week by hospital doctors. However, the New Deal on junior doctors' hours, begun in June 1991, requires each trust to monitor the hours of work of doctors in training against agreed limits over a series of target dates and to report compliance via regional task forces.Figures for on-call posts since 1991 for the two regions in question are in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many local government secure beds are available in London for females under 18 years of age. [43641]

All secure units are approved to accommodate boys and girls. There are currently 40 approved places within London with an additional 10 places coming on stream at Stamford House later this summer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many assaults on staff in NHS (a) London and (b) South East hospitals have resulted in serious injury or death of members of staff in the last 10 years. [43449]

There is currently no central collection or collation of data on violence in the National Health Service. There is a requirement for statutory reporting to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985. This requirement relates to serious injury cases arising from activities on hospital premises, for example: deaths, specified fractures (for example skull or leg), loss of sight, injury requiring hospital in-patient treatment for more than 24 hours, or injury leading to absence from work for more than three days. In addition to this NHS trusts and health authorities collect information locally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the duty presently imposed on general practitioners by Paragraph 43 of the NHS Terms of Service will also be imposed on general practitioners who are part of a primary care group; if he will ensure that general practitioners in a primary care group are protected from litigation by patients for refusal to supply a drug solely on the grounds of cost; and if he will make a statement. [43365]

General practitioners will continue to be expected to prescribe medicines to meet the clinical needs of their patients. Patients will continue to be guaranteed the medicines they need.