To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, for what reasons the format of investment holdings in the 1997 Annual report and Accounts has been changed from that in the 1996 edition in respect of information concerning overseas trusts. [44231]

The list of larger investments in the 1997 Annual Report and Accounts adopted a higher threshold (£6 million) than that in the 1996 Report (which applied a threshold of £3 million for UK equities and £1 million for overseas investments with overseas trusts listed as a separate category under the list of overseas investments). This focuses clearly on the largest holdings, which contribute the greater part of the fund's performance, and also reflects the overall increase in the Commissioners' investments since the threshold was last reviewed. No overseas investments over £6 million were held.In view of the Commissioners' decision to increase its overseas equities in 1997 and to outsource the management of the overseas portfolio to three separate

£
Company	Date	Market value	Total proceeds
i. Edinburgh Dragon Trust	31 December 1996	4,225,000.00
	31 December 1997	0.00	2,723,789.75
ii. Fidelity Japanese Values	31 December 1996	1,299,375.00
	31 December 1997	0.00	768,459.75
iii. Fleming Japanese Investment Trust	31 December 1996	6,514,324.00
	31 December 1997	4,749,684.00
iv. Fleming Select Japanese Fund	31 December 1996	3,354,565.00
	31 December 1997	0.00	2,721,183.92
v. Fleming Select Pacific Fund	31 December 1996	2,775,689.00
	31 December 1997	0.00	1,881,573.14
vi. Foreign and Colonial Pacific Investment Trust	31 December 1996	3,460,063.00
	31 December 1997	2,370,688.00
vii. Govett Oriental Investment Trust	31 December 1996	4,074,000.00
	31 December 1997	0.00	2,488,137.50
viii. JF Fledgling Japan	31 December 1996	2,239,050.00
	31 December 1997	1,228,200.00
ix. Mercury European Privatisation Trust	31 December 1996	1,080,000.00
	31 December 1997	1,914,000.00	includes purchases
x. Old Mutual South Africa Trust	31 December 1996	1,207,500.00
	31 December 1997	1,361,500.00
xi. Pacific Assets Trust	31 December 1996	2,552,000.00
	31 December 1997	0.00	1,235,024.75

To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will list in tabular form (a) the investment holdings in pounds at 31 December (1) 1996 and (2) 1997 and (b) the sums realised in pounds from the disposal of holdings between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 1997 in (i) Edinburgh Dragon Trust, (ii) Fidelity Japanese Values, (iii) Fleming Japanese Investment Trust, (iv) Fleming Select Japanese Fund, (v) Fleming Select Pacific Fund, (vi) Foreign and Colonial Pacific Investment Trust, (vii) Govett Oriental Investment Trust, (viii) JF Fledgeling Japan, (ix) Mercury European Privatisation Trust, (x) Old Mutual South Africa Trust, (xi) Pacific Assets Trust, (xii) Schroder Asia Pacific Fund, (xiii) Schroder Emerging Countries, (xiv) Schroder Japan Growth Fund, (xv) Schroder Pacific Growth Fund, (xvi) Schroder Tokyo Fund, (xvii) TR European Growth Trust and (xix) Templeton Emerging Markets. [44230]

The relevant information to the question is as follows. The information given provides market valuation at specific dates only, and does not indicate gains or losses.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when a decision will be made on the financing of the Dorchester Road Relief Road in Weymouth. [43341]

[holding answer 1 June 1998]: The Dorchester Road Relief Road scheme was submitted by Dorset County Council for consideration as a PFI scheme for the February 1998 list of local authority PFI projects. Announcing decisions on the list, the Government made it clear that decisions on support for a number of local road schemes (including the Weymouth road scheme) had been deferred until the approach to the appraisal and prioritisation of road schemes had been clarified in the national Roads Review.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will introduce measures to limit the generation of smoke from building products; [44025](2) if he will make a statement on the timetable for implementing individual member state's new European Union standards relating to test methods used to determine the fire resistance of construction products; [44023](3) if the test method in British Standard 476 Part 33 permits the evaluation of the generation of smoke from building products; and what assessment he has made of the suitability of this as a performance standard for regulatory purposes. [44024]

The Building Regulations 1991 are intended to secure the health and safety in and around buildings, and paragraph B of Schedule 1 to the Regulations makes functional requirements to cover fire safety. Guidance on how these requirements may be met are given in Approved Document B, and, as far as materials used in construction are concerned, performance standards are set based on recognised test methods.With regard to the generation of smoke from building products, the only recognised method of test available that measures smoke production is BS 476: Part 33 which relates to a full scale room test for surface products. This test gives an indication of the toxic hazard by the measurement of certain toxic gases and also the hazard of reduced visibility can be estimated by the measurement of the production of light-obscuring smoke. Because of the size of this test, it is not considered practicable to introduce it as a performance standard for regulatory purposes.Approved Document B (Fire Safety) makes reference to a number of BS 476 parts that are considered to give acceptable methods of test and the key parameters usually considered in fire tests are the heat release rate and flame spread. These in themselves will also have an effect on smoke production. I therefore have no proposals at present to introduce the large-scale test given in BS 476 Part 33 as part of the performance standard for regulatory purpose. However, the use of a fire engineering approach is recognised in Approved Document B and the BS 476: Part 33 method of test could be used as part of the justification for a particular fire engineering solution.The Single Burning Item (SBI) test being developed in support of the Construction Products Directive, does also address smoke production and we will need to take account of this when revising Approved Document B in the light of any future harmonised European Standards.The European standards for resistance to fire have been passed to National Standards bodies (in the United Kingdom, the British Standards Institution) by CEN, the European Standards Organisation, for a formal vote, expected to be completed by the end of this month. If there is a positive vote, the test will be ratified and published towards the end of this year by the national standards bodies. Decisions have yet to be taken on the period for which European and national standards will co-exist but a reasonable period will be allowed for industry to adjust before the latter are withdrawn.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many businesses have been prosecuted successfully since 1990 for violating environmental standards in (a) the West Midlands and (b) the United Kingdom. [43223]

This information is not held centrally. The Environment Agency took on responsibility for managing and regulating the water environment and controlling industrial pollution and wastes in England and Wales on 1 April 1996. Between then and 31 March 1998, it undertook 1,233 successful prosecutions, of which 229 were in its Midlands region. Local authorities and other bodies also have responsibility for enforcing some environmental controls.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made in devising a regulatory framework for the carbon dioxide emissions trading regime outlined in the Kyoto agreement. [43303]

Negotiations began on 2 June, at the 8th session of the Subsidiary Bodies of the Framework Convention on Climate Change, on a framework for the international emissions trading regime outlined in the Kyoto Protocol, with a view to developing the necessary principles, modalities and guidelines at the Fourth Conference of the Parties to the Convention in November this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many on-the-spot litter fines have been issued by Chelmsford Borough Council in each of the last three years; and how many warnings for litter offences were issued in each of the last three years. [44176]

Chelmsford Borough Council litter wardens warned 302 people for litter offences in 1995–96 and 347 people in 1996–97. Figures for warnings given in 1997–98 are not yet available. No fixed penalty fines have been issued by Chelmsford Borough Council over the last three years.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which local authorities operate voluntary accreditation schemes for private landlords. [44302]

My Department does not collect information on this. However, we encourage local authorities, through the Housing Investment Programme guidance, to consider initiatives such as accreditation schemes for private landlords as part of their enabling role in securing an effective private rented sector in their areas. We are aware that a growing number of local authorities are operating such schemes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what procedures have been put in place in the Government Office for the Eastern Region to ensure that Policy Guidance on Policy Appraisal and the Environment is implemented. [42660]

The document "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" was sent last month to the Government Office for Eastern Region, as to all Government Offices for the Regions. They are currently establishing the mechanisms to ensure that these criteria are systematically applied in all their investment and programme evaluations.

To ask the Prime Minister (1) what information is held by Government departments on Technique LLC; [38551](2) what was the nature of any relationship between Her Majesty's Government and Technique LLC in the period 1995 to 1998; [38549](3) on what date Her Majesty's Government were informed of the commission payments made by Astra and related companies to Technique LLC; [38548](4) on what date Her Majesty's Government were informed of commission payments made to Technique LLC in relation to contracts to supply goods by Astra. [38544]

Technique LLC has been the agent in Oman for several UK companies for a number of years. In view of this, HMG officials have had some contact with company staff, primarily through the British Embassy in Muscat. From information readily available within Government, I am not aware of any evidence that HMG was informed of any commission payments to Technique LLC by Astra. Any commission payment made by a non-state company such as Astra, or companies related to it, to a foreign company such as Technique LLC, would have been a matter solely for the companies concerned.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will instruct Ministers to sign their letters to hon. Members. [43421]

It is the responsibility of individual Ministers to determine how correspondence is dealt with in their departments. However, I am not aware of any Minister adopting a policy of deliberately not signing their correspondence.

To ask the Prime Minister on what date he first became aware of the HM Customs and Excise investigation of allegations against Sandline. [43622]

[holding answer 2 June 1998]: As has already been made public, I was briefed by the Cabinet Secretary on this matter on 30 April.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick) of 30 October 1997, Official Report, column 861, what action is taken in circumstances where a member of the public who is subject to telephone interception makes a telephone call to an hon. Member; and if he will make a statement. [43604]

[holding answer 3 June 1998]: The Secretary of State may issue a warrant only if he is satisfied that it is necessary for one of the purposes in the Interception of Communications Act 1985; namely, in the interests of national security, for the purpose of preventing or detecting serious crime or for the purpose of safeguarding the economic well-being of the United Kingdom. It is then for the responsible Service to decide how to respond to any communications lawfully intercepted under the warrant, having regard to the safeguards provided in section 6 of the Act.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many of the responses received to the Consultation on Legal Aid Reform were from (a) lawyers or lawyers' organisations, (b) members of the public or consumers' organisations and (c) hon. or right hon. Members; and if he will make a statement. [43291]

We have now received 238 responses to the consultation paper Access to Justice with Conditional Fees; 145 from lawyers and lawyers' associations, 28 from members of the public or consumers' organisations and one from an hon. Member, although many hon. and right hon. Members have passed on responses which have been sent to them by constituents.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has for pilots for the Community Legal Service; and if he will make a statement. [43292]

The Lord Chancellor has announced that proposals for a Community Legal Service will be finalised by the beginning of next year. A consultation paper will be issued in January 1999. Until the Lord Chancellor and I reach our final decisions based on the responses to that consultation paper, I cannot predict whether any pilot projects will be appropriate.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what amount of legal aid was given to those charged with the murder of Stephen Lawrence. [44177]

The total amount of legal aid paid in respect of proceedings in the magistrates' court was £76,962. A further £129,007 was paid in respect of proceedings in the Crown Court.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps he is taking to ensure that courts pay out within a reasonable time scale moneys they hold on behalf of parties. [42750]

The Charter for Court Users states that court staff are expected to instruct the Court Funds Office (where moneys are held on interest-bearing accounts) within 10 working days of the court order, to arrange payments to the parties. Management information systems are in place to identify any work not dealt with within 5 working days. Once the requests are received, the Court Funds Office aims to process them within 5 working days.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received on the proportion of Lottery funding awarded to youth clubs. [43607]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State receives many representation on Lottery funding, but he has received none specifically relating to youth clubs. However, over 1,300 awards worth in excess of £170 million have been made to projects which are specifically designed to benefit young people and youth groups.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what was the level of subsidy provided to S4C Welsh Television Channel, for the 1997–98 financial year. [44109]

S4C is funded on a calendar year basis, under a statutory formula, and the level of funding from 1998 is linked to the Retail Prices Index (RPI). The grant in 1997 was £72.223 million; the grant for 1998 is £74.895 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received from the Government of Greece since 1 May 1997 requesting the return of the Elgin Marbles. [44332]

There have been no formal representations from the Government of the Hellenic Republic requesting the return of the Elgin Marbles.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions of motorists for driving a motor vehicle while using a mobile telephone there were in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [43632]

The information requested is not available.There is no separate offence of driving a vehicle while using a mobile telephone, and any prosecution is likely to be driving without due care and attention, for which there were 66,858 prosecutions in England and Wales in 1996 (73,015 in 1995, 76,251 in 1994 and 79,415 in 1993). Figures for 1997 are not yet available.

Trial area	Total offenders sentenced	Sentences completed	Total sentences revoked	Revoked through breach 1	Revoked for other reasons	Currently being monitored
Berkshire	96	68	14	6	1	15
Greater Manchester	843	542	105	36	8	192
Norfolk	354	231	31	23	8	92
Cambridgeshire2	20	2	1	1	0	17
Middlesex	29	3	3	3	0	22
Suffolk	13	1	1	1	0	11
West Yorkshire	22	5	1	1	0	15
Total	1,377	852	156	71	17	364
1 Separate figures on the reasons for breaches were only collected in all trial areas from August 1997
2 The trials in Cambridgeshire, Middlesex, Suffolk and West Yorkshire began in January 1998

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when it is planned to extend curfew orders on a national basis; and which companies will be competing for the contract. [43878]

Further to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Gedling (Mr. Coaker), of 17 March 1998, Official Report, columns 559–60, four bidders have been short-listed for the electronic monitoring services contracts. They are General Security Services Corporation, Securicor Custodial Services, Premier Prisons Limited and Group 4 Prison and Court Services Limited. National roll-out of court-ordered curfews is unlikely to be before late 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what categorisation his Department has made of sex offenders to indicate the estimated degree of risk each one poses to the public; and if he will make a statement. [43711]

Agencies are increasingly co-operating to pool the information they hold so that they can asses the risk presented by any individual sex offender and devise plans to monitor the offender's behaviour and reduce risk to the public. The Government are encouraging this multi-agency approach to both assessment and management in the community.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many curfew orders backed by electronic tagging have been made by the courts in the pilot areas of (a) Norfolk and East Anglia, (b) Greater Manchester and (c) Reading and Berkshire since the trial commenced in July 1995; how many have been (i) completed satisfactorily and (ii) breached; and how many are still current. [43880]

The following table shows the position in relation to curfew orders made in the seven pilot areas as of 26 May 1998.Sex offenders are subject to a risk assessment by the agency (or agencies) responsible for them on release from prison and/or whilst under supervision in the community. In the case of offenders subject to restrictions under the Mental Health Act, this assessment takes place before consent is given to their being granted leave of absence or transferred or discharged from hospital.Because most of these assessments are made on a case-by-case basis, there are no all-inclusive central statistics or categorisations of them.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to prevent sex offenders from being employed in occupations with access to children and to prevent children being abused by people who are in a position of trust over them. [44827]

There are a number of statutory safeguards already in place. Criminal record checks are available on people working in the statutory sector where they have substantial unsupervised access to children. They are also available on teachers in the private and voluntary sectors. The Police Act 1997 contains provisions which will widen access to criminal record checks when they are implemented. The Sex Offenders Act 1997 imposes a requirement on those convicted or cautioned for sex offences against children and other serious sex offences to notify the police of their name and address and any changes to these. This allows the police to monitor sex offenders in the community and to take action where appropriate to warn potential employers of any risk they might present. The Government have made it clear that such information must not just sit on a computer or gather dust on a file and the police and probation services have responded positively and responsibly using this information for the protection of children and vulnerable adults, as intended. The Government are also introducing sex offender orders in the Crime and Disorder Bill [Lords] which will apply to sex offenders if their behaviour indicates a possible threat to the public. The courts will be able to make an order to impose prohibitions necessary to protect the community. There are also a number of other measures in place to prevent those considered unsuitable to work with children from gaining employment with them. The Department for Education and Employment maintains "List 99" which contains information about people whom the Secretary of State has barred from working in schools; the Department of Health operates a Consultancy Service Index which enables local authorities and private and voluntary childcare organisations in England and Wales to check on suitability of those they propose to employ; and many professional bodies have codes of conduct which set out members' responsibilities in this area and provide for disciplinary action to be taken when these codes are breached.We are concerned that these safeguards are not fully integrated and that there is a need for a more streamlined approached to ensure that there are no loopholes. For this reason, the Government are setting up an interdepartmental working group of officials to consider additional safeguards to prevent those who are unsuitable from working with children, including the possibility of a central register backed up by a new criminal offence to prevent those on the register applying for work with children. In looking at this subject, the group will draw upon the consultation exercise "Sex Offenders: A Ban on Working with Children"; and on recommendations made in the report of Sir William Utting's review of safeguards for children living away from home (particularly those recommendations dealing with choosing the right staff) and the Government's response to this review which is expected to be published by the Ministerial Task Force on the Children's Safeguards Review in the summer. The group will also consider whether further measures are necessary to protect 16 and 17 years olds who may be vulnerable to abuse by those in a position of trust, such as carers, teachers and leaders of organised residential activities. It is expected that the group will make its final recommendations to Ministers by the end of the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) men and (b) women from ethnic minorities were serving in the Metropolitan Police Force on 1 May. [43657]

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that the closest date for which it is possible to provide these figures is 5 May, as figures are collated on the first Monday of each month. The numbers of ethnic minorities serving in the Metropolitan Police on 5 May were (a) 665 men and (b) 190 women. The current percentage of ethnic minority officers is 3.2 per cent. During the 1996–97 financial year, 694 new officers were recruited, of whom 6.7 per cent. came from ethnic minority backgrounds. The following table shows how the percentage of ethnic minority officers has increased steadily from 1.98 per cent. in 1991–92.

Financial year	Ethnic minorities strength	Percentage of force
1991–92	563	1.98
1992–93	614	2.2
1993–94	671	2.4
1994–95	730	2.6
1995–96	797	2.9
1996–97	822	3.0
1997–98	856	3.2

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) men and (b) women committed suicide in prisons in England and Wales in each of the last three years. [43664]

The term used by Prison Service to refer to an apparent suicide is "self-inflicted death". This is a broader definition and includes all those deaths where it is clear that the person has acted specifically to take his or her own life. It is not restricted to the official verdict from the Coroner's inquest, where verdicts of "suicide", "open" or "misadventure" may be recorded in cases where there was doubt about a person's intent to end their life.The information requested is shown in the table.

Self-inflicted deaths in prisons in England and Wales 1995–97
Year	Women	Men	Total
1995	2	57	59
1996	2	62	64
1997	3	67	70

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Nigerian nationals applied for entry clearance to come to the United Kingdom as visitors; how many visitor visas were issued; and how many recipients of those visas returned to Nigeria before their visas expired in (i) 1994, (ii) 1995, (iii) 1996 and (iv) 1997. [43336]

Information on the number of Nigerian nationals applying for entry clearance to come to the United Kingdom as visitors, and the number of recipients of such visas who return to Nigeria before their visas expire, is not collected centrally.The total number of entry clearance applications to the United Kingdom for temporary purposes made in Nigeria in 1994 to 1997, and the total numbers granted, initially or on appeal, are shown in the table. Visitor applications are not separately identified, but they form the main part of applications for temporary purposes: also included are applications from students.

Applications received in Nigeria for entry clearance to the United Kingdom for temporary purposes, and applications granted, 1994 to 1997
	1994	1995	1996	1997
Applications received	53,362	41,580	49,438	49,471
Applications granted	36,089	28,466	38,680	33,365

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the prices received by the Prison Service for each of its properties sold in the Mede, Freckleton, this year to date and in each of the last five years, identifying the house concerned by number and indicating if it was bricked or unbricked. [43870]

The Prison Service has sold only one property on the Mede estate within the last five years; the property concerned was 6, The Mede. The District Valuer placed a value of £38,000 on the property as at 6 April 1993. It was purchased under the discount sale scheme and the applicant was entitled to 59 per cent. discount; the purchase price therefore was £15,580.The property was of Cornish type construction or "unbricked".

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what percentage of road accidents involving one or more (a) fatal, (b) serious and (c) slight injuries at least one driver or rider was convicted of a road traffic offence, in the latest year for which figures are available. [44000]

Findings of guilt at all courts for selected offence groups, by age and sex of offender, England and Wales—1996
	Male				Female
	All ages1	17–24	25–59	60+	All ages1	17–24	25–59	60+
Causing death or bodily harm	348	157	169	14	22	2	20	—
Dangerous driving	5,584	2,801	2,454	42	166	63	92	6
Driving etc. after consuming alcohol or taking drugs	87,956	22,018	63,119	2,373	7,749	1,565	6,014	147
1 Includes offences committed by persons under 17

The exact age of persons over 20 is not collected centrally for offences of careless driving, speed limit offences or offences of neglect of traffic directions, but

Findings of guilt at all courts for selected offence groups, by age and sex of offender, England and Wales—1996
	Male			Female
	All ages1	Under 21	21 and over	All ages	Under 21	21 and over
Careless driving	48,790	7,796	40,994	8,632	992	7,640
Speed limit offences	115,388	6,854	108,535	14,651	666	13,985
Neglect of traffic directions	30,223	2,549	27,674	5,083	264	4,819
1 Includes offences committed by persons under 17

The information requested is not available. The Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions collects statistics of road accidents, but its records do not show whether persons involved are subsequently convicted of a road traffic offence.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of convictions for road traffic offences heard in (a) magistrates courts and (b) Crown courts related to incidents involving one or more fatal, serious or slight injuries, in the latest year for which figures are available. [44001]

The available information relates to convictions for offences of causing death by dangerous or careless driving, by aggravated vehicle taking and causing bodily harm in England and Wales in 1996.Convictions for offences of causing death numbered ten at magistrates' courts and offences of causing bodily harm three. The total number of convictions for motoring offences at magistrates' courts was 1,476,991. The Crown Court figures were 329 and 28 respectively, and the total convictions for motoring offences 15,397.The information held centrally does not enable other offences involving injury to be identified.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) male and (b) female motorists aged (i) 17 to 24, (ii) 25 to 59 and (iii) 60 years and over were convicted in relation to motoring of (1) causing death or bodily harm, (2) dangerous driving, (3) alcohol or drug-related offences, (4) careless driving, (5) speed limit offences and (6) offences related to neglect of traffic directions, in the latest year for which figures are available. [43997]

The following table gives the information in relation to offences of causing death or bodily harm, dangerous driving and driving etc. after consuming alcohol or taking drugs. The figures relate to the number of offences for which persons of the relevant age and sex were convicted, not the number of persons involved.the following table gives the nearest information to that requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many random roadside checks on motorists were carried out by police; and how many of these motorists were driving while disqualified, in the latest year for which figures are available. [43996]

Information is not available on the number of random roadside checks carried out by the police on motorists. There were 42,508 convictions for driving while disqualified in England and Wales in 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fines were issued for motoring offences; and of these how many (a) were paid without a reminder, (b) were paid after a reminder and (c) remained unpaid after 12 months in 1996. [43994]

1,032,897 fines were issued in England and Wales during 1996, but it is not known how many were paid or unpaid.Fines are collected from the courts by the Lord Chancellor's Department for passing to the Treasury, and it is not possible to distinguish the offences for which the fines were given.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) on how many occasions motorists were found guilty of a motoring offence for which they had (a) already received a written warning during the previous three years and (b) already been convicted in the previous three years, in the latest year for which figures are available; [43999](2) on how many occasions motorists were issued with a written warning for a motoring offence for which they had already received a written warning during the latest year for which figures are available and the previous three years. [43998]

The information held centrally does not enable the previous records of motorists to be compared with the latest offence committed or dealt with. The Home Office Offenders' Index covers the criminal history of offenders, but this is limited to convictions for standard list offences and covers very few motoring offences.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps he has taken to clarify the law on the use of children in test purchases of alcohol; [44032](2) what steps he has taken to introduce legislation to prevent adults from buying alcohol on behalf of unsupervised children. [44033]

The Government's statement of 17 July 1997 on alcopops and alcohol misuse by those under age included commitments to legislate on both these subjects. We shall do so as soon as there is a suitable opportunity.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish on the same date, in the Welsh and English languages, the firearms and shotgun application forms and certificates that are currently under revision. [44097]

The Government's priority in revising the Firearms Rules is to implement the changes to firearms licensing provided for in the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 and as recommended by Lord Cullen in his report on the Dunblane tragedy. Because of the pressing need to introduce the new Rules, the prescribed firearms licensing forms will be published in English in the first instance but we have discussed with the Welsh Language Board our wish to produce these complex forms in Welsh as well as English. We will publish Welsh language versions of the forms as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the total numbers of prisoners who have been found in random tests to have taken (a) cocaine, (b) methadone, (c) amphetamines, (d) benzodiazepines, (e) barbiturates and (f) LSD, since the tests were introduced; what percentage of prisoners had taken the drugs in each case; and what changes have taken place in the proportions of these six categories of drugs. [44345]

Table A shows how many samples tested positive for each drug since all prisons began testing in April 1996, and the percentage of all samples tested that represents, calculated to one decimal place. It is not possible to say how many different prisoners tested positive because the data are anonymised when collated centrally.Tables B and C show the percentage of random samples positive for all drug types tested for in each month of the last two financial years. There has been no significant change in the percentages of samples testing positive for the drug types named in this question.

Random mandatory drug test samples testing positive by drug type, 1 April 1996 to 31 March 1998
Table A
Drug type	Number of tests positive	Percentage of samples tested positive
Cocaine	311	0.3
Methadone	211	0.2
Amphetamines	298	0.3
Benzodiazepines	1,664	1.4
Barbiturates	45	0
LSD	0	0

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which body will monitor the United Kingdom's adherence to the European Convention on Human Rights. [44564]

A person claiming to be a victim of a violation of the Convention rights may petition the European Commission of Human Rights in Strasbourg. A case may then go from the Commission to the European Court of Human Rights, whose decision is binding. The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe supervises the execution of the Court's judgment.The Human Rights Bill does not change this position, but it will additionally enable people in the United Kingdom to assert their Convention rights in domestic legal proceedings.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effect of the incorporation into United Kingdom law of the European Convention on Human Rights on individuals' privacy. [44565]

The United Kingdom is already under an international obligation, as a party to the European Convention on Human Rights, not to violate Article 8 of the Convention which guarantees the right to respect for private and family life.The Human Rights Bill will make it possible for this and the other Convention rights to be invoked in domestic proceedings in the United Kingdom. Decisions will be for the courts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many women are currently serving in each of the three armed services. [44117]

As at 1 April 1998, the number of women serving in the Armed Forces was:

	Officers	Other ranks	Total
Naval Service	453 (7.3%)	2,809 (7.7%)	3,262 (7.3%)
Army	1,172 (8.4%)	6,260 (6.5%)	7,432 (6.8%)
Royal Air Force	939 (9.4%)	4,067 (9.1%)	5,006 (9.0%)
All Services	2,564 (7.9%)	13,136 (7.4%)	15,700 (7.5%)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when the contract to run the United Kingdom National Data Centre was put out to tender; [44340](2) the contract to run the United Kingdom National Data Centre was advertised; [44342](3) if the United Kingdom National Data Centre has responsibility for monitoring data provided by the United Nations on nuclear testing. [44341]

Invitations to tender for the contract to establish the UK National Data Centre were issued in June 1997, the project having been advertised in the MOD Contracts Bulletin on 15 January 1997. Tenders were received from the British Geological Survey, BGS, and a consortium comprising AWE, Serco and Assessment Services. The contract was subsequently awarded to the BGS and took effect in January 1998. When operational, the National Data Centre will be responsible for evaluating technical data supplied by the International Data Centre, IDC, which is being established in Vienna under the provisions of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. The technical data will be provided by the IDC from monitoring stations established throughout the world as part of the International Monitoring System, IMS.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of defence manufacturing contracts in the United Kingdom in terms of the (a) number and (b) value of contracts were undertaken for (i) the United Kingdom Government, (ii) other EU states and (iii) states outside the EU in the years 1991–92 to 1997–98. [43412]

The information is not available in the form requested, but:

UK Defence Statistics 1997—Table 1.5 gives net expenditure for equipment procurement for production and repair and spares for 1997–98 of £7,173 million as an estimate of the value of manufacturing contracts placed by UK Government in total.

Statement on the Defence Estimates 1996—Figure 8 shows that the proportion of equipment expenditure over the previous five years in the UK and on collaborative projects was 91 per cent. of the total equipment expenditure.

UK Defence Statistics 1997—Table 1.13 shows exports of defence equipment (deliveries) for 1996 to NATO and other Western European countries at £1,055 million and to other countries at £2,347 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what EU rules and regulations govern the competitive tendering of defence procurement contracts by his Department; [43414](2) what EU rules and regulations govern the competitive tendering of defence procurement contracts by member state Governments of the EU; [43413](3) if defence procurement contracts in all EU member states are open to competitive tendering to manufacturing companies in other EU member states. [43415]

Procurement contracts for Defence goods and services in all EU member states are open to competitive tendering by companies in other EU member states, in accordance with the four EC Directives:

• Supplies Directive: 93/36/EEC
• Works Directive: 93/37/EEC
• Services Directive: 92/50/EEC
• Compliance Directive: 89/665/EEC.

The Directives have been implemented in UK law by Regulations made by the Treasury under Section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972, as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 1 June 1998, Official Report, column 103, on awards of the Military Cross, how many United Kingdom forces were serving in Sierra Leone in the two weeks either side of the occasion in which a service man was awarded the Military Cross in 1997; and which units they served in. [44232]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Spelthorne (Mr. Wilshire) on 18 May 1998, Official Report, column 255–57, and to my subsequent letter of 1 June 1998, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many women were widowed aged under 45 years in each of the last three years; what percentage of these received (a) the widowed mother's allowance and (b) widow's pension and in each case at what cost; and if she will make a statement. [41630]

Information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the table.

The number of new widows under 45 years receiving Widowed Mother's Allowance and associated cost
Year widowed	Number	Overall cost
October 1994-September 1995	4,640	18
October 1995-September 1996	4,480	19
October 1996-September 1997	3,920	17

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assumptions about the rate of response to initial letters to lone parents underlay the budgeting for the Parent Plus pilots; and what has been the actual response rate to initial letters under the New Deal for lone parents. [40209]

Budgeting for the Parent Plus pilots was based on the assumption that 35 per cent. of lone parents sent a letter would attend an initial interview and, of those, 50 per cent. would agree to participate, giving a take-up rate of 17.5 per cent. The same assumptions were made in the initial plans for the New Deal for Lone Parents.Lone parents have attended interviews in response to various contacts: directly in response to letters of invitation, and indirectly in response to publicity, and word of mouth. As of 24 April 1998, there were 25,805 contacts with lone parents, which includes 22,402 lone parents who had been sent letters. 5,508 lone parents have attended an interview in response to a letter or other publicity; and 4,901 have agreed to participate in the New Deal for Lone Parents, following an interview. This means that approximately 90 per cent. of those attending an interview have agreed to participate; and produces a take-up rate of 19 per cent., higher than the original assumption.A full independent evaluation of the New Deal for Lone Parents is being undertaken, to report in Autumn 1999. This will assess the overall effectiveness of the programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will estimate the average income of an unemployed lone mother with three dependent children in (a) London, (b) Birmingham, (c) Manchester, (d) Glasgow and (e) Edinburgh in each year between 1993–94 and 1998–99 broken down by benefit. [43915]

The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the tables.Data on the average incomes of unemployed lone mothers in each of the cities named in the question are not available.There may be unemployed lone mothers with income (from other sources, for example child maintenance) of a level which will affect their entitlement to Income Support or JSA, Free School Meals and Welfare Food. Child Benefit is payable in full irrespective of income.

Social Security (SS) benefit entitlement—1993–94 to 1997–98 and (existing claimants only) 1998–99 for an unemployed lone mother with three dependent children
£
Year	IS/JSA	Child benefit	Free school meals and welfare foods	SS benefit entitlement
1993–94	78.55	32.25	10.49	121.29
1994–95	82.30	32.85	10.84	125.99
1995–96	83.65	33.60	11.40	128.65
1996–97	85.95	34.70	10.76	131.41
1997–98	88.35	35.10	10.90	134.35
from April 1998	90.35	35.70	10.96	137.01
from November 1998	95.35	35.70	10.96	142.01

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people qualify for concessionary television licences under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Acts; and how many are currently claiming their entitlement. [43803]

I have been asked to reply.Concessionary television licences are not provided under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970, but under the Wireless Telegraphy (Television Licence Fees) Regulations 1997 (made under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1947) which is the responsibility of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Under these Regulations, a concessionary television licence costing £5 is available to people living in residential homes and certain types of sheltered accommodation. There are currently 651,000 beneficiaries under this scheme. It is not known how many people qualify for the concession and fail to claim, but the number is likely to be low, since applications for the concession have to be submitted by housing managers, who are generally well aware of the existence of the concessionary scheme.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what instructions she has given on the information which she wishes to be drawn to her attention (a) in red boxes and (b) otherwise; and if she will indicate when and how these instructions have been modified. [42587]

[holding answer 18 May 1998]: I expect information to be drawn to my attention by my Private Office, according to its urgency and importance. The only instructions I have given on handling such information are that I prefer to deal with papers as and when possible throughout the day, rather than having them put aside to go in red boxes if this is unnecessary. These instructions are unchanged.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade at what time and on what date she first saw a copy of the letter addressed to the Foreign Secretary from S J Berwin & Co. on behalf of Sandline International dated 24 April. [42130]

My Department provided advice to Ministers on this letter on Wednesday 6 May 1998, when I was overseas. Following my return I saw the text of the letter on Tuesday 12 May.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) on what dates since 1 May 1997 the Restricted Enforcement Unit has met; and on how many occasions the Unit has invited Her Majesty's Customs and Excise to commence an investigation into illegal arms exports in breach on UN Security Council resolutions; [42693](2) if she will list the officials who attended the Cross-departmental Restricted Enforcement Unit on 18 February. [42695]

[holding answer 19 May 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the statement by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in the House during the debate on 18 May 1998, Official Report, columns 606–08, in which he announced the investigation by Sir Thomas Legg KCB QC into allegations about Government involvement with the supply of arms to Sierra Leone by UK citizens and firms, and said that the Terms of Reference would be placed in the Library of the House. The Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary intends to publish the report of the investigation.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade which departments are represented on the Restricted Enforcement Unit. [42692]

[holding answer 19 May 1998]: The following Departments are represented at the Restricted Enforcement Unit:

• The Foreign and Commonwealth Office
• The Department of Trade and Industry
• The Ministry of Defence
• HM Customs and Excise
• The Security Service
• The Secret Intelligence Service
• Government Communications Headquarters.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what fiscal steps her Department has taken to encourage entrepreneurial investment in the United Kingdom printing, packaging and graphic communications industry. [43693]

The Government have taken a number of steps to encourage long-term investment and enterprise in all our industries. These include measures to promote economic stability, cuts in corporation tax, increased first-year capital allowances for SMEs, and the reform of capital gains tax and the Enterprise Investment Scheme. The Government have also published a document, "Innovating for the Future: Investing in R&D" as the basis for a wide-ranging consultation to see how we can improve our record on investment in research and development. Furthermore, the Chancellor recently announced three new venture capital funds totalling £240 million to support small and medium businesses.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to develop straw burning as an alternative form of energy in the United Kingdom. [43551]

[holding answer 1 June 1998]: A 31 MW straw-powered project at Ely, Cambridgeshire, was contracted under the third non-fossil fuel obligation, NFFO-3, and is now at an advanced stage of development. I shall monitor the progress of this project in order to inform decisions resulting from my review of new and renewable energy policy on the prospects for straw as a fuel, and on the eligibility of this energy source in any future NFFO arrangements.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has for the re-division of county courts between official receivers' officers; if she will list which courts are to be moved to which official receivers' offices; and when these changes will be implemented. [43848]

This is an operational matter for the Inspector General and Chief Executive of the Insolvency Service. I have asked him to reply direct to the hon. Member.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many contacts she has had with private sector carriers in the context of the Post Office review. [43807]

I met several leading private sector carriers, and a representative organisation (AICES), during the first phase of the review last year. I am also aware of the evidence presented to the Trade and Industry Select Committee last Autumn by certain private sector carriers. Since the announcement of the second phase of the review, my officials have had contact with a number of carriers and have met some of them.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the populations of South Yorkshire, Merseyside, Wales, Northern Ireland, NUTS II regions and Cornwall NUTS III region. [43627]

The latest published regional population estimates for these NUTS areas are for 1995:

	Population
South Yorkshire	1,303,900
Merseyside	1,427,200
Glwyd, Dyfed, Gwynedd, and Powys	1,132,700
Gwent, and Mid, South, and West Glamorgan	1,784,100
Northern Ireland	1,649,000
Cornwall	482,700

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the populations of those regions currently receiving Objective 1 structural funds from the European Union. [43626]

The population in regions covered by current Objective 1 programmes in each EU Member State is:

	million
Austria	0.269
Belgium	1.279
Germany	16.447
Greece	10.209
Spain	23.269
France	2.546
Ireland	3.500
Italy	21.133
Netherlands	0.217
Portugal	9.868
United Kingdom	3.414

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the Directors of ACPO Ltd. are being considered for prosecution for non-compliance with the Companies Acts in respect of (a) their appointments as directors of ACPO Ltd. and (b) the contents of their Memorandum and Articles of Association. [44104]

No. As far as Companies House is aware, the requirements of the Companies Act in respect of appointment of directors and Memorandum and Articles have now been met. In this situation Companies House would not consider prosecution. This is on the basis of advice applicable to such situations that it would not be in the public interest to prosecute.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps Companies House have taken to ensure that the directors of ACPO Ltd. comply fully with the disclosure requirements of Companies Act Form 288a. [44103]

Companies House has no information which leads it to the view that the directors of ACPO Ltd. have not now complied fully with the disclosure requirements of Companies Act form 288a. Companies House accepts documents in good faith. If, however, it is brought to notice that information disclosed under section 288 of the Companies Act is in any way inaccurate or incomplete, the directors concerned would be asked to provide corrected information. Failure to do so could lead to consideration of prosecution.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what communication her Department has had with the UK distributors of the ecstasy kit, EZ Test. [44171]

As far as I am aware, there have been no communications between this Department and the UK distributors of this product.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the impact on rural communities of the Commission's Agenda 2000 proposals for reform of the structural funds. [42724]

It will not be possible to make such an assessment until the Commission publishes its detailed financial plans for individual Member States. The Commission's Agenda 2000 proposals are complex; we will also need further details from the Commission on the new Structural Fund framework, the related rural development measures, and proposed rural Community Initiative before we are able to make an assessment. One of the Government's objectives is to see that there is a sensible balance between rural and urban areas, which will be helped if Member States have flexibility in administering the funds.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps the Government have taken to act on the recommendation of the Review of the Inter-Relationships between the Science, Engineering and Technology Expenditure of Government Departments that they should review their mechanisms for interdepartmental co-ordination in respect of genetic modification. [44792]

The Government have recently completed a review of the role, membership, and operation of the Interdepartmental Group on Genetic Modification Technology (IGGMOT), the official level committee for the co-ordination of policy on genetic modification. Copies of the outcome of the review, which found that IGGMOT remains the best way to co-ordinate policy on genetic modification at official level across Government and should continue to exist with no change to its terms of reference, are available in the Library.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the response to the ECGD's consultation paper, Finance for UK Capital Goods and Project Exports; and what action the Government propose. [44791]

ECGD has received an excellent response from the UK exporting and financial community to its Consultation Paper. The Minister for Trade will be leading discussions which ECGD will be having with banks and exporters to consider the various suggestions made. The focus will be on ways of enhancing exporter competitiveness and improving the cost-effectiveness of ECGD interest rate support. This work will inevitably take several months and extend beyond the scheduled 30 June expiry date of ECGD's current support facility, the Fixed Rate Export Finance scheme. Therefore, to ensure continuity of service to exporters and banks while this work is being undertaken, the Government have decided to extend the validity of the current scheme for six months until 31 December 1998.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what topics were discussed at the EU Ministerial Council on the Internal Market on 18 May; and what matters were voted upon. [44790]

My noble Friend the Minister for European Trade and Competitiveness chaired the Internal Market Council in Brussels on 18 May 1998.The Council considered three elements of the Single Market Action Plan, which aim to improve the operation of the Single Market. Council adopted conclusions on standardisation, which open the way to making the production of European standards quicker and more efficient; the Presidency drew conclusions following a discussion on how to improve transposition and enforcement of the Single Market legislation; and the Commission presented the latest Single Market Scoreboard, which showed that Member States are improving their performance on the transposition of Single Market directives into their national laws: at 1 May 1998 over 80% of Single Market Directives had been adopted in all 15 Member States compared with only 65% in June 1997.The Council reached political agreement on a Regulation for a Commission intervention mechanism for the elimination of certain obstacles to the free movement of goods, and an associated Council Resolution which reaffirmed Member States' political commitment to preserving the free movement of goods. This includes notifying their economic operators, each other, and the Commission, of such obstacles and steps being taken to overcome them, and respecting tight deadlines imposed by the Commission in dealing with related infraction proceedings.The Council discussed a new Regulation on the labelling of genetically modified soya and maize, which aims to provide information to consumers. It reached political agreement on much of the substance of the company law Regulation, which forms part of the European Company Statute. It reached political agreement on three common positions. It agreed (by a qualified majority with Sweden and Portugal voting against and Ireland abstaining) on a Directive on mutual recognition of qualifications, which consolidates the existing legislation providing for certain professionals to work in Member States other than their own. It agreed common positions by unanimity on draft Directives on the legal protection of conditional access services, ie, that is, services where access is conditional upon prior authorisation and payment, such as pay-per-view TV; and on the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous preparations, which consolidates existing health and safety legislation in this field, extending its scope slightly and promoting environmental protection.The Council adopted four other sets of formal conclusions. These were on the Single Market for pharmaceutical products, asking the Commission to develop proposals to tackle Single Market problems; on public procurement, taking forward Commission proposals for modernisation of the rules; on Commercial Communications, endorsing a new Commission-chaired committee furthering the Single Market in advertising services; and on the improvement of the EU preferential tariff regime for certain developing countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the number of deaths in Northern Ireland from methadone in each of the last four years; and if she will make a statement. [44012]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of teenage (a) boys and (b) girls in Northern Ireland was smoking tobacco (i) in 1988 and (ii) at the most recent date for which figures are available. [44014]

The information is not available in the format requested. Available data are shown in the following table:

	Year	Age	% Smokers
Boys	1986	11–15	17
	1988	16–19	25
	1994	11, 13 and 15	12
	1996–97	16–19	23
Girls	1986	11–15	13
	1988	16–19	20
	1994	11, 13 and 15	14
	1996–97	16–19	23

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to make occupational health services available to staff working in primary care in the National Health Service. [43600]

Primary care staff who are employed by HSS Trusts receive an appropriate occupational health service as defined in guidance issued by the Department of Health and Social Services. General medical and dental practitioners and their staff are not covered by such arrangements but any general practice may contract with a HSS Trust for the provision of an occupational health service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of teenage (a) boys and (b) girls in Wales was smoking tobacco (i) in 1988 and (ii) at the most recent date for which figures are available. [44017]

Details of the percentage of teenagers (11–16 year old) who regularly (weekly) smoke tobacco in 1998 and 1996, the most recent date for which figures are available, are set out as follows:

Percentage
Yesr	Boys	Girls
1988	8.00	11.30
1996	11.90	16.20

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the estimated gross cost of anti-smoking campaigns in Wales aimed at children and young people has been since 1988; and what assessment he has made of the impact of the campaigns on teenage (a) boys and (b) girls. [44016]

The main body in Wales responsible for undertaking anti-smoking campaigns is the Health Promotion Authority for Wales (HPAW), whose role is to work with others to promote good health in Wales.The cost of anti-smoking campaigns since 1990–91 undertaken by HPAW aimed at children and young people is set out in the table. Detailed information is not available prior to 1990–91.

£000
Year	Expenditure
1990–91	86
1991–92	350
1992–93	343
1993–94	345
1994–95	281
1995–96	240
1996–97	369
1997–98	219
1998–99	(estimated) 227

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what criteria the Welsh Office uses to decide which individual dairies in Wales receive grant aid; to what extent such grant aid relates to (a) the provision of new jobs and (b) the securing of existing jobs; and what consideration is given to the possible distortion of competition by such grants. [44052]

Assistance to dairies is available through a number of Welsh Office grant schemes such as Regional Selective Assistance, Processing and Marketing Grant and the Marketing Development Scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much money was provided by her Department to President Kabbah's Government in exile. [42691]

The Department for International Development provided £50,000 to support the basic services of President Kabbah's Government in exile. This was in addition to £250,000 for a workshop and seminar in the United Kingdom to plan for the restoration of Government and for communications equipment.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance her Department is currently providing in Sierra Leone. [41751]

The Department for International Development is currently supporting the work of NGOs in the provision of emergency seeds and tools, community healthcare, and reconstruction in Sierra Leone. We are also funding two Sierra Leoneans in key advisory posts.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support and advice, other than financial assistance, was rendered to President Kabbah of Sierra Leone between 25 May 1997 and 10 March 1998 by her Department. [42690]

The Department for International Development assisted President Kabbah's planning for a return to government by supporting basic services in exile, providing communications equipment, and through a workshop and seminar in the United Kingdom in October 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the current humanitarian situation in North Korea. [43712]