To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 20 May 1998, Official Report, column 396, what was the operational role being performed by HMS 'Cornwall', on each of the dates listed; and if any Sandline-operated helicopters landed on HMS 'Cornwall' on any of those dates. [44892]

I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Salisbury (Mr. Key) on 20 May 1998, Official Report, column 396, as regards the operational role of HMS Cornwall while deployed off West Africa. However, I assume the right hon. Member seeks information about specific activities by the ship. On the days in question HMS Cornwall:

23 February 1998—rendezvoused with HMS Monmouth for handover of West Africa duties at 1200A and to replenish stores from the accompanying RFA Orangeleaf;

25–27 February 1998—was alongside in Conakry, Guinea for maintenance and direct liaison on Sierra Leone issues with British High Commission personnel;

28 February-20 March 1998—after replenishment at sea from RFA Orangeleaf, passage to Freetown, Sierra Leone from whence direct humanitarian assistance was provided to local organisations and people.

23–27 April 1998—passage from Nouadhibou, Mauritania, arriving Conakry, Guinea 24 April for informal visit including official reception.

No Sandline-operated helicopters landed on HMS Cornwall during any of these days, or at any other time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost of increasing pensions to half of spouses' pensions for widows of those in the armed services prior to 1973. [44666]

We estimate that the cost to the Armed Forces Pension Scheme of raising the level of all pre-1973 service widows' pensions to half that of their deceased husbands' pensions would be approximately £30 million a year. A precise figure could be calculated only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by nationality for each of the last five years, non-UK nationals who have been security cleared to (a) confidential, (b) secret and (c) top secret classifications. [45092]

I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what factors have delayed the investigation by the Ministry of Defence Police into allegations pertaining to alleged fraud at the Army Base Repair Organisation at Stirling, over the period 15 December 1997 to June 1998. [44416]

This is a matter for the Chief Constable of the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP). I have asked the Chief Constable to write to my hon. Friend.

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

[pursuant to his reply, 4 June 1998, c. 312]: I regret that the percentage figure for female RAF officers was given incorrectly as 9.4 per cent.; the actual figure is 8.6 per cent. For completeness I reproduce the entire table.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 (8.6%)	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 Northern Ireland how many special advisers, political advisers and other political appointees are working in her Department; at what annual cost to the public purse including recruitment costs, salaries, pensions and National Insurance contributions; and what was the position in the last full year of the last Government. [43319]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox) on 11 June 1998, Official Report, column 664National Insurance contributions are excluded from the figure but are paid under the same rules and at the same rates as for civil servants. Information on the paybill costs for Special Advisers within individual Departments is not provided in order to protect the privacy of the individuals concerned.Information on the cost of employing Special Advisers in previous years was given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 25 November 1997,

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many prisoners will be eligible for early release under the Belfast Agreement; [43944](2) how many of the prisoners who will be eligible for early release under the Belfast Agreement are serving life sentences. [43942]

[holding answer 1 June 1998]: Eligibility for release will be determined by the Sentence Review Commission. The Commissioners will consider applications against the following criteria:

(i) whether a prisoner is serving a sentence of five years or more, including a life sentence, for a scheduled offence which has not been de-scheduled by the Attorney-General.

(ii) that the prisoner is not a supporter of a terrorist organisation;

(iii) that a prisoner, if released immediately, would not be likely to become a supporter of a terrorist organisation or become concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism connected with the affairs of Northern Ireland; and

(iv) that a life sentence prisoner released immediately would not be a danger to the public.

Current estimates indicate that there are 402 prisoners serving sentences of five years or more for scheduled offences relating to terrorism in Northern Ireland including 129 life sentence prisoners without current provisional release dates. In addition, there are 20 prisoners convicted of similar offences who have been transferred to Northern Ireland from Great Britain (including seven prisoners serving life sentences).

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland over what period prisoners would normally be released who are eligible for early release under the Belfast Agreement.[43943]

[holding answer 1 June 1998]: It is not possible to state in advance when life sentence prisoners will be released. Many determinate sentence prisoners who would be eligible under the scheme are already being released under current arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list, for each of the last four years, the departmental inquiries and reviews instigated by Ministers which have been chaired by individuals outside her Department; and in each case if she will give the date of establishment and the name of the chairman. [44361]

The information for the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Departments is as follows:

Department inquiry/review	Date of establishment	Chairman
1994
Acute Hospitals	March 1994	Dr. J. K. McKenna
Reorganisation Project
Review of the NI (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991	May 1994	Mr. J. J. Rowe QC
Review of Health	October 1994	Rabbi Julia
Promotion Arrangements		Neuberger
Review of Teacher Education	November 1994	Sir William Taylor
1995
Review of Major Museums in NI	January 1995	Alistair Wilson OBE
Stormont Fire & Safety in Crown Buildings	January 1995	Sir Reginald Doyle
Review of the NI Police Complaints System	November 1995	Dr. Maurice Hayes
Employment Equality Review	February 1995	Michael Lavery QC
The International Body	November 1995	Senator George Mitchell
Inquiry into Legislation Against Terrorism	December 1995	Rt. Hon. Lord Lloyd of Berwick
1996
Review of Youth Work Curriculum	March 1996	Mr. Tom Wylie
Independent Review of Parades and Marches in NI	July 1996	Dr. Peter North
1997
Report on Staff Deployment in the Northern Ireland Civil Service	March 1997	Dr. Maurice Hayes
Youth Service Police Review	June 1997	Mr. Stephen Turner
Report of the Medical	July 1997	Professor Liam
Review Panel		Donaldson
Victims of Violence	October 1997	Sir Kenneth Bloomfield
The Narey Inquiry into incidents at HM Prison Maze	December 1997	Mr. Martin Narey

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will permit secondary schools which have adequate accommodation and appropriate staffing to provide a grammar school stream in their intake for pupils deemed suitable for a grammar school place in the transfer procedure; and if she will make a statement. [44972]

Any Development Proposals for the creation of grammar streams at secondary schools will be considered on their merits, taking account of the evidence of parental views on the choices available to them at local level, and the implications for educational standards, for efficiency in the use of public expenditure, and for equality of opportunity of access to grammar schools places.The Government have just launched a major research project on the effects of the selective system on secondary education in Northern Ireland, so that debate on all aspects of the system, and consideration of possible changes to it, can be based on better information and understanding of the present system.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if she will list for each of the last 25 years the number of extradition warrants issued by the RUC for persons sought for terrorist type offences whom the RUC believed to be resident in the Irish Republic, the number of such warrants executed by the authorities in the Republic and how many resulted in persons being returned for trial in Northern Ireland; [44915](2) if she will list, for each of the last 25 years, the number of extradition warrants issued by the RUC for persons sought for crimes, other than terrorists related offences, whom the RUC believed to be resident in the Irish Republic, the number of such warrants executed by the authorities in the Republic and how many resulted in persons being returned for trial in Northern Ireland. [449681]

The information requested is given in the following table:

Extradition requests to Republic of Ireland 1973–1997
	Terrorist offences			Non-terrorist offences
Year	Persons sought	Persons arrested	Persons extradited	Persons sought	Persons arrested	Persons extradited
1973	8	1	—	14	5	3
1974	6	2	—	24	11	9
1975	10	6	—	10	2	1
1976	14	6	1	20	7	7
1977	8	7	1	17	11	8
1978	7	3	—	33	16	15
1979	0	—	—	14	9	8
1980	5	1	—	18	12	12
1981	2	1	—	20	4	4
1982	3	—	—	33	19	18
1983	5	2	1	22	10	10
1984	1	1	1	10	1	1
1985	5	1	—	28	6	6
1986	5	1	1	1	—	—
1987	20	6	2	0	—	—
1988	3	—	—	1	1	1
1989	5	2	—	0	—	—
1990	0	—	—	0	—	—
1991	1	1	—	0	—	—
1992	0	—	—	0	—	—
1993	0	—	—	4	3	2
1994	2	—	1	11	10	10
1995	0	—	—	6	2	2
1996	0	—	—	5	4	4
1997	3	—	—	5	3	3

To ask the Prime Minister how many special advisers, political advisers and other political appointees are working in his Office; at what annual cost to the public purse including recruitment costs, salaries, pensions and National Insurance contributions; and what was the position in the last full year of the last Government. [43318]

At 1 June, there were 19 special advisers employed in No. 10 Downing Street. The estimated paybill for 1998–99 is £1.1 million. This figure does not include the cost of National Insurance contributions which are paid under the same rules and at the same rates as for other civil servants. Information on the numbers and costs of employing Special Advisers in the then Prime Minister's office in 1996–97 was given in the answer to a Question from the hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Mr. Hawkins) on 21 January 1998, Official Report, columns 567–68.

To ask the Prime Minister which Ministers attended the meetings of the Bilderberg Group between 13 and 16 May in Strathclyde; and if he will make a statement. [43684]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence attended part of the Bilderberg Conference in Ayrshire from 14 to 15 May this year.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 5 June 1998, Official Report, column 369, on Government policy towards older people, if he will adopt the aims of the Better Government Programme establishing mechanisms for Whitehall departments and Next Steps agencies to consult and involve older people in the development of policy and practice.[45215]

[holding answer 11 June 1998]: The inter-Ministerial Group which I have established will aim to ensure that the development of Government policy and practice takes account of the needs and wishes of older people. This will include working with non-governmental groups representing older people's interests, and with older people themselves, to gain a better understanding of their lives and needs.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the role of the Civil Contingencies Unit in respect of the impact of the Millennium computer problem. [45756]

The Civil Contingencies Unit has been renamed the Civil Contingencies Committee following transfer of day to day executive, policy and representational work to the Home Office.Through MISC 4, Ministers are reporting progress in their areas of responsibility towards a technical solution to the Millennium Date Change problem as well as in developing contingency arrangements for consequence management. The Civil Contingencies Committee is in regular contact with MISC 4 and if necessary will fulfil its normal role of co-ordinating the central government response to a major emergency.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will ensure that officials from the Department of Trade and Industry form part of the British delegation to the Buenos Aires conference on the environment in November. [45792]

Yes. DTI officials will form part of the British delegation to the UN Climate Change Convention meeting in Buenos Aires, in November.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make it her policy to ensure that the Multilateral Agreement on Investment is discussed at the WTO.[46012]

The Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) is being negotiated at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). In addition to our work on the MAI, the Government are committed to working towards the establishment of multilateral rules on investment in the World Trade Organisation (WTO). We are playing a full part in WTO discussions, aimed at exploring the links between trade and investment and the implications for development and economic growth. We have also recently agreed a contribution of over half a million pounds to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to help build developing countries' capacity to participate effectively in discussions on a possible multilateral framework for investment.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what has been the total UK contribution under (a) bilateral and (b) multilateral agreements in respect of Amazonian environmental programmes in (i) 1997–98 and (ii) the current year; and if she will make a statement. [45391]

Total UK contributions in respect of Amazonian environmental programmes in 1997/98 were:

(a) bilateral—£2.34 million;

(b) multilateral (G7 Pilot Programme)—£0.7 million.

In the current year total projected contributions are:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the total aid provided by Her Majesty's Government to (a) India, (b) Pakistan, and (c) China, indicating how much of this was delivered (i) Government to Government, (ii) through non-Governmental organisations, and (iii) by other means; and if she will list in each case the projects carried out during the last two years. [45974]

I will write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made in preparing a sustainable development plan for Montserrat; and what support the Department for International Development will provide for implementation. [46087]

Agreement has been reached between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Montserrat on a draft text which is now being made available for public consultation. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House. I hope that agreement can be reached on the final version by August. The Department for International Development will make available up to a further £75 million over the next three years to support the Plan. The scale of this pledge reflects the devastation to the island and the constraints imposed on the private sector by the continuing uncertainty about the volcano. If the volcano enters a permanent state of repose many of these constraints would be lifted, enabling the people of Montserrat to take greater responsibility for their livelihoods and the private sector to take a greater role in rebuilding the island.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many sports men and women the UK Sports Institute plans to cater for when it is fully operational. [44734]

[holding answer 10 June 1998]: The number of users of the United Kingdom Sports Institute services and facilities will be as high as presently benefiting from World Class Performance Plans, of which there are currently 1,745 athletes, but more will benefit as the regional network is developed.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will review the avoidance of liability for fines levied on landlords found guilty of contraventions of health and safety provisions in private rented accommodation by means of registering their companies in Jersey. [45090]

Enforcement action can be taken if a company has assets in this country, even if it is registered in another jurisdication. I am not aware that landlords are avoiding their liability for fines for contravening health and safety provisions in private rented accommodation by registering their companies in Jersey and I have no plans for review at this time.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what guidance he gives to magistrates' court committees on the procedures they are required to follow before deciding to close courts under their jurisdiction. [45767]

None. Section 56(1) of the Justices of the Peace Act 1997 requires only that the magistrates' courts committee consult with the paying authority or authorities before it determines to close a courthouse. However, the Central Council of Magistrates' Courts Committees plans to issue guidance on this area, which my Department considers represents good practice.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what criteria he takes into account in determining an appeal under section 56 of the Justices of the Peace Act 1997 against the proposed closure of magistrates' courts. [45771]

There are no statutory criteria. Every appeal is dealt with on its merits and much depends on the grounds of the particular appeal lodged.Typical grounds which are common to many appeals are: accessibility for all court users; the provision of modern facilities, for example facilities for disabled people, security arrangements for violent offenders, separate waiting areas for defendants and witnesses; the costs of necessary renovations to bring the court up to a modern standard; the time and travel distances for court users and the cost of that travel; the provision of courtrooms in the area; and overall efficiency.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what price the Social Security Commissioners charge to the general public per page for copies of their decisions; and what plans there are to change that price. [45486]

The current charge (per page) is 50p for subscribers and £1 for general requests. We are reviewing these charges but no decision has yet been made.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to write to the hon. Member for Blaeneau Gwent to provide information in response to the question for answer on 23 April relating to Gwent Tertiary College (reference 39440). [45954]

I wrote to my hon. Friend on 1 June and I am still awaiting a response to my invitation to him to meet officials as I continue to be anxious to assist his quest for information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will (a) make a statement on and (b) list the dates of occasions on which his Department had meetings with (i) the Chairman, Chief Executive and/or other senior personnel of the Cardiff Bay Development Corporation and (ii) the Director of National Museums and Galleries of Wales to discuss the future of the Welsh Industrial and Maritime Museum and its Pier Head site within the last three months. [45725]

My Department has regular exchanges with the Chairman and senior management of the Cardiff Bay Development Corporation, and with the Director of the National Museums and Galleries of Wales. The future of the Welsh Industrial and Maritime Museum and its Pier Head site has not been discussed with the Corporation. Decisions on the future site of the Industrial and Maritime Museum are entirely a matter for the Council of the National Museums and Galleries of Wales. Discussions with the Director of the National Museums and Galleries of Wales have included possible options for the future of the exhibits currently held at the Museum.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 9 June 1998, Official Report, column 545, if he will make a statement on the notification procedure to his Department by Cardiff Bay Development Corporation of payments made by it to ABP under the Scott Harbour rental guarantee scheme; how much of the £1.4 million maximum has so far been paid to ABP; on which date or dates such payments started; and if he will make a statement. [45772]

Payments under the Scott Harbour rental agreement are an operational matter for the Corporation. In response to my hon. Friend's earlier Questions about the agreement, 30 March 1998, Official Report, column 400, the Chief Executive wrote to him on 27 March. I will ask the Chief Executive to let my hon. Friend have a further letter updating that information and place a copy of the reply in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those states in conflict which have received (a) toxicological agents and (b) baton rounds since 1 May 1997; when the licence was granted; and when the delivery took place.[43475]

[holding answer 1 June 1998]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Minister for Small Firms, Trade and Industry to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) on 7 May 1998, Official Report, column 476.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the appointments by the United Nations of special representatives in the last 10 years; and what contribution to date his Department has made towards the costs of each special representative. [44227]

On 1 June 1998 the Secretary-General of the United Nations had 34 Special Representatives and 8 Special Envoys. I will arrange for a full list to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses today.Special Envoys are funded under UN procedures for unforeseen and extraordinary expenditures through an advance from the UN Working Capital Fund. The UK's percentage contribution to the Working Capital Fund is the same as to the UN regular budget. In 1998 the UK contribution to the UN regular budget is 5.076 per cent. of the total appropriation. Special Representatives are funded under the budgets for peacekeeping operations. The UK's assessed contribution in 1998 to the peacekeeping budget is 6.1993 per cent. of the appropriation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list his Department's missions involved in human rights activity in 1997–98, indicating the nature of each project Supported by each mission. [44226]

Number of projects
Mission	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	Theme (see Key below)Total
Abidjan	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	—	1
Addis Ababa	—	2	—	—	1	—	—	—	—	2	5
Almaty	1	—	2	1	1	1	—	—	—	1	7
Amman	2	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	4
Ankara	—	1	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	1	3
Antananarivo	1	—	—	—	1	—	1	—	—	—	3
Bangkok	2	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	4
Belmopan	1	—	1	—	—	—	1	—	3	—	6
Belgrade	—	1	—	3	2	2	—	—	—	—	8
Bogota	—	1	—	—	3	—	—	—	—	1	5
Brasilia	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	—	1
Bratislava	2	3	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	—	6
Budapest	—	5	1	—	—	1	1	—	—	—	8
Cairo	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	—	1	2
Caracas	—	1	—	—	2	—	—	2	—	2	7
Castries	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	4
Colombo	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1
Dakar	—	—	—	—	—	2	—	—	—	—	2
Dar es Salaam	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	1	5
Dhaka	—	—	2	1	—	—	1	—	—	1	5
Guatamala City	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	—	1
Hanoi	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	1
Harare	1	—	1	—	—	1	—	—	—	—	3
Islamabad	—	3	—	—	1	2	1	—	—	11	18
Istanbul	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2	2
Jakarta	—	—	—	—	—	2	—	—	—	1	3
Jerusalem	—	1	—	—	—	—	1	—	1	—	3
Kampala	2	—	1	—	—	2	1	—	1	1	8
Kathmandu	2	1	2	—	—	—	1	1	1	—	8
Khartoum	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2	3
Kiev	—	—	1	2	—	—	1	—	2	—	6
Kingston	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	2
Kinshasa	—	—	1	—	2	2	—	—	—	—	5
Kuala Lumpur	—	3	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	2	6
Lilongwe	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	1
Lima	1	1	—	—	1	—	1	—	1	—	5
Luanda	1	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	—	2
Lusaka	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2	—	2
Managua	—	—	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1
Manila	3	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	3
Maputo	—	—	2	—	1	—	1	—	—	—	4
Maseru	—	—	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1
Mbabane	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	—	1
Mexico City	5	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	5
Minsk	—	—	—	—	2	2	—	—	—	—	4
Moscow	2	2	—	2	4	8	1	2	1	1	23
Nairobi	3	—	1	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	5
New Delhi	—	2	—	—	2	1	1	—	—	1	7
Nicosia	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	1
Peking	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	1
Port Louis	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	1
Port of Spain	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	—	—	2	3
Phnomn Penh	1	—	1	—	1	—	—	—	1	—	4
Port Moresby	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	1
Prague	1	8	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	10
Pretoria	2	—	—	—	2	—	1	2	1	1	9
Quito	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2
Rabat	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	—	1
Riga	—	2	—	—	—	1	2	—	—	—	5
Sanaa	—	—	1	—	—	2	1	—	—	2	6
St. John	—	1	—	—	1	1	—	—	1	—	4
San Salvador	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	—	1
Santiago	3	—	1	—	—	—	1	1	—	2	8
Sarajevo	—	4	—	—	—	2	—	—	—	1	7
Sofia	—	2	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	3
Tallinn	—	2	1	1	1	—	—	1	—	—	6
Tashkent	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	1	2
Tbilisi	—	—	—	—	1	—	1	—	—	—	2
Tegucigalpa	1	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	—	2
Tortola	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	1
Vila	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	3	4

Details of Diplomatic Missions involved in human rights projects in 1997–98 and the nature of those projects are given. Some of this work was supported by funds from the Department for International Development.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what liaison has taken place between EU and Algerian parliamentarians since the visit of the Minister of State to Algeria on 20 January. [44385]

A group of MEPs visited Algeria from 8 to 12 February 1998. They met members of the Algerian Government as well as opposition parties. Parliamentarians from a number of EU countries have visited Algeria in the past few months. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met the Algerian Foreign Minister in Palermo on 3 June 1998. A group of British MPs may visit Algeria later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a breakdown of costs for People's Europe '98. [45269]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Rochford and Southend, East (Sir Taylor) on 1 April 1998, Official Report, column 535.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 6 May 1998, Official Report, column 414, if the European flag will fly from Government buildings on Europe Day when the United Kingdom no longer holds the European Union Presidency. [45323]

Yes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the new regime in Indonesia concerning (a) civil rights and (b) the United Kingdom's trading policy with Indonesia. [45315]

In my meeting with President Habibie in Jakarta last month, I encouraged him to maintain the momentum of political and economic reforms. The necessary economic and political changes will help to create a more healthy trading environment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to encourage the restoration of air links to Nigeria. [45622]

We last held air service talks with the Nigerian authorities in February 1998 and hope that the new Nigerian Administration will take forward the proposals made at those talks as a matter of priority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what communication he has had with General Abdulsalam Abubakar; [45650](2) if he will make a statement on the installation of the new Head of State of Nigeria;[45649](3) what representations he has received concerning relations between the United Kingdom and Nigeria; [45652](4) what plans he has to visit Nigeria. [45651]

General Abdulsalam Alhaji Abubakar was installed as Nigerian Head of State on 9 June. On 12 June we issued a Declaration on behalf of the EU welcoming General Abubakar's call to all Nigerians to join in a process of reconstruction and reconciliation. Nigeria now has an opportunity to move forward in a way which reflects the wish of the Nigerian people in all their diversity including early moves to a democratically elected system of governance. The release of detainees including Chief Abiola will be an important part of that process. We hope that General Abubakar and his team will quickly take the necessary steps to allow Nigeria to resume its rightful place in the international community. The UK is ready to help and respond positively to progress.We are in close touch with our EU, Commonwealth and other partners. We are still considering our response. We hope that events in Nigeria will allow the UK to re-establish a close relationship based on our historic ties.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British companies he estimates are currently active in Nigeria. [45653]

There are approximately 70 British companies in Nigeria with equity there, but many others that sell products and services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the UN member states which have not ratified the UN Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. [44822]

[holding answer 11 June 1998]: According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the following UN Member States were non-States Parties to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights at the end of May 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the UN member states which have not ratified the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. [44823]

[holding answer 11 June 1998]: According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the following UN Member States were non-States Parties to the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment at the end of May 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the UN member states which have not ratified the UN Covenant on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. [44824]

[holding answer 11 June 1998]: According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the following UN Member States were non-States parties to the UN Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the UN member states which have not ratified the UN Covenant on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. [44825]

[holding answer 11 June 1998]: According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the following UN Member States were non-States Parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the UN member states which have not ratified the UN Covenant on the Rights of the Child. [44826]

[holding answer 11 June 1998]: According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the following UN Member States were non-States Parties to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the United Kingdom will (a) sign and (b) ratify the UN Convention against Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries; and if he will make a statement. [45716]

We have no plans at present to sign and ratify the International Convention against Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries. We have doubts concerning its legal enforceability in the United Kingdom. We are looking at options for national domestic regulation of military companies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent meetings Her Majesty's embassy officials have had with political parties in Brazil; and what monitoring he expects to take place of the elections due later this year. [45392]

Embassy officials have regular contact with representatives of broad range of Brazilian political parties. The Embassy follows political developments in Brazil closely, including elections, but we do not plan any formal electoral monitoring.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons the Governor of St. Helena implemented the Government's budget proposals without the agreement of the Legislative Council. [45524]

The Governor of St. Helena exercised his powers under the Constitution to implement the budget on the advice of the Executive Council. He acted properly to ensure that funds were made available to continue the funding of the Government of St. Helena and the services it provides to the people of the Island.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much funding his Department provided to the Fisheries Research Services Agency in each of the last five years; and how much is budgeted for 1998–99. [44805]

Fisheries Research Services became an Executive Agency of the Scottish Office on 1 April 1997. Scottish Office funding for the years prior to that date and the two years subsequent is shown in the table.

£ million
Year	Total
1993–94	13.972
1994–95	13.164
1995–96	15.552
1996–97	22.364
1997–98	22.521
1998–99 estimated	12.190

The fluctuations in funding largely reflect capital investment in the new

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the Government's plans to review the present threshold for means testing for residential care.[44587]

The Government have no plans to review the present capital limit of £16,000 above which residents are required to meet the full cost of accommodation from their own resources. A Royal Commission has been set up to consider the system of funding the long-term care of elderly people in the UK and to recommend how the cost of care should be shared between public funds and private individuals. The means test should therefore be central to the Commission's deliberations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his letter of 14 December 1997 to the hon. Member for Linlithgow, what are the results so far of his Department's monitoring of varroa. [44050]

[holding answer 11 June 1998]: Since last December, varroa has been identified in the St. Andrews area. All known apiaries within a 5 km radius of the infected premises are currently under movement restrictions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Prior Options study of the Scottish Tourist Board which he announced on 30 July 1997 has been completed; and if he will make a statement. [46280]

The prior options study undertaken as the first stage of the 5 yearly policy and financial management review of the Scottish Tourist Board has now been completed.I have accepted the conclusions and recommendations of the study. The Scottish Tourist Board will therefore continue as the national agency responsible for encouraging the development of the Scottish tourist industry.The decision that the Board should remain in being as a non-departmental public body does not, however, denote absence of change. The study also concluded that, while the Board is effective in what it does, there remains scope for improving the type of support it provides and the way in which that support is delivered. A number of specific recommendations have been made which will secure the necessary improvements. Specifically, the changes proposed will help deliver a better quality of service to the Scottish tourist industry by ensuring:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the five main causes of death in each of the last five years for women aged 35 to 54 years indicating the numbers involved in each case. [45809]

The top five causes of death were not quite identical in each of the five years, as is shown in the table.

Deaths, females aged 35 to 54 years
	ICD9 code1	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997
Malignant neoplasm of female breast	1,749	244	261	227	220	229
Malignant neoplasm of bronchus and lung	1,629	105	110	114	116	104
Acute myocardial infarction	4,109	102	92	96	75	95
Malignant neoplasm of cervix uteri	1,809	56	46	44	36	41
Malignant neoplasm of ovary	1,830	49	66	53	52	49
Subarachnoid haemorrhage	4,309	49	56	42	32	54
Alcoholic liver damage, unspecified	5,713	20	35	47	52	54

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to announce the chairman and members of the Scottish Further Education Funding Council; and if he will make a statement. [45193]

The post of chairman of the Scottish Further Education Funding Council was advertised earlier this month. Advertisements relating to membership of the council will appear shortly. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will announce the chairman and members of the council when the appropriate appointment procedures have been completed.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many special advisers, political advisers and other political appointees are working in his Department; at what annual cost to the public purse including recruitment costs, salaries, pensions and National Insurance contributions; and what was the position in the last full year of the last Government. [43326]

For details of the numbers of Special Advisers and the annual cost of employing them, I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox) on 11 June 1998, Official Report, column 664.National Insurance contributions are excluded from the figure but are paid under the same rules and at the same rates as for other civil servants. Information on the paybill costs for Special Advisers within individual Departments is not provided in order to protect the privacy of the individuals concerned.Information on the cost of employing Special Advisers in previous years was given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 25 November 1997,

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many times fur factory farms have been visited so far this year, by county, by officials from the State Veterinary Service. [43709]

Veterinary Officers of the State Veterinary Service (SVS) have made five welfare inspection visits to fur farms so far this year—four in Lancashire and one in Hampshire. In addition, licensed fur farms are visited twice a year by officials from the Farming and Rural Conservation Agency to ensure compliance with the security requirements of the Mink Keeping Regulations 1976. The current fee for a licence is £630.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will evaluate the impact of the privatisation of the Agricultural Development Advisory Service on the quality and range of advice available to farmers. [44498]

No, I do not think such an analysis is necessary.However, I understand that ADAS continues to provide the same research, consultancy and laboratory services that it provided when it was an Agency to the Department and should be well placed to advise farmers on a wide range of agriculture issues both in the UK and overseas.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those hunt kennels which have been reported to his Department as having unsatisfactory SRM surveillance audits during (a) 1997 and (b) 1998; and if he will make a statement on the resultant health risk to animals. [44795]

Those hunt kennels reported as having unsatisfactory surveillance visits in respect of Specified Risk Material legislation during (a) 1997 and (b) 1998 (up to 27 May) are listed.The fact that failures have occurred does not necessarily mean that there has been a risk either to animal or to public health. Visits may be recorded as unsatisfactory for a variety of reasons, including minor, technical and short-lived problems, for example inadequate record keeping. Following an unsatisfactory visit the operator of the premises is required to take immediate remedial action. A further unannounced visit is made shortly afterwards to check that this has been carried out satisfactorily.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many places are available for animals in quarantine establishments inspected by his Department. [44940]

There are 4,033 quarantine places in 73 authorised quarantine premises currently authorised and inspected by this Department. It is possible for up to three animals of the same species, which originated from the same owner to share an individual unit, subject to the agreement of this Department.There are, furthermore, 114 research premises and 49 zoological premises authorised to hold a variety of rabies susceptible mammals. These are not authorised on the basis of individual places.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his oral answer of 4 June 1998, Official Report, column 494, on antibiotics in animal feed and the recommendations of the Agriculture Committee, if he will seek to secure a EU-wide ban on the use of antibiotics as growth promoters in farming. [45368]

The Government are giving careful consideration to recommendations made by the Agriculture Select Committee and the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology which concern the use of antibiotic growth promoters. The Government are advised on this issue by the independent scientific Veterinary Products Committee (VPC), and the VPC's advice will inform the Government's position in continuing EU discussions on the safety of growth promoters.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment his Department has made recently of the state of fish stocks within UK coastal waters; and if he will make a statement. [45514]

The MAFF Executive Agency, the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), is responsible for monitoring and assessing the level of the Blackwater herring stock, which occurs wholly within UK territorial waters, and provides advice to the Department each year on the total allowable catch (TAC) and other management measures.In addition, CEFAS routinely monitors the level of 31 fish stocks occurring inside and outside UK waters and provides detailed advice on their size composition to the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), which is responsible for preparing scientific advice on the level of fishing that stocks can sustain.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the document, Rural Charter, a copy of which has been sent to him. [45689]

The Rural Charter circulated by the National Farmers' Union draws attention to the economic difficulties currently being faced by the farming and allied industries. The Government recognise the concerns of farmers and those allied trades related to agriculture and believe that the countryside is a great national asset, a part of our national heritage which calls for careful stewardship. The Government are committed to ensuring that their policies take rural concerns into account and recognise the special needs of people who live and work in rural areas. Our policies for agriculture, health, education, transport and employment all benefit people in rural areas.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Fisheries Council held on 8 June. [45659]

I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen, South (Miss Begg) on 11 June 1998, Official Report, columns 658–59.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the sums paid in the EU in respect of area payments in 1997; and what is the basic purpose of such payments. [45530]

The amount paid by the European Union on arable area aid payments in the 1997 Budget year was 16,552 million ecu (£12,031 million). The purpose of these payments is to compensate arable producers for the reductions in cereal support prices since 1992.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much money was spent in the EU in the most recent annual period for which figures are available on set-aside payments. [45528]

The amount paid by the European Union as arable area aid on set-aside land in the 1997 Budget year was 1,904 million ecu (£1,384 million).

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many hill farmers are currently affected by restrictions on the sale of produce due to radioactive fallout from Chernobyl. [46011]

Ten hill farms in Cumbria are currently affected by restrictions under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 as a result of the Chernobyl accident. In addition, there are about 359 farms in Wales, 23 farms in Scotland and 45 farms in Northern Ireland also affected by restrictions. The movement, sale and slaughter of sheep from these farms only are affected.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the branding of meat produced in the Republic of Ireland as Irish for retail sale in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) the rest of the European Union. [45785]

Under EC Regulation 820/97, which comes fully into force on 1 July and which applies uniformly in all Member States, all beef labelled "Irish" must have come from animals born, raised and slaughtered in Ireland.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the branding of domestically produced meat as British Meat for retail sale in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) the rest of the European Union. [45784]

Under EC Regulation 820/97, which comes fully into force on 1 July and which applies uniformly in all Member States, all beef labelled "British" must have come from animals born, raised and slaughtered in the United Kingdom.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps his Department is taking to control the rabbit population. [45837]

Section 1 of the Pests Act 1954 places a continuing obligation on occupiers of land designated as rabbit clearance areas to control rabbits harboured on their land. The current Rabbit Clearance Order, issued in 1972, covers the whole of England and Wales, excluding the City of London, the Isles of Scilly and Skokholm Island. The Minister has powers under section 98 of the Agriculture Act 1947 to require action to be taken where occupiers are failing to meet their obligations under the 1954 Act. Where necessary these powers are used.The Ministry is aware of the damage that rabbits can cause and keeps its policy on rabbit control under continual review. The Ministry is also funding R&D to establish improved methods for cost-effective and humane control of rabbits.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the basic purpose of the EU in spending £4,565,000,000 on the subsidising of food exports in 1997; and what plans Her Majesty's Government have for promoting reforms within the EU to reduce this level of public expenditure. [45527]

Export subsidies facilitate exports from the EU of food and agricultural commodities whose prices are higher within the internal EU market than those attainable on world markets because of CAP price support policies. The Government are supporting Commission proposals to reduce CAP support prices and thus reduce the need for export subsidies.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list each of the subsidies and other payments made to land owners and farmers in 1997; what amount was spent on each subsidy; and what is the basic purpose of each subsidy. [45531]

Estimates of expenditure in 1997–98 on support measures under the Common Agricultural Policy are provided in the Departmental Report of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Intervention Board, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. Such measures are formulated in support of the objectives of the CAP, as laid down in the Treaty of Rome.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the total amounts of fruit and vegetables in respect of which £213,000,000 was spent in 1997 on the process of market withdrawal; and if he will publish information on the subsidies paid for the destruction of such fruit and vegetables. [45529]

Although the expenditure figure for the 1997 budgetary year is available, the corresponding figure for the level of fruit and vegetable withdrawals is not. However, the total amount withdrawn during the 1996–97 marketing year was 1,786,406 tonnes.The annual levels of withdrawal compensation are set out in Annex V of Council Regulation 2200/96

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how he proposes to ensure that soya, from supplies unsegregated between that which is genetically modified and that which is not, which is used in food, is labelled to reflect this. [46077]

In accordance with EC Regulation 1139/98, all foods which contain, or which are likely to contain, genetically modified soya ingredients must be clearly labelled to indicate the presence of such material. This Regulation will come into effect on 1 September 1998. In the meantime, food manufacturers and retailers are voluntarily labelling foods with this information.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many special advisers, political advisers and other political appointees are working in his Department; at what annual cost to the public purse including recruitment costs, salaries, pensions and National Insurance contributions; and what was the position in the last full year of the last Government. [43324]

For details of the numbers of Special Advisers and the annual cost of employing them, I refer the hon. Member to the answer the Prime Minister gave to the hon. Member for Woodspring (Mr. Fox) on 11 June 1998, Official Report, column 664.National Insurance contributions are excluded from the figure but are paid under the same rules and at the same rates as for other civil servants. Information on the paybill costs for Special Advisers within individual Departments is not provided in order to protect the privacy of the individuals concerned.Information on the cost of employing Special Advisers in previous years was given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 25 November 1997,

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the Government's policy on the use of suburban railway routes for the movement of freight.[44705]

The Government want to see more freight go by rail, in order to reduce pollution and congestion on the roads. We have doubled the money spent on freight grants, to £30 million for 1997–98, and have increased the budget for 1998£99 to £40 million. Our White Paper on Integrated Transport Policy will consider further measures to encourage rail freight.Development of the rail network to accommodate freight traffic must be made in the light of its environmental impacts. Railtrack is committed, through its

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to allow (a) new and (b) recently diagnosed diabetic drivers to hold C1 licences for employment purposes. [44651]

None. The Honorary Advisory Panel on Diabetes and Driving has advised against such provision and the Government have accepted this advice. The Panel will continue to keep the situation under review, however, and would no doubt make revised recommendations if they judged that relaxation of this restriction would no longer jeopardise road safety.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to apply legislation retrospectively to allow those C1 licence holders who have recently lost their licences to drive small lorries and minibuses in the course of their employment. [44650]

It is the intention that the proposed scheme to allow insulin-treated diabetic drivers to renew entitlement to drive CI vehicles (lorries between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes), originally obtained with their car licence, if they meet the employment and medical criteria, would apply, to those who have lost the C1 entitlement since 1 January of this year as a result of suffering from diabetes treated by insulin.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to announce the operational mechanism that will allow existing C1 licence holders to renew their entitlement to drive C1 vehicles in the course of their employment. [44423]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to review legislation allowing C1 licence holders who drive small lorries and minibuses in the course of their employment to renew their licences subject to annual health checks. [44682]

A public consultation began on 9 June on the proposal to allow insulin-treated diabetic drivers who hold or have held entitlement to drive C1 vehicles by virtue of their car licence to renew such entitlement if they meet the employment and medical criteria.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will (a) backdate to 1 January the application of the decision to make the ban on certain C1 licence holders who have insulin-treated diabetes subject to annual health checks, (b) introduce a similar provision for new drivers and those recently diagnosed and (c) review the legislation to ensure parity of treatment for all groups affected by the ban. [45263]